Jay Kornegay has never been accused of “fixing” a Super Bowl, but he has been accused of fixing a Super Bowl proposition bet. It was 1999 when Kornegay, then the sports book director at Imperial Palace, posted an over/under bet on Denver Broncos reserve quarterback Bubby Brister making a single rushing attempt. Late in the game the Broncos, leading the Atlanta Falcons 34-19, pulled starter John Elway. Coach Mike Shanahan then called two “kneel-downs” by Brister.

Kneel-downs are considered rushing attempts and the bet came in “over.” Problem was, neither play was shown during the telecast as cameras panned to Shanahan and Elway crying tears of joy on the sideline. “One guy, who was crazy, accused me of calling Shanahan on the sideline and telling him to pull Elway and put in Brister,” Kornegay, today the executive sports book director at the Las Vegas Hilton, recalled Thursday during a phone interview. “He knew I was from Denver, I guess, and had some kind of hotline set up.”

Kornegay has operated Las Vegas sports books for 18 years, first at Bally’s, then at Imperial Palace and, for the past two years, the Hilton. He also recalls the 1995 Super Bowl, when he posted a prop bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kordell Stewart to catch a pass, throw a pass and make one rushing attempt (you could bet “yes” or “no”). Stewart, called “Slash” because of his multifaceted skills, caught a pass and had one rushing attempt before halftime. In the third quarter, in relief of starting QB Neil O’Donnell, Stewart rolled right and cocked his arm to pass. “We had one of those parties with about 2,000 people and you should have heard the crowd. It was like everybody made that bet.”

During this exotic 100-minute journey, couples will enjoy pure relaxation, side by side, in a private spa suite.  Designed to bring out a renewed youth, Red Lotus Love Ritual will begin with a private steam session, fragranced with Tibetan Cedar Oil.  Next, guests will receive a gentle skin exfoliation with Himalayan Pink Sea Salt before they are enveloped in moisturizing body wraps.  Female patrons will enjoy a luxurious wrap enriched with the healing properties of Lotus flowers and Goji berries, valued for its abilities to improve immune functions, circulation and promote relaxation, while male guests will enjoy a masculine wrap featuring the benefits of Himalayan Cedar, known for its anti-inflammatory qualities. 

A chocolate and Goji berry hand and foot mask will follow before an indulgent foot massage for her and an intoxicating scalp massage for him.  Finally, a firm massage featuring Lotus oil infused with the berries of Seabuckthorn plants, a Himalayan shrub prized for its antioxidant qualities, will melt away the last remaining remnants of stress.  A delicious snack of chocolate-covered Goji berries will complete this decadent experience.  Guests also will receive special take-home gifts of Tibetan Cedar soap for him and Red Lotus soap for her.

Wynn Las Vegas — Corsa Cucina & Bar: Chef Stephen Kalt offers a decadent menu that’s sure to put you in the mood. With selections like handmade trennete pasta tossed with lemon cream, osetra caviar, and chive, Kobe beef and pear salad with shaved pecorino, roasted Colorado double lamb chop with curried golden potato gnocchi, and naked lobster with lobster angelotti, porcini mushrooms, and pancetta custard and a white truffle bread pudding with crushed raspberries and pear sorbet served up in this red hot restaurant, there’s room for nothing else in your evening but a little romance.

MGM Grand — Fiamma: Executive Chef Carlos Buscaglia and Pastry Chef Stephanie Szwagiel think nothing’s more romantic than an exquisite Italian meal paired with memorable Italian vino and your favorite romantic movie. Book the elegant private screening room and let the romance begin. But first, the food! Enjoy antipasti of Kummomoto oysters Italian caviar, truffle-lemon oil, a pasta course of mezzaluna with fresh black winter truffle, paired with Jermann “Dreams” Chardonnay, Venezia Giulia 2004, a grilled 40 oz. porterhouse for two and glasses of Montellor “Castelrapiti”, Toscana 1997, and finally the dolce; warm, bittersweet chocolate layered crepes and raspberry-mascarpone cheese cake gelato and fresh farmer’s market raspberries to savor before you pop in that film.

MGM Grand — Nobhill: Acclaimed Chef Michael Mina assembled a gift of love for his customers, a special tasting menu reflecting his favorite recipes from his brand new cookbook. In the chocolate and olive hued room you may be settling into a seat in a glass enclosed both to enjoy other’s company as well as such signature dishes designed for your enjoyment. Start with American caviar parfait (Page 174) smoked salmon, shallot-potato cake, chive crème fraîche , move on to Maine lobster pot pie (Page 189) and fried Sonoma Chicken (Page 198) with truffled macaroni and cheese, indulge in a trio of butter poached Kobe beef rib-eye (Page 90) seared foie gras, pinot noir reduction, cipollini onions and conclude with a banana tart tatin (Page 213) maple crème anglaise, maple sugar ice cream before walking away with an autographed copy of the cookbook that will ensure you keep your love alive every time you turn to your favorite dish.

These are just a taste of what Las Vegas has to offer in the romance and fine dining department. I’d be remiss not to mention the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere, the Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris, Alize at the Palms, Picasso at Bellagio, and one of my favorites, Andres French Restaurant downtown. Bon appetit!
http://www.reviewjournal.com/eNewsletters/eNeon/only/valentines.html

The mural was installed over a five day period using a grid system to prepare the image and three painters using brushes and rollers to complete the finished mural on Saturday, February 3.

“We wanted to reflect Barry’s presence at our property in a big and unique way” said Ken Ciancimino, Las Vegas Hilton executive vice president.  “It can’t get much bigger than this and, just like Barry, it will have staying power-the elements can’t affect it.”

Sky Tag, the company responsible for the mural, specializes in spectacular images in metropolitan areas.   It digitally prints large building wraps; paints super-sized supergraphics; and designs the largest murals in the United States.  This is the biggest superstar mural the company has painted in Las Vegas.

Manilow opened “Music and Passion” at the Las Vegas Hilton on February 23, 2005 and in March 2006, the resort extended his exclusive long-term engagement through 2008.

“Manilow: Music and Passion” is an exciting, multi-faceted production that features contemporary hi-tech music and effects mixed with the classic entertainment values of Las Vegas legends such as Sinatra, Presley, Davis, and Martin. It stars Manilow and a cast and band of 14, offering not only a full-scale production but also the intimacy of a state-of-the-art 1,700-seat theater, unique “on-stage” seating, incredible songs and a concert that changes on a nightly basis.

AOL CityGuide’s City’s Best® program features the best entertainment options Las Vegas has to offer — everything from Best Burgers and Best Pizza to Best Dance Clubs and Best Happy Hour.  The Silverton Casino Lodge’s recent renovations, upgrades, rewarding players club, intimate poker room, 165,000 square foot Bass Pro Shop and unparalleled dining options all played a big part in winning locals’ vote for Best Locals Casino.  

“Being awarded the title of Best Locals Casino in a city packed with such stellar competition is a major compliment,” said Craig Cavileer, president of the Silverton Casino Lodge.  “We work very hard to provide locals with the best possible gaming, entertainment and dining experience without having to travel to the Strip, and we are honored that they have recognized us for our efforts.”

The AOL awards also honored two of the Silverton Casino Lodge’s themed lounges.  Hootie & the Blowfish’s Shady Grove Lounge won third place in the Best Cocktails category, while Mermaid Restaurant and Lounge placed high in the list for Best Conversation Bar.  For Mermaid Restaurant and Lounge, this is not the first time to be recognized for its intimate atmosphere.  The lounge was one of only seven locations in Las Vegas named the Best Place To Have A Quiet Conversation in a major 2007 Las Vegas nightlife survey compiled from more than 4,000 diner and clubber surveys. 

Consumers’ votes ultimately determine which venues are chosen as winners in their categories.  All City’s Best® establishments are nominated based on recommendations from AOL CityGuide’s local correspondents who live and work in Las Vegas, the editorial insights of the CityGuide programming team and user feedback.

While the night is an infinite playground in this city, 3 a.m. comes very fast. With usually only a weekend at best, where you choose your carousal perch should be carefully deliberated, weighing several different factors before haphazardly jumping into a watering hole. Using the chic lounge Fontana as our subject, we will break down exactly what needs to be considered when looking for the ideal evening out in our buffet of desert sin.

First: location. Fontana is located in one of the original staples of Vegas’ contemporary elegance, the Bellagio. Although hors d’oeuvres are served all night inside the lounge, the Bellagio is engulfed with some of the finest dining establishments in the region. Whether it is a pre- or post-dinner cocktail, or both, that you are looking for, the real estate Fontana sits on couldn’t be more ideal.

Second factor to consider: view. With hotels offering 60-plus floors, sight lines are a huge selling point. Fontana is located on the ground floor, but still manages to rival neighboring high-rise cocktail hangs. Its ocular nest egg is the outdoor patio, sitting right in the center of Lake Bellagio and in the ideal vantage point to take in the legendary landmark fountains. Whether seated, or standing over the railing, the patio is arguably one of the best photo opportunities to capture the visually bewitching water beauty.

The third nighttime qualification to check off: music. Many party houses have a DJ pumping music so loud that you have the joy of listening to the ring in your ears for 12 hours after you leave. While hearing damage is an excellent keepsake for some, Fontana chooses to ease off the decibel level enough for you to maneuver reasonable conversation, while also giving plenty of fodder for the feet on the dance floor. The music is live, contemporary and upbeat. Isis is a regular on the stage, a six-member band offering contemporary covers as well as original rock tracks. Dian Diaz makes several appearances throughout the week with more traditional lounge fare, as well as just making an appearance on the Billboard Charts with “No More Tears” cracking the top 50 in the Hot Adult Contemporary category. Another six-piece band, Clockwork, constantly packs the dance floor as well.

The fourth and final factor to take into consideration when planning a night out in Vegas: convenience. Time is of the essence when partying. Lines at some clubs can take hours, to get a drink once inside almost just as long. Fontana is easy, but doesn’t sacrifice service. A line can grow on the weekend, but it isn’t going to be long enough to extinguish the energy of the night. Roaming cocktail waitresses are ever attentive, and you don’t need to shell out a paycheck for a bottle to get a seat. You can comfortably have a conversation with great atmosphere, or you can indulge the urge to dance. The dance floor is full of energy but not so full that you fall into the sardine-packed sway. Fontana is an upscale retreat but still an unpretentious party—a stupendous place to unwind without the clubbing chaos.

Jack Daniel’s and go-go dancers are fabulous for some nights; Fontana is perfect for the others.

Fontana
Where: Inside Bellagio
When: Open 5 p.m.- 2 a.m. daily
Info: (702) 693-8300

Gearing up for the third annual NBC National Heads-Up Poker Tournament on March 1-4, Caesars Palace will host a play-in tournament at 3 p.m. on Feb. 10.

For a $230 entry fee with $200 re-buys, players will seek a way into the elite tournament.Two players from this competition and one player from the online tournament this month (nbcheadsup.com) will join a field of 64 players in March for a unique series of one-on-one games—a single-elimination, bracket-style format modeled after college basketball tournaments.

Last year, Ted Forrest, pictured, outlasted a prestigious field that included 2005 champ Phil Hellmuth and two-time runner-up Craig Ferguson. Also expected to compete this year are Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Jennifer Harman, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Moneymaker and Daniel Negreanu.“This tournament is all about pressure,” Forrest said. “There are a lot of great players involved, but in the end, it’s all about who can focus on their cards and opponent, not on the big chance of going home empty-handed. But I did it once, so I can certainly do it again.

The tournament in March will be taped for broadcast on NBC and CNBC over seven consecutive Sundays in April and May.

NBC National Heads-Up Poker Tournament
Where: Caesars Palace
When: March 1-4

Che McFadden, standing behind the counter at E-Z Cash Super Pawn, across the parking lot from the Pahrump Nugget, could recall only the customer’s first name.

“Wayne is his name, don’t remember his last name - he’s been in here before, pawned a few small things, a saw,” McFadden said, pushing buttons on a video and DVD player while consulting his memory.

As of 12:31 p.m. last Wednesday, Wayne probably won’t need to ever again pawn a saw, or anything else.

Wayne - he hasn’t revealed his last name publicly - won $18,794,414.61 at the casino, apparently entering the Guinness Book of World Records for penny slot jackpots, according to casino General Manager Jeremy Jenson.

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2007/feb/06/566632440.html

Talk about a tough room.

Internet radio listeners have given votes of “no confidence” to two productions that have barely hit town (one of which has not even opened). Posted on the podcast “The Strip” hosted by Las Vegas freelance journalist, podcaster and Fab LV frequenter Steve Friess and co-host Miles Smith (a producer at KVBC Channel 3) are results of a poll asking listeners, “Which of these is most likely to announce its closure next?” Listed are Danny Gans, “Folies Bergere,” “Jubilee,” Lance Burton, “Le Reve,” “The Producers,” “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” “Zumanity,” and the critically acclaimed “Other.” “The Producers,” which opened just Wednesday at Paris Las Vegas, topped (or, bottomed) the poll with 21 percent of the votes. “Spamalot,” which opens March 8 at Wynn Las Vegas, was next with 19 percent. The poll is nonscientific and (fortunately for the productions) nonbinding. A total of 104 listeners responded and were allowed to vote just once each.