Multiple Grammy winner Anita Baker thrilled her first Encore Theater audience at Wynn Las Vegas Friday night, taking the stage with a performance of “Lady Marmalade” before rolling out all her fan favorites and turning the luxurious room into a soul celebration. It was the first of five sold-out shows at Wynn for Baker, who’s wrapping up a brilliant stage career with her Farewell Concert Series tour this year. She’s back onstage August 29 and September 1 and 2 so hit those ticket apps if you want to catch this legendary vocalist live and in person.
The two resident headliners who recently returned to Vegas announced additional dates over the weekend. Barry Manilow’s Westgate International Theater show is now selling tickets for performances from September through February, and Barry’s on the books for dates every month through June. And Mariah Carey announced five new dates in the new year for “The Butterfly Returns” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She’s back on the Strip this weekend with concerts on August 31 and September 1, 2, 5, 9 and 10, while tickets for her February shows will go on sale this Friday.
Barry Manilow at the Westgate.
Actress Jennifer Finnigan from TV’s “Salvation” celebrated her birthday Saturday night in downtown Las Vegas with actor husband Jonathan Silverman at Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Steakhouse at the D. After a custom-made “Salvation” carrot cake, the couple was spied partying with casino owner Derek Stevens and his wife Nicole at the Longbar.
Remember that chart-topping, R&B-meets-hip-hop, collaborative cover “Whatta Man” from 1993-94? Be prepared to see it performed live when you check out “I Love the ’90s: The Vegas Show” at Paris Las Vegas this fall. Both great girl groups who put that song at No. 3 on the Billboard charts will be among the opening acts for the new Strip production as En Vogue was recently announced to be joining Salt-N-Pepa. Also planned for the kickoff performances October 12-27 at the Paris Theater are Rob Base (“It Takes Two”) and All-4-One (“I Swear”).
Mat Franco celebrated the third anniversary of his show “Magic Reinvented Nightly” Friday night at the Linq, commemorating the milestone with Champagne and cupcakes with his crew before the show. The upstairs theater was named for the “America’s Got Talent”-winning magician last spring and he’s been performing eight shows a week there since last summer.
There’s been a lot of F&B action at the Venetian and Palazzo lately and yet another new venue was announced last week. Mott 32, an award-winning restaurant based in Hong Kong, will open its first U.S. outpost at the Palazzo this winter, bringing a menu of authentic Chinese recipes handed down from generations. Executive chef Man-Sing Lee holds two Michelin stars and will team with Vegas-based head chef Alan Ji to create the new culinary experience.