Three Different Things To Do Fourth of July Week!

Here are three different events during Fourth of July Week and only one includes fireworks and a BBQ!

El Súper Clásico (The Super Classic)

Are ready for some Fútbol? Club América versus Chivas de Guadalajara, the hottest rivalry in Mexican Liga MX team’s soccer, for the first time is coming to Las Vegas.

Fans wanting to be around all the action on and off the field can stay at host hotel The New Tropicana Las Vegas.

The renovated property is offering exclusive hotel stay packages:

• The Club América Súper Clásico and the Chivas Súper Clásico packages ($795* each) and include admission for two for a meet-and-greet with select players of the fans favorite team, as well as a three-night stay for two in best-in-class accommodations, and two tickets for P1 seating to El Súper Clásico ($256 value). Only 50 of each package is available through June 28, 2013.  *Package prices include Club Deluxe accommodations; other rooms types available for additional pricing.
  
• El Súper Clásico Package ($495*) features a three-night stay for two in best-in-class accommodations and two tickets for P1 seating to El Súper Clásico ($256 value).

Las Vegas is the first stop of the Chivas’ 2013 US Tour.

Tickets available at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, online at UNLVtickets.com, at UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square Las Vegas Concierge, or by calling 866.388.3267 (toll-free) or 702.739.3267 (local).  Ticket prices are $28 (sold out), $38 (sold out), $48, $58, $78, $128. Tickets may be subject to additional fees.  Tickets are also available at Mariana’s and La Bonita Super Markets in Las Vegas.

Súper Clásico: Club América vs Chivas
Wednesday, July 3rd
Sam Boyd Stadium at 8pm
7000 E. Russell Rd.

4^th with The Phil! Pops Concert

It doesn’t get anymore patriotic than spending the Fourth of July at a park, listening to an amazing symphony in a beautiful setting, and BBQ.  The family fun begins at 4pm at Symphony Park with food vendors, music including jazz, Hawaiian, Cajun, and bluegrass, along with the famous Vegas heat (the high on this day is forecast at 112 degrees.) Around dusk, patrons who purchased a ticket to the Pops concert transition inside to Reynolds Hall. Those enjoying the outdoors will be treated to “God Bless America”, “Stars & Stripes Forever”, and “America the Beautiful” too as it plays through the outdoor speakers.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic is conducted by Matt Catingub with special guests Clint Holmes, Kristen Hertzenberg, drummer Steve Moretti and Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen 2012 Ellie Smith performing The Star-Spangled Banner.

Pops Concert in Reynolds Hall tickets are $25, $50, $75 & $125 VIP Packages. Symphony Park Family Fun Day $10 adults; $5 children 12 & under, and includes audio simulcast of the Pops Concert. All concert ticket purchases include admission to Symphony Park. Tickets available from The Smith Center Box Office, by phone at (702) 749-2000, or visit www.lvphil.org.

Thursday, July 4^th
BBQ and Bands at 4pm
Doors to Reynolds Hall Open at 6pm
Concert at 7:30pm
Fireworks at 9pm
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
361 Symphony Park Avenue

UFC 162 Meet and Greet

Lagasse Stadium at Palazzo Las Vegas

Fans of UFC have the opportunity to mix and mingle with their favorite fighters, Bud Light Calendar Girls and industry superstars while noshing on passed hors d’œuvres created by chef Emeril Lagasse at Lagasse Stadium at The Palazzo. With 100+ HDTVs and a giant 9×16 foot screen, there isn’t a bad seat in the place, and the expansive patio has a great view of the Strip with plush seating.

Meet Heavyweight Daniel “DC” Cormier, Light Heavyweight Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis, Middleweight Luke Rockhold, former Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit, Welterweight Tyron Woodley; Lightweight Champions Benson “Smooth” Henderson, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, and Josh “The Punk” Thomson, Bantamweight Urijah “The California Kid” Faber and host of Best of Pride Fighting Championships Kenda Perez and Octagon girls Chrissy Hubbard and Vanessa Hanson.

General admission tickets include passed hors d’œuvres and viewing of Q&A session ($50); VIP tickets include passed hors d’œuvres, unlimited beer, well drinks, and champagne (8-9pm), commemorative program, meet and greet, and an opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A.

Tickets can be purchased at the Venetian and Palazzo Box Office, by phone 702.414.9000 and online.

Friday, July 5
8pm to midnight.
Doors open at 6pm
Lagasse’s Stadium
The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino
3325 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Getting “Soul-chestra” with Violin ‘Soul-o-ist’ Karen Briggs and the 20 Pearls Foundation of Las Vegas

Back in January the 20 Pearls Foundation, the charitable arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Theta Theta Omega Las Vegas Chapter, of which I and my mother are proud members, presented “An Evening with Violin ‘Soul-o-ist’ Karen Briggs with special guest Freddie B,” for a concert in support of the HerShe Group Foundation, Inc., an organization preparing girls in foster care for successful transition into adulthood.

Me and my mother

I remember asking, “Who is Karen Briggs?” when it was requested I write and distribute the press release on behalf of our chapter’s 20 Pearls Foundation. Seriously, I had no idea who she was, and I fancy myself “in the know” when it comes to popular jazz artists (See my Jazz Groupies post), so not having name recognition had me less than excited, as well as being told “she toured with Yanni” had me thinking the 90s, world music, a mustache and a mullet. Any enthusiasm to write the news release was all but removed.

Come to find out after a little digging, I could not have been more wrong. Karen Briggs is a highly sought after featured soloist who has perfected the melismatic style (I had to look that term up, and for those of you that don’t know what the word means either, it is defined as “A passage of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in Gregorian chant” ~The Free Dictionary by Farlex.) Her musicianship is reflective of her exposure to countless music genres including jazz, gospel, Latin, classical, African and Middle Eastern.

 

She is world renown and has played Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Apollo Theater, and the Kennedy Center.  Her nickname, “The Lady in Red” was given to her by her fans (I am now one of them) after extensively touring with Yanni.  She was a part of his critically acclaimed and live multi-platinum recorded album Yanni Live at the Acropolis (1993) which became “one of the best-selling PBS specials of all time and was broadcast in 65 countries.”

She began her professional career with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra after graduating from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. Several years later she released her self-titled debut album Karen (1992), her sophomore album Amazing Grace (1996), followed by Soulchestral Groove (2009). And has collaborated with many influential musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Swinging into the 21^st (2012) and Selections from Swingin’ into the 21st (2011); Ledisi, Lost & Found (2007); Kenny Loggins, More Songs from Pooh Corner (2000); Vertu’, Stanley Clark, Lenny White and Richie Kotzen (1999); Diana Ross, Every Day Is a New Day (1999); and Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams, The Hopeville Tour/DVD (2009), to name a few and there are many to name.

 

Karen Briggs talking to a fan.

That was a great night and she is one funny lady who really loves and appreciates her fans. At one point we were all grooving when I noticed she had us all clapping along to a square dance song. It felt like Hee Haw for a minute. I was waiting for a Minnie Pearl look-alike to appear on stage.

I highly recommend you catch a show when you can. She has her schedule on Facebook at Karen Briggs, Violinist Page II. She will be in Austin, Texas on Friday, April 5 at the Women in Jazz Association, Inc.’s JAZZ IN P!NK CONCERT.

I Was Just Re-Tweeted by Musician Tim McMorris

Everyone knows the current Sam Adams “For the Love of Beer” commercial with the great song lyrics

“Make me laugh and show me how

Just how good this life can be

And in our moments filled with joy is where I live

Where I am free

Lay in our arms, I’ll hold you tight

Just like you like, continually

And I am overwhelmed by you.”

From the first time I heard the song and saw the commercial I knew I had to find the name of the artist and support his music because of how those lyrics made me feel. Once I found him on YouTube I had to follow his channel and tweet about it.

So I posted “@timmcmorris youtube.com/user/timmcmorr… #joy #happiness #love” and to my delight, this morning he replied “@AdrienneNHester Thanks for spreading the word Adrienne :)”

 The real thank you is to him for beautiful music. Take a listen to the entire song and the actual video and I know you will agree.

Thank you for reading.

Adrienne xo

“The Week that Disco Died”

My friend Ralph Agretto said it best on Facebook today that this is “the week that disco died.” Robin Gibb was another childhood favorite as a member of The Bee Gees. I hate to say it, but I have always referred to him as the ‘buck toothed one’ and for obvious reasons. He was an amazing song writer with and without his brothers, and with that, below are a few favorites.

22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012

“If I Can’t Have You” performed by Yvonne Elliman live on Top of the Pops circa- 1978. I used to sing this song in the mirror with a hair brush and think of Marc Roseberry who was my first backward slow skate kiss at Crystal Palace on Boulder Highway.

 

“Emotion” by Samantha Sang. For years I thought it was the Bee Gees singing because the background tracks are just as prominent and they sounded like women. Anyway, this song had me falling in love every time I heard it on the radio.

 

 “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb because he was simply sexy. Even in this video with his skin tight jeans, feathered hair, and deep golden tan with dance moves more like a disco queen than a teen idol. 

 

And from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack: “More Than A Woman,” “Jive Talkin’,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and “More Than A Woman” performed by Tavares. My list could go on for a while. I even have a Bee Gees station on Pandora to keep his memory “Stayin’ Alive.” (sorry, it was too easy.)

 

Thank you for the music and thank you for reading.

Adrienne xo

Related articles

• Robin Gibb: the hits you didn’t know were written by the Bee Gees (telegraph.co.uk)
• Robin Gibb, founding member of Bee Gees, dies of cancer at 62 (galesburg.com)
• High notes: Watch the greatest moments in Robin Gibb’s career – Mirror.co.uk (mirror.co.uk)