Category Archives: Entertainment

For sale: One casino, slightly used; Golden showers in LV

Posted on July 26, 2011 by David McKee

Pity MGM Resorts International. It owns half of the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City and can’t give it away. Yup, as many feared, investor Leonard Green has slinked off into the tall grass, leaving MGM with 50% of Borgata it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Environment, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Bingo returns to the Strip

Posted on July 22, 2011 by David McKee

Although it was my (much younger) wife who got me into playing bingo, let’s face it: Bingo is the archetypal — some would say stereotypical — game of the AARP set. In its latest move to attract a value-oriented, nostalgic … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Bingo returns to the Strip

Warriors of The Cosmo

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

If you can’t get people to the art … bring Art to the people.

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Warriors of The Cosmo

“Family friendly Vegas” is back; Putting the “gone” in Longoria; A mess in Mississippi

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Actually, it never left, as any casual visit to the Strip will prove. But, strapped for a marketing position, Trump International is going for the wholesome niche with a vengeance. Stuck with a lemon, Trump marketing execs are making lemonade … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Not a quote today but something for our international readers. Rupert Murdoch‘s recent travails have lent new currency to this vintage Fry & Laurie skit … although Murdoch should only be so lucky as to resemble the future Dr. Gregory … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, International, TV | 1 Comment

Shoe-fondling on the Strip

Posted on July 11, 2011 by David McKee

A casino as gaudy and glittery (and busy, visually and otherwise) as The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas may not be the ideal context for appreciating the subtleties of fine art. However, this isn’t a museum-friendly kind of town, so perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Shoe-fondling on the Strip

Anthony Marnell III answers your questions

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Anonymous: What happened to the self-serve soda fountains? [They] actually became a Health Department issue. They’re very expensive to maintain and the public had basically worn them out. There were lots of problems with the syrup and things falling down … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, M Resort, Marketing, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

“What does a Las Vegas resident do on the Fourth of July? I’ll tell you what a Vegas visitor does: He goes out on the Strip to look for imaginary fireworks.” — a visiting S&G reader, disappointed by the lack … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

It was a dark and stormy night …

Posted on July 5, 2011 by David McKee

… when monsoon season arrived in Las Vegas on July 3, borne upon thunderstorms of exceptional. Caesars Palace had a fireworks display scheduled that evening and, at the appointed time, seemed to have nothing but a damp squib. However … … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Harrah's, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Heard on the Strip …

Posted on June 30, 2011 by David McKee

No formal announcement has been made but scuttlebutt has it that when the Union Plaza reopens downtown, it will have an unusual tenant for the showroom formerly occupied by The Rat Pack is Back! If true, it would mean that … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, George Maloof, Riviera, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

St. Regis … still stumped; Quid pro Qua

Posted on June 28, 2011 by David McKee

Last autumn, Las Vegas Sands COO Michael Leven floated the idea of capping its St. Regis failsino at its current five-story height, admitting that the skeleton was an “eyesore” along the Strip. The “Stump Regis” was the subject of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, California, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Three inflatable objects …

Posted on June 27, 2011 by David McKee

… at the Flamingo Las Vegas pool area, last Saturday. One is a beach ball and the other two belong to Absinthe headliner Angel Porrino. Thank you, Caesars Entertainment, for giving me nightmares. My wife thinks the bikini top is … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mississippi, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

Down Memory Lane

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks to reader Greg Askins for passing along this link to a witty BBC Four documentary, The Joy of Easy Listening. In this segment, the faux-mariachi sounds of Herb Alpert pave the highway to Las Vegas, where Sixties headliner Engelbert … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, history, Movies, Riviera, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Illinois: Optimism or suicide?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

It doesn’t matter to state Rep. Lou Lang (D, right) that Illinois‘ casino revenues are puny compared to those of neighboring Indiana or that St. Louis-area players are defecting in droves. He wants racinos and more casinos, by golly, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 16, 2011 by David McKee

“Recent events call for a special sticker on the July cover. Look for it on newsstands.” — Hugh Hefner (no introduction needed), on the epic fail of his engagement to three-generations-younger Crystal Harris. That July Playboy cover’s going to enter … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Kasich wins, Caesars caves

Posted on June 13, 2011 by David McKee

Why is this man smiling? Because Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and partner Caesars Entertainment just displayed all the backbone of a wet noodle, conceding to unspecified annual fee payments, so that they can get on with their Cleveland and … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

F-blew, Sahara solved

Posted on June 9, 2011 by David McKee

Hey, Carl Icahn and Sam Nazarian! Got an old casino — or maybe a new failsino — that needs demolition? Why settle for the few seconds’ thrill of an implosion? Bring Robosaurus to town, set up some bleachers, charge admission … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cloverfield monster, Entertainment, Florida, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Sahara, The Strip | 2 Comments

Life’s good …

Posted on June 8, 2011 by David McKee

… if you happen to be George Maloof and can hang out at Palms Place on Sunday with a bunch of Miss USA contestants. However, as for young lovelies like … … Miss Nevada, one Sarah Chapman, I’d advise staying … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Life’s good …

The ‘hot’ list that’s not; Grumpy old Fulton; A threat from Quinn

Posted on June 3, 2011 by David McKee

A sudden barrage of commissions has been getting between me and S&G. At the very least, I can get a few quick hits in before the weekend. For instance … Earth to Vegas.com … while I realize that Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Ruffin it; Atlantic City: up in smoke?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Nightclubs — we just didn’t fare well with them. There are so many nightclubs. Everyone’s got just one or two. Ours were just marginal.” That’s Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin‘s argument for repositioning the pirate place for a mid-market, middle-aged … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Kansas, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, New York, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment