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To absolutely no announcement, let alone any fanfare, the KISS Museum at the Rio opened this week. The 2,000-square-foot space hosts Gene Simmons' personal KISS memorabilia collected over decades, as well as the endless merch the band has licensed (KISS is without a doubt the greatest rock-band merchandiser of them all). The museum is the icing on the 15,000-square-foot KISS-themed cake at the Rio, which includes the glow-in-the dark Kiss By Monster Mini Golf. Fans will be in KISS heaven at the museum (KISS playing cards! KISS bicycles! KISS condoms!), open Thursday through Sunday (Thurs. and Sun. noon to 10 p.m., till 11 Fri. and Saturday). Admission is $11.95 ($8.95 per person in a group of 10 or more).
Starting July 23, Ellis Island will host a summer chef series called Pine Dining, namedthusly because it will be held for its location at the Mt. Charleston Lodge. It marks the return of the Lodge after it was closed down by a fire last summer. The series features local chefs, with proceeds going to local charities. On Saturdays, there’ll be “cookout-style” food stations for sampling different dishes and Sundays will feature chef’s-table dinners. Access will be by shuttle service only, with pick-up and return in Las Vegas. A lodging option is available if you want to spend the night. Prices for the dinners are $75 on Saturdays and $125 on Sundays and it’s a true all-star line-up of chefs: James Trees (Esther’s Kitchen) July 23/24, Justin Hall (Main Street Provisions) July 30/31, Colin Fukunaga (Fuku Burger) and Dan Coughlin (Le Thai) Aug. 6, and Nicole Brisson (Breeza) Aug. 13/14. For more information, go to the web page.
Ground will officially be broken for the Dream Las Vegas Hotel-Casino on Friday July 8. The five-acre $500 million 20-story 531-room property was announced in February 2020, but Dream's location proved problematic. On the east side of the south Strip right next to the airport, it's in an area “used for high-level individuals, special operations, and military-aircraft parking.” The project raised all kinds of concerns about safety and security from agencies as diverse as the TSA, FBI, FAA, Homeland Security, Secret Service, Air Force, Reid Airport, and the airlines themselves. But after the developers implemented a number of mitigation plans, the County Commission approved the plans. The project is expected to be completed sometime in the summer of 2024.
The Bally's sports book has closed; it's not coming back. In fact, it's being replaced by a Dave & Buster's sports bar-video arcade, the second in the valley (the first is in Downtown Summerlin; another is planned for near the Galleria Mall in Henderson). It's unclear if the new Horseshoe, which is replacing Bally's, will have any sports betting; we've heard that there might be kiosks or a small counter, but if or until then, you have to walk across to Paris to place a bet. Thing is, the sports book at Paris is also closed, but only for a remodel. One window remains open there. The sports book at Harrah's just reopened after a complete remodel. And Money, Baby!, the sports lounge at Virgin, has closed, apparently over a tenant-landlord dispute with the property.
The D celebrates the 10th anniversary of the property’s Sigma Derby horse-racing game today. Derek Stevens brought the coin-operated machine to the property when he took over Fitzgeralds in 2012 and it's now the country’s only remaining Sigma Derby machine. As readers of Question of the Day know, Sigma Derby was created in 1985 and was a long-time staple in many casinos. The beautifully crafted track game includes five mechanical horses, two of which each player picks (for the quinella). The game costs a mere two bits to play and the winnings are distributed based on which horses come in first and second. The number of Sigma Derby machines has declined until the last of its kind is found at the D; it's also one of the last coin-operated casino games in the city.
When the 4th of July falls on a Monday, you know that that means…four whole days to party ‘til you’re red, white, and blue. There's pool parties galore (it promises to be a scorcher, according to the forecast), but that's only half the story, with a lineup of headlining musicians, a virtual epidemic of comedians, plus fighters, First Friday and, of course, fireworks:
Sparkle! Is the theme for July’s First Friday Downtown (07/01)
Don’t miss Adesanya vs Cannonier and Volkanovski vs. Halloway 3 at the T-Mobile Arena for UFC 276 (07/01)
Make sure you brought your sense of humor because Joe Rogan kicks off his Sacred Clown tour at MGM Grand (07/01), Kevin Hart is at the Cosmopolitan (07/02-03), and Chris Rock takes the stage at Caesars Palace (07/02)
Sublime With Rome is live at Mandalay Bay Beach (07/02)
Experience A Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues (07/03)
The Las Vegas Motor Speedway brings you the Annual Night of Fire with racing and fireworks (07/03)
Exodus Festival Las Vegas, for the 12th Season running, will feature 10 parties and 20 different DJs (07/01-04)
And for those of you who love a thrill, Nitro Circus is at Las Vegas Ballpark (07/04)
The price of Arizona Charlie's steak or ham eggs breakfast specials has gone up, again. It was $5.99 with a club card until March, when it was raised a dollar to $6.99. Barely three months later, it's been raised to $8.99 with the card, $9.99 without. It dropped out of the Top Ten in April and May, returning this month at the higher price. It'll drop out of the July Top Ten after the $2 bump and we'll see how long that price lasts.
Last month, Harry Reid International processed the third-highest number of passengers in its history. Just under 4.58 million passengers arrived at, departed from, or connected through the airport. The total was only 13,000 fewer than the second busiest month, May 2019, and 32,000 less than the busiest, October 2019. It was also 30% more than last May, which processed 3.52 million. Slightly more than 240,000 international travelers passed through Reid, up 16.6% from the 200,000 in April and nearly two and a half times the 100,000 in January, but down nearly 30% from the 337,000 in May 2019 pre-pandemic.
On July 22, 1983, Lake Mead's water level was so high, at 1,226 feet, that the spillways had to be opened to release water for the first time since 1941. Almost exactly thirty-nine years later, Lake Mead has dropped 183 feet to its lowest level ever at 1,043. And if you're up for a stunning visual representation of how fast the lake level is falling, take 20 minutes out of your day to watch this video. We won't say anything more about it, except this: Some viewers might find the content ominous.
For an enjoyable cruise through a bygone era of glamour in Las Vegas and elsewhere, you can't do much better than "Rare Photos of the Rat Pack That Will Take You Back" on Esquire.com. Scroll through all 34 photos and read the short captions and we guarantee that a warm and wistful feeling of nostalgia will wash over you. And thanks, once again, to Canada Roy for finding it and sending the link.
The MGM players club, MGM Rewards, is holding a company-wide scavenger hunt, starting this Wednesday and ending on Monday July 11. You hunt for and scan hidden sweepstakes QR codes posted at all nine MGM properties; the more unique QR codes you scan, the more sweepstakes entries you get. The clever clues, along with the 100 prizes worth a total of $150,000, are posted on the sweepstakes web page. The grand prize is a private jet to Vegas with rap superstar Usher, plus two tickets to his show, other goodies, and $15,000 in cash. Other prizes include two tickets to the Super Bowl, two tickets to the World Series, and players club tier upgrades.
A poker pro from New York, Joey Weissman, won the inaugural BetMGM Poker Championship last night at Aria. The headline event of the Aria Poker Classic was a $3,500-buy-in No-Limit Hold ’em tournament with a guaranteed $1 million prize pool. The 343 entrants included 68 players who qualified by winning online satellites at BetMGM Poker; a $500 satellite winner finished fifth at the final table. In the hand that knocked out the fourth-place finisher, who held pocket queens, Weismann was dealt a jack and ace of diamonds. A king of diamonds and a 10 flopped. The 10 of diamonds came on the turn, giving fourth place two pair and Weismann a lot of draws, including a royal. You can see what happened on the river in this 91-second video on Twitter. Worth watching. Great moment.
The Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning are pick ’em in tonight's Game 6 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final. The goal line is 5.5.
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, former Las Vegas Raider president Marc Badain and former co-CEO of Foley (Vegas Golden Knights) Entertainment group Randy Morton, both co-presidents of OVG Las Vegas Hotel-Casino, revealed that the Oak View Group is "looking to build the greatest arena on Earth" on 25 acres it recently purchased near the intersection of Blue Diamond Road, I-15, and 215. They noted that it's been 10 years since T-Mobile Arena opened and "the market has shown its ability to absorb new venues and has enough capacity and enough programming to do so." It could hold as many as 20,000 seats, but that has yet to be decided; it will definitely be a major concert venue. It will also be "NBA-ready," though whether or not it will ultimately host a pro-basketball team, as speculated, is up to the league and owners. The arena will cost $1 billion and be privately financed; no public money will be used, unlike Allegiant Stadium. The hotel-casino will cost $2 billion and have 2,000 rooms, what Oak View is calling a "luxury boutique casino-resort." Discussions are also under way about building a Major League Soccer stadium on adjacent land that Oak View doesn't own. In addition, Brightline, the high-speed rail company, owns other land nearby and is planning to build the Las Vegas station, along with a mixed-use development around it. In all, 235 acres could build developed down by Silverton, with the resort corridor definitely shifting south in the process.
Arman Tsarukyan is a -290 favorite over Mateusz Gamrot in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Shavkat Rakhmonov is -500 over Neil Magny.
In today’s second USFL semi-final game, the Birmingham Stallions are -3 favorites over the New Orleans Breakers. The total is 41.5.
In the first of two USFL semi-final games today, the New Jersey Generals are -5 favorites over the Philadelphia Stars. The total is 47.5.
This week's LVA YouTube update starts off with a long discussion of room rates in July, typically one of two periods during the year when they're at their lowest; the other is December. For decades, we've been doing room-rate surveys for both months and in this July's, we found that the lowest rates were $52 to $67, including resort fees, basically unchanged from last year's survey. Anthony identifies where you can get these rates. He also cites the high-end deals, which aren't bad. Of course, LVA subscribers can do much better with coupons from the Member Rewards Book. Anthony and Andrew also preview July 4th fireworks and the Jackpot of the Week is actually on a slot machine, which triggers a conversation about advantage play at the bandits. Click the arrow and enjoy.
Resorts World opened in the final hour of June 24, 2021, and to celebrate its first birthday, the hotel-casino is offering a few deals through July 4th. Reportedly, special room rates are available for the Hilton and Conrad accommodations and a few of the restaurants and bars are putting out menu specials (Fuhu, Viva!, Carversteak, and Here Kitty Kitty). Also, we don't know how many tickets remain, but there's a deal for $100 for two tickets ($112 including fees) for the headliners. If your plans include a visit to Resorts World through next weekend, keep an eye out for anniversary offerings.
The Colorado Avalanche are -180 favorites over the Tampa Bay Lightning in tonight's Game 5 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final. The goal line is 6.
The Las Vegas Review Journal's entertainment columnist John Katsilometes has an item in today's column about Jen Kramer, the young magician who has performed in the Westgate Cabaret since 2018. We reviewed her show in the 1/19 issue of LVA and wrote, "Jen is funny, charming, attractive, and full of the kind of energy and enthusiasm that keep a magic show lively. All in all, it’s a fine 70 minutes of pre-dinner entertainment for a rock-bottom general-admission base price of $19.95 ($44.83 after taxes and fees)." And the price hasn't changed since then. Jen, still the only one-woman magic show in Las Vegas, will do her 500th performance tonight, then celebrate her 30th birthday tomorrow. Happy Anniversary and Birthday, Jen Kramer.
CDC Gaming Reports notes this morning that Derek Stevens, owner of Circa, the D, and Golden Gate downtown, is seeing distinct signs of a slowdown in his casino business. Stevens testified at a Nevada Gaming Commission meeting yesterday (relevant to Circa's opening a sports book at the new Legends Bay Casino in Sparks, the first from-scratch casino to open in the Reno metro area since 1995, when Silver Legacy debuted). He reminded commissioners that in April, he told CNBC that he was worried about inflation. "Since then, we’ve started to see its impact on slots, tables, and beverages. We have a growing concern in regards to some of the telltale signs that we watch.” One of those signs is daily ATM withdrawals: “From April to May, the average withdrawal amount was down the most I’ve ever seen in my career – 11%,” he said. He's also seen "a significant reduction in uncarded play," meaning members of the player club (i.e., regular customers) are cutting back on visits. These are no doubt among the reasons that Circa is marketing hard; we've received several good email offers over the past few weeks. And if what Stevens says is true for other casinos, it could mean they'll be forced to jump off the gouge bandwagon.
Apparently the "first-ever" event of its kind, the International Jigsaw Convention will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center July 8-10. The festivities will include a puzzle display, collaborative mural, puzzle exchange, kids playground, puzzle-completion lounge, various speed competitions with a grand prize of $10,000, and an "ultimate challenge" to set a new world's record for the largest jigsaw. Entry is $29.95 for a one-day pass and $49.95 for all three days.
The Palms is welcoming locals at its SOAK pool Mondays through Thursdays with free admission (and a 25% discount on daybeds if available). On weekends, locals can use the pool for $15. Non-locals and non-hotel guests can sun and swim at SOAK for $15 Mon.-Thurs. and $20 Fri.-Saturday. (Prices are subject to change on holidays and for special events.)
We heard a few days ago from our guy Conrad Stanley that the Cable Center gift shops and Boulevard Food Court, including Fatburger and Fatbar, had closed. We also learned that Stuff My Turkey, the smoked turkey-leg eatery next door at Hawaiian Marketplace we reviewed in LVA 2/22, was gone. But we hadn't had a chance to take a look and see what was going on. This morning, the VitalVegas blog reports that the Hawaiian Marketplace is also now mostly bereft of life; only the big restaurant there, Smokey’s Bistro & Bar, remains in business. We're a bit sad to see that Chicks & Butts, the Memphis soul food joint run by the same people as Stuff My Turkey (excellent dry-rubbed ribs), bit the dust and we'll keep an eye out for it to open in a new location. VitalVegas quotes the owner of the property saying that a "a new flagship retail, entertainment, and dining experience" will replace the two won't-be-missed centers on the south Strip across from Aria.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche are pick ’em in tonight's Game 4 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final. The goal line is 6.
Luke Bryan performs at Resorts World (06/24)
Comedians Steve Martin & Martin Short are live at the Wynn (06/24)
Experience Nick Cannon’s MTV Wild N’ Out at MGM Grand (06/25)
Make sure to check out Foam Wonderland at Craig Ranch Park featuring live DJs, the largest foam machines in the world, and more (06/25)
And don’t miss a free concert by The Calling and Dishwalla down on Fremont Street (06/25)
Phil Ivey is having a good run at this year's World Series of Poker, coming close to winning his 11th gold bracelet to break his three-way tie with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan; only Phil Hellmuth has won more tournaments with 16 bracelets. On Monday evening, Ivey was down to heads-up in the $100,000-buy-in High Roller tournament, but lost to a Latvian poker pro. He earned $1.1 million for the effort, but not the 11th bracelet. He also placed third in the $10,000-buy-in Seven Card Stud Championship on June 12 and seventh in the $100,000 High Roller Bounty tournament to start the WSOP. Ivey won his last event and 10th bracelet in 2014.
The Super Bingo tournament at the Plaza is a major event for bingo players from Toronto to Hawaii, typically drawing upwards of 1,000 people vying for the $50,000 super coverall and $160,000 in total prize money. The event will be held Sunday July 31 to Tuesday August 2 in downtown's only bingo parlor. Bingo-only registration is $160 per person; the four-night bingo-hotel package is $300 (no resort fee). All Super Bingo players receive one 6-on paper pack for both days, two daubers, free drinks via an open bar at all sessions, two box lunches, and $10 in free slot play after the first day’s session.
Sony Pictures Television, owner of the Wheel of Fortune TV show and brand, is teaming up with IGT, which holds the WoF slot licenses, and BetMGM to launch a branded online Wheel of Fortune Casino in New Jersey later this year. When it debuts, the new igaming platform will become the first fully branded online casino in North America and will feature WoF slots produced by IGT, along with other themed games and features. The WoF casino launches in conjunction with the TV game show's 40th season; the casino will have more than 250 varieties of Wheel of Fortune slots from which to choose.
The summer solstice occurred in Las Vegas at 2:13 this morning, when Earth's northern pole tilted most toward the sun, which reached its highest point in the northern sky. Today is also the longest day of the year and here in Las Vegas, sunrise was at 5:23 a.m. and sunset will be at 8:01 p.m. Today is four hours and 55 minutes longer than the winter solstice on December 21 and for you photographers, golden hour will start at 5:45 and end at 6:21 p.m. Today's high temperature will be a fairly reasonable 101 degrees with an overnight low of 70.
Yep. For the first time in nearly two months, the price of a gallon of gasoline in Las Vegas didn't go up and didn't stay the same. It actually dipped by one whole cent, from $5.65 last week to $5.64 this. Woo hoo! Still, Nevada continues to register the second-highest price nationwide, where the average is $4.98, down two cents from last week's unprecedented $5 per. And with the entire summer travel season ahead, this week's decline almost certainly doesn't indicate any downward trend. We just thought it was briefly pleasing.
Three special eateries at Boulder Station have become casualties of the new food court there. Pasta Cucina has permanently closed, so people wanting a quick Italian fix will have to content themselves with ordinary Sbarro. Similarly, Slices Pizzeria has permanently closed (they also served good chicken wings, which can now be sourced at the common Wingstop). And Viva Salsa, the excellent little Mexican take-out grill beside the steakhouse, has permanently closed. In this case, Tacos El Pastor is the Food Court culprit. We'll miss Viva Salsa. And thanks to Canada Roy for eyewitness verification.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are -115 favorites over the Colorado Avalanche in tonight's Game 3 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final. The goal line is 6. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
Las Vegas Weekly, the long-time alt-weekly newspaper published by Greenspun Media (Las Vegas Sun), has named iLuminate the Best Date Show for 2022 in its annual Best of Vegas roundup. "Those LED suits are something else, but the dancers inside them and an inspired feel-good soundtrack make iLuminate an irresistible party of a production. If you're looking for the perfect start to a fun night out in Vegas -- and maybe you want to shake it a little -- this is the show," the Weekly opined. iLuminate is ranked at number four in the LVA Top Ten Values, thanks to its date-friendly ticket price as low as $48, less than half the average price of a Vegas stage show.
Asking prices for real estate are dropping fast and seem to indicate that the unprecedented record setting, month after month and even year after year, is ending, if not over. Spurred mainly by soaring interest rates (up a half-point to an average of 5.8% week over week and double what they were last year at this time), but also inflation and economic uncertainty, nearly 14% of Las Vegas listings dropped prices in May, compared to 11.5% nationally; it was the third month in a row that the percentage of price cuts rose. To be sure, properties are still changing hands, but they're sitting on the market for longer, causing sellers to rethink their overpricing strategies, as evidenced by nearly 1,500 listings slashing their asking prices last week alone, up from 319 during the same week last year.
For a graphic representation of how hot the Las Vegas pavement gets compared to ambient summer temperatures, look no further than an image taken by the Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer on the International Space Station. The thermal image is from June 10, when the thermometer hit 109 degrees -- and the streets were 122 and higher. You'll notice the fire-engine-red heat signature in the grid pattern of the image, as well as in the dark volcanic rock near Lake Mead. The image was released by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and can be seen on EarthSky.org.
Aside from special meals all over town, the Vegas casinos remain in stingy mode and deals are sparse for Father’s Day. Rampart is offering a 2-for-1 buffet for dads until 8 p.m. tonight, must have a players card. It ain’t like it used to be, with deals like a bonus for four Kings apparently long gone.
Going into today's final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament with several big names near the top and a two-way tie for the lead, Matthew Fitzpatrick is the +275 favorite to win. He’s followed by Will Zalatoris at +325, Jon Rahm at +400, and Scottie Scheffler at +650.
After a two-week hiatus, the LVA YouTube is back and better than ever. Anthony and Andrew discuss the big news downtown: four upgrades at the Plaza -- to wit, the outdoor Carousel bar in the porte cochere, a new social-media friendly smokeless casino, outdoor dining at Oscar's steakhouse, and Pinkbox Donuts. They also touch on what's happening with the Mirage sale (and possible closing), the World Series of Poker on the Strip, and a rare dealt royal for the Jackpot of the Week. Best of all, back at the Plaza, Anthony, who attended the opening gala at the Sand Dollar downtown, gives a full report on this venue that's special in many ways -- and hang around for the bonus video at the end. Tune in, turn on, and rock out!
A study by Las Vegas-based international consulting company C3 Gaming, "Evaluation of Post-Pandemic Non-Smoking Trends in U.S. Casinos," has found, by examining gaming revenues in commercial casinos since the end of pandemic restrictions, that "casinos that implemented smoking prohibitions did not experience any drop in revenues or lost market share to nearby casinos that continued to offer smoking environments." Furthermore, 157 tribal casinos banned smoking "at no economic cost"; indeed, they increased profitability due to reducing maintenance costs. The report, issued last week, also cited consumer research last year in the Pacific Northwest in which only 4% of respondents said that "smoking is allowed" determined which casinos they frequented. The C3 report concludes, "Current data from multiple markets clearly indicate that banning smoking no longer causes a dramatic drop in gaming revenue. In fact, non-smoking properties appear to be performing better than their counterparts that continue to allow smoking."
Calvin Kattar is a -265 favorite over Josh Emmett in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Kevin Holland is -360 over Tim Means.
Carnival Corp., operator of more than 50 cruise ships, has entered into an agreement with BetMGM to offer onboard sports betting and casino games. Cruise ships have offered gambling games for years, which is allowed while the ships are sailing in international waters, but this will be a first for sports betting and igaming.
The Colorado Avalanche are -145 favorites over the Tampa Bay Lightning in tonight's Game 2 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final. The goal line is 6.
Bankrate.com, a site that "guides savers and spenders through the steps of their financial journeys," issued a report yesterday, "The Best and Worst places for First-Time Homebuyers 2022." The report analyzed 11 data points for the nation’s 50 largest metro areas and ranked them by housing prices in relation to local wages, the tightness of the local housing market, crime rates, the employment picture, and health and wellness. Los Angeles placed dead last with a total score of 13.3 out of a possible 40. Las Vegas ranked just above at number 49, with a score of 15.3: "Vegas used to be an affordable alternative to California, but rising home prices and a hot market have made Sin City less attractive to first-time buyers. The Las Vegas metro area also was dragged down by a lingering employment hangover from the pandemic — the metro area still has a comparatively high unemployment rate." Completing the bottom five were Seattle and Riverside and San Jose, California. The top five were Pittsburgh (36.3), followed by Minneapolis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Buffalo. (Obviously, winter weather wasn't a factor in the metrics.)
The vote taken yesterday by the Las Vegas City Council on the expansion of the Las Vegas Loop to downtown was unanimous for approval. The tunnel will be dug below Las Vegas Blvd. all the way to Fremont Street. No timetable has been announced, but Boring moves very fast, so we'll no doubt know the plan sooner than later.
The Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) was federal legislation that created a single national commission to oversee the horseracing industry for the first time in its history; it was backed by both Kentucky senators and signed into law in late December 2020. It's due to go into effect on July 1, ushering in a new era for racetrack safety standards on that day. The next milestone will take place on January 1, 2023, when national anti-doping and medication-control regulations kick in. For the nearly 360-year history of horseracing in the U.S. (the first track opened in 1665 in what's now Hempstead, New York), the industry has been governed by competing jurisdictions with their own rules and regulations. However, following scandal after scandal over the last three years (42 fatalities of horses at Santa Anita in 2019, the two-year Kentucky Derby ban of the sport’s most famous trainer, Bob Baffert, the disqualification of the 2022 Derby winner Medina Spirit, the 2023 trial of trainer Jason Servis for drug violations), and many more over the past decades, horseracing guidelines and messaging will be overseen by a single national body. The industry isn't going down without a fight, of course. Lawsuits filed in Kentucky and Texas challenging HISA's constitutionality failed, the Texas Horse Racing Commission has threatened to shut down racing in the state, and the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the trade association for trainers and owners, has asked that the new rules be pushed back 18-24 months. But thus far, it looks like the deadlines for compliance will stand.
Choice Hotels International has made a deal to acquire the "business, operations, and intellectual property" of Radisson Hotel Group for approximately $675 million. As far as we know, the only Radisson-affiliated hotel in Las Vegas is Treasure Island, but it's unclear if it will remain with Choice after the deal closes. Choice itself has three lodging facilities in Las Vegas (again, as far as we can tell): Comfort Inn Henderson, Comfort Inn Nellis, and Bluegreen Vacations Club 36 (on East Tropicana). Thanks to Canada Roy for pointers on this item.
Atlantic City casino workers voted to strike yesterday if new contracts aren't signed by the beginning of next month. Members of the Unite Here union authorized their negotiators to call a strike on July 1 against Borgata, Caesars, Harrah’s, and the Tropicana and one on July 3 against the Hard Rock if talks have failed by those dates to come up with new deals for union employees. According to the local president, "96% of the several thousand” members who voted approved of the strike. The workers' contracts expired on June 1. The vote doesn't necessarily mean that a strike will occur, but it does give union negotiators the authority to call a strike if "significant" wage increases aren't offered by the casino companies.
Rory McIlroy is the +1000 favorite to win golf's U.S. Open. He's followed by Justin Thomas at +1100 and Scottie Scheffler at +1200.
The Boston Celtics are -4 favorites over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 211.5.
"Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition” will open sometime in August at the Shops at Crystals. It will occupy a 10,000-square-foot space hosting 12 themed exhibit rooms, with collections from Diana's wedding to Prince Charles, her status as a fashion icon, her life as a royal, four dozen 18-inch-tall replicas of the 79 dresses she sold at a Christie’s Auction to support her favorite charities, and of course a memorial. The opening date and ticket information will be released soon; for updates, sign up at dianalasvegas.com.
On the heels of the opening of the Sand Dollar Downtown live-music lounge last month, the Plaza yesterday announced four new projects: an "animated" outdoor Carousel Bar; a rooftop patio at Oscar’s steakhouse; downtown’s first smoke-free social-media-friendly gaming area; and the addition of Vegas-based Pinkbox Doughnuts. The Carousel Bar gets our attention; a 2,500-square-foot space for 100 guests at the bar and in booths under the Plaza’s iconic dome, it will preserve the vintage lights that have been the backdrop for more movies and TV shows than we can count and will feature moving carousel horses, spinning martini glasses, an oversized deck of cards, and a rotating ribbon of lights above the bar. Oscar’s patio will occupy a rooftop deck accessible via the steakhouse's existing lounge. The social-media casino will be the first and only smokeless gambling floor downtown and Instagram- and YouTube friendly. Construction will begin later this month and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Plaza and Oscar’s will remain open during construction.
The Colorado Avalanche are -150 favorites over the Tampa Bay Lightning in tonight's Game 1 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final. The goal line is 6.
Roughly a month head coach Pete DeBoer was terminated and a week after he himself was fired from his own head-coach position by the Boston Bruins, Bruce Cassidy has been hired by the Vegas Golden Knights to become the third head coach in the team's five-year history. Note to Cassidy: Rent, don't buy. In addition, Randy Morton, former MGM International executive and VGK co-CEO, is leaving the team after less than a year to become president of OVG Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, the multi-billion-dollar integrated resort and sports arena planned for near the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and Blue Diamond, near Silverton. Marc Badain, former president of the Las Vegas Raiders, is also going to work for OVG as the president of its sports and entertainment division. The Oak View hotel-casino-arena is scheduled for completion sometime in 2025-2026.
MGM Grand brings you Slipknot & Cypress Hill: The Knotfest Roadshow (06/17)
Rock out with Sting at Caesars Palace (06/17-18)
Bring on the laughs because Wayne Brady is taking the stage at the Mirage (06/18)
Gospel Brunch is at The House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay (06/19)
And this year marks the 21st Anniversary of the Las Vegas Juneteenth Festival. This years events will be held at Whitney Ranch Recreation Center (06/18) and the Water Street Plaza (06/19)
On a recent episode of his talk show "The Shop: Uninterrupted" (in which he visits barber shops around the country and sits down with "distinguished individuals" who can speak honestly on sports and more), basketball superstar LeBron James discussed wanting to own an NBA team in Las Vegas. Now, boxing billionaire Floyd Mayweather (undefeated in 50 fights, with 27 knockouts) says he's thrown his hat into that ring. Mayweather told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he's been working for some time behind the scenes to own a team, whether it winds up in Las Vegas or not. Of course, he'd prefer Vegas, where he lives, but says he's going to have a team, one way or another.
On Sunday, an Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em player at Harrah's held the 10 and jack of spades and hit the Mega Progressive Jackpot for $918,430 when the dealer flipped over queen, king, and ace in the community cards. The player said he or she (unidentified) will buy a house with the winnings.
Ashley Madison, the infamous Canadian online-dating service for people who are married or in relationships (70 million users worldwide), has issued its list of "infidelity cities in the U.S.," drawn from information in its database. Las Vegas placed fourth for the second year in a row. The top three switched places a bit: Atlanta at number three was first last year; Orlando was number three last year and ranked number one this year; Miami placed second both years. This year, Las Vegas was followed by Cincinnati, Boise, and St. Louis. Reno, ranked 20th last year, fell off the list, which was a relief.
The inaugural Soccer Champions Tour, a new global soccer event taking place in late July, will play two of its five games at Allegiant Stadium. The tour will feature five of the world's most iconic soccer clubs competing in top-tier matches over nine days in three cities: two in Las Vegas and one each in L.A., Dallas, and San Francisco. Participating teams include current La Liga and UEFA Champions League winner Real Madrid CF, La Liga powerhouse FC Barcelona, Serie A's Juventus, and Liga MX's Club América and Club Deportivo Guadalajara. The tour marks the first return of play in the U.S. for Barcelona and Real Madrid since 2019 and for Juventus since 2018. In fact, Barcelona and Real Madrid will play what's known as the El Clasico game outside of Europe for only the second time in history. The five games will take place from Friday July 22 through Saturday July 30; the two in Las Vegas will be on Friday July 22 between Juventus and Club Deportivo Guadalajara, and Saturday July 23 between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona. Exclusive pre-sale tickets will be available starting this Wednesday, with access by the general public beginning on Friday.
The Golden State Warriors are -3.5 favorites over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 211.
The Colorado Avalanche are -170 favorites over the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the NHL's Stanley Cup. Game 1 is Wednesday in Denver.
In 1947, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce launched the Las Vegas News Bureau and hired photographers to help promote the city. This year, the archive of tens of thousands of images, the main point of supply for media, researchers, historians, museums, filmmakers, and marketers (and which we've accessed over the years for historical photos in books we've published), turns 75. To help celebrate the Diamond anniversary, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (which was established in 1955 and eventually incorporated the News Bureau into its operations) has posted 75 of the most iconic Las Vegas photos. We won't describe them; a picture is, after all, worth 1,000 words, so we'd need 75,000 of them. Instead, see for yourself at this link. We will say that the ones of Muhammed Ali, the Rat Pack, and Robby the Robot are our favorites.
Korean Air will resume service between Seoul Incheon Airport and Reid International on July 10, operating on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, same as it did before the shutdown.
Earth, Wind & Fire likes to play Vegas. The band, which has 23 albums, eight number-one hits (including our favorite, "That's the Way of the World"), and is considered among the most innovative and commercially successful musical acts in history, appeared at the Venetian for six sold-out shows in 2018 and another six sold-out shows in 2019. They're returning for a seven-show engagement this fall: Oct. 26, 28, and 29 and Nov. 2, 4, 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., once again at the Venetian Theatre. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $39 and soaring to $1,588 for the first row.
Resorts World, in partnership with Elephant Parade, the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues to raise awareness for elephant conservation, has debuted 26 statues. The Parade, located in the District, consists of life-sized baby elephant statues designed by various celebrity, retail, and business partners. Elephant Parade, which tours the world, is making its first stop in Las Vegas and will remain at Resorts World through Labor Day weekend, at which time the statues will be auctioned off as a fundraiser.
The world’s highest-selling soprano, Sarah Brightman, will launch her first exclusive Las Vegas engagement at The Venetian Theatre. “A Starlight Symphony … An Evening with Sarah Brightman” will be Brightman’s only U.S. dates of the year. Brightman will perform many of her greatest hits with an orchestra, choir, and special guest, Japanese composer Yoshiki, along with other guest performers. Yoshiki recently collaborated with Brightman on their hit single “Miracle,” which appears on her latest studio album HYMN. The shows will be held Oct. 12, 14, and 15; tickets are on sale now and start at $35.
Jiri Prochazka is a -220 favorite over Glover Teixeira in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Valentina Shevchenko is -550 over Taila Santos.
The current odds for today’s Belmont Stakes make Mo Donegal the favorite at 5-2, followed by Rich Strike at 4-1 and Nest at 9/2. The long shot is Golden Glider at 12-1.
Las Vegas set a new high-temperature record yesterday when the official thermometer at Reid Airport registered 109 in the late afternoon. That broke the previous record of 108 set in 1996. Today is forecast to hit at least 109 again, which would tie the record set in 1940 and 1956, and it could go as high as 111. It could be worse: Phoenix also set a new record high of 113, surpassing its previous record of 111 set in 1978, while Death Valley hit 119 and could break into the 120s today. The Weather Service's warning of excessive heat ends this evening; tomorrow's high is expected not to go over 106 and Monday will return to double digits, albeit 99 of them.
Frontier Airlines is adding four new routes into and out of Reid International. Starting on August 9, the ultra-low cost carrier will fly daily to and from Baltimore, Buffalo, Hartford, and Kansas City (Missouri). Including these four, Frontier will service 57 cities out of Las Vegas, which closes in on Allegiant Air's 61 cities and Southwest Airlines' 63 cities. Frontier has more flights than Las Vegas only out of Denver, where it's based, and Orlando. Introductory fares to the four new destinations start at $89 (Kansas City) and $99 (the others).
The water level of Lake Mead dropped below 30% for the first time since it rose above it as it was filling up in 1942. The U.S Bureau of Reclamation announced the 29% number in its latest report. Most of the long decline is due to drought conditions, but the Bureau also held back nearly a half-million acre feet of water in Lake Powell, which feeds Mead. The water level is now 1,046 feet in elevation, down 40-plus feet from two years ago, and could fall another 25 feet by 2024. The reservoir needs to drop another 150 feet, however, before it reaches "dead-pool" status, meaning no more water can be pumped. Still, the feds are now calling the drought "driest conditions in the American West in more than 1,200 years."
The Boston Celtics are -4 favorites over the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 213.5.
Circa Sports continues to up its profile, recently adding two big names from the world of bookmaking. Joining the company are Richie Baccellieri and Nick Bogdanovich. Baccellieri was the sports book director at multiple companies, including Caesars Palace. Bogdanovich was the longtime director at William Hill. Both are highly respected on both sides of the counter.
Fremont Street Experience will host the first “Luau WOW!” festival tomorrow with a free concert by long-time Jamaican-American reggae performer Shaggy (two Grammy awards), two Las Vegas reggae bands, and a Hawaii-themed party. The island-themed show, Blue Hawaii, will also take the stage, featuring singers, hula dancers, drum troops, acrobatics, comedy, and an Elvis impersonator. Other entertainment will include traditional hula, haka, and belly dancers, exhibitions by fire walkers and fire eaters, a sandcastle artist, photo ops, grass skirts and coconut bras, even a pig roast. Luau Wow starts at noon, Shaggy performs at 9 p.m. on the 3rd Street stage, and the first 3,000 visitors receive a free lei.
North America’s 50 Best Bars is a new annual ranking of the best bar experiences in the region, voted for by 220 drink experts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The top 10 consists of three bars in New York City, three in Mexico City, and one each in Chicago, Miami, L.A., and Toronto. Herbs and Rye, a swanky 13-year-old American-Italian restaurant and cocktail bar on W. Sahara at Valley View (great late-night play, closing at 3 a.m.), is ranked at number 28. H&R is no stranger to awards; it makes best-bar/bartender lists regularly. But this seems particularly prestigious to us, since it was selected by experts, it's the only bar in a famous drinking town to make the cut, and the list covers a major gob of Earth.
Atomic Liquors, oldest standalone bar (not part of a casino or hotel) in Las Vegas, will celebrate its 70th anniversary next weekend with a full complement of special events. Atomics' tavern license, number 00001, dates back to 1952 and to commemorate the entering its eighth decade, On June 17-19, Atomic will serve $3 PBRs on Friday, half-price signature Atomic Sours with grilled hot dogs all day Saturday, and an $8 dinner (spaghetti with garlic bread and a glass of red wine) on Sunday, plus $5 Absolut Bloody Marys from noon to 3 p.m. and $8 Grand Centenario margaritas from 3 to 5 p.m.
The World Poker Tour and the Wynn have announced a tournament that they claim will set the record for the largest guaranteed prize pool in live tournament poker history. The 2022 WPT World Championship at the Wynn will feature a $10,400-buy-in No-Limit Hold ’em main event with a guaranteed $15 million, no matter how many players enter. The championship event will be the climax of the WPT World Championship that will run Dec. 1-20; three single-entry starting flights will take place Dec. 12-14, with the champion crowned on Dec. 20. The final table will be televised.
The Boston Celtics are -3.5 favorites over the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 213.5.
After receiving a report that Buffalo Bill’s had reopened in Primm, we called to confirm and were told that it did, in fact, reopen last week, but has since closed again. Further, the PBX operator indicated that Primm Valley and Whiskey Pete’s are both open, although we’d heard nothing about Pete's having returned after the shutdown. So as of now, it appears that two of the Primm trio of casinos are open, just not the two we expected.
The average price of a gallon of gas in Nevada just moved into second place nationwide, edging out Hawaii for the dubious distinction. The $5.49 per gallon statewide is nearly 63 cents above the national average. And it's rising fast: It's up 12 cents since Saturday. The average for southern Nevada is now $5.42. The national average of $4.87 is up 25 cents from last week.
The VitalVegas blog reports this morning that two veteran restaurants at Palazzo abruptly closed yesterday. Majordomo Meat & Fish and Moon Palace fast-food counter, both in celebrity chef David Chang's portfolio, are the first casualties from the sale of Venetian/Palazzo to Apollo Global Management. VitalVegas suggests that Apollo might be starting to clean house and wanted to get rid of Chang, notorious for his abusive personality. Alternatively, Majordomo might have been a little too rich for Apollo's blood, especially with conventions slow to return; dinners for two there run into the high three figures. Meanwhile, Moon Palace served only three items, Tastys (sliders), fries, and slushies, at an easily expendable 12-seat counter. Chang still has a presence in Las Vegas with Momofuku and Bang Bar at the Cosmo, though VitalVegas observes that with MGM taking over that megaresort, they might be looking to start shaking up the dining options there as well.
The monthly report from Las Vegas Realtors shows that the median price of a single-family home in May was $482,000, up from April's $475,000 and a new record high. At the same time, sales fell 3.1% from April's total and nearly 9% year over year. In addition, more houses remained on the market, but only a little more than a one-month supply, well below the four to six months considered a well-balanced market. Still, the 3,570 houses for sale at the end of last month represent a major 46% over April and a 75% increase from this time last year. With prices still rising, along with interest rates, the slowdown in sales and concurrent increase in supply could be early signs that the housing market is starting to downshift.
Around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, a blaze broke out at the former Crazy Horse Too topless club on Industrial Road just north of Sahara Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they found the building completely engulfed and they issued alarm for backup. It took three-plus hours to control the blaze. Luckily, the club was vacant, after having been closed and vacant for eight years. This topless joint has a long interesting history, which you can read at ToplessVegasOnline.com.
Sports betting is now legal in Kansas and Maine, but don’t expect bets to be placed in either state anytime soon. In Kansas, a convoluted legal challenge that involves historic-horse-racing machines will hold things up, at least for a while. And the procedures for live betting in Maine aren’t expected to be sorted out until as late as 2024. Efforts to legalize sports betting in Minnesota and Missouri have been stymied for this year.
If you're on your way here for the weekend, be prepared for the first scorching temperatures of 2022. A high of 107 is predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, with the thermometer edging up to 109 on Friday and Saturday. That's 10-12 degrees hotter than typical high temperatures for late spring; the Weather Service deems it "high heat risk," during which everyone needs to hydrate adequately and those sensitive to excessive heat should limit outdoor exposure.
A story in this morning's Las Vegas Review-Journal takes the pulse of the first World Series of Poker to be held on the Strip. After decades at Binion's Horseshoe downtown and 15 years at the Rio, "the change has drawn wide praise from a notoriously fickle group of men and women." For starters, there's a lot more room and the temperature in the ballrooms is much more comfortable than the Rio's arctic air conditions. Other than a few "hiccups" (a small problem with chips initially and very long lines), the execution has so far been "flawless." This is especially impressive, given that some events are approaching records for attendance: The $500 buy-in Housewarming tournament drew an unofficial 20,081 players, which would make it the fourth-largest tournament in WSOP history. The story didn't mention paid parking, though the $100 weekly pass perhaps mitigates some of the pain of that change from the free parking at the Rio.
The Golden State Warriors are -4.5 favorites over the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 214.
The transformation of Bally’s to Horseshoe Las Vegas was supposed to be completed by the start of the World Series of Poker. The tournament is already underway, but we’ve heard of almost no action in getting necessary zoning approvals, the first step in the rebranding process. In addition, public information about any progress, or lack thereof, in the rebranding has been sparse, so it looks like Bally's becoming a Horseshoe has a ways to go.
Rafael Nadal is a -600 favorite over Casper Ruud in today’s French Open men's tennis final. Nadal is seeking his 14th French Open title and 22nd major championship. Ruud is playing in his first Grand Slam final. A cool side story on this match: Nadal coached Ruud when he was a teenager and attended Nadal’s tennis academy.
Tacos & Tequila, the Mexican restaurant that had a 10-plus-year run at Luxor, has finally reopened at Palace Station in the space formerly occupied by Little Tony's near the sports book. T&T was supposed to open by the end of 2021, but better late than never, we always say. The menu is just as huge and colorful as it was at Luxor, with the signature Alambre tacos (filet mignon, bacon, Oaxaca cheese, poblano chiles) for $25, plus all the taquitos ($14), nachos ($15), tacos ($17-$20), enchiladas and burritos, ($20-$23), and combo plates (3 for $24) you'd expect, along with margaritas ($13) and beer ($6-$8). The tequila menu has a couple dozen shots for $10-$45, with mezcal $13-$19. The well-known T&T brunch at Luxor has also moved over to Palace Station, served Sat. and Sun 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Restaurant hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily with a happy hour 3-6 p.m. weekdays.
Iga Swiatek is a -900 favorite over Cori Gauff in today's French Open women’s tennis final. Swiatek is going for her second Grand Slam title. Gauff is playing in her first Grand Slam final.
Vegas Test Kitchen is a restaurant in downtown Las Vegas where established chefs and up-and-comers introduce their offerings by switching places in the kitchen four or five times throughout the day (currently pizza, sandwiches, hot dogs, vegetarian, and desserts). Now, VTK will bring the test-kitchen concept to the still-unopened Greene Street Kitchen at the Palms. Three local chefs will taqke over the kitchen on Friday and Saturday nights from June 10 through July 30. The three rotating concepts include rustic Italian-American (June 10-11), Filipino (June 18, 19, 24, and 25, July 1 and 2), and Polynesian-Chinese (July 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30). The pre-fixe dinners (with a welcome cocktail) are $59 per person and reservations and information can be found here.
If you're around today and are looking for a reason to get outta town, all Nevada state parks are waiving admission fees for the whole day. Fishing throughout the state is also free today. Park visitors can get stamps for their parks' Passport Challenge; receive stamps at 15 state parks and you get a free day-use pass to all 24 state parks for one year. Within easy driving distance of Las Vegas are Spring Mountain State Park, 23 miles roughly/35 minutes from Arizona Charlie's Decatur, and Valley of Fire, 45 miles/roughly 45 minutes from the Plaza.
A slot player hit a progressive jackpot of $1,342,414 on a Wheel of Fortune machine at the Golden Gate early Thursday morning.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission yesterday approved the launch date for sports betting, which will go live on January 1, 2023. It will be exactly two years after the governor signed the Ohio sports betting bill into law. When it becomes accessible on New Year's Day, Ohioans will be able to bet with their phones, at a physical sports book, and at kiosks at bars. Currently, 30 states, plus Washington, D.C., have some form of "legal live" sports betting; Ohio will be the 31st.
According to a study by LawnStarter.com, which looked at 13 hiker-friendly factors, ranging from hiking access and quality to trail difficulty to natural hazards index, for 200 U.S. cities, Las Vegas ranks in ninth place, just behind Richmond, VA, and ahead of San Diego. Vegas placed second for lowest natural-hazard risk, sixth in hiking access, eighth in access to supplies, 20th in hiking quality, and 49th in climate for a total score of 62 (out of 100). The number-one city at 68.4 is Portland, OR, followed by Tucson, Phoenix, Long Beach, Minneapolis, Glendale, CA, and L.A.
The Golden State Warriors are -3.5 favorites over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 214.
The price of a gallon of gasoline in Nevada set a new record this week, averaging $5.34, up from $5.31 last week. That's nearly 13% higher than the national average of $4.67. Highest in the nation is California at $6.19, followed by Hawaii at $5.44, putting Nevada's $5.34 in third place. In Las Vegas, the average price is $5.27; highest in the state is in the Reno area at $5.82. Because Nevada gas comes entirely from California, analysts predict that $6 per gallon here is a possibility.
Authentic Brands Group, the licensing company that owns the Elvis Presley brand, has apparently reversed course and is now offering various deals to the Elvis wedding chapels it had threatened to take to court. One chapel owner told the Las Vegas Review-Journal's John Katsilometes that ABG asked her for $20,000 per year for a licensing deal. Another said her terms included a choice of 10% of Elvis-themed package sales. The owners intimated to Kats that ABG had "done a 180" after its cease-and-desist letters went public.
The North Las Vegas City Council voted yesterday to allow Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho to remain "non-operational" for another year. City councilors agreed to suspend the requirement in the NLV business code that gaming licensees are limited to two one-year non-operational periods; this is the third. However, in order to maintain their gaming licenses, the casinos are required to open for one day four times per year, which necessitates the so-called "trailer stations": trailers with a handful of slot machines wheeled on and off the properties once per quarter. The Gaming Control Board has also approved the continued closure of both casinos through at least the end of this year, but it looks like time is running out for Station Casinos to reopen Texas and the Fiesta.
The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' summer display, "Jungle of Dreams," has been unveiled. It focuses on jungle fauna, featuring 28 animal sculptures, including a 20-foot-tall lion and its 9-foot-tall cub, four towering giraffes, a 120,000-flower-petal zebra, a boa constrictor, monkeys, flamingos, parrots, a toucan, and a jungle riverboat with a golden-monkey figurehead. The soundtrack consists of singing birds, chirping crickets, roaring lions, and whispering winds. According to the press release, the display involves 9,200 plants and took 10,000 working hours to create. It runs through September 10.
The Review-Journal's John Katsilometes reports that Authentic Brand Group (ABG), the licensing company that owns Elvis Presley's "name, likeness, voice, image, and other elements of Elvis' persona," has threatened to take legal action against Las Vegas wedding chapels (the Elvis Chapel, Elvis Weddings, and Las Vegas Elvis Chapel among them) whose use of Elvis impersonators, ads, and merchandise is "unauthorized." Kats writes, "The timing of ABG’s action falls just before the heavily hyped Baz Luhrmann biopic Elvis is released June 24. That film is certain to regenerate interest in Presley’s career, especially the opportunity to be married in Vegas by an Elvis impersonator." The letter gave the chapels a week to cease and desist, but Kats notes that ABG, which also manages the estates of Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali, could "conceivably" be willing to negotiate a licensing agreement with the affected chapels that would allow them to stay in business.
Though Las Vegas' first day of 100-plus degrees often happens in May (this year, it was on May 19), for June, those days are mostly the norm. Normal high temperatures creep up from 95 on the first of the month to 100 on the 14th and don't go back down to double digits until fall. The record high for the month is 117 (June 20, 2017, and June 30, 2011), with 116 achieved twice and 115 six times. Normal lows range from 71 on the first to 80 on the 30th, with records dropping into the 40s (48 in 1993, 49 in 1955 and 1938). June is the driest month of the year, with a scant eight-hundredths of an inch on average, as southern Nevada awaits the summer monsoons.