Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Ka-BOOM!

Posted on August 15, 2011 by David McKee

This just in: The race to become the first Strip hotel to be demolished without ever having opened has been won by … The Harmon. Details are sketchy but MGM Resorts International‘s decision will surprise few. Allegedly culpable Perini Building … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2011 by David McKee

“As a journalist writing about casinos [and] gaming at David McKee’s Stiffs [&] Georges, I’m sure you get a lot of questions from readers about how they can improve their poker games.” — uhhhh, no … I don’t, actually. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Internet gambling, TV | 1 Comment

The trailer was great but the movie tanked

Posted on August 14, 2011 by David McKee

All that’s missing is Megan Fox in a tank top. “OK, politics isn’t being devised for our entertainment — although given the dismal situation, finding the humor often seems the only way to get through the week.” — Paul Krugman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Iowa, Marketing | 1 Comment

Pain in the ACH

Posted on August 12, 2011 by David McKee

In the shrinking Atlantic City market, where most of the casinos are operating in the red, it was inevitable that one or two of the so-called “parasitic” ones would bite the dust. While the ex-Atlantic City Hilton (preposterously rebranded as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

Next stop, Wynncore?

Posted on August 12, 2011 by David McKee

I guess a casino hasn’t truly “arrived” until Carmen Electra graces an event on its premises. This time it’s Palazzo‘s turn, as Carmencita hosts something nightclub thing or other. Which reminds me that Electra performed at Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon … Continue reading →

Posted in Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Next stop, Wynncore?

Hilton: worse than it looks

Posted on August 12, 2011 by David McKee

In the cold light of day (i.e., Chris Sieroty‘s Review-Journal coverage), the situation at the Las Vegas Hilton appears still more dire … if such a thing is possible. Remember that roughly a third of the LVH is owned by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Colony craps out again

Posted on August 10, 2011 by David McKee

Gaming’s Mr. Magoo, the disaster-prone CEO of Colony Capital, Tom Barrack has done it again. The Las Vegas Hilton has defaulted on one of its loans (again), a too-familiar revelation where a Colony-owned property is concerned. Although it lost $1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Elvis & Eva have left the building

Posted on August 10, 2011 by David McKee

Two axes fell upon CityCenter in one day. It’s tough to decide which is more newsworthy. I’ll go with the Beso story because it has a not-so-hidden upside. Golden Nugget CEO Tilman Fertitta is feeling sufficiently bullish to plant his … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 1 Comment

Tourists behaving badly

Posted on August 10, 2011 by David McKee

While Navy SEALs are dying heroically in Afghanistan and putting Osama bin Laden on ice, one of their former colleagues has been trying to beat the rap for a rampage of random violence he conducted on the Las Vegas Strip. … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Environment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Tourists behaving badly

Debt: the final frontier

Posted on August 9, 2011 by David McKee

As a total addict of Space: 1999, I couldn’t let this pass without sharing it. To those not familiar with Gerry Anderson‘s highly idiosyncratic

Posted in Current, Economy, TV | 1 Comment

Thanks but no thanks

Posted on August 9, 2011 by David McKee

My birthday coincides with “Free Ride” day on the Desperado at Primm Valley Resorts. From 12:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., on August 16, you can be terrorized to your heart’s content. And terrifying it is: My wife and I tried … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Tourism | Comments Off on Thanks but no thanks

Spinmeister Santo

Posted on August 8, 2011 by David McKee

Remember how the Union Plaza used to be on track for a “grand soft reopening” (love that phrase!) on August 24? Somewhere along the way, that target date fell by the wayside. Solution? Generate a blizzard of stories like this … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Carl Icahn, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tamares Group, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on Spinmeister Santo

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 7, 2011 by David McKee

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Posted in Harry Reid | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boob job

Posted on August 5, 2011 by David McKee

Bankrupt, 38-year-old Hooters Hotel got a two-month reprieve yesterday, as owners obtained a judge’s permission to keep spending creditors’ monies to keep the place open for an additional two months. That will at least give employees time to update their … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Hooters, IGT, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 7 Comments

A different Vegas

Posted on August 5, 2011 by David McKee

If you’re coming to Las Vegas and wish to see how it’s experienced by those of us who live here, then check out the photographs of Angela Bellamy. Her “Pano Project” will be on display at the Charleston Heights Arts … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Tourism | Comments Off on A different Vegas

Kiss of death

Posted on August 5, 2011 by David McKee

All things must end. The forced exit of Jerry Lewis from the Muscular Dystrophy Association‘s annual telethon puts the penultimate nail in the coffin of an ancient Las Vegas institution. The telethon format is cumbersome and inefficient compared to emerging … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 5, 2011 by David McKee

“Put another way, in a month in which Washington intentionally concocted a crisis designed to foment uncertainty and paralysis, companies added about 38,500 jobs per week.” — Yahoo Finance Economics Editor Daniel Gross on yesterday’s job numbers and

Posted in Current, Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Casino Cacophony

Posted on August 4, 2011 by David McKee

As my growing freelance workload continues to limit my S&G time, I’m happy to yield the floor to University of South Carolina journalism professor — and frequent Vegas visitor — Augie Grant, who has another guest contribution to make. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Oscar™

Posted on August 4, 2011 by David McKee

Considering that Sheldon Adelson would try to trademark the rays of the sun, if only he dared, who can blame Oscar Goodman for getting into the franchising game? According to Tamares Group‘s media rep, Amy Maier, the ex-mayor doesn’t own … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing, Oscar Goodman, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group | Comments Off on Oscar™

New Blue Eyes

Posted on August 3, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas is rife with Frank Sinatra impersonators but construction worker Gary Russo is better than any I’ve heard. Sandy Hackett, sign this guy up, stat!

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Riviera | 3 Comments