Everything Las Vegas # 607
January 4th, 2007
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NORM: End in sight for ‘Mamma Mia!’
In a day of surprise announcements, Mandalay Bay said it plans to close “Mamma Mia!” in late summer of 2008, and Commander’s Palace, a spinoff of the New Orleans fine dining icon, said it will shut down Jan. 16.
“Mamma Mia!” is the third Broadway production to call it quits in Las Vegas, but the ABBA-based show will have lasted 5 1/2 years and 2,300 performances. “Avenue Q” lasted nine months at Wynn Las Vegas; “Hairspray” had a four-month run at Luxor.
It was not immediately clear whether Commander’s Palace, which opened shortly after the new Aladdin’s rebirth in 2000, was heading for another location, as rumored. Chef Carlos Guia confirmed the imminent closure of Commander’s Palace in an e-mail.
Also announced Thursday, but not unexpected, was Celine Dion’s end date at Caesars Palace. Her 4 1/2-year run will end Dec 15.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: End in sight for ‘Mamma Mia!’
Monorail’s ’secret plan’ unveiled
By George Knapp/Las Vegas City Life
SO THIS is the big secret marketing plan that has been touted by Las Vegas Monorail executives every month for the past year and a half? Build a bigger monorail and that will solve all of the problems?
Or maybe they truly believed that hiring a bevy of babe-o-licious Monorail Gals to hand out pamphlets on the Strip would do the trick. I’ve got to pat them on the back for that one. Nice try. Very Vegas. But if hot-looking women in short skirts can’t help sell your product, you’ve got a real clunker. (Maybe tourists don’t completely understand what the “Mono Gals” are selling. Just a thought.) So now the Clark County Commission has given preliminary approval for a massive expansion of the troubled monorail to the airport, assuming the company can attract private investors to cough up another $600 million-$800 million. In light of the junk status of the company’s original bonds and the anemic ridership figures that pour in each month, you might think the expansion plans are a pipe dream. Not really.
More of this article here:
http://www.lvcitylife.com/articles/2006/12/14/opinion/knappster/iq_11384352.txt
Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:
Jax Restaurant has closed its doors at the Riviera. A new restaurant will be announced shortly.
A new “high-energy” lounge called Octane has opened on Excalibur’s Castle Walk. Apparently it’s biker-themed, with a display of custom-designed bikes and leather-clad bar staff who perform dance routines to classic rock tunes throughout the evening. The bar’s open nightly until 2 am (3 am Friday and Saturday).
Las Vegas Advisor - Features & News - Today’s News
According to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Michael Jackson arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday and will be remaining here indefinitely while he tries to kickstart his ailing career.
Looking for a bit of luxury to launch the new year? The $3,000 Menage a Trois cocktail at Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is a mixture of Cristal Rose Champagne, Hennessy Ellipse Cognac and 150-year-old Grand Marnier, garnished with edible gold sprinkles and finished with a gold straw and a nine-point diamond.
Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave., has reopened its Feast Buffet with a new design that includes orange glass and granite and five cooking stations.
Hit a $300-plus slot or video poker jackpot at the Vegas Club in January and you can receive a 26th anniversary jacket. Players can win up to five jackets during the promotion.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - PLAYER’S EDGE
Play 40 hours in the Monte Carlo poker room before Feb. 28 and you will quality for the $100,000 Super Poker Tournament on March 2-4. The tournament features a $50,000 first prize.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - PLAYER’S EDGE
Comedy Central is taking votes for “Stand-Up Showdown 2007.” Out of the 100 comedians they’ve nominated, Las Vegas’ own Amazing Johnathan is currently coming in 6th. Please vote at www.comedycentral.com and spread the word!
Due to increasing demand, the ballroom dancing production show “Simply Ballroom” appearing in the Golden Nugget’s newly-renovated, 600-seat showroom has a new schedule for the new year. The dance show is being performed nightly at 8 p.m. and will have Tuesdays as the new dark days beginning Jan. 2. Starting Jan. 6, Saturday and Sunday matinee performances will be added. Tickets for the 3 p.m. performances start at $24.95.
Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort, which was formerly the Hyatt, has opened the Marssa restaurant that used to be the Japengo eatery. The new dining establishment features a fresh mix of Osaka style cuisine and western flavors. Executive Sushi Chef Fuji has created a menu offering sample dishes that reflect his distinct approach to Pacific Rim cuisine served in the dining room or at the sushi bar. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine and sake list.
Pure, the Caesars Palace hot spot, might be celebrating the richest one-night haul in U.S. history for a nightclub.
With Britney Spears pumping up interest, Pure grossed $2.1 million, with half of it coming from about 3,000 advance ticket sales at $300 apiece and the rest from VIP bottle service, bar sales and after-midnight admissions, according to Pure Management Group.
Adding to the windfall was the $50,000 that came from a high roller who requested a table next to Spears’ group in the VIP section.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
Suspicious minds are convinced that Pamela Anderson’s decision to bring celebrity bodyguard Chuck Zito as her date for her hosting duties at Tao on New Year’s Eve had to do with the Kid Rock-Tommy Lee drama that was likely to unfold. I’d wager plenty that Kid Rock is on the surveillance video with the two huge men who attempted to kick in a door at the Hard Rock Hotel at 6 a.m. Sunday, thinking that Lee was in the suite.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
Not everyone had a great New Year’s Eve. We hear that the great David Brenner drew a crowd of just 136 to the 800-seat Orleans Showroom that night, during his three-day run at the hotel.
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
The Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex at Desert Passage mall inside the Aladdin has a new date for its opening, and that is Jan. 29 (subject to change, as we have learned). Wyrick’s show is scheduled to debut that night.
It’s the beginning of a New Year and the pro football playoffs are ready to kick off. The action starts this Saturday, January 6 as Kansas City and Indianapolis get things going at 1:30 P.S.T. The second game Saturday matches Dallas and Seattle with a starting time of 5:00 PM. In Sunday’s games, the New York Jets travel to New England at 10:00 A.M. and the afternoon battle matches up the New York Giants and Philadelphia at 1:30 P.M. All the games can be seen in the Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook on 11 big screen TV’s. The SuperBook staff has put together ten props up on each game to keep things interesting.
MCarran International Airport maintained its fifth position on the Federal Aviation Administration’s list of busiest flight destinations, the agency said Thursday.
McCarran handled 619,474 flights in 2006, a volume good enough for No. 5 for the second straight year. McCarran ranks just behind fourth-place Los Angeles International Airport, which serviced 656,842 flights in 2006. Flights include takeoffs and landings.
reviewjournal.com — Busines
Wolfgang Puck’s Spago at The Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, has completed a renovation that includes a re-introduction of the restaurant’s collection of art. Color accents include chocolate brown and white. And adjacent to the private dining room on the upper level is a lounge with plush sofas, a partial menu, dedicated server and 50-inch plasma TV.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - RESTAURANT NEWS
Pop-leaning hip-hop troupe the Black Eyed Peas return to town for the NBA All-Star Game festivities on Feb. 16 at the Orleans Arena. Tickets are $57.50, $75 and $100 and are on sale at the Orleans Arena box office, 4500 W. Tropicana.
“Soul Jam 2007,” featuring the Stylistics, the Emotions, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, the Delfonics and Cuba Gooding Sr., with host Jimmie “JJ” Walker, stops at the Dallas Events Center at Texas Station on March 9. Tickets are $22.50, $37, $48 and $59 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Texas Station Rewards Center, 2101 Texas Star Lane.
reviewjournal.com — Neon - TICKETS
The man who claims to have performed as Elvis for more shows - 10,000 - than any other Elvis persona inhabitant performs at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Railhead at Boulder Station. Dennis Wise actually began his tribute 30 years ago, when Elvis was still alive (the anniversary of the King’s birth, No. 71, is Monday). As a kid, Wise saw Elvis perform four times, including once at the International just before it was renamed the Las Vegas Hilton. “I grew up with him,” Wise said Thursday afternoon. “I first wanted to do a tribute to him when I was 5 years old, holding a spoon in my hand and singing into it.” But Wise is not a 24/7 Elvis. “When I’m onstage, my band members say, ‘Oooh, there’s Elvis!’ But I don’t carry it with me offstage, no.”
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
The nearly extinct all-ages concert venue in Vegas still lives. The University Theatre on Maryland Parkway, just south of UNLV and north of Tropicana Avenue, is set to open Jan. 22. The venue will seat 450 and provide a stage for national and local acts of all genres. First up on Jan. 22 is a lineup featuring Meg & Dia, Daphne Loves Derby, The Day After, Ronnie Day and the House of Fools. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets for all shows (and the place has shows booked through March 11) are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets or at www.smashmagazine.com. For info about shows, go to www.myspace.com/universitytheatre
After declining from excellent to run-of-the-mill, the Palms buffet will close on January 14. Plans for a replacement, likely in a completely different area of the casino, are in the works and we expect that it will bring the quality back to previous levels. However, there is currently no announced date for the reopening.
In honor of Elvis Presley’s birthday, which is January 8, the Cannery Row Buffet, at the Cannery casino, will have an entire serving station filled with all the southern foods that fed the King. In addition to their regular spread, today and January 6 they will also serve fried pickles, fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, grits, fried okra, cornbread, biscuits and gravy, beans with ham hocks, and sweet potatoes. Both nights, there will also be special performances by Johnny Fortuno and The Stamps Quartet, featuring lots of Elvis favorites, as well as a meet and greet with friends and co-stars of the real Elvis. Tickets are $10 at the door and the show kicks off at 8 p.m.
Las Vegas Advisor - Features & News - Today’s News
A $3,000 taste of Vegas
Four days of dining with the stars on a (very big) budget.
By Phil Vettel/Chicago Tribune
Unless you come from a country whose residents are required to bow at the mention of your name, you cannot say “money is no object” in Las Vegas and mean it.
Because whether it’s the frantic pursuit of it or the ostentatious display of it, money is always the object here.
Vegas is all about the fanciest car, the finest Champagne, the VIP access–the biggest and best of everything. That extends to its restaurant scene, which in less than two decades has morphed from being the home of the 99-cent shrimp cocktail to the home of the biggest stars in the culinary firmament.
Alain Ducasse is here, along with his Paris confreres Joel Robuchon and Guy Savoy. From New York, Charlie Palmer, Daniel Boulud and Rick Moonen are here, and David Burke and Mario Batali are on their way. California’s Bradley Ogden, Michael Mina, Joachim Splichal, and brothers Thomas and Hubert Keller have Sin City outposts. Jean Joho, proprietor of Everest in Chicago, presides over the view-worthy Eiffel Tower restaurant on the Strip.
More of this story here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-0612160140dec17,0,6577340.story?track=rss
Classic Vegas
Sin City’s past peeps through
By Carla Carlton/Thr Courier-Journal
The Stardust will soon be just a memory.
Early next year, the casino and hotel that were once the largest in Las Vegas will be imploded.
At nearly 50, the Stardust — which served as the basis for the 1995 movie “Casino” — is simply too old. It will be replaced by Boyd Gaming Corp.’s $4 billion Echelon Place resort.
Las Vegas is reinventing itself once again.
Following the glory days of the 1970s and ’80s and the mostly failed experiment in the 1990s to become more of a family destination, Sin City’s new wave is upscale, big-money glamour, like the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas, which took the place of the imploded Desert Inn, and the $7 billion MGM Mirage CityCenter project, which is being built on the site of the old Boardwalk Hotel. Even Donald Trump is building a hotel.
More here:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061217/FEATURES05/612170341
From “The Vegas Resource” newsletter.
By Billhere
RATINGS FOR LAS VEGAS PRODUCTION SHOWS.
(The Top 10 & The 10 Worst.)
by billhere, Publisher.
These show ratings are my individual opinions based on my personal
tastes and preferences. No overall consensus can ever be reached. It
is with this hopeless task that I rate the ten best and the five worst
shows in Las Vegas.
The only qualification I have is that I have seen all the production
shows in Las Vegas and have a life-long fondness for them.
Please do not e-mail me on Las Vegas production shows. The following
are just my personal opinions. Your preferences, budget and Vegas mood
will determine your choices, as they should.
I am only looking at continuous running Las Vegas production shows.
Not taken into consideration are: headliner shows, where the artist
comes in for a short time, permanent attractions, exhibits, museums,
comedy clubs and lounge acts.
Show prices should also be taken into consideration by you, as they
range widely.
TOP TEN
The top ten production shows in Las Vegas, in my opinion, and rated,
in order of merit, are:
1. Celine Dion - Caesars Palace.
2. “O” - Bellagio.
3. Phantom - Venetian.
4. Mystere - Treasure Island.
5. Elton John - Caesars Palace.
6. Blue Man Group - Venetian.
7. Lance Burton - Monte Carlo.
8. Scintas - Sahara.
9. Menopause The Musical - Hilton.
10. Gordie Brown - Venetian.
THE TEN WORST
The TEN worst production shows in Las Vegas are listed in
alphabetical order as I would suggest you do not go to any of them!
Aladdin - Hypnosis Gone Wild.
Bally’s - Price Is Right: Live.
Fitzgeralds - Bottoms Up.
Gold Coast - Forever Plaid.
Harrah’s - Wayne Newton.
MGM Grand - KA.
Paris Las Vegas - Anthony Cools.
Sahara - Amazing Johnathan.
Stratosphere - Bite.
Wynn Las Vegas - Le Reve.
All the rest of the shows, not mentioned above, fall into the large
category of “in between the best and the worst”.
SOLD OUT
There are only three shows that are ALWAYS sold out and tickets are
hard to get. In alphabetical order:
Celine Dion - Caesars Palace.
Mystere (circus without animals) - Treasure Island.
“O” (spectacular water show) - Bellagio.
Good luck getting tickets!
Note from Steve:
These are Bill’s personal opinions and not mine. I must say Bill’s Top Ten are pretty much dead on but I disagree with some of the shows on his WORST list such as Forever Plaid which is wonderful, The Price is Right. not great but you will have a good time there, Bottoms Up which is a Las Vegas classic show, you just have to enjoy this type of entertainment.
Steve’s personal all-time worst Las Vegas shows are:
Tropical Passions which is now mercifully closed. It is the only show I did walk out of.
De La Guarda which had a run at The Rio about 4 years ago. I think Eileen would have left if she wasn’t standing next to Oscar De La Hoya.
BITE, which if I wasn’t invited to see the show, I would have walked out.
HITZVILLE BRINGS SOUNDS OF MOTOWN TO LV HILTON
By Judy Thorburn
The sound of Motown is alive and well at the Shimmer Cabaret inside the Las Vegas Hilton. I know, because last week I was invited to check out “Hitzville The Show”, and experience a trip through memory lane to Motown, where the music was born and the recording artists from Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta and other cities gave it life.
The extremely talented cast of Hitsville include sexy, expressive Detroit native, Jin Jin Reeves along with two other dynamic female singers, Valerie Davis and Rochelle Townsend and a male quartet, Fairplay who deliver powerful renditions (including costume changes and great moves) of chart topping songs made famous by performers such as The Drifters, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and more. You name it, they sang it…all the old hits that promise to get you singing along and moving your body to the contagious rhythms. Oldies but definitely goodies like “My Guy”, “I’ll Be There”, “Walk Away Renee” are just a few of the hit songs that take you back to another era. As a fan of Motown, I can attest to the fact that these fabulously voiced, energetic performers do the music justice, singing the songs as they were intended to be sung. The original artists would be proud.
If you like Motown, and who doesn’t, check out “Hitzville the Show” being presented inside the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton for a limited time. Showtime and dates are 9 PM December 25, January 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 and February 4, 5, 11, and 12th. Tickets are $29.95 (plus tax and fees) at the Las Vegas Hilton Box Office or visit www.lvhilton.com , or call (702) 732-5755.
source:www.vegas4locals.com
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Let It Ride by Bill Burton
Let It Ride was first introduced to the casinos in 1993. Shuffle Master Inc, the company that makes those automatic-shuffling machines, created it. The game is popular because it offers a potential for high pay outs. Because the players are not playing against each other or trying to beat the dealer, camaraderie develops among the players creating a fun atmosphere. The game and the correct playing strategy can be learned quickly.
More here:
http://casinogambling.about.com/od/othergames/a/LIR.htm
Show Review: The Amazing Johnathan
By Rick Garman
After bouncing around from theater to theater in Las Vegas (first at The Flamingo then at The Riviera) The Amazing Johnathan has settled in at the Sahara for an extended run of his, how should I put this, “unique” style of comedy and magic. Johnathan is not your father’s magician - heck, he’s not even that much of a magician. He’s more of a one man comic army, mercilessly poking fun at magic acts, audience members, and himself with a gonzo, bizarre, raunchy, and often very amusing show.
Get there early enough and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what you’re in for as a roving camera broadcasts big-screen images of audience members with captions. Some of it is pretty juvenile (show the Caucasian man with the Asian wife and flash the words “Me so horny” underneath their picture, “hilarity” ensues) but this is not aiming to be any other than an ice breaker with highly questionable taste so leave your righteous indignation at the door.
Johnathan’s on-stage buddy, “Psychic Tanya” is the epitome of every dumb-blonde magician’s assistant. She makes the perfect dim-bulb foil to Johnathan’s sarcastic know-it-all humor but unfortunately her role has been reduced since the last time I saw the show. It now mostly consists of her being dumb and/or slutty and him yelling at her. That’s too bad because her zany good nature used to be the leavening bit of silliness this very crude show needs.
A warning… if you are seated near the stage and Psychic Tanya tries to grab you to assist Johnathan with a trick, say no unless you want to be on stage for a looooooong time and be made to look like a total idiot. This extended bit makes up the meat of the show and when I say extended, I mean extended - this guy was on stage for about an hour and what started with a “rip the $20 bill in half” trick progressed through card tricks, mind bending riddles, some gross-out stunts, and lots and lots of ridicule for both the guy on stage and the audience in general.
As mentioned, there isn’t a lot of actual “magic” in The Amazing Johnathan’s show. It’s more of a comic deconstruction of magic acts, where he’ll set up one of those tricks that you’ve seen a million times and then find some excuse to not actually finish it or twist it in a way you hadn’t been expecting. In other words, you want to see cars disappear go see Lance Burton. You want a laugh, go see the Amazing Johnathan.
Another warning… this show is not for the feint of heart or easily offended. It contains very crude humor and language and although I’m not usually a fan of such juvenile antics, primarily because it’s too easy, there’s something about The Amazing Johnathan that makes me laugh. Perhaps the clips from comedic movies being show before the show were a clue… if you’re a fan of films like “Dumb and Dumber” and “Tommy Boy” you’re going to love this show.
Vegas4Visitors Grade: B+
The Amazing Johnathan
Sahara Hotel & Casino
2535 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-737-2111
Tickets Tickets:
$49-55
Showtimes:
Nightly except Thursday at 10pm
http://www.vegas4visitors.com/column/index.htm
Las Vegas Q and A by Rick Garman
Question: With the closure of The Stardust, how does that affect the list of “oldest continually operating hotel casinos” on The Strip?
Answer: For the purposes of this list, we’ll only be looking at major hotel casinos on The Strip so places Downtown and on Paradise Road, for example, don’t count. We’ll also only be considering a hotel to be “continually operating” since its inception with its existing name, so older hotels that changed names only get credit since their new moniker was slapped on the signs out front.
The Frontier is still in first place, operating with some form of that name (Hotel Last Frontier, The Last Frontier, The New Frontier) since 1942.
Second place goes to The Flamingo, which opened in 1946 although it is important to note that not one single scrap of the original buildings remain.
The Sahara comes in at number three, having just recently celebrated the 54th birthday since its 1952 opening.
The number four spot goes to The Riviera, soldiering on for more than 50 years after Liberace helped open the place in 1955.
The Tropicana will apparently remain in the number five spot if reports are true that the new owners plan to salvage major portions of the existing hotel and build new stuff around it. It opened in 1957.
Sixth place used to belong to The Stardust but now that it is closed, Caesars Palace moves into that slot with 40 years of Roman decadence under its belt as of 2006.
Circus Circus swings into the seventh spot with the casino in operation since 1968 and the hotel since 1972.
Eighth and ninth places may fall by the wayside sometime next year since they go to Barbary Coast and Imperial Palace, respectively, both open since 1979 and both rumored to be heading toward demolition as part of Harrah’s grand plans for the center Strip.
And finally, tenth place goes to Bally’s, in business with that name since 1986, although the building has been around since 1973 when it opened as the original MGM Grand.
Question: What’s the fastest way to get around on The Strip?
Answer: There is no fast way to get around on The Strip, especially on a busy weekend evening where massive crowds and virtual gridlock pretty much mean you will be in for a timely trek no matter how short of a distance you are going.
Generally speaking, the Las Vegas Monorail is probably the fastest if it is going from where you are at to where you want to be, a very big if indeed. So say you’re at The Venetian and want to go to the MGM Grand, you can just walk to the back of the first hotel, hop on the monorail, and be at the back of the MGM Grand in about 10 minutes.
However, if you’re planning on going to a hotel that isn’t on the monorail route, you’re going to want to add anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes of additional walking time.
Cabs are always an option and if you get a good driver who knows how to get around the major congestion points by using the back entrances to places, this would be something to consider. However, taking cabs everywhere can get very expensive and if you don’t have a good driver you could get stuck in the same traffic nightmare that everyone else is stuck in.
The new Deuce bus trolls the Strip and is a much more economical option, but it has to sit in the traffic just like every other vehicle on the road so quick is not always in its vocabulary.
You could also try driving yourself if you have a rental car and your mission doesn’t involve partying so much that driving shouldn’t be considered. There are plenty of ways to get around traffic if you know where to find them (Industrial Road, Frank Sinatra Drive, Koval, and Audrie are all good Strip alternates) and most of the hotels have back entrances from these adjacent roads that can turn a 30 minute trip on The Strip into a 5 minute jaunt if you know how to do it right and get lucky with the traffic lights.
Finally, there’s the old standby option – walking. Depending on how far you are going and how many people and cars are standing in your way, it can often be just as fast (if not faster) to hoof it to your next local. Just bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
Have a good time.
Source:www.vegas4visitors.com
CHAMPIONSHIP BULL RIDING BUCKS INTO VEGASTwo performances, January 5 and 6.
Championship Bull Riding, Inc. (CBR) is proud to announce the CBR World Championship presented by B&W Trailer Hitches at the South Point Hotel and Casino’s Equestrian Arena on January 5 and 6, 2007. This event will conclude a year of exciting bull riding events across the U.S. and a 2006 World Champion will be crowned.
Tickets are priced at $35, $50 and $75 and are on sale now at the South Point Box Office at 702-797-8055 or toll free 866-796-7111 and on the South Point website at www.southpointcasino.com. Please use Code #CBR0111.
“The CBR has grown tremendously over the past four years and we are committed to bigger and better things in the future,” stated CBR President Tuff Hedeman, four-time World Champion. With over $200,000 and a world title on the line, the 45 qualifiers are the tops in bull riding, including 2005 CBR/PRCA World Champion Matt Austin, Dustin Elliott 2004 PRCA World Champion, Steve Woolsey, Wesley Sillcox, Sonny Murphy, B.J.Schumacher and former Intercollegiate Bull Riding Champion Tate Stratton.
As of October 31st, ten of the PRCA’s top fifteen are CBR riders, with Matt Austin leading both standings.
“The CBR will have the best bulls that have ever been at one event at one time,” stated six-time Stock Contractor of the Year, CBR-CEO Terry Williams. “With this much money on the line, we are determined to provide the greatest collection of bulls from the best stock contractors in the industry.” Reigning World Champion Bucking Bull Biloxi Blues leads the pack.
For a complete list of the 2006 events and World Championship ticket and hotel information, visit www.cbrbull.com.
TERRORIST TARGET LIST: LV again deemed high risk.
By David Kihara/Las Vegas Review Journal
Las Vegas has again been placed on the Department of Homeland Security’s list of high-risk targets for terrorist attacks, making it eligible for millions more in federal anti-terrorism dollars.
State and federal officials announced Thursday that they had met with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and secured the metropolitan area’s designation as a high-risk area after it was downgraded last January. It is now eligible to get a chunk of the more than $700 million in homeland security funding.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-05-Fri-2007/news/11801083.html
Elvis: The Comeback.
A new Sahara tribute brought impersonator Trent Carlini out of retirement.
By Mike Weatherford/Las Vegas Review Journal
Cirque du Soliel’s multimillion-dollar Elvis show won’t open until November 2009 — Project CityCenter has to be built first — but local producer Joey Battig already thinks he knows what to expect: “Fluff and puff and goofy Elvises coming down from the ceiling.
“That’s why Battig believes there is room to get a foothold on the Strip ahead of Cirque. Last weekend he opened an old-school Elvis Presley tribute starring Trent Carlini, one of the most highly regarded impersonators in a cottage industry known for a few of its own goofy Elvises.
“We just want the truth,” Battig says of his new surrealism-free revue at the Sahara with a truth-in-advertising title: “The Musical History of The King starring Trent Carlini.”
More here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-05-Fri-2007/weekly/11695473.html
PLAYER’S EDGE: Palms to ‘Open the Vault’ for $130,000
Beginning today, you can earn entries into the $130,000 “Open the Vault Giveaway” at the Palms. On Tuesdays (Jan. 9, 16 and 23) and Fridays (Jan. 12, 19 and 26), the casino will select 10 players to compete in a five-minute slot tournament and win a share of $10,000. All 60 winners will be invited to compete for $20,000 in prizes at the finals tournament on Jan. 30. Club Palms members automatically earn entries on all machines (except 100 percent video poker machines). They must swipe their players card each Tuesday and Friday prior to the drawing to receive $5 in free slot play and to activate their entries. Players can earn a maximum of 350 entries for each drawing, and the electronic drum is cleared following each drawing.
More PLAYERS EDGE here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-05-Fri-2007/weekly/11755218.html
SHOW REVIEW: “The Magic of Rick Thomas”
Magician on the Move: Rick Thomas takes his likable afternoon show off the Strip.
By Mike Weatherford/Las Vegas Review Journal
Rick Thomas is even more adaptable than his white tigers.
The tigers, a distinctly Vegas phenomenon, began as a genetic fluke somewhere in India and they are preserved through dedicated breeding.
Thomas is coming up on 10 years as a Las Vegas magician, having opened shop at the Tropicana in the summer of 1997. Without any scientific edge against Vegas Darwinism, he survived the really bad guess of leaving the Trop in 2005, when he figured the venerable casino wasn’t long for this world.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-05-Fri-2007/weekly/11746215.html
What plays in Las Vegas, doesn’t stay in Las Vegas
‘Mamma Mia!’ and Celine Dion’s show to close.
By Jerry Fink, Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas, which has struggled recently to bring top-notch shows to town, will face that challenge times two with Thursday’s announcement that two long-running productions will close.
Celine Dion’s “A New Day …” will end its run at Caesars Palace on Dec. 15, and “Mamma Mia!” has decided to drop the final curtain in late summer 2008.
Both productions premiered in 2003, “Mamma Mia!” at Mandalay Bay in February and Dion in March at Caesars Palace’s $100 million Colosseum, the city’s most expensive venue.
Both productions - sharp contrasts of entertainment available in Las Vegas - are going out on top, which has observers scratching their heads as to what will and what won’t work in a city that has been trying to become Broadway West.
More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2007/jan/05/566615606.html
John Katsilometes braces for a visit from Randy Jackson, who has a particular interest in Las Vegas Hilton Theater
Long before becoming a judge on the interminable “American Idol,” Randy Jackson briefly played bass with Journey.
Today he’s playing deal maker with the Las Vegas Hilton.
Recently Jackson and Hilton Executive Vice President Ken Ciancimino and their wives were spotted dining at the property, then they caught the Barry Manilow show at the Hilton Theater. It was more than a casual visit for all involved; the meeting was to discuss details of a Jackson-produced concert series that will be part of the Hilton’s entertainment lineup early next year.
Although he worked on Mariah Carey’s “Emancipation of Mimi” CD last year and played bass for her at the 2006 Grammy Awards (he was also onstage for the brief and bizarre appearance by Sly Stone), Jackson is not expected to perform at the Hilton. Instead, his role will be selecting artists and producing all shows in the headlining series, which will be scheduled during gaps in Manilow’s schedule. Details on the Jackson series are still being finalized. Dawg.
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
FAB FOREVER: A MUSICAL HISTORY TOUR
MEETS AND GREETS EVERYDAY!
Fab Forever: A Musical History Tour, featuring an all-star cast of the best Beatles performers on the planet, recently began an open-ended engagement at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. Award-winning producer, Jerry Peluso, brings this rousing production from obscurity to the stages of the Las Vegas Strip, guaranteeing a spectacular time for all that will suspend disbelief for all Beatles fans.
“I’ve been waiting for a show like this my whole life. It’s like the Beatles are invading America all over again.
“Fab Forever not only looks and sounds exactly like the original lads from Liverpool, but they truly capture the spirit of The Beatles in concert.”
Fab Forever’s incredible story brings the amazing Musical History of The Beatles to life on stage. Along with a visually stunning production that features a cast of colorful characters both real and animated, Fab Forever delivers diversity for Beatles fans young and old with different songs and costumes each night. “The Beatles had such a vast catalogue of incredible music,” producer Peluso promises, “fans will never see the same show twice.”
Fab Forever chronicles The Beatles’ brilliant career from the second the lads from Liverpool stepped off a Pan Am jet at New York City’s JFK Airport and into the living rooms of 17 million Americans via The Ed Sullivan Show, in 1964. Act two follows the mop tops from Shea Stadium through the psychedelic-influenced songs of ’60s, winding down to the group’s tender last moments of their heart wrenching break-up.
The talented tribute artists will be in the new Club Riviera stage area, located next to the Race and Sports Book, to mix and mingle with guests, each day, Saturday through Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. Bring your cameras!
Show times are 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a general admission of $39.95 plus tax and fee. VIP seating is available. For show reservations, call the Riviera Box Office at (702) 794-9424, or click on www.rivierahotel.com. Individualcast and bio information are on www.fabforever.net
Mississippian Crowned Ms. Senior America 2006, Ms. Senior Nevada First Runner-Up
Ms. Suzanne Shelley from Hattiesburg, Miss., beat out 32 other talented, poised and charming women from across the United States this afternoon to win the title of Ms. Senior America 2006.
A 60-year-old retired psychometrist, Shelley impressed the judges in four categories: evening gown, philosophy of life, playing classical piano for her talent and the final interview. The crowning of the 2006 queen culminated three days of preliminary rounds and final judging for the 26th annual competition, held at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino.
First runner-up was local crowd favorite Mary Richard, a 61-year-old fitness center assistant from Henderson, Nev., whose salsa dancing dazzled the standing-room-only crowd in the hotel’s Imperial Theatre.
Ms. Senior California, 69-year-old Patricia Starr, was second runner-up with her boogie-woogie piano medley. Third runner-up was 66-year-old Jeannie Rossi, Ms. Senior Florida; and Ms. Senior Maryland, 64-year-old Mary Fawcett Watko, was fourth runner-up.
Hannah¹s Euro-Asian Bistro Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
Hannah’s Euro-Asian bistro, located in Boca Park in Summerlin, is celebrating it one-year anniversary. Owned and operated by Hannah An of the legendary An family famous for Crustacean restaurant, Hannah’s has become known as a premier restaurant on the west side, garnering visitors from across the Valley since opening last year. The restaurant’s customer base has expanded to an eclectic group of regulars and continues to grow in popularity. Guests frequent Hannah’s to enjoy a variety of experiences – quick lunch breaks, five-course relaxing lunches with wine, dinner dates, brunch, special occasion celebrations and large events.
Over the past year, Hannah’s has introduced many new concepts and hosted a variety of events. Recently created Ladies Night is every Thursday when ladies enjoy $7 specialty martinis and half-priced sushi on the patio from 7 p.m. until close. Ladies who dine inside receive 50% off dinner, up to $50 off. The restaurant often has live bands or DJs entertain and attracts Vegas’ young, trendy crowd by hosting events such as Rock N Roll Wine.
In addition, Hannah’s recently debuted an Express Lunch Menu that is available Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Since opening, Hannah’s also created a Brunch Menu available on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both menus include a pre-fixe option. The restaurant has also introduced a full-service, off-premise catering and event planning division. Originally known for seafood fare, Hannah’s has added more poultry and meat dishes to the menu such as Hannah’s Signature Rib-Eye, Filet Mignon with goat cheese butter and candied walnuts, and Brick Oven-Roasted Chicken.
Designed in harmony with the laws of Feng Shui, Hannah’s features unique Euro-Asian cuisine, a concept described by owner Hannah An as a blend of Asian and European recipes and spices prepared with European cooking techniques. The light, flavorful and healthy menu consists of a mix of traditional Vietnamese dishes and American classics with an innovative twist. The cuisine of Vietnam is culturally a fusion of French, Chinese and Indochinese influence.
An is a third-generation member of a distinguished restaurant family that emigrated from Vietnam in the 1970s. She is the eldest of five daughters and has been involved in the family’s business from the beginning. After An’s grandmother and mother earned international acclaim for their restaurants, she decided to introduce the family’s first casual “no tablecloth” concept, and thus opened Hannah’s in August of 2005.
Hannah’s is located at 1050 S. Rampart Blvd., in the Boca Park Shopping Center. Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., a light menu is available from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., and dinner is served from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. For reservation, please call (702) 932-9399.
Afternoon Tea and Brunch at the Carmel Room
The Carmel Room at the Rampart Casino presents another season of Afternoon Tea back by popular demand. The highly successful tea parties from last season have been complemented by the addition of a classic and elegant Sunday brunch. Afternoon Tea and Brunch is available every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please call (702) 507-5955 for additional details and reservations.
Afternoon Tea and Brunch is one of the ultimate afternoon indulgences; a light snack or four-course meal featuring savory tea sandwiches, scones, pastries, champagne cocktails and hand-selected premium tea. Gourmet coffee and a full complement of classic cocktails will also be available. Afternoon Tea is the perfect occasion for an array of special events including; a gathering of friends, intimate meetings, baby and bridal showers, bar mitzvahs, a family function or any social occasion. The tranquility and elegance inspired by Carmel Room’s dark woods, tapestry walls, cozy coves, private dining room and music serves as the perfect backdrop for a relaxing afternoon.
Afternoon Tea
$29 Per Person
Iron Horse Sparkling Wine Sonoma
Numi Organic Tea and Teasan
Homemade Scones with Honey Butter
Selection of Tea Sandwiches
Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese with Watercress
Chicken BLT with Bacon, Lettuce and Truffle Aioli
Dill Egg Salad on Marble Rye
Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella Bruschetta
Sweet Treats
Select Petite Fours and French Pastries
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd and Chantilly Cream
Sunday Brunch
$39 Per Person
Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Grapefruit or Watermelon Juice
Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini or Champagne
Numi Organic Tea and Teasan or Freshly Brewed Coffee
Fresh Fruit Martini
Homemade Scones with Honey Butter
Choice of One Entrée
Carmel Breakfast with Eggs any Style, Pepper Bacon and Potato Pie
Wild Mushroom and Triple Cheese Omelette
Smoked Salmon Benedict
Traditional Eggs Benedict
Brioche French Toast with Grilled Banana-Pecan Compote and Vermont Maple Syrup
Carmel Bibb Salad with Creamy Fine Herb Dressing,
Heart of Palm, Bell Pepper, Asparagus and Shaved Onion
Shaved Steak Sandwich Croque Madame with Fried Egg and Mornay Sauce
Selection of Tea Sandwiches
Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese with Watercress
Chicken BLT with Bacon, Lettuce and Truffle Aioli
Dill Egg Salad on Marble Rye
Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella Bruschetta
Sweet Treats
Select Petite Fours and French Pastries
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd and Chantilly Cream
www.casinotravelnews.com
In-N-Out keeps ‘em coming back to Vegas
Family-owned burger chain continues to flourish, despite troubled succession
BY VALERIE MILLER/Las Vegas Business Press
There is certainly no shortage of restaurants in Las Vegas. Some of those even promise the finest dining experience imaginable. But don’t bother telling that to the out-of-town friends of Andrew Hale Feinstein, a professor in the Food & Beverage Department of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
When his pals hit Sin City it’s a burger fix they’ve got on their minds.
“They could go anywhere they want, but they want me to take them to In-N-Out,” Feinstein said. “It is like a pilgrimage to them.”
His East Coast friends certainly aren’t alone. Twenty-something Las Vegan Jesse Bearden recalls moving to Florida for a few years and hanging out with his friends in the mall. They didn’t talk about cars or girls, though. “We talked about missing In-N-Out Burger,” he says, finishing up one of the sought-after hamburgers.
More Here:
http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2006/11/14/news/iq_10721949.txt
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, January 4, 2007 contains:
An interview with Joanna Angel, writer, journalist, producer, director, model, and an AVN award winning adult film star, and founder and owner of BurningAngel.com, an independent site that celebrates the intersection of sex and rock n’ roll with erotic photos and hardcore XXX movies alongside her interviews with punk and indie bands including Marylin Manson, My Chemical Romance, the Bouncing Souls, and Bad Religion, among many others. She holds a B.A. in English from Rutgers University –among her numerous professional and provocative roles, she considers herself a writer above all and documents all her life’s experiences in the in her BurningAngel blog, which is revered by intellectuals, hipsters and rock n’ rollers across the globe. Joanna also has a chapter published in Carly Milne’s Naked Ambition, a collection of essays written by women who are changing pornography released by Avalon Press. Joanna was also the featured sex advice columnist in Spin magazine.
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.net
“Show Happenings” with Chuck Rounds - Chuck reviews the events happening this week in Las Vegas.
http://www.StraightFromTheStrip.com
“Fine Dining” with chef and Radio Show host Les Kincaid.
http://www.LesKincaid.com
“The Godfather of Las Vegas”, Mark Wayman’s Insider Report
http://www.godfatherlv.com
“The Las Vegas Nightclub Report” with Jodie Rocco from TravelNice.com & Nightclubs.com
http://www.travelnice.com/?aid=7397
Vegas Values Report for 12/31/06
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
Posted on January 5th, 2007 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter
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