Dr. Loveman on the case; Death Ray designer stays mum

Confronted with an anemic patient — i.e., the Las Vegas Strip — attending physician Gary Loveman, Ph.D, has been prescribing a series of stimuli. (Possibly the only “economic stimulus” that all Americans can support.) Since customers are spending more selectively, first, Harrah’s Entertainment dangled the “Buffet of Buffets.” OK, so they didn’t do the initial math so well on that, had to raise prices and bungled the rollout. But it’s still one of the strongest bargain plays in town, especially when you consider the average price of on-Strip dining. The per-person price would barely cover the gratuity at someplace like Country Club Grill. Then, by eschewing odious “resort fees,” Harrah’s armed itself with a handy club for beating up on everyone else in town.

What Harrah’s appears to grasp better than its Strip competitors is that Vegas really has to pound the “value” message, especially at a time when fly-in tourism is flat and consumer caution exerting downward pressure on room rates and slot play. Its newest volley is what might be called “the buffet of shows”: a $99*, 48-hour ticket that gets you into most of Harrah’s entertainment lineup. (Somebody needs to tell the Las Vegas Weekly that Elton John is not a one of Harrah’s “biggest headliners” and hasn’t been for quite some time now. Not getting out much?)

Steve Friess has a thorough rundown of the offer, which is actually more like a 16-show package with a Matt Goss throw-in for weekend visitors. In theory, you could see as many as five performances in a single day. Starting with a 10:30 p.m. performance of Jubilee! would enable you to stretch the pass the farthest. Superb Motown tribute act Human Nature is the standout show (LVA members give it five stars) among those offered — partly because Donny & Marie, Barry Manilow, Penn & Teller and Cher all require a (clever) “up-sell.” After all, once you’ve dropped $99-$119 for a 17-show grab bag, it’s easy to rationalize one’s way to paying an extra $40 here and there to get into the marquee attractions. And even if you don’t, an entertainment buffet that includes Rita Rudner and George Wallace isn’t chopped liver.

(* — it’s $20 more if you’re not a Total Rewards member. Neat way to build up that customer database, huh?)

Riv -2. As the Riviera wends its way toward a new ownership structure, its entertainment offerings continue to drop like flies. You’ve got until the end of the month to attend Riviera Comedy Club or see Barbra & Frank: The Concert That Never Was. Both shows get high marks from LVA subscribers, so there’s another reason to brave the Riv’s increasing seediness in search of a good time. Earlier this week, Recycled Percussion bit the dust at MGM Grand, continuing the Green Monster’s struggle to find something, anything to fill Studio 54 during the “family hour.”

Blinded by the light. Having designed a building that generates a 133-degree hot spot at midday, “starchitect” Rafael Viñoly ain’t talkin’. The ultimate lesson of the Vdara Death Ray may be that it’s a big gamble to import architectural talent. Men like Joel Bergman and Paul Steelman have fallen into disfavor, associated as they are with the kitschy “themed” Vegas of the Nineties. However, they and Steve Wynn‘s architect-of-choice DeRuyter Butler have the benefit of extensive experience in the Vegas market — and climate. MGM Resorts International evidently was so bedazzled by its all-star architectural lineup that basic issues of functionality appear to have been trampled underfoot in the urge to Make A Major Statement.