Category Archives: The Strip

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

“The days of $1,000 bottles of liquor and $15,000 cabanas and $500 room rates aren’t coming back. People need to stop talking about when the good times are coming back because they never are. The world returning to 2006 would … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Re$ort fee$: the latest

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

Poor MGM Mirage; it can’t stay out of the news these days. At the moment, our LVA research staff is trying to get the skinny on the spread of “resort fees” through the company’s Strip properties. (Stock analysts love them … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 26 Comments

Snakes in a casino

Posted on March 22, 2010 by David McKee

For those of you curious about the progress of Wynn Resorts‘ makeover of Encore‘s atrium into Encore Beach Club and accompanying nightclub Surrender, a source close to Steve Wynn‘s design shop leaked a few renderings to VegasTripping.com. If giant snakes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Gibbons vs. gaming; Pansy Ho; R-J shocked, shocked!; Rat Pack not back

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

First off, a hearty S&G salute to Steve Friess, named “Best Blogger” by the readers of Las Vegas CityLife. (Yes, I was nominated but didn’t even make it into second place. I’ll live.) As you scroll — and scroll — … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Midnight Jim Gibbons, New York, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Signs of the Times

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

Seen today outside The Rio on Flamingo Road: Two chicks holding handmade, barely legible “Car Wash” signs. What the … ? Was this an official Rio event? There’s no mention of it either on the casino’s Web site nor on … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Cloud 9 brought to earth

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

We’ve been enjoying [sic] an unusually blustery winter in Las Vegas. All that’s missing is Eeyore. Well, him and now the Cloud 9 sightseeing balloon. This piquant Strip attraction met a tragic end yesterday. (Douchebaggy Fox 5 doesn’t permit video … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, M Resort, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on Cloud 9 brought to earth

What are …

Posted on March 18, 2010 by David McKee

… three casinos, two golf courses, a shooting range, a bunch of condos and some miscellaneous real estate worth? If they’re in Mesquite and they’re owned by the disaster area that is Black Gaming, they’re worth no more than $90 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip | 4 Comments

Mania in Macao

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

Las Vegas casino floors nearly look somnolent compared to the intense baccarat play captured by CNN at Melco Crown Entertainment‘s megaresort, City of Dreams. For added fun, one gets a bit of James Bond (Sean Connery) throwing down against “smug … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Todd English, P.D.Q.

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

First of all, huge thanks to all who have sent their condolences regarding Mr. Bit. We’re all in quite a funk at home. Rascal‘s reaction was the most heartbreaking. When we brought the empty cat carrier back, he ran up, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pets, The Strip | 5 Comments

Case Bets: Lake Las Vegas, Todd English, the CityCenter smear, Harrah’s Chester, etc.

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Far on the outskirts of Sin City, the Kingdom of Make-Believe (aka Lake Las Vegas) is the newest and — in terms of acreage — biggest metaphor yet for the unrealistic expectations and sometimes insane assumptions which have laid our … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Lake Las Vegas, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 14 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

“If the love of money is the root of all evil, are we better as a nation now that we’re broke?” — Lily Tomlin, last night at MGM Grand. (Her current run at the Green Monster ends tomorrow … but … Continue reading →

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

CityCenter: Guilty by association

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

This new attack ad, fired today, represents the latest salvo in what might be called The War Over CityCenter. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), not having been shy to take credit for CityCenter’s completion, is fair game. Where the ad may … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

Elvis: That’s the way it’s gonna be

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

Herewith my — hopefully — last words on the subject of Cirque du Soleil‘s Viva Elvis, by way of Wizard of Vegas.com. As to the gaping fissure between national and local opinion-makers (myself included), I’ve given it a moderate amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 4 Comments

Dare to compare

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

This compare-and-contrast montage of MGM Grand Macau, Wynn Macau and Sociedade de Jogos de Macau‘s Grand Lisboa provides a mini-education. At first blush, the MGM property looks a mite too fancy for its own good, though it compares favorably to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Who’s crazier: Adelson or Florida?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Pay no attention to the over-budget, behind-schedule megaresort in the background. Six casinos at $2 billion apiece. No joking, that’s what a Sheldon Adelson flunky is proposing in Florida. (I guess the white-out of Atlantic City isn’t the only snow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip | 4 Comments

Today’s Vegas: something for everybody

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

From Sin City Advisor: St Patrick’s Day now officially lesbian (Wasted Space) Mexican (Club Fortune) midget-wrestling (Velvet Lion) bikini contest (McFadden’s). And if you’re a bikini-wearing, midget-wrestling Mexican lesbian, you’ve truly landed in clover. Erin Go Bragh, señoritas!

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Harrah's, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

First, the good news …

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Congratulations to MGM Mirage for being named, for the fourth time in five years, to DiversityInc‘s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity.” Like predecessor J. Terrence Lanni, not only does CEO Jim Murren say the right things (“As long as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on First, the good news …

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 10, 2010 by David McKee

“Political pundits cast aspersions on candidates and incumbents by labeling their policies and beliefs ‘communist’ or ‘socialist. I have noticed many of these exchanges recently and wanted to bring them to light in a humorous way by placing them here … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, The Mob, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Did my eyes deceive me …

Posted on March 8, 2010 by David McKee

… or was that the skeleton of Echelon which was used to illustrate Nevada’s economic woes in the TV spot that Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) is running this week? That’s no outrage in and of itself: Echelon was a casualty … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Best Strip bargain yet? Plus: Loveman’s verbal gymnastics, pool fees, etc.

Posted on March 5, 2010 by David McKee

Luke Jermay is a charming English mentalist who does a low-budget but worthwhile show at O’Shea’s. His presentation may not be as polished as that of rival Gerry McCambridge, but what Jermay lacks in razzmatazz, he makes up in personality. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Minnesota, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 6 Comments