Yee-ha!

What would the holiday season be without the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo?

Beginning tomorrow (Dec. 1) and running through Dec. 11, cowboy up at the Thomas & Mack Center with bull riding, barrel racing, live auctions, the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, and parties galore. During the next week and a half, Las Vegas transforms into the old West, where you'll need a cowboy hat to fit in.

Launching the NFR from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Fremont Street will be the 19th Annual Downtown Hoedown with free performances by country singers Joe Diffie and Neal McCoy.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Gaming Expo at Fiesta Rancho has been cancelled, but one of the speakers still remains, and he's speaking for free.

On Dec. 2 and 11 a.m., video poker extraordinaire Bob Dancer will present his seminar "Secrets of a Video Poker Winner" at Fiesta Rancho's Club Tequila (2400 North Rancho Dr.).

Afterwards, you're invited to join Dancer at a free buffet lunch.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The main page of Luxor offers some twofers (2-for-1 buffet, IMAX, spa, King Tut admission) as well as Mandalay Place shopping certificates ($250 value), a free upgrade to a deluxe tower room (which, ahem, is the same price as the pyramid room), and $10 off per night if you book your reservation online.

If you're a member of The Nile Scroll, Luxor's online registry, you'll get on an email list offering other deals such as this one (but which is good for everyone):

• Book three nights between Dec. 11-24, get one free. Call 888-777-0188 with offer code FREE1.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

You may know Sapphire (3025 S. Industrial Rd.) as the largest strip club in the world -- 71,000 square feet and $25 million ($352 per square foot) invested in a multi-level former warehouse with three bars.

What you may not know is from Dec. 2-10 between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., Sapphire hosts the 2nd Annual Topless Bullriding Contest, emceed by Hollywood Don Yates.

Admission is $20 ($10 for locals), but if you wear a hat you'll get in for free.

Special offers include prize giveaways, drink specials, and $1 lapdance specials.

The question is, can you volunteer to be the bull?

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

On Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m., the soundtrack to Le Reve launches with a performance and CD listening party in the Chambertin Meeting Room at Wynn Las Vegas.

Created by Dragone, Le Reve is the only show in Vegas performed in the round, enveloping the audience in a theatrical experience combining elements of air and water.

The soundtrack features 16 original Benoit Jutras songs and is performed by a seven-piece band, including two vocalists and five musicians.

Sold only at the Wynn Las Vegas Show Shop (and eBay), the CD can be had for $24 including tax.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The International Gem & Jewelry Show offers a three-day jewelry bazaar at the Convention Center (3150 Paradise Rd.) on Dec. 2 (Noon-6 p.m.), Dec. 3 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), and Dec. 4 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Find the lowest prices and the largest selection of beads, rings, necklaces, earrings, gold, silver, opals, minerals, diamonds, pearls, crystals, watches, and settings.

Admission is $7, and children 16 and under get in free with an adult (no strollers).

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want to see Barry Manilow for free?

On Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Manilow will tape Barry Manilow: Music and Passion for later airing on PBS.

Free tickets are available for both shows by following these steps:

• You can go to both shows, but you must specify which show(s) you want to attend
  
• Request no more than four tickets per show
  
• Submit your name, the show(s) you want to attend, the number of tickets you are requesting, and your email address to pbstaping@manilow.com
  
• All ticket requests must be received by today, Nov. 28
  
• Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis
  
• You will receive a ticket confirmation via email by Monday, Dec. 5
  
• Tickets will be available at the Hilton on Monday, Dec. 12 and details of the pick-up location will be emailed to you
  

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Through the end of the year, the trendy Rainbow Bar & Grill (4480 Paradise Road, across the street from Hard Rock) offers an early bird special of 2-for-1 entrees between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.

Just let your server know you'd like the two-for-one special and you'll get your second entree of equal or lesser value for free.

Vegas' answer to Denny's (and originating on Los Angeles's Sunset Boulevard), the 24-hour Rainbow Bar & Grill has been host to many a celebrity sighting sobering up. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served around the clock in a 7,500-square-foot restaurant with a Hollywood theme. It includes two dining rooms with plasma TVs, a year-round outdoor patio, and a lounge for live entertainment.

You might also be interested to know that Rainbow Bar & Grill doesn't have a gaming license, which means you're free from the addicting and otherwise tempting video poker machines.

For more information and to make a reservation, call (702) 898-3525.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you've been missing Wayne Newton, you can find him officiating the annual Vegas Christmas tree lighting tonight at 6 p.m.

Stationed at Caesars Palace, the 60-foot Christmas tree features 216,510 twinkling multi-colored lights, which bigger-is-better Caesars is quick to point out is more than twice as many lights as the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Writer Hunter S. Thompson has his own beer named after him. Stop by the Freakin' Frog Pub, 4700 S. Maryland Parkway to sample the memorial Gonzo Imperial Porter.

Young celebrities are coming to Las Vegas to party it up for their 21st birthdays. Most recently Kelly Osbourne and Ashlee Simpson were spotted tearing it up in Las Vegas for their 21st birthdays.

The Miami Herald has a great article on the changing face of Las Vegas. They noted that Las Vegas is no longer viewed as a seedy town full of hard-luck gamblers. It's also no longer viewed as a place to take the entire family. These days Las Vegas is getting recognized for a burgeoning arts district, an epicenter for culinary appreciation with the addition of several new top notch restaurants, dazzling new shows that are rivaling Broadway, and the addition of spas. They specifically note how the quality of food at the buffet's has risen incredibly.

Looking for work? Red Rock Resort is about to hire 2,600 new workers. Red Rock Resort is the newest addition to the Station Casinos and is supposed to open by March of 2006 and over 100,000 people are expected to apply for various jobs in over 30 different departments.

Posted by Haley Slovin at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fresh off a Hard Rock penthouse suite trashing to the tune of $100,000 to celebrate pop star Kelly Osbourne's 21st birthday last week, Paris Hilton picked up a kinkajou in Las Vegas and named it Baby Luv.

The kinkajou, a primate that's a distant relative of the racoon, is native to South and Central America and is illegal in Los Angeles.

Known for disposing billionaire heir boyfriends as fast as pet animals, her Baby Luv had its own sweet revenge while on a shopping spree at a lingerie store at Caesars Forum Shops. As Hilton chose between undergarments, the primate bit and clawed at her face. She was able to calm the animal in time to purchase $4,000 worth of bras and panties, including a bullwhip, hopefully not to teach poor Baby Luv a lesson.

Authorities have notified Hilton that she must return the animal to a sanctuary or else risk being put to sleep. The animal, not Paris. Aiding and abetting an illegal species could also add a misdemeanor charge to the hotel heiress's resume.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Dec. 3 at 8 p.m., the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Performing Arts Center opens the holiday season with "An Evening with Betty Buckley."

Part of the New York Stage & Beyond Series, the concert will feature showtunes and holiday classics.

Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for her performance in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats and a nomination for Triumph of Love. She also received an Olivier Award nomination for Webber's Sunset Boulevard.

Tickets are $45, $60, and $90 and can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center box office at 702-895-2787 or at pac.unlv.edu.

UNLV student rush tickets are available one hour before for $12.50. Student ID must be presented.

UNLV faculty and staff discounts will also be available.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday, Nov. 25 is Family Fun Inflatable Swim Day at the Whitney Ranch Indoor Pool (1575 Galleria Dr., Henderson, 702-267-5870) and the Henderson Multigenerational Center Indoor Pool (250 S. Green Valley Pkwy., Henderson, 702-267-5824).

Hours for Family Fun are 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Recreational swimming continues through 9 p.m.

Inflatable pool toys will be provided free of charge, and you may also bring your own.

Admission is free for children under 2 and adults 55 and older, $1 for children 3-17, and $2 for everyone else.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sylvester Stallone is back in the boxing ring for Rocky Balboa, the sixth installment of the popular Rocky movie series, and you can join him!

BeInAMovie.com offers the chance to be an extra in a boxing scene between Stallone and Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver on Dec. 4, 6, 7, or 8 in Las Vegas beginning at 9 a.m. (Dec. 5 is full).

The cast includes Burt Young and sportcasters Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, Max Kellerman, and Jim Rome.

To sign up and for more information, visit BeInAMovie.com or call (323) 653-4105.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This morning at 11:30, former President Jimmy Carter signs copies of his new book Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis at Borders, 2323 S. Decatur Blvd. (702-258-0999).

The book takes readers into what President Carter thinks threatens today's democratic freedom.

Recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, President Carter will meet fans and autograph books only (no memorabilia), but unfortunately will be unable to personalize messages.

No photographs are allowed and no purses or bags will be allowed in the line.

Because of the crowd expected, wristbands will be distributed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis to hold a place in line. Holding a place in line doesn't necessarily guarantee a meeting, however.

For more information, contact Greg Near at 801-355-6327 or gnear2@bordersgroupinc.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's another reason to get a free player's card whenever you visit a casino.

When you play at a Harrah's casino with your Total Rewards card, your table and slot play are recorded and rated.

Depending on your level of play, Harrah's then floods your mailbox with offers of freeplay, food, rooms, and other complimentaries designed to lure you back into the casino.

In Joliet, Ill., Harrah's sent a few coupons to the high rollers: a coupon worth $525 as free cash, valid at the casino through Dec. 16.

Trouble was, Harrah's mistakenly sent these coupons to over 11,000 players... including people it wasn't intended for.

More than a typo, the coupon states the numerical and spelled-out amount of $525, along with the words "cash" three times and that it should be presented to the casino cashier for redemption.

Many players found Harrah's reneging on the coupon, citing the coupon's flip side stating a disclaimer that reserves the right to change or cancel the offer at any time.

The Illinois Gaming Board looked into the matter and ruled that Harrah's must honor every coupon, costing the casino almost $5.8 million for the error.

Harrah's blames the error on a third-party vendor. There's now an opening for a new vendor.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Being a family blog, we respectfully decline the display of titillating photos of half-nude dancers that would normally be undulating in this space.

Still, we wanted to include at least something to break up the monotony of verbiage, so here's a basketful of kittens.

We're scratching our heads at the allure behind food and strip clubs, but football and strip clubs... well now, that's a different story.

A handful of gentlemen's clubs offer specials centered around Monday Night Football and you still have a few more weeks to take advantage.

We've done the legwork for you and present it below along with other specials we've also come across during our, uh, research:

Cheetah's (2112 Western Ave, 702-384-0074). Free admission if arriving in your own transportation (no taxis or limos). Monday Night Football prizes, beginning at 6 p.m. Pizza-eating contest, beer-guzzling contest. Free pizza and wings, happy hour on Budweiser. Cheetah's is featured prominently in the cult film Showgirls.

Little Darlings (1514 Western Ave., 702-366-1141). In many of the free weeklies, Little Darlings has a coupon in the back good for free admission.

Olympic Garden (1531 Las Vegas Blvd., 702-385-9361). Monday Night Football prizes, beginning at 6 p.m., including big screen TV, Sin City Sandrail. Free food, $1 half-time lapdances, $10 beer buckets.

Play It Again, Sam (4120 Spring Mountain Rd., 702-876-1550). All-you-can-eat lunch buffet Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday Night Football, free buffet, half-price lapdances, 2-for-1 drinks, free NFL jerseys and hats. Free lunch/drink coupon off their website.

Pleasures (6370 Windy St., 702-873-8800). Monday nights at 10 p.m., $1000 wet t-shirt contest, Xbox 2006 Madden giveaways. For 2-for-1 drink coupons and lapdance coupons, text message "PLEASURE" to 30364 on your cell. Stripper Karaoke.

Sapphire (3025 Industrial Rd., 702-796-6000). Monday Night Football prizes, beginning at 6 p.m., including big screen TVs, vacations, NFL merchandise. Free food, free admission, $10 Miller buckets, drink specials, $1 half-time lapdances.

Scores (3355 S. Procyon St., 702-367-4000). At the new Scores, in addition to free entry you can get free food and drinks between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. if you're a local and show a business card.

Showgirls (3247 Industrial Rd., 702-894-4167). Free admission before 5 p.m. In many of the free weeklies, Showgirls has a coupon in the back good for free admission.

Sin (3550 W. Quail Ave., 702-673-1700). Free admission if arriving in your own transportation (no taxis or limos).

Treasures (2801 Westwood Dr., 702-257-3030). $10 dances, free lunch 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., $3 drinks.

For customer reviews on these and others, we stumbled on the new website www.vegasstripclubs.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The brand new South Coast Hotel & Casino (9777 Las Vegas Blvd S., 702-796-7111) with a Southern California theme is well ahead of schedule, opening at the end of December.

So far it's this strange beacon of light on the south side of the Strip, currently inaccessible via I-15 (get onto Las Vegas Blvd. and go south, young man).

Celebrate their grand opening with discounted rates off rooms from Dec. 29, 2005 through Feb. 2, 2006:

$59 Sunday-Thursday
$99 Friday-Saturday

Your stay will also include two breakfast buffets and a funbook valued at $200.

Offer does not include Dec. 30-31 and expires Feb. 2, 2006.

To book, click here or call 1-866-791-7626 with promotion code ED0106.

South Coast also offers a Stay and Play contest with free slotplay, dinner, and two-night stay.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're seeking a show where you're guaranteed to laugh, try Second City at the Flamingo.

Four years in residence, Second City performs six nights a week with an intermission-less show that's a combination of pre-rehearsed skits and lightning-fast improv based on audience suggestions. Come prepared with objects, places, and situations in advance to yell out to challenge the quintet of actors (three guys and two gals) even more.

There's a Vegas slant to the show, often spoofing other currently running productions. The evening I went, they had a series of skits involving a "high speed" gondola chase at The Venetian.

If you use the above 2-for-1 coupon, you'll laugh twice as hard. Or maybe half as hard. Good thing yours truly doesn't have a math degree.

The coupon code is HLVENWS (if you reserve over the phone at 1-800-221-7299) and is good until Jan. 31, 2006. If the people get testy about accepting an Internet coupon, just say you found it here, which is where we found it.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Before gaming, before hotels, before the tourists...

If you feel like soaking in some culture for free without stepping out of the house, check out UNLV Libraries' "Before Gaming: Celebrating Las Vegas' Centennial 1905-2005."

This online exhibit culls together 37 photographs from private collections of families who arrived in Las Vegas around its inception: Helen Stewart, Walter Bracken, William Ferron, Ed Von Tobel, and Fred and Maurine Wilson.

Accompanying each photo is a narrative description. The exhibit may also be searched by topics.

These are some of the earliest pictures known of Las Vegas.

For other early photos of Vegas, visit Early Las Vegas: A Digital Collection with photos including this one from 1948 Fremont Street (where shrimp cocktail was still 99 cents):

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spanish restaurant Cafe Ba Ba Reeba (3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South at Fashion Show Mall, 702-258-1211) offers a special cooking class every month for $35 plus tax.

Next Saturday, Nov. 26, Chef Angel Gandarilla leads a class on how to cook the perfect Paella.

The class begins at 10 a.m. with a light breakfast of churos, coffee and juice. Guests will then enjoy a tasting of three tapas while Chef Angel guides them through the cooking process of paella. Once the perfect paella is finished, it is served to all along with sample of both red and white spanish wines. Dessert will follow.

Paella cookbooks are included, and paella cooking kits will also be available for purchase.

Reservations are required by calling 702-258-1211 or signing up at the restaurant.

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba also offers a happy hour Monday-Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. where sangria is half-price and tapas are $3 at the bar.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The website www.mammamiaoffers.com has a special $50 dinner voucher when you purchase two orchestra tickets to Mamma Mia (at Mandalay Bay).

The voucher is good at any of Mandalay Bay's restaurants. If you can't decide, try Aureole. If you you can't find someone to go with, try your ol' pal R.C. Especially if you're paying!

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)