Category Archives: Current

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 27, 2012 by David McKee

“To me, the American Dream today seems like nothing more than sitting back and being entertained.” — Neil Armstrong (1930-2012), war hero, test pilot, astronaut and first man to set foot on the Moon, quoted in 2007. No less a … Continue reading →

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

“Eaten” by Las Vegas; Icahn’s hard bargain

Posted on August 24, 2012 by David McKee

Today is being spent at home, buried ‘neath page proofs for Eating Las Vegas 3.0 (with assistance from sibling kitties Leona and Rascal, the latter incredibly well-named). Tonight brings Tournament of Kings — which I’ve never seen — and Evil … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dining, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Living here can be hazardous to your health; “Summer Camp!” and Shakespeare in Sin City

Posted on August 23, 2012 by David McKee

We live in a fair city where a trip to the nearest Dairy Queen means being in mortal peril of being attacked with a whacking great sword. Also, you’ll get to learn more about Commercial Center than you probably want … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Living here can be hazardous to your health; “Summer Camp!” and Shakespeare in Sin City

Tilman Fertitta, Indian giver; Meet Charles S. Weinberg

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David McKee

When he took over the Golden Nugget and its Laughlin sibling, Landry’s Restaurants CEO Tilman Fertitta quickly developed a reputation among employees as a skinflint and micromanager. Whether or not the micromanagement has gone by the boards as Fertitta’s Nugget-branded … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David McKee

“I must have missed that lecture in school.” — Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) on senatorial aspirant Todd Akin‘s curious theories of reproduction. Dr. Heck, it should be noted is not only an M.D. but a battlefield surgeon who has tended … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, history | 1 Comment

Pure bull in Las Vegas

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David McKee

Other cities have major-league sports teams for distraction and entertainment. Las Vegas has Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins (D). The latter has been much in the headlines of late. First, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Collins was “was drinking and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Election, Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, TV | Comments Off on Pure bull in Las Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

It’s history in the (un)making: The fastest transition from winner to “loser” in the American epoch. Even Sheldon Adelson‘s associates at Crossroads GPS are getting the hell out of Dodge.

Posted in Current, Election, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 7 Comments

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

Journos muzzled in Sin City

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson couldn’t do it but Las Vegas Sun Publisher Brian Greenspun could. The hard-money-lending business in Las Vegas is a dodgy, high-risk one at the best of times and close scrutiny of it by Sun-related publications is especially touchy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, New York, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, TV | 4 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

A hard dose of truth

Posted on August 14, 2012 by David McKee

Every so often, when the economy fails to do their bidding, Wall Street analysts speak wistfully of “pent-up demand” among players. This unicorn-like phenomenon mostly romps in their collective imagination, although occasionally a gaming CEO or two falls into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Marketing, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Taylor Hicks: Vegas’ newest star?; Adelson hates on Vegas

Posted on August 14, 2012 by David McKee

Last  night being my wonderful wife’s birthday, I took her out to dinner and thence to Taylor Hicks at Bally’s, now in the 10th week of an eight-week run (and, no, that’s not a typo). Big ups to Caesars Entertainment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 3 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

Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

Hoping to join Evil Dead The Musical and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the progression of locally produced musicals to casino showrooms is Summer Camp! The Musical, which opens tonight at the Onyx Theatre, near what used to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off on Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

“You force me to talk about it. This should be a secret strategy to protect the nation.” — Cambodian despot, er, Prime Minister Hun Sen, huffily responding to opposition members of parliament who dared to question him (what sauce!) during … Continue reading →

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

Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

I always hate doing Nevada gaming numbers because A) it’s redundant with the coverage in the local dailies and B) almost every month you have to trot out the caveat that — as was the case in June — the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Mesquite, Movies, North Las Vegas, Reno, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 8, 2012 by David McKee

“A swift letter from [Sheldon] Adelson‘s lawyers produced an apology, and the removal of the offending [Democratic Congressional Committee] blogs. That made Adelson happy, according to a spokesman, who added, ‘More broadly, this should serve notice to those who would … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, history, Sheldon Adelson, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

“Surf”: What if they gave a Strip spectacular and nobody came?

Posted on August 8, 2012 by David McKee

You’ll have to pardon me today if I enjoy a victory lap, having beaten the dailies to the announcement of Surf The Musical‘s demise by a good 97 minutes.* (Suck that, Thomas F. Mitchell!) However, if you set store by … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Surf’s out

Posted on August 8, 2012 by David McKee

It’s all over for Surf The Musical. That’s the word coming from multiple, credible sources in Strip entertainment circles. Cast members allegedly just got their two-week notice for the bloated extravaganza that basically consisted of wall-to-wall Beach Boys songs, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Surf’s out