Las Vegas News

UFC Henderson/Pettis:

Tonight's UFC Championship between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis is pick 'em (-110 both ways). In the other featured match, Josh Barnett is a -170 favorite over Frank Mir.

Bonus Points Weekend:

Station Casinos is running bonus-point days today and Sunday. Get 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker at all Station and Fiesta casinos. Hard Rock is awarding 20X points on slots and 7X on video poker today.

Free PBR with a Burger:

Park on Fremont is offering a Labor Day beer-and-burger special. Available through Monday, Sept. 2, receive a complimentary 16-ounce can of Pabst Blue Ribbon with the purchase of any burger.

Eenie Meenie in Atlantic City:

The ongoing online-poker race continues to heat up in Atlantic City, with the US/Asian investment group that's backing UK-based online gaming company 2UP announcing that it's close to purchasing a nameless Boardwalk casino. Since only two of the nine possible candidates in Atlantic City that fit that description currently remain partnerless in the online dance, that kind of narrows the options: It has to be either the Trump Plaza or the Atlantic Club, both of which have seen previous negotiations with other Internet entities break down. All such online/bricks-and-mortar affiliations were supposed to be declared by June 29; although neither of these casinos has fulfilled that criterion, all 12 of New Jerseys casinos at least met the filing date for the application for an online-gaming license.

Brick Signing:

Sports Radio syndicated host JT "The Brick" (John Tournour) will be signing copies of his book, The Handoff: A Powerful Memoir of Two Guys, Sports and Friendship from 3 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble (2191 N. Rainbow) The book is inspired by The Brick's mentor and best friend Andrew Ashwood, who lost a fight to cancer. A portion of sales from The Handoff will benefit City of Hope, the center where Ashwood received treatment.

Echo & Rig Debuts:

Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse is now open at Tivoli Village, offering fresh meat in time for Labor Day holiday-weekend barbecuing, in addition to a restaurant menu boasting more than 90 items. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, when a special late-night menu is offered). Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More Buffet News (this time it's good):

There's now a second way to avoid waiting in line at a popular Strip buffet (the other, which we exposed in the November, 2003 issue of the LVA newsletter, applies to Bellagio), with news that Paris' Le Village Buffet has become the first in Las Vegas to offer reservations via OpenTable.com. The buffet has also added some new touches, including offering guests a complimentary glass of wine during dinner and debuting a helping of traditional French macaroons to complement the popular vanilla bean crème brûlée and made-to-order crêpes from the dessert station.

Riv Buffet Closed:

It comes as no great surprise, following the discontinuation of dinner service earlier this year, but now the Garden Fresh Buffet at the Riviera has discontinued all service and closed its doors, effective immediately, we just learned courtesy of VegasChatter. As an aside, the Riviera continues to be in violation of Nevada gaming regulations, as it has been for months now, since it's a resort-hotel but does not provide any 24-hour dining option (see QoD 6/16/13).

Opening Date for Downtown Grand:

According to a Vegas-fan blogger who received an invitation to a comped room from the much-anticipated Downtown Grand, it looks like the opening date for the hotel will not be October 27, as previously speculated (see Question of the Day 7/29/13), but as early as September 23. We don't have official confirmation of this as yet, but we know many of our readers verge on the obsessed when it comes to word of the former Lady Luck, so we just wanted to keep you as informed (or otherwise) as we are. Watch this space for updates.

Wet-Weather Wrecks Wreaking Havoc:

The RTC reports that a number of major exit ramps throughout the Vegas valley have been closed, due to a spate of wrecks this morning. Here are the latest details of closures we've received, via the r-J: 215 Beltway eastbound ramp entering Interstate 15 southbound I-15 northbound ramp to the 215 westbound exit Three accidents in the southbound lanes of U.S. 95 between the Spaghetti Bowl and Las Vegas Boulevard have caused traffic to back up on on the 95 and the Strip in all directions, but that should be clearing by now. The I-15 northbound ramp to U.S. 95 southbound has reopened, following an earlier accident. According to stats we heard on KNP's "State of Nevada" this morning, there are an average of 140 collisions per day in Nevada, with almost 90 percent of those occurring in Las Vegas, and that's under normal conditions. Add rain, and things only get much worse; please take extra care today and watch your speed.

Cocktails for a Quarter Downtown:

It's Thursday, which means 25-cent cocktails at KRAVE Massive and her sister, Drink 'n Drag, from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. You need to text 'em ahead of time and show the response at the door, though -- and to get your name down click for more info and to get your name down!

Las Vegas This Weekend:

There's too much Labor Day revelry to list here, with more celebrity DJs than you can shake a mic at, but here's a taste of some of the top entertainment offerings, indoor and out: Andrew Dice Clay's back at the Hard Rock (8/29-9/1) Jay Leno does stand up at the Mirage (8/30), followed by Ron White (8/31-9/1) TI welcomes Whoopi Goldberg (8/30) Country star Brad Paisley performs at Mandalay Bay (8/31) Kenny Rogers is out at Buffalo Bill's (8/31) Lil Wayne entertains at MGM Grand (8/31), followed by Black Sabbath (9/1) The House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay welcomes Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers (8/31) Ziggy Marley performs poolside at Mandalay Bay (9/1) Kendrick Lamar is pooside at the Palms (8/30), followed by LL Cool J & Z-Trip (8/31) The Hard Rock Beachlife welcomes Snoop Dog AKA Snoop Lion (8/31-9/1) And Sapphire Pool & Dayclub celebrates Labor Day Weekend with celebrity guest DJ Crystal Hefner and a Bikini Beer Fest (9/2)

September LVA Coming to You Live and Direct:

With the first of many football roundups, including in-depth analysis of all the contests, plus the latest on online poker, the inside scoop on some new gambling and eating finds, tips on where to catch the Mayweather/Alvarez fight, and where to get salt & pepper frog's legs, the September issue of our exclusive monthly newsletter is now live and ready to read online, and it's not even September yet!

Football Season Begins:

The 2013/2014 football season begins today with several college games. In the first of the day, South Carolina is a -10.5 favorite over North Carolina. The total is 56.

Caesars Dominates Hall of Fame List:

It could almost be renamed the "CET Hall of Fame" this year, with three out of the four upcoming inductees to the American Gaming Association's roster of achievers closely tied to the casino giant. Those to be honored at the upcoming ceremony, to be hosted appropriately enough by Caesar Palace this Nov. 14, include CET CEO Gary Loveman, longtime and future Colosseum headliner Celine Dion, and Caesars Palace restaurateur Guy Savoy. The fourth inductee is former AGA head honcho of 18 years Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.

New Topless Show Debuts Tonight:

X Rocks, the latest twist on a topless revue from the producers of X Burlesque and Raack 'n Roll, opens tonight in the King's Room at Crown Theater at the Rio. A review will be forthcoming to coincide with the imminent launch of our new ToplessVegasOnline.com site, but for now, it sounds like it's pretty similar to X Burlesque, but featuring a hardcore rock soundtrack from the likes of Slash, Alice in Chains, Metallica, MUSE, etc., as opposed to the dancier version that's had a long-time home at the Rio.

Buffalo Bids Adieu with Cheap Booze:

Long-time Las Vegas gay bar The Buffalo is shutting up shop at 8 a.m. September 3, after more than three decades in business, and is thanking loyal patrons with $2 drinks starting Friday, Aug. 30 and available until it closes.

New HQ for UFC:

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is looking for a new consolidated international headquarters, having outgrown its current premises -- a piecemeal collection of owned and leased properties mainly located close to Palace Station -- and has paid $7.8 million for 24 acres of land on the Las Vegas Beltway near Jones, where it plans to build a custom corporate facility. The area is favored for being close to the airport and venues like MGM Grand's Garden Arena, as well as being easily accessible for the residential areas of Summerlin and Henderson.

William Hill Bags SLS Gig:

While today's Question of the Day discusses progress at one Strip property currently undergoing a remodel, there's more news in the shape of an announcement that SLS, the new incarnation of the former Sahara, has named William Hill to be its race and sports book operator. SLS is about a year away from completing its $400 million transformation, which will see the property's casino space double to 60,000 square feet. As to the sports book, a spokesman for William Hill, which now operates more than 100 books statewide, said, "It won’t be our largest facility, but we want to make it a showcase."

Liberace Mansion Sold:

The 15,000-square-foot Las Vegas mansion formerly owned by Liberace, located a couple of miles away from the now-closed Liberace Museum, has been sold for $500,000 in an all-cash sale. The buyer has been confirmed as local vacation-property broker and Liberace fan Martyn Ravenhill, who apparently has plans to restore the dilapidated villa to its former glory. The 1960s-build home, which was bank-owned, last sold in 2006 for $3.7 million.

Beer Fest Frenzy Continues:

Las Vegas seems to have been awash with brewfests this season, and you won't find us complaining. No, siree! The latest extravaganza is scheduled for a couple of weeks from now, when the D and the Golden Gate downtown host their inaugural beer fest Sept. 14, featuring more than 60 craft beers from 50 international breweries, enhanced by the presence of dancing dealers, DJs, and Coney Dogs (Anthony Curtis will think he died and went to heaven). It will cost you $20 for a five-beer sampling, or go all-in for $40 and a "bottomless brews" ticket. Visit thed.com/partyscene for more info.

Casino Parcel Changes Hands, Again:

A parcel of land zoned for a casino, which Boyd bought from Jackie Gaughan and Kenny Epstein back in 2006 has now been sold again -- this time at an 85 percent loss -- to real estate developer the Lewis Group of Cos., reports Vegas Inc. The new owners have not yet decided to do with the 39-acre plot of land, located at Centennial Parkway and Lamb Boulevard, but their purchase means it's no longer destined to become a locals casino, as the previous owners had planned.

Delaware Goes Online:

Delaware's three casinos Delaware today launched the first step toward legal online gambling in the state, with the opening of Web portals for free slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette games as a precursor to full-service, real-cash online gambling, which is scheduled to go live in the state at the end of October. As of 6 a.m. local time this morning, the homepage of each of the trio of bricks-and-mortar casinos began directing visitors to IGT's Facebook-linked game platform DoubleDown Casino.

USA Today on SW Airlines:

This week's video tip from the travel writers at USA Today discusses the pros and cons of traveling with Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier to/from Las Vegas, and whether or not the airline is right for you.

Lou Gramm Rock Vault Residency:

That's a "residency" by Las Vegas standards, only, where anything more than back-to-back gigs seems to be awarded that designation, but from Oct. 18-22 Foreigner founder and front man Lou Gramm will take the stage as the next featured performer in the "Icon Series" at LVH's Raiding the Rock Vault. Gramm’s guest appearance will follow Yes’s Jon Anderson, who takes the stage Sept. 20-24.

Wildfires Pollute NW Nevada Air:

The 64-square-mile Sierra Nevada Rim Fire, which is raging close to Yosemite National Park, has caused a cloud of dirty smoke to settle over northwestern Nevada, with air quality close to Carson City reaching the "hazardous for all people" level Tuesday. Reno's air registered as "unhealthy," while Las Vegas currently remains unaffected. Air in Las Vegas, which has not been affected by the fire, measured 35, or good air quality. All people in the worst-affected areas are advised to remain indoors and limit physical exertion, while the elderly and those with cardiopulmonary disease are urged to take special caution.

Boulder Gig for Veteran Lounge Performer:

Tony Sacca, the long-time Las Vegas lounge act who was discovered performing with his twin brother in Puerto Rico by Siegfried Fischbacher (of Siegfried & Roy fame), has been signed to perform his Las Vegas Rocks Variety Show on Fridays at The Railhead inside Boulder Station, commencing Sept.13 at 2 p.m.

Nightclub Accused of Breaching Obscenity Laws:

The Act, the mysterious boutique after-hours cabaret/nightclub from the creators of The Box (New York/London) is under fire from landlord Las Vegas Sands Inc., and from gaming authorities, with claims that the late-night shenanigans that take place at this venue in the Palazzo shopping mall are in violation of obscenity laws. Following a string of high-profile incidents over the past couple of years involving patrons and staff at day/nightlife venues at Planet Hollywood, Palms, and Hard Rock, in particular, gaming authorities have clamped down on any illicit behavior that undermines the image and integrity of Las Vegas as a safe and law-abiding tourist destination. A hearing is ongoing to determine whether or not The Act is in breach of obscenity laws; lawyers representing Las Vegas Sands inc. have requested an injunction to force the club to halt lewd behavior in the meantime, but to date the club has remained open.

Chocolate Makers Join Forces for a Cause:

On Wednesday, September 4, employees of M&M’S World Las Vegas and Ethel M Chocolate will join forces to build the new Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas ReStore resale outlet on W. Sahara Ave. as part of the national M&M’S "M’Prove America" campaign encouraging Americans to help "M’Prove America" through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and a challenge to the nation to donate 1.5 million minutes to help build homes for those in need of affordable housing. Visit the mproveamerica.com Facebook page for more information about how to get involved.

Desert Tortoise Facing Massive Cull:

The Bureau of Land Management is in the process of euthanizing 700 desert tortoises -- an endangered species -- because funding for the Nevada Desert Tortoise Conservation Center has dried up. The center was previously funded by a levy on land developers who built on land that was considered tortoise habitat, but with the lull in the construction and housing markets, that funding has been whittled away, leaving the center an estimated $700,000 short of its annual $1 budget, needed to care for the 1,400 tortoises in its care.

Wildfire on Valley View:

No, this isn't a warning, but rather news that the newest addition to Station Casinos' "Wildfire" brand of smaller neighborhood casinos has opened at the site of former bar The Lift, on Valley View at Sirius. The bar closed July 31 for a remodel but in what must be the softest casino opening we've ever not heard about, it debuted under the new brand last Friday; this Wildfire joins five others in the valley, including the former Doc Hollidays in Anthem, which closed and reopened prior to The Lift.

Dancer on Bad Information:

In this week's column, which just went live, video poker expert Bob Dancer highlights the dangers of seemingly authoritative and persuasive -- but incorrect -- information. Check it out so you don't fall into the trap!

Comedy Comes to Cabo Wabo:

The Party Improv Comedy Show -- the latest live-and-uncensored show from the Just Serendipity crew -- is to host a 7 p.m. show at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina (Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood) every Thursday through Sunday. Tix, which come with a two-drink minimum, start at $24.99, plus tax/fees.

Metro Chief Won't Re-Run:

Sheriff Doug Gillespie, who is currently serving his second term as the chief officer in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, will serve out his final 18 months in the post, but will not seek a third term, he announced today.

Hell's Kitchen Winner Forfeits Prize:

Ja'Nel Witt, season 11 winner of Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" TV cooking contest, has turned down the prize -- a job at the Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill at Caesars Palace -- "due to personal matters," which online gossip site TMZ is reporting equates to testing positive for cocaine in a routine CET-employment drug test.

Carly Rae Jepsen Canceled:

The Carly Rae Jepsen performance planned for Sept. 14 at the Pearl at the Palms has been canceled due to scheduling issues. Credit card purchases will be automatically refunded; other ticket-holders should revisit the original point of purchase for refund.

Bacon Mania at Cosmo:

From this Thursday, Aug. 29, through Saturday, Aug. 31, Comme Ça at Cosmo will feature "Brian's Bacon Menu", a special three-course $59 prix-fixe menu from Executive Chef Brian Howard, celebrating all things porcine. The bacon-oriented specials are also available à la carte: Check out lightly smoked kurobuta pork tartare with chicharon and marinated plum bacon vinaigrette for $16; bacon-wrapped bone-in pork chop with grilled romaine hearts, ember roasted tomato, and black garlic ranch for $32; and a bacon trio of butterscotch and bacon pot de crème, with chocolate dipped smoked bacon and bacon "cronets" [a typo? Las Vegas' first cronut? Or a have we already evolved past this much-hyped breakfast delicacy with a hybrid/fusion croissant-donut-beignet?] for $14. Wash it all down with the specially invented Praise the Lard and Pass the Bacon, a cocktail featuring bourbon infused with bacon, honey, lemon, amaro nonino, finished with an ardbeg float and garnished with bacon lardon, for $15. Chef David Myers definitely knows his bacon, with his upscale French brasseries (the original is in L.A.) consistently big on pig: They smoke their own bacon and feature menus graced by the likes of the Maple Bacon Bloody Mary and signature dishes including the $14 duck confit cinnammon roll with smoked bacon frosting and raspberry compote for breakfast, or happy hour's "crispy pig fries" (deep-fried pig ears with beer mustard and house-made pickles) for $6. Note that the L.A. location is really embracing the current fad for meat-flavored cocktails, with a chicken-wing-inspired offering called the Wingin’ It that features añejo tequila, lime juice, carrot juice, Bloody Mary mix, ginger syrup, a dash of tabasco and ... chicken stock. The drink comes garnished with a celery stick stuffed with bleu cheese.

Hangover Poll:

Today and Tuesday are the last days to vote in our current LVA Reader Poll, which is on the useful subject of hangover cures. What works for you? Pick from our list, or use the link to submit your own secret remedies and special recipes to us (we want to know if we're missing out on something!) The results -- with your feedback -- will run on Saturday.

Wine Week at Smith & Wollensky:

All nine Smith & Wollensky restaurants nationwide (Las Vegas location is on the Strip, opposite the Monte Carlo), are celebrating the 53rd annual National Wine Week, commencing Monday, Sept 16, with themed daily lunchtime (11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) pourings of ten wines for $20. In addition, all day from now through September 30, all restaurants are running the "Catch an Early Flight" promo -- a preview of three premium wines -- with a portion of proceeds from both promotions will be donated to Keep Memory Alive and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Revel Sued Over "Deceptive" Come-On:

Atlantic City's luxurious but financially challenged newest resort-casino is facing a lawsuit filed on behalf of gamblers from six different states, who claim that the much-publicized 'Gamblers Wanted' slot-rebate campaign, launched July 1, was "deceptive". Prominent advertisements declared that "you can’t lose," with the promise that gamblers who gambled and lost $100 or more could have their losses reimbursed via free slot play, distributed over a period of time. The drive was successful, with the casino experiencing a 33 percent increase in revenue compared to the same month the previous year, but the suit alleges that the rules, hidden in "virtually illegible" ultra-fine print, rendered the offer disingenuous, with its stipulations that the losses would be rebated in the form of "free play" slot dollars, distributed 5 percent at a time over 20 consecutive weeks, with no "full repayment" if any single week were missed. The resort has not commented on the lawsuit, filed Friday in Manhattan federal court.

Rainstorm Fallout:

It was the northwest portion of the valley that was most affected by Sunday night's rainstorm, with the area around Elkhorn Road and Tenaya Way closed due to flooding and several intersections in the vicinity of Grand Teton and Grand Canyon closed due to mud and debris. Kyle Canyon Road remains closed in both directions, as is U.S. 95 at the California border.

Free Beach Boys Concert:

On Monday, Sept. 2, South Point is hosting the "Fun After 55 Good Vibrations Expo," from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The expo, which is sponsored by 98.6 KKLZ and will take place in the South Point Arena, will feature a free concert by the Beach Boys at 6 p.m. (seating at 5 p.m.) Visit 50plusexpo.biz for more information.

New Sports Book at Railroad Pass:

A new William Hill sports book has opened at Railroad Pass, the casino outside of Las Vegas on the way to Boulder City. Dubbed the Watch & Wager Sports Lounge, the book is one of more than 40 now controlled by WH in southern Nevada.

Red Rock Poker Tourney:

The Red Rock Poker Challenge is underway at Red Rock Resort, with $100 satellites running through Sept. 5 and super satellites with $130 and $260 buy-ins running Sept. 3-5. The main tournament with a $1,100 buy-in and a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool runs Sept. 6-8.

Fashion Show at PURE:

It's a busy weekend for the cast of VEGAS! The show, who appeared first at Saturday's AFAN benefit at the Hard Rock, and will now be hosting Fashion Show Sunday tonight at PURE nightclub at Caesars Palace, following that night's 9 p.m. show performance in the Saxe Theater.

Win a Wedding:

Here's a reminder that the Resort on Mt. Charleston will hold the drawing for its wedding-package giveaway at 2:30 p.m. today, with the grand prize of a complete wedding and reception for up to 50 guests, valued at $7,500, up for grabs for those who took a bridal consultation during the requisite dates to qualify. The drawing will take place during today's "open house" event and, while there's no mention of the winner having to be in attendance, we recommend giving them a call if you can't make it and have a ticket in the drawing, just to be on the safe side.

Wet Weather Warning:

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the Las Vegas valley, commencing late tonight. The advisory remains in effect through Monday evening, with bursts of heavy rainfall anticipated throughout. Be especially careful in the vicinity of Mt. Charleston, where deforestation caused by the recent Carpenter I wildfire has increased the risk of runoff.

Brews at EI:

This one just came to our attention. Ellis Island is hosting the "Sin City Brew Fest" in its parking lot, starting at 8 p.m. tonight. We're not sure what it entails, but it sounds like there will be a lot of beer.

Boulder Anniversary:

Boulder Station is celebrating its 19th anniversary today. Head over for cupcakes and champagne on the casino floor until 7 p.m.

Money Plays VP Tourney Tonight:

Tonight is the weekly free video poker tournament at Money Plays bar, with $200 in prize money. Pick up a copy of this week's Seven Vegas magazine (or click this link for the digital edition) and check out Anthony Curtis' column, "The Deal," in which he explains the best strategy for playing this tournament. The tourney is advertised for 7:30 p.m., but starts closer to 8. Money Plays is located on W. Flamingo Rd., just west of the Palms.

Racing Rebates:

The Nevada Gaming Commission is considering whether or not race books should be allowed to give rebates to bettors. The idea is apparently supported by Cantor Gaming, but opposed by William Hill and most other major race and sports books.

Wheel Sponsor:

Caesars Entertainment is seeking sponsorship for the High Roller observation wheel at Linq. The company says that interest in naming rights has already surfaced, but that it's being selective about picking the right partner. No information on the cost of putting a name on the big wheel was released.

Mexican Rodeo Canceled:

Following an earlier ruling by Clark County commissioners, who voted not to temporarily relax the ban on roping horses by the legs, South Point has taken the decision to cancel the upcoming Mexican rodeo that was due to take place over four days this September. South Point had no financial interest in the event, other than in renting their equestrian stadium to the World’s Best Charro Events, an El Paso, Texas-based organization, which had planned to rent the arena for the rodeo.

Women's Expo Today:

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Centennial Hall hosts the annual Las Vegas Women's Life Style Expo, with more than 55 vendors, plus free samples, expert demos, gourmet food stalls, and complimentary seminars all day on health and beauty issues. (Take the 95 north and exit on Rancho Drive).

It's Official - Harmon to Tumble:

Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez, who has presided over the protracted wranglings over the fate of the half-built Harmon Tower at CityCenter, has finally granted permission for the owners of the half-build condo tower to demolish it. However, CityCenter and contractors Perrini will now meet in the courtroom next year to determine who's at fault and will foot the bill for the costly mistake. The Harmon condo tower was intended to form the 48-floor jewel in the crown of the $8.5 billion metaresort; instead, questions over its structural soundness at first reduced the project to around half size, and then saw it abandoned altogether following assessments from inspectors who deemed it likely to collapse in a strong earthquake. The costly debacle has left $400 million in damage claims that someone has to pay for.

Annual AFAN Bash Hits Hard Rock:

Tomorrow, Saturday Aug. 24, the Hard Rock hosts the 27th AFAN Black & White Party, a fundraiser in support of Southern Nevada non-profits with HIV/AIDS programs. This year's event is a daytime/nighttime marathon, kicking off with a pool party at the hotel's Breathe Pool from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow (all the cabanas are sold out, but GA is just $5), followed in the evening by the costume party at the Joint, which will feature performances by cast members from Strip productions, including Recycled Percussion, V-The Ultimate Variety Show and VEGAS! The Show, plus raffle prizes and more. GA tickets are $35. If you're still got some party in you, the festivities continue into the wee hours with an after party hosted by the venues of the Fruit Loop, plus 35 Steaks + Martinis at Hard Rock will host an AFAN Sunday Brunch. For more info and to purchase tickets for any or all of these events, afanlv.donordrive.com.

Vinyl Anniversary:

Vinyl, the "boutique" live-music venue at the Hard Rock, also home to The Joint, celebrates its first anniversary this weekend with back-to-back events. Courtney Love is back on stage for her second gig tonight, having kicked off the celebrations on Tnursday, then Saturday Aug. 24 sees Street Drum Corps in the house, and Sunday Vegas Rocks! magazine takes over for its awards after-party, featuring Sin City Sinners and other special guests.

Football Party Frenzy:

Perhaps it's our imagination, but it seems like everyone's getting in on the football craze this season, with the party and promo announcements coming thick and fast. Anthony Curtis will be reviewing all the MNF parties, as he does each year, at LVASports.com, but in the meantime we'll be posting some of the new or particularly noteworthy events we hear about. For example, Rockhouse in the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian, and PBR Rock Bar in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, which are both awash with hi def screens, will be kicking off every college and pro game with all-day open-bar access, plus guaranteed seating, for $100 per person.

New Weekly BBQ Downtown:

Freshly debuted venue The Park on Fremont, continues its seemingly endless array of one-off celebrations, ongoing specials, and happy hours by making the most of its patio today with a Backyard BBQ that kicks off at 3 p.m. We can't find any details about what's being thrown on the grill, or how much it'll cost ya, but they do confirm that Heineken's will be $3, so that's a good start.

Pawn Star Store to Close for Makeover:

Gold & Silver Pawn, where History Channel's "Pawn Stars" hit series is based, will be closed Sunday, Aug. 25 through Friday, Aug. 30, for renovation, although the "new pawn" window on the north side of the store will remain open for customers throughout the remodeling. Thanks to the TV show, an average of 4,000 people a day pass through the store.

Kudos for Vegas Pastry Chef:

Dessert Professional magazine has named Mandalay Bay's executive pastry chef Christophe Feyt as among the top ten exponents of his craft in the U.S. You can sample a selection of his mouthwatering creations at Rock 'n Roll Wine's upcoming

Wynn Enters Online Gambling Fray:

Despite recently referring to Atlantic City's casinos as "the enemy," Steve Wynn has joined the race to get in on the lucrative New Jersey online-gambling market, due to open up Nov. 26, by applying for an interactive gaming license in the state.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here are the upcoming entertainment highlights (check out our Event listings, Comedy Clubs, Production Shows, etc. in Shows & Nightlife for more comprehensive details and schedules): Daniel Tosh does stand up at the Mirage (8/23-8/24) Steely Dan entertains at the Palms (8/23) A Tribute to the Bee Gees is out at M Resort (8/24) The House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay welcomes The Dan Band (8/24) Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers performs at South Point (8/23-8/25) Frampton's Guitar Circus at LVH features Peter Frampton along with B.B. King and special guest Dean DeLeo (8/23) Billy Stritch sings The Mel Tormé Songbook downtown at the Smith Center (8/23-8/24) Daughtry perfroms poolside at Mandalay Bay Beach (8/23) And Ditch Fridays & Saturdays at the Palms Pool welcomes Lupe Fiasco (8/23) and Taboo (8/24)

Rock 'n Roll Cocktail Contest:

Hyde Bellagio hosts a rock 'n roll cocktail "mix-off" tonight, with 15 local mixologists challenged with creating an original concoction featuring Dewar's Highlander Honey whiskey. Members of the public are encouraged to purchase a $50 ticket to the event, which will feature live acoustic sets from local artists, plus cocktail sampling and the chance to vote for your favorite libation creation. The winning whiskey wizard will win up to $2,000.

Cake and Clowns at Circus Circus:

Don't forget that The Adventuredome at Circus Circus is celebrating its 20th anniversary today with celebrity guests, including Holly Madison, Jabbawockeez, and some jousters from Excaclibur. With a 2,000-piece birthday cupcake-tower, there should be plenty of cake to go around no matter how many performers show up, so get on down there. The party's at 11 a.m.

New Vegas Reality Show:

Las Vegas city council has given the green light for a Las Vegas’ reality-TV show based on City Hall. Discovery Channel will be given behind-the-scenes access to the inner workings of the city and if the show is picked up, they'll pay $5,000/episode; opponents who voted against the idea were concerned with editorial control, in the main.

Shanghai Nights Coming to CityCenter:

Starting September 10, each Tuesday from 6-10 p.m., the bar on the 23rd floor at Mandarin Oriental will transform into a Shanghai speakeasy, transporting guests back to the decadent 1930s with a new weekly "Shanghai Nights" party featuring live jazz, plus cocktails, small plates, sushi, and dim sum inspired by what was once known as the "Vegas of Asia."

Roasting Las Vegas:

This Sept. 3, the (dining) tables will be turned when the authors of Eating Las Vegas, the one-of-a-kind guide penned by the city's three top -- and most acerbic and opinionated -- restaurant critics find themselves on the sharp end, for a change, thanks to a charity-fundraising "roast" in support of Three Square Food Bank. Hear celebrity chefs get their revenge for past snarky reviews and unappreciated appetizers as they let rip on a trio of writers far more used to dishing out the harsh words and personal insults than being on the receiving end. Can they take it? For $25, purchase a ticket to Roasting Las Vegas, hosted by the Dave, Mahoney, and DK Morning Show and find out!

Gaming Regulators Look to Hollywood Movie for Lessons:

In an unusual development, the board of the American Gaming Association industry lobbying group is looking to Runner Runner, an upcoming movie starring Ben Affleck as an online-gambling tycoon in Costa Rica and Justin Timberlake as an Ivy League grad who believes he's been ripped off by the offshore casino, as a vehicle for raising public awareness about the need for online-wagering regulation and the dangers of betting with rogue Internet casinos. In a statement the AGA confirmed it intends to leverage the movie in support of its goal of a legalized and regulated online-casino market, although exact plans have yet to be finalized; Runner Runner is scheduled for release Oct. 4.

Mob-Con 2013: Are You In?:

That's what Frank Cullotta, ex-Mafia hitman and co-host of the inaugural Mob-Con expo, which takes place Sept. 7-8 at Palace Station, wants to know. With a lineup of characters from both sides of the fence, the two-day convention gives attendees a chance to rub shoulders with real "wise guys, goodfellas, and goombas," plus key figures from law enforcement, not to mention best-selling expert authors, including Huntington Press' Dennis Griffin (Cullotta, The Battle for Las Vegas, Surviving the Mob, etc.) and Las Vegas true-crime author Cathy Scott (The Killing of Tupac Shakur, The Murder of Biggie Smalls, and Mafia Daughter: The Life and Tragic Times of Susan Berman.) Sponsored by the Mob Attraction at the Tropicana registration for the two-day event is currently available at an Early Bird discount for $195 (it's $230 at the door), which includes a ticket to Vegas Mob Tour, the four-hour guided journey around significant sites in Sin City.

Family Feud Threatens LV Media Scene:

Recent developments, just reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal -- itself a key player in the row -- could threaten the future of the city's second newspaper. Brian Greenspun, publisher and editor of the LV Sun, has filed a lawsuit alleging that his siblings conspired with R-J publisher Stephens Media, to end a Joint Operating Agreement that could mean the end for the Pulitzer-Prize winning Sun, which was founded in 1950. Attorneys fro Greenspun are also seeking a temporary restraining order to overturn the results of a meeting that saw key voters for Greenspun Media agree to accept ownership of Stephens' lasvegas.com domain name. Click the R-J link for more information regarding this breaking story.

Member Rewards Score at Palms:

Our Member Rewards Book offer for a "$50 Comp" at the Palms just got a lot better, as it can now be used for food and drinks at Heraea, the hot new sports bar and restaurant there. Already one of the best offers in the MRB, this deal is good for half off, up to a $50 discount, on rooms, restaurants, and bars throughout the resort. You can join LVA for as little as $37, and make that up with this one deal alone.

Another Casino Website SNAFU:

While Harrah's Las Vegas has reclaimed its expired web domain (see earlier "Today's News" post), it seems that Gansevoort has followed in the unfortunate steps of the Downtown Grand, which inadvertently opened up its booking page when it thought no one was looking (see Question of the Day 7/29/13) and accidentally leaked evidence to confirm the rumor that Emmy Award-winning celebrity chef, author, and TV personality Giada De Laurentiis will be opening her very first restaurant at Gansevoort Las Vegas. See vegas.eater.com for the scoop.

LV Casino Domain Name Up for Grabs?!:

By chance, we just attempted to visit the official harrahlasvegas.com website, only to be redirected to a Network Solutions "expired domain name" page. Either CET is even more hard-up for cash than we thought and they're actually selling off everything, or else someone at CET forgot to renew... (Surely not?) Whatever the explanation, Harrah's web address is currently up for auction and the bidding starts at just $69...

Gambling Professionally? It's a Grind:

So says video poker expert Bob Dancer in his latest weekly column, wherein he explains that there's more to the day-to-day in his chosen profession than living the high life and getting paid to gamble. Check it out before you consider quitting the day job...

Faith & Tim on Sale:

Tickets are now on sale for future dates to see Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's Soul2Soul concert series at Venetian, with GA starting at $183 and upcoming (occasional) dates running from Oct. 25/26 through April 11/12.

Win a Wedding:

Visit the Resort On Mount Charleston for a bridal consultation before 2 p.m. on Aug. 25 and be entered into a drawing for a wedding package giveaway, which will see one couple winning a complete wedding and reception for up to 50 guests, valued at $7,500. Visit the mtcharelestonresort.com website for more information about the promo; the drawing takes place at 2:30 p.m. during the Wedding Open House event this Saturday (runs from noon to 4 p.m.)

New BBQ at Red Rock:

After the demise, several years ago, of the much-hyped but underwhelming Salt Lick, Red Rock Resort finally has a new barbecue joint, with the debut Monday of Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, the Southwestern chain that already has a location at the District at Green Valley Ranch, in addition to restaurants throughout California and one in Arizona. The Red Rock Lucille's is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight (1 a.m. on weekends).

Big MAGIC:

The bi-annual MAGIC fashion-trade convention is back in town, hosted by the LVCVA and Mandalay Bay, and the organizers report that this spring-styles showcase is their biggest show since 2008, with in excess of 80,000 attendees from 80 countries expected to have a non-gaming impact on the city of more than $100 million over the course of the event, which runs through Wednesday.

More Restaurant News:

Roy’s Restaurant, the dispenser of Hawaiian-fusion cuisine located on W. Charleston, has closed, we just learned via the R-J. The eatery was named for Chef Roy Yamaguchi, who founded the chain in 1988 in Honolulu.

Restaurant News:

The ongoing restaurant shake-up at Wynn continues, with news that both gourmet Chinese restaurant Wing Lei and shrine-to-seafood Bartolotta will be closing to undergo complete remodels. The former's temporary closure commences Oct. 8, the latter's Nov. 3, while both restaurants will reopen Dec. 21. Meanwhile, the chef behind Bellagio's popular Yellowtail has debuted a new Las Vegas offering in the form of Kumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar By Akira Back, featuring a modern Japanese menu of "fresh dead fish," served with a Korean-American twist.

Hustler Hearts Locals ... and Football:

Larry Flynt's Hustler Club Vegas is loving locals, with a "Back to School" promo offering no cover and a daily open bar from 4-8 p.m.; plus, they currently have a pre-sale on Fantasy Football tickets ($25 for locals, $50 for out-of-state ID). Visit VegasHusterClub.com for more details.

Tax Blow for Offshore Casinos:

The U.K. government has announced plans to levy approximately a half-billion dollars/year in tax revenues from online gambling companies currently operating in tax havens off its shores, while offering services to U.K. customers. HM Treasury's newly released discussion paper outlines the concept for new rules governing the taxation of revenues earned by international online gambling operators, shifting the focus to the "place of consumption" (i.e., where the physical gambling takes place) and not the "place of production," so that even companies based outside of the UK will be liable to pay taxes on profits garnered in the United Kingdom If the move goes forward, companies including Ladbrokes, Bwin.party, William Hill, and Betfair, which currently all have online operations based in Gibraltar where taxes are levied at 1% and capped at £425,000, would taxed at the rate of 15% on U.K.-based profit; William Hill, the leader in the the U.K.'s remote-gambling market, has previously indicated that it could challenge the changes on the grounds that they breach European Union competition law.

Festival of Fashion at Forum Shops:

This Sept. 6 and 7 the luxury shopping mall at Caesars Palace will launch its first-ever Festival of Fashion, a two-day lifestyle event featuring live demos, pop-up fashion shows, beauty bars, photo opps, live music and DJs, food, drink, in-store events, limited-edition products, and other fun for fashionistas. Participating stores include: Anne Fontaine, Anthropologie, Baccarat, Bettie Page, Brighton Collectibles, Brooks Brothers, Caesars Essentials, Caesars Exclusivley, Chrome Hearts, Citta delle Luci, Custo Barcelona, Dior Beauty, DKNY, Donald J Pliner, Diane von Furstenberg, Elie Tahari, Exclusive Collections Gallery, Hearts On Fire, James Perse, Juicy Couture, Kids Kastle, L.K. Bennett, Longchamp, Montblanc, Pandora, Sandro, Sephora, Shoooz, Swarovski, Ted Baker London and Tommy Bahama.

Flamingo Still Closed by Rio/Palms/Gold Coast:

A fatal accident that took place late this morning continues to close Flamingo at Valley View, while the investigation into the incident continues. From news reports, it seems that a truck was stolen from the valet area at the Flamingo as the owners loaded it; apparently, the two men jumped into the bed of the stolen truck and were later ejected, one fatally, when it collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Valley View as it headed west on Flamingo. The Gold Coast is still accessible via the parking garage entrance on Valley View, as is the Rio, which is also accessible via Twain.

You're in the Wrong Biz:

A new record has been set for the highest-paid DJ in the world. According to a story in the LV Sun, Forbes.com says Scottish DJ Calvin Harris takes down a neat $46 million a year, well outdistancing second place Tiesto, who takes turns playing Las Vegas clubs. Other DJs on the list who show up in Vegas include Kaskade, Avicii, Steve Aoki, Deadmau5, and Afrojack.

Big Wheel Rising:

The "High Roller" observation wheel that will be the key feature of the Linq development now has a prominent presence at center Strip. Though it looks only about half complete, it already extends well above The Quad, and at its eventual 550 feet, it will be one of the tallest structures in Las Vegas. In a recent article in Cigar Aficionado, a CET representative says that five million riders per year are projected.

Cut-a-Thon at the Rio:

Rio Spa & Salon hosts its 4th annual cut-a-thon today from 1 p.m., benefiting Locks of Love for children undergoing chemotherapy and other causes of hair loss. Donate at least 10 inches of non-bleached/highlighted hair (regular color and permed is okay) and receive a complimentary blunt cut and 30% discount on additional styling or coloring.

Furnish to open Fizz:

Filmmaker David Furnish, who is the civil partner of performer Elton John -- himself enjoying an extended residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace -- is to open a 2,750-square-foot Champagne bar called Fizz at the property this fall as a kind of open-house home-away-from-home for the couple while they sojourn in Sin City. "Fizz," which will feature high-end Champagnes by the glass, carefully-curated spirits, and a menu of caviar, charcuterie, and small plates overseen by John's personal chef, "is an extension of our personal style," said Furnish.

UFC Sonnen/Rua:

Mauricio Rua is a -150 favorite over Chael Sonnen in tonight's UFC Main Event. In other featured matches, Alistair Overeem is -175 over Travis Browne, and Urijah Faber is -195 over Yuri Alcantara.

Third Eye on 3rd Street:

Third Eye Blind plays tonight on the 3rd Street stage at the Fremont Street Experience. The free concert is scheduled to start at 9 p.m.

Brewfest at Palazzo:

Tonight, from 7-10 p.m., Public House at Palazzo hosts the "Cheer for Beer" festival, with an unlimited sampling of 50 different imported beers, plus brewing experts on hand to chat with. Tickets are $29.

Elvis Weekend:

It's Elvis Weekend at Sam's Town, with Elvis Presley-related promos throughout the casino. Elvis movies are playing on the big screen in Roxy's, Elvis slots award 20X points, and there's an Elvis karaoke contest at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Come dressed like The King and get a free buffet today and Sunday.

Gilley's Dance Marathon:

Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & Bar-B-Que at Treasure Island hosts a "Boot Scootin’ Benefit" dance marathon today to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada. Registration starts at noon for the event, which runs from 1-5 p.m. Teams of up to four are permitted, with a $25 entry per team member (one of whom must keep dancing at all times), and there will be lots of food and drink specials and raffle prizes up for grabs (each entry earns two tickets).

School Supplies Reminder:

Don't forget that today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a community-outreach event at the Mayweather Boxing Club (4020 Schiff Drive), with a school-supplies giveaway and a laptop to be won by a student who brings their library card.

Jersey Boys Deal:

Check out this $40 discount on orchestra seats for Jersey Boys the excellent and multi-award winning musical based on the career of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons.

National Rum Day:

That would be today, August 16, and Rhumbar at Mirage is celebrating with BOGO Bacardi cocktails all day/night, plus drink and cigar pairings: Purchase any signature cocktail and a Mirage Toro cigar for $20.

Town Square Trades Meatballs for Sparkly Sugar Spheres:

Sugar Factory's bid for world takeover continues, with news that come this fall, the celebrity-beloved vendor of sparkly lollipops, calorific comfort food, and cocktails will be the new tenant in the Town Square venue vacated by Meatball Spot, which is moving to Planet Hollywood.

Blue Men Go Big at the Bowl, Showcase Mozart Cat:

Blue Man Group, who recently launched a revamped show at their new home at the Monte Carlo, are to hold the world premiere of an all-new collaborative orchestral concert spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. on Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7. The venue will be transformed for the event, which is inspired by their recent participation at Rio de Janeiro's famous Carnival and will feature cutting-edge video mapping and an array of special-guest virtuosos of such instruments as the didgeridoo, sitar, glass armonica, and musical saw, not to mention the debut of brand new instruments conceived and designed by the Blue Men. Oh, and Mozart played with a cat. (Yes, that's what it says.) Tickets start at $17 (no, that's not a typo, either).

Mayweather Fundraiser:

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions Rising Stars have joined the campaign to help local kids in need of school supplies and will be hosting a series of several community outreach initiatives and giveaways throughout the year, kicking off on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Mayweather Boxing Club (4020 Schiff Drive).The Back 2 School Giveaway will incorporate TFMJF’s Fight4Your Education Initiative, which encourages youth development through scholastic workshops and book/supply drives. Any student in grades 5-12 who brings their local library card to tomorrow's event, which runs from 11 am to 3 pm, will have the opportunity to win a brand new laptop.

AdventureDome to Celebrate Milestone:

The Adventuredome at Circus Circus will celebrate its 20th birthday from 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, with celebrity guests including Holly Madison, Jabbawockeez, and performers from Excalibur's Tournament of Kings, plus there will be clowns, confetti, and a 2,000-piece cupcake tower, so head to the dome and join in the fun.

'80s Show Moving On:

The '80s Show, which has been performing in the V Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops, will wrap up its Las Vegas run on Aug. 28th and take the show on the road.

Ghostbar Returns:

The Palms has unveiled its newly remodeled 55th floor nightspot in time for the annual Lingerie Masquerade affair this weekend. Ghostbar is now open nightly from 8 p.m.

Vegas Top Pick for Pizza:

President Obama knew what he was doing when he opted to feed his team courtesy of local pizzerias on two separate trips to Sin City; now the collective readership of TripAdvisor.com has named Las Vegas #2 on the Top 10 cities for pizza in the U.S., ahead of both New York and Chicago (San Diego claimed the #1 spot). The Las Vegas pizza scene has seen a mushrooming of gourmet options in recent times, with popular local chain Metro Pizza, which has been feeding the valley its pies for more than three decades now, joined by diverse newcomers, including Cosmo's "Secret Pizza," Naked City Pizza (as featured on Food Network), Dom DeMarco's, Settebello, and Due Forni, all of which have made their mark. See the "Best Pizza" section in Eating Las Vegas for details and more ideas.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's a comedy weekend, with a whole bunch of music, beer, and lingerie thrown in (Vegas, baby!) Andrew Dice Clay's back at the Hard Rock (8/14-8/18) The Smith Center welcomes An Evening with Lyle Lovett and his large band (8/16) David Spade does stand up at the Venetian (8/16-8/17) Ralphie May makes 'em laugh at South Point (8/16-8/18) Funny man Sinbad takes the stage at the Orleans (8/16-8/17) Brandon Bennett's Elvis My Way entertains at the Suncoast (8/17-8/18) Sublime with Rome performs poolside at Mandalay Bay Beach (8/17) Carnavale continues at Venetian/Palazzo (thru Sept. 8), with the Cheer for Beer event (8/17) And the 7th annual Midsummer Lingerie Masquerade party is at the Palms Pool (8/17)

Cheer for Beer:

Public House at Palazzo hosts the "Cheer for Beer" event on Friday, Aug. 17, from 7 to 10 p.m., with more than 50 international craft beers to sample and brewery representatives on-hand to chat with. Tickets are $29; visit Venetian/Palazzo's Carnevale website for more info and to purchase your pass.

AC Poker Room Closes:

The poker room at Revel in Atlantic City has closed. The casino has been running generous promotions to attract gamblers, but poker players apparently aren't in its desired mix.

National Roller Coaster Day:

Friday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., it's officially National Roller Coaster Day, a date that Las Vegas is well-equipped to celebrate (although less well-equipped than it used to be, with the High Roller somewhere on the ground in a backyard and Speed yet to experience its rumored reincarnation). We couldn't get hold of anyone at New York-New York to find out if they're doing any kind of promo, but we can confirm that Buffalo Bill's in Primm will be offering free rides on its Desperado monster coaster from 12:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Nat. Geo. Exhibit Extension:

"50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic," the exhibit featuring iconic and dramatic stills from the celebrated magazine's 125-year encompassing archive, has extended its engagement at Venetian through January 13, 2014, thanks to popular demand. The collection is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 p.m. Fri/Sat) and general admission is $18 ($15 for locals, students, military, and seniors).

East Side Traffic Alert:

The conversion of the intersection at Twain and Spencer into a four-way stop this afternoon will reduce traffic on Twain to one lane in both directions from 1 p.m. until midnight today, so drivers are encouraged to use DI/Flamingo if traveling east/west, or Maryland Parkway/Paradise for north/south travel.

A.C. Properties in Partnering Frenzy with Online Casinos:

Card Player magazine has produced a useful summary of the current lay of the land in New Jersey, where it seems as if a new affiliation is announced every day between a bricks-and-mortar casino and an online equivalent, in the race to get a foot in the door ahead of the legalization of Internet gambling in the state. The latest partnership to be named is between Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino and UK-based Gamesys, which offers online gambling in the European market via Jackpotjoy.com. Online companies must have a land-based casino interest in the state, where the potential value of the iGaming market has been pegged at as much as $500 million to $1 billion per annum. Partnerships announced to date: Caesars Entertainment Corp. — 888 Holdings Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa — Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Resorts Casino Hotel — PokerStars Golden Nugget Atlantic City — Bally Technologies Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort — Ultimate Gaming Tropicana Casino and Resort — Gamesys London-based 2UP Gaming has also announced that it has received a $330 million commitment from an Asian investment group in order to acquire or build a hotel-casino property in Atlantic City; of the city's dozen bricks-and-mortar gaming establishments, only Revel and the Atlanic Club currently remain partnerless in the iGaming dance. The latter was formerly involved in talks with PokerStars, but terminated the relationship.

Eiffel Tower Milestone will Prove Lucky for Someone:

The "Eiffel Tower Experience" at Paris Las Vegas, a narrated elevator ride up the scaled-down replica of the French landmark that points out famous Sin City landmarks and provides a photo opp from the observation deck, is scheduled to welcome its 10 millionth visitor sometime in early fall. To mark the milestone, the lucky ticket-holder will be awarded a trip for two to the real Paris, valued at $5,000. Visit parislasvegas.com/things-to-do/eiffel-tower.htm for the full Terms and Conditions of the promo.

'Hyperloop' to Vegas?:

An idea for a new transport system evokes thoughts of a better way to get to Las Vegas. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of PayPal, says that travel through tubes on a cushion of air is viable. Using the 400-mile trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco as an example, the system, called "Hyperloop," would travel at about 700 mph, with vehicles departing every 30 seconds. The trip would take 30 minutes and cost only about $20 one way. The distance between LA and Las Vegas is about 300 miles. Sounds like a perfect fit.

Pinnacle/Ameristar Deal Gets Full Approval:

The Federal Trade Commission has given formal approval to the final element of the deal that will see Las Vegas-based gaming giant Pinnacle Entertainment complete its $2.8 billion acquisition of Ameristar Casinos, reports today's R-J. The sale has been complicated by the fact that both companies operate in multiple gaming jurisdictions, each with their own regulatory framework, which also raised antitrust implications at the federal level. This FTC green light clears the way for the sale, which Pinnacle hopes to close by the end of August and which will see the company operating a total of 16 casinos in nine states.

Guest Speakers at Mob Museum:

On Friday, October 4, and Saturday, October 5, Barbara Schroeder and Clark Fogg, authors of Beverly Hills Confidential – A Century of Stars, Scandals and Murders,, will host a presentation their book at downtown's Mob Museum, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the courtroom, followed by the book signing from 2 to 3 p.m. in the second-floor hallway. Both events are free to attend for Museum Members; for non-members, the cost is included in the purchase of Museum admission.

NY Casino Gets Subway Station:

New York City celebrated the grand opening of the new Aqueduct Raceway subway station in Queens today, together with the new Resorts World SkyBridge, both designed to make it easier for New Yorkers to visit the Resorts World Casino, Genting Group's first gaming property in the U.S. Manhattan-bound A trains will stop at the new station 24/7.

Rock Boxers at LVH:

Raiding the Rock Vault, the musical journey through the history of classic rock currently performing at LVH and featuring a star lineup of band members from numerous famous bands, is hosting a one-night tribute performance for Olympic Gold Medalist and boxing World Champ Leon Spinks, with proceeds going to benefit The Richard Steele Foundation & Boxing Club and New Vista. The one-off "Night of the Champion" performance, which takes place this Saturday, Aug. 17, is expected to pack the house with boxing legends, with Sugar Ray Leonard, "Raging Bull" Jake LaMotta, John H. Stracey, Michael Spinks, Earnie Shavers, Tony "The Tiger" Lopez, James "Quick" Tillis, Danny Lopez, Joe Cortez, Zab Judah, and Richard Steele all among the guests expected to attend. Boxing fans take note: Spinks and other star attendees will participate in a 2 p.m. autograph session at LVH Race & Sports Book prior to the show.

Theory or Fact? Bob Dancer Muses...:

This week's regular Tuesday column finds video poker expert Bob Dancer in a philosophical mood, examining his methodology for calculating which video poker games to play, and when, in order to play with positive EV, and whether or not the current accepted wisdom will stand the test of time. Interesting stuff.

Spa for Aliante:

Aliante Casino + Hotel has announced plans to debut a resort-style spa called re:lax in mid-October, offering a full range of services for female and male clientele.

Fashion Show Mall QoD Mystery Solved:

Today's Question of the Day addressed a query from a reader wanting to know what formerly stood on the spot now occupied by Fashion Show Mall. It turned out to be one of those rare instances that had us stumped ... until, that is, two of our trusty readers came to the rescue to inform us that it was the former home of the famous Little Church of the West. Here's an excerpt from the Las Vegas Sun from last May, when the chapel celebrated its 70th birthday: "[Owner Greg] Smith recounted as a teenager driving by the chapel when it was on the corner of Spring Mountain Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, where the Fashion Show mall stands today. "You'd drive down the Strip, you'd see the little picturesque church sitting there and happy people. It's kind of ironic that I ended up making a career out of it," said Smith, who worked in wedding photography when he was younger. "Smith bought Little Church of the West from Merle Richards in 1983, four years after the church, constructed of cedar, was relocated to the site of the old Hacienda. In 1996, it was moved to its current location. Richards, whose portrait hangs in the former chapel office — which is now used as an audio room — started out as a photographer in the chapel after World War II. "The chapel, modeled after a California mining church, has been moved three times since its inception. It originally was built at the Last Frontier resort but was relocated on the hotel site in 1954. It currently is situated between the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign and Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Boulevard South." So now you -- and we! -- know.

Clean Energy Summit:

The sixth annual National Clean Energy Summit kicks off tomorrow at Mandalay Bay, with guest speaker Arnold Schwarzenegger. A Nevada-based national platform for clean-energy-development discussions, the day-long summit is hosted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and sponsored by the Center for American Progress, the Clean Energy Project, MGM Resorts International, and UNLV, bringing together top policymakers to advance goals that this year focus on empowering individuals, governments, and businesses to transition to a clean-energy future.

Guitar Legend Coming to Pearl:

Mark Knopfler, guitar virtuoso and Dire Straits frontman, brings his solo tour and seven-piece band to the Pearl at the Palms Oct. 25. Tickets, which start at $59, go on sale Monday, Aug. 29 at noon and expect them to sell fast for this one-off Vegas gig.

Ticket Bonanza at Primm:

Primm Valley Resort is offering amazing value with $9.95 tickets available for all upcoming concerts at Star of the Desert Arena. Headliners span everything from R&B to country to Norteño, with a scheduled lineup this month including Los Tigres del Norte (Aug. 24) and Kenny Rogers (Aug. 31), followed later in the year by The Jacksons, Lonestar, Ramon Ayala, The Oak Ridge Boys, and the O'Jays.

'Gambler's Happy Hour' Suspended:

Work is in progress to switch out video poker machines at Bar 702. The subject of a Bar Rescue episode that featured Anthony Curtis is changing route operators and getting new machines. We believe most of the good schedules that AC installed will remain, but one casualty will be the great "Gambler's Happy Hour" that will be discontinued, at least temporarily, due to the new operator not having a wheel-spin component.

Watch for Small Print with LVH Resort Fee:

A reader has written in with a heads-up in response to our recent Question of the Day about hotel resort fees. LVH (the former Las Vegas Hilton) recently introduced a nightly resort fee, which we were told included fitness center access, which is pretty standard. However, this is a first-hand account of what the fee actually includes: "I recently stayed at the LVH and the resort fee DOES NOT include fitness center access. Instead, the LVH has set up a new area in the main hotel with cardio equipment only and access to that area is what is included in the resort fee. If you want to use the fitness center, which has strength machines in addition to cardio machines, you have to either pay $20 per person or upgrade to a Resorts room for $25 per day. This was made clear to me by the reservation agent, and I saw the new cardio area when I stayed at the hotel in July. Plus, if you choose to upgrade to the Resorts room, you still have to pay the resort fee on top of the upgrade charge." Yikes!

Vogue Hearts Vegas Nail Bar:

While Las Vegas garners daily media attention, it's not often that we find our fair city on the pages of Vogue, but in the online "Sunday Spill" feature this week, The Nail Bar at Mandarin Oriental gets the pick, with the revelation from a New York City Reader that, "Believe it or not, it's possible to find relaxtion on the Las Vegas Strip," courtesy of the luxe pedicure at the facility's Chinese Foot Spa. To coincide with this weekend's annual Star Trek convention, she recommends the Diamond Magnetic Manicure & Pedicure, which "infuses crushed gemstone particles into a hydrating mud mask that’s used to massage the hands and feet." The "residual diamond dust" gets swept away afterward with a magnet, apparently (don't we get to keep it?) No price is quoted and we're afraid to call to find out.

Dining With a View:

Three Las Vegas restaurants have made OpenTable.com's list of the "Top 100 Scenic View Restaurants." The unranked list includes the Eiffel Tower (Paris), Top of the World (Stratosphere), and Mandarin Bar (Mandarin Oriental). Also on the list are the Lake Tahoe area's Big Water Grille, Chart House, and Edgewood Restaurant.

Pick the Pros Returning:

The Boyd casinos are running their Pick the Pros football contest again this year. This free contest is a perennial LVA Top Ten Values selection for being the best contest in town for both locals and visitors (you can play it sporadically without penalty). The contest begins August 27. We'll have a complete rundown of all the football contest details in the September Las Vegas Advisor.

PGA Line:

Leader Jim Furyk is the favorite at +265 to win going into the final round of golf's PGA championship today. Jason Dufner at one stroke behind and Henrik Stenson at two behind are both +305.

Eydie Gorme Dies in Las Vegas:

The popular nightclub singer who, along with her husband Steve Lawrence, was a regular fixture in the lounges and showrooms of Las Vegas back in the '50s and '60s (and beyond), died earlier today at Sunrise Hospital, aged 84, following a brief illness.

VP Tourney at Money Plays:

The local bar Money Plays is running a video poker tournament tonight, beginning at 7:30 p.m. It's free to play. Money Plays, located on Flamingo just west of the Palms, was one of this year's five inductees into Seven magazine's Bar Hall of Fame.

Bonus Points at HR:

Today is a good bonus-points day at Hard Rock. Get 10X points on slots and 5X on video poker. You must swipe your players card at a kiosk to activate the multipliers.

Free Franky:

There's no charge to see Franky Perez in The Lounge at the Palms tonight, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Perez was big on the national scene a few years back and you can hear his music regularly on the TV show "Sons of Anarchy." His show is almost always on the in-the-knowers' short list of best lounge acts in Vegas.

Promo Pays Off for Revel:

The controversial "You Can't Lose" rebate promotion at Atlantic City's Revel is paying dividends for the troubled casino. While AC casinos collectively booked another decline in year-over-year win for July (-3.6%), Revel's results were up more than 33%, with the $23.4 million win representing it's best month ever.

Jackpot at the Riv:

A Delaware woman hit a Wheel of Fortune slot for $937,608 on Friday at the Riviera. Yes, you've heard this story before, but it was her 69th birthday and she hit the jackpot on her second spin. Yeow!

Caesars Closes Door on Macau Non-Chapter:

While rival casino giants MRI, Wynn, and Las Vegas Sands have substantial presences in the Macau gaming market, Caesars Entertainment missed the boat, never applying for one of the limited number of casino licenses offered by the Chinese government. While the other companies all have multiple resort-casinos now, and are looking into further expansion in the Asian market, CET has finally conceded defeat and is selling its lone landholding in the Macau -- a 175-acre parcel of land that was purchased in 2007 for $578 million, with the intention of constructing a hotel and casino; a revised plan then called for the development of a course called Caesars Golf, but now the financially strapped company is selling the site at a loss, for $438 million, to an Asian property developer.

Pellegrino Out, Spears In, at Meatball Spot:

"Top Chef" contestant and chef-on-the-move Carla Pellegrino has confirmed that she no longer has anything to do with Meatball Spot at Town Square, the restaurant for which she said she quit her Bacio restaurant at the New Trop to open. The specialty meatball joint has tirelessly self-promoted the Pellegrino brand since it debuted, with a hip image, a menu featuring topical and novelty dishes, and a celebrity clientele. Among the famous friends of Meatball Spot is Britney Spears, who will be a part-owner of Meatball Spot when it relocates to Planet Hollywood, to a location adjacent to the theater which will be the singers's home for the duration of her upcoming residency at the property, complete details of which still have yet to be confirmed, but the rumors that have persisted for years about a Britney invasion, once rumored to favor the Palms, finally seems to have come to fruition.

MRI Eyeing New Gambling Markets:

Not only is Mirage Resorts International working toward domestic partnerships (see "Today's News" 8/7/2013 for word on the company's ambition to merge Nevada's online gaming market with New Jersey's, with a view to maximizing the two entity's separate strengths -- a dynamic, vibrant, iconic, and perennially popular gaming and leisure destination, and a far larger and gaming-friendly population to market to, respectively -- and mitigating any converse weaknesses), comes an announcement from CEO Jim Murren, during a second quarter earnings call, that the U.S.-based casino giant is looking beyond its established casino presence in Macau, and non-gaming hotel presence in China and Vietnam, and is now considering its opportunities in what are predicted to be Asia's next two gambling hotspots: Japan and South Korea.

Spotty Service:

After closing without warning two weeks ago, Radio City Pizza has reopened in downtown's East Fremont district and appears to be operating normally. Meanwhile, the Pho Bosa Vietnamese restaurant at Spring Mtn. and Polaris that we reported closed in June seems to be on a one-week-on one-week-off schedule. Definitely call ahead if you're planning to go there.

Reid to Bring New Federal Online-Poker Bill:

We’ve gotten word that big moves are brewing in the jockeying for U.S. online-gambling supremacy. After declaring the effort to pass a bill creating Federal oversight dead, Nevada Senator Harry Reid is preparing to introduce a new poker-only bill that’s believed to have the support (and votes) necessary to pass before the end of this year. Integral to the plan is a compact between Nevada and New Jersey that would establish a joint online-governing body between the two states. Check back shortly for an expanded discussion, which we’ll put up in "Spotlight" later today.

Profits Jump for Stations:

Station Casinos saw profits grow 11 percent in Q2, although the company did not disclose how much of the jump was attributable to its new Ultimate Poker online gambling business, which was launched last April and has already dealt more than 10 million hands of real-money poker.

Bad List Skips Vegas:

We're used to finding ourselves included on most city lists of unfortunate superlatives, including most stupid, unemployed, dirty, depressed, foreclosed-on, unfit, dangerous-to-pedestrians, badly-dressed, and allergy-inducing, but for once Las Vegas was not included when Forbes released its list of "America's Most Miserable Cities" a little while ago. Atlantic City, however, our East Coast cousin, came in at #15 on that list, with its struggling casino economy and 14.4% unemployment rate. Still, a response today in the Press of Atlantic City offers that recent and ongoing improvements, including additions like Bass Pro Shops and Margaritaville, the Steel Pier's new 200-foot-high Ferris wheel, a string of retail units and restaurants planned in front of Boardwalk Hall, the possible sale of one or more of its ailing casinos, and the return of Miss America, should all help reverse this unhappy state of affairs. What the article doesn't cite is the likely huge cash injection that will follow when online poker is legally up and running in the state, too (see "Today's News" 8/7/2013).

Virus Vanquished, LVA Clean:

We're pretty sure we have eradicated any lingering after-effects from the cyber attacks the LVA website has experienced recently (thank in part to thinking like the enemy and checking out some hacker blogs to find out how they got in). Two leading independent scanners have given us a completely clean bill of health, as has Google; we're not resting on our laurels, as any site with heavy traffic like lasvegasadvisor.com is going to be a juicy target for hijackers, so do please report to us if you suspect anything strange. In the meantime, if you're still receiving any kind of warnings from your web browser, this is most likely a caching issue and it's looking at an old version of the page: Clear all your cookies and the cache in your browser history and it will reset to the present. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with useful info and screenshots during this ordeal, and to those who understand the realities and have experienced similar attacks themselves, for your moral support. It's for times like this that we have anti-Malware and -virus software and we're happy it did its job in alerting readers to the fact that we'd been compromised.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here are some of this weekend's highlights, Les Misérables is playing the Smith Center (8/7-8/11) The Wanted performs poolside at the Cosmopolitan (8/9) Toni Braxton entertains at the Palms (8/9) 102.7's Coyote Countryfest returns to the Orleans Arena with performances by Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Kristen Kelly and more (8/10) The Jonas Brothers take the stage at the Mandalay Bay Events Center (8/10) Kool & The Gang funk things up at the Cannery (8/10) 1971 off-Broadway smash Godspell continues its limited run at the alternative Onyx Theater (8/8-11) And it's second Saturday, which means its the Vegas StrEATs food-truck 'n music fest downtown at Jackie Gaughan Plaze, in the vicinity of El Cortez

Faith and Tim Return:

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will be returning for an encore run of their limited-engagement Soul2Soul show that sold out at Venetian earlier this year. The shows, which take place in the 1,815-seat Venetian Theatre, will commence Oct. 25-26 and take place on select weekends through April 2014. Members of Venetian’s Grazie program, holders of Citi credit cards (the official card of Soul2Soul), and the artists’ official fan communities, will be able to purchase advance tickets through pre-sales starting Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m.

Powerball Jackpot Three-Way Split:

The Multi-State Lottery Association has announced that three winning tickets were sold for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing, which had reached the fourth-highest lottery-jackpot level in U.S. history, at $448 million. At least three people in two states beat the odds to split the grand prize, one in Minnesota and two in New Jersey. The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 05, 25, 30, 58, 59 and Powerball 32.

Kudos to Nobu:

In the August issue of the Robb Report, the "luxury" arbiter profiles the Nobu brand, including its hotel-within-a-hotel at Caesars, as the final installment in its 25th Annual Best of the Best series. Alongside iconic brands like Lamborghini and Louis Vuitton, Nobu was named among the elite selection of most innovative luxury brands worldwide, from the original suites offered in the hotel to "changing the way both chefs and diners approach seafood."

More Downtown Resort Fees:

New Headliner for Fantasy:

Las Vegas performer Jaime Lynch, whose credits include performing in Peepshow, Vegas! The Show!, iCandy Burlesque, and Sirens of TI, will take over the lead role in Luxor's topless revue, recently departed by long-time popular lead Lorena Peril, who has left the production to play the role of Sandy in a global touring production of Grease..

TI Gets in on Mall Action:

Treasure Island has plans for a three-story 46,200-square-foot shopping center, with the application for use permits coming before county commissioners today. If approved, the new retail addition will be located on a 19.5-acre site at the southwest corner of Las Vegas Boulevard South and Spring Mountain Road, which will reduce the resort’s lagoon area and shorten the track that the Sirens of TI pirate-ship runs on, although there are no plans to scrap the show. Access to the shopping center will be both from the Strip and from within the resort.

NV Gaming Powers Eyeing NJ Collaboration:

Reuters reports that MGM Resorts International is working with Nevada gaming officials on the concept of the state partnering with the Atlantic City to create a joint online gambling market. MRI CEO Jim Murren even speculated that a compact could be in place as early as 2014. While Nevada consistently beats its East Coast rival in gaming revenues, Atlantic City has the advantage of a far larger market, thanks to its bigger populace, with some analysts projecting that New Jersey could generate as much as ten time more from online gambling. The concept of agreements between states also has advantages in terms of creating a uniform regulatory framework.

Bob Dancer Issues a Warning:

In this week's column, video poker expert Bob Dancer concludes his two-part cautionary tale about being ripped off by a former playing partner; if you missed Part I last week, we recommend you catch it in the column archives before reading Part II.

Gagnaire in the House:

Three-star Michelin chef Pierre Gagnaire will be at the helm of Twist, his only restaurant in the U.S., located in Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter, this August 19 to 26 to launch an exclusive new menu, as well as an event with Opus One Winery. On Monday, August 26, Opus One Winery will host a six-course dinner to showcase select wines paired with dishes specially prepared by Gagnaire for his Forbes Five-Star restaurant. The all-inclusive dinner will run from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. and is $500 per person. Also, for the duration of Chef Gagnaire’s visit, a unique menu will be available for $325, highlighting favorite dishes from his various restaurants around the world.

New Boss for Vegas CET Properties:

Caesars Entertainment has announced that the current president of its Mid-North Regional Division will be returning to Las Vegas to oversee the Flamingo, The Quad, and the in-the-works Gansevoort development. Eileen Moore takes over from current regional president Rick Mazer, who is leaving to become president of Harrah’s Atlantic City.

Celine Returns:

The Canadian chanteuse begins her next run at Caesars Palace tonight, as part of her ongoing residency at the Colosseum that runs through 2019. Tickets to Celine start at $69.50, with upcoming scheduled dates through Sept. 1; the show is dark Monday and Thursday.

M Closes Poker Room:

M Resort has closed its poker room and will use the space for slot tournaments. There are no plans to reopen the poker room, which had a significant presence with 14 tables adjoining the sports book, though the casino intends to host the Hollywood Poker Open next summer.

Multiple Job Fairs:

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is already hiring for the holiday season, with a two-day job fair that concludes tomorrow. The recruitment drive is taking place at the company's 10000 Covington Cross Dr. address, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with openings for 120 associates for sales and customer service positions for its Pottery Barn call center. A further 580 positions will need to be filled through November. Applicants need to be computer literate in Word and Excel, with upbeat friendly demeanor; please apply online at williams-sonomainc.com before attending the job fair, or email your resume to jobs@wsgc.com. In addition, the Timbers Gaming chain, which has seven valley locations, has a three-day job fair that concludes Wednesday, hiring for all positions. The hiring is taking place via the 5710 Losee Rd. location in North Las Vegas,from noon to 5 p.m. each day, with open positions include gaming bartender, food server, lead cook, line cook, and dishwashers. Experience is preferred by not mandatory; hopefuls must apply in person. Echo & Rig, the restaurant and butchers shop announced for Tivoli Village (see early "Today's News" item today), is hiring for multiple positions August 6, 7, and 8 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. All employers must be food-handler certified; see the ad on Craigslist for more details. And, finally, Sugar Factory American Brasserie on the Strip inside Paris is also currently recruiting for positions including bartender, bar back, cocktail server, nitrogen-cart attendant (cool!), hostess, and bussers. Again, check out the Craigslist posting for info.

Fourth Largest Lottery Prize in Play:

The fourth largest U.S. lottery jackpot of all time is up for grabs, as the Powerball jackpot is now over $400 million after 12 drawings without a winner. It will take a few more misses, though, to reach the record of $590.5 million.

Donuts for Buses:

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, which has five Vegas valley locations, including in Circus Circus and Excalibur, is partnering with The Salvation Army to provide local Las Vegas students with school supplies during the "Stuff the Bus" campaign, which kicks off tomorrow and runs through Monday, Sept. 9. The nationwide campaign is asking for donations of items including notebooks, binders, and writing materials, with each donor receiving a complimentary original glazed doughnuts in thanks. Each donation of a backpack containing school supplies will be rewarded with a dozen free doughnuts.

Scream It Like You Mean It:

Las Vegas is turning into as much of a music capital as it has become a dining destination and club mecca over the past few years. In addition to the much-anticipated inaugural Life Is Beautiful festival, coming to downtown Oct. 26-27, Henderson gets things warmed up when it welcomes the Scream It Like You Mean It Tour this Oct. 22, sponsored by Smash Magazine. Hosted by the Henderson Events Plaza, with headliner Story of the Year and special guests Like Moths To Flames, Hawthorne Heights, Set It Off and I Am King, tickets to the event are on sale now for $21 at ticketfly.com, or for $24 day of show.

Yet Another Steakhouse...But with New Concept:

Yes, really, with news of the upcoming debut of chef Sam Marvin's Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse at Tivoli Village. The venue, due to open later this month, will feature a 12,500-square-foot open dining room, featuirng more than 90 reasonably priced menu selections, plus -- and here's the novel twist -- a neighborhood-style butcher shop, showcasing one of the most acclaimed meat men in the nation. The store element will include a large open glass meat locker, vertical displays, and an exhibition/demonstration area. The two-floor open restaurant will feature marble floors, rich woods, and an "eclectic menu of urban grill-meets-traditional steakhouse," with new twists, signature rubs, and fresh seafood at prices that promise to be affordable ($18 per person for brunch, $24 for lunch, and less than $35 for dinner, so the blurb proclaims).

Dollar Oysters Today:

Get $1 oysters on the half shell all day today at P.J. Clarke's in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Clarke's offers this great deal daily from 2:45 to 6 p.m., but it's all day today for National Oyster Day. There's no maximum on how many you order.

NFL Season Opens:

The Miami Dolphins are -3 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Hall of Fame preseason game, which marks the start of the NFL season. The total is 33.5.

Open and Closed:

The just-opened poker room at LVH has closed. The official word is that "revamping" is in progress, we assume with a plan to reopen soon.

Dancer VP Classes Returning to South Point:

Bob Dancer's video poker classes will pick up again at the South Point on September 10, with a schedule running weekly until November 19. These are excellent classes that are free to attend. We'll post more details later this week.

Dangerous Crossings:

In list of most dangerous intersections in Las Vegas, ranked by number of collisions, Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo comes in as the worst on the Strip. Near the Strip, Koval and Tropicana made the top ten. The worst in all of Las Vegas was a tie between Lamb and Charleston and Sahara and Decatur.

Big Pig at Cosmo:

Every Sunday, Jaleo at the Cosmopolitan roasts a whole pig on the dining room's giant grill. The pig is served with crispy skin and sauces for $35 per plate beginning at 4 p.m.

New UFC Viewing Spot:

With the Lift now closed and being converted into a Wildfire Casino, the best deal on viewing pay-per-view UFC events appears to be Home Plate at 4785 Blue Diamond Rd. (just west of Silverton). There's a $10 admission charge. We haven't checked it out yet for the UFC, but Home Plate has good food and a good video poker matchplay program that you can sign up for.

UFC Aldo/Jung:

Jose Aldo is a prohibitive -1000 favorite over Chan Sung Jung in tonight's UFC Main Event. In the other featured match, Lyoto Machida is -305 over Phil Davis.

Downtown Dogs Up a Quarter:

The Nathan's hot dogs at Mermaids downtown are now $1.25, after being 99 cents for years. They're still a good deal, but steer clear of the video poker there. We'll have a complete report in the September LVA.

New Chief for GCB:

Karl Bennison has been named the new Chief of the Gaming Control Board's Enforcement Division, replacing outgoing Jerry Markling. Bennison was head of the northern Nevada Enforcement wing for 18 years. Markling is taking a position with the Venetian.

Expensive Condo at Cosmo:

A condo on the 56th floor of the Cosmopolitan sold in July for what's believed to be "the most expensive resale per square foot in state history." The 599-square-foot condo sold for $675,000, or $1,126.88 per square foot. By comparison, the current median price per square foot of a previously owned single-family home in Nevada is $96.

WSOP Main Event Bracelet Auctioned:

2006 WSOP winner Jamie Gold auctioned off his champion's bracelet Thursday to an anonymous bidder who paid $65,725 for the trophy. The 14 carat gold iconic wrist-piece features features 259 stones, including over seven carats of diamonds, plus 120 grams of white and yellow gold. Gold was a controversial champ, both for his playing style and for the staking lawsuit that followed, which forced him to surrender more than half of his winnings. An attempt to brand the New Tropicana's poker room for Gold was short-lived, and he hasn't seen much success at the tables since his 2006 win.

Final Four Queens Gig for Jay Bolan:

Jay Bolan, the guitar wiz who's been rocking the Canyon Club at Four Queens with his acoustic set for well over a year, is ending his run this evening to pursue other opportunities. He's been a great and loyal supporter of LVA and we wish him only the best; he's still going to be keeping a hand in at the venue, producing other acts, so if you're an LVA member and didn't get a chance to use our free-ticket deal, say hi to Jay and he'll buy you a drink (he's that kinda guy). We'll let you know soon what act9s) will be taking over his slots; in the meantime, have a great finale, Jay, and Rock On!

Dotty's Domination Remains Relentless:

In more casino news, Dotty’s is buying the Hacienda. Located outside Boulder City and near to the Hoover Dam, the 11-acre property will be the first full-fledged hotel-casino owned and operated by the tavern chain, which already has taken over numerous bars across the valley and currently operates a total of 80 gambling locations, including slot-machine franchises inside Food 4 Less and Kmart stores statewide. To date, the sale price has not been disclosed.

New Identity for Sparks Casino:

The former Silver Club casino in Sparks, which had been shuttered since 2009, has been reincarnated as Bourbon Square Casino, featuring jazz and street décor from the iconic New Orleans original. The new owner has invested $5 million in the renovation of the property, which features 300 slots, a buffet, and bars with live entertainment. A portion -- or possibly all -- of the 204 Silver Club hotel rooms are due to open by year's end, some as apartments. The original property was opened in the '60s by a bartender from L.A. and five partners. Previous interest from former "Beverly Hillbillies" star Max Baer Jr. saw talk of the property being converted into a Beverly Hillbillies casino when it closed back in 2009, but that idea never came to fruition.

Gaming Revenue Dips in June:

A decline of almost 10 percent in gaming revenues on the Las Vegas Strip resulted in a net drop of almost five percent for the state in June, despite better-than-anticipated results elsewhere, including downtown, where the numbers were up more than 9 percent, and the Boulder Strip/Henderson, which saw a 10.4 percent uptick.

Doc Holliday's Now a Wildfire, Too:

We wrote yesterday about the closure of The Lift bar to make way for a Station Casinos-branded Wildfire Casino; now we've just learned that Anthem's Doc Holliday's bar has surrendered to the same fate, and has also been closed pending a Wildfire makeover.

25-Cent Cocktails at KRAVE Massive:

Joining the neighboring Beauty Bar, with its nickel beers on Tuesdays, and the 5-cent PBR drafts and SVEDKA mixers promo at the Strip's db's Pong & Pool Hall the same night, is KRAVE Massive's new Rage On Thursday promo, featuring no cover and cocktails for a quarter until 12:30 a.m.

More Information on New Wildfire:

We popped in for the closing party of the Lift last night and gleaned some interesting intel about the plans for the new Wildfire casino there. The intent is apparently to reopen by August 19. That's less than a three-week turnaround, which means there won't be much time to make changes. The Lift has a big area in the back that will likely be the sports book. It also has a kitchen, so a small version of the Wildburger restaurant is also a possibility. It's hard to envision, but these transformations take place all the time.

The D*Word Debuts:

The new show from the creator of Menopause The Musical debuts at LVH tonight. The D*Word, a comedy musical where "D" stands for "*Ditched, Dumped, Divorced, and Dating: performs at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and tix start at $39.

Reviving Strip "Spa" to Open Soon:

REVIV, the hangover-cure/relief-from-excess concept that was announced back in mid-June is due to open in The Underground at MGM Grand any day now. Developed by a group of emergency-room physicians, REVIV will offer a variety of hydration therapies, available intravenously or orally, in a "spa-like atmosphere" manned by a team of doctors, paramedics, and nurses Treatments start at $99.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Andrew Dice Clay takes the stage at Vinyl inside the Hard Rock (8/1-8/4) while Daryl Hall & John Oates entertain inside the Joint (8/2-8/3) followed by 311 (8/4) , and The Dirty Heads perform poolside (8/3) Clint Holmes performs at the Smith Center (8/2-8/4) The Palms welcomes the Gipsy Kings (8/2) Kathy Griffin does stand up at the Mirage (8/2), followed by Seth Meyers (8/3) One Direction perfoms at the Mandalay Bay Events Center (8/2-8/3) Bruno Mars is at MGM (8/3) And it's First Friday time again in downtown Las Vegas, which will feature a special AntARTica theme, with penguins, seals, glaciers, Styrofoam snow... Yes, reallly!

Curtis on KNPR:

Anthony Curtis will be a guest on KNPR's "State of Nevada" show today as part of a discussion on the entertainment scene in Las Vegas and the whole issue of discounted ticketing. Tune in from 9:30 a.m. or catch the repeat this evening.