In today's Orange Bowl, Mississippi St. is a -5.5 favorite over Georgia Tech. The total is 59.5.
In today's Fiesta Bowl, Arizona is a -2.5 favorite over Boise State. The total is 66.
Although a hoped-for December deal with Local 54 of the Unite-HERE casino workers union fell apart at the eleventh hour, Altantic City's Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort is putting paid to any confusion, following months of uncertainty about its future, by taking our billboard ads proclaiming that "We're Staying Open" through 2015 and in January will be giving away $250,000 in a sweepstakes designed to drum up new clientele. The bankrupt property's closure was averted thanks to a $20 million life-line from Carl Icahn, who's taking over from Trump Entertainment by canceling the $286 million of debt that he owns.
Talking of Tupac, as we were earlier, check out our new Reader Poll, canvassing your opinion on the new phenomenon of deceased stars, including 'pac and Liberace (not together!) being resurrected to perform, courtesy of the power of hologram. Do you like the idea, or not?
Snow flurries were reported across the Las Vegas Valley this morning, but they are expected disappear later this afternoon. The low for tonight is forecast to be 32 degrees and a hard freeze watch will be in effect beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday morning for much of Clark County.
It's been 18 years since Tupac was fatally shot in Las Vegas and this morning a notable panel on KNPR's State of Nevada discussed the rapper's legacy and the implications of his murder. Among the panelists was Huntington Press Author Cathy Scott, whose The Killing of Tupac Shakur remains the seminal account of the still-unsolved shooting was recently published in its third edition, featuring material that could not previously be published. The panelists discuss the implications of 'pac's death -- for music, for his contemporaries and subsequent generations, and for the history of Las Vegas. If you missed this interesting and insightful discussion, you can catch it again today at 9 a.m. on 88.9 KNPR.
In today's Peach Bowl, TCU is a -3.5 favorite over Mississippi. The total is 55.5.
With temperatures unlikely to reach 40 degrees tomorrow, and overnight winds exacerbating near-freezing conditions, warming stations are being opened to provide refuge to the homeless and others without adequate or reliable heating. The list that follows is supplemental to ongoing seasonal centers at Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, and The Shade Tree facilities, which are run by the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition from November to late March. Anyone without computer access is encouraged to call 211 for details about their nearest warming station.
The following are all scheduled to be open tomorrow:
In today's featured college bowl game, Stanford is a -14 favorite over
Maryland. The total is 45.5. The biggest bowls of the year will be played beginning tomorrow. Check back here for lines on most of those games.
The seemingly never-ending saga of Wayne Newton and his beloved Casa di Shenandoah Las Vegas ranch/estate has perhaps finally reached a totally unexpected conclusion, with the (reliable inside) word from LV Sun entertainment columnist John Katsilometes being that the Wayner's back in his home for the holidays. What's more, he apparently intends to remain there, along with his family and menagerie, while reviving the long-abandoned plan to convert part of the property, and his private memorabilia collection, into a showbiz museum.
How this surprising turn of events has come to pass financially speaking, we have no clue, but if the holiday snap the singer posted on his official Twitter is anything to go by, it looks like Wayne Newton and Casa di Shenandoah are back in business. (For the uninitiated, this saga began back in 2010 and has taken more than one bizarre twist along the way; you can find our chronicling of the on-again, off-again saga in the Question of the Day Archives.
As a self-declared Jan. 9 deadline looms, CET announced Monday that it has the agreement of 39 percent of its creditors for a restructuring plan that would see $10 billion of the company's $23 billion debt wiped out in a prepackaged bankruptcy later that month. In the same statement, the company said that the support of 60 percent of its first-lien debt holders would be necessary for a restructuring support agreement to become effective; Caesars still also faces the possibility of lawsuits from some second-tier bondholders who claim that the company is essentially siphoning off key assets at their expense. A gaming-industry analyst for Macquarie Securities told the Press of Atlantic City that CET's restructuring plan was the most complex "that has ever gone on in the gaming world."
Today's the last chance to enter Hard Rock Las Vegas' "Test Your Rock IQ" sweepstakes. To enter, "Like" the Hard Rock casino's Facebook page then enter the free rock-trivia contest for a chance to win prizes, including a one-night stay in the famed Real World Penthouse Suite. For more details and the official rules, check out the Hard Rock sweepstakes website.
In today's featured college bowl game, Arkansas is a -7.5 favorite over
Texas. The total is 43.
The changes continue at Westgate Las Vegas, following the takeover of the former LVH, but these changes tend to be happening on the down-low, so we keep getting surprises. First, by chance we discovered that the old coffee shop had closed down, to be replaced by a new cafe concept called Sid's. Several shows closed but new ones are opening, including the Jan. 4 debut of SEXXY, a new topless revue by Jennifer Romas. It's set to perform 11 p.m. Weds-Sun in the Shimmer Cabaret, with tickets starting at $29.95. Look out for a review at ToplessVegasOnline.com, where you'll find candid features on every erotic show in town, including full coverage of the growing burlesque scene.
Obviously there's no such thing as a good hangover, but as Las Vegas steals itself for another HUGE night of revelry, gossip maestro Robin Leach has seen fit to share his personal picks for the Top 5 Vegas Hangover Cures. While we wouldn't dispute Robin's choices (he knows these things...), we would like to offer some additions to that list, since we have not just once, but twice polled our loyal readers on this important subject and have been rewarded by some enlightening feedback both in June 2008, when we first picked your booze-sodden brains and then once again in August 2013 when we revisited, just in case anyone had missed out anything good the first time around. (Turns out they had, so it's a good thing we checked!)
The current live Reader Poll, on the contentious topic of: "To Uber or Not To Uber", remains live until midnight Tuesday, so get your vote/comments in RIGHT NOW if you haven't already.
Brace yourselves for the biggest party of the year, as Las Vegas readies itself to ring in 2015. Several of the events below are already sold out, and beware of getting ripped off by scalpers if your chosen party venue is among them, but there are still tickets available for much what follows (which is as much a road-map for avoiding insanity as it is an actual guide to what's going on!):
*The Strip*:
The final exhibit at downtown's Trifecta Gallery, located in the Arts Factory, will be produced by Cirque du Soleil's Global Citizenship Service, with the unveiling Thursday, Jan. 1 of their 10th annual art exhibition, PARADE: The Collective. The mixed-media show features the work of Cirque cast, crew, and administrative support and each Thursday throughout the month will also feature "Late til 8", a cultural series featuring conversations with other local artists. The Collective will run Jan. 1 to 30 at the Trifecta Gallery, which is then set to close.
Las Vegas didn't get a white Christmas, but according to the National Weather Service we could be in for a snowy New Year's Eve weekend, with an approaching winter storm giving rise to what on Sunday was an estimated 30 to 60 percent chance of snowfall for Tuesday, rising to a 90 percent likelihood for Wednesday. This prediction has since been slightly revised, with the majority of what snowfall there is now expected to the east of Las Vegas. Still, a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for elevations above 2,000 feet from Tues. night into New Year's Day morning and significant snowfall is expected on Mount Charleston, which is good news for skiers and snowboarders.
Travelers heading in to Las Vegas from Southern California on the I-15 should expect difficult driving conditions, with some lower-elevation areas likely to be impassable, including Mountain Pass and Halloran Summit.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are -3 favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 49.
In an interesting betting-related story, journeyman quarterback Rex Grossman reportedly passed up a $53,529 payday to stand on the sidelines of the Cleveland Browns during today's game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns are down to just one QB and invited Grossman to be the back-up, with no chance he'd play unless an injury to starter Connor Shaw required it. Grossman declined, indicating he had too many people coming to town for Christmas. The Browns closed 14-point underdogs for the game.
Connecticut's Foxwoods, the largest casino in North America, is removing some of its gambling devices so the space can be used for "nightclubs and other attractions." The move will reduce its 5,800 slots and 350 tables to an estimated 4,800 and 250, respectively, with an aim of dropping the percentage of total revenue earned from gambling from 80% to 65%-70%. At its zenith, Foxwoods had 6,300 slots and 380 tables.
Once again UNLV, in conjunction with Springs Preserve and participating valley parks and stores, is offering a Christmas Tree-recycling service program through Jan. 15. It's a free service -- just be sure to remove any ornaments, lights etc. before dropping off, and note that flocked trees cannot be recycled. There's a full list of drop-off points on the Las Vegas Springs Preserve website, where you can also find details of their recycling program for holiday cooking oil and kitchen grease.
In today's featured bowl, USC is a -7 favorite over Nebraska. The total is 63.
The long-operating Cathay House has closed on W. Spring Mountain Road. A new Chinese Restaurant called The Jade is now open in the same spot.
Naming rights for the sports arena that's home to the NBA's Phoenix Suns have been purchased by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Originally America West Arena and now US Airways Center, the new name will be Talking Stick Resort Arena by the start of next year's NBA season. Earlier this year, naming rights for neighboring Glendale's Jobing.com Arena, home of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes, were secured by the Gila River Casino. The name is in the process of being changed to Gila River Arena.
The restaurant Off the Strip is no longer (completely) true to its name. After operating for several years in the Southern Highlands area, the restaurant has opened a second location in the LINQ Promenade, which is definitely ON the Strip.
The reviews have been harsh for The Gambler, the remake of the 1974 movie of the same name. The most recent from USA Today states that star Mark Wahlberg is "miscast, unconvincing as a depressed intellectual or a compulsive gambler." Surprising, given that Wahlberg was so into researching his character that he gambled (and lost) a large sum of money -- reportedly $54,000 on a single bet -- to get the feeling of playing high with bad results.
The lasagna at the Mirage's Portofino got a mention in this weekend's USA Today. The specialty dish with a $100 price tag is made from 24-month-aged cheeses, Kobe-beef Bolognese sauce, foie gras added between layers, white-diamond truffles, and "23-karat flakes" (of what, we're not sure).
Nevada's most prominent law firm is dissolving after 47 years. Lionel Sawyer & Collins, which for decades served as counsel for the biggest companies and individuals in the gaming industry, will close down in January. Many of its attorneys -- including 95-year-old Sam Lionel, who co-founded the firm with Grant Sawyer -- will join Fennemore Craig.
Make a $20 parlay or $50 straight bet at the Rampart and get an entry into a drawing with $2,500 in cash. Maximum 20 entries. Drawing will be held at halftime of the college championship game on Jan. 12.
An Ethel M Chocolates kiosk has opened on the west side in the Tivoli Village shopping district. It's noteworthy given that the only other Ethel M outlet, aside from the Henderson factory and an airport location that you can't get to without a plane ticket, is in downtown's California casino. As of now, the kiosk is scheduled to operate only through Valentine's Day.
The Chinese restaurant Pearl has closed at MGM Grand. No replacement restaurant or other plans for the space have been announced.
The second Las Vegas bitcoin ATM (that we know of) has opened downtown at the Gold Spike. The first was opened earlier this year inside the Viva Vegas souvenir shop on the Strip.
If you're eating out, most buffets and many restaurants will have special Christmas dinners. South Point is awarding 10X points on penny slots, 5X points on other slots, and 2X points on video poker.
Get $20 video poker matchplay today and tomorrow at Home Plate bar at 4785 Blue Diamond Road. You can play one each day.
Here's music to the ears of many fanatics of this venerable slyder (sic.) brand: The new Las Vegas Strip restaurant, located at Casino Royale, is hiring! Applications are being accepted in person from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the hiring location at 3440 West Russell Road. No experience necessary.
New York-based popular fast food stand Shake Shack will debut at New York-New York, next door to The Park, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 29. It's the first Shake Shack location to open on the West Coast and will serve the brand's signature burgers, hot dogs, and frozen custard, plus some specialty items developed exclusively for Las Vegas. Fans should note that, commencing Jan. 1, all US Shacks (with the exception of JFK airport and ballparks), will introduce a specialty limited time-only off-menu burger called the ShackMeister.
The show that has so far graced the former Studio 54 space at MGM Grand, the Tropicana, and the Quad/LINQ is on the move once again, with the final show at the current venue taking place Thursday, Dec. 26, when they'll regroup and head to (smaller) pastures new at the Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops.
Hooters, which for some years has been down to just two presences in Sin City (the off-Strip hotel-casino and the slightly incongruous bar on S. Rainbow) is about to expand once more, with the surprise news (courtesy of the ever-reliable Robin Leach at the LV Sun) that the chain known for orange shorts, chicken wings, and cleavage is to take over the space at the Palms that was briefly occupied by Heraea sports bar. There are also plans for the new venue to expand outward to take over the poolside catering operations currently provided by Back Room Burger Joint.
As previewed by Jean Scott earlier this month (see Today's News 12/17/2014, the new food court covers almost 15,000 square feet and, in addition to the Smashburger, Earl of Sandwich, Philip’s Seafood, Graeter’s Ice-cream venues already announced, will include an Asian eatery called Tiger Wok & Ramen and an outpost of New York's venerable Di Fara Pizza, which is open till 2 a.m. on weekends; the other restaurants are open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The ever-fabulous Onyx Theatre has a holiday treat to help you vent any last-minute-shopping rage with Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, the Christmas Sci-fi Fomato show. It's martians vs. humans in a battle for Santa Claus, featuring giant robots, polar bears, and flying fomatoes! This Friday and Saturday are your last chances to catch this antidote to the holiday blues that has been described as "comedic bliss." Doors at 10:30 p.m. and arrive early for front row upgrades for unlimited fomatoes for throwing at the cast (warning: they throw them back!) Tickets are $20 but dress like a sexy elf or martian for $5 off.
The 46th annual World Series of Poker will take place at the Rio from May 27 to July 14 next year, and will feature a new $565 buy-in event -- the lowest entry for an open event at the tournament -- dubbed "The Colossus" with a guaranteed total prize pool of at least $5 million. The main event is scheduled for July 5 to 14, to conclude with the now-traditional November final table.
As predicted, passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport was up by 2.3 percent in November, compared to the same month last year, with almost 3.4 million passengers passing through the facility. The figures released today confirm that Las Vegas is on track to welcome more than 41 million visitors by year's end.
Donny and Marie Osmond have extended their residency at the Flamingo through 2015, it's been announced, with tickets now on sale for dates from Jan. 20 through Nov. 14, 2015.
This week, Bob Dancer relates his experiences on two different comped cruises and assesses and compares their respective values.
Online consumer-review travel site TripAdvisor.com has been fined $600,000 by Italy's national hoteliers' association and a consumer protection agency for failing to police the authenticity of reviews posted on its site. The online travel guide has been given 90 days to implement satisfactory controls; the company has said in a statement that it plans to appeal.
Don't get excited, it's not a residency but just a one-night stand, so to speak, but perhaps Jennifer Lopez is feeling the water with a view to something more long-term. Whatever the future may hold, this New Year's Eve, for one night only, you can catch Jennifer Lopez performing at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Tickets are $175 and include a hosted bar (a pretty good deal!) but the catch is that only a limited number will be made available to the general public. They go on sale tomorrow, Dec. 23, at 10 a.m. PST and you know they're going to sell out faster than they can answer the phones so, as Pitbull might say, "Don’t sleep or snooze ... don't get it confused no ... 'cause you will lose!"
The Denver Broncos are -3.5 favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 47.
The "Winter Wonderland" at Las Vegas Ice Center (W. Flamingo, between El Capitan and Fort Apache) is in full swing, with photo opportunities with Santa tonight until 6:30 p.m., then again tomorrow and Christmas Eve. Visit the the official website for public skate times and details of free skating lessons Dec. 23, 26, 30 and again Jan. 2 and 3.
The Venetian's "funniest women in comedy" series rides again, with word that LIPSHTICK – The Perfect Shade of Stand Up will return to The Sands Showroom for a second season in 2015, with a confirmed talent line-up to date including" Lisa Lampanelli; Loni Love; Jennifer Coolidge; Roseanne Barr; Whitney Cummings; Iliza Shlesinger; Caroline Rhea; and Fortune Feimster. Series two dates currently span Feb. 7 to May 2.
No, it's not another strip-club post, we're just sharing some love just received for Eric Raskin's The Moneymaker Effect: The Inside Story of the Tournament That Forever Changed Poker, released earlier this year by our book-publishing wing, Huntington Press. Contributing to PokerUpdate, well-known poker writer Steve Ruddock includes the title in a trio of must-own poker books, describing it as an "incredible narrative" and saying, "In my opinion, Raskin's book is an all-timer; a top-ten poker book that every serious poker enthusiast has to have on their bookshelf." Thanks!
So, if you're looking for a gift for the poker enthusiast in your life, hightail it to your nearest bookstore ASAP, or else get it for their Kindle or Apple device.
Don't shoot the messenger, that's just the official word according to a recent survey by WalletHub.com, which ranked North Las Vegas #148 out of 150 cities for dating in North America. Henderson didn't do much better, coming in at the #135 spot, while Vegas is right in the middle of the pack at #71, saved by coming in first for nightlife opportunities. (Our 1-in-6 rate for herpes infection, according to sincityspeeddating.com, probably counted against us, however...)
Reno, ranked #8, may be feeling smug on the romance front right now, but that's probably just because they're a lot drunker than we are up there.
The "12 Days of XXXMas" promo running at Crazy Horse III gentlemen's club continues, with four nights of open bar remaining. Today through Dec. 25, there's an open bar from 10 p.m. to midnight, with featured liquors including: 50 Shades of Bleu Vodka (tonight); Jameson Black Barrel; Hierarchy Vodka; and Ciroc on Christmas Day. For details on all the other holiday happenings at Las Vegas' gentlemen's clubs, the latest addition to the ever-popular "Dancer of the Month" feature, and a LOT more, check out ToplessVegasOnline.com.
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas may have ditched its original Wizard of Oz theming over the years, but in the spring the Oneida Indian Nation plans to open a $20 million 67,000-square-foot "Yellow Brick Road" casino in Chittenango, the village 14 miles east of Syracuse where Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum was born.
This year's America's Party New Year's Eve fireworks show on the Strip has been confirmed. More than 80,000 fireworks will be exploded during a well-timed 7-minute, 11-second show. They will emanate from the rooftops of MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace ,TI, the Venetian, and Stratosphere.
The Fremont Street Experience will host the "Downtown Countdown" party from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., with a line-up of leading tribute bands, live on three stages, plus fireworks (real and virtual), and more. There's a $30 early-bird ticket discount through Dec. 26; thereafter, the price goes up to $40.
The Seattle Seahawks are -9.5 favorites over the Phoenix Cardinals in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 36.5.
It's the last month to enter to win D casino owner Derek Stevens' Corvette Stingray. One entry for every 100 points in slots/video poker, every blackjack with a $100 minimum wager, and every $300 in daily keno play. Good luck!
Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 11" poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Prizes are $100 for first; a Full LVA membership for second, our new poker book Flop, Turn, River for third, and prizes for all final-table contestants, including our new gambling-cartoon calendar, a copy of our new book, the third edition of Whale Hunt in the Desert, and Mad Huey logo wear. See the entire prize pool and register to play at the LVA Casino (once signed in, click on "Poker Tournaments" and register for Tourney ID 7290). This tournament is completely free to play. There will also be other tourneys running all day for gift cards and play chips. Come have some fun! See you at noon.
Mr. Claus has been busy this season, making appearances everywhere from cactus gardens to aquariums, and his next novelty engagement will be at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Luxor today, where he'll be posing on the Grand Staircase from 1-3 p.m., greeting guests and posing for photos. There's also a novelty commemorative gift-buying opportunity for the naughty person in your life: The gift shop sells authentic pieces of coal that were part of the 5,982 tons loaded on board R.M.S. Titanic.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 11th Sunday Funday poker tournament. First place gets $100 and everyone at the final table will win a prize. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST. It's completely free to play, with registration beginning two hours before the tournament at the LVA Casino.
The Utah Utes are -3 favorites over the Colorado State Rams in today's Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. The total is 57.5. Today marks the start of the college bowl season, which will include 39 games, culminating with the first national championship decided by a playoff system.
Caesars Entertainment has announced that its main operating unit will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. The move will reduce Caesars Entertainment Operating Co.'s debt from $18.4 billion to $8.6 billion and reduce its annual interest payments by 75%. All of the Caesars units have a combined debt of $22.8 billion. The planned restructuring will not affect day-to-day operations of CET casinos throughout the U.S.
The Backstage Bar hosts a Jingle Bell Ball tonight with a silent auction benefiting the Cleveland Clinic Lou Rouvo Center and a free wine tasting and live bands. Tickets are $40.
All week the Hard Rock has been Royal Purple Bowl Las Vegas Bowl HQ for players and fans, with food specials at Mr Lucky's and Pink Taco and the specialty hand-crafted CSU cocktail, Cam the Ram, at all casino bars. Today, the casino is operating an exclusive shuttle to Sam Boyd Stadium to catch the big game; the shuttle will operate throughout the day for $25 per person.
On Saturday, for the first time in their history, UNLV's Runnin' Rebels will play at a venue on the Las Vegas Strip, as the home team takes on No. 14 Utah as the finale of the MGM Grand Showcase, a doubleheader benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. Oklahoma vs. Washington; the Rebels' game will take place around 8:30 p.m. If you can't make it in person, the first game of the Showcase will air on ESPNU, while you can catch the UNLV game on ESPN2.
Carl Icahn (whose mokiker is so commonly prefixed by "billionaire investor" that we were starting to wonder if that was legally part of name), has stated that he's no enemy to unions and will continue in his attempt to reach a settlement that will keep Atlantic City's bankrupt Taj Mahal casino alive. To that end, in a letter sent Friday to Trump Entertainment's CEO Robert Griffin, Icahn offered to provide $20 million in additional financing to keep the casino operating and Bob McDevitt, president of the casino workers' union, Local 54 of Unite Here, stated today that the union thought it had "an agreement with all parties that would resolve all the issues." That would be the best Christmas present Atlantic City could wish for right now, we reckon, so fingers crossed.
The final stage in the Cosmopolitan's change of ownership has taken place, with the Nevada Gaming Commission having yesterday given its seal of approval to the sale by Deutsche Bank to a division of New York City-based multinational private-equity investment fund Blackstone Group, for $1.73 billion. In 2008 lender Deutsche Bank paid $1 billion to take over the $3.9 billion property after developer Ian Bruce Eichner's 3700 Associates company defaulted on a payment.
Unlike Liberace, there are no plans to digitally resurrect the Chairman of the Board, at least not as far as we know, but from Jan. 24 through April 30, Palazzo will host FRANK The Man. The Music., starring singing impressionist Bob Anderson. The 90-minute production apparently depicts Frank Sinatra in three distinct musical areas – recording studio, TV specials, and personal appearances – and features a 32-piece orchestra under the direction of Sinatra's former musical director, Vincent Falcone. Tickets, which start $71.50, are on sale now.
The 8+ percent rise in Nevada cab fares, approved by the Nevada Taxicab Authority back in late October, is now in effect, with the meter changeovers expected to be completed by the weekend. The new rates are inclusive of the former separate fuel surcharge and include a 15-cent increase to $3.45 for the initial drop, 2 cents more per one-thirteenth mile thereafter, and a $2.40 hike per hour for wait time. It's the first time fares have been raised in six years.
On the subject of transportation, what are your thoughts on ride-share services like Uber? Share your thoughts by voting in our current Reader Poll!
There's a distinct Christmas flavor to this weekend's entertainment lineup, you may notice, but for all the Scrooges and Grinches, there are some non-festive bits and pieces, too:
The Jacksonville Jaguars are -4.5 favorites over the Tennessee Titans in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 39. It's the first time the Jags have been favored in 43 games.
In this week's column, video poker pro Bob Dancer discusses the volatility of Double Double Bonus Ultimate X and why he's still playing it, despite having his butt kicked to the tune of $100,000+ last year. Ouch! Oh, and if you're looking for a gift for the video poker player in your life, Dancer's best-selling Video Poker for Winners tutorial software is available for download, so it'll definitely be there in time for Christmas.
The consummate showman apparently will not let a little detail like being dead stop him from performing, with breaking news today from the Hollywood Reporter that Liberace is to star in his own feature-length Las Vegas production show, courtesy of the same hologram technology that saw murdered rapper Tupac Shakur perform at the Coachella music festival. "With our partners at the Liberace Foundation we’ll be able to stage a show so lifelike—the room will be filled with all of the great singer’s charm and charisma. The show will be staged in such a way that Liberace will be able to interact with the audience—the suspension of disbelief the performance will leave fans certain he has come back," says Alki David, CEO of Hologram USA. Further details and a venue have yet to be announced.
Howard Stutz, gaming writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, just confirmed via Twitter that the Gaming Commission has voted unanimously to award Sam Nazarian a limited gaming license for one-year, with the proviso that he have no involvement with the casino at SLS. Nazarian had already announced earlier this week his intention to distance himself from all SLS operations, following a rocky hearing with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Today sees a timely opening, in light of the recent announcement that relations between the U.S. and Cuba are to be "normalized", with PT's newly acquired Sean Patrick’s Pub & Grill in Southern Highlands (11930 Southern Highlands Parkway) hosting the grand opening of its first Cigar Lounge. The venue features three stand-up humidors and seating for 12-14 people, with brands including Ashton, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Padron, San Cristobal, Arturo Fuente, Opus X, Rocky Patel, La Flor Dominicana, and Diamond Crown available, among others. In celebration of the debut, there will be Guinness and Johnnie Walker drink specials, complimentary appetizers, and cigar deals including eight-for-the -price-of-five on Romeo Y Julieta 1875.
The annual "Casinorama" Super Casino Collectibles Show is coming to Arizona Charlie's Decatur Jan. 30-31, with chips, tokens, room keys, silver strikes, dice, players cards, and every other casino "collectible" you can think of for sale. Admission is $5, which is good for entry on both days.
Our dear friend Vital Vegas reports that Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil's Tatuado Restaurant & Cantina (formerly Tres Rios) has closed at the Westgate Las Vegas (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton/LVH). While Neil still has his catchily named "Tatuado Eat, Drink, Party" bar and restaurant at Circus Circus, he's not had a great track record when it comes to Sin City business ventures. See Question of the Day 7/24/2014, which was dedicated to this very subject (with a little Flavor Flav thrown in for good measure, because why not?) Having read some of his autobiography the other day, in the course of researching a Question of the Day, we'd like to see Tommy Lee open a bar here!
While plans for the space have yet to be announced (another Mexican restaurant is rumored...), Westgate Las Vegas did unleash a new eatery today, in the form of Sid's Cafe, which is so new, it's may be listed on our website before it makes it onto theirs!
Neither Caesars Entertainment nor Genting will be opening a casino in New York state anytime soon, after the Gaming Facility Location Board opted Wednesday not to award a license to NYC's suburban Orange County. Instead, sites in Sullivan, Schenectady, and Seneca counties were selected for properties to include, respectively: Empire Resorts' $630 million Montreign Resort Casino (to be built in the Catskills town of Thompson); Rivers Casino Resort, a $330 million project destined for Mohawk Harbor; and the $425 million Lago Resort & Casino -- the largest contender for the Finger Lakes-Southern Tier region.
The giant Rubik's cube-esque cousin to the Downtown Container Park, announced earlier this year by Rick Harrison of Gold & Silver Pawn/"Pawn Stars" fame, has moved a step closer to reality, with the addition of a banner proclaiming that space is for rent, and partially obscuring the construction equipment that is evidently bringing this funky idea to fruition.
By the way, Harrison has been a busy man: His new "Trivia Challenge" app was also launched last week and is available on Facebook, at the Apple App Store, and Google Play Store for free. For more information. Visit rickstrivia.com for more information about how to play this "speed trivia" game for prizes from Gold & Silver Pawn.
This is possibly the best news we've heard all week (maybe the only good news?!), but it's awesome: It's official, direct from @The_Forum_Shops: "The Elf Dive takes place Mon-Fri at 2:30 p.m. (possibly subject to change)."
And that date is Dec. 23, when the new Forum Food Court – which is the replacement for the old Cypress Street Marketplace – will apparently feature Smashburger, Earl of Sandwich, Philip’s Seafood, Graeter’s Ice-cream, an "exciting new Mexican and Asian concept," and a pizza brand that has yet to be announced. All this the Queen of Comps gleaned from a "secret" source of CET information (well, it's not really secret, it's just not well know about and is somewhat hidden). Check out the latest post on Jean's Frugal Vegas blog, which also reveals that Caesars Palace has removed the guest robes from all rooms except its suites, plus there's a review of the new Fulton Street Food Hall (officially "it's not a food court"!), and lots more interesting tidbits.
For the first time ever, more than 40 million visitors came to our fair city in 2014 and, boosted in part by more international travelers thanks to the new terminal at McCarran International Airport and expanded passenger service from several airlines. With two weeks remaining in the year and the massive New Year's Night party still ahead of us, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is predicting that it might even hit 41 million by year's end. Tourism generates approximately $45 billion each year for the economy of Southern Nevada, according to the LVCVA, and employs about 376,000 people.
This evening will see menorah-lighting ceremonies on Fremont Street (starting at 4 p.m.) and at M Resort, as well as at temples and synagogues around town. In addition, several casino buffets will include specialty Jewish-delicacy stations from Dec. 17 through 24 -- see Question of the Day 12/11/14 for more details.
There's a lot going on in Las Vegas this Bowl season. What, exactly, you may ask? You'll find all the details at LVASports.com, plus information about our own FREE-TO-ENTER College Bowl Contest, with up to $650 in prize money!
It's official: Morgans Hotel Group has agreed to sell The Light Group to Hakkasan for $36 million, a more than $10 million loss on the $46.5 million the New York-based hospitality company paid for a 90 percent interest in the Vegas nightlife brand back in late 2011. As part of the new arrangement, Morgans will assume control of the food and beverage offerings from TLG at its flagship Delano South Beach hotel and will retain its leasehold interests in the three Mandalay Bay restaurants that TLG will continue to manage (surprisingly).
If you're doing some last-minute gift-buying at ShopLVA.com, you have one hour left to get your order in to guarantee (as much as USPS guarantees anything...) delivery by Christmas. So hustle, people!
Further to our earlier post, although the terms of the settlement between MGM Mirage and Perini were deemed "confidential," an immediate filing by the former with the Securities and Exchange Commission kind of let the cat out of the bag: R-J business columnist Howard Stutz reports that MGM Mirage has agreed to pay a total of $173 million to resolve the lawsuit, with $20 million going to CityCenter (a joint parntnership between MRI and Dubai World) and $153 million to Perini. "Of that total," he writes, "$72 million was in escrow from CityCenter condo sales. The company will pay out $101 million." Wow.
Having almost lost its 30-year relationship with the National Finals Rodeo (see Today's News 12/03/13), this year delivered record attendance figures, with more than 177,565 rodeo fans hitting Vegas during the 10-day event at Thomas & Mack Center -- 1,000 more than the record set in 2013. In January of this year, the contract was renewed for another decade.
There will be some relieved jurors this morning, following news that a settlement has been reached in the $500 million civil damages trial concerning the structurally unsound Harmon Tower at CityCenter, which had been expected to last for at least a year. The terms reached between six out of seven parties, in which the key players were owners MGM Mirage and chief contractor Tutor Perini Corp., are confidential.
It looks as if the widely anticipated Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration by Caesars Entertainment is going ahead, if today's missing of a $225 million interest payment is anything to go by. The company is currently in talks with lenders about financial restructuring and while some analysts have expressed support for a concept that splits CET's assets into two companies, one of which would own the majority of the real estate assets, while the other would manage its casinos, Fitch Ratings Service has stated that it believes the current structure is too complex to be resolved via a prepackaged bankruptcy.
The New Orleans Saints are -3 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 53.5.
On Saturday, Shania Twain performed her 105th and final concert at Caesars' Colosseum, the culmination of a two-year residency. However, having seemed as if this was probably it for the country star's relationship with Sin City, it turns out AEG shook hands with her agent after the grand finale and she's set to return for an additional 21 dates next September/October (the only open slots now that Celine's returning in the summer and Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire are joining Elton and Rod in the residency rotation). There may be additional 2016 dates for Shania, too.
According to Forbes, there's a strong rumor circulating that nightlife giant Hakkasan is about to purchase Morgans Hotel Group's 90% share in Vegas-based rival the Light Group, which operates venues including Bank, 1 Oak, and Light, but has been mired in controversy and lawsuits involving accusations of sexual harassment, among other things. LV Sun gossip columnist Robin Leach has more on the "racy rumor," indicating in his column late last week that TLG, which recently closed its Haze and City Bar venues at Aria, had effectively been ordered to get out by MGM Resorts Int'l and hand over management of its multiple remaining venues to Hakkasan. If an actual sale goes ahead, it would likely be valued in the range of $40 million in cash and debt and would see Hakkasan taking control of some 20 restaurants and clubs in Vegas, L.A., and Miami. The latter apparently expressed interest in purchasing the Tao brand earlier this year, but nothing ever came of that.
Nevermind Life is Beautiful, Here Comes Punk Rock Bowling! The 17th Annual Punk Rock Bowling Festival has just announced the lineup for 2015 and Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, and Refused will headline the May 22-25 event downtown. However, we espied some other venerable punk artists in the small print, including former Dead Kennedy's frontman Jello Biafra and Ska legends Bad Manners (for some reason, we thought Buster Bloodvessel was dead, but evidently not. Good!) Tickets for the three-day event, which features poker and bowling tournaments in addition to all the obvious music and anarchic high jinks, are due to go on sale January 10 (prices have yet to be announced, though).
First a FREE NYE concert at the Riv, and now FREE NYE rides are by offered by Tivoli Village venues. In light of the recent horrific spate of fatal traffic accidents (20 deaths in just 13 days), anything to prevent DUI's this holiday season is welcome, and Tivoli Village "retailtainment" district on the west side is stepping up with the offer of free transportation home in a town car, within a 10-mile radius, for those who book at the valet stand located in front of Vasari between 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Thursday, Jan 1. Bravo, we say! (Designated Drivers of Las Vegas was forced to discontinue its complimentary service during the holiday season several years ago due to lack of sponsorship which, in a city awash with venues charging $300+ bottle service and a horrible traffic-accident rate is, in our opinion, utterly shameful.)
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett's NYE performance at the Cosmopolitan may be sold out, but you can still catch crooner and Bennett personal fave George Bugatti performing live just up the street at the Riviera. The Steve Allen ("Tonight Show") protege, who was discovered in California but now resides in Las Vegas, will perform a two-hour set, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., in the Riviera's Le Bistro Lounge and there's no cover. Must be 21+.
Downtown's Golden Nugget last week completed a $15 million renovation of 462 guest rooms in the Gold Tower, a project which commenced back in early August.
New California-distilled liquor brand Jackpot Vodka has entered into a novel relationship with the Palms in Las Vegas and is offering a $25 casino-redemption credit with each purchase of the new spirit, having gained regulatory approval for the first promo of its kind. Each bottle of Jackpot Vodka features a unique five-character code on the cap, which can be redeemed online for a minimum resort credit of $25 at the off-Strip property, which recently completed a major renovation. Jackpot Vodka is currently available for purchase in Nevada and Arizona only, with a suggested retail price of $24.99, while the $25 resort credit is redeemable against game play, food and beverage, spa services (at Palms Place), shows, or hotel charges. (The bottle's pretty cool, too -- see link.)
This week will see New York determining who will get to open the first Vegas-style casinos in the state, with 16 companies vying for up to four full-scale licenses. One of the biggest battles is between gaming giants Caesars Entertainment and Genting Bhd., both vying for the right to open a resort-casino within an hour's drive of the Big Apple in the Catskill Mountains-Orange County area. CET's proposal is for an $880 million casino in Woodbury, while Genting's bid is for a resort-casino in Tuxedo, closer to the potentially lucrative market of New York City and its 8.4 million residents.
The Cal Neva Resort & Casino, which was closed back in September 2013 for renovations (see Today's News 9/22/2013) and was originally slated to be back in business this month, has pushed back its opening date by a year. Last Friday, Dec. 12, was originally picked as the opening date, since that would have been former owner Frank Sinatra's 99th birthday; now the new owners, who've struggled to raise the $49 million needed for major renovations, have set their sights on Dec. 12, 2015, to reopen. (There's a pretty snow-festooned photo of the resort in today's Sacramento Bee (although you'd think someone could've moved the "slippery floor" sign...)
The Philadelphia Eagles are -3 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 54.5.
Speaking of the holiday bargain period, almost everything is half price at South Point from today through Dec. 24 when you pay with club points. This includes all restaurants and bars, rooms, shows, bingo, bowling, movies, and the gift shop. And if you don't have points, all drinks are $2.
Today marks the end of this year's National Finals Rodeo. It's also the start of the best bargain period that runs from now through Christmas. Check room rates around town for the deepest discounts of the year.
A new restaurant called Glutton is planned for downtown. Located on Carson Ave. near Container Park, the restaurant serving "new American cuisine" will open in January.
Junior dos Santos is a -460 favorite over Stipe Miocic in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Rafael dos Anchos is -300 over Nate Diaz.
Today's date, 12/13/14, is expected to generate a rush on weddings, as many couples want to take advantage of the last sequential date of this century. One popular place to do the deed in Las Vegas is the High Roller wheel, where weddings are being hosted from 10:11 a.m. to 12:13 p.m.
At 4 p.m. today, Downtown Container Park will host a FREE screening of the Christmas classic The Polar Express. All the family's welcome to attend.
Oregon's Marcus Mariota is a huge favorite to win college football's Heisman Trophy today at -65000 (bet $650 to win $1). You can get +17500 on Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and +87500 on Alabama's Amari Cooper. Despite being the runaway fave, Mariota is a dog to get 90% of the votes, with under lined at -190.
Today sees the second annual "December to Remember" event at the Neon Museum downtown, with holiday activities including ornament-making from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Boneyard Park, followed by hot chocolate and caroling by the Las Vegas Academy choir in the Neon Museum Boneyard from 5 to 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Overflow parking will be available across the street at the Reed Whipple building.
Today and tomorrow sees a two-day "Magic: the Gathering" tournament at the Cashman Center, the first in a series of tournaments hosted by CardAgain with a guaranteed prize pool of at least $25,000 (and potential to reach $100,000). The base entry fee is $42. Visit the official CardAgain website for more information.
Rose Namajunas is a -135 favorite over Carla Esparza in tonight's UFC main event to decide the first woman's Strawweight Champion. In the other featured match, Jeremy Stephens is -175 over Charles Oliveira.
Commencing Jan. 10, 2015, David Perrico and his 15-piece Pop String Orchestra will be bringing a regular 11 p.m. show to Red Rock Resort's Rock Lounge. The shows will be free to attend, with limited seating available on a first come, first served basis.
The shopping mall at Planet Hollywood is getting into the seasonal spirit with a program of surprise holiday greetings from famous faces, to be broadcast from the Miracle Mile's Stripside LED banner every half-hour, from 10 a.m. to midnight through Dec. 31. More than 20 different messages will be shown throughout the month, with contributions from Mayor Carolyn Goodman (and hubby Oscar), the casts of VEGAS! The Show, Absinthe, Rock of Ages, and various Cirque productions, plus gossip columnist Robin Leach, "Bar Rescue" host Jon Taffer, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, and many others.
Saturday, Dec. 13 is the last night to catch Shania Twain: Still the One at The Colosseum at Caesars Paris, bringing to a close her two-year residency which, unlike the majority in the high-profile venue, was not extended beyond its initial contracted run.
USA Today Travel is conducting a reader poll to pick the 10 most visit-worthy state capitals in the U.S. and Carson City is among the 20 nominees, so support the Silver State capital, singled out for its "inexpensive lodging and food in a picturesque setting."
Travel and Leisure has named Las Vegas among the "Best Places to Travel in 2015." The city was ranked at #25 on a list of 52 international destinations and it was the thriving revival in "Old Las Vegas" that was highlighted, although their geography is a little off: "If you’re looking for a good time in Las Vegas these days, all signs point to south of the Strip," writes T+L, but it's venues like the Downtown Container Park, Mob Museum, Downtown3rd District, and newly renovated casinos like the D and Downtown Grand that get name-checked.
The observation wheel at The LINQ is celebrating tomorrow -- the last sequential date of the 21st century -- by offering free wedding ceremonies from 10:11 a.m. until 12:13 p.m. and the line starts at 8 a.m. Don't be late, because from 12:14 p.m. onward, wedding packages for private-cabin ceremonies start at $1,700...
In the midst of all the doom and gloom from the struggling East Coast casino destination, comes some positive news: Following approval of a bill earlier this week by a state Senate committee that eases some previous standards with regard to new casino projects, the owner of the city's Chelsea hotel has expressed a desire to open the first "boutique" casino. Formerly, casinos needed to be located in new purpose-built venues and required a minimum of 200 hotel rooms, but with mandated future expansion to 500. The Chelsea has 330 rooms.
Someone had better go rescue him, and fast, because Santa Jaws is in the house [aquarium] too! Now through Dec. 24, Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef attraction is featuring Santa Claus and Santa Jaws in the shipwreck exhibit every weekend in December and kids aged 12 and under can get a free photo with aquarium admission.
Talking of monthly gambling round-ups, we totally forgot to remind you that Jean Scott has posted December Casino Promotions on her "Frugal Vegas" blog, and it's a two-parter. The Queen of Comps pretty much covers everything except sports betting so, pair her with Frank B at LVASports and you're totally covered re the latest best casino offers, insider tidbits, and other ways to make your gambling dollars work for you to the max. Together, these two resources are totally a winning combination that you can't afford to miss.
Las Vegas Advisor's sports-wagering guru Frank B has been busy. He just posted his latest update on the Las Vegas' sports book scene, including promos (lost and found), contest info and tips, and a lot more, so check out the latest edition of "Vegas Sportsbook Notes" at LVASports.com.
The St. Louis Rams are -6 favorites over the Arizona Cardinals in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 40.5.
We've been watching the crazy images of people canoeing down the streets of NorCal, but now the massive rain storm is headed our way, albeit with less dramatic consequences anticipated. Southern Nevada is expected to get the "fringes" of the system currently causing major flooding in Northern California and parts of southern Oregon, with scattered showers expected for Las Vegas by Friday afternoon. While the weekend should be drier, more rain is expected early next week, so drive safe, everyone.
Renowned poker player and writer James McManus recommends Huntington Press' The Moneymaker Effect: The Inside Story of the Tournament that Forever Changed Poker in his recent "Holiday Gift Guide for Poker Fans" for Bloomberg News, calling it "a vivid history of the epoch-making 2003 [WSOP] championship."
Fuller details are due to be announced next week, but for now it's been confirmed that "America's Party," Las Vegas' traditional New Year's Eve celebration, will culminate in a Strip fireworks display launched simultaneously from the roofs of MGM Grand; Aria; Planet Hollywood; Caesars Palace; Treasure Island; Venetian; and Stratosphere.
Here are your entertainment highlights; for more, check out our Event calendar:
What began on Sunday with the fatal shooting of a suspected serial armed-robber at the Rio was followed today by an armed SWAT standoff at MGM Grand that ended in the apparent suicide of a guest in their room. From Metro's reports, at no point during either incident was any hotel guest or employee endangered.
That's what Rock 'n Roll Wine is suggesting you do this Friday, with the surprise announcement that they're throwing a second, impromptu, Wine Amplified "Plugged-In" event this Friday, Dec. 12 at the Joint at the Hard Rock. The event, which will feature live performances from Bush, The Airborne Toxic Event, Priory, and Meg Myers, is being held in conjunction with X107.5's Holiday Havoc (which starts on Dec. 11 with headliners Imagine Dragons) but will also feature an exclusive Wine Amplified tasting from 7-9 p.m., limited to 200 attendees. To be one of the lucky few, sign up to receive a secret access code and purchase your $50 advanced-sale ticket (there will be no tix at the door), which includes a custom tasting glass, a wristband for twenty 2oz pours of wine (equivalent to eight glasses!), and access to the concert.
Prolific and eclectic musician/producer Jack White is to play the Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Tickets are $65 in advance or $70 DOS and are available now via ticketfly, the Brooklyn Bowl website and box office (open daily at noon), or by phone at 702-862-2695.
That's "straw," as in, the third and final intake and tunnel that will enable water to be extracted from Lake Mead to supply Las Vegas, even if the level falls so low that the existing two straws become redundant. Today's projected completion of the tunnel will conclude the most ambitious stage in an $817 million project and has taken more than six years to complete.
It's a construction feat of monumental proportions, which involved drilling a three-mile tunnel underneath the lake to arrive at its target with an allowable margin of error of just two feet. But even when this stage is completed, there are still fears that in time this third -- and final possible -- straw may not be enough indefinitely, hence today the board of the Southern Nevada Water Authority is due to vote on whether to spend another $650 million on what's effectively an insurance policy in the form of a new pumping station that would keep the third intake working, even in the worst-case scenario that water levels sink too for the Hoover Dam to release water downstream. For more coverage of this story, see today's Las Vegas Review-Journal.
With the failure to attach an outlawing provision to the last "must-pass" bill of the year, it appears that there will be no threat to online gambling arising during this session of Congress. While it's still possible that a move could be made before the session ends next week, it's expected that the fate of online poker and other casino games will be determined in 2015.
Tilman Fertitta's fifth Golden Nugget property opened a few hours ahead of schedule, on Sunday afternoon, although the official festivities were reserved until Monday when the new $700 Golden Nugget Lake Charles debuted in Louisiana.
The lights are out at Spring Mtn. and Decatur and it just took us a half-hour to get to Valley View, so avoid the area right now if you can or, if you're dining, order another course and relax for a few.
Olivia Newton-John's Summer Nights show has been extended at the Flamingo through September 2015, it's been announced, with additional dates starting March 3. There's a Facebook-fan pre-sale commencing Wednesday; tickets for the general public go on sale Friday.
One of the largest gentlemen's clubs in the world will be celebrating its 12th anniversary in Vegas this Thursday, as Sapphire throws a Martinis & Masquerade party, with open hosted bar and hors d'oeuvres from 9-10 p.m. and live performances. Dress to impress; complimentary masques provided.
In this week's regular Tuesday column, video poker expert Bob Dancer poses the hypothetical question: "How should I attack this coupon?" Warning: How he arrives at his conclusion involves a lot of math and, if you have the stomach to tackle it, you might require an extra cup of coffee first.
Tonight at 5 p.m. Mayor Carolyn Goodman, aided by a Santa Elvis, will light the official 50-foot downtown Christmas Tree.
The University of Nevada Las Vegas reportedly will name Tony Sanchez its new football coach. Sanchez compiled a record of 85-5 with six consecutive state championships as coach of Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman, which is expected to be named this year's high school national champion.
Tacos El Gordo, located just to the north of Encore, has closed, we just learned via "Eater Vegas."
The Green Bay Packers are -13 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 54.5.
The 2014 LVA Member Rewards Book has multiple offers for downtown and locals casinos and bars, but if you're a Strip dweller there's plenty for you, too. For example:
Popular breakfast/lunch chain The Egg & I, which currently has a Las Vegas location west of the Strip (4533 W. Sahara), is offering franchise opportunities. To qualify, applicants must have $200K liquid and minimum assets of $750K, plus business-management and/or restaurant-operations experience. Complete the form on their website if you'd like more info.
Las Vegas is now home to the state's second-only independent bookstore (the other is in Reno). Located at 1020 Fremont Street (across from Atomic Liquors), The Writers Block is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and tonight from 7-9 p.m. they're hosting an open house, with complimentary wine and a 15% discount on books, stationary, and more, plus you can meet The Baron, the 16-inch-long store rabbit who resides close to the register and, according to the store's official Facebook page, is currently eating Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.
Polar bears, that is, and penguins, and reindeer, and a giant walk-through snowglobe, all signalling that it's officially holiday season on the Strip. In addition to the seasonal wildlife, there's a 42-foot tree (and lot of "baby" 18-footers), 34,000 flowers, and lots of other festive adornments, on display for free 24/7 now through Jan. 3. If you can't make it in person, check out the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens courtesy of our Vegas Webcams feature.
Real estate firm Movoto recently surveyed more than 28,000 U.S. zip codes, ranking them in order of how stressful it is to live there, based on various criteria including: unemployment rate; mean number of hours worked per week; median household income; percentage of income spent on rent/home-owning costs; average commute time; and other pertinent factors. While no local zip code made the top 10 (the top three were: #1 Williamsfield, OH; #2 Michigan City, MS; and #3 Mendota, CA), of the Las Vegas-area zip codes for which data was available, almost half fell within the top 50 percent of stressful places to live. Every single zip code in the central Las Vegas Valley ranked in the top 10 percent in the country for stress (the worst being 89101), while Henderson ranked least stressful. Visit Movoto's official website to view the national stress map and check out your own specific zip code.
Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fortinet's "big red bus" will be at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip, offering information and tips about network security and data protection and privacy. Lunch will be served for attendees from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hard Rock Cafe. The event is free; sign up here to register.
The New England Patriots are -3.5 favorites over the San Diego Chargers in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 53.
You'll find close to 30 buffet offers in the 2014 Member Rewards Book, but today we're paying particular attention to our exclusive offers from ALL Station Casinos buffets. Unlike many seemingly similar discounts you may come across via other outlets, these are good not only for half-off for a single diner (as opposed to that 2-for-1 restriction that frequently applies), but are redeemable seven days a week, meaning they're good for weekend brunches, too! It's no surprise that when we ran a Reader Poll early in the year, inquiring which offers our subscribers were most excited to use, the Station and Fiesta buffet discounts came out on top. Check 'em out for yourself with a 3-month trial LVA membership (just $12!)
The 2-for-1 buffet offer at Red Rock has been extended through Dec. 24. Get the deal by showing a same-day receipt for at least $20 from a Downtown Summerlin store . Must be a Boarding Pass member.
The four teams that will play in the college-football playoffs were chosen today and the opening lines were quickly posted. First-seeded Alabama is a -9.5 favorite over #4 Ohio State and #2 Oregon is -8 over #3 Florida State.
Absinthe star Melody Sweets will present a special sexy XXXMas Burlesque holiday spectacular on Dec. 23, with fellow cast members and other burlesque performers, plus an all-star band of Strip musicians, including David Perrico of Pop Evolution. Advance tickets are $20 from MelodySweets.com; cover at the door is $30. The show will perform in the Absinthe Theater at 10 p.m.; must be 18+ to attend.
The prize pool for Boyd's Pick the Pros contest goes up today to $50,000 per week through the end of the regular NFL season. You still have time to put your picks in today. Just swipe your B Connected card in a kiosk at Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam’s Town, California, or Fremont before kick-off of today's games.
Commencing today, Rotella Gallery in the Forum Shops at Caesars launches a recurring monthly Sunday Sax session, from 1-3 p.m. The featured artist today is Steve Golden, a veteran saxophone and flute maestro who's performed with Diana Ross, Shirley McClain, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., and Wayne Newton, and many other luminaries of the music industry.
Actually, make that nine nights, because that's how many performances remain at the Stratosphere, counting tonight's, from the man who's been voted "Best Strip Headliner." For all those of you who miss the classic Rat Pack-era days of Las Vegas live entertainment, catch Frankie Moreno with our 2-for-1 offer while you can, before Frankie and his 10-piece band depart Las Vegas for the likes of Carnegie Hall, following their final Dec. 20 show.
Regular tickets are $43.99, plus tax, so if you purchase a $12 3-month trial membership to Las Vegas Advisor and this is the only offer that you use in the 2014 Member Rewards Book, you still save more than $30. MRB's will be available for pick-up from 9 a.m. Monday (so you'll have eight remaining chances to catch the show at the Strat.). Frankie says: Do it!
Johny Hendricks is a -210 favorite over Robbie Lawler in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Anthony Pettis is -300 over Gilbert Melendez.
Carnegie Deli at the Mirage has closed for minor renovations. The restaurant is scheduled to reopen on Dec. 10.
Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall hosts a UFC 181 viewing party tonight from 5 p.m. at The Sports Bar at Crazy Horse III topless club, as Johnny "Bigg Rigg" Hendricks takes on "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. The bar features 70- and 100-inch flat-screen TVs and will offer discounted beer and free pizza. You can watch for $10 at the following Station Casinos properties: Jack’s Irish Pub at Palace, Club Madrid at Sunset, Century Theaters at Santa Fe, and Rocks Lounge at Red Rock.
Downtown Container Park hosts Smoke Season's Cold Souls Winter 2014 Tour tonight, kicking off with Pet Tigers at 10 p.m., followed by Smoke Season, and Leopold and His Fiction. There's no cover for this event.
Streets around downtown will be blocked again today for the "Great Santa Run." The 5K run and 1-mile walk will take place mostly on north end of Las Vegas Boulevard. Streets will reopen around noon and associated entertainment and events will take place all day at the Fremont Street Experience.
Sunset Station hosts their 11th annual Toys for Tickets All-Star Jam this evening, in conjunction with 95.5 The Bull. Locals who drop off a new, unwrapped toy ($10 min. value) to Findlay North Volkswagen at 7500 W. Azure Dr. or Findlay Honda Northwest at 7494 W. Azure Dr., will receive a ticket to the show, featuring performances by country music superstars Big & Rich, David Nail, Frankie Ballard, The Swon Brothers, Josh Thompson and Maddie & Tae, One ticket per toy; two-ticket maximum per person. Doors open at 6 p.m. All donated toys will benefit Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.
Our ongoing odyssey through the 2014 Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards Book continues, as we shine the spotlight on two more of our favorite offers. We'll let some happy members do the talking for us:
Spike TV's "Catch A Contractor" is casting Las Vegas families for Season 3, so if you've been the victim of shady contractor or you're living with a botched construction job, tell your sob story to Catch a Contractor and you may get picked as one of the featured families that Spike's expert team tries to settle the score for.
The extended "Cyber Monday" room-rate deals from Caesars Entertainment and the Palms expire at midnight tonight, so book today to bag CET rates at up to 25% off and rooms at the Palms starting at just $39!
Venetian's weekend-long Ultimo culinary event kicks off this evening at 5 p.m., with a red carpet event in Palazzo's atrium featuring chefs Daniel Boulud, Emeril Lagasse, and Buddy Valastro, plus renowned wine-makers from around the world, and entertainers including Sisaundra Lewis (NBC’s "The Voice") and Danny Wright.
Wet‘n’Wild water park is running a "12 Days of Giveaways" holiday promo on Facebook, commencing today and running through Dec. 16, with 12 daily winners each to receive a pair of Silver season passes to the attraction. Visit the official Wet'n'Wild Facebook page for entry details.
Reports out of Atlantic City indicate that the closing of Trump Taj Mahal will be delayed a week. Previously scheduled to close its doors on Dec. 12, the new closing date has been pushed back to Dec. 20. The delay buys a little more time to find a solution that will avoid the closing completely, but that depends on tax concessions that still appear unlikely to be granted.
We're profiling a triple whammy of goodness today, because who doesn't like free food and free money? LVA members get lots of both and you can, too! Check out three more offers in the 2014 Member Rewards Book, yours for a limited time for just $12. Next year's MRB is in the works and promises to be even BIGGER and better--hard to believe, we know, but it's true. In the meantime, if you can eat, say, four slices of pizza and a stack of pancakes before the end of the year, you'll already be a winner -- if you do it with an MRB!
The Dallas Cowboys are -3.5 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 50.
Louis Prima Jr. and his band The Witness, son and heirs to the former King of Swing, are scheduled to perform a free show at Red Rock Resort at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30. The performance will be recorded for an upcoming music video and complimentary seating is on a first come, first served basis, so get there early (doors open at 7 p.m.)
As per the official Twitter of Las Vegas' Metropolitan Police Department: "The #VictoryLap will run from Harmon to Spring Mtn and back ending at The Linq, expected to last until 4 p.m." So, there you have it.
In case you missed our earlier post, from around 3 p.m. onward, for what we anticipate will be a couple of ours, expect major disruption to Strip traffic as the NASCAR Victory Lap parades up and down to give fans a peek at the drivers and their cars.
It's a NASCAR, NFR kinda weekend, with lots of treats for car and Country fans, and some other cool stuff for the rest of us:
There have been some movings and shakings at the upper echelons of casino management this week, with both the sale of the Cosmopolitan and the licensing of SLS' casino both up before state gaming regulators. Global asset-management company Blackstone LLP moved a step closer toward ownership of the Cosmopolitan, which it agreed to purchase from Deutsche Bank for $1.73 billion earlier in the year, with unanimous approval of the deal from the Gaming Control Board. Now only a green light from the Gaming Commission is required when it meets Dec. 18.
At the north end of the Strip, however, things didn't go as smoothly for Sam Nazarian, with only two out three GCB members voting to approve his application and granting him a one-year limited license only, with stipulations that include the nightlife entrepreneur submitting to random drug testing and being excluded from any involvement whatsoever in casino operations at SLS. The provisos came in the wake of revelations that the owner of the former Sahara had used cocaine as recently as this year, and had prior involvement with dubious characters including Suge Knight, who was among several recipients of sizable payoffs Nazarian made during a period when he was being extorted by a former close associate. The Gaming Commission will still need to ratify this limited approval at its Dec. 18 meeting.
The FAA has lifted a "ground stop" order issued early this morning due to the foggy weather conditions in the Las Vegas area, but there may be a knock-on effect of further delays at McCarran Int'l Airport. Low visibility forced a reconfiguration of normal runway usage, resulting in a lower-than-normal arrival rate, which then leads to a shortage in the supply chain for departing planes.
If you're in the vicinity of the Strip this afternoon, starting at 3:30 p.m. you can catch the traditional NASCAR Victory Lap, as the cars of the Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week Las Vegas parade down Las Vegas Boulevard in their race cars. The NASCAR Victory Lap will start in front of the Miracle Mile Shops -- where PBR Rock Bar is advertising its patio as the prime viewing spot (their happy hour kicks off at 3 p.m., with $21 beer buckets of beer, twofer well drinks, $3 domestic drafts, and $5 shots), and finishes at The LINQ Promenade, with two burnout sections and viewing areas along the route. Portions of the event will be broadcast live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and www.NASCAR.com will live-stream the event, beginning at 3:15 p.m.
While Wynn is "NASCAR Central" for drivers this week, The LINQ Promenade is also in on the action. What's being dubbed NASCAR fan HQ is an area open from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. each day by the High Roller, where fans can purchase Chase merchandise, get their photo taken with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy, and view Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver cars on display.
Today's exclusive Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards offer that we've chosen to highlight is one of our favorite "ethnic" restaurants, because what could be better on a miserable day like today than a comforting curry and some fluffy naan bread?
Located just a few blocks off the Strip on E. Flamingo (close to Hard Rock and Silver Sevens), Mint Indian Bistro is the only of Las Vegas' Indian restaurants ever to have made the Eating Las Vegas Essential 50 list, where it's been featured for three years, consecutively. You can read LVA's review of the awesome lunch buffet, but we'll defer to the experts, with food critic Max Jacobson calling Mint "the best Indian spread for hundreds of miles" and co-author John Curtas describing this Nepalese hotspot as "Las Vegas’ own master of all sub-continent cuisines" with diverse "lip-smacking" dishes to suit every palate (including veggies, vegans, and the gluten-intolerant) and a staff that is "exceedingly friendly and helpful to novices to this cuisine (who isn’t?) [who] take your order on their iphones—how cool is that?"
Intrigued? You should be. So, take advantage of our exclusive offer for 20% off your entire dinner bill*--including booze! (and Mint boasts awesome wine and beer lists, too)--with a $12 three-month trial membership to LVA. We guarantee you cannot find this offer anywhere else, so enjoy it while you can before year's end. You won't regret it. [*Not valid for daily $11.99 lunch buffet.]
After something of a lackluster performance -- the site posted $0 in October 2014 poker rake, down from $1 the previous month -- on Dec. 1 Betfair New Jersey shut down its online U.S. poker site. The move follows the October exit by Ultimate Poker and its UCasino product, although Betfair will continue to operate its online casino partnership with Atlantic City's Golden Nugget. Borgata/Party Poker, WSOP.com, and 888 currently continue to offer online poker in New Jersey.
The new joint-venture event arena from MGM Resorts and AEG is set to debut April 2016, and while both boxing promoters and the UFC have been vying to present the opening event, with talk also of a National Hockey League team franchise, AEG CEO Dan Beckerman says he envisions a slate of different opening events over several weeks to inaugurate the building. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on its progress via the construction cam, which you'll find among those listed in our Vegas Webcams feature.
It was back in April, 2011 that valley "tavern" chain Dotty's first came under regulatory fire, with county commissioners complaining that these and similar establishments (Jackpot Joanie's, and the like) are essentially slot parlors and make more money from gaming than food and beverage. Today, an ordnance was passed that would limit such businesses to a total of eight gaming machines (as opposed to the current maximum of 15) or demand proof that more than half of their revenue is derived from food and beverage (tough, we would think, when Dotty's offers myriad free snacks and gamblers drink for free...) If enacted, Dotty's representatives say the cost implications of the move could force the closure of its 100+ Vegas locations.
We posted an initial roundup of National Finals Rodeo entertainment highlights (many of which are FREE) in this column yesterday, but as expected more specials are still being announced, including:
While rumors of a possible Katy Perry booking for Caesars' Colosseum have yet to materialize into anything, today comes an announcement that the venue is to host its first country music "residency," with a unique teaming up giants Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn for a (so far) very limited number of dates (12 in total) commencing June 24, 2015 and currently running through Dec. 12. Tickets, which start at $59.50 (inc. tax), go on sale tomorrow, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. PST.
We've been nice all year (well, in the main) so we figure we've all earned a good venting session. Thanks to our brand new Reader Poll, you can get it all off your chest as you pick the most annoying type of gambler you encounter. Feel free to send us additional email suggestions, personal embellishments, and so on; we've received some awesome (and right-on-the-money) feedback already and we remain all ears...
Friday, Dec. 5 is the 81st anniversary of the end of the Prohibition Era and Las Vegas is celebrating "Repeal Day" with parties and drink specials all around town. Here's what we've heard about so far:
You have one month left to take advantage of the 130+ offers in the 2014 Member Rewards Book, so we figured we'd highlight some of the great deals for those who still don't know about our subscription program, or those of you who already have an MRB but may have overlooked an offer or two. Due to a technical glitch yesterday (and the fact that we only came up with this wizard idea just now!), we'll profile TWO of our fave coupons today:
It's that cowboy time of year again, and having narrowly dodged the possibility of losing this major event (now safely ensconced in Las Vegas once more for the foreseeable future), the city is celebrating with plenty of parties and other happenings. Here are some of the highlights:
On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1-4 p.m., Hard Rock Live on the Strip will host a mid-season fundraising event, showcasing some of the Vegas Valley's upcoming rock talent, from contemporary acts to hair metal tributes and everything in between. Advance tickets are $10 and all proceeds from the event, which will also feature a silent auction, will go towards funding School of Rock scholarships, so get down and rock for a cause!
Just as Black Friday started on Thursday and rolled into Sunday, "Cyber Monday" is actually "Cyber Week," with ongoing deals at lots of great hotels, including $39 rates at The Palms, where you can also use our $50 Member Rewards voucher. Sweet! (Not an LVA member? Sign up today for our $12 three-month trial -- use of just one coupon in our Member Rewards Book can easily recoup that 12 bucks; use two-or-more and you're ahead like Usain Bolt!)
"Practice makes perfect," as the old saying goes and, conversely, not practicing tends to lead to a deterioration in your skills, whether it be your golf swing or your video poker play. While this may seem commonsensical, Bob Dancer underlines the importance of practice in this week's column to the extent that if you're someone who willfully opts to notpractice, he may not even let you read his column anymore!
There were some overnight issues with a Yahoo server (we won't bore you...) that prevented us from posting the news, including last night's NFL lines, and also bounced a lot of incoming email. Some of the mail is now filtering through, but if you tried to contact us and received a "hard bounce" notification, please re-send. Sorry for the temporary shutdown; normal service has now been restored.
Dirk Arthur Wild Illusions has added 4 p.m. matinees Dec. 20-30. Dirk's new show at the Riviera begins tonight with tickets starting at $47 and show times Saturday through Thursday at 7 p.m.
...Where Do You Stay? This is the query posed by our current Reader Poll, which ends tomorrow and is yielding some enlightening results. So, as you scramble to bag that awesome Cyber Monday room deal, what other factors will you be taking into account?
For the sixth month in succession, Macau’s casino revenue took a hit in November, with the just-released numbers proving to be slightly worse, even, than analysts' estimates. Casino revenue was down by almost 20 percent last month, following the biggest drop ever in October, when the numbers were down by 23 percent on the previous year, which had seen a massive high as the second-best month on record. Falling casino revenues are in part being attributed to a government campaign against conspicuous and excessive expenditure by officials.
The Megabucks jackpot was hit on Sunday for $14.3 million at the Rampart. It was the first Megabucks jackpot in almost a year, with the last hitting at MGM Grand last December. The timing was fortuitous for Rampart, which recently embarked on an extensive "Loosest Slots" campaign.
It's a busy month in Las Vegas for Santa Claus, who's been appearing all over the place; his latest engagement will feature a rare public appearance by Mrs Claus, who will be joining Kris Kringle as he flies in on the Rio's VooDoo Zip Line at 11 a.m. this morning.
The Cosmopolitan has announced a second evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, ahead of their sold-out New Year's Eve engagement at The Chelsea. The second date will actually become the first show, since it's been scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 30, with doors at 7 p.m. Tickets for the new concert, which start at $125, go on sale at 10 a.m. PST Friday, Dec. 5.