Everything Las Vegas Issue # 611
February 2nd, 2007
Harrah’s Entertainment cuts 200 jobs in corporate office.
By Howard Stutz/Las Vegas Review Journal
Harrah’s Entertainment eliminated some 200 jobs in its Las Vegas corporate office Friday, saying the layoffs have nothing to do with the planned $27.8 billion leveraged buyout of the casino operating giant by two private equity groups.
The company notified employees in a memo early Friday morning that positions in aviation, food-and-beverage, hotel operations, design and construction and government relations were being eliminated. The jobs were primarily in the range and classification considered as “middle management,” a source familiar with the reductions said.
Sources confirmed that 40 corporate employees were let go before Thursday and another 100 employees were being informed of their job status during the day Friday. Sources said that 60 job positions now unfilled would be eliminated and another 30 corporate workers were transferred to other jobs in the company.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-27-Sat-2007/business/12223454.html
LAS VEGAS MONORAIL: 2006 a ridership train wreck.
December was system’s worst month.
By Omar Sofradzija/Las Vegas Review Journal
The Las Vegas Monorail saw ridership collapse by more than 30 percent in 2006, capping a disappointing year with its worst ridership month ever in December, according to monorail statistics.
The monorail drew 15,430 daily riders last month, well below the previous ridership low of 18,197 in January 2006 and short of the rail line’s 2006 daily average of 19,219 riders. That latter average was a 31.7 percent drop from 2005’s everyday norm of 28,122 riders.
Nonetheless, monorail officials Monday took an optimistic view.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-30-Tue-2007/news/12174032.html
Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:
Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:A crowd gathered. There was commotion. Security officers appeared out of nowhere. A bystander was overheard commenting; “You never saw so many fingers point in one direction at one time!” At approximately 1:40 p.m., on Tuesday, January 23, Wheel Of Fortune symbols lined up on an IGT statewide link progressive jackpot of $682,370.93, at the venerable Riviera Hotel and Casino.
Who was the lucky winner? As is so often the case with very large jackpot winners, the gentleman in sunglasses, sipping bottled water, declined publicity. A Riviera spokesperson explained, “Rarely will you find an individual winning over half a million dollars on a three quarter slot machine wanting their picture taken, especially for the home papers. All of a sudden aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors come ‘out of the woodwork.’”
TI’s late-night eatery and popular celebrity hangout, the Social House, has just been awarded “Best New Restaurant on the Strip” in Las Vegas Life’s annual Epicurean Awards. The venue, located atop the Tangerine lounge/nightclub, features Pan-Asian cuisine and an in-house DJ.
Las Vegas Advisor - Features & News - Today’s News
When is a smoking ban not a smoking ban? At the two Paymon’s Mediterranean Cafe & Hookah Lounges, at Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway and on West Sahara Avenue. As Ben Arimoto, manager of Paymon’s at Tiffany Square Shopping Center on Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road recently explained, the ordinance specifically pertains to “tobacco”; the Paymon’s hookah lounges offer herb- and sugar cane-based substances.
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
Beginning on Feb. 15 and lasting until March 20, “American Idol” finalist and Hawaiian vocalist Jasmine Trias temporarily will be replacing Lani Misalucha at the Society of Seven. Misalucha will be on hiatus promoting her No. 1-selling solo album. To purchase tickets to see Jasmine Trias perform, call the Flamingo Box Office at (702) 733-3333.
theVegaseye.com
Golden Rainbow’s 2nd Annual “Naked Hearts” event undresses in the Chippendales Theatre once again on Feb 14. This sexy Valentine’s Day show definitely is not for the weak at heart, as the night features incredible, original live performances by cast members of Las Vegas production shows, including “Chippendales,” “Fantasy,” “Folies Bergere,” “Jubilee!,” “La Cage,” Missy Cochran Entertainment, MGM Grand Productions/Studio 54, “O,” Rio’s Masquerade Village, Show in the Sky and Bevertainment, and many more! For tickets and information, call (702) 384-2899 or visit www.goldenrainbow.org.
theVegaseye.com
This Valentine’s Day, Border Grill is cooking up something special for you and your sweetheart. Along with live music, guests are invited to come and enjoy a three-course dinner from a passion- inspired menu, with items such as the delicious Dungeness crab and Corn Chowder, and the Pedro Ximenez Braised Pork Shank. For dessert, indulge in the amazing Red Velvet Cake with white frosting or the Meyer Lemon Buttermilk Pudding Cake. The prix fixe menu price for Border Grill’s special dinner is $45 per person. Please call (702) 632-7403 to make reservations.
theVegaseye.com
The latest addition to “The Producers” cast at Paris is Leigh Zimmerman, 37, playing the sultry Swedish secretary Ulla. Broadway and London’s West End veteran Zimmerman most recently portrayed Kitty in the revival of “Chicago.”
Singer Earl Turner is closing his 10-month run in the cabaret-style Sound Trax venue at Palace Station tonight. Gerry McCambridge “The Mentalist” will follow and open at Palace Station on Feb. 5.
On Friday, Feb. 9, the Little Chapel of the Flowers will be opening its wedding facility, located on Las Vegas Boulevard two blocks north of the Stratosphere, and unveiling the industry’s first-ever “Wedding Crashers Night,” inviting people to witness a 7 p.m. wedding ceremony and take part in the celebration of a couple they’ve never met. The reception on the premises will include a buffet dinner, sparkling cider, entertainment, dancing to a live band or DJ, a premium gift and some surprises. There’s a $15 to attend. An RSVP is required; call 702-735-4331.
LVLG: Brett’s Vegas Views
In responding to what it calls “grossly inaccurate” reports of Rene Angelil’s gambling activity, Caesars Palace issued a statement Thursday specifying Angelil’s casino losses and winnings over the past couple of years. According to the statement, Angelil’s losses in 2005 and 2006 have totaled “exactly $230,000, which have been more than offset by his tournament poker winnings, of $259,079.” Media reports of Angelil’s casino activity surfaced after a story published Sunday in the London Observer that included this quote by Harrah’s executive Jan Laverty Jones: “The problem with problem gambling is not about how much you gamble. It really isn’t. It’s about gambling what you can afford. That’s a very difficult determination. Celine Dion’s husband is a big gambler. He probably gambles $1 million a week. But he can afford to.” Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner said, “Allegations that Rene gambles as much as $1 million per week are totally false.”
Las Vegas SUN: John Katsilometes
The NBA All-Star Game entertainment lineup will include “Mr. Las Vegas” Wayne Newton and Folies Bergere showgirls. Newton and the showgirls will perform before the start of the Feb. 18 game during the player introductions. Harrah’s headliner Toni Braxton, a six-time Grammy Award winner, will join three-time Grammy winner Christina Aguilera for the halftime entertainment. Mary J. Blige will perform at a Feb. 17 event at Thomas & Mack Center. The game will air live on TNT at 5 p.m.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
Rumblings continue out of London that MGM Mirage and Mohamed Al Fayed could announce the Harrods megaproject across from Luxor this month.
“Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding” celebrates five years at the Rio — somewhere on the high side of 1,850 shows — and maintains a seven-day schedule in a room that holds about 300 people.
Sammy Davis Jr. will become the first member of the Rat Pack to get a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, during ceremonies Feb. 15 in Le Bistro Room at the Riviera. Fans of the late Bobby Darin are raising funds to have him honored with a star May 14, which would be his 71st birthday.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM
“X” is coming back to town. The sexy and steamy adult revue is returning to Vegas February 12th and will be performing at the Flamingo Cabaret Theatre with a beautiful and talented cast of International performers. When the show was at the Aladdin, it pushed the boundaries of what a revue could get away with. It had to tame down it’s act when it moved to the V theatre, but it should be back in top (or should I say topless) form.
Jay Kornegay, the Las Vegas Hilton’s Superbook odds-master, continues to revise his Academy Award winner calculations on his blog on Moviefone.com (Predictions made by Jay Kornegay are for entertainment purposes only. This information should not be used for any wagering, betting, gaming or gambling in any form or manner). Movie fans can check out Jay’s blog postings on Moviefone.com (here’s a direct link: http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards for regular updates, tracking the nominees’ progress until Oscar® night on February 25 (scroll down half way). Movie fans can check out Jay’s blog postings on Moviefone.com for regular updates, tracking the nominees’ progress until Oscar® night on February 25.
This Monday’s “Lunchtime With Ira, Live From The Las Vegas Hilton” features Graeme Edge from the Moody Blues; Stephen Sorrentino, musical comedian and impressionist; and Jerry Fink, entertainment writer for the Las Vegas Sun. “Lunchtime With Ira” is available 24/7 at http://www.lvhilton.com/. Check Website for TV/radio broadcasts in your area. Watch it at http://www.watchitvegas.com/ira.php.
Harrah’s Las Vegas has released a limited number of special edition $5 gaming chips featuring the country music star Toby Keith. The exclusive chips are available only from the casino cage and are being distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. There’s a five chip per-guest limit.
Las Vegas Advisor - Features & News - Today’s News
The Palms Fantasy Market Buffet is closed for renovation, but a new smaller buffet will open (Feb. 5-April 1) above Gardunos. Price is $6.99 for lunch, including prime rib and $8.99 for dinner, including prime rib and peel and eat shrimp. Top level club members also receive extra discounts. Hours are lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Las Vegas Advisor - Features & News - Today’s News
A Nevada resident became a multi-millionaire yesterday afternoon when he hit on Penny Megabucks at the Pahrump Nugget for $18,799,414, the largest penny slot jackpot ever won. The 66-year-old, who has chosen to remain anonymous, explained that he usually plays video poker, but somehow had an inkling to play Megabucks for a change. “I put in $100 and after playing $44, I saw five eagles line up and thought I had won about $3,000,” he said. “Then I looked up, and the large jackpot on top of the machine had switched from $18 million to $10 million. Then I knew I had won something big.”He said he’ll pay off some bills and then take his wife on a long trip to Australia with his winnings.
Las Vegas Advisor - Features & News - Today’s News
Updated Hotel Review: Golden Nugget By Rick Garman
Last year I wrote a review of The Golden Nugget that offered cautious optimism over new owners Landry’s Restaurants and the hope that they would turn what had become a faded glory hotel back into the show property it deserved to be. I even offered my services for free, imploring the Landry’s folks to call me if they needed some advice on how to do it (or at least not mess it up). Turns out they didn’t need my help.
The Golden Nugget has undergone a dramatic rejuvenation that has not only put it back on top of the Downtown Las Vegas hotel scene, but has turned it into a property that could compete on just about every level with the grand palaces on The Strip.
Virtually the entirety of the public areas of the hotel has gotten a facelift, from the front desk to the casino to the spa and beyond. New restaurants have been added, old ones have been remodeled, entertainment venues have been expanded, and a dramatic new pool area is officially one of the nicest (albeit smallest) in town.
The sometimes stark white and gold French Riviera feeling has been replaced by a richer color scheme of earth tones – deep browns, creamy whites, glowing oranges offset by vibrant splashes of green and red here and there. Although the footprint of the main floor is roughly the same, you really won’t recognize the place because the difference is just that dramatic with new carpets, wall-treatments, lighting fixtures, and more contributing to a sense of freshness and newness that you rarely see in Downtown Las Vegas.
The casino has received this treatment along with a revision of the layout of the gambling areas to give it a feeling of more space – something that was desperately needed considered how cramped the place felt before. New machines and tables combine with the new décor scheme to turn this into a genuinely enjoyable place in which to lose your life savings.
The showroom was gutted and redone, transforming a converted ballroom with uncomfortable banquet chairs into a full-blown theater with comfy seats and plenty of legroom. The spa was also overhauled with a light and bright look.
Since Landry’s is first and foremost a restaurant chain, it’s no great surprise that they added new eateries to the mix. The buffet has been completely redone (and is quite good), while new entries include their trademark Vic and Anthony’s, a lovely and intimate space serving up traditional steakhouse fare, and the Grotto, an Italian joint, open and airy to the new pool area.
That pool area is, by the way, the centerpiece of the transformation of The Golden Nugget. Surrounded by three sides on glass facing into the hotel, a recreation deck surrounds a deep (although not particularly large) pool, a giant aquarium, and a bar. Overlooking the whole thing is a second level with cabanas and the start of a water slide that actually passes through that giant aquarium on its way to splashdown.
The suites have gotten a much needed overhaul as well, but the standard rooms, which were redone just a few years ago, are pretty much the same. That’s not a bad thing since they are among the largest and most well-appointed in the area. The décor scheme is muted floral and light woods and comes with comfy beds and seating, high-speed Internet access, hair dryers, irons and boards, room service, televisions with in-room movies, and more. The bathrooms are small by just about any standard, but put them up next to what most have gotten used to on The Strip and they seem microscopic. But hey – if you’re spending that much time in the bathroom while you’re in Vegas something is wrong.
The Downtown area has always been known for having friendlier staff members and dealers than The Strip and that tradition continues here. Everyone I dealt with was cheerful, helpful, and efficient.
Despite all of the money thrown at the place, they are not apparently asking you to pay for it through increased room rates. You can still get a room here during the week for as low as $59 (although $89 is more common) and on the weekends for as low as $129. That’s a great bargain for a hotel as good as this one.
The Golden Nugget
129 E. Fremont St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
800-846-5336
website
Highs: One of the best hotels in Downtown Las Vegas
Lows: It’s Downtown.
Location: 6 – Downtown but right on the Fremont Street Experience
Price: 8 – The most expensive hotel in the neighborhood but still cheaper than most on The Strip
Value: 8 – You get a lot for what you pay
Rooms: 7 – Nicely decorated, most are quite roomy
Casino: 8 – One of the area’s best
Amenities: 8 – Rooms are very well equipped
Facilities: 8 – New pool area really adds to the mix
Service: 9 – Very good, very friendly
Fun: 8 – Nice hotel at nice rates – what’s not fun about that?
Bonus: 8 – A downtown classic
Vegas4Vistiors Score: 78
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman
Las Vegas Q and A by Rick Garman
Question: The last two times I was in Vegas I came down with colds either while I was there or immediately afterward. How can I avoid that on future trips?
Answer: Unless you want to encase yourself in plastic and not touch anything while you’re in town it’s very difficult to completely avoid the germs and bugs that are floating around Las Vegas. With thousands of people surrounding you at every turn, touching things right before you touch them (slot machines – I mean slot machines!), you are exposed to all different forms of nasty.
And it’s getting more serious. Local health officials are investigating yet another potential outbreak of the norovirus, a flu-like bug that is easily spread through surface contact and is most known for incapacitating entire cruise ships. These outbreaks are happening more and more often and there doesn’t seem to be anything anyone can do to stop them.
So how to protect yourself? Well, it helps if you are healthy to begin with. I know many of you head to Vegas as vacation after working yourselves to near exhaustion, but that’s not great for the old immune system. The more worn down you are the more susceptible you are to things.
And it doesn’t help much if all you do when you get to town is drink, over eat, and/or stay up all night. I know, glass houses. But if you are serious about not wanting to get sick, then maybe that ninth shot of tequila at five in the morning or that third trip to the all-you-can-eat crab leg buffet is not the best idea you’ve ever had in your entire life. During days and nights be sure you are drinking plenty of water (it’s the desert – hydrate!) and try to get at least a little bit of sleep.
Rooms are relatively safe – they do a pretty good job of disinfecting and sanitizing bathrooms and bedding. But they certainly don’t wipe down every single surface so you may want to bring along one of those packs of sanitizing wipes and maybe give a quick rub to the things you will be touching often in the room – the phone, the alarm clock, the TV remote, etc.
The casinos offer a different and quite unique problem. Literally hundreds of people may have had their grubby little hands on that slot machine you are sitting at since the last time it was cleaned and bugs like the norovirus can live on those surfaces for quite awhile. Ditto for doors, elevator buttons, cards, gaming chips, money, and even walls if you’re stumbling back to your room drunk (maybe it’s just me?). If you’re especially germ-phobic you may want to consider those sassy little gambling gloves they sell in many gift shops, although you may wind up looking a bit nuts.
A more reasonable approach is washing your hands often. You need breaks from your gambling fever anyway, so head to the nearest restroom every hour or two and give your hands a good scrubbing. Likewise, stop there before and after every meal and make it your first task when you get back to your room. Those little bottles of hand-sanitizer or hand wipes that you can use at regular intervals are good alternatives but not as good as hot water and soap.
This may not prevent all illnesses but it’s a good step in the right direction. Have fun and stay well!
Question: What’s in store for Vegas for 2007? Any new casinos or shows opening?
Answer: So far 2007 is shaping up to be a pretty quiet year in terms of major openings of hotels. The only big one set to open this year is Palazzo, the $1.6 billion, 3,000 room sister hotel to The Venetian. It is expected to open before the end of the year but no official date has been set yet.
When complete it will operate as a separate hotel from The Venetian, with its own check-in and services, but will be connected to The Venetian in several places to create one contiguous experience once you get inside. In addition to the rooms, bringing the total to more than 7,000 in the entire complex, there will be a 100,000-square-foot casino, more shopping, meeting space, and all of the restaurants and nightclubs you would expect in a hotel of this caliber.
The other new hotel set for its debut this year is not really new in the way most people apply it. Within the next couple of months, work should finally be complete on the revamping of The Aladdin into Planet Hollywood, which will bring with it a whole new look and feel both outside and in. The casino is reportedly nearing completion and work is underway on redoing the mall area, the guest rooms, and the exterior of the building. This long delayed project should be fully complete by spring.
That’s it for openings, but 2007 could see a closure or two. Imperial Palace and Barbary Coast were slated to close in 2007 but that has been delayed now by the $27 billion purchase of Harrah’s Entertainment. I expect these places will now remain open into 2008.
Portions of the Tropicana may close as a massive redevelopment of that properties gets underway this year but the bulk of the property will remain open.
And of course The Stardust will be imploded soon to make way for the new $4 billion Echelon Place development. And no, I don’t know when it will be imploded yet but will put it in my column when I do.
A couple of major shows will be opening in 2007 including “The Producers” at Paris Las Vegas and “Spamalot” at Wynn Las Vegas. Later in the year we should see the new Cirque du Soleil magic themed show opening at Luxor, although that has not been officially announced yet.
2008, 2009, and 2010 will be the really big years at The Strip will gain more than 10,000 new hotel rooms with major developments now under construction.
The Original Las Vegas Podcast
Las Vegas podcast #104 includes:
Job cuts at Harrah’s and Tropicana
Hooters Takeover
Fun with Hooters at EverythingLV.com
The Pearl begins announcing bookings
Tim’s “It’s not Van Halen without Michael Anthony” rant
Sports betting kiosks coming soon
Stardust and Wynn implosion plans
Win a trip to Vegas from WMS, Sirius or Fox Reality
Listener reports about AVN, O’Shea’s, Gold Coast, Wynn’s new Fortune Baccarat game, MGM Grand’s sorry state and more
http://www.fivehundybymidnight.com/fhbm/
Since in Las Vegas, you can’t refer to The Superbowl as “The Superbowl,” here is a listing of where to watch “The Big Game”
The article is from The Las Vegas Advisor.
As we reported in this column, around this time last year, in 2004, the National Football League shut down Las Vegas’ famous Super Bowl parties when it issued cease-and-desist warning casinos that their big-screen broadcasts and fee-charging parties were in violation of federal copyright laws and league rules, which generally prohibit the broadcasting of its games on screens larger than 55 inches.
Since then, most venues hosting any kind of party have resorted to using the euphemism of “Big Game,” rather than Super Bowl, and an air of paranoia still reigns, with most casinos shying away from any kind of formal — especially any kind of fee-paying –screening event. In fact, when we called around to research this answer for this year’s game, one large downtown sports bar, which shall remain nameless, starting shouting at us that they wanted nothing to do with our article or any kind of publicity for their party. That said, you can’t hold a good game down, and many of the more sports-oriented casinos will be hosting some kind of celebration, as will most of the sports bars and larger gentlemen’s clubs. Some venues were still playing their cards close their chests when we called, but here’s what we’ve gleened so far:
CASINOS
Gold Coast
They’re breaking down their two ballrooms into 5 separate rooms that accommodate approx. 125 people each. Each of the rooms has a 72″ TV and there’s no cover. Food Prices range from $1-$4 and offerings will include pizza, chicken wings, hot dogs, and popcorn. Budweiser and Bud Lite drafts will be sold for $2. The festivities are due to kick off right around 3 pm.
Golden Nugget
This downtown casino will be having a pool party at The Tank, their newest addition, from 6 pm-12 am. The pool’s heated and the party’s open to all and will feature DJs and dancing, table games, Corona girls, and drink specials. No cover.
Orleans
The Raiderettes will be signing autographs from 10 am-2 pm in the casino. Parties will take place in the Bourbon Street Lounge, Brendan’s Irish Pub, and the race and sports book. Admission is free, with $1 hot dogs and $2 Bud drafts. They’ll have a giveaway after the game.
Hooters
They will be hosting parties in the 13 Martini Bar and in Pete & Shorty’s, starting at 1 pm. There will be food and drink specials, but no details have been confirmed as yet.
Santa Fe Station
KOMP 92.3 will be hosting the Big Game party in the Chrome Showroom. They will have food and drink specials, and someone will win a new car from Chapman Dodge at the end of the game.
Wildfire Casino
They will be showing the game in the Inferno Lounge, with food and drink specials including $2 20oz draft beer all day. Every $20 bet will receive an entry for halftime snacks and drawings for cash.
Barley’s Casino & Brewing Company
The party starts at 2 pm in the lounge. $10 gets you an unlimited buffet, plus get two pitchers of Barley’s Brew for $10.
Fiesta Rancho
Inside Club Tequila starting at 2 pm enjoy $15 all you can eat and drink.
Las Vegas Hilton
They are having a Big Game party, but the event is sold out.
Rockhouse at the IP (formerly Beacher’s Rockhouse)
They’ll be showing the Big Game on 8 plasmas and a 10-foot projection screen and will also have food and drink specials.
Monte Carlo-The Brew Pub
They will be showing the Big Game on all of their screens and will be having giveaways for a Miller Lite Kegerator. Valet Park and receive a free draft.
South Point
They’ll be converting their ballrooms into viewing rooms. Admission is free and doors open at 1:30 pm, with drink and food specials all day.
NEIGHBORHOOD BARS
Blondie’s
Desert Passage at the Aladdin 702/737-0444
They have 35 screens, of which at least three are BIG, and are having a Big Game Party with all-you-can-eat-and-drink, for $200 per person.
Nikki Lee’s
2640 E. Sunset Rd 702/312-3500
You need reservations for the party here, and there’s a minimum of four to a table. They’ll have the usual food and drink specials and giveaways during halftime, plus this year, no one leaves empty-handed — they’ll be giving away a Miller fridge, a BBQ, folding chairs, neon signs, a golf bag, a foosball table, etc.
Pounders
332 W. Sahara Ave 702/385-2121
They’ll be showing the Big Game and having the usual food and drink specials.
Kerry’s
3520 N. Rancho Dr 702/645-8844
There will be $2 draft beer specials and pizza specials. They’ll also be giving away a Miller fridge, a Miller BBQ, and other prizes.
Big Dog’s
Multiple locations: http://www.bdhginc.com/
All of the Big Dog’s group (Big Dog’s Bar & Grill, Big Dog’s Café & Casino, and Big Dog’s Draft House) are involved in a big-screen contest. It’s been going on all season and the Big Game is when it’s finally given away, plus they’ll have all the usual drink and food specials and giveaways.
PT’s Pubs & PT’s Taverns
Multiple locations: http://www.ptspubs.com/www/
The Golden Tavern group will be giving away $10,000 to five of their locations, $2,000 each, to be split evenly amongst the customers. They’ll also have $2 Bud or Bud Lite drafts, half-price pizza, and $2.99 wings. Festivities kick off at 1 pm.
The Rum Runner
1801 E. Tropicana Ave 702/739-7702
In addition to showing the game, they’ll have “Super Bowl pool” going on, plus food and drink specials.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Multiple Locations: http://www.ptspubs.com/www/
They will be showing the game at each location, with food and drink specials.
Crown & Anchor
1350 E. Tropicana Ave 702/739-0281
Festivities will be the same as last year. They’re having a “potluck” buffet and will have drink specials.
Aurelio’s
7660 W. Cheyenne Ave 702/367-4992
They are opening their doors at 2:30 pm. Admission is $14.99 and includes all the appetizers and food you can eat. There will be drink specials just not sure yet. The have giveaways after the game is over.
The Big Inning
7777 W. Sahara Ave 702/255-8708
They are just having a regular day, but expect to be very busy.
Chicago’s Cactus Club
4061 N. Rancho Dr. 702/655-2582
They’ve been booked since the beginning of season, so this is probably a sold-out party. At every touchdown, the whole bar gets a free shot. If you want to take your chances getting in and joining the festivities, it’s recommended that you get there early.
Lucky’s Tavern
8025 Dean Martin Dr 702/896-4824
This is a Bears bar and they’re going all out. First off, they are barring all Colts fans from the bar. They’ll also be serving free nachos, peanuts, pretzels, and popcorn, and will have wings and fingers catered in. And since they don’t serve food, other than bar snacks, feel free to smoke. After each Bears touchdown, everyone gets a Bear bombshot, something they have created especially for the game. During halftime, they’ll be playing the famed Super Bowl Shuffle and at the end of the game — when the Bears win — everyone will get a bottle of champagne!
Instant Replay
445 Marks St 702/434-4848
They’re showing the Big Game on 28 giant-screen TVs and will have $20 bottomless beer and ½-price appetizers.
Roadrunner
Multiple Locations: http://www.roadrunnerlasvegas.com/home.html
Food and and drink specials, and giveaways.
Mug Shots Eatery & Casino
1120 N. Boulder Hwy 702/566-6577
This is also a Bears bar, but no details of the festivities have been finalized as yet. Expect typical food and drink specials, however.
GENTLEMEN’S CLUBS
SCORES
3355 S. Procyon 702/367-6040
They have 24 plasma monitors and 3 big screens with live direct sound to watch the game. They’ll have their famous 25-foot “Tailgaters Buffet” and there’s no cover if you provide your own transportation. If you are an Industry local and make a reservation for 8 or more, you also get a complimentary bottle and reserved seating.
Sin
3225 W. Russell Rd 702/673-1700
They’ll have complimentary food for pre-reserved parties. There is no cover if you provide your own transportation. If you’re an industry local, and make a reservation for 8 or more, you get a complimentary bottle and reserved seating.
Sapphire’s
3025 S.Industrial Rd 702/796-6000
Free general admission. $25 for preferred seating or $75 for VIP. There’s a pre-game show at noon and $1 halftime dances. They will also have drink specials.
Seamless
4740 Arville St. 702/227-5200
They’ll be showing the game on all of their screens and will have food and drink specials. They will also have giveaways during halftime and after the game.
The OG
1531 S. Las Vegas Blvd 702/385-8987
Free general admission. $12 Miller buckets, drink specials, and $1 lap dances at halftime. The $25 VIP Package includes 2 drink tickets, free food buffet, halftime shower show, and “tons of prizes.”
OTHER VENUES
Red Rooster
http://www.vegasredrooster.com/superbowl/
As in years past, this swingers’ club is hosting what they bill as, “The Sexiest Super Bowl Party”. Required attire: Men in boxers or less, women in Lingerie or less … Naked works! Festivities kick off at 1 p.m and go until 10 p.m. Single men are $40 and single women are free, as are couples. Tons of munchies and drinks available but B.Y.O.B.
Hofbräuhaus
4510 Paradise Rd. 702/853-2337
This Bavarian drinking hall and restaurant will be showing the game in the beer garden and will have Big Game party combos and specials throughout the beer hall.
Caffe Giorgio
Mandalay Place 702/920-2700
Party starts at 1 p.m.; come early for the best seats. Admission is $65 per person for food only. They will have four plasma screens and beer and liquor specials.
From “The Vegas Eye”
Palazzo Plans Eye on Vegas Breaking Exclusives
As construction continues around the clock at Sheldon Adelson’s third Venetian tower, the Palazzo Tower, more whispers continue to leak to the Eye about what that project might contain. It has been long-known that acclaimed Iron Chef Mario Batali has plans for a Sin City invasion – we actually broke that news two years ago (Eye on Vegas Archives – 10/04/04) and then again last year (06/06/05) that Batali is set to open two eateries: a seafood-focused outlet, as well as an Italian steakhouse. Add to the list two more breaking scoops, including one featuring a 20,000-square-foot casual entertainment facility entitled Rocket. Look for Rocket to have sky-high success by focusing on providing entertainment and fun for the under-dressed and couldn’t-care-less-about-bottle-service crowd. We’ve also heard some nightlife whispers that indicate hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has signed a deal that would put an outpost for his popular chain of 40/40 clubs into The Venetian’s new tower. It’s something we had been hearing for some time now (Eye on Vegas Archives – 06/06/06), although it would not appear a go. Add those concepts to the previously announced Wolfgang Puck eatery, CUT, and it looks like Palazzo has plans to be a hit. Stay tuned for more news to follow and, as always, remember where you heard it first.
Getting Pumped
Last week, it was officially announced that chef/owner Steve Martorano would be bringing his pumping South Beach eatery Café Martorano to Las Vegas and the Rio All-Suite Hotel. Of course, our Eye readers have known that since November (Eye on Vegas Archives – 11/05/06)! The restaurant, which is taking over the former Rosemary’s Restaurant space, blends nightlife and dining into a concept that is (get this!) “definitely not for sissies and salad eaters.” Well, OK then. It’s actually a pretty funny description, however, especially once you see the South Philly native Martorano, who certainly is far from either a sissy or a salad eater. Proving the point, and clearly stated at the bottom of Martorano’s menu, “Absolutely no changes or substitutions - This is the way I cook. Please enjoy and don’t break balls!” Alright, so you get the point, what Martorano is best known for is offering an extremely unique experience that is a favorite of celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal, hip hop star Ludacris and “Sopranos” star/E Street band rocker Steven Van Zandt. The crooning sounds of Sinatra and Martin fill the room earlier in the evening, but give way to hip hop and R&B beats after 10:30 p.m., when Martorano himself takes over the turntables. Look for Café Martorano to open at some point in February.
Go Latin
Every Tuesday night, Isla Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar inside TI transforms into a Latin Late Night, Noche de la Diosa (Night of the Goddess). Amigo Production’s DJ Lian and DJ Gil Barba spin the latest in rock, pop en espanol, reggateon and more. The room features a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, a spacious dance floor, VIP tables and a lounge. Guests can choose traditional bottle service or relax in the lounge with full table service. “This is a high-energy night that features two of the best Las Vegas Latin DJs,” said Steve Baach, beverage manager, who helped create the event. “We want to create and atmosphere that no other club can provide with a niche in Latin market. We feel we have created an event that will continue to grow. Join the ritual!”
theVegaseye.com
JOHN L. SMITH: Angel’s nearing the end of the game, but he’s beaten the odds before.
From The Las Vegas Review Journal
Sam Angel, the John Cameron Swayze of the Street, is fighting the long odds at Spring Valley Hospital.
At 86, it appears he’s about to be 86′d from the endless bar and betting parlor of his life. I guess that makes him an Angel in waiting.
Of course, people have lost money on Sam’s life over-and-under before, so hunch players might want to load up on him making an unexpected recovery from the effects of decades of drinking and gambling and selling watches and jewelry to poker room stiffs and unsuspecting rubes.
Just a few weeks ago, I saw Sam’s familiar bespectacled melon in the front row of The Orleans horse book. He favors a sport coat so green you’d think he’d won it at the Masters, and he’s never more than a stumpy arm’s reach from a bottle of beer.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-28-Sun-2007/news/12220550.html
Note from Steve..This is just one of those articles that has to be read.
Las Vegas Top Ten Values February 2007 from The Las Vegas Advisor
1. Steak Dinner - Ellis Island - 24 Hours - $4.95
The best dining bargain in Las Vegas is the 10-ounce filet-cut steak dinner at Ellis Island, the casino at the Super 8 Motel on Koval near E. Flamingo. It’s served with salad, vegetable, potato, garlic bread, and rolls for $4.95, 24 hours a day. But it’s not on the menu; you have to ask specifically for it.
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. 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.
4. Prime Rib Dinner - California - 5-11 pm daily - $6.99
The $6.99 prime rib special at the California downtown starts with a full salad bar, continues with a big cooked-to-order piece of prime beef, plus potato and veggie, and finishes up with a little cherries jubilee for dessert. The same meal would cost at least triple in any other city in the country.
5. Beer - Casino Royale - Daily - $1
We’ve replaced the $1.25 beers at Slots A Fun with $1 Michelobs at the center-Strip Casino Royale. This is a 24/7 deal and the bar staff is ultra pleasant about doling ’em out (it’s not uncommon to encounter a staff that’s resentful of this type of deal). You can also get two flavors of frozen margaritas for a buck apiece. Bottom line, though: Beers for $1 are better than beers for $1.25.
6. Buffet - Mirage - Daily - $12.50-$22.50
This is a gourmet buffet that’s high on quality and low, comparatively, on price. It has an unusual noodle station, where a half-dozen selections of dim sum are served up fresh (good shrimp siu mai); you can also get Asian noodle soup. The raw bar features cold Dungeness crab, small-to-medium peeled shrimp, lox, and one of the best buffet ceviches in town. There are also several Middle Eastern dishes at the salad station, along with Italian, Chinese, rotisserie, carving, and dessert stations.
We have to apologize for the price posted for the Mirage buffet in last month’s issue (it would have been #1 if the $4.50-$9 price had been accurate). The real price is $12.50-$22.50. Sorry about that.
7. Sign-Up Promotion - Stratosphere - Daily - coin-in
Stratosphere shows up this month as the #7 deal in the Top Ten, with its solid gambling-based new-member players club sign-up promotion. Play quarter slots or video poker for a few hours and get a value-escalating (and cumulative) assortment of goodies, including $100 in bounce-back cash.
8. Chicken Dinner - Terrible’s Casino - 24 hours - $4.99
Also returning to this month’s Top Ten is the complete chicken dinner in the coffee shop at Terrible’s. Along with a rotisserie half-chicken, you get rice, beans, corn on the cob, baked potato, and vegetable du jour—all for $4.99 (for $1 extra, add soup or salad), 24 hours a day. This has been a perennial #11 on the list and is as reliable as they come.
9. Hot Dog - South Point - 11 am-5 pm - 75¢
South Point is now the only place in town to get the Coasts style 75¢ hot dog, plus extras, from the cart in the sports book (#9). It’s a schlep to get down to South Point, but Top Ten’s about deals, and this dog is a deal for real).
10. Concerts at Club 3121 - Rio - Wed. nights - free-$31.21
The $31.21 admission charge on Wednesday nights at Club 3121 hangs in at #10. The “locals-get-in-free” stance we reported on last month isn’t always in place (depends on the act), but the price for the level of entertainment presented at these Prince-promoted Rio concerts is a winner.
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/topten.cfm
Brett’s Vegas Views by Jackie Brett
The dance show “Simply Ballroom” featuring 10 top-ten ranked competitive ballroom dancers from across the globe at the Golden Nugget downtown will occasionally be joined by big name headliners.
Veteran comedian Don Rickles, who has been a Las Vegas mainstay since 1959, will take the stage at The Showroom at the Golden Nugget March 22-24. The acclaimed actor/comedian, who is best known for his famous “insult comedy,” has appeared in television, films and on stage throughout his five-decade-long career. Tickets for his 9 p.m. shows start at $55; call 702-386-8100.
“Saturday Night Live” veteran Joe Piscopo will bring his brand of music and comedy to the Las Vegas Hilton for a special engagement beginning Feb. 18. He’ll be joined by renowned conductor Vincent Falcone and his sextet in the Shimmer Cabaret. Piscopo will perform Sunday-Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.95; call 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.
“Joe Piscopo Live” will feature music and comedy and put an emphasis on “the way Vegas used to be,” with the intimate, spontaneous feel of a lounge and live music. Some of Piscopo’s celebrity friends will drop by and be part of the show.
Live performances have always been an important part of Piscopo’s career. He has long been one of America’s most popular comedy concert attractions, filling arenas and casino showrooms from coast to coast and in Canada. Piscopo also tours with his own original big band tribute to Frank Sinatra, as well as his multi-media comedy show.
In 1980, Piscopo was chosen to join a newly formed ensemble charged with one of the most difficult tasks in TV history: replacing the original cast of “Saturday Night Live.” By the time he left the show in 1985, Piscopo had left his mark on the program and the nation, thanks to his wide range of original characters and celebrity impersonations, from The Sports Guy and Doug Whiner to David Letterman and, of course, Frank Sinatra.
Falcone’s career includes conducting for Frank Sinatra and other music greats such as Andy Williams, Jack Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, the McGuire Sisters, Tony Bennett, Connie Francis, Paul Anka, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.
Hawaiian Tropic’s Desert Passage location opening this fall will be its second venture into creating a dining and nightlife destination. Hawaiian Tropic Zone New York boasts a sexy modern décor, three-tier dining room, a cat-walk stage for nightly entertainment, full bar and a two-story waterfall. Exotic and friendly Hawaiian Tropic models serve as “table concierges” to assist guests with their every dining need as well as participate in a nightly beauty pageant.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
Slots: Best of the Show
The Global Gaming Expo offers some remarkable surprises for tomorrow’s slot floor.
by Frank Legato from Casino Player
The Global Gaming Expo, the casino industry’s major trade show, is always well-documented in our sister publication, Strictly Slots, and this year was no exception. In the November issue of that magazine, I offered a preview of what was being introduced by the major slot manufacturers in the way of new games, which will be rolled out within the next few months.
That was, as always, an objective report of what the slot manufacturers plan to launch on the nation’s casino floors in the coming year. The manufacturers were listed in alphabetical order, and, since it was prepared before the trade show, certain games the manufacturers were keeping secret until the show were not included.
More Here:
http://www.casinoplayer.com/archive/0701cp/slots_best_of_show.htm
Comps 101
Getting freebies and discounts is easier than ever
by Jeffrey Compton from Strictly Slots Magazine
“I visit casinos frequently, but have never had a comp in my life.”
While many casinos are spending more and more on comps than ever before, it is hard to believe that many players still avoid taking advantage of them. When asked, most of these people give one of these answers:
1) They are afraid that asking for (and getting) comps affects their play.
2) They really do not know how to go about the process and asking for anything from anybody makes them feel uncomfortable.
3) They equate comps with high-rollers.
More Here:
http://www.strictlyslots.com/archive/0701ss/comps.htm
NOTHING BUT THE BLUES AT HOB
So, are you ready to experience the Blues - for free! Every Wednesday Night at 9 pm, House of Blues Las Vegas presents NOTHING BUT THE BLUES, an evening of Blues Artists playing Blues Music in an up-close, intimate setting inside the popular Crossroads room in the House of Blues Restaurant. This evening will take you back to the origins of popular music and will feature the very music on which the House of Blues has built its foundation.
Great music, sophisticated vibe, cool people…NOTHING BUT THE BLUES is presented by singer/songwriter and LA music industry insider, Michael Soli. NOTHING BUT THE BLUES is a 3-hour music showcase, featuring notable blues artists, emerging local and out-of-state talent and famous surprise musical guests.
NOTHING BUT THE BLUES is an all-ages event and admission is free. Drink specials and great food are featured every week, along with a variety of House of Blues giveaways. House of Blues will also have a host to provide a small history lesson on a different ‘blues god’ each week! For additional information regarding NOTHING BUT THE BLUES, please contact House of Blues at (702) 632-7600.
www.vegas4locals.com
FREE MIXER AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD LOUNGE
Readers of the Vegas4Locals.com newsletter are cordially invited to attend a free business networking mixer at the Stratosphere Hotel’s Top of the World Lounge on Thursday, March 1st from 6 to 8 pm! RSVP required.
RSVP AT
http://www.VegasVIPEvents.com/?rdx=8q53zV4L
EVENT TYPE: FREE VEGAS4LOCALS.COM BUSINESS NETWORKING MIXER
EVENT DATE: Thursday March 1, 2007
EVENT TIME: 6 pm - 8 pm …
EVENT LOCATION: Stratosphere Hotel Top of the World Lounge, 2000 Las Vegas Boulevard S., 89104, (702) 380-7777, www.stratospherehotel.com
EVENT DETAILS:
No cost to attend event
Business networking/socializing
Free admission to tower (usually costs $6.00 for locals, $9.95 out of state)
Free hors d’oeuvres
Free entertainment (jazz trio)
Celebrity guests
Business card raffle
Dress code is business/business casual
EVENT CELEBRITIES/ENTERTAINERS:
The following entertainers will mingle and entertain guests:
Actors from Sopranos Last Supper
Showgirls from X an Erotic Adventure
Stephen Sorrentino - musical comedian in Legends in Concert
Monti Rock - actor/columnist, famous for being famous, most colorful character (RJ poll)
Seth Grabel - magician/illusionist
“Mr. Big Foot” James Scott - stand up comedian
Drag Queens from Lucky Cheng’s Drag Cabaret
The William Moran Jazz Trio
PLEASE RSVP AT
http://www.VegasVIPEvents.com/?rdx=8q53zV4L
RSVP deadline of Feb 28
EVENT PLANNER:
Ania Krokos, (805) 451-5434, aniakrokos@yahoo.com
Note from Steve. Tom from Vegas4locals has extended this invitation to all my members. Looks like a lot of fun to me.
Chuck Rounds’ Las Vegas Entertainment News
February 2007
This February is a busy month…it’s always one of the busier months of the year, but this year has a couple of special additions to the normal February. February is the shortest month of the year, but Las Vegas has packed it full—not only are there a couple hundred different conventions coming to town both large and small (the biggest one being MAGIC with 115k attendees,) but there is also the Super Bowl in the first weekend, “The Producers” officially opens, Valentines Day in the middle of the month, the NBA All-Star Game is going to bring in tons of people, and there are a variety of other shows that will be making their entrance into the Vegas market. It is a time when new shows open and old shows change their venues or their substance. February is always the start of changes as the city looks ahead to the summer. Late winter and early spring are good times to get shows opened so that they can establish themselves prior to the big summer season.
The Super Bowl is THE biggest weekend in Las Vegas—it brings in more people and money into the city than any other weekend all year, and this year is looking to be the biggest of all. Sports books are predicting that the numbers on the Bears and the Colts will be the biggest numbers ever posted for any Super Bowl. The early line on the game favors the Colts by 7 points. No matter where you go, there will be monitors with the game on and there will be parties everywhere.
Las Vegas is the capital of many things, but it certainly becomes apparent that during February, we are the wedding capital of the world. Valentines Day brings thousands of perspective couples and guests to pending nuptials. It is a the time for “Love and Weddings.” Thousands of people will swarm to Las Vegas in order to get married. Every chapel will be filled to capacity from literally dawn right up to the stroke of midnight. There are usually more weddings on Valentine’s Day than on any other day of the year, but this year might be interesting…one day might actually eclipse the 14th this year, July 7th might be bigger because it’s 777, and that’s the luckiest number in Las Vegas.
Kathy Griffin will perform at Mandalay Bay Theatre Friday, February 23. Griffin is a multi-faceted performer known for her role as Vickie Groener on the NBC sitcom “Suddenly Susan.” In 1998, Griffin starred in her HBO one-hour special, “A Hot Cup of Talk.” Griffin has appeared on numerous talk shows including “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Howard Stern” and “The View” and has been featured in the films “It’s Pat” and “Four Rooms” among others.
It is her recent passion for reality TV that has guided her career. She won “Celebrity Mole” on ABC, hosted the NBC reality series “Average Joe” and hosted the MTV series “Kathy’s So-Called Reality.” In August 2005, Griffin’s reality show, “Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List,” debuted on Bravo.
Every week is a big week in February. As you scroll through the special offerings, events, and headliners for the month, you’ll be amazed by all of the top notch talent.
The first week has…
Rita Rudner
Harrah’s, Jan 12 - Apr 28
Drew Carey & the Improv All-Stars
MGM Grand, Feb 1 - Feb 4
The Magic of Rick Thomas
Orleans, Feb 1 - Feb 27
Artie Lange w/ Special Guest Nick Di Paolo
Luxor, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Damon Wayans
Orleans, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Euge Groove
Boulder Station, Feb 2
First Friday
Feb 2
Jay Leno
Mirage, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Kevin James
Mirage, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Kip Attaway
CasaBlanca Hotel, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Larry Carlton
Suncoast, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Nevada Ballet: From Tchaikovsky to Gershwin
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Pennywise w/ the Circle Jerks & Ignite
Mandalay Bay, Feb 2 - Feb 3
Eddie Griffin w/ special guest Sheryl Underwood
Mandalay Bay, Feb 3
George Strait w/ Ronnie Milsap
MGM Grand, Feb 3
Little River Band
Boulder Station, Feb 3
UFC67: All or Nothing
Mandalay Bay, Feb 3
RBD World Tour 2007
Aladdin (soon to be Planet Hollywood, Feb 4
The second week includes…
David Copperfield
MGM Grand, Feb 5 - Feb 18
UNLV vs. TCU
Thomas & Mack, Feb 7
Jamz Cheerleading & Dance National Championship
Orleans, Feb 8 - Feb 11
Julieta Venegas
Mandalay Bay, Feb 8
The Moody Blues
Las Vegas Hilton, Feb 8 - Feb 10
Foreigner
Luxor, Feb 9 - Feb 10
Gary Puckett
Boulder Station, Feb 9
Petula Clark
Suncoast, Feb 9 - Feb 11
The Fab
Cannery, Feb 9
Three Day’s Grace w/ Flyleaf & Red
Mandalay Bay, Feb 9
Tower of Power
Orleans, Feb 9 - Feb 11
Gary Spivey - Psychic
Boulder Station, Feb 10
James Ingram
Green Valley Ranch, Feb 10
Keith Sweat
Texas Station, Feb 10
Kevin Eubanks
Santa Fe Station, Feb 10
National Collegiate Cheerleading Championships
Cashman Center, Feb 10 - Feb 12
Russell Peters
Mandalay Bay, Feb 10
The Comets
Cannery, Feb 10
UNLV vs. Wyoming
Thomas & Mack, Feb 10
Bob Weir & Ratdog
Mandalay Bay, Feb 11
Last of the Red Hat Mommas
CasaBlanca Hotel, Feb 11
Nevada Opera Theatre: La Boheme
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Feb 11
Week number three…
NBA All-Star Week
Feb 12 - Feb 18
Jackie Chan, A-Mei: Mayday, Zhang Zhen Yue, Xin Yue Tuan, Li Yu Chun
Aladdin, Feb 13
First Annual Valentine’s Love Affair
Orleans, Feb 14
Kanye West: Gnarls Barkley: Lupe Fiasco: Spank Rock: Girl Talk
Aladdin, Feb 14
Earth, Wind & Fire
Luxor, Feb 15 - Feb 18
NBA All-Star Jam Session
Mandalay Bay, Feb 15 - Feb 19
Pete Yorn w/ Aqualung
Mandalay Bay, Feb 15
A Tribute to Elvis
CasaBlanca Hotel, Feb 16 - Feb 17
All Star Downtown Taste of Soul
Fremont Street Experience, Feb 16 - Feb 18, Free
Black Eyed Peas
Orleans, Feb 16
Common
Mandalay Bay, Feb 16
D.L. Hughley
Orleans, Feb 16 - Feb 17
Jamie Foxx
Aladdin, Feb 16 - 17
Jay Leno
Mirage, Feb 16 - Feb 18
Oak Ridge Boys
Texas Station, Feb 16
Rev. Bill & the Soul Believers
Cannery, Feb 16, Free
The All-Stars of Comedy
Orleans, Feb 16
Wayman Tisdale
Boulder Station, Feb 16 - Feb 17
All Star Gospel Explosion
Cashman Center, Feb 17 - Feb 18
David Brenner
Cannery, Feb 17
Dolly Parton
Buffalo Bill’s, Feb 17
Harlem Globe Trotters: 2007 Tour Nothing Like It
Orleans, Feb 17
Katt Williams
Hard Rock, Feb 17 - Feb 18
Playa’s Ball
Orleans, Feb 17
Sarah Silverman & Friends
Mandalay Bay, Feb 17
The Harlem Globe Trotters vs Dennis Rodman’s All Stars
Orleans, Feb 17
Charlie Murphy with Freeze Love
Mandalay Bay, Feb 18
The fourth week brings…
Howie Mandel
MGM Grand, Feb 19 - Feb 28
Big Head Todd & the Monsters
Mandalay Bay, Feb 20
Cutting Millionheir Classic & 16th Annual Winter Championship
South Point, Feb 20 - Mar 3
UNLV vs. Air Force
Thomas & Mack, Feb 20
Glen Campbell w/ special guest Debby Campbell
Orleans, Feb 22 - Feb 25
Red Jumpsuit, Apparatus, Emery, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, More . . .
Mandalay Bay, Feb 22
Brad Garrett
Mirage, Feb 23 - Feb 24
Cartel w/ Cobra Starship, Boys Like Girls and Quiet Drive
Mandalay Bay, Feb 23
Lonestar
CasaBlanca, Feb 23
Paula Poundstone
Boulder Station, Feb 23
Styx
Luxor, Feb 23 - Feb 24
The Smothers Brothers
Suncoast, Feb 23 - Feb 25
30 Seconds to Mars
Hard Rock, Feb 24
Flogging Molly w/ Street Dogs & Twopointeight
Mandalay Bay, Feb 24
Pride Fighting Championship 33
Thomas & Mack, Feb 24
Rice Krispies presents Ralph’s World
Mandalay Bay, Feb 24
Terri Clark
Boulder Station, Feb 24
Pro Wrestling Summit - Fiesta Lucha
Orleans, Feb 25
The last few days of the month and into March bring…
Army of Anyone, Hurt, Dropping Daylight & Neurosonic
Mandalay Bay, Feb 26
An Evening with Dr. Maya Angelou (Lecture)
Cashman Center, Feb 27
Neil Sedaka
Orleans, Feb 28 - Mar 4
The Magic of Rick Thomas
Orleans, Mar 1 - Mar 31
Tom Jones
MGM Grand, Mar 1 - Mar 14
Air Supply
Suncoast, Mar 2 - Mar 4
David Spade
Mirage, Mar 2 - Mar 3
Dropkick Murphy’s w/ Sick of It All & Aggrolites
Mandalay Bay, Mar 2
First Friday
Mar 2
George Lopez
Las Vegas Hilton, Mar 2 - Mar 3
Sick of It All & the Aggrolites
Mandalay Bay, Mar 2
Viva! Tribute to Santana
Cannery Casino, Mar 2 - Mar 3
Bob Segar & the Silver Bullet Band
MGM Grand, Mar 3
Christina Aguilera w/ special guests Pussycat Dolls
Mandalay Bay, Mar 3
Dance Competition
Cashman Center, Mar 3 - Mar 4,
Lee Ritenour
Santa Fe Station Hotel Casino, Mar 3
UNLV vs. Colorado State
Thomas & Mack Center, Mar 3
For dates and times, be sure to log onto the Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: ( www.lvol.com ).
I Go Shows ( www.Igoshows.com ) is, of course, the place to read the reviews of all of the shows that are in town so that you can be better informed as to what you should expect from a certain production. The reviews are updated as needed to give you the knowledge you need to spend your entertainment dollars better.
You can always view the current newsletter here:
http://www.igoshows.com/lventnews.html
You can contact Chuck through the Feedback Form on the following page: http://www.igoshows.com/feedback.html
The Prince of Performance.
Pop goes purple at 3121.
By: Justin Jiminez/Las Vegas Magazine
When Prince walks out onto the stage of 3121 at the Rio, your first instinct will be doubt. Is it really him? It can’t be. If it is, I can’t really be here, can I? You are. So few performers invoke the level of fear mixed with overflowing jubilation that Prince can. Iconic musicians have disintegrated with an oversaturation of celebrity in the industry, but Prince has the ability to make even the most jaded of us starstruck. And this is all before he even starts to sing.
Once the show gets going, get ready, because it won’t stop. The constant stimulation is exhausting in the best way. Whether you know only his old music or new or neither, his showmanship is unprecedented in today’s arena of live performance. He epitomizes an entertainer. He energizes the crowd, running back and forth from the DJ booth, bringing all walks of life onstage—from the standard of beautiful women to the goofy vacationer for an impromptu rendition of “Play That Funky Music,” he makes an effort to include everyone.
His band works in unison with the duo of sexy backup singers. He infuses jazz with rock, soul with funk and celebration with introspection.
The small theater provides unrestricted sight lines of the Artist Formerly Known As as you have never seen him before. On New Year’s Eve, the treatment gets even more intense. The Ultimate 3121 Xperience on Dec. 31 starts at neighboring 3121 Jazz Cuisine with a six-course preshow from Executive Chefs Lena Morgan and Pete Ghione. Then it’s over to the 3121 VIP area, where Prince makes a habit of visiting throughout the show, for champagne and a grand farewell to 2006. Few countdowns could be as memorable.
Prince
Where: 3121 at the Rio
When: Fri. - Sat.
Cost: $125
Info: (702) 777-7977
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/
Masterpiece in Motion
The impossible dream of Le Rêve
By: Jack Houston/Las Vegas Magazine
Le Rêve
Where: Wynn Las Vegas
When: 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. Thurs.-Mon.
Cost: $79-$118, 12+
Info: (702) 492-3960 or (866) 80-SHOWS
In 1932, Pablo Picasso was juggling two women … His wife, Olga Khokhlova, the mother of his son Paulo, lived with Picasso in Paris. His mistress, Marie-Thérèse Walter, a minor when they first met, was never far away, serving as lover and muse, and rejuvenating the irascible artist. Their affair produced one child, a daughter, Maya, and several seminal works, including Le Rêve, or The Dream, a semi-nude portrait of Marie-Thérèse reclining on an armchair, lost in slumber. The painting was purchased by hotel developer Steve Wynn in 1997. So enamored of the painting was Wynn, he named the multimillion dollar production at his new eponymous resort after it.
Le Rêve, the show, is directed by Franco Dragone, an alumnus of Cirque du Soleil whose Las Vegas credits alone read like a compendium of innovative, envelope-pushing entertainment. The story follows an everyman character caught in a dream world of imperfection and temptation. The story, true of all Cirque and related productions, is only part of the story.
Presented in a theater in the round with a centerpiece pool and a domed ceiling complete with coffers recalling the Pantheon, the Roman temple to the gods built in the second century, Le Rêve is a living, breathing work of art. And like its two-dimensional namesake, it does not disappoint.
Synopsizing what the eyes understand, but the mind does not, is always difficult. A tree of life emerges from the pool as divers climb its branches and drop into the water. In another scene, swimmers in red one-piece bathing suits and matching high heels perform a synchronized routine with only their legs above the surface of the water. How do they breathe? Or, moreover, How do we catch our own breath?
As if the figures of the Sistine Chapel ceiling suddenly ceded from the plaster, acrobats descend from the ceiling, performing aerial maneuvers high above the pool. Stunningly, majestically, frighteningly, a diver plummets from the apex of the dome into the pool. How do they do it? becomes What kind of insurance do these performers have? Then, for good measure, a second diver drops from an even higher height, so high he is out of view of the audience.
More questions are raised in time with the stages, which emerge from the water only to submerge moments later, as the players act out the story on various levels, concluding with the sensory overload of synchronized swimming, diving, acrobatics, song dance and, of course—art.
When the dream ends, a whistle blows and a bed falls from the ceiling, carrying the dreamer back up with it. The lights come on. An audience stretches its arms, wipes its eyes and exits. The pool empties of performers and the stages descend into the rippling water. From somewhere higher than acrobats can climb, Picasso smiles.
http://www.lvshowbiz.com
RIVIERA HOTEL AND CASINO’S
WORLD’S FARE BUFFET ALWAYS RELIABLE!
The historic Riviera Hotel and Casino is “keeping up with the Jones’.” Visitors year round agree, when it comes to good food, the Riviera is hard to beat.
The unique dining experience features five themed stations: Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Bar-B-Que and “Made In America.” While the menu changes daily, action stations feature skilled artisans, preparing your favorite dishes. For breakfast, omelets, made-to- order, are featured and, of course, the traditional carving stations offer roast turkey, top round of beef and honey-baked ham.
“Everything is upscale, including the menus,” reports Vice President of Food & Beverage Lloyd Wentzell. “The Riviera has gone all out to bring food fans some of the best entrees on The Strip. Besides the many beef and chicken dishes at our American, Mexican, Barbecue and Italian stations, our Chinese area offers various Lo Mein plates, daily specialty plates, as well as the favorite cha shu pao, spring rolls, mini-egg rolls, vegetable stir fry and pork pot stickers. Sugar free desserts are also offered.”
The Riviera World’s Fare Buffet is open seven days a week for Breakfast (M-F,
6 a.m. - 11 a.m.; Sat. & Sun. 7 a.m. - 10 a.m.), Lunch (M-F, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.) and Dinner (4 p.m. - 10 p.m.) with a special champagne brunch on Saturdays and Sundays (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.).
RIVIERA ULTRA-LOUNGE
BOASTS SUCCESSFUL THEME NIGHTS
The ultra-lounge trend is thriving on the Las Vegas nightclub scene at the historic Riviera Hotel and Casino. DJ BillZ is the main man overseeing the nightly parties, every Wednesday through Sunday, midnight until 4 a.m.
“Some nights, especially Saturday’s Latin Nights, we will stay open until 5 a.m..” says BillZ.
“We cater to everyone, but we are trying to give the locals what they ask for and that is different themed nights. On Wednesdays, for instance, it’s pure Rhythm and Blues. Thursdays, we roll up the rugs for Spanish Rock. Most of our clientele are in their early twenties and they can’t seem to get enough. On Fridays, it becomes International Night with ‘in house’ and ‘hip-hop.’ Saturday is strictly Latin and, as aforementioned, we usually close around 5 a.m. On Sunday, you can hear the Top 40.”
As an added attraction, members of the male revue, “American Storm,” the show that precedes club’s opening each night, mix and mingle with the early Syn City patrons. It becomes a photo and autograph frenzy.
The Syn City slogan is “Bring Only Your Temptation.” The atmosphere is enhanced by the devilishly-costumed cocktail waitresses, who also oblige for photo ops.
For Reservations and club information, call (702) 794-9426, or click on www.rivierahotel.com. Out-of-town visitors are always $10. Las Vegas ladies are always free and the local gentlemen are $10 after 1 a.m.
NORM: Wynn makes light of Picasso fiasco
With his patched-up Picasso back in his office, casino mogul Steve Wynn can’t resist poking fun at himself these days.
He’s “the Jacques Clouseau of collectors,” Wynn told local podcasting duo Steve Friess and Miles Smith during an interview that aired Thursday at www.thestrippodcast.com.
It might be a classic case of laughing through tears, since Wynn was referring to his costly goof that left a puncture the size of a silver dollar in Picasso’s “Le Reve,” French for “The Dream.”
Clouseau was the bumbling French police inspector in the “Pink Panther” films.
Wynn’s faux pas last fall forced him to cancel what would have been a record sale of $139 million for a painting. Wynn had the painting restored for about $100,000 and is suing Lloyd’s of London for failing to pay off a $54 million insurance claim.
Wynn, who turns 65 today, shared a nugget of news with Friess and Smith: He’s free and clear to begin developing the golf course at Wynn Las Vegas.
Work on the project will begin in about three years, he said.
Banks had held the land as collateral to secure Wynn’s debt when he built the $2.7 billion resort, which opened in April 2005. The company’s profits are so strong, Wynn said, that he’s now free to develop the land.
While revealing part of his plan, he took a poke at Project CityCenter, MGM Mirage’s $7 billion project.
“When the time comes to take away the golf course, it will still be central park there, and the buildings will be on a park. I will never do a dense, CityCenter kind of thing. I’ve got too much land, and I only paid $1.6 million an acre for it,” Wynn said.
reviewjournal.com — News - NORM: Wynn makes light of Picasso fiasco
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Wynn wiser about shows.
From The Las Vegas Review Journal
Here in a desk pile is a fairly rare CD that might be quite the collectible someday.
The cover shows a puppet version of Steve Wynn flanked by two “Avenue Q” characters. The “Q” cast recorded an original tune, “Only in Vegas,” for a media event in 2005. It showed the depth of promotional commitment to the fresh-from-Broadway musical at Wynn Las Vegas.
But “Q” closed early, operating in the black but failing to fill every seat built for it.
And “Le Reve” — the other half of a two-show plan to balance hip, Gen-X musical with Cirque-type spectacle — stumbled out of the gate at Wynn. The aquatic show didn’t top the real Cirque du Soleil, but didn’t establish a separate identity either.
More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Jan-28-Sun-2007/living/12175158.html
Posted on February 2nd, 2007 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter
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