Las Vegas News - December 2015

As promised, we've now completed our comprehensive update of Las Vegas hotel resort fees, and what our investigations have discovered is a double whammy of price hikes combined, in many instances, with a cutback in the amenities offered. As this is less-than-good news, we figured get it out of the way now instead of starting the New Year on a downer. You can see the complete list of who charges what in terms of a nightly resort fee, and what you get for it, but here are some of the notable changes we discovered:

• On the Strip, Aria, Bellagio, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Signature at MGM Grand, and Vdara are all now charging $32/night (plus tax), while most other MGM Resorts properties have raised their resort fee to $30/night -- a $1 increase for the likes of the Mirage and New York-New York, but that's a $5/night hike for Monte Carlo. Palazzo and Venetian have also followed the lead set by the Cosmopolitan and upped their fee by $1 to $30. Excalibur's an oddball at $26/night, but with that $1 increase comes the discontinuation of the $20 food credit that was previously part of the "amenities" package.
  
• Most Caesars Ent. properties are now charging $29/night, which represents no change for some, but a $4 hike for Bally's, Harrah's, Flamingo, and The LINQ.
  
• A subtle change of the downgrade variety that we discovered is the fact that several properties -- including Aria and the Delano -- have traded the daily physical newspaper to the online version.
  
• Also axed from previously included amenities: The valet parking and "Grand Experience" coupon book included in Downtown Grand's fee, which has also been raised from $18 to $19.95; the coupon book at Luxor; the 2-for-1 lunch buffet at Treasure Island; Venetian's drink coupon; and the fishing permit at Aston MonteLago.
  
• Off the Strip, you'll find a $2 increase at Artisan to $11.95; as of Jan. 1, Gold Coast and the Orleans will increase their nightly fee from $12.99 to $15.99 and Silver Sevens increases by $2 to $14.99; Hooters is up by $4 to $19.95; Westgate Las Vegas is up by $3 to $25; and Westin Las Vegas is up from $19.99 to $24.99.
  
• Rumor has raised its rate from $11.99 to $16.73 (?!) but that includes a complimentary porn channel (yes, really). Mandarin Oriental has added shoe-shine service and boarding pass printing for its $32/night amenity package and Aliante remains at $12.99 but now includes access to the fitness center, two bottles of water daily, and transportation to Aliante Golf Club.

In the second of today's two semifinals in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Alabama is a -10 favorite over Michigan State. The total is 45.

The January issue just went live, featuring our annual (MEGA!) "Report Card and Progress Report" on what opened, closed, or in some other way changed significantly in Las Vegas in 2015, plus a look to what is (and isn't) happening in 2016. In addition, members can get the scoop on a good video poker casino that’s gotten even better, an unlikely place for great prime rib, another casino selling Win Cards, a daily blackjack mini-tournament, a new restaurant at the Gambler’s General store, and all manner of news and reviews. Enjoy!

In the first of today's two semifinals in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Oklahoma is a -4 favorite over Clemson. The total is 63.5.

In today's Peach Bowl, Florida St. is a -7 favorite over Houston. The total is 56.5.

In today's Holiday Bowl, USC is a -3 favorite over Wisconsin. The total is 50.

In today's Music City Bowl, Louisville is a -3 favorite over Texas A&M. The total is 50.5.

In today's Belk Bowl, Mississippi St. is a -5.5 favorite over North Carolina St. The total is 61.5.

Following Las Vegas' highest visitation rate in history in October, with 3.78 million travelers hitting Sin City, comes news that even before all the New Year's revelers are taken into account, Vegas has broken its current record for annual visitation, having clocked up 42 million tourists to-date in 2015. The surge from last year's record of 41.1 million is being attributed to a combination of factors, including increases in the number of domestic and foreign nonstop flights to McCarran Int'l Airport, following its own expansion and upgrade program, plus a proliferation of crowd-pulling events, and increased convention attendance.

And that's not all! Gaming revenues have been in the doldrums in recent months, but November saw a rebound, up 7.76 percent on last year's figures to almost $944.3 million. Downtown casinos had a bonanza month, with a massive 25 percent jump at the gaming tables, with similar results for North Las Vegas (up 23 percent) and the Boulder Strip (21.5 percent). While the results for Clark County, which includes the Strip, were more muted, there was still a welcome 8.4 percent uptick after months of decline, attributed largely to the volatile game of baccarat and a decrease in Asian visitation.

Once again, the Las Vegas Christmas Tree Recycling Committee, in conjunction with Springs Preserve, is offering a FREE Christmas tree recycling service -- a win-win scenario that keeps the trees out of landfills while generating useful mulch (which valley residents may also obtain for free!). The program is in effect through Jan. 15, with more than 30 drop-off sites available, plus this year there are a couple of options for having your tree collected if you can't take it to a drop-off site (fees of between $5 and $30 apply, and the options vary according to your zip code). For the complete lowdown, visit the Las Vegas Springs Preserve website, where you'll also find instructions for "prepping" your tree (sorry, no flocked examples can be accepted for recycling as it contaminates the mulch).

In today's Birmingham Bowl, Auburn is a -3 favorite over Memphis. The total is 66.

In today's Texas Bowl, LSU is a -6.5 favorite over Texas Tech. The total is 74.5.

In today's Russel Athletic Bowl, North Carolina is a -2.5 favorite over Baylor. The total is 74.

If we needed definitive proof that, for some unknown reason that truly saddens us, Thrillist.com HATES Vegas, surely this is it? Nevermind the proliferation of home-grown craft breweries, nor the award-winning sommeliers, mistresses of mixology, and masters of flair -- you might as well all just pack up your swizzle sticks and go home, because Sin City has now been snubbed on lists purporting to represent the Best Drinking Cities in the United States nor, more specifically, the Best Drinking Neighborhoods in the nation (sorry, Fremont East). Just to rub it in, we didn't make it onto the list of Most-Underrated Cocktail Cities, and despite all the diverse funky new watering holes we've been rewarded with recently, we didn't receive so much as a nod on the newly released Best New Bars of 2015 list.

Well okay, two can play at that game: Guess who's not on the guest list to any of our parties anymore? And P.S., the reason none of our bars are on your 21 Most Secret Bars in the Nation list is because our best bars are so secret you can't find them and now we're never telling you where they are or what the secret passwords are. So there!

In this week's regular video poker column, Bob Dancer takes a look at which battles are worth fighting and when 'tis nobler to just fuhgeddaboudit, even if the scenario involves you, a casino, and a matter of principle. Take a look and maybe save yourself some time and aggravation...

In today's Armed Forces Bowl, California is a -6. favorite over Air Force. The total is 70.

Dec. 29 (that's today!) and Dec. 30, members of Silverton's Rewards Club receive 50% off at all property restaurants, including Seasons Buffet, Sundance Grill, Mi Casa Grill Cantina, WuHu Noodle, and Twin Creeks (note that the offer is good for up to $200 and is valid at the steakhouse Wednesday only).

The Denver Broncos are -4 favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 39.

Bars that follow the Broncos are Balboa Pizza Co., Black Mountain Grill, Four Mile Bar, Jake’s Bar, and Road Runner Buffalo. There are no bars that follow the Bengals.

Back in 2013, a proposed $100 million attraction dubbed the 'Polercoaster' - best described as a vertical roller coaster that winds around a pole - was briefly rumored to be coming to the Las Vegas Tropicana, but the project evidently failed to get off the ground due to FAA regulations or financial constraints, or both. Now, the novel thrill-ride concept, which prides itself on its small physical footprint, may have a new chance to be realized in Atlantic City, where the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has given approval for the project to occupy a one-acre Boardwalk lot previously home to the Sands casino. Still, with the developers hoping to raise much of their funding from the same types of private Chinese investors whose funding for Vegas' Lucky Dragon casino recently dried up, and with negotiations with New Jersey state and local officials still in early stages, we won't hold our breath for this project any more than we would for one of Glenn Straub's hair-brained schemes.

Some 332,000 revelers are expected in Las Vegas to celebrate New Year's Eve, the same number as last year, but this year you can expect to see a difference, namely an increased security presence, in light of recent incidents in the U.S. and abroad. While Metro cannot legally mandate it, the police are strongly urging attendees of America's Party, whether on the Strip or downtown, to leave backpacks and bags at home or wherever they're staying, since anyone carrying one is liable to be stopped and required to show the contents. With those who brave the crowds and madness expected to spend a total of $227.6 million while visiting Las Vegas for the biggest shindig of the year, that's an almost 5 percent increase on last year.

After 15 consecutive draws without a winner, this Wednesday's Powerball jackpot has crossed the $300 million threshhold for the third time this year. Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised by $45 million from its previous amount of $255 million, while the cash value was raised by $25.8 million from its previous amount of $158.4 million. The next Powerball drawing takes place Wednesday at 10:59 p.m. ET, should you feel inclined to hop over state lines to a nearby vendor (Nevada currently being among the only non-participatory states, along with Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Utah); just remember that your chances of winning became even slimmer this year, after the multi-state lottery game altered its drawing procedure to make the probability of winning the top prize worsen from 1 in 175,223,510 to 1 in 292,201,338.

After a slew of recent canceled dates, including shows planned both for Planet Hollywood and the iHeart Radio festival, Janet Jackson apparently managed to spread more confusion by posting to social media that she was now postponing her remaining tour dates until after next spring. Event promoter Live Nation confirms, however, that Jackson's show scheduled to take place May 14 at what will be the newly debuted Las Vegas Arena, is still all systems go. Visit LiveNation.com for more info and any future updates.

While sbe has been experiencing distinct "issues" with SLS Las Vegas, the hotel-casino from which its becoming increasingly detached in all aspects, the LA-based nightlife brand is continuing to experience better success in Sin City with its stand-alone nightlife concepts and its just been announced that Hyde Lounge, already a staple on the Bellagio nightlife scene, will be the exclusive club option at the new Las Vegas Arena when it opens next year, featuring two platforms extending over the arena seating for unparalleled views in addition to a more intimate "lounge experience."

Further to our reports last week about some general enhancements taking place at Ellis Island as spotted by an LVA scout, we can now confirm the bigger picture and that many other upgrades are in the works. In addition to a new raft of popular machine games being added to the gaming floor, the pit has expanded with the addition of three more blackjack tables, bringing the current total to nine (including adding a special $3-min. sportsbook-themed table for football season). More wide-reaching upgrades in progress include adding a casino-wide state-of-the-art sound system, a new center-pit stage for their "dealertainers," and multiple other cosmetic upgrades throughout, including the new flooring we mentioned, not to mention a complete remodel for all 300 guest rooms, including the addition of some new VIP suites. Go Ellis!

In today's Military Bowl, Navy is a -2.5. favorite over Pittsburgh. The total is 52.5.

The Minnesota Vikings are -7 favorites over the NY Giants in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 45.

The new Pete Rose Bar & Grill on the Strip has a tournament-quality foosball table. It's $1 per game for nine balls. It's also packed with TVs and serves Cincinnati 3-way chili. The January Las Vegas Advisor will have a full review.

The new Scarlet Pearl casino in D’Iberville, Miss. is reportedly offering a $500 rebate-on-loss deal. That's a good one, but it runs only till Dec. 30. Meanwhile, the $500 loss-rebate for new club members at the Plaza in Las Vegas is ongoing.

Sports book innovator Vic Salerno has become the first to apply for a license to legally provide daily fantasy sports in Nevada, with a target of having it available by the 2016 football season. Salerno ran the LeRoy’s books, almost from inception, and was at the forefront of many technological advances in the sports-wagering field.

In today's Foster Farms Bowl, UCLA is a -4.5. favorite over Nebraska. The total is 62.

In today's Independence Bowl, Virginia Tech is a -13.5. favorite over Tulsa. The total is 63.

In today's Pinstripe Bowl, Indiana is a -3 favorite over Duke. The total is 72.5.

Following negative rulings in Nevada and New York, Illinois has now declared that daily fantasy sports constitutes illegal gambling and that the DFS providers there must cease operations. Both FanDuel and DraftKings have indicated that they will fight the ruling in the courts. The whole DFS story is told in our new book, Fantasy Sports Real Money, which is back from the printer and ready to ship.

In today's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Washington is a -8 favorite over Southern Mississippi. The total is 51.5.

In today's Sun Bowl, Washington St. is a -1.5 favorite over Miami. The total is 62.

For the second consecutive year, Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman finished the year as USA Today's #1 ranked high school football team in the nation. Gorman was 15-0, with several of its wins coming against top-ranked schools from other states. Gorman finished behind Katy High School from Texas in other recognized rankings, but was in the top four in each of those. Keeping pace is the girls basketball team from Las Vegas' Centennial High School, currently ranked second in the USA Today standings.

The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association has released what it says is the first accurate list of casinos in the state. According to the list, there are 124 casinos operated by 30 Oklahoma-based tribes.

In today's featured NBA game, matching last year's championship finalists, the Golden State Warriors are -7 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The total is 206.5.

McCarran International ranked third out of 31 airports in a J.D. Power study rating customer satisfaction. It received high marks for convenience of check-in, baggage-claim location, and overall cleanliness. The airports in Portland and Tampa, finished higher in the survey, but serve significantly fewer passengers.

Las Vegas is crowded for the for the four-day weekend. Traditional Christmas dinners are being served today in many of the buffets and restaurants. If you're looking for a place to watch the basketball games, South Point is serving all drinks at the bar for $2, or just $1 if you pay with points, and will run the offer through Dec. 30.

The Philadelphia Eagles are -3 favorites over the Washington Redskins in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 47.5.

In today's Hawaii Bowl, San Diego State is a -1.5 favorite over Cincinnati. The total is 57.

Here's the link to our round-up of all the festive family fun, holiday displays, where to get your skate on, and miscellaneous holiday events around town. In addition, there's this:

• Caesars welcomes a trio of Iranian superstars, in Siavash Ghomayshi, Michael & Aref at the Colosseum (12/25), where funnyman Jerry Seinfeld performs the following evening (12/26)
  
• Mötley Crüe bring their farewell tour to MGM Grand's Garden Arena (12/27)
  
• Hard Rock welcomes RVLTN Two Year Anniversary with Seven Lions at The Joint (12/26) and Otherwise are in the spotlight at Vinyl (12/26)
  
• Hard Rock Live hosts Nightmare After Christmas (12/26), followed by Winter Arts Revolution (12/27)
  
• The Fab Four tribute performs at the Suncoast (12/26)
  
• Comedian Dan Phan plays South Point (12/26)
  
• Circus Vargus presents ArleQuin at Boca Park (12/26)
  
• And Keith Sweat takes center stage at Primm Valley's Star of The Desert Arena (12/26)

It was announced Wednesday that the California-based rooftop solar company, which since 2013 had brought 2,000 jobs to Nevada, is exiting the state following the unanimous vote Tuesday by the Public Utilities Commission to increase the fixed charge for residential and small commercial solar owners while simultaneously drastically cutting the value of credits that rooftop solar customers earn for generating excess energy and sending it to the power grid.

In today's Bahamas Bowl, Western Michigan is a -3 favorite over Middle Tennessee State. The total is 66.

Earlier, following a confusingly worded report from the Associated Press, we posted that several prominent R-J staffers had departed the paper, along with editor Mike Hengel, but two sources very close the matter were quick to put us straight and confirm that only Hengel and one other prominent, but non-editorial member of staff, have left and we apologize for any confusion or distress our mistaken post may have caused. Facts and truth remain as elusive as ever as this bizarre situation continues to unfold.

In today's GoDaddy Bowl, Bowling Green is a -4 favorite over Georgia Southern. The total is 62.5.

In today's Poinsettia Bowl, Boise State is a -7 favorite over Northern Illinois. The total is 56.

Following recent (if yet-to-be-officially-confirmed) word that In-N-Out, Canter's Deli, and Gordon Ramsay's Fish & Chips will all be adding to the culinary lineup at The LINQ, today it's been announced that the Virgil's Real Barbecue, from the same company behind Carmine's Family Style Italian Restaurant in the Forum Shops, will be opening in the summer of 2016. The 14,000-square-foot venue will also feature live music nightly, three outdoor guests, and a poolside patio.

On Wednesday, Dec. 23, from 2 to 8 p.m., the famous Budweiser Clydesdales will be available for meet-and-greets with the public, who can also enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, cider, candy canes, draft Budweiser, and a live performance by Wes Winters. It's all taking place in the Priefert Pavilion, part of the massive Equestrian Center at the south-of-Strip property.

Yes, the moment you've been waiting for has come early this year -- we just posted the complete list of offers in the 2016 Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards Book, which features the return of perennial faves (like our exclusive $50 "all-purpose comp" at the Palms, 50% of ALL Station Casinos buffets, and three rounds of complimentary drinks for two at Ellis Island), but we have lots of new deals, too, including $25 matchplay and 25% off Oscar's steakhouse at the Plaza, new dining and gaming deals from the Westgate, and multiple offers from SLS, Aliante, Mardi Gras, and others). The 2016 MRB's will be available for pick-up from our office on Jan. 4, when we'll also start shipping 'em out to all who requested our mailing service.

Oh, and if you have clue what we're talking about, check out our membership program at ShopLVA.com. Happy savings!

The latest post from James Grosjean at Beyond Numbers isn't about the door closing behind you because you didn't stuff enough socks in the doorway when you drunkenly ventured out to get more ice, although this scenario does factor into his tactics; no, this post is about what to do if the casino deliberately excludes you from your own room by deactivating your key because they think you're up to no good (which in Grosjean's case would equate to "playing their games better than you're supposed to and winning money"). The clever ruses he and his teammates have developed are equally of use in other shady scenarios you may find yourself in however (this is Vegas) so check out his tips in "The Casino Locked Us Out of Our Room: What Now?".

This week's column from Bob Dancer finds the pro gambler in thoughtful and more abstract mood than is his norm, musing on the difference between problem drinking and problem gambling, from his perspective, and knowing when to quit. "MAKING a self-promise is one thing. KEEPING such a self-promise is another," he posits, and what does it mean if you break a self-promise?

The New Orleans Saints are -2.5 favorites over the Detroit Lions in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 52.

Bars that follow the Lions are Cheers and Crowbar W. Flamingo. There are no bars that follow the Saints.

The price of Bud or Bud Light sold from the sports book carts at Palace Station have gone up from $2 to $2.50. We assume that's the case in all Station sports books that have the football deal, but don't know for sure. Hot dogs are still $1.

Online personal-finance resource WalletHub has conducted a survey to find the most caring cities in America, based on multiple measures, including the percentage of sheltered homeless persons, the percentage of annual income donated to charity, the number of rehabilitation centers per capita, and 23 other key metrics. While Reno, NV can give itself a pat on the back for coming in at #12, Las Vegas did not make the cut on a list that places Boise, ID in the top spot.

James Packer, who earlier this year resigned his post as Chairman of Australia's Crown Resorts, has now also stepped down as a director of the casino giant, fueling speculation that the son of legendary high roller and media magnate Kerry Packer is closer to mounting a bid for the company or some of its assets. Via his investment vehicle, which controls Crown, Packer has already been in talks with various third-party potential investors and reportedly is considering teaming up with a partner to take Crown private. For his part, Packer reiterated a previous statement that his resignation from the board will free him up to focus on Crown's current casino projects in Sydney, Melbourne, and Las Vegas (where the site is being prepped for the new Alon Las Vegas resort-casino).

We were distracted last night by news of the horrific accident on the Las Vegas Strip last night, and in our haste forgot to add the images for today's Question of the Day, which reveals the fate of the Riviera's iconic neon signage, so please check back to enjoy the visual component.

Travel agency-owner Travel Leaders Group, of Plymouth, Minn., which operates in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, has released its 2016 Travel Trends Survey and based on interviews with more than a thousand U.S.-based travel agency representatives, Las Vegas ranked #5 for the second consecutive year, with more than 25 percent of respondents naming the city as their most-booked destination. Orlando was the #1 choice, followed by Maui, Alaska cruises, and trips to New York.

Thanks to the LVA member who wrote to report some upgrades taking place at Ellis Island, the most notable of which is that the entire floor is being replaced throughout (like the first renovation since the venue debuted as The Village Pub back in '67). In addition, for fans of the grape, apparently the wine served has been stepped up a notch at both the center and Karaoke bars, with our trusty happily reporting that he was served both Robert Mondavi and Estancia cabernet sauvignon instead of "the (crappy) Barefoot Wine that they continue to serve." We concur with his assessment that this year's eggnog, lovingly created by owner Gary Ellis, is also a particularly fine batch (so pick up a bottle before we bag the rest of 'em!)

Las Vegas Boulevard is currently closed northbound and southbound between Harmon Avenue and Flamingo Road following an accident. A vehicle apparently left the road and ran over multiple people on the sidewalk in front of Planet Hollywood. Local photographer @BrandonAVaccaro has posted photographs of the scene and is being approached by multiple news outlets asking his permission to re-post them. No word yet on the number of casualties or extent of the injuries but the scene looks bad and the entire area is likely to be inaccessible for the foreseeable future, so find an alternate route (note that the I-15 on/off ramps at Flamingo are also closed).

The Arizona Cardinals are -4 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 51.

For unspecified reasons, Fresh Buffet at Westgate Las Vegas is currently closed, but it'll be reopening with brunch on Christmas Day.

According to local blogger VitalVegas.com, cult burger joint In-N-Out is finally heading to the Strip, with a new home inside Brooklyn Bowl at The LINQ Promenade. It's to be joined by the long-promised Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips and by a new Vegas outpost for Canter's Deli, which previously had a location inside TI, also both coming to The LINQ.

In other news, Jardin has opened at Encore in the spot formerly occupied by Botero, now serving a menu of "modern American" (i.e., with European and Asian twists) dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (with brunch on the weekend).

In one other item of note, we learned from "Eater Vegas" that there's a company currently recruiting "beautiful young ladies ages 18-35" for a new "bikini barista" coffee joint that plans to open in Henderson. How the g-string "uniform" will sit with the powers that be (who not-so-long-ago outlawed an erotic lingerie store) remains to be seen, but the recruitment ad does specify that there will be "absolutely no nudity EVER allowed." A previous attempt at a similar concept, Sexxpresso, which operated out of a parking lot just east of the airport for a while, fizzled pretty quickly, we seem to recall.

From 7 p.m. this evening, and again at 2 p.m. on December 24, catch a free performance of holiday favorite The Nutcracker, performed by a cast of professional dancers and hosted by Downtown Container Park.

A recent report from Eilers Research indicates that daily fantasy sports tournament participation has dropped dramatically since the beginning of the season. The combination of negative press and greatly reduced advertising has resulted in GPP (guaranteed prize pool tournaments) action being down by as much a $10 million per week. Both the business and strategy aspects of DFS are covered in our new book, Fantasy Sports Real Money, which is back from the printer and ready to ship.

Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 22" 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 10123). 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.

Get a six pack of Kirin Ichiban today at all Station and Fiesta casinos for earning 300 points between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. That's only about 15 minutes of 25-cent video poker and you keep the points.

Rafael Dos Anjos is a -180 favorite over Donald Cerrone in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Junior Dos Santos is -240 over Alistair Overeem.

Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 23rd 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.

The Utah Utes are -2.5 favorites over the BYU Cougars in today's Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. The total is 48.5. Today marks the start of the college bowl season, and we'll be posting lines for most of the big games in this space through the national championship game.

Being a geek just had all the fun sucked out of it by the Consumer Technology Association, which intends to up security levels at the next Consumer Electronics Show (Jan. 6-9 at the Sands Expo Center) to something resembling an active war zone, by the sound of it. For starters, attendees can expect to be greeted randomly and frequently searched by hordes of armored-gear-clad cops and explosive-detecting canines (note: bags, backpacks, laptops, pockets, and warm "bulky" clothing are considered "unhelpful" and are actively discouraged). Expect frequent ID checks, metal-detector screenings, and physical searches. The unspoken subtext we're sensing from the extensive list of dos and don'ts is basically this: It would make everyone else's life a lot easier if you simply don't show up; but if you if must, please come naked and alone and once you're in the building, it's best is you don't attempt to leave. Have a happy trade show everyone!

The much-vaunted and eagerly awaited purveyor of green shrimp is now open at Caesars Palace in a venue complete with private elevator, Champagne Lounge (complete with signature serving cart), wine room, multiple private dining rooms, four terraces, and a restaurant that seats close to 250 patrons.

The permission granted by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission for three major Strip casino companies to part ways with Nevada Power has proven to be a pyrrhic victory and Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, and MGM Resorts are now all asking for the decision to be reconsidered. In a case of "be careful what you wish for," the conditions of the exit are being deemed too financially onerous in terms of immediate penalties, and too difficult to predict going forward, leading the operators in question to change their collective minds. Whether the PUC will acquiesce in this volte face, however, is something the regulator has up to 40 days to decide.

California's Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians this week broke ground on a $285 million expansion of its Temecula Resort & Casino. Upon completion, which is expected to take two years, the tribe will have added a 568-room hotel wing (bringing the total room count to almost 1,100), plus a two-story spa and an outdoor complex that will feature eight more pool areas, bringing the total to no less than 13. Other planned additions include two new restaurants and almost 70,000 square feet of extra event space.

In conjunction with the 2015 USA Table Tennis National Championships, hosted tonight by The LINQ Hotel (with after-party at Brooklyn Bowl), the property will also host tehe inaugural "Passionately Ping Pong" social competition to benefit the Susan G. Komen program of the same name. The event will take place in the mysterious new roof-top venue, Vortex, and is open to the public who are encouraged to pick up a (pink) paddle and vie for prizes from 8 to 11 p.m. Standard tickets are $25 and include one complimentary beverage; VIP entry ($100) include early admission and an open bar from 7 to 8 p.m.

With a distinctly Yuletide flavor (and some fightin', cos it's the holidays!), here are this weekend's happening highlights; for the complete round-up, check our Event listings.

• Smith Center hosts Nevada Ballet Theatre's annual production of The Nutcracker (12/18-20), while Kristen Hertzenburg and Philip Fortenberry perform "Holidays From The Heart" (12/19)
  
• Kottonmouth Kings are center stage at Backstage Bar & Billiards (12/19)
  
• Edgar Winter's performing at the Golden Nugget (12/18)
  
• The annual Ultimo foodie fest takes over at Venetian/Palazzo (12/17-20)
  
• Cosmo's The Chelsea hosts the World Series of Fighting 26 (12/18)
  
• Brooklyn Bowl welcomes the USATT National Championship Finale celebration (12/19)
  
• The Pearl at the Palms features Premier Boxing Champions at the Palms (12/18)
  
• Jake Miller with Los 5 play Vinyl at the Hard Rock (12/20)
  
• Nashville Unplugged with Bill Luther returns to Sunset Station (12/18)
  
• Aliante offers Christmas With The Celts (12/19)
  
• Suncoast has "Merry Christmas Darling," a Carpenters Christmas tribute (12/19-20)
  
• And Ronnie Spector's "Best Christmas Party Ever" performs at the Orleans (12/19-20)

The St. Louis Rams are -1 favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 41.

What's a party these days without its own app? Hence for 2016, "America's Party", as Las Vegas (somewhat presumptuously) dubs its New Year's Eve celebration, has a brand new accompanying app by pyrotechnic master Fireworks by Grucci. That's who will again be choreographing the 8 minute, 13 second Strip firework spectacular to a medley of different "themed" songs picked for each of the seven participating casino launching pads (including "Treasure" by Bruno Mars, which we can guess is for TI; "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons for the Stratosphere; and "Hollywood" by Michael Jackson, which is probably for Planet Hollywood, but possibly MGM Grand?). The 80,000-firework display will conclude with "Luck Be a Lady" as a tribute to Frank Sinatra. The app (available for both iPhone and Android) is designed to enable revelers to follow the countdown to midnight and listen to the synchronized music score during the show (with the unwritten subtext seeming to be that said revelers will be too drunk and too noisy to take care of these important considerations by themselves).

Downtown, the "Countdown New Year's Eve 2016 Celebration" downtown kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at the Fremont Street Experience and runs until 3:30 a.m., featuring a lineup of 13 of the world’s greatest tribute bands, from Duran Duran to Van Halen.

As part of its ongoing "25 Days of Celebration" festivities, The LINQ Promenade on Friday, Dec. 18, will partner with Las Vegas Hot Diggity Dachshund Club & Rescue to find forever homes for needy pups. Remember: A dog is for life, not just for Christmas, so if you're not in a position to adopt, no problem! For a $1 donation, you can, and we quote, "pucker up at the doggy kissing booth for a special smooch"; give $10 and you'll receive a free ticket for the High Roller. If you can and do take a furry friend home with you, you'll receive an annual pass to the observation-wheel attraction. The even runs from 5-9 p.m.

For the seventh year, the USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament and Rugby Week will be hosted by Las Vegas, with a schedule of events March 3 through March 6. These include the Las Vegas Invitational, an amateur rugby tournament open to teams of all ages and skill levels and considered among the premier amateur rugby events in the U.S., and the USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament which brings the top 16 international rugby sevens teams to compete at Sam Boyd Stadium March 4-6. Tickets for the latter start at $30 for adults and are available at USASevens.com or by calling 1-888-RUGBY-7S.

It's the festive edition of downtown's monthly Down & Derby Sk8 Party from 10 p.m. tonight, and with code DERBY25 you can score a crash pad at the Oasis by Gold Spike for just $25. Must be 21+; visit Sk8party.com for more info.

In this week's gambling column from Bob Dancer, the video poker pro explains how he took issue with a recent guest on his Gambling with an Edge radio show, which Dancer co-hosts with fellow expert Richard Munchkin. The guest in question was a casino-surveillance professional and the bone of contention the whole thorny debate about luck vs skill vs cheating, which reared its head this time in the context of poker champ Phil Ivey's ongoing legal battles with various casinos. Check out Bob's argument and see on which side of the fence you stand. (As an aside, that's a potentially landmark case into which we'll have some exclusive behind-the-scenes insights in due course, whatever the final outcome may be, but on which we are not currently at liberty to elaborate.)

We reported yesterday on tonight's homage to The Force at downtown's Atomic Liquors; now for some other Star Wars-related happenings around town, which admittedly seem to be few and far between (perhaps we peaked too soon with Back to the Future fests?) and sadly exclude the Star Wars Marathon event going down at Regal Red Rock Stadium & IMAX tomorrow, since tix are already sold out:

• For those with kids, today Las Vegas Library (833 N. Las Vegas Blvd.) has a Star Wars Screenprinting event for teens at 4:30 p.m. with a chance to create your own t-shirt or tote bag tribute.
  Also today, for those with younger offspring, there's a Jedi Training Academy at Windmill Library (7060 W. Windmill La.) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for children aged 6 to 11. Costumes are welcome and there will be lots of themed craft activities. (Visit lvccld.org or call 702-507-6041 for more info.)
  receive a complimentary lobster roll.
  
• Fore more mature geeks, there's a Star Wars-themed happy our at Rick Moonen's Rx Boiler Room (Mandalay Place) nightly from 5-7 p.m. this week, featuring special cocktail and appetizer creations, like "Vada-Ade" (a whiskey-and-orange based concoction) and "Princess Leia's Buns" (meatball sliders).
  
• Here's a reminder that on Friday, the first 25 patrons named "Luke" or "Lucas" through the door (does it have a door?) at Luke's Lobster (Fashion Show Mall Plaza)
• From 8-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, Palms' Brenden Theatres will feature advanced screenings of The Force Awakens, in standard, 3-D, and IMAX 3-D formats, ahead of Friday's wide release. The event will feature a couple of dozen costumed characters for fan photo ops in the lobby from 6 to 8 p.m., too.

It's a second bust for Cirque at Aria, with word that Zarkana, the Viva Elvis! replacement, will follow close on the heels of Jubilee!, that other soon-to-be-axed production, and shutter for good April 30. Aria will use the space to expand its convention center.

Our current Reader Poll closes at midnight, so you have less than four hours to get your vote in (if you haven't already). Back in 1999, our publishing house, Huntington Press, released The First 100: Portraits of the Men and Women Who Shaped Las Vegas. Here's that original list of names; our question now is, from the options we suggest (or your own), who would you pick as the first FIVE personalities to be included on the list of the Next "100"?

The bad news is, downtown's Atomic Liquors will be closed to the general public on Wednesday, Dec. 16; the good news is that's because tomorrow from 7 p.m. they're teaming up with Zappos and others to host the "Fremont Awakens" extravaganza in early celebration of Friday's release of the new Star Wars flick. For one night only, the venue will be completely transformed into the Mos Eisley Cantina, with DJs, costume and trivia contests, raffles, costumed characters, light-saber duels, and more, while the rear parking lot is being transformed into a "Galactic Bazaar" (which we bet is light years cooler than a "Grand Bazaar"). Tix are $30 and still available; you can buy them right here.

As we write, we understand that the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center is being transformed into a (tented) "winter wonderland" in order to comfortably house a mini pop-up EDM series that kicks off this weekend, because why not? So, in a departure from the more usual lineup of veteran rockers (Sammy Hagar, Bret Michaels) and fighting, this Saturday, Dec. 19, from 8 p.m catch Fergie DJ and DJ Twisted shaking things up until 1 a.m. Tix are just $20; must be 18+.

We just happened to stumble upon some increases to nightly resort fees, which were stealthily introduced without fanfare (as is the norm) over the past few weeks. Cosmopolitan was the first to break the previous (unspoken?) ceiling with a $30/night (plus tax) nightly surcharge, but now MGM Mirage has upped the ante with an increase from $29/night to $32 at its higher-end properties (Bellagio, Aria, Mandarin Oriental, MGM Grand, et al). In addition, mid-range joints like Luxor and Excalibur have seen a $1/night hike to $26 (plus that 12% tax, which brings the nightly total to $29.12) and Monte Carlo has experience a massive hike, from $25/night up to $30 ($33.60 inclusive.) In addition, the official reservation site no longer even specifies what the fee covers, other than "amenities that are sure to enhance your experience at Monte Carlo." Similarly, New York-New York explains only that its resort fee covers "select hotel amenities" while Aria lists a "daily electronic newspaper" as one of the components, as opposed to a physical copy.

It's not only MGR Resorts that's been hiking its fees; CET has also raised the resort fee at select properties, which is up from $25 to $29 (inclusive) at the likes of The LINQ and Flamingo, putting them on a par with Paris, Caesars, and NOBU. Palazzo and Venetian have upped their fee by $1, too, to $30, in line with Cosmopolitan, Monte Carlo, and New York-New York, for example. Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch are both up by $1 to $26/night, plus tax. Westgate Las Vegas has increased its resort fee from $22 to $25 and Downtown Grand is up by $2 to $20/night.

We're still working out way through the entire list, but one thing we can confirm is that no one has lowered their resort fee since the last time we conducted a comprehensive property update, which was in August. Yikes!

If you haven't yet caught Jubilee!, or crave one last dose of sequins and feathers before the venerable showgirl spectacular gets put out to pasture on next year, the good news is that for dates commencing Jan. 2 and running through closing night Feb. 11, GA tickets will be available starting at $34 (plus taxes and fees), which is approx. half price. Also, there are just a couple of months left to take the complementary backstage tour ($14.75 in conjunction with a show ticket or $19.75 by itself).

As of January 1st, all rooms at the Luxor will be non-smoking and a cleaning fine of $300 will be levied for violations. This follows the move at sister property Bellagio, reported by website skift.com to introduce an additional nightly fee (on top of the resort fee) for guests wishing to guarantee specific room types and amenities, including: smoking; non-smoking; high floor; low floor; near elevator; king/king connecting; pool view; king/queen connecting; and non-connecting rooms. For $30/night, guests can request and be guaranteed of three of the aforementioned criteria; when it comes to smoking (and available rooms are limited and not referenced anywhere at all on the official hotel website, as far as we can see), if you are assigned a non-smoking room and get caught lighting up, the room-cleaning penalty is $250 (or that's what was reported by Skift back in August); it seems odd that the fee at Luxor would be $50 more, so perhaps Bellagio's will increase as of Jan. 1. We'll keep you posted.

Following the decision of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to reject Pete Rose's plea to overturn the lifetime ban meted out to him in 1989, the disgraced former star hitter will address the ruling publicly at 11 a.m. this morning from his new restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip. Commissioner Manfred said his decision was based on the fact that Rose continues to bet (legally) on baseball, had failed to be completely transparent about his activities, and was suspected of betting on games while he was playing for the Cincinnati Reds. "Mr. Rose's public and private comments, including his initial admission in 2004, provide me with little confidence that he has a mature understanding of his wrongful conduct, that he has accepted full responsibility for it, or that he understands the damage he has caused," Manfred observed in his letter.

The New York Giants are -2 favorites over the Miami Dolphins in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 47.5.

Bars that follow the Giants are Dealer’s Choice Lounge, Johnny Fontane’s Beach House, and Torrey Pines Pub. The Dolphins are followed by BJ’s Cocktail Lounge E. Tropicana.

It's the first we'd heard of its imminent closure, but according to Las Vegas Weekly, White Cross Market, the 2013 deli-and-supermarket reincarnation of downtown's historic White Cross Pharmacy (as frequented by Elvis), closes its doors tomorrow and is currently holding a 50%-off "everything must go" fire sale. Future plans for the space may involve a new "tavern, brewery, and restaurant" concept; meanwhile, adjacent Tiffany's Diner is apparently safe from closure, to the best of White Cross' employees' knowledge.

Less than six months after its launch, the independent race and sports book at TI has shut down its mobile-wagering act, putting a freeze on all transactions, although futures bets will be honored. According to the "word from behind the counter," related by professional sports handicapper Bryan Leonard, owner Phil Ruffin took the decision because "gross was very high but win percentage was lower than at the windows."

Apparently, Malaysian casino giant Genting Bhd has already expended $50 million on construction of the promised Resorts World project, its adaptation of Boyd's abandoned Echelon property, since ground was broken last May, although currently there's little visible to show for it. Behind the scenes, the company claims to be working hard on obtaining all the necessary local permits required in order to move forward with construction, but while Genting is still talking publicly about a $4 billion investment in Resorts World, according to an industry analyst who spoke with media outlet GGRAsia, the word on the street is that the "actual capex [capital expenditure] budget is unlikely to be US$4 billion but at the lower end of US$1 billion to US$2 billion," with plans to build a residential component on the site in order to "maximise returns and lower net capex." In another move toward sticking with the mid-2016 construction-commencement schedule, in an official filing Genting confirmed it had made a number of corporate moves "for the potential financing of the proposed development of the integrated resort in Las Vegas," including establishing multiple subsidiaries under a Delaware-registered entity, Genting Assets, wholly owned by the parent company.

The Twin River Casino, which received a green light to offer house-banked games three years ago, finally opened a 16-table poker room late last week -- the first in the state. The games currently being offered are Texas hold'em and seven-card stud and the room's open from noon to 4 a.m. during the week, then nonstop from Friday afternoon until 4 a.m. Monday, according to a report from NBC 10 News. Twin River is one of just two casinos in Rhode Island, the other being the Newport Grand slots parlor; both facilities are facing increased competition since a new slots-only casino debuted in neighboring Massachusetts.

Following the death late last week of former long-time company manager Fluff LeCoque*, the timing of the official announcement seems less than coincidental, with an official announcement that Jubilee!, the longest-running production on the Strip and Las Vegas' last major classic-showgirl spectacular, is to close for good February 11. Apparently Bally's, which has been experimenting with new directions in recent times (some more successful than others, including a misguided revamp of Jubilee!), is considering a new showgirl-inspired replacement for its entertainment lineup, perhaps in light of the success of Steve Wynn's Showstoppers at Encore.

*What a difference a decade makes: Here's a quote from our 2005 interview with Fluff for a Question of the Day about the future of the showgirl, which she concluded with: "Bottom line, there will always be people who want to dance, and there will always be an audience for beautiful women. Showgirls have been synonymous with Las Vegas for so long, and people expect and want to see that kind of entertainment here, so I don't see shows like Jubilee! or Les Folies disappearing from the map anytime soon.. The last performance of Les Folies Bergère at the Tropicana was on March 30, 2009, and now the fate of Jubilee! has also been sealed. You can read the complete interview, together with some personal anecdotes regarding this doyenne of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, in last Saturday's Question of the Day.

In celebration of the upcoming return of Luke Skywalker to the silver screen, on Friday, Dec. 18 all Luke's Lobsters, the popular New York "seafood-shack" concept which recently debuted at the new Fashion Show Mall Strip-side plaza, will offer a complimentary lobster roll to the first "Lukes" of the day. From 11 a.m. this Friday, if your name is Luke or Lucas, visit any Luke's Lobster location and present valid ID -- the first 25 eligible customers get a lobster roll on the house.

The New England Patriots are -4.5 favorites over the Houston Texans in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 46.

As is its tradition during the holiday period, almost everything is half price at South Point from tomorrow through Dec. 30 when you pay with club points. This includes all restaurants and bars, rooms, shows, bingo, bowling, movies, and the gift shop and the discount period runs an extra week this year (it formerly ran through the 24th). Additionally, all drinks are just $2 at the bars … unless you use points, in which case they're $1.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump will hold a rally at the Westgate tomorrow, one day before the Republican debate at the Venetian. The rally begins at 7:30 p.m., presumably in the showroom, with doors opening at 5.

The Downtown Grand has made it easier to qualify for its $250,000 slot tournament. There are multiple ways to qualify, but earning 2,500 points in a month was the easiest. That requirement has been lowered to 1,000 points. Qualifiers play in a separate tournament where the top 50 scores go to the finals, which will be held in December 2016.

In one of the most anticipated matches ever, Jose Aldo is a -115 favorite over Connor McGregor in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Chris Weidman is -150 over Luke Rockhold.

The Mexican restaurant Mundo has closed. Unable to negotiate a new lease for its current location at downtown's World Market Center, the owners say they intend to seek another location.

It's another bonus-points day at Station casinos. Get 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker at all Stations and Fiestas and there's no limit on how many you can earn. The bonus is not paid on 100%-return machines.

Alabama's Derrick Henry is the favorite to win college football's Heisman Trophy today at -500. Stanford's Christian McCaffrey is +325 and Clemson's Deshaun Watson is +1200.

Yesterday's ruling that shut down DFS operators in New York was reversed later in the day when the state Court of Appeals issued a stay. DraftKings and other DFS companies can continue operating in the state while the legality of the activity is decided on.

With the passing, Thursday, of long-time Jubilee! company manager and former Lido de Paris star Fluff LeCoque, Las Vegas has lost a classy dame and a more personal tribute from LVA will follow in an upcoming "Question of the Day".

In-the-know fans lament no more, because Tacos El Gordo -- the "cult" taco joint located in a strip mall opposite Encore -- is open once more. The place closed suddenly almost a year ago, amid wails of lament (according to a local blogger who hadn't ever even eaten there and doesn't understand the concept of radishes), but apparently hatchets have been buried and the Strip location of this popular street-food vendor (with a second location on Charleston Blvd.) is back in biz. Yay!

The LVASports team of Anthony Curtis and Frank B compete in the semi-finals of the Golden Nugget's "Friday Football Showdown" this weekend. Both will be on "The Las Vegas Sportsline" on ESPN Radio (1100 AM) at 2 p.m. today to divulge their plays in an attempt to get to next week's finals and play for the $115K first prize.

Celebrations have been taking place all month, but tomorrow's the big day on which the leader of the Rat Pack would have turned 100, so here are some specific events for Saturday, Dec. 12:

• MGM Resorts collectively are celebrating the launch of "Sinatra Select," the special line of Jack Daniel's (his signature tipple) released to commemorate this anniversary, with a range of special cocktails being offered at select bars. In addition, Aria hosts a Sinatra Private Dinner Party in their Juniper Ballroom on Saturday, featuring a three-course dinner, live entertainment, and Jack Daniel’s specialty cocktails. Also, Franklin Lounge at Delano Las Vegas will host a Frank Sinatra 100th birthday bash from 7 to 10 p.m., with live music inspired by the Rat Pack Era, drinks made with festive fedora ice cubes, and bottles of Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select for purchase.
  
• Sinatra at Encore hosts its "Sinatra 100 Celebration Dinner" tonight, with a prix-fixe menu for $195 per person (includes a complimentary CD).
  
• Golden Steer steakhouse continues its "Frank's Menu" special, featuring some of the star's favorite dishes for $100 and running all month, with an extra-celebratory party on Saturday, with added live entertainment. On Dec. 12, a reservation for Booth 22 (Frank's own spot) will set you back $1,000. Note that there will be three seating times, at 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30 p.m., and on that special night Frank's booth will set you back $1,000.
  
• Pia Zadora will be incorporating a medley of Sinatra classics into her cabaret performances in "Pia's Place" at Piero's Italian Cuisine tonight and tomorrow.
  
• Red Rock's ongoing "In Its Entirety" concert series on Friday, Dec. 11, is dedicated to a complete performance of his seasonal collection, "Sharing the Holidays with Frank Sinatra". Doors at 7:30 p.m.; tickets $19 (plus tax/fees).
  
• Not in Vegas? Not hungry? SiriusXM's Siriusly Sinatra (Ch. 71), the channel that features all Frank, all the time, is going overboard this Saturday with special shows hosted by Nancy Sinatra, Tina Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Jr., as well as Sinatra concerts and more. In addition, they're sharing the love by opening the airwaves of a few select channels so that anyone with a SiriusXM radio can join the party, plus they're turning on inactive satellite car radios for free this weekend to allow enjoyment of select channels, including Siriusly Sinatra, ‘40s Junction, ‘50s on 5, and Radio Classics. That's nice!

All operators of daily fantasy sports sites have been ordered by a judge to shut down their operations in New York state, at least for the time being and until the battle over the legality of DFS has been resolved. FanDuel, plus several of the smaller operators, have already voluntarily ceased to offer their games in the state, although FanDuel continues to fight the ban imposed by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman; now DraftKings and Yahoo! Inc. (which was excluded from Schneiderman's ban) must also put their New York operations on hold. The two leading DFS companies have been given 30 days to respond to the DA's ruling.

For more insights into the whole business of daily fantasy, including its meteoric rise, current legal status, and optimal-play strategies, check out brand new Huntington Press title Fantasy Sports, Real Money, but award-winning journalist Bill Ordine. (Currently available at a pre-publication discount from

Earlier this year, parent company Stephens Media was sold to New Media Investment Group Inc. for $102.5 million in cash (See Today's News 2/19/15); now R-J business columnist Howard Stutz reports that the paper and its sister publications in Nevada have been bought by a newly formed Delaware company named News + Media Capital Group LLC. Under a management agreement, a subsidiary of New Media will continue to oversee the Nevada media outlets, however, which include vegas.com, Luxury Las Vegas Magazine, and Las Vegas Business Press.

From Friday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 13, Westgate Las Vegas will host the Rare Coin, Currency, Jewelry & Collectible Show, with over 200 dealers/vendors, free appraisals and seminars, and more. Visit CKShows.com or follow @VegasCoinShow for more info and a free entry pass.

The Arizona Cardinals are -10 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 46.5.

Now through Dec. 30, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club is offering free drinks and free food, plus $300 on your "Vu" card, to Vegas taxi and limo drivers if you show your Taxicab Authority or business card.

Set to debut Dec. 19 (with a grand opening early January), Encore Player's Club is not a new loyalty program, but instead a new hi-tech gaming lounge targeted at millennials that will feature regular casino games, in addition to diversions like billiards and shuffleboard, plus multiple HD TV screens for catching the games before hitting the club. Typical hours for the venue will be daily from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., with extended hours on game days. A similar attempt by the Palms with The View bar/game lounge back in 2013 was short-lived, but unlike Encore Player's Club or LAVO Casino Club, that venue did not offer any gambling. Time will tell if Steve is hitting the right note with the elusive millennial market.

Next week affords two opportunities we know of for those seeking employment, with a free open recruitment fair at the PalmsM from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, featuring diverse local employers ranging from the Clark County School District and UNLV, to Dotty's and Expedia.

In addition, on Dec. 16 and 17 Libre Mexican Cantina, the recently announced replacement for Mercadito Mexican restaurant at Red Rock, is also hiring, with open casting calls from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and from 5-9 p.m. Thursday. Both events will take place inside Crimson (formerly Cherry lounge). Libre is looking to fill multiple positions, including cooks, bartenders and barbacks, servers, runners, hostesses, and dishwashers.

Local and federal law enforcement made multiple arrests Wednesday across seven states, including Nevada, and in California two card rooms were raided and shut down on the orders of California's Bureau of Gambling Control, in connection with an alleged massive illegal-bookmaking operation. Seven Mile Casino in Chula Vista and Palomar Card Room in San Diego are charged with flaunting anti-money laundering laws and $600,000 was seized from player accounts and bank accounts, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office. Federal prosecutors contend that illegal offshore sports betting and other gaming websites and underground casinos at various locations, including rented private mansions, were involved in the multi-million dollar operation that reportedly boasted close to 400 wealthy gambling clients.

More details will be forthcoming this time next week, but for now it's been confirmed that participating hotels in this year's rooftop firework display on the Las Vegas Strip for the "America's Party" New Year's countdown will be the traditional mix of properties including MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Venetian, and Stratosphere. As is the norm, Fireworks by Grucci will take care of the pyrotechnic aspect, choreographed to a to-be-announced medley of recent hits and more traditional numbers.

The giant gentlemen's club on newly renamed Sammy Davis Jr. Drive is turning 13 and invites everyone (but especially cowboys) to join its famous topless temptresses for a "Beauty & Bandits" shindig on Thursday, Dec. 10. Cowboy/cowgirl attire is encouraged, it being that NFR time of year, and there will be a hosted open bar from 7-9 p.m. featuring Jack Daniels drinks and Coors Light, a "chuck wagon"-style buffet courtesy of Sapphire Grill, Fat Bar, El Dorado Mexican Cantina, Zenshin, and Sysco, and a chance to win prizes for your mechanical bull-riding skills.

Plus, starting tonight and for four nights this week, you can catch ex-pro-bull-rider-turned-country-rap artist Luke Kaufman performing at the club -- for more details check out ToplessVegasOnline.

The deal's been a year in the finalizing, but Vegas Inc. reports that the $370 million purchase of the Showcase Mall, the Stripside retail complex abutting MGM Grand that's famed for its giant Coke Bottle and M&M's, from Vegas developer Barry Fieldman, has closed. The property first opened in 1996 but Feildman had since sold off some portions of the retail complex, which the Nakash family (founders of Jordache jeans) and real estate investor Eli Gindi of New York have collectively been buying up; this final transaction completes the puzzle, transferring sole control of the 300,000-square-foot and almost fully occupied retail venue, which is now in line for an exterior facelift and some new stores.

Las Vegas' awesome alt theater has lots of feisty festive fun on the holiday playbill, like the feature stage debut of a Sin City burlesque darling in The Blanche DeBris Emergency Xmas Broadcast, or twisted adult comedy Reindeer Monologues, but they also could use a little help reaching the paltry $10K target that will see the venue through financially until they can up their game with a booze license and such. So, if you can spare a little* tax-deductible donation this season, we know they'd be grateful. (*NOTE: Great big HUGE donations also accepted.)

Wynn Resorts stock surged this week by up to 10 percent with news that CEO Steve Wynn, already the largest shareholder since T. Rowe Price massively reduced its stake in the company in recent times, had purchased more than 1 million shares in the casino company for approximately $63.8 million on the Nasdaq open market. The company's stock price has devalued by 60 percent over the course of 2015, largely due to drastically declining revenues in the Macau market.

A second Las Vegas date has been added to Rihanna's "ANTI WORLD TOUR", with an additional show now confirmed for Saturday, April 30, following the already-announced performance the previous night. A ticket pre-sale for qualified customers commenced minutes ago; tix for the general public go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. and start at $36.24.

Speaking of Rihanna, it's just been announced that Slash, of Guns N' Roses notoriety -- and who was featured on the singer's 2009 Rockstar 101 hit, in the video for which she channeled the iconic axman when he couldn't/wouldn't play himself -- will be headlining at Crossroads at House of Blues this New Year's Eve. Tickets for "Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators" start at $39.50; must be 18+.

The Las Vegas-based traveling big top circus show, which is now entirely comprised of human performers (gone is the "midget-boxing kangaroo" act we recall from back in the day when it was under previous ownership, we're happy to report.) For this holiday season, the family-friendly Circus Vargas will present an all-new show, ArleQuin, which tells the story of a boy whose dreams of joining the circus via a series of death-defying aerial and acrobatic stunts, magic, clowning, and more, under "a music-filled, blue-and-yellow big top." The show has two gigs in town, with the first commencing Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Meadows Mall, where it will perform through Dec. 20 before relocating to Boca Park, Dec. 25 – Jan. 4 (with two shows both on Christmas Day and News Year’s Day). Tickets start at $15 for GA, up to $70 for the best ringside seats, with a free interactive pre-show 30 minutes before each performance where kids can try juggling, balancing, clowning and other circus skills. Visit circusvargas.com for more.

The "Rumble Weekend" scheduled to be hosted at Crazy Horse III gentlemen's club this weekend by fighters Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Mike "El Cucuy" De La Torre for UFC 194 Conor McGregor vs José Aldo and and the Team McGregor vs Team Faber Ultimate Fighter finale, has been canceled (sans explanation), but check ToplessVegasOnline.com nearer the end of the week for the regular weekend strip club event round-up, including other places to catch the fight.

The rumors have been confirmed that Mercadito, the much-vaunted family-style Mexican-market concept out of Chicago that debuted at Red Rock Resort just 18 months ago, will be out as of February 2016. The spot is to be taken over by nightlife impresario Andy Masi (The Light Group) and Chef Brian Massie's Clique Hospitality partnership, which already operates Hearthstone and Salute at the property and is also set to open two new restaurant concepts -- Borracha (Mexican) and Bottiglia (Italian) -- at Green Valley Ranch next year. Mercadito will be renamed Libre.

Garth Brooks has added more dates to next summer's tour stop at the new Las Vegas Arena, with additional concerts announced for Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m., ahead of the previously slated July dates. Tix for the new shows go on sale Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. PST with the same eight-ticket limit per purchase and the same flat $85 price cos that's how he rolls.

On Sunday, Mayor Carolyn Goodman was present to light the Fremont Street Experience Menorah to mark the first night of Hanukkah; this afternoon at 5 p.m. she'll be back under the canopy to turn on the lights on downtown's 50-foot Christmas tree. There will also be a performance by Circus Vargas where the Ringmaster will balance a full grown Christmas tree on his chin, which sounds like an event not to be missed, so get yourself to the 3rd Street Stage (and perhaps bring a hard hat if you have one, just in case...)

See yesterday's post in "Today's News" for our MASSIVE round-up of other holiday happenings and events in Vegas.

Its smaller rival, Lyft, has been legally picking up and dropping passengers at McCarran International Airport since October 26 (see "Today's News" archive); as of today, ride-share service Uber is now also operating at McCarran, having evidently resolved some points of contention with airport officials regarding the disclosure of driver identities.

That depends, and upon several factors: Check out video poker expert Bob Dancer's assessment and reasoning in his new weekly column, exclusive to LVA.

Back in 1999, Sophia Loren attended the grand opening of the Venetian and next year, for one night only, the iconic Italian actress and renowned beauty will return to the Las Vegas resort to host an intimate evening of "storytelling and laughter" covering her public career and private life and which will culminate in a moderated audience Q&A session. Tickets for An Evening with Sophia Loren, scheduled for March 26, start at $69.95 (plus applicable fees) and go on sale Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. PT; a VIP meet-and-greet upgrade is also available.

The gentlemen's club/nightclub formerly known as Leopard Lounge, Men's Club, Badda Bing!, and Oracle Mansion, is about to reopen as a topless club named Sophia's. The plush and intimate venue has undergone some major renovations during its past couple of incarnations but struggled for customers due to its obscure location at 3500 W. Naples Dr. (behind Cosmopolitan) and refusal to participate in the strip club "Taxi Wars." Our adult sister site, ToplessVegasOnline.com, will be checking out Sophia's as soon as it debuts, so we'll keep you posted.

Jean Scott has addressed some reader queries and found out additional info on previously reported promos (including a bait-and-switch affecting video poker players and a spa special today through Dec. 10 at an off-Strip casino). Check out the latest post at Frugal Vegas for the lowdown.

Here it is, a couple days later than planned, but when you see how much is going on this year, you'll understand why. Here goes:

LIGHT SHOWS & OTHER FESTIVE DISPLAYS:

• The Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden is decked out in its traditional regalia of a bazillion-or-so LED lights, viewable for free nightly, with visits from Santa and performances by local choirs on the weekend. Plus, on Dec. 17 check out the FREE "Decadence in the Desert" art fair, with music, food trucks, and more than 25 artists showing off their work from 4-8 p.m. Admission is free.
  
• Check out the Opportunity Village Magical Forest, a winter wonderland of lights featuring an enchanted carousel, avalanche slide, mini-golf, passenger train, photo ops with Santa in his workshop, and more. Plus, check out the official website for other happenings and details of military, student, family, and other discounts. Regular pricing is $11.99 adults, $9.99 for kids aged 3-12.
  
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway once again hosts "Glittering Lights," Nevada's largest drive-thru light show, featuring more than 3 million lights along the 2/5-mile course, which this year includes new displays including a massive tribute to Las Vegas that's nearly three football fields long! Open from 5:30-9 p.m. nightly (10 p.m. Fri/Sat); $20 per vehicle; buses are $1 per person with a min. charge of $20.
  
• Sam's Town is all a-twinkle with the Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland,featuring a 30-ft Christmas tree and fishing polar bears, not to mention a free 15-minute laser light show hourly from 5.-10 p.m. through Jan. 1. On afternoons Thurs. thru Sun. there are appearances by Santa, too.
  
• The LINQ Promendad has also been transformed into the Winter Parq, with a big tree, Christmas decorations, and light snow showers every 30 minutes. In addition, from 5 p.m. entertainers and carolers perform a nightly holiday show.
  
• Through Dec.23 Town Square features "Snow in the Square" nightly at 7 p.m. (with additional 8 p.m. show on the weekend), with falling snowflakes choreographed to classic holiday tunes. Thursdays through Dec. 17 also feature the "Holiday Nights & Lights Community Concerts" performed by local elementary and high school students. On Wednesdays through Dec. 23 you can take your four-legged friend(s) along for "Claus & Paws" pet photos. Santa will be ready for his close-up with your pooches and pussies from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. but you must make a reservation at townsquaresanta.com.
  
• There's a holiday-themed light show performing on the Viva Vision canopy at the Fremont Street Experience now through Christmas Day - for a new perspective check it out from the vantage point of the Slotzilla zipline!
  
• For something more whimsical, check out the extravagant winter displays in Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and the Atrium at Palazzo - free to view 24/7 daily.
  
• Four Seasons has scaled down its gingerbread holiday village this year, but there's still a display of 20 gingerbread houses "for sale" and a giant sugar-and-chocolate carousel in the hotel lobby. It took more than 500 hours to put the display together, so you really should go see it. Plus, the newly revamped Buffet at Wynn features a Showstoppers-inspired gingerbread sculpture depicting Santa and Mrs Claus, show performers (including a full orchestra), and an homage to the Wynn itself, comprising 1,000 gingerbread ("Wynngerbread"?) tiles.
  
• Silverton's Bass Pro Shops has been transformed into Santa’s Wonderland once again. Now through Dec. 24 enjoy free photos with Santa (who's really getting about a lot this year, we've noticed; we hope he's not burned out before Christmas Eve - or bitten by a rabid dog or eaten by a shark), plus crafts, games, and other activities for kids. There are rustic Christmas cabins, moving model trains and remote-controlled trucks, interactive talking caribou, and live elves! Admission is free.
  
• The newly redeveloped Plaza on the Strip at Fashion Show Mall is screening a "Holiday Spectacular" every hour on the hour thru Jan. 1, 2016, featuring a four-minute video installation holiday show one three giant digital screens, which culminates in another falling-snow finale.

• The Scuba elves (who apparently prefer to be called "aquarists," but whatever) are back at the Forum Shops at Caesars and will be feeding the tropical fish Mon.-Fri. at 2:30 p.m.
  
• Scuba Santa also returns to Silverton Aquarium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Dec. 23, where he'll be swimming among the 4,000 sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish.
  
• Catch "Santa in the Shipwreck" and "Santa Jaws" at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium Dec. 13-14 and 20-24. Adults $18; children ages 5-12 $12.

• If you're looking to get your skates on, Downtown Summerlin Rock Rink, the Ice Rink at Cosmopolitan's Boulevard Pool, and the Las Vegas Ice Center all have what you need, with extras like the DJ at Rock Rink, snow showers, fire pits, and seasonal food-and-drink offerings at Cosmo, and a "Winter Wonderland" backdrop at the Ice Center.
  
• Also at Downtown Summerlin, check out the Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. Dec. 11-24. The non-denominational celebration includes eight floats, plus toy soldiers, snowflake princes and princesses, nutcrackers, dancers, drummers, and festive music and lasts for approx. 20 mins.
  
• Once again, downtown's Smith Center for the Performing Arts will host performances by the Nevada Ballet Theater and Las Vegas Philharmonic of The Nutcracker, with an eight-show run kicking off Saturday, Dec. 12 inside the Reynolds Hall.
  
• Dec. 10 Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at Downtown Summerlin will host a "Cookies for Santa" interactive cooking demo from 1-4 p.m., with home-made hot chocolate to sample. (Call 702-202-6300 to reserve a place).
  
• From Saturday, Nov. 28 until Friday, Dec. 25, Santa will be available for photos at the Downtown Container Park every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., as well as Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and children can decorate festive ornaments to hang on the park’s Christmas tree from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. (a $2 donation to sponsors the Muscular Dystrophy Association is encouraged) and catch holiday favorite The Polar Express, which starts at 5 p.m (a $5 donation to help raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada would be appreciated).
  
• Henderson Events Plaza hosts WinterFest this Dec. 10-12, with a Christmas tree lighting, Santa Claus visits, children's activities and entertainment, and the Evening Light Parade at 5 p.m. on December 12. Admission's complimentary.
  
• On Dec. 12, the Neon Museum hosts its annual "December to Remember" family holiday celebration from 206 p.m., with ornament-making in the Boneyard Park (where the vintage signage is specially illuminated in holiday colors) and photos with Santa in the Museum’s North Gallery.

The Washington Redskins are -1.5 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 43.

Bars that follow the Cowboys are Bottom’s Up, Mr. D’s, and Red Label. Bars that follow the Redskins are Crown & Anchor Tropicana and Steiner’s Pub Buffalo .

Churchill Downs, Louisville's iconic race track, is looking to hire a Senior Director of Operations to assist the VP in directing and coordinating all scheduled events held at the facility, including the annual runnings of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. The successful candidate will be a "skilled communicator and flawless event organizer" -- click here if that's you.

Thee 18th Annual Punk Rock Bowling Tournament and Music Festival has been confirmed and will be taking over multiple venues downtow from May 26-30, with a preliminary lineup including some big names (if you're a punk or aficionado of the genre), including Flogging Molly, Descendents, Cock Sparrer, Flag, Exploited, Dagnasty, Subhumans, Dillinger Four, Anti-Nowhere League, Youth Brigade, and The Dwarves. Plus, in 2016 the inaugural East Coast PRB (not to be confused with PBR -- while there will almost certainly be beer, bull-riding is unlikely) event will be held in Asbury Park, NJ, from June 10-12, for all the east coast anarchists who can't make it to Sin City or for whom Punk Rock Bowling once a year just isn't enough. We'll post additional details about the Vegas weekend as they're announced.

Back in late September, it was announced that George Strait would be the inaugural performer at the new Las Vegas Arena, with dates on April 22 and 23. No more! The country star has now been shunted into second place behind an entire night of Las Vegas entertainment, past, present, and future, featuring local boys The Killers plus -- wait for it... -- "Mr Las Vegas" himself Wayne Newton AND acclaimed new Vegas talent Shamir. This latest "grand opening" night (which feels pretty definitive with a lineup like that) is scheduled for April 6 and tickets (which start at a mere $35), go on sale eclectic Saturday, December 12 at 10 a.m. Awesome!

The Pittsburgh Steelers are -10 favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 50.5.

The first night of Hanukkah will be celebrated with the lighting of a 20-foot Menorah at the Fremont Street Experience today. Mayor Carolyn Goodman will preside at the ceremony that begins at 4 p.m.

The four teams that will play in the college-football playoffs were chosen today and the opening lines were quickly posted. Second seeded Alabama is a -8.5 favorite over #3 Michigan State and #4 Oklahoma is -3 over #1 Clemson.

The National Finals Rodeo is in full swing, which brings the cowboys out in full force. Rodeo-centric casinos include the D, Gold Coast, Orleans, Hard Rock, South Point, TI, and Silverton. NFR runs through Dec. 12.

It's a bonus-points day at Station casinos. Get 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker at all Stations and Fiestas. The bonus is not paid on 100%-return machines.

The seasonal changeover was completed at Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Friday, where now a winter display featuring a model locomotive, complete with chocolate "stations," giant animated snow globes, a family of floral polar bears, a 42-foot tall tree, and almost 30,000 poinsettias will remain on display through Jan. 3. The attraction is free and open 24/7.

Don't forget it's the annual Great Santa Run this morning, which began at 8 a.m. and runs (or strolls/limps) until 1 p.m., and that brings some significant road closures to the downtown area, so click the link for a map of which streets are affected.

Due to illness (feeling haggered, perhaps?), Merle Haggard performances at the Golden Nugget, scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7 and Tuesday, Dec. 8, have been canceled. On Dec. 8, Tanya Tucker will add a performance and tickets for the Merle Haggard show will be exchangeable; otherwise refunds for both concerts will be made available at original point of purchase.

There's plenty of holiday cheer, with trees and light displays, Vegas-style (think: cowboys; cacti; and classic cars), skating rinks, hay rides, gingerbread houses, and more. Some festivities are ongoing and we'll post that tomorrow, but here are some one-off events taking place this weekend.

• Tonight at 6:30 p.m., enjoy a free outdoor screening (bring a blanket) of The Grinch, with complimentary popcorn and hot chocolate (while supplies last), at the Durango Hills Community Center/YMCA.
  
• Breakfast with Santa at Silverton tomorrow. Seasons buffet doesn't normally serve breakfast, but tomorrow from 8 to 9:45 a.m. it's making an exception for Santa and you're invited too! It's $15 for adults, $8 for children aged six and under, and they've even posted the menu on their website.
  
• It's the annual Great Santa Run downtown from 8 a.m. -- click for a map of road closures.
  
• If you're feeling really energetic, you can follow that up with the "Merriest 5K of the Year" at Sunset Park, where from 11 a.m. on Saturday, hordes will gather to run, walk, or prance their way through a winter wonderland for The Ugly Sweater Run ($40 entry).
  
• Also on Saturday, Dec. 5, it's the Cowboy Christmas & Classic Car Show in Floyd Lamb Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with classic cars, hay rides, petting zoo, carols, a visit from Santa, "holiday elf contest," and more. Please bring unwrapped gifts, clothing, and food donations for local charities to distribute among the less fortunate in the community.
  
• For some adult fun, "Live Burlesque in Las Vegas" presents something a little different for Saturday's show at Boomer's, with Santa's 'Naughty' List, featuring a "dash of tease, a sprinkle of humor and lots of sparkle." And cookies! And an elf! For details check ToplessVegasOnline's weekend event listing.
  
• Zappos hosts its 3rd Annual Tree Lighting Event downtown tomorrow from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at E. Stewart Ave., with live music, photo ops with Santa, and more.
  
• And while you're downtown, catch a special concert screening (with orchestral accompaniment) of The Snowman at the Smith Center this weekend (Sat. 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m.). Tickets start at $26.

The scheduled Sunday, Dec. 6 concert by Muse at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on their "Drones World Tour" has been postponed until Jan. 9, 2016. Tickets for this weekend's event will be valid for the new date, or obtain a refund from the original point of purchase.

It all started back in July with tje "Peanut Butter & Jelly Glazed Donut Ice Cream Sundae" 10-minute challenge (the price of failure? $30); then in November the classic diner-themed eatery at Caesars Palace offered a limited-edition "Epic Unholy Huevos Rancheros Challenge" (five pounds in 30 mins. or $45); now, in time for the holidays, they've unleashed the third installment of this unholy eating trinity, with "The Brick." Available through the end of the month only, the new challenge features five of the restaurant’s 16-inch flatbread Meat Madness Pizzas (prosciutto, pepperoni, sausage, pancetta, cheeses and fresh marinara sauce) stacked together and contestants have 40 minutes to finish; fail and it's $75.

You can find the complete list of ongoing Las Vegas Eating Challenges in the "Question of the Day" archives.

It's the first full weekend of the month, which meansfree general admission to more than 150 museums nationwide with the Museums on Us program, sponsored by Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. In Las Vegas, simply present your credit or debit card from either bank, along with valid photo ID, for complimentary entry to the Springs Preserve, Natural History Museum, or Discovery Children's Museum (find details for all in the "Activities & Attractions" section in our Las Vegas Visitor Guide.

Boyd Gaming has announced that the California Hotel, its original downtown property, is to receive a multi-million-dollar remodel, both of the accommodation and the public areas. Boyd's been in the process of implementing upgrades to its Las Vegas properties, mainly in the food-and-beverage department, and the property already debuted the California Noodle House earlier in the year and apparently additional restaurant changes are in the works.

The Green Bay Packers are -2.5 favorites over the Detroit Lions in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 46.5.

It's National Finals Rodeo time, which means this weekend's entertainment lineup has a distinctly equine aroma:

• UNLV Thomas and Mack welcomes the National Finals Rodeo (12/3-12)
  
• Golden Nugget's line-up includes Big & Rich (12/4); Trace Adkins (12/5); and Terri Clark (12/6)
  
• Reba, Brooks & Dunn will perform at Caesars Palace (12/4), as will Bill O'Reilly and Dennis Miller on (12/5)
  
• Sam Hunt takes center stage at The Chelsea at Cosmo (12/4)
  
• Rodney Carrington takes over the David Copperfield Theater at MGM Grand (12/3-12)
  
• Nashville Unplugged relocates to the Brooklyn Bowl (12/5)
  
• Funnyman Bill Engvall is at Treasure Island (12/4)
  
• Hard Rock features Little Big Town (12/4) and "Mercedes in the Morning's Not-So-Silent Night" with Rob Thomas and Adam Lambert (12/5), with South of Graceland: The Ultimate Country Music Tailgate Party in Vinyl (12/5)
  
• Josh Turner's at the Orleans (12/4-5)
  
• Trick Pony performs at Suncoast (12/5)
  
• Downtown it's the monthly First Friday arts-and-culture experience (12/4)
  
• Smith Center welcomes Steve Solomon's, My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm Home for the Holidays (12/2-6), with performances by Clint Holmes, too (12/3-6)
  
• For something else "non-Country," Andrea Bocelli is in the spotlight at the MGM Garden Arena (12/5)
  
• Muse bring their Drones World Tour to the Mandalay Bay Events Center (12/6)
  
• And Red Rock hosts the 12th Annual Toys for Tickets All-Star Jam (12/6)

Michael's, the gourmet restaurant at South Point, transplanted from its original home at Barbary Coast, is the only Las Vegas restaurant to have made the2015 "100 Best Restaurants in America" list, as picked by verified guests who posted reviews on OpenTable.com.

Michael Flatley's Irish-dance phenomenon, which has been through a number of incarnations over the year and enjoyed residencies in Las Vegas at New York-New York, Venetian and, very briefly, in what's now the Saxe Theater, is to return to Sin City as the final stop on the show's U.S. tour. On March 17, 2016 (St. Patrick's Day), Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, will perform at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, with tickets, which go on sale Monday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. PT, starting at $49.95.

We've already described how Golden Steer has a month-long celebration of Frank Sinatra underway to mark the singer's 100th birthday anniversary Dec. 12, but a couple of other original surviving classic old-school Italian eateries shouldn't be forgotten, either. Casa di Amore on W. Tropicana has live music nightly (the restaurant is closed Tuesdays) and the revolving roster of house musicians all perform Rat Pack-era classics. In addition, Pia Zadora, who formerly toured with Sinatra, will be paying tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes by incorporating a medley of his classics into her "Pia's Place" repertoire at Piero's Italian Cuisine commencing Dec. 9 (the show performs Fri/Sat at 9 p.m.)

As long rumored, Rock of Ages, the '80s rock-anthem vehicle currently performing at Venetian, will end its run there Jan. 3 and relocate to Rio's Crown Theater venue, which will be renamed for the show when it opens Jan. 25 and has been vacant since The Duck Commander musical folded. Ticket prices for Rock of Ages in its new home, where it will play nightly at 7:30 p.m., have yet to be announced but they go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m., so all will be revealed then.

"America's Got Talent" winner and (now) veteran Vegas performer Michael Grimm will perform two FREE gigs, one tonight from 8-11 p.m., and again on Dec. 9, in House of Blues' Crossroads.

At 3.78 million, October saw the highest monthly Las Vegas visitation in history, up 5.6 percent on the same month last year. Average daily room rates were also up, although gaming revenue dipped (see earlier post).

The wait is almost over for those eagerly awaiting the arrival of the signature green prawns and hand-pulled noodles: Mr Chow will open at Caesars Palace for walk-in customers only on Tuesday, Dec. 15, but is now accepting reservations for tables from 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 The most anticipated restaurant opening of 2015, MR CHOW at Caesars Palace is now accepting reservations, the first being Saturday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. The internationally renowned restaurant will open its doors to guests on Tuesday, Dec. 15, accepting only walk-ins.

Rí Rá Las Vegas, the Irish pub located inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, has joined the rarefied ranks of Bellagio's Petrossian Lounge, Mandarin Oriental's Tea Lounge, and Veranda at Four Seasons, by introducing the sacred British ritual of Afternoon Tea. Served daily during the distinctly non-traditional hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., for $22 enjoy a choice of teas with a selection of light afternoon snacks, sweet and savory, including a variety of finger sandwiches (Ed: We note that "cucumber" is not listed among the choice of fillings - is this a deliberate snub to the Queen?!), a brace of fruit scones served with the de riguer accompaniments of clotted cream and homemade preserves, and four mini-desserts (napoleons, fruit tartlets, choc-dipped macaroons, and so on). A mini (tea-and-scone, singular) version of the repast is available for $8, or you can upgrade to the "Champagne" version, which comes with a glass of bubbly, for $30.

First the downer, which is that commencing 2016, there will be no more Senior Mondays at Gold Coast. In other news, sometime in the spring, the Tropicana will join new owner Penn National's Marquee Rewards, the same player-loyalty program already in place at M Resort. Thanks to the two properties now being under the same ownership, there's a new free shuttle service between the two casinos (click for a printable schedule); previously, M Resort's Strip shuttle service operated between the casino and Fashion Show Mall.

For more updates, tips, and tidbits for locals and low rollers, check out Jean Scott's "December Casino Promotions," just posted at Frugal Vegas). And listen up, faithful "frugal" followers: You can vote for the "Queen of Comps" in our brand new Reader Poll!)

In recent years, when a Recession-stricken Las Vegas was striving desperately for new appeal and any hitherto untapped demographics to which it might market, one notable fad was a sudden proliferation in the number of hotels (and other venues) claiming to be "pet-friendly". But how pet-friendly really is Sin City? How often does "pet" actually mean "dog" -- and only select sizes and breeds of dog, at that? Does "friendly" more accurately translate to "will involve a massive surcharge for you and a crate for your furry friend?" Help us get to the bottom of this by sharing your experiences in this Reader Poll before it expires - POOF! - at midnight.

Now through Jan. 7, 2016, Wayne Newton is offering Las Vegas residents a buy one, get one for half-off deal on the basic Gold Tour package (reg. price $35) at his Casa de Shenandoah estate, which finally opened as a paid attraction earlier this year. Children 12 and younger (normally half-price) will receive free entry. Must present valid Nevada I.D.

Commencing Wednesday, Dec. 2, The LINQ Promenade will once again transform into the official NASCAR Fan HQ during Champion’s Week, which runs through Dec. 4. There will be cars to view, driver Q&A sessions, photo ops with the Sprint Cup Series Trophy, and Challenger 16 merchandise for sale inside the neighboring Flamingo hotel. Visit the official website for a schedule of events.

"As players, we always want MORE. You could give us a 105% game with a 2% slot club and a 3% comp rate and we'd still be asking for senior discounts and be REALLY ticked that we have to pay a $12 daily resort fee," writes video poker expert Bob Dancer in this week's . Taking issue with a fellow pro and recent guest on his weekly podcast, Gambling with an Edge, Dancer may raise some eyebrows with his sympathy for casinos and their desire to make money and exclude/discourage knowledgeable players, but if you've ever doubted the true existence of professional gamblers, as did a few respondents to our Reader Poll on the subject, then check out what Bob has to say. An interesting read as always, particularly in the context of all the current chat about "skill-based" games.