Category Archives: Entertainment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David McKee

“With the recession, the gap between the rich and poor grows ever greater, and Las Vegas is a microcosm of that right in front of us. the gambling and waste in this town confounds me — within feet of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Steve Wynn, Las Vegas Vegan; Where the Boomer bux have gone

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David McKee

As he will tell anybody who listens, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn is not only a Las Vegan but a Las Vegas vegan. There’s no zealot like a convert and Wynn (the only casino boss to whom the term “genius” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

“Rat Pack” on the move?

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David McKee

Rumor has it that The Rat Pack is Back is going to pull up stakes from the Union Plaza and take root at The Rio, where it will follow Larry Marshak‘s ersatz Platters/Coasters/Marvellettes revue in the Crown Theater. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on “Rat Pack” on the move?

Actual celebrity to be sighted in Vegas

Posted on May 25, 2011 by David McKee

After scraping not just the bottom of the barrel but the underside of the barrel with the likes of Levi Johnston (evidently getting a famous person’s daughter knocked up makes you a celeb, in which case America has officially run … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Your moment of Carmen Electra; Don Barden, R.I.P.

Posted on May 24, 2011 by David McKee

It’s not purely gratuitous. Ms. Electra, late of MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris, has defected to Planet Hollywood. On June 4, she’ll participate in the inaugural performance at Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon. Hopefully it will be at least as exciting … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Dining, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 5 Comments

Young Turks at Lady Luck; Pokergeddon clips bill’s wings

Posted on May 24, 2011 by David McKee

Seth Schorr, son of Wynn Resorts COO Marc Schorr, has charged with the responsibility of bringing the Lady Luck Casino Hotel back from the dead. Schorr fils got started in the industry early (age 12, to be precise), spending his … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Herbst Gaming: new name, familiar faces

Posted on May 23, 2011 by David McKee

No, the company hasn’t been dissolved. But with the various Herbst boys having been run off — plus the negative brand equity created by their eponymous casino firm’s financial collapse — new ownership decided it’s time for a new moniker. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, history, IGT, Illinois, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 19, 2011 by David McKee

“Very little, I suppose.” — a friend’s response to the Riviera‘s Rich Little announcement, memories of Little’s sclerotic Golden Nugget gig (complete with a song in praise of Tilman Fertitta) fresh in our minds.

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Riviera, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sahara, 1952-2011

Posted on May 17, 2011 by David McKee

UNLV‘s David G. Schwartz pronounces the last rites for the Sahara, whose darkened hulk is Sam Nazarian‘s bequest to the Strip. Plans to strip the property of furnishings are a gloomy portent and SBE didn’t even wait for the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Economy, Entertainment, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sahara, The Strip | Comments Off on Sahara, 1952-2011

A tale of three casinos; Explosive night at Monte Carlo

Posted on May 16, 2011 by David McKee

But first … put this in the ‘Told Ya So’ File. The flim-flam man can now resume his fiduciary duties to Trump Entertainment Resorts and doing what he does best: Making delusional claims about his net worth. Three Vegas casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Morgans Hotel Group, Riviera, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 16, 2011 by David McKee

“Pippa [Middleton]—Kate’s sister—yes, she’s attractive, but can the world’s media pump the brakes a little? Half the cocktail waitresses in Las Vegas make her look like she fell off the back of a royal carriage, got run over by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, International, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

R.I.P., House of Lords; Boyd’s best asset; Poll party

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

My missus and I were going to make a farewell visit to the Sahara‘s charming fine-dining spot on Sunday. However, our reservation has been canceled because House of Lords will be closing a day early. The reason? They’re running out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments

Riviera goes on nostalgia kick

Posted on May 12, 2011 by David McKee

As the Sahara wheezes towards the grave Sam Nazarian dug for it and the Tropicana Las Vegas goes “South Beach” in a blaze of blinding white, the Riviera is left in sole possession of the “old school” niche on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Has Illinois finally bottomed out? Trop shakeup; Big markdown on Trump

Posted on May 6, 2011 by David McKee

Sorry to disappoint, but we won’t have the answer until June–August, three straight months with the same number of weekend days as last year. By that point we’ll know whether April‘s 2% increase was the beginning of a trend. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

A message from Steve Wynn

Posted on May 4, 2011 by David McKee

Our favorite casino mogul, Steve Wynn, reminds us that his is a “more restrained” and private form of procession to the pronubial altar, and should be treated with discretion by the media … Which reminds me that Daily Fiasco requested … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Encore, Entertainment, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 8 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 4, 2011 by David McKee

“They should have captured Bin Laden alive and made him continually go through airport security for the rest of his life.” — V Theatre hypnotist-in-residence Marc Savard, on his Facebook page.

Posted in Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trump™: asset or liability?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by David McKee

If you’d like to wager on Donald Trump‘s sham presidential “campaign” and you like long odds Paddy Power is the place for you. It’s taking action on the 2012 presidential race and Trump is now a 33-to-1 shot, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, history, International, Marketing, Movies, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Steve, Steve, what gives?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by David McKee

Dear Steve Wynn: No this really isn’t about that truly unfortunate (to put it gently) wedding video that Wynn Las Vegas put on YouTube last Monday. Although, as Hunter Hillegas posted on Twitter, “That video kinda freaks me out. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cretins, Donald Trump, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, history, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 4 Comments

Vegas’ highest-paid Elvis impersonator

Posted on May 2, 2011 by David McKee

Yes, it’s Steve Wynn. Although Wynn Las Vegas is claiming this video went viral over the weekend, I have a strong certainty that a certain F-bomb barrage across the street at Treasure Island racked up more views. Also, given some … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Movies, Pokergeddon, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Boyd exits Florida; Mixed messages from the Riv; The revenge of Adelson

Posted on May 2, 2011 by David McKee

Regardless of whether or not resort casinos are voted into law in Florida, one company that won’t be in the running is Boyd Gaming. The firm threw in the towel on the Miami market today. The Sunshine State “no longer … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment