David McKee

While the contest to re-name the Cromwell (perhaps as something less puritanical) has gone down the memory hole, that doesn’t mean the boutique casino is off Caesars Entertainment‘s radar. Far from it. The company has announced a fleet of changes to the former Barbary Coast. For one thing, Giada will no longer have to carry the freight as the property’s sole restaurant. Caesars has rolled out 24-hour diner Eatwell. Whereas Giada aims to Improve You, Eatwell is strictly comfort-food focused. Tucked into the north side of the Cromwell, it’s equally convenient to Flamingo customers.

Evidently the Interlude bar wasn’t performing up to snuff, so several changes are on the way. These include more video poker and an expanded live-entertainment stage. Interlude always did seem a bit forlorn so I’m not surprised at the re-think. “Developments are in progress at Interlude to enhance plush seating, soften lighting and create a more open ambiance,” quoth Caesars. For VIP guests, a 30-machine, high-limit slot area will be added to the casino.

Alas, the company is taking a step back from the comforting tradition of the in-person concierge. In their place comes “Ivy,” an electronic concierge service that can make dinner reservations or take housekeeping requests, all via text message. And, in the biggest change of all, the Cromwell is adding a 50-seat sports book (get there early), with a nine-by-32-foot video screen. That’s a lot of changes for one casino but CEO Mark Frissora seems to have decided that the Cromwell needs a little bit something more for everyone.

* Speaking of the Flamingo, it has a new entertainment draw in reptilian magician Piff the Magic Dragon. As you can imagine, the season premiere of Game of Thrones offered Piff a promotional opportunity too rich to resist.

* Hard as it may be to believe, Las Vegas wasn’t always “Sin City.” No, that honorific once fell upon Newport, Kentucky. Today the Bluegrass State is allergic to casinos but, in the Thirties, Newport was rife with brothels and gambling. It wasn’t an ‘open city’ like Las Vegas, either: “During this time, the city was under the constant sway of gangland mob bosses, and violence wasn’t uncommon as various factions competed with one another.”

However, with the rise of Vegas in the Fifties, organized crime began to lose interest in Newport. The change of image was spearheaded by a citizens’ committee that pushed back against the “Sin City” image. An attempted frame-up of Sheriff George Ratterman blew up in the Mob’s face and also brought the wrath of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy upon the city. As Ratterman put it, “the other side knew what was coming, and they left quietly, on their own.” And, with that, Las Vegas laid claim to the crown of Sin City, a title it has never relinquished since.

* Lists of Las Vegas must-see spots invariably contain the obvious (the Neon Museum, the “Hand of Faith” gold nugget) but Atlas Obscura has done a little work. Personally, we think its nominations of Frankie’s Tiki Room and Lonnie Hammergren‘s indescribably bizarre mansion are right on the money. And the site really did its research by including Kiel Ranch. As the article’s title implies, it would be a sin to miss these.