‘A Classic Christmas Celebration’ Offers Traditional Holiday Stage Production at John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – Warmth. Good cheer. Family. Caroling and songs. All are reminiscent of a time-honored Christmas gathering. See that traditional imagery come to life when “A Classic Christmas Celebration” returns to the stage in the legendary Celebrity Showroom, December 11-13 and Dec. 18-20, at John Ascuaga's Nugget.
Featuring 8 incredible performances over two separate weekends, producer Karen Burns utilizes her one-of-kind collection of spectacular costumes and a troupe of hand-selected singers and dancers to bring the holiday alive. Some of the attire comes from Burns’ renowned Hello Hollywood, Hello collection. Many of the actors and actresses in the production were cast locally, including the children, whose unabashed excitement and enthusiasm always enlighten a holiday performance. From the classic Christmas songs you love to a real life Toyland finale, the entire family will be captivated by the colors and sounds of traditional yuletide merriment.
“For those who dream of a White Christmas, Karen Burns’ “A Classic Christmas Celebration” at John Ascuaga’s Nugget is so rich in song, dance, gorgeous costumes and memories (that) it nurtures its own dreams of a Christmas that’s white. It’s so good it could, and should, become a holiday tradition,” said Nevada-Events.net reviewer Jack Neal.
A Classic Christmas Celebration plays four times each weekend, December 11-13 and Dec. 18-20, in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga's Nugget. Show times are 7 p.m. each Friday and Saturday, with 3:30 p.m. matinees each Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices are $23 for adults, $21 for seniors (55+), $19 for students (with valid ID), and $12 kids (12 and under) and are available by calling (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300 or by visiting janugget.com. Dinner and show packages are available. “Do the Nugget Tonight!”

Play “Action Ball” at John Ascuaga’s Nugget, You Could Win $1,000,000!

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – An instant cash jackpot up to $25,000, a brand new Toyota and $10,000 cash during monthly drawings, and a chance to win $1,000,000 – Action Ball runs daily from November 19 to April 24, 2010 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget!

There are a variety of ways to participate:

Daily Swipe and Instant Win
John’s Club members use their player’s club card to swipe and play an interactive touch-screen match game at the Action Ball Headquarters, located next to the main cashier on the main casino floor. Guests can win up to $25,000 cash in an instant jackpot, plus food credits, meals, drinks, hotel stays, slot play, and a chance to play the Action Ball machine for $1,000,000 cash! To redeem a prize, guests take their card to the Action Ball Redemption Center.

Action Ball Machine
The highlight of the promotion is the incredible Action Ball game. Guests who win a play on Action Ball during the Swipe and Win game will get to step up to the machine to try for $1,000,000 cash. If six orange balls line up in the game, the guest instantly wins $1,000,000! Less than six balls earn corresponding prizes as well, including cash, slot play and food credits.

Monthly Cash and Toyota Giveaways
On these Saturdays in Casino Cabaret at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.: Dec. 19, 2009, and Jan. 30, Feb. 27, Mar. 27 and Apr. 24, 2010 - the Nugget will be giving away $10,000 in cash and a brand new Toyota from Reno Toyota. Entries are earned by swiping your card daily on the instant win game and for every John’s Club dollar earned. Every guest who earned entries during the previous month automatically will be in the monthly drawing, as long as they activate their entries by swiping or playing with their John’s Card between Noon and 8 p.m. on the day of the monthly drawing. The prize cars will be displayed on the main casino floor.

Additional information is available online at http://www.janugget.com/, or at the Action Ball Headquarters, located at the main cashier on the casino floor. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, Reno Toyota and Odds on Promotions employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

John Ascuaga’s Nugget is a premier casino resort owned and operated by the Ascuaga family in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, call (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300, or visit janugget.com.

Thanksgiving at St. Vincent’s

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – Every Thanksgiving, employees at John Ascuaga’s Nugget spend countless hours preparing Thanksgiving favorites for literally thousands of people who will dine in one of the Nugget’s many restaurants. However, the staff also works to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for guests at St. Vincent’s Dining Room.
Every year since 1955, John Ascuaga’s Nugget has provided Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to an area shelter, and since 1961 the Nugget and St. Vincent’s have worked diligently to make sure that less fortunate folks enjoy a great meal. This year, for the 48th consecutive Thanksgiving, the Nugget will be providing more than 1000 meals.
Everyday for more than four decades, St. Vincent’s Dining Room, as part of Catholic Community Services of Northern Nevada, has welcomed the hungry with open arms. Today, the Dining Room serves many hundreds of meals every day. No preaching, no fee, no questions are asked of the hungry who go there. The menu changes daily, but not the mission: to provide a simple but hearty meal to sustain the body and warm the soul. For details, call 775-322-7073. The dining room is located at 325 Valley Rd., just east of downtown Reno. Thanksgiving service is at 11:30 a.m.
John Ascuaga’s Nugget is a premier casino resort owned and operated by the Ascuaga family in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, call 800-648-1177 or 775-356-3300, or visit janugget.com.

Play MegaKeno Progressive at John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – Keno players at John Ascuaga’s Nugget now can play for a progressive-style jackpot typically associated with slot machines. MegaKeno, a state-wide progressive product offered by XpertX, Inc., offers Nugget guests the chance to play for separate progressive amounts on 5-, 6- and 7-spot cards with a $1.50 wager. The progressive jackpots start at $1,100 for a 5-spot, $3,000 for a 6-spot and $15,000 for a 7-spot. Players must mark “MK” on their Keno ticket when placing their wager to participate. The progressive pots for each of the three games appear on the main Keno boards around the property following the completion of each game. Guests can visit the Gold Keno game on the main casino floor for additional details.
John Ascuaga’s Nugget is a premier casino resort owned and operated by the Ascuaga family in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, call (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300, or visit janugget.com.

Reno Resident Wins $102,893 Pai Gow Poker Progressive at John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Reno/Sparks, Nev. – Linda Monroe of Reno, Nev., hit an instant jackpot of nearly $97,000 and a separate $6,000 on a “Fortune Bet” for a hefty sum of $102,893 while playing Pai Gow Poker Progressive on Friday, Nov. 13, at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

Monroe said she’s never won a total like this before, and plans to use the winnings to help pay bills, take care of family and contemplate a home purchase. Her seven-card winning hand consisted of Q-J-Joker-9-8-7-6 of Hearts.

John Ascuaga’s Nugget is a premier casino resort owned and operated by the Ascuaga family in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, call (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300, or visit janugget.com.

Bluesman, Songwriter Extraordinaire Keb’ Mo’ Returns to John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – Consciously contemporary, eulogistically old-fashioned, accomplished blues guitarist and songwriter Keb’ Mo’ returns to John Ascuaga's Nugget on November 20.
Multiple times a Grammy and W.C. Handy Award winner, Keb’ Mo’ draws heavily on the genre-source country-blues style of Robert Johnson, but keeps his sound contemporary with touches of soul and folksy storytelling. He writes much of his own material, and his latest album Live & Mo’ (2009) offers a mixed collection of live and studio material, constituting his first effort for his independent label Yolabelle Records.
Keb’ Mo’ is a man who admittedly “came of age during the 60s.” Born and raised in Compton, Calif., he spent his early adult life working odd jobs and playing guitar just to pay the bills. He did a few stints with various artists, including three years with former Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna vocalist and violinist, Papa John Creach.
After playing with Creach, Mo’ took a position at A&M Records working as a staff writer and demo producer. After years of honing his musical identity, the former Kevin Moore released his self-titled Keb’ Mo’ (1994) with others, including; Just Like You (1996), Slow Down (1998), The Door (2000), Sessions at West 54th - Recorded live in New York City 1997 (2000), Big Wide Grin (2001), Just Like You (2003), Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Keb' Mo' (2003), Keep It Simple (2004), Peace … Back By Popular Demand (2004), Suitcase (2006) and Live & Mo’ (2009).
With each new album Mo’ continues to explore his musical range, the depth of his spirit and the journey that is life. By combining the traditional blues style and his own late 20th Century musical sense, Mo’ has spread his blend of sweet country blues, gritty juke-joint jive, up-tempo R&B, and even breezy, George Benson-style jazz-pop to thousands of new fans. And in what is perhaps the ultimate indicator of mainstream credibility, Mo’ showed off his wheat germ pancake recipe during a segment of Martha Stewart’s cable television show.
Keb’ Mo’ plays, with his band, one night only, November 20, in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga's Nugget. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are just $38 and are available by calling (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300 or by visiting janugget.com. Dinner and show packages are available. “Do the Nugget Tonight!”

California Man Wins $250,000 Home Sweet Home Final Drawing at John Ascuaga’s Nugget

Sparks/Reno, Nev. – California resident Richard S. was the big winner in the final drawing of the Home Sweet Home house-giveaway promotion tonight (Nov. 14, 2009) at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Richard, who asked that his last name and home town not be disclosed, was one of approximately 4,000 people who attended the final drawing extravaganza. He pumped his fist with enthusiasm and the overflow crowd roared with excitement as the home-winning card was revealed. Legendary television game show host Bob Eubanks was the master of ceremonies for the evening and he celebrated with Richard as confetti canons exploded and costumed showgirls filled the stage.
“I was so shocked. I’m just walking on air,” said Richard, a railroad conductor who has been coming to the Nugget for many decades. “The Nugget has always been such a friendly place. And they’ve always treated the railroad guys great. The gods were smiling tonight.”
Richard’s prize is a brand-new home, valued at $250,000, in The Preserve by Tanamera, a project currently under construction in Sparks. He has the choice of accepting the home or taking a cash prize of $150,000 – a decision he has yet to make.
“We’re pleased that a long-time guest of the Nugget won the home. It’s a lot of fun to see someone get so excited about winning,” said Stephen Ascuaga, the Nugget’s chief operating officer. “For many years, in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Home Sweet Home promotion was the premier casino promotion in the area, something that everyone knew about. It solidified the Nugget’s reputation of producing great experiences for our guests. We’re thrilled to have worked with Tanamera to showcase this promotion again in 2009.”
Guests at Saturday evening’s final drawing enjoyed an interactive game-show style presentation, with thousands in cash awarded prior to the house drawing. Players who held a key certificate, including Richard S., had a 1-in-300 chance of winning the home. Guests won key certificates, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, during ten-plus months of the promotion leading up to the final drawing.
With Home Sweet Home concluded, attention now turns to an exciting new casino-floor promotion, “Action Ball,” which begins next Thursday, November 19 at the Nugget. In Action Ball, guests will have the chance to win an astounding $1,000,000 cash prize, plus instant cash, daily prizes, and a brand new car along with a share of $25,000 during monthly drawings.
John Ascuaga’s Nugget is a premier casino resort owned and operated by the Ascuaga family in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, call 800-648-1177 or 775-356-3300, or visit janugget.com.