Category Archives: Entertainment

Macao's blockbuster month

Posted on October 2, 2009 by David McKee

A flurry of good news to end the week, starting in Macao: September, the first month affected by a relaxation of severe visa restrictions imposed on the mainland, saw a 53% jump in Macanese gambling revenues. In terms of market … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Macao's blockbuster month

Scarlett saved?!? & other Case Bets

Posted on October 1, 2009 by David McKee

Splendid news, lads (and lasses). Scarlett, Princess of Magic may return to the Riviera in nine months or a year … that is to say, whenever the economy eventually rebounds. This comes straight from Riv management. Of course, there's a … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Scarlett saved?!? & other Case Bets

Case Bets: P'mousse, Wynn vs. Francis, Natole, etc.

Posted on October 1, 2009 by David McKee

Tucked away around the corner from the Sahara is local institution Pamplemousse. While there wasn't room for describing the massive crudité basket or the alleged "Mob booth," hopefully this chronicle captures some of the preserved-in-amber ambience of P'mousse. Steve Wynn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: P'mousse, Wynn vs. Francis, Natole, etc.

Trop, Sands purges continue

Posted on September 30, 2009 by David McKee

It’s official: “Pit Bull of Comedy” Bobby Slayton has snarled his last at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Thus endeth a brief, inauspicious reign by Anthony Cools over the Trop’s upstairs showroom. A well-placed source advises LVA that Beatles tribute show … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Trop, Sands purges continue

Adelson's rescuer?

Posted on September 30, 2009 by David McKee

Meet Wilbur Ross. He’s an investor of all trades with an appetite for distressed assets. And he’s turning his sights to the casino industry. In particular, he’s drawn a bead on “companies [who] are also looking at selling assets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Horseracing, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson's rescuer?

Adelson's rescuer?

Posted on September 30, 2009 by David McKee

Meet Wilbur Ross. He’s an investor of all trades with an appetite for distressed assets. And he’s turning his sights to the casino industry. In particular, he’s drawn a bead on “companies [who] are also looking at selling assets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Horseracing, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson's rescuer?

Case Bets: Wynn in Macao, "Peepshow" strips down

Posted on September 29, 2009 by David McKee

• Steve Wynn is accelerating his timetable for developing on the Cotai Strip™. If Wynn continues to learn from his early miscalculations (and I see no reason to expect otherwise), a gaming-centric Wynn Resorts property on Cotai is a far … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Macau, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Case Bets: Wynn in Macao, "Peepshow" strips down

Big Trop shakeup

Posted on September 24, 2009 by David McKee

During his absent-minded interregnum as Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Scott Butera nearly denuded the casino of on-property entertainment. Only the hasty re-signing of Xtreme Magic left the Trop with a show in the house. Over time, Butera’s people added a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Big Trop shakeup

Go ask Alex

Posted on September 23, 2009 by David McKee

Without further ado, we present S&G‘s much-hyped interview with Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian, a trim, nattily attired man of impeccable manners and refreshing directness, as you will see. I led off with questions from the readership … Nelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Dining, Entertainment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 1 Comment

Ask Alex!

Posted on September 22, 2009 by David McKee

Tomorrow morning, I have scored some precious face time with Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian. The ostensible topic of the media event is "Special Guest," er, Wayne Newton. But screw that. Let's find out what else is going on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Entertainment, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Ask Alex!

Are you ready for some football? No!

Posted on September 21, 2009 by David McKee

Galaxy Theatres' multiplex at The Cannery has scrapped all its big-screen showings of Monday Night Football, it was announced today, one week into the NFL season. Perhaps the incessant jabbering of Jon Gruden sent patrons screaming out onto the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sports, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Are you ready for some football? No!

Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Posted on September 18, 2009 by David McKee

So the much-bruited suitor for stalled, bankrupt Fontainebleau has been "outed" and it's … Penn National Gaming. Ace reporter Alexandra Berzon, late of the Las Vegas Sun, broke the story. However, she notes that Penn and F'bleau have been dickering … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Worst Trend Yet

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

This is the sort of bottom-feeding move you'd expect from Columbia Sussex but not from Hyatt. Suffice it to say that if casino-hotels try this cheapjack number in Atlantic City, Detroit or Las Vegas, there will be holy hell to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Labor, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Worst Trend Yet

Do not resuscitate?

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Most of us hew to the standard English-language definition of “fixation” (as in “I have a sudden fixation with actresss Crystal Chappell“). However, in Cirque du Soleil-speak, “fixation” means “damage repair.” To wit: Criss F. Angel vehicle Believe has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sports, Technology | Comments Off on Do not resuscitate?

'Phantom' fans hit Vegas

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Heaven knows, there are conventions for soap operas, sitcoms and every iteration of science fiction (I’ve been to more than a few of the latter). But a fan convention for a Broadway show? That’s unheard of. Yesterday, fans of Phantom … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on 'Phantom' fans hit Vegas

Salvation for the Trop? Definitely!

Posted on September 16, 2009 by David McKee

From our Today's News pages: "As part of the fruits of its $125 million property-wide renovation, Tropicana Las Vegas today announced it's to open two new restaurants: Havana Go Go Cafe is a breakfast joint/cafe open daily at 7 a.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Dining, Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Salvation for the Trop? Definitely!

Blast from the Past

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Rock A Hoola, the freakish subject of this 1998 promotional film, is to be the topic of a forthcoming Question of the Day, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, enjoy this slide down Memory Lane: We drove past … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Tourism | Comments Off on Blast from the Past

Pod People

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Now that our linking capability is back, here is the Strip Podcast episode in which I pinch-hit for an absent co-host. The father of new sensation Elijah Johnson had trouble finding Steve Friess' studio and the show was already on … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Entertainment, George Maloof, Technology | Comments Off on Pod People

From the mailbag #5: Vegas Club, football, Atlantic CIty

Posted on September 11, 2009 by David McKee

Reader herbop reports on the latest thrift move by Tamares Group: “While other Downtown hotels are installing in-room safes, and removing complaint-causing daily fees for same, the Vegas Club Hotel has pulled out the installed safes from its rooms. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, International, Sports, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on From the mailbag #5: Vegas Club, football, Atlantic CIty

Twitter, ergo sum

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

OK, so we still can't upload photos but we can sort of link, thanks to a workaround. In the meantime, Las Vegas Advisor is plentifully available on Twitter. We have … LVA_Tweet (1,791 followers). "This one aggregates [Question of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Twitter, ergo sum