The Year In Review At The Stirling Club

With the countdown to a new year well underway in Las Vegas, General Manager Mike Saye and the entire team would like to take this opportunity to thank members for a very memorable year.

While there are many ways to accomplish this, it seems most fitting to share some of these moments as seen through the eyes of our members, guests, and friends. The mentions below represent only a few of the experiences enjoyed at The Stirling Club this year. And yet, because our members, guests, and friends took the time to share them, they are representative of what makes The Stirling Club a second home for residents and regular visitors. Thank you and enjoy.

Twenty-Five Stirling Mentions by Members & Friends

Elisa Fiorillo is Back in the Footlights! by Diane Taylor. Living Las Vegas featured a photo of singer/songwriter Elisa Fiorillo at The Stirling Club. Earlier this year, Fiorillo performed with Prince on Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Our members join her every Saturday night for live performances(including this New Year's Eve).

Rachel Uchitel Lists Her Las Vegas Property by Daniel Kanoon. The Property Buzz was quick to pick up on Rachel Uchitel listing her ground floor penthouse at Turnberry Place. So was The Real Estalker.

Repuff, Cigar Relighting Solution by Dane Maralason. Commenter Dante Becerutti III shared his experience rebuffing a Fuente Opus at The Stirling Club.

Featured Community Member by Theresa Hall. Half-Hour Meals, which is an online community-supported cookbook, features former dining reviewer and member Richard Becker including The Stirling Room at The Stirling Club (Charlie Palmer) among his top five favorite restaurants in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Philharmonic Presents an Intimate Concert by VegasNews. One of several concerts held throughout the year, the Las Vegas Philharmonic showcased violinist and concertmaster DeAnn Letourneau, principal cellist Andrew Smith, and nationally renowned pianist Sandra Rivers.

Final Thoughts And Grateful Thanks by Kathy Bax. Member Kathy Bax includes her experience at The Stirling Club in a story that also blends in a recent cruise.

Featured Article by NeoPopRealism. The article mentions the work of Joseph Borozotta, who included The Stirling Club as one of several places his work has been shown.

A "Stirling" Evening with Jason Falls, The Bloggess, Jay Ehret and Copywrite, Ink. by Jason Teitelman. This post from BlogCatalog.com, which is a blogger community with 300,000 members, hosted their dinner in The Stirling Room at The Stirling Club.

Top Chef Episode 8: Charlie Palmer University by Sarah Feldberg. Published by Las Vegas Weekly, the article recaps Top Chef: Las Vegas featuring Chef Charlie Palmer, the genius behind The Stirling Room.

Dana and Joel Jarvis Las Vegas Wedding Video by Shaw Productions Inc. As seen on Las Vegas Wedding Planner, the video highlights the wedding of members Dana and Joel Jarvis last September.

Turnberry Place by Glenn Radcliffe Pop and jazz singer Glenn Radcliffe shared his experience at The Stirling Club with a former member of the Drifters.

Kiss My Palate - Johnny Love Vodka Cocktail by Vegas News Just prior to participating in Kiss My Palate, the charity event benefitting Project Shero taking place at The Stirling Club, Johnny Love Vodka created a signature cocktail specifically for the event. You can find it here.

Oscar Goodman Pours, ELV Triumphs by John Curtas. Curtas recapped Kiss My Palate, where Eating Las Vegas (ELV) beat Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly and The Morning Zoo’s Chet Buchanan in a cooking contest. Judges included celebrity Chef Kerry Simon and Executive Chef John Watson.

Lollipop Chicken Wings by Steve Piamchuntar. Sinner Magazine included a recipe created by Stirling Club Chef Steve Piamchuntar. He has been cooking at The Stirling Club for more than six years.

Vintage Vegas Returns To Suncoast by City Guide Las Vegas. This short article shares how Shades of Sinatra, created by Kelly Clinton, debuted at The Stirling Club before moving on to larger and larger venues. In 2007, Shades of Sinatra was named “Best Tribute Show” by the Entertainment Consumers’ Exchange.

Las Vegas’ Largest Mixer V Hosts VIP Kick-Off by Largest Mixer. One of the larger events of the year hosted at The Stirling Club was a VIP Kick-Off Event for the Largest Mixer, with more than 200 people attending.

MAGIC After parties: Your Complete Guide by Las Vegas Weekly. The Stirling Club became home to one of MAGIC's favorite after party events hosted by Prodigal Daughter. Prodigal Daughter is a bold new women's fashion line from Los Angeles.

Vegas DeLuxe by Robin Leach. While many celebrities enjoy their privacy at The Stirling Club, Robin Leach learned that Alicia Taylor made a surprise appearance at an executive lounge event.

Assemblyman Morse Arberry Honored At Las Vegas Juneteeth Committee by Evibe. When the Juneteenth Committee wanted to honor Assemblyman Morse Arberry, the most fitting place was The Stirling Club at Turnberrry Place.

Viva Las Vegas by The Godfather of Las Vegas. While there were many highlights, The Godfather of Las Vegas cited the Cigar Room at The Stirling Club with a dozen executives and celebrities as an easy favorite.

Las Vegas Hotels: Top 10 Spas by Orbitz. As covered in September, The Stirling Club was honored to be included by Orbitz as a Top Ten Spa.

Hollywood Legend Tony Curtis Shows His Support For FEAT by Diana Magpapian. Published by Hollyscoop, Magpapian recaps Tony and Jill Curtis attending a seated dinner prepared by celebrity chefs at The Stirling Club to benefit Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Southern Nevada.

The Nevada Tennis Hall of Fame Hosts a Star-Studded Luncheon by Inside Tennis Inside Tennis captured one of several tennis events hosted at The Stirling Club this year. Guests included Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Tony Bennett, and Phyllis McGuire.

Hanging Out With The Boys by Tony Curtis. Yes, even member Tony Curtis has a blog. You can find it here just before his art showing at The Stirling Club earlier in the year.

You're Invited as our guest to the "Enchanted Bridal Affair" by Jodi Harris. Patrick Harris was among the first to host an event at The Stirling Club last year. The event included a bridal show unlike any other hosted in Las Vegas.

In closing, the Courtier team would also like to extend its thanks to The Stirling Club members and new visitors. Thank you very much. And Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve 2010 In Las Vegas

Las Vegas will once again be home for America's Party to ring in 2010, with fireworks confirmed to launch from the rooftops of seven resort casinos — Aria, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Treasure Island, The Stratosphere, and The Venetian. The best outdoor viewings will likely be between Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road or near the intersection of Spring Mountain Road and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Without question, Las Vegas is one of the most diverse New Year's Eve destinations in the United States. The celebrations range from gatherings on the Las Vegas Strip to countless nightclub events, concerts, and parties. Prices range from "free" to hundreds of thousands of dollars. To demonstrate the diversity, here are five places to ring in the New Year. Enjoy.

Five Places To Ring In A Las Vegas New Year

The Stirling Club. The Stirling Club will feature a signature 4-course New Year's Eve dinner as well as a special menu in the piano lounge. Entertainment includes Las Vegas' legendary singer-songwriter Early Clover. He began his career as a lead singer with Cornell Gunter's Coasters and has performed with greats that include the Drifters, Platters, Marvelettes, Little Richard, and The Temptations.

The evening will be commemorated with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Reservations are required; member admission is $95 per person.

The Gold Lounge Club. Cirque du Soleil headlines with special guest DJ Spins at one of the newest venues on the Las Vegas Strip inside the recently opened Aria. The event will begin at 9 p.m. and continue to 4 a.m. Hors d'oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $125 per person (subject to increases) and include a VIP entrance, hosted bar, and champagne toast at midnight.

LAX Nightclub. LAX at the Luxor has booked the Grammy Award-winning Black Eyed Peas to ring in the New Year. While tickets are $300 per person, LAX is also offering table reservations that range from $8,000 to $60,000 for parties between ten and 100 people. The entry level table reservation ($8,000) includes three bottles of Belvedere, two bottles of Dom Perignon, and admission for up to 10 people on the lower floor.

XS at Encore. The nightclub at Wynn is one of the chicest social scenes in Las Vegas, with two levels, poolside ambiance, and signature 10-foot chandelier that rotates above the dance floor. Doors open at 9 p.m. with an open bar through 10 p.m. Although XS doesn't have an "official" headliner, the club is well known as a favorite among the friends of Steve Wynn and Victor Drai. General admission is currently set at $75 for ladies and $150 for gentlemen.

Fremont Street Experience. While other venues are expected to sell out, The Fremont Street Experience provides an "always open," casual Las Vegas-style event with up to 30,000 people expected to attend. At the heart of the event are eight tribute bands covering INXS, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, U2, Depeche Mode, and No Doubt. The performances begin early at 6 p.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 for residents and $20 for out-of-state guests. Mayor Oscar Goodman will lead the countdown to the New Year, which features live and virtual fireworks.

For more New Year's Eve options and events, members are invited to call The Stirling Club concierge. All guests are encouraged to make reservations as soon as possible as these events and limousine rentals tend to sell out by New Year's Eve. It's also recommended that guests confirm dress codes as many venues strictly enforce them.

A Stirling Solution For Holiday Stress

While not everyone knows it, taking a few minutes or hours to find a breather during the holidays can make a big difference. It's especially important for women, who tend to take on more holiday responsibilities and more worries.

Seven in ten women say they worry about finances. More than half worry about their weight. And about three in ten are worried they have to stand in long lines while shopping for last minute gifts.

These statistics tend to mirror another study conducted just this year. Lindt, a master Swiss chocolatier, found 87 percent of women feel that taking time for themselves improves their overall mood during the holidays, but 93 percent will push aside free time for something else.

No wonder more than one in four women hope for a gift "experience" during the holidays. Scheduled "experiences" are much harder to push aside and less likely to be interrupted.

A Stirling Solution For Stress.

Through Dec. 31, The Stirling Spa is adapting a centuries old ritual from the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific to hydrate, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin and hair using pure coconut milk and honey. The treatment begins with a gentle sugar exfoliation with warm coconut oil and cane sugar, is followed by a rich milk and body butter, and ends with a warm towel body wrap.

This seasonal special includes a traditional Fujian scalp massage, with special care to restore the shine and life to hair. The treatment is $130 for 60 minutes for members. Non-members are invited to make special arrangements with Kathleen Gustafson, executive membership director.

The Fiji Coconut Milk Body Ritual is perfect for lifting anyone's spirits during the holidays or as a gift before the New Year. In addition to regular spa hours, the Stirling Spa will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Other holiday specials include 20 percent off Swedish or therapeutic deep massages during select hours, a specially-priced warm gingerbread delight body package or, before and after Dec. 31, ask about the new Arabian message, which is popular for jet lag and (holiday) recovery.

Christmas Dinner In Las Vegas

December marks a special month for the Stirling Club. Eight years ago, the club opened with special guests that included Cheryl Tiegs, Alana Stewart, James Caan, and Jack Nicholson (among others). Who might be seen this year is anyone's guess.

But what won't be a guess is how many people will visit Las Vegas during the holidays. It won't be slow. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is anticipating as many as 300,000 visitors per day, spurred on by a host of events that include the opening of City Center; Cher performing at Caesars Palace, through Dec. 20; and Garth Brooks ending his retirement to launch a new show at Wynn on Dec. 11.

With so many people already making plans to visit, the Stirling Club concierges are making a list of holiday menus and Christmas dinner possibilities. To help narrow the choices, here are five top picks for a Christmas dinner in Las Vegas. Enjoy.

Five Top Spots For Christmas Day Dinner In Las Vegas.

The Stirling Club. The Stirling Club will host a grand buffet created by Chef Charlie Palmer and his team of executive chefs with two seatings at noon and 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. Seating is extremely limited and reservations are required. $49.95 per person and $19.95 for children under 12. One of the outstanding features this year is a special appearance by Santa Claus and his elves.

The Stirling Club is also hosting two Christmas Eve dinner seatings at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in The Stirling Room. The dinner features an a la carte menu with special holiday creations and prices that reflect the benefit of membership.

Verandah. Under the direction of Chef Michael Goodman, Verandah at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas will feature a traditional menu with a choice of free-range oven-roasted turkey, braised short ribs with tiger prawns, smoked herb-crusted organic salmon, and a vegetarian assortment. Service will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. $77 per person and $36 for children ages 4-12.

Pinot Brasserie. Located at The Venetian, Pinot Brasserie is featuring your choice of a three- or four-course menu with three entrees that include sea scallops with a celeriac remoulade, rack of lamb Niçoise with ratatouille gratin, or pavé of New York strip with potato mousseline. The menu was developed by executive Chef Eric Lhuillier. Service begins at 5:30 p.m. $55 per person for three courses; $65 person for four courses; and $15.95 for children under 12.

Andre's. Located at the top of the Monte Carlo, Chef André Rochat will offer a complete menu ranging from free-range chicken and veal pot au feu to Colorado rack of lamb and Maine lobster thermidor. Service begins at 5:30 p.m. As an a la carte menu, dinner will range between $60 and $120 per person.

Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro. Located inside The Palazzo, Morels will feature an 8-ounce filet mignon with a whole Maine lobster, accompanied by a wild mushroom risotto, with a petite parsley and asparagus buerre blanc red wine reduction. Service is from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. $75 per person.

For more Christmas dinner options or assistance with reservations, members may call The Stirling Club concierge. Members visiting from other cities are also encouraged to make their Christmas dinner selections as early as possible, as many venues will have limited hours and/or seating. Some may have a dress code.

Five Exclusively Unique Gifts For 2009

The Stirling Club Courtier has created its top five exclusive gifts for 2009. All of them represent some of the most exclusive finds that people are talking about this year, and all of them include an element of originality, including the price.

Along with our top five quick picks, The Stirling Club is sharing several of its upcoming special events for the next two weeks. Like the exclusive gift picks, they all represent events that you cannot find anywhere else in Las Vegas. Enjoy!

1. Life-Sized Lego Sculpture of You, $60,000

Nathan Sawaya is considered the world's foremost independent LEGO artist, using LEGO exclusively as his art medium of choice. When he isn't touring along with The Art of the Brick museum show, this freelance artist accepts commissioned work from individuals, corporations, and almost anyone with a good idea. During the holidays, some of those good ideas include building a life-sized LEGO sculpture of anyone, based on nothing more than measurements and a few photos.

2. Limited Edition Fighter Motorcycle, $110,000

There are only 50 P120 Fighter Combat motorcycles available, with 45 of them being offered in the 2009 Neiman Marcus Christmas book. Featuring a 120-cubic inch radial twin engine that delivers 160 horsepower, the ride is described as informed, pure, and explosive. It's yet another success for Confederate Motor Company, which was founded in 1991 to create the most holistic, avant-garde process in motorcycles.

3. Stuart Weitzman Tanzanite Heels, $2 million

First spotted at the Le Vian party in Las Vegas, these silver leather designer heels flaunt 185 carats of tanzanite and 28 carats of diamonds. The shoes were the collaborative efforts of Stuart Weitzman teamed with jeweler Le Vian. Given the exclusivity of this single pair, you might have to settle for one of the other wonders from Stuart Weitzman, who is responsible for designing five of the world's top ten most expensive shoes.

4. One Night in the Royal Penthouse Suite, $65,000

As much as it would be nice to attribute it to Las Vegas, the world's most expensive suite is the Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, up from $33,000 per night last year. The four-bedroom suite occupies the entire top floor of the hotel and has bulletproof windows and doors. The suite is popular with international diplomats. The hotel itself overlooks the imposing panorama of the Geneva Harbor at Mont Blanc. In Las Vegas, the current ooshest publicly available suite is the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at The Palms, which runs as high as $40,000 per night.

5. Holiday Membership Gift at The Stirling Club, $200*

Admittedly self-serving to include membership at The Stirling Club as one of the most exclusive gifts of the year, the Holiday Membership Gift is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a member of a premier private club in Las Vegas. This special gift, which is only available through an existing member, is ideal for referred family and friends. The membership does require a modest administration fee* (no initiation fee) and monthly dues, based on the level of membership they prefer.

You can discover the property amenities at The Stirling Club site, but the real benefits of membership tend to be what happens here all the time. Here are some highlights over the next two weeks. (Reservations are required.)

• Designer Sale, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3. This special member event features up to 80 percent off fashions from Versace, Just Cavalli, Galliano, Torras, and others. The sale also includes some rare and exclusive gems and settings selected by Fred Paris.

• Chanco - Rahman Piano Duo, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4. Aileen Chanco and Raja Rahman have been performing together since they were students at The Julliard School, which is one of the one of the world's most prestigious performing arts conservatories.

• Kids Art Class, noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5. Taught by 'Art Classes for Kids,' this special family event in the North Lounge teaches children (and those young at heart) how to paint gingerbread houses, reindeer, poinsettias, of abstracts for the holidays.

• Member Holiday Open House, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10. Set in the Stirling Room, this festive members-only event includes complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

• Hanukkah Dinner, starting at 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11. A special Hanukkah dinner and Menorah lighting will take place in the member dining room. A special menu insert will also be available during the holiday.

These events are all in addition to regularly scheduled live entertainment, Sunday brunches, and Monday night football parties in the cigar bar. For more information about any events, please refer to the The Stirling Club newsletter.

For non-members interested in becoming members and then taking advantage of the Holiday Membership Gift program, please contact Kathleen Gustafson, executive membership director, at 702.784.4603.