All casino bars at all Station Casinos are serving 99-cent margaritas, 24/7.
'50s pinup Jane Russell, made famous by Howard Hughes' infamous film The Outlaws, who was among the opening-night entertainment at The Sands back in 1957, died today aged 89.
Holly Madison, star of Peepshow, will flip the switch to reveal the Hard Rock Cafe's new exterior at 7 p.m. tonight. The new façade features 100,000 LED light strips and a 73' x 6' hi-def LED programmable reader board that wraps around the building and is available for groups and private events.
Details have been released of the new nightlife venue that will take the place of Privé at Planet Hollywood, which closed in 2009 following complaints of underage drinking, drug use, sex, and other debauchery. Apparently, Gallery Nightclub is set to open this spring and will meld "vintage gothic" with contemporary design, with different themed rooms including the Red Room, where "subjects in 3D photographs follow guests' every move" and the Gold Room, where a striptease takes place inside an over-sized champagne glass. Other features will include a large dance floor, go-go dancers, and acrobats performing on platforms suspended from the ceiling.
The venue plans to be open from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with a $30 cover for men and $20 for women (free for local ladies).
Also in today's Las Vegas Sun is an in-depth analysis of the new frequent flyer program being rolled out by Southwest Airlines, whereby a points system based on airfares paid will replace the old program that generated a free flight after 16 fares had been purchased. The airline recently hiked prices to cover rising fuel costs. Click the link for more information.
Today's LV Sun reports how a major remodel is underway at Wynn, where $99 million is being invested to renovate the resort's 2,700 hotel rooms and suites. The upgrade of the rooms in the Resort Tower is already done and is 60 percent complete in the property's Tower Suites and should be finished in the second quarter of this year.
The Travel section in today's USA Today carries a review of Eating Las Vegas, plus the chance to write in and share thoughts on your own favorite Las Vegas eateries.
Once again, the bookies had it right. The favorites won for Best Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and Best Picture at last night's Academy Awards.
City leaders are beginning to express worries about the rising price of fuel that's tied to problems in the Mid East. While it's obvious that higher gasoline prices will affect drive-in traffic from California, analysts say that airfare prices also figure to rise. The timing hurts, as Las Vegas has recently begun showing signs of a recovery.
The recent stance on cutting comps at the Venetian and Palazzo is the subject of a story in the Sun portion of today's LV Review-Journal. Both Sands representatives and outside observers, including Anthony Curtis, offer opinions.
Despite being hit as hard by the economy as almost any city in America, the 2010 Census indicates that the Las Vegas area did nothing but get bigger. Clark County grew 42% since 2000, with 1.95 million residents. Las Vegas proper grew 22% and has 584,000 people. Henderson at 258,000 passed Reno with 225,000 and North Las Vegas is closing in with 217,000 people.
Tonight's Academy Awards feature some big chalk (favorites) on the offshore betting lines. Colin Firth is a prohibitive -4000 favorite (bet $4,000 to win $100) for Best Actor in The King's Speech. Natalie Portman is -1200 in the Best Actress category for The Black Swan. The King's Speech is a lesser -450 pick for best picture. Christian Bale and Melissa Leo from The Fighter are the favorites in the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories, respectively.
The tough times have forced an adjustment in the deal to operate the slot machine concession at McCarran International Airport. Prior to the adjustment, the operator, South Point owner Michael Gaughan, paid the greater of $27 million or 86.5% of net revenues on a yearly basis. In the amended deal, the minimum payment floats from year to year, adjusted to reflect 85% of the previous year's rate generated by the win on the airport's 1,500 machines.
We gave The Lift a try last night for the UFC viewing and it's not completely free. There's a $10 admission, but you get a coupon for $10 in food and drink on a return visit. It works to keep the freeloaders out. Additionally, you can set up at the bar to play video poker and they wave the charge. It's a good place to watch the fights.
Steve Wynn is remarrying. Barring any change of heart, he'll wed Andrea Hissom, his girlfriend of the past couple years, on April 30 at Wynn Las Vegas.
In the main event of tonight's UFC matches, Jon Fitch is a -180 favorite over BJ Penn. The fight is being shown at Cabo Wabo Cantina for a $20 admission charge and at The Lift bar for free.
Atlantic City's Showboat is the latest to go dog-friendly, becomming the first casino there to allow dogs to stay in rooms. It's an extention of the Pet Stay program at Caesars Entertainment properties in Las Vegas.
Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has confirmed his company's intention to create the Strip-based entertainment complex known as Linq. Loveman says it will be a half-billion-dollar project with a huge London Eye-type Ferris wheel and 190,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. The completion target is 2013.
Two of three men who were identified in the chip robbery at the Rio have been arrested. One of the men was a cab driver who used his own cab in the caper. Police have so far recovered $17,000 of the $33,200 that was stolen.
Looking for a spring break play? As the casinos get hipper, they're better targeting the desires of the spring-break crowd. A prime example is a line-up of room packages from MGM Resorts called "Vegas Spring Break 2011 -- 6 Resorts, 1 Big Party." The deals combine rooms with discounts for pool parties, spas, happy hours, club admissions, concerts, and other night-time entertainment options at MGM Grand, MBay, NY-NY, Excalibur, Luxor, and Monte Carlo. Check 'em out.
The Rio will be the site of the first "Whopper Bar" on the west coast. Whopper Bar will serve Burger King hamburgers built to order by "Whopper-istas" customizing orders from a "visible toppings theater." (We just report it, folks.) The outlet will serve beer and operate around the clock; it's due to open in a month.
A new risqué production set in a circus tent is coming to Caesars Palace. Absinthe, billed as a "decadent adults-only carnival," was originally slated to perform out of the Fontainebleau, but will now take residence at Caesars beginning March 21. The circus-tent theater will be erected on the corner of the Strip and Flamingo Road. Tickets start at $69.
Nevada Senator Harry Reid ruffled some feathers (of Nevada's soiled doves) with a call for a ban on the state's legal brothels. The reaction from the industry was swift and vociferous in opposition, placing the chance of success for Reid's plan at close to zero.
Not much has been disclosed yet, but it looks like the thief learned from the robbery of $1.5 million in chips from Bellagio in December (that guy got caught trying to convert large-denomination chips into cash), because the take at the Rio was reportedly only $32,000. Also of interest, the perpetrator arrived and left in a cab.
Here are this weekend's highlights; check out our Event listings for details of what else is going on.
-- Gilbert Gottfried is back at the Las Vegas Hilton (2/23-2/27)
-- The Monthly "Nashville Unplugged" event takes place at Green Valley Ranch (2/25)
-- The Mirage welcomes Ray Romano and Kevin James (2/25-2/26)
-- The Stone Temple Pilots take the stage at the Pearl inside the Palms (2/25)
-- And the Mrs. Nevada-America & Nevada Princess Pageants take place at the Suncoast (2/27)
It looks like it happened again. Apparently there was another chip robbery, this one at the Rio last night. More details to come as we get them.
The trouble in the Borders chain has hit Las Vegas with the closing of the Decatur/Sahara store. Five Borders stores (counting the airport location) remain open in the Las Vegas area.
The venerable Freed's Bakery has closed its original shop and moved operations to a second location. After more than 30 years, the Freed's store at Eastern and Richmar has been closed. The new location is on the same street, but much farther south at 9815 S. Eastern.
According to a recent report, CityCenter condominium sales brought in $490 million from 436 units: 61 at Mandarin Oriental, 156 at Vdara, and 219 at Veer. Though those numbers were encouraging, MGM closed sales on only 26 condos in fourth quarter 2010, prompting pessimism among analysts about the number of units that will close in 2011.
Visit BODIES ... The Exhibition from 11 a.m.-4 p.m today and get a free chair massage with ticket purchase.
Add Terrible's to the list. Show a Terrible's players card and get breakfast for $3.99, lunch for $6.99, and dinner or weekend brunch for $8.99. These are the lowest prices yet in the city-wide rush to discount buffets.
Bags to Go, the company that gets your luggage to the airport and provides your boarding pass in advance has added the Sahara to its client list. The fee is $10 per bag. Other casinos using the service are Luxor, MGM Grand, Venetian, and Palazzo.
Celebrate National Margarita Day at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms as they celebrate with the launch of the new Luxury Margarita, a $39 cocktail featuring Don Julio Real, Blue Agave Nectar, a fresh lime snowball, and a drizzle of Grand Marnier.
The court case of Wynn Las Vegas vs. "Girls Gone Wild" producer Joe Francis over an alleged $2 million gambling debt took a strange twist following the testimony of a WLV host. According to the testimony, Francis offered to settle the debt, but only if he could be assured that the payment couldn't be traced back to him. The host testified that Francis did not explain why he wanted the transaction to be secret, but that negotiations broke down after WLV would not agree to the terms.
Ron's Steakhouse, named from long-time GM and former Las Vegas mayor Ron Lurie, has opened at Arizona Charlie's Decatur. It's the first fine-dining restaurant at the casino since the closing of the Yukon Grille in 2006. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m.
Sheldon Adelson says he wants to create a "mini Las Vegas Strip" in Spain. While addressing media at the opening of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Adelson indicated that Spain might be the next target for his company and said that a "$20 billion project" could materialize in either Madrid or Barcelona. He did not cite a timetable.
This isn't one of the big Las Vegas holidays, but there are some associated promos today. South Point is awarding 5X points on slots and 2X on video poker. Silverton is awarding 5X points on all machines and the buffet is $5 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. El Cortez is giving out free slices of Marie Callender's cherry pie to all Club Cortez members from noon till 6 p.m.
Seniors age 50+ can get players club multipliers, 50%-off buffets, and other perks in Coast Casinos' "Young at Heart" program. Seniors days are Monday at Gold Coast, Tuesdays at Orleans, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Suncoast, and Thursdays at Sam's Town.
The East is a 3-point favorite in today's NBA All Star game. The total has had a huge run-up; after opening at 265, it's currently at 273 and still rising.
Following the lead of Station Casinos and Palms, South Point has lowered the price of its buffets throughout February. Prices are now $5.95 for breakfast, $8.95 for lunch, and $12.95 for dinner on non-specialty nights.
Air traffic at McCarran International Airport rose by 5% in January, compared to the same month last year, marking the largest increase in more than three years. It's a trend that's expected to continue based on several airlines expanding Las Vegas service.
Macau casinos set a single-day record for gambling win on Feb. 8 during the Chinese New Year celebration. Its 30+ casinos took in $185 million. Put into perspective, that's more than a third of the entire month's revenues earned by Las Vegas Strip casinos in December. Macau casinos won $23.4 billion in 2010 and are expected to surpass that this year.
The B.B. King Blues Club at the Mirage has filed for bankruptcy. The filing is not expected to change day-to-day operations in the near term.
Plans for a new amusement park on the Strip have been filed with county officials. The facility would include up to eight rides, including a 500-foot Ferris wheel, along with a convention center, and a restaurant, retail, and office complex. The proposed location is a 9.6-acre site across from Mandalay Bay.
Even with Celine Dion returning, Caesars Palace will continue to book big names on her off days. Tickets for Jeff Dunham (May 7) and Chelsea Handler (May 28) go on sale today.
Tomorrow from 6 pm-8 pm there will be an autograph session with band members from Linkin Park at Club Tattoo inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. This event is free and open to the public but you must have a wristband to gain access. Club Tattoo will be handing out a limited number of wristbands on a first-come first-served basis, beginning at 10 am.
Twenty-two Culinary Union members were arrested outside of Palace Station last night for blocking an entrance in an act of civil disobedience in protest over Station's non-union status. An estimated 750 Culinary representatives from around the city showed up to participate.
Phil Hellmuth Jr. is hosting a charity poker tournament beginning tomorrow at the Golden Nugget, with celebrity players including Steve Martin, Don Cheadle, Jordin Sparks, Adrian Peterson, and Verne Troyer. The inaugural event benefits Starkey Hearing Foundation and PROS FOR AFRICA. The red carpet takes place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and the main poker event begings at 1 p.m. It's open to all and the buy-in is $2,000.
PBR Rockbar in the Miracle Mile Shops is celebrating President's Day with a weekend-long "Presidential" Bullriding Contest today through Monday. The party will feature drink specials and a prize for the patron who stays on their mechanical bull the longest.
The long-awaited man-vs.-machine Jeopardy match-up yielded a resounding victory for machine, as "Watson," the IBM Jeopardy-playing computer, dismantled the game's two greatest human champions. Final score: Brad Rutter $21,600, Ken Jennings $24,000, Watson $77,147. Yikes!
Following the lead of Station Casinos' discounting of its Feast Buffets, the Palms has discounted its buffet through the end of February. Prices are $5.99 for breakfast, $7.99 for lunch, and $13.99 for dinner. Not as low as Stations, but another good bargain option.
Really? According to the "Valetine's Day" survey on Orbitz, Las Vegas is only the third sexiest city in the U.S. Vegas garnered 15% of the votes and trailed Miami (17%) and San Francisco (18%). Better get to work on those ad campaigns.
No chance of being bored, with some big -- and eclectic -- names in music and comedy on the entertainment roster this weekend:
-- Comedian George Lopez performs at the Las Vegas Hilton (2/18-2/19) while Jay Leno does stand up at the Mirage (2/18-2/19) and Tom Arnold makes 'em laugh at the Orleans (2/19-2/20)
-- The South Point welcomes Tower of Power (2/18-2/20)
-- 311 rocks out at the Hard Rock (2/19) while Linkin Park takes the stage at the MGM (2/19)
-- Bonnie Raitt entertains out at Buffalo Bills (2/19)
-- Dwight Yoakam performs at the Eastside Cannery (2/19)
-- The Silverton welcomes former American Idol contestant and country star, Kellie Pickler (2/19)
-- And Earl Turner's at the Suncoast (2/19-2/20)
Our research department is doing our monthly production show update and reports that several of Cirque's ticket-booking sites have been not loading all day, including KÀ, LOVE, MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris, Zumanity, and O, so if you want tickets, for now you'll need to call the box office at the relevant property. However, the good news is that we have special offer codes for several of these shows and our links are working just fine, so you can book your tickets and save money via our Show Discounts page.
More and more hotels are offering special rates to their Facebook fans and Twitter followers (check out this week's LVA Gold deals for proof) and Luxor has just launched a Facebook contest. Just hit "Like" on the contest page for a chance to win prizes, including a two-night stay, dinner for two at Tender, a comped bottle at Liquidity, and more.
Today's LV Sun reports that the owners of the Double Down Saloon in Las Vegas (a.k.a. "The Happiest Place on Earth"), and its newer sister property in New York, are suing the The Double Down Lounge in Austin, Texas for trademark infringement and false advertising. The Las Vegas and New York clubs say the Austin business has infringed on the Las Vegas and New York trademarks, which they've used since at least 1992, since March of last year.
LVA members can now access two new MROs (Member Rewards Online). Both are for the bar Money Plays, representing the first original MROs for our online program. The first is for a 1,000-coin payoff for a straight flush (typically only 250 coins are paid). The second is for comped tacos for a $10 VP buy-in. It so happens that the Money Plays tacos (which come from the adjacent Taco Felize), may be the best in Vegas. Money Plays is located on W. Flamingo, just west of the Palms. Members can access the new coupons by logging in on the home page.
Bob Dancer discusses Michael Konik's The Smart Money in this week's column. Konik will be a guest on Dancer's radio show on February 24.
Station Casinos has launched a new site dedicated to deals for Las Vegas locals. Called weluvlocals.com, where readers get to vote on a variety of potential offers and the one that gets the most votes becomes the next downloadable offer. Click the link for more details and to see the current offers.
It's just been announced that the Miss U.S.A. Pageant will return to Planet Hollywood to celebrate its 60th anniversary with a live broadcast on Sunday, June 19 (9-11 p.m. ET).
On March 2, the Stratosphere will host the Dale Earnhardt Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament in the Theater of the Stars Showroom at 4 p.m. hosted by Kerry Earnhardt, eldest son of Dale Earnhardt. There's a $150 entry fee and a grand prize of $2,500 in cash and souvenir merchandise. A special room rate of $25 per night is available with purchase of poker tournament entries and spectator tickets. Visit StratosphereHotel.com/DalePoker or call 800/99-TOWER and reference group code DALE311.
Hussong's Cantina at Mandalay Place is hosting "Burn a Hole in My Heart" tonight from 6:30 p.m. -- an Anti-Valentine's Hot Salsa Contest, featuring three competing chefs from Hussong's and Hard Rock's Pink Taco. There will be drink specials and giveaways and guests get to choose the winner.
MGM Resorts International has expanded its Las Vegas apps service to include devices that use Google's Android system. The app has already been downloaded by 200,000 iPhone users and in March will be rolled out for Blackberry's OS.
Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Justin Timberlake are apparently among the actors who are in talks to star in a film based on the memoirs of Beth Raymer, a cocktail waitress who teamed up with some math junkies and collectively went on to become major players in the online sports betting world. If the chosen cast can be secured, director Steven Frears says filming will begin as soon as this April.
Veteran Las Vegas producer Breck Wall, who died last year, is to be honored with a memorial tribute at South Point on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:15 p.m. The event is free but an RSVP is suggested to assure a seat. Additional information can be found at www.BreckWallTribute.com. After the tribute, attendees are invited to gather at the Bootlegger for cocktails and dinner.
We received a number of emails from people wondering what happened to the car rental poll results. There was a technical issue that prevented them from showing, but that was fixed on Saturday and the results and reader feedback have been live ever since, so just click the link if missed them.
Singer Celine Dion, and family, will arrive at Caesars Palace at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday to begin rehearsals for her new shows at the Colosseum, which commence March 15 and mark the start of a three-year engagement.
According to a survey by wedding-planning website Te Knot, the continental U.S. was the most popular honeymoon destination for Americans in 2010, with Walt Disney World/Orlando and Las Vegas topping the list of cities visited. Conversely, however, last year was the slowest for Vegas weddings since 1993, with fewer than 92,000 couples marrying in or around Sin City in 2010.
Trump Entertainment Resorts has agreed to sell the Trump Marina Hotel Casino to Landry's for $38 million, approximately 10 percent of what the property was being offered for in 2008. The move will reintroduce the Golden Nugget brand to Atlantic City, from where it's been absent since 1987.
A lot of the city's festivities took place over the weekend, but you can still find some options in our Valentine's Day guide, not to mention last-minute shopping ideas.
The USA Sevens Las Vegas rugby tournament concludes today at Sam Boyd Stadium. Games run all day and it's a good time, with tickets running about $45. New Zealand went off as the favorite at 5-4, followed by England at 7-2 and Samoa at 4-1. The United States is 40-1 and the long shot is Japan at 500-1.
The annual Chinese New Year celebration and Asian food festival will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Chinatown Plaza (4255 Spring Mountain Rd.)
Station Casinos has brought back its famous Car-A-Day promotion, only it's much bigger than in the past. Station is giving away 220 cars in 22 days in February. The cars are awarded via drawings and you get tickets by playing the games -- one ticket for every 50 points earned.
Arizona Sen. and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R) has announced his plans to retire from public office in January, 2013. Kyl has long been a vocal enemy of online gambling in the U.S.
The new nightclub at Paris will open March 5, with Drake hosting.
For full listings of Valentine's (and anti-Valentine's) events through the weekend, plus shopping suggestions, check out our guide in Special Events.
It's the daylife/nightlife pool at Encore's turn to recruit this weekend, with open casting calls today and tomorrow for cocktail servers, server assistants, bartenders, apprentice bartenders, security, and lifeguards. Apply online at WynnJobs.com. For more info call 702/770-JOBS.
Although last we heard, Posh wasn't debuting until March, The Playground just confirmed that the new club that replaces Obsession After Hours, will open for business tonight. Bottle service starts at $375 and there's a $30 cover for men and women. To keep up-to-date with the latest developments on the strip club scene, be sure to follow our @ToplessVegas Twitter.
We don't have confirmation of this, but having just read in Norm!'s column that magician Steve Dacri was fighting for his life at Mountain View hospital, comes word from a magic forum that the performer passed this morning. Dacri was performing at the Las Vegas Hilton last year, but had to cancel shows for emergency cancer surgery. We'll keep you posted as and when we hear more but for now, our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Most of the traditional festivities are over now, although you can check out our guide to Chinese New Year for information on the festive displays around town. M Resort entered into the spirit of the Year of the Rabbit this year and their traditional dragon and lion dance takes place at 6 p.m. and will wind from the lobby, through the casino floor, buffet, poker room, and table games.
The first part of our massive spring clearance sale at ShopLVA.com ends at 5 p.m. PST today, with huge savings on top gambling titles and products, including just one One Armed Bandit slot bank -- grab it before someone else does, because we won't have these back in stock until next Christmas!
We understand that Metro's Search and Rescue unit is currently trying rescue an injured hiker who's fallen in the area of Echo Canyon on Mt Charleston and may be suffering from a broken leg. For safe hiking tips and trails, check out our Hiking Las Vegas guide, plus the current Hiking Bundle, a trio of great guides currently on sale for just $21.95 (cover price $64.85 ).
Following the launch of Caesars Entertainment's "PetStay" program in Las Vegas, comes word that THEhotel is the latest to go dog-friendly in Las Vegas, with a new program that welcomes up to two pets/room and a dog-sitting service -- with rooms from $90/night, this is today's LVA Deal of the Day. Check our our complete guide to Pet-Friendly Hotels in the LVA Visitor Guide.
Sculptor Richard MacDonald, who has collaborated with Cirque du Soleil, will be signing autographs at his Bellagio gallery, across from the Conservatory, from 1-4 p.m. today.
This weekend Sam Boyd Stadium welcomes the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens World Series, with a kickoff party tonight at the Tropicana and a calendar of events all-weekend long, including a celebrity poker tournament at the Hard Rock this evening. Click here for ticket information and a schedule of events.
The Hard Rock has made its first official comments since a threatened foreclosure was averted earlier this week. In a statement, it said the company has entered a "standstill and forbearance agreement" with its lenders while the parties continue to discuss the property's ongoing obligations and financial future.
Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, the former Ritz-Carlton property now owned by Dolce, debuts today, following a partial remodel. The Ritz-Carlton closed last May after eight years in operation CasinoMontelago is scheduled to reopen by May, we understand.
Starting today, Anthony Curtis is contributing a new weekly column to Las Vegas Seven magazine, focusing on how still to find great deals in what's still a Bargain City.
On Tuesday, Feb. 22, from noon until 2 p.m. Fantasy at Luxor will host open auditions for trained female topless dancers and silk aerialists inside the Atrium Showroom. Dancers must be 18+, min. 5'6", and be skilled in hip-hop, jazz, and/or ballet. Your raw talent and a current photo and resume are the only raw requirements for the casting.
The new "school of Burlesque" featuring dancers from X Burlesque at Flamgino, debuts today; now through 3 p.m. Saturday password "lipstick" gets you in for free. See here for more details, and don't forget that the fully illustrated first edition of Topless Vegas, which includes reviews of all the topless shows and pools in town, as well as the gentlemen's clubs, is currently on special offer for just $6.95 in our Spring Sale, now through Feb. 15 only.
According to the latest figures released, Nevada casino winnings were up 0.1 percent in 2010, compared with 2009, with a $10.4 billion win for the year.
Tech prob fixed; QoD's now available once more.
Our apologies -- QoD is currently down; our techs are aware of the problem and working to fix it right now. We'll let you know when you can get back in.
Of course, Valentine's Day is the main event this weekend -- you can check out all the parties and other romantic (and not-so-romantic) options in our "Special Events" feature. Here are some of this weekend's other entertainment highlights:
-- In-A-Fect entertians at the Eastside Cannery (2/9-2/13)
-- Mark Curry's back at the Las Vegas Hilton (2/9-2/13)
-- Crystal Gayle performs at South Point (2/11-2/13)
-- The Orleans welcomes Engelbert Humperdinck (2/11-2/13)
-- The Monthly "Nashville Unplugged" event takes place at Green Valley Ranch (2/11)
-- Ron White brings his stand-up to the Mirage (2/11-2/12)
-- And the 2011 USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament takes place at Sam Boyd Stadium (2/12-2/13), with the opening ceremony down on Fremont Street tonight at 7 p.m.
Andrew Sasson, the brains behind the Light Group brand of restaurants and nightclubs, is profiled in the latest issue of Forbes magazine.
Café Nikki, part of the new Nikki Beach concept that's opening at the Tropicana in April, launches its new South Beach Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily weeknights, beginning today. Nikki Beach is the "South Beach" pool-party concept that's spread worldwide to nine party destinations; the Vegas Beach Club will be the largest and debuts this spring. They're still hiring for some positions: click here for details.
The R-J reports that Sharla Perry, a director of VIP services for the Wynn, was found dead at Turnberry Towers Wednesday evening. The death has not been ruled a homicide but was described by a police source as "suspicious." More information will be known after an autopsy.
From what we understand, Blue Man Group will continue performing at Venetian through the fall, when the transition to Monte Carlo will be made.
Las Vegas' sports books took in $87.5 million in bets on the Super Bowl and had a win of $724,000, representing a minuscule .83%. The combination of the favorite Packers winning and the score going over the total of 45 was a worst-case scenario for the books, since the public traditionally bets favorites and over. However, other wagering options for the game, including proposition bets and parlay cards, won enough to overcome the losses. The house doesn't always win, but it usually does-this was the 15th time in 16 years of tracking that the casinos have won on the Super Bowl. The lone loss of just under $2.6 million came in 2008 when the Giants beat the Patriots.
The long-running Riviera Comedy Club, which closed Halloween, is due to reopen tonight at 9 p.m., with Greg Vaccariello, Sandy Hackett, and Doug Starks on the mic.
The owner of the bankrupt Ultimate Electronics retail chain has asked the court in Delaware for permission to sell off its remaining inventory and close its 46 stores nationwide, including the two Las Vegas locations at 2555 Tropicana Ave. and 741 S. Rainbow Ave. If approved, the going-out-of-business sales would begin this Saturday.
Playboy Comedy at the Palms will host "Bad Boy" Andrew Dice Clay, March 3–5, with tickets starting at $59, which includes entry to the Playboy Club after the show. These performances replace the previously scheduled Bob Marley headlining weekend.
If you haven't yet signed up for our free weekly newsletter, filled with the best deals we can find on rooms, shows, and vacation packages in Las Vegas, then sign up now and see what you're missing. We just mailed out the latest newsletter, which includes deals like up to $125 in savings on a Southwest air and room package, plus a deal at Aria for under $200/night, which includes $50 back in food and drinks. Hurry, there's only one day left to book that deal. Sign up for free "LVA Gold" membership using the yellow and white button on the top-left of every page on our site, so you don't miss out on future special offers.
Jason "Blu" Griffith has been indicted for the murder of Fantasy revue dancer Debora Flores Narvaez, who went missing last December after visiting ex-boyfriend Griffith's house. His room-mate later confessed to helping the former performer with Cirque's LOVE show dismember and hide Flores Narvaez' body in plastic tubs filled with cement.
TAO Beach is now hiring cocktail servers, bartenders, amenity positions, go-go dancers, cashiers, security officers, bar backs, table/bottle runners, VIP hosts, bussers, cooks, dishwashers, and porters. Hiring dates: Feb. 9-12 and Feb. 15-19, noon-5 p.m. at TAO nightclub at Venetian. Outside of special events and parties, TAO Beach is a topless pool.
After six years at Venetian (before which they were at Luxor), Blue Man Group will end its run at the Venetian and reopen at the Monte Carlo in the fall of 2012. We're not not sure when the last show for "Bluephoria" at its current home will take place, but we'll keep you posted.
The on-off legal battle between casino tycoon Stanley Ho and various members of his family is back on again, reports Reuters. Ho's attorney Oldham has announced that a new court case would be filed on Wednesday to recover Ho's assets from his family, including daughter Pansy, who he accuses of a hostile takeover of his majority stake in his SJM casino empire. The ongoing saga, chronicled in this column over the past weeks, has seen SJM's share prices drop by 8 percent, wiping nearly $1 billion off the company's market capitalisation.
For all of you who omnivores out there who have no special dietary needs, we just added the missing voting category for you to our current Reader Poll; everyone else, please cast your vote for the categories that apply to you, if you haven't already.
Las Vegas will lose one of its most eco-friendly eateries this March 8, with the closure of Chef Martin Heierling's Silk Road at Vdara. It has not yet been announced what will take its place but CityCenter's first grocery store, Market Café, is due to open March 1, also at Vdara. For our guide to other eco-friendly restaurants, check out the special section in our Las Vegas Green Guide and tune in for tomorrow's new Reader Poll...
If you haven't already cast your vote in our current Reader Poll, you have until midnight to let us know which is your favorite rental-car company in Las Vegas (you can use the email link to tell us why, if you want to). Your feedback's important, as we want to approach the best company with a view to getting a deal for our members.
Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 16, M Resort will begin to reward senior members of the iMagine player rewards program with a weekly "50-Plus Senior Rewards" promo. The new benefits, which will be offered every Wednesday, include buffet and dining discounts and a weekly cash drawing with a $1,000 top prize. Check with the players club for more details.
Our guide to Valentine's Day just went live in "Special Events," with party listings, shopping suggestions, and more. We don't know if it's the effect of the economy, but this year Las Vegas seems to be taking a dark approach to romance, with more "anti-Valentine's" bashes having been announced so far. We'll keep adding as more events are announced, so keep checking back.
Bob Dancer has posted his latest weekly column, with news of his next round of free video poker classes at South Point, including two new games that he'll be covering for the first time.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the Stratosphere hotel have teamed up to offer the 400 fans who were left without seats at Sunday's Super Bowl free tickets NASCAR weekend on March 4-6, including tickets to the Sprint Cup Series' Kobalt Tools 400 and the Nationwide Series' Sam's Town 300. Four names will be drawn at random to win a free three-night stay at the Stratosphere.
The weather service has issued a wind advisory for Clark County, with gusting north winds of up to 50 mph expected into the morning. Extra caution is urged to those driving on the highway. Expect a 10 degree drop from Monday's 70-degree temperature, too.
BODIES ... The Exhibition at Luxor is showing appreciation to current and pledging organ donors by offering a $10 discount on admission throughout February, which is National Heart Month. Organ donors must present a valid ID with proof of donation or sign up to become an organ donor at the box office when purchasing a ticket.
The Playground, the adult-entertainment complex off the I-15 at Russell, will debut a new nightclub called Posh this March, in the space formerly occupied by Obsession After Hours club (as far as we know...), featuring DJs, body-painted go-go dancers, and "sexy peepshow girls." Bottle service will start at $375 and there will be a $30 cover for men and women.
The impending sale of the Hard Rock has been avoided, according to today's L-V Sun, with a group of lenders who'd wished to foreclose on the property having reached an agreement with the owners over the weekend. A public auction had been scheduled for Tuesday.
A hearing has been set for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 23 for Anthony M. Carleo, the alleged "Biker Bandit" accused of stealing $1.5 million in chips from Bellagio last December. He's currently being held without bail on a robbery with a deadly weapon charge and on $15,000 bail on a charge of burglary with the use of a deadly weapon.
Rock 'n Roll chef Kerry Simon, of Simon at Palms Place (see the all-you-can-drink Bloody Mary deal in the 2011 MRB) and KGB Burger at Harrah's, is the latest Las Vegas celebrity chef to get up-close and personal with
Cher performed her 200th and final show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace last night, after a two-and-a-half-year run.
Today's the day -- one of the biggest of the year in Las Vegas. The city is busy; however, the bad weather in the east is being blamed for lighter than expected crowds. Despite the popularity of the Steelers and Packers, the 2006 betting handle of $94.5 million is not expected to be surpassed. The line has the Packers favored by 2.5 in most places, though 3s can be found. The total is available from 44.5 to 45.5.
This Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of the LV Hilton fire that killed eight. A fascinating story that includes an interview with the still-jailed busboy who started the fire appears in today's LV Review-Journal.
Throughout the month of February, donate blood of platelets at any of the four United Blood Services locations in the valley and receive two complimentary tickets to see Defending the Caveman at Harrah's.
Bonnie Springs Ranch, the tourist attraction out at Blue Diamond that was built back in 1843, is apparently subject to some spooky happenings, and is the subject of tonight's episode of "Ghost Adventures," which airs at 5 p.m E/P.
Tonight's UFC card will be broadcast at The Lift bar tonight. There is no admission. The Lift is owned by the El Cortez, so it can broadcast EC's feed. It will be busy.
Get 2-for-1 buffets at the Suncoast every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in February. The offer is good for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and need only be a players club member. Good offer.
Today sees the debut of a new interactive "In the Dark" exhibit at Springs Preserve, which runs daily through May 15. The new attraction allows visitors to experience simulations of various naturally dark environments, including a nocturnal forest, a cave ecosystem, and the ocean bed. Admission to Springs Preserve is $18.95 for adults ($10.95 for locals).
The final of the second annual Wing Bowls championship takes place at South Point today, hosted by X-107.5 FM. The contest kicks off at noon, with a $2,500 cash prize to the wing master and a $1,000 cash prize for the winner of the "Wingette" Bikini Contest. Contestants have been qualifying at McFadden's throughout the month of February. The final takes place in the Grand Ballroom at South Point and admission is free.
Memorabilia International inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood is hosting an autograph-signing and meet-and-greet session with boxer Mike Tyson today from 1-4 p.m. Fans must purchase a package to gain access to the event, with packages starting at $125/person for a photograph with Tyson or his autograph.
Matt O'Brien, author of new title My Week at the Blue Angel and best-seller Beneath the Neon, will be signing copies of both books at Barnes & Noble (8915 W. Charleston Blvd.) from 1-2 p.m. today.
For the past two years, one of our hottest products has been the Color Poker handheld video poker game. We can't order 'em fast enough, but they're in short supply and we've been sold out since the holidays. Our supplier just found a handful of the original model of the game (practically vintage!) in their warehouse, and when these are gone, we have no idea when we'll get it back. We're even dropping the price by $1, so hurry while these very limited supplies last.
Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures" films at Madame Tussauds at Venetian tonight, where apparently nighttime security guards have reported some strange and spooky happenings. Huntington Press author Dennis Griffin was interviewed for the show, in connection with some of the mob exhibits at the attraction, we understand.
It's downtown's monthly arts fest tonight, with the usual lineup of art, shopping, food and drink, and after-parties. Check the First Friday website for full listings and a map.
Rick Tabish who, along with ex-girlfriend Sandy Murphy, served time for the murder of Ted Binion, before the sentence was reversed by the Supreme Court, has given his first interview since being released on parole, after serving time for burglary and grand larceny in connection with the removal of Binion's silver fortune from a vault in the desert near Pahrump.
Anthony Curtis has posted the final Football Update of the season; check it out at LVASports.com.
Look for Anthony Curtis on Good Morning America tomorrow. We don't know the scheduled time, but he was interviewed late today about the arrest in the Bellagio robbery and should appear (at least for a few seconds, don't blink).
Video poker expert Bob Dancer launches a weekly hour-longt radio show at 7 p.m. this evening on 1230 AM in Las Vegas. He'll be co-hosting with Frank Kneeland, author of
We're down to the last copy each of Hit Me! 21 and the Welcome to Las Vegas slot bank casino games in our current spring sale, so jump in there before someone else does!
Just in time for Sunday's Super Bowl, Cantor Gaming will unveil its new race and sports book at the Hard Rock today at 4.30 p.m., while 2 p.m. tomorrow sees the launch of Cantor's first book on the Strip, at the Tropicana.
Or, Happy Chinese New Year! Today we usher in the Year of the Rabbit, and our full listings of decorated resorts, dragaon dances, dining specials, and more just went live in the Spotlight section on the home page.
Of course, the main events this weekend are the Big Game on Sunday and Chinese New Year, which kicks off today; click the links for the full listings of parties and festivities in our "Special Events" and "Spotlight" sections, respectively. But if you're not into football or dragons, fear not, as it's still business as usual in the theaters and concert venues around town. Here are some of the other ways you can amuse yourself this weekend:
--Drew Carey's Imrpov-A-Ganza entertains inside the Hollywood Theatre at MGM (2/3-2/6), while country superstars George Strait and Reba McEntire take the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (2/5)
-- Joe Rogan makes 'em laugh inside the Mandalay Bay Theater (2/4), Badfish and guest Scotty Don't perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center (2/5), followed by UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort (2/5)
-- Norm Crosby's at the Orleans (2/4-2/5)
-- Boulder Station welcomes Blue Oyster Cult (2/5)
-- The Party on the Rocks concert series returns to the Red Rock this weekend and kicks off with a performance by the Gin Blossoms (2/5)
-- The Hard Rock welcomes Tiësto In Concert (2/5)
-- And the 2011 Lingerie Bowl takes place at the Thomas and Mack (2/6)
The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved a regulatory change that for the first time permits race and sports books to accept wagers on non-sporting events, including the Academy Awards, provided they can prove that the betting is fair and will not influence the outcome of the event, reports the Las Vegas Sun. The move is seen as a welcome potential source of new revenue that will allow Nevada's books to compete better with their offshore competitors, provided the regulatory hoops do not prove too onerous to make the business worthwhile pursuing.
British Airways' High Life magazine has named its picks for the Top 10 hotels in Las Vegas, which includes some interesting choices, including the new Rumor adult-only resort, and the Flamingo for its funky GO rooms. CityCenter fared well, with no less than three hotels on the list, including Mandarin Oriental in the #1 spot. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas also made the cut. Click the link for our current list of Las Vegas hotel deals, which includes discount codes for many of the Top 10 properties.
If you're in town this weekend and don't know where to catch the Big Game, be sure to check out today's Question of the Day for lots of suggestions, from neighborhood team-affiliated bars to strip clubs.
Metro has announced that they have a 29-year-old male in custody, charged with counts of robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, burglary with use of a deadly weapon, and trafficking in a controlled substance. The suspect, who we understand is the son of a Las Vegas Municipal Court judge, was apparently staying at Bellagio and was arrested while trying to sell some of high-denomination chips he'd stolen to undercover cops.
Oscar is term-limited and can't run for mayor again, but it's just been announced that his wife, Carolyn Goodman, intends to enter the race. In the meantime, we're currently offering Of Rats and Men, John L. Smith's riveting bio. of Oscar Goodman, for the knockdown price of $4.95, as we clear our hard-cover inventory to make way for the revised paperback version, coming out soon under the title Mob Mayor.
MGM Resorts International has agreed to license and operate a 480-room hotel, with signature Skyloft suites, in the Indian city of New Delhi. It will be a non-gaming property.
New Jersey's Economic Development Authority has approved a $261.4 million state tax reimbursement to help complete financing for the half-finished Revel casino project, citing the prospect of the thousands of jobs and billions in future tax revenue that the completed resort-casino would create. The tax reimbursement will be giving over 20 years, once the casino opens, and will also fund improvements to the Boardwalk and Garden Pier.
Following news yesterday of a group of its lenders filing to foreclose on the off-strip hotel-casino, comes news that owners of the Hard Rock have filed a lawsuit to prevent the foreclose and scheduled sale of the property on the courthouse steps in Manhattan on Feb. 7. The owners, who include Morgans Group LLC, claim that the lenders don't have the right to conduct the foreclosure because they lack approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission and that their claims of loan default are "non-existent or not material." Watch this space for updates.
The new Nikki Beach Club party pool at the Tropicana isn't due to open until April, but Café Nikki is open for business and launches a new "Locals Happy Hour" on Thursday, Feb. 10, featuring $5 cocktails, specialty ceviche, and sushi bar, and will be offering Locals VIP cards good for special offers in Vegas and Nikki Beach venues worldwide. Happy Hour runs from 4-7 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Despite reportedly defaulting on loans last April, there's a rumor that Las Vegas' World Market Center may be merging with High Point, the North Carolina-based trade leader in the furniture and furnishings industry. Two of High Point's three largest showroom operators are currently in receivership. Click here for more information.
After almost a decade's hiatus, bingo's back at Binion's, with a brand new room that opened at 11 a.m. this morning, offering players six daily sessions and introducing downtown's largest bingo jackpot, the $50,000 Super Triple Multi-Win. There are 13 games in each daily session, beginning at 11 a.m. and running every two hours. The only other downtown property to offer bingo is the Vegas Club.
NFRC HRH Holdings, which controls part of the Hard Rock hotel-casino's $1.36 billion loan, has filed a notice of foreclosure against the property, less than a year after it completed a $750 million renovation and expansion, and days after the Hard Rock agreed to pay a $650,000 settlement to gaming regulators after sex and drug violations at Vanity nightclub. The notice means the lenders have the option to acquire the hotel-casino or sell its interest in the property to the highest bidder in a public auction, which is scheduled for Monday, reports the LV R-J.
First we got the Stripper 101 classes in the Miracle Mile Shops; now, from Feb. 10th, you can learn how to be a burlesque dancer with the X Burlesque "Burlesque University." The classes will take place at 3 p.m. daily and you'll receive showgirl choreography instruction from an "X Girl" on the showroom stage at the Flamingo, plus make-up training, and a free make-up kit. Tickets are $34.95 and there will be group discounts for parties of six or more.
Tonight Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular celebrates its 2,000th performance at the Venetian. Click the link for an upgrade offer.
The Puerto Rican pop icon has announced his 2011 "Musica+Alma+Sexo" world tour will be making a stop in Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Saturday, April 30, after a touring hiatus of more than three years. Tickets go on-sale Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. and may be purchased in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800/745-3000. Tickets start at $60.50 (plus taxes and fees).
From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. today it's happy hour at Metro Pizza's locations at E. Tropicana, S. Decatur, and Green Valley Ranch, with 50% off all pizzas. Dine-in only.
Dairy Queen and Orange Julius will be debuting at Excalibur on Feb. 4, selling ice cream and desserts, and fruit smoothies, hot dogs, nachos, and pretzels, respectively. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the weekend.
Bob Dancer's weekly column has just been posted, with news of his new radio show, which will be essential listening for any video poker or advantage player.
Spa Mio at M Resort, which has just been awarded four stars by Forbes (see Today's News 1/31/2010), is offering a last-minute deal today, with 30% off all regular priced services. Some restrictions apply. Call 702/797-1800 for more information or to book a treatment.
Remember, there's a wind advisory in effect today through Wednesday, with strong gusts expected, temperatures down in the upper 40s to low 50s, and a dust warning.
Today it's the Beach Club at the Hard Rock's turn to host an open casting call, which takes place from noon to 7 p.m. in the Joint, recruiting lifeguards, food runners, cocktail servers, cabana attendants, bar backs, and VIP hosts. Bring your resume and come dressed in your best beach attire for audition photos.
The main pool at the Mirage hosts a job fair in the Montego Room tomorrow (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Thursday (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.), looking for people to fill various positions in food and beverage, pool, and retail. Submit your online application at www.mgmresorts.com prior to attending.