Welcome To My Blog!

This is the place to come for all the latest news on my life and my performances.  I will do my best to update regularly (at least once every couple of weeks), and keep you up-to-date on all my comings and goings.  I can’t guarantee it will always be fascinating reading, but…it will be what it will be.  So check out the various posts below (the most recent post will always be listed first) and feel free to drop me a note when you can. Love always, Lisa…

PS> CLICK HERE to find out where I’ll be performing next!

Sin City Confidential!

Wednesday evening, my mom and I had the wonderful privilege of attending the invited dress rehearsal of Las Vegas’ newest Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, “Sin City Confidential.” We were invited by good friend Margaret Menzies of Dangerous Curves, who is one of six cast members making up this very fun, talented ensemble.

Here’s some information about the show from their website:

Sin City Confidential, written and directed by David Sebastian Bach and produced by BOTA Entertainment Int’l, provides a unique forum for audiences of all ages, and the cast, to interact with each other. The show takes theater goers through non-stop, side-splitting laughter, delicious food, and an unsolved mystery whose solution can win you a prize.

Barb Grant, Vice President of NV SAG Council, Stage Manager and Costume Designer, once again weaves her magic in this outstandingly funny show, performed “in the round.”

“The political situation in this country has become so terribly serious that I just couldn’t resist poking fun at some of its sacred cows”, says Writer/Director David Sebastian Bach. “Regardless of your political bent, or not, you will enjoy this tongue in cheek production”.

“We’ve also got an unbelievably talented and professional cast with natural comedic talent, and I’m honored and excited to work with them.”

Add to the mix a number of outrageously funny characters whose antics will leave you in stitches, and Sin City Confidential promises to thrill anyone in search of an evening of unforgettable fun, and a world class meal, just 5 minutes from the Strip.

Writer & Director David Sebastian Bach celebrates more than a half-century of experience in the entertainment industry internationally as a singer, song writer, actor, playwright, and director. His dinner theater productions won “Best of Phoenix” 5 years in a row.

The Tillerman is one of Nevada’s best known and most loved eating establishments.  Zagat rated, the Tillerman offers a menu to die for, with show attendees offered 4 delicious entrees to choose from, as a part of the four-course gourmet dinner served during the performance.

Sin City Confidential runs weekly, Thursday through Saturday, at The Tillerman, 2245 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89119.

Ticket Price: $89.95 (includes tax)

Includes 4-course gourmet meal and show!

Doors open at 6:00pm. Show begins promptly at 7:00pm

THE CAST

John Hanks (as Senator Paul Bosun): John Hanks, a 20 “native” of Las Vegas, is co-producer and marketing director for the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company. He has appeared on stage in OKLAHOMA, THE MUSIC MAN, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS, and OUR TOWN.  He’s done numerous reality shows, game shows and commercials and impersonates Elvis, Gerry Garcia and Santa Claus. He says, “Dinner Theater is as good as it gets for an actor – close, intimate, total connection with the audience.  I love it.”

Trixie Lovett (as Abigail Bosun): While Trixie is a newcomer to Dinner Theater, she’s no novice to the stage, having 13 years dance experience.  She is a wife, and mother of two teenagers.  In her free time, Trixie enjoys practicing yoga and taking care of her pet pigs.

Mike Mackenzie (as Joe “Sparky” Lewis): From a modest start performing magic shows in his hometown of Bethlehem PA, to becoming a regular weekend radio air talent by age 14, Mike Mackenzie has been a performer for as long as he can remember.  In addition to acting here in Las Vegas he is also a professional voice over artist, voice actor and radio personality.  Mike is the voice of several radio stations around the country and has been heard on CBS, NBC, SPIKE TV and most recently for a pilot series for The National Geographic Channel.  His website is www.mikevoice.com.

Margaret Menzies (as Chastity Morgan): Margaret, a New England native, has made Vegas her home for the past 5 years.  She came west to co-write and Asst. Direct the Delisco Show (Winner, E! TV’s The Entertainer with Wayne Newton) at the Las Vegas Hilton.  She appeared in Tony & Tina’s Wedding for three years and has appeared in numerous TV, film and musical projects, and sings with the vocal jazz trio, Dangerous Curves.  She is a founding member and Musical Director for Atlas Theater Ensemble’s sketch comedy troupe “Feed the Monkey” and teaches voice, acting and piano.

Grace Kelly (as Sally Nolan): Grace served in the United States Marine corps for 4 years. For two of those years she was a Boxer for the Marine corps. At one point, she became the number 1 female amateur boxer in the USA.  She aspires to become an opera singer, and love to do Shakespearean plays. Currently she teaches drama/theater to children in “after school” programs.

Anthony Mingilino (as  Detective Sgt. Geovanni “Geo” Martini): – Anthony, originally from the town of Cicero outside of Chicago has been a resident of Las Vegas for over 10 years.  He is a five year member of the Screen Actors Guild, having worked in television, film and commercials.  He has also appeared in the comedy Joey & Maria’s Italian Wedding on the Las Vegas strip.  Anthony is the proud parent of two teenagers, a boy and a girl.  In his spare time he loves to play sports with his favorites being hockey and baseball. His favorite teams are the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks and Da Bears.

For more info contact David Bach at 702-372-0400, www.sincityconfidential.com or to purchase tickets call the box office at 702-991-8550.

Friday-Night-Fun with Tiff and Craig!

Our friends Tiffany & Craig Rathbun came to town this weekend to celebrate their 15th anniversary (I can’t believe it’s been 15 years since their wedding!!!) and oh my goodness, we had SO much fun together! They got in about 6pm on Friday night, and following appetizers (I found a FABULOUS recipe for Guacamole HERE), drinks and dinner (Ron’s famous Chili recipe!) we headed down to the strip for some good-old-fashioned Vegas fun! First we met up with some of their friends at the Palace Station for $3.00 Margaritas and video poker, and then we all headed over to The Artisan Hotel for a bit.

The Artisan Hotel Lounge

Wow, what a beautiful place (um…The Artisan, not Palace Station…come on, people, really… )! Our friend Kye Brackett [choreographer, staging director and back-up singer for Barry Manilow...yes, the man is extremely multi-talented!] ALWAYS knows the hippest, coolest places to hang in Las Vegas, and he’s been talking about this place for years…but for some reason, we had just never checked it out before. We had heard that the old owners of The Artisan had gotten into some financial and “other” difficulty (you can read all about it HERE), but when we found out that it was just recently bought by Siegel Group (who also owns the Resort on Mount Charleston…and Ron and I LOVE that place!!!), we figured we’d finally check it out. Boy, were we impressed! Granted, the music was a bit loud for me (yes, I AM apparently getting old…), but the atmosphere, drinks and service were FABULOUS! I highly recommend checking it out for yourselves (1501 West Sahara Avenue).

But wait…there’s MORE! So, after The Artisan we decided to head over to Imperial Palace Casino to check out their Karaoke Club. Okay, now keep in mind that it’s almost 1:00am by this point, and unless I am gigging, I am usually fast-asleep by now…remember the “getting old” part???  Yeah, well…since none of us had to get up TOO early on Saturday, for a change, we thought “what the heck…let’s live it up…we can pretend we’re still young, and hip, and cool, right?!?!” Ha… So off we went. Well, 2 more hours, 2 more Margaritas, and LOTS of extremely bad karaoke later (except for OUR table, of course…MY friends were fabulous!), we figured it was finally time to head home. Of course, by the time we got home, had some leftover Guacamole and chips, and Tiff and I chit-chatted for a bit longer, it was almost 5:00am. Yikes!!!! And when I got up at 9:00am the next morning for rehearsal with the Girls, I felt every bit of it!!! Oh my goodness, I am SOOO not 22 years old anymore…and now I remember why we DON’T party like that anymore. Oh well, it was sure fun at the time! Thanks Tiff and Craig for a FABULOUS evening! Happy Anniversary!!!!

AZ and PASNV Shows!

Ron Smith, Diane Pearson, Lisa Smith

Hello again! Can you believe it’s only been a week since my last blog post and I’m actually writing AGAIN! Pretty good, huh? So our gig in Arizona at the Roadhaven Resort this past week went FABULOUSLY (here we are pictured with Diane Pearson, Activities Director for the resort, after the show…what a JOY she was to work with…a really sweet gal)!  It was almost like a little “mini-vacation” for us. We drove in on Tuesday, had the show on Wednesday, and drove back on Thursday. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott at Phoenix Chandler/Fashion Center, and let me just say, “WOW!” The hotel was absolutely gorgeous.  Brand new, beautifully decorated, great fitness center, a little bistro in the lobby that serves Starbucks coffee…I mean, really, just about every amenity you could think of! AND we got an incredible deal from Priceline.com…only $60 per night!!! And although we did hit some pretty scary weather on the way down and back (TONS of heavy rain and what felt like 45mph winds at times!!!), we made it safely and had a great time. And the best part? Diane is already talking about having us back again next year…possibly for Valentine’s Day! Here’s a copy of the review she gave us on GigMasters:

“Lisa Smith and her husband Ron were awesome. They came to perform at our resort Jan 20, 2010. Together they performed music from their “Back to Broadway” show, non-stop top notch entertainment. Lisa and Ron are multi-talented. The audience loved them and the comments included ‘This was a Quality act!’ Everyone that attended this event was very impressed. They were very easy to work with and professional. I plan to re-book. It was a great night had by all, thanks to Lisa and Ron.” - Diane P, 01/20/10, Activities Director for Roadhaven Resort, Apache Junction, AZ

Following our Performance, January 24, 2010

Yesterday, Dangerous Curves performed at the Library District Performing Arts Center in the “New York, New York: The City in Song” Show put on by the PASNV (Performing Arts Society of Nevada). We sang a swinging’ 3-part arrangement of “Lullaby of Broadway” and our own trio version of “Girl in 14G”…also performing in the show were the very talented Laurie Caceres, Jim Hodge, Gary Oakes & Lou Garcia, Lee Hughes, Wes Winters, and Tony Arias & Lloyd Ziel. Tons of talent! Thanks Tom and John for inviting us to perform…we had a great time, as always!

Yesterday, the girls and I also received a sweet email from Lolly Sample, one of the ladies who hired us to perform in December at the ROWC Holiday luncheon at Nellis AFB. Here’s what she had to say:

“I’m so sorry for the delay in writing this to you, but before another day goes by, I wanted to let you know how much the ladies of the Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club (ROWC) enjoyed your performance at our December luncheon.  Your choice of songs was perfect, and your presentation was so inviting.  Many truly wanted to sing along.  It was a great kick-off to the holiday season.  We wish you continued success, and thank you again for making our luncheon a truly special event!”

Totally sweet, huh? Yeah, Id say it was a pretty good week!

American Idol Promo and Rehearsals…

Okay, so I promised I would write a least a few times a month, so I guess I am due for another post…

Nothing very exciting to write about this week, except that I did have a simple, yet surprisingly FUN gig on Tuesday! I was hired to take some “American Idol” t-shirts and a bunch of balloons over to KLUC-FM Radio Station 98.5 and deliver a Singing Telegram to the DJ/Hosts of the “Chet Buchanan & the Morning Zoo” Show. It was to promote the Season Premier of “American Idol” on FOX, and it went really well (they even had me sing it LIVE on the air). A big thank you to Chet, Lauren, and Spence of the Morning Zoo for being so great, and an even BIGGER thanks to JAM Entertainment & Creative Services out of Chicago for the getting me the gig!

Aside from that, I also had a couple of rehearsals with Dangerous Curves to prepare for our upcoming appearance in the Performing Arts Society of Nevada’s show next Sunday called “New York, New York: The City in Song.” We will be doing a trio arrangement of the song “Girl in 14G” and a really fun 3-part arrangement of “Lullaby of Broadway.” We worked out all the blocking/staging on Friday, and I think the audience is really going to like what we’ve prepared!

Ron and I also spent some time this week preparing for our “Back To Broadway” show, which we’ll be doing on Wednesday at the Roadhaven Resort in Apache Junction, AZ. (By the way, a big thank you to our house-sitters who’ll be keeping an eye on things and taking care of our “kids” while we are out of town). Since we are adding several new songs to this special one-hour version of the show, it’s been a bit of work putting it all together. Here’s a rundown of what we’ll be including in the show:

• Putting It Together – Sunday in the Park with George
• Come Back To Me – On a Clear Day
• Stars and the Moon – Songs for a New World
• Do You Love Me – Fiddler on the Roof
• Lullaby of Broadway/42nd Street – 42nd Street
• I’m Not That Girl – Wicked
• Suddenly Seymour – Little Shop of Horrors
• Ya Got Trouble – The Music Man
• Adelaide’s Lament – Guys and Dolls
• You’re the Boss – Smokey Joe’s Café
• I Won’t Send Roses – Mack and Mabel
• Nowadays – Chicago
• All I Ask of You – Phantom of the Opera
• Stars – Les Miserables
• And I Am Telling You – Dream Girls
  
• Together, Wherever We Go – Gypsy

As you can tell, it’s a really fun show to do. Tons of GREAT music from some of the best Broadway shows in history! Besides, we decided it would be fun to make the gig into a little mini-vacation for us by heading down there a day early and staying two nights instead of one.  PLUS we got a great deal on Priceline.com…only $60 a night for Courtyard by Marriott! SO, we’re really looking forward to this…I’ll let you know how it goes…

Have a FABULOUS week everyone!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Okay, so as you can tell by my the fact that I am actually WRITING something, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is going to be to update my blog more often…like more than once every 6 months!!! LOL… So, I thought I would start the year with a few highlights from the past few months and give you a little update as to where things are now…

SEPTEMBER was a busy month for Ron and myself. First, we headed down to California over Labor Day weekend for my 20-year Young Americans Japan Tour Reunion…what a BLAST! So many people that I hadn’t seen in years…and they all looked fantastic (and surprisingly YOUNG…ya gotta love that about performers)! A HUGE thank you to Tiff, Craig & David for planning everything and putting in so much work to make sure the entire day was so successful…you guys are the best! Immediately upon returning, Ron and I went back to work preparing for the Heritage Makers Annual Convention, where we hosted the HM’s Got Talent competition, and performed a bunch of our own material, less than 2 weeks later. It was a LOT of work getting it all ready, but ended up being so much fun. Thanks so much to Doug, Brytt and Chris for inviting us to perform, and congratulations to the winners of the competition and to all who participated…you ladies ROCKED! The following week, I was off to the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco for a couple of days to sing an evening of Jazz at a swanky corporate event…got to sing all of my favorite music, wear a pretty dress, and I got paid too…gosh I LOVE my job!

Shades of Sinatra on Channel 13 News!

OCTOBER was equally as busy and also oh-so-much FUN! The first week was filled with special appearances with Shades of Sinatra as we went throughout Las Vegas (San Gennaro Feast, Radio Appearance on KJUL 104.3, Spotlight Appearance on Hit Parade, Television Appearance on KTNV-Channel 13 News) to promote our headlining weekend, October 3-4, at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. We added several new songs to the show this past year–You Will Be My Music, Lady is a Tramp [Ella & Frank version], The House I Live In, Winners, One For My Baby, Where or When, Please Be Kind, Don’cha Go Away Mad–and the crowd really seemed to love all the new stuff.  As a bonus, we also got to promote our brand new CD!

The next week (from October 7-12), Ron and I flew to Hyannis, MA to rehearse & perform with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra for their Gershwin Pops Concert. Talk about FABULOUS and FUN! Wow, we could not have asked for a better experience. The symphony conductor, Jung-Ho Pak, is not ONLY one of the most talented conductors we’ve ever worked with, he is seriously one of THE NICEST people we’ve ever met! We cannot express enough what a wonderful experience it was working with him and with everyone involved with the orchestra…we are just so grateful for the opportunity we were given. The show turned out to be a wonderful success for all involved…the 1400-seat theatre was completely sold-out for EVERY night of the performance!

“Rhythmic razzle-dazzle, toe-tapping jazz and swinging tunes explode in a tribute to the indomitable master of melody, George Gershwin. From Broadway to the silver screen, from Fred Astaire to Sting, Gershwin’s creative output transcends musical styles and idioms with off-the-charts hits like An American in Paris, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, S’Wonderful, and Summertime.  An intriguing virtual performance of Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue combined with a dynamic singing duo, husband and wife team Ron and Lisa Smith, up the volume on a performance packed with entertainment.”

CMA Awards - October 15, 2009

From Gershwin to Motown…just a few days later I had the opportunity to perform the following songs,

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Natural Woman
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
My Girl/Guy
Proud Mary

for the Motown themed CMA Awards at the Golden Nugett Hotel & Casino, dressed in 1960’s clothing, complete with big, blond wig & 3-inch Go-Go boots (ouch!).  The event planner/client, Jodi, turned out to be incredibly nice and even followed up by writing a fabulous review on GigMasters when it was all finished:

“Lisa was easy to work with, accommodating, talented, adorable and fun! Everyone loved her. I’d recommend her to anyone.” – Jodi Owens, Event Planner for Credit Management Association, Las Vegas, NV (Oct 15, 2009)

The next day I headed down to Riverside, CA with Dennis & Karen Michaels (two of my very FAVORITE people to sing with!) to perform for the BIA (Builders Industry Association) Awards Dinner at the Mission Inn Hotel. We were hired by Stargazer Productions to do a “singing waiters” gig…lots of GREAT MUSIC and I didn’t actually have to wait on ANY TABLES! Gotta love that!! Lol…

I ended the month (October 31, Halloween night) at Les Artistes Steakhouse at the Paris Hotel & Casino, singing an evening of Jazz Standards with Gary Stevens (piano) & Jeff Davis (bass). Their “regular” singer had another gig that evening so I got to fill in…what a great night!

Um, feel free to call me again anytime guys…seriously, anytime!

Las Vegas Lupus Walk!

NOVEMBER was mostly about rehearsing for the numerous Christmas gigs coming up in December! In addition to getting ready for our annual appearance at the Las Vegas Lupus Walk (where we sing the National Anthem every year for the Alliance for Lupus Research), the gals of Dangerous Curves decided to take on a few more “challenging” arrangements for the Holidays, including a KICK “A” big-band arrangement of Jingle Bells that ended up requiring a few more rehearsals than we were used to!!!!! But the good news is, it really paid off! In fact, we’re thinking about keeping that new rehearsal schedule as we head into the new year…

November also marked the beginning of the 3rd month of our album “Girl Talk” being on iTunes…it’s been really fun to watch the sales increase month after month!  It’s been getting great reviews too!  In addition, we used this month to finish our EPK (Electronic Press Kit) and create a NEW website. You can check them both out by visiting us on the web at www.DangerousCurvesLasVegas.com.  And remember, you can follow us on Twitter AND Facebook as well!

The only other appearance I had in November was as the opening act for Howard Hewett (legendary singer/songwriter & former member of the group Shalamar) at the Coker Foundation Annual Benefit Concert.  The event was hosted by the very talented comedian Galaxy Glenn and I presented 30 minutes of Jazz, Blues and R&B. To be quite honest, I was more than a bit nervous opening for such incredible talent…but everyone was extremely nice, and the concert turned out to be a HUGE success! Whew!!!!

Well, that brings us to DECEMBER! The beginning of the month was all about Dangerous Curves…with 7 performances in 5 days, the girls were quite busy!  On December 6th we had the opportunity to sing at all 3 services for the wonderful congregation of New Song Church in Anthem…we sang an absolutely BEAUTIFUL a cappella arrangement of Star of Wonder, written by Terre Roche (of the incredible vocal trio, The Roches). Thank you to Pastor Dave & Pastor Marta for always being so welcoming and for inviting us back again & again!

Immediately following those performances, we jumped in our cars and headed down to the Library District Performing Arts Center for the Performing Arts Society of Nevada’s Annual Holiday Show, where we shared the stage with some of Las Vegas’ best talent, including three of OUR favorite musical ladies, Kellie Wright, Cyndi-Lee Mack & Dolly Coulter. We premiered our new Jingle Bells arrangement AND sang a very fun rendition of Santa Claus is Coming to Town with Dennis Michaels, based on the FABULOUS Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters arrangement recorded back in 1943! Thanks Tom & John…we always have a great time performing in your shows!

On Wednesday, December 9th, we performed for the ROWC Annual Holiday Party out at Nellis AFB. We did 30 minutes of music, which included:

• Star of Wonder
• Love Being Here With You
• Old-Time Radio Medley (Sentimental Journey, Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Old Cape Cod)
• Cloudburst
• Jingle Bells
• Moon River
• Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town

We had a wonderful time, and the ladies were so complimentary. A big thanks to Virginia & Janet for inviting us!

The next day, December 10, Dangerous Curves appeared on the Hit Parade Show at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. Hosting that day were the incredibly talented Mark Giovi & Robin Vincent (of “Swing City Dolls”). We sang Jingle Bells & Star of Wonder. As always, we just LOVED performing for the Suncoast crowd…they are always so appreciative of everything we do!

We finished the week at Studio 8 Ten, downtown in the Art District, performing for their Annual Holiday Open House on Friday evening. We presented an hour of music (a mixture of Holiday music and some Dangerous Curves’ favorites) for the guests and staff. And talk about a wonderful cause…here’s a little information about Studio 8 Ten:

Studio 8 Ten is a non-profit arts and crafts studio providing paid training and employment for adults with disabilities in Las Vegas’ Transition Services supported employment programs. Resident artists train in the design, production, and sales of over 50 different handmade products, all unique to our company, and learn the specifics of running their own business. Studio 8 Ten fosters pride, self-sufficiency, and self-esteem by providing positive interaction with the community and opportunities to show off their personal talents. All proceeds from sales in the gift shop go directly back into the program to purchase supplies, upkeep facilities, and pay the individuals for their efforts.

Just before our performance at the Stirling Club, December 15, 2009

The following week, Ron and I performed a 30-minute version of our popular “Christmas Thru the Decades” Show for the Towne Club Holiday Luncheon at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place. This is such a fun show to do because it includes all the BEST Holiday music from the 1930’s thru the 1960’s! Songs such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1934), Baby It’s Cold Outside (1944), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1944), Let It Snow (1945), White Christmas (1947), Blue Christmas (1957), What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve (1960), Please Come Home for Christmas (1960), Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (1960), You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch (1966), and more…

(Note: The years given above are based on certain recordings of the individual songs, not necessarily the year the song was written.)

The week of the 21st, Ron and I performed the show 2 more times. First for the Foreign Travel Club Holiday Party (20-minute version of the show) at Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin, and then out in Boulder City for the residents & staff of the Nevada State Veterans Home (full 1-hour show). Both audiences were so wonderful and appreciative…particularly at the Veterans Home. It is one of our all-time favorite places to perform! Thanks so much Angela for having us back again this year!

To see available shows OR to book Lisa & Ron Smith for YOUR event, please visit www.BeyondTalentProductions.com

New Year’s Eve found me at 2 different gigs at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. The first was with Shades of Sinatra for our New Year’s at NOON Show in the main showroom, and the second was an evening of Jazz at SC Prime Steakhouse for their New Year’s Eve Dinner. Accompanied by the FABULOUSLY talented Dehner Franks on piano, it was an evening I will not soon forget! Completely wonderful in so many ways. To begin with, the restaurant is absolutely stunning, the food is spectacular, and everyone that works there is so nice. Secondly, it was such an HONOR to work with Dehner! He is so incredible and so much fun to sing with. I need to say a HUGE thank you to Glenda Zuhse (who recommended me for the gig, was SO sweet & accommodating the entire evening, and even arranged a Birthday cake for me!!!!) and Terry Jenkins for giving me the opportunity. Thanks for everything!

And that about wraps it up…2009 was quite a FULL year! I am grateful for so many things in my life–my family, my friends, my health, having a “job” that never feels like a job, those who actually take the time to read this blog , etc–but I am MOST thankful for my dear, sweet, sexy, hard-working husband who is my best friend and supports me in everything I do…I love you so much honey…thanks for a great year!

Look out, 2010, HERE WE COME!

Tournament of Kings Show at Excalibur: EXCELLENT for Gluten-Free!

Getting ready to enjoy a FABULOUS dinner and show at "Tournament of Kings" Show at EXCALIBUR Hotel and Casino

I just have to tell you about our recent trip to see the Tournament of Kings show at Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas!

It has always been one of my niece and nephew’s favorite places to go, and when they come for their annual visit it is of course the FIRST thing they want to do.  The last time I went with them was a couple of years ago, BEFORE I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Well, my husband was recently cast in the role of “King Arthur” in the show, so of course THIS year we wanted to SURPRISE them by taking them to see the show (without telling them ahead of time that their Uncle was in the show).  Anyway, as many of you know from some of my past posts, I get EXTREMELY sick from even the slightest bit of cross-contamination…so needless to say, I was a nervous wreck thinking about going.  I mean, I could always go and not eat, but at $60 a ticket, what fun is that???

Well, I had NO NEED to be worried! They were SOOOO accommodating…in fact, I think my gluten-free meal was possibly even better than what everyone else got to eat!

Here’s what we did to ensure a wonderful, and SAFE, experience:

• We bought our tickets a day or two ahead of time, AT the box office, in person.
• When we did so, we informed them that we had two people in our party with Celiac Disease (my mom and I) and would need two gluten-free meals, and would they be able to help us?
• I brought along a copy of my Triumph Dining Card (outlining what I could and could not eat), so that we could leave it with them if necessary.
• From the box office, they actually called their food and beverage manager to talk with us in person about the menu, and she went through every single item and ingredient, just to be safe.  She was fairly knowlegable about Celiac, but said she didn’t want to take any chances.
• Instead of the soup appetizer, she suggested a Salad with balsamic vinegar & oil on the side — which was beautifully prepared. QUICK NOTE: Although we had informed our server upon arrival that we had two gluten-free meals (which he had already knew), when the soup came out it was brought by a food “runner” who didn’t realize we had special meals.  My mom wasn’t with us when we made the reservations, so she didn’t realize we weren’t having soup and almost ate it. Fortunately, the server and I caught the mistake before she had any, so all was okay. In case this happens to anyone in your party, just remember, the tomato soup is NOT gluten-free.
• When preparing my Cornish Game Hen they used just salt & pepper.  No extra seasonings…it didn’t need any, it was FABULOUS with just the salt & pepper.
• I had a large Baked Potato with butter & sour cream on the side, instead of the fried “potato boats.”
• The meal came with steamed Broccoli, which was fine.
• For desert they prepared my mom and me a HUGE plate of fruit (fresh watermelon, strawberries, cantelope, honeydew, grapes & pineapple)! We had several people around us asking how we got so lucky to get Fresh Fruit!

To top it off, we were all able to get in on a “locals” discount of 2 FOR 1 (so about $30 per person, with tax, and that INCLUDES dinner & show!), which they do quite often…you just need to be sure and ask when you make your reservations if they have any locals discounts.

So, it turned out to be a WONDERFUL experience. My neice and nephew were totally surprised (and haven’t stopped talking about it for a week), the food was AWESOME, and the show was FANTASTIC.  Very, very fun! I would highly recommend it.

To find out more, please visit the “Tournament of Kings” page on the EXCALIBUR website by clicking HERE!

To order your own Triumph Dining Cards for safe, gluten-free ordering in ANY restaurant, visit their website: www.TriumphDining.com

Dangerous Curves Has Been BUSY!

Dangerous Curves at Flamingo Library, April 19, 2pm

Wow, it’s been a CRAZY month for Dangerous Curves…crazy in a GOOD way.  Here’s a bit of what we’ve been up to:

• Rehearsing and writing new material for our upcoming show at the Flamingo Library, April 19th, at 2:00pm.  We’re really excited about this show…lots of new songs, some cool multi-media effects we’re adding for the opening number and the Judy Garland section, an old-time radio medley (complete with vintage radio commercials and great Andrews Sisters songs) and NEW DRESSES!  Woohoo!!!  It’s been a TON of work putting it all together, but it’s going to be worth it!
• We also did a 20-minute guest spot at the “Hit Parade Show” a few weeks ago at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino. What a GREAT audience.  They are always so sweet and appreciative! Our show included the following songs: Sentimental Journey, Love Being Here With You, Faithless Love, How You Live, I’m A Woman, Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens.
• The following Sunday, we were invited to do a quick guest spot in the Kellie Wright & Friends show, hosted by the Performing Arts Society of Nevada. We sang Moon River and got a terrific response from the audience! Plus it was great to be accompanied by Tony Bronco again…Tony played piano for us when Dangerous Curves first appeared at the Bootlegger, back in September of 2007…great guy, great friend!
• This past Thursday, we had a guest appearance on the “Dennis Bono Show” at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino.  It was a live taping of “Sam’s Town Live” for 91.5FM & 720AM radio. We sang our 3-part harmony version of Cloudburst and it turned out REALLY great (well, after they fixed the microphone problems, that is…we actually ended up having to tape it a second time because the first time only Karen’s mic was on…all ALTO, all the time…very funny).  The show aired at 6:00pm on 91.5FM Friday evening, and I actually got to hear it on the radio…so cool!
• We’ve also been preparing for our upcoming appearance at the Annual Awards Presentation & Barbecue for the Nevada State Veterans Home on the 25th.  We’ll be the featured entertainment for the event, and will be doing about an hour’s worth of music for them. Can’t wait to do our new “Old-Time Radio” Medley for THEM…they are going to love it!

So, while it has been crazy…it has also been great!  Very fun stuff…very rewarding.

To fnd out more about Dangerous Curves, and to hear preview tracks from our NEW CD, please visit our website at www.DangerousCurvesLasVegas.com.

“Ned Thomas for NLV Mayor” Benefit Concert

Lisa Smith with Ned Thomas (candidate for North Las Vegas Mayor)

I recently had the privilege of singing at a campaign benefit concert for Ned Thomas (who is running for North Las Vegas Mayor in the upcoming election), where a portion of all proceeds were donated to “James Seastrand Helping Hands of NLV,” a local charity which serves the needs of our senior citizens. Now, those who know me well, know that I generally don’t get too involved in politics…however, in this case I do feel the need to write a bit about Ned Thomas and encourage you to consider him for your choice in the upcoming election (early voting starts THIS weekend…see below for schedule and locations).

My husband and I own a home here in North Las Vegas, and love the area…we plan to be here for many years to come.  While we’ve only been here for a little over 6 years, in that time we have already seen many changes in our growing community…some great, some not so good. Those who live here are familiar with what I mean.  So when we heard about Ned Thomas running for election, and began to read some of the things he stands for, and learned of some of his plans for the community should he be elected, we knew we needed to get involved.  He truly cares about the community of North Las Vegas…our home, and the home of our future children.

But instead of ME writing about what he believes, I will let you hear it directly from him, in HIS own words…from his own website.  Please take the time to read the following, and you will understand why I believe that Ned Thomas is the only choice for North Las Vegas Mayor. He’s a good man, and he’s an honest man…imagine THAT in a politician!

Now is the Time for New Leadership
February 12, 2009

The current Mayoral election in North Las Vegas comes at a critical time in the continuing development of our community. Twelve years ago, when Mike Montandon was first elected Mayor, the City of North Las Vegas stood at the threshold of an era of unprecedented growth and development. Since the last census in 2000, we have added more than 125,000 new residents to our city. We have been recognized during most of the last decade as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. We have added homes and neighborhoods, schools and shopping centers, parks and trails, and miles of new streets and infrastructure. The face of this City has changed dramatically in just a few short years, and we are still building. There is much left to be done.

The important question in this election is “What’s next?” How will we define ourselves and our community in a new era of slower growth and economic uncertainty? Looking around, it is obvious that we have already crossed the threshold into this new era. The evidence is all around us in the form of foreclosed homes, closed businesses and empty storefronts, unfinished streets and infrastructure. And this is not all! The economic uncertainty that swirls around us threatens the safety and security of our neighborhoods and the families and individuals who live in them. Just a few days ago, several schools in the vicinity of my son’s elementary school were placed in lockdown for several hours because gun shots were heard in the neighborhood. This is unacceptable under any circumstances. We need to feel safe in our homes.

This is a time for bold, new leadership in North Las Vegas. This is not a time for staying the course! This is not a time for more of the same at City Hall! The business model for local government that has served us so successfully in years past no longer applies because the circumstances around us have changed so dramatically. It’s as if the ground has shifted under our feet and we need to elect strong leadership with a commitment to broader thinking and higher ideals or we will not continue to progress.

This is a time for leadership that is fiscally responsible and places a high priority on funding for Public Safety. This is a time for leadership that is accountable and makes decisions based on what’s best for the needs of the residents of this community. This is a time for leadership that can articulate a clear vision for our community and then take the necessary action to make that vision a reality. This is a time for leadership that listens to the concerns of local residents and business leaders and responds to them with courtesy and respect. This is a time for leadership that can say “no” as well as “yes.”

I believe that my professional background and hands-on experience in local government clearly set me apart as your Best Choice for Mayor of North Las Vegas. I am a husband and a father of four small children. Within the next five years, all four children will be enrolled in the Clark County School District. I have a vested interest in the future of this community, and I am deeply concerned about the quality of our education system and the safety of our homes and neighborhoods.

I am an urban planner – one who has studied land-use planning and real estate economics and community development. I am a graduate of Harvard University and a former Fulbright Scholar, and I have a sincere desire to use my skills and hands-on experience for the betterment of our community. I am also a former member of the North Las Vegas Planning Commission, where I often had to make difficult decisions that would affect the lives and investments of others. This is not a duty that I took lightly.

Over the years, I have established a solid reputation at City Hall and elsewhere for working well with others to find common-sense solutions to our problems. I believe that the important issues we now face as a community demand that local government act wisely, think broadly, establish a clear vision for the future, and demonstrate a strong commitment to accountability and fiscal responsibility. Your support – and the support of your friends and family in the upcoming elections – would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Ned P. Thomas

If you live in North Las Vegas, I encourage you to get out there and vote this weekend (or anytime between March 21 – April 3)…make a difference for your community!

EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS for North Las Vegas, NV

• Saturday March 21  & Sunday March 22: Smith’s, Ann Road and Camino Al Norte, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday March 23, Silver Mesa Recreation Center, 4025 Allen Lane, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday March 24, Smith’s, Ann Road and Decatur Boulevard, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday March 25, Aliante Library, 2400 Deer Springs Way, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday March 26 – Friday March 27, Food 4 Less (trailer), LV Boulevard North and Civic Center Drive, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday March 28 – Sunday March 29, Smith’s, Centennial and Losee Rd, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
• Monday March 30 – Tuesday March 31, Lowe’s (trailer), Craig Road and Losee Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday April 1, Sun City Aliante, 7930 Aliante Parkway, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday April 2 – Friday April 3, Vons, Martin Luther King Boulevard and Craig Road, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m

PRIMARY ELECTION will be held April 7, 2009

GENERAL ELECTION to be held June 2, 2009

To find out more about Ned Thomas, and read more of his views and plans for North Las Vegas, please go to his official website at www.NedThomasForMayor.com

“Swing City Dolls” at Bootlegger Bistro…

Connie, Robin, Natalie

On Sunday night, March 15th, Dangerous Curves headed out to the Bootlegger Bistro to see our friend Robin Vincent perform with her vintage swing trio called “Swing City Dolls.” How fun!!!  They put on a really entertaining show from start to finish.  Very vintage, very cute.

The trio of girls (Connie Murray, Robin Vincent, and Natalie Carson) have been together for over 10 years (some of you may have known them previously as “The Swing Sisters.”)  Their repertoire for this 90-minute show consisted of several of the ‘classic’ trio songs that you would expect (songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy & Apple Blossom Time) and a few which came as a complete surprise (like a medley of hits from QUEEN, done vintage-swing style… I’m not kidding…really!).  I have to hand it to their musical director and drummer, Jim Belk…he has written some incredibly clever arrangements for them! Plus, I really want to compliment them on their patter between the songs…very cute, and very natural sounding.

"Dangerous Curves" with the "Dolls" after their show...

It’s always so much fun for us to go check out and support other entertainers and groups in town… seriously, there is SOOOO much talent here in Las Vegas! Every time we get to see someone else perform, we learn something new…and this was no exception.

Overall, a very fun evening…Congrats Girls!

PS> By the way, you need to check out the Swing City Dolls‘ new website… TOTALLY CUTE!  Their adorable logo was designed by the great John Magness and their photos (like the one at the top) were taken by Jim Warfel. They are definitely on the right track with their marketing!

Swing City Dolls will be performing at the Eastside Cannery (5255 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, NV 89122) in Marilyn’s Lounge on March 22, July 31 and August 1, from 4:00pm-8:00pm. For tickets, call 702-856-5300.

Marche Bacchus and SC Prime Steakhouse: EXCELLENT for Gluten-Free!

Lunch at "Marche Bacchus" in Desert Shores

As most of you know, I am always on the lookout for great restaurants that offer gluten-free options.  For those of us with Celiac Disease (a genetic autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1 in 133 and requires strict adherence to a 100% gluten-free diet for life), eating out SAFELY can be difficult and extremely frustrating at times (actually, MOST of the time).  Since even a minuscule, stray crumb of gluten left on a counter or in a pan can make me horribly ill, I have to be extremely careful.  So when I come across a restaurant where they actually KNOW how to prepare items gluten-free (and I don’t have to give them a 30-minute dissertation on what I can and cannot eat, and how extremely careful they need to be…which I absolutely HATE having to do), I am SOOOOOOOO excited!  I found TWO of these places this month!

Marche Bacchus French Bistro & Wine Market

The first is located in the Desert Shores community of Summerlin, and it’s called “Marche Bacchus.” Not only was the chef aware and extremely knowledgeable about Celiac Disease, but so was the manager on duty AND the server (I’m not saying ALL of the servers there would be, but this one was)!  In fact, the executive chef, Jean Paul, actually came out to the table to speak with us before AND after the meal, and seemed genuinely excited to prepare some things special just for my mom (who is also Celiac) and me.  We had Moules Mariniere (Mussels in a white, chardonnay, butter, garlic sauce) for an appetizer, La Piece De Boeuf Du Boucher (a Pan-Seared, Butcher’s Cut Steak, which was so tender and FABULOUS!) served with potatoes (substitute the Pomme Frittes for Pan-Roasted Potatoes) and vegetables for our entree, and the Grand Marnier Chocolate Cake (a gluten-free Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Coulis) for desert. YUM! And the ambiance was so spectacular, sitting right on the lake…so peaceful.  We went for a late lunch, and the prices were extremely reasonable.  We will definitely be back!

My GLUTEN-FREE Dinner!

The second restaurant is the brand new SC Prime Steakhouse & Bar, located at the Suncoast Hotel in Summerlin.  With floor to ceiling windows revealing a breathtaking view of the Las Vegas skyline, this elegant restaurant is among the most beautiful in town.  And the food…AMAZING! We got an incredible appetizer of Barbeque Shrimp with Spicy Chipotle Sauce (served without the toast points), 8oz Filet Mignon and Shrimp Scampi (with a lemon, garlic, butter sauce made specially without flour) with Creamed Corn and Cheddar Broccoli on the side, and Lemon Sorbet with Fresh Berries for dessert!  Are you hungry yet?????  Not only was the food amazing, but the service was absolutely top-notch!  We loved everything about it.  It may be a bit more pricey than most people can afford on a regular basis (we were fortunate to have received a COMP for the entire meal as a bonus from when Ron hosted the Suncoast’s “Barrels of Cash” give-aways last month), but for a special night out (anniversary, birthday, etc…) I HIGHLY recommend it!!!!!

Dinner at SC "Prime Steakhouse"

To find out more about Marche Bacchus French Bistro & Wine Market, visit their website: www.MarcheBacchus.com

Visit the SC Prime Steakhouse & Bar webpage to see their full dinner and dessert menus here: www.SuncoastCasino.com/dining/sc-prime-steakhouse-bar

To find out more about Celiac Disease and gluten-intolerance, visit www.Celiac.com