My husband and I are looking at retirement in only 25 months. We will be in our mid 50s with a secure retirement. Las Vegas is one of our top two retirement choices. We've been visiting Vegas for 20 years and have visited in all seasons and have never been ones to stick to the Strip: We've always included hiking in the desert and visiting local attractions in our trips. Recently, we have even saved up errands so we could try local businesses (for example, getting an iPad fixed). Do you have any specific or "insider" advice for us? Do you have any facts and figures on how many retirees come to Las Vegas, only to find out they don't enjoy it and move away? Bottom line, is the local area conducive to aging comfortably, or are there "cons," other than the obvious, that we should be aware of?

Pawn Plaza is losing all their shops. I can only guess it's due to not enough foot traffic. Or do you know something we don't?

I was with visiting friends staying at Vdara and when walking through Aria noticed the big Buddha statue at the north valet entrance. There were coins left on the statue and pedestal, similar to those tossed in a fountain, but there were also a number of TITO vouchers for small amounts tucked into the arms and legs. I know coins left in fountains are usually donated to charity, but what happens with slot vouchers, in light of NRS 463.369 mandating all unclaimed vouchers escheat to the State of Nevada? Are all those well-intentioned folks leaving alms for Buddha, just giving their money to Nevada general fund, or is that money separated out?

When will Boyd Gaming take over Eastside Cannery? Will they rebrand it or just leave it as it is?

I heard that a few years ago during a big fight, the visitors (Brits?) drank the MGM dry of beer. Can that be true?

I live in Texas and get to Las Vegas several times a year, but not every week, which precludes me from playing in all the football contests you write about each year. In your write-ups you mention "proxy services" that will put picks in for you. Can you explain how they work and what they cost?

Yesterday, we examined some of the sustainable-energy practices implemented by Las Vegas Sands; in today's concluding installment, we take a look at how the competition -- big and small -- is keeping up with the Joneses, er, Adelsons.

I was at a conference at the Venetian recently when it was 110 degrees outside, yet very cold in the ballroom. How do these megaresorts manage the efficiency of their cooling systems?

What happened to the Duesenberg Collection at the Imperial Palace?

Today was the third time I've parked at an MGM hotel since they started charging (twice at MBay and today at Luxor). As a local, I scan my driver's license when I enter and again when I leave. At all but one of my trips, there have been women standing at the gate as I go through and the first time it happened, the woman actually took my license from me to scan it for me, which pissed me off because I thought she might run off with it -- she wore no uniform (looked like a hooker in fact) and didn't ask me first, although she was actually very polite and smiley, and did give the license back. Anyhow, who are these women and what are they getting out of this? Tips? Dates? Stolen identities?! Do they work for MGM?