Ever thought about teaching in Las Vegas?

The Clark County School District has 3,000 teaching positions open for the 2007-2008 school year.

A Class A teacher (B.A. and Nevada certification) begins at a base salary of $30,299.

With Nevada seemingly dried up and too many students to accommodate, recruiters have been scouting outside the state, including the Detroit area.

If you're interested, schedule an interview by calling (702) 855-5414.

If you're in Detroit, interviews will occur May 19-20, June 9-10, and July 1. In Rochester, Mich., interviews take place at Oakland University on May 9.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bellagio Resort Las Vegas Photo by: FlipChip / LasVegasVegas.com

We checked and can confirm that this is false, and that not only will Dalton not be leaving Bellagio's poker room, he wouldn't think of going anywhere else.

Now as for the rumor that Bellagio's dropping their 4/8 limit game, the jury's still out...

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Carmen Electra, once in rehearsal for the new Hans Klok magic show at Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile, had been throwing tantrums and finally dropped out at the last minute.

The announcement was made along with a tantalizing stay-tuned message about Electra's replacement... none other than Pamela Anderson who will finally get a chance to be a Las Vegas showgirl, only with a multimillion-dollar contract.

Take that, Carmen.

To focus more on Anderson and 20 other dancers, the show was retitled to "The Beauty of Magic" and will now have a grand opening on June 2.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MGM Mirage plans to invest in the new M Resort, an 80-acre mixed-use development including hotel-spa-casino that will be on the far south side of the Strip (near St. Rose Pkwy.).

MGM Mirage will put $160 million into the project by issuing a subordinated convertible note, which will change into 50 percent equity interest if it hasn't been repaid in 18 months.

Being developed by Anthony Marnell III, construction is expected to begin in the next couple months with the first $700 million phase expected to open in mid-2009.

Marnell's father owns Marnell Corrao Associates, a casino developer that built Rio, Bellagio, and Wynn Las Vegas. The firm will also be behind the M Resort.

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

Last weekend, Metro and the FBI held a major bust of eight brothels in the Arville/Spring Mountain area, two miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.

"Operation Dollhouse" had been investigating the area for two years, culminating with the arrests of seven people charged with living off the earnings of 25 prostitutes. Some were also charged with drug trafficking Ecstasy.

Two law enforcement officers from San Mateo County in California happened to be at one of the brothels.

Sheriff Greg Munks and Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos offered apologies, saying they were dropped off by a limo after asking the driver to take them to a place offering massages.

Even if the "massage" they were seeking were at a legitimate business establishment, it would be questionable. That they were at a personal residence with no signage indicating massages is all the more suspicious.

Both Munks and Bolanos were detained and released, with Metro stating they received no special treatment.

Other customers were also identified and released.

No doubt the other customers were also there by accident...

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stephens Media Interactive and the Review-Journal's movie club is holding a drawing to win tickets to see Spider-Man 3 before everyone else.

The $300 million movie (some say it approaches $500 million) previews May 3 at 7 p.m. at the Galaxy Theatres up at The Cannery in North Las Vegas.

You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

Nineteen winners will be drawn at random on April 27 and tickets will be mailed.

To enter, click here. You can opt out of receiving any email regarding future drawings.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So just how many people now live in our fine city?

You mean, people like us actually live there?

Not only do we live here, we go other places for vacation.

The Las Vegas population increases every year, but it balances by those leaving. We always put the number at a million.

Official data released this week from the 2007 Las Vegas Perspective shows Clark County ballooned 5.3 percent to 1.9 million, a hair away from 2.

Looks like next year we'll have to get used to holding up two fingers.

Other data shows the median price for new homes up 10 percent to $334,000, yet "for sale" signs stay up longer because home sales have fallen 27 percent.

The median household income is $53,100. Made even better with no state taxes, free valet, and free booze. But made worse by that cursed craps table.

Last year, the number of visitors were up 0.9 percent to 38.9 million. And like the "for sale" signs, if you've noticed more no vacancies at hotels or wonder why the need for over 5,000 more of them in 2007, available rooms decreased by 0.4 percent to 132,590.

Visitor data is taken from the Las Vegas convention and Visitors Authority, which also estimates that in 2010, there will be almost 40 percent more hotel rooms ready at 171,000. Surely you'll be able to find a room then, eh?

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not only is Goldstar Events now listing cheap tickets for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular and Mamma Mia!, they also have some free tickets to the comedy hypnotism show Mesmerized available.

The free dates look to be primarily Monday through Thursday evenings at 10:30 p.m., but your mileage may vary.

The service fee for the free show is $7.50 per ticket, and that's the only fee charged. To pick up tickets, just show your I.D. at the box office in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood.

Other performances are half-price at no more than $29.50 with a lower service fee.

Phantom tickets run $67 to $82.

Mamma Mia! runs from $49.50 to $66.

So not quite half price for those shows, but to see a big Las Vegas show for under $100? It's well worth checking them out.

We've used Goldstar many times while traveling (other cities include Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Diego) and have never had a problem.

It's an excellent source for cheap tickets, and a place that deserves bookmarking.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just a few months ago, newly divorced Britney Spears was getting her wild on with new friend Paris Hilton in Las Vegas. Those all-night parties may very well have driven her to seek rehab.

Now it seems when the bald-headed mouse is away, the K-Fed will play. As in, Kevin Federline. As in, Britney's ex.

Federline was apparently at Tao (Venetian) on Friday, and he was spotted with none other than Paris Hilton.

Now before one starts thinking of the other celeb triangle web of Heather Locklear, Richie Sambora, and Denise Richards, we see that TMZ.com (normally gossip king purveyors) points out that Paris is still with Jason Strauss and was there to celebrate his birthday.

For the sake of her newly growing hair, we just hope Britney believes TMZ.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Another day, another billion-dollar casino sale to private equity.

This time it's the Stratosphere and Arizona Charlie's (both Decatur and Boulder locations) sold by Carl Icahn to Goldman Sachs Group for $1.3 billion. The purchase also includes 17 acres of Strip property and the Laughlin-based Aquarius Casino.

Much action is being made all along the Strip, and now even more focus is on the north Strip, with Wynn's new $1.7 billion Encore tower, Boyd's $4 billion Echelon Place, and Venetian's new $1.8 billion Palazzo tower still to come.

Last week, MGM Mirage spent $575 million for additional acreage around Circus Circus.

Rumor also has it that Station Casinos will be soon be redeveloping land around Palace Station to be a multi-use residential, retail, and entertainment block to the west and south. Their acreage is as large as the Echelon Place space.

With Las Vegas in the midst of the largest boom yet, could downtown piggyback on top of the Strip's success?

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Suncoast Casino (9090 Alta Dr.) is closer to Red Rock than the crowded Strip, but if you take a chance between Mother's Day and Father's Day, you'll get room rates beginning at $50 and also experience Summerlin.

The $50 rate is good for selected dates between May 6 and June 17, and with the discounted room you'll also receive $10 in freeplay, $15 in table game play, and a free gift.

To book, call 1-866-636-7111 and mention code EDEAL05.

Note also that on May 5, 13, and 28, all points earned are doubled.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former "Saturday Night Live" regular Joe Piscopo performs music and comedy at the Las Vegas Hilton, and if you click here, you can print out a coupon for two free tickets.

Piscopo performs Sunday through Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. in the Shimmer Cabaret.

To reserve in advance, call (702) 732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361 and mention the "Piscopo Shimmer Offer." You'll still need to present this coupon when you pick up your tickets at the box office.

The offer expires April 30.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Traditional blackjack pays 3:2 for blackjacks. If you wager $50, you win $75.

The trend on the Strip is the worse 6:5 for blackjacks (wager $50, win $60). Before it was confined to single-deck, but now it's spreading to shoes.

Balking at this trend, Casino Montelago (8 Strada di Villaggio, Henderson, 1-877-553-3555) in Lake Las Vegas is offering 2:1 for blackjacks (wager $50, win $100).

The offer runs Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through April 26.

There's a minimum wager amount of $5 and maximum of $50 per hand, and players are confined to playing one spot each.

Playing basic strategy, the house edge is 0.5 percent -- you should expect to lose 25 cents of every $50 bet.

With blackjacks increased to 2:1, the player has an advantage of 2.27 percent. Playing basic strategy (along with being rated on your Club Uno card) will then actually give you a positive expectation on the game.

Expect every table to be filled for those five hours a day, but since you're at the casino, you may as well play some other games. Ah, see how casino marketing works?

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You'd think that after the $7 billion Project CityCenter, MGM Mirage wouldn't have much more than dust in their wallets.

Apparently they dug into their couch cushions, because in two separate transactions yesterday, they purchased 34 acres of North Strip property for $575 million, or $17 million per acre.

One of the purchases was from Concord Wilshire Acquisitions ($131 million), which had planned on building a $1.2 billion hotel-casino under the Maxim magazine brand.

Combined with their Circus Circus property, this puts MGM Mirage in control of a 78-acre site that could be developed into something more massive than CityCenter (which itself is at 66 acres).

At 865 acres of property, it also places MGM Mirage as the largest landholder on the Strip.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

flipchip photo lasvegasvegas.com

Tomorrow, Jennifer Harman hosts the Jennifer Harman Charity Poker Tournament at Caesars Palace.

Proceeds go to the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a no-kill animal shelter that cares for thousands of animals every year.

The tournament begins at noon with a suggested $300 donation as buy-in and suggested $200 donation for added chips -- all of which will go to the NSPCA.

Players will play for a $10,000 seat to the main event at the World Series of Poker.

Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil will be one of the celebrities playing. Matt Savage, Rob Huxley, and Kyle Morris will emcee, and Robert Williamson III will host a live auction at 10 a.m.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On May 4, Jessica Simpson will appear for one night only as she hosts the Pussycat Dolls at their lounge at PURE nightclub (Caesars Palace).

Expect to see Simpson don full Pussycat garb as she reemerges into the public eye. Simpson joins other celeb Dolls, including Pamela Anderson, Brittany Murphy, Charlize Theron, Paris Hilton, Scarlett Johansson, Shannon Elizabeth, and R.C. Clark.

While on a break from singing and acting, Simpson has been laying low with boyfriend John Mayer, who performs himself June 8 at Mandalay Bay but we suspect not in Pussycat gear.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Forget naming a bar. How would you like to name an entire town?

Open to North Las Vegas residents over 18 years old, developers of a new 160-acre retail and residential development in North Las Vegas are holding a contest.

Prizes include a $25,000 shopping spree at shops in your named town and a $200,000 educational scholarship.

To enter, visit the Heart of North Las Vegas.

The contest runs through June 23, and the winner will be announced July 3.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Roseanne Barr cancelled her appearance this past weekend at Krave, citing illness.

It came just after Barr mentioned on her radio show that gay activists were only concerned about themselves: "They don't care about any other group other than their own self because you know, some people say being gay and lesbian is a totally narcissistic thing, and sometimes I wonder."

In her blog, she apologizes that her wording shouldn't have been all-encompassing and clarifies her statement: "I find some gay people care little for issues that are not about them, and are ignorant about how CLASS is the real divisive issue, even more than race, religion or sexual orientation."

Barr continues to perform her standup act through April 30 at New York New York on the stage recently vacated by Rita Rudner. Tickets begin at $49.95. For box office, call 1-866-606-7111.

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

Poker player William Gustafik was stabbed to death, allegedly, by his wife Jill Rockcastle in their subleased condo at the newly opened $2 billion aqua blue Panorama Towers (pictured above), where other condos are owned by Pamela Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tobey Maguire. Panorama is located on the west side of the I-15 and showed their model outside of last year's World Series of Poker.

According to Bluff, Gustafik earned over $30,000 from poker tournaments in August-December 2006. In March, he won $80,000 in the WPT Shooting Star at Bay 101.

Formerly a chiropractor, Gustafik recently switched to playing poker professionally.

Gustafik's wife is in custody in San Luis Obispo, California, where police found her unconscious.

Gustafik leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter from a different marriage.

No motive is yet known.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

First sharks, then ice cream on tax day. Ben & Jerry's free cone day is also today, their 29th annual where they expect to hand out over 1 million free ice cream scoops across the country.

Just stop by B&J between noon and 8 p.m. and pick up the free cone of your choice. Try one of their new Creme Brulee or Cinnamon Buns flavors.

At the Galleria Mall location at 1300 W. Sunset Rd. in Henderson, local celebrities will be on hand scooping your ice cream, including radio hosts Mark and Mercedes (Mix 94.1), Norm from the R-J, the Amazing Johnathan and his ill-fortunate assistant Penny, Mosaic, and The Scintas.

All proceeds at this location will go to the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, known for their outstanding quality of education and involvement in the community. And if you make a donation at the Galleria Mall to the Museum, you'll pick up a gift certificate for a free cupcake from The Cupcakery, just a couple miles away.

Other participating B&J scoop shops include:

The Shops at Green Valley Ranch
2225 Village Walk Drive, Suite 177 (Henderson)

Sunset Station
1301 West Sunset Road (Henderson)

Planet Hollywood
3663 Las Vegas Boulevard

Trails Village Center
1910 Village Center Circle

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mandalay Bay once again throws you to the sharks in their sixth annual Tax Relief Day at Shark Reef.

From noon to 10 p.m. today, stop by the Shark Reef (don't valet or park in the garage; it's a short walk if you park close to the far south Shark Reef end) and bring your tax return.

Stamps will be available for purchase, and your postage will be officially hand-cancelled with a Las Vegas shark stamp dated April 17. You'll then receive a free t-shirt and a free ticket good for one admission into the shark tank.

We did this a couple years ago and still wear our shirt proudly.

If you're looking for the angle on a free shirt and ticket yet already sent off your taxes, just bring a stamped envelope addressed to the IRS. Too bad if the IRS receives a blank envelope, eh? Just say the real sharks helped themselves first.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you've been living in sin, isn't it about time you made that commitment to your significant other?

No? Well, you could plan a trip to Las Vegas anyway.

Players consider July 7 -- that's 7/7/07 -- the luckiest day, and Texas Station will begin the lucky festivities by offering a free mass wedding.

Be a part of what could be one of the largest wedding ceremonies, with a free grand ceremony, a free minister, a free champagne toast, and a free marriage certificate holder.

You're on your own for the reception, but Texas can also put together a reception package.

Vow renewals will also be accepted.

To RSVP, email Julianna Atkinson or call at 1-800-654-8804.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 31 is the date for the 17th annual Epicurean Affair, where the best chefs in the world will show off their wares at Flamingo.

For $125 a ticket in advance ($150 at the door), you'll sample tastings from over 100 restaurants while navigating through custom environments (the pool, a sand pit, a "rave cave") inside and outside the hotel-casino.

Proceeds will go to the educational programs of the Nevada Hospitality and Lodging Association.

For more information, call (702) 733-3333.

For a list of participating restaurants and lounges, click below.

Here are a list of restaurants and lounges participating:

• 808
  
• Aladdin
  
• Al Dente
  
• Alize
  
• All American Bar & Grill