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PhotoDump RoundUp - Week Ending 8/2/25

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PhotoDump RoundUp - Week Ending 8/2/25

From CHI Asian Kitchen to SMILE SHOTA Sushi, Terry Fator to the cast of ROUGE, it was another photo-friendly week in Las Vegas...

You'd have to be living under a cow's udders not to see all the negative press our favorite city is getting. "Las Vegas is dead!". "The Strip is a ghost town!". "The city has priced itself out of business!". We won't regurgitate all that information today. Instead, let's focus on the fun stuff to see some great things you may have missed...or had the privilege of enjoying.

CH? Asian Kitchen at The STRAT

CHI ASIAN KITCHEN is a relatively new establishment at The STRAT Resort. It's elevated fare, but not pricey...and the atmosphere is divine. My group enjoyed a family-style meal assembled on a turntable. The party included producer Alex Schechter, famed entertainer Frank Marino (DIVAS), and "Man of the Moment" Terry Fator and his lovely wife Angie (more on that in a bit).

Terry Fator meets the culinary team at CHI Asian Kitchen

"CH? Asian Kitchen offers a wide variety of traditional dishes, including Chinese curry puffs, crafted with ground prime beef and toasted cumin; salt and pepper calamari, made with jalapeño, garlic, and ginger crunch; Japanese-style fried chicken, served with spicy soy mayonnaise and pickled daikon; and potstickers, made with pork and shrimp, pan-fried or steamed."

CHI Asian Kitchen operates Thursday through Monday, beginning at 4 pm. Follow this link to see the menu and make reservations

TERRY FATOR: Soundtrack at The STRAT Showroom

It would be irresponsible to avoid mentioning my fractured history with Terry Fator. However, we're mending fences much in the way that the near-mythical "Criss Angel summit" patched up tensions with the famed magician last year. In that spirit, I attended Fator's new SOUNDTRACK production at The STRAT. I'm pleased to report that an enjoyable time was had by all.

Fator performs virtually with protege Celia Munoz in an inspired segment...

While I still long for the sweet innocence of Fator's characters and humor from his AGT era, SOUNDTRACK is a leap in the right direction from his New York, NY show. The voice and talent are unmistakably global in scale. Alas, the singing ventriloquist continues to use crude humor and innuendo that, IMO, wouldn't be missed in a mostly "family" show. [embed]https://youtu.be/Ts30LkmK6XI[/embed] The evening's performance was being recorded for B-roll footage (used in advertising materials) and possibly for distribution. Producer Alex Schechter (above) of SPI Entertainment gave a wonderful intro, stating that the video elements "could end up anywhere."

TERRY FATOR: Soundtrack performs Sunday through Thursday at 7 pm at The STRAT Showroom. Dates vary by season...click here for the current schedule and to purchase tickets. The show is recommended for those thirteen and up.

ROUGE at The STRAT Showroom

After Fator's performance, we stuck around for ROUGE, the burlesque-style production celebrating three great years. While many other Vegas shows have been struggling, ROUGE continues to draw large crowds with its hot bodies, raunchy comedy, and impressive physical feats. [embed]https://youtu.be/EgORYc5qTqo[/embed]

ROUGE performs Tuesday through Sunday at 9 pm. The show is for adults only. Purchase tickets here.

SMILE SHOTA at Cheongdam Food Hall

Major resorts like Venetian boast about their new "Food Halls" as if they're major achievements. These glorified food courts are no replacement for classic Vegas buffets. Cheongdam Food Hall in the Chinatown district is different. It's a collection of authentic Asian cuisine in one freestanding building, the first of its kind in our city.

There are ten establishments within Cheongdam Food Hall. The largest and most popular is SMILE SHOTA. An all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, Smile Shota offers food as fresh, colorful, and dazzling as its atmosphere and service.

"Whether you're a sushi enthusiast or simply seeking a delightful dining experience, Smile Shota promises to elevate your love for Japanese cuisine with its delectable offerings and inviting atmosphere."

SMILE SHOTA is open daily from 11 am to 11:30 pm. They are currently running a late-night special with reduced prices after 9 pm on select days. Cheongdam Food Hall is located at 8610 Spring Mountain Road. Click here for menus and more information.