JetBlue Airways has announced that it's adding two more daily flights to its newly launched Long Beach-Las Vegas schedule from February 1, 2011, bringing the total number of daily round-trip flights between the destinations to five.
To celebrate the expansion of service on the route, JetBlue's offering a one-way fare of $19 (plus taxes and fees) each way between Long Beach and Las Vegas on tickets purchased by December 6, 2010, for travel between December 15 and May 16, 2011.
Don't forget that many of the Las Vegas hotel offers we told you about yesterday expire today, so make your room reservations now to avoid disappointment -- and higher rates! You can find all the Caesars Entertainment exclusive discounts, including a package with Southwest Airlines, plus deals from MGM Mirage International's Vegas properties, a great New Year's offer from the Tropicana, and much more at our Las Vegas hotel deals page.
This city has been named the fifth-worst post-recession economy in the world by thinktank the Brookings Institute, which ranked Las Vegas No. 146 on its Global Metro Monitor, which rates metropolitan areas on their economic strength before, during and after the downturn. The only major cities performing worse than Las Vegas in 2009 and 2010 were Thessaloniki, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Dublin, Ireland.
Actress, singer, and entertainer Susan Anton will join the cast of Menopause the Musical at Luxor as a guest in the starring role as "The Soap Star" from Friday, Dec. 3 through Friday, Jan. 14.
Dubbed the "Best 10 p.m. Show in Las Vegas," comedian George Wallace's Flamingo show will actually perform at 8 p.m. tonight through December 11.
The current LasVegasAdvisor.com Reader Poll, about which is the best Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas, ends at midnight tonight, so get your vote in, if you haven't already... (No multiple voting, please -- we know who you are!)
World-renowned husband and wife Olympic Skating team and celebrity choreographers Denis Petukhov (currently appearing in "Skating with the Stars") and Melissa Gregory today announced their plans to launch the ice skating extravaganza LYUBOV (the pronunciation of "Love" in Russian) with permanent home in Las Vegas, for a 2011 premiere.
A week after Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment) cancelled its planned IPO, the Wall Street Journal reports that nearly $1.46 billion in real-estate loans related to the acquisition of the world's largest gambling company by Apollo Global Management LLC and TPG Capital are in the market, according to sources.
The deal, which includes $1.13 billion of restructured first mortgage and $328 million of senior mezzanine debt, offers investors an option to buy restructured debt with maturities of February 2013, with an option to extend by two more years.
The Las Vegas Business Press carries an interesting article on the future of online gambling in the U.S. and how gaming is being revolutionized by hand-held and mobile technology. For our own crop of hand-held games and slot banks, check out ShopLVA.com, where you can find an array of fun holiday gift ideas and stocking-stuffers for video poker, blackjack, poker, and slot enthusiasts.
Las Vegas' most historic hotel-casino, the Golden Gate, recently took on the largest roulette bet in history for the "Make a Million" episode of MTV's The Buried Life, which airs at 10 p.m. tonight. Tune in to see who won...
"Fox 5 News" reports how Las Vegas now leads every U.S. city in AAA Five Diamond Award winners, with a total of ten properties qualifying statewide, following the entries of Aria and Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter. Other awardees include: Wynn Las Vegas, Encore, Palazzo, Venetian, Bellagio, Skylofts at MGM Grand, Four Seasons, and the Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas, which will soon reopen as a Dolce property.
Five Las Vegas Strip restaurants were also repeats on the Five Diamond list, including Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, Picasso at Bellagio, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand, Le Cirque at Bellagio, and Alex at Wynn Las Vegas. Four of these made the Top 10 list of "50 Essential Restaurants" in Eating Las Vegas.
Meet the city's top three food critics and get your copy of Eating Las Vegas autographed tonight at a 6 p.m. book signing at Unicahome (3901 W. Russell) this evening. Celebrity guests also in attendance will include Rick Moonen of RM Seafood, Kerry Simon of Simon, and Karrie and Kevin Wu of Ping Pang Pong.
Congrats to the off-Strip resort, which is a first-time recipient of the exclusive AAA Four Diamond Award for meeting all the required criteria established, including excellence in comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality.
From December 2-16 only, Wolfgang Puck's Trattoria del Lupo at Mandalay Bay will be serving a five-course Italian tasting menu for $55 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). In addition, locals will receive 20% off this special tasting menu (food only). Call 702/740-5522 to make a reservation.
Four-time Grammy-winning R&B group Boyz II Men will mark their first-ever extended engagement the Strip when they open at the Flamingo Las Vegas on Dec. 14 for a four-week seasonal run. Tickets start at $59 and are available online or at the Flamingo box office.
Tune in this week to catch popular TV show Live! With Regis and Kelly broadcasting from Las Vegas this week and featuring local headliners, including David Copperfield, Jersey Boys, Terry Fator, and Rod Stewart.
Primm Valley Casino Resorts will open a Denny's inside Buffalo Bill's next month, while additional renovations willo include remodeled guest rooms and an energy conservation program to install energy-efficient light bulbs to the property’s interior. Buffalo Bill’s will be closed Nov. 29–Dec. 23 while the project is completed; the concert series will continue as scheduled in The Star of the Desert Arena, however.
Less than two weeks after the Tropicana in Atlantic City suffered minor flood damage (see Today's News 11/15/2010), comes word that early Saturday morning the casino floor was evacuated for about 20 minutes due to a fire on the sixth floor of the hotel, which apparently started in an outdoor planter and burned through the exterior wall.
To mark Cyber Monday, Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah's Entertainment) is holding a 48-hour room-rate sale through strictly limited outlets, including LasVegasAdvisor.com; just click the link to check out the Caesars Cyber Monday Promo for exclusive room-rate deals at all of the group's Las Vegas hotels. Only thirty eight hours and twenty three minutes remain until these exclusive offers expire, so book now to take advantage of the deals!
Downtown's Streamline Towers, having sold only 27 of 275 units, is changing its approach and switching from a condominium complex to apartments. Streamline's rents will run from $1,000 to $2,400. Its name will also be changed to Ogden. Two other former condo towers owned by the same company -- Loft 5 and One Las Vegas -- will also switch to rental.
According to an article in today's LV Review-Journal, CityCenter has a problem with pedestrians passing by without going into the complex. Several reasons were cited, including the distance to Aria from the Strip sidewalk. However, Aria is about as far away from the street as Bellagio, which has never had a problem drawing a crowd.
You have until kick-off to get your three free entries into the Coast Casinos Pick the Pros contest today. You'll probably need a perfect card to cash, but you can get a lot of excitement out of this free-roll. Swipe your players card at a kiosk to submit your picks.
Early returns indicate that visitation this weekend will be about 270,000, a 3.4% increase over last year. The room-occupancy rate is still only 84%, however; a far cry from the days when holiday weekends hit percentages in the high 90s. The Las Vegas room count is currently quoted at 146,689.
Mention @lvstriptease Twitter at the Sahara box office for two-for-one tickets for the 10:30 performance of Striptease the Show.
The Palms is celebrating its new ad campaign -- "Palms Slots Pay Lots!" -- with random cash giveaways for machine players from 9 am to 9 pm today and tomorrow. There will be 180 winners each day. There's also complimentary cake and champagne from 2 to 4 pm today and tomorrow in The Lounge. This is the campaign based on LVA's comparison of the Palms return rates with Gaming Control reports for all Nevada reporting areas. The complete report is published in the December LVA.
The Mount Charleston Ski and Snowboard Resort is marking the opening of its 47th ski season today and has been making snow to augment natural snowfall this week, reports today's LV Sun. The ski-bus route has been expanded this year to include stops at the UNLV, Town Square, Santa Fe Station, and The Lodge at Tenaya.
The weigh-in for tomorrow night's Marquez vs. Katsidis fight at MGM Grand takes place at 2:30 p.m. in the lobby and the event is open to the public.
From 2-4 p.m. the cast of Luxor's topless revue Fantasy will be signing autographs at Cabo Wabo Cantina in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood
If you're following Anthony Curtis' weekly round-up of the Las Vegas football scene, including the best parties, contest updates, and more, the new update just went live in the "Articles" section on the home page at LVASports.com.
The Pussycat Dolls burlesque lounge that closed last February at Caesars Palace will reopen in the space that was formerly Prive at Planet Hollywood. The new nightclub in which the lounge will be housed will be called The Gallery.
Today's LV Review-Journal contains an interesting article on the "Bullpen," the former inmate-run casino at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City. The Bullpen operated for 35 years before being shut down in 1967. It was a legal enterprsise, sanctioned by the prison and allowed by the state.
The Vegas Valley bus system is running on a limited scheduled today and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, with a Sunday schedule operating today and a Saturday schedule Friday. For more information, visit the RTC website or call 702/228-7433.
The Palms is rolling out a big ad campaign today based on a Las Vegas Advisor study of its slot and video poker returns. Our study confirmed that the Palms return percentages are higher than the average of all Nevada reporting regions and George Maloof references it in the commercial. It's playing in Las Vegas during the football games.
Here's wishing everyone a good holiday. Special Thanksgiving meals are being served in all of the casinos, from the coffee shops to the high-end restaurants. It's also a big day in the sports books, with NFL games running all day.
It's traditionally a fairly quiet weekend, but that's only relative, this being Las Vegas, so there's still plenty to entertain you. Here are some of the highlights; check our Events listings for full coverage:
The Las Vegas Advisor/Huntington Press offices are now closed for Thanksgiving; we'll be open for business again at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 29.
The World Series of Poker has announced that two new stops will be added to the 2010-2011 WSOP Circuit schedule. These will be the final additions to the schedule and will take place in Florida at the Palm Beach Kennel Club and in Pennsylvania at Harrah's Chester.
For Fezzik's take on how easy it is to make money betting sports, check out the new Featured Thread at LVASports.com.
Select Discovery Club members will be mailed promotional gift cards, which can be swiped at the players club booth every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in December for the chance to win prizes including cash, free slot play, dining offers, and more. New Discovery Club signups will also receive one of the "Shop 'Til You Drop" gift cards. If you're an existing member but don't receive a card in the mail, you can pick one up at the Club -- you won't be eligible for free swipes but may earn one swipe on each day of the promotion. Check with the Club for more information.
The World Series of Poker has announced that two new stops will be added to the 2010-2011 WSOP Circuit schedule. These will be the final additions to the schedule and will take place in Florida at the Palm Beach Kennel Club and in Pennsylvania at Harrah's Chester.
If you want to own a piece of the Las Vegas Strip, now's your chance. The 1.36-acre plot that's currently home to the Diamond Inn Hotel is going to be sold via a sealed-bid auction. The land has 236 feet of frontage on Las Vegas Boulevard and has been approved by the FFA for buildable heights of 406 feet to 505 feet. Bids must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13.
The LVCVA is anticipating 270,000 visitors to the Las Vegas area this week, which would be 3.4 percent increase from last year, reports the LV Sun.
This holiday season N9NE Group is offering complimentary admission to all its nightlife venues to locals, teachers, military, fire, and police personnel throughout the month of December (excluding New Year’s Eve). Participating venues include Rain, Moon, ghostbar, and the Playboy Club, all of which are located at the Palms.
Las Vegas Advisor members: The December issue of your LVA newsletter is now posted online and available to read. In addition to the annual holiday room-rate round-up (great deals abound this year!) and list of seasonal show dark days, you'll find it packed with restaurant reviews, happy hour finds, details on who has the best video poker in town, and much more. Enjoy!
Looking for that perfect gift for the gambler in your life? Or the Vegas fan? Look no further than our 2010 Holiday Catalog, which is packed with money-saving bundles (great video poker deals), new releases, top gambling software (for PCs and Macs), fun hand-held casino games, and much more!
As anticipated in this column (see Today's News 11/16/2010), Harrah's Entertainment has now officially changed its name to Caesars Entertainment.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory starting at 3 p.m. today and lasting until midnight for Clark County and southern Nye County; a freeze watch will be also be in effect from Wednesday night to Friday morning, with some neighborhoods possibly experiencing temperatures in the 20s. .
Winds are expected to be gusting between 20 to 30 mph and with possible 50 mph gusts, while with temperatures in the 40s, this is expected to be one of the coldest Thanksgivings in recent years.
Today's LV Sun reports that Sunset Station is suing the city of Henderson over the city’s approval of the Roadhouse Casino's nonrestriced gaming license. The latter property has been closed for years, but opens once annually to maintain its license, which was granted before subsequent state legislation that requires a property with a nonrestricted gaming license to operate a hotel, too. In its lawsuit, Sunset Station claims that the owner of its potential competitor "never fully remodeled the Roadhouse and the Roadhouse never operated in the manner represented to the Henderson City Council."
The New Jersey state Legislature has unanimously passed a bill allowing for new "boutique" casinos. Current law requires hotel-casinos to have a minimum of 500 rooms, but under the bill small-scale properties with no more than 20,000 square feet of gaming-floor space and a minimum of 200 rooms would be permitted. A Hard Rock-branded property may be the first new casino to open in Atlantic City since the Borgata debuted in 2003.
It's been a good-news week for Las Vegas' international airport. Not only are passenger figures up, but McCarran's been named among the world's top 10 most stunning aerial approaches in a list published today. "The aerial approach to Las Vegas is a truly spectacular one, offering the contrast of desert with a sudden metropolis, unrivalled for sheer size and glamour – even in daylight (though it’s even more dramatic at night),' travel website PrivateFly.com stated. Switzerland's Sion Airport topped the list; located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, its approach offers stunning views through the Rhone Valley.
Gossip columnist extraordinaire Robin Leach reports that tonight's scheduled opening of mysterious "steampunk" time-travel show Triumph at the Las Vegas Hilton has been postponed for 48 hours for technical reasons. We'll keep you posted.
Low-cost airline Allegiant is offering a special $14.99 introductory fare for its new service between Las Vegas and Long Beach. Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 27, 2010, for travel completed by Feb. 16, 2011 and certain exclusions apply. Click this link for more information and to make reservations.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has given the stalled Philadelphia casino project one last reprieve, saying the investor group behind Foxwoods has until Dec. 10 to deliver evidence that its deal to turn over control to Harrah's is finalized. The decision over whether to revoke the project's license, which was originally awarded four years ago, will be made at the board's next meeting on Dec. 16.
The Carson Nugget casino in Carson City has sold its collection of 170 gold specimens, in nugget and crystalline form, to an anonymous buyer. The collection's been on public display since the 1950s.
The Palace Station Oyster Bar is now open 24/7. Along the lines of Station's return to its company-owned coffee shops, the move to expanded hours is contrary to the cost-cutting business strategies implemented by casinos over the past few years.
Station Casinos is bringing back the Grand Cafe coffee shops at five properties, replacing the Coco's restaurants that originally replaced them. The first Grand Cafe will open on Dec. 27 at Palace Station, followed by Sunset Station in mid-January, then Boulder, Santa Fe, and Texas Stations by next summer.
Air traffic at McCarran International Airport was up 2% in October. It was the first increase in 10 months and only the third in the last three years. The result is the latest to suggest that the travel economy is improving.
On page two in Section B of today's LV Review-Journal, there's a coupon for a free pint of beer at Big Dog's. Since a pint costs $4 and the paper is $3, you can save a dollar by making the play.
Don't forget to get your three free Pick the Pros entries today. Swipe your players card at any Coast casino for a fun free-roll for up to $30,000. You have until this moring's first NFL kick-off.
The Palms is having a viewing party tonight. Admission is $25. There's also a party tonight in The Sporting House at New York-New York. Admission is $50 and includes a buffet. In the two big matches, Machida is a 2-1 favorite over Jackson and Penn is a 3-2 favorite over Hughes.
Station and Fiesta sports books sell $1 hot dogs and beers Saturday through Monday during the football games, but some are better than others. The best is at Palace Station, where you can top your dog with kraut and onions at no extra charge (most are limited to mustard, ketchup, and relish).
Ellis Island's holiday egg nog is now available. This is the eighth straight year that the nog has been mixed and sold from the bar at the casino (contains alcohol). The price is the same price as last year: $6 per glass and $29.95 per bottle.
NBC's "Minute to Win It" competition series, hosted by Guy Fieri, will be holding a casting call on Nov. 20th at Diablo's Cantina inside the Monte Carlo from noon to 4 p.m.
Three Las Vegas restaurants rank among the "Top 10 Best" in the U.S., according to gayot.com. The authors of our new Eating Las Vegas guide concur: Alex, Joël Robuchon, and Restaurant Guy Savoy are all included in their Top 10 among the "50 essential" restaurants in town, too.
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it is not pursuing its planned IPO at this time due to market conditions.
Hit any qualifying royal flush today at M Resort and win up to $5,000 in freeplay. Click this link for details and official rules.
Catch Anthony Curtis' latest weekly round-up of the NFL and sports-betting scene in Las Vegas at LVASports.com.
The latest controversy in what's been a turbulent year for the Las Vegas nightlife scene, comes in the shape of a lawsuit betweeen Cy and Jesse Waits (the former being the ex-Wynn nightclub impresario and boyfriend of Paris Hilton, the couple already having had their share of notoriety), who are suing long-time Vegas nightclub owner Victor Drai, claiming he didn't pay their share of profits on Tryst, XS, and other venues from which they were contractually owed a cut of the profits, reports DailyFiasco.com.
The Forum Shops at Caesars will be open during normal business hours this holiday season and all restaurants and shops will keep doors open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, it's been announced.
This Saturday, Nov. 20, Playboy will officially open its newest Playboy Club on the top floor of the Sands Macao.
Skylofts at MGM Grand, Tower Suites at Encore, and Tower Suites at Wynn have all received the five-star top rating from Forbes magazine's 2011 Travel Guide. Bellagio, Encore, Four Seasons, M Resort, Mandarin Oriental, Palazzo, the Signature at MGM Grand, Venetian, and Wynn all received four-star ratings.
Gossip columnist Robin Leach, who MC'd the launch party, gives a sneak peak at the "50 Essential Restaurants" as chosen by the authors of Eating Las Vegas, in his Luxe Life blog; the book is now available from select Borders and Barnes & Nobles, at amazon.com, and at ShopLVA.com (click the "Eating" link above).
This evening sees the official launch party for our much anticipated new restaurant guide, Eating Las Vegas, after which we'll finally be able to reveal which eateries made the esteemed "50 Essential Restaurants" list, as unaimously voted by the city's top three food critics.
In addition to being able to purchase from our online store, or in person, from tomorrow onwards, from the Huntington Press offices, Eating Las Vegas is also available from select Barnes & Nobles and Borders locally, and from amazon.com (ignore their current shipping information, stating that it ships in four to six weeks; they have the book in-house, just are sometimes slow to update their Web listings).
Clark County commissioners today unanimously approved Wayne Newton's proposal to shuttle guests out for tours of his ranch and to build an entertainment complex featuring a museum and movie theater, despite the objections of his neighbors. The entertainer still has to submit plans for county approval.
Starting today, Blue Man Group Las Vegas introduces the official @BMGVegas "Tweet Spot" -- a distinctive mat in the lobby of the theater where Twitter users are invited share their thoughts and experiences of the show.
Cirque du Soleil is holding a sweepstakes for the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Montreal to see the premiere of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Click this link for details.
The Palms, in conjunction with the Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards, is offering a special two-for-one ticket offer to locals, students, and military personnel for the Dec. 1 awards show. Tickets will also allow fans to party with celebrities at the official after-party hosted by Arianny Celeste inside the Playboy Club. Show your ID at the Palms Box Office to receive the offer on any priced ticket or use the code "LOCAL" if purchasing over the phone or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Paul Berry, VP of hotel operations for Aria, described CityCenter as "largest sustainable development ever constructed" at G2E Tuesday, reports today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, and observed that sustainability is becoming increasingly important to guests.
Click for our unique Green Guide to Vegas in the Las Vegas Visitor Guide and follow @GreenVegas on Twitter for the latest "green" news and updates on eco-friendly initiatives in and around Las Vegs.
Tonight at midnight our current LVA Reader Poll about what kinds of Las Vegas offers and deals most appeal to you expires, so get your vote in now if you haven't already. Please note that this poll isn't about our Member Rewards Book, the contents of which we're negotiating right now (you know it's going to be full of great dining, entertainment, and gambling offers); this poll is about our new program that's focused on finding the best hotel and show deals in Las Vegas, plus airline offers and other discounts that interest our readers and members.
Cabo Wabo Cantina just got back to us and confirmed that yes, if you can guzzle down the new "Can't Drive 55" Dollar Nacho appetizer all by yourself in under 55 minutes, it's definitely on the house. This is as it should be, but yeah, good luck with that...
Morgans, owners of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, have filed a counterclaim saying that say a federal lawsuit filed by the Hard Rock Cafe chain over their shared name is damaging their business in Nevada and other states. The hotel chain, meanwhile, maintains that the cable reality show "Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel" on truTV portrays the hotel-casino as a haven of debauchery and criminal behavior.
In a totally separate case, Robin Leach reports that following his departure from his partnership in Feelgood's Rock Club on W. Sahara, Vince Neil has now won the rights to the Feelgood's name, logo, and any likeness of him from the club. Right now he's focusing on opening a new venue in L.A., but apparently plans to start a new Feelgood's in Las Vegas once he's back in town.
Today marked the kickoff of the 2010 G2E Global Gaming Conference and Expo, which runs through November 18 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The event's taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center -- follow LVA Stiffs & Georges blogger David McKee (also available via @StiffsGeorges on Twitter) for live updates from the event.
As of today, Steakhouse46 at the Flamingo is closed. No word as yet on what will take its place.
This Saturday, Nov. 20 sees the $10,000 Handicapping Contest at Boyd's Las Vegas properties, with drink specials by Corona and Jack Daniels, featuring five races, including the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot. The entry fee's $20, with a top prize of $5,000. Click this link for more details.
Following MGM Mirage's recent moniker alteration to MGM Resorts International comes word that in addition to its upcoming IPO this month, Harrah's Entertainment is planning to change its corporate name to Caesars Entertainment, which was the name of the company Harrah's purchased back in 2005, which was formerly Park Place Entertainment (are you following?)
Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Catina at Planet Hollywood has introduced the "I Can’t Drive 55" Dollar Nachos, a colossal appetizer piled high with 20 toppings, including chipotle sauce, queso, mixed cheese, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, poblano peppers, pickled and fresh jalapenos, taco meat, carnitas, fajita chicken, carne asada, shrimp, sour cream, salsa, guacamole and pico de gallo. It's available on request for $55, but if you can finish the eight-pound dish solo in less than 55 minutes, you'll be inducted into Sammy Hagar’s Macho Nacho Hall of Fame and receive a complimentary Cabo Wabo T-shirt. From the press release we received, it doesn't sound like the meal is comped though, which is not the usual protocol for eating challenges -- from the "Bomb" Burrito at Sahara's NASCAR Cafe to the "Ulitimate Steak Challenge" at Brand, everyone else in town rewards victorious munchers with their meal on the house (see Question of the Day 07/24/2009).
What is currently perhaps the world's most expensive billboard ever faces an increasingly uncertain future. The Harmon, originally slated to be a 47-story hotel and condominium tower, remains the one incomplete element of CityCenter and may, in fact, eventually be imploded, pending the result of a court case scheduled for October 2012 between joint-owners MRI and Dubai World and contractors Perini. Among other issues, the litigation revolves around inspectors' 2008 finding that structural work on the Harmon did not match building plans submitted to the county and featured improperly placed rebar.
While MRI spokesman Alan Feldman said recently in a statement that any talk of imploding the Harmon was premature until the court makes a ruling, CityCenter CEO Bobby Baldwin acknowledged in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the property has become "the poster child for nonconforming work worldwide" and that the "most sophisticated of all the architects (famed Brit. Sir Norman Foster, who designed the Harmon) ended up being involved in a building that was our biggest disappointment."
The New Jersey Senate's budget committee cleared a bill on Monday that will set the stage to legalize the playing of online casino games within the state, both on home computers and possibly in designated rooms at casinos and racetracks. If the bill passes, New Jersey would become the first U.S. state to legalize online gambling.
We just learned via the Twitter account of Las Vegas entertainment columnist John Katsilometes that Las Vegas performer and producer of the long-running topless revue Bottoms Up, Breck Wall (born Billy Ray Wilson) has passed. As an interesting aside, Wall testified before the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy on August 5, 1964 because of a business relationship he had with Dallas club-owner Jack Ruby, prior to Ruby's assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Popular Australian comedy trio Axis of Awesome will perform a duo of free shows inside The Lounge at the Palms over Thanksgiving weekend on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27 at 10 p.m., while Playboy Comedy is dark. Both nights are free to the public (must be 21+).
Further to news of the launch of a new marketing initiative from Atlantic City's principal casinos (see Today's News October 22, 2010 re the Atlantic City Alliance), comes a report in today's USA Today that the beleagured East Coast gambling city has bigger plans to rehabilitate an image that's been damaged by the effects of the economy and increased competition from its neighbors.
Planned improvements include: bills to deregulate the casinos to free up money to spend elsewhere; the establishment establish an elite police force to patrol the boardwalk; an increase in airport, rail, and ferry options; and new attractions including a feature water-sports and extreme-sports feature.
We just learned via @LuxorLV's Twitter that "CSI" is filming on property right now. We're not sure where exactly, but just look for the movie trucks...
Desert Inn will be closed between Valley View and Paradise from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly this week will crews remove a portion of the road's barrier at Las Vegas Blvd., reports the LV Sun. It's part of an ongoing project to expand the existing DI tunnel under the Strip. The work's expected to be complete sometime next summer.
Forbes magazine has named the Las Vegas-based cut-price airline one of America's "100 Best Small Companies," for its remarkable sales and earnings growth. In spite of the general economic malaise, which has hit Las Vegas particularly hard, Allegiant's business model has enabled it to remain profitable for 31 consecutive quarters.
While a Las Vegas casino suffered minor fire damage over the weekend (see previous item), the Tropicana in Atlantic City was the victim of a minor flood when workers accidentally broke a sprinkler head in one of the bedrooms. Apparently, five rooms suffered major water damage, but the effects did not extend beyond those rooms and no other disruption was caused to casino operations.
There was a small fire at Terrible's at around 6 p.m. yesterday evening, which started in an escalator and spread through a wall up to the second floor. The casino was evacuated as a precaution, but we understand that Clark County Fire Department was able to extinguish the blaze in under half an hour.
Tough times continue for the restaurants at the Town Square shopping district. The Grape restaurant and wine bar is the latest to close its doors.
Cantor Gaming will build and operate the sports book at the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The casino will open December 15; however, the sports book is not expected to be operating until some time in the first quarter of 2011. This will put Cantor in charge of the books at Cosmo, M Resort, Hard Rock, and Tropicana.
Publisher, Sherman Frederick, and senior editor, Thomas Mitchell, have stepped down from their rolls at the LV Review-Journal. Both were in their respective positions for nearly 20 years. The new publisher is Bob Brown. Both Frederick and Mitchell are expected to remain on the R-J staff.
The annual holiday Festival of Lights display at the Lakes (intersection of Lake East Dr. and Lake Sahara Dr.) is asking for volunteers to help put the decorations up today from 9 a.m. Hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins will be served, compliments of the Myers' Mini Market at the Lakes.
Saturdays and Sundays throughout November, Springs Preserve is hosting the "Wings Over the Springs" live raptor shows, free with general admission. The events take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and let visitors get up-close and personal with hawk eagles, falcons, owls, and more during free-flight presentations.
The Golden Nugget downtown will be screening tonight's much anticipated fight throughout the casino for free tonight. Broadcast begins at 6 p.m.
The El Cortez continues to support the downtown arts scene by hosting Art on the Parkway at the Jackie Gaughan Parkway from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today and tomorrow, featuring artisans selling jewelery, pottery, paintings, and sculptures. Free parking's available via the El Cortez valet or the parking deck on 7th Street.
Book for yourself or a friend by Wednesday, November 17 and save 70% on rooms at various Station Casino properties for stays between November 8 and December 23 (excluding Thanksgiving Weekend). Click the link for more information and to book.
For the current best savings on other rooms, check out our Las Vegas deal codes.
Following in the wake of the half-price happy hour on Monday at Rare 120° (look out for our review in the upcoming December issue of the LVA newsletter), and yesterday's announcement of new graveyard specials at Mr Lucky's, comes word of a new $19.99 all-you-can-eat-tapas offer from Johnny Smalls in the new Hard Rock Hotel Towers.
Check out the Travel section of today's USA Today for an article about "Tourists Gone Wild" in Vegas, for which Anthony Curtis and Las Vegas Advisor acted as a source. Check out tips on "Ten Decadent Things to Do" (this was a fun one to help with!)
The Fremont Street Experience downtown is hosting a free concert series by Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner, tonight and tomorrow at 9 p.m. on the 3rd Street.
We reported yesterday that Bellagio is to introduce a resort fee, but that Vdara and Aria remained the last two MRI properties in town that do not, which was the case last time we conducted a major survey of resort fees back in July. Now it transpires that Vdara has since introduced a nightly resort fee of $15, which covers in-room WiFi access, two bottles of water, access to the fitness room, a daily newspaper, and nightly turndown service. And Aria is to follow suit December 6 with a $20 daily fee, which will cover property-wide WiFi access, access to the fitness center, and two cocktails at any hotel bar.
There's a winner already in the college portion of Station Casino's "Last Man Standing" contest and it's a woman. Playing under the name "Ms./Mrs. Football," the lady whupped the guys to take the whole pot of $38,375. A Station blogger wrote, "We may have to rename this contest." On the Pro side, five players remain.
For more on the latest football-contest news, Monday Night Football parties, the pros' thoughts on the upcoming Pacquiao vs. Margarito fight, and more, visit LVASports.com, where you can find a new Las Vegas Football Update by Anthony Curtis and a new free Featured Thread from the LVASports message boards.
Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, in conjunction with Primm Valley Resorts, is hosting a Midnight Madness Thanksgiving shopping frenzy with all-night sales from 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26, featuring big deals and savings at the outlet stores and the chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree. The first 50 people to book rooms at Primm Valley will receive a free room, while complimentary shuttle busses will be available from MGM Grand and South Point. For more information, visit fashionoutlets.com.
Beginning this Friday, Nov. 12 Mr Lucky's, the coffee shop at the Hard Rock and home of the famous off-menu $7.77 "Gambler's Special," is rolling out a bunch of new menu items, including two graveyard specials, available from midnight to 6 a.m. daily. New York Steak & Eggs, complete with an 8 oz NY Steak, two eggs, hash browns, and toast, will be $4.99, while a burger and French fries will be just $3.99. Other new menu items include the Hangover Burger (topped with a fried egg, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo), for $12.99 and a Black & Blue Steak Sandwich featuring blackened flat iron steak, crumbled blue cheese, and balsamic onions, served on a potato roll ($12.55).
Following extended runs at New York-New York and Harrah's, the comedienne who's been headlining in Las Vegas for a decade will be on the move once more in January, for a new six-month stint at the Venetian, after which she'll likely be moving to California to pursue other projects. Rita Rudner's last night performing at Harrah's will be January 1, 2011; she's due to open at the Venetian January 12.
Robert F. Griffin took over Wednesday as the new CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City and his first move was to lay off about 50 managers at its three casinos there. Other top Trump executives had already been terminated prior to yesterday's wave of layoffs deeper in the management ranks. "It’s just pure economics," said Griffin in an interview with The Press of Atlantic City, and indicated these would not be the last of the labor cuts. "The revenue in Atlantic City continues to decline and we have to change our structure in this environment to be competitive."
Today's LV Sun reports that Bellagio plans to roll out resort fees, commencing in January of next year. No word yet on what the fee will be, but we're guessing it will at least match the $15/night fee that applies at MRI's other higher-end properties in town. The majority of the company's Las Vegas properties now charge a resort fee, with the lowest applying at Excalibur ($9.95/night); the only exceptions are Aria and Vdara, which currently don't.
For our report on the subject of this much-disliked hotel add-on, and a comprehensive list of which properties do and don't, and how much those that do charge, check out the July, 2010 issue of the LVA newsletter (members only).
Spirit Airlines will resume flights between Atlantic City International Airport and McCarran, which operated from May 2007 till January 2008, commencing May 5, 2011. The Florida-based carrier blamed escalating fuel costs for discontinuing the only direct flights between the two gambling cities.
The carrier today began new flights from McCarran International Airport to Chicago's O'Hare and plans to launch two daily flights between Las Vegas and Dallas on the same day as the Atlantic City route.
It's a musical weekend in Las Vegas, with some big names appearing all over town; check it out:
It's just come to our attention that our Member Rewards Online coupons (MROs), including the current LVA exclusive deal for $100 free play at Terrible's, do NOT print in Chrome or in Safari for PC (they're OK on Macs), so if you're experiencing difficulties, please switch to another browswer to print -- IE 7&8, Firefox3.x (PC, LINUX), Opera (PC, OSX) and Safari (OSX) are all fine. If you're unable to run one of these browsers, please call by our building during regular office hours and we'll happily print your coupon(s) for you. Sorry for the incovenience, but this issue is beyond our control.
Thanks to all our troops, past and present. They're expecting 40,000 spectators for the parade downtown, which sets off at 10 a.m. on Fourth Street. For a list of all the other special events and offers around town, check out our Spotlight on feature.
The gambling revenue from Atlantic City's 11 casinos continues to fall, with a 12 percent plummet in October that continued a three-year decline. Table-game proceeds were especially hard-hit, tumbling 17 percent in the light of new competition from Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
It seems Las Vegas -- and casinos in general -- are finally getting recognition for their culinary arts, shaking off the image of the all-you-can-eat buffet and steak-and-eggs late-night special. The newest offering to hit the shelves is a cookbook from Harrah's Entertainment, featuring accessible recipes from their chefs across the nation -- you can read more about the Seven Seas Cookbook and preview some recipes in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Meanwhile, if you're looking to try your hand at something a little more exotic than muffins or mac & cheese, check out our own title, Reservations Required, which features 52 gourmet recipes from some of the city's top restaurants. And, of course, this Nov. 17 sees the unveiling of our much-anticipated Eating Las Vegas guide, when the city's "50 essential restaurants" will be unveiled at an exclusive launch, hosted by none other than French maestro Joël Robuchon. The book is currently availble for pre-order and will begin shipping after the event, in plenty time for the holidays.
According to the latest figures released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Gaming Control Board, things continue to look up for Las Vegas, not before time. The monthly report from the LVCVA indicates the number of visitors rose 2 percent last month on the previous year, and average daily room rates rose 6.7 percent, although occupancy was down slightly, due to an increase in room inventory.
Similarly, gaming revenues statewide grew for the second straight month in September, with a 2.8 percent jump for the Strip and 3.6 percent hike for Boulder Highway; properties downtown and in North Las Vegas did not fare so well, experiencing 4 percent and 7 percent declines, respectively.
The only continued dark spot is the real estate market, where home sales dropped 26.5 percent in October from a year ago and inventory climbed 7.5 percent. To take advantage of the best deals on the market right now, check out LVA's Top Ten Real Estate Values, which are updated in real time.
Commencing June 1, 2011, British Airways will begin offering a first class option on non-stop flights to Las Vegas from London Heathrow, increasing capacity by 18%. A four-class Boeing 747 will be deployed on the route, replacing the three-class 777 that has been used to operate the non-stop daily flights since last year.
With no fanfare (or even any word at all, that we were aware of), the Tropicana imploded its oldest hotel tower in the wee hours this morning, making way for a new entrance to accommodate Nikki Beach. You can see a video of the implosion at the Las Vegas Sun website.
Channel 8 reports that the U.S. 95 south near Las Vegas Blvd. is currently closed to traffic and will likely remain so until 1 p.m., while crews clean up rock and debris from an overturned truck. NHP is diverting traffic onto Las Vegas Blvd.
More than 40,000 spectators are expected to turn out for the annual Veteran's Day Parade downtown, one of the largest such events in the country. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. along Fourth Street. For a round-up of the other events and special offers for the military, check out our Spotlight on... feature.
Tonight sees the finals of the six-week long MXB flair bartending contest at Rock & Rita's at Circus Circus at 8 p.m.
It's just been announced that island-themed Tommy Bahama's Restaurant & Bar at Town Square has added a new collection featuring more than 150 rums from around the world -- the largest collection anywhere in Las Vegas.
No sooner had we gone to press with the November issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, than we received word that a long-standing Top Ten Value, that's currently in the #2 spot, has had its price upped by a dollar. Yep, the much-loved Ellis Island Steak Dinner special is now $7.99 and, hence, will be replaced in the December Top Ten. It's still a decent deal at that price, but we can't keep it in the Top Ten.
See what the experts over at LVASports.com have to say about the upcoming Pacquiao vs. Margarito fight in the latest free featured Thread of the Week, courtesy of the sports brains on the LVASportsboards.
Angel Management Group has announced that it will be debuting Las Vegas first "supperclub" this New Year's Eve. XOXO will apparently be a "high-energy indoor/outdoor restaurant and lounge" offering that will morph into a nightclub once the plates are cleared. No word yet on where the new venue will be located.
"Art & Wine: A Perfect Pairing," is a new event that takes place on the second Wednesday of the month at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art and will feature master sommelier Jason Smith pairing wines (and other beverages, including tequila and even beer), with artworks featured in the current exhibition "Figuratively Speaking: A Survey of the Human Form." The events will run from 5 to 7 p.m. and tickets are are $25 for members and $33 for non-members.
Tickets will go on sale November 13 for the next series of Garth Brooks dates at Encore, and, citing an overwhelming demand for seats, Steve Wynn today Tuesday announced that tickets will have a base price of $225 ($253 with taxes and fees), a $100 increase from the previous cost. Brooks had originally wanted tickets to be priced at $25, saying that's what his fans were used to paying.
Scheduled to commence early 2011, Southwest Airlines will be adding a one-stop route between South Carolina's Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Las Vegas. Chicago Midway will be the midpoint airport.
We've been receiving reports from a number of readers this week, in the main AOL users, that the daily Question of the Day email is suddenly not being delivered. Those emails are definitely leaving here and are not being returned to our servers, so the problem lies with AOL and is beyond our control. If you're one of those affected, first check your spam folder to see if AOL's suddenly decided this is spam; if so, if you indicate that it's not spam, AOL should learn this after a couple of days and stop sending the message to that folder. If, on the other hand, it's not being delivered at all, this means it's being blocked by AOL and you'll need to contact their tech support and inform them that mail from [email protected] is important to you and that you'd like it delivered once more.
Today's Las Vegas Sun reports that N9NE Group's Michael Morton has won the first round in the increasingly acrimonious dispute that's arisen between his nightlife company and the Palms, where it operates several nightclub and restaurant venues. A state judge on Monday rejected a request by N9NE Group investors and the Palms hotel-casino to remove Morton as manager of the company, although Palms owner George Maloof and N9NE Group investors who are unhappy with how the relationship between the two parties has been playing out, will have another shot at removing Morton at a preliminary injunction hearing set for January. Click the link for more details on this story.
Three years after voting for union representation, dealers at Wynn have finally and overwhelmingly approved the resort's first labor contract, reports the Las Vegas Business Press. "It's unfortunate that it took so long," said Joseph Carbon, gaming division director with Transport Workers Union Local 721. "It's not everything we wanted, but we can live with it and build upon what we have accomplished."
Thanks to nerdlocker.com for contacting us to let us know the story they posted about a possible James Cameraon/Cirque du Soleil collaboration, which we posted in Today's News Monday, turned out to be false.
Here's your warning: Don't read this if you want to watch the finals tonight on ESPN. The new World Champion of Poker is Jonathon Duhamel, who's huge chip lead going into heads-up play held up against runner-up John Racener. The final two played just 43 hands. On the final hand, Duhamel had AsJh against Racener's Kd8d. The final board of 9s4d4c 6c 5c left Duhamel with the ace kicker to win it and the $8,944,310 first prize. Racener took home $5,545,955.
It was announced today in a regulatory filing that Wynn Las Vegas President Andrew Pascal will be resigning from his position, to be replaced December 1 by Harrah's Entertainment Regional President Marilyn Winn, who's currently president of Bally’s, Paris, and Planet Hollywood. Pascal had filled the position since 2005, while Winn has been with Harrah's for 22 years, reports the Las Vegas Sun.
For the second year in succession, professional eater Joey "Jaws" Chestnut was victorious in the annual Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating Championship, beating out 12 other contenders on Sunday. The No. 1-ranked eater in the world ate 43 2-ounce meatballs in 10 minutes, earning himself $1,500 and a monogram "M" necklace courtesy of Steve Martorano.
Dolce hotels has begun hiring for is Lake Las Vegas property, the former Ritz-Carlton resort, which it plans to reopen in the first quarter of 2011. Click the link for the career listings on their website, which include positions in management, food and beverage, customer service, and engineering.
Following the trend of big-name DJ residencies, including Paul Oakenfold at the Palms and Tiesto at the Hard Rock, comes word that "King of Crunk" Lil Jon will be taking over the turntables at Encore's Surrender Nightclub for a monthly engagement commencing Wednesday, November 24.
The second seasion of TLC's "Fabulous Cakes" will be featuring long-time Las Vegas favorite Freed's Bakery on Monday, November 22nd. The show airs at 10 p.m. ET. For the lowdown on all the best desserts in town, check out Eating Las Vegas, available from ShopLVA.com with an exclusive 25%-off publisher's discount.
We just learned from Nerdlocker.com that Avatar director James Cameron is currently touring the facilities at KÁ at MGM Grand and is working on a "super-secret project" with Cirque du Soleil. That's all we have right now, but we'll keep you posted if/when we hear more...
We were just alerted to a new coupon from Shuck's Tavern: Now through December 31, get a half-dozen free oysters with a $20 food purchase.
Gossip blogger Perez Hilton is reporting that country superstar Shania Twain is "very close to signing a deal" to headline her own show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where she'd rotate with other headliners, including Celine Dion and Cher. Watch this space for updates.
Today's LV Review-Journal contains an interesting interview with Vincent Magliullo, who ran the sports books at Caesars Palace and the Wynn, and now works for Las Vegas Dissemination Co., which transmits horse-racing information to casinos. Magliullo says he got the job at Wynn Las Vegas by telling Steve Wynn that he needed "a bookie named Vinny from Brooklyn."
Las Vegas' Metro Pizza was the Nevada pick in USA Today's list of "51 Great Pizza Parlors." No arguments; Metro is one of our favorites, too.
The WSOP Final Table isn't the only contest taking place at the Rio this weekend. Today at noon Martorano's will host its second annual Masters Meatball Eating Championship, featuring a group of amateur and top-ranked Major League Eaters, including Joey "Jaws" Chestnut. The 10-minute Major League Eating-sanctioned contest is free to the public to attend. The winner will receive $1,500 cash and a monogram "M" necklace courtesy of Steve Martorano.
Jonathan Duhamel has a commanding lead over John Racener going into play of the final two in the World Series of Poker Main Event. Get the details at LVASports.com.
Zenyatta came from 20 lengths back but couldn't overtake Blame and was second by a head in the Breeder's Cup. It was the philly's first loss in her 20th and final race.
The big favorite in today's Breeder's Cup Classic is super-horse Zenyatta at 4-5. The second choice is Look In At Lucky at 4-1. Due to the amount of money backing the favorites, every other horse in the race will likely go off at odds higher than they've ever carried before.
Las Vegas' biggest annual literary event runs through this weekend, and as a part of it Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien will be hosting a panel discussion at 1:45 p.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School (401 S. Fourth Street) and signing copies of My Week at the Blue Angel and Beneath the Neon from roughly 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. Copies of the books will be available for purchase at the event, or you can order online from ShopLVA.com.
The so-called "November Nine" finalists meet today in the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio for the Final Table of the 2010 WSOP Main Event. Action resumes at noon, with $29 million in the pot. The event, which will extend into Sunday, is free to attend, but seating is limited, so get there well in advance to avoid disappointment. You can follow the live action at WSOP.com and ESPN3 will televise a 5-minute delayed stream of all the action. We'll also be posting updates at LVAPoker.com. It's the youngest-ever Final Table, with eight of the nine players aged under 30.
The Irish party bar inside the Rio is celebrating Daylight Savings by adding an extra hour to their open bar tonight, which will run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. It's $10 for ladies and $20 for men; get drinks for $3 from 1 a.m. to close with purchase of open bar.
This evening through Sunday, Las Vegas welcomes the Food & Wine All-Star Weekend, hosted by various venues at Bellagio and Aria. The events, which commence with a kickoff party at Bar Vdara at 8 p.m. tonight, feature celebrity chefs, DJs, blackjack, and more. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
The new Wolf Theater at the Clarion (formerly the Greek Isles), is set to open November 13. So far, three acts have been announced for the new showroom, including Larry G. Jones, Naughty Boys Hypnosis, and comedian TanyaLee Davis.
As of today, guests of Harrah’s Entertainment Las Vegas resorts can receive exclusive dining and entertainment specials by showing their phone at the Total Rewards counter after checking in with Facebook Places, a new aspect of the social networking site that gives people the ability to share their location with friends and find those who are nearby. Facebook Deals is a dimension of the new program, also currently being beta tested by the Palms, that enables users to find offers from local businesses and organizations.
This December, i?burgers will join the ever-growing ranks of gourmet burger restaurants in Las Vegas, with the debut of its first location at The Shoppes at the Palazzo. In addition to specialty and build-your-own burger options, the menu will also feature the largest fry menu in Las Vegas, with options including truffle-butter tossed fried Yukon Gold potatoes; London-style chips; and baked potato fries.
The new Siegel's Club players card is celebrating its launch today at the Gold Spike, with cake and champagne all night and complimentary appetizers from 5-7 p.m. They're also giving away $1,000 in free play, with one $50 winner every half-hour. Sign up for the club and earn 10 points to receive $10 in free play.
Station Casinos is giving away $1.8 million in the "Lightning Fast Cash Giveaway" now through November 27. From 6-8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, $500 will be given away every five minutes at every Station and Fiesta property. Plus, swipe your Boarding Pass card at any kiosk for entry into a drawing at 8:15 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, with a $25,000 winner each night. All weekly entries are eligible for the $250,000 "Strike it Rich" bonus on Saturday, Nov. 27, with a top prize of $100,000.
This Sunday, Nov. 7, the Rio will host Vince Neil's 6th Annual "Off The Strip Poker Tournament" to benefit the Skylar Neil Foundation. The buy-in's $550 and registratrion begins Friday, Nov. 5 at the main casino cage. First place receives $6,000 and a seat at the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Anthony Curtis just posted his latest round-up of the Las Vegas football scene, from the best books to the worst Monday Night Football parties; check it out at LVASports.com.
Here are some of this weekend's highlights:
MRI completed the sale of the land beneath the Borgata in Atlantic City today. The 11.3 acres will net proceeds of $71 million. This sale is to Vornado Realty Trust and Geyser Holdings and is separate from the pending sale of MRI's 50 percent stake in the resort-casino to Leonard Green & Partners.
Former MLB pitcher Don Larsen is signing autographs at Field of Dreams in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace today until 4 p.m.
Metro is currently investigating a suspicious suitcase found at the DMV on E. Sahara and some streets have been closed in the vicinity of Sahara and Eastern. (This item posted at 11:57 a.m.)
Now through December 30, locals receive 25% off their total check at Verandah in the Four Seasons, for dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Please call ahead for additional details and to confirm offer: 702/632-5000. (This item comes courtesy of SaveLV.com)
Season three of Food Network's "The Next Iron Chef" will feature Aria and other elements of CityCenter. Filmed last summer, the show will feature some of Vegas' most renowned chefs and newest eateries in episodes scheduled to air Sunday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 14.
Today's LV Sun reports that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is $1.3 billion in debt, following a $750 million expansion earlier this year that added 865 new rooms that the property is having trouble filling. We can confirm that when we last walked through the new tower, which is beautiful, it was practically deserted, with dealers stuck behind empty tables and no one at the bars or restaurants.
It's been a turbulent year for the Rock, with the suicide of President and COO Andrew "Randy" Kwasniewski back in March (no word on whether the property's financial troubles were a factor) and the October drowning of an intoxicated reveler at the Rehab pool party.
It's been a rough day for the current Reader Poll, which has experienced strange and prolonged technical issues today, disappearing altogether at one point. It's now been restored to its rightful position and will be live for the next two weeks. The subject is an important one for us in helping to determine future LVA discount programs, so we'd greatly appreciate it if as many people as possible could make the time to take part and share their thoughts and desires with us. Cheers!
The Las Vegas outpost of Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina has just announced via Twitter (@CaboWaboLV) that the Red Rocker himself will be returning to rock the joint sometime next week -- we'll update you when we know when. We caught his grand opening performance and it was a blast, so get there if you can.
Poor Taste magazine has ranked Hash House A Go Go #31 on a list of the 100 Greatest Cult Restaurants in America. For some of Las Vegas' other lesser known cult dining gems, check out our new Eating Las Vegas restaurant guide, due to ship next week.
It's just been announced that Fantasy, the topless revue at Luxor, has had its contract extended through 2011. The show recently underwent a revamp -- look out for our review in the next update of Topless Vegas, available with annual online update package for just $12.90.
While Fantasy's had an extension, it's also just been announced that Defending the Caveman will end its run at Excalibur on December 30, so take advantage of the twofer offer in the 2010 LVA Member Rewards Book while you still can.
Today only, Facebook fans and Twitter followers of Station Casinos can receive two tickets for the price of one to see comedian Greg Fitzsimmons at Sunset Station on Friday, Nov. 5 inside Club Madrid. Visit the Rewards Center at Sunset Station today before 10 p.m. and use the code word "COMEDY' to take advantage of this offer.
As promised, preliminary details about the new Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson show were released today. As Robin Leach reports in his Vegas Deluxe blog that Michael Jackson's Immortal will open at the Mandalay Bay Events Center with 60 stage performers Dec. 3-11, 2011. The show, which is being described as "a fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy," debuts in Montreal Oct. 2, and will be visiting Las Vegas as part of a world tour.
There was a technical problem with today's poll, which we hope has now been resolved; however, all votes cast prior to 9:30 a.m. have been lost, so if you voted already, please be kind enough to return to the current LVA Reader Poll and vote again. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
Between now and November 30, Blue Man Group is calling on its Twitter followers to help over a quarter of a million Southern Nevadans currently struggling with hunger. Every time throughout November that @BMGVegas is tagged in a Tweet, Blue Man Group will donate $1 (up to $1,500) to the Three Square food bank.
Today's your last chance to vote in our current LVA Reader Poll about what you'd like to see from one or more Las Vegas smartphone apps; we've got several ideas in the works and would love to hear yours. Tomorrow, a new poll goes live.
If you voted in today's election, remember to wear your "I Voted" sticker if you're out and about in Las Vegas this evening; there are happy hour food and drink specials in lots of bars and restaurants for anyone showing proof of having voted.
Matt O'Brien, author of Beneath the Neon and new title, My Week at the Blue Angel, will be a guest on KXNT 100.5 FM from 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.
Check out the latest posting at the LVASports.com "Sports & Poker News" feature, where there are details of an interesting free seminar this Friday.
Further to reports earlier this week that MRI is looking to refinance its CityCenter debt comes an in-depth feature in today's Wall Street Journal that reveals that the owners considered closing two of the hotels and Cirque's Viva Elvis! show as the project continued to lose money hand-over-fist this year, suffering a net loss of nearly $1 billion between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30.
Today's LV Sun reports that the Westin Casuarina is facing the threat of possible foreclosure. The Wall Street Journal reported back in August that, according to debt rating agency Realpoint, the Westin was four months delinquent on its $150 million mortgage.
Alt. rockers Good Charlotte will host a record release party for their latest album, "Cardiology," this Saturday, Nov. 6 in the Key West Ballroom at the Palms. Following the full-length performance, the album will be available for purchase and the band will sign autographs for fans. A limited number of tickets are available for $30 in person at the Palms' box office or by calling 702/944-3200.
There are 10 nominees for AOL's Best Happy Hour in Vegas poll, which you can vote on by clicking the link. Some of the finalists we concur with, but we see some notable absences from the list, which may inspire us to run our own survey one of these days...
Impulse, the Mirage's 24-hour gift store, where you can purchase anything from white tiger masks to hotel beds, launched a renaming contest today as part of the whole property's current remodeling and rebranding project. Watch this YouTube video for more information and then submit your idea via Facebook or YouTube for the chance to win a $500 gift certificate.
Online travel site TripAdvisor.com just produced a list of the World's 10 Most Infamous Hotels, and Las Vegas' Palace Station made the #9 spot for its role as the venue for the 2007 O.J. Simpson robbery case, when a group of armed men led by Simpson entered a room in the Palace Station Hotel and took various objects of sporting memorabilia, for which Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Berlin's Hotel Adlon Kempinski, where Michael Jackson dangled his baby over the balcony topped the list, surprisingly; other hotels singled out include New York's The Mark, where Johnny Depp and Kate Moss destroyed a suite and caused $10,000-worth of damage during an argument, and L.A.'s Chateau Marmont, which has witnessed the antics of many a celebrity over the years, from Led Zeppelin to Britney Spears, and was the scene of actor John Belushi's fatal overdose in 1982.
The century-old S.S. Admiral, formerly home to St. Louis' President riverboat casino, is on the market on eBay and several other online auction sites in search of a buyer willing to convert the 365-foot-long, 95-foot-wide vessel to a new use, whether commercial or residential. The suggested price listed on eBay is $1.5 million.
Casino revenues in China's gambling enclave hit another record month in October, rising nearly 50% to 18.869 billion patacas ($2.37 billion) from a year earlier. Analysts expect casino stocks such as Melco Crown, Sands China, and Wynn Macau to soar on the news.
Primm Valley Casino Resorts has announced the recent installation of Spanish- and English-reading blackjack felts, accompanied by a bilingual dealer and supervisor, at Buffalo Bill's, to cater to the growing Hispanic element of its market.
It was today announced that sports book operator Lucky's will open its second downtown location at Fitzgeralds Casino, which will bring the company's total number of facilities in Nevada to 14. Lucky's currently runs the race and sports book at the Plaza, plus Terrible's, the three Primm properties, and other gambling towns statewide. The new book's slated to open in January, pending regulatory approval.
There's an interesting interview with Alex Yemenidjian, CEO of the Las Vegas Tropicana, in today's Las Vegas Sun, about the ongoing upgrades and rebranding of the historic Strip property. Yemenidjian was formerly CEO of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie empire in L.A.
The Hard Rock's new Race & Sports Book, operated by Cantor Gaming, is up and running, complete with Cantor's exclusive In-Running technology that allows customers to place bets on a wide variety of outcomes throughout sporting and other live events.
Cantor's also plans to install its eDeck mobile gaming system at the property before the end of 2010, pending regulatory approval.
If you've already read today's Question of the Day, check back for an interesting "Update" that we just added, namely some in-depth analysis of the company and concept from a vintage issue of the LVA newsletter.
Saturday, November 6 will see the gathering of the so-called "November Nine" for the Final Table showdown in the 2010 WSOP Main Event. Play takes place in the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio. Tickets to the event are free, but given out on a first come, first served basis, so get there early to avoid disappointment. Click the link for the WSOP's bios of the November Nine.
Don't forget to check out Anthony Curtis' latest Las Vegas Football Update at LVASports.com, for the latest word on the best -- and the worst -- of the MNF parties around town.