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Veterans Day Salute to the Armed Forces

Stand Up and Salute



Veterans Day was a day to celebrate and honor our military and veterans and show our appreciation for their service to our country. Sun City Anthem’s Freedom Hall was the place to be to display our patriotism and to show how proud we are to be an American.


  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBeZDDBxoIg

In honor of Veterans Day, Mistinguett Productions produced a show full of talented singers and dancers and variety acts for all veterans and active military.

                   Gabriella Versace & Grant Griffin

                                    Grant Griffin
       
Bert Lynch, formerly with the United States Air Force Band, starred and hosted the show and brought back lots of memories with photos of World War 11 and Elvis on the screen.


Also performing in the 75 minute production was comedian Fielding West, the Mistinguett dancers, singers Grant Griffin and Gabriell Versace. The night included magic which always has a special place in our hearts of wonderment.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G01NIsEtWSM

John B. Alexander, PH.D

John B. Alexander, Ph.D


                                        Dr. John Alexander
Photos by Nikki Artale

Dr. John Alexander a former U.S.Army Colonel (Ret.) has published a new book, “UFOs: Myths, Conspiracies and Realities”. He gets right to the points and says “UFOs are real. With no prevarication or qualification of terms, there are physical objects of unknown origin that do transit our universe. The evidence that supports those statements is simply overwhelming.” This is confirmed by reliable eyewitnesses and his many years of studies in the psychic phenomena and extensive work in government study groups. In the 1980s, John created a UFO study group called Advanced Theoretical Physics that was made up of members of the military and scientists. One of the conclusions was that the government was not responsible for the UFO information.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmUD8_t5ii0


George Knapp, an Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter invited John Alexander to speak at the Clark County Library and spend an evening with many people interested in the UFO phenomenon. George Knapp asked a lot of questions about UFO cases and issues that were on the minds of many. George has been interested in UFOs since the 1980’s when he first heard weird stories about things being hidden and tested in the Nevada desert, known as Area 51. As an investigative reporter he asked for six months to get to the bottom of this and he says he has more questions now as he did then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfvauZxWIHU


         Jim Driscoll, Rob Goald, Rick Ricciardi, Victoria Alexander

The Roswell incident was one of the major events that was discussed and the facts and flaws of other incidents. John has for many years investigated and interviewed every three letter agency and he said we are not at the point of answering many questions because we are not asking the right questions. John is an expert on lethal weapons. We should make it permissible for scientists to study these venues without risking their reputations.
http://www.johnbalexander.com/

                       George Knapp and Dr. John Alexander

There was a moment of laughter when a slide photo was shown on John Alexander’s day job with the “Men in Black”. John has been described as the only known example of a real Man in Black. The movie “Men Who Stare at Goats” was loosely based on John’s life and George Clooney played the character in the movie.


 
The knowledge and experience he shares is intriguing and I for one can sit and listen to John talk for hours. I am proud to say that I am a friend of John, and his wife Victoria Alexander is one of my best friends and we sealed our friendship bond when I traveled with John and Victoria to Ecuador to experience the ayahuasca plant ceremony. I remember sitting in the rain forest on a tree stump listening to John as he answered questions about the UFO phenomenon to the curious group we were traveling with.

    John Alexander, Shaman Don Luis & Victoria Alexander

 Shaman Don Luis and his family with our travel group in Ecuador

I have always been fascinated with Area 51, which for many years the government said did not exist and then finally admitted to it. Strange that in the years they were denying its existence, we could go up on a hill and look down on Area 51. A few years ago I went to the road leading to Area 51 and the signs were disturbing.


A book signing took place after the lecture and there were a lot of happy smiley faces as everyone waited patiently for John to sign his book and speak to him personally.


John is sought out to speak world wide and at times people will even come to his house to talk to him. On one such occasion we saw former Minnesota Governor Jessie Ventura come to John’s house for an interview. Jessie Ventura is on a mission to examine conspiracy allegations and area 51 is one of them.

Anyone interested in UFOs should read John’s book which can be purchased through Amazon. I have downloaded the book on my kindle and I am looking forward to reading this fascinating world of UFOs.

http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Conspiracies-John-Alexander-Ph-D/dp/0312648340
Absinthe
                                   Gazillionaire Voki Kalfayan

Photos by Nikki Artale

Absinthe is back on the Strip at Caesars Palace Roman Plaza in Las Vegas and once again playing to a packed tent. There is a new Spiegeltent that has all the best seats in the house and the front rows are so close to the performers that you can actually reach out and touch them.


I saw the show for the first time last March and I absolutely loved it and now seeing it for the second time, I was again in love with the acts, the Gazillionaire and my very favorite Penny Pibbets, played by Anais Thomassian. The skits are raunchy and wacky and a tremendous hit with the audience. The crowd was in an uproar as Penny and the Gazillionaire danced around the stage, it was the funniest part of the show.


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwI79dO4Myw

The high wire act was a hold your breath moment as they balanced themselves and walked the high wire. It took a lot of concentration, balance and skill to perform their amazing act.


It was non stop entertainment as we watched men climb to great heights on chairs and unbelievable hands of strength balancing each other in their acrobatic acts. The girl in the balloon was charming as was the dancing girl with her dancing men.





Penny didn’t disappoint us as she did a skit with her sock hand puppets that was hysterically funny. I love Penny and I would go back again just to see her again in the show.


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfdd5voouvQ

Everyone came back on the stage at the end of the show to thank everyone for coming and to take photos.



There were two celebrities in the house that night and I noticed that they really loved and enjoyed the show. Steven Gantt is the star of the TV Reality Show “Gigolos” and yes he is as charming and handsome in real life and we all love to be around him.

Giogolos is on SHO Thursdays at 11:00 pm. http://www.stevengantt.com/

Jan Rouven is the star of “Illusions” an unbelievable Magic show at The Clarion at 305 Convention Center Drive. Shows nightly at 7:00 pm (Dark Wednesdays) http://www.illusionsvegas.com/

Steven Gantt & Jan Rouven
Cathy Vo & Steven Gantt

Nico Santucci

Nico Santucci
Capone Family Secret Recipes

                                           Nico Santucc Photos by Nikki Artale

On November 2, 2011 the media was invited to attend a Prohibition Party at the luxurious Parisian Palace in Las Vegas, to officially launch Nico Santucci’s Capone Family Secret Recipes. Celebrity restaurateur Nico Santucci made a deal with the grandnephew of Al Capone to buy the 80 year old recipes for his two Capo Restaurants. The line of Italian Specialties include Hot Olive Salad, Garlic Clove, Fire Roasted Red Peppers and thick red marinara sauces, some mild and some hot and spicy. http://www.nicosantucci.com/


The thick rich hearty delicious sauces were the best specialty sauces I have tasted and they are now on Capo’s menus in his two restaurants on West Sahara and Tropicana.

The product line comes in a Prohibition Gift Crate, a Smugglers Box Set and a Spicy Smugglers Box Set and can be ordered on line. The gift crates come with numbered certificates of authenticity and a secret recipe card. Michael Emidio D’Arienzo is the spokesperson for the product line and he was excited to talk to everyone about it.
http://www.caposfoods.com/

                 Michael Emidio D’Arienzo

Chef Michael Miller was busy all night in the kitchen making trays of huge meatballs and putting together dishes of appetizers which all the guests loved and enjoyed the entire evening.

                             Chef Michael Miller

The Parisian Palace is owned by Nico Santucci and I had always admired the home for many years whenever I would drive by it. Being in real estate I longed to take a tour of this house so you can imagine how excited I was when I was invited to the Parisian Palace for the media night. Upon entering the property, I admired the beautiful grounds with the gorgeous statues and beautiful landscaping.

As I entered the house I was in awe of the beautiful gold staircase and the crystal chandelier hanging down from the original hand painted mural ceilings by painter Thomas Bisetti. Sitting in the middle of the entry hall was a motorcycle that Nico custom built. Adjacent to the nightclub was a bowling alley.


As I toured the house I saw that every room was more beautiful than the next and Nico had traveled all over the world collecting furniture, artifacts and stunning pieces of art to decorate his 21 room mansion. The Parisian Palace is modeled after a real 17th century Versailles Palace.


We ended up the evening by going to the nightclub where we were entertained by 3 comedians and then by Cabby F Yung Joc singing “Left Lane”


 http://youtu.be/qJuae3HZ4P4







Special Olympics Nevada


Photos by Nikki Artale

A fundraising rappelling event was hosted by the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas that benefited the Special Olympics Nevada. Special Olympics were looking to reach a $100,000 fundraising goal that would benefit over 4,000 Special Olympic athletes in Nevada. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics said “The days of separation and segregation are over. Special Olympians, you have taught us what truly matters is the courageous spirit, the generous heart”.



Everyone gathered on the 51st floor to either participate or watch the brave souls that were about to embark on the experience of their lives. The Edgers were there to scale down 400 feet and were being supervised by “Over the Edge” company from Nova Scotia.


I could see the nervousness of some of the participants as they slowly descended down the wall of the Rio. Some had smiles and some had the look of worry and concern.



I could very well feel what they were feeling because in the 80’s I too had rappelled down a mountain in a 10 day course that I did with the Werner Erhard’s “EST” training. It was one of the most exciting things that I had done at that time in my life. I then went on to be a part of the “Alivening” project that was founded by Glenn and Barbara Smyly. www.alivening.com

Their commitment and service to everyone made a tremendous difference in my life and I am who I am today because of them and the training.

It was a proud day for Lisa Tenner when she participated in rappelling for the Special Olympics. Lisa said she was honored to be the first person to rappel 51 stories down the Rio. Mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed October 14, 2011 “Lisa Tenner Day”. Celebrities were on hand to support everyone participating in the event. Steven Gantt, star of the TV Reality show “Gigolos” showed his support. http://www.stevengantt.com/

http://www.tennerandassoc.com/

Lisa Tenner & Steven Gantt


One lucky fan, Nikki Giroux was actually swept off her feet by Steven Gantt.

                          Steven Gantt  & Nikki Giroux

UNLV Mascot, Hey Reb had a team rooting for him as he went down 51 stories, just like a pro.




http://youtu.be/FpvmZryMfww Video054 Hey Reb
I think someone in Las Vegas should make this activity an ongoing event for all the thrill seekers looking for something exciting. I might just consider rappelling again.