photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

On Labor Day Monday, Sept. 3, locals can receive $10 off tickets to the Ronn Lucas show at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Lucas is an internationally known comedian and ventriloquist, with puppet costars Scorch, Buffalo Billy, and Chuck.

Regular price is $29.95 and $39.95 for VIP admission with preferred seating and DVD or t-shirt and signed photograph.

The show is also good for families and performs at Luxor.

To purchase discounted tickets, bring a valid Nevada driver's license to the Luxor box office in advance or the day of show. Parents can use the discount to purchase tickets for children under age 12.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Station Casinos now has another bet in their sportsbooks: fantasy football.

Nevada is the only state in the nation that allows wagering on sports, and many of the 175 sportsbooks also offer proposition bets.

But Station is the only casino to offer wagering on fantasy teams.

Gamblers are now able to bet on projections for 24 players per week. A player's projected stats will be combined and an over-under will be set. Station oddsmakers determine the fantasy line.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a $1 million, three-year deal, Zappos.com (where we've been known to purchase more than our share of shoes) is sponsoring this year's third annual Las Vegas Marathon.

The marathon began in 2005 with 12,000 runners that grew 50 percent to 18,000 in 2006. This year's marathon will begin Dec. 2 on the Las Vegas Strip.

Zappos is headquartered in Las Vegas, though we still buy online to get free shipping.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

US Airways offers $25 and $50 off their regular prices on all vacation packages to Las Vegas through Oct. 31. Book at least three days before Sept. 15.

Use code LAS25 for $25 off at: Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon, Circus Circus, Fitzgeralds, Gold Coast, Riviera, Stratosphere, Golden Nugget, Imperial Palace, and The Orleans.

Use code LAS50 for $50 off at: Bally's, Bellagio, Caesasrs Palace, Excalibur, Flamingo, Green Valley Ranch, Harrah's, THEHotel (Mandalay Bay), Las vegas Hilton, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York New York, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Red Rock, Ritz-Carlton (Lake Las Vegas), Signature (MGM Grand), Treasure Island, Tropicana, Venetian, Westin, and Wynn.

To book, visit uswairwaysvacations.com or call 1-800-455-0123.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cherry at the Red Rock Casino, one of the hottest nightclubs in town, boasts a beautiful pool for Las Vegas locals to take advantage of. Over the weekend, I headed to the Cherry Pool when the doors opened at 11:00 a.m. and scored a prime spot right next to the water. I didn't have to pay a cover or show a room key!

This is an exclusive spot and it's hidden behind a wall of trees and shrubs. If you didn't know it was there, you'd never see it. This is a perfect spot for a day of luxury and relaxation.

More after the jump...

It is imperative that you arrive early because there are only 16 lounge chairs which are actually reserved for the people who rent cabanas. Across from the pool there is a row of ten round beds that are piled high with pillows. So, if you don't snatch one up quickly, you are out of luck.

The cocktail servers are readily available and they have a great menu that offers refreshing summertime beverages like pina coladas, margaritas, and mojitos. They also serve a variety of food like shrimp cocktail, salad, and wraps.

Once the D.J. arrived, the party got started and the crowd started to build. As is the case with most of the pools, the earlier you get there, the more relaxed the crowd is and once it gets later, the drinks start flowing, and the party really begins. I was impressed with the service, the guests and I got a great overall feeling when I was there. I will definitely visit this pool again.

There is a 3 bottle minimum if you choose to rent a cabana, so plan on spending at least $800 on the weekend (not including gratuity). Inside the cabana you can expect a plasma T.V., a fully stocked refrigerator, private couches to lounge on, your own cocktail server, and a curtain to close for privacy.

The Red Rock is offering a special deal called "The Retreat" through September 4th for $139.00 your are treated to 37 hours of excitement to include a late night private party at the Cherry Pool, VIP bowling, accommodations in the hotel, and a late check-out. Visit RedRockLasVegas.com for more details.

Please note, that the Cherry Pool is not the same as the regular Red Rock pool. Please check out my review of Red Rock's regular pool.

Posted by Carmen at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Photos of eclipse taken during period approximately 50-70 minutes into event.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

The moon is now close to the western horizon and looking quite normal, so, from Las Vegas...Good Morning and Good Night.

Posted by flipchipro at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

First photo of eclipse taken approximately thirty minutes into event.

Posted by flipchipro at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Early tomorrow morning at about 2 a.m., a total lunar eclipse will be taking place.

Those along the Pacific Ocean have the best chance at seeing the eclipse in its entirety.

This includes Las Vegas, and a group from the University of North Dakota led by Drs. Timothy Young and Ronald March are in town to record and broadcast it live via webcast.

We understand the difficulty in knowing what time it is or losing track of time while inside a casino, so you can watch the eclipse take place in real time by visiting their website or visiting the same link to see photos.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We thought Britney Spears took private jets to Las Vegas, but apparently she likes to drive, and drive fast.

Over the weekend, Spears and two of her male dancers were caught speeding in her Mercedes on their way to Las Vegas.

She was pulled over by state troopers but let go with a warning, after she said she was speeding to avoid paparazzi. She ended up skipping her trip, making a U-turn, and returned to Los Angeles.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Downtown Las Vegas has been on the decline for a number of years and nothing really seems to help the slide. The Fremont Street Light Canopy didn't deliver the thousands of gamblers hoped for nor did the Neonop[olis project. Now the city braintrust has invested another $5.5 million of taxpaper's money into the latest band-aid, the Fremont Street East Neon Show and sidewalk repair. Flipchip stopped by for the grand opening to shoot some photos and MGS was there with her video camera so you can be the judge of the effectiveness of this latest investment.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 4:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The McCormick & Schmick's on Flamingo (and actually any M&S if you're not in Las Vegas) offers a $25 off coupon if you make an online reservation before the end of today.

Reservations can be made for any time between now and Sept. 25.

Print this certificate and take it with you on your reservation date (call the number on the certificate to make a reservation).

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Smokers, you're now on high alert.

So far, the Southern Nevada Health District has only gone after businesses that ignored the smoking ban.

Any restaurant, tavern, bar, or establishment that serves food or contains an area open to children has to be free of smoke.

Individuals have been given warnings, but beginning next month, smokers themselves will now receive fines of $100 in addition to the food establishment.

Businesses must have removed all ashtrays and must post "no smoking" signs, or else they'll also be fined $100.

Smoking is still welcome in casino areas, of course, so we'd recommend taking your food to go and eating at the slot machines if you must smoke.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SuperClubs, the resort that made a name brand out of Hedonism, is seeking opinions whether they should open a Hedonism Las Vegas resort. With or without a casino.

To complete the survey, visit this link.

It's probably a mistake, but they don't include an option for the 35- to 44-year-old demographic.

We'd like to think those in their early 40s who just missed the baby boom are persona non grata when it comes to hedonistic activities.

Not that we're in our early 40s or anything...

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That space behind Bally's and Paris Las Vegas will soon be the home of a brand new $500 million, 20,000-seat arena, built by Harrah's and AEG.

AEG was responsible for stealing David Beckham to play with the Galaxy, and they also put Celine Dion at Harrah's-owned Caesars Palace.

This is the first major project since Harrah's went private.

For a stadium of this size that could hold an NBA team in a city without one because of problematic sports betting, could this be yet another step toward enticing a pro sports franchise?

Spread across 10 acres, it would certainly be the largest sports and entertainment arena in town. Even without a pro team, the state-of-the-art stadium would be welcome as host to concerts, awards presentations, and boxing matches... the same events currently held at MGM Mirage and Mandalay Bay.

This would be the second stadium built, after the proposed one downtown. But unlike downtown or even the current Thomas & Mack near UNLV, this stadium would be within walking distance of the Las Vegas Strip, offering the convenience of nearby hotel resorts.

Which just so happen to be closest to Harrah's properties.

Harrah's is still mum with their other plans, but if it's anything like the scale of this one, we're looking forward to being blown away.

Completion of the arena is expected by 2010.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UNLV offers the only certificate program dedicated to The Art of Concierge.

Appropriate for this city, the program works with The International School of Hospitality and gives hands-on training to the level of concierge service visitors to Las Vegas expect.

The class can be taken by anyone with or without experience.

The Venetian offers internships as part of the 10-week course.

Classes begin Sept. 11 and meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The International School of Hospitality training facility at Sunset and Sandhill.

For more information, call (702) 505-4878 or visit www.tisoh.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Producers musical at The Paris now stars Tony Danza, and if you book before Oct. 15, you can purchase tickets for $60. This includes weekends, and you don't have to be a local!

Regular tickets can run as high as $143.

Danza starred in the same role in the Broadway version of the show (pictured above left), which closed earlier this spring.

To book, visit Ticketmaster and find the date and time you'd like to go, then select "Find Tickets."

Under "Ticketdeals Partner Offer," enter the number of tickets and enter the password TMDEAL.

Click the "Look For Tickets" button and then the verification word.

We had no problems finding tickets sitting dead center on a Saturday night. Beware that Ticketmaster will still add their outrageous convenience fees to each ticket.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Whenever the Las Vegas Monorail holds a special event, they tend to let locals ride free. The last time was 7/7/07 and we rode around all day in the cool air conditioning while people watching.

This time, it's Saturday, Sept. 1, which kicks off Labor Day Weekend.

In addition to free rides for locals (show your I.D. and they will give you a day pass -- don't forget to pay it forward by offering the pass to someone else if you won't be using it the rest of the day), there will be free entertainment from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. that afternoon.

The kid-friendly entertainment takes place at all seven monorail stations and includes live bands, games, contests, and giveaways.

One-day passes for non-locals are still discounted at $9.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Caesar's Palace is home to the Forum Shops (the Mecca of all shopping venues), several fantastic restaurants for your dining pleasure, and of course, Celine Dion. These are all excellent reasons to visit Caesar's Palace. From the pictures I saw on the web, I expected that the pool area would be just as over the top in terms of customer service, spaciousness and comfort. I was mistaken.

I headed over to Caesar's armed with two names that would ensure my entry to the pool, but I was shocked and a little worried when I saw the young lady at the desk handing out towels to anyone that walked through. She didn't ask for a room key. There wasn't a cover charge. I even saw a random guy jump behind the counter to grab extra towels. This is unheard of! Red flags were raised in my head. It was noon and from my many previous Las Vegas pool excursions I knew that I would have a hard time getting a seat since anyone can walk through the doors and have access to the pool.

More after the jump....

The first pool we came upon was FULL. There wasn't a chair to be found. I walked across the yard and headed to a pool further in the back, hoping I'd get lucky, but I didn't. All of the chairs were taken at the second pool too. After walking for a few minutes, I noticed a common theme. A lot of chairs had towels over them, but there was no beach bag, no water bottles, not even a flip flop. I found four chairs together, asked the man sitting next to them if he was saving them, he said "no" and I took them as my own. I know the drill. People get up at 9:00 a.m. and put towels over chairs and then they go back inside the hotel and forget all about the pool.

I dropped my belongings and headed directly to the pool, it was hot and the water looked so refreshing. I jumped in and noticed something odd. The water had a thin layer of film overtop, this tells me that the filtration system isn't working properly. I detected a little bit of slime covering the bottom of the pool and I went back to my chair. The chairs were long and skinny, they weren't padded and they had BLACK arm rests. Do you realize how black arm rests feel on your skin in 110 degree temperatures? They are hot and they burn. The chairs were so close to one another that I could hear every word my neighbor was saying even when he was whispering to his girlfriend. Wow! What a disappointment. I had such high hopes for the Caesar's Pool and they failed to meet my expectations.

Although cocktail waitresses were abundant, they weren't pleasant. We waited for a server for about an hour. When I finally flagged one down, I asked for two cups of ice. She never brought them. We got up and went to the bar and asked for a bucket of ice (we had bottled waters we wanted to keep cold) and we were told that they don't give out buckets of ice unless you are buying beer. It's a plastic bucket and there was a huge stack of them on the end of the bar. Even after trying to reason with the bar staff, I still walked away empty handed.

On the brighter side, the pool area at Caesar's Palace is beautifully arranged. They have four large pools, two of them with waterfalls, two jacuzzi areas, a large snack bar, and a few cabanas surrounding the courtyard. They recently opened The Venus Pool which allows European-style topless bathing. After talking to the bouncers I found that they have a cover charge ($20) on Saturdays only, so if topless bathing is your thing, then check out that Venus Pool on a weekday or Sunday for no charge.

When it comes to sunbathing and reviewing pools, I find that the little details are what make a huge difference. So, even though Caesar's Palace is beautiful, they fell short in my eyes. A few changes in customer service and cleanliness would land Caesar's back on top in no time.

Posted by Carmen at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The largest indoor waterpark in North America will soon be a reality in Las Vegas, in more ways than one.

WET Holdings are developing Las Vegas Wet as a waterpark, Snow Dome (offering indoor skiing and snowboarding), a theme park, a retail/dining/entertainment complex, and a hotel-casino. Founded by veterans of Disney and Universal, its management includes veterans of Harrah's and MGM Mirage.

Set for south of the Las Vegas Strip, the project the subject of a reality TV show and multiple documentaries by Big Vision Entertainment and Sam Korkis, who were behind "The Ultimate Blackjack Tour" and "The Bachelor," respectively.

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

Starbucks stores inside all Targets offer a buy-one, get-one free grande-sized beverage.

We used it for a delicious frappuccino (worth over $4) at the Target at 4100 Blue Diamond, which as far as we know, is the only Target in Las Vegas that has a Starbucks. The coupon will not work at Starbucks not contained within Target.

Just click the above coupon to get a larger version and print!

(Note: this coupon isn't confined to Las Vegas and will also work at any Target with a Starbucks.)

Coupon expires Sept. 1.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Come to Las Vegas for the fun and excitement, stay on the strip, gamble on the strip, dodge bullets on the strip. Should the well dressed Las Vegas visitor be wearing a bullet proof vest? Considering the recent rash of gunfire on the Las Vegas strip, three shootings in less than two months, you might be taking the gamble of your life; but, isn't that why we really come to town, for the adrenalin rush. Nothing produces a high like being shot at, nothing produces a crash like getting hit.

Four bystanders were injured as a result of the latest incident early Sunday morning on the sidewalk in front of Margaritaville, a popular spot that sits between the Flamingo Hotel and the Imperial Palace across the strip from Caesars Palace and down the strip from NewYork,NewYork. None of the injuries were considered life threatening and only one victim, with a bullet wound to the leg, remains in the hospital.

Apparently two rival factions of young males begin an argument that escalated into a bottle and can throwing melee until one of them pulled out a gun and started banging away on the crowded strip sidewalk. Some of the eyewitnesses to the whole thing said they the people exhibited gang related behaviour. Maybe so, in true gang fashion they couldn't hit each other. Apparently, their marksmanship skills are limited to things the size of a barn or perhaps a strip sidewalk filled with hundreds of vacationing party people.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Vegas was a lot safer place when the mob rang town. You could walk around anywhere, anytime on the Las Vegas strip without fear for your safety. It was understood, it had to be that way. Frightened Vegas guests soon become ex-guests, bad news for Las Vegas. Personal safety fears have a negative impact on the casino drop, so anyone responsible for anything that caused the profits to go down would find themselves going down...permanently. A rule of those times...never, ever get between the wise guys and their money. Maybe Las Vegas should offer a piece of the action to the old gang in exchange for security consulting and returning the Las Vegas strip to a safe zone. The old guys won't shoot customers and they get really upset if anyone else shoots them.

Police are reviewing security surveillance tapes to ID the participants and the shooter.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

The Bellagio Resort's Conservatory has turned into a tribute to the greatest of all American highways, Route 66. A vintage 1962 Corvette is the perfect car to tour the famous road. Stop by the the original vintage Ferris Wheel that was taken down and towed to the next town along Route 66. Enjoy a piece of fresh fruit or a bottle of Route 66 beer at one of the many roadside stands. Experience a magnificent sunset in the southwest desert. Gas up the Vette from a vintage gas pump offering full service and thirty cent a gallon gasoline.

Flipchip took the tour of the Conservatory in daylight and remembering all those wonderful hours spent on the Mother Road he came back and got some night shots. 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

Posted by flipchipro at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WMS Gaming's new slot machine Monopoly Super Money Grab uses their own trademarked Transmissive Reels technology to combine traditional mechanical reels with a seethrough video screen, giving the best of both worlds -- old school slot machines capable of modern 3D realtime video.

To herald the announcement, WMS offers a sweepstakes that you can enter daily to win while also finding out more about the new slot machine, including casino locations to play.

50 prizes are awarded daily, consisting of $50 Red Envelope gift certificates, $25 Circuit City gift certificates, and $15 and $10 Amazon.com gift certificates.

The grand prize is a trip for two to Las Vegas, including first class roundtrip flight and accommodations at Caesars Palace, two tickets to a show, and $1,000 spending money.

To enter the sweepstakes, click here. Sweepstakes ends Nov. 12.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This morning, Metro cordoned off Harrah's garage to search for a man who was spotted carrying an AK-47 assault rifle.

Surveillance tapes reveal the gun may have been a toy gun after all.

Entry and exit to the casino has been reestablished.

The garage, however, remains closed while police continue searching each floor. There's been no sign of the man or the gun since.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is giving away $2,000 in freeplay on slots, slot machines, and a Jesse Rooke customized motorcycle (like the one pictured above).

From now through Sept. 3, every 100 points you earn ($100 playthrough in slots, $200 playthrough in video poker) will get you a ticket.

Tickets will then be drawn on Labor Day.

In addition, the first three players to earn 300,000 points will automatically win a slot machine.

(Note: if you aren't a local, owning a slot machine is probably illegal in your state of residence.)

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Station Casinos (Sunset Station, Boulder Station, Palace Station, Texas Station, Santa Fe Station, Green Valley Ranch, and Red Rock) are now running a promotion for a free buffet when reaching a number of points. Best yet, it doesn't cost those points.

1 point = $1 playthrough in slots or $2 playthrough in video poker.

Earn 200 points ($200 playthrough) for a free breakfast buffet.
Earn 400 points ($400 playthrough) for a free lunch buffet.
Earn 600 points ($600 playthrough) for a free dinner or brunch buffet.

The offer expires Aug. 31 and is not valid on Saturdays.

Every 600 points will also earn you $1 in comps.

Of the bunch, the most expensive buffet is brunch/dinner at Red Rock and Green Valley, so if you're looking to earn your keep, you may as well do it gourmet style at the higher end Stations.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Cheetah's

Address: 2112 Western Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 384-0074
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Admission: $10 before 8pm and $20 after 8pm (Free for locals!!)
Lap Dances: $20
Parking: Valet service and a free parking lot
ATM: Yes
Food: Free lunch buffet 10am to 4pm Mondays thru Fridays
Website: http://www.cheetahsnv.com

Cheetah's is considered one of the most popular strip clubs in Las Vegas. It is a frequent stop over for bachelor parties in addition to having a reputation for featuring sleazy strippers. Cheetah's is the spot where new and young dancers start out in Las Vegas. It's also the place where strippers on the tail end of their careers often end up. That means there is a wide variety of girls ranging from fresh new faces to veteran dancers who have over a decade of experience.

Cheetah's has $1 beer specials from 6am to 2pm. It's the perfect place to go around sunrise if you want cheap drinks and a couple of lapdances.

Cheetah's consists of one large room with a stage up front and plenty of poles. A bar runs parallel to the stage on the opposite side of the room. There are four or five smaller rooms and VIP lounges. There are also plenty of TV screens, which makes Cheetah's a popular destination during major sporting events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, the World Series or the NBA Finals.

More after the jump...

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Cheetah's features plenty of packages, particularly catering to bachelor parties. Contact the manager at (702) 384-0074 for more information and to set up transportation from your hotel to the club.

There are packages for groups of 5 ($450) and groups of 10 people ($850). Both packages included free transportation, front of the line admission and an open bar for three hours (well drinks and domestic beers only). The package price does not inlcude lap dances or tips to the dancers or cocktail servers. And there will be an extra charge if you arrive by taxi or come with your own transportation. Call (702) 384-0074 for more information.

Cheetah's also has VIP room packages including an open bar. Call (702) 384-0074 for more information including setting up transportation.

Here's what they say on their website:

"Cheetah's also goes out of the way to bring you the hottest adult feature entertainers in the industry. Cheetahs of Las Vegas is the hottest gentlemen's club around. With the best entertainment in town, Cheetahs is Vegas' hottest topless gentlemen's club. Open 24 hours a day, seven days per week, Cheetah's Topless Club Las Vegas is always ready, willing and able to entertain."

You must be at least 21 years old to visit Cheetah's in Las Vegas.

The DJ plays a variety of Top 40, dance, and hip hop music.

Discounts: Cheetah's is free to Nevada state residents. If you are a local, show your Nevada's driver's license at the door to obtain free admission. Some Las Vegas strip clubs offer free or reduced admission at the door for local residents. This varies depending on the establishment.

Interesting Trivia: The 1995 film Showgirls was actually filmed on location inside Cheetah's.

Posted by Dr. Pauly at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Through Sept. 30, Spamalot is half off every Saturday 10 p.m. show. at Wynn Las Vegas.

Regular ticket prices range from $69 to $99.

Spamalot is the Monty Python musical about the legendary King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Costarring cows and killer rabbits.

The offer is not available at the box office or online; you must book by calling (702)-770-WYNN or 1-888-320-7110 and giving the code zoo50.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For the next two years, downtown Las Vegas' bus routes will be a little greener with the addition of two hydrogen fuel buses.

The Ford Motor Company buses have been added to the fleet are part of the Las Vegas City Ride program and shuttles passengers from downtown to the Premium Outlets. Outside of Florida and Canada, they are the first hydrogen-powered buses to be used as passenger shuttles.

The buses, which contain a 6.8 liter V10 engine converted to run on hydrogen fuel, are on loan from Ford at a cost of $500,000. The bill is paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Using hydrogen fuel is safer for the environment, as it emits less carbon dioxide and doesn't depend as much on oil.

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

Poker players have spoken, and the Station Casinos have reverted to their old rake of $4 max plus $1 for the bad beat jackpot (mentioned here).

In a surprising and speedy move meant to quickly appease locals who were leaving the Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch poker rooms in droves (such as yours truly, who sought the comfort of online, an armchair, and Cheetos), signs around the poker rooms stated that they "heard your message loud and clear and value your business."

For Station to up the rake in the first place could have been an experiment to see how players would react. If they didn't notice, they'd spread the upcharge across all the Stations. If they did, well, how strongly did they feel about it? After all, it's a measly ol' dollar.

Factoring in the bad beat jackpot (which, by the way, is completely optional if the table decides not to participate) and dealer tips, that extra dollar quickly adds up and can cripple a low-limit player. If you and your opponents are of the same skill level and you've been playing a few hours, ever wonder where all those white chips went? Right in the rake box.

But if Station found they needed to increase the rake, it's a temporary reprieve at least until other poker rooms up theirs or until the $5 billion buyout to take Station private has been signed and sealed (they'd be safe to be on their best behavior with no negativity right now). Without an increase, they may have to cut corners in other ways that we'd rather not think about.

With a greater player awareness of rake, we wonder if Station has looked into the PokerTek electronic tables, that would reduce the rake even further but with the unfortunate side effect of removing human dealers.

For now, we think not -- imagine the uproar that would have amongst locals who are friendly with Station dealers -- but we wouldn't be surprised if any new future Station Casinos (such as Aliante Station) might launch with one of those all-electronic poker rooms that grubby wrote about recently from a Michigan casino.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Move over, Lollapalooza and Vegoose. Make room for wizard rock.

If you aren't familiar with wizard rock, you're missing out on a special part of the Harry Potter phenomenon.

Musicians, usually in their teens or early 20s, write and perform songs revolving around Harry Potter characters.

The movement began in 2002 and has spread to include over 200 bands that tour throughout schools, bookstores, and libraries.

Three of the bands -- The Whomping Willows (pictured above), The Parselmouths, and The Hermione Crookshanks Experience -- can be seen Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark County Library (1401 E. Flamingo Road).

Admission is free and the concert is open to all ages. In other words, an ideal first concert for the kids.

For more information, call (702) 507-3458 or visit The Wizrocklopedia or cheaprentrecords.com to hear some music.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When last we left Bonnie and Rock, each formed their kitchen staff from six prior eliminated contestants.

Keeping to the boys vs. girls theme, Bonnie picked all women and Rock picked all men.

Was it a wise choice?

Find out tonight on the season finale of "Hell's Kitchen," where Gordon Ramsay (pictured above left) will choose one to become the head chef of a new restaurant at Green Valley Ranch (we're guessing it'll be Terra Verde, the new Italian restaurant that replaced Fado).

"Hell's Kitchen" airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

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

Phil Gordon hosts the No-Limit Stacks & Racks poker tournament this Sunday at noon.

The event takes place at Fitzgeralds in downtown Las Vegas, and scads of ladies from gentlemen's club Spearmint Rhino will be walking around in various states of undress.

In addition to the cash prizes with the winner receiving up to $5,000, the first-place winner will also be awarded a 2007 Honda Rebel motorcycle and a Diamond Card protector custom-made by Michael E. Minden Jewelers.

Second place will also receive a trip for two to Hawaii.

Third place will also receive concert tickets at House of Blues (Mandalay Bay) for one year.

Cost to enter the tournament (which is limited to 100 people) is $200 with an optional $100 rebuy.

Sponsor KOMP 92.3 radio will broadcast live from the event beginning at noon. You can also win a seat by tuning in and calling in and being the designated caller.

To enter directly, call (702) 388-2400.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Singer/actress and fashion designer Mandy Moore debuts her new spring collection clothing line for Mblem. on Monday, Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at ghostbar (The Palms).

We thought we'd give you lots of advance word this time, because after the fashion show, Moore will host a private party where she'll perform songs from her new album Wild Hope.

In the past, guests of the event have been given gift bags containing cosmetics, clothing, hair and skin products, and much more.

To get on the guest list and receive an invitation, you must RSVP to rsvp@alinemedia.com. With many celebrities a fan of the clothing line, we recommend you RSVP early.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Casinos in Nevada took in a robust $12.7 billion win for the just-ended fiscal year '07, increasing their take by 4.6 percent from last year.

Gamblers in Nevada gambled away another recordbreaking $170 billion.

The Strip had a $6.75 billion win, increasing by 5.9 percent from last year.

Continuing its decline was downtown Vegas, at 3.8 percent down.

Of the total win, slots showed no signs of slowing, accounting for a big two-thirds of the total, or $8.34 billion. Table games took in half the slot tally at $4.22 billion. Blackjack pulled in $1.4 billion, craps had $471.8 million, and baccarat had $900.4 million.

Poker tacked on $170 million generated from rake, slightly trailing sportsbooks at $175.7 million.

Though it's still one for the record books, the amount is less than half the percentage increase from the previous year, when the win increased 10.7 percent.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Located high above the Las Vegas Valley in the shadows of the Red Rock Mountains the Suncoast Hotel and Casino is another example of a plush local resort finding favor with the tourist crowd. Las Vegas visitors wanting an alternative to the hustle of the strip can head to the west side Suncoast for a relaxing stay and a place to play in a luxurious environment. The Suncoast is a member of the Coast Casino resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Boyd Gaming Group.

Keep reading the Suncoast Hotel & Casino Poker Room Review on the poker blog.

Posted by pokerprof at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scary Spice is now Married Spice.

According to PerezHilton.com, Spice Girl Melanie Brown took to the altar two months ago in a secret wedding ceremony in Las Vegas.

Brown married music producer Stephen Belafonte.

Perhaps one reason for the secrecy -- Brown, 32, is involved in a paternity suit with Eddie Murphy over the April birth of their daughter, Angel Iris.

After first denying his involvement, Murphy acknowledged their daughter after Brown set out to prove he was the father.

Murphy is now paying child support.

The Spice Girls, including Brown, will reunite for a world tour beginning December, with only three dates in the U.S.

They play Las Vegas on Dec. 8.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Before heading over to the pool at the Hard Rock Casino, I double checked with my point of contact to ensure I would have a smooth entry. I was told that nothing was confirmed and I would have to take my chances.

I headed over to the casino with three friends in tow and was immediately stopped by two bouncers wanting to see my wrist band. I was surprised that they didn't ask for a room key like the other pools instead they wanted to see a wrist band or we were told we could each pay $20 for access to the pool. I told them I was "on the list" and I gave them the name and number of the person who was supposed to add me "to the list". That's when I was informed that they don't even have "a list" at the Hard Rock Pool. Finally I was forced to use the whole "I'm a writer doing a pool review for LasVegasVegas.com" line coupled with the name and number of my contact and a little begging and I was finally granted access (for free I might add). Yay!

More after the jump...

We were given a stack of fluffy purple towels and found four chairs together near the pool and settled in. My first impression... this place was absolutely beautiful! Living in Las Vegas doesn't afford me many opportunities to see trees and grass, but there was plenty of both at the Hard Rock. The lounge chairs were above average in terms of comfort and width, they were very close to the pool which is always a good thing and the spacing was adequate enough that I wasn't sitting on my neighbor's lap.

I took a little stroll around the pool and was excited to see a lazy river adjoining the two main pools. There was an action packed bar, blackjack tables in the pool, a waterslide for the young at heart, massage tables on a separate deck overlooking the pool where you can be pampered and of course a huge staff of beautiful people to take care of your every need. The music was pumping and sunbathers were enjoying a variety of tunes that varied between 70's, 80's and 90's rock, hip hop and even some disco thrown in for good measure. The crowd was energetic, the booze was flowing, and the drink of the day looked to be cold buckets of Bud Light (I think there was a special). Although this isn't a topless pool, I saw quite a few ladies sunbathing topless and nobody cared. Imagine that!!

The cocktail waitress stopped by a few times an hour to make sure we were okay and she was nice enough to give me the lowdown on the cabanas. Since not all cabanas are created equal and the Hard Rock offers 40 private cabanas for your VIP pleasure, the prices range from $400 a day all the way up to $1000 a day depending on such things as the day of the week, how big the cabana is, how many people will be in your party and the location of the cabana.

My friends and I visited the Hard Rock Pool on a Saturday afternoon, but the most popular day to head to this pool is on Sundays for the well known party, Rehab. If you are interested in the biggest pool party in Vegas, check out Rehab between 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. every Sunday. Admission is $30 for men, $20 for women, $15 for local ladies and free for hotel guests. Costumes are encouraged but wearing a bikini and having a hot body will also be helpful in gaining entry. Since this party has grown so big in the past few years to ensure entry your best bet is to arrive early or rent a cabana.

Editor's Note: Context of the Hardrock topless sighting [no photos, so don't get too excited].

Posted by Carmen at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Toni Braxton, who just reupped her contract with Flamingo that has her on stage nightly (except Sundays and Mondays) in Toni Braxton: Revealed through February 2008, is being sued by her wardrobe designer.

Anthony Franco designed the costumes seen in Braxton's show (and plastered up on the Flamingo hotel billboard, as pictured above) and claims that the check for his payment of $35,000 bounced.

He later received $20,000, with a $15,000 balance still outstanding.

Franco filed papers in a Los Angeles court last week against Braxton and Liberty Entertainment for the amount of $15,000. He included a copy of the check he received, with a stamp noting "Stop Payment."

In this day and age of million-dollar lawsuits, it's refreshing to see a lawsuit for the exact amount owed.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In Pamela Anderson's blog, she writes in regard to her extending her onstage contract: "I want to be in Vegas forever... I'm definitively staying till December... No more TV or film."

Anderson is currently appearing as a Las Vegas showgirl in illusionist Hans Klok's magic show at Planet Hollywood.

On "The Late Late Show," Anderson revealed to Craig Ferguson that she's dating Klok, saying, "There's a lot of love backstage. It's very physical. Very loving."

Klok said, "You call it dating. We call it physical."

Watch out, Craig. In Anderson's latest blog, she mentions she now has a crush on you.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Friday, DEFCON was infiltrated by undercover "Dateline NBC" reporter Michelle Madigan.

Only thing is, the 15th annual hacker convention at the Riviera already welcomes reporters with open arms -- they just needn't be so covert about it.

Associate producer Madigan had apparently broken the rules by refusing a press badge several times. She expected to use a camera hidden in her purse to try to catch federal agents and people admitting to felonies through illicit activities.

Attendees were tipped off ahead of time, and when an announcement was made that a mole was in their midst, a chorus of boos led Madigan to flee while hounded down by people turning the tables and trying to interview her.

Referring to the "Dateline" show "To Catch a Predator," one person snapped her photo and yelled out, "This is for all those helpless predators."

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After much training, this past Saturday Jenny McCarthy became the first celebrity Bunny blackjack dealer at the Las Vegas Playboy Club (at the top of The Palms) where there's a cover charge of $30.

McCarthy wore a Playboy Bunny uniform consisting of a black leotard, cuffs, collar -- and cottontail.

She pulled in over $3,000 worth of tips -- not bad for only dealing 3 hours over the weekend.

She donated it all to helping fight autism. McCarthy's 5-year-old son Evan Joseph is autistic and she wrote a book about it called Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism, to be released next month.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Just last month, Steven Zegrean used a semiautomatic handgun to open fire at the New York New York hotel-casino, wounding four people.

Today, the Associated Press is reporting that two people were shot early this morning at a parking garage elevator in Caesars Palace.

A man was knocked to the ground in a fistfight, then stood up and exited in an elevator, only to come back down moments later with a gun to shoot and wound two men -- one in the arm and one in the leg.

Both victims were taken to the University Medical Center, and their wounds are not believed to be life-threatening.

Metro is interviewing witnesses and investigating to determine if the crime is gang-related.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Suncoast offers 2-for-1 tickets to singer-impressionist-comic Bill Acosta today through Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Regular tickets begin at $19.95.

To make a reservation, call (702) 636-7075 or 1-877-636-7111 and mention code ACOSTA.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The first Las Vegas Restaurant Week runs Labor Day week, Sept. 2-8.

Like similar Restaurant Weeks held in New York and Washington, D.C., patrons can dine on gourmet, three-course meals exclusively prepared by celebrity chefs for a flat cost of $50.07 each.

Chefs include Tom Colicchio, Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden, Wolfgang Puck, and Carla Pellegrino.

Participating restaurants include Aureole and Fleur de Lys (Mandalay Bay); Todd English's Olives, Shintaro and Circo (Bellagio); Bradley Ogden, Rao's and Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill (Caesars Palace); STACK and Onda (The Mirage); Fusia and Steakhouse (Luxor); Garden Grill and the Steakhouse (Circus Circus); Nine Steakhouse and Nove Italiano (The Palms); Isla and Social House (Treasure Island); Orchid and Valentino (Venetian); Maggiano's (Fashion Show) and T-Bones (Red Rock), plus independent restaurants Vintner Grill and Rosemary's Restaurant.

Restaurant Week highlights include Colicchio conducting a wine-pairing dinner at Craftsteak (MGM Grand) on Sept. 4 and Mina hosting a Cookbook Dinner at NOBHILL (MGM Grand) on Sept. 5.

Portions of the cost of each meal will help Three Square, a non-profit attempting to rid hunger in the community, and which serves 3,000 meals per week to the elderly and those in need.

For more information, visit Three Square.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're just full of places seeking talent this month.

On Aug. 17 at 11 a.m., the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will be auditioning for their Ultimate Variety Show.

Talent sought ranges from singers to magicians to acrobats to jugglers to comedians to dancers to Internet bloggers.

If you're The One, you could win a contract up to $150,000 and participate in the show.

The auditions are also open, so audience members can attend for free and laugh and point.

For more information, visit this link.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For awhile we've been a bit envious at the cheap fares found on Megabus in the midwest where you can find rides from Indiana to Ohio for $1 each way.

That's right, $1.

Now Megabus, which originated in the U.K., has moved into our fine neon city, and the $1 fares have followed.

Still a little dubious, we plugged in Labor Day and Los Angeles, since we'll be heading there for vacation and don't want to suffer traffic, gas prices, or high airfares.

And what must've felt like other generations who headed west, we struck oil and found those incredulous $1 rides.

For Friday, Aug. 31, there were three departures from Las Vegas -- 7:15 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5:15 p.m. All arrive in Los Angeles in less than 5 hours.

Our return on Monday, Sept. 3 shows 7:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 4 p.m. departures, also arriving in Vegas in less than 5 hours.

$1 seats were available for each of those times.

We booked immediately.

Total roundtrip cost: $2.50 (an extra 50 cents service fee).

We're dumbfounded -- this is half the price of a monorail ticket.

The bus stop in Las Vegas is at Trop and Swenson, across from UNLV. We plan to park for free at Hard Rock (oh heck, we'll valet for free), then cab it to the corner.

The bus stop in Los Angeles is between Union Station and the Metropolitan Water District building.

We plugged in random dates and found many other $1 fares. We don't know what the regular fares are because the $1 seats are shown until they're all booked, but even the $8 fares are a bargain.

For now, you can only book 45 days in advance, and only Los Angeles is available as a destination from Las Vegas.

However, coming from Los Angeles, you have San Diego, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and Phoenix choices as well as Las Vegas.

All for a buck.

To book online, visit their website. To book by phone, call 1-877-462-6342. Reservations made by phone will have an added $1 reservation fee.

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

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Station Casinos has increased their rake at Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock, and Santa Fe Station.

$1 is still dropped for the bad beat jackpot, but now the regular rake maxes out at $5 per hand (10 percent). Looked at another way, that's a 25 percent increase.

This is now the highest poker rake in town... so far.

This could also be an experiment by Station to see how the reaction is, but if there's no decrease in business, we expect Strip casinos to eventually follow suit. We're surprised it began with what's considered a locals casino, albeit only at the high-end Station rooms with a higher percentage of tourist players.

California card rooms generally run even higher at $6 per hand, so like gas prices in other cities, we can see what's in store.

We've heard that Station dealers have been told to not drop the rake using a $5 red chip but instead use two $2 chips and $1, thus making it appear as if it's a three-chip drop and less than it really is.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The reality cooking show "Hell's Kitchen" will be in town auditioning for the next great chef under Gordon Ramsay.

Producers are seeking 12 new executive chefs, line cooks, fast food cooks, culinary school students, or anyone who's passionate about food (cooking or eating).

You must be over 21.

Auditions take place Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jet Nightclub (Mirage).

Prior cooking experience is preferred but not necessary.

For more information, contact Deborah Tarica or Peter Huntley at hellskitchencasting@yahoo.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The clock strikes noon on my watch as I'm walking into the Palms Casino from the garage, through the slot machine area, past Garduno's and out the doors located next to Rain. I'm immediately greeted with a bouncer carrying the dreaded walkie talkie and I tell him, "I'm on the list." He asks me if I need a cabana and I assure him that I just want two chairs near the pool and he hands me some towels and I walk right in. Wow! That was a lot easier than I anticipated. I already had my cell phone in hand ready to call the person that put me on "the list" in case there was a problem.

I walk through the pool area and notice that something is missing. There is no kiddie pool. I've found heaven. No kiddie pool means I won't have to deal with any kids.There wasn't a child on the premises at the Palms Pool. What I did find was two great padded chairs next to the pool. They were comfortable and spaced perfectly. They weren't so close together that we were sitting on our neighbor's lap, but they were close enough that I could talk to my friend without having to scream and that's always a good thing.

More after the jump...

I immediately laid out the two white towels that I was given upon arrival and I realized they were nicer than the cushy expensive towels I bought from Macy's. Maybe I can stash a few of these in my beach bag on the way out?

After taking in the scenery which included waterfalls, palm trees, beautiful cocktail waitresses, a few blackjack tables near the bar, a load of cabanas and a lot of hard bodied male and females playing water volleyball, I took a dip myself. The water couldn't have been more perfect. What a refreshing way to spend the afternoon!

Even though the crowd was pretty, I'm pleased to say they weren't obnoxious, pretentious, snobby, rude or even drunk. Don't get me wrong, the drinks were flowing, but surprisingly nobody was making a spectacle of themselves. Rafts were provided so you could lounge in the pool while you sunbathe and like a lot of the other pools here in Las Vegas, they had chairs in the pool so that you never have to stray far from the water.

Of course, the cocktail waitresses were attractive, I think that's a given; but, they were friendly too and that's not always the case in this town. I ordered a red bull that cost me $6.00 which is pretty outrageous, but not out of the ordinary for poolside. Can you imagine the price of a red bull with vodka in it? Most likely you'll be spending about $10 - $12 for that drink depending if it's top shelf.

For those of you that are into the VIP scene, you can call ahead to rent any of the 27 poolside cabanas. They are scattered all around the pool, but a little further away from the water to give you some privacy. The thing that stood out most to me is all of the cabanas look different. Some of them are upstairs on a second story above the pool, and some are pool level, but they are all very attractive. Prices range from $250 during the week to $350 on the weekends. Inside the cabanas you'll find flat screen T.V.s, refrigerators stocked with bottled water, a fruit platter, a few fans, couches for you to enjoy and curtains to close if the mood strikes. Any alcohol you choose to consume in the cabana is extra. Speaking from experience, hanging out in the cabana during football season on Sunday is the way to go. It's a great way to wind down after a weekend of partying.

The sound system is top notch at the Palms and the D.J.is obviously an equal opportunity partier. He played everything from Journey to Jay Z to Pat Benatar to Pharrell. I had a blissful day lounging at the Palms Pool and I will definitely make the trip over there again soon.

Posted by Carmen at 3:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)