Month: August 2019

Comedy Comes to Plaza Hotel and Casino with Comedy Works

Posted on | by Plaza Staff

Everyone loves to laugh, and comedy remains one of the primary conduits. Having continued to rise in popularity across the country and streaming services, comedy has also paved its own path in Las Vegas. While the Strip is known for larger productions, the downtown Las Vegas area is the place to go for smaller niche shows and stand-up comedy.

Comedy Clubs in Las Vegas

You can find some of the best local and national comedians in downtown Las Vegas as comedy clubs and comedy rooms are popping up all around the city. If you enjoy stand-up comedy, beginning September 12th, The Plaza Hotel & Casino has live shows every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, featuring comedians like Jim Florentine, Kevin Downey Jr., and Nick di Paolo. 

Doug Stanhope on New Year’s Eve at The Plaza

Back by popular demand…Following 3 sold-out shows over Memorial Day Weekend, Doug Stanhope will appear at the Plaza for a special New Year’s Eve 2020 performance. Doug is vulgar, opinionated, brutally honest and shockingly uninhibited and is certainly not for everybody. 

Variety and the Hollywood Reporter both selected Doug as one of the Top Ten Comics To Watch so get your ticket before this special show is sold out. 

Stand-up Comedy and Comedians

Stand-up comedy has become a favorite style among many for its witty monologues and hilarious stories. The comedic genre has gained popularity and prominence in the last few years from comedians like Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias (Fluffy), and Amy Schumer. 

These comedians appeal to a millennial crowd and bring the art of stand-up comedy to younger generations. Some noteworthy comedians who brought prominence to the genre are Jay Leno, Robin Williams, and Eddie Murphy.

Stand-up comedy is one of the freest forms of comedy. Typically, it involves a set of jokes that the comedian will write that are synchronistic and create flow during their set. Stand-up comedy can have a reputation for being “hard-hitting” and sometimes dark, but there are many different types of stand-up comedy like observational comedy, dark comedy, and clean comedy. 

There is so much variety within stand-up comedy that everyone can find something they relate to and will laugh about.

Comedy Works at The Plaza

Stand-up comedy is often performed in bars, pubs, comedy clubs, and theatres, but the perfect place to watch a stand-up comedy set in Las Vegas is at The Comedy Works inside The Plaza showroom. There are tables set up in a perfect formation for viewing comedy shows and you can enjoy a drink while getting your laugh on.

Things to Do Downtown Labor Day Weekend 2019

Posted on | by Plaza Staff

People think of Labor Day weekend as the final nail in summer’s proverbial coffin. But just because daylight is dwindling doesn’t mean that Downtown is going into hibernation, and neither should you! During Labor Day weekend, don’t miss these events and activities happening downtown and around the Plaza Hotel & Casino. 

Things to Do Downtown Labor Day Weekend

From entertainment to shopping, see all things to do downtown Labor Day weekend.

Entertainment

Enjoy a free concert at Fremont Street Experience or get your thrills gliding between a sea of pedestrians and the Viva Vision light canopy at Slotzilla Zip Line. Or, if it’s still to warm for you, cool off with cabana blackjack or pickleball by the Pool at the Plaza. 

Take in the sophistication of The Smith Center with live music or a stroll around the performing arts center’s Symphony Park. Don’t forget to take a selfie with the park’s iconic, multicolored installation. 

Downtown Las Vegas is home to a host of museums, such as the Neon Museum and Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum and  The Mob Museum with a variety of programming for everyone. 

Dining and Drinking

Enjoy a perfectly-aged steak, lobster tail or signature martini under the iconic glass dome at Oscar’s Steakhouse. No time to sit down? Get a quick slice at Pop Up Pizza, with homemade pizza sauce and dough made fresh daily. 

The Underground speakeasy at The Mob Museum serves up killer cocktails, Distillery Tours and even live jazz on weekends. Just be sure to get the speakeasy password from their social media, or you might end up swimmin’ with the fishes. 

Cure your hangover at locals’ favorite Hash House A Go Go. The Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles are sure to satisfy any stomach, no matter how late it stayed out last night. 

Shopping

Take advantage of summer sales or find new fall fashions at Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, just a three-minute drive from the Plaza. Find the best clothes, accessories and products to fit the Plaza’s classic backdrop. 

Looking for a slower pace? Check out art galleries, beauty salons, antiques and much more at The Arts District in Downtown Las Vegas, which lends itself to brunching, bar hopping and incredible downtown murals. 

Peruse the eclectic boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and bars at Downtown Container Park. This open-air space offers a variety of shopping and dining in one family-friendly location, as well as live entertainment and the visually immersive attraction The Dome. 

Labor Day Weekend Getaway at The Plaza

Whether for family fun, special events or just to get away, Downtown Las Vegas is the place to be for Labor Day weekend. Plaza Hotel & Casino has everything you need to navigate a perfect stay. Reserve your Labor Day weekend downtown hotel room.

What to Expect at the Life Is Beautiful Festival 2019

Posted on | by Plaza Staff

Downtown Las Vegas is a vibrant area full of art and culture that speaks to both a great past and promising future. The Life is Beautiful Festival, which returns to Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, September 20th, and runs through Sunday, September 22nd, is a testament to this unique culture. 

The festival will bring some of today’s most celebrated musicians, chefs, artists, comedians and speakers to the downtown art district for a three-day inspirational social platform and celebration of life.

The Plaza Hotel and the Life Is Beautiful Festival

The Plaza Hotel and Casino has been an integral part of Downtown Las Vegas throughout its historic past. Today, as the area continues to undergo substantial change and growth, we continue to create the perfect combination of comfort and sophistication while providing an old-school Vegas feel paired with modernism.

The effort put forth by the Life is Beautiful team is something we admire, and as a fellow Downtown Las Vegas business, we certainly appreciate the buzz it creates for our community and downtown culture. 

Adjacent to the arts district, The Plaza has been a hub for those who have attended previous Life is Beautiful festivals and will continue to be one this year as well. Whether you need a Luxe room to rest between days of the festival, something to eat and drink, or just some help with directions, we are here to help make your Life is Beautiful experience as enjoyable and empowering as possible. 

There are three free re-entries per day for all general admission festival guests, so come to enjoy a meal and drink with us at one of our many restaurants and bars and sit back and rest your feet. The Plaza Hotel and Casino will also offer event parking for the festival at a competitive price.

The Music at Life is Beautiful

There will be a large variety of artists playing at Life is Beautiful over the three days. With headliners like Chance the Rapper, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Vampire Weekend, and many more, there’s no doubt the festival will be packed with good vibes and great sounds. There are multiple stages where you and your group can enjoy the music, including one stage that is a dome with an electronic feel where most DJs will play. 

The first shows on the lineup will start around 2 or 3 p.m. and headliners will close out the festival around 11 p.m. or midnight. The festival provides music lovers with a variety of genres, and you’ll find everything from rap and hip hop to EDM and alternative.

The Art of Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful is a celebration of art and culture. There will be modern art exhibits, walk through art exhibitions like the “Art Motel,” and traditional art exhibits with photography and paintings. The whole festival can be thought of as a work of art, providing an opportunity at every corner to enthrall the senses of festival attendees. 

Outside festival grounds in the Downtown Las Vegas community there is also plenty of art to be seen. There are plenty of beautiful art pieces to take in and enjoy, and they also act as the perfect setting for photos.

Murals at Plaza Hotel Casino

The Plaza Hotel & Casino is adorned with murals by street artists Shepard Fairey and D*Face that scale the whole building from top to bottom. These murals were some of the most challenging murals they’ve ever created. Each artist had to overcome personal and unexpected challenges like changing weather patterns. 

Using scaffolding and the natural curvature of the Plaza Hotel, each artist transformed a side of the hotel into a living piece of art. Both murals will add color and life to an already vibrant downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street Experience. Come to see the murals today for yourself and explore the rest of the art downtown.


Above: Shepard Fairey’s piece “Cultivate Harmony”. Fairey, known for his iconic 2008 “Hope” poster of President Obama has transformed American pop culture with his modern art and now he’s transformed the Plaza into a living piece of artwork

Above: One of the latest pieces of art to join the Downtown Las Vegas area is a large mural created by D*Face, an English multimedia street artist known for his sold-out galleries and collaboration with the world’s top music artists

The Food

Over 70 local and regional eateries with a variety of cuisine will be present at Life Is Beautiful 2019. Attendees can enjoy food from different cultures such as Mexico, Asia, and India among others. There will be many places for festival-goers to enjoy food and learn about the art of cooking. If you’re looking for a bite to eat after the festival, you can come over to The Plaza to grab a late-night bite at Pop Up Pizza or Brightside Breakfast & Burgers.

The Drinks

For those over the age of 21, there are plenty of excellent alcoholic drink options like craft beers and artisanal cocktails. Drinks will be available from specific alcohol vendors as well as at full-service bars at the festival. There are also plenty of bars to enjoy outside festival grounds in the downtown Las Vegas area. Come and join us for a drink at The Plaza where we will have drink specials for festival-goers.

The Location

The downtown Las Vegas area has a lot to offer to festival-goers inside and outside of festival grounds. Just outside the official festival grounds, you’ll find the Fremont Street Experience which is an overhead lights display lined with bars and casinos on each side. 

At the end of the Fremont Street Experience, you’ll find The Plaza where you can enjoy casino games, great food, and refreshing drinks when you need a break from the festival. There is so much to see in downtown Las Vegas that you’ll want to set aside some extra time for exploring outside the festival grounds.

Tickets & Packages

There are several different ticket options for Life is Beautiful. Entrance to Life is Beautiful starts at $145 for one day General Admission and $315 for 3-day General Admission. If you’re looking to upgrade your festival experience, there are VIP, VIP+, and All-In options that start at $665 for the three days and include things like shaded lounge areas, concierge services, exclusive food and drink vendors, and private bathrooms. 

The All-In pass gets you everything at all the other levels, in addition, to access to the artist hospitality lounge, an exclusive culinary tasting experience, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

After Parties

Each night after the Life Is Beautiful festival ends; revelers can keep the partying going Unde the Dome at the Plaza. This Life Is Beautiful after-party features a live DJ set and complimentary entry to everyone that is looking to dance under our famous lights. Festival-goers over 21 and over can enjoy a refreshing drink from the bars opening up for the after-party.