True Seduction
The show starts exactly as you’d expect, given the male-revue formula. A raunchy emcee barks a welcome, and the stereotypes strut in—the firefighter, the cowboy, the cop; you get the idea. Plucked from the crowd, a young woman becomes the eye of a ridiculously costumed, violently gyrating hurricane. She is, to put it mildly, not aroused. So, she pleads for help from … a unicorn with the disembodied voice of Channing Tatum.
That’s the intro to 80 minutes of shattered expectations, courtesy of Tatum’s hit production Magic Mike Live, which takes guests on a journey as deeply funny and affirming as it is sexy.
The woman pulled from the audience turns out to be your guide, as she helps a hunky waiter named Mike discover the nuances of making women feel beautiful, powerful and seriously in the mood. Played by Chelsea Phillips Reid, Magic Mike Live’s female centerpiece connects the dots between inventive numbers.
As advertised, there are plenty of striptease elements in the show, but the thrills of bare skin, whipped cream and a strategically placed hat are balanced with messages about respect and genuine romance. The cast dances down a staircase in perfectly tailored three-piece suits. They play piano, guitar and drums while their fellow dancer croons a ballad. They give out long-stemmed roses as well as lap dances for pink-paper unicorn dollars.
This is a male revue that understands women—evidenced by its incredibly diverse representations of sexiness. That goes for the looks of the cast members and the range of material they attack on the stage, stairs, balconies, bar, ladders on the walls and straps tumbling from the ceiling. Want an exquisitely choreographed contemporary duet in a rainstorm? Pelvic fireworks to Ginuwine’s “Pony”? You’ve got it. And you probably won’t notice that the guys spend more time clothed than not.
Early in the show, when Mike has just begun his lesson in love, he’s asked to make an audience member feel beautiful. He replies that she’s so much more than beautiful. “Thank you for just being you,” he says sweetly, believably, while Reid comically writhes with pleasure. It’s an easy laugh, but it gets at what makes Magic Mike Live such a unicorn in Las Vegas’ stacked entertainment landscape. –Erin Ryan
Hard Rock Hotel, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Wed.-Sun., starting at $49 plus tax and fee, 18+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
Meow Mix
Perhaps the most famous feline on the planet now has her very own pop-up café on the Las Vegas Strip—the recently opened Hello Kitty Café. Hang outdoors and indulge in sweet treats like Hello Kitty cakes, macarons, cookies and brownies while sipping on coffee, milk teas and lemonades. You can also purchase exclusive merchandise. –Kiko Miyasato
The Park, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. 702.740.6969
The Power of 29
In a hurry? Head to Julian Serrano Tapas for its new 29-minute lunch menu. You get three courses, all served in 29 minutes or less, for just $29. Select one item from each course of Spanish-cuisine classics like ensalada mixta, black rice risotto, Cuban sandwich and chicken croquetas. And for just $4 extra, you can order a signature Spanish dessert, like churros with spicy hot chocolate dipping sauce. –KM
Aria, opens at 11:30 a.m. daily. 702.590.8520
Do-Good Dining
The Epicurean Charitable Foundation’s annual gala M.E.N.U.S., benefitting the scholarship program for students planning a career in hospitality and culinary arts, invites ticketholders to indulge in bites and cocktails from more than 50 of the city’s top chefs and mixologists. This year’s upscale dine-around theme is a Mad Hatter Garden Party. –KM
Hard Rock Hotel, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2, starting at $500 per person. 702.932.5098
