America's Got Talent Live!, which will kick off its 10-week run at Planet Hollywood on Wednesday, Oct. 7, today revealed the talent line-up for the event. Hosted by Jerry Springer, the live show will feature entertainers including this season's million dollar winner, singer Kevin Skinner and runner-up, opera singer Barbara Padill, plus drumming band Recycled Percussion, comedian Grandma Lee, break dancer Hario Torres, basketball dunking entertainers Acrodunk, singing trio Texas Tenors, and a limited run through Oct. 18 from Nuttin' But Stringz from last season.
When we first heard report of Charo's accident at the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Riviera estimated that she'd be back to perform in October. However, a follow-up call today was greeted with, "Call back in the second week of November," so it doesn't sound like she's coming back anytime soon.
Not only did Rich Natole close at the Tropicana, but we just learned that Bobby Slayton has also closed, presumably to make way for the Waynster. Slayton's show was great when we saw him at his previous home at Hooters, so hopefully he'll find a new home soon.
If you recognise the man in this photograph, please call Metro robbery section at 702/828-3591, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702/385-5555. He's wanted in connection with a robbery in the high-limit area of an undisclosed Las Vegas Strip casino last week and cash reward may be available to anyone providing information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
A wildfire at Lake Tahoe is burning on a mountain within about a half mile of the main casino district in downtown Stateline. Although fire officials say no homes are immediately threatened, strong winds with gusts up to 44 mph are reported to be pushing the fire northeast toward the residential area of lower Kingsbury Grade.
While every female celebrity and their dog seem to launch their own line of perfume these days, as far as we know Las Vegas will be the first city to have its own scent. Apparently, a group of scent marketing and "multi-sensory branding experts" is collaborating with executives from the City of Las Vegas and Las Vegas Airport Authority to come up with an official Las Vegas fragrance that "captures everything the city stands for" as part of the ongoing branding of the city. The task of actually creating the perfume has been entrusted to Christophe Laudamiel, whose produced successful fragrances of Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie & Fitch. The scent will be revealed later this year at the upcoming SCENTworld expo in late November.
Wynn Macau has reportedly raised $1.6 billion in its initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Wynn sold 1.25 billion shares, a 25% stake in the company, at US$1.30 a share. Demand was so strong that the size of the offering was increased and shares were priced higher than announced and many institutional investors had to be turned away. Only 10% of the shares were allocated to retail investors.
Over a year since construction work stopped at Boyd Gaming's Echelon Resort comes word that it could be years before it starts again. Channel 8 Eyewitness News reports that as we write, workers are prepping the cranes for removal and a complete site shutdown's underway, which it's anticipated could last for three more years.
All day on Tuesdays, play two games for the price of one at the Excalbur Fantasy Faire Midway. Open from 10 a.m. to midnight.
AC/DC is postponing the whole N. American leg of their world tour, including the show at the MGMGrand Garden Arena, scheduled for Sat., October 3. The "Black Ice" world tour, promoting their first new album in eight years, has evidently taken a toll on frontman Brian Johnson, who was recently hospitalised and has been advised by doctors to stay at home. If you have questions about refunds and the rescheduled dates, please call 702/891-3150.
Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that construction on the PH Towers at Planet Hollywood, the 52-story 1,200-unit Westgate twin hotel-timeshare towers, is proceeding on schedule for a December opening. Of the 1,200 units, 240 will be timeshares. Planet Hollywood fielded more than 13,000 applications for PH's 800 jobs, which will be filled by late next month.
Seen on the "Director's Cut" (the weekly summary) of "Poker After Dark" last Sunday:
Phil Hellmuth asks Phil Ivey if he's ever played golf against Tiger Woods.
Ivey responds, "I've met Woods, but I'm so new to golf and, relatively speaking, so bad at it, that I've never even considered asking Woods if he wanted to play."
Hellmuth kills Ivey: "Well, you play poker against me, don't you?"
After three years in the planning stages, a $335 million slot casino in Philadelphia will break ground on October 8. SugarHouse Casino, whose lead investor is Chicago developer Neil Bluhm, will occupy a 22-acre parcel and feature 1,700 slot machines in its first phase.
A dust advisory has been issued for this afternoon through Wednesday morning, with wind speeds likely to hit 40-50 mph. Drive carefully.
Tonight's the third in the series of the "Cooking with the Star Chefs of Wynn/Encore" series, hosted by Whole Foods Market at Town Square. Tonight features "Simple and Sublime Sushi at Home" with Masa Ishizawa of Okada. The event takes place from 6-8 p.m. and is free to attend.
Author Matt O'Brien just heard that CNN's item about Beneath the Neon will now air tomorrow night.
The attention surrounding Matt O'Brien's Beneath the Neon shows no signs of abating; on the contrary, he has received more than 40 approaches from media outlets all over the world following last week's features by abcNews and Britain's The Sun newspaper, which you can read in LVA in the Media. Tonight he's due to be featured on CNN's AC360° tonight 10 p.m./ET and we understand that The Maury Povich Show and Inside Edition are on their way to town, too. We'll keep you posted.
As rumored, Rich Natole's Voices of a Generation show, which had tranferred to the Tropicana a couple months ago from the Harmon Theater, closed on Sunday.
Through the end of this month, new sign ups for the Discover players card at the Silverton receive a voucher for a free night's stay, good through March 31, 2010. You must have out-of-state ID but otherwise there are no strings attached.
The eighth-annual Fright Dome at the Adventuredome at Circus Circus will open at 7 p.m. Friday October 2. This year, two new haunted houses are based on the Saw horror movies, with replicas of evil-mastermind Jigsaw's "games." Otherwise, it's fright business as usual: extreme scare zones, five haunted houses, freak shows, strobes and lasers, even demons descending from on high. Hours are 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 2-4, 9-11, 15-18, 22-25, and 28-31; tickets are $34.95 (fast passes $15 extra). Children under 12 are warned away.
The Las Vegas fire department is launching a recruitment drive for 1,500 additional firefighters today, which is likely to bring heavy traffic to the vicinity of City Hall. If you're interested in applying, more information can be found on the department's Web site. The city is asking drivers to use the following locations for parking:
A consortium of lenders has filed a motion in bankruptcy court to force Fontainebleau into Chapter 7 liquidation via a sales process supervised by a trustee. The motion claims that, because F’bleau’s bankruptcy is entering its fourth month, no meaningful progress has been made, and the court has already denied further funding, it’s the only way for creditors to recoup any value from the project.
Census data has pegged Nevada’s 14.2% divorce rate in 2008 as the highest in the nation; one in seven 2008 Nevada residents has been through at least one divorce. Factors cited include alcohol and gambling problems, couples who work different shifts in the hospitality industry, and skewed statistics based on the number of visitors taking advantage of the six-week residency requirement for divorce. The national average is 10.7%.
According to an interesting chart on the website declineandfallofwesterncivilization.com, Nevada leads the nation, by a long shot, in negative equity in home values. The loan-to-value ratio of Nevada homes is minus 115%, which means that total Nevada mortgages are 15% higher than total Nevada home equity. The whole state is underwater and Nevada is the only state in negative numbers; Arizona’s ratio is 95%, followed by Florida (94%), Michigan (93%), and Ohio (88%). The national average is 78%.
The Back Alley Bar looks interesting for the Sunday late game. It's a cavernous bar at the back of the Strat. Ceviche is $4.95. All-you-can-eat tacos are $9.99. Beer is $2.50.
The showroom at the Las Vegas Hilton was unavailable today, so the party's moved into the race and sports book and it's jammin'. We're out and about checking the Sunday football party scene today and will have updates next week; for now, the Back Alley Bar at the Stratosphere looks like a good play, with some interesting food specials. Details to follow when we've checked it out...
John L. Smith's column in today's LV Review-Journal remembers Bob Stupak, who died Friday. Smith's book, No Limit, was published by Huntington Press and Anthony Curtis is quoted several times in the column.
North Las Vegas police say they will be increasing their efforts to catch drunken drivers this weekend with saturation patrols targeting a few undisclosed major corridors in North Las Vegas today. Officers will conduct traffic stops for speeding, running red lights, and drifting out of lanes while searching for drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Clark County building inspectors have issued at least 20 notices of building code violations against Paris Las Vegas following a complaint by a former employee of 33 instances of unpermitted or substandard renovation work.
In March 2008, Harrah's Entertainment was ordered by the county to reveal all renovations it performed from 2000 to 2007 without permits or inspections at all its local properties, following reports from insiders given to the Las Vegas Review-Journal of violations at the Rio and Harrah's.
"We're actively investigating the items noted in the complaint," said a county spokeswoman late Friday, while Harrah's called the omissions from the 2009 report "a simple oversight" that's now being addressed.
We don't have many details, as it's not a Palms event and they don't have details, but we just learned there's a sports memorabilia show in the Key West ballroom until 6 p.m. this evening, with items from some big-name sports stars on display.
Today’s Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day and both the Atomic Testing Museum (755 E. Flamingo Rd.) and Las Vegas Natural History Museum (900 Las Vegas Blvd., North) are offering free admission. Visit www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday to download your admission pass. Regular adult admission is $12 and $8 respectively.
Unique and hard to find "desert dandy" plants will be among those offered today at the Springs Preserve’s Autumn Plant Sale, which takes place from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The sale will feature approximately 3,000 native and drought-tolerant plants sold in one-, five-, and 15-gallon sizes. Admission to the sale is free but regular admission prices apply to the museum and galleries.
The Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event takes place today at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event features 219 miles in 46 laps, with a field of 36 trucks and a prize purse of $524,062. Expect heavy traffic in the area. Race fans should get there early or consider using the Coach America bus service that will be leaving from the Golden Nugget downtown. Gates open at noon for the 6:30 p.m. race.
From 1-6 p.m. today, be one of the first three customers or purchase a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel from The Liquor Outlet (1725 E Warm Springs Rd # 21) to receive a ticket to Jack’s Birthday Bash on Sept. 28 from 6-10 p.m. at the new Hard Rock Café on the Strip.
Triple-digit temperatures are expected by this afternoon in the Vegas valley.
Wow, looks like our current Reader Poll had an instantaneous effect! For all of you craving a new attraction, your prayers have been answered: Cloud Nine Entertainment successfully inflated the world's largest helium balloon this week. It's a land-tethered balloon that will transport up to 30 passengers 500 feet in the air, offering 360-degree views of the Strip. No details yet on what it costs, but it looks pretty cool (we'll share some pics with you next week).
Anthony Curtis just wrapped up an interview with Las Vegas Channel 1 about Bob Stupak, whose biography was published by Huntington Press. You can catch it tonight at 9 p.m., with repeats at 12:05 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. tomorrow.
Entrepreneur, gambler, and self-styled "Polish maverick" Bob Stupak died today at Desert Springs Hospital after a long fight with leukemia. He was 67. Stupak was responsible for Vegas World, the Stratosphere, and the longest-running promotion in Vegas casino history and had already dodged death once after surviving a motorcycle accident that broke pratically every bone in his face. His life and times are chronicled by Las Vegas columnist John L. Smith in No Limit.
David McKee's Stiffs & Georges has joined the Twitter-verse and can be found at StiffsGeorges. For, as the song says, "You're no one if you're not on Twitter/And if you're not there already, you've missed it."
According to J.P. Morgan, Penn National Gaming -- which has been tipped as the likely buyer of bankrupt Fontainebleau -- made a series of debt-restructuring moves. These freed the company up to borrow as much as another $700 million. However, Penn is also aggressively paying down and buying back debt, casting doubt on the prospect of a buying spree.
John Acres, co-founder of Mikohn Gaming (now Progressive Gaming International) and a mastermind behind the slot machine player tracking system, has been granted a license by the Nevada Gaming Commission for his Talo Nevada company to produce personalized slot machines that would enable the player to control the speed of play and volatility of payouts, based on their preferences.
Chef Emeril Lagasse will be joined by athletes and celebrities including Dara Torres, Warren Sapp, Mario Lopes, Dan Cortez, Zach Gilford, Tyson Griffin, Frank Twig, Gina Carano, and Aubrey O'Day for the grand opening of the Lagasse Stadium mega sports lounge at the Palazzo from 7:30 p.m. this evening. It's a very impressive new venue -- you can read our review in the October issue of Las Vegas Advisor, which is now live online. For the full scoop on the whole football party scene, check out the ever-expanding listings at LVASports.com.
To celebrate its first anniversary, the Minus 5 Experience ice lounge at Mandalay Place will be crowing Carrot Top and the omnipresent Holly Madison as Ice King and Ice Queen at 5:30 p.m. this evening.
We give thanks to DailyFiasco for sharing the scoop on this one with us (thanks, Fiasco!) but it's sad news: After 11 years of building itself as a respected independent film festival in Las Vegas, CineVegas is being placed on indefinite hiatus due to the economic climate. President Robin Greenspun announced that they did not feel it could continue with the desired level of quality under current conditions. We understand the staff has been let go. RIP CineVegas.
But no more. We just learned that one of our favorite old-time burger joints has closed. Kilroy's (Charleston and Buffalo) used to be famous for its burgers, but had gone downhill the last time we tried one a couple of years back. Apparently, the lease was up and the owners decided not to renew, so last week it closed for good. The other venue, on Grand Canyon just south of Flamingo, is still open and serves food from 4-10 p.m. daily, except for Sundays.
The Nevada Supreme Court today upheld the constitutionality of civil enforcement of Nevada's indoor smoking ban. A number of Las Vegas businesses had appealed, on the grounds that the law violates equal protection guarantees because it exempts gambling areas in large casinos, plus stand-alone taverns, and gentlemen's clubs.
Those arguments were rejected, however, on the grounds that minors are excluded from these locations, unlike in smaller restaurants and bars, where gambling is "incidental" to overall business. (So, the smoking ban was introduced to protect minors only?)
The new co-star of Peepshow, the topless burlesque production currently performing at Planet Hollywood, hit the headlines once again this week when she chose not to appear on her second night as a result of semi-nude photographs of her taken during her opening-night performance that were circulating on the Internet. LA Times blogger Richard Abowitz has been waging a one-way Twitter feud with the ex-reality TV celebrity and former Playmate -- you can check out his take on the latest shenanigans, and see Ms O'Day's impassioned YouTube video -- in the latest installment of The Movable Buffet.
Some big names are in town this weekend to entertain you including Miley Cyrus, Liza Minnelli, Creed, and the one and only Britney Spears who brings her Circus back to Sin City. Plus, it's Mr. Olympia 2009 weekend, so brace yourself for some muscles. And Britney...
With the latest on CityCenter, "Mr Vegas," the neon revival, Bob Dancer, and more, Anthony Curtis' latest weekly Las Vegas news round-up is live online in LVA in the Media.
In a poll of "Golf World" readers, three Las Vegas golf courses were chosen as being in the Top 50 favorite public golf courses in the U.S. These included Jack Nicklaus' new PGA Golf Club, Coyote Springs, at #7 and Cascata, a Rees Jones course, at #14. Bali Hai Golf Club at #47 and Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite came in at #35. If golf's your game, check out Golf Las Vegas, our guide to all the city's courses by golfer and golf writer Ken Van Vechten.
If you didn't catch Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien on abcNews' "Nightline" show last night, you can click here to see the feature, as a reporter followed him into the tunnels under Las Vegas to meet the growing number of people who are making their homes Beneath the Neon. Also, click here to learn about Shine a Light, the charitable organization that Matt has set up to help those who want to get out of the tunnels and return to life above ground.
From 3-5 p.m. today and from 4-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Fright Dome will be holding the last of its job interviews in the Adventuredome's Laser Runner Arena at Circus Circus. The Halloween attraction opens Oct. 2.
Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien will be featured on abc's "Nightline" show tonight. Matt's Beneath the Neon book continues to garner national and international media attention, especially as the harsh economic climate and worsening unemployment situation in Las Vegas creates more and more homeless and jobless people, an increasing number of whom are ending up in the tunnels beneath the city. You can read abc's online feature by clicking this link; catch the full story on "Nightline" tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET.
This just in from David McKee's Stiffs & Georges blog: We've posted David's exclusive, one-on-one chat with Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian. In it, Yemenidjian discusses the condition of the Trop, the future of Dirk Arthur and why you shouldn't eat at the buffet ... yet.
That's the headline of Las Vegas Review-Journal's John L. Smith's latest blog entry, in which he reports that the chain-smoking Polish maverick is suffering from lung and blood disease and is down to weighing less than 100 pounds. As Smith points out, Stupak has dodged death on more than one occasion before, but his health has been seen to be deteriorating rapidly over the past year or so. John L. knows him well and is the author of No Limit, the definitive biography of the man who brought us Vegas World, the Stratosphere Tower, and a whole lot more.
The long-circulating rumor that "Mr Vegas" Wayne Newton would be returning to the Las Vegas Strip has finally been confirmed. He'll be celebrating his 50th year in Vegas with a residency at the Tropicana beginning Oct. 14 and tickets so the somewhat morbidly titled, Once Before I Go (Newton hinted at retirement during his press conference) went on sale today, priced from $80-$150. The show is scheduled to run into mid-April, on a Tues.-Sat. schedule, at 8:30 p.m. Early performances will incorporate some of Newton's "Dancing with the Stars" collaborators, possibly including the voluptuous Cheryl Burke. The Tiffany Theater has already been spiffed up from its post-Folies Bergere state and Newton promises that a new lighting and sound system will be in place by the time he opens.
Time magazine has been giving Las Vegas a lot of ink this year. Today there's another profile of the city and the effect that CityCenter is likely to have on the local economy and unemployement situation in a feature titled, "How City Center Could Turn Around Las Vegas". It's accompanied by a less optimistic photo essay, "How Hard Times Hit Las Vegas," featuring photographs of vandalized foreclosed homes and tales of how even the strip clubs are suffering.
Tonight's episode of "Dancing With the Stars" will feature a guest performance by members of the Las Vegas production of The Lion King, currently performing at Mandalay Bay.
The PT's Pub and Tavern brand turns 27 next month and is launching several valley-wide promotions to celebrate. PT's and Sierra Gold are giving away $10,000 in cash throughout October to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the first PT's in Las Vegas. Every 10 points earned by a Golden Rewards member will grant them one entry to win -- accumulate entries throughout the month and ten $1,000 winners will be drawn at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
In addition, PT's is offering '80s-style dining specials with 1982 prices at all locations throughout Las Vegas Oct. 1 through 31. Dishes include the PT's cheeseburger or Sloppy Joe's served with tater tots Sloppy Joe’s Served, an open-faced meatloaf sandwich served on white bread with mashed potatoes and green beans, and slices of strawberry pound cake served with strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream, all for $5.99.
As part of the Hard Rock's "Ambassadors of Rock" tour, Chris Cornell (former lead singer with Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog) will take the stage at the new Hard Rock Café on the Strip October 23. Cornell will also donate memorabilia, which will become a permanent addition to Hard Rock's world-famous collection. Proceeds from the event will benefit Opportunity Village. Visit www.hardrock.com for more information.
Having Tweeted for the past five days about his Top Five favorite tequilas (see @BFlay), the top chef will be celebrating the fifth birthday of his Mesa Grill restaurant at Caesars Palace by offering a free mini Mesa Margarita to anyone who brings in their cell phone and shows the Tweet "Happy Birthday Mesa Grill @CaesarsPalace.
The list of Monday Night Football parties at LVASports keeps on growing, with new announcements every day. The latest venues to enter the fray are FIRST Food and Bar at Palazzo and Rockhouse (next door to Imperial Palace), which is hosting Saturday, Sunday, and Monday parties. Check 'em out. And look out for the October issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, wherein you'll find reviews of more parties than you'd think was humanly possible for Anthony Curtis to have visited by Week 2 (we tagged him with a GPS tracking bug and can vouch, however).
If you haven't yet told us how you get around Las Vegas, you have until midnight to get your vote in. Tomorrow a new Reader Poll goes live.
Tonight's the second installment in the series of demos from top Wynn chefs at Whole Foods Market at Town Square. The featured chef tonight is Wes Holton from Daniel Boulud Brasserie presenting "Rustic One Pot Wonders," homey comfort food from the French countryside. The event takes place from 6-8 p.m. and is free to attend.
According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority is considering ditching their 7-year-old "America's Adventure Place" slogan with something "hipper and more fun," following an eleven-year-long drop in visitation to the area. You can vote on the proposed new slogan, "A Little West of Center," by clicking here.
Harrah's Entertainment, which has long been at the forefront of "green" initiatives within the casino industry, announced Monday that it will be entering into a partnership with four other major corporations and three environmental organizations to form the "Team Earth" partnership. The aim of the initiative is to unite businesses and non-profits to educate and lead the way in pressing for environmental sustainability issues, particularly at the personal level. The group's first project will be to lobby for forest protection at the upcoming climate negotiation talks in Copenhagen.
For more about "green" initiatives in Las Vegas, check out our Green Vegas guide, where you can find an ever-growing list of eco-friendly dining options and environmentally responsible hotels and attractions. Also sign up for our GreenVegas Twitter.
This October the Mirage turns twenty and the lineup of festivities that will mark the occasion has just been announced.
On Oct. 2 Slash of Guns N' Roses fame will perform at Bare Pool Lounge with an eclectic bunch of his friends, including Maroon 5 front-man Adam Levine, Courtney Love, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, Led Zeppelin drummer Jason Bonham, Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorrum, the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, and Rob Zombie. Keifer Sutherland will serve as MC and tickets are $100, available from the Mirage box office. This will be followed Saturday Oct. 3 with a party at Jet nightclub.
The topless revue at the Flamingo has just extended its contract for three more years into August 2012. For our review of X Burlesque, plus all the other legal erotic entertainment that Las Vegas has to offer, check out our unique Topless Vegas guide, now available in both print and download versions ($14.95/$9.95).
We're still mourning the passing of Ruth's Chris West, our favorite spot for after-hours dining, but you lose some, you win some... Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill at the MGM Grand has just introduced a new late-night menu. Served from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. daily, the new menu features small bites including Puck's famed Truffled Potato Chips with Maytag blue cheese; Garlic-Chili Chicken Wings; signature pizzas from the wood-burning oven; burgers, paninis and sandwiches, classic breakfast favorites, and entrées.
Horror magazine Fangoria will host its inaugural Trinity of Terror Halloween Weekend event from October 30th to November 1st at the Palms, the publication just announced. The three-day celebration will comprise a horror convention full of exhibitors, video gaming, vendors, celebrity panels and autograph signings, a film festival, and a Halloween performance at the Pearl by heavy metal band Slipknot.
Tonight from 8 p.m. Hawaiian Tropic Zone in the Miracle Mile Shops will host a party for Les Grand Ballet de Tahiti dance troupe, in celebration of their new production, "Nui -- Land of the Gods," which debuts at Paris on October 3. The party tonight will feature dancing, drumming, fire-knife dancing, and a live performance by reggae band Pau Hana.
Six guests at Main Street Station were treated for smoke inhalation today after a small fire broke out in a guest room. There was no one in the room when the fire was detected -- it started in a waste basket and may have been caused by a cigarette. Staff were able to put it out with fire extinguishers and the damage was minimal (estimated at $1,000).
Galaxy Theaters at the Cannery, which had been planning to host Monday Night Football parties for the duration of the season, has been forced to scrap the parties on account of the NFL pulling their contract.
Rumors are persisting that Wayne Newton will take up a residency at the Tropicana next month. Apparently, there's an official announcement due on Wednesday, so watch this space and we'll keep you posted.
Hawaiian Tropic Zone's just launched Aloha Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. The new happy hour features half off all appetizers, plus drink specials including $3 wells and $10 pitchers of Coors and Coors Light, all served up by their bikini-clad waitresses.
With one of the biggest parties in the Las Vegas calendar just around the corner, costume store HalloweenMart (HalloweenMart.com) has opened a Kids Only store in Las Vegas to offer costumes for kids and tweens all year round. The Kids Only store, located at 6230 S. Decatur, offers over 200 costume styles and a big selection of accessories for kids of all ages.
In a surprise move, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that the Ohio slot plan to allow electronic slots at Ohio's seven race tracks (2,500 slot machines at each track) is subject to a voter referendum. Hence, the fate of slots in Ohio may wind up in the hands of the people. The advocate group LetOhioVote.org must collect 241,365 valid signatures to get the issue on the ballot (next opportunity is May).
Temperatures in Las Vegas are expected to hit 102 by about 3 p.m. this afternoon and about 98 degrees by the same time tomorrow. However, late Monday night cold air will move into the state and the weather service has issued a freeze watch for all of northern and central Nevada Monday night through Tuesday morning, with temperatures likely to drop below the freezing mark of 32 degrees, killing crops and other sensitive vegetation. The Vegas valley will be cooler, but not that cold.
From 10 a.m. tomorrow, CityCenter will embark on the single largest hiring effort in the nation as it begins the process of filling the 12,000 permanent positions that it's been recruiting for over the past weeks and months. All the candidates who'll be showing up tomorrow are non-MGM Mirage employees who've already been through the interview process and will be being offered permanent jobs at the complex's various properties.
The Orleans will offer 7X points on Monday. This promotion stipulates slots only, with no multiplier applied for video poker.
Wynn Resorts, Ltd. is seeking up to $1.6 billion in an IPO for its Macau operations. Despite the IPO, Wynn currently has modest expansion plans in Macau, limited to the opening of the Encore at Wynn Macau next year.
Former "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss' latest venture -- The Dirty Dog dog grooming salon in Las Vegas -- has been shut down by a judge as part of a civil lawsuit. Having been open for business for only three days the pet salon, which offered services including doggy manicures and pedicures, was ordered to close by Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez because the former owner claims that Fleiss was sold the business illegally by his estranged ex-wife in violation of the couple's ongoing divorce action. The Dirty Dog will remain closed until a Sept. 30 hearing that could determine whether Fleiss will be allowed to reopen the salon. The ruling came just two days after Fleiss was was sentenced to three years probation on felony drug charges.
Suncoast is advertising 7X points today and tomorrow. The ad doesn't specify, but it's likely that this is for slots, with video poker being something like 5X.
"Lift Your Spirits" at the celebration of Italian wines from 7-10 p.m. tonight on Main Street at the District. There will be Mediterranean food from local vendors and wines from eight different vineyards/sellers. Tickets are $40 or $70 for two -- click here for more info or to purchase.
Never ones to miss an opportunity for a party, McFadden’s at the Rio’s latest excuse is that it’s "halfway to St Patrick’s Day." In honor of this, they’ll be offering drink specials tonight including $3 Jameson’s, $3 Guinness, and $5 Irish Car Bombs. Wear green for no cover. Plus, there’s a "make your own green bikini" contest for a $500 prize at 1 a.m. May the luck o’ the Irish be with you!
Unemployment may be running at an estimated 25% in Las Vegas right now, but there have been no shortage of recent job fairs. Today Mandarin Oriental, one of the new hotels at CityCenter, holds its final job fair from 4-6 p.m. at the CityCenter Career Center (3549 Industrial Rd.) to fill security and housekeeping positions.
Today and tomorrow, Fright Dome’s seasonal Halloween recruitment drive continues with interviews both days from 4-7 p.m. at the Adventuredome’s Laser Runner Arena at Circus Circus.
From 1-4 p.m. today it’s Hogs & Heifers 3rd Annual Fur & Fun Bike Run, in conjunction with the NSPCA. There will be a Chinese raffle, BBQ, and a lot of homeless dogs looking for someone loving and committed to take them home. Visit www.hogsandheifers.com for more information.
Beginning today and running through Tuesday, Sept. 22, celebrity chef Bobby Flay will celebrate the fifth birthday of Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace by posting his all-time top-five favorite tequilas on his Twitter, @BFLay. On September 23, the actual anniversary, Twitter followers who bring in their cell phones and show their Tweet of "Happy Birthday Mesa Grill @CaesarsPalace" will receive a free mini Mesa Margarita on Bobby. He's already posted today's favorite and it's... Well, you'll have to check his Twitter to find out! (Wonder if we get a free margarita for posting this?)
With the scoop on Monday Night Football parties, plus news of a slew of new eateries and watering holes on the Strip, Anthony Curtis' regular Vegas round-up is now live, for your delight and delectation. You'll find it in LVA in the Media.
The Chippendales male revue at the Rio has teamed with Dior Pro Team from Sephora at Town Square for a two-day promotion. If you're going to the show tonight, meet in the Flirt Lounge for a free makeup touch-up before or after the 8 p.m. show and before the 10 p.m. performance; then, tomorrow, take your ticket stub from tonight or you ticket for Saturday's show to Sephora for makeovers and gifts.
Tonight Peepshow's Holly Madison, ex-Peepshow Mel B, and Kim Kardashian will be hosting at Pink's Hot Dogs at Planet Hollywood.
Circus Circus' annual Halloween "Fright Dome" experience has another recruitment drive this afternoon with interviews being held at the Adventuredome's Laser Runner Arena from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There are more job fairs coming up over the weekend, so keep watching this space...
One of the largest knwon Tyrannosaurus Rex specimens ever discovered goes on display today at the Venetian as part of the preview for Bonhams and Butterfields Oct. 3 Natural History auction. The sale will also feature approximately 50 lots of other dinosaurs and fossils and the preview's open to everyone with a $6 admission. Hours are Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Monday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
We just learned that flamenco guitar legend Charo fell down at the Jerry Lewis Telethon and injured herself, causing her to cancel all shows through the rest of the month. She will be coming back but the box office doesn't know when yet. Call them toll free on 877/892-7469 for updates or information about ticket refunds.
The National Weather Service is forecasting that this last weekend of summer Las Vegas' temperatures will hit triple digits again, with a high of 99 degrees anticipated by 3 p.m. today and 100 degrees at the same time tomorrow.
From today and running through April 4, 2010, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art will be presenting "12+7: Artists and Architects of CityCenter." The new "metaresort" on the Strip, elements of which will begin opening to the public late this year, will feature a massive collection of public art and this exhibit profiles the work of 12 of the artists and architects who have contributed to CityCenter, including Maya Lin, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg, Helmut Jahn, and Studio Daniel Libeskind. The gallery's open seven days a week and admission's $15 for adults (with discounts for locals, seniors, and members of the military). Click here for more information.
In honor of National Cheeseburger Day, the El Cortez is serving free White Castles to Club Cortez slot and table game players from noon until 6 p.m. today. There's also an ongoing promotion throughout the month offering a $15 dining credit valid at the Flame Steakhouse and Café Cortez for anyone presenting a valid active military ID.
A source has revealed to the Wall Street Journal that the unidentified party interested in purchasing Fontainebleau (see Today's News, Sept. 15) is none other than Penn National Gaming. The company operates 12 casinos in seven states and a Canadian province, as well as a number of racetracks across the country, but currently has no presence in Las Vegas. However, with Fontainebleau's $1.6 billion debt and an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to finish the project, observers are skeptical of a viable deal being cut, especially as the CityCenter juggernaut continues full-steam ahead and will soon be releasing a substantial chunk of new rooms into a Las Vegas market that's already seemingly saturated in the current economic climate.
With major music headliners, a double-dose of food fests, some of the last hurrahs of the summer pool scene, plus wines, beers, and clowns, it's a BIG one!
If you like beer, bikes, music, and ink, we have good news. Every Thursday motocross star/tattoo studio owner/Pink partner Carey Hart takes part in a ride from Hogs & Heifers downtown to catch a band at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock (home to Hart & Huntington Tattoo). From 7 p.m.-9 p.m., when the ride takes off, H&H offers $2 off all drinks.
That events been taking place for awhile now, but now there's a new ride in town, with Vince Neil of Vince Neil Ink (O'Shaes and now the Rio) entering the fray. Once a month on Wednesday and starting yesterday (sorry, it was only announced today!), you can convene at Hogs & Heifers from 6:30-9 p.m. for drink specials and prizes and then ride with Vince to his new Feelgoods venue on W. Sahara (by Hash House A Go Go).
If you've got $5k to spare and want to be able to "flip like an Olympic gymnast, pour water in the air and watch the droplets hover before their eyes, release a handful of M&M's and chase them down like a game of human Pac-Man, and enjoy 10-times more hang-time than the world’s best basketball player," we have the answer (and you'll have $50 to spare, which gets you a lot of M&Ms). The Zero-G Weightless Experience, launched in 2004, is returning to McCarran Airport this Saturday, Sept. 19, giving passengers teh chance to experience true weightlessness in a specially modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft. For more information and to book your flight, click here.
After two years of negotiations and a reported 25 meetings, up to 600 dealers at Caesars Palace are planning to protest today outside the Las Vegas Strip resort to highlight lack of progress on a deal with management, according to Fox5 News. That probably means even worse traffic on the Strip, so be prepared.
Fix at Bellagio is hosting a special five-course scotch-and-whiskey-drinks dinner tonight. It's $95 per person -- click here for the menu and more information. For reservations call 702/693-8300.
The third Thursday of every month, which this is, downtown throws a "Thirsty Thursday Pub Crawl." Starting at Hennessey's Tavern on Fremont Street, the crawl takes in six bars, including Mickie Finn's, Brass Saloon, Hogs & Heifers, Beauty Bar, Brass the Lounge, and the Sidebar. For $15 participants enjoy six free drinks and half-price food. The fun kicks off at 7 p.m. Call 702/382-4421 to RSVP.
The electro-magnetic "bullet train" or "Sin City Express" that's been on the drawing board for over 20 years and showed every sign of staying there, will finally receive $45 million in federal funds that were approved several years ago to pay for the project's final planning and environmental analysis. This announcement was made yesterday by Nevada governor Jim Gibbons and comes as some surprise in the light of Sen. Harry Reid's very vocal abandonment of the project that he'd long supported back in July. While Reid has switched his allegiance to the rival and more conventional DesertExpress project, with an estimated price tag of $4 billion, estimates for the Anaheim to Vegas maglev run anywhere from $12 billion to $40 billion.
For the first time in NASCAR history, fans will have the opportunity to join drivers, team owners and industry leaders at the Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony, which will take place at the Wynn on Dec. 4. Approximately 300 tickets will be available to the top 12 teams and drivers, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series track operators and NASCAR partners to use for fan promotions and it's estimated that fans will account for 25 percent of the audience.
It will be the awards ceremony's second year in Vegas, after transplanting from a 27-year run in New York City last year.
The annuyal Shake, Rattle and Pour World Bartender Championship is underway at T.G.I. Fridays locations nationwide and Las Vegas is no exception, with celebrity judges including Mayor Oscar Goodman and Charo. Tonight's round is from 7-10 p.m. at the Orleans. For the full list of dates/venues, click here.
Want to win a $100 gift card to Blondies Sports Bar & Grill? The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood is currently running a contest to recruit more "fans" and "followers" for their Facebook and Twitter. The challenge is to recruit five new people by noon on September 30 to qualify to be entered into the drawing. For more details, click here. And sports fans, don't forget to check out our new LVASports.com sister site, where you can find details of all the Monday Night Football parties in town (including Blondies'), and a lot more.
If anyone was hoping to see the Rock-A-Hoola picture that was meant to accompany today's QoD but was MIA, the errant photograph has now been corralled and reinstalled in its rightful place, so pop back if you want a peak.
Beneath the Neon author Matt O'Brien was interviewed this week by the UK's Independent newspaper for a big article about the tunnels beneath Las Vegas and the people who live in them, and he's also due to appear on abc's popular "Nightline" show later this week -- we'll keep you posted. Also, Anthony Curtis was just interviewed by the LA Times for a double feature on Las Vegas and how the effects of the city's current economic woes. You can find both this and the Independent article in LVA in the Media.
As part of the fruits of its $125 million property-wide renovation, Tropicana Las Vegas today announced it's to open two new restaurants: Havana Go Go Cafe is a breakfast joint/cafe open daily at 7 a.m. Menu items include Cuban bread pizza, paninis, deli-style sandwiches, soups, salads, bagels, muffins and a range of specialty coffees and will debut shortly in the Island Tower soon. Bacio Pasta & Vino is an Italian bistro that debuted today and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
According to a new poll from Quinnipiac University, 58 percent of those surveyed supported the $1 billion proposal to build casinos at four Ohio cities, including Columbus, which goes to the ballot in November.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse (8721 W. Charleston) is promoting its new gourmet Burger Bar with complimentary burger tastings every Wednesday through the end of September. In addition to a classic bacon-cheddar cheeseburger, offerings include the sliced filet mignon burger, jumbo lump crab cake burger, ahi tuna burger, and portobello mushroom burger. Fleming's opens at 5 p.m. nightly.
This time for Planet Hollywood's hot potato of a nightclub... Privé is hiring promoters with open interviews at 3 p.m. tomorrow at their offices located at 4305 Dean Martin Dr. Suite #100. Ask for Kevin Barlow.
Commencing this evening, Whole Foods Market's Town Square store will be hosting free weekly cooking demonstrations from 6-8 p.m. in conjunction with Wynn and Encore, featuring top chefs from the properties' eateries teaching the tricks of their trade. Tonight's demonstration is by Jet Tila of Wazuzu, who will teach "Thai for the At Home Cook." Other chefs who'll be participating include Wes Holton of Daniel Boulud Brasserie (Sept. 22), David Spero of Tableau (Oct. 27), Alex Stratta of Alex and Stratta (Nov. 24), and Paul Bartolotta of Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare (Dec. 8). Yep, these are the big guns!
According to today's Las Vegas Sun, there's at least one unidentified potential buyer for the stalled Strip hotel-casino, although the current state of Las Vegas' real estate and gaming sectors pose a big challenge to anyone seeking financing for those areas. Yesterday the bankrupt Fontainebleau sought court approval for access to $3.73 milliion to cover salaries and maintain the stalled project through Oct. 5.
LX.TV's "On the Rocks: The Search for America's Top Bartender" is casting in Las Vegas this week for the second season of the online show, which is now moving to NBC in select cities. If you think you've got what it takes, register here and bring your A-game to the Shadow Bar at Caesars before 4 p.m. today. The final, for $100,000 and a shot at stardom, will take place in Las Vegas and last year the contest was one by a female bartender from Stripsteak.
In parallel moves designed in one instance to save money and in the other to increase revenue and appeal to a younger, hipper clientele, Harrah's Entertainment is experimenting with a number of hi-tech innovations. One of these is a self-serve kiosk for hotel check-in, currently being tested in one market. Apparently, it's similar to how you check in for an airline flight but strives to mimic the personal touch of an in-person check-in, with a virtual "friendly attractive guy who helps you check in," said a company spokesperson. Another innovation is the "Surface" touch-screen tables, which were introduced to the i-Bar at the Rio last year, that enable customers to order drinks, flirt with other people in the bar etc., all via a touch-screen table. They're designed to appeal to the young, tech savvy crowd and also encourage people to order more food and drinks and purchase products from partner companies. There are now plans to introduce these more widely and perhaps even enable customers in Las Vegas to communicate with patrons at casinos in other cities via the Surface tables.
The bi-annual San Gennaro Feast kicks off tonight at 4245 Grand Canyon Parkway (W. Flamingo, off the 215), featuring 80 Italian food vendors, plus rides and attractions. Click here for more information and to print out a coupon for $3 off the $8 adult admission price. This festival runs through Sept. 20, while the annual Greek Food Festival takes place in south Las Vegas from Sept. 18-21. Click here for more information and a map.
The "nearly world famous" restaurant brand will be opening two new franchises in the Seattle market, each featuring a card room in addition to a restaurant and bar. The two new stores in South Park (south Seattle) and Renton will open on September 24th
and in early October respectively, with the former also featuring a dueling piano bar and the latter a bowling lounge. "We estimate that 75% of local casino patrons are casual players and so a restaurant with a casual, unpretentious and fun atmosphere is going to increase casino business and vice versa," said a company spokesman.
For the first time, the ten-year-old casino industry in Detroit is feeling the effects of the economic downturn that have already been long and pronounced in Las Vegas and Atlatnic City. According to analysts, Detroit's three casinos are likely to record a drop in combined annual gaming revenues, already down 2.5 percent through August.
CityCenter aims to be one of the world's largest sustainable developments and is hoping for LEED-certified status throughout. It seems they're on the right track, with both Vdara and Aria having just been awared LEED-certified status, the former Silver and the latter Gold, making it the largest LEED Gold-certified hotel in the world. For details about the ecologically-friendly initiatives the buildings have undertaken, click here. And for moer information about eco-friendly hotel, restaurant, and activity options in Las Vegas, check out our Green Vegas Guide and follow us on Twitter at Green Vegas.
It's just been reported that this past weekend Harrah's Entertainment purchased a portion of Planet Hollywood's $860 million debt, with some observers speculating that this signals a planned buyout of the hotel. Time will tell. Given Harrah's own financial situation, it's an interesting move...
Tix4Tonight has opened its seventh Las Vegas outlet, located in the Casino Royale Casino and Hotel. To celebrate this event, which also coincides with the company's seventh anniversary, there will be a promotion, likely next month, with free tickets to top Las Vegas shows and dinner packages to popular Las Vegas restaurants up for grabs. Details have yet to be finalized but we'll keep you posted.
The Hard Rock hotel-casino was evacuated late yesterday afternoon after a small fire was reported. Categorized as a "two-alarm" incident, the fire was apparently caused by an electrical fire in an air conditioning unit on the second floor, which caused excessive smoke, necessitating the evacuation. One security guard was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for heat-related illness.
"CSI: The Experience" is now open at MGM Grand. It's open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily and costs $30 for adults and $20 for children. Click the link for more information.
From 10 a.m.-3 p.m. the Mirage is hosting the second day of the Light Group's job fair, looking to fill all positions at its new nightlife and dining venues due to open at Aria (CityCenter) later this year. Go to the Events Center, Room C.
Meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental, also at CityCenter, will be holding three career fairs to recruit workers for its December opening. The first of these, for a variety of food and beverage positions, will take place today and tomorrow, Sept. 15th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Sept. 19th there will be another fair from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for housekeeping and security positions. The fairs will take place at CityCenter's Career Center, 3549 Industrial Rd.
The rise of the cupcake has become a national phenomenon and this week is National Cupcake Week. To celebrate, The Cupcakery is giving customers at both locations (9860 S. Eastern and 7175 W. Lake Mead) a complimentary Southern Belle red velvet cupcake, while supplies last.
Today marks the first of the 2-day job fair for all positions at the new Light Group nightlife venues at Aria, including The Deuce Lounge, Union restaurant and lounge, and Haze nightclub. From 1-7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. tomorrow go to Room C at the Mirage Events Center. Visit LightGroup.com for more details.
It's 13 years today since rapper Tupac Shakur died from his injuries at UMC hospital in Las Vegas, having been shot six days previously while being driven from the Tyson fight at the MGM Grand to a nightclub on East Flamingo. The identity of his shooter(s) remains a controversial mystery to this day. For more, see The Killing of Tupac Shakur by award-winning Las Vegas journalist Cathy Scott.
Coast Casinos' $100,000 "Bingo Bash" kicks off tomorrow. For the $100 entry fee each player receives one 9-on pack & one dual daub coverall; it's $20 per extra 6-on pack with a maximum purchase 20 packs. Electronic units available with a 3-pack minimum. It's reserved seating only - call Suncoast (702/636-7111, ext. 5611), Sam's Town (456-7777), or the Gold Coast (702/367-7111) to reserve your place. Doors open 8 a.m. with warm-up games commencing at 11:30 a.m. and linked "Bash" games starting at 12:30 p.m.
Another month, another batch of bad economic news for Las Vegas. Just-released gambling-rev numbers show an 11.1% drop in Nevada's statewide win in July. It was the 19th consecutive monthly decline. Making matters worse, the double-digit drop was in comparison to a 13% decline in July 2008. Visitation was down just 1.3%, but that still extended the streak in declines to 14 consecutive months.
The books will be hopping today for the start of the pro football season. There's a big viewing party at the Hilton SuperBook, as well as new parties at M Resort and the converted Lagasse's Sports Bar at Palazzo. Consult LVASports.com for a full list of football parties throughout the city.
TGI Fridays is celebrating the start of the NFL football season by offering 6 free buffalo wings per customer on today and tomorrow to patrons watching the football game in the bar area. No coupon required, must be 21+. (Thanks to SaveLV.com for the heads-up on this one.)
Tonight's the grand opening of Vince Neil Ink, the second Vegas tattoo venue for the Mötley Crüe frontman. The Vince Neil Band will play live in the Masquerade Village at 8:30 p.m. and there's an after-party at Feelgood's, the rocker's new bar at 6750 W. Sahara. Anytime you get a tattoo at Vince Neil Ink, receive a free open bar on Friday or Saturday night at McFadden's bar (also in the Masquerade Village).
Starting today, comedian and comedy writer Cliff Lawrence will be teaching the upcoming Bonkerz Comedy class at Palace Station. Bonkerz Comedy School is $275 per student for the six-week course and includes two complimentary tickets to each 8 p.m. Saturday show at Bonkerz Comedy Club during the course. To register for the class, call 866-414-2665 or email [email protected]. Students and guests must be 21 years and older.
From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today and tomorrow the Henderson Events Plaza on Water Street is hosting the annual Ho'olaule'a Pacific Islands Festival featuring Hawaiian song, dance, and food. Admission is free.
From September 13-26, Station Casinos will be giving away 40 Smart Cars and $240,000 in cash. You can start earning entries from Sunday, Sept. 13 -- just swipe your players card each day at any kiosk and start earning qualifying points (50 points = one entry). Drawings will take place at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturadys through Sept. 26.
Tomorrow's the last day to sign up for many of the valley's football contests, so don't miss out. Go to LVASports.com for our complete guide to all this year's contests, both pay and free to enter.
Next week, September 14 through 18, three different Las Vegas residents will be featured nightly on the "Wheel of Fortune" game show, which filmed earlier this year at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The show airs on KVBC-TV weeknights at 7 p.m.
As just posted on their Twitter, Retro Bakery, the popular new cupcake store on the west side of town (7785 N. Durango Dr.) is offering a free cupcake if you agree to taste their new Toffee Break test flavor.
Today and tomorrow the Hard Rock hotel-casino is hosting the Las Vegas Tequila Fest, a tasting event for industry professionals and tequila enthusiasts alike. Tickets for the general public are $40 each day. Click the link for more info.
The 14th Annual SCORE Terrible's Primm 300 desert race takes place today and tomorrow in Primm, 45 miles south of Las Vegas. The main pits and start/finish area for the 69-mile loop course are located behind Buffalo Bills. Today there are festivities, including tech and contingency and the SCORE Manufacturer's Midway from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. This year's grid is expected to reach approximately 125 vehicles.
MGM Mirage has taken its MGM Grand Detroit casino off the market due to lack of interest. A company spokesman reported today that, while there was apparent interest in the property from potential buyers earlier this year, of late activity from interested parties has waned.
The list of Monday Night Football parties just keeps growing. Check it out at LVASports.com. Plus, here's the link to all the bars with team affiliations. Let us know if there's one we don't know about.
With news of an opening on the Strip, a new tower for downtown, another year for a Strip headliner, and a great BBQ play, Anthony Curtis' latest weekly column is now live and available to read in LVA in the Media.
Revel Entertainment's Atlantic City casino resort was supposed to open in 2010, but was delayed due to difficulty in securing financing during the economic downturn last year. Utilizing environmentally-friendly concrete and aiming for LEED certification, the resort aims to be the greenest hotel-casino complex in the world, but has been on ice for some months now. Today came word that China State Construction Engineering Corp has signed a $1.7 billion agreement with property firm Tishman and casino builder Revel Entertainment to help complete the project, which now has a July 2011 estimated opening date.
For the "greenest" hotels in Las Vegas, check out our Green Vegas Guide.
The main focus of this weekend's festivities is Mexican Independence Day, with hotels and restaurants all over town entering into the spirit. For some reason Caesars Palace seems to have turned itself into Mexican Independence Day central, with property-wide happenings. It's also a big weekend music-wise, with Santana back at the Hard Rock, Cheap Trick's Sgt. Pepper tribute at the Hilton, and Mariah at the Palms.
Tonight 10 lucky Santana fans, who won the chance to compete through 97.1 The Point, KOMP 92.3 and ESPN Radio 1100, will go head-to-head playing Santana's "No One to Depend On" on the newly-released version of Guitar Hero 5. The grand prize winner wins tickets to the show (currently performing on and off at the Joint at the Hard Rock) and a meet-and-greet with the legendary guitarist. Tonight's contest takes place from 5-7 p.m. at Wasted Space and members of the Santana Band will be there to witness the competition and mingle with guests.
Today through Wednesday, September 16, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris is hosting an "Apple Festival," with apple-inspired dishes, including Oyster du Jour with Hard-Apple Cider Mignonette, Chilled Apple-Ginger and Riesling Soup, Grilled Chicken, Brie, and Apple Sandwich, Halibut with Mussel Cream and Calvados Broth, and Green Apple Sorbet with Apple-Cider Syrup. There will also be trivia questions and prizes to add to the festivities.
The Las Vegas cast of the multi-winning musical, Jersey Boys based on the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, will be appearing as guests on "America's Got Talent" tonight. The group will perform a medley of songs from the show and the remaining five acts moving on to the finals will be revealed live on tonight's show.
An article about how to make money betting sports by handicapping phenom Fezzik just went live at our new LVASports.com site. You can read it (and check out other articles in the achive) by clicking here.
According to Fox 5 News, a group of four casino supervisors and managers at Planet Hollywood have been charged in a phony jackpot scheme that paid out based on 26 hands that were never actually dealt. The scammers reported false winnings from players and split the proceeds among themselves.
There are several good deals running around town to coincide with today's date of 09/09/09. Among other 9-centric promotions, Suncoast is awarding 9X points on both slots and video poker and has a drawing for $9,000 at 2 and 7:30 pm. The Orleans has several $9.99 meal specials and is giving away a free spin on a $20,000 cash wheel. Station poker rooms are paying $9,999 for catching quad 9s on the flop in hold 'em, or $999 for making four 9s on the turn or river. Bejing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace is offering a special $19.99 menu.
Comedian Carrot Top will be a guest on fellow Luxor headliner Criss Angel's "Mindfreak" show tonight. If you're in town, you can hang out with Criss (and probably Carrot, too) for the weekly after-show party at the newly renamed Criss Angel Liquidity bar at Luxor.
The annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, which took place at the South Point hotel-casino this Labor Day weekend, raised almost $60.5 million for the muscular dystrophy charity, organizers say, down a little on last year's record $65 million.
Las Vegas Sands, owner of the Venetian and Palazzo resort-casinos in Las Vegas, has completed the sale of $600 million in bonds after an initial public offering of the company's Macau unit on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The sale's part of an effort to improve the company's financial position, as is the plan by Harrah's Entertainment to issue $720 million in new senior secured notes to reduce its debt load, which currently stands at $19.3 billion.
If you're one of the many people who drives to Las Vegas from California and couldn't find a suitable option in the current reader poll about the transportation methods you use in Las Vegas, then please revisit as one of the voting options has now been amended to accommodate you. Thanks.
Tomorrow and Thursday see the job fair for B.B. King's Blues Club, theew restaurant, bar, and music venue opening at The Mirage later this year. Times are 7 a.m.-noon and 1-6 p.m. tomorrow, then 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-8 p.m. on Thursday. All times are for all positions and the fair's taking place in the St. Croix A and B Ballrooms at the Mirage.
Breaking news from Fox 5: Metro's arrested eight people from the Hard Rock's notorious Sunday Rehab pool party on drug and prostitution charges. We'll keep you posted as we get updates.
Ex-Hef girlfriend and star of "Girls Next Door" reality show Holly Madison will be extending her starring role as "Bo Peep" in Planet Hollywood's Peepshow topless revue for another year, through September 2010. Beginning September 21 Playboy cover model Aubrey O’Day who will co-star with Madison in the role of the "Peep Diva" (originated by the Spice Girls' Mel B).
From September 17, Brits will be able to play casino roulette live on TV from the comfort of their own living room, when terrestrial channel Five begins broadcasting NetPlay's SuperCasino.com, initially three nights a week and then nightly from 2010. The show will give people access to create betting accounts and gamble right on their television. The arrangement has been made possible by the UK communications watchdog Ofcom relaxing their rules for television gambling.
We've had some issues (ongoing) with our blogging software, which means we were only just able to post Anthony Curtis' latest weekly roundup before the next one gets posted tomorrow! Better late than never, last week's focuses on all things football -- you can check it out in LVA in the Media.
The current poll asking what aspect of Las Vegas Advisor membership you value most and what would encourage you to subscribe ends at midnight tonight, so get your vote in if you haven't already. A new one (suggested by numerous readers) goes live tomorrow...
The production, co-starring singers Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha, is now a one-man, or rather a one-woman show, on account of Earl no longer being a part of it. Voices, which opened in April this year in the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret, is reportedly dark through September 11 and will then reopen sans Turner. The rumored reasons for his departure include a pay-cut dispute and the offer of a better gig. No news yet as to whether the lineup change will affect the $49.95 (and up) ticket price.
Our promised sister site,
Look for the new LV Weekly magazine, which has an ad wrap over the cover with a 2-for-1 offer on Foster's beer at 7-Eleven stores. Nevada residents can take the coupon to a 7-Eleven, buy one Foster's "oil can," and get a second free.
It was September 7, 1996 when rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas. Tupac and Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records, were en route from the Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon fight at the MGM Grand to what was then Club 662 on E. Flamingo, when a vehicle pulled up alongside them and fired a dozen or more shots at the rapper, who died on September 16 in UMC hospital from his injuries. For the whole back-story and the facts, rumors, and speculation surrounding his still unsolved murder, check out HP title The Killing of Tupac Shakur by award-winning Las Vegas journalist Cathy Scott.
Another free football contest will run this NFL season. "Pro Football Free-for-All" will run at Cannery, Eastside Cannery, and Rampart. In addition to a chance to win $100 or $1,000, you get a free cocktail each week you play.
Add South Point and the Coast properties to the line-up of casinos offering multiple players club points today. South Point is awarding 2X points. The Coasts are awarding 7X points for slots and 5X points for video poker.
The Rio’s currently offering locals a 50% discount on Monday-Thursday lunch, plus there’s a free desert coupon (for everyone to use) in the Las Vegas Sun.
An ordinance is apparently pending that will prohibit non-employees from swinging on stripper poles installed in nightclubs. The reason? According to a story in today's LV Review-Journal, county officials think that having access to the poles "encourages some nightclub patrons to act too much like strippers."
Today and tomorrow, all Stations and Fiestas are awarding 7X points for slots and 5X for video poker. Tomorrow, Silverton will award 5X for slots and 2X for video poker (also, the buffet is $5 from 11 am to 8 pm).
The new Sunday night jazz burlesque show at Mandalay Bay’s Foundation Room continues at 11 p.m., featuring Downtown Mike Brown leading a 3-piece jazz band, plus a troupe of four burlesque dancers. $20 for non-members.
M Resort’s hosting a free Last Bash of Summer pool party today from 3-8 p.m., with live entertainment and a fireworks display in the evening. For the rest of the weekend’s remaining parties, check out our Labor Day feature in "Special Events."
Inked Brit mindreader Luke Jermay just posted a Labor Day offer on his Twitter: Arrive at his box office at O'Shea's wearing a red item of clothing and get a free ticket to see Mental at 7 p.m. tonight.
The long-anticipated Hard Rock Cafe opens today at the Showcase Mall on the Strip. This is a non-casino Hard Rock.
Sunset Station has reduced buffet prices across the board until September 30. The discounts range from $1 to $4 and result in prices ranging from $5.49 for breakfast to $14.99 for dinner on specialty nights. With the ongoing twofer coupons appearing daily in the LV Review-Journal, this is a very frugal play.
Despite the opening of the college football season, there's no action in Delaware. After single-game wagering was disallowed, Delaware "sports books" have had to settle for NFL-only parlay-style wagering with at least three teams in a parlay. As of today, it's still not established whether it will be parlay cards only, or if off-the-board betting will be allowed.
From 2-7 p.m. today enjoy the figurative art of AD Cook at the Donald J Pilner and Anne Fontaine stores in Caesars’ Forum Shops. A portion of all proceeds from art sales will benefit "The Adoption Exchange." Plus, today and tomorrow Richard McDonald will be making a special guest appearance at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art from noon- 5 p.m.
Tomorrow marks the final opportunity to take part in Red Rock’s summer-long "Red Rock Retreat" weekend room and pool-party package. Check out our "Cool Pools" feature in Nightlife for details.
The Las Vegas Monorail is offering travelers a "Work Hard, Play Harder" Labor Day weekend special. For a $5 fare, enjoy a free Cirque du Soleil performance at the MGM Grand Station on Saturday from 2-6 p.m., plus weekend-long discounts off admission to Madame Tussaud's and Matsuri at the Imperial Palace, plus a complimentary Frrrozen Hot Chocolate from Serendity 3 at Caesars with a $10 purchase. Click here for more information.
Next Wednesday's historic date so far isn't generating the same kind of attention as lucky 7.7.07 and (for Asians) 8.8.08 did. Aside from a wedding special at the Stratosphere (99 couples to get married for $99.09), the first promotion we've heard about is from ENVY Steakhouse at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, which will be offering a special $9.99 menu will be offered during lunch and dinner hours. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., all salads and soups on the lunch menu will be $9.99 or less, while all appetizers, soups and salads on the dinner menu will be offered for $9.99 or less. Optional $9.99 wine flights will be available to compliment your dinner, too.
The new one-hour daytime TV series hosted by Venetian headliner Wayne Brady premieres Monday, October 5. The show will film at the Tropicana and free tickets are available if you want to be in the audience. Click this link, which will take you to the CBS site, where you can also find out more information about the tape dates.
According to Travelzoo.com (and our own analysis), Las Vegas room rates are down almost 21% on this time last year, from $136 to $108 on average per night. So, if y9u're looking for a last-minute getaway, Vegas is a good bet. Click here to search for availability using our "Best Rate Guarantee" booking widget.
The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood if offering a mall-wide Labor Day sale with savings on an assortment of items from many of the 170 stores and restaurants. Offers include 30% off retail items (excluding body jewelry, tattoos, and piercings) at Club Tattoo, 40% off selected merchandise at Erwin Pearl jewelers, various deals at Steve Madden, up to 50% off select chocolates at Godiva, and an all day and night happy hour at Oyster Bay Seafood and Wine Bar with 2-for-1 specials on all liquor, beer, and wine. The discounts run today through Monday, September 7.
The good news is that, contrary to what we were told yesterday, the Coast Casinos free shuttle service is not being discontinued. A call from the General Manager clarified that the former Bill's axis is being redirected to the Tropicana, but there are no plans to discontinue the shuttle.
It's never been easy keeping up with the lay of the land free-shuttle wise, with schedules and routes changing at the drop of the hat. Well, our life just got that much easier (to put a positive spin on it), with the news that Coast Casinos will be ending what's left of its free-shuttle service (linking The Orleans, Gold Coast, and former Coast property Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon) on September 14th. For the remaining free shuttle services in town, click here.
Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, who now runs the Dirty Laundry laundromat in Pahrump, is in hot water over her latest venture, Las Vegas pet grooming store "Dirty Dog," which offers services including hair dying and nail polish for pets. The previous owner is suing Fleiss and her ex-pornstar partner over allegations that the store was purchased illegally. You can read the whole sorry story in today's Las Vegas Sun.
This weekend's jam packed with events! Not only is it First Friday, with galleries, artist's studios, sidewalk displays, the search for Miss First Friday, and a street festival downtown, but it's also Labor Day weekend and Las Vegas doesn't hang back when it comes to holidays. For all Labor Day parties and happenings see our Special Events feature.
If you don't fancy bartending at a chi chi new nightspot, how about scaring the hell out of people with lots of fake blood and screaming? Fright Dome, the long-running annual haunted Halloween attraction at Circus Circus that opens Oct. 2, has 250 positions to fill. Interviews commence Saturday, Sept. 5 and continue Fridays-Sundays through September 26. All applicants must bring a valid government-issued ID and social security card and must be 18 or older to apply. Click here for more information.
Las Vegas has no shortage of gourmet burger restaurants these days (select "American" from the "Cuisine" drop-down menu in our Dining section to get a flavor) but evidently there's room for one more. From the man who brought us the Tilted Kilt comes Grind Burger Bar & Lounge -- a build-your-own burger bar opening September 25 at 360 E. Tropicana Ave. (between Paradise Rd. and Koval La.) Grind will be open daily for lunch, dinner, and late night and will specialize in serving fully-customizable burgers using hand-pressed meats and toppings including grilled asparagus, fried egg, and Sicilian olive salad, plus 20 homemade specialty sauces. Turkey and veggie burgers will also be on the menu.
Las Vegas' novel new nightlife complex, featuring a live-music venue, after-hours club, hookah lounge, all-night sushi, and gentlemen's club (Crazy Horse III - formerly Penthouse Club) holds its grand opening party tonight from 6-8 p.m.
The Chinese gambling mecca's monthly gambling revenue showed a 17.2% increase in August compared with the previous year, with a record $1.5 billion reported. Macau has easily overtaken Las Vegas in terms of revenue, with almost triple the amount of casino revenue per month.
The blues legend and long-time Las Vegas resident will be opening B.B. King's Blues Club at the Mirage this winter. Next Wednesday, Sept. 9 (7 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
and Thursday, Sept. 10 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.) there will be a job fair hiring for multiple positions in the new restaurant, bar, and music venue. Applicants should bring their resumes to The Mirage St. Croix A and B Ballrooms and be prepared for on-site interviews with B.B. King's Blues Club executive staff.
After the recent rash of sports stars and TV personalities comes the latest high-profile casino debtor -- accused swindler Allen Stanford. According to court papers, Bellagio's suing for repayment of a gambling debt of more than a quarter million dollars (plus interest), which they claim he accrued in January 2009. The Texas financier's accused of running an alleged $7 billion Ponzi scheme centered on certificates of deposit (CDs), the proceeds of which he used to fund a lavish lifestyle. He's currently in jail awaiting trial.
In celebration of Las Vegas "Restaurant Week," T&T (Tacos & Taquila) at Luxor will be presenting a special Human Rooster Fighting "Tournament of the Chefs" event for Mischieve Wednesdays tonight from 7 p.m. Confirmed chefs include Rick Moonen and his Executive Chef at rm Seafood, Adam Sobel, plus Stephen Hopcraft of Seablue. A percentage of tonight's proceeds will go to the Three Square Food Bank.
Investigative journalist George Knapp has posted timelapse footage of the Californian wildfires to his Twitter, courtesy of BrandonRiza.com. Watch this and you'll have no further need of explanation as to why we've had such bad air here this week.
Catch celebrity impressionist Frank Caliendo, who's opening at the Monte Carlo for a 10-year run October 12th, on the "Tonight Show" tonight (11 p.m.-2 a.m., NBC).
Week two of Bravo's "Top Chef: Las Vegas" tonight will feature the remaining contestants flying with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at Nellis Air Force Base. Guest judge chef this week is restaurateur Mark Peel, who helped Wolfgang Puck open the original Spago.
After the announcement of The Light Group's four new venues at CityCenter's Aria comes news of The Light Group's job fair to fill positions at same. Sept. 13-14 they'll be hiring more than 350 employees for Haze nightclub, The Deuce Lounge, and Union Restaurant and Lounge at an open casting call. Sunday's fair runs from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. or come back the following day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Mirage Events Center Room C.
Openings to be filled include marketing, VIP, bar, and table hosts, plus promoters, security, bartenders, busers, runners, cooks, and pantry workers.
Luxor's magic man is back in the venue that's now named for him, the "Criss Angel Liquidity" lounge, for his bi-weekly hangout session and after-'freak party from 11:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. tonight (he'll be there again on Saturday). If you can't make it, you can always catch episode 4 of "Mindfreak" tonight at 10 p.m. on A&E, which apparently featuers Criss jumping off the Luxor pyramid and defying the laws of gravity.
Today's the day that the new (and renamed) brew venue opens in the Monte Carlo. Taking over where the Brewpub left off, The Pub features multiple sports screens, beer pong, live music from Zowie Bowie (Friday and Saturday), pub-style food (including 15 specialty burgers), and more than 50 different beers on tap.
It's just been announced that talkshow host Jerry Springer will revive his role as "America's Got Talent" host for the live version of that show coming to Planet Hollywood's CHI Showroom this October (see this column August 17, 2009).
Tom Stone, president of the company behind the proposed DesertXpress hi-speed rail link between Las Vegas and Southern California, has announced that his company's launched a worldwide search for vendors and suppliers with the aim of commencing construction on the $4 billion project by the end of March 2010. This plan now looks far more likely than the rival maglev project, famously supported and then dropped by Sen. Harry Reid, the estimated cost of which had spiralled to an estimated $40 billion at the the last reckoning (see QoD 7/12/2009).
The bad news is, Big Dog's popular Monday 2-for-1 $7.75 cheeseburger deal will be offered for the last time on Monday, September 7 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; the good news is that it's moving to Tuesdays (3 p.m.-10 p.m.) through December 29, 2009 in order to make way for their Monday Night Football promotions. We'll be covering all the MNF party action, plus football contests, team-affiliated bars, and much more on the new LVASports site, which will be launching any day, so stay tuned for updates.
Stylist to the stars Michael Boychuck, who has several Las Vegas salons, is teaming with "hair icon" Oribe to launch a new Oribe Hair Care Line, available exclusively at Boychuck's COLOR salon at Caesars Palace and AMP at the Palms. The launch takes place from 4-8 p.m. this evening at COLRS, with live demonstrations and cocktails.
The successful Las Vegas nightlife/dining group will be debuting four new venues at the new Aria resort at CityCenter, due to open this December. Executive Chef Brian Massie (Brand Steakhouse) will open Union Restaurant & Lounge featuring contemporary American cuisine; The Deuce Lounge located off the main casino floor will offer the novel concept of a hi-limit gaming salon and upscale lounge; Haze nightclub will build on The Light Group's established Vegas nightlife formula, while Liquid will be an adult-only pool (opening spring 2010).
This evening South Point hosts the final in its series of "Tattoo-Days in the Pool" parties from 7-10 p.m. Show off your ink for a chance to win prizes in the four poolside tattoo contests, plus there's a grand prize drawing tonight for the chance to see Dave Matthews on a private Caribbean island. $5 cover includes a Bud Light.