October 24th, 2005

Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:

Tao nightclub at The Venetian got stuck with a $4,000 bill to repair banquettes after a slew of celebs, including Mariah Carey, danced on the booth banquettes in their stiletto heels during the opening weekend parties.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

The “Men of Russia” male revue has found temporary haven off-Strip, at the Suncoast. The revue will run each Thursday at 9:30 p.m.

Comedian Andrew “Dice” Clay will do a 20-show residency at the Luxor’s big theater starting Oct. 18. He will do five shows per week, Tuesdays through Saturdays. The chain-smoking, he-man woman hater has performed at the Stardust and Mandalay Bay in recent years, usually in rent-the-room dates strategically centered around guys’ weekends such as Super Bowl.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD

The Plaza has a new tenant in its refurbished showroom. Magician Curtis Adams’ “Adrenalin — Magic That Rocks,” was scheduled to open Wednesday, after being postponed from last weekend by a backstage accident that injured a crew member. The show is self-produced by Adams’ MOCA — Magic of Curtis Adams — Productions.
reviewjournal.com –MIKE WEATHERFORD

Was Barbara Streisand’s three-song appearance last week at Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam for Children a warm-up for a New Year’s show here? That’s the buzz around the MGM Grand.

Three of the top penthouses at the Trump International Hotel & Towers are going to the brain trust behind the 64-story tower.

Donald Trump will reside in the 63rd-floor penthouse. New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin has the 62nd-floor penthouse, and Jack Wishna, who put together the deal, will have the 60th-floor penthouse,

The top floor penthouse has been purchased by an unidentified buyer for “mucho, mucho bucks,” said Wishna.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

Rich Little, Jimmy Hopper, Johnny Hernandez and a rare Las Vegas appearance by original Platter Herb Reed are billed in “A Night to Honor Our Armed Forces,” a benefit to honor active-duty military personnel on Dec. 2 at Cashman Field Theatre. Most tickets are $35 and available at the UNLV Performing Arts Center box office or by calling event organizer Bob Feeney, 897-2283.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD

“Forever Plaid” will transform into “Plaid Tidings” during the holiday season of “Forever Plaid,” Nov. 17-Dec. 31 at the Gold Coast. But it’s really more of a sequel than simply adding a few Christmas carols to the rest of the show. “Plaid” creator Stuart Ross came up with a new scenario, in which a call from Rosemary Clooney sets the four singing ghosts on a mission to create a Christmas show.

“Tidings” has been staged elsewhere around the country, but Ross has enjoyed working with the local cast; their rerecording of the original show’s soundtrack is now the official cast album for the show.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD

The 2005 Las Vegas Marathon, the first to include the famous Strip, will feature Vegas-centric themes along the way. The 15,000 runners will pass a large wedding cake near the A Special Memory Wedding Chapel (800 S. Fourth St.), where competitors can get hitched in a run-through lane. Yes, someone will jump out of the cake.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

The Riviera Hotel & Casino is pleased to announce the release the following chip.
Happy Halloween 2005

Release date: Monday, October 31st, 2005 at 9:30 am at the Riviera’s Casino Cage
Face Value: $5.00
Limited Edition of 500
Three scary characters reveal their alter egos on the flip side of this fun chip “Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun!”
For a sneak preview of the chips, go to www.rivierahotel.com, click on the “Gaming” menu and then on “Chips & Tokens”.

Gwen Stefani is bringing her “Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005″ in support of her multi-platinum album “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” to the Aladdin Theatre in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 3. Very special guest Ciara will open the 8pm show. Tickets go on-sale at 10am on Saturday, October 22 at Aladdin Theatre Box Office.
Source:Eye On Vegas

Seven, the late-night club that’s being relocated to make way for the new MGM Mirage CityCenter project, is moving downtown.

Harrah’s, AOL sign deal for online World Series.

Harrah’s Entertainment has signed an agreement with America Online to create a cyberspace home for the World Series of Poker that will include free-play poker rooms, event updates and other content in an effort to widen the tournament’s audience.

The relationship between Harrah’s and AOL will also allow 12 poker fans, age 21 or older, to win a free seat at the $10,000 buy-in No limit Texas Hold’em world championship event at either the 2006 or 2007 World Series of Poker.

More here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-17-Mon-2005/business/3843026.html
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The SHADE TREE Calendar Offer.

Once again, this newsletter is proud to sponsor, David Berman’s Shade Tree Calendar offer for homeless and/or battered women and their children. This is such a worthwhile venture that David does every year.

Please check out his website for all ordering details.

Welcome to David’s Web site for the sale of 2006 Las Vegas calendars. This is the 11th annual sale. Every penny of profit goes to The Shade Tree, the only Las Vegas-area shelter exclusively serving homeless and/or battered women and their children.

During the first 10 years of this project, more than 20,000 calendars have been sold and shipped throughout the USA and to nearly 30 countries. More than $30,000 has been raised and donated to The Shade Tree.

These are the same high-quality calendars sold in gift shops throughout the Las Vegas area. Offered to you at very affordable prices, they are wonderful mementos of Las Vegas and make excellent holiday gifts for friends and family.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-19-Wed-2005/news/3895493.html
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Boardwalk slated to close Jan. 9 to make room for Project CityCenter.

Casino owner MGM Mirage, placing greater value on the land under the Boardwalk than the casino itself, said Tuesday it will shutter the beachside midway-themed resort on Jan. 9.

The Boardwalk’s 749 employees learned of the pending closure Friday, the company said.

MGM Mirage is working to transfer those affected to similar roles within its other properties. Those placed elsewhere will keep their existing hire dates as related to benefits and accrued vacation time.

Long rumored for a date with a wrecking ball, the Boardwalk’s fate was sealed in November when MGM Mirage announced it would clear the site to make room for Project CityCenter, a $5 billion development slated to rise on a largely vacant 66-acre parcel between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. It will include a 60-story, 4,000-room hotel-casino; boutique hotels; a major shopping mall; and 1,640 luxury condominium units.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-19-Wed-2005/business/3895172.html
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Two new resorts will give Henderson piece of the Strip

Six miles south of the Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard, two relative newcomers to the gaming business are betting big on resorts that aim to create an alternative for tourists.

Anthony Marnell III last week received preliminary approvals to build the M Resort, a $1.8 billion mixed-use casino, resort and commercial center on 79 acres at the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Across the boulevard from Anthony Marnell’s project, Olympia Gaming received approval from the Clark County Commission earlier this month to build the Southern Highlands Resort. The previously announced resort, part of another mixed-use development to take shape on about 100 acres, would ultimately cost more than $2 billion.

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2005/oct/18/519525888.html
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FREE THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS
From www.vegas4local.com

MANDALAY BAY EXOTIC BIRD EXHIBIT

Four times daily (except Tuesday) the Mandalay Bay bird handlers hold
an exotic birds “show and tell” in the hotel lobby, next to the aquarium. The
demonstrations last from 10 to 15 minutes, and handlers take questions about the birds.

Hours: Daily 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd., S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 632-7777

FREE BULL RIDES AT GILLEY’S

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Located inside the Frontier Hotel & Casino, Gilley’s has everything a
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Frontier Hotel & Casino
3120 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 794-8200

Click Here www.vegas4locals.com
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FASHIONISTAS CELEBRATES 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Now a whole one spanking year old, The Fashionistas, John Stagliano’s erotically-charged tale of fetish and fantasy, has been chosen as one of “Las Vegas’ 10 Best Shows,” by the Las Vegas Review Journal. This marks the first ever appearance for a show of this kind on The R-J’s 10 Best List, which beat out such mainstream high-budget productions as Celine Dion’s “A New Day.” Fashionistas” also was picked by the staff of the Review Journal as having the Best Choreography of any Vegas show.

The Fashionistas is a gender-blending erotic extravaganza never before seen on the Las Vegas Strip. With staging techniques critics call “muscular and aggressive,” Stagliano uses Aerialists to come down from over heads and platforms erected behind the audience to create an environment that makes the entire theater feel like a stage.

The costumes designs, ranging from simplistic to stunning, are all memorable. And the large cast and high production values found in such an intimate setting enhance the visceral power of the show.

Utilizing music from Evanescence, Madonna, Tool, Lords of Acid, Crystal Method, and Led Zeppelin, the story is told in dance through the mood and words of each song, as well as through the use of dramatic images projected on large video screens.

Stagliano goes the extra steps to add impressive little touches that make a big difference, including having a live drummer accentuate the hard driving sound track. The result is a show that’s more erotic than any other show on the strip; it is both humorous and sly without being campy or cheesy.

Since opening in October 2004, Fashionistas has drawn rave reviews.

“The Fashionistas is a “boy meets girl story told in dance, set to profane industrial music, where boy is seduced by sadomasochistic imagery and you’re not sure if the girl will end up with the boy or the other girl.”
– Mike Weatherford, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL

“The show is among the most adventurous and exciting I’ve ever seen on the strip…”
– Richard Abowitz, Las Vegas Weekly

“What happens when you have the best costume designer, Jose Luis Vinas, best costume maker, Peiter Grove, best choreographers, Enrique Lugo and Nick Navarro, the best director/producer, John Stagliano… one of the most unusual and successful shows in town… The Fashionistas!”
— Breck Wall, CALLBACK NEWS.

“This is a giant step forward for Vegas in terms of dance. It is magnificent. The level of dancing and the choreography is unbelievable. It is incredibly good. It is so classy and sexy”
– Robin Leach
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News from “The Eye On Vegas”

STACK Restaurant & Bar is set for a December opening at The Mirage.

The team that will operate the upcoming JET nightclub at The Mirage is quickly coming together. The newest addition is ‘Nano’ Cartegena who has been signed as a VIP Host. Before joining the JET team, he had served on the hosting and promotional staffs for rumjungle and Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club. Sapphire has replaced Cartegena by bringing Jeffrey Lutes back on board.

The South Coast Casino isn’t going to be the only property taking advantage of the population growth along the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard. Last week, Olympia Gaming announced that plans are underway to develop the Southern Highlands Casino-Resort, a 100-acre project that will serve as the “gateway” to the strip. “Our location will take full advantage of the I-15, St. Rose Parkway, and Las Vegas Boulevard corridors to attract both tourists and locals,” said Garry Goett, President & CEO of the Olympia Gaming. Expect a 600-plus room property with casino space, pool areas, spa and fitness facilities and over a dozen food and beverage outlets. “We are creating a casino resort that provides guests with multiple entertainment options, whether its a day of shopping, dining, gaming, or relaxing you will be able to do so all in one place,” continued Goett.

A Wynning Weekend
We love having friends and family in town because it gives us the opportunity to see Vegas through someone else’s eyes. We used this past weekend to further experience Wynn Las Vegas and continue our pursuit of eventually hitting all 18(!) restaurants. Two restaurants we got to experience for the first time were Corsa and the casual noodle shop, Red 8. We can’t pump Corsa up too much just yet, however - it’s only because it’s closing for a six-week renovation later this month. When it reopens, the new décor will complement a more up-tempo, dining scene in its place. Word is a “Simon Kitchen” or “FIX-type” atmosphere will showcase Chef Stephen Kalt’s amazing Italian fare. The food is so good that a patron dining next to us raved “I HATE mushrooms, but this pizza is phenomenal,” while noshing on the super thin crust Mushroom and Truffle Oil pie. Oh yeah - and the Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato was the best we’ve ever had. A bold statement and we stick by it. Stay tuned for more when Corsa reopens in December.

Two nights later, we were back on property for dinner at Red 8 before catching the much raved about Broadway play, Avenue Q. Red 8 proved to be accommodating, approachable and an outlet that not only understands its place, but revels in it. Crispy Cantonese Noodles created the desired and challenging effect of serving up noodles that are both crispy and soft. The Ginger Beef with scallions was a succulent Szechwan winner and the Chicken Satay gives Chef Hisham Johari an opportunity to show off with phenomenal Mango Peanut Sauce. Request Billy as your server as his knowledgeable service is only offset by his ‘customer first’ demeanor. After dinner, we seemingly got transported across the nation and awoke in NYC. We love the whole Broadway-feel that the show lends with Playbills at the entrance, an intermission and dimming lights to signify the return to your seats. The foul-mouthed puppets of Avenue Q are quite simply wildly entertaining. It is a show that is unique, creative, very smart and very different than anything else available in town. All in all, six months after opening, it would seem that Wynn Las Vegas has finally hit its stride.

This past weekend, Cirque du Soleil unveiled their centennial mural at downtown’s The Arts Factory. Hizzoner Oscar Goodman was also present to oversee the event, which is part of his “100 Murals” centennial celebration that is creating 100 murals around downtown Las Vegas to celebrate Vegas’ 100 years.

The ‘Hardwood Suite’ at The Palms Casino Resort might not be officially introduced until later this month, but we do know the 10,000 square foot room will have a full size basketball court, locker room, scoreboard, poker table, dance floor and three “NBA sized” Murphy Beds. Should groupies start lining up now?
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml
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How to Play Pai Gow Poker by Bill Burton

The traditional Asian game of Pai Gow is played with tiles that look like dominos. To make it easier to understand an American version was introduced using standard playing cards and the ranking of hands were fashioned after poker hands. Thus the new game of Pai Gow Poker was developed.

Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck and one joker. The joker can be used as an ace or a wild card to complete a straight, a flush or straight flush only. The game is played on a blackjack-size table with up to six players and a banker. The players are playing against the banker. In most cases the casino acts as the banker although players can chose to bank the game if they wish to. This would require having enough money to cover all of the other player’s bets. The casino collects a five- percent commission on all winning bets.

More Here:
http://casinogambling.about.com/od/othergames/a/paigow.htm
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NIGHTLIFE EVOLVED: CENTRIFUGE MAKES MGM GRAND THE CENTER OF LAS VEGAS NIGHTLIFE.

The hottest entertainment destination on the Las Vegas Strip just turned up the thermostat. Centrifuge, a new concept casino bar, is heating up the already sizzling nightlife scene at MGM Grand. Home to the world-famous dance mecca Studio 54, the innovative Ultra Lounge Tabú and the hot new Euro Bar Teatro, MGM Grand unveils Centrifuge - a bar taken to a higher level.

“When we created Centrifuge, we wanted it to be more than a casino bar. We wanted it to be a place where you can feel the energy of MGM Grand and where the excitement builds for a night out,” says Gamal Aziz, president of MGM Grand. “Centrifuge is exactly what we had hoped. It’s a destination unto itself, and the perfect complement to the outstanding venues we’ve already developed.”

A designer bar with a splash of nightclub, the 77-seat Centrifuge features distinctive design, live entertainment and a creative drink menu. Centrifuge comes alive at night when the staff takes to the bar and several raised platforms to perform both freestyle and choreographed dance numbers to a progressive music mix typically reserved for Sin City’s hippest hotspots. With a stunning circular design that captures the pulse of MGM Grand with its constant movement, Centrifuge’s unique décor reflects its equally unparalleled specialty: signature cocktails. At Centrifuge you’ll find a comprehensive signature cocktail menu featuring new favorites and the very best that MGM Grand’s celebrity chefs and master mixologists have to offer. The cocktails are even incorporated into the design as bartenders infuse them with fruit and display them around the bar in Louis Treize baccarat crystal bottles.

“Centrifuge really is the last piece of the nightlife puzzle for MGM Grand,” adds Aziz. “It’s fun, it’s exciting and it solidifies MGM Grand’s position as Las Vegas’ premier nightlife destination, offering a nightlife experience for every taste.”

Elevating club hopping to an art form, MGM Grand now offers four distinct venues under one roof. A vibrant bar, booming dance club, sultry ultra lounge, and swanky euro bar make MGM Grand the standard by which all others will never measure up.

After starting your evening off at Centrifuge there is no need to go anywhere else for excitement. Feel the frenzy at Studio 54, leave your inhibitions behind at Las Vegas’ first Ultra Lounge – Tabú, or explore the intimate dance club-meets-lounge feel of Teatro Euro Bar. Better yet – hit all three for a one-stop nightlife tour you’ll never forget.

One of Las Vegas’ first true dance clubs, Studio 54 follows in the footsteps of its bawdy and notorious namesake. A 22,000 square-foot party offering four dance floors, the most diverse music mix in the country and a variety of aerial acts, Studio 54 is not for the faint of heart. It’s raucous and loud, brazen and bold and it’s also Sin City’s dance club trendsetter, ever evolving to capture the freshest music, lighting and crowds.

Settle down for an interactive journey at Tabú Ultra Lounge. Consistently voted “Best Lounge” in Las Vegas, Tabú delights and ignites all the senses with a unique blend of European house music and dramatic visuals - including some of the world’s only interactive video tables. It’s sensual, inviting and the perfect place to either get up on the tables and dance or hide away and soak up the alluring atmosphere.

Teatro Euro Bar makes after hours an event. Instead of letting the night end, enjoy maximum nightlife as Teatro keeps the party going well into the morning hours. It’s intimate, but daring - Ferrari leather seats, vibrant colors and the stunning model dancers make this new concept Euro Bar a sultry escape from the norm.

This is what you come to Vegas for – energy, excitement, escape – and it’s all under one roof. Be it bar, lounge or club, MGM Grand has all anyone needs to live Vegas to the fullest. With so many options, there’s only one choice. maximum vegas: MGM Grand.
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I hope you enjoyed this issue. Please feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the COMMENT icon.
Steve

Posted on October 24th, 2005 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter