We started going to Vegas in 1995. At that time there was a showgirl named Aki. It seemed at that time showgirls were very popular. If I remember right she even had her image painted on an airplane. What ever happened to her?

Are cameras still banned in the casinos?

I was just in Laughlin this last weekend and went into the River Palms. To my surprise the first floor was virtually empty. Did some one just purchase the casino? Or are they updating the casino? Or is their business just down? What’s going on?

What's the most expensive "room" one can rent in Las Vegas? When I worked for PSAV (the audio visual company at the Palms) we were always told the Palms had the most expensive - the two-story Hugh Hefner Sky Villa (with the overhang jacuzzi, inside elevator, and rotating bed with mirrors among other amenities). Only $30,000 a night. Is there anything even more expensive, at Caesars Palace, or Planet Hollywood, for example? If that was too much, the Palms had a slew of other specialty suites for just $10,000-$15,000 a night. Oh, one insight I can offer is the majority of the time we (PSAV) were aware of those room being rented, it was for corporate parties.

How do the room rates in the LVA stand against other sources of Las Vegas room-rate prices? Never miss the newsletter. Thank you for your work!

I visit Las Vegas often and I keep hearing about the great bread pudding that once was served at the Golden Nugget. The recipe is said to have been from Steve Wynn's mother. Any chance of getting that recipe? I have heard about this bread pudding from at least six Las Vegans.

I remember going to Las Vegas a few times years ago and it seemed there was always a strike going on at the Frontier. What was it all about and, with the Mob’s ties in Vegas, why was it allowed to last so long?

I'm hoping you can clarify something for me. I am a big fan of Las Vegas documentaries. Two of the documentaries I've seen seem to conflict with each other. One claims that baccarat didn't come to Las Vegas until Frank Sinatra brought it to the Sands in the early 1960s. Another shows early songstress Rose Marie claiming that Bugsy Siegel once gave her $10,000 to play baccarat at the Flamingo. How could Rose Marie have been playing baccarat in 1946 if it wasn't introduced for another 15 years? Any insight on this? When (and who) first brought baccarat to Las Vegas?

I used to love getting the Mega Dog at The Westward Ho. I was curious is there any other places offering such a huge hot dog? I have seen some tiny .99 foot longs but nothing compares to what the "HO" offered.

Part II of our Jay Sarno bio.