Las Vegas News

Free Food for Dads:

Now through June 30, Pampas Brazilian Grille inside Miracle Mile Shops is inviting dads to dine for free in honor of Father’s Day (June 21). Call 70/737-4748 or e-mail saleslv@pampasusa.com to receive your complimentary $40 gift certificate.

CineVegas Happenings:

Here are some tidbits for all you film buffs and partygoers. Did you know that Sapphire gentlemen's club is the "official" strip club of the '09 film festival? Yep, only in Vegas. Show your badge for no cover, free limo ride, and complimentary drink. Plus, Friday night sees the official launch party for the new 702.tv newscast at the Palms Pool & Bungalows from 9-11 p.m. We'll keep you posted on other events, so watch this space.

Mel B. out of 'Peepshow'?:

So reports WYTV-33 in Ohio, saying Peepshow headliner -- and former Spice Girl -- Melanie "Mel B." Brown has seen her contract go unrenewed. That means she'll hang up her lingerie later this month, when her 12-week deal expires. British tabloid The People quoted an unnamed source as saying, "[Brown] is gutted, she loved doing the show." Part of the alleged problem may be Mr. Brown, Stephen Belafonte, who gossip columnist Norm Clark reported was "wearing out his welcome at Planet Hollywood Resort ... Word has it he's been 'acting like he owns Planet Hollywood,' expecting free food and special treatment." If Brown is indeed on the outs, Planet management has fewer than two weeks to name a replacement.

"The Mouth" Gets a Plug:

Poker player Mike "the Mouth" Matusow got a big plug for his new book -- Check-Raising the Devil -- in the "Sports" section of today's USA Today. A talented but troubled player, Matusow's book details his roller-coaster ride through the addictive side of gambling and drugs that landed him in jail (among other undesirable places).

Angel Here, Angel There:

After his giant 'wrap' was banished from the Strip side of Luxor, Criss Angel's Believe was out of sight for a while. As promised, a wrap -- a much smaller wrap -- has been posted on the north tower of Luxor, in the upper right-hand corner facing the Strip. Angel also manifested himself at Circus Circus last week, where he opened a new branch of his Mindfreak boutiques. No Believe or Cirque du Soleil merchandise is available at the store, which is on the second floor of the casino. But it won't be lacking for inventory: There are roughly 700 Angel-branded items from which to choose.

Board Says One Thing, Does Another:

Although Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said he was "at the end of my rope" with Las Vegas Gaming, the board voted to license Jon Berkley as CEO of the recalcitrant company. Berkley's firm has vexed the control board by not doing background checks and by generally having difficulty achieving compliance with Nevada regulations. Las Vegas Gaming provides bingo equipment and slot machine software to a client base that includes 38 tribal casinos, as well as privately owned ones in 12 states.

Slight Upturn for Vegas:

Although hotel occupancy was down 2% in April, Las Vegas had 3% more hotel rooms (almost 4,000) than it did a year ago. Which means a modest increase in hotel guests. Californians are either lured by bargains (like substantially lower room rates) or are choosing not to fly, as vehicle traffic from the Golden State was up 11%. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has already hinted that revenues from May will be even better than those for April.

More Rate Slippage at Aria:

Weekend rates for Aria in Dec. 20-26 are now down to $244 (from $279/night). Previously, weekday rates had been trimmed from $229/night to $183.

NH OKs Casinos:

Last week, New Hampshire’s state Senate voted decisively in favor of legalizing slot parlors. Two thousand slots apiece would be available to New Hampshire’s three dog tracks and two other sites. The Rockingham Park racetrack would qualify for 5,000 slots. The bill faces tough sledding ahead, as a signature by Gov. John Lynch is anything but certain.

Atlantic City Has Good News:

After nine months of cuts, Atlantic City casinos are hiring again. In May, casinos added 600-plus jobs. Harrah’s Marina is almost back to its year-prior staffing levels and Trump Taj Mahal actually has a slightly bigger staff now than in May 2008. However, there’s still a long way to go, as the city’s gambling halls still carry 3,600 fewer employees than they did a year ago. Trump CEO Mark Juliano advised caution, telling a reporter, "At a certain point in time, because of the fixed costs of your buildings, you can’t cut much further. But I wouldn’t say that the industry is in a recovery."

Claudine Williams Honored June 13:

A memorial service for Nevada’s first lady of gaming, Claudine Williams, has been scheduled for 11 a.m., June 13. It will be held in the primary ballroom of Harrah’s Las Vegas. Call 702/369-5217 to reserve a seat. Williams, the former owner of the Silver Slipper, died on May 13.

WSOP Stimulus:

Once again, poker has proven impervious to the difficult economic times. The WSOP's "Stimulus Special" tournament, with a lower-than-normal $1,000 buy-in, sold-out, drawing 6,012 players. It was the fourth largest field of all time, trailing only the main events in 2006 (8,773 players), 2008 (6,844) and 2007 (6,358). The winner was 24-year-old Steven Sung, who pocketed $771,106.

Ivey Collects:

Poker star Phil Ivey won the $2,500 no-limit deuce-to-seven event to notch his sixth World Series of Poker victory. The win was good for a $96,361 prize, but the buzz around the tourney was that it was worth a lot more than that. Ivey had apparently made several prop bets with other players, taking long odds that he would win at least one event this year. Estimations of his take run as high as $3 million.

Belmont Today:

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine that Bird is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for today's Belmont Stakes. The race books around town will be running viewing parties today.

Saturday Night is Ladies Night:

Now, at Sierra Gold, every Saturday night is "Ladies Night." Giveaways of Swarovski crystal necklaces and Gold’s Gym memberships will highlight the festivities, and the fun runs from 6-9 p.m. Sierra Gold has three locations in the valley: 1341 W. Warm Springs Rd., 6929 Aliante Pkwy and 6515 S. Jones Rd.

Bachelor Auction Tonight:

Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation is holding its tenth annual "Fire & Rain" bachelors auction. In addition to enjoying an evening of champagne and dancing, you can bid for a date with 18 of Las Vegas’ finest firemen. Event organizers hope to $90,000 for the Burn Foundation … or $5K per bachelor.

Thinking outside the Xbox:

Slot leader International Game Technology is looking to the video-game world for new ideas. It has created the post of chief technology officer and filled it with Microsoft veteran Chris Satchell. As CTO of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, Satchell was involved with a variety of Xbox platforms, as well as Microsoft Game Studios, home of Forza Motorsport, Fable, and Crackdown.

Dueling Gambling Proposals in KY:

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is trying to revive a smaller version of his failed casino push from last year. His new proposal would convert Bluegrass State horse tracks to racinos by adding Class II gaming machines. The state Senate's president, David Williams, has countered with a proposed 10% surcharge on purchases of lottery tickets, plus a 1.5% tax on wagers from outside Kentucky, thereby squeezing more money from gambling without expanding it.

Bargain Menu at Craftsteak:

The celebrated steakhouse at MGM Grand has introduced a new "Halfsteak" menu featuring smaller portions for half the price. Steak items start at $19.

Senior Discounts Surveyed:

"Queen of Comps" Jean Scott highlights some of the better senior-citizen discounts in town, in today's Frugal Vegas, including a particularly strong offer at South Point.

Tighter Slots Don't Stop Revenue Skid:

Players put 11% less coin into the slots in April, yet slot hold managed to remain flat with last year. Even tightening the slots, though, couldn't hold off another slippage in Nevada gaming revenues, -14 statewide and -16% on the Strip. Baccarat play was down and sports books had a lousy month, helping to drive the decline. Boulder Strip casinos have begun to rebound though, up 2%, while Aliante Station continues to buoy North Las Vegas, up 5% from last year. Hardest hit was South Lake Tahoe, -35% for April.

Anthony Curtis' Latest Column Posted:

The weekly feature focuses on the summer pool scene this week, plus some news from the Las Vegas entertainment world. Check it out in LVA in the Media.

Dolphin Death:

Sgt. Pepper, a young dolphin at the Mirage Dolphin Habitat, died yesterday due to complications from a lung infection. He was born in captivity on June 8, 2007 so would have turned 2 years old on Monday. Captive dolphins typically suffer much higher mortality rates than those in the wild and he's the 12th dolphin to die since the Mirage opened the habitat in 1990.

Trader Vic's Closing:

After months and months of ominous rumblings, Trader Vic's had made it official: It's closing. The date has yet to be announced and the restaurateur has employees on schedule through June 13, so there still may be time to partake of the Polynesian fare.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here's the roundup of this weekend's entertainment highlights: Music: Jennifer Keith and the High Society Boys perform for free in the Las Vegas Hilton’s Tempo Lounge (6/4-6/6); Julio Iglesias will be on stage in the Hilton Theater (6/5-6/6); the Michael Schenker Group plays Santa Fe Station (6/6); Santana’s Supernatural run continues at the Hard Rock, (6/6 & 6/7); the Summer of ’69 festivities continue downtown on Fremont Street with more free concerts, and Tom Stevens performs at South Point (6/7) Comedy: Ray Romano and Brad Garrett team up at the Mirage (6/5-6/6); Richard Lewis and Susan Essman will be over at the Venetian (6/4-6/6); Henry Cho performs at South Point (6/5-6/6); and David Brenner takes the stage at the Suncoast (6/5-6/7) The Cool Pool scene: Gavin Rossdale’s in concert poolside at the Hard Rock Beach Club (6/5); it’s the grand opening of the new weekly LGBT pool party ‘Sunkissed Sundays’ the Luxor, hosted by Jeffery Sanker and DJs Perry Twins (6/7); and the new Sunday night Poolside Party at Encore’s XS continues (6/7) Other: The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend takes place at the Orleans (6/5-6/7); free movie screenings at the District at Green Valley Ranch include Space Chimps (6/5) and Iron Man (6/6); the annual Fire and Rain Firefighter Bachelor Auction takes place at the Palms (6/6); and Fremont Street presents the Vegas Groovy Cruise with the Car Show & Shine (6/5-6/7), performances by Rare Earth on the 3rd Street Stage (6/5) and Bill Haley’s Comets on the 1st Street Stage (6/6), the unveiling of John Van Hamersveld’s Hippie Nation Gallery & Records with after-party at Binion’s rooftop pool (6/5), and the Psychedlic Ride: A Hippie Bus Street Party (between the Golden Gate and Vegas Club) at 9:15 p.m., 10:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. (6/5-6/7) 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. And for updates throughout the day about adult-oriented events, entertainment, and news, from topless pool parties to strip club promos to nightclub events, sign up for our two Twitter feeds, Topless Vegas and SinCityAdvisor (new SinCityAdvisor.com sister site coming soon... Sign up for email updates.)

Free Donuts on Friday:

We didn't know there was such a thing as National Doughnut Day but June 5 is it. This means one free doughnut per customer at all Krispy Kreme stores. There are six in the Las Vegas Valley, including ones in Circus Circus, Excalibur, and Fitzgeralds. Dunkin' Donuts, which has five area locations, is offering a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage.

Cash Concert Tomorrow:

"Man in Black," a tribute to the late Johnny Cash, is this week's Friday-night lakeside concert at MonteLago Village, at Lake Las Vegas. Concertgoers are free to bring blankets and chairs, but you'll have to leave the cooler at home. Showtime is 7 p.m.

'Marriage' on the Move:

It's rare when a casino publicizes the fact that it's losing a show to a competitor, so give props to the The Four Queens. It told us what Fitzgeralds would not: Marriage Can Be Murder is closing at the 4Q and will reopen at the Fitz on June 29. It will play Sun.-Sat. at 6 p.m., as before. Ticket prices will also hold firm at $60.45 and $76.95. Country Superstars closes at the Fitz on June 12.

Yemenidjian Promises Trop Upgrades:

A return by the Tropicana to Strip preeminence is promised by incoming CEO Alex Yemenidjian, who was approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board this week. His plans include swapping out the casino's existing slots and table games for new ones, placing a bar in the middle of the casino, redoing the sports book, adding a poker room and two additional restaurants, and redoing the pedestrian bridges so that they flow into the casino. Hotels rooms, the convention area, the pools, and even the Tiffany Theater are on the list for eventual remodeling. The question of what will go into the Tiffany Theater, post-Folies Bergere, continues to hang fire. Yemenidjian is scheduled to take the reins on July 1.

The Rat Pack is Back:

As in packs of rats, that is. Last night, the History Channel's "Life After People" series took a look, in Episode Seven ("Sin City Meltdown"), at the potential future of Las Vegas and Sin City. Rodents will make a big comeback, as will Atlantic City's feral cats. Prospects for the wax figures in Madame Tussaud's Interactive Wax Attraction aren't so rosy in a world without air conditioning. Casino interiors had to be filmed at Isle of Capri's Blackhawk, Colo., property because no Vegas casino would cooperate with the History Channel. (The subject matter reportedly offended them.)

Vegas Icon Butera Dies:

Beloved saxophonist Sam Butera passed away yesterday, aged 81. Butera hadn't played in five years, due to cardiac problems and the disappearance of old-school Vegas lounges. But in his heyday, Butera was one of Louis Prima's primo sidemen and helped give "Las Vegas a distinctive sound and a freewheeling, all-night image," according to columnists Norm Clarke and Mike Weatherford. "It’s impossible to know how many people shook hands with Butera as he capped each set with his signature sign-off song, 'When the Saints Go Marchin’ In,' leading his band on a snake dance among the cocktail tables with a beaming, ear-to-ear smile." Animated versions of Prima and Butera (as apes) graced the Disney Jungle Book movie. Butera's final Vegas gig was a 2002 stand at Santa Fe Station, although he continued to be popular in Europe. He died of complications from pneumonia.

BBQ Summer at Station Buffets:

Throughout the summer, Station Casinos will be offering special BBQ stations at all Feast and Festival buffets featuring a variety of meats, BBQ sauces, sides, and desserts available during lunch and dinner. There's also a daily raffle at each buffet at 6:30 p.m. for a Weber grill. One raffle ticket will be given to each paying guest 21 years and older and at the end of the day, raffle ticket holders can check at the Rewards Center to see if they've won (you have 24 hours to claim your prize).

Skateboard Party at the Palms:

Tomorrow's the day for Maloof Money Cup '09 and at least 20 professional skateboarders are promised to be on hand, including P-Rod, Jake Brown, and Pierre Luc Gagnon. In the evening, Moon nightclub will be open to all for a 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. launch party.

'Taste' Tix on Sale:

"Taste of the Nation Las Vegas" takes place tomorrow, but tickets are already on sale. Admission is $75 and $100. The higher price gets you early (5:30 p.m.) admission to the event, which opens to everyone else at 6:30 p.m., at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Taste of the Nation is a fundraiser to battle childhood hunger. There will be a tasting menu, whipped up by some of the premier chefs and mixologists in town. A silent auction will also be held. SW Steakhouse's Carlos Guia chairs the dinner. Participating restaurants and chefs include Andre’s at Monte Carlo, Kerry Simon, Rosemary’s Restaurant, the HRH's own Rare 120°, and Capital Grille.

Massive Sale from Virgin America:

Breaking news from TravelZoo: Fares to major West and East Coast cities from Southern California and Las Vegas were cut to $49-$109 each way today as part of a new Virgin America sale. The flights are up to $100 less than competing roundtrip fares. The sale includes travel from June 5 to Nov. 11, with the lowest fares available June 5-17 and August 26 to Nov. 11. Tickets must be purchased by June 16, though some routes might sell out quickly. Fares from Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and Las Vegas (each way): - San Francisco ... $49M - Seattle ... $59 - Boston ... $109 - New York City ... $109 - Washington, D.C. ... $109 Just click the link in the Travelzoo box on the left-hand side of our website (under the Member Sign-In) to take advantage of these offers.

AC on Gridlocks Today:

Catch Anthony Curtis on Las Vegas' "Afternoon Gridlock" radio show today. AC will join Mitch Moss and Seat Williams for today's final hour (5-6 pm, PST). Catch it on ESPN Radio, AM 1100.

QoD/Reader Poll:

Oops! In our enthusiasm to bring you great stuff, we accidentally scheduled a new poll and a Question of the Day for today. It's officially a poll day, so the new one has been restored to its rightful place in the QoD spot and the Vegas Vic answer has been moved back a few days -- don't worry, if you were looking forward to reading it, you'll have another chance. In the meantime, please check out the current poll and share your thoughts on your favorite/the most useful features on LasVegasAdvisor.com. We don't know why the email link for "Other" picks wasn't working before, either, but it is now!

Penn in the News Again:

While Penn National Gaming can't seem to commit to making a Vegas-area acquisition, it knows what it likes out East. The company says it "having some early discussions with potential partners" about opening a racino at Laurel Park, in Maryland. The track had earlier been the proposed site for a Magna Entertainment slot parlor but Magna neglected to pay its application fee and was shown the door.

Light 'em up in LA:

Lousiana lawmakers shot down a proposal to ban smoking in Pelican State casinos and bars. The vote was 71-29. Smoking bans have serious gaming-revenue declines in Colorado and catastrophic ones in Illinois.

Hard Rock Hiring:

Not only has the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino recently filled 400 new positions, it says it will be hiring another 800 employees, mainly to service a pair of new hotel towers coming on line later this year. HRH manager Morgans Hotel Group is looking for staffers in the following categories: on-call dealers, housekeeping staff, bellmen, front desk agents, room reservation agents and EVS attendants. Morgans is in the process of tripling the Hard Rock's size, eventually enlarging the pool area and building an additional casino floor. Job fairs will be held this summer, at dates to be announced.

Sands Bethlehem a Hit:

Las Vegas Sands' Bethlehem, Penn., casino has been pulling in over a million dollars a day since its May 22 opening. J.P. Morgan stock analysts visited it last week and reported that it was easier to reach from New York City than Atlantic City is, and that the 3,000-slot casino could go up to as many as 5,000 slots on Nov. 22. Players were losing an average of $430 per slot per day to the one-armed bandits. Sands expects business to peak during the summer months. The arrival of the casino's hotel and other non-dining amenities "remains uncertain and dependent on capital availability." Fortunately, the Bethlehem area has at least 4,000 other hotel rooms that would be happy to take your business.

Dinner with Bally:

Last night, Bally Technologies broke bread a dining room's worth of institutional investors and said it: A) hopes to increase its slot presence at both Sands Bethlehem and City of Dreams, in Macao, from a quarter to a third of the floor; B) thinks Illinois could add as many as 50,000 new slot machines by the end of 2011; and C) as many as 60,000 mechanical-reel slots may have to need replacing in the near future. This, of course, is music to the ears of the slot industry, which knows no phrase sweeter than "replacement cycle." Those cycles have been pretty slow lately, so Bally's bullishness on the slot market is noteworthy.

Latest Sexy Fun from MGM Group:

First there was the Hoops game from Zumanity and the slot game at Fantasy... Now, we have a whole heap of craziness from MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris, including your "Crazyscope," "Find Your Crazy Match," "Ask a Crazy Question," "Send a Crazygram," and, while you're waiting for any of these to load, get a load of "Crazy Facts" (like, they get through 720 pairs of false eyelashes a year). Must be 18+ to enter any of the aforementioned sites. For reviews of all three of these shows, plus all the other erotic productions, gentlemen's clubs, and European-style pools in Las Vegas, download our unique and up-to-the-minute Topless Vegas guide.

Downtown Gets Its Groove On:

As part of the ongoing "Summer of Love" festivities downtown, from Fri. June 5 through Sun. June 7 Fremont Street will host the "Vegas Groovy Cruise," featuring classic cars, plus muscle cars from 1969, along with a bunch of other psychedelic live entertainment that you can find listed in our Events section.

Charo Replaces 'La Cage':

Starting July 10, irrepressible and ageless Spanish spitfire Charo will be playing the La Cage Showroom at the Riviera. According to our invaluable LVA research team, "The intention is for it to be a permanent show but that apparently is not set in stone at this point." Charo will be holding down the 7:30 p.m. time slot on a Wed.-Mon. schedule, and ticket prices are $62.45, $75, and $85.

Venetian Bathroom Gets Love:

Zefferino Ristorante, in the Grand Canal Shoppes, is getting attention ... for its restrooms. Cintas Corp. has named Zefferino's water closets as one of the 10 finalists in its "America’s Best Public Restroom" contest. The accolade lauded Zefferino for "custom-made mosaic tile artwork, Carra marble floors, Venetian plaster, Murano glad chandeliers and washbasins, limestone water fountain and private restroom suites." To get the coveted top prize, Zefferino will have to surmount rival contenders that include Radio City Music Hall and Chicago's Drake Hotel. We wish it the very best of luck. To cast your ballot for Zefferino, surf to www.BestRestrooms.com.

Ensign Prefers Twitter to White House:

Nevada Sen. John Ensign (R) has been touted of late as presidential timber but, during an Iowa sojourn he unequivocally denied having any designs on the White House. He did, however, call for a more high-tech GOP, making his point by chronicling his trip via his Twitter feed. Sample senatorial Tweet: "Now off to Le Mars Blue Bunny ice cream. Big decision. What flavor or flavors to choose?" HP staffers with ice cream addictions can definitely sympathize.

Planet Ho Towers Opening:

The Westgate timeshare tower at Planet Hollywood is taking bookings, starting Nov. 1. Rates are as low as $137/night for a 400-square-foot studio (based on single occupancy and a two-night stay Nov. 1-3). Amenities specific to PH Towers -- its official name -- are a health club and a tropical pool boasting 32 cabañas.

Midler's Celebratory Deals:

"Many new and fabulous surprises" are promised for Bette Midler's 100th performance of The Showgirl Must Go On, on June 7. In celebration of this milestone, rear-orchestra tickets that usually go for $190 are $100 through June 28 (the promo code is "100 Bette"). If you're among the first 100 diners at Serendipity 3 on Sunday, a complimentary frozen hot chocolate (with the purchase of one entrée) is your reward.

Historic Win at WSOP:

It's still early in the World Series of Poker but one significant milestone has already been achieved. Thang Luu of Las Vegas won the Omaha High-Low tourney for the second year running. Combining this with his second-place finish in 2007, it means Luu has accomplished a WSOP hat trick not seen since Johnny Chan's three-year run of top-two finishes in the main event in 1987-89. A WSOP spokesman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "poker historians will debate poker’s greatest accomplishments and this feat is certainly among them."

Casino Gunman's Claims Debunked:

A persecution complex is emerging as the motive behind a bizarre slaying at Trump Taj Mahal. Accused killer Mark Magee blamed shift manager Raymond Kot for perceived losses at roulette (even though Magee was up $1,100 this year). He has been claiming that Kot would rig the game against him by making a phone call, whereupon the roulette wheel would stop spinning in Magee's favor. UNLV Institute for Gaming Research's Dr. David Schwartz used to work in Taj game protection and writes, "the story makes no sense. If he started losing every time Kot came on shift for the past three or four years, why didn’t he just cash out and walk over to Showboat or Resorts when he saw Kot arrive? There are covered bridges to both properties, so he wouldn’t even have to go outside." As for Magee's assertion that he'd lost millions of dollars gambling, Taj CEO Mark Juliano notes, "He’s lost $6,435 [over a 14-year period], so his math is a little off ... I’m only sorry that he didn’t commit suicide before he killed Ray. The fact that he is being portrayed as a kind and gentle man is kind of perplexing."

Omelet House Goes Downtown:

A mid-June opening is slated for the opening of a downtown branch of The Omelet House, a local institution. It will be just inside the valet-parking entrance of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. Famous for its zucchini sticks, Omelet House was a Las Vegas Review-Journal staff pick for "Best Power Lunch." The Omelet House currently has two Vegas locations: 2160 W. Charleston Blvd. and 316 N. Boulder Hwy. The downtown Omelet House will reportedly maintain the same 7 a.m.-3 p.m. hours as its outlying counterparts.

Excalibur Goes Crazy!:

Hot on the heels of our discovery of the castle's strip poker nights every Saturday (yep, it's for real -- and it's a dancer, not the players, thank goodness, who removes items of clothing as participants are busted out), comes word of their new property-wide beer pong promotion! Purchase a $20 pitcher of beer to participate in the game -- apparently beer pong tables are located throughout the resort. Must be 21+

Planet Ho Celebrates the Wiz:

Today through June 4, join Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz with the free "Ruby Slipper Collection: Inspiration of Oz Fine Art" exhibition located on The Mezz. A celebration of high fashion and fine art, it includes a display of ruby slippers from such footware luminaries as Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, plus many more (didn't know Betsy Johnson did shoes...) The fine art includes one-of-a-kind works from "esteemed artisans." And, if you really want to get into the wizardly spirit of things, here's the recipe for Planet Hollywood's Ruby Slipper cocktail: Ingredients: 1.5 oz whiskey 1 part 7UP 1 part Grenadine Directions: Fill a shot glass three-quarters full with whiskey, top up with Grenadine. Fill any large glass with 7UP. Drop the shot glass into the 7UP and drink everything!

'Elvolution' Has Left the Building:

Trent Carlini's Elvolution tribute show has closed at the Wyrick Entertainment Complex, in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile mall. The show was rumored to be on shaky financial footing even before its late-April opening.

Palazzo to Host Farmers Market:

Yes, unlikely as it may sound, the upscale (and LEED®-certified) Las Vegas resort will be welcoming an array of local producers on Wednesday, June 3 for the Strip's first farmers' market. The brainchild of celebrity chef Mario Batali, whose three Las Vegas restaurants* were all recently certified "green" by the Green Restaurant Association, Bet on the Farm will take place from noon-6 p.m. at the Palazzo's Waterfall Atrium and will feature fresh local produce (including quail, chicken, and duck eggs, peaches, apricots, figs, tomatoes, local desert honey, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, white peaches, local herbs, asparagus, bread, and fruit juice) and biodynamic wines for guests and restaurant chefs to sample and purchase. To conclude the event, an exclusive "Green" three-course prix fixe menu will be served at Carnevino for $45 per person. Call 702/789-4141 for reservations. For more details about Las Vegas' eco-friendly hotels, restaurant, and attractions, check out our unique Green Guide to Vegas in the LVA Visitor Guide section. *Carnevino in Palazzo and B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco in the Venetian.

Barbie Suite Debuts at Palms:

The latest addition to the Palms "Fantasy Suites," which currently include the famous Hardwood, Kingpin, Hugh Hefner, Realworld, Crib, Celebrity, and Erotic suites, among others, is the Barbie Suite. Naturally, it features a lot of pink, plus features including a mirror frame constructed, Busby-Berkeley-style (should that be Busby-Barbie?), from 100 swimsuited dolls, and Barbie-print upholstery and wall coverings. Click on these links for some exclusive pix courtesy of our Twitter friends @VegasBill and @MyVegasScene: twitpic.com/6expp; twitpic.com/6ewe0; twitpic.com/6eve7; twitpic.com/6evl7; and twitpic.com/6evqe.

More Play for Points:

Add George Maloof's Palms to the list of Las Vegas casino-hotels which are converting their point-redemption system so that points can be converted to free play, not just comps. Jean Scott has the full story in Frugal Vegas.

Puck Offers Deals for Locals:

All summer long Wolfgang Puck will be offering Las Vegas locals 25% off their check at his CUT, Spago, Chinois, Postrio, and Trattoria del Lupo restaurants.

Comic Trio at V Theater:

Some popular faces on the campus circuit will soon be in residence as the 2:30 p.m. show at Planet Hollywood's V Theater. Amazed will combine Tim Gabrielson -- who does a straightforward, low-budget magic act -- with comedian Buzz Sutherland and guitarist Mike Rayburn, who performs satiric riffs on popular songs. Rayburn's "Led Zeppelin does Doctor Seuss" may be worth the price of admission all by itself. Amazed opens June 27.

New Show at O'Shea's:

There's a new mentalist in town: British mind-reader Luke Jermay opens at O'Shea's on June 5. He'll hold down the 7 p.m. slot Tues.-Sat. and tickets are $32. However, if you buy tickets to both Jermay's show and Freaks, O'Shea's is offering a combined admission of $43.96.

Aria, Circus Circus Rates Fall:

Weekday room rates for the Christmas week at Aria (Dec. 20-26) have been dropped to $183/night, down from $229. Circus Circus has discontinued its "Big Top Blow Out." In its place, Circus is offering "Bigger Big Top," which marks down room rates a futher 20%. A new Monte Carlo promo, "Jumpstart June," provides a $25 F&B credit to anyone booking a deluxe or high-floor deluxe room. If you go all out for Strip-view deluxe room, a $50 F&B credit is your reward.

More Casinos for IL?:

After the Illinois Senate axed one casino-expansion bill last month, it has approved a modified version. Racinos are out but existing casinos would be allowed to expand their slot inventory to 2,000 machines apiece and could even move off riverboats and onto dry land. They'd be facing more competition, though, as the senate bill would authorize four new casino licenses (Chicago, Danville, Rockford, Park City). Don't break out the bubbly yet: The Illinois House still has to ponder the measure and may not do so until January. In other Illinois news, the fire-ravaged Empress Joliet will be back in business on June 25. A March 20 blaze demolished the riverboat's land-based pavilion.

Icahn to Get Trop:

It looks like the Tropicana Atlantic City is Carl Icahn's for the taking and that, furthermore, he'll get it without any money changing hands. Icahn, who is among the property's creditors, had put in a $200 million "credit bid" (i.e., pledging some of what he's owed) for hotel-casino and, when bidding closed on Friday afternoon, no rivals had emerged. So a casino that was expected to fetch at least $750 million a year ago may have a new owner without so much as a dime being laid on the counter.