Everything Las Vegas Issue # 670
June 21st, 2008
Phantom Celebrates Its Second Anniversary at The Venetian Resort - Hotel - Casino.
Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular will celebrate two successful years on the Las Vegas Strip on June 24. Featured on the 2008 season of American Idol and named one of Las Vegas’ Top Ten Shows of 2007 and the number one show of 2006 by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Phantom has proven to be at the forefront of Las Vegas entertainment.
Directed by 21-time Tony Award winner Harold (Hal) Prince, the show’s original director, and guided by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular is a 95-minute spectacle that features a live orchestra, elaborate new effects and a breathtaking chandelier experience. Housed in an exclusive $40 million, state-of-the-art theatre designed and built specifically for the $35 million production, Phantom is an only-in-Vegas experience.
Catching a Cab? Bring Extra Cash by Rick Garman
It might get even more expensive to take taxis around Las Vegas this summer if a proposal in front of the Nevada Taxi Authority goes through (which it almost certainly will). The agency is considering a big fare increase aimed at combating the rising cost of gasoline, which is well over $4 in Sin City.
Under the proposal, regular fares would increase by 20 cents per mile to $2.40 and an additional “temporary” fuel surcharge of 25 cents would get put on top of that. Wait time fares would also increase by $2 an hour, up to $30. That means if you’re sitting in traffic (which you almost certainly will be) you will get dinged even harder.
I put temporary in quotes above because the Authority put a “temporary” fuel surcharge fee of 20 cents into effect last year and later made it permanent.
If the fare hikes go through that would mean a best-scenario cab ride from the airport to, say, The Mirage is going to cost you the $3.30 origination fee, the $1.20 airport fee, and $2.55 per mile for a rough cost of $17 before tip for the roughly 5 mile ride.
Worth noting is the fact that you can rent an economy car in Las Vegas for as little as $14 a day.
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman
Steve's Las Vegas Quickies:
Elton John marks the 200th performance of "The Red Piano" on Saturday at Caesars Palace.
The two Las Vegas locations of Famous Dave's — at 1951 N. Rainbow Blvd. and 4390 Blue Diamond Road — are featuring a BBQ Tour through July 20. It's a platter that features the specialties of three regional barbecue capitals — St. Louis spareribs, Georgia chopped pork and Texas beef brisket.
Hard rock heavyweights Kiss light up The Pearl at the Palms on Aug. 29. Tickets are $153 and $303 and go on sale at noon Saturday at The Pearl box office, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, and Ticketmaster outlets.
Knowing how Americans feel about the price of gas, Circus Circus is offering free gas if you stay at the resort. A two-day stay will earn you a $25 gasoline credit; three nights get you $50. You'll also receive a $25 gaming credit, two-for-one dinner at the buffet, $4 off a ride pass at Adventuredome and a fun book with $100 in coupons. This offer runs thru Aug. 31.
The last of the legendary casino operators in our town has called it quits. Jackie Gaughan, king of the downtown casinos, has sold his stake in the El Cortez, his signature property where he still lives. Gaughan, 87, moved to Vegas in 1951 and at one point owned the Flamingo, Showboat, Plaza, Golden Nugget, Las Vegas Club, Gold Spike, Western Hotel and the El Cortez. Despite Las Vegas' growth, Gaughan always operated his casinos like a small-town general store, where everybody was greeted by their first name and treated fairly. Sad to see him bow out.
The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at The Venetian has closed. It lasted for some 6 1/2 years, longer than a lot of people thought it would, but not as long as a lot of us would have liked. Unfortunately, when anything is housed in a casino and it's not a moneymaker, chances are slim that it will have a long life. For instance, the original Guggenheim space at the resort was 63,000 square feet and hosted only one exhibit, a 15-month-long run of "The Art of Motorcycle." That space was turned into a $40-million custom-built theater to house "Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular" and the Guggenheim was moved to an off-lobby site. There are no plans to move it to another location, so that leaves only the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts for the culturally minded to visit.
The Nevada Taxicab Authority will ask its board of directors on June 23 to implement a temporary 25 cents per metered mile fuel surcharge to cover higher gasoline costs, the Review-Journal reported.
In August at New York-New York, the Miami rock nightclub Rok Vegas™ will open with an exclusive Strip-side outdoor VIP lounge. Rok will feature rock-inspired images throughout the oval-shaped main room. From every angle, guests will be surrounded by concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation. The club's interior will be designed for a comfortable yet enticing experience. Handcrafted red banquettes located right off the dance floor will have voyeurs satisfied with plenty of viewing pleasure.
Comedy magician Nathan Burton, who recently opened his late afternoon show at the Flamingo, has taken a slightly smaller marketing approach than Toni Braxton's gigantic building wall mural that was on the front of the Strip hotel during her headlining gig. Now Burton has a larger-than-life 20,000-square-foot self image adorning the side of the building.
The rowdy and wacky Dick's Last Resort at the Excalibur will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, June 28. The eatery features an ongoing loony line-up of events. On Star Wars Day, which will be June 20, you can dress up as your favorite character and compete in light saber competitions on Dick's Strip-side patio.
Wayne Newton has taped NBC's Celebrity Family Feud and it will air in early July. Also appearing on Newton's episode is Joan Rivers, Raven-Symone and Ice T.
Celebrated Living, the luxury magazine for American Airlines premium class passengers, has selected the Las Vegas Hilton as one of its top 10 U.S. business hotels. The Hilton is featured in its summer issue.
Through August, the Sahara is offering the opportunity for hotel guests to win an instant upgrade to one of the hotel's most requested and famous classic penthouse suites - The Beatles Suite, where the Fab Four stayed in 1964, or The Presidential Suite, which has hosted such luminaries as the King himself, Elvis Presley. For each summer month, one random winner will be selected.
Marché Bacchus French Bistro & Wine Market is a Las Vegas' hidden gem located in the northwest part of the valley at Desert Shores. The French eatery offers Al Fresco dining with picturesque views and an adjoining retail wine shop featuring more than 950 references. Marché Bacchus is open daily for lunch and dinner and offers wine tastings every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. The restaurant operates as Bistro Bacchus at night with an indoor dining area that serves dinner from an exhibition kitchen. To learn more call (702) 804-8008.
Apparently there's a strong table-games promotion in progress right now at Wynn Las Vegas. As the details were explained to us (and verified as well as possible via the phone), every 30 minutes the dealers at all the lower-limit blackjack tables deal out one card to each player on the game and the one dealt the highest card gets a $50 matchplay coupon. The promotion runs 10 am to 6 pm Monday-Friday, so it's nearly done for today. But check in Monday to see if it's continued.
In his current Las Vegas Business Press column, UNLV's David G. Schwartz argues that price cutting isn't the answer to Las Vegas' current doldrums. He does however say that the Sahara has "got the right idea about how to use excess high-end room inventory — raffle it off. They're letting guests spin a wheel at check-in and, if they win, they get to stay in the $1,500 Elvis suite for the price of their standard room … 'Gambling' on a room upgrade brings some excitement back into checking in, but it doesn't send the message that the top-flight accommodations are really bargain-basement digs."
The latest venue to enter the pool party fray is the Tropicana, which was actually the runner-up in our own "Best Pool in Vegas" poll and has recently added a new sound and lighting system and stage. "Mint Mondays" commences June 23 and will be a recurring weekly event from noon-11 p.m., featuring DJ, live band, pool volleyball, swim-up blackjack, cocktail service, and food served straight from the BBQ.
Similar pool parties will also take place on Fridays and Saturdays commencing tomorrow, June 20.
"Raw Talent Live" to Debut in Las Vegas at the Sahara Hotel & Casino August 2008.
“Raw Talent Live,” a 75-minute, high-energy experience featuring interactive live performances of the next generation of World Dance with live, original music and exclusive, high-tech video illusions, will make its debut on the Las Vegas Strip at the Sahara Hotel & Casino in August 2008. Tickets go on sale the week of June23rd..
“Raw Talent Live will change the way Las Vegas experiences entertainment,” said ND, creator, producer and director of “Raw Talent Live.” “The show will transport audiences from their world to a virtual world that crosses the line between real and surreal, incorporating raw emotion with adrenaline packed interactive performances for a multi-sensory experience.”
Talented and highly trained dancers, singers and musicians will take audiences on an emotional rollercoaster telling the passionate story of the “Laptop of Life?” (LOL) – which holds the ultimate secret the world is after. “Raw Talent Live,” through visual illusion technology, will question the surreal world of modern day’s duality. Do we live the life of machine beings or are we human beings?
This spectacle will be performed at the legendary Sahara Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip at 8:30 p.m. nightly, dark Wednesdays. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sahara Hotel & Casino box office at
(702) 737-2515 or by visiting Rawtalent.com.
ND conceptualized and developed the show’s choreography as well as the 700 extravagant costumes. “Raw Talent Live” introduces the Ambient Entertainment Technology (AET?), the show’s exclusive video illusion technology. AET combines state-of-the-art video and audio technology, developed specifically for “Raw Talent Live” in collaboration with world-renowned video artist, Alex Doss. This exclusive technology allows the show’s performers to virtually interact with hundreds of video images.
“Raw Talent Live” has been in development by ND for more than18 months. ND teamed up with manager and executive producer Bernie Yuman. Yuman is well known as the manager of Siegfried & Roy and Muhammad Ali.
Harrah's Host US Air Guitar Championships June 29th.
On June 29 Harrah’s Carnaval Court will host a contest like no other; a contest where “airness” is one of the principle criteria by which competitors are judged and enthusiasts such as “Air to The Thrown” and “Bjorn Turoque” are legendary. It’s the U.S. Air Guitar Championships and for the first time in the event’s history, Las Vegas is one of 24 stops in the nationwide search for the country’s most gifted air guitarist.
Air guitar has struck an invisible cord with pop culture around the world. Since its inception in 2003, the U.S. Air Guitar Championships have grown from a two-city competition to an international sensation with a cult following that can be attributed to the DVD “Air Guitar Nation.” The winner of Carnaval Court’s open-air and instrument-free talent search will advance to the national U.S. Air Guitar finals on Aug. 8, 2008 in San Francisco and win $400 toward his or her travel expenses.
Strumming hopefuls will perform two one-minute rounds. In round one competitors play a medley of their choice and vie for a spot in round two. In round two all contestants will play a section of a song chosen by event organizers. Routines consistently include over-the-top costuming, choreography and characters.
Following each round a panel of three judges will score individual performances on a scale of 4.0 to 6.0, similar to figure skating. All rock star hopefuls will be judged in three categories: technical merit, stage presence, and of course, “airness,” which is defined in the official rules as “the extent to which a performance transcends the imitation of a real guitar and becomes an art in and of itself.”
Participants and fans must be 21 years or older. The winner of the national finals in San Francisco will advance to an international competition held Oulu, Finland. The competition will start at 9 p.m.
For more information about air guitar or to sign up for the June 29 competition, visit www.usairguitar.com.
Last Chance to Catch Hats! at Harrah's and The Second City at Flamingo Las Vegas.
HATS! AT HARRAH’S LAS VEGAS
Final Performance July 10, 2008
The musical comedy, HATS! at Harrah’s Las Vegas tips its ‘hat’ farewell with a final show on July 10, 2008. The “fun, fabulous and fifty” cast has performed at Harrah’s Las Vegas since Jan. 2008.
Tickets for HATS! are $49.95 (plus tax and fees) and are available at the Harrah’s Las Vegas box office, online at http://www.harrahs.com/las-vegas-entertainment or by calling (702) 369-5111. Advance tickets purchased beyond July 10 are fully refundable.
THE SECOND CITY AT FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS
Final Performance August 1, 2008
The Second City, the show that inspired Saturday Night Live and turned improv comedy into a true art, will be leaving Flamingo Las Vegas this
summer after a seven-year run. The Second City’s final performance is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2008.
Tickets for The Second City are $49.95 (plus tax and fees) and are available at the Flamingo Las Vegas box office, online at http://www.flamingolasvegas.com or by calling (702) 733-3333.
Twin Creeks At Silverton Casino Lodge Offers Complimentary Bottles Of Wine.
To help diners cool down this summer, Twin Creeks inside Silverton Casino Lodge is giving dinner parties a complimentary bottle of wine. With advance reservation and purchase of two entrees, patrons can choose from a variety of wines including Echelon Vineyards and Robert Mondavi. To receive the gift, guests must dine between 8 and 10 p.m. To make a reservation, please call (702) 914-8594.
After receiving a $3.7 million redesign, Twin Creeks boasts an innovative new menu, signature boutique bourbons, extensive wine list and restyled interior and exterior. Designer lighting throughout three distinct dining areas produces the ideal ambiance to enjoy exciting new menu creations. High top tables in the bar area provide casual dining and conversation, while custom designed booths offer seclusion and privacy. New finishes throughout the restaurant such as wood floors, ceiling beams, sheers and candle niches are all part of Twin Creeks’ transformation into one of the best dining options in Las Vegas. Twin Creeks is open for dinner 5 – 10 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday and 5 – 11 p.m. Friday – Saturday.
The Signature at MGM Grand's "Sex in Sin City" Las Vegas Escape.
WHERE: The Signature at MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Celebrate the enduring power of friendship with three best girlfriends as you enjoy a two-night stay in a luxurious suite at The Signature at MGM Grand. Combining amenities that would make any femme fatale swoon with delight with the stress-free planning services of The Signature’s experienced Concierge staff, the “Sex in Sin City” Las Vegas Escape Package provides fun-lovin’ gal pals with everything they need to live the good life as they conquer Las Vegas together!
WHAT: Live the High Life
At 950 square feet, your indulgent Signature suite sets the stage for an unforgettable weekend providing plenty of space for four fierce friends to primp and pamper or simply relax and unwind. Each spacious suite features two bathrooms including a whirlpool spa tub, two showers and one vanity complete with make-up mirror. A king-size bed and comfy sofa sleeper offer luxurious 300-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and cozy down comforters. Additional in-suite amenities include two high-definition, flat-screen televisions and a DVD/CD player for your viewing and listening pleasure as well as a state-of-the-art kitchen for coffee, cooking or snacking.
The Signature at MGM Grand’s “Sex in Sin City” Las Vegas Escape Package also includes the following elements:
Begin your escape immediately upon entering your suite with Cosmopolitans served in keepsake martini glasses. Then don plush, pink chenille robes (our gift to you!) to relax in as you indulge in a delicious chocolate fondue.
Spend a blissful afternoon in your very own private cabana at The Signature pool and enjoy poolside massage services for four.
Live it up with three full hours in a private limo at the ready to whisk you off to extravagant shopping on the Las Vegas Strip, a hot new nightspot or both. The Signature’s dedicated Concierge are available to plan the ideal outing.
Experience WET REPUBLIC, an alluring 53,000-square-foot ultra pool combining an exclusive nightlife vibe with poolside pampering and relaxation, enjoy a delectable sushi dinner for four at AAA Four Diamond award-winning Shibuya, and then party like rock stars at Studio 54.
Once back in your Signature suite, you’ll adore the specialty shoe-shaped treats on your pillows. Sleep way beyond dawn before recovering with a “morning-after” continental breakfast in the comfort and privacy of your own suite.
The Signature at MGM Grand’s “Sex in Sin City” two-night package starts at $425 per person, based on four-person occupancy. Rates and availability vary.
HOW TO BOOK: It’s easy! Call The Signature at MGM Grand at 1-800-727-0007.
From "The Vegas Eye"
Michael Jackson Hovers Over Las Vegas.
As we at thevegaseye.com told you earlier, Michael Jackson may be next to follow the well-worn trail of pop star footsteps that leads to the Las Vegas strip, where Celine Dion, Elton John and others have taken up residence at various times. Mr. Jackson, who has had a seemingly endless series of financial troubles over the past few years, including a recent threat of foreclosure at his Neverland Ranch in California, is considering a long term Las Vegas engagement as part of a plan to repay a $23 million debt to Colony Capital, the private equity group that recently bought the loan on Neverland, Reuters reported. Colony owns the Las Vegas Hilton, and is a major shareholder in the Station Casinos chain. There is no deal yet and the possible Las Vegas engagement is one of several repayment options Mr. Jackson and Colony are considering. Mr. Jackson, who was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, has been reclusive ever since (O.K., before too), living in Ireland, Dubai and Bahrain at various times. He is now reportedly living in Pahrump, Nev., about 60 miles from Las Vegas.
New Nightclub at TI
Word on the street is that the Tangerine nightclub space at Treasure Island was originally supposed to be a tattoo shop and nightclub collaboration with Pure Management and Miami Ink, TLC's hot show about the art and drama of tattooing. But that well apparently ran dry a few months ago. The club space is now going to be branded with the first Pure Management-run Christian Audigier nightclub complete with a rumored designer store attached. (Instead of the aforementioned proposed tattoo shop.) The Audigier name is taken from the French fashion designer and entrepreneur. Audigier has designed for such brands as American Eagle Outfitters , Diesel , Lee, Levi's, Liberto, Kookai, Von Dutchand Naf Naf . Audigier is the designer of Ed Hardy. Gets us wondering … We know they will carry Audigier's wines there. Is it possible Ed Hardy's energy drinks could be there as well? We ask because we're always interested in watching the career o a man who didn't have to marry an MGM executive to get his product in circulation.(Cough! Cough! Sin City Beer!! Cough!!) Everyone at the Freemont Street Experience has a Rocking Good Time. Everyone involved in the Fremont Street Experience is proud as pie with the way they handled the closing festivities for the 40th annual Travel Industry Association International Pow Wow on Wednesday. To celebrate the conclusion of a stellar event, Fremont Street Experience hosted an event for approximately 4,000 attendees that had everyone talking. The festivities began at 7 p.m. with a red-carpet arrival to Fremont Street Experience, where delegates from around the world experienced a variety of entertainment not seen anywhere else. The best tribute bands and performers played simultaneously on two concert stages, live action stunts were performed on the Real Action Stunt Stage and Fremont Street Experience’s signature Viva Vision spectacular light and sound shows played above the four-block long party. “Fremont Street Experience is proud to have been the host venue for the closing festivities of the International Pow Wow,” said Fremont Street Experience President Jeff Victor. “Fremont Street Experience has always been a place that locals and tourists can come and have a great time and enjoy wonderful entertainment at a great value all year round. This closing party showcased Fremont Street Experience to the top travel buyers from around the world and we will benefit from this for years to come.” The International Pow Wow, which made its appearance in Las Vegas for the first time in 19 years, featured five days of workshops and special events, public relations opportunities and networking in Las Vegas with more than 6,000 travel supplier and exhibitor delegates from around the world participating.
www.thevegaseye.com
By: Jack Houston/Las Vegas Magazine
At 5 p.m. on June 20, summer officially arrives in the western united states. Here in Las Vegas, where summer unofficially arrived about two months ago, the mercury is on the rise, and the best way to beat the heat is by taking a dip in one of the city's luxurious pools. The middle of the Mojave Desert might not spring to mind as a prime oasis for a seasonal splash, but there are an abundance of pools to satisfy every sun-soaked desire: a nice tan, a reprieve from the heat or an opportunity to simply check out the vacationing talent.
THE MIRAGE
Imagine your most idyllic island retreat. What does it include? For many people, sun and sand are foremost necessities. For others, the thrill of the waves, the pummeling crests and tranquil troughs, get the adrenaline pumping. Still others want the service that many have come to expect from the top hotels and restaurants. A trip to Las Vegas, where the nearest coastline is 300 miles away, may spell trouble for those who lust for the tropics. But contrary to its name, The Mirage pool (pictured) is a true oasis in the desert where guests can bask in the sun's rays in a secluded environment. The first of the Las Vegas megaresorts boasts a pool that is truly one-of-a-kind. Two heated saltwater pools and three spas are interconnected among tropical foliage, waterfalls and lagoons. Pool attendants are on hand to cater to every whim, including free towels and lounge chairs, and, if you so choose, you can help yourself to a poolside treat from The Paradise Café or a summery libation from The Dolphin Bar. Even the kids can get in on the fun via complimentary life jackets. But the pièces de résistance are the top-of-the-line cabanas, which sacrifice nothing in the way of luxury, with flat-screen televisions, Bose Wave radios, phones, safes and ornate teak lounge chairs. For a more European experience, guests over 21 can visit neighboring Bare Pool Lounge, where tops are optional and service is unparalleled. 702.792.7987
WYNN
Steve Wynn's pride and joy is already an oasis unto itself, but out back, the nearly 150,000 square feet of pool deck offers a little something for everyone. Four pools, including two exclusive pools for Tower Suites guests and the European-style Sunset Pool, make the biggest splash, but those not willing to shell out for a cabana may want to settle down on a lily pad or Euro bed, available for half the cost. 702.770.3870
BELLAGIO
The Mediterranean-style pool at Bellagio brings the foliage straight from Europe, with citrus trees, Italian cypresses, olive trees and climbing vines whisking bathers away to foreign locales. Guests can choose from two lap pools, three fountain pools (boasting hand-carved stone fountains) and a quartet of whirlpools, while cabanas offer special misting systems, a stocked refrigerator and complimentary amenities. 702.693.7487
RIO
A taste of Brazil is just minutes away at the Rio's lush pool complex. It's a mini Carnaval every day with flair bartenders, live DJs, poolside blackjack, all-new furniture and private cabanas offering the best VIP service. Of course, what would a poolside party be without some libations? The Island and Cruzan bars unleash specialty cocktails, beer specials and daily happy hours, all underneath the canopy of tropical foliage. 702.777.7196
MANDALAY BAY
Mandalay Bay is home to 11 acres of poolside paradise, including the closest you'll come to a true beach in Vegas: a wave pool with 2,700 tons of sand imported from California. Four additional pools, plus a lazy river ride and three whirlpools, recall the Burmese tropics that inspired the resort's name. Also available are cabanas, beach bungalows and private garden bungalows, featuring a secluded pool area and two hot tubs. 702.632.7997.
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/
Starring Las Vegas, Nevada
Lights? Check – neon variety. Camera? Check – ubiquitous. Action? Check – Just look around.
By Kate Silver/Las Vegas Magazine
It's no surprise that Las Vegas is a movie magnet. Truth is stranger than fiction, and Las Vegas hits the jackpot when it comes to the strange truth. That makes it the perfect inspiration for fiction. From our Old-West mentality, to our mob mentality, to the pervasive live-and-let-live mentality that thrives, for the most part, today, Las Vegas and celluloid go together like Texas and hold 'em.
Famous lines stick in the memory like pieces of sand from the Mojave Desert, whether it's from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ("We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold."), Swingers ("Baby, that was money! Tell me that wasn't money."), Casino ("Meeting in the middle of the desert always made me nervous. It's a scary place. I know about the holes in the desert, of course, and everywhere I looked there could have been a hole.") or countless others. Our tribute to some favorite Vegas films follows.
Ocean's Eleven
Talk about timeless. This 1960s film about a casino heist was one of the Rat Pack's first. In 2001, Steven Soderbergh directed a blockbuster new version of Ocean's Eleven, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. Ocean's Twelve and Thirteen followed.
Viva Las Vegas
No Las Vegas list is complete without at least one Elvis reference. In 1964's Viva Las Vegas, The King played the aptly named Lucky Jackson, a racecar driver with big dreams. Those dreams become hazy when a new love interest, played by Ann-Margret, enters the proverbial track.
Casino
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this 1995 film captured the mob brutality underlying the glitz of Vegas. Starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci, Casino was filmed in the Riviera and around Las Vegas, and even has an appearance by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
This film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's gonzo novel centers on a drug-addled journey to the desert to catch The Mint 400 Race. Filmed partially around Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas made the Horse-A-Round bar at Circus Circus – an alcohol-slinging merry-go-round – famous. Directed by Terry Gilliam, the 1998 film stars Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro and Tobey Maguire.
Honeymoon in Vegas
Giving a nod to the Vegas wedding industry, Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) revolves around a hesitant groom who loses his fiancée in a game of poker. Directed by Andrew Bergman and starring James Caan, Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker, look for shots of Bally's and the famous Flying Elvii.
Leaving Las Vegas
OK, so Vegas also has a downside, of which we're reminded time and again in this love story between a prostitute and a drunk. Produced in 1995, Leaving Las Vegas was directed by Mike Figgis and stars Cage and Elisabeth Shue.
http://www.lvshowbiz.com/
The Vegas Past: Strip Jousting Begins.
By: Ed Koch/Las Vegas Sun
When the hordes attacked King Arthur's stronghold in Caerleon-upon-Usk in the sixth century, it's a good bet they were not provided with sufficient space to park their catapults and battering rams.
Excalibur's visitors will have 7,000 parking spaces. But even that may not be enough.
The world's largest resort hotel will be officially unveiled at 10 a.m. Tuesday to an expected crush of gamblers, well-wishers and the curious when the drawbridge opens to Circus Circus Enterprises' $290 million castle.
As Arthur and his knights of the round table were prepared for the invading forces, officials at the 4,032-room resort are bracing themselves.
More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1990/jun/19/strip-jousting-begins/?history
The Historical Map Of Las Vegas:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/history/map/
‘Crazy Girls’ grows up by Jerry Fink/Las Vegas Sun
“Crazy Girls,” the sex-crazed topless show at the Riviera, is headed for its 21st birthday.
Creator Norbert Aleman, who also produces “La Cage,” debuted “Crazy Girls” on Sept. 18, 1987.
Since then more than 150 dancers have been baring most of it for an appreciative audience that often is made up of young and old married couples from the Midwest who want to get a taste of risque Las Vegas.
The show gained widespread fame in 1993 when a controversial advertisement first appeared on a billboard at the Spaghetti Bowl, within eyeshot of City Hall. The billboard featured the behinds of seven cast members standing in a row. The slogan in the ad read: “No Ifs, Ands or …” Some folks protested the ad, but “Crazy Girls” prevailed and the show has been a mainstay on the Strip for 20 years.
Sculptor Michael Conine created a 1,700-pound bronze statue based on the picture. It stands outside the Riviera on the Strip and has become a favorite among tourists who pat the girls’ rears for good luck.
The routines and the girls have changed with the times, but the show remains a must-see for many tourists.
Comic magician Tony Douglas hosts the show.
Details: 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays; Riviera; $39.95 plus tax and fees; 794-9433.
http://lasvegassun.com
Union turns down Imperial maids by Michael Mishak/Las Vegas Sun.
Maids at Imperial Palace are fed up — and it’s not just because they say they’re being worked a lot harder than other housekeepers on the Strip. They’re angry at the Culinary Union for not coming to the rescue by organizing them.
The Culinary, they say, could protect them from having to clean 18 to 22 rooms a day; maids represented by the union clean an average of 16.
If ever there were easy pickings for a union organizing drive, they would be the housekeepers at Imperial Palace, it seems.
More here:
http://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/18/union-turns-down-imperial-maids/
Brett's Vegas Views by Jackie Brett
The guest lineups for the 8 a.m. live shows of The View at Caesars Palace, June 23-25, have been named. On Monday, the guests will be Jimmy Kimmel, cast members from HBO's Entourage Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Debi Mazur, and musical artist Rhianna. On Tuesday, there will be performances by American Idol David Cook and first runner-up David Archuleta, Mirage headliner Danny Gans and The Chippendales from the Rio. On Wednesday, the star lineup is Jessica Simpson and Harrah's headliner Rita Rudner.
The View will do a 10:30 a.m. taping on June 24 featuring Venetian headliner Wayne Brady, The Hills star Heidi Montage and Bally's Jubilee! showgirls. An 11 a.m. taping on June 25 will highlight visits with Caesars Palace superstar Bette Midler and master magician Lance Burton from the Monte Carlo.
The show will be broadcast from a stage built atop the front fountains at Caesars Palace. Audience tickets are free and available online at abc.com.
WIZARD: The Musical Journey of Oz Composer Harold Arlen is making its Las Vegas debut at the Greek Isles with a one-month engagement beginning Saturday, June 14. The show runs Tuesday - Sunday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $46.95 and $69.95 for a special VIP package, call 702-737-5540.
Under the musical supervision of Nigel Wright, who was the music producer for American Idol, WIZARD revisits Oscar-winning Arlen's life through song, production numbers and film clips. The show is hosted by Arlen's son, jazz saxophonist Sam Arlen, who provides a narrative and anecdotes about his father's life. The show stars jazz / pop singer / pianist George Bugatti's Three Crooners who perform an array of songs from Arlen's prolific songbook.
Arlen has been cited as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th Century. His Academy Award-winning Over The Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz has been recognized as the "No. 1 Song of the Century" by the Recording Industry Association of America. For the American Film Institute's "Top 100 Movie Songs" poll, Arlen was featured with five songs, more than any other composer.
Okay this one is wild, probably a Vegas first, and it definitely involves thinking outside the box. On July 4, Playboy cover model Tiffany Holiday will host Torrid's Red White and Boobs Independence Day celebration at Hawaiian Tropic Zone. As part of the nightclub festivities, a contest is being held for a complimentary breast augmentation courtesy of Dr. Pancholi from Cosmetic Surgery of Las Vegas. Three guest judges will include Playboy cover girl Tiffany Holiday, Playboy model and Playboy cyber girl DJ Roxanne Dawn, and Dr. Pancholi. To register for the contest, visit www.HawaiianTropicZone.com. All women who register will receive a $50 gift certificate to Cosmetic Surgery of Las Vegas.
Say Goodnight Gracie is Rupert Holmes' one-man hit Tony-nominated Broadway play that invites you to spend An evening in the uplifting company of the world's favorite and funniest centenarian, George Burns. The show will be performed July 11-13 in the 450-seat Suncoast Showroom at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are priced from $19.95, call 703-636-7075.
Say Goodnight Gracie is a life-affirming love story that recounts Burns' life story in genial anecdotes from his childhood on the lower East Side of New York through the rigors of vaudeville tours and the fortuitous meeting with Gracie Allen, whose ditzy stage persona turned him into a straight man and made both of them stars, to his close friendship with Jack Benny, and his latter-day career as a movie actor (he played God three times) and pitchman that began at age 80.
The Burns and Allen Show began in 1933 and had a successful 17-year run. The show remained one of the top radio shows drawing some 45 million listeners each week. By 1950, Burns felt they were ready for the new medium of television where they spent eight years.
Don McArt stars as George Burns. His acting career includes Broadway and national touring company shows, television, and movies, with the most recent being Too Much with Antonio Bandaras and Melanie Griffith.
Say Goodnight Gracie was Broadway's third longest-running solo performance show and was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award for "Best Play" and won the 2003-04 National Broadway Theatre Award for "Best Play."
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
Best Hotel Promo Ever : Your Room Rate = Temperature In Vegas.
From:vegastripping.com
This has got to be one of the most clever promotional gimmicks ever served up in a town that does nothing but serve up promotional gimmicks.
The Venetian is offering up rooms rates (on select dates, of course) wherein the rate you pay is the forecasted high temperature in Las Vegas on the days you book. The promo goes from now until Labor Day weekend, where temps range from 90 to 115 degrees. Or more.
Here's the email (follow the link below to check the rates yourself):
http://www.vegastripping.com/news/news.php?news_id=2132 Even More Vegas Hotel Deals from vegastripping.com Summer is just about here and the casinos REALLY REALLY want you to visit. Between fuel prices, added airline fees and all the other increasing costs associated to having a great time, the casinos know that they've got to dangle some great offers to get us to plan a trip. We've got a bunch of great offers this week from the various travel companies and casinos, a few with frightfully low room rates. Check this out : the new Widescreen rooms at Excalibur for $49, the spiffy new rooms Mandalay Bay for $99, new rooms at Mirage for $89, new rooms at TI-Treasure Island for $89… insane. If you're in the market for making some reservations, this round of deal offerings are definitely worth taking a long look at…. not too long though because most of these deals expire within the next two weeks.
http://www.vegastripping.com/news/news.php?news_id=2131
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 Sunday to find out about the best values in Las Vegas.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
Show Review: Roseanne Barr by Rick Garman
Because of her outsize personality and some of the “trouble” that it has gotten her into during her career, it’s easy to overlook just how much Roseanne Barr revolutionized comedy, both in the stand-up arena and on television. It’s easy to forget how she brought a common person’s point of view to humor and in the process created one of the most ground-breaking television series in history. It’s also been too easy to forget just how darned funny she is, but luckily Roseanne is back on stage in Las Vegas at The Sahara to remind you.
She looks amazing no matter how many fat and post-menopausal jokes she wants to tell about herself. The last decade spent more out of the spotlight than in it has done nothing to dull her frank, fiercely aware, and foul-mouthed sense of humor. Yes, it should come as little surprise that this is not a show to bring the wee ones or the easily shocked.
During her roughly hour and fifteen minutes on stage she tackles current events and old tropes, from speaking for all of us when mentioning how sick she is of the endless election coverage to the drawbacks of getting older. On the latter she says, “Now, I’m a multi-tasker. I pee when I sneeze.”
As her been her trademark, there are no sacred cows in a Roseanne Barr stand-up routine. Barbara Walters, the diet industry, Britney Spears, and her ex-husbands are all targeted with glee, providing some laugh out loud moments that I can’t reprint here.
She even throws in a few of her classic one-liners for the long-time fans in the audience. Of men and their ability to read maps she says that only a man could understand the concept of “one inch equaling 100 miles.”
But interspersed in between the rounds of jocular bitchiness are some deeply observant thoughts. She very neatly sums up the current world situation by saying “Half of the world is starving and the other half is trying to lose weight.” That’s not only witty but it’s downright brilliant.
On the environment she talks about how the she had never been concerned about the vanishing rain forest because its inhabitants - “Monkeys, parrots, and slugs – (screw) them, they don’t even make good eating.” But then someone told her that the rainforest’s cocoa trees are where a bunch of the world’s chocolate supply comes from and she was ready to fight. Again, humorous, but underneath is a worthy point of making people understand that what happens on the other side of the world has an effect on what happens in your own home.
But mostly, thankfully, Roseanne Barr is still just one funny broad. Go see her and remind yourself just how funny she is.
Vegas4Visitors Grade: A Roseanne Barr
The Sahara
2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S
702-737-2515
website
Price:
$60 and up, plus tax
Showtimes:
Wed-Sat 9:30pm
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Awards by Rick Garman
The Anniversary of the Week Award goes to Legends in Concert, the impersonator show at Imperial Palace that has recently gotten the silver for running for 25 years in Las Vegas. There are only a couple of shows in town that have run for longer like Jubilee, which has been running at Bally’s for almost 30 years, and Folies Bergere at Tropicana, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year.
The No Big Surprise Award of the week is being bestowed on the Crown Las Vegas project, one of those “big plans” type casino hotels that was aiming to go on the land once occupied by the Wet ‘n Wild theme park. It had multiple incarnations including, at one point, a tower that was going to be the tallest building in the United States. There was lots of talk but never much action and now it’s official – the Crown is dead and will not be built.
The Nice Change of Pace Award of the week goes to the plan to build a sculpture garden in Downtown Las Vegas, which could be a lovely respite from the general craziness of this city. If it all happens according to plan (which is always a big “if” in this town) it would go on what is currently a street – Boulder Avenue between First and Casino Center (just north of Charleston near the Las Vegas Premium Outlet mall). The street would be closed and turned into a pedestrian plaza, anchoring the Arts District.
The Questionable Judgment of the Week Award goes to an unidentified man who decided it would be a really neat idea to jump, head first, from a bridge into the lake at the Bellagio. For the record, the lake is only about four feet deep. It ended with the guy bleeding profusely from the head and sporting a likely broken arm. Officials say that alcohol was a likely factor. Ya think?
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman
SHOW REVIEW: "Nathan Burton Comedy Magic"
Classic Illusions: Nathan Burton redresses standard magic for comic payoff.
By MIKE WEATHERFORD/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
So this new Criss Angel show just around the corner is supposed to change the rules. Or at least the notion that you have only a set number of illusions in stage magic, and it's all about how you frame them.
For now, Nathan Burton is doing a good job with the window dressing.
Instead of a plain ol' levitation — where a covered body rises in the air until the cover is pulled away and, whoa, there's nothing there — Burton is levitated after he crashes the "pajama party" of his four female dancers.
This is why his afternoon show at the Flamingo is called "Nathan Burton Comedy Magic." He doesn't do stand-up, or even a droll running commentary in the Mac King vein. It's a show of classic stage illusions, but the illusions themselves are redressed for comic payoff.
More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/20595739.html
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Las Vegas performers enjoying fatherhood.
The Strip turned out to be a good environment for working mothers such as Celine Dion, Rita Rudner and Toni Braxton.
As a society, it still seems less unusual to talk about working dads. But consider two performers experiencing fatherhood from different ends of the age range.
John O'Hurley had the good fortune to land "Monty Python's Spamalot" shortly after the birth of his son William, now 18 months old. The actor was used to being "in an airplane 300 days a year," he says. "It was a blessing for me to sit still for almost a year and a half.
"Each day you never get back if you give it away," O'Hurley adds, so "I'm very careful about traveling without him." With the musical, "I have all of my days free. I take him over to the putting green and he has a full-shoulder turn."
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
http://www.lvrj.com/living/19954404.html
NORM: Britney in bikini at Palms Place
Britney Spears is back in Las Vegas for the first time since her disastrous comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.
She flew in late Thursday on a private plane with a girlfriend and made a poolside appearance at Simon at Palms Place restaurant Friday, the same day her ex, Kevin Federline, was being honored as "Father of the Year" by Privé nightclub at Planet Hollywood Resort.
There is speculation, however, that her Father's Day weekend visit may have more to do with her father, Jamie, than with the father of her two children.
Federline served as celebrity host at Privé.
Spears was spotted about noon in an orange bikini on the sixth-floor pool outside Simon at Palms Place and later at Nove Italiano restaurant in the Palms Fantasy Tower.
While Spears and Federline have been together during family visitation, they have not been together in public since her numerous attempts at rehab last year.
The timing of her visit comes amid various reports that she is working with Palms owner George Maloof on a comeback. Maloof has stated that recent sightings of the two together at dinner in Los Angeles had to do with their friendship, not business.
Spears' comeback has been delayed since her stumbling appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms in September.
ReviewJournal.com - News - NORM: Britney in bikini at Palms Place
Posted on June 21st, 2008 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter
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