Got talent? The NBC show "America's Got Talent" wants you.

For their second season (to air midseason), "American Idol"'s Simon Cowell will launch a multi-city open casting call to find the most talented act in the country.

Producers will be in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Hosted by Regis Philbin, the new season will include a "boot camp" for contestants who pass the audition. The boot camp will introduce experts in their field to further shape and train the contestant.

The winner will still be chosen by the television audience, and a $1 million prize is at stake for the final act left standing.

Last month, 11-year-old singer Bianca Ryan won the first season's grand prize.

For more information on auditioning, visit "America's Got Talent."

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Restaurant.com constantly has discount offers on top of their discounted gift certificates of $10 for $25, $3 for $10, or $3 for 50 percent off (one of the three is offered per restaurant).

Participating restaurants may be in your neighborhood, but have you thought about purchasing them to use the next time you're in Las Vegas?

A further discount code of 65639 (expires Sept. 30) will give you an additional 60 percent off. So a $25 gift certificate will cost $4. Use the $21 you saved on a hand of blackjack.

Gift certificates are conveniently purchased online and can be printed to your printer. They're good for a year from date of purchase.

There are nine pages of restaurants nearby the Las Vegas Strip. Here are some within the casino-hotels:

Andre's (Monte Carlo)
Blondie's (Aladdin/Planet Hollywood)
Commander's Palace (Aladdin/Planet Hollywood)
Hamada of Japan (Flamingo, Rio)
House of Lords (Sahara)
Jillian's (Neonopolis, downtown)
Kahunaville (Treasure Island)
Little Buddha (The Palms)
NASCAR Cafe (Sahara)
Oyster Bay Seafood (Aladdin/Planet Hollywood)
Quark's (Hilton)
Rainbow Bar & Grill (across from Hard Rock)

Posted by Poker Grub at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tickets to Las Vegas is selling discounted tickets to the Vegas monorail for attendees of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) from Oct. 31-Nov. 3 and the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) from Nov. 14-16.

SEMA attendees receive 20 percent off, G2E attendees receive 15 percent off.

Regular monorail tickets run $5 each way, with a one-day unlimited pass costing $15.

The website offers free shipping of the tickets but doesn't verify you're an attendee, so if you happen to be visiting during convention time, you can save a couple bucks along with convention folk.

Note that they only accept purchases via PayPal.

PayPal isn't exactly the most popular mode of purchasing for businesses, who if attending SEMA or G2E, will most likely be expensing it anyway without need for a 15-20 percent discount.

Whenever something like this pops up, I see a red flag, knowing many an eBay scam has happened with fly-by-night companies through the popular web wallet.

I myself was taken by a scam artist when buying a bunch of jeans off eBay. I should've known the shoddy picture and bargain price was too good to be true. I was never able to get my $150 back, even with Safe Harbor.

I did some digging and found that the domain tix4vegas.com (established September 2006) is part of KBren Marketing Associates, LLC, which itself runs the San Bernadino National Forest Association. If you head to that website, they accept donations by credit cards.

So why just PayPal for the monorail tickets?

Maybe the cost they save on credit cards lets them provide free shipping.

The G2E site provides a direct link to the 15 percent off tickets, so if you run into any problems, take it up with Diana Press, customer relations.

Posted by Poker Grub at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Owners of The Palms hotel-casino, the Maloof brothers are expanding their empire by hopping into the film biz, investing $700,000 in Feast, the latest movie to come from Bravo's reality show "Project Greenlight."

The Maloofs recently hosted a red-carpet premiere of the horror movie at The Palms, with "Project Greenlight"ers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in attendance.

Guests of The Palms will receive an advance copy of the Feast DVD, to be released Oct. 17. The movie will also be promoted at the Maloofs' other properties, including ads at the Arco Arena Jumbotron (they own the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento Monarchs).

Beginning Oct. 16, the four brothers can be seen in a Carl's Jr. commercial, in which they're seen gobbling $6 burgers with a $6,000 bottle of Bordeaux wine.

Forbes magazine puts the wealth of the family at $1 billion.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's another chance to win not only tickets to Vegoose but the Bonnaroo Music Festival as well (valued at $4,500).

And not just regular tickets, you can win a lifetime pass to any show for as long as you shall live! As long as the festivals are held, you'll get to go for free.

All you have to do is record yourself impersonating a celebrity or musician, upload it to YouTube for all the world to see, then fill out this form.

Don't forget to tag your video "vegoose."

A panel of 12 judges will select a winner.

We counted all of one video so far, which we watched and just know you can do better.

Deadline is Oct. 13.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Saturday, Oct. 14, Hogs & Heifers (201 N. 3rd St. downtown, still with an inactive website) is having a Save the Boobs poker run to benefit finding a cure for breast cancer.

Registration is between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., with prizes for best and worst poker hand.

The run begins at Mountain Springs and ends at the Las Vegas Harley Davidson (Sahara/Eastern).

Afterwards, come meet fellow runners at Fiesta Rancho at the Guarduno's Patio, where you can register to win tickets to the Rolling Stones (Nov. 11 at the MGM Grand).

Entry fee is $25.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every Tuesday, House of Blues Las Vegas offers 2-for-1 tickets to selected upcoming shows.

On the two-for-Tuesday list today is Jeff Beck (9/29, normally $47 each), comedian Richard Jeni (9/30, normally $25 each), and Cheyenne Kimball with Ryan Star from Rockstar Supernova (10/4, normally $22).

Visit this link and sign up to receive the 2-for-1 tickets.

The discounted tickets can be purchased between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

House of Blues is located inside Mandalay Bay.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harrah's is suing Federico Schiavio over the domain WSOP.com.

Schiavio is Binion Horseshoe's former information technology director, who purchased the domain on his own in May 2003.

In March 2004, Harrah's purchased Horseshoe.

In November 2005, Schiavio launched WSOP.com (World's Standard of Online Poker), an online poker site that returns 51 percent of corporate net revenue to its members.

Harrah's says when they purchased Binion's for the World Series of Poker trademark, it should include WSOP.

Schiavio argues that the brand did not include the acronym WSOP.

Harrah's says he's profiting off their brand.

Schiavio says nyah, nyah.

In 2004, a disclaimer at the bottom of the shopping page stated "Not affiliated with Harrah's Entertainment, Inc." It's since been removed.

Schiavio's ownership of WSOP.com expires May 2014.

We don't know for sure, but we assume Harrah's already approached Schiavio with a buyout offer, Schiavio balked, and now both will spend much more money in the Las Vegas U.S. District Court.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We didn't jump on 18-year-old Aaron Carter's engagement to former Miss Teen USA and Playboy model (and big brother Nick's ex) Kari Ann Peniche because, well, we smelled publicity stunt and refuse to kowtow to publicity machines unless Paris Hilton or Britney Spears is involved.

'Course, we're writing about it now...

Carter popped the quick question onstage in Las Vegas at The Palms's Playboy Hollywood Comedy Tour on Sept. 19.

Peniche accepted, not at all feeling pressure from the 200 people watching how she would respond.

But now, less than a week later, the engagement is off. According to Us Weekly, Carter said he was too young to be ready for marriage.

E! has video of the engagement, where coincidentally you can also view the first episode of "House of Carters."

E! is behind Carter's new reality show, premiering Oct. 2.

Jeez, E!... at least press release the nonengagement a day or two before the show debuts.

In the show, Aaron, Nick, and sisters Angel, Leslie, and Bobbie Jean all share the same house and talk about other publicity stunts they can dream up to get people to tune in.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The poetic equestrian show Cavalia returns to Las Vegas at the big white top at Rio.

Founded by Normand Latourelle, who was with Cirque du Soleil from 1985 to 1990, Cavalia combines the famed Cirque-type acrobatics, visual effects, live music, and dance... with over 30 Lusitano stallions.

The Lusitano is one of the world's most ancient horse breeds, having been used as war horses and mounts for Portugese bullfighters. They hail from the Iberian Peninsula, now known as Portugal and Spain.

Tickets run $35 through $95.

Special VIP packages are also available including visits to the Cavalia stables, lounging before and after the show at Rendez-Vous (with complimentary hors-d'oeuvres and beverages), reserved parking, a souvenir, and an autograph session. The package is $195.

For performances Nov. 16-26 (excluding Nov. 18 and 25), receive a $20 discount.

To purchase, visit the Cavalia website or call 1-866-999-8111.

We saw this show a number of years ago and the horses and performers didn't seem to be on their "A" game. Many audience members walked out, including us, and we asked for and received refunds. We suspect it was just an offnight, but buyer beware when combining acrobatics and horses.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dukes of Hazzard movie star Jessica Simpson will soon be opening a chain of restaurants called Daisy Dukes, based on her character of the same name.

Simpson will provide financial backing with the first restaurant opening at Caesars Palace in 2007. She's expected to make at least five appearances a year.

The Hooters-style restaurant will specialize in barbecue and servers in skimpy cutoff shorts, first made famous by Catherine Bach playing Daisy Duke in the television series.

Interestingly, Simpson's father and manager Joe Simpson is the one behind the deal and is presumably capitalizing on his daughter's name, possibly without her knowledge.

If you can't wait until next year for something Simpson, she will also be launching a series of edible perfume (ahem) and lingerie.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Considered either the worst film ever made or a cult classic, and the movie that's generally thought to have ended the prolific success of its screenwriter, Showgirls is one of those movies that's so bad it's good, with a truly awful performance by Elizabeth Berkley that seems she's in a different movie altogether. Sort of like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, only bad.

Showgirls was about the hopeful aspirations of a midwest gal who becomes corrupted by Las Vegas, helped in no small part by the real-life strip club Cheetah's.

Now screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (who was paid $1 million to write the screenplay) is trying to launch the movie as a musical -- headed for Las Vegas.

He's in talks with legitimate producers who were behind a campy Broadway musical of their own right -- Urinetown.

An unrelated theatrical spoof recently ran in New York called Showgirls: The Best Movie Made. Ever!. Read blog entries from Berkley's character Nomi Malone.

Eszterhas just released his latest book, The Devil's Guide to Hollywood, a tell-all gossipy survival guide for screenwriters.

To wit, talking about writing Basic Instinct and Sharon Stone, he said Stone (whom he was rumored to have had a one-night stand with so she could further her career) was hated enough that a crew member on one of her movies urinated in a bathtub she would later use in a scene.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide is offering a chance to win free tickets to this year's Vegoose from Oct. 28-29 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Two people will be drawn and awarded two tickets (tickets go for $146.50 apiece).

Enter here by Oct. 19. The winner will be emailed and announced on their webpage.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Think you can read the traffic and give lucky numbers with the best of them?

On Sept. 26, Channel 13 (KTNV-TV) will be holding open auditions to fill their on-air traffic reporter position.

Show up between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Tuscany (255 E. Flamingo Road) and be prepared to read a one-minute traffic report in front of judges and a camera.

Ten finalists will be chosen, and their tapes will be broadcast. Viewers will narrow down the pool to five finalists, who will come in and audition live on the air.

Viewers will then select their favorite, who will sign a contract to become KTNV's newest traffic reporter.

To qualify, you must be 21 or over and a resident within the KTNV viewing area.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MGM Grand is offering a dinner-and-show package for $91 per person, including all taxes and gratuities.

Dinner is a three-course set French menu at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and tickets are to La Femme (pictured above with Christina Aguilera).

Dates are Wednesdays through Mondays between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., with La Femme at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (all days except Tuesdays, when La Femme is dark).

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is Robuchon's first U.S. restaurant that merges kitchen and dining room, allowing high interactivity between diner and chef at the u-shaped bar.

On the menu:

Appetizer
Les Legumes: Mediterranean vegetables layered with buffalo mozzarella

Main Course
La Caille: Free-range quail stuffed with foie gras and served with truffled mashed potatoes or
La Morue: Fresh cod filet in a vegetable broth

Dessert
La Chartreuse: Green chartreuse souffle (by pastry chef Kamel Guechida), pistachio ice cream

At La Femme, enjoy the adult show direct from the original Crazy Horse in Paris. The show features dance, cabaret, song, and of course nudity. To preserve its authenticity, dancers are often rotated in from the Parisian counterpart.

To reserve, call 1-877-880-0880.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Of Eastbiz.com's 1,900 business clients around the country, 95 percent have incorporated in Nevada.

Since 1999, Eastbiz.com has offered online incorporating in all 50 states. For Nevada, they charge $283 ($194 for incorporation and $89 for the first year registered agent).

The benefit of incorporating in Nevada is that there is no corporate income tax, no franchise tax, no personal income tax, and many other business-friendly laws.

Even better, those incorporating in Nevada need not live nor hold meetings in the state.

Eastbiz.com president John Vanhara claims that over 177,000 small businesses have incorporated in Nevada.

And where is Eastbiz.com located? Why, Las Vegas of course.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Theme park executives who've formed Proteus Creative and Thinkwell Design and Production are putting together a fascinating project that would let it snow in Las Vegas.

Called Las Vegas Wet, it would consist of two hotels (themed after a Swiss chalet), a casino (tropical theme), entertainment arena, food and retail, and the largest indoor waterpark in North America, complete with waterslide, miniature golf, and snowdome for indoor skiing.

Just the waterpark would be 30 acres, 250,000 square feet being indoors, providing year-round access.

The website is still being developed but shows their dream of skiing in the desert.

And it's a pretty heady one.

Very much missing the old Wet 'n Wild, we hope this project gets off the ground but we won't hold our breath. Dream projects of this scope and size and cost ($1.1 billion) without defined backers are generally just that -- dreams.

Their unfinished website is telling: "Please contact us to partner with Proteus Creative as we bring a new Las Vegas landmark to life."

Incidentally, Thinkwell Design had previously designed iPort (mentioned in these pages), what was to be a joint technology theme park venture in Singapore between Harrah's and Titanic director Jamers Cameron, but it unfortunately was passed over in favor of a project by Las Vegas Sands.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A casual spotting of Diana Ross mentioned by Las Vegas Review-Journal's Norm stated she met with management at Caesars Palace and then tossed some bones across a high-limit craps table.

Now what would Diana Ross be doing at Caesars?

Celine Dion is leaving at the end of next year...

Elton John will continue on offnights...

Cher will fill Celine's shoes...

Bette Midler may also stop by here and there...

Could Diana Ross add to the quartet of new Caesars Singers?

If that's the case, we'll be in the enviable position of seeing impersonators or the real thing right across the street.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you're strolling around Vegas this week and it suddenly seems as if you've stepped into an Ocean's Eleven movie, you're not crazy nor on Cocaine.

Final filming on Ocean's Thirteen, the last installment of the trilogy (so claims director Steven Soderbergh), is in Las Vegas this week, with the main filming location at Bellagio.

For Ocean's Twelve, the gang took a sabbatical from Vegas by setting the film in Europe, but all agreed to return one final time because Twelve was lackluster.

This time, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and new cast members Al Pacino (playing a casino owner) and Ellen Barkin star, with a script by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who wrote Rounders.

Ocean's Thirteen is scheduled to hit theaters June 8, 2007.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A new energy drink claiming to be 350 percent more potent than Red Bull has landed in Las Vegas and shares the namesake of a certain illegal drug, mirror optional.

Cocaine, billed as "the legal alternative," claims to bring a high in five minutes, with a caffeine after-boost 15 minutes later. Effects last five hours and are cheaper than the regular lowercased cocaine.

From their website, "it tastes like a fireball, a carbonated atomic fireball."

Las Vegas-based Redux Beverages says its new drink is a combined physical and psychological high. Physical, with increased sugar and vitamin B12, and psychological, the mindset people get into when they hear mention of the name.

An additional secret ingredient was added to slightly numb the throat, just to give that added sensation that regular cocaine does.

We'd like to recommend Cocaine along with a side order of the new food Prostitute.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

uou're invited to read Edgar "Mouse" Hohl's Hickory-Dickory-Dock #6, America's Great Wall now posted on the LasVegasVegas-Business and Politics blog, the web place to keep up with politics, business and Vegas rumors. You'll also get a generous helping of all the dirt on the dirt merchants of Nevada-The Prof

Wall at "Friendship Park"
Friendship Park residents from both sides once walked freely across the border. Today, people on the south side talk to friends and family on the US north side through holes in the metal fence.

Congressman Hunter envisions two parallel, 15-ft. steel barriers running the length of the border with a 100-yard no-man's land in between. The wall would be equipped with the most sophisticated technology and military hardware including high intensity lights and movement sensors. It's to be patrolled by robotic drones, helicopters, and red-blooded Americans armed with all-terrain vehicles, computers, and night-vision.

If the Republicans and Red-Necks succeed, the promise of America's most revered symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty:

While the Republican Right wants to build the Great American Wall, President Bush is running around the country telling anyone who will listen that the terrorists don't want to see freedom ring.
He says they fear an open society.

The Mexicans say it's un-American. They're offended. They say no wall is going to keep a resourceful, hardworking, Christian people from seeking The Promised Land.

The U.S. Army National Guard, Federal Marshals, Border Patrol, DEA, FBI, CIA, and Minutemen volunteers are determined to stop the alien invaders. Since 1998, more people have died along the border than perished in the 911 attack.

At present, more than 80 miles of walls and lethal fencing has already been built through towns and principal entry points. The citizens of Nogales, Arizona call it the "Iron Curtain."

Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is certain to visit The Wall where he'll proclaim to the media of the world, "Allah es Mexicano". Likewise, Vladamir Putin will make a speech before tens of thousands of Latino-Americans in San Diego in which he'll conclude, "Mr. Bush, tear down this wall!"

Monument, US-Mexico Border, Tijuana
Note the plastic water bottles.
This monument commemorates those who have died attempting to cross into the United Sates since the institution of Operation Gatekeeper. From 1996 through 2002 some 2000 victims have died in the hostile deserts of California and Arizona. Prior to 1996 they made the border crossing easily near Tijuana. The effect of Gatekeeper has not been the desired decrease in the number of illegal crossings, it has made journey much more dangerous.

Posted by flipchipro at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Excalibur has special online room rates of $41.

This includes $20 in matchplay for any table game (except poker) and $20 in food and beverage comps (at select restaurants). It also comes with a funbook valued at $200.

Offer is good from Sept. 17 through Dec. 28 and must be booked by Sept. 27.

Click here to book online.

A casual check at the reservations look like the bulk of the $41 rate is available the end of November and mid-December. Other low rates are $49, $59, and $69.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 16th annual Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival touches down tomorrow at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Celebrating Mexican Independence Day, some of the best Mariachis from Mexcio will perform in a show that will last three and a half hours.

Also part of the event is the world's greatest Mariachi, Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan and America's premier mariachi, Mariachi Sol de Mexico De Jose Hernandez.

The evening is capped off by the Ballet Folklorico San Juan, Angeles Ochoa, and impersonator and humorist Gilberto Gless.

Tickets are $75, $95, and $135 and take place at 8 p.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton Center.

Click here to purchase tickets or call 1-800-222-5361.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A patent filed by Harrah's came through recently entitled "Resource price management incorporating indirect value" and can be read online at the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

First filed six years ago, the abstract states: "A method and system of managing value from a resource such as hotel rooms by taking into account indirect value, such as gaming value, in determining recommended bid prices. Observed and/or estimated indirect value for customers is obtained. Recommended bid prices for instances of the resource, such as hotel rooms, are adjusted based on the obtained indirect value. Prices are further adjusted based on competitive market conditions."

Basically this invention is a method of customizing hotel room and other prices in the casino based on the customer's total purchases, which includes dining and retail purchases in addition to gaming.

Comping hotel rooms has long been a fixture of casinos based on prior play and visits and is generally done at the discretion of the casino host.

For new, unknown players, the host will review total play during a visit and may decide to reduce the cost of the player's stay, sometimes to zero.

But this has generally not been the case for nongaming guests (such as those in town for a convention).

The invention is a system of automating that process, and to some extent, the process is already in place through Harrah's website.

Players enter their Total Rewards number before booking a room. Based on prior play and purchases, a customized price is shown for the customer's desired date of stay. Sometimes "COMP" will appear, and sometimes that room will be comped with RFB, with food and beverage included as well.

What the invention also means is it may become more difficult and/or more expensive to obtain a hotel room if you're not seen as a high-value player. High-value, however, doesn't necessarily mean profitable in gaming.

Next time you're booking at Harrah's, try entering your Total Rewards number and then try it without. Based on the hotel quote, you'll instantly see how Harrah's views you.

This marks Harrah's 18th patent in their portfolio. It is United States Patent No. 6,993,494.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

I decided to take a day trip, actually more of a half-day trip since the famous landmark is only 30 miles out of Las Vegas. To Hoover/Boulder Dam. The reason for the visit was to see the progress on the long awaited Boulder Dam bypass highway. The project is now entering into the actual bridge building phase with both approaches, Arizona and Nevada, almost complete. This sky high arched bridge will span the Colorado River just below 70 year old Boulder Dam and provide motorists with an alternative to negotiating the throngs of tourist always crowding onto the twisting, two lane road that winds down into the canyon and across the narrow top of the Boulder Dam before climbing hairpin switchbacks up and out.

The Boulder Dam bypass project is incredible in its' enormity alone. Shyswcraper size concrete support columns rising hundreds of feet into the sky from some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world. When completed the world's longest single arch bridge will span 1,900 feet across Black Canyon at a height of 890 feet (about a ninety story building) above the Colorado River down below. The dam bypass will be located only a quarter of a mile below the dam.

Proposed more than ten years ago, the project was shelved for a decade after environmentalist objected, then the residents of Boulder City questioned the impact the bypass would have on their generally quiet lifestyles and the results was lost funding. Following the terrorist attack of 9/11 the existing highway across the top of the dam was restricted to auto traffic leaving commercial trucks and buses with a long detour through Laughlin. The solution was to resurrect the dam bypass. Work began in 2005 when federal funding became available. The cost of the project is in excess of $200 million and completion is forecast for 2008.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com


Approach for the bridge on the Arizona side of the Colorado River.

The Boulder Dam bypass is expected to create a real estate housing boom in the northwest corner of Arizona after the highway makes the land an easy half hour commute to Vegas. The following photos offer some views of the progress on the massive construction project. Las Vegas visitors are encouraged to take the easy drive to Histroric Boulder Dam and see first hand the building of a modern engineering spectacle. It's difficult to show the scale of this leviathan using size limited photos; you really need to be there and see it for yourself.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight at 7 p.m., a benefit screening of Some Like It Hot will be shown at The Palms with a silent auction and reception to follow.

The event benefits the Second Chance Foundation, a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to educate the public on the need to donate organ and tissue. Second Chance also offers financial assistance to patients in need of organ donation.

Tony Curtis will appear to answer questions. For the auction, Curtis has donated pieces of artwork with montages from the movie of himself, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As of Sept. 1, Steve Wynn's new dealer tip-sharing policy began.

Now sharing with supervisors, dealer tips were reduced by as much as 12 percent.

Over 100 dealers filed anonymous complaints with the labor commission, which yesterday stated the policy does not violate state law.

With tips, salaries of Wynn dealers are the highest in Las Vegas with Wynn president Andrew Pascal estimating a hefty $100,000 per year.

Wynn began tip-pooling to offset a disparity between them and their supervisors, who Pascal said were averaging $60,000, thus making managerial positions less desirable and more difficult to fill.

With the tip redistribution, supervisors' salaries would increase over 50 percent to $96,000, compared with dealers' now $90,000.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tomorrow, a new version of the 1935 Monopoly board game goes on sale with the Las Vegas Strip featured as one of the squares.

Originally designed around the streets of Atlantic City, Hasbro's new "Monopoly: Here and Now" game features landmarks and cities voted on by over 3 million people.

The Strip is in the green group, along with the White House and Wrigley Field in Chicago.

In addition to new landmarks, property values have been reassessed and Monopoly money has inflated, with denominations ranging from $10,000 to $5 million.

The tokens have also gone commercial, with such branded products as Starbucks, New Balance, McDonald's, Toyota, and Motorola represented. None of the corporations paid for their products to be used.

Airports replace railroads, labradoodles replace Scottish terriers, reality TV shows replace beauty pageants, and players get sent to jail for identity theft.

Next to "Go to Jail," incidentally, is Las Vegas Boulevard, costing a relative bargain of $3 million. Rent is $260,000. With one house, rent is $1.3 million, two houses is $3.9 million, three houses is $9 million, and four houses is $11 million. With a hotel (a casino-hotel?), rent is $12.75 million. Houses cost $2 million and hotels are $2 million plus four houses.

The game retails for $29.99, almost three times the cost of the traditional still-available Monopoly.

Visit Monopoly.com to see the new board, tokens, and even roll dice to play the game online.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

German shoemaker Puma is joining Hard Rock to produce a special edition shoe to give away to their VIP and celebrity guests.

Only 200 pairs of the leather sneaker will be made, in a package called a Puma Las Vegas Basket.

Reminiscent of a bowling shoe (we say that because we're jealous), the sneakers come in either white with green or black with red and are sizes 7-14. Three sets of gold-tipped laces in green, white, and red are also included. The shoes come wrapped in a purple velvet bag with gold string.

Hard Rock's logo and the Puma stripe are embossed in gold leather, along with playing card suits stitched into the heel and under the tongue, just to remind you it's a casino shoe.

Next time you see Lindsay Lohan (who's dating Harry Morton, son of Peter Morton, who just sold Hard Rock), check her feet.

Not a celebrity or high-roller but want your very own shoe? Try eBay.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For the Broadway-in-Las Vegas naysayers focused on Phantom's changing start times from 10 p.m. to an hour earlier, notice that was the only show affected.

Following suit beginning tonight is KA, where showtimes have also moved up one hour, now at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

A 10 p.m. showtime may not sound late for a 24-hour city like Las Vegas, but East Coast tourists feeling like it's 1 a.m. may be caught snoozing.

Look for other and future shows to follow suit.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Surprising some insiders, July's gaming revenue for Nevada was up 8.4 percent from the same time last year.

Casino operators were generally prepared for a slowdown because of June's decrease in revenue from the previous June, as well as slowed housing and increased gas prices.

For July 2006, revenue was $1.04 billion (compared with $958.5 million last July).

The Las Vegas Strip accounted for over half of that, with revenue at $531.7 million, almost a 10 percent increase from last July.

North Las Vegas was up 11.1 percent and the Boulder Strip was up 16.1 percent. Although data wasn't available, this would indicate downtown Las Vegas and other local areas had a smaller percentage win.

In contrast, Atlantic City's July was $480.5 million, a 4.8 percent drop from the previous July. This was largely because of their 12 casinos being forced to close for three days, costing the industry between $50 million and $55 million.

AC's August rebounded with $494.5 million, a 4.5 percent increase from last August.

Nevada state regulators report gaming revenue six weeks after the end of the month, so August's revenues won't be available until mid-October.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Okay, so recent reports that Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular's been a bit empty for the 10 p.m. shows have caused weekend time changes to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays.

The jury's still out on whether this spells bad news for the show, but from all accounts it seems the 95-minute musical at The Venetian is a smash hit except for that 10 p.m. show.

We also have no comment yet on whether them discounting select performances by $25 means anything, but heck, $25 off is $25 off. Click here, pick your date, and enter promotion code POTOC2.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This year's Vegoose keeps getting better and better, with more artists signing on.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Fiona Apple, and The Raconteurs are also onboard to join what looks like the place to be this and every Halloween in Las Vegas.

We admit we have just a tiny crush on those pouty lips and just might have to trek on over to the Sam Boyd Stadium to see Miss Fiona (pictured above).

Click here to purchase tickets ($146.50), which includes admission to all the following bands Oct. 28-29 at Sam Boyd Stadium (with additional performances Oct. 27-31 all around Vegas):

Band of Horses
The Black Crowes
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Built To Spill
Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley
Dr. Octagon aka Kool Keith
Fiona Apple
G. Love & Special Sauce
Galactic
Gomez
Guster
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
Jamie Lidell
Jim James of My Morning Jacket
Jurassic 5
Keller Williams Incident featuring Keller Williams and the String Cheese Incident
The Killers
The Mars Volta
Medeski Martin & Wood with special guest Maceo Parker
Mike Patton's Peeping Tom
Phil Lesh
Praxis
The Raconteurs
The Rhythm Devils featuring Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzman, Mike Gordon & Steve Kimock
The Roots
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Trey Anastasio
Widespread Panic
Yard Dogs Road Show
Yonder Mountain String Band
The Zutons

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Galaxy Theatres will be broadcasting the Vikings vs. Redskins (4 p.m.) and San Diego vs. Raiders (7:15 p.m.) games, right from their theater.

That theater is a 60-foot screen in DLP digital projection.

It all takes place today for free at the Galaxy Theatres at the Cannery casino (2121 E. Craig Road in North Las Vegas). See one or both games with a few hundred other fans.

Incidentally, if you've been wondering about the movie theaters at Neonopolis, it's now being run by Galaxy instead of Crown Theatres.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cat Power with the Memphis Rhythm Band and Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins have both been added to the Vegoose lineup. In the last few weeks Ben Folds, Mike Patton's Peeping Tom, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Yard Dogs Road Show have also been added.

During the concert at night series, New Orleans legends The Meters will be opening up for Widespread Panic on October 30th at the MGM. The show will be at the Grand Garden and start at 7pm.

Stop by the Vegoose website for more details and ticket information.

Posted by Dr. Pauly at 7:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over at Mandalay Bay, rumjungle has two special nights coming up in September: Xotic Monday (Sept. 18) and Rumba Wednesday (Sept. 20).

At Rumba, you'll find cheap Corona beer and Sky vodka amongst the music stylin's of salsa, merengue, and bachata by DJ Urbin.

Show up at Xotic and receive a free bottle with the purchase of a bottle. For women, groups of 10 or more get a free bottle.

We asked if we could get a free woman if we purchased 10 bottles, but apparently we're on our own.

rumjungle did, however, say that locals receive free admission at Xotic. So at least that's a start.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The regular LasVegasVegas reader will notice we're fond of polls, especially when our fine city is portrayed in a positive light.

A new article by Newsweek and MSNBC now votes Las Vegas as the most dynamic city in the world.

What makes a city dynamic? According to the list, it's a city that's as diverse as possible.

You may think of Vegas as focused solely on gaming, but did you know we also have a pretty dynamic broadband telecommunications network, largely because of the 24-hour gaming industry?

That industry opens doors for technology, finance, and other sectors that uses gaming.

We can also boast a low unemployment rate. The number of jobs nationwide grew 1.6 percent, while Clark County increased by 7 percent.

So cheers, Vegas. Everyone already knew how dynamic we were; now we have the certificate to prove it.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the Stardust closing Nov. 1, more than 1,600 employees will soon be displaced or taking early retirement.

Boyd Gaming has known since January that Stardust would be closing, and since then has been assisting union and nonunion employees in looking for other work at their other casinos.

Job placement and refresher training classes have been offered, along with generous severance packages ($1,000 to $10,000) for those who remain and retire with Stardust.

Industry insiders are praising Boyd for treating their employees well, something many casinos neglected in the past.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our favorite Vegas local band The Killers has their new Sam's Town album coming out on Oct. 3, and a preview of their "When You Were Young" single and music video can be found at their website.

Their next single "Bones" is currently being directed by Tim Burton, who's working with Johnny Depp on Sweeney Todd.

A combination of The Killers' live Los Angeles concerts and animation, Burton will incorporate models and miniature sets inspired by old Vegas.

While no stranger to directing musicals such as Corpse Bride, this will be the first time Burton has directed a music video.

In an interview with MTV News, bassist Mark Stoermer said, "It's Tim Burton. It's going to be great. There are some skeletons, some darkness and some romance. What more could you want?"

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seems that already the Sportsbook.com billboard o' cash has been broken into... or has it?

One hundred thousand one-dollar bills were encased in a billboard near Stardust just a few days ago (Sept. 1), and police are now looking into how the money was allegedly stolen at about 3 a.m. early this morning when the armed guard went on break.

Police are investigating, after finding a nearby abandoned car filled with dollar bills.

Hmm...

Not working in Sportsbook.com's favor is the fact that they were laying 6-to-1 odds on whether the money would indeed be stolen. At 6:1, it could even have priced some crafty criminal into placing a bet and then stealing the money themselves. Let's say, oh, $100,000 as a bet that the money would be stolen. That would mean an easy $600,000 plus $100,000 in dollar bills, which they could go wild with at the gentlemen's clubs across the street.

To prevent a seeming dare to steal the money, however, Sportsbook.com (which owns Paradise Poker and has its own cashless billboard near the airport) capped all bets at $100.

We immediately thought shenanigans; how ballsy would it be for someone to attempt any kind of big money burglary on the Las Vegas Strip?

As a stunt, it's good enough publicity to have the cash simply contained up there for everyone to see. Then to generate more buzz so soon afterwards, not to mention police involvement and all the legal trouble that would bring to the promoters?

Well, bad publicity is good publicity.

We suspect the theft was not orchestrated by Sportsbook.com, whose website was not and still is not updated with news regarding the pricey billboard.

If it was, boy are they dumb and should send us a check for advertising fees before we talk about their company again.

In the meantime, we recommend they allow bettors to wager on whether they were behind the stunt.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Stardust Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip

Amidst last week's post about the $100,000 billboard (literally) in front of Stardust, we had a throwaway comment about Stardust coming down in winter 2007.

Yep, that would be this 2006/2007 winter, beginning next year.

Even more pressing, get your reservations in now because after 48 years on the Las Vegas Strip, Stardust will close Nov. 1.

We plugged in some random dates in online reservations and found many sold out, except for the West Tower King Suite at $175.

Stardust will begin to be dismantled and then eventually imploded to make way for Echelon Place, Boyd Gaming's $4 billion project that will span 63 acres.

When all is said and done in 2010, Echelon will encompass a casino, theater venues, convention space, restaurants, nightclubs, and four hotels containing 5,300 rooms.

The hotels will be desperately needed: over Labor Day weekend, 270,000 people were estimated to have visited Vegas, selling out many hotel-casinos.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Four months remaining on a $90,000 annual salary, and Clark County Recorder Frances Deane was asked to step down from office today after search warrants at her office and home led Metro to confiscate her computer and boxes of documents, with the charge: "misappropriation of public property."

Deane faces 19 felonies of misconduct under allegations of selling copies of county documents to businesses for thousands of dollars, as well as not reporting campaign contributions. She is suspected of profiting more than $250,000.

Deane recorded over 5,000 documents per day from marriage certificates to property records, all public information on file at the Clark County Recorder's office. She's accused of selling information within those hundreds of millions of pages of records, which are normally available free to the public.

Two years ago, Deane had done the same thing, when she started a private company for individuals to view public documents from her office for a cost. She was then charged and paid a $5,000 fine. She kept her job.

Deane stated last week, "I did not do this crime" and maintained her innocence.

Today, District Judge Douglas Herndon felt evidence was sufficient enough to order her removed from office as of Friday, Sept. 8.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photos by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Fireworks have always been sexually symbolic.

Sex Education...Las Vegas Style

Naked nymphs, erotic exhibitionists, strippers, and lap dancers exposed their talents to an appreciative Las Vegas audience last week to raise $2500 for the financially strapped Clark County School District. The money will be donated to provide computers and supplies for teachers.

The performers fulfilled fantasies dressed as tantalizing teachers, sexy schoolgirls, and lonely librarians. "We bump 'n grind so no kid will be left behind," explained one well endowed dancer. "We do it for education", added a topless woman hanging upside down from a brass pole.

Leave it to Las Vegas to discover a way to beat the high cost of education and reduce the burden on tax payers. What's the secret? Sex, something the city has in abundance.

Sex has helped Las Vegas become one of the world's most successful cities. So why not put it to work for our schools?

Using sex to finance schools, Las Vegas could have the best, most well equipped, and desirable school system in the country!

Now, when the high school wants to send the band to the Rose Parade they won't have any problem raising the money-just hold a naked car wash. Wouldn't you pay $100 to have your Hummer done?

A raffle for an all expense-paid weekend at the Pussy Galore Chicken Ranch could buy helmets and uniforms for the whole football team. The consolation prize might be a free subscription to Hustler Magazine.

Cost of the Senior Prom can easily be covered by uncovering the Royal Court. The Queen's crown would be placed on the head of the most exciting striptease. The evening will end with the graduating class doing the latest dance craze called "The Kama Sutra".

Yearbook sales would set new records if full-spread pin-ups of cheerleaders laced the pages. Every girl would dream of being the class centerfold.

The lack of parent participation in school affaires could easily be solved. Just begin all PTA meetings with a porno film. Here again is yet another opportunity to raise funds by charging a modest admission fee.

School administrators must, of course, still provide equal opportunities for minority students. The Gay and Lesbian Club would be permitted to conduct gender specific activities like Boy Circle-Jerks and Bitch Bashes. Trans-sexual and cross-dressers can go both ways.

Using sex to finance public education may at first seem questionable. However, consider this-it's plentiful and readily available. Everybody likes it... one way or the other. Sex sells; and, it's an unlimited resource!

Education supported by sex would increase local business participation. Adult video stores, massage parlors and escort services, traditionally shunned by public schools, would now be able to offer scholarships and grants to promising young students.

Students with exceptional ability could major in sex management. They would learn the in's and out's of the business. Graduates would learn how to make sex work for their community. Males would receive a Master's Diploma; females would get a T 'n A Degree.

If sex paid for the cost of your childs education, wouldnt you be willing to get in the act? Take a position! Demonstrate your support for Sex Education by attending a school board meeting and demanding satisfaction. Clearly, sex and school belong in bed together!

With sex as legal tender, The Strip could finance operation of the UNLV and Downtown could easily float the junior college. Of course, students would also earn their tuition and books working in the local sex industry. In Las Vegas, every child gets an education!

There are worse ways to pay for education – taxes, state lotteries, government investments. None of these are as reliable as sex. What's more, sex is clean, healthy, doesn't pollute the environment or cause global warming. Al Gore should be able to get behind this.

Email: mousehohl@aol.com

Posted by Edgar 'Mouse' Hohl at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday, the 41st annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day telethon brought in a record-setting $61 million to fight the disease. Since the telethon began, it has raised $1.4 billion in donations.

Helping the bulk of that all-time high was a $23.5 million donation from the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Hosted again by 80-year-old and Las Vegas resident Jerry Lewis, this year the telethon moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles and was telecast on 190 U.S. and Canadian stations from the South Coast casino-hotel. Next year will also be broadcast from South Coast, when it will be renamed South Point.

Performers featured regulars from the Las Vegas Strip, including Celine Dion, Lance Burton, Clint Holmes, Rita Rudner, and George Wallace.

The show's anchor remained Ed McMahon, with co-hosts Jann Carl ("Entertainment Tonight"), Tom Bergeron ("Dancing with the Stars"), Kelly Manaco, and Larry King.

A few months ago, we had the privilege of visiting the MDA in Summerlin and while we were surprised at how run-down and cluttered their office is, we were heartened that all the money truly is going to fighting muscular dystrophy.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a publicity stunt that somehow seems worthy of our fine city, the online sportsbook Sportsbook.com has placed $100,000 in cash on top of a billboard near the Stardust.

Let's just hope they remember to take it down before Stardust is imploded (winter 2007).

Reminiscent of the $1 million that used to be displayed at the old Binion's Horseshoe, this $100,000 sits inside plexiglass on a billboard measuring 14' x 18'... and all in dollar bills.

Sportsbook.com will soon be offering their members a few chances at winning $100,000, though probably not all in dollar bills.

The billboard is heavily guarded 24 hours a day, just in case you had any thoughts. And if you did have those thoughts, Sportsbook.com has beat you to it and is offering odds on whether the money will be stolen.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From now until Sept. 17, Red Rock is giving away a car every day.

Choose between a 2006 Chrysler 300 or a Jeep Wrangler.

In addition to the car, nine people will be randomly drawn to win cash every day.

Players must have a Boarding Pass card (free to sign up) and must use the card when playing slots or table games.

Players earn one entry for every $200 buy-in at the tables, and one entry for every 100 points ($100 playthrough) earned on a slot machine.

Tickets are electronic and are automatically submitted based on your play.

Drawing is held nightly at 8:15 p.m. Winners have 24 hours to claim, and all unclaimed prizes are awarded Sept. 18.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We'd mentioned earlier that gentlemen's club Scores Las Vegas held "Detention" with strippers dressed as Catholic schoolgirls, teachers, and librarians.

That night they also received an "A+" because it was also a charity event for the Clark County School District. They raised $2,500, which was accepted by the Public Education Foundation.

The money will go toward purchasing used supplies and computers for teachers.

And no, the donation was not in dollar bills.

Clark County covers over 8,000 square miles in Southern Nevada and is the fifth largest and fastest growing school district in the country, adding 12,000 students for a total of 300,000 this year.

This fall they've begun their school year with 344 vacancies (180 special education, 80 elementary school, and 84 middle/high school), all being filled by long-term substitutes.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)