Celine Dion
When Celine Dion performs the final show of her second residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on June 8, it will mark the end of an era in Las Vegas entertainment. Dion debuted as a Strip headliner more than 15 years ago when, even though its nightlife was booming, Las Vegas was widely considered the place where entertainers went to become nostalgia acts, or the last career chapter before retirement. Dion almost single-handedly changed that perception, opening floodgates that Bette Midler, Elton John, Cher and Rod Stewart would pass through, among many others.
She also demonstrated the benefits of staying put in one venue for an extended engagement as opposed to the rigors of tour travel, which performers from Gwen Stefani to Van Morrison have now picked up on. Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez breathed new life into their careers through headliner productions, and no one would accuse Lady Gaga, whose Enigma residency at Park MGM debuted Dec. 28, of being close to retirement. Without Dion taking a bold risk and infusing credibility into having Vegas headliner status, things may have turned out vastly different.
Dion may have symbolically given her endorsement to Lady Gaga as the next grand diva of Las Vegas when she attended Gaga’s show recently after performing the first weekend of the final run of Céline, and conspicuously danced her ass off like the ultimate superfan. Gaga reciprocated with a shout-out to the 50-year-old Canadian chanteuse. She then dedicated “You and I” to Dion, who jammed on air guitar during the song before demonstrating her mastery of the choreography to “Bad Romance.”
Dion’s unbridled enthusiasm for the next generation is characteristic of her authentic presence, whether onstage or in interviews. She was raised to be a star performer and acts like it, but there’s nothing disingenuous or superficial about her. She is what she is, an embodiment of how optimism and perseverance pays off in the end, and how being yourself in the face of a cynical entertainment press will only increase the devotion of fans. Celine Dion has earned her place in Las Vegas history. –Matt Kelemen
Caesars Palace, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-27, March 1-2, 5-6, 8-9, 12-13 & 15-16, $55-$500 plus tax and fee. 855.234.7469
Cool Collection
Petaluma Chicken
Award-winning chef Shawn McClain hooked up with award-winning mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim to create Libertine Social. The modern gastropub offers an array of creative, indulgent and delicious New American bar food with shareable plates, as well as a huge selection of barrel-aged, fizzes, bottled, swizzles, highballs and draft cocktails. –Kiko Miyasato
Mandalay Bay, 5-10:30 p.m. daily, to-go window 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 702.632.7558
Raising the Bar
Drai's
While many clubs around town invite the most popular DJs in the biz to spin EDM, Drai’s rooftop nightclub flips the switch on programming and welcomes live performances by the hottest and most in-demand hip-hop and R&B artists. To date the list of performers up on that prized stage includes Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Migos, G Eazy, Big Sean, Rae Sremmurd. This week welcomes DJ Franzen (Feb. 24). –Kiko Miyasato
The Cromwell, 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. Thurs.-Sun. 702.777.3800
For a Good Cause
Feel like raising money for charity, getting in some exercise and having some fun, too? On March 2, join the annual Run Away with Cirque du Soleil at Springs Preserve for the 5K run or 1-mile fun walk. Participants can hang with cast members from the Vegas Cirque shows and enjoy music, photo ops and a circus play area for the kids. –Kiko Miyasato
Springs Preserve, 7 a.m. March 2, prices vary and reservations are required. springspreserve.org
