The New York Mets are -130 favorites over the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 of the baseball World Series. The total is 7.
The North Carolina lottery has introduced BBQ-scented scratch-off tickets and Nebraska has introduced Sriracha-scented scratchers. Tickets for both are $2. Other states already selling scented lottery tickets include Texas, Florida, and Missouri (chocolate); New Hampshire and Indiana (bacon); and Colorado (bacon, coffee, chocolate, and bouquet).
The morning line for today's Breeders' Cup makes American Pharoah the favorite at 4-5. Tonalist is 4-1 and Honor Code is 5-1. The long shot is Hard Aces at 30-1.
New Zealand is a -5.5 favorite over Australia in today's rugby World Cup final. The total is 41.5.
The grand finale of 2015's Oktoberfest celebrations at Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas, the city's first and authentic Bavarian beer hall, takes place at 8:30 p.m. tonight, with cast members from Luxor's Fantasy topless revue on hand to wrap up the festivities with a sexy Halloween keg tapping.
Originally slated to open in the now-demolished Harmon Tower, then teased as far back as May of last year as coming to Caesars Palace, MR CHOW -- the legendary family-style Beijing eatery that originated in London -- is set to debut in the former Empress Court space this December. In addition to signature dishes, including Beijing Duck, hand-pulled MR CHOW noodles, and Green Prawns, this seventh MR CHOW location will also feature a "suspended kinetic sculpture" as its centerpiece, not to mention the notorious MR CHOW Champagne trolley -- one of several interactive happenings that have given the brand its reputation for providing a raucous good time.
The New York Mets are -140 favorites over the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 of the baseball World Series. The total is 6.5.
In what should be an "everybody wins" scenario Greg Lee, CEO and Executive Officer of Eureka Casino Resorts, has announced that his family is handing over 100 percent of their stock (although not all of their interest) in Mesquite's Eureka Casino Resort to its employees with a view to creating a retirement plan for workers. Added benefits of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), include creating a profit-making incentive, encouraging employee loyalty, and offering extensive tax breaks to the company. If the move is approved by Nevada gaming regulators, the Eureka Eureka will be the first casino in the state, and the second one in the entire nation, to move to this type of financial structure and will mean that as of the end of this year, all operating profits will be invested for the future benefit of the property's 550 employees, who themselves will qualify for full benefits after six years of service.
Following on the back of LVA's Question of the Day from just a couple of days ago, in an interview Thursday MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren said the company is keeping "everything on the table" and has "not ruled out" the concept of charging for self-parking at its Strip resorts when its new events arena debuts next year, and perhaps only when a major event is being hosted. Reports Vegas Inc. magazine, Murren admitted that that his company "did not have all the answers as to how it would address parking once the arena opens," but is confident that a plan will have been formulated by the end of this year, while expressing a lack of sympathy for those who "want everything free," given that the new venue is being built without use of taxpayer's dollars. "We're the ones spending the capital to build the amenities that are to the benefit of the tourists and the locals," he said.
Continuing what will be a 20-year tradition, Dr Lonnie Hammargren and his wife will celebrate Nevada Day (which happens to coincide with Halloween), with a two-day open house event this Saturday and Sunday, allowing members of the public to browse through the former Lt. Governor and neurosurgeon's eclectic collection of Las Vegas memorabilia, miscellaneous historical artifacts, cultural oddities, and junk. Displayed throughout the sprawling 12,000-square-foot residence at 4318 Ridgecrest Dr., you can find everything from a topographical map of Nevada, a scaled-down replica of the Fremont Street Experience, a giant octopus, a brothel (used for storage), various old casino signs, a fire-breathing dragon, the doors to the first Clark County jail, the railcar that brought Howard Hughes to Las Vegas, a collection of antlers, an experimental airplane, a missile silo, a submarine, a genuine Apollo space capsule, a model of the Statue of Liberty, and the High Roller roller coaster that formerly graced the top of the Stratosphere Tower. And that's just in the yard... The public will be admitted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, for a donation at the door of $15 (kids 12 and under get in free) and in past year's there's been free ice cream, although we're not sure if that's still part of the deal. Visit nevadadays.org for more info.
We began compiling listings of all the Halloween happenings around town, but confess they were just too numerous to handle, from traditional (in many instances veteran) Haunted House attractions, to XXX-rated parties with porn stars, Caribbean masquerades, and that's not even scratching the surface. So, we admitted defeat decided to bring you the best of all the other stuff going on.
If you haven't yet checked out today's (epic) Question of the Day, it compiles all the feedback we received inspired by a recent LVA Reader Poll inquiring as to whether Las Vegas locals or visitors receive more generous comps in this city, and comparing comps here with what's available to readers in their hometown-area casinos. The results make for some very interesting reading, so check out what the people had to say on this heartfelt matter -- which was a lot!
Tapas by Alex Stratta, the first original restaurant concept from the chef since he parted ways with Wynn, is to close its Tivoli Village location and will be relocating to another, as yet undisclosed city, reports "Eater Vegas." The small-plates eatery debuted last April, following some delays and a pre-opening move to a larger venue than originally planned. Apparently, Stratta plans to open a new restaurant in the same spot that will be "more approachable to the surrounding demographic," so fans should go grab some of Stratta's acclaimed paella and Sangria while they still can.
The New England Patriots are -8 favorites over the Miami dolphins in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 51.
It will be the third Nevada location for the TV chef when El Burro Borracho debuts at the Rio, which it is set to do early next year. "The Drunken Donkey" will be joining Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen & Bar at The LINQ and will be the second restaurant for the El Burro Borracho brand, the original being at Harrah's Laughlin, offering traditional tacos, enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, etc., served with the "upscale touches and flair" that Fieri is known for.
Earlier this week, a "pop-up" gallery debuted at downtown's Plaza, where the extensive sports-memorabilia from the former Las Vegas Club is now being offered for sale. The collection dates back to the '60s and later, during the era when the property was owned by oddsmaker and baseball fanatic Mel Exber, who adorned it throughout with items ranging from Jackie Robinson's Louisville Slugger, to Connie Hawkins' Plaster of Paris palm prints. Items now up for grabs include a signed Michael Jordan basketball jersey; a Pete Rose No. 14 Montreal Expos jersey; two official seats from Comiskey Stadium in Chicago; and an autographed bat collection from the 1946-1958 World Series games. Prices start at $25, depending on the sport, and the location's open daily from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; 10 percent from the proceeds of each sale will be donated to UNLV Libraries Special Collections.
Following in the footsteps of Caesars Entertainment, Penn National Gaming, and Pinnacle Entertainment, after months of deliberation MGM Resorts International has confirmed that it will place its properties into a real estate investment trust, a measure designed to help cut debt and boost the stock price in light of ongoing pressure to restructure from one of the company's key investors, following disappointing revenue results both domestically and in Macau. According to Thursday's official announcement, 10 of the group's properties (collectively comprising more than 24,000 hotel rooms) will be placed into the REIT, which will assume approximately $4 billion of debt.
After a summer that saw gaming revenues slide, particularly on the Las Vegas Strip, the newly released figures for September paint a slightly rosier picture, with numbers up a modest 1.5 percent, to $916 million, compared to the same month last year. On the Strip, numbers were up by 2 percent after a particularly rough August that saw a 16.4 percent drop for table games; downtown also experienced a healthy 9 percent uptick in gaming revenue. It was also a busy month for McCarran International Airport, which saw a 6 percent surge in arrivals and departures during September.
The most successful dragon, to date, in the history of "America's Got Talent", has landed a solo gig at the Flamingo, where he's already part of the X Comedy Uncensored Fun lineup. Tix for Piff the Magic Dragon Solo Show, which will perform in Bugsy's Cabaret Mon.-Weds. at 8 p.m., start at $49.95 for GA and go on sale Friday, Oct. 30.
The New York Mets are -120 favorites over the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the baseball World Series. The total is 7.
That's the bad news; the good news, however, is that it's merely relocating to Encore, where a new room is being built. This has yet to be officially announced, but we have it on very good authority that the new facility will be located in an area near the pool and that a satellite sports book may be added alongside. The Wynn room will be incorporated into whatever is planned for the freed-up space resulting from the recent departure of the Penske-Wynn Ferrari Maserati showroom -- most likely additional retail.
For awhile, today's QoD, which addresses the recent rumor that a major casino operator is planning to institute a paid-parking policy for all, went MIA (we suspect the work of the alien megastructure) but terrestrial forces have prevailed and it's now back.
There's been a slight diminishing of one of Las Vegas' best dining deals, the Ellis Island steak dinner. The meal is the same, but it no longer comes with a beer. You still get the filet-cut sirloin with choice of soup or salad, potato, and green beans, and the the price is the same, $7.99 when you get the discount for playing $5 through a machine.
Taco Bell is running a good promotion during the World Series. If any player steals a base in any game, "eligible consumers" will get a free A.M. Crunchwrap sandwich. You'll have to comply with the terms & conditions, but we don't see anything funky in the fine print (no reason to bother reading it until someone actually steals one). If a base is stolen in games 1 or 2, redeem Nov. 5; if stolen in games 3-7, redeem Nov. 10.
The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets are pick 'em in Game 1 of the baseball World Series. The total is 7.
On Monday, Reuters posted how CEOC, a casino-operating unit of Caesars Entertainment, is theoretically on the market. However, there is skepticism regarding both its value and the true intent of the parent company to sell, with skeptics surmising that this is merely an exercise devised to determine the market's perceived value of the included assets. This theory is underlined by the fact that, while the company's pioneering Total Rewards loyalty program is theoretically included, the separate, non-bankrupt Caesars Enterprise Services unit controls the licensing agreement that channels business between casinos, thereby placing a crucial facet of the program out of the reach of bidders. Furthermore, to quote the article, "Potential buyers may also be discouraged by the web of affiliates that own the company's Caesars, Harrah's, Bally's, and Horseshoe casinos. For example, the bankrupt unit owns Caesars Palace Las Vegas. However, the casino's Octavius Tower for high rollers is owned by another unit of the parent called Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties, and will not be part of the sale." In other words, savvy investors well may give a wide berth to this seeming gift horse(shoe).
The replacement for ZINE has been announced and it's to be called Hong Kong Café, with an opening date slated for some time in November. Located just off the casino floor, the casual restaurant will feature an Asian-fusion menu, showcasing authentic Hong Kong dishes that demonstrate the city's Western influence, like Macau-Style crispy pork chop sandwich, curry beef stew, oven baked-spaghetti with black truffle and chicken, and French toast. There will also be regional Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Szechuan, and other Asian specialties. The restaurant will also offer late-night dining, until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Yup, all in one article! This week's column contains praise for South Point (it's no coincidence that that's where Bob's free weekly instructional video poker seminars take place -- there are upcoming sessions through November 18); plus there's a great explanation of what having a gambling "freeroll" actually means, plus plenty real-life illustrations of how to calculate your best move EV-wise ("expected value") in various scenarios; and a side-note about marital diplomacy. In other words, pretty much something for everyone!
The Arizona Cardinals are -10.5 favorites over the Baltimore Ravens in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 49.
Bars that follow the Ravens are Crab Corner S. Eastern and Crab Corner S. Rainbow. There are no bars that follow the Cardinals.
Contrary to information given to us by the box office at Westgate Las Vegas, and to the hotel's website, which is showing no dates for the currently resident Sexxy topless revue after Oct. 31, a representative from the show itself has contacted us to inform us that the show is not closing, but there will be an "official announcement" of some kind soon. We could speculate that perhaps a change of venue is in the works, but we'll just wait on that announcement.
For starters, nightly on/off-ramp closures on I-251 commence tonight at 9 p.m., running through Oct. 30. Affected roadways include the Southbound Airport Connector loop ramp to eastbound I-215, and the Eastbound I-215 off ramp (Exit 10) to the Northbound Airport Connector. The closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, for the duration of the work.
In addition, commencing this Wednesday, the longest runway at McCarran International Airport, which ordinarily handles about a third of the airport's traffic (although less so during winter months), is to close for six months while the existing asphalt surface is replaced with more-durable concrete. In addition, presumably, to the likelihood of more congestion on the remaining in-service runways, Clark County's Director of Aviation has warned that the shift will likely increase aircraft noise in some parts of the valley.
One bright spark, for ride-share fans, is that today Lyft became the first such service authorized to operate at McCarran -- click for the map of official pick-up points.
Who knew?! Not us, until now, but from Thursday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Oct. 31, downtown's Florida Cafe, Cuban Bar & Grill (1401 S. Las Vegas Boulevard) is hosting what's being billed as the "Last N. American Caribbean Carnival of the Season," with a three-day celebration of Latin-Caribbean culture. The festivities kick off Thursday, with DJs, drink specials, and free admission before 10 p.m. if you wear your national flag. The following night it's the "Fantastic Friday All White Bacchanal," featuring both local and national live entertainers and DJs, carnival costume presentations, beauty pageant queens, and more. Then on Oct. 31, they're doing Halloween in style, with the HalloFete fright-night masqued ball from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. (yup, they party hard). The only downside is that it looks like Friday and Saturday night's parties may be sold out already (*evidently other people were more in the loop!) but we recommend you contact either the official event organizers or the host venue for more details and availability.
October 31 will be the last performance for topless revue Sexxy, the topless revue currently performing in the Westgate Cabaret theater, the box office just confirmed. Meanwhile, there's still no sign of the promised Cameo residency, which was originally slated to debut at the resort Oct. 7. The official Westgate website has added added pricing since we checked last month -- the show's 18+ and tix start at $79, inclusive of fees. But it also says "opening October" and there isn't much October left in which to open...
The former historic Isle of Capri hotel-casino in Natchez, which closed earlier this month, will not be bouncing back quite as fast as its new owners had hoped. While the casino barge component is now a thing of the past, the land-based hotel has been purchased by nearby Magnolia Bluffs Casino, which estimated just a two-day closure, for the computer-system switch, before the property was back in biz. However, having discovered the necessity of some "unforeseen repairs," the reopening is now anticipated to be sometime next month.
Today's edition of the New York Times carries an in-depth feature on offshore sports books, through the story of industry giant Pinnacle Sports. In the course of their meticulously researched profile, the authors reference Huntington Press' Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers (2003), in which author Richard Munchkin speaks exclusively with legendary odds-maker Stanley Tomchin. Tomchin has been with Pinnacle since the outset and maintains that his expertise has been crucial to the company's success: "My knowledge and experience allowed me to make better odds than N.Y., Las Vegas, anyone in the world." For more, and to read the complete article, visit LVA in the Media.
Following the recent announcement regarding the imminent closure of all remaining area Fresh & Easy supermarkets (a half-dozen were already shuttered back in 2010), comes word of a store-wide 30 percent-off liquidation sale. Effective immediately, everything from fresh produce to alcohol to household cleaning products is marked down by a third -- and don't forget to redeem any outstanding "Friends Rewards" points you may have.
Bruno Mars has joined the ranks of Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, the London Symphony Orchestra, Whitney Houston, Elton John, and Tiesto, with the famous Fountains of Bellagio now having been choreographed to his smash hit "Uptown Funk". According to WET, the water-feature specialists who created the fountain show, "Capturing the energy of 'Uptown Funk' was challenging but we are very pleased with the outcome." This latest addition joins the rotation of more than 30 diverse tracks to which the fountains are choreographed; the free spectacle can be caught daily, from 3 p.m. to midnight (noon to midnight on weekends and holidays), with shows every 30 minutes until 8 p.m., then every 15 minutes thereafter.
The Carolina Panthers s are -3 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 45.5.
Following the announcement of the closing of the Haggen grocery stores in Las Vegas comes word that the Fresh & Easy chain will also close its 14 stores before the end of the year. Fresh & Easy has operated in Las Vegas since 2007.
After a surprising closing at the end of last year, Tacos El Gordo is reopening in the same north-Strip location across from the site of Resorts World Las Vegas. The taco shop was a top late-night go-to spot on the Strip.
Described by former President George W. Bush as "exactly the way Vegas is supposed to do it," internationally acclaimed vocal group the Las Vegas Tenors will perform a fundraising concert this evening at 6 p.m. in the Showroom at downtown's Plaza Hotel & Casino to benefit the Positively Arts Foundation. Tickets are available in advance online via the foundation's donation page, or in-person at the venue, and are priced at $15 for locals or $35 for tourists. Doors open at 5 p.m.
The search is on for an Olivia Newton-John tribute artist to join the cast of Legends in Concert, which performs at several venues across the U.S., including at the Flamingo Las Vegas, where it plays alongside the Grease star's own resident Summer Nights production. Aspiring ONJ's have through Saturday, Oct. 31, to submit a video of themselves -- dressed either as the singer herself, or as a famous character she's played in a movie -- singing a classic Newton-John song from any era. Videos should be posted to the official Legends website and one lucky applicant will be picked by a panel of judges, to include the performer herself, and receive professional coaching to join the cast of one of the Legends shows.
For non-singing fans, there's also a parallel lookalike contest, with a grand prize of a trip to Vegas and two VIP tix to see Summer Nights -- just take a photo of yourself dressed as ONJ and upload to Instagram using hashtag #OliviaIsALegend.
The Palms is revamping its buffet and coffee shop and will lease both to an outside vendor. Word is the quality of the buffet will be improved; pricing has not been announced. The switchover is expected in early November.
Motley Brews' Downtown Brew Festival, billed as "Nevada's largest beer event," takes place today from 5 to 9 p.m. It features more than 250 craft beers, plus food tastings from several local restaurants. Tickets start at $40, with an early-entry option (4 p.m.) so you can get a jump on the crowds for $50.
The New York Mets are slight -115 favorites over the Kansas City Royals to win baseball's World Series. The line is a mild surprise, as it was thought that the Mets would be dogs to whichever team came out of the American League.
Today is annual Get Outdoors Nevada Day and to celebrate, there's a event in Sunset Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a picnic, activities like yoga, fishing, and a rock-climbing wall, plus kayaking and paddle-boarding demos on the lake, live music, food vendors, and more. It's all FREE and all ages are welcome; visit the official GetOutdoorsNevada.org website for more details and information about how to get there and where to park.
November 15 will be the final performance night for 50 Shades: The Parody, which has enjoyed a longer-than-expected run at Bally's.
BeLIEve, the Criss Angel/Cirque collaboration that's been performing at Luxor, will miss its seventh-year anniversary performance this Halloween and will go dark for the first time in 3,000 shows, due to a "family crisis" that has the performer flying to Australia. An official announcement from the performer is expected during one of this weekend's shows, but according to the report we just read on the Fox5 News site, BeLIEve will be on hiatus until Nov. 4 while the magician travels to Australia to be with his two-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia. We wish the whole family well.
On the back of the decision by the Nevada Gaming Control Board that DFS operators cannot operate within state boundaries until they are officially licensed, Wynn Las Vegas has informed DraftKings that the company must find a new location for the semifinal round of its "Fantasy Football World Championship," which had been scheduled to take place at the Strip resort this Dec. 17-21. The tournament features a $15 million purse and a $5 million top prize and had been billed by DraftKings as "the biggest fantasy contest of all time." We'll keep you posted when the new venue is announced.
Just as the Centurion Tower, originally built in 1970, recently received a "Nobu" makeover, it's been announced that Caesars Palace's original 14-floor Roman Tower is receiving an imperial upgrade, with renovation on what will henceforth be known as the "Julius Tower" set to be complete by Jan. 1, 2016, the year in which the iconic resort-casino will celebrate its Golden Jubilee after 50 years on the Strip. The renovation is encompassing all 587 rooms in the tower, which will receive a new modern look featuring a "soothing neutral palette, with a pop of freesia yellow and a touch of Aegean blue," plus amenities including 55-inch TVs, "curated" minibars, and toiletries by Gilchrist & Soames.
Whether he was sitting on the "throne" in his Harrah's Atlantic City hotel-room bathroom as he attempted to flush away millions of dollars in cocaine counterfit chips (?!), the story doesn't relate, but the distinctly un-regal behavior of Christian Lusardi has landed him a five-year jail sentence, plus a crapload of bills to pay in restitution. A judge Thursday ordered Lusardi to recompense the Borgata casino to the tune of $463,540 for forcing them to cancel a scheduled three-week poker tournament in 2014 after just three days, when the fake tournament chips were discovered. He must also pay $9,455 to Harrah’s for the damage he did to the hotel's plumbing.
This is one of our favorite fundraising events, up there with dogs playing poker and slots (also hosted by Planet Hollywood, we note), with Oct. 29 seeing the sixth annual "Battle of the Bras" fashion event in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and the American Cancer Society. Here's the lowdown: Select Caesars Entertainment execs, plus performers from shows including Absinthe, X Burlesque, and X Rocks will take to the catwalk to model one-of-a-kind bras designed by company employees and headliners including Donny & Marie and Mat Franco. It's all emceed by Jeff Civilico and some of the bras get auctioned off. It all goes down next Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m., on the Second Floor Mezzanine at Planet Ho.
Red Rock Resort is hiring bartenders and attendants (both of the "VIP" variety), with an open casting call in Cherry from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 702-797-7777.
The Seattle Seahawks are -6.5 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 42.
We had trouble finding any details of this on the Inspire Theater site (there are none) but Friday/Saturday sees a two-day celebration of legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, on what would have been his 75th birthday (Lee died in '73, aged just 32). Organized by the Bruce Lee Foundation, Friday sees a day-long event at Downtown Container Park, hosted by Asia Jade, kicking off with lion dancers at 12:30 p.m. and culminating in a screening of Enter the Dragon at 9 p.m. (must be 21+), with meet-and-greets, giveaways, and more throughout the afternoon. On Saturday, Amy Jo Martin hosts a series of events at Inspire Theater, including a demonstration by the Shaolin Kungfu Chan Team at noon and various talks and panel discussions, including "How to Be an Action Hero" by Shannon Lee at 4 p.m. Daytime events are free, although a donation to the foundation is encouraged at the door. From 7 to 10 p.m. there's live music from Daniel Park ($20).
"You should avoid dealers with bad attitudes—they will cost you money sooner or later. " So warns James Grosjean in his latest post at Beyond Numbers, and you don't need to be an advantage player to benefit from heeding his advice -- even the squarest gambler can fall victim to being "toke-hustled to death." So check out Grosjean's insights into how to spot the various tells that signify a grumpy/cocky/lazy dealer, even if it's not immediately apparent to the naked eye -- it will save you money and make your casino experience more enjoyable.
And with its passing, Las Vegas (notoriously stingy when it comes to birthday deals), loses one of its better offers -- the all-you-can east sushi joint in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood traditionally offered any birthday boy or girl a totally free meal if they were accompanied by three or more friends. When precisely Todai closed, we're not sure, but it's been in the same place since the Aladdin/Desert Passage days and was still open this time last month (we call every buffet on a regular basis to check on times and prices), but now it's gone for good. RIP. (Also gone is its neighbor, the uber-obscure DB's Pong & Pool, which evidently sloped off just as mysteriously as it first arrived, sometime earlier this year.)
We've had topless magic, topless rock, topless comedy, topless vampire, topless flapper, topless burlesque, topless shepherdess, topless vixen, and topless Aussie shows (not to mention topless mermaids and nudes on ice); now Las Vegas is to be home to a "kick'n" topless Country-music revue (to complement Toby Keith's on-property bar and grill, perhaps?). Slated to debut at Harrah's on Nov. 22, X Country is the latest production from the Stabile stable and will feature sexy routines from the "X Country Girls" to a soundtrack featuring hits from the likes of Tim McGraw, Patsy Cline, Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Trace Atkins, and Hank Williams Jr. Tickets for the show, which will perform at 10:30 p.m. nightly (dark Fri/Sat) inside the Improv Theater, start at $44.95 (plus tax/fees).
In addition to the martial arts fest, details of which we just posted, there's plenty more fighting action going down, plus the usual mix of live music, comedy, theatrical presentations, and boozin':
Sir Elton John has announced the schedule for 2016 dates for The Million Dollar Piano at Caesars' Colosseum, with nine shows in January, commencing Jan. 20, and ten performances on select dates throughout the month of April. There's a pre-sale window for the qualified today through Saturday, with tickets released to the general public as of Sunday, Oct. 25.
That phrase was evidently coined by someone who hadn't been bitten in the butt by a complimentary equine or, in the case of Jean Scott's latest blog entry, a pair of tranquility fountains. If you could use a giggle, check out the latest post at Frugal Vegas -- an amusing tale of how some comps can turn out to be a lot more trouble than they're worth.
It must be "old-school" Wednesday downtown, and that's cool with us! Tonight, from 6-11 p.m., the Plaza is hosting a "Back to Biff's" party, celebrating movie classic Back to the Future, with real-life memorabilia on property, including: Doc Brown's Truck and the DeLorean Time Machine; plus live '80s music; character lookalikes; an '80s costume contest with a $500 first prize; a $10 mathchplay; a dinner special at Oscar's and drink specials at the Beer Garden, and there's no cover! Check out the property's official Facebook page for more details and, if you're thinking of making a night of it, don't forget LasVegasAdvisor an exclusive BOGO room offer at the Plaza, so why not make it two?!
It's a "Neon Party" tonight for the launch of Down & Derby's "sk8party Social Club" at Gold Spike (217 N. Las Vegas Blvd.) There's no cover, but there is $250 in cash and prizes up for grabs, so don your best neon gear and polish up those roller skates. Doors at 10 p.m.; must be 21+; drinks specials if you show valid college I.D.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, there's an open casting call for "VIP bartenders" and "VIP attendants" inside Cherry at Red Rock Resort. The Twitter post suggests candidates apply online, but it's not clear if you're required to register in advance, or if that's an option for those who can't make it in person -- we assume it's the latter, but perhaps call the property to verify, just to be on the safe side (702/797-7777).
The question is, who gets the better comps, Las Vegas residents or out-of-towners? Have you noticed a change in recent years? Has your local casino back home wooed you away from Sin City, or do you still feel that Las Vegas values you as a customer? We're getting interesting feedback, but this survey ends at midnight tonight (PST), so make your voice heard and vote while you still can!
There's a lot going down at Wynn on the food-and-beverage front, with yesterday's news of the Bartolotta name-change being just the beginning. So here's the lowdown:
Country music legend and crossover artist Ronnie Milsap, who also happens to be the genre's first successful blind performer, is bringing his farewell tour to Green Valley Ranch in February of next year. The star has performed on several prior occasions at various Station Casinos' venues (the locals chain has long played host to the "Nashville Unplugged" series) and selected the Grand Events Center at GVR for his farewell Vegas show, which will take place Feb. 20, 2016. Ticket prices have yet to be announced -- they go on sale Friday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m.
With more and more states now following Nevada's lead in investigating the legality of allowing the daily fantasy sports (DFS) industry to operate unregulated within their borders, website legalsportsreport.com is offering a useful and constantly updated overview of what's going on where. Florida, where a federal grand jury has been convened to investigate the matter, is currently the biggest hotspot and has seen several mid-level operators already cease operations there, while the Illinois Gaming Board is now actively seeking a legal opinion from the Attorney General's office having stated that it believes that DFS operators are violating state laws. Maryland and Massachusetts, in contrast, remain DFS-friendly, the former having already passed a law legalizing DFS play for cash, while the latter's Attorney General has declared that DFS is legal in that state, having concluded a review at the behest of DraftKings. To check which DFS companies are currently operating on a state-by-state basis, check out this link.
...and why some people just shouldn't gamble. In this week's column, video poker pro Bob Dancer gets down to brass tacks in his assessment that, basically, there are two types of people when it comes to handling finances, both in and out of the casino. He doesn't beat around the bush and if you read his article and, in all honesty, figure that you fall into the second group, his (pretty selfless) recommendation (considering he makes a chunk of his income writing and selling tutorial books and software) is to not waste your time learning to play perfect strategy for any casino game, because it ain't gonna help you. Read it (and weep, possibly!)
For the fourth year in succession, this holiday season Cosmopolitan will offer a real-ice skating rink overlooking the Strip, in the Boulevard Pool area. This year the feature promises to be bigger and even better than before, measuring 4,200 square feet and snow showers every half hour from 6-10 p.m. Traditional touches, like the fire pits, seasonal food and drink offerings, al fresco movie screenings, and other events will also be returning. The ice rink debuts Nov. 20 with a grand opening celebration hosted by U.S. Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, who'll be raising funds for his non-profit cancer-support foundation and will perform an exclusive show and offer guests the chance to skate with him and other champions.
The Philadelphia Eagles are -3.5 favorites over the New York Giants in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 50.
Giants bars are Dealer’s Choice Lounge, Johnny Fontane’s Beach House, and Torrey Pines Pub. The only Eagles bar is Madison Avenue Bar & Grill.
In light of last week's ruling by the Nevada State Gaming Control Board that daily fantasy sports is a form of gambling and, as such, that its operators must be licensed and regulated in accordance with state gaming laws, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association announced to its membership over the weekend that it is relocating its winter conference to a new venue. The conference, scheduled to take place January 20-21 at Bellagio, which was last year's host, will now take place elsewhere, according to FSTA president Paul Charchian, who also confirmed that the FSTA had received received a request for documents and information from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Florida and is cooperating with the federal investigation into daily fantasy sports operators.
The Coeur D'Alene tribal casino in Worley, Idaho, has received a rap on the knuckles, in the form of a 10-day ban on serving any liquor (guests may keep a personal stash in their hotel room during the embargo) on account of some of the dance moves performed by members of male revue Hunks, which allegedly violated state liquor laws by simulating "sexual acts prohibited by law." Our mind boggled for a moment when we first read this, but then we considered some of the sex laws still on the statute books throughout the U.S., and figured there likely were no live fish or porcupines involved, at least.
As we reported over the weekend, the Isle of Capri in Natchez which, after more than 20 years in business, makes the dockside casino one of the oldest gambling houses in Mississippi, closed its doors Sunday. While the land-based hotel component has been purchased by rival operator Casino Holding Investment Partners, owners of the nearby Magnolia Bluffs Casino that opened in 2012 and which is slated to reopen as early as next week, prior to undergoing a major remodel, the fate of the casino remains undecided. According to a spokeswoman for Isle of Capri, the company is still assessing what of the casino's gaming inventory and other equipment can be re-purposed among the chain's other 14 casinos and whether the barge (which is designed to look like a historic riverboat) will be relocated or not.
We just learned via an LVA reader (and confirmed with the property), that November 8 marks the last day for the Rio's Village Seafood Buffet, the only one of its kind in Las Vegas. As of that date, the seafood-only concept will be merged into the regular Carnival World Buffet and be available as a premium "upgrade" option for an as-yet undisclosed price. What's in store for the space currently occupied by the Seafood Buffet, which is located in the Masquerade Tower, also has yet to be announced.
If you're signed up for their free email newsletters, you should be receiving an offer from Buca di Beppo, which has several valley locations, including at Excalibur and Bally's Grand Bazaar, for 20 percent off dine-in and to-go orders, valid throughout the month of October in honor of World Pasta Month. In other dining news, popular chain Outback Steakhouse has launched more than 20 new menu items, including Foster's Beer cheese fondue (Aussie-Swiss fusion?!) and mushroom marsala filet mignon, and to celebrate/tempt you to give these new offerings a whirl, there's an online coupon for $8 off two dinner entrées (or $4 off for singletons), valid today and tomorrow only for dine-in and curbside takeaway orders.
It was back in July that Wynn issued an official announcement that the resort was severing its ties with renowned seafood chef Paul Bartolotta, on account of his absence from the kitchen at his eponymous restaurant, and now the official name change has been announced (something we thought wasn't set to happen until the New Year). What was formerly Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare is now simply Costa di Mare, with veteran Wynn chef Mark LoRusso at the helm, but the Bartolotta-era policy of shipping in sustainably sourced seafood direct from fishermen along the Italian coastline remains in place.
In his column today for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, veteran local columnist John L. Smith (who's seen it all!) shares his perspective on the whole daily fantasy sports furor and its dramatic impact in Nevada last week, supported by insight from Anthony Curtis. In so doing, he spotlights the timely new title from Huntington Press, the book-publishing facet and parent company of Las Vegas Advisor.
Fantasy Sports, Real Money is penned by award-winning journalist and sports writer Bill Ordine and will be hitting a bookshelf/Kindle/iPad near you very soon. The book offers a riveting examination of the phenomenal story arc of the DFS industry to date, while also delivering potent strategies for successful play. Fantasy Sports, Real Money is expected to go to press this week. Watch this space for more information and, of course, your opportunity to take advantage of the I-know-the-publisher discount.
The New England Patriots are -9 favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 54.
Matt Stonie won the inaugural Martorano's Masters World Pasta Eating Championship at Paris. Stonie set a world record by downing 20+ bowls of pasta in eight minutes. Las Vegan Miki Sudo, who's won several women's championships, finished second with 14+ bowls to beat all of the other men in the competition.
Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 20" poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Prizes are $100 for first; a suite of three of our top poker books for second; Full LVA membership for third, and prizes for all final-table contestants, including books and gift cards. There's also a "bubble" prize for 10th place. 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 9596). 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.
The Isle of Capri in Natchez, Mississippi closed today. The hotel is expected to reopen next week and undergo a rebranding, but the casino will not reopen.
Along with good food, a cool vibe, and the possibility that baseball's all-time hits leader will show up at any time, the new Pete Rose Sports Bar and Grill has a real (tournament quality) foosball table. Rose's new joint is located on the south end of the Strip across the Strip from Aria.
Station Casinos has received approval to offer betting on the winner of college football's Heisman Trophy. The lines were put up with LSU's Leonard Fournette the favorite at 9-5, followed by TCU's Trevone Boykin at 5-1 and Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott at 8-1.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 21st Sunday Funday online poker tournament. First place gets $100 and everyone at the final table will win prizes. 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.
With pool season finally drawn to a close, that signals one thing, at least at the Palms, and that's the return of Ghostbar Dayclub, the over-the-top indoor daytime fiesta that's renowned for free-flowing booze and outlandish costumes. Speaking of flowing booze, for the 2015 season opener, which kicks off today at 1 p.m., features an open champagne bar for ladies from 1-2 p.m. Cover's $10 for females/local guys, $20 for dudes from out-of-town.
Male strip-hop revue Aussie Hunks plays its last gig downtown at the D on Sunday, Oct. 18, prior to moving to the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at
Planet Hollywood, where the revamped production will commence performing five nights/week, starting Friday Oct. 23.
The Toronto Blue Jays are -155 favorites over the Kansas City Royals to win Major League Baseball's American League Championship. In the National League, the Chicago Cubs are -135 favorites over the NY Mets.
By "little China" we refer to the gambling enclave of Macau and by "big problems" we mean the situation that has Steve Wynn angrily scratching his head as his company's Q3 earnings again fell short of analysts' projections, and declaring on a conference call this week, "In my 45 years of experience, I've never seen anything like this before."
After several years of exponentially exploding revenues from their Macau-based properties for U.S. operators like Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, which not so long ago saw Wynn almost turning his back on the U.S. gaming market, with plans to relocate the company's HQ to Asia, the casino magnate is now having to seriously reconsider. At one point, 77 percent of Wynn's revenues were being generated in Macau; now, a crackdown on corruption by the Chinese government, coupled with the state's direct impact on policy and planning -- down to how many table games a casino is allowed to operate* -- is taking a serious toll on gaming revenues, not just in Macau but also in Las Vegas. "Any drop in our earnings in Las Vegas is a result of a drop in our Asian baccarat business," Wynn observed on this week's call. "If anything, the problems in China are causing us to refocus our energies in America."
*When Hong-Kong-based Galaxy Macau debuted this year, it expected to be allotted 400 tables; instead, it received permission for just 150.
After a more than two-year battle with MSA, a rare and incurable form of Parkinson's disease, "Rock 'N Roll Chef" Kerry Simon passed away last September 11. Simon had been a prominent figure on the Las Vegas dining scene for many years and in honor of his contribution, this Sunday, Oct. 18, numerous restaurants and other venues around the valley will pay tribute by displaying a photo tribute to the chef for an hour, commencing at 7 p.m. Participating locations will include: The Palms; Cosmopolitan; all Station Casinos; Fremont Street Experience (Viva Vision canopy); the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood; Maverick Helicopters’ marquee; Gold Spike; and downtown's Inspire Theater.
As of December 15, table game players at MGM Resorts' Las Vegas properties will no longer be entitled to earn "Express Comps," we just learned via a Twitter link posted by local blogger @MeltzVegas. Although on the M life's own explanatory page, it states that "Express Comps will only be earned for slot play," while the overview of the whole M life program makes the distinction that Express points currently may be earned if you "play slots, video poker, or table games," we assume that the Dec. 15 changes will still enable video poker players to earn Express Points, but we have yet to confirm that. (Note that visitors to Beau Rivage, Gold Strike Tunica, and MGM Grand Detroit will still be able to earn Express Comps for both slot and table games play.)
Other stated Las Vegas-specific changes will include, on the upside, an expansion of the definition of account activity, meaning that any point or Tier Credit earned (not just by gambling) will keep a player's account active; on the downside, Platinum members will lose their current access to a dedicated concierge phone line and will no longer qualify for "turndown service." For more specific details, whatever your current members, particularly if you have not used your account since June and may be in danger of accumulated points expiring.
From 6-9 p.m. tonight, The Writer's Block indie book store (and vendor of cool oddball gift ideas) on E. Fremont Street hosts a Q&A Panel and reading by authors of the fifth annual "Vegas Writes" project, an anthology of stories from some of the city's top writing talent, all loosely based around a common theme, produced in conjunction with the Vegas Valley Book Festival. This year's volume, The Anarchy of Memories, places real-life characters, alive and dead, into fictitious scenarios, with contributions from The Writer's Block's own Drew Cohen, plus Scott Dickensheets, Doug Elfman, Jessie Humphries, C.J. Mosher, Helen H. Moore, Sonya Padgett, and Erica Vital-Lazare and is edited by Geoff Schumacher. A limited number of prints featuring the cover artwork by artist Hernan Valencia will also be available for purchase at tonight's event. Visit TheWritersBlock.org/events for more info and a map of how to get there/where to park.
Anthony Curtis of LVA/Huntington Press, which has published the last three year's "Vegas Writes projects, will be appearing on a panel to discuss trends and innovations in the publishing industry on Saturday at 10 a.m. at downtown's Historic Fifth Street School. Visit the official VegasValleyBookFestival.org for more details on all of this year's events and more.
It's been a long time in the deliberation (see "Today's New" 7/13/15 if that link doesn't take you there directly...), but no doubt the maelstrom that's erupted in recent days, and which has now seen the FBI and Justice Department, among others, wading into the murky waters surrounding whole Daily Fantasy Sports phenomenon, has prompted the Nevada State Gaming Control Board to finally take a stand, and their position, personally initialed by Chairman A.G. Burnett, is that that DFS is gambling and, ergo, is not legal within Nevada state boundaries unless/until those entities offering DFS are properly licensed to operate here. As the only state in the U.S. where sports betting is currently legal, others will likely look to Nevada as the touchstone/arbiter and the consequences of today's one-page conclusion will likely have far wider-reaching consequences, as even recommended in its final paragraph. To put it another way, as did an associate of LVA's who's particularly close to and au fait with the subject, "Ethan Haskell is DFS' Mrs. O'Leary's cow." Indeed.
The LA Dodgers are -150 favorites over the NY Mets in tonight's Game 5 of the MLB National League Division Championship. The total is 6.
The Atlanta Falcons are -3 favorites over the New Orleans Saints in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 52.5.
There's food, beer, music, comedy, fighting, and porn to choose from, although not necessarily in that order:
Jones Boulevard, between Spring Mountain and Desert Inn, is likely to be closed for the foreseeable future following the SWAT-involved shooting earlier this morning of an armed woman who'd apparently barricaded herself inside a stolen car.
After a three-year run, Rock of Ages will be leaving Venetian Jan. 3, reports LV Sun's John Katsilometes, who also confirms the rumored departure of popular Aussie vocal group Human Nature, said to be leaving after their "holiday" shows are done on Dec. 22, although no tix are currently available after Nov. 18. No news as yet as to any future entertainment lineup at the property.
As we reported back in early September, the inaugural Las Vegas Adult Film Festival will be taking over the Cashman Center tomorrow through Sunday, Oct. 18, with movie screenings, exhibitors and vendors, runway fashion shows, live music, after parties, and lashings of porn stars, presumably. Visit the official website for info. on times and ticket prices or follow @AdultFilmFestLV on Twitter for timely updates.
We hope you're hungry, and we hope the weather holds, because today the Great American Foodie Fest returns to Las Vegas, this time at a new home at Sunset Station, with more than 50 top food trucks, both local and from further afield, live cooking demos, DJs, carnival rides, and more, and it runs through Oct. 18. GA at the gate is just $10 for a four-day pass, and if you're in need of transport, there's a free-ride coupon for ride-share app Lyft on the official website, where you can also find out more details, including how to get there and where to park, if you're travelling under your own steam.
With the latest on the Westgate SuperBook (slated for completion any day now); which books have been the first to post the lines so far this season; a quick profile of a an undeservedly underrated "locals" sports book that's offering lots of extras and worth checking out; and a restaurant that's offering a free $5 parlay card, as well as fries, with your burger, check out October Sports Book News at LVASports.com, where you'll also find additional forays into what's going on in Reno and Mesquite's books.
The Kansas City Royals are -125 favorites over the Houston Astros in today's second Game 5 of the MLB American League Division Championships. The total is 7.5.
What apparently has, according to "Eater Vegas," been "rumored for years" (although we confess this is the first we've heard of it), Dave & Buster's is now confirmed to be coming to a site located in the vicinity of Sahara Ave. and the 215, which pegs Downtown Summerlin as the destination. The brand, which operates under the slogan "Eat. Drink. Play." and sounds something like Chuck E. Cheese for grown-ups, with a GameWorks-meets-The Price is Right spin ("win tickets in the arcade and redeem them for anything from cool toys to high-tech gadgets. Everyone's a winner at Dave & Buster's!"), already has around 70 locations nationwide and will be joining the ranks of TopGolf and SpeedVegas in a new wave of non-gambling adult activities coming soon to Las Vegas.
The new nightspot for Aria, replacing Haze nightclub, which closed almost a year ago (see Today's News 10/30/14), is to be called "Jewel," reports LV Sun entertainment columnist John Katsilometes, and is set to open sometime in the spring (click the link for a rendering of what the new venue is slated to look like). The closing of Haze was part of a massive nightlife overhaul at the only CityCenter property to house a casino, which saw Alibi Cocktail Lounge take over from the former City Bar and the closure of Gold Nightclub & Bar following the exit of its associated Viva Elvis! Cirque show, among other changes, following the exit of Light Group and subsequent takeover by Hakkasan.
The Toronto Blue Jays are -170 favorites over the Texas Rangers in today's first Game 5 of the MLB American League Division Championships. The total is 8.
Did you know that there are four different buffet passes available from various Las Vegas casinos, of either the all-day or 24-hour variety (note that no, these are not the same thing)? You've probably heard about the 24-hour "Buffet of Buffets" pass that works across all of Caesars Entertainment's Las Vegas buffets (although often with a significant "upgrade" fee applicable, if you wish to enjoy one of their fancier offerings -- and they do get pretty fancy); but did you know there are three other buffet passes available? Read all about it in today's Las Vegas Advisor Question of the Day.
Having returned to private ownership in 2007 in a leveraged buyout that ultimately led to the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the Great Recession hit, Station Casinos is now looking to become a publicly traded company once again, it's been announced. Stations completed its restructuring process and exited bankruptcy in 2011 and now, earlier this week, filed a documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a proposed IPO, although the company stated that it has yet to decide on the how many shares it might offer, or at what price. Stay tuned.
Not that every weekend isn't all about music and booze at the Hard Rock, but this weekend has even more than normal to offer, with reggae giants UB40 in The Joint (how appropriate, not that we're implying anything...) on Friday, while Saturday sees the 5th Annual Rock Star Beer & Music Festival, featuring sounds from Noise Pollution and Smells Like Nirvana, plus 40 different craft brews to sample, in unlimited quantities. (Who cares what it smells like; it sounds like fun!)
As we posted in this column yesterday, pedestrians and motorists stuck in traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard will be able to catch the action live on CNN, courtesy of the Miracle Mile Shop's ginormous LED video screen, but the first Democratic presidential-candidate debate is also taking place right here in Sin City, in Wynn Resort's Encore Theater. The gloves come off at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time (8:30 p.m. Eastern), and veteran CNN host Anderson Cooper will serve as moderator. It will be interesting to see if the backdrop of Las Vegas will have any significant bearing on the topics that come up for discussion.
That is the question, self-posed by Bob Dancer in his latest exclusive weekly column for Las Vegas Advisor. It turns out that his take on the answer is really interesting, touching on: the significance of what game(s) you play (are you a "hit-and-run" table game advantage player, or video poker "grinder", and is one breed smarter than the other?); the "sneakiness" of casinos; the controversial recent rulings against poker legend Phil Ivey; and other areas material to the original query. It's all interesting stuff, with some forays into potential controversy (Bob's never one to mince his words), plus it doesn't contain any of the mind-boggling charts and scary stats that a maestro of perfect strategy like Dancer tends to favor, so we highly recommend you read it!
This is, as far as we know, the second bona fide resident show ever in the entire history Binion's (we're not counting 2001's brief and raucous flirtation with a wet t-shirt contest), and follows an 11-year hiatus since comedian Vinnie Favorito scored a nightly gig at the historic downtown joint back in 2004 (see the "Entertainment" section in the November 2004 issue of Las Vegas Advisor newsletter - but sorry, it's paid-member-only access), but last Saturday Kevin Lepine's Hypnosis Unleashed show, which previously enjoyed a residency at Hooters, debuted in its own theater located in the space previously occupied by The King's Ransom Elvis exhibit. Lepine's is a talent that's been lauded in the national arena by "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and received rave reviews on the corporate-entertainment circuit, not to mention lots of positive feedback from local media, including from us.
Now he's back and unleashing his show on audiences aged 18+ (yes, he's a little 'racy,' as is the wont of hypnotists) Tuesday through Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $29.99 GA/$39.99 VIP, and we're working with Kevin about reinstating the 2-for-1 offer LVA had back in the show's Hooters days, so stay tuned. Earlier today there was some kind of glitch on Binion's own website, but tix to the show are now available for purchase online, plus now through Oct. 25, Binion's is running a Facebook contest, with a prize that includes dinner for two at their acclaimed steakhouse, plus two VIP tickets to the show -- all yuu need to do is come up with the best caption for this photograph.
The San Diego Chargers are -4 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 45.5.
Steelers bars are Adrenaline Sports Bar, Bob Taylor’s, Noreen’s, and Timbers (two: Novat and N. Durango). Chargers bars are Shooters, Surf City, and Timbers (N. Gibson). We're no longer reporting on the Lagasse's Stadium hometown specialties after being underwhelmed during a visit last Monday that will be detailed in the November Las Vegas Advisor, but the team bars as we check them continue to be good.
Still locked in gladiatorial-style (or perhaps David-and-Goliath is a more apt metaphor) combat with a significant tranche of its junior creditors, gaming giant Caesars Entertainment last week filed an Amended Plan of Reorganization and a motion to further extend the exclusivity date on its reorganization plan through March 15, 2016 with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Having now received the support of approximately two thirds of of its first-lien creditors (representing some $12 billion of its capital structure), the extension would give the company additional time in which to come to some agreement with junior creditors, a significant group of which are currently battling the company over the exact date on which it officially went bankrupt -- a mere three-day discrepancy being argued over by the two sides has $468 million currently hanging in the balance.
For comprehensive coverage of this ongoing saga, which represents one of the more complex bankruptcies not just in the gaming industry, but in the world of corporate finance, period, check out today's column from R-J gaming columnist Howard Stutz. You can also catch a very interesting panel discussion with Stutz, plus additional experts Jeffry Compton of CDC Gaming Reports and Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business, on the future of casino gambling in general, touching not only on the CET situation, but also other hot topics including Daily Fantasy Sports and how to appeal to the millennial generation, courtesy of today's KNPR "State of Nevada" show. It repeats tonight at 7 p.m. (88.9 FM), or tune in at your leisure to the podcast.
The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will be live-broadcasting CNN's coverage of the Democratic presidential primary candidates’ debate on its massive (it's 126-feet tall and 40-feet wide) Strip-side LED video screen on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 5:30 p.m., including full sound.
Ellis Island is extending September's offer to change-up your change for bills or free play through the month of October, and although they've slightly reduced the terms of the latter, by reducing the bonus on taking the free-play option from 20 percent to 10 percent, considering that many casino cages around town are now passing on the banking fee for exchanging coinage to the customer (see Today's News 5/26/15), it's still a great deal. For the full lowdown on how it all works, check out Jean Scott's "Frugal Vegas" blog, where she explains how the process went when she tried it out in-person for September's Vegas Casino Promotions post, with an update on the October changes, too.
The New York Giants are -7.5 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 44.
To celebrate Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 12, El Cortez will be serving complimentary salami and cheese skewers to Club Cortez members who are in the casino playing slots or table games from noon to 6 p.m. (We hope the cheese will be something authentically Italian, along the lines of a provolone or Pecorino Toscano, although the yummy-but-uber-stinky Taleggio might be a little antisocial for an enclosed casino floor. Frankly, having just read that Columbus' actual diet most likely consisted of lentil stew, dry bread, salted fish, and turnips, a Slim Jim-and-Swiss would be just fine!)
After several attempts, we finally caught Palazzo's Lavo Casino Club in operation today for the NFL games. The upstairs area was packed, though not many were playing at the four blackjack tables or single crap table, despite $10 minimums. There's no video poker and beers start at $9.
The Fab Four-themed REVOLUTION Lounge, which originally debuted to complement the Beatles LOVE show by Cirque du Soleil, is set to close its doors abruptly this Wednesday, Oct. 14, it was just officially announced. That means tonight will be the last at this Mirage venue for the long-running and popular REVO Sundays LGBT event. Plans for the space have yet to be announced, but expect a "new concept" to open sometime in 2016.
A second Born and Raised bar bar has opened at 10050 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson. Patterned after the original on the west side, it has an extensive menu highlighted by 15 slider selections, and will follow UNLV sports.
Work has begun on a new motor-sports complex located on I-15 about 10 miles south of Las Vegas. The $30 million SpeedVegas will have a 1.5-mile course where exotic cars, including Ferarris, Lamborghinis, and Porches, can be rented and driven. The complex will also have a restaurant, meeting space, and a gift shop. It’s expected to be completed by early 2016.
On the other side of town off I-15, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is converting a large seating area to a VIP hospitality section. The new area, called "Vegas Village," will cater primarily to corporate clients.
Less than six months after opening in seven former Albertsons and Vons stores, the grocery-store chain Haggen is leaving the Las Vegas market. The stores, which will close by Thanksgiving, are all up for sale.
The World Series of Poker Europe is underway in Berlin, Germany, running through October 18. No word yet on whether any of the November Nine is using it as a tune-up as some have in the past, with the WSOP Main Event final table convening at the Rio on Nov. 10.
Having begun serving breakfast almost a year ago to the day, GIADA, the Giada De Laurentiis eatery at The Cromwell, is further extending its repertoire with the introduction of weekend brunch, beginning Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 a.m., with a menu featuring some signature dishes like Lobster Hash and the Italian Chicken & Waffle. Limitless La Marca mimosas are available for $30. Brunch will be served until 2:30 p.m., with dishes available a la carte, or via a $45/person prix-fixe option.
It always seemed like an odd scenario, having Hakkasan nightlife group and Cirque du Soleil partnering in a nightclub-cum-showroom, not to mention a party pool, and sure enough the experiment has come to an end, with John Katsilometes' confirmation this week that both have quit their involvement in Mandalay Bay's Light and Daylight venues, following some since-settled litigation, with full ownership in both venues now reverting to billionaire Ron Burkle.
As reportedly variously by John Katsilometes and Robin Leach, both of the LV Sun, there is much change afoot again on the Strip, following the game of musical chairs earlier this summer that saw Blue Man Group and JABBAWOCKEEZ both moving house. Now, For the Record: Baz, the musical featuring a pastiche of classic scenes from the movies of Baz Luhrmann that recently departed Light nightclub at Mandalay Bay, has a new home at the Venetian, apparently, although that's not yet official, while it's rumored that Human Nature may be out at Venetian and moving back close to their original home at the Imperial Palace to neighboring Harrah's. That's just the gossip from Robin Leach, but he has a good nose for such things. More of the whole "Light" story to follow -- stay tuned!
In his latest post at Beyond Numbers, the "World's Greatest Living Gambler" recalls an innovative and ballsy, if short-lived and ultimately doomed experiment in the pit at downtown's Plaza casino. In the course of "A History Lesson: The Plaza Solution," Grosjean examines its ramifications, eventual demise, and subsequent implications for downtown in general, both for gaming and the resultant "new" era evolving in and around Fremont Street today. It's an interesting and insightful read, not just for serious gamblers, but for any fan of or frequent visitor to Las Vegas' original casino hub, and he/we welcome your own recollections and input, so feel free to post a comment.
It's a big weekend for festivals, both indoor and out, plus here are some of the other entertainment highlights; for more details on all these happenings and more, check out our Event Calendar, which you can filter by venue and type.
If you're up late tonight, Anthony Curtis will be the guest on Red Eye Radio. It's a national show on Westwood One, airing at 2 a.m. EST, so check your listings.
Whether this was inspired by our recent "Question of the Day" (9/27/2015) on the effect of the lower value of the loonie vs. the U.S. dollar on Canadian visitation to Las Vegas (and where to find the best exchange rate in town), we don't know, but we just discovered that October is "Canadian Appreciation Month" at the Monte Carlo, with up 20 percent off room rates, and discounts of 10-20 percent at multiple of the property's dining outlets and watering holes, just for being a Canadian.
The Houston Texans are -5 favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 40.5.
Once upon a time, Gold & Silver Pawn was but a humble downtown pawnbroker; then it (s)pawned a monster-hit TV reality show (well, kind of multiple shows, if you kount count all the spinoffs) and gave itself an upgrade and expansion; and now Rick Harrison's Pawn Stars brand is poised for the next phase of world domination, when his much-anticipated Pawn Plaza concept debuts tomorrow, Oct. 9, adjacent to the original store. A boutique "retailtainment" complex of anchored by Rick’s Rollin’ Smoke Barbecue & Tavern, at which the man himself intends to bartend on the weekends, it will also feature a range of independent businesses, including Rita’s Italian Ice, Smoke's Poutinerie, Vegas Flip Flops, Inna Gadda di Pizza, Pawn Donut & Coffee, and others, with future ventures set to include a Pawn-branded wedding chapel, because this is Vegas, baby.
Bruno Mars evidently holds no grudge against Sin City, despite his earlier brush with the law here, and it's been announced he'll be returning to The Chelsea at Cosmopolitan for one night only as their New Year's Eve headliner. Tix start at $150 and go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time. While a rumored Vegas residency for Mars has yet to materialize, he's been a more frequent visitor than some of the so-called resident acts, and has clocked up gigs at the Palms, Hard Rock, and Rock in Rio festival, in addition to dates at the Chelsea. His high-energy shows, backed by eight-piece band The Hooligans, are great entertainment, we can vouch from personal experience.
As the whole Daily Fantasy Sports furor continues to unfold, on Wednesday key operator FanDuel, one of whose contests is at the core of the current scandal, announced that it will permanently ban all members of its staff from playing any daily fantasy sports for money. FanDuel is also launching an internal probe into possible impropriety, following reports that an employee of rival DFS site DraftKings may have won a FanDuel contest using proprietary information available to him as an employee of the competitor for which he works, but which had equal applicability to both. In its press release, FanDuel states it's found no evidence, to date, that its contest was in any way compromised, but is proactively implementing the ban in order to restore any loss of public confidence in the integrity of the site and DFS contests in general. The office of New York’s attorney general is also demanding both sites turn over details of any internal investigations in order for it to conduct its own independent probe.
In baseball's 5-game Division Championship series', the Toronto Blue Jays are -260 favorites over the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals are -130 over the Houston Astros in the American League, with both Game 1s played today. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers are -180 over the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are pick 'em, with both Game 1s played tomorrow.
Obviously we use the term with just a hint of irony, since by "reality," we refer to the parallel universe that is MTV's the "Real World" which, as confirmed late last month by Vital Vegas, is now on-location at its new host property, downtown's now non-gaming Gold Spike and its Oasis at Gold Spike hotel. For exclusive photos of the first "stars" of the show acclimating to their new digs, check out local Twitter account @TotesMcGotes.
For the first time, the Arena and Equestrian Center at South Point is to host the International Gay Rodeo Association’s World Gay Rodeo Finals, which have relocated from their former host town of Fort Worth, Texas. The action takes place this weekend, with events both Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, featuring the top 20 point-earning LGBT cowboys and cowgirls competing for the coveted title of "2015 WGRF Champions." While some of the more "standard" events include calf and team roping, horse barrel racing, flag racing, and bull, bronc, and steer riding, as the name suggests, this ain't your grandma's rodeo, and some of the more colorful "extras" include "steer decorating," "goat dressing," and the "wild drag race" in which a team of three try to get a fully costumed "drag" queen mounted on the back of a bucking steer -- which sounds right up there with Silverton's infamous Banana Derby event of 2010.
Tickets for the various Gay Rodeo events this weekend are available on the South Point Arena website and start at $20.
The Chicago Cubs are -130 favorites over the Pittsburgh Pirates in tonight’s MLB National League Wild Card playoff game. The total is 5.5.
Two of Las Vegas' most popular and prominent headliners are extending their commitment to Sin City, with news that Celine Dion, who recently returned to Caesars' Colosseum, has added an additional 23 performances to her residency, with shows running from Feb. 23 to June 4 next year (tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.)
Similarly, the legendary Carlos Santana will continue to perform his Greatest Hits Live show at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues well into 2016, with tickets for dates from Jan. 27 through May 29 also going on sale this Friday.
News organizations are abuzz over a situation involving a DraftKings employee who may have used proprietary information to win $350K in a daily fantasy sports contest at rival FanDuel. It's bringing comparisons to "insider trading" in the stock market and may portend changes in the way fantasy sports are internally policed, as well as increase the chances that regulation of some type will be imposed on the DFS industry. Based on what's now known, our take is that there's likely been an overreaction to the relationship between whatever "leak" occurred and the big win, but the negative ramifications for the DFS industry based on perception alone could be significant.
The sports books at Casablanca and Virgin River in Mesquite are dealing -105 for football on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to midnight. That means you have to bet $105 to win $100, as opposed to the standard $110/$100. The -105 is for sides and totals. Westgate continues its -105 promotion on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to close, but for sides only (no totals).
Following some unexpected and somewhat bizarre recent happenings, if you haven't yet voted in our current Reader Poll you may now find you have more of an opinion, or something you'd care to express, so jump in while you still can 'cos voting closes at midnight!
It comes as no great surprise, not least in light of the recent sale of his Las Vegas home, that R-J gaming columnist Howard Stutz today reported that Sam Nazarian is to sell his 10 percent stake in SLS Las Vegas to Stockbridge Capital Partners, which already owns the other 90 percent. While no financial figures have been disclosed, it was announced Tuesday that under the terms of the deal, Nazarian's SBE Entertainment will be paid a licensing fee for continued use of the SLS name and those of the property's remaining venues that are under its ownership. Still, expect further changes down the line, with a spokesman for Stockbridge pointedly remarking upon how the new scenario will "give the SLS Las Vegas flexibility to introduce new brands or restaurants from time-to-time to further improve guest experience and strengthen financial performance."
Operations-wise, the official departure of Nazarian is unlikely to cause many ripples, since he's been obligated to maintain a totally hands-off role at the struggling north-Strip property, following revelations during his casino-licensing investigation concerning drug and alcohol abuse, not to mention some dubious prior business associations.
The Houston Astros and New York Yankees are pick ’em in tonight’s MLB American League Wild Card playoff game. The total is 7.
That depends on a lot of factors and constitutes the focus of Bob Dancer's new column (which, while making a lot of sense, will probably make any applicable bachelors out there happy in the knowledge Bob has no kids, making it unlikely that they'll ever be on the receiving end of his "potential-father-in-law" interrogative technique). Hypothetical scenarios aside, at their core Bob's probing questions are really about cutting through any self-deception or naivety and establishing whether a self-styled pro a) genuinely has the requisite skill set and discipline to be profitable over the long haul and b) has a realistic shot at being able to pursue their chosen career path indefinitely, which again can depend on an array of factors that Bob touches on. (He does not, we note, venture into more subjective areas, like where this potential beau may rank on the nerd scale, but we concur that that's a matter better determined by the potential bride.)
Due to popular demand (and tix half the price of her previous long-running gigs on the Strip), comedian Rita Rudner has added a second date to her already-confirmed Oct. 16 show in Red Rock's new Comedy Rocks series, for which she is the debut artist. Rudner will now perform 8 p.m. shows Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17, with both performances hosted by Carla Rea of KKLZ's "Morning Show," and tickets priced at $25 and $35.
You have a little over a month to get in shape for this year's Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and 1/2 Marathon events, both of which kick off, late afternoon on Nov. 15 from Mandalay Bay. Plus, this year sees the return of 2014's inaugural 5K event, sponsored by SLS Las Vegas, with the addition this year of a new 10K run. The former begins and ends at Las Vegas Festival Grounds (opposite SLS), while the latter begins in the same vicinity, with its finishing line at the Mirage.
Registration's currently running (no pun intended) at $75 for the 5K or $85 for its new big-brother event, while both the marathon and half-marathon carry a $165 price tag -- but note that all four events are likely to sell out and that entry fees are liable to increase.
In addition to all the running, there's a full line-up of events Nov. 12 through 15, including a three-day free-to-attend Health & Fitness Expo, with 80 "lifestyle" exhibitors offering everything from free health-food samples, to showcasing the latest in sports apparel, plus concerts from headliners including Kid Rock and live entertainment the length of the course to spur you on to the finish line.
This Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10, Rock ‘n Roll Wine will present the tenth annual Wine Amplified Festival, this year hosted by MGM Resorts' Las Vegas Village (on the Strip, across from the Luxor), with the "Rock 'n Roll" component featuring performances by Panic! at the Disco, 50 Cent, Sublime with Rome, Passion Pit, and many others, plus more than 150 wines from 60+ wineries available to try, both "by the taste" and "by the glass." For the non-wino music lover, there will also be a craft-beer garden, specialty cocktails, and "popup" festival venues including a New Amsterdam Speakeasy, the rave & barrel room, and restaurant row. One-day GA tix start at $59 -- find more details about the whole event on the official website.
The Seattle Seahawks are -10 favorites over the Detroit Lions in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 42.5.
Seahawks bars are Scooter’s Pub, Timbers Bar & Grill (W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy.), Crown & Anchor (Spring Mountain), and
Old School Brewing Company. Lions bars are Cheers Bar and Crowbar (W. Flamingo Rd.). The hometown specialties tonight in Lagasse’s Stadium at Palazzo will be baby arugula with toasted garlic crostini's ($15) for Seattle and Coney Island hot dogs ($9) for Detroit.
Originally slated to run at the Palazzo from Jan. 24 toApril 30, only, but later extended through the end of the year, FRANK: The Man, the Music, the extravagant Sinatra tribute starring Bob Anderson and a 32-piece orchestra, is now closing Nov. 28, reports John Katsilometes in the Las Vegas Sun, meaning it won't quite make it to celebrate Ol' Blue Eyes' 100th birthday on Dec. 12, as Anderson had hoped. He's now looking for investors, with hopes of either transferring the show to Broadway or else taking the show on the road for a national tour, according to "The Kats Report."
As reported back in early September, despite making #18 on the 2015 Top 100 list of biggest revenue-producing nightclubs in the U.S., Tryst at Wynn is gearing up for trio of "Final Affair" parties the weekend of Nov. 5-7, before closing for what's expected to be a six-month remodel. Visit the official website for more details or to purchase tix.
Controversial ride-share service Uber, which currently operates in cities across more than 60 countries worldwide, has been revealed as the host of multiple private parties that took place in Las Vegas last week, culminating (we assume, although we have read no confirmation of this) in a private concert by Beyonce at the Palms Pool. What the U.K.'s Daily Mail tabloid describes in its "exclusive" as a week-long "team-building junket" involved an all-expenses paid trip to Sin City for 4,800 Uber employees (not to be confused with the freelance drivers who operate using Uber's app) from around the globe, who were accommodated at various Caesars Entertainment properties and treated to "secret" events held poolside and in some of the city's top nightclubs, including, apparently, The LINQ Hotel's equally "secret" rooftop Vortex venue.
Cameras were forbidden -- a directive that was evidently amazingly well enforced, although the odd snapshot and video clip has leaked out here and there -- as was the use of any transportation other than the company's own buses, and guests were guided to their private events by members of Uber's staff who directed them with cryptic signage that simply displayed "x X". With Beyonce's performance alone costing a reported $6 million (see LVA's Question of the Day 10/2/15) -- and we note that this has not even identified in the Daily Mail piece as being an Uber event, but it would seem to be the most logical conclusion to draw and the crowd shots we've seen indicate that there were thousands in attendance -- we can only marvel both at how much the whole enterprise must've cost, and at how tight Uber's security is to have kept it so closely under wraps.
Rumors have long been swirling that the former Lady Luck, which has been struggling and recently closed a couple of bars, while re-configuring the casino floor and de-emphasizing table games, but a recent job fair at Downtown Grand seemed to give the lie to any thought of closure and today on KNPR's "State of Nevada" radio show, Betsy Fretwell, city manager of Las Vegas, confirmed that last week she received a letter from the owners, stating that property is definitely not on the market. (Other sources that LVA is familiar with beg to differ, however, and maintain that a buyer is still actively being sought. Time will tell.)
Jean Scott has posted her regular monthly round-up of top casino promotions and tidbits at Frugal Vegas, with her usual focus on off-Strip and locals properties (where the best deals generally tend to be found), but which this month's entry also featuring in-depth information on the players club at Circus Circus, which is not a member of MGM Resorts regular M life program, but operates its own independent players club that applies only there and at neighboring Slots-A-Fun, and which is currently in a state of flux pending a total revamp in the New Year, apparently.
The New Orleans Saints are -3 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.
South Point has put up a proposition on two NFL teams having perfect records this season. The prop is for the regular season only, meaning the team has to finish with a 16-0 record. The prop is the same for either the Green Bay Packers or the New England Patriots at No -2000 (bet $2,000 to win $100) and Yes +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200).
What in our humble (but informed) opinion is the best Indian restaurant in town is holding the Second Annual Inferno Curry Challenge throughout the month of October, with daring (or foolhardy) diners invited to take the ultimate heat challenge, featuring ingredients marinaded in the hottest chilies in the world -- you have to sign a waiver before you're allowed to accept this gastronomic gauntlet. The meal comes with the option of three preparations -- veggie, chicken thigh, or boneless lamb -- and is available from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily (but we don't recommend ordering too close to bed time). To date, more than 1,800 have dared to attempt this, with a mere 30 of them succeeding; should you join their ranks, however, the prize is a $50 gift card for the restaurant (so you can return for a meal you will actually enjoy), plus an entry for a chance to dine free for a year.
October 4 is National Taco Day, so here are a couple of ways to celebrate in Sin City. On the Strip, Cabo Wabo Cantina in the Miracle Mile Shops will be wheeling their street-style taco cart out onto the patio and serving a variety of made-to-order tacos, including beef, chicken, pork, and al pastor, with all the fixin's, for $3 each. Off the Strip, Michoacan (7870 West Tropical Pkwy) will be hosting its regular "First Sunday" brunch (offered, as the name suggests, on the first Sunday in the month only), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The all-you-can-eat extravaganza features a different array of chef's specials each month, but for this Sunday will include plenty of taco options (including pescado, carne asada, and aguacate) and is just $12.95 for adults, or $6.95 for kids under 12. Plus, for just $7 more you can enjoy bottomless house margaritas and champagne mimosas.
Daniel Cormier is a -285 favorite over Alexander Gustafsson in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Rashad Evans is -140 over Ryan Bader.
After being blocked in several attempts to enter the legal U.S. online space, it looks like PokerStars will soon be back in business. New Jersey has issued an interactive license to Amaya, Inc., the parent company of the PokerStars and FullTilt brands. Both sites are well known to U.S. players and are expected to provide a boost to the sluggish New Jersey online industry when they open. Amaya, however, has not yet indicated when that will be.
Following the deluge of DFS advertisements since the start of the football season, the SEC Network has banned daily fantasy sports giants FanDuel and DraftKings from advertising during their telecasts. The decision came in response to a request from the Southeastern Conference Commissioner that the ads be refused due to questions regarding whether or not DFS should be considered gambling.
Vizzun Entertainment continues to host the 14th Annual Pure Aloha Festival at the Rio through Sunday, with live music, food vendors, a carnival, and more. General admission is $8; visit the official website for all the details.Plus, for our complete round-up of all this weekend's many live music concerts, sporting events, food festivals, and more, check out our regular Weekend Events round-up, posted each Thursday in this column.
Boulder City hosts the 53rd annual Art in the Park festival today and Sunday, with in excess of 300 juried fine art, fine craft, and traditional craft artists selling original artwork, jewelry, sculptures, textiles, glassware, ceramics, and more, plus more than 25 food and drink vendors. There are children's activities, demonstrations, live music, raffles, and more and it's always a fun day out and a good opportunity to get some holiday shopping done early. The event draws more than 100,000 visitors, so a shuttle service operates from a parking lot on the outskirts of town. Visit the official website for details on transportation and more.
By "world," we mean "slot department," since this is Bob Dancer's latest column to which we're referring, in which the video poker pro muses on how he would run a casino slot department (with the assumption that it's his job to be profitable, as opposed to catering to his own predilections, which would obviously get him fired pretty fast and/or bankrupt the joint, although it would be a fun ride while it lasted). While such a hypothetical exercise might at first glance appear to be nothing more than an interesting diversion, in fact the numerous points Dancer hits upon, when considering them from the perspective of the "house," will give you, as a player, some really handy insights into how to select the best place to wager your hard-earned cash.
Yesterday, Eater Vegas announced that former food truck-turned-cult-L.A.-eatery Eggslut, which celebrates the humble oeuf via an extensive range of gourmet comfort-food preparations, is rolling into Vegas with its first outpost destined for the Cosmopolitan. And, as Eater suggestively just posted, "Eggslut Vegas is Hiring All Positions." So, whether you're a crack(ed) chef, an eggspert barista, a hard-boiled hostess, an eggcellent cashier, or a devil of a dishwasher, scramble together that resume before someone else poaches all the best gigs.
Having pulled out of the recent iHeart Radio festival at the very last minute, Janet Jackson has now cancelled her two upcoming shows at Planet Hollywood, slated for Oct. 9 and 10, suggesting that "Unbreakable" might not have been the optimal choice when naming her current world tour. Ms Jackson plans to perform for one night only at MGM Grand on May 14, however, barring any future ailments. Since the venues are operated by rival casino companies, tickets for the Axis shows at Planet Ho are not transferable and will be refunded. Fans who purchased them are, however, promised first dibs on the MGM tickets, with a pre-sale window starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14, according to R-J entertainment columnist Mike Weatherford; remaining tickets will become available to the general public on Oct. 16. No word as yet on pricing for the 2016 concert.
The controversial former Major League Baseball star Pete Rose has opened his first restaurant concept on the Strip, in partnership with Magic Wok founder David Wu. The expansive memorabilia-festooned eatery seats 250 inside, with room for an additional 100 on the patio, and is located across Las Vegas Boulevard from Aria. Open 24/7 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu features an array of bar-food staples, plus some "Pete Rose Specials," like "Cincinnati Chili on spaghetti" and a "Philly Cheese Steak" topped with brown gravy and cheese curds. There are also 32 hi-def TVs broadcasting sports around the clock.
Legendary singer, songwriter, and guitarist John Fogerty will perform an eight-show Peace, Love and Creedence mini-residency at the Venetian between Jan. 8 and 23, 2016, celebrating the music and culture of the '60s. Featuring both Creedance classics and solo hits, the intimate production will be embellished with exclusive footage and Fogerty's personal stories and recollections of a pivotal era in rock history. Tickets start at $59.50 (plus fees) and go on sale Friday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. PDT.
Craig Ranch Regional Park Amphitheater, a 3,000-seat outdoor venue set in the 170-acre North Las Vegas Park at 628 W. Craig Road, is about to be open for business, with a fall concert lineup that kicks off Oct. 9 with Beatles tribute Yesterday. Other confirmed acts include WAR on Oct. 10, southern rock/country artist Sammy Kershaw on Oct. 23, and comedian Paul Rodgriguez the following night, plus a lineup of future events that include everything from a car show to "Zombie" and Star Wars-themed charity runs.
The Baltimore Ravens are -3 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 44.
Well, not yet, but there will be in a couple hour or so when Downtown Container Park screens E.T. for this week’s free Family Movie Night. The show starts at 7 p.m. and it's free and open to all ages, but seating's limited so bring something comfy to sit on and note that no outside food or drinks are allowed but there are plenty of snacks available for purchase from vendors including Chillspot, Cheffinis Hot Dogs, Las Vegas Kettle Corn, and Sweet Spot Candy Shop.
As of today, the cost of entry to Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage has been upped by five bucks, meaning it's now $22 for adults and $17 -- the former adult price -- for those aged 4-12.
Only yesterday we posted the good news that Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee was back performing in Harrah's Piano Bar, following a prolonged hiatus due to ill health and exhaustion, but today a reader posted on our forums that following last night's show, Vallee was apparently involved in a car accident that landed him in hospital. According to a post on his Facebook page, which confirms this news, Pete is "awake and alert" but that's all we know. Our thoughts are with him and we wish him a speedy recovery.
EDC and Life is Beautiful may be out of the way, but don't for a moment think that means there's nothing going on this weekend - au contraire!:
Brit. comedian and emcee Paul Scally brings his "Grand Laughs Comedy Show" to the lounge at the Palms tonight, with a lineup including Kathleen Dunbar Geechy Guy, and Tyler, and a free (with ticket stub) after party at Ghostbar. Paul's a cool guy as well as being funny and the show's been getting great reviews (it played downtown for awhile), including from Anthony Curtis. Doors are 8 p.m., the show starts at 9 p.m., and there's some confusion over ticket pricing but we're pretty sure its $10. If we hear anything to the contrary, we'll let you know.
We think this is something new -- it's certainly the first we've heard of it -- but apparently New York-New York is now offering a bar crawl experience that doesn't require leaving the property. Locations involved include: Pour24, Coyote Ugly, Nine Fine Irishmen, The Chocolate Bar, Bar at Times Square, and Center Bar and it's $39.99 per person, which includes expedited line passes, where applicable, and one drink per person, per venue. For more information, or to book your crawl, contact the Concierge at New York-New York.
While August visitation was up by 1.6 percent on the same month last year, at nearly 3.6 million, gaming revenues continued their downward slide with a 1.4 percent decrease on July's numbers. Once again the Las Vegas Strip fared the worst, posting gaming revenue of $527.4 million for August, which represents an almost 5% decrease on July's figure and includes a 16.4 percent drop in table game revenues, mainly attributable to a lack of action on the baccarat tables. The only bright spot was a 12.1 percent increase in slot revenues.
Downtown the picture was a lot rosier, thanks in part to a boost from Life is Beautiful, with 15 percent increase recorded in gaming revenue, and both North Las Vegas and the Boulder Strip also fared well, with revenues up by 21 percent and almost 30 percent, respectively.
Alain Ducasse's new offerings at the Delano both debut today, in the lofty (literally) spots previously occupied by the acclaimed chef's miX restaurant and lounge. With 180-degree views of the city, Rivea aims to bring a taste of the French Riviera to the Las Vegas desert, with a menu of French and Italian coastal cuisine and a casual vibe featuring a palette of white and "maritime blues" and decor including a glass "Wave Wall" designed to mimic lapping water. Skyfall Lounge, which the official site describes as "perched in the heavens," will feature a more club-like party vibe, with mixologists, DJs, and some special events.
Both venues are open nightly, with Rivea serving dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday) and Skyfall is open from 5 p.m. until midnight (1 a.m. on the weekend), with a DJ from 10 p.m. to close.