Las Vegas News

Power Outage Causes Chaos:

Someone hit a power pole near Wynn this afternoon, and in so doing knocked out a swathe of traffic lights, leading to four-way-stop scenarios, particularly a few blocks west of the Strip, from Spring Mountain to Charleston. As a result, there are currently no less than five accidents reported on Decatur -- avoid at all costs, if you can.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here are the highlights; check our Events Calendar and Cool Pools feature for complete listings: It's Burlesques Hall of Fame Weekend over at the Orleans (5/30-6/2) Joan Rivers is back at the Venetian (5/30-6/1) Wayne Brady's at the Mirage (5/31-6/1) Jazz in the Park continues at the Clark County Ampitheater with Earl Klugh (6/1) The Eastside Cannery welcomes Michael Bolton (6/1) Scott Weiland takes the stage at the Pearl inside the Palms (6/1) And The Tenors perform at the Smith Center (6/2)

Evil Dead Blood Drive:

Following the success of the Strip's favorite comedy gore-fest musical's inaugural blood drive back in January, Evil Dead: The Musical is celebrating its first anniversary at V Theater with another blood drive, to be held on Friday, June 21, from 3-7 p.m., at Henderson's MaximuM Comics (520 S. Marks Street, Suite 120, in the Walmart Center). All donors will receive a free pair of tix to the show, plus and a free comic book.

2-Cent Tuesdays:

The Quad (the remodeled former Imperial Palace) has just launched a "2-Cent Tuesdays" promo, offering that rate on select Tuesday nights now through December. Be sure to use the Promo Code when booking to secure that rate, but note that it's only good on three-day reservations that include a promo Tuesday within the date span, plus we note that in some instances, they jack up the rates on those surrounding days, meaning that at times the ongoing Friends & Family deal offers a better total rate across a 3-day stay, so be sure to check both promos for your chosen time-frame before you book, to ensure you secure the absolute best deal available. This promo rang a bell with us, so we checked the Today's News Archives and sure enough, here's what we found, from a sister CET property: June 15, 2010 11:49 Two-cent Tuesdays Back at Bally's: The center-Strip property has reintroduced its "two-cent Tuesdays" promotion: On select dates from June 27 through July 29, pay just 2¢ on a Tuesday night when you book three or more nights Sundays through Thursdays.

New Food Challenge:

To update our list of current Las Vegas food challenges (see QoD 2/11/13), we just learned from a loyal LVA member that Island Sushi at the Plaza has a "6lb Loco Moco Challenge." Consume the three-pound patty, plus six eggs, six scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, 12oz of gravy, and one malassada within 45 minutes, and it's on the house, plus you win a (black) "I Survived" T-shirt; fail, and it's $39.95, but you do get an exclusive consolation (pink) I'm a Loser Tee.

Coco at Hofbräuhaus:

Hofbräu Hefe Weizen Dunkel dark wheat beer returns for its third year on Friday, May 31, and Peepshow star Coco will be there to tap the keg at 7 p.m.

Phelps in WSOP Pool:

Olympic multi-gold-medal winner Michael Phelps is swimming with the sharks at the World Series of Poker and holding his own. Phelps made it to Day 2 in the $5K buy-in No-Limit Hold 'Em 8-Handed event.

Super-Lucky Slot-Spin Winner:

A Connecticut man won $2,647,821.49 on a penny "Wizard of Oz Emerald City" progressive slot machine at Atlantic City's Borgata Casino Wednesday after busting out of the casino's daily poker tournament -- and he hit the jackpot on his first spin, with a $4 max bet, after playing for less than one minute.

New Poker TV Series:

Former Heartland Poker Tour co-founder Todd Anderson, in conjunction with Rush Street Gaming, is launching a new televised poker series called "Poker Night in America." In addition to pretty standard-sounding "made-for-TV" events "featuring poker pros and celebrities," the shows will apparently also include "interactive play-at-home components" that will give viewers the chance to play poker online for prizes and the chance to appear on TV. The first televised event will be hosted by New York's Turning Stone Casino on August 9, featuring the annual Empire State Poker Classic, an open event with a $1,650 buy-in and a guaranteed prize pool of $500,000.

Centerfold Opens, Closes:

Las Vegas' latest attempt to the fuse the wonders of magic and mammary glands has ended, amid financial chaos, just three weeks after it debuted, reports gossip maestro Robin Leach in his Luxe Life blog. Centerfolds of Magic's original host, former Penthouse "Pet of the Year" Taya Parker, had already quit due to contract violations that apparently left her carrying the can for a $2K costume bill, and her replacement, veteran magician Arian Black, who joined the show a few days ago and was also obliged to loan her props to the struggling production, did not perform topless, which kind of defeated the whole concept. It's the latest in a string of shows that have summarily closed after short runs at the Plaza, including fellow topless revue Bite, which had enjoyed a multi-year run at that Stratosphere before it ventured downtown for what proved to be a short sojourn.

Pinnacle Deal Hits a Snag:

Although, as we've chronicled in this column, Pinnacle Entertainment’s $2.8 billion buyout of Ameristar Casinos (which includes the former taking on $1.9 billion of the latter's debt) has crossed two important milestones in winning the approval of the Ameristar's stockholders and, subsequently, of Nevada state gaming regulators, the deal is now in jeopardy after the Federal Trade Commission argued Wednesday that the move "would reduce competition" in St. Louis and Lake Charles, Louisiana. While Pinnacle's CEO Anthony Sanfilippo said the company was "disappointed" by the FTC’s opinion and remains committed to completing the deal, the FTC has stated it will challenge the proposed transaction by arguing its case before an internal FTC judge and has also authorized its staff to seek a court order preventing the deal from closing.

WSOP Time:

Registration opened at 9 a.m. this morning at the Rio for the 44nd Annual World Series of Poker and cash games and satellites are already underway, with the first bracelet event -- which, as is customary, is the the 2-day Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em tournament -- kicking off at noon. The organizers will spread a record 480 poker tables this year, with more than 6,000 players expected daily, playing everything from $1/$2 cash games to Event #27, the $111,111 buy-in "One Drop High Rollers No-Limit Hold'em" tournament, which kicks off June 26. If you're interested in playing an event, visit WSOP.com for registration details and other useful info; we'll be chronicling the highlights all the way through to November's Main Event final table, so keep an eye on the "Spotlight" feature on our home page for WSOP news and updates.

Topless Reader Poll:

No, we're not doing an exclusive survey of scantily-clad readers, or considering launching our own brand of sunblock, but our current Reader Poll about your habits and attitudes toward gentlemen's clubs, adult revues, burlesque shows, etc. closes at midnight, so share your thoughts if you haven't already. Thanks!

Crash Closes N'Bound I-15:

It's just been reported that a crash has closed four northbound lanes of the I-15 near the Sahara Avenue exit, resulting in heaving traffic in the area, so avoid if you can.

Smoking Ban Lifted at Revel:

Revel's bold but costly no-smoking policy was scrapped in time for Memorial Day weekend, with gamblers now permitted to light up on parts of the casino floor. The new luxury resort had been the only one in Atlantic City, where up to 25 percent of a casino floor can be smoker-friendly, to impose a blanket ban on smoking, but financial difficulties have led to to a reversal of the policy in the hope of attracting more players.

Biloxi Nugget to Debut in June:

The first phase of a $100 million dollar project transforming Isle of Capri, the oldest property on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, into the new Golden Nugget Biloxi, is set to debut June 21. The initial revamp includes a completely redesigned and renovated casino floor and party pit, new restaurants including a Morton's Steakhouse, and the new 24 KARAT players club. The hotel's guest rooms and suites are also newly renovated. Phase Two, expected to be complete by Labor Day Weekend, will introduce additional new F&B offerings, retail outlets, meeting/event facilities, and a new registration area. Additional retail and a new buffet are set to be unveiled before the end of the year.

National Burger Day:

That's today, May 28, so here's a round-up of the specials and events we've come across; we'll add more if we hear about 'em: Honorary (former) "Bürgermeister" (German for "Mayor") Oscar Goodman will be working the grill from 11 a.m. to 11:45 today at Smashburger (4725 S. Maryland Parkway) and signing copies of his book from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (let's hope he doesn't get any relish on them). Plus, anyone named "Burger," or a reasonable variation thereof, dines free today at all Southern Nevada Smashburgers. The new gourmet PoshBurger in Summerlin is celebrating by serving $10 "Designer Burgers," including Kobe, Organic Lamb, and Tuna Tartare, all day (reg. $16 and up). Tacos & Tequila at Luxor will be serving Chef Saul Ortiz’s special Matador Burger for $10. A half-pound Angus beef patty marinated with achiote paste and mixed with fresh lime juice and chile guajillo adobo. It's served on a bolillo bun and topped with a blend of Oaxaca, Jack and Gouda cheeses, spicy Thousand Island dressing, guacamole, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and sliced tomatoes. Michel Richard's Central at Caesars is offering $5 off all burger creations today, including: the chicken burger, served with curry aioli and caramelized onions; certified Angus beef burger, served with shallot aioli, bacon and cheese; and the Ahi tuna burger, served with ginger aioli.

Free Comedy at South Point:

A reader just gave us the heads-up about a new free R-rated comedy show at South Point. The Dirty at 12:30 takes place each Friday at 12:30 a.m., apparently featuring different guest appearances weekly. Must be 21+.

Bob Dancer on Holding the Fifth:

When playing video poker and dealt a four of a kind, should you hold the fifth card, too? Theories and opinions vary on this subject, so our resident video poker expert weighs up the arguments for and against in his latest weekly article, which just went live.

Ogden is Back:

Hops & Harvest restaurant opened today in the Tivoli Village shopping district. It's a new gastropub from Bradley Ogden, who ran his eponymous restaurant for many years at Caesars Palace.

Rogue Toys:

A new store called Rogue Toys has opened at 616 Las Vegas Blvd. S., carrying vintage toys, including GI Joes, Barbies, and Star Wars figures. The store is located near the vintage Sweet Spot Candy Shop.

Wet 'n' Wild Opens:

The long-awaited Wet 'n' Wild Las Vegas water park opened as promised this weekend, nine nears after the park with a similar name closed on the Strip. Only season pass holders were allowed in this weekend. The 41-acre park located on the west side at 7055 S. Ft. Apache Rd. opens to the public for single-day visits on June 3.

Happy Memorial Day:

Look for deals all over town today. Get a free buffet for two by showing military ID at South Point, which is also awarding 5X points on slots and 2X on video poker. Station and Fiesta casinos are awarding 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker. El Cortez is handing out free White Castle burgers (the original sliders) to active players from noon to 6 p.m. Show military ID for 50% off food in the coffee shops at Eldorado and Jokers Wild. Get a Memorial Day flag pin at Poker Palace. Earn 50 club points at Rampart and get a free flag, 50 of which also have $50 in slot free-play.

Rio Zip:

A zip line-style "thrill ride" that will span the two towers at the Rio has been announced. The Voodoo Skyline ride will start from the 50-story Masquerade Tower and run 845 feet at speeds of up to 33 mph to the 20-story Ipanema Tower. Riders will then be transported (backwards) to the starting spot via a motorized pulley. The entire experience will take 1:10 and tickets are expected to be $25-$40.

Free Weddings for the Military:

Victoria’s Wedding Chapel (2800 W Sahara Ave.) will provide complimentary wedding ceremonies to all active duty military members and veterans all day from 12 to 8 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.

Memorial Day Weekend Blood Drive:

United Blood Services is hosting a Memorial Day blood drive today and Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Cannery Casino on Craig Road, near the I-15. Organizers are hoping for at least 200 donors each day during the event to keep up with demand, with a particular need for O negative and A negative blood. Donors who are 21 and older will receive two free vouchers for the Cannery Row Buffet.

Gambling Conference at Caesars:

The 15th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking opens tomorrow at Caesars Palace. Considered the most prestigious gambling conference in the world, it brings together academicians and gambling thoerists from around the world. Admission is $745 for a five-day pass.

Firefly Reopens:

The Paradise Firefly has reopened in a new location at 3824 Paradise Rd. (formerly Z'Tejas). Following the restaurant's trouble with a big outbreak of food poisoning, the owners say they've taken unparralled steps to ensure diner safety, including the hiring of a food-safety consultant. Owner John Simmons wrote a guest column in today's LV Review-Journal outlining the safeguards that have been put in place.

Gold Spike Reopens as Restaurant:

After closing last month, the Gold Spike has reopened its restaurant, The Grill. Uncle Joe's Pizza, which closed recently on Fremont Street, is also expected to reopen in the space.

UFC Velasquez/Silva:

Cain Velasquez is a big -765 favorite over Antonio Silva in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured bouts, Junior Dos Santos is -440 over Mark Hunt, Glover Teixeira is -345 over James Te Huna, and Gray Maynard is -165 over TJ Grant.

National Wine Day:

Today's the day, and Public House, Las Vegas, at Luxor is celebrating with half-priced glasses and bottles of wine all day. Bottles of Folie a Deux chardonnay are also half price at Rhythm Kitchen. We'll keep you posted if we hear of other wino promos elsewhere.

Big Weekend:

The town is packed for Memorial Day. An estimated 328,000 visitors will come to town for the three-day weekend that kicks off the summer season.

Pool News:

Once the (un)official start of pool season in Las Vegas, Memorial Day weekend has now been diluted in this respect, thanks to many pools in town opening as early as March. Nevertheless, it's still a big weekend for pools, with Daydream at M Resort among the party-pool stragglers debuting today, while the Pleasure Pool at Planet Hollywood (still currently open to all, for free), hosts its official season debut today with the kickoff of its annual Bikini Contest. The competition gets underway at 3 p.m. and there's more than $5K in prizes up for grabs. Meanwhile, Clark County opens eight public pools today, with free water bottles for those who donate new kids' swimsuits, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department. Public pools opening today, at noon, include: Cambridge Water Park, Desert Breeze Water Park, Hollywood Water Park, Paradise Water Park, Parkdale Water Park, and Walnut Water Park. Laughlin Water Park and Overton Pool open at 1 p.m., while all other county pools debut June 8, with the exception of Logandale Pool, which opens June 17.

Another Margaritaville:

The latest incarnation of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Casino brand has opened at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. The $35 million bar, restaurant, and casino complex will be the third Margaritaville casino, following those at the Flamingo Las Vegas and Biloxi. Future venues are planned for Bossier City, LA and Tulsa, OK.

Moonen Job Fair Saturday:

If you missed today's job fair for Rick Moonen's new RX Seafood, which is replacing RM Upstairs at Mandalay Bay, fear not! There's another open hiring session from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, with openings for all positions front and back of house. The event venue's at Mandalay Bay, near the Events Center. Check the link for more details.

Calling All Goodman Lookalikes:

As part of the ongoing hoopla marking the launch of former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's latest memoir, downtown's Mob Museum is holding a Goodman look-alike contest at 3 p.m. Saturday. The first 50 people to show up also have a chance to be in a group photo on the museum steps; all included (aside from Oscar, we presume) will be provided a Goodman mask to wear. (We also presume that contestants in the look-alike contest will be sans mask.)

One Ticket Left for One:

Cirque du Soleil's new Michael Jackson One show, holds its preview performance tonight at Mandalay Bay, where it's booked for an indefinite residency. Apparently comprising a totally revised concept, after the original Michael Jackson: The Immortal touring show received decidedly mixed reviews, tonight's discounted preview performance of the One is completely sold out, but one ticket, priced at $99, remains at Ticketmaster.com for Sunday's "soft" opening. Thereafter, the first available seats are for May 25, at the regular price of $108.96 and up.

Tony Roma's Closed:

The long-time Tony Roma's restaurant on East Sahara, infamous as the spot where "Lefty" Rosenthal narrowly avoided death in a car-bombing incident back in 1982, has closed.

CET's Massive Mega Progressive:

Caesars Entertainment’s Mega Progressive Beat Poker Jackpot has reached over $800,000, the highest since its inception in January of this year and believed to be the largest Bad Beat jackpot from a brick and mortar casino ever. At this high jackpot level, a qualifying hand is simply four 8s or higher, while the jackpot awards not only the losing and winning hands, but also all players actively playing in any of the seven participating CET poker rooms around the valley when it hits.

Return of Daniel Boulud:

As expected, Chef Daniel Boulud, who has been without a venue in town since his brasserie at Wynn closed in 2010, took the opportunity of hosting last night's Epicurean Affair to announce the details of his new Vegas venture, an outpost of his popular New York DBGB Kitchen & Bar. Described as "French brasserie meets American tavern," the new restaurant is set to open at Venetian later this year.

Crazy Horse Too Reopens...with New Name:

Tonight sees the soft opening of the long-shuttered Crazy Horse Too strip club, but in light of a lawsuit filed by Crazy Horse III, the club is opening as Crazy Mike's Gentlemen's Club, named for new owner Mike Galam. The official grand opening is June 1.

ghostbar Model Search:

From 10 p.m. tonight, ghostbar at the Palms continues its Wednesday "ladies night" model search tonight, with 50% off all cocktails for females, plus $100 bottles, while The Nine Group continues its search for print, runway and spokes models (male and female) - no height requirements, just dress to impress. In addition, tonight's event features a Kenneth Cole gifting suite, with watches for the ladies.

Tacos & Tequila Goes Late:

Starting Saturday, June 1, and running through the summer, Tacos & Tequila at Luxor will be offering a late-night menu, available 11 p.m. to close (time varies). Munchies for night owls will include guacamole, queso fundido, flautas, nachos, cheese or chicken quesadillas, habañero chicken wings and a three-taco combo, all priced at $6.

Epicurean Affair:

One of Las Vegas' major annual foodie fests takes place poolside at Palazzo this evening. Tickets, which start at $105, are still available for the Epicurean Affair, which is hosted by chef Daniel Boulud and will feature close to 75 top restaurants, nightclubs, and booze purveyors. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m.

Las Vegas This Memorial Day Weekend:

While for many this holiday weekend has come to mark the beginning of pool-season proper in Las Vegas, with headliner-hosted parties throughout the three days, we don't want to lose sight of what Memorial Day is actually about, so here's a link to the Nevada Office of Veterans Services website, where you can find details of the official ceremonies state-wide, commencing May 25. Entertainment-wise, here are the highlights: Andrew Dice Clay's back at the Hard Rock (5/23-5/26) Kathy Griffin does stand up at the Mirage (5/24), followed by Ron White (5/25-5/26) Ralphie May will be making 'em laugh at South Point (5/24-5-27) Fleetwood Mac entertains at MGM Grand (5/26) The Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival takes place downtown on Fremont Street (5/24-5/27) Jazz in the Park at the Clark County Amphitheater features Tom Scott (5/25) Aliante Casino + Hotel welcomes Gloriana (5/26) And Velasquez takes on Bigfoot at UFC 160 inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena (5/25) Pool Scene: Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion, takes the stage at Mandalay Bay Beach (5/25), followed by Bell Biv DeVoe (5/26) The Palms Pool welcomes Wiz Khalifa, (5/24), Big Sean (5/25), and Mark Stylz and Exodus (5/31) Charlie Sheen and Crystal Hefner host at the new Sapphire Dayclub (2/25) Daylight, the new beach club by the Light Group at Mandalay Bay, officially opens this weekend with entertainment by Axwell and Zedd (5/25), J. Cole and DJ Eric Dlux (5/26) by day, while new night party ECLIPSE debuts, featuring Skrillex with Alvin Risk, Baauer and Just Blaze (5/26) Plus, Diddy's back in town once again, this time to host and perform at Hard Rock's REHAB (5/26)

Sports Bar Betting Kiosks Under Threat:

A bill backed by the Nevada Resort Association, which represents many of the state's largest casinos, aiming to ban betting kiosks from sports bars and taverns, has been approved by the Senate. If approved by the Nevada Assembly, the the free-standing sports-wagering machines could be removed as soon as July 1. The concept of betting kiosks in bars was first introduced in the early 2000s with what were called Sports Bet Xpress (SBX) machines, which enjoyed a couple of months of beta testing in some 25 valley bar locations. One of the problems with these forerunners was that the machines were linked to the race and sports book at Bally's, which is where bettors were obliged to go to cash any winning tickets, an inconvenience that was evidently one of the key factors in the short-lived experiment's demise, as was the fact that customers needed a pre-funded account in order to bet, eliminating the possibility of impulse wagering. Today, independent sports-book operators Cantor Gaming and William Hill have kiosks installed in bars all over the valley that enable patrons to open instant accounts with their players card and withdraw funds on-site, but the NRA is arguing that these machines are in violation of the venues' restricted licenses, which officially limits gaming to a maximum of 15 slots and video poker machines, although the line has been deliberately allowed to blur by defining the kiosks as "associated equipment" as opposed to being a "race book" or "sports pool." Although the percentage of sports bets placed at such locations represents a small fraction of the state's annual sports-wagering total, the NRA also argues that the machines will take jobs away from casino sports books. Lobbyists for the kiosk operators counter that bets can now be placed anywhere via smartphones, and that if the neighborhood kiosks are removed, it will drive more illegal offshore betting.

Brews & Blues Festival:

Saturday, June 4, Springs Preserve hosts the Fourth Annual Brews & Blues Festival, featuring beers from local, regional, domestic, and international brewers, plus live entertainment in the Amphitheater from Twice as Good, Scott Rhiner & The Moanin' Blacksnakes, The Diane Kallay Band, and Dennis Jones. Tickets are available now online at the Springs Preserve website and from most Lee's Discount Liquor locations (but not Strip Liquor) for $35; on-the-day tix are $40.

Revived Strip Clubs Remains Nameless:

In an ironic twist of Sin City history, following a lawsuit brought by rival Vegas strip club Crazy Horse III -- which obviously was named in some deference to the legendary, if notorious Crazy Horse Too, whose own name was inspired by Paris' famous Crazy Horse cabaret -- the club, which has been closed since 2007 but is set to hold its "soft" reopening on Wednesday, is currently blocked from using the former Crazy Horse Too name. New owner Mike Galam, who also owns clubs in California, apparently has some alternate names up his sleeve, should the ban remain in place.

Third Prosecuted in Flamingo Bird Killing:

A third suspect has been charged in the case of the killing of a beloved 14-year-old helmeted guinea fowl at the Flamingo's Wildlife Habitat last year. Two students have now each been sentenced on misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges; the third, a law student who was responsible for deliberately decapitating the bird while intoxicated, is awaiting prosecution on felony charges and could face several years in prison. For more on this disturbing story, check out Question of the Day 5/5/13.

More Good Beer News:

Hofbräuhaus is now offering a free liter of their imported Hofbräu beers for those celebrating their 21st birthday. Prost!

US 95 Reopened:

U.S. Highway 95 has reopened to traffic following the earlier total shut down between Las Vegas Boulevard and the Spaghetti Bowl after a suspicious device was discovered on the shoulder. The small cylindrical metallic object has since been safely detonated. No word on what it was, but the area's now been declared safe.

Month-Long Beer Fest at Casa Fuente:

This June, Casa Fuente cigar bar and lounge inside The Forum Shops at Caesars hosts the return of Casa Beerfest -- a month-long celebration of all things beer, featuring selections of small-batch and craft beers to taste and highlighted by the second Casa Fuente Craft Beer Festival, scheduled for June 21-22. The festival will take place from noon until 6 p.m. both days and guests will be able to sample beers from all over the world. The event's free to attend, with tickets redeemable for beers available in four-packs for $20.

Strip Clubs Lovin' Locals:

Tonight sees the return of "Re-Loaded" industry appreciation night at Crazy Horse III: Open bar 9-11 p.m., $500 "Diamond Dollar" giveaways at 9 p.m. and midnight; and current cardholders and guests receive $50 beverage credit added to card; plus, new Sapphire Pool & Dayclub launches Industry Thursdays, featuring DJ Turbulence, no cover for locals, and free backyard BBQ.

Suspicious Package Closes 95:

NHP reports that US 95 has been shut down in both directions, between Las Vegas Boulevard and the Spaghetti Bowl, following the discovery of a "suspicious device." Traffic remains backed up and motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible. We'll keep you posted.

Soccer News:

In addition to the Saturday's Champions League monster final between Teutonic Titans Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich (check out Hofbrauhaus for a guaranteed party, plus the match is taking place at London's Wembley Stadium, so the Crown & Anchors will be a good bet for watching, too), comes more exciting news for soccer fans, with news that the biggest rivalry in Mexican soccer, El Súper Clásico, featuring Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club America, will be played in Las Vegas for the first time ever on Wednesday, July 3rd at Sam Boyd Stadium. Tickets, available at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square, Mariana’s and La Bonita Super Markets, online at UNLVtickets.com, or by calling 866-388-3267, go on sale tonight at 10 p.m. and start at $28.

Swift Turnaround for Revel:

Revel, the luxurious but much-troubled new Atlantic City resort, which suffered a $111.1 million gross operating loss in its first year of operation, has emerged from bankruptcy protection after just two months, following a drastic financial overhaul and a change of ownership.

KRAVE Massive Hiring:

The postponed debut of the world's largest gay nightclub is now fixed for June 15, so KRAVE Massive downtown is actively hiring, with a job fair on premises from 2-6 p.m. Monday, June 3. Positions (all of which are prefixed with "model-", obviously), include: bartenders, barbacks, security, servers, bussers, porters, greeters, and hosts. In addition, every Wednesday at 3 p.m. between now and opening, sister venue Drink 'n Drag will hold open auditions for models, go go dancers, and Cirque-type bendy acrobat performance people.

Criss Angel Stunt Revisited:

Wednesday night, headlining Strip magician Criss Angel is due to take a second shot at a stunt for his new Spike TV series that heavy winds forced him to abandon last week. The latest death-defying feat, which will be filmed at 9:30 p.m. in front of a live volunteer audience outside the Mirage is for an illusion called "Cement Grave" which, in addition to being buried alive, apparently also involves walking, blindfolded, on a 100-foot-high steel beam.

NASCAR Backtrack:

Countering reports earlier today that his threat to move the October Sprint Cup and Nationwide races to Las Vegas from Charlotte was a "done deal," Speedway Motorsports owner Bruton Smith has now issued a statement saying no final decision has been made regarding any race date move and that he has not discussed the issue with NASCAR, but remains unhappy with the political situation in North Carolina vis-a-vis tax increases that he claims are damaging the tourist industry, in which he's a heavy investor.

Caution Urged to Freeway Drivers:

Starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, digital message signs on Nevada freeways will start bearing statistics relating statewide traffic fatality statistics, in addition to information about travel times. The signs will also offer safe driving tips, all as part of the Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a campaign aimed at halving the number of deaths on Nevada's roads by 2030 -- according to official Transportation Dept. figures, there have been 104 traffic-related fatalities so far this year.

Free Food for Rock Kids:

Starting in June, Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip will offer a free item from the kids’ menu for children aged 12 and under, with a purchase of an adult entrée. The deal will run Monday-Friday, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The deal, which does not include beverages, or tax and gratuity on the kid's item, will run through August 31.

Celebration for Moulin Rouge:

This Thursday, May 23, the downtown's Neon Museum is hosting a commemorative evening in honor of the 58th anniversary of the opening of the historic Moulin Rouge, Las Vegas' first non-segregated casino. The Moulin Rouge was demolished in 2010, having been derelict for many years, after it was badly damaged by a fire, but the museum's Neon Boneyard is home to its famous sign, designed by legendary local Betty Willis, who was also responsible for the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign and the much-loved Blue Angel Motel statue. Thursday's event, which will feature several noted local historians and excerpts from a new documentary about the Moulin Rouge, is free and open to the public, but guests are requested to RSVP to Events@NeonMuseum.org. Doors at 5:50 p.m.; event starts at 6 p.m. Visit Events@NeonMuseum.org" target="_blank">neonmuseum.org for more information.

Entity Betting Stalls:

A bid to legalize "entity betting" -- sports bets by organized groups, such as hedge funds -- was shot down when it didn't come up for a vote in the Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing. It likely won't be eligible again until 2015.

Louie Anderson to the Plaza:

Comedian Louie Anderson is moving his act to the Plaza. He'll begin what's being called an "open-ended run" on July 10, with tickets starting at $59.95. The Plaza's entertainment situation has been a mess of late, but Anderson and his show that doesn't rely on outside help for production value should provide stability.

Powerball Jackpot Falls Short of $600 Million:

The big Powerball jackpot came in a little lower than expected at $590.5 million. Two second-prize tickets were awarded just over $2.3 million each.

Downtown Grand Hiring:

The Downtown Grand is taking applications for positions throughout the resort. More than 800 employees are being sought to staff the resort which is scheduled to open in September. Get more information at fifthstreetgaming.com/careers.

Where's Kirk?:

In a strange report from news.com in Australia, Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, ex-wife of Kirk Kerkorian, claims that the 95-year-old casino mogul is missing and is being held captive by his attorneys. No reason for the alleged incarceration was given and a representative from Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. responded, "There are no facts to support Bonder's claims and therefore no merit whatsoever to the allegations she has made." Kerkorian is known to be extremely reclusive, which might have something to do with any recent absences.

LVH Adds Resort Fee:

Another one bites the dust. As of June 1, LVH will charge a resort fee of $18 per night. The mandatory fee is for wireless Internet access, local and 800 calls, fitness-center access, in-room safe, and an LVH coupon book. Check out the list of all Las Vegas casino-hotel resort fees here.

Gambling Golfers:

In an NCAA survey of college athletes and gambling, golfers were found to gamble more than participants in any other sport. For example, the survey reported that 44.4% of male golfers had gambled on sports in the past year, compared to 24.9% for all other sports. The culture of golf, which promotes gambling in personal play, is responsible for the disparity.

WillHill to DG:

William Hill will operate the race & sports book at the Downtown Grand (formerly Lady Luck). The book will have a dedicated Third Street entrance and be designed to look like a U.K. betting shop. The DG is scheduled to open in September.

WSOP Next Online?:

It looks as though Caesars Entertainment's WSOP brand will be the next legal online poker site. CET officials say they hope to launch the site during the World Series of Poker, which begins May 29. The strategy is to launch in time for players to win seats into the Main Event.

Desert Blue Back in Action:

After a five-year hiatus, construction has started again on Wyndham Vacation Resorts' 19-story, 281-unit timeshare, located on Twain just west of I-15 (and part of the view from Anthony Curtis' office). Inspection and testing commenced last week to determine the exposure-related effects sustained by the Desert Blue project while on hold. It was originally slated for completion in 2010.

Powerball Hit:

A single winning ticket for the giant Powerball lottery jackpot was purchased in Florida. The final tallies aren't in, but the jackpot is expected to be over $600 million and rank as the second-largest ever, behind the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2012. The winning numbers were 10, 13, 14, 22, 52, and a Powerball of 11.

Toronto Casino Project Nixed:

Possible plans for a multi-billion dollar downtown Toronto resort-casino complex, to which all of Nevada's largest casino operators (CET, MRI, Sands, and Wynn) had committed development money, appears unlikely to progress following the decision by the city mayor, a key proponent of the plan, to cancel a vote scheduled for next week that many predicted would go against the proposal.

UFC Belfort/Rockhold:

Luke Rockhold is a slight -120 favorite over Vitor Belfort in tonight's UFC Main Event. In the other featured matches, Ronoldo Souza is -575 over Chris Camozzi and Rafael Natal is -340 over Jaoa Zeferino.

New Show from Jabbawockeez:

PRiSM, the brand new show from the eight-member, all-male, hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez, debuts in its custom-built theater at Luxor tonight. Tickets start at $70.

Maloofs Sell Kings:

The Maloof family has agreed to sell its Sacramento Kings NBA franchise for $535 million, a deal that will reportedly net them $230 million. The family had owned the team since 1999 and Palms casino founder George Maloof was often seen courtside with brothers Gavin and Joe. The sale will remove the restriction that disallowed betting Kings games at the Palms.

Preakness Odds:

Kentucky Derby winner Orb is the morning-line favorite at even money for today's Preakness Stakes. He's followed by Mylute at 5-1 and Departing at 6-1. The long shot is Titletown Five at 30-1.

Monster Powerball Jackpot:

With no winner on Wednesday night, at $236 million ticket-being frenzy has meant that the Powerball jackpot has now climbed to an estimated $600 million, making it the largest prize in the game’s history and the world’s second-largest lottery prize ever, behind 2012's $656 million Mega Millions jackpot..

Terrible's Transforming to Silver Sevens:

Terrible's Casino which, through a licensing agreement, had continued to operate under the former Terrible Herbst brand name following a ownership due to Chapter 11 reorganization, is now to get a new identity as the Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino. The current marquee and signage — including the iconic cowboy logo, which is being donated to the Neon Museum — are being removed right now. The new branding is due to be place by late next month, in time for a 7/7 grand unveiling.

Pinnacle Deal Approved:

Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment’s $869 million merger with Ameristar Casinos (see "Today's News" 5/1/2013) has been officially approved by Nevada gaming regulators, although federal antitrust authorities still having to completely sign off on the deal and regulatory approval is still required in five other states.

Las Vegas Car Stars:

Today and tomorrow, Fremont Street will host Las Vegas Car Stars, a free event featuring a large gathering of TV and movie cars, VIP parties, and guest appearances by various actors and stunt performers.

Liberace Biopic Debuts Soon:

HBO's much-anticipated Behind the Candelabra, the story of Liberace's lifestyle and secret lover, is set to debut in the U.S. on May 26, and actor Rob Lowe, who plays the flamboyant entertainer's plastic surgeon, gave a hilarious interview that aired on ABC News' Good Morning America today, describing it as "unlike any other movie" and "so gay, it makes an average episode of 'Glee' look like 'The Expendables.'" Of the two principals, Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, he observes: "When you see them having a love scene, you know that the spectacle of Jason Bourne getting it on with Gordon Gekko is pretty extraordinary." Coincidentally, on this date that marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), today's Question of the Day is about the rise of Las Vegas as a top LGBT travel destination, including a round-up of the current gay nightlife scene in town.

Wet 'n' Wild Auction:

If you'd like to be one of the first people to experience the new Las Vegas water park that debuts Memorial Day weekend, they're auctioning off four tickets on eBay to raise funds for the Andre Agassi Foundation (he's an investor in the project) and Opportunity Village. The auctions (one each for the "Rattler," "Constrictor," "Hoover Half-Pipe," and "Royal Flush Extreme") end at noon on Thursday, May 23.

More Trouble on Charleston:

Charleston Boulevard is now closed in both directions between Rainbow and Torry Pines, following another traffic accident that has left a pedestrian in critical condition. Pedestrian struck, Charleston closed from Rainbow to Torrey Pines.

Lights Out at Busy Intersection:

The intersection of Charleston and Decatur will be a four-way stop until 10 p.m. tonight, following an earlier accident that damaged the traffic-signal controller cabinet. Drivers are advised to use U.S. Highway 95 or Sahara Avenue for east/west travel or Rainbow for north/south.

The Return of Drai's:

The return of the granddaddy of the Las Vegas after-hours scene is imminent, with Drai's set to reopen at its temporary home at Bally's on May 23. The club will be located on the casino level, behind Indigo Lounge and adjacent to the property's restaurants. The venue is a stop-gap while the conversion of Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon to Vandervoort Las Vegas is underway. In other "after-hours" news, we spoke with Treasures yesterday and were informed that the company still owns the former strip club temporarily known as Cover Girls (which is "long gone," we were assured) and that NV After Hours, the regular late-night club that this venue on DI opened as briefly in April, is still an ongoing concern, although they have no idea when it may open again or operate on a regular basis. We'll keep you posted.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

In addition to the 4-day cowboy bash downtown (see previous item), there's all kinds of other stuff going on this weekend. Here are some of the highlights: Billy Elliott - The Musical continues at the Smith Center (5/14-5/19) Frankie Avalon performs at South Point (5/17-5/19) The Venetian welcomes comedian Tim Allen (5/17-5/18) Lifehouse entertains at Mandalay Bay Beach (5/17) The Palms Pool welcomes Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas (5/17) The annual free weekly Jazz in the Park series is underway at Clark County Amphitheater, this week featuring the Jeff Hamilton Trio (5/18) The Little River Band takes the stage at Santa Fe Station (5/18) And it's the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand, so expect lots of stars in town (5/19)

Helldorado Days at El Cortez:

May 16-19, during the annual Las Vegas Elks Helldorado Days Rodeo, a cowboy-themed festival featuring a professional rodeo, parade, and carnival that dates back to 1934, El Cortez will offer $3 Crown Royal specials at all casino bars, plus Rodeo attendees who visit the downtown casino will be eligible for a nightly drawing to win $200 cash, two tickets to the NFR, and a two-night stay in a Cabana or Tower room. Show your ticket stub at Club Cortez to receive an entry into the drawing; one winner will be selected each night and you must be present to win. Drawing times are Thursday, May 16 at 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18 at 11 p.m., and Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m.

rm Upstairs Closed for "Reconcepting":

The long-anticipated closure of RM Upstairs, the high-concept, sleek-and-sexy second-floor dimension to Rick Moonen's Mandalay Bay restaurant that failed to ever experience the success it deserved, not least because of the somewhat obscure location, has finally taken place. The more casual downstairs restaurant will remain open for business while upstairs is transformed into Rx Boiler Room, which will specialize in lower-priced comfort food and is slated to open sometime in July, reports Robin Leach in the LV Sun.

Evil Dead Honors Punk Fans:

To celebrate Memorial Day weekend's Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival downtown, Evil Dead the Musical is celebrating freaks of all flavors with a BOGO or 50%-off deal on tix to the ultimate "4D" bloodfest experience, currently enjoying a long run at the V Theater. Quote code: PRB0513.

New Burlesque Show Hiring:

Beautiful: The Musical, a new (non-topless, non-Equity) burlesque show coming to the Strip's Boulevard Theater this July, is holding open auditions today and tomorrow, May 16. Sorry for the short notice -- only just heard!

Timberlake Adds Extra Date:

Justin Timberlake will now perform two dates in Las Vegas as part of his fall solo tour (as opposed to the summer tour with Jay-Z), due to the first performance selling out so quickly. "The 20/20 Experience World Tour" will now hit the MGM Grand Garden Arena for back-to-back dates on Nov. 29 and now also Nov. 30, with tickets, which start at $60, going on sale to the general public on Friday, May 24 at 10 a.m. Various pre-sale opportunities are also available for Fan Club members and others -- click the link for details.

Gloves Off at Goretorium:

According to gossip site TMZ, things could be about to get nasty at Eli Roth's Goretorium, the permanent house of horror located in the Harmon Retail Center. Following a ticket-price drop six weeks after the attraction debuted, and lots of Groupon-type discounts since, comes word that The Uprising Creative, a design company hired to produce promo materials for the Goretorium (logo, videos, etc.) has filed a lawsuit in L.A. over non-payment of a $51K bill. According to an inside source, March was the attraction's first break-even month since last October (if a haunted house can't break even in Halloween month, that would be a really bad sign) and a partner in the enterprise apparently threatened to file for bankruptcy if Uprising sued. Watch this space for updates...

Crazy Horse Too Confirms:

Despite news of a copyright lawsuit launched by Crazy Horse III gentlemen's, club regarding the proposed launch of the famous Crazy Horse Too under its original name, we just received word from the latter that its soft opening is still set for May 23, with a grand opening scheduled for June 1, so far still under the CH Too moniker. As is often the case, house fees will be waived for dancers for the first 10 days of biz and they're auditioning for talent now; follow @ToplessVegas for updates (and new dedicated Topless Vegas website coming v. soon -- stay tuned!)

Powerball Fever Strikes Again:

For the first time since last November, when it climbed to a record $425 million, the inter-state Powerball jackpot has reached crazy levels, with the current jackpot having climbed to $360 million (a cash value of almost $230 million). It will be the first such mega-jackpot since the Primm Valley Lotto Store, just across the California state line and one of the closest places for Las Vegans to purchase a ticket, received permission to sell Powerball tix at the end of last year, on the back of which the facility also upgraded with a $200,000 makeover. With the increase in lottery-ticket traffic that Wednesday night's drawing is almost certainly generating, it's lucky they added those four new lottery service terminals and a couple of extra self-service kiosks back in April.

Free Wi-Fi Rollout at MRI - the Lowdown:

If you're a geek, or a gadget freak, or simply want to check your email when you're in town, check out today's Question of the Day, which tells you all you could possibly want to know about MGM Resorts International's roll-out of free Wi-Fi in all its Las Vegas resorts. It's true, it's happening, and we got all the deets from the horse's mouth (i.e., the very helpful Senior VP and Chief Digital Officer for MRI). Check it out (it's live for all to read until midnight, when it becomes available to LVA members only). Also, if you haven't voted in our current Reader Poll (and many thanks to the 2,000+ of you who have), then you have until midnight to express your thoughts; after that, a brand spanking new survey goes live...

Plaintiff Awarded $70 Million in Sands Macau Case:

Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen has been awarded a $70 million judgment against Las Vegas Sands Corp., in a case revolving around Suen's alleged role in obtaining the company a gaming license in Macau -- an arrangement the casino giant claims he did not make good on. It's the second time (the appropriately named) Suen has filed a lawsuit against the company; an earlier attempt to obtain damages in 2004, which resulted in him being awarded $58.6 million, was subsequently overturned by the Nevada Supreme Court, in part because the judge ruled that inadmissible hearsay statements had been allowed during the trial.

Real World Casting Call:

The producers of MTV's reality show, about to enter its 29th season, will be at Tommy Rocker's on Dean Martin Drive this coming Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as part of a nationwide casting call. Las Vegas has twice been the host city for the series -- you can still rent the "Real World" suite in the Palms' Fantasy Tower -- but the location for the new season has yet to be announced.

Bob Dancer on Picking Your Battles:

The new weekly Bob Dancer article holds some interesting lessons on user error vs. machine malfunction, how a casino may react to a "missed" video poker hand, and when it's worth arguing about.

Penn Named Finalist, Launches Ice Cream:

CET headliners were out in force this afternoon to help Penn Jillette, who's been named as a finalist on NBC’s "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice," launch the ice-cream flavor he'd been tasked with making. Teller, along with fellow magician Mac King, plus George Wallace, Taylor Hicks, and the showgirls of Jubilee!, were there to taste and distribute pints of Penn's Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swirtle, which features salted caramel swirls and chunks of chocolate. The flavor is up against Trace Adkins’ Maple Macadamia Mash-Up and if Penn can sell more of his Magic Swirtle, Walgreen’s will award $100,000 to Opportunity Village. The winner of the series will be announced May 19.

New Baccarat Pit at Nugget:

The Golden Nugget has just opened a new baccarat pit. Located directly off the Rush Tower main lobby and valet entrance, the pit features four tables capable of accommodating up to 32 players, plus three 60" televisions, a small lounge area, and the option of tableside dining from Red Sushi (or from any of the Nugget’s other restaurants). In celebration of the new pit, the casino is hosting a $30,000 Grand Opening Mini-Baccarat Invitational May 15–18. Players should inquire with a casino host about ways to qualify.

New Owners for 51s:

The Las Vegas 51s baseball team, which has called downtown's Cashman Field home for the past 30 years, has been sold for $20 million to the Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC, a local joint venture of the Howard Hughes Corporation and Play Ball Owners Group, reports the R-J. The new owners, who purchased the team from the Stevens Group, whose owners include Derek Stevens, also owner of the D and part owner of the Golden Gate, hope to move the team to a new 9,000-seat venue to be called The Ballpark at Summerlin Centre, located on a site donated by the Howard Hughes Corporation next to Red Rock Resort. The plan is to float bonds via a three-way partnership between the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, and the LVCVA to finance the $65-million facility, which would also include a "mini-urban village."

Casinos Post Second-Highest Win:

Commercial casinos in the U.S. had a collective win of $37.34 billion in 2012. It was the second-highest total ever, following the $37.52 billion in 2007, and a 4.8% increase over 2011. The total includes land-based, riverboat, and race track casinos in 23 states; Native American casinos are not considered. Nevada had the highest win figure at $10.86 billion, followed by Pennsylvania ($3.16 billion), New Jersey ($3.05 billion), Indiana ($2.61 billion), and Louisiana ($2.40 billion).

A Bingo Kind of Day:

The new bingo room at Green Valley Ranch debuts today, with lots of grand-opening giveaways and sessions running every two hours from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Coincidentally (or maybe not so), South Point initiates free bingo today, with 10 $100 games running at the 9 a.m. session, Mondays-Fridays.

Hollywood Park Closing:

Betfair Hollywood Park is closing after 75 years of horse racing. The Inglewood California-based track that hosted Seabiscuit, Seattle Slew, Citation, and Affirmed, and was the site of the first Breeder's Cup in 1984 will close following the conclusion of its fall meet on Dec. 22 and be redeveloped into retail and housing. It's the second iconic California track to close, following San Francisco's Bay Meadows in 2008.

Happy Mother's Day:

Check out our list of Mother's Day activities posted in this space on 5/10. South Point is awarding 10X points on penny slots, 5X on all other slots, and 2X on video poker all day.

RIP Vegas:

In reference to today's Question of the Day, we just learned from a reader, and confirmed via the Twitter of co-star Michael Chiklis, that the CBS series based on the life of former Las Vegas sheriff Ralph Lamb, will not be renewed for a second series. Reviews have been mixed, but ultimately it was the demographic skew (too old) that was the show's downfall. Here's what Chiklis posted, following the announcement: "Sad news, friends. No Season 2 for @Vegas_CBS. Thanks for all your love and support. I am deeply proud of our show. Thanks to all the fans that supported, as well as the cast, crew, writers, network and studio. A tremendous amount of talent and class." He ends with typical class and the perfect swansong: "That's life, that's what people say. You're riding high in April, Shot down in May. But I know I'm gonna change their tune, When I'm right back on top in June. That's life, funny as it seems. Some people get their kicks, Steppin' on dreams But I just can't let it get me down, Cause this big old world keeps spinnin' around. I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king. I've been up and down and over and out But I know one thing: Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race. That's life, I can't deny it, I thought of quitting, But my heart just won't buy it. Cause if I didn't think it was worth a try, I'd have to roll myself up in a big ball and die."

UB Cheating Tape Released:

In a bombshell development, a tape has been released with conversations verifying details of the Ultimate Bet Poker cheating scandal that led to the demise of that online poker site. Participating in the discussion are World Series of Poker champion and Ultimate Bet principal Russ Hamilton, UB founder and current president of iovation (a poker-software company) Greg Pierson, and the attornies for each. On the tape, Hamilton admits to stealing as much as $16 million from players using a peeking device that was secretly built into the UB software. The tape was released by Travis Makar, who was Hamilton's assistant and had been originally accused of being behind the cheating operation.

McFadden's Returning, Hiring:

According to the Vegas Chatter blog, which tends to know about these things, the Irish pub that formerly operated inside the Rio will be returning to Las Vegas, after a year-and-a-half-or-so hiatus, to a venue in Town Square. They're hosting a job fair May 16-18, presumably at the new location. We'll post more details as we get them.

Riverboat Casino to Close:

CET has announced plans to shut down its Harrah's Council Bluffs casino and will move operations onto dry land into a converted convention-center space. It's part of a wider trend, as states relax the laws that once confined casino-operations to offshore riverboats: today there are seven excursion-boat gambling halls in Iowa, three each on the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers, and one on a small lake near Osceola, down from 10 in 2004. But maintenance and flooding issues, coupled with a 2007 relaxation of regulations, means that this number is likely to dwindle further in coming years.

Harley-Davidson on the Strip:

A new Harley-Davidson dealership is planned for the Strip. The $18 million, two-story, 50,000-square-foot "flagship" dealership will be built just north of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign" on the spot where the Klondike used to stand, and will replace the dealership that's currently operating on Eastern Avenue. In addition to selling motorcycles, there will be several attractions that are expected to draw tourists. The dealership is scheduled to open in late 2014.

Paradise Firefly Won't Reopen:

With the number of food-poisoning cases rising above 200, Firefly owner, John Simmons, says that he will not reopen his restaurant on Paradise, where the incident occurred. He indicated in an interview in today's LV Review-Journal that he had intended to close the restaurant anyway and open a new Firefly, also located on Paradise, before the end of the month.

Daylight Releases May Lineup:

Daylight Beach Club, the new adult-pool phenomenon coming to Mandalay Bay's already-impressive array of Cool Pools, today announced its opening daylife lineup, which features a string of top-name DJs by day, starting with Axwell and Zedd on May 25, plus the schedule for the Wednesday "Daylight at Night" Eclipse series, which debuts May 22 (with a special guest appearance by Skrillex on Sun., May 26). Locals are free before midnight.

Mother's Day, Vegas-Style:

There are lots of mini-promos going on to brighten mom's day, like a free flower here or a cocktail there, but here are some of the bigger planned festivities, if you haven't already pinned down your plans for Sunday: The Resort on Mount Charleston is upping the ante with the Mother’s Day Brunch and Room Package: Book a stay at the resort for Sunday, May 12 and receive two Mother’s Day adult buffet passes, with rooms starting at $115. Rice & Company at Luxor is pairing a special Hot Mama Roll with the Mama Son’s Kiss cocktail for $25 on Sunday. RA Sushi is offering Happy Hour specials on food and drink all day Sunday. Madame Tussauds at Venetian is offering all moms free admission to the attraction with the purchase of a child or adult general admission ticket Take your mom -- or any mom! -- to the new Sapphire Pool & Dayclub and she'll be treated to free admission (reg. $30) and a complimentary bottle of bubbly. Check out the Sunday Brunch menu from Kerry Simon, too. On the subject of gentlemen's clubs, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club is hosting its annual Mother's Day MILF Hunt contest on Sunday, with free admission to all ladies and $2,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs for the milfiest. For $25/person Public House Las Vegas at Luxor is offering a prix-fixe lunch menu, featuring bottomless mimosas. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will serve a three-course set menu for $36.95 per guest on Sunday and all moms receive a $25 dining card, valid for a future visit. Sunday will feature a four-course "Mama Mia" menu at Meatball Spot at Town Square for 24.95 per person and all ladies will be treated to a complimentary mimosa, Bloody Mary, or sangria. SHe by Morton’s inside The Shops at Crystals will feature a three-course specialty menu for $68 per person, with all moms receiving a complimentary box of handmade chocolate truffles. Downtown, Club Cortez members can treat mom to a FREE steakhouse meal on May 12 at The Flame with the purchase of an entrée. And last but not least, N9NE Steakhouse at Palms will offer a three-course menu, for $75 per person. All guests ordering off this prix-fixe menu will be treated to complimentary ticket to see The Great Gatsby at Brenden Theaters inside Palms.

More Dates for Dice Clay:

It's actually turning into a real residency, with word that shock-comic Andrew Dice Clay's limited-duration run at Hard Rock's Vinyl venue, which was slated to end on Sunday, will now be extended through September 1 (just like Coco's run in Peepshow ... No, we're not even pretending to suggest that's anything more than pure coincidence!)

Shrimp Cocktail Travels Back in Time:

In honor of that prestigious annual event known as National Shrimp Day, from 2-5 p.m. today downtown's Golden Gate is rolling back the price on its legendary shrimp cocktail to 50 cents -- the original price when the snack was first introduced back in 1959. Currently served in Du-par’s Restaurant, the discounted shrimp cocktail will be available while supplies last. And, in case you missed our May 2 homage to all things shrimpy in Las Vegas, here's an expanded list of tidbits and trivia: It was Golden Gate founding partner Italo Ghelfi who was inspired to bring the San Francisco staple to Sin City in the late '50s and it's been a signature of the hotel, which has now served some 40 million shrimp cocktails (more than a billion individual shrimp!), ever since. Las Vegas is the shrimp-eating capital of the world, with visitors and locals together collectively consuming some 22 million pounds of shrimp a year -- that's 60,000 pounds every day -- which is almost as much as in the whole of the rest of the United States combined. The price of the Golden Gate's shrimp cocktail was still 50 cents when Anthony Curtis published the first-ever edition of the the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, back in Feb. 1983 and included it as #4 in the inaugural LVA Top Ten Values List. The Gate gets through approximately 217 lbs of Bay shrimp daily, plus 54 lbs of the big shrimp in the other cocktail they serve. Both varieties are served with their secret spicy signature sauce. Sadly, the 2011 experiment to introduce a shrimp farm to North Las Vegas was not able to stand the test of time, although Blue Oasis appears to have a victim of the ongoing general economic woes and its demise was on no account due to any deficiency in the product. A buyer for Las Vegas' venerable Great Western Meats with whom we spoke back in January lamented the passing of Oasis, describing the shrimp as having such good flavor they even tasted great raw, and that it had been wonderful to be able to offer fresh, farm-raised, preservative-free shrimp to his customers. Now he's been forced to return to the frozen variety, but perhaps down the line the shrimp-farm concept will get another shot. If the Golden Gate appetizer gives you a taste for more shrimp, Trevi in the Forum Shops at Caesars is the only other venue we've heard of to date that's honoring the diminutive crustacean via an exclusive shrimp-pasta trio, available today only. The dish, priced at $24.95 per person, includes shrimp pesto made with fettuccine and sautéed shrimp, topped with sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and basil in a pesto cream sauce; shrimp alfredo, made with fettuccine and sautéed shrimp in an alfredo cream sauce; and shrimp amatriciana, made with grilled shrimp, spaghetti, pancetta, tomato concassé and onions, topped with homemade marinara. Yum!

Blue Man Procession:

Blue Man Group, now performing nightly at Monte Carlo, performs a free daily procession through the casino floor at 6:15 p.m., aside from on the show's rare dark days, the next of which is Sunday, May 19.

Coco Adds Dates:

Reality TV celebrity Coco Austin has extended her current starring role in Planet Hollywood's Peepshow with performances now through September 1.

Free Rides for Moms at San Gennaro:

The bi-annual Italian food fest is underway and runs through May 12 at 4245 S. Grand Canyon Dr. (off W. Flamingo), with free carnival rides for moms tonight. General admission is $9 when you purchase at the San Gennaro website or .$10 at the gate. The event opens at 4 p.m. today and runs till 11 p.m.; check the site for extended hours through the weekend.

Upgrades Coming for Ultimate Poker:

Vegas Inc. reports how Station Casinos is aware of some of the weak spots in its newly launched Ultimate Poker site, but decided to prioritize being the first legal for-money online poker site to launch over having all bugs removed and bells and whistles added, also in the belief that it would be easier to spot and fix the glitches and increase games and functionality once the site was up and running. Click the link for more on this story.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Of course it's Mother's Day (don't forget!), and we'll have a round-up of some of the specials on offer this year to celebrate your mom, but in the meantime, here are some of the other entertainment highlights to choose from: Andrew Dice Clay entertains at the Hard Rock (5/9-5/12) Ray Romano does stand up at the Mirage (5/10-5/11) The Osmonds perform at the Orleans (5/10-5/12) Sunset Station welcomes Foreigner (5/11) Mary Wilson of The Supremes is at Suncoast (5/11-5/12) The Beach Boys perform out at the Cannery (5/11), while "ABBA: The Concert" takes the stage at Eastside Cannery (5/12) And MGM Grand welcomes The Rolling Stones (5/11)

AC on Gambling Tips and Bang for the Buck:

USA Today has started rolling out the series of informative videos it shot with Anthony Curtis and other experts for the new dedicated "Experience Vegas" website. AC's first couple of video shorts tackle Gambling Tips & Tricks and how to get the most Bang for Your Buck.

Vegas Uncork'd:

Bon Appetite's annual Vegas Uncork'd gourmet food and wine festival kicks off today, running through May 13, with an array of events taking place citywide, including celebrity-chef hosted dinners, parties, poolside tastings, seminars and demos, and more. Click for a full schedule of events (some of which are already sold out).

Cabanas for Charity at Palms Pool:

Starting May 13, every Monday Palms Pool & Bungalows will be offering cabanas for $100 (reg. $500) to benefit the Achievement Academy, a local nonprofit that provides education and therapy for those with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders. For inquiries and reservations email: Tables@palms.com

More New Dining for the Mirage:

It's been announced that Masaharu Morimot of Food Network’s "Iron Chef America" will be opening a new Japanese restaurant at the Mirage. Slated to open in early 2014, Morimoto Las Vegas will take the spot currently occupied by Japonais, featuring a menu of its namesake's contemporary Japanese cuisine and signature sushi. The news is the latest move in an ongoing shake-up of the F&B scene at the Strip hotel, which is due to see a new steakhouse by Tom Colicchio, Heritage Steak, debut later this summer.

Get UnStitched at Commonwealth:

On May 15 Stitched, the men's clothing and accessory store at Cosmopolitan, is holding a "Pop Up" sale as part of the weekly "Commonwealth Wednesdays" art, music, and fashion event at downtown's new bar and restaurant. offering locals up to 70% off regular retail prices, the "UnStitched" sale, which will take place from 6-9 p.m., will also offer shoppers a free gift (with tweet) at checkout, in addition to featuring sponsored cocktails. The sale is in part to help store owners gauge demand for a Stitched location downtown, so fans should get on down there to support this local brand.

Traffic Delays on LV Blvd. at Charleston:

Significant traffic delays are expected tonight at Charleston and Las Vegas Boulevards, from 7 p.m. until midnight, as the intersection becomes a four-way stop as traffic lights are serviced. Drivers are advised to avoid the area by taking alternate routes like Bonanza Road and Sahara Avenue going east/west, or Main Street/Maryland Parkway for north and southbound traffic.

Southsest Site Back Up to Speed:

Earlier this afternoon Southwest.com, the website for Las Vegas visitors' most-used airline, was experiencing some technical issues, but we just learned via their Twitter that all is now back up and running smoothly.

Reggae Pool Party Gets Even Bigger:

Rock 'n Roll Wine is holding its 9th Annual Reggae Pool Party and poolside wine tasting at Palms Pool on Saturday, May 18th. This year, in addition to live reggae and 120 wines to try, there will be a Confection Corner for those with a sweet tooth, featuring Gigi's Cupcakes, Ethel M Chocolates, and Chocolate Shop wines. The event will also include a Barefoot Party Balcony (open to all guests), plus a poolside showroom from jeweler MJ Christensen (lots of beads for sale, supporting good causes!) Thanks to local sponsor Nettles Law Firm, Designated Driver's Inc. will be on site to take guests -- and their cars -- home, if necessary. Reggae, wine, chocolate, and a free ride home? Who could possibly ask for more? So check the rocknrollwine.com website for more info about bands and other wineries at the event, then buy your tickets before someone else beats you to it.

Slot Parlor Proposal for MA:

While casino heavyweights continue to duke it out for the three unrestricted casino licenses currently up for grabs in Massachusetts, Maryland casino developer The Cordish Companies has now entered the running for the state's sole slot-parlor license, having found a potential site for its proposed $200 million hotel-casino, just off Interstate 495 in Boxborough. Three other companies are vying for the same slots-only license, which includes provision for up to 1,250 slot machines.

Open Days at Springs Preserve:

May 10 is National Public Gardens Day, and to celebrate, the Springs Preserve is getting things going a day early, with hourly themed guided tours of the Botanical Gardens on Thursday and Friday this week. The attraction has been named among the "Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For" and will be holding raffles for a chance to win prizes including a one-on-one consultation with he facility's "Dr. Green Thumb," Linn Mills. Other opportunities will include a chance to pose your gardening questions to Springs Preserve's Master Gardeners. The two-day event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9 and 10, with the themed garden tours taking place until 4 p.m. You'd think it would be free but it's not, unless you're a member; otherwise, regular General Admission pricing applies, which is $9.95 for locals and $18.95 for out-of-towners.

Soccer Finals Viewing at Hofbräuhaus:

Hofbräuhaus will host a viewing party for the all-German final of the UEFA Champions League, featuring Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund, on Saturday, May 25. There will be big-screen TVs inside and in the beer garden, and the steins will likely be overflowing. If you've caught the soccer bug at all, then you definitely will want to see this match, and even if you haven't, it should be impressive. Spanish teams arguably have the best players in the world currently, with stars like Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Messi (Barcelona), but the two German teams beat Barcelona and Real Madrid, on Spanish soil, 4-0 and 4-1, respectively, to make it to this final and face each other. That is how good these two teams are, so it should be a great game.

Oscar Celebrates Being Oscar:

Former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman is celebrating the upcoming May 21 release of his second* memoir Being Oscar – From Mob Lawyer to Mayor of Las Vegas, Only in America, with a three-day "Being Oscar Bash" hosted by downtown's Mob Museum. The event lineup goes as follows: Thursday, May 23 A celebration featuring live entertainment and surprise guest appearances from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Mob Museum. Admission is $10 for the general public (Museum members are free). Each attendee will receive a complimentary cocktail (presumably a Bombay Sapphire martini, although this has not been specified) and a signature "Being Oscar" face fan (you know it'll be collectible* one day). Goodman himself will address guests in the Museum’s courtroom at 7:30 p.m., after which he'll be available to sign copies of his book (not sure how/where to sign a face fan, but where there's a will, there's always a way). Books, food, and drink will be all be available for purchase. Friday, May 24 The museum will host the first "official" Las Vegas book signing with Goodman (as opposed to the previous day's unofficial one). This time around, all guests will receive free admission (with the purchase of a book), with three 30-minute presentations by Goodman at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., followed by book signings. These events will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Photo ops and face fans (becoming less exclusive by the minute, but see below) will be available to all. Saturday, May 25 At 10:30 a.m., the former mayor will make a grand entrance at The Mob Museum, where he will gather with members of the public—all holding "Being Oscar" face fans—for a photograph on the Museum’s front steps. In addition to free admission (with the purchase of ... yea, you get it), guests will also have the chance to compete in a "Being Oscar" lookalike contest to be judged by the good man himself, as well as a trivia contest. Raffle prizes will be given out all day. Goodman will sign copies of his book for Museum attendees from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There's an online contest on Vine, too Being Oscar contest on Vine, too, not to mention an Oscar Goodman Bobble Head Treasure Hunt downtown, too, but this has taken up far too much time and space already, so click the links for details. P.S. If you can't wait until May 21, you can check out Oscar Goodman's first memoir Of Rats and Men (not much has happened since, as far as we know).

Bob Dancer Gets Personal:

This week's column from our video poker expert has very little to do with gambling, at least not in any professional game-playing sense; instead, Bob Dancer has taken the opportunity to use this forum to deliver an unexpected personal announcement.

First Real-Money Skill-Based Game Goes Live:

A new San Francisco startup called Skillz just launched the US’s first platform for legal real-money gambling on mobile games, writes Forbes.com, which predicts the phenomenon could outstrip legalized online gambling. Gambling on games of skill (something which poker advocates have long argued, and which some legal arbiters have concurred applies to that game), is already legal in 36 states and apparently, during the first week of live operations one game on the Android-based Skillz.com tripled its average daily revenue, while another reported a tripling in user playtime. Skillz, which has launched with a standard bet of 25 cents, operates a lot of small-scale tournaments which friends can set up among themselves.

Free Movies at the District:

The schedule for the annual season of fifty free Friday (and Saturday) family-friendly al fresco movies at the District in Henderson is underway, with the next may offerings including Finding Nemo this Friday and Peter Pan on Saturday. The screenings take place at dusk (currently defined as 7 p.m.) through October at The Green, located adjacent to Whole Foods Market, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets to sit on and picnic baskets with snacks, although complimentary popcorn is provided. Visit shopthedistrictgvr.com for the complete "Show on the Green" schedule through October.

Le Rêve Loves Locals:

Le Rêve — The Dream, the production show at the Wynn, is celebrating its eighth anniversary tonight and is celebrating by offering Las Vegas residents a discounted $88 ticket (standard base rate is $105) from June 1 through Aug. 27. Note that the show is dark June 12 through 27; if you're not a local, click the link for an alternative discount that's open to all.

Las Vegas Fashion Week:

The first of the bi-annual Las Vegas Fashion Week events, showcasing world-class designers and helping to put Las Vegas on the map as a style-setter, takes place May 20-26, with numerous participating venues around town. Click the link for more info.

Today's QoD on Phone Charges and Resort Fees:

If you haven't yet checked out the current Question of the Day, it's on the contentious subject of resort fees and in-room phone charges. If you read it earlier today, you might want to check back, since we've added a couple of cautionary personal tales, one from a reader, and one from the writer of today's answer. In addition, while we had not yet heard back from MGM Mirage International when it came time for this answer to run, a representative who we tried to reach last week has since responded, not realizing that yesterday was our deadline, and has offered to clarify all of our outstanding queries when she's back in the office tomorrow, so stay tuned for an official update on the Wi-Fi situation at MRI's Las Vegas properties.

Summer Ski Season Coming Soon:

Okay, no, there isn't any skiing at Mt. Charleston right now, but the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is aiming to be a year-round attraction these days and on Saturday, May 25 the summer season kicks off, with activities at the cool mountain getaway including scenic chairlift rides ($10), disc golf ($17, which includes chairlift ride), hiking, mountain biking, and lawn games. The resort will be open Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Tent and RV campers are also welcome, at $15/$25 per night, respectively (3-day max. stay) and with the U.S. Forest Service currently renovating its campgrounds, LVSSR is offering the only sites available in Lee Canyon.

Breakfast Spot Reopens:

The popular Egg & I breakfast joint on W. Sahara reopened for business today more than a month after a driver, who has pled guilty to DUI and is due in court August 22, ploughed into the front of the restaurant during a busy lunch hour, injuring several but fortunately causing no fatalities.

Another Upgrade at Bellagio Buffet:

We just learned via Vegas Chatter that Bellagio has upped the ante once again in the high-end buffet game: Now, not only does the "Gourmet Dinner" feature unlimited caviar, but every meal comes with the an optional $10 add-on for all-you-can-drink booze, including Skyy Vodka Bloody Marys, a choice of three sparkling wines, a choice of three draft beers (Heineken, Dos Equis, and Stella Artois), and bellinis.

Cinco de Mayo Latecomer:

If you're not done partying yet, we just learned that Drink and Drag, downtown's one-and-only drag-queen bowling-and-billiards bar, is hosting a Cinco de Mayo party from 10 p.m. tonight, with $1 beers, $2 well drinks, $1 bowling, and a drag-queen makeover up for grabs.

Aliante Twofer:

Aliante players club members can get 2-for-1 buffets Mondays-Thursdays throughout May. The offer is good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, by swiping your card in a kiosk. Limit one per day.

Baby Betting:

With the birth of Prince William and Duchess Kate's first baby approaching, the English oddsmakers are booking lots of action. A spokesman for one of the UK betting parlors says, "As soon as a royal baby is announced, it's manna from heaven for bookies, and people bet on everyting -- name, sex, even hair color." The favorites for names are Philip if it's a boy and Alexandra if it's a girl.

Big Pay:

Today's LV Review-Journal lists the highest compensated executives in Las Vegas. Leading the list is Steve Wynn at $17.7 million. He's followed by Gary Loveman ($12.8 million), Sheldon Adelson ($10.7 million), and last year's leader, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals boss, Rajesh Shrotriya ($10.1 million). Whereas eight of the first 10 were from the gaming industry last year, only six were from gaming this year, with the CEOs from Molycorp, NV Energy, and Southwest Gas beating out several casino owners and execs.

Strip (Club) Burger Joint:

First came sushi at Crazy Horse III, not to mention pretty good food at Treasures and the Rhino, but the latest to launch is the interestingly named Snatchburger, which just debuted at Hustler Vegas gentlemen's club. Sapphire's new Pool & Dayclub has some great food, too, from "Rock 'n Roll chef" Kerry Simon (check out the kale salad -- yes, really -- even guys love it).

Happy Cinco de Mayo:

While most of the partying for Cinco De Mayo took place yesterday, there are still related events running all day today. Check out the entry in this column on 5/2/13 for our round-up of top Cinco de Mayo festivities, and add to the list that Celebrate El Cortez will be offering $3 Patron margaritas at all casino bars today, with complimentary chips and salsa.

Mayweather/Guererro Line:

Floyd Mayweather is a -600 over Robert Guererro in tonight's boxing World Championship bout. The fight is -230 to go over 11.5 rounds.

Kentucky Derby Odds:

Orb is the morning-line favorite in the 19-horse field at 7-2, followed by Verrazano at 4-1 and Goldencents at 5-1. The long shots are Golden Soul, Giant Finish, Faling Sky, and Frac Daddy, all at 50-1. Don't get too caught up on the favorites -- the average odds on the last four winners were 27-1.

Gourmet Chef Throwdown:

The weekly Saturday Night Truck Stop at Tommy Rockers (Dean Martin Drive) holds one of its legendary "Back of the House Brawls" tonight, with a cook-off featuring chefs from Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Comme Ca, and Pinot Brasserie, plus four of the valley's popular food trucks. The event runs from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Come hungry!

Indian Food Fest Today:

Clark County Amphitheater hosts the 10th Annual Las Vegas Mela Indian Food Festival and cultural event from 2-9 p.m. today, with live Indian music and dance, plus food offerings from many of valley’s growing number of Indian restaurants. Admission is free -- check the website for more information and a site map.

Zombie Alert:

The Zombie Zone comic and collectibles store is holding a Grand Opening at its new location at 931 S. Rainbow Blvd. from 1-3 p.m. today and the cast of Evil Dead - The Musical will be there to join in the festivities with photo ops and autographed pics. The band Acoma Chyne will be playing at the store at 2:30pm and Zombien Nation will be giving away 5 t-shirt packages, plus there will be giveaways of Zombie-related collectibles throughout the day.

Key Largo Demolition Postponed:

Demolition of the former Key Largo has been delayed due to problems associated with the removal of asbestos from the building. Originally planned for April, a four-month extension was granted for the demolition of the Key Largo, which was badly damaged by a fire in March. Arson was cited as the cause; however, no arrests have been made.

More Derby Deals:

In addition to the list of Kentucky Derby promotions posted in this spot yesterday, you can get a Derby T-shirt for a $30 bet on the race at any Station casino or for a $25 bet at Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, and Sam's Town. This is an excellent event to watch in a race and sports book if you can.

Ultimate Poker Deals 100,000th Hand:

On Tuesday, April 30 Nevada's first legal online poker site was launched, and within 72 hours had already dealt its 100,000th hand, exceeding the expectations of company officials. By 10 p.m. on opening day, Ultimate Poker had 50 poker tables with action, with thousands of registered players.

PokerStars Deal Maybe Not Dead:

The Rational Group, parent company of the controversial PokerStars site, has announced its intention to try to salvage a deal to purchase the Atlantic Club casino, despite the New Jersey property's abrupt statement earlier this week that the sale had been called off. A company spokesmen for the online gaming site said today, "The Rational Group remains entirely committed to resolving this situation and to our investment in New Jersey," claiming they had anticipated an extension to the negotiating period following a delay in obtaining regulatory approval to take over the casino and had been blindsided by the "purported notice of termination" received from the Atlantic Club several days ago. The sale had been met with opposition from many, including the American Gaming Association, in light of the company's prior $731 million settlement of a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit that accused PokerStars of money laundering, bank fraud, and illegal gambling.

Happy Birthday Steiner's:

The Cheyenne location of Steiner's pub is celebrating its 15th anniversary today with $1.50 Dos Equis all day and all night long.

Le Rêve Takes a Break:

The aqua-spectacular production at Wynn will be dark for a scheduled holiday from Jun. 12–27;

Derby Day:

As we write, the much-anticipated $10,000 Sigma Derby tournament just got underway at the D downtown, with the final rounds tomorrow. For those of you interested in the other Derby taking place this weekend, here's the lowdown on festivities and promos we've heard about to date: Free race-handicapping seminars will be taking place at the following casinos/times: Sam's Town (4 p.m.); South Point (6 p.m.); Sunset Station (6 p.m.) Dedicated casino viewing parties, with free admission and big-screen TVs, are being hosted by the Orleans, Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Golden Nugget, El Cortez, and South Point. Make a $20 race wager at the latter to get vouchers for food and drinks at the party. Bet $20 at Charlie's and get a Kentucky Derby collector's glass. El Cortez actually gets things started today, with a Kentucky Oaks party, followed by the Kentucky Derby viewing party tomorrow. Both events take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Fiesta Room from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with $1 hot dogs, $2 Bud drafts, and $2 mint juleps. Receive a free Derby glasses with a wager of at least $20 and Derby shirts with wagers of at least $50. The betting terminal for the event will be located in front of The Fiesta Room. Make a $10 wager on the race at Jerry's Nugget and receive a complimentary Derby glass; a $25 bet on the special parlay card will bag you a free T-shirt. Plus, they'll be selling $2 hand-carved turkey and roast beef track sandwiches. The new Commonwealth bar and restaurant downtown is going all-out and will be welcoming guests with a free drink ticket and a betting ticket placed on a random horse (hopefully one that's in the race) upon entry. Race-day revelers are encouraged to dress for the occasion (big hats, seersucker, bow ties, you get the idea) with a traditional soundtrack being provided courtesy of the marching band from UNLV, plus complimentary hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails, including a Prescription Julep, naturally. Proceeds from tickets, which are $20 and available now at the Commonwealth website, will benefit the Southern Nevada affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ruth's Chris, the new outpost at Harrah's of the famous steakhouse chain that originally debuted near the New Orleans Fairgrounds Racetrack, is celebrating its roots with $7 classic Makers Mark mint juleps, served tableside, on Saturday. We'll post more events as and when we hear about 'em.

Ditch Debuts with Diddy and More:

It's the official season grand opener of Ditch Fridays at the Palms Pool & Bungalows today -- one of the last big ones to kick off (with a few more grand openings over this Cinco de Mayo weekend, which we'll detail later). The party will run through the weekend, starting at noon today with Busta Rhymes ($23 ladies/$35 men), with Method Man and Redman headlining for "daylife" tomorrow, followed by Diddy at 10 p.m. (tix go up to $45 for guys for that one).

Firefly Fallout:

The R-J has just released an update on the recent salmonella outbreak at Firefly tapas restaurant, which is being dubbed the worst case here in a decade. Local food critics and Eating Las Vegas co-authors John Curtas and Al Mancini weigh in with their thoughts on the troubling story, which comes in the wake of a wave of restaurant shut-downs in recent times, including of some high-end establishments, by the Health Department (see "Today's News" and "Question of the Day" archives).

Cinco de Drinko:

Yup, it's that time of year again, and just as everyone and their Irish wolfhound was on board the St Paddy's Day bandwagon this year, with "Gaelic nachos" a-go-go, now it's time to reciprocate with a Guinness margarita as we all embrace Cinco de Mayo (a universal celebration of the 24th eve of @LVA_Tweet's birthday, in case you were unclear). We'd still be listing drink specials on May 6 if we were determined to be comprehensive, so in the interests of actually posting this item, we'll stick to the highlights: Rhumbar inside the Mirage will be hosting a weekend-long Cinco De Mayo Fiesta, with live DJs, hookahs, and $8 house selection cigars. Drink specials include $5 Dos Equis and Patron shots and $7 Patron margaritas. Tacos & Tequila at Luxor will also be hosting a weekend-long Cinco De Mayo Fiesta, with food and drink specials including $5 Dos Equis, El Jimador shots and sangria, and $8 Micheladas, Palomas, and El Jimador margaritas. On Sunday JABBAWOCKEEZ will rev up the party with a special amateur dance contest featuring a $500 grand prize. The new Bagatelle Beach Club at the "New" Tropicana is celebrating its official grand opening (finally) with the debut Saturday of the "notorious" (?!) Bagatelle Brunch Vegas-style, featuring a live performance by Skylar Grey and sounds by DJs Shift and Stretch (yoga, anyone?). Sunday sees rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill taking the stage alongside DJs Freddy B and Jace One, followed by the LV Weekly's "Beaches Be Crazy" party, featuring a Herradura Tequila-sponsored bar. PBR Rock Bar & Grill at the Miracle Mile Shops is offering $18 Bud Light Lime and Lime-a-Rita buckets all Sunday, plus $5 tacos* (that's a deal?). Senor Frog's inside TI will have $3 house tequila shots and 2-for-1 signature margarita yards from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., plus from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. a specialty Mexican buffet will be available for $30 per person. Starting at 10 p.m. a cover charge kicks in ($20 men/$10 ladies) and Karaoke, live music, conga lines, and a DJ will finish off the night (and, possibly, you). Cabo Wabo Cantina inside the Miacle Mile Shops is hosting a weekend-long "Tres, Cuatro, Cinco: Let's Drinko!" bash, with hourly drink and shot specials, $5 daiquiris, and chances to win prizes from the Dos Equis girls. Border Grill at Mandalay Bay will be entering into the spirit with $5 Blanco margaritas, $8 Patron margaritas, and $29 buckets of five Coronas with a 200 ml bottle of Patron Silver. P.S. Don't know if they're doing, or rather what they're doing special for Cinco de Mayo, but we recently tried the fare at Taco Taco and can confirm that it's not all hype -- they're serving some bomb tacos over there on the east side, for just $2-$3.50 each. Super friendly, too. Go eat some!

Curtis on Gambling with an Edge:

Anthony Curtis is the guest on Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin's Gambling with an Edge radio show tonight (KLAV Talk-Radio 1230AM) at 7 p.m., with the topics up for discussion including the (re)launch of legalized online poker, the case of some recent video poker "cheats" (were they or weren't they?), and how casino surveillance cameras could be reading your private texts. Yikes! If you miss it, you can tune in at your leisure via the archive on mp3.

The End of the World Starts ... Tonight ...:

... and will apparently by occurring on a regular basis, and not just in Las Vegas but also at select venues in London and L.A., for the foreseeable future. The mysterious The Act "human zoo" nightclub experience in the Shoppes at Palazzo, which had recently been rumored to be living on borrowed time but countered with strong denials and has indeed continued to exist, has now completely confused us by announcing an "End of the World" party, not only months after the world was allegedly going to end but didn't, but also by the very fact of making us assume that the randomly timed Armageddon theme must logically be heralding the rumored and imminent demise of the nightspot ... except that this is being touted as an ongoing monthly affair in all three of the brand's venues. Curiouser and curiouser...

Las Vegas This Weekend:

We'll be listing Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby stuff in separate posts later on; for now, here are the other highlights this weekend: The monthly First Friday fiesta downtown gets all left-brain, right-brain with a "science and art" theme this month, plus the usual panoply of artisans, live bands, food trucks, "green" stuff, and a fun zone for the kiddies (5/3) Comedian Aziz Ansari takes his stand-up act to the Mirage (5/3-5/4) Carlos Mencia makes 'em laugh at TI (5/3) There are more laughs with comedian Tim Allen at Venetian (5/3-5/4) KottonMouth Kings perform at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip (5/3) Paramore's at the Hard Rock (5/3) Caesars Palace welcomes Tony Bennett (5/3) Mayweather takes on Guerrero at MGM Grand (5/4) And Sam Boyd Stadium welcomes the 2013 Monster Energy Supacross Finals (5/4)

Discount Deal for Foodies:

Palazzo hosts the annual Epicurean Affair this May 23, from 7-10 p.m., and Travelzoo has one of its "Vegas Local" deals on the tickets, which are regularly $105, but reduced to $60 with this offer, which is bookable (availability permitting), through May 11. The event, which takes place poolside at Palazzo, represents an opportunity to taste unlimited dishes and cocktails from top Vegas chefs with restaurants at the property and its sister Venetian resort, including Delmonico Steakhouse, TAO, Il Mulino, and Table 10

Garth Brooks is Back:

Fulfilling his original promise, kind of, of a five-year "residency"*, Garth Brooks will return to Encore for six concerts over Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends, which will be recorded for a future TV special and DVD. Having debuted in Vegas in 2009, Garth pulled out after three years, performing his final show last November. There were rumblings of discord between him and buddy Steve Wynn over the astronomical ticket prices, which had been raised to $253, including taxes and fees, by the time the country star departed. While seats for the new dates don't go on sale until Monday at 10 a.m., so we can't confirm pricing, we've read that they will be reduced to $145.75, inclusive, this time around. They'll be available from Ticketmaster and WynnLasVegas.com.

National Shrimp Day at Golden Gate:

Our apologies for somehow allowing the fifth annual National Pole Dancing Day to pass us by yesterday, but to make up for it we have news that the Golden Gate will be rolling back the price of its famous shrimp cocktail to just 50 cents -- as it was when introduced back in 1959 -- to just 50 cents, in honor upcoming National Shrimp Day. From 2–5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, guests are invited to stop by Du-par’s Restaurant to enjoy the seafood snack at the special celebratory price (one per person, while supplies last.) And here's some shrimp trivia, just for the helluvit: It was Golden Gate founding partner Italo Ghelfi who was inspired to bring the San Francisco staple to Sin City in the late '50s and it's been a signature of the hotel, which has now served some 40 million shrimp cocktails (more than a billion individual shrimp!), ever since. The price of the Golden Gate's shrimp cocktail was still 50 cents when Anthony Curtis published the first-ever edition of the the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, back in Feb. 1983 and included it as #4 in the inaugural LVA Top Ten Values List. The Gate gets through approximately 217 lbs of Bay shrimp daily, plus 54 lbs of the big shrimp in the other cocktail they serve. Both varieties are served with their secret spicy signature sauce.

Caesars Salutes the Military:

May is Military Appreciation Month and Caesars Entertainment properties are all offering a range of freebies and discounts to active members of the military (in some cases extended to veterans, too), including lots of twofer weekday lunch-buffet options, plus fee admission and half-price bottle service at the pools at Bally's, Caesars, and Harrah's. Other highlights include a complimentary burger and fries at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill (Harrah's), a free ticket to see George Wallace, Legends in Concert, and Jeff Civilico (who's offering up to four free tix with valid military ID), plus big discounts on other entertainment and dining options, including twofer balcony seats to Donny & Marie, twofer burger deals from Kerry Simon (Flamingo), Burger Brasserie (Paris), and Gordon Ramsay (Caesars and Planet Hollywood), and All American Bar & Grill (Rio). Check with individual CET properties (Bally's, Caesars, Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, Planet Hollywood, the Quad, and the Rio) for more month-long (and ongoing) deals.

Casino Shuffle:

Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment’s $2.8 billion buyout of Ameristar Casinos, which was approved by Ameristar stockholders last week, has also been tentatively given a green light by Nevada gaming regulators. Federal antitrust authorities still having to completely sign off on the deal, however, and presentations on the transaction in the other eight states in which Ameristar currently operates are still in the preliminary stage. In other news, Tropicana Entertainment Inc. has announced the sale of the River Palms in Laughlin to Las Vegas-based M1 Gaming, owner of the Boomtown Casino in Reno (formerly owned by Pinnacle), for $7 million, pending approval by state gaming regulators.

Caesars Serving Green Wine:

Not "green," as in "green beer," but green as in eco-friendly, with the announcement that venues including The Colosseum, Bacchanal Buffet, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, and casino bars will be serving barrel-fresh wine on tap. The system utilizes technology that connects the stainless steel barrels of premium wine to the delivery taps by means of plastic tubing containing inert gas that pushes wine through the lines, while also serving to protect the vino from oxidation by occupying the empty space in the keg. By cutting out the glass bottles, corks, labels, and the wine that goes to waste from spoiled unfinished bottles, the property hopes the innovation will be a significant addition to CET's "Code Green" commitment to sustainability and conservation initiatives.

PokerStars Scraps Casino Plan:

The bid by online giant PokerStars to purchase a land-based casino, first announced at the end of last year (see "Today's News" 12/7/2012), is over. New Jersey's Atlantic Club Casino Hotel announced Wednesday that a purchase agreement with the British parent company of PokerStars has been terminated but gave no reason as to why, stating only that the struggling former Atlantic City Hilton is to remain open.

Crazy Horse Too Grand Opening:

This morning received a note from Crazy Horse Too, where (among other things) Jenna Jameson launched her career, and the news is that the long-shuttered strip club's renaissance is to kick off with a Grand Opening June 1 (details to follow). The topless club will be open 24/7 with a $22 cover during the week, $27 Thur-Sat. We'll keep you posted as we hear more -- follow @ToplessVegas for news about this and everything else going on in the Vegas strip club scene, plus look out for the upcoming launch of our dedicated website, Topless Vegas Online: COMING SOON!

Derby at the D Update:

In answer to those people who've written in asking "where the other $5,000 comes from" in this weekend's upcoming inaugural Sigma Derby tournament at the D (see Question of the Day 4/30/13), they just wrote to us to clarify that, in addition to the $5,000 in free play to be split among the first 10 places in the tourney, there will be an additional $5K $5,000 bonus pool that will be shared by any players achieving a score of 200+ coins in all four rounds, also to be awarded in free play. T buy-in is $50 and registration takes place from 4-8 p.m. tomorrow at the Vue Bar. The two-day tourney kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday (Kentucky Derby Day).