Everything Las Vegas Issue # 585
August 4th, 2006.
Let’s start off with some good news..The Forums have just reached the 5000 member mark which was one of my goals when starting the Forums. If you have not been to the Forums, you are missing out on some great information, not to mention Trip Reports, Restaurant Reviews, Deals and Specials and MUCH MORE.
You can visit the Forums here:http://www.everythinglv.com/forums. It’s ’s very easy to register.
My next Las Vegas trip will be September 20th-26th. I will probably have a members during that time. If you would like to join us, just email me at mrvegas98@aol.com.
Imperial Palace Adds Wheel of Fortune Super Spin Penny Progressive
The Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino is getting super-sized with a new penny slot machine.
The wildly popular Wheel of Fortune Special Edition Super Spin will be installed Monday, Aug. 7, near the main entrance to the casino.
The latest version of the all-time most popular theme slot machine first arrived in Las Vegas casinos March 1 and now there are eight games spread throughout the city with more being added weekly.
The Wheel of Fortune Special Edition Super Spin is a penny progressive with a maximum bet of 40 paylines at 10 cents per line. The current jackpot is at more than $5.89 million and once it is won, will reset at $1.5 million. The giant bonus wheel puts the nine players surrounding the wheel right in the action, and extra-wide seats allow players to share the thrill of the game with friends or relatives.
The Wheel of Fortune Special Edition Super Spin is played only in Nevada with a current link of 334 machines statewide.
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Society of Seven is back with a stint at the Flamingo.
By Mike Weatherford/Las Vegas Review Journal
You can’t keep a Society of Seven down. The venerable Hawaiian show band returns to the Strip on Aug. 16 with an afternoon show at the Flamingo Las Vegas.
The group again shares billing with Lani Misalucha, the Filipina pop singer recruited to add some sex — and youth — appeal to the ticket for its afternoon show at Bally’s last year. When that contract ran out, Harrah’s Entertainment gave the berth to a live version of “The Price Is Right.”
But now the same parent company is bringing the group back for five 3 p.m. shows per week, to share the Flamingo’s main showroom with Toni Braxton and George Wallace. Considering Harrah’s also plans to sign Wayne Newton to the Harrah’s Las Vegas showroom for at least half of next year, it looks like the company may be addressing the near-extinction of entertainment attractions for older patrons.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-03-Thu-2006/living/8805607.html
Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies
The renovation project at the Aladdin is taking longer than planned and there’s no way the hotel’s turnover to Planet Hollywood will be finished by the end of the year, as originally scheduled. Just a minor delay to get the required permits for some additional work on the mezzanine level, is what I’ve heard.
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
Quick-funny gambling line from stand-up Peter Gray, part of the lineup at the Riviera Comedy Club over the weekend: “I think my dad wanted to be a blackjack dealer, ‘cuz he hit me ’til I was 21.”
Of the 24 blackjack tables at Hooters Casino Hotel, six of them are in a very special location - the Hooters Girl Party Pit! For these special tables, Hooters Casino Hotel has beautiful Hooters Girls - including Michelle Nunes, selected as Miss Hooters International 2006 from more than 120 regional Hooters pageant winners from across the globe - dealing away to make the night even more exhilarating … just try counting cards when a favorite Hooters Girl is dealing! The girls offer a true 6-to-5 single-deck game with a single-deck shuffler to keep things moving. Hooters Casino Hotel boasts liberal single-deck rules including doubling down on any two cards, split up to four hands except Aces, play up to three hands and all with a 75 percent deck penetration. Top all that with a very special side bet called Hooter’s Super Pair - win up to $750 just by getting a matching pair on the first hand! Who will find their Super Pair in the Hooters Girl Party Pit?
For the month of August, the retro-cool musical production, “Shag With A Twist” is offering an open bar with the purchase of any $55 VIP ticket.
Las Vegas Hilton headliner (and Emmy nominee) Barry Manilow, who co-wrote the lyrics with Bruce Sussman and sang the words to the “American Bandstand” theme song, “Bandstand Boogie,” will perform a special musical tribute to Dick Clark on this year’s “58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.” The show, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live Sunday, August 27 (8:00p.m.-11:00 p.m. ET) on NBC-TV. Manilow’s friendship with Clark spans several decades, beginning when he made his first national TV appearance singing “Mandy” on “American Bandstand.” Manilow went on to appear on numerous “American Bandstand” episodes as well as Clark’s New Year’s Eve specials and “The American Music Awards” among others. Manilow makes the Las Vegas Hilton his exclusive home through 2008.
Jay Kornegay, executive director of the Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook, never stops working. He dreamed up the idea of having the SuperBook offer overnight lines. The SuperBook staff posts baseball lines for the next day’s games every night at 6 p.m. This gives everybody who is busy the time to “get down” the night before. Jay also notes that the SuperBook will continue to use “10 cent” lines on the overnights. Does Jay ever sleep?
The Las Vegas Hilton’s $100,000 3 Card Poker Tournament, August 9 and 10, is open to the public with a $499 entry fee (which includes a four day/three night stay). Three card poker actually is two games in one, one bet against the dealer, and one bet for your hand. The player may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards. Call 800-457-3307 for more information.
There is sentiment within the MGM Mirage organization that would rather have a Cirque show at Mandalay Bay than the popular Mamma Mia production. Our source continued that because the show is meeting its contractual quota for audience members, there is nothing MGM Mirage can do it about it, for the time being. Another source from within the organization had indicated that plans have been submitted to the city for approval on the site of the Excalibur and that it will be demolished. Source:www.eyeonvegas.net
Someone’s getting a facelift! Nope, it’s not one of the toy poodle carrying set. We hear tell Paris Las Vegas will soon undergo a $300 million dollar full frontal face-lift, to be completed in ‘07. The new three-story facade would affect Risque, Ah Sin Restaurant and other outlets. It would also mean the addition of a new two-story lounge overlooking the Strip, said to be in the style of The Rio’s I-Bar. Le Bar, perhaps? C’est tres superb! Nightclub Director Pauly Freedman says that while it is too early in the design phase comment on the bar’s design or name, he can assure us it will be “amazing.” As for the ultimate future of Risque, Freedman–who also oversees Club Rio, Voodoo Lounge, and I-Bar–confirms that “a partnership has been established, but it will not come into play until the master plan design and construction for Paris comes into play.” Hurry up and wait, right?
http://www.thecircuitlv.com
“Champions on Ice” will feature figure skaters Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, Irina Slutskaya, Evgeni Plushenko, Stephane Lambiel and dancing team Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the Orleans Arena. Tickets start at $47, call 702-284-7777.
David Saxe, producer and operator of the V Theater, will be debuting “Showtime in Vegas” on Aug. 4 in the Desert Passage theater. The Fridays-only production will combine paid variety acts with amateur contestants.
The 3,000 rooms and suites at the Las Vegas Hilton are undergoing a transformation starting with 923 that will feature luxurious beds, flat-screen monitors, Internet access, and high-end amenities. The first two floors are now ready to come on the market.
Magician Nathan Burton, who performs in “V” and has his own afternoon show there, was eliminated from “Got Talent” last week. Or was he? He may perform for a fourth time Wednesday, thanks to a “wild card” episode that has been added to the contest with ever-flexible rules.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD
Amazing Johnathan’s new material has paid off. Comedy Central executives stopped in Monday, liked what they saw at the Sahara show and have given the green light to a one-hour special. “They said it was because our last special was the most requested special,” AJ said in an e-mail. He said the show will be taped in New York, but a segment with illusionist Criss Angel will be shot next week here with tourists.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
A modest production celebrates a more modest milestone Aug. 10, when “Forever Plaid” marks 500 performances at the Gold Coast. It’s the musical people tend to leave out of the trend stories on whether musical theater can flourish here.
reviewjournal.com — Living - MIKE WEATHERFORD
Former “Mamma Mia!” lead Tina Walsh has been cast to play Clint Holmes’ mother, Audrey, in Holmes’ biographical musical “Jam.” Before assuming that role, Walsh will keep busy as an instructor in her own vocal studio at her Green Valley home. Walsh, who auditioned for Madame Giry in the Las Vegas “Phantom” production, also has been recording voice-overs for radio commercials.
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
A travel story in the Sunday editions of The Washington Post pitted “Love” at the Mirage against “Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular” at the Venetian and gave the nod - ever so slightly - to “Love.” The music was the difference.
The Imperial Palace is selling off its Wurlitzer jukebox collection, which is displayed amid the hotel’s famed auto collection. Asking price for the 24 antique machines is $250,000, and they are being sold as a single lot. An avid car collector in Switzerland spent 20 years assembling the vintage machines, which date to the 1930s. Imperial Palace Auto Collections General Manager Rob Williams says the collector “is now ready to let someone else with a passion for jukeboxes enjoy these beautiful rare machines.”
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
Stardust illusionist Rick Thomas is the rare performer who takes the stage for three shows a day - at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. (dark Sundays) The 7 p.m. show was the most recent to be added to Thomas’ nearly ceaseless schedule, but he’s still drawing strong crowds - he had about 500 in the 800-seat Stardust Theater on Monday night. “I’m enjoying my strongest popularity ever in Vegas,” said Thomas, who has been in town for 10 years. He said he hopes to stay with Boyd Gaming once the Stardust closes later this year.
http://www.lasvegassun.com
The Buffet at the Golden Nugget will be temporarily closed, effective August 1, 2006. The new buffet, which will be relocated to the second floor, will open early fall. The closure will accommodate the property-wide renovation and the addition of the new Race and Sports Book, which is scheduled to open this fall.
MARTINI MADNESS!
“Shag With A Twist” now offers open bar package as part of swinging summer promotion.
Who says “Oh behave!?” Not Shag. For the month of August, the retro-cool musical production, “Shag With A Twist” is offering an open bar with the purchase of any $55 VIP ticket. The show that serves up an evocative cocktail of music, color and dance, now serves up unlimited cocktails and a shagedelic party atmosphere as the Las Vegas Strip’s only show with an open bar.* While casino showrooms may relish their $9 cocktails, the fiercely independent production of “Shag With A Twist” harkens back to the carefree spirit of a retro era of big hair, Tupperware parties and ubiquitous birdbath drinks. A good party host believes that every cocktail should be bottomless. Everyone is invited to join the party as the work of famed visual artist Josh “Shag” Agle is brought to life, immersing audiences in a cartoon come to life, with a zany plot, outlandish characters and vividly-colored costumes and sets, all set to catchy music and dance.
“Shag With A Twist” runs Sunday and Monday at 9:30p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Midnight. Show is dark Friday and Saturday. Tickets for “Shag With A Twist” are available at the Krave Theatre box office at 702.836.0836 or online at www.ShagWithATwist.com. Tickets are priced at $45 or VIP seating $55 with unlimited drinks. Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or handling fees. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to Showtime. General public information on “Shag With A Twist” is also available at 888.515.SHAG or www.ShagWithATwist.com.
SHOW REVIEW: “Fab Four Mania”
By Mike Weatherford/Las Vegas Review Journal
‘Fab Four’ reminds fans of simple roots: Beatles tribute isn’t as fancy as ‘Love,’ but still a crowd-pleaser.
The tribute band Fab Four never imagined it would be competing with the real Beatles organization when it started playing Las Vegas more than five years ago.
But then, the guys doing the show now couldn’t have imagined, because they’re not the same guys.
The Fab Four is a lean little enterprise compared to Cirque du Soleil’s new Beatles-sanctioned “Love.” But it’s successful enough that the group has cloned itself for the past year and a half at the V Theatre in the Desert Passage mall. “Fab Four Mania” is the group’s own cheeky little reference to “Beatlemania” — not the real Fab Four but an incredible simulation, to paraphrase the “Beatlemania” tagline.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-28-Fri-2006/weekly/8635249.html
PLAYER’S EDGE: Club Sahara members can earn tickets to Scintas.
The Scintas have moved to the Sahara and now Club Sahara members can earn complimentary show tickets for every 250 points ($2,500 coin-in on slots, $5,000 video poker no point redemption required) earned in one day. The club has recently announced a new player benefits called “Loyalty Pays” whereby members receive free play coupons twice per month based on their tracked slot and table play. Check the Club Sahara booth for full details.
Beginning in August the Sahara is also running a “Dazzling Diamond Giveaway”. Members receive one drawing ticket for every 20 points earned through machine play or one for every suited Blackjack. Drawings for various diamond jewelry items will be held on Thursdays and Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Casbar Lounge and winners must be present.
More PLAYERS EDGE here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-28-Fri-2006/weekly/8699584.html
A Man Without a Lounge.
Lon Bronson and the decline of a great Vegas tradition.
By Spencer Patterson/Las Vegas Weekly
“You’re Lon Bronson, aren’t you?”
The excited inquiry finds a mellow, middle-aged man in a “Let’s Do Funk” T-shirt with deliberately ruffled, sandy-brown hair, who’s relaxing near the back of a throwback Vegas lounge in an old-school Vegas casino scheduled to be a pile of dust this time next year. Once, not long ago, this same man—who is indeed Lon Bronson—reigned supreme in a room not dissimilar to this one, commanding a reputation as leader of the best lounge band on the Strip and far beyond. But those days have passed, and today the trumpeter sits in the Stardust’s Starlight Lounge solely as a spectator, and a source of considerable interest to the stranger who has noticed his presence.
“You guys are great, man. I used to see you all the time.”
As it turns out, Bronson’s admirer also plays music, manning the drum seat for local five-piece Rated TG, which has just finished a three-song soundcheck before a two-week run beginning later that Tuesday. Following a handshake and a brief, friendly exchange, Bronson returns to his seat, in time to observe the elevated stage’s velvet curtain close behind the curved center bar. “I’ve gotta take my hat off to these guys, ’cause they’re really in the trenches,” he says. “A band like this might get booked for two weeks, and then they might be off for two or three months before they get another gig. You used to have 30 or 40 lounge bands doing day shifts, night shifts, making a living doing the lounge circuit full-time. Now there’s just no lounges like this left.”
More Here:
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2006/07/27/feature3.html
Is Online Poker Doomed?
On Tuesday, July 11, 2006, American poker players were dealt a bad hand by the U.S. House of Representatives. In a 317 to 93 vote the U.S. House passed H.R. 4411, sponsored by Jim Leach, R-Iowa, which would prohibit banks and credit card companies from processing payments for online gambling bets. It also includes the major provisions of another bill HR 4777 by Robert W. Goodlatte, R-Va., that would force Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access or disable hyperlinks to Web sites that offer online gambling.
Inexplicably, this legislation provides exemptions for online horse betting, Internet lotteries and certain fantasy sports, yet poker and other online games are swept into this prohibition bill.
Now is not the time to waver, our voices must be heard loud and clear. Members of the U.S. House who voted for this bill should know that you oppose their position and similarly, those who voted against it should be applauded for their courageous stand. A list of the recorded vote is available by going to http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll363.xml. Please see how your Representative voted then call or write to let he or she know how you feel.
The above article was sent to me by professional poker player Steve “Kruzer” Fetterman who will send me updates on this topic.
TV poker show’s new digs unveiled.
Poker Dome theater opens at Neonopolis.
After months of delay, officials unveiled the Poker Dome on Friday, with the hope that the so-called poker arena could provide a boost to the flailing Neonopolis.
With a crowd of onlookers and media cameras, the poker chamber, audience room and control room were displayed.
There are plenty of colorful lights and sound effects for the Poker Dome, which one VIP getting a tour likened to a set of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” for poker players. The room reportedly cost $6.5 million.
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-29-Sat-2006/news/8770207.html
NORM: Roast leaves bad taste with star.
Doyle Brunson’s comedy roast overheated Thursday, after emcee Brad Garrett’s vulgar zingers sent Pamela Anderson storming out of a Bellagio ballroom.
On a night when no one was safe from f-bombs, ethnic slurs and below-the-belt slams, Garrett gave Anderson the worst of it.
hings got tense when a member of Anderson’s entourage yelled at Garrett as Anderson walked off the dais after making the short speech of the night.
“When are you going to get funny, Brad?” a member of Anderson’s entourage yelled as she headed for the door.
“Come on,” huffed Garrett, calling out the heckler. “When you’re done shooting up, we’ll go toe to toe.”
As Anderson, who is getting married today on the French Riviera, and her handlers left, Garrett referred to the heckler as “Tommy Lee’s afterbirth.”
Lee, Motley Crue’s drummer, is Anderson’s ex-husband.
Sources tell me Garrett was asked by Anderson’s people before the roast to “lay off” her. Garrett, who was a co-star on the long-running “Everybody Loves Raymond,” wasted no time in targeting Anderson’s famous curves and her headline-grabbing sexploits.
Near the end of the roast, Garrett introduced MGM Mirage honcho Bobby Baldwin and added that he hoped he hadn’t ruined his headlining career in Las Vegas.
“I can’t speak for the others, but you’re done at least for our properties,” said Baldwin, putting on his best poker face.
A source in Anderson’s camp said, “It was agreed by the promoters, the comedy writers and Brad’s agent and management that Pam would not be made the subject of the roast.” Anderson was in Las Vegas to launch her pamelapoker.com Web site in conjunction with Brunson’s doylesroom.com.
An e-mailed request for a response from Garrett’s camp was not returned by deadline.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: Roast leaves bad taste with star
Vegas Values Report for 7/30/06
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.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
Beacher’s Final
Jeff Beacher, left the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel with a flourish on Saturday night. His “Beacher’s Madhouse,” version of which is headed for the Imperial Palace (lucky them), closed its run at the Joint with a guttural version of “Born to be Wild” by Criss Angel and Vince Neil, a proposal and near live sex-act by two dwarfs, a rendition of “Rock and Roll All Night” by Tiny Kiss and a short visit from a streaker (male, in this case) who was given the bum’s rush by unamused members of Joint security. As I noted, somewhat sarcastically, to the nattily white-suited man sitting across from me, “This is the greatest show in the history of Las Vegas entertainment.” “Yes, so far,” said Clint Holmes, who really did seem to enjoy himself. The show was taped by Fox television, which will likely have to add a couple of full-time technicians just to edit out all the F-bombs.
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
Flower in the desert
By Jack Houston/Las Vegas magazine
Mystère
Where: Treasure Island - TI
When: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., Wed.-Sat. 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Sun.
Cost: $95 and up
Info: (702) 492-3960 or (866) 80-SHOWS
With a bang — a Big Bang, to be exact — the show that Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté called a “flower in the desert,” now totaling 6,000 performances and 13 historic years at Treasure Island, rumbles to life. Harnessed drummers descend from the ceiling, plumes of smoke fill the stage and illuminated from within, two canopied carriages roll forward, mysterious and unprovoked. A baby’s voice. A baby’s cry. Pregnant golden figures with bulging tummies balance on rolling balls. The stage rises and falls. What had sounded like a Russian folk song peters out and an enormous baby teeters out onstage with an equally oversized orange ball. Is it playtime, or time itself, that has unfolded at Mystère?
Since its premiere on Christmas Day in 1993, Mystère has garnered the praise of critics and audiences alike, and it’s easy to see why. Loosely based on a journey through the history of life on Earth, it follows a path that winds through past, present and future, sometimes inhabiting multiple epochs at once.
Mystère employs few familiar English words in weaving its tale, and it lends to the otherworldly nature of the performance. A pair of female singers emit operatic, sometimes chantlike syllables, puppeteer-MC Moha-Samedi speaks in gibberish, and the baby, well, other than shouting “Papa!,” offers little in the way of recognizable speech.
What does translate, however, translates exactly: the consummate showmanship for which Cirque is best known. In a hand-to-hand feat of power and grace, two brothers perform an unbelievable gravity-defying duet using each other’s Herculean strength to lift, balance and contort into seemingly impossible positions. Shaking and quivering as their bodies glow green from the light, they reach a climax when one brother balances his head, unassisted, on the other’s raised foot to a well-deserved roar of approval from the audience.
But jaw-dropping action only begets more mandible-to-the-carpet thrills when it comes to Mystère. A glorified see-saw known as the Korean Plank propels performers into the air while the rotating stage increases the degree of difficulty. Acrobats descend from the ceiling on bungee cords in tentacled outfits that contain more than 2,500 hand-glued sequins. An aerial high bar act takes the action 40 feet above the stage, performing the popular gymnastics routine at an unheard-of height. Fittingly, it is the only act where a safety feature (in this case, a net) is readily apparent.
Along the way, the mischievous Brian Le Petit, resembling what a Back to the Future-era Christopher Lloyd might’ve looked like had he been raised in a Provence château, runs amok, interspersing acts with the kind of incorrigible, conscience-ridding behavior usually reserved for the young and the insane.
Conjured by the vivid mind of director Franco Dragone, Mystère is a voyage to incredible places — locales that tend to reside in the most psychedelic of dreams and the deepest caverns of the imagination. It is an hour-and-a-half oasis of life, teetering on the edge of reason, confounding the expectations of gravity and satisfying a hunger for what was never known to exist.
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/feature5.html
Dumbest Idea Ever By Rick Garman
Las Vegas gets about one-third of the roughly 40 million people who visit annually from the Southern California area. Many fly, but as I can attest to many a drive across the California and Nevada desert, many drive. Too many, if the often epic traffic jams are any indication.
True, the drive along Interstate 15 is getting better, with the addition of a third lane in each direction from Victorville to Barstow already open and widening projects underway along the Nevada stretch of the freeway. And more is to come with improvements through the often perilous Cajon Pass near San Bernadino.
But here’s where the Dumbest Idea Ever comes into play. According to a story in the Las Vegas Review Journal, Interstate 15 near the Cajon Pass will be closed periodically for road construction. That’s right, closed. And not during the nighttime hours when they usually do stuff like that. And not during the weekdays when traffic is lighter. Nope, the geniuses at the CalTrans have decided they are going to close the freeway on weekends!
The plan calls for several complete freeway closures starting as soon as September on periodic weekends when thousands upon thousands of people are trying to make their way to Las Vegas. All of this in an area where there are no good alternate routes to get around the closures without adding a solid hour or two to your drive.
Dumbest. Idea. Ever.
If you plan on making a weekend jaunt to Vegas from the southern California area, be sure to check the CalTrans website for updates on the project.
http://www.vegas4visitors.com
Happy 40th Caesars! By Rick Garman
As I stare down the barrel of my 40th birthday approaching in a few short weeks I decided to put down the bottle of Jack Daniels and crawl out from under my bed to wish a Happy 40th to an old friend that is aging a lot more gracefully than I am. Although to be fair, she’s had a lot more money thrown at her and a lot more work done than I have.
When Caesars Palace opened on August 5, 1966 it helped define Las Vegas as a hedonistic wonderland and set the stage for the grand, heavily themed mega-resorts that are its neighbors today. But, as with just about everything else in Vegas, history has given way to the march of progress.
The hotel was built at a cost of $25 million and covered about 34 acres of land across the street from The Dunes. About a million dollars of that was spent on a lavish, three-day opening celebration where guests got to gaze upon the wild Roman theme complete with columns, marble statuary, and toga clad cocktail servers.
The luxurious casino and opulent rooms attracted a well-heeled crowd and the legendary Circus Maximus showroom hosted everyone from Woody Allen to Pia Zadora (with a few stops at Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. along the way).
Over the years, Caesars has grown and remodeled and torn down and built to the point where it would be virtually unrecognizable to the attendees of that party back in 1966.
During the late nineties and especially during the last couple of years, Caesars has undergone some dramatic changes. The remodeling has certainly given the property a much-needed freshening but along the way they have lost some of the touchstones of their history. The fabled Circus Maximus showroom has been torn down. The legendary restaurant Bacchanal, which offered a full Roman food orgy, is also gone as is the Omnimax theater, one of the first to show wide screen IMAX style films.
But as old things disappeared, newer and grander things took their place. A 30-story Palace Tower was completed in 1997 and another new 1,000-room in 2005. The Forum Shops, a heavily themed Roman mall, opened in 1992 and was expanded in 1998 and again in 2005.
And of course who could forget the massive showroom, designed to resemble the Roman Colosseum, and its resident star Celine Dion. If you toss in the money for the construction, the production, and Dion, Caesars is rumored to have invested close to $200 million – or about 8 times what it cost to originally build the hotel.
Although it’s a bit sad to see old Las Vegas go away, the new Caesars Palace continues to set the standard for luxury in Las Vegas. It remains one of the grandest hotels in the world.
For a look at some memorabilia from Caesars Palace’s history, visit the Vegas4Visitors.com Online Museum.
Show Review: Bareback by Rick Garman
Country music and breasts. Like football and beer this is a natural fit, by my estimation, and the new show “Bareback” at Harrah’s has plenty of both so if you’re a fan of either it might be worth your attention. Done by the same folks who did the show it replaces “Skintight,” “Bareback” features a foursome of handsome male singers and a six-pack of comely lasses (one of whom also sings) strutting, moseying, hoofing, and shimmying to a non-stop parade of yee-haw hits. Unlike most other topless shows in town, this one does not feature original recordings on soundtrack but actual live singing that is, for the most part, very good but probably not as good as the McGraws, Wilsons, and McEntires of the world.
The men, known as The Wild Bunch, do the bulk of the singing – everything from Big & Rich to Toby Keith to Hank Williams Jr. and beyond – and as mentioned are quite fine. Unlike the previous “Skintight” they spend the bulk of the show clothed and so there is precious little for the ladies to enjoy here unless they are serious country fans. One of the guys does show his stuff (so to speak) early on but that’s going to have to keep the women happy for the rest of the breast parade.
The female dancers are all beautiful in that Las Vegas topless dancer kind of way, which is to say impossibly and unattainably with an air of bewigged stripper naughtiness. They are all fine performers and the choreography and dancing is a cut above most of the shows of its ilk but it still boils down to women taking their tops off.
What’s mostly missing is what made “Skintight” such a success, in my opinion, and that’s sex. Yes, there is the sex factor to bare-breasted dancers and cowboys in tight jeans but true sexiness comes when the two come together, which they did often in the former show. Here in “Bareback” the bulk of the interaction is of the hootin’ and hollerin’ version (there’s a lot of gratuitous butt-smacking, which is more misogynistic than sexy) and only one number, with a cowboy and his cowgirl getting pseudo-jiggy with it on a mechanical bull, comes close to evoking any eroticism. And we’re not going to even talk about their version of “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” (original by Joe Nichols), which involved four guys and one drunk girl and was more creepy than anything else.
There are a couple of fun audience participation numbers – if you see a dancer or singer coming toward you and don’t want to get a face full of shaking things, look the other way.
This show was not my cup of tea for a couple of reasons, mostly having to do with the fact that I’m not an appreciator of the primary theme of the show. And I don’t like country music either. But for those who are, “Bareback” just might be the show for you.
Vegas4Visitors Grade: C
Bareback
Harrah’s Las Vegas
3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800-392-9002
website
Tickets:
$49.95
Showtimes:
Fri-Wed 10:30pm
Sun 7:30 and 10:30pm
http://www.vegas4visitors.com/
Las Vegas Top Ten Values: August 2006
From: The Las Vegas Advisor
1. Steak Dinner - Ellis Island - 24 Hours - $4.95
The complete steak dinner at Ellis Island moves back into its rightful place at number one. Wondering about crowds and service, we showed up at the EI for dinner at 7 pm on an insanely busy Saturday, prepared to wait an hour. The hostess told us 45 minutes. We were seated in 30. Service was prompt and the meal … well, this dinner hasn’t lost an ounce of quantity or a trace of quality in lo these many years. And two of them for the price of one (with your POV coupon) is practically a comp, as your whole outlay on this great steak dinner would be the toke anyplace else.
2. Shrimp Cocktail - Golden Gate - 11 am-3 am - 99¢
The Golden Gate Casino downtown has been serving its cold-water Bay-shrimp cocktail since 1959. It’s been 99¢ for the past 15 years. It comes in a tulip cocktail glass with lemon, crackers, and a tangy homemade sauce. It’s served at the Deli in the back of the casino.
3. Ham & Eggs - Arizona Charlie’s Decatur - 24 Hours - $2.49
Las Vegas’ best breakfast meal deal is found at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur. For a mere $2.49, you’re served a ham the size of Texas, two eggs any style, hash browns (or French fries or mashed potatoes), and toast (or biscuits and gravy). It’s available around the clock in the coffee shop, which has a big counter;, if there’s a seat at it, you don’t have to wait in line for a table.
4. Mac King - Harrah’s - Tues.-Sat. - $7.99/$21.95
The Mac King Comedy Magic afternoon show at Harrah’s is the best-value entertainment option in town. Collect a voucher from the coupon booth in the Carnaval Court outside, readily available around show time, then go up to the third floor showroom. You’ll pay a total of $18.76 for two, which includes a drink. You get 70 minutes of laughs, tricks, and even a shock or two along the way. This is a must-see entry on any Las Vegas itinerary.
5. Souvenir Photo–Discontinued - Imperial Palace - noon-8pm - Free
***This offer was discontinued after the August LVA went to press.
The souvenir photo available at Imperial Palace is a great way to commemorate your trip to Las Vegas–and it’s free and easy. Just show up at the little booth in front of the casino, get your snapshot taken with a big slot machine facade behind you and an Elvis (usually) next to you. By the time you walk to the back of the casino to the slot club counter, the digital printout is ready. That’s hard to beat.
6. Players Club Rebate - Arizona Charlie’s Boulder - Daily - Up to $100
We need to add a clarification for the players club rebate. The offer is good for new club sign-ups at either Arizona Charlie’s Decatur or Boulder, but it also excludes existing Stratosphere Club members (the casinos are all related). Still, it’s a strong deal if you do qualify: the casino will rebate up to $100 of losses on your first play.
7. Buffet - Aladdin - Daily - $12.99-$24.99
A story in Las Vegas Food and Beverage magazine indicates that though the Aladdin is undergoing some serious renovation as it turns into Planet Hollywood, “the Spice Market Buffet is one venue that was designed right the first time.” Other than the Middle Eastern décor being updated, it looks like the buffet will remain the same after the Aladdin is no longer the Aladdin. That’s good news for buffet fans.
8. Prime Rib Dinner - California - 5-11 pm daily - $6.99
Sometimes going outside the Top Ten reinforces our commitment to something in it. That’s the case this month with the prime rib dinner at the California (#9). Check out the new prime meal deal at Hooter’s to get a feel for how good the Cal’s deal continues to be.
9. Beer - Slots-A-Fun - Daily - $1.2
There’s been a change concerning the Slots-A-Fun beer. We got it slightly wrong when we said that the $1 draft was 20 ounces. In reality, it was 16 ounces. No matter, because both the 75¢ 12-ouncer and the $1 16-ouncer are gone. In their place, however, is a 20-ounce draft (Miller Lite or Molsen Icehouse) for $1.25, down from $1.75. This month’s deal packs the same per-ounce price as last month’s, so it remains in the Top Ten. All other beers (a choice of 15) are $1.75 each.
10. Lunch Special - Diamond China - Daily - $3.95
Finally this month, we’ve added a rare non-casino deal to the list in the #10 spot. Our favorite Chinese restaurant, Diamond China, serves a fantastic lunch special from 11 am to 3 pm daily (yes, that means Saturday and Sunday too). The deal includes an entrée, cup of soup, egg roll, egg-fried rice, and tea, all for just $3.95 (our tab for three was $12.80). There are 10 entrées to choose from and the soup choice includes Diamond’s unparalleled hot and sour. There’s never a wait and service is jiffy. Diamond China is close to the Strip, located at 3909 W. Sahara (about a block west of Valley View).
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/topten.cfm
VegasTalk Radio Show - The FIRST Internet Radio Variety Show from Las Vegas ABOUT LAS VEGAS!!!
You can NOW listen to ALL of the previous guest interviews under “Show Archives” on the website!
http://www.VegasTalkRadio.com
Since our show has been running for several years now, there are quite a few. So you’ll need to select the Intial of the Last Name of our guests to locate them. Take a look around and listen in! Each interview runs less than 20 minutes.
This week’s show for Thursday, August 3, 2006 contains:
An interview with Rich Sloan, half of the famous Sloan Brothers who have reinvented the title “Entrepeneur” by founding “Startup Nation” and many other companies helping business owners worldwide through their many websites, syndicated radio show, article in national magazines and newspapers and preneting at conferences like the recent “EBAY LIVE” held in June 2006 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The “Vegas Confidential” call with Norm Clarke, Norm is voted “Most Connected” person in town and daily columnist for the Review Journal and author of the best selling “1,000 Naked Truths”. http://www.NormClarke.com
“Show Happenings” with Chuck Rounds - Chuck reviews the events happening this week in Las Vegas. http://www.igoshows.com
“Fine Dining” with Les Kincaid. http://www.LesKincaid.com
“The Godfather of Las Vegas”, Mark Wayman’s Insider Report http://www.godfatherlv.com
The weekly variety and entertainment show broadcasts LIVE and will be archived online at the VegasTalk Radio website (http://www.vegastalkradio.com/?a=1327) by midnight the same day it plays.
Subject: Diary from Las Vegas
Gotta love this one!!!
Just moved to Las Vegas! Now this is a city that knows how to live!!
Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a place! It is
beautiful. I’ve finally found my home. I love it here.
June 14th:
Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an
air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I’m turning into a sun worshipper.
June 30th:
Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus
and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing the lawn for me.
Another scorcher today, but I love it here.
July 10th:
The temperature hasn’t been below 100 all week. How do people get used
to this kind of heat? At least, it’s kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer than I expected.
July 15th:
Fell asleep by the community pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body). Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol’ sun in a climate like this.
July 20th:
I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag, then popped like a water balloon. The car now smells like Kibbles and $hits. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat. Good ol’ Mr. Sun strikes again.
July 25th:
The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer!! And it’s hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and the AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.
July 30th:
Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now, $425,000 house and
I can’t even go inside. Lomita is the lucky one. Why did I ever come
here?
Aug. 4th:
It’s 115 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost
$500 and gets the temperature down to 85. I hate this stupid city.
Aug. 8th:
If another wise a$$ cracks, ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I’m going to
strangle him. D@mn heat. By the time I get to work, the radiator is
boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!
Aug. 9th:
Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when I sat on
the seats in the car, I thought my a$$ was on fire. My skin melted to the seat. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and a$$ . Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried a$$, and baked cat.
Aug 10th:
The weather report might as well be a d@mn recording. Hot and sunny.
Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It’s been too hot to do $hit for 2 d@mn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn’t it ever rain in this d@mn city? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can’t live in this d@mn heat.
Aug. 14th:
Welcome to HELL! Temperature got to 115 today. Cactus are dead. Forgot
to crack the window and blew the d@mn windshield out of the car. The
installer came to fix it and guess what he asked me??? Hot enough for you today?”
My sister had to spend $1,500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking Las Vegas.
What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here??
Will write later to let you know how the trial goes.
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Chuck Rounds’ Las Vegas Entertainment News
August 2006
Toni Braxton opens her show at the Flamingo the first week of August. She will perform six nights a week. The initial contract is for six months, and there is already hope that she will extend.
Steve Wyrick is supposed to be opening his 430-seat theater with the Ronn Lucas (the comic ventriloquist) Show, the Martin Nievera (Filipino pop star) show, along with his own Steve Wyrick show - in the Desert Passage Mall inside the Aladdin.
Beacher’s Rockhouse Bar is opening in the Imperial Palace where Tequila Joe’s was located. The show will be midgets imitating the rock group Kiss.
Gordie Brown’s show should be opening in the Venetian this month. It is a multi-year contract that is hoping to vault the impressionist singer into stardom.
A Reunion for Cast and Crew members of the Stardust Shows, and all shows of that genre from Las Vegas, Reno, Paris and beyond is scheduled to occur in Sept. Friends, family and the community are welcome to attend. It is the last chance to get together and celebrate five decades of entertainment before the Stardust Hotel and Casino closes. The legendary “Lido De Paris” review ran for 38 years, followed by “Enter the Nights” eight year run to 1999. Countless Celebrities, and other production shows have since performed on the Stardust Theatre stage. The Reunion also honors the performers, musicians and stars that appeared in the lounge shows throughout the Hotel and Stardust Ballroom. Australia’s Thunder from down Under will be performing, as well as original cast members from past Stardust shows.
Luxor Hotel & Casino is presenting a Spotlight Series, in lieu of the fact the Hairspray closed, and they’re not ready to formally announce the next Cirque show. The series kicks off Friday, August 17 with Drew Carey and The Improv All Stars. Performances by Heart, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Earth Wind & Fire, Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts, Liza Minnelli, The Beach Boys, LeAnn Rimes, Olivia Newton-John and Styx round out The Spotlight Series, providing guests with a good time full of classic favorites. Cirque du Soleil is close to signing magician Criss Angel to an exclusive ten-year contract to perform in a new show that will be created around him for the Luxor. Angel, who is currently starring in the second season of his A&E reality show, Mindfreak, is a three-time recipient of the coveted Magician of the Year Award.
Congratulations to The Scintas who are now on the Strip performing at their new home at the Sahara.
The Aladdin’s 7,000-seat theater will close for about three months after the production of “Cats” for renovations. Casino officials hope to reopen it in November. Improvements include a makeover of the lobby and an improved means of curtaining down the seating capacity for shows that don’t require the full configuration.
“Buck Wild” closed its doors at the Sahara. Producer David Saxe says if the country-themed show re-emerges in Las Vegas, “it will be a family version” with a different name.
“Shag with a Twist” has been thankfully shortened. Cynthia Bradley, director of “Shag With a Twist,” says the dance musical has been shorn of more than 20 minutes since it first went up at Krave nightclub in July. Producers are now considering building free drinks into the ticket price to further encourage the proper atmosphere they’re seeking for the nightclub setting.
The month starts off a bit slow as far as the headliners go, but it certainly picks up steam, and of course, September will be crazy.
The first weekend of the month has Jerry Seinfeld at Caesars Palace, and Olivia Newton-John will be performing in Primm Valley.
The second weekend has Frankie Avalon & Bobby Rydell at the Orleans, Tom Jones at the MGM Grand, Wynonna plays at Primm Valley, Jay Leno will be at the Mirage, Shakira will be at the Events Center at Mandalay Bay, and Lonestar will be out at Sunset Station.
The Elvis-A-Rama Museum will be closing during the third week of the month. Champions on Ice will be at the Orleans Arena, Neil Sedaka will be in the Orleans showroom, Def Leppard will be at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Wayne Brady will be at the Mirage, and Nickelback will be at Mandalay Bay as well.
The fourth week will (Hopefully) have Brad Garrett at the Mirage, Tower of Power at the Suncoast, and Mel Tillis/Roy Clark at Primm Valley.
The first week of September includes The Doobie Brothers, The Down Home Blues Festival, David Spade, and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. It is also the Labor Day weekend, which means that the Annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon with Jerry Lewis returns to Las Vegas at the South Coast, and Cirque Du Soleil’s “Delirium” will be coming to the MGM Grand.
For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: ( www.lvol.com ).
COME GET YOUR KICKS AT DICK’S.
PURE Management Group Brings the Famed Dick’s Last Resort to the Las Vegas Strip.
The South end of the Las Vegas Strip will get rowdy in early 2007 as PURE Management Group takes dining at Excalibur Hotel and Casino to a new level of entertainment with the opening of Dick’s Last Resort.
The quintessential vacation hangout, Dick’s Last Resort provides all the necessities for a good time. Its wacky-tacky décor, live music and sassy service set the tone for an experience unlike any other. Serving massive cocktails and finger foods by the bucket, Dick’s is the perfect place for groups to let loose and join in the unruliness. The opposite of a standard restaurant establishment, Dick’s encourages patron participation to create a raucous environment.
“We’re excited to welcome Dick’s Last Resort,” said Renee West, president of Excalibur Hotel and Casino. “People come to Excalibur because they know they can be themselves and have a great time here. We’re the ideal home for a place like Dick’s, which is all about outlandish fun in a casual setting.”
Dick’s specializes in colossal portions of food including big sloppy beef ribs, messy honey-roasted chicken and juicy crab legs and calls for the use of fingers rather than silverware. Serving lunch, dinner and late-night grub, everyone gets their fix at Dick’s.
PURE Management Group Managing Partner Robert Frey said, “Dick’s is a perfect complement for Las Vegas. The menu features something for everyone and is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat for lunch or dinner. As the night wears on, Dick’s will transform into a nightlife outpost similar to Coyote Ugly where customers can unwind and have an experience they’ll never forget.”
The Las Vegas location of Dick’s Last Resort adds to a stellar national line-up which includes Dallas, San Antonio, Myrtle Beach, Chicago, San Diego and Boston.
The Strip Update: Gladys Knight, Steve Wynn and more.
We had another amazing month here at The Strip, which is now the No. 1 travel podcast for the third consecutive month.
(Reminder: It’s a new month. Go vote at PodcastAlley.Com. AOL users, e-mail us if there are problems. http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=22492)
In case you missed it, in July:
* We broke news of Liza Minelli’s plans to headline at the Luxor.
* Chris Moneymaker said he’s baffled why people watch live poker.
* Jennifer Tilly chastized Steve for his comments about her career.
* Andy Williams revealed how much he made to open Caesars Palace
* The new president of Caesars discussed why he wouldn’t have hired Celine Dion
* Toni Braxton opened up about her bankruptcy and up-and-down-and-up career.
Catch that and all the other shows at http://www.thestrippodcast.com/. Leave us messages at 206-424-4737 and we might play it!
Much more is ahead. As “The Strip” hurtles towards our first anniversary, we hear Chubby Checker complain about not getting enough airplay or credit and Gladys Knight discuss her long Vegas career. And Steve is off to Macau to tour the Wynn Macau with Steve Wynn for Newsweek in late August, so we’ll be recording from two continents this month.
Also, Steve started a new podcast, “The Petcast,” with fellow journalist Emily Richmond. Check that out at http://www.thepetcast.com/.
Labor Day In Vegas.
Nobody does it like Vegas
A federal holiday since 1894, Labor Day celebrates the economic and social achievements of American workers on the first Monday in September. Whether you are honoring the nation’s working people, celebrating the end of the summer or marking the beginning of the school year, Vegas is the perfect place to check out parties, pubs, restaurants and entertainment for the weekend.
Details will be added as information becomes available.
http://www.vegas.com/laborday/index.html
SHOW REVIEW: SHAG WITH A TWIST
By Judy Thorburn from www.vegas4locals.com
I recently attended “Shag With A Twist”, the campy new retro musical that opened to the public on July 13 inside KRAVE at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino. Based on the visual artwork of Josh “Shag” Agle who created the show with choreographer Cynthia Bradley, Shag With A Twist is set at a 1960’s Tupperware party hosted by Othal and Eldon who are joined by party guests all dressed in fashionably hip, but over the top vividly colored costumes and ultra big foam hair. The invited friends include joined at the hair Siamese twins Shimmy and Shake, the debonair Foot, seductive Kitty, mysterious glamour doll Slinky and the creepy Coroner (because, as the synopsis reads, all coroners love Tupperware).
Things take a turn when someone winds up dead as a doornail, or in this case, screwed by a giant corkscrew, and it takes a bumbling inspector, his sidekick/pet monkey and a séance to solve the crime. For audiences looking for something unique and different, Shag with A Twist serves up an entertaining blend of outlandish cartoon characters and campy style of “Shag” come to life with swing music, eye popping color and great choreography while capturing the carefree spirit of a bygone era. Add a bit of murder mystery theatre to the mix and you’ve got the picture. Tickets are priced at $45, VIP seating $55, plus handling fee and can be purchased at the Krave Box Office or by calling 888-515-SHAG.
Performances Sunday to Thursday at midnight.
NOTE FROM STEVE:
Just got a PR note from SHAG and it looks like they added a few early shows:
“Shag With A Twist” runs Sunday and Monday at 9:30p.m.
FREE PRINTABLE LAS VEGAS COUPONS
Here are links to just a few of the over 100 free printable coupons now available at Vegas4Locals.com!
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Comps Are Not A Status Symbol by Bill Burton
We all know that the casinos are in business to make money. The casinos are in the entertainment business and like any other corporate enterprise they look at ways to generate more business and increase their bottom line. Unlike a supermarket or retail outlet, they can’t have a sale and slash the prices to generate more business. Instead they rely on promotions and special events to get you in the door. Once they get you into the casino their goal is to entice you to play longer. We know the casinos make their money because they have a house edge on all the games so it’s only logical that the more you play the more money the casino will make in the long run.
One way the casinos get you to play longer is by offering entertaining games. Each year the casino executives attend the gaming show in Las Vegas and try to find the next new hot slot machine or table game that will capture the interest (and dollars) from the players.
More Here:
http://casinogambling.about.com/od/comps/a/compenvy.htm
Elton John’s permanent place at Caesars.
By Len Butcher from The Las Vegas Review Journal.
You may have missed Elton John’s “The Red Piano” performance in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a “feel” for the man who has been entertaining audiences around the world for almost 40 years. It means a stop at the famous resort, but hey, Caesars is not a bad place to hang out, no matter what you’re doing there.
The Elton John store stands out among the sea of slot machines with neon purple lighting surrounding his name. Add to that vibrant colors of lime green, orange, purple and hot pink that emanate out on to the casino floor. To top it off, large posters of Sir Elton John, in a variety of unique garb, faces the casino floor through giant glass windows.
The vibrate color scheme is continued inside the store with additional colors of peach and yellow illuminating sections of the store. Add a dash of zebra print, glitter, 12 plasma televisions displaying an Elton John concert and a bright, red replica of the grand piano he plays during his “Red Piano” performance, and there you have the Elton John store.
Although the store is set up as a souvenir shop to promote his “Red Piano” performance at Caesars, which just ended a few days ago and won’t resume until October 10, the shop is also a tribute to the recording artist’s 36-year success in the music industry. Fans can purchase an array of T-shirts with his image in any color of the rainbow and although the images are mostly of his present appearance, a number have images of the singer as he looked in the ’70s.
In true Elton John fashion, bejeweled sunglasses with genuine Swarovski crystals can be purchased ($110 to $170) and black and white or purple boas are a fun, Elton John touch. Many souvenir items are also available. such as a myriad of key chains, postcards, balloons, mugs, shot glasses, glitter globes, posters, CDs., DVDs, books, etc. One-of-a-kind autographed items are also available for purchase.
There are a lot of fun items there as well, like a Mix ‘N Match magnetic dress-up kit. A full body replica (not to scale of course) of Elton comes with an assortment of clothing and accessories like shoes and sunglasses that magnetically stick to his body. Some of the outfits you can dress him up in are a sparkly, green jumpsuit (reminiscent of Elvis’ wardrobe), a tiger print shirt, a red-checkered jumpsuit and a half black/half white tuxedo.
Other fun items are a line of clothing, purses and shot glasses with one of his famous songs entitled, “THE BITCH IS BACK” either bejeweled or embossed on each item. Also, avid fans of his music can learn to play his songs with his book of Greatest Hits 1970-2002. Alongside these fun, affordable souvenir items are a handful of expensive, tribute items that any fan would appreciate.
In one display are jeweled purses, cufflinks, and jewelry items paying tribute to his piano flair. A his and hers set of little grand piano rings made of several diamond pieces set on platinum are available for purchase. I didn’t see the price and the clerks were busy, so I didn’t want to bother them, but let’s assume they aren’t cheap.
An item that I was able to peek at the price was a pair of $2,900 cufflinks in the shape of piano keys with the top of the piano consisting of rubies and the keys comprised of diamonds and black sapphires. Other items included piano key bracelets and necklaces.
Probably the most interesting item in the entire store was a framed piece of Elton John’s star on the Hollywood “Walk of Fame.” This ultimate souvenir item comes with an autographed portrait and goes for $1,200.
The Elton John store is located inside Caesars Palace next to PURE nightclub and the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. Don’t worry, you won’t miss it. The entertainer is known for his flamboyant appearance and his store accurately captures that image, making it a must-see for everyone.
“Lunchtime With Ira”
It’s basketball, business, and dancing on next week’s (August 3) “Lunchtime with Ira.” Ira David Sternberg talks with NBA legends about the 2007 All-Star weekend; David McKee, Las Vegas Business Press writer; cast members from “Thunder From Down Under”; and a representative from the Neon Museum. “Lunchtime with Ira” is a weekly radio show broadcast live from the Las Vegas Hilton on KDWN AM 720 TALK RADIO in Las Vegas, carried nationally on Cable Radio Networks (CRN), streamed live, archived and podcast on www.lvhilton.com , and aired on the Watchit Television Network (Watchit Media, Inc.) channels on hotel in-room television sets.
NEW CLUB, NEW BENEFITS, NEW LINKS
The Las Vegas Hilton debuted its new Resorts Destination Casino Club this week, replacing its old club and featuring added benefits and links to all Resorts International affiliated casinos across the country. The club card will be available in three tiers, Classic (red), Elite (silver) and Ultra (black). In addition to earning in-house complimentaries and cash back, Resorts Destination Casino Club members also earn “Destiny Dollars,” which are portable complimentaries earned in one Resorts International market (such as Las Vegas) and redeemable across all other Resorts International markets. In addition to the Las Vegas Hilton, the other Resorts International affiliated casinos are the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort, Resorts Atlantic City, Resorts East Chicago, Resorts Tunica Casino Hotel and Bally’s Tunica.
From “Eye On Vegas”
http://www.eyeonvegas.net
Pimp & Ho Returns
Are you ready? Legendary promoter John Huntington once again has his pimp hand focused on Las Vegas and Labor Day Weekend as he prepares to bring his annual Pimp & Ho party back to the Orleans Arena on Saturday, September 2. “This is going to be the biggest and baddest Pimp & Ho yet,” Huntington told the Eye exclusively from his Costa Rica hideaway. “We are only doing one night this year but it will go into the next day, that’s for sure.” How can you doubt the man, the myth and the legend himself? “We have Vince Neil signed on to perform,” Huntington continued, barely able to contain his excitement. “Right after the show, Vince is flying out to join the rest of Motley on their co-headlined tour with Aerosmith.” If you think Huntington has all of a sudden gone rock n’ roll, don’t be fooled, “We have the ‘King of Miami,’ DJ George Acosta signed and ready to play as well as ‘Jes’ who just came off tour with top ranked Tiesto.” A man who is no stranger to Las Vegas, DJ Donald Glaude is on the bill, as is rock mash up master, CB Shaw. “And of course,” Huntington says with a smile, “the infamous and beautiful Rubber Dolls dancers.” From our own eye witness accounts this party continues to get better with each passing year and this year should be no different, Huntington is confident of that. “We are only selling 10,000 tickets - once they’re gone, they’re gone,” he adds, ensuring a rush to the box office. When the Eye told Huntington we’ve missed his work around town lately he laughed and responded, “Pimp & Ho is just another $500,000 production to show you how it’s done!”
Rockin’ Red Head
Former Van Halen front man and Cabo Wabo tequilero Sammy Hagar has made many appearances in Las Vegas, but this one was something special, with a two-day tequila-infused concert bash set to take place at Caesars Palace under the stars of the outdoor pavilion. That was before 65-mile-an-hour winds had their say, forcing the cancellation of the Friday night concert. While the gods may not have been smiling on Friday night, they were certainly sipping Wabo-ritas and singing along on Saturday night when the concert was moved indoors to the air-conditioned (!) special events pavilion. Disappointed ticket holders from the cancelled show were given tickets to the Saturday night performance, ensuring the packed house of thousands got their money’s worth. As Hagar and former VH band mate Michael Anthony ripped through hit after hit, the crowd went crazy, seemingly not caring that the loyal collection of Red Heads had to wait one more night to get their Sammy fix. Backstage, a select group of high powered locals included the one and only, ‘Big Flamingo’ Don Marrandino, restaurant mover and shaker Elizabeth Blau, celebrity chef Michael Mina and local restaurant partner (okay fine, country music star) Toby Keith.
No Monkey Business
The Rio Hotel & Casino and World Series of Poker honchos axed one company’s brilliant promotional plans to have a trained monkey enter the high stakes poker tournament. According to Max Wright ofPokershare.com, Mikey the Monkey has been trained to identify face cards and aces and to make bets according to the cards in his hand. The promotion, titled ‘Chimp vs. Chump’ even offered to cover the $10,000 2007 entry fee for any player eliminated from the tournament by Mikey. While officials were quick to prevent the WSOP from turning into a circus side show, literally, Wright told the Eye that his company received enough media coverage from the stunt, including hits on ABC and FOX, to satisfy Mikey’s growing appetite. While his tournament life ended before it began, it didn’t preclude Mikey from enjoying the spoils usually reserved for bracelet winning champions. At the accompanying Gaming Lifestyle expo, Mikey stole the show as hundreds of onlookers and fans clamored for a photo with the poker playing primate. The WSOP is currently in the process of slimming down the competition to the final table of 10 players. Former champions already knocked out include the legendary Texas Dolly, Doyle Brunson (1976, 1977), MGM Mirage executive Bobby Baldwin (1978), Dan Harrington (1995) and, thankfully, Phil Hellmuth Jr. (1989).
Filming on Fremont Street
Production crews looking for recognizable Las Vegas landmarks to include in their shoot schedules are having a field day filming on Fremont Street. It would seem as though there is simply less red tape involved than with filming on the Strip, and location scouts are finding easy ways to make budget shooting downtown. It’s not just Hollywood blockbusters either as a caravan of television crews have included CSI, Penn & Teller’s Showtime series Bullsh*t, VH1’s Supergroup, Criss Angel’s Mindfreak, and Spike TV’s AutoRox award show. Companies filming recent commercials on Fremont include Ford, Korean Airlines, Rolls Royce, Kia, Wrangler and ESPN Mobile. If you are interested in shooting on Fremont Street please contact the Fremont Street Experience’s director of marketing, Kim Robinson, here.
Posted on August 4th, 2006 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter
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