According to MoneyZine.com, a study 10 years ago found that Americans required an income of $75,000 to achieve the "income-happiness sweet spot." More money than that didn't earn more satisfaction. Ten years later, MoneyZine conducted its own poll of 1,200 Americans to determine how satisfied they are with what they do and earn. Now, the number is $100,000, with retail, customer service, and food service employees needing the most and "specialized professionals" needing the least. In Nevada, the sweet spot is just under $77,000, with 30 states higher and 19 lower. Nevada's is also the lowest compared to its five neighboring states: Utah ($137,500), California ($128,000), Idaho ($117,500), Oregon ($105,000), and Arizona ($105,000). New Hampshire is lowest ($42,000), preceded by Delaware ($49,000), Vermont ($56,000), Mississippi ($57,500), and Indiana ($58,000), while New York ($288,500) and Hawaii ($201,000) are highest.
In a score reminiscent of the NBA, the Las Vegas Aces avenged their last loss by beating the Dallas Wings at home yesterday 104-91. The Aces record improved to 23-2, with a seven-game winning streak (since their loss to Dallas on July 8), 12-0 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay, and 16 of their last 17 games. In yesterday's game, three Aces starters, A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum,
tied a WNBA record by each scoring 20 points in five straight games; only one other team has ever posted that stat.
Lady Gaga will play another 12 "Lady Gaga: Jazz & Piano" shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Billboard says it will be "stripped-down" version of her hits and selections from the Great American Songbook that she popularized with her dear friend Tony Bennett, to whom she gave a tribute in the announcement of the new residency. The dates are: Aug. 31; September 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28, and 30; and October 1, 4, and 5. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday at ticketmaster.com.
We're being facetious, of course; we know you can't store sleep in a shuteye savings account. But a study by AmeriSleep.com has determined the most sleep-deprived states in the country. Analyzing the average monthly volume for sleep-related searches per 100,000 residents in each state, the study gives an insight into Americans' sleep patterns. Nevada is the fifth most sleep-deprived state, with a search volume of 753 per 100,000 residents; only California (805), Maryland (770), New York (765), and Massachusetts (753) ranked higher. These compared to the national average of 699 searches for insomnia, sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, sleep disorders, and how to sleep. The least sleep deprived is Montana (480), preceded by South Dakota (487) and Idaho (515). And thanks to Canada Roy for uncovering this study.
In case you missed the discussion of it on last week's LVA YouTube Update, the Palms has extended its fabulous lobster buffet into a second night. It's been immensely popular, as evidenced by two- to three-hour wait times, since it launched last year on Wednesday nights. Thus, it's now available on Thursday nights as well, same hours (2-9 p.m.) and same price ($64.99). The prime rib and snow crab buffet is on Fridays (4-10 p.m., $42.99). Basic strategy to get in with the least amount of hassle is to treat the lobster buffet as a late lunch or early dinner, showing up between 1 and 1:15 to be part of the initial surge. Once you've paid and have your receipt, you don't have to wait on the line; you just show up at two when the room opens and even if you're last, you'll be in at ten after the hour.
In one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches in several years, Terence Crawford is a -165 favorite over Errol Spence in tonight’s championship fight. The total is 10.5 rounds, with over the favorite at -280.
Dustin Poirier is a -155 favorite over Justin Gaethje in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz are pick ’em.
Las Vegas is about to set a new high for the hottest July in recorded history; with three days to go, the average temperature for the month stands at 97.5 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, the hottest Julys prior to this year's are 2010 (96.2), 2018 (95.8), 2017 (95.7), and 2016 (95.4). Notice a pattern? Phoenix has weathered 29 days of temperatures above 110 degrees, crushing the old record of 19, and the low temperatures haven't dropped below 90 for 16, also a record. But relief is in sight. The summer monsoon has been building for a couple of weeks and it looks like it's about to arrive; rain is predicted for Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday's high predicted to be 99. The break in the heat, however, looks to be temporary at this point, with temperatures creeping back up to 110 next weekend and into the second week of August and absolutely no chance of rain.
The traffic nightmare caused by the repaving of the 3.8-mile Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit on the Strip and points east is showing light at the end of the bad dream. Race officials just announced the "final stage" of the project, which if all goes smoothly (pun intended) will be completed on or around October 6. Here's the schedule between Monday and then:
* Sands Avenue and the Strip July 31-August 4
* Strip August 7-11
* Strip and Harmon Avenue August 14-18
* Harmon August 21-25
* Around Sphere September 18-22
* Harmon and Koval and around the paddock 24-29
* Koval October 2-6
This week's YouTube video is fast-paced and jam-packed with interesting info. First up are all the known details about the fire atop Fontainebleau last weekend that, amazingly for such an ill-fated project, turned out to be a minor bump in the road. Then Anthony and Andrew discuss the mixed-use no-gambling development slated for the big property where the Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station used to be. Then they make a pit stop to talk about this year's WSOP Main Event winner, the first American to take the coveted bracelet (not to mention the $12.1 million) in five years. Big news about parking at Venetian-Palazzo and the Palms lobster and crab buffets, a review of last Friday's livestream, and Circa's policy of not only checking, but also scanning, IDs at the door round out the pre-Jackpot of the Week segment. The Jackpot itself is striking; a savvy video poker player stumbled on a machine that, pretty obviously, was miscalibrated to pay $1,000 on a dirty royal (that contains a wild card). You won't believe the edge on that one, of which the player took full advantage. Click and get your vicarious Vegas experience for the week.
To launch the Venetian's new theater, Voltaire Belle de Nuit, Australian pop star Kylie Minogue will do a residency there starting November 3. The 1,000-seat "modern-day art-deco" Belle de Nuit (Beauty of the Night) is described as a "pre-party, main event, and after-party rolled into one, themed for daring voyeurism." The 55-year-old five-foot-tall Minogue was an Aussie soap-opera star in the 1980s, then transitioned as a pop and dance singer. She's the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time (80 million albums), has been a judge on “The Voice UK” and “The Voice Australia,” and has won a Grammy, three Brit Awards, and 17 Aria Music Awards. Tickets go on sale August 9.
Yesterday, the Nevada Gaming Commission signed off on New York-based Dreamscape Companies, which has owned the Rio for the past four years, assuming operational control of the property starting in October. Dreamscape bought the Rio from Caesars in 2019, then leased it back; Caesars has been operating it ever since. Dreamscape is sinking $350 million into improving the property, which company President Eric Birnbaum admitted to the Commission is in desperate need of sprucing up. He said it will take roughly 18 months for the final product to be judged by customers. One thing's for sure now: The Carnival World Buffet, groundbreaking in its time and immensely popular, won't be coming back. Birnbaum said that people no longer want buffets, given the pandemic and fear of germs. “It would be very cool to reinstate the buffet, because I know the Rio was well regarded for that, but sadly, times are different and we need to adjust,” he told the Commission. Well, Mr. Birnbaum, have you tried to get into the Palms lobster buffet or South Point's Friday seafood buffet? Or even the miserable Circus Circus buffet at anytime? We'd have to respectfully disagree about what people, i.e., Las Vegas visitors, want these days. Furthermore, about Dreamscape's plans to replace the Carnival World with "an exceptional food hall," we suspect it won't be much different from Street Eats at Resorts World (ridiculously expensive) and Proper Eats at Aria and Block 16 at Cosmo (only a few choices per outlet). We'd love to see the Rio brought back to its former glory; it is, after all, just across the street from where we work. But so far, we're not getting our hopes up.
Forbes has issued its list of the richest 100 women in the United States and 5 live (or have residency) in southern Nevada. Peggy Cherng tops the list at number 10 with $3.1 billion; along with her husband Andrew, she founded Panda Express and they live full-time in Henderson. Elaine Wynn needs no introduction; she's second richest for Nevada, ranking 16 in the nation with $2.1 billion. Janice Bryant Howroyd is founder and CEO of the ActOne Group, the largest privately held, minority-woman-owned personnel company founded in the U.S. and the first African-American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company; Forbes places her at 42 with $600 million and lists her as living in Las Vegas. Celine Dion brings up the rear, so to speak, at 56th with $480 million. Conspicuous by her absence is Miriam Adelson.
It’s a weekend full of returning residencies so take your pick!
According to an annual study by Redfin, the online real-estate broker, Las Vegas is the number-one most popular city for homebuyers moving from one city to another. It was the first time Las Vegas topped the list. Redfin cited money as the prime motivator: The average single-family house costs half as much as in Los Angeles, "the most common origin for buyers moving to Las Vegas," at $412,000. Phoenix and Tampa placed second and third, with five of the top 10 most popular relocation destinations in Florida.
Swingers Crazy Golf, an adult miniature-golf chain, has announced a new 40,000-square-foot three-story venue that will open sometime next year at Mandalay Bay in the location of the shuttered Light nightclub. A story in Forbes provides the financing details: Swingers just closed on a $52 million loan to help develop the new destination, plus launch 15 more in the next three years. Swingers began as a pop-up in London that was supposed to last five months; 10 years later, it has two permanent locations each in London and Washington, D.C., and one in New York. In addition to five mini-golf courses, Swingers will offer "craft cocktails served by caddies, a variety of street food, a theatrical setting, and DJs playing music every night." Forbes calls it a "nightclub experience with an adults-only customer base."
Starting Saturday August 12, Casa Playa at the Wynn will serve a weekend brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This restaurant isn't exactly on our radar; it's possibly the most expensive Mexican restaurant in the known universe. For example, the guacamole appetizer is $18 (chips are probably extra), tomato soup $24, a shrimp entree $54, and barbacoa $225. Oh, and a side of rice and beans is $26. Anyhoo, the brunch buffet consists of an acai bowl, pancakes, empanadas, huevos rancheros, chiliquiles, shrimp ceviche, shrimp cocktail with striped bass, made-to-order tacos, and three desserts. The price -- are you sitting down? -- is $84.99 per person. You can also order off an aptly named "indulgences" menu: steak and eggs $74, large seafood platter $198, and 48-ounce tomahawk $250. See ya there!
The downtown skyline is becoming a little more crowded. A 32-story luxury-condo building, dubbed Cello Tower, has been announced for Symphony Park behind the Plaza across the railroad tracks. The six-acre development will include 240 condos, retail including a market, dining options, and office space. Construction of Cello is expected to around this time next year and is expected to be completed sometime in 2026. Symphony Park is developing rapidly; a couple of months ago, a 22-story 270-unit residential tower and a five-story apartment building broke ground there.
For the second time in a month, an airline passenger went home with a lot more money than arriving with after hitting a Wheel of Fortune jackpot for $1,286,324 in Terminal 3. The first was hit on June 27, also on a WoF machine, for $1.3 million in Terminal 1.
This morning's Las Vegas Review-Journal reports on a list compiled by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on whence the nearly 20 million visitors who arrive here by airplane come. In 2022, the most people flew in from the Los Angeles area: 1.8 million. Next was San Francisco (1.3 million), then the New York area (821,000), Chicago (756,000), and Dallas (723,000). Seattle, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, and San Diego rounded out the top 10. Statewide, California originated the most, 4.2 million, with Texas second (2.1 million) and Florida (1 million) far behind. Internationally, Toronto was first with nearly 200,000, then London (176,000), and Mexico City (170,000). Canada and Mexico constituted seven of the top 10 international cities, with Amsterdam ninth (51,000) and Frankfurt 10th (50,000).
It's long been known that Nevada is tough on marriages; plus, it's had some of the most liberal divorce laws for almost 100 years. According to a study by CNBC based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Census, Nevada places fourth for the shortest marriages in the nation at an average of 17.7 years. Washington, D.C., is first (10.5), followed by Alaska (16.8), Texas (17.6), and Utah at 5th (18). Utah is also the state where people get married the youngest (25.8), while Washington, D.C., is the oldest (just under 32). West Virginia has the longest marriages at 22.6 years, with Iowa, Michigan, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Montana all also over 22 years. (The survey didn't include statistics from California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico, which don't report divorces to the Census.)
VegeNation, the long-time vegetarian restaurant downtown a couple of blocks from Fremont Street, closed suddenly on Sunday. No reason was given, but presumably, after eight years in operation, it couldn't continue to make a go of it. The location was always tough for foot traffic. And the popular Texas-based Whataburger chain has announced that it will open a Las Vegas location this fall at City Center next to the Waldorf Astoria in the venue formerly occupied by Bobby's Burger Palace. The two-story restaurant will also house Parry's Pizzeria, another chain with 23 locations in the Southwest, and be open 24 hours a day every day except Christmas. The first Whataburger opened in Corpus Christi in 1950 and now has 950 locations in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and the South; Nevada will be its 15th state. Actually, several Whataburgers opened here starting in the 1970s, but slowly disappeared.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will headline another six shows at Caesars next year. The schedule is similar to this year's, when ol' Jer performed two shows each in April and June, with his last two shows scheduled for this weekend (tickets are still available). Next year, the dates will be April 12-13, then he'll skip to Aug. 9-10 and Sept. 6-7. Seinfeld started headlining Caesars in 2003, making him, according to the casino, "the longest-running superstar in Caesars' history."
The New York Post is reporting that it has in its possession a letter sent out to venues along the 3.8-mile Grand Prix race track by Liberty Media, the parent company of Formula1. According to the Post, F1 is demanding a licensing fee of $1,500 per person based on maximum occupancy; a 300-seat restaurant would have to pony up nearly a half-million dollars, regardless of how many patrons are in attendance during the race or have actual views of the circuit. If the venues don't pay up, race organizers are threatening to obstruct the views with barricades and light stanchions, even to the extent of aiming bright lights at the viewing areas of unlicensed venues, "ruining the race for their customers," the Post writes. No sources are identified, but as with everything else revolving around this race, it's easy to believe this latest money grab.
Yesterday, when a temperature of 110 was recorded at the airport at 2:40 p.m., it was the 10th day in a row with highs of 110 or higher. That tied the record set in 1962. Today, most forecasters are predicting 108 or 109; either way, it looks like it'll be close, but no cigar for the record books, given cloud cover and possible rain. Too bad; for the rest of the week, the highs are expected to top 110 again.
NuWu Tasting Room, the marijuana lounge at the Las Vegas Paiute's NuWu Dispensary just north of downtown, reopened on Friday as part of a whole new dispensary. The rebranded Sky High Lounge occupies 16,000 square feet of the spanking new building on the Paiute reservation, complete with three bars, two for pot and one for sots, plus a rooftop terrace overlooking Fremont Street and an interior courtyard that will host live music. Since the dispensary is on the reservation, it doesn't have to comply with local or state laws, which is how it's been able to operate a consumption lounge since 2019, while the lone mouse turns the treadwheel to provide power for the opening of the 40 other lounges approved in the state and opposed by the casino lobby. Actually, Clark County recently issued conditional licenses for two lounges; Thrive plans to open its 3,000-square-foot Smoke and Mirrors consumption room by November, while Planet 13's is slated for the first quarter of 2024.
Black smoke billowing from the top of the Fontainebleau tower yesterday could be seen all over the valley and reminded long-time residents of the epic blaze atop Stratosphere Tower while it was under construction in 1993. That three-alarm fire prompted the evacuation of Vegas World's 1,000 hotel rooms and, in the end, cost Bob Stupak control and ownership of Stratosphere. The Fontainebleau fire erupted around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday when, reportedly, construction debris caught fire, though why is unknown at this point. Nearly 100 firefighters responded and were able to take elevators to the roof of the 63-story building and use water from the building's fire pumps, which are operational according to code. It took 20 minutes to knock down the blaze and no one was injured.
Going into the final round of golf's Open Championship (British Open), Brian Harman is the -210 favorite. He’s followed by John Rahm at +650 and Cameron Young at +750. Note, this line was posted with the round in progress.
The annual Miss Hooters International beauty pageant, which has been held since 1997, will take place at Caesars Palace on August 3. Out of 18,000 Hooters Girls who work for one of the 400-plus Hooters restaurants around the world, 50 are selected to take the prestigious trip to Las Vegas; the winner of the main event, the swimsuit competition, takes home $30,000. There are also awards for Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic, and Miss Fan Favorite (you can vote for her on Facebook). We couldn't find anything that indicated the pageant is open to the public, but you can see all 50 finalists here.
Colin Jones, author of our book The 21st Century Card Counter and founder of the training program Blackjack Apprenticeship, has produced an exceptional 13-minute crash course on blackjack tournaments. As a bonus, our very own Anthony Curtis is the expert tutor, doing what he does best -- imparting his experience-based wisdom on a gambling subject that he knows inside and out. (You can also see some archival footage and photos of A.C. in his prime.) If you aspire to play in the Downtown Grand's popular mini-blackjack tournament or others that pop up from time to time, this is a great place to start. Who knows? You might even find yourself up against Anthony, able to use his own advice against him! Just a click away.
Actor Keanu Reeves (The Matrix and John Wick are his most famous franchises) is also the bass player for an on-again off-again rock band, Dogstar. To support Dogstar's first album in a couple of decades, Reeves and his two bandmates will launch a tour next month with 12 dates in the U.S. and one in Canada. The band starts out in Phoenix on August 11, then comes to Vegas on August 12 to appear at Brooklyn Bowl. Tickets are on sale now; general admission is a frugal $35 base; to stand up close to the stage will run you $285.
KTNV13 posted a Tweet with the only bird's-eye rendering we've seen of the exclusive Heineken House viewing and party area, right at the Formula 1 paddock area in the South Koval Zone (at Harmon Ave.). It's three stories of indoor-outdoor seating and looks like the views will be pretty spectacular, which they ought to be for $8,000 per ticket (minimum of two). Presumably, beer is included.
Famed horror rockers Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie will play a double billing at the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood on Saturday October 28 at 8 p.m. Alice is still touring incessantly at age 75; he says that as long as 79-year-old Mick Jagger can continue performing, he can too. Rob Zombie is a relative spring chicken at 58; his elaborate shock-rock shows are the perfect complement to Alice's in celebration of Halloween. Tickets for the "gruesome twosome" go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. PT.
Airports Council International (ACI) has posted its annual World Airport Traffic Dataset that ranks the world's top-20 busiest airports for passengers, freight, and "airport movements" (runways and taxiways). In 2022, Atlanta Hartfield-Jackson was once again the world's busiest for passengers (94 million), followed by Dallas Fort Worth (73.3 million), Denver (69.3 million) and Chicago O’Hare (68.3 million). Dubai was the only airport outside the U.S. in the top 5 (66.06 million). Las Vegas placed 12th with 52.7 million passengers, but in the movements category, it ranked fifth, displacing Dubai from the top five. Atlanta oversaw just under 725,000 takeoffs and landings, Vegas just over 581,000. U.S. airports occupied nine of the top-ten movements rankings, with Instanbul number 10 (426,000).
Collectible items from a high-roller professional gambler’s extensive collection of comped memorabilia over the past 30-past years will be available for purchase July 25–29 at the Assistance League Las Vegas Thrift Shop, 6446 W. Charleston Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale includes hats, shirts, jackets, programs, autographed items, photos, tickets, chip sets, glassware, golf gear, travel bags, and much more. It's all nice, never used!
Yesterday, Phoenix set a new high-temperature record for the day when the thermometer hit 119 and is setting a new record daily for the number of consecutive days at 110 or higher; today is 20 days and counting. Las Vegas, likewise, has experienced 110 or higher every day since last Friday and the streak is expected to continue through Sunday. The record is 10 consecutive days, set between June 17 and 26 in 1962; if the predictions for today (113), tomorrow (114), Saturday (116), and Sunday (113) stand, that record will be tied on Sunday. Monday's high is forecast for 109, then Tuesday and Wednesday 110 or above again.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are co-favorites to win golf's Open Championship (British Open) at +750. They’re followed by John Rahm at +1200 and defending champion Cameron Smith at +1600.
By last night's Powerball drawing, the jackpot had risen to $1.08 billion, the third largest Powerball prize ever and the sixth largest when Mega Millions jackpots are included. A very lucky lottery player beat the 1-in-292-million odds by buying a ticket in Los Angeles. The lump-sum payout will be $558.1 million, minus federal withholding taxes; California doesn't tax lottery jackpots (but the winner must be identified). The last time someone hit the Powerball jackpot was on April 19. The jackpot resets at $20 million, but the Mega Millions jackpot, last hit on April 18, stands at $720 million for tomorrow's drawing.
USA is the +150 favorite to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s followed by Spain at +450 and England at +550. The long shot is Philippines at +400000 (4,000-1). The first game for USA is Friday against Vietnam.
The traffic situation only worsens in Las Vegas and it’s no longer confined to specific areas. Almost everywhere you go, you run into coned-off sections that reduce major streets to two lanes. By far the worst, however, is the south end of the Strip, particularly trying to cross it heading east on Flamingo or Harmon. Hit this one wrong and it can take nearly an hour to get into the clear (this affects trips to the airport). Of course, the F1 race preparation is the main culprit. Best advice if you have to cross the Strip is to go farther out in either direction, e.g., Sahara on the north end and Tropicana, although there are other issues there, on the south.
For the first time in many years, it looks like the investigation into the unsolved murder of Tupac Shakur on East Flamingo a block from the Strip in September 1996 has gotten a break. Las Vegas Metro confirmed yesterday afternoon that a search warrant was served at a house in Henderson in connection with the case. No details, such as the location of the house, who was in it, and why it was targeted, have been revealed. Our book, The Killing of Tupac Shakur, tells what we believed to be the whole story. But maybe not. Stay tuned for more developments.
With no winning numbers sold for Powerball last night, the jackpot has hit $1 billion for the third time in its history. There have been 38 consecutive drawings since the last time someone lined up the six numbers; that happened on April 19 with a ticket sold in Macedonia, Ohio, for $252.6 million; the $80 million after-tax lump sum was claimed by an anonymous trust. The billion-dollar jackpot has a lump-sump payout of $516.8 million before taxes. It's the 7th-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history and, per force, the 7th-largest lump-sum payout. It's also only the third time Powerball has hit $1 billion. In Monday's drawing, eight players matched the first five numbers for $1 million payday.
Sometimes we wonder why we post a Vegas News item when the only reason seems to be that everyone else is making a big deal out of it. That's the case with MGM Resorts teaming up with Marriott International in a "historic [sic] long-term strategic licensing agreement.” If you're one of MGM's 40 million Rewards members or Marriott's 180 million Bonvoy members, you can now book your stay at 17 MGM properties on Marriott's platform using your Bonvoy points. The whole thing starts in October and for all the arcane details, check the respective loyalty sites.
Atlanta-based poker pro Daniel Weinman won the 2023 World Series of Poker Main Event yesterday on hand 164 at the final table, besting more than 10,000 players to take home the $12.1 million grand prize and the coveted Main Event bracelet. It was the shortest Day 10 in WSOP history: less than three hours. Arizona real estate investor Steven Jones finished second, winning $6.5 million, and Seattleite Adam Walton, whose largest previous tournament-poker cash was $238,000, went out in third, taking down $4 million. It was 35-year-old Weinman's 16th Main Event with only one previous cash; he was "on the fence" about playing this year after so many disappointments. In what PokerNews calls "one of the most pivotal suck-outs in poker history," Weinman was two cards away from being eliminated on Day 8 when he hit his two-outer and went on to win. He admitted that, though he believed he played well, he also "got incredibly lucky," which is also what it takes to win this thing.
According to the business website 24/7 Wall Street, Las Vegas has five of the most expensive steakhouses in the country. Taking the average cost of a three-course steak dinner for one (the least expensive steak with the average prices of an appetizer, side dish, and dessert, tax, tip, and beverages not included), Las Vegas boasts three of the top five most expensive, four of the top ten, and five of the top 25. Cut by Wolfgang Puck at Palazzo ranked number-one most expensive in the entire U.S. at $165, with the most expensive steak on the menu the Sanuki olive-fed Kagawa Prefecture wagyu ($360 for 6 ounces). SW Steakhouse at the Wynn came in fourth ($151, with a Hyōgo Prefecture Kobe A5 wagyu at $300 for 4 ounces) and Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria fifth ($140, with Hyōgo Kobe A5 wagyu at $201 for 3 ounces). Stripsteak at Mandalay Bay placed eighth ($127, with Kagoshima Prefecture A5 wagyu at $260 for 5 ounces). Craftsteak at MGM Grand placed 17th ($95), while Brooklyn's Peter Luger, whose Las Vegas outpost is expected to open at Caesars Palace someday, came in at seventh ($128).
They’re down to the final three players in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event and it’s anyone’s game. Steven Jones leads with 238 million, Daniel Weinman has 199 million, and Adam Walton has 165.5 million. All three are from the United States, meaning the U.S. will have its first winner since John Cynn in 2018. The champion will be decided today.
For a while there, it looked like Las Vegas might break the all-time high-temperature record yesterday. The prediction was for the thermometer to reach 118 at the airport in mid-afternoon, which would have set the record. It got hot, we can tell you that, but alas, "only" 116, which didn't even tie the record. We're now in for a "cooling" trend; high temps will be in the low hundred-teens for several days, with 115 predicted for Saturday. Compared to Death Valley, of course, we were made in the shade. The official thermometer rose to 128, though the unofficial digital display in Furnace Creek called it 133 at one point. The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 in Furnace Creek in 1913. It hadn't hit 130 for 107 years until 2020, then again in 2021.
With the NFL preseason starting in a few weeks and the regular season on September 7, fans are considering the cost of attending games.
A study by USBettingReport compared the stadium costs for a family of four (tickets, four soft drinks and two beers, four hot dogs, two game programs, parking, and two caps) over the 10-year period from 2012 to 2022 in order to determine the highest increases. Not surprisingly, considering that the Raiders moved from the miserable Oakland Coliseum to the brand new Allegiant Stadium during that time, the cost of a Raiders game increased the most, almost 100%, from $382 to $739. The Raiders were also the only team whose Fan Cost Index breached the $700 mark (in 2022). The San Francisco 49ers came close at $695, but they had the ninth-highest increase at 52.1%. The New York Giants' increase was the lowest at 6.2%, while the Fan Cost Index for only the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets decreased. Our question: Is this a preview of the price of Oakland A's tickets?
The 9-player final table for the World Series of Poker’s Main Event has been determined. Last year, there were 10 at the final table after the preceding session had to be called for excessive duration (16 hours) before getting down to nine, but there was no such problem this year. The chip leader is Adam Walton with 143.8 million. The other final-table occupants are Steven Jones (90.3 million), Daniel Weinman (81.7 million), Jan-Peter Jachtmann (74.6 million), Juan Maceiras (68.0 million), Rusian Prydryk (50.7 million), Dean Hutchison (41.7 million), Dan Holzner (31.9 million), and Toby Lewis (19.8 million). Three players are from the U.S., and one each from England, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Ukraine. Final-table play begins today.
Novak Djokovic is a -200 favorite over Carlos Alcaraz in today’s Wimbledon men's tennis final. Djokovic is seeking his 8th Wimbledon title and 24th Grand Slam championship. Alcaraz is playing for his second Grand Slam win.
Yesterday, we heard from a correspondent who heard from a "longtime reputable" source that paid parking is "coming down the pike soon" at Venetian-Palazzo. Obviously, that was a secondhand rumor, but actually, it didn't surprise us. It's been a year and a half since Apollo took over the management of Venelazzo (paying rent to VICI), so it's a not-unpredictable adjustment. Also, with Sphere opening in a couple of months on the property and the Grand Prix roaring by on both sides every November for a decade, the implementation of paid parking in the 10,000 or so spaces is hardly a stretch. Well, folks, it didn't take long for the official announcement to arrive: Today, several Las Vegas media outlets are reporting that Venetian-Palazzo-Venetian Expo will start charging for parking "later this summer," just in time for Sphere to open. No word on a grace period or the policy for locals, but as usual, Grazie Rewards Premier members and above can self-park for free and Elite members and will continue to get comped valet parking.
This is a big week in Vegas for basketball. All 30 NBA teams have been playing in the Summer League at Thomas and Mack, where Victor Wembanyama, the 19-year-old seven-foot-five number-one draft pick from France appeared in two games for his new team, the San Antonio Spurs. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver all but announced that Las Vegas would be selected as an expansion team in the next couple of years. The WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces steamrolled to a 19-2 record at the All-Star Break. And the All-Star Game will be played tomorrow in front of a sellout crowd at the Aces' home court, Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay. The skills competitions, including three-point shooting, take place today and the game starts tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., aired nationally on ABC.
Ons Jabeur is a -250 favorite over Marketa Vondrousova in today’s Wimbledon women's tennis final. Vondrousova is the first unseeded woman to make the finals since Billie Jean King in 1963. Both are seeking their first Grand Slam championship.
This week's LVA YouTube Weekly Update is the 100th show, so Anthony and Andrew reminisce about the early days, the various incarnations, and how far the effort has come since inception. Then they talk about open-mic night at Wise Guys that Andrew emcees, the rubbernecking situation with Sphere all lit up, the World Series of Poker, the best Vietnamese (one comes complete with a "phobot," another serves lobster pho), the Question of the Week about video poker at the casinos in downtown Henderson, and the Jackpot of the Week in which a local player hit Megabucks for $10.4 million at the Cannery. It's all right here with one twitch from your mouse finger.
Going into Day 8 of the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, only 15 players remain. Juan Maceiras Lapido is the chip leader with 108 million, followed by Adam Walton with 75 million and Jan-Peter Jachtmann with 71 million. Play resumes today at 2 pm to determine the nine final-table players.
The city of Las Vegas announced yesterday that the iconic Vegas Vic neon sign on Fremont Street has been brought back to life and re-illuminated after several months of deep dark for the urban cowboy. Las Vegas building-code enforcers had to contact the owner of the sign, a Denver-based real estate company, in April about the violation of the sign ordinance, but after lights were replaced and mechanical issues were resolved, the 70-odd-year-old sign is up to snuff.
For someone who has literally everything, including a Las Vegas Grand Prix hotel-ticket package, here's a fully operational miniature roulette wheel wristwatch, the Astronomia Casino. The sapphire crystal dome looks into the flying tourbillon's delicately decorated cage that encapsulates the balance and escape wheels, hairspring, 288-facet diamond, blue-lacquered magnesium counterweight ball, green, red, and black enamel with mahogany inlays, and constellation of superbly finished components from diamond-jeweler and timepiece-maker Jacob & Company. Best of all, it's a single-zero wheel, which definitely makes it worth the retail price of $620,000. You can see all the details, plus a video of this baby in action, here. Our frequent correspondent Canada Roy, who found the Astronomia and sent us the link, outdid himself this time and -- trust us on this -- that's really saying something.
Going into Day 7 of the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, 49 players remain. Joshua Payne is the chip leader with 48 million, followed by Juan Maceiras Lapido with 40.5 million and Daniel Weinman with 24.4 million. Illustrating how volatile this tournament is, yesterday’s chip leader, Zachary Hill, has been eliminated, as has HP author Tony Dunst. Estelle Cohuet from France was the Last Woman Standing, bowing out in 68th place. Play resumes today at noon.
Excitement is building over the opening of the Sphere, now being called the largest spherical building on Earth, which will arrive in a little more than 11 weeks (September 29). A lot of videos are appearing of the exterior light show, which debuted in all its glory on July 4, but this is the first video we've seen with what appear to be simulations of the show inside the arena. It's a 50-second narrated clip with subtitles that's worth a click and less than a minute of your time. Also, the Vegas discussion boards are noting that many non-Strip-view rooms can now be remarketed as Sphere-view rooms. They're not wrong, though if it comes to pass, the price of those rooms will almost surely go up.
Be careful this weekend with the temperature hitting 117 degrees! Clark County has opened cooling stations all over the region. Check out our friends Las Vegas Sun’s article for the complete list of locations and hours here: Clark County Cooling Stations List
Heading into Day 6 of the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, 149 players remain from the record starting field of 10,047. Zachary Hall is the chip leader with 16.3 million, followed by Bryan Obregon with 12.3 million and Liran Betito with 11.1 million. Tony Dunst, co-author of our books The Raiser’s Edge and Flop, Turn, River, is in 7th with 8.3 million. We’ll update the standings daily from this point forward.
Legendary rockers Cheap Trick will do one show in Las Vegas on the band's in-progress North American tour. Cheap Trick started out in Illinois in 1973 and two of the original members are still performing 50 years -- and more than 4,000 -- shows later. The band's big hit was "I Want You To Want Me," but they also had a number-one song, "The Flame." They'll appear in the Pearl Theater at the Palms on October 12, ending the tour in Reno on October 22. Tickets go on sale on Friday.
Middle Eastern food is a hot new trend in the Las Vegas culinary scene. Pita pockets, shawarma, falafel, hummus, kebobs, whole roasted cauliflower, and more have been arriving via the likes of Shalom Y'All (Proper Eats Food Hall at Aria), Mother Falafel (new kosher restaurant out on Rainbow Blvd.), Shawarma Vegas (two locations), halal restaurants (all over the place), and Miznon (Palazzo). Miznon (Hebrew for "Kiosk") is the casual-eatery chain from Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani (we liked it and reviewed it in the June issue of LVA) and the warm-up for Shani's Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant HaSalon ("The Living Room"), which opens adjacent to it at Palazzo on Saturday. The menu from the New York venue is different and tres chic, with such dishes as pasta with sardines ($38), vareniki (Russian dumplings, $39), chicken livers ($41), Caesar salad ("the best you've ever had" and it ought to be for $76), candied spatchcock poussin ($109), and Dover sole with truffles ($169.) We'll probably stick with Miznon, where our bill for brisket and minute-steak pitas, bag o' green beans, and whole cauliflower came to a not-unreasonable $60.
The National League is a -120 favorite over the American League in tonight's Major League Baseball All-Star game. The total is 7.5.
The Boring Company's two digging machines, Prufrock-1 and Prufrock-2, emerged from the dirt at Encore and Westgate yesterday in a coordinated effort that took 10 weeks from start to finish. By comparison, it took 10 weeks just to launch the first digger for the Las Vegas Convention Center tunnels completed two years ago. The milestone marks the second and third Las Vegas Loop casino connections; the tunnel between the Convention Center and Resorts World opened for passengers around a year ago.
The World Series of Poker has smashed the 17-year-old record by registering 10,043 entrants for the $10,000-buy-in Main Event. The previous record of 8,773 was set in 2006, the year Jamie Gold won the record grand prize of $12 million. This year's first-place finisher will take home $12.1 million, which will also be a record. Fifteen percent of entrants will be in the prize money, with second place receiving $6.5 million, third $4 million, and ninth $900,000; 1,507 of players will win at least $15,000. Final-table participants will be determined on Friday, with play resuming on Sunday and continuing through next Tuesday, when the winner will be braceleted.
Plans submitted to the North Las Vegas Planning Commission reveal a major development proposed for the vacant 73-acre combined site of the former Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho. The Hylo mixed-use commercial-residential-hotel-recreation development will incorporate the ice-skating rink and parking garage, all that's left of both hotel-casinos, and add up to 665 homes and multi-family housing, a sports field, two new ice-skating rinks (the old rink will be turned into a field house), outdoor-entertainment venue, a 150-room hotel, and restaurants, retail, car wash, and child-care center. The one thing Hylo won't have is a casino; the deed excludes any form of gambling. The plan has been initially approved, pending permission from the Federal Aviation Administration, since the site is next to the North Las Vegas Airport. Construction could begin early next year. No budget or timetable has been announced.
In today’s Home Run Derby, contested as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, Pete Alonso is the favorite at +300. He’s followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at +350 and Julio Rodriguez at +435. The long shot is Adley Rutchsman at +1600. Alonso has won two of the last three contests.
Though Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage has been closed for nearly a year after a succession of dolphin deaths, the remaining "dozen or so" large felines have been relocated to two sanctuaries, one in Oregon, the other in Texas. The Mirage made the announcement last week, but apparently, the cats were quietly moved over the past few months. As far as we know, no animals now reside at the Mirage.
The Member Rewards Online offer for the twofer buffet at South Point has been suspended, due to customer abuse (counterfeiting). We hate this kind of news, but it’s something we have to deal with, caused by a few selfish customers who ruin things for everyone else. SP has been very understanding and, as of now, the offer is suspended, not canceled. We’re looking into remedying the situation.
An excessive heat warning has been issued for Las Vegas for the next week, with temperatures rising steadily from 108 today to a possible 117 on Sunday, then 116 next Monday and 114 Tuesday, according to Weather Channel predictions. If it does hit 117 on Sunday, it will tie the all-time high-temperature record. Lows are expected in the mid-80s throughout the week, with no precipitation from the monsoon in sight. Typically, monsoon season starts in early July.
Here's a strange blast from the past. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement issued an "emergency" order on Friday, ending an old policy of cashing chips from the Playboy Casino in Atlantic City. Playboy opened its property in 1981, but was never approved to run the casino; Elsinore Corp., which owned the Four Queens in Las Vegas at the time, held the license. The Playboy name changed in 1984 to Atlantis after Playboy sold its interest to Elsinore and an $875,000 fund was set up for redeeming Playboy chips. The terms were that players could cash their chips until all the money ran out, with no expiration date; the fund was managed for nearly 40 years by the state Department of the Treasury. The state finally determined that the original players had long since redeemed their chips and those that were still being cashed were inherited or purchased on the secondary market. The fund "was never intended to be an open-ended invitation for subsequent acquirers of such chips to cash them in,” Gaming said in the statement announcing the "abrupt" end of the redemption program.
Delta Airlines has announced three new routes in and out of Reid International. The Sacramento connection will depart daily at 12:50 p.m., arriving at Sacramento at 2:12 p.m.; the inbound flight turns around at 3:00 p.m., arriving Las Vegas at 4:22 p.m. Daily roundtrips to and from Austin, Texas, will leave Las Vegas at 5 p.m., arriving in Austin at 9:41 p.m.; the return leg leaves Austin at 3 p.m., arriving at 4 p.m. Finally, flights to LaGuardia will leave Las Vegas at 11:55 a.m., arriving in New York at 8:30 p.m.; they leave New York at 8 a.m. and arrive in Las Vegas at 10:45 a.m. The New York route begins on September 9, the other two on October 9.
A slot player at the Chumash Casino, roughly 125 miles north of Los Angeles, hit a $520,000 jackpot in May. Tempted again by the largest progressive in the Chumash's history, he returned to see if he might get struck by lightning twice. Sure enough, he nailed the $1.3 million record breaker. He said that he was "surprised" (what, he wasn't used to it by then?) and he'll use the money to pay college tuition for his grandchildren and buy one granddaughter, who turns 16 in September, a new car.
Alexander Volkanovski is a -385 favorite over Yair Rodriguez in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Brandon Moreno is -200 over Alexandre Pantoja.
The guys get right into it in this week's LVA YouTube update, providing a peek at the top story in this month's Las Vegas Advisor: the annual July room-rate survey. Find out which hotel-casinos have rooms for less than $50 this month and even less than $20; we found one room for $12 base! Then A & A discuss the World Series of Poker, which this year broke the attendance record for the Main Event at more than 9,000 entrants. The previous record was 8,773 set way back in 2006. Several other records have fallen as well; tune in and find out which. From there, it's on to the title of this week's show: the end of the 99-cent shrimp cocktail era. The Question of the Week involves how long the Downtown Grand's mini-blackjack tournament lasts and there's a lot going on with the Jackpot of the Week. Click the arrow and enjoy!
Dita Von Teese, known as the International Queen of Burlesque, will launch a residency in the Jubilee Theater at the Horseshoe on October 5. According to the press release, Dita is a "lifelong aficionado of Jubilee!," the show that ran in its namesake theater for 37 years, and she'll "merge her signature burlesque acts with the Jubilee! aesthetic, incorporating some of the show’s original costumes and sets." The release goes on, Dita will "put to maximum effect its epoch-making hydraulic lifts, floating platforms and renowned passerelle. The iconic Jubilee! costumes will sparkle again under the klieg lights, as Dita and company conjure the verve of the Vegas showgirl in a re-imagined way as only she can." Breathless hype notwithstanding, it sounds interesting, a rare throwback to an earlier more innocent era in Las Vegas and you can get an idea of the costuming, at least, at this link. Tickets go on sale next Thursday at 10 a.m. PT.
A local Las Vegan who usually plays at the Gold Coast and Orleans thought he'd try his luck at the Cannery in the wee hours Friday morning. He fed a Megabucks machine with two $20s and was playing it off when he lined up the three jackpot symbols to win the $10,488,726 progressive. He said his only plans so far are to buy a house for his mother.
The odds of the Las Vegas Raiders missing the playoffs again this year are very good, at least according to the sports books. A quick survey by the Las Vegas Review-Journal makes the Raiders "a big favorite to miss the postseason," with a total of 7 to 7.5 wins for the season and money lines from -385 at Circa and -430 at Caesars up to -500 at Westgate. At Westgate's SuperBook, a bet on the Raiders to make the playoffs went off at +375.
Wolfgang Puck and two local partners opened 1228 Main downtown yesterday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The restaurant, on Main Street just south of Charleston in the Arts District, is described as a "neighborhood café by day and upscale restaurant and bar by night." It serves breakfast with a focus on baked goods; soup and salad, sandwiches, burgers, and a few hot entrees for lunch; and small and large plates for dinner. The onsite bakery produces all the breads, pastries, and desserts. The website menus don't list prices. Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Mondays. 1228 Main is Puck's eighth restaurant in Las Vegas.
A report by Redfin, the online real estate broker, pegs Las Vegas as the number-one city for a year-over-year drop in the number of single family houses for sale in June. The 48% decline in new listings led all 50 of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., beating out Phoenix (41%), Riverside, California (36%), Oakland, California (35%), and New Brunswick, New Jersey (34%). The declining inventory is attributed to a "return to normalcy" after the real estate boom following the pandemic, along with homeowners' reluctance to move and give up the low-interest mortgages they acquired in the recent past. Las Vegas also ranked second for the drop in asking prices at 7.6% year over year. Only Austin, Texas, had a higher relative decline in prices at nearly 10%.
The 10 finalists for this year's single spot in the coveted Poker Hall of Fame have been announced. The finalists are selected via a process that involves public nominations and a review Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council. Members of the Hall of Fame then vote to determine the inductee, who is announced and honored during the World Series of Poker Main Event, which began on July 3 and runs through the 18th. For induction, the player must have gone up against top competition and played for high stakes, gained the respect of peers, and be at least 40 years old; non-players are also eligible and they must have contributed to the overall growth and success of the game. This year's list includes Ted Forrest (six bracelets over a 30-year career), Jeremy Ausmus (six bracelets and 2012 Main Event fifth place), Bill Smith (1985 Main Event winner, died 1996), Isai Scheinberg (founder of PokerStars), Mike Matusow (known as "the Mouth, 62nd on all-time U.S. winners list, Josh Arieh (five bracelets, third in 2004 Main Event), Brian Rast (six bracelets, including this year's Poker Player's Championship), Kathy Liebert (one bacelet, member of Women in Poker Hall of Fame), Matt Savage (tournament director, poker broadcaster), Lon McEachren (known as "Voice of Poker" for WSOP Main Event play by play), and Norman Chad (player, sportswriter, syndicated columnist). The Poker Hall of Fame was created by Benny Binion in 1979; it lists 61 members, from Wild Bill Hickok to last year's inductee Layne Flack, and 31 are still alive.
Crockfords Las Vegas, the boutique 236-room hotel-within-a-hotel at Resorts World, has launched a private members club that looks to us to be the most exclusive clique in the Las Vegas firmament. So far, according to TravelandLeisure.com, invitations to join have been extended to 65 "CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, A-list celebrities, professional athletes, household names, and less publicly known influencers in their respective local circles." Benefits include complimentary airport transfers (often in a Rolls-Royce), curated food and beverage, butler service, private chefs, celebrity in-room hair stylists, exclusive performances by big-name entertainers, and access to other private clubs throughout the world via Crockfords' membership-services team. We haven't received our invitation yet and we're curious to know how much membership costs; the Travel & Leisure article didn't mention any numbers.
The NBA's annual 11-day Summer League begins tomorrow at the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, the multi-purpose indoor arena connected to the T&M where the UNLV women's basketball and volleyball teams plays. All 30 NBA teams are participating, with up to eight games per day. The major excitement surrounds tomorrow's San Antonio Spurs game against the Charlotte Hornets and the pro-basketball debut of Victor Wembanyama, the number-one overall draft pick this season. Wembanyama, the 19-year-old seven-foot-five French professional basketball player is considered the best NBA prospect since LeBron James and tickets for this game are not only sold out, but secondary-market prices are unprecedented, starting at around $150 for nosebleeds and rising to nearly $600 on the floor. Fans are flocking not only to see Wembanyama, however; the number-two draft pick, Brandon Miller, the 20-year-old six-nine star for Alabama selected by the Hornets, makes the game a marquee matchup.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place Thursday Nov. 21 through Saturday the 23 next year. Like this year's schedule, Nov. 16-18, in 2024 the event will happen again the weekend before Thanksgiving, which is on Thursday Nov. 28. With this announcement, it seems likely that the eight F1 races already contracted to take place on the Las Vegas Strip will be scheduled for those weekends.
After a two-hour delay due to a torrential rainstorm in New York, the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island went on, though it seemed to throw the contestants off a bit. To no one's surprise, perennial champ Joey Chestnut, a -5000 favorite, won his eight straight competition and 16th overall by downing 62 dogs in the 10 minutes, well under the over/under of 72.5, but 14 more than the second-place finisher. Miki Sudo managed to down 39 and a half dogs to win her ninth straight contest. According to The New York Times, your average bear can eat about eight hot dogs per minute, compared to Chestnut's 7.5. "But the bears usually tap out around six minutes, while Mr. Chestnut can scarf hot dogs for a solid 10 minutes straight."
Last night, coinciding with the fireworks displays at Caesars and around the valley, the Sphere lit up in all its 580,000-square-foot LED glory and for all the friction surrounding this venue over the years, it delivered as promised on time and we have to say, the display is mighty spectacular. We also got a kick out of the message: "Hello World." The three local TV stations taped the show and you can see three different perspectives. This one is the actual news coverage and lasts less than two minutes, but gives a good quick look at what this bad boy can do. This next one starts with the actual fireworks for a minute, then moves over to the Sphere for the other six minutes. The last one is 15 minutes and gives you the whole show. Definitely worth seeing. The Sphere opens on September 29.
The Hollywood Reporter has a comprehensive and in-depth article titled, "The Best Las Vegas Residencies in 2023: Coming Soon, Now Playing and Final Curtain Calls -- From Carrie Underwood to Bruno Mars, Here's Every Artist Worth Catching in Sin City This Year." Even if you're not coming to town or don't want to pay the freight to catch a residency, it's a great overview of all the superstar performers gracing stages this year in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
A really cool YouTube video takes you through the process of cleaning all the sheets, pillow cases, room and pool towels, washcloths, restaurant tablecloths, and more at the laundry facility for the MGM Grand. If you think washing and drying the laundry in your own world is laborious, watching this seven-minute video will give you at least a slight sense of independence today. Watch it here and thanks as usual to Canada Roy for passing along the link.
If you'd like to see Penn & Teller's CW hit TV show "Fool Us!,' it's been taped at the Rio August 3-17. The show is billed as "the country's biggest magic competition"; aspiring magicians try and fool P&T with their best tricks. Winners perform with the duo at their show at the Rio, which has just been renewed to run through the end of 2026. The show is taped in front of a live studio audience. Tickets are free and available here.
Joey Chestnut is the prohibitive -5000 favorite to win today's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The over/under for dogs downed is 72.5. Chestnut is seeking his 16th title.
The heat is ferocious (a high of 109 predicted), the traffic is frightful, and the prices of everything are sky high, but it's the 4th and upwards of 350,000 people are partying here like there's no 5th. Fireworks will be launched from various locations around the city starting at 9 p.m. (Las Vegas Ballpark, LV Motor Speedway, Cowabunga water park, Heritage Park in Henderson, and Lake Las Vegas), plus five casinos: Caesars Palace, M Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock, and the Plaza. Also, the exterior of Sphere will be fully lit up for the first time. The 580,000-square-foot fully programmable surface is the largest LED screen on Earth. All in all, it's an exciting night in Vegas.
The first ever NBA Con, a “family-friendly event that blends the interests of NBA players and fans,” will take place this weekend, July 7-9, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Several big names will be present, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, and Ray Allen, along with present-day stars Trae Young, Karl Anthony-Towns, and this year’s number-one draft pick, Victor Wembanyama. Tickets start at $60 per day and $30 for kids 12 and under.
The adult revue Exxcite: The Show has opened at the Rio. Playing in the Duomo Theater, the revue had been at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club for two years and is produced by Jennifer Romas, who also created Sexxy, which played for several years at Westgate. Romas’ shows are known for their sensuality and creative choreography, as well as being well priced. Tickets for Exxcite start at $39 base.
The ever-alert folks at VegasChanges.com, who continually wander the city taking photos of new stuff, posted one of a construction wall at the Flamingo with the sign, Havana 1957 Cuban Cuisine. This new restaurant is slated to open in the former Tropical Breeze Cafe. VegasChanges writes, "Havana 1957 Cuban Cuisine has five locations in Miami, Florida. It is owned by the Vida & Estilo Restaurant Group that currently operate three restaurants on the Strip: Café Americano at Caesars Palace and Paris Hotel & Casino and Mercato Della Pescheria in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian." From the website: "Inspired by Cuba in the 1950s [pre-Castro], our restaurants combine the flavors of authentic Cuban cuisine, classic Cuban music, and vintage memorabilia of Cuban nostalgia." The Miami menus list breakfasts, such as bacon and eggs and Cuban toast (like a French baguette) for $14 and shredded beef in criolla sauce and eggs ($19), sandwiches starting at $13 (the classic Cubano is $17.50), tomato-based ceviche ($19), burgers ($16-$18), and entrees from $18 for the grilled chicken cutlet up to $49 for a whole snapper. No timeline has been announced for opening, but according to the photo, it's coming soon.
In-depth coverage on RollingStone.com attempts to answer the question that's on plenty of minds as the grand opening of the Sphere arena in September approaches. The story goes into how the Sphere was conceived and scoffed at in the early days, the development of the all-new technology, U2's plans to launch the venue, and the Big Question: whether or not it will be successful. You can read the post here. (And thanks as always to Canada Roy for the link.)
Barely 24 hours after tying the all-time record for consecutive below-100 days, Las Vegas and environs are sweltering in sudden heat. From a high on Thursday of 97, yesterday reached 108 and the thermometer is expected to hit 111 today and 112 tomorrow. Laughlin's high tomorrow should be 118 and Death Valley hit 121 yesterday. Even Mt. Charleston will break the 90-degree mark. Lows aren't predicted to fall much below 90, the first excessive heat warning of the year is in effect through Monday evening, and cooling stations are open all over the city.
In the July issue of the Las Vegas Advisor, we write about a "mini-trend" of limited-availability buffets on specific days, usually Sundays. Another of these "spot buffets" is now available at Crossroads at Resorts World, the only fully plant-based restaurant on the Strip. This Sunday brunch is strictly vegan, featuring bagels and carrot lox, kelp caviar, and olive and pimento cream cheese; vegan "chicken" and waffles; "eggs" Benedict Florentine and Rosti potatoes; and vegan bacon and breakfast sausages. Other choices include overnight oats, strawberry parfaits, pancakes, stuffed French toast, and pasta, fruit, salad, and dessert stations. The brunch is $49 and will be available at least through the summer; if it does well, it will be extended.
The half-dead blight of Hawaiian Marketplace and the Cable Shops, along with a Travelodge, have been reduced to a major vacant lot on the south Strip in front of the Polo Towers timeshare highrise. Last year, the owner of the property, New York-based Gindi Capital, announced that the old retail centers would be replaced by a new retail center and now, the name and design have been revealed. BLVD will be three stories, with 700 feet of Strip frontage, 400,000 square feet of shopping, and a 110,000-square-foot dining and event rooftop. You can see the renderings, some pretty cool animation, and a web cam of the construction site here. No opening date has been announced, but we suspect the developers are shooting for November 2024 in time for the second-annual F1 race, which will pass right by.
The Westgate's pro-football SuperContest kicked off this morning at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $1,000, with up to seven entries allowed. Entries will be accepted up until 3 p.m. on September 9 and the contest will run from Sept. 6 through Jan. 7. The SuperContest returns 100% of entry fees with no takeout.
Typically, July temperatures don't fluctuate too widely, with normal highs between 103 and 105 and lows between 79 and 82. Record high temperatures, however, have risen all the way to 117 three times (in 1942, 2005, and 2012), hitting 116 ten times and 115 another ten. Record lows have dropped to 56 degrees twice (1937 and 1940) and 58 twice (1938 and 1940). Normally, nearly a half-inch of rain falls during the month (fifth-highest amount by month of the year), but it depends on the severity of the monsoon season.