'Rock of Ages' and The Bourbon Room at The Venetian

The Bourbon Room is inspired by the club featured in the 'Rock of Ages' musical.

Looks like there won't be just one Broadway musical playing the Las Vegas Strip. Opening this December is the 80s jukebox musical 'Rock of Ages' at the Venetian which also houses the newly christened Bourbon Room that replicates the setting for the show. But the 'Jersey Boys' at the Paris will be riding it solo for a few months after 'Phantom...The Las Vegas Spectacular' closes in September. 'Rock of Ages' will the play the Venetian showroom occupied by Blue Man Group which is moving to the Monte Carlo.

The announcement coincides with the release of the feature film adaptation of the Broadway hit this month which stars Tom Cruise, Catherine-Zeta Jones, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, Malin Akerman, Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta. No casting details has been announced for the Vegas production.

Featuring a score comprised of classic rock songs from the 1980s, 'Rock of Ages' is the story of Drew, an aspiring rock star, with big dreams who works at the legendary Los Angeles rock club, the Bourbon Room. 'Rock of Ages' opened April 7, 2009 on Broadway where it is currently still running. Songs include "Don't Stop Believin'," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Here I Go Again," "I Wanna Know What Love Is" and many others.

The Bourbon Room is inspired by the club in 'Rock of Ages'. It is already open and the intention is when the musical opens at the Venetian, guests may want to relive the experience at the club. The Bourbon Room, which replaces La Scena Lounge, is an L.A. Sunset Strip-type bar with workers wearing 80s inspired clothes. Below are interior shots of the club. The Bourbon Room is open daily from 2pm-4am.

Visit rockofagesmusical.com for information about the Broadway, U.S. Tour and international productions. Visit rockofagesmovie.com for information about the feature film. Information will be forthcoming about the Vegas at production at rockofagesvegas.com.

(photos: Vegas Chatter)

Disneyland's Club 33 Private Restaurant

A discreet 33 marks the location of Disneyland's Club 33.

Welcome from a Disney Cast Member.

Unbeknownst to most Disneyland visitors is the legendary Club 33, a private restaurant located in the park's New Orleans Square. Members must be invited to join in addition to shelling out a $25,000 initiation fee and $10,000 in annual dues.

Disney is sending embossed invitations to the first 100 people on the club's 800-name waiting list, the first time in over a decade. All members will also gain access to 1901, a private lounge named after the year Walt Disney was born, which is set to open June 15 at Disney California Adventure. Membership also offers access to use VIP tour guides, itinerary planning services, valet parking and complimentary hotel upgrades. Member names are kept strictly confidential. But celebrities reported to have gone to the club include Tom Hanks, Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera and Elton John.

The club, which opened in 1967 six months after Walt Disney's death, was created as a place to entertain corporate sponsors and dignitaries. Since then the club has gained a mythical status. Club 33 serves alcohol setting it apart from all other restaurants in the park. It is reported that cell phones are prohibited in dining area along with lewd conduct and inappropriate attire.

A second Club 33 is located in Tokyo, Disneyland and located off the park's World Bazaar. Members of Club 33 do not have reciprocal benefits between parks. The origin of the name Club 33 is reported to be associated with the club's address of 33 Royal Street at Disneyland's New Orleans Square.

A harpsichord sits across the club's bar.

The formal main dining room.

The china is marked with the club's emblem.

The ornate interior of the restaurant.

View of New Orleans Square from the Club 33.

Appropriate attire is required for members dining at Club 33.
(photos: Joshua Sudock/Orange County Register)

Angry Birds Land Theme Park Opens in Finland

Entrance to Angry Birds Land at Sarkanniemi Adventure Park.
(photo: UK Daily Mail)

Located north of Helsinski is the Sarkanniemi Adventure Park which has partnered with Finnish-based game maker Rovio to bring the virtual world of battling birds and pigs into a theme park addition called Angry Birds Land. The park's opening would represent and official representation of the extremely popular phone app. Last year and unofficial Angry Birds attraction opened in China.

The Finland park features among its twelve attractions: a roller coaster, a lighthouse-theme mini-drop tower and a Dumbo-style spinning ride themed to the Red Bird (the hero of the Angry Birds game). The centerpiece of Angry Birds Land is a multi-level fortress tower connected by tubes and rope ladders. Visitors can also play the game on screens throughout the park.

The Angry Bird app is the number one paid app of all time and has been downloaded over 700 million times. Players use catapults to fire infuriated birds at green pigs hiding inside buildings made of planks. Angry Birds has been merchandised in toys and clothing and is rumored to become a Hollywood feature film.

Visit sarkanniemi.fi for more information. Official opening is scheduled for June 8.

The cars of this spinning ride are shaped like the game's red birds.
(photo: Sarkanniemi)

The bird and pig characters are ready for installation during the
park's construction. (photo: Sarkanniemi)

Overview of Angry Birds Land (photo: Daily Mail)

The park features the shops and restaurants and the game's iconic slingshot.
(photo: Daily Mail)

The Angry Birds Adventure Course. (photo: Daily Mail)

Besides tunnels, the Adventure Course features staircases, slides and
secret passages as well as eggs hidden by the green pigs.
(photo: Sarkanniemi)

The Angry Birds Lighthouse. (photo: Sarkanniemi)

Airfare on Air Force One

(photo: gredge/flickr)

USA Today reports that Air Force one, a Boeing 757 used to carry the U.S. president, costs the Air Force $179,750 per hour to operate based on a Congressional Research Service report.

That's a lot of money when compared to what we feel are expensive airfares for our own airline tickets. However we as taxpayers are covering the costs of trips for official business. The article indicates that information on the cost of presidential flights are scarce but offered these figures. A European trip in 1989 cost the Air Force $1 million and a trip to Hawaii in 1990 cost $1.5 million.

These amounts are just the cost to operate the aircraft without related expenses such as food and lodging which are costly. These related costs for presidential trips in 1998 totaled $42.8 million for Africa, $10.5 million for Chile and $18.8 million for China.