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« December 2007 | Main | February 2008 »
January 31, 2008
Tonight at 7 p.m., the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign will turn red.
The red is to support the fight against heart disease by the American Heart Association and CardioVascular BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Because tomorrow, Feb. 1, is National Wear Red Day, didn't you know?
The sign is on the Strip between Russell and Sunset.
Click here to see other Red events going on across the country.
Use the above coupon this Sunday, Feb. 3 for $5 off a $20 food purchase at Gameworks (this works for all Gameworks, not just the Las Vegas location -- click here for a location near you). Click the coupon for a larger sized version to print.
The big game that some might say is super this weekend will also kick off other Gameworks specials such as $2 baskets of wings, $10 buckets of domestic beer, and select video games for only a quarter.
While the new poker room is being built at Hard Rock (still another 9 months away), Royal Hold'em made its debut last weekend.
From a company called New Poker, Royal Hold'em takes the standard Texas Hold'em but uses just 10s, Js, Qs, Ks, and As in the deck.
That leaves 20 cards, and with a max of 6 players and 3 burn cards, the entire deck will be used.
The game is played in the pit at a regular table with autoshuffler. Dealers are still adjusting to learning to deal poker (like regular poker, the game is played against other players, not the house), but the game has already proved popular at 5/10 limit.
What we found interesting is that it completely changed our view and strategy of hold'em. No flush is possible except for a royal flush. Full houses are much more common. And practically everyone played every hand. If you hit something big, you'll be called down.
You can download and play the game at this link.
Beginning Friday, Feb. 1, you can earn your seat into NBC's 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship for just $70 and possibly win half a million.
'Course, you gotta win a couple times in a row, but that's the easy part, right?
$70 and $140 super-satellites sit-n-gos will run 'round the clock to provide the winner (two winners in the $140) entry into the championship satellite.
That satellite is Feb. 17 at 2 p.m., with a buy-in of $540.
Win that, and you'll get a $20,000 entry into being on television.
Oh, and you may get assigned to Shannon Elizabeth. That's worth it, eh?
The satellite is no longer a rebuy tourney and will now begin players with 7500 in chips and a beginning blind of 25/50 with 50-minute levels. Cash will be awarded to top placements, with the grand prize being a seat into the championship.
Satellites and tournaments take place in the Caesars Palace poker room.
This year's heads-up championship will be Feb. 28 through March 2. It's the fourth annual, with prior winners Phil Hellmuth, Ted Forrest, and Paul Wasicka.
The much-aligned I-15 has received a much-needed widening.
The freeway runs parallel to the Las Vegas Strip and at peak times is often just as congested.
One new lane in each direction will be created between Sahara and Russell (pictured above in green), about a 5.5 mile stretch. The lane will be created off road shoulders, what motorists use anyway when traffic is backed up.
This plus one existing lane will be two express lanes that will travel this route without any stops, lest a possible fine.
The budgeted $35 million project is expected to come in closer to $25 million and be completed by summer 2009.
If you're looking to buy a cheap house, try Nevada.
According to RealtyTrac Inc., we had the highest amount of property foreclosures in the country.
The increase was over 200 percent from the previous year, with 66,316 filings on 34,417 properties.
Most recently is the possibility the $3 billion under-construction Cosmopolitan will foreclose after its $760 million loan has defaulted, despite 84 percent of its condo units already sold.
In 2007, sales of new homes were 19,670 -- down 45 percent from 2006 and the lowest since 1995.
While we haven't yet seen a downturn in gaming revenue (discounting downtown Las Vegas), we'll be keeping an eye on the casinos that cater to locals. With increased unemployment (almost a 30 percent increase from 2006 to 2007), less spending, and foreclosures, it's natural to anticipate immediate cutbacks in gambling.
It's been said Las Vegas is recession-proof. Here's hoping we don't have to prove it.
In a strange deja vu moment, a second casino rooftop fire occurred earlier today in Connecticut at the Great Cedars hotel of Foxwoods, the largest casino in the world. Three floors were evacuated and no one was hurt.
Like Monte Carlo, they do not yet know what caused the hour-long fire.
Workers at Monte Carlo are busily getting the casino back into shape, and all employees will be paid their full wages in the process.
Although Clark County inspectors have given the casino and hotel a safety thumbs-up, it will remain closed because of the possibility of falling exterior debris.
No word on how soon the casino can reopen, but their website prevented any online reservations through mid-February, and currently the reservations system is down.
Hats off to the fire department for containing the fire as fast and as efficiently as it did. And to the 6,000 guests and employees who evacuated in an orderly manner. It proved lessons were learned from the MGM fire of 1980, which caused safety standards to improve across all new casinos and to retrofit into old buildings.
The Red Piano takes the audience inside Elton John's world. LaChapelle creates a dreamscape dripping with rich imagery of Hollywood and Las Vegas icons
The Red Piano is designed with a Vegas theme and mature audiences in mind. The video imagery that accompanies the music may at times be considered risque, and includes montage style scenes that include brief frontal nudity. The video content is designed within the context of the songs and overall theme of the show.
Think you can pole dance among the pole dancing elite? It is Vegas, after all, where talent flies in every weekend to show off their skills (and other things).
JET (at Mirage) hosts the annual Pole-a-Palooza tonight (last year's gravity defier at Bellagio pictured above).
Over 50 competed for the $10,000 top prize, and another $10,000 is up for grabs this year.
If you have what it takes to take control of the pole, stop by JET tonight between 10:30 p.m. and midnight.
The contest begins at 12:15 a.m. and will continue until each pole dancer as strutted their stuff.
Some rules: 21 or over, no nudity, and you must wear pasties with a top over.
More unpublished photos from the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo held at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas to keep you warm while you're watching the Tiger Golf Show today. LasVegasVegas photographer Flipchip was assigned to cover the AVN and the unrelated Consumer Electronics Show (CES), also happening at the Sands Expo Centers, and considering the volume of girly images Flip apparently spent most of his four days at the AVN Expo instead of the CES. When confronted with this "evidence" Flip said, "Well, you see one big screen, you've seen them all; but, those ladies..." To back up his position the following Flipchip Photos from the 2008 AVN AEE.
A dozen photos from the show floor after the jump...
The grand opening of McFadden's (at Rio) continues all this weekend.
McFadden's is the new Irish bar that replaced the old Irish bar. We miss the kilts, but we'll give the new place a try.
Tonight, Kevin Dillon (of HBO's "Entourage") hosts the Calendar Girl Finals, from last night's girl search that was hosted by Area 108.
The winner will receive $1,000.
From 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., there'll be an open bar for the early arrivers. We figure we could rack up $1,000 in free drinks pretty fast, where everyone would feel like a winner.
To get on the guest list, visit this link.
Playboy magazine's Miss February 2008 (pictured above, apologies for cropping out the naughty bits) will host the Playboy Club (at The Palms) After Dark party.
The event takes place tomorrow, Jan. 27, beginning at 10 p.m.
To reserve a table, call (702) 942-6832.
For $10 and a self-addressed stamped envelope, Miss February will send you a personalized autographs on an 8x10 headshot by sending a money order or cashier's check to Michelle McLaughlin, P.O. Box 7389, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. (It's $25 for just an autograph.)
Oh and not that we subscribe or anything, but the February issue also features a Women of Hooters pictorial, including Hooters Girl Aimee (pictured below).
Ashanti will launch her new single "The Way That I Love You" tonight when she hosts tonight's party at Pure (Caesars Palace) beginning at 10 p.m.
(You can also hear the single on her MySpace page, but don't you want to be there live?)
For information and to get on the guest list, call (702) 731-PURE or visit this link.
To reserve a table, call (702) 289-2002
Channel 8 has video of a three-alarm fire atop the roof of the Monte Carlo casino on the south Strip.
The fire was reported half an hour ago (11 a.m.) and firefighters are on the scene trying to contain.
Whenever we hear of a fire, we immediately think to the 1980 fire that broke out inside MGM Grand (where Bally's now stands). MGM Mirage owns Monte Carlo.
No further information is onhand, but we will update as we find out.
Update: People are being evacuated from the casino. Las Vegas Blvd. and offramps are now closed.
Update 2: The fire is on the south side of the hotel in the center section, approximately four floors from the roof.
Live photos from KVBC Channel 3:
Update 3: Evacuees are being taken to sister casinos of MGM Mirage, including MGM Grand, New York New York, and Bellagio.
The eyewitness cellphone photo below is from zyphlar's blog. More photos here.
Update 4: Clark County Fire reports no major injuries. The fire on the south wing is almost contained; the fire on the west wing is contained. The top floors have been evacuated completely; lower floors are being checked to ensure everyone has left.
In afternoon trading, MGM Mirage shares have fallen 3.71 percent, though this shouldn't imply the fire has been a direct result.
Update 5: Clark County Fire reports the fire is confined to the exterior. Welders were spotted working on the roof. Firefighters took hoses up the stairs from the ground floor because the 32-story resort rooftop was out of reach from ladders.
Monte Carlo is next to Project CityCenter, MGM Mirage's $7.8 billion mixed-use complex. The casino has over 3,000 rooms, with the top floors reserved for 211 suites and penthouses. It employees over 3,000 employees.
Update 6: Traffic is gridlocked. The casino remains closed. The Strip remains closed from Trop to Harmon, as well as exits and exit ramps. A comment blog has been set up at Channel 8 for eyewitness accounts.
Reports of people being trapped on the roof are false.
On Saturday, Jan. 26, Miss America (pictured above are last year's hopefuls) once again lands in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood, where 1 out of 52 women will vie for the crown.
Roulette has better odds.
A four-part reality TV show "Miss America: Reality Check" has been following the contestants around in a mocking way, poking fun at one of America's institutions.
In a nod to Fox's "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader," the show has a segment called "Are You Smarter than a Miss USA Girl?"
A cheeky Miss America?
Ratings for the pageant have been on a decline, with its move to Las Vegas three years ago (not to mention a drop from network primetime on ABC) as a last-ditch effort to drum up interest in the 87-year-old program.
And if trying to appeal to the YouTube generation where anything goes, may we suggest a Miss America hotdog eating contest?
The reality series airs on the TLC network, leading up to the pageant on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST, also on TLC.
She hasn't yet gone onstage, but Bette Midler is already talking retirement.
With The Showgirl Must Go On, Midler's two-and-a-half-year residency in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Colosseum will fill the high heels of Celine Dion, whose A New Day took a final bow Dec. 15, 2007 after 717 shows.
Midler tells Parade magazine that she will likely retire after the show, when she will be 64.
"Everything is a bit slower," she says. "Things don't stick the way they used to." On the other hand, "I certainly don't want to die in a harness."
Midler opens her show Feb. 20.
Below, Dion sings a Christmas song as her farewell to five years in Las Vegas.
Over the course of their 30 year-plus career, the Canadian power trio emerged as one of hard rock's most highly regarded bands; although often ignored by critics and mainstream pop radio, the group nonetheless won an impressive and devoted fan following while their virtuoso performance skills solidified their standing as musicians' musicians. Rush formed in Toronto, Ontario, in the autumn of 1968 comprised of guitarist Alex Lifeson (born Alexander Zivojinovich), vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib), and drummer John Rutsey. A self-titled LP debuted in 1974, at which time Rutsey was replaced by drummer Neil Peart. Rush boasts 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records with world wide albums sales estimated at 40 million.
Tickets are on sale here starting January 25.
A reminder to readers that we will have another mini-gallery of previously unpublished photos from the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo posted for the weekend. Flipchip is busy sorting and preparing more images from the thousands of pics he shot so come back and warm up. As always, absolutely no charge...It's totally free!
1/29/2008--
Meg & Dia, Jillians
Price: US $11.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
1/31/2008--
Drew Carey & The Drew Improv All-Stars, MGM Grand (1/31-2/3)
Price: US $89.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
2/1/2008--
Joe Rogan, The Palms
Price: US $
Reserve your tickets online now!
Artie Lang, Mandalay Bay
Price: US $45.00-67.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Age Ov Reason, Jillians
Price: US $10.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Jonas Brothers, Planet Hollywood
Price: US $39.50-49.50
Reserve your tickets online now!
Lyfe Jennings, House of Blues
Price: US $20.00-30.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Jerry Seinfeld, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace (2/1-2/2)
Price: US $75.00-150.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
George Strait, MGM Grand
Price: US $52.50-99.75
Reserve your tickets online now!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 81), Mandalay Bay
Price: US $50.00-800.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Sammy Hagar & The Wabos, Pearl Concert Theater at The Palms
Price: US $47.00-72.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
2/3/2008--
Velvet Revolver, The Joint at Hard Rock
Price: US $49.50-125.00 (VIP package, $300.00)
Reserve your tickets online now!
So you think there isn't much innovation going on in furniture?
Showing at the Las Vegas Market, Florida-based Nirvana Swing Co. has a reclining leather chair that swings in as smooth a motion as, well, a swing.
The patented Comfort Swing chair swings along an arc in a continual motion and assists with stress reduction. Studies from Nirvana showed a 10 percent reduction in blood pressure after a swing session.
So you can either get some goldfish to look at or get a new swing chair.
Click here to see a video of it in action.
The closest retailer is Surroundings Plus at 241 North Stephanie St. in Henderson.
Cost is approximately $2,000-$2,500.
Note: this isn't a paid advertisement, but if one of these chairs happened to drop in our Las Vegas Vegas laps, we wouldn't be at all offended. Though it would make typing a challenge.
Is it possible to lose weight in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas Herbalife is a new pilot program dedicated to providing webinars and in-person meetings to support health and wellness for men (and may extend to women, children, and seniors).
In its infant stage, the website is a bit shoddy and looks like it's so far geared toward hawking Herbalife products, but their press release says a $3 membership fee is all it takes to gain access to online resources, support, exercise programs, and guest speakers.
An Herbalife distributor acts as Caseworker and Personal Wellness Coach.
For more information, call Kyle at (702) 403-6863.
Got a Leap Year birthday? Head to the races!
If you were born on Feb. 29, come celebrate with free NASCAR Spring cup Pole Day tickets at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (7000 Las Vegas Blvd.).
To reserve, call 1-800-644-4444 or stop by the ticket office. You must show I.D.
NASCAR weekend begins Feb. 29 and runs through March 2.
The UAW-Dodge 400 qualifier launches the start, with the most elite drivers competing in time trials. Regular ticket prices are $25, with ranges from $117 to $257 for weekend packages.
What's better than a free continental breakfast?
Through Feb. 29, if you stay at El Cortez downtown for at least three nights between Sunday and Thursday, you'll receive three free all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets.
Visit this link for the coupon, and present it at the front desk when checking in. You must be a Jackie's Club Cortez member, but you can sign up for free at the player's club.
As much of a bum rap the Las Vegas monorail is getting, we still like it. It seems anti-Vegas in a way, where we seem to be in a pristine foreign country while waiting to go to Paris or The Sahara.
For the first time since opening in July 2004, the $650 million monorail went into cash reserves this month to cover a scheduled bond payment.
The $2.3 million withdrawn was anticipated from its $69 million in current reserves.
Experts predict the reserves will keep the monorail going until 2010.
One bright spot is that also for the first time, ridership was almost 8 million in 2007, up almost 1 million from 2006 (the last quarter of 2007 helped the spike, pulling in 21 percent more riders from the same period in 2006).
Fares received, however, still did not break even in operating costs.
Financing is still trying to be secured this year for an extension to McCarran, which would hopefully bring added riders.
If you thought Beer Pong championships in Las Vegas were out there, get ready for cornholing.
Known to much of the midwest, Cornhole is a game of tossing beanbags into a hole, much like horseshoes but less dangerous.
And now Las Vegas will play host to the American Cornhole Organization's King (or Queen) of Cornhole, who will win a guaranteed $1,000.
Other cash prizes to be awarded: $500 for 2nd, $100 for 3rd-4th, and $50 for 5th-8th.
Cornhole carnival games and Cornhole doubles will be played throughout the day.
The event takes place this Saturday, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Sport Center of Las Vegas, 121 E. Sunset, just off the Strip. The Sport Center
Registration is $50, which includes a t-shirt, membership into the ACO ($15 value), an official cornhole ranking, and entry into the event.
To register, visit this site, or call 1-888-563-2002.
Gino Vannelli at Flamingo Las Vegas February 22 and 23
Gino Vannelli, who performed to sold-out shows in March 2007, returns to the Flamingo this February.
His past achievements include "People Gotta Move," which made it to #22 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1974 and on February 15, 1975, Vannelli became the first white performer to appear on Soul Train. In 1978, the song "I Just Wanna Stop" earned Gino an American Grammy Award nomination and was a number #1 single in Canada (#4 in United States). Vannelli's album "Brother To Brother" was certified platinum in early 1979. He continued to earn awards into the 1990's before moving away from pop music and into classical.
Flamingo to Host "Crossing Over" Star, John Edward
Author, lecturer, and psychic medium, John Edward, will appear for a limited time at Flamingo Las Vegas. Edward will captivate audiences with his uncanny psychic abilities, February 14 and March 15.
Tickets for his February and March dates are on sale now at the Flamingo Box Office, by phone at (702) 733-3333 or (800) 221-7299 or by visiting the Flamingo Las Vegas Website.
A little something to help our readers stay warm while they sit around watching the Sunday playoffs to determine the teams going to the 2008 Super Bowl. The two games are being played in temperatures ranging from the teens at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to sub-zero misery complete with snow flurries and wind at Lambeau Field in Greenbay. When you're feeling the extremities going numb and only a degree separates you and terminal frostbite, fire up the computer and check out these ladies, guaranteed to spread warmth to places where the sun doesn't shines.
If you look through these previously unpublished photos from the '08 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo and need more then check out the following links for many more photos -- AVN AEE Day 1 - AVN AEE Day 2 - AVN AEE Day 3 - AVN AEE Day 4.
Even more in the Flipchip AVN Photo Gallery -- AVN Day 1 - AVN Day 2 - AVN Day 3 - AVN Day 4.
1/22/2008--
Finch--Jillians, 6PM
Price: US $15.00 (plus $5 for VIP/Early Admit)
Reserve your tickets online now!
Miss America Pageant--Planet Hollywood (1/22-1/26)
Price: US $71.43
Reserve your tickets online now!
1/23/2008--
UFC Fight Night Live--Pearl Concert Theater, Palms
Price: US $ 100.00-350.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
1/25/2008--
George Thorogood & The Destroyers--House of Blues, 7PM
Price: US $32.00-45.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Kingspade--Jillians, 6 PM
Price: US $16.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
1/26/2008--
Social Distortion--House of Blues, 7PM
Price: US $30.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Destruction of a Rose--Jillians, 6PM
Price: US $10.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
Brad Paisley--Mandalay Bay, 8PM
Price: US $57.65-78.65
Reserve your tickets online now!
PSCA Winternationals--Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1/26-1/27)
Price: US $20.00
Reserve your tickets online now!
KC & The Sunshine Band--Star of the Desert Arena, 8PM
Price: US $27.45-43-95
Reserve your tickets online now!
Last-minute free tickets are available to tonight's National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Wrestling Showcase 2008.
Now being produced by John Stuart Productions (Legends in Concert, Dick Clark's American bandstand LIVE!), the televised event takes place in the Grand Ballroom on the third floor of The Plaza (downtown on Fremont, not the new Strip hotel, but that's another story) at 7:30 p.m. Arrive early -- doors open at 6 p.m.
Tickets are normally $20, but you can get tickets for free at this link. Just pick up at the box office.
Through April, tapings will be every month at The Plaza, providing a more intimate experience for the fans than the larger Orleans Arena where previous events were held.
With The Palazzo (The Venetian's newest neighbor) now open, how about checking 'em out with a special offer for one of their luxury suites at $199 a night?
You may miss the grand opening on Jan. 19 with Diana Ross, Wayne Brady, and the cast of Jersey Boys, but you'll still enjoy suite amenities including:
Select weekdays are $199 per night and weekends are $239 per night with the code EPN0108.
To book, visit this link.
Caucus 2008 is upon us, and yesterday's Las Vegas Sun summarized the candidates' views on a variety of Presidential issues.
Though it's small in the grand scheme of things, of particular interest to us is Internet gambling.
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is open to a study to see if Internet gambling can be regulated so that American businesses can compete.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is also open to a study and supports regulation.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards opposes legalization and doesn't believe it can be regulated.
Matt Zane attempts to break the Guiness Book of World Record's 5 hours 42 minutes hanging from meat hooks. The current record is held by Las Vegan Chris Angel. Zane, an alt porn director, will use only four hooks while Angel used eight. With feet hanging a couple of feet off the floor at the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, the exhibitionist spent time talking on his cell, signing autographs and chatting with curious onlookers.
More photos after the jump...
The Moody Blues will be live at the Planet Hollywood Theater for the Performing Arts March 15, 2008.
Tickets go on sale January 19, 2008.
The band has performed for over 30 years with over 55 million records sold and 18 platinum records including such classic albums as Days of Future Passed, In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream, and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is set for Feb. 29 - March 2, one week earlier than the 2007 event. Qualifying for both the UAW-Dodge 400 and Sam's Town 300 will be Friday, Feb. 29, while the Sam's Town 300 event will be Saturday, March 1, and the 11th annual UAW-Dodge 400 will be run on Sunday, March 2.
Click for tickets.
The meltdown continues with news of Deutsche Bank filing a foreclosure notice for the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino Project.
Via Forbes--
The 2,998-room high-rise casino and hotel is under construction and due to open in late 2009 between the Bellagio casino resort and the CityCenter casino complex on the Las Vegas Strip.Most of the units were condo-hotel rooms, which allow buyers to rent out the residences to hotel guests and split a fee with the resort management.
Developer and owner Ian Bruce Eichner said his company, 3700 Associates LLC, was working with Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch to find new investors. The construction loan of $760 million matured Wednesday, the company said."This action by our lender comes as no surprise," Eichner said in a statement to The Associated Press. "With the current challenges within the real estate and debt capital markets, which are out of our control ... we both anticipated and planned for this."
Eichner said his company has had "multiple conversations with several groups of interested investors, which continue to be ongoing."
Three years have passed since a major resort has opened in Las Vegas making this occasion even more meaningful; remember, Las Vegas history is measured in dog years so that would be closer to 2 decades anywhere else. At 5:15 PM today casino mogul and owner of the Palazzo/Venetian/Sands Expo Center, Sheldon Adelson, will cut the ribbon and officially greet guest into his latest multi-billion resort. It is currently the tallest hotel in Nevada and the largest. In fact, the Venetian/Palazzo is the largest four star, five diamond resort on the planet.
You can take a mini-tour of the new joint with Flipchip's photos here. In addition to the luxurious hotel there will be a collection of exclusive eateries from world famous chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali and Charlie Trotter.
We heard a rumor around town that the Wynn Las Vegas poker room will be moving... to the new tower at Encore.
Okay, not the rumor you might have expected, but in a year's time we plan to bid a fond farewell to the most convenient-to-park-at poker room in all of Las Vegas (we're not counting you, Tuscany). Wynn is one of the few casinos where the garage is steps from the casino and if we park on the ground floor we can skip the elevator and take a small flight of stairs up.
Encore is the upcoming tower of Wynn that will approximate the look of the Wynn casino in Macau. It will almost double the size of the current tower and is expected to be completed in 2009.
We ran to the Bellagio Conservatory twice already this month -- once to catch the end of the winter show, and yesterday to jump red velvet barriers before they were actually ready to see the brand new Chinese New Year exhibit.
Every season plus Chinese New Year, the Conservatory changes -- practically overnight. This year, they celebrate the Year of the Rat. If you were born in the year 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, or 2008, welcome to Rathood!
Being a Rat means you're courageous, enterprising, and fit. Sounds like Rats make good New Year's resolutions.
We felt particularly relaxed this time around in the makeshift Chinese garden (we daresay the best Chinese garden in the Nevada desert), with Tai Hu stones, a bonsai tree, a pagoda, a zigzag bridge, a God of Fortune, and, yes, a Rat composed of living plants.
Click below for more photos of our favorite free 24-hour thing to do in town (the bottom two photos are from the mall entrance into Bellagio and the lobby).
Inspired by the "Big Dog Daddy" of country music, Toby Keith, Harrah's Las Vegas has put honky tonk on the casino floor by adding the country-themed Toby Keith gaming pit. The area features eight gaming tables and offers a unique mix of games including Casino War, Triple Shot, and Blackjack.
The pit is open from 12 p.m. to 4 a.m., seven days a week, and is located on the casino floor, adjacent to "Bill's Bar," a watering hole that also incorporates country elements in its decor. The Toby Pit is adjacent to the casino entrance, luring Strip foot traffic in with the sounds of contemporary country music and the promise of an exciting, unique gaming experience.
McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, the "Wildest Irish Pub on Earth," has crossed the great Mississippi River to land in the wildest city on Earth, Las Vegas.
Opening last week, McFadden's 7,000-square-foot-plus tavern at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is Sin City's newest pub-hub for crowds seeking out an unpretentious party bar where both men and women can roll up their sleeves and have a great time.
McFadden's Fun Facts:
• Over 20 million gallons of beer served;
• Over 15 million gallons of beer spilled;
• Over 6 million bachelorettes late/hung-over for their weddings;
• Enough Almost Famous Boneless Buffalo Wings served to cover Ireland 3 feet deep;
• Enough girls have danced on the bars to cover Ireland 3 feet deep (after Ireland cleans up from the Buffalo Wings)
Day 4, the final day, of the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas came to a close Saturday afternoon. The skin merchants have packed up their wares and moved back to the studios to produce the next generation of porn flicks. Every year the offerings become more professional and slick. Gone are the days when the 'stars' of these sex movies were third rate actors paid a few dollars to perform in front of a Super 8, often in a dorm room turned production studio. Marketing was generally by word of mouth out of the trunk of a car.
Today, the AEE industry has become a multi-billion dollar business with glamorous stars and well equipped studios staffed with professional crews. Strolling the floor of the 2008 AVN for four days reminded me just how far this business has come.
Another dozen photos of the stars of the industry after the jump. Another 4 dozen photos from Day 4 are up and running in the Flipchip Photo Gallery. We will continue to select and post photos from the thousands taken at this year's event including the "less is more" collection.
Flipchip photos from Day 3 of the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas are now available in the photo gallery. I've noticed that an inordinate number of the ladies are left-handed and I've also taken note of their obvious preference to Tiffany jewelry. An even dozen of Flipchip's favorite come with this post.
For more photos see the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo Day 3 Image Gallery.
Saturday is the fourth and final day of this year's skin fest at the Sands Expo. We will be posting more photos throughout the coming weeks and are putting together a gallery of the more revealing images so check back often.
Location:
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel
2/16/2008, 8 PM
Price:
US $26.50
Reservations:
Tickets go on sale Saturday, 1/12, at Noon. Reserve your tickets online!
Description:
From the George Clinton official site--
George Clinton is one of the greatest innovators of urban based soul, rock and funk over the last forty years.
Now George has created his own label, The C Kunspyruhzy that will release George's first studio album in ten years, followed by solo recordings by individual members of the P-Funk empire. Clinton also plans to release a collection of Parliament-Funkadelic, and P-Funk All Stars live recordings gleaned from board tapes. Called the Uncut Funk Series, the live CD's will incorporate some of the best shows over the past thirty years and will be augmented with superior graphics and extensive liner notes. "We got four generations of fans out there who keep bugging me to get these live shows out there, and now's the time," George says. "I've seen what the Grateful Dead have been doing with their archives, as well as bands like Pearl Jam, and I figured it was time to show the world what the funk is all about."
Clinton has been showing the world what the funk is for fifty years and his career mirrors musical trends from doo wop to hip hop. While growing up in New Jersey, George was a teen age fan of Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers. After seeing them perform at a talent show, he decided it was time to get up and do his thing. First as the founding member of the Parliaments, Clinton started recording doo wop sides in the 1950's, followed by a move to Detroit where the group finally hit pay dirt with their Number One R&B hit "(I Just Wanna) Testify" in 1967.
In 1968, George formed Funkadelic in 1968, a visionary band that combined acid rock with primal funk. Funkadelic carried the torch for George's creative output until 1972 when, in a stroke of genius, George renamed the band Parliament and signed them to Casablanca Records, while Funkadelic signed with Warner Brothers in 1976.
Clinton now had two powerhouse bands signed to two different labels even though each band consisted of the same members. As George breaks it down, "Parliament was more orchestrated with horns and complicated vocal arrangements while Funkadelic was more a straight up rock band with a heavy rhythm section."
With the growth of funk as a vibrant musical force, George was churning out landmark hits with both acts. Parliament was hitting with dance floor jams like "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)," "Aqua Boogie," "Flashlight," and "Bop Gun." Meanwhile, Funakdelic was also hitting hard with anthemic funk jams like "(Not Just) Knee Deep" and "One Nation Under A Groove."
As the Seventies came to a close, George Clinton soldiered on as a solo act and hit once again with the Number One Urban smash "Atomic Dog." Times and music changed, but Clinton remained true to the funk and recorded a number of acclaimed albums for Prince's Paisley Park imprint as well as Epic Records in the 1980's and '90's. And George and his touring band, the P-Funk All Stars, graced the stage at the Woodstock festival as well as on a popular Nike ad during the 2002 NBA playoffs, and a show stopping live performance with OutKast at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Now the funky worm has turned with George back in control of his creative output with the C Kunspyruhzy label. "I can't wait to grow this Pfunk thang all over again," he laughs. "I got the old roots with the live concerts and the new branches with the various band members, as well as my own solo projects." It's the best of ALL worlds...all worlds funky that is!
Location:
House of Blues, Las Vegas
2/29/08, 7 PM
Price:
US $25.00-26.50
Reservations:
Reserve your tickets online now!
Description:
From Dave Attell's website--
Born in Queens and raised on Long Island, Dave Attell got into stand-up comedy in the late eighties after graduating from New York University with a degree in Film and Television. Attell used this prestigious degree to land amazing jobs in the food service industry - as a waiter. At night he would hit the "open mic" circuit in Manhattan. After many years, Attell worked his way up through the club scene onto the road, touring across America as a national headliner and developing a huge following among fans and the industry alike.
Dave Attell was named one of the "25 Funniest People in America" by Entertainment Weekly Magazine. His caustic wit, rapid-fire delivery and his choice of material that can best be described as "very adult" has earned him the reputation as a "comic's comic." But if you ask Attell, he'd say, "I'm just trying to get some laughs and sell some drinks."
In 2001, Attell used this love of booze and laughter to create and host the hit series, "Insomniac with Dave Attell" for Comedy Central. A travelogue show in which Attell goes from city to city looking for late-night fun, The New York Times called the show, "a doubly rare beast, a comedy without rancor and a travel show about the virtues of the American underdog." To Attell, the Insomniac show is more of a cross between "Girls Gone Wild" and "Cops".
After four seasons of "Insomniac," Attell taped several hour-long "Insomniac" specials overseas in Japan, Germany, England and Brazil. Once back in the states, he headed out on a thirty-five city theatre tour ending in Vegas, where he hosted a two-hour special for Comedy Central featuring Sean Rouse, Greg Geraldo and Dane Cook, some of the biggest comics in the country.
Dave Attell has made numerous appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "The Howard Stern Show," "Later with Carson Daly" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". He also appeared in Chris Rock's cult film "Pootie Tang". Other television credits include FOX's "Arrested Development," NBC's "Ed," HBO, Comedy Central's "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn" and his own half-hour stand-up special "Comedy Central Presents Dave Attell".
When not on the road, Attell makes regular appearances at the Comedy Cellar in New York City.
Location:
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel, 1/26/08 at 7 PM
Price:
US $16.50-32.50
Reservations:
Reserve your tickets online now!
From Richard Cheese--
America's loudest lounge singer Richard Cheese performs swingin' Vegas versions of rock, rap, and Top40 hits, "swankifying" contemporary songs into traditional pop vocal standards. Cheese has sold more than 130,000 CDs; his albums include Lounge Against The Machine, Tuxicity, I'd Like A Virgin, Aperitif For Destruction, The Sunny Side Of The Moon, his Christmas album Silent Nightclub, and his all-new TV Themes album Dick At Nite.
The hardest working Dick in show business has played sellout shows around the world, from New York to New Orleans, from Las Vegas to London, from Portland to Portugal, from Hollywood to Honolulu. His songs have been featured in the movie Dawn Of The Dead and the NBC-TV shows Las Vegas and Passions, and he's performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, CNN, MTV's Say What Karaoke?, Fox & Friends on the Fox News Channel, and NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly as the house band.
With his swanky jazz trio, his tiger-striped tuxedo, and his enormous microphone, Richard Cheese presents the perfect mix of music, martini, and madcap.
The owner of Terrible's is now the owner of Cage's.
Jerry Herbst, owner of Las Vegas casino Terrible's and Terrible Herbst gas stations and retail stores in Nevada, has purchased actor Nicolas Cage's Newport Beach house in California for a record $35 million, more than any other resident sale in the county.
He purchased it in 2005 for $25 million.
Here's hoping Herbst won't run into similar naked guys roaming his house that Cage did. In October, Cage found Robert Dennis Furo Jr. standing in his kitchen wearing Cage's leather jacket and nothing else. Furo was recently sentenced to jail and drug rehab, with a restraining order to stay 100 yards away from Cage.
We wouldn't be surprised if the jacket was included in the home sale.
Book one night at The Orleans (between promotion dates) and you can get your second night for free.
Valid dates are between Jan. 11-17 and Jan. 24-31.
On checkin, you'll also receive a funbook valued at $150 in coupons.
To book, visit this link, book online, and print out the email.
Or call 1-800-675-3267 and give the code EDL0110.
Day 2 of the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo means more Flipchip photos from the convention floor. For those few individuals wondering what has happened to the captions and names let me say, We are sorting them out and will be adding them. You've probably noticed we have identified the Sapphire Gentlemen's Club Girls because it's one of our local clubs, it's also the largest gentlemen's club on the planet and it's one of Tao of Poker Dr Pauly's favorite Vegas stops.
VegasRex.com is attending the AEE so click on over for his take on the skin show.
The Day 2 gallery is up and running for your visual pleasure. Don't click if beautiful women offend you, otherwise, here's the link to AVN AEE Day 2 Photo Gallery.
The well informed viewer can continue with in-depth coverage of the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo with the following Google News Feeds:
• Porn Providers Rethinking Next-Gen DVD Plans
1/18/2008--
Pink of Diamonds--Canyon Club at Four Queens
Price: US $18.50--Reserve your tickets online now!
Pro Stock Showdown (1/18-1/20)--Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Price: US $20.00--Reserve your tickets online now!
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Tour--MGM Grand
Price: Sold Out--Please check TicketMaster for availability.
Lupe Fiasco--House of Blues
Price: US $25.00-$35.00--Reserve your tickets online now!
1/19/2008--
David Michelangelo & Midnight Rider Blues Band--Canyon Club at Four Queens
Price: US $21.50-32.50--Reserve your tickets online now!
Lisa Lampanelli--House of Blues
Price: US $30.00-42.00--Reserve your tickets online now!
Melee--Jillians
Price: US $10.00--Reserve your tickets online now!
1/20/2008--
Lenny Kravitz--Pearl Concert Theater at Palms
Price: US $32.00-42.00--Reserve your tickets online now!
Spend a day at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo and you'll have a collection of photos that will not only wow your friends but have them yelling for more. This is the big one, the AVN AEE features all of the stars from the adult flicks business to Las Vegas. Acres of bare skin, drooling fans and more boobs than a political convention await the lucky attendees. Conveniently located in the Sands Expo Center at the Venetian Hotel and Casino, the Expo runs through Friday and the AVN Adult Entertainment Awards Show is set for Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
For those unfortunate people that are snow bound and shivering through another cruel winter Flipchip offers his photos from Day 1 of the Expo. They've been posted in a gallery that requires you to click so if you're easily offended by scantily clad attractive young women perhaps clicking is not for you, otherwise, here's the link.
More of Flipchip's favorite photos after the jump...
Be sure to hit Vegas Rex for even more AVN photos and Video.
You can now wager on sports without heading to the Strip. And it's all legal.
Leroy's Sports Books has set up a test kiosk at the Stadium Grille (Horizon Ridge and Eastern in Henderson) as a trial. The Nevada Gaming Control Board approved the bar for state-licensed, non-casino sports betting -- a first for the state.
Expect to see more of the ATM-looking sports betting kiosks soon installed at neighborhood bars around Las Vegas and Reno.
Last year, similar branded kiosks began appearing in casinos such as Hooters Casino (pictured above with Miss Hooters International Michelle Nunes).
Boyd Gaming is offering advance tickets to the International Fight League beginning Jan. 12 at 10 a.m.
Unlike the other mixed martial arts league (the UFC), the IFL showcases 3 or more fighters of any weight class. It was founded by two wealthy fans of mixed martial arts, combining kickboxing, karate, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, judo, muy thai, and more.
Click here to purchase in advance with code IFL.
The fight takes place Leap Day, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and tickets range from $20 to $2,500. It takes place at The Orleans Arena.
With temperatures in the 40s yesterday, we found ourselves in shortsleeves and ducking into Caesars Palace for warmth. Still shivering, we didn't want to pick up an overpriced sweatshirt at the gift shop.
Luckily, Caesars has a slot promotion running, and after playing a couple hours, we picked up a comfortable and free sweatshirt (with the Caesars logo on the front) from the Total Rewards booth.
It requires earning 300 tier points in 3 days, which is the equivalent of $1500 coin-in in slots or $3000 in video poker.
On a 90% penny slot, your expected loss is $150. We were lucky and didn't lose that much (we still lost, though), but with us cold, the "free" Caesars sweatshirt was worth it. We just couldn't bear to purchase one ourselves.
The offer is good until March 31, and you get to keep your points (100 points = $1 in comps).
Walk through the doors into the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show and your senses are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of exhibitors, devices, neon colors, sounds and people, thousands of people speaking every known dialect. I was stuck in a traffic jam for more than thirty minutes...inside the Venetian parking garage. CES is that big, it takes over the town during it's four day run.
More CES tomorrow plus Flipchip photos of the first day of the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. An even dozen Flipchip photos from Tuesday's happenings at the 2008 CES Las Vegas convention after the jump. For more CES info and photos check out www.vegasrex.com.
AVN opens in Las Vegas Wednesday January 12 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. The much anticipated annual convention is the world's largest showcase for the adult entertainment business. Often referred to as the Porn Convention, the Expo is the place where new adult video stars are introduced and the studios roll out new releases while suppliers display their latest products.
The Adult Expo is open to the public. Anyone 18 years old and up can purchase a Fan Pass, one-day Fan Passes go for $73 online and three-day passes are available for $200. VIP fan tickets go for $100.
LasVegasVegas has prepared a list of links that will be useful for fans attending the 2008 AVN Adult Exposition Expo in Las Vegas:
•Adult Entertainment and the Law
•Purchase tickets to 2008 AVN Adult Movie Awards
And despite other electronics becoming smaller and smaller, bigger is still better in TV land.
Matsushita (known for Panasonic) has trounced its own record of a 103-inch flat panel plasma television (shown at last year's CES) with a 150-inch. That beats its closest competitor Sharp with its 108-inch LCD.
Pictured above is president Toshihiro Sakamoto showing an almost life-sized elephant.
Set at 4x better resolution than 1080p, the TV will be available next year.
Remember Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory when Mike Teevee is shrunk and ends up in a TV? With this world's largest TV, he wouldn't need to be shrunk first.
Straight from CES, check out this monitor from Alienware, courtesy of Gizmodo.
It's 2880x900 at three feet wide with a fast response time.
Our mouths dropped in drool as we considered all the gaming options for a curved widescreen like this one. Talk about immersion.
Alienware expects it to be for sale in the second half of this year.
We can start being good now and dream for Christmas, can't we?
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) flips the on switch Monday at 10:00 AM to the 1.85 million square feet of display space for the 2008 edition of the long running Vegas convention. CES organizers said the attendees for this years premier digital coming out event will be in excess of 140,000 people from around the world. Unfortunately, the exhibits are not open to the public; but, I'll be there tracking down the latest innovations and posting photos direct from the convention floor.
The three decades long marriage of the Consumers Electronics Show and Las Vegas may be coming to an end soon. CES organizers said they are currently searching for another city to host their big show after exhibitors have complained they are being gouged by local hotels. Rooms that normally go for $90 to $150 a night are jacked up to $400 to $700. Many of the major properties require CES guests to agree to a list of demands including a minimum stay, food and booze guarantees, and minimum room block purchases.
Resorts in Las Vegas have always complained that the CES convention attracts non-gamblers and they take it on the chin when their hotel's are jammed with the tight fisted geeks that design slot machines but don't play them.
Will the CES really pull out of Las Vegas? Most locals would celebrate the exit. Gone would be the incredible traffic jams, overloaded cell phone networks, and impossibly long lines at restaurants. There was once another huge convention in Las Vegas that attracted a quarter of a million attendees before they folded the Las Vegas tent. If my memory serves correctly they were called COMDEX and since their exit Las Vegas has opened or is constructing more than $15 billion in strip resort projects...so much for the negative impact on the local economy when a convention leaves Las Vegas.
AVN Adult Entertainment Expo comes to Las Vegas this week. The x-rated convention is an annual Vegas event featuring the movers and shakers of the adult video business. The convention opens Wednesday, continues through Friday and iIt's open to the public for the price of a pass. This is one of those events that's worth the wait, bring your camera and spend a day with the hottest stars from the world of XXX movies. The AEE show schedule lists more than 250 stars and other adult industry celebrities that will be appearing at the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo.
The AVN Expo climaxes Saturday at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the site for the 2008 AVN Awards Show. This is the 25th anniversary of the AVN Awards Show.
Flipchip will be there firing away with the Nikon and posting photo galleries daily of the action on the convention floor. The 2008 AVN AEE convention is located in the Sands Expo Center which is located in the Venetian & Palazzo complex on the Las Vegas Strip.
Click the links below for Flipchip's photos from the 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. We have expanded our coverage for the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo.
The finals are coming to a close today and tomorrow at the World Series of Beer Pong.
We're serious.
There's a website, prize money ($50,000), and everything.
Through Jan. 5, the third annual WSOBP event is taking place at South Point. Last year's brought in over 500 players for a $20,000 grand prize, and this year looks to be even larger.
Attracting mostly college students, beer pong is looking to get legit with teams expertly tossing ping pong balls.
Each team stands in front of a pyramid of cups. A player then throws a ping pong ball into an opponent's cup. That ball is removed from the cup, the opponent must drink the beer, and the cup is removed.
The team to eliminate all of their opponents' cups wins.
Did we mention the grand prize is $50,000?
Could the Cal Club, Main Street Station, and Fremont be far behind?
A shuttle bus offers free rides daily between these casinos as well as Sam's Town about 20 minutes to the east.
All are Boyd Gaming properties, and now a letter we received from Boyd mentions the Sam's Town players' club "will be joining Gold Coast, The Orleans, and Suncoast."
It just doesn't say exactly how the clubs will combine.
Those casinos are under the Club Coast players' club, still named after Coast Casinos, which Boyd purchased four years ago (another -- South Coast -- was changed to South Point and now operates under its own unique club).
Sam's Town's club is Prime Rewards, and it appears as if it will change over to Club Coast, presumably because it's cheaper to convert just one casino's club.
But what of the other downtown casinos that Boyd also owns? The California, Main Street, and Fremont are all under Players Gold after combining a few years back from individual clubs.
Confused yet?
Don't worry. All our longwinded explanation means is you'll soon be able to use your Sam's Town comps and points at the Coast properties and vice versa.
And the players clubs of the downtown Boyd casinos will remain the same.
For now.
The Palazzo very softly opened the doors to the public on New Year's Eve. The casino, lobbies and other public areas were available even though the 3066 room hotel will not be receiving guest until January 6th.
My first impression of the Sands Corporation's $2.1 Billion Las Vegas strip casino project is "more of the same." Another palatial avant grade palace dedicated to personal pleasure. A huge entry lobby with polished inlaid marble floors and matching columns reaching high up to the elaborate ceilings capped with ornate skylights.
Visit one modern mega-resort Vegas casino to know them all. The Palazzo casino is just another billion dollar casino; except, it is brand new, and it looks, smells, and feels brand new. Just like a new car, a new casino is something special and that fact alone is reason enough to visit the Palazzo. More Flipchip photos from the Palazzo after the jump.
We're having fun watching the passive-aggressive catfight between Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
You may remember the good ol' days of just last year when the two were spotted in Las Vegas partying it up. That was when Britney had just separated, still had custody of her children, and hadn't yet bombed at the VMAs.
Or you may remember just last month when Paris joined Britney in celebrating her 26th birthday at Luxor (which recently opened a lounge more appropriate for the two called Cathouse).
Now, over the weekend before New Year's, Paris was seen cavorting with Britney's ex Kevin Federline.
There are some reports of cheek-kissing and hotel room visiting, but we don't think anything is going on (ahem, even Paris has standards). Instead, we suspect Paris is using her public persona and gossip rags to strike back at former BFF Britney for some reason.
It could be the British rumor that both are separately planning multimillion-dollar strip clubs in Las Vegas.
Britney's would be called Toxic Heaven; Paris' would be called Shagadillic.
Britney supposedly had the idea first before Paris ran with it. Or maybe vice versa. (In happier times, Paris supposedly taught Britney how to pole dance at her house in Hollywood -- see MSNBC's video.)
Either way, each would compete with each other and both are not happy.
And poor K-Fed is caught in the middle.
Have you checked your back yard for mountain lions lately?
That's one concern about living in the desert.
Earlier this morning in northwest Las Vegas (Torrey Pines Dr. and Racel St.), a mountain lion was spotted in a resident's backyard, jumping a fence into a gated community to get there.
After a three-hour search, Metro and animal control authorities found, captured, and tranquilized the 100-pound animal.
The Nevada Division of Wildlife is now in possession of the mountain lion and will release it a bit further away from a populated community.
Thursday, 1/10/2008--
As I Lay Dying, The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel
Price: US $13.00--Reserve your tickets online.
Circle Jerks, Canyon Club at Four Queens
Price: US $16.50--Reserve your tickets online.
Saturday, 1/12/2008--
25th Annual Adult Video Movie (AVN) Awards, Mandalay Bay
The AVN's are achievement-based awards dedicated to recognizing the outstanding products and talented individuals that have contributed to the adult film industry.
Price: US $107.00-$212.00--Reserve your tickets online.
Chubby Checker, Star of the Desert Arena
Price: US $27.45--Reserve your tickets online.
Playboy Comedy 2008, Palms Casino
Playboy Comedy has come to Las Vegas at the Palms Casino and Resort. Paul Hughes and Cort McCown provide wildly funny evenings of adult oriented comedy. In addition to Hughes and McCown, audiences are treated to 3 other versatile comedians, all of whom have appeared on national television.
Price: US $44.00--Reserve your tickets online.
Sunday, 1/13/2008--
Cross Canadian Ragweed, House of Blues
Price: US $20.00--Reserve your tickets online.
Monty Python's Spamalot at Wynn Las Vegas--
If your father smells of elderberries, you know what to do with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, and you suspect Sir Lancelot is gay, Monty Python's Spamalot is the show for you. Click here for more details, or make your online reservations now.
Blue Man Group at The Venetian--
Avant-garde, percussion-based comedy has gone mainstream via the success of the Blue Man Group. Click here for more details, or make your online reservations now.
Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay--
The Broadway smash hit musical, based on the music of ABBA, is in its fifth year on the Las Vegas Strip. Click here for more details, or make your online reservations now.
Jubilee! at Bally's--
One of the last old-Vegas showgirl revues left on the Strip, Jubilee! is enjoying its 25th consecutive year of production. Click here for more details, or make your online reservations now.
La Reve at Wynn Las Vegas--
Franco Dragone, creator of Cirque du Soleil's Mystere and O, as well as Celine Dion: A New Day..., tells the tale of legendary sandman Morpheus at Wynn Las Vegas. Click here for more details, or make your online reservations now.
The Producers at Paris Las Vegas--
Max Bialystock, Leo Bloom, and their never-should-have-been hit "Springtime For Hitler" make the jump from Broadway to the Strip as Mel Brooks' hit musical The Producers comes to Las Vegas. Click here for more details, or make your online reservations now.
I am a firm believer that a few firework photos or much better than a lot of firework photos, even Las Vegas New Years Eve firework photos. Welcoming the New Year with elaborate pyrotechnic art displays has become a Vegas tradition. Hundreds of thousands of people standing around in the cold, collectively oohing and ahhing with every explosion of the dynamite kaleidoscope. A few Flipchip firework photos of the big 2008 event after the jump.
Robbie Maddison sets new world record distance of 322 feet and 7 1/2 inches for motorcycle jump. In a near perfect effort the Australian daredevil made it appear easy. Even though the Las Vegas temperatures were in the low forties and a headwind of 10-12 mph was gusting Maddison flew his special 500 cc Honda motorcycle to the height of a six story building while traveling more than the length of a football field to claim the overall distance record.
Wanting to go more than 333 feet (the length of an Australian football field is 100 meters) the Aussie rider put the helmet back on for a second run. In spite of the quickening winds he again easily cleared the distance but didn't match his first effort. With the winds growing stronger and shifting to a dangerous crosswind he decided to call it a night. Congratulations to Ronnie for the spectacular feat and forever writing his name into Las Vegas history.
We're curled up in a warm pillowtop bed with a cup of Starbucks nearby. Next door is someone already asleep and loudly snoring.
The streets are a madhouse but luckily for us we booked a Strip hotel in advance and spent $10.95 for Internet access. All we had to do was step back inside the casino and take the elevator up.
Our vantage point was streetwise with the revelers at the base of MGM Grand, and the fireworks were indeed spectacular.
Check out some of News Channel 8's wonderful video coverage. We especially enjoyed their helicopter sky view of all seven casinos with simultaneous fireworks that took some 1000 man hours to prepare and go off without a hitch.
Eerily quiet except for broadcaster Ken Smith's exclamations of "holy mackerel" and "unbelievable" and "awesome," we couldn't agree more.
There really is no other city like our fine neon city. If you don't already live here, the experience is like none other to take in a Las Vegas New Year's Eve fireworks show.
Happy New Year!
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