Category Archives: Architecture

Black man frightens Steve Wynn, Part Two; MGM: Time to forget Harmon?

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

As Yahoo‘s Jeff Macke cuttingly puts it, he “found a real, live businessman who creates jobs,” thereby providing a Steve Wynn-to-sanity translation, courtesy of CIO Advisors‘ Hugh Johnson. If Wynn were truly being honest, he’d cut to the quick: He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, North Las Vegas, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

And Columbus makes three …

Posted on October 9, 2012 by David McKee

Fittingly, Penn National Gaming chose Columbus Day to open its newest casino, in the Ohio city that bears the name of the man who didn’t quite discover America in 1492. With 3,000 slots and 100 tables, it’s loaded for bear. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, M Resort, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

From the mailbag; Now for a word from our sponsor …

Posted on October 8, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Full sets of links are now available for the DIY version of my USA Today ‘best of Downtown’ and best of the Las Vegas Strip guides, below. Thank you for your patience. A reader in Arizona has run the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

USA Today’s best of the Strip

Posted on October 6, 2012 by David McKee

Pursuant to our last S&G dispatch, here are the USA Today choices for top attractions on the Strip (uniqueness and affordability being prime considerations). If you’re not staying at a Hilton property right now, you aren’t vouchsafed access to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Bacchanalia at Caesars; I’ll take the Mubarak Suite, please

Posted on September 28, 2012 by David McKee

Despite rampant neglect elsewhere on the Strip, Caesars Entertainment continues to take good care of its namesake, Caesars Palace. A Wednesday-night visit disclosed that myriad schlock retailers had been banished, as Jay Sarno‘s toga party tries to keep pace with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Yellowtail = douchetastic; Hyde & seek

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

If you’re ever tempted to envy those of us who must attend media events for restaurants: Don’t. They’re a chore — crowded, noisy and sprinkled with microbes of food that is usually grossly unrepresentative of the daily bill of fare. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments

What the fuQ?; A dubious honor

Posted on September 19, 2012 by David McKee

Word around here is that Caesars Entertainment did an in-house survey on potential re-names of Imperial Palace — soon to become “The Quad” — and promptly dumped the poll results in the nearest wastepaper basket. Se non e ver, e … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, International, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

One pig, slightly perfumed; Loveman’s fire sale

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Having waited too long and spent too much to ever get around to his long-rumored teardown of the Imperial Palace, the CEO/CFO/COB and prexy of Caesars Entertainment, one Gary Loveman, now finds himself perfuming a pig. Despite having more brand … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Non-quote of the day; After Harmon, what next?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

As Hurricane Isaac forced the closure of 18 casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi (including the Silver Slipper [left]) and casino-expansion measures in Illinois and Michigan came to a head, what story did the American Gaming Association deem its highest priority today? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Slot routes, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off

No longer “Crazy” after all these years

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in Crazy Horse Paris. After an honorable, 11-year run at MGM Grand, it’s ringing down the curtain for the last time on Oct. 1. No plans for the space have been announced beyond “a surprise new joint … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Speed: The Ride … found!; Dueling Ferris wheels and Caesars’ wonderful life

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Remember all those rumors that had the Sahara‘s now-vanished Speed: The Ride packed up and headed for Circus Circus? Not so! The good folks and inquiring minds at VegasChatter.com were sussing out some dormant South Strip developments and discovered … … … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Racinos, Rhode Island, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Clarkson 1, Cosmopolitan 0; ‘High Roller’ kaput?

Posted on August 16, 2012 by David McKee

On the one hand, I applaud The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for setting itself apart from the pack by centering much of its appeal upon leading-edge musical acts (like Adele and Florence + The Machine [twice!]). However, it makes Deutsche … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip | 5 Comments

Atlantic City: Revel debuts disappointingly, Mohegan Sun moves in

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

OK, let’s take a deep breath and remind ourselves that one swallow doesn’t make a spring and one month doesn’t determine history’s verdict on a casino, but there’s only a single word for $2.4 billion Revel‘s first full month of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Harrah's, history, Pennsylvania, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Your father’s Las Vegas

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

When liberated from his helicopter (he’s on the traffic beat) KSNV-TV‘s Tom Hawley endeavors to educate early-rising Las Vegans on Sin City’s past. Here he takes a look at the lasting influences of architects Martin Stern Jr. and Homer Rissman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, MGM Mirage, TV | 1 Comment

Ch-ch-ch-changes at the Riv

Posted on August 4, 2012 by David McKee

CEO Andy Choy‘s makeover of the Riviera may be slowed by skepticism in the bond market but it keeps moving ahead. My Desert Companion profile of the Strip dowager has made print and, despite the long lead time, we were … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Good news for online gambling? Bad news for Rio

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

• Anti-gambling prick Rep. Steve King (R-IA) may find himself under investigation. Unfortunately, he’s not being investigated for being an anti-gambling prick. But it might remove one more obstacle to online poker. • The online-gambling world wet its panties last … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

For sale: One casino marquee, slightly used

Posted on July 22, 2012 by David McKee

It looks like the new owner of Fitzgeralds/The D is a little hard up for cash. Rather than donate the Fitzgeralds marquee to the Neon Museum, he’s liquidating the big display on eBay — and for a mere $25,000. At 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, history | 2 Comments

Watch your back, Steve!

Posted on June 6, 2012 by David McKee

Wouldn’t you love to know what was in Steve Wynn‘s most recent pre-nup now that his wife is referring to herself as “Owner” of Wynn Resorts — as our colleague Chuck Monster recently discovered? Andrea Wynn may have a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, Morgans Hotel Group, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars in Boston

Posted on June 6, 2012 by David McKee

Oh, that Gary Loveman is hilarious! Sorry, folks, I had to stop that video so I could have a laugh when he boasted, “Caesars [Entertainment] stands for the ultimate in destination luxury resorts?” Since when? A bunch of forward-looking fellas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Holy Toledo!; D-Day in Massachusetts

Posted on May 29, 2012 by David McKee

Citizens of Toledo put on their best wife-beater and queued up for opening day at Penn National Gaming‘s brand-new Hollywood Casino Toledo. Sure, Revel had Beyoncé but H’wood Toledo had … Jamie Farr (plus ABBA impersonators). So there, Atlantic City! … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Tribal | 4 Comments