Las Vegas News

October LVA Posted:

The new issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter is online, and what an issue it is! Sure, we've got the lowdown on Delano (such as there is one), and our customary annual roundup of the best MNF parties and team bars, which is nothing less than what you'd expect. But where else are you going to get to learn about eight free football contests that you can enter mid-season? Or which casino we discovered that's dealing Full Pay Pick’ Em video poker? Or the scoop on getting free entry into a baccarat tourney with a $10 million prize pool? Or the identity of a bar that sells pierogi? Not to mention this month's pièce de résistance because yes, only in LVA will you discover where in Las Vegas you may dine on a plate of crickets -- and for just $7.50!

Atlantic City Casino Update:

Things go from bad to worse for the beleaguered Trump Taj Mahal. Although billionaire investor Carl Icahn had put in a bid to save the property, his offer comes with many attached strings, and the Mayor of Atlantic City today stated categorically that the tax breaks being demanded by Icahn and the property's current owner, Tropicana Entertainment, were not concessions the city could afford to offer in light of its ongoing financial malaise. That could well render Icahn's improbable $100 million rescue plan DOA, but now things have deteriorated even further, with the Atlantic City Electric Co. now threatening to cut off the power to the bankrupt resort-casino if payment for a percentage of its outstanding bills is not forthcoming within 30 days. If a timely solution to that problem isn't forthcoming, the property could find itself forced to close well ahead of a self-appointed Nov. 13 deadline. In other news from the East Coast, the latest word on the closed-door auction for the bankrupt Revel resort-casino is that three other bidders have entered the running, along with eccentric Florida developer Glenn Straub, who has pledged $90 million with a vision for turning the failed property into some kind of intellectual think-tank. According to sources close the sale, which is continuing this afternoon (the last we heard, the current high bid was $94 million), an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management, which owns Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, is also interested in the property, while other bidders include a member of the Meruelo family who in 2013 made a failed attempt to buy the Trump Plaza, plus a local New Jersey real estate developer who has, according to insiders, made a competitive bid. We'll keep you posted.

"Pinktober" at Hard Rock Cafe:

Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip has long been an active supporter of some worthy causes, and tomorrow, Oct. 1, sees the kickoff of the brand's 15th annual "Pinktober" campaign, benefitting the American Cancer Society. niting fans, musicians and survivors in honor of the brand’s 15th annual PINKTOBER® campaign! The festivities will kickoff by turning the entire building pink for the month, following a (pink) ribbon-cutting ceremony with 2011 Playmate of the Year and star of Stratosphere's Pin Up burlesque show, Claire Sinclair. Continuing initiatives throughout the month will include breast-cancer awareness walks, pink fashion shows, concerts, pink menu offerings, guitar auctions from headlining artists, limited-edition merchandise, and more.

New Slots Rolled Out at G2E:

The annual Global Gaming Expo is now underway at the Sands Convention Center, and as usual there's hype about what new games are coming to market. Awhile back, it seemed as if slots themed for hit TV series and movies were on the wane, due to a range of factors including exorbitant licensing fees, lack of popularity with the public, and Disney's stance against the casino industry. However, this year they seem to be back with a vengeance, with announced and demo'd new games coming to a casino near you from popular shows old and new. In what other context might you find "Friends," the "Flintstones," "Duck Dynasty," "Sons of Anarchy," Sir Elton John, Betty Boop, Wonderwoman, and "Mad Men" all included on the same list?

Shining a Spotlight on Straight Flush Draws:

That's what Bob Dancer is up to in this week's Tuesday column, exclusive toLVA, which is back to regular service after the blip of a double dose, followed by a week's hiatus. It's three-card straight-flush draws that Bob's analyzing today, and be warned, if you're anything like us you'll need to on your second cup of coffee -- or something stronger -- to digest this in a single sitting. But while this is perhaps the video-poker theory equivalent of quantum physics, the point Bob makes it's that this kind of attention to detail, comprehension, and ability to adapt that marks the difference between him -- a successful professional player -- and most of the rest of us. If you aspire to be in his league, you can't skip this class. The rest of us might be well advised to check out out Bob Dancer's regular FREE video poker seminars, held weekly on Wednesdays through Nov. 12 at South Point. Each week a different game or concept is tackled, with most offering a beginner's and intermediate class. Check the full schedule at BobDancer.com, where you'll also find some more information.

Aria Club to Close:

Despite making the #11 spot on Nightclub & Bar's 2014 Top 100 Clubs in the U.S. list, with total revenue of $25-30 million, the buzz on the street is that Aria's Haze nightclub is to close November 1, with no official word yet from the property as to what may take its place. There's also no word to date from owners the Light Group, other than to say that legendary deep house DJ Carl Cox will be on the decks for the final blowout bash.

Doomed Bar Gets New Life as Japanese BBQ Joint:

Although it's a national chain, we just learned, the menu from Gyu-Kaku looks yummy, healthy, and reasonably priced, so we hope this new restaurant, coming very soon to 3550 S. Decatur Blvd., can break the pattern that has seen so many failed bars we've lost count, but include among them the Emergency Room, Black Label, The Underworld (with Wicked Pizza), the aptly named Trainwrecks, and most recently the equally prophetic The End (one among the many ill-fated "Bar Rescue" themed-makeover attempts Sin City has seen and evidence that this site is cursed, at least when it comes to bars, because how could a zombie bar not make it?).

Icahn's Taj Bailout Would Come at a Price:

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who's currently sitting on Las Vegas' abandoned Fontainebleau project, is considering stepping in to keep Atlantic City's bankrupt Trump Taj Mahal afloat, indicating that without a bailout the property could have no viable future past this November. However, Icahn's terms for investing the necessary $100 million, which he maintains are non-negotiable, may prove prohibitive and include concessions from the city to drastically reduce the resort-casinos taxes, from the union to give up workers' pension and health insurance, and from a state redevelopment agency to provide a $25 million contribution.

G2E Kicks Off Tomorrow:

The annual Global Gaming summit, hosted by the Sands Expo Center, kicks off Tuesday and runs through Oct. 2, with highlights this year including keynote speeches from both Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson, in addition to all the news regarding whatever the latest technology advances, new game ideas, and other trends are in the pipeline for the gaming industry.

More Dates for Rod:

As Caesars Palace continues to fill up dates at the Colosseum, left empty following Celine Dion's temporary absence performance hiatus due to her and her husband's medical needs, Rod Stewart has announced nine additional dates for 2015 for Rod Stewart: The Hits. The dates, which fall between Jan. 27 and Feb. 15, will mark the commencement of his fourth year in (on-off) residency at the Strip venue.

Harley Dealership Opens this Week:

The 55,000-square-foot Harley Davidson dealership that broke ground at the end of January on a site across from the famous "Welcome" sign is scheduled to open later this week, offering motorcycles, rentals, clothing, and accessories. It's the first such store on the Strip and required special zoning because car dealerships typically aren't allowed in the tourism corridor, but this is being pegged as more of an attraction than a car lot, according to the owner, who's installed a snack-bar area offering free Wi-Fi and cell phone-charging for tourists who visit the sign (some of whom he hopes, presumably, will do more than surf, browse, and leave).

Restaurant Retraction:

Good news for pie fans: Radio City Pizza is not closed after all, as a downtown source had mistakenly believed and reported last week.

Some Show News and Clarification from Palms:

Apparently, the word on the street is that the upcoming Bill Maher shows in the Pearl (10/10-11) are sold out. They aren't. PR just wrote to confirm that there are tix remaining for both nights. In addition, if you're heading to the Erasure gig on 10/31, it's going to be a "Halloween show." While we're not sure what that might entail for a concert, those guys love to dress up, and guests are encouraged to do likewise (note, however, no masks or painted faces as this is a casino and they don't want you scaring security).

SNF Saints/Cowboys:

The New Orleans Saints are -3 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 54.

Boyd Releases Betting App:

Boyd Gaming has released its sports betting app, allowing you to wager from mobile devices if you are physically located in Nevada. It works on Apple and Android products, and accounts can be funded at Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam's Town, Fremont and California sports books.

PT's Irish Bars Named:

The four Irish-themed bars acquired by PT's earlier this month will all be converted to a new Sean Patrick's brand. The four bars were formally Molly Malones (Southern Highlands Pkwy.), Morrissey’s (N. 5th St.), Kavanaugh’s (W. Ann Rd.), and the original Sean Patrick’s on W. Flamingo Road. When they open on Oct. 1, the PT's group will have 49 bars throughout Nevada.

Chefs to the Max:

Tonight, Kerry Simon's Carson Kitchen downtown hosts a fundraising dinner for local food critic Max Jacobson, who was seriously injured in an accident last December. "Sunday Supper" runs from 6-9 p.m. and is $75/person, with 100% of proceeds to benefit Max and his family.

Tivoli Village Art Walk:

The west side retail/dining destination hosts its annual Village Art Walk event from noon to 6 p.m. today, with the main stage transformed into an outdoor gallery, live entertainment, participation from local drink vendors, and children's activities.

UFC Johnson/Cariaso:

Demetrious Johnson is a prohibitive -1850 favorite (18.5-1) over Chris Cariaso in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured matches, Donald Cerrone is -130 over Eddie Alvaraz, Conor McGregor is -245 over Dustin Poirier, and Tim Kennedy -115 over Yoel Romero.

Honeymoon in Vegas:

USA Today reports that according to a tabulation of Facebook "check-ins" by newlyweds, Las Vegas is the world's top destination for honeymooners. The study also found that more international travelers than domestic honeymooned here.

National Museum Day:

Today sees the 10th annual Museum Day Live!, hosted by Smithsonian Magazine, with more than 1,400 museums across the land waiving admission charges for one day only. In an ironic twist, however, local participation is not extensive: Our research reveals that only downtown's Burlesque Hall of Fame (which charges no cover anyhow) and the North Las Vegas Planetarium, where the regular admission for Saturday presentations (3:30, 6:00, 7:00 & 8:00 p.m.) is $5, are participating. Visit the Smithsonian website for details of other venues in Nevada, or farther afield, that are taking part.

Asian Heritage Day at Springs Preserve:

It's not free (admission is $5 adults, $3 kids age 4+), but today Springs Preserve hosts its national celebration of Asian heritage and culture, with food, traditional musical and dance performances, a children's lantern parade, Karaoke, origami activities, and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Last-Minute Dining Turmoil and More:

That'll teach us to check in with our social media accounts last thing on a Friday: We're now unable to leave, thanks to @VitalVegas, @ParisVegas and @EaterVegas, who have revealed, respectively, the closure of Radio City Pizza and Uncle Joe's Pizza downtown, the debut, right now, as we type, of the new Martorano's at Paris, and a change of plan at Treasure Island, where the new construction on the front is now to house a giant CVS grocery store, as opposed to the giant pharmacy that had long been touted as the lone anchor tenant at this mysterious new entity. Perhaps someone read our recent Question of the Day (9/21/2014), wherein we suggested that FIVE Walgreens and TWO CVS stores on the Strip might be considered excessive (to the point of hypochondria), especially as one of the former is right across the street from TI.

Big Game for Vegas Preps:

Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School, ranked #2 nationally, plays the #1 team in the U.S., St. John Bosco of California, tonight. The game is so big it's being aired on ESPN at 6 p.m. PST. And to add a little Vegas pizazz to it all, playing for Gorman is Snoop Dogg's son, Cordell Broadus, and Muhammad Ali's grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh. There's no line on this one, folks.

Rock in Rio Names Talent:

The full lineup is not expected to be confirmed until January 15, but today the highly anticipated Rock in Rio festival, coming to Las Vegas for two weekends next May, announced the names of some of the artists who are set to perform, including Metallica, Linkin Park, Taylor Swift, No Doubt, Deftones, and John Legend. A ticket pre-sale commenced at 5 p.m. PST today, with $275 GA passes for either weekend available, but we're not sure for how long this will run, so bag your ticket voucher (to be redeemed for a single or pair of tickets in January) while you can -- organizers are anticipating 300,000 attendees for the Las Vegas event and last year's in Rio sold out 600,000 tickets in just four hours.

Here Comes the Rain Again:

There are storm cells over US 95 North near Craig and they're heading toward North Las Vegas, then moving into the rest of the valley, with a flash flood watch in effect until Saturday morning.

Fall Comes to the Strip:

The Palazzo has switched its atrium display to "Fall Into Sands ECO360°," which will be on show through Nov. 10. The exhibit highlights the sustainability efforts of Venetian/Palazzo, with features including a "Recycled Forest" made of construction debris, bottles, wine corks, and soaps, and the "West Bed Chocolate Cosmo Flower" display, made of motion-censored flowers opening and closing in harmony. The centerpiece is a 1934 Hudson car, transformed into a green machine using succulents, lichen, moss, grapevine, and some 5,000 drought-resistant plants. Meanwhile, the conservatory at Bellagio is featuring the "Fall Harvest Show" through November 30th, featuring lots of rich autumnal colors. You can check it out via the webcam.

Lincolns & Loot Finale:

This weekend sees the conclusion of Station Casinos' September $2 Million "Drive the Dream - Lincolns & Loot Giveaway," with the final grand prize drawing at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at each participating casino, where one Lincoln MKZ or Lincoln MKC and nine cash prizes will be awarded. Note that at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, an "Unclaimed Keys" drawing will offer players the opportunity to claim any key not won during previous weeks' drawings, for a qualifying entry into the grand-prize drawing that evening.

Harvest Festival Reminder:

The Downtown 3rd Farmers Market its throwing its annual Harvest Festival celebration today until 6 p.m. In addition to all the usual regional produce and craft vendors, the indoor market, located at 300 N. Casino Center Dr., will host lots of free demonstrations, from gardening to bee keeping to canning. Other festive fun includes apple bobbing, a pie-eating contest, drawings and prizes, plus food trucks and live music.

State Gaming Revenues Down:

Nevada gambling revenue was down by almost 4 percent in August, at $920 million, when compared with the same month last year, with a 6 percent drop on the Strip. The winners were downtown Las Vegas, where revenue was up 4 percent, and South Lake Tahoe, which experienced a 33 percent leap, year on year.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

As pool season draws to an end, while festival season is still in full swing, this weekend is crazy busy. Look!: If food festivals are your thing, check out the 42nd Annual Greek Food Festival over at St. John’s Baptist Greek Orthodox Church (9/25-9/28), and/or Festivino: A Full-Bodied Festival of Wine & Appetizer Pairings at Palazzo (9/26) Downtown 3RD Farmers Market holds its Harvest Festival event, with a lot more than organic produce on offer from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (9/26) You can combine a love of food AND music at Bite of Las Vegas at Desert Breeze Park (9/27), and the Culture Fest will feature all kinds of music and events on Fremont East (9/27-9/28) Music lovers have can enjoy the Big Blues Bender being held at Riviera (9/25-9/27) Beer fests are popular this weekend as well (when aren't they?) with the Desert Hops International Beer Experience at The Cosmopolitan's Boulevard Pool (9/27), where Die Antwoord will be live the following night (9/28) Want more beer? More music? Head across the street to the Boulevard Brew Fest, featuring Kings of Leon, at the new MGM Resorts Village across from Luxor (9/27) For all the car-show/auction enthusiasts out there, the annual Barrett-Jackson event will be held at Mandalay Bay Events Center (9/25-9/27), while the Henderson Events Plaza hosts the Super Run Classic Car Show (9/28) America's Got Talent Live will be inside the Axis at Planet Hollywood (9/26-9/27) Bill Cosby's at Treasure Island (9/26) Katy Perry plays the MGM Grand Garden Arena (9/26) Jenny McCarthy brings her R-rated stand-up to the Quad's Q Theater (9/26) Funny man Charlie Murphy will be in the Suncoast Showroom (9/26), followed by Earl Turner (9/27-28) The Lon Bronson Band, with Larry Braggs, takes center-stage inside Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts (9/26) Funny lady Paula Poundstone returns, with two shows inside the Showroom at the Orleans (9/26-9/27) The Cannery properties heat it up with The O'Jays inside the Events Center at Eastside Cannery (9/26) and Huey Lewis & the News inside The Club at the Cannery (9/27) Crosby, Stills, & Nash play The Pearl at the Palms (9/27) Oak Ridge Boys perform downtown at the Golden Nugget (9/27) Backstage Bar & Billiards (near Fremont East) welcomes veteran reggae-rapper Yellowman (9/27) And Nils Lofgren of Bruce Springsteen's legendary E Street Band will be live and center-stage inside Vinyl at the Hard Rock (9/28)

Coffee Shop to Close:

And this isn't just any old coffee shop, but the high-profile $4.5 million Central at Caesars Palace, from "celebrity" chef Michel Richard, who last year also closed Central's sister venue at the since-shuttered Revel in Atlantic City. Back in July, the 24-hour Las Vegas restaurant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, owing an estimated $500,000-$1 million to local vendors and other creditors. But attempts at debt reorganization failed and the gig's now up, with landlord Caesars having given 14 days notice more than a week ago, according to VitalVegas, a reliable source.

TNF Packers/Vikings:

The Green Bay Packers are -8.5 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 46.

Virgin America Sale:

The discount airline is holding a one-day-only sale, with discounts on flights between various cities, including Las Vegas to LAX (from $49) and San Francisco (from $69). Travel must take place between Oct. 18 and Nov. 19 but flights must be booked today.

Diana Krall Postpones:

The GRAMMY Award-winning jazz pianist and singer had had to cancel her Nov. 8 performance at the Pearl and the Palms due to ill health. The show will be postponed until some time in 2015. Ticket holders may retain their tickets for the future date or obtain a refund from the original point of purchase.

Strip Club Celebrates National Comic Book Day:

September 25 is National Comic Book Day and Little Darlings totally-nude gentlemen's club is celebrating with a three day "Superheroes & Villains" party today through Saturday. ittle Darlings is celebrating with a 3-day (Sept 25-27) "Superheroes and Villains Party," hosted by classic burlesque performer Gia Nova who, according to her official Model Mayhem bio, was spliced together by scientists in Lithuania and raised by wolves -- coincidentally, a background not dissimilar to that of ToplessVegasOnline author Arnold Snyder, it transpires. Check out his recent post for more details.

Giraffe? Giraffe!:

The Lion Habitat Ranch in Henderson, where reside the lions formerly on display at MGM Grand and their progeny, is now proud home to what is believed to be this state's first resident giraffe, who will begin interacting with the public next month. The Ranch is home to 42 big cats and is open Friday-Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with regular admission $20 and opportunities to interact, like hand-feeding a lion, available for a $100 charge. The five-month-old baby, already 10 feet tall, is also currently nameless, so suggestions, please. Find out more info at thecathouse.us. (Only the initiated will appreciate our subject line; heartfelt sympathy and sincere commiserations to everyone else.)

Halloween Hiring Event:

The Asylum and Hotel Fear, listed among the top Halloween attractions in the U.S., is hosting an open casting call this evening for volunteers who enjoy scaring people. The event take place at 7 p.m. in front of the Hotel Fear, located in the Meadows Mall North West (4300 Meadows Lane; parking by JC Penney's upper lot). Must be 17+. Visit the lvhaunts.com official website for more information.

Another Free Spectacle Bites the Dust:

Yup, in recent times we've said goodbye to the Sirens of TI, the "Dealertainers" at the Quad, and the "Shadow dancers" at O'Sheas (soon to be followed by the Shadow dancers at Caesars, so goes the word on the street, whose home there is to be converted into some kind of den for DJ demigod Calvin Harris, if/when he jumps ship from Hakkasan*). Now it's come to our attention that the free procession through the casino that the Blue Men used to perform prior to their show at the Monte Carlo, was axed on Sept. 14. This is Las Vegas, and nothing here is sacred (aside, perhaps, from the Guardian Angel Cathedral, which even Steve Wynn couldn't get his hands on. (*Will all Caesars Palace stars get their own venue from now on? Elton has his Champagne bar, FIZZ; Matt Goss got Cleopatra's Barge, now the "Gossy Room," although he is big enough to allow the paying public to share it; Calvin's getting the Shadow Bar. Rod's pretty sure to want something (do they have an empty spot big enough for a soccer pitch somewhere in that labyrinthine resort?); and we know darn well Celine won't come back if they don't offer her something significant, like the Forum Shops, perhaps? So, will there be anywhere left for we plebeians to hang out soon, sans celebrity scrutiny? We figure no one's claimed that lounge with the cool seahorse aquarium yet, right? (The "Seahorse Lounge," we believe it's called.) So, CET, just letting you know that we're bagging that one right now, before you try to woo Diana Ross back with it or something.)

Purple Reign on the Move, AGAIN:

What is possibly the most nomadic entertainment option west of the Sahara (we mean the desert, not the defunct hotel) has yet another place to call home, with news that Prince tribute Purple Reign will open in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Westgate Las Vegas on October 1. To recap for anyone who has blinked in the course of the past decade or so and may have missed a few, below is what we believe to be a complete list of Las Vegas properties where this popular act has been resident: The Boardwalk Monte Carlo House of Blues at Mandalay Bay South Point Hard Rock Hooters the D Hooters (again) Planet Hollywood the D (again) Westgate Las Vegas

Rock in Rio Pre-Sale Ends Tomorrow:

If you were among those who pre-registered, you have until 4 p.m. Thursday to take advantage of the

Revel: The Auction, To Be Continued...:

The auction of Atlantic City's bankrupt Revel resort-casino commenced Wednesday, as planned, and apparently at least one additional player has entered the fray alongside eccentric-sounding developer David Straub (whose mind-blowingly racist remark this week seems to have been ignored, which is especially incomprehensible in light of the city's ethnic mix). As previously agreed, the auction was adjourned at sundown in order to allow participants to observe the start of Rosh Hashanah, but in a statement Straub's attorney said the process never really got going today. "They spent six hours privately negotiating with whoever the bidder is that they want to be the winning bid. They wouldn't even tell anybody who it was," Stuart J. Moskovitz said of Revel's legal team. The auction is set to resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, when the mystery bidder, or bidders, should be revealed.

Vegas Writes in Da House!:

The 2014 edition of "Vegas Writes," the annual anthology produced in conjunction with the prestigious annual Vegas Valley Book Festival and showcasing a spectrum of the city's current top writing talent, is back from the printer and shipping. Each year, the contributors are tasked with exploring a common theme using their own unique perspectives and styles and the easy-to-read bite-size contributions (most aren't more than a few pages long), span the gamut of genres, including essay, reportage, and fiction. This year's collection, Lost & Found in Las Vegas, is loosely based around the concept of a "lost & found" box and the random, disparate items that it might hold -- a fitting metaphor for Las Vegas, a city where it's so easy to get lost, and so crucial to be found. With our publisher's discount, it's just $10.46 (with reduced $3 shipping), so snap up your copy now (and get last year's too, while you're at it -- another great thought-provoking collection).

Jamaican Restaurant Hit By Car:

Tasty Island, the awesome (if pricey) Jamaican cafe located in the plaza at Flamingo and Rainbow that's also home to a Sprout's grocery, was rammed by a car this morning when a driver parking lost control of the gas pedal. Fortunately, the restaurant (which now serves a Sunday Brunch buffet, by the way) was closed at the time, so no one was injured, but from the photo in the R-L, the damage looks to be fairly extensive, so expect this place to be closed for a little while for repairs but we trust will be back dishing up their home-made patties, cakes, curries, stews, jerk dishes, and traditional Jamaican beverages soon.

Celebrity Burger Joint Coming to Town:

Wahlburgers, the casual burger-restaurant concept featured in A&E Network’s Emmy-nominated reality show and founded by brothers Mark, Donnie, and Paul, is to debut a restaurant in Las Vegas early next year at a soon-to-be-announced location; if successful (and you have a lot of established competition here already guys, in case you hadn't noticed, so those burgers better be special), two more are slated to open within the next five years.

Reader Poll Fixed:

Our poll program is custom-built out of neurotic tissue paper and has a tendency to crap out if it doesn't like something. Today was such an instance, but we have soothed and smoothed it back together, so apologies for the problem earlier -- it's now fixed. If you voted already, we have those numbers recorded and will reinstate the votes when our tech arrives later. In the meantime, please come back and vote!

Plaza/LV Club Pull RF Bonuses:

We've just heard that the Plaza and Las Vegas Club have discontinued their escalating royal flush bonuses for club members. No word yet on whether or not some of the other good club perks have been altered.

Absinthe Reality Series Debuts Tonight:

Tonight at 7 p.m. PST, catch the debut of Absinthe's new reality-TV show on SpiegelworldTV's YouTube channel. A new episode will be unleashed weekly. We're intrigued...

Sam's Town Show Going Offline:

Throughout the month of October, the Mystic Falls Park water and laser show will be closed for maintenance; it's scheduled to be back in action for November.

Don't Flaunt Your Stack!:

That is among one of the many sage lessons and observations to be gleaned from this week's offering from our resident video poker expert, Bob Dancer, which also made us laugh. (Yes, really!) Oh, and don't sit next to the lady in green, either...

Bidder's Plan for Revel Revealed:

In an announcement that has raised eyebrows in political circles, Florida developer Glenn Straub, who to-date is the only bidder for Atlantic City's Revel casino, which is set to be auctioned Wednesday, has detailed his plans for the property. These include completing the original design, with the addition of a second tower, and converting the property into a university where he envisages great minds solving pressing global problems, including hunger, cancer, and nuclear-waste storage. According to Straub's vision, graduates who left the facility for the corporate world would be obliged to pledge 2 percent of their annual salary for life in order to support it, while the entrepreneur has stated controversially that his ideal student would be "free [of financial obligations], white and over 21." Straub's plans evidently go beyond the shuttered resort-casino, however, and include the addition of high-speed rail and ferry routes connecting the resort town to New York City, an improved airport, and even an underground tunnel to connect Atlantic city's casinos so that visitors would not be dissuaded from visiting in the winter months by harsh weather.

One Week Reprieve for Race Track:

Suffolk Downs, the 79-year-old Massachusetts horse-racing track that was set to close Sept. 29 will now extend its final season until Saturday, Oct. 4, in order to give employees one more week and to provide a window for a public celebration to mark the end of an era. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has said it will examine ways of keeping the struggling sport of thoroughbred racing alive.

Get Ready for GBDC:

Following on from the last post, another seasonal party is set to return next month, with the Season 4 launch party for Palms' Ghost Bar Day Club on October 18. The party runs weekly from 1-6 p.m. and guests at launch will be treated to a complimentary champagne open bar from 1 to 2 p.m. The dress code is casual (swimsuits are encouraged) and tickets are only 10 bucks, for both genders.

Wednesdays Downtown Returns:

The seasonal weekly social event that debuted downtown back in May of this year (see Today's News archive) returns Oct. 8, now that the weather is becoming more human-friendly. Featuring the bars and restaurants of Fremont East, food trucks, live entertainment, art activities, a "silent disco" (we're still not sure what one of those is), and what purports to be the "World’s Greatest Happy Hour" (we don't know if it's the best, but running from 6 p.m. to midnight, it has to be in the running for longest), and other indoor and outdoor delights, designed to feel like an outdoor block party and social mixer for locals.

New Show for Westgate:

With several shows having closed recently at the former LVH comes word that Neil Diamond: The Tribute, starring Robert Garrett and the K.O.D. band, has joined the entertainment lineup, performing in the Shimmer Cabaret. Tickets start at $45.

Real Gaming Gets "Convenient":

Real Gaming, the online poker product from South Point casino, has become the first online poker site in Nevada to offer players the option of depositing funds at any 7-Eleven store in the state, via the PayNearMe cash-transaction network. In addition to 200+ 7-Eleven convenience stores statewide, players can also deposit at any Family Dollar store and once a player scans the barcode at the store and makes their deposit, the funds are immediately credited to their Real Gaming account. Real Gaming is also the only online-poker site in the country to allow for play on any mobile device, including phones and tablets with iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and even Linux operating systems.

MNF Bears/Jets:

The New York Jets are -1.5 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 44.5.

Slots for Sale:

Trump Entertainment Resorts, the bankrupt parent company of the recently shuttered Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, today asked a federal judge for permission to sell the property's slot machines, furniture, fixtures, and other assets in an effort to cut maintenance costs and raise some cash. Gambling equipment from the Showboat, which also closed recently, is likely in part to be distributed among Caesars Entertainment's other three Atlantic City properties, with some machines being sold to third party vendors. In other news from New Jersey, tomorrow is the deadline for prospective buyers to submit bids for Revel, which is scheduled to be auctioned this Wednesday. To date, only one firm bidder has been confirmed (see Today's News 9/11/14).

More States Set to Legalize Online Poker:

According to a study released recently by Morgan Stanley Research, Pennsylvania is likely to legalize online poker in 2016, with a 2017 launch, while California, New York, and Illinois are also predicted to approve some form on online gambling by 2016. If the initial prediction proves correct, the investment company's analysis says Pennsylvania's online revenues are expected to be close to $400 million within four years of launching.

Bloomin' Monday:

It's another "Free Bloomin' Monday" at all Outback Steakhouse locations, thanks to NASCAR's Kevin Harvick finishing in the Top 10 in a Sprint Cup series race over the weekend, so enjoy the restaurant's signature appetizer on the house today.

SNF Panthers/Steelers:

The Carolina Panthers are -3 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 41.

Uncle Joe's Closing:

After 17 years, Uncle Joe's Pizza on Fremont Street will close next week. The location is the latest to be snapped up by the Downtown Project; there's been no announcement of what will go in the space.

Riv Remodel?:

The operators of the Riviera are hinting that a big remodeling could be in the cards for the aging resort. While specifics weren't given, in comments during a licensing hearing a spokesperson for Paragon Gaming said that a makeover costing "upwards of $100 million" is being considered.

LVASports Message Boards Repaired:

The LVASportsboards message forums are back online. You can read the boards at LVASports.com and its an easy process to register for posting privileges.

Flash Flood Warning for Northern Clark County:

Intermittent rainfall tonight in the vicinity of Moapa has led the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood advisory, which remains in effect until 9:45 p.m., with the heaviest rains expected to fall in the area between Moapa and U.S. Highway 93.

Freeway Construction at Flamingo:

There will be several construction-affected areas tonight and tomorrow night on I-15. The most prominent will be closed northbound and southbound ramps at Flamingo Rd. from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights.

Big Winner in Scotland Decision:

The NO vote on the secession of Scotland reportedly won nearly 1.1 million pounds for an unnamed English bettor. It was the biggest of an estimated 10 million pounds in bets, more than what was wagered on England's general election and the U.S. presidential election combined.

Ultimate Poker Splits with Taj:

Ultimate Poker is ending its deal with Trump Taj Mahal, meaning that it will no longer be able to operate in New Jersey unless it gets a new partner. Taj Mahal was the worst performing of the six online companies in Atlantic City.

Downtown Brew Fest:

The beer festivals just keep on coming, with the latest taking place today at the Clark County Amphitheater. The Downtown Brew Festival features more than 200 craft beers from 60+ breweries, plus food, live music, and more, and runs from 6-10 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

Jazz at the Marriott:

The JW Marriott in Summerlin continues to host the Las Vegas Jazz Festival today and tomorrow, with an impressive lineup of artists for the outdoor event. Tickets are $65 each day; visit the official lvjazzfestival.com website for more details.

Upcoming Charity Events:

There are a couple of fundraisers coming up we thought we'd share details for, as each is in support of a good cause: Sunday, Oct. 5, Rick Harrison and his son Corey of "Pawn Stars" fame will lead the inaugural Pawn Stars Poker Run to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Nevada. Rick will lead motorcycle riders through Las Vegas, setting out from Gold & Silver Pawn downtown, with other stops along the way including the 100-year old historic Pioneer Saloon in Good Springs, Distill bar in Summerlin, and Triumph Motorcycle, with the run concluding back downtown with an after party and raffle at Hogs & Heifers. The Grand Prize for the best hand is $2,000. Registration is open now online at epilepsy.com/pawn-stars-poker-run and early registration is $30 per rider, $15 per passenger. In what seems like an unlikely collaboration, but is evidently a successful one, on Saturday, Oct. 11, Cirque founder Guy Laliberte's third annual ONE DROP ‘Walk for Water' will take place at the Springs Preserve. Hosted in conjunction with UFC, the 2.7 mile walk to raise fund's for the global clean water project begins at Symphony Park at The Smith Center and concludes at the Springs Preserve, with a celebration to include music, food, face painting, games, a raffle, and more. Registration is open now online or via phone at 1-844-33-WATER. Entry fees are $25 for individual walkers and $20 for students, with an early bird discount of $5 for those who sign up before Oct. 1

Mohegan Sun in Danger:

With news already that its erstwhile partner, the Suffolk Downs Race Track, would close before year's end, today a Moody's Investor Service analysis is warning that Mohegan Sun is also facing financial peril having lost out to Wynn Resorts in its bid for a Boston-area casino licence. Analyst Keith Foley said the loss "heightens our concerns" about the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority’s ability to refinance its debt at an interest rate and terms equal to or better than what it’s now paying and that while the property's long-term financial prospects "would have improved materially" had its proposed $1.1 billion casino at the Suffolk Downs horse racing track been chosen but that now there is even greater pressure on Mohegan Sun to diversify its revenue base, including pursuing a casino license in Philadelphia.

Question of the Day Update:

Today sees the concluding chapter of our three-parter examining the current state of play on various large projects around the Las Vegas Valley. We were unable to get an update previously on the proposed $100 million shopping mall which was announced for the facade of the New Tropicana late last year, but we just spoke with a helpful and informed staffer who gave us a candid lowdown on the project, which was slated to debut late last year but has not yet started construction (and, it was hinted, may not at all, or at least not anytime remotely soon). So, check today's answer again, where a significant update has been added toward the end.

Free Donuts for Pirates:

We're reluctant to post this item, as we fear it will lead to misery on the part of the staff of Dunkin Donuts who will be forced to be on the receiving end of "Talk Like a Pirate Day" all-day long today, but perhaps they are just far more patient than we are. So, don your best Johnny Depp look, strap on your parrot*, and head over to any of the many Krispy Kreme locations throughout the Vegas Valley (including outlets in Excalibur and Circus Circus) and earn yourself a free glazed donut. Those in full-on swashbuckling regalia will be rewarded by a dozen donuts. (*On second thoughts, we doubt the stores are pet-friendly, so you'd better leave Polly at home.)

Bacchanal Birthday:

It's hard to believe, but the buffet at Caesars Palace is celebrating its second anniversary in its upgraded Bacchanal incarnation, which coincided with serving its two millionth guest, so they're celebrating all through September with the addition of even more interesting culinary delights to the usual impressive offerings. New dishes include the likes of: Alaskan cod with fall bean ragu and shaved fennel; Thai beef with basil; scallops Rockefeller; smoked salmon mousse; shaved ice with homemade syrups; and donut artisanal gelato sandwiches. These items and more are being released sporadically throughout the month and will be offered for a limited time only, so enjoy 'em while you can.

Diana Ross is Sold Out...:

...and we're pretty sure she has LVA to thank for that. (Ms. Ross, you are welcome; our only stipulation is that you please spend some of the proceeds on a new hairdryer.) Tickets for this landmark event at Caesars Colosseum have been on sale since June 13; however, due to the absence of any noticeable promotion of this event, there were still tickets available as recently as two days ago. At that point, Las Vegas Advisor finally got wind of the upcoming performance, posted about it in this very column (see "Today's News" 9/16) and, Hey, Presto!, the event suddenly sold out. Our work here is done.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

It's a HUGE weekend for music, whatever your favorite flavor may be, and talking of flavors, it's a good one for food 'n' brew fans, too: Wu-Tang Clan performs back-to-back shows at Brooklyn Bowl (9/18-9/19), followed by Grey Street - A Dave Matthews Band Experience (9/20), and finally Chvrches on the final night (9/21) The iHeart Radio festival kicks off this weekend inside MGM Grand Garden Arena (9/19), with the after party (hosted by Ariana Grande) taking place inside 1OAK at the Mirage (9/18), and the final day of the festival concludes at MGM Grand's Village across from the Luxor (9/20) The outdoor season continues over at JW Marriott in Summerlin with the Jazz Festival, featuring over a dozen performers (9/19-9/21) Clark County Amphitheater hosts the Downtown Brew Festival where 60+ brewers will present over 200 different beers (9/20) Thirty Seconds to Mars will be rocking the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan (9/20) To benefit Three Square Food Bank, Pinups inside Cannery will be hosting TOGETHER WE CAN, a formal event featuring dinner, a guest speaker, and a special performance put on by the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts (9/20) Laverne Cox, television star from "Orange is the New Black," will be at Bally's to host the grand opening for Liaison Nightclub, the newest addition to the LGBT nightlife scene (9/20) Krewella hits Daylight Beach Club over at Mandalay Bay (9/21) And finally, as part of the Holy Ghost Tour, Marc Ford will be live at Backstage Bar & Billiards near Fremont East (9/21)

Suffolk Downs Race Track to Close:

In light of Mohegan Sun's failure to win the sole Boston-area casino license, which earlier this week was awarded to Wynn Resorts, Suffolk Downs Racetrack, which was to partner with the Indian Tribal casino, has announced to workers that it will close all operations by year's end. New England’s only thoroughbred horse racing track, which has been in business for 79 years, has been operating at a loss for about seven years, resulting in losses of between $50 million and $60 million for its owners. The track's CEO said that the live horse racing season that ends Sept. 29 will be the track’s last, while the facility will continue to offer betting on simulcast racing until November or December.

Ray Charles Show Opens, Hearts "Georgias":

The new limited-run Ray Charles musical tribute Georgia on My Mind debuts today at Venetian and the show is extending an ongoing special for anyone named Georgia, in the form of a complementary ticket to the show at the box office. The fine print: "Must present valid form of legal photo identification at Venetian Box Office that names individual "Georgia." No other forms of the name are acceptable. Only one comp ticket per person. Blackout dates apply."

Rí Rá to Host Live-Music Marathon:

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 1, Rí Rá Irish pub in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place will host an epic nonstop lineup of live music in attempt to break a Guinness World Record. The concert will kick off at 1 p.m., with music playing for more than 16 days straight, with maximum breaks of 25 seconds between songs, five minutes between sets. It will feature a variety of musical styles, including an array of popular Irish bands and musicians who will fly in especially for the event, which is raising funds for the Southern Nevada affiliate of Susan G. Komen breast-cancer foundation. Visit the official website at rira.com/las-vegas/ for more details.

LVASportsboards Temporarily Down for Maintenance:

We're doing some techy stuff that we won't bore you with, but the upshot is that our always acclaimed, but now also totally FREE-to-join LVASportsboards message forums will be down for approx. one hour. We'll let you know as soon as the elves have finished fiddling with their widgets, or whatever it is they're doing back there behind the scenes. Our new-look bigger-and-better sister site LVASports.com website is unaffected, however, so check it out for all the latest on MNF parties, team bars, football contests, and an awesome must-read newly posted article from Frank B about parlay cards.

National Cheeseburger Day:

That's today, and although Las Vegas has more "gourmet" burger joints than you can shake a shoestring fry at although to-date, we have found only two restaurants that are offering anything special on this auspicious day -- and neither of them is a burger joint, so go figure. If any of you actual burger palaces have discounts or special menu items, please drop us a line ASAP via @LVA_Tweet. In the meantime, Trevi in the Forum Shops at Caesars is serving a brace of its seasonal cheese-stuffed sliders for the knock-down, half-off price of $6. We spoke with the restaurant and chef has made a big batch specially and they're all ready to go, so don't let his labors go to waste (although by the looks of those babies, you may need to go jogging after so they don't go to waist, either!). In addition, today only Sugar Factory's Town Square location is serving its signature cheeseburger and fries for just $4.95 (reg. price $14). P.S. If you're a burger fan, make a note in your calendar that Nov. 13-15 downtown Las Vegas will again host the World Food Championships, including a category for World Burger Champion (a $25,000 category). Other categories include: Barbecue, Chili, Dessert, Sandwich, Pasta, Seafood, Recipe and, of course, Bacon. There are qualifying events taking place all over the nation, and tickets are available for the various events, so visit the official website for the lowdown.

Calling All Miss Nevada Hopefuls:

Chateau Nightclub at Paris is to host an official casting call to crown the very first Miss Chateau USA on Wednesday, Oct. 1; the winner will go on to compete at the Miss Nevada USA pageant on Sunday, Nov. 23, broadcast live on NBC. The Chateau preliminary qualifier will feature a runway-walking competition before a panel who will judge contestants on their beauty, poise, and personality; the winning prize of entry to the Miss Nevada pageant has a value of $799. To compete, applicants must send their resume and a head shot to tara.woodall@wickedcreative.com (for eligibility requirements visit http://new.missnevadausa.com/apply/).

Margaritaville Biloxi is No More:

Although the focus has been on the high-profile happenings in Atlantic City, the wave of casino closures nationwide continued this week in the South, too, with the shuttering of the Jimmy Buffett-branded gaming-only venture in South Mississippi. As predicted when we first reported on the short-lived casino's fate (it opened in 2012) in

Luckyrice Returns to Cosmo:

For the fifth consecutive year, this October 4 the Cosmopolitan, in conjunction with Bombay Sapphire, will host the Luckyrice Asian Night Market, an outdoor celebration of Asian cuisine at Boulevard Pool. Featuring celebrity chefs from Las Vegas and across the U.S. presenting an array of cuisines, preparations, signature dishes, and specialty cocktails. The event runs from 7-11 p.m. and General Admission is $88 (VIP tix, for early access, are $150).

New Look for Legends:

Legends in Concert, the long-running tribute show currently in residence at the Flamingo, is unleashing some new performers this fall, with a new-look lineup highlighted by the return of Elvis (as personified by 2009 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist winner Bill Cherry). The King will also be joined now by Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, the Blues Brothers, and Bobby Darin, for an eclectic all-star lineup.

Klondike Sunset Closed, Sold:

The long-struggling Klondike Sunset in Henderson has been sold to the owner of Club Fortune. While we weren't aware of it, the casino has been closed since mid-August. Financial details of the sale weren't disclosed and no plans for a reopening have been divulged.

Trump Plaza Closes:

After 30 years in operation, Atlantic City's Trump Plaza closed yesterday. It's the fourth A.C. casino to close this year, dropping the total to eight. Donald Trump, several years removed from ownership (despite the name), has indicated that he may be interested in reacquiring the resort if the price is right.

Diana Ross is Playing Caesars' Colosseum - on Friday!:

Perhaps we're the only people who didn't know, but buried at the bottom of a CET entertainment-update press release we just found a little tiny mention that Diana Ross is playing the Colosseum on Sept. 19. Apparently, "tickets go on sale June 13," which led to additional confusion as we tried to figure out whether Ms Ross was playing in three days, or a year and three days. It turns out it's the former, although we can't actually find any announcement to this effect pre-dating August, but a quick visit to the diva's personal facebook page confirmed that she knows she's coming to Vegas, even if we didn't. One upside of this stealth marketing technique, however, is that there are still some tickets left! (We just hope the Motown legend has time to get her hair "did" before the show.)

Wynn Wins in Boston:

Wynn Resorts plan for a five-star luxury resort-casino in Everett Ma., on the site of a former chemical plant, has won over 75% of the deciding state commissioners, with only one out of four favoring Mohegan Sun's rival bid for a casino at the Suffolk Downs horse-racing track in Revere. The gambling commission has been charged with licensing up to three Las Vegas-style casinos and one slot parlor for the entire state, with the latter license already having been awarded to Penn National Gaming, while MGM Resorts International has also been granted a license for its $800 million resort-casino in downtown Springfield. No license has yet been awarded yet for southeastern Massachusetts and all the fate of all approved projects still hangs in the balance, pending voter approval in November.

Container Ban Hits the Strip:

Following a downtown crackdown over the summer, which now requires anyone drinking alcohol in the Fremont Street Experience area to use a plastic or paper cup, the Las Vegas Strip has now followed suit, with Clark County Commissioners having today approved a new ordinance that would ban open glass bottles on Las Vegas Boulevard, from Russell Road to Sahara Avenue, although from what we've read so far it seems as if the restrictions here are less harsh and that cans will still be permitted. The move is apparently aimed at cutting down on litter and broken glass on the crowded tourist corridor.

EDM Goes Mainstream - Literally:

Okay, it's a lake, not a "stream," but the famous Bellagio Fountains are definitely joining the 21st century tomorrow, when the latest choreographed show is unveiled, set to a medley of three tracks by Electronic Dance Music legend Tiesto, currently resident at MGM Grand's Hakkasan and Wet Republic venues. While over the years, the musical repertoire to which the fountains are custom-choreographed has grown (see "Fountain Music List" link at the top of the page), and already includes some iconic "pop" tunes, including Faith Hill's "This Kiss" and "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, the aim has always been to provide broad appeal with a spectrum of well-known and loved classics, so this latest addition is indeed a sign of the times, reflecting how the club scene has become so integral to the Las Vegas experience (and how Tiesto's signature sound has evolved into a more melodic realm). Down the street at Caesars Palace, Caesar Augustus must be very excited.

Dancer Double Whammy:

In case you forget, we posted a double dose of Bob Dancer last week, so there's no new column today; if you already read both of last week's topical posts and are Jonesing for more Bob, just check out the massive Archive, which stretches all the way back to 2003 (even further than QoD!). Also, don't forget that his awesome free video poker seminars have recommenced at South Point. They take place at noon on Wednesdays (tomorrow is a Beginners Only 9/7 Double Bonus class) now through Nov. 12. Click the link for a full schedule.

MNF Colts/Eagles:

The Indianapolis Colts are -3 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 53.5.

Yup, It's Going to Rain Again:

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for later in the week, commencing Wednesday morning and running through Thursday evening, as tropical moisture is expected to bring increased risk of flooding to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Northeast and Southern Clark Country, the Spring Mountains, Red Rock Canyon, and the Las Vegas Valley. With many areas still recovering from the effects of recent flash floods, the risk for additional impact is heightened, so take heed.

New Burlesque Show Downtown:

Now through Nov. 1, the Plaza is hosting a temporary engagement for burlesque/vaudeville/Roaring '20s-themed show Limelight, which performs at 10 p.m. For more information about the burgeoning neo-burlesque revival scene in Vegas, check out the "Overview" and individual venue/show reviews at ToplessVegasOnline.com.

Grosjean is Back - With a Vengeance:

One of the problems with being the most revered gambling expert in the world is that, in between finding new plays and playing them, it doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging; or, to refine that idea, it's not a lifestyle conducive to regular patterns and predictable scheduling. The upside of this, however, is that sometimes it's like waiting for a bus and then three come along at once. To build on the deliberately ironic sub-title at Beyond Numbers, however, "omne trium perfectum," so it is with glee that we are able to present not one, but a triple dose of James Grosjean's inimitable wisdom and attitude, following a somewhat lengthy silence. Those hungry for James' latest observations, rants, and pearls of wisdom may now relish a smorgasbord of new thoughts, running the gamut from spelling bees and whining card counters ("Negative Variance, Juicy Count Games, and Ishniae (sp?)"); mythological cross-dressers, selective memory, and heat at the Ho ("Blackjacknesia"); and 9/11, chip-stealing cops, and how to navigate airline security optimally ("How We Do It: Going through an Airport"). We're pretty sure anyone with a pulse can find something of interest and edification, and the inside word is that there's a lot more where all that this came for, so stay tuned...

Tix on Sale for Ray Charles Tribute:

Georgia on My Mind, the Ray Charles tribute show starring artists including Clint Holmes, TAKE 6, Nnenna Freelon, Kirk Whalum, and the Las Vegas Mass Choir and Las Vegas All-Star Big Band, will perform a limited engagement at the Venetian Sept. 18 through Oct. 29. Tickets, which start at $82.50, are on-sale now from the Venetian box office or online at venetian.com.

High Expectations for Social Gaming, as MyVEGAS Expands:

Further to news that MGM Mirage International's social gaming platform, myVEGAS, had formed a partnership with Station Casinos, comes word that the program is now also working in with Las Vegas Motor Speedway, complementing existing outside relationships with Sugar Factor, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, and the Las Vegas Monorail. According to gaming analyst Adam Krejcik of Eilers Research, social-gaming revenue in the U.S. should pas the $2.7 billion mark this year, Howard Stutz reports in the R-J, with myVEGAS alone boasting more than one million registered users, according to a spokeswoman for PlayStudios, making it the eighth-largest publisher of social-casino games worldwide.

Mexican Independence Day:

While many celebrations took place over the weekend, the actual date of Mexican Independence Day is September 16 coinciding -- not by mere chance wethinks -- with National Guacamole Day, not to mention Taco Tuesday. Hence, there are ongoing celebrations, including: China Poblano fusion restaurant at the Cosmopolitan is hosting an extended "Viva Mexico" celebration through Oct. 13, with a classic Mexican tasting menu available for $65 and daily specials from $10-$18, plus seasonal cocktails honoring Grito de Dolores. Also at Cosmo, from 7 to 11 p.m. tonight the Boulevard Pool hosts the Original Margarita Festival & Competition, with a $40 cover for the unlimited margarita tasting and voting, plus live mariachi entertainment. Aliante's Salted Lime cantina continues its fiesta through Tuesday, with half-priced chicken fajitas, $2 house margaritas, and Dos Equis with an Arta Tequila shot for $6. Downtown, Park on Fremont is celebrating Sept. 16 with $1 Dos Equis bottles, half-price sangria, piñatas, surprises on the patio, and their regular $2 "Taco Tuesday" street-taco deal. On Tuesday also enjoy tequila specials all day at the Rio's iBar, Shutters, Masquerade Bar, Village Bar, Beach Bar, Island Bar, and Wine Cellar.

Land Parcel South of Strip for Sale:

Clark County has a plan to sell off approximately 1,500 of vacant Dept. of Aviation land over the next few years, reports today's R-J, and one of the first sales is scheduled to take place this November, featuring some 190 acres, in 31 parcels, primarily located west and southwest of McCarran International Airport. Starting bids will be based on official appraisals, slated to be completed sometime next month and the first live public auction will open at the County Commission meeting Nov. 18; for more information visit mccarran.com/DoingBusiness/RealEstate/Home/Auctions.

SNF 49ers/Bears:

The San Francisco 49ers are -6.5 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 47.

Vintage Classic Quietly Reopens, Kinda:

While researching for an upcoming Question of the Day, we happened to be on EaterVegas, the foodie-news blog that always has an ear to the kitchen floor, and discovered that El Sombrero, the venerable downtown hole-in-the-wall that had been operating longer than any other Las Vegas eatery (64 years!) until it closed earlier this year, has returned. Still, it's not the El Sombrero of yore, but rather a remodeled, modernized offering from the folks behind Mundo. It's open for lunch and (early) dinner and initial reports sound encouraging, with a menu featuring a mix of traditional and funkier dishes and nothing priced over $35. (Still, that's definitely evidence that the only thing in common between the original ES and the sequel is the name and address.)

QoD Live (Sports Fans, Take Note):

Today's Question of the Day posted late, due to a database oddity, but it's live now and it's a really interesting and insightful response to the topical query, "Is Las Vegas Getting an NHL team?", so check it out! Also, if you missed yesterday's Reader Poll Results, which were subject to the same glitch, you can find them posted now, and free for all to read, in the Poll Archives.

Sunday Funday 8 Free Poker Tourney at Noon:

Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 8" poker tournament, co-sponsored by Ellis Island Casino and Brewery. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Prizes are $100 for first; $50 in free-play at EI for second; a full Las Vegas Advisor membership for third, and prizes for all final-table contestants, including a suite of our top mob books, two EI steak dinners, and a copy of our new book, The Moneymaker Effect, signed by Chris Moneymaker, plus our first "bubble prize" for 10th place. 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 6167). This tournament is completely free to play. There will also be other tourneys running all day for gift cards and play chips. Come have some fun! See you at noon.

Foodie Fest at the LINQ:

It's been announced that Red Dragon, the outfit behind some of the big food truck fests at South Point, Silverton, and MGM Grand, will bring its mobile-eatery experience to the LINQ this fall, with a four-day open-air Foodie Fest from Oct. 15 to 19. The event will feature more than 50 of the nation’s top food trucks and vendors (yes, White Castle will be among them!), along with a number of "celebrity" trucks from The Food Network, History Channel, Cooking Channel, and Travel Channel. many more.

Mayweather/Maidana Line:

Floyd Mayweather is a -685 favorite over Marcos Maidana in tonight's championship fight. The fight is expected to go the distance, with over 10.5 rounds the favorite at -405.

SLS Deals for Locals:

SLS Las Vegas is marketing aggressively to locals with specials via The Code club card. Locals with The Code get special deals, including $5 drinks property-wide from 5 to 8 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. from and 2-for-1 buffets anytime. The buffets are priced $20-$40, making this a valuable perk.

Mayweather Viewing Play:

We've come across an interesting play for watching tonight's Mayweather/Maidana fight. Merkato Ethiopian Cafe, located at 855 E. Twain, is showing the fight and says there is no charge. It has good food, too: Merkato was the "Local Corner" in the August Las Vegas Advisor.

LVA Teams with Ellis Island for Sunday Funday 8:

Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 8th Sunday Funday poker tournament. This month we've teamed up with Ellis Island again, and along with a $100 first prize, there will be EI free-play and steak dinners up for grabs. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST. It's completely free to play, with registration beginning two hours before the tournament at the LVA Casino.

Dinner and Dancing:

The Vegas Dinner Show at Sam's Town tonight features a complete dinner and dancing to the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $55.

Keg Tapping with Siegfried & Roy:

The now-retired "Magicians of the Century" will tap the first keg today at 7 p.m. to kick off the six-week Oktoberfest celebration at Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas. Local celebs scheduled to do the honors in future weeks include Eddie Griffin and Holly Madison.

Freeway Back in Action:

The I-15 north of Vegas has reopened, with one lane each direction, after a two-mile stretch about 50 miles northeast of the city was destroyed by floodwater earlier this week. For the time being, traffic in both directions will be re-routed onto the northbound interstate while crews make repairs on the southbound side of the highway and speed-limit restrictions are in place and will remain so until all work has been completed.

Pia Zadora Hospitalized After Accident:

The singer/actress, who's been performing an extended series of cabaret soirees at Piero's Italian restaurant in Las Vegas, has been hospitalized following a freak golf-cart accident on a street close to her Las Vegas home. Zadora suffered serious head injuries, a broken jaw, and broken ankle in the accident, having been thrown from the cart, which was being driven by her 17-year-old son; she is currently in intensive care. Obviously, all performances have been canceled for the foreseeable future.

Cycle Accident Closes Main Street:

We've just heard word that Main Street downtown has been closed at Owens Avenue following a crash earlier this afternoon involving a vehicle and a cyclist. The latter was transported to UMC's Trauma Center in unknown condition and Main Street southbound will remain closed until the crash investigation has been concluded.

Another Show Closes at Westgate:

As the former LVH Hotel & Casino continues its transition to Westgate Las Vegas Timeshare & Casino, the entertainment scene over there continues to downsize, with the most recent casualty being Las Vegas Tenors, which we just learned has closed. This follows the end of the line for MO5AIC and Comedy After Dark, leaving Elvis tribute artist Trent Carlini's The King and Raiding the Rock Vault as the last shows standing.

Annual Caesars Summer Sale:

It's that time of the year again, when Caesars Entertainment launches its "end-of-summer" room specials, so check out what's on offer, not just in Las Vegas but nationwide, with 20-30% or more off deals at most CET hotels.

Las Vegas This Mex-Itali Weekend:

Whoaa, hang on to your burritos and cannolis as this is going to be an epic weekend weekend for foodies and fighters (food fight, anyone?): The ever-expanding San Gennaro Feast has already kicked off and will run until Sunday night on Grand Canyon Dr., just south of Flamingo Rd., with Italian food vendors, carnival rides, and live music (9/9-9/14) Pepe Aguilar plays inside The Pearl at the Palms (9/12) The Vampire Diaries Official Convention takes place all weekend over at Rio (9/12-14) Neil Simon's "California Suite" will have performances all weekend at the small-but-perfectly-formed Onyx Theatre in Commercial Center (9/12-9/14) Lagasse's Stadium at The Palazzo welcomes former NFL player Michael Strahan to celebrate the kick-off of the 2014 football season (9/13) In a timely visit (see below) Marc Anthony hits The Axis inside Planet Hollywood (9/13) Kona Grill at Boca Park hosts this year's Wine Crawl, featuring 20 different vinos to taste (9/13) Or, if the grape is not your thing, check out the BEER festival at Mandalay Bay Beach, featuring more than 20 brewers (9/13) Mayweather takes on Maidana II inside MGM Grand's Garden Arena (9/13), where Alejando Fernandez will perform the following night (9/14) Coinciding with the big fight and with Mexican Independence weekend, the Convention Center hosts the inaugural BoxFan Expo, featuring multitudes of vendors, trainers, and major stars of the ring, past and present, in attendance (yes, Tyson will be there) And Los Claxons will be live inside Brooklyn Bowl (9/14) Mexican Independence Day: $20 in the Wine Cellar at the Rio will get you 3 different kinds of tequila, with additional specials being served at the property's iBar, Shutters, Masquerade Bar, Village Bar, Beach Bar, and Island Bar (9/16) Purple Zebra at The LINQ will be offering their specialty drink the Ultimate Zebrita, a 32 oz. fishbowl filled with three frozen margaritas, Patrón, and Grand Marnier, for $20 (9/16) Among several of their specials, Carlos'n Charlie's at the Flamingo will offer a four-hour open bar for $25, while Margaritaville's offering tequila shots for $3 and drafts for $4 (9/16) Tacos & Tequila at Luxor will celebrate with a variety of food and drink specials, including $5 happy hour items from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (9/12-9/16) Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at PH will offer a three-course prix-fixe menu of Mexican favorites for $39 Gabriel Iglesias gets fluffy inside the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage (9/12-9/14) The LINQ will be celebrating with the El Grito Ceremony featuring Mexican colors on the High Roller observation wheel, a strolling Mariachi band and traditional folkloric dancers, and other live entertainment. Stores and restaurants will also be offering specials and discounts. (9-9/14) The Axis at PH will present four performers over the weekend, including Marco Antonio Solis, Marc Anthony, Emanual Mijares, and Juan Gabriel (9/12-9/15) The Fiesta Latino parade will take place downtown on 4th St between Gass & Stewart at 10 a.m. (9/13), followed by a festival at the Clark County Amphitheater beginning at noon (9/14) The Boulevard Pool at Cosmopolitan hosts the Original Margarita Festival & Competition, with a $40 cover and unlimited margarita tasting and voting (9/15)

More Interest in Showboat:

There are already two possible interested parties in CET's Showboat casino in Atlantic City (see Question of the Day 9/11/14); now the Florida developer Glenn Straub, who's bidding for Revel, has said he's also interested in picking up the Showboat, a popular property that some observers accuse Caesars of having shuttered prematurely. Mall developer Latitude 360 has already expressed interest in converting the property into something that sounds akin to Las Vegas' LINQ complex or MRI's The Park, while Atlantic Properties Group would maintain the Showboat as a boutique casino. For Straub, it could fit into his bigger stated plan to acquire additional land in Atlantic city in order to promote non-gambling activities, including sports. This would fit with the city's general ongoing marketing strategy of diversification in place of its historical dependence on gaming, although Straub will likely look for a casino partner to run the gambling operations at Revel (which he plans to rename), should his bid for that property be successful. He's undecided as to whether the Showboat would continue to offer gaming under his ownership, but says it would not be the property's core feature. Watch this space for updates!

TNF Steelers/Ravens:

The Baltimore Ravens are -2.5 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 44.

Polaroid Museum Waives Fee:

Much like downtown's former Elvis attraction, the Polaroid Museum at The LINQ has dropped its admission fee a couple of times to arrive at the point of no cover charge at all, we just learned from "Vegas Chatter." You access the museum through the Polaroid Fotobar, so they may yet get something out of your wallet on the way in or out, but that will no longer be a cover charge.

Puck Hiring for New Summerlin Eatery:

Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group is hosting a job fair on September 17, 18, and 19 for the new Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Downtown Summerlin (formerly The Shops at Summerlin), which is scheduled to come online in October. Some venues have already hosted collective recruitment drives, while other businesses, like Puck, are holding separate casting calls. These will run from 1 to 4 p.m. at the group’s Postrio location in Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes. Open positions include both front and back-of-house roles.

Atlantic City Update:

The current state of the beleaguered East Coast gambling destination happens to be the subject of today's Question of the Day, but as we point out in that answer, nothing is standing still for long in New Jersey, and already there are some updates to that answer, which was penned only yesterday. For one thing, there's a potential buyer for Revel, with word from the recently closed $2.4 billion resort that's it's received a cash offer for $90 million from Fla. developer Glenn Straub's Polo North Country Club, Inc. The casino has requested a judge to set an auction for Sept. 24 if any higher bids are received by Sept. 23. Meanwhile, as expected MGM Mirage Int'l has been rewarded a New Jersey gaming license, allowing the casino giant to reclaim its 50 percent ownership stake in the Borgata, which is co-owned with Boyd Gaming and has been held in trust since 2010.

Clarion Sale Underway:

The liquidation sale of hotel fixtures, fittings, and furnishings at the recently shuttered off-Strip hotel is underway, with all items sold as seen. Buyers are responsible for removing their purchases and only major credit cards or cash are accepted. The sale will run for 30 days or until everything has gone.

San Gennaro Time:

The annual Italian food-and-culture festival at Grand Canyon shopping plaza (4245 S Grand Canyon Dr., at Flamingo by the 215 Beltway) is underway, running though Sept. 14. There are carnival rides, multiple food and drink vendors, live music (including from some well-known performers like Zowie Bowie and Frankie Moreno) so head on over. Tix for adults are $9; for more info visit the official SanGennaroFeast website.

Dining News:

A couple of updates, courtesy of Eater Vegas: Firstly, Henderson's Kaizen Fusion Roll & Sushi (10271 S. Eastern Ave.) was shut down yesterday after a routine inspection by the Southern Nevada Health District resulted in no less than 55 demerits, for offenses as serious as spoiled food, food improperly cooled, food unprotected from potential contamination, and staff not properly washing their hands, none of which you want to hear at a place that handles so much potentially lethal raw stuff. And secondly, the space formerly occupied by Eli Roth's Goretorium, the year-round R-rated house of horror that filed for Chapter 11 last year, will be replaced in Harmon Corner by a new Rainforest Cafe. What this means for the existing Rainforest Cafe at MGM Grand, the future of which has been the subject of speculation and rumor for some time, remains to be seen.

Mirage Trades Kardashians for Coffee Shop:

In a follow up to our recent post, we just received additional word from the Mirage, this time to inform us that effective October 30, the Kardashian Khaos boutique at the property will close. Evidently it couldn't make it once the Sugar Factory clientele was out of the mix. So, to recap, we are losing an annoying-celebrity "fashion" store and have already gained 24-hour pancakes and French toast? Sweeeeeet!

New Strip-Casino Coffee Shop:

Just as we were giving up on them as a dying breed, Mirage has reintroduced a 24-hour coffee shop. While they're not referring to the The Pantry in terms of anything as mundane or tawdry as a "coffee shop," with a menu that includes "piping hot soups, crisp green salads, fully loaded sandwiches, classic desserts made from the freshest sustainable ingredients for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night" including an array of breakfast classics like pancakes, scrambles, white chocolate French toast, and omelets served 24/7, it sure as heck sounds like a coffee shop to us.

Renaissance Fair Returns:

Yay! This Oct. 10-12 Sunset Park will host the 21st Annual Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival, featuring more than 50 shows per day, more than 100 artisans, historical reenactments, lots of live bands, and lashings of food and drink, traditional and otherwise. Heck, they even have a ship on the lake! (or they have had in past years, to our knowledge). This event is a blast and totally family friendly, with tickets $13 in advance for adults ($8 for seniors 60+ and kids aged 5-12), and three-day passes and other packages available from Ticketmaster. Check out the official website for more details and mark your calendars.

Hell's Kitchen Winner Starts Prize Job Today:

"Hell's Kitchen" season 12 winner Scott Commings claims his $250,000-valued prize as Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace today. Commings beat out 19 other contestants and with his first day on the job will debut a new Hell’s Kitchen Happy Hour, to be offered Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the pub area of the venue, with a menu of specials including $5 13oz draft beers, $5 wine-by-the-glass, and $5 pub snacks. Also, the pub will be screening the premiere of "Hell’s Kitchen" season 13 tonight and plans to serve as the the official Las Vegas "Hell’s Kitchen" weekly viewing location for the duration.

Healthy and Creative Promo from Sam's Town:

LVA's Frugal Vegas blogger Jean Scott just alerted us to an interesting and unusual promotion from Sam's Town casino. Every Thursday in September, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 pm., you can shop at a Farmer’s Market, to be held in the property's live-entertainment center and players may redeem points for Farmer’s Bucks to pay for healthy organic/artisanal food and produce purchases! We approve. (Emerald Card players may gain access from 9 a.m.)

New Reader Poll Live:

We only just sent out today's QoD/Reader Poll email, a few hours later than usual, so check your "in" box or cut out the middle man and just head right on over to the new Sensational Live Survey! It's a fun one and we need your ideas and suggestions, so check it out.

Dealtertainers Dumped by Quad:

It was only a couple of months back that we addressed a specific Question of the Day (7/15/14) regarding the fate of the "dealertainers" at the former Imperial Palace, in light of the news back then that the Quad was to receive yet another upgrade to new hotel concept The LINQ. While we were assured at the time that the O'Sheas casino-within-a-casino and its beer pong remained sacrosanct, the only commitment we could obtain re the Elvis, MJ, Britney, Tina, Cher, Stevie, and Bruce dealer characters, who've been an institution since 2003, was, "No change, as of yet." Well, evidently that was then and this is now and via @JohnnyKats we just learned that the crew of around 30 dealer-performers were summoned to a meeting Monday and given the stark choice of part-time regular dealer jobs, or severance.

Curtis, Cyr on TV:

Tune in at 9 p.m. PST tonight to catch both Huntington Press publisher Anthony Curtis and casino host Steve Cyr of Whale Hunt in the Desert fame on Discovery Channel's new "Casino Secrets" show!

Live vs. Virtual Dealers:

Have you been dealt to by a "virtual" dealer and, if so, how was it for you? Our current Reader Poll closes at midnight and we got a great, interesting response, so join the discussion before it's too late! A new survey will launch tomorrow.

Flood Fallout Update:

Monday's downpours resulted in some washout of highways outside the Las Vegas Valley and in response to the need for detours, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is waiving entrance fees to help motorists reach their destinations without incurring financial penalties. An almost 50-mile stretch of Interstate 15 between mile markers 64 and 112 was closed due to damage, NHP reported, which by this afternoon had been reduced to the stretch between markers 64 and 93, but the closure between Glendale and Mesquite could remain in effect for several days while repairs are affected. Motorists using I-15 northbound are advised to exit U.S. 93 to State Route 319 for all Utah-bound travel. For southbound travelers, NHP is redirecting motorists at the mile marker 93 exit onto State Route 169 into Overton. In addition, Valley of Fire Road is currently open to area residents, only. This week has seen the worst flooding in Clark County since 1981 and motorists are reminded to avoid driving through standing water, with at least 15 swift-water rescues made during Mondays closures and a man (possibly a construction or maintenance worker?) caught on video as he was swept away in the Quad parking garage! If you're still not convinced of the danger, watch this video posted on FOX5News and marvel at the miracle when you read that no lives were lost and only a broken wrist suffered during this rescue attempt Monday on the I-15, about 30 miles north of Las Vegas.

Dancer Twofer:

No, we're not writing to inform you about a lap-dance special at ToplessVegasOnline (although if you check out the Happy Hour section and Calendar, you will definitely find some); no, this is a Bob Dancer two-for-one deal, in terms of the video poker expert having posted not one, but TWO columns this Tuesday, on account of them both being of a topical nature (and don't feel too bad for poor Bob -- he's going to take next week off). One is about reading the small print; the other is an interesting tale about a casino-system malfunction that actually worked in the interests of the player (the tune of $9,500, no less) AND generated a personal congratulatory call from the casino owner. Yes, for real! So check that one out because we're pretty sure you don't believe us.

New Jersey Pushing for Sports Betting:

New Jersey governor Chris Christie's administration has issued a directive indicating that it is no longer illegal for casinos and racetracks to offer sports betting. How this will sit with the Federal government remains to be seen; however, Monmouth Park Racetrack says it may begin offering sports betting as early as this weekend.

Trump Ent. Files for Chapter 11 Protection:

Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for bankruptcy Tuesday and, as has been rumored for some weeks now, has threatened to shut down the Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, which would make it the fifth casino casualty for the East Coast gambling enclave in the space of less than a year. Sister property Trump Plaza is set to close Sept. 16 and now the Taj Mahal, which is struggling to avoid a default and missed its quarterly tax payment in August, has set a tentative closing date for Nov. 13, if it cannot secure salary concessions from union workers.

QoD Update:

We've had a few readers write in with additional suggestions with regard to today's Question of the Day answer, and we've added an update accordingly, so check back if you've already read it, as there's more now!

Bartending Contest:

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, from 8-11 p.m., XS at Encore hosts the 8th Annual Bombay Sapphire "Most Imaginative Bartender National Finals," during which 39 of the top bartenders from the US and Canada will compete for a chance to win the title. Guests at the club will get the chance to sample the top five finalists’ cocktails and help determine the winner, while Bombay Sapphire signature cocktails will be served all evening, along with some canapés to soak up all that gin.

Happy B'Day Grimaldi's:

The popular pizza chain is celebrating its 7th birthday tonight by awarding a $25 gift card to every table of diners at its Boca Park, S. Rainbow, and Green Valley locations from 7 p.m. to close.

Crazy Horse III Goes Football Crazy:

Crazy Horse III gentlemen's club (not be confused with the again-shuttered Crazy Horse Too) is offering a one-time deal tonight: Come to their double-header Monday Night Football Party, which just kicked off at 4 p.m., and not only take advantage of an open bar and free food from 4-8 p.m., but also receive a FREE Season Pass to all 50 of this season's Monday, Thursday, and Sunday Night Football parties (regularly $20 each). In addition to the food 'n booze specials/freebies, these events feature prizes, giveaways, and the CHIII topless cheerleader squad. What more could you want?

Flood Warning:

Looks like the forecasters were correct and the promised heavy rainfall has indeed arrived in the Las Vegas Valley, prompting the issuing of not one, but two flash flood warnings by the National Weather Service. Parts of the western valley earlier reported as much as a quarter-inch of rainfall in 15 minutes and the warning in the southwest area is in effect until 3:30 p.m, while a separate alert for Mount Charleston runs until 4:30 p.m. The wet conditions are expected to clear out by late afternoon today but return, albeit not as intensely, Tuesday morning.

Pure Aloha Returns to Rio:

The annual celebration of Island culture returns as the the 9th Annual Pure Aloha Fall Festival returns to the Rio parking lot Oct. 3–5, with more than 20,000 guests anticipated to enjoy the traditional live entertainment, evening concerts, more than 100 specialty food and retail vendors, and a large carnival with midway rides. GA to the festival is $8, or get an all-access wristband, including rides, for $50.

Strip Club Update - Closings; MNF Parties, and More:

Visit ToplessVegasOnline.com for the latest word on the closure of Club Paradise, under investigation by Metro and the IRS for allegations of strippers drugging customers and of credit card fraud, and and whether it ties in with a similar parallel scam that NYPD is investigating. You'll also find our round-up of what the gentlemen's clubs of Las Vegas currently have planned for Monday Night Football, plus some tips for how #MNF goes down in Sin City's strip clubs, so check it out. Meanwhile, yesterday our mate John Katsilometes posted an update yesterday on what's being going down at the ever-problematic Crazy Horse Too and what the future may hold for Las Vegas' most notorious strip club, so check out his piece in the

Clarion Liquidation Sale:

Everything must go! Following the surprise shuttering of the Clarion Hotel & Casino (see Today's News 8/25 for LVA's scoop shocker!), which still has some of us scratching our head in disbelief, comes further confirmation that the former Debbie Reynolds did, indeed, close Sept. 2, because now all the furniture and fixtures are up for grabs, including the furnishings from 200 guest rooms, the pool and patio area, the showroom, and the theater. There's commercial kitchen equipment; bar, restaurant, and banquet fixtures and fittings; gym equipment; office and lobby furnishings; commercial air conditioners; building signage, and much more! So, if you're looking for a flag pole or an indoor fountain, a chandelier, or some electronic door locks, you've totally scored. There's no casino equipment, since the machines were owned and operated by a third party slot-route operator; all items are tagged, priced, and sold "as is" on a first-come basis. The sale's being run by veterans National Content Liquidators, which also handled the sales at the Dunes and the Sahara in Las Vegas and the Sands Atlantic City.

SNF Broncos/Colts:

The Denver Broncos are -8.5 favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in tonight's first Sunday Night Football game of the season. The total is 53.5.

Bally's Shops Opening This Year:

Details have been released about the under-construction outdoor shopping mall at Bally's. The Grand Bazaar Shops will have 110 stores and two-dozen food outlets. The opening has been set for late December.

Retro Vegas Revisited:

To complement today's Question of the Day, all about the iconic Peppermill Fireside Lounge, we are taking the opportunity to share a classic and topical "vintage" Vegas hotel ad that we came across too late to run in our recent QoD about the Debbie Reynolds, which closed for good last week under the Clarion hotel-chain brand. Check out this awesome '70s magazine ad for the Royal Americana, one of the prior incarnations of this odd off-Strip property. We wonder what market they were going for with this creative concept, although we do note that the place was conveniently located close to the Convention Center...

NFL Matchplay at Home Plate:

If you want to play some video poker while you watch the games today, Home Plate at 4785 Blue Diamond Rd. will give you a $20 matchplay. There are some conditions -- an NFL game has to be on, you have to lose $20 first, and you can cash out the free-play only if you hit a 4-of-a-kind or better -- but it's a $20 free-shot to hit a quad if you lose the first twenty.

Contest Freeroll:

Today's the first weekend of the free Pick the Pros contest at Boyd casinos. You get one free entry by swiping your B Connected card at a kiosk. First prize is $20,000, split between all winners if there are ties. You can enter up till kick-off of the first game (remember to slip in an underdog or two).

MyVegas Branches Out:

In an interesting development, a reader just tipped us off to the fact that MyVegas.com, the online promotional casino-game site linked to MGM Grand International's M Life player rewards program, has expanded its scope in terms of offers, with some new outside partnerships, including with Royal Caribbean Cruises and three Station Casinos properties in Las Vegas. We haven't had a chance to dig in and analyse the new developments, but some of the more notable potential rewards to be earned now include complimentary and twofer buffet deals at Palace Station, Red Rock, and Green Valley Ranch, $30 dining credits at Hank's, T Bones, and the Charcoal Room, and a complimentary mid-week room at Red Rock. The cruise-line offers include up to $50 in free play and up to $300 in "onboard credit."

Football Deals On:

We've been out in the field checking some of the traditional football-season deals, which change from year to year. Aliante has brought back its good prime rib (really just roast beef) sliders for $2, or three for $5. Top with au jus, spicy mustard, and horseradish. Beers are $2. The Station casinos are again doing $1 hot dogs with kraut and onions, and $2 Bud and Bud Light. Those are two of the good ones back.

Food & Wine Fest at Red Rock:

A reminder that tonight sees the conclusion of the two-day Las Vegas Wine & Food Festival, hosted by Red Rock (property-wide, by the sound of it). A showcase of some of the city's top culinary talent and expertise in the grape department, there are myriad popular casino and neighborhood restaurants represented and proceeds are to benefit the James Beard Foundation. We just checked and at 6 p.m. it looks like GA (9 p.m. access, $100/person + booking fee) and VIP tickets (8 p.m. door, $150 cover + fee) are both still available, so check it out if you're hungry and looking for something fun and extravagant to do on impulse tonight.

Last Day for Contests:

Today's the last day to sign up for most of the major football contests. Several will still be playable for weekly prizes mid-season, but to be eligible for season prizes you have to sign up today. Get a complete list of contests and check out all the new features at our upgraded LVASports.com

Calling all Freaks:

Freakling Bros. is hiring for its 2014 Trilogy of Terror haunted-house attraction, which features three separate venues, including the R-rated "Gates of Hell." Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, have big personalities, and enjoy scaring people. Complete training, costumes, and makeup will be provided. You must fill out an online application at freaklingbros.com/casting.html prior to attending the interview sessions, which are taking place today and next Saturday, Sept. 23,at Joe's Crab Shack (1991 N. Rainbow Blvd.) from 1 p.m. on both dates. The actual attraction is located in the Grand Canyon Shopping Center (Flamingo and the 215 Beltway) on dates from Oct. 3-31.

High Roller Goes Rainbow:

At 7:02 p.m., the lights on the High Roller observation wheel at the LINQ will be ceremoniously lit up with a special rainbow-themed light show in honor of PRIDE Week, the annual ten-day celebration of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. Check out our Event listings for more of this weekend's Las Vegas PRIDE events.

UFC Souza/Mousasi:

Ronaldo Souza is a -210 favorite over Gegard Mousasi in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Alastair Overeem is -380 over Ben Rothwell.

LVA Blogger Gets Theatrical:

Stiffs & Georges blogger David McKee wears more than one hat and has been clocking up quite a resume for himself as a theatrical producer over the past few years. His latest production, David Mamet's Boston Marriage, debuts tonight at Las Vegas Little Theater, where it runs through Sept. 21. Tickets are $15 for adults.

Flood Alerts for Weekend:

The National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood watch for much of Southern Nevada and all of the Las Vegas area, beginning Sunday morning and running through late Monday night, with a slight chance of showers tomorrow.

Railroad Pass Sold:

What is most likely the oldest continually operating casino* in the land is to be sold, reports the LV Sun, with word that MGM Resorts International has sold the 83-year-old Railroad Pass in Henderson to First Federal Realty, a local real estate firm. Apparently, the new owner intends to retain all the current employees, but will first need to obtain a gaming license; for the time being, a licensed associate will oversee the gaming operations. The terms of the sale have not been disclosed. (See Question of the Day Archives 2/27/12 and 2/29/12 for in-depth coverage of the complexities of casino-licensing history and the difficulties of figuring out who was first.)

Frank B on Radio Today:

LVASports.com moderator Frank B plays his first round in the 16-player Golden Nugget Friday Football Showdown today. The contest will air on the radio at 2 pm PST on 1100 AM or 98.9 FM.

Fish House Temporarily Closed:

Emeril Legasse's New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand is closed temporarily for some renovations but will re-open for business in time for dinner on Thursday Sept. 11, with lunch service resuming Sept. 12.

Texas Station Poker Room Closed:

An LVA correspondent just noticed, and then had officially confirmed, that the poker room at Texas station quietly closed recently.

Peppermill Update:

We spoke with some lovely ladies at the venerable Peppermill Fireside Lounge, who informed us that their aim is to be reopen for biz tomorrow at 7 a.m., but bear with them -- they were still on track at 6 p.m. tonight, but we all know that things happen to upset the best-laid plans and they couldn't guarantee they'd hit that deadline. Secondly, rest assured, ye fans of vintage Vegas: This week's "remodel" primarily comprised some upgrades in the kitchen, like a new dishwasher, while "cosmetic" changes have been limited to new carpeting (same as the old carpet, just new) and some fresh flowers out front. The iconic fire pit? The squishy pink furnishings? The faux bougainvillea? The neon? These things are as sacrosanct to the staff and owners as they are to Peppermill's local and visiting fans, and none of that has been touched. Phew! As a heads-up, we're currently working on a Question of the Day about the history of the Peppermill, which will be running any day now, so stay tuned!

Las Vegas This Weekend:

There's a healthy mix of headlining events to choose from this weekend, with nice weather on the cards, to boot. So, enjoy some of the remaining al fresco opportunities, with food and booze fests and arty gatherings, or there's country music, comedy, lashings of LGBT events, and a whole lot more to choose from: PRIDE weekend kicks off with Ladies of Liaison at Bally's (9/4-9/6), followed-up by the PRIDE Parade & After Party at MEET (9/5), and finally the PRIDE Festival at the Clark County Gov. Center (9/6) Nashville Unplugged presents Ben Carver over at Sunset Station (9/5) Jerry Seinfeld brings his famous stand-up routine to Caesars Palace, with back-to-back shows (9/5-9/6) Kevin Hart & Friends perform inside The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan (9/5), while Kendrick Lamar at the Boulevard Pool (9/6) Red Rock Resort hosts the two-day Las Vegas Wine & Food Festival (9/5-9/6) The inaugural Gridiron Grill-Off BBQ & Tailgate Festival kicks off at noon at the brand new open-air Downtown Las Vegas Events Center opposite the D (9-/6-9/7) Roberto Carlos is at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (9/6) Neil Sedaka hits the Orleans Showroom with back-to-back shows (9/6-9/7) And it's First Friday once again, with "The Harvest" as this month's theme

NFL Begins:

The NFL season begins tonight with Thursday Night Football. In tonight's game, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are -4.5 favorites over the Green Bay Packers. The total is 46.5. For discussion and opinions all season long, join the LVASports message boards. The boards are free to access when you register at LVASportsBoards.com.

Curtis on the Radio:

He forgot to tell us ahead of time, but luckily there are now such things as podcasts, so if you missed Anthony Curtis on the Aug. 17 episode of Mitch & Dr Kev's Tipping the Odds Las Vegas show, you can catch it now just by clicking that link.

Joan Rivers Dead:

The 81-year-old comedienne has died, following complications during vocal-chord surgery. Rivers stopped breathing during the procedure on her throat and had been on life support, but yesterday was deemed stable enough to be moved from intensive care to a private room. As yet, we have not read any response to the news from legendary Las Vegas female impersonator Frank Marino, who had made a career from his signature impersonation of Rivers, with whom he'd had a turbulent but ultimately amicable relationship.

NV Casino Operator to Surrender License:

Having accepted each of seven violations filed in a complaint by the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, including charges related to bookkeeping, the handling of cash, and slot-machine hold percentages, the owner of the Searchlight Nugget has agreed to surrender her state gaming license, which covered the operation of 50 slot machines. Currently the license is set to be surrendered Dec. 31, but a six-month extension could be awarded if a buyer for the property is found. This latest turn of events follows the filing of complaints on three prior occasions, in 2009, 2011, and most recently last September, when Verlie May Doing was ordered to employ a slot-route operator, something she had still failed to do.

Another A.C. Lamb to the Slaughter?:

According to the New York Post (so, admittedly not necessarily the most watertight source), Atlantic City may see yet another casino casualty, following news that the 24-year-old Trump Taj Mahal has recently broken some of its loan covenants and has failed to reach an out-of-court settlement with its creditors. Without a quick resolution the resort could be the next one headed for Chapter 11 reorganization and apparently hope that Carl Icahn, who owns much of owner Trump Entertainment's debt, would agree to convert it into equity and keep the 2,248-room hotel-casino out of bankruptcy, but the word on the street is that this now seems unlikely. Taj Mahal's neighbor and sister property, Trump Plaza, is already set to close Sept. 16, bringing the total tally of New Jersey casinos to just eight.

Pole Expo at Palms:

Funny we just referenced pole dancing, as the 2014 Pole Expo is being hosted by The Pearl at the Palms this Thursday, Sept. 4 through Sept. 7. Tickets to Thursday night's finale performance are $49; click the clink for more details.

Dancer Classes Return:

No, we're not talking about poles, or even squares (he does do the latter), but about Bob Dancer's free video poker seminars, which start up again at South Point Sept. 10 and will run each Wednesday through Nov. 12. Each week features a different game or theme, and most run as two sessions, one for beginners and one for intermediates. Check BobDancer.com for more information and the complete schedule.

Peppermill Closed - But Not for Long:

We broke out in a cold sweat when we read an email from a reader informing us that they had just driven past the legendary Peppermill Fireside Lounge and that it appeared to be closed. We immediately jumped on the phone and breathed a sigh of relief when someone answered, then convulsed once more when said person revealed that indeed, the place is closed. Fear not, Vegas retro fans, as this is only a temporary measure this week while a remodel (what?! let's hope it's minor) is carried out. One of the city's most famous watering holes will be back to business as usual on Friday. Phew!

Get Your Day Passes to Life is Beautiful:

The first tranche of single-day tix ($105) for downtown's second annual Life is Beautiful food, music, and lifestyle festival, this year expanded to be a three-day event, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5. VIP tickets ($249.50) will go on sale at the same time, and they're all likely to go like hot cakes, so have your phone poised... Music headliners this year include Kanye West, OutKast, Lionel Richie, Panic! At the Disco, Foo Fighters Skrillex, and The Roots. Tickets for the Grills & Guitars Kick-Off party on Thursday, Oct. 23 are also available for sale separately on the website ($175, plus taxes and fees).

$10 Million Baccarat Tournament:

We wrote about it in the September issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, having spoken with a very helpful casino representative from the Venetian, but now the official details are out. The third annual Grand Dragon Master Baccarat Championship will get underway later this month, with Round One taking place Sept. 26-29. It's a property-wide tournament from the Sands group, meaning their Macau and Singapore properties are also taking part, in addition to Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas. Club Grazie members receive one complimentary per day, with additional (unlimited) entries starting at $50 for Round One, the Golden Dragon Tournament, which has a guaranteed total cash prize pool of $240,000. The top three daily total finishers in the Golden Tournament advance into the Ruby Tournament Semi-Final round at Palazzo on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, with a guaranteed $350K cash prize pool. The aim is to make this event the "World Series of Baccarat," in effect, we were told, and last year those advancing from the Ruby round were flown to Singapore for the next level of the tournament, which culminates in the $1 Million Royal Tournament in November, at a casino location yet to be disclosed. Now that we have the details, look out for Anthony Curtis' in-depth analysis of this championship in the October issue of LVA, but for the time being for sure join the players club for the freeroll opportunity.

September Casino Promo Round-Up:

As is her custom, Queen of Comps Jean Scott has posted her monthly overview of notable casino promotions, point specials, and so on at Frugal Vegas blog. It's a must-read for any frugal gambler, especially if you're local and can take advantage of the neighborhood deals. Jean recently became a great grandmother (congratulations!) and she is particularly mindful of offers that apply to the senior crowd (of which she is but a youthful member).

Nipples, Wives, and Video Poker:

In today's regular weekly posting, Bob Dancer takes a trip down mammory memory lane, with a cautionary tale about the potential dangers (particularly for males) of being distracted in a casino and how even the most voluptuous females should still know when to spot a decent video poker schedule (or otherwise) when they see one. Some things in this life are best not left to instinct.

Excalibur Buffet Closed for Remodel:

We're not sure if they served breakfast or not today, but according to the official update we just received, the Round Table Buffet at Excalibur is closed for a remodel "effective immediately," so they evidently won't be serving lunch. There have been far worse culinary blows to hit the Strip in recent years, but it sounds like the upgrade here will be extensive, as Excalibur Buffet isn't scheduled to reopen until January 2015, so perhaps better things are to come. In the meantime, guests may visit Camelot Steakhouse on property for a breakfast buffet 7 a.m.–1 p.m., or visit MORE, the buffet at neighboring Luxor, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner service continues as usual between the hours of 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. (This news obviously also renders obsolete the TAKE 2 Pass, the reciprocal deal that previously offered all-day access to the choice of both of these buffets for $35.99.)

PT's Gets Its Blarney On:

The first we heard about this was via a job-fair announcement that just arrived in our "in" box, but apparently PT’s Entertainment Group (PTEG) has taken over Sean Patrick's Irish Pub on W. Flamingo and plans to open three additional similarly branded Irish pubs at new valley venues (we think they've taken over the original -- we just called and no one's answering there, although the press release is a little vague). Anyhow, wherever the four new pubs may be located, there are 100 positions coming online, for kitchen and tavern managers, servers, bar hosts, and cooks, with a recruitment fair scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8. The event will take place in two sessions, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m., in the 2nd Floor Banquet Room of the Sierra Gold Tavern located at 6515 S. Jones Blvd.

Coast to Coast Casino Upheavals:

In the last big milestone that we're aware of, although it's hardly breaking news, Atlantic City lost another casino this morning, with the much-publicized closure of the ill-fated luxury Revel resort. This coincides with the closure of the historic former Debbie Reynolds Casino in Las Vegas today, and comes just two weeks ahead of the slated shuttering of Trump Plaza on the East Coast. But unlike a few years back when all was unremitting doom and gloom, this spate of shut-downs is tempered by the recent opening of SLS Vegas, The Cromwell, and today's debut of the Delano, with Resorts World in the pipeline and even a buyer for the former Frontier, not to mention a slew of new entertainment and retail venues coming online in Sin City over the next couple of years. While many other U.S. gaming jurisdictions are feeling the pinch, we're happy to report that Las Vegas' gaming results and construction boom are bucking that trend.

Delano Opens Today:

The rebranding of the former THEhotel at Mandalay Bay to Delano Las Vegas is complete and the new hotel opens today. The $80 million transformation of the 1,100-room non-gaming tower features a South Beach theme with upgraded rooms, new restaurants, and a nightlife space. Rooms start at 725 square feet and are expected to go for more than $200 per night. While the makeover was designed in part to further distinguish the property from neighboring Mandalay Bay, guests of the Delano may still use amenities at the adjoining property.

Hellmuth Flogging Burgers:

A new Carl's Jr. commercial features Phil Hellmuth, Jr. We thought those spots were reserved for the Paris Hilton types. Thankfully, Phil isn't wearing a bikini.

Searsucker Coming to Caesars:

Eater Vegas reports that an outlet of the Searsucker restaurant chain from San Diego will open at Caesars Palace. It will be located in the space that used to house Munchbar.

Last Day for Clarion:

If you want one more look at the Clarion, you'd better get over there now. The casino that was formerly Greek Isles, Debbie Reynolds Hollywood, Paddlewheel, Royal Americana, and Royal Inn will close tomorrow at noon. Check out tomorrow's "Question of the Day" for more on this property's past and potential future.

Shop & Eat:

The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood have announced a promotion called "Shop & Eat." Purchase $200 in merchandise and get a $20 dining certificate for a Miracle Mile restaurant. That's a cool 10% giveback. Be sure to shop at a participating store; you can find the list at miraclemileshopslv.com.

Happy Labor Day:

The casinos are busy for the end of the three-day weekend. Station Casinos are awarding 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker today. The Boyd casinos also have a multiplier day, but only locals living in the zip code range of 89000 to 89199 are eligible.