Everything Las Vegas: Issue # 518

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 to attend 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.

NOTE: I did say I would put this notice in two newsletters. If I had 100
tickets, I still would not have enough to go around to all the people that have
already responded from the first notice.

This means the ticket winners will be chosen at random. This is the last
time this offer will appear in the newsletter.
———
Please note that this 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.
———
NORM: Pitt, Clooney may team up again.

Brad Pitt and George Clooney, partners in crime in the remake of “Ocean’s
Eleven,” may be teaming up in Las Vegas as casino owners.

According to the Page Six gossip column in the New York Post, Pitt and
Clooney are partnering with Rande Gerber, whose nightclub empire includes Whiskey
Bar at Green Valley Ranch.

The deal won’t be announced until later this year, according to the report.

Gerber, now associated with W Hotels after formerly partnering with hotelier
Ian Schrager, plans to get out of the nightclub business because he realized
“he can make so much more by owning the hotel outright,” the Post’s source
said.

Earlier this year, W Hotels purchased the land occupied by ICE nightclub,
which this week issued a statement saying it has a three-year lease and has no
plans to leave.

Ground will be broken on the new casino in January, according to the Post
story.
reviewjournal.com — News: NORM: Pitt, Clooney may team up again
———-
Bruised Thighs and Denny’s.
The hard life of the Pussycat Doll’s new lead singer.
By Xania Woodman

Once the frenzy surrounding Willa Ford’s first week as new lead singer for
the Pussycat Dolls calmed, Saturday afternoon found us doing what girls do best:
chatting on the phone.

You can read the interview here:
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2005/06/30/pussycats.html
My thanks to Martin Stein for sending this article to me.
————-
TOP 10 CASINO TIPS – July 2005 by Henry Tamburin

1. If you play Texas Hold’em poker, use the new Poker 6-7-8 strategy cards to
help you make the right playing decisions in all four betting rounds. You’ll
play like an expert with these handy strategy cards.

2. Like visiting Vegas? Want to keep up with everything that goes on in
Vegas? Subscribe to the FREE Everything Las Vegas e-newsletter by sending an email
to MrVegas98 at aol.com

3.If you are dealt a soft 18 (ace-7) in blackjack, then you should ALWAYS hit
when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or ace upcard , double down when he shows a 3
through 6 upcard, and stand on dealer’s 2, 7 and 8 upcard.

4.The craps tables at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas offer proposition bets
with no casino advantage.

5. You can get loads of Las Vegas coupons prior to leaving for your trip by
going to www.billhere.com. While there, you should also sign up for the free
subscription to the Viva Las Vegas e-newsletter.

6. Video poker players should consult all the free information about best
playing strategy for different games by going to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpFree/. You will also find a list of casinos that offer full pay video poker
machines.

7.Get free Las Vegas entertainment and dining coupons that you can print on
your printer at www.vegas4locals.com.

8.If you play Pai Gow Poker, try to be the banker as many times as you can
because you will have a tiny edge when you bank.

9.If you like to play roulette, check out the single zero wheel with only a
$2 minimum bet requirement at the Nevada Palace casino in Las Vegas.

10. If you are a craps player, check out the new book, Wong on Dice,
featuring dice setting by going to www.bj21.com.
http://www.smartgaming.com./
————-
At Wynn’s namesake, he’s on par with himself.
By Tom Gorman, Times Staff Writer
Article from: http://www.ratevegas.com/blog/

Sitting at a waterfront steakhouse at the newest and most expensive Strip
resort, indulging in a fabulous meal, we concluded that Steve Wynn did, indeed,
build the finest resort in town.

It has an elegant casino, matchless dining, a fine art gallery, a gorgeous
theater, opulent guest rooms, an impeccable staff.

But enough about the Bellagio.

Tonight we’re at Wynn Las Vegas, curious whether the visionary who brought us
the breakout Mirage in 1989 and the $1.7-billion Bellagio in 1998 had enough
left in his creative soul to sculpt another masterpiece.

The short answer is yes, with an asterisk. There’s a Bellagio feel at nearly
every turn inside Wynn Las Vegas. (The exterior is a different matter.) But
it’s hard to call something a knockoff when it cost $1 billion more than the
genuine article.

More here:

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-escape10jul10,0,3718197.story?coll=la-home-travel
—————-
Gallery of Fine Art Opens Largest Impressionist Exhibition Ever in Las Vegas.

>From the tranquil Forest of Fontainebleau to the windswept fields of Auvers,
where Vincent van Gogh would paint his final canvases, The Impressionist
Landscape from Corot to van Gogh explores the French countryside as captured by the
masters of impressionism. Organized exclusively for the Gallery of Fine Art
and drawn from the venerable collection of European paintings in the Museum of
Fine Arts, Boston, The Impressionist Landscape from Corot to van Gogh presents
34 masterworks by some of the world’s most renowned artists including
Cezanne, Corot, Gauguin, van Gogh, Millet, Monet, Renoir and others.

The Impressionist Landscape from Corot to Van Gogh runs through January 8,
2006. The exhibition will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admissions are
$15 per person and $12 for students, Nevada residents, and seniors 65 and over.
Audio-guides are included in the price of admission and are available in
English, French, Japanese, and Spanish. Tickets and information are available by
calling (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777 or on the web www.bgfa.biz. Tickets
may also be purchased online by logging onto www.ticketweb.com. Annual
membership to the gallery, The Blue Card, is also available for $45. Annual member
benefits include unlimited admission for two, discounted admission for members’
guests, and discounts in the Gallery Store.
http://www.casinotravelnews.com/
————-
Las Vegas Art Museum To Host New Chinese Exhibition

The Las Vegas Art Museum (LVAM) will host an exhibition July 30 through Sept.
23 that will open a window on elite Chinese society during the Ming and Qing
dynasties. “Chinese Beauty and Elegance: Collecting and Connoisseurship in
Scholarly Taste” will include a furnished re-construction of a period scholar’s
studio, a private collection of Chinese jade and landscape scrolls from the
Wing Fong collection. An exhibition preview for museum members, scheduled for
Friday, July 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., also will include a new exhibition of Latin
American art that features Cuban painter Carlos Alfonzo. The museum is
located at 9600 West Sahara Avenue.

Trained in the Confucian classics, an elite group of scholar-gentlemen played
a dominant role in Chinese society during the Ming and Qing dynasties of the
17th and 18th centuries. Some served as officials; others played the role of
refined gentlemen, pursuing a broad range of cultural interests. These
scholarly pursuits are the focus of the exhibition. Museum visitors will view more
than 30 artifacts on loan from the Pacific Asia Museum of Pasadena, California,
including exquisite porcelains, delicately carved wood, writing accoutrements
and many other fascinating objects used by these artists, poets and
calligraphers.

The exhibition also will feature many pieces of a local private collection of
magnificently carved Chinese jade that demonstrate the astounding
craftsmanship of the artisans, as well as four large vertical landscape scrolls on loan
from the UNLV Beam Music Center. The scrolls were originally owned and
commissioned in China by the late Wing Fong, a Las Vegas businessman well known for
his humanitarian and educational contributions to the community.

LVAM has been a sister museum of the Naxi DongBa Cultural Museum in China
since
December 2004 in order to facilitate East-West cultural exchange events. An
introduction to this Chinese sister museum will be included in the exhibition.

The exhibition’s guest curator, Kristine Galassi, will give a free lecture on
“Chinese Beauty and Elegance: Collecting and Connoisseurship in Scholarly
Taste” at the museum at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 14, followed by a brief tour of
the exhibition.

The Las Vegas Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $6 for adults, $5 for
seniors 55 years and older, and $3 for students 13 years and older; children 12 and
younger enter free when accompanied by an adult. Docent tours are available at
2 p.m. weekends and other times with advance arrangements. On display at the
gallery now through July 24 are “Asian Art Now 2005″ and “George Hunter’s
Images of Canada: The Land, The People” exhibitions. The LVAM Virtual Tour is
available online at www.lasvegasartmuseum.org. For information on art classes,
exhibitions or membership details, call (702) 360-8000, or go online to
www.lasvegasartmuseum.org.
http://www.casinotravelnews.com
—————-
“As Worlds Collide” Visual Spectacular Performs World Premiere Engagement
at Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts

“As Worlds Collide” is a rock n’ roll visual spectacular bringing together
the fantastic saga of an extraordinary battle between good and evil with
non-stop action, astounding mega-scale illusions, and astonishing pyrotechnics in
the ultimate rock n’ roll concert experience. The production transcends the
imagination and takes the audience into a thrilling and mesmerizing, mystical
world.

The 20-member cast features a brilliant high-energy five-piece rock band,
SpellBinder, who shares their name with the main character of this saga, a
powerful wizard known as The SpellBinder, Emissary of Light. The Spellbinder
battles the forces of evil in the form of another wizard, his arch-nemesis,
Blackthorn, Sorcerer of the Dark. As the two forces fight for supremacy in their
world, they wield their magical powers to create illusions that alternately
become instruments of destruction and redemption within this fantastic realm.
SpellBinder, the band, plays live onstage as the musicians are drawn into the
action of the story. The production involves intense set changes using illusions
and props that reach upwards of 25 feet, creating extraordinary
larger-than-life imagery. Complementing this illusionary rock fantasy is one of the largest
onstage pyrotechnic productions in the world.

“As Worlds Collide” has been a labor of love for creator, producer and
star, Paul Haynes who plays The SpellBinder. “This production has been five years
in the making and we have invested over $8 million dollars into creating the
most exciting, visually stunning production Las Vegas has ever seen.” A gifted
songwriter, Haynes is also a well-respected figure in the magic community as
the creator of some of the most dynamic, original illusions ever performed.
Having worked with so many top-name magicians on the creation of new
illusions, Haynes is now able to employ both his magical and musical skills on the
main stage as the star of this extraordinary production.

Exploding onto the 95-foot stage of the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing
Arts, “As Worlds Collide” will perform one show nightly July 22-23 at 8pm.
Tickets are priced at $40 and $65 and are available at the Aladdin Box Office
(702) 785-5000 or by calling Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Aladdin Theatre
for the Performing Arts is located inside the Aladdin Resort & Casino at 3667
Las Vegas Blvd. South.
http://www.casinotravelnews.com/
————
Brett’s Vegas Views

This weekend, comedic impressionist Gordie Brown has signed a contract and
returned to the Golden Nugget’s 400-seat Theatre Ballroom, where he has
headlined over the past year. Tickets are $45 plus tax, call 866-946-5336 or
702-386-8100.

Brown writes his own material, which consists of more than 50 voices,
original song parodies, jokes and signature impersonations and is backed by a live
band.

Performances are Friday through Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., with a second show each
Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

Jeff Kutash, who created the Riviera’s show, “Splash!” in 1985, has returned
to spruce up the 20 year old production. He has added new dance numbers, a
couple of new acts, new costumes and new music. A most noticeable change is the
video montages that act as transitions and introduce the myriad of show
segments. It’s through the video collages that the show honors Las Vegas’ Centennial
celebration.

Naturally the held over acts like the humorous Los Latin Cowboys, the Richard
Brothers juggling act, and the dramatic ice-skating team of Mikhail Panin and
Margarita Barber maintain the show’s integrity. Riders of the Thunderdome is
truly one of the most exciting acts in the show and always has been. This act
features four motorcyclists racing around inside a mesh globe at near death
distances.

A very enthralling new act is Vitaly, a muscular male who performs a silk
rope routine displaying strength and grace as he flies over the stage and
audience.

With Kutash’s direction, the dancing is one again a main attraction.

The Sirens of TI will introduce their new fruity summer cocktail the “Sirens
Mist” exclusively at the Mist Bar & Lounge at TI on July 21 at 10 p.m. The new
cocktail is a blend of Skyy Citrus Vodka, Stoli Raspberry Vodka, Sour Apple
Pucker and Seven Up.

The sexy Sirens and Pirates of the Sirens of TI will launch the night with a
sultry performance at Mist and guests will have a chance to mingle with the
cast. The event is open to the public. The first 100 guests will receive a
complimentary gift bag courtesy of Mist and the Sirens of TI.

After an immensely successful long run with his afternoon magic show at the
Tropicana, award-winning illusions Rick Thomas is settling in after four months
at his new home in the 900-seat showroom at the Stardust. His shows are daily
except Wednesday at 2 and 4 p.m.

The 6′4″ showman is accompanied on stage by five lovely dancers, two
20-year-old cockatoos and six exotic show stealing tigers. His illusions have been
seen by many television audiences. Prior to becoming a Las Vegas fixture, Thomas
worked in more than 30 countries and was a popular headliner on international
cruise ships.

The male revue American Storm is booked for an appearance at the Riviera in
the Crazy Girls Theater on Friday, July 29. They have been seen on VH1’s “Strip
Search.”

The Sahara will introduce an adult show, “Sin City Angels” with a cast of
four on Aug. 9. The free shows will be at 11 p.m., midnight and 1 a.m., Tuesdays
through Sundays. The show’s producer Karin Denise was a lead singer in
“Splash!” for 10 year.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
—————
Vegas Values Report for 7/10/05

The following information is supplied by Scot Krause, our roving reporter,
who supplies us each week with information on the best Las Vegas promotions.
It’s only available here on the americancasinoguide.com web site so be sure to
come back each Monday morning to find out about the best values in Las Vegas.

Hello to all! Welcome to “Vegas Values.” Here’s what we found this week:
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
———-
“Las Vegas Now” Subscription Offer

FREE! Fabulous T-Shirts Celebrating the Las Vegas Centennial! Subscribe to
beautiful, full color glossy, Las Vegas Now Magazine, The Pulse of Vegas and
Receive FREE their Fabulous T-Shirt and FREE their Winning Guide To Gambling!
Hurry, check out their website and subscribe to Las Vegas Now Magazine, today!
www.LasVegasNowMag.com!
———–
Broadway buzz

More Las Vegas-related Broadway buzz: Last week it was reported here that
Steve Wynn has eyes for “Spamalot,” the Tony Award-winning best musical of 2005.

Now comes word that the producers of the upcoming revival of the musical
“Golden Boy” are interested in Harrah’s headliner Clint Holmes for the lead. The
hit musical of the mid-1960s starred Sammy Davis Jr. and Louis Gossett Jr.,
with Lola Falana in the chorus.

“If somebody’s talking about it, they haven’t talked to me about it. I’m
having the time of my life at Harrah’s,” Holmes said Sunday. His contract at
Harrah’s runs until October 2006.
reviewjournal.com — News: NORM
——-
World Series of Poker hits big at Rio
By Howard Stutz.

The ace-king suited that Harrah’s Entertainment drew when it purchased the
World Series of Poker a year ago has turned into a royal flush.

As competitive poker’s premier tournament winds toward its conclusion Friday
when the 2005 world champion is crowned, the numbers coming out of this year’s
45-event competition have surprised Harrah’s officials.

More than 29,000 players — double last year’s record total of 14,054 players
– have participated in World Series events at the Rio. That figure will
climb when three additional one-day hold ‘em events are concluded this week.

The net prize pool for the World Series currently stands at more than $103
million, eclipsing last year’s total prize pool of $45.9 million.

More Here:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jul-12-Tue-2005/news/26869035.html
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The X Girls show off their hidden talents.
By Thom Wise

‘X’
Where: Aladdin
When: 10:30 p.m. daily
Cost: $55, $65
Info: (702) 492-3960 or (866) 80-SHOWS

Sexy, suggestive and oh-so provocative … that, in a nutshell, is ‘X’.

But you’d be nuts to leave Vegas without spending an evening with these
multitalented femmes. As one number leads into the next, it gradually dawns on you
that these are more than just gorgeous faces with equally stunning bodies.
Each of them proves to have hidden, less obvious talents. All of them are nubile
dancers and, sure, they can somehow balance atop those six-inch stiletto
heels. But when your eyebrow really starts to arch is when you learn that these
beauties double as amazing singers, comediennes and athletes.

‘X’ is often referred to as a show for couples, but galloping gourmands of
all shapes and sizes will find their smiles here. The reason is simple:
Everyone’s fantasy is addressed at one point or another during the show. There’s a
school teacher scene that could arguably be the funniest part of the production.
Cowboys and ballerinas are present, as well as an audience participation
number that has to do with stewardesses and the Mile High Club. Perhaps the coup
d’grace, however, is the two-in-a-bed romp that skillfully shows off the agile
acrobatic acumen of these seasoned performers.

Don’t kid yourself: The women of ‘X’ are quite the x-perience.
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/feature2.html
————
Experience the sounds of Sinatra and Streisand
By Hilary L Green

Barbra & Frank — The Concert That Never Was
Where: Riviera
When: 8:30 p.m. Wed.-Sun.
Cost: $43.95
Info: (702) 492-3960 or (866) 80-SHOWS

Can you imagine what would have happened if Frank Sinatra and Barbra
Streisand had decided to perform a concert together? It would have been box-office
chaos for the once-in-a-lifetime concert!

Now visitors and residents of Las Vegas can enjoy a concert that re-creates
these entertainers and places them together in an imaginary show at the Riviera
with some very convincing music and singing.

Sharon Owens and Sebastian Anzaldo portray the bigger-than-life musical stars
in Barbra & Frank—The Concert That Never Was in the resort’s Le Bistro
Theatre. Anzaldo opens the show with “I’ve Got A Crush On You,” and Owens joins him,
to the delight of the audience. They seem bowled over by her remarkable
physical and vocal resemblance to Streisand. Not only that, she has captured the
singer’s gestures, intonation and delivery to the degree that latecomers to the
show do a double take. After all, it was at the Riviera where Streisand made
her debut as Liberace’s protégée!

Backed by Ned Mills at the piano, the talented singers perform classics such
as “Luck Be A Lady” and “People,” the latter of which is accompanied by slides
and footage from Streisand’s film career. Sometimes together and sometimes
separately, each performer delivers a nostalgic tribute with polish and
precision.
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/feature3.html
————
Members Need Help

Concerning the Paris:
We have stayed there a couple times and found it very nice and nice people.
I do have a problem that maybe you can help with. The last time we stayed
there we were comped a few nights up front and before we left we called a casino
host to see what comps we would be given for our play, we were there 6 nights
and played a good bit, We were told what would be comped and went to check
out. The lady checking us out got our bill which include the 3 nights we had
to pay for and all our meals etc. My husband ask her if 268.00 ?was all we were
being charged for and she said yes and circled it on our copy. Last month I
got the credit card statement and we were charged 199.00 and 268.00? not exact
amounts but close. What would you do? That was very deceiving circling the
amount and changing their minds after we left. Any input would be helpful.
Respond to: STonk1 at aol.com

What is a proper amount to tip when Valet parking? Is there a charge other
than tipping at the casinos?
Respond to: margekate at sbcglobal.net

My mother and I are planning on going to Vegas in August for 3 nights. We
want to hang out drinking by the pool for a day or two, have a spa day and a
nice dinner/show night out (maybe with a limo ride/tour of the strip). I have
been to Vegas many times with my husband and we usually stay in the cheaper
hotels where we get comped pretty well because he gambles quite a bit (Riviera,
Tropicana, etc…). My mother has never been and doesn’t really gamble,
therefore I have to decide which hotel has the best amenities for what we’re looking
for. I love the 4 corners and was thinking about the MGM, Luxor, Mandalay or
NYNY. I really love the bars, lounges and food choices in NYNY but remember
that the pool was small/not too attractive. I saw on the website that it’s
been renovated and wanted to know if anyone had any feedback on the new pool
area. I guess I’m leaning toward MGM because of the pool and spa but I’m also
considering Mirage for the same reasons. Any feedback or suggestions would be
GREATLY appreciated!!
Respond to: mexikelly at hotmail.com

Am going to Vegas end of July. Interested in any web sites that offer free
coupons for shows, dining, etc. Reply to Abyeap at aol.com

My wife is taking me to Vegas in July for my 40 birthday. It si my first
visit and I am so looking forward to it. We live in the UK and because it is such
a long journey and a special event we are going for it and stopping in the
Belagio.

We have pre bought tickets for Barry Manilow, Celine, Jay Lenno and O.

I would like to maybe visit a comedy club whilst in town as both Sharon and
myself enjoy comedians.

We are in town for 7 days.

Where would you recommend, where would you say we cannot miss and from a
restaurant point of view where is a must?
Reply to: CHeath999 at aol.com

We are going on our honeymoon July 31st. Friends will be joining us later in
the week. We are 23 years old, what are some MUST DO’S and good bargains?
Respond to: Saravball at aol.com

NOTE: I have been getting a lot of emails asking why I do not print the
answers to the questions asked in this section of the newsletter. The answer is
simple: On the average, members are telling me they get about 20 emails per
question and that would fill up an entire newsletter. My suggestion is that if you
want to know the answers to a specific question, just email the person that
asked the question and I am sure they will be happy to sent the answers they
receive to you.
———-
Wayne Newton back at Hilton.
By Mike Weatherford.

Back in the ’80s, he was the King of Vegas, but these days it’s fairly rare
for Wayne Newton to perform only a couple of miles from his Casa de Shenandoah
homestead.

The Midnight Idol is back on the Las Vegas Hilton stage where he once landed
many a spaceship (to open the show) and left many a cake out in the rain (for
the “MacArthur Park” finale).

Delisco, winner of the Newton-produced reality contest “The Entertainer,” is
also around for the summer run. Tickets are $82.50 for the 9 p.m. show at 3000
Paradise Road. Call 732-5755.
reviewjournal.com — News
———–
Rumors flying over ‘Spamalot’

That sighting of “Monty Python” icon Eric Idle at “Le Reve” last week has
tongues wagging all the way from Broadway to Wynn Las Vegas.

In what would be a stunning coup, I hear Steve Wynn is on the verge of
signing a deal that would bring “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” the 2005 Tony Award
winner for best musical, to Wynn Las Vegas.

Unclear is whether Wynn plans to pull the plug on “Le Reve” and replace it
with “Spamalot” or whether “Spamalot” would be the third jewel in Wynn’s
entertainment tiara, along with “Avenue Q.” Wynn signed an exclusive deal with
“Avenue Q” after the show won a Tony in 2004.
reviewjournal.com — News: NORM: Rumors flying over ‘Spamalot’

Posted on July 12th, 2005 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter