Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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'Phantom' fans hit Vegas

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Heaven knows, there are conventions for soap operas, sitcoms and every iteration of science fiction (I’ve been to more than a few of the latter). But a fan convention for a Broadway show? That’s unheard of. Yesterday, fans of Phantom … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on 'Phantom' fans hit Vegas

The Apocalypse is nigh!

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Las Vegas to Nowhere, all aboard! Oh.My.God. Both Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) and I are in agreement on something: Sig Rogich‘s Choo-Choo to Nowhere blows donkeys and that maglev (aka, “The Sin City Express“) is the way to go. CityLife … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harry Reid, Louisiana, Politics, Technology | Comments Off on The Apocalypse is nigh!

Salvation for the Trop? Definitely!

Posted on September 16, 2009 by David McKee

From our Today's News pages: "As part of the fruits of its $125 million property-wide renovation, Tropicana Las Vegas today announced it's to open two new restaurants: Havana Go Go Cafe is a breakfast joint/cafe open daily at 7 a.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Dining, Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Salvation for the Trop? Definitely!

Can John Ensign disown his dad?

Posted on September 16, 2009 by David McKee

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) finally has achieved distinction within the Senate — albeit in a manner of which he’s surely never dreamt. Citizens for Ethics & Responsibility in Government* has named Johnny Casino to its Most Corrupt Members of Congress … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Illinois, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Can John Ensign disown his dad?

Blast from the Past

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Rock A Hoola, the freakish subject of this 1998 promotional film, is to be the topic of a forthcoming Question of the Day, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, enjoy this slide down Memory Lane: We drove past … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Tourism | Comments Off on Blast from the Past

Pod People

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Now that our linking capability is back, here is the Strip Podcast episode in which I pinch-hit for an absent co-host. The father of new sensation Elijah Johnson had trouble finding Steve Friess' studio and the show was already on … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Entertainment, George Maloof, Technology | Comments Off on Pod People

From the mailbag #5: Vegas Club, football, Atlantic CIty

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Reader herbop reports on the latest thrift move by Tamares Group: “While other Downtown hotels are installing in-room safes, and removing complaint-causing daily fees for same, the Vegas Club Hotel has pulled out the installed safes from its rooms. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, International, Sports, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on From the mailbag #5: Vegas Club, football, Atlantic CIty

Twitter, ergo sum

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

OK, so we still can't upload photos but we can sort of link, thanks to a workaround. In the meantime, Las Vegas Advisor is plentifully available on Twitter. We have … LVA_Tweet (1,791 followers). "This one aggregates [Question of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Twitter, ergo sum

Blimps on the radar

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

Dipping into the dispatch box, S&G finds the following tidbits, courtesy of the nice people at J.P. Morgan: Alex Yemenidjian is serious about revamping the Tropicana Las Vegas. He's just inked a contract with Bally Technologies for a player-tracking system … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, CityCenter, Detroit, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Blimps on the radar

From the mailbag #4: California, tech troubles & 'resort fees'

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

Reader Kerr Mudgeon is less than amused by a recent dig at the cuisine offered by Commerce Casino to California firefighters. He writes: "The firefighters can go to numerous other nearby eateries if they don't like the FREE meals offered … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on From the mailbag #4: California, tech troubles & 'resort fees'

A one-ton horse

Posted on September 9, 2009 by David McKee

If giant equestrian statuary isn't enough to make you pass up Las Vegas for a vacation in Chandler, Ariz., I don't know what will do the trick. Not impressed. One reader wasn't bowled over by Commerce Casino's largesse to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on A one-ton horse

Green $hoots?

Posted on September 8, 2009 by David McKee

There's nothing like the approach of 2010's Global Gaming Expo to make Las Vegas hoteliers rethink their rates. For instance, if you want to stay at that palace of pleasure and plushness, the Plaza downtown, it'll run you $55 a … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, G2E, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Green $hoots?

Optimism in Macao, euphoria at CityCenter

Posted on September 8, 2009 by David McKee

Relaxation of stringent visa restrictions from Guangdong Province came a full four months sooner than expected, starting Sept. 1. Now, residents will be able to visit Macao once a month instead of quarterly. While this has prompted J.P. Morgan to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, Indiana, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Optimism in Macao, euphoria at CityCenter

'Peepshow''s little Hitler problem

Posted on September 8, 2009 by David McKee

Congratulations (not!) to the producers of Peepshow, whose rent-a-headliner stratagem has finally blown up in their faces. They're replacing a Jew (Shoshana Bean) with a fan of the leadership abilities of — I kid you not — Adolf Hitler. Oh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Entertainment, International, Macau, Marketing, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Singapore, Technology | Comments Off on 'Peepshow''s little Hitler problem

Many thanks …

Posted on September 8, 2009 by David McKee

 … to everyone who wrote in and overwhelmed us with messages of condolence regarding the late Shadow. Time doesn't permit writing individual replies to each and every one of you, although you have touched my heart deeply. So thanks go … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Many thanks …

Shadow, 1993-2009

Posted on September 5, 2009 by David McKee

Jennifer & I just said goodbye to a faithful friend of 13 years, Shadow. A slim, sleek Norwegian Forest Cat, she came into my life on a fine autumn afternoon in 1996. I was still recovering from a broken engagement … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | Comments Off on Shadow, 1993-2009

From the mailbag #3

Posted on September 4, 2009 by David McKee

Reader Kerr_Mudgeon writes, re the case of a Columbia Sussex executive who was the victim of age discrimination: She was 67 years old, for gosh sake! She should have taken her token (socialist) Social Security checks and gone on (fascist) … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Entertainment, Movies, TV | Comments Off on From the mailbag #3

"Viva Elvis"

Posted on September 2, 2009 by David McKee

Yes, Viva Elvis will be the long-awaited, enshrouded-in-secrecy title of the Cirque du Soleil show scheduled to debut this December at CityCenter.* Wow, they must have had to really burn the midnight oil in Montreal to come up with that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on "Viva Elvis"

No more "free" play?; Sahara sleaze; Donny & Tina; Criss F. Angel

Posted on August 31, 2009 by David McKee

In a decision that could have wide-ranging implications, Foxwoods Casino Resort and Mohegan Sun have been ordered to count (and pay taxes on) “free play” coupons as though they were revenue. This isn’t a sock-it-to-the-players move like the one the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on No more "free" play?; Sahara sleaze; Donny & Tina; Criss F. Angel

The Yung & the heartless

Posted on August 31, 2009 by David McKee

Our good buddies at Columbia Sussex, who still maintain toeholds in the Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe markets, continue to make friends in time-honored fashion. For instance, with dicta like: “Fire the old lady in sales.” (A more detailed version … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Ohio | Comments Off on The Yung & the heartless