Question of the Day - 13 January 2006

Many thanks to everyone who took part in our 2005/06 "Best & Worst of Las Vegas" poll, to which we had a great response.

Topping the "Worst of" list, with almost 20% of the vote, was the closure of the Westward Ho, followed closely by general dismay at all the mergers and takeovers. Other dislikes and disappointments included the aggressiveness of the "smut-card peddlers" on the Strip, the "Sirens of TI" show, the proliferation of condominiums, the "cancerous spread" of 6:5 blackjack, the trend toward "theoretical" rating systems for video poker players, and the closure of the museum and cancellation of the "Airplay" show at the Tropicana.

"Best ofs" included lots of votes for the opening of Wynn and re-opening of the Monorail (although the latter was tempered by complaints about the recent price increase). Other thumbs-ups went to coinless machines, blackjack at the Plaza, the leveling off of real estate prices, the great stand-up comedy, penny slots, Avenue Q, all the new poker rooms, the Cannery ("best locals casino in town!"), the re-opening of Binion’s Ranch Steakhouse, the Neon Museum and Neonopolis, the completed construction on the I-15 "on the way home to Southern California," the 2006 Pocketbook of Values [thanks!], the Titanic exhibition at the Trop, and "my wedding!!!"

And here’s a selection of your wishes for 2006:

• "more 100% return video poker machines"
• "to see the monorail extended to the airport and downtown"
• "more discretionary comps"
• "lower rental car prices"
• "all casinos to have a non-smoking section"
• "for TI to bring back the original pirate battle"
• "an organized mass implosion of all the properties slated for demolition"
• "more competition and some new blood among the casinos"
• "that people would be in less of a hurry — the roads are a nightmare with people driving like maniacs to get to the next traffic light two seconds before you do"
• "less Hollywood celebs, who drive up prices and make the average visitor feel like a second-class citizen"
• "no more closing of older properties — keep the Stardust, please!"
• "better transportation throughout the city"
• "more options for the blue-collar family"
• "introduce more overpass walkways and moving sidewalks"
• "banish the porn solicitors from Las Vegas Blvd."

Thanks again for all the feedback. We’ll be running more reader polls periodically throughout the year.