You can now get free copies of All In magazine in the Palms poker room. This is the first time All In has been distributed on other than a subscription basis. It will soon be available from other outlets, but for now, the Palms is the only source.
Apologies for the technical glitch that affected Question of the Day today. We're not sure what happened, but our system seemed to miscalculate how many days there are in March and left a gap for the 31st. It's now all been fixed and a question is up for today and a different one for tomorrow, so check back if you logged on earlier and were disappointed.
The monthly $25,000-guarantee Elimination Blackjack tournament at Bet21.com runs today at 8 pm EST. Entry is 200+15. The breakeven number is 116 entrants and there are currently fewer than 90 registered.
Sit-n-go Elimination Blackjack tournaments kick off tonight at 8 pm at the Venetian. Buy-ins for the one-table tourneys are $100, $250, and $500. Come play with Anthony Curtis and others you've seen on CBS' Ultimate Blackjack Tour.
Oops. Running a little behind schedule this week, but better late than never. Some big names in music and comedy, plus the usual mix of magic, sports, and the foxy ladies of FANTASY at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce.
No, he hasn't grown but he has added another month to his run at 3121 at the Rio, which was originally due to end this weekend. The additional dates are: Friday, April 13; Saturday, April 14; Friday, April 20; Saturday, April 21; Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28. Tickets go on sale today and can be purchased at the Rio Box Office by calling 702/777-7776 and through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. It's a great show -- catch it while you can.
The Brass Lounge, the new downtown bar and lounge located upstairs from Hennessy's and inside the "world's largest pint glass," opens tonight. From 5 p.m.-7 p.m. there's a VIP happy hour, but they inform us they have lots of passes left, so get down there and start the weekend. From 7 p.m. onwards, the event will be open to all.
Every Friday and Saturday night at beginning March 30, at 11 p.m. Circus Circus' Mexitalia Xpress eatery will transform into "Luna y Sol," Spanish for moon and sun. The Latin-inspired nights will feature a DJ spinning the latest in Latin music, with go-go dancers and a large marble dance floor.
The cover charge will be $5 for local men and out-of-state women and $10 for out-of-state men, with free admission for local ladies. VIP seating and bottle service available upon request.
MGM Mirage has closed Nevada Landing at Jean, a month sooner than expected. MGM plans to build a master-planned development on the site.
Plans are emerging for the new show scheduled to replace Splash!, which closed last year, at the Riviera. Ice: Direct from Russia will apparently feature a total of 42 male and female ice performers, choreographed by Debra Brown, who has also worked with several Cirque shows. The show's set to debut April 25 and tickets, which are $59.95 and $69.95, go on sale tomorrow.
Tomorrow, March 30, and Friday, April 6, Cool Blue Talent will be holding open auditions seeking fresh new faces. The auditions are open to all talented individuals aged 5-35 and those selected will be invited to attend the exclusive "Fusion Model Talent Search" on April 28 and 29, which includes a hands-on workshop held by professional talent scouts. Tomorrow's and April's auditions will feature agents, managers, and casting directors from Las Vegas, L.A., New York, and overseas who will be scouting for runway, print, and commercials models, TV and film actors/actresses, female vocalists aged 14-18 for a new girl group, and talented dancers and choreographers. For details of where the auditions will take place and to schedule an appointment (obligatory), call 702/804-2501. Good luck!
The latest bizarre rumor emanating from the Michael Jackson camp is that the singer reportedly wants to build a 50-foot robotic replica of himself in the desert outside Las Vegas, if plans go ahead for a long-running show here. Apparently, laser beams would shoot out of it so that it would be the first thing people would see when flying into town.
Plans for Britain's first super-casino were in tatters last night after the House of Lords inflicted a shock defeat on the government, forcing a rethink by ministers. Peers narrowly rejected the controversial proposals for a 5,000-square-metre complex in Manchester and 16 other casinos across the country. Richard Caborn, the minister for gambling, said: "We will have to reflect on whether we go forward or, indeed, how we go forward if we make that decision."
PETA has attacked the creators of Beacher's Madhouse, due to return to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on May 26, for using real animals to perform during their variety show. Jeff Beacher responded that, "This is a total farce. Our monkey is loved by all and treated like a prince." He and co-creator Randy Weiner will continue to feature the monkey in their show for as long as it remains legal to do so.
It's just been announced that Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and China Men's National Team will help open Venetian Macao's 15,000-seat arena in October. The NBA China Games 2007 will be the first NBA event to be played in Macau.
The first ever official Bettie Page boutique, featuring clothing, lingerie, and accessories by the iconic '50s pin-up, has opened its doors inside the Shops in Desert Passage at the Aladdin.
The Las Vegas attraction at Legoland in California, first announced last year, debuts today. The waist-high replica of the city features ten casinos, from the Luxor pyramid to the Stratosphere tower, and required two million Lego bricks to build and is the largest scale model at Legoland.
Riv Acquisitions Holdings, the private investment group that offered $17 a share for the property last April and was rebuffed by Riviera shareholders, has tendered a new bid of $27 a share, raising the value of the deal significantly to $337 million. That offer was also quickly rejected.
Michelin announced today that it will expand its exclusive hotel and restaurant guide series in North America to include 2008 guides for LA and Las Vegas, which are scheduled to arrive in stores in November 2007.
The glass-bottomed Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is due to open to the general public today. However, when we tried to telephone both the local (702-878-WEST) and toll free (877/716-WEST) numbers, all we got was a recorded message informing us that these "mailboxes" were "full." If you'd like to take the tour, we suggest trying the email address: [email protected].
Just going to look at this new attraction costs $49.95, plus tax, and it's another $25 to actually walk on it. As it's a 120-mile drive east of Las Vegas, we strongly recommend making sure you can get a reservation before you make the journey.
In a statement released today, Harrah's Entertainment confirms that reigning World Series of Poker champion Jamie Gold will not be retroactively penalized for two rules infractions that occurred during the 2006 WSOP Main Event, which he recently revealed in an interview with the New York Times. In one incident he exposed a hole card to an opponent, while in the other he told an opponent he held top pair and top kicker after the other player had bet, both of which are violations of WSOP tournament rules.
After the interview was published, senior WSOP officials reviewed video footage and had two conversations with Gold about the incidents, during which the champion apparently freely acknowledged and expressed contrition for the rules infractions, attributing them to his exuberance and excitement at participating in his first-ever WSOP Main Event. The officials determined that he didn't deliberately attempt to violate the rules and that therefore no retroactive penalties would be imposed.
Today's USA Today contains a couple stories on gambling addiction tied to the ongoing NCAA basketball tournament. The feature in the "Sports" section relates some vivid examples that provide good cautionary reading.
Lake Las Vegas Resort has today announced plans for Hilton Hotels Corporation to develop a 200-unit Hilton Grand Vacations Timeshare Resort and 50-unit Waldorf-Astoria "fractional component." The project will be developed on a 17.5 acre lakefront parcel overlooking the 17th hole and the 18th tee of the Jack Nicklaus designed Reflection Bay Golf Course. Development of the project is currently in the design phase, with groundbreaking targeted for early 2008 and an opening date projected for fall of 2009.
Bald? Looking for a new job? You could be in luck. On April 10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Blue Man Group is holding an open casting call for aspiring Blue Men at The Venetian's Blue Man Group Theatre. As the character of Blue Man is an egoless, genderless being, both male and female performers are encouraged to audition, but you must be between 5'10", of athletic build, with solid drumming skills, excellent acting skills, and have a willingness to relocate if you're not already resident in Las Vegas. If you think you fit the bill, visit www.bluemancasting.com for additional information. Note: We don't think you actually have to be bald.
For the seventh consecutive year, MGM MIRAGE has been named one of "America's Most Admired Companies" by Fortune magazine in the magazine's annual survey that evaluates the reputation of companies with large U.S. operations. The company moved up two spots from 2006 and is ranked second in the Hotels, Casinos and Resorts industry.
Online money transfer giant NETeller has announced its decision to quit the Canadian and Turkish markets, due to a perceived increase in risk following "recent actions by regulators, payment processors, and online gaming operators [which] have increased the uncertainty around certain activities related to online gamlbing" in those jurisdictions. The Group will no longer process transfers related to online gambling sites on behalf of customers resident in either country.
This statement follows last week's official announcement from the Group that it's signed an agreement with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York ("USAO") and Navigant Consulting to manage an orderly return of funds to U.S. customers. For further information and updates as this plan unfolds, visit www.updates.neteller.com
The Light Group has just announced its latest venture for the Las Vegas Strip, with the planned opening this September of its newest venture, Diablo's Cantina at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. The 10,000-square-foot multi-level entertainment complex aims to be "Party Central" for those looking to let loose in a lively fiesta-like atmosphere and will feature open-air dining and drinking.
Miller Brewing Company today announced a major new partnership with the Palms Casino Resort. The three-year alliance covers all Miller brands and all activities at The Palms, beginning with an April promotion giving 50 consumers of legal drinking age the chance to win a trip for two to the Palms. Other promos will follow, including a music collaboration on April 17, with MGD kicking off its first event at The Pearl for "the Craft," a new music program that features moderated live performance intended to give fans a deeper understanding of the artists' work.
At a live telecast event held at Bally's, Las Vegas yesterday, James Lightsey of Sheraton, Tunica became $1,000,000 richer when he won the first prize in the Harrah's "Hidden Jackpot" promotion, which has been running in 34 different casinos around the country since January. Four runners up were awarded cash prizes of between $10,000 and $50,000, and the remaining 299 promotion finalists each received a $500 cash prize.
Comedienne Rita Rudner has announced an agreement in principle to extend her stay as headliner at Harrah's Las Vegas until January 2010. Also, during July and August, a limited number of special $20 "Locals' Appreciation" tickets will be available to Las Vegas residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Normal ticket prices are $54 and $90 (plus taxes and fees).
Today and tomorrow, the Tilted Kilt at the Rio is hosting the World Championships of Golden Tee, the most popular coin-operated video game ever, with over 20 million players worldwide. The team competition's today, tomorrow it's the individuals event.
Former WSOP champ Chris Moneymaker comments on the poker scenes in the latest James Bond movie, Casino Royale, in today's USA Weekend (newspaper magazine supplement). Though seemingly trying to find fault, Moneymaker's critique comes off mostly positive with regard to the realism of the scene.
Las Vegas Harley-Davidson and the Cannery Casino will host the closing ceremony for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Cost of Freedom exhibit tonight at 6 p.m. The event, featuring an 80% scale replica of the Washington D.C. based Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and a candlelight vigil, is free to the public and will take place at Las Vegas Harley-Davidson, 2605 S. Eastern Ave. (just off Sahara).
Jeff Henderson, former prison inmate turned executive chef of Cafe Bellagio, will be signing copies of his memoirs, Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. today at The Reading Room at Mandalay Place.
The second week of sit-n-go Elimination Blackjack tournaments kick off tonight at 8 pm at the Venetian. Buy-ins for the one-table tourneys are $100, $250, and $500. Last week there was action till about 1 am.
Go support the Rebels at the Hard Rock pool tonight and drink complimentary Patron tequila from 6-9 p.m. as you watch the game on multiple plasma screens. No line cover.
The new Polly Esther's nightclub at the Stratosphere hosts the '80s band Flock of Seagulls as the first in an interesting line-up of bands that will play the club. They'll play "after 10 pm" and the cost is the prevailing cover charge.
There's a veritable smorgasbord of entertainment on offer this weekend, from a serious lineup of heavy hitters in the comedy department to a musical feast for the ears. And it's Hef's birthday party. We hope you can make it.
As reported in this column on Monday, Cirque du Soleil and Luxor have now officially confirmed a new show featuring Criss Angel, set to open Summer 2008. According to the official press release, "Cirque du Soleil is working with Criss to fuse his revolutionary illusions and mind-blowing artistry with acrobatics, dance, puppetry, music, and poetry to tell a story, taking audiences on a bizarre and fascinating journey." Should be interesting.
From March 25-29 only, Wynn is staging a $100,000 giveaway for locals, with the top prize being an all expense paid vacation for four to the new Wynn Macau resort. There will be additional free credit prizes totaling $40,000. Receive one complimentary entry when you join up for the players club, plus one additional drawing ticket for every 100 points you earn when you play slots on your red card. The drawing will be held on March 29. See the red card desk for details.
An Atlantic City lawsuit involving casino surveillance personnel at Caesars accused of using their camera equipment to ogle women's cleavages and buttocks ended yesterday with one camera operator being fined and another having his license temporarily suspended. Caesars had already paid a $185,000 fine to settle charges stemming from the case. The authorities said the penalties were warranted not only because of the invasion of privacy of the employees and patrons who were filmed, but also because of the negligence of the operators, who were not watching for illegal activity as their job and the law required.
The Commission for the European Union has demanded that countries that promote domestic gambling but do not allow out of country sports betting or Internet gambling must open up their borders or risk being taken to court.
So far, it's Denmark, Finland, and Hungary that face prosecution if they continue to promote internal gambling without allowing free trade for online gaming compaies, but the same legislation could be used to go after the United States, which is in contravention of both EU and WTO rules since it banned Internet wagering last year.
The Saint Landry Parish District Attorney's Office in Louisiana has announced that Internet gambling charges against Peter Dicks, former chairman of Sportingbet Plc., have been dismissed in exchange for $400,000, after extradition issues rendered the case unprosecutable.
Dicks was arrested on a Louisiana warrant in New York last September but was freed because New York law allows extradition only when the accused was physically present in the state where the alleged crime was committed. Dicks didn't set foot in Louisiana, a state that banned online wagering in 1997, and is not now ever expected to.
The Runnin' Rebels Sweet Sixteen game against Oregon will be aired live on Miracle Mile Shops' (formerly Desert Passage) new Strip-side LED video screen, Friday, March 23 at 6:40 p.m. Recently, Miracle Mile Shops installed a 150' x 40' state-of-the-art LED video screen overlooking the Bellagio fountains. The record-breaking screen will host the world's largest Runnin' Rebels broadcast for fans not wanting to miss a second of the Sweet Sixteen action. The LED video screen will go live at 6:30 p.m. for an anticipated 6:40 p.m. tip-off.
Rock superstars Bon Jovi will reunite with Tiger Woods at Tiger Jam X on May 26 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The show will mark 10 years of the golf legend's fundraising concerts for his Tiger Woods Foundation, estimated to have helped 10 million young people. Tickets are due to go on sale March 24 through the usual outlets.
Although Nevada regulators recently gave their blessing to the partnership between MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho, daughter of Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho, to build and operate a casino resort in Macau, State Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Morris) is now calling on the New Jersey Attorney General to take a hard look at the deal. Merkt says he's troubled by reports of Ho senior's alleged involvement in a Chinese triad that operated a loan-shark scheme in 16 of the casinos he owns with his daughter and in interview said that regulators in New Jersey, where MGM Mirage co-owns the Borgata hotel-casino, should not be swayed by Nevada's prior ruling.
PT's Entertainment Group has been awarded "#1 Non-Hotel Bar" in Las Vegas in this year's Las Vegas Weekly 2007 Readers' Choice Awards. Part of the Golden Tavern group, Nevada's largest tavern operator, there are 34 PT's locations around the valley, known in particular for their sports coverage and good quality bar food.
The Silverton Casino was due to erect a huge new 54-foot sign on the west corner of Dean Martin and Blue Diamond tomorrow, but news has just been released that it's now not going to take place until Friday sometime. We'll keep you posted.
Responding to the rumor of a sale pending for the New Frontier, owner Phil Ruffin confirmed only that "preliminary" talks are in progress with the group that owns the Plaza Hotel in New York. The real interest in these discussions, however, centers on the reported purchase price of $1.5 billion, which would set the value of the land at a record $40 million per acre. All involved appear skeptical that this price will hold up.
Also thanks to Mr Politz, we hear that the Rainbow Bar and Grill will soon be moving to a larger space inside the newly remodeled Sapphire's Gentlemen's Club on Dean Martin Drive. The owners are hoping that the new venue will give them better opportunity to offer live music, in addition to escaping the ongoing construction/traffic problems that have plagued their current location at Paradise and Harmon.
The final performances of this popular musical at the Gold Coast take place between now and April 1, when it closes permanently in Las Vegas. The show will be replaced on April 14 by Hello Dere, starring Marty Allen and Karon Blackwell.
According to Michael Politz's online newsletter, The Vegas Eye, when Prince vacates his 3121 showroom at the Rio at the end of this month, he will be replaced by Latin America hotspot Coco Bongo, which currently operates very successfully in Cancun, Mexico. Politz also writes that the Tilted Kilt pub and restaurant, located in the property's Masquerade Village, is set to be replaced by a branch of national chain McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon.
Tool, who were supposed to be the debut performers at the Palms' new venue, The Pearl, but had to cancel due to injury, have announced new show dates for Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th. Customers that purchased tickets for the original Tool performances through Ticketmaster.com will receive an email today informing them of ticketing options for the rescheduled dates.
In today's LV Review-Journal, gossip columnist Norm Clarke writes that the Scintas will leave the Sahara on May 12. He further writes that the Web site theslatinreport.com reports that a deal is near complete for the sale of the Frontier to a company called Elad Properties. Indeed, the Web site says the buyers would bring a version of New York's Plaza Hotel to Las Vegas. We've seen no confirmation from other sources.
It's today been announced that the Luxor will become home to a new Cirque du Soleil show. While details of the new production will not be released officially until a press event at 2 p.m. this Thursday, it's long been rumored that the show will be a Cirque collaboration with "Mindfreak" magician Criss Angel.
At 4 p.m. this afternoon, a chopper will be landing on the roof of the Rio, and we're not talking about a helicopter. There will be a chopper of the flying variety present at the event, but only to airlift Orange County Chopper's (of "American Chopper" fame) new Go Fast Chopper into the Voodoo Lounge. Once the bike has landed on the roof, the Go Fast energy drink Jet Pack Man will celebrate by launching himself from the roof with his jet pack and flying around the bike, before landing back on the roof. That's the plan, anyhow. This event is media only, but it's all being filmed for an upcoming episode of the popular Discovery Channel show.
What do they have in common? One of the contestants on this season of "Dancing with the Stars" is Shandi Finnessey. Shandi is the hostess on the "Ultimate Blackjack Tour," as well as the cover girl for the just released All In magazine (see the sizzling cover on the home page). "Dancing" debuts nationally tonight on ABC at 8 p.m.
After upsetting Georgia Tech and Wisconsin to advance to the NCAA basketball tournament's round of 16, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels are the toast of Las Vegas. Read about 'em in a feature in the "Sports" section of today's USA Today. And despite published reports that have UNLV at "10-1" to win it all, the odds at the books are more like 75-1.
Palace and Texas Stations will be hosting El Súper Clásico soccer viewing parties tonight for the match between Mexico's two most popular teams, Chivas Guardalajara and Club America of Mexico City. The parties will be held at Sound Trax and Club Armadillo, with free admission, food and drink specials, and raffles. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game, which both venues will broadcast live on big screens, kicks off at 7 p.m.
From noon to 5 p.m. today, the newly remodeled Palms Pool & Bungalows will be hiring cocktail servers, bartenders, lifeguards, food runners, porters, and security, so head on over if you're looking for a summer job working among all the beautiful people.
Don't forget the new "turbo-style" UBT Elimination Blackjack™ sit-n-gos commence at 8 p.m. tonight at the Venetian, with $100, $250, and $500 buy-ins. Check our "Tournament" link under "Gambling Info" for further information.
Here's an update on March Madness events. The Hilton's parties in the sports book are running today through Sunday. South Point has a viewing party in the Grand Ballroom. Slot players can benefit with 2X points (Fri.-Sun.) at Coast casinos, 3X points (Sunday) at both Arizona Charlie's, and 6X points (Fri.-Sun.) at Sam's Town.
The former Barbary Coast continues its rapid transformation into Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon. The name is now up on the front of the building.
Obviously, the main event this weekend is St Patrick's Day, which Las Vegas, with its plethora of Irish pubs and "any excuse for a party" attitude, likes to celebrate in true style. But if green beer isn't your thing, there's plenty of other stuff going on too, including the debut of the Palms' new music venue, The Pearl, Roseanne Barr at New York-New York, and, direct from its smash run in London's West End, Jerry Springer The Opera, performed concert-style, at the MGM.
The inaugural True Colors Tour, in support of the Human Rights Campaign, will come to the MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday, June 8, featuring five hours of nonstop music from Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls, Indigo Girls, The Gossip, and The Misshapes, along with host Margaret Cho. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at noon and are available from the MGM Grand box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, priced at $100, $70, and $50.
Beginning today, and continuing through Monday, March 26, Club Palms members have the chance to win a share of $110,000 in guaranteed cash prizes in the "March Mania Giveaway." A drawing will take place each night at 7 p.m., with 15 Club Palms members having their Club ID selected to win a cash prize of $500-$1,000. On March 26, a final drawing for $10,000 will be held, followed by an additional giveway of unclaimed prizes from the previous drawings. Visit the Club Palms booth inside the Palms Casino for more details.
In a new twist on March Madness, according to the latest issue of www.thecircuit.com, Tryst nightclub at the Wynn will tonight host a new "Stripper Madness" contest, with six of the city's gentlemen's clubs sending a representative to compete for the title of "Best Adult Entertainer" and a grand prize of $1,500 in cash.
PURE Management Group's new venue at the Rio is due to open tonight. Comprising what sounds to us a slightly bizarre combination of restaurant, bar, nightclub, and bowling alley, it will apparently be family-friendly during the day and then morph into an adult playground after 9 p.m. nightly.
Meanwhile, the scheduled opening of the Stratosphere's new Polly Esther's nightspot, due to open tonight, has been postponed until tomorrow due to construction delays. The media party is from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., with doors opening to the general public from 9 p.m.
"MIT" Mike Aponte, a manager of the infamous MIT blackjack team and World Series of Blackjack champion, along with David "Mr. J" Irvine, a fellow MIT team member, will be showing blackjack enthusiasts how to beat the house through an intensive one-day seminar Saturday, June 23. The event, to be held at the non-gaming Platinum Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas, will cost $899 per person, with enrollment capped at 50 students, so book soon to avoid disappointment. An earlier training day is slated for April 28, at the W Hotel Times Square in New York City. For more information and to sign up, visit www.BlackjackInstitute.com
The Palms weekly mini Elimination Blackjack tournament runs today, with rounds at 2 and 3:30 pm. Entry is $120 and there's one $50 re-buy. Tomorrow, the Venetian initiates its Friday-night Elimination Blackjack sit-n-gos, with ongoing $100, $250, and $500 one-table events running from 8 pm to 2 am. These will be "turbo" events, with eliminations on hands 5, 10, and 20, and rounds concluding on hand 21.
Former FBI Special Agent Joe Pistone, co-author of "Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business," will be signing copies of this account of how he infiltrated the New York mafia, at the Reading Room at Mandalay Place from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. this evening.
Native Nevadan and current Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, Harry Reid, has announced plans to reveal the details about his life in Nevada and Washington, D.C., in a book to be published in Spring 2008.
Mandalay Bay has today announced the introduction of its new "Gold Class" series of rooms. The property has remodeled 13 floors of the hotel, with amenities in the new 500-1,500-square-foot rooms including Mp3 docks, 42" plasmas, and spa tubs. They're promoting the new rooms with a Fly Back Free gift certificate for a free trip back. Call 877/632-7800 and mention code PMBGOLD-P2 for more information and to book a room.
Two big announcements this morning about upcoming music events in Las Vegas: Firstly, on June 16, Roger Waters will be performing the entire epic rock masterpiece, "The Dark Side of the Moon," at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tickets, priced at $45, $85, and $150, go on sale this Saturday and are available via the MGM Grand box office and all Ticketmaster locations, plus both companies' Web sites.
As if that wasn't enough, it's also been announced that legendary '70s funk band Sly and the Family Stone will be guest performers, for one night only, during George Wallace's show at the Flamingo on March 31st. It will be the band's first live performance in Las Vegas in 20 years. Tickets are $99 and $125 and can be purchased at the Flamingo box office (702/733-3333) or at www.FlamingoLasVegas.com
Take a coffee break between 10 am and noon on Thursday, March 15, with a FREE 12 oz. cup of premium drip coffee at all Starbucks locations.
Although all the books will be hopping come Thursday for the opening rounds of the college basketball championships, a few casinos are advertising special parties. The Las Vegas Hilton is running an event in its sports book over the weekend. Drawings and drink deals will also be running, beginning Thursday, at Gold Coast, Suncoast, Orleans, and Sam's Town. You have until tomorrow to enter the "Last Man Standing" tournament contest ($25 entry) at any Station or Fiesta casino. And don't forget the free picks from Fezzik and free March Madness contest ($500 in prizes), both of which can be accessed by clicking the appropriate icons on our home page. We'll post more as we hear about it.
Now through the end of March, the spa at Platinum, the new non-gaming property a block east of the Strip on Flamingo, is offering 25% of all spa services, from facials and hot stone therapies to specialist treatments like sports and mom-to-be massages. Go on, treat yourself! Call 702/636-2424 for more information and reservations.
The lineup for this summer's Lake Las Vegas outdoor concert series has just been announced and will feature Chris Isaak (May 11), John Legend (May 18), Lang Lang, with 35-piece orchestra (June 2), Three Dog Night with The Warren Brothers (June 30), the Nevada Ballet (Sept. 8), and Kenny G (Sept. 29). Ticket prices vary from event to event, so check our Shows and Events Planner (under "Vegas Info") for more details, or visit the official Web site: http://www.starsonthelake.com/
From tonight through Saturday March 17 only, popular singer Earl Turner, who performed his last show at Palace Station at the end of January, will be a special guest of George Wallace for his nightly 10 p.m. show at the Flamingo. For ticket information call 702/733-3333 or visit www.FlamingoLasVegas.com
Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens have made the transition to spring with a display representing an oversized garden, where a giant straw hat, gardener's trowel, watering can, and pots, weighing between 500 and 2,000 pounds each, have all been created from tens of thousands of individual plants and blooms.
Meanwhile, chocoholics should head on over to Jean Philippe Pâtisserie, where you can apparently find two hand-crafted 7-feet tall chocolate bunnies fishing from an animated steamboat floating on a pond of sugar waves, complete with a working paddle. The one-of-a-kind sculpture took Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Philippe Maury a whole month to design and create this one-of-a-kind sculpture.
Both exhibits will be on display 24 hours a day through May 5 and are free to the public.
The Stardust tower was imploded last night at 2:30. The low-rise southern entrance of the building remains intact. The area is fenced off, but you can see the rubble from the demolition tipping over the fences from the Strip. It's a somewhat eerie site, as there is now nothing between the Frontier and Slots A Fun. However, the vast open area gives you a real sense of how sprawling the Stardust property was and how much room there is for Echelon Place.
The new beach at TAO (Venetian), which has been on the cards since last year's pool season, has finally been given a debut date, namely this May. A fourth dimension to complement the venue's existing lounge, restaurant, and nightclub, the exclusive beach and pool area will apparently offer European-style sunbathing, poolside dining and cocktails, seven luxury cabanas featuring HD plasma-screen TVs with Xbox gaming consoles and DVD libraries, Internet access, customized mini bars, iPod rental, a staff of masseuses, and a sunglass-cleaning service.
Apparently, at night the venue will morph into an open-air nightclub featuring a floating dance floor, four 14-foot fire columns, resident DJs Reach and Galeano, and strategically-placed beds.
For the second month running, revenue from slots declined sharply in Atlantic City, falling 7.8% in February to $264.4 million, after declining 7.2% the previous month. Unlike the revenue drop in Nevada, reported earlier today in this column, which is being viewed as a relative and only temporary blip, the declining New Jersey figures are considered primarily a result of the increased competition from newly licensed Philadelphia slot parlors, and part of a general malaise affecting Atlantic City's gaming industry.
Morgans Hotel Group, the new owner of the Hard Rock, has announced plans to add 950 rooms, of which 400 will be housed in a 15-story all-suite tower. The casino, pool area, Joint, and retail and meeting spaces will also expand. "Several" new food and beverage venues and a spa-health club are also in the works; all the existing rooms will be renovated. The project will begin later this year, with a scheduled mid-2009 completion date.
As part of his month-long book drive to promote the importance of reading to kids, comedy magician Mac King will be hosting a free event today at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza (4300 E. Sunset) from 4 p.m. He'll be reading and providing magic and comedy entertainment and there will be free pizza and soda served to the children. The event is open to the public.
The defending champion Florida Gators are the favorites to win this year's NCAA Basketball Championship at +400 (4-1). Behind Florida are the tourney's other #1 seeds: Kansas +550, Ohio State +655, and North Carolina +765. Las Vegas' Runnin' Rebels are listed at +25000.
Nevada's statewide gambling win dropped in January compared to the same month last year. In recent years, the month-to-months have rarely dropped, but last January holds the record for the biggest win of all time. Given the tough comparison, the 2.1% drop is not considered a troublesome sign for the casinos.
From 1-7 p.m. today and tomorrow, Sephora at the Venetian will be hosting a Skyn Iceland promotion, including opportunities for complimentary "Pampering Skyn Treatments" using products favored by the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Susan Sarandon.
McMullan's Irish Pub (4650 W. Tropicana) is hosting a "going bald for kid's cancer" event today to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for pediatric cancer treatment and research projects. Shavers and shavees will be gathering from 4 p.m. until midnight to raise money, while enjoying food and entertainment. Call 702/243-5520 for more information.
According to the Web site www.leavinglv.net, which has been monitoring the fate of the Stardust very closely, the time and date of the property's implosion has now been set for Tuesday, March 13, at approximately 2 a.m. The timing of the demolition has been subject to much change and some secrecy: Those responsible for the implosion do not want to encourage large crowds, partly (we've read) because of the amount of toxic silica dust that will be released into the atmosphere as a result. If you do decide to go along and witness the implosion, as we know many of you would like, then you might be advised to wear one of those face masks to avoid inhaling the dust.
According to Mike Weatherford's column in yesterday's R-J, the comedian has announced plans to quit his rigorous show schedule at the Sahara at the end of this year, having recently been diagnosed with a heart condition. The fate of the property's other headliners has not yet been announced, following news of the property's sale.
In case you hadn't noticed, it's NASCAR weekend in Vegas, so expect some wicked traffic just about everywhere, especially on the US-95 approaching the LV Motor Speedway. If you don't want to drive, there's also a CAT bus service to/from the venue. There are still a few tickets left for the events on the official Web site (see below) – just don't expect to get two seats together.
And if loud cars going round and round just is't your thing, there's plenty of other stuff to choose from. Look:
Designed by the ultra chic-sounding Japanese firm Super Potato (also responsible for Sensi at Bellagio and StripSteak at MBay) the Luxor's new lounge is called Aurora and is apparently themed to evoke the ethereal Northern Lights. The lounge, located by the main lobby, is open 24/7 and offers European bottle service, wine service, and martinis poured tableside.
If you don't make it to the Palms or just can't get enough of Adam Carolla, there's a second chance to hang out with him tonight at his after-show party, which takes place from 11 p.m. at SCORES gentlemen's club.
More NASCAR stuff: From 6-10 p.m. today, meet local driver Kurt Busch and check out Adam Carolla's radio show in the Lounge at the Palms. It's free and open to the public.
Effective next Monday, March 12, the Sirens of TI free spectacle at Treasure Island will have new summer showtimes, appearing nightly at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11:30 p.m.
Now through the end of the month, the Silverton's awarding up to 100,000 pull-tab game cards to qualified Player Club members. All game cards are guaranteed to contain a prize, ranging from cash sums of $5 up to $10,000, dining prizes, free drinks, or Player Club points. There are also 10,000 cards that hold the ticket to a mystery gift. Player Club members earn game cards based on their level of play and new members will receive one game card upon signing up.
Meanwhile, Station Casinos are launching the group-wide "Everyone wins" $1.75 Million Scratch & Win contest next Friday, March 16, which will also run through the remainder of the month. Thousands of prizes will be given away, including free meals, free slot play, Boarding Pass points, and cash prizes up to $1,000, plus the chance to enter three Saturday drawings on March 17, 24, and 31 for a shot at winning a share of $270,000 in cash and free slot play. Visit your nearest Boarding Pass/Amigo Club booth for more information.
Shares in online sports book and casino Sportingbet.com rose by almost 15% yesterday following an announcement by Austria-based online gambling group BWIN Interactive Entertainment AG that it had made a "very preliminary" takeover approach. Last month, Sportingbet posted a loss in the second quarter after the company was forced out of the U.S. market.
The big race isn't until Sunday, but the madness has already begun, apparently. There's a free autograph signing from (we think) 5 p.m. today with Matt Kenseth and then Todd Kluever at the NASCAR Cafe at the Sahara, for which you have to have a wristband. They'll start handing out the wristbands at 10 p.m. and only 250 will be distributed, but at 9:30 a.m. we were informed that there were already over 300 people waiting in line. The same thing happens tomorrow, with signings by Mark Martin and Regan Smith from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Again, get there early in the morning for your wristband if you don't want to risk disappointment.
We'll post other related events and happenings as the weekend unfolds, so keep watching this space.
The Palms weekly mini Elimination Blackjack tournament runs today, with rounds at 2 and 3:30 pm. Entry is $120 and there's one $50 re-buy. Anthony Curtis and other players from CBS' Ultimate Blackjack Tour will be in the field.
Turns out that the jackpot, which breaks the record for the largest ever won in N. America, totaled a whopping $390 million, $20 million higher than previous reports had estimated.
In addition to the two ticket holders who matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball, and will split the jackpot between them, another 43 players matched everything except the Mega Ball and will win $250,000 each (unless they bought their ticket in California, where prizes are paid on a pari-mutuel basis and may differ from the fixed prize amounts paid elsewhere).
Our apologies: A technical glitch in our system resulted in yesterday's QoD about the Lido de Paris running twice. This has now been fixed and the correct QoD is now showing, which is the culmination of our Stardust Tribute week, featuring the reminiscences of our readers. If you logged on earlier only to find yesterday's answer, then please revisit the QoD link to read today's.
At least two players will share the record $370 million Mega Millions jackpot, which was finally hit last night. The winning numbers were announced in a studio in Times Square, where the 12 participating Mega Millions states agreed to move the drawing from its usual home in Atlanta, after the jackpot hit $355 million Monday. The winning tickets were sold in New Jersey and Georgia and the winning numbers were: 16-22-29-39-42. The Mega Ball was 20.
We understand there were some system problems in California, so more winners may be announced in that state. We also heard of problems in Ohio, which prevented many people from participating.
The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has reached $370 million, topping the previous U.S. lottery record of $365 million. Residents of Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington are eligible to play and are reportedly doing so in droves. It's not yet known if the jackpot was hit yesterday.
The top European court ruled today that Italy -- and by extension all other EU member states -- cannot prosecute bookmakers based in other European countries, a ruling that private-sector gaming companies are hailing as a victory. Online operators have been using licenses from one state to operate in other EU states, under the rules of the single market, but countries such as France and Italy, where lucrative national gambling monopolies operate. The ruling left some areas gray and applies only to sports betting, but its seen as a small positive step forward for online operators in Europe.
There was an implosion last night on the north end of the Strip, but it wasn't the Stardust. It was the garages across the Strip on the far north end of the Wynn property. Not the garages attached to the Wynn, but others that remained from the old Desert Inn. The space was cleared as part of the ongoing Encore construction. The Stardust implosion could take place any day now, as the building's glass has been removed in preparation for bringing it down.
Today's USA Today contains a story about casino cheats traveling to midwest casinos to take advantage of break-in staff. This sort of thing has taken place since the new casinos began opening around the country in the '90s. Cheats and skilled players always check out new casinos, even when they open in Las Vegas.
From Saturday, April 21, Las Vegans and visitors will be able to experience what it's like to be an astronaut, thanks to ZERO-G, the only FAA-approved provider of commerical weightless flights. The company will be offering the same flight experience used for training by NASA, using a specially modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft, which will depart from Signature Air Terminal at McCarran Airport. The aircraft's interior has a zero-gravity playroom where you can fly, flip, bounce off the padded walls and floors, and pretend you're in The Matrix.
The flights will cost $3,500 per seat, plus tax, with the first ones currently scheduled for April 21, May 26, June 16, 17, and 30, August 4, September 1 and 2, October 6, November 10, and December 30 and 31. For more information, visit www.GoZeroG.com or call 800/937-6480.
Having made it to the finals by defeating (respectively) Shannon Elizabeth and Gavin Smith, Paul Wasicka faced Chad Brown at the final table of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caeasars Palace yesterday. The winner was decided in a best-two-out-of-three finals format, but only two of the possible three matches were played on account of Wasicka winning them both.
If you weren't there to witness the action in person, you can catch the shows on consecutive Sundays on NBC, commencing April 8.
Here are today's quarter-final matchups:
Shannon Elizabeth vs. Humberto Brenes
Paul Wasicka vs. Nam Le
Andy Bloch vs. Gavin Smith
Kristy Gazes vs. Chad Brown
For excellent round-ups of each match, go to Allinmag.com.
The Sahara has reportedly been sold to Los Angeles entertainment and hotel magnate, Sam Nazarian. The sale price was not announced, but is being estimated at between $300 and $400 million. No plans for the property have been announced, though a spokesperson hinted at a major overhaul and theme change.
Here are the matchups for the second round of the Heads-Up Championship at Caesars Palace.
Clubs bracket:
Shannon Elizabeth vs. Jeff Madsen
Vanessa Rousso vs. Barry Greenstein
Humberto Brenes vs. Phil Laak
Huck Seed vs. Chip Reese
Spades bracket:
Tuan Le vs. T.J. Cloutier
Joe Hachem vs. Paul Wasicka
Shawn Sheikhan vs. Ted Forrest
Annie Duke vs. Nam Le
Hearts bracket:
Allen Cunningham vs. Andy Bloch
Mike Matusow vs. Michael Mizrachi
Gavin Smith vs. Johnny Chan
Jamie Gold vs. Phil Gordon
Diamonds bracket:
Kristy Gazes vs. Isabelle Mercier
Don Cheadle vs. Scott Fischman
Brad Booth vs. David Williams
Gabe Kaplan vs. Chad Brown
Two more brackets have been played and here's who's in and who's out:
In: Tuan Le, T.J. Cloutier, Joe Hachem, Paul Wasicka, Gus Hansen, Ted Forrest, Annie Duke, Nam Le, Allen Cunningham, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Michael Mizrachi, Gavin Smith, Johnny Chan, Jamie Gold, and Phil Gordon
Out: Antonio Esfandiari, Cyndy Violette, Chris Moneymaker, Eli Elezra, Shawn Sheikhan, Sam Farha, Jeff Shulman, Greg Raymer, John Michael, Jennifer Harman, Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, Dvid Benyamine, J.C. Tran, Jennifer Tilly, and Scotty Nguyen.
There's one bracket left to play tonight, featuring the likes of Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, and Howard Lederer. If they're done before our bedtime, we'll post the results tonight; otherwise, tune in tomorrow.
The NBC National Heads-up Poker Challenge is underway at Caesars Palace, with sixty-four of the world's best players, plus a handful of celebs., competing in a three-day elimination tournament. The first bracket has been played and big names out already include Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil, who was defeated by actress Shannon Elizabeth, Carlos Mortenson, who was knocked out by Barry Greenstein, and Erick Lindgren, who was vanquished by Vanessa Rousso. Phil Laak, Huck Seed, and Chip Reese are all through to the next round in this bracket, with three more first rounds to be played today.
The tournament is being taped for broadcast on NBC and CNBC for seven consecutive Sundays in April and May and the viewing gallery is open to the public on a first-come first-served basis.
For a daily round-up and in-depth analysis of each day's results, visit All In Magazine's Web site.
It's not much of an update, since further details are proving elusive. Calls to the front desk and concierge at Palace Station were met with surprise and no knowledge of any conflagration, while the Public Affairs office of the Fire Dept. is currently on answerphone. As our source thought the smoke was coming from the parking garage, our best guess right now is that either a vehicle caught fire, or else the problem wasn't emanating from that property at all, but rather another address nearby. We're all chained to our desks right now and can't see Palace Station from our office, but if anyone's out and about and can shed any more light on this mystery, do drop us a line at [email protected]
Michael's, one of the few original old-style gourmet rooms left in town, will be moving from the former Barbary Coast (now Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, as of yesterday) to South Point sometime in April.
We just got a call from a friend who's at Palace Station, informing us that smoke is currently billowing from the parking garage. It doesn't appear that the casino-hotel itself is on fire; we'll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
It's a musical cornucopia of a weekend, with everything from Tom Jones at the MGM Grand and Christina Aguilera at MBay to Tokyo Smog at the Art Bar. Plus, there's music and wine at the Empire Ballroom tonight, or (free) music and lots of fun arty stuff at First Fridays downtown. Here, check it out:
It's the 44th Annual Coin Show at Sam's Town March 2-4, featuring gold, silver, rare coins, currency, and bullion. Free parking and admission. Hours: Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Throughout the month of March, the Las Vegas Hilton is running a promotion for Nevada residents who have the chance to play -- and win -- 15 video poker machines located in the SpaceQuest casino. To be eligible to win one of the machines, you must be a local player and member of the Resorts Destination Casino Club and hit a royal with your players card in the machine. Complete rules, including certain restrictions, are posted at the casino.
To celebrate its grand opening, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon will issue two limited edition $5 inaugural chips beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 2. The gaming tokens will be available at 10 a.m. at one window in the casino cage. Only 500 of each of the two $5 chips have been commissioned and purchasers may buy only five $5 chips per visit to the cage window.
MGM Mirage's partnership with Chinese businesswoman Pansy Ho has been approved by Nevada gaming regulators. The arrangement had been subject to some uncertainty due to the controversy surrounding Ho's father, business tycoon Stanley Ho, who is suspected of involvement in organized crime, but the three-member panel approved the partnership after Pansy and her sister Daisy convinced them of their independence business-wise from their father. (This despite the fact that they freely confirmed they would not decline further financial gifts from him.)
The award-winning musical Jerry Springer the Opera, which took London's West End by storm, is coming to the MGM Grand for two concert-style performances March 17 and 18. The shows will star members of the casts of Jubilee!, Folies Bergère, Mamma Mia!, and Phantom of the Opera, with Artie Anderson leading the cast as Jerry Springer. The show will perform at 1 p.m. both days, with tickets priced at $30, $50, and $75 and proceeds benefitting HIV/AIDS charity Golden Rainbow. Call 702/384-2899 for reservations.
The casino formerly known as Barbary Coast is due to reopen around 2 p.m. today as Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon.
Two of the then 18-year-olds (now 19) who pleaded guilty to the swarm beating, caught on video, of an MGM Grand employee last April, have been sentenced to prison. One of the youths received two to five years for his conviction on a felony battery charge while the other was sentenced to between four and 20 years for five battery and robbery-related felonies. The other nine perpetrators involved in the incident were all juveniles and are also currently being sentenced.
Beginning today, local players at the Las Vegas Hilton have the chance to play -- and win -- a video poker machine. 15 machines located in the SpaceQuest casino will be given away to Nevada residents who are members of the Resorts Destination Casino Club. Players must have their card in the machine when they hit a Royal in order to qualify. The promotion runs through the month of March. Complete rules, including certain restrictions, are posted at the casino.
Pay extra attention to your speed, as today marked the beginning of the "Keep Nevada Safe" campaign, a month-long initiative that will see extra traffic cops on the streets on the lookout for speeding drivers, in an attempt to curb Nevada's rising rate of fatal accidents attributable to speed.
The Palms weekly mini Elimination Blackjack tournament runs today, with rounds at 2 and 3:30 pm. Entry is $120 and there's one $50 re-buy. Look for EBJ tournaments to begin on Fridays at the Venetian in two weeks.