New Year, new and old events

Food, spirits, music and comedy at casinos in coming weeks

It's 2024, and not only did the previous year bring world turmoil, wanton violence, social isolation and threats to democracy, but this writer had a new left hip installed. That's what age and an active life gets you -- from only occasionally being hip to getting a hip replacement.

But I've been working out (which sounds better than saying I'm doing the physical therapy exercises prescribed for me) and I'm looking forward to a healthier year of arts and entertainment.

The state has some underrated venues that deserve a hard look -- New Haven's Shubert Theatre, Hartford Stage, Seven Angels Theater and The Palace in Waterbury and The Kate in Old Saybrook. But most accessible for a meetup with friends and relatives are those big-time venues in Uncasville and Mashantucket.

Todd English’s Tuscany at Mohegan Sun.

Yes, Connecticut's two giant casino resorts, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, are full of plans to amuse and excite you as they offer a new home for your hard-earned dollars in the months to come.

The key here for real hipsters is to inhabit what I call "a happening place"-- one that provides at least a little sizzle and value for your buck, too. Here's a look at some cool events (and others I simply can't comprehend) in the new year:

Restaurant Week Returns to Mohegan Sun

Casino eateries are not cheap; well all know that. But you might enjoy some value during Restaurant Week January 21-25 (the latter being my birthday) at certain restaurants in Mohegan Sun.

Start with a basic one. From 5-8 p.m., Johnny Rockets will offer two burgers, one side and two shakes for $30. 

BALLO Italian Restaurant, meanwhile, will have a three-course meal option for $45 per person. You choose either a Caesar Salad, an Arugula Salad with pine nuts and shaved Parmigiano or Meatballs made with Pomodoro, pecorino, basil and mozz. Then you have an option of Chicken Francese, Campanella alla Vodka, Salmon served with roasted Brussels or Eggplant Parm. Third course is a cannoli.

Offerings at The Shed, coming to Mohegan Sun soon.

(Speaking of Ballo, Mohegan Sun will unveil a sister restaurant to Ballo called The Shed this spring from restaurateur John J. Tunney III. The 8,100-square-foot eatery will be located in Casino of the Earth, adjacent to Tunney’s BALLO Italian Restaurant and across from Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana (Pepe's is the sole survivor of the longtime food court in that area.)

Also for restaurant week, The Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House’s Restaurant Week specials include an Irish Trio consisting of house-made shepherd’s pie, corned beef & cabbage, banger sausage and soda bread for $36 and/or Corned Beef & Cabbage Spring Rolls made with corned beef, cabbage, carrots, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing for $16. Price of a 20 oz. Guinness? It's $15.

Specials over at MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill include a $19 triple-play of a half garlic bread, half-pound wings and two spring rolls. Other specials include a 14 oz. BBQ Rubbed Prime Rib served with mashed potatoes, smoked onion jus and horseradish cream for $42 and a 23 oz. Bud Light Draft for $6.

At Michael Jordan’s Steak House, guests can flex their wallet with a 42-oz. Tomahawk Steak served with steak sauce and fries for $99. That's more of a diet-be-damned gustatory event than a meal deal, but I couldn't pass up an ironic mention of it during a month when so many of us are watching calories.

Sol Toro has mix-and-match tacos for $4.50 each; also a Chicken Fried Rice Bowl made with Chipotle chicken, soy chili, roasted garlic and a fried egg for $22 and a Frozen Margarita Flight for $10.

Other participating locations are Jasper White’s Summer Shack, Sushi Koya, Todd English’s Tuscany and classy Tao Asian Bistro & Lounge, where you can score a Pu-Pu Platter for $30.

Restaurant Week is also notable because it leads up to Mohegan Sun’s 20th Annual Sun Wine & Food Fest which is a highlight of the midwinter season in Connecticut for the past two decades. (More on this in a coming post.)

More alcohol-based happenings

At Foxwoods' Vodka Vibes on January 20, Foxwoods has a new tasting event to be held in the Rainmaker Expo area, where guests can sip various vodka brands, including Corvus Vodka, poured by former New England Patriot and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Ty Law, says Foxwoods.

The vodka sampling event is being matched with disco décor to evoke the glam of the 1970s.

On February 24, the female favorite Royal Rosé is coming back to the Rainmaker Expo, where guests can sample not only rosé wines but also seltzers, spirits and more at the tasting event. Aimed at those who love a pink-surrounded selfie, there will be photo op stations and live entertainment.

Davidson and 90s tour

For comedy fans, stand-up comedian and actor Pete Davidson will take the stage at the Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in just a few days, January 6. Tickets are about $80 each.

Coming to Mohegan Sun Arena Sunday, Jan. 7, will be the I Love The 90’s Tour which promises to bring together some iconic names in Rap, Hip-Hop and R&B from the decade, including Mark McGrath, Rob Base, Kid N Play, All-4-One, Tone Loc and Color Me Badd, in the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

Mohegan Sun. by the way, was named “Best Casino with Live Entertainment” in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice awards poll. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun not only has gambling but also 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two fancy spas, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars and three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena.)

Rife with popularity, even if I don't get it

OK, I'm an older guy, but I'm still puzzled by this one after watching a clip of popular, often-bare-chested comic Matt Rife.

Responding to four rapid sell-out tour dates at Mohegan Sun Arena, the casino has added a fifth show date for Matt Rife’s ProbleMATTIc World Tour February 21-25, with all shows starting at 8 p.m. This five-night run of consecutive shows is a record breaking first for the arena, say Mohegan officials.

Rife had a recurring role on the sketch improv comedy and rap show Wild 'n Out and he's best known for his self-produced comedy specials.

-- Another rising performer, Seattle comedian and actor Jo Koy, is adding Mohegan Sun Arena to his list of stops during his global tour. Koy hits the Arena stage on Sunday, March 24 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Koy recently hosted the People's Choice Awards on CBS.

Ko's fourth Netflix stand-up special, "Live From The Los Angeles Forum," premiered in September 2022.

Whoa, Nelly, and Rodia on road

Coming in March? Grammy Award-winning and diamond-selling rap performer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Nelly will take over the Mohegan Sun Arena stage on Wednesday, March 20, for an 8: p.m. show.

Two months after that in Uncasville, stand-up comic Anthony Rodia, whom we wrote about before a Foxwoods engagement in 2020, will perform two shows at The Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun as a part of his Totally Relatable Tour on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. Both shows kick off at 8 p.m.

As I put it then, during the pandemic, New Rochelle, N.Y.-raised Rodia had been postponed from the Foxwoods date for 10 months and instead "poured his comedy stylings into online song parodies, skits and 'Road Rage Wednesday' bits featuring digitally enhanced characters Vinny and Zia (who will amuse a child with their cartoonist looks but have several adult-only moments)."

 -- Tie a yellow ribbon round the old calendar, Tony Orlando fans. The 79-year-old performer will take the stage of the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena for his last performance on Friday, March 22nd at 7:30 p.m. -- after more than five dozen other appearances at the Uncasville casino.

Tony Orlando and his group Dawn created iconic, catchy hits such as "Tie a Yellow Ribbon," "Candida" and "Knock Three Times" in the 1970s. Orlando, born to  Leo and Ruth Estanislaw Cassavitis in New York, has played for millions of fans over the course of his 60-year career, and this final performance will be his 65th at Mohegan Sun over the course of 23 years, notes a Mohegan Sun release.

“We are honored that after such an historic entertainment and humanitarian career, Tony Orlando has chosen Mohegan Sun to host his final live performance,” said Tom Cantone, President of Sports & Entertainment for Mohegan. “It’s now time for us to give him a standing ovation for entertaining over 100,000 fans at Mohegan Sun over the years, something that only Billy Joel has done, as he will be forever part of Mohegan’s entertainment family.” 

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 12 at Ticketmaster.com. Subject to availability, tickets can also be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting on Saturday, January 13th.