Louisville is a -3.5 favorite over Duke in today's second Elite Eight game. The total is 137.5.
While net revenues were up $116.5 million year-over-year, at $595.1 million for 2012, compared to $24.6 million in 2011, the Strip resort still posted a total net loss of $106.5 for last year, up from the previous year's figure of $96.9 million, reports the R-J. Room rates and occupancy levels, together with income from dining and entertainment, were all up (the resort has won many accolades for its world-class nightlife offerings); even gaming revenues were up slightly, but the hold percentage of 9 percent was below the anticipated range of 10 to 14 percent and the balance sheet suffered from increased expenditure on promotional and operating costs that evidently are not yet reaping the hoped-for results.
The CBS drama series starring Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, based on the life of former real-life Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, is currently running a sweepstakes on Twitter for a chance to win the script of the pilot episode, signed by all the cast members. Click the link for the rules and information on how to take part. While the fate of the show, which was not automatically renewed by the network, remains in the balance, insiders, including Chiklis, maintain that its spring move to the Friday 9 p.m. slot may well save it.
Florida is a -3 favorite over Michigan in the first of two Elite Eight games today in the NCAA basketball championship. The total is 135.
We erroneously ascribed 6X- and 10X-points multipliers to yesterday's Station Casinos bonus day. The wording on ads is "$1 = 6 points" on video poker and "$1 = 10 points" on slots. Since the normal accumulation rate is $1 = 3 points, the bonus is equal to 2X points on video poker and 3.3X points on slots.
After being closed for several years due to legal troubles, the Crazy Horse Too gentlemen's club is preparing to reopen under new management. The new owner says the club may be operating by June 1.
In OpenTable.com's "2013 Diner's Choice Awards," based on the results of more than 5 million reviews, Las Vegas had six restaurants in the top 100: N9NE (Palms), STK (Cosmo), Tao (Venetian), Lavo and SushiSamba (Palazzo), and Firefly (all three locations included). The results placed Nevada fifth for most-picks-per-state, behind California, Florida, New York, and Illinois.
Airline traffic was down 3.7% in February from the same month last year. The drop was blamed on a comparison with 2012's leap-year month that had an extra day, but a normalized comparison still showed a slight loss, continuing a string of small declines over recent months. Domestic travel was down 4.2%, with only American and Sun Country logging increases in passenger counts. International travel was up 2.4%, helped by a 15.4% increase for British Airways, which has recently added Las Vegas flights.
The usual holiday dinner specials will be running all over town today. South Point is awarding 5X points on slots and 2X on video poker.
Ohio State is a -4.5 favorite over Wichita State in today's second Elite Eight game. The total is 130.
Get 6X points on video poker and 10X points on slots today at all Station, Fiesta, and Wildfire casinos. Get 14X points on slots at Silverton.
The acrimonious year-long battle between singer Wayne Newton and the company that was to turn his Las Vegas estate into a public attraction, which ended in the project going bankrupt, has apparently been settled in court, although details of the deal between the two parties remain sealed, aside from word that the 38-acre property is still on the market.
Syracuse is -4.5 favorite over Marquette in the first of two Elite Eight games today in the NCAA basketball championship. The total is 126.
Don't forget Town Square hosts its free Hop & Shop Easter event all day today, with activities for kids from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including age-grouped Easter-egg hunts every 20 minutes (please bring along baskets for your kids to put their goodies in). Click here for more information. And the Ethel M Chocolate Factory in Henderson continues its annual Spring Spectacular through the weekend, with photo opps for kids with the Easter Bunny from noon to 5 p.m. (and 1-5 p.m. Sunday), plus complimentary face painting, balloon art, and other activities.
The price for "Tequila Time" cocktails at Baja Miguel's at South Point was raised from $2 to $3 earlier this month, and now only includes house margaritas, Cuervo shots, and beers only. This is now the only happy hour at South Point, and runs Weds. to Sunday, 5-7 p.m. (Remember back in the day, when Friday Night Happy Hour at South Point meant all drinks $2, at all bars, from 4-10 p.m.?) In addition, the free-drink-with-a-ticket-stub promo at the Thursday afternoon Dennis Bono show has been discontinued, and the free Wi-Fi that was previously available in the hotel lobby and ice cream shop is available no more, we've been reliably informed by a trusted LVA reader.
Meanwhile, Silverton's happy hour now runs 8-10 p.m. daily, except Sunday (the "hour" used to last until 11 p.m. Fri/Sat). However, this locals casino did recently introduce a new menu of interesting-sounding "Signature Seven" specialty cocktails, which are priced from $7-$12 and are available 24/7 from the Flare, Shady Grove, and Mermaid bars.
The venerable travel-guide series, which included several Las Vegas editions (including an annual Complete Guide, plus Las Vegas With Kids, and Las Vegas Day by Day, and Las Vegas for Non-Gamblers), purchased only last summer by Google, will cease publication immediately, we have learned via the BBC. (There's been no official announcement yet from Google, but apparently all the contributing writers have been notified of their imminent unemployment). Although iconic for generations, the guides had experienced a significant drop in sales in recent times.
A bill was presented before the Nevada Senate Friday seeking to raise the legal age for nude strip-club dancers from 18 (which is currently legal, as long as no alcohol is served in the establishment) to 21. Senate Bill 413 would also allow local governments to enact their own related laws, provided they don’t conflict with the bill. Brothels are exempted from the proposed statute.
The April issue of Las Vegas Advisor newsletter is now live online, featuring our annual monster survey of show-ticket prices (surprise: they're up!) -- and lots of tips on how to avoid paying those prices, especially if you're a local. Plus, of course, there are lots of reviews of cool new stuff, plus other money-saving and money-making tips, all the latest news from the gambling universe, and much more, so check it out right now.
Seven-time Grammy Award-winner Prince today announced a nine-city West Coast spring tour, which on April 26 and 27 will stop at The Joint at the Hard Rock. The diminutive purple rocker will squeeze in not two, but FOUR shows (wow, does that qualify as a "residency"?) in that two-night span, with 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. performances both days. He'll be backed by his new (but not novel, for Prince) all-female backing band, 3RDEYEGIRL, and tix, which start at $55, are on sale now.
According to ongoing reports by online global biz-news outlet Quartz (@qz), high-limit slot machines at Bellagio (and, to a lesser extent, Wynn Las Vegas) may have been used to launder a significant part of the missing monies (now estimated at close to $700 million) raised in a 2005 IPO by former blue chip company and Nasdaq listee China Medical Technologies--money that has since "disappeared." According to a late-December 2012 filing with the New York Southern District Bankruptcy Court, Hong-Kong-based liquidation firm Borrelli Walsh alleges that hundreds of millions of dollars raised by China Medical were "funneled to Wu [Xiaodong, its CEO] and his associates, including [Jenny] Bi [Xiaoqiong, his wife]", who from 2008 to 2012 put some $62 million through slot machines at Bellagio. The two casinos named are not suspected of having been witting accomplices in any money-laundering plot, nor of having violated any financial-transaction reporting requirements.
For the second time in five years, the long-shuttered Key Largo Casino on E. Flamingo is ablaze, and authorities are warning people to stay well away, not least because of the threat of toxic asbestos pollution. Apparently, vagrants are possibly to blame for the inferno, which we understand has already claimed the building's roof. The last time Key Largo suffered a fire was back in May 2008, three years after its closure, when a man attempting to steal copper cabling didn't realize that the the power was still on and was electrocuted to the point where he caught fire and suffered 80 percent burns. Whether he survived or not, we've been unable to ascertain, but reports at the time said it was highly unlikely that he would.
Follow 8 News Now for ongoing coverage of today's blaze, which firefighters are still struggling to bring under control, we understand.
Most restaurants and buffets around town will be offering special Easter meals, so we won't list them all here, but here are some of the other highlights this weekend:
From Friday, March 29 through Sunday 31, Ethel M Chocolates in Henderson hosts its annual Spring Spectacular, with a chance for kids to have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny from 1-5 p.m. (from noon on Saturday) , along with complimentary face painting and balloon art. Check out the blooming Cactus Garden and take the free factory tour, with complimentary confectionery samples, while you're there.
Okay, it's not a pool party and Silverton's Sway pool doesn't actually have a beach anyhow, but Castles in the Parking Lot didn't have the same ring, somehow. To get to the point, the weekend of Friday, April 26–Sunday, April 28, the south-Strip hotel will host an epic three-day food festival, in conjunction with Red Dragon Events, featuring 30+ food trucks, plus food-vendor booths (including a first-time-ever-in-Vegas appearance by the iconic White Castle burger chain), a farmer’s market, eating contests, a beer garden, carnival rides and games, and live entertainment. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Three Square Food Bank, and the $10 cover will grant you access to all three days.
Back on March 16 we posted how ticket prices for the celebrity-waxwork exhibit at Venetian had been increased to $27.95 for adults; now a new measure has been introduced, whereby free tix for kids only applies to those aged three and under (formerly any child aged five or under qualified). Four-year-olds and up now pay $17.95.
Rick Allen, drummer with U.K. rock band Def Leppard, currently headlining at the Palms, who famously lost his arm in a street-racing accident many years ago, is currently showcasing his art exhibit, "Electric Hand: Rhythm + Change," at the 26,000-square-foot Martin Lawrence Galleries in The Forum Shops at Caesars. Tonight, March 28, from 6-8 p.m., and again on April 4, Allen will make special appearances to explain the unique process of his art and the inspiration for the exhibit, in addition to unveiling and signing a limited-edition print.
No, not to Lapland, but to downtown Las Vegas, where the annual Opportunity Village fundraiser had taken place for the previous seven years, before a surprise and evidently not-too-successful move to Town Square last year. We've been unable to locate any data indicating whether the shift cost Las Vegas its current place as holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Santas, but we do know the 9th Annual Great Santa Run, a 5k costumed fundraiser that features thousands of "Santas," including a bevvy of local celebrities, will take place downtown Dec. 7. Click the link above to see clips from last year's event.
We've just been updating everything for pool season 2013 and, frankly, after all those calls we're too exhausted to actually add the info. to our website (well, not today, anyhow ... patience, people.) But we had to share some cool stuff we came across that's coming up at Rumor, including:
We realize it's officially been springtime for a week now, while at Bellagio it's actually been spring since March 9, but we only just found a moment to post a link to the live webcam in the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, giving you a webcam's-eye-view of the seasonal display, which features sumptuous spring blooms, plus the usual welcome dose of whimsy, including a windmill, oversized butterflies and raindrops suspended from the ceiling, giant flower-filled clogs -- you know the kind of thing. The seasons officially change again May 19, when Bellagio switches to its summer presentation.
It's a double-whammy this week, with two featured offers in this week's exclusive LVA Gold newsletter (click to sign-up for free) and they're both dining deals.
With one offer, two people can enjoy dinner at Bistro Buffet for just $29 (reg. $52 for two), which includes unlimited beer or wine, and features New York steak, barbecue meats, crab legs, and a carving station Sunday through Thursday (with the addition of prime rib on Tuesday and Wednesday). Friday and Saturday features a seafood buffet, including crab legs, a raw bar, oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and sushi.
Deal number two is another $29 deal, this time for half off wine and appetizers for two (or, alternatively, a half bottle of chardonnay and a margherita pizza) at Mirage's ultra-cool Onda wine bar.
Click the links for additional details and to snap up either or both of these offers while they last, 'cos that won't be for long.
Catch him while you can: Joël Robuchon, who has earned more Michelin Stars than any restaurateur in history, will be in the kitchen at his eponymous eatery at MGM Grand (a perennial Top Tenner in Eating Las Vegas: the 50 Essential Restaurants) through Sunday, so book your table right now for a chance to sample the maestro's cuisine first-hand.
The already-intense winner-take-all battle for the sole Greater Boston resort-casino license heats up further today, with Steve Wynn having revealed a first glimpse of the rendering for Wynn Harbor Park, his proposed $1.2 billion plan for the site of the former Monsanto Chemical plant on the Mystic River waterfront. The move is expected to be answered by leading competitor Suffolk Downs, which is due to respond later today with a new 3-D model and renderings of its $1-billion proposal for its East Boston track, a collaborative effort with CET. No word as yet as to whether Foxwoods, the third horse in the race, will bring anything new to the table regarding efforts to build a suburban gambling resort off I-495 in Milford.
Having recently embarked on the third year in the latest chapter of her ongoing residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, it's been announced that Celine Dion has extended her relationship with CET and AEG, with a contract through 2019 which, if it comes to fruition, will mean a sixteen-year relationship between the Canadian chanteuse and the venue, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, having debuted with her previous show, A New Day,. back in 2003. Now, that's what we call a "residency"! (Take note Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Bill Maher, Andrew Dice Clay, et al)
Celine currently performs on a sporadic schedule (most months have shows, but some, like June, feature regular performances, while this month the singer and her 31-piece orchestra took the stage only twice, and April and May have no dates). Tickets start at $69.90, inclusive of taxes and fees.
Evidently, the Hard Rock just couldn't wait until its (admittedly how-come-so-late?) debut of Rehab 2013, so its suddenly decided -- like, 10 minutes ago! -- to kick off the party tomorrow, Wednesday March 27, rather than making everyone wait until April 21. So, get yourselves to the Paradise Beach Pool tomorrow for an impromptu warm-up session from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring Matt Tolfrey and the Leftroom, along with Seth Troxler and Jamie Jones, plus other surprise guests and bottle specials on Malibu Red (Baja Colada) and Patron XO Café.
Citing budget cuts under the sequester law, Nellis Air Force Base officials today announced the cancellation of the 2013 Aviation Nation air show, scheduled for November. Known as "America's Air Show," the event has been staged since 2002 and is the largest free public event in Nevada. The grand finale for the show, which drew a crowd of 135,000 people last year, has traditionally been a display by the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, but the remainder of their schedule for 2013 has been axed, due to the same budgetary constraints.
It was a bold move opening with a total smoking ban and the same move has been the demise of more than one gaming floor in the past. Hence, it comes as no big surprise that it's been announced the wave of sweeping changes to be implemented at the struggling Revel resort-casino in Atlantic City, which yesterday declared bankruptcy, is to include a reversal of its "no smoking" policy, allowing casino patrons to light up.
For more on this whole topic (Revel and casino-smoking policies), see the Question of the Day Archives, particularly: 7/11/05; 4/26/07 10/11/12; 12/23/12; 1/3/13; and 10/3/13). Click the link for a list of Las Vegas casinos with non-smoking areas (drop us a line if any of these have changed -- it's been a little while since we last checked).
Red Rock Resort has been named "Casino of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music its support of the Country music scene, hosting top artists including Toby Keith, Brantley Gilbert, Luke Bryan, Aaron Lewis, Uncle Kracker, and Jerrod Niemann during the course of 2012, while also hosting the weekly Nashville Unplugged performances in Rocks Lounge.
The new $100-million five-level indoor-outdoor restaurant/nightlife/daylife complex at MGM Grand, which starts rolling out April 18 with the debut of the nightclub portion, is hiring Go Go Dancers. Auditions take place tomorrow, Weds. March 27, from 4-7 p.m., inside LAX nightclub at Luxor. Bring a headshot and resume to the interview, or apply online at angelmg.com/jobs. The modern-Cantonese restaurant, to be overseen by Chef Ho Chee Boon, opens May 3.
Hakkasan, a collaboration between billionaire Alan Yau and local nightlife impresarios Angel Management Group, has signed residency contracts with star DJs Tiësto, Calvin Harris, deadmau5, and Steve Aoki in a $65-million+ package with which existing Las Vegas venues confess they cannot compete, so it will be interesting to see what happens to the club scene here over the next 24 months.
In this week's column, expert Bob Dancer assesses the importance of luck versus skill when it comes to success in video poker (and life). Read the article, then check out his "Secrets of Video Poker" free seminar coming up at South Point next month (April 9).
Dating site MeetAtTheAirport.com has ranked McCarran International Airport #2 out of the Top Five airports for "love at first flight," although the main factor cited is the availability of gambling, when that desperate last-minute slot session seems like more of a solitary occupation from our observation. Large busy airports with lousy weather, long delays, and lots of food and booze options we can understand (Miami ranked #1 for the chance of making a "hot connection," although from personal experience, we tend to feel more homicidal than romantic whenever we pass through that airport. Reno-Tahoe, Honolulu, and Santa Barbara round out this bizarre list.
As announced last month (see "Today's News" 2/20/2013), Atlantic City's Revel resort-casino has filed for Chapter 11 protection, less than a year after its much-vaunted debut and following the resignation earlier this month of both the CEO and CIO. Under the reorganization plan, agreed late on Monday, control of the project will be turned over to lenders and more than $1 billion of debt will be eliminated through a debt-for-equity conversion. Normal operations are set to continue under the plan and the resort is expected to emerge from bankruptcy by June or July, if all goes according to plan.
To all those readers who flooded our "in" box over the weekend, asking how come the categories in Saturday's poll results didn't add up to 100 percent, and whether that meant the "missing" 67 percent of respondents were "unisex zombies living in outer space," here's the answer (you'll kick yourselves when you read it):
The poll answers offered were check boxes, as opposed to radio buttons, i.e., respondents could and were encouraged to vote for multiple categories that applied to them (age, gender, and so on). Hence, the percentages are not really of any value in this instance, since they represent the percentage of the total votes cast across all categories -- it's the number of votes cast in each particular category that should be looked to for percentages.
We could have run multiple successive surveys asking gender, age bracket, place of residence, etc., but that would have gotten pretty tedious and the percentages for each of these can be extrapolated from the information presented in that single poll, if you're willing to do a little math. For example, 2,459 respondents stated that they were male, while 810 picked female, which breaks down to 75.2% and 24.7%, respectively, adding up to a total of 99.9%. Hence, evidently only 0.1% of voters are hermaphrodite/transgender, which is was remiss of us to omit as a category, for sure, and will be rectified the next time we run a demographic poll.
In the latest round of ongoing changes to the nightlife scene at MGM Grand, Tabú, it's just been announced that Tabú, the boutique nightclub, is to close effective Saturday, April 6 (last night of operation will be Friday, April 5). Details about future plans for the space will be released soon, apparently.
Excalibur launched a week-long social-media Easter-egg scavenger hunt today, which runs through Sunday, March 31. Each day during the promo period, an egg will be hidden at a major location within the property, located by solving a daily riddle posted on @ExcaliburCourt and Facebook.com/ExcaliburCourt. Decode the riddle, then be the first person to obtain the egg, to win one of a variety of prizes, which increase in value every day and include items such as one dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a $25 gift certificate to Castle Walk Food Court, a Popcornopolis variety pack, a pair of tix to Tournament of Kings or Australian Bee Gees, and a $100 gift certificate to The Spa. On Easter Sunday, the winner will score the grand prize of a two-night stay at Excalibur, a pair of tix to Thunder From Down Under, and a $50 gift certificate for the food court.
During the week-long scavenger hunt, Castle Walk patrons spending a minimum of $7 on any dining purchase will also receive one free prize-wheel spin for a range of food and beverage prizes at food court outlets.
Casino-industry columnist Howard Stutz reports in today's R-J how Boyd's recent sale of its Echelon site to Genting puts a figure on the current value of Strip land at approximately $4.02 million/acre—a far cry from the $34/acre that Phil Ruffin received back in 2007 for the site opposite Wynn that housed the New Frontier. The site of the former Klondike casino, at the south end of the Strip, recently fetched just $1.5 million an acre, but at 87 acres, the Echelon site is one of the few large parcels available, is more centrally located, and has frontage onto both the Strip and Sammy Davis Jr. Parkway (formerly Industrial Road).
On May 24, The Joint at the Hard Rock will welcome the "Kings of the Mic" tour, featuring hip hop legends LL COOL J with DJ Z-Trip, plus Ice Cube, Public Enemy, and De La Soul. Tickets, which start at $49.50, go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.
The D has brought back the Blarney Stone that was displayed at the casino when it was Fitzgeralds. The stone was brought back as part of its St. Patrick's Day celebration and now has a permanent residence in the Vue Bar, where it can be kissed or rubbed for good luck.
According to the annual study of County Health Rankings, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Clark County once again came in ninth of the 16 ranked counties in Nevada when it comes to health, based on factors including obesity, smoking, drinking, and family/social support. It's been the same for the three of the four annual reports (last year we dropped a notch to the #10 spot). Storey County made a huge leap from last year's #9 spot to the top of the list for 2013, while Nye was ranked as the "unhealthiest" county in Nevada.
Station and Fiesta buffets will offer special menus in honor of Passover on Monday and Tuesday this week. The special items will include, brisket, Charoset, Tzimmes, potato latkes, and matzah ball soup.
Here's one we hadn't heard about. Work is underway on a downtown complex called "Container Park," with restaraunts, bars, and retail outlets housed in prefabricated cubes. Located at Fremont and Seventh, up to 30 tenants are expected, with completion slated for October.
The annual "Best of Las Vegas" supplement is available in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal. It's a 94-page listing of reader votes and R-J picks of the best offerings in several categories. In a scaled-down gambling list, the readers voted for South Point and the R-J picked the Palms for "Best Video Poker/Slots." For "Players Club," Station's Boarding Pass was voted by the readers and Boyd's B Connected was chosen by the R-J. And the El Cortez scooped in blackjack, getting the nod from both sides.
The One Night for One Drop chartity event featuring the combined forces from several Cirque du Soleil shows went off last night. To share the experience around the world, an exclusive broadcast of the full-scale production is available for online viewing at ONEDROP.org, March 25-31, with a donation of $5 or more to ONE DROP.
You can do that tonight with the Eagles at MGM Grand. The concert is at 8 p.m. with tickets starting at $82.
Michel Richard's Central restaurant at Caesars Palace will offer a range of gourmet waffle specials this Monday, March 25, in honor of National Waffle Day. Each priced at $16 (they's better be "gourmet" at that price!), options include the Berrylicious or Peanut Butter Crisp for those with a sweet tooth, or the Waffles and Gravy savory option, stuffed with bacon, sausage, ham, chorizo, and cheese, for you carnivores. Guests can also opt to build their own waffle, choosing two ingredients from each of the above limited-edition creations (peanut butter and gravy, anyone?)
The 4th Annual Las Vegas Broadway Bares: The Barest Show On Earth fundraiser will be hosted by the Peepshow theater at Planet Hollywood on Sunday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. Hosted by award-winning television personality Scott Nevins, the show is a fundraiser for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS industry non-profit and will feature some of the sexiest Strip entertainers, including Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis of Chippendales and "The Amazing Race," iCANDY star Maren Wade, and Rock of Ages cast member Mark Shunock, together with Peepshow performers and others. Tickets are available in advance for $25, or $30 at the door (plus tax and fees).
Dates and details have yet to be officially confirmed, but at some point this year, Southwest Airlines plans to tighten the restrictions on its cheapest "Wanna Get Away" fares, including possibly by charging fees to customers who change their tickets some time after they were first purchased. At some point in 2013 the budget airline will also introduce a new no-show policy that charges a fee to people who don’t fly and don’t cancel in advance.
Ghostbar Dayclub, the Saturday afternoon "dayclub" at Palms place, throws its final beer-bong-and-piñata bash of the season tomorrow, Saturday March 23, with Alie Layus and Mark Stylz on the decks. Don't worry, it will be back in fall 2013, and now that pool season's afoot there's no shortage of decadent daylife debauchery to choose from.
LGBT club KRAVE, currently operating out of a temporary home in the Crown Theater at the Rio, while its permanent home in Neonopolis is completed, has announced a new partnership with Caesars Entertainment. Dubbed "The Massive Package," the deal includes room accommodation at Caesars Palace or Flamingo, spa and health club access passes, free admission, to KRAVE Massive, and shuttle service to and from the resort to the club. Contact the participating hotels for more information.
Not only has the newly independent Aliante Hotel + Casino been snapping up some cool local lounge acts (see "Today's News" 3/18), but they abolished the former $14.99 resort fee. This covered the usual resort-fee-type amenities, including fitness-center access, but that's free to all guests too, now, and Internet access is only $5.99/day per device, which is typically $11.99-$13.99 per night at hotels that charge à la carte for in-room amenities. Nice job!
As we noted yesterday in our weekly "Las Vegas this Weekend" highlights feature in "Today's News," tonight all of Las Vegas' seven resident Cirque du Soleil shows are dark, enabling performers from each to participate in a one off charity gala performance at Bellagio's O Theater -- a fundraiser for Cirque founder Guy Laliberté's "ONE DROP" non-profit, which aims to give all people across the planet access to clean drinking water.
It looks like tickets for ONE NIGHT for ONE DROP, which start at $150, are still available, or you can make a donation if you're unable to attend. The show takes place at 7:30 p.m. and celebrities expected to be in attendance on the red carpet include: Laliberté; Olympic gold medalists swimmers Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin; Shania Twain; Holly Madison; Pamela Anderson; Coco Austin; Criss Angel; Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s; Mayor Carolyn Goodman and husband/former mayor Oscar Goodman; and others to be confirmed.
Here are some more specials we've been sent/found (some of which we linked to from the Spotlight feature, but which we're now listing in full). We'll keep 'em coming as we come across new ones.
Zenshin, the new Pan-Asian (with a definite leaning toward Japanese cuisine) restaurant at South Point debuted yesterday and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (1 a.m. Friday and Saturday).
It looks like Atlantic City's latest marketing initiatives, spearheaded by the Atlantic City Alliance, the marketing coalition funded by the city's casinos, are actually paying off, with newly released figures revealing that tourism demand reached record levels in 2012, despite the ravages of Hurricane Sandy and ongoing challenges in the gaming market . Visitor spending was up nearly 3 percent, which together with capital investment and government funding, accounted for $40 billion, beating by a half-billion dollars the previous record, set back in 2007. While the casino win continued its slide, down 8 percent, visitation was up 5 percent and spending on rooms was up enough to offset the decline in gaming revenue.
See previous entry/Spotlight feature for the lowdown on March Mayhem; meanwhile, here are some of the highlights regarding all the other stuff going on this weekend. (Yes, there's more! This is Vegas, baby ;-)
Around these parts, you'd have to be under a rock to not know that today marked the beginning of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, colloquially known as "March Madness," and this year Las Vegas seems to have embraced this highlight in the sporting calendar even more vigorously than normal (as per the larger-than-life St Paddy's Day festivities last weekend). In case it hasn't already caught your eye, you can find our round-up of some of the biggest and best related parties, promotions, and contests in the Spotlight feature we posted yesterday.
Zappo's CEO Tony Hsieh, whose Downtown Project has been a leader among a new generation of entrepreneurs actively investing in the regeneration and redefinition of Las Vegas' original hub, which had long been in a state of economic decline and identity crisis, has just added the shuttered Western Hotel and Casino for $14 million, reports Vegas Inc.. Hsieh’s group apparently has plans to invest $200 million in downtown real estate, although no specific plans for this latest acquisition, nor the 8 acres between Las Vegas Boulevard and 11th Street purchased last year, have been revealed as yet.
A demonstration by nearly 2,000 members of the Culinary Union Local 226 blocked traffic on the Strip earlier today outside The Cosmopolitan, whose owners Deutsche Bank have been locked in contract negotiations with the union for two years, unable to reach a resolution over certain key issues, including seniority and health care. Nearly 100 protesters were arrested in the first incident in which civil disobedience -- the tactical use of nonviolent law breaking -- had been deployed on the Strip in two decades. The Union is the largest in the state of Nevada and represents 60,000 members, including housekeeping, food and beverage, and other service staff in hotels, plus certain workers at Valley Hospital, McCarran International Airport, and most of the major laundries in the Las Vegas area.
Any minute now (well, give us about a half hour or so), we'll be posting a much-expanded version of the March Madness events listings, which we we first posted in a recent "Question of the Day," but which now comes with added contests, not to mention all kinds of other exciting new happenings that have been announced in the interim.
However, in the interests of timeliness, we're telling you right now that registration for the free college hoops contest at the Palms closes at 10 p.m. tonight so get yourselves over to their shiny new race and sports book immediately! Players fill out a card with first-round match-ups and additional prop bets only once, so it's also convenient to play, and there's $15,000 being split between contestants who pick the most winners and the most losers.
Also, check out tomorrow's QoD, which goes live on our site at midnight, if you're having trouble reading the odds for winning the NCAA basketball tournament. All will be revealed...
Sorry, ladies -- we just learned that Stripped - The Play at Saxe Theater, and American Storm, which was also at Miracle Mile, at db's Pool and Pong, have both closed. So, if you wish to see fit men cavorting in their underwear, that leaves Chippendales and Thunder from Down Under on the Strip, plus, for something more up-close and personal, we have Men of Sapphire and Men of O.G., at the strip clubs indicated. If you want to see fit men cavorting without any underwear, check out Ladies Night at the Palomino (Lacy's Lounge) every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:30 p.m. It's the only all-nude male revue in the entire nation, and the only nude club in Vegas with full cocktail service. Just so you know.
And sorry boys, too: The Library, the old-school topless club out on Boulder Highway, has also closed.
Recently released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the population of Clark County had finally officially passed the 2 million mark (see "Today's News" 3/20/2013). However, the R-J reports today that this figure is being challenged by state demographer Jeff Hardcastle, who claims in his latest official population report that, as of July 1, there are only 1,988,195 of us. It's Hardcastle's figures, not the Bureau's, that are used in the distribution of state taxes to local governments. According to his latest estimates, here are the local major-population center numbers:
We just discovered via an @VegasChatter tweet that, contrary to earlier reports resulting in mass hysteria, Electric Daisy Carnival tickets are still available, although this year only 3-day passes area available and if you're 21+, those'll set you back $550 each, including fees. So, you'd better try and save some dough with an LVA hotel deal, right? The event takes place June 21-23, a little later than last year to avoid the pesky winds that shut the party down for awhile in 2012.
The periodic overnight lane closures on I-15 will continue from 9 p.m. tonight and Wednesday night, between Lake Mead and Cheyenne, for the ongoing bridge-construction project.
This Thursday, March 21, Caesars Entertainment is holding a job fair for U.S. Military veterans as part of its new company-wide "Enlisting Heroes" initiative. Hiring managers from departments including Hotel Operations, Food & Beverage, Casino Operations, and others, will be present to meet with qualifying candidates and conduct interviews (job offers will be extended to suitable applicants during the event).
Interested applicants should bring multiple copies of their resume and a military ID, or proof of military service, to the job fair, which takes place in the Amazon Ballroom at the Rio on Thursday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Business Professional dress is required. For more information and to register for the job fair in advance, visit caesars.com/enlistingheroes.
Brush up your resumes, because tomorrow the Thomas & Mack center hosts UNLV Career Day, a job fair featuring opportunities to meet potential employers representing all majors and industries, currently hiring for full-time and internship positions, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click the link for a list of participating companies. Attendees are reminded to bring along plenty copies of their resume and to dress professionally. Good luck!
In more yet more news from Caesars today, The Colosseum will mark its 10th anniversary on March 25, which in 2003 featured the premiere of Celine Dion - A New Day. The $95-million venue has since hosted more than 1,750 live performances, featuring more than 70 other stars, including Shania Twain, Elton John, Bette Midler, and Rod Stewart, performing to a total of nearly seven million fans.
While New Jersey regulators made a unilateral move yesterday in deciding to levy a fine against Caesars Entertainment regarding an incident that took place several years ago involving a high roller and two of the gaming giant's Las Vegas properties (see "Today's News" 3/18/2013), we now have confirmation that the case in Nevada was concluded back in 2011, when state regulators here concluded their own separate investigation and concluded, after many months of questioning of all parties involved, that no statutory violation had taken place on the part of the casino licensee, which nevertheless instituted some internal remedial measures to ensure that nothing similar could occur in the future. Case closed.
While The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, the magic movie featuring an unlikely cast that includes Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, and James Gandolfini, and which from descriptions we've read seems to pit an aging Siegfried-and-Roy-type duo against a Criss Angel-type street magician, was recently released to anything but wonderful reviews, the next Las Vegas-based film to hit our theater screens, as far as we know, will be the equally surprisingly-cast, but much-more-promising sounding Behind the Candelabra, the Liberace biopic from HBO, which is set to premier May 26. While on first hearing, we couldn't get our heads around Michael Douglas playing Liberace, nor Matt Damon in the role of his young lover, having seen some on-set photos, we can't wait to watch this one, much of which was filmed on location at LVH. Check out those bouffants! And the slacks! Not to mention Matt Damon in lipstick/a>! And what on earth ... all we can say is this one looks like a turkey had a horrible altercation with a meat-grinder.
If you didn't yet catch today's QoD, it's on the subject of The Savoy casino in CBS' TV series "Vegas," based on former real-life Sheriff Ralph Lamb. There's been much debate about whether the series, which is set in the '60s and stars Dennis Quaid as Lamb and Michael Chiklis as his nemesis, is going to be axed or not, but while TVbytheNumbers remains convinced of the series' imminent demise, Chiklis himself is adamant otherwise, with a Saturday Tweet saying, "Folks pay attention! #Vegas will return Friday nights at 9:00 starting April 5th for the remainder of the season" and urging fans to "Like" the show's Facebook page for updates.
The awesome Lon Bronson Band is back at Aliante for three gigs in April (Sat. 6, 13, and 20 at 9:30 p.m., with a $5 cover. No word yet as to whether this will become a regular fixture (they played some dates there this month, too, but nothing's confirmed past April). However, it's been announced that funkalicious band Boogie Knights, originally formed as a Halloween gag back in 1992 and going strong ever since, will be a permanent Saturday-night fixture every Saturday night at 10 p.m., also with a $5 cover. Come to the launch party March 29th dressed in your best '70s outfit for a shot at the top prize in the costume contest.
In one of the more bizarre stories to hit our news desk since the last wild-animals-run-amok -in-North-Las-Vegas debacle (was that chimps, or bulls, or maybe both? we forget...), comes word that local award-winning blogger Pulse of Vegas was engaged in some of his trademark crack investigative-journalism (with his feet) at The Quad, when he stumbled (literally) upon an interesting historic artifact, nestling inside a retired IP dragon, namely the sports section from a 1979 edition of The Milwaukee Journal. Naturally. Click the link for more on this fascinating (well odd, at least) find.
Allegro (formerly Stratta) at Wynn is getting in on the March Madness action tonight and inviting fans to view the games while indulging in all-you-can-eat tailgate fare with an Italian twist, including meatball sliders, chicken wings, meatball and margarita pizza, mini-chicken parmigiana, and truffled fries. The special menu, priced at $79 per person, is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the regular dinner menu's available from 5:30 p.m. onwards). The games will also be shown at Society Café Encore, Sugar & Ice, and at the resort bars and lounges. For more March Madness specials, see Question of the Day March 14 in the Archives, and check this column for additional happenings as we hear about them, not to mention the latest on odds, contests, and more.
The story of high roller Terrance Watanabe and his fight with Caesars Palace and the Rio has been well documented (in a nutshell, he owed the two properties $14.75 million in unpaid gambling debts, for which they sued him; Watanabe countered with his own suit, claiming he'd been plied with booze and drugs to make him gamble more. Both parties agreed to drop all charges following a confidential deal was reached in the summer of 2010).
However, today New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that what it deemed as the serious misconduct of what was then Harrah's, now CET, had the potential to harm the reputation of the casino industry nationwide, even though the entire incident took place in Las Vegas, outside of their jurisdiction. CET operates four casinos in Atlantic City and has agreed to pay the $225 million fine, stemming from papers filed that also claim that Caesars did not adequately protect its employees from the intoxicated Watanabe's alleged "inappropriate sexual conduct" in their presence and, in so doing, violated its own sexual harassment policy.
Meanwhile, an ongoing investigation launched by the Nevada gaming regulators, which was put on ice pending the outcome of the criminal case here, has yet to reach any conclusion, as far as we know. (We have a call in to the Chairman of the Gaming Control Board and will report back as soon as we hear from him.)
(As an interesting aside, although Las Vegas is widely regarded as the "gold standard" when it comes to gambling regulation, in fact New Jersey historically has generally been tougher, as part of a deliberate policy from the outset of legalized gaming in 1976 to establish a reputation for its casino industry as being squeaky clean and business-friendly, untainted by the "mob" associations that colored Las Vegas' past (for more see "Question of the Day" 3/3/2013).
In recent times, it was Atlantic City that forced MRI's hand in choosing whether to continue working with the controversial Ho family in Macau, or forfeiting the right to do business in New Jersey (the company chose the latter, although is now attempting to regain its foothold in the east coast market).
It's just been announced that all remaining dates on singer Morrissey's North American tour, including his scheduled performance at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on Saturday, April 20, have been cancelled due to a catalog of what the press release somewhat understatedly refers to as "medical mishaps" (which apparently have included a bleeding ulcer, Barrett’s esophagus, and double pneumonia). Sounds like he should stay home in bed.
On a happier note, aging punk rocker Billy Idol's set to play the Pearl at the Palms on May 25 (tix, which start at $49, go on sale March 22 at noon and fans who register for free for the presale at BillyIdol.net are automatically entered to win prizes, including the chance to meet the blond ex-Brit before his show at the upcoming Bonnaroo festival). Popular impersonator Jeff Dunham returns to The Colosseum at Caesars on June 24. Tickets for the "Disorderly Conduct" tour, which start at $49.50, also go on sale on March 22, but two hours earlier than Billy's (is this some kind of subtle contest between them?)
On the futures line at Pinnacle Sports, Louisville is the opening-line favorite to win the NCAA basketball tournament at +460, followed by Indiana at +500 and Florida at +700. The long shots are North Carolina A&T, Liberty, Southern, Western Kentucky, Long Island, and James Madison, all at just under +50000 (500-1). UNLV is +5500.
Two winner-take-all contests have been announced for the NCAA basketball championship. Station Casinos is running "Last Man Standing." All entry fees are returned as prize money and there's a $50,000 guarantee. Enter through March 21 at 9 a.m. William Hill is running "Three' N Out," which will allow more play with three losses necessary for elimination. This is also a 100%-return contest, and there's a $25,000 guarantee. Enter until the tip-off of the final game on March 21. Both have a $25 entry fee, with a buy-four-get-a-fifth-free deal, reducing the price to $20 per entry.
Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon will reopen with the high-end Gansevoort brand, famous for attracting a celebrity clientle in New York City. Gansevoort Las Vegas will have 188 rooms and rates will start at $249.
IHOP's traveling breakfast booth will be landing near Paris Las Vegas on Monday to give Vegas visitors a complimentary sneak preview of their newest menu item, Brioche French Toast, and to shoot material for the new TV commercial promoting the product, which is set to appear in restaurants nation-wide on April 15 in three flavors, including Bananas Foster, Berry Berry, and Peaches & Cream.
Visitors at Lake Mead National Recreation Area have been advised to secure their valuables before hiking, with park rangers having reported a half-dozen vehicle break-ins in the space of the past month at the Gold Strike Canyon Trailhead parking lot, two miles west of the Hoover Dam off U.S. Highway 93 in Boulder City. Other thefts, mainly of purses and wallets, have also occurred -- two at the White Rock Canyon Trailhead parking lot, and one each at the Alan Bible Visitor Center parking lot and at Kingman Wash.
On a happier hiking note, if pounding the local trails is a hobby of yours or someone you know, check out our extensive range of expert guides to hiking in Nevada, plus our fun new "52 Peak" deck of playing cards, all at ShopLVA.com.
Clark County's annual al fresco jazz series will return for its 24th year, with the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo and a lineup of guest performers commencing with Dee Dee Bridgewater on May 11, The Jeff Hamilton Trio on May 18, and Tom Scott on May 25. The series continues with Earl Klugh on June 1 and Pete Escovedo on June 8. Seating for those with picnic baskets, blankets and low-back chairs will begin at 6 p.m., with performances beginning at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Food vendors also will be available on site. Admission and parking are free.
Quad queens were beaten by a queen-high straight flush in the poker room at Planet Hollywood last week to produce the first Mega Beat jackpot and make winners of all 218 players actively playing poker in participating CET Las Vegas properties. The losing hand took home $672,420, while the winner got $69,401. The other 218 players split $672,420 for $2,159 each.
Today is one of the biggest party days of the year, with drinking deals and parties running all over town. LVA members can check out Friday's Question of the Day for an extensive list of activities.
Georges St. Pierre is a big -500 favorite over Nick Diaz in tonight's UFC Main Event. In the other big bouts, Johny Hendricks and Carlos Condit are pick 'em and Jake Ellenberger is -170 over Nate Marquardt.
In case you missed it in yesterday's humungous "Question of the Day" event roundup, House of Blues at MBay got the party started early, with "Ain't Patrick's Day." $45 gets you access to 20 different draft beers in the beer garden, with live entertainment featuring Contino, until 10 p.m. Tomorrow for their more orthodox "Saint Patrick’s day" shinding, enjoy the same great deal on the 20 beers from noon until 10 p.m., with seven different Irish bands rotating through House of Blues, Misuya (in Mandalay Bay,) and Rí Rá (in Mandalay Place).
You have until 5 p.m. to get to the Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA (4141 Meadows Lane) to take advantage of United Way of Southern Nevada's second and final free tax preparation "Super Saturday," as part of the "Earn It Keep It Save It" campaign. Don't worry if you can't make it today, however, as there will be additional participating venues open across the valley and offering the service though April 15. Dial 2-1-1 or visit uwsn.org/free-tax-help or eksnv.org to find the nearest tax preparation site, eligibility requirements, and what documents you will be required to bring.
J.C. Wooloughan's at Rampart is running a 3 to 6 p.m. happy hour, with $5 Irish appetizers and 50%-off Irish beers. There's a party tomorrow with a $20 cover.
Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace has opened the Cognac Lounge, in the area adjacent to the dining room that used serve the "Bites and Bubbles" menu. The list includes some of the world's finest cognacs, including Perfection by Hardy, Hennessy Ellipse, and Hine Talent.
For the first time since 2009, unemployment in Nevada has dropped into single digits. In the latest report, unemployment was 9.7% statewide, though it was still 10.2% in Las Vegas and 10.6% in Reno. After ranking as the worst state in the country for unemployment since early 2010, Nevada climbed to second worst behind Rhode Island.
Ticket prices for Madam Tussauds celebrity-waxwork exhibit at Venetian have been raised by $2 to $27.95 for adults, $17.95 for kids. All guests receive a 20% discount when booking online in advance (and LVA members get 50% off in the 2013 MRB).
Apologies to anyone who experienced any difficulties today when trying to purchase a product from our online store, ShopLVA.com. The Shopify platform that houses us was down for a while due to a DDOS attack, but their engineers have now got all online stores back up and running again.
While we like to pride ourselves on Las Vegas' surprisingly good record when it comes to eco-friendly initiatives, this is about the Irish green-beer-and-shamrocks-type green, and the fact that for the first time ever, the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign has been lit up with green bulbs in honor of St Patrick's Day. It's part of Tourism Ireland's "greening" promotion, which has seen iconic landmarks around the world, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, similarly illuminated for this year's celebrations.
Family musical-comedy act the Scintas, who've previously enjoyed residencies at the Rio and LVH (when it was the Hilton), and who've returned for regular but limited engagements at Suncoast, have landed a permanent gig at the D downtown, although details of the start date, ticket prices, and so on, have yet to be released.
The latest gourmet-burger joint to join Las Vegas' plethora of gourmet-burger joints is Burger Bistro at LVH, which features an intriguing menu of six different burger types to choose from, including classic Angus beef, plus novel options like California lamb, yellowtail tuna, turkey breast, lump & black fin crab, and kosher vegetarian. 30 different types of beer are also available. Burgers are in the $10-$15 range and it's open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
A chemical spill caused by a stolen truck carrying stolen buckets of chlorine (who steals buckets of chlorine?) closed Desert Inn Road for five hours this morning, but it's now open to traffic once more.
Not sure how to celebrate this year's Green Beer Day? We have, um, a few suggestions in today's Question of the Day. (Warning: Take a deep breath before clicking that link. We're slightly intoxicated just from typing it.)
Debuting just in time for March Madness, bookmaker William Hill will officially unveil its flagship downtown race and sports book at the Plaza on Tuesday, March 19 at 10 a.m. Well-known sports-bettor and former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will cut the ceremonial ribbon and place the first bet (with any winnings going to charity). There will be free nosh provided by Pop Up Pizza and a mini-basketball giveaway. The new book features 25 high- and low-top tables with seating, 37 carrels, and 12 display boards.
Florida's Lt. Gov. has quit her position amidst an alleged $300 million Internet-betting scandal that used a veteran's charity as a front for executives to personally enrich themselves to the tune of millions of dollars and lavish accouterments including beachfront condos, boats, and luxury sports cars. While Jennifer Carroll is not among the nearly 60 people charged in the racket, the PR firm she owns has previously done work for Allied Veterans, a purported charitable organization founded in 1979, which legally should have been the beneficiary of the company's 50 Internet parlors that computerized slot machine-style games under Florida state law. To date, the investigation has led to mutiple search and arrest warrants being issued in six states and the seizure of some 300 bank accounts containing $64.7 million.
According to the latest official census figures released today, the population of Clark County, long the most populous in Nevada, officially surpassed 2 million people last July, although unofficially it's thought that the figure had been reached on previous occasions prior to the housing-bubble burst.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi has formed a new reciprocal arrangement with The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to enable VIP guests of the two stand-alone properties to enjoy the benefits of their player rewards points at either property, with perks including tickets to concerts, food credits, and airfare. If a player at one resort wishes to visit the other, they should contact their host, who will make all the necessary travel arrangements; upon arrival, they will be assigned a liaison at the partner property, who will take care of on-the-ground details like dinner reservations or event tickets. The new deal cements an existing informal relationship that has seen Biloxi guests taking golf trips to Vegas, plus co-hosted player parties in Houston, Atlanta, and other cities, and plans are in the works for employees and visitors of each to receive special deals and promotions toward visits to the other destination.
As an overture to St Paddy's Day, tonight sees local mixologists vying for the title of "Guinness Cocktail Champion" at Hyde Bellagio for the best original cocktail recipes using Guinness. The "Live Music Thursdays" event features a special one-off Rock ‘N Brew Acoustic Lounge set tonight from "American Idol" contestant Mahi Crabbe.
While some party pools opened early, like Marquee at Cosmo and Naked at Artisan, and others, including Moorea Beach, Wet Republic, Rehab, and the new Daylight adult pool at MBay don't get going until later (March 22 for the first two, April 22 for Rehab, and May 26 for Daylight), this weekend sees the main kickoff of the 2013 pool season, to coincide with Spring Break (not to mention St Patty's Day and March Madness). Here's the roundup of this weekend's debuts; we'll be updating our Cool Pools feature for this season as of next week, so stay tuned for updates:
Thursday, March 14:
Obviously the main events include St Patrick's Day and the debut of the 2013 "Daylife" pool season, March Madness just around the corner. Today's Question of the Day has all your hoops hotspots covered, and our St Paddy's Day event roundup will be covered in the spot tomorrow. Details of pool openings will be posted shortly in this column, so below, please find all the other highlights to look forward to this weekend, which on top of everything else is also big one comedy and music-wise. Wow!
Gossip columnist extraordinaire Robin Leach is Tweeting that the World Food Championships, which held its inaugural event last year in Las Vegas, will return to Sin City from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 for the 2013 contest. The host hotel has yet to be named, but the competition, which has several categories and boasts a $300,000 prize purse, will take place across multiple properties. Last year, the "Best Sandwich" category was won by a Las Vegan. Some 400 culinary contestants are expected to vie for this year's prizes.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina has been named as the new Pope -- a surprising choice for many and an outsider in the betting, with former odds of 33-1 listed on Paddy Power.
Timothy Poster, former co-owner, with Tim Breitling, of the Golden Nugget, resigned Monday as CEO of Wynn Las Vegas. it's been announced. No reason has been forthcoming as to why he quit after less than a month in the position.
Studio Cafe, the coffee shop at MGM Grand, will close Saturday, March 16. The space is undergoing renovations and will re-open this summer as Avenue Bar & Grill, a new 24-hour restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
There are reports that white smoke has been seen at the Vatican, indicating that a new pope has been elected. The reports are likely accurate, given that the line on the next pope is now off the board at offshore sports books. The favorite at pope post was Angelo Scolla at 2-1, followed by Peter Turkson at 3.5-1.
It's been announced that Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis and Chief Investment Officer Michael Garrity are both to step down from their positions at the troubled Atlantic City resort-casino, although they will both remain in the employ of Revel Group. The highly anticipated $2.4 billion resort finally debuted last April, with construction having been placed on hiatus during the worst of the recession, but has struggled since opening to get a foothold in the already hard-hit New Jersey gambling market (see "Question of the Day" 1/3/2013 and 1/10/2013 in the QoD Archives for details.)
This week's advice column from our resident video poker guru is about how low a man should bow, or how deeply a lady's expected to curtsy, should either gender happen to run into the Queen of England on the casino floor. Just kidding (although it's conceivable she might descend on the Strip in pursuit of her errant grandson). Bob's column is actually about the perils of being a well-known figure and what behavior is socially acceptable, if by chance you spot an expert or famous player out and about. While people like Bob Dancer and Anthony Curtis are more than happy to say hello and maybe offer a some useful advice, should you encounter either of them in a casino, that's basically their "office" and they're almost certainly working, whether playing or scouting. Likewise a restaurant, if it's AC -- he's either reviewing it, in which case he's trying to keep a low profile, or else he's simply trying to enjoy a relaxing meal. They're both well-brought-up young men, often too polite to cut off an over-zealous admirer who's intruding on their privacy or blowing their cover (well, maybe not so much in Bob's case!), but check out his advice about what's reasonable behavior, so you don't inadvertently cross the line. (Hint: Telling either of them to @#!& off, if they politely indicate they need to go, does not fall into that category! And pumping someone for endless free advice when they make their living from consulting is kinda like sticking your hand in their pocket and helping yourself to a few bills.)
The iconic Sahara hotel sign was removed Tuesday morning, pending the property's reincarnation as the new SLS Las Vegas, which broke ground last month and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014. Although the exotic Moroccan-inspired signage has been part of the north Strip landscape for decades, apparently there are no plans to donate it to downtown's Neon Museum and its fate remains unclear. Fingers crossed someone sees sense on that one and does the right thing to preserve this piece of Las Vegas hotel history from a property whose former guests included Spencer Tracy, Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne, Eddy Arnold, Mae West, George Burns, the Rat Back, Jack Benny, and the Beatles, and whose showroom and lounge were graced by the likes of Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Marlene Dietrich, Liza Minnelli, Don Rickles, Bill Cosby, Frank Sinatra, and Cher, to name but a few of the stars who headlined there.
Hotwire.com today announced its March 2013 Travel Savings Indicator, which lists the top five destinations in North America where hotel, airfare, and car-rental rates have dropped the most year-on-year, and for the eighth consecutive month, Las Vegas ranks high as a hotel-value hotspot, with average room rates down 6 percent on the same month last year. To find the current best rates for the city, check out our Hotel Deals listings, updated daily. Note: To view and book the top offers, you need to sign up for a free LVA Gold membership, which simply requires a valid email address, and we'll also send you a weekly email newsletter with the best-of-the-best current deals on Las Vegas hotels and show tickets.
Sammy Hagar is severing his ties with his Bally's Atlantic City Beach Bar, having been unable to reach a mutually acceptable financial deal with CET to rebuild the venue, which was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The bar will reopen, but under the Bally's brand name. Meanwhile, Trump Plaza is also opting not to reopen its beach bar, citing the increased competition posed by Jimmy Buffett’s new beachfront LandShark Bar & Grill, which is the centerpiece of the $35 million Margaritaville-themed bar, restaurant, and casino expansion at Resorts, scheduled to debut Memorial Day weekend at Resorts.
Las Vegas is already well-catered to when it comes to Asian food, but personally, we can't get enough of the stuff, so it was great news to hear about the two-story Night Market coming to the Linq (see "Today's News" ) and now comes word from the Vegas Eater blog that, after a long delay, Stir Krazy Mongolian Grill will soon debut at the The Shoppes at Harmon Square (opposite the Hard Rock), serving time-honored Asian-fusion and Mongolian-barbecue recipes.
Rock ‘n’ roll comedy bad boy Andrew Dice Clay commences his "residency" at the Hard Rock's Vinyl venue this Thursday, March 14, with a one-of-a-kind residency starting Thursday, March 14. The only performer banned for life from MTV, Clay will perform select dates through May 26, with tickets starting at $59. Note: The show contains his signature brand of graphic language, adult satire, and strong sexual content, so absolutely NO ONE under 18 will be admitted and NO refunds will be given based on show content, should you happen to get offended.
While many gaming jurisdictions, including Atlantic City, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania have been experiencing recent revenue declines, the recent winner has been the Native American casino sector, which accounts for 43 percent of the industry and has grown from virtually nothing to become a $27 billion business in the span of just 20 years. According to a recent report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Las Vegas now accounts for just 10 percent of U.S. casino revenue, while regional commercial gaming makes up the other 43 percent. The BAML report, published here by Business Insider, reveals the dramatic shift in the significance of tribal casinos over the past two decades.
An annual tradition for many years now, Tony Bennett will return to Las Vegas this May for a one-night-only engagement, this year hosted by The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Tickets for the performance, which is on on Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m., start at $59.50 and go on sale Friday March 15 at 10 a.m.
Enter the Terrible Herbst Monster Energy Giveaway anytime this month for a chance to win a Kawasaki KLX 140 Dirt Bike, a VIP experience at the AMA Monster Energy Supercross Finals, taking place at Sam Boyd Stadium April 5, plus Monster Energy apparel and drinks. Must log in with Facebook to enter.
In time for Spring Break, Blue Man Group is offering special Day of Show Student Rush ticket rates. Present a valid student ID and mention "Student Rush" to save more than 50 percent on same-day ticket purchases, available from the Box Office or concierge desk at Monte Carlo.
The center bar at Red Rock Resort has been remodeled. Still called Lucky Bar, walls have been knocked down, opening it up to the rest of the casino. The big attraction is the new cocktail outfits, which are as edge-pushing as we've seen in some time. Video poker schedules at the bar have been downgraded, but who cares!
If you're looking for a fountain into which to toss a coin for luck, head to the indoor rainstorm in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. All coins retrieved from the fountain will be donated to March of Dimes Nevada through the end of March.
A Colorado woman won $1.2 million jackpot at the Riviera this week. She was playing the slot 1,000,000 Degrees.
The Mexican restaurant Dos Caminos is set to reopen tomorrow at its non-casino location at 10820 W. Charleston Blvd. The restaurant operated until recently at the Palazzo.
Watch for traffic snarls on I-15 today on either side of the NASCAR Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup race as fans head to and from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race begins at noon. Kyle Busch is the favorite at +200, followed by Jimmie Johnson at +450.
To sweeten the blow of losing an hour's sleep last night, the Krispy Kreme outlet inside the Castle Walk Food Court at Excalibur is offering one complimentary donut per person from 9 a.m. to noon. No purchase necessary.
Don't forget to move your clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time. This is particularly important if there's a game you don't want to miss betting today.
Our apologies for an earlier technical problem with the results of the last Reader Poll, which went live earlier today. We've fixed the problem now, so you can see the results, which will also be freely available in the Poll Archive for anyone to look at after today.
Tonight marks the second anniversary of the Vegas StrEATS food-truck, arts, and music festival, held the first Saturday of every month in the park across the street from the El Cortez. The festival runs from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Kerry Simon has signed on to design the menu at Sapphire Grill, the restaurant at the gentlemen's club's new day life pool. The $8 million Sapphire pool is set for a May 2 opening.
Downtown's Smith Center for the Performing Arts, heralded as "dazzling" by the New York Times and "a cultural oasis" by the L.A. Times, and which challenges the long-touted cliche that Las Vegas "has no culture," celebrates its first anniversary today, having clocked up 420,000 ticket sales and 450 performances during its first year in operation. Congrats!
Meet "Vegas Rag Doll" author Wendy Mazaros, who'll be signing copies of the memoir that chronicles her experiences as the wife of a mob hit man in Las Vegas, from 1 to 5 p.m. today at downtown's Mob Museum.
In another milestone in downtown's cultural rise, the new Discovery Children’s Museum, an interactive attraction that encourages kids to climb, invent, build, play, and learn from traveling exhibits like "Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon," celebrates its Grand Opening today. The museum's located adjacent to The Smith Center; visit DiscoveryKidsLV.org for more information.
The statewide gambling win dropped 12.4% in January compared to the same month last year. The Strip fell a big 18.69%, while downtown was off 4.9%. Much of the reason for the decline was a 48.9% drop in baccarat handle, attributed to the Chinese New Year running into February. Nevada sports books reported a $1 million loss for the month.
Following a record year for visitation in 2012 and in quest of 40 million visitors in 2013, Las Vegas haas stumbled a bit out of the gate. Visitation was down .7% in January. conventions were up 6.2%.
NASCAR officials have canceled Friday's scheduled qualifying runs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. According to NASCAR, the starting field for Sunday's Sprint Cup Kobalt Tools 400 race will be set to last year's final points standings. Saturday and Sunday's events are expected to go on as scheduled.
Following announcements earlier this year first that Coyote Ugly was hiring (see "Today's News" 1/24/12), and then that the venue was closing unexpectedly ("TN" 2/18/12), comes word today that Angel Management and MRI have apparently reached a new agreement and Coyote Ugly at New York-New York is now to remain open.
The Silverton is making a strong bid to March Madness central, with some crazy food and drink deals at Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge, Shady Grove Lounge & Bar, and Mi Casa Grill Cantina. During every televised NCAA Basketball Tournament game, specials will include $4 PBR pitchers at all bars, $12 Corona/Corona Light buckets (6), and $2 Jager shots, while some of the bargain food specials include $2 pizzas inside Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge (usually start at $7) and $2 tacos, taquitos, and quesadillas at Mi Casa Grill Cantina, among many other options.
The third and final movie in The Hangover trilogy, outrageous comedies set in Las Vegas, debuts in theaters this Memorial Day, but an official trailer teaser has just been released on the film's website.
The world's first Nobu Hotel Restaurant and Lounge, which debuted wtihin Caesars Palace last month, has evidently been garnering praise from many corners of the media, including scoring a pick as one of the Hottest New Hotels for 2013 as determined by CNN, while the New York Post lavished praise on the in-room dining menu. Still, Kitty Bean Yancey at USA Today was less gushing, and took issue with aspects of the rooms' comfort, or lack thereof, including the absence of bathtubs in standard-room bathrooms, the relatively diminutive size of the rooms themselves and the closets, the lack of catering to the business traveler (no desks), uncomfortable sofas, etc. The prices, which include $16 for a miniature bottle of Bombay Sapphire and $8 for water in the minibar, also raised the eyebrows of this veteran travel writer.
Saturday, March 9 sees the first performance in a scheduled year-long run of Raiding the Rock Vault, the new rock-nostalgia concert experience at LVH, which features a lineup of artists from legendary bands including Heart, Bad Company, Guns n' Roses, Survivor, Asia, Badfinger, The Offspring, and more.
In addition, rotating special guests will be confirmed, kicking off with Bobby Kimball (Lead Vocals - Toto), followed by Joe Lynn Turner (Lead Vocals - Rainbow, Deep Purple) joining the show at the end this month.
Now through Saturday, March 23, college students with valid ID receive $20 beer buckets and $5 Three Olives cocktails at Crazy Horse III gentlemen's club from 7 to 9 p.m. nightly.
"Slotzilla," the new bigger and badder version of downtown's zipline attraction, is officially under construction, reports the LV Sun. Following the success of the smaller Flightlinez zipline, which has operated on the Fremont Street Experience for more than two years, the new ride will feature a 12-story takeoff tower in the form of a giant slot machine, plus and two landing pads servicing two different rides, including one which will reach speeds of 35 mph and for which riders will lie flat on a harness "super-hero"-style. Construction work, which is due to be completed this summer, is currently diverting pedestrian traffic in the middle section of the FSE, in the vicinity of Neonopolis and the Fremont.
Jay Bolan, whose acoustic act at the Four Queens is in the LVA Top 10 for March, is headlining the NASCAR weekend concerts on the 1st Street Stage at the Fremont Street Experience. Free shows will take place from 10 p.m. through 1 a.m. today through Sunday, featuring Jay's band from L.A., rather than his acoustic set, ("We rock!", he assured us), who'll headline each night aside from Saturday, when they open from 6 to 8 p.m. for '80s band KIX. If you enjoy and want some more, we have a download deal for free tix to Jay's show at the Four Queens at couponsinvegas.com.
NASCAR pretty much takes over this weekend, with associated events taking place across town, but there's plenty else going on if cars aren't your thing:
Starting this week, and running through March 28, Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina is offering all Spring Break students 25 beers for $25 Tuesday through Thursday, from 3 to 6 p.m.
A reminder that the NASCAR festivities are kicking off right now in front of Caesars, as the superstars of the track roar into town for this weekend’s big races. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is newly teamed with AMP Energy, is celebrating the re-launch of the orange-flavor drink with an "orange burnout" in front of the Caesars fountains and teaching fellow AMP athletes Urijah Faber and Scotty Lago how to perform a burnout.
Not only is the avant garde human zoo/nightclub at Palazzo not closing, but it's expanding into the after-hours scene, with the launch of White Rabbit Saturday nights starting April 6, reports Daily Fiasco (and @TheActLV retweeted the news, so it must be true).
Yep, it's that time again, so get your votes in on the current LVA Reader Poll before the new one bursts forth at midnight.
Joining the list of culinary casualties is Michael Mina's Knobhill Tavern at MGM Grand, which we just learned will be closing for good March 30. The good news, however, is that Mina will be opening a new restaurant in the spot previously occupied by his Seablue restaurant at the same property, which closed last summer.
Never a brand to do things by halves, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club in Las Vegas has a couple of exclusive packages to choose from if you feel like splurging a bit (actually, it's really only one package, because once one of 'ems gone, all deals are off). For $500,000, you and your party can enjoy the very last bottle of Dom Perignon Rose Gold vintage in the world (a Russian tycoon just quaffed the penultimate methuselah at a bar in London, and in so doing set a record, at $75,000, for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold in the U.K.)
This last-remaining bottle is dipped in pink gold and is actually worth more than the six liters of prized bubbly that it contains. However, not only do you get to keep the bottle: With this package, you're also entitled to special use of Larry Flynt's private suite, multiple Hustler Honeys at your disposal (at that price, we'd want a whole herd), and VIP access to every Hustler Club in the world, among other perks. Or, seeing as this really is a once-in-a-lifetime never-to-be-repeated experience, step it up a notch and treat yourself to the full $1,000,000 version, which includes all of the above, plus a private chartered flight to/from your home, a hotel-suite stay for two nights -- oh, and a brand new Ferrari. Obviously. As they say at LFHC: "Go BIG...or stay HOME!"
In a continuation of the Stations' reversal of policy and the ousting of third-party chain restaurants in favor of company-owned brands, the former Denny's space at Fiesta Henderson is being transformed into the Café Fiesta, due to open mid-March. A 24/7 coffee shop serving up some healthy alternatives, along with staples like pancakes and French toast, no single item on the menu will cost more than $9.99.
According to The Act, their nightspot at Palazzo is still open for business as usual, contrary to the report by John Curtas in his Eating Las Vegas blog earlier today (a rumor he's since retracted). It's all confusion and flux at Venetian/Palazzo right now, apparently, so watch this space for continual updates about who's in (Batali? Boulud?), who's out (DeMarco, Selvaggio, everyone else?), and what the heck's going on over there.
The Light Group’s new adult beach club opening at Mandalay Bay this summer (see "Today's News" 1/7.2013) will will be called Daylight, Robin Leach writes today in his "Strip Scribbles" column at the LV Sun. He also reports that tattoo deity Mario Barth will open his third Las Vegas studio at MGM Grand, complementing his Starlight venue at Mandalay Bay and King Ink studio and nightspot at the Mirage.
Yesterday came word that Valentino's days are numbered; now comes confirmation, via Eating Las Vegas author and food-blogger-in-the-know John Curtas, that FIRST Food & Bar (Palazzo), along with sister restaurant Rattlecan (Venetian), which only debuted in November, and The Act alternative nightspot, which also recently debuted in the Shoppes at Palazzo, were all shuttered, without notice to staff, last night. No word as yet as to what, if anything, will take their respective places.
Yep, that's what this week's column is about. That's all we're saying, so you'd better read it.
A day after the announcement of Genting's acquisition of Echelon from Boyd for $350 million (amended from early reports of $500 million), details of the project have been released. Resorts World Las Vegas will be Asian-themed, with a live panda habitat, a replica of the Great Wall of China, tea gardens, pagodas, and a 7.5-acre indoor water park. Seven hotel towers will surround an 8 million-square-foot complex featuring high-end dining, entertainment, and retail options.
The Nevada Taxicab Authority today authorized 20 additional permits for each of the 13 cab companies still operating in Clark County, after the drivers' union at Yellow-Checker-Star, the second-largest operator in the valley, launched a strike on Sunday.
Eating Las Vegas co-author and soon-to-be TV host John Curtas reports today in his blog that the days are numbered for an ELV 2013 Top Ten newcomer, with news that Piero Selvaggio’s Valentino will be leaving the Venetian in June. There's no word as yet as to what may take its place, but Selvaggio is apparently actively seeking new premises.
Popular race driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be promoting the re-launch of AMP Energy Orange drink by performing "the ultimate orange burnout" in front of Caesars Palace this Thursday. Earnhardt will be joined by fellow AMP Energy athletes Urijah Faber (MMA) and Scotty Lago (Olympic snowboarder) at the publicity stunt kicks off at 11 a.m.
Cosmopolitan's Boulevard Pool officially opened for the 2013 season today, with daily hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MGM Grand's main pool complex was the first to debut this year, having already been open for a couple of weeks, but most party pools (including Liquid, Bare, Encore, and Tao Beach) will open mid-month, in time for the Spring Break crowd. Wet Republic starts up March 22, while the first Rehab is set for April 21 at the Hard Rock.
Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar on Paradise (opposite the Hard Rock) now features live music from Jazz Workshop from 10 p.m. every Monday, plus from 11 p.m. there's a "reverse" happy hour, including 50 percent off the full menu and 25 percent off drinks (including most bottled wine). There's no cover.
Silverton's upped the ante on Senior Mondays throughout March, with club members aged 50+ now eligible for three daily drawings held at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. for a top prize of $1,000 cash and minimum of $50 in slot free play. Senior Mondays perks also include a 50% discount on meals at all Silverton restaurants from 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
In perhaps the most significant Las Vegas development in years, Malaysia-based Genting Group will buy the stalled Echelon property from Boyd Gaming Corp. for $500 million. Genting, will build a $2 billion resort called Resorts World Las Vegas that will include 3,500 rooms, a 175,000-square-foot casino, multiple restaurants, 500,000 square feet of convention space, and 250,000 square feet of retail. Echelon, orginally called Echelon Place and intended to be a CityCenter-style metaresort, has sat idle since construction was halted in 2008. The new Genting resort is scheduled to open in 2016.
The $400 million Horsesoe Casino Cincinnati is set to open on Monday. It's the last to open of four casinos that were licensed in Ohio, following Toledo, Cleveland, and Columbus.
According to a story in Vegas Inc. magazine, Station Casinos is reducing the number of video poker machines it offers with schedules that return 100% or better. Spokespeople for Station confirmed the reduction, but added that not all 100-percenters are being removed and claimed that Station properties are still the market leader, with "2,100 games with paybacks of 100% or more" and "27,000 games with paybacks of 99.8% or more."
All through March, Club Cortez players winning a jackpot of $200 or more on slots, video keno, or video poker machines of five-cent or lower denom, or a $300 or higher jackpot on a ten-cent or higher vp machine, will receive a free box of Russell Stover’s candies, plus entry into the weekly Saturday night 40" LCD HDTV giveaway and $2,000 cash prize drawing. See Club Cortez for additional info. and to redeem tickets.
January saw a dip in passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport, down 1.6 percent from a year ago. It's the seventh of the past eight months to see a decline, but the drop has generally been less than 1 percent, and a slight uptick is expected in March. The fall in air-passenger traffic has also been largely offset by a rise in the number of visitors arriving by car, although historically those arriving by air tend to stay longer and spend more.
Brian Stann is a -305 favorite over Wanderlei Silva in tonight's UFC Main Event. In the other big match, Stefan Struve is -200 over Mark Hunt.
The Las Vegas Convention & Visitor's Authority has approved the first phase of a $2.5 billion makeover of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The first phase of creating the Las Vegas Global Business District consists only of planning and is budgeted at $150 million. If it goes to conclusion, the 8- to 10-year project would create a "World Trade Center building" and a "multimodal transportation center."
Former "Food Network Star" contestant chef Vic "Vegas" Moea opens his new Sun City Anthem Country Club restaurant tonight. Vic's, which features floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed views of Las Vegas, will serve "upscale gourmet junk food" and is currently open 4–10 p.m., Sun. to Thurs., and 4-11 p.m. on the weekend. Lunchtime service will be added in the coming weeks.
Rí Rá Las Vegas Irish pub in Mandalay Place hosts its second annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event today to raise money for childhood-cancer research. Celebrity shavers from Peepshow, including "Peep Diva" Cheaza and Josh Strickland, will serve as guest hairdressers and shave the first volunteer shavee heads, aided by local hairdresser volunteers throughout the day. The event kicks off at 1 p.m. and will feature live music and other festivities. All donations welcome.
Every Monday and Wednesday throughout the month of March, use your points to pay and get half off your meal at any restaurant at South Point, at any time during opening hours. (The new Zenshin Asian eatery debuts March 20.)
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has brought back its filet and lobster combo now through April 7. It's $37.95/person and comes with a starter and side. It's an off-menu special available upon request. (Note: Fleming's was a pioneer of special-diet needs and now boasts a full gluten-free menu. Click the gluten-free button for a list of other accommodating Las Vegas restaurants, plus you'll find links in our Restaurant section to veggie/vegan-friendly, kosher, and halal restaurants, too.)
MGM Resorts International today announced plans to build a 20,000-seat indoor arena, on land it owns behind the Monte Carlo and New York-New York, reports business columnist Howard Stutz in the R-J. While no figures were mentioned, the company said the facility would be built with a combination of private funding and a partnership with AEG, which already operates several sports stadiums around the country. Apparently aiming to give rival CET's LINQ development a run for its money, the new complex will also include retail, dining, and entertainment offerings.
Friday's Washington Post carries an AP story about the trend among casinos nationwide to switch out their poker rooms for more lucrative slot machines, citing the effects of the crackdown on online poker causing a drop-off in the popularity of live games. In Las Vegas, however, the picture is somewhat contradictory, with established poker hotspots actually showing signs of expansion in recent times, if anything, while only newcomers to the table, or marginal rooms, have been dropping off the radar (see Question of the Day archives 2/22/2013).
As off Feb. 22, Friday Seafood Night was discontinued at the Orleans buffet. The dinner buffet now features prime rib and shrimp scampi nightly, and the price has been raised from $14.99 to $15.99 (for B Connected card holders, the price has apparently been dropped from $13.99 to $12.99, according to the Food & Beverage representative we just spoke with).