Category Archives: Dining

Batten down the hatches!

Posted on August 27, 2012 by David McKee

Tropical Storm Isaac is charting a path across the Gulf of Mexico and, with aspirations to “hurricane” status, is on a collision course with New Orleans, the City That Couldn’t Catch a Break. So far, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Technology, TV | 2 Comments

“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

TV time!

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Whilst I’m tinkering with the third edition of Eating Las Vegas by John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini, here are a couple of recent episodes from Vegas Video Network. The first features Bally’s Las Vegas lounge singer — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on TV time!

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

Fire island; The Illinois creep

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

If you drove past Treasure Island this morning and saw a veritable armada of emergency vehicles jammed into an access road and spilling out on Spring Mountain Road, the good news is that things are under control. The bad news … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Monte Carlo fire, Phil Ruffin, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off on Fire island; The Illinois creep

Starship to Victorville … and sundry curiosities

Posted on July 11, 2012 by David McKee

No, I don’t know who Cobra Starship is but their “#1Nite” (yes, that’s how they spell it) is the sort of bubble-gum pop that ought to stick to the top of the charts. It’s another entry in that can’t-fail music-video … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on Starship to Victorville … and sundry curiosities

Last weekend at The Mirage; “Jersey Boys” rumble

Posted on July 9, 2012 by David McKee

It was bound to happen: Not one, not two, but four douchebags trying to get tables at The Mirage‘s Carnegie Deli wearing nothing more than swimming trunks and flip-flops. That’s taking “casual” just a mite far. What’s the over/under on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

The face of LVA; Local man curses electricity

Posted on June 28, 2012 by David McKee

Reports of return (by me) have been greatly exaggerated. After knocking off two travel guides, a feature story and a book review over the last week, I’m practically having to prop my eyes open with toothpicks. And then there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dining, Internet gambling, Pets, Steve Wynn, TV | 1 Comment

Atlas stumbled

Posted on June 7, 2012 by David McKee

Warren Buffett likes to say that we’ve already had class warfare in this country and his class won. Whilst laid up, recuperating from an ill-advised meal at Mizumi, I had reason to ponder this in connection with the recent stateside … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 7 Comments

Caesars: Total disrespect; Palms giving up the ghost

Posted on May 25, 2012 by David McKee

Here’s a chuckle as you head into the Memorial Day weekend: Horseshoe Bossier City‘s Riverdome was on the receiving end of an online diss from Kelly Clarkson. During her Stronger tour, the rocker evidently wasn’t too impressed with the sprung … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Louisiana, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments

SLS Las Vegas: Pretty pictures and propaganda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

To celebrate the first anniversary of his cold-blooded, premeditated murder of the Sahara, nightclub owner Sam Nazarian trotted out freshly hired casino boss Rob Oseland, along with some models (no, not of the runway ilk) and even a rendering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

People’s Republic of Steve; Sahara Sam’s big score

Posted on May 3, 2012 by David McKee

Although I was only joking when I suggested that Steve Wynn‘s long-sought Cotai Strip land grant would come in on May Day, some Communist Party bureaucrat wasn’t. After many false alarms, the 51 acres were finally ‘gazetted’ on May 1. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Get over it, Vegas; Fat City

Posted on April 27, 2012 by David McKee

Some local businessmen busted out the crying towels last weekend and threw themselves a pity party in the pages of the Los Angeles Times. Now, the wipeout of the Las Vegas economy is — or should be — old news … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Encore, Environment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Revel gets a rave review

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli took a jaunt down to Atlantic City to check out Revel, the biggest noise on the Boardwalk in almost a decade. He thought … well, let him tell it: “From the check in reception area, complete … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, New York, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 28, 2012 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy “Do not go and take that money and have fleet feet and go on vacation or go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City.” — Suze Orman, on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Andy Choy takes your questions

Posted on March 27, 2012 by David McKee

The music you play in the casino hasn’t changed for a very long time. It’s all sad, lost love, women complaining about bad, bad men, and very loud music. It makes me want to run out of the casino. Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, history, Marketing, Riviera, Technology, The Strip | 10 Comments

Faustian pacts at the Plaza

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Just minutes ago, John Katsilometes tweeted that Avant Garde has already closed. Wow! That may be an all-time record, unless you count Triumph: It Runs on Steam, which never officially opened at the Las Vegas Hilton, in another Colony … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Hooters, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

Putting the best and worst foot forward

Posted on March 13, 2012 by David McKee

After months of confidentiality agreements and other top-hush nonsense, it’s official: Fitzgeralds Casino Hotel in downtown Las Vegas will become the D. Now, I can’t think that — let alone type it — without recalling the Family Guy episode in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Derek Stevens, Dining, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Vegas gets its groove back; “Zarkana” comes to Aria

Posted on March 7, 2012 by David McKee

In terms of quantity, quality and proximity, the Los Angeles Times is the closest thing Las Vegas has to a major metropolitan daily. (Hell, the Sacramento Bee puts the Las Vegas Review-Journal to shame.) Indeed, the LAT treats Sin City … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, California, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Vegas gets its groove back; “Zarkana” comes to Aria

Gaughan expands empire … and sundry other Case Bets

Posted on March 7, 2012 by David McKee

Having already taken charge of the hotel operations of the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa (for historical purposes, best known as The Resort at Summerlin) last summer, Michael Gaughan Jr. will now extend his operational control to its … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Georgia, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off on Gaughan expands empire … and sundry other Case Bets