Strip Tips: Football, hot dogs and more

Draft celebration

If you need an excuse to party, the Rockhouse Bar in front of Imperial Palace has a good one: the National Football League draft. Thursday kicked off the football draft celebration that continues today and Saturday with two-for-one well drinks and domestic beers and $5 shots. The promotion runs all day. If beer buckets are your thing, they’re offering them for $19 through Saturday. This is one of your last chances to party at Rockhouse before the bar closes in May. It’s scheduled to reopen in a new location next year. For more information, visit therockhousebar.com or call 731-9683.

Hot dogs

If you like a good eating contest, head down to the Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, on Saturday. A group of competitive eaters will vie for the title of “Nevada Hot Dog Eating Champion,” which comes with the right to represent the city in this year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The main event starts at 3 p.m. but a fundraiser competition will start at 1 p.m. Hotel employees will compete against each other to raise money for charities. The event is free and open to the public.

Gospel Brunch

The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay debuts a revamped Gospel Brunch on Sunday. If you’re not familiar with it, the Gospel Brunch mixes a Southern style, all-you-can-eat buffet with live performances by gospel groups from around the country. It’s a unique experience as far as buffets on the Strip go. The new menu features a variety of options, from miniwaffles with strawberries to fresh salads and desserts. Firm Soundation, Patty Pennington Gospel Ensemble, The Gastons, St. Paul’s Choir and Sharon Smith and the Nu Vision Ensemble are among the upcoming groups who will be breaking in the new lighting and sound systems. The brunch is held every Sunday with seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets cost $37 for adults and $17 for children 11 and younger. For more information, call 632-7600.

Barbecue discount

PBR Rock Bar & Grill at Miracle Mile Shops is kicking off a monthlong celebration of barbecue May 1. Every Monday through Friday, get 15 percent off of select barbecue items including beef ribs, brisket, barbecue chicken and more. During the BBQ Happy Hour, from 3 to 6 p.m., drink discounts will be offered. Get $3 draft beers, two-for-one well drinks and $5 shots of select liquors. PBR is in Planet Hollywood Resort. For more information, call 750-1685 or visit pbrrockbar.com.

Question

When is O’Sheas closing and is it reopening?

The Irish-themed hotel, which opened in 1989, is scheduled to close its doors Monday. It will be demolished to make way for Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s Project Linq. O’Shea’s will be incorporated into that $550 million development, along with Imperial Palace, which will be renamed and rebranded. Project Linq will include an outdoor retail, dining and entertainment district with a 550-foot-tall observation wheel as the centerpiece. Linq will encompass the area between Flamingo and Imperial Palace and is scheduled to open in 2013.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564. Follow @StripSonya on Twitter.