Vegas On Two Wheels – Zowie Bowie at Citrus (Downtown Grand)

Greg Bennett takes his hog to the Downtown pool scene and sees Zowie Bowie at Citrus

After a long workweek at the station (morning weathercaster for KTNV, our Vegas ABC -TV affiliate), I had to find a way to kick back and relax. With no pool at my casa, I was in a bit of a jam. Luckily, Downtown Grand came to the rescue and invited me to check out Citrus, their swanky backyard-style pool atop the hotel’s casino roof. So, folks, I am swiping the kickstand up and motoring over to Citrus at the Downtown Grand for this week’s Vegas on Two Wheels!

Being in Vegas for four years, I can safely say that the best spot for a locals’ night out is Fremont Street. I love this place! The booze and food are so much cheaper than the main boulevard, live entertainment is on every corner, the glitz and glam of old Vegas are alive and well…and the people-watching is to die for!

The ride is simple. Follow the I-15 north and look for the exit signs to Downtown/Fremont Street. The traffic can get rather aggressive after you pass the exit for Sahara, and it won’t let up until you get off the exit (check out our piece on Summertime Delays for details on this and other traffic obstacles).

Word to all who visit: Fremont Street and Downtown, as a whole, are PAID PARKING. The most expensive parking will cost you 12 bucks, with the cheapest being a Lincoln. However, if you ride your hog to downtown, park at Hogs and Heifers Saloon for FREE! Stop in, have a beer with the badass bar ladies and then take off for Fremont. Or, in my case, the Downtown Grand Hotel pool.

What was wicked-convenient for me was the fact that Hogs and Heifers is literally across the street from the Downtown Grand. After a quick change into swim trunks, I made my way inside the hotel and to the rooftop pool. It’s an easy stroll through the lobby and up the massive escalator to the third floor.

My invitation was for an after-dark event. Having never been to a Vegas pool at night, I was quite curious about what to expect. Walking in, I was immediately immersed in a backyard/ amphitheater scene with modern touches throughout the area. A stage was set up beyond the pool with private cabanas on either side of the stage and in the center, near the water.

Citrus is a newly-renovated 35,000 square-foot deck, and it’s the largest in Downtown. It features outdoor games like foosball, corn hole, and table tennis, a full bar, dining, fire pit, colorful summer-y grass seating area where guests can lounge, an all-new food menu with weekday specials and live entertainment several days a week.

That night’s performers were Zowie Bowie. The media had been welcomed to an official kickoff of their no-cover Friday night summer residency. This was the first time I had seen Z.B. in action. Now, if you don’t know who Zowie Bowie is, they a couple of lounge-style singers (and a live band) that have been hitting the Las Vegas stages for years.

There used to be three of them until violinist Lydia Ansel left last summer…after breaking up with frontman Chris Phillips. Now it’s Phillips and curvy Fergie-lookalike (and self-proclaimed “vocal vixen”) Nieve Malandra. Zowie Bowie used to very popular on the entertainment circuit, but now, to be as nice as possible, they are on the downside.

Listen…every entertainer has their time in Vegas and then it slowly fizzles out. That’s the life of a performer. Zowie Bowie are an older act trying to keep their relevance alive. At least the energy was spot on!

But…being that they are both on the “mature” side, it was hard to see past Chris’s half-buttoned shirt and bleached hair…and half-naked Nieve’s pelvic thrusts and high kicks, Listening to them covering pop hits while knowing that these two are either in their 40s or 50s, well…and the singing reminded me of an above-average karaoke performance.

Listen, I don’t like being negative or giving a bad review. But…they need to re-invent the show, come back with a new performance and maybe a new look. They apparently have a small fan base that likes to support them, but they are unlikely to gain many new followers. That is how you stay relevant in this town. If they do that, they’ll probably see several more gigs in the years ahead.

As for the pool…it’s small and only 4 ft deep, but it’s not trying to be like the ones at Encore or Caesars Palace. This is a local boutique resort, and for what it is, it’s pretty nice! The place is clean, and the service is fast and friendly.

The best part of the experience was the full bar in the back with some killer concoctions. I could not get enough of their Long Island lemonades! They were incredibly tasty, and so refreshing…a must if you head to Citrus! They even grow the herbs for their Signature Cocktails right near the bar!

When checking out any location attached to a hotel, I always go to the bar and ask for a whisky and ginger ale. I always ask for Crown Royal. The Strip hotels usually charge between $14 and $18 for this drink. At Citrus, its $12! The deals are downtown for sure!

I did not have an opportunity to part take in some of the food, but they do have a full menu available and from what I saw, it sounded tasty, and the prices were right! $6-$18 for most items!

Overall, the newly-revamped pool deck at Downtown Grand is a fun place for all ages, whether you want to relax or party it up. Citrus is worth checking out! As for Zowie Bowie…we’ll leave that up to you.

https://www.facebook.com/sam.novak.58/videos/10209703351446253/?l=53198029916789303

Downtown Grand Hotel Casino is located at 206 N. 3rd St., two blocks from Fremont Street Experience

Photos: [Sammasseur]

Greg Bennett

Greg Bennett is the morning meteorologist on KTNV’s Good Morning Las Vegas newscast. He is an avid Harley rider but also is a huge classic car fan and loves to work on both. In his free time, you can catch Greg riding his bike around town, working out at the gym, hanging out with his Pit Bull (DewPoint), or getting his hands dirty by volunteering across the city of Las Vegas.