Las Vegas News

N. Decatur Reopens After Gas Leak:

Repairs are in progress at the site of a gas leak in the vicinity of Decatur Boulevard and Vegas Drive that resulted in road closures and property evacuations earlier this afternoon. No injuries were reported from the leak and work fixing the accidental breach is expected to be completed later this afternoon, but all road restrictions and evacuations have already now been lifted.

New Bakery on the Strip:

Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro, Jr., of TV's "Cake Boss" fame, debuts his new store in the Canal Shoppes at Venetian today at 6 p.m. Carlo's Bakery is the first west-coast outpost of the New Jersey native's popular cake-shop brand.

Bidding Underway in NY Casino Race:

Following voter approval last year to change the state constitution to allow up to seven privately owned casinos in New York, today saw the opening of requests for applications for bids for the first of those four potential venues, to be located in three regions of the state: the Albany area, Catskills, and Southern Tier. Each region already has at least three interested parties, with bids expected to come back in June.

More About "Mr" Jean Scott:

We recently addressed in the Question of the Day column a query about The Queen of Comps' other half, and why she doesn't write much about Brad's family in her blog (see Question of the Day Archives 3/24/14). By coincidence, Jean did recently share a personal story from when she and her husband met and their first trip to Las Vegas, and her latest entry at Frugal Vegas specifically follows up the QoD with some facts and figures about Brad's background. However, as we indicated in the answer, and she makes clear in her blog, her previous personal post "was not labeled 'Part 1.' It was a one-time celebration piece about a memorable happening in Brad’s and my life 30 years ago. There was no promise of 'More to Come.'" So that's all, folks!

High Roller Rollin':

As we announced would be the case on Friday (see Today's News 3/28), The LINQ's much-anticipated observation wheel will open for business at 1 p.m. today, with daytime passes $24.95 (plus $2 online service fee, which may or may not apply if purchasing on-site at the concierge desk - we'll keep you posted) and $34.95 for night passes, valid from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Various "express" and "flex" passes and upgrades are also available via TheLinq.com.

Online Gambling Estimates Lowered:

Citing "worse-than-expected technical issues" and tempered by revenue results to date, investment firm Morgan Stanley has lowered its estimate of the online gambling market in the U.S. from $5 billion to $3.5 billion by 2017, and from $9.3 billion to $8 billion by 2020. It also significantly lowered this year's projection for New Jersey from $541 million to $203 million. Also of note, the company said it sees the possibility of California and Illinois legalizing Internet gambling this year, but does not expect five other states contemplating legalization -- Colorado, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Ohio -- to act as quickly.

Elite Eight Kentucky/Michigan:

Kentucky is a -2 favorite over Michigan in today's game for the last position in the Final Four berth in the NCAA Basketball Championship. The total is 140.5.

Rock in Rio in Vegas:

A major music festival from Brazil called Rock in Rio has plans to come to Las Vegas. Event coordinators say the event will run on two consecutive weekends in May 2015. MGM Resorts International will reportedly be a primary sponsor.

Elite Eight Michigan St./Connecticut:

Michigan State is a -5 favorite over Connecticut in today's game for a Final Four berth in the NCAA Basketball Championship. The total is 140.

Free-Play Poker Today:

Free-to-play poker tournaments are running all day today at the LVA Casino. The first tournament begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST and we're playing for Amazon gift cards. Go to Play.LasVegasAdvisor.com or click through one of the links on the home page to sign up.

Elite Eight Arizona/Wisconsin:

Arizona is a -3.5 favorite over Wisconsin in tonight's second game for a Final Four berth in the NCAA Basketball Championship. The total is 132.5.

Evil Dead Celebrates Milestone:

The musical gorefest performing at Planet Hollywood hits its 200th show tonight and is celebrating with a special "200 Nights of Blood" performance, featuring special touches to the production, plus photo opportunities with the full cast, and an-after-show raffle.

Elite Eight Florida/Dayton:

Florida is a -10.5 favorite over Dayton in tonight's first game for a Final Four berth in the NCAA Basketball Championship. The total is 134.5.

Online Poker Numbers Reported:

Online poker revenue was reported separately for the first time in the February report on gambling win. The three online operators made $824,000 for the month and the total amount collected from rakes in the first 10 months of operations was $8.5 million.

Gambling Win Drops Big:

The Nevada gambling win declined by 13.7% in February compared to the same month last year, a slight surprise, given that the casinos were expected to benefit from a favorable calendar that included both the Chinese New Year and the Super Bowl. The problem was the comparison with last February, which set an all-time record for baccarat win. This year’s baccarat take was down 40% and the effect was evident in the Strip win's 20.2% decline.

LiFE at SLS:

SLS Las Vegas says it will debut with a new nightlight concept called LiFE. While full details weren't disclosed, it was described as a "20,000-square-foot immersive experience featuring a rooftop pool."

Earth Hour 2014:

Tonight, from 8:30-9:30 p.m., various locations around the Las Vegas Valley will be observing the eighth annual "Earth Hour" event by dousing all, or at least some, of their lights to promote the concepts of conservation and sustainability. Participating casinos we know of include: Gold Coast, Orleans; Sam's Town; Suncoast; Venetian/Palazzo; and all MGM Mirage and Caesars Entertainment properties, including the new High Roller observation wheel at The Linq.

Bar Fixtures Up for Grabs:

Tomorrow is the closing night for the Cellar Lounge, the venerable blues venue located at Sahara and Valley View and, as of Sunday, there will still be a bunch of kitchen and bar equipment still available for purchase, so if you're interested call 702-362-6268 today and ask for owner Russ for the lowdown on remaining hardware.

The Inside Scoop on the High Roller:

The High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ has been granted an operating permit from Clark County and our information is that it's scheduled to open to the public on Monday, at $35/ride (up from the previously mooted $25). Execs from CET anticipate between 4 million and 5 million riders in the wheel’s first year of operation.

Revel Workers Safe, Claims President:

The president of Atlantic City's newest and financially struggling resort-casino reassured workers this week that all the prospective buyers for the property plan to keep it operating and don't intend to shut down the casino or lay off staff. Scott Kreeger says he's spoken with as many as 20 to 30 potential buyers and is now narrowing down the field, but declined to name any of the interested parties. Kreeger, who remains flexible in terms of deal terms, which could include an outright sale of Revel, a strategic alliance with another company, or a joint venture among two or more operating entities, hopes to have the sale concluded by year end. He also admitted that a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing could not be ruled out, with the resort's casino win consistently remaining the lowest among the generally struggling gaming destination's 11 remaining properties.

Riviera to be Show Central:

Once all the new productions debut in April, the Riviera, whose showroom was empty for awhile, is now making up for lost time and in addition to the venerable Crazy Girls topless show and the Comedy Club, will also be home to two new music revues (Doo Wop and Motown), Pawn Shop Live, the Illusions magic-and-music show, and something for the ladies with the new Men the Experience male revue.

M Buffets Cuts Breakfast:

Following the Rio's discontinuation of its breakfast buffet recently (apparently because Hash House a Go Go made them do it), M Resort, which ironically just also lost its Hash House a Go Go venue, has also discontinued breakfast in the buffet, but is now serving that meal daily in Burgers & Brew (which presumably also serves coffee and eggs, because not even we can handle beer for breakfast).

Shift for Scintas Show:

The show formerly known as The Scintas, which has had several Las Vegas homes over the years before settling at its current residence at The D downtown, has introduced a new take on popular family act, with a revamped version that places Frankie Scinta center stage and introduces new contemporary material by the likes of Bruno Mars and Coldplay. Frankie Scinta debuts Saturday, April 5, with an expanded schedule that plays Saturday to Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.

Airport Traffic Up, Again:

February saw passenger counts at McCarran International Airport on the up for the fifth consecutive month, spurred by a continuing upswing in international arrivals. According to the Clark County Department of Aviation, 3.1 million passengers passed through Las Vegas' principal airport last month, up 2.4 percent on the previous year.

Clark County Hits 2 Million Mark:

As predicted last year (see Today's News 10/28/13), current Census Bureau estimates rank Clark County as the nation’s 15th most populous county, having surpassed the 2 million mark with 2,027,868 residents. Los Angeles County is the most populous in the U.S., with nearly 10.2 million inhabitants.

(Half of) Tivoli for Sale:

Today's LV Sun reports that IDB Group, the Israeli conglomerate that owns the upscale Tivoli Village retail/dining/office complex in Summerlin, is looking to offload fifty percent of its area real-estate portfolio, even while construction is still underway on the final portion of the project. IDB's stake in the neighborhood also includes a dozen unsold units in the One Queensridge Place condominium complex, plus almost 20 acres of undeveloped land.

Treasury Plans to Vet High Roller Funds:

U.S. casinos may soon be required by the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to vet the source of their high rollers' money, reports Reuters, in a move designed to address longstanding regulatory and law enforcement concerns regarding anti-money laundering laws. Currently, casinos are required to report suspicious activity, but the new rules under development would explicitly require them to investigate the source of gamblers' funds.

Mississippi Casino Closing:

Caesars Entertainment has announced that it will close Harrah’s Tunica on June 2. Opened in 1996 as the Grand Casino Tunica, it’s the largest casino in Mississippi. The company cited "onerous" taxes and the fact that the casino is losing money as the reasons for the decisoin, with the property's gambling win having dropped from $1.16 billion in 2006 to $723 million last year, reports The Associated Press. CET's other two Tunica Casinos -- Horseshoe Tunica and Tunica Roadhouse -- will remain open, but the closure of Harrah's is symptomatic of consistently falling revenues in recent years in the Mississippi gaming market.

Online-Gambling Update:

Lines are being drawn and gloves are coming off in the ongoing battle for and against the legalization of online gambling in the U.S. In the latest developments, Morgan Stanley has lowered its estimate of the U.S. online gambling market to $3.5 billion by 2017, down from a previous forecast of $5 billion. The Wall Street firm cites worse-than-expected technical issues, including geolocation technology and payment-processing options for players in its decision, but also maintains that it's optimistic about the industry’s long-term prospects, forecasting an $8 billion market by 2020 (down from an initial estimate of $9.3 billion). In other news, Reno's Atlantis Casino boss John Farahi has joined the ranks of Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn in coming out as "1,000 percent" opposed to the legalization of online gaming in a recent interview with political commentator Jon Ralston, while a new bill to outlaw online gaming entirely was introduced Wednesday by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.

Mixed Results for Tribal Gaming:

According to the latest figures, for the second year in succession Indian casinos nationwide scored a new annual gaming-revenue record in 2012, at more than $28 billion. The result follows an unprecedented dip three years ago, but analysts still have cause for concern, with revenue growth falling behind that of non-tribal casinos for the first time in almost two decades.

Antonio on the Strip:

Catch Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari up to his street-magic tricks once more, with the release today of the fourth episode in the YouTube Strip Magic series. The magician-turned-poker-pro's 2012 triumph in the $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop WSOP event earned him the joint accolades of being the the largest cash-prize winner in the history of poker, at $18,346,673, and number one for all-time tournament poker winnings, but in his former life Antonio was a well-known close-up magician, famous for his tricks using casino chips.

Palms Pool Open:

Just in time for Spring Break, Palms Pool & Bungalows is back in action, and with it the poolside Back Room Burger joint, which is open daily for lunch and dinner (including late-night). The weekly "Ditch Fridays" pool party returns May 2.

Yes Presale:

Running from right now through 10 p.m. Thursday, there's a ticket pre-sale for the recently announced "An Evening With Yes" concert taking place at The Joint at the Hard Rock on Friday, Aug. 15. (We confess that when we saw the official press photo in our @LVA_Tweet timeline, it was juxtaposed with post from Evil Dead the Musical and for a second we thought the latter was a photo caption for the scary-looking ageing rockers!)

Anthony Curtis' Breakfast:

Our publisher continues his search for Las Vegas' best breakfast buffet under $10, and has just returned from Santa Fe Station, where he discovered an awesome chili verde, which nicely complemented his omelet, plus eggs Benedict, potato pancakes with sour cream, roasted jalapenos, carved ham, French toast, a full salad bar, breakfast pizza, free-flowing juice, and what seems to be a signature of Stations' breakfast buffet: the completely random item, which in this case was spaghetti marinara (not quite as left-field as the mushroom soup and Brussels sprouts at Texas Station, but full marks for trying). With the 50%-off discount in the 2014 Member Reward Book (valid daily except Saturdays), it's just $2.69. Wow! The conclusions from the study are scheduled to run in the April Las Vegas Advisor.

Mantecore the Tiger Dies:

According to Siegfried and Roy's Facebook page, the white tiger that infamously mauled Roy Horn during a performance in 2003, died last week at the age of 17. The attack ended the famous magicians' long run on the Strip, but Horn held no grudge, despite incurring partial paralysis, remembering his feline co-performer as "My lifesaver ... who was the one responsible for pulling me to safety where the paramedics could help me after my blood pressure made me dizzy on stage - he is greatly missed."

New Topless Vegas Site:

Our new website, based on the acclaimed Topless Vegas guide book, is gearing up to launch in the next few weeks, so if you're interested in any form of adult entertainment in Las Vegas, from strip clubs to erotic revues, and European-style pools to burlesque shows, then sign up for email updates at ToplessVegasOnline.com. The site features reviews by strip club aficionado Arnold Snyder (known to many via the other hat he wears, as a blackjack expert) of every single venue and show in town (with pics), plus upcoming event calendars, tips on etiquette and how to get the most bang for your buck (so to speak), and a whole lot more. The reviews are both in-depth, candid, and often freakin' hilarious (wait till you read about naked milk wrestling...) Once it's live, we'll be encouraging you to post your own comments and ratings, too. Stay tuned, Sin City!

LVA Reader Poll:

Our current survey, concerning your thoughts about the Stardust/Echelon Place/Resorts World Las Vegas closes at midnight, so get your votes in!

Vegas Show Airs Tomorrow:

The episode of ABC's "Modern Family" that was filmed back in January at Mandalay Bay is slated to air tomorrow, a reader just informed us. Check you local listings for air times. It's the latest in a long long line of TV shows to feature the de rigueur "Gang Goes to Vegas" episode, dating all the way back to the mid-'50s. Check out the Question of the Day Archives for 10/3-10/4/2013, where we ran a back-to-back two-parter listing the more than 50 shows/episodes we've identified, from "I Love Lucy" to "The Sopranos"; if you know of one we missed, please drop us a line.

Aliante Hearts Teachers:

Aliante is now offering exclusive "Stay in School Staycations" for all active teachers and staff in the Clark County School District, with one-night stays in a deluxe room priced between $55 and $75 a $25 credit at The Deck pool and bar, and 40% off off all treatments at re:lax spa, excluding nail services. The resort service fee is also waived for all bookings. Yay! Rates and reservations are available by calling 702-692-7777 and confirming a valid CCSD ID.

Multiple Choice:

This week, Bob Dancer takes a different approach in his weekly column and has posed a multiple-choice quiz for all you video poker players out there. Check it out and see how well you play; we'll wager that there are some hands you're mis-playing and it's costing you money. But fear not, because Bob has many solutions to get you back on track!

Bourbon & Burlesque:

A new nightspot with the gaudy name 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque by Holly Madison is scheduled to open at Mandalay Bay on April 17. It's a Prohibition Era-themed "social lounge" combining live jazz and burlesque inside of a 1920s-style speakeasy.

Junefest Concert Set:

Details about the annual outdoor Junefest concert have been announced. Held at Sunset Station on June 14, this year's line-up will feature Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Loverboy, Gary Wright, and Firefall. Tickets that run from $29 to $59 go on sale March 28. Log on to sclv.com/concerts for more details.

Early Morning Strip Lane Closures:

Utility work being carried out at transit stops on Las Vegas Boulevard will result in some temporary early-morning lane closures this week, so schedule a little extra time for your journey.

Signage Rights for Sale:

Branded Cities Network, owner of the 60-foot-tall LED sign at Harmon Corner, wants to sell the rights to a third-party entity to have its name emblazoned across the top as a multi-year, seven-figure sponsorship opportunity. Measuring 306 feet wide, it's certainly a prominent center-Strip branding opportunity, and the proposed package also includes naming rights for the adjacent 110,000-square-foot, three-story Harmon Corner Retail Center, reports the R-J. It was announced last year that CET had similar plans for the observation wheel at The LINQ, currently known as the High Roller, following the example of London's wheel, which debuted as the British Airways London Eye, before becoming the the Merlin Entertainments London Eye and, since 2011, the EDF Energy London Eye. To-date, we haven't heard of any takers for the Las Vegas opportunity.

Grand Bazaar Update:

The Las Vegas homage to Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar, which was originally due to break ground in front of Bally's in late 2012, is now set to debut later this year, according to the latest press release. The two-acre Grand Bazaar Shops complex is set to feature more than 150 retail outlets, including including a spice market, green grocers, and the first-ever Swarovski store.

Historic Vegas Photo Exhibit:

Commencing March 27 at Clark County Library on E. Flamingo, the Las Vegas News Bureau will present a unique exhibition of historic photos of Las Vegas landmarks from 1950-1960. Originally black and white, the images have been sensitively colorized to present a new visual perspective on some of some classic shots. "Re-Visualizing Las Vegas" will remain at Clark County Library through May 27, with future presentations at Enterprise Library (25 E. Shelbourne Ave.) from August 5-Sept. 28 and at West Las Vegas Library (951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.) Oct. 7-Jan. 11.

Taffer's Bar & Nightclub Show Hits Hard Rock:

"Bar Rescue" expert and personality Jon Taffer brings his acclaimed Nightclub & Bar Show to the Hard Rock today through March 26, featuring the Bud Light Hotel and an exclusive performance by Ludacris at the Paradise Beach Pool at tonight's kickoff party.

An Evening with Yes:

Grammy award-winning band Yes has announced a 35-date summer tour, performing their classic albums "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge," followed by an encore of greatest hits, and on Friday, Aug. 15 the tour comes to The Joint at the Hard Rock. Tickets start at $39.50 and go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.

Reduced Juice for Basketball Tourney:

Beginning with Thursday's games, South Point sports books will offer -105 betting on the NCAA Basketball Tournament, which means that rather than bet $110 to win $100, you have to lay only $105. The deal is offered at South Point, Rampart, Cannery, Eastside Cannery, and Riverside and Virgin River in Laughlin.

UFC Rua/Henderson:

Mauricio Rua is a -275 favorite over Dan Henderson in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Cezar Ferreira is -225 over C.B. Dollaway.

Sunday Funday Winners:

Julian Himber of Delaware was last week's Sunday Funday poker winner, besting a field of 151 players to take the first prize of $100. The runner-up was Omana Fabian of Minnesota, who won a full Las Vegas Advisor Membership. The final table had representatives from nine different states and all received prizes. The next Sunday Funday tourney is scheduled for April 13. In the meantime, we run free-to-play tournaments with prizes every day at the LVA Casino. Today's first tournament begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST and we're playing for Amazon gift cards. Go to Play.LasVegasAdvisor.com or click through one of the links on the home page to sign up.

EI Madness:

Lost in all the promotion for March Madness viewing venues has been the good deals offered at Ellis Island. During all tournament games, EI has $1 20-ounce craft beers, $1 hot dogs, and 40-cent chicken wings.

FS1 Breaks Barrier:

During the NCAA Basketball Conference Championships and the first weekend of the National Tournament, Fox Sports 1 has been covering the action with a remote from the LVH sports book. It's a first for a national media outlet to broadcast from a sports book and directly embrace the connection between gambling and sports.

Rescued-Puppy Raffle:

Following the shocking recent case of a Las Vegas pet-store owner who's accused of deliberately setting her business on fire in the knowledge that there were live puppies inside, there's now some happier news and an opportunity for suitable members of the public to win 25 of the 27 puppies, all of which survived the blaze. Commencing today, raffle tickets will be sold on the website of the Animal Foundation, which has been caring for the puppies, starting at 11 a.m. Sunday and ending at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Winners will be drawn on Wednesday, subject to the vetting of prospective owners for suitability, including an in-home visit, and all proceeds raised will go to supporting this and other Las Vegas animal shelters.

Fieri Restaurant Named:

Food Network host Guy Fieri's new restaurant at The Quad will be called Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen & Bar. The two level 10,000-square-foot space that will offer views of the Strip is set to open in April.

Boulevard Mall Overhaul:

A complete overhaul has been announced for the nearly 50-year-old Boulevard Mall. Part of a plan to remake the entire "Maryland Pkwy. corridor," a $23-$25 million redevelopment will create a shopping, dining, and entertainment district that includes new stores and restaurants, and a farmer’s market. The mall will remain open during construction, which is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year.

Love in the Air:

A new Las Vegas-based aerial service called Love Cloud provides couples the opportunity to join the "Mile High Club" on custom outfitted Cessna 421 Golden Eagle planes. Packages start at $800 for 40-minute flights that cruise to nowhere at 5,280 feet.

Billion Dollar Brackets Busted:

The Warren Buffet Challenge is over. Buffet had insured a $1 billion prize for a perfect bracket in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but after two days full of upsets, participants received texts from sponsoring Quicken Loans informing them that there are no perfects remaining. The promotion was capped at 15 million players, though the participation numbers haven't been announced.

Amazing Race Recruiting:

Following the success of the two Rio Chippendales, who placed second on Season 21 of CBS' Emmy Award-winning TV contest "The Amazing Race," there's now a chance for another Vegas couple to take a shot at the $1 million jackpot when producers from the show hit Sin City today for Nevada's only casting call. If you think you have what it takes, head to the Team Ford location at US 95 and Ann Road, where from 9 a.m. there will be six hours of continuous contestant interviews. Each prospective team has just one minute in front of a camera to demonstrate their worthiness for the challenge, so come prepared!

Hooters Bikini Contest:

Starting tomorrow, Saturday March 22, Hooters will launch a weekly poolside bikini contest from 1-3 p.m. We don't know what the prizes are, but we do know there will be drink specials and eye candy.

Jacksons Exiting Early:

According to the LV Sun's "Katz Report," The Jacksons will be cutting short their run in Rocktellz & Cocktails at Planet Hollywood is being cut short by about three weeks, apparently due to a second act dropping out and the time slot being prohibitively expensive for them to finance solo. Originally slated to run through April 27, the show will now close April 6; Meat Loaf, whose current 7 p.m. Rocktellz show ends its second run April 8, will now be back for more shows beginning the first week in May.

National Salsa Day:

That's today and Caba Wabo in the Miracle Mile Shops is celebrating with free chips and salsa, while Tacos & Tequila at Luxor is offering a sampler trio for $5, including Scorpion Pepper Salsa, Salsa de Arbol, and Roasted Jalapeño Salsa.

Daylight Debuts for 2014:

No, we haven't relocated to the Arctic Circle but Daylight, the newest arrival to the "daylife" scene that debuted last year at Mandalay Bay, opens its doors at 11 a.m. today to kick off the summer season. Here are some pictures from last year to whet your appetite...

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Here are the highlights: The 2014 Monster Jam World Finals are at Sam Boyd Stadium (3/20-22) Texas Station hosts the UMMAF National MMA Finals (3/20-22) Daniel Tosh is back at the Mirage (3/21-22) The Smith Center for the Performing Arts hosts "Jazz Roots - Satin & Soul (3/21) Jerry Seinfeld's at Caesars (3/21/22) Lady Antebellum rock Mandalay Bay (3/21) Nashville Unplugged continues at Sunset Station (3/21) Bill Maher's at the Palms (3/22-23) And Hard Rock Café welcomes Umphrey's McGee (3/21) and The Blackout 6 (3/22)

Spring is Here:

We know it's official, not just by looking at our calendar but because the seasonal floral display has been unveiled in Bellagio's Botanical Garden and Conservatory, where an array of more than 8,200 flowers and plants, including daffodils, tulips, lilies, gardenias, hibiscus, and bougainvillea will now be on display through May 11. Other highlights of the free attraction include a 45-foot-tall cherry-blossom tree, 40 oversized raindrops, a greenhouse filled with 800 live butterflies from around the world, giant caterpillars, and nightly musical performances staged on a platform in the cherry tree.

The Zombies are Celebrating:

Evil Dead: The Musical is celebrating its 200th performance in Sin City on March 29 with discounts for "Dedicated (shouldn't that be "Deadicated"?) Deadites" all month. Bring the DD coupon (available on the show's website or FaceBook page) to the V Theater box office for any performance during March for special $25 G.A. tix. The actual milestone performance on March 29 is being dubbed "Super Splatter Saturday": Fans who arrive in Splatter Zone t-shirts from a previous show will receive FREE G.A. seats, VIP seats, for $15, or Splatter Zone seats for $20. Remember, LVA members, you can use the 2014 Member Rewards Book discount to get a 50% discount anytime you like, Deadite or not!

Green Light for Growing the Green:

Clark County commissioners Wednesday approved an ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries by a 4-2 vote in a milestone decision for proponents looking for easier patient access the product. Under the changes, facilities will also be permitted in the county for manufacturing, cultivating, and testing medical marijuana. Applications for dispensary licenses will be accepted from April 16 to May 2, to be followed by a marathon public hearing on June 5 to select successful applicants.

March Madness at Brooklyn Bowl:

Get your own lane and bowl for four hours while you watch the basketball games on 11 foot hi-def screens for at the Brooklyn Bowl. The fee is $1,200, which sounds high to start, but a lane accommodates eight and all of the fee can be applied to food and drinks. So if you can round up a group of eight, it works out to four hours of bowling, basketball, and all you can eat and drink in one of the hippest venues in town for $150 per person. Kinda cool.

Street Magic on the Strip:

For all you magic fans out there, the third episode of "Strip Magic," starring poker pro Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, has been released on YouTube for your online viewing pleasure.

Slotzilla Job Fair:

It looks like downtown's highly anticipated but much-delayed giant zipline attraction is finally coming to fruition, with word that SlotZilla is hiring for more than 140 positions ahead of a grand-opening date that's yet to be announced but is evidently soonish. Managers will be meeting with applicants from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday for the two-day job fair for positions including: ride maintenance technician, ticket office sales staff, and ride operator. Applicants are required to bring a complete resume to be considered for any position.

Facelift for AC Trop:

The latest in the wave of casino renovations to be announced this spring is an upgrade for the Tropicana in Atlantic City, where a $35-million renovation is planned that will include the addition of a choreographed LED light show on the property's exterior, pending local and state approval. A remodel of the 434 rooms in the hotel's north tower is also planned, with all work scheduled for completion late 2015.

Big Gig for TAPBMAPHRAC:

That's the catchy abbreviation for what was formerly just the very pedestrian Theater for the Performing Arts, but now is officially the The AXIS Powered by Monster at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, which on Saturday, April 19 will host the "Old School Block Party," featuring artists including S.O.S Band, A Taste of Honey, Zapp, Sugar Hill Gang, Klymaxx, One Way, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Dazz Band, and Club Nouveau. Tickets for the event, staged in conjunction with 107.5 FM, start at $35.

Excalibur Shooting Investigated:

A man in in custody following the discovery of an armed intruder in the locker rooms for Thunder from Down Under male revue Tuesday night. Cast members apparently found the accused rifling through their personal belongings and confronted him; the suspect apparently then pulled a gun and fired a shot into the air, leaving one person with minor injuries caused either by the ricocheting bullet or by falling debris. We'll post more details as they become available. Meanwhile, you can view the results of our recent survey about safety in Las Vegas, together with the interesting observations and comments we received via email, in the Reader Poll Archives.

Hoops and Hold'em at Caesars:

Caesars Palace has released the schedule for the fourth annual Hoops and Hold’em Poker Series, to take place in conjunction with the NCAA Tournament, with daily events March 20 through 30 in a poker room that features 20 large-screen hi-def TVs to catch all the March Madness action, plus menu service and free Wi-Fi. Regular daily tournaments and cash games will continue as normal throughout the event.

New Brunch Option Hits the Strip:

Palazzo is gaining a new Sunday brunch option, with a family-style buffet option commencing Sunday, March 23 at the new Buddy V's Ristorante to complement the adult à la carte affair ongoing at Lavo. The spread, served buffet-style throughout the restaurant, will feature menu items including: charcuterie and cheese platters; homemade breads; shrimp on the shell; fresh salads; carving and dessert stations; and signature brunch items like chicken rigatoni, mac n’ cheese carbonara, chicken parm, meatballs, and Panettone French Toast. Buddy’s Family Brunch is $32.95 per person/$14.95 for children 10 and under (special kid-friendly menu items are served), with a $14.95 drink upgrade available (includes three Bloody Marys/Caesars, sangrias, mimosas, or bellinis). Located inside the Grand Canal Shoppes, the restaurant occupies the spot that was formerly home to FIRST Food, a former LVA favorite for Sunday Bloodys, so we hope the new joint can measure up.

Contest Deadlines Loom:

If you want to play in this year's big March Madness contests, you need to sign up before the start of tomorrow's games. Station Casinos is running the winner-take-all "Last Man Standing" contest with a $25 entry with one free when you buy four. William Hill’s "Three ‘N Out" contest is also $25 to enter. And Aliante is running the "March Mayhem Bracket Contest," with a $20 entry fee and $5,000 added to the prize pool.

New Name for Tahoe Horizon:

As mentioned earlier in this space, Lake Tahoe's Horizon Casino Resort is undergoing an extensive renovation. Now it's been announced that the renovation will include a name change to Park Tahoe Casino Resort. The new name reflects the ownership of the Park family, which runs the casino through NevaOne LLC.

Cupcake ATM:

Las Vegas' first "Cupcake ATM" has opened at the new Sprinkles Cupcakes shop at The Linq. The vending machine is open 24 hours and holds up to 600 cupcakes. We haven't seen the pricing scheme yet.

Dancer says goodbye to Jackie Gaughan:

In this week's column Dancer talks about the life of one of the founding fathers of Downtown Las Vegas, Jackie Gaughan.

Resort Fee Update:

Thanks to the reader who wrote in to point out we missed a couple of downtown Boyd properties off our list of Las Vegas hotels that don't charge a resort fee, the subject of today's QoD. So, we're rectifying that oversight right now, while there are also some useful updates from other readers that we've added, so take a look back even if you're already read Monday's answer: It's now bigger and better!

No BJ Tourney Today:

The daily free blackjack tournament at LVA Casino has been cancelled today as the site will be down for essential maintenance, but the poker tournament will still take place as usual at 3 p.m. PST. See you there!

Pawn Parody Update:

The Broadway-style comedy Pawn Shop Live!, which we announced earlier this month would be moving to an new Strip home at the Riviera April 21, has now released more details re the move. In a nutshell, the matinee production will now perform a half-hour later, at 4:30 p.m. nightly, while there's been a predictable hike in ticket prices, which now start at $39 plus tax/fees. Tix to the show in its new home go on sale Saturday, March 29.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!:

We presented our listing of St. Patty's Day party highlights last week (see Today's News 3/14), but for all you players out there, here's the heads-up on some casino promos today: Ellis Island: In addition to the corned beef and cabbage and newly introduced O'Shaughnessy's Irish Red Ale, enjoy 17X points on reel and video reel slots today (some machines excluded). Stations/Fiestas: Station Casinos has a $148,000 St. Patrick's Day bingo cash bonus today, effective at the 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. sessions, with $10,000 cash balls at Palace, Boulder, Texas, Sunset, Santa Fe, GVR, and Red Rock, plus $2,000 all-paper cash balls at the Fiestas. South Point: Hit any bingo ending in "7" today and win a $500 bonus cash prize. In addition, here's another reminder to have a safe day: Be aware that there will be extra Metro officers on patrol, with a sobriety checkpoint scheduled from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. somewhere busy on the east side of town. The good news is that AAA Nevada is offering its Tipsy Tow service to get you and your car home for free if you've had one green beer too many. The service, available to members and non-members alike, will operate from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.; just call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home in a radius of up to 10 miles.

Walking Dead Party, with Real Zombies!:

Okay, they're not real zombies, we're pretty sure they're actors pretending to be real zombies, but either way, the cast of Evil Dead The Musical will host a "Walking Dead" viewing party at zombie-apocalypse-themed bar The End (at Decatur and Spring Mountain). Show members will be present to give out prizes (what kinds of prizes do zombies give?), host trivia rounds, and generally have as much fun as the undead can possibly have from 7 p.m. tonight. As an aside, we're pretty sure the recently revamped (ha!) bar, which received its facelift thanks to Spike's "Bar Rescue," appears to be really dead and open only for private events, unless they're taking the theming to such lengths that the boarded-up windows and disconnected phone line are all part of the ambiance. If anyone out there can confirm, please drop us a line. Cheers!

St. Patrick's Day Awareness:

On Monday, March 17, from 1-3 p.m., Pole Position Raceway, in partnership with the Nevada Highway Patrol and Sudden Impact Auto Body, will present a DUI Public Service Message as a sobering reminder on a day that's often celebrated via drinking. The event illustrates graphically the effects of drinking and driving in an effort to bring awareness and save lives this St Patty's Day. Volunteers will serve as crash-test dummies as they drink and race laps, while being monitored to show the effects of the alcohol on their driving abilities.

Laughlin Event Center Opens:

Marnell Gaming LLC has opened the $4 million Laughlin Event Center. The outdoor amphitheater that will host concerts and other special events is associated with the Colorado Belle and Edgewater casinos, which are owned by Marnell Gaming.

Late-Night Comp:

Home Plate bar on Blue Diamond Rd. just west of the Silverton is running a pizza-buffet comp from 3 to 6 a.m. every morning. Buy in for any amount on a bar game and eat up!

Free LVA Poker Tourney at Noon:

Our "Sunday Funday II" poker tournament with more than $500 in prizes begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Prizes are $100 for first, a full LVA membership for second, a suite of our top four poker books for third, and gift cards and other prizes will be awarded to all who make the final table. See the entire prize pool and register to play at the LVA Casino (once signed in, click on "Poker Tournaments" and register for Tourney ID 4296). Registration opens two hours prior to the event. This tournament is completely free to play and we're adding a second LVA membership for the player who knocks out Anthony Curtis. There will also be other tourneys running all day for gift cards and play chips. Come have some fun! See you at noon.

UFC Hendricks/Lawler:

Johny Hendricks is a -345 favorite over Robbie Lawler in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Carlos Condit is -190 over Tyrone Woodley.

High-End Nightclub Coming to Reno:

The Grand Sierra in Reno will build a $15 million 25,000-square-foot nightclub called Lex. It will be the first high-end Las Vegas-style nightclub in Reno when it opens in July.

NY-NY Debuts Plaza:

New York-New York opens its outside plaza today, part of the bigger "park" project there. The area includes a few retail stores and (of course) a Starbucks, along with access to the Nine Fine Irishmen patio and a "new pedestrian experience on the Brooklyn Bridge."

Skyline VP Bonus:

The Skyline on Boulder Hwy. is paying a 25% bonus on all non-progressive royal flushes. The bonus is good on all denoms, 24/7 till the end of March. This is a particularly juicy deal given the excellent video poker at Skyline, where many schedules already have a theoretical return greater than 100%.

Supernatural Reminder:

The "Salute to Supernatural Convention" is underway at the Rio, running through Sunday. A four-day fan fest headlined by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, stars of the popular show now in its 9th season on The CW Network. GA tix are available at the door for $70.

Cirque at Springs:

Here's another reminder, this time that today sees the 13th annual "Run Away with Cirque du Soleil" 5K run and one-mile fun walk at the Springs Preserve, featuring lots of in-costume performers from the shows, live entertainment, and more. It's all in a good cause, raising funds for the local eco-friendly attraction and for the ONE DROP global clean-water initiative.

Ellis Update:

Thanks to the industry worker/LVA reader who wrote in with a personal "Update" on today's Question of the Day, which then led us to do a little more sleuthing and the discovery that Ellis Island is even lovelier to locals than we thought! Check it out...

Monorail Discounts:

The Las Vegas Monorail is offering an exclusive St. Patrick’s Day Weekend fare discount, with a $5 discount on the 2-day pass valid today through March 17th. The pass is normally $22, reduced to $17, and is available at

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's a big one, with all kinds of Irish shenanigans (and imminent hoop madness) afoot. Here are some of the highlights: The Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament takes place at the MGM (3/12-3/15) Comedian Henry Cho performs at South Point (3/14-3/15) Kathy Griffin does stand up at the Mirage (3/15) Andrew Dice Clay's at the Hard Rock (3/15-3/16) And don't forget the next BiG LVA Casino Poker Tournament takes place this Sunday! Registration opens 2 hours prior (10 a.m. PST) and there are cash and other prizes up for grabs, plus it's fun! (3/16) St. Patrick's Day Highlights: Hofbräuhaus is celebrating St. Patrick's Day German-style, with traditional favorites like corned beef and cabbage, creamy leek soup, homemade bread and butter pudding, and of course, beer. (3-17) O'Sheas is bringing back its legendary St. Patty's Day Block Party in style, with a weekend-long bash kicking-off Saturday and extending through Monday, with a parade, music, balloon artists, stilt walkers, beer pong, giveaways, lashings of green beer and, naturally, a real leprechaun. J.C. Wooloughan's Irish Pub at the Rampart will be rockin' out with Finnegan's Wake all weekend (3/14-3/17), climaxing in a St. Patrick's Day Blowout finale from 1 to 11 p.m. on the 17th. Quinn’s Irish Pub at Green Valley Ranch will be celebrating with food and drink specials, live music from London Cries (5-9 p.m.) and Darby O'Gill (10 p.m.-2 a.m). Drink specials include: $15 pitchers of Bud Light green beer; $6 shots of Jameson's (with a green Bud Light beer back); $5 Irish Car Bombs, and $5 pints of draft Irish brews (Kilkenny, Smithwicks, Harp, and Guinness). (3/17) Last but not least, it's the 6th Annual St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl at the Fremont Street Experience downtown from 2 p.m.-midnight. Drink specials will be available at participating venues, including: Binion's, the California, The D, Four Queens, Fremont, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, and Main Street Station. The live music kicks off at 11 a.m. and will continue through 2 a.m. You can register online for your wristband right now! (3/17)

Tributes to Vegas Gaming Icon:

The life and career of casino pioneer Jackie Gaughan, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 93, is being celebrated via a digital billboard on a site close to downtown, where he once was the most prolific casino owner. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Viator Catholic Church (corner of Flamingo and Eastern).

Run Away with Cirque at Springs Preserve:

As a prelude to ONE DROP World Water Week, Cirque du Soleil will host the 13th annual "Run Away with Cirque du Soleil" 5K run and one-mile fun walk at the Springs Preserve on Saturday, March 15. Mayor Carolyn Goodman will start the race and KNPR President and General Manager Flo Rogers will emcee the fundraising event. Post-race activities will include live music, photo ops with (sweaty) Cirque characters, free refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods, massage therapists, and a circus play area for kids.

Wet Republic Returns (for the Last Time?):

In an interesting twist of events, it looks like Hakkasan nightlife complex at MGM Grand, which was originally slated to feature a pool but then dropped the idea, will get a party pool after all. Wet Republic at MGM Grand opens today, but following the buyout of former owner Angel Management Group, the word on the street is that once this season is over the "daylife" complex will be renamed for the Hakkasan brand.

Jazz Series Returns to Aliante:

The outdoor summer concert series, Jazz Under the Stars, returns to Aliante April 24 with a 6 p.m. performance by DW3. Tickets are $15. A lineup of various smooth and contemporary jazz artists will continue through September.

Viva Max Reminder:

It's tonight, at 6:30 p.m., that Tacos & Tequila at Luxor hosts its "Viva Max!" fundraising dinner for Las Vegas food critic and writer Max Jacobson, who continues his recovery from the serious head injuries sustained when he was hit by a truck as he walked to the gym late last year. Tickets are $100 per person, with all proceeds donated to Max's recovery fundraiser.

Meet Wolfgang Puck:

On April 9, the celebrated celebrity chef will be hosting a book signing for his new book, Wolfgang Puck Makes It Healthy: Light, Delicious Recipes and Easy Exercises for a Better Life from 2-4 p.m. at Spago in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Guests who purchase a copy of the cookbook will also be offered complimentary signature bites courtesy of Spago.

Another Loyalty Program Lovefest:

There's been a flurry of casino companies partnering with hotel chains, airlines, and so on over the past couple of years, with involved parties seeking symbiotic and complementary relationships that extend the options available to their core consumers, while expanding the company's consumer database. The latest of these "strategic marketing partnerships" to be announced is union between MGM Resorts International and Pinnacle Entertainment, with word that beginning April 1, select mychoice members will be offered hotel stays, show tickets, and other exclusive benefits at MRI's Vegas properties in Las Vegas, while M life members will receive offers for hotel stays, dining, etc. at Pinnacle’s properties elsewhere throughout the U.S.

Daniel Boulud is Back:

The acclaimed chef, whose brasserie at Wynn closed back in 2010, will be back on the Strip by May, according to the latest official word. DB Brasserie, which Chef Boulud says "will have all the elements of a traditional brasserie with the constant energy of a café," was originally set to open at the Venetian last year, but is evidently running a little behind schedule, just like everything else did in 2013.

Live Art Demo on Strip Tonight, Tomorrow:

Tonight Lily Bar at Aria will host a live painting event by local artist Brad Wilkinson from 9 p.m.; on Thursday, the Deuce Lounge is the venue for another live demo by acclaimed Kentucky speed painter Aaron Kizer, during which guests will be given complimentary raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the artist's paintings. Doors and demo at 10 p.m., March 13.

Party at Paris:

The Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the original Eiffel Tower in France with a block party at the resort’s Arc de Triomphe and porte-cochère area from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, featuring entertainment, festive food, and drink specials. The Strip hotel's half-scale replica of the Parisian landmark has seen more than 10 million visitors since the property debuted in 1999 and will host a series of ongoing events throughout the year; these commenced last month when the Vegas attraction introduced a version of "Locks on the Bridge," an ancient Parisian tradition whereby couples can seal their love by securing a personalized lock to the bridge next to Eiffel Tower.

1-15 Closed Near Mesquite:

The Nevada Department of Transportation reports that the I-15 northbound to Mesquite is currently down to one lane near Overton due to a semi-truck having caught on fire earlier. Firefighters are on the scene; it's unclear what caused the blaze, or if anyone has been injured.

Taylor Hicks Leaving Paris:

Former "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks will end his run in Napoleon's lounge at Paris on April 8. The show performs at 8 p.m. on select dates from March 15 until then, with tickets starting at $45.49.

Stardust vs. Echelon vs. Resorts World:

Our new Reader Poll is live, investigating your innermost thoughts and feelings about the site that was long-time home to the Stardust, almost home to Echelon Place, and perhaps is future home to Resorts World Las Vegas. Feel free to send us email feedback; we just know a lot of people will have a strong opinion about this, one way or another, so vent away via pollAThuntingtonpress.com!

Jackie Gaughan Dies:

Las Vegas casino pioneer and legend John "Jackie" Gaughan has passed away earlier this morning from what the cornoner's office confirmed were natural causes. He was 93. Father of South Point's Michael Gaughan and grandfather to NASCAR's Brendan Gaughan, Jackie was the former long-time owner of downtown's historic El Cortez casino, where he continued to reside and was a regular face at the poker tables, prior to that room's closure earlier this year. He had been suffering from dementia.

Elvis Update:

There's been much ado about Elvis of late (see today's Question of the Day) and the latest is an update from an in-the-know reader who learned from a close source that a dozen-or-so elements from the soon-to-close King's Ransom exhibit at Binion's have already been transferred to Elvis' former home-from-home at LVH, including one of the star's vehicles. We'll keep you posted as and when we learn more about what's afoot, and whether LVH is planning some kind of Elvis revival, but perhaps the King's Ransom collection has found a new home in Sin City...

Free Beer at Aria!:

Reciprocating some sisterly love from our friends at EaterVegas, we've just learned via this ever-informed foodie blog that Aria will be doling out free samples of Stillwater Ales' new Cabaletta beer at the Lobby Bar from 5 to 7 p.m. "Beeries" (that's the hop equivalent of foodies, we reckon, or should it be "beeros," like "winos"?) will also have the opportunity to chat with the beer's creators and pick the brains of brewmaster Brian Strumke and Aria mixologist Craig Schoettler.

'wichcraft Closes:

Tom Collichio's high-end sandwich shop, long a popular lunch fixture at MGM Grand, is no more. Plans for the space have yet to be announced.

How Safe is Las Vegas?:

Our current Reader Poll concerning how safe you feel in Las Vegas these days will expire at midnight, so get your votes in and email your thoughts and experiences, if you haven't already. This has been an eye-opening survey with some really interesting feedback, so keep it coming!

Free Bowling at Brooklyn Bowl:

Today through Thursday, to celebrate a successful launch and say "thank you" to Vegas visitors and locals for their support, The LINQ's Brooklyn Bowl restaraurant/bar/live-music venue/bowling center is offering complimentary bowling games. Just show up after 5 p.m., say you want to bowl for free, and enjoy!

Strip Club for Sale:

Larry's Villa, Las Vegas' first-ever topless club, is up for sale, with a price tag of $375,000. The current owner says he can't afford to stay in business in light of a $20,000 rent hike, so he's putting the club on W. Bonanza on the market, according to Vegas Inc.

Drai to Open LGBT Club at Bally's:

It sounds like an odd fit, but then a lot of changes have been taking place at the center-Strip casino lately and we're not quite sure what the formerly staid Bally's is anymore, so we probably shouldn't be surprised to learn that Victor Drai plans to turn the temporary home for his after-hours club into a gay club called Liaison once Drai's relocates to its new rooftop home at The Cromwell later this year.

Zip Line Zipping:

From our excellent vantage point at the back of the Rio, we can confirm that not only is the VooDoo ZipLine no longer invisible, but they're actually testing it (we assume): There's been a white thingy that we can't quite make out without binoculars, but it's been zipping up and down on the line all afternoon, so it's actually looking as if this much-delayed attraction is finally going to happen.

Summer Concert Series Announced:

Red Rock Resort will be continuing its traditional season of poolside music events, with the Sandbar Summer Concert Series kicking off May 4 with Lifehouse. Other announced acts include The Goo Goo Dols, Daughtry, The Fray, and KANSAS and tickets go on sale March 14 at sclv.com/concerts.

Facelift for Another Tahoe Casino:

On April 1, Lake Tahoe's Horizon Casino Resort at Stateline will join the Cal Neva in closing for extensive renovations. Details of the multi-million-dollar facelift for the recently sold property (which opened in 1965 as Del Webb's Sahara Tahoe) have yet to be announced but apparently a timeline and other information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, owners of the Cal Neva are affecting a restoration of the property to "make it what it was like in Sinatra's day." This similarly huge-budgeted upgrade was scheduled to be completed on Dec. 12, 2014, to coincide with the former owner's birthday, but we understand now that this has been pushed back to summer 2015. Early Plans to demolish one of the hotel towers seem to have been dropped in favor of an upgrade, however.

Vegas Goes (Really) Country:

This year's Academy of Country Music Awards is going to be bigger than ever, with concerts and parties at MGM Grand (host of the sold-out award ceremony), Mandalay Bay, and The LINQ April 4-7. The lineup at The LINQ's two-day outdoor music festival has just been announced and it features some big names, including Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts, with tix now on-sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Q: When is a Strip Club Not a Strip Club:

A: When it's a mystery! The strip club down the road from our office has had a long and checkered history as SCORES, Jaguars, Rick's Cabaret, Cover Girls, and various other incarnations that sometimes didn't seem to make it further than an announcement on the marquee (e.g., House After Hours featuring Utopia, a "regular" Saturday LGBT event that was announced last fall but may or may not have actually taken place and is now vanished from the website/marquee, although still prominent on the Facebook page). Now (as in, at least for yesterday and today) known as House Showclub & After Hours, the latest weird twist for the huge building at 3355 Procyon is that it's no longer a strip club but, following a massive and luxurious remodel, is now launching itself as a Strip-style showroom, featuring a (great) topless revue called Dreamgirls, soon to be followed (March 14) by a male revue called LeBare. Dreamgirls opened a week or so ago and initially was free; now officially tix are $59, but apparently they're being discounted right now to $40, if you can find somewhere to purchase them (at the door seems to be the only option). According to the website, the show performs Weds.-Sun. at 10 p.m., with a second midnight show Thurs-Sat. The club may or may not serve an extensive (for a strip club) menu. Who knows?!

Poker Room Closed:

The poker room at the El Cortez has closed, further diminishing downtown's live poker options. Only Binion's and the Golden Nugget still have traditional poker rooms (the Plaza offers electronic games).

Silverton Expanding:

The Silverton is adding a new hotel tower. The 390-room tower will be built behind the parking garage and is expected to be completed in 2016.

Bargains Bopped:

A couple of excellent deals at the bar Irene's have sustained price hikes. The price of the giant ham & eggs has been raised $1 to $8.95 and the steak special is up $3 to $12.95.

Neon Museum Looking Good:

In 2013, its first full year of operation, the Neon Museum and Boneyard Park pulled in more than 60,461 visitors, which was right on target. The popular and much-awaited attraction has been operating in the black since its official opening in October 2012 and has zero debt.

Sunday Poker:

Sunday is the busiest day for poker at the LVA Casino. There are four tournaments today, at 2, 3, 5 and 6:30 p.m. EST/11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. PST. It's free to enter and we're playing for chip bonuses, books, and gift cards. Go to Play.LasVegasAdvisor.com or click through the link on the home page to sign up, beginning one hour before the start of each event.

Change Your Clocks:

Don't forget to move your clocks ahead an hour for daylight saving time. The time change carries particular importance for sports bettors, as the start times for the big Sunday slate of games are affected.

Linq Overflow:

We just received an eye-witness report that the parking lot at The Quad is already completely full due to the opening of The Linq, and that visitors are being redirected to park in the overflow lot off Koval behind the wheel. It turns out to be the best option for parking at The Linq, as the lot provides direct access to The Linq, as opposed to having to negotiate the maze at The Quad. It also provides an incredible view of the High Roller.

Brooklyn Bowl Opens Tonight:

The co-headliner (along with the High Roller observation wheel) of The Linq opens tonight at 6 p.m. It's being termed a soft opening, but all facets of the bar, restaurant, bowling alley, concert hall will be in action. We got a sneak peek yesterday and this could be a category killer for concerts. Very cool place.

UFC Gustafsson/Manua:

Alexander Gustafsson is a -560 favorite over Jimi Manuwa in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Michael Johnson is -150 over Melvin Guillard.

Race Traffic:

Watch for traffic snarls today and tomorrow on north I-15 around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in connection with the NASCAR events. New travel-time signs have been put up in the area to assist travelers. The worst traffic is expected to materialize around Sunday's featured Kobalt 400, with the main problem times being from 9 a.m. to noon and after 3 p.m.

Local-Author Book Signing:

Henderson Libraries host the Local Author Showcase Launch Party from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. The event will include a book-publishing workshop, an author meet-and-greet, a discussion panel, and the unveiling of the new Local Author Collection. More than 40 authors will be present, including Matt O'Brien, Deborah Coonts, David Schwartz, and Gerard de Marigny.

Restaurant Week:

The annual valley-wide fundraiser for Three Square food bank gets underway today, with multiple participating restaurants of all hues and price-ranges participating with specially priced menu options. Visit helpoutdineoutlv.com for a full list of venues, menus, and price points.

Free Ice Cream, but Hurry!:

To mark the arrival of Texas-based Blue Bell ice cream to supermarkets around the Las Vegas valley this week, free samples are being given out today at the Walmart located at 1807 W. Craig Rd. and at the Smith's at 7130 Durango Dr., but hurry because the promo is only running until 5 p.m.

Elvis Exhibit to Exit?:

We have not yet been able to make direct contact with the exhibit to confirm this, but we just learned via a traditionally reliable source that the King's Ransom collection of Elvis memorabilia, currently free to view at Binion's, will be closing March 31 due to poor attendance. So, Elvis fans, head on over now if you haven't yet seen it.

2014 Daylife Season Debuts:

Don't be thinking that a little wind today will deter the Mandalay Beach pool complex or Cosmo's Marquee Dayclub from opening today, to be followed tomorrow by Encore Beach Club and Venetian’s TAO Beach. Here we go!

Rockhouse B'day Bash:

Rockhouse, which opened Stripside at Imperial Palace before being relocated inside Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, is throwing an anniversary party Tuesday, March 11, to celebrate its first year at its new home. The festivities kick off at 9 p.m. and Strip performers will be in attendance, including the cast of Fantasy, magician Jeff Civillico, and some Chippendales, who will be joined by reigning Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's a big weekend for motor-racing fans, with Sprint Cup weekend out at the Speedway. Plus, we've got beer, fighting, and red-neck comedy. Coincidence? Wethinks not. Oh, and don't worry, because for everyone else, it's First Friday time -- don't forget to bring your camera/smartphone/personal film crew for a chance to enter the current short-film contest (see earlier item in "Today's News" for details). NASCAR has taken over the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (3/5-3/9) and there will be autograph sessions and photo ops all over town. For a list of scheduled events, check out the Las Vegas Sun Andrew Dice Clay entertains at the Hard Rock (3/6-3/9) Ron White does stand up at the Mirage (3/7-3/8) Diamond Rio performs at South Point (3/4-3/9) Canelo Alverez takes on Alfredo Angulo at MGM Grand (3/8) The Brew's Best Beer Festival takes place out at Lake Las Vegas (3/8) And it should be lovely weather for First Friday time in the downtown Arts District (3/7)

Zippity Zip Line!:

Breaking news: The Rio's VooDoo ZipLine is being strung as we write, for real! There's not much to see right now -- it's just an unimpressive-looking piece of string in the distance from where we're sitting, but it's being fed from the VooDoo Lounge roof to the lower tower, right now. So finally the invisible zip line is right before our eyes and we're about ready to eat our hats. (All of them.) We will try to post some kind of photographic proof later, but right now we're tied up playing a poker tournament and we're winning, so we can't justify leaving our desk to try to stretch the capability of our iPhone to its limit, so you'll just have to take our word for it until later. Sorry, but you know we wouldn't tell a lie about something as significant as this.

New Strip Club Opens:

Tonight sees the grand opening of Gold Club Las Vegas, the newest gentlemen's club on the block (that block being out by Town Square, on the site of the former Mile High Club). Hours at the two-story venue are 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly (with Insomnia after-hours until 8 a.m. Fri./Sat.). Visit the club website to sign up for their event-update emails, plus the chance to win a free VIP party for up to 12 guests.

Palms Offering All-Day Checkout:

In a sensitive move from a casino known for its party crowd, and just in time for pool season, the Palms has become the first hotel in Las Vegas to offer a complimentary 24-hour checkout option on Superior, Premier, and Ivory Suites, when booked via Palms.com. So, if a guest checks in at 8 p.m. on a Friday, they will be allowed to keep the room until 8 p.m. on their day of departure. For more information about hotel policies in Las Vegas when it comes to early check-in or late check-out (hint: a fee is generally involved, and sometimes a hefty one), see "Question of the Day" 1/16/2013 in the QoD Archives for our unique investigation into this subject.

Chefs to the Max:

The latest in a series of ongoing fundraising events for Las Vegas food critic and author Max Jacobson, who sustained critical head injuries as the result of being hit by a truck shortly before Christmas, will take place March 13 inside Tacos & Tequila at Luxor. Tickets to "Viva Max!," a cocktail mixer and three-course dinner catered by Executive Chef Saul Ortiz and featuring a live Mariachi band, are $100 per person. Call 702-735-8322 or email angelica@drivethisent.com to make your reservation(s). Proceeds from the event will go assisting with Max's mounting medical bills and other expenses while he recuperates from his injuries and undergoes a lengthy process of rehabilitation.

Gambler Sues LV Casino for Half-Mill Losses:

A Southern California man who claims that his $500,000 losses at the Downtown Grand over Super Bowl weekend were as a result of the casino continuing to allow him to play pai gow and blackjack while he was visibly intoxicated which, if proven, would be a violation of Nevada state gaming regulations. Mark Johnston claims he has no recollection of the night of February 2, having been on a drinking binge since arriving in Las Vegas the previous Thursday; the casino is counter-suing, claiming the visitor from Ventura is simply trying to get out of paying and is also seeking compensation for his alleged besmirching of their property's reputation. In a similar previous high-profile case involving Caesars Palace back in 2007 ended initially with gambler Terence Watanabe being slapped with four felony charges when he refused to pay up the $120 million he lost on a degenerate gambling spree, although the two parties eventually settled for a $100,000 payment from the player. While exonerated in Nevada, where the incident took place, however, CET in turn found itself reprimanded over the incident by New Jersey regulators, which levied a $225,000 fine on the casino group for its part in an incident that was seen as detrimental to the image of the gaming industry. A strip-club patron who tried to dispute the $30,000 charge on his Amex card on the same grounds of oblivious intoxication, subsequently quietly let the matter drop. We'll be interested to see how this latest incident pans out...

Rio Gets Supernatural:

It's not spooky voodoo we're referring to, but word that the "Salute to Supernatural Convention" will return to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino this March 13-16, featuring a four-day fan fest headlined by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, stars of the popular show now in its 9th season on The CW Network. GA tix are available in advance or at the door; prices start at $30 for Thursday, escalating to $70 on Saturday, with separate ticketing for some of the after-hours events, including live-music concerts taking place throughout the weekend.

First Friday Film Contest:

Downtown's monthly community-arts festival is holding a film contest this Friday, March 7, with all accomplished and aspiring filmmakers invited to come "shoot a short" on the theme of "Secrets of First Friday" within the event's hours of 5-11 p.m. The competition is open to any genre and there's a $1,000-cash first prize up for grabs. Films must be between 1:30 and 5 mins. in length and must feature at least one iconic downtown landmark. Check out @FirstFridayLV on Twitter for more info, and good luck!

Pool Season Cometh:

We may be experiencing some typically erratic seasonal weather, but that won't deter daylife from debuting this month Mandalay Bay’s pool complex and Cosmo’s Marquee set to be first into the water this year, with March 7 openings. Encore Beach Club follows March 8, with Venetian’s TAO Beach, Mirage’s BARE, and MGM Grand's Wet Republic readying for Spring Break, with March 13/14 debuts this year, followed by Palms on March 17. While Rehab at Hard Rock continues to play hard-to-get, and won't open until April, like last year, there is good news for all hardcore partiers, however, with word that what was originally planned as a Sunday chill-out-and-recovery session, then grew into the daddy of all pool parties, will this season expand to Saturdays, too, commencing April 12 and 13, with performances by Robin Thicke and Flo Rida to kick off the craziness.

New Addition to Strip Ent. Scene:

In addition to all the big-budget production shows, the Strip has long fostered some more intimate and off-the-wall entertainment options, from Karaoke and lounge singers, to beer pong and pole-dance classes. Now comes word of an interesting new dimension for beer-loving brainiacs, with word that Minus5 Ice Bar at Mandalay Place has partnered with Sin City Trivia to host a bi-monthly Trivia Night in the venue's Lodge Bar, which isn't subject to sub-zero temperatures, so your pencil finger should be safe from frostbite. The events, kicking off March 13 and running alternate Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m., will also feature $3 beer and wine, plus other cocktail specials, to help lubricate your brain cells. The event has no cover/entry fee, although admission to the Ice Lounge itself is extra ($17).

NASCAR Hits the Strip:

Ahead of this Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the massive semi-trucks that hold the competing cars are preparing to parade up the Strip this evening, as is their custom, so motorsports enthusiasts get down to Las Vegas Boulevard before 6 p.m., when you'll get the chance for an up-close look at the 50+ competitors in this weekend's races. The parade will assemble at the south end of the Strip, around Russell Road, before moving northbound to Sahara Avenue, where the trucks will branch off onto the I-15 en route for the Speedway. Drivers be aware that delays are to be expected all around the route.

Invisible Progress at Resorts World:

Back at the end of January, we fielded a Question of the Day regarding the progress -- or apparent lack thereof - on Genting's re-visioning of the abandoned Echelon Place into the Chinese-themed Resorts World Las Vegas (QoD 1/24/14). This week, the LV R-J posed the same question and was basically informed by the new owners, amid a lot of political bluster and PR spin, that they have been very "busy" and are taking a "thoughtful" approach to the development, which is another way of saying that absolutely nothing has happened since the plan was first announced a year or so ago. However, apparently this inactivity is still on track to become a thing of the past at some point during 2014. "By the next anniversary, the site will look much different," according to project spokesman Stefan Friedman. We will continue to monitor the site for signs of action.

Street Magician Hits the Strip:

Ultimate Poker today launched a new web TV series called "Strip Magic," featuring acclaimed poker pro and professional magician Antonio Esfandiari. You can view the inaugural episode of the new six-part street-magic show on YouTube.

Festival of Beauty at Forum Shops:

March 21-22, from 1-8 p.m., the Forum Shops at Caesars will host a free two-day "Festival of Beauty," featuring live beauty presentations, make-up touch ups, music, beauty bars, product demons, and more, from leading cosmetic companies represented in the high-end mall, including Dior Beauty, Inglot, Fresh, Kiehl's, MAC, and Sephora. Register in advance at any participating store for the chance to win gifts, including shopping sprees and beauty products.

New (Secret?) Elvis-Tribute Show:

We may have lost a Beatles-tribute show (hopefully only temporarily - see "Today's News" on the Phat Pack), but we just learned, via a surprise invitation on Twitter from the producers of All Shook Up, that this new Elvis tribute that we'd never heard of is now performing nightly in the V Theater at 6 p.m. (dark Fridays). Tickets start at $59.99, plus tax/fees and from what we can gather it's very new, as in it's only been open a few days, since the Box Office mentioned nothing of its existence when we called for our monthly update last week.

Spike in Home Prices Spearheaded by Silver State:

After three straight months of declines, massive gains of 22.2% in Nevada in January helped turn around the recent downward trend in home prices, with other significant gains in California (20.3%); Oregon (14.3%); Michigan (13.7%); and Georgia (13.4%). Mississippi was the only state to report a drop, with an average uptick nationwide of 0.9%.

The Cromwell is Hiring:

In the latest in what's been a flurry of early-spring hiring events (SLS, The LINQ, various pools and bars, etc.), the latest to announce a recruitment drive is The Cromwell, which is looking to fill more than 1,000 openings across all front-and-back of house positions at scheduled events throughout the month of March. To be considered, candidates must complete an online application at caesarsjobs.com, where additional information can be found.

Another Virgin Deal:

For the first time in known history, Virgin America has discounted fares from Las Vegas to California (and other destinations) right through into June, reports TravelZoo. The two-day-only sale sees nonstop one-way fares from Las Vegas to L.A. cut to just $49, or $59 to San Francisco, with surrounding dates from $10 more. The sale ends 11:59 p.m. CT Wednesday.

Dancer Stands Corrected:

In this week's video poker column, expert Bob Dancer delves into math terminology and learns something new, while passing on some "wish-I-would've-known-this-back-then" advice for aspiring professional gamblers.

Happy Fat Tuesday!:

It's Mardi Gras time, and while a few places, like KRAVE, Springs Preserver, and GVR held their parties over the weekend, there are still numerous venues around town celebrating in some fashion or another today. Here are some of the highlights: Free pancakes at IHOP: The restaurant chain is offering patrons across the U.S. a complimentary short stack of buttermilk pancakes today in exchange for a voluntary donation to the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, with a goal of raising $3 million. South Point: The Garden Buffet is serving Mardi Gras-inspired lunch and dinner spreads today, featuring menu items including Louisiana gumbo, crawfish bisque, "voodoo" seafood casserole, jambalaya, shrimp Creole with fettuccine, bread pudding, King Cake, and more. Orleans: Naturally, the off-Strip casino is entering into the Fat Tuesday spirit, with Mardi Gras girls parading through the casino, handing out free beads and T-shirts from 2-8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen: This restaurant located at 6435 S. Decatur hosts its fifth annual crawfish broil this evening ($32/person), featuring drink specials including Aribas and Hurricanes. Lola's: The Louisiana Kitchen in downtown's Holsum Lofts building (and coming soon to Summerlin), is hosting an all-day celebration, with LOUISIANA KITCHEN Lola's throws an all-day Mardi Gras celebration, with traditional menu items and Hurricanes flowing all day. Masks encouraged. Silver Sevens: Here's another Cajun-inspired inspired buffet spread today, featuring jambalaya, shrimp Creole, seafood gumbo, andouille sausage, and bread pudding ($9.99 with players card). Aliante: Medley Buffet will feature Cajun-inspired menu specials today only. 1 OAK: The nightclub at the Mirage hosts "Party Gras" tonight, with free beads for all partygoers." Ghostbar: The rooftop bar at Palms celebrates tonight, with free admission to all masked guests.

March Casino Promos:

Low roller extraordinaire Jean Scott has posted her monthly round-up of casino promos at Frugal Vegas, so be sure to check out her post for insights and updates, plus a heads-up to remember to look out for Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, and March Madness specials as the month rolls on...

Stiffs & Georges on Caesars' Sale:

Check out our Stiffs & Georges blog, from acclaimed casino-industry writer David McKee, for his take on the details of today's announcement that Caesars Entertainment has basically sold four of its casinos to itself.

Le Rêve Celebrates Milestone with Contest:

Later this month, Le Rêve – The Dream, which opened with the debut of Wynn Las Vegas almost nine years ago, will perform its 4,000th show and to celebrate the milestone, the production is holding a photo contest. Previous audience members are invited to follow @lerevethedream on Instagram and post a non-flash photo of their favorite moment of the show to their personal account with the hashtag #4000dreams and tag @lerevethedream, then complete the entry form at visitwynn.com/4000dreams for the chance to win a VIP two-night room-show-and-dining package, that includes lunch with cast members and a private backstage tour of the aquatic acrobatic spectacular. Contest runs March 1-31; check the Facebook link above for more details.

Pawn Stars Show on the Move:

It was announced this morning that Pawn Shop Live!, the Broadway-style comedy parodying the story of the hit History Channel show "Pawn Stars," will be moving April 21 from its current home downtown at the Golden Nugget to the Riviera's Starlite Theatre.

I-15 Cleared:

Interstate 15 is reported to be cleared, now, following an injury accident early this morning involving two motorcycles that saw all northbound lanes shut down in the vicinity of Charleston Boulevard.

Metro Reminder:

Today's the day that Metro ceases to respond to non-injury traffic accidents, placing the responsibility on the drivers involved to record the details, produce and exchange the relevant paperwork, and complete and submit Form SR-1 to the DMV within 10 days of the incident occurring.

Oscar Odds:

In tonight's Academy Awards, 12 Years a Slave is the -365 favorite for Best Picture. Matthew McConaughey is -530 to win Best Actor, Cate Blanchett is -2600 for Best Actress, Jared Leto is -1600 for Best Supporting Actor, and Lupita Nyong'o is -265 for Best Supporting Actress.

Lake Mead the Biggest?:

A story in today's LV Review-Journal makes a point that Lake Mead may not really be the nation's largest man-made lake, a title that its had for years. Due to a long-running drought, Lake Mead ranks fourth in terms of the amount of water it currently holds. Lake Mead has 12.5 million acre-feet of water, trailing Lake Oahe on the border of North and South Dakota, which has 17.1 million acre feet, and two others in the same area. In terms of sheer size, Lake Mead easily leads the pack with a capacity of 26.1 million acre-feet; Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah is second with 24.3 million.

Party at Cabo Wabo:

Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywoodis hosting a viewing party for NBC’s "The Voice" contestants, Ryan Whyte Maloney and Austin Ellis, with live performances by both. The party kicks off at 8 p.m.

Lucky Leprechaun at Aliante:

Aliante Hotel + Casino is getting its St. Patrick's Day celebrations underway early this year, with a Lucky Leprechaun gaming promo running all-month long. Players Club members can earn prizes daily, along with up to $17,000 in cash at the end of the month, by playing slots, table games, or wagering at the race and sports book now through March 27. Public drawings will be held for winners at 9:15 p.m. from March 28 through March 30. See the players club for more information.

Poker Tourney Today:

Today's Sunday LVA poker tournament begins at noon PST/3 pm EST. It's free to enter and we're playing for $30 in Amazon gift cards. Go to Play.LasVegasAdvisor.com or click through the link on the home page to sign up, beginning one hour before the start.

Visitor Count Off to Fast Start:

Coming off the disappointing .1% decline in the visitor for 2013, Las Vegas got off to a roaring start in 2014. January visitation was up 8.2% over the same month last year, partly bolstered by a 10.4% increase in convention attendees.

Twofer Goofer:

We've had some inquiries about our email to LVA members informing that the March issue was available online. One of the teasers cited a "a twofer for Cosmo’s Wicked Spoon buffet," which was an error. It's not that the deal isn't available; it is as a perk for United Airlines flyers. However, the explanation appeared in the February issue, not March.

The Linq Opens Phase II:

The full pedestrian area of The Linq opened without fanfare yesterday afternoon. Only the front section had previously been accessible. Many of the bars and shops are still are not accessible; however, the big Yard House is now operating. The wheel is not expected to open until April. The entire opening schedule for The Linq is detailed in the March Las Vegas Advisor.

St. Baldrick's Day:

It's the annual fundraising day in the fight against childhood cancer, and several Las Vegas venues are participating with sponsored head-shaving events, including Vinyl at Hard Rock, which is hosting Rock ‘n’ Shave from 11 a.m., with free live performances by Sin City Sinners throughout the day. Rí Rá Las Vegas, located inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, hosts its third annual St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event starting at noon and is the site of the shaving of Eating Las Vegas author Al Mancini's Mohawk. Local barbers from The Art of Shaving at Mandalay Place will volunteer their time to give the haircuts, which will continue throughout the day. Another head-shaving event will be hosted by McMullen's Pub, across from the Orleans.