The Hard Rock Beach Club ushers in the '09 poolside concert season with the debut of Friday Night Live featuring Rusted Root. Also on Friday night, the Palms will unveil Huntington Ink, a high-end Asian inspired tattoo lounge. On The Strip, the MGM Grand is abuzz for Saturday’s Fight Night featuring Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao and Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton and if you missed out on getting tickets, virtually every MGM/Mirage property is hosting a closed circuit viewing party. The after-fight party crowd can follow Hatton to Studio 54. Downtown goes Polynesian this weekend with the Lei Day Festival in the California parking lot. And it's the Las Vegas PRIDE parade.
Luxor has closed its Chinese restaurant, Fusia, effective immediately. "Future plans for the space will be released at a later date," says MGM Mirage.
The Web site of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that contractors at Fontainebleau are trimming their workforces in response to a pullback of funding by 11 banks that had previously agreed to finance the project. Going still further, the contractors are reported to be urging their employees to boycott Bank of America (a lead lender on F'bleau) and close any BofA accounts they might have. "The only ones left [at F'bleau] are helpers and apprentices to help clean up and return the rentals," claimed one worker. An F'bleau spokesman has confirmed the layoffs.
Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal contains a feature on the Rio's Sapphire Pool -- the topless pool operated by Sapphire Gentlemen's club and staffed by its dancers. For more about this and the other eleven topless pools around town, plus all upcoming poolside events, check out our Cool Pools feature and sign up for the Topless Vegas Twitter feed. The fully illustrated Topless Vegas guide book will be available for instant download any day now...
Following the swift and ignominious demise of "The Real Deal" at the Venetian, casino owner Sheldon Adelson is suing show producer Merv Adelson (no relation). The Venetian is seeking $1 million, charging "Real Deal" Adelson with "failing to continuously conduct" the show and breaking his lease with the casino, among other accusations, which include the assertion that "The Real Deal" would not open its books. A former business partner of Moe Dalitz, Merv Adelson's most recent claim to celebrity was having been married for six years to Barbara Walters.
A federal court ruling on patents disputed by Bally Technologies and IGT has both sides declaring, "Victory is mine!" The litigation pertains to Bally's Power Bonusing™ suite. The court held that Power Rewards™ and Power Winners™ infringed upon portions of two IGT patents. It did not, however, rule in IGT's favor on all of its eight claims (whittled down from an initial 200). Both companies put out press releases crowning themselves the winner. "We are pleased that the court has affirmed the validity of our patents and their infringement. We believe strongly in the United States patent system," proclaimed new IGT President Patti Hart. In reply, a Bally exec harrumphed that "revenues derived from these products to date are immaterial to Bally’s financial position."
Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs, OK, may not be regarded as cutting-edge but it's ahead of the curve on swine flu precautions. It's employing "a constant rotation" of wiping down slot machines, slot stools, replacing card decks, switching dealers every hour, etc., and it's beefing up the number of hand sanitizers on its casino floor.
Sunshine State legislators would rather spit on $355 million in Seminole gambling proceeds than use it to fund education. The upper and lower houses of the Florida Legislature are at an impasse on what sort of compact to grant the Seminole Tribe and what compensatory concessions to give to the state's parimutuels. (One proposal would have allowed Class II machines and blackjack.) So it appears that, for the time being, tribal tax payments will remain in escrow, and the Seminoles will keep the table games that Gov. Charlie Crist granted them before his compact was invalidated in court. Federal intervention to curb the Seminoles is unlikely, especially since Class III slots are legal in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, meaning that tribes are also entitled to at least that much under federal law.
Few Strip shows have displayed the promotional flair of Bette Midler's The Showgirl Must Go On. The latest case in point is a series of auctions for bragging rights to be what the Divine Miss M would call a "Smug Mutharf&*%er." Each Saturday night in June, two winning bidders will be treated to a pair of front-row seats each, a backstage meet-and-greet, and a photo op with the star. Place your bids at www.Ticketmaster.com/MeetDivineMissM.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will commemorate the opening of the new farmers market on East Fremont Street with a ceremonial carrot-breaking tomorrow at 5 p.m. The event, which coincides with First Friday, will take place at the El Cortez. The market will enable downtown Las Vegans to stock up on fresh produce every Friday between 4-8 p.m. True, open-air markets are usually thought of as a morning/early afternoon activity but, hey, this is Vegas; doing things in the morning isn't in our DNA.
Andrew Christian, known as "the designer behind 'Flashback' the butt-lifting underwear for men," will be ubiquitous in Las Vegas this weekend. He will be a guest judge at the Pride Parade downtown and, as one of the stars of Bravo's "The Fashion Show," he will be putting in an appearance at the Pride Festival's Cox Communications booth on Saturday afternoon. The tireless designer will also be judging and co-hosting Krave's "Billboard model" contest Saturday night at 10 p.m., alongside Janice Dickinson, who needs no introduction.
In addition to our new ToplessVegas Twitter feed, did you check out Twitter.com/SinCityAdvisor? If not, you should! Live updates through the day about parties, shows, promos, and news from the world of Las Vegas adult entertainment.
With the latest (bad) news from Fontainebleau, a raft of great new buffet deals, and the most recent entertainment updates, you can find Anthony Curtis' nationally syndicated column in LVA in the Media.
Although a suspension of MGM Mirage stock trading earlier today had some bracing for bad news, when the company broke its silence it was essentially to let out a huge sigh of relief. CityCenter partner Dubai World is dropping its lawsuit against MGM and agreeing to resume funding of the metaresort. Both it and MGM are issuing letters of credit committing themselves to bankrolling the remainder of the project, aside from $1.8 billion in bank financing that was on hold but now will be released. "CityCenter is now fully funded and on track to open in December 2009," read a joint communiqué from MGM and its Arabian partner. MGM is responsible for cost overruns and for making up any shortfall in condo sales (below $243 million).
In return for being released from its completion guarantees, Dubai World will refund $135 million that MGM paid on its behalf to keep construction going. Additional construction costs will be secured by Circus Circus and "certain adjacent land." The price of the agreement includes a higher interest rate. MGM stock was selling upward today, so the company's suspension of trading may have been provoked by fears that confidential information had been leaked. For additional analysis of the deal, see Stiffs & Georges.
Celebrity gossip site TMZ has just posted photographs taken by someone in a bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans of a man who looks remarkably like rapper Tupac Shakur, who was fatally shot in Las Vegas 13 years ago. Or was he? While we admit that these photos (taken from the back and side) bear a remarkable resemblance to Tupac, Huntington Press's The Killing of Tupac Shakur contains a pretty convincing photograph of him lying on the autopsy table. Still, conspiracy rumors denying his death have continued to circulate since that fateful night in Sept. 1996, and these photos are eerie ... Take a look on TMZ, check out the book ($3), then decide for yourself...
The chain of Vegas tanning salons is hosting a pool party on Friday at Wet Republic at MGM Grand. Free admission for local ladies who mention Tan Factory. And you can still download their 5-day free tan pass by clicking here. For the latest on the pool scene, check out Cool Pools and sign up for our ToplessVegas Twitter feed for up-to-the-minute news about pools, parties, shows, and gossip.
MGM Mirage has halted trading of its stock today, citing an impending news announcement. Both the company and its CityCenter joint venture have been exploring the possibility of bankruptcy. MGM has also set aside contingency money in case it needs to shut CityCenter down temporarily. Today's news comes on the heels of a revelation that none of the thousands of windows on CityCenter's Mandarin Hotel had been inspected. Said a company spokesman, "We want to build this to code. In the end, we want to build a structure that's comfortable and enjoyable to the guests and beautiful to behold -- and also meets, to everyone's satisfaction, the highest safety criteria." Tuesday was also the deadline for bids on MGM's Beau Rivage, Gold Strike (Tunica, Miss.), and MGM Grand Detroit casinos.
High roller Terrance K. Watanabe was indicted yesterday on counts of passing bad checks and felony theft. Watanabe owes an aggregate of $14.7 million in outstanding markers to the Rio and Caesars Palace.
Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos reported a $30 million first-quarter profit today, a $91 million improvement from the same period last year. This was accomplished despite a 3% drop in revenue. Ameristar's flagship properties include riverboats in the greater Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
High roller host Steve Cyr returns to his alma mater to discuss the casino-VIP trade at UNLV tomorrow. David G. Schwartz, director of UNLV's Center for Gaming Research, hosts the Q&A, which will be held in the Extended Study room of Lied Library at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Afterwards, Cyr will autograph copies of Whale Hunt in the Desert, which will be on sale at the event.
New Jersey's Casino Control Commission has given its approval for the Tropicana Atlantic City to proceed to a bankruptcy-court auction. This means that, after 16 months in state-run limbo, the Trop will soon have a new owner. Bidding will start with a $200 million credit bid by Carl Icahn. That's quite a comedown for a property that was once thought to be worth as much as a billion dollars.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has announced that he'll introduce a bill next week that would repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. UIGEA, attached as a rider to the Safe Ports Act in November 2006, as Congress hurried to adjourn, has been a thorn in the side of online casinos and Internet poker players ever since. Congressional Republicans are expected to oppose UIGEA's rollback. Frank, however, has already missed a self-imposed March 31 deadline for putting UIGEA revocation into motion.
After a sketchy first round of bids resulted in some applications going into the circular file, would-be Maryland casino owners are back with what are described as infinitely more detailed proposals for what their slot houses would look like. Anteing up the most is Cordish Co., which proposes 4,750 slots at Ann Arundel Mills Mall. Penn National's Perryville site and a Baltimore-based group, on the other hand, would start with just 500 slots apiece. The fourth applicant, Ocean Downs, proposes to convert the track to an 800-slot racino. That's 6,500 slots of out a possible maximum of 15,000. All applicants face background checks. Said the Maryland Lottery's procurement officer, "there's some bulk and some volume there to go through, but ... it appears that all four of the applicants are in compliance with the submission for their supplements,"
NBC-TV is using the dog days of summer to launch yet another poker series, as the Peacock continues to double down on the sport as its programming staple. Called "Face the Aces," the show will debut in prime time on Aug. 1 and 9 before reverting to a Saturday afternoon slot in September. "Sopranos" actor Steve Schirripa will emcee "Face," whose contestants will be selected via the Internet. Each contestant will choose one of four poker pros (all of whose identities will be initially masked) for a one-on-one game of heads-up no-limit Hold 'Em. With each win, the contestant is giving a choice of taking the pot home or in risking in yet another, higher-stakes match. If "Face the Aces" draws well and NBC's Saturday-night lineup struggles, the game show may be moved back to prime time. Seven episodes have been ordered so far.
In his "Movable Buffet" blog, reporter Richard Abowitz critiques the strategies that have made Annie Duke the odds-on favorite to win "Celebrity Apprentice" -- and which earned her the endearment "whore pit viper" from the ever-classy Melissa Rivers. Joan Rivers later elevated the discourse even further, calling Duke "white trash" and "a Nazi." "I am not at all surprised that Duke upset and unhinged ... Joan and Melissa. She played them. You see, the mother and daughter were foolishly participating in a reality show and Annie Duke is playing a game to win," writes Abowitz, who goes on to discuss Duke's approach to the competition with Anthony Curtis. On her own blog, Duke lets you in on her strategy going into next Sunday's episode.
Attending the Milken Institute Global Conference, in Southern California, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn expressed an interest in buying any of a number of MGM Mirage properties "at the right price, whether it’s Bellagio or Circus Circus." He says he's sworn off buying raw land in favor of "kicking [the] tires" of casinos that have seen better days. Wynn was forced out of Bellagio and other Mirage Resorts properties by MGM in 2000, when his stock price was weak. Now the shoe is on the other foot and MGM Mirage is badly in need of cash to finish CityCenter. It has rebuffed offers from Jack Binion and Penn National, but continues to shop some of its casinos around.
Even with revenue down from the first quarter of last year, Harrah's Entertainment managed to lose considerably less money in January-March of 2009. Losses narrowed to $127 million from $275 million in early 2008: a 54% reduction. Revenue at Harrah's Las Vegas casinos was down 21%, but that was balanced by modest growth in Indiana and Illinois, and by only marginal declines in Iowa and Missouri, for a company-wide average of -13%.
Athletes from the DC Motocross team will be signing autographs at DC's Miracle Mile flagship store, in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, on Friday, May 1. Customers can also take advantage of in-store discounts during the signing, which runs from 3-5 p.m. BMX team riders Ricky Carmichael, Nate Adams, Adam Jones, Jeremy McGrath, Robbie Maddison, Dustin Miller, Josh Hill and Davi Millsaps are scheduled to appear at the event.
Although LVA sources have told us that Fontainebleau is on pace for a six-month delay of its October opening, resort officials haven't allowed for the possibility ... until now. Questioned about the unease surrounding the resort's opening, an F'bleau spokesman said, "We have not changed the opening date for the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, although that is a possibility. If we were to postpone the opening, we would inform any convention groups affected by such a decision." The resort has not starting taking room reservations yet.
Now through May 20, Nevadans qualify for complimentary upgrades at Cher at Caesars Palace. Purchase of a second-mezzanine level seat earns you a promotion to first mezzanine. Likewise, those locals who buy first-mezzanine tickets get moved to rear-orchestra seats on the main floor. Prices start at $95 and the offer is available at the Colosseum box office or call 866/510-CHER.
If you're drinking vodka at Las Vegas Pride 2009, it'll be Is (pronounced "ice") Vodka. The beverage is sponsor for the salute to the gay, lesbian, and bisexual members of the Las Vegas community, who will be served by "Is Boys" and "Is Angels" during the festivities. The Pride Parade is held from 8-10 p.m. Friday, along Fourth Street, from West Charleston Boulevard to Ogden Street downtown. A party will immediately follow. The Pride Festival is held Saturday from noon-8 p.m. at the Clark County Amphitheater. Subsequent events will take place at a variety of venues, including Paris-Las Vegas' Risqué nightclub.
May 1 will be the opening date for nightclub impresario John Huntington's new tattoo parlor at the Palms. Huntington Ink will take the place of Huntington & Hart, the Palms' former tattoo stop. "I am so excited to rejoin forces with George Maloof and the Palms team to take the casino tattoo experience to the next level. No other team could have brought me back to Vegas from Costa Rica," Huntington said. "Expect to be blown away." Or at least poked with lots of needles.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, the Fremont Street Experience is hosting a "Summer of '69: Vegas or Bust" festival and concert series beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing all through the summer (108 days in fact, through Labor Day weekend) with a program of free nightly entertainment.
The celebration offers tourists and residents a summer full of free concerts by major iconic bands from 1969, including The Guess Who, Blood Sweat & Tears, Rare Earth, Janis Joplin’s Original Band Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Grass Roots, Jefferson Starship, The 5th Dimension, Canned Heat, and Three Dog Night.
The themed nightly entertainment will also include cover bands and tribute artists, theatrical performances with costumed entertainers, new Viva Vision shows paying tribute to the year 1969, and special guest appearances. We'll be adding complete listings to our Events section, so check back for details.
The Tan Factory is offering a 5-day free tan pass (or $10 off amy purchase) to local followers of its Twitter feed. Just click this link to download and print the offer. Talking of Twitter feeds, if you're interested in the adult entertainment and gossip scene in Las Vegas, sign up for our new Topless Vegas feed right here, where you'll find news of deals like this, plus parties, bikini contests, pole-dancing competitions, show offers, news, the summer pool scene, and much more.
Participating El Pollo Loco locations are giving away 2 pieces of flame-grilled chicken, tortillas, & salsa tomorrow, April 28th, until 8pm. No coupon or additional purchase necessary but the offer's available upon request only, one per customer. The deal's available for walk-in orders only (dine-in or carry-out). Not available for delivery or drive-thru. While supplies last. (Thanks to SaveLV for the heads-up on this one.)
AEG Live has something to brag about; the entertainment giant notched five sold-out shows in Las Vegas over a three-day period. It filled The New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on consecutive nights: Bon Jovi on Friday, then Kenny Chesney on Saturday. Cher packed 'em in on Saturday and Sunday at the Colosseum. AEG scored a hat trick on Saturday, filling the massive MGM Grand Garden Arena for Britney Spears, even with tickets going for as much as $283/seat.
Former NBA star and "personality" Dennis Rodman has been ordered by a federal judge in Las Vegas to pay a former casino Hard Rock beverage manager $225,000 for grabbing and humiliating her at work in March 2006. A lawyer for 28-year-old Sara Ure says Rodman never responded to the civil lawsuit filed against him in November 2007. Ure accused Rodman of grabbing her and forcing her to dance, holding her against her will and slapping her backside in front of subordinates and patrons.
Season victory totals for NFL have posted by the sports book at the Venetian. Jeff Haney has the rundown and Patriots fans should be happy. However, if you follow the Lions, Rams or Raiders, it's going to be a(nother) long season.
Scott Peterson, chief financial officer for Wynn Macau, is relocating to Vegas and assuming the title of CFO at Wynn Las Vegas. He replaces David Sisk, who was cashiered two weeks ago.
That's the word from the South China Morning Post, which is reporting that Las Vegas Sands is putting its highly profitable Sands Macao casino on the market, having failed to find takers for two Cotai Strip retail malls. Under the mooted deal, Sands would continue to run the casino, paying a rent pegged to how gambling revenue it brings in. This is not an unusual arrangement in Macao: Many of Stanley Ho's casinos are owned by other parties and run by his SJM on a lease-out arrangement. The rumored asking price for Sands Macao is $1.3 billion.
Annie Duke goes another round on "Celebrity Apprentice" tonight. She's the betting favorite to win it all at most offshore books that have set a line, and she's done nothing in previous episodes to suggest otherwise. The show airs on NBC tonight at 9 pm.
Britney Spears held an exclusive after-party for about 50 people in Phil Maloof’s Sky Villa inside Palms Place Hotel & Spa last night. The Pussycat Dolls, Britney’s Circus performers & dancers from her show were all in attendance, with Paul Oakenfold on the decks and food by Kerry Simon from Simon (yep, that meant peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, snowbaslls, caramel popcorn, and his signature cotton candy for dessert).
Nevada law enforcement personnel qualify for pairs of free tickets to Michael Winslow’s April 30-May 2 performances at Bonkerz Comedy Club, in Palace Station. At the May 1-2 performances, 10% of the gate will be donated to the Injured Police Officers Fund. Winslow is known from the Police Academy movies or maybe as "that guy who makes lots of funny noises with his mouth," skills showcased in a recent Geico commercial. He performs at Bonkerz on 8 p.m. on April 30, and at both 8 and 10 p.m. the following two nights. Tickets are $29.95, or $19.95 for Nevadans and Palace Station guests.
A pair of Atlantic City casinos are suing the estate of a Michigan construction executive, claiming he cheated them out of $330,000 in gambling debts. The late Robert S. Miller took out a series of markers -- $170K in total – at Borgata last summer, having represented his net worth as $20 million. However, when the casino took his vouchers to the bank, they bounced. Trump Taj Mahal was also frustrated in its efforts to collect on $160K in counter-checks from June 2006. The 77-year-old Miller died last October. Trump is suing his widow, among others.
Actress Lindsay Lohan, who attended last week's premiere of the the new Peepshow burlesque show at Planet Hollywood denies rumors that she seeks a starring role in the production when Kelly Monaco departs, but agreed that she'd be interested in a one-off guest appearance. Look out for full reviews of the show in the May Las Vegas Advisor newsletter and our soon-to-be released Topless Vegas guide.
Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, head of Metro's 2,500+ sworn patrol officers, has told a Senate homeland security subcommittee that the authorities are encouraging valets, housekeepers, private security guards, and other Las Vegas Strip and downtown hotel employees to tip poice about possible criminal and terrorist activity.
"We are working to harness this incredible force multiplier...In our community, there are over 6,700 private security professionals, and thousands more valet attendants, housekeepers, and bell captains, each poised and capapble of detecting suspicious behaviors indicating criminal activity" Gillespie explained.
Interested in updates about the release of our new Topless Vegas guide book and alerts about strip club events, topless shows, pools, nightclubs, and news from the adult entertainment world in Las Vegas? Start following our new Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/ToplessVegas.
From coast to coast, casinos are becoming considerably less generous with their comps, according to an Associated Press. Some, like the Trump Entertainment casinos, have done it to reduce debt while others can’t justify the cost, given current levels of play. "A lot of people are out of work. They have more time to spend in the casinos," said one managerial consultant, "they just don’t have money to spend in them." Added Boyd Gaming’s Rob Stillwell, "We’re much more cautious with our money. You’ve got to be more strategic in targeting your customers." Comp cutbacks listed in the article ranged from 9% to 30%, compared to last year.
Melbourne, Australia’s Crown Casino was forced to swap out all of its $1,000(AU) chips after counterfeit ones were found in the racks. After a review of 13,700 chips, 36 phonies were detected and removed. Crown execs don’t think the chips were in circulation very long but admit they don’t know for sure.
Cajun food is the order of the day as PT’s Gold joins forces with the Louisiana State University Alumni Association of Las Vegas for their annual Crawfish Boil today from noon-4 p.m. The crawfish consumption will take place at the 3770 S. Hualapai branch of the PT’s chain. Only a limited number of tickets (400) are available and can be purchased at www.SinCityTigers.com.
You can now sign up to compete in Krave's Katwalk - the search for the club's new billboard model! There will be six days of competition during Las Vegas Pride Week beginning on Tuesday, April 28th, with over $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, plus entertainment all week long hosted by Janice Dickinson, with The Fuel Girls, The Perry Twins, DJ Morningstar, Naked Boys Singing, Cockyboys Pornstars (Seth Clark, Bobby Clark, Jesse Santana, Wolf Hudson, & Skyler Caine), and celebrity guest judge Andrew Dickinson. Sign up at lasvegaspride.com. And don't forget to visit our Gay & Lesbian Nightlife section and start posting your comments and ratings for Las Vegas' GLBT offerings.
Local papers continue to report that executives at Fontainebleau don't know what prompted 10 or more banks to shut off construction money. TheStreet.com's William Hennelly, citing an unnamed source, writes that "the agreements were contingent upon Fontainebleau Las Vegas selling a certain number of condos at the site -- which they have not." Condo sales, in fact, have not even begun. Hennelly also reports that, according to the source, the megaresort was encountering cost overruns. For the present, F'bleau has $130 million with which to keep its 3,300-person workforce busy. However, the bank consortium's announcement of default cuts the project off from another $800 million in credit.
Tropicana Las Vegas has closed 560 rooms in its Paradise Tower after it was discovered their plumbing wasn't up to code. Although the problem was discovered two days ago it dates back to work done in the 1990s, several changes of ownership ago. Guests displaced from the Paradise Tower will be put up elsewhere in the Trop or, failing that, at other hotels. It is presently unclear how long the Paradise Tower rooms will be out of service.
Seattle-based glass artist Dale Chihuly will give a lecture at Bellagio tomorrow, at 1 p.m. in the hotel's Rafael 1 ballroom. He will introduce his new book, "Chihuly Black," which details his work with black glass. The artist will then sign copies of that and his other books from 2-3 p.m., just outside the Bellagio Conservatory. Chihuly is responsible for Bellagio's stunning "Fiori di Como" chandelier, opposite the hotel's check-in desk. For more information, call 877/957-9777.
Nearly 32 million visits is a lot of traffic but for Atlantic City it's the lowest amount the Boardwalk has seen since 1994 and 1.5 million fewer than last year. Drive-in traffic was way down and even the city's modest airline traffic was off. Charter buses were at their lowest ebb since 1980 -- but more people than ever are taking the train to Atlantic City.
Anthony Curtis' latest weekly column just went live in the LVA in the Media blog, with info about "Day Life" '09 and the launch of the summer pool season (despite the recession, it promises to be even bigger than last year's), and a bunch of entertainment and dining news. Just click the link to get the scoop.
Megabudget megaresort Fontainebleau is suing a clutch of at least 10 banks which pulled $800 million from the $3 billion project, citing unspecified defaults. F'bleau execs say the project is 70% done and they have over $125 million cash on hand to continue work but that the banks' action jeopardizes completion, which is expected to eventually require 5,000 construction workers. The resort's budget has been further strained by the evaporation of the local luxury-condo market. At least $700 million was to have been raised through condo sales; no units have been put onto the market. Although LVA sources tell us that F'bleau's opening has been pushed back into 2010, the resort maintains it is still on pace for an October opening.
Bill Zender, author of Casino-ology, is the guest on the most recent episode of the "Vegas Gang" podcast. Zender's appearance is available for download, starting today. Zender's recent Q&A session at UNLV is streamed online, too.
Britney Spears makes her much anticipated return to Sin City when the Circus Tour invades the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday. Meanwhile, over at the Hard Rock the Joint follows up a successful opening weekend with New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi and country cross-over artist Kenny Chesney on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Jazz music fans won’t want to miss Saturday’s Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Clark County Amphitheater.
Now through May 31, Nevadans can get two tickets for the price of one (four tickets, max) for Jubilee! That works out to $92.50 per pair, for seats in sections A and C. This offer can only be redeemed at the Bally's box office, with the presentation of a Nevada state I.D.
For the fourth year running, the Flamingo will play host to the Epicurean Affair, a mammoth sampling of the best of 100 Las Vegas restaurants, bars, as recognized by AAA, Michelin, Mobil, and the James Beard Foundation. The event will be held in the lush pool area behind the Flamingo and will open at 7 p.m. Admission is $100 per person. Call 702/733-3333 for tickets.
If you were hoping to catch the freaky Vegas funny man on Jay Leno's show tonight, the bad news is that there will be no "Tonight Show" tonight. The good news, however, is that you'll be able to catch Carrot Top on the show next week: Check out Vegas TV for updates.
NBA veterans Spencer Haywood, Michael Brown, and Jerome Williams, and with college great Ed O'Bannon will present for tonight's opening of Hoop Hall Experience, at Planet Hollywood. It'll be Haywood's birthday, so cake is on the menu, along with "stadium-style food and beverages." Prize giveaways are promised, too. This evening's gala runs from 6-9 p.m. Regular hours at Hoop Hall Experience are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission is $17.50 for kids under 12, $21.50 for locals, $22.50 for seniors and members of the armed forces, and $24.50 for adults.
After being briefly offline the official Web site for Green Valley Ranch is back with a new slogan ("Make GVR Your Playground"). More to the point is the addition of what one of our Web gurus calls "cool functionality." This includes 15 virtual tours of the Ranch's hotel, dining, spa, pool and meeting offerings, featuring smooth 360-degree panoramas.
Carol Linnea Johnson, who toplined Mamma Mia! for the last three years of its run at Mandalay Bay, will be featured at this summer's Utah Shakespearean Festival, in Cedar City. She'll be playing opposite real-life husband Don Burroughs (who covered Sam in Mamma Mia!) in Noel Coward's Private Lives. Burroughs will also play two roles in Shakespeare's As You Like It, while Johnson heads a nunnery in Comedy of Errors. The couple first met during the 1996 Utah Shakespearean Festival, in which they both appeared in The Three Musketeers. This year's six-play festival runs June 29-Aug. 29, and tickets are already on sale via www.Bard.org and 800/752-9849. A three-play fall season will run Sept. 18-Oct. 17.
East Fremont Street between Sixth and Las Vegas Boulevard will be the scene of a farmers market every Friday, starting tomorrow from 4-8 p.m. Co-sponsored by the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, the market will play host to 20 or more vendors, hawking their vegetables, fruits, baked goods, pasta, salad dressings, etc. The market is part of the recently created Fremont East Entertainment District, which endeavors to connect the El Cortez and nearby businesses to the Fremont Street Experience.
Although second-quarter revenue at International Game Technology got squeezed, down 17% from last year, it was IGT's profitability that felt the pinch. A $38 million profit in 2Q09 was 44% less than last year. Company executives, though, are optimistic that the worst is behind them and that play is starting to pick up again in parts of the country. Casino operator Penn National had, by current standards, an excellent second quarter, with revenue off by only a fraction of a percent. Profits were dead even with last year's, much to the surprise of gaming analysts, who expected significantly less.
Workers at Harrah's Las Vegas were discovered doing construction work without a permit last Tuesday. The company had apparently applied for the permit but had not waited for it to be processed before starting work, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Harrah's already faces a slew of misdemeanor charges for violating building codes at the Rio and some of its Strip hotels.
New Hard Rock Hotel & Casino headliner Carlos Santana will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award tomorrow night. Santana is being honored by Billboard magazine's Latin Music Conference and the ceremony, held at Miami's Eden Roc Resort, will be telecast live on Telemundo. Tickets for the Hard Rock's Supernatural Santana are now on sale.
The Las Vegas West-Wind drive-in theater (which featured modern Technalight technology for a really good picture) is hosting a free family movie night tomorrow, featuring Bedtime Stories, Madagascar 2, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
There will be other entertainment for kids, including face painters and bounce houses, plus plenty of concession stands for movie snacks. The gates open at 6 p.m. and the movies will start at 8 p.m. You can find details for this and all the other movie theaters in town (plus a whole bunch of other useful stuff) in our LVA Visitor Guide. (Thanks to SaveLV.com for the heads-up on this one.)
According to the New York Post bids are due on Tuesday for MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage (the former Steve Wynn resort in Biloxi, Miss.), and Gold Strike, in Tunica, Miss. Adds the paper, "But because there is a real chance that no offers could come for those casinos, a sale of The Mirage is emerging as another option." It goes on to sketch out a scenario whereby Penn National Gaming makes a downpayment on the Mirage, then gains the property via a credit bid in which banks currently owed money by MGM Mirage would "buy" the casino-hotel with their debt and use it as security against future repayment by Penn. None of the companies involved in this scenario is commenting. Additional coverage can be found in Stiffs & Georges.
Apologies if you've been trying to send email feedback about your choice or wanting to explain your "Other" vote. For some reason, the email link disappeared from today's poll about what you most miss about Vegas that vanished in the past few years. It's now back, so please feel free to use it.
Dennis Griffin, author of The Battle for Las Vegas, Cullotta, and Policing Las Vegas will be speaking at the Henderson branch of Barnes & Noble this Saturday at 1 p.m. Griffin will be making a joint appearance with Henry Hill, the former mobster whose Mafia experiences formed the basis of the movie Goodfellas.
Pedestrians and drivers passing Luxor would find it hard to miss the fact that the central panel of the Believe wrap has been removed. LVA asked MGM Mirage about the change and was told the vinyl "has outlived its useful life by several months" and the company had been planning to make the shift anyway, having sold the east façade of Luxor to serve as a six-week billboard for a soon-to-be-released movie. (We guessed Transformers 2 even before reading that it's the rumor du jour.) As for Angel, his giant-sized likeness will now grace the property's East Tower. The north, south and west façades of Luxor remain available as potential billboards.
It looks like the Cosmopolitan will be the Cosmopolitan a little while longer. The bankrupt casino-condo project, currently owned by Deutsche Bank, was reportedly to have been the inaugural property for manager Hilton Hotels' new "Denizen" brand, which has been "temporarily suspended" after Hilton received a federal grand-jury subpoena. At issue is Hilton's employment of a team of former Starwood Hotel & Resorts executives, who are accused of sharing Starwood intellectual property with Hilton. The latter initially called a Starwood lawsuit "without merit" but within a week had placed the ex-Starwood execs and their staff on paid leave. Starwood's central allegation is that Hilton's Denizen brand is essentially a ripoff of its own "W" line of luxury hotels.
Charges of felony theft and passing bad checks will be presented to Clark County grand jury. The district attorney's office is dropping the hammer on Omaha business heir Terrance Watanabe, accused of stiffing to Las Vegas casinos to the tune of $15 million. Watanabe's attorney intends to dispute the validity of the markers.
A hoped-for May 8 reopening of Star Trek: The Experience in Neonopolis, in downtown Las Vegas, has been postponed. According to the Las Vegas Sun, CBS/Paramount does not want the exhibit to open in conjunction with the Star Trek film, set for theaters early this month. That seems perverse but we'll keep you posted as the story develops.
Police in Detroit have nabbed a 69-year-old Eastpointe resident on suspicion of planting seven pipe-bomb-shaped (but non-explosive) contraptions in the garage of MotorCity Casino, where the suspect was a patron. While hundreds of gamblers were locked inside the casino for six hours, police detonated two of the dummy bombs. Over at MGM Grand Detroit, a casino spokesman said, "We have beefed up security and called in law enforcement with bomb-sniffing dogs, and they are sniffing our garage right now as a precautionary measure."
Pairing Strip veteran Earl Turner and Flamingo favorite Lani Misalucha, Voices begins an open-ended run at the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmmer Cabaret tomorrow night. Misalucha and Turner will be backed by a seven-piece combo, and Turner promises a flexible format that will allow guest stars to occasionally fill in for the two leads. Tickets are $49.95 and showtime is 7 p.m., Mon.-Sat.
New York-New York nightclub Rok Vegas snared the prize for Best Video System at the 2009 Club World Awards. Rok is the first Vegas nightclub to install a 360-degree video screen, mixing concert footage, animation and a live feed from the club itself.
Performer Tera Patrick has announced plans to host lingerie parties at the Lavo (Palazzo) and Tao (Venetian) nightclubs, beginning tonight at Lavo.
"I have hosted some amazing events at Tao," Patrick said. "I can think of no better place to hold these monthly lingerie bashes. Lavo and Tao are where the hottest people and the biggest celebrities hang out when they are in Vegas. We are going to tear the roof off of the place with great music, drinks and gorgeous women in lingerie as far as the eye can see."
During the parties, there will be an open vodka bar for all women in lingerie from 11 p.m.-12 a.m. and a $1,000 prize for the sexiest lady in lingerie. The dates for the lingerie shows are tonight, April 21; Thursday, June 4; and Thursday July 2. (Story appears courtesy of xbiz.com. If you're interested in receiving updates about our upcoming SinCityAdvisor.com adult-entertainment oriented sister-site, just click the link to sign up for email alerts.)
A Panamanian company is being sued by Station Casinos for setting up domain names that incorporate "palacestation" or "sunsetstation" but which act as indirect funnels to a "Golden Casino" Web site. Station's attorneys accuse the defendants of cybersquatting and deceptive trade practices. The company is pursuing a similar suit against Caribbean-based Universal Spheres.
The new Cigar Aficionado contains a feature titled "Shortcuts to Gambling Nirvana" that features three experts from the Huntington Press stable talking about "easy" steps players can take to get an edge in gambling. Kill Phil author Blair Rodman discusses the all-in move for poker tournaments, Knock-Out Blackjack author Olaf Vancura explains a simple version of the K-O count, and Fezzik promotes line shopping in sports betting.
The current poll closes at midnight tomorrow and it's currently neck and neck between the first and second place. We've been reviewing Sunday brunches in LVA of late, so we're particularly interested in your feedback on this one.
The highly coveted Pulitzer Prize for public-service reporting has gone to the Las Vegas Sun and reporter Alexandra Berzon. The latter won it for her "courageous reporting" of a high number of construction fatalities at CityCenter. After a string of construction-related deaths, CityCenter workers staged a mass walkout. Following a summit meeting with lead contractor Perini Building Co., worked resumed and no further deaths have occurred in the last 10 months. The Pulitzer citation hailed Berzon's work as "leading to changes in policy and improved safety conditions." The only previous Pulitzer won by a Nevada paper went to what is now the Reno Gazette-Journal, back in 1977.
Believe star Criss Angel made headlines last weekend when he used the Luxor stage as a platform from which to launch a profanity-laced blast at celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. Today, Cirque du Soleil issued an apology that reads as follows: "Cirque du Soleil does not condone disrespectful behavior towards any audience member at any time. Cirque management will address such behavior privately with any of its artists to ensure it will not happen again ... Cirque du Soleil wishes to extend an apology to any audience member that may have been offended by Criss Angel's inappropriate and disrespectful remarks at Friday night's performance of Believe."
Former Westin Casuarina headliner David Brenner will be George Wallace's opening act for two weeks at the Flamingo, April 21-May 2 (there are no shows on April 26 & 27, however). All performances will be at 10 pm.
There was a bit of good news for MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment yesterday when they were the only two casino companiess to make it into the Fortune 500 (#344 and #263, respectively). Las Vegas Sands climbed well up Fortune's rankings but finished a tad shy of the elite, clocking in at #519. Wynn Resorts (#731), IGT (#771), and Boyd Gaming (#967) were also part of the second tier of companies.
Detroit police detonated two suspicious-looking packages at MotorCity Casino, fearing them to be bombs (they weren't). While the bomb scare forced the closure of the casino's parking garage, the rest of the facility was able to remain open. Inconvenienced customers were offered free food and drink.
Former Stratosphere owner Carl Icahn's push to force MGM Mirage into bankruptcy doesn't mean he's trying to oust majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian, Reuters reports. "Maybe they would do a restructuring where the debtholders will have the option to own stock,"speculated a source described as being familiar with the talks. Having paid an additional $70 million on CityCenter costs last Friday, MGM Mirage has a two-week breather until the next $200 million comes due.
As we posted last week, expect delays on the Strip (we mean worse than usual) from about midnight to 10 through Thursday as construction gets underway on the pedestrian bridge that will connect City Center to Planet Hollywood.
Those 30 acres of land on Fremont Street which formerly held the Castaways (better known in its heyday as the Showboat) are being hawked by Station Casinos for $40 million. Cash-strapped Station, which bought the land in October 2004, never developed the site. Acreage adjacent to Boulder and Sunset Stations is also for sale. Stiffs & Georges has further details.
If you didn't catch Thursday's QoD, it was all about real and fictional casino heists. We listed some of the better movies but totally forgot about 3,000 Miles to Graceland, where Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell star as part of a gang of ex-cons who rob a casino (the Riviera) during Elvis week. It contains a stellar (if extremely violent) shoot-out scene that's exquisitely edited and having caught the movie last night, we felt compelled to share, so here's a: YouTube link.
After sailing through several episodes of "Celebrity Apprentice," poker player Annie Duke appears to finally be heading for rough waters in tonight's episode. Annie knows what it's like to be "under the gun" (the term for the first to act in a poker game), but she'll be in harm's way tonight as a project manager, which is the most vulnerable spot to be in. Celebrity Apprentice airs on NBC at 9 p.m.
Paul McCartney plays the new Joint at the Hard Rock tonight. Though a couple bands (including the Killers last night) have already played, McCartney is considered the christening concert for the renovated venue. We've heard that tickets for the show sold out in under 10 minutes.
Keanu Reeves, star of the "Speed" movies, lived up to the billing by finishing first among the celebrities in the Toyota Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Grand Prix on Saturday. Reeves couldn't hold off the pros, however, as Al Unser, Jr., Johnny Benson, and Tom Rudnai finished (in that order) in the first three spots. LVA's Anthony Curtis set the future line on the race, with the four high finishers listed among his top six choices. Danny Way, the race favorite, did not finish.
April 21 is "Free Cone Day" at both Henderson’s Galleria Mall and Green Valley Ranch’s The District. Ben & Jerry’s is giving away small cones to raise awareness of charitable giving and will introduce four new flavors at the event: Chocolate Macadamia, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road, Orange & Cream, and Triple Caramel Chunk. Yet-to-be-announced celebrity guests will be dispensing ice cream at the two events, held from noon-8 pm. While you’re not required to make a charitable donation in return for your free cone, it would be appreciated.
The slot game is already here and the game show that inspired it soon will be. Next Friday, the Wheelmobile rolls into the Vegas area to search out potential contestants. Fans who apply will have their name drawn at random, play simulated version of "Wheel of Fortune," and be evaluated as potential WoF material. The Wheelmobile will be at Planet Nissan (5850 Centennial Center Blvd.) from 5-9 pm, April 24. The next day it pulls into Henderson Nissan (259 Auto Mall Dr.) from 2-6 pm. The following weekend, May 2-3, the Wheelmobile parks at the Venetian for two days, holding auditions from 2-6 pm. In July, ‘Wheel of Fortune’ tapes 20 episodes at the Venetian/Palazzo complex. For more information, surf to WheelOfFortune.com.
Anthony Curtis' picks for this weekend's Toyota Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Grand Prix race have been right on the mark. His top two choices for both the celebrities (Danny Way and Keanu Reeves) and the pros (Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Benson) finished first and second in their respective categories and will have the most adventageous starting positions in today's final. Danny Way, who gets the celebrity's 30-second spot in the 10-lap race, is AC's pick to win it at odds of 3-1. Benson and Unser are both lined at 7-2.
In a promotion aligned with today's start of the NBA playoffs, you can win your way into the new Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoop Hall Experience (HHX) at Planet Hollywood by making 10 consecutive baskets. For every shot made in a row, $1 will be deducted from the admission fee. Make 10 in a row and get a complimentary admission (where the "jump shots" must be taken from is not specified). The display is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; tickets are $24.50 (adults), $22.50 (seniors 65 and older and military), $21.50 (Nevada residents), $17.50 (children 4-12).
Glass-blowing artist Dale Chihuly, creator of Bellagio’s "Fiori di Como" lobby display, will be signing copies of his books at the casino’s Dale Chihuly boutique next Saturday. The signing, which will showcase the artist’s newest book, Chihuly Black, will be held from 1-2 pm.
Alicia Taylor, founder of Las Vegas-based Mortgage Solutions and soon to be featured on the Bravo Channel’s "Real Housewives of Las Vegas," will also be appearing in the May issue of Playboy. Taylor will be part of a "Women of Wall Street" pictorial and calls the experience "liberating and empowering."
Mandalay Bay's convention center lobby will be the scene for a "Party for the Planet" tomorrow from 10 am-6 pm. If you're among the first 500 people to bring in laptop batteries or cell phone for recycling, two-for-one tickets to Shark Reef will be your prize. Who says no good deed goes unrewarded? For more information, call 702/632-4555.
AFAN (Aid for AIDS of Nevada) will be holding its annual AIDS Walk this Sun., April 19. Sign-in begins at 8 a.m. at the World Market Center downtown, with opening ceremonies kicking off at 9 a.m. and the walk commencing at 10:30. The event's Grand Marshals are Penn & Teller, and there will be a big presence from other Las Vegas' entertainers including The Fantasy Girls and cast members of Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Le Rêve, Jubilee! and Jersey Boys, plus a performance by singer/songwriter Jake Walden.
Pre-sign-in remains open until 7 p.m. this evening at the AFAN office on 701 Shadow Ln. To register visit www.afanlv.org.
Wynn Resorts Chief Financial Officer David Sisk left the company on Monday, it has just been disclosed. Sisk had been with Wynn for five and a half years. No reason for his departure was announced but language in the relevant SEC filing implies it was involuntary.
Team rosters may still be in flux and key positions unfilled, but sports books are already posting early betting lines on the 2009-10 NFL season. All point spreads for Week One are in the 3-7 point range, save for a New Orleans Saints/Detroit Lions tilt in which the Saints are 11-point favorites over a Lions team that went a perfect 0-16 last season.
It's all working fine again now, so if you're eager to read Anthony's latest weekly update, now you can. Here's the link to LVA in the Media.
Apologies if you've been trying to access the latest entry in the Media blog; we're experiencing some technical probs right now, but our IT dept. is on the case and we'll let you know as soon as it's fixed. Stay tuned!
A new block of The Showgirl Must Go On tickets goes on sale tomorrow. Three-dozen additional shows have gone on sale, grouped in three blocks: Aug. 11-Sept. 6; Oct. 14-25; Nov. 3-15. May and June performances of the Bette Midler extravaganza are already on sale.
Both former Stratosphere owner Carl Icahn and investment fund Oaktree Capital are separately exerting pressure upon MGM Mirage to enter bankruptcy as a way of rectifying the company's balance sheet. Icahn and Oaktree have both snapped up large amounts of distressed MGM bonds that the company needs to redeem between July and October. Stiffs & Georges has fuller coverage, along with a report on a series of summit meetings between rival Macao operators Sheldon Adelson and Stanley Ho.
The uber-popular gay/alternative nightspot will give away 2 VIP on-the-floor tickets (i.e. in the Circus) for Britney Spears' Saturday concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Yep, these are $1,000 tickets with the best views in the house and there's a brace of 'em up for grabs!
To be in with a chance to win, you must register at the coat check counter at Krave by 12:30 a.m. tomorrow and you must be present to claim them. There's no cover for locals and doors open at 10:45 p.m. For more on the alternative bar and club scene, check out our Gay & Lesbian section in Shows & Nightlife.
It’s a huge weekend for the Hard Rock Hotel with the grand opening of the new Joint, the debut of Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co., (confused? yeah, us too) and the season launch of Rehab. Paul McCartney, the Killers, and Avenged Sevenfold will try out the stage at the city’s newest live music venue while Snoop Dogg hosts the party poolside on Sunday. Other happenings around town include Earth Weekend at the Palms, the Pure Aloha Festival at the Cannery, and UNLVino events at the Palms Pool, Paris and The District.
It's official. Bobby Slayton, the "Pitbull of Comedy" opens at the Tropicana on May 5, and will play a Wed.-Sun. schedule of shows in the former Comedy Stop. According to the Trop, tickets will be "available soon."
Drivers plying the Strip between midnight and 10 a.m. on April 20-23 should be prepared for greater-than-usual congestion south of Bellagio. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction, to accommodate construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting Planet Hollywood, the Cosmopolitan, and CityCenter. The bridge is expected to be fully completed by December, when CityCenter opens. No opening date has been announced for the Cosmopolitan, currently on hiatus.
Tickets for 33 performances by Cher at Caesars Palace go on sale Saturday. The nearly three-dozen dates are scattered over two periods, Sept. 19-Oct. 11 and Nov. 19-Dec. 20. These performances will mark the 30th anniversary of the veteran entertainer's Caesars Palace debut. While LVA will happily concede what publicists call Cher's "flare [sic] for theatrics" we must reluctantly take issue with the characterization of the show as a "high-energy production," both Anthony Curtis and David McKee having found it somewhat soporific and disjointed, with too many costume changes and not enough Cher.
Two affiliates of MGM Mirage joint-venture partner Dubai World were approved for licensure by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission yesterday. Ironically, the move comes right when Dubai World is suing its partner over alleged cost overruns at CityCenter. "There used to be a thing called CityCenter East. Is there any hope of those plans being dusted off or revised," asked Commissioner Mike Epps, drawing laughter from spectators.
Creditors have given Station Casinos until May 15, the latest in a series of extensions, to line up support for its prepackaged bankruptcy and/or buy back debt at 10%-50% of its initial value. A prepackaged bankruptcy would keep Station out of bankruptcy court and allow current management to continue to call the shots. To go that route will require Station to obtain the support of a supermajority of its unsecured debtors.
Although the Times of London reported that former Internet casino executive Mitch Garber, late of PartyGaming PLC, had been hired to run both Harrah's Internet operations and the World Series of Poker, that may not be the case. Gambling Compliance Ltd. wrote yesterday that Harrah's had "moved to deny [Garber] rumors." But that's not what Harrah's said when LVA asked the company about it. See Stiffs & Georges for a full report.
Our publisher's weekly nationally syndicated column just went live in LVA in the Media, with the latest news from the upcoming WSOP, a 24/7 happy hour on the east side of town, a tip for Sinatra fans, and more...
Bally's poker room is granting one entry into its World Series of Poker Giveaway for every four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush in its daily no-limit Texas hold'em tournaments. On May 1, a drawing will be held for $32,000 worth of prizes, including two seats to the 2009 WSOP. Registration for Bally's daily tournaments begins at 9 a.m. with play beginning 11 a.m. For more information, visit our Tournament Search in the Gambling Advisor section and check the "minis" option for daily events.
Dunkin Donuts' mascot, Sprinkles, will be feeding the tax-paying masses at the Sunset Road post office, south of McCarran International Airport, this afternoon. He'll distributing free donuts to people waiting in line between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. All three Memphis Championship BBQ restaurants are offering buy one/get one free meal deals today. And, in observation of the 15th, a 15% discount is in effect at each of the valley's four PF Chang's restaurants while McCormick & Schmick's "$10.40 Tax Day Special" menu will be in effect from 3:30 p.m. today: Even if you haven't filed your income-tax return, you can still partake of the special ($10.44's the price of selected entrées and bar offerings). And if did file your return – and can produce a copy – M&S will give you a $10.40 "tax relief dinner certificate" good on your next visit.
A recent (although not entirely accurate) article in the Washington Post explored the role of Las Vegas as a spring break hangout "hoping to fill empty rooms with young people lured by the promise of cheap rooms, cheap booze and nonstop entertainment." Case in point, a Kent State coed who got a five-night stay at Mandalay Bay (and was upgraded to a suite) for $425 -- less than a third of what she'd been planning to spend to go to Mexico. It isn't just the Strip that's benefiting, either. The Plaza downtown reported "a pretty good influx of college students" and the venerable Golden Gate was getting a bounce, too. Owner Mark Brandenburg told the WaPo, "We've been getting a relatively younger crowd down here on Fremont Street because they're beginning to discover we're here ... For spring breakers who want to be able to get around without having to jump in cars or cabs, it's ideal."
Meadows Racetrack & Casino, a project of Vegas-based Cannery Casino Resorts, opened in Washington, Pa., today with a ribbon-cutting by customer Marjorie Harrigan. The $175 million permanent casino is the culmination of a multi-phase, $450 million upgrade of the horse track. Meadows now boasts 1,600 slots (as well as electronic blackjack and three-card poker), as well as several new eateries, including the top-floor indoor/outdoor Bistecca, run by Pittsburgh chef Greg Alauzen. A new grandstand and simulcast area are also part of the Meadows overhaul.
After 18 years, the Las Vegas Bowl -- a traditional Pac 10/Mountain West football tilt -- will have a new sponsor and a new name to go with it. It will henceforth be the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas, the collision-repair company is lending its name to the bowl for three years, with an option for a fourth year. Maaco's parent company already sponsors the Meineke Car Care Bowl (a football game, even if the name suggests an auto-maintenance contest). As part of the deal, the Maaco Bowl will take place on Tuesdays now, ensuring it a higher TV profile.
If you mail your federal tax return through the mobile U.S. Post Office at Shark Reef Aquarium from noon to 8 p.m., you'll receive one free admission per IRS form to Shark Reef. The Mobile Post Office will be located in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center parking lot off of Russell Road and Las Vegas Boulevard South. The Shark Reef tickets are valid through May 31.
Macau Business has news of a Tuesday closed-door meeting between archrival casino moguls Stanley Ho and Sheldon Adelson, held at the latter's Venetian Macao megaresort. Given that the two men have long been at loggerheads, it must have been a fascinating discusion. For further details, see Stiffs & Georges.
On July 1, the Golden Nugget hosts the first-ever Suzie & Howard Lederer Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament, with a grand prize in the form of a seat at the table on NBC's "Poker After Dark," equivalent to a $20,000 buy-in. Buy-ins for the Lederer tourney start at $330 and the evening will be capped with a fireworks display. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America are the beneficiar of the Lederer tournament. For more information, call 800/777-4658.
Having been unable to come out for the ninth round of his fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last weekend, boxer Oscar de la Hoya is calling it quits. "It's over inside the ring for me," the fighter said in Los Angeles today, adding that to continue would be unfair to the fans. The "Golden Boy" retires with a record of 39-6.
Poker pro Jennifer Harman's annual tournament to raise money for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be played April 17 at the Venetian. A seat at the World Series of Poker is the grand prize. Among Harman's colleagues scheduled to play are Daniel Negreanu (author of Power Hold 'Em Strategy), Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, David Chesnoff, and Todd Brunson
April 19 marks the return of Rehab, the Sunday pool party at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that the HRH describes as "one of the most extravagant and luxurious outdoor destinations in Las Vegas – catering to thousands of beautiful, trendsetting, rich and the famous celebrities, partygoers, and revelers alike from all over the world." Upgrades for 2009 include renovated cabañas (complete with 42-inch plasma-screen HDTV sets), an expanded pool, a revamped sound system, daybeds, and spa service right at the pool. The fun starts at 11 a.m., with admission fees of $40 for men, $20 for women, and comped entry for ladies from Nevada. If the crush at Rehab intimidates, perhaps you'll have an easier time at one of the other Cool Pools given high marks by LVA.
Carnaval Court, outside Harrah's Las Vegas, will be the scene for the first of two successive nights of Las Vegas finals in the Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band Competition. Regional finals follow on April 16. Drink specials will be $5 and the winning band gets a shot at opening for the B-52s when they play Atlantic City. Registration begins at 8 p.m. with competition starting in earnest at 9:30 p.m.
Banks have green-lit MGM Mirage to put in the full $70 million (due April 17) required for the next phase of construction of CityCenter. This both relieves Dubai World of a $35 million obligation and allows construction to proceed without interruption.
A large sign for Caesars Atlantic City was visible atop the left-field pavilion during Monday night's ESPN telecast of a Padres-Mets game, inaugurating Citi Field, new home of the Amazin's. Other Harrah's signage, along the first- and third-base signs was very discreet -- maybe too much so. We couldn't spot it during the game, a problem we never have with, say, the Sycuan Casino ads in the Padres' own Petco Park or the Casino Rama billboard that's prominently visible during Toronto Blue Jays home games.
Terrible's Rail City, in Sparks, was the site of the second-biggest jackpot in Megabucks history when an unidentified Reno woman took the progressive for $33 million. (Such a large jackpot hitting at a low-profile casino that's currently in bankruptcy is further evidence contrary to the urban legend that Megabucks jackpots are keyed to hit at premier events, such as the openings of new casinos.) The largest single Megabucks jackpot remains the $39.7 million bonanza struck at Excalibur six years ago.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Dubai World is attempting to broker a compromise in the standoff over who should finance the outstanding balance on CityCenter's $8.6 billion cost. Details are sketchy, but it appears Dubai World would like to see the project's bankers kick in $1.8 billion in loans without MGM Mirage or Dubai World having to make the $800 million cash contribution required to unlock that financing. The Dubai proposal calls for it, MGM and the banks to contribute a total of $3 billion toward CityCenter. Dubai World has accused MGM of spending extravagantly on construction materials while the casino giant responds that it kept its Dubai partner in the loop at all times.
Did you miss Steve Wynn's "60 Minutes" appearance last night? Not to worry: The celebrity profile, conducted by frequent Wynn confidante Charlie Rose, is available via the Las Vegas Sun's Web site. Even the estranged Mrs. Wynn was generous with compliments of her straying husband. "He brings a businessman's intelligence and awareness of what it takes to make a property successful, and yet he can put that on a side shelf and go crazy, making the most extraordinary environments," she said, in praise of Mr. Wynn's ability to intuit public taste.
Both the World Series of Poker and Harrah's Entertainment's online operations are being spun off into a new entity, according to the London Times. "The move is likely to fuel speculation over the possibility of Harrah’s making acquisitions in the online-gaming sector," the paper comments. Heading this new Harrah's subsidiary will be former PartyGaming.com CEO Mitch Garber. PartyGaming made headlines recently by signing a non-prosecution accord with the U.S. Department of Justice.
ABC News' report on the subterranean denizens of Las Vegas, as chornicled by Beneath the Neon author Matt O'Brien is now available online. The elaborate extend of some of the underground dwellings depicted may surprise you.
Mr. Met has given way to a Roman centurion as the face of the New York Mets. Starting tonight, the Mets unveil a corporate alliance with Harrah's Entertainment. The special-access dining area at new Citi Field will be named Caesars Club, and Harrah's signage will grace the left-field roof, as well as the first- and third-base lines. Tonight, the Caesars Club "will welcome baseball fans by hosting a DJ, providing fans with a commemorative gift, along with providing opportunities to take photos with iconic Caesars personalities," according to BizofBaseball.com. The Harrah's promotional deal also extends to Mets' spring training and minor league facilities. Now, if only Harrah's could advise the Mets on how to correct their habitual September slump ...
On Wednesday, the Liberace Museum will celebrate what it describes as "30 years of glitz and scholarship." The festivities will kick off at 9 a.m., and pianist Wayland Pickard, Otto Ehling and Philip Fortenberry will perform throughout the day. A 7 p.m. fundraiser will feature performances by Mary Wilson, Clint Holmes, Rich Little, and cast members from Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera. Admission to the museum during the day will be 30 cents – a bargain among bargains!
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition will be celebrating the 97th anniversary of the ocean liner’s sinking on Tuesday and Wednesday. Luxor is encouraging visitors on April 15 to bring flowers to lay at the exhibit’s Memorial Wall. The "unsinkable" RMS Titanic took only 160 minutes to go under, taking approximately 1,500 passengers and crew to their demise.
Happy Easter. South Point is awarding double players club points today. Coast casinos are awarding 7X points on slots and 5X points on video poker.
Friday's USA Today named M&M's World one of "10 Great Places to Hit Your Sweet Spot for Easter." The store is located next to the big Coke bottle on the Strip, just north of MGM Grand.
Tiger Woods goes into day three of the Masters seven strokes behind the leaders. Woods was a low-odds pre-event favorite in the sports books, going off at +225, against -265 for the rest of the field. Putting things in perspective, the second favorite, Phil Mickelson, went off at 8-1.
Even if you haven’t filed your income-tax return, you can still partake of the $10.40 special at McCormick & Schmick’s. That’s the price of selected entrées and bar offerings. And if did file your return – and can produce a copy – M&S will give you a $10.40 "tax relief dinner certificate" good on your next visit.
TalkinBroadway.com has raised the prospect of deleting Las Vegas from its All That Chat forums. Site owner John Gillespie laments the fact that his Vegas page gets only a hundredth of the participation of his New York one. He’s asking forum users, "If we took it down, would you miss it?"
Two years after posting the best March on record, Atlantic City's casinos recorded the biggest single-month fall in casino revenue in 31 years. Slot and table game revenues fell 19% and only newly expanded Trump Taj Mahal actually saw an increase in revenue. Borgata took in the most dollars overall (but was still 8% down), Trump Marina the fewest. The biggest percentage decline was the Atlantic City Hilton's -35%. While heavy snows and fewer weekend days are blamed for some of Atlantic City's woes, slot revenues in neighboring Pennsylvania were up 9% last month.
Nevada political pundit Jon Ralston aired a one-hour, two-part interview with Steve Wynn on his "Face to Face" TV show this week. The two segments, "Uncertain Futures" and "Poison of Choice?" are now available on the Las Vegas Sun's Web site. Wynn was in typically provocative form and has this to say about the oft-rumored prospect of repurchasing former Wynn properties like Bellagio and the Mirage: "The operative word is perhaps. Maybe. Under certain circumstances. Conditional."
Clark County's official desert tortoise poked his snout out from his burrow at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center last Tuesday, meaning that spring is here in earnest (not that you'd know it from the weather). Mojave Max has been hibernating at the Conservation Center while his digs at Red Rock National Conservation Area are getting a makeover.
According to the Wall Street Journal, negotiations have broken off between MGM Mirage and potential CityCenter rescuer Colony Capital. The latter was contemplating making a $750 million loan to the casino giant (with help from James Packer's Crown Ltd.) to help MGM restructure its debt, thereby freeing up capital for CityCenter. MGM has set aside $20 million for putting CityCenter on hold, should it come to that.
This is the next-to-last weekend for seeing Elton John's The Red Piano extravaganza at Caesars Palace. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. tonight through Sunday, and April 14, 15, 18, 19, 21 and 22.
Ginger, the tic-tac-toe-playing chicken got off to an inauspicious start at Detroit's Greektown Casino, where she's the current marquee attraction. Matched against former box Tommy "Hitman" Hearns, the chicken lost one round to Hearns and tied him in another. The fowl play will continue at Greektown into June.
Pool season heats up this weekend and the fun in the sun starts today with the grand opening of M Resort’s Daydream Pool Club. Perry Farrell will celebrate his birthday on Saturday night at Mirage’s Bare Pool Lounge with an all-star rock 'n roll jam. The Hot 100 model search was to get underway at Wet Republic but inclement weather expected tomorrow afternoon has postponed that soirée until next Friday. You can find all this and a lot more in our Cool Pools section. Plus, after outgrowing the Gold Coast, the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend activities settle into their new home at The Orleans with live music, the Classic Car Show, burlesque performers, dance lessons, contests and more.
The Las Vegas roads are as torn up as they've been in several years. The culprit is ostensibly ongoing construction, but often areas are blocked off and nothing's going on. Two of the worst that areas are Spring Mountain and Valley View near our office and Tropicana heading west near the MGM Grand. If coming from the airport, avoid heading to the Strip via Tropicana.
Anthony Curtis' latest syndicated column is now live in LVA in the Media, with news of some great new Happy Hours to help counteract the ongoing statistical doom and gloom (Vegas numbers down again), not to mention a round-up of the current state of topless production shows. You you can also find details in the Media blog about ABCNews.com's recent and to-be-repeated feature on Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien's title Beneath the Neon.
And he brought with him revised odds for the Toyota Grand Prix, for which he's been invited to make the official line for the second year running. Having seen the pros and celebs in action, he's revised the opening line to make X-Games skateboarding champ Danny Way the new 3-1 celebrity favorite, ahead of Al Unser Jr. and Johnny Benson. For the complete odds board, click here.
What's described as a special team of auditors and securities experts has been formed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board in anticipation of a series of casino bankruptcies. Already both Herbst Gaming and Tropicana Entertainment are in the process of bankruptcy-related restructuring. Other companies that could join them in the next few months, or even weeks, include MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Harrah's Entertainment, Riviera Holdings and the Hooters hotel-casino.
High roller host Steve Cyr, the protagonist of Whale Hunt in the Desert, will be appearing at UNLV's Lied Library at 2 p.m. on April 30. Cyr will be interviewed by UNLV Center for Gaming Research Director David Schwartz.
Jersey Boys cast member Erich Bergen is giving encore performances of his well-received cabaret act at the Liberace Museum. Tickets are still available for tonight's 9:30 p.m. performance at $15 apiece and can be reserved by calling 702/798-5595 x14.
Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson was in Texas yesterday, addressing the Legislature in support of a proposal to create 12 casinos (plus three tribal ones) in the Lone Star State. If casinos are legalized, Adelson says he wants to pursue a $2 billion megaresort in the Dallas-Fort Worth area -- and possibly another casino elsewhere in the state. For additional coverage, see Stiffs & Georges.
Visiting Las Vegas for the first time in four years, U2 will appear in concert at Sam Boyd Stadium on Oct. 23 (the band's last appearances here were at the MGM Grand Garden Arena). Tickets will probably go on sale April 18, and will be available via LiveNation.com and UNLVtickets.com.
A trio of weekly "dining rituals" have been announced by Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas to "tempt and stimulate the senses, while introducing guests to Italian family traditions and classic comfort food." Sundays are given over to "gravy" (i.e., pasta sauce) made from organic meat and fresh herbs. Monday brings a quintet of macaroni-and-cheese variants (classic, lobster truffle, short rib, and Sicilian). Then it's 50% off bottled vino from the Sommelier's Choice list on Wine Wednesday. The Sunday and Monday repasts are held in the Lobby Lounge, while the Wednesday wine tasting is split between the Medici Cafe & Terrace and the Galileo Bar. Sunday Gravy is $16-$18 per person, while the Monday dinner is priced at $15-18.
The Wall Street Journal thinks Sheldon Adelson's recent purchase of $37 million-plus in Las Vegas Sands stock was a "tell" of the true status of the company's negotiations with unspecified Chinese construction magnates. The WSJ describes Adelson's big buy-in as "a move that, because of the nature of securities laws, suggests that the Las Vegas company isn't significantly closer to completing a Macau deal than has already been publicly disclosed."
The e-book poll ends at midnight tonight and we got some really useful feedback from it; don't forget to add your two-cents to the debate if you haven't already. Tomorrow a new poll goes live on the subject of Sunday brunches -- a classic Las Vegas institution of which we're rather fond.
Two Vegas newcomers and four Strip veterans form the sextet of chefs overseeing the restaurant lineup for Aria, which was announced today. Masayoshi Takayama's Shaboo is a set of semi-private dining rooms that feature modern Japanese cuisine. It will be surrounded by Bar Masa, which features more casual versions of the same menu.Chicago's Shawn McClain makes his first foray outside of the Windy City with Sage, whose fare is described as "farm-to-table produce, artisanal meats and sustainable seafood."
A lodge-like atmosphere will characterize Michael Mina's American Fish, while the name of Jean Georges Steakhouse is similarly self-explanatory. Traditional Italian food "like grandmother used to make"is promised by Sirio Maccioni's restaurant, called Sirio. Guess who is the chef at Julien Serrano? It will be a tapas-oriented restaurant with an emphasis on shellfish. Other Aria eateries will include JP Patisserie (the handiwork of Jean-Philippe Maury), Blossom (Chinese food), Lemongrass (Thai cuisine), The Buffet, and 24-hour Café Centro.
Visitation to Las Vegas was off 8% in February, totaling slightly under 2.9 million people. Numbers released by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau show hotel occupancy down to 84% at an average nightly rate of $99.25 (-23% from February 2008). Vehicle traffic into and out of California held steady with last year but air travel was 15% off and convention attendance was way down, -35%. Las Vegas, though, had it far better than Laughlin (-17% visitation) or Mesquite (-32%).
Strip gambling revenues fell 23% in February and 18% statewide, as play returned to 2004 levels. However, the addition of Aliante Station continued to buoy the North Las Vegas market (up 22%) and modest improvements occurred in Mesquite and on the Boulder Strip. Gambling revenues in Nevada have now declined by double-digit figures for five straight months. Baccarat performance was terrible but a strong Super Bowl for sports books helped, as did Chinese New Year. A Gaming Control Board analyst said the decline was actually less than anticipated.
An agreement has been reached between PartyGaming PLC and federal authorities. The company will pay a $105 million fine, in eight installments between now and September 2012. It also stipulated that while PartyGaming pulled out of the U.S. market in 2006, in observance of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, certain of its third-party vendors continued to process American transactions. In return, U.S. authorities have agreed not to prosecute PartyGaming.
Bally Technologies snared five awards -- or one out of every four -- in Casino Journal's "Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products 2008" derby. It was the most awards received this year by any one manufacturer. Bally's winning products included its Power Card, an "electronic wallet" that stores money or points that can applied to shopping, dining or gambling. Other Bally applications and devices that found favor with judges were the iVIEW Display Manager, Download Configuration Manager, Bally Biometric Recognition, and the iVIEW Software Design Kit.
Gambling in Space columnist and poker pro David Matthews is taking a pass on this year's World Series of Poker. His explanation provides further insights into the life of a professional gambler. For one, such a deceptively sedentary activity as playing poker actually demands that one be in tip-top form, even if the hours are not of the 9-to-5 variety.
Bill Bellamy is taping Who's Got Jokes?, a sort of comedy-only America's Got Talent, at Luxor. Free tickets are available from the show's Web site.
Investors in the SugarHouse Casino that's planned for the city's waterfront have scaled down their plans and say a temporary 1,500-slot casino could be in business by this time next year. The demise of Merrill Lynch took with it $445 million in financing. Chicago-based real estate developer Neil Bluhm and his partners say they have $160 million in startup capital at their disposal but need another $140 million to get the project done.
Shares of MGM Mirage traded 40% higher yesterday on news that the company was pondering sales of its casinos in Detroit, Biloxi and possibly Tunica. Unlike Nevada, regional casino markets have proven pretty recession-resistant and are becoming more attractive investments than the Strip. Majestic Research gaming analyst Matthew Jacob told Reuters, "There has been a lot of talk about people taking a stay-cation or staying close to home. One thing that may be attractive to someone is to take some time and go to the local casino near you. That has helped some of the regional markets a little bit."
Detroit's Greektown Casino is $777 million in the hole, reports the Detroit Free Press. The newspaper's analysis of the casino's troubles cites glacial decisionmaking by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa, which owns Greektown, the rejection of a $750 million purchase offer, and an over-accumulation of debt. It was also the last of the four casinos in the Detroit area (counting Caesars Windsor, in Canada) to significantly upgrade its facility.
Financial problems continue to shrink the holdings of casino heir James Packer. He's sold 40 of the Packer family's polo horses as well as a Sussex, England, polo field that father Kerry Packer (a famous Vegas "whale") had built.
According to the Macau Daily Times, Venetian Macao President Mark Brown has left the company. Out one day later were casino operations boss Vince Mascio and international marketing chief Ming Lien. The MDT "understands that both were dismissed following the same path as that of Mark Brown." The company had no comment on the executives' departures.
At first, James Packer's Crown Ltd. denied it was in talks with either MGM Mirage or Dubai World about investing in CityCenter. That, however, did not address reports that Crown was considering putting money into Colony Capital's proposed CityCenter cash infusion. Packer put an end to that this morning. According to a Reuters news flash, Crown flatly denied it was thinking of making any investment in CityCenter, period.
According to this morning's Wall Street Journal, MGM Mirage has gotten serious about selling off Beau Rivage and the new MGM Grand Detroit. It has hired Morgan Stanley to vet potential buyers and conduct a " private auction," according to confidential sources. The two casinos could fetch at least $1.6 billion on the open market. MGM Mirage issued a non-denial denial, saying it was "going to explore all available options and will develop a comprehensive strategic plan."
In related news, Australian casino heir James Packer has also been tipped as a potential investor in CityCenter. His company, Crown Ltd., issued a qualified denial. Packer recently pulled back from a $1.8 billion purchase of Cannery Casino Resorts.
Jean Scott is back from New Orleans with tales to tell. These include a change in the points-redemption system at Harrah's New Orleans, as detailed in Frugal Vegas.
Findlay Prep completed its perfect high school basketball season with a 74-66 drubbing of perennial power Oak Hill Academy (VA). Findlay, which is based in Henderson, south of Las Vegas, finished 33-0 and first in most high school rankings.
Monday's NCAA Basketball final is set, with North Carolina and Michigan State meeting for the championship. North Carolina opened (briefly) as a -6.5 favorite. The number quickly moved to -7 and is now -7.5 in most places. The over/under is 152.5.
While everyone knows the University of Nevada Las Vegas' Runnin' Rebels basketball team, few realize that there's another national powerhouse in the area. Henderson's Findlay Prep High School's basketball team is 32-0 and ranked #1 in America by USA Today. Findlay meets Oak Hill Academy (40-0) today for the championship in the inaugural "ESPN High School National Invitational Tournament," the winner to be considered this year's high school national champion. Findlay boasts two players, both guards, on Parade Magazine's All-America team (today's issue): Avery Bradley on the first team and D.J. Richardson on the fourth team. Both will be playing today -- the game airs at noon PST on ESPN.
Town Square’s Eleven Spa will be hosting a "Rock the Block" party this Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Free tours and treatment samples will be available, along with free food and drink from The Grape. Visitors can also enter a drawing for a treatment day or makeover in the Eleven’s Ken Paves salon.
Also in Sunday's Parade, the new production Peepshow at Planet Hollywood was mentioned in the "Personality Parade" section. Peepshow is currently in preview mode, with tickets priced $65-$165.
Although Boyd Gaming hasn’t officially announced it, tickets are already on sale for a two-night stand of Patti LuPone’s one-woman show, The Gypsy in My Soul. The Tony Award-winning singer and actress will play The Orleans on June 20-21. Tickets, inclusive of all fees, range from $33 to $60.50.
Connecticut has moved from a -4 to a -4.5 favorite over Michigan State in the first of today's NCAA Basketball Final Four double-header. North Carolina is a -7 favorite over Villanova in the second game.
Tuesday night’s "results show" of "Dancing with the Stars" will feature some special guests from Las Vegas: the ballroom dancers from Le Reve. They will perform condensed versions of their tango/paso doble/piece montée routines. Their DTWS appearance airs locally at 9 p.m., April 7.
Punam Mathur, head of MGM Mirage's widely admired diversity program, is leaving the company. The senior VP will be taking a job with Nevada Energy as vice president of human resources. A former marketing executive with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Mathur went to Mirage Resorts in 1996 as a lobbyist, surviving that company's takeover by MGM Grand to rise through the MGM Mirage ranks.
President Obama and other NATO heads of state will be attending a reception tonight in the 18th century gambling salon of the Kurhaus Casino in Baden-Baden, Germany. Although blackjack, roulette and other table games are normally played there, the casino equipment is being kept out of sight during the event. Kurhaus is believed to have been the inspiration for the casino in "Roulettenburg" in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel The Gambler.
Five grand and a trip to France for two were Encore bartender Raymond Speight's rewards for winning an "Iron Chef"-style mix-off this week. Speight, who plans to put the five dimes toward his mortgage, narrowly bested a Caesars Palace colleague. His secret ingredient? Molasses -- used with discretion. The rest of the Eastside Lounge bartender's formula can be found here.
A planned gated community in Henderson, one previously known as Crystal Ridge, has undergone another postponement. Ascaya, which sits 1,300 feet above the floor of the Las Vegas Valley, remains a collection of empty lots. A mid-2008 postponement has been extended but the developer is sanguine because the land is already bought and paid for. As a spokeswoman told the Las Vegas Sun, owner Henry Cheng "doesn’t have to worry about the bank calling a note because there is no note."
Texas-based developer Christopher Milam has punted for the second time on the former Wet 'N Wild site. A purchase agreement with owner Archon Corp. was allowed to lapse this week. Previously, Milam had sought to build the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi on the site, in collaboration with Crown Ltd. After Crown backed out, Milam signed another deal to buy the land, at an even higher price than before.
Las Vegas becomes the center of the country music universe this weekend with the ACM Awards at the MGM Grand, free concerts downtown, and a whole lot more. Check our Special Events section for all the boot scootin’ details. Speed freaks will gather at the drag strip for the NHRA Nationals and MLB fans can enjoy two days at the ballpark with the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies. Read on for even more ways to have fun in the sun this weekend.
In case you missed it, real estate blogger Robin Camacho has been checking in with LVA readers quite a bit of late. She's written about the difficulties of dealing with dilatory clients, forming an impromptu bucket brigade, and the potential pitfalls of plummeting mortgage rates. It's all in House Advantage.
David Matthews paid a visit to Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef recently and has made a photo gallery of the exhibit. Warning: The drag-and-view caption feature will not work with all browsers.
Anthony Curtis weekly column has gone live in our LVA in the Media blog, covering news of openings and closings, a great high-end buffet deal, and the latest on plans for a Nevada lottery, among other things. Plus, LasVegasAdvisor.com's annual in-depth survey of show-ticket prices is featured in Mike Weatherford's entertainment column in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Just as the bidding process for two Kansas casino sites was about the close, several additional applications tumbled over the transom. For about a week, it looked like Cordish Co. and former Harrah's partner Equity Ventures were going to have Wyandotte and Sumner counties, respectively, to themselves. However, Penn National Gaming and Vegas-based Golden Gaming have jumped into the running for Wyandotte County (closest to Kansas City, Mo.), while Lakes Entertainment and Foxwoods are making separate runs at Sumner, which encompasses the Wichita market. Full coverage is in Stiffs & George.
Last week, John Sung Park was arrested at MGM Grand on charges of "capping" bets (secretly augmenting bets already placed), but that may be the least of his troubles. California authorities accuse of Park of faking his own death to avoid a raft of other criminal charges, including second-degree burglary. Park could also find himself on the hook for $50,000 that was spent on search-and-rescue efforts after he vanished while diving off Laguna Beach.
Saying "when coins were no longer around, a lot of the excitement went away," Resorts Atlantic City has brought back coin-operated slot machines. Capitalizing on the popularity of its Boogie Nights events, the casino decided to expand the theme to slot floor, dusting off coin-in machines from the warehouse. The retro-themed slots pay out in Dwight D. Eisenhower $1 coins (another Seventies legacy), although any jackpot higher than $60 is paid with a voucher. The maximum payout is $1,500. "I miss the coins. It’s just the sound of it," one player told The Press of Atlantic City. "It’s exciting when the coins are dropping down."
Still seeking completion money for CityCenter, MGM Mirage is in talks with a variety of potential investors, according to Marketwatch and the Wall Street Journal. These include Colony Capital, which owns most of Station Casinos and the Las Vegas Hilton, as well as two casinos in Atlantic City. MGM's CityCenter partner, Dubai World, is suing to be relieved of further obligations toward the development and recently balked at making a $100 million payment, sparking a brief crisis.
David Carruthers, CEO of BetOnSports, has pled guilty to RICO charges and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. In return, the Justice Department will recommend that Carruthers serve no more than 33 months in prison. For now, he remains free on bail. BetOnSports founder Gary Kaplan, who Carruthers says hoodwinked him, is still in jail. In his allocution, Carruthers accused his former company of "furtively or covertly" collecting on wagers it knew were illegal in the U.S.
Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson has bought up $23 million dollars' worth of company stock, at slightly under $3 share. The company also intends to resume construction on its Macao casino-hotels later this year, probably by taking on investment partners. Sands stock rose 13% on the news.
On Friday, Hoop Hall Experience opens at Planet Hollywood. The new museum is the creation of the Basketball Hall of Fame and its Greatest Moments Theater contains artifacts like the jersey in which Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain played his 100 point-game. Other attractions include the hip-hop video show Bounce, a timeline of basketball history, and the "Circle of Steel" gift shop. Hoop Hall Experience is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., with ticket sales cutting off at 8 p.m. Admission is $17.50 for kids and $24.50 for adults, while senior citizens and members of the Armed Forces get in for $22.50. There's also a special $21.50 rate for Nevadans. Tickets can be purchased at Planet H's mezzanine-level box office.
Audiences mourning the demise of Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce will soon have consolation in the form of Sin City Comedy, which opens in the 7 p.m. slot at the Harmon Theater on April 15. Host John Padon will share the stage with "two burlesque girls who sing, dance and perform stunning aerials over the audience." Says the veteran comedian, "There won’t be any French people doing flips, mind you, but we’re not gonna kick you in the wallet either. Now that’s a stimulus package." Tickets for the 70-minute show are $24.95 and $39.95. "Twofer" ticket specials for Las Vegans are promised.
Tomorrow is "Wear a Kilt to Work Day" at New York-New York, sponsored by Glenlivet. Casino employees will flaunt their shapely male gams on the resort's Brooklyn Bridge for a 3 p.m. photo op. A scotch tasting at the Times Square Bar will run from 3 until midnight. For $25, you can sample a half-dozen special Glenlivet single malt scotch whiskeys, to the accompaniment of the 176 keys of the Dueling Pianos. The event is a fundraiser for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, currently under construction in downtown Las Vegas.
Lounge act Zowie Bowie having defected to the Palms, Station Casinos rebounds with cover band Dr. Zhivegas, which debuts at Red Rock Resort's Rocks Lounge on April 10. Dr. Zhivegas will play at Red Rock on Friday and Saturday nights. On Sundays, it offers a bit less disco and a bit more rock 'n roll when it performs as "Dr. Z Rocks" at Ovation in Green Valley Ranch. They are truly one of the best live acts I’ve ever seen," said Station's entertainment veep, Judy Alberti, and she's seen quite a few. The Red Rock shows will be at 11 p.m., the Green Valley Ranch ones at 9 p.m. Booths are available for both with the purchase of VIP bottle service.
It's been reported today that Jack Binion's Marvel Gaming is pulling out of Kansas and is looking to buy an existing casino. Binion has already made one offer to MGM Mirage and been rebuffed. With MGM, Harrah's, Station Casinos, Riviera, Hooters and several other companies struggling to stay afloat and some having to contemplate asset sales, it's a buyers market for Binion and others.
In other Kansas news, former Mandalay Resort chairman Michael Ensign is looking to get back into the game group. His Equity Ventures continues to pursue a casino application in Sumner County, near Wichita. It has placed 'dibs' on a pair of sites near Mulvane, Kan.
Although no replacement for Folies Bergere has been found, the Tropicana does have two new resident acts, starting later this month. Soprano's Last Supper moves down from the Greek Isles to take up residence in "The Cellar," a new venue next to the Player's Deli. Soprano's will play Thurs.-Sat. at 7 p.m., followed at 9:30 p.m. by Hynosis Unleashed, featuring the duo of Terry Stokes and Michael Johns. Tickets for Soprano's are $55, ones for Hypnosis are $40, and both are available through the Trop's Tiffany Theater box office.
For the next 20 months, if you want to see Carlos Santana performing west of the Mississippi, the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be the only place you can hear him in action. His HRH show, Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits opens May 27 and will cover 40 years of Santana's music. The legendary guitarist will be backed by a 10-piece ensemble, in a setting designed by Frank The Plumber, who was responsible for the look of Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" tour. Santana will play 36 dates per year and shows will be at 9 p.m. Tickets go on sale today, both at the HRH box office and through Ticketmaster, starting at $79 with a $299 top.