The Ramones at gunpoint, (un)covering ROUGE, hand-pulled noodles, and an independent short film competition round out another sizzling week in Sin City…
Memorial Day is behind us, but the memories linger. This was a fun week that took us from a historic confrontation between punk rock band The Ramones and murderer Phil Spector to a topless vaudeville production and a small film competition. Let’s get started.
FOUR CHORDS AND A GUN at Vegas Theater Company
If you ignored our advice and missed FOUR CHORDS AND A GUN…well, it was one Hell of a show. We covered the dramatization of Phil Spector‘s problem-plagued collaboration with The Ramones right here. Congratulations to director Jonas Woolverton and the entire team at Vegas Theater Company for an unforgettable experience.
VEGAS THEATER COMPANY is located at 1025 S. First Street in the Arts District.
ROUGE at The STRAT Hotel Casino
ROUGE is the rare Vegas show that started strong and continues to grow. Now in its fourth year, the topless vaudeville-style revue mixes the acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil with Spiegelworld‘s naughty humor and the sensuality (and bare skin) of Chippendales and FANTASY.
Since our last viewing, the adults-only ROUGE has undergone a streamlining, and its cast has somehow become even hotter. The topless production is bolstered by a new bondage-themed aerial act by Iryna Berezniatska and James Dukes that’s scorching! ROUGE plays Tuesday through Sunday, with two performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Get tickets here.
SHANG ARTISAN NOODLE on Flamingo Road
If you’re craving real Asian noodle dishes and dislike the congestion of Las Vegas Chinatown, try Shang Artisan Noodle at 4983 W. Flamingo Road. Located just a few blocks west of Palms Casino, the intimate establishment serves delicious recipes that are very reasonably priced.
Enjoy your noodles with a view of Shang’s live-action kitchen window. Staffers put on a fascinating show while preparing hand-pulled noodles, the house specialty.
The landlocked northern province of Shan-Xi in China is where wheat cultivation thrives. The ancient art of noodle-making goes back to between 25-200 A.D.
Skilled artisans with deft hands still execute the labor-intensive, centuries-old technique of kneading and hand-pulling dough. Silken and springy in equal measure, the noodles are used in a diverse array of hot and cold dishes that reflect the unique culture of Shan-Xi.
A second Shang Artisan Noodle opened at Durango Casino in December 2023. Both provide excellent service, outstanding value, and flavors you’ll want to return to. “An affordable meal that will satisfy all your senses”.
Cinema Spotlight: MOVIE CLUB LV
Writer/producer/director Joey Charafi of Charafi Entertainment and the recent feature VEGAS TRAFFIC is doing his part to bolster Las Vegas’ cinematic arts. He recently launched MOVIE CLUB LV, a short-film showdown attended by independent film entrepreneurs and enthusiasts.
This writer was invited to judge their first competition at SPCKRFT, a small studio in the city’s industrial district. The first in a monthly series, MOVIE CLUB LV allows local filmmakers to present their featurettes (under eight minutes), discuss inspirations and style, and network with like-minded individuals.
MOVIE CLUB LV also serves as a fundraiser in Charafi’s war against child trafficking. Participants and audience members are asked to purchase a ticket, which serves as a donation. Any amount is accepted.
The lights go down. The film starts. And then… the buzzer hits. Welcome to MOVIE CLUB LV – a one-night, live short film showdown where local filmmakers put their work on the line in front of a live audience, livestream viewers, and a panel of respected judges. If their film doesn’t survive 5 minutes, it stops right there – and the real fun begins.
Live critiques. Crowd reactions. Play-it-back moments. A cash prize.And the best part? It’s all for a cause. Proceeds go to help fight child trafficking through the Stop the Traffic Foundation.
The next Short Film Showdown is scheduled for June 26 at 7 pm. Get tickets here. The first gathering is presented in its entirety below. Thanks to Mr. Charafi for having me as a judge.
