Category Archives: Downtown

A reader's suggestion

Posted on April 21, 2008 by David McKee

… and, no, it isn’t that I perform anatomical impossibilities on myself. Rather, one of LVA‘s faithful “Question of the Day” readers suggests we run a poll or forum topic (or maybe both) on niggling little subtractions from Vegas casino … Continue reading →

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Golden Gate update

Posted on April 9, 2008 by David McKee

Per a previous item about the Golden Gate‘s plan to remake itself as a boutique hotel, I wondered about the status of its Culinary Union contract. Not to worry: According to the union’s political director, Pilar Weiss, the two parties … Continue reading →

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The Westin scandal …

Posted on April 4, 2008 by David McKee

… is growing legs. No, not these kind of legs. (Well, that too.) It’s also unearthed another strange-but-true story of business as usual at Columbia Sussex. That $25/bedbug bounty at the Trop is unwontedly generous by ColSux standards — a … Continue reading →

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Hooters sagging

Posted on April 3, 2008 by David McKee

Yes, they’re drooping again at the mammary-themed hotel — revenues, that is. The recession continues to hit the bargain-niche properties first and hardest. The interesting info is buried toward the end, as potential buyer Richard Bosworth (who’s already put $3 … Continue reading →

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Monte Carlo: What the f…?

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

You know those fellows who set the Monte Carlo on fire? Well, it seems they were working under a window-washing permit. I kid you not. Tony Illia ran down this gem, which adds to the tragi-comedy of how Union Erectors … Continue reading →

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Need casino furniture, cheap?

Posted on March 13, 2008 by David McKee

When I visited Detroit, the official position of MGM Grand Detroit was that its vacated temporary casino (formerly an IRS building) could be re-activated as a casino, if MGM so chose. I guess they chose otherwise. Yes, this roulette table … Continue reading →

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Spitzer: It's the hypocrisy, stupid!

Posted on March 11, 2008 by David McKee

So New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer had sex with a prostitute. Yes, Mrs. Spitzer should brain him with an iron skillet, kick his philandering ass out of the house, divorce him … and that’s just for starters. But, as someone who favors … Continue reading →

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Billie: Odd Man Out; Tilman Fertitta Gets Miffed

Posted on March 11, 2008 by David McKee

For one month at least, you’ve got a reason to read Playboy for the articles (well, three if you count Kurt Vonnegut’s essay on the firebombing of Dresden and new fiction by Dog Soldiers author Robert Stone). Controversial former Seminole … Continue reading →

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Moulin Rouge project puts cart before horse

Posted on March 6, 2008 by David McKee

A group hoping to revive the long-faded glories of the Moulin Rouge hasn’t found construction financing. But no matter: They’ve signed a casino-management team; Epic Gaming, a company whose only other ongoing concern is a tribal casino in Oklahoma, with … Continue reading →

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MGM Grand to make a big splash

Posted on February 28, 2008 by David McKee

Our "ace in the hole" source has caught wind of a major expansion of the pool area and water features at MGM Grand, extending toward the Signature condos. The official verbiage is as follows: The plans depict a recreational area … Continue reading →

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New condo tower slated for Strip

Posted on February 18, 2008 by David McKee

Remember that second tower of Allure Condo Las Vegas that was supposed to be built, then was scrapped? It’s back … after a fashion. Developer Andrew Fonfa has consolidated the 2.3 acres where Allure Phase II was to have gone … Continue reading →

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Case Bets for St. Valentine's Day

Posted on February 14, 2008 by David McKee

Liz Benston crunches the numbers on the much-touted "40,000 new rooms" and finds only two-thirds that many. I mean, 26.6K hotel rooms isn't shabby but, if you threw the numbers together the way civic boosters do (mixing completed projects with … Continue reading →

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Bonus Case Bets: Tax rebate, Columbia Sussex, Gold Spike

Posted on February 4, 2008 by David McKee

Even the seraphic strains of Anton Bruckner‘s Seventh Symphony, as conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini are insufficient to quench my vexation at seeing the overmatched New England Patriots defense literally let victory (and mediocre QB Eli “My daddy don’t want me … Continue reading →

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No love for Landry's?

Posted on January 30, 2008 by David McKee

Any interest stirred up by CEO Tilman Fertitta‘s buyout offer for Landry’s Restaurants (owners of the Vegas and Laughlin Golden Nuggets) appears to be cooling. Given all the time and heavy investment Fertitta has put into the downtown Nugget, it … Continue reading →

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Quote of the week

Posted on January 30, 2008 by David McKee

 "We had to educate people that duct tape on the carpet was just not an acceptable standard." — new Binion's owner Terry Caudill, speaking of his tenure at the Four Queens

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That’s the spirit!

Posted on January 28, 2008 by David McKee

Let’s hand out a few kudos to people who are doing what one ex-felon would call A Good Thing: • Would you believe Binion’s Gambling Hall still hasn’t finished going coinless? That’s one of the things that’s predicted to change … Continue reading →

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