December 30th, 2005

Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:

The Las Vegas Hilton confirmed the rumors Wednesday: David Brenner’s headliner gig at the Shimmer Cabaret ends Friday after a 16-month run. “Menopause The Musical” moves into the venue on Feb. 1.

Jenny McCarthy, who has been hosting the TV show “Party at the Palms,” told Mark & Mercedes of KMXB-FM, 94.1 on Friday that she’s in talks with a major network to get her own talk show originating in Las Vegas.

Comedian Joey Villa, who died Friday at age 68, requested no services, only that his ashes be scattered at sea “after the midnight buffet,” according to Nelson Sardelli, his friend.

Sad news: Lou Rawls, a regular on the Las Vegas circuit years ago, reportedly has serious health issues. Rawls, who played a concerned cabbie in “Leaving Las Vegas,” opened the Blue Note jazz club (now Krave) at the Aladdin in 2000. In one of his most recent Las Vegas appearances, he joined the Scintas onstage at the Rio in May 2004. The three-time Grammy winner, perhaps best known for his hit “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” turned 70 on Dec. 1.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

The Academy of Country Music is moving its annual televised awards show from Mandalay Bay to the MGM Grand Garden on May 23. The move allows seating for an additional 4,000 attendees. The show will air live on the East Coast, with a tape delay on the West Coast.

The Connection Club slot club at Paris and Bally’s will be absorbed into Harrah’s Total Reward club on Jan. 17. On Feb. 14, Caesars Palace will follow suit. Hosts at the three properties are suggesting to their members that they cash out their points before the systems are merged. According to the official explanation from Harrah’s available at www.harrahs.com/merger/faq.html, this isn’t necessary because the cash will be mailed to you within a few weeks after each system is absorbed.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - PLAYER’S EDGE

Max’s Cafe has opened in Desert Passage, 3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The Florida-based restaurant features Italian and Asian specialities at lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Willy & Jose’s Mexican Cantina at Sam’s Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, now serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. 10 p.m. Sunday.

Toxic Audio, an a cappella group that recently completed an engagement at the Luxor, has been nominated for a Grammy for their participation in a benefit concert for the Actors’ Fund of America in September 2004.

The look-and-sound alikes in the “Legends In Concert” show at the Imperial Palace are so good that Doug Brewin, who portrays country superstar Alan Jackson, walked the red carpet at the Billboard Awards with a fake camera crew and got into the auditorium with no problem. When Brewin signed autographs, he only used his own name.

As the Hotel San Remo continues a remodeling project to transform it into Hooters, the resort has opened The Dam Restaurant, which is a 24-hour coffee shop open daily.

This New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Las Vegas will involve ten casinos starting at the Stratosphere and
ending at the Excalibur. The $500,000 cost to produce this fireworks extravaganza is designed to entertain
the one third of a million expected visitors in Las Vegas.

It’s finally here: The College Football National Championship! USC and Texas meet in the Rose Bowl for this year’s College Football National Championship. The Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook is ready to host the big event, showing the Championship on its massive screens on Wednesday January 4, 2006 starting, at 5:00 p.m. Jay Kornegay, the executive director of Race and Sports thinks this might be one of the largest college wagering events in history and says the SuperBook will be offering a slew (that’s a technical term) of wagering propositions on the big game. To make the day even more exciting, guests at the SuperBook will mingle with the Miller Girls, who will be hosting raffles for merchandise through halftime.

Star Trek: The Experienc at the Las Vegas Hilton marks its 8th anniversary on January 4.

Here’s a quick historical timeline:

On October 23, 1996, officials held a groundbreaking in the area once occupied by the Youth Hotel; on November 16, 1997,

the SpaceQuest Casino, the Hilton’s 20,000 square-foot gaming area adjacent to Star Trek: The Experience opened.

Then, on January 4, 1998, the attraction opened as a joint venture between Paramount Parks and Hilton Hotels.

The project, featuring an amusement ride, themed restaurant and lounge, and casino area, cost $75 million and spread over 40,000 square feet of the Hilton’s North Tower.

In March 2004, the “Borg Invasion” attraction was added to the venue.

The Las Vegas Hilton has opened another part of its construction and renovation project. FORTUNA is the perfect contemporary gourmet coffee and wine bar. Warm and inviting (and open 24 hours), it is located right off the new lobby and features world-class Illy coffee, international bottled waters, boutique wines (select from a full wine menu by the glass or purchase a full bottle) and an array of breakfast gourmet pastries, fruit tarts, fruits, yogurt, and cakes. Express lunch also is offered with a choice of deli and Panini sandwiches. Wireless internet access is available as well. Ah, the days of wine and wireless.
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NORM: Legendary Packer lit up Las Vegas.

When it came to electricity and James Bond-esque buzz, no one quite lit up Las Vegas like Australian whale Kerry Packer.

According to published reports, only the Sultan of Brunei and Adnan Khashoggi, the Saudi arms dealer, were regarded as being in the same league.

If you were a dealer at one of Packer’s favorite gaming salons, a Packer visit was not to be missed.

Four years ago I wrote about a Bellagio dealer who returned to work a day or so after breaking his leg, because the billionaire media mogul was in town.

Packer, who died Monday at age 68, was the king of the big tippers.

“I’ve personally watched the man wager $200,000 for the dealers on one hand. And they won, several times!” a dealer said in an e-mail about six years ago.

It wasn’t just dealers who benefited from Packer’s legendary generosity.

In Steve Cyr’s recent “Whale Hunt in the Desert,” co-written with Deke Castleman, Packer’s $26 million score at the MGM Grand in the 1990s included a $130,000 toke to a single-mom cocktail waitress.

Legend has it he was playing blackjack for $200,000 a hand, six hands at a time, during his scorching run at the MGM Grand. An Australian newspaper claims he won 20 consecutive hands during the streak.

But Packer wasn’t always so easy to deal with.

After I reported he had lost $20 million on a subsequent visit, he came to town with a giant chip on his shoulder.

Upset that his media rivals put his stunning losses in big headlines, Packer was out to get even when he came to Las Vegas in early September of 2001 — get even with the dealers, whom he suspected had leaked the information to me.

As retribution, he demanded that hotel reps dealing with him sign a nondisclosure agreement to keep his table action in confidence.

“As a further show of his wrath, he refused to tip the dealers in his two weeks of play,” a Bellagio employee told me. Dealers are angry, he said, because Packer “punished dealers for a leak which could have come from a number of departments.”

He wasn’t any happier by the time he left. Because of the Sept. 11 terrorist acts, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights, forcing Packer to stay an extra week.

Several sources told me he lost $29 million, and I printed it. Bellagio boss Bobby Baldwin, who got an earful from Packer over the item, summoned me to his office and disagreed with that number.

Packer reportedly lost $16.5 million at Crockfords casino in London in 1999, said to be the biggest loss ever sustained in the UK.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: Legendary Packer lit up Las Vegas
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Not much room at the inn.
Limited availability, sky-high room rates again the rule for New Year’s.

Whether it’s VIP parties, citywide fireworks or the chance to binge drink on the Strip, Las Vegas’ worldwide appeal typically soars around New Year’s Eve.

This year is no exception. Sky-high room rates and limited availability mark much of the city’s inventory of approximately 134,000 guest rooms.

Every weekend plays out like New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, but this (weekend) is still a big event,” Palms owner George Maloof said Tuesday. “You’ve got a lot of people who want to come here to party.”

While several Strip resorts report no room at the inn, inbound travelers can still find accommodations over the three-day holiday. But they’ll pay plenty for the privilege — often more than double rates charged for a Thursday stay in the same room.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-28-Wed-2005/news/5070682.html
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NEW YEAR’S EVE: Party gathering steam.
Businesses, drivers eager to cash in.

The scene Thursday at McCarran International Airport was reminiscent of this summer’s surprise hit motion picture “March of the Penguins.”

One by one they lined up, dressed penguinlike in their black-and-white tuxedos. Dozens of limousine drivers from resorts such as Bellagio, Tropicana and The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, each awaiting their turn to ferry incoming visitors to their Las Vegas playground of choice.

Unlike the movie, actor Morgan Freeman wasn’t on hand to narrate.

But his absence in no way means this New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas will not become a blockbuster.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-30-Fri-2005/news/5127586.html
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NORM: Countdown to 2006 Vegas-style

The Year of the Nightclub is ending, fittingly, with the opening of two new ones — Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas and Jet at The Mirage.

Armed with the latest technology in imagery, Jet opens tonight. Kid Rock rings in the New Year countdown Saturday and will also serve as guest deejay.

Tryst, formerly La Bete, has its official grand opening New Year’s Eve, with the doors opening at 9 p.m.

From what we saw during the VIP sneak preview Wednesday, Tryst may have jumped to the top of the list of Sin City’s sexiest clubs with its stunning waterfall-fed lagoon setting and an interior featuring rich reds, chocolate browns and black.

Operated by managing partners Victor Drai and twin brothers Cy and Jesse Waits, Tryst’s expansion includes more outdoor seating and a stripper pole near a red-lighted wall.

Tryst is charging $150 for men; $100 for women. Reservations: 770-3375.

Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace has added an effervescent dimension to its New Year’s Eve/first-year birthday bash.

In addition to co-hosting the party with boyfriend Kevin Connolly of the hit TV series “Entourage,” Nicky Hilton will pop the cork on a 20-liter bottle of Cristal champagne worth $100,000.

Along with the megabottle — the equivalent of 20 standard-size bottles — a birthday cake decorated with $30,000 worth of genuine Swarovski crystals will be served as the fireworks erupt over the club’s second-floor deck.

Tickets are $200. Information: 474-4000.

Over at The Venetian, at Tao, a big hit since opening to rave reviews in September, Paris Hilton is hosting the New Year’s Eve party. Reservations: 388-8588 or www.taolasvegas.com.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: Countdown to 2006 Vegas-style
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BRENNER IN TALKS

Comedian David Brenner, who finishes his year-plus run at the Las Vegas Hilton tonight, says he’s in talks with a major Strip hotel and hopes to lock up a cable network show that would emanate from Las Vegas.

He leaves gratified that he helped his friend Barry Manilow land a five-year deal “that put the Hilton on the show business map. I wish them both continued success.”
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
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PLAYER’S EDGE: South Coast’s gaming options resemble other Coast properties’

Even though Coast Casinos is now a division of Boyd Gaming, you wouldn’t know it from the newly opened South Coast. This property looks like a natural progression from other Coast casinos. If you like the gaming at The Orleans, Gold Coast and Suncoast, you’ll feel right at home at South Coast.

Video poker yields plentiful 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.56 percent), 9/7 Triple Double Bonus (99.58 percent), and NSU (16-10-4-4-3) Deuces Wild (99.73 percent) in all denominations from quarters to $5. They do have lower (nickel and dime) and higher denominations available (up to $20 Five Play), although the pay schedules on these machines are not as generous. Surprisingly (and disappointingly) there is no high limit slots room, although most of the higher-limit games are in one area. Two high-dollar exceptions which not in the high limit area are quarter Fifty Play machines (which take $62.50 to fully load, and include 9/6 Jacks or Better) and quarter Five Play Multi Strike machines (which take $25 to fully load and also include 9/6 Jacks).

More PLAYERS EDGE here
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-30-Fri-2005/weekly/5099339.html
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GETTING AROUND TOWN

Bad news for riders and operators of the Las Vegas Strip monorail as passenger count dropped again in November, hitting a nine-month low of 25,788. This means a loss of approximately $20 million for the monorail this year and passengers will feel the sting. One-way fare has risen from $3 to $5 for visitors, while locals pay only $1. The 10-ride pass is now $35, up from $20. The one-day pass was hiked $5 to $15 and the three-day pass is now $40, up from $25. There is, however, a new two-ride pass, which costs $9, saving $1 over two one-way passes. Hours have also been extended. You can ride the monorail from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And speaking of transit, there’s a new fare structure on our CAT buses and I think it’s a good one. Take note. Free transfers from one bus to another have been eliminated, but in their place, the price of a special all-day pass has been reduced from $5 to $2.50. The pass allows unlimited rides on all non-Strip routes and 50-cent rides on Strip routes. The $5 regular all-day pass allows unlimited rides on all CAT routes, including the Strip, for a 24-hour period. The $1.25 per ride on residential routes and $2 on Strip routes remain unchanged, but the cost of a 30-day pass has been raised by $10 to $40 for adults and by $5 to $20 for kids and seniors. Okay, this last part isn’t so great, but overall, a pretty good deal.
reviewjournal.com — Lenny’s Las Vegas
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Lenny’s Las Vegas

Ringing in the New Year
Our town offers something for everyone on New Year’s Eve.

Unlike previous years, when Las Vegas hotel-casinos tried to outdo each other with big-name entertainment flown in for a special New Year’s Eve performance, this year, it’s slim pickings if that’s what you’re looking for.

One of the biggest names in town will be David Copperfield at the MGM Grand. His production show, An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion, will be performed at 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The 10:30 p.m. performance will include a special midnight balloon drop. Tickets are $97 inclusive. For reservations, call MGM Grand at (800) 929-1111 or online at www.mgmgrand.com

Across the street at the Tropicana, it’s The Press Band ­ Very Vegas, a group of Las Vegas’ finest musicians. These guys are really good and they play everything from pop and R&B to disco and rock ‘n’ roll, as well American classics from the 1950’s to the present. And here’s the best part — admission is free. You heard me right. It all gets underway at 10 p.m. in the Celebration Lounge. For more info call the Tropicana Box Office at 702-739-2411. I would expect it’s a first-come, first-served offer.

One of my favorite groups is going to be rockin’ the night away at the Silverton Hotel & Casino. Hootie & the Blowfish will be taking the stage at 10:30 p.m. and should have you in a pretty good mood, along with the booze you’ll be drinking, to usher in the New Year. Tickets for the New Year’s Eve concert, which will be held in the entertainment pavilion, are $99. For more info, call (702) 914-8557 or 1-866-946-4373.

Others in town include the Goo-Goo Dolls at Mandalay Bay, who go onstage at 9:30 p.m. Tickets $75 & $100; the Four Tops & Shirley Alston Reeves at the Stardust. Tickets $74.95. Show begins at 10 p.m.; Kanye West at the Aladdin. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets $75 to $150; and none other than Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians at The Orleans. The band begins playing at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $139.

The Luxor will have Dame Edna, that naughty lady (?) from down under who plays housewife, megastar and guru all at the same time. She recently arrived here to perform at the Luxor after a triumphant Broadway season of her all-new extravaganza, Dame Edna: Back With A Vengeance! But before landing in Las Vegas, she went home to Australia to put the finishing touches on her latest production, Dame Edna: A Dame in the Desert, especially for Las Vegas. The show starts at 10:30 p.m. For tickets ($110 and $137) call the box office at 1-800-557-7428 or go to www.luxor.com.

The girl everybody loves to watch, or at least hear about her latest escapades, will also be in town. Paris Hilton will ring in 2006 as the official host of the Tao Las Vegas New Year’s Eve Party at The Venetian Hotel Resort Casino. Tao is a 40,000-square-foot restaurant, lounge and nightclub combined and is the latest in what has become a long list of great Las Vegas clubs. From 9 to 11 p.m., Tao will feature an open bar and pass around trays of delicious hot and cold selections from the Tao Asian Bistro. DJ’s will be spinning in three different rooms all night, and you’ll have a spectacular view of the the Strip’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Tickets are $200 and you can get them by going www.taolasvegas.com. You can also call (702) 388-8588.

If you’re looking for a class way to bring in the New Year you might want to make the drive to the Ritz Carlton-Lake Las Vegas, which will be the site of the Las Vegas Philharmonic who will bring the glory of Vienna to the southwest. Talk about an elegant affair. The event is called the Philharmonic’s Viennese Ball and Getaway Weekend promises to be one of the most elegant and distinctive holiday experiences in the area.

The package includes a luxurious two-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, an exclusive invitation to the Champagne-Chandon Reception and VIP access to the Viennese gala‹a black-tie affair modeled after the famous Kaiser Ball in Vienna, Austria.

Following an afternoon jewelry show, the gala begins at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the opulent Grand Ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton. A three-course celebration dinner will be served, featuring gourmet cuisineThen the Las Vegas Philharmonic will you guests until 10 p.m. with the sounds of Johann Strauss II. The Walt Boenig Big Band will then take the stage and keep the dance floor moving till midnight, when the New Year will be announced with a fireworks display over Lake Las Vegas. Reservations for the Viennese Ball Getaway Weekend package are $1,200 per couple and can be made by calling The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas at 1-800-241-3333 or by logging on to www.ritzcarlton.com. Package availability is limited.

So as you can see, no Rolling Stones, no Cher, no Barbra Streisand or Mariah Carey, but what is offered should guarantee a fun time for everyone and that’s all we care about in Sin City. And of course, I don’t have to remind you that what happens in Las Vegas.
reviewjournal.com — Lenny’s Las Vegas
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Beyond the velvet rope
Nightclubs, on rise in Vegas, vie for affluent young adults
By Liz Benston

Dazzling the eye, deafening the ear and punishing the pocketbook, a new generation of nightclubs is seducing affluent partyers and winning over once-skeptical casino executives on the hunt for new profit centers.

The clubs, previously viewed as just late-night accessories to the Strip scene, have become such an important pillar for Las Vegas entertainment that even the most traditional resorts have gotten into the business.

One need look no further than the New Year’s Eve lineup of celebrities and headlining DJs at the various clubs to appreciate the heightened competition among them to capture the new, young money flowing into Las Vegas.

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/dec/30/519890513.html
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Newsletter member Deb sent me this due to all my ranting and raving about Harrah’s:

http://www.markotooleshow.biz/grinch.jpg
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Wynn Las Vegas to Pop the Cork of New Nightclub, Tryst, on New Year’s Eve.

Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club will open its much-anticipated Tryst nightclub on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31. The stunning new Tryst will launch and operate under the guidance of managing partners Victor Drai of Drai’s Afterhours and Cy and Jesse Waits, formerly of House of Blues, Light and Tabu.

Inside the 12,000-sq. ft. Tryst — a name evocative of an intimate rendezvous spot for lovers — guests will find a main room with open air and a sizable dance floor extending into a breathtaking 90-foot waterfall that cascades into a secluded lagoon. Distinguished by deep reds, chocolate browns and resin blacks, the sophisticated interior of Tryst features intimate booth-style tables, a private VIP room and a separate ultra-lounge with its own house music. The outside patios of Tryst, which are enveloped in dramatic white linens and shrouded by a grove of trees, offer additional water-side seating and stage an environment unlike anything else in Las Vegas.

“Tryst is a unique venue in which a traditional nightclub is transformed into an intimate location. With the open air, breathtaking waterfall and seating alongside the private lagoon, Tryst offers the perfect compliment to Wynn Las Vegas,” says Drai.

The New Year’s Eve grand opening party, which is nearly sold out, will begin at 9 p.m. and includes a New Years countdown and champagne toast. The cover charge is $150 for men and $100 for women (cover also applies to table reservations).

Tryst’s regular hours of operation are Thursdays-Sundays, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Cover charge is $30 for men and $20 for women; no cover charge for bottle customers. Thursday nights is “Industry Night,” with complimentary admission for those in the local service industry with proper ID arriving before midnight.
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Imperial Palace adds a little star power to their Blackjack
By Len Butcher

If you’d like to spice up your blackjack game and have a lot of laughs doing it, you might want to drop in to the Imperial Palace and try your luck with the casino’s Dealertainers. The name says it all. They are local entertainers impersonating their favorite stars, while dealing blackjack on the casino floor.

It all started a few years ago when casino manager Craig Garland decided to see what would happen if an Elvis look-alike appeared behind a blackjack table and began dealing hands to players. To say it was a hit is like saying Mariah Carey can’t win any awards. The players, and those flocking to see what was going on, loved it. And that was the birth of the Dealertainers, who have been dealing blackjack at the casino for the past two years.

During their shifts from noon tro 4 a.m. daily, you might find yourself going head to head at the table with Cher, Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna or even Groucho Marx. To add to the fun, the Dealertainers perform a little casino parade and production during the shift change at 8 p.m.

And don’t think they don’t know what they’re doing. I’ve played against them three times and I have to admit that Janet Jackson, Dolly and Cher all kicked my butt. It’s great fun and also a great photo opportunity so you can impress your friends back home.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/eNewsletters/eNeon/only/blackjackimperial.html
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“Roulette Guy” Sent me this NYE Info

If you are planning to go to the strip this year to see the fireworks, be
aware of several things. The strip will close to vehicular traffic earlier
this year, due to larger crowds. It could close as early as 4 to 5pm (no one
knows when they will close it off, it might be later than that - even as late
as 8pm). The monorail will continue to run but might close during the time
close to midnight. It also will take awhile to reopen the strip.

If you are going to the strip to watch fireworks, be aware that many casinos
close their doors and only allow those in who have room keys. Sometimes a
slot club card will gain you admittance. This means that toilets and places
to warm up will be few.

Also the strip is EXTREMELY CROWDED at midnight. From 11 to 1 am expect
conditions to be shoulder to shoulder, a totally packed crowd. Such a thick
crowd can be scary, and even dangerous if you are small. Do not take children!
My advice is to try to pick a location to stand that is a little wider than
normal. The police will rope off the 2 middle lanes of Las Vegas Blvd.
While it seems like there should be a lot of space, in actuality there isn’t.
Walkways over the strip will also be closed. One wider area I would suggest is
in front of the Mirage, which has a good view of several fireworks spots.
Less crowded areas may also be further down like in front of the Wynn, where
there are fewer casinos. The area between T.I. and Aladdin is jam packed.

Get to your preferred viewing area by about 11 pm. After that the walking
to get anywhere is terrible. Also be aware that friendly crowds also may
include revelers who are yelling, drinking beer, or acting up. Older folks will
want to be in a safe area where people are not constantly walking by you –
again, look for wider areas such as parts of Caesars or the Mirage.

Once the fireworks have finished, stay where you are if you are far from
your hotel. It will take awhile for crowds to disperse. One year we stood at
the Mirage and then attempted to walk back to Harrahs after the fireworks. In
front of the Mirage wasn’t too scary, but when we started walking
immediately after the fireworks, the crowds became dense rows of moving people and we
were afraid of falling and getting crushed. Wait until things disperse more
and then you can walk more safely.

Also be aware that there are only a few places to walk across the strip -
for example from Venetian to T.I. You can’t just cross directly, the middle
part of the strip is roped off. You have to walk a little ways down to the
area left open.

Also crowds will swell at the entry and exit points into casinos right
before and after the fireworks. When we walked from the Mirage, we got caught up
in a crowd of people trying to enter the Mirage, while we just wanted to walk
past the Mirage.

Now there are many good areas to see the fireworks. One safe one with an
excellent view is the back parking lot (near the convention area) of The Rio.
Some people go to the top of parking garages such as the Palms or Gold Coast.
From the Las Vegas Hilton you can get a good view of the strip.

Also be aware that many hotels turn off their elevators for an hour to
several hours around midnight. I guess this is to keep hotel guests who are at
various parties from going up and back and around, but it can be annoying. Be
sure to check the policy in your hotel.

If you are going to a New Years party, sometimes these run til past
midnight, so you are forced to choose to either see the show or see the fireworks.
This happened to us at Harrahs where we wanted to see Clint Holmes perform. He
didn’t start performing til about 11:30, so we had to miss him to see the
fireworks.

Be aware that it will probably be cold outside, so dress warmly because if
you are out there, and have to get into position, this could leave you out in
the cold for 2 hours or more.

If you want to take children, I suggest going to a nice, safe area such as
the Rio back parking lot.

Public buses will be running, but will change their routes during the hours
when the strip is closed. For example, the Rt. 202 on Flamingo will stop at
Valley View. Shuttle buses from casinos will have shortened hours (Coast
buses may only run til about 3:30 pm). I believe public buses may be free on
New Years.

Being on the strip is fun, interesting, and exciting. But the crowds are so
thick it can also be scary. We’ve done it twice, also viewed from the Rio.
This year we will be at Bally’s where we’ve asked for a room with a great
view down the strip (I’m just hoping we can get up to it if the elevators are
stopped since we also want to go to their party).

Many people wear strange hats, outfits, glasses, and so on. It is
interesting to see them on the strip!

You can also watch the fireworks on TV - but it isn’t the same! The best
view is directly under the fireworks, such as in front of the Mirage/T.I. with
excellent views of fireworks set off at the Venetian, Flamingo Hilton, and
other nearby areas. Most of the fireworks will be set off on the Venetian side
of the street. The fireworks will run from the Stratosphere to Mandalay
Bay. All the fireworks are pretty much the same from each property. Last year
they only lasted about 10-15 minutes I would say — so if you are going for
the fireworks, don’t expect a long show. This year’s show is reputed to be
longer. There is also special music. From the Rio you won’t hear it.
Actually with the noisy crowd it is difficult to hear the music if you are down on
the strip.

Have fun, be safe, and Happy New Year.
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PURE NIGHTCLUB CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY WITH $100,000 CHAMPAGNE EXPLOSION

The Champagne will flow at PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace on New Year’s Eve as the club dubbed the “Hippest Hotspot” in the country by E! Entertainment Television celebrates its first birthday. Hosts Nicky Hilton and Kevin Connolly will pop the cork on one of the five largest bottles of Cristal Champagne in the nation just as the clock strikes 12 on January 1, 2006.

The bottle, valued at more than $100,000, will cap an unforgettable night at the club that has taken the Las Vegas nightlife world by storm. Hilton, Connolly and their celebrity friends will be leading the charge into the New Year from PURE’s coveted White Room VIP beds before heading up to PURE’s legendary Strip-view terrace for an extravagant anniversary celebration including the enormous bottle of Champagne and a decadent PURE birthday cake bathed in the club’s signature white, sugar Champagne bottles and $30,000 worth of genuine Swarovski crystals. Set against a panoramic view of The Strip and its fabulous multi-million dollar New Year’s Eve fireworks show, this is one celebration that will live on in Las Vegas legend.

Las Vegas’ most successful nightclub, in its first year PURE has been toasted as one of The Strip’s jewels garnering national acclaim and a legion of charmed club-goers. Since opening in December 2004 with hostess Mariah Carey, PURE has played host to Eva Longoria, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Wilmer Valderamma, Danny Masterson and The cast of HBO’s The Sopranos. After a year like 2005, it is only fitting that PURE pull out all of the stops and celebrate the coming of 2006 like The Strip has never seen.

Advance tickets for this incredible night start at $200 and can be purchased by calling 702.474.4000.
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The Spa at Imperial Palace Features Thalgo
First in Las Vegas to Carry French Skin Care Product Line

Start the new year with a new you by luxuriating in Thalgo skin care treatments now carried exclusively in Las Vegas by The Spa at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino.

Thalgo (pronounced “tal-go”) is a 40-year-old French company that draws on the riches of the ocean and the powers of sea therapies “renowned for their dramatic effects in revitalizing, rebalancing and healing the body.” The Spa carries facial cleansers for all skin types and several body treatment detox wraps that can be used by men and women.

“All Thalgo marine products are algae-based,” said Alice Bergendorff, spa director. “With these essential elements and the process patent Thalgo holds to liberate algae active ingredients, we’re pleased to offer a whole body makeover inside and out.”

The Spa also offers a slimming and sculpting nutritional line for treating cellulite and weight loss. “Cocoa buns,” for example, firms and tones the derriere. In addition, The Spa carries herb coffee and tea tonics and several dietary supplements.

To allow patrons to continue their skin care regimen at home, The Spa sells Thalgo products plus a complete line of spa merchandise including slippers, candles, kimono-style robes, and sushi and sake soaps.

The Spa at the Imperial Palace is open daily 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. To make an appointment, call 702.794.3242. For additional information, visit the Web site at www.imperialpalace.com.

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, 2,640 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.
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From “Eye On Vegas”

FiAMMA Trattoria Takes Championship Over All Award-winning Italian restaurant
FiAMMA Trattoria, took the championship Wednesday at the finals of MGM Grand’s nine-month long Culinary Kitchen Challenge Cup. The competition is an opportunity for employees to exhibit their culinary talents and to raise their level of expertise. In the past four years, MGM Grand has opened ten new fine dining establishments, and today is the only resort in America with four AAA Four Diamond restaurants, four James Beard award-winning chefs (Michael Mina, Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck) and one 3-star Michelin chef - Joel Robuchon. Fiamma a New York City staple founded by famed restaurateur Steven Hanson pulled off a grand coup by leading the pack against the expertise of this competition. The Kitchen Challenge has proven to be such a success that MGM Grand plans on inviting all Las Vegas Strip properties to compete in a citywide competition in 2006. The MGM Grand’s Executive Chef Steve Peterson, who invited Bellagio’s Executive Chef, Wolfgang von Wieser, to judge the championship, founded the challenge. Besides winning the coveted title, the FiAMMA team also won an all-expense paid trip to the renowned Culinary Vegetable Institute at The Chef’s Garden in Huron, Ohio, for a four-day discovery trip to further enhance their culinary skills.

Downtown Las Vegas will be short one more casino when the Lady Luck closes on February 12 for a yearlong remodeling. The Henry Brent Co. purchased the 743-room property in April and will permanently lay off all 684 workers. The company will keep its gaming license as it operates 15 slot machines at some of the new Third Street restaurants that also share in Lady Luck’s valet operations. How this will affect those businesses (Hogs & Heifers Saloon, Triple George Grill, Sidebar and Celebrity) is anyone’s guess, but we hear that Brent management has been anything but neighborly in a few different instances over the past six months. And, PS, though the gaming license will be effective for those slot machines Brent operates, they will have to be approved by state gaming regulators before the remodeled Lady Luck opens its doors.

George Clooney is insisting on a “no-flesh” mandate at the Las Ramblas, the Las Vegas property casino he is building. The sexy star, who has teamed up with After Midnight’s Rande Gerber (Whiskey Bars), Related Las Vegas and Centra Properties to build the $3 billion complex, says punters wearing shorts or tank tops will be banned. The heartthrob wants the 25-acre site, which will include a 48,000 square foot casino and 4,400 hotel rooms, to be smart in every sense of the words.
He revealed: “When I was filming ‘Ocean’s 11′ in Las Vegas, I met with Rande, who owns all these great bars, and we started talking about building a casino and how we would want to do it, which is to dress it up a bit - no shorts and tank tops after 6pm. I grew up watching my aunt (the late, great Rosemary Clooney) sing in Vegas and everyone used to put on a jacket to go to the casino. There was sort of a European flavour-I always felt like I missed out on that.”

Barry Manilow celebrated his 100th “Manilow: Music and Passion” show at the Las Vegas Hilton December 17 with a huge birthday cake, which he shared with his singers, dancers, musicians and crew. Manilow’s engagement at the Hilton has been extended into 2007. He will release a live tribute album “The Greatest Songs of the Fifties” on January 31, 2006 that was also taped for a PBS television special scheduled to air in March 2006.

FTD is celebrating their 53rd year as a participant in the Tournament of Roses in the 2006 Rose Parade with a magical float featuring Vegas world champion magician, Lance Burton. Burton, who performs at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, will mesmerize parade viewers and millions of television viewers around the world with his magic while suspended on a magic carpet. The spectacle will feature a 30-foot bejeweled genie with over 15 varieties of roses and required 7,000 volunteered hours in labor. For the first time in the Parade’s history, the broadcast will air in China.

Las Vegas Monorail prices will rise, effective December 29th. New rates for a one-way will go to $5 from $3, a one-day pass will increase $5 to $15 and ten rides on the train will cost $35. With stops at Sahara, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas Convention Center, Harrah’s / Imperial Palace Station, Flamingo / Caesars Palace, Paris and the MGM Grand Station, the monorail is a real deal if any of those specific destinations are on your itinerary. However, with the exception of the Convention Center, each station is located in the rear of each of the respective properties, requiring basically a city-block-long walk to get to the front of those hotels or the Strip before even starting a journey to a neighboring hotel/casino. Let’s add to this the fact that the monorail ends (or begins depending on where you’re at) at the MGM, when in fact the Mandalay Bay/Luxor are two l-o-n-g blocks south of the MGM, and this deal-on-wheels doesn’t extend to the airport or downtown… and you’ve got a short-sighted master plan to nowhere on your hands. Somebody please tell the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada to get off their butts and get busy. Never mind - we just did.

Have a wonderful New Year! May all your Jackpots be large,
Steve and Eileen

Posted on December 30th, 2005 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter