When we spent the evening near the Camino de Santiago in
Tafalla Spain at the home of Marino and Alicia Zara, we learned all about the
Zara family’s entertainment legacy in Las Vegas. We learned that the family
headlined in the biggest showrooms in town at the time, after performing in the
largest venues all over Europe. While Alicia and Marino no longer perform in
Las Vegas, we learned that Marino’s brother, Toto, is still performing live in
various Las Vegas venues, and found him in Lake Las Vegas. We hadn’t been to
Lake Las Vegas in many years. Sadly, while the hotels and golf courses remain
open, most of the shops in the Village are empty, including the casino. Luckily
the Sonrisa Grille still draws crowds, especially Sunday nights when Toto serenades
with live music.
Marino and Alicia had alerted Toto that we planned to catch
his performance, and he was so gracious to spend two of his breaks chatting
with us. We learned that before they came to Las Vegas, the family had
performed all over Europe, playing in Pablo Picasso’s villa twice. We learned
their first gig in Vegas was at Caesar’s Palace in the late 60’s, meaning that
Toto has been performing here nearly 50 years. We experienced how talented he
is, listening to him expertly slide from Santana, to the Beatles, and then
Marley – it was joyous. But if you want to experience it yourself, you have to
hurry. Toto told us he was retiring this year and planned to move back to Spain.
Vegas will lose a great talent.
We got a little bonus while we enjoyed Toto Zara. One of the
guests at one of the hotels decided to get out on the lake and shoot some adrenaline.
He was actually pretty good at this – must have done it before.
Talk to you soon!
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