First came the stripping of two nightclubs at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino, allegedly for illegal activities including underage drinking, drug use, and prostitution.
Now comes the stripping of, well, a strip club-affiliated pool.
Open just over a year at Rio Las Vegas, the Sapphire pool was the first mash-up of swimming pool and strip club, with a private section reserved for adults only (meaning "topless"). The entry fee was $30 (women entered for free), the same price to enter the gentlemen's club under the same name.
Rio has now closed the Sapphire pool, based on recent arrests regarding prostitution and the selling of drugs.
The regular pool at the Rio will remain open, but the "ultra-hot Brazilian style adult pool" is no more.
For its part, the spin department at Harrah's (which owns Rio) whipped up their own reason for the pool's closure: "insufficient integrity" during a "routine integrity check."
Ah, they make it sound so sweet.
Pictured above is an ad in happier times, which was quickly pulled from the Rio Las Vegas website, along with all mentions of the word Sapphire.
Below is a Player's Network video of the "topless or less" Sapphire girls at the opening of the pool, which also shows a Hugh Hefner-ish Doyle Brunson:
Thursday afternoon shows the now-closed Sapphire "Rio Style" pool in disassembly with a rolled-up privacy fence, stacked furniture, and not one bare breast anywhere
Unable to slash costs and debt, Station Casinos filed bankruptcy today.
As expected for the past several months, the protection will allow restructuring after not coming to terms with its lenders.
The company has $5.7 billion in debt, and bondholders control $2.3 billion.
The 18 Station and Fiesta casinos that it owns, however, are not part of the filing.
In a quick move to calm casinos guests, Station sent out an email from CEO Frank Fertitta with the subject "Important Information for our Valued Guests."
In it, he describes the 13,000 jobs they created, the billions of dollars in the building of their properties, and the millions of dollars donated to charity in Clark County.
He makes clear that the 18 casinos are not affected and will remain open, along with Boarding Pass points intact and offers such as the 2-for-1 dining offer.
Investigators search Red Rock Country Club, home of Michael Jackson's doctor
Investigators into Michael Jackson's death came to Las Vegas, where they searched the exclusive Red Rock Country Club (pictured above),
Dr. Conrad Murray is suspected of manslaughter, with having some involvement in the singer's death.
Law enforcement have already searched the physician's office and storage facility in Houston, Texas, and today they went through the country club, where Murray owns a home.
Murray cared for Jackson for $150,000 per month and was at Jackson's home when he died.
Regal Entertainment has free movies throughout the summer for kids and parents, or if you just want to duck inside the air conditioning.
All movies are rated G and PG and start simultaneously at 10 a.m. (most are in pairings of each rating, so you can pick one depending on the ages of your kids). First come, first served.
Village Square (9400 W. Sahara)
7/28-7/29: Everyone's Hero (G), Surf's Up (PG)
8/4-8/5: Igor (PG), Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
8/11-8/12: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G), Bee Movie (PG)
Colonnade Stadium (8880 S. Eastern)
7/28-7/29: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G), Bee Movie (PG)
8/4-8/5: Curious George (G), Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG)
8/11-8/12: Space Chimps (G), Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa (PG)
Rainbow Promenade (2321 N. Rainbow)
7/28-7/29: Igor (PG), Journey to the Center of the Earth (PG)
8/4-8/5: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G), Bee Movie (PG)
8/11-8/12: Curious George (G), Alvin and the Chipmunks (PG)
By the end of next week, the popular clubs Prive and Living Room at the Planet Hollywood casino will be forced to shut down, as their temporary liquor licenses will be revoked and permanent licenses denied.
Both clubs had been operating with temporary liquor licenses (acting as business licenses) while being investigated by Metro.
Under complaints of drug use, underage drinking, excessive drunkenness, assault, lewd activity, and prostitution, the Nevada Gaming Commission has fined Planet Hollywood $750,000. The casino doesn't operate the clubs (which are run by The Opium Group) but has the gaming license and is responsible for what occurs inside.
Also claimed was security for the clubs prevented gaming agents from performing a full, uninterrupted inspection.
Oct. 23-25 at 8 p.m.: Alice Cooper (code AUCE) -- Theatre of Death Tour (tickets regularly $79.95)
Tickets can be purchased at (702) 365-7111 or the above links. Click onto the link, click Buy Tickets, then click Presales/Promotions and enter the code.
This weekend, The Palms is going all out as the fantasy destination for Kandy Vegas.
Throughout the casino and clubs, women will be dressed as their favorite Kandy or Treat and men will be dressed all in white.
The weekend features:
Friday, July 24
12 p.m.: Kandy Circus, live burlesque, circus games, performances
10 p.m.: Kandy Vegas kick-off party with Travis & DJ-AM, along with Sunset Tan contestants
Saturday, July 25
12 p.m.: Kandy Vegas Pool Party, with Miss Sunset Tan competition and Kandy DJs
9 p.m.: Kandy Vegas Lingerie Ball, with hosted bar and Kandy DJs and performance by Snoop Dogg
Sunday, July 26
12 p.m.: Kandy Vegas Final Blowout Pool Party, with Manufactured Superstars
10 p.m.: Playboy Club and Moon, with Miss Sunset Tan announced
Passes range from $60 (Friday only) to $225 (Saturday/Sunday) to $285 (all access).
Golden Nugget Las Vegas has a special end-of-summer sale on their rooms.
From July 26 through Sept. 3, get two Sunday-Thursday nights for $79. Get three Sunday-Thursday nights for $99. And get two Friday-Saturday nights for $149.
Depending on when you book, rates may be even cheaper.
To book, call 1-800-634-3454 and give the code BLOWOUT or visit this link.
As part of your room package, you'll also receive 2-for-1 tickets to Gordie Brown Live (except Sundays and Mondays).
Just announced, Marilyn Manson performs at the Joint (at Hard Rock) on Aug. 21 at 9 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Friday, July 23 at noon, but because you're reading this, you can get special pre-sale tickets between July 22 at 10 a.m. and July 23 at 10 p.m.
Just use password HRMANSON at Ticketmaster, though you'll still have to pay all of Ticketmaster's outrageous fees.
From all reports, it's clear that the only thing we can believe in Criss Angel's Believe show is that it's a dud, perhaps Cirque du Soleil's only bad show.
Almost universal bad reviews and low attendance doesn't matter to a casino much, because Luxor can always comp off the empty seats.
But now they're trying a reverse strategy, where if you buy tickets to the show, you'll now get a free room. That would certainly bump up ticket sales.
Only question is, is paying full price for tickets worth it?
To claim your free night's stay at Luxor, purchase 2 tickets to Believe at the box office or 1-877-386-4658 and give the code PDGET.
During her limited-run engagement in the Crazy Horse Paris show at MGM Grand, Carmen Electra surprised the audience by going topless (above picture doctored by us).
An audience member caught the moment and put the video on YouTube below (which, warning: is not doctored at all), but catch it while you can before it's removed.
Electra finished her sixth and final night last night... and no telling what she did.
Las Vegas will be host to a Michael Jackson memorial on Aug. 29, what would've been his 51st birthday.
The tribute concert will be held at the Pearl (at The Palms), with all proceeds going to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
Stars and bands from other Las Vegas shows are expected to stop by to perform to honor the late musical great, who made Vegas his home a couple years ago.
The show will be produced by Erich Bergen, current star of The Jersey Boys.
Harrah's has finally announced their plans for taking over the east side of the Strip: Project Link.
Purchasing Barbary Coast and turning it into Bill's Gamblin' Hall was the first step, but then the economy tanked.
Now perhaps to drum up casino-wary investors, Project Link will not involve a casino but connect existing casinos.
Sort of like Mandalay Place in between Mandalay Bay and Luxor.
Harrah's is capitalizing on the foot traffic winding around Harrah's and its Carnival Court, all the way through Imperial Palace to O'Sheas to Flamingo to Bill's.
Or perhaps they're strategizing a way to retain their traffic, keeping it from migrating to MGM Mirage's CityCenter across the street.
The plan is to add 20 bars and restaurants (presumably leased to third parties) on a new winding street between O'Sheas and Flamingo.
Something along the lines of the Universal Studios CityWalk.
We're somehow not as jazzed about this announcement as the possibility all that land they own behind IP entails, land that was devoted to the Harrah's arena that is no longer talked about.
There's no start date or cost. It seems more a teaser to see if investors come a-callin'.
No sooner did we post the return of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance did the show close already.
After just a couple weeks of performances at the Steve Wyrick theater at Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile, the Dance's last show is today at 4 p.m.
If you're a local and feel like seeing some serious Irish dancing, you can catch that last show for 50 percent off by presenting your Nevada I.D. to the box office. (Regulat ticket price is $59-$114.)
The most accessible mayor in the nation is joining you for coffee.
This morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will have a coffee chat at the Starbucks at 7660 W. Cheyenne.
Every other month, Goodman visits Las Vegas residents in the Ward of his choice, where he makes himself available to discuss issues, have conversation, or just shake his hand.
For information about "Coffee with the Mayor," call (702) 229-6241.
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles denied William Junge's Las Vegas license plate that was personalized as "HOE."
A 'ho is general slang for a prostitute, and was recently seen on the Planet Hollywood sign ("Planet Ho") while they were in the midst of converting from Aladdin.
Junge's lawyers argued against the DMV and won, stating that the HOE was a shortened reference to his car, a Chevy Tahoe.
We think before they go out of business, Chevrolet should release a Chevy Pimp.
The Playboy star (formerly one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends) is currently starring in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood. On premiere night, the hotel-casino even darkened some of the letters on their sign so that it read "Planet Holly."
Now Madison will be an honorary Octagon Girl at this weekend's UFC 100.
On Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Madison will appear in the Octagon Girl outfit amongst current OGs Arianny Celeste, Edith Labelle, and Logan Stanton.
Last month, Limp Bizkit including Fred Durst were supposed to play Mandalay Bay as part of the UFC 100, but UFC cancelled after both parties couldn't settle on DVD rights.
What was to be their first concert in the U.S. after more than eight years has now been rescheduled.
Still in Vegas, and this time for free (the UFC concert went for $35).
Limp Bizkit will be at the Pearl (at The Palms) on July 18. They will then go into seclusion until finishing their new album.
All 2,500 tickets will be given away on the day of show. More details are not yet known but will be posted on The Pearl's website soon.
A rigid cap of no more than 3,000 registering players per day was set for each of the four Day 1s of the World Series of Poker that began on Friday.
The first two days were no problem, as both together combined to almost 2,000.
But the last day, today, brought out all the procrastinators and bumped registration past the 3,000 mark.
Harrah's was firm and denied approximately 500 players who wanted to fork over their $10,000 buy-in entry, including poker professionals T.J. Cloutier and Patrik Antonius.
It looks like this year will come in under the number of entrants of last year... perhaps by 500 players.
Flipchip photos from Day 1A and 1B available on the Poker Prof's Blog.
At precisely 9:30 pm the nine Las Vegas Station Casinos scattered around the valley lit up the night sky with over nine minutes of simultaneous and identical fireworks shows in celebration of the Fourth of July. Even in these difficult economic times Las Vegas knows how to put on a good show and birthday party.
No matter where you were in Las Vegas you had a view of the Station's pyrotechnic light show, even from the World Series of Poker Main Event happening now at the Rio. From the back doors of the Rio's Pavilion the explosive reports could easily be seen and heard.
Old Spice, the deodorant which knows a thing or two about sweat, has rated our fine neon city as the 3rd sweatiest city in the nation.
As temperatures stay in the 3-digit range (after enjoying an especially cool June), we find this quite evident as we're applying the deodorant sticks a little more liberally (alas, not Old Spice).
Sweaty cities are actually determined based on the amount of sweat an average person would excrete while walking for an hour during the summer months.
Old Spice has been actively checking armpits since 2001.
What city was the sweatiest? That would be nearby Phoenix, which for its honor received 94 sticks of Old Spice (the average summer temperature in Phoenix is 94 degrees from 2001-2008).
The average Las Vegas summer temperature is 98.5 degrees.
Thought the New Year's Eve fireworks were lackluster?
Station Casinos (of all places) may make up for it this Independence Day.
Stations has hired Grucci (which has done the past few Las Vegas Strip New Year's shows) to launch simultaneously with choreographed music at nine Station casinos -- Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Boulder Station, neighboring Texas Station/Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Aliante Station, Santa Fe Station, and Sunset Station.
The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
Grucci says the nine-minute "Stations' 4th of July Blast" will be the largest fireworks event in history.
No word on whether the fireworks will be from the ground (like this past New Year's fizzlement) or the rooftops, but traditionally Las Vegas isn't big on fireworks for July 4th, so we will be first in line to our local Station Casino this weekend.
