photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Is Tropicana receiving a makeover?

The venerable hotel-casino could be a whole lot different looking by next year, when it completes its $100 million renovation.

And not just in looks, but internally the talent is a-changing.

The Tropicana is the residence of Wayne Brady where he hosts the reboot of "Let's Make a Deal" (Brady's otherwise at The Venetian for his improv show).

Now Wayne Newton has set up shop at Trop, for possibly his last show before retirement. Newton has been performing for 50 years, which coincidentally is how old the Tropicana is.

Newton stars in "Once Before I Go," complete with full orchestra, video and photo montages, and his own personal memorabilia on display next to the merchandise store.

Tickets run $80 to $100.

Shows are Tuesday-Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Tiffany Theatre and can be purchased by calling (702) 739-2417, (800) 829-9034, or http://www.troplv.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's Entertainment tops the list with a net loss of more than a billion dollars compared to last year's reported third quarter net income of $350 million. The Las Vegas based gaming giant and operator of eight Las Vegas resorts including strip flagship, Caesars Palace, blames the losses on the lack of visitors with money to spend.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. reported third quarter net income of $34.2 million, a 33% drop from last year's third quarter income of $52.1 million. Tuesday's news of the decline saw the stock lose about 10% in late trading. On the positive side the report stated it made money and that's proof the shrewd can open a $3 billion dollar ultra resort, operate world destinations on opposite sides of the globe, and turn a profit.

Another glimmer of hope from the gambling industry's latest report card. Las Vegas based gaming giant, Boyd Gaming, reported net income of $6.3 million, down 28% from the $8.7 million reported for the same period last year.

Boyd Gaming wisely announced they were placing the $5 billion Echelon project on the Las Vegas strip on hold for an indefinite period of time. A return to work to finish the project will be dependent on a turn around of the failed economy and probably will come no sooner than 2011 and perhaps closer to 2015.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Across the boulevard the unfinished multi-billion dollar ultra-resort, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, sits silent in the harsh desert light. Why? Because no one wants to risk the billion or so in cash needed to finish the seventy percent completed project. Is the 68 story ultra-luxurious hotel tower destined to become the forever unfinished monolith to mark the day the blues came to Las Vegas?

Most of these projects were conceived during the end of the Las Vegas golden years when strip acreage was going for $30 million instead of today's paltry $12 million. A time when everyone knew the magic formula, "Build it and they will pay $500 a night to sleep in it." This time honored axiom will be severely tested come December when MGM Mirage's city-within-a-city, CityCenter, opens its $11 billion door to the public. If they keep their rooms filled with guest mined from other strip properties has the city really gained much?

The dark clouds of economic gloom blanketing Las Vegas are expected to linger for years to come and that alone guarantees hard times ahead for the once high flying gaming Mecca.

Have a great day.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

What to do with all those Total Rewards points you've built up by playing at any Harrah's property?

Aside from their annual Gift Giveaway (which awards you gift points on top of TR points), you can put those points toward shops, restaurants, rooms, shows -- basically your player's card can be treated like a credit card at any Harrah's property.

But did you know that there's a Total Rewards catalog of high-end merchandise that you can purchase using your points?

Every 100 points is valued at about $1, which goes the same for the catalog.

But monthly specials for Platinum, Diamond, and Seven Stars members can occasionally produce some good deals.

For the month of October, the Cuinart Table Top Gas Grill is normally 31,000 points but on sale for 21,700. The Nikon Coolpix S70 12MP digital camera is normally 56,000 points but on sale for 39,200.

See more deals and the entire catalog at this link. You can browse through the store by item, category, or even by points.

If you're looking to unload a whole bunch of points fast (say, if Harrah's decides to file bankruptcy...), the Catalog is the place.

Note that you must visit a Harrah's casino in person to place an order (to verify ID). They will then ship anywhere you'd like for free.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

With piracy taking a chunk out of box office and large flat screen TVs becoming ever cheaper, movie theaters are looking for new ways to attract people to their theaters.

One successful way is improved 3D technology, which has been such a big boon to the industry that older movies are being enhanced to the new way of viewing.

Another way is bringing the audience member a new kind of movie experience, immersing them in a motion chair.

D-BOX Technologies has developed a chair that moves in sync with the movie. Now you can feel like you're flying along with Astroboy.

In June, 22 chairs were installed at the Galaxy Theatres (at the Cannery in North Las Vegas) and proved to be so successful that 11 more will be added before Christmas.

For more information, visit "D-BOX or Galaxy.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tonight's Las Vegas-based "Top Chef" has the contestants cooking TV dinners.

And not just your regular salisbury steak/veggie/apple pie kind of TV dinners, but creations inspired by classic TV shows -- "The Brady Bunch," "Happy Days," etc.

The chefs will be whipping up their meals at Craftsteak (at MGM Grand).

Guest judging in the Elimination Challenge will not be a television celebrity but a film celebrity: Natalie Portman, who throws in a twist to the meals.

"Top Chef" airs on Bravo.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

British Airways is now offering nonstop flights between London Heathrow and Las Vegas, and for a limited time you can take advantage of the cheapest fares we've seen for intercontinental flights.

For as low as $249 each way, you can travel to London (or from London to Las Vegas). Cheap fares are also available to other European cities.

You must book by Oct. 29 for travel between Nov. 2 and Dec. 20, and Dec. 24 to March 28.

Perhaps BA's main competitor Virgin Atlantic will cut their prices to match. Stay tuned.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tomorrow night, 97.1 The Point will hold a Pinktober Fashion Show at the Hard Rock Cafe (that's the one on the Strip, not the casino) to recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Join Steph McKenzie (from The Point's morning show), who hosts along with media personalities Kim Wagner and Alicia Jacobs (KVBC-TV), Rachel Smith and Heidi Hayes (KVVU-TV), Dana Roselli (KLAS-TV), Lisa Remillard (KTNV-TV), and Marley Taylor (Zowie Bowie).

Models will be paired up with cancer survivors to show off fashions from local boutiques.

Australian singer/songwriter Lenka will provide entertainment.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and you must be at least 21.

Cost is $10 or $25 (VIP seats) with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

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

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

These days we're always looking for a bargain, and movies are usually the last place to look, as prices keep climbing every year.

Through Nov. 5, Brenden Theatres (at The Palms) has a few special discounts for those who can get out of work early or can stay out late.

Monday through Thursday, all final matinees are only $5.

All final shows of the night are $7.75.

And, if you see the last show of the night (after 9 p.m.), you can pick up a large drink and a medium popcorn for $5.

Can't beat that! Better than all the theater employees dumping the popcorn.

Note that not all films are included, check at the box office to be sure.

For more information, call (702) 507-4849.

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

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

After announcing the signing of Garth Brooks to headline at the Encore Showroom last week tickets went on sale Saturday morning at 8 AM and by 1 PM they were sold out. The first 20 shows in the 1,500 seat showroom is a grand success Tickets have already been spotted on ticket reseller websites with prices over $1,500 each.

Steve Wynn is determined to neuter the scalpers with a dedicated team of sleuths searching out resellers and cancelling their ticket holdings. Show goers are reminded to purchase show tickets through the Encore Wynn box office for guaranteed entry into the show.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A Saturday evening journey to the far west side of Las Vegas ended at Alta and Rampart across from the Suncoast Resort for Flipchip. Located in a corner of the Boca Park shopping complex is the Boca Park Funtime Frightfest and Monster Mayhem's Haunted Mansion, The Boneyard, and Morbid Clown Manor. Something for everyone -- pony rides, Ferris wheels, cemetery, hanging, fun house, pumpkin patch, and genuine carnival food. Go for the haunted houses, stay for the hand dipped corn dogs and aromatic cotton candy.

We've added more photos to our 2009 Halloween Photo Gallery from the stroll through the Monster Mayhem premier Haunted Attraction. New, improved and expanded haunted experiences guarantee a night of fright and lingering fears for those that dare to enter. And finally some good news, one ticket price will get you into all three Monster Mayhem attractions. Yes. the lines were long, but you're constantly entertained by the people running, screaming from the haunts. Beginning at 7 PM nightly October 28 through Halloween.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

On Veterans Day, McCormick & Schmick's is offering a free entree from a special menu.

Just stop by Nov. 8 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. at 335 Hughes Center Dr. (Paradise/Flamingo), and show your proof of ID (VA card, VFW card, discharge papers, etc.) to your server.

McCormick & Schmick's restaurants across the country will have similar offers, so if you're not in Las Vegas you can still participate.

For more information, call (702) 836-9000.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Rush Tower, the Golden Nugget's latest addition to the downtown icon, remains on schedule to open to the public November 20th. Registration is open and accepting reservations for the 500 rooms in the new $150 million non-smoking hotel tower. Great views of the city and mountains add to the long list of luxury amenities for the oversize guest rooms in the Rush Tower.

Take a trip into downtown Las Vegas to experience the newly renovated and expanded Golden Nugget. After spending more than a third of a billion dollars to update Steve Wynn's first Las Vegas casino project, Landry's Restaurants, Inc will unveil the results next month. The official grand opening of the Rush Tower and all-new Chart House Aquarium restaurant is scheduled for November 23rd.

Don't forget to take in the Golden Nugget's pool, the Tank, voted one of the Top Ten Pools in the World by Forbes Traveler. A LasVegasVegas favorite restaurant, the Grotto Italian Restorante, serves world-class fare daily.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 3:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Michael Shackleford's immensely popular and smartest site on gambling anywhere is Wizard of Odds.

He's now just launched Wizard of Vegas, a website about all things Vegas.

While the paint still hasn't dried, much of the features are empty, but expect them to fill up in the coming months. Those include reviews of casinos, games, articles, shows, restaurants, plus message forums.

The lack of casino reviews is made up by photos of casinos with attractive women (check out Binion's if you like women in sports jerseys). Eventually reviews will include video poker paytables, blackjack rules, and other game paybacks at that casino.

One immediately useful stats page is in the list of casinos, which is sortable and shows how many poker tables, table games, and slots are at a particular casino..

For example, we didn't know Red Rock leads Las Vegas with the most amount of slots, at 2,955. We always thought MGM Grand had the most, but they're listed as 9th at 2,470.

The least amount of slots? That would be Silver Saddle on E. Charleston, at 38. No pictures (yet).

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Eastside Cannery, located at 5255 Boulder Hwy. near Sam's Town, hosts a Halloween Blood Drive on Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In exchange for your blood (to be taken by United Blood Services workers dressed as vampires), you will receive a free buffet for 2 at the Eastside Cannery, along with 1200 points added to your player's club card.

To make an appointment, visit this link and enter the code "EastsideCannery." Or just show up.

The blood drive is sponsored by KKLZ, KDWN, and Coyote Country radio.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Hooters Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas now offers pick-up service for their famous restaurant.

Visit Hooters Wings 2 Go, pick a date and time, and place your order (more than just wings are available).

Then pop by the casino at that time and pick up your order.

While we've always been able to order for pickup from our neighborhood Hooters), this is the first time we can do so online, courtesy of BigHoller Online Ordering.

P.S. Order for pickup on a Friday or Saturday night, and pop by Purple Reign, the Prince tribute band that is now in residence at Hooters Casino. Locals receive 2-for-1 tickets.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

MGM Mirage is gearing up for another massive job search.

The company recently picked up 12,000 employees for November/December employment at CityCenter. A third of those were pulled from MGM Mirage properties.

Which means those 4,000 positions need filling.

Employees may be picked from the 160,000 (and 50,000 interviewed) who initially applied but it isn't too late to apply at MGM Mirage Careers.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

When Garth Brooks comes out of retirement beginning Dec. 11 at Wynn Encore, will he and wife Trisha Yearwood move to Las Vegas?

Not likely, since he went into retirement in 2000 to take care of his three young daughters (who at the time were 4, 6, and 8).

So how does Steve Wynn get him to Vegas?

Wynn bought Brooks a jet plane.

The brand new 11-seater Challenger jet will transport Brooks from Oklahoma to Vegas Friday afternoon, where he'll perform that night, two shows on Saturday, one on Sunday, then return back in time to drive his daughters to and from school every day.

He will commit to shows a quarter at a time, to see how he and his family are handling the schedule. Ultimately the long-term plan is to play at Encore for the next 5 years.

The amount that Wynn is paying Brooks is being kept secret, but it's similar to adding an item to your Amazon shopping bag -- only instead of being too low to advertise, it's too high for the Wynn stockholders to be comfortable with.

Brooks will perform in the 1,500-seat Encore Theater for $125 per ticket.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Take a photo journey into the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens' Fall 2009 show of color. Enjoy the thousands of live plants filling the grand green house. Tune into the rhythm of falling water. Raintrees that rain, giant leaves of colored glass, a tiny Bellagio, old forest creatures, talking tree, and some Las Vegas magic dust place the Bellagio Conservatory high on our Vegas free-to-see destinations.

We did the walking for you and toured the conservatory in search of images that could convey a little of the mysterious and magical mantra. Use this direct link to the Bellagio Fall 2009 Flipchip Photo Gallery. Downtown hi-rez photos for free as covered by our Creative Commons License.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

No, you're not seeing things.

That really is a giant Monopoly board on the Las Vegas Strip in front of Bally's.

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today, Harrah's Las Vegas and Hasbro have teamed up to have 5 players roll big dice and walk around a 25' x 25' life-sized Monopoly board.

Players were selected from 50 finalists around the country, and one will win $50,000.

The big game is part of a promotion for the Monopoly World Championship, running through Oct. 22 at Caesars Palace.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Halloween excitement continues to build all around the town. Flipchip made a Saturday night trip downtown Las Vegas in search of spooks and came away with some new photos for the Halloween Photo gallery. All of the photos were taken on location at Binion's.

This year the historic downtown casino has turned the second floor into The Haunted Casino and it was not nearly as difficult a task as imagined since the place is already full of resident ghosts and other things that scream and go bump in the dark. More than enough apparitions to keep a Ghostbuster's franchise busy full time. As always, the images are hi-rez, suitable for your desktop, and may be downloaded for free per our Creative Commons License.

People often refer to downtown as "colorful," meaning everything except colors; but, a look through the Binion's Gallery Photos will put the colors back into "colorful." The downtown Halloween party continues nightly through October 31st. Check out all of the photos in the 2009 Halloween Gallery with this link.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Announced today in a Las Vegas press conference streamed live on the websites of Wynn Las Vegas, country superstar Garth Brooks will be a fixture of Encore Las Vegas.

Scheduled for 16 weeks in 2010, Brooks will take over the Encore Theater that was last used by the late Danny Gans.

Brooks' retired 10 years ago to take care of his three daughters. "You want to be remembered at your best," he said of going out on top.

To give an idea just how popular Brooks is, the Beatles have sold 170 million albums. Brooks is second with 128 million.

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

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A dozen photos of the 2009 Las Vegas Haunted Houses scattered about the city are now available in the Photo Gallery. The hi-rez Flipchip images can be downloaded under our Creative Commons License free of charge. Gallery photos are sized up to 1920 x 1285, ideal for your desktop and it's free.

Next time you're in one of the world-class Las Vegas Haunted Houses and something turns your central nervous systems into jello-surprise, even for the briefest moment, remember. This is Las Vegas and it's all for fun, right?

Las Vegas -- Real Magic for Real People...

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photo by mgs • lasvegasvegas.com

Maybe they should've put those old dinosaur bones inside muscle cars.

Over the weekend, 10 collector cars were auctioned off at the now annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car auction at Mandalay Bay. Each of the cars went for over $200,000.

Dinosaur bones of a T. rex had a difficult time selling, not meeting its reserve a couple weeks ago at an auction at The Venetian.

A pristine Shelby Cobra from 1965 with no miles on it sold for $440,000. It was previously owned by the family of Jacuzzi, the same moniker behind the famous hot tub.

Also sold was a limited edition, 550-horsepower 2009 silver Ford Mustang, one of only 45 created for its 45th anniversary. It went for $352,000.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Las Vegas mega-resorts, The Venetian and The Palazzo, are the latest addition to Southwest Airlines' frequent flyers program, Rapid Rewards, according to a Southwest Airlines announcement. Now, Rapid Rewards Members can earn credits for stays at either of the two strip resorts simply by booking online through Southwest. Book a reservation now through November 5, 2009 at The Venetian or The Palazzo on the Southwest Airlines website and receive double credits plus additional bonuses just for Southwest Airlines customers.

Holidays and all the accompanying festivities are a perfect fit for the city of entertainment, Las Vegas. Get all your holiday shopping done early this year while enjoying your Venetian/Palazzo stay.

Posted by flipchipro at 2:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Psst...

The most excellent haunted house flick Paranormal Activity is dominating the couple hundred theaters (opening wide Oct. 16) it's in, where each screening is earning more than the reported $11,000 it cost to make.

Director Oren Peli had to wait a couple years before Paramount decided what to do with the indie movie it bought at Slamdance. Plans were to do a remake with a bigger budget and name actors, but ultimately, Paramount released it as is with an ending change suggested by Steven Spielberg.

How does this relate to our fine neon city?

Peli is shooting his next movie in Utah and Las Vegas this week, specifically at the Hooters Casino & Hotel this Thursday.

Area 51 will follow the found footage format, as we see teenagers sneaking around Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada desert. We suspect aliens are involved, but who are we to spoil.

The same group behind Paranormal will be doing the new movie, at a substantially higher-but-still-low-budget of $5 million.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Flamingo Resort Headliner Maria Osmond attracted a large crowd of fans that formed a long line snaking out of the Flamingo Gift Shop and down the hall Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5 PM. The gracious entertainer was signing dolls from her collection.

I found it rather remarkable that she would give up 3 hours to meet and greet fans considering her demanding performance schedule at the strip showroom. Even though the event was not well publicized they came by the hundreds to get a peek at the striking lady while getting a signature on a doll. She posed with the fans for photos and kept up constant chatter to the delight of all who waited in line.

Flipchip was there and provided the photos. Now we know what he does on a typical Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harrah's just released their first iPhone app -- iSpin.

Available in the iTunes App Store for free, iSpin is a 3-reel slot machine with the ability to customize reel symbols with photos from your photo album.

You can also change background skins to different casinos within the Harrah's brand, or display one of your own.

Player stats are shown, along with a leaderboard displaying the highest score.

It also gives a convenient way to access your Total Rewards tier score, reward credits balance, etc., without having to login to Harrahs.com.

We played it and had a fun diversion putting our friends' pictures in the game and then showing it to them, but other than that we'd rather pay for IGT's Cleopatra slot app, which is a 5 reel penny game with bonus.

To download the app, visit this link.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This weekend the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), a national non-profit organization, will be holding a free mortgage restructuring marathon for Las Vegas residents in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. This weekend beginning on Friday October 9 through Monday October 12.

NACA staff and vonlunteers will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall 3 and 4 for the four days of the marathon. This is an opportunity for those home owners facing foreclosure to receive expert help and work out a solution that may allow them to remain in their homes. The NACA has already helped more than 50,000 Americans restructure their mortgage and remain in their homes this year.

Maybe they can help you. It won't cost anything to find out because it's all free.

Posted by flipchipro at 1:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

MGM Mirage announced on Monday that condo prices at their CityCenter project on the Las Vegas strip would be cut by 30% as a results of the sinking economy. The $9 billion dollar property is scheduled to begin opening December 1st with the non-gaming Vdara Hotel debut, followed by the non-gaming Mandarin Oriental Hotel premiering December 4th. The showplace Aria, CityCenter's main attraction hotel-casino with 4,000 rooms, comes online December 16th.

Price reductions will apply to all past buyers as well as current buyers of the high-end, $500,000 up to $9 million, condos with a Las Vegas strip address. Project owners believe cutting hundreds of thousands of dollars from the price for this very limited quantity of prestigious strip address condos with result in closing on many of the properties. Some of the Vegas smart money opinions of the 30% cut say it will not produce enough closed deals on the condos to make any difference.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

We enjoyed reading through the Las Vegas Sun's posting today about a Daily Beast article stating that our fine neon city came up as one of the dumbest cities.

Raleigh-Durham came in at smartest.

Who was the dumbest? That would be Fresno, Calif., where fewer than 20 percent of the population have four-year degrees.

We came in next to last. Or penultimate, if we knew what that word meant.

The Daily Beast states: "a city that prides itself on sin perfoms predictably for each of our intellectual-based criteria."

Well, hey, we got y'all to come to our city and give us enough of your hard-earned money via casinos so we don't pay a single bit of state tax. How dumb can that be?

Okay, now we sound like we're defending our case.

We may be dumb, but dammit if we aren't pretty.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not even open yet and already a discount?

Yep, CityCenter's Mandarin Oriental is the place to be come Dec. 5... assuming CityCenter opens on time the night before (which we're betting it will, there's too much at stake).

To ensure all rooms are full, the small 392-room hotel is offering a buy-1-get-1 night free.

Only thing is, no one told the Mandarin Oriental about the economy (where Vegas Strip hotel rates are in the $50 range), because they're charging $545 a night as a regular price.

But then, this is CityCenter, and they have every right to have an empty hotel when they open (just kidding... we hope).

Getting 2 nights for $545 (not including taxes) entitles you to all the free soap you can carry, along with bragging rights to tell your grandchildren that you were there.

To book, visit this link.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Mario Ho and Tiffany Michelle will continuing racing on The Amazing Race Sunday's at 8 PM on CBS. Episode 3 saw the two poker pros navigating through Vietnam, hauling a heavy concrete animal around on cobbled streets, deciphering code from above, and sweating in the tropic heat of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Although they are not among the leaders they continue to improve each week and may be in the race for the long run. A million dollars awaits the survivors at the end of the road.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 5:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dinosaurs in Las Vegas?

Yes, but only for sale.

Yesterday, the Venetian attempted to auction off 170 bones of a 66 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton called Samson.

Samson, discovered in the 1980s in South Dakota, is one of just three near-complete T. rex sets of bones in the world.

The reserve by Bonhams & Butterfields wasn't disclosed, but when bidding began at $2.5 million and ended at $3.7 million, it wasn't enough. In 1997, a T. rex sold for $8.3 million, and there was hope for Samson going to at least $6 million.

About 50 other fossils were also on the bidding block, with better success at selling (to the tune of $1.7 million).

As for Samson, he will continue to be shown at The Venetian until sold.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Las Vegas is officially into the 2009 Halloween season with well-known haunted houses around the city opening their doors and allowing thrill seekers to walk right in. For the price of a ticket you're assured of fear induced adrenalin highs that will send you screaming as you run for your life from the insanity of it all, and that's just the drive across town to get there. Amazing what the sudden sound of a chain saw can do to the unsuspecting.

All photos in this post were taken during this weekend's Las Vegas haunted house openings. The following list of links allow quick connections to the 2009 major haunted houses of Las Vegas.

Click here Mortuary, Circus of Horrors and Castle Vampyre details, times, dates of operation, and a discount coupon. 702.362.FEAR

Click here The Asylum and Hotel Fear details. Buy tickets online for both attractions.

Click here for all the details and news of the world class Fright Dome 2009 at Circus Circus.

Click here for Monster Mayhem Fun Town info and details, download a discount coupon. Check times and dates of operation.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Flipchip was out on the boulevard Friday night with camera in hand and snapped a few images of the famous Flamingo Casino. The Flamingo free show featuring pole dancing was attracting a nice crowd. The exotic cars parked out on the sidewalk had dozens of lookers. The Flamingo's neon is a glowing reminder of what Las Vegas is all about. It's also a favorite photo op.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Posted by flipchipro at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)