Huntington Press is now officially closed for the holidays; we'll reopen at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4. In the meantime, we wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
Don't forget that from 5 p.m. freeway off ramps in the vicinity of the Strip and downtown start closing and from 5-6 p.m. the Fremont Street Experience will be closed to the public, as preparations are made for America's Party; the Strip closes to traffic at 6 p.m. from Sahara Ave. to Russell Rd.
We're anticipating that the 2010 LVA Member Rewards Books will be back from the printer and available for pick-up from our offices on January 6 -- they might be available by the 5th, in which case we'll let you know, but anticipate the 6th to avoid a wasted journey.
With news -- long-awaited good news! -- on the construction and visitation fronts for Las Vegas, Anthony Curtis' weekly column has just been posted in LVA in the Media, where you'll also find the most recent press attention for Huntington Press' international bestseller, Beneath the Neon.
Not the state, but the population: After almost a century of consistent growth, the population of Nevada declined from July 2008 to July 2009, according to the State Demographer. Jeff Hardcastle's preliminary report indicates a loss of close to 30,000 people, with more people leaving the state than was offset by new arrivals. The current economic climate, which hit Nevada particularly hard, is cited as the principal reason for the shrinkage.
Despite being extremely short of funds, Designated Drivers will continue to offer their free service this New Year's Eve, "even if it bankrupts us." If you're a bar, club, or restaurant in Las Vegas, or an individual who can afford to help, step up and make a donation to this invaluable service at designateddriversfoundation.org; if you're in need of a ride, call 702/456-RIDE (7433).
The much-anticipated March 13 match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is looking increasingly precaious, with Pacquiao today filing a lawsuit alleging that his opponent and other members of the Mayweather family defamed the Filipino fighter by falsely accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.
It just came to our attention that Carrot Top was in twice, while the Palms 50% off MRB coupon was missing from the voting options in the current poll. That's now been fixed.
Metro's bomb squad has determined that the suspicious package left at the Bank of America did not contain explosives and employees and patrons are now being allowed back into the bank.
Last week we reported that Zowie Bowie had split and the Monte Carlo's Vintage Vegas show would continue without Marley but we have just been informed that the show has now been canceled. A quick call to the Monte Carlo Box Office has confirmed this and they said that the duo will still perform in The Pub on Friday and Saturday nights at 11 p.m.
The World Mixed Martial Arts Awards Ceremony takes place tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel at 7:30 p.m. This is the only awards ceremony for MMA and the red carpet is expected to include fighters Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, and many more. The awards will be broadcast on the Versus Network on January 6th.
The Bank of America at 501 Fremont Street has been evacuated due to a bank robbery and a suspicious package. The southbound lane of Bridger Ave. has been closed to traffic. Watch this space for updates.
The Lion King broke its own Mandalay Bay box-office record with a gross of $1,314,161 over eight performances last week. TLK's previous MBay record was a gross of $1,200,128 set the week ending July 26, 2009.
The Southern Nevada Transit is offering free bus rides for New Year's Eve. The free rides will start Thursday at 6 p.m. and will last until Friday at 9 a.m. Also to help keep drunk drivers off the road, Designated Drives, INC. is offering rides at a lower cost than the normal $60. This year they are asking for a donation to the foundation and tips for the drivers. Call 702/456-RIDE for more information.
No plans for NYE yet? Check out our Special Events section for a massive list of parties and shindigs.
The Lucky's Sports Books' free weekly football contest concludes this weekend with two roll-overs resulting in an $18,000 prize that has to be given away. Normally, you have to pick a perfect card to win the money, but this weekend it will go to the best card. It's still a long shot, but it's absolutely free to play. You have until Sunday at 9 am to submit your card at the Lucky's at Plaza, Terrible's, or in Primm.
The Rockhouse, located on the Strip in front of the Imperial Palace, will host month-long football parties in January that coincide with the NFL playoffs. Each party will have a theme, e.g., "National Humiliation Day" on Jan. 3, when wearing a jersey from the Browns, Lions, Chiefs, etc. qualifies you for drink specials. This is a good place to watch the games that got high marks in our early season reviews.
That would be the World Series of Beer Pong. The event is set for Jan. 1-5 at the Flamingo, where the winning team will take home $50,000. Get more information at bpong.com.
A limited number of Garth Brooks tickets have been released for January 1-3 and are being sold on a first-come first-served basis. They are all $143 after all taxes and fees. Call 702/770-1000.
In addition to Vanity at Hard Rock, three more new clubs are poised to open on New Year's Eve. Haze at Aria and Eve at the Crystals will both debut in CityCenter, while the rock bar Smokin' Hot Aces will open at the Venetian.
The all-suite HRH Tower opens today. It features 359 "standard" suites eight spa villas that open directly onto the pool area, and seven penthouse suites on the 16th floor. Also opening is the Reliquary spa and the Vanity nightclub; three new restaurants and 40,000 square feet of new casino space will open by spring 2010.
With two weeks to go, LVASports moderator Fezzik is alone in first place of the LV Hilton's prestigious SuperContest. After winning last year, Fezzik is shooting to be the first two-time winner of the contest, but he's off to a wobbly 1-2 start after the morning games. His picks for the afternoon games are 49ers -12.5 and Cardinals -14.
In a similar list, the R-J's Heidi Knapp Rinella included LVA favorites RAKU, Pip's Cuchina at Aliante Station, Hugo's Cellar at Four Queens, and Origin India (we have good discount here in our 2010 Member Rewards Book). First on her list was Switch at Encore.
In his year-end round-up of best shows on the Strip, LV Review-Journal entertainment writer Mike Weatherford chooses MGM's KA as his top-rated Cirque show. We've been championing this underappreciated production for several years. Weatherford chose the one-off A Bronx Tale as the best of the year, followed by Garth Brooks and The Lion King.
If you're into the USC Trojans, there are three PT's Pubs in town that are avowed "USC bars" that you can visit for today's USC/Boston College bowl game. They are the PT's at Rainbow & Alta, Spring Mtn. & Arville, and W. Sahara & Decatur.
Based on interviews with NBA Commissioner Davide Stern, there's speculation that the NBA may be getting close to "embracing" legalized betting on its games. Though that seems a long way from probable, the argument is that the league would somehow be cut in on the take, and it would see the revenue stream as justification for the move.
Today's Wall Street Journal's "The Year in Food" doesn't name many restaurants, but MGM Grand's Joel Robuchon is one of them. Showing up in the "Best New Dish" category, Roubuchon's crab, sea urchin, and cauliflower concoction that the writer calls a "marine cousin to tabbouleh." It was a seasonal special, that's likely no longer on the menu, but there's always something new and amazing at this place.
The new BB King Blues Club looks good. We took a quick look and will go back for a full review next month, but with live music seven nights a week, this could be a new hot spot in town. It also serves food with a Creole influence.
Today's LV Review-Journal draws attention to the fact that the concerns about too many rooms in Las Vegas go beyond the 5,500 just opened at CityCenter. Also opening now is PH Tower at Planet Hollywood with 1,201 rooms and HRH Tower at Hard Rock with 374. And a month ago, Rush Tower opened at Golden Nugget with another 500 or so. That's more than 2,000 new rooms without counting CityCenter.
Here's wishing everyone a happy holiday. If you're in Vegas, just about every casino in town is serving Christmas dinner. South Point is awarding 5X points on slots and 2X points on video poker.
For the first time in 21 months, traffic through McCarran Airport has increased. The November year-over-year comparison notched a miniscule .1% uptick. Air traffic is one of the key indicators of the economy's status.
Buffalo Bill's in Primm reopens today after a two-week closure. The casino was closed during the slow weeks before Christmas to do some necessary renovations that would have taken up to three months to complete if done while the casino was operating.
For the full list of ongoing fun festive happenings, check out our Christmas feature in "Special Events." Here are some of the other highlights this weekend:
Untamed Illusions starring The Fercos Brothers is at Planet Hollywood (12/22-1/3)
The Korean R & B singer Rain is at Ceasars Palace (12/24-12/25) followed by Jerry Seinfeld (12/26-12/27)
Tony Orlando's at the South Point (12/26-12/27)
B.B. King is out at Buffalo Bill's (12/26) along with Boyz II Men and Salt-N-Pepa (12/27)
According to newly released Census statistics, Nevada’s population grew 1% between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. That’s down from an average of nearly 4% since 2000; Nevada’s population increase of 32.3% over the past nine years is higher than any other state and it’s been the fastest growing state for the past 18 years. However, due to the housing crisis, more people (4,000) moved out of Nevada last year than moved in. The slight rise in population was due to the birth rate. Texas and Wyoming were the big winners in the annual population estimates; Texas added more people than any other state and Wyoming had the highest growth rate.
If you haven't yet seen the Winter Lights Festival at the Springs Preserve now's the time to go. Tonight from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. admission to this annual holiday attraction is free to all. Click here for details.
Origin India, one of Las Vegas' best Indian restaurants, now instituted a lunch buffet for $14.95. It runs daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. "for the holidays." Origin India also has a good 25%-off certificate in our 2010 Member Rewards Book.
Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao's promoter, said today that unless Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp abandons its insistence on Olympic-style blood testing, the March 13 fight is off. Arum says Mayweather's camp is raising the issue as a smokescreen, claiming Mayweather doesn't want to to fight Pacquiao. Pacquiao will agree to testing by the same agencies that test pro football and baseball players, but not to random tests by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Pacquiao, Arum says, plans to fight March 13, whoever is in the ring against him.
It's official: The Zowie Bowie duo, Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor, have split. They will continue their free Friday and Saturday performances at The Pub but the Sunday night Vintage Vegas show will be missing one thing...Marley.
Penn Jillette has already given his blood, have you? Penn & Teller are providing two tickets to their show to donors during the eighth annual blood drive through Dec. 31. The duo's "13 Bloody Days of Christmas" campaign supports southern Nevada's regional blood bank and last year alone drew 23,618 donors. Click here for a complete list of donor locations.
A statement today from Wynn's Encore Las Vegas said the resort plans to build a new entertainment complex, Encore Beach Club. The new addition is planned to open in summer 2010 and will feature pools, a restaurant, and a new nightclub called Surrender.
Watch out for major traffic jams on all routes headed toward Sam Boyd Stadium today. The 18th MAACO Bowl Las Vegas football game matching BYU and Oregon State starts tonight at 5 p.m. and is sold out, which will nake this a nightmare during rush hour.
It looks like Las Vegas will get the Manny Pacquiao/Floyd Mayweather, Jr. superfight. After beating out Dallas and its new Cowboys Stadium, the fight will be held at the 16,200-seat MGM Grand Garden on March 13.
Social networking site Facebook has announced that it will be banning all forms of online-gambling advertising, including bingo, sportsbooks, poker, and casinos. A list of topics to be barred has also been released, which includes spy cameras, firearms (including paintball guns), tobacco, inflammatory religious content, religious agendas, uncertified pharmaceuticals, pyramid schemes, and nudity.
The Las Vegas Valley Water District has laid off 11 staffers at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve attraction, a move which apparently will save $600,000 per year in salary costs. The losses represent approximately 17 percent of the $235-million attraction, which has struggled to attract viable numbers of visitors and eaten up nearly $20 million in subsidies since it opened two-and-a-half years ago.
It's been announced by Déjà Vu Showgirls gentlemen's club that their controversial "strippermobile," which briefly advertised the club's wares on the Las Vegas strip using live pole dancers in a perspex-sided truck, is embarking on a nationwide tour to promote its brand.
Déjà Vu intends to make stops in the 12+ states where it owns clubs, including Florida, New York, and California.
Look out for an imminent email from Las Vegas Advisor with the complete list of 2010 Member Rewards. We're in the process of posting it online, but it's a BIG package, so it won't be completed until later in the day...
Today's New York Times profiles the latest room offer from CityCenter, with twofers at Mandarin Oriental through Feb. 28, 2010.
On Jan. 9, 2010 Primm Valley Casino Resorts will present the $175,000 boxing and mixed martial arts "Worlds Collide" tournament, featuring five match-ups and a number of local Vegas fighters. Tickets are $50 and $20 and can be purchased online at www.primmvalleyresorts.com or by calling 1.800.FUN.STOP.
The last leg of the historic Triple Crown could be axed next year, due to budget problems at the Belmont track where it takes place. The president of the New York Racing Association said his organization will run out of cash "in the May-June timeframe. If we can't make payroll, we have to shut down."
The Stoney's North Forty venue inside Santa Fe Station has closed, pending a move to a larger venue; the original Stoney's on the Strip remains open, however. The space in Santa Fe is due to reopen in February as the Revolver Saloon Dancehall.
Fezzik is the winner of this year's "Money Talks" football-handicapping contest. Fezzik beat 15 other invited sports handicappers for the title and the $80,000 winner-take-all prize. It's just another feather in the Fezzik sports-contest cap -- last year he won the LV Hilton SuperContest and South Point's Friendly Frank's contest, and he's leading this year's SuperContest again with two weeks to go. Fezzik is the host of our LVASports gambling message board. If you like to bet sports and haven't signed up already, look out for a twofer offer in the 2010 Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards Book.
From Jan. 1-5, 2010, the Flamingo Las Vegas will host the World Series of Beer Pong for the second consecutive year. The five-day event features a top prize of $50,000. For more information visit www.bpong.com.
Today through Dec. 23, M Resort is offering discounts to industry workers, including a twofer at the Studio B buffet, valid 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m.-9 pm. Monday through Wednesday. Must be 21+ and present industry ID.
Michigan's smoking ban was signed into law Friday and will take effect in May 2010. The ban applies to all bars, restaurants, and work places, with exceptions including the Detroit casinos. Smoking will still be permitted on gaming floors, but not in casino restaurants, bars, or hotels.
Although auction house Christie's is not disclosing the identity of the winning bidder for Rembrandt's "Portrait of a Man, Half-Length, With His Arms Akimbo," which sold for $33.2 million last week, the New York Times reports that the buyer was Steve Wynn. The price set an auction record for a work by Rembrandt.
Enjoy complimentary horse and carriage rides on Main Street in Henderson from noon – 4 p.m. today and tomorrow.
Metro and the Nevada Highway Patrol will conduct a DUI checkpoint this weekend in the area of Boulder Highway and Sahara, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday and lasting through 3 a.m. Sunday. Here’s the number for Designated Drivers, for anyone who might need it: 702/456-RIDE (7433).
Yes, the wait is almost over. We're putting the finishing touches on the 2010 Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards Book as we type, and we think you're going to like it. A lot. There's so much cool new stuff across the board and a heap of offers in there that we can't wait to take advantage of ourselves. We're working flat out to get it to the printer tonight; we'll release the final list of offers as soon as we've caught up on some sleep.
If you're in town and love sports betting, don't forget to catch LVASport' handicapping guru Fezzik in finals of Leroy's Money Talks $80,000 contest at Hooters from 3-4 p.m. today. Go Fezzik!
Click here to get 50% off tickets for the Dec. 26 matinée performance (4 p.m.) of Criss Angel Believe at Luxor.
Administrators say the Las Vegas Monorail might seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to restructure bond debt. After over five years in operation, the company has still failed to raise enough money from fares to pay off the original $650 million in loans that were used to get the project built and operational and plans still call for an additional $500 million to extend the Monorail to the airport and other Strip properties.
The first 20 owners of timeshares at the new 1,201-room PH Towers at Planet Hollywood began checking in this morning. The 52-story project is a partnership between Planet Hollywood and Florida-based timeshare company Westgate. The property is approximately 20 percent timeshare (the top four floors), the remainder being a hotel that opens to the general public December 28. A grand opening celebration is planned for January, 2010.
For the second time in its fifty-year history the Las Vegas sign has been vandalized, with both incidents taking place this year. At approximately 7:30 a.m. today, a half-naked man threw paint at both sides of the sign, claiming that it was some sort of protest because he'd lost his job and gambling winnings. If cleaning the sign costs more than $250, he could face jail time. The previous incident took place on July 13, when the sign was tagged with initials by an unknown vandal. Click here to see the latest damage to the iconic landmark.
Masked magician and LVA favorite Jeff McBride, who was previously performing at Palace Station (see LVA Sept., 2008 and the Magic in Vegas "Spotlight" feature from last November), has a new gig on the east side of town, as just announced in Robin Leach's "Vegas Deluxe" column in the Weekly. Apparently, the Magic Wonderground show will include a company of conjurors, artists, and performance artists and perform from 8 p.m.-midnight once a month at The Olive restaurant and hookah lounge (3850 E. Sunset), beginning tonight. Jeff promises an evening of close-up magic, live art, lighting F/X installations, a psychic sideshow with tarot and palm reading, "techno-tribal belly dance," and a 10 p.m. all-star stage show. Wow!
For the full list of ongoing fun festive happenings, check out our Christmas feature in "Special Events." Here are some of the other highlights this weekend:
Lady Gaga's at the Palms (12/17-12/18), now minus Kid Cudi, and so is Matt Sorum with his Darling Stilettos Rock 'n Roll A-Go-Go (12/18-12/19)
Society of Seven starts its run at the Gold Coast (12/18-1/17)
The Guy Fieri Roadshow is at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay (12/19)
Christmas stuff:
A Scinta Christmas will be at the Suncoast (12/18-12/20)
An Island Christmas will be at South Point (12/18-12/20)
WinterWonder Slam Tour's at the Orleans (12/18)
Wynnona's Christmas Show is at the Las Vegas Hilton (12/19-12/20)
Tony "the Ant" Spilotro's former enforcer Frank Cullotta is at our office signing copies of his limited-edition poster (now only $30, including shipping). He brought his biographer Dennis Griffin along with him, so we now also have a bunch of copies of Cullotta singed by the man himself and biographer and the author, available for the regular retail price of $14.96. Still in time to ship for Christmas!
The Mashantuckets gained the dubious distinction yesterday of being one of the few Indian tribes running a tribal casino to default on a loan when they failed to make a $7.5 million interest payment. The legal ramifications are unclear in these unprecedented circumstances but bankruptcy remains unlikely because of the tribe's status as a governmental unit.
Political columnist and Huntington Press author Jon Ralston, whose "Face to Face" program on Las Vegas One became the spot for hard-hitting interviews of political and civic leaders in Las Vegas, is taking his "Face to Face" show statewide in a move from Las Vegas One to KVBC Channel 3 beginning in January. The show will air live at 4 p.m. weekdays starting Jan. 4 on Channel 3 and on Channel 3's sister stations in Reno and Elko.
With the lowdown on ARIA and some entertaiment shake-ups on the Strip, Anthony Curtis' weekly syndicated column is now available to read at LVA in the Media.
LVASports' Fezzik plays in the $80,000 winner-take-all final of the Leroy's Money Talks handicapping contest this Friday at Hooters (3-4 pm). He'll meet Lance Blankenship. The public's welcome to attend. Fezzik has also climbed into the lead in the LV Hilton's prestigious SuperContest. He's the defending SuperContest champion, and no one has ever won this contest twice.
Fezzik's the host of the LVASports message boards. You can access the best sports-betting message board in the world for $24.95 per month or $199 for a year.
According to a report just published by the R-J, Sandy Murphy today filed a civil suit against the state of Nevada arguing that she was falsely arrested, falsely imprisoned, and the victim of a malicious prosecution. She is seeking punitive damages and lists her home residence as Laguna Beach, Calif. For an account of the courtroom drama that surrounded Murphy and Rick Tabish, see R-J columnist John L. Smith's Quicksilver.
MGM Mirage has rebuffed earlier rumors that the annual charity concert had been canceled, saying it's business as usual in Vegas for Tiger Jam XII in 2010.
According to the Associated Press, the NFL has lifted its ban on advertising on its telecasts by gambling destinations such as Las Vegas. Only tourist destinations like Las Vegas, Reno, or Lake Tahoe in Nevada are permitted to advertise and the prohibition on ads for specific hotels, casinos, and other gambling-oriented properties will continue.
Boyd continues its pursuit of the bankrupt Station Casinos group, despite having its earlier offer this year rejected. As reported by the R-J, Boyd Gaming Corp. today made a $2.45 billion cash offer for all of Stations' assets and debt. "Given our experienced management team and our successful history of operating in the Las Vegas locals market, our access to capital and our existing Nevada gaming licenses, we are well-positioned to consummate this transaction," Boyd's filing states.
It's the annual pre-holiday locals appreciation event at the Rock today, with a property-wide open bar from 7-9 p.m. If you think you'll need a place to stay after all that free booze, quote code CHEER09 for a $49 room rate.
Following yesterday's report in this column of legal wrangling between Mandalay Bay and new burlesque club The Rose, comes an update revealing that the latter's liquor license has been denied and that the resort has canceled its tenancy agreement due to rent arrears and unhappiness with the club's new management.
It's been reported that the eleven-year strong charity concert that Tiger Woods hosted annually in Las Vegas has been canceled for 2010.
The latest victim is Magic's a Drag, the comedy magic act starring drag queen Cashetta at the Harmon Theater. No word of any replacement show as yet.
The much-anticipated opening of ARIA takes place tonight. We'll be there, so expect full coverage of the whole CityCenter experience in the January issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter.
As of Jan. 2, Risqué, the nightclub at Paris, will be no more. The property's going to rebrand the space, although no word as yet as to how. (Thanks to DailyFiasco.com for this one.)
The future of The Rose, the new burlesque club that was due to open earlier this month at Mandalay Place, is not looking too rosy. The owners, who also own the embattled Privé nightclub at Planet Hollywood, are in dispute with MBay over their lease. They are claiming that the prospective landlord is refusing to confirm their lease agreement, which is preventing them from obtaining the necessary business license. For its part, Mandalay Bay is apparently maintaining that the company is way behind on its rent and that they wish to renegotiate the terms of the lease due to the owners' association with Privé and the fact that The Rose's original managers are no longer involved with the nightclub.
More information has just been announced regarding the annual "America's Party" New Year's Eve festivities. In addition to the themed fireworks extravaganza on the Strip, the live concerts and fireworks party under the canopy at the Fremont Street Experience will be repeated. Themed as the second annual "TributePalooza," eight tribute bands will be performing live on Fremont Street from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. on both the 1st Street and 3rd Street stages. The featured tributes will include Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2, and Van Halen. Tickets are $10 for locals, $20 for out-of-towners. For all the other New Year's parties and concerts, check out our feature in Special Events.
As we'd heard rumored last week, it's now been officially announced that the Sahara is closing two of its hotel towers through the slow winter season due to lack of demand. When visitation picks up, the rooms will be brought back into service as required. The Mirage is also taking a chunk of its rooms out of service -- we were told a total of 14 floors, but this has not been verified, although a reservations agent confirmed that some rooms are being closed for the time being.
If approved by the county assessor's office, all 14 casino properties in Washoe County will be devalued by $99 million -- 26.5 percent -- for tax purposes in the year starting July 1, 2010 because of a continued decline in gaming revenues. The Atlantis, Peppermill, and Grand Sierra properties have also have asked to have their taxable property values be determined based on business income, rather than real estate and construction costs. Almost 2,000 casino employees in Washoe County have been laid off over the past 12 months.
Throughout the month of January, the Pahrump Nugget is holding "The Great Steak Giveaway," with drawings to be held at 12:15, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15 and 8:15 p.m. every Friday and Saturday for 10 random winners to receive four Certified Angus Beef top sirloins at each drawing. There will be a total of 400 winners.
If you're going to be coming to Vegas before the end of the year and want to take advantage of our 3-month trial membership, we will mail the MRB to you, provided you're willing to cover the postage. We understand that a lot of people are coming in on Christmas Eve and our office generally closes at lunchtime on the 24th, so if you won't be able to pick up your Book in person, call our office on 800-244-2224 and we'll arrange to ship it to you.
ARIA debuts midnight Wednesday, Dec. 16 and the event's being marked by a rooftop fireworks display tomorrow night at 11:05 p.m. You can consider it a preview of the New Year's fireworks, since ARIA is one of the seven Strip resorts that will be launching a rooftop display, the others being MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, TI, the Venetian, and the Stratosphere.
We just got word of a major crash at Sahara and Desert Inn. Metro's advising everyone to avoid the area, if possible.
The Fercos Brothers (they're the ones who lost their tiger in North Las Vegas earlier this year) are bringing their aptly named Untamed Illusions show to the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood from Dec. 22–Jan. 3. There's a locals offer for 2-for-1 tickets in the orchestra level seating for $74.
The MGM Grand is currently experiencing sporadic and scattered power outages. We'll let you know if more details are released.
It's strongly rumored that online gambling operators bwin and PartyGaming are considering consolidating into one firm. Regulators from the UK are expected to ask PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan to confirm or deny speculation that the two companies are in a stage of formal talks. Each company is already valued independently at over $1.5 billion.
It turns our reports of the amount stolen from Palace Station this morning were greatly exaggerated. The official sum has now been downsized to $36,000.
Magician Steve Wyrick is vehemently denying rumors that his Real Magic show has closed, maintaining that it's simply dark right now and is scheduled to reopen at the end of the month. Watch this space for updates.
More details have been released regarding this morning's robbery at Palace Station. Apparently, a man approached a guard outside the casino shortly after 9 a.m. and ordered him to drop four bags containing around $1 million. Hotel security was apparently momentarily distracted by a car fire in the parking garage, which may or may not have been a deliberate decoy. The robber took the bags and left with another suspect in a gold or beige Dodge Stratus sedan.
The southbound lanes of I-15 near Russell Road are now open to traffic. They were closed earlier this morning following the investigation of a fatal accident.
Pinnacle Entertainment announced today that the opening date for its River City casino in south St. Louis County, Missouri has been moved up to early March 2010, subject to final regulatory approval by the Missouri Gaming Commission. The opening had previously been slated for later in the spring.
Details remain very sketchy at this point, but the local news networks are reporting that there's been an armored-truck robbery (Channel 8) and shooting (Channel 13) in the parking lot of Palace Station. We'll bring you more information as we get it.
Following the 12/7/2009 QoD about which residential neighborhoods in Las Vegas have the best lighting displays, here's a link to this year's displays in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. If you or someone you know of should be included in the list, you can write in to nominate the house/neighborhood in question.
Tomorrow, Dec. 14 through Dec. 24, all drinks at all casino bars are just $2, or $1 with a player’s card. The promo was dreamt up by Michael Gaughan himself to help locals on a budget in particular, and it really is good against all drinks, not just domestics and wells.
The year-long decline in gaming revenue was back to double digits in Atlantic City in November after two previous months of slightly lower decreases had raised hopes of an imminent recovery. Overall, Atlantic City's casinos took in $299.3 million last month, down 13.4 percent compared with the same month a year ago.
Carl C. Icahn, the investor, agreed to buy most of Trump Entertainment Resorts’ bank debt, pitting Mr. Icahn against a bondholders’ reorganization plan for the casino operator. Mr. Icahn leads a group that will buy a secured loan from the Beal Bank, which is first in line among creditors, and agreed to back the lender’s reorganization plan for Trump Entertainment, according to a statement Friday. Trump Entertainment’s three casinos filed for bankruptcy protection for the third time in February, blaming a high debt load and falling revenue. The founder, Donald Trump, and his daughter, Ivanka, dropped Beal as a partner last month and backed a bondholder plan that would give him up to 10 percent of the reorganized company.
"Despite the current problems in Atlantic City I continue to have great faith in the city’s future," Mr. Icahn said in the statement. The competing plan "is a roll of the dice to releverage these operations, which may well turn into a round-trip ticket to bankruptcy court," he said. Beal Bank is based in Plano, Tex. Trump Entertainment, based in Atlantic City, owns the Trump Taj Mahal Resort, the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino and the Trump Marina Hotel Casino.
You had to figure the bookies would find a way to get into the Tiger Woods situation. No, they haven't made a line on the mistress count, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the British betting parlors have made Tiger an 8-1 favorite to "shed a tear" should he be interviewed on Oprah.
Our Special Event guide to New Year's Eve in Las Vegas is growing like the proverbial weed. It's already packed with parties; keep checking back for new listings.
The Las Vegas Tenors, Swing City Dolls, Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show, Lisa Dawn Miller, Trent Carlini, and Lorena Peril, star of Sin City Bad Girls, will be among those performing tonight in "The Big Broadcast of 2009 – A Salute To the Troops," which is being filmed in the Las Vegas Hilton showroom. The event will feature a special musical tribute to the military and the show time's 8 p.m. It's $10 cash at the showroom door, or gain free admission if you present your Military I.D. or bring a new unwrapped toy. (This item courtesy of SaveLV.com)
El Cortez is celebrating the holiday season today by serving free slices of Marie Callender’s pecan pie to Club Cortez members today from noon to 6 p.m.
Tickets for the Saturday, Feb 6 UFC showdown between Randy Couture and Mark Coleman at Mandalay Bay go on sale at 10 a.m. today at the usual outlets. Prices start at $50 and go up to $500.
Then nation's tallest Christmas tree has already been put in place in the pool area at M Resort and has been being decorated for the past week or so. Tonight at 5 p.m. witness the lighting ceremony, plus enjoy hot chocolate, carolers, Christmas cookies, and more.
Don't forget the current special offer on a three-month trial subscription to LVA expires Dec. 20. For just $12 you get three issues of the newsletter online, the 2009 MRB (there are numerous offers that more than return your outlay by themselves, so you only need to use one to be a winner), plus you can take advantage of our exclusive LVA-members only $9.95 room rate at the Golden Gate through Dec. 24. So, if you're planning a last-minute shopping visit, or you're a local and fancy a night on the town downtown without having to drive home, there are plenty reasons to take advantage of this opportunity.
Also, we've got less than a case left of Anthony Curtis' Bargain City, all signed by the man, while ex-mobster Frank Cullotta's signed memoir and his limited edition signed posters behind-the-scenes on the set of Casino make great holiday gifts and are selling fast...
Gaming revenues may be continuing their ongoing decline, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel, with visitation volume rising for the second straight month in October. More than 3.15 million tourists came to Las Vegas during the month, a 3.7 percent increase compared to October last year.
Magician Steve Wyrick, who for almost three years has been struggling to make a success of his eponymous theater and raft of shows in the Miracle Mile, including his own Real Magic and the Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and the Marvelettes has finally called it quits. Contact the point of sale for refunds.
Station Casinos Inc. has announced it's reached a franchise agreement with Wyndham Worldwide that rebrand the hospitality side of its Wild Wild West Gambling Hall operation as a Days Inn, marking a return to the Vegas market for the hotel brand. Reservations are now being accepted through the Days Inn reservation system for hotel stays beginning December 15, 2009.
According to Channel 8 News, a new fire station is now open at CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip. Paid for by MGM Mirage, which will also pay the salaries of three fire inspectors, the goal is to help cut emergency response times on the entire Strip, not just CityCenter.
Country legend Garth Brooks opens tonight at the Encore theater at Wynn Las Vegas for the first in a series of 15 select weekend concerts a year for the next five years. These dates sold out within hours of going on sale.
North Las Vegas police will today conduct a daylong crosswalk safety enforcement push aimed at highlighting the problem of people crossing busy streets at mid-block instead of at corners. They plan to ticket pedestrians who fail to use marked crosswalks and drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in clearly marked or striped crosswalks as part of the "Look Out for Pedestrians" campaign.
Resorts Atlantic City, the first U.S. casino located outside Nevada, is now officially owned by a group of its main lenders, including Wells Fargo, having been unable to make its debt payments for more than a year. The handover process was completed yesterday, following Resorts' agreement to let its lenders have the casino if they cancel nearly $381 million in debt.
Bill's Lake Tahoe, the small resort on Lake Tahoe's south shore owned by Harrah's Entertainment, will close permanently Jan. 4 after 22 years of operation because of declining business.
The third annual Winter Lights Festival kicks off tonight at the Springs Preserve. At 5 p.m. Mayor Oscar Goodman and Commissioner Weekly will be on hand for the lighting of the Preserve Christmas Tree and Menorah, officially starting the two-week holiday festival celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Admission for non-members is $8 for adults, $4 for children.
Ice Direct from Russia has closed at the Riviera, as has the Neil Diamond Tribute Live with Jay White. No word of any replacements as yet. The other shows there, including Crazy Girls and the Riviera Comedy Club, remain.
A new "Thread of the Week" just went live at LVASports.com -- check it out to see what you're missing out on at the members-only LVASportsboards. Plus, you can catch up with Fezzik's progress in the MoneyTalks contest.
It's just been announced that in addition to the recent closure of the short-lived Omelet House and the discontinuation of the buffet (aside from breakfast and brunch), the Plaza has also closed its Aqua Pit and Aqua Lounge. There are no plans to fill the vacant spaces with anything at this time.
With a festive update, news of more casualties to Las Vegas' economic woes, and the regular Q&A, Anthony Curtis' weekly column has just been posted to the all-new LVA in the Media blog.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has released October numbers that show new low points in revenues statewide. The decline to $800.3 million is the lowest monthly record in almost six years, and represents an overall decline of 11.6 percent when compared with the same period last year.
The new Stip-based location for Hash House A Go Go opened today in Imperial Palace. It's located on the second floor, directly above the casino (take the escalators adjacent to Ginza Bar.) The bar and restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The original venue opened on W. Sahara in 2005.
The NRF is finishing up but the country stars are still all over town. (Bill Engvall at TI (12/10-12/11) and Miranda Lambert at Silverton (12/11-12/12), to name just a couple. You can find them all in our Events listings. And here are some other highlights:
It was briefly reported earlier that there was a fire in a hotel room at The Mirage. It turned out to be a false alarm -- it was steam, not smoke, emanating from the room, apparently visually amplified by reflection in the windows.
Tonight from 10-11 p.m. EST Bravo airs the "Top Chef: Las Vegas Season Finale Part Two." According to the line set by the race and sports director at Wynn (purely for entertainment purposes), Kevin's even-odds favorite to win...
Richard Abowitz -- a good friend of LVA, whose "Moveable Buffet" blog for the LA Times was recently the unfortunate victim of the economic meltdown that's hitting the media, has decided to go it alone. Here's the first post in his new blog, goldplateddoor.com.
American Superstars, the celebrity-singer impersonator show at the Stratosphere, has just had its contract renewed for two more years. The show currently features musical tributes to Michael Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Britney Spears, and Elvis.
If romance novels aren't your thing, there's another autograph-signing opportunity today. The NFR steer wrestlers will be at Hooters from 1-2 p.m. signing autographs outside the Punishment MMA Store.
Best-selling western romance author Linda Lael Miller will be hosting a meet-and-greet and book signing today in the lobby at Paris from 3-4 p.m. as part of publisher Harlequin's ongoing 60th anniversary celebrations, which include a cover-art exhibit at the hotel that runs through Jan. 31st next year.
The new Las Vegas Strip metaresort announced this morning that it's hired Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, better known as PennyMac, as a lending resource in an effort to close sales of its 2,400 high-rise condominiums. MGM Mirage and Dubai World, will also provide a seller financing program to well-qualified buyers.
Tonight's star chef is legend Paul Bartolotta from Wynn, teaching us to "Create Your Own Feast of Seven Fishes" - the traditional Italian seafood feast. The event is free to attend and takes place from 6-8 p.m. at Whole Foods, Town Square. It's bound to be a sellout, so get there early to avoid disappointment.
ABCNews reports that the singer's in preliminary talks with Wynn Resorts, where she performed this summer, to bring Beyonce's show back to Las Vegas, but there's no deal as yet.
With the flurry of media attention surrounding the Terrence Watanabe gambling-debt controversy, Anthony's been getting as much air time as he did last week for CityCenter's debut. He was on ABCNews' "Good Morning America" show today, and is slated to appear on "ABCNews" and "Nightline" tonight. For all Anthony's and LVA/Huntington Press' recent media coverage, check out our newly upgraded LVA in the Media blog. And note that if you'd previously bookmarked this feature, or signed up for the RSS feed, you'll need to click the preceding link and go through those processes again, since the blog has now moved to a different site.
Tomorrow's nights event, where casino and nightlife personalities and executives fight it out in the ring at The Joint, will be hosted by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, it's just been announced. The charity event takes place tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. and the 11 match-ups on the card include Steve Cyr, legendary casino host and subject of Huntington Press' Whale Hunt in the Desert, vs. Greg Tanjuatco of Planet Hollywood.
According to CasinoCityTimes.com, Harrah's has very quietly "soft-launched" its long-awaited online casino under the iconic name of Caesars Casino Online. We haven't seen it but understand it bears the unique black and gold Caesars branding.
From what we're told, the casino offers a variety of games, including roulette, craps, Caribbean Poker, three-card poker, video poker, video slots, and blackjack and is offering a 100% welcome bonus for up to £500, plus comp points based on how much players bet. We can't verify any of this since, as of now, this online casino is not accepting players from the U.S. or Germany. Players from the United States are redirected to a page that lists Caesars' land-based gaming properties.
According to the latest stats from the Greater Las Vegas Realtors Association, home sales fell 11.8 percent in November from October, with investors doing most of the buying. Bank-owned homes accounted for 61 percent of sales transactions and 41-percent of all transactions are cash deals, as reported by LasVegasNOW.com. For up-to-the-minute info on the best residential real estate deals in town, check out Robin Camacho's Las Vegas Real Estate Top 10 Values, which updates in real time.
Following our round-up of barbeque casualties in this column back in August ("Salt Lick at Santa Fe, now Stoney's North Forty, BBQ Shak (now online only), Adam's Ribs (from the owner of Freakin' Frog), and Barbeque Masters on Decatur") comes a second wave. Yesterday we revealed that Rub BBQ and the Rio and Harry O's had both bitten the dust and readers have since written in alerting us to the demise of Salt Lick at Red Rock and all three CJ's BBQ locations (formerly at Sahara and Buffalo and in two Charlie's bars).
While Salt Lick received mixed reviews and was most likely a casualty of the recession, CJ's has a more interesting story. It turns out the owner was masquerading under a false identity (several, in fact) and turned out to be on Florida's most wanted fugitive list! Only in Vegas.
Not in person, but this year "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" returns with Dick Cark and Ryan Seacrest hosting in New York and Fergie of the Black-Eyed Peas hosting the Las Vegas-based party portions of the show. The Las Vegas lineup includes performances by The Black Eyed Peas, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Keri Hilson, Colbie Caillat, Robin Thicke, and Orianthi. The bi-coastal celebration, which The kicks off at 10 p.m., ET on Thursday, Dec. 31 on ABC, will include three and one-half hours of special performances and reports on New Year's celebrations from around the globe, as well as the American tradition of Dick Clark counting down to midnight from Times Square in New York City.
A five-star user rating on the LVA site wasn't enough to save Rub BBQ at the Rio, which closed last week, we just learned. It's the latest in a string of BBQ fatalities this year, the most recent prior being the short-lived Harry O's, which was located around the corner from our offices and next door to the Sand Dollar Blues Lounge which, we're very sad to report, has also closed. For a list of extant BBQ restaurants, click here.
Viva Elvis, the new Cirque du Soleil show that debuts in preview at ARIA later this month, has just released the first tranche of tickets available for purchase. Click here and use password LIGHTVIVA. For additional assistance, call 800/653-8000.
LVA favorite Skip Martin plays the new Forbes Entertainment live-music venue (3400 South Jones Blvd.) at 9 p.m. this Wednesday, Dec. 9. If you can't make it, you can still catch Skip via his latest CD, available from ShopLVA.com.
The long-empty Vivid, previously Venus, nightspot overlooking the Las Vegas Strip looks like it finally has a new occupant, with the scheduled debut of Smokin' Hot Aces on Dec. 28. It will be a club featuring DJs and live bands.
Mon Ami Gabi at Paris has just announced its "Shop for Steaks!" program. You can now ship Mon Ami Gabi steaks direct to your home. Choose from the prime rib roast, rib eye, and New York strip steaks, or beef tenderloin filets. All orders are shipped overnight with recipes & cooking instructions. For more information, or to place an order, click here.
Feelgood's Rock Bar -- Vince Neil's new bar and restaurant on W. Sahara -- has just added a lunchtime deal: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon. through Fri., you can choose from among selected entrées, plus a soft drink, for $6.95. Food specials include a Mexican Burger topped with avocado, jalapenos and all the fixins’, served with fries; steak burrito, grilled chicken salad; BBQ pulled pork sandwich and cole slaw, and more.
Meanwhile, Excalibur's just announced that the $29 all-day-pass for the Round Table now has an new dimension: After 2 p.m., you can add a lobster for $10.
Don't forget, midnight tomorrow's the deadline for submitting your video entry to the Improv at Harrah's comedian search. Being run in conjunction with Universal Studios’ Funny People, the contest is looking to find the next funniest person in the country, with the grand prize of a six-night run at the Improv sometime in 2010. If you think you've got what it takes, you need to record at least one minute of your funniest original material and upload that video to the dedicated area at ijoke.com (to ensure the video gets placed into the right location, be certain to select "Funny People" in the drop-down category selector).
The National Weather Service has forecast rain and cold temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley today as two storms move in, back to back. There's is a 90 percent chance of precipitation in the valley, with one-third to 1 inch of rain expected, so be careful when driving as roads are likely to be slippery.
The Palms has secured exclusive rights to use Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," nominated for three Grammys, in a new TV and online ad campaign for the property that debuts today. Lady G's set to perform two sold-out out shows at the property's The Pearl venue on Dec. 17 and 18.
Tonight's "60 Minutes" (7 p.m., NBC) features the first interview with disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who just served 15 months in jail for his part in a gambling scandal in which he passed inside information about games to "low-level mob associates" and bet on the outcome of games himself.
The final episode in the current series of "The Amazing Race" airs tonight on CBS at 8 p.m. EST and takes place in Las Vegas.
Kenyan runners Christopher Toroitich and Caroline Rotich won the Las Vegas Marathon today with best male and female times, respectively. Toroitch beat out a field of more than 27,600, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 15 seconds. Rotich finished in 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 47 seconds to win the women's race ahead of Alevtina Ivanova of Russia. The top American finisher was Stephen Haas in fifth with a time of 2:18:45.
The Plaza buffet is now open only for breakfast during the week (6-11 a.m.) and for brunch on the weekend (6 a.m.-2 p.m.). The buffet at the Sahara is hanging in the balance; it's currently open, but it may be closing Dec. 8, we were just informed. Watch this space for updates.
Today's marathon featured a run-through wedding cermony at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. A record 85 couples signed up to either get hitched or renew vows.
Today's LV Review-Journal has a coupon for the Palms that we haven't seen before. It's for a free margarita sampler ($18 value) when you dine at Garduno's. It's on page 2 of Section B.
Peepshow star Holly Madison's new reality show, "Holly's World," debuts tonight on E! Entertainment at 11 p.m., immediately following the season finale of "Girls Next Door," in which she originally appeared.
It's not just for the runners dealing with cold temperatures this morning. The giant Las Vegas Marathon requires that several streets be sealed off to vehicle traffic, including a big part of the Strip. It's tough to travel long distances east-west today, and while areas will open up in stages, the whole thing won't be clear till the late afternoon.
After the college slate, LVASports' Fezzik is well-positioned to unseat the defending champ in the Leroy's Money Talks handicapping contest. Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner is 1-3 with his best-bet tie-breaker being one of the losers, while Fezzik is 1-1 going into the pro game. This constitutes a substantial lead, especially given that each has only seven picks and one of those remaining is duplicated. Weitzner's remaining picks are Broncos OV 38, Cowboys UN 46, and Jaguars PK. Fezzik's remaining picks are Broncos OV 38, Redskins +9.5, Buccaneers +6, Vikings -3, and Packers -3 as his best bet. The winner goes to the finals to play for the $80,000 prize.
The weekend Wall Street Journal contains a big story on Terrance Wantanabe, the gambler who reportedly lost $127 million at Harrah's casinos and is now being prosecuted for refusal to pay a portion of it. Interesting are details of the incentives the casinos provided and the disclosure that Steve Wynn barred him from playing at Wynn Las Vegas, because he felt Wantanabe was out of control.
In celebration of the recent 1,000th performance by Cher at the Colosseum, select members of the cast will host a meet and greet and autograph-signing session with fans immediately following tonight's performance in the Colosseum Boutique.
At 10 a.m. today Opportunity Village will attempt to break the world record for the Largest Santa Gathering with /The //Las Vegas //Great Santa Run/ at Town Square, Las Vegas. This year the event's sponsored by Golden Gaming, owner and operator of PT's and Sierra Gold taverns, and has moved from its former downtown locations. The eclectic group of personalities due to take part include Mayor Oscar Goodman, ASCAR champion Kurt Busch, Senator John Ensign, and Robin Leach. The event will also feature performances by Zowie Bowie, Yellow Brick Road, Jeff Civillico (from V Theater's Amazed) and Dr. Zhivegas.
The Monte Carlo's hosting its first annual NFR Regional Chili Cook-Off tomorrow morning. If you want to take part, visit the International Chili Society website at chilicookoff.com for rules and instructions.
The National Weather Service has issued another freeze warning for the Las Vegas Valley, from 10 p.m. tonight to 9 a.m. Saturday. Areas that did not see a freeze this morning will experience freezing temperatures tomorrow morning, with a forecast low of 29 degrees (based at McCarran Airport).
Tonight's performance of the show at the Las Vegas Hilton show has again been canceled due to singer Lani Misalucha's ill health.
According to their website, the "X Train" hi-speed rail link between Las Vegas and L.A. will make its inaugural journey on New Year's Eve, 2010. The site says the round-trip journey will cost an economical $99 and take five hours.
You can catch LVASports' handicapping guru Fezzik live right now on KLAV-1230 AM, hosted by John Kelly. He's in the semi-finals of the Money Talks contest taking on reigning champ Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner. It's taking place at Pete & Shorty's Bar in Hooters and is free to attend, if you're in the vicintiy.
Judge A. Jay Cristol, who's handling the Fontainebleau bankruptcy, has revealed that he received a letter earlier this week from Eugene Hill, chief executive of Craig Road Development in Las Vegas, expressing a "preliminary, non-binding indication of interest" in acquiring the partially built casino resort project for $350 million. Hill wrote that his company and "certain investors" are in discussions with the U.S. Army about acquiring a resort for military personnel and veterans.
But Scott Baena, Fontainebleau's Miami-based attorney, said the letter fell short of an offer. "This letter is just a letter. It's not an offer," said Baena. An auction for the property is set for Jan. 21, 2010 and any interested party must go through the official bidding process, which has been started by Carl Icahn with a bid of $105 million, plus a loan of up to $50 million to pay for the project's bankruptcy expenses through the sale.
A late addition to our NFR entertainment roundup: Badda Bing gentlemen's club is celebrating NFR with "Bull Stippin'". Nightly through December 12, dancers will compete on the mechanical bull for $2,000 in prizes, plus there will be food and drink specials all night. For our latest review of Badda Bing (the plushest stripclub in town), check out the brand new edition of Topless Vegas, now available with an upgrade option for a full year of updates.
The element of the CityCenter metaresort premieres today, with the opening of the 47-story Mandarin Oriental. The Mandarin has 392 hotel rooms and 227 condominiums and features a sky lobby on the 23rd floor that overlooks the Strip. We attended the openings of both Vdara and Crystals this week, so expect a big update in the next issue of LVA. Preview: We were impressed.
Show up outside the new Cabo Wabo Cantina this morning for a chance to get free tickets to a concert by Sammy Hagar at tonight's grand opening of the club. Four-hundred tickets will be given out beginning at 10:30 a.m. Cabo Wabo is located at Planet Hollywood, where Trader Vic's used to be.
Yep, he's been at it again. You can check out his latest musings in "Anthony Curtis Recommends" at ShopLVA.com.
The annual Henderson FabTech Desert Classic off-road race kicks off tomorrow, with the event running through Sunday, Dec. 6. Featuring ancillary race activities in Henderson's Water Street District and Race Day on Saturday in Jean, the three-day event is free to attend. Click here for the schedule.
Click the link to catch a trailer of new movie St John of Las Vegas, starring Steve Buscemi and Sarah Silverman. The film debuted at the 2009 CineVegas festival (R.I.P.) and was produced by Spike Lee, so it should be interesting...
Race fans will get to see championship driver Jimmie Johnson and fellow Chase drivers participate in a Victory Lap parade in their show cars on Las Vegas Boulevard beginning at 3:15 p.m. outside M&M World at the MGM Grand. Wayne Newton will drop the green flag to start the event. The lap includes a pit stop and "burnout" at the Spring Mountain Rd. intersection before returning to the MGM Grand at 4 p.m. SIRIUS NASCAR Radio will carry live coverage of the Victory Lap.
Country music duo Brooks & Dunn have been added to the entertainment lineup for Friday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas, NASCAR announced today. They'll open the show by performing their chart-topping country hit "Only in America".
It's all about the NFR this weekend, so check out yesterday's feature in this column for the lowdown on the hoedown. If Country isn't your thing, there are a few other highlights to choose from. Here they are:
Cornell Gunter's Coasters - Eastside Cannery - Free (12/4-12/6)
Morrissey - Hard Rock (12/4)
Chikenfoot - Hard Rock (12/5)
Metallica - Mandalay Bay (12/5)
Robin Williams - MGM Grand (12/5)
Big Dog's Draft House (Rancho at Craig) is celebrating its 500th batch of Hop Dog 500 with a beer tasting at 6 p.m. tonight. It's strong stuff -- 9% ABV! -- and the first glass is on the house. There will be appetizers and a chance to talk with the local brewers.
If you didn't see the email we sent out yesterday, our friends at the Golden Gate downtown are offering an exclusive $9.95 room rate for LVA members through Dec. 24. You can book for up to two nights, Sunday through Thursday, and their rooms have recently been remodled, making it an even bette deal. To get the absolute cheapest hotel deal in Vegas, all you need to do is sign up for a 3-month trial to Las Vegas Advisor (just $12), or a full year ($37 or $50), if you want to take advantage of next year's offers and the 2010 Member Rewards Book (which is shaping up to be killer). Once you're a member, click the banner ad on our site (refresh the page till you see the Golden Gate offer if a differnt one is showing), log in, and you'll be given the exclusive code. Happy pre-Holidays!
If you're coming to Las Vegas for the holidays, don't forget to check out our annual Christmas guide in Special Events. It's packed with information about activities and attractions, concerts, holiday light displays, and much more.
Beginning Dec. 14th, Pampas Brazilian Grille in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will be offering an all-you-can-aat Steak & Eggs Buffet for $12.95 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily.
The Playground (home to Crazy Horse III, Dead Man's Hand, Obsession, and Karma Sutra) is offering a free drink special for locals every single day throughout the month of December. Locals with ID can enjoy complimentary well-drinks from 9 p.m. until midnight Thursday through Tuesday, and an extended open bar from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. on Wednesdays (standard industry night for the complex). For our latest review of The Playground, check out the newly updated Topless Vegas v.3.0.
Yep, the cowboys are comin' and Las Vegas is rolling out the red carpet for all you Country fans out there. Here's a comprehensive entertainment guide for NFR 2009:
Events: The Thomas and Mack center welcomes the National Finals Rodeo (12/03-12/12); the 2009 NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show is at the Las Vegas Convention Center (12/03-12/12); and Benny Binion's World Famous Bucking Horse & Bull Sale takes place at the South Point (12/05-12/06)
Entertainment: The annual kickoff party for the National Finals Rodeo happens tonight on Fremont Street with the Downtown Hoedown and entertainment by Gloriana, 1st Street Stage, Jonathan Singleton, 3rd Street Stage, The Lost Trailers, 1st Street Stage, and Emerson Drive, 3rd Street Stage (12/02); Bill Engvall’s at TI (12/03-12/04 & 12/10-12/11); Billy Childers plays at the South Point (12/03-12/05) followed by Susie Dobbs (12/06-12/09) and Aaron Watson (12/10-12/12); Doo Wah Riders play at the Bourbon Street Cabaret at the Orleans (12/02) followed by Mammoth Jack (12/3-12/12); then the Doo Wah Riders head over to the Gold Coast (12/04-12/12) along with Wylie and the West (12/03-12/12); Randy Travis takes the stage at the Monte Carlo (12/06); Rodney Carrington takes over the MGM (12/03-12/09); Savannah Jack entertains for free in the Celebration Lounge at the Tropicana (12/03-12/12) while Steve Holy and Star De Azlan perform in the Tiffany Theatre (12/06-12/07); the Las Vegas Hilton welcomes Brooks & Dunn (12/04-12/06); at the Golden Nugget is Lonestar (12/03), Clay Walker (12/04-12/05), The Lonestarlets (12/06-12/09), John Michael Montgomery (12/10), and Rodney Atkins (12/11-12/12); Ron White makes ‘em laugh at the Mirage (12/04-12/05 & 12/11-12/12) followed by free entertainment by Jason Meadows, Michael Scott, Hey Romeo, Derryl Perry, and Members of the Ace In The Hole Band; Tanya Tucker entertains at the Silverton (12/04-12/05) followed by An Evening with Miranda Lambert (12/11-12/12); The Randy Anderson band’s at Roxy’s inside Sam’s Town (12/03-12/12) along with Skid Rodeo (12/04-12/11); Willie Nelson & Family are at Planet Hollywood (12/05); Marshal Reign performs at the Eastside Cannery (12/02-12/03 & 12/06) followed by Steve Sturgis and Roadhouse (12/04-12/05) and the Desert Outlaws (12/09-12/13); Trace Adkins’ at the Palms (12/09); Dierks Bentley performs at Mandalay Bay (12/10-12/11) followed by Larry the Cable Guy (12/12); Nashville Unplugged: The Story Behind the Song is at Green Valley Ranch (12/11); Sara Evans plays out at Buffalo Bill’s (12/11); and The Man in Black - Tribute to Johnny Cash is at Jerry’s Nugget (12/12)
The Fremont Street Experience kicks off the festivities for the annual National Finals Rodeo this evening with a free street party featuring live country music on two stages from 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. Look out in this column later today for our full NFR event listings.
Now through December 19, guests who bring two or more new, unwrapped toys to the George Wallace toy drive receive one free ticket to his show. Donations can be dropped off at the box located near the Donny & Marie kiosk at the Flamingo from 6-10 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
You can catch Las Vegas Advisor publisher Anthony Curtis on NBC's "Nightly News" with Brian Williams tonight (6 p.m. PST), discussing the much-anticipated debut of CityCenter. We'll be there to check out the opening, so expect further reportage tomorrow.
Hash House A Go Go, the home of large portions of "twisted farm food," will be opening a second Las Vegas venue inside Imperial Palace on Dec. 10. It will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
Tonight's demo at Whole Foods Market (Town Square) is by Mark LoRosso of Encore's Botero. "Sides That Step Up" will offer star chef tips for sure-fire savory sides for the holidays.
Las Vegas home prices fell 34 percent in October from the previous year, with foreclosed properties accounting for two-thirds of sales. The median price paid for all new and re-sold houses and condos in the Las Vegas metropolitan area fell to $130,000 in October from $196,000 a year earlier, according to San Diego real-estate research firm MDA DataQuick. For the latest bargains in the housing market, don't forget to check out Robin Camacho's unique Las Vegas Top 10 Real Estate Values feature, which updates the current best-value-for-money buys in real time.
What everyone's known for some while now has now been made official: Barry Manilow will open in the theater at Paris, Las Vegas on March 5. His new show will be produced by AEG Live, which also operates the Colosseum at Caesars and The Joint at the Hard Rock. Manilow's five-year stint at the Las Vegas Hilton ends Dec. 30.
It's rumored that Simon Cowell's "The X Factor," the biggest talent-search show in the U.K., is set to head to Vegas for a permanent home in a major Strip casino. According to GQ, Cowell and his business partner Philip Green plan to take the reality show to the US, where it would be available on pay-per-view Internet TV. "We'll have a permanent place, we'll have a store. And it'll all be online," said Green.
The first component of CityCenter, Vdara, had its ribbon cutting at 10 am today. There will be a private parting tonight; however, it will not be open to the public until tomorrow evening. Vdara is an upscale hotel without a casino. Crystals and Mandarin Oriental will also open this week, with the centerpiece Aria opening Dec. 16.