Las Vegas News

Cavalia Continues:

Originally due to end December 9, the temporary tented equestrian show at the Rio has extended its run through 22, due to popular demand.

Commemorative Chips at IP:

In celebration of the silver jubilee of its Classic Car Showroom, the Imperial Palace will be issuing limited edition 25th anniversary commemorative chips in three distinct $5 designs. The chips are not yet available, but will be soon.

The Rodeo's Here!:

From today through December 9, it's NFR time once again and as usual, the city abounds with Rodeo specials and promotions. Here are the ones we've heard about so far: At Hooter's Casino, Dan Marino's is offering specials on signature dishes, "13" Martini Bar will feature live music every night from Kenny Bradbury, ClubOrange will offer a chance to win a truck and/or two-horse trailer, and on Wednesday the property will host a select few Barrel Racers on property for autograph signing (11 am-12 pm); purchase a six pack of Coors Light for $5.99 or 1,200 points at Terrible's gift shop and receive a free six pack of Coors Banquet (one per person, per day); Hard Rock's hosting "Rodeo at the Rock," with an entertainment lineup Saturday through Thursday including free music events, custom car and bike show, and NFR go-go contest, plus a free shot and beer when you present your NFR ticket stub and Bud/Jack Daniels drink specials through the NFR; Mirage is hosting nightly meet-n-greets with top rodeo competitors, plus exclusive rodeo gear giveaways; tomorrow night the Palms is hosting a "Daniels Darlins" contest in The Lounge, with JD drink specials and merchandise giveaways; Imperial Palace is hosting this year's steer wrestlers, with an autograph signing session from noon-1 pm on Wednesday, plus a free photo op with Zorro, a 1,100 steer, from noon- 2 pm; starting December 1, Harrah's is hosting an outdoor country-themed party nightly from 4-8 pm Sunday through Thursday and till 11 pm Friday and on the southwest corner of Flamingo, with live DJ, mechanical bull, line dancing, and cash prizes, plus Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill will feature nighly live bands and Crown Royal drink specials; Hank Williams plays Caesars Palace December 9; O'Sheas is playing country music and offering drink specials all week long; watch the NFR live nightly on giant screens at Tuscany, with meet and greet sessions with the bullriders; the Las Vegas Hilton goes country with concerts by Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, and Vince Gill; TI is the official host of the NFR bareback riders, with a Hoedown Party tonight sponsored by Crown Royal and Miller Lite, plus live feeds on flat-screen TVs throughout the property and ongoing drink specials through the week, culminating in the NFR Champions Party on Saturday December 9. Non-casino promotions include a free Crown Royal when you present your NFR ticket stub at Instant Replay Sports Pub & Grille (9495 Las Vegas Blvd. Sth.), which will be showing all the NFR action on 16 big screens, and nude bull riding at Sheri's Cabaret (11 pm, December 6). We'll keep you posted of other events and promos as they come to our attention. Yee Haw!

Tropicana Deal Delayed:

Aztar Corporation, operators of the Tropicana Casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, announced today that its merger with Columbia Entertainment will not now close until late January 2007, a month later than anticipated. The delay will cost Columbia $0.00888 per share per day through the merger close, in addition to the agreed purchase price of $54 per share in cash.

Celine Cancels Shows:

Singer Celine Dion has canceled her next five performances at Caesars Palace, plus her appearance at the Billboard Music Awards next week, due to a highly contagious respiratory infection. Ticket-holders will receive refunds or can choose to book other dates for A New Day, which was already scheduled for an extended dark period and will not resume until December 28.

Blue Men on "Scrubs" tonight:

Tonight's season premiere of NBC's "Scrubs" will feature a guest appearance by the Blue Man Group at The Venetian. Apparently, Dr. John "JD" Dorian appears onstage by accident during a performance by the group. The show airs 9–9:30 pm on KVBC, Channel 3.

Bette-Cher:

No, it's not a new online sports book. According to Norm Clark of the LV Review-Journal, it's the plan for Caesars Palace entertainment after Celine Dion's contract ends in December 2007. Clark writes that deals are in place for ongoing gigs by Cher beginning in spring 2008 and Bette Midler in fall 2008.

Indian Gambling in the News:

Today's USA Today contains a story on how the tribes are able to rebuff audits by the federal government. Some good statistics are included. The article says "tribes have 259 agreements with authorities in 22 states to regulate Indian casinos." The win for 2005 was $22.6 billion.

Palms Promotion:

Commencing at one minute after midnight tonight, Club Palms members can start earning tickets for the December promotion for prizes including a new SUV and other prizes and cash totaling $100,000. Prize drawings will take place at 7 pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays through December 19.

Britney Here for New Year:

According to today's Las Vegas Review-Journal and other sources we've seen, Britney Spears is set to ring in the New Year at Pure, the club at Caesars Palace. Apparently, her only performance will be to provide the midnight countdown, although who knows what might happen on the night... Tickets are priced at $200 (about average for a Vegas club on New Year's), while Ms Spears' fee is a reputed $300,000.

New Bid for Harrahs?:

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Penn National Gaming is considering making a rival offer for Harrah's, which is considering a $15.5 billion buyout from a pair of private-equity firms. It's an interesting prospect, given that PNG's market capitalization is $3.3 billion, compared to Harrah's $14.2 billion. The match would create a casino mega-company, combining Harrah's 39 casinos with PNG's 16.

Redstreaks Back:

Rodeo fans are in for a treat with news that quirky show band Ricky & the Redstreaks has reformed with a new lineup and will be playing a stint at the South Point during the National Finals Rodeo.

Harrods in Vegas?:

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Norm Clark reports that the London shopping giant Harrods is moving closer to announcing a Las Vegas casino presence. Harrod's owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, also owns the Paris Ritz, leading to speculation that the project will be ultra-high-end.

Vegas in the News:

Today's New York Times features an article about how major cities are now competing for young talent in a "hipness" battle. Cites including Las Vegas, Atlanta, and San Francisco are among the top winners in the race to attract 25- to 34-year-olds with college degrees, while cities like Philadelphia, Washington, New York, and LA are now struggling.

Cowgirl Contestants at Mirage:

The contestants for the 2007 "Miss Rodeo America" competition will be touring Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage from 2:30-3:35 pm today and apparently last year's winner, Amanda Jenkins, will be donning a wetsuit to participate in the property's Dolphin Trainer for a Day program.

Downtown Hoedown:

The annual downtown Fremont Street Experience Hoedown tradition will be celebrating its 20th year with a FREE all-star lineup of country music and a brand new Viva Vision Show to celebrate the opening of National Finals Rodeo. Four headliners will perform for free on the Vegas venue's two stages on Wednesday, November 29. And while Little Texas, Trick Pony, Ricochet, and Deana Carter are entertaining the crowd at street level, a brand new country music themed light and sound show will make its world premiere on the Viva Vision screen 90 feet above. The new Viva Vision "Straight Up Country" show will debut at 8 pm on November 29 and play at 10 pm every night during the 10 days of the National Finals Rodeo, November 30-December 9. The entertainment schedule for the 20th Annual Downtown Hoedown is as follows: Wednesday, November 29: Deana Carter 6-8 pm 1st Street Stage Ricochet 6-8 pm 3rd Street Stage "Straight Up Country" 8 pm Viva Vision Screen Trick Pony 9-11 pm 1st Street Stage Little Texas 9-11 pm 3rd Street Stage

UBT on CBS:

Today's Ultimate Blackjack Tour show airs at 1 pm EST (10 am PST). Today's match features blackjack stars Kevin Blackwood and Previn Mankodi against poker luminaries Gary "Debo" Debernardi, Artie Cobb, and "Miami" John Cernuto.

Santa Fe Sports Book Opens:

The new race and sports book at Santa Fe Station opens today. They're selling 16-ounce drafts for $2 throughout the weekend.

This Weekend in Vegas:

There's a whole host of big names in town this holiday weekend, from Mr Vegas himself filling in for Rita Rudner at Harrah's, to Liza Minnelli, who's back at the Luxor and giving a free show for industry workers (see Today's News for details), and David Copperfield at the MGM. Festivities abound in the city's top nightclubs -- pumpkin martini, anyone? And if you forgot the turkey, check out last Monday's QoD for the skinny on where to eat traditional and not-so-traditional festive fare. Enjoy! Music: Wayne Newton is headlining at Harrah's for the next month (11/22-12/30); Liza Minnelli's back at the Luxor (11/23-11/25); Al Dimeola will be performing at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues at 7 pm and also catch Talib Kweli at midnight (11/24); Anne Murray will be at Buffalo Bill's (11/24); Debbie Reynolds plays the Suncoast (11/24-11/26); Johnny Mathis will be at the Las Vegas Hilton (11/24-11/25); The Guy Lombardo Orchestra will be performing at the Cannery (11/24-11/25); Dixie Chicks will be at MGM Grand (11/24); catch She Wants Revenge at the House of Blues (11/25); Vicente Fernandez and Paquita La Del Barrio will perform in the Mandalay Bay Events Center (11/25); and don't miss Smokey Robinson at Green Valley Ranch (11/25) Comedy/Magic: Wayne Brady's headlining at Mirage (11/23-11/24); John Eddie will be at Boulder Station (11/24-11/25); and David Copperfield will be at the MGM Grand (11/9-11/29) Culture: The 6th Annual Gift of Lights festival's open in Sunset Park (11/17-1/01); there's a meet and greet with artist Peter Max in his gallery at the Forum Shops, Caesars Palace, Friday at 6 pm and Saturday from 1-4 pm; and Cavalia's opened at the Rio (11/16-12/9) Sports: Las Vegas Findlay Toyota's Invitational basketball tournament's taking place at the Orleans (11/24-11/25) Other Events: It's the 2nd Annual Terminate The Turkey party at Tao in the Venetian — bring clothes and/or canned goods to donate to Shade Tree Foundation and receive free entry and one free drink (11/23); also, to celebrate Thanksgiving, Bellagio's Light hosts its annual Thanksgiving Night Bash, The Turkey Drop (11/23); show up at Tryst at the Wynn in a pilgrim or Indian costume and receive free entry into their Thanksgiving Feast party (11/23); it's the Empire Ballroom's 1st year anniversary bash with DJ Skribble (11/24); Sucka Free Saturdays is back at O-PM nightclub at Caesars (11/25); Double Down celebrates its 14th birthday (11/25); Motor Trend International Auto Show will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Awards for Vegas Nightclubs:

Three of Las Vegas' nightclubs made Maxim Magazine's 10 Hottest Megaclubs in America List. The magazine, which just hit the newstands, listed Rain (Palms), Tao (Venetian), and Body English (Hard Rock), as among the nation's sexiest nightspots. Other venues chosen included New York's Pacha, Space (Miami), and Club La Vela in Panama City.

Big Mystère Deal for Locals:

Now through January 3, 2007, locals who buy one of the two top priced tickets ($75/$95) for Mystère at TI receive a second ticket for only $13. Must present valid ID.

McCarran Parking Full:

If you haven't already heard it on the radio this morning, don't attempt to park your car at McCarran airport -- all parking lots are full. If you have a flight, our only advice is to take a cab or a shuttle (see our Transportation link on the home page for information about free hotel shuttles and the fee-based airport shuttle services).

Thanksgiving casino chips at Imperial Palace:

Two different design limited edition $5 Thanksgiving chips will be issued Wednesday, Nov. 22, at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino. The gaming tokens will be available at 10 a.m. at one window at the casino cage. Only 500 of each of the two designs have been commissioned. On the day of issue, purchasers may buy only five of each of the two $5 special celebration chips per visit to the cage window. The front design on one of the chips shows a woman puckering up to kiss a turkey. The flip side is a colorful array of fall leaves. The front of the second $5 chip shows a Thanksgiving gobbler wearing an IP cap and holding a seven and ace of hearts. Its flip side shows a sea of pumpkins.

MIT Blackjack on HBO Tonight:

Tonight, HBO's "Real Sports" with Bryant Gumbel is airing a story on cardcounting and the MIT team, which includes hidden footage of "MIT" Mike Aponte getting kicked out of a casino.

Liza Minnelli Returns to Luxor:

November 23-25, legendary performer Liza Minnelli will be returning to the Luxor for a second appearance in their "Spotlight" series. Following the three 8 pm performances for the general public, Minnelli will bring back an old Vegas tradition with a "Gypsy" performance for fellow performers at 1 am on November 26. Complimentary tickets for this show, exclusively for entertainers and their crew, will be distributed directly from the Luxor .

Palms Buffet Half Price:

The marquee at the Palms is advertising "half-price buffet" today and tomorrow. The good breakfast is only $5.99 normally, so this discount would make it $3. Dinner is normally $11.99.

Cocktail Class at Caesars:

At 7 pm on Tuesday, December 5, Sushi Roku (inside the Forum Shops) will be hosting a cocktail and sushi soirée called "Cocktails and Shopping on The Rocks." The evening will be hosted by Jeffrey Blake of Southern Wines and Spirits, who will give demonstrations, recipes, and tips for how to make three of the venue's signature cocktails. The ticket price is $50 per person, which also includes a $25 gift card for Innovative Dining Group and the chance to win a $100 gift card for the Forum Shops. Call 702/733-7373 to make a reservation.

Braxton Revealed - Extended:

The Flamingo's just announced that Toni Braxton: Revealed, will be extended through August 2007.

Ameristar CEO Passes:

Craig H. Nielsen, Chairman and CEO of Ameristar Casinos, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at his Las Vegas home yesterday. His stock in Ameristar, in which he was the majority shareholder, will be transferred to his private foundation, which focuses primarily on spinal cord injury and research.

Choppers & Cash at Silverton:

Commencing today, and running on Saturdays through December 9, the Silverton will be giving away four custom choppers built by Orange County Choppers, plus over $150,000 in cash and prizes. Drawings take place at 8 pm.

UFO Conference at Tuscany:

Beginning tonight and running through Sunday, UFO researchers will present their findings at a conference being held at the Tuscany, including reports of an alleged flying saucer crash in Nye County. The public is welcome to attend.

Stardust Sale Starts:

Starting 11 am today, the sell-off of everything at the Stardust, from plastic palm trees to the complete race and sports book, will take place at the now-closed casino. The auction continues through Tuesday.

Weekend In Vegas:

Music: Olivia Newton-John is headlining at Luxor (11/16-11/18); CMT on Tour presents Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, and Jason Aldean at Mandalay Bay (11/17); the Marshall Tucker Band will be performing in the Railhead at Boulder Station (11/7); catch Spyro Gyra at the Suncoast (11/17-11/19); come check out the Family Stone for free at Red Rock Station (11/17-11/18); Babs (Streisand) is back at MGM Grand for one night(11/18); Ciara will be performing in the House of Blues (11/18); Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone will be at the Cannery (11/18); there are two special guests at the Empire Ballroom this weekend, The Rapture (11/17) and Lady Sovereign (11/18); James Blunt is performing in the Joint (11/18); and check out Atreyu at House of Blues (11/18). Comedy/Magic: The Annual Las Vegas Comedy Festival is going on now at Caesars Palace (11/14-11/18); catch Craig Ferguson at the Orleans (11/17-11/19); Dana Carvey is back at the Mirage (11/17-11/18); the Playboy Comedy Club featuring Todd Glass and Eddie Ifft will be at the Palms (11/18); and David Copperfield will be at the MGM Grand (11/9-11/29) Culture: ArtAbout is back downtown from 10 am to 10 pm, free admission (11/18); Tick, Tick ... Boom, a pop-rock musical, will take place at Las Vegas Little Theatre (11/16-11/26); UMC will be hosting a Wizard of Oz themed family fun festival with free immunization clinic at UMC Resource Center on Shadow Ln from 10 am-2 pm (11/18); and Cavalia has opened at the Rio (11/16-12/9). Sports: Maxxis Endurocross is at the Orleans Grand Arena (11/18); and Manny Pacquiao is defending his title against Erik Morales at Thomas and Mack (11/18) (the event's sold out, but you can watch a live feed in the Lafite Ballroom at Wynn for $50 per person). Other Events: Dane Cook's Tourgasm after party is at Jet (11/17); Howl at the Moon, Las Vegas Weekly's 8th Anniversary party, will be in Moon and the Playboy Club (11/19); the Annual Warehouse sale, ladies, is back at Aladdin, the largest denim sale ever (11/18-11/19); and After Dark Films presents HorrorFest, 3 days of movies so graphic and violent, they could not be released to the public. This is a limited engagement click here for full details. For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Get McDreamy at STIR:

Radio station Mix 94.1 and the Platinum Hotel and Spa are teaming up to host a Grey's Anatomy screening party every Thursday in the STIR Lounge. They have drink and food specials, gifts, and drawings for many different prizes.

Best Of What's New Award:

The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West has been chosen to receive the 2006 "Best of What's New" award from Popular Science in the engineering category.

Locals Discount for Lance Burton:

The Monte Carlo is offering Las Vegans a discounted ticket price of $35 (normally $75) for Lance Burton during Locals Appreciation Weeks from Tuesday November 28 through Saturday December 9. To take advantage of the $35 ticket, including tax, call 702-730-7160 or visit the Lance Burton Theater box office. There's a $3-per-ticket handling fee. You must mention the Locals Appreciation Weeks special when ordering tickets and show your Nevada photo ID when picking up your show tickets. Groups of 15 or more should call 866-416-6730 32 and save the $3 handling fee. During the week of Tuesday November 28 through Saturday December 2, it'll be the regular schedule at 7 pm nightly, plus a 10 pm show on Tuesday and Saturday. From Tuesday December 5 through Saturday December 9, there will be 7 pm shows only.

Cavalia Debuts:

Cavalia, the new equestrian show taking place in the large tent in the Rio's parking lot, commences its limited engagement (until December 9) tonight. Tickets are priced from $50 to $95; $35 to $75 for children 12 and under.

The Rapture at Studio 54:

Dance-punks the Rapture celebrate the release of their newest CD, Pieces of the People We Love, at Studio 54 in MGM Grand tonight.

Negative Story in WSJ:

Today's Wall Street Journal contains a story on the prospects for Station Casnios and Boyd Gaming conerrning their efforts to go upscale. The story has a negative bent, based on lower-than-expected earnings for the two companies.

Beaujolais Nouveau Hits Hilton:

Fortuna at the Hilton will be offering a tasting of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau at 6 pm tonight. More than 65 million bottles of the new vintage will be distributed and consumed around the world. Conveyances participating in a traditional race to be the first to serve it include motorcycle, balloon, truck, helicopter, jet, and elephant.

Twenty-Year Rollback:

In celebration of its 20-year anniversary, the Gold Coast is rolling back dining prices today through November 21. Deals include buffets from $2.60 (breakfast) to $5.75 (dinner and brunch), a graveyard ham & eggs for 99 cents, and the best deal, a 10-ounce prime rib dinner in the Cortez Room for $5.95. Cool!

Mac King Magic Set in Stores:

Long-time LVA Top Tenner comedy magician Mac King has just launched a series of 11 magic tricks, available at large toy retailers and specialty toy stores around the country. Mac King's Magic in a Minute tricks feature King with his sidekick, Lewis the monkey, and each comes with an explanatory comic book.

Gordie Brown on Letterman Tonight:

Comedian Gordie Brown, currently headlining at the Venetian, will be a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" tonight. Also apearing on the show tonight will be the cast of Cirque du Soleils, LOVE.

Hoffa Detective Book Signing:

From 7 to 9 pm this evening, former homicide detective Charlie Brandt will be signing copies of his book, I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran & Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa, inside the Reading Room at Mandalay Place. The book is the result of Brandt's five-year investigation into the life of Frank Sheeran, during which the reputed mobster admitted to killing Hoffa.

True Life: I'm Moving To Vegas:

The MTV show "True Life: I'm Moving to Vegas," airs today at 10 pm PST. An Arizona native and Hooters Casino Hotel server will star in this week's episode. This show will document her tumultuous journey from living in a small town in Arizona to moving to the "Big City" and auditioning for jobs, as well as participating in the Miss Hooters International 2006 competition.

Buyout Offer For Riviera:

Ian Bruce Eichner and the D.E. Shaw Group, both large shareholders in Riviera Holdings Corporation, offered to purchase the Riviera for $21 per share, or roughly $261.7 million. There were other offers made earlier this year to Riviera, but nothing went through. Riviera has entered into a 30-day exclusive negotiating agreement with Eichner and D.E Shaw on Monday.

Happy B-Day Golden Gate:

Las Vegas' oldest hotel-casino, the Golden Gate, turns 100 today. It was the first major hotel in town, and it had Las Vegas' first phone number, #1. Happy birthday!

More I-15 Delays Ahead:

Northbound Interstate 15 will be shut down this weekend at the Cajon Pass (the junction with Interstate 215 in Devore, Calif.), resulting in expected delays for travelers heading to Las Vegas from Southern California. Commuters can sign up for e-mail alerts and check for traffic updates by clicking here.

Bally and Aristocrat Join Forces:

Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies have announced that they're joining forces and unveiling a prototype of a server-based gaming system that will enable players to switch games on a slot machine with a few clicks and will be compatible with both companies' games.

Comedy Festival Opens:

The Las Vegas Comedy Festival opens today at Caesars Palace and runs through Saturday November 18. Everyone can come check out the Festival Village going on daily in the Roman Plaza Amphitheater until 10 pm. They will be giving away tickets to the Comedy Festival and other prizes, and several of the scheduled comedians will be making appearances at the Village. Vegas native and "American Idol" contestant, Mikalah Gordon, will be hosting this event.

G2E Opens Today:

The Global Gaming Expo is in town today through Thursday November 16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. They are expecting 27,000 attendees to come through and check out the more than 750 exhibitors and over 100 speakers. For more information click here.

Las Vegas in the News:

Today's Wall Street Journal has a short story on Steve Wynn and the profit he made on a dividend distribution from Wynn Resorts (there's also a big Barron's article on Wynn). Today's USA Today has a lead story in "Life" on the release of the Beatles-songs soundtrack from the Mirage's show Love. There's also a short story on this week's Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace. Locally, today's LV Review-Journal has a short story about the Ultimate Blackjack Tour.

Open Bar All Week:

SpyOnVegas.com is hosting a series of Open Bar parties this week from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Monday they will be at Stack in The Mirage and they will be serving complimentary Belvedere Vodka cocktails, Tuesday they will be at Firefly on Paradise and they will be serving complimentary Cruzan Rum, Wednesday they will be at Rouge at MGM Grand and they will be serving complimentary Grey Goose L'Orange, Thursday they will be at Steiner's on Las Vegas Blvd and they will be serving complimentary Pyramid Hefe Weizen and Friday they will wrap up this week long extravaganza at Kennedy's in The District and they will be serving complimentary Level Vodka. This will be an ongoing event, and we will keep you updated each week where they will be.

NBA All-Star Ballotting Polls Open:

NBA All-Star balloting opens today at 3 pm in the Great Hall at Las Vegas' Fashion Show Mall with a line-up of NBA players, legends, and Las Vegas personalities including Shawn Marion of the Phoennix Suns, Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings), Clyde Drexler, Greg Anthony, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and Wayne Newton unveiling the names on the 2007 All-Star ballot and casting the first votes for the starters in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game to be held here on February 19, 2007.

Loews to Buy Hyatt:

Loews Hotels is to purchase the 493-room Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort, rather than building its own hotel at the resort location, as previously planned. The deal, which will include a $5 million investment into the property in order to introduce Loews' branded services and amenities, is expected to close in early December.

New Flights From Florida:

Commencing February 11, 2007, US Airways will operate the only non-stop service between its Las Vegas hub and West Palm Beach. Bookings will be available from Saturday, November 18.

New Bid For Riviera:

Following the rejected bid of $426.5 million ($17 per share) back in October, Riviera Holdings Corporation today announced that it has received a non-binding proposal from a new suitor, namely real estate developer Ian Bruce Eichner and the D. E. Shaw group, on behalf of an entity to be formed by them, to acquire by merger all of the outstanding shares of Riviera at a cash price of $21 per share. Their proposal is conditioned upon satisfactory completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive transaction documents, and receipt of necessary board, stockholder, third party, and regulatory approvals.

Stardust Auction Preview:

Lot #1 of the Stardust's upcoming auction has just been announced. The Lot, which will be announced by former Stardust showgirl Aki, will comprise one craps table from the Stardust that was used for the last throw of dice at the casino on November 1, when the property closed. Lot #2 is a thank you sign to patrons from the Stardust Sports Book and Lots #3 through 14 each comprise 12 commemorative decks of playing cards. The auction, which takes place November 17-21, will include all of the assets of the property including memorabilia, photos, antiques, and items from the gaming rooms, as well as equipment from the restaurants and facility. The full catalog was posted with photos today at www.greatamerican.com.

Free Buffets for Veterans:

The Suncoast, Gold Coast, and Orleans will all be offering free buffets for Veterans (active, inactive or retired) on Veteran's Day, Saturday, November 11. Former sister-casino South Point follows suit with the same offer for Sunday, November 12.

Prince Premiers:

Tonight sees the official opening of 3121 and 3121 Jazz Cuisine, Prince's long-rumored new show and restaurant venture at the Rio. So far, the biggest name announced for the purple carpet is Nick Lachey.

Flying Horses Touch Down:

The 50 equine stars of the new Cavalia show at the Rio arrive at McCarran airport this afternoon, via Boeing 747. The show opens November 16.

New Caesars Walk of Fame:

Comedian Don Rickles will be the first celebrity to be honored in Caeasars Palace's new Roman Plaza Walk of Fame. The resort announced today that it will celebrate 40 years of great headliner performers with the installation of bronze plaques in the sidewalks that rim the front fountains and gardens at the Las Vegas Strip. The first superstar performer to be immortalized will be funnyman Don Rickles, who will presented with a commemorative plaque by Whoopi Goldberg in a sidewalk ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 6:45 pm. The celebrations coincide with Caesars' hosting of the Comedy Festival, Nov. 14-18.

Las Legoland:

Yes, California is about to embark on the largest every Miniland expansion by recreating the city of Las Vegas entirely out of Lego at the Carlsbad theme park. The mini Vegas will comprise more than two million bricks and include recreations of the Luxor, New York-New York, Excalibur, Mirage, TI, Tropicana, MGM Grand, Venetian, Stratosphere, and Paris' Las Vegas balloon sign and Eiffel Tower. The new exhibit, which will represent more than 16-thousand hours of labor, is set to be unveiled in spring 2007.

Lethal Libations:

A Touch of Mystery and Cheflive have teamed up to bring you Lethal Libations at Cheflive Studios, 241 W. Charleston, tonight from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. Tickets are $65 and can be purchsed through A Touch of Mystery's Web site.

Vegas Weekend:

Music: Suzanne Somers will be at the Orleans (11/9-11/12); Joan Jett and The Blackhearts with special guests at House of Blues (11/10); check out Air supply at Suncoast (11/10-11/12); Nick Lachey's headlining at Luxor (11/10-11/11); The Who (or what's left of them) will be back at Mandalay Bay (11/10); Lisa Marie Presley's performing at the Empire Ballroom (11/11); X-1075 is putting on their annual Holiday Havoc show with Papa Roach, Deftones, and Unwritten Law at Thomas & Mack (11/11); Tenacious D and Lyfe Jennings will be playing separate shows at House of Blues (11/11); The Rolling Stones are performing at MGM Grand (11/11); and The Fray will be at The Joint in the Hard Rock (11/12) Comedy: Catch the Playboy Comedy Tour featuring Al Madrigal and Godfrey (11/11) and Ray Romano will be the Mirage (11/11-11/12) Culture: Psychedelic Art of the '60s is showing at S2 Art Nevada -- admission is free (11/9-11/30); Eyes Wide Open, a traveling memorial, will be at Clark County Government Center Amphitheater -- free admission (11/11-11/12); the Liberace Museum is showing the works of Paul A. LaCombe, a local artist (11/12-11/30); and CineVegas is debuting "Shortbus" at Brenden Theaters (11/9-11/12) Sports: UFC Ultimate Fighter 4 Championship's at The Joint in the Hard Rock (11/11) and the Silverman Triathalon Challenge is taking place at the Henderson Pavilion (11/12) Other Events: The Firefighter World Challenge XV's continuing at Henderson Event Plaza (11/7-11/11) and SCORES IS hosting the Papa Roach afterparty For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Wynn Gets Five Stars:

For the first time, a Las Vegas Strip hotel has been awarded five stars in the Mobil Travel Guide ranking of luxury resorts, announced today in New York. The Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas was one of 37 hotels awarded the top ranking for 2007. Alex, the resort's signature restaurant, also received a five-star rating, as did Joël Robuchon at the Mansion at MGM Grand, the only other Las Vegas restaurant awarded this prestigious accolade.

Ms. Senior America:

Yes, the Ms. Senior America Pageant is going on now through November 11 at Imperial Palace's Legends Theater. Tickets are $25 and the event starts daily at 1 pm. Come see the swimsuit competition, the ball gown competition and the interview portion. There is also a free Humana Health Senior Expo going on daily just across from the Legends Theater from 9 am - 1 pm.

Firefighter World Challenge:

The 15th Annual Firefighter World Challenge is taking place now through November 11 at Henderson Events Center. The challenge kicks off daily at 10 am, except Friday, November 10, it opens at 11 am and is free to the public, so come and watch these men and women battle it out.

Britney Coming to Town?:

Newly-single singer Britney Spears is rumored to be planning a comeback in Las Vegas with a long run at a major hotel. Palms owner George Maloof has gone on the record as saying that Spears has an open invitation to appear in his new 2,500-seat showroom.

Gennifer Flowers is Back:

The Las Vegas performer who entered the spotlight chiefly due to her 12-year affair with ex-president Bill Clinton, has returned to town after a six year stint running her own cabaret in New Orleans. She opens tonight in Bottom's Up, currently performing at Fitzgerald's downtown, and will be bringing her mix of music and comedy to the world's longest-running show.

Casting Call for Grease TV Show:

NBC will be holding a casting call for their new show "You're the One That I Want," with the winners of the new primetime show going on to play the roles of Sandy and Danny in the new Broadway production of Grease. Auditions for the TV series take place today from 9 am-5 pm at Backstage Dance Studios, 3425 Backstage Blvd. All ages welcome, but under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to sing one Grease and one non-Grease song a capella.

Casino to Give Away Free Money:

Yes, it's true! This Friday, November 10th, the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City is going to give away more than $200,000 on its final night of business. Before the casino closes its doors for good, it's required to award any unhit jackpots from slots that haven't yet paid off, so at half-hourly intervals between 4 and 8 pm, the casino will give away cash prizes to eight randomly-selected winners. Players must have their Sands player cards inserted in any slot machine at least 15 minutes prior to the sweepstakes drawings to be eligible.

Wine Down Wednesdays Is Back:

Wine Down Wednesdays is back for two weeks and has moved from Pampas in the Desert Passage and has a new home in Addison's Lounge at the Rampart Casino. Enjoy a complimentary wine tasting, appetizers and prize drawings tonight from 6 pm - 8 pm.

Vegas Most-Searched City:

According to the "LYCOS 50" -- a ranking of the top 50 most popular Internet search results produced by LYCOS Inc. -- Las Vegas remains the most-researched city of all time. The latest stats, for the week ending Nov. 4, 2006, placed "Las Vegas" as number 35th most popular overall search topic and #1 city search, ahead of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston. The top 10 search terms for the week in question were, in this order: poker, Halloween, MySpace, Pamela Anderson, Spyware, WWE, Disney, RuneScape, Paris Hilton, and pumpkin carving.

Maggiano's Late-Night Promo:

Maggiano's Little Italy in the Fashion Show Mall has a new promotion. In addition to the early evening Happy Hour, from 10:30 pm to 3 am you can now enjoy live music or open mic, drink specials and their new late-night menu.

Fox Sports Show Needs Vegas Insider:

Fox Sports' "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" is looking for a Vegas Insider to file live reports from Las Vegas during the Super Bowl and the NBA All-Star game. You can submit your entry, a one minute video testimonial showing off your reporting skills and explaining why Las Vegas is the best place in the world to watch sports, either online to Fox Sports or you can mail it in. They will also be out scouting at sporting events and local hangouts in Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas starting November 10.

Veteran's Day at FSE:

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Fremont Street Experience will host a free Patriot Party on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11. Enjoy FREE concerts from rock legend Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11, country great Aaron Tippin. Both artists will be appearing on the 3rd Street Stage from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Vote and Drink:

Show you voted (your voting sticker) and get a FREE EIB Beer at Ellis Island Casino on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th. Must be 21 or older.

Bob Dancer in the News:

Video poker expert and Huntington Press author Bob Dancer is the subject of a profile in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal. The article focuses on Dancer's video poker classes, which take place regularly at the Silverton casino -- visit www.bobdancer.com for a schedule.

Criss Angel Taping at Luxor:

Cult illusionist figure Criss Angel begins taping for his third series at Luxor, his new home in Vegas, today. He'll be performing for the camera in and around numerous attractions and features at the property and if you're interested in being an extra, visit his production office, adjacent to the Galleria, to get a schedule of where he'll be performing and when.

Las Vegas International Wine & Food Festival:

The las Vegas International Wine & Food Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, November 4th and 5th, at the South Point casino. Tickets are $95 at the door and proceeds benefit Clark County Community Food Bank. For more information please click here.

Neonopolis getting makeover?:

Neonopolis may be turned into a hotel and casino if the City Hall likes the idea. The area at Las Vegas Blvd South and Fremont Street is a possibile location for this project. There is also a possibility of adding more entertainment venues, restaurants or a live theater. Several of the tenants have left the downtown area since the new owner purchased the outdoor retail and entertainment mall. We will keep you posted when any more information comes available.

The UBT's back!:

The UBT is back on CBS tomorrow morning at 11 am. This is the first episode after a 3 week break. Don't miss all the action! Click here for a complete list of Vegas TV.

First Fridays is downtown tonight:

This months First Friday is coninciding with the 5th annual Vegas Valley Book Fest, so come to GC Arts and take in some Ed Ruscha, Beth Lisick or Dan Kennedy. Catch the First Friday trolley and come enjoy a Christmas Boutique at Not Just Antiques Mart tonight and get a free hot dog & a gift. Pick up the trolley again and head down to the Clark County Ampitheater and listen to 90's alternatives rockers Veruca Salt. Andre's is hosting wine and cheese tasting from 5:30 pm - 9 pm, with featured art from artist Isabelle Michaud. Also sign up to win free tickets to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Click here for First Friday trolley schedule.

Drag Racing hits the Speedway:

NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series kicked off time trials and qualifying yesterday, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This morning is the Sportsman and Alcohol qualifying, and this evening they will have late model and super late model qualifying and elimination rounds. The festivities will be going on all weekend and tickets are $20 a day.

Good Suncoast Promo:

During November, pay with your points and receive the following discounts: 75% off St. Tropez Buffet and Senor Miguels; 50% off Café Siena, Oyster Bar, Via Veneto and Primos, 50% off Bingo buy-ins and Showroom tickets and 10% off in the Gift Shop.

Hypnosis Gone Wild! finds new home:

Hypnosis Gone Wild!, formerly at the Stardust, has found it's new home at the Harmon Theatre. It shows nightly at 9 pm and tickets are $40 and $50.

This Weekend in Vegas:

Music: Angels and Airwaves is at the Hard Rock (11/3); Donna Summer is back at the Hilton (11/3-11/4);Jars of Clay is playing at House of Blues (11/3/06);Vanessa Williams is performing at Orleans (11/3-11/4);Veruca Salt will be playing for free at the Clark County Amphitheater (11/3);Aerosmith on their Route of all Evil Tour is at MGM Grand (11/4);Devo will be whipping it at the Hard Rock (11/4); Foreigner is performing at Tropicana (11/4); and Silverstein with several special guests will be at House of Blues (11/5) Comedy: Catch Howie Mandel at MGM Grand (11/1-11/8);Brad Garret will be performing at Mirage (11/3-11/4); and Shawn Wayans is back at the Venetian(11/3) Culture:First Friday is downtown starting at 6 pm (11/3); SFS Entertainment is putting on a production of "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" at the Starbright Theatre (11/3-11/12); check out the Neon Boneyard: A-Z at the Reed Whipple Culture Center, it’s free (11/2-11/12);the Native American Festival is at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo (11/4); the 2006 Las Vegas Book Festival is at the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District admission varies (11/3-11/4); and Lee’s Wine Experience is back again at the Las Vegas Hilton (11/4) Sports: PBR World Finals are at Thomas & Mack (11/2-11/5); and Pretty Risky: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Carlos Manuel Baldomir at Mandalay Bay (11/4) Other Events: Check out the Custom Car show in the parking lot of Hard Rock for the SEMA wrap up party (11/3);Light at Bellagio is hosting Shanna Moakler’s Divorce Party (11/3); see Psychic Gary Spivey at Santa Fe Station (11/4);the World Extreme Rock Crawling Championship is at Fiesta Henderson (11/3-11/4); the Underground Vegas Film Festival will be at CCSN Cheyenne Campus (11/3/-11/4); and Strut your Mutt at Dog Fanciers’ Park For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Special Sauce at Empire Ballroom:

Tonight in the Empire Ballroom at 8:30 pm and 10:30 pm there will be a free taping of the Starz Comedy Channel show Special Sauce hosted by Greg Fitzsimmons. There will be two seperate shows with 2 completely different line-ups of pretty funny people. This will be a live taping so you might even get your face on TV.

Hasselhoff joins "The Producers" cast:

David Hasselhoff has been signed to play Roger DeBris in the Mel Brooks production "The Producers", at Paris. The show is scheduled to debut January 31, 2007 and will play nightly at 8 pm; Dark Wednesdays. Tickets range from $75.50 - $143.50.

Tropicana buyout moving right along:

The proposed $2.8 billion buyout of the Tropicana hotel-casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City has received much needed backing from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. They are supporting the sale of the Aztar Company to Columbia Sussex. This now has to be okayed by the state Gaming Commission on November 16th. The deal must also be approved by regulators in Indiana and New Jersey. Columbia Sussex has indicated that the Tropicana will not be shut down after its $2.75 billion buyout of Aztar; instead, it'll be renovated and expanded to the tune of $2 billion. It will wind up with more than 8,000 hotel rooms in five new towers. Construction could start as early as July 2007.

VH1 Classic Rock 'n Roll Poker Tournament:

VH1's Classic Rock 'n Roll Poker Tournament kicks off today in the Flamingo's Second City Theatre. Rockers participating include Ace Frehley of KISS, Sully Erna of Godsmack, Dusty Hill from ZZ Top, Vinnie Paul from Pantera and Scott Ian from Anthrax. They will each be playing for a charity of their choice and will be going up against pros such as Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Phil Hellmuth and Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari. The show is schedule to air on VH1 Classic in early 2007.

Criss Angel taking over Luxor:

Criss Angel, star of the A&E show, Mindfreak, will be filming his 3rd season, due to air Spring 2007, at the Luxor. Starting November 6th, you will be able to see Criss in the casino attempting one of his legendary "Mindfreaks" on unsuspecting patrons. He has also opened up a merchandise store located in the Galleria. Mindfreak airs on A&E Tuesdays at 10 pm.

Carey Hart to debut his 1949 Mercury:

Tonight at Rain, inside the Palms, Carey Hart, owner of Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co. also inside the Palms, will be debuting his 1949 Mercury Miss Fortune. This is for the SEMA Convention going on today through November 3rd at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Tickets are $50 for SEMA and tickets for the festivities at Rain tonight are $10 for men and local ladies are always free.

Prince comes to Vegas:

Prince will be starting an indefinite engagement every weekend at the Rio starting November 10th. He will perform Fridays and Saturdays in 3121, Prince's new club, at 10 pm with tickets starting at $125. For $312.10 you can enjoy a dinner package, which includes cuisine from Prince's new restaurant in the Rio, 3121 Jazz Cuisine. The club will also be open Wednesdays for Prince Presents and Thursdays for Latin Libido night. Tickets for both nights start at $31.21.

Terrible’s Buys Pete and Bill:

Herbst Gaming, the parent company of the Terrible’s brand of hotel-casinos, has announced the purchase of the three Primm, Nevada, hotel-casinos: Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s, and Primm Valley Resort, from MGM Mirage for $400 million. It’s the second major acquisition for Herbst this year; in May, the company bought the Sands Regent in Reno (and three other casinos it owns) for $148 million. Herbst Gaming is also one of Nevada’s largest slot-route operators, with more than 8,000 machines in non-casino locations statewide.

30 cars---30 days:

Golden Nugget’s 60th Anniversary Daily Mustang Giveaway. Drawings nightly at 8:30 p.m. though November 30. Earn drawing tickets through slot and table play. See rules posted at the 24 Karat Club booth.

Las Vegas Five Diamonds:

The AAA travel club has awarded its top Five-Diamond rating to MGM Grand's 51-suite Skylofts and the Wynn Las Vegas. It was the first time the two made the list; they join the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas, Bellagio, and Four Seasons in the hotel category. Joel Robuchon at the Mansion at MGM Grand made the list for the first time this year; Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Le Cirque and Picasso, both at Bellagio, earned the Five Diamond designation again. Nationwide, 80 hotels and 48 restaurants received Five Diamonds for 2006.

Veterans' receive free admission:

In honor of Veterans' Day, during the entire month of November, active U.S. military and Veterans of armed forces receive free admission to Larry G. Jones - The Man of 1002 Voices at Fitzgeralds. Also, Madame Tussauds in the Venetian is offering free admission the entire month of November to all active military and Veterans. Just present your military I.D. at either box office.

Tequila Festival tonight:

Rumjungle is hosting the Day of the Dead Tequila Festival tonight at 10 pm. Guests will be able to sample Corralejo Tequila, Jose Cuervo's new line of flavored tequilas, Sauza Hornitos, Cazadores and Ora Azul. There will also be some special surprises for guests.

MGM Mirage to sell Primm Valley Resorts:

MGM MIrage and Herbst Gaming entered into an agreement today where MGM Mirage will sell its Buffalo Bill's, Whiskey Pete's and Primm Valley Casino,collectively known as Primm Valley Resorts, to Herbst for $400 million. The deal is still awaiting the customary regulatory and governemnt approvals. The parties anticipate the transaction to close by the end of the first quarter 2007.