As is the norm, there will be road closures taking effect this evening in the vicinity of the Strip and downtown areas in anticipation of the "America's Party" New Year's Eve festivities. Here's the lowdown:
The secret to being a successful gambler, explains video poker pro Bob Dancer in this week's column, is about keeping a lot of different balls in the air. And we're not talking just any old balls: These "balls change sizes and shapes while in the air." Yikes! Check out his latest article for tips on how not to drop them, and how to deal with it when one of those sneaky shape-shifting critters slips through your fingers, as it inevitably will.
Back on Dec. 14 we reported that, after a 3-decade long relationship, the National Finals was ditching Las Vegas as the host venue in favor of a more lucrative deal and new custom venue in Florida. However, within less than 24 hours it became apparent that key parties involved in the process had made no such final decision and that Las Vegas was still very much in the mix as potential host after the current contract expires in 2014 (see ClassicLasVegas blog).
Fast forward to today and the latest word is that Las Vegas Events, the organizer here, has extended the deadline to Jan. 14 for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to make its counteroffer on keeping the NFR in Vegas after 2014 (the negotiating time should have been up at the end of this year). However, in public statements it's already been made clear that, having believed their offer had already been passed over many months ago, due to a lack of response from the PRCA, LVE has already been working on a Plan B to fill the imminent "event gap" that would be left by the NFR's departure, and gives the impression of being ready to move on, regardless of what the PRCA may now decide it wants.
It's been a long time coming -- it was back in 2008 that construction first began on a planned 106-acre retail district designed to give a "vibrant, walkable downtown" to west Las Vegas' Summerlin community -- but after a massive recession-driven building hiatus and a worker fatality, there's finally some good news about the Shops at Summerlin, where progress is now clearly visible, as you can see from the photograph in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal. Located adjacent to Red Rock Resort, when the project is completed it will comprise 1.6 million square feet of dining, entertainment, office, and retail space, anchored by a Macy's and a Dillard's. The grand opening is slated for the end of 2014, in time for the holiday shopping season.
Obviously, there are a bazillion (that's official -- we counted) parties going on for New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, but for something a little different, you could ring in 2014 while skating on the Cosmo ice rink. With views overlooking all the Strip insanity, the ice rink at the Boulevard Pool is a cool (literally) spot for catching the fireworks and/or the chance to watch a live stream of Bruno Mars' Dec. 31 from inside the property's new concert venue, The Chelsea, on a 65-foot (just about big enough to display Bruno's new 'fro, we reckon) digital marquee. Tickets are $112.40 for the (frozen) pool party that runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and features the seasonal facility's habitual offerings of firepits, s'mores, warming beverages, and other wintry goodies.
It's been an eventful end of year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, first with news of GSP's exit from the world of MMA following a controversial victory, then the abrupt halt Saturday's UFC 168 main event when Anderson Silva suffered a horrific leg break that may end his career. On a more positive note comes news that the Vegas-based mixed martial arts event company's latest enterprise is the upcoming launch of a new digital subscription service as interest in the mushrooming sport spreads to Europe and Asia.
"UFC Fight Pass," which not only screen exclusive live coverage of fights from around the world, but will also offer fans access to a huge MMA video library, related shows like "Ultimate Fighter," "UFC Unleashed," and "Best of PRIDE," plus special features, in-depth interviews, and up-to-the-minute MMA news from events around the globe. As UFC Chief Exec. Lorenzo Fertitta put it, "It’s Netflix for the fight fan." The subscription service, which will cost $9.99 a month starting March 1., is currently offering fans a sneak preview via a free trial through Feb. 28.
Residents and guests of Boulder City were subject to an extreme wake-up call when a 2.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 5:38 a.m. Monday morning, with an epicenter just southeast of the city. Witnesses reported tremors and a sound like an explosion, but the quake was of pretty minor proportions; although Nevada is a minefield of active fault lines, the most major incident in recent times was a 6.0 earthquake that hit the area west of Elko in Feb., 2008.
In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Philadelphia Eagles are -7 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys. The total is 52.5.
According to Vegas Seven magazine, the new name of Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon will be The Cromwell. This is the first we've heard of it and we don't really know what a Cromwell is (or how it might or might not relate to a Gansevoort), so we can't confirm, but the Seven report says that "the deed is done."
M Resort will run comedy nights in Ravello Lounge every Friday in January. Shows start at 9 p.m., with no cover and a two-drink minimum.
The Checker Cab driver who found and reported $300,000 in cash left in a paper bag in his taxi was rewarded with a $10,000 tip from the customer who left it and $1,000 from the cab company. The customer was reportedly a 26-year-old high-stakes poker player whose identity has not been disclosed.
Local breakout band, Imagine Dragons, is celebrating a successful 2013 by donating a a case of memorabilia to the collection of the Hard Rock on Monday, Dec. 30, prior to their performance at The Joint later that night. The public is invited to watch the unveiling ceremony with the band at 2:30 p.m.
Anderson Silva is a -160 favorite over Chris Weidman in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Ronda Rousey is -665 over Miesha Tate. This is a big fight and several places are showing it, including Home Plate bar for $10 and Wildfire Valley View for free.
Lost in yesterday's openings of the Linq and Britney Spears was the return of Beacher's Madhouse. After becoming a happening at the Hard Rock, the Madhouse has been absent from the Las Vegas show scene for a couple of years, but is back in action in its own theater at MGM Grand.
Last night's sold-out opening of Britney: Piece of Me at Planet Hollywood brought mixed reviews. While Britney Spears fans were effusive in their praise, many in the audience were put off by the obvious lip-syncing throughout. The show has some issues to work out, but the music and choreography are good and as a stage spectacle it ranks with Vegas' best.
Spirit Airlines notched a 24.7% increase in year-over-year traffic in November, allowing it to overtake Allegiant Airlines (-2.7% in the period) as the fifth-busiest carrier at McCarran International Airport and biggest of the budget airlines. The leading carrier is Southwest/Air Tran, followed by Delta, United, and American.
Anthony Curtis checked out the opening of the Linq and O'Sheas this afternoon and sent in this report.
The new O'Sheas opened at 11 a.m. and a small section of the Linq opened at 3 p.m. There are only a few venues open at the Linq right now, but you can still get a feel for what the whole thing will be like when it opens complete later this year, and it looks like a winner. All the buzz right now is about O'Sheas, which is distinctly unlike the previous divey O'Sheas. It's worth seeing, but don't rush there for the gambling -- table-game rules and video poker schedules are terrible. Taking some of the sting away are $5 blackjack minimums and $3 drafts at any of three bars -- two inside and one out . The place was jammed all afternoon. Get all the details in the January LVA.
Start getting in the mood for UFC 168, to be hosted by MGM Grand tomorrow night, with Anderson Silva vs. Josh Barnett, and Ronda Rousey taking on Meisha Tate, among other highlights and catch the weigh-in live online right now!
We'll have some eye-witness info from Anthony Curtis a little later today, but he just called to warn motorists to avoid the Strip between Spring Mountain and Flamingo right now, where the festivities marking today's return of O'Sheas, together with the ongoing presence of construction vehicles, has completely snarled up the area.
After years of speculation, followed by hype and anticipation, Britney Spears finally kicks off a Las Vegas residency tonight in the newly renovated and renamed theater at Planet Hollywood. Spears will perform Piece of Me on select nights during a two-year engagement, with the first set of confirmed dates running through Feb. 22, 2014.
A rollover crash involving a vehicle that caught fire shut down part of the 215 Beltway in North Las Vegas shortly before 9 a.m. this morning, at the intersection of Losee Road. The driver was taken to UMC for minor injuries sustained; westbound lanes of the Beltway were closed for about an hour but have now reopened.
It's kind of a subdued one, as everyone takes a quick breath before the New Year's insanity, but then we mean "subdued" only by Las Vegas standards:
No, she's not selling off kidneys or toenail clippings, but Britney Spears does now boast a retail store in the Miracle Mile Shops, flogging all kinds of Britney merch ahead of the pop princess' debut in the neighboring showroom tomorrow night. In addition to the addition of the Britney: Wanna Piece of Me? boutique, several other stores in the mall will also be offering promos to ticket holders from her shows, including 25% off at True Religion and $25 off any $150 purchase at Cache.
Get 6X points at Sam's Town today, 7X on Dec. 27, 8X on Dec. 28, etc., peaking at 10X on Dec. 30 (maximum of 10,000 base points per day on video poker); Suncoast is offering a minimum of 11X points on slots and 7X on video poker through the end of the year, with possibilities of increasing these with "mystery multiplier swipes" at the kiosk.
Sam's Town is also giving away $68,000 in a 12-hour New Year's Eve frenzy: Every 15 minutes, two slot and one table-game B Connected player found to be sitting in the lucky random "hot seats" will win $500, with a $5,000 drawing at midnight. Live poker, keno, bingo, and race and sports players are not eligible; see B Connected for complete rules and details.
Pasta Cucina at Boulder Station is running a special through the end of the month, with 2-for-1 on all entrées.
It's come to our attention that a number of popular -- but evidently economically unviable -- valley eateries have shut up shop lately, including the Hash House a Go Go at M Resort, and both Top Notch Barbecue and Republic Kitchen and Henderson.
On a happier note (especially for Mexican-food fans), Diablos's Cantina at the Monte Carlo reopens today at noon, having been closed for a brief remodel, while Hecho en Vegas, the new Mexican restaurant at MGM Grand (which replaces Diego, the old Mexican restaurant at MGM Grand) is scheduled to open Dec. 28.
According to the latest official figures, November passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport showed no change, up or down, on the same month last year. The stagnation put an end to a modest recent uptick on 2012 numbers, with year-to-date traffic up a mere 0.2 percent, to 38.5 million, compared with 38.4 million last year.
The temporary "pop-up" Liberace exhibit at the Cosmopolitan, which features a huge array of memorabilia, costumes, video, and stage props from the flamboyant performer's career, was originally set to run through Jan. 2, but can now be seen until Feb. 28, 2014. The display, which is free to view, is open from 3-10 p.m. daily.
In a bizarre turn of events, firefighters were called early Christmas morning to a 100-foot-tall fire at Town Square, when the artificial Christmas tree and Santa house caught fire, probably due to faulty wiring. No one was injured in the blaze, which was quickly extinguished.
On Friday, Jan. 3, performers from Cirque du Soleil and members of the company's Global Citizenship Service will present their 9th annual art exhibition, titled "PARADE: The Collective." The multi-media show runs through Jan. 30 at the Trifecta Gallery inside the Arts Factory downtown and is free and open to the public.
We took down our previous item, posted on Dec. 24, in deference to his family who we learned were requesting privacy, but it's now being reported across the Las Vegas media that renowned food critic and writer Max Jacobson, who co-authored our annual Eating Las Vegas restaurant guide, remains hospitalized and in critical condition having been struck by a truck on Monday morning. He was walking to his gym in Henderson and was in a crosswalk when the accident occurred. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Max, his family, friends, and colleagues at Vegas Seven magazine.
Former UNLV and NBA basketball player Jackie Robinson has proposed a $1.3 billion arena and hotel project for the Strip. The focus of the project is a 22,000-seat arena with a retractable roof, but also planned is a 500-room hotel with a restaurant, retail, and a spa. The proposed location is the north Strip, between SLS and the Fontainebleau (the location of the former Wet 'n Wild).
We've covered the casino and public displays in this column and elsewhere (check today's QoD for a montage of festive images), but here's a list of some of the best neighborhood light displays this year, courtesy of the Classic Vegas blog.
There aren't too many places in the U.S. that can claim a sunny 62-degree Christmas Day! Check the newspapers for special dinners all over town. If you want to play a little, South Point is awarding 10X points on penny slots, 5X on other slots, and 2X on video poker.
The gift is honesty, with a breaking story that a Las Vegas cab driver today found $300,000 in cash left in his taxi, which he handed in to his dispatcher. The owner of the money was identified as a poker player, who'd been picked up from Bellagio and has now been reunited with his cash. We hope he gave the driver a decent tip.
Yep, it's that moment you've all been waiting for, and we don't think you'll be disappointed: The 2014 Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards Book has been finalized, and you can check out all the offers in the new book, which will be in-house as soon as we return after the New Year's holiday. We know there are a lot of single travelers out there, so some new highlights this year include: 50% off ALL Station Casinos buffets daily (including brunch); new offers from the Trop, including their spa; the addition of more offers (dining and gambling) from locals bars; a great exclusive dining deal from Mint Indian Bistro; plus a whole heap of matchplay and free-play offers. Check out the full list of 132 MRB discounts and deals by clicking the link above, and Merry Christmas to all our members, current and future!
It's another column from the left-field, as this week Bob Dancer talks less about video poker schedules and more about the difficulty of getting dancing shoes repaired while on a cruise, plus the types of adventures that befall the unwary and unschooled who opt to disembark.
Our office and retail store will close at noon today and reopen at 9 a.m. December 26, so if you're looking to pick up a last-minute gift from our Holiday Catalog, come on down ASAP! We're located just behind the Rio -- here's a map.
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the San Francisco 49ers are -14 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons. The total is 46.5.
Paul Barolotta's eponymous seafood restaurant at the Wynn has reopened, following a brief closure a modernization makeover. The new look is very bright and airy, with a golden glow throughout and some fun touches, ranging from cheerful "hippie" flowers decorating the staircase, to an awesome golden fish installation (a kind of static mobile that's the centerpiece to the stairway entrance), to some earthy wall-mosaic textures fashioned from pebbles. Preview the new look at EaterVegas.
Full details have now been forthcoming with regard to the fate of the Atlantic Club casino, and the word is that CET and the Tropicana were indeed the two buyers, following a two-day auction. Neither entity plans a future for the bankrupt property, however, which will close for good on Jan. 13, reducing the total number of New Jersey casinos to 11.
According to the Associated Press, Caesars paid $15 million for the land and some of the property's assets, while the Tropicana paid $8.4 million for the slots and table games.
An accident involving a pedestrian hit by a van earlier this morning has closed southbound Lanes of Tenaya Way at Flamingo, while Metro investigates. The incident took place shortly before 10 a.m.
December marks the last month for comic fans to catch the Marvel characters currently on display at the newly upgraded Madame Tussauds attraction at Venetian. The temporary exhibit, located at the entrance of the brand new Marvel 4D theater, comprises the largest collection of Marvel figures ever shown, including the characters of Nick Fury, Iron-Man, Tony Stark, and Captain America.
On Monday, Dec. 30 local country star Sam Riddle will play the Veil Pavilion at Silverton. for $5. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $5.
In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Philadelphia Eagles are -3 favorites over the Chicago Bears. The total is 54.
Today marks the last day of racing for the famed Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. The track, which opened in 1938, hosted the inaugural Breeder's Cup in 1984, and the meet was held there again in 1987 and 1997. Among the many famous horses to run there were Seabiscuit, Citation, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. The complex will be demolished, then redeveloped into housing and retail.
The Palms will hold the "Jewish Poker Championship," beginning at noon on Dec. 24. The name references the Christmas Eve date, rather than a religious requirement to play. The entry fee is $500+$50, meaning that $500 of a total $550 to play goes to the prize pool.
A new restaurant called Jayde Fuzion has opened at M Resort, featuring Asian small plates with a "Mississippi flair." The executive chef is Seonkyoung Longest, winner of the Food Network's "Restaurant Express.
MGM Resorts International has been awarded the sixth and final casino license in Maryland. MRI plans to build a $925 million resort in Prince George's County that will open in 2016.
Perhaps Las Vegas has finally reached saturation point when it comes to "gourmet-burger" concepts, with news that Grind Burger (380 E. Tropicana), one of the earlier comers to the patty race, will be closing its doors Dec. 31.
The synthetic ice rink at the Gold Spike has opened, and we now of details about the holiday attraction, which has capacity for 90 skaters and rates as the most economical rink in town, at $10 for an all-day pass and the regular $5 skate rental. The venue also features fire pits and warming snacks and beverages are available for purchase.
It's another bonus-points day at Station casinos. Get 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker all day at all Stations and Fiestas.
Las Vegas is painted red this weekend, with Californians here for the Las Vegas Bowl. The game matches USC and Fresno St., both of which have a version of red in their team colors. Fresno St. is a -5 favorite, with a total of 65.5.
The college bowl season begins today with the New Mexico Bowl, where Washington St. is a -4 favorite over Colorado St., with a total of 64. Check this space over the next few weeks for post-time lines on the big games.
The music venue and restaurant inside Mandalay Bay is holding a retail sweepstakes, with more than $50,000 in cash awards, in continued celebration of its Twentieth Anniversary Year. Contestants may either mail in their entry (no purchase necessary) or visit the House of Blues Company Store in person, where each $20 spent during the hours the restaurant offers live music earning one entry to the sweepstakes. Each week now through Jan. 12, 2014, the venue will draw one $10,000 prize winner, plus a $400 runner-up; winners will be drawn in January, 2014. Visit houseofblues.com/lasvegas for more details.
The Rampart casino in Summerlin has today commenced construction, in conjunction with its hotel neighbor the JW Marriott, on a new bingo room, which is scheduled to open in spring 2014. The casino is under the general management of local casino veteran Michael Gaughan, owner of South Point and previous owner of the Coast properties, who has extensive experience running bingo rooms. The new 300-capacity venue will be located adjacent to the buffet, and will include a non-smoking section.
While it was earlier stated that no buyers were forthcoming at this week's two-day auction for New Jersey's bankrupt Atlantic Club, the latest word is that in fact there are two buyers in the mix, with one of them being Caesars Entertainment, according to to a bankruptcy court filing Friday that lists a purchase price of $15 million. The second buyer has not been named, although the Tropicana was previously cited as a possible candidate; the sale agreements will be submitted to a judge Monday for approval.
What the future plans may be for the property remain unclear, but its current owners have announced that it will close, in its current incarnation, on Jan. 13. This will grant it the dubious double whammy of being the first casino in the jurisdiction to close since the Sands, back in 2006, and of having the lowest-ever sale price of an Atlantic City casino. )
Affinity Gaming, which operates 12 casinos in Nevada (including the Primm Valley Resorts and Silver Sevens properties), Iowa, Missouri, and Colorado, has announced that the system that processes its customers’ credit- and debit-card transaction has been hacked and that patrons of its casinos, and the Primm Center Gas Station, should take necessary steps to avoid identity theft.
In a statement released Friday, the company stated that the data security incident took place "between March 14 and Oct. 16" as far as the casinos are concerned, and between an unknown date and Nov. 29 at the gas station.
2013 will definitely go down as the "Year of Delays and Missed Deadlines," with news that the only two major contenders for the "On-Time" award -- Slotzilla and the High Roller at the Linq -- will not, in fact, make it to a 2013 debut date, but will both open some time in early 2014. The former is undergoing tests right now, and has moved it's potential launch date to February, while the Linq's observation wheel is also undergoing extensive "trial spins" and also has a new February launch date slated (although portions of the wider Linq project are still set to open before the close of 2013).
What was formerly known as the Theater for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood, and is the only part of the original Aladdin casino that was spared from the wrecking ball in 1998, is to receive a new identity in time for its debut with Britney Spears later this month. Concert promoter Live Nation will take over the bookings for the intimate venue, which will henceforth be known as The Axis.
In an interesting development, there are reports that Hard Rock International, which earlier this year abandoned a plan to build its own boutique hotel-casino in Atlantic City, is in deep talks to buy Revel resort. The latter, which has only been operational for 20 months but has already declared, then emerged from, a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, has been looking for a buyer since June; Florida-based Hard Rock International has not given up its quest for a foothold in the New Jersey market, so this could be a perfect match.
Meanwhile, after two days of closed-door auction, the Atlantic Club has failed to find a buyer, it's been confirmed. So what now? Who knows, but stay tuned!
The Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday approved a gaming license for Nevada Restaurant Services Inc., owner of the Dotty's brand, for its first full-blown casino. Hoover Dam Lodge will be the name of the renovated Hacienda, which founder and CEO Craig Estey says he's investing $7 million-worth of upgrades into, including and gutting the interior and "wrapping the exterior with windows"(?). The initial phase of the revamp, which will involve transforming the "Spanish casino into a national park lodge," is estimated to take six to eight months, with further plans including the addition of more rooms, a "sports-bar concept," and a travel center and gift shop, to be built on the lake side of Highway 93 and attached to the main hotel-casino via a pedestrian bridge. There will also be a campground and space for RVs.
For more on the Dotty's story, check out today's Question of the Day.
In its annual year-end review highlights, consumer travel site TripAdvisor has announced that Aria at CityCenter is the most-reviewed hotel in the United States, with thousands of comments submitted about the property in 2013. The principal points of note among those posting reviews of the 5-star rated resort include Aria's design, location, high standards of service, and innovative technology, with comments like, "Check in was magical! So fast and courteous" and, "The standard hotel room is very well appointed with electric blinds, entertainment controls and lighting powered by a bedside tablet device." Bravo!
As promised, more details have been forthcoming today about this year's Las Vegas "America's Party" New Year's celebrations. As previously announced, the pyrotechnic display, a choreographed medley of hits from 2013, including "Wild Ones" by Flo Rida, "Feel this Moment" by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera, "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, and "Diamonds" by Rihanna, with a finale featuring "Stomp to My Beat" from JS16.
Details remain sketchy right now, but the Stratosphere has independently tweeted that as a new addition to this year's festivities, it will be featuring some kind of "countdown" or "countup" clock and that fireworks "will blast from 100 floors, bottom-to-top, for [the] countdown to midnight." We'll keep you posted as we hear more.
Meanwhile, downtown's party will run from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Fremont Street Experience, featuring headliners Papa Roach, Blues Traveler, Loverboy, Vince Neil, and Adelitas Way, plus performances from local bands, including Arena, The Blackjacks, Clockwork, Kid Hollywood, and Monroy. Admission to "Downtown Countdown" is $30 per person, when purchased online by Dec. 26. Beginning Dec. 27, tickets will be $40 per person and can be purchased online, in-person at any of the FSE member hotel-casinos, or at the event gates on the day.
New owners Dotty's are now physically taking over the Hacienda Hotel & Casino, which they took over back in November. The buffet and pit are already closed (there's currently just one table game open) and from Dec. 22-28 the hotel will be closed for a remodel. It's scheduled to reopen as the Hoover Dam Lodge in time for New Year's.
The Golden Corral buffet chain, which has not had a presence in Las Vegas for 20 years, returns today, with the opening of a franchise location at 1455 S. Lamb Blvd. The restaurant, famed for its dessert fountain, will be open daily, serving lunch ($8.99) and dinner ($11.39) during the week, plus breakfast on the weekend. The new owner also operates several other venues in town, including the Wendy’s in McCarran International Airport and Chocolat, plus numerous other businesses throughout the Southwest; he plans to open two more Golden Corrals, in Henderson and Northwest Las Vegas, if the inaugural location is a success.
As promised, a version of O’Sheas will be returning to the Strip Dec. 27, when a tribute to the former popular casino/drinking hole opens inside its former neighbor, once Imperial Palace and now The Quad. The 5,000-square-foot casino-within-a-casino will feature 11 table games, 15 video poker machines, three bars, and six beer pong tables. Yep, that sounds like the O'Sheas we all knew and loved.
On another note, CET is breaking the mold as the first major casino corporation to launch its own gentlemen's club, with word that the Purple Zebra will also soon be opening inside the Flamingo. Oh no, wait, we just actually read the press release and it turns out that the Purple Zebra isn't a distant cousin of the Spearmint Rhino; it's a "whimsical candy and slush bar." Oh well, you can't win 'em all and we're guessing that all you whimsical-candy fans must be pretty stoked right now.
An enemy of superstition to make James Randi proud, in this, the third post of his recently debuted blog, Beyond Numbers, gambling pro James Grosjean tackles some widespread sports-betting humbug like a pitbull in heat that's just been stung by a bee or, perhaps somewhat more accurately, like a soft-spoken Phi Beta Kappa Harvard grad. with a degree in applied mathematics; still, in the face of drunken misconception, his weapons and tactics are just as effective as a set of ferocious fangs and we can't wait to see the fallout from his latest intellectual rampage; the wise will merely nod, and smile.
After Tuesday's closed auction failed to produce a buyer, attorneys have apparently been hard at work behind the scenes since the auction resumed this morning, trying to broker some kind of deal to salvage the bankrupt 33-year-old property. The results of the event, and whether or not a purchaser has been secured, are due to be revealed in a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, a family-owned affair for more than a half-century, has been sold for an undisclosed price. Records filed through the Washoe County Recorder’s office indicate a price tag of $23.12 million, but neither the Ascuaga family, nor the buyers (affiliates of Global Gaming & Hospitality and Husky Finance), are talking. Of the figure listed in the filing, a PR representative for the property has stated: "That value is not necessarily reflective of the Nugget’s transaction purchase price," presumably indicating that the terms of the sale were more complex than a straight cash deal.
The new CEO of the property has announced that $50 million will be sunk into upgrading the property, commencing with the debut of northern Nevada's first Gilley's Saloon, Dance Hall and BBQ, the bar-restaurant brand made famous by the John Travolta movie Urban Cowboy. Gilley's will take over the spot previously occupied by Trader Dick's.
Not this time, anyhow, with the announcement from Mega Millions lottery officials that two lucky players picked Tuesday night's winning numbers -- which were 8, 14, 17, 20, and 39, with a Megaball of 7 -- to share a jackpot prize of $636 million. The winners, one of whom was in Georgia and the other in California, can opt to take $318 million each over time or $170 million in cash now. It was thought that one more rollover might have created the first billion-dollar jackpot.
Thankfully, we're not referring to another shooting rampage, of which there have been far too many of late in Las Vegas, and elsewhere in the state; the victims of such horrible incidents will, however, be thankful for the annual blood drive that anarchic chainsaw-and-gun wielding magicians Penn & Teller are hosting, for the 13th consecutive season, in conjunction with
It's been announced that the breakfast chain is adding a new restaurant at the Rio. It will be located in the spot that's currently occupied by the São Paulo Café, which will remain open until the renovations commence in the first quarter of 2014.
The jackpot for the Mega Millions drawing tonight has been raised to $636 million, making it the second-largest lottery jackpot in history. The source we obtained this information from states that tickets are being sold in Maryland alone at the rate of 101 per second!
Our current Reader Poll, about whether or not you plan to ride the almost-complete Linq High Roller observation wheel, ends at midnight, so get your votes in before the new one goes live.
Tonight The Horse gentlemen's club, formerly Crazy Horse Too and located at 2476 Industrial Road, is combining Tuesday Industry Night with an early Christmas party, featuring free food and a complimentary open bar from 9-11 p.m. ($50 "reload" fee thereafter for card holders). They're throwing down the gauntlet to all your sociable types, too: Receive a complimentary bottle of Hierarchy or Zing Vodka if you arrive with a party of five or more; the person who brings the most guests gets their own bottle and $400 bucks, so get hustlin' people!
We've made many-an-undesirable list in recent years, including most stupid, unemployed, dirty, depressed, foreclosed-on, dangerous to pedestrians, badly dressed, and allergy-inducing (see "Today's News" archives), but Las Vegas can be proud to round out this year not only with some big positives -- like our inclusion on various good lists, including "Valentine's Day Sexiest Cities," "Best New Bars" (Velveteen Rabbit), "Best Attractions Outside Europe" (Mob Museum), "Best Chefs in America" (Mike Minor, Border Grill), "Best Hotel Pools" (The Tank, Golden Nugget), "Great Places to Indulge Your Senses, Steal a Kiss," (O at Bellagio), and "Best Hotels in the World" (Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Encore, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Palazzo, Venetian, and Wynn) -- but we can take gratification in noting that not one of our hotels or motels was mentioned on this list of 10 Worst Hotels and Motels in America.
Unhappy customers did not hold back when it came to their complaints about cockroaches, bed bugs, mold, worms, human hair, odors, cobwebs, cigarette burns, grime, stains, broken furniture, double-bookings, and staff who were either absent or high, but although we are home to some of the chains cited, not a single Las Vegas venue was singled out for a dose of public lambasting. Bravo!
The American Gaming Association, the principal lobbying organization for the casino-industry this year saw its first major personnel shift, with the retirement of Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., who has held the position of president since the organization was founded in 1994. Travel industry veteran Geoff Freeman took over the presidency and will welcome a new chairman, in the shape of MGM Resorts International's Jim Murren, will now also see three new members added to the board in 2014. Locals casino giants Station is a newcomer, likely to be represented by company chairman Frank Fertitta III, while Steve Wynn is expected to return to the board that he left back in 1999 after he sold Mirage Resorts. The third addition is racetrack and casino operator Churchill Downs Inc.
Genting Bhd., which is the largest casino operator on the Southeast Asian market, is looking to spend as much as $4 billion to complete the unfinished Echelon Resort, for which it paid Boyd Gaming $350 million earlier this year. The investment package will include a total re-branding of the property as Resorts World Las Vegas, with an Asian theme, including a replica of the Great Wall of China and a panda enclosure. The reinvention of the partially built property on the site of the former Stardust will take place in stages, with an initial groundbreaking planned for 2014 and Phase I completion scheduled for sometime in 2015, with the completed resort having a grand opening date set for some time in 2016.
It's not always easy being the significant other of a professional gambler, as many will attest, and gambling budgets, Expected Value, and "risk of ruin" are hardly the most romantic of subjects, but if either you or your partner gambles for a living, or as a serious side enterprise, then these are important considerations that should be addressed and agreed upon by both parties; luckily, video poker pro Bob Dancer has some empirical advice on the subject in this week's column.
The Mega Millions lottery jackpot has reached $586 million, the fourth largest in history. Tickets are reportedly selling at 11 million-per-hour in 43 states for tonight's drawing. If there's no winner in either tonight's or Friday's drawing, it's believed that would create the first ever $1 billion drawing on Christmas Eve.
While the celebrity chef's exit from Caesars Palace was much-lamented, even garnering his eponymous eatery repeated stays of execution -- from an original October, 2011 date to a final closing in August of the following year -- whatever local support the chef enjoyed evidently did not translate to his new Hops & Harvest "gastropub" concept in Tivoli Village. The restaurant closed, without warning, last Saturday; the official word is that Ogden wants to focus on his new Funky Chicken fast-food concept in Houston, but presumably had this Vegas venture been a success, it would still be in operation. Tivoli Village has proven to be a tricky venue for some of its tenants to-date, with more than one early casualty, including The Taste Eatery & Market, Petra, and Radio City Pizza).
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the Detroit Lions are -4.5 favorites over the Baltimore Ravens. The total is 49.
Bonanza Road is currently closed in both directions at Pecos, following a fatal accident involving a vehicle that struck a pole shortly after 1 p.m.
The promised skating rink at Caesars Palace is here, and now we understand why it's 10 days past its initially promised Dec. 6 debut, because this isn't just a holiday (simulated) ice rink, but it's also a "lodge experience," featuring Caesars Chalet, with falling snow (whatever the weather), plus warming winter beverages, of the adult and minor variety, now through Jan. 20. Enjoy Strip views as you skate for $10 per 30 min. session ($11 for non-Total Rewards members), with skates available to the skate-less for $5. Check the Today's News Archives for the lowdown on the the other four rinks available for your skating pleasure this holiday season. (Hint: They're located at Cosmo, Venetian, Gold Spike, and Sunset Park).
The bad news, for all you rodeo fans, is that the National Finals Rodeo has opted not to renew its contract with Las Vegas after 2014, which will be the 30th occasion on which Las Vegas has hosted the NFR. The event has traditionally resulted in a big spike in room occupancy and revenues during what would otherwise be an extension of the pre-holiday doldrums, so the decision to forsake Las Vegas, in preference for a more lucrative deal offered by Florida, will almost certainly hurt business here; on the other hand, it can only be good news for the consumer looking for an end-of-year bargain. Every cloud, as they say...
Thrillist.com has released its list of the 33 best new bars to open in 2013, and we're proud to say that downtown's Velveteen Rabbit made that list. Since the joint it run by two sisters and that name is distinctly un-macho, it's interesting that it's the only Vegas venue, out of the myriad new bars that debuted this year, included in this ultimate-boys-site's "best newcomer" list. Bravo, Rabbit! (Looks like our new bacon, zombie, and giant-Jenga bars will have to try harder to impress the discerning tastes of those Thrillist chaps, who apparently appreciate: "all the crushed velvet, the bronze hand draft handles pouring brews like German Chocolate Cake Milk Stout, and the complete and utter lack of TVs [producing] an atmosphere that pretty much encourages intriguing conversations regarding Nursery Fairies and the like." Ah, okay then.
South Point is again running its "Ho Ho Ho, Let it Flow" holiday promotion, with all drinks $2 at all casino bars, and only $1 if you pay with points. The deal runs through Dec. 24.
In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the Cincinnati Bengals are -1.5 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The total is 43.
As we first alluded to in this space back in November, as of now, the online gambling giant PokerStars will not be allowed to operate in New Jersey. The state's Division of Gaming Enforcement has official "suspended" PokerStars' application for two years.
M&M's World Las Vegas, located on the Strip just north of MGM Grand has opened what it says is the "world's largest candy wall." The 62-foot-wide wall is made of 125 tubes of M&M's, comprising 22 varieties and 11 flavors.
South Point is running a college-football-bowl contest with a $50,000 winner-take-all prize. The entry fee is $10 and there is no limit on how often you can play. Entry deadline is Dec. 31. Aliante is running a bowl contest returning 100% plus $5,000, with unlimited entries for $20 each. Entry deadline is Dec. 21.
The Downtown Grand is getting into the holiday spirit with a "Triple Points" deal good through the end of December. They're advertising "3X Points" and "3X Free Slot Play." We're not sure what the latter means, but it sounds good.
Get drinks for $2 at all casino bars at Gold Coast today through Dec. 24. Signs say "well and call drinks, domestic bottles, and all drafts."
If you weren't able to view the graphic in today's QoD, depicting the cost and +EV of various Las Vegas properties' "Win Cards," we had a couple of technical issues over the past 24 hours, but that image is displaying fine now, if you want to revisit the answer before it gets archived at midnight.
Demetrious Johnson is a -150 favorite over Joseph Benavidez in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Urijah Faber is -140 over Michael MacDonald.
The insurance company assessing the flawed Harmon Tower at CityCenter has had a second week added to the original one-week extension. Demolition of the building was expected to begin on Dec. 2, but the company petitioned for more time to evaluate the situation in order to properly pay claims.
Todd English Pub is doing another of its "12-Days" holiday promos with the "12 Beers of Christmas." Beginning today, a different beer will be featured daily for $1. Today's beer is PBR. Don't laugh, a pint of PBR normally goes for -- hold on to your hats -- $9 here (Anthony Curtis is already on his way).
A Florida man hit Megabucks at the MGM Grand for $10.3 million. As opposed to the usual "he hit it on his third pull" story, this winner copped to being a "huge fan of Megabucks since its debut in 1986," which means he probably had to work for it a bit. This is the second Megabucks jackpot at MGM in a month.
In a joint press-conference call with Dana White earlier today, current UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre announced his decision to step away from the world of MMA and vacate his title, following his controversial recent fight against Johny Hendricks. GSP cited concern over his current mental state, saying "I can’t put myself through another training camp right now," although he left the door open for a possible future return to the Octagon, which was confirmed by White.
A new welterweight champ will now be crowned March 15 in Dallas, Texas, when Johny Hendricks -- who many, including White, believe defeated the reigning champ in UFC 167 -- takes on Robbie Lawler for the vacant 170-pound title.
Life Time Athletic Summerlin (10721 W. Charleston Blvd.) will host a healthy breakfast event, with two seatings, this Saturday at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The family-friendly celebration will also feature holiday arts and crafts, plus the opportunity for kids to meet with Kris Kringle and share their holiday wish lists. Tickets are $20 for member children ($25 for non-members) and $5 (or $10) for adults and are available in person at the Life Time Athletic Summerlin Activity Center or over the phone at 702-228-2611.
Las Vegas Sands today confirmed the cancellation of its plans for a $30 billion resort and gaming complex in Madrid, Spain, with an announcement that the company no longer considered the "EuroVegas" concept, first mooted back in 2011, to be in the interests of its shareholders.
If you're curious about "America's Party 2014," Las Vegas' annual New Year's Eve extravaganza that incorporates festivities both on the Strip and downtown, the wait is almost over. Apparently, the official announcement, with all the details about fireworks and more, will take place next Thursday, Dec. 19, at a press event to be held at the Rio's rooftop VooDoo Lounge nightclub (just don't mention the zip line). What we can confirm right now is that the properties from which the midnight fireworks display will be launched include: MGM Grand; Aria; Planet Hollywood; Caesars Palace; Treasure Island; Venetian; and Stratosphere.
Here's a quick reminder that the producers of Evil Dead the Musical, which performs in Miracle Mile's V Theater, are so excited about Friday 13th that they're running a promo through Sat. 14, with $13 tix to the tongue-in-cheek horror tribute for both night's shows when you present this coupon at the Box Office.
Ticket's for Pink's "Truth About Love" tour, which hits MGM Grand's Garden Arena Friday, Jan. 31, officially go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m., but there's a sneaky presale beginning today at 10 a.m. -- use password: finale when ordering.
In tonight's Thursday Night Football game, the Denver Broncos are -9.5 favorites over the San Diego Chargers. The total is 56.5.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., dance crew Jabbawockeez will present a festival in collaboration with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Nevada Chapter as part of the relief effort to aid the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. The free event, taking place in the East parking lot at Rio, will feature a headlining performance by Jabbawockeez, with other live entertainment and cultural acts, plus more than 50 vendors will be present, including food trucks, all donating their net proceeds to the relief effort.
Here are some of the entertainment delights awaiting you over the next few days:
Downtown enters into the skating fray this Friday, with the opening of Gold Spike's synthetic-ice rink on Friday. Skate passes are $5 and skates are available for rent for $10. There's still no word on when the promised Caesars Palace rink will debut, but those at Venetian, Cosmo, and Sunset Park are already up and running.
This Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1-4 p.m., Venetian/Palazzo hosts the sixth annual Carnival of Cuisine poolside at Palazzo, with special guest host Emeril Lagasse. General admission tickets to the event, which features tastings from more than 20 restaurants, including Aquaknox, B&B Ristorante, Bouchon, Café Presse, Carnevino, CUT, Delmonico Steakhouse, Grand Lux Café, Lagasse's Stadium, LAVO, Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro, OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria, Pinot Brasserie, Public House, Postrio Bar & Grill, SUSHISAMBA, Table 10, TAO, and ZINE Noodles Dim Sum, are $60 (VIP tix are $85 and include early 12:30 p.m. entry).
Kings of magical gore, Penn & Teller, are once again teaming with United Blood Services to host their 13th annual "13 Bloody Days of Christmas" blood drive. From Dec. 18-31, donate blood at one of the UBS stations located at 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., 4950 W. Craig Rd., or 601 Whitney Ranch Dr. Bldg. D, Suite 20, and receive two complimentary tickets to the duo's show a the Rio.
Former Peepshow star Holly Madison is said to be in negotiations regarding a couple of new performance opportunities, reports gossip columnist Robin Leach in today's LV Sun. Apparently, the ex-Playmate is possibly set to star in her own burlesque-style show in the empty cabaret-lounge space at Mandalay Bay long-since vacated by Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce/Royal Jelly. While that project would evidently be in conjunction with the team behind the Minus 5 Ice Lounges in town, the star, who recently performed to rave reviews in a guest spot in Harrah's Million Dollar Quartet, apparently also has another possible undisclosed iron in the fire and has yet to make a decision. Watch this space, Holly fans!
Having earlier this year purchased most of Herbst Gaming's former operations, slot-route operator Golden Gaming has now acquired Reno-based Strategic Gaming Management, which operates just under 900 machines in Northern Nevada. The acquisition, due to close Jan. 1, will give Las Vegas-based Golden Gaming approximately 8,000 total slot machines in more than 700 locations statewide, including its PT's branded bars and taverns.
Since it was due to open in November and it's not there, this is hardly breaking news (in fact, we just wrote about it about 10 minutes ago -- see previous entry) but we received word from VegasRover that the delay is now "official," due to questions raised by the Clark County Department of Building & Fire Prevention Bureau. Their email to us included a link to what appeared to be an official letter confirming this, but the link is already dead, or at least "temporarily unavailable." No doubt there are lawyers involved and this disappearance is of their doing, but regardless of whatever behind-the-scenes shenanigans may be afoot, we're mighty glad we didn't invest any of our hard-earned money in their indiegogo fundraising effort, or our New Year's Eve could've been one big let-down (and we're not talking about via a zip line from the top of the Rio).
2013 could go down as the "Year of the Delay" in Las Vegas, with numerous projects having failed to meet their scheduled debut dates (The Delano, Slotzilla, VooDoo Zip Line, KRAVE Massive, Beacher's Madhouse, CeeLo Green, Batali Burger Bar, Caesars ice rink, Downtown Container Park, Harmon implosion...) but apparently, The Chelsea, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ new 40,000-square foot performance-and-event space, is on track to stick to its promised New Year's Eve opening, with a two-night engagement with Grammy-winner Bruno Mars Dec. 29 and 31 (tix start at $150 and Bruno's awesome live, we can confirm).
The venue is being described as all things to all people -- or, as per the official PR speak, it "has a personality, yet is highly adaptable ... the perfect combination of industrial grit and artistic glamor" -- meaning it can accommodate anything from banquets and stage plays to sporting events and truck launches.
Patrons of downtown's Hogs & Heifers biker bar are teaming up with Santa to deliver toys to more than 300 children served by the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation at Sunrise Hospital this Sunday, Dec. 15. Sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, the event will include activities for children and live entertainment for families served by NCCF. There's a registration breakfast for participating bikers from 8 to 10 a.m. at H&H, when the toys will be loaded up; the rendez-vous with Santa at Sunrise will be at 11 a.m., with NCCF President/CEO and NASCAR star Jeff Gordon on hand to oversee the holiday activities. From
2:30 p.m. there's an adults-only after-party back at the downtown saloon on Third Street.
If you haven't checked it out yet, today's Question of the Day feature is all about Las Vegas writer Matt O'Brien's experiences exploring the lives of those who inhabit the storm tunnels underneath Las Vegas. Matt and some of the "drain-dwellers" were featured in a two-show special by Dr Phil last September, titled "Beneath Rock Bottom." Matt's observations and first-hand experiences of some of the city's darker nooks and crannies can be found in his Huntington Press titles, Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel and Other Stories from the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas. The two companion titles are available as a bundled package for $15, exclusively at ShopLVA.com
Just to clarify, Sapphire gentlemen's club's 11th birthday party is indeed taking place this Thursday, with a hosted open bar from 7-9 p.m. and lots of other fun festivities, but this Thurs. is, of course Dec. 12, not the 11th (sorry, we got over-excited!)
Véronic DiCaire, the Celine Dion protege and vocal impressionist, has had her run at Bally's Jubilee! Theater extended through 2014 and is offering a buy one, get one deal on tix through Dec. 31, subject to availability. Use the code: Holiday when making your online purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets for newly announced 2014 performances will go on sale in January.
The cast of History Channel's hit "Pawn Stars" are teaming up with and Rachel’s Kitchen Downtown at the Ogden to host a special fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 14, in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will raise money for the Where Angels Play Foundation, an organization building playgrounds in each of the 26 victims, via the sale of autographed memorabilia, signings by the principals from Gold & Silver Pawn, and a live raffle.
The Lonely Planet travel guide series today announced its fourth annual picks for Top 10 US Destinations for 2014, and Las Vegas made the #7 spot. Top of the list was Grand Rapids & Lake Michigan’s Gold Coast, followed by California's Yosemite National Park. Boston was the #3 pick.
Fans of those cult temporary "porta-potty" style casinos, a.k.a. "Trailer Stations," have the opportunity to indulge their fetish today, because there's one operating right now on the site of the old Castaways Casino (north end of the Boulder Strip) -- the original for which the term was first coined. For eight hours today, a cabin on the spot will be home to the statutory 16 slot/vp machines required by gaming regulators to keep the site's gaming license live.
Or does he? This week's column finds our video poker expert confronting moral dilemmas, including stealing breakfast and cheating on taxes. Which side of the fence are you on?
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the Chicago Bears are -1 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys. The total is 50.
Sapphire gentlemen's club is celebrating its 11th birthday in Las Vegas this Thursday, Dec. 11, with a hosted open bar and hors d'oeuvres from 7-9 p.m., a live performance by HardNox, and a variety show from the (awesome) Sapphire Comedy Hour. Should be fun!
Tickets to catch Lady Gaga's ARTPOP Ball tour, which hits the MGM Grand Garden Arena July 19, are now on sale and start at $38 (plus tax/fees). The performer was forced to cancel many dates on her previous tour in order to undergo surgery and recuperation following a serious hip injury.
After a proposed sale to PokerStars fell apart back in May, New Jersey's Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, has failed to find another buyer and is now expected to go to auction, perhaps as soon as Dec. 17. The property, formerly the Atlantic City Hilton, has declared assets (excluding real property), of $17.1 million and liabilities of $16.8 million. If, as anticipated, the property goes for less than the $15 million that PokerStars parent company The Rational Group was to pay for the casino, it will be by far the lowest price ever paid for an Atlantic City casino.
If you haven't yet checked out today's Question of the Day, it's an interesting one for all you history buffs out there, regarding an obscure and long-forgotten amusement park that briefly had a home in Henderson, more than a half-century ago. If you've already checked it out, this is just a note to say we realized our image of Fun-Land was supersized, depriving you of half the view; this has now been rectified, so you may view the design concept in all its glory.
We also heard back from a reader who had recollections of the defunct site, so we've added those as an "Update," too.
The long-running interactive comedy gorefest musical at Miracle Mile's V Theater is celebrating this coming Friday, Dec. 13 in style, with festivities spilling over into Sat. 14, just for the helluvit. For those two nights only, you can print this coupon and present it at the Box Office to receive specially discounted $13 tix (reg. General Admission are $62.68, inclusive of tax/fees), plus they're giving the show some special "Friday 13" tweaks and offering exclusive merchandise. Note that the coupon is only good for tickets purchased in person; you can't use it online.
Here's a quick reminder that tickets for Elton John's next set of dates for his Million Dollar Piano at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace go on sale this morning at 10 a.m. PST. The 16 concerts will be played on sporadic days between March 29 and April 26, 2014.
In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the New Orleans Saints are -3 favorites over the Carolina Panthers. The total is 47.5.
SLS Las Vegas has announced that the Los Angeles-based Cleo will join the resort's big-name restaurant line-up. Cleo will be the second major Strip restaurant to specialize in Mediterranean cuisine, along with Estiatorio Milos at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. SLS is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014.
William Hill is running its "20/20 College Bowl Challenge" for the second year running. Unlimited entries are $20 each and the prize pool is a guaranteed $20,000. Contestants choose 20 games and there's a $50,000 bonus for a perfect card. Entry deadline is Dec. 30, but the card will be available for early games on Dec. 13.
"Trailer Station" fans, head on over to the old Castaways site on Tuesday, where Station Casinos will once again play host to a 10"-high (yup, that's legal); 16-slot, eight-hour casino, certain to attract a few curiosity seekers, if little business. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Visit the Question of the Day Archives -- 4/28/13; 4/13/13; 7/26/12, et al., for more on this subject.)
Once again, Eater Vegas has under-the-radar news regarding another piece of major Strip real estate that's quietly on the market (see "Today's News" 11/21/13), with word that a 4,000-square-foot Italian restaurant is for sale. Bid price: $2.3 million (which includes fixtures and furniture valued at $2 mill.) While no official announcement has been made, Eater is putting its money on Lombardi's Romagna Mia in the Miracle Mile Shops as being the most likely candidate.
Yesterday's Great Santa Run set the record for Santa-runners with 11,221 participants, bettering Liverpool, England's 10,000+ last week. Shania Twain served as the grand marshal for the 5K run and 1-mile walk that benefitted Opportunity Village, reportedly raising more than $400,000.
It's been a long time in the works (the concept was first posited in the summer of 2007), but late last week downtown Las Vegas' much-promised free Wi-Fi program was rolled out, offering people within a one-mile radius of the Fremont Street Experience access to complimentary 1 Mbps Wi-Fi from their smartphones and laptops. Over the course of the next 12 months, operators LV.net plan to expand the catchment area to a three-square-mile radius, with increased speeds of up to 10 Mbps.
The game hasn't been officially announced, but it looks like Florida St. will play Auburn in the NCAA football championship game. The first line has already been put up offshore, with Florida St. -7 favorites and the total 63.5.
After a several-month-long delay, B&B Burger & Beer, the new casual offering from Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich, is now open at Venetian. As with their other Las Vegas ventures, the restaurant focuses on locally sourced ingredients (Batali runs weekly farmers market in town) and beers from Nevada and Southern California. There's a to-go window that's handily placed for patrons of the casino's race and sports book, too.
It's been a busy season already for St. Nick, with appearances lined up all over the Vegas valley and beyond. Today sees him out at Boulder City for a family-friendly event at Bicentennial Park. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be photo opps with Santa, then from 4:30 p.m. an Electric Night Parade will take place through downtown Boulder City, featuring a dazzling display of lit floats, bands, and other festive fun. As if that's not enough, at 6:30 p.m. head over to Boulder Beach to bag a spot from which to watch the annual Christmas Parade of Lights.
The controversial and fatally flawed condo tower at CityCenter received yet another stay of execution Friday, albeit only a brief one, with the judge in charge of this drawn-out debacle giving the insurers who hold the policy for construction being awarded another week to investigate the building's flaws. CityCenter, which jointly owns the project along with dormant partners Dubai World, has filed a $393 million claim on the Harmon as a total loss.
Just to clarify on our post from yesterday, you don't actually have to do any social media shenanigans etc. to enjoy free admission to the Elvis exhibit at Binion's -- the former $10 admission charge has been waived for all, so have at it!
Antonio Silva is a -130 favorite over Mark Hunt in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, James Te Huna is -145 over Mauricio Rua.
In light of some comments and feedback received following his debut post at Beyond Numbers, the latest addition to the LVA blog family, James Grosjean bites back with an exercise for all readers, particularly those who took issue with his inaugural piece (don't worry, it's not yoga, but you will need a dart to throw). Check it out and feel free to post your comments, as this new blog offers a unique opportunity to interact with the man widely acknowledged as being the top professional gambler in the world today. He's encouraging conversation and will be responding to select comments and questions, while gearing up to share his next words of wisdom -- or else launch another cerebral missile.
We're really excited to see where Beyond Numbers goes, but one thing of which we can assure you is that it will never be dull; another, we're pretty certain of, is that you'll always come away from any visit with your thinking head on and, most likely, having learned something useful. We strongly urge anyone with even the most casual interest in/grasp of gambling to visit with regularity; if you're currently or are considering turning pro, it's absolutely going to be required reading, as much for Grosjean's shared experience and tips on what to say and do (or not), as for his insights into how to play optimally. All areas have much wider implications that extend to life in general, well beyond the casino floor or laptop.
As we reported yesterday via
The new display for the winter holidays was officially unveiled today at Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and, at 45 feet, features as its centerpiece Las Vegas' largest indoor Christmas tree. Other highlights include a life-sized snow globe and a family of topiary polar bears (sculpted shrubs bedecked in white blooms), plus there's free nightly live music supplied by a group of marimba and vibraphone performers. Click to check out the live webcam.
In regard to the polar bears, their prominence is in part to help raise awareness for the plight of the species in the wild, which is being severely threatened by the combined effects of over-hunting, climate change, pollution, and other dangers to its habitat as a result of various commercial enterprises. Bellagio has partnered with Coca-Cola and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) during this year’s exhibit, with visitors to the exhibit encouraged to donate to the conservation effort at ArcticHome.com.
While two years after his announced intent to expand his casino empire to Europe, Las Vegas Sands boss Sheldon Adelson seems no nearer to creating a "mini-Las Vegas Strip" in Spain, the latest country to express interest in introducing gambling is Israel, according to the latest reports. Last October, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval met with a group of the Jewish state's political leaders as part of a trade mission aimed at diversifying Nevada's economy, but apparently the concept of introducing casino gambling as a boost to Israel's tourism trade was also tentatively discussed, with the town of Mitzpe Ramon, located at the edge of a giant crater in the Negev Desert about two hours drive from Tel Aviv, potentially earmarked as a future Vegas-style gaming destination.
The "acro-cabaret" adult variety show Absinthe, which has performed to rave reviews since its debut in April 2011, has signed a multi-year extension to stay in its tented home in the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace.
Now that he and partner David Furnish have their own Champagne bar at Caesars, Sir Elton has confirmed there will definitely be more dates for his Million Dollar Piano show at the Colosseum, with his next performances confirmed for 16 sporadic dates from March 29 through April 26. Tickets go on sale Monday, Dec. 9.
...'cos the Forum Shops at Caesars has scuba elves! Yes, feeding time at the newly upgraded Atlantis attraction now features "aquarists" in elf wet suits. We like! Cheer up, Sub-Aqua Silverton Santa, we still love you and your helper babes, plus we remember where Underwater Christmas started and it wasn't Atlantis.
Ice rinks are the new black, with yet another skating option entering the fray from - surprise! - Tony Hsieh. Yep, we may have lost the Lake Las Vegas floating rink this year (we know not why, but can guess that financial considerations and loss of the still-shuttered Casino MonteLago could well be factors) but fear not, since that's more than made up for by the return of the faux-ice rink to Venetian/Palazzo and the real-ice rink at Cosmo, plus new arrivals at Sunset Park (open); Caesars Palace (was due to open Friday, Dec. 6, but seems to be a bit behind sched.); and now a non-ice ice rink coming any day now to the Gold Spike, as reported by Robin Leach in the Las Vegas Sun. Is this Las Vegas' novel approach to solving traffic-congestion problems on the Strip? Soon, you'll be able to skate your way around town in the winter, and, if all plans come to fruition, zip-line about town, Tarzan-style, come the summer. This flavor of "only-in-Vegas" awesomeness we can definitely get behind.
It's all ramping up for the holidays, with a LOT going on this weekend:
It's the 80th anniversary of the reversal of Prohibition today, and bars all over town are celebrating their legality with lots of drinking specials. Eater Vegas has a good list (hint: the Mob Museum is going all out with showgirls and a costume contest and more), to which we can add the newly opened Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse at Tivoli Village (check in with Foursquare or Facebook to claim your your constitutional right to a $3 era-inspired cocktails, and whisper "Speakeasy special" to your server for some secret food deals).
If you're a fan of "The King" and have a Facebook account, you can now check out the King's Ransom memorabilia exhibit at Binion's for free (reg. admission is $10)simply by "Liking" it, we just learned courtesy of Vegas Chatter.
Our 2013 Holiday Catalog is out and it's full of great ideas for Vegas nuts, gamblers, fans of Mob history, fiction enthusiasts, game-players. From a miniature slot machine to play at home, to awesome stocking-stuffers, to great deals on book and software bundles, you'll definitely find some must-haves at knock-down prices, so check it out!
The much-vaunted (and deservedly so -- see our review in December LVA Pizza Rock is launching a new Acoustic Sunday Brunch, starting this Sunday, Dec. 8. The menu will feature options like Pizza Rock Benedict (poached eggs, crispy pancetta, hollandaise sauce, served on toasted focaccia with country potatoes) and Meatball Hash N’ Eggs, plus $10 bacon Bloody Marys and bottomless mimosas, also $10 with purchase of any brunch menu item. Sounds awesome.
Our current Top Ten includes a December video poker deal at a bar called Home Plate that's been significantly altered, but is still good. One reason is a concurrently running video poker promotion there that yields a 101+% return. The whole story, including details on getting the necessary coupon for the VP bonus, is covered in today's Question of the Day.
Just when we were beginning to worry that there weren't ever going to be enough "eclectic food, dining" and retail complexes on the Strip (the Linq, the Park, Harmon Corner, Miracle Mile, Canal Shoppes, and new plans from the New Trop and old TI), we're relieved to announce that the long-rumored (see QoD Archive 9/17/12; 3/3/13) Grand Bazaar at Bally's is really going to happen, adding more than 150 stores for our shopping pleasure by the fall of 2014, according to the plan confirmed today. The 21st century bazaar, modeled loosely (we assume very, since none of the following has undulating day-glo roof tiles) on the likes of the ancient open-air markets of Istanbul, Jerusalem, Marrakesh, and London, will be an "innovative, uniquely merchandised" (eh?) venue taking up more than two Strip-side acres currently occupied by Bally's ginormous glow-stick thingies.
Las Vegas will again host the Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 6. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan return as co-hosts of this, the 49th annual event, while Florida Georgia Line will host the 4th annual ACM Fan Jam, to be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Tickets for both events go on sale Friday, Dec. 13 at Ticketmaster.com.
She's here! "Megasuperstar" Britney Spears made her grand entrance on the Las Vegas Strip last night in a 1958 Chevy Impala Convertible, escorted by an eight-car motorcade, with a tribute performance of some of her biggest hits on the steps of Planet Ho. As we announced yesterday, more dates have been announced for her Las Vegas residency, with an on-sale date for the general public of this Saturday, Dec. 7; Total Rewards club members can enjoy a pre-sale opportunity from 10 a.m. PST on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Our current Reader Poll closes at midnight and it's a timely one and in your interests to participate in, oh loyal readers! We want to know what your fave LVA Member Rewards coupon of all time is/was, and the results are great ammo for us when hitting up our partners or new affiliates for renewals/future offers, so if you haven't yet, exercise that voting finger and let us know what you want/miss most, and why. You have until midnight tonight, only, then a brand new poll goes live, so don't delay - vote today!
She hasn't even arrived yet, let along performed, but already Britney Spears is adding more dates to her upcoming Vegas run. Originally, sporadic concerts were announced starting Dec. 27 and running through Feb. 22, 2014; dates have now been confirmed for the third and fourth phases of this "residency," commencing April 25 and running through Sept. 6 of next year.
It's been tough keeping up with the pod count on the Linq's High Roller observation wheel, on account of them moving the existing pods around and rotating the wheel during the construction process, but we no longer need to crane our necks or check out the live cam for a guesstimate, with news that this morning, the final and 28th passenger cabin was put in place. This phase of the attraction's genesis was completed in half the time first projected, leaving the project well on track to hit its estimated early 2014 debut. Congrats to all involved -- it's been great watching this new landmark come to fruition and the time-frame has, indeed, been impressive.
CeeLo Green brought the Strip to a standstill with showgirls (and boys), fireworks, and a flaming piano for his arrival at Planet Hollywood; at 11 p.m. tonight, it's time for Britney Spears to make her dramatic entrance to the resort and apparently Las Vegas Boulevard will be "transformed in an over-the-top, elaborate fashion." That's all the PR folks are saying, so either they only just found out that the pop diva had decided to arrive and are out scrambling for some party poppers and a performing seal, or else it's all completely planned and is just super top secret... One way or another, the "mega-superstar" will be landing tonight, in advance of her Dec. 27 debut -- the start of what promises to be a two-year residency.
Wrap up super-snuggly today because winds of up to 55 mph are expected, heralding a cold front that will see the first sub-zero temperatures of the season to hit the Vegas valley. (And we're not wearing any socks. Awesome!) The wind advisory is in effect from right now until midnight.
This week, for a change video poker maestro Bob Dancer isn't talking about video poker, or bankrolls, or casino promos, but instead presents a potted history of former Las Vegas casino mogul Jay Sarno, the "First Emperor of Las Vegas." It's an interesting read that complements our previous two-part Question of the Day on the subject, which ran 3/4-3/5/11).
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the Seattle Seahawks are -6.5 favorites over the New Orleans Saints. The total is 48.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2014 Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, scheduled for June 20-22. General admission three-day passes are $345, plus a $40.23 service charge.
Yup, it's that time of year again and Caesars Entertainment is rolling out the deals, with discounts on stays at their properties nationwide. While an unwelcome development to some since last year has been the company's introduction of resort fees, they're off-setting that with a $25-$50 dining/resort credit at most Las Vegas properties as part of the Cyber Monday Room Sale. Nice!
It was back in July that we first reported that the Boulevard Mall was up for sale. Today comes news that a buyer has been found and that the 1.2 million-square-foot property, located at 3528 South Maryland Parkway and built in 1965, has been purchased by local entity Sansone Companies/Boulevard Ventures, LLC, for an undisclosed sum. The buyer plans to upgrade the facility and add new tenants.
As hoped, we are once again running our end-of-year coupon blowout, with the chance to sign up for a 3-Month Trial Membership to Las Vegas Advisor for a mere 12 bucks (which includes a copy of the 2013 Member Rewards Coupon Book, which you still have a month to take advantage of); even better, parlay that with our special offer on the 2014 American Casino Guide for a total of just $25! NOTE: These offers don't ship, so you need to come pick up your purchase from our office during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.); limit on either deal is one per person, two per household.
Coming to Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo (Dec. 5-14)? Download the new free NFR app, available for iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, etc., and stay in touch with all the latest announcements and special events.
Currently, locals receive a significant ($9.95) discount on entry to the popular Mob Museum downtown, but as of Jan. 1, the price will be raised from $10 to $13.95, so go see this attraction while you can at the current rate. The good news is for members of the military, seniors, and teachers, who currently pay $15.95 but will enjoy deeper discounts in the future ($11.95 locals/$13.95 non-locals). Don't forget that if you're a current LVA subscriber, you can download a deal at CouponsinVegas.com for a $4 discount off whatever entry price currently applies to you.
While the Linq's High Roller observation wheel is just one pod off (we're pretty sure) its final complement of 28, and so looks well set for on-time completion, and downtown's Slotzilla zip line also seems to be on track to meet its (postponed) December debut, now that we find ourselves officially in the month of December, there is absolutely no way that Rio's VooDoo Zip Line can conceivably meet its promised November debut date, seeing as it is now December and it still has no lines on which to zip, among other things.
Jean Scott has just posted her round-up of December Vegas Casino Promotions via her Frugal Vegas blog, which you can access from our home page, or just click to go there direct. Check it out for a heads-up on bonus-point and gift days, drawings, freeplay deals, and other valuable promos around town.
In tonight's Sunday Night Football game, the NY Giants and Washington Redskins are Pick 'Em (thre is no favorite, but you still lay -110 to win 100 at the sports book). The total is 45.
Downtown’s Container Park has opened. The complex located at Fremont and 7th Streets features restaurants, bars, boutiques, and art galleries housed in box-like structures. There's also an outdoor theater and park. The opening is being termed "soft," with a grand opening planned for an unnamed date later this month.
Earn 1,000 base slot points ($2,000 coin-in) or 2,000 table points at the Hard Rock and get a $25 Macy's gift card. That's a strong 1.25% premium and player retains the points. You can win a maximum four per day through Dec. 25.
The main bar at the Golden Gate is getting a new name. One of the longest operating bars in Las Vegas, it will officially become Prohibition Bar on Dec. 5, the 80th anniversary of Repeal Day.