Strip Tips: Cocktails, music and more

This week's offerings include a video series, free music and cocktail recipes.

Cocktail class

If you believe the best love potion is a good cocktail, check out master mixologist Mark Suciu's class at STK steakhouse in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Every Wednesday in July, he will teach "Couples Cocktails," a class on making the perfect cocktail for enhancing the mood. He will give students a few tricks of the trade, teach them how to mix everything from classic to modern cocktails and give them an excuse to drink.

Registration costs $50 per couple or $30 for singles (plus tax and tip). Price includes a "small bites" menu. To make reservations, visit www.viplasvegas@togrp.com or call 698-7990.

Carnevale
celebration

The Venetian and Palazzo kick off the second month of Carnevale with a monthlong celebration of music. Mese di Musica starts July 1 and will feature live music throughout the month. The Venetian showroom and outdoor stage near the gondola will feature a concert series. Look for children's activities in the Palazzo atrium and check out the parade that winds its way through the resorts nightly at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.venetian.com/carnevale.

Video series

Rao's restaurant at Caesars Palace launched a monthly video series on YouTube showcasing their "family traditions." There will be tips on bocce ball, cooking and more. The first installment, "Rao's Family Traditions: On the Grill," features Frank Pellegrino Jr. talking about the restaurant and his new cookbook, "Rao's on the Grill." Through Saturday, anyone who prepares their version of Rao's grilled sausages with peppers and onions and posts photos of it on the restaurant's Facebook page will be eligible to win a signed copy of the cookbook. You can also enter to win by tweeting the photos with the hash tag #RaosOnTheGrill on Instagram and Twitter. Visit www.raosvegas.com for more information.

Talking to CBS

Did you know that you can watch television shows and take surveys at the MGM Grand?

Yes, you can. It's CBS network's Television City, a research center where the public can weigh in on what they see on TV. Every day, from 10 a.m. until the last screening, around 9 p.m., people strolling through Studio Walk at MGM Grand could be invited to participate in a screening.

The center opened in April 2001 as a research facility for TV programming. That has expanded over the years to include commercials, video games, websites, wireless products, computers and more.

About 1.1 million people pass through the facility each year with 70,000 sitting for two-hour screenings. Incentives to participate include pastries, coffee, coupons, cash and the chance to win prizes. If you want to participate, just take a walk toward the MGM pool, you're sure to get invited.

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