2015 WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON LAS VEGAS

Inside look at the Wizard World Comic Con Las Vegas held from April 24-26, 2015.

Vegas Uncork’d

The luxurious Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace hosted the ultimate culinary event, The Grand Tasting. Guests experienced the best of the best with free-flowing wines and spirits while mingling with more than 75 award-winning chefs including Ho Chee Boon, Michael Chapman, Gerald Chin, Christopher Shane Chan Yai Ching, Scott Commings, Justin Cooper, Bill DeMarco, Bill DeMarco, Dermot Driscoll, Joseph Elevado, Claude Escamilla, Susan Feniger, Steven Frain, Michael Gil , Tom Goldsbury,Michael Ingino, Hubert Keller, Michael Ingino, Eric Klein, Michael LaPlaca, Emeril Lagasse, Tony Leitera, Dustin Lewandowski, Brian Lhee, Mark LoRusso, Brian Malarkey,Marc Marrone, Steven Martorano, Shawn McClain, Matthias Merges,Mary Sue Milliken, Michael Mina, Rick Moonen, Severin Nunn, Ryan Nuqui,Francisco “Kiko” Ojeda, Francois Payard, Frank Pellegrino, Jr, Matthew Piekarski, Gordon Ramsay, Miguel Rivera, Guy Savoy,Vincenzo Scarmiglia, Peter Scaturro,Julian Serrano, Tony Shutz, Joshua Smith, Javier Sosa, Haruhiko Takeshita, Laurent Tourondel, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Anthony Zappola, Heather Zheng, Tony Abou-Ganim,Rochelle Bilow, Andrew Knowlton, David Lynch, Adam Rapoport, Alison Roman, Meryl Rothstein, Marc Sherry, Greg Sherry, Chef Watson.

 

Interesting Dish from Mesa Grill shrimp and grouper ceviche, mango habanero sauce inside a pineapple. 

 

 

 Headphones which were designed for a designated area to listen to music while enjoying food and spirits.

 

 

 

 

2015 CinemaCon Highlights

The 2015 CinemaCon was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from April 20-23.

Day one started of with the International Day including Seminars, Keynote Speakers and Panels and concluded with a special industry screening from Universal Pictures of “Pitch Perfect” starring Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Banks, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Katey Sagal, and an after party at the new Omnia Nightclub in Las Vegas.
Day two featured a presentation by Paramount Pictures “The State of the Industry: Past, Present and Future” and the opening of the 2015 CinemaCon Trade Show and Suites. Followed by Warner Brothers Pictures “The Big Picture” an Exclusive Presentation Highlighting the Summer 2015 and Beyond.

Alternate content leader Fathom Events celebrated the Growth of Event Cinema at RAO's Restaurant at Caesars Palace. 

Special guests included Grammy Award winning Opera Singer Deborah Voight, The Cyberman from Doctor Who, Forrest Griffin (former UFC light heavyweight champion), Cirque du Soleil Performers, John Rubey (Fathom Events CEO), and Fathom Events Board Members.

 The evening concluded with a special screening of 20th Century Fox's “SPY” starring Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Miranda Hart and Allison Janney. Directed and written by Paul Feig. Followed by an exclusive post-screening party hosted by Paul Feig at “Club Spy” with performances by Ivy Levan and Bad Seed Rising.

  

Day three featured a special screening of Pixar Animation's “Inside Out” 

Followed by the “ The Legend of CinemaCon Luncheon: A Salute to Clint Eastwood who also received the Fandango Fan Choice Award for Favorite Film of 2014 “ American Sniper”.
Followed by Sony Pictures exclusive product presentation highlighting its 2015 Films.
Also taken place that evening the 2015 Will Rogers “Pioneer of the Year” Dinner.

Honoring Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO of 20th Century Fox.
Day four the final day started of with a special press conference with some of the FANTASTIC FOUR cast  Miles Teller, Jamie Bell, Michael B Jordan, and Kate Mara.

 Followed by some of the SPY cast Rose Byrne and Jude Law, Paul Feig and 50 Cent.

 

Final Day Luncheon and special program “The 'Independent' Game: Based on a True Story featuring special guest actress Julianne Moore ( Still Alice, Freeheld).
Universal Pictures Exclusive Product presentation highlighting its Summer of 2015 and Beyond.
The final evening concluded with the 2015 CinemaCon “ Big Screen Achievement Awards”

2015 CinemaCon

2015 CinemaCon “ Big Screen Achievement Awards”

Sponsored by the Coca Cola Company

Awards Honorees included:

-Alan Arkin – Lifetime Achievement Award
-Elizabeth Banks – Breakthrough Filmmaker of the Year
-Britt Robertson – 2015 Star of Tomorrow
-Francis Lawrence – Director of the Year
-Amy Schumer – Breakthrough Performer of the Year
-Nat Wolff & Cara Delevingne – Rising Stars of 2015
-Cast of “Fantastic Four” Jamie Bell, Micheal B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Miles Teller - CinemaCon Ensemble Award
-Paul Feig – Comedy Filmmaker of the Year
-Julianne Moore – CinemaCon Vanguard Award
-Kevin Hart – Comedy Star of the Year
-Rose Byrne – Female Star of the Year
-Paul Rudd – Male Star of the Year
Billy Bush served as the Emcee of the Evening.

 

Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley officially opened Westgate’s Elvis exhibit, with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

On April 23 rd Elvis Presley’s Graceland celebrated its grand opening of its new, permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel outside of Graceland at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

On the 59th anniversary of Elvis’ very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. At the same venue where Elvis performed over 600 record breaking, sold-out shows.
Graceland Presents ELVIS includes an expansive, new permanent exhibition featuring hundreds of artifacts never-before-displayed outside of Graceland, live entertainment shows in the new Elvis Presley Theater, and the new Elvis Presley’s Graceland Wedding Chapel. 

The exhibition encompasses over 28,000 square feet and includes hundreds of artifacts from the Presley family’s treasured Graceland Archives, showcasing the man, the performer and the music that revolutionized popular culture around the world. Visitors will experience an unprecedented journey through Elvis’ life and career, beginning with his early days in Tupelo, Miss., through his first recording session in Memphis, rise to fame, Hollywood career, life at Graceland, the Las Vegas years and more. Graceland-produced videos will immerse guests in the experience, concluding with a 26-minute retrospective film featuring Elvis’ greatest performances.
The newly renamed and renovated Elvis Presley Theater presents Elvis-themed live shows for limited engagement runs on the very stage where Elvis performed for millions of guests during his record-breaking, seven-year stint from 1969 through 1976.

41st Annual UNLVino

This year, the 41st annual UNLVino featured three days of events, for wine, beer and spirit enthusiasts, April 16-18, 2015. Nevada’s original wine festival.
Celebrating more than 40 years of hospitality excellence, UNLVino invited guests to “take a sip for scholarship”. The three evenings of events included
Bubble-Licious, Sake Fever and the Grand Tasting. Southern Wine & Spirits continued their mission to rally the Las Vegas community in support of UNLV’s William F.
Harrah College of Hotel Administration.
Complementing the exquisite wines, innovative mixology and world-class cuisine UNLVino is known for, this year’s events featured elevated entertainment, including
renowned musicians Frankie Moreno and Franks & Deans. UNLVino also continued its tradition of recognizing hospitality industry leaders with the Dom Pérignon Award of
Excellence. The 2015 honorees included culinary icon Danliel   Boulud and the “Godfather of Italian-American cooking” Chef Steve Martorano, as well as UNLV’s  Presidential Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Don Snyder.

The three day event started of Thursday, April 16 with Unlvino Bubble-Licious held at the The Venetian Las Vegas’ Doge’s Palace Plaza. Featured a variety of
champagnes and sparkling wines.
Followed by Sake Fever Friday, April 17th held at the beautiful Red Rock Casino scenic pool and featured a variety of asian dishes and spirits from various restaurant
throughout Las Vegas.
And concluded with the Grand Tasting at the Paris Hotel and Casino. Featured a variety of fine wines, bites and live entertainment.