Jetsettersblog

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe has expanded the grand opening celebration of Peek Nightclub to three nights of entertainment over Presidents’ Weekend, Feb. 15-17. “Jersey Shore” star JWOWW will now host the Peek party on Feb. 15. The “Mardi Gras Gone Wild” theme on Friday night will also feature San Francisco’s DJ E Rock. Record producer and rapper Jermaine Dupri will be the celebrity DJ on Feb. 17. As previously announced, Paris Hilton will host festivities on Feb. 16.

With more than 6,700 square feet of space, Peek’s new footprint includes 40 intimate VIP sections. With the capability to provide full-scale music performances, the club will host top DJs from Las Vegas, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. The club also will feature aerial shows several stories above the dance floor.

The Light Group, Las Vegas’ largest nightlife venue operator, has selected Nite Tours International as its exclusive nightlife tourism/club crawl company. The Light Group operates several of the destination’s top nightclubs, including The Bank (Bellagio), Haze (Aria) and 1OAK (The Mirage).

San Diego is a year-round travel destination offering a plethora of annual events. No matter what time of year, visitors can travel to San Diego and find an extraordinary range of colorful street festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, specialty fairs and much more. For up-to-the-minute event listings and changes, visit www.sandiego.org/eventcalendar.

JANUARY

Jan. 13-18
San Diego Restaurant Week

More than 180 of San Diego’s finest restaurants participate in a celebration of the local dining scene with prix fixed menus.

Jan. 27
Carlsbad Marathon and Half-Marathon

The second-oldest marathon on the U.S. West Coast also features a Kids’ Marathon Mile on the day before the big race, as well as a Health and Fitness Expo.

Jan. 21-27
Farmers Insurance Open

The annual PGA Tour men’s golf tournament is played at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, home of the 2008 U.S. Open.

Jan. 26
Big Bay Whale Days & Festival

This free family event offers a wide variety of interactive and hands-on displays to learn about the annual winter migration of the California gray whale along San Diego’s coastline.

FEBRUARY

February-April
Wildflowers Bloom in the Desert

Depending on the timing and amount of winter rainfall, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego’s East County turns into a wonderland of color when the spring wildflowers bloom.

Feb. 12
Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter

This is the biggest Fat Tuesday celebration on the U.S. West Coast. Parades, music and beads take over downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter.

Feb. 16-17
31st Annual Chinese New Year and Cultural Fair
Festivities in downtown San Diego include Asian cuisine, martial arts and cooking demonstrations, cultural exhibits and traditional Lion and Dragon dances.

MARCH

Mar. 1 – May 12
Flower Fields Ranunculus Season

Fifty acres of beautiful Tecolote Giant Ranunculus come into bloom every spring at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.

Mar. 7-17
20th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival

San Diego’s proximity to Mexico makes it a natural venue for this prestigious film festival, focusing on works by Latinos or about the Latino experience, held at the UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center in Mission Valley.

Mar. 16
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival

‘Tis the luck of the Irish for San Diego when the St. Patrick’s Day Parade sets off from Juniper and 6th Street by Balboa Park. An Irish festival with traditional dancers, music, a beer garden and Celtic village follows the parade.

Mar. 17
ShamROCK 2013

With 40,000 sq. ft. of Astroturf, downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter turns into the rolling hills of Ireland from 4 p.m. to midnight. This St. Patrick’s Day party includes Irish rock bands and pints of green beer; guests must be 21 years or older to attend this ticketed event.

Mar. 23-24
Spring Busker Festival

Seaport Village along San Diego Bay comes alive with a celebration of street performers in a battle of entertainment and one-of-a-kind performances by jugglers, sword swallowers, comedic stuntmen and more.

Mar. 30
Ford California Half-Ironman Triathlon

Athletes from all over the world swim 1.2 miles in Oceanside Harbor, bike 56 miles through neighboring Camp Pendleton and run 13.1 miles back to the finish line at Oceanside Pier in the San Diego North County city of Oceanside.

APRIL

April-October
San Diego Padres Season

The San Diego Padres step up to the plate and begin another exciting, six-month season of Major League Baseball, played in PETCO Park in downtown San Diego.

Apr. 5-7
La Jolla Concours D’Elegance Motor Car Classic

Paying tribute to some of the world’s finest automobiles, the Motor Car Classic highlights over 30 juried classes of automobiles; vintage auto aficionados and collectors compete against the best vehicles in automotive history.

Apr. 6-7
49th Annual San Diego Crew Classic Regatta

Rowers from across the country come to Crown Point Shores on Mission Bay to participate in one of the most distinguished rowing competitions in the U.S.

Apr. 18 – May 5
Annual Del Mar National Horse Show

The most prestigious horse show in Southern California offers more than $300,000 in prize money and attracts more than 3,000 horses to the equestrian complex at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in coastal Del Mar.

Apr. 19-21
49h Annual Lakeside Rodeo

Bareback bronco rides, calf roping and other traditional rodeo competitions, along with food and crafts, bring the Wild West to life in Lakeside in San Diego’s East County.

Apr. 20-21
88th Annual Coronado Flower Show

The nation’s largest flower show under a tent takes place in Spreckels Park in Coronado. Flower exhibits are placed around a central gazebo, which becomes the stage for live entertainment and trophy presentations.

Apr. 21
Fallbrook Avocado Festival

Since the 1960s, tens of thousands of avocado lovers converge in Fallbrook, located in San Diego’s North County, to sample avocados, check-out the crazy cooking contest entries, buy funky avocado-themed gifts and enjoy bands, live entertainment and friendly beer gardens.

Apr. 21
Annual San Diego Earth Fair

Set in Balboa Park, the celebration of planet Earth features a children’s parade, booths, educational exhibits, music and earth-friendly food.

Apr. 27-28
Mission Federal ArtWalk

The free visual and performing arts celebration takes place in downtown San Diego’s colorful Little Italy neighborhood and is the largest art event in San Diego.

Apr. 27-28
40th Annual Adams Avenue Unplugged Festival

The free, two-day festival features 180 musical performances of acoustic music, held on four outdoor stages and 22 indoor stages along a two-mile expanse along Adams Avenue, from the neighborhoods of Kensington to North Park.

Lucas Bols today announces the launch of the seventh annual Bols Around the World competition, the prestigious bartending world championship that seeks to find the world’s most talented and inspiring bartender.

Contenders are invited to compete in three heats over six months for one of 20 spots in the semi-finals which will take place in Amsterdam on May 6, 2013 and 12 spots at the Grand Final, also held in Amsterdam, on May 7, 2013. The contest, which has the widest reach of all major global bartending competitions, goes live on December 1.

Participating bartenders drawn from 60 countries from all corners of the globe will be asked to create a cocktail recipe using Bols Genever, Bols liqueurs, or both, for a chance to win a trip around the world to four cocktail cities of his or her choice over eight days. The overall winner will also be awarded a Platinum Bols Ambassadorship, including two all-expenses-paid trips to Amsterdam for intensive training.

Twenty finalists will receive a one-year Gold Bols Ambassadorship, including a trip to Amsterdam for intensive Bols Ambassador training and an honorary contract to represent Bols in their own home country across a range of seminars, trade shows and courses. Together with the winner, they will be profiled on the competition’s global website and receive a Bols Around the World National Champion Trophy and a Limited Edition Bols Barrel Aged Genever, signed by Lucas Bols master distiller, Piet Leijenhorst.

To make it to the final, bartenders will be tested on the key attributes of a world-class bartender. In 2012, Gabor Onufer from Hungary was crowned Bols Bartending World Champion from a field of 1,600 bartenders for his The Merchant cocktail and Pass the Dutchie food pairing recipe.

One spot in the finals will be reserved for a member of the Young Talent Program, a unique programme that gives bartenders aged 18-21 (depending on country’s legal drinking age) the chance to compete with the world’s best bartenders. To help them reach this level of expertise, they will receive coaching from the Bols Bartending Academy throughout the competition. Four young talents will then compete in Amsterdam against each other, and only the best will make it through to the Grand Final to compete against the 11 other finalists.

Sandie van Doorne, Lucas Bols creative and communications director comments: “Now in its seventh year and running across 60 countries, Bols Around the World is the widest reaching bartending contest in the world and this year’s Grand Final is set to be more spectacular than ever.”

“The competition celebrates the best in bartending technique and reflects the values taught at the Bols Bartending Academy, from drink knowledge and mixology to hospitality, speed and efficiency. Contestants receive training from the Bols Bartending Academy throughout the competition to foster the innovation and excellence that Lucas Bols stands for.”

About the competition
The competition, which will be open to 20 regions across the globe, with one semi-finalist selected from each*, will be made up of three heats including a cocktail round, theoretical test and video.

Heat #1 will test the bartenders’ mastery of flavour. To compete, bartenders will be asked to upload a cocktail recipe with a minimum of 1/2 oz Bols Liqueurs and/or 1 oz Bols Genever, which will be judged for harmony and balance.

The best bartenders per country will move on to Heat #2 to complete an exam on the fundamentals of bartending. The 40-question online exam will cover a wide-range of topics, with everything from the history of distilling to influential cocktail personalities and coffee. The best bartenders from each country with the highest score will move on to the final heat.

For Heat #3, bartenders will be tasked with creating a short video of themselves, up to 60 seconds in length, presenting their cocktail. The films will challenge bartenders to display their flair for cocktail techniques, passion for bartending, and style of service. 16 professional bartenders and four young talents will be selected to go through to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals and Grand Final will be conducted in Amsterdam from May 2-7, 2013 in a top secret location, hosted by Bols Bartending Academy trainers, Rob Rademaker, Malika Saidi and Ruben Maduro. Participants will be put through their paces at interviews with the global judging panel and assessed not only on their cocktail recipe, but also their food pairing, presentation skills, commercial and marketing insight, understanding and passion for bartending and overall ability to entertain, ensuring the winner is a truly all-round bartender and Bols ambassador. On the last day, 12 bartenders will enter the Grand Final, where they will be judged by a panel of some of the most admired personalities in the spirits industry:

* Anistatia Miller & Jared Brown – Directors of Mixellany Limited, publishers of more than 30 books on drinks, spirits and history
* Hidetsugu Ueno – owner and bartender of Bar High Five Tokyo and master of Japanese bartending
* Jeff (Beachbum) Berry – One of Imbibe magazine’s ’25 Most Influential Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century’, Global Tiki Expert, co-owner of Faux Tropical Bar School
* Ago Perrone – Global Brand Ambassador Galliano, Head Mixologist Connaught Bar, World’s best cocktail Bar T-O-C
* Gabor Onufer – Bols Bartending World Champion 2012

Up to the minute information on the contest and rules and regulations for the contest can be found at Bols.com.

Notes to editors:
*Participating regions: 1-US 2-Canada 3-Latin America (excl Argentina) 4-Argentina 5-UK 6-Scanda 7-NL 8-Russia 9-Italy 10-Eastern Europe 11-Western Europe (Germany /Italy),12 Germany
13 Australia & New Zealand 14-Japan 15-Africa & Middle East& India 16-South East Asia& South Korea& China, Taiwan , Hong Kong & Macau 17-Young Talent Holland 18-Young Talent Americas 19-Young Talent Europe 20-Young Talent Australia, Asia , Africa

For more information on the contest, please contact Simone Harvey or Victoria Johns at Lime PR on +44(0)2085446917, s.harvey@lime-pr.co.uk , v.johns@lime-pr.co.uk  or Ara Carvallo on +3120570 8542, aracarvallo@lucasbols.com

Work has begun on a new beer bar located in the centre of Perth. Set to open late 2013, the Northbridge Brewing Company is the brainchild of proprietors Michael Rasheed and Michael Keillor. The plan is for a two storey bar and dining area with a sky deck that will overlook the city. Beer production is expected to top 150,000 litres of small batch craft beer annually. There is no official word on what types of beers will be produced but the recipes are apparently already under development

Two-Story Bar to Serve Up Social Scene, Spirits in Classic Surroundings

LAS VEGAS – Commonwealth will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, Dec. 12, bringing an inviting new social scene to Downtown Las Vegas. Located at 525 E. Fremont St., the quintessential 6,000-square-foot cocktail bar is inspired by pre-Prohibition era design and libations; complete with its very own backroom speakeasy. A rooftop bar will offer an experiential setting for live music.

“Commonwealth was designed to emulate an East Coast bar that has been sitting on the same cobblestone street for the past 100 years; but with these amazing, eclectic touches that make it stand apart from any other establishment,” says Commonwealth proprietor, Justin Weniger. “We have created something special; and believe Commonwealth will become known as one of the best spots in the country to enjoy a phenomenal, one-of-a-kind cocktail and stylish atmosphere.”

Weniger, along with partner, Ryan Doherty, local business man, Michael Parks, hospitality veteran, Kenna Warner, and founder of Insomniac Events, Pasquale Rotella, have come together to create Commonwealth as a classic bar for the modern era.

“Commonwealth speaks to the very definition of the word: for the good of the community,” says Parks. “We want to be part of the downtown story. A great cocktail bar is timeless, and the city block where Commonwealth will be located is building incredible momentum.”

Like the cocktails from the pre-prohibition era; the emphasis will be on fresh ingredients, spices and flavors. The drink menu will feature a collection of the finest spirits and libations, each expertly crafted by one of the top mixologists in the city, Juyoung Kang, and executed by Commonwealth’s experienced bartenders.

“Commonwealth’s beverage program is the unification of time, culture and class. It’s a reflection and marriage of the old and the new with hopes to become the benchmark trendsetter of how it should be to come,” explained Kang. “We want Commonwealth to be the common stomping grounds for everyone where they come in and cheers to the people around them just for the sake of it. The cocktails are all about enjoying the moments that make up a life.”

The cocktail menu is split into different sections including the “Common” and “Wealth” sections. The Common cocktails include The Son of Man, which includes Hangar One Spiced Pear vodka, Berentzen Apple liqueur, lemon, lime, simple syrup and garnished with a lime-soaked apple slice; and Great Odins Raven, made with Bacardi rum, Jim Beam bourbon, simple syrup, cream and topped off with cola.

The Wealth section includes the ever-so-classy Sidecar, made with Hennessy VS Cognac, lemon and simple syrup; and The Liberal Lady, made with Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey, Green Chartreuse, lemon, egg whites and a champagne float.

The Commonwealth drink menu will also include Punch Bowls, made to be shared with friends, and Fancy Beers, featuring cocktails made with beer. The Punch Bowls include Pillow Talk, a mixture of Skyy Pineapple vodka, Skyy Ginger vodka, lemon and lime sour, pineapple juice and grenadine; and The Beautiful Buzz, a tasty concoction of Absolut Mandarin, Marie Brizard Watermelon liqueur, cranberry juice, and lemon and lime sour. The punch bowls each serve about eight drinks. The Fancy Beers include the Benevolent Nod from Morgan Freeman, made with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Cherry Herring liqueur, filled with Miller Lite and garnished with a brandied maraschino cherry, among other unique beer cocktails.

New cocktails will be introduced at Commonwealth seasonally and several signature cocktails will remain on the bar menus, year-round.

While the lower level is for socializing, the 2,000-square-foot rooftop patio will be for partying. Live music and entertainment will create a dynamic setting for guests to enjoy the view of Downtown Las Vegas while enjoying beer, wine and cocktails.

Warm, incandescent light sets an intimate tone, washing over the dark, grainy wood and exposed brick on the walls and floor. Booths will be tucked away in alcoves for private conversations, while a communal 20-foot-long bar will encourage co-mingling among guests. Touches of light from candles will accent the room, and an assortment of picture frames will cover the walls. Situated in the center of the bar will be an oversized peacock, commissioned by artist Miguel Rodriguez for Commonwealth, standing proud to greet each and every guest. The iconic bird will be seen throughout Commonwealth, from the exterior signage to the cocktail menu.

Commonwealth will be open Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to close and noon to close on Saturday. More information is available by calling 702.798.7000 or visit CommonwealthLV.com or on Facebook or on Twitter.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji are giving families an early Christmas present this year with all children, 5 to 17 years of age, able to eat, play and cruise for free, when accompanied by a paying adult, on all 3, 4 and 7 night Fiji cruises.

Imagine taking your whole family aboard the 120 passenger, fully accommodated MV Reef Endeavour this school holidays on a voyage of discovery and fun around the Yasawa Islands or remote North of Fiji.

Offering a truly heartwarming cultural experience for parents and children, passengers will visit and learn about unspoilt Fijian villages, handicraft markets, experience a traditional village Sevusevu ceremony, Meke and Lovo feast, tour village schools and visit village churches.

As well as being immersed in Fijian culture, the kids will have hours of fun snorkelling over coral reefs, playing on white sandy beaches, swimming in crystal clear waters, or staying dry and taking a glass bottom boat ride to see the marine life on the coral reefs. Adults can have the extra thrill of diving in these spectacular Fijian waters.

Families can stay onboard and adults can enjoy being pampered at the ships Senikai Day Spa, or simply relaxing on the sun deck by the spa or pool while enjoying a cocktail or two from the pool bar, all while your children are being looked after for free.

Complimentary child minding is provided for children 5-10 years between the hours of 9.00am-12noon, 2.00pm -5.00pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm and includes supervision in passenger cabins, in the Reef Room where children can watch movies and play, onshore for beach activities and in the swimming pool.

Captain Cook Cruises offers a range of family accommodation from family cabins that sleep to inter-connecting family staterooms.

This amazing deal is valid for sale until 31 December 2012 and valid for travel on all cruises including the 3, 4 and 7 night Yasawa Islands cruises and the 7 night Northern Fiji Cultural and Heritage cruises until 31 March 2013.

Early Booking Savers (EBS) fares start from $699.20 per person twin share for the three-night cruise, from $967.00 per person twin share for the four-night cruise, and from $1537.60 per person twin share for the seven-night cruise and kids eat, play and cruise for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Prices include all meals on board, guided village and island tours, glass bottom boat excursions, on board entertainment and use of the ship’s facilities including swimming pool, spa, pool bar, sun deck, sauna, cocktail bar, day spa and library.

-ENDS-

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises on T: +61 9126 8160 or from within Australia: 1300 To Fiji (86 3454), Email: fiji@captaincook.com.fj or visit www.captaincook.com.fj

Unparalleled views of the downtown Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay…

The hottest beats by some of the top DJs…Exclusive table service in one of South Florida’s most unique settings. Viceroy Miami hotel recently unveiled FIFTY, a rooftop indoor/outdoor ultra lounge destined to become a centerpiece of Brickell Avenue’s burgeoning nightlife scene.

FIFTY’s indoor lounge blends sleek design, glamour and sophistication. The boutique space is highlighted by custom chaise lounges and tables, an expansive bar and dance floor.

The outdoor rooftop features secluded cabana beds, LED- paneled DJ booth, and a private pool.

Open Friday and Saturday nights starting at 10 p.m., FIFTY is located at Viceroy Miami hotel, 485 Brickell Avenue. For more information visit

www.viceroymiami.com

Las Vegas’ Encore will open Andrea’s restaurant and nightclub on Dec. 28. Enclosed from view of the casino floor, the 6,194-square-foot restaurant will feature a lounge conducive to socializing, a step-up dining area, hexagon tables for larger groups, intimate private dining enclaves, and a 2,100-square-foot terrace overlooking Surrender Nightclub’s outdoor space.

Resident DJ Steve Angello, of Swedish House Mafia fame, will direct Andrea’s music program. Top resident DJs will also spin sets after 11 p.m., as the lounge transitions into Surrender Nightclub.

Seating 155 in the dining room, Andrea’s will offer an exhibition kitchen serving Asian cuisine. Andrea’s will be open seven nights a week from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The Langham, London is delighted to announce that cocktail bar, Artesian, has been named the world’s best bar at The World’s 50 Best Bars Awards 2012 by Drinks International.

The awards ceremony took place last night, hosted by Master Mixologist Dale deGroff and Lucy Britner from Drinks International.

Alex Kratena, Head Mixologist commented, “It’s an honour to be recognised by the industry for all our hard work. We’re very proud of our innovative and diverse cocktail menu and we will continue to push the boundaries of cocktail experimentation”.

Following the launch of Drinks International’s worldwide industry survey, regional winners were announced from the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa and the Middle East, as well as the awards for Highest Climber, Highest New Entry and The World’s Best Bar 2012.

Artesian, the award-winning bar at the luxury Langham, London opened in 2007, creating a new destination for hotel guests and locals. Its name is inspired by the 365 foot deep well under the hotel which originally supplied all the fresh water for guests.

David Collins’ elegant yet striking interiors are described as “combining hints of exotic Orientalism with the romance of Victorian nostalgia and some stylish contemporary touches.” The chic and romantic design blends a sense of the past with a palpable sense of modern luxury.
www.london.langhamhotels.co.uk