“We want to give our guests and locals a different option than what’s available on the Strip,” said Joe Bravo, our Director of Pool and Nightlife Operations. “We’ve done night swims in the past that have been very successful – after all, locals don’t want to fight traffic or crowds. At our night swims, they can relax, swim and enjoy a drink or two while getting the four-star service we’re known for.”

The first night swim kicks off tomorrow with an out-of-this-world beverage favorite – Alien Tequila. The first 50 guests to arrive receive a complimentary souvenir bottle of Alien Tequila and there’s an open vodka bar for ladies from 8-9 pm sponsored by Bud Light and Ultimat Vodka.

With more than 12,000 square feet of space, you have plenty of room to dance under the moon to the music of the Beatclan DJs. Or if personal service and relaxing is preferred, DayDream offers cabanas and daybeds that can be reserved by calling (702) 797-1808 or emailing cabanarequest@theMresort.com.

If you can’t make it to tomorrow’s night swim, don’t worry. Our next night swim, Mid-Summer’s Night Masquerade Pool Party, promises to be just as dreamy as the name intends. Scheduled for July anyone in costume gets free admission. There will also be an open vodka bar for ladies for the first hour and prizes for the sexiest costumes.

So join us for some swimming under the stars this Friday night. The party starts at 8pm.

We kick off the weekend with the Tres & Quatro de Mayo party in Ravello Lounge Friday night with resident DJ, DJ Truelove. If you’ve never been to Ravello, this weekend is the time to come. DJ Truelove will be spinning starting at 9 pm and we’ll have Corona beer and tequila whistle shot specials to keep you going until the morning. With intimate booths, a dance floor, an outdoor terrace and a large bar, it’s the perfect venue to relax with friends or, since it is Cinco de Mayo….dance the night away!

After a long siesta, our grand opening pool party begins at 10 am on Saturday on our main pool deck. We’ll have Jose Cuervo and Dos XX drink specials to keep the fiesta going well into the afternoon and live music featuring Beatclan DJs. Now, a bit about our main pool deck…it’s gorgeous and we have plenty of areas to kick back and relax. In fact, we have more than 500 lounge chairs plus daybeds and cabanas, not to mention multiple bars.

But if you’re after a more adult pool party this weekend, we invite you to check out DayDream, the best local’s pool club in Vegas (21 and older). DayDream opens at 11 am on Saturday and with a little help from DJ Hi-Tone and DJ Koko you can shake your maracas to their beats long into the early evening.

If that’s not enough to wear you out, Toto Zara will be playing with DJ Arty in Ravello on Saturday night to finish this fabulous weekend of fun. This dynamic group came from a large musical family from Spain and we’re excited to have them back with us again this weekend.

We hope your Cinco plans involve us, but if not, what are your plans for this weekend?

Drinks That’ll Make You Say “Can I have another?”

Between new drinks like the Daydreamer and the Kinky Sangria and favorites like the adult Ultimate Root Beer Float, we guarantee our drinks will quench your thirst under the hot desert sun daily. The new menu has a mix of options from bottle service to mojitos, cocktails and shots, but best of all, everything is affordably priced…and of course, great-tasting!

The Best Looking Pool Cocktail Servers This Side of the Strip

We’ve received the title of Best Cocktail Waitresses in the city before so we certainly plan to bring you easy on the eyes servers this season. With new uniforms and training already underway, these lovely ladies will deliver unrivaled service every day of the week.

A Good Time…Again and Again

Let’s face it, there a number of pool venues where you can have a good time, but at many of those places, your good time lasts one time and it costs you a small fortune between the cabana, bottle service, and extras like the candy party pack afternoon snack. At our pools, particularly at our age 21+ dayclub, DayDream, you won’t find astronomical prices. Instead, you’ll find affordable prices for the cabana, bottle service and even food. Our goal isn’t to get you to visit us one time it’s to make DayDream your pool throughout the season.

Parties

What’s pool season without a few parties and with our spectacular venue we’d be remiss if we didn’t host a few parties throughout the season. You can expect night swims, industry days and sponsored parties at DayDream throughout the season with top DJs like DJ Hollywood, Koko and Truelove delivering all the music you love. In fact, our first party kicks off May 4 & 5 as we celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Every night a different wine is featured from our Hostile Grape wine list. Even better, the complimentary wine tasting calendar is featured on our website so you can mark your calendar for something you’ve always wanted to try. Pair that with the sophisticated and intimate ambience Hostile Grape offers with its cool wooden wine cask decked ceiling and you’ve got a real wine bar in the truest sense.

Even when the tasting is over at 6 pm, the fun doesn’t stop. Our wine bar features 160 different wines by the glass and over 400 wines by the bottle for you to sip, sample, and swill. Plus, if you like modern gadgets, the Hostile Grape is one of only a few wine bars to feature the Enomatic wine dispensing system. Guests of the Hostile Grape can purchase a wine card, insert it into the machine, and continue their wine tasting adventure selecting one, three, or five ounce pours of varietals from around the world including Germany, France, Spain, and even New Zealand!

If a free sample of wine, more than 160 wines by the glass and an awesome atmosphere aren’t enough to get you down to the Hostile Grape the wine bar also offers live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7 pm. And the entertainment is as unique as the wine bar itself. You won’t find a bumping DJ down there and forget about having to yell at the person across from you. Instead it’s acoustic, soul, and intimate. The perfect spot to sip and enjoy something like the Pinot Noir featured tonight by Garnet from California.

We hope you’ll join us for our free wine tastings and if you can’t make it, we hope you’ll at least pop the cork on your favorite wine this weekend. Cheers!

Complimentary wine tastings featuring a select wine each day are offered inside the Hostile Grape from 5pm-6pm Wednesday-Saturday.

M: You’re careful to call the show a tribute rather than an impersonation. Why is that an important distinction to you?

There are a lot of shows that try and represent many artists of the past and my take is that what made Frank Sinatra was not only his voice but the music. That is really what I am featuring at the M Resort. All of his composers, lyricists, arrangers and the men and women who backed him up were the very best musicians. I want to make this very clear that this is an interpretation of Frank Sinatra. I don’t claim to be him or even come close to filling his shoes. All I want to do is carry on his work and keep his legacy alive.

You were fortunate to meet Mr. Frank Sinatra himself and you actually performed for him. What was that like?

I was weak at the knees at first but then I composed myself and did the best job I could and afterwards he complimented me with his famous catchphrase “You were marvelous, simply marvelous.” That’s all I needed to make my day, year…career!!!

What is your earliest memory of Frank Sinatra?

I had been doing impersonations since I was very small and when I had asked my mother who she wanted me to do an impression of she said Frank Sinatra. My mother had all of Sinatra’s albums and I used to listen to them. One in particular was the album “Song for Swingin’ Lovers”. This was my first time to take a song “You Make Me Feel So Young” and listen to it until I had it down, which took me about a month.

Any Sinatra anecdotes?

In 1987, I had the privilege to watch Mr. Sinatra perform from the wings of the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. It was the best seat in the house and I was in awe of this man as my feet were feeling the vibration of the orchestra on the floorboards. I’ll never forget when he handed me the color 8×10 photo of him and signed it in gold ink – “For Rick, with my very best wishes, Frank Sinatra ‘87”.

Mr. Sinatra had a very recognized way of singing (impeccably clear) and was an expert lyricist. Do you think about these things as your singing and performing?

Yes, I think of these things all the time. I have a method of writing out each song that he recorded and I type the words exactly how he sang them. I have my own little marks I use to show if he goes up on a note, sustains a particular phrase or even uses many notes for one word. The song, “New York, New York” is a perfect example when he uses the word “and”. He actually uses five different notes for that one word! After I write down my little arrows and dashes to let me know how to approach the song, I listen endless times, over and over again until I feel I have the phrasing down. Now when you add the physical emotions to it with body language and facial expressions then you’ve got the essence of Frank Sinatra. Many impressionists try to capture the phrasing but I can instantly tell when they are off because of the intense homework that I put into it. I watch many, many films and footage of concerts to see what he is doing to each song on stage. I never get bored watching him.

For Sinatra Forever, you perform with a 24-piece orchestra. Nowadays performances are often downscaled with entertainers settling for pre-recorded backgrounds.  What’s it like to perform with such an accompaniment?

It is without a doubt a total thrill. I have had the privilege to work with all of these musicians on many different occasions, but to have them all together for one night is unbelievable. More than half of this orchestra played for Frank Sinatra and we have all of his original charts that were put together by my conductor Greg Bosler.

You’ve been called a singer, comic and impressionist. How do your performances combine all three?

When I do my impersonation show I sing as myself, I tell stories and jokes and also do impressions as others. In the Sinatra Forever show I will be incorporating a little Dean Martin and if the audience responds to the comedy of Dean then maybe later in the show I’ll bring out some Rodney Dangerfield or even have The Godfather do some standup.

You can catch Rick Michel performing in Sinatra Forever this Saturday inside the M Pavilion. Doors open at 6:30 pm with the show starting at 7:30 pm. Ticket prices are $19.50 and $29.50 plus LET.

What better place to ring in 2013, than Las Vegas! With only a few days left in the New Year, we’re planning something special for those who are spending their last hours of 2012 at M. Our resort is the perfect spot to party on New Year’s Eve, so be sure to make this year one to remember and celebrate whichever way you please. We’ve got entertainment, dining and parties to suit every style for our guests.

Party
There are no cover charges at the M Resort’s New Year’s Eve bash so Toast the New Year with us and enjoy live entertainment beginning at 9pm at Lobby Bar, Ravello Lounge, M Bar and starting at 10pm in Hostile Grape. Whichever venue you choose, it will be a night to remember!

 Ravello Lounge – Overlooking the famous Las Vegas Strip, Ravello Lounge is party central with DJ Gruve at 9pm spinning all the hits and the hottest dancers create the perfect atmosphere to celebrate.  At 10pm, the high energy band Rhythm Nation takes the stage and keeps the party going into the new year!

 M Bar – For those who like to be at the center of all the action, M Bar is for you. Located in the middle of our casino floor, DJ Simon and go-go dancers will be kicking off this party at 9pm. Get there early for a seat on M Bar’s comfortable couches. 

Hostile Grape – Take a sip of more than 160 wines by the glass in our underground wine hideaway featuring celebrity music and video DJ Arty who mixes up the New Year’s party hits into the night.

Burgers & Brews – Relax at Burgers & Brews  where you can enjoy a gourmet burger while taking in a performance by Lowkey Junction. The band is a unique blend of masterful music mixes, live percussion and saxophone. With the best people-watching views, Burgers & Brews is the perfect fit for a relaxed New Year’s celebration.

Play
End the year with good luck here at M! We’ll be giving away $24,000 in free pay randomly beginning at 7:30pm on New Year’s Eve. Every 30 minutes we’ll be drawing 13 winners. All you have to do is play with your iMagine Rewards Card to be eligible.

Dine
Our restaurants will be ready for you to kick-off the New Year’s festivities. Marinelli’s, our authentic Italian restaurant, will be offering a special menu beginning at 5pm and our steakhouse, Anthony’s, will also be offering a specialty menu beginning at 5 pm.

No matter which way you decide to spend your holiday night, we hope to see you at M to celebrate the arrival of 2013! We wish all of our guests a happy and safe New Year.

In the Philippines it is tradition to eat a sweet coconut and rice flour cake called Bibingka.  The cake is lightly sweet and moist and made with rice or cassava flour and traditionally cooked over charcoal in a clay pot lined with banana leaves. Bibingka, with tasty toppings, is popular during the Christmas holiday season and is eaten after Midnight Mass on Christmas Day.

The national dish of Poland, Bigos is an amazing mélange of meats and sausages slowly braised over a bed of mellow sauerkraut. Bigos is a popular cold-weather dish that provided a handy way to use cabbage that was harvested before winter.  Bigos is a favorite meal for the day after Christmas and is also popular in Lithuania and Belarus.

Dresdner Stollen is the famous fruitcake from Dresden that is sold throughout Germany during the Christmas holiday season. Dresdner Stollen is made from rich yeast dough mixed with candied fruit and almonds.  Loaves are folded to symbolize the Christ child in swaddling clothes.

Conquito is a popular Christmas beverage in Puerto Rico. It has similarities to American eggnog, but the use of crème de coco or coconut milk gives it a unique island flavor.  A version with eggs, known as ponche crema, is a favorite in Venezuela.

Back in the States, our dining traditions may vary by geography as well.  Whether you are in the Pacific Northwest, sunny California or are blessed with a white Christmas in the east, our holiday food traditions bring us to the table with family and friends.  We invite you to join us at the M Resort to enjoy one of our special meals or take some of our holiday cooking home with you and enjoy our Christmas Feast to Go. Be sure to order yours by December 19!

We look forward to welcoming you to our table at Christmastime!

Connolly, who’s been recognized by former presidents, celebrities and musicians alike, highlights Elvis’ most memorable hits from the 50’s through the 70’s complete with costume changes powerhouse musicians and backup singers.  Which Elvis is your favorite?  GI Elvis, Beach Blanket Elvis, 60’s Comeback Elvis or Vegas Elvis, complete with white jumpsuit and enough encrusted jewels to light up Viva?  You’ll see many of them at the show.

We found some Elvis Trivia questions to set the stage for our upcoming performance.  See if you get them all!

1. Which record company gave Elvis his start?  Answer:  Sun Records.
2. What national TV show did Elvis first appear?  Answer: Stage Show.
3. What was Elvis’ first gold record?  Answer:  Heartbreak Hotel
4. The draft board gave Elvis a two month deferment to complete what movie?  Answer:  King Creole
5. In what city did Elvis marry Priscilla?  Answer:  Las Vegas
6. What was Elvis’ favorite soft drink?  Answer:  Pepsi
7. Name Elvis’ female co-star in Viva Las Vegas.  Answer:  Ann Margaret
8. What is the name of Elvis’ only child?  Answer:  Lisa Marie
9. How much did Elvis pay for Graceland?  Answer:  $100,000

10.  What’s the name of Elvis’ TV Christmas Special that only contained one Christmas song?  Answer: The ’68 Comeback Special.  It was supposed to be full of Christmas tunes but the producer convinced Elvis to only perform one song, Blue Christmas.

So if you’re looking for some fun this December, join us this Saturday.  Tickets are just $19.50 and $29.50 plus taxes and are still available at ticketmaster.com or the M Box office. Thank you…thank you very much!

M Resort offers a variety of dining and entertainment options to enjoy with family and friends whether you’re gathering for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanza.

This Thanksgiving, consider ordering our Thanksgiving Feasts to Go. Our delicious take-home feast offers a complete turkey dinner with all the fixings AND dessert.  The package includes a soup, main courses and dessert for 10 people at a cost of only $159.  You can have a gourmet Holiday meal prepared by our Chefs and use the extra time to spend with the ones you love.  Be sure to place your order before November 16!

Just after Thanksgiving, M Resort will be decked out in its finest holiday décor.  Stop in and enjoy the festive atmosphere with a hot chocolate or a great cup of coffee from Baby Cakes Artisan Bakery. Pair your beverage with one of our seasonal Pumpkin desserts including breads, spice cupcakes, scones and muffins as well as Pecan and Apple Pie.  

You’re sure to be in a holiday mood by viewing the Gingerbread Houses that will be on exhibit from November 30 – December 21 on the Spa Level under the grand staircase.  These gingerbread masterpieces will be made by Clark County School District kids who participate in the M Resort’s 2012 Gingerbread House Contest.  All of the entries will be on display for everyone to enjoy. 

We’ll also be hosting our annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony on the casino level near the grand staircase on December 8 at 4pm.  Rabbi Sanford Akselrad from Congregation Ner Tamid will lead the lighting and prayer along with a cantor as the first candle is lit signifying the beginning of the eight-day celebration.

Later that evening, M Resort presents The King of Rock ‘N Roll Elvis Holiday and Tribute Show.  Acclaimed Tribute artist Steve Connolly performs the legendary hits and holiday favorites in this family friendly concert starting at 7:30pm.  Tickets are just $19.50 and $29.50 plus LET and are on sale now at the M Resort Box office and at ticketmaster.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to the M for great food, entertainment and holiday cheer!

After coming off a successful Labor Day Weekend performance at the Ravello Lounge, The Jeremy Cornwell Project settles in for a month-long stint with us at the Resort. The M Point of View staff sat down with Jeremy to get an inside look at one of Las Vegas’ up and coming acts and to get his take on being called “the ones to watch”

Here is what he had to say:

 M: Your musical passion didn’t start until you were in college. Tell us what inspired you to become a musician?er to write my experiences, I felt like nothing in the world could bring me down.  From there I turned my writing into music. The first time I performed that music live, it was such an incredible high that I was hooked…

JC: The first time I put pen to paphat inspire

 M: You’re known for your musical “looping” technique.  Tell us about that process.

JC: I started looping when I moved to Vegas because I wanted to perform but couldn’t find a band. I wanted to create a sound that was bigger than just my voice and my guitar and that’s when I discovered looping.  Looping is building each song piece by piece by layering in the various sounds from base to drums.  I still include a song using this technique in my live performances even with my band, which is awesome. 

 M: We hear you’re working on a new CD.

JC: Yes, I’m working on my first album with a full band.  The songs have more lyrical depth than my first CD and I’m breaking in some dance tracks too.  Definitely something to shake your tail feather!

 M: With so many song choices, how does you choose what to perform each night?

JC: I look for timeless music as well as the hits that allow me to put my personal spin on them and energize the audience.  We also take requests so no two shows are quite the same.

M: If you had one thing to say to your fans- what would it be?

JC: Thank you…without you I wouldn’t exist.