Las Vegas News

MNF Saints/Dolphins:

In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the New Orleans Saints are -7 favorites over the Miami Dolphins. The total is 48.5.

We Stand Corrected (Stein in Hand):

A reader wrote in to correct an earlier item we posted: "Couldn't let this one slide by, sorry...I've spent too much time in Germany. The places that start celebrating Oktoberfest in October are actually the non-traditional celebrators - the real Oktoberfest in Munich this year runs from September 21 through October 6. It was originally set to run for 16 days before the first weekend in October to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (who later became King Ludwig). Keep up the otherwise good work, though!" So, now we know. And we shall. Prost!

Allegiant Back in Biz:

The Vegas-based budget airline's fleet is back in the air, following some major groundings for emergency exit-slide maintenance, reports the LV Sun.

Rio Zipline Continues to Mystify Us:

We're not sure if this is essentially "SkyVue II" -- the latest Las Vegas attraction that is "progressing" only on the strength of its own hype and, like real-life Las Vegas monument Monti Rock III, is merely "a legend in its own mind" (see Question of the Day 9/26) -- or if the promised VooDoo ZipLine will actually happen. On the one hand, a press release in our mailbox this morning proclaimed excitedly how "daredevils can purchase exclusive pre-sale packages ... now through Nov. 1." On the other hand, the link takes you to the Indiegogo crowd-sourcing site where the project is attempting to raise the $75,000 evidently still needed in order to complete it. Call us cynical but as, to date, only $1,450 has been raised, we can't help but be skeptical regarding the promised November launch date (not least since the site openly discloses that they'll be keeping all the monies donated, regardless of whether or not the target is reached). Add to this the fact that when we clicked on the link in the press release, we landed on an error page that informed us: "Bandwidth Limit Exceeded. The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit." If they can't afford enough bandwidth to handle visitation from a few curious members of the media, how will they handle the stampede of thrill seekers, eager to book for real? Finally, and perhaps most pertinently, we have a direct line of vision to the Rio from our office and can confirm that "zip" is the perfect word for describing how much work appears to have been completed to-date on a potentially hazardous ride that's due to launch in a month or so. We emailed the official VooDoo Zipline address the last time we posted a status update (see "Today's News" 9/18) and have yet to hear back. Perhaps they didn't have enough bandwidth on their mail server to respond? As an aside, is it just us, or has anyone else noticed that "Today's News" is kinda accidentally getting a life of its own and morphing into a blog? Apologies to anyone attempting to read these "news nuggets" on a mobile device!

Oktoberfest:

While some venues, including Hofbräuhaus, just couldn't wait and got Oktoberfest underway in September, others are being more traditional. For example, downtown's Neonopolis hosts its beer fest this Saturday, October 5, from 6-10 p.m., promising oversized beer steins of Schlagl Doppel Bock, Rieder Dunkel, Black Star Beer, and Ellis AMBER served by "buxom beer maidens," not to mention free entertainment, a stein-holding contest, a silent auction, and "traditional Oktoberfest fare" (presumably involving bratwursts and sauerkraut, but that's just an educated guess). $100 VIP tickets include early (6 p.m.) admission and a 34-ounce glass stein with unlimited refills. Pre-paid general admission, priced at $35 per person, includes entry at 7 p.m. and a stein, but you're limited to one refill. NOTE: Locals receive a half-off offer with promo code ... wait for it ... LOCALS. Visit LVOktoberfest.com for more details. If downtown's not your thing (which, judging by the current voting in our "What do you think about downtown?" Reader Poll, is evidently the case for some), then check out the more rarefied air at the opposite end of town, with Four Seasons' weekly "Beer Patio." Now through November 22 (now, that's our type of Oktoberfest!), Press in Four Seasons transforms into a traditional umbrella’d beer garden every Thursday and Friday, from 6-11 p.m., offering a variety of craft and Oktoberfest beers, beer-inspired cocktails (??huh?? martinis served in steins??), and beer-centric dishes (??eh?? beer-battered fish & chips?? beer-can chicken??).

Life is Beautiful Seeks Volunteers:

The inaugural music-and-food festival taking place downtown this October 26-27 is seeking 300 volunteers to act as event greeters, ticket scanners, etc. Volunteers willing to devote 10-12 work hours will be rewarded with complimentary access to the event. Interested parties should sign up at the Work Exchange Team website.

Miracle Mile Collecting for United Way:

Starting tomorrow, and running throughout the month of October, the Miracle Mile mall at Planet Hollywood is collecting gently used women's business attire, and encouraging shoppers to drop spare change in the fountain, to benefit United Way of Southern Nevada. Those wishing to give clothing for the 6th Annual Fall Suit Drive may drop off items during normal business hours at the customer service desk operated by Tickets & Tours. The coins collected will benefit United Way accredited agencies, including Goodwill Career Connections, S.A.F.E. House, Safe Nest, The Shade Tree, Women’s Development Center, and HELP of Southern Nevada’s Work Opportunities Readiness Center. All suit donors will receive a Miracle Mile Shops "Shop, Dine, Save" coupon book valued at $2,000.

SNF Patriots/Falcons:

In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Atlanta Falcons are -3 favorites over the New England Patriots. The total is 48.5.

Nightswim Goes Out with a Splash:

Tonight sees the final Nighstwim party of the season at XS Nightclub at Encore, and they'll be saying "thank you" to patrons with a free shoe giveaway. The pool has partnered with Native Shoes waterproof footwear to offer the first 500 guests a free pair of shoes each, in various sizes and sytles each. The shoes will be floating in the pool -- get there early to grab a pair that fits!

Sunday Blood Drive:

Classic rock station 97.1 The Point is hosting a blood drive to benefit United Blood Services from noon to 4 p.m. today at Halloween Mart (6230 S. Decatur). Sign-up to donate and receive a voucher for 25% off the purchase of a costume of choice, a 2-for-1 voucher for Fright Dome at Circus Circus, and a free gift. Plus, donors will be entered to win other prizes, including a $50 gift card and concert tickets. As if that's not enough, there will also be free popcorn, free face painting for kids, and food available from the Slidin’ Thru food truck.

Cosmo Social Hour:

The third-floor restaurants at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, collectively referred to as P3 Commons, have initiated "The Social Hour." It consists of happy hours at Blue Ribbon Sushi, Comme Ça, D.O.C.G., Estiatorio Milos, Jaleo, Scarpetta, and STK, with at least one running every day of the week, and all running concurrently Mon.-Thurs. beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Heraea Update:

After closing suddenly in the midst of football season, the Palms is moving quickly to reopen the prime venue. Word is it will be taken over by N9NE and could be back in operation as early as next weekend.

Keg Tapping at Hofbräuhaus:

The cast of BeatleShow! at V Theater will tap the keg then perform some of The Beatles’ greatest hits at the 10th Annual Oktoberfest event at Hofbräuhaus at 7 p.m. tonight.

Big Night for Hustler:

Larry Flynt's Hustler Club celebrates its third anniversary tonight with a performance by former members of Pussycat Dolls. Prior to that and tying in with the Barrett Jackson Show at nearby Mandalay Bay, from 4-8 p.m. it's the Hot Rods and Babes Car Show, with an open bar, food trucks, cars, bikes, and of course, lot of lovely ladies from the club. Happy Birthday!

Bonus Points at HR:

Today and tomorrow are bonus-points day at Hard Rock. Get 20X points on slots and 7X on video poker.

Notorious Gambler Caught Cheating in Cali:

Archie Karas, a world-famous high-rolling gambler of Greek extraction, who once went on a crazy tear at the crap table at Binion's Horseshoe, parlaying winnings he'd extracted from a number of other gambling legends, including Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Bobby Baldwin, and Johnny Chan, into an estimated $17 million (all of which he subsequently lost), was arrested Tuesday in Las Vegas, charged with cheating at the Barona Casino in California. Karas, who was caught by surveillance cameras marking cards at a blackjack table last July, allegedly cheated the casino out of $8,000 and is now awaiting extradition to San Diego. While no cheating was proven during Karas' legendary winning streak at Binion's, the player has been investigated by the Nevada State Gaming Control Board on numerous occasions, four of which resulted in his arrest. Karas himself claims to have gambled more money than any other person in history.

Frank B on the Radio Today:

LVASports' Frank B is one of the two players in today's round of the Friday Football Showdown contest at the Golden Nugget. The contest begins at 2 p.m. and you can watch it live in the GN sports book or listen on ESPN radio 1100 AM or 98.9 FM.

Party at the D Reminder:

The downtown hotel continues its two-year anniversary (can't believe it's been that long!) celebrations this weekend, kicked off last night by Uncle Kracker, with Stone Temple Pilots tonight and Kid Rock on Saturday (should make for an interesting social mix with the drag-queen superheroes and villains partying at Drink 'n Drag). Limited tickets at various levels are still available at tickets.thed.com.

Weekend LV Boulevard Closures:

Portions of the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard, between Garces and Clark Avenues, are set to close from 8 p.m. tonight through 6 a.m. Monday as part of a paving and road-improvement project. Southbound traffic will be detoured at Bridger Avenue to Main Street or Maryland Parkway, while northbound drivers will be routed to Fourth Street at Charleston (Gass Avenue will also remain accessible).

State of Emergency at Lake Mead:

Pat Mulroy, who has headed the Southern Nevada Water Authority for 22 years, but recently announced that she would be retiring from the position, revealed this week that she had recently declared an emergency under Nevada law, following a decrease in water supply from the Colorado River that is creating a "perilous predicament" at Lake Mead. The $12 million remedy to prevent pump failure due to falling water levels at the lake is the latest in a series of ongoing costly but essential construction projects that will result in a rate hike for consumers next year, although by how much has yet to be revealed.

Unemployment Phone Lines Open on Saturday:

As a result of problems claimants are having with filing online, and a resultant phone-call backlog that's resulting in average hold times of 75 minutes, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation will open its phone lines this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help those who specifically need to speak to a person. Those who simply need to file a weekly or initial claim are still urged to do so online or through the automated system.

CNN Snubs Las Vegas:

The "International Edition" of CNN.com today features a list of 10 hotels featured in James Bond movies, but it omits to mention LVH, which in its prior Las Vegas Hilton days was was used as the infamous "Whyte House" casino in the 1971 Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. Other notable movie appearances for the hotel include in Indecent Proposal, Over the Top (1987 Sylvester Stallone flick), and the recent HBO Liberace biopic Behind the Cadelabra, which was honored with no less than 11 trophies at this year's 65th annual Emmy Awards, including for "Best Miniseries or Movie," "Best Director" (Steven Soderbergh), and "Best Lead Actor" for Michael Douglas.

More New Offerings at Bacchanal:

The buffet at Caesars Palace is continuing its first-anniversary celebrations with five new specialty breakfast items added to the menu: the crab biscuit; the lobster biscuit; house-cured gravlax salmon, smoked clams and oysters; and smoked white fish.

Bike Crash Causing Delays on 95:

A motorbike accident earlier this morning is blocking two lanes and causing serious delays on US 95 near Jones Blvd. The good news is that the motorcyclist suffered only minor injuries.

Random Casino Website of the Day:

And the prize goes to ... Eastside Cannery. It's been a long while since we dug into the ECann website, but now we know what we're missing. We've long noted the trend on Strip-resort websites, where "gambling" and "casino" are almost dirty words, relegated to a dingy corner somewhere behind "Spas" and "Shopping," but ECann has an extensive Lifestyle section that has nothing to do even with Las Vegas (no, Kasidie subscribers, it's not a secret swingers club, either). Tune in daily for "Word of the Day" (today's is "hierophant"), book reviews (currently The Painted Girls by Cathie Marie Buchanan (a tale of two sisters set in late nineteenth-century Paris), a Weekly Poll (currently about when the school year should start), a "Question of the Day" - hey, wait a minute, that's our gig! Check it out if you're looking for the ultimate non-casino casino website.

TNF: 49ers/Rams:

In tonight's Thursday Night Football game, the San Francisco 49ers are -3 favorites over the St. Louis Rams. The total is 42.5.

U.S. Online Gamblers Betting Billions:

According to the American Gaming Association, a total of $2.6 billion was wagered by Americans on gambling websites in 2012, although less than 10 percent of that was bet on poker, according to a recently released report by British-based research firm H2 Gambling Capital, which pegs the worldwide online market currently as a $33-billion industry. At its peak, back in 2006, U.S. online wagering totaled $5 billion, of which $1.6 billion was attributable to poker playing.

Big Al's Closing:

The comedy club that formerly had a home at the Orleans, and then recently moved to Gold Coast, is now closing September 28 Big Al's Comedy Club. There's no word yet on what will replace it, or on whether the club will find a new home.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's a big weekend for fans of vehicles of all shapes and sizes, Greek food lovers, jazz aficionados, and anyone in need of a laugh, so that should pretty much have absolutely everyone covered, right? The World Series of Comedy is underway at the Tuscany (9/23-9/28) The Las Vegas Jazz Festival takes place at the JW Marriott (9/27-9/29) The Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is at Mandalay Bay (9/26-9/28) Texas Station welcomes Abbamania (9/27) Comedian Craig Ferguson's at the Venetian (9/27-9/28) Daniel Tosh does stand up at the Mirage (9/27-9/28) America's Got Talent winner, Michael Grimm, performs at Sunset Station (9/27) Whitney Cummings makes'em laugh at TI (9/27) Comedian Don Rickles takes the stage at the Orleans (9/28-9/29) Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (9/28) And the Annual Las Vegas Greek Food Festival kicks off at 3 p.m. tomorrow and runs through Sunday, featuring authentic Greek cuisine, raffles, Greek Folk Dance Groups, and a 26.2 mile Torch Relay Run. The event is hosted by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church (5300 South El Camino) and admission is $6 for adults (9/27-9/29)

Customer Appreciation Day at Fabulous Freddy's:

Head on over to one of Fabulous Freddy's 5 locations today and receive a FREE exterior car wash. All locations are open until 8 p.m.!

Western Rooms Demolished:

The hotel wing of the shuttered Western Hotel-Casino has been demolished. The casino portion of the complex that was purchased earlier this year by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh as part of the "Downtown Project" is expected to be preserved and possibly renovated for use as a bar or other non-casino business.

Strip Closing for Car Rally:

As predicted (see "Today's News" 9/23) but only just confirmed, the south end of the Strip will host a parade of more than 75 collector vehicles any minute now, as the traditional kickoff to the sixth annual Barrett-Jackson Auction, which takes place Thursday through Saturday at Mandalay Bay. Following the cruise down Las Vegas Boulevard South, the featured vehicles will make their way to the MBay Resort for a mini car show.

Downtown Survey:

How do you feel about the recent and ongoing developments downtown? Love 'em? Hate it? Don't care about anything north of Sahara? Vote in our new Reader Poll.

Dancer on Karma:

In this week's column, video poker expert Bob Dancer waxes philosophical on the causality of gambling results and how they should be viewed. (Hint: Bob is not an advocate of superstition.)

Heraea Closed:

As Vegas Chatter so eloquently puts it, it's turning into a pattern of "Delay...Launch...Fail" for the One Group in Las Vegas. Following on the heels of their Bagatelle disaster at the Trop comes word that Heraea, the "sports bar designed for women" (a flawed concept if ever there was one) has closed unexpectedly at the Palms, despite football season being in full swing. There's been no recent mention of Xishi, the Asian restaurant the company was slated to open in place of Little Buddha, so we're guessing that one's dead in the water, leaving STK at Cosmo as their one success story (so far). Perhaps the One Group should take note of the fact that venues with unpronounceable names tend to fair poorly: If La Femme had to change its name to Crazy Horse Paris and Steve Wynn was urged to rethink and call his hotel Wynn instead of Le Rêve, what hope has a venue that starts with an "X," let alone something that requires a degree in Ancient Greek to pronounce? It's tough to arrange to meet at a place that no one knows how to say. Just a thought...

Zoo Closed:

The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, known colloquially as Las Vegas Zoo, has closed. As far back as 2009, local investigative reporters, backed by the Humane Society of America, reported "conditions that were too hot, too dirty, too small and overrun by pigeons and flies" and described it as a "depressing, sad place." While the facility has passed subsequent inspections by the USDA, reports from concerned visitors have continued and the zoo, which is privately owned, has continued to suffer from chronic underfunding and staff turnover. Now, according to FOX5, a notice at the entrance reads: "The zoo is closed to the public while we upgrade." While no employees were evident, there are still animals inside, the fate of which remains unknown. On a happier note, check the QoD Archives (3/31/13; 12/28/10) for other opportunities within driving distance of Las Vegas, to get up-close and personal with exotic animals.

High Roller Breaks the Bank at Online Casino:

Online casino JustDice.com is in danger of being taken down by a single gambler, whose weekend winning streak has put the company 2,000 bitcoins ($264,200) in the red, reports online newspaper The Daily Dot. The gambler, known as "Nakowa," won the Bitcoin equivalent of approximately $1.3 million during the course of a single weekend, forcing the Internet casino to tap its savings account. The gambler's weekend started off with a $111,111 losing streak, but by Monday Just-Dice.com's on-hand profit had been completely obliterated. Observers are now speculating about whether the player has figured out an exploit and hacked the site, or even if he's an employee of the website who's stealing from its investors. CalvinAyre.com, the website of the Bodog-founding billionaire, reports that the European-based cybercasino has just a one percent edge, which has attracted many gamblers to the site. JustDice.com also uniquely "allows investors to put money into the site for other players to play against, with the investor getting to keep whatever profits or losses the site makes using their bitcoins."

Reprieve for Jerry's Nugget:

An 11th-hour loan from Canadian real estate lender Romspen Investment Corp. has kept Jerry's Nugget in local hands, fending off a desired sale of the property by U.S. Bank, reports the R-J. The $7.5 million injecction will pay off in full most creditors of the 50-year-old North Las Vegas casino, which is owned by the Stamis family (see Question of the Day 1/21/12).

Free Beer Daily:

If Commonwealth is getting happy (see earlier post), Barefoot Bob's Tapas Beach Bar on E. Flamingo (formerly Murphy's Law), is positively ecstatic, with a FREE BEER happy hour daily from 4-7 p.m. All you need to do is withdraw $20 from the ATM machine and show your receipt to the bartender, who will give you a wristband and as much complimentary PBR as you like. Upgrade for $5 for bottomless other domestic drafts, or $10 for imports. $3 wine by the glass is served all day, every day, too.

Reader Poll Closing:

The current Reader Poll will close at midnight, so get your vote in if you haven't already. (It's a fun one -- check it out!) And don't forget to email us a suggestion if there's a survey you'd like us to run (it's tough coming up with new ideas all by ourselves after all these years!)

Fighting on Fremont:

Official Muay Thai fighting, that is. Following the success of last Friday's fight show at the Fremont Street Experience, which was broadcast live nationally on AXS TV and sponsored by the D, the Las Vegas-based promoters of the Muay Thai fight show have announced an expanded fight schedule into 2014, reports the R-J, with at least two more events planned for FSE next year. Lion Fight Promotions is also negotiating with the Hard Rock for a six-fight show deal in Las Vegas, in addition to talks with other venues in Southern California, Arizona, Colorado ... and India! For the uninitiated, Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and, unlike MMA, is limited to stand-up punch and kick strikes, with no ground wrestling.

Commonwealth Gets Happy:

The downtown cocktail bar has launched new happy hour specials from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with $3 domestic drafts, $3 well cocktails, $5 craft beer drafts, and $5 Ketel One vodka and Crown Royal whisky cocktails. Commonwealth, located at 525 E. Fremont Street, is open Wednesday through Friday from 6 p.m. to close (8 p.m. to close on Saturday and Sunday).

Dust Advisory for Wednesday:

The Clark County Department of Air Quality has issued a dust advisory for tomorrow, warning children, the elderly, and people with respiratory diseases to stay indoors during anticipated dust storms, with southwest winds of up to 40 mph forecast. Concerned residents may monitor dust levels at redrock.clarkcountynv.gov/forecast.

Delano Delay Extended:

First announced back in April, the transformation of THEhotel to Delano Las Vegas, and the takeover of operations by Las Vegas-based nightlife impresarios The Light Group under a partnership between MRI and Morgans Hotel Group, has been pushed back to the third quarter of 2014, due apparently to the brisk convention trade that Mandalay Bay has been enjoying of late, combined with the design phase of the rebranding taking longer than anticipated. We reported in a recent QoD that the changeover would take place in the first quarter of 2014, but now even this date has been revised to Q3.

Bruno to Cosmo:

The Bruno Mars/Cosmopolitan rumors are now verified, though the "residency" is a limited one. Mars will open Cosmo's new concert venue, The Chelsea, with New Year's concerts on Dec. 29 and 31, then return to perform Feb. 15 and 16, May 23 and 24, and Aug. 22 and 23. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. PST, with prices starting at $95 for the 2014 dates and $150 for the New Year's shows.

Cher to Make Brief Reappearance:

The singer, who ended a three-year, 200-show residency at Caesars back in 2011, will return to Las Vegas for one night only next May 25, with a stop at MGM Grand's Garden Arena as part of her "Dressed to Kill" tour (we're sure she will), to promote her new album, titled "Closer to the Truth." There's a ticket pre-sale for AmEx cardholders running Sept. 30 through Oct. 3; ticket prices and general on-sale dates have yet to be announced, but check her official website for updates.

Tyson on Tyson:

We missed Sunday night's debut of the new Fox Sports 1 reality TV series "Being: Mike Tyson," but it gets a glowing review from Robin Leach in the Las Vegas Sun and we'll be sure to tune in next week to catch the candid new persona of the former Bad Boy of Boxing, who states: "I was pretty dark and troubled back then. I’m dark and troubled now, but not like back then. I’m cool now."

Car Show Returns to MBay:

The sixth annual Barrett-Jackson Auction returns to Mandalay Bay this coming weekend, featuring a catalog of classics, exotics, muscle cars, hot rods, resto-mods, and contemporary collectibles, collectively worth millions of dollars. Admission to the sale, which runs Sept. 26-28 and features both Reserve and No Reserve consignments, is $19.75 ($14.75 concessions), or a three-day pass is available for $53.75. We haven't seen any confirmation as yet, but the event is usually kicked off with a parade on the Strip -- we'll keep you posted.

G2E Opens:

The big Global Gaming Expo opens today and runs through Thursday. The show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center isn't open to the public, but we'll be reporting in this space on any significant developments.

Garth to Return, Briefly:

Following the (premature) conclusion earlier this year of what had been announced as a five-year residency for Garth Brooks at the Encore Theater, the country superstar is back for another limited run, with dates announced for Oct. 18 and 19, and Nov. 8 and 9. Tickets, which go on sale at 10 a.m. PST Sept. 24, are $200.75, down from the controversial $253 that the price had soared to by the end of his three-year engagement. Even at that level, his concerts all sold out fast, so be poised to get yours early, either at wynnlasvegas.com or by calling (702) 770-1000.

Gansevoort Details:

A feature in today's LV Review-Journal provides new details about the under-construction Gansevoort Las Vegas, formerly Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. Much of the transformation involves the parking areas, with a portion of the second floor being used for a 300-seat restaurant that will overlook the Strip and Bellagio fountains. The famous spiral ramp has been demolished and a new ramp is being added on the north side of the garage. An additional three-story parking structure will be built on the east side, with a tunnel connecting to the hotel. Three floors are being added to the top of the hotel to create Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub and the rooftop pool. The opening is scheduled for "early 2014."

SNF Steelers/Bears:

In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Chicago Bears are -2 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The total is 40.5.

Tahoe Resort Getting Facelift:

The Cal Neva Resort Spa & Casino has closed, but only so the storied north-shore Lake Tahoe resort can be renovated. Phase one of the project will include the demolition of 191 of the hotel’s 219 rooms, and major upgrades are in store for the casino, which will begin dealing table games again, and the showroom. The owners say they are aiming to create a four-star property that will reopen by December of 2014.

Big Money for 'Money':

Last week's Floyd "Money" Mayweather/"Canelo" Alvarez championship fight set records for boxing revenue. Pay-per-view buys are projected to be 2.2 million, less than the 2.48 million for Mayweather/De La Hoya, but higher pricing generated $150 million in receipts, breaking the record of $136 million. Attendance at the fight was 16,146, resulting in a live-gate record of $20,003,150.

Oktoberfest at Park on Fremont:

The new downtown venue is running a drinking dare from now until Sunday, Oct. 6, with a challenge to patrons to try all of the bar’s beer selections from around the world. With each different brew sampled, guests will receive stamps on their Park on Fremont Oktoberfest punch card -- any partygoer who tries all 66 will be awarded a discounted night at El Cortez and $50 gift cards to Park on Fremont and Commonwealth. Prost!

Vegas Gone Yoga:

Until 6 p.m. today, Springs Preserve hosts the first Vegas Gone Yoga! Festival, offering more than a dozen workshops, including a variety of yoga classes (hot yoga, vinyasa flow, basics, Pilates, meditation, and deep relaxation with aromatherapy). An all-day pass is $60 at the door.

UFC Jones/Gustafsson:

Jon Jones is a big -885 favorite over Alexander Gustafsson in tonight's UFC championship match. In the other featured match, Renan Barao is -695 over Eddie Wineland.

Another Coffee Shop Cuts Hours:

Avenue 24, which took the place of the former 24-hour Studio Bistro coffee shop at MGM Grand earlier this summer, as part of the ongoing sweeping changes at the Strip resort, is joining the ranks of non-24-hour coffee shops as of this Sunday, Sept. 22. The new hours will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (midnight Thursday through Sunday). Nocturnal munchies continue to be catered to by Wolfgang Puck, however, whose Bar & Grill serves a late-night menu until 6 a.m. daily.

Poker Flick Light on Details:

Anthony Curtis came away from the premier of the movie Runner Runner somewhat underwhelmed. Although gambling is the theme, there's very little that pertains to it in this movie and almost no poker playing throughout. And while the story uses recent online poker scandals as a foundation, the details of those scandals are barely touched upon. We'll have a full review in the October Las Vegas Advisor newsletter.

Candy Machine Back:

Surprise, the candy machine at Gold Coast is back. The coin-operated machine has been returned to its previous spot on the second-floor walkway from the garage.

Powerball Popped in SC:

A single winner from South Carolina won this week's big Powerball lottery jackpot. The $399.4 million prize was the fifth-largest ever in the U.S. The winning numbers were 7, 10, 22, 32, 35, and the Powerball 19.

Allegiant Fleet Grounded:

Most of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air's fleet has been grounded due to a maintenance snafu, a move that will likely have consequences through the weekend. Only nine of the airlines scheduled 24 departures from McCarran International Airport took off on time today, with a company spokesman confirming that, "Sunday and Monday will be operationally challenged." The maintenance issue came to light during a routine investigation by FAA agents earlier in the week, following the emergency evacuation of an Allegiant flight due to smoke in the cockpit; investigators discovered that the inflatable emergency slides that deploy from the sides of MD-80 jets were being overhauled only once every three years instead of annually, as required, prompting Allegiant to remove from service all planes with non-compliant slides.

Hughes Center Sold:

Equity Office, a big private-equity subsidiary of real estate investor Blackstone, confirmed today that it has purchased the Hughes Center office park, at Paradise and Flamingo, for $347 million from UK banking giant Barclays. Of late Blackstone has been on an aggressive buying spree, spending billions on purchasing business and residential properties in Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, Chicago, and Atlanta. The 68-acre Hughes Center site here features 1.4 million square feet of space, with current tenants including Ameristar, Wells Fargo, and Boyd Gaming.

Nevada Wild Fest:

The annual Nevada Wild Fest gets underway at 3 p.m. today at the Rio, running through Sunday, with carnival rides, concerts by local bands, a beer garden, wine tasting, multiple food and drink vendors, "Iron Dog" contests, a Zumbathon, and more. Tickets to the family-friendly event are $10, with all-day carnival-ride wristbands available on-site for $30. Visit the official nevadawildfest website for more info.

GN Contest Round 3:

Round 3 of the Friday Football Showdown contest takes place today at the Golden Nugget. This contest has only 16 entrants, all known handicappers, and only two compete each week. Today's match-up is Dave Tuley vs. Paul Stone -- Stone is a frequent poster on our forums at LVASportsboards.com. The contest begins at 2 p.m. and you can watch it live in the GN sports book or listen on ESPN radio 1100 AM or 98.9 FM. Next week LVASports' Frank B will play his round.

TNF: Eagles/Chiefs:

In tonight's Thursday Night Football game, the Philadelphia Eagles are -3.5 favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs. The total is 51.

Vegas Residency for Bruno Mars:

It seems the lovable singer-songwriter holds no grudge against Sin City for his former arrest at the Hard Rock, with what seems like a pretty confirmed rumor from Robin Leach that he'll be calling the Cosmo his on/off home for a series of mini-residencies come the end of the year, at one of what are said to be not one, but two new theaters coming to the entertainment-oriented Strip resort.

GA Passes Available for D Party:

Packages Include Drink and General Admission Pass to Concert by Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker or Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington Commencing at 10 a.m., Sept. 23, the D downtown will offer a limited number of concert packages for its one-year celebration concerts, starting at $25. Stop by the Box Office to reserve your tix for Uncle Kracker, Chester Bennington with Stone Temple Pilots, or Kid Rock, which include a drink and a Bleacher Pass to the D’s seating area. Must be 21+; limit 4 passes per person.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's a HUGE weekend for music fans, with the return of the annual iHeart Radio event at MGM Grand, but that's not all Sin City has to offer in the way of entertainment, no siree. Check it out! The Annual Nevada Wild Fest takes place at the Rio with live entertainment, carnival rides, food & drinks, a beer garden, and more (9/20-9/22) Dana Carvey does stand up in the Orleans Showroom(9/20-9/21), while the Tuff-n-Uff Fighting Championships take place in the Mardi Gras Ballroom (9/20) Mötley Crüe is back for another "mini residency" at the Hard Rock (9/20-9/22) Funny or Die presents the Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival at Mandalay Bay (9/21) Lena Prima takes the stage at the Suncoast (9/20) And, of course, it's the iHeartRadio Music Festival at MGM Grand with performances by Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Adam Lambert, Elton John, Muse, Tiesto, and pretty much anyone else who's anyone on the music scene today (plus Paul McCartney and Miley Cyrus -- not together). (9/20-9/21) If you're not attending the concert in person -- and let's face it, most of us aren't, on account of the tickets seemingly selling out before they even go on sale -- visit the official iHeart Radio website for information on how to catch it live online, or on the radio, or via your Playstation 3.

Video Poker Column Live:

This week's pearls of wisdom from video poker guru Bob Dancer concern the importance of understanding penalty cards and playing your hands accordingly. If you're familiar with the concept of penalty cards, be sure to check it out; and if you don't know what a penalty card is, it's even more important that you read what Bob has to say on the subject and how much money your incorrect plays are costing you -- then you should consider purchasing his pocket video poker strategy cards for whatever game(s) you play.

Big Online Alliance Announced:

Cantor Gaming, which operates eight race and sports book, a poker room, and a mobile wagering platform in Nevada, is to be the online-content provider for slot giant Bally Technologies’ iGaming platform, it's been announced.

WSOP Poker Site Goes Live:

The WSOP.com website began dealing live poker this morning. We haven't compared the sign-up incentives with UltimatePoker.com, but we will soon and will post details here and in the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter.

FIZZ Hiring:

FIZZ Las Vegas, the Champagne bar coming to Caesars Palace courtesy of Elton John's partner, entrepreneur David Furnish, is hiring for all front and back-of-house positions, including an Office Manager, Social Media Coordinator, and promo models, in addition to bartenders, sommelier, barbacks, servers, hosts/hostesses, and security. Interested candidates should visit fizzlv.com as of Thursday, Sept. 19 and follow instructions; the venue is slated for a November opening.

Runner Runner Preview:

Anthony Curtis is due to attend the preview screening this evening at Planet Hollywood of the much-anticipated online-gaming-based movie Runner Runner, starring Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, so we should have his take on it to share with you tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Zippity Doo Dah:

Talking of CET being cash-strapped, is the proposed VooDoo Zipline in financial doo-doo? The latest development with regard to the conspicuous-by-its-absence attraction at the Rio is the launch of a crowd-sourcing site to raise funding for the as-yet-unstarted project. We hesitated to report this earlier, as we were wondering if it was actually a legit site or some kind of hoax/scam, but it appears to be real. They're offering advance booking packages to donors and are seeking to raise $75,000. The last time we looked there had been three donations totaling $250, so we're not holding our breath for that promised November launch, but we wish them luck. As an aside, we're also slightly confused and concerned by the official promise of "a new zip ride between two of Rio’s towers [that] sends a pair of riders soaring 400 feet over the Strip at 33 mph." Um, are we missing something because the last time we looked the Strip was about a mile east of the Rio...

CET to Retire $4 Billion in Debt:

Caesars Entertainment today announced a debt-restructuring plan that will retire more than $4 billion of the casino giant's total $23.5 billion in long-term debt, amid speculation from the investment community that the company might have to file a bankruptcy reorganization and an assessment from Moody's that the debt is "unsustainable". According to a filing with the Security and Exchange Commission, several of the company's lenders, whose loans are scheduled to mature before the end of the year, have agreed to issue new bonds with a longer maturation date, backed by the new Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace and the $550 million Linq development on the Las Vegas Strip. CET reported a $212.2 million net loss in Q2 and, if approved, the proposed refinancing will likely reduce even further any free cash flow as a result of higher borrowing costs.

Saxe Shows Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day:

David Saxe Productions is celebrating National Cheeseburger Day today by offering half off GA tix to all their productions in the Miracle Mile Shops (both V and Saxe theaters), with the exceptions of Evil Dead the Musical 4D and the Stripper 101 class. To redeem the offer, visit either of the box offices in person and be sure to mention the code "CHEESEBURGER" at checkout. This offer is only good today only. What does The Mentalist or VEGAS! The Show have to do with cheeseburgers, you may ask? Aha! Well, there are also show/dining packages available at various Miracle Mile eateries, "some of which include cheeseburgers," as the helpful press release points out (we're taking a wild guess that Cheeseburger Las Vegas probably serves them as a specialty, although if you opt for PBR Rock Bar, feel free to order nachos or wings or even a root beer float, if root beer floats float your boat).

Beacher's Madhouse Return Confirmed:

Earlier in the year gossip columnist Robin Leach broke the news that Jeff Beacher's "Madhouse" concept would be returning to Las Vegas, with an ongoing residency at MGM Grand as part of the property's massive nightlife overhaul (see "Today's News" 6/19/2013). As Leach predicted, the show will take over the theater formerly occupied by Crazy Horse Paris, which will be customized to enhance the experience, and Beacher is promising "never-before-seen acts" in a show that will "definitely push the boundaries of sexuality, entertainment, and fantasy." (Sounds like he'll be giving "The Act" at Venetian a run for its money, or filling its shoes if landlord Sheldon Adelson has his way.) According to Leach, previews are set to start in December, with a grand opening New Year’s Eve (which Paris Hilton has already promised to attend).

Neon Museum B'day Bash:

Downtown's Neon Museum is celebrating its first anniversary with a "Boneyard Bash" on October 25. The "Walking Dead"-themed event will be emceed by "America's Got Talent"'s Murray, Celebrity Magician, with live musical performances by the Phat Pack, the Clydesdale, the Swamp Gospel, and the All-Togethers. DiVine Events, Slidin' Thru, and Bake My Day food trucks will provide the catering, with memorabilia giveaways all night. Zombie attire is encouraged (makeup artists will be on hand to help perfect your zombification). GA tickets, valid from 8-11 p.m., are $75; the $125 VIP package gets you entry to the pre-party, with a hosted bar; a commemorative gift for the first 50 guests to arrive.

Prospects Dubious for NJ Sports Betting:

A federal appeals court in Philadelphia today dealt another blow to the state's efforts to legalize sports gambling, upholding a ruling that the NJ's betting law conflicts with the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and that it would therefore be a violation of federal law to implement it. New Jersey's two remaining options to pursue the matter would be to have the case re-heard by the full appeals court, or the more likely route of asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. In 2012 the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, and the NCAA sued New Jersey, claiming the proposed law to legalize sports betting in the the state would harm the integrity of their games, but Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to take the case to the highest level, if necessary spokesman on Tuesday reiterated that the administration would take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary following voter approval for the move in a 2011 referendum.

Bally's Tower Gets a Makeover:

Bally's is now offering newly renovated Jubilee Tower rooms starting at $99/night. The 450 square-foot accommodations feature modernized furnishings, redesigned bathrooms, in-room refrigerators, MP3 docking stations, coffee makers, and a complimentary safe. The suites in the tower are also in the process of being upgraded.

Copperfield Extra:

Thanks to the reader who wrote in to inform us that David Copperfield, the subject of today's Question of the Day, was profiled in a recent feature in Forbes Magazine.

Monti Goes Mexican:

Catch the one-and-only Monti Rock III giving a rare one-night-only cabaret performance tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at Chinita Mexican Bar & Grill at Village Square (Sahara at Fort Apache), as a prequel to a promised tour. A $10 donation is requested at the door; the event will feature a cash bar and complimentary appetizers. If you're not familiar with the ordained minister, disco diva, and all-round living leopardskin legend that is Monti Rock III, we urge you to check out what you're missing.

Bacchanal Goes Big for B'Day:

The Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, which recently served its one millionth customer to coincide with its first anniversary, is continuing a month of festivities by adding five new exotic offerings to its menu each week. Debuting dishes to date have included: Moroccan lamb tagine; Provençale chicken with artichokes and wild rice; pork and chicken adobo; herb-crusted skirt steak; and green curry seabass; these have now been joined by Thai vegetable green curry, Guinness-braised short ribs; tandoori prawns; and cassoulet. The buffet serves more than 500 dishes made fresh daily to some 3,000-3,500 guests.

Blue Man Locals Twofer:

Blue Man Group is offering a 2-for-1 ticket special for locals for their new show at Monte Carlo. Call 702-730-7010 and mention offer code "LOCALS."

Britney Gig Unveiled on GMA:

Britney Spears announces her headlining deal at Planet Hollywood on "Good Morning America" this morning. Word is she'll play 48 shows over two years, earning $310,000 per show.

MNF Steelers/Bengals:

The Cincinnati Bengals are -6.5 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 40.

Pia Zadora in the News for Better and Worse:

The actress/singer, who's had a checkered professional and personal life and is currently married to a detective with Las Vegas Metro, was ordered last week to undergo alcohol and impulse-control counseling following charges of domestic abuse and coercion involving her 16-year-old autistic son earlier this year. Following on the heels of the plea deal, which also netted her six months of probation, came the surprise announcement that Pia Zadora has landed an indefinite residency at Piero's, one of Las Vegas' rare authentic old-school Italian restaurants. Debuting Sept. 19, "Pia's Place" will take the place of what's long been known as the Monkey Bar, hosting 9 p.m. performances by the chanteuse Thur-Sat until further notice. A cover of $30 will apply, which includes two drinks.

Traffic Update:

The earlier rollover accident on the southbound I-15 connector ramp to the 95 has been cleared. There were no life-threatening injuries from the incident and authorities deemed the interchange cleared just before 2 p.m.

Traffic Update:

According to the RTC, one northbound lane of U.S. 95 has reopened at Charleston after a Dodge Challenger traveling at speed hit an unoccupied car parked on the right shoulder earlier today, which resulted in both vehicles catching fire. No serious injuries have been reported. There's been no further word as yet as to when the earlier rollover accident on the southbound I-15 connector ramp to the 95 will be cleared. Crews have apparently been engaged for hours in unloading the box truck so that it can be righted and removed.

More U.S. 95 Woes:

Traffic is being diverted off traffic was being diverted off U.S. 95 northbound at Charleston (east Las Vegas) after two vehicles caught on fire. To date we've heard no word about the cause or if anyone has been injured -- watch this space for more traffic updates.

New Life for Stardust:

Back in 2007 we ran an LVA Reader Poll asking which defunct Las Vegas casino readers would most like to bring back, and the Stardust was the clear winner with 20 percent of the vote (four times as much as the Lady Luck!) While any chance of that wishful thinking coming to fruition is unlikely in the extreme (impossible, in fact, since every last inch of it was auctioned off and a "remake" could never be the same), we do have good news for the computer-oriented among fans of the Stardust, with word that online gaming giant Bwin.party has partnered with Boyd Gaming, owners of the Stardust when it was imploded in 2007, to present a free-to-play social casino based on the notorious former Strip property. Currently the game, which apparently features a 3-D recreation of the hotel's lobby and according to a Boyd spokesman has done "a fantastic job" of capturing some of the essence of the "Stardust experience," is only available to Facebook users in the UK, Australia, and Canada, but it's expected to launch in the US within a few months.

WSOP Launches Legal Poker on Thursday:

Nevada's second legal poker site, WSOP.com, will begin dealing live games on September 19 at 9:19 a.m. The announcement was made minutes ago in a conference call.

Spaghetti Bowl Blockage:

A rollover crash involving a box truck on the southbound I-15 connector ramp to the southbound U.S. 95 downtown blocked all lanes of traffic earlier this morning and we've had no word yet of the area clearing, but we'll keep you posted (drop a line at @LVA_Tweet if you've passed through the area and have an update).

SNF 49ers/Seahawks:

In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Seattle Seahawks are -3 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers. The total is 44.

Drink Deals at GC:

Throughout September, Heineken or 1800 Silver tequila are $3. The deal is good 24/7 at all casino bars.

Britney to Announce:

The LV Review-Journal reported today that Britney Spears will officially announce her Las Vegas residency on Tuesday's "Good Morning America" telecast. She'll play at Planet Hollywood on a two-year deal.

Dogs Only:

The Sunday tradition of dollar dogs and beers Station casinos is no more. The hot dogs are still a buck, and they're good ones with onions and kraut on the side, but beers have skyrocketed to $3.50.

Mall Revamp Nears Completion:

The $7 million upgrade to the Galleria at Sunset is almost complete, with a hoped-for end date of some time in November. While the exterior of the Henderson mall was not part of the renovation, inside the facility has received a fresh coat of (white) pain, new marble flooring, and clear-glass windows; new signage and an upgrade to the food court area are in the pipeline. A possible expansion could be in the works for next year, too. This current work represents the first significant renovations to the Galleria at Sunset since it first opened in 1996.

Mayweather/Alvarez Line:

In tonight's big championship fight, Floyd Mayweather is a -310 favorite over Saul Alvarez. The fight is expected to go the distance, with over 11.5 rounds the favorite at -275.

Mayweather/Alvarez Viewing:

It looks like the best play for viewing tonight's title fight is either Sapphire's gentlemen's club or Blondies in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Admission at Sapphire's is $50 and just $25 if you're a local. At Blondies it's $25 for all and there's an all-you-can-drink add-on for $25 more. The fight will also be shown at most MRI properties for $100.

LVASportsboards Open Again:

If you're an LVASportsboards.com member, the site is back up again after being down for a day due to a hacker attack. There are still some warnings being issued through Chrome browsers; however, those are connected to caching and the site is clean.

Beer Fest Downtown:

Here's your final reminder about the catchily-named "The D & Golden Gate Inaugural Beerfest." (Hopefully, they'll come up with a better title for next year's event. "The D & Golden Gate's Second Beerfest," perhaps?) There will be more than 60 craft brews available for sampling from 5-8 p.m. today, plus hot dogs from Coney Island to soak it all up. A $20 pass buys you five beers to sample, or upgrade for the $40 "all-you-can-drink" option.

TI Teams with PT's Group:

State gaming regulators have given a provisional go-ahead for a novel partnership between Golden Gaming and Treasure Island aimed at recruiting local players from the former's chain of PT's pubs and taverns for the Strip casino's online gambling site, itself a collaboration with Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings. Golden Gaming would take a share of revenues generated by players who they deliver to the online gambling site.

Blues Festival Relocates:

At the 11th hour -- well, six days prior to the event, which is about as 11th hour as a major music festival can get -- the Sin City Soul & Blues Revival, which features big names like Los Lonely Boys, Tedeschi-Trucks Band, and Robert Cray, was forced to move from its original location at the Rio. The good news is that the event, which runs Sept. 15-17, has found a new home at the Riviera. We'll be covering this story in much more detail in Sunday's Question of the Day, but for now, note that room packages at the Riv have sold out but that tix to the event are still available, starting at $100 for Sunday's lineup, $150 Mon/Tues, or $325 for a three-day pass (note that significant discounts are available to locals with valid I.D.) -- check out the merchandise page for more details.

Foodie Fest Returns:

As teased yesterday via our White Castle post, the Las Vegas Foodie Fest will return to Silverton Oct. 18-20, featuring a veritable cornucopia of yumminess on wheels. The three-day event will feature more than 30 food trucks and vendors, both local and out-of-state, more than a few of whom have been featured on Food Network, History Channel, Cooking Channel, and Travel Channel, with White Castle Burgers -- last April's star attraction -- returning in full force, with triple the number of grills/grillers and options for fans who wish to buy the mini burgers in bulk. There will be music, a carnival, an eating contest, and a beer garden to help wash it all down. Admission will be $10 the week of the event, which gives unlimited access to the whole shebang, or pick up a half-price pre-sale tickets for $5 at lasvegasfoodiefest.com.

Thursday Night Football Patriots/Jets:

The New England Patriots are -10.5 favorites over the New York Jets in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 43.

White Castle Returns:

Following the mass hysteria generated by last year's White Castle Burger presence at the Silverton's Vegas Foodie Fest, we're very excited to announce that the Castles will be back for the family food truck event this October. We know nothing further at this point, but this was too important a news item to sit on. Stay tuned for some facts!

Las Vegas This Weekend:

From Canelo to cannolis, musicals to Mariachis, there's a full and eclectic lineup this weekend if ever there was, encompassing Mexican Independence, San Gennaro, two Iglesiases, one Floyd Mayweather, and the Wizard of Oz. Seriously, we double dare you to be bored. The San Gennaro Festival is in full swing over on the west side (9/10-9/15) Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Wizard of Oz entertains at the Smith Center (9/10-9/15) Creedence Clearwater performs at LVH (9/14) KC and the Sunshine Band is at the M Resort (9/14) And Floyd Mayweather takes on Canelo Alvarez at MGM Grand (9/14) Mexican Independence: Enrique Iglesias performs poolside at the Cosmopolitan (9/13), also at the Cosmo there will be Strolling Mariachis Friday 13-Monday 16 with various performances each day. Alejandro Fernandez is at MGM (9/15) Luis Miguel takes the stage at Caesars Palace (9/13-9/15) Marco Antonio Solis performs in the Mandalay Bay Events Center (9/13), and Latin Grammy Award-winning group Los Horóscopos de Durango performs poolside at Mandalay Bay Beach (9/14), The Palms welcomes Mark Anthony (9/13) Gabriel Iglesias makes 'em laugh at the Mirage (9/13-9/15) Carlos Mencia does stand up at TI (9/13) Arturo Sandoval performs at the Smith Center (9/13-9/14) The Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival takes place at Paris (9/14) And the second annual Fiesta Las Vegas Latino Parade and Festival is downtown (9/14)

Hakkasan Bags Harris for NYE:

Calvin Harris, the world's highest-paid DJ, will be running the party at Hakkasan at MGM Grand this New Year's Eve. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, 9/18 at 10 a.m. and you know they won't last long, regardless of the price tag.

Food Allergy Awareness Month:

September is dedicated to those with special dietary needs, which seems to be an increasing number of people. Whether you need gluten-free, or vegan, or kosher, for example, you'll find separate listings in our Restaurant listings -- just click the relevant button to sort according to your needs and find restaurants in town that can accommodate you. (As an aside, most buffets these days will offer a good selection of sugar-free desserts, plus there's a sugar-free bakery on Decatur at Spring Mountain.) For more news and updates on the healthy-eating scene, environmentally-friendly initiatives, sustainability, local producers, community initiatives, and much more, follow @GreenVegas.

Anthony Curtis on KNPR:

Our publisher is a guest on KNPR's State of Nevada show this morning, discussing the subject of Las Vegas buffets. Tune in around 10 a.m. to 88.9 FM, or you can catch the repeat show this evening at 8 p.m. or find the podcast online.

Flood Alert in Effect:

Las Vegas' record-breaking monsoon season continues, with a flood advisory in effect until 7 p.m. this evening. According to the National Weather Service, September 11 marks the 20th straight day in which at least a trace of rain had been recorded somewhere in the Las Vegas Valley or its immediate surrounding area; the previous record, first observed in 1967 and then again in 1998, was 12 consecutive rainy days. The good news is, this weekend is scheduled to be our first fully dry one since early August.

Strip Attractions Dry Up:

It's okay, they're not scrapping the Bellagio Fountain show or ditching the volcano, but in spite of all the recent rainfall, there's a distinct "drying-up" afoot on Las Vegas Boulevard South. First came word last week, courtesy of VegasChatter, that the Venetian's indoor canals had been drained and closed for maintenance for a month (the outside gondola rides remain operational); now comes news that the construction of the new retail complex at Treasure Island (see "Today's News" Aug. 7) will result in the temporary closure of the Sirens of TI pirate-ship show will close October 29 and remain dark (or rather dry) through December 30. The revamped show will take place in a smaller version of the current Pirate's Cove, we've been informed, but it is due to return; the rides in Venetian's Grand Canal Shops should also recommence Oct. 8, according to the official response.

Strip Surveillance Increased:

Metro has added 37 hi def, full pan-tilt-zoom surveillance cameras to various locations the entire length of the Las Vegas Strip, financed by a $300,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security. It's been noted that many of the cameras have the capability of seeing inside various hotel rooms, but a spokesman for Metro has stated that any intrusion on guest privacy outside of an actual police incident will not be tolerated and will be met with disciplinary action. The cameras, which have now been in place for a couple of months since we first reported about them, have already apparently been of help to the police, although a Metro spokesperson commenting today did not cite any specific crime which footage from the cameras had helped to solve.

What Happens in Vegas ... Comes Back!:

No, we're not talking about actions returning to haunt you, because what happens here... Yes, the popular and long-running "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" ad slogan, which ended up going viral, is to be resurrected later this year after a hiatus in 2012, when the focus was shifted to different promotions.

LVA Reader Poll:

If you could hang out with a Las Vegas legend for a day, who would you choose? We just launched a new Reader Poll and invite you to choose from our list, or submit your own idea (the person can be living, but only if their time in the limelight, or the height of their influence, is very much in the past). We're getting some great responses, so please join in the fun! Results will run a week from Saturday.

Lottery Company Purchases Slot Biz:

The Nevada State Gaming Control Board has given tentative approval for lottery-systems provider Scientific Games, which is based in New York, to purchase WMS Industries, a slot machine manufacturer headquartered in Las Vegas, for $1.5 billion, pending a final decision from the state Gaming Commission on Sept. 26, reports the R-J. A spokesman for Scientific Games stated the company's intention to retain its acquisition's Nevada presence (currently a workforce of 145), and even add to it significantly, if the deal goes through.

Hustler Hosts Patriot Day Party:

In honor of Patriot Day, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club is saluting all military, police, firemen, EMT, and civil servants, with free cover and drink, plus half-price bottles all day today.

You Play, You Pay, Argues D.A.:

That is the word from Chief Clark County District Attorney Bernard Zadrowski, who today supported the constitutionality of Nevada's "markers law," which requires that gamblers cough up for their gaming debts when requested, or face civil and criminal penalties. The ruling came in connection with the case of gambler Harel Zahavi, a baccarat player who in 2008 failed to pay off almost $400,000 he'd accumulated in advances or "markers" from several Las Vegas casinos, but while Zahavi's attorney argued that the property's had access to his client's bank accounts and should not have extended credit that he lacked the wherewithal to repay, but the casino "has no affirmative duty to alert" the gambler that a marker may can be cashed by the casino at any agreed-upon time -- usually 30 days or less.

High Roller Reaches Milestone:

The final section of the rim of the Las Vegas High Roller which, upon completion, will be the world's tallest observation wheel, was put into place on Sept. 10. The next major construction phase of the 550-foot-tall attraction will include the addition of the 28 glass-enclosed passenger cabins.

Reader Poll:

"Old" Vegas or "New" Vegas -- that's the question; vote for your choice before a new survey goes live at midnight!

Cheetahs is Hiring:

The long-running strip club and locals favorite recently underwent a remodel and is now hiring dancers with the lure of a $20 house fee today. Check out their Facebook page for more information -- must apply in person. (Head over there now and enjoy a free lunch -- yes, there IS such a thing! -- or take advantage of their Industry Night deal, with free entry all night on Tuesdays and an open bar from 4-8 p.m.) Plus, don't forget to sign up for our Topless Vegas Online update list, so we can email you the countdown to our new site's launch and keep you abreast of upcoming special offers and promos.

Bob Dancer Posted:

We just posted the latest offering from video poker expert Bob Dancer, who discusses the importance of scouting, among other things, in this week's regular Tuesday column. Don't forget Bob's free video poker seminars are underway once more at South Point, too. Click the link for the upcoming schedule.

Food Festivals:

Food lovers have some treats in store, with two awesome events coinciding this Oct. 4-6. A trio of MRI resorts, including MGM Grand, Aria, and Bellagio, host the 4th Annual Food & Wine All-Star Weekend, featuring sommeliers, mixologists, and celebrity chefs including Michael Mina, Shawn McClain, and the legendary Joël Robuchon presenting events ranging from educational wine classes to a "how to make sushi 10 ways" demo to an exclusive dinner prepared by the multi-Michelin-starred maestro. Luckyrice, meanwhile, is a culinary and cultural festival celebrating Asian cooking and the anarchic vibrancy of the night-market tradition. The three-day event, which will take place around the Boulevard Pool, opens with a celebration featuring Lion Dances, Koto and Pipa musical performances, and a tea tasting on Friday, Oct. 4. The night market takes place Oct. 5, featuring a mix of traditional Asian street food and modern twists prepared by renowned chefs, including Pichet Ong, Todd English, Jet Tila, and Kristen Kish, and local non-casino eateries like Raku and Fukuburger. Sunday will feature a dim sum, Bloody Mary, and Mahjong brunch.

KRAVE Closed:

KRAVE Massive, the latest incarnation of the long-running gay nightspot that opened in a permanent home in downtown's Neonopolis earlier this year, was closed by state officials on Friday due to "unspecified permit issues." The club had been operating on a temporary license, the extension of which is apparently up for consideration by the City Council on Wednesday.

LVASportsboards Open to All!:

Today through Sept. 11 only, we're hosting an open house at LVASportsboards! From now until Wednesday, anyone is free to check out the threads on our exclusive member-only message boards, where you'll information posted by some of the top minds in sports betting -- information you simply won't find anyplace else. It's not a handicapping site, although it is home to some good handicappers who post picks daily on NFL and college football, as well as other sports. Unlike many of the other sports betting forums out there, these boards are closely moderated and participants aren't allowed to bully or otherwise dominate threads. Click the link to check 'em now while you can (during this open period, non-members may view threads, but not post); they'll close again Thursday, Sept. 12, but once you've gotten a taste of the value, anyone interested can sign up for $24.95/month or a special six-month rate of $99.

#MNF at the Strip Clubs:

Tonight sees the kickoff of Monday Night Football and we'll be finding which casinos, bars, and gentlemen's clubs have the best parties this year -- watch this space for regular weekly updates. For details on the strip club scene specifically, follow @ToplessVegas, where we just posted details of four of the biggest (*advertised) parties for this season. For updates about the imminent launch of our new sister site, ToplessVegasOnline.com, sign up for email updates. If you're into sports, look out for an exciting announcement about to be made in this column...stay tuned! *We say "advertised," as from past experience MNF parties in general aren't always all they're cracked up to be on the flier, so we need to go check 'em in person before we can recommend; historically, the four we just posted about all tend to have a good scene for football.

Hustler Honey Search:

Tonight sees the return of the Hustler Honey Search at Larry Flynt's Hustler Vegas, with $1,000s in cash and prizes up for grabs in this search for the hottest amateurs in town. The contest kicks off at 11 p.m. and the winner is chosen by audience applause, so bring your friends!

Bloomin' Monday:

If Ryan Newman, driver of No. 39 Chevrolet, places in the top 10 in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Outback Steakhouse will give one of their signature Bloomin' Onions with any purchase the Monday immediately following the race; all you need to do to claim yours is to mention Newman's name. Since the driver placed third in the Federated Auto Parts 400 on Saturday, September 7, today the onions are on Outback.

Don't Get 'Two' Excited:

If you played the free Boyd Casinos football contest yesterday and are sitting on an 11-2 ticket this morning, you'd be wise to temper your enthusiasm. While just two losses is showing some speed, it's unlikely that it's good enough to get into the money. It's a volume thing, and with so many players in this free contest, one loss sometimes gets there, but not two. The good news: You have 16 more shots at it this year.

SNF Cowboys/Giants:

In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Dallas Cowboys are -3.5 favorites over the NY Giants. The total is 49.

Playboy Plans:

Norm Clark of the LV Review-Journal reports that Playboy may be looking to re-enter the Las Vegas market. The article wasn't clear regarding where a new Playboy Club might surface, but it didn't rule out a return to the Palms.

US Open Tennis Finals Lines:

Serena Williams is a -360 favorite over Victoria Azarenka in today's woman's final. Rafael Nadal is -150 over Novak Djokovic in tomorrow's men's final.

Candy Gone:

After satisfying the cravings of customers for many years, the coin-operated candy machine at the Gold Coast is gone. So far, the machine that was located on the second-floor walkway from the parking garage hasn't surfaced elsewhere in the casino.

NFL Direct TV Play Direct from LVASports:

This comes from the LVASportsboards.com message boards. Channels 701-718 are free today on DirecTV. See all NFL games. Next week we'll put up links to sites where you can watch all NFL games streaming on net once they are checked out for usability. Nice way to start the season if you don't have the NFL package.

Two More Contests:

We've heard of two more NFL contests and both are free to play. Swipe a club card to play at Silver Sevens and Aliante. Silver Sevens has a $500 weekly prize and a $5,000 season grand prize. Details on the Aliante prize pool have not yet been obtained.

Contest Proxy Service:

If you haven't entered all the NFL contests you wanted to enter, today is the last day (though many allow entry up till kick-off tomorrow). If not living in Las Vegas is holding you back, you can use a proxy service to submit your picks. We recommend the service from LARRYK at lasvegasproxy.com.

Brazil Fest Westside Tomorrow:

Via Brasil Steakhouse hosts its inaugural Brazilan Outdoor Festival tomorrow, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with ethnic foods, dancers, fire breathers, kids activities, craft vendors, and more. Tickets for the event, which will take place outside the restaurant in the Fort Apache Common Shopping Center (1225 S. Fort Apache), are $5.

Forum Fashion Day #2:

Today sees the second and final day of the Forum Shops at Caesars' Festival of Fashion, featuring fashion shows, demos, discounts, plus food and drink offerings from participating mall vendors, and there are four $500 Forum Shops gift cards to be won, so be sure to sign up for the drawing (by the Atlantis Fountain in The Great Roman Hall) before midnight.

The Swiss are Coming!:

Commencing in 2014, Edelweiss, a subsidiary of German giant Lufthansa, will launch twice-weekly nonstop flights to Las Vegas from Zurich, operating on Mondays and Fridays.

Slotzilla Taking Shape:

The massive "launch" edifice for downtown's expanding zipline is starting to take on some of the look of the giant slot machine that its designers had in mind. Check out the latest, courtesy of our amigo at VitalVegas.com, who was there to witness the installation of the first of two giant showgirls -- based on the real showgirls without whom our former Mayor Oscar Goodman would never be seen in public.

Downtown Curfew Proposed:

The welcome and explosive growth of First Friday, downtown's monthly community arts festival, has evidently raised issues concerning underage drinking and other social no-nos, in response to which a 9 p.m. curfew is being proposed by Mayor Carolyn Goodman for the area delimited by U.S. Highway 95, Sahara Avenue, Eastern Avenue and Interstate 15. This would be much stricter than the midnight weekend curfew for those under the age of 18 that's currently in effect citywide, and critics are complaining that the area covered includes not just the bars and nightspots of the Fremont Street/Arts District area, but also low-income residential neighborhoods where minors could very well have jobs that take them home after 9 p.m., or parents who don't get home until that time. If the proposed measure is passed, it would mean a 17 year old in one part of town could be penalized for coming home from a friend's house at 9:15 p.m. on a Friday night, while teenagers elsewhere in the valley would remain free to hang out until 12 a.m. on weekends (a weekday curfew time of 10 p.m. is in place in North Las Vegas, Henderson, and the rest of Las Vegas, and runs until 5 a.m.)

Paris Buffet Update:

Today we received word from a reader who'd attempted to book a table at Le Village Buffet at Paris, which is now accepting reservations via OpenTable.com, but was unable to complete the booking and received a note from OpenTable explaining that: "This restaurant is temporarily experiencing issues with its Internet connection. OpenTable is working with the restaurant to resolve the issue. We do not currently have a time-to-resolution for this scenario, but we look forward to offering online reservations for this restaurant again soon!" Now, fast forward an hour or so and we have an update to that update: We just logged on to Paris buffet page and were able to select dates and times for some random future table reservation (we didn't actually book them, but it seemed like it was eminently possible so to do); however, while the information online says there's a noon cutoff for same-day reservations, over the phone we were told you must reserve 24 hours in advance. This seemed to be confirmed when we returned to the website and tried to make an online reservation at 10:30 a.m. for dinner tonight -- an hour and a half before the declared noon deadline -- but we discovered we were unable to reserve anything prior to Saturday. So, bear this in mind if you're going this route to avoid the lines and be sure to make your reservation at least a day prior.

Question of the Day Update:

Thanks to the readers who wrote in correcting today's answer about the details re CET's most recent Mega Beat Progressive Poker Jackpot, the addendum being the fact that unbeknownst to us, the jackpot hit for a fourth time on Aug. 31 at the Quad. The reason we didn't know this is because we had heard NO MENTION WHATSOEVER of this having happened! Until, that is, we came across the specific Twitter of the Quad's poker room, which mentioned in a couple of little Tweets on Sept. 2 and 3 that a winning loser, so to speak, had won $150k when his/her quad jacks ran into a straight flush, the owner of which was rewarded with $77k. All the figures mentioned have evidently been rounded, aside from the player share (70 percent of the progressive pool, divided by the total number of active players in CET's Las Vegas poker rooms at the time it hit), which was $4,994 each. We'll add an update to today's answer and will look out for future "secret" hits -- the dedicated @MegaBeatPoker Twitter hasn't posted a single word about anything since early June!

Welcome Sign to Go Green:

We're not talking about green in the literal sense (which it already did for St Patrick's Day, courtesy of some temporary bulbs), but "green" as in sustainable, with news that Clark County Commissioners have approved a plan to install solar trees by the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign that will take it off the grid. Concerns that solar panels would ruin photo opps at the famous landmark were allayed by arranging to keep them south of the sign and the cost of the project, which it's hoped will be completed by the end of this year, are being met by contributions from the Consumer Electronics Association, NV Energy, and and the Las Vegas Centennial History Grant Program.

Thursday-Night Parties:

Thursday Night Football parties are running in several casinos and bars tonight, including high-end venues like Todd English Pub in Crystals at CityCenter, Heraea at the Palms, and Lagasse's Stadium at Palazzo. On the other end of the spectrum, football-party king, South Point, is running its "Kick-Off Pigskin Party" in the showroom beginning at 4:30 p.m., with $1 hot dogs and $15 bottomless beers. All of these are free to enter.

NFL Regular Season Opens Tonight:

In tonight's season opener, the Denver Broncos are 7.5-point favorites over the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. The total is 48.5.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here are the highlights; check our searchable Event Planner for more details about these and other events: Bill Maher does stand up at the Palms (9/6-9/7) Dennis Miller makes 'em laugh at the Orleans (9/6-9/7) Caesars Palace welcomes Jerry Seinfeld (9/6-9/7) Comedian Margaret Cho entertains at the Mirage (9/6), followed by Kathy Griffin (9/7) Tim Allen's at the Venetian (9/6-9/7) Clint Holmes performs at the Smith Center (9/6-9/8), followed by Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan (9/7) Nashville Unplugged takes the stage at Red Rock (9/6) Jack Jones entertains at South Point (9/7-9/8) It's Wine Amplified weekend at Mandalay Bay Beach (9/6-9/7), while the Backstreet Boys perform in the Events Center (9/7), and The House of Blues welcomes The Cult (9/6)

MNF at the Strip Clubs:

We'll have full reviews of all the Monday Night Football Party action as the season progresses and we get to try 'em out, but for now it sounds like Crazy Horse III gentlemen's club will be getting into the spirit of things, with $1 hot dogs, $1 Budweisers and Bud Lights, $5 Crown and Absolut cocktails, and $100 bottle combinations of any flavor Absolut and Absolut Tune Champagne, and live on-site broadcasts from official sponsors KWWN 1100 AM and 98.9 FM w. Oh, and prior to every game there will be an open bar from 4 p.m. to kick-off. gentlemen’s club will host an open bar from 4 p.m. until kick-off, plus raffle-ticket giveaways for show tix, golf rounds, and bar tabs during each quarter.

Nugget Gets in On Online Gaming:

Landry’s, owners of the Golden Nuggets in Las Vegas and Laughlin, has announced a partnership with Bally Technologies to launch an online gaming product. In 2012 Bally, which recently reported record quarterly revenues, purchased the online-gaming business of European company Chiligaming, which has bases in the UK, France, and Malta.

Forum Fashion Fest:

Beginning tomorrow, Friday Sept. 6, the Forum Shops at Caesars hosts in inaugural two-day Festival of Fashion, featuring live fashion shows, beauty bars, entertainment, food and drink specials, limited-edition products and in-store events, and more. Attendees can also register either day between 10 a.m. and midnight for a chance to win one of four $500 Forum Shops Shopping Sprees.

UFC Teixeira/Bader:

Glover Teixeira is a -440 favorite over Ryan Bader in tonight's UFC Main Event. In the other featured match, Ronaldo Souza is -250 over Yushin Okami.

Dollar Blackjack at the Riv:

It's back. And on the Strip. The Riviera is advertising $1-minimum blackjack 24/7 on its marquee, something you won't find anyplace else in town. We'll check out the details and report.

LVA Declares September "Milestone Month":

It seems like every time we blink, there's another statistic to celebrate, the latest we heard of being Hash House a Go Go's imminent eighth birthday. To mark the event, from Sept. 12–19, all valley locations of the popular breakfast joint, including those at M Resort, Plaza, and the Quad*, plus the "original" locals locale on W. Sahara, will serving up some popular menu items for special "8" prices (will definitely be popular with Asian gamblers!), including "Man vs. Food" favorite, the sage fried chicken Benedict (with all the fixins, and this place wasn't featured on an eating-challenge show for nothing) for $8.88, plus all-day $8.88 signature BLT Bloody Marys and Kiwi Watermelon Lemonades, plus 88-cent Milwaukee's Best, PBR, and Hamm's beers. (*Note: We assume The Quad location is participating in the partying, but it was conspicuously absent from the press release and when we called the restaurant, the person who answered seemed confused and then left us on hold for ten minutes, so we can't confirm.)

Another Strip Milestone Approaches:

Following news yesterday that Caesars' upgraded buffet celebrated the arrival of its one millionth guest last Friday, comes a reminder that the Eiffel Tower attraction at Paris Las Vegas will welcome its ten millionth visitor Thursday, Sept. 5. Whoever that random lucky guest may be, they'll be rewarded with a trip for two to Paris, France. While the planned celebrations have yet to be detailed, it promises to be "a highly visual event that can be seen from the entire Strip and its surrounding areas," so we assume it will involve fireworks (unless they're planning to set light to the Eiffel Tower, which would certainly be dramatic, but would obviously preclude any future milestones being reached. We assume it will be something more ambitious than New Year's Eve, 1999, which was marked by someone hurling a bucket of silver glittery stuff from the top of the tower; it may sound lame, but that was more than any other Strip casino did to mark that particular milestone. But we digress...).

Celebrate Brazil:

Via Brasil Steakhouse will present a one-off Brazilian Outdoor Festival September 8 in honor of Brazilian Independence Day. The event, which will take place from 2 to 10 p.m. at the Fort Apache Common Shopping Center (1225 S. Fort Apache Road), will feature Brazilian food and alcohol vendors, live bands, dancers, fire dancers, a parade, Brazilian crafts, and free activities for kids, plus at 7 p.m. there will be a raffle for two flight tickets to Brazil. Tickets for the event are $5 in advance from Via Brasil Steakhouse, which includes a $20 dining card for the restaurant to use at a later date.

Youth Talent Show at Rain Thursday:

The Center, the community organization that supports and promotes positive activities and creative initiatives throughout Southern Nevada's LGBTQ community, hosts an expanded Pride Youth Talent Show Thursday night at Rain nightclub at the Palms, as the culmination of its recent QVolution search for young talent across the arts and media. Hosted by Hot 97.5 FM personality Mia Amor and local LGBTQ socialite Johnny Espinosa, the event will feature a diverse range of talent, from singers, rappers, and dancers, to poets, animators, and filmmakers, showcasing their talents in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. The event, which takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 5, is free to attend.

Diego to Close:

The Mexican restaurant/nightspot at MGM Grand will close for good, effective Monday, Sept. 23. The space will undergo renovations and re-open as a new "restaurant concept," details of which have yet to be announced.

Bacchanal Hits Million Mark:

AT 6:20 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace welcomed its one millionth guest, who was rewarded with a prize package including a two-night stay for two at the resort, a gift package for Qua Baths & Spa, and unlimited access to the buffet during her stay.

South Point Launches Sports Betting App:

South Point has launched a new mobile sports-wagering app, Nevada Sports Books, which features lines set by the casino's race and sports book and facilitates real-money wagering and account management for sports bettors directly from their smartphone. The app also enables users to deposit to or withdraw from their account at affiliated Nevada Sports Books, including Cannery, Eastside Cannery, Rampart, and the Virgin River Casino in Mesquite. Visit nvsportsbooks.com for more information.

Gallery Gone:

We just learned, via dailyfiasco.com, that Gallery, the mezzanine-level sister nightclub to Chateau at Planet Hollywood, has closed. The venue had come under the management of Block16 Hospitality (The Barrymore, LBS Burger, Public House, etc.) but the group has confirmed that it's no longer leasing that space. No word yet as to what will fill it -- possibly something Britney-centric. Watch this space for updates.

Buffets for Blood:

Here's another great cause to support: In response to a dire need for blood donations in Southern Nevada, Aliante is offering a complimentary buffet to donors at their community blood drive, which will take place Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., inside the hotel's Scottsdale Ballroom. Donors, who must be 17+, will receive a coupon from United Blood Services good for a complimentary breakfast or lunch at Medley Buffet.

Author Roast Tonight:

No, it's not a food-critic barbecue, but tonight sees the much-anticipated revenge of the restaurateurs, as the ever-caustic authors of Eating Las Vegas find themselves on the sharp end for a change, when some of the city's top chefs turn the tables and dish out their comebacks to Al, John, and Max. What promises to be a fun night, filled with good food and expletives, is all in the interests of a great cause, with the $25 ticket price going to benefit Three Square Food Bank. Online sales are now closed, but you can still purchase a ticket at the door. The event -- hosted by "Roastmasters" Dave Farra and Mahoney of the "Dave, Mahoney & DK Morning Show" (X107.5 FM) takes place from 7-9 p.m. tonight at Three Square (4190 N. Pecos Rd.) Space is limited, but there are still some seats available, so be sure to get there early.

Monthly Report from Jean Scott:

The reigning Queen of Comps has posted her monthly Las Vegas casino report for September at her Frugal Vegas blog, with word of promotions and players club news.

Cosmo Bar Named in Poll:

In a USA Today poll of best hotel bars, the Cosmopolitan's Vesper bar was the only Las Vegas bar on the list. We wouldn't even rate it the best in the casino (Chandelier is our pick), but it came in 6th in the nation. First was Square 1682 at Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia.

Gaming Revenues Down:

Nevada gambling revenue were down 8 percent in July, year-on-year, mainly due to a 14.4 percent drop on the Strip, but analysts point out that last July was a particularly strong month, so the comparison is a tough one, and July actually experienced the second-highest win amount for the calendar year to date.

More from Vince Neil:

Following yesterday's free gig at TI comes word that the Mötley Crüe front man, who's experienced mixed success with his various enterprises in Las Vegas, including tattoo parlors and a bar/live-music venue, apparently remains undaunted and is introducing his Tatuado Bar B Q brand to Circus Circus in a takeover of the venues currently occupied by Rock & Rita’s. There's an as-yet unconfirmed rumor that he will also be introducing the brand, which means "tattooed," to another Strip property (TI?).

Football Contest Deadlines Today:

Today is the last day to enter the Palms football contest and get the early-bird bonus of $10 in slot free-play. It also looks like free entries sent out in mailers expire after today. You can still enter the contest ($25 per entry) up to Saturday, but you won't get the bonuses. It's also the last day (at 4 p.m.) to qualify for the $15,000 mini-contest at the end of the season in LVH's SuperContest.

Happy Labor Day:

The casinos are busy for the end of the three-day weekend. The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, and Sam's Town are awarding 12X points on slots and 7X on video poker. At South Point it's 5X points on penny slots, 3X on all other slots, and 2X on video poker.

Last Night for Peepshow:

The long-running celebrity-studded topless revue at Planet Hollywood performs for the last time tonight, although cast members, including final Peep Diva Coco Austin, are expressing hope that the show may find a new home in a more intimate venue in Las Vegas.

Fireworks at Primm:

A fireworks display is planned for tonight at Primm. The 18-minute display is scheduled to begin at dusk, which will be around 7 p.m. Also, Buffalo Bill's and Primm Valley are offering free buffets today for active and inactive members of the military.

Beer Bonus at Station:

As part of the long Labor Day weekend, today is another bonus-points day at Stations and Fiestas, plus there's a beer or soda bonus. Get a six-pack of Bud Light or Pepsi when you earn 500 base points today between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. Player keeps the points.

Vince Neil at TI:

Motley Crue front man Vince Neil will play a private concert tonight at TI. Tickets are being distributed with the purchase of Neil's Tatuado Tequila brand at the TI gift shop or with select cocktails at the Margarita Bars in the casino, first-come first-served. The concert is at 8:30 p.m.