Rene Skadden of Lake Elsinore,CA, brought her 86-year-old mother, Irene Lietle, to Pala Casino Spa & Resort’s 60+ Club recently because both are “monster Elvis fans” and they had heard thatLas Vegas impersonator Travis Allen was one of the best in the Elvis business. Their good friends, Leigh Belton of Temecula,CA, and her daughter Kristen Janes of Yorba Linda,CA, came with them for the same reason.
Joe and Brenda Formicola from Sun City,CA, have become 60+ Club regulars, who rarely miss the Tuesday afternoon fun in Pala’s new Infinity showroom. Brenda agreed that Elvis was one of the best 60+ shows to date. But she noted that Holly Beavon as Marilyn Monroe, Steve Waddington as Dean Martin, David Born as Robin Williams and Rob Ely’s 50s Review also were a ton of fun.
“It’s a great place to go during the week and the 30 percent discount for lunch at the Choices buffet is one of the best deals for seniors in Southern California,” Brenda Formicola said. Pala started the 60+ Club in May with the grand opening of its new Infinity showroom, a state-of-the-art venue that has raised the entertainment bar in Southern California. With seating for as many as 900, it offers an intimate setting for concerts and live shows.
But expediently, Infinity is a nightclub, a showroom or a party venue and on Sundays, the home of the Infinity Sports Experience. The Sports Experience will move into high gear in about two weeks with the start of the National Football League season. “But seniors have always been a very important audience for us,” says Pala Chief Executive Bill Bembenek, “and with the flexibility of our new room, we wanted to do something specifically for them. The 60+ Club is a great way to spend a day at Pala.”
Membership is free with a Pala Privileges card and each Tuesday’s activities start at11 a.m. with the 30 percent discount at Choices,Southern California’s largest and best buffet. If you lunch early, there is time to play your favorite game before the show. “The buffet choices are endless,” first-timer Skadden said. “There are eight stations with selections I have never seen anywhere.” At1 p.m., it is show time. And for those who want to enjoy an afternoon libation, the Pala bartenders always create a drink special to match the theme.
When Dean and Marilyn performed, 60+ Clubbers enjoyed a “Nifty Sixty Tom Collins” or during the Joan Rivers show, a “Face Lift Pina Colada.” When Elvis visited, everyone sipped “Blue Hawaiians.” “The most fun is when the entertainers interact with the audience.” Belton said. She and her daughter, Janes, both met the real Elvis Presley three times during their lives, so they especially enjoyed dancing during Allen’s show and getting a silk scarf souvenir at the conclusion.
“He is rated one of the top five Elvis impersonators in the country so for us it was really something special,” Belton said. Brenda Formicola said one of the funniest and most enjoyable times she has had in a long time occurred when Beavon as Monroe left the stage and performed on the dance floor. “She brought a gentleman out of the audience to dance with her. By the time she finished hugging him and patting his head, he did not want to go home.”
Before the 60+ Club breaks for the day, members also have the opportunity to win money. Pala sponsors a $300 cash drawing and three members can win $100 each. The 30 percent discount at the buffet is good until3 p.m., so members can dine after the show.
September’s 60+ Club entertainment and drink specials will include: – Sept. 6, Beach Boys and “Sexy on the Beach” – Sept. 13, Funny, Dummy Show (ventriloquist) and “White Wine Punch Line” – Sept. 20, Tom Jones and “Delilah Daquiri” – Sept. 27, Johnny Cash and “Ring of Fire Margarita” Pala is located in Northern San DiegoCounty, 11154 Highway 76,Pala,CA92059. From San Diego/Riverside, take I-15 to Highway 76 east five miles; fromLos Angeles County and Orange County, take I-5 south to Highway 76 east, then travel 23 miles. Pala is 15 miles north ofEscondido, 12 miles south of Temecula. For information, call 1-877-WINPALA (1-877-946-7252) or visit www.palacasino.com