Category Archives: Entertainment

New category of Las Vegan

Posted on April 1, 2009 by David McKee

Europoseur: Only found on or near the Strip, sometimes impersonated by French Canadians (see Soleil, Cirque du). Occasionally demand to be addressed by their initials only, usually smoke cigarettes and are invariably able to generate fawning press coverage. Are known … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on New category of Las Vegan

Un-Believe-able discounts

Posted on March 30, 2009 by David McKee

Seen yesterday at the Luxor ticket booth: A video message promising 35% off Believe tickets if you stay at the King Tut place between Tuesday and Thursday (inclusive). Heck, just last week Luxor trotted out one of the most “george” … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Un-Believe-able discounts

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 27, 2009 by David McKee

"The point of convergence is the obligatory version of Louis Armstrong singing 'What A Wonderful World,' apparently required for an impressionist to obtain a Clark County business license." — Mike Weatherford on the common denominator between Danny F. Gans, Terry … Continue reading →

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

Trop snoozes, loses

Posted on March 26, 2009 by David McKee

Like a hot potato, the Tropicana Las Vegas continues to bounce from Columbia Sussex to Tropicana Entertainment and now maybe into the hands of Alex Yemenidjian. (This management-contract arrangement looks more like laying the groundwork for a sale … if … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Trop snoozes, loses

The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Posted on March 26, 2009 by David McKee

Did somebody build the inaptly named Lucky Club  (above) over an Indian burial ground? A deprivation of access is but the latest indignity suffered by this North Las Vegas grind joint. While it was still the Speedway Casino, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Lake Las Vegas, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

A twist of Fator

Posted on March 17, 2009 by David McKee

We took in Saturday night’s opening of Terry Fator and his Cast of Thousands, as did quite a few C- and D-list celebrities, plus several MGM Mirage executives — no doubt enjoying 90 minutes’ respite from worrying about their company’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on A twist of Fator

Case Bets: Fasolt, etc.

Posted on March 12, 2009 by David McKee

A reader has asked how Fasolt got his name. I'm to blame for that, because he was called "Marble" when I met him. He was living in a foster home in Minneapolis, after a woman had thrown out her boyfriend … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Pets, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Fasolt, etc.

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 11, 2009 by David McKee

"If only Boyd had thought of this! They could have had tourists PAYING to help them complete Echelon. The only thing I don't get is the air-conditioned cabs. That hardly seems like a realistic adventure." — Steve Friess on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

M-enations

Posted on March 2, 2009 by David McKee

Last night’s grand opening of M Resort wasn’t quite your usual Vegas casino debut. The 4,000-7,000 (sources vary) who turned out for the VIP preview were an older, more outwardly affluent and buttoned-down crowd than one expects. Nor is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Charity, Entertainment, M Resort | Comments Off on M-enations

Joint 2.0

Posted on February 20, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday, a large gaggle of local media traipsed through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's in-progress new version of The Joint (or Joint 2.0, if you will). Those on hand included Mike Weatherford and Jason Bracelin from the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Morgans Hotel Group, Technology | Comments Off on Joint 2.0

Case Bets: James Packer, Isle of Capri

Posted on February 9, 2009 by David McKee

Geez, maybe the Nevada Gaming Control Board shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to green-light James Packer‘s purchase of Cannery Casino Resorts. (In a bow to noblesse oblige, Packer wasn’t even required to put in an appearance at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cannery Casino Resorts, Don Barden, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: James Packer, Isle of Capri

What's the sound of stale?

Posted on February 6, 2009 by David McKee

It'd probably be very much like the dulcet tones of Danny F. Gans (pictured), who reassures prospective attendees to his Encore show not to worry: It'll be the same old same-old. Or, as he rationalizes it, "I'm trying to give … Continue reading →

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Rogues' gallery

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

After a fitful start, blogorrhea is sweeping the business desk of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, resulting a veritable flood of news nuggets today … Planet Hollywood prexy Michael Mecca has resigned to pursue the proverbial "other opportunities" at a time … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, James Packer, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Rogues' gallery

Penn Nat'l: Smoke everywhere, fire less evident

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David McKee

Despite story upon story, Penn National Gaming refuses to oblige the Las Vegas Review-Journal and purchase The Mirage. (This was the paper that pooh-poohed the Phil Ruffin/El Ad deal when it began to break.) While — for all we know … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Penn Nat'l: Smoke everywhere, fire less evident