Category Archives: Entertainment

Douchebags-R-Us

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

If you have a closetful of Ed Hardy apparel and fancy the lifestyle of a pimp, The Palms wants your business … Of course, ever since George Maloof introduced his garish Fantasy Suites, The Palms has been pushing the envelope … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Marketing, TV | 1 Comment

Scarlett, Princess of Wrath

Posted on December 4, 2009 by David McKee

As you read this, Rachel Jessee, aka Scarlett, Princess of Magic, former Riviera headliner, is reflecting upon some quality time spent in the Henderson Detention Center. In what may be the best story of 2009, Scarlett threw down on her … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Riviera | Comments Off on Scarlett, Princess of Wrath

Aria, Vdara discounting already

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

In its discussions with J.P. Morgan analysts, MGM Mirage has regularly been boasting that Aria’s room rates are running higher (very, very slightly higher) than Bellagio. Being a skeptical fellow by nature, my instinct was that Aria was being propped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Gossy-ed out; Peep-less Show; Phat Phantom

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

According to the latest issue of Las Vegas Advisor, bland-as-butter Palms headliner Matt Goss is not announced for any dates past Dec. 5. However, if Goss has Timberlaked his way across the lounge floor for the last time, S&G believes … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Gossy-ed out; Peep-less Show; Phat Phantom

We *are* Dubai

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“If anywhere is emblematic of the debt-fuelled extravagance of the past decade, it is surely [X], which strove to have the tallest, the biggest and the best of everything.” They’ve just got to be talking about Las Vegas, right? No, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

CityCenter Fever II

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

For those very few people who may never have heard of CityCenter, the basic exposition is laid out by Steve Friess. The Los Angeles Times goes heavy on the “urbanization” meme, although it strangely assigned its piece to a travel … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, TV | 2 Comments

Back in Vegas

Posted on November 30, 2009 by David McKee

Just returned from Chicago last night and so far I’m showing few ill-effects [knock wood] from the swine flu vaccine that was administered to me at O’Hare International Airport. (Can’t get one at my doctor’s office, can get one at … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Illinois, Pets, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

CityCenter dodges bullet

Posted on November 27, 2009 by David McKee

Morton Grove, IL. Lying low while Black Friday sweeps Chicagoland … You will remember that, when CityCenter teetered upon the brink of bankruptcy earlier this year, it was saved by a compromise that put the onus on MGM Mirage for … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, WMS Industries | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 26, 2009 by David McKee

“… a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music will focus on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas.” — Frank Sinatra, right? No, Elvis Presley, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Ensign, Angelica Bridges & the smell of Vegas

Posted on November 20, 2009 by David McKee

Look for ex-Mandalay Resort Group boss Mike Ensign to play a supporting role in Nightline‘s Nov. 23 exposé of, among other things, the 96 dimes in hush money he channeled to the cuckolded husband of his son’s mistress. You’ve got … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colony Capital, Colorado, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 4 Comments

G2E, tweeted; Flop @ the Trop

Posted on November 20, 2009 by David McKee

Here’s a quickie précis of Global Gaming Expo 2009, as culled from the S&G Twitter feed: “G2E ’09 is G2E Lite. Upside: less walking, less crowding, less backache. Downside: less food. Also, seminar tracks more like Sominex … Slot floor … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, CityCenter, Entertainment, G2E, Harry Reid, IGT, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 5 Comments

Privé in the privvy

Posted on November 12, 2009 by David McKee

It’s business as usual at Planet Hollywood‘s troubled Privé nightclub. Once week, a license revocation, today a bankruptcy filing. Do you think maybe Planet Ho will be happy to see the last of the Miami-based owners of the club? (Photo: … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 12, 2009 by David McKee

“There’s a sort of desperate, delusional Sunset Boulevard quality to this vanity project. At times it feels like we’ve all been cornered by ol’ Uncle Wayne and forced to watch home movies and the History Channel in his rec room … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Strippers, Tomlin & no water in Macao

Posted on November 11, 2009 by David McKee

Being still deeply enmeshed in CityCenter-related materials (Kirvin Doak must be getting paid by the word, judging from the plethora of press releases it’s generated), I have to be a hit-and-run blogger today. Can’t go to the strip club? No … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Case Bets: Strippers, Tomlin & no water in Macao

Shows! Shows! Shows!

Posted on November 9, 2009 by David McKee

Another clutch of reviews by Yr. Humble Blogger has appeared on TheWizardOfVegas.com, though my notes on the current Wayne Newton fiasco at the Tropicana Las Vegas are of such dubious legibility that they may never see the light of day. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 9, 2009 by David McKee

“Turns out Newton isn’t the only Wayne in town with shot vocal cords.” — DailyFiasco.com, reporting on Wayne Brady‘s cancellation of all remaining 2009 performances of Making %@it Up at the Venetian. We can’t imagine an under-the-weather Brady sounding worse … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Use found for The Harmon

Posted on November 8, 2009 by David McKee

Yes, “Dubai’s Diminuendo,” the “Harmonini,” Baldwin’s Bump, whatever you want to call it, has been given a purpose in life. Strip hotel guests awoke in the wee hours of Saturday morning to behold the following: If nothing else, the truncated … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2009 by David McKee

“If not exactly humbled by the show’s critical drubbing and lackluster sales, [Criss] Angel, now the butt of jokes by most other Strip comics and magicians, seems less hubristic than he did a year ago. There’s less swagger and no … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Best idea of the week … or year

Posted on November 6, 2009 by David McKee

From our Today’s News feed: “Until now, MGM Mirage exercised a policy of having each property in the group compete with the others, as if they were totally independent competing entities. It was a strategy designed to keep salespeople ‘on … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Plaza, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Greek Isles, buy a clue

Posted on November 5, 2009 by David McKee

If anybody’s holding a vote on Las Vegas’ dullest casino Web site, surely the runaway winner will be that for the Greek Isles. It’s so boring, so unimaginative, so Midwest riverboat casino of 12 years ago that it practically yawns … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments