It is difficult to say what looks phoniest about that picture: the cryingly obvious studio background of Venelazzo; the frozen grins on the faces of the agonized-looking models; or maybe it’s the fact that you could go into any Vegas night spot you like and see not one person dressed remotely as well as the people in this shot. Frankly, our reputation as “a place people go to dress badly” is well-earned several times over. I wouldn’t mow the lawn in what some people consider proper gambling and Vegas-evening attire. (Seen recently: casino patron at Caesars Palace in flip-flops, bathing trunks, reversed ball cap and nothing else.) Anyway, the nice people at Rhumbar in The Mirage want you to know that they’re having a weekend-only happy hour — or “day parties,” as we pretentiously call them here — noon to five, with $5 booze. That’s a big step in the right direction, here in the Land of the Eight-Dollar Beer. I’ll drink to that.
Vegas’s fashion sense may suck donkey balls but, hey, give us our due: We’ve surely got more nice Continue reading
“Hey, everyone, I’ve decided that I’m not going to come to your house tonight and burn it down! Isn’t that ‘reasonable’ of me?” — Jason Linkins 
There’s a new dolphin — as yet unnamed — at The Mirage. It’ll probably be a while before the little pup goes on public display. In the meantime, S&G congratulates The Mirage, and hopes mother and child are resting comfortably.
Meanwhile Downtown, after much anticipation, long delay and many leaks, 
How do you turn a $100 million savings into a $92 million one? Leave it to Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, that’s how. If you’ve noticed that the food quality at The Rio‘s 
Caesars may be almost $19 billion in debt and lost “only” $147 million in 1Q11, but 
Pity MGM Resorts International. It owns half of the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City and can’t give it away. Yup, as many feared, investor Leonard Green has slinked off into the tall grass, leaving MGM with 50% of Borgata it can’t unload — 
Pee party. Of course, back here in Vegas the buzz of the moment concerns 
Just how dead is Rampart Casino, formerly known as — among other things — The Resort at Summerlin, the big-budget folly that finished Swiss Casinos‘ attempt to become a major Vegas player? Well, when Chicago commodities broker-turned-fugitive Arthur Jones 
In addition to whatever problems Jones faces with Uncle Sam, he’s now on the hook for a quartet of Nevada felonies. If convicted, the 72-year-old changeling might never see the inside of a casino again. Now that “Sandelli” has posted 20 dimes’ bail, my hunch is authorities won’t see his ass for dust. So if you’re in a tribal casino somewhere, keep an eye peeled for the man to the right — especially if he asks for your Social Security number.
Although it was my (much younger) wife who got me into playing bingo, let’s face it: Bingo is the archetypal — some would say stereotypical — game of the AARP set. In its latest move to attract a value-oriented, nostalgic clientele, the Riviera is 
“Steve Wynn‘s hatred of the president is just an old man getting back at his ex-wife.” — former (?) Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Communications Director Launce Rake.
Oh Christ, Steve Wynn, grow up already. Busy Wall Street analysts were held hostage to a 433-word 
Take China, to whose leadership Wynn has 
Lookee here what I found while rummaging through the body count of Carolyn Goodman‘s nascent political career: It’s everybody’s favorite ‘WTF?’ mayoral candidate Victor Chaltiel and family. The Sheldon Adelson protegé’s concern for the city of Las Vegas always seemed about as real as this Photoshopped-into-the-desert studio pose … and as heartwarming as his mirthless rictus. Perhaps if Chaltiel decides to fail further upward — into Congress, say — he can always swap those mountains out for something more representative of his constituency … the Las Vegas Sands executive suite, perhaps.
“The hotel industry in Nevada, when it was the Lone Ranger, which it no longer is, it’s all over the world—it was selling, ‘Come here for excitement, for great entertainment, for great food, for great shopping.’ Anything to sell tourism—that was our industry. My husband and I have always talked about diversifying the economy. We need to establish an identity.” — Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, on 
“I think we’re going to have a very difficult ’08 in our business.” — the late J. Terrence Lanni, 
Heading into August, hotel rates along the Strip appear to be in the doldrums, judging by figures published today by J.P. Morgan analysts. Weekday rates continue to recover, typified by Caesars Entertainment properties, and weekend ones continue to decline. So far in the third quarter, weekdays are 7% better than last year (or worse, if you’re a consumer) and weekends are 6% more adverse. This reverses the momentum of 2Q11, which saw some (as in 3%) improvement midweek but much better numbers on the all-important weekends, up 11%. Morgan’s Joseph Greff offers no theories for this softening of demand, alas.
Wynncore is enjoying the midweek bounce the most (+14%), while MGM Resorts International feels the weekend pain the hardest, room rates down 12% from last year. The best overall performance, however, is turned in by Caesars, the only company in Morgan’s coverage universe to poster higher weekend rates than 2010 (+6%), in addition to a 9% bounce in midweek rates. The eschewal of resort fees is obviously playing a significant role here. But Caesars’ strong presence in the bargain and middle-class tiers, and Total Rewards also having to be factored into the matrix driving the company’s Strip outperformance.
According to this graph, which I have 
Just minutes ago, Las Vegas Sun reporter Rick Velotta posted