07/30 See Michael Grimm for Free
07/30 New Free Thread of the Week:
07/30 National Cheesecake Day:
07/30 Boyd Rejects Stations:
07/30 Harrah's No Resort Fee Promo:
07/30 New Rehab Kiosk:
07/30 Free Party at Serendipity 3:
07/30 On-Air Opening with WPT:
07/30 Passenger Count Down:
07/29 Food Truck Trend Continues:
07/29 Las Vegas This Weekend:
07/29 Pete's Hiring:
07/29 August Newsletter Live:
07/29 Power Lunch at Simon:
07/29 New Blog Posting:
07/28 LVA at HR
07/28 Seasonal Downsizing at Southwest:
07/28 Diva Delay:
07/28 National Lasagna Day:
07/28 Fastest Pizza Maker Crowned in Vegas:
07/28 MGM Sells Land in A.C.:
07/27 WSOP in USA Today:
07/27 Catch AC on Greenberg Show:
07/27 Guinn Funeral Concludes:
07/27 Hilton's Green Incentive:
07/27 Hiking Signing -- with Free Booze:
07/27 Pool Poll Closing:
07/27 Police Search for TI Robber:
07/27 Guinn Funeral Live:
07/26 Dining Deals:
07/26 Meet & Greet with Ladies of CHP:
07/26 Party Pool Seeks Servers:
07/26 PA Overtakes NV in Gambling Taxes:
07/25 Goodman Backs Reid:
07/25 Points Swap:
07/25 Get Your Red-Hot Cirque Deal:
07/24 Comps at Bills:
07/24 Ultimate Elvis:
07/24 Annie Duke in Washington:
07/23 Penn Not Pursuing Stations:
07/23 Vegas Gets Even More Gay-Friendly:
07/23 Siena Files for Chpt. 11:
07/22 Job Fair for New Strip Venue:
07/22 Weekend Highlights:
07/22 Buffet of Buffets Ups Prices:
07/22 Former Nevada Governor Dies:
07/22 Free Pool Party -- With Free Food!:
07/22 Locals Deal at Four Seasons:
07/22 New WSOP Update Posted:
07/22 Curtains for Moulin Rouge:
07/22 Free Sammy Hagar Gig:
07/21 Lagasse's Foursquare Deal:
07/21 Flair Championship Returns:
07/21 Dining with the Diva:
07/21 Big Shimmer Shake-Up:
07/21 Wynn Reports Loss:
07/21 Casino Turns Police Dept:
07/21 Children's Summer Film Festival:
07/21 Two New PT's Coming:
07/20 Pool Freebie at Rumor:
07/20 Solar Project to Bring Jobs to Vegas:
07/20 Holly Lolli:
07/20 New Gambling Flick:
07/20 Cosmpolitan Sued By Investors:
07/19 Crackdown on Illegal Soccer Wagering:
07/19 More Excessive Heat:
07/19 Rumor Now Reality:
07/19 Poll Results Fixed:
07/19 Orleans Robbery Suspect Arrested:
07/19 Lake Las Vegas Recovering:
07/19 Bad News for Nevada Jobless:
07/19 Poll Results:
07/19 A.C. Hotels Reopened:
07/19 Buffet for Life Promo:
07/18 The November 9:
07/18 Zumanity Promo:
07/18 Under-Capitalized Zombies Infiltrating Vegas:
07/17 Wheel of Fortune Tix:
07/17 Kudos to Craftsteak:
07/17 Breakfast is Back:
07/17 Springs for Free:
•July 30, 2010 See Michael Grimm for Free Musician and reality TV talent show contestant Michael Grimm will be performing free concerts tonight and tomorrow at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, featuring his blend of country music roots and Southern soul. The free shows run between 9:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. in Bill's Lounge and are open to the public. He'll perform four, one-hour sets each night.
[Back to Top]•July 30, 2010 New Free Thread of the Week: A new featured thread just went live at LVASports.com, where we've also just introduced a new "Sports & Poker News" feature. Check it.
[Back to Top]•July 30, 2010 National Cheesecake Day:
That's today, and several Las Vegas eateries are offering cheesecake specials or innovative flavors:
•July 30, 2010 Boyd Rejects Stations: According to this afternoon's Las Vegas Review-Journal, Boyd Gaming Corp. said today that it's no longer interested in acquiring several resorts owned by Station Casinos and will not participate in next week's planned bankruptcy court auction of those properties. This comes one week after Penn National also announced that it was no longer interested in pursuing any Station properties.
[Back to Top]•July 30, 2010 Harrah's No Resort Fee Promo: Harrah's Entertainment is continuing to aggressively promote its "no resort fees" policy, first with the unveiling yesterday of $12 million by Holly Madison -- the amount spent by visitors to the Las Vegas Strip on resort fees last month -- to celebrate Planet Hollywood's official abandonment of its fees, now that it's been fully integrated into the Harrah's group. Now, the company is launching a citywide sweepstakes, with the chance to win $21,900 -- three year's worth of average resort fees. Click the link for more details.
[Back to Top]•July 30, 2010 New Rehab Kiosk: The Hard Rock has teamed up with McCarran International Airport to help get revelers in the mood for the famous REHAB Sunday pool party with a new airport kiosk, now open, located in the C Gates directly past security. The REHAB kiosk will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. through the end of September, selling REHAB-branded apparel, accessories, and VIP line passes.
[Back to Top]•July 30, 2010 Free Party at Serendipity 3: Serendipity 3 at Caesars is hosting an "unParty" tonight from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. There's no cover and an open bar from 9-11 p.m., with DJ Scotty Boy on the decks.
[Back to Top]•July 30, 2010 On-Air Opening with WPT:
The World Poker Tour has one opening in their on-air team and is looking for the "most brutally honest poker analyst" for a new recurring TV segment called "The Raw Deal." They're holding open auditions for the role and there are two ways to try out:
•July 30, 2010 Passenger Count Down: The latest figures show that McCarran International Airport saw 1.1 percent fewer passengers last month than in June 2009. At about 19.6 million passengers, traffic for the first six months of the year was down 3 percent compared with 2009.
[Back to Top]•July 29, 2010 Food Truck Trend Continues: LBS: A Burger Joint, the eco-friendly fast-food eatery at Red Rock, will be joining the growing ranks of hot dog and slider street vendors around town when it introduces its new mobile LBS Patty Wagon soon, serving Classic Beef, Tom Turkey, veggie burgers, and more for under $10 around the Vegas valley.
[Back to Top]•July 29, 2010 Las Vegas This Weekend:
There's an eclectic lineup musically, plus plenty of pool action, so there's no excuse to be bored this weekend:
•July 29, 2010 Pete's Hiring: Pete's Dueling Piano Bar at Town Square is currently hiring cocktail servers, hostesses, and security. Send your resume to rtaylor2205@yahoo.com.
[Back to Top]•July 29, 2010 August Newsletter Live: The August issue of the Las Vegas Advisor newsletter is online and ready to read.
[Back to Top]•July 29, 2010 Power Lunch at Simon:
Chef Kerry Simon has introduced a new 30-minute "power lunch" menu at his Palms Place restaurant, with set meals including:
•July 29, 2010 New Blog Posting: Anthony Curtis' weekly Las Vegas digest, with the latest entertainment, gambling, and dining news, was just posted at LVA in the Media, where you can also catch Anthony's recent guest appearance on travel expert Peter Greenberg's latest radio broadcast from Las Vegas.
[Back to Top]•July 28, 2010 LVA at HR Don't forget today's HP book signing from 6-8 p.m. at the Hard Rock. Branch Whitney will sign his two new books, Hiking the High Sierra and Hiking the Southwest. Complimentary beer and wine will be served, which means Anthony Curtis is a 1-3 favorite to be in attendance.
[Back to Top]•July 28, 2010 Seasonal Downsizing at Southwest: Today's LV Sun reports that Southwest Airlines will be axing 12 daily round trips into McCarran airport, including three flights to and from southern California, two between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, and the only two nonstop flights from Long Island's MacArthur Airport and Norfolk, Va. The schedule changes are due to take effect beginning Nov. 7.
[Back to Top]•July 28, 2010 Diva Delay: Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas, currently performing at the Imperial Palace, will hit the stage at 8 p.m. this evening, an hour later than the normal showtime.
[Back to Top]•July 28, 2010 National Lasagna Day: Thursday, July 29 is National Lasagna Day and thanks to SaveLV.com for tips on a couple of special offers: Buca di Beppo is offering a free lunch-sized portion of their lasagna when you buy a small or large size pasta or entreé, while Brio Tuscan Grille at Town Square is offering half-off all full orders of their housemade Lasagna Bolognese. Both offers are dine-in only, one per guest.
[Back to Top]•July 28, 2010 Fastest Pizza Maker Crowned in Vegas: The World's Fastest Pizza Maker was crowned at Domino's 50th Anniversary World Rally in Las Vegas Tuesday, atteneded by nearly 6,000 Domino's employees from as far away as Malaysia. Pali Grewal of the U.K. won the 2010 title, making three large pizzas in an 39.1 seconds and setting a new world record.
[Back to Top]•July 28, 2010 MGM Sells Land in A.C.:
MGM Resorts International has sold the land it owns under the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa to Vornado Realty Trust and Geyser Holdings for $73 million, as part of its forced exit from the New Jersey gaming market due to business ties in Macau with Pansy Ho, daughter alleged Chinese mob boss Stanley Ho.
This sale does not involve the company's 50 percent stake in the casino itself, which is being sold separately.
•July 27, 2010 WSOP in USA Today: Today's USA Today contains the annual World Series of Poker supplement in the "Sports" section. It's a modest four-pager with only a couple of articles focusing almost solely on the November Nine. Quite a drop-off from years past.
[Back to Top]•July 27, 2010 Catch AC on Greenberg Show: Publisher Anthony Curtis was one of the celebrity guest stars on travel guru Peter Greenberg's show last week, which featured a three-hour Las Vegas odyssey, with other guests including Barry Manilow and chef Kerry Simon. AC shared his thoughts on some of Vegas' hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations; you can download and listen to the show by clicking here.
[Back to Top]•July 27, 2010 Guinn Funeral Concludes:
The service for former Gov. Kenny Guinn has ended*, so traffic should be returning to normal in the vicinity. There will now be a public memorial reception at Palace Station. Guinn will be buired later this week in California.
*This item was posted just after noon.
•July 27, 2010 Hilton's Green Incentive: The Las Vegas Hilton is among those hotel-casinos in Las Vegas in the vanguard of eco-friendly initiatives and sustainable business practices. One program we just learned of is their towel and linen re-use effort, where guests may complete an "opt out" card to decline housekeeping services when not needed, allowing for reduced water and energy consumption. Those guests who participate receive a $5 voucher/night ($10 currently, during summer months). For more information about the more environmentally aware and responsible properties in Las Vegas, check our our Green Guide.
[Back to Top]•July 27, 2010 Hiking Signing -- with Free Booze: Tomorrow from 6-8 p.m. Huntington Press author Branch Whitney will be hosting a book signing event at the Hard Rock for his two newest titles, Hiking the High Sierra and Hiking the Southwest. The meet-and-greet will take place in the retail store and complimentary beer and wine will be served.
[Back to Top]•July 27, 2010 Pool Poll Closing: There's been such a shake-up on the pool scene this summer, so we really want to get your take on who has the best scene now and how it's changed from the last time we polled pools, back in 2008. So, if you haven't yet cast your vote, please do, and drop us a line explaining how you voted and what you're looking for in a pool -- a tranquil adult environment, a fun place for the kids, a "daylife" party scene, topless sunbathing, spa services, poolside gaming etc.
[Back to Top]•July 27, 2010 Police Search for TI Robber: A man robbed the cage at Treasure Island at approximately 11:30 p.m. last night and then ran into the Mirage parking lot, where what was believed to be some of his clothing and a bag full of an undisclosed amount of cash was found. Metro spent the night searching the parking garage for the suspect, but he currently remains at large. It's the second (botched) casino-cage robbery in the past 10 days.
[Back to Top]•July 27, 2010 Guinn Funeral Live: You can catch live coverage of former Gov. Kenny Guinn's funeral from 9:30 a.m. on Channel 8. More than 2,000 attendees are expected to be present for the public funeral services. The procession is starting now at Palm Mortuary (1600 S. Jones) and will end at St. Joseph-Husband of Mary Catholic Church at 7260 W. Sahara. All streets along southbound Jones are temporarily shut down and no traffic's allowed on Tenaya between Sahara and Oakey at the present time.
[Back to Top]•July 26, 2010 Dining Deals:
Naked City Pizza Shop, the new companion to Naked City Sandwich Shop (located inside Moon Doggie's bar at DI and Arville), is serving 60-cent chicken wings tonight from 5-10 p.m. -- just mention that you saw the offer on Twitter.
Meanwhile, celebrity chef Kerry Simon's new KGB burger joint at Harrah's is offering a buy-one, get-one-free offer on burgers now through October 31 when you print and present this coupon. Check the coupon for restrictions.
•July 26, 2010 Meet & Greet with Ladies of CHP: For a limited number of dates, MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris is offering special meet-&-greet packages, with a chance to get close up and personal with the dancers from the one of the Strip's sexiest revues. The special tickets are available for the July 30-31 and September 1-30 performances only, and just for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $85.50 and include a wallet-size photo with cast members.
[Back to Top]•July 26, 2010 Party Pool Seeks Servers: At 3 p.m. today Wet Republic at MGM Grand will be holding open auditions for male and female "model" cockctail servers and door hosts in Tabu Ultralounge. Bring swimwear, resume, headshots -- click here for more details.
[Back to Top]•July 26, 2010 PA Overtakes NV in Gambling Taxes: Although the state has only nine casinos, in 2009 Pennsylvania collected more taxes from its casinos than Nevada for the first time ever. This was caused in part by the recession, which resulted in a drop in Nevada's tax revenues, while its east-coast rival increased revenues with new casino openings. More importantly, however, is the fact that Pennsylvania's casinos pay one of the highest tax rates in the nation: While gross casino revenues are taxed at approximately 8 per cent in Nevada and 9 percent in New Jersey, Pennsylvania's casinos give up 55 percent of their gaming revenues to the state.
[Back to Top]•July 25, 2010 Goodman Backs Reid: As predicted, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman this weekend endorsed Sen. Harry Reid for re-election, saying: "He is the point man to get things done."
[Back to Top]•July 25, 2010 Points Swap: In an extremely interesting development, Barona Resort & Casino has partnered with the Venetian and Palazzo to allow players club points earned at all three casinos to be redeemed at any of the properties. So someone who has earned points in Las Vegas can use them at Barona, and vice versa. If you are in the system of Venetian/Palazzo or Barona, expect a mailed offer for the other.
[Back to Top]•July 25, 2010 Get Your Red-Hot Cirque Deal: Tomorrow is the last Monday in July, which means it's your last chance to get in on LVA's exclusive deal for two tickets to Zumanity for $79. Click through the links in Spotlight and look for more LVA/Cirque exclusives in the future.
[Back to Top]•July 24, 2010 Comps at Bills: Every day for the rest of the year, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon will hold six daily drawings to win $100 Comp Dollars good at Harrah's properties. You can get one entry per day, which is activated by playing one hour of rated play.
[Back to Top]•July 24, 2010 Ultimate Elvis: The "Ultimate Elvis Weekend" concludes tonight at the Fremont Street Experience. Elvis Presley look-alikes will compete to qualify for the finals of the "Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest" in Memphis. The competition begins at 8 p.m.
[Back to Top]•July 24, 2010 Annie Duke in Washington: Professional poker player and TV celeb Annie Duke made another appearance before Congress last week, urging legalization and regulation of online poker. She told a House Financial Services Committee that online poker is safer than live poker, due to technology-based safeguards. It was the second time Duke has been invited to state her view for lawmakers.
[Back to Top]•July 23, 2010 Penn Not Pursuing Stations: For an amusing take on the latest developments re Penn National and Station Casinos, check out the "Quote of the Day" at LVA blogger David McKee's Stiffs & Georges.
[Back to Top]•July 23, 2010 Vegas Gets Even More Gay-Friendly: The weekend of August 12-15, MGM Resorts International's Las Vegas properties, including ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor and Excalibur, will be hosting a "Fabulous Las Vegas" LGBT long-weekend, with room packages and special events throughout the 4-day celebration, including limited access to the sold-out Lady Gaga concert at MGM Grand, slot and blackjack tournaments, celebrity meet-and-greets, pool parties, clubs, and more. Visit www.MyFabulousVegas.com for more info and to select from the choice of available hotels and packages.
[Back to Top]•July 23, 2010 Siena Files for Chpt. 11: Reno's Siena Casino has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a move owner Barney Ng had fought to avoid, thinking that it would "sound the death knell" for the property. He finally conceded in order to avoid the possible suspension of the property's gambling license over delinquent casino taxes and fees by filing for bankruptcy protection. On July 1, gaming commissioners suspended the casino's gambling license for failing to maintain the required bankroll to pay potential winnings and for falling delinquent on $153,000 in taxes, but they immediately stayed the suspension so the casino could continue to operate under strictly regulated conditions.
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 Job Fair for New Strip Venue: The PBR Rockbar & Grill, which is due to open Labor Day weekend in the space formerly occupied by Hawaiian Tropic Zone in the Miracle Mile, will be hosting a two-day job fair Aug. 2-3 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Planet Hollywood Ballroom, looking to fill all positions front and back of house, including food servers and runners, bartenders, barbacks, cocktail waitresses, hosts, cooks, and dishwashers. Call 702/855-3847 or visit www.PBRrockbar.com for more information and application forms.
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 Weekend Highlights:
Here's the lowdown on this weekend's happenings, inside and out (especially out):
•July 22, 2010 Buffet of Buffets Ups Prices: While conducting our monthly survey of all buffet prices for the August issue of the LVA newsletter, we discovered that as of last Friday, July 16, Harrah's has increased the price of its Vegas-property all-day buffet pass, which is now $39.99 for Total Rewards members (formerly $34.99) and $45.99 for non-members (previously $39.99). It's free to anyone 21+ to join the Total Rewards Club.
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 Former Nevada Governor Dies:
In breaking news, it's just been announced that former Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn has died. The popular Republican, who served from 1999-2007, apparently died after falling off his roof, the report says. Guinn was succeeded by Gov. Jim Gibbons, a candidate he declined to endorse during Gibbons' election campaign. Guinn is the subject of political commentator Jon Ralston's The Anointed One, which is not just the story of how an inexperienced and shaky candidate waltzed away with the highest office in the state, but also a biting commentary on the inner workings of the Nevada political machine.
•July 22, 2010 Free Pool Party -- With Free Food!: Under its new membership, the Artisan Hotel continues to establish itself as a major new nightlife/daylife hotspot, with its after-hours events and pool parties. Today's "On The House" pool party has no cover charge and features DJs, plus complimentary select items from the menu from noon-3 p.m. (the party continues till 6 p.m.) Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? Daybeds are available for a $250 food and beverage check; cabanas are $500. Call 702/214-4000 for reservations.
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 Locals Deal at Four Seasons: We just learned via their Twitter that the Four Seasons in Las Vegas has an ongoing promotion for locals, with room-rates of $129, which includes a $25 spa treatment and 20% off your dinner bill. The deal is valid daily, subject to overall room occupancy, and must be booked over the phone at 702/632-5000. Valid local ID is required at check-in; if you're unable to provide this, the room will revert to the prevailing rate. There's no limit on how many nights you can book your "staycation" for, as long as the rate is available.
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 New WSOP Update Posted: We've just posted Blair Rodman's fourth and penultimate (for this year) WSOP Update in Poker News at LVAPoker.com, chronicling his deep run and rollercoaster ride through the 10K Pot-Limit Omaha event. As Huntington Press' Senior Editor Deke Castleman put it, "Grrrreat 10K PLO story -- what a death table!" So, check it out if you're interested in poker and enjoy a good read.
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 Curtains for Moulin Rouge: The remnants of the historic building that once briefly housed Las Vegas' first integrated casino back in 1955 are to be demolished, after the Las Vegas City Council voted unanimously yesterday to reject an appeal by friends of the property who'd wanted to see it restored. The dilapidated structure has twice been the victim of severe fires, the second of which last year resulted in the building being declared "a total loss."
[Back to Top]•July 22, 2010 Free Sammy Hagar Gig: On Friday, July 30 The Red Rocker is set to host a pre-concert kickoff with friends at his Cabo Wabo Cantina at the Miracle Mile Shops inside Planet Hollywood, prior to his live performance with Aerosmith the following night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hagar's pre-concert bash is open to the public and admission's complimentary, but space is limited so get there early to avoid disappointment. (We attended the grand opening bash, when he also jammed with friends, and it totally rocked.) For additional info and restaurant reservations, call the cantina at 702/385-2226
[Back to Top]•July 21, 2010 Lagasse's Foursquare Deal: If you're a sports fan on Foursquare, check-in at Lagasse's Stadium at Palazzo and receive 25% off food after your third check-in.
[Back to Top]•July 21, 2010 Flair Championship Returns: Rock & Rita's, the self-styled "Great American Party" restaurant and bar that recently opened at Circus Circus, will host NATIONS, the seventh annual international flair bartending competition, on Monday, Aug. 16 and Tuesday, Aug. 17. 50 flair bartenders from nine countries across the globe will compete for $25,000 in cash and prizes, with $10,000 cash to the winner.
[Back to Top]•July 21, 2010 Dining with the Diva: Joan Rivers impersonator and long-time Strip headliner Frank Marino will be hosting a meet and greet and book signing for his new cookbook, Dining with the Diva, Thursday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Imperial Palace. Books are available for purchase at the IP box office for $20, with proceeds of these and ongoing sales to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.
[Back to Top]•July 21, 2010 Big Shimmer Shake-Up:
Voices and Sin City Bad Girls have run their course at the Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret (Sin City Bad Girls ends July 25), leaving only magician Steve Dacri as a staple fixture, with regular but occasional performances from comedians Andrew Dice Clay and Mark Curry. Bad Girls is hoping to move to a new Strip venue but for now, the MRB offer will be voided after June 25.
Elvis impersonator Trent Carlini has also closed in the Hilton Theater.
•July 21, 2010 Wynn Reports Loss:
As reported by the Las Vegas Review-JournalWynn Resorts this morning preannounced a portion of its financial results for the three-month period that ended June 30 and told investors that its two Strip resorts, Wynn and Encore, had an operating loss of $17.2 million in the second quarter, more than double the loss reported in the same quarter a year ago.
Wynn plans to release complete quarterly results on July 29.
•July 21, 2010 Casino Turns Police Dept: The Detroit City Council has approved the purchase of the former MGM casino for $6.3 million to convert it into a new headquarters for the Detroit Police and Fire departments. The sale of $100 million in bonds was approved to fund the purchase and renovation of the building.
[Back to Top]•July 21, 2010 Children's Summer Film Festival: Springs Preserve is holding a Children's Summer Film Festival from July 22 to 25, with three Disney movies shown and show screenings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. each day. Admission's free for members or included with general admission.
[Back to Top]•July 21, 2010 Two New PT's Coming: Golden Gaming Inc. is opening two new taverns in Las Vegas this August, creating 25-35 new jobs. An all-new PT's Gold will open on South Buffalo Dr., just off the 215 at West Sunset Road, while the former Triple Bar Bar [sic.] at Craig Rd. and Decatur Blvd. has been renovated and rebranded a PT's Pub. Job fairs will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26 and Aug. 2 and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Sierra Gold at 6515 S. Jones Blvd.
[Back to Top]•July 20, 2010 Pool Freebie at Rumor: Mention password "I'll tell you a secret" at the pool at the new Rumor resort, which openend opposite the Hard Rock this week, for free admission to the pool and a 2-for-1 drink ticket.
[Back to Top]•July 20, 2010 Solar Project to Bring Jobs to Vegas: Solar power company Amonix is to open a manufacturing element at its new plant in North Las Vegas before the end of 2010 in a move that should create close to 300 new jobs and contribute to the state's mission to become a leader in sustainable energy practices. For more information on environmental initiatives and "green" news in and around Las Vegas, follow us on Twitter at GreenVegas and click the link for our Vegas Green Guide to access our exclusive guide to eco-friendly hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
[Back to Top]•July 20, 2010 Holly Lolli: In celebration of National Lollipop Day, Peepshow star Holly Madison will unveil Sugar Factory's three new signature "Vegas" edition Couture Pops at Paris at 11 a.m. today. The event's taking place beneath the Eiffel Tower at the site of the upcoming Sugar Factory location due to open later this year.
[Back to Top]•July 20, 2010 New Gambling Flick: According to the MTV Movies blog, a new poker-themed movie starring Gary Oldman, Christian Slater, Dane Cook, and Sam Trammell is currently filming in Utah. Apparently, the plot of Guns, Girls & Gambling centers around an American Indian artifact that's stolen during a poker game.
[Back to Top]•July 20, 2010 Cosmpolitan Sued By Investors:
Three southern Californian residents are suing Deutsche Bank and Nevada Property 1, owners of the soon-to-debut Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, alleging they fraudulently kept escrow deposits paid in 2005 for condos that were to open in early 2008 but are now being turned into hotel rooms.
The fraud and conversion lawsuit comes after the three, plus more than 200 other people, sought an injunction in Nevada state court in Las Vegas last week. A spokeswoman for the
project developer and Deutsche Bank called the claims "entirely without merit."
•July 19, 2010 Crackdown on Illegal Soccer Wagering: More than 7,000 people have been arrested across Asia in a crackdown on illegal gambling on World Cup football matches and police have seized nearly $26 million in illicit funds, Interpol reports. Raids conducted between June 11 and July 11 targeted nearly 800 illegal gambling dens linked to organized crime syndicates in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and China that handled more than $2bn-worth of bets.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 More Excessive Heat: As if we had to point this out... But yes, it's mid-July in Las Vegas and it's hot. Really HOT! So hot that an excessive heat warning has been issued and is in effect until 9 p.m. tonight, with temperatures expected to reach 112 degrees in the shade -- you can add another 10-15 degrees onto that if you're walking on the Strip (see QoD 6/10/2010). Don't worry -- by Friday we should be down to a balmy 105 again :-)
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Rumor Now Reality: The former St. Tropez Hotel, now transformed into The Siegel Group's latest "Boutique Chic Retreat," has opened opposite the Hard Rock. Rumor is a two-story 150-suite hotel that owner Stephen Siegel describes as, "Sexy yet unpretentious, glamorous and accessible, eclectic with a relaxing and inviting ambiance." The property features a restaurant called Addiction, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with indoor and outdoor dining, plus a pool and wet deck that features DJs and live music by night.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Poll Results Fixed: The results of the last LVA Reader Poll about your biggest Las Vegas regrets and mistakes, which failed to display on Saturday, are now showing in the Poll Archives; we'll be running your email feedback in the QoD spot on Thursday and Friday of this week.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Orleans Robbery Suspect Arrested: Channel 8 "Eyewitness News" reports that Metro police have arrested the suspect wanted in connection with two carjackings and an armed robbery at the main cage of the Orleans' this morning. The man was found in the Pleasant Valley mobile home park at Twain and Decatur at around 10:30 a.m. this morning having previously crashed a stolen red pickup in the casino's parking lot.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Lake Las Vegas Recovering: The Associated Press reports that Lake Las Vegas is already emerging from the bankruptcy protection it filed for in June. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge approved the community's reorganization last month, after creditor Credit Suisse accepted equity in lieu of Lake Las Vegas' outstanding debt.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Bad News for Nevada Jobless: Although unemployment rates nationally are improving, Nevada's jobless statistics continued to run counter to the general trend and hit a new record high last month, at 14.2 percent statewide and 14.5 percent in Las Vegas.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Poll Results: Our apologies for the problem with Saturday's poll results -- we don't know why they aren't displaying, but our IT department is on the case and we're hoping to have the results restored asap. Stay tuned...
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 A.C. Hotels Reopened: A broken water main killed the air conditioning at four Atlantic City resort-casinos on Thursday, forcing the closure of casinos, shops, and restaurants for most of the weekend. Trump Plaza, Caesars Atlantic City, and The Pier at Caesars are now open once more, but the last we heard crews were still working to restore cooling at Boardwalk Hall, which remained closed.
[Back to Top]•July 19, 2010 Buffet for Life Promo: Beginning Monday, August 2, M Resort is launching a "buffets for life" promotion, giving more than 150 guests the opportunity to win buffets for life, one year, or six months as part of its "Biggest Winner Club" promo. Guests can earn one entry with the purchase of any meal at the resort's Studio B buffet and other prizes include priority line pass and seating in for up to four (4) guests, branded t-shirts, hats, and aprons, and tickets to the resort's Martini Time show. Drawings will be held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 p.m. at Studio B. Winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize.
[Back to Top]•July 18, 2010 The November 9:
The nine-player final table of the WSOP Main Event is set (chip counts in parentheses).
Jonathan Duhamel (65,975,000)
John Dolan (46,250,000)
Joseph Cheong (23,525,000)
John Racener (19,050,000)
Matthew Jarvis (16,700,000)
Filippo Candio (16,400,000)
Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi (14,450,000)
Cuong "Soi" Nguyen (9,650,000)
Jason Sentl (7,625,000)
There will be a 110-day recess until the final table is played.
•July 18, 2010 Zumanity Promo: We've been made aware of a few customers who've experienced a problem when trying to book the current LVA offer on Zumanity tickets. Cirque is also aware of this problem, which lies with the ticketing interface and has also affected some of their other current offers. The problem is being worked on and hopefully will be resolved soon; in the meantime, if you try to book tickets via our offer code and you have a problem, please email cs@huntingtonpress.com and we'll pass you along to Cirque, who will take care of you. Please accept our apologies and those of Cirque du Soleil for any inconvenience.
[Back to Top]•July 18, 2010 Under-Capitalized Zombies Infiltrating Vegas:
Following a fact-finding trip to review Allegiant Airlines, LVA publisher Anthony Curtis reports that zombies are infiltrating Las Vegas by way of the budget carrier. After spending two nights in Monterey, California, A.C. has concluded that the central-coast hamlet has a "ridiculously high concentration" of zombies. "I can say with 92% certainty," said Curtis, "that Monterey has the highest zombie population of any city in California (except for, maybe, Carmel)."
On the return flight, Anthony observed "at least two or three" Monterey zombies onboard and ultimately deplaning at McCarran Airport.
"I can only conclude that Monterey zombies come to Las Vegas on a daily basis, Curtis said. "But it actually makes sense. If you can avoid the Allegiant upsells, it really is the cheapest way I've seen to fly to town. Naturally, this is attractive to zombies, who, due to their lack of hustle, short attention spans, and proclivity to try to eat customers, are rarely able to hold down full-time jobs."
The LVA review of Allegiant will appear in the August issue.
•July 17, 2010 Wheel of Fortune Tix: There are limited supplies of free tickets to see "Wheel of Fortune" taping at the Venetian for July 19 and 20; pick them up today from the Blue Man box office while supplies last.
[Back to Top]•July 17, 2010 Kudos to Craftsteak: Craftsteak at MGM Grand has been awarded Wine Spectator's 2010 Best of Award of Excellence for their wine program.
[Back to Top]•July 17, 2010 Breakfast is Back: M Resort's Studio B Buffet is serving breakfast again, 7 a.m to 10:30 a.m., Mondays through Fridays for $9.99. The weekends continue to run the seafood brunch all day for $29.95.
[Back to Top]•July 17, 2010 Springs for Free:
Admission to the Springs Preserve is free today as part of the national Target Arts & Wonder Weekend. Includes unlimited access to all Springs Preserve attractions, museums and exhibits, as well as kids' activities including face-painting and balloon artists, arts and crafts, an archaeological "dig," and snacks such as snow cones and popcorn. Everyone welcome.