January 13th, 2006

Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:

Wolfgang Puck already has five restaurants in Las Vegas, but beginning Monday, he’ll have one in “Las Vegas.” And no, you can’t get a reservation.

The new Puck restaurant is in the fictional Montecito casino, centerpiece of the NBC series, which airs at 9 p.m. Mondays. Puck, who vies with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the honor of America’s most famous Austrian import and has guest-starred in numerous TV shows and movies, also will appear on Monday’s show.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - RESTAURANT NEWS

Pete “Big Elvis” Valle, down 200 pounds in the past year since a health scare, puts on his annual Elvis tribute show Monday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Barbary Coast. Elvis Presley would have turned 71 this Sunday.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

The effort to save the architecturally significant La Concha building from the wrecking ball is running into difficulty. While some locals have stepped forward to lend their support, word is the fundraising effort to move the building has slowed to a trickle. And that’s a shame. It would make a grand entrance to the neon museum and might even fit in Dr. Lonnie Hammargren’s eclectic backyard.
reviewjournal.com — News - JOHN L. SMITH

Beacher’s Madhouse and the Hard Rock Hotel have added another year to their deal, after a two-year run at The Joint. Jeff Beacher, who brought the zany variety show to Las Vegas from New York City, also is working on a deal with the Hard Rock that would put a 6,000-square-foot Madhouse Bar at a poolside location. The 24-7 bar would be a mini-version of the show, with dancers, monkeys and stilt walkers.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

After emptying two SUV’s and moving Britney Spears and entourage into the top suite at the Aladdin, I hear the bellhops didn’t get a dime for all their heavy lifting. Federline, however, had scraped up enough cash by Saturday to play blackjack at the Aladdin.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

Are you willing to pay $325 per person for dinner? Before drinks, tax, and tip? If you are, apparently you can’t do any better than Joel Robuchon, the star chef’s eponymous restaurant at the MGM Grand. The LA Times has given the eatery 4-stars, a rating that a friend of mine tells me is almost unheard of, and the review gushes about it being perhaps the best restaurant on the planet and totally worth the money. Robuchon was a legend in France before his retirement a few years ago and although he isn’t actually at the stoves in Las Vegas he is intimately involved in everything from food preparation to the design of the dining room. $325 is the cost of the 16-course tasting menu but if that’s a little too rich for your blood there’s the 6-course menu that will only run you $165.
Vegas4Visitors Column for January 9, 2006

The Mirage has announced that starting January 27th their newest Chinese restaurant, Fin, will be open for lunch from 11P-2A, which includes a Dim Sum lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. While we haven’t yet had a chance to dine on Chef Chi Choi’s menu, we can tell you that Yabu Pushelberg’s design of the restaurant is phenomenal (think: an Asian-themed MIX minus the view).
LVFBM - Eye On Vegas

Sometime in 2006, the new $160 million consolidated car rental facility at McCarran Airport will open on Warms Springs Rd. between Gillespie and Haven Streets. When completed, there will be only one bus to all the 11 car rental agencies and not the present system where each company has its own bus. All 11 car rental companies will be housed in one complex.

The Caesars Palace Poker Room has opened next door to the Pure nightclub. The room was inaugurate by Pure sponsoring a celebrity poker tournament hosted by Nicky Hilton, Kevin Connolly, Jennifer Tilly, surprise celebrity guests, and a list of professional poker players. The buy-in was $2,200.

The new show “Love Is A Pain” at the Riviera opened at the Riviera on Dec.26, and it’s closed already.

The Las Vegas Hilton has opened another part of its construction and renovation project. Fortuna is a contemporary 24-hour gourmet coffee and wine bar located right off the new lobby and features gourmet breakfast items, express lunch and wireless Internet access.

Comic hypnotist Anthony Cools plans to open Jan. 19 in the former Minstel Lounge at The Excalibur, which will now be known as The Anthony Cools Experience. The bar will now have a signature cocktail, Cool Sensations, made with — what else? — Hpnotiq.

The Rio is putting a new spin on the nightclub action with Masquerade After Hours. Every Friday and Saturday night throughout January a DJ will spin upbeat tunes from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. on the casino floor, creating a hot dance club environment. In addition, four sultry and energetic shows, beginning at midnight, will feature a cast of sexy singers and dancers. Even the Bevertainers will be dressed in new seductive attire for the after hours attraction. Show times are midnight, 12:45, 1:30 and 2:15 a.m.
reviewjournal.com — Lenny’s Las Vegas

Celebrity judges for the Jan. 21 Miss America Pageant at the Aladdin will include NFL great Jerry Rice, recording artist Brian McKnight, Jane Kaczmarek of “Malcolm in the Middle,” Brenda Strong of “Desperate Housewives” and Miss Arizona 1980, TV-radio host Leeza Gibbons, fashion expert Robert Verdi and Sharlene Wells Hawkes, Miss America 1985.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM

“Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show” returns to the Mandalay Bay Theatre on Feb. 3. Tickets to the stand-up packaged show cost $75 and $110 and go on sale at noon today at the theater box office inside Mandalay Bay and Ticketmaster outlets.

Kokomo’s at The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has re-opened with a new look by restaurant designer Adam Tihany. Features include a live bamboo planter, a field of suspended iridescent silver fish sculptures and an emphasis on live materials. It’s open for dinner from 5 to 10:30 p.m. daily.

Las Vegas Top Ten Values January 2006
From The Las Vegas Advisor

1. Complete Steak Dinner - Ellis Island - 24 hours - $4.95
Though the sizzle in Las Vegas dining going into 2006 surrounds renowned chefs, designer rooms, exotic cuisine, and expensive tabs, several simple coffee shops in town still serve down-to-earth meals at affordable prices. Ellis Island has one of the best of them, and it’s anchored by the town’s number-one deal—a 10-ounce filet cut sirloin that comes with salad, green beans, potato, and rolls, for $4.95. For the price of one meal at a celebrity joint, you can eat these babies every day for two months at EI.

2. Shrimp Cocktail - Golden Gate - 11-3 am - 99¢
Hand the cashier at the Golden Gate Deli a buck and she’ll hand you a tulip glass full of Bay shrimp (#2). If you want celery or lettuce filler, you’ll have to get your cocktail someplace else; it’s all shrimp and cocktail sauce here.

3. Ham & Eggs - Arizona Charlie’s Decatur - 24 hours - $2.49
Another fabulous deal from another great stand-by Vegas coffee shop can be had at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, which serves up a ham-n-eggs breakfast for just $2.49 (#3). Available 24 hours a day, this is the best breakfast value in town, but only by a hair, compared to several other good deals—including a $2.99 steak & eggs—in the same restaurant.

4. Souvenir Photo - Imperial Palace - noon-8 pm - Free
Our initial doubts about the longevity of Imperial Palace’s souvenir photo (#4) are beginning to seem downright silly, now that this freebie is entering its fourth year in the Top Ten. Get your picture taken daily from noon to 8 pm at the front entrance to the casino. It’s ready a few minutes later at the players club booth inside.

5. Funbook - Stratosphere - Daily - Free
The Stratosphere funbook (#5) continues to offer up its strong gambling coupons with an expected value for playing them of nearly $20. Simply show up at the Ultimate Rewards club booth, show your club card (or ID if you don’t have one; they’ll sign you up in seconds), and get one funbook per week. In addition to the big blackjack coupon (2-1 for your first natural up to a $25 bet) and $10 crap and mini-baccarat matchplay, there are also some discounts on drinks, dining, and retail that may come in handy.

6. Prime Rib Dinner - California - 5-10 pm - $6.99
One way we judge value is by making comparisons. And compared to another bargain-priced prime that we sampled at the Klondike this month, the enormous value of the $6.99 prime rib dinner at the California (#6) is abundantly clear. There’s simply no other prime rib in its price range that stacks up for quality or quantity (it’s pretty tough to top the all-you-can-eat salad bar that’s included in the price).

7. Slot Club Bonus - Wynn Las Vegas - Daily - Free; gambling req.
(Note: This offer has been changed to require the earning of 500 points, which diminishes its value severely. We are investigating whether or not it will return after the holidays.) The new and improved new-member sign-up bonus at Wynn Las Vegas (#7) is a powerhouse. Sign up and earn 50 players club points and you’ll get two comped buffets. You can qualify for this roughly $70 value in less than an hour on the good WLV quarter machines, or in just 15 minutes playing dollars. Best of all, the risk for playing to qualify is low.

8. Casbar Lounge - Sahara - Daily - Free
Top-level acts continue to take turns playing the Sahara’s Casbar Lounge (#8), where there’s never a cover charge or a drink minimum. Look for regulars, such as the Checkmates, Denise Clemente, Bertie Higgins, Pete Wilcox, and the “Divas of Comedy,” along with guest acts, such as the revues Sixtiesmania and Honky Tonk Angels, both of which played the lounge last month and have been ticketed acts in other casinos.

9. Buffet - Mirage - Daily - $12.50-$22.50
The Mirage’s Cravings (#9) hangs on as the best buffet value in Las Vegas, half on its quality and half on its pricing. As buffet prices continue their inexorable rise, especially along the Strip, the Mirage holds the line at $12.50-$22.50. But look for challengers in 2006, as several casino buffets are revamped and reopening.

10. Mac King - Harrah’s - Tues.-Sat. - $7.99/$21.95
The Mac King Comedy and Magic Show (#10) enters its seventh year as the afternoon show at Harrah’s. It first appeared in the Top Ten in June 2001 (with a retail price of $10). Mac still packs ’em in every day, and you can still beat that original price with the $7.99 coupons available before showtime in the Carnaval Court.
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/topten.cfm
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Brett’s Vegas Views
By Jackie Brett

The legendary performer Wayne Newton has extended his engagement at the Flamingo Showroom through April 2006. Shows are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Newton is a musical icon who has performed over 25,000 shows in Las Vegas alone and released 164 albums. His repertoire includes number one favorites such as “Danke Schoen,” “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” and “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” among others.

Tickets for Newton’s shows are $65 and $75 plus handling fee. Golden Circle tickets are $100 and they include a meet-and-greet and photo session with Newton. For tickets, call 702-733-3333 or 800-221-7299.

Television mainstay and cultural icon Regis Philbin will return to the Golden Nugget’s 400-seat Theatre Ballroom Jan. 20 and 21. His wife Joy Philbin will be his special guest. Tickets are on sale now for $125 plus tax, call 702- 386-8100 or 866- 946-5336.

Philbin. who co-hosts the daily chat fest “Live with Regis and Kelly (Ripa),” returns with his live show featuring selections of standards from the Great American Songbook, audience interaction and lively anecdotes told in his inimitable style.

Quick-witted, veteran comic Vinnie Favorito has resumed his comedy act at a new location center Strip at the 150-seat O’Sheas Theatre. Audiences need to “Buckle Up” with The Vinnie Favorito Comedy Show as he takes them on a comedic ride where the crowd learns all the stories behind their fellow audience members.

Playing on the world’s current events, Favorito has stand-up comedy down to a tee.

He began delighting audiences in 1986 and was first noticed nationally as a WZOU 94.5 FM (Top 40) Star Search champion. His diverse appeal has earned him silver screen exposure on various Comedy Central shows, “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn” and the “Best Damn Sports Show Period.” He is also known throughout Hollywood as one of the country’s top “roasters” for celebrities including Tom Arnold, Jerry Springer and Larry King.

Favorito made his way to the Las Vegas circuit in 1990, where he is best known for his performances at The Improv comedy club at Harrah’s. In Boston, he has served as host of “Boston Chronicle,” a magazine television show, and guest radio host on Boston’s EAGLE 93.7 FM. Other honors include Favorito’s 1998 victory as winner of the renowned San Francisco International Comedy Competition, and recognition from the “Boston Herald” as one of Boston’s Top 10 Comedians. Most recently Favorito served as the first-ever headliner at Binion’s Gambling Hall, formerly known as Binion’s Horseshoe.

Favorito performs two shows nightly Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For tickets, visit the Flamingo or O’Sheas Box Offices or call 702-733-3333. Guests must be at least 18 years of age.

Steve Connolly has settled into the Fitzgerald’s showroom with his full-time “Spirit of the King” show presented by Rockin’ Ass Coffee. Backed by a seven-piece live band and two beautiful backup singers, he performs nightly at 7 p.m. Beginning tomorrow night, general admission is $30 and $40 for VIP seating.

Since Connolly took over the showroom, he’s improved the interior atmosphere by adding authentic Elvis, Beatles and other legends’ photographs and memorabilia to all the walls. An interesting note, Connolly who also sketches, has had a business restoring art and painting church ceilings.

Connolly rather than mimic Elvis takes what he calls an “Elvisesque”-approach and offers an authentic portrait of an American icon.

Connolly uses his ample skills as a composer, musician playing bass, drums and guitar, and vocalist to offer insight into the King and the musical eras he encompassed. With his own stage charisma and consummate talent, Connolly chooses not to wear sunglasses or jumpsuits and even performs a couple of his own original compositions at the end of the show thus making his concert more original.

Connolly has been performing his Elvis act in Las Vegas since he appeared in “Love Him Tender: The Spirit f the King” in Bally’s “Jubilee!” Theatre in 1999/2000. An extended engagement followed in the musical comedy “Tease” at the former Blue Note Cabaret. Connolly has mastered Elvis’ physical nuances, moves and conversational tones to match his musical ability and interpretations. You don’t have to be an avid Elvis fan to appreciate Connolly’s show and his talent.

On Friday, Jan. 27, Teller (the unspoken half of Penn & Teller) will host a meet-and-greet breakfast for 12 guests to benefit the James Randi Educational Foundation. Teller will donate his time and cooking talents hosting the first “Brunch with Teller” in his Las Vegas estate.

The $40-million expansion at the Cannery in North Las Vegas is slated for completion in April. The project will add a poker room, a race and sports book, an Italian restaurant, and a 12-screen Galaxy Movie Theater.

Jay Joseph is planning to bring his A Touch of Mystery interactive dinner improvisational theatre to The Artisan Hotel & Spa by starting off with productions on Thursday evenings. The $79.95 price includes a four-course meal with wine tasting, the show, tax and gratuity. For reservations, performance dates and menu selection, call 702-497-7936.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
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TASTE: Max’s 20 Top Picks of 2005
Do you really need to know more than that?

By Max Jacobson

This year was an excellent one for Las Vegas restaurants, and for this column. These dishes are ones that have previously appeared in this space, but I couldn’t write this piece without mentioning a few that knocked my socks off in restaurants that didn’t appear in Taste, such as the potato salad with white truffles and foie gras served at Joel Robuchon at the Mansion, the warm chestnut soup at Alex, and the Mediterranean fish that Chef Paul Bartolotta has flown in five times a week from France and Italy. I’m walking on air.

Here, in no particular order, are 20 of my favorites.

• House special hot sauce

Owner Lianna Ng’s fiery red paste is based on ground pork and a number of other things she keeps secret, and she serves it upon request in her comely west-side café. It is sublime on noodles and rice, and she plans to put it on the market. Jade Café, 8465 W. Sahara Ave., 255-1688.

• Yai kee ma-ow

These flat, pan-fried rice noodles tossed around with mint, spicy chili and a choice of meat is flat-out my favorite noodle dish in the city. Try them with chopped chicken or roast pork. Pad Thai never tasted this good. Thai House Restaurant, 9850 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 18, 361-5233.

• Chicken soup

Everyone loves chicken soup and this broth stocked with chicken, potatoes, carrots and zucchini will get your attention. It’s a slow-cooked soup that really tastes homemade, and the bowl is a vessel roughly the size of your head. Rainbow Bar and Grill, 4480 Paradise Road, 898-3525.

• Country Club crisp potatoes

David Walzog makes the best hash browns in the world: roasted potatoes that are sliced and baked with cream and garlic and then browned and quickly fried to a powerful crunch. The potatoes are addictive, so be warned. The Country Club, inside Wynn Las Vegas, 770-7000.

• Chicken pot pie

There’s lots to love at Triple George Grill, such as clams casino and real cioppino, but the dish I’d come back for again and again is the rich, velvety chicken pot pie, a real stick-to-the-ribs version with a flaky pastry top made by the talented Teresa Borowski. Triple George Grill, 201 N. Third St., 384-2761.

• Avocado and grapefruit salad

You wouldn’t expect to find something healthy in a restaurant where the specialty dish is a fried bologna sandwich but this terrific salad—composed of ripe avocado, sweet pink grapefruit sections and butter lettuce dressed with candied pecans and creamy poppy seed dressing—is a real winner. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, inside Harrah’s, 369-5000.

• The wedge

The wedge is a folded and baked pizza shaped a bit like a calzone. You pick the filling and topping: a choice of spicy tomato, fresh pesto or garlic cream. All three, it happens, are delicious, with nicely crusted, bubbly tops. Balboa Pizza, at the District at Green Valley Ranch, 407-5073.

• Seekh kabab

Owner Divinda Grewall serves London-style Indian cuisine at her little roadside restaurant, and no dish here typifies it better than her seekh kabab: spiced cylinders made from minced lamb, flecked with herbs and spices, and broiled to a sizzle. Koh-I-Noor, 730 E. Flamingo Road, 894-9334.

• Hannah’s roll

I’m not big on sushi but I cannot resist Hannah’s roll, a long tube of sushi rice that has been rolled in yellowtail, drizzled with sesame oil and stuffed with soft-shell crab. It will make a sushi lover out of anyone. Hannah’s Neighborhood Bistro, 1040 S. Rampart Blvd., 932-9399.

• Satay

The skewered meats flavored with coriander, garlic and galangal are Malaysian, not Thai, and come in two varieties, beef and chicken, accompanied by peanut sauce, sweet onion and sliced cucumber. Satay Malaysian Grill, 3755 Spring Mountain Road, 362-2828.

• Boliche mechado

Bring your appetite to eat this pot roast stuffed with sausage and served traditionally with Moros y Christianos, literally “Moors and Christians,” a Cuban joke meaning black beans with rice. Havana Grill, 8878 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson, 932-9310.

• Hummus with chopped meat and pine nuts

Nicholas and Jay Sayegh, who prepared delicious Lebanese and Syrian dishes at the short-lived but sorely missed Sidewalk Mediterranean Grill, do the best hummus in the city, and it’s especially good when enriched with meat and pine nuts. The Olive Mediterranean Grill, 3850 E. Sunset Road, 541-8805.

• Clam chowder

Uber-seafood Chef Rick Moonen has done wonders for the food scene here, and his chowder, beautifully stocked with clams, celery, bacon and other rich flavors, is easily the best in the West. R-Bar, inside Mandalay Bay, 632-7777.

• Rotisserie chicken

For most of us, rotisserie chicken is the mother of all birds. Sonio’s birds are moist, crisp-skinned pullets, liberally seasoned and served piping hot. Owner Yiorgo Aretos serves them at fair trade prices with terrific side dishes. Sonio’s Café and Rotisserie, 3900 W. Charleston Blvd., 307-2177.

• Turkey shawarma

At Sababa, an expat Israeli hangout, you will get amazing felafel—and this sandwich, a pita stuffed with rotisserie turkey marinated in paprika, cumin and coriander. The meat is turned out in crisp little hunks, a miracle worthy of Moses. Sababa, 3220 S. Durango Drive, 597-5556.

• Baked clams

Old Vegas lives at Casa di Amore, lined with photos of the Strip, circa 1960. What could be more Old Vegas than baked clams: chopped clams baked in their shells with seasoned bread crumbs. Mmmm! Casa di Amore, 2850 E. Tropicana Ave., 933-4967.

• House margarita

Agave boasts America’s only tequilero, tequila master Eduardo Gonzales. The killer house margarita is made with Herradura Silver, a superb tequila, and Cointreau, a wonderful, orange-flavored French liqueur. Agave, 1080 W. Charleston Blvd., 214-3560.

• Prime beef meat loaf

Envy Steakhouse serves prime beef meat loaf at lunch, oval-shaped, crusty around the edges and sauced in port and Crimini mushrooms. It’s the best meat loaf I’ve ever tasted: juicy, rich and delicately textured. Envy Steakhouse, inside Renaissance Las Vegas, 3400 Paradise Road, 733-6533.

• House special banh mi

For $2.33, who can complain about a baguette that uses three cold cuts: a light luncheon meat, a thinly sliced ham, and a third, mortadella-like meat with a red rim around the edge, plus Vietnamese pickled vegetables. Hue Thai’s Sandwiches, 5115 Spring Mountain Road, 943-8872.

• Warm quail salad with sautéed artichokes and pine nuts.

I’ve saved the best for last. Chef Julian Serrano pan-sautés quail and artichokes in grapeseed oil with a touch of fresh garlic, and then adds a sprinkle of pine nuts, and voila! Sheer genius. Picasso, inside Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 693-8105.
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2005/12/29/taste.html
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Vegas Values Report for 1/1/06

The below 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
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NORM: Expect to party in a big way in ‘06

We’ve gazed into our crystal ball — or was it Cristal bubbles — and foresee a newsy new year in 2006:1. Biggest parties of the year? Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles show opens in May in the former Siegfried & Roy Theater at The Mirage.

Word has it there will be a Yellow Submarine restaurant next door.

Also: the Aladdin’s conversion into Planet Hollywood in December, during the weekend leading into the Radio Music Awards.

And the Playboy Club opens atop the Palms’ Fantasy Tower this spring.

2. Look for “Ocean’s Thirteen” starring George Clooney and fellow heistmeisters, to be filmed here.

3. The arrival of “Spamalot” from Broadway and Bette Midler will take Wynn Las Vegas to another level in entertainment.

4. The next celebrity chef to enter our stunning, ever-expanding constellation: Mario Batali, known for his rustic Italian menu, will open an Italian seafood restaurant at The Venetian. It will open this fall near the Blue Man Group Theater. He’s also reserved space for a second restaurant when the Palazzo opens at The Venetian in 2008.

5. The Comedy Festival was just the beginning of a new wave of big-time comedy in Las Vegas.

The main rumblings center on comedic headliners at the Rio and Harrah’s. The race is on, I hear, to land Dave Chappelle and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the hottest acts out there.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: Expect to party in a big way in ‘06
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TOP 10 OF 2005: ‘Ka’ adds to Cirque du Soleil’s dominance of Strip entertainment

‘Ka’ adds to Cirque du Soleil’s dominance of Strip entertainment.
By Mike Weatherford.

Two shows, both with puppets. So different and yet so good.

In sports-book parlance, it’s really a “pick ‘em” to say whether “Ka” or “Avenue Q” is the best Las Vegas show of 2005. But symbolically they are worlds apart, two branches of a huge fork in the road for the Strip’s entertainment future.

1. “Ka,” MGM Grand — Cirque du Soleil’s epic is the most expensive show ever staged anywhere — about $165 million — and ultimately a victim of its own ambition. All those millions fell just a hair short of bringing home the dramatic payoff in Cirque’s attempt to break out of its proven formula and tell a linear, operatic story.

The mildly confusing and anticlimactic result is understandable, given the absence of words, lyrics or video close-ups to aid the storytelling, or a familiar work to base the saga upon. But it’s an amazing journey, showing what’s possible when Las Vegas’ ability to provide cutting-edge stagecraft and long-term financing is combined with the vision of an innovative director, Robert Lepage.

2. “Avenue Q,” Wynn Las Vegas — On the other hand, this charming musical downplays its expensive sense of detail, and arrived from Broadway as a wholly formed product. This year will bring more Broadway titles (”Hairspray,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” probably “The Producers”) and even an off-Broadway hit (”Menopause — The Musical”).

Collectively, they will tell us if “Ka” was an anomaly, and whether the Strip’s real destiny is to become just one store in an entertainment retail chain, sharing name-brand product with select other cities.

In the meantime, just enjoy the smart, raunchy spoof of “Sesame Street” that sneakily evolves into warm empathy for today’s “lost generation.”

3. The Blue Man Group, The Venetian — The blue guys come closest to bridging the two forks in the road in their new custom venue. The new playground doesn’t distract this uniquely offbeat show from its vision, even if the antics are a bit familiar by now.

4. Clint Holmes, Harrah’s Las Vegas — Look man, no puppets or disguises! Just a multithreat entertainer preserving a headliner tradition that faces a tough future on the Strip. Holmes changes his show every year and this one is the apex, cohesive to a theme without a stray move or wasted moment.

5. “Forever Plaid,” Gold Coast — Billboards proclaim this musical the year’s “best-reviewed” show. The claim is probably true, reflecting the value of a past favorite that returned in 2005 to prove four-part harmony and character-grounded comedy can be as valuable as computer-automated scenery.

6. Jon Stewart, Caesars Palace — Dave Chappelle and “The Daily Show” host were the highlights of a new comedy festival here in November. Stewart’s set made you wish he could get away from New York more often. He showed he’s one of the great comic minds working today, and also that you can say it without the “comic” part.

7. Elton John, “The Red Piano,” Caesars Palace — Although it’s a bit pricey for 90 minutes, it is a mind-blowing pop-art showcase. Director David LaChapelle’s video captures the contrast between John’s diva-glam persona and the grit underscoring his music.

8. “Mystere,” Treasure Island — The first Las Vegas Cirque show preserves the company’s original vision, and is now a relative bargain.

9. “O,” Bellagio — Director Franco Dragone found his own past to be a formidable opponent when his new show, “Le Reve,” proved too reminiscent of this one’s aesthetic, without its high-flying aerialism.

10. Robert Schimmel, Monte Carlo — Repeat visits in 2005 testify to the staying power of a comedian who has supplied Las Vegas with graphically raunchy belly laughs for more than a decade, but now shades the raw humor with inspirational details about his own battle against cancer.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-01-Sun-2006/living/5039427.html
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NORM: Paris a no-show for Tao club countdown.

Paris Hilton had to walk a fine line on New Year’s Eve.

Paid more than $100,000 to host Tao nightclub’s party, she was a no-show for the midnight countdown when Michael Buffer of “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” fame ticked off the final seconds of 2005.

Spies tell me her Greek shipping-heir boyfriend, Stavros Niarchos, 19, was initially turned away from the club because he’s on the radar of state liquor watchdogs.

Paris did a countdown, but it was in Tao’s restaurant, and she and Stavros were seen going into the nightclub about 12:30 a.m.

When they arrived at the nightclub, he was holding a champagne flute filled with what appeared to be orange juice.

In August 2001, The Venetian’s C2K nightclub played with fire by allowing Britney Spears, then 19, and boyfriend Justin Timberlake, then 20, in a VIP area from 2:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: Paris a no-show for Tao club countdown
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$4 billion project to replace Stardust

Boyd Gaming Corp. eyes luxury market with 5,300-room resort: Echelon Place.

Boyd Gaming Corp. plans to develop a $4 billion mixed-use resort on the 63-acre site now occupied by the Stardust, company officials said Tuesday.

The resort, to be called Echelon Place, will include 5,300 hotel rooms, 1 million square feet of meeting and convention space, 350,000 square feet of retail stores and a 140,000-square-foot casino.

It is scheduled to open in early 2010.

At $4 billion, Echelon Place is thought to be the second-most expensive single hospitality industry development ever undertaken after MGM Mirage’s $6 billion Project CityCenter.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-04-Wed-2006/news/5188968.html
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Billhere’s Upcoming Events List
For a free twice weekly newsletter and index of coupons+lists, just send an e-mail to: billhere@lvcm.com

FEBRUARY, 2006
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1= Air service starts from Lincoln-Neb. - Allegiant Air.
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1= “Menopause, the Musical,” a parody set at a Bloomingdale’s lingerie sale, opens in the Shimmer Lounge - Las Vegas Hilton.
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1-5=Disney’s Beauty and the Beast- Aladdin.
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2= Hotel San Remo becomes Hooters Casino Hotel. A Hooters Beach Club and a Dan Marino Fine Foods & Spirits Restaurant are planned. The property is undergoing a $60 million renovation and remains open during construction. Info.:http://www.luxist.com/entry/1234000037063350/
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3= Coldplay - MGM Grand.
3= First Friday Art District Tour. Info. at: http://www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org/next.html
4= George Strait - MGM Grand.
4= Havana Night Club contract ends. Will their contract be extended? - Stardust.
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4= George Strait- MGM Grand.
5= Football - Super Bowl XL - All Sportsbooks.
6-15=Howie Mandel- MGM Grand.
7-26= Jackie Mason- Stardust.
8-12= Everly Brothers- The Orleans.
9-12= Sportsmen’s Show - Cashman Center.
10-12= Gun & Knife Show - Mandalay Bay.
10-12= Debbie Reynolds- Suncoast.
11= Smokey Robinson- Green Valley Ranch.
11= Little River Band - Silverton.
11= George Jones- Texas Station.
12= Lady Luck closing for major renovations and will reopen in early 2007.
14= Valentine’s Day.
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15= “Hairspray”, the musical comedy phenomenon with Tony Award winning numbers that made it a hit on Broadway opens - Luxor.
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15= Harlem Globetrotters - Orleans Arena.
15-19= Neil Sedaka- The Orleans.
16-26 Monday-Thursday.Mentalist Gerry McCambridge’s Show is free with a one-drink minimum purchase inside Addison’s Lounge and free tickets are available at the Rampart Rewards Center-Rampart.
16-March 1= David Copperfield- MGM Grand.
17-18= Tribute to the Beatles - Cannery.
17-18= Brad Garrett- The Mirage.
17-19= Neville Brothers- Golden Nugget.
17-19=The Four Freshmen- Suncoast.
17-Mar.5= On Golden Pond - L.V. Little Theatre. www.lvlt.org
18= Boxing - Aladdin.
18= Aerosmith and Lenny Kravitz- MGM Grand.
18= Twisted Sister - Silverton.
19= Basketball-N BA All Star Game-All Sportsbooks[TNT-TV]
20= H.E.A.R.T. Benefit with Celine Dion, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld- Caesars Palace.
23-26= The Smothers Brothers- The Orleans.
24-25=David Spade- The Mirage.
24-26= Home & Garden Show-Cashman Center.
24-26= James Darren - Suncoast.
25= Brett Butler - The Cannery.
25= Boxing.Vargas vs.Mosley-Mandalay Bay.
25= Terri Clark - Silverton.
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CASINO SINKS INTO HISTORY
Castaways, formerly Showboat, ends in demolition.

It took two separate construction phases and a little more than four years for the builders of the Showboat to complete the casino’s 19-story, 450-room hotel tower during the mid-1970s.

Station Casinos and its demolition partners took all of 18 seconds to bring the building down early Wednesday morning.

With 195 pounds of explosives placed in 191 locations on four of the building’s floors, the hotel tower that spent the last five years of its life known as the Castaways came to a crumbling end a little after 7 a.m. The implosion wiped another piece of Las Vegas history from the city’s eastern skyline where the Boulder Highway becomes Fremont Street.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-12-Thu-2006/news/5303102.html
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‘MEANEST CITIES’: LV still on infamous list
Mayor disputes groups’ report that city mean to homeless.

Las Vegas has made the top 10 this year, and not in a good way.

National advocacy groups for the homeless have once again named the city to their list of “meanest” cities in America. This year, Las Vegas ranks fifth, after Sarasota, Fla.; Lawrence, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; and Atlanta.

Las Vegas has fallen in the rankings since it was named the No. 1 “meanest” city in the nation in 2003, the year after Mayor Oscar Goodman made derogatory remarks about the homeless in his State of the City address and was criticized for Las Vegas’ downtown homeless “sweeps.”

In 2004, the city fell to fourth place. The coalition didn’t release a list in 2005.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-12-Thu-2006/news/5319380.html
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MIKE WEATHERFORD: Danny Gans cuts performance schedule at The Mirage.

Danny Gans shouldn’t have to worry about selling out every night when he reopens at The Mirage. He is cutting his schedule down to four shows per week.

The impressionist returns to The Mirage from a 12-week leave of absence on Feb. 8, after surgeries on his shoulder and hand. When he reopens, he will cut down from five weekly shows to four “so he doesn’t overdo it,” says his spokeswoman, Melanie Van Burch.

In May, Gans marks the 10th anniversary of his first residency in Las Vegas, at the Stratosphere. “That’s 10 years of working nonstop,” she says. “He wants to go another 10 years” by taking care of his voice.

The five-show schedule in the 1,265-seat Danny Gans Theatre has helped ensure standby lines for tickets since Gans opened in 2000. MGM Mirage officials haven’t complained about the traffic flow because they use the theater for weekend shows by comedians such as Jay Leno and Ray Romano.

And Cirque du Soleil will be pumping more traffic through the building when its Beatles show opens in the former Siegfried & Roy showroom this summer.

Gans took a leave after Oct. 30 for surgery on the tendons in one hand and on a shoulder rotator cuff. He is in physical therapy and about to resume rehearsals with his band, Van Burch says.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD
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Lenny’s Las Vegas

(Star)Dust to Dust.
Upscale resort complex to replace Vegas landmark.

The big news in town this past week was the announcement by Boyd Gaming that it will tear down the Stardust and replace it with a $4-billion world-class resort complex. It will be called Echelon Place and will have four distinctive hotels.

The company will own and operate the 3,300-room Echelon Resort, encompassing two upscale hotels, a 2,600-room Resort Tower and a 700-room Suite Tower, each containing its own luxurious spa. Both hotels will connect directly to Echelon’s extensive public areas containing a 140,000-square-foot casino, 25 restaurants and bars and lushly landscaped pool and garden areas.

Echelon will include a 4,000-seat theater with a large stage and stadium seating designed to accommodate major concerts and production shows. In addition, a more intimate 1,500-seat theater will house smaller shows and touring acts.

There will also be a Shangri-La Hotel within Echelon Place that will include 400 guest rooms and suites, a 20,000-square-foot CHI spa, premium meeting space and two restaurants. There’s more. There will also be two signature hotels, Delano and Mondrian, at a cost of approximately $700 million.

Delano Hotel Las Vegas will include 600 guest rooms and suites, a destination nightclub, lobby bar and Asia de Cuba restaurant. It will also feature an Agua Spa with fitness center, private pool and recreation area, and a separate porte cochere and lobby. Mondrian Hotel Las Vegas will have 1,000 guest rooms and suites, a distinctive bar and restaurant, meeting and conference space, private pool and recreation area with Skybar, and a separate porte cochere and lobby.

Also on the 63-acre site will be the Las Vegas ExpoCenter that will feature 650,000 square feet of exhibition and pre-function space and 175,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Combined with the meeting space within Echelon Resort, the total meeting and exhibition space at Echelon Place is expected to exceed one million square feet, highlighted by over 200 meeting rooms.

Plans also call for over 350,000 square feet of unique shopping, including a mix of luxury, affordable luxury and bridge retailers, as well as a variety of dining, nightlife, and cultural experiences. As you can see, this is a major undertaking and will change the face of the north end of the Strip. My only regret is that they will not continue to use the name Stardust for any of the hotels. Another landmark will be gone forever. Plus I don’t really like the name Echelon Place.

The Stardust will remain in operation throughout this year, before construction begins on the new complex. The first phase of the new complex is expected to be open for business in 2010. Only in Las Vegas.
reviewjournal.com — Lenny’s Las Vegas
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CARDS AT CAESARS

The poker craze continues, but this time in some pretty elegant surroundings as Caesars Palace has opened a new world-class poker room. Located next to the resort’s Race & Sports Book, the 8,500-square-foot poker room features 30 live tables offering a selection of the most popular games, including Texas Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud and Omaha, a game that is rapidly rising in popularity. The last time Caesars had a poker room was in 1989.

A highlight of the room, at least in my opinion, are the 11 original LeRoy Neiman paintings that showcase nearly 40 years of Caesars Palace history, much of what I was witness to. As well as plenty of room to move between tables, there are more than 20 large-screen, high-definition TV sets on the walls. Another plus for players is an extensive menu and cocktail service that lets players have food and beverage delivered directly to the tables during play.

There is also an adjoining tournament area of 6,000 square feet and 33 tables. This room will be home to a number of contests providing players the opportunity to win entries into World Series of Poker events. Caesars president, Gary Selesner, said, “Poker tournaments are typically played within the main poker room, meaning standard poker play is compromised or cancelled altogether to make room for tournaments. Adding the additional 6,000 square feet of space for tournament play means guests at Caesars Palace will always be welcome for a game of poker.”

There are daily and weekly tournaments, and plans are underway for several intercontinental tournaments, including the internationally-televised World Series of Poker Circuit Event which will be played in April and broadcast on ESPN, and the Heads Up Poker Championship to be played in March and broadcast on NBC.
reviewjournal.com — Lenny’s Las Vegas
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PLAYER’S EDGE: Horseplayer World Series offers $500,000 top prize

Coast Casinos’ Horseplayer World Series runs Jan. 19-21 at The Orleans. For a $1,000 entry fee, each contestant makes 11 $20 win and $20 place (mythical) wagers per day on any race from the pre-designated tracks. The top player will take home a $500,000 cash prize (assuming 1,000 entrants). The next nine highest scorers receive $100,000 down to $20,000 and the 11th through 30th participants get $5,000 down to $2,500 each. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

More PLAYERS EDGE here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-13-Fri-2006/weekly/5306470.html
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SHOW REVIEW: Vinnie Favorito by Mike Weatherford

Vinnie Favorito is a comedian who is at his best when he’s working the crowd, and a small crowd provides a more thorough workout.

If you think you can escape his scrutiny when you’re lined up like sitting ducks in rows of theater seats, think again. And if he does perchance fail to mess with you, you feel left out.

The obscure 150-seat theater at O’Sheas — once home to a museum of ventriloquism — is Favorito’s second attempt to move from comedy club regular to year-round headliner of a longform show.

The first was staged last year in a spacious ballroom at Binion’s. It was dripping with old-Vegas atmosphere and a fitting match for Favorito’s brand of latter-day Don Rickles put-down humor. Neither comedian ever met an ethnic stereotype he didn’t like.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-13-Fri-2006/weekly/5279587.html
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SAHARA RIDE TO REOPEN

The Sahara’s Speed the Ride was to reopen this weekend after Clark County temporarily closed it.

The action was taken a week ago Friday because the Sahara didn’t have a qualified person overseeing the operations when the county made an unannounced inspection, according to Ron Lynn, a building official with Clark County.

Ron Garrett, marketing and entertainment director at the Sahara, had a different version. He said the ride was “absolutely not” closed by the county and insisted it was for “computer software enhancement.”

Lynn said the shutdown was an administrative issue and didn’t involve safety concerns about the ride.

The county gave the OK to reopen last Monday, but the hotel has decided to operate it only on weekends, Lynn said.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
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Progressive Slot Machines by Bill Burton

In How to Read a Slot Machine I wrote about the different types of slot machines. One of these was the progressive machine. Progressive slot machines offer jackpots that are larger than usual. In some cases these jackpots are large enough to be life changing.

Every slot player who has ever walked into a casino has probably had the fantasy of hitting The Big One, that life changing progressive jackpot that will put you on Easy Street for the rest your life. You imagine the thrill of lining up the winning symbols and dream about how you will spend all that money. Then reality kicks in and deep down you know that you have a better chance of getting struck by lighting than you do hitting the big jackpot. Does this mean you should not play Progressive slot machines?

While the odds of hitting a life changing jackpot may be astronomical, you don’t have to avoid all progressive machines.

More Here:
http://casinogambling.about.com/od/slots/a/progressive.htm
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Posted on January 13th, 2006 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter