As I mentioned, Eileen and I will be going back to Las Vegas from August 17th-23rd. I have received a generous gift of 20 tickets from Victoria, the V.P.of Marketing for Splash at The Riviera Hotel and Casino.

So instead of a Members Get-together, we will have a SPLASH party. The date will be Friday, August 19th. The show is at 7p.m.

Now being I only have 20 tickets, here is the way ticket winners will be chosen:

1- If you want to see the show on THE 19TH, just send me an email.
The show is topless so if you have a problem with that, then please don’t
respond.

2- I am only announcing this offer in today’s and Tuesday’s newsletter. If I
do not get enough responses to claim all 20 tickets, I will run the
announcement one more time.

3- If I get more emails than tickets, winners will be picked at random.

4-Your email must be a COMMITMENT to see the show. It would not be
considerate
to commit to the tickets and not show up. This would prevent someone that
wants to see the show not be able to.

5- All winners will be notified by email a week from this coming Wednesday.
Details for the show will also be included in the email.

My personal thank to Victoria for her generous gift and her continual support
of this newsletter and it’s members.
———
Please note that Tuesdays newsletter will be the last newsletter until July
19th. My youngest son is getting married in Oregon and the entire family will
be heading West to attend this wonderful event.
———
Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies

Look for an announcement about the closing of RA, the nightclub at The Luxor.
Rumors are that it may even be turned into a Comedy Club!

Ethel MR Chocolates has created a limited edition chocolate box in honor of
the Las Vegas Centennial. The box of assorted chocolates include favorites such
as almond butter crisps and raspberry satin cremes. “Las Vegas has been the
home of Ethel MR Chocolates since 1982,” said President John Haugh.”We wanted
to show the community our support by designing a box of chocolates that
commemorates Las Vegas’ past and present.” Boxes are available on-line and at all 13
store locations in Las Vegas.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml

Rumors continue that Harrah’s will change headliners in both its hotels when
their contracts are up. (Harrah’s and The Rio)

Another rumor is that the producers ofThe Fashionistas, currently performing
at Krave, are looking for a new home so that they can add a new aspect to the
show.. nudity! Even more intriguing is that they have received interest from
several hotel properties.

Illusionists Penn & Teller will perform the world’s largest card trick to
celebrate the opening of the 36th Annual World Series of Poker. As thousands of
poker fans from around the globe begin to descend on the Rio All-Suite Hotel &
Casino to compete for some $75 million in total prize money, Penn & Teller
will get the tournament off to a colorful start by “shuffling” a deck of 4-foot
by 8-foot aluminum cards… using forklifts! LVFBM - Eye On Vegas

The Hollywood Comedy Tour returns to the Palms with performances at 8 p.m.
and 10:30 p.m. July 9 in The Lounge.

Comedians Cort McCown and Paul Hughes host the popular show, which will
feature comedian Colin Quinn (”Saturday Night Live”) and Al Madrigal (”Comedy
Central”).

Tickets are $25.

The Hollywood Comedy Tour will perform at the Palms monthly through December,
with a rotating roster of comedians.
Las Vegas SUN: Columnist Jerry Fink

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino will have Dan Marino’s Fine Food
and Spirits at Hooters (which has bought San Remo). The bar and restaurant is
under construction as part of the remodeling of the hotel/casino.

The Las Vegas Hilton offers 10x odds on craps, up to a maximum of $10,000.
Could you find that on the Strip? No dice.

The Pussycat Doll Lounge has announced that they have signed their newest
Pussycat, Pop Star Willa Ford! Ford will lace up her stiletto boots to perform
with the Dolls for the entire summer. Ford, who has toured with the Backstreet
Boys, is excited to make the Pussycat Dolls Lounge her temporary home. “Joining
the Pussycat Dolls is an extension of what I do musically and creatively.
Performing in Vegas is the icing on the cake,” says Ford. “Not only are the Dolls
playful and sexy, but they display true talent vocally and through intricate
choreography as well.”
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/

Rick DiMartino’s, The Slanted Clam Tavern, has created an unheard of
summertime promotion. Get this, 50% off their entire menu, excluding breakfast and
alcohol. DiMartino is a veteran restaurateur who also owns and operates The
Tillerman, the Tilted Kilt and DiMartino’s. The Slanted Clam Tavern is located at
3717 W Sahara Ave.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas has put a price on fame. For about $300,000, you
too can be immortalized as a wax figure. Your pets? They start at $50,000. The
packages include round-trip, first-class air travel, hotel accommodations and
meals for a three-day stay in London for two, where the creative team starts
the process.
reviewjournal.com — News: NORM

Frankie Valli has been abruptly scrapped from the Flamingo’s entertainment
schedule. Three dates have been canceled. The next was to be from Tuesday
through July 2, and he was to return in August and September.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD

The surveying period for the next edition of the Zagat Survey — covering 500
local restaurants — is open through July 24. To support your favorites, go
to www.zagat.com and click on “Las Vegas Restaurants” in the “vote” section.

There have been rumors for a long time that Neil Diamond eventually may
become a Las Vegas headliner — joining Celine Dion, Elton John and Barry Manilow.
————-
Lenny’s Las Vegas

Magician Lance Burton will be holding his annual benefit, Lance Burton and
Friends, on Sunday July 31, to raise funds for the Zelzah Shrine Temple at Mesq
uite & Rancho in Las Vegas. All of the monies raised will be donated to the tran
sportation fund to aid the hundreds of children who are clients of The
Shriners in Las Vegas. The coach buses transport the children with medical problems
and their parents to the Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles.

This year’s lineup includes performances by Burton, comedy-magician Fielding
West, magician Nathan Burton, Drew & Angela Dicostanzo — aka DV8 Reality
Magic and puppeteer Anthony Rais with Totolino. It all starts at 5 p.m. in the
Lance Burton Theatre in the Monte Carlo. Tickets are $27.50 for balcony and $35
for the lower level. Call 702-382-5554 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday
thru Friday to get your tickets, or stop in the Zelzah Shrine Temple office at
222 W. Mesquite at Rancho & Mesquite south of U.S. Highway 95. It’s going to be
a great show and you’ll be helping a good cause.
reviewjournal.com — Lenny’s Las Vegas
———-
Demolition of shuttered casino will begin

Station Casinos will begin demolishing the shuttered Castaways on the north
end Boulder Highway today, but the casino company has no plans beyond clearing
the 26-acre site.

Demolition will initially involve tearing down the parking structure, which
could take weeks to complete. Eventually, all the low-rise portions of the
structure, including the casino and the property’s small motel-style rooms, will
be removed, leaving only the 500-room hotel tower.

Station Casinos expects to demolish the tower sometime in early 2006.

More Here:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jul-07-Thu-2005/business/2417605.html
————
Free Three-Month Blackjack Insider Newsletter Membership

Henry Tamburin is offering Everything Las Vegas subscribers a free
three-month membership to his Blackjack Insider Newsletter. The newsletter features
playing strategy advice for blackjack players at all skill levels, up-to-date
reports on which casinos have the best blackjack games in Las Vegas, Atlantic City
and elsewhere, playing and betting strategy advice for tournaments from
tournament experts, detailed trip reports written by pros, and more. The newsletter
is distributed electronically each month and your free membership allows you
to read all the current articles and back issues of the newsletter. Let the
blackjack experts take your game to the next level. Start your free FULL 3-month
membership by clicking here.

http://www.bjinsider.com/FreeMembership.php3?ref_id=mrvegas
————–
NORM: Milk baths, a kitten with whips, oh my!

Ten female “Zumanity” cast members appear in an eight-page pictorial in
Playboy’s August issue, which hits the newsstands today.

Nine of them were guests Thursday on NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

The pictorial, shot last July at New York-New York, features Olga, the
Russian aerialist; Agnes, the French-born beauty who plays “Miss Salsa”; Elena of
the Ukraine, who appears in the “Dance on TV” segment; Jonel of British
Columbia, who stars in the “kitten with a whip” scene; and Wassa of Senegal, who is an
explosion of dancing energy. Also appearing are hoops artist Julia of Moscow,
“waterbowl” contortionists Gyulnara of Moscow and Bolormaa of Mongolia, and
Vanessa, the French Canadian stunner who performs the “midnight bath” in milk.
The tenth participant in the pictorial, aerial strap artist Laurente, is no
longer with the show.

Dozens of gallons of homogenized milk were used for Vanessa’s shoot because
it provided a “more creamy white consistency” for the camera, said the former
ballerina, who has performed in 25 countries.

“It was great for my skin. I felt like Cleopatra,” she said by telephone
Thursday.

Many of those featured in the pictorial will be signing copies of the
magazine from 4:30-6:30 p.m. July 15 at the “Zumanity” boutique at New York-New York
and from 3-5 p.m. July 16 at the Playboy Concept Boutique.
reviewjournal.com — News: NORM
———-
SHOW REVIEW: Finding Its Rhythm.
After nearly a year, ‘Havana Night Club’ seems more at ease.
By Mike Weatherford.

With so many shows duking it out for nightly attention on the Strip, it’s no
bad thing for “Havana” to have found a niche with Latin ticketbuyers who
dominated the audience on a recent night. They responded to the lyrics, recognized
some of the music and laughed in all the right places.

For those of us who should have worked harder to retain our college Spanish,
the show has its repetitive stretches and could stand a few more tranquil
moments to vary that busy, busy pacing. But the rhythms are universal, and the
four-piece horn section is phenomenal. A contagious goodwill still wins out in
the end. You like these smiling, energetic young people even if you don’t know
much about them.

More Here:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jul-08-Fri-2005/weekly/2402602.html
———-
Player’s Edge

Both the New Frontier and the Imperial Palace are offering money wind machine
promotions in which a selected player gets to stand in a wind tunnel and
collect as much money or coupons as possible. At the Imperial Palace, club members
get one drawing entry for every 100 points ($1,000 coin-in), and at 3 p.m.,
the casino chooses the lucky player to enter the Money Machine. The New
Frontier is drawing entries three times a day (2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m.) and is
selecting three random players from the floor (1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m.). Players get
one entry for every 100 Reward Club points ($350-$500 coin-in), and entries can
also be earned at the tables.

More PLAYERS EDGE here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jul-08-Fri-2005/we
ekly/2405082.html
————
Brown-and-serve approach works at Golden Nugget by Jerry Fink

I’m not sure which is more entertaining, the game of musical executive chairs
being played downtown or impressionist Gordie Brown.

Brown, one of the more talented entertainers in Vegas, headlines at the
Golden Nugget — which was bought from the MGM Mirage more than 18 months ago by
Timothy Poster and Tom Breitling, who recently sold it to Houston-based Landry’s
Restaurants Inc., whose chairman and chief executive officer is Tilman
Fertitta, who is a cousin to the Fertitta family, which owns Station Casinos.

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/leisure/2005/jul/08/519020867.html
————-
Manly men by Jerry Fink

It might not necessarily be true, but there are rumors that some performers
in some male revues are gay.

It’s an image issue.

I’m told that all of the cast members of “Candyman: From Russia with Love”
are as straight as an arrow, and there is no reason to dispute that.

But it may be hard to convince some people when the dance revue closes its
show at Fitzgeralds tonight and reopens July 18 at Krave, a gay-friendly
nightclub and restaurant.

When Krave opened last year on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard South and
Harmon Avenue, next to the Aladdin, the owner boasted it was the first gay club
on the Strip.

It features a showroom, bar and restaurant (EAT).

While the venue may cater to folks of all persuasions (billing itself as
“omni-sexual”), it still has the image of an upscale gay club, at least with
locals.

Michele Mosey, executive producer of “Candyman,” which features a cast of
all-Russian performers, isn’t concerned about the conflict of image.

“Most people don’t know it’s a gay nightclub — especially the tourists,”
Mosey said, “and more than 80 percent of our clients are tourists.”

Female tourists, that is.

“Our guys are definitely straight, and we are aiming for the female
audience,” Mosey said.

She says because the show targets females, it was necessary to find a
location on the Strip as opposed to downtown.

“A lot of ladies won’t go downtown,” Mosey said. “They’re afraid of it. I
never went downtown before I did the show. Fitzgeralds was nice enough to give us
a start, but we needed to be on the Strip.”

“Candyman” will share the showroom with “Fashionistas,” porn producer John
Stagliano’s avant-garde production that features a cast of characters including
homosexuals, cross-dressers, dominatrixes, submissives and S&M fans.

The plot involves a love triangle — between two women and a man.

“Candyman” is a more traditional dance revue along the lines of “Thunder from
Down Under” (Excalibur) and “Chippendales” (Rio).

The cast of eight includes three former members of Cirque du Soleil. All of
the dancers were trained by Cirque.

Mosey says the larger showroom at Krave will allow the performers to spread
their wings. No more bumping their heads on the ceiling.

“The guys will be able to do all their Cirque stuff,” she said. “We will have
more room to expand our show, to showcase their talents more.”

“Candyman” performances are 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (dark Sundays).
“Fashionistas” performances are at 9:30 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.
Las Vegas SUN: Columnist Jerry Fink
————–
International Mariachi Festival

Tickets are on sale for the Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival, which
will perform at the Thomas & Mack Center at 8 p.m. Sept. 17.

Featured entertainers will include Cristian Catro, Aida Cuevas, Mariachi
Vargas de Tecalitlan and Mariachi Sol De Mexico.

Tickets range from $49 to $119.

For more information go to www.unlvtickets.com or call 739-3267.
Las Vegas SUN: Columnist Jerry Fink
———–
PICK THE PONIES…AND PROSPER

The Hilton SuperBook is expanding the most popular horse handicapping contest
“Pick the Ponies” by offering an August tournament. Contestants, from novice
to expert, will attempt to show their talents August 18-20. With the ever
popular “Pacific Classic” running on the 21st at Del Mar, SuperBook Executive
Director Jay Kornegay expects a sell out. The contest is limited to 200 entrants
with the top 30 winning cash prizes. Entries will be accepted starting July 11.
The entry fee is $400 if you enter by August 8 (by 5p.m.) and $500 after. Any
contestant entering before August 8 will also be eligible for Daily Prize
money provided by the Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook.
—————–
‘Fireside’ Chats Resume at Imperial Palace
New Restaurant Debuts at Center-Strip Property
The Imperial Palace & Casino is proud to announce the opening of its new,
fine-dining restaurant - Fireside.

Fireside, located on the Fifth Floor Dining Plaza, replaces the hotel’s Rib
House and features a new look and menu for Strip diners. With its Southwestern
flare, Fireside features steak, ribs, chops, chicken and seafood. The
entrees range from $15 - $26.
Fireside, with its Southwestern influence and comfortable dining atmosphere,
has a brick wall interior complete with a decorative fireplace as the focal
point facing an open room. The décor features a copper ceiling, lantern-style
wall sconces and a water wall accented by burnt orange and golden hues with
dark blue highlights. There’s romantic seating by the fireplace for couples.

Fireside is open Tuesday - Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. The restaurant is
located in the hotel’s fine dining plaza on the fifth floor of the pagoda tower.
For reservations and information, call 702.794.3261 or toll free at
888.777.7664.

The Imperial Palace is home to the award-winning tribute show “Legends In
Concert” and the Dealertainers. The hotel also hosts The Auto Collections, “The
World’s Largest Classic Car Showroom.” Imperial Palace is the most central
stop on the Las Vegas Monorail. In addition, the resort is famous for “Five Star
Friendly Service;” and includes a race and sports book; 2,700 rooms and
suites; world-class gaming and amenities; a seasonal poolside “Luau;” 40,000 square
feet of meeting and banquet space; 10 specialty restaurants; 10 bars and
lounges; state-of-the-art spa and fitness center; business center; concierge
service; medical center and two new wedding chapels with reception facilities.

For more information, visit the hotel’s Web site at www.imperialpalace.com.
————
The “New” Splash rundown

Guinness World Record Holders Bela Tabak’s Riders of the Thunderdome -
Throughout the show’s history, Splash has featured motorcycle daredevils
racing about a spherical steel cage. Initially, the stunt consisted of
two motorcycles inside an 18-foot diameter globe. With training,
experience, technology and practice, they added a third bike in the late
’80s and later split the globe to allow four riders to perform and
literally fly out of the steel structure. Today, Splash features the
unadulterated motorcycle mania of Bela Tabak’s Riders of the
Thunderdome, including four mad motorcyclists racing at break-neck
speeds inside a 14-foot sphere of metal mesh.

Mikhail Panin and Margarita Barber - Splash now also features
unbelievable ice dance, figure, adagio and show act skating routines
performed by international skating stars Mikhail Panin and Margarita
Barber. Performing spirals and spins, they enchant audiences with the
sheer beauty and grace of their ice dance routines. While performing
within Splash’s custom-designed 35-foot by 15-foot ice rink, Panin and
Barber execute astounding feats of strength and skill.

Los Latin Cowboys - Traditional Argentinean entertainers commonly known
as gauchos, Hugo Latorre and Eduardo Lome are highly trained and skilled
performers of the rhythmic drumming of bombos, swinging of bolos, and
dance for which gauchos are known. Combining their performance of this
traditional art with a comedy routine, they keep audiences applauding
wildly and laughing uncontrollably.

The Richard Brothers - Third generation entertainers, Ricardo, Manuel
and David are jugglers extraordinaire. Held over due to their
tremendous appeal, The Richard Brothers’ act includes juggling of clubs,
rings, hats and boxes; as well as an unforgettable routine in which they
juggle three clubs while cleverly moving a hat and cigar between them.

Irina Grigorian - Irina is a USA Professional Ice Skating Gold Medalist
and is taking time off from performing in Champions on Ice to join
Splash with her unique and awe-inspiring hula-hoop act unrivaled in the
world of ice-skating.

Vitaly - New to Splash, Vitaly performs an aerial acrobatic silk act
displaying feats of beauty and strength using two long sashes suspended
from the ceiling.

Six nights a week, the Splash Theater at the Riviera Hotel & Casino
comes alive with the total sensory experience that is Splash. Widely
recognized as a top production in Las Vegas, Splash is one of the
longest running shows in the Entertainment Capital of the World. A
classic adult variety production, Splash is one of few remaining true
“Las Vegas Style” shows on The Strip, and features a competitive ticket
price starting at $55.45 (taxes and fees not included).

Splash performs in the Splash Theater at the Riviera Hotel & Casino
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.,
with one performance on Friday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Monday is dark.
All performances are for adults only; guests must be 18 years of age for
admission.

Show rundown is as follows:
Splash Back - 2:40 Film Introduction (song: “Splash” - written by Jeff
Kutash)
Splash Opening Number (”Splash”)
Sing, Sing, Sing - 2:34 Film
Los Latin Cowboys - Comedy Gaucho Specialty Act
Viva Las Vegas (song: “Viva Las Vegas” medley)
Going to the Chapel - 2:12 Film
Oscar & Tony - :45 Film
Phantom of the Opera - Skating Specialty Act
Mama Mia - Skating Specialty Act
The Richard Brothers - Comedy Juggling Specialty Act
Sex in the City - :39 Film
Sin City (song: “The Cooler” - Mark Isham)
A Little Less Conversation - 2:12 Film
Splash Dance (Medley of songs from Outkast, Usher, Britney Spears,
Eminem, Missy Elliot)
Vitaly - Cirque-style Aerial Silk Act
Bela Tabak’s Riders of the Thunderdome - Motorcyle Globe Specialty Act
(song: “Dragula” - White Zombie)
Finale Bows

Note from Steve:
As mentioned in my trip report, I really enjoyed this new version of Splash
and highly recommend it to my members.
—————–
MINDY DRAKE NOT A TRANSPLANT: THE ONLY LAS VEGAS NATIVE IN `CRAZY GIRLS’
SHOW.

Mindy Drake holds the dubious distinction of being the only performer in “
Crazy Girls” who is a native of Las Vegas.

She said, “I’m only 22 years old and now one of the longtime dancers in the
show with about two years of performing in `Crazy Girls’ at the Riviera Hotel &
Casino. There are about four showgirls who joined after me but I’m still the
youngest of the troupe. There is another coming onboard from Laughlin soon. I
call this the best dancer job in Las Vegas. We only do one show a night at 9
p.m. and it’s all a lot of fun. It is summertime and I’m swimming and not
doing anything too serious.”

Fallon continued, “In the fall I’m going back to school again to major in
English. My mother and father don’t have degrees so emphasize education a lot.
My two older brothers have their college degrees. My first love is ballet and
I take classes at Backstage Dance Studio. It’s the only adult dance studio
that I know about. I’m a senior there now. I want to work behind the scenes in
television someday. I’m a UNLV and it’s coming along but unless you’re a hotel
major you might be getting the short end of the stick.”

Mindy said, “I will be in `Crazy Girls’ for as long as they want me. I’ve
thought of being a cocktail waitress if I’m not sure what I want to do and it’s
time to move on. But there’s a lot of bull to put up with doing that job. I
guess I would be working with a lot of Crazy Girls and Crazy Men. I still am
not sure of the future but who is? Working for a TV station doesn’t sound bad
but I’m still unsure.”

She said, “The audience is always so glad to meet us when we do our
meet-and-greet after the show.”

She said, “My car just got smashed into and it was in the shop for a month
after a big SUV hit me in a parking lot. It’s a Honda Accura hatchback. I was OK
and saw her coming and honked at her but she wasn’t looking. I came unglued
so she probably didn’t have much sympathy for me. I screamed at her. The police
don’t come in a parking lot but her insurance paid the bill.”

Mindy said, “I just saw the new Batman movie; and it was good. But Michael
Keaton is still the best.”

She said, “Living at home with mom and dad makes life easier. I like to
travel to Wisconsin to visit family. I like Tewaukee. It’s a rural area but I go in
the summers because wintertime is too cold for me. It’s pretty there. My
parents are very happy for me.”

Mindy joked, “I’ve been on the cover of Vegas Dog Magazine but now I have a
new puppy. I’m the only `Crazy Girl’ who has cats. But now I have a tiny
puppy who is half Yorkie and half Silky mixed. She’s not potty-trained yet.”

Emcee/singer Stuart May came onboard last summer and the crowds love him Nino
Frediani is expected to make an appearance on MDA’s Telethon and is and
eighth generation juggler from Italy.

“Crazy Girls” is the longest-running topless cabaret-sized show in Las
Vegas. Show times are 9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and dark on Tuesday
nights. For more information or reservations, call the Riviera Box Office at (702)
794-9433 or (800) 634-3420. Check out the Riviera’s web site at
www.rivierahotel.com or crazygirlslasvegas.com.

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter