LVA's News

•February 7, 2012 Mob Museum Preview: It's set to debut in a week's time, but for those who can't wait, here's a sneak preview of the new Museum of Law Enforcement and Organized Crime downtown.

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•February 7, 2012 Mob Experience Reincarnated: The troubled Las Vegas Mob Experience at the Tropicana has been bought out of bankruptcy by a new owner and will be renamed the Mob Attraction Las Vegas.

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•February 7, 2012 Super Bowl Handle Near Record: Nevada's $93.9 million handle on Sunday's Super Bowl was the second-largest in state history, a record set in 2006 at $94.5 million.

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•February 7, 2012 Downtown Entertainment Update: La Cage has abruptly closed at the Four Queens, which apparently is going to focus its entertainment offerings on concerts, while the Plaza showroom is to host a new production called Avant Garde. Described as a collection of "music, mirth, magic and mayhem, the show debuts Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. and will feature a rotating cast of varied entertainers. Ticket prices start at $34.95 and the show will perform nightly (dark Fridays).

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•February 7, 2012 Dancer Column Live: Bob Dancer's weekly column has been posted, in which he discusses how to pick your promotions by calculating how much each is worth on a dollars-per-hour basis. Insightful and instructional, as always.

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•February 7, 2012 Station to Buy Out JPMorgan: Station Casinos executives Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta plan to buy out investor JPMorgan Chase for $73 million, reports Vegas Inc.

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•February 7, 2012 Caesars IPO: The pricing of Caesars Entertainment's IPO, which was due to take place Monday, was apparently delayed due to a "technical glitch," but banks are now expected to price the offering today, with trading on the Nasdaq expected to start sometime this afternoon.

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•February 7, 2012 Madonna Vegas-Bound: Following her triumphant Super Bowl half-time show last weekend, it's just been announced that Madonna will bring her 2012 world tour to Las Vegas Oct. 13 for a show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tickets will be available starting Monday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. at livenation.com, the MGM Grand Garden box office, and all Ticketmaster outlets.

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•February 6, 2012 New Member Rewards Online: As promised in the February issue of the LVA newsletter, we're finally stepping up our game with the long-promised Member Rewards Online program, following the launch of our new dedicated CouponsinVegas.com site. This week we already have six new deals from six new partners, including The Barrymore at Royal Resort, Public House at Venetian, LBS Burger at Red Rock, Holsteins at Cosmo, Pink's Hot Dogs at Planet Hollywood, and the Las Vegas Monorail, which seldom offers discounts to anyone, so check 'em out and if you're not already an LVA member, what are you waiting for?!

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•February 6, 2012 Report Profiles Casino Revenue: A new report released by The American Gaming Association (AGA) shows that the casino industry is responsible for about one percent of the total U.S. GDP. The report shows a total of 566 casinos in 22 states, representing about $125 billion in spending and supporting almost 820,000 jobs, reports Associated Press.

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•February 6, 2012 Another Trop Sale: The Tropicana has just launched a new 48-hour sale, with up to 30% off rooms and suites. Sale ends Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 9 a.m., so book now!

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•February 6, 2012 Pole Dance Contest: This Thursday, Feb. 9, Babes Cabaret topless club hosts the 2nd annual Miss Pole Champ West at 11 p.m. If you haven't already registered, you can register for $30 from 8-10 p.m. on the night. There's a $500 cash prize for first place, plus gift certificates, and a trip to the national finals, where there's a $1,000 top cash prize up for grabs. The event will be filmed for live airing on pay-per-view. Click here for more information.

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•February 6, 2012 New Downtown Lunch Spot: As of today, the new Mob Bar downtown on Third Street is open for lunch, serving an Italian tapas-style small bites.

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•February 6, 2012 Brad Garrett Hiring: Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, due to open at MGM Grand in April, is hosting an open casting call tomorrow for model servers, bartenders, and barbacks, from 2 to 6 p.m. in Tabu Ultralounge. Please bring resume and recent head shot.

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•February 6, 2012 Cupcake Social at Freed's: Long-time Las Vegas favorite Freed's Bakery (9815 S. Eastern Ave) has launched a "Cupcake Social (Experiment!)", and now through Feb. 12 offering five flavors of cupcakes for $1 each (reg. price $2.95). The promotion is also part of a social-networking experiment: If they reach 100 "shares" of the event on Facebook, they'll also give away the first cupcake free -- no purchase necessary. Click the link for more information.

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•February 5, 2012 Super Bowl Line: The closing line is Patriots -3 with extra vig the on Giants (-120 in most places). The total is 53.

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•February 5, 2012 Florida Gambling Delayed: The bill proposing "destination casinos" in Florida has been withdrawn, effectively stalling (at least) efforts to build up to three megaresorts there. While it's possible that the bill could be resurrected before the end of the legislative session in March, most experts believe it wil be shelved until next year.

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•February 5, 2012 America in Action: While the legal sports books in Nevada are looking for a handle today in the $90 million range, it pales in comparison to the amount of illegal betting on the Super Bowl that will be done across the nation. It's  estimated that $8 billion will be wagered illegally, which equates with more than 50% of U.S. adults having a wager of some sort on the game. This includes online bets, illegal bookies, betting squares, office pools, and man-to-man wagering.

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•February 5, 2012 Wingtastic Weekend: More than 1.25 billion wings -- 100 million pounds in weight -- will be consumed this weekend, according to the National Chicken Council’s 2012 Wing Report. If the wings were laid end-to-end they would circle the circumference of the Earth more than twice – a distance that would reach approximately a quarter of the way to the moon.

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•February 5, 2012 Super Bowl: Indianapolis may be the best place to be for the Super Bowl, but Vegas is a close second. The town is jumping, but the books aren't packed yet, so there's still time to get in and stake out a seat. The line is Patriots -3 in most places, though we've seen 2.5s at Wynn, South Point, and the Palms.

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•February 4, 2012 95 Closed: The installation of overhead girders on the Summerlin Parkway connector is forcing a detour along the freeway and the closure of portions of Rainbow Boulevard. Now through 5 a.m. Monday, drivers heading north or south on U.S. 95 will be detoured onto Rainbow Boulevard then back onto U.S. 95 on the other side of Rainbow Curve. The 95 will be narrowed to only two lanes in each direction, with a 15 mph speed limit, and drivers going east on Summerlin Parkway will also be diverted onto Rainbow. Vehicles trying to drive across Rainbow will be diverted through other surface streets and the work will also restrict access to U.S. 95 north from Jones and from Lake Mead to U.S. 95 southbound. For more information, and a detailed map, check out the coverage on the 8NewsNow site.

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•February 4, 2012 Diaz/Condit Line: Nick Diaz is a -215 favorite over Carlos Condit in tonight's UFC main even. Over 3.5 rounds is -175. In the other big matches, Fabricio Werdum is -175 over Roy Nelson and Josh Koscheck is -275 over Mike Pierce.

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•February 4, 2012 RIP Studio 54: The iconic New York import, that's been a fixture on the Strip for 14 years, finally closes for good tonight. They're going out with a bang hosted by LL Cool J and DJ Z-Trip. Doors open at 10 p.m. The space will be converted into a daylife/nightlife restaurant and club venue called Hakkasan Las Vegas.

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•February 4, 2012 Super Bowl Ticket Prices Decline: Bloomberg reports that the price of Super Bowl tickets has fallen 15% over the past week. What does a seat at the big game go for? The average price is a cool $3,664.

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•February 4, 2012 First '2' Shows: As the line on the Super Bowl moves slowly downward, the first Patriots -2 has popped up. While most books have held steadu at Pats -3, a few have moved to -2.5, and now Wynn Las Vegas is dealing -2. If the line closes less than 3, it will be only the fourth time it's done so in the 46-game history of the Super Bowl. You can follow the moves for yourself by with our free lines feed at LVASports.com.

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•February 4, 2012 Free Liquor for Ladies: Ladies drink for free tonight from 8-10 p.m. at the new Mob Bar downtown on Third Street.

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•February 4, 2012 Boxing Legends in Town: Meet boxing legends Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, and Ernie Shavers, who'll be signing autographs at the the IBA Cruiserweight Championship at LVH (former Las Vegas Hilton) tonight. Doors at 7 p.m.; tickets start at $25.

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•February 3, 2012 Pre-Fight Party: MMA fighters Urijah "The California Kid" Faber, Chael Sonnen, Mark Munoz, and Chad Mendes host a pre-fight party at eyecandy sound lounge & bar at Mandalay Bay tonight, ahead of tomorrow's Diaz v. Condit contest.

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•February 3, 2012 New MRO Posted: Check out CouponsinVegas.com for the latest Member Rewards Online offer, which is a discount on the 3-Day Pass for Las Vegas Monorail. The Monorail rarely grants any discounts and this is an exclusive for LVA members.

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•February 3, 2012 First Friday: It's that time of the month again, with the monthly and ever-growing downtown arts festival kicking off in less than an hour. Visit the
Coincidentally, today's Business Week carries a profile of Tony Hsieh, the Zappo's CEO who's now a co-owner of the event.

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•February 3, 2012 Palms Pool Hiring: The latest in the flurry of seasonal party-pool casting calls takes place at the Palms today and tomorrow from noon to 7 p.m. inside Rain nightclub. Openings include positions for cocktail servers, assistants, bartenders, apprentice bartenders, VIP hosts, and security and lifeguards. Applicants are encouraged to apply online first at the N9NE Group website.

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•February 3, 2012 UFC Octagon in Town: The UFC's Octagon Nation Tour will stop at the Las Vegas Harley Davidson dealership at Sahara and Eastern today and Saturday, from 4 to 6 p.m. Visitors can test their skills at the HDNet Punch Meter for a chance to win a trip to watch a taping of HDNet's "Inside MMA," reports "Fox5 News." There will also be a chance to check out the UFC gaming station and meet Shane Carwin, Miesha Tate, and Ronda Rousey, who will be signing autographs from 5 to 6 p.m. today.

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•February 3, 2012 Possible Redesign for Encore: Wynn Resorts yesterday reported higher earnings than anticipated for both its Las Vegas and Macau properties, while Steve Wynn hinted at a possible redesign in the works for Encore, which was built under the assumption that there would be new resort-casinos across the street -- something that now seems unlikely any time soon. Vegas Inc. reports that the casino mogul explained that Wynn Las Vegas' sister property was designed for a west-to-east flow from the Plaza Las Vegas and Echelon, which have been scrapped and indefinitely postponed, respectively. "The changes we’re looking at would be exciting and work to our advantage," he said.

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•February 3, 2012 Water Park Delayed: The opening of the new Splash Canyon water park, optimistically scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, has been postponed for a year due to construction delays, reports "Fox5 News." The $20-million attraction will be built on a 35-acre space on the southwest side of town at Fort Apache, between Maule Avenue and Warm Springs Road. Anyone who purchased season passes for 2012 can get a refund or convert to a 2013 season pass for $49.50 (a 50% discount). The company is also recruiting seasonal workers for next year on its website.

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•February 3, 2012 New Cocina for Primm: Primm Valley Resorts continues to woo the Latino market with the upcoming debut of Raymond Ayala's Cocina and Cantina on Feb. 16. To mark the grand opening, patrons are encouraged to start cultivating their best mustache, with a VIP package, including tickets to Ayala's concert on Feb. 19, dinner for two, and a two-night stay going to the winner. The party will take place from 7 to 9 p.m., with complimentary food samples and an appearance by Raymond Ayala. For more information and to register for the contest, click here.

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•February 3, 2012 Asian Casino Planned: Today's R-J reports that a developer plans to turn a vacant lot on W. Sahara Avenue into a 10-story Asian-oriented resort-casino called the Lucky Dragon. The lot, once destined to house a condo tower, is located between the Allure condominium tower and the Golden Steer restaurant. The proposal goes before the Las Vegas City Council on Feb. 15.

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•February 3, 2012 Super Bowl Prop Bets: Props are the subject of today's Question of the Day, and since we wrote the answer, various race and sports books have started posting their props online, so we're adding the links as we find 'em.

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•February 3, 2012 Coolio at Rockhouse: The Robert & Paco Show airs live at 7 p.m. tonight from Rockhouse, with special guest Coolio. The Internet radio show broadcasts on Hook Jaw Net Radio and fans of the hip-hop star are welcome to attend the live broadcast and meet the artist.

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•February 3, 2012 Friday Night Fights: Get warmed up for UFC 143 with Friday Night Fights at Texas Station tonight, presented by ESPN and Warriors. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the first bout's at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $27.

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•February 2, 2012 Trop LV Sale Reminder: The flash sale at the Tropicana ends at 9 p.m. tonight, so you've got less than four hours to take advantage of the 25% discount on rooms and suites. Hurry!

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•February 2, 2012 Wedding Chapel Upgrade: Just in time for Valentine's Day, Imperial Palace has debuted its new Silver Sky Chapel with two renovated venues, the Skyline and the Sierra. Wedding packages range from simple to "Vegas-style," with the option of quirky additions, including "liquid courage" shots, showgirls, celebrity impersonators, and matching couples tattoos.

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•February 2, 2012 Caesars IPO: In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Caesars Entertainment announced this morning that it would list in excess of 1.8 million shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CZR, with an initial asking price of between $8 and $10 a share. No timeframe has yet been given for the IPO.

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•February 2, 2012 WSOP Adds Bracelets, Tables: Following the announcement of this year's World Series of Poker dates, comes word that the tournament will add almost 100 extra tables and an additional three bracelets -- bringing the total number of bracelet events to 61 -- this year.

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•February 2, 2012 Fezzik on the Radio: With the Super Bowl looming, handicapping luminary and LVASportsboards moderator Fezzik will be the guest on Seat Williams and Paulie Howard's show on ESPN Radio (1100 AM) today from 1 to 2 p.m.

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•February 2, 2012 Flash Sale at the Trop: Tropicana Las Vegas is holding a 12-hour room sale today, with 25% off all rooms and suites, so book now so you don't miss out. Sale ends 9 p.m. tonight.

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•February 2, 2012 Valentine's Day: If you're looking for ways to woo your honey, check out our Valentine's Day listings in "Special Events" for events, entertainment, and dining ideas.

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•February 2, 2012 Heart Health Month: February is Heart Health Month, and various Las Vegas venues are supporting the cause. PBR Rock Bar & Grill at Miracle Mile Shops is teaming with the American Heart Association to host "Go Red for Women" to help spread awareness for Heart Month and National Wear Red Day today, Thursday, Feb. 2. The event, sponsored by Smirnoff Vodka (really? for heart health?) takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. Supporters wearing red will be treated to a complimentary cocktail and invited to join in the event’s Strip-side group photo.

Meanwhile, both Hard Rock Cafe locations have started a year-long program called "Rock the Cause," featuring a different specific cause to support each month, starting with Heart Health Month in February, marked by the promotion of healthier eating options on their menus,  and a blood drive hosted by Carrot Top on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Hard Rock Cafe location on Paradise and Harmon. All donors will receive a free ticket to see Carrot Top live at Luxor.

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•February 2, 2012 Las Vegas This Weekend: Get your laughing hat on, because, in addition to the two big sporting events this weekend, Las Vegas is literally awash with comedians:

• Comedian Andrew Dice Clay entertians at the Riviera (2/2-2/3)
  
• The MGM Grand welcomes Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza (2/2-2/5)
  
• Daniel Tosh does stand-up at the Mirage (2/3-2/4)
  
• Comedian Josh Wolf makes 'em laught at the South Point (2/3-2/4)
  
• The Venetian welcomes comedian Tim Allen (2/3-2/4)
  
• Joe Rogan warms up for UFC 143, which takes place at Mandalay Bay (2/4), by getting his laugh on at the House of Blues (2/3)
  
• The Hard Rock welcomes Mötley Crüe in Sin City (2/3-2/19)
  
• Country superstars George Strait and Martina McBride take the stage at MGM (2/4)
  
• The Lingerie Football League plays in the Lingerie Bowl IX at the Orleans Arena (2/5)
  
• And it's the Big Game weekend and there's viewing parties all over town. With food specials, drink specials, giveaways, and more. Check out our full list of Big Game Parties here.

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•February 2, 2012 Final Football Update: With the "Big Game" looming, Anthony Curtis just posted the final Football Update of the season at LVASports.com, with tips on where to watch the game, prop bets, and more.

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•February 1, 2012 Hooters Show Adds Extra Day: As of tonight, Raack n Roll, the topless revue at Hooters, will now perform Wednesdays, as well as Friday through Sunday. Don't forget there's a twofer ticket offer in the 2012 MRB.

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•February 1, 2012 Food Truck Fest Tonight: A reminder that tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. South Point hosts a massive and free-to-attend food truck festival, featuring several of Las Vegas' most popular mobile eateries, plus visiting trucks from out of state (click the link for complete list). One of the visitors will be LA's Border Grill truck, and coincidentally it was today reported by the VegasEater blog that owners Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger have announced that opening a second Las Vegas Strip location, in addition to the existing Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, is a "top priority" for them, although they have not yet hinted at a venue. The existing location here has been in the "Essential 50" restaurants in Eating Las Vegas for the past two years. Watch this space...

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•February 1, 2012 Former Rebels Coach Passes: Missouri news media are reporting that former UNLV basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour has died at the age of 72. Spoonhour coached the Runnin' Rebels from 2001 to 2004, when he retired.

Don't forget, today also marks the opening of the Rebel Swag store in Hooters Casino.

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•February 1, 2012 Mayweather vs. Cotto: After all the hype Floyd Mayweather has been generating for a May 5 fight against Manny Pacquiao, the Las Vegas-based boxer has announced that he plans to fight Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on that date, after the Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted unanimously to grant him a one-fight license for the May 5 fight. The license is conditional upon Mayweather meeting the counseling and community service requirements of his plea deal; a status review is scheduled for March 15.

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•February 1, 2012 WSOP Dates Announced: The 43rd annual World Series of Poker, which will once more take place at the Rio, kicks off May 27, running through July 16. The Main Event begins July 7.

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•February 1, 2012 Flamingo East Closed: E. Flamingo Rd. is currently closed all the way from Sandhill to the US 95 off ramp due to a serious traffic accident. (This item posted at 11:00 a.m.)

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•February 1, 2012 Trop Too Broke to Dance: According to gossip maestro Robin Leach's Vegas Deluxe blog, plans for the Tropicana to host a "Dancing With the Stars" production show, with a revolving cast of stars, have been scrapped because the project was too expensive. It's just the latest in a string of entertainment hiccups at the newly remodeled resort.

Robin's also reporting that the makeover at the Palms, highlighted in the February issue of the LVA newsletter, will include the transformation of the former spa into a poolside restaurant, and the closure of Rain nightclub for a complete remodel.

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•February 1, 2012 Strip Club Closed: Jaguars gentlemen's club, which reopened under its original name last July after subsequent abortive incarnations as SCORES and Rick's Cabaret, has closed once more. There are other shake-ups in the works in the adult-entertainment scene, with word that one venue will be opening a swingers club upstairs, and lots of management reshuffles afoot. To keep abreast of the current strip-club scene, purchase our electronic guide to Topless Vegas and subscribe to the "Update Package" for a whole year's access to the most current data for every club, topless revue, and European-style pool.

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•February 1, 2012 Station Car-a-Day Giveaway: Station Casinos will give away 200 cars and $400,000 in cash between February 10-29. The "$5 Million Car-A-Day Giveaway" promotion will take place across all 10 Station and Fiesta locations, which will each give away one car per day during the 20-day promo period, with drawings held daily at 8:15 p.m. in each casino. Four $500 cash winners will also be drawn at each location. See the players club for more details.

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•January 31, 2012 Neon Boneyard Hiring: Do you have mad event-planning skills and a passion for old neon signage? Then the Neon Museum wants to hear from you!

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•January 31, 2012 Rugby at Rock Bar: PBR Rock Bar in the Miracle Mile Shops will serve as the official HQ of the USA Rugby Sevens tournament from Friday, Feb. 10, through Sunday, Feb. 12, with rugby fans who attend the match-ups receiving a 10 percent discount when they present their ticket stubs. If you're not able to catch the games live, the venue will also be screening them on its wall-to-wall HD TVs.

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•January 31, 2012 Last Day for Free Steak: This is the last day to enjoy your free steak dinner at Hooters Casino (must have out-of-state ID). Click the link for our bargain room-rate deal there and get free drinks and freeplay, too!

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•January 31, 2012 Want to Be on Pawn Stars? If you're after your fifteen minutes of fame and have something to sell or pawn, submit it via the official History Channel Pawn Stars website for a chance to be on the show.

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•January 31, 2012 New Ellis Eatery Coming: In one week Ellis Island will debut its new Boardhouse Sandwich Shop.

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•January 31, 2012 Meet a Ring Girl: On Feb. 2 UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste will be at the Las Vegas Fight Shop in the Miracle Mile Shops from 7 to 9 p.m. for a free autograph signing ahead of the weekend's big card. On Feb. 3 Feb. Octagon Girl Brittney Palmer and fighter Mike Pierce will host a free signing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and on Feb. 4 UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre will be there signing autographs from noon to 2 p.m. This event is also free and open to the public.

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•January 31, 2012 Last Day for Lions: MGM Grand's iconic Lion Habitat allegedly closes today at 7 p.m., although after being transferred numerous times we finally spoke with someone who informed us that a) there's a chance it will stay open through the weekend, due to all the tourists in town for Super Bowl, UFC, etc. and b) the lion cubs will be there today, so you try to get down today anyhow, if you'd like to see them. The exhibit has been in operation since July 1, 1999. There's been no confirmation as yet as to what will take its place, but a new live-music venue has been rumored. It's all part of the property's "360-degree" makeover (see "Today's News" 1/30/2012).

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•January 30, 2012 Curtis Takes Second: For the second year in succession, Anthony Curtis took second place at the Blackjack Ball on Saturday, beaten by "Mr Yuk." This year's gathering of "21" luminaries was particularly notable due to the presence, for the first time in the event's history, of Beat the Dealer author Dr Ed Thorp, who pioneered the technique of counting cards.

Ian Andersen, author of our book Burning the Tables in Las Vegas, was voted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Andersen also wrote an earlier book titled Turning the Tables on Las Vegas. Wheras most books concentrate on the science of beating blackjack, Andersen's are the best ever written about the art of getting away with it.

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•January 30, 2012 Rappers Going Big on Super Bowl: Online sports-betting site BetOnline has offered to accept Birdman's proposed $5 million wager on the Patriots, following 50 Cent's offer to book his bet for $1 million. 50 Cent also initially said he'd Tweet a photo of an intimate part of his anatomy if the Giants lose, but we understand he subsequently retracted that offer.

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•January 30, 2012 MGM Grand Sweepstakes: Enter MGM Grand's "Renovation Sweepstakes" for a chance to win a stay in one of their newly designed rooms -- they're giving away a one-night stay every week over the next two months. One lucky winner will receive the Grand Prize of a one-night stay in a new suite, plus two spa treatments, two tickets to see KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, and dinner for two. Click here to enter.

You can keep up-to-date with the ongoing makeover at a dedicated website, thegrandrenovation.com.

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•January 30, 2012 Win a Free Capriottis Sub: The popular local sandwich store is holding a contest to create an imaginary Capriotti's Super Bowl commercial. Submit your ideas via their official Twitter, @Capriottis, and the most creative ideas will win a free sub.

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•January 30, 2012 Sports Betting App for FB: Sport77 Media has just launched SportStars -- a global Facebook application for sports fans which enables players to interact and bet against each other, for virtual currency, on live sporting events, including soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and hockey.

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•January 30, 2012 Rebel Store for Hooters: This Wednesday will see the debut of the new "Rebel Swag" store at Hooters casino, selling UNLV Rebel logo apparel and accessories for kids, adults, and pets.

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•January 30, 2012 Legionnaires' at Luxor: According to the Southern Nevada Health District, three guests who recently stayed at the Luxor have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. One of them has since died, while the other two are said to be recovering. Symptoms for the disease, which is a form of pneumonia, include fever, chills, coughing, muscular aches, and other flu-like effects. If you have stayed at the Luxor recently and suspect you might have contracted the illness, which can be treated with antibiotics, consult a doctor asap.

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•January 30, 2012 Another Dubious List: Coed Magazine has named Las Vegas the #1 trashiest destination for spring break, reports today's LV Sun.

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•January 29, 2012 Luck Premieres Tonight: HBO's new horse-racing drama, "Luck," which stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, debuts tonight at 9 p.m. From director Michael Mann(Public Enemies, Ali) and "Deadwood" creator David Milch, the series delves into the world of gambling, bookmaking, money laundering, and casino operations, centered around the Santa Anita Racetrack in California. Look out for our review.

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•January 29, 2012 New Exhibit at Springs Preserve "SPACE: A Journey to Our Future," the interactive stellar exhibit which has been a hit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and many other leading science centers nationwide, debuts today at Las Vegas Springs Preserve, where it will be on show through May 13

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•January 29, 2012 Chinatown Festivities: Chinatown Plaza on Spring Mountain Rd. hosts its annual Chinese New Year festival today, with lots of diverse Asian food stalls, live entertainment, and more. The event runs till 5 p.m. and admission is $3.

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•January 28, 2012 UFC Evans/Davis: Rashad Evans is about a 2-1 favorite over Phil Davis in tonight's UFC main event. In the second featured match, Chael Sonnen is a 4.5-favorite over Michael Bisping. This will be the second UFC card to be aired for free on Fox.

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•January 28, 2012 Niners Stars at Miracle Mile: Former San Francisco 49ers stars Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, and Roger Craig will visit Blondies Sports Bar & Grill inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood for autograph signings from 1 to 3 p.m. today and from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday. In order to attend the event, fans must purchase items provided by Memorabilia International inside the mall for Montana, Clark, or Craig to sign. Items start at $69 for Clark and Craig and $149 for Montana.

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•January 27, 2012 Ohio Casino Collapse Injures 12: A dozen workers were injured today when a section of floor collapsed at the Horseshoe Casino, Cincinnati, which is under construction. None of the injuries was reported as serious, although the workers fell 30 feet. The accident follows a similar incident in December at a Cleveland casino, which is being built by the same developer.

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•January 27, 2012 Decadent Truffle Time at Guy Savoy: Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, a Top Ten pick in Eating Las Vegas, is serving a seasonal eight-course black truffle menu through February 2012 for $398/person.

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•January 27, 2012 Strong Result for McCarran: The latest traffic report from McCarran International Airport reveals a surge in visitation last year, with the highest number of passengers -- 41.47 million -- since 2008. The rebound is particularly striking since in 2010, for the first time in six years traffic dropped below 40 million.

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•January 27, 2012 New Ellis Island Casino: Casino Valle Verde, formerly Thirstbusters at 697 Valle Verde in Henderson, is now part of the Ellis Island/Village Pub family, as of January 17.

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•January 27, 2012 Steve Cyr on the Radio: Las Vegas "superhost" Steve Cyr, the subject of best-seller Whale Hunt in the Desert, will be the guest on ESPN Radio's "Scott Van Pelt Show" at 1 p.m. today. You can tune in on 98.9 FM or 1100 AM.

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•January 27, 2012 New International Service for McCarran: Copa Airlines will add non-stop service from Panama to Las Vegas this June, offering four flights a week to Panama City. The airline will be the first to operate out of McCarran's new $2.4 billion terminal.

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•January 27, 2012 The Great Karaoke Massacre: We updated our Karaoke listings yesterday for the first time in what we confess has been awhile, and we found at least half the venues that used to offer it have either ceased to or, in several instances, have gone out of business altogether. Casualties include Forbes Karaoke Restaurant & Bar, Straight Up, Tailspin, Lucky Nickle, and the venerable Lally's, which had been operating on Rancho Drive, out by Texas Station, since the late 1940s.

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•January 27, 2012 Cantor Promotion: Cantor Gaming, which currently operates the race and sports books at M Resort, Hard Rock, Tropicana, Cosmopolitan, and Venetian/Palazzo, announced today that it is offering a "Play 10" promotion: Sports betting fans who wager $10,000 using their account at any Cantor book between today and Super Sunday, Feb. 5, will receive a free Samsung Galaxy tablet.  

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•January 27, 2012 New Bling Boutique: Patty's Closet, which has several boutiques around the valley, has transformed the former Blue Diamond location into "YSparkle by Patty’s Closet," a new all-accessory store that debuts Saturday at 11 a.m.  The new Sparkle store is located at 9345 S. Cimmarron Rd., and all shoppers on opening day will receive 20% off their entire purchase, plus a chance to win an iPad in a a raffle. The event will also be serviced by a number of Las Vegas' food trucks.

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•January 26, 2012 LVASports Price Drop: With football season concluding, the price to join our exclusive private sports message boards has been lowered to $24.95 per month and $199 per year (previously $99/$999, respectively). These prices are in place now, which means that if you join now, you'll be in for the full week's discussion of the Super Bowl its betting opportunities. Sign up here. Anthony Curtis also just posted his free weekly Football Update at LVASports.com, so check it out for some pre-Super Bowl tips and info.

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•January 26, 2012 Human Nature to Tour: March 19 will be the last show for Human Nature at Imperial Palace, while the Aussie Motown singing sensations take to the road for a tour through May 3. There's no word as yet as to if or when the show will return, so take advantage of the 2-for-2 ticket offer in the 2012 LVA Member Rewards Book while you can!

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•January 26, 2012 Baccarat Bigger Than Blackjack: The recent trend of baccarat eclipsing blackjack as the Strip's biggest table-game earner continues, reports the Associated Press, responsible for nearly 60 percent of MGM Grand's table-games take in the past year, for example. With tens of thousands of Asian tourists in town to celebrate Chinese New Year, casino high-limit rooms have been seeing players wager up to $200,000 a hand on the game over the past few days.

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•January 26, 2012 Las Vegas This Weekend: Chinese New Year celebrations are the main event this weekend, but here are some other highlights:

• The Orleans welcomes Bob Saget (1/27-1/28)
  
• Kid Rock's at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay (1/27-1/28), while country star Brad Paisley takes the stage at the Events Center (1/28)
  
• Peter Noone entertains out at South Point (1/27-1/29)
  
• The Hard Rock welcomes Social Distortion (1/27)
  
• Easton Corbin's out at Buffalo Bill's (1/28)
  
• Aaron Lewis of Staind performs at Green Valley Rach (1/28) and Red Rock (1/29)
  
• The Chinese New Year's celebrations are underway all over town. Check out our featured SpotLight for all the details including Chinatown Plaza's annual festival, featuring an array of Asian food delicacies, music, acrobatics, a Lion Dance, and more (1/29)

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•January 26, 2012 Five Finger Death Punch Presale: Now through 10 p.m. Friday, buy tickets for Five Finger Death Punch's March 23 gig at the Hard Rock before anyone else can, using presale promo code HRH5FDP. Tickets go on sale to the general public Saturday, Jan. 28.

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•January 26, 2012 Accolade for ElkY: Congrats to Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, co-author of our acclaimed poker title, The Raiser's Edge, who was named Poker Personality of the Year at the 11th Annual European Poker Awards in Paris Wednesday. ElkY won $2,296,620 from live tournaments in 2011, including capturing his first WSOP bracelet.

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•January 26, 2012 Transit Upgrade Proposed: The RTC is inviting public input on a proposed new east-west express bus route on Sahara from Red Rock to east of Boulder Highway. The upgrade would involve cutting service in other areas, but most of the funding would come from federal grants. If the measure is approved, the changes will go into effect May 20.

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•January 26, 2012 Traffic Delays Likely: President Obama is in town and staying in Summerlin. He's due to travel on the western 215 Beltway to a UPS hub at Warm Springs and Bermuda sometime between now and 10 a.m., and will then depart from McCarran around 11:40 a.m., so expect traffic delays due to heightened security.

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•January 26, 2012 Casino Closed: We just learned from a reader that Stetson's Saloon and Casino on Boulder Highway has closed, apparently for a remodel. We'll keep you posted if/when we learn more.

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•January 25, 2012 Epic NASCAR Poker Tourney: The NASCAR Foundation will host its first poker tournament fundraiser next month, in conjuntion with Epic Poker, during the heart of Speedweeks. The "High Speed Hold 'Em on the Halifax" will take place from 7-10 p.m. ET on Feb. 22 at the new clubhouse of MG on the Halifax and will pit drivers, celebrities, poker pros, and one lucky fan against each other in a Pro-Am tournament, with proceeds benefiting the NASCAR Foundation and Speediatrics.

The event will be overseen by honorary tournament director Annie Duke, commissioner of the Epic Poker League and best-selling author of Decide to Play Great Poker.

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•January 25, 2012 Free Flights with Spirit: Spirit is celebrating the launch of its new service at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on Feb. 9 by giving away a total of 10 million frequent flier miles -- the equivalent of 5,000 round-trip tickets to Las Vegas -- to residents and Arizona travel agencies. 3,200 of the free tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to residents who show up at the food court of Scottsdale Fashion Square tomorrow at 1 p.m. MST, and in the food court of Fiesta Mall in Mesa on Friday at noon. Please line up no earlier than 9 a.m. The remaining 1,800 flights, all of which must be between Phoenix-Mesa and Las Vegas, will be distributed to travel agencies.

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•January 25, 2012 Food Feuds at Wynn: This morning, we noticed that Chef Alex Stratta's photograph has been removed from the Wynn website, although his remaining restaurant remains open. Although there's been no public rift, Alex, the renowned chef's French gourmet restaurant at the property, was closed virtually without notice last year and evidently against its namesake's wishes, severing a relationship between Stratta and Wynn that stretched back to the latter's ownership of the Mirage.

This led us to muse for how long Okada would remain in business, in light of the man for whom it's named currently being in the process of suing Wynn Resorts, in which he's the major shareholder (see "Today's News" 1/12/2010). Question answered! We just received a press release stating that Okada will be "closed for renovation beginning February 6, 2012." Time will tell if this high-end sushi restaurant returns, or not...

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•January 25, 2012 Obama Headed to UPS: President Obama will visit the UPS facility near McCarran airport tomorrow morning and is expected to praise the company's eco-friendly delivery trucks, which run on liquefied natural gas. For more events and news about the Vegas "green" scene, follow our @GreenVegas and check out our Vegas Green Guide in our Visitor Guide section, where you'll find details on eco-friendly attractions, restaurants, and hotels.

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•January 25, 2012 Allegiant Adds New Route: Allegiant Air, the Las Vegas-based budget airline, is setting up operations in Oakland, CA and will begin offering flights to the Bay area from seven cities in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon in late April, reports Vegas Inc.

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•January 25, 2012 Iconic LGBT Event Moving to Vegas: The Girl Bar Dinah Shore Weekend lesbian experience will be hosted by various properties in the Caesars Entertainment group in Las Vegas from April 27-29 this year, it's just been announced. Properties hosting events include Planet Hollywood and the Flamingo, whose Go Pool will be turned over exclusively to Dinah Shore Weekend ticket and pass holders.

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•January 25, 2012 WPT Season X: Season X of World Poker Tour debuts Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on Fox Sports Net. Due to the popularity of the last season, this year the number of episodes has been upped from 26 to 37, with each featured tournament now to be featured in three separate episodes, allowing for more action and additional behind-the-scenes footage.

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•January 25, 2012 Wet Republic Hiring: The party pool at MGM Grand has 100 openings to fill and is holding open casting calls every day this week from noon to 5 p.m. in LAX nightclub at Luxor. Bring swimwear and a recent head shot. Must be 21+.

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•January 25, 2012 Southwest Celebration: Southwest Airlines is celebrating its 30th anniversary serving Las Vegas this year with a "Venture to Vegas" Twitter contest that starts today, with five Vegas Vacation Getaways up for grabs. To enter, follow @southwestair on Twitter and look out for a new Vegas-themed riddle each day at a different time. Answer the riddle correctly in the form of a photo and include the #VegasLUV30 hashtag to ensure your entry. Click here for more information.

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•January 25, 2012 In Search of Talent: The talent and casting scouts from "America's Got Talent" will be in Las Vegas early next month on their search for new as-yet-unknown stars. As many as 30 acts will be auditioned at the invitation-only producer’s showcase.

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•January 25, 2012 Wing Wednesday: Mention code word "celebrate" at Hooters casino today for 10 free wings -- one order per party, no strings.

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•January 24, 2012 Good News for Skiiers: After a slow start to the season that saw sledding shut down due to lack of snowfall, Mt. Charleston has now received its first fresh powder, with several more inches expected early in the week.

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•January 24, 2012 New MROs Posted: As promised, the first batch of Member Rewards Online offers are now live at our new dedicated site, CouponsInVegas.com, including the unlimited Bloody Mary bar at Simon with Sunday Brunch, free appetizer/dessert at both Arizona Charlie's locations, 2-for-1 Sin City beer, and more! This is just the beginning of this year's online program, which we'll continue to populate with both members-only offers, and deals for everyone, so keep checking back for new coupons to download and follow @CouponsInVegas on Twitter for updates.

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•January 24, 2012 More Pools Hiring: Green Valley Ranch will hold an open call for The Pond and The Backyard on Jan. 27 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. and again on Jan, 28 - 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Aria and the Mirage are hiring for Liquid and Bare, respectively, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 from 1 -6 p.m. in Haze nightclub at Aria.

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•January 24, 2012 New Dancer Column: Bob Dancer just posted his latest Weekly Column, in which he considers, "What's in a record?" As always, an interesting and informative read.

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•January 24, 2012 Rehab Casting Call: Just a reminder that the open casting call for Rehab takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today in Vanity nightclub at the Hard Rock. Must be 21+ and come dressed in your sexiest beach attire.

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•January 24, 2012 Blue Men Dig Super Bowl: Blue Man Group, currently performing at the Venetian, is celebrating Super Bowl XLVI with $46 tickets for fans who show up at the Box Office in person wearing an item of Giants or Patriots logo gear amd quoting code GAME46. The offer is good for tickets to 10 p.m. shows Jan. 30-Feb. 6 (no performance Feb. 5) and tickets are same-day sale only -- you can't reserve in advance.

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•January 24, 2012 Studio 54 Replacement Announced: Local nightlife impresarios Angel Management Group (AMG), and Hakkasan Ltd., a global restaurant brand, have annouced a partnership to launch a luxury restaurant and a new nightclub in the space formerly occupied by Studio 54 at MGM Grand. Hakkasan Las Vegas, which will occupy additional space and include both indoor and outdoor areas, is set to open December 2012.

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