Kalina, 4/5/07.
The Vegas enthusiasts in the crowd will recognize the name Kerry Simon, whose eponomous restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has been a stop for VIPs and assorted high rollers since it opened in late 2002. Simon lands in NY with Spotlight Live, a performance/dining venue at which diners can sign up to perform for the crowd mid-meal. It's somewhere between cabaret and karaoke—and a moderately genius idea for Times Square (located in the former Noche space). Along with Simon, his partners on the project are Elizabeth Blau and Jennifer Worthington; Blau is involved in the Vegas restaurant; Worthington is a film exec and co-owner of the Vegas version of Coyote Ugly. Spotlight Live is not exactly the place you want to for an intimate dinner, and it's not East Village karaoke by a margin, but with the right group it's worth seeing first hand. Once.
