Watch art in the making as acclaimed graffiti-inspired artist Vezun paints a mural on the side of the Erotic Heritage Museum (3275 Industrial Rd.) this evening.
The ever-popular tapas bar and restaurant, with original location on Paradise Rd., this evening joins the ranks of new eating options (including Tinoco's and Omelet House) at the Plaza downtown. It's opening initially for dinner only, from 5 p.m. until everyone goes home; lunch hours will follow. If you've never been to Firefly, we can vouch that the original is excellent in terms of food, service, and atmosphere, so we have high hopes for the new venture. It's taking the place of what was previously The Dome sports bar (formerly the Center Stage), so has a great view of Fremont Street -- and a live audio feed so you can enjoy the concerts etc. while you dine.
Oscar Goodman celebrates his 70th birthday downtown tonight with a street party from 7-10 p.m. outside the Golden Nugget at the First Street Stage and everyone's invited! Admission's a $20 donation with proceeds benefiting various charities and gets you two "Good-Man Martinis", plus a commemorative t-shirt, and button. There will be live entertainment from Strip entertainers, including Nathan Burton, the Fantasy Girls from Luxor, Zowie Bowie, and Wayne Brady.
Residents of North Las Vegas reported seeing a tiger wandering their streets last night. It turns out the tame tiger (is there such a thing?) had escaped from the Fercos Brothers Untamed Illusions (see!) magic act. The big cat was eventually found and captured in someone's backyard. Metro and animal control are investigating.
The Coast Connection magazine supplement is available in today's LV Review-Journal; however, the value of the matchplay coupons within has been significantly reduced. This edition contains a $20 matchplay for Gold Coast and a $10 matchplay for Orleans. It was inevitable, as earlier versions were too rich and invited abuse. It's still a good information source and contains other discount coupons.
Vince Neil Ink has opened a new venue in Las Vegas. The new studio on the second floor of the Rio (by the VooDoo Lounge entrance) is the Mötley Crüe frontman's second Las Vegas location, the original store (which remains open) being inside O'Shea's casino on the Strip. It's open from 10 a.m.-1 a.m. daily. (Calls to the Rio indicated that they don't know VNI is there, so, ssshhh, keep it to yourself!)
The Osmond siblings have just had their contract at the Flamingo extended for another two years, on top of a previous two-year add-on, so you'll now be able to catch the popular
It's a big weekend for music and comedy, a not-so-big weekend for everything else. So go out and sing and dance! And laugh! And forget about fighting and film festivals and other stuff for a change.
The job fair for Planet Hollywood's PH Towers takes place today and tomorrow. For more details or to skip the lines and apply online, click here.
With bad news for just about everyone apart from the Hard Rock, Anthony Curtis' lastest weekly Vegas news round up is live and posted in LVA in the Media.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Dem., NV) has introduced a bill that would allow federal conventions to once again be held in Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, and other resort locations known for gambling. Reid’s bill would rescind a policy left over from the Bush administration that requires federal employees to obtain "special permission" to hold meetings in gambling venues. The Bush regulation was based on the perception that it "looked bad" for the government to spend tax dollars in resorts, especially during a recession. However, Reid’s bill addresses the resulting ironic situation in which it's more expensive to hold conventions in non-gambling-subsidized cities, in order to perpetuate the appearance that it's less expensive.
Our new LVASports.com message board is now live. This is our first-ever fee-based board. Targeted toward serious sports bettors, this board is moderated by Anthony Curtis and -- probably the most famous sports bettor today -- Fezzik. The whole LVASports environment is being built right now and it will offer a lot on the free side (comprehensive coverage of Monday Night Football parties, contests, and a lot more) but if you bet football and want a jump on the upcoming pro and college football season, you can start right now. Plus, subscribers get a complimentary LVA membership and MRB coupon book. You really can't lose.
NBC's morning show will be filming at Caesars Palace tomorrow and, if you're over 21, you're invited to be in the audience (on a first come, first served basis). Be at PURE nightclub by 3:30 a.m. tomorrow morning if you want to be in on the action.
Just as a decision's nearing on whether Donald Trump can regain control of his former Atlantic City casino empire, a new can of worms has been opened. Coastal Marina LLC, a New York company that once intended to buy the Trump Marina and put down $17 million in deposits towards the purchase, is now suing Trump Trump Entertainment Resorts, claiming the company allowed the Marina property to fall into disrepair and diverted customers to other Trump casinos.
The lawsuit, filed late yesterday, alleges that things got so bad that, rather than fix leaky windows and skylights, the casino put plants underneath them to catch the drips.
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas has just launched its own eponymous interactive online magazine. Brit action actor Jason Statham's on the cover, with other features including news, shopping, dining, entertainment, gambling, celebrity sightings, and more. Click here to take a look.
It's been a turbulent week or so for the Las Vegas nightlife scene and the latest news is that, as predicted but earlier denied, Poetry nightclub will indeed be vacating the Forum Shops at Caesars and hopes to transplant to a new (Strip?) venue. It comes as no surprise in the light of the sudden closure last weekend of Chinois, whose space it shared, and the club's ongoing dispute with Forum Shops owner Simon Property Group and management at Caesars Palace. "We don't really have a choice. It has just kind of gotten to be unbearable," commented owner Mike Goodwin in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Following hot on the heels of MGM Mirage's decision to up their quota of IGT Megajackpot machines (see item in this column for July 27), the Boyd Group's just announced that they'll be following suit and adding an additional 200 Megajackpots games to their inventory, bringing the total to over 1,000 machines across 15 properties nationwide.
The installation process is already underway is scheduled for completion by the end of August.
The Italian chain Buca di Beppo is celebrating National Lasagna Day today by offering free lasagna at all 87 locations nationwide, including the two Las Vegas venues (412 E. Flamingo and 7690 W. Lake Mead). Patrons who purchase any Buca Small or Buca Large-sized pasta or entrée receive a free lunch-sized portion of lasagna.
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has given the go-ahead to sell the 202-room Greek Isles Hotel-Casino at auction. The financial maneuverings over the past six months are a bit complicated, but a previous auction was called off a day before it was scheduled to take place by a suit filed by secondary lenders, which forced the Greek Isles into bankruptcy in April. The main lender, Canpartners Realty Holding Company, is now free to sell the property, which was recently appraised at $44 million, down from $120 million in late 2007. No date has yet been set for the auction.
The LasVegasSun.com career fair (formerly Opportunity Boulevard) will take place at Green Valley Ranch on August 20. There's an early bird discount if you register before August 1.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has confirmed that Station Casinos filed Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Reno today to restructure $5.7 billion in debt, most of which stems from financing the company's buyout nearly 21 months ago. Chief Accounting Officer Thomas Friel stresses that it's business as usual for the group's 18 casino properties and that the bankruptcy will not affect employees or vendors getting paid, nor the company's reward point system.
As reported by the Daily Fiasco, the topless pool collaboration between the Rio and Sapphire Gentlemen's Club may well have run its course, after a number of women were arrested for prostitution by undercover Metro officers at the weekend. While this article indicates that the pool was closed for two days, our call to the Rio just revealed that it's still closed, with no time-frame set on reopening. We have some calls out to various parties to see if we can glean more info. According to a Rio spokeswoman, if it does reopen it will remain tops-on for the rest of the season. Any reference to the pool's been removed from the Sapphire website.
This just announced by Channel 8 Eyewitness News: Station Casinos say they're filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. We'll bring you more on this story as we get it.
At 8:10 p.m. tonight, coverage of the 2009 World Series of Poker begins on ESPN with the $40,000 Special Anniversary Tournament. For the rest of the upcoming schedule, including the "Ante Up for Africa" celebrity charity tournament and the 2009 Main Event, click here. If you're interested in the WSOP, check out today's Question of the Day, if you haven't already...
According to the Las Vegas Sun, Real Magic magician Steve Wyrick has filed a lawsuit against the pyrotechnic company he used for his July 4 "Death Drop" stunt on the Strip, which was part of the grand opening celebrations for Chester Bennington's new Club Tattoo venue in the Miracle Mile Shops. Accounts of how the illusion was meant to go down remain somewhat confused, but what's clear is that something detonated prematurely, igniting some of the props, a member of Wyrick's crew was injured, and there was no "Death Drop." The suit alleges breach of contract, negligence, failure to indemnify Wyrick for his damages, and defamation because the incident allegedly damaged the magician's reputation.
Listen up, lobster lovers! The Coachman's Inn (3240 Eastern Ave.) is running a "Lobster Extravaganza" promotion and we've never seen as many lobster dishes on a menu. As well as more standard offerings, like a 1-1/4 lb live Maine lobster with baked potato and garlic bread for $25.95, there are all kinds of specials like lobster stuffed orange roughy ($24.95), lobster Caesar salad ($16.95), lobster stuffed mushrooms ($10.95), lobster cakes ($12.95), lobster Benedict (&18.95), lobster quesadillas ($12.95)... OK, you get the picture. Plus, you get a free bottle of house wine with any two dinners. They're not sure how long this promo will run, but predict at least for a month.
The National Weather Service has just issued an excessive heat warning for Las Vegas until 8 p.m. Temperatures are expected to reach 113 in the Las Vegas Valley. Be sure to keep yourself -- and your pets -- well hydrated.
Rick Belcastros, owner of Badda Bing topless gentlemen's club, has made an impassioned video speaking out about the notorious Las Vegas "taxi wars," whereby taxi drivers get a substantial kick-back for driving patrons to particular strip clubs (even if they actually want to go somewhere else). You can check out the video on the Badda Bing website, while for all the background on the Taxi Wars, plus in-depth reviews of every gentlmen's club, erotic revue, and "European-style" pool in Las Vegas, check out our guide to Topless Vegas, available both as an instant download from sincityadvisor.com and, for a limited time at the same price, in hard copy format.
The lead story in today's USA Today concerns attempts by Delaware and New Jersey to legalize sports betting in some form. The article has lots of background and details about laws that govern sports-betting legality, plus there's an online poll in the "Sports" section that you can take part in to air your opinion on the subject.
An account in today's LV Review-Journal of the hiring of John Unwin as the new CEO of the Cosmopolitan revealed that the cost of the 2,998-room resort remains pegged at $3.9 billion (that number was first quoted in March 2008). The opening date is projected for September 2010. When the Cosmo was announced in 2004, the estimanted cost was $1.5 billion and the opening was late 2007.
It seems scarcely a day goes by without one or other (or both) of the Tropicana resort-casino properties being in the headlines, usually for all the wrong reasons, and it's happened again. Today's Wall Street Journal's "Bankruptcy Beat" blog has a feature about how it came to light in today's bankruptcy hearing that when the east-coast Tropicana last year tried to convince New Jersey gaming regulators that it had severed all ties with discredited former Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III, it did so with an accompanying (re)licensing check signed by ... William J. Yung III. Oops. Click here to read the whole story.
Bad news: The original Capo's "mob-themed" Italian restaurant at Jones and Tropicana will be closing in a couple of months when its lease is up; good news is, the new venue at Sahara and Jones (in the old Hooters building) is already open and sounds even bigger and better than the original. The décor's strictly "old Vegas," with a "secret" entrance, big red leather booths, chandeliers, mob photos on the walls, and all that jazz. One room off the main restaurant features mafia movies screened in a loop on a large screen, while there's a smaller "roulette room," complete with mini-wheel, that seats eight. The menu features traditional family recipes with "mob" names. It sounds like fun.
Beginning August 1, Las Vegas Motor Speedway's holding a contest to design the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Las Vegas 350 program cover and is inviting all artists, designers, photographers, and race fans to enter. The contest will run until September 1 and the winning entry will become the cover of the souvenir program for the Saturday, Sept. 26 event. The winner will also be a VIP guest of LVMS, receiving four suite and Neon Garage passes for the Las Vegas 350, plus a photo opportunity with the the race winner in victory lane.
So, submit your hi-res 8 ½" x 11" vertical (i.e., "portrait") color or B&W image depicting themes pertaining to Las Vegas and racing by Sept. 1. The contest's open to any medium, including photography, drawings, and paintings. For more info on the rules or to submit your entry, email ahallATlvms.com or mail to Aubrey Hall, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89115. (Note that if you incorporate non-original photography into your entry, you must have the rights to use it commercially.)
If you were interested in today's Question of the Day about Harrah's (and complaints about), then check back for some interesting reader feedback we've received and added as an "Update." And, if you haven't yet voted in the current Reader Poll about your favorite Las Vegas "hidden gem" or "secret tip," then get your vote in asap -- the poll closes at midnight tomorrow! It's been a great one with some really fascinating feedback, so keep it coming. Thanks.
The Canadian poet/singer-songwriter will be bringing his acclaimed North American tour to Caesars Palace Colosseum for one night only on November 12. Tickets, available from the Caesars Palace box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, go on sale Monday, August 3rd at 10 a.m. and are priced from $68.18-$250.00.
IGT has formalized an agreement with MGM Mirage that will add approximately 300 Wheel of Fortune slot machines to its existing base of MegaJackpots branded machines, including linked progressive such as Megabucks, eBay, Star Wars, The Price Is Right, and multi-level progressives such as Fort Knox and Indiana Jones(TM). The installation of the added Wheel of Fortune machines begins immediately and should be complete by the end of August. (See today's Question of the Day for the reverse move by Harrah's last year.)
The online travel service today announced the launch of its 'Vegas VIP Savings Pass' promotion. Customers who book any Las Vegas flight, hotel, or package on Orbitz.com before August 24, 2009 (valid for travel through September 30) will receive a savings pass that offers exclusive resort credits and discounts worth up to $500 at The Venetian, Planet Hollywood, the Palms, and the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. Visit www.orbitz.com/vegas for more information.
The Hard Rock quietly opened its new 490-room Paradise Tower over the weekend, one week ahead of schedule. The 375-suite Harmon Tower is due to open in December.
Converse Consultants, the outside inspectors who failed to catch construction infractions at CityCenter's Harmon Hotel, will not be able to take on new jobs for up to six months, according to the penalty that county building official Ron Lynn proposed this week. The problems at the Harmon, which led to a major downsizing of the tower, came to light last year. Construction workers had deviated from the plans on multiple occasions, compromising the structural soundness of the building and reducing its ability to withstand sideways forces including high winds and earthquakes.
Today's Rehab pool party at the Hard Rock is celebrating "Christmas in July" -- with a snow machine! Headliner DJs Scotter & Lavelle will be providing the sounds.
"I bet more on a football game than what the city's received [in federal stimulus money]. The statement was made this week by Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, who obviously doesn't mind laying it down when it comes to betting football. The city has received $4,833 to date.
Ellis Island is running it's time-sensitive free-play coupon again in today's LV Review Journal (pg. 9B). Get $100 in free-play if you're among the first 20 players to bring the coupon to the club booth. If you're not in the first 20, you can bring the coupon in any time till July 28 to get $50 in free-play. The offer is for new club members only.
Want to be a showgirl (or boy)? Jubilee!, the last remaining classic topless revue in Las Vegas, is holding an open casting call today. Auditions for male dancers are from 10:30 a.m., with females scheduled from noon-2 p.m., singers from 2-3 p.m., and principal dancers from 3-4 p.m. Callbacks will take place the same day from 4-5 p.m. Dancers should be aware that historically Jubilee! had had a policy of all-natural, with no breast augmentations accepted, but we’re not sure how rigidly that rule’s enforced these days. For our review of Jubilee!, plus all the other topless shows, pools, and gentlemen’s clubs in Las Vegas, don’t forget that Topless Vegas is now available for the first time in a (newly updated) print edition from ShopLVA.com.
Mention catSUNSETTANLV Twitter anytime today and tan free on any bed or in any spray booth at Sunset Tan (6th Floor Palms Place). Call 702/944-3258 ext. 2 for reservations.
Today and tomorrow from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. the Palms is hosting the 4th annual "1075 Pints of Summer" blood drive, in conjunction with XTreme Radio 107.5 FM. All donors receive a Palms buffet voucher, a free premium Brenden Theaters movie pass to see Funny People, and a United Blood Services t-shirt. Visit www.bloodhero.com for more information or to make an appointment (walk-ins are fine, but you may have to wait in line awhile).
Today and tomorrow, Club Coast members can enjoy reduced rates at all buffet meals at the Gold Coast: Lunch (served until 3 p.m. today) is $4.95, dinner's $7.95 (today and tomorrow) and Sunday Brunch is $6.95. If you're not already a member of the players club, it's free to join.
Green Valley Ranch has introduced "Early Out Fridays," running weekly through August 28 from 5-10 p.m. at The Backyard pool, which will be open for swimming. Sounds from DrZhivegas and no cover charge. Dress code enforced -- see Cool Pools for more details.
"We are just being murdered trying to compete with MGM and Bellagio," complained Tilman J. Fertitta this week. The chief executive of Landry's Restaurants, which owns the Golden Nugget resort-casinos in downtown Las Vegas and Laughlin, stated that gaming revenue in the second quarter was down approximately 15% from the same 2008 period, while the average daily room rate fell 23%. With rooms available on the Strip at knockdown prices, including $99 rates in the Wynn's new Encore tower, the Nugget properties -- traditionally go-to places for cheaper rooms -- are having to drop their rates by 30% on this time last year just to compete, which is seriously eating into their profit margin.
The 24-hour "Radiothon" on ESPN 1100 (see Today’s News yesterday) concludes at 10 a.m. but the online auction continues through August 1, 11:30 a.m. PST. There are some awesome items up for grabs for any UFC fan and it’s all for a good cause.
ESPN 1100's "24-Hour Talk Show" is underway, benefitting The Caring Place cancer charity. UFC President Dana White will be co-hosting the show from 6-7 p.m. (tune in now!) and the whole event concludes at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. Other guests throughout the marathon include Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Matt Sera, Randy Couture, and Lon Kruger. There's a tandem online auction for prizes including watching a private Ultimate Fighter fight with Dana White, being part of your favorite fighter's entourage for a UFC Pay-Per-View event, and two front row UFC seats. Visit WeAreLV.com for more information and to bid.
We just called to verify and it's true: As reported by the Daily Fiasco, the Wolfgang Puck eatery in the Forum Shops is closing, perhaps as early as this weekend. This spells trouble for Poetry, the nightclub upstairs that rents its space from Chinois and will be on the lookout for a new home. Check out Fiasco's prediction (and painful pun!)
Expect more shakedowns in clubland after this week's developments at Privé and The Living Room, which were unceremoniously stripped of their liquor licenses. Several other nightspots and at least one pool (we can guess which one) are also said to be under investigation for allegations including drug taking, underage patrons, sexual activity and nudity, and irresponsible behavior by club security.
Wynn Resorts has this week submitted an application for an independent public offering of its Macau resort-casino to the Hong Kong Exchange. The IPO would take place in the quarter beginning Oct. 1 and would seek to raise something in the region of $1 billion, Dow Jones Newswires reported. Las Vegas Sands Corp. is already making similar moves, with both companies hoping that the valuations for their Macau assets will boost those of their U.S. operations, but in one report we read it was suggested that Wynn's move was a precursor to selling its Macau property. Since it's the busiest resort-casino on the new Macau "Strip," this seems an unlikely move, however.
An old structure that was part of the Lady Luck and has stood dilapidated for several years is finally being demolished. But while the parcel at Fourth St. and Stewart Ave. will soon be cleared, a long-awaited redevelopment of the Lady Luck appears no closer to being implemented.
A reader wrote in with some interesting new information regarding today's Question of the Day about "Man vs. Food" and Las Vegas eating challenges -- check it out!
Renowned author Rob Kirkpatrick will be signing copies of his book, 1969: The Year Everything Changed in the Hippie Nation Gallery at the Fremont Street Experience from 5:30-6:30 p.m. this evening. There will be wine and cheese, plus copies of the book available to puchase for $24.95, plus all those who attend will receive two complimentary VIP passes to The 5th Dimension concert on Saturday, July 25.
Oops! Thanks to the reader who kindly supplied the link to the full article about the double-homicide cold case that Cullotta helped to solve, which we inadvertently ommitted from yesterday's entry. We've since added the one we originally intended to, too, so now you can get the whole story.
With news of one construction project in Las Vegas that seems to be bucking the trend (of arrested development and bankruptcy), a great coupon play, and an interesting experiment from an exclusive club/dining venue, Anthony Curtis' latest update is available to read online in LVA in the Media.
There's good news for pool-party lovers (a bunch of big-names in town this weekend, so let's hope the weather improves), good news and bad news for country music fans, and nothing but bad news for Privé nightclub (see earlier Today's News item).
We have just been informed by the phone company that there is an interruption in our area. They are working on the problem and should have everything fixed shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Nevada residents, bring your ID to the Luxor to enjoy a bunch of locals-only offers, including drink specials at Tacos & Tequila, 2-for-1 tickets for Fantasy, $20 off your check at Tender Steak and Seafood, and $20 off tickets to Menopause, the Musical, and disounted cover on this weekend's "Singles in Sin City" promo. Click here for more details.
The downtown Golden Nugget's new $150 million Rush Tower will open in November. Rooms in the new tower are 20% larger than the GNs North and South Tower rooms and the casino will begin accepting reservations for them as of August 1. Also opening in the tower is the Chart House Aquarium restaurant.
While there's been promising news for the historic Stip property in terms of planned renovations and a new entertainment lineup, the latest problem involves a fight over its name. Tropicana Las Vegas Inc., its new owner, has filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court against the two previous owners, claiming they shouldn't have to pay for rights to use the Tropicana name.
Las Vegas-based Tropicana Entertainment, one of those previous owners, claims it didn't lose the rights to the Tropicana name in its bankruptcy case, however, and has been trying to negotiate a licensing deal with the new owners. We'll keep you posted.
Following the Planet Hollywood-housed nightclub's recent $500,000 fine for various legal infractions, including underage drinking, drug taking, excessive force by club security, and lewd patron behavior, today Clark County stripped the venue of its liquor license, along with that of sister venue The Living Room. For the whole story, click here for the
Tomorrow's "Beat the Heat" night at Sierra Gold (Warm Springs and Stephanie) from 4 p.m.-midnight. All 16 oz domestic draft beer will be priced at the temperature outside, so hope for an unexpected cold snap!
Sticking with the Vegas mafia theme, it seems Mayor Oscar Goodman's long mooted plans for a downtown "mob museum" may have some competition. While progress on the original project has ground to a halt, mired in a potentially protracted legal battle between rival developers, according to Norm!'s column in today's R-J, Antoinette "Mafia Princess" Giancana (daughter of Chicago mob chief Sam) was in town over the weekend to meet with local investors Jay Bloom and Charlie Sandefur, who reportedly are in negotiations with Strip properties for an entirely separate "mob museum" project. We'll keep you posted of developments as we hear of them.
Cullotta, Huntington Press' 2007 biography of Tony "the Ant" Spilotro's enforcer-turned-government-witness Frank Cullotta, has played a crucial role in the solving of a decades-old double homicide. For the full story, see LVA in the Media.
Catch the CMT Power Pick Winner for free (with paid cover) this Friday, July 24, when she plays Stoney's on the Strip (formerly Stoney's Rockin' Country). The cover's $5 for locals, $10 non-locals.
The first 300 people who book via The Orleans new promotion will receive a 2-night free stay for dates between August 16 and August 20. For more details and to book your room, either click this link or call 800/675-3267 and mention offer code Y9HOT4F. This was a deal we received as a result of signing up for The Orleans' marketing emails.
A coupon in today's LV Review Journal (pg. 2B) offers $100 in free-play at Ellis Island to the first 20 players to bring it to the club booth. If you're not in the first 20, you can bring the coupon in any time till July 28 to get $50 in free-play. The offer is for new club members only. Get it and get there fast for the bonus.
While the folks at the Shear Madness Theater figure out what they're going to do with it, now that Shear Madness has folded, the space is being used briefly for a live improv comedy produced by Emily Jilette (yes, that's Mrs Penn). It's called Matt Donnelly's Celebrity Tarot Lounge and last night the special guests were Carrot Top and Teller (oops, sorry, forgot to tell you, and Teller was talking on stage and everything!). Tonight it's Neil Gaiman at 7 p.m. and David Silverman (comic animator of The Simpsons) and James Asmus (writer of the X Men series) at 10 p.m. Tickets are $19.95 -- click here for more info.
From Saturday, August 1 through Monday, September 7, locals who present valid Nevada ID at the box office can enjoy a 2-for-1 ticket offer special for MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris. For our review of the show, click here to download our guide to Topless Vegas (print edition coming very soon, too -- stay tuned!)
The private members dining club at the top of Mandalay Bay is now open to the general public nightly from 11 p.m. It's an experiment, so if it's good, we should support it -- it's a gorgeous location with stunning views of the Strip. The longrunning Godspeed club night will continue on Mondays, with "Tapas Tuesdays" (appetizers, cocktails, acoustic music), DJs Wednesday through Saturday, and "Burlesque Jazz" on Sunday nights, with four dancers and a live three-piece jazz band. Sounds pretty cool. Cover's $20.
Good news: A previous LVA "Local Corner" (select from the "Other" drop-down to view them all) is once again open for lunch. The Tillerman is an old Vegas favorite but only in the fall of 2007 did it open for lunch. We reviewed it for LVA but a few months later it reverted to dinner only. Now, we're happy to announce, that as of yesterday, lunch will be served daily from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Check it out, it's full of character and the food's good.
A reminder that it's "2 for Tu" ticket Tuesday at House of Blues Las Vegas -- sign up for their weekly email alert and get twofers for Asher Roth & Kid Cudi, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and others.
Following news that dealers at Bally’s and Caesars Atlantic City had voted to strike, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. announced yesterday that it had started implementing a contingency plan that includes hiring replacement dealers for any who go on strike. "We are not going to let the misguided tactics of the UAW interfere with our guests or the employees who are working hard to keep Atlantic City competitive this summer," stated said J. Carlos Tolosa, the company's eastern regional president.
As promised, CityCenter is recruiting for another tranche of the 12,000-plus workers estimated to be needed to staff the new Strip metaresort. Next up, 5,000 positions at the Mandarin Oriental non-gaming property, including openings in food and beverage, hotel operations, spa and fitness, finance, facilities, and security. Here's the link to the career website.
Before After the Show's 10 p.m. performance at the Harmon Theater, all-female variety show She-Nanigans will take the stage for a free 8 p.m show. Call 702/435-3169 to leave a message and get your name on the list.
There are upcoming job fairs on July 30 and 31 for the new PH Towers. Click here for details and open positions.
Dealers at Caesars Atlantic City and Bally's Atlantic City have joined the ranks of those at the Tropicana and voted to strike. No time frame has yet been set for the (in)action but it couldn't come at a worse time for the east coast gambling city, which has already long been the victim of a relentless decline in gaming revenues that predates the rest of the gaming industry's current economic woes.
Relish, Las Vegas' roaming purveyor of gourmet hot dogs, has a 2-for-1 offer today with Twitter coupon #07201400 (expires at 2 p.m.). Today they're to be found at Valley View and Sunset. Tomorrow, for National Hot Dog Day, they'll be giving out FREE dogs at an as yet undislosed location. Follow Twitter.com/RelishLV for updates.
The comedy hypnotist has just announced that his contract at Paris has been extended for a further four years. A new 3-D movie introduction has also been added to the Anthony Cools show, which features the performer's distinctly adult brand of humor (it's the only show we can think of with a 21+ age restriction that doesn't feature any nudity).
With construction on its $3 billion resort halted, the troubled north Strip resort is canceling meetings and conventions scheduled for the first half of 2010, including the Consumer Electronics Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers. The property had been scheduled to open in October of this year, but construction is now at a standstill with an estimated 70% of the work completed. The LVCVA and other hotel and convention center operators in town will try to accommodate meetings and hotel-room reservations canceled by Fontainebleau.
Today's Wall Street Journal contains a front-page story titled "As Boom Times Sour in Vegas, Upward Mobility Goes Bust" that discusses the many problems faced by residents who have been hurt by the economy. The coverage is lengthy, but there's not much new in this one.
Today's USA Today contains a feature on how poker and business relate, featuring a Q&A with Annie Duke. Annie's second-place finish on "Celebrity Apprentice" was the impetus for the piece and she comes through with some gems. It's also a big media coup for Annie -- her face is up in the right-hand corner of the cover page, and again on the front of the "Money" section, where the feature appears inside.
If you guessed Las Vegas, according to a poll conducted last year and republished in today's U.S. News we're not even in the Top 10, which astounds us. But even more incredible is that #1 on the list is Reno! Really? Less surprising is that Provo-Orem, Utah is the most sober metro area.
There's a 2-for-1 buffet offer at Terrible's in today's LV Review-Journal. While the newspaper has been running similar offers from Station and Coast casinos for some time now, this is the first we've seen recently from Terrible's.
Today through Wednesday, July 22, Kabuki at Town Square is celebrating its first year anniversary this weekend (through Wednesday) with a buy-one appetizer/roll/sushi order and get the next for $1. Ladies who eat at the sushi bar or saki lounge will also receive a free Kabuki tank top (while supplies last).
As part of its "One Giant Leap: 40th Anniversary of Moon Landing" celebrations, Fremont Street will be hosting a discussion forum with NASA astronaut Scott J. Kelly. He'll conduct three, one-hour sessions at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m., and will be bringing along items of interest, including a spacesuit and Apollo 11 replica.
It's a Playboy fiesta this weekend, starting at the Palms. From 1 p.m.-4 p.m. this afternoon the Shannon Twins (of "Girls Next Door") will signing stuff in front of the Pearl, prior to hosting the Playboy Comedy Tour, which will be attended by Hef himself. Prior to that, Mr Playboy will be calling over to Planet Hollywood to catch Holly Madison's 8 p.m. performance of Peepshow.
A story in today's Wall Street Journal titled "A Sawbuck Says You'll read This" addresses gambling's connection to golf. According to the article, the U.S. Golf Association has an official policy on the connection. "Appendix III of the rule book says the USGA has 'no objection to informal gambling or wagering among individual golfers or teams of golfers when it is incidental to the game.'"
Whole Foods Market Fort Apache is hosting a free Whole Body Spa Fair today from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with body care vendors, facial cleansing, a raffle for yoga passes, and chair massages for customers that spend $25.00 or more in the Whole Body department. Plus, all attendees receive a free gift.
The Palms will begin giving out tickets at noon for the free Limp Bizkit concert at The Pearl tonight. First come, first served.
The Neon Museum just posted a link to their Twitter feed (Twitter.com/NeonMuseum) of some really cool (if shaky) 1977 footage of Las Vegas, including downtown, the Strip, and even aerial footage of the old race track. Check it out right here.
Aha! Not only has he canceled today and tomorrow's shows at the Harmon Theater... He's canceled all his other shows, too! David McKee has the scoop in Stiffs & Georges.
The temperature is is expected to be at the 112 degree mark over the weekend and the excessive heat warning has been extended through Sunday 8 p.m. Remember to keep yourself and your pets hydrated.
Don't forget the Las Vegas Farmers Market will be downtown in the Fremont East district tonight from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Here's a link to more details.
Yep, free beer from 7 p.m.-midnight at Stoney's North Forty, the northern outpost of the (very) south Strip country music bar/club that's located in Santa Fe Station. Free dance lessons, too. Cover's $5 for locals, $10 non-locals.
Comedy impressionist Rich Natole has canceled his 2 p.m. Voices of a Generation show at the Harmon Theater today.
Throughout the month of August, the downtown casino will reward active duty U.S. military personnel with a $15 dining credit valid every day at The Flame Steakhouse and Café Cortez. Individuals must present their military ID at the Club Cortez to receive their Certificate of Appreciation, limited to one dining credit per day (no minimum purchase required).
After making headlines earlier this week for being the latest celebrity in trouble with casinos for unpaid gambling debts (amounting to $882,500), the ex-NBA star mystifyingly walked into Harrah’s Casino in South Lake Tahoe yesterday morning, where he was promptly arrested. Perhaps Walker hadn’t caught the televised news story that the casino employee who reported him to deputies of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, who happened to be conducting a foot patrol through the casino, had seen, stating that a felony arrest warrant had been issued for his passing of bad checks while taking out markers at Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, and Red Rock Resort. Walker’s currently being held in the Douglas County Jail in Stateline, Nevada, awaiting extradition back to Las Vegas. His bail has been set at $87,000.
The second of the famous hot dog restaurant's job fairs takes place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow, July 17, in the Planet Hollywood Conference Center -- Diamond Room #3 (across from the Business Center on the mezzanine level). The positions they're seeking to fill include jobs as dishwashers, cooks, counter and fountain workers (minimum of 21 years of age - this will be the only Pink's Hot Dogs to serve alcohol), and inventory control.
Some big names in music in town this weekend, plus lots of poolside entertainment. Check it out:
With word of Harrah's plans for its Strip properties, the latest cast shuffle at Peepshow, the replacement for Trader Vic's, a new attraction that's heading to the MGM Grand, and more, Anthony Curtis' weekly Las Vegas digest is now live in LVA in the Media.
The South Point casino owner is going to be inducted into the American Gaming Association's UNLV-based Hall of Fame this fall. Check out David McKee's "Stiffs & Georges" blog for more on this story.
Unlike every other stop on the diva's tour, which included a limited number of $20 seats, the performances at Encore Las Vegas offered no such deals and all tickets are full price. The only slack that's being cut for locals is that you don't have to book a room with Nevada ID (everyone else is obliged to book a minimum one-night stay as part of the package). The $250 tickets for locals have already sold out, but seats remain at $500, $750, and $1,000. Call 702/770-DIVA (3482) if you're interested.
The final table of the World Series of Poker's main event is set. Following are the final nine players and their chip counts:
Darvin Moon -- 58,930,000
Eric Buchman -- 34,800,000
Steven Begleiter -- 29,885,000
Jeff Shulman -- 19,580,000
Joe Cada -- 13,215,000
Kevin Schaffel -- 12,390,000
Phil Ivey -- 9,765,000
Antoine Saout -- 9,500,000
James Akenhead -- 6,800,000
Play resumes on November 7 and the champion will be determined on November 10.
It's all men remaining in the WSOP's main event. The "last woman standing," Leo Margets, was eliminated early today in 27th place.
Oscar Goodman, the self-proclaimed "Happiest Mayor on Earth," will turn 70 on July 26. To celebrate the big day, on Friday, July 31 there will be a birthday bash at the Golden Nugget's Gold Diggers nightclub, which will extend out onto Fremont Street in front of the downtown hotel. If you're at a loss for what gift to buy him, you know a bottle of Bombay Sapphire will always be appreciated -- expect the birthday martinis to flow that night!
Riviera Holdings Corp., owner of the Riviera hotel-casinos in Las Vegas and Colorado, has missed another interest payment on its $245-million credit agreement, blaming the "devastating competitive pressure on room rates" and the bottom falling out of the convention market. The company says it has enough cash flow to operate its properties but not enough to cover its debt payments and is in continuing talks with Wachovia regarding a solution.
If you're seeking employment in Las Vegas, both CityCenter and Pink's hot dogs are hiring. For CityCenter job fairs (there's one today, one tomorrow, and more later this month), click here. We'll have details of tomorrow's Pink's recruitment event shortly (that it's tomorrow is all we know right now).
We're getting great feedback on the current survey of your favorite "hidden gems" and "secret tips." Your suggestions are as eclectic as ours and there are some real "gems" in there -- keep 'em coming! (And you'll never guess what's currently in the lead...)
Only 27 remain in the World Series of Poker's main event. The chip leader for the second day running is Darvin Moon, with 20,160,000. Phil Ivey is fourth with 11,350,000. The lone remaining woman, Leo Margets, is 26th with 1.5 million. After the final nine are determined, the tournament will break until November. Congratulations to our own Kill Phil author Blair Rodman, who went out last night in 34th place, good for $253,941.
Apparently, people have been receiving mailings from the Sahara indicating that the Comedy Stop, formerly at the Trop, will be opening there soon. So, we called the box office and spoke to a lovely but exasperated lady who apologized for their total lack of knowledge and the irony of the fact that the whole world seemed to know about this, aside from the people who would actually be selling the tickets. "It makes us sound so stupid! Please, can someone tell us what is going on?" Since there's been no late-night show in the Congo Room since Roseanne Barr's run ended, it makes sense that the Comedy Stop might make this venue its new home and the rumors say that could happen as soon as July 20. We'll keep you (and the box office) posted.
Get your TITO votes in today if you haven't already -- current poll ends at midnight!
CSI: The Experience, an interactive touring exhibit based on the popular CBS series, will take up residence at the MGM Grand this summer. The attraction give guests the opportunity to play the role of a crime scene investigator, learning scientific principles and real investigative techniques as they try to solve one of three crime scene mysteries with the help of two state-of-the-art crime labs. Sounds pretty cool! We'll bring you more details as we get them.
They're down to the final 64 (out of more then 6,400) in the World Series of Poker's main event. The chip leader is Darvin Moon with 6,745,000. Phil Ivey is third with 6,345,000, Antonio Esfandiari is sixth with 5,610,000, and Kill Phil author Blair Rodman has $2.1 million. One woman, Leonor Margets from Spain, remains with 3.7 million, while the last former champion, Peter Eastgate, has been eliminated. After play today, there will be one more session tomorrow to determine this year's "November Nine."
Tuesday nights from 6-11 p.m. this plush gentlemen's club (3500 W. Naples, behind CityCenter) is hosting "Tuesday's Last Supper," with complimentary buffet, $1 lap dances, and prize giveaways. To download Topless Vegas, our comprehensive guide to Las Vegas strip clubs, erotic revues, and topless pools, click here.
Marché Bacchus French bistro in the Lakeside Center at Desert Shores will be celebrating July 14 -- the anniversary of the beginning of the French Revolution -- with Champagne toasts and a special lakeside performance by the Las Vegas skydiving team, five of whom will "plunge into the water while red, white, and blue smoke streamers cascade in the air." All sounds most dramatic. Call 702/804-8008 for table reservations.
We called Paris to see if they had any festive plans, but they kept us on hold for forever, then confused us with someone who was trying to get tickets for Anthony Cools, and then hung up on us.)
In better news coming from Planet Hollywood, it's just been announced that Sammy Hagar will be bringing his Cabo Wabo Cantina brand the Miracle Mile Shops this fall. The two-level, 15,000-square-foot nightclub and restaurant will fill the location previously occupied by Trader Vic's. "We are going to rock the Vegas Strip!" announced the Red Rocker.
A new bikini blackjack pit's been opened at the Stratosphere's main resort pool, "8". It will be in operation through the summer, in addition to the other daily poolside entertainments that include volleyball and beer pong. As with other pools that offer gaming, the general public must be permitted admission in order to play but whereas some (notably Encore, where you'll be escorted to/from your table by security) have strict rules about non-guests enjoying the rest of the amenities, Stratosphere seemed pretty laid back when we asked and had no problem with gamblers taking a dip in the pool, too.
This brings to 13 the total number of Las Vegas pools that offer al fresco gambling -- you can find the complete list in Cool Pools.
As reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the hip Strip resort is the first to be fined for activities that took place within an on-property nightclub that it does not own. Planet Hollywood has been ordered to pay $500,000 fine to Nevada gambling regulators over lax policing of illegal activity inside Privé, including admitting underage patrons, hiring staff with criminal records, and failing to address rising levels of prostitution in and around the venue. Club employees were also accused of removing drunk customers and dumping them in the casino unattended, and of physically and sexually assaulting customers.
"We didn't execute proper supervision and we're the message being sent to the rest of the industry," said the property's lawyer. In addition to the $500,000 fine, Planet Hollywood has agreed to pay an additional $250,000 in a year's time if the problems with Privé have not been satisfactorily addressed. Other hotel-casinos are also currently under investigation for similar offenses.
Rather than following the usual Vegas model of imploding and rebuilding, Harrah's decided two years ago to keep its Strip properties intact and instead build a "winding corridor" of retail outlets, casual dining venues and, yes, a Ferris wheel (will Las Vegas actually finally get one?) between its Flamingo and O'Shea's properties. You can read more about "Project Link" and see an artists rendition by clicking here for the article by gaming writer Liz Benston in the Las Vegas Sun.
Fans of the King can keep tabs on the upcoming Cirque du Soleil show based on his life and music via its new website. The name of the production, which will be staged at CityCenter's Aria property, won't be announced until later this year, but in the meantime you can get some behind-the-scenes glimpses and interviews with the show's creators.
We're sad to report that the world-famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign is currently not looking so fabulous, on account of having been the victim of some mindless graffiti vandal. KLAS photojournalist Jason Boyd has posted pictures on his Twitter account (@JBPhojo), which you can access via this link.
While we're breathing a sigh of relief that the roadwork around our office was completed ahead of schedule, we've just heard that the Convention Center Drive at Paradise is the latest victim of Las Vegas' "big dig" (will it ever end?), so avoid that neighborhood if you can. Traffic's always bad around there at the best of times, so it must be a nightmare right now.
Since we posted the current "Spotlight on..." feature, yet another buffet has joined the ranks of those offering an all-day pass. At Mandalay Bay you can now eat all your meals at the buffet for $35 Monday-Saturday and $40 on Sunday (when a champagne brunch is served).
With fewer than 200 players left in the World Series of Poker's main event, unknown names are controlling the big chip stacks. Leading is Warren Zackey with 4,872,000, followed by Kasper Cordes (4,352,000), Bernhard Perner (3,220,000), and Darvin Moon (3,218,00). In fifth is known pro Tom Schneider with 3,168,000. Dan Harrington and Joe Hachem were eliminated, leaving only one former champ in the field, last year's winner, Peter Eastgate. Our Kill-book authors Elky and Blair Rodman are still going, with Elky at 1,400,000 and Blair just under 1 million.
Although signage first indicated 5 p.m. and then 5 a.m. as the termination hour of road work on Spring Mtn., it's looking like this weekend's labors were finished ahead of schedule and that roads in the vicinity of HP/LVA are all open once more.
Today's LV Review-Journal contains an interesting profile of the Nolan Dalla, the media director for the World Series of Poker. Nolan is one of the most respected (by the players) in the whole WSOP hierarchy and the profile shines a light on some of the reasons why.
Everyone remaining the World Series of Poker's main event (as well as a few who are out) is getting paid. The tournament got to the prize stages yesterday and 407 now remain. The chip leader is Matt Affleck with 1,819,000. The previous day's leader, ElkY, held steady with 1,250,000, but dropped to 16th place. Only two from last-year's final table remain -- third-place finisher Dennis Phillips with 414,000 and defending champion Peter Eastgate with 397,000. Phil Hellmuth was eliminated, along with Mike Sexton and Eric Seidel.
Today is the 12th anniversary of the Silverton and the casino is providing plenty of reasons to attend the party. On top of 12X points, Silverton is giving away $100 to active players with club card inserted every 12 minutes. There's also free gelato from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. But perhaps the biggest draw is an amazing funbook that's being given to new club sign-ups. It's a monster, containing several valuable gambling coupons.
The bad news is, if you're trying to get anywhere that involves the vicinity of the Spring Mountain/Twain and Valley View intersection, Spring Mountain's closed through 5 p.m. on July 13th and there are all kinds of confusing re-routing shenanginans going on. The good news is that everyone's being re-routed right past the LVA/Huntington Press office on Procyon, so we're one of the few places around here that's still accessible. The office is closed on the weekend but you can come and see us on Monday -- we'd welcome the company, since we're pretty much marooned!
With 810 players left, Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier is the chip leader with 1,380,500 going into Day 4 of the Main Event. Also well in the hunt is Blair Rodman with 526,000, making it a powerful performance by our "Kill" authors -- Kill Everyone's Elky and Kill Phil's Blair. Three more former world champions have been eliminated: Jim Bechtel, Carlos Mortensen, and Greg Raymer.
According to bankruptcy court documents, it will take another $1.5 billion to complete construction of the paralyzed Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel and casino. With a debt load estimated at about double what the entire project's worth, the prospects don't look too rosy. An appraisal filed with the bankruptcy court in Miami by Bank of America this week concluded that the project's been insolvent since March and that the developer's requests for additional funding were "materially inaccurate" because they failed to disclose the growing difficulties, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Purveyor of sweet treats to the stars, Sugar Factory has just opened a location at the Mirage. Selling an array of hard and soft candies, chocolates, and its signature series customizable "couture" lollipops beloved by the likes of Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, and The Pussycat Dolls, the new store is located between Starbucks and Rhumbar and is open Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-1 a.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. -- handy if you need a late-night sugar fix.
The latest victim of the revolving door at the Steve Wyrick Theater is Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, which will close this Sunday (July 12) after less than three weeks, as we just confirmed with the box office. Although not intended to be a permanent fixture, the show was scheduled to run through the fall, but a dearth of audience members has forced it to shut right now. It's the same fate that befell Elvis impersonator Trent Carlini, whose show never got off the ground in that venue. Other acts that have attempted to fill the room have also run into difficulties, with the exception of owner Steve Wyrick's Real Magic, which has so far stayed the course.
The longtime long-haired flamenco sensation debuts her new show at the Riviera tonight. Charo in Concert: A Musical Sensation features her virtuoso flamenco guitar, accompanied by a full orchestra performing Charo's biggest hits, plus a cast of world-renowned Spanish flamenco dancers. The show takes place Wednesday through Monday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.99.
The popular gameshow will be returning to Las Vegas for the first time in five years next week. From July 17th through the 21st, Wheel of Fortune will take up residence at the Venetian/Palazzo to tape four weeks of shows for the new season, which will begin airing September 14. Currently there are no seats available -- sorry! -- but if that changes, we'll let you know.
You know how we're always saying you get the best deals from hotels by signing up for their email blasts? Here's a case in point: We just received an email from the Golden Nugget offering $10 off all calendar rates, which means rooms from $42. Plus, book a room Sunday through Thursday and also receive a "Golden Values Book," which they value at $250 (we haven't seen the offers yet, so can't confirm). If you're interested, act fast -- this offer expires at midnight tonight. Call 800/634-3454 and mention code FAROUT, or click this link to book online.
Our big July room-rate survey is cited in today's USA Today. Several of the details are referenced and Anthony Curtis is quoted. You can see the results of the study in our home-page feature "Vegas Room-Rate Bonanza."
The Wynn was the first casino to house a car showroom when it introduced Ferrari to the Esplandade mall. Palazzo followed suit with the experiment and became home to Las Vegas' second Lamborghini store. Having heard rumors of the showroom's demise, we made a series of calls and initially went around in circles with the, "It's open, let me connect you" (got routed to the original store on Dean Martin Drive) and "I'm not the person to discuss this" (when connected with same) scenario ensuing. Eventually, a helpful concierge at Palazzo made some inquiries and confirmed that the showroom there indeed closed around a week ago. The associated Dal Toro Ristorante Italian eatery remains open for business, however.
Sorry for the last-minute post on this one, but we only just got the word. Tuff-N-Uff's Tuff Girls hit the scales inside The Orleans Casino ballroom at 6 pm, ahead of tomorrow's fight. The weigh in's open to the public. Tomorrow there's an after-fight party at Badda Bing gentlemen's club from midnight, with free admission for ladies. Go girls!
With word from the World Series of Poker, a keno comeback, a bunch of new dining bargains, and a nightclub entry deal, Anthony Curtis' column is packed with info this week, while LA Times blogger Richard Abowitz also spoke with our publisher about poker great Doyle Brunson, who's celebrating his fortieth year playing in the WSOP. You can find all this and more in our LVA in the Media blog.
Yep, it's pretty much all UFC all weekend long, with a heap of pre-parties, beach parties, viewing parties, and after parties all over town. The full roundup of that is here, in Special Events. Other highlights include women fighting each other at the Orleans, the Blazed & Confused tour kickoff with Snoop Dogg and Slightly Stoopid, plus NYOTB (can someone please explain the current obsession??) and Duran Duran (what's with all this '80s revival stuff? Understand they probably need the money, but thought we were all glad to see the back of that decade) at the Palms.
It's just been announced that the superstar DJ and remixer Paul Oakenfold will extend his residency at the Palms Rain nightclub through 2010. His show Paul Oakenfold Presents: Perfecto Las Vegas is a collaboration with award-winning VJ and director Vello Virkhaus and features various cutting-edge design and visual art elements, including full audio-visual system integration, multi-screen content, and computer graphics.
We get asked all the time about which casinos offer something special for your birthday and the answer is, not many and when they do, not much. However, Big Dog's (6354 W. Sahara) has just introduced a festive deal for your big day: Show your ID and they'll take 20% off your entire check, regardless of how many people are in your party. Pretty cool.
You win some, you lose some: While the Silverton no longer has its main webcam and the aquarium-cam is currently offline for maintenance, the entire Boyd/Coast group has added high quality webcams to each property (Gold Coast, Orleans, Sam's Town, Fremont, California, and Main Street Station -- the only one without is Suncoast). Although they area static cams, as opposed to the more sophisticated streaming video from Polo Towers or Springs Preserve, these webcams do let you choose a different view and zoom in and out, while another cool feature is being able to take a snaphot and add it to the "album" with your own tagline. Each presentation features a great panoramic shot, plus the downtown properties also have timelapse of New Year's 2009. You have to sign up on each property's website to get access to the webcam. Click this link for our Las Vegas webcam gallery.
Day 2 of the second round of the main event has cut the remaining players to 1,724. The new chip leader is Troy Webber with 453,200. Hanging close is Phil Ivey with 325,000. Recent eliminations include Tom "Durrrr" Dwan, Robert Williamson III, David Sklansky, Gavin Griffin, Kathy Liebert, Vanessa Rousso, Howard Lederer, Erick Lindgren, Michael Mizrachi, and former champion Scotty Nguyen. Play resumes on Friday with the entire field now united.
There's been speculation for months regarding the future of the long-running Crazy Girls topless revue at the Riviera, especially after the demise of La Cage, and apparently some media reported this morning that the show was to close. But according to Robin Leach (who generally knows his onions when it comes to such things), the show's angered producers are vehemently denying the rumors and stating that the show's not going anywhere.
For more information and reviews of Crazy Girls and all the other topless productions in Las Vegas, click to download our Topless Vegas guide.
Tonight sees the 6th annual "Adam & Eve's Charity Love Fling," hosted this year by M Resort's Villagio Del Sole pool. Bid on hot local singles and raise money for New Vista Community for disabled adults. Entry's $20 and the fun kicks off at 8:15 p.m. For more on this and other pool parties and events, visit our Cool Pools feature and click on the "Event" tab in any entry to see what's going on.
Did you vote in our latest reader poll yet? If not, don't forget. It's definitely a polarizing poll!
Since illusionist Steve Wyrick's much-hyped "Death Drop" stunt (the subject of our previous Spotlight feature), which took place on The Strip last Saturday, details have emerged that things did not go quite as smoothly as they could or should have, and that while the magician himself emerged unscathed, the same cannot be said of one or more members of the crew. The details remain very sketchy, but for as much as is known, check out Richard Abowitz's latest LA Times Movable Buffet blog entry.
It's official -- Travelocity's "Roaming Gnome" will be coming to Las Vegas, which beat Atlantic City in the voting for where he should go on his next adventure. You can click here to suggest the highlights and bargains he should check out.
Due to breaking news, Chef David Walzog’s scheduled appearance this morning on the "Today Show" has been moved to Friday, July 10th at approximately 9:35 a.m.
Playing poker can pay. The schedule of final-table prize payouts have been released and will be as follows (from first to ninth): $8.55 million, $5.18 million, $3.80 million, $2.50 million, $1.95 million, $1.58 million, $1.40 million, $1.30 million, $1.26 million. The winners will be determined in November, when the final table reconvenes after it's determined in mid-July.
Actress and model Carmen Electra begins her series of guest performances in MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris tonight. The sex symbol, who will appear nightly through Monday, July 13 in both the 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. performances, confirmed in a recent interview with Robin Leach that contrary to rumors, she will be appearing fully topless in the show. "I wanted to go for it. I didn't want to cheat either the audience or myself. I've built a career out of going nude, so I have to do it." Electa is only the second guest to appear in the show, the other being burlesque sensation Dita Von Teese.
For our unique and fully-illustrated guide to this and all the other topless shows, pools, and strip clubs in town, check out
The second round of the main event began yesterday. Out of a starting group of 1,476 players, 630 remain (today's session is about twice as large). The chip leader is Andrew Gaw with 386,800. More big names out of the tournament include Gavin Smith, Amarillo Slim Preston, Mike Matusow, Dewey Tomko, Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilley, Barry Greenstein, Gus Hansen, and two-time champion Johnny Chan.
We wrote in the July issue of the Las Vegas Advisor about the excellent new "Halfsteak" menu at MGM Grand's Craftsteak. Now comes the $39/person L'Unique menu from L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, also at MGM Grand. Robuchon's been dubbed the "Chef of the Century" and this new "pre-theater" menu, as it's been dubbed (served daily but only until 6:45 p.m.) means we can all get a taste of what the fuss is about. Appetizers include Salmon Tartar with fresh wasabi, with Caramelized Beef Short Ribs with confit onions and mashed potatoes and Fricassée of Veal Sweetbreads with mushrooms and capers among the entrée offerings, plus a choice of desserts.
First the Western introduced bingo, and now the Vegas Club has opened a keno lounge. Cool! We know how many of our readers have been mourning the disappearance of the keno lounge. It's open from noon until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon until midnight Friday and Saturday.
This coming Saturday Mandalay Bay hosts the UFC 100, featuring Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir and Georges St Pierre defending his title against Thiago Alves, plus the Ultimate Fighter coaching showdown and the very first UFC Fan Expo. There are viewing parties and after-parties all over town -- get the lowdown in our "UFC 100" Special Event feature.
Following the recent introduction of an Omelet House location at the Plaza comes the property's next dining upgrade in the shape of an all-new buffet. "Stuffed" will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven nights a week, plus champagne brunch on Saturday and Sunday. While breakfast and lunch retain the same $7.77 price tag as the former aptly named Lucky 7 Buffet (which served brunch and dinner for that price), every night will now feature a specialty dinner (New-York Steak and Snow Crab night on Monday, Southern Fried on Tuesday etc.) for $12.99 ($15.99 on Friday and Saturday), while the champagne brunch is $9.99/person. You can no doubt look forward to a review in the next
LVA newsletter.
City officials say the owners of the long-derelict Lady Luck casino aren't doing enough to maintain the site and keep it trash-free.
Mayor Oscar Goodman described the once popular downtown property, which has now been closed for more than three years, as "a disaster" and has instructed city staff to check for code violations. He called an unfinished building at the site a "carcass." The California-based company that owns the site blames the current economic climate for the halt in renovations.
A full-house turnout of 2,809 players on Day 1D drove the final total to 6,494 entrants. That's below last year's 6,844, but this year could have been much higher, as several hundred players were reportedly shut out when the field reached capacity. The day's chip leader was Troy Weber, whose 353,000 is easily the top stack over all four sessions. Notable eliminations were Michael Binger, Scott Fischman, David Williams, Ivan Demidov, Jeff Madsen, Phil Galfond, Lyle Berman, and former champion Huck Seed. The total prize pool for the tournament is $61,043,600 and the first prize will exceed $8.5 million. A total of 648 players will cash and all nine at the final table are guaranteed at least $1 million.
Chef David Walzog of SW Steakouse will be appearing on NBC's "The Today Show" at 9:45 PST tomorrow with ideas for side dishes perfect for a summertime steak dinner. For additional recipe ideas from some of the city's top chefs, remember to check out our Reservations Required title -- it makes a perfect gift for the Vegas-loving cook in your life!
The band's kicking off their first U.S. tour in eight years with a free gig at the Pearl at the Palms July 18. Entry will be on a first come, first served basis.
Expect extra-BAD traffic on The Strip tomorrow: From 9 a.m. Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile Shops will be airing CNN's coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial live -- with full sound -- on the propertys' multiple Strip-side LED video screens beginning at 9 a.m. PST.
On July 15 the Palms will be holding auditions inside The Pearl concert venue for the new Matt Goss Live From Las Vegas show, produced by Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin. Dancer and Singer/Dancer audition check-in: 9:30 a.m.; singer-only audition check-in: 3:00 p.m. Enter via front entrance of The Pearl and bring a photo and resumé.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
DANCERS: Wear form-fitting clothing and high heels. All choreography will be taught on-site.
SINGERS: Please have a 30-second song prepared for your audition and select a song that shows off your vocal range. Please bring your own track for your audition.
Isle of Capri Casinos founder Bernie Goldstein, the first casino operator in Biloxi and the South, died on Sunday. He opened Isle of Capri Casino in Biloxi in 1992 and as CEO grew the Isle of Capri brand into one of the top casino companies in world, operating regional casinos in Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, and Florida. He had retired as CEO in 2008 but continued to be active in the company as chairman of the board.
According to today's Wall Street Journal, early buyers of condos at CityCenter are experiencing a severe case of "buyers remorse," and want to renegotiate prices to better reflect the current market. According to the article, $313 million in deposits are being held on 1,500 units (out of 2,440 total). CityCenter will have 5,000 hotel rooms on top of that. It's a good article with some interesting details about the project.
Realtor Robin Camacho's Las Vegas Top 10 Real Estate Values, one of the popular "Other" picks in our recent poll on your favorite LasVegasAdvisor.com website features, is about to get a major upgrade. We know that this service has been of great use to a number of LVA subscribers, who've taken advantage of Robin's insights and the current housing market to pick up some hot deals, and her service is about to get even stronger. Watch this space for the official launch of the new better-than-ever service and in the meantime, tune into Robin's House Advantage blog on this site for updates.
Phil Hellmuth Jr. arrived to play his first round in the World Series of Poker main event dressed as Julius Caesar. A picture of him, surrounded by a bevy of women can be seen in the "Sports" section of today's USA Today. The accompanying article focuses less on Hellmuth and more on the change from players starting with 20,000 chips to 30,000 this year.
The report on the number of players for Day 1C at the WSOP main event has been modified, dropping from an original estimate of more than 1,900 to 1,696. The chipleader was Joe Cada with 187,000. Amazingly, Jeff Lisandro, who's won three bracelets this year, is in sixth with 145,000. Notable eliminations include David "Chino" Rheem, Marcel Luske, Matt Matros, Brandon Cantu, Daniel Negreneau, Annie Duke, and former champs Tom McEvoy and Jamie Gold.
The nightspot in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood continues its new "Tickled Pink" comedy night tonight. With the tagline "offending everyone equally," it's a showcase of mainly gay (but some straight) comedians, with tonight's lineup featuring Shawn Pelofsky, KT Tatara, and Sandra Valls, hosted by Shayma Tash. Text "LAUGH" TO 313131
to receive free tickets. Doors open at 8 p.m.
As expected, the numbers are way up for today's WSOP main event. Nearly 2,000 players are in action today and at least that many should play tomorrow.
Only 873 players competed yesterday -- a low number, but not completely unexpected, as the last two days of the first flight appear to be more crowded. The second-day chip leader was Brandon Demes with 137,075. Among the big names that were eliminated were Chris Moneymaker, David Pham, and Doyle Brunson.
Barney Frank will hold a press conference at the Rio at 1 pm today (open to media only). Frank has been pushing a bill to allow online poker to be played without government interference and is appearing at the World Series of Poker to gather support.
There are plenty of pools open to the public today if you need to cool down or sweat it out after last night’s festivities. Parties include the notorious Rehab at Hard Rock, Luxor’s LGBT-oriented "Sunkissed Sundays" (which is hosting a fundraiser for Sthn. Nevada Association of PRIDE today), XS Poolside Sundays nighttime party at Encore, "Sips for Dips" at Red Rock’s Cherry Cabana Club (also late-night), "Sunset Sessions" at TAO Beach (hosted by Holly Madison today), and "Daylife Sundays" at Wet Republic (MGM Grand). For more details on these events and all the other pools that are open to the public, visit our "Cool Pools" feature in "Shows & Nightlife."
Don't forget the book signing today with poker stars Elky and Blair Rodman. Both will be at the ALL IN Magazine booth in the Rio's PokerPalooza show today from 3 to 4 pm to sign Kill Everyone and Kill Phil.
Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed to traffic from Harmon Rd. to Bellagio from 8:15-8:45 p.m. tonight while daredevil illusionist Steve Wyrick attempts a "death drop" escape in celebration of Club Tattoo’s grand opening. At 8:30 p.m. Chester Bennington, assisted by band members, will lock and shackle Wyrick into one of the band’s equipment boxes. Connected to a crane by only a few thin ropes, the box will be dangled over a bed of 500 flaming spikes 80 feet below. The ropes will then be set on fire, forcing the illusionist to make his escape before the last rope breaks and sends him plummeting to a fiery death. The public is encouraged to come and watch and free MollliCoolz Shakers will be available to keep spectators refreshed and cool during the stunt.
A total of 1,116 players anted up in Day 1A of the World Series of Poker main event. The chip leader is Eric Cloutier, with 150,750. Notable Day 1 eliminations include Andy Bloch, Men Nguyen, Mark Vos, David Grey, Orel Hershiser, John Phan, Allen Cunningham, Freddy Deeb, and former champion Jerry Yang. Day 2A kicks off at noon today.
Club Tattoo inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood is one of the growing number of celebrity-owned tattoo studios in Las Vegas and today, from 2-4 p.m., co-owner and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington will be here for the grand opening, signing autographs and giving away tickets to see his new band, Dead by Sunrise, which performs this evening inside the Steve Wyrick Theater.
It’s one of the biggest party weekends in Las Vegas and if you haven’t already made plans, check out our feature in Special Events (on the home page) for a last-minute lowdown on parties, concerts, and firework displays. In the casinos, South Point is awarding 2X points today, Silverton and the casinos in Primm are awarding 4X points, and Gold Coast is awarding 5X points for VP and 7X points for slots. Downtown, the El Cortez is reprising its free White Castle hamburger promotion today for Club Cortez members.
This weekend the Tropicana, Las Vegas is hosting the Sixth Annual Las Vegas Salsa Congress --a music and dance festival with workshops, shows, and parties. Click here for more information.
Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier and Blair Rodman will sign the second editions of their respective books on Saturday at the Rio's PokerPalooza show. Elky and Blair will both be at the ALL IN Magazine booth at 3 pm. Elky will sign Kill Everyone and Blair will sign Kill Phil. Both books are discounted for the show -- Kill Everyone (normally $34.95) will be sold for $25 and Kill Phil (normally $24.95) will be sold for $20. Get both, plus a Kill Phil hat, for $40.
Our outside processor has fixed its problem and ShopLVA is working properly again. Thanks for your patience.
As of 12:01 a.m. yesterday, gamblers in the casino towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk are permitted to wager $100 instead of $5 and play craps and roulette in addition to just poker, blackjack, and slots. They can also play all night long, no longer having to stop between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. It's the successful conclusion to a $7 million campaign to persuade state voters to make these moves in a bid to increase tax revenues from gaming.
A new restaurant called Burger Joint opens today at the Flamingo. Located in the space previously occupied by Voga, the resaurant has a big selection, including salmon, buffalo chicken, turkey, veggie, and design-your-own traditional-style burgers.
Our outside credit card processor is down, which means orders are currently not being accepted at ShopLVA. We expect this to be a short-term situation that will be resolved today. We are monitoring and will put up a notice when the problem is corrected.
Todday is Day 1A for the $10,000 buy-in World Series of Poker main event. There will be four such prelimanary flights in all, each with up to 3,000 players. No attendance figures have been released yet.
Travelocity's Roaming Gnome is asking for your help choosing where to go on his next adventure -- here, or Atlantic City? Vote for Vegas!
It's one of the biggest weekends of the year for parties, so without further ado, here's the line up for July 4 weekend in Sin City:
The former "Gaming Life Expo," now re-branded PokerPalooza, is underway in the Rio Pavilion, as the property gears up for the 2009 WSOP Main Event (kicks off noon tomorrow). It's a mélange of poker vendors, autograph-signing poker celebs, carnival games, food and drink stands, and a must for any poker fan. Look for the ALL IN Magazine booth, where Anthony Curtis and other LVAers will be, showing off the just-deliverd 2nd editions of both Kill Phil and Kill Everyone.
The off-Strip Greek Isles hotel-casino, which first opened as the Royal Inn Casino back in '72 and which has been blighted by financial woes in all its subsequent incarnations, is once again headed for the auction block.
Canpartners Realty Holding, the principal lender on the property, which was forced into Chapter 11 in April, is seeking bankruptcy court approval to sell the property at auction. Appraised at $120 million in late 2007, the Greek Isles is now valued at only $44 million. For more coverage on the Greek Isles saga, check out David McKee's Stiffs & Georges biz blog on this site.
USA Today's Travel News writer Kitty Bean Yancey highlights Las Vegas Advisor's July room-rate survey in her column today, under the title "Las Vegas hotel rates are on a losing streak." Click here to read the full article and use this link to search for room-rates with our booking service, Vegas.com, which offers a "Best Vegas Rate Guarantee": "If, while searching the Internet, you find a lower bookable rate on any other publicly available U.S.-based website for the same date(s), same hotel, same room type, same rate type, and for the same number of guests and notify VEGAS.com within 24 hours after booking your room with us, VEGAS.com will give you double the difference back, up to $150."
Magic, sharks, robots, poker, and CityCenter? Yes, it's the latest Las Vegas update from Anthony Curtis, whose nationally syndicated column was just posted to our LVA in the Media blog. Stay tuned: It's been a busy week for us media-attention wise and and there's another entry following hot on the heels of this one...
The World Series of Poker's USA Today supplement is in today's edition. We reported in the July Las Vegas Advisor that it didn't run this year, but now it has, making four years straight that the WSOP is getting major-sport coverage. There's also a good column in the "Sports" section providing an overview of this year's WSOP results to date, written by Daniel Negreanu.
The El Cortez is currently running the following promotion: Hit a jackpot of $1,200 or more and receive a complimentary two-night stay in their new Cabana Suites. If you don't hit the jackpot, remember you can still get one night for $45 and the second night free by using the coupon in the current LVA Member Rewards Book. Here's what another reader had to say about it recently:
"Just got back from the most recent trip and I have to say that the El Cortez Cabana Suites are off the hook! The first night I stayed at a Fremont Street hotel (won't mention which one but looking out my window I was well acquainted with the large metal roof of the skyshow). While I anticipated it being noisy, it was too much for me. After looking through the MRB, I came across the coupon for the Cabana suites. I called them up and got a mini-suite for the last two nights of my trip. The room was just flat-out awesome. Clean, modern, and an unbeatable price. It has its own fitness room, computer terminals in the lobby, and security guards inside and out. Just look for the blue building behind the El Cortez casino. I sorely wish I had acquired the coupon book first because I most certainly would have booked this room first. I will be back." (aerosmith3430)
Good news for thrill-seekers: Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef attraction is introducing a new program for guests of MBay or sister property THEhotel. Certified divers aged 18+ (max. two at a time) will have a chance to dive side-by-side with more than 30 sharks during the four-hour experience, plus they'll learn about shark health and behavior, and the Reef's preservation of endangered species program. For more information contact Wendie Mosca: wmoscaATmgmirage.com
Called the International when it opened on July 2, 1969, the Las Vegas Hilton will be celebrating its 40th anniversary tomorrow with casino promotions, commemorative gaming chips, and a 24/7 happy hour rotating among the properties bars and lounges. Happy Birthday Hilton!
This just in via Channel 8 "Eyewitness News": Apparently, beginning on Monday, the Venetian has laid of another 194 employees this week. This comes on top of the 283 Venetian/Palazzo employees pink-slipped in March.
Many thanks to Los Angeles Times blogger Richard Abowitz for highlighting David McKee's "Stiffs & Georges" as "an essential Vegas blog" in his latest addition to "The Movable Buffet." You can read all about it in "LVA in the Media".
The Minus 5 Experience ice bar at Mandalay Place is celebrating Independence Day with a half-price admission for men and women of the United States military. On July 4, all current and veteran personnel with valid military ID will receive a 50% discount on entry (normally $25, which includes first cocktail). Check out our 4th of July feature in "Special Events" (bottom of the home page, or just click the link) to see what other festivities are going on around town this weekend.
After a 20-hour final table, David Bach emerged the winner of the HORSE event at the World Series of Poker, taking the top prize of $1,276,802. The table set records for longest duration and most hands played in a WSOP final.
No more casino gambling in Russia's big cities as of today, when a law comes into effect exiling legal gambling to far-flung designated zones, including Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, the Primorsky region on the Pacific coast, the Altai region in Siberia, and near the southern cities of Krasnodar and Rostov.
Casino-culture had mushroomed in Moscow and other large cities since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and many predict that the new law will merely push gambling underground.
The law on poker remains ambiguous, so some former casinos may now operate as poker halls, while others have already shut down for good.
It's another deep finish at the World Series of Poker for