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Today's News
Compiled by LVA Research
• November 6, 2009 Brady Cancels Remaining Shows:
Under the advice of physicians, Wayne Brady has canceled his performances of Making %@it Up through the end of the year due to strained vocal cords. The canceled dates will be rescheduled for 2010.
• November 6, 2009 New Blog From Anthony:
A.C. just posted a new entry for the Anthony Curtis Recommends blog at ShopLVA.com titled, "How to Win at Video Poker.
• November 6, 2009 Updates at LVASports:
We've just posted a new LVASports Update article by Anthony Curtis about all the latest developments on the Las Vegas football scene, plus a new "Thread of the Week" at LVASports.com, so check 'em out!
• November 6, 2009 Hope for Fontainebleau:
According to an article in today's Las Vegas Sun, several of the project's subcontractors are collaborating to step up efforts to find financing and gaming partners to complete the project. "We are exploring a variety of options that we can propose to the bankruptcy court, including debtor in possession financing," announced Ronald Tutor, chairman and CEO of Fortune 500 company Tutor Perini, which owns Fontainebleau subcontractor Desert Plumbing & Heating Co.
• November 6, 2009 More Diamonds for Nevada:
Travel group AAA has honored Nevada with three more Five Diamond hotel awards -- for The Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas, Encore at Wynn, and the Palazzo -- bringing the total number of Five Diamond properties in the state to eight.
• November 6, 2009 MGM Mirage Learns from Harrah's:
Until now, MGM Mirage exercised a policy of having each property in the group compete with the others, as if they were totally independent competing entities. It was a strategy designed to keep salespeople "on their toes," but it's one that new CEO Jim Murren feels has put the company at a competitive disadvantage. Hence, MGM Mirage will now follow the same model that Harrah's has employed successfully for years, with group sales agents cross-selling rooms, restaurants, and entertainment options throughout the entire group, based on the customer's needs and preferences.
• November 5, 2009 Vegas Debut for Tomlin:
Comedian Lily Tomlin will be performing in Las Vegas for the first time in her career at the MGM Grand from Nov. 10-18. The show performs at 8 p.m and tickets are priced from $58.50-$80.50.
• November 5, 2009 Bon Jovi Presale:
Tickets for "The Circle Tour" concert at MGM Grand (March 6, 2010) don't officially go on sale until 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, but fans can get a jump on that now through 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8 -- and download the new album at the same time -- by clicking here.
• November 5, 2009 B.B. King's Blues Club:
The much-anticipated new live-music venue at the Mirage opens tomorrow. B.B. King's Blues Club seats 558 and will feature four bars, a stage, and a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends.
• November 5, 2009 Piano Bar Debut Confirmed:
Pete's Dueling Piano Bar is set to open Nov. 13 with a Rock 'n Roll party. You can reserve a table for the grand opening weekend by calling 702/220-PETE (7383) or by visiting http://www.petesduelingpianobar.com/.
• November 5, 2009 LVA in the Media:
Anthony Curtis' weekly Las Vegas round-up just went live, with the rumor of a new Strip headliner, dining updates, and more. Plus, he was interviewed extensively this week by msnbc.com for a feature about the opening of CityCenter and what that means for Las Vegas in the current economic climate. You can find them both at LVA in the Media.
• November 5, 2009 Email Resend:
Our apologies if you're a non-member of LVA and received an email from us today that contained the wrong text/links. There was a technical malfunction with our email software that we didn't catch until the mailing had been sent; this has now been corrected and the email resent. It's a great offer on Bob Dancer video poker products, so don't miss out!
• November 5, 2009 Viva Elvis:
That's the name of the new Elvis-tribute Cirque du Soleil show that will debut at CityCenter's Aria resort, which is scheduled to open next month.
• November 5, 2009 Las Vegas This Weekend: With the PBR Finals taking place all weekend, it's a huge one for country music fans. If that's not you, fear not – there's plenty of other stuff going on, including the Latin Grammy Awards and a big line-up comedy-wise.
- Music: Kelly Clarkson’s in concert at the Joint inside the Hard Rock (11/6) while Low vs Diamond take the stage at Wasted Space (11/8); country star LeAnn Rimes finishes up her engagement at TI (11/5-11/6); Craig Morgan performs at Aliante Station (11/6); The Smothers Brothers are at the Orleans (11/5-11/8); the Tropicana welcomes The Jose Lugo Orchestra (11/6); Justin McBride’s in town for PBR and performs at the Silverton (11/6); LMFAO entertains at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay (11/6) followed by Anjelah Johnson (11/7); Planet Hollywood welcomes R. Kelly (11/6); Roy Clark’s at the South Point (11/6-11/08); Skid Row rocks out at Sunset Station (11/6); Abbacadabra the ultimate ABBA concert (11/7-11/8) and Song Ca Dac Biet (11/7) are out at Buffalo Bills; The Swing City Dolls play at the Eastside Cannery (11/6-11/7) followed by Two Gals and a Geezer (11/6-11/7); The Classic Rock All Stars take the stage at the Cannery (11/6-11/7); Eric Burdon and The Animals are at Green Valley Ranch (11/7); and Everclear performs at the new Hard Rock Café (11/7)
- Comedy: Howie Mandel finishes up his run at the MGM (10/29-11/8); David Spade makes ‘em laugh at the Venetian (11/6-11/8); Jay Leno returns to the Mirage (11/6-11/7); and Andrew Dice Clay’s having some fun at the Riviera (11/4-11/15)
- Sports: The final round of PBR's at the Thomas and Mack Center (11/5-11/8); The Wranglers take on the Bakersfield Condors (11/5-11/6); the Road the Redemption boxing event takes place at the Pearl inside the Palms (11/6); and the Las Vegas Rebels take on Colorado State (11/7)
For more details about these and other events, full listings of all the production shows Las Vegas currently plays home to, and to purchase tickets to all, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section.
• November 5, 2009 Bette Announces Final Date:
Bette Midler announced today that the final performance of The Showgirl Must Go On will be Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010. The final performance will mark the end of her two-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which began on February 20, 2008. There's no word as yet as to who will fill her shoes, nor those of Cher, whose run at The Colosseum ends Dec. 20.
• November 4, 2009 Ex-NBA Ref Released from Jail:
Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was released from Hernando County Jail in Floridaa today after serving most of a 15-month sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce. Donaghy was sentenced in July 2008 after he admitted to taking thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games, including those he worked.
• November 4, 2009 Fly Free to Vegas with Allegiant:
Las Vegas-based airline Allegiant Air is offering a free flight promotion through Nov. 18: Purchase one air/hotel package with Allegiant by Nov. 18, 2009 and the second person flies free.
• November 4, 2009 Sad Day for the Blogosphere:
It is with sadness that we report that Richard Abowitz' long-running Las Vegas blog for the LA Times has been discontinued after four entertaining years -- another victim of the current economic climate and its affects on Las Vegas and visitation from SoCal. Today marks the final entry for the always insightful and well-written Movable Buffet. Richard hopes to start blogging again somewhere else at some point in the future, so watch this space for updates.
• November 4, 2009 Record Temperature Forecasted:
Ongoing high pressure is expected to bring a temperature of 85 degrees to Las Vegas this afternoon, which would make it the warmest Nov. 4 in 33 years. This 80-plus degree weather is due to continue through Thursday, before dropping around 10 degrees, with a chance of rain on Sunday.
• November 4, 2009 Josette's Bistro to Close:
The former LVA local corner, and a particular favorite of our staffers, will close Nov. 21 after eight years. The good news, however, is that owner Chef Josette LeBlond will be moving downtown to open the new Las Vegas Rocks Café at 450 Fremont Street. The new venue's due to debut Dec. 1. From now through Nov. 21, dining hours at Josette's Bistro will remain Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
• November 4, 2009 Today's Reader Poll:
For all the people who are writing in suggesting movies like Ocean's Eleven and The Hangover, please check the wording of the current reader poll question: We're asking for your thoughts on the best gambling-themed movie of all time, not the best Vegas-themed movie. Thanks!
• November 4, 2009 Ohioans Approve Four Big-City Casinos
For the fist time in five tries, Ohio residents yesterday voted in favor approving Las Vegas-style casinos for Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo; Issue 3 passed with 53% voting yes. The measure carried by large majorities in Cleveland and Cincinnati and a small majority in Toledo, losing in the Columbus area. Dan Gilbert, who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers, will develop the casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati, while Penn National Gaming will develop the other two. Depending on legal and constitutional challenges by opponents and a loosening of credit, construction on the four casinos could begin as early as late next year, with projected opening dates in 2012.
• November 3, 2009 Surprise Kudos for Las Vegas:
Forbes' list of America's Most Toxic Cities, has named Las Vegas the least toxic of 40 major metropolitan areas. While not known for its healthy recreational and dining habits, the surprising accolade was awarded based on factors including air quality, the number of facilities that release toxic chemicals into the enviroment, and the quantity of that release. Atlanta came in at #40 as the "most toxic city" in the U.S.
• November 3, 2009 Food Channel Coming to Big Dog's:
Big Dog's Draft House (4543 N. Rancho Rd) will welcome the Food Channel on Wednesday, Nov. 4th from 7 p.m.-11 p.m.) to taste their food and brews. The public's invited to join them.
• November 3, 2009 Cooking with Star Chefs:
The ongoing series of free cooking demonstrations from top chefs at Wynn and Encore continues at Whole Foods Market (Town Square) tonight from 6-8 p.m. with Carlos Guia of the Country Club at Wynn teaching "Simple Ways to Cook Restaurant-Style Seafood Dishes at Home."
• November 3, 2009 Golden Nugget Buyout:
Landry's has just announced their acceptance of Chairman and CEO Tilman Fertitta's offer of $14.75 per share to take downtown's Golden Nugget private. The transaction is valued at $1.2 billion, including debt.
• November 3, 2009 Card Counters Win in IN:
Last week, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of an advantage player who was banned from the Rising Sun riverboat for counting cards. Noting that the casino had not asked state regulators for explicit permission to '86' card counters, the court also held that barring advantage players conflicted with Indiana casinos' specific directive to "benefit the people of Indiana by promoting tourism and assisting economic development." Indiana casinos could still petition the state to issue a new rule addressing this gray area but for now it's 'game on' for advantage players in the Hoosier State.
• November 3, 2009 Another Buffet Cut-Back:
Last month M Resort axed breakfast from its buffet; now Silverton has discontinued breakfast during the week. They still serve brunch from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• November 3, 2009 Job Fair for New Bar:
Pete's, the new dueling piano bar that opens at Town Square later this month, is holding a 2-day open job fair for all positions today and tomorrow from noon to 5 p.m.
• November 3, 2009 Vote in Our Reader Poll:
Our current survey asks whether the economic climate (or other factors) will affect your travel plans to Las Vegas next year. It closes at midnight, when a new one will go live, so don't forget to vote if you haven't already. Thanks!
• November 3, 2009 Cirque Hearts Locals:
While the long-running Cirque du Soleil anniversary special for all (buy one ticket, get a second for $25) has expired, the group says it plans to offer holiday deals to locals for its Las Vegas shows. Customers who buy a regularly priced ticket for Mystere, O, LOVE, KÀ, Criss Angel Believe or Zumanity will get a second ticket for $25, plus a $25 gift certificate toward another ticket purchase or for use in Cirque du Soleil gift stores. The offer will run from sometime in November through February.
• November 2, 2009 Major Delays on I-15:
The northbound lane of the freeway is at a standstill from Sahara following a rush-hour horse-trailer crash. Avoid the area at all cost if you possibly can.
• November 2, 2009 Kaplan Gets 51 Months"
Betonsports Plc online gambling site founder Gary S. Kaplan has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for his role in the company's violation of U.S. laws banning the placement of bets by wire. The Federal Bureau of Prisons may award him credit for 31 months he's already spent in federal custody. In August Kaplan pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and forfeited $43.7 million. In 2004 Betonsports.com took in $1.25 billion, 98% of which was from U.S. customers.
• November 2, 2009 MGM Grand Buffet Update:
As we had suspected, the prices sent to us by MGM Grand this morning did not reflect the recent changes they'd implemented across the board. Check out the listing in our Buffet section for the correct prices for these and every other buffet meal in Las Vegas.
• November 2, 2009 Vegas to Go Child-Friendly Again: After the 1990s attempts to promote the city as a family-friendly destination were abandoned, Las Vegas focused on promoting itself as an adult playground once more. This could be about to change, with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority pressing for a county code change that would allow casinos to provide temporary day care for conventions.
Current Clark County regulations allow resorts to set up permanent play areas for children (you can find them listed in our Las Vegas Visitor Guide) but not the licensing of temporary child care at casino-convention areas, which it's feared could be a deterrent for some would-be business traffic.
• November 2, 2009 Hard Rock to Reimburse Boot It Victims:
Hard Rock Marketing Director Phil Shalala today announced that the property will reimburse drivers hit by $200 car booting fines and tow threats for using the parking lot across the street at Paradise and Harmon. The property's own parking lot has been severely reduced in size in recent months due to ongoing construction work, and patrons using the strip mall opposite have been hit by steep parking fines. The Hard Rock is complaining that "No Parking" signs are too obscure and hard to read and that the "Boot It" company employed by businesses in the mall has been using heavy-handed tactics against Hard Rock patrons. "It's just ridiculous. It's obnoxious and it's really not necessary," commented Shalala to FOX5 News. The casino will offer a $200 credit to anyone who can show their receipt after paying the parking fine.
• November 2, 2009 Vegas Top Ten Real Estate Values:
LasVegasAdvisor.com associate Robin Camacho has upgraded her unique "Las Vegas Real Estate Top 10 Values" feature to bring you the best deals in the Vegas real estate market in real time. Whether you're looking to move house, relocate here, or purchase a second home, Robin's constantly updated listings will give you the current lowdown, plus you'll find a link to a complete list of all Las Vegas properties currently in foreclosure. For Robin's analysis of the real estate market, check out her House Advantage blog.
• November 2, 2009 All-Dayer Canceled:
Effective immediately, MGM Grand has discontinued its all-day buffet special, that enabled diners to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a set price of $33.33 ($39.78 on weekends). Regular meal prices continue, with breakfast at $14.50, lunch $17.50, and dinner $25.99 ($27.99 Friday and Saturday).
• November 2, 2009 Boyd Still After Station: Boyd Gaming Corp. continues to pursue Station Casions, yesterday filing a motion in the bankruptcy proceedings asking the court to allow the company to submit a reorganization plan for its competitor.
Boyd was rejected earlier this year when it offered to buy a large portion of Station and is now asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Reno to appoint an examiner so other parties can offer competing reorganization plans. Last week Station asked for a four-month extension to propose its own plan to reorganize its finances. The current deadline is Nov. 25.
• November 1, 2009 Football Field Report:
Here's a report from Venetian/Palazzo. Lagasse's Stadium is a monster, with big screens and big crowds, but be prepared to pay $6.50 per beer. Oooph! Upstairs at First Food, the scene's not the same, but you can get a Bloody Mary with a Slim Jim garnish for $7.
• November 1, 2009 Pumpkin Disposal:
Talking of the Springs Preserve, the environmentally-friendly attraction is offering a complimentary pumpkin composting service through November 22. Alternatively, you can dispose of your unwanted Jack ‘o Lanterns by donating them to the North Las Vegas pig farm. R.C. Farms is located at 555 E. El Campo Grande Ave (702/642-0350).
• November 1, 2009 PT’s Promo:
Starting today, through November 30, the PT’s chain of pubs and taverns is giving away a portable 8.5" screen portable DVD player every day. Every 10 points earned by a Golden Rewards member grants them one entry into the drawings, which will take place at 10 p.m. nightly.
• November 1, 2009 Day of the Dead Festival:
From 3 to 9 p.m. today Las Vegas Springs Preserve will celebrate its first-ever Día de los Muertos festival, with activities including face painting, sugar skull decorating, Mariachis, dance performances, scary storytelling rides, and a Day of the Dead-themed play. There are cash prizes for the winners in the best altar contest, with $1,000 for first place, $650 for second, and $350 for third. Tickets for the event are $5 for adults and $3 for kids.
