Category Archives: Entertainment

Black man frightens Steve Wynn, Part One

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Today, Wynn got into the act in the ongoing Big Bird charade. As Steve Sebelius points out, it’s meaningless posturing, nothing more. Life’s been good to Steve Wynn. How good? Well, if you or I talked like a crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | 27 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

“The modern DJ is like a secular priest. People are looking for him to send them a message. A lot of people don’t have anything positive going on in their life, so when they come out, they are literally saved … Continue reading →

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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 on USA Today’s best of the Strip

USA Today: The winners (Downtown edition)

Posted on October 6, 2012 by David McKee

Since S&G readers can’t view my big Las Vegas guides (unless you’re sitting at a computer in a Hilton-branded property at this very moment), I thought I’d share with you who made the cut. And the Downtown elect are … … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, George Maloof, Michael Gaughan, Riviera, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 2 Comments

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

Colony Capital and the Temple of Doom; Big Gaming’s come a long way, baby

Posted on September 25, 2012 by David McKee

Earlier today, I penned a 1.5-page Question of the Day on the recent past and dubious future of the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which I habitually type as “Las Vegas Hilton.” Even if one confines the narrative to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | Comments Off on Colony Capital and the Temple of Doom; Big Gaming’s come a long way, baby

USA Today at last! (Sorta)

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

Remember those USA Today travel guides whose writing put me hopelessly behind the S&G 8-ball? (Two hundred and thirty-five e-mails still unread!) Well, if you’re staying at a Hilton-branded property (soon to include much of Trump International), you can view … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

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

Western … sold?; Loveman takes a bath; Loving couples at the Flamingo

Posted on September 20, 2012 by David McKee

Update: The head of Tamares Group’s Vegas casino operations, Anthony Santo, has contacted S&G. He categorically denies that any sale of the Western has taken place. Well, “the Internets” are jumping today with the rumor that the defunct Western Hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Tourism | 6 Comments

Hicks is back; Sheldon Adelson, misery broker

Posted on September 19, 2012 by David McKee

Give Caesars Entertainment for making a good call this week. It’s inked a one-year residency deal with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to return to Bally’s, starting Oct. 17. Prices will still begin at a wallet-friendly $40/seat and, in light … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

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

“Zark-who”?

Posted on September 14, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve been wondering where the pre-opening buzz for Aria‘s new Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana, is … you’re not alone. I Get Paid for This author Rick Lax is puzzled by the strange, stealthy run-up to a show that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on “Zark-who”?

LVA to Earth, LVA to Earth … come in, Earth

Posted on September 13, 2012 by David McKee

S&G readers have been reporting difficulties accessing LasVegasAdvisor.com and/or seeing this column in more than a rudimentary HTML version. Is this a widespread phenomenon? We’ve certainly been having computer problems up the wazoo here at LVA HQ and I apologize … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

“Mob Attraction” inundated

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

… and not with customers unfortunately. Las Vegas is currently experiencing torrential downpours and flash flooding — including on the Strip. This suddenly closed the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ “Mob Attraction,” thanks to a wee bit of a design flaw. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 10, 2012 by David McKee

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c The 2012 People’s Party Congress of Charlotte – Youth Vote www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive Life is too short for watching political conventions and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Insufficiently “Awesome”

Posted on September 5, 2012 by David McKee

After seemingly endless previews (months of them, I believe), Sirc Michaels Productions has folded its second V Theater show, Awesome 80s Prom. Actually, to call it a “show” would be a misnomer. It was more of a semi-scripted “happening,” at … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Movies, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

The hottest ticket in Vegas

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

Seriously, you cannot get tickets to the Poor Richard’s Players production of David Mamet‘s November, starring Benjamin Loewy and directed by Lysander Abadia, for love or money. The pure brilliance of these viral videos surely has much to do with … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Entertainment, Maryland | Comments Off on The hottest ticket in Vegas

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

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

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