What was the out come of the hidden safe in the walls of the now-closed and remodeled Bill's Casino in Lake Tahoe? I read the owner had a bunch of people try to open it, but never heard what was in it, if anything?

I would like to take my daughter to Vegas for her first time, and want to pick a nice hotel with a great pool. Approximately when does "pool season" start?

Back in December of 2006, in response to a QOD, you gave the correct pronunciation for the names of a number of restaurants and shows, e.g., Mon Ami Gabi. It was very helpful. Would you please revisit this with some of the new names out there today, such as Jaleo, Comme Ca, Marche Bacchus, and N9NE?

My wife and have visited Las Vegas twice a year since 1998. And every time we visit there are increasingly more timeshare representatives present at the casinos. Do the casinos benefit from them being there? Is there anywhere that I can find a list of casinos that allow them in their establishments? I get so tired of being harassed by them when entering the hotel/casino that I have paid to stay at. I would love to book at one that doesn’t allow them.

Have always been puzzled by the casino/hotel ratings used on your casino list. Aliante, Bally’s, Cosmo, Harrah’s, and Sunset Station all are rated 4.5, yet Caesars Palace is rated at 1.5. Can you provide the criteria used for these ratings?

Will the comp dollar points at Bill's Gamblin' Hall be transferred to the Total Rewards card after Bill's reopens or will they disappear?

Do you have any information for this year's Chinese New Year of the Snake on whether and what casinos will be issuing commemorative CNY poker chips and when? We started our collection several years ago and have been using your column as a very helpful guide. When we inquired at the Palms last week, the cashier said she did not think the hotel was issuing chips this year because of some law prohibiting the sale of poker chips. We are hoping this is incorrect as they have been putting out one of the best collections. Thank you!

Any insight on what went so wrong at The Palms? They were riding so high through the 2000’s when they were being run by George Maloof. They started their claim to fame with the MTV "Real World" show. They had two hit nightclubs (Rain and Moon) plus the Playboy Club. They had the two fancy restaurants – one on the top of each tower plus Garduño’s on the casino floor. They had their own concert venue and world-class recording studio. And they had all of their fantasy suites – one with a bowling alley, one with a basketball court and of course the most expensive suite in all of Las Vegas – the $40,000-a-night, two-story, Hugh Hefner Playboy Suite. Now … it seems a shadow of it former self. Any chance it could make a comeback? Any lessons to be learned?

Whatever happened to that theater that was meant to be built in Fashion Show Mall? I seem to recall it was going to host some Cirque-type production and was supposed to have amazing sound. I think I read an announcement about it in the News or the newsletter, then never heard anything more.

Coming into town for the Super Bowl and we would like to watch the game at a party for just 49ers fans only. Are any party places specific to one of the teams playing?