Las Vegas News

Another Six Years for Lance:

At a press conference this afternoon, magician

Last Day to Vote in Poker Poll:

Calling all poker fans, pros, novices, haters, indifferents, experts, and wannabes: At midnight tonight our current survey polling your poker habits and desires will expire, so get your votes in now if you haven't already!

Stay Tuned for Lance Burton Update:

While we were previously informed that the master magician of the Monte Carlo, whose 13-year contract expired 10 days ago during his convalescence from a broken foot, would be making a career announcement tomorrow, it now sounds like he'll be breaking the news later this afternoon. According to Robin Leach's "Luxe Life" blog, and as predicted in this column last week, it will almost certainly be good news for Lance fans, who are likely to be able to enjoy his Strip performance for at least a couple more years. We'll keep you abreast of developments.

Cannery Resorts Cash Giveaway:

Throughout the month of July, every day (except Mondays) the three Cannery properties (Rampart, Cannery, and Eastside Cannery) will be giving away $1.2 million in their "California Dreamin' Giveaway." Players club members will have the chance to win up to $10,000 every day. More details to follow; in the meantime, just ask at the player's club at any of the three properties for more details.

Update From TI:

We were contacted by a Jr. VIP Host at Christian Audigier, who confirmed that the nightclub at Treasure Island is not closing and has a lease through 2016. He confirmed that Social House is closing, however, although we've still been unable to get word on when the final date is (the main reservation line was still taking bookings past July 8, but had instruction to check with the restaurant before making the booking, so it seems to be on a day-to-day basis right now and they don't open until 5 p.m., so no further word until then).

Motown Revue Opens Tomorrow:

Hitzville, the popular Motown tribute that features live singers and band performing hits made famous by Tina Turner, The Drifters, Gladys Knight, The Supremes, The Four Tops, and more, opens tomorrow at the Harmon Theater. It's a return to that venue for the revue, which performed there last year and was previously at the Las Vegas Hilton.

N9NE Group Comps Locals:

For the upcoming July 4 festivities, N9NE Group/Palms is waiving the cover charge for Las Vegas locals at Friday's Ditch Friday pool party, the poolside "Backyard BBQ" event on Saturday 4, and Rain nightclub on Friday and Saturday. Must present valid ID.

HORSE Final Table:

There are eight left in competition for the $1.3 million first prize. Erik Sagstrom leads with 3,675,000, followed by Vitaly Lunkin (2,490,000), and David Bach (2,345,000). Also remaining are Huck Seed (1,380,000), Chau Giang (1,075,000), and Erik Seidel (965,000). The champion will be decided today.

Pink's Job Fair Tomorrow:

Sorry for the late notice but this just in: Tomorrow, June 30, the new Pink's Hot Dogs venue, scheduled to open soon inside Planet Hollywood's casino, near the Race and Sports Book will be holding a job fair from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Here's the bizarre part: The job fair is taking place not at Planet Ho but at Red Rock (yes, you read that correctly) in Summerlin Room A. When it opens, it will be the only Pink's to serve alcohol, all openings call for those 21+.

Wi-Fi QoD Update:

Actually, there's not much of an update, although we are grateful to everyone who wrote in with suggestions of other free Wi-Fi hotspots around town. Turns out that the only changes from all of those were one addition, one subtraction, and one TBA -- all the others turned out to be false leads (although that doesn't mean they didn't work when you tried). Revisit today's answer for the Update and explanation.

New Rewards for Table Game Players at Jerry's:

Beginning sometime in early July, hi-limit More Club members at Jerry's Nugget will be offered immediate cashback on losses and higher comps for table-game play, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and Texas Hold 'Em. When finished gaming in the pit, More Club members will be instructed by the staff to go to the More Club Kiosk to play the Cash Reward Kiosk Game in which players can receive up to $300 cash. In addition to cashback, pit players will have the option to earn comps at three times the level previously offered. Check with the kiosk for more details.

Social House Plot Thickens:

TI says "yes" to closure, PURE Management says "no." Now we're all confused... Will keep you posted.

New Omelet House Debuts Today:

The popular Las Vegas breakfast diner (see results for our "Best Breakfast Joint" Reader Poll), which has operated in Las Vegas for 30 years with venues at 2160 West Charleston and 316 North Boulder Highway, today unveiled its new location in the Plaza downtown. It will be open daily from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. serving a menu that includes old-fashioned pancakes, French toast, Eggs Benedict, waffles, sandwiches, hamburgers, homemade soups, salads, and, of course, over 30 types of omelet. Fans of the original locations, fear not -- there are no plans for them to close and this new venue is in addition to, not instead of them.

"Green" Art Show Coming to Planet Hollywood:

Wyland Galleries in the Miracle Mile Shops will host a "virtual" art show on Saturday, July 11 from 3-7 p.m. in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Using web-casting technology, well-known artist Wyland will host the virtual show live from Key West, connecting directly with guests at the gallery in Las Vegas. "A traditional 15-city author or artist tour can generate up to three tons of CO2 in travel alone," he observes. "This type of event allows artists to interact in a visual, one-on-one way with guests - and reduce our impact on the planet." Some of the highlights will include a Q&A with Wyland, his 2+-acre-sized mural of planet earth, and his work on the new DisneyNature film, EARTH. For our unique Las Vegas Green Guide, featuring the valley's most eco-friendly eateries, hotels, attractions, and transportation companies, click here. Plus, for regular updates and news stories, sign up for our new GreenVegas Twitter feed.

Big Shake Up at TI:

A posting on Twitter from @VegasChatter alerted us to the rumor that both Social House restaurant/bar and Christian Audigier nightclub are slated to close. As far as the former's concerned, here's what VegasChatter had to say having dined at the venue on Saturday: "The servers seemed pretty upset about it but said they were told that the restaurant would relocate elsewhere on the Strip. However, employees told us that they were bugging out a little bit about some new security cameras that had been installed in the restaurant." Hmm. We followed up with a call to TI and have tentative confirmation that both closures are indeed for real, with Social House closing this week and Christian Audigier sometime thereafter. We're waiting on a call back for more details -- stay tuned!

Twofer Cheeseburgers at Big Dog's:

Now through August 31, Monday night is "2-for-1 Cheeseburger" night at Big Dog's (W. Sahara). From 3-10 p.m. order two half-pound ground-steak cheeseburgers ($7.75 each) and get one on the house. The burgers are cooked to order and served with lettuce, tomatoes, and dill pickles on a toasted Kaiser bun with choice of fries, cottage cheese, fresh slaw, or potato salad. P.S. Look out for an upcoming LVA reader poll on "Best Burger in Vegas" -- get your burger thinking caps on! Oh, don't forget the 2-for-1 drink offer in our 2009 Member Rewards Book (we almost did!) to really make this a bargain-meal play : )

HORSE Players in Home Stretch:

There are 19 left in the second-most-pretigious poker tournament in the world. The leader is Vitaly Lunkin with 1,527,000. Lunkin won this year's $40,000 buy-in anniversary event. The 2007 winner, Freddy Deeb, is in third with 1,300,000. Other big names still in the game include Gus Hansen, Eric Seidel, Todd Brunson, and Huck Seed.

$650 Million Expansion for Harrah's Cherokee:

The North Carolina property is scheduled to break ground July 10 on a hotel tower that will represent the first stage in a $650 million expansion due to take place over a three-year period. In addition to new hotel rooms, convention center, restaurants, and other amenities, the hotel-casino is now also free to serve booze, thanks to alcohol sales having recently been approved by the town of Cherokee.

Mayweather vs. Marquez Date Announced:

Floyd Mayweather had been slated to fight Juan Manuel Marquez next month at the MGM Grand but was forced to postpone due to a rib injury suffered during training. In a statement issued Friday, the former pound-for-pound king said he has been cleared by doctors to fight and that a new date's been set for Sept. 19 — the weekend after Mexican Independence Day.

Vegas Choking?:

Today's LV Review-Journal contains a big story on Las Vegas' current bargain pricing. Anthony Curtis comments in the piece that Las Vegas has to "let it go" regarding its upscale brand and high pricing, or "choke on it." "That's something of a truncated quote," says A.C. "I was explaining that there's no shame in discounting. But I guess the point gets made."

HORSE Entries Down:

Finally providing some evidence that the economy might be affecting participation at the World Series of Poker, this year's field for the HORSE event is significantly smaller than last year's. Only 95 players ponied up the $50,000 buy-in this year, down more than a third from last year's 148. Another factor affecting participation is that this event was not chosen to be a televised tournament this year. With 55 players remaining, Gus Hansen leads with 686,000. Last year's winner, Scotty Nguyen, lurks in sixth with 463,000.

July 4 Listings Are Up:

Every year, it's a QoD FAQ: "What's going on for July 4 in Las Vegas?" Since a lot of events don't get finalized or announced until the last minute, rather than run a QoD that we have to keep updating, these days we list July 4 in Special Events, where you can find it broken down into firework displays, parties, concerts, and other events. We'll keep adding to the listings as more events are announced, so keep checking back. One thing's for sure, it's going to be a huge weekend.

MJ Doctor Well-Known in Las Vegas:

The physician being questioned in the Michael Jackson investigation, Dr. Conrad Murray, lived and had an active practice in Las Vegas. We know one of Murray's patients, who speaks glowingly of his abilities, but had had two appointments canceled within the last month. A letter of apology from Murray referenced a "special opportunity" that he was preparing to pursue. He was apparently to be the personal physician for Jackson during his impending concert tour.

Kill Phil Connection at Final Table:

Aaron Sias, son of the author of our Kill Phil Online Helper software, William Sias, is at the final table of the $1,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha tournament. Aaron began in fourth, trailing WSOP bracelet winners Brandon Cantu and Lee Watkinson.

Memorabilia Auction Continues:

It's not too late to register to bid in the Julien's Live celebrity memorabibilia auction at Planet Hollywood -- there's a bunch of Marilyn Monroe stuff still to hit the auction block. Michael Jackson items estimated to sell for $10,000 went for $200,000! You can follow the action live via the Twitter feed.

Habib Leading HORSE:

After one day of play, Hasan Habib tops the board in the $50,000 buy-in HORSE event with 387,000. Near the top are David Benyamine (282,200), Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (259,600) and Johnny Chan (237,700). Play resumes this afternoon.

Frugal Eats @ Silverton:

Jean Scott is hot on the trail of an almost-property-wide 'twofer' restaurant deal at the Silverton. There are a few "buts" in the offer, so check out Frugal Vegas to learn what's in the fine print.

Learn Poker from the Pros:

It won't help you in the HORSE event, but this weekend Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson and Mike Caro, "The Mad Genius of Poker" and founder of the Mike Caro University of Poker, Gaming, and Life Strategy, are conducting "Power Poker Seminars" at the Rio and are waiving the $95 cover. The event's taking place in Pavilion 9 inside the Rio's convention area and seating's available on a first-come, first-served basis. The schedule is as follows: Saturday, June 27 at 10 a.m.: Mike Caro's Tells, Psychology and Manipulation Sunday, June 28 at 10am – Mike Caro's Grand Poker Seminar: 50 Best Tip Countdown Seminars will include a Q&A session with Doyle Brunson.

HORSE:

The biggest buy-in poker tournament in the world kicks off today at noon. The $50,000 HORSE event combines hold 'em, Omaha high-low, razz, 7-card stud, and 7-card stud eight-or-better. Last year's first prize was $1.9 million.

MJ was Close to Las Vegas Deal:

As more information comes out about Michael Jackson, stories about his ties to Las Vegas are also emerging. According to Norm Clark in today's LV Review-Journal, Jackson was very close to a residency deal with an unnamed casino (Wynn?) in 2006. "He mentally, physically, and emotionally just couldn't do it," said the source.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

What happens when you have the Howard Stern Gang, Pussycat Dolls, Lindsay Lohan, and Cowboys for Cancer all in town on the same weekend? We don't know, but we're about to find out... Music: Country star Clint Black performs at the Orleans (6/26-6/28); the Blue Oyster Cult rocks the Railhead at Boulder Station (6/26); Maxwell performs at the Pearl inside the Palms (6/26), followed by the Pussycat Dolls (6/27); Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood take the stage at the MGM Grand (6/27); blues singer Etta James plays the Silverton (6/27); the Club at the Cannery welcomes Legends of Motown Old School Tribute Show (6/26) and The Spinners (6/27); Yanni Voices performs at Mandalay Bay (6/27); Gary Puckett’s in concert at the South Point (6/26-6/27), followed by singer-impressionist Tom Stevens, who completes his recent run here to return to his regular gig at the Riv (6/28) Comedy: Artie Lange brings his outrageous comedy act to the Joint inside the Hard Rock (6/27) and the "blue-collar" comedian Bill Engvall performs at Buffalo Bill's (6/27) The Cool Pool scene: Gin Blossoms and Tonic take the stage for the Friday Night Live Music Series at the Hard Rock Beach Club (6/26), followed the next day by "A Search for The Next Miss Howard TV" hosted by Artie Lange and Ronnie 'The Limo Driver' Mund (6/27); Wet Republic hosts the final voting party for the Hot 100 bikini contest (6/26) and Lindsay Lohan's birthday bash (6/27); this week's Dive-In Movie at Mandalay Bay Beach is Tropic Thunder (6/26); Knights of Monte Carlo take over the pool for the Free Jazz Friday series at Red Rock (6/26); and the 3rd Annual Bunny Hunt takes place at Ditch Friday at the Palms (6/26); Other: Variety Live takes over the Suncoast (6/26-6/28); CineVegas Under the Stars presents The Secret Garden at the Springs Preserve (6/27); and Cowboys for Cancer featuring Wolfcreek, Scotty Alexander, Desert Outlaws, Skid Rodeo, Mark O'Toole, John Encinio, and others, takes place at Sunset Station (6/28) 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.)

Strip Comedian to Play in WSOP:

Comedian and celebrity roaster Vinnie Favorito just announced that he's going to be playing the $10,000 buy-in Main Event at this year's World Series of Poker. Last year's Main Event had a host of celebrity players, including Nick Cannon, Ray Romano, Larry Flynt, and Chuck Liddell (see QoD 7/31/2008). We'll keep you posted on this year's star line-up.

Michael Jackson Is Dead:

While reports remain confused about the order of events, it's now apparently confirmed that pop icon Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. It was an hour ago that we first saw unverified reports via Twitter that Jackson had been rushed to hospital having suffered cardiac arrest. Then came reports that he was found dead at his home from a sleeping pill overdose. The latest update we've seen from a credible source is the LA Times blog that reported at 2:46 p.m. that Jackson was in a coma and that family was arriving at his hospital bedside. This was updated at 3:15 p.m. with a confirmation that the singer had been pronounced dead by doctors. This comes just weeks before he was due to start a long run of live shows at AEG's O2, touted as a precursor to a career rebirth that tentatively encompassed a three-year world tour, a new album, movies, a Graceland-like museum, musical revues in Las Vegas and Macau, and even a "Thriller" casino. Despite reports that Jackson had passed grueling medicals, there were questions surrounding his physical fitness to perform and if it transpires that he took his own life, it would appear that the pressures of the last few years (including the child molestation charges against him and his financial woes) had indeed taken a toll.

Cher -- from Strip to Burlesque:

It's been confirmed that the Caesars Colosseum headliner will play the role of Christina Aguilera's mentor in the upcoming movie Burlesque, due to start filming in November when Cher is on break from her Strip performances. She'll take the role of a former dancer who's now the struggling owner of a burlesque club, while Aguilera plays a Midwestern girl trying to make it as a dancer.

Lance Burton to Speak:

This just in, courtesy of one of our @LVA_Tweet followers, @Mitzula, who got it from @iTricks. Magician Lance Burton is to call a press release at the Monte Carlo at 3 p.m. PST next Wednesday. We assume that the chosen venue speaks volumes and that Lance will indeed be renewing his contract with the Strip property where he's been resident for the past 13 years, but we'll keep you posted.

$1 Beers at Jerry's Nugget:

The Main Bar at Jerry's Nugget is serving $1 Pacificos all summer long! Cool! We like Pacifico. And check out the July LVA newsletter for the scoop on a Strip casino that's offering $1 beers, $1 hot dogs, and $1 blackjack (and whether or not any of them are any good).

Funniest Press Release Ever:

We don't think we'd gotten around to telling you that Steel Panther was moving to Santa Fe Station, which is good, because they're not. This direct from PR Plus, the representing agency: "Change of plans! Seems like those metal rockin' guys and the folks at Station Casinos were living it up like rock stars and partying a bit too hard one night and got their venues mixed up. Drunk texting pursued (sic.) and next thing we know we're telling you that they're moving to Santa Fe Station on Saturday nights. Figures, right? They're staying at Access Showroom inside Aliante Station, every Saturday night with doors at 10 p.m. At least for now..." And, just to add further confusion to this whole situation, the email that this came from was titled, "Seel Panther not moving to Aliante Station." Eh?! Is someone messing with us? (Aimee??!!)

McKee's Trade Secrets Revealed:

Today, Stiffs & Georges author David McKee gives readers a list of seven essential news sites for Vegas/gaming news, along with three "Honorable Mentions." Not enough? How about a brief homage to the late Farrah Fawcett, reviews of Patti LuPone at the Orleans and DVD Scott Walker 30 Century Man, an update on Harmon Theater's After the Show, *and* the ongoing Danny Gans fallout? Still not enough? Geez, you guys are a tough crowd.

Criss Angel Catastrophe:

We just learned, via Robin Leach's LuxeLife blog, that for the first time since its opening, the Cirque du Soleil Criss Angel Believe show at the Luxor suffered a major mechanical failure. Apparently, the lighting grid completely failed in the opening number in the second show on Wednesday and the performance had to be canceled. The audience was given a full refund. Just when Criss must've thought it was going to be a good week for him, as his nemesis Perez Hilton apparently totally lost the plot ... and any credibility. Win some, lose some.

RI Slot Parlor Files for Chapter 11:

UTGR, Inc. -- owner of Twin River, the largest slot parlor in Rhode Island -- has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it struggles to repay millions of dollars in debt. This is bad news for Rhode Island, since it puts in question the state's third-largest revenue source as it, too, struggles to deal with a budget crisis.

Read All About It:

Anthony Curtis' regular weekly column is posted online and can be found in LVA in the Media. This week the primary focus is only the incredible room rates that our annual July survey has uncovered; you'll need to read this month's issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter to find out exactly where and how we found them...

Empress Joliet Opens Today:

The Empress Joliet re-opens today in the Chicago area. The original Empress was damaged by fire in March in the midst of a $55 million renovation.

Lisandro Wins Third Bracelet:

Jeffrey Lisandro won the $2,500 buy-in razz event for his third World Series of Poker victory this year (his fourth overall). All three wins came in a form of a 7-card stud game.

More On Twitter:

Today has brought a bunch of examples of what we were referring to about Twitter in yesterday's post in this column, so we figured we'd share with everyone who's not yet in the know. The cool thing about Twitter is that it's all in real time, so if you're here and able to be spontaneous, there are all kinds of offers you can jump on -- like this morning, when the Luxor offered free entry to the Bodies exhibit to the first 26 Twitter followers who showed up. Plus, there are more and more deals being offered exclusively to Twitterers: Just today, Palazzo threw out a $5-off offer for their Vineyards of Style wine event tomorrow, while Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba's offering an extra two hours of happy hour happiness to their Twitter followers tonight and neighboring sister property StripBurger's offering an exclusive beer special.As these offers are Twitter-only, we don't post them in Today's News. But we do post them in our @LVA_Tweet feed (and/or @ToplessVegas and/or @SinCityAdvisor, as appropriate), so sign up if you don't want to miss out.

New Comedy Show for Harmon:

This just in, courtesy of our (hilarious) friend Daily Fiasco: "After Sin City Comedy quickly decamped for the V Theater in the adjacent Miracle Mile Shops, the Harmon counters with the new series Tickled Pink, set to run Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. So, for those of you keeping score at home, that’s Tickled Pink: in, LA Comedy Club, out. Bonkerz: in, Comedy Stop: out. Sin City Comedy: moved, Improv: still there. Carrot Top: Second-funniest show at the Luxor, Criss Angel's Believe: Unintentional comedy gold." Thanks, Fiasco, for straightening all that out for us lol. It was giving us a headache just thinking about it!Back to Tickled Pink, which will be a comedy showcase presented by Shayma Tash (whose previous accolades involve a role in The Amazing Johnathan’s show at the Harmon as well as appearances on "Chelsea Lately" and "The Tonight Show," featuring a lineup of comics including Julie Goldman, Jason Stuart, Ant, KT Tatara, Sandra Valls, Shawn Pelofsky, Chris Porter, Poppy Champlin, and Retta.

Calling All Chip Collectors:

Hey, chippers -- did you know the Las Vegas Hilton has issued special limited edition $5 commemorative chips for its 40th birthday? They're available from the casino cage and they look pretty cool.

Happiest Mayor on Earth Gets Iced:

Yesterday Oscar Goodman was at the Minus 5 ice lounge at Mandalay Place for the unveiling of his new ice portrait. "Representing reputed mobsters in my prior life always created the potential of being 'waxed.' Now I'm 'iced' as well," said Mayor Goodman. You can click here and here for some pics.

LVA Poker Poll:

Did you vote in our current LVA Reader Poll concerning your poker habits and preferences? If not, please do! Just click here and remember you can vote for as many options as apply to you. Use pollAThuntingtonpress.com if you have additional thoughts on the subject that you'd like to share. Cheers!

Happy Daydreaming:

Following yesterday's news that locals-oriented party pool Daydream at M Resort will be the permanent summer residence of the Wet Grooves pool party comes an announcement today that the Daydream bar will now offer a happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with buy one, get one specials on all drinks including the extensive list of specialty cocktails and mojitos.

Holy Cow!:

Following the interesting precedent set by M Resort, which touted its unique on-site casino drug store when it debuted earlier this year, there could now be a casino-pharmacy coming to The Strip. According to plans on file with Clark County, looks like the former Holy Cow! casino/microbrewey site at the corner of Sahara and north end of The Strip is to be redeveloped as an ambitious two-story, 40,000-square-foot casino/restaurant/tavern/Walgreens pharmacy complex with full-motion video wrapping. After Ivana Trump’s plans to build a condo-site failed to get off the ground, the two-acre site was bought for $47 million two years ago by Steve Johnson, an investor-developer from Scottsdale, AZ who owns the Walgreens in front of the Palazzo. He hopes to raze the existing structure as soon as possible and have the new place up and running by late 2010, a Johnson spokesperson told GlobeSt.com.

No More Strip RoboPoker:

As reported in David McKee's Stiffs & Georges blog, Excalibur's removing its 12 dealerless poker tables effective July 5. The automated tables at the castle were part of the Nevada field and Excalibur had the option to end its deal with PokerTek once the trial ran more than four months, which it's evidently opted to exercise. So, no more "robopoker" on the Strip, but there's still stip poker on the Strip -- at Excalibur!

Lisandro Again?:

After already winning two World Series of Poker events this year, Jeffrey Lisando is set up to get number three. He leads the 7-card razz tournament with only 13 players remaining. Play resumes at the Rio at 1 pm today.

Tahiti Village Filing For Bankruptcy:

Consolidated Resorts, parent company of Tahiti Village timeshare resorts, is filing for bankruptcy. Sales and marketing staff arrived at the Las Vegas offices yesterday to find the gates locked and the company says it's also shutting down its sales and marketing operations in Orlando and Hawaii. In a statement released yesterday, Consolidated Resorts said existing timeshare holders won't notice any changes and that "the resorts will continue to operate uninterrupted." If you're an owner and have questions, call 800/775-8463.

Thanks for the Love LVA Tweeps:

Wow, @weiner_lover just signed up as the 1,000th follower to the official LasVegasAdvisor.com Twitter feed, @LVA_Tweets. If you follow, not only do you get Today's News, Question of the Day, Reader Polls, Spotlight On, and David McKee's Stiffs & Georges blogs all in one handy place, but you also get all kinds of other interesting tidbits, pictures, and timely news items that we learn about from the companies that we follow and that we don't post anywhere else (like yesterday's Cirque du Soleil film of a cast member from KÀ doing his makeup, or a last-minute party announcement). Remember, if you're interested in the adult/nightlife/party/ink/LGBT/burlesque etc. aspects of Las Vegas, sign up for @SinCityAdvisor (474 follows and growing like a weed lol) and @ToplessVegas (326), where you'll find all kinds of information, updates, and amusing stuff that we don't post anywhere on LasVegasAdvisor.com. Come Tweet with us!

Further to Today's QoD:

While the Hard Rock (and other properties) have strict rules about bringing food and beverages into your hotel room, don't forget the "Drinks Are On Us" promo at Planet Hollywood right now, where they give you a complimentary bootle of hooch every day throughout your stay (various liquors to choose from, or wine, or champagne). You have to drink it in your room.

Rodman Down to Final 14:

Kill Phil author Blair Rodman is down to the final 14 in Event 42 ($2,500 Mixed Event) at the World Series of Poker. He's up against Layne Flack, among others. We'll keep you abreast of developments. There's a gold bracelet and $241,637 up for grabs. Go Blair!

Competition for Wet Republic:

Hot on the heels of the New York Magazine story just posted comes word from M Resort that their Daydream Pool Club will become the permanent summer home to Wet Grooves, America's #1 touring pool party. Famous for its annual marathon parties at Winter Music Conference in South Beach Miami, Wet Grooves director Steve Saunders says that this summer, "we decided to take a break from an extensive tour schedule and call Las Vegas home." The parties will take every Friday, commencing this week (6/26) from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and feature DJs, live acts, special guest hosts, drink specials, contests, and "decorative themed props." Their MySpace page was down when we just checked, so no word on ticket prices yet, but we'll keep you posted via our Cool Pools feature.

Wet Republic Named Best Pool Party:

New York Magazine recently awarded this accolade to the "Daylife" party pool at MGM Grand. Congratulations! For the full schedule of the upcoming events there, including Lindsay Lohan's 23rd (is that all?!) birthday celebration this Saturday, plus the lowdown for every other "Cool Pool" around town, just click here.

Goodbye to Gaming Life Expo:

Hello to PokerPalooza! The world's largest poker expo, which opens on July 2 at the Rio on the eve of the WSOP Main Event, has been rebranded. According to Harrah's, PokerPalooza will be geared towards "everyone from the professional to those who have not yet taken up the game" and will feature WSOP bracelet winners and Main Event champions who'll be signing autographs, a "Bad Beat Bar," mechanical bull riding, sumo wrestling, carnival games, a food court and, presumably, a bunch of poker-oriented vendors. It runs through Sunday, July 5.

Jean Scott Reviews Switch:

Pointing out that "frugal doesn't mean cheap," the Queen of Comps indulges herself with a gourmet evening at Wynn Encore's Switch. She gives the restaurant one of the best reviews it's received so far.

Another Celebrity Tattoo Joint Coming:

Hot off the presses... Yep, we just heard via Twig, cast member of A&E's "Inked" tattoo series with Carey Hart, that he'll be moving to a new Vince Neil Ink studio that's going to be opening in the Rio. We've seen the logo, so it must be true!

2 for TU at House of Blues:

If you sign up to become a HoB Ticketing Member (free) on their website, you can take part in the 2 for TU (Two for Tuesday) ticket offer: Every Tuesday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. you can buy one and get one free ticket to select upcoming performances, which currently include Summer Slaughter Tour (6/29, $25), Pat Benatar (7/10, $37.50), and Joe with Chico DeBarge (7/11, $28.50). If you sign up, you'll receive a weekly email alert -- the offer can only be booked online. For more information and to sign up, visit the House of Blues website (the FAQs will give you more details).

Howard Stern Gang Invades Vegas:

The gang, including Ronnie the Limo Driver and Artie Lange (but minus Howard), will be in town this weekend, so consider yourselves warned. The festivities kick off with a party at Rick's Cabaret gentlemen's club on Friday night, followed by the search for "Miss Howard TV" bikini contest at the Hard Rock pool on Saturday. On Saturday night, Artie Lange brings his much sought-after stand-up act to the Joint. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $45.

PT's Gets Even Happier:

Beginning July 1 PT's and Sierra Gold are expanding their happy hour to seven days a week at all tavern locations throughout the Vegas Valley. The "Half-Off Happy Hour" is from 5 to 7 p.m., with "reverse" Happy Hour from midnight to 4 a.m. Specials include 50% off regular priced pizzas, including classic pepperoni, cheese, and BBQ chicken, plus 50% off all drinks, including Jack Daniel's, Miller Lite, Bud Light, Ketel One, and Red Bull.

Big Lineup for After the Show:

The new Monday late-night open mic variety show at the Harmon Theater tonight features a huge roster of local talent, including: The Serpentine Sorceress (belly dancer); Edie Singing, Rudy Uresti from Le Rêve (Shadow Puppets); Penny Wiggins (comedian from Amazing Johnathan); Kevin Burke (comedian from Defending the Caveman/Fitz of Laughter); Paul Draper (Magician); Nicole Savitt (singer); and Xavier Hartsoe (magician). It's free to locals and entertainers, $10 cover for everyone else. Doors open 10 p.m., show starts at 11 p.m.

Hidden Gem Inches Closer to The Strip:

The Pinball Hall of Fame, one of Las Vegas' lesser known but adored-by-those-in-the-know attractions is due to emerge from its current E. Tropicana obscurity and move a little closer to The Strip. Last week Clark County officials approved a permit for the move into a much bigger warehouse space on Tropicana near Maryland Parkway (the current location's on Trop. at Pecos), and owner Tim Arnold expects the new hall to be open in one to three months, after the space is renovated. Featuring 1,200 pinball machines, including many old models from the 1950s and '60s, and with games running at 25¢-50¢, it's an affordable treat for any pinball fan. Click here to read what other LVA visitors have to say about it.

Hard Rock Job Fair:

Don't forget the first of what promise to be several job fairs at the newly expanded Hard Rock takes place today and tomorrow. This one's for housekeeping jobs and is taking place in The Joint until 2 p.m. today and from 3–7 p.m. tomorrow. For more information on these and other job opportunities at the Rock, click here or visit www.twitter.com/Hardrocklvjobs.

Holly Debuts at Planet Holly:

Tonight sees the much-anticipated (dare we say hyped?) debut of the ominipresent "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison in Planet Hollywood's

Remains ID'd As Heavy Gambler's:

Sheriff's officials in California's San Bernardino County have identified the skeletal remains found last month off I15 near Primm as belonging to Carlos Leon-Martinez, 52, a heavy gambler who frequented the Monte Carlo and other casinos in Las Vegas and Primm. A survey crew found the remains about a mile west of the highway between Las Vegas and Southern California. No further word yet on the bones found in northwest Las Vegas yesterday.

Housekeeping at the Hard Rock:

Tomorrow and Tuesday’s job fair for housekeeping positions at the newly expanded Hard Rock has been moved from the Ballroom to the Joint. It’s still taking place both days between With the Nevada state unemployment rate now running at 11.3%, you might want to sign up for the Rock’s employment Twitter feed @HardRockLVJobs – they’ll be hiring a lot more people over the next few months, so be the first to know of new positions vacant.

Venerable Vegas Institution Vacates:

After decades in the same spot on the corner of 11th street in downtown Las Vegas, the Gambler’s Book Shop (or "Club," as it’s known to many) had moved to new pastures. Yes, don’t worry, it hasn’t closed, but has simply relocated to 1550 E. Tropicana. To this day, it remains the only place, outside of our own offices, where you can buy a single copy of the Las Vegas Advisor (their hours, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., are the same as ours, however).

Happy Father’s Day:

It's not the biggest holiday in Las Vegas, but there are nods here and there. Silverton is awarding 5X players club points today, and it's 7X points (only 5X on video poker) at the Coasts. Benihana's at the LV Hilton has a $25 menu and free sake for dads. Or treat dad to a free thrill ride on Buffalo Bill’s "Desperado" roller coaster out at Primm Valley Resorts, where from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., they’re giving complimentary rides. Note: You might want to take him before lunch because a) it is a thrill ride and b) the seatbelts are only 44 inches long! You’ll find other Father’s Day suggestions in "Las Vegas This Weekend" (see June 18 in this column).

Party at Josette's:

From 8 p.m. tonight popular LVA "Local Corner" Josette's Bistro, is throwing a farewell party for long-running Vegas performer Lawrence T. LT will be performing and count on a lot of other musicians and singers joining him on stage -- bring your instruments if you want to join in! There will be food and drink specials. Call 702/227-4575 to reserve your favorite table.

Play With the Playmates:

Playboy Playmates Monica Leigh, Stephanie Larimore, and Lauren Anderson host the summer party at ROK Vegas (New York-New York) tonight. Dress to impress.

UFC at HTZ:

From 9 p.m. tonight Hawaiian Tropic Zone in the Miracle Mile Shops hosts a viewing party for the Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale tonight and hosts the after-fight party for UFC fighter Clay "The Carpenter" Guida.

Pizza and Wiseguys:

Don't forget today's event, from 5 to 10 p.m. at Fire It Up Gourmet Pizza in Henderson, where you can meet Henry Hill, the famous mob member portrayed by Ray Liotta in the movie Goodfellas. This should be fun. Check out the current "Spotlight" for more details.

Purse Party at Miracle Mile:

GUESS by Marciano in the Miracle Mile Shops is inviting shoppers to stop by from 3-6 p.m. and celebrate the release of their new handbag collection with refreshments and live DJ-spun music. GUESS by Marciano’s M Loyalty members will be granted double points and receive an exclusive gift, while supplies last, with any handbag purchase, but anyone’s welcome to attend.

Junefest Today:

The annual Junefest classic-rock concert kicks of at 3 p.m. today at South Point. Mark Farner (Grand Funk), Starship, Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Rick Derringer, and Al Stewart are among the scheduled acts. Tickets are just $20.

ESPN Radio & UFC Veteran Fundraiser:

From 10 a.m. today Seat Williams, co-presenter of ESPN Radio’s 1100 popular "Afternoon Gridlock" show is hosting the "Stock ‘Em and Load ‘Em" Veterans Supply Drive at Findlay Toyota in the Valley Auto Mall. UFC fighter Michael Bisping will also make an appearance from 11 a.m.-noon.

Give Blood, See Bodies:

There’s a blood drive at the Luxor Galleria from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today. Those who take part are asked to drink plenty of water and eat a hearty meal before donating. In return for your generosity, you’ll receive a ticket to Bodies…The Exhibition and Titanic…The Artifact Exchibition. Must present valid ID to participate.

Family-Friendly Festivities:

Celebrate the "Re-Grand Opening" of Buffalo Wild Wings in the Galleria Mall, Henderson (on Sunset off the 515) with a daylong party today (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) featuring food, $2.50 bottled and draft beers, live music, contests, carnival games, video poker tournaments, bounce house, $12,000 in cash giveaways, and more!

No More Vegas Sell-Offs for MGM Mirage:

MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren says he doesn't plan to sell off any more casinos on the Las Vegas Strip because of low offers. The group sold off Treasure Island earlier this year to billionaire and former New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin, but Murren said no further sales of Las Vegas properties were likely, in the current economic climate. "We don't feel like we could come close to what we believe the values are worth. The multiples are low, it seems like the wrong time." As far as the group's intentions are concerned outside of Las Vegas, he said they'd probably decide "within the next month" whether to sell the MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage in Biloxi, and the Gold Strike in Tunica, adding that prospective buyers are offering more "now that we're not as forced a seller. Bid valuations are rising."

Kill Everyone 2 is Here:

The much anticipated second edition of Kill Everyone by Aussie Millions champ Lee Nelson is back from the printer and in da house... da warehouse! Ready to ship right now, the expanded and revised second edition now features hand illustrations throughout, plus 50 pages of annotation by poker phenom Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier (WPT Player of the Year), together with an all-star line-up of contributors including Joe Hachem (WSOP & WPT Champion) and Mark Vos (WSOP bracelet winner). "This sequel to Kill Phil, is not a handbook on how to be a homicidal maniac, but it is a guide on how to be a stone cold killer at the poker table. Kill Everyone is the most compact and comprehensive guide to No-Limit Hold'em tournament play I have come across." (Pocket 5s).

Hawaiian Tropic Karaoke Zone:

Every Thursday and Sunday at 10 p.m. HTZ's hosting Karaoke tournaments on their Strip-side patio, with over 275,000 songs to choose from. No mention of prizes in the press release, but we're assuming there must be some... Click here for the Karaoke section on our site, where you'll find all kinds of other options, includign "Cowboy Karaoke," "Stripper Karaoke," and "No Bullsh!t Karaoke."

Jean's Back!:

The Queen of Comps has returned from her vacation in Indiana. While in the Hoosier State, Jean Scott couldn't completely resist the allure of the state's many riverboat casinos and paid a visit to Harrah's massive new Horseshoe Hammond, in northwest Indiana. Read about her adventures in Frugal Vegas.

Flip Flops for Smoothies:

Yep, it's the third annual National Flip Flop Day and to celebrate, Tropical Smoothie Cafe (click the link for location map) is giving away a free smoothie to the first 500 customers wearing flip flops.

Criss Angel Seeks Volunteers:

At a loose end in Vegas tomorrow? This just in, dirct from the @LuxorLV Twitter feed: Volunteers needed to fill Criss Angel: Believe Theatre for two illusions for "Mindfreak." You'll be required from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. -- first come, first served.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

We've got the typical Las Vegas lineup of music, comedy, clowns, and fighting for this special Father's Day weekend. Some of the highlights include a visit from Larry King, who'll be appearing for one night only at Encore, the NHL Awards hosted by the Palms, and the very funny Chelsea Handler appearing on Saturday in the new Joint at the Hard Rock. Music:Vocal Soup, starring Clint Holmes, Martin Nievera, Susan Anton, and Domenick Allen, takes over the Suncoast (6/19-6/21); Paul Williams performs at the South Point (6/19-6/20) followed by Riviera’s singer-impressionist Tom Stevens (6/21); The Gatlin Brothers take the stage at Sunset Station (6/19); country duo Big & Rich will be out at Buffalo Bills (6/20); all-girl R & B group, En Vogue performs at the Silverton (6/20); classic country singer, Loretta Lynn will be at Texas Station (6/20); Tony Pace entertains at the Tropicana (6/20); and the Japanese Drumming – Kaminari Taiko concert fires up the Winchester Theater (6/21) Comedy: Jay Leno does stand up at the Mirage (6/19-6/20); Larry King makes 'em laugh at the Encore (6/19); the witty Chelsea Handler performs at the Joint inside the Hard Rock (6/20); Gallagher smashes melons at Boulder Station (6/20); and Playboy Comedy presents Harland Williams inside the Palms Lounge (6/19-6/20) The Cool Pool scene: KOMP 92.3 is throwing a KOMP Kegger party at the Hard Rock Beach Club (6/19); Red Rock Pool continues its Free Jazz Fridays with Robezz and the Jazz Train (6/19); The Ditch Dating Game at the Palms Pool is giving three lucky bachelors and three lucky bachelorettes a chance to win a date with David Gutierrez or Emily Grimmel (6/19); Mel B celebrates her birthday at Wet Republic at MGM (6/20); Sunkissed Sundays continues at the Luxor (6/21); and Encore keeps the ball rolling with its XS Poolside Sundays party (6/21) Other: The 2009 NHL Awards take place at the Palms (6/18) followed by the Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale (6/20); feel like clowning around? The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be at the Orleans all weekend (6/18-6/21); and Vino di Lago will be out at the MonteLago Village (6/20) Father’s Day Specials: $5 gets you into the 7th Annual Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival at the Cannery (6/20); Coachman’s Inn is offering a free bottle of Jack Daniels for all dads with the purchase a $55 dinner special (6/21); Imperial Palace is offering free admission to the Auto Collections for all Fathers and their guests (6/21); and Via Brazil Steakhouse will be offering a Father’s Day Champagne Brunch for $25.95 (6/21) 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.)

The Word of the Day Is Cheap:

With news of "cheap drinks," "Cheap Trick," and a "cheap stunt" (that actually wasn't so cheap), and the demise of another mega-construction project, Anthony Curtis' latest weekly column is now live in LVA in the Media.

Discount Circus Tix:

No, not Britney's Circus, but the real Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey "Greatest Show on Earth" circus that's performing at the Orleans Arena this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Click this link and enter discount code TIGER for $10 tickets to select performances.

Susan Boyle Headed to The Strip?:

The Scottish singer who finished second on "Britain's Got Talent," having caused a media whirlwind, is rumored to be heading to the Las Vegas Strip. In the immediate aftermath of the show's finale, Donnie and Marie Osmond (currently playing at the Flamingo) expressed an interest in working with Boyle, but the latest rumor, courtesy of the London Evening Standard, is that her mentor Simon Cowell is in talks with his friends at Planet Hollywood to get her some dates at the hip casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Mob Museum Delayed - Again:

According to today's Las Vegas Review-Journal Mayor Goodman's downtown dream of a Mob Museum, which has been not getting off the drawing board since 2006, is now even further from becoming a reality anytime soon. The latest delay involves an $11.5 million contract dispute between two contractors arising from the tendering process and involved parties fear the delay could be lengthy...

Primm Valley Offers "Freecation" to Locals:

From Thurs., June 18–Thurs., July 9, 2009, Primm Valley Casino Resorts is offering a free vacation to locals. The offer, available seven days a week (subject to availability), includes two free nights at Buffalo Bill's; $50 free play valid at Primm Valley, Buffalo Bill's, and Whiskey Pete's; two-for-one breakfast, lunch, and buffet deals, two "all attraction" passes, and more. To book, call 800.FUNSTOP (1.800.386.7867) or click here.

Britney Tix Pre-Sale:

From 10 a.m.-10 p.m. today there's an exclusive pre-sale for tickets to see Britney Spears' "The Circus" tour when she returns to Mandalay Bay September 26 and 27. Tickets don't officially go on sale until 10 a.m. Friday, but you can take advantage of the pre-sale opportunity by clicking here and using the password: RINGLEADER.

Tiger Favored in Open:

As expected, Tiger Woods is the big favorite to win this weekend's U.S. Open golf championship, which starts today. Woods is a +175 favorite (bet $100 to win $175). It drops way off from there, with Phil Mickelson and Geoff Oglivy next at +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500) each. Other bets: winning score over 277.5 -120/under 277.5 EV and will there be a hole-in-one -- no -170/yes +150.

$1 Blackjack Returns to the Strip:

After a five-year absence, dollar-minimum blackjack is back on the Las Vegas Strip, courtesy of the Sahara, which was long the home of the $1 minimum (and the last place to offer it). In addition, as part of the property's ongoing Dollar Days promotion, there will be $1 beers (available at all casino bars 24/7), $1 shots (in a free souvenir glass), and $1 hot dogs. Welcome back!

Moulin Rouge Fire Caused by Human:

As just reported by Channel 8 Eyewitness News, investigators have determined that the Moulin Rouge fire was human caused. It's not yet known if it was an accident or intentional but more news is expected later today. We'll keep you abreast.

Magic Scarlett to the Riv:

Just when we thought we were done with entertainment news, up pops another story. Scarlett and Her Seductive Ladies of Magic, previously at the V Theater, will be opening at the Versailles Theater at the Riviera July 1 and this time around, the dancers will be topless. The show's set to perform at 10 p.m. nightly (dark Friday) and tickets are GA $44.55 and VIP $53.64 (plus tax and fee). All guests must be at least 18 years of age.

Jersey Boys Hearts StubHub:

Yes, here's an interesting one. In our final (at least for now) piece of news from the Las Vegas entertainment scene comes word (courtesy of Variety) that the successful Broadway show, currently also performing in Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, and on tour, is teaming with ticket reseller StubHub as the show-approved secondary sales outlet for North American productions.It's a controversial move, since StubHub is equated with ticket "scalping" by many in the industry. However, the show's producer explained the appeal of the partnership being not so much in the additional promotion and sponsorship fee that Jersey Boys will receive, but in StubHub's solidly male demo. "We're always looking for ways to reach a reluctant segment of the Broadway audience: men," said Michael David.

Lance Burton Done for Good?:

With speculation rife that the master magician is going to permanently retire from the stage, following his recent foot injury, the Monte Carlo's website now says that the show has been "cancelled until further notice," which would seem to validate the word on the street. Plus, the only other information listed on the "Entertainment" page of the site is a gushing blurb about the Monte Carlo Brew Pub, "one of Las Vegas hottest night spots," which is also closing for good on July 12 (see this column 6/15). Looks like the Monte Carlo's going to need some new entertainment... We'll keep you posted.

Thomas and Tigers to Sahara:

It's just been confirmed that magician Rick Thomas, whose previous Vegas gigs have included the Stardust and the Tropicana, will be headlining at the Sahara. He's just returned from a world tour with his supporting cast of white tigers and is set to debut in the Sahara Theatre on July 16. Performances will be Tues. through Sun. at 7 p.m., with additional 4 p.m. matinées on Sat. and Sun. Tickets are priced at $39.95 for adults and $19.95 for children under 12. VIP seating's available for $49.95. Stay tuned for more news from the Las Vegas entertainment world... Plus, the July issue of Las Vegas Advisor will be out next week, with a complete roundup of the latest openings, closings, movings, price hikes, discounts, deals, and other shenanigans not just in the show world, but for buffets, dining, gambling, and everything else this city has to offer. Plus, our annual MONSTER room-rate round-up -- you just know our researchers are finding some killer deals out there right now...

New Reader Poll is Live:

The latest reader poll just went live. The previous one -- about your favorite features on LasVegasAdvisor.com -- had a staggeringly large response. Thanks to all who took part. The results will go live on Saturday.

DiCaprio to Star in Online-Gambling Flick?:

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the writers of Ocean's Thirteen and Rounders have come up with yet another gambling-themed script that takes place in the world of Costa Rica-based online casinos and is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio. No further details at this point. We'll keep you posted.

Daydream Pool Club Now Daily:

Daydream, the locals-oriented party pool at M Resort has just expanded its Pool Club operations to seven days a week. The new hours are: Mon. through Fri. – noon until 7 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. – 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Don't forget to check out our Cool Pools feature, updated regularly, for everything you need to know about the Vegas pool scene, from topless pools to concert series, spa services to celebrity sightings.

New Buffet All-Dayer:

Palace Station has joined the ranks of the Las Vegas buffets that now offer an all-day pass option, entitling you to breakfast, lunch, and dinner for one set price. Here's the complete list: Palace Station ($19.99); MGM Grand ($29.99); Stratosphere ($19.99 -- must be in players club), and Excalibur ($25 -- go on, if you think you're hard enough!)

Cirque ... on Stilts:

Cirque du Soleil attempted to break the stilt-walking world record today with a coordinated international effort. 295 stilt-walkers, including members of Cirque's multiple-show casts, showed up for the Las Vegas contribution to the effort at Bellagio this afternoon. Here are some pictures: Stilt stampede; Cirque on stilts; a phalanx of stiltwalkers (we couldn't find the official collective noun, so we opted for the stork equivalent, which seemed close enough). They say they'll know soon if they were successful in the record-breaking event or not, so we'll keep you posted

Monster Riverboat Casino for Indiana:

The new $335 million Hollywood riverboat, the replacement for the 13-year-old Argosy casino that's due to open June 29, is the size of two football fields. Apparently, the décor of the 150,000-square-foot gambling floor evokes the heyday of 1930s Hollywood and will feature live entertainment and a huge "serpentine" video screen that will screen live sports and movie trailers.

The Ice Mayor Cometh:

On June 23, Minus 5 "ice bar" at Mandalay Place will be unveiling a life-sized "ice portrait" of Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman. The event's due to take place at 5:30 and the live mayor will be there in the flesh to check himself out. No word on whether his customary brace of showgirls will be in attendance -- presumably not -- it must be virtually impossible to carve feathers and sequins out of ice.

Move Over Luxor -- MGM Mirage to Get Real Pyramids!:

MGM Mirage has announced a partnership with New Giza for Real Estate Development - an Egyptian company that's building a luxury, mixed-use community on the outskirts of Cairo near the base of the famous pyramids - to develop the MGM Grand New Giza (as opposed to "old geezer"?). The planned 550-room MGM Grand, currently under design, will apparently offer views of the famous Pyramids of Giza and is anticipated to open in 2013.

Good Article in the Sun:

There's a good article on comparing returns at Las Vegas sports books in today's Sun, which is part of the LV Review-Journal. Jeff Haney compares 13 books according to the calculated hold in their baseball World Series futures lines. Top of the list is the Venetian; bottom is Harrah's.

Slots Down in CT:

It's not just in Vegas; gambling numbers continue to be down across the country. In a recent report on slots play in Connecticut, the May win was off 14% at Foxwoods and 7% at Mohega Sun.

Bette Midler Show & Sundae Locals Offer:

Bette Midler The Showgirl Must Go On and Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace have teamed up to help locals beat the heat with a ticket offer that includes a complimentary "Divine Showgirl Sundae" (regular price $12.75) at Serendipity 3 with purchase of an entrée. Now through June 28, locals can choose from seats in the mezzanine section starting at $50 (plus taxes & fees), or they can purchase a full price ticket (starting at $95) and receive a complimentary section upgrade. To book seats, visit www.ticketmaster.com, keyword "BETTE," and enter the password BMUPGRADE in the "Locals Upgrade Offer" box, or visit box office at The Colosseum with valid photo I.D. Offers are subject to availability. Show your ticket stub to take advantage of the sundae offer.

Monte Carlo Brewpub to Close:

It was back in August of 2008 that we received a Question of the Day asking if rumors of the imminent closure of the Monte Carlo's Brewpub were substantive. Back then we were assured that there were no plans for any such thing, although temporary closure for a remodel was mooted. Fast forward to today and we just received official word that the venue will close for good July 12. Not such a great surprise, since the Brewpub actually stopped brewing back in '06, when the City Center project took over the land that housed the former brewery. Still, we know it was a popular venue with some of our readers. RIP. No word yet on what will fill its place.

The Britney Circus Returns to Vegas:

Britney Spears will be bringing her Circus tour back to the Mandalay Bay Events Center for an additional two dates on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27. Both shows are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets, limited to eight per person, go on sale Friday, June 19 at 10 a.m. and will be available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino), from Mandalay Bay at 877/632-7400, from Ticketmaster at 800/745-3000, and online at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

After the Show Opens:

As previewed yesterday in this column, the new late-night variety show at Harmon Theater debuts tonight and now we have more details. After the Show is open mic (and open stage) featuring established Vegas perfomers and new talent. No cover for locals or entertainers; $10 for tourists. Doors open 9 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m. It's MC'd by Magic's a Drag host Cashetta, with tonight's lineup including comedian Kevin Burke (from Defending the Caveman at Excalibur) and Penny Wiggins (from Amazing Jonathan.

Planet Ho To Be Planet Holly:

As reported by Robin Leach in his Luxe Life blog, at approximately 8 p.m. tonight the Planet Hollywood sign will go dark and then switch back on as "Planet Holly" while the ex-Playmate and reality TV star poses for photographs promoting her upcoming debut in the resort's Peepshow burlesque revue. After a 30-minute shoot, the Planet Hollywood sign will be restored to normal, but on opening night, June 22, the Planet Holly sign will reappear all night long to celebrate her premiere. The author of our Topless Vegas guide loved the show in its current incarnation with Kelly Monaco and Mel B; he (and we) will be in attendance on opening night to check out the new version.

ND's Club Fuego Closes:

Yes, it's official. We heard on the grapevine (from the inimitable leopardskin gossip columnist Monti Rock III) a couple of weeks back and passed on the word that Ms ND's latest "Fuego" venture had gone the same way as its former short-lived incarnation as a talent show at the Sahara. A request for confirmation from the Rio's box office was hotly denied, however, so we began to question the veracity of our information. No need: We just received the official press release stating that, "The visionary force behind Club Fuego, ND, has opted to close the nightclub in order to pursue future projects in other formats. The closure is effective today." Told you!

ClubWPT Birthday Tourney Tonight:

Centaurus Games, the family of subscription-based online poker and blackjack tournament sites that includes ClubWPT.com, ClubBluff.com, and ClubUwin, is celebrating its second anniversary with a chance to win $1,000 in cash and prizes and one-year membership for you and a friend. The anniversary tourney will take place at 9 p.m. EST tonight, June 15. Membership of any of the clubs is $19.95/month, which allows you to play unlimited tournaments legally and risk free. For more information about the other benefits and how to win, visit www.clubuwin.com.

Hard Rock Job Fair:

In the first of its promised job fairs, the Hard Rocks' seeking to fill housekeeping positions at a two-day event inside Artist Hall 1 and 2, Monday, June 22 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and Tuesday, June 23 from 3–7 p.m. If you're interested in a housekeeping position, you can attend either day. In addition, all employment seekers can check out up-to-the-minute job postings at visiting www.hardrockhotel.com or logging on to Twitter and visiting www.twitter.com/Hardrocklvjobs.

New After-Hours Show Debuts:

Tomorrow night sees the premiere of a new weekly after-hours variety show at the Harmon Theater called After the Show. It's a variety showcase featuring established performers (Defending the Caveman's Kevin Burke is among tomorrow night's lineup of performers) and up-and-comers that will take place at 10 p.m. every Monday. Tickets are $10 for tourists, free to locals with valid I.D. Call the box office on 702/836-0836 for more details.

CineVegas Office Closed Monday:

The CineVegas Media Center will be closed on Monday, June 15 so if you have any tickets to pick up, make sure to do so by 8 p.m. this evening.

Free Pie:

El Cortez is handing out free slices of Marie Callender's apple pie in honor of Flag Day. Must be playing slots or table games and the offer runs till 6 pm tonight.

Market Likes Magic:

The line on tonight's Game 5 of the NBA Championship is moving Orlando's way. After losing to the L.A. Lakers as a 1.5-point favorite in Game 4, the Orlando Magic opened as a 2.5-point favorite in Game 5 and that line has moved to -3.5, indicating money coming in their way. The Over/Under is 198.

Ivey Does it Again:

Phil Ivey took down his second World Series of Poker championship of this year's meet early this morning, winning the Omaha 8 or Better/Seven Card Stud 8 or Better. It's Ivey's seventh bracelet, tying him with Billy Baxter for sixth on the all-time wins list. Brock Parker has also won two bracelets already this year.

944 to Host Singles Party:

Luxor is teaming with 944 Magazine help lonely Las Vegans and tourists find that special someone. In fact, they’re devoting an entire weekend (July 24-26) to matchmaking. Activities have names like "Speed Dating," "The Dating Game," "Textual Feeling," "Mixology School," and a "Pajama & Lingerie" party. Dining at T&T is included, as is admission to CatHouse ultra lounge and LAX nightclub, not to mention Fantasy and Carrot Top. There are four tiers of room rates, running the gamut from $85 to $185 a night. For more information, visit SinglesInSinCity.com.

Marathon to Take Over the Strip:

December’s Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, the first-ever running of the event, will be held on the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed to traffic as an expected 25,000 participants chug 13 miles down the landmark-laden street. Cheerleaders, live music, and a run-through wedding chapel will spice up the event, which raises money for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. It will be held Dec. 6.

Rodman Goes Deep in WSOP:

Blair Rodman, co-author of acclaimed poker tournament strategy book Kill Phil (just out in its 2nd edition) made a strong run in the Omaha 8 or Better/Seven Card Stud 8 or Better event, finishing 11th today. Still alive are Phil Ivey seeking his seventh bracelet and former WSOP main-event winner Carlos Mortensen.

Twofer Ticket Offer for Sin City Bad Girls:

The topless revue at the Las Vegas Hilton, starring Lorena Peril, is offering a 2-for-1 ticket special during the month of June. Call 702/732-5755 or 800/222-5361 for details. The author of our Topless Vegas raved about the show when he saw it -- you can check out his review in the book (download immediately for only $14.95).

Drink for Free at the Silverton:

From 5 p.m.-9 p.m. today and tomorrow, all Discovery Club members drink for free at all five of the Silverton's bars (Twin Creeks is exluded). The offer applies to all well, call, and premium liquors and all beers -- just show your players card and valid ID (must be 21) and mention promo code LIVIN LODGE.

Two Charged With Selling Counterfeit Slots:

Federal prosecutors have charged two men with conspiring to sell counterfeit video slot machines bearing the name of Reno-based International Game Technology, the world's largest maker of slots. Rodolfo Rodriguez Cabrera, a Cuban national, was accused of selling the slots in Latvia, where he was arrested Monday and is being held pending a formal request for extradition. Suspected co-conspirator Henry Mantilla, owner of Southeast Gaming Inc. of Cape Coral, Fla., is scheduled to appear on a summons in federal court in Las Vegas on July 2. The two men are accused of making and selling unauthorized copies of IGT computer programs, installed in IGT cabinets, over the course of a two-year period. If found guilty on all counts, each faces up to 45 years in prison and more than $5 million in fines.

Criss Angel Autograph Signing:

Fans of the "Mindfreak" magician and star of Cirque du Soleil's Believe show can catch him at his new store in Circus Circus today, where he'll be putting in a special appearance and signing autographs from 1 p.m.

Annie Duke Profiled in R-J:

Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal contains a front-page profile of Annie Duke. It's a general treatment, but a poker player being page-1 news for something other than actually winning the WSOP main event is rare -- another feather for Ms. Duke.

Locals Rates at Lake Las Vegas:

Starting now, Nevadans with valid I.D. qualify for special rates at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas. Resort-view rooms will be $119/night and – beginning July 1 – Club Level rooms can be had for $189/night. Club Level perks include a separate lounge, four complimentary food and beverage presentations, and a dedicated concierge staff. Ritz-Carlton spa treatments and services will be 20% off, Sun.-Sat. On Wednesday nights, wine by the bottle is 50% off in both the Medici Café & Terrace and Firenze Lobby Lounge. To take advantage of these locals-only rates, call 800/265-3187 for room bookings or 702/567-4600 to make spa reservations.

Cheap Trick Tix on Sale Today:

Today is the first day of sales for Cheap Trick’s September residency at the Las Vegas Hilton. Backed by a live orchestra, Cheap Trick will perform Sgt. Pepper Live, which LVH exec Ken Ciancimino describes as, "One of America’s greatest bands ever, doing their live interpretation of this classic rock album, an album nobody believed could be performed outside the recording studio." It also continues a trend toward more-affordably priced Vegas shows. Tickets are $65, $80, and $90, not inclusive of taxes and fees. Sgt. Pepper Live will be performed in the Hilton Theater on Sept. 13-15, 17-19, and 21-23. Tickets can be purchased from the LVH box office (702/732-5755 or 800/222-5361), starting at 10 a.m. They can also be bought online through LVHilton.com, Vegas.com, and Ticketmaster.com.

Cheap Drinks Tonight:

Want to drink for (next to) nothing? Head south. From 4 to 10 pm on Fridays in June, all drinks at all bars at South Point are $1. That's hard to beat, but neighbor Silverton did with almost all drinks ("excludes super premium liquor")at five casino bars FREE from 5 to 9 pm. You must be a players club member and show a valid ID. Plus the Silverton deal runs through Sunday.

Vegas Casinos Renegotiating Raises:

MGM Mirage, and other Strip and downtown operators are requesting what they describe as temporary economic relief from the Culinary Union. The casinos want partial deferment of scheduled pay increases, retroactive to June 1. These would affect 50,000 union-represented workers. The Culinary hasn't rebuffed the request and indicates that it would like some concessions, too.

F'bleau Frozen:

Work has officially stopped at Fontainebleau, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this week. Although the project was only slightly more than two-thirds finished, some lower floors are already fully furnished and the site will have to be secured accordingly. F'bleau developers hope to be liquid again as early as next Wednesday, when a motion for a summary judgment to release $656 million will be heard in court. Said an F'bleau spokesman, "the question is how far you want to wrap the physical structure? We want to determine if some very near-term events in court may preclude the need to wrap it entirely and allow us to resume construction."

Las Vegas This Weekend:

The whole city is awash with CineVegas fever and the film festival definitely dominates this weekend's event scene, but there's a whole heap of other stuff happening, too. Music: Attention all ABBA fans! The Abbacadabra tribute band's at the Las Vegas Hilton (6/12-6/14); Engelbert Humperdinck takes the stage at the Orleans (6/11-6/14); Marty Allen and Kate Blackwell perform Hello Dere at the South Point (6/12-6/13); check out the free concerts at MonteLago Village: Evenflow (6/12) and Marque Munday (6/13); Hotel California pays tribute to the Eagles at the Suncoast (06/12-06/14); Grammy award winning vocalist Steve Tyrell hits the stage at the Golden Nugget (06/12-06/15); Bobby Vinton performs at the Cannery (6/13); and the Riviera’s singer-impressionist Tom Stevens will be out at South Point (6/14) Comedy: Pauly Shore takes the mic at House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay (6/13) and Bonkerz Comedy School has its final performance at Palace Station (6/14) The Cool Pool scene: LIVE rocks the Azure Pool Club at the Palazzo (6/11); Cracker performs poolside at VooDoo Beach at the Rio (6/11); Dive-In Movies at Mandalay Bay Beach presents Role Models (6/12) followed by a rare screening of the animation classic Yellow Submarine presented by the CineVegas Film Festival (6/13); in conjunction with CineVegas, 702.tv will have its launch party at the Palms Pool (6/12); Third Eye Blind lights up the Beach Club at the Hard Rock (6/12); Red Rock Pool continues its Free Jazz Fridays with Windy (6/12), free Rythm of the Night party on Saturday (6/13), and Sips and Dips late-night pool party at Cherry Cabana Club (6/14); and the Rock Tribute Series with the Rockin’ KOMP BBQ kicks off this weekend at Sunset Station with Mötley Crüe tribute band True 2 Crüe (6/13) Other: The CineVegas Film Festival is in full swing at the Palms (6/10-6/15); Clarence "Bones"" Adams will take on Almazbek "Kid Diamond" Raiymkulov inside the Pearl at the Palms (6/12); free movie screenings at the District at Green Valley Ranch include Horton Hears A Who (6/12) and The Longshots (6/13); the Clark Country Amphitheater hosts the annual Reggae in the Desert festival (6/13); and MGM Grand hosts the Miss Vietnam Global pageant (6/13) 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.

Anthony Curtis Latest is Live:

Our publisher's weekly column, which is syndicated to publications including The Arizona Republic, Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Honolulu Advertiser, and Press Enterprise, was just posted in LVA in the Media, where you can read about the latest in store for the Trop, some new dining news, and the results of Danny Gans' autopsy, among other things.

Annie Duke at CineVegas:

With the World Series of Poker and CineVegas not only overlapping but taking place right across the street for one another, tonight provides the perfect nexus for premiering All In: The Poker Movie. The movie chronicles the game's remarkable upsurge in popularity. Duke and WSOP commissioner Jeffery Pollack are scheduled to be on hand for tonight's screening, which will be held in Brenden Theatres at the Palms, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. A $40 day pass gets you into three films plus at least one party, while a $150 locals pass provides admission to 16 films -- and parties, too. For additional ticket and schedule information, call 888/883-4278.

Seen Last Night at CineVegas:

Opening night for CineVegas drew a low-wattage celebrity lineup, with the notable exception of Sarah Silverman. Soon-to-be Peepshow star Holly Madison was said to be present, as were Nathan Burton, Human Nature, the ubiquitous Carrot Top, and sundry local journalists, including Steve Friess. The true show-stealer was Johnny Brenden's ever-busy PDA, whose bright screen frequently interfered with one's efforts to watch opening-night film Saint John of Las Vegas (co-starring Silverman). The screening began only 35 minutes late, prefaced by a 25-minute "hold" and 10 minutes of CineVegas logrolling.

Tyson Marries Again:

Two weeks after the death of his daughter Exodus, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson said wedding vows on Saturday night. In a ceremony held at the Las Vegas Hilton's La Bella Wedding Chapel, Tyson tied the knot with Henderson resident Lakiha Spicer (who is not the mother of Exodus Tyson). The couple pulled up in a limo and were conducted to the pronubial altar around 10 p.m. "They were very heartwarming, and I think they really do love each other," the chapel's owner said of the newlyweds.

LA Casinos Still Smoky:

"The dice hall boys have won again," complained Louisiana lawmaker Rob Marionneaux after he altered his proposed smoking ban to exempt casinos. He said gaming lobbyists had made sure the original version of his bill would meet defeat in the Lousiana House. But that wasn't enough and Marionneaux's bill was voted down in committee.

New Bargain Show at Harmon:

According to DailyFiasco.com, Harmon Theater has whipped together a low-cost show. After the Show will be hosted by Cashetta, star of Magic's a Drag. Word is that After the Show "will take entertainers from the current crop of stage productions, plus up-and-comers, and give them a spot to cut loose and try new material, all while providing a showcase for guests to get on stage and do whatever it is they can do." It opens next Monday and plays Mondays only, at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 for visitors and free for Nevadans. You'll be hard-pressed to find a stronger bargain on the Strip.

F'Bleau Feeding Frenzy:

As the number of Fontainebleau employees dwindles to 100, another complication has been thrown into the saga. A massive consortium of 120-odd LLCs that lent money to the stalled project is suing the lead bankers, including Bank of America. The subordinate lenders charge B of A and others with luring them into the project, then kneecapping them by declaring F'bleau in default and stopping funding. Had the banks known F'bleau was in default, the smaller lenders charge, they should have shared that information, giving their junior partners a chance to steer clear of the wreckage. The suit accuses the banks of using one loan to repay another, of wrongful termination, and of failure to perform. Damages are unspecified.

Feds Target Online Players:

Internet poker players who are owed money may be out of pocket, if the Justice Department has its way. It's seeking to freeze the assets, including $33 million that's due to players, of PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, and two other sites. Online players' payment checks started bouncing after banks bowed to the government edict, which had remained secret until last weekend. Ironically, it is not illegal to place an online bet in New York State, where the federal injunction was filed.

Genting into MGM:

Not only has Malaysian-based casino giant Genting Bhd snapped up $100 million in MGM Mirage debt, it's now purchased a 3% stake in the U.S. company. Genting insiders recently raised $425 million by selling down their positions, sparking rumors of a possible move to bail MGM out of its Macao casino, which is causing regulatory problems back in the states.

Another Bad Boardwalk Month:

May revenues in Atlantic City were 15% down from a year ago, consistent with what's been a lean 2009 for the casino community. New Jersey lawmakers, meanwhile, have proposed to save the industry a few dollars by downsizing the N.J. Casino Control Commission from five members to three.

'Peepshow' Plot Thickens:

Intrigue continues to surround headliner Mel B.'s departure from Peepshow. Producer Scott Zeiger says the ex-Spice Girl was offered a contract extension but turned it down, contrary to reports in the British press. Local freelancer Steve Friess reports that Holly Madison, who replaces Kelly Monaco, will have a week of rehearsal prior to her June 22, and Mel B.'s successor, Shoshona Bean, will get an undisclosed (but apparently shorter) amount of prep time.

F'blown:

Strip megaproject Fontainebleau filed for bankruptcy yesterday. The filing revealed that the resort, which had been scheduled for an October opening, was only 70% complete. While it had been thought for some time that F'bleau would have to enter bankruptcy soon after opening, the wheels recently began falling off the project at an accelerated rate. Banks, balking at alleged cost overruns, pulled their financing, leading to a partial shutdown of construction and massive layoffs. Condo sales had been nonexistent, further threatening F'bleau's viability, and CEO Glenn Schaeffer resigned late last month.

Detroit Wheezes:

While most regional casino markets are weathering the recession, it's catching up with Detroit. In May, MotorCity was -4%, the newly expanded Greektown Casino was -7%, and even market-dominating MGM Grand Detroit was feeling the pain, -11%.

Mel B Replacement Named:

Hot off the cyber-presses, courtesy of Robin Leach's Vegas DeLuxe blog: Former Michael Jackson backup singer and Broadway performer Shoshona Bean will fill the shoes of ex-Spice Mel B when she departs Peepshow at Planet Hollywood later this month. Ms Bean will debut, alongside "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison, on June 22. For our (positive) take on this headline-grabbing Strip revue, plus reviews of every other topless show currently performing in Las Vegas (not to mention every strip club and European-style pool), check out Topless Vegas -- available for download only now at a special introductory price of just $14.95.

No Such Thing As A Free Dinner:

The item we ran earlier about "Free Food for Dads" turned out to be somewhat misleading. That's what we were told, but on closer inspection it turns out that to take advantage of the Pampas Churrascaria June promo, you must order a minimum of two Rodizio dinners (Seafood, $43.95, Meat, $38.95, Surf & Turf, $49.95), plus 2 drinks, in order to use the $40 certificate. So it's not quite a "free dinner." Still, forty bucks is forty bucks.

Danny Gans Death Ruled Accidental:

Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy just held a televised press conference in which he announced that Danny Gans' death was accidental, the combined result of pre-existing health issues that included polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) and heart problems, together with Hydromorphone toxicity. The latter is a prescribed opiate used to treat chronic pain, the source of which was not specified due to patient confidentiality, but was evidently something the performer had been suffering from for some time.

Cheap Trick to LVH?:

The Las Vegas Hilton has scheduled a press conference at midday on Thursday, present at which will be members of Cheap Trick. It's just a guess, but it looks as though the band will be the new resident act at the LVH, possibly replacing Monster Circus (which appears to be fizzling).

Camaro Giveaway at Golden Nugget:

As a tie-in with Fremont Street Experience's ongoing "Summer of '69: Vegas or Bust" celebration, the Golden Nugget will be giving away $69,000 over the next 10 weeks, along with a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Coupe in inferno orange metallic paint and black leather, featuring a 426 horsepower, 6.2-liter, V-8 engine with six-speed manual transmission, plus stainless-steel dual exhaust, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a Boston Acoustics premium audio system, four-pack sport auxiliary gauges, heated-leather power seats, and Bluetooth technology. You can enter by joining the Nugget's 24 Karat Club, as well as by through slot and table-game play. A drum into which your entry forms can be dropped will be on the casino floor, starting June 28. Starting on the Fourth of July, drawings for $6,900 in cash will be held every Saturday at 9 p.m. Winners must be present. The Camaro will not be given away until Sept. 5, and you don't have to be on hand to win the car.

'Rat Pack' to Big Screen:

Both producer Dick Feeney and the cast of his The Rat Pack is Back! tribute show will be appearing in the motion picture, Get Him to the Greek, scheduled for 2010 release. Directed by Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), the in-production film recently wrapped shooting at the Plaza Hotel downtown. While the movie is short on 'name' leads, it will feature cameos by Pink, Dee Snider, Sean Combs, and Christina Aguilera. The Rat Pack cast filmed a rendition of "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" for inclusion in the picture.

Cagers Beat Sports Books:

Nevada gamblers putting down wagers on basketball games in April eked out a .3% margin of victory over casino sports books. Not only did North Carolina cover the point spread in the course of winning the NCAA championship game, but the Cleveland Cavaliers won and covered in four April playoff victories. This proves once again that it's not whether you win or lose, but how you covered the spread.

His Lordship Returns:

Lord of the Dance, a former staple of New York-New York, returns to the Strip for a limited engagement later this month. It will run from June 25-Aug. 16 at the Steve Wyrick Theatre, in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile mall. At 425 seats, the Wyrick will be the smallest venue Lord plays on its current tour. "Las Vegas will be the only place in the world to experience this stunning and energetic Irish dancing, dramatic music, colorful costumes up close and personal," says promoter Bob Cayne. Tickets will be $59 and $73 (or $114 for VIP circle seats), plus tax and service charges. Call 702/777-9974 or 800/210-0745 to reserve your seats.

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.