Jan 14, 2010 | Entertainment, General News, Special Events
Cheryl Burke of Dancing With The Stars with special guest Genya Mazo make a trip to Mohegan Sun for a special live event and signing on January 28th
The Shops at Mohegan Sun are pleased to announce the premiere of Reality Check, an all-new live event at Mohegan Sun, kicking off on Thursday, January 28th at 7:00pm with Cheryl Burke of Dancing With The Stars and special guest Genya Mazo. This free and exclusive event will take place in The Shops at Mohegan Sun.
Presented by The Shops at Mohegan Sun, Reality Check is an exciting and interactive event that brings the best and brightest stars from the reality TV world to Mohegan Sun. Reality Check events provide fans with the ultimate exposure to their favorite reality stars with engaging, live exhibitions in The Shops at Mohegan Sun followed by intimate signing events. For more information, visit mohegansun.com/reality-check.
Cheryl Burke is a two-time Dancing With The Stars champion, first partnered with 98 Degrees singer Drew Lachey in the second season of the hit reality show and again with all-time great Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith in the third season. Only 25 years old, Cheryl has not only seen success on television, but also won several championships including the 2005 Ohio Star Ball Rising Star Latin Championship, the 2005 San Francisco Open Latin Championship and the 2005 World Cup Professional Rising Star Latin Championship along with several UK Championships. Her success in television and dancing has led to many positive ventures for Cheryl that include the opening of three dance studios in California, exposure on talk shows and even a role on The Disney Channel’s The Suite Life with Zack and Cody.
Genya Mazo was born to be on stage as he started dancing at age three and became the National Pre-Teen Champion of Belarus at the age of six. It only got more impressive from that point forward as Genya would go on to become one of the most talented competitive dancers of his era, winning the U.S. National Championship, World Rising Star Championship and the International Latin Championship. He has appeared on several Dancing With The Stars episodes and has also performed on three Dancing With The Stars Tours.
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and meeting destinations in the United States. Situated on 240 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com.
Nov 23, 2009 | Breaking News, Special Events
Celebration includes a 24-foot gingerbread house, holiday décor, a tree lighting ceremony, reality TV stars and charity donations
Mohegan Sun’s annual World of Holiday Marvels is set for its biggest holiday celebration to date with fireworks, music, treats, a toy drive, a fire truck parade, performances from former American Idol contestants and Mohegan Sun’s fifth annual tree lighting ceremony on November 30th.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Welcoming the holiday season will be Mohegan Sun’s fifth annual tree lighting ceremony on Monday, November 30th. The ceremony begins at 5:00pm on the rooftop of the Thames Garage including an appearance from Santa and the 2nd annual Juke Box Jingle singing competition sponsored by Q105 at 5:30pm. Local contestants will compete for top prizes of $250.00, $100.00 and $50.00 gift cards to The Shops at Mohegan Sun. Radio stations WCTY, WKNL and WQGN will be awarding gifts and prizes to guests.
Dollar refreshments will be available including Hot Dogs, Pretzels, Soup and complimentary Cider, Hot Chocolate and Gingerbread Cookies, with proceeds benefiting local charities. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys For Tots Program, in conjunction with the Hartford Festival of Light will also be accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys.
Performers from Albano’s Nutcracker will meet guests at the Sky Valet, where guests can also take a shuttle to the Thames Garage.
At 6:15pm, Mohegan Sun’s 1st annual holiday fire truck parade kicks off, followed by the lighting of the 66-foot holiday tree and a fireworks display by Pyro FX. The ceremony concludes at 7:00pm.
In the event the tree lighting ceremony is cancelled due to inclement weather, a make-up date is scheduled for December 1st.
American Stars In Concert For The Holidays
The Shops at Mohegan Sun present American Stars in Concert For the Holidays. In celebration of the holiday season, Mohegan Sun will welcome former American Idol contestants Michael Sarver, Alexis Grace, David Hernandez and Gina Glocksen as they perform their favorite holiday tunes on Monday, November 30th in The Shops at Mohegan Sun. The live performance will begin at 7:30pm, followed by a signing event at 8:30pm. The concert will take place rain or shine, even in the event that the tree lighting ceremony is postponed.
28-Foot Gingerbread House
The Shops at Mohegan Sun is once again home to a 28-foot life-size gingerbread house. Created by Executive Pastry Chef Lynn Mansel and Mohegan Sun’s culinary team, this year’s house incorporates approximately 6,525 gingerbread bricks, four 7-foot soldiers made out of milk chocolate and Rice Krispies®, man-made icing, and white, dark and milk chocolate will help out the gingerbread house. Assisted by Mohegan Sun’s culinary team, local children from Mohegan and Murphy Elementary Schools will assist in the construction process. Visitors of all ages can walk through the home to view the tiny rooms inside filled with a standout stone fireplace made from gingerbread and dark icing grout, chocolate stockings, a holiday tree, a chocolate rocking chair and a chocolate glass with assorted cookies for Santa to enjoy. Topping off the house is a cupola and weathervane with four chocolate chefs.
Mohegan Sun’s culinary staff will also construct a gingerbread gazebo that will serve as a gift wrap booth from December 11th through the 24th. Between the hours of 12:00pm and 8:00pm, purchases can be brought to the gazebo to be wrapped for $3.00 to $10.00 per gift. All proceeds will benefit MDA and Hospice Southeastern Connecticut.
Toys For Tots
Mohegan Sun also serves as a toy collection site for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys For Tots Program, in conjunction with the Hartford Festival of Light. New, unwrapped toys for children will be accepted until December 11th, 24 hours a day at the Riverview and Summer Coat Checks.
Holiday Décor
Throughout the property, Mohegan Sun along with The Becker Group has set up a variety of holiday decorations. Casino of the Earth features ornaments and illuminated wreaths measuring over ten feet tall. The Shops at Mohegan Sun will bring the picturesque New England winter indoors with 17-foot ice light curtains and custom-designed snowflakes suspended over iceberg islands. The hotel lobby will be transformed into a whimsical world brimming with adventure including an 18-foot tree of cascading water in an icy atmosphere filled with frosted trees and friendly forest animals. A 16-foot illuminated wreath and a theatrical lighting display of snowflakes will fall above the already-spectacular Taughannick Falls.
Maps highlighting the World of Holiday Marvels displays can be found at any Player’s Club booth throughout the casino and during the tree lighting ceremony.
Over thirty stores are located in The Shops at Mohegan Sun for holiday shopping. For a complete list of the stores and holiday hours, please visit mohegansun.com/shopping.
Additionally, Mohegan Sun gift cards are available for purchase in any denomination at Mohegan Sun’s Box Office, Essentials stores and Everything Under the Sun which are located conveniently throughout the property.
Mohegan Sun gift cards can be used at any store, restaurant or concert and sporting event at Mohegan Sun. They’re also accepted at Mohegan Sun’s luxurious hotel, Elemis Spa and at Mohegan Sun’s Mobil Gas Station and Convenience Store.
The Becker Group, the design firm chosen to create Mohegan Sun’s World of Holiday Marvels, has over fifty years of experience creating immersive, entertaining attractions and brand-based experiences for a wide variety of clients. Venues include shopping malls, consumer brands, movie studios, television networks, theme parks, museums and casinos around the globe. The award-winning experiential marketing company is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and has offices in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Miami, Barcelona, Spain and San Paulo, Brazil.
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and meeting destinations in the United States. Situated on 240 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com.
Nov 2, 2009 | Special Events
Justin Moore will meet fans following his show in the Wolf Den on November 12th
Spin Street and Mohegan Sun welcome Country Billboard’s chart-topping artist, Justin Moore, for a special appearance and signing event of his debut self-titled release. This free personal appearance and signing will take place on the Spin Street Stage in The Shops at Mohegan Sun immediately following his performance in the Wolf Den on Thursday, November 12th at 8:00pm. All Signings & Sightings are free and open to the public.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Justin Moore is currently enjoying tremendous success with his new self-titled album which debuted at #3 on Billboard Magazine’s Country Sales chart. Moore also gained notoriety as the second highest debut by an artist in 2009. The album first released the single “Back That Thing Up” and followed with the current smash single “Small Town USA.” Moore’s album has generated rave reviews by People Magazine, The Washington Post and Billboard as a “must-have” album for 2009.
ABOUT SIGNINGS AND SIGHTINGS
Mohegan Sun’s Signings & Sightings, presented in collaboration with Spin Street, is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows guests to get up-close-and-personal with some of the world’s biggest entertainers. Whether it’s an up-and-coming band, well known comedian or chart-topping musician, a Signings & Sightings event provides artists with an exciting opportunity to share their latest work in an interactive way with fans. Spin Street, located in The Shops at Mohegan Sun, offers a variety of music, movies and entertainment memorabilia with special signing merchandise available for each Signings & Sightings event. Visit mohegansun.com for more information.
Oct 12, 2009 | Special Events
The drummer for Aerosmith takes part in a live discussion and book signing on November 14th for his new autobiography Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top
Mohegan Sun’s Winning Authors welcomes Joey Kramer, the legendary drummer from one of the most successful 
bands in America, Aerosmith. Joey Kramer will host a live discussion on Saturday, November 14th in The Cabaret Theatre at 2:00pm followed by a book signing in The Shops at Mohegan Sun, at 3:00pm for his new autobiography Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top.
In 1997, amidst Aerosmith’s sold out world tour and #1 album release, Joey revealed in an interview his ongoing struggles with depression. The response from fans and people battling those same internal demons was overwhelming. Joey, who has been the drummer of Aerosmith since it was founded in 1970 and the first member of the band to release his own book, now tells the complete story: the early days of the band, glamorous drug-addled events leading up to their eventual sobriety, battles within his family and among bandmates and the explosive internal dynamics in Aerosmith that continue to unleash a fury of endless creativity.
This is not just another Rock & Roll memoir. In addition to the never-before-told Aerosmith war stories that abound in the book, Hit Hard unpacks the history of a Rock star who was both fragile and tough, who after years of insane wildness became willing to accept help and finally kick a serious alcohol and drug addiction, only to find that the real terrors and hard work were still ahead. It’s the story of an average kid from an average American suburb who went through physical and emotional trauma. It’s about years of depression and the nervous breakdown at the height of the band’s comeback success. Ultimately, it is about how Joey recognized his confusion between love and abuse, awakening to the kind of self-acceptance and compassion that makes healthy relationships possible in the “real world.”
Joey Kramer has been rocking with Aerosmith since the band began in 1970. Kramer and his partners have sold over 150 million albums, and today their multigenerational, global audience is bigger than ever. In addition to the Grammys and the twenty-one multi-platinum albums, Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. The band has been the subject of several documentaries, including a film dedicated to Joey Kramer and his lasting influence called It’s About Time. Visit the author online at www.joeykramer.com.
Winning Authors is an experience offering an intimate and unique environment for book lovers. All events are free and open to the public of all ages. Books by featured authors will be available at the Spin Street store in The Shops at Mohegan Sun for purchase. For more information on Joey Kramer and other Winning Author events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com/winning-authors.
Oct 1, 2009 | Breaking News, Entertainment
Connecticut native Veronica Ballestrini to take the stage with a free performance and signing event on October 8th
Southeastern Connecticut native and singing sensation Veronica Ballestrini takes the stage in The Shops at Mohegan Sun on Thursday, October 8th. The aspiring Country singer and songwriter will perform songs from her debut album, entitled What I’m All About, at 7:00pm, followed by a signing event at 7:30pm.
Nicknamed “V,” Ballestrini and her popularity have beaconed over the past four years with an emphatic following that has amassed 11.5 million plays on MySpace, with over 120,000 followers and 7.5 million page views. Ballestrini’s Pop-Country sound has generated a wave of praise from a variety of outlets including The New York Times, MusicRow.com, The New London Day, YallWire.com and Aristopr.com. Notable appearances include a visit to the Country Music Awards, the Wagon Wheel Country Music Festival, Country AirCheck, Nashville Songwriters Association International, Country Weekly Magazine and Music Row Magazine. Marie Claire Magazine also profiled her earlier this year as one of six Nashville artists to watch for. Her debut album is available now at SpinStreet in The Shops at Mohegan Sun.
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and meeting destinations in the United States. Situated on 240 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com.
