http://www.sun-sentinel.com/travel/print/sfl-vegasnewsjan14,0,229092.story?c
oll=sfla-travel-print
LAS VEGAS
Prince's numbers turning up at the Rio
By Bill Ordine
The Philadelphia Inquirer
January 14, 2007
Las Vegas may forever be the province of The King, but, at least for awhile,
Prince will be holding court.
The iconoclastic performer, whose ever-changing self-descriptions are
exceeded only by his shifting musical styles, has set up shop at the Rio
All-Suite Hotel & Casino in a surprising way.
Although some headliners have settled into long-term engagements -- Celine
Dion, Elton John and Barry Manilow, for instance -- more contemporary
big-time acts such as Prince have been content to pull into town for a few
days, appear at a concert venue, and then move along.
Earlier this month, however, Prince began what is being characterized as a
"multi-month, limited engagement" -- a description that's ambiguously
appropriate for the enigmatic pop music star.
For planning purposes, here's what it means.
For the foreseeable future, -- and possibly beyond -- Prince will be playing
in a sparsely renovated nightclub at the Rio on Friday and Saturday nights.
On Wednesday nights, the club, called 3121, will feature familiar acts such
as Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan and new ones favored by Prince. Thursday
nights is Latin Libido night, with salsa, merengue, reggae and rap.
For Prince's shows, tickets start at $125. There's also a dinner package for
$312.10, not including tax and tip, but more on that later. Admission on
Wednesday and Thursday nights is $31.21.
If you notice a numerology trend, that's another Prince thing. One story on
Prince-inspired Web sites identifies the number 3121 as an address at a Los
Angeles home where the performer used to give private concerts. Another
explanation is that the four digits add up to seven and have a spiritual
significance.
The four numbers do form the name of a recent Prince album, the new
performance space (the nightspot formerly known as Club Rio), and an
adjacent restaurant, 3121 Jazz Cuisine.
As for the $312.10 dinner package, it includes dinner at the restaurant
where Prince's chef, Lena Morgan, runs the kitchen; comfy table seating for
the Prince concert; and your choice of a bottle of wine or other alcoholic
beverage. The 3121 Jazz Cuisine features upscale entrees, including filet
mignon, lamb chops, and Chilean sea bass, from $29 to $48. There's also a
six-course tasting menu for $125, without wine.
Prince's midnight shows are a departure from the normal Vegas starting time
of 8:30 to 9 p.m., and they're a half-hour longer than the customary 90
minutes. Playing in a 900-seat theater that's industrial in ambience and
painted purple, and accompanied by a small ensemble and two dancers (the
Twins), Prince gave the fans who showed up for the first shows a generous
helping of new songs and fan favorites, including Purple Rain.
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IF YOU GO
For information and reservations for Prince: call 702-777-7776.
Copyright C 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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