photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Caesars Palace has added a Pussycat Dolls Casino and retail shop outside of Pure. A first look at the special tables located just outside the Race and Sport's Book in front of the Pure Nightclub.

Hiked through the Tropicana Hotel just to experience the connection with a Vegas of old. I do mean old, the property is celebrating its 50th year on the Las Vegas strip this first week of April. One of the last of the great old brands, the Tropicana once defined the Las Vegas golden era as a period of well dressed refinement, parking lots with winding rose gardens, bone-in prime rib, and sparkling desert air.

Flipchip photos after the jump.

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

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 1:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year, second-wealthiest man in the world Warren Buffet set aside 85 percent of his $44 billion worth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Since then, the Foundation has been using the unexpected windfall to quietly purchase parcels of land around the Las Vegas Strip, and as mentioned in last week's Las Vegas Courier, the latest purchase valued at $10.2 billion now makes the Foundation's ownership over 51 percent of the entire Strip.

Recently, private equity has taken Harrah's, Station Casinos, and Sahara off public scrutiny and into the private sector.

The Foundation aims at going one step further by taking all of Las Vegas private, returning the city to its roots of being run by individuals who didn't have to answer to corporations or the law.

One of the eccentric stipulations in the historic donation to the Foundation is to maintain and cultivate a favorite dish of its donor -- a rather innocuous but tasty macaroni and cheese that's brown on the edges.

In March 2006, the Las Vegas Hilton entered the Guinness Book of World Records with the largest buffet at 510 dishes, but Holmes County, an Amish region in Ohio, is in contention to beat that record with their recent feast.

The Foundation seeks to cease and desist all record seekers by breaking that record when it breaks ground on a hotel-condo spanning 12 acres on the west side of the Strip, one that will house the city's only 24-hour buffet.

Each of the 50 floors will contain up to 500 dishes on a different theme -- Middle Eastern, American, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Fast Food, all the way to the top floor consisting solely of mac & cheese variations. One floor will pay tribute to the defunct Boardwalk casino, which was prior home to Vegas' 24-hour buffet.

Each floor will contain one restroom per 20 square feet. On the Boardwalk floor, that number will be doubled, also in tribute to the late casino.

In a unique twist on standard food presentation combined with family entertainment, conveyor belts will act as ready transportation for the eager diner at speeds of 8 mph.

The hotel will also contain an Olympic-sized pool outfitted with RFID technology to block any swimmer who has eaten within the past hour.

Following the throwback to old Vegas with Harrah's renaming Barbary Coast to Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon, the hotel will be named Buffet's Buffet and is expected to be completed the second quarter of 2008.

Inaugural 2-for-1 coupons and paper barf bags will be published in a special pullout section of the Las Vegas Courier.

As for other plans the Foundation has in store for Las Vegas, stay tuned next April.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tomorrow just after midnight (that would be Saturday night), you can meet the women from the topless Fantasy show and revue at Luxor.

They appear and will sign autographs at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce at sister casino Mandalay Bay (a hop, skip, and a tram ride away) and will hand out free show tickets (valued at $45), calendars, and items of clothing (ahem).

The Fantasy girls even have their own risque online slot machine. You get 50 spins to score as high as you can, with top scores placed on their leaderboard. The bonus round has one of the girls strutting toward us on stage and lifting her skirt if she has one.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Las Vegas Hilton hosts a $30,000 Bunny Money slot tournament April 4-6.

Cost to enter is $199, which includes a three-night stay at the Hilton. You can also use your Hilton Reward Dollars to buy your way in.

Everyone is guaranteed to win at least $50 (bringing your cost down to $149).

Prizes are awarded as follows:

$6,000 -- 1st place
$2,000 -- 2nd place
$1,000 -- 3rd place
$600 -- 4th-5th place
$200 -- 6th-10th place
$150 -- 11th-20th place
$100 -- 21st-50th place
$75 -- 51st-100th place
$50 -- 101st-last place

To sign up and book your stay, call 1-800-457-3307.

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

Many a time we've found ourselves seeking our bank's ATM in a casino but have always come up short.

Certainly the outrageous ATM fees are the main reason why it's worth taking a drive to find a branch of our bank. Though that's more and more negligible considering gas prices.

Here's a handy list of 30 ATMs near us in and around Henderson that don't have a surcharge (you'll still be charged however much your bank's fee is). The $5 we save can go toward a blackjack bet at a locals casino.

Our source is Money Pass, a terrific site that also lists a few Rebels, banks, and downtown areas (Hennessey's, Mickie Finnz) that offer free ATMs closer to the Strip.

1. The Downstairs Bar
11261 S Eastern Ave
Henderson, NV 89052

2. Community Bank of Nevada
10895 S Eastern Ave
Henderson, NV 89052-5851

3. Village Pub Horizon
10900 S Eastern Ave
Henderson, NV 89052

4. U.S. Bank Anthem Village - Vons
2511 Anthem Vlg Dr
Henderson, NV 89052

5. U.S. Bank Henderson
10104 S Eastern Ave
Henderson, NV 89052

6. Rebel#85
10000 S Eastern Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89052

7. La Collina Trattoria
645 Carnegie St
Henderson, NV 89052

8. Juice Bar#3
9065 S Eastern Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89123

9. Rd Runner Pebble
2430 E Pebble Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89123

10. U.S. Bank Valle Verde Lake Mead Smiths
55 S Valle Verde Dr
Henderson, NV 89012

11. Rebel#83
2412 E Windmill Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89123

12. Ventanos
191 Arroyo Grande
Henderson, NV 89012

13. Mickeys Cues and Brews
7380 S Eastern Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89123

14. Cancun Vacation
8335 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89123

15. Chriss Place Food and Spirts
1725 E Warm Springs Rd #18
Las Vegas, NV 89119

16. Rebel#79
980 Warm Springs Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89120

17. Henry's American Bar
237 Stephanie St
Henderson, NV 89122

18. U.S. Bank Las Vegas
610 E Warm Spgs Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89119

19. Luckys Tavern
8025 S Dean Martin Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89119

20. Community Bank of Nevada
370 N Stephanie St
Henderson, NV 89014-8723

21. Rebel#63
6510 S Pecos
Las Vegas, NV 89120

22. Village Pub and Grill
2301 E Sunset Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89119

23. Super Mex Restaurant and Cantina
3460 E Sunset Suite D1
Henderson, NV 89120

24. Yorky's
3720 E Sunset Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89121

25. Orchard St Grill
955 Grier Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89119

26. Rebel 94
7280 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89119

27. U.S. Bank Henderson
400 N Stephanie St
Henderson, NV 89014

28. Bank of Commerce
4343 E Sunset Rd
Henderson, NV 89014-2238

29. U.S. Postal Service FCU
1001 E Sunset Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89199

30. Village Pub
4563 E Sunset Rd
Henderson, NV 89104

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

Want a chance to see a Las Vegas show for free?

Gerry "The Mentalist" McCambridge, headliner at Rampart Casino, has put together a mailing list for publicists to send unused comp tickets to over 5,000 locals who are also subscribed to the list.

Shows are usually emailed at the last minute to the list with a phone number and contact person. Just call the number before the "seats filled" email is sent out, and you suddenly have plans for that night.

The service is completely free and can be received via cellphone texting as well. To receive the emails an hour before everyone else, you can become a premium member for $69.95 per year via PayPal. Complimentary premium memberships are available to the military.

Shows this past weekend included Hypnosis Gone Wild, Larry G. Gones (the Man of 1002 Voices), Steve Connolly's Spirit of the King, the Fashionistas (now at Empire Ballroom), and the Claudine Castro Band.

Other shows have included The Producers, Forever Plaid, Carrot Top, The Wiggles, and Craig Ferguson.

For more information, visit Vegas Seat Fillers.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When the Los Angeles Olympic Games were held in 1984, Las Vegas benefited from being so close. Were it to occur today, the expected economic impact to an Olympic city is in the nine figures.

Though nine years away, Los Angeles and Chicago are the two cities fighting to be the United States host city for the 2016 Olympics.

Los Angeles is working overtime, including San Francisco and San Diego in its Olympic bid. And yesterday, Los Angeles had a last-minute meeting with Mayor Oscar Goodman to piggback Las Vegas onto their bid as well.

Sam Boyd Stadium (pictured above) will be pitched to hold preliminary soccer games after an expansion to accommodate 40,000 people. Just for hosting soccer, as much as $100 million in revenue could be brought to Las Vegas. To say nothing of the gambling.

The U.S. Olympic Committee will decide which city to represent on April 14, and the winner will then move to the international contest where the host will be decided in 2009.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You can win a $25,000 trip to the Vegas Grand Prix poker tournament by bidding the lowest unique bid.

The prize includes a $10,000 seat into the first charity celebrity Vegas Grand Prix tournament on April 7 at Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel, a $500 buy-in to the main event, VIP credentials to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, airfare for two and hotel stay, and a two-hour tutoring session from poker pro Patrik Antonius.

To enter the drawing, visit this link or text POKER to 41414 on your cellphone.

The auction doesn't cost anything but you need to be at least 21. You can bid until April 1.

Satellites to the tournament are already underway at Binion's. Celebrities in the tournament will include Robert Williamson III, Marcel Luske, Hoyt Corkins, and Patrik Antonius.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A strange item in yesterday's New York Daily News's Rush & Molloy column has new Vegas resident Michael Jackson in talks to build a 50-foot robotic likeness in the desert as part of a concert deal for him to perform in residence.

The replica would contain laser beams that welcome visitors to Las Vegas, and audience members would be able to control other human cyborgs in a giant rock 'em sock 'em video game.

The column also mentions Paul McCartney is interested in investing in the show.

We somehow doubt the validity of this ever coming to fruition, but our hats are off to Jacko's publicists.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Austria's Doppelmayr Cable Car company and Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group will use the latest cable-drawn transport technology to construct the Cable Liner Shuttle that will eventually connect the MGM Project CityCenter with sister casinos Monte Carlo and Bellagio.

Like its existing shuttle connecting Mandalay Bay to Luxor and to Excalibur, the Cable Liner Shuttle will be fully automated.

Two continuously moving shuttles holding up to 128 people each will travel across almost half a mile in two minutes at a speed of 17 miles per hour.

Three thousand people will be accommodated per hour in each direction.

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

Illusionist David Copperfield is back in town with "An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion" at MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre through April 19 (with additional dates May 23-27 and June 14-July 3).

One of the highlights of Copperfield's act is involving audience members in his charming illusions. During each "intimate evening," audience members will join Copperfield in midair suspension and vanish to a deserted island. More audience members will be taken onstage and vanish, only to reappear in the back of the theater.

In one of his many TV specials, we saw Copperfield walk through the Great Wall of China. In each performance onstage, he will attempt to walk through a solid steel wall. We hope to use the trick on Chef Joel Robuchon's refrigerator door.

Copperfield will also take sleight of hand to dangerous heights, as he handles a poisonous Black African Scorpion. We won't be volunteering for that one.

Performances run 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. nightly, with added 4:30 p.m. shows on March 31, April 7, and April 14.

Tickets are $97 (including taxes and fees) and can be purchased at 1-800-929-1111 or by visiting www.mgmgrand.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rainbow Bar & Grill, the fab 24/7 restaurant and bar across from Hard Rock, has closed as they begin preparations to relocate to another venue with less construction, less road closures, less power outages, and easier and more parking that doesn't involve people rushing to the airport on Paradise Rd.

Possible locations include inside a casino-hotel (the Las Vegas Weekly voted them the best non-hotel bar in Vegas) or within a certain gentlemen's club that cost $30 million to build and was recently put on the auction block for over 2.5 times that.

Let's hope they retain their 2-for-1 entree special between 5 and 10 p.m.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

UNLV Running Rebels finished off their dream season with a four point loss to the Oregon Ducks Friday evening. Amazing what winning a few games and going deep into the NCAA Tournament will do to wake up a town that quit cheering for the round ball boys late last century. Making the Sweet Sixteen was remeniscent of the glory days of the 1990 UNLV team that scored a NCAA National Championship win. Next year? Perhaps, but this amazing team has five productive seniors that won't be returning including three point specialist KIevin Krueger, the son of UNLV Coach Lou Kreiger. Making the Sweet Sixteen was sixteen years in the making. Congratulations for the great finish, it was so close.

More local talent was on national display Saturday when Las Vegas native and NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch defended his win at Bristol in 2006 by leading much of Saturday's Sharpie Mini 300 Busch Series race at the Bristol, TN race track. Kyle finally finished third to series point leader Carl Edwards after the car loosened up and became difficult to handle on the short track. Today's Nextel Cup Series' Sharpie 500 from the Bristol Motor Speedway will also feature the Vegas Busch brothers.

Posted by flipchipro at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For the fourth year in a row, Morgan Quitno Press has ranked Nevada as the number one most dangerous state.

The company charges $1.99 to see full details of their 16-page report, but criteria for being the most dangerous involves a formula containing murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. All the fun stuff.

They do note that criminologists mention crime levels are dictated by several different factors (such as the more young'uns in a state, the more crime) that Morgan Quitno did not take into account in their annual report.

Incidentally, they rated the safest state as North Dakota. But would you rather visit North Dakota than Las Vegas?

(Note: despite being the most dangerous state, Las Vegas didn't make the top 10 most dangerous cities.)

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tomorrow begins previews of Stomp Out Loud, a new show from the Stomp folks that's double in size and loudness.

If you aren't familiar with the show, you'll never look at a trashcan lid and a broom the same way again.

Stomp Out Loud performs Tuesdays through Thursdays at the new $28 million, 1,500-seat theater at Planet Hollywood (with the transition finally almost complete, we won't hyphenate the casino with Aladdin anymore).

Unfortunately, preview prices are the same as regular prices, which range from $50 to $110 and can be purchased at stomponline.com and Ticketmaster.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Elton John performs on Celine Dion's offnights (with his next set March 27 through April 10), but if you can't get out to Caesars Palace to see "The Red Piano" or don't want to pay upwards of $250 for a ticket, here's an alternative way to see him live.

If you visit MSN, you can hear samples of almost 500 tracks from 90 singles and 32 albums. Music videos, photos, album covers, and more spanning John's 40-year career will also be available.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

But if you drop by March 25 at 5:30 p.m. PDT, you'll be able to watch the sold-out Madison Square Garden concert "Happy Birthday, Elton" streamed live in its entirety.

Fans can also enter a trivia contest to win a trip to Las Vegas to see Elton John in person, an autographed photo, and his new Greatest Hits CD.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bon Jovi will headline the 10th annual Tiger Jam on May 26 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Tickets begin at $100 and go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.

Created by Tiger Woods to help fund the Tiger Woods foundation, Tiger Jam has raised more than $10 million for Las Vegas youth and other charities including Child Haven, Center for Independent Living, Greater Las Vegas Inner City Games, Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas, GRAMMY in the Schools, and The VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

For Tiger Jam X, the event will include a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, and a special performance by Bon Jovi.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today, Harrah's launched a new online promotion based on the Plinko game from "The Price Is Right."

To play, visit this link.

It's free to enter, you don't have to live in Las Vegas, and you can play once per day. You must be at least 21 years old.

If you get the red gamepiece to land in a slot with a prize, you could win tickets to see the live "Price Is Right" game show at Bally's (valued at $80), dinner for two at the Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris Las Vegas (valued at $150), a "Price Is Right" t-shirt (valued at $15), or a Total Rewards bag (valued at $1.79).

By entering, you'll also gain an entry into the sweepstakes that will award two grand prizes consisting of a two-night trip for two to Las Vegas and all of the above prizes. The winner will also get a backstage tour of the show. The grand prize is valued at $930.

The promo ends May 16.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Did you know the Zappos shoe store is based in Las Vegas?

They are, and have just opened a new shoe outlet containing over 20,000 pairs of namebrand shoes.

The outlet is located at 7770 S. Dean Martin Dr. on the way to the Silverton Casino. It's directly across from the Las Vegas Outlet Center, and on the west side of I-15.

To celebrate, they're giving away a $50 gift certificate every day through March 26 and one $250 gift certificate going to a grand prize winner.

You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

To enter, visit this link and enter your name, address, phone number, and birthdate.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Allegiant Airlines has teamed up with the Las Vegas Monorail by offering its Vegas-bound passengers an opportunity to purchase monorail passes for 20 percent off the normal cost.

Passes are in books of 10 and are good for one-way trips only. The regular cost is $35, but Allegiant discounts to $28, or $2.80 per pass.

The normal cost of a one-way pass is $5.

Alas, the monorail does not yet extend to the airport, but shhh, don't tell the tourists.

Locals with current Nevada photo I.D. can still purchase one-way rides for just $1 at the following places:

• The Downtown Transportation Center, 300 N. Casino Center Blvd.
  
• The South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 Gillespie St.
  
• The Regional Transportation Commission offices, 600 Grand Central Pkwy.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Over the weekend we were fortunate enough to attend a charity event to help Golden Rainbow, an organization that provides housing a