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February 29, 2008

NBC National Heads-UP Poker Red Carpet Pics

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Dancing With The Stars next gig for Shannon Elizabeth, walking the red carpet at PURE in Caesars Palace


A mini-gallery of Flipchip photos of the PURE Nightclub red carpet for the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship Draw Party at Caesars Palace last night. An 11 AM start time today for three days of heads-up poker single elimination play that will reduce the crowd of 64 starters down to one champion with a half million cash in the backpack. Photos of the poker stars invited to the NBC Heads-Up in a mini-gallery on the Prof's Poker Blog.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Jennifer Tilly owns a coveted WSOP bracelet

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Don Cheadle demonstrated his poker mettle here last year


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Jason Alexander knows poker


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Gabe Kaplan is a long-time major poker tournament player


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Baseball legend Orel Hershiser


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Oliver Nejad and sideline reporter, Leeann Tweeden


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Survivor player Jean Robert Bellande


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Magician Antonio Esfandiari


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Clonie Gowan and Shannon Elizabeth

40,000 Nevadans to be notified of possible HIV exposure

In an unrelated story to the ricin toxin, a mass exposure to HIV may have happened at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada that could have gone back as far as March 2004.

Six people are believed to be diagnosed with acute hepatitis C, after having had medications from used syringes. Medical staff was told the reuse of syringes and medication vials is standard practice.

Some 40,000 valley residents are in the process of being notified to test for possible exposure to hepatitis C and B and HIV.

An investigation is forthcoming on the surgical center for unsafe practices.

If you received medical services from the Endoscopy Center since March 2004, contact the Southern Nevada Health District at (702) 799-4636.

Toxic chemical ricin found in Las Vegas hotel

Earlier yesterday, a biological agent that authorities have determined to be ricin was found at the Extended Stay America Hotel, at 4270 South Valley View, off Flamingo and in walking distance of Gold Coast, The Palms, and Rio.

Ricin is a lethal toxin made from castor beans that is as much as 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide. It's typically ingested into the body and within 4 to 12 hours cells are prevented from creating needed proteins and eventually die.

Recently, ricin has made the news for being used in chemical and biological warfare. It has no known cure.

Homeland Security and Metro have swarmed the Las Vegas hotel to decontaminate a room that was found to contain ricin.

Federal agents have continued to surround the hotel throughout the night and early Friday hour.

No further information is known in this breaking story, but we will keep you updated as we find out.

February 28, 2008

Sam's Town 300 Saturday

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NASCAR Sam's Town 300
Try the simulater in the parking garage at Sam's Town on the Boulder Strip


NASCAR has come to Las Vegas and this means Saturday is a race day. 300 miles of the Nationwide Series racing in the Sam's Town 300 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But don't wait until Saturday to join the party, its already happening all over town. NASCAR themed events, special displays, race cars, driver meet and greets, Budweiser Promos, and KFC discounts abound. Las Vegas is built on full time fun times and that makes Vegas and NASCAR a natural.

If you're lucky enough to be in Vegas this weekend and want a first hand driving experience without the possibility of spreading yourself across one of the race track walls go to Sam's Town Saturday to take a ride in the full motion NASCAR racing simulator. The exhibit will be open 11 AM - 6 PM. After giving the simulator a workout and partying at the Las Vegas Speedway for the Sam's Town 300 head back to Sam's Town for the Official After-Race Party.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NASCAR Sam's Town 300
Sam's Town will host the Sam's Town 300 After-Race Party.

February 27, 2008

The Met, San Francisco Opera to broadcast in Las Vegas theaters

Where else can you wear shorts and eat popcorn while watching an opera?

The New York Metropolitan Opera has been broadcasting live filmed versions of its operas in local movie theaters.

The Met's next opera is Britten's Peter Grimes playing March 15-16 at five Las Vegas movie theaters: the Colonnade (8880 South Eastern Ave.), Village Square (9400 W. Sahara), and theaters within casinos Sam's Town, The Orleans, and Santa Fe Station.

Now the San Francisco Opera has followed suit, likewise offering special broadcasts of its operas in movie theaters around the country.

Like New York, all will be in film-quality digital cinema format filmed live, with Puccini's La Rondine kicking off the program March 8-11.

Next is Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah from March 29-April 1, Mozart's Don Giovanni from April 12-15, and concluding with Puccini's Madama Butterfly from April 19-22.

Performances were recorded live at San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House.

One theater will show all of the San Francisco Operas -- the Rave Town Square (6857 S. Las Vegas Blvd. off 215).

Check with theaters for times and ticket prices.

Blue Man Group and Allegiant form alliance

Next month, Blue Men invade the air.

In a unique cross-promotion, advertisements for the Blue Man Group will soon adorn sides of Allegiant Air's planes, and Allegiant's logo will appear in conjunction with the Blue Man Group's shows in Las Vegas.

Potential audience members will also be able to purchase tickets to the Blue Man Group via Allegiant's ticket reservations as well as onboard. Those who purchase tickets will receive special gift bags on their flight with Blue Man Group souvenirs.

Allegiant's business model of shuttles to Las Vegas from small-town airports as well as charging customers for extras (such as select seats and checked bags) seems to be working -- last year, Allegiant posted a profit of $44 million on $361 million in revenue. And this despite heavy competition and rising fuel costs.

We just hope our flight attendants don't also have scary looking bald blue heads.


February 26, 2008

Starbucks to close briefly Coffee Bean to offer free drinks

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Starbucks to close briefly
Starbucks at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas

In a few hours, local Las Vegas Starbucks stores will close for training for 3 hours.

In other words, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight, you'll be without your addiction.

Don't worry, though -- Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has taken over as your liquid enabler by offering free drinks between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Stop by to sample how the other coffee brews. Our closest favorite is inside the Green Valley Ranch casino.

Here are 12 other locations.

First U.S. MagLev train considered for Las Vegas to Disneyland

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From one playground to another.

A MagLev train (pictured above, an operating train in Shanghai) is being considered to transport passengers from Las Vegas to Disneyland at a speedy 300 miles per hour, less than two hours.

We say "being considered" because every time a train is brought up from our fine neon city to Los Angeles, plans are scrapped because of looming costs.

This time, though, a magnetically levitating train would be the first in the country, traveling quietly at fast speeds of up to 361 miles per hour.

Congress would be behind funding, which actually strikes us more as hurting the project because of the uproar that would occur if $12 billion (that's right, billion) in funds were allocated to transportation toward the purpose of gambling.

But we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Las Vegas NASCAR Speed Week

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Las Vegas NASCAR Speed Week
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is this week's center of the NASCAR universe


Las Vegas welcomes the arrival of the NASCAR express to the Sin City raceway for the UAW-Dodge 400. The desert jewel of stock car racing venues, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) offers race fans the ultimate NASCAR race week with innovative, modern accommodations. The entire facility sparkles in the sunlight with a glimmer and glitz that is pure Vegas. The Neon Garage is a unique LVMS experience for race fans, an unmatched closeness with drivers and crews plus live headliner entertainment. Within sight of the beckoning gambling leviathans on the Las Vegas strip, the race track takes its place on the official Las Vegas must-go-there list, often referred to as the "NASCAR Disneyland."


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Las Vegas NASCAR Speed Week
Jeff Gordon doing charity work in Las Vegas


After the dismal rains on both Saturday and Sunday's race day at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, Las Vegas has to be a mighty welcome sight to the thousands of fans that follow the race circuit. The city is filling up with the good natured bunch of dedicated fans that come for the racing and stay a few extra days for the Vegas food, casinos, and partying.

Watching the rain delayed Sunday race on Monday morning was an eye opening experience when I noticed the empty stands and the effect it caused. The empty seats sucked up any lingering race day excitement, made me feel lonely. Like I was watching some mid-week practice session. So where were the missing fans? They were already in Las Vegas, having left Fontana on a damp and dreary Sunday night.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Las Vegas NASCAR Speed Week
Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon meet Jesus in Las Vegas


Las Vegas is scheduled for some great weather this week, blue sky and mid-seventy temps. Saturday's Sam's Town 300 has more than a dozen sprint car drivers in the field including Las Vegan Kyle Busch and and teammate Tony Stewart in their fast moving Toyotas. They could be the dominate force in Saturday's Nationwide Series, don't miss this one scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 at 4 PM Saturday afternoon. Tentative Sam's Town 300 driver list available here.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Las Vegas NASCAR Speed Week
A vintage Flipchip photo of Rusty Wallace in Las Vegas

February 24, 2008

Palms Place Las Vegas Set For Occupancy

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Palms Place Las Vegas
Palms Place on the right joins the two existing towers of the Palms Las Vegas Casino Resort skyline on Flamingo Road


George Maloof, owner of the Palms Las Vegas Casino Resort, received a certificate of occupancy from Clark County for the latest addition to the Flamingo Road property, the third tower, Palms Place. Joining the original Palms Tower and the newer Fantasy Tower, Palms Place Tower is a 599 unit condominium complex offering 600 ft² studios and 1,200 ft² One-bedroom suites. Twenty-one penthouse suites located on the top four floors range in size from 2,000 ft² to 7,000 ft².

Maloof indicated that approximately 80% of the studios and one-bedroom units will be available for short term rental through the Palms hotel. Renowned chef, Kerry Simon, will open a Simon Restaurant and Lounge in the tower in April. Celebrity buyers include Eminem and Jessica Simpson.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Palms Place Las Vegas
After dark Palms Place at the Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas

Academy Awards viewing party at Planet Hollywood

oscarstatue.jpg
Photo by Reuters


If you feel like going out and dressing up for the 80th Annual Academy Awards and you have a spare $250 and you want to benefit a good cause and you don't mind going somewhere to watch the Oscars on TV, stop by Planet Hollywood this afternoon.

The Arthritis Foundation of Southern Nevada is the charity, and the Grand Ballroom at Planet Hollywood is the host of the red carpet gala that begins at 4 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, then dinner at 5 p.m. and the only TV viewing party sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The event is $250, with proceeds going to the Foundation.

For more information, call (702) 367-1626.

Here are the major nominations. We see shut-outs in the top awards for Michael Clayton and Atonement, which, had they been released separately another year, would've swept.

Our picks in bold (after the jump).

Best Actor
George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
* Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah)
Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises)

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)
* Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War)
Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)
Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth II)
* Julie Christie (Away from Her)
Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)
Laura Linney (The Savages)
Ellen Page (Juno)

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There) (way to go Cate, two nominations)
Ruby Dee (American Gangster)
Saoirse Ronan (Atonement)
* Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)
Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)

Best Original Screenplay
* Juno (by Diablo Cody)
Lars and the Real Girl (by Nancy Oliver)
Michael Clayton (by Tony Gilroy)
Ratatouille (by Brad Bird)
The Savages (by Tamara Jenkins)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Atonement (by Christopher Hampton)
Away from Her (by Sarah Polley)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (by Ronald Harwood)
* No Country for Old Men (by the Coen Bros.)
There Will Be Blood (by Paul Thomas Anderson)

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
* The Coen Bros. (No Country for Old Men)
Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)
Jason Reitman (Juno)
Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
* No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

February 23, 2008

Indecency complaint filed on Las Vegas TV series

streaker2.jpg streaker3.jpg


The Parents Television Council (PTC) filed an indecency complaint with the FCC on the NBC television series "Las Vegas."

Anyone is able to file a complaint on anything that goes over the public airwaves; PTC even has a handy form to let you do so on their behalf.

Naturally, when we hear indecency, we wanted to see what the hubbub was, so we watched the Feb. 15 show in question.

PTC, whose slogan is "because our children are watching," cited a scene on the fictional Montecito Casino's security monitors showing three women disrobing and running around the casino.

"We got streakers," says a giddy security guy in the show.

For something to be obscene, the FCC has three standards that must pass:

  • a person must find the material prurient (yep)
  • the material must depict sexual conduct (yep)
  • the material lacks literary value

"Literary value" is pretty broad. Is "Girls Gone Wild" of literary value? Are the naked buttocks on "NYPD Blue" literary? Er, strike that -- the FCC recently came down on 45 affiliates of ABC for $1.24 million ($27,500 per station) because of Charlotte Ross' state of undress.

But back to Vegas. The scene wasn't simply the girls running around naked the whole episode; it was part of the plot designed as distraction for the characters watching. Sure, it was prurient and sexual and gratuitous (so is your standard commercial), but it was for a reason.

From looking at the scene over and over (and over), not only did we think it contained literary and artistic merit, but we couldn't see any nudity. The producers took great effort in editing the women to show them in shadow or blurring out their naughty bits.

PTC might do better to file a complaint on their overactive imagination.

You can watch the show yourself online, streaming for free off NBC's site.

Not satisfied with just the complaint, PTC hits their targets where it hurts: the show's sponsors.

Though for the "Las Vegas" series, it may be too little too late. TVGuide.com mentions NBC has ended production on the show after a 5-year run, and that last Friday's season finale was its series finale.

Syndication could be around the corner -- "Las Vegas" aired their 100th episode last month.

streaker1.jpg

Paris Hilton celebrates birthday with Pussycat Dolls

parispussycat2.jpg


Last weekend, Las Vegas socialite Paris Hilton celebrated her 27th birthday (officially Feb. 17, if you're keeping track in your datebook) by making an appearance at PURE (at Caesars Palace), taking to the Pussycat Dolls stage.

RawVegas.tv has exclusive video of the Las Vegas socialite performing burlesque.

The video shows her sauntering around in Pussycat garb, then rolling around a bit uncomfortable-looking in a big champagne glass.

And speaking of champagne, as she moved over to LAX (at Luxor), someone sent her a $40,000 bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

The cost of that bottle of champagne was more than four times the opening weekend gross of her new movie The Hottie and the Nottie.

Don't be worried for poor Paris. Because her main job is partying, we suspect she pulled down a six-figure paycheck over the weekend for her appearances.

Not a bad happy birthday, we'd say.

parispussycat1.jpg

Sen. Hillary Clintons costly Las Vegas Caucus

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has spent over $100 million on her presidential campaign.

But just how much did Clinton's campaign spend during last month's caucuses in Las Vegas?

According to a critical article in the New York Times, quite a lot.

Over $25,000 went for rooms at Bellagio.

Over $5,000 went to the Four Seasons.

More went to rooms at Planet Hollywood.

Jeesh Hillary, we could've found some cheaper places to stay for you.

(For the record, Sen. Barack Obama has also spent over $100 million, but according to the article, has more money in the bank.)

February 22, 2008

Win chance to play in NBC's National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship production set being assembled in the tournament area at Caesars Palace Poker Room


On Feb. 28, filming begins at Caesars Palace for the annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

You have one last chance to enter this tournament for free!

PokerStars (make that PokerStars.net) offers a satellite just a couple hours from now. See, it pays to read us hourly.

Just sign up to the Round 1B tourney at 10 p.m. ET, and you could be on your way to 4 nights in Las Vegas, $1000 in cash, and a $20,000 buy-in entry to the 64-player Heads-Up championship (your travel would begin on Feb. 28, so make sure you're available).

If you don't win the satellite and can't afford the $20,000 buy-in but happen to be in town, you can be a member of the audience, where you could win other prizes such as t-shirts, dinners, and have the chance to be on TV.

Just call (702) 866-1043.

Crown purchases interest in Harrah's, Station Casinos

Crown_Logo.jpg


In December, Crown Ltd., the Australian gaming company owned by legendary billionaire James Packer, purchased Cannery Casino Resorts (consisting of Cannery up in North Las Vegas, Rampart in Summerlin, and Nevada Palace in Henderson, which recently closed to undergo a transformation into Eastside Cannery) for $1.8 billion.

But did you know Crown has spread out its investments around Las Vegas?

They own an interest in the holding company for the former Wet 'n Wild location on 27 acres south of Sahara. This was the space where they are or were expected to erect a $5 billion casino called Crown Las Vegas, hoped to be twice as tall as Stratosphere before the FAA ruled against and reduced to "only" 1,064 feet -- still taller than any building in the U.S.

Crown has an interest in the $2.8 billion Fontainebleau hotel-casino, nestled between Riviera and the Crown Las Vegas land parcel.

And since Harrah's and Station Casinos went private, Crown took interest in them as well... literally. They bought a $172 million stake (2.5 percent) in Harrah's and $241 million stake (4.9 percent) in Station.

They say the purchases were for investment purposes only.

But what's really going on?

With both private, no one but the inner sanctum will sink ships. But we suspect world domination. Or at least world casino domination.

Harrah's (which some gamblers refer as the Evil Empire) already has a foothold on the majority of casinos in the U.S... no doubt with their mouth watering at the rapid growth of Macau. It can't be easy sitting idly by while competitors MGM Mirage, Wynn, and Sands (which owns Venetian) present their newly gift-wrapped casinos to the Asian market.

Teaming with Crown would assist with that, while also allowing Crown to put its stamp on the United States gaming market.

Because why stop at a couple of local casinos?

'Course, that's all speculation.

February 21, 2008

Panic at the Disco will play the Pearl at the Palms

Panic! at the Disco
Tickets are now on sale for Las Vegas band Panic at the Disco, selected to headline the Honda Civic Tour. The four piece band whose second release Pretty. Odd. comes out March 25 will be playing the Pearl June 13.

Pure nightclub investigated by IRS agents

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
PURE nightclub at Caesars Palace
PURE nightclub at Caesars Palace


When presented with a choice of hospitality investments in Las Vegas, looks like Zabeel Investments made a good one choosing The Light Group.

Pure Management Group, Light's closest competitor in Las Vegas, was under investigation yesterday by the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department.

Seems agents of both appeared with a search warrant at Pure headquarters and nightclub (at Caesars Palace) and spent all day sifting through records and confiscating computers, in what appeared to be the possibility of tax evasion.

Norm Clarke at the Review-Journal mentions the cash- and tip-heavy industry may have resulted in doormen reaching salaries of half a million a year.

And that much cash floating around without a cut for the government makes the IRS curious.

February 20, 2008

Billy Crystal To Take The Stage At MGM Grand Saturday, May 3; The Police To Return May 23

Billy Crystal, known for starring in films such as Running Scared, Throw Momma from the Train, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, and his own one man show, 700 Sundays, brings his award winning comedy to Las Vegas, May 3, at the MGM with tickets going on sale Saturday at Ticketmaster.

Tickets also go on sale Saturday asThe Police have extended their North American tour and will stop at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. In 2007, The Police thrilled millions of fans around the globe and their much heralded tour has sold more than 2.5 million tickets. The Police will be joined by special guest Elvis Costello & The Imposters.

Van Halen to perform for Tiger Jam XI at Mandalay Bay

The Tiger Woods Foundation has announced that Tiger Jam XI presented by AT&T will take place Saturday, April 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Golf legend Tiger Woods will welcome rock icons Van Halen to Tiger Jam XI to raise funds for the Tiger Woods Foundation and select Las Vegas-based charities.

Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office and Ticketmaster.

Las Vegas man mistakes Madonna for Marilyn

080220monroe.jpg
Photo by Associated Press


Hot on the heels of Las Vegas socialite Lindsay Lohan posing naked in New York magazine to emulate Marilyn Monroe's final photoshoot (Bert Stern photographed both) was the news that a man had found a nude photo of a hitchhiking Marilyn Monroe in his Las Vegas home.

Lawrence Nicastro, 73, claimed the photo came from a customer of his in New York back in 1962, the year Monroe died (doing the Stern photoshoot six weeks before).

Nicastro owned a service station at the time, and a customer left his car but didn't return to pick it up. He then placed the contents of the trunk in storage.

A press conference was set up today for the unveiling, undoubtedly with visions of dollar signs, until an authenticator revealed the photo he had was actually of Madonna from her 1992 controversial photo book Sex.

Madonna, Marilyn, Lindsay. We get 'em all mixed up too.

lindsaymarilyn.jpg
Photo by Bert Stern/New York magazine

Dubai invests in The Light Group

Dubai inched a little closer to becoming the Las Vegas of the east.

The Middle East, that is.

Last year, Dubai World made a splash by investing heavily (over $5 billion) into MGM Mirage, opening up plans for another mixed-use center like Project CityCenter north of the Strip.

Now Zabeel Investments has invested in 50 percent of The Light Group, the brains behind many of Las Vegas's hottest and choicest nightclubs, lounges, and restaurants (The Bank nightclub at Bellagio and Diablo's Cantina at Monte Carlo are its latest concepts). The undisclosed investment will bring much of the Vegas-style poshness of its clubs and restaurants to Dubai.

The added capital will also allow Light Group to expand its concepts across the United States.

February 19, 2008

Remastered Life of Brian to screen at Wynn

lifeofbrian.jpg


On Feb. 21, Cinevegas and Wynn have teamed up to screen the only in-theater screening of Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Coinciding with the release of the Immaculate Edition DVD, the night will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception and free cocktails in the lobby of the Grail Theatre. You'll also get to hobnob with John O'Hurley, who plays King Arthur in Spamalot (though when we saw it last month he was on sabbatical from the show).

The movie begins at 8 p.m. inside the theater, then directly after all guests will receive free admission into the Tryst nightclub.

Cost is $30, with proceeds going to Nevada Public Radio.

To purchase, call (702) 952-5537.

Semi-Pro passes, Will Ferrell trivia, basketball game

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A new Will Ferrell movie is always cause for celebration, and this time ESPN Zone (next to New York New York) hosts a "Semi-Pro Night" in honor of Ferrell's new movie Semi-Pro that opens Feb. 29.

The movie is about Ferrell on his way to fulfill his NBA dreams as a triple threat -- coach, owner, and player.

Beginning Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., you can join in on Will Ferrell trivia, basketball challenges, and just watching the game in HD. And you'll want to see Shaq in HD, making his Phoenix debut against Kobe and the Lakers, right?

If you're not a Shaq fan, other pro and college games will screen simultaneously.

Prizes will be given out, including t-shirts, trading cards, basketballs, and passes to a screening of the movie.

Admission to the ESPN Zone event is free.

Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas
Dr. Pauly discusses his quest for the perfect Vegas burger



1. Burger Bar

2. In & Out

3. Le Burger Brasserie

4. Kilroy's

5. Snack's at Bellagio


Do you crave a juicy cheeseburger almost every waking hour of the day like me? Thankfully, Las Vegas has several stand out restaurants that feature some of the best burgers on the planet. I have lived in Las Vegas (on and off) for the last three years and after a thorough investigation, here's what I discovered.

More in depth info on the best burgers in Las Vegas after the jump....

Here's an inside look into five of my favorite places to chow down on a burger in Sin City...


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas
Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay


1. Burger Bar

Address: 3930 Las Vegas Blvd.
Phone: 702-632-9364

The Burger Bar is located in Mandalay Place (the shopping area in between Luxor and Mandalay Bay). The owner is renown restaurateur Hubert Keller.

At Burger Bar you can choose from a selection of their signature burgers or if you prefer, you can build your own which involves eight categories of toppings including shrimp, salmon, lobster, foie gras, three kinds of mushrooms, truffles, and even cranberry sauce. They offer up sweet potato fries and my favorite... buffalo shoestring fries which are spicy and delicious.

Burger Bar features American Kobe beef, which is the most expensive on the menu, but you can choose to build your burger using Black Angus beef, Ridgefield Farm beef, or Colorado Lamb.

The Rossini Burger is listed at $60.00 and named after a 19th century Italian composer. Here's what you get... Kobe beef, sauteed foie gras, shaved truffles, Madeira sauce, on onion bun.

Another popular selection is the Surf & Turf Burger. For $24.00, you get Black Angus beef, grilled half lobster, and grilled green asparagus on plain bun.

If you have enough room for dessert, try their dessert burgers made out of donuts!

Burger Bar is an extremely popular eatery. They do not take reservations, so expect a long wait. Trust me, it's worth it. The best time to go to Burger Bar are off peak-hours (in between lunch and dinner).

They are open at 10:30 am and close at 11pm. They're open until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas
In & Out Burger

2. In & Out Burger

Address: 4888 Dean Martin Dr. (which used to be called Industrial Dr.)

There are seven In & Out locations in Las Vegas. The closest In & Out burger to the Strip is located off of Tropicana on Dean Martin Drive. In & Out Burger is a 10-15 minute walk from the south Strip area (MGM or Excalibur), but most taxi drivers would be happy to take you via the drive through. It's not uncommon to see a few taxis waiting in line.

The burger chain operates primarily in the west coast. Their workers are some of the highest paid fast food servers in the world, which means you get excellent service.

You can never go wrong with In & Out. The burgers are juicy and their fries are made from scratch and cooked in vegetable oil. I usually order a double-double with Animal Style fries. Their shakes are some of the best in the business.

photos by Dr Pauly • lasvegasvegas.com
Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas
Double-double with Animal Style fries

There's a special secret menu, which you can find on the intertubes. In & Out Burger is open everyday at 10:30am. They close at 1am and until 1:30am on the weekends.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas
Le Burger Brasserie at the Paris

3. Le Burger Brasserie

Address: 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S
Phone: 702-946-4346

Located in the promenade connecting Paris to Bally's, Le Burger Brasserie is a French interpretation of the American classic food stuff... the burger. Le Burger Brasserie is the place to go to in Las Vegas if your palate desires a high-end gourmet burger. The chefs prepare burgers using chicken, salmon, lamb and veggie creations along with beef.

According to the website, "The restaurant's signature dish is the $777 Kobe Beef and Maine Lobster Burger, topped with caramelized onions, imported Brie, crispy prosciutto and 100-year aged balsamic vinegar and served with a bottle of Rose Dom Perignon champagne."

Le Burger Brasserie is open at 11am to 10pm. They are open to 11pm on the weekends.


photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Top 5 Burgers in Las Vegas
Kilroy's

4. Kilroy's

Address: 1021 S Buffalo Dr, Las Vegas
Phone: 702-363-4933

Kilroy's has been honored by numerous Las Vegas publications for having the best burger in Las Vegas. Even the Food Network once bestowed Kilroy's with their "Best burger in Las Vegas" honor.

Kilroy's opened their doors in 1991 and has been serving locals ever since. Tourists have been making the trek out to Summerlin to feast on their burgers. They make their burgers with ground-chuck with a few special spices including BBQ sauce.

The service was a little slow and inattentive