Las Vegas News

La Cage to Return?:

R-J entertainment columnist Mike Weatherford reports that long-running drag show, An Evening at La Cage, is due to reopen at the Four Queens July 13, in the space formerly occupied by the L.A. Comedy Club. The new production will be hosted by ex-cast member Jimmy Emerson; former star Frank Marino continues to headline in his Divas Las Vegas show at the IP.

Upgrade for Mirage Attraction:

Robin Leach reports that The Mirage is adding a new stingray attraction to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat. Construction began this week and Stingray Cover is due to open this fall.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's July 4 weekend, which means pool parties galore (it promises to be a scorcher, according to the forecast), but that's only half the story, with a lineup of headlining musicians, a virtual epidemic of comedians, plus fighters, First Friday and, of course, fireworks: Mary Wilson finishes up her run at the Riviera (6/22-7/3) Looking for a laugh? Carlos Mencia does stand up at TI (7/1), Joe Rogan takes the stage at Mandalay Bay (7/1), Mike Epps is over at the Palms (7/1), and Ralphie May's at South Point (7/1-7/3) Lonestar performs out at Buffalo Bill's (7/2) Rihanna, with BoB, takes the stage at the Mandalay Bay Events Center (7/2), followed by NKOTBSB (7/3) Natasha Bedingfield entertains at the House of Blues (7/3) Sunset Station welcomes the Crazy White Boy Tour, starring Mark Wills and Mark Chesnutt (7/3) The Palms welcomes The Anti-Social Network (7/3) And UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber is live at the MGM Grand (7/2), with tons of viewing and after parties around town, including Ryan Bader at Chateau, Urijah Faber at the Playboy Club, Dominick Cruz at Studio 54, Wanderlei Silva at Tabu, and Tito Ortiz at Gallery. Pool Highlights: Azure pool at Palazzo will be celebrating 4th of July with "Red, White and Azure" and an all-American BBQ (7/2-7/3) Both the DayDream pool and the Villaggio Del Sole Pool at M Resort are celebrating with a Backyard Pool Party, which is open and free to everyone (7/1-7/4) There will be a free 4th of July BBQ at the Hard Rock Beach Club, with Budweiser specials, traditional BBQ fare, and a DJ set by Scooter & Lavelle (7/4) Mandalay Bay Beach will celebrate with fireworks at 9 p.m., followed by a concert by Mystic Roots (7/4) For the rest of the Independence Day weekend schedule, see our feature in Special Events, while you can find complete listings of poolside entertaiment and more in Cool Pools.

Sahara Sign Saved:

SBE Entertainment, owners of the Sahara, say they're donating one of the property's iconic marquee signs to downtown's Neon Museum, reports AP. The sign in question faced Sahara Avenue at the back of the casino.

Fourth Cash for ElkY:

The second bracelet remains tantalizingly elusive for Bertrand Grospellier: The Raiser's Edge author finished in third place in the Event #46: No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed Championship last night for a $447,074 prize, bringing his total winnings at the 2011 WSOP to date to $811,639. It was ElkY's second final table of the tournament: He previously won the the Seven Card Stud Championship and has cashed in two other events. Event #46 continues into a fourth day today, after ten levels of poker proved unsufficient to resolve the battle between the U.K.s Chris Moorman (3,125,000) and Joe Ebanks of the U.S. (11,015,000). Play for the bracelet begins at 2:30 p.m.

Full Tilt Shut Down in U.K.:

Fox5 News is reporting that casino regulators on the British Channel Islands have suspended the gambling license of Full Tilt Poker, effective immediately, citing an investigation prompted by earlier indictments in the U.S. accusing company executives and associates of bank fraud, money laundering, and other crimes.

LV Hilton Loses Branding:

Hilton Worldwide today announced that it's terminated its franchise license agreement with Colony Resorts LVH Acquisitions LLC, owner and operator of the Las Vegas Hilton, the Las Vegas Hilton. The termination of the agreement will be effective Jan. 1, 2012, according to the r-J; neither side commented further on the reason for the break.

Rodman in the Running:

After a horrible start to this year's WSOP (see his latest blog entry, titled Losing Sucks!) Kill Phil author Blair Rodman is through to Day 2 of Event #49: 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (Limit), with 120 of the 309 starting players remaining. Blair's in the middle of the pack, with 20,300. Play kicks off again today at 2:30 p.m.; we'll be updating his status at LVAPoker.com.

Jersey Shore Landmark Up for Sale:

Trump Entertainment Resorts, in which founder Donald Trump today has only a 5% to 10% stake, is putting Atlantic City's Steel Pier, home to the city's famous amusement park, on the auction block. Commented a company spokesman, "We are a gaming company, and Steel Pier is not part of the casino." The beachfront attraction dates back to 1898 but operating company Atlantic Pier Amusement's lease expires in 2016.

Sporting House Closed:

Construction work at the New York-New York sports bar is taking longer than hoped, so The Sporting House will remain closed today, but should be open for business again tomorrow. In the meantime, click the link for a list of Las Vegas' other cool sports bars.

Weather Warning:

An unseasonally strong Pacific storm is heading our way and the threat of strong gusty winds, combined with high temperatures and low humidity, has today led the National Weather Service to issue both a wind advisory and a Red Flag Warning for outdoor fires for Southern An Nevada and northwest Arizona. The warnings remain in effect until 9 p.m. tonight.

ElkY Looking Good:

Heading into Day 3 of Event #46, the No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed Championship, only 22 players remain from the starting field of 474 and Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier is in third place, with 1,409,000. Chip leader Mike Sowers has 1,468,000. Here's what the WSOP "Update" team had to say about The Raiser's Edge author: "Joining Lamb* in the spotlight is none other than Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier, who has three cashes so far this WSOP. Of course his most notable came in Event #21 Seven Card Stud Championship when he defeated Steve Landfish in a back-and-forth heads-up match to claim the $331,639 prize, not to mention his first gold bracelet. Grospellier currently sits in 18th on the POY Leaderboard with 299.25 points, a total he is guaranteed to add to no matter where he finishes in this event." *Ben Lamb is in 13th position with 501,000; he is the current leader in the WSOP Player-of-the-Year race. He finished second in Event #31 (Pot-Limit Omaha) and won the bracelet in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship (Event #42). Play resumes this afternoon; you can follow updates at LVAPoker.com.

Roller Coaster Ride for ElkY:

We're following the fortunes of The Raiser's Edge author ElkY, who's currently playing in the $10K No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max Championship and chasing his second WSOP bracelet. It's been an up-and-down ride on Day 2, as he just tweeted: "Sick rollercoaster grinder up to 105k then lost 130k flip down to 30 and now up to 70k again! #letsdothis." Currently, less than a quarter of the original field of 474 remains. We'll be updating the results at LVAPoker.com.

Another Book -- or Two -- for Cantor:

Cantor Fitzgerald today announced that it's signed an agreement to operate the race and sports books at the Venetian and Palazzo, properties where it already provides gamblers with mobile gaming devices. Both are operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Cantor also runs the books at M Resort, the Cosmopolitan, Tropicana, and Hard Rock.

Transformers Premieres at South Point:

Transformers: Dark of the Moon premieres in XD and XD 3D tonight at South Point from 9 p.m. Tickets start at $13 for adults ($15 for 3D).

Vegas Makes Another List:

Having recently been included on national lists of the most stupid, unemployed, dirty, depressed, foreclosed-on, dangerous to pedestrians, and allergy-inducing cities and states comes news that Las Vegas has made the #5 spot on the list of worst cities for retail crime. This perhaps comes as no surprise after incidents like the "swarm" burglary that took place in Las Vegas back in April, when more than 20 thieves descended on a convenience store and stole $600-worth of merchandise.

Vice Pres. Vegas-Bound:

It's just been announced that Vice President Joe Biden will be visiting Las Vegas this Friday to deliver a speech at the Teamsters Union's 28th International Convention, which is taking place at Paris inside the convention center.

Another Coffee Shop Gone:

The latest casino coffee-shop casualty turns out to be Excalibur's Sherwood Forest Cafe, which apparently quietly closed its doors in January. We've been told it will be replaced by a Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer and an All American Hamburger although the New York original of the latter has issued a statement on its website, denying rumors of any such new venue opening... Watch this space for updates. For more on the demise of the classic 24-hour coffee shop and a list of other venues that have either bitten the dust, or reduced their hours, see QoD 2/17/2010 in the Archives.

New Pres for Palms:

Joseph Magliarditi, who resigned as head honcho at the Hard Rock back in March, has been named president of the Palms by George Maloof. He replaces long-time Vegas casino exec. Paul Pusateri, who recently resigned.

Bob Dancer News:

The new weekly article from video poker expert Bob Dancer has just been posted, and this week the gambling guru is sharing some of the lessons -- both gambling and "life" -- that he's learned from reading The House Advantage by Jeffrey Ma, the real-life inspiration behind the novel "Bringing Down the House" and the movie 21, both of which tell the story of the MIT Blackjack team. You can also catch Bob giving his weekly video poker seminar at 1 p.m. today at Sam's Town in the Red Rock Room. Today's featured game is 9/7 Double Bonus progressive and the event is free and open to anyone to attend on a space-permitting basis.

Celebrate Tour de France at Paris:

Popular bistro Mon Ami Gabi is celebrating Le Tour de France this week with a special desert. Beginning Thursday, June 30th through Wednesday, July 6th, the restaurant will offer the famous French "bicycle wheel" pastry, Paris-Brest, which is filled with light, semi-sweet cream and sprinkled with almonds and powdered sugar. The restaurant is now also serving its summer menu, with compliments regular favorites with lighter, farmers market-inspired seasonal dishes.

Best Late-Night Dining:

Our current Reader Poll on the best of late-night dining closes at midnight tomorrow, so don't forget to cast your vote; please note that this poll excludes fast food outlets and casino coffee shops.

New Vegas Reality Show:

DJ Pauly D of "Jersey Shore" and who has a residency at the Palms Pool, has confirmed that his spinoff reality TV show for MTV will be set in Las Vegas, where he intends to purchase a home for the duration. The series is set to go into production later this year and premiere in 2012.

Losing Sucks!:

That's the title of the new blog entry from Blair Rodman who, like many of the top pros, has been experiencing a rough ride at this year's WSOP... You can check it out, plus his previous thoughts on poker, the WSOP, and life, at LVAPoker.com.

Interview with Maloof:

The new issue of VegasInc. has a candid interview with George Maloof about the implications of the recent restructuring of the Palms' debt and how he personally responded to the economic downturn. A recommended read.

Absinthe Correction:

We incorrectly stated in this column (6/25/2011) that Absinthe was offering locals a $20 ticket this month; the deal in fact is for $20 off the regular ticket price, reducing the cost to $49/person. Our apologies for any confusion.

More Fireworks:

In addition to the city-wide fireworks show hosted by Station Casinos, there will be a display coming from the rooftop of Caesars Palace. This one, though, will be on July 3 (9:15 p.m.). The city of Henderson will also host a display on the 4th.

New Tiger?:

Following his monster performance at the U.S. Open, golfer Rory McIlroy has become a hit with the bettors. McIlroy's been installed as the favorite at the British Open at not quite Tiger Woods-like (but close) odds of 6-1.

UFC Viewing Tonight:

Tonight's UFC card will shown tonight at Cabo Wabo Cantina and The Lift Bar. Since this isn't a pay-per-view event, there's no charge at either. With the original main event canceled, tonight's featured fight is Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry. Kongo is a -250 favorite.

Hard Rock Happy Hour:

Beginning tomorrow, Monday, June 27 Hard Rock Beach Club will offer a new happy hour from 6-8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Drink specials will include $25 buckets and pitchers of beer, $5 sake specialty drinks, and appetizers starting at $6.

Corona at GC:

Corona and Corona Light in the bottle are $2 24/7 at all Gold Coast bars. It looks like this deal will last through the end of the month.

Women’s Soccer World Cup:

The tournament Women's Soccer World Cup begins today and runs through July 17. Rí Rá Irish pub inside the Shoppes at Mandalay Place is advertising that it will broadcast live games daily. There's also a strong chance they'll be on at Crown & Anchor East and West and the other English and Irish pubs around town.

Rough Go at the WSOP:

Losing! Want to know how it feels to be the opposite of Charlie Sheen? Blair Rodman tells you. He's running bad in the WSOP and you can get a real feel for what the pros have to live with on the downside by reading this excellent entry in his "Killing Phils" blog at LVAPoker.com.

Town Square Toga Party:

Popular locals hangout Blue Martini is hosting a toga party tonight from 10 p.m., with live performance from Otis Day. Groups of five or more togged up in togas receive a complimentary bottle of champagne.

Back-to-Back Aces:

It didn't happen at the WSOP. It happened recently at the Hesston Golf Park in Kansas, where two players made consecutive holes-in-one on a 212-yard par 3. The National Hole-In-One Registry estimated the odds to be "at least 17 million to one."

MJ's Vegas Home Open:

Gossip site TMZ reports that today, in honor of the second anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, for the first time his former Las Vegas estate, located at 2785 S. Monte Cristo, will be open to fans for a limited number of hours. No further details were released.

Happy Birthday Phantom:

Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular celebrated its fifth anniversary this week and, to continue the festivities, is offering a special "2-for-$99" ticket deal, redeemable by using the code 99PAIR when ordering tickets. The offer is valid through September 4, 2011 and is not valid on previously purchased tickets.

Absinthe Loves Locals:

Now through the end of June, locals can enjoy $20 per tickets to Absinthe by using the code "LOCAL" through all ticketing channels, while Serendipity 3 at Caesars will serve the "Absinthe Gazillionaire Sundae" throughout the summer.

Vegas Braces for Electric Daisy:

With as many as 250,000 revelers anticipated over the course of the three-day rave at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, the Electric Daisy Carnival festival could be the largest event in the history of the self-styled "Entertainment Capital of the World," with a packed DJ lineup that includes headliners Tiesto, David Guetta, and Paul Oakenfold. The party runs from 8 p.m. to sunrise daily; expect heavy traffic in the North Las Vegas area.

Celebrity Pool Parties at Flamingo:

Beginning this Saturday, June 25, the stars of E!'s show, "Holly’s World" will take turns hosting a new weekly party at Flamingo's GO Pool, starting with a special appearance by Angel Porrino this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., followed July 2nd by Holly Madison and on Sunday, July 17 by Laura Croft.

Raiser's Edge In House:

The Raiser's Edge, the much-awaited new title from the team that brought you Kill Everyone, is now in-house and shipping. Co-authored by Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, with contributions from Tony Dunst, this advanced strategy guide for dealing with the new looser and more aggressive (LAG) style of play, is available now from ShopLVA at an exclusive 25%-off publisher's discount. It's also available for the Barnes & Noble Nook device and will soon be available for the Amazon Kindle. ElkY won the Stud Championship at this year's WSOP and will be playing in the Pot-Limit Omaha Championship today at 5 p.m.; Tony Dunst, host of WPT's "The Raw Deal," is through to Day 2 of the No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed event. Follow their fortunes with regular updates at LVAPoker.com.

Food Truck Fundraiser:

From now until 2 p.m. today you can catch a clutch of Las Vegas' food trucks at Nevada Cancer Institute's main campus. Participating mobile eateries include Ben's BBQ and Smokehouse, Grouchy John's Coffee, SnOw OnO Shave Ice, Cheesesteak Truckm and Muncheeze, with a portion of the day's proceeds going to benefit Nevada Cancer Institute.

Another Vegas Route Announced:

Florida-based budget carrier Spirit Airlines has announced a new route between Las Vegas and San Diego. The twice-daily flights are due to start Sept. 7, starting with a few days of promotional fares as low as $1 each way, but with regular fares starting at $49. This matches the lowest fare from Southwest, which currently holds a monopoly on the route, but their fares are largely all-inclusive, while Spirit is known for its add-ons.

Simon Says Be Happy:

Simon at Palms Place has just launched a new $6 happy hour menu, which runs Monday to Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., and features appetizers including calamari with ponzu and shishito peppers, fried cocktail artichokes, meatball sliders, and personal margherita pizzas, plus sushi rolls, wines by the glass, beers, and well cocktails.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

The highlight this weekend is the Las Vegas debut of Electric Daisy Carnival at the Motor Speedway, which is expected to attract up to 250,0000. But if you're too old to rave but definitely too young to die, fear not! There's plenty of other cool stuff going down, especially musically. Check it: Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza takes over the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre (6/23-6/25), while Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj perform inside the Garden Arena (6/25) The Las Vegas Motor Speedway welcomes the Electric Daisy Carnival (6/24-6/26) Jennifer Hudson performs at the Pearl inside the Palms (6/24) Frank Sinatra Jr. takes the stage at the Orleans (6/25-6/26) And it's the 26th Anniversary "Ribbon of Life" Spectacular at Paris Las Vegas (6/26) Pool Scene: It's going to be stupid hot this weekend, so plenty of water and sunblock, remember? There's RockStar Karaoke at DayDream at the M Resort (6/25) DJ Pauly D starts his residency at the Palms Pool (6/24) Gavin DeGraw performs at the Friday Night 'Party For The People' event at the Red Rock Pool (6/24) And the weekly Beatport Beach Party Sundays at TAO Beach features the EC Twins (6/26) For all the other poolside happenings, check out our frequently updated Cool Pools feature.

New Owners for Rick's:

We've learned that Rick's Cabaret topless club, formerly SCORES, and previously Jaguars, has been re-purchased by the original owners and will be transforming back into Jaguars. Watch this space for updates, and check out Topless Vegas for our guide to the whole Sin City gentlemen's club scene, with reviews, maps, tips on etiquette, and much more.

Poker Room Closed:

The Riviera poker room just tweeted that they're closed for the day due to "technical difficulties" but will reopen tonight at 7 p.m.

Chef Attracts Strip Heavyweights:

Infamously angry chef Gordon Ramsey has been filming for the next two seasons of "Hell’s Kitchen" this week at Paris, where he also plans to open a steakhouse, which would be his first project on the Strip (and more are being rumored). Among the celebrities you can expect to catch in the upcoming Season 9 and 10 shows are Holly Madison, Carrot Top, Penn & Teller, dancers from Jubilee!, and chefs Michel Richard, Francois Payard, Julian Serrano, and Wolfgang Puck. Season 9 begins airing next month; Season 10 follows in January.

Prospects Good for the Riv:

Moody's Investors Service predicts that now that it's emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Riviera should easily be able to generate enough revenue to meet its obligations, reports VegasInc.. "The rating outlook is stable given Riviera's good liquidity and Moody's view that earnings will grow modestly over the next year," Moody’s said.

NHL Awards at Palms:

Tonight the NHL hands out its major individual awards at The Palms, where the Stanley Cup is currently on display. Versus will televise the festivities starting at 4 p.m. PDT, followed by a post-event show.

Airport Passenger Counts Up:

According to figures released today, May was a good month for McCarran Airport, with a 5.1% increase compared to the same month last year. 3.65 million people passed through the airport last month.

Hard Rock A.C. Plan Moves Forward:

Well over a year since the plan was first announced (see "Today's News," March 23, 2010), Hard Rock International (no connection to the hotel-casino here) has finally submitted plans for what would be the first of two new "boutique-style" casino properties for the New Jersey gaming jurisdiction. Hotels of between 200 and 500 (the previous minimum) rooms are now permitted under a new state law. However, if $275-million Hard Rock project is approved, the plan is to build it in phases, eventually topping out at 850 rooms. The proposed site is at the southern end of the Boardwalk, at the foot of the Route 40 entryway.

Blair Through in H.O.R.S.E. Event:

Raiser's Edge author ElkY was one of the first players out of the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the WSOP yesterday, tweeting: "Probably worst run of my life in horse lol, hard to Bust in 5 levels in that game but cards found a way. Kill Phil's Blair Rodman is through to Day 2 however, with 34,800 in chips (the current leader has 122,300). Play resumes this afternoon and notable players on Blair's table include Allen Cunningham and Robert Williamson III. Follow updates at LVAPoker.com.

Garth Tix Still Available:

It seems the controversial $100 price hike for tickets to see Garth Brooks at Encore has had some effect on supply: For the first time we're aware of since the singer began his limited residency, the shows are not sold out and tickets, priced at $253, are still available for this weekend's shows. The Wynn Box Office and Ticketmaster are the only outlets for these tickets.

Hard Rock Anniversary Tour:

Hard Rock International is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a rock 'n roll memorabilia bus tour, which started in New York and visits the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip today and tomorrow.

Flooding Costs Tunica Casinos Dearly:

Having been forced to close for three weeks due to the flooding of the Mississippi, Tunica's nine casinos brought in just over $41 million in gaming revenue in May, the lowest total in their history and more than $60 million short of the same month last year. casinos’ total gross gaming revenue was just more than $41 million in May, compared to $101.8 million in April, the Gaming Commission reports. Receipts in April declined from $115.2 million in March. In May 2010, the Tunica casinos had gross revenue of $107.8 million.

Raiser's Edge Author on TV:

Tony Dunst, contributing author to The Raiser's Edge, will be back hosting WPT's "The Raw Deal" tonight at 11 p.m. PST on FSN with Vince Van Patten and Mike Sexton.

Beat the Heat with Minus5:

Minus5 Ice Bar at the Monte Carlo is welcoming the first day of summer with a contest to help one winner stay cool. The first person who correctly guesses when the temperature hits 111 degrees in Las Vegas will be treated to a VIP cocktail experience at the ice bar, free entry for the rest of the year to any Minus5 Ice Bar location in the world, and have a cocktail named after them. To take part, submit an email with the date you believe it will read 111 degrees at McCarran International Airport to minus5@langdonflynn.com.

Annie Duke Signing Tonight:

Check out the new "Spotlight on..." feature for details of Annie Duke's book signing at the Rio tonight, for which Anthony Curtis will also be present.

Plaza Job Fair:

Downtown's newly renovated Plaza hotel-casino will be hiring 800 workers ahead of its Sept. 1 reopening. Job fairs will be held from Monday, June 27, to Friday, July 1, and again from Tuesday, July 5, through Friday, July 8, on the third floor of the Las Vegas Club's north tower, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Positions are available in gaming, food and beverage, marketing, and throughout the casino, with new hirings representing around twice the number of workers laid off when the property shut down for the remodel. Candidates may also apply online at www.plazahotelcasino.com

Dancer on Ungar:

Bob Dancer's new column is live on our site, and this one took us by pleasant surprise. Taking a break from the world of video poker, to coincide with the ongoing WSOP, this week's musings are on the subject of legendary poker player -- and notorious drug user -- Stuey Ungar, who won the WSOP three times, and probably should have a fourth. It turns out Dancer used to know him in a previous life... Check it out.

New Wine Bar Open:

Double Helix Wine & Whiskey Bar, the wine and tapas bar that debuted at Palazzo, has now opened its second location at Town Square, in the spot fomerly occupied by The Grape. The new location features a daily happy hour from 3:30-7:30 p.m. - details to follow.

Poker Book Offers End Today:

You've got until 5 p.m. PST to take advantage of the current special offers on Annie Duke's Decide to Play Great Poker, The Raiser's Edge by ElkY and Lee Nelson, and the bundled package of both items, so don't delay! Visit ShopLVA.com for details and to place your order.

98 Degrees Singer to Weather Summer Heat:

Jeff Timmons, former singer with 98 Degrees, has extended his guest run in the Chippendales show at the Rio through the rest of the summer, it's just been announced.

Get Spirited from Portland to Vegas:

Discount carrier Spirit Airlines is to launch two daily nonstop flights between Portland and Las Vegas starting Sept. 22, with a (very) limited number of $9 each-way fares available for purchase today and tomorrow. Flights will depart Portland at 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day. Return flights will land in Portland at 8:10 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. Visit the airline's website for more information.

Miss California Crowned Miss USA:

Alyssa Campanella, the former Miss California, was last night crowned Miss USA at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas' beauty-pageant central.

Vegas Vacation for Soldier's Friends:

A British Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan is posthumously treating 32 of his friends and their girlfriends to a Las Vegas vacation with some of the proceeds of a $400,000 insurance policy he took out before he was deployed. David Hart left instructions that $150,000 of the proceeds should be spent on the trip, saying in a letter to his friends, "Go and have a good time and spend all this money."

Attack of the Grey Hordes:

Check out the new blog entry from Blair Rodman at LVAPoker.com. Blair's currently playing in the Pot-Limit Omaha/Six-Handed event at the WSOP, which just kicked off; you can follow his progress at LVAPoker.com, too.

Historic Tennis Match Rematch:

On June 24 last year, multiple records were broken when the first-round Wimbledon match between John Isner of the U.S. and Nicolas Mahut of France finally ended in a fifth-set score of 70-68 in the fifth set, after 11 hours, 5 minutes of play, spread over three days. Not only was it the longest match in tennis history by almost five hours; it also featured the ongest set, with 118 games; the most games (163), and the most aces -- Isner had 98, Mahut hit 95. The combined total was more than double the old record of 96. Tomorrow the two players are due to meet again for the first time since last year's epic battle, which ended not in the traditional handshake, but rather a mutual hug of relief. Tuesday's first-round match re-pairing of the two has been dubbed "weird and cruel" by Isner, especially as it may even take place on Court No. 18 once more.

Canadian Poker Tour to Trop:

On Friday, July 1st, the newly renovated Tropicana will celebrate Canada Day by hosting the Canadian Poker Tour's Mega Stack Poker Showdown. There's a $1,000 buy-in and $100 tournament fee to enter the event, which will be hosted by WSOP Mixed Hold'em gold bracelet winner -- and Canadian -- Gavin "Ole G" Smith. Spaces are limited to 72 players. For more information visit canadianpokertour.tv.

Death at Venetian Ruled Accidental:

The death of a man who fell from the 10th floor of the Venetian parking lot Sunday night and landed in the valet parking area has been ruled accidental, rather than suicide, as was initially thought. Investigators believe the accident happened as the man was taking photographs of the city.

Wynn's Asian Affair Continues:

Steve Wynn, who recently commented that he sees his company as Asian rather than American these days, has expressed his desire to build a property in Singapore, as soon as regulatory impediments expire. Singapore legalised casino gaming in 2005 but until 2017 two properties, Genting Singapore's Resorts World and the Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands, have been granted exclusivity in the new gambling enclave.

Discounts End Today:

Don't forget that today's the last chance to take advantage of our deep discounts on three new titles from Huntington Press, Annie Duke's Decide to Play Great Poker, Lee Nelson and ElkY's The Raiser's Edge, and the new revised edition of Hiking Las Vegas. You can find them all at ShopLVA.com.

Tiny Stake in Palms for Maloofs:

According to the Sacremento Bee, which is quoting regulatiory documents from Nevada, the Maloof family's stake in the Palms will be reduced to a mere two percent, following a refinancing move that will see the casino's creditors, investment firms TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners, gaining a 49-percent interest each. George Maloof is quoted as saying that, under buyback options provided by the creditors, "We could own up to 20 percent when it's all said and done."

Miller Calls it on US Open:

After Rory McIlroy's third round yesterday at the U.S. Open golf tournament, analyst Johnny Miller commented, "I think the chances of him losing now are about one in ten." The betting public agrees -- McIlroy is a -960 favorited to win the tournament, which equates with only slightly less than a 1-in-10 chance of losing.

Dot Vegas:

ICANN, the organization that oversees the Internet address system is today granting approval, or not, to a number of proposed new suffixes, including ".Vegas". A group of entrepreneurs in the city has secured the city's endorsement and, if approved, the new domains could start appearing late next year. The application fee to operate the proposed new domains, which also include .sport and .eco, is $185,000, and winners will have to pay an additional $25,000/year after that.

Happy Father's Day:

Check the Today's News item on 6/15 for our round-up of treats for dads this Father's Day. Locals can also enjoy the ongoing "Free Rides" promo out at Primm, if pops is in the mood for a thrill.

Big AC Winner Negotiated Edge:

The big blackjack winner in Atlantic City did all his work before he ever played a hand, negotiating a rebate on losses tht gave him the edge in the game and he got lucky from there. Mark Gruetze interviewed Don Johnson for his gambling column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. You can read the interview at pittburghlive.com.

ABC at FSE:

Tonight's free concert at the Fremont Street Experience is ABC. Part of the Nina Blackwood series, the concert starts at 9 p.m. on the Third Street Stage.

New Happy Hour:

Casa di Amore, a former LVA "Local Corner" and "old Vegas" Italian eatery (they serve cocktails with names like "The Sands" and "The Dunes"), is now offering a graveyard happy hour, serving all drinks, cocktails, and pizzas at half price from midnight to 5 a.m. nightly. Call 702/433-4967 for complimentary round-trip limo service when you make a dinner reservation.

Holly Horrified:

Peepshow star and former "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison showed no reticence in expressing her feelings about Crystal Harris' decision to party at Wet Republic today, on what would have been the eve of her wedding to Madison-ex Hugh Hefner. Holly tweeted that it was "disgusting" and "tacky" when she learned the news via @Robin_Leach. Heidi Montag is the official host at Wet Republic today.

Beer and Horses:

Get your photo taken for free with the Budweiser Clydesdales from 6:30-8:30 p.m. this evening at the El Cortez and enjoy $1 12oz Bud drafts all day.

Butkus Signing at Forum Shops:

Former Chicago Bears linebacker and Hall of Famer Richard Marvin "Dick" Butkus is signing autographs at the Field of Dreams store in the Forum Shops at Caesars today and tomorrow from 1-5 p.m.

International Sushi Day:

In celebration of the holiday, RA Sushi in the Fashion Show Mall is giving away a free roll. Just visit the Facebook page of your local RA (the offer extends nationwide) and "Like" them in order to print a certificate good for one complimentary Tootsy Maki, their popular roll that features kani kama crab mix, shrimp, and cucumber, rolled and topped with crunchy tempura bits and drizzled with a sweet eel sauce. The offer is valid today only, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., while supplies last.

Cell Phone Ban Also Passed:

It's been a busy day for Gov. Sandoval, who's also signed into being the bill prohibiting drivers from texting or using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel. The law goes into effect Oct. 1, but for the first three months police only will issue warnings; thereafter, officers will begin citing drivers who ignore the law, with penalties set at $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second, and $250 for the third infractions. Thereafter, we understand, drivers risk forfeiting their license.

Smoking Ban Up in Smoke:

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has signed the bill that revises 2006's Clean Indoor Air Act to permit adult venues like bars snd taverns to serve food once more, while also permitting smoking.

Merchant of Vegas:

Today's Las Vegas Sun reports how the Royal Shakespeare Company in England's Stratford-upon-Avon is staging a radical version of The Merchant of Venice that's set in Las Vegas and features crap shooters, showgirls and, of course, Elvis. The production stars Patrick Stewart, best known for his role as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek," as Shylock; a fan of Las Vegas, he apparently spent some time here recently researching how to stage things authentically.

Name Change for M Steakhouse:

Effective today, the former Terzetto Restaurant and Oyster Bar at M Resort is now called Anthony's Steakhouse, and is apparently serving a revised "innovative, yet traditional menu."

New Release Offers Expire Monday:

Don't forget that our special offers on new poker titles Decide to Play Great Poker by Annie Duke, and Raiser's Edge by Lee Nelson and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, plus the new revised edition of Hiking Las Vegas expire on June 20, so take advantage of the deep discounts on these titles while you can.

Melco Crown Expands Macau Interest:

Casino operator Melco Crown Entertainment, a joint venture between Australian tycoon James Packer and Stanley Ho's son Lawrence Ho, has announced that that it will pay $360 million to take over the controlling stake in Macau Studio City, which will be its second casino in the gambling enclave. The project has previously been stalled by an ongoing feud between the existing partners in the joint venture.

Caveman Rocks Out on Radio:

Internet radio talk show hosts Robert & Paco will broadcast live from Rockhouse at the IP this evening, with special guest Kevin Burke from Harrah’s hit show Defending the Caveman. The show will air live at 5 p.m. on Hook Jaw Net Radio.

New Blair Blog:

Catch up with the latest musings from Kill Phil author Blair Rodman at LVAPoker.com, which find him in a political frame of mind. Also, don't forget to check out Bob Dancer's latest article, which went live a little later than normal this week.

Boyd to Buy IP, Biloxi:

Boyd Gaming today announced that it's entered into an agreement to acquire the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, MS for $278 million in cash, plus a $10 million cash donation at closing to the Engelstad Family Foundation.

Latest Dining Casualties:

Cana, the tapas restaurant at Town Square, closed without notice while Diane's Gourmet on the Go Food Truck is leaving town and relocating to Florida. Flow Rider Truck also seems to have bitten the dust - a promised May reopening has not materialized and the phone number isn't working,.

Long Line at the Sahara:

The R-J reports that there's five-hour wait to gain access to the fire sale at the Sahara, that started at 10 this morning and will continue to 7 p.m. and through the week, until all the inventory is gone.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

There's a mixed bag this weekend, with most of the cooler stuff taking place outside, where it's going to be anything but cool. Remember that sunblock, peoples: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are at the Thomas and Mack (6/16-6/19) David Spade does stand up at the Venetian (6/17-6/18) Michael McDonald performs at the Eastside Cannery (6/17) The Mirage welcomes comedian Rodney Carrington (6/17-6/18) The Doobie Brothers take the stage at Sunset Station (6/17), followed by Rabdy Travis (6/18) You can catch An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin at the Orleans (6/18-6/19) Tivoli Village welcomes the Great Vegas Festival of Beer (6/18) And the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton (6/19) Pools: The Friday Night 'Party For The People' event at the Red Rock Pool features Steel Pulse (6/17) Ditch Fridays at the Palms Pool features a Ditch Bikini Contest with $30,000 in cash and prizes and sounds by Mark Stylz & Exodus (6/17) Bruno Mars (6/16), Viktorio Metzger (6/17), and Serge Devant (6/18) will all appear at the Marquee Dayclub at the Cosmo this weekend. The weekly Beatport Beach Party Sundays at TAO Beach features Gabriel and Dresden (6/18) Heidi Montag will host Wet Republic at the MGM Grand (6/18) Wes Quave performs at DayDream at the M Resport (6/18) The Sunday International Waters Party at Encore Beach features Victor Calderone (6/18)

Quench Your Thirst at EI:

Every Thursday until Aug. 25th, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Ellis Island is celebrating "Summer Thirstdays" with $1 EI beers and $2 well drinks.

Rock 'n Roll Wine at Cosmo:

Rock 'n Roll Wine's latest free event will be hosted at Comme Ça inside The Cosmopolitan tonight from 6-8 p.m., showcasing a variety of wines, complemented by signature dishes from Comme Ça. There's no cover and guests on the email list who RSVP will receive an open wine bar wristband.

Sahara on Sale:

The first come, first served-style sale of the contents of the Sahara begins at 10 a.m. There's a $10 admission and the sale will continue until everything's gone, or Sunday, depending on which comes first.

More Good News for LVAPoker:

Following this morning's WSOP triumph by Raiser's Edge author ElkY comes word from the WPT that TV ratings were up 35% over the previous season and are continuing to grow. The audience boost is being credited to the addition of younger, edgier, sexier elements to the series, including new on-screen talent and Raiser's Edge contributor Tony Dunst, who hosts the "Raw Deal" segment and is known for his brash, irreverent style.

Plaza Update:

While the casino and most of the rest of the property has been closed since the end of May, or prior, it's now been confirmed that the casino will reopen in August and the hotel, fresh from its "Fontainebleu upgrade," will begin accepting guests in September.

Father's Day in Vegas:

Here's a round-up of the special events we've found going on around town for dads this Sunday; if we hear of others, we'll post them in this column: Mention 'Dads Go Free' at Madame Tussauds box office for buy-one, get-one-free deal on cover. Anyone who brings their dad to Rockhouse Bar & Grill (at IP) on Father's Day will receive a free shot, $5 cocktails, and 2-for-1 beers. Now you're talking! Rhumbar at the Mirage celebrates with Cocktails and Cigars for dads for $20. All dads who dine at Cabo Wabo Cantina on Sunday will receive a signature "Waborita" for free. Tacos & Tequila at Luxor will be hosting a Father's Day Brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring a live mariachi band. Drink specials, including 2-for-1 margaritas and beer buckets for $18, will also be available. Simon Restaurant & Lounge at Palms Place will be celebrating with a special Father's Day brunch from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for $49. Buy one full price admission to CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand and get dad in for free. Just mention "Father's Day Special" to the box office. Finally, dads who attend the 51s baseball game on Sunday can enjoy a game of catch on the field before the game, plus the 1st 1,000 kids under 12 get a free tin lunch box.

Monorail's Future in Jeopardy:

The Las Vegas Monorail, which has been in trouble since before it opened and finally filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, has announced that it must expand or face closure within eight years. High fares, a limited route, and a rigid refusal to work with third parties (we have attempted on many occasions to include a Monorail deal in the LVA MRB, only to be told repeatedly that, "we never offer discounts"), have been among the factors conspiring to keep the project from profitability. Lack of service to and from the airport and downtown has been seen as particularly detrimental to the Monorail's usefulness, especially as the RTC continues to upgrade and expand bus services throughout the valley. Bloomberg reports that the company returns to bankruptcy court in Las Vegas next week to seek permission to send its reorganization plan to creditors for a vote. The proposed plan would cancel $207.3 million in bonds without any repayment and replace $500 million in higher-ranking debt with $44.5 million in new debt. Bondholders say they're preparing a competing plan.

LVCVA Goes Global:

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has approved contracts for 10 international offices, reports VegasInc.com, in an effort to increase foreign visitation to the city. Offices have been green lit for Canada, Mexico, Japan, several western European nations, Australia, China, Brazil and Russia, at a cost of $3.5 million over two years, while board members authorized a request for proposals for representation in South Korea, India, and France.

Current Poll Clarification:

Many thanks to all who've taken part in our new Reader Poll asking about the best of Las Vegas late-night dining. We're getting a great response and some good suggestions of "Other," but also a lot of "McDonald's," "In-N-Out Burger," and "Coronado Cafe"-type feedback; please note that the poll excludes casino coffee shops (yes, that means the Ellis Island and the Market Street Café at the California are out, too), and fast food outlets. Thanks!

Palms Update:

There are some more details about the Maloof family's moves to recapitalize the Palms (see "Today's News" 6/14/2011) in today's WSJ, which quotes the property's debt at $400 million and says the family's share in the Palms will shrink to less than 20% if regulators approve the private-equity deal.

ElkY Bags Bracelet:

Huntington Press author Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier triumphed after an epic four-hour heads-up battle last night to win his first WSOP bracelet and $331,637 in the Seven Card Stud Championship. It was the French phenom's first stud tournament. He's co-author of our new title, The Raiser's Edge.

ElkY in the Money:

It's Day 3 of WSOP Event #21, the Seven-Card Stud Championship and with play underway, ElkY remains in third place and has increased his chip count to 530,000; the chip leader has 900,000. They're down to 10 players, so everyone left in the tournament is in the money. Stay tuned to the chart below for updates.

ElkY Back in Action:

It's Day 3 of WSOP Event #21, the Seven-Card Stud Championship and with play underway, ElkY remains in third place and has increased his chip count to 530,000; the chip leader has 900,000. They're down to 10 players, so everyone left in the tournament is in the money. Stay tuned to LVAPoker.com for updates.

First Triple-Digit Day:

It's officially summertime, as Las Vegas experiences its first 100-degree day of the year. According to the National Weather Service, most areas of town, with the exception of Summerlin, hit 100 degrees or more this afternoon.

Marie Callender's Closed:

The restaurant chain known for its pies has closed its Las Vegas location on Flamingo near Decatur as part of sweeping cuts that have seen 65 locations close and reduced the workforce by about 20 percent. Marie Callender's parent company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Palms Recapitalizes:

After months of speculation as to the possible future of the Palms resort, it's today been announced that the Maloof family has agreed to partner with private investment firms TPG and Leonard Green & Partners in order to significantly reduce the amount of debt on the company's balance sheet, subject to regulatory approvals.

Downtown Denny's:

It's being reported that Denny's will be opening a location in downtown's Neonopolis mall, and signed a $12.5 million, 20-year lease. There's no word on when the fast-food breakfast joint is scheduled to open.

Top Ten Poll Closing:

If you haven't already, get your vote(s) in for the current LVA Reader Poll on our famous list of Las Vegas Top Ten Values; poll closes at midnight tonight PST.

BA Upgrades to First Class:

British Airways, which operates daily flights between London Heathrow and Las Vegas, has introduced First Class fares on the route, which is now served by a Boeing 747. This increases capacity by 124 seats on every rountrip and enables the airline to offer Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class options.

Bellagio Bandit Pleads Guilty:

Anthony Carleo, the son of a Las Vegas judge who was accused of armed robberies at both Bellagio and the Suncoast last year, has pleaded guilty to both and faces between three and 36 years in prison for each incident. A sentencing hearing has been set for August 23.

Vegas Tops for Summer Travel:

According to figures released by OTA Kayak.com, "Las Vegas" was the most searched destination for hotels for travel this summer, accounting for 7.36 percent of the search share from March 1 to May 25 for travel from June to August, reports VegasInc. If you're one of the people with Vegas in your summer travel plans, don't forget to check out our Las Vegas deals feature, where you'll find special offers and discount codes for rooms, shows, airfare packages, and more, for a growing number of properties.

Elky in the Money:

Bertrand ElkY Grospellier is through to Day 2 of the Seven Card Stud Championship (Event #21). He's currently in third place with 336,000; the chip leader has 780,000. Only 14 players remain from the starting field of 126 for this event, which pays out through 16th place.

Hash House A Daddy-O:

The popular purveyor of "twisted farm food" is holding its second annual Father's Day photo contest, with customers under the age of 10 encouraged to submit a favorite picture of them and their dad. The contest will be judged by Rick Harrison and "The Old Man" from TV's "Pawn Stars" and the deadline for submissions is Tuesday. The winner will receive a Father's Day brunch package valued at $100, plus dinner once a month for a year. Photos need to reach Krista Gilbertson at PR Plus (5576. S. Fort Apache) before end of day June 14.

It's a Wrap:

It may be Christo's birthday today, but he had nothing to do with the new "wrap" that's adorning the unfinished Sands St. Regis Residences. Located behind the Venetian/Palazzo, the 50-story condominium project remains half-completed, another victim of the collapse of the Vegas real estate market, but has now been transformed into much less of an eyesore with the addition of giant sheets printed with images of what the building would look like, if completed. Commented a company spokesman on what until recently was simply an abandoned steel hulk, "We wanted it to look a little more like it belongs between a pair of five-diamond resorts like The Venetian and Palazzo." We have a direct view of it from LVA HQ, and can confirm that it's a pretty effective optical illusion.

WSOP Update:

It's Day 2 of the Seven Card Stud Championship and ElkY is currently in 25th place, with 58,400, out of remaining field of 87. Only the top 16 get paid but expect the bust-outs to come thick and fast today, with a lot of players heading into Day 2 shortstacked. Meanwhile, Blair Rodman just won a pot in the Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #22), to increase his chipstack to 13,000. Follow both of them at LVAPoker.com.

ElkY Advances -- Again:

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, contributor to Kill Everyone and co-author of new title The Raiser's Edge: Tournament Poker Strategies for Today's Aggressive Game, (both available at a publisher's discounted rate from ShopLVA.com), is through to Day 2 of the $10,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud Championship at the WSOP. Chip counts are not being updated as frequently as usual this year, but from his Twitter we think he'll be starting Level 9 with 58,400; the current chip leader has 129,900. Play resumes this afternoon. Earlier in the weekend ElkY finished in 11th place in the 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship, making him the first HP author to finish in the money at this year's event. Follow his progress at LVAPoker.com.

A.C. Sexes it Up:

In the wake of May figures released by the New Jersey Gaming Control Board, which show the combined revenue of Atlantic City's 11 casinos collectively falling by 9 percent, comes a report from the AP about how the struggling east coast resort is making moves to follow Las Vegas' successful model and turn itself into a "Sin City East." Operating under the collective marketing slogan, "Always Turned On," casinos are sexing up cocktail server uniforms and adding bikini beach bars and "party pits." Resorts International is about to debut a "Naked Circus" in a tent in the hotel parking lot, while Scores gentlemen's club still hopes to open a venue inside the Trump Taj Mahal, although the dancers would need to wear pasties and G-strings in order to comply with gaming regulations and the license application has been pending for almost a year now.

NBA Finals Game 6:

The Miami Heat are 4.5-point favorites over the Dallas Mavericks in today's game. The line opened -6 and has dropped in response to Dallas money. The total is 187.

Cell Phone Ban:

It will soon be illegal to use cell phones while driving in Nevada. The bill making talking or texting while driving is expected to be signed by the governor, at which point police will begin issuing warnings. Beginning Jan. 1, the fine will be $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second, and $250 for a third. Hands-free devices will be allowed.

Marathon Route Altered:

The Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon has changed the race's course again. After tweaking the route last year, it will be altered this year to finish on the Las Vegas Strip. It's a move designed to "energize" tiring runners; last year the Strip portion was run first. The race will be held on Dec. 4; with fees of $165 to run the marathon and $140 to run the half marathon.

Stadium Deal Down:

One of Las Vegas' potential deals for a new stadium is officially off the table. The sketchy plan put forth by Christopher Milam to build a stadium across from Mandalay Bay has been withdrawn, ostensibly because a bill to create a favorable tax treatment wasn't approved. Other stadium plans remain in the works.

Eco-Art:

Today from 4-7 p.m. the Jeff Mitchum Gallery in Bellagio's Pool Promenade will donate 30 percent of proceeds on all prints sold to help protect Nevada's ecology and the Spring Mountain Conservancy and its Middle Kyle Canyon Complex, a 4,300-acre recreation and administrative facility. The complex, due to open next year, will provide activities and environmental education opportunities for visitors.

Two Free-Viewing Spots for UFC:

The PT's tavern locations at Spring Mountain, Buffalo, Steward, and Nellis are showing tonight's UFC pay-per-view feed for free. It will also be shown at The Lift bar (Valley View between Sahara and Spring Mtn.), which charges a $10 admission, but gives you a $10 coupon good on a future visit. Junior dos Santos is the -180 favorite over Shane Carwin in the main event and Kenny Florian is a bigger -275 favorite over Diego Nunes in the second big match.

Decide Author Wins Tourney:

It wasn't Annie Duke. It was Decide to Play Great Poker co-author John Vorhaus taking honors in recent tournament at the Bay 101 cardroom in San Jose, California. After the win, John commented, "I didn't just write the book, I READ it -- and it made me a winner, too!"

Junefest Today:

The long-running summer concert Junefest runs today at South Point. Headliners are Three Dog Night, War, and The Fixx. Tickets are $25 and doors open at 5 p.m.

Belmont Odds:

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was the morning-line favorite at 2-1 for today's Belmont Stakes. Nehro was 4-1 and Preakness winner, Shackleford, was 9-2. The long shots were Monzon and Isn't He Perfect, both at 30-1.

Meet the Beer Goddess:

Craft beer expert Lisa Morrison, known as "The Beer Goddess," will be signing copies of her new book at The Freakin' Frog today from 5 p.m.

First Cash for Team LVAPoker:

After a tough start for the pros, last night Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier became the first HP author -- and member of our unofficial "Team LVAPoker" -- to cash in this year's WSOP when he finished 11th in the star-studded 2-7 Draw Lowball (No-Limit) Championship. He tweeted, "Super disappointing bust 11th but I didn't run so good at the end. Still had lots of fun playing with @phil_hellmuth and all." ElkY was a contributor to Kill Everyone and co-authored The Raiser's Edge. Kill Phil author Blair Rodman plays in the No-Limit Hold 'Em event at noon today; you can follow his progress at LVAPoker.com.

FS+G Qualifiers:

Federated Sports + Gaming, the new poker league organized by Jeffrey Pollack and Annie Duke, has announced that partner the Palms will be hosting daily pro-am qualifying satellites now through July 31, giving patrons a chance to win a $1500 seat into the FS+G Pro-Am Event, scheduled for August 5 to 8. All games are no-limit Texas hold 'em, with $40 to $340 buy-ins. For additional info, call 702/942-7777 or DM via Twitter: @palmspokerrm.

Star Wars Attraction for Strip:

The Las Vegas developer behind the Mob Experience at the Trop, has good news for Star Wars fans, reports Vegas Inc.. Jay Bloom of Order 66 Entertainment intends to celebrate the movie franchise with a temporary museum on land between the Monte Carlo and New York-New York. Plans were submitted with the Clark County Planning Commission this week. Whether the plan becomes a reality remains to be seen; watch this space for updates.

LVAPoker Update:

Having been eliminated from the No-Limit Hold'em Shootout event on Thursday, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier made it through to Day 2 of 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship (No-Limit). He's currently lying in 38th place in the remaining star-studded field of 84, which includes Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, Shawn Deeb, Jennifer Harman, David Williams, Huck Seed, Eli Elezra, David "Devilfish" Ulliott, Mike Matusow, John Juanda, David Benyamine, and Daniel Negreanu, among other notables. Day 1 casualties included Doyle Brunson, Eric Cloutier, Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Jean-Robert Bellande, Phil Laak, Justin Bonomo, and Jennifer Tilly. Blair Rodman will be playing in Event #17: H.O.R.S.E., which kicks off at 3 p.m. this afternoon. You can follow all the action at LVAPoker.com.

Singapore Caps Casino Visitation:

Bloomberg reports that Las Vegas Sands Corp. has been officially instructed to ensure that no more than 30 percent of visitors to its Marina Bay Sands resort-casino are Singaporeans and that the casinos are tourist attractions that aren't to be promoted to the domestic market. The 30 percent figure is about in line with current visitor demographics.

Winnings Down;Taxes, Visitation Up:

Figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board show that statewide gambling revenues were down a fraction on the same month last year ($806 million compared with $810 million). However, tax income based on gaming revenue was up of 7.3 percent for the month on the 2010 figures. Separate figures released today by the LVCVA also show that tourism was up by nearly 5 percent on April last year, aided particularly by continued growth in the convention sector.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here are this week's highlights. While the pool scene continues to attempt to steal the show, music and comedy are giving daylife a run for its money this weekend, for sure. Check it: Frankie Avalon performs at South Point (6/8-6/10), followed by Pauly Shore (6/10-6/12) Bill Engvall does stand up at TI (6/10) Paul McCartney takes the stage at the MGM Grand (6/10) The Hard Rock welcomes the Deftones (6/11) The 10th Annual Reggae in the Desert Festival takes place at the Clark County Government Center (6/11) The Gin Blossoms play at the Orleans (6/11-6/12) Larry King's at the Mirage (6/11) The twice-monthly Nashville Unplugged event takes place at Green Valley Ranch (6/10) And Jimmy Hopper entertains at Aliante Station (6/12) Pools: Nikki Beach presents the new industry pool party: Moodswing Thursdays featuring performances by The Cataracs and Benzi, plus DJ Exodus (6/9) The Red Rock 'n' Roll Friday Night concert series features O.A.R (6/10) Ditch Fridays at the Palms Pool features DJ Jazzy Jeff (6/10) The Hard Rock Beach Club welcomes Stephen Marley (6/10) Liquid at ARIA welcomes Scooter and Lavelle (6/11) The Concerts on the Beach series at Mandalay Bay Beach welcomes Wisin y Yandel (6/12) The Mai Tai and Limbo Luau takes place at TAO Beach (6/11), and the Beatport Beach Party Sundays features Sander Van Doorn (6/12) Encore Beach features Pete's Pool Party with Pete Tong (6/12) Bare at the Mirage hosts the Third Annual Dolls and Pin-Ups Party. Ladies who come dressed like pin-up girls will receive complimentary champagne and there will also be an on-site stylist for free up-dos (6/13)

Food Trucks on TV:

Eating Las Vegas co-author Al mancini hosts his weekly "Top of the Food Chain" talk show on VEGAS VIDEO NETWORK today from 4 p.m., and this week's topic is Food Trucks

Vegas Debut for Comedian:

On Friday, Aug. 12 popular comedian, actor, author, and talk-show host George Lopez will debut at The Mirage. He'll perform his stand-up routine for two nights in the Terry Fator Theatre, before returning fod additional show dates Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29. Tickets start at $69.99 and are on sale now. Lopez currently stars in "Lopez Tonight" on TBS.

No More Firefly for Plaza:

When downtown's Plaza hotel reopens later this year, it will be sans the local favorite tapas bar, that operated for less than two years in the famous glass-domed space overlooking Fremont Street, reports the LV Weekly. Owner John Simmons explains that higher overheads and a cheaper clientele led the place to hemorrhage money, unlike the successful locations on Paradise and W. Sahara. Simmons now plans to turn his attention to a new venue on Eastern, near Anthem, that he hopes to open later this year.

NASCAR Meet and Greets:

To celebrate the return of the NASCAR K&N Series West to the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 11 for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200, various NASCAR K&N Series West stars will appear at three O’Reilly Auto Parts stores in the Las Vegas area on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fans are invited to meet the drivers, view the race cars, and win prizes. Click the link for more info.

ElkY Advances:

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, co-author of The Raiser's Edge, won his table in the No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event #13) today to advance to Round 2 tomorrow. As he Tweeted: "Won 1st table sick comeback from 1k chips, feel great! 2 more sit n go to get it!!." You can follow his progress tomorrow at LVAPoker.com. Other notables who've advanced so far include: Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer, Jennifer Tilly, and 2002 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion Pratyush Buddiga.

Tough Start for LVAPoker Pros:

To date the cards have not been especially kind to LVAPoker's pros at this year's WSOP, with both Blair Rodman and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier experiencing some bad luck. Blair just got knocked out of Event #13, the No-Limit Hold'em Shootout, but after looking as if he'd hit the rail first, ElkY's now back in contention with 21,0000. You can follow the action at LVAPoker (scroll down on the home page, and follow our players on Twitter) but unfortunately the WSOP site is not being updated for this event, so we have no idea about relative chip counts at this point.

Strip Club Sale Confirmed:

The notorious Crazy Horse Too gentlemen's club, which has been closed for more than four years, is set to be sold by public sale July 1, reports today's R-J. Former owner Rick Rizzolo, who served time in prison following the beating of a patron of the club that left him paralyzed, continues to be at the center of on ongoing controversy over the battle for restitution from the plaintiff. For our complete guide to the Las Vegas strip club scene, including reviews of all the topless and nude clubs, tips on etiquette, and much more, check out Topless Vegas, available in multiple formats, plus an annual online "upgrade" option that keeps you up-to-date for a full year.

Shania Rumor Finally Confirmed:

Long-term speculation ended today when singer Shania Twain finally confirmed that she will commence a residency at Caesars' Colosseum next year. Her two-year headlining engagement is set to commence December 1, 2012; tickets, which start at $55, plus tax and fees, go on sale June 19.

Winning Wednesdays at Coasts:

It's week two of the $1.3 million "Winning Wednesdays" promo at Coast Casinos. Earn one point to swipe your card for a chance to win from $5 up to $50,000 between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This promotion will run until all the prize money is gone. Some prizes are awarded in points. See B Connected players club booth for more info.

Goodman Mayor:

Carolyn Goodman, wife of former mayor Oscar, was successful in her first bid for elected office, beating out her opponent Chris Giunchigliani with a 61-percent share of the vote. Goodman promised to build on her husband's legacy.

Palms Looks to East for Eats:

The new Cathay House at the Palms is a "restaurant within a restaurant" inside the 24/7 Café. "In recent months, we've seen a large increase in Asian gaming and we recognized the importance of catering to those customers," commented owner George Maloof.

Singapore Set to Overtake Vegas:

Despite currently being home to just two casinos, analysts predict that Singapore will overtake Las Vegas in 2011 to become the world's #2 gambling destination. Macau remains the top gambling dog, continuing to break monthly revenue records. It's estimated that Singapore's casinos could take in as much as $6.4 billion this year, while Las Vegas earned $5.8 billion in casino revenue last year, but is a mature market with little potential for big growth, says the American Gaming Association president.

First Casino for India:

India gets its first full-fledged land-based casino Wednesday when the five-star Mayfair-Gangtok hotel hosts the soft launch of its casino, which will feature roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, and other table games. Players will be charged Rs 500 (approx. $11) entry fee and complimentary food and beverages will be served to players.

Child Prodigy to Headline at Hilton:

Ten-year-old musician and composer Ethan Bortnick will become the youngest entertainer to headline his own show in Las Vegas when he takes the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton from July 22 to 23. Tickets are on sale now and start at $39.

Nugget to Post College Lines:

For the fifth consecutive year, downtown's Golden Nugget will be the first casino in Las Vegas to post lines on its 2011 College Football Games of the year on June 10. "Releasing the lines this early gives sports fans their first look at what the picks will be, as well as an opportunity to bet early on them," said Tony Miller, director of the race and sports book.

Dancer Answer:

Video poker expert Bob Dancer's latest weekly column just went live, in which he discusses whether or not the result of a recent drawing was "lucky" or not. As always, an interesting read.

Two LVAPoker Players Make Day 2:

Both Blair Rodman and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier have made it through to Day 2 of WSOP Event #11, the Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship, which resumes play this afternoon. They ended day one in 110th and 99th positions, respectively, in a remaining field of 164. Follow chip-count updates, plus the latest poker and sports news, Blair's "Killing Phils" blog, and more at LVAPoker.com.

Decide is in the House:

The annual poker frenzy is underway in Las Vegas, and with perfect timing Annie Duke's Decide to Play Great Poker arrived back from the printer today, and will be shipping from our warehouse as of tomorrow. Now through June 20, you can enjoy a massive publisher's discount and pick up this must-have addition to any gambling library for just $19.95 (reg. $34.95). The book was only launched on Amazon.com's Kindle device today and is already the #1 gambling book on that platform, so get your copy now and find out what all the fuss is about. As the legendary Doyle Brunson put it, "If this book doesn't improve your game, you aren't paying attention."

New Blair Blog:

Poker pro and Kill Phil author Blair Rodman just posted the latest entry for his Killing Phils blog, where his current musings are on how poker has changed, particularly with regard to the influx of young players. Interesting reading. Blair's currently playing in Event #10: No-Limit Hold'em/Six-Handed, in which he just doubled up; you can follow his progress through the 42nd WSOP, along with that of all the other HP authors playing this year, at LVAPoker.com.

Comedy Pets Return:

The popular Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater returns to V Theater inside Miracle Mile Shops for a limited summer run, commencing June 16th. The show features an array of more than 30 animals, rescued from around the country, including dogs, cats, parrots, geese, and even mice.

Breakfast at Dick's:

Dick;s Last Resort at Excalibur is now serving breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m. Menu items, priced at $12.95 each, include "Loco Moco," a combo of jasmine rice, ground chuck patty, two eggs and brown gravy, topped with green onions and chili sauce, and a 6 oz. sirloin steak with three eggs, breakfast potatoes, and a biscuit.

LA Times on Vegas:

Las Vegas has been the subject of two recent major features in the LA Times, including one about the current state of the Vegas iPhone app scene, and another about how resorts are placing increased importance on using social media to create a more intimate customer service experience as the city strives to emerge from the recession and offer renewed value to visitors.

Dylan to Palms:

Bob Dylan will perform at the Pearl at the Palms for one night only on Saturday, July 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets, which go on sale Saturday, June 11 at noon, start at $100 and are available from the Pearl box office or any Ticketmaster outlet.

The Economist on Southwest:

The current issue of The Economist carries a feature on Southwest Airlines, which includes a photograph of the original "hostesses" in the official 1970s uniform of hot pants and go go boots.

Smoking Ban in the Balance:

Members of the Assembly today passed a bill by 23-19 votes that changes Nevada's indoor smoking ban to allow food service in adults-only standalone bars and taverns, previously outlawed by the 2006 Clean Indoor Air Act. The measure now heads to the Senate, with one day left in the legislative session.

Fireworks on the 4th:

Station Casinos says it will present the "largest 4th of July fireworks show in Southern Nevada" this year. The nine-minute show will begin at 9 p.m. on Independence Day, and will emanate from Aliante Station, Texas Station, Fiesta Rancho, Red Rock, and GVR.

Steak House Sundays:

The Cannery has a good comp deal running today and every Sunday in June. Earn 1,000 club points and get a $40 voucher valid on any Sunday at Waverly's Steak House. That's $2,000 coin-in and you'll find plenty of 8/5 Bonus there, which means perfect play yields an expected loss of only about half the comp value.

Cathay House at Palms:

It looks like Cathay House, a long-running Las Vegas Chinese restaurant known for good dim sum, will soon have a restauant at the Palms. Palms mailers say it will open this month.

Lennon Love:

A reminder that the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus will be at the Mirage giving public tours and recording sessions June 6 to 11, from 3-8 p.m. Guests will be able to try out the latest in recording and video technology and enter to win an Epiphone guitar signed by Yoko Ono. Visit www.lennonbus.org/love.

Full Tilt Responds to Ivey:

Full Tilt Poker wasted no time in responding to Phil Ivey's annoucement that he would not play in the World Series of Poker this year in a protest of Full Tilt's failure to return deposited funds to its customers. Full Tilt called Ivey "sanctimonious" and claimed he's acting in his own best interests with the move. Full Tilt further charged that Ivey has declined invitations to assist in refunding efforts and that he owes FTP a "large sum of money." Ivey, who already owns eight WSOP bracelets, typically plays almost every event, so the boycott will cost him several opportunities to draw closer to Phil Hellmuth, the current all-time WSOP bracelet winner with 11. For ongoing WSOP and other poker news, check out the new LVAPoker.com.

Driving Tahoe:

The route around Lake Tahoe is the Nevada pick in the weekend USA Today's list of "51 Great Scenic Drives [in the U.S.]." Interestingly, more than half of the 72-mile drive is in California.

Missing Persons Found at FSE:

Dale Bozzio and Missing Persons will perform a free concert tonight at the Fremont Street Experience as part of the summer-long "Nina Blackwood's Absolutely 80s" music festival. The concert begins at 9 p.m.

Pussycat Dolls Saloon:

The Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon debuts tonight at Planet Hollywood. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the Carmen Electra will perform.

Humperdinck to Paris:

Grammy-nominated musician Engelbert Humperdinck will play a limited engagement in the 1,500-seat Paris Théâtre at Paris Las Vegas this July 21-24. Tickets go on sale today and start at $62.20.

Third Annual Fiesta Filipino:

Celebrate Philippine Independence Day with food, live entertainment, cultural performances, vendor booths, fun activities for children, and appearances from Jabbawockeez, singer Lani Misalucha, and other. The event takes place at the Boulevard Mall West Parking Lot in Henderson and admission is $3.

All New LVAPoker:

To coincide with the beginning of the 42nd Annual World Series of Poker, we've just launched an all-new-look LVAPoker.com. It's not just the look that's different: There are new features, including the first excerpt from Annie Duke's highly anticipated Decide to Play Great Poker, a new blog from Kill Phil author Blair Rodman, and a leader board for keeping track of all HP authors and LVA associates playing in this year's WSOP. You can link to all their Twitters, too, for up-to-the-minute tableside updates from the front lines. We'll be adding more features and functionality as we build out the site, but we wanted to launch sooner rather than later. Let us know what you think.

LV Air Boss Arrested:

Today's R-J reports that Eneliko Sean Smith, the controversial entrepreneur who had announced plans to launch a Las Vegas-based airline, was arrested in Las Vegas Thursday for violating probation in a California case. Smith was also charged with violating terms of a 2008 misdemeanor plea for driving under the influence. We understand he's currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center under a no-bail warrant and will face an extradition hearing on Monday morning. For more background on Smith and his previous abortive schemes, see Question of the Day 5/16/2011.

Aussie Comedy Closing:

June 14 is your last chance to catch the Aussie Improv Comedy Explosion at V Theater, when it final performance will take place.

4,000 Free Buffets:

Every Saturday in June, the Gold Coast is randomly giving away a free buffet voucher to 1,000 players via their B Connected card. Just swipe your card to see if you're a winner; if not, remember you can still get a twofer offer in the 2011 MRB.

Strip Clubs Triumph in Taxi Wars:

In a heated dispute that's gone on for years now, pitting clubs against clubs, clubs against taxis, and patrons against both, U.S. District Judge Lloyd D. George has granted dismissal motions filed by eight Las Vegas gentlemen's clubs. The adult venues and Las Vegas Taxicab Authority have been at the heart of an ongoing controversy over practices including clubs paying drivers ever-escalating fees to bring patrons to particular clubs that offer a "kickback," whether or not this was the customer's requested club destination, and clubs that refuse to take part in the taxicab "racket" claiming that their competitors were engaged in unfair or illegal business practices. In the end the judge ruled that attorneys representing California tourist Theodore Trapp had failed to substantiate any of his accusations, which included charges of clubs partaking in racketeering practices, serving diluted and falsely branded liquor, and extorting money from patrons under threat. For more about the history of the notorious "Taxi Wars," and for individual reviews of every topless and nude strip club in Las Vegas, see our Topless Vegas guide, also available in a handy pocket-sized version, and with an upgrade for a year of online updates.

Lion King Loves Local Kids:

Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay is extending its locals ticket offer for kids through the end of June: Local adults purchasing one full-price ticket can buy up to two child tickets for $15 each. This offer applies to any weekend matinee performance through June 26.

$1 Million Event for 2012 WSOP:

With the 42nd World Series of Poker just underway, it's been announced that next year's tournament will feature a $1 million buy-in event, of which 11.1 percent per player will be donated to Cirque founder Guy Laliberté's ONE DROP charity, which aims to fight poverty and bring clean water to all. Fifteen notables have already committed to play, including Laliberté; CityCenter CEO and former WSOP champ Bobby Baldwin; TI owner Phil Ruffin; plus poker pros Johnny Chan and Daniel Negreanu.

Spin in June at South Point:

Earn 200 same-day base slot points at South Point throughout the month of June for the chance to spin for $400,000-worth of daily prizes, including free slot pay, gas cards, dining coupons, and more.

Las Vegas Weekend Highlights:

Rich Little completes his run at the Riviera (5/25-6/5) South Point welcomes Ralphie May (6/1-6/3) "This is Halmik as Tom Jones" is at the Las Vegas Hilton (6/3-6/12) MGM Grand welcomes Nitro Circus Live (6/4) The 2011 Burlesque Hall of Fame takes place at the Orleans (6/2-6/5) The Second Annual Brews and Blues Festival takes place at Springs Preserve (6/4) The Annual "Fire & Rain" Firefighter Bachelor Auction takes place at Rain Nightclub inside the Palms (6/4), while UFC's Ultimate Fighter Final is at the Pearl inside the Palms (6/4) And it's the Grand Opening of Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Salon with Carmen Electra at Planet Hollywood (6/4) Pools: Bobby Brackins performs live at Ditch Fridays at the Palms Pool (6/3) The Red Rock 'n' Roll Friday Night concert series features the Goo Goo Dolls (6/3) Silverton's weekly "Bikinis, Bands & Burgers" party features The Mighty Diamonds with Haleamano (6/4) The Beatport Beach Party at TAO Beach features Roger Shan and Klass (6/5)

WSOP Results:

Our first World Series of Poker update is posted at LVAPoker.com. We'll be reporting results and updates there throughout the tournament.

New Show for Crown:

Crown Theater, the eclectic nightlife venue at the Rio, will be the new home for tribute show

Mac King Promo:

Here's an interesting promotion: From June through August, present any valid California ID at the Mac King Comedy Magic box office at Harrah's, and get 2-for-1 tix.

Blair Still In:

Kill Phil author Blair Rodman is through to Day 2 of the Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better event (#3) at this year's WSOP and is currently in 120th place in the remaining field of 210, with 15,000 in chips. With 950 entries, we understand it was the largest-ever field for an Omaha event. Look out for an all-new version of LVAPoker.com, due to launch any day now, where we'll be tracking the fortunes of all our poker authors throughout the WSOP,

Poker Authors on the Radio:

You can catch Huntington Press co-authors Annie Duke and John Vorhaus discussing their new title, Decide to Play Great Poker, on Colorado radio show "The Player's Lounge with Mark Lasser" at 4:15 p.m. The show's also streamed live at studio1430.com but it's not archived or podcast, so catch 'em while you can.

St Pierre vs. Diaz is On:

Dana White, who last week denied there was a fight in the pipeline between UFC's Georges St. Pierre and Strikeforce's Nick Diaz, today confirmed that the two would headline UFC 137 on Oct. 29 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. It will be the first matchup between a UFC champ and his Strikeforce counterpart.

Shaq Retiring:

After 19 seasons, Shaquille O’Neal announced Wednesday via Twitter that he will retire from the NBA after 19 seasons.

Phil Ivey Boycotts WSOP:

Eight-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey has pulled out of this year's World Series of Poker, citing his embarrassment at his former online sponsor FullTilt Poker, which has not paid back players owed money when the U.S. Department of Justice shut down the operation in April.

Free Rides for Locals:

All through the month of June Primm Valley Resorts is offering free rides to locals on all its rides, including the Desperado roller coaster, Adventure Canyon log flume, Turbo Drop, Frog Hopper, and Maxflight Cyber Coaster. Just present valid Nevada ID.

New Magic Show Opens:

The Magic of Paris with Stephane Vanel debuts at Paris today.

Dancer on Progressives:

Video poker expert Bob Dancer's latest weekly column is live, in which he further addresses the subject of video poker progressive breakpoints.

Poll Glitch Fixed:

There was a technical issue with today's new LVA Reader Poll, but it's now fixed.