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« November 2009 | Main | January 2010 »
December 31, 2009
Tomorrow you may be regretting tonight, but some local convenience stores will at least help rid you of that hangover in the wee hours of 2010.
Between midnight tonight through 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 7-Eleven is offering free cups of coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, or cappuccino.
Just stop by 7-Eleven and look for the sign in the window that says "Free Coffee."
The Las Vegas Strip shuts down at 6 p.m. for New Year's Eve festivities, and it won't open back up for vehicles until 3 a.m.
Those who have ventured out to their favorite Strip casino don't have to be stranded. You'll still be able to get around via the Las Vegas Monorail, which is open late tonight (until 3 a.m.).
Fares will also be $1 for locals by showing Nevada ID at the MGM Grand booth before 6 p.m. or the Sahara booth before 11 p.m.
On Jan. 2 at 8 p.m., the Darling Stilettos perform with special guest Matt Sorum (Guns n' Roses, Velvet Revolver) on drums.
The Stilettos are an all-girls rock group inspired by Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde, and in their show Rock n' Roll a Go-Go, they take the audience on a journey of rock music from the British Invasion to Punk to Classic rock.
They've been making the rounds of Las Vegas, but on Jan. 2 will perform at the Las Vegas Hilton, where you can get 2-for-1 tickets by mentioning the code 2FERDS.
Tickets are normally $19-$39.
To purchase, visit the box office or call 1-800-222-5361.
Looking for last-minute ideas for New Year's Eve?
In Las Vegas, just head to the Strip!
Or if you want to avoid the big crowd for a smallish crowd, you can hang out in the private section of the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York for $125 (plus tax and fee). This gives you an open bar, live entertainment, fireworks, and people-watching from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Other NYE packages at NYNY (not including tax and fee):
Zumanity + bridge entry
$145
Zumanity and ROK Vegas nightclub
$145
Bar at Times Square
open bar 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with live entertainment
$100
ROK Vegas nightclub
pen bar 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
$125
To purchase tickets, call 1-866-606-7111, visit this link, or visit the Zumanity box office at New York New York.
Clark County, the home of Las Vegas, is in such dire straits that drastic budget cutting measures are in order now that county tax revenues have fallen off the charts and into the economic disaster dumpster. The necessary cost cutting steps are reducing government services to the minimums and non-essential personnel are finding themselves standing in the long lines of the unemployed.
What's the political brain trust of Nevada doing about this dilemma? They decided it was in the best interest of all to provide a half million dollar charity package to the Las Vegas Review-Journal in the form of advertising revenues to publish a 500 page, 4.5 pound supplement to Monday's daily paper listing the Clark County tax assessment records, the complete tax roll for every property owner in Clark County.
Ironically, the first paragraph of this massive carbon footprint states, "This preamble and 2010/2011 assessment list is available on the Internet at the address listed above." That address is accessclarkcounty.com/assessor, the county's website. I could read this on the Internet, keep the half mil and not cut down one tree. Wow, that seems to be a no-brainer decision.
How come no one wised up and stopped this environmental catastrophe? Well actually, they did. The Nevada assembly introduced and passed Assembly Bill 307 that would have permitted governments to publish the information online to save money and the trees; but unfortunately, the Nevada do-nothing for the greater good Governor, Jim Gibbons, vetoed the bill saying he did so because Internet access in outlying counties was dial-up. Apparently, the gov thinks people actually read these reams of mental mush. In reality, it was common knowledge that the Las Vegas Review-Journals Publisher Sherman Frederick was lobbying the governor on this issue. Guess the gov figured he might need the front pocket money for his upcoming divorce.
How many more of these greed driven indiscretions must the citizens of the great state of Nevada endure before we get out the pitchforks, torches, tar and feathers and a rail to send the thieves packing? After all, the pen printing press is mightier than the sword but it ain't no match for a bunch of mad-as-hell battle born citizens.
Want to know more? Follow the links:
• http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11739667
• http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/31/jim-gibbons-gov-veto/
• http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Reports/history.cfm?ID=607
How far would a woman drive to have legal sex with a male prostitute? This question that's pondered by the brain trusts of the sex trade in Nevada may soon have an answer. How about a two and a half hour drive (~150 miles) North of Las Vegas on US 95 to the Shady Lady Brothel?
Providing all goes as planned for Shady Lady's owner and operator, Bobbi Davis, we should have our answer in a few days. Davis and her husband have operated the legal brothel in Nye County for the past 17 years and believe the time is right to add a stud or two to their existing lineup of working girls.
So what's next if the working men hired to service the ladies is a success? How about a gay brothel? A place where gay men can exercise their sexual preferences in a safe, discreet, and private place. Yep, that's another twist being considered for the sex trade in the nine Nevada counties where sex for hire is legal. Apparently gay sex has been going on for years but was limited to women.
Sounds like a day trip to gather the facts and shoot some photos is in order. We'll keep you posted on this up and coming story.
It's been awhile since Paris Hilton has been in the news.
Over the weekend, however, Hilton got married in Las Vegas at the Little Church of the West wedding chapel.
Well, it was all staged for publicity, but it was a mock wedding nonetheless.
The fake groom was Piers Morgan, from "Britain's Got Talent."
Hilton -- and her dog -- were dressed in white for the occasion. And there were plenty of witnesses dressed as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.
The wedding will air Jan. 2 on VH1's "Piers Morgan" show.
In just ten days the annual wait is over for the 2010 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo Center. Be there on Thursday, January 7, at 10 AM to see Adam & Eve Pictures star, Bree Olson, cut the ribbon in front of Exhibit Hall A to launch the 2010 event. Fans will be welcomed into the Expo on Friday, January 8, through Sunday, January 10.
Remember, this is the biggest adult entertainment expo in North America and general public fans are welcome into the convention with the simple purchase of a pass. Meet the stars of the adult film industry and stroll the convention floor where more than 350 exhibitors will be offering their wares. Fans can use this direct link to register for their fan package online.
For those individuals that can't decide if it's worth a trip to Las Vegas or if you just want to spike your blood pressure may we suggest a digital stroll through Flipchip's Photo Galleries of previous Expos. Use this direct link for the large hi-rez image galleries. As always, free download and use of photos per our Creative Commons License.
Las Vegas will have an additional 1,650 high end guest rooms available on Monday. Joining the recently opened Aria's 4,000 rooms will be a new Planet Hollywood Tower and a new tower at the Hard Rock Hotel.
The PH Westgate Tower addition to Planet Hollywood adds 1,200 rooms while the Hard Rock's HRH Tower offers 450 suites. Guest with well stocked wallets will enjoy the many amenities of both new joints.
Opening the new guest accommodations at a time when the city is finding it impossible to keep the thousands of existing rooms filled with paying guest appears to be a case of unrealistic optimism that will further dilute the sagging Las Vegas visitors numbers. Las Vegas doesn't need more guest rooms, Las Vegas needs more guests.
This is Las Vegas, the 24/7 full throttle party city so what do you expect to find on Christmas Day? Shopping centers and stores closed for the holiday? I think not.
It's business as usual at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace and if that's not enough the Miracle Mile Shops located at Planet Hollywood are also open. With more than 160 shops at the Forum and another 170 plus stores at the Miracle Mile shops you can shop till you're broke.
Both of the Las Vegas strip shopping malls are open Christmas Day from 10AM -Midnight. Many of the shops will be featuring specials and deeply discounted items to the holiday shoppers.
Additionally, around Las Vegas there will be 24 hour Walgreen Drug Stores and 24 hour Walmart Stores open for business. Strip resorts, casinos, restaurants, and shops are open the usual 24 hours/forever.
9. Instead of an olive your dry martini has a sugar plum.8. All the food at the Circus Circus buffet is red or green...oops sorry, that's normal.
7. Big Red sleigh parked in valet.
6. Frosty the Snowman hitting on the cocktail girls.
5. Downtown Las Vegas decorated as giant lump of coal.
4. Hotel security dressed as nutcrackers (except the Paris, they always dress that way).
3. Drunk elves playing slots.
2. Coffee shop daily special...reindeer burgers.
1. Santa playing the 'big game' in Bobby's Room!
With the number of Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses in the double-digits, quite a few were from meeting them on trips to Las Vegas with sports celebs (and fellow gamblers) Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley.
It's been revealed that Woods enjoyed high-stakes gambling, where he'd regularly wager $25,000 on single hands of blackjack. He had a $1 million credit line at MGM Grand.
Alleged mistress #4, Jamie Jungers, spoke of gambling with Woods through the night.
Fellow golfer/gambler John Daly wrote in his autobiography that Daly lost over $60 million to gambling.
The amount that Woods has lost to casinos is unknown, but he began gambling underage at riverboat casinos.
Perhaps Woods' penchant for Las Vegas gambling and all that came with it proved too much temptation.
Along with the opening of ARIA last week (at CityCenter) comes the first all-networked slot floor.
In the works for the past couple years, International Game Technology's sbX Experience Management System now resides on most machines on the ARIA floor - not just IGT's games but competitor games such as WMS Gaming, Bally, and Aristocrat as well.
What a server-based floor means is greater flexibility for the casino operator, where games (or groups of games in multi-game format) can be changed on the fly.
sbX also allows the player to access additional options unrelated to the gaming experience. Imagine every slot machine acting as a kiosk.
Inserting a player's card will login and pop up a menu, sliding the game to the side. The menu currently contains ads but has the potential of more in the near future (such as ordering drinks, making dinner reservations, buying show tickets, a map of the casino, etc.).
A recent foray into the holiday crowds on the Las Vegas strip presented us with an abundance of misinformation from Harrah's employees concerning the just announced promotion to drive local slot players to the off-strip, oft ignored Rio Resort.
Stopping by the Total Rewards counter at Harrah's the friendly clerk said we should be playing the Rio to take advantage of the Locals Only promo that returned your played money in the form of vouchers you could cash at the casino cage or as the employee stated...You're playing for free! We were told that players would receive 10 times the number of base points and they could be cashed in for vouchers at the Total Rewards center at the Rio. Wow! Free slot play...sounds almost too good to be true.
Another stop by the Total Rewards counter at the Flamingo assured us this was indeed the case and we should be at the Rio, so to the Rio we did go. And a final stop at the Rio's Total Rewards assured us we should play the machines and come back and receive our vouchers for redemption at the Rio's casino cage. After playing (and losing) a few hundred dollars we found the Total Rewards place closed until 9 AM.
When we returned later in the day we learned that all play from the previous day (night and early morning) should have been claimed before 4:59 AM or it was lost. Nothing carries over. Huh? No one said anything about the clock constrictions. But that's not all... those cash vouchers aren't for cash. They are coupons for additional slot play. Furthermore, that 10 times the base points thing really means you receive 10 times the usual amount of coupons for free slot play, i.e., 50 base points equal a $5 free play coupon. Bottom line: We did not earn the minimum to receive even one lowly $5 slot play coupon.
Too good to be true? Yes! Our advice is give yourself a cash bonus by keeping your cash in your pocket and drop kicking this "free" offer right back to Total Rewards.
Every holiday season the Ethyl M candy people decorate their cactus garden with more than a half million multi-colored lights and invite the public to come on down for the free tour. The display is open from 6 PM to 10 PM nightly through the holidays. This year they've opened the candy factory and store for the night time visitors and are offering another free tour through the candy manufacturing facility. As always, tour guest receive a free piece of delicious Ethyl M's chocolate.
For those that miss the outstanding chocolate liquors once found in all of the casino gift shops there is good news, they are still made and sold at the company store. Ethel M's factory is located in Henderson at Mountain Vista and Sunset Blvd on the East side of Las Vegas .
More photos after the jump.
On Dec. 8, the Rembrandt painting "Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo" sold at the Christie's International auction house in London for 20.2 million pounds ($32.9 million).This was a record for a Rembrandt, which even in a recessed economy has shown no signs of decreasing in value. That would be specifically Rembrandt, as other artists haven't been as lucky.
The painting, created in 1658, hasn't been seen in public for almost 40 years.
But that may be about to change.
The purchaser (who was the only bidder) bid anonymously via telephone, and as there are only a handful of high-end art collectors, the speculation was that it was a casino mogul who has a penchant for great works of art.
Yesterday, The New York Times revealed that the secret buyer is Steve Wynn, owner of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas.
Wynn has been known to adorn his casinos with his art collection, and was recently in art news for accidentally putting his elbow through Picasso's "Le Reve."
We gotta admit, we were tantalized by the same headline as the above as much as you may have.
We hate to disappoint, but the implants mentioned are actually dental implants.
And they're offering a buy 1, get 1 free end-of-the-year special at On-Site Dentistry.
On-Site Dentistry comprises mobile units that move around from location to location depending on the day (for example, on Mondays they're at Rio, Harrah's, and Imperial Palace; on Tuesdays, they're at Paris, Bally's. and MGM Grand).
To schedule before Dec. 31, call (702) 236-4822 or click here for other locations and to make an appointment.
We wonder what went into the planning for the location of the beautiful Aria (at CityCenter), because getting there is a hike through buildings. Unless making it a destination, we don't see much foot traffic off the Las Vegas Strip, much like how Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood) was situated, where you had to trek through the mall to get to the casino. It almost seems like a casino for locals who live in the CityCenter or are visiting from Bellagio or Monte Carlo via the tram.
The day before the grand opening, we received an email offer from Aria, and we're posting just to let you know how low occupancy must be (it isn't for everyone, so if you call you may not get the same rates, but just an FYI):
If we stay before April 1, 2010, we'd get $109 from Sunday-Thursday and $159 Friday-Saturday. Also $50 in food/beverage and $25 freeplay. However, if we stay in January, we'd get an additional $25 in food and $50 in freeplay.
That essentially would make a one-night stay on a January weeknight free.
We barely play at MGM Mirage properties, so to get this so soon around opening adds to the fact that casinos are desperate for players.
A trek through the Aria Hotel and Casino was a visual delight even if the feet were tired from the long march that began at the Bellagio parking garage. This is the place we've been waiting for four years to see. A real Vegas joint with a casino filled with slot machines, gaming tables, and art. Lots and lots of art.
A side trip through The Gallery of Dale Chihuly's artwork was the highlight of the evening. All of the glass and art is for sale but you better have a high credit limit card or a pocket full of cash to take home one of these treasures. Sales specialist, Sarah, gave us a personal tour of the gallery and provided in-depth information for the colorful glass originals.
Check out more Aria photos from the casino's 24 table poker room with this link to the Poker Prof's Blog.
Aria Hotel and Casino located in the $8.5 billion CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas strip is set to open the doors to the public before Midnight tonight. The 4,004 room Aria Hotel is the center piece of the massive CityCenter project and the only property with a casino.
A fireworks show is scheduled to happen around 11 PM from atop the 61 story tower before the general public is welcomed into property.
Got a terminal case of sweet tooth and don't want to spend more than $750 on a sweet treat? Finally, the cure is available in Las Vegas and it's called the Decadence D'Or. A pastry treat only available at the just opened Sweet Surrenders, a cupcake and candy shop located in The Palazzo Resort on the Las Vegas strip.
What makes a cupcake worth $750? How about 100 year-old Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac, Palmira Single Estate Chocolate from the rare Porcelain Crillo bean, Tahita Gold Vanilla Caviar - the most labor-intensive agricultural crop in the world, and edible gold flakes. Baked and assembled by the executive pastry chef of The Palazzo, Chef Long Nguyen, this royal treat will keep you coming back until you're broke.
Of course, there are traditional cupcakes - Red Velvet, Lemon Strawberry, Chocolate Ganache, Carrot, Black Forest, Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Fudge cupcakes - that will leave your bank account intact while providing the same culinary guilt trip.
Located on the casino floor next to the guest elevators, Sweet Surrender is open Sunday through Thursday 10 AM - 10 PM and closes at Midnight on Friday and Saturday.
This is a scary time to be running a Las Vegas hotel-casino.
The 90-plus percent occupancy rate of just a couple years ago is a distant memory, as hotel-casinos are now closing hundreds of rooms or even towers.
Already announced is the indefinite closure of the Binion's hotel.
Now comes Sahara, stating that they will close two towers over the holidays, with no reopen date set. It's conceivable the towers could remain closed until business picks up.
Recently Vdara (at CityCenter) opened at a claimed 80 percent occupancy. At over 1400 rooms, that appeared to be good business and a sign of hope for tourism. But Vdara actually only made 400 of those rooms available. Not that difficult to have an 80 percent occupancy on 400, when over 1400, occupancy would be less than 30 percent.
A scene straight out of the Old West went down this morning outside Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas. Pointing a semi-auto shotgun at a Garda armored car service guard a robber demanded he drop the four bags just picked up at Palace Station. Realizing his disadvantage the armed guard quickly responded, the crook scooped up the bags and fled to a waiting auto which roared out of the parking and disappeared on the conveniently located I-15 expressway.
It was initially reported that the thieves got away with $1 million in cash; but, the figure was later revised to a more modest $36,000 in cash and a bunch of canceled checks. The gun-toting suspect was described as a white male and his get away car was thought to be a gold colored compact Chrysler model.
Police are investigating a car fire in the parking garage that may have been set by additional suspects to draw the attention of Palace Station's security officers. Video tapes of the crime are being gathered and expected to reveal more details of the crime.
There was absolutely no basis for the rumor that O.J. Simpson was involved in the Palace Station caper.
Sure, free drinks are plentiful when you're gambling, but you'll be hard-pressed getting a drink for under $5 regularly in Las Vegas.
At South Point, drinks at casino bars are no more than $2.
That's right, $2. That includes top shelf, mixed drinks, Red Bull, etc.
You must show a player's card (it's free to sign up), and the offer expires Christmas Eve.
Just think how much money you'll save getting those "free" drinks while gambling.
The Nation's tallest Christmas Tree (tallest cut live tree) came alive with thousands of glowing lights after the resort flipped the switch Saturday evening. Pack up the family, grab the camera, and take the short drive down South Las Vegas Blvd. to the M Resort to be a part of this year's tallest holiday symbol.
Steve Wyrick has been a fixture at Planet Hollywood since 2007 and has disappeared nightly; but, this time the vanishing act is apparently real magic a canceled show. The performer failed to appear for the Thursday night show and according to reports the show is no more.
Wyrick shaped his reputation performing supposed dangerous stunts, but blew his magic cover when a July 4th vanishing act went awry after stage curtains around his "Death Drop" stunt burst into flames and a crew member was injured. Speculation about his Las Vegas reappearance has not materialized, yet.
After a trying week of being put through a laundry list of medical tests, fasting, and strange procedures I decided it was time to search out some comfort food in a friendly, comfortable place, The Rio Resort just off the Las Vegas strip. The journey for the city's best BBQ would end at The Rub Restaurant in the Rio's Masquerade Village.
Of course, you can't go to the Masquerade Village without taking in one of the free Shows in the Sky! that includes singing and dancers in Victoria's Secret fashions. The show was great, the music was loud, the performers hit their marks, and the Sky Floats glided overhead.
After the show it was off to a dinner that would give my cardiologist nightmares. Large quantities of smoked brisket, mac and cheese, greens with bacon, and bread pudding with whipped cream. But alas, it just wasn't to be. Our favorite Vegas BBQ joint had disappeared. The Rub is now just a fond memory, yet another victim of the Las Vegas economy train wreck.
Steve Wynn just signed Garth Brooks to a long-term contract at the Encore Theater, selling out his entire first 15 weeks in record time. Brooks starts Dec. 11.
Now the rumor mill is hearing that Beyonce may join Brooks in a similar long-term residency at Wynn Las Vegas.
Late this summer, Beyonce was performing and filming her new concert CD at Encore, with some show and room packages available.
Sales were so successful that it looks likely that Wynn will sign her up to play at Encore during Brooks' off-nights.
We're ecstatic to announce the newest restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip is a locals' favorite.
The "twisted farm" meals so unique to Hash House a Go Go can now be found at Imperial Palace... at Hash House a Go Go!
Finally a good restaurant at the IP. And for those familiar with the Sahara Ave. restaurant with the huge portions, not only does the menu and size of the courses stay the same, but the prices have not been jacked up for the Strip crowd.
For more information, visit their link.
Don't forget to try the delicious fried chicken and waffles every Friday -- at a discount of $12.95 instead of the regular $18.95.
Good-looking people in ugly Christmas sweaters?
How about a contest for the ugliest?
Ghostbar (at The Palms) is holding an Ugly Xmas Sweater Party on Dec. 10 at 10 p.m., with a $250 prize for the most outrageous one.
Bring five non-perishable canned goods for donation to Three Square, and you'll receive a free Ketel One cocktail.
Admission to the club is $20. You must be at least 21.
Tomorrow and Thursday you can catch It's Complicated for free.
It's Complicated stars Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin caught in a lover's triangle.
The Movie Insider gives you a choice of venues to see the movie -- Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at Brenden Theatres (at The Palms) or Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at Regal Cinemas (at Red Rock).
To get a pass for 2 via email, sign up at this link.
Happy birthday to Sapphire Gentlemen's Club.
Hard to believe it's been 7 years since the world's largest strip club opened, but you can celebrate with the birthday girls this Thursday, Dec. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m., where there will be free cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
Food is provided by Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, stripburger, and Milanos Pizzeria.
Cocktails are provided by Red Bull, Crown Royal, Malibu, Patron, Bacardi, Absolut, Banfi, Three Olives, and more.
Also performing free will be The Skeletones.
For special group rates, including free transportation, visit this link. Sign up and pay online and you'll get your first round of shots for free.
Las Vegas has millions of lights that go on at dusk and burn through the night, every night, forever. When the holidays come along Las Vegas adds a few million more points of light to the gambling's neon constellation.
Smaller, more intimate, filled with a forest of trees, waterfalls and meandering streams, the Mystic Falls Indoor Park at Sam's Town is a great place to relax with a coffee and watch the world walk on by. Now, it's filled with thousands of holiday lights. We open our 2009 Holiday in Las Vegas photo gallery with images shot on location at the Atrium located in Sam's Town.
More photos of holiday lights around Las Vegas will be added as we move through the 2009 holidays. All of our gallery images are available for free download and use under the terms of our Creative Commons License.
It just wouldn't be the holidays without a stroll through the Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This year's presentation features a snowman, polar bears, giant ornaments, rocking horse, giant holiday greeting card of flowers, reindeer, model trains, and thousands of poinsettias in a rainbow of colors. The floral attraction always draws a crowd and this year is no exception with thousands of visitors making the trek to the luxurious strip resort.
Flipchip offers his photos from an excursion through his favorite holiday spot. The large hi-rez images are in the photo gallery and available for free download. Check them out and if you see something you like download and use it under our Creative Commons License.
CityCenter's Crystals Shopping District opened to the public a couple of days ago and we took the tour. First impression...a large sterile space almost void of color with a few super high-end shops, a small crowd of stroller pushing tourist, and not much else. On the positive side I loved the stair case, hope the ice crystals don't fall onto someone, and don't have an opinion on the Treehouse, yet.
May I suggest you take a trip to the latest retail Mecca and form your own opinions. If you're planning to buy something then you better take your gold-pressed latinum American Express card because you can't wheelbarrow in enough cash. Hopefully, when the remainder of the shops are occupied, the world economy recovers, projected ceiling images are on, and people aren't staying away by the thousands the place will have a better presentation. After all, the $8.5 billion CityCenter project is the great hope for leading Las Vegas out of the economic doldrums.
More photos after the jump.
This weekend only, you can see the holiday film The Polar Express in IMAX 3D at the Brenden Theatres (at The Palms).
The cost is $10, which includes a large popcorn and medium soda.
The Polar Express tells the animated tale of a boy's train ride to the North Pole, with voices by Tom Hanks. It's based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg.
Showtimes are today and tomorrow at 11 a.m.
The DanceDanceRevolution U.S. Championship takes place today at Gameworks in Las Vegas.
Participants are all 1st-place winners from seven regional qualifiers around the country, along with a wild card entry drawn from 2nd-place winners. All winners have been flown in and accommdations paid for to Las Vegas for the live event.
Today at 3 p.m. begins the tournament.
Stop by to root on and see the best of the best at DDR.
Song selections include:
Brazilian Anthem
CURUS
I'm For Real
MR.DABADA (Groove Wonder Remix)
Passion of Love
Centaur
DXY!
Logical Dash
PARANOiA EVOLUTION
Quickening
Dead End
Knock Out Regrets
No. 13
rain of sorrow
Trip Machine Climax
Silverton has extended their buy 1, get 1 free offer at restaurants indefinitely, at least for the foreseeable future.
Between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. every day, visit their 24-hour Sundance Grill, Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge, Mi Casa Grill, or Twin Creeks Steakhouse and receive one free entree with the purchase of an equal or lower-priced entree.
This includes the Seasons Buffet, which is now only open for dinner on weeknights and brunch and dinner on weekends.
If you're dining alone, you'll get 50 percent off your entree (or buffet).
For a weeknight dinner buffet, this amounts to only $7.50. For a high quality buffet, this is one of the better bargains in Las Vegas.
You must be a Discovery Club member (free to sign up) to participate in the promotion, and you can do the promotion as many times as you wish.
How big can Simon Cowell moguldom get?
His "X Factor" British television show is in its 5th season with 15 million viewers. That easily beats out the popular "Antiques Roadshow" at 6 million viewers.
In the UK, that accounts for 49 percent of the viewing audience watching the reality talent show.
The "American Idol" host now plans to bring "X Factor" stateside, to Las Vegas specifically.
"The X Factor -- Live from Las Vegas" will be broadcast live from an as-yet-unnamed Strip hotel.
Where it will be broadcast will be online, twice a week, as a pay-per-view.
This could also eventually lead to an American television version of "The X Factor."
Cowell is also behind the "America's Got Talent" and "Britain's Got Talent" shows, the latter of which spawned singing sensation Susan Boyle. Boyle's YouTube video singing "I Dreamed a Dream" has had over 100 million combined hits, and she just released her first album which went to number 1 on Billboard (better than Lady Gaga).
And the producer of that album? Simon Cowell.
Just how sudden and surprising was the announcement that Binion's would close their hotel tower and all 365 rooms Dec. 14?
So much so, that not even casino marketing knew.
We just received in the mail a postcard that says, "This winter brings magic to Binion's."
On the other side: "Magic is in the brisk winter air and we invite you to stay at Binion's for a season of enchantment."
We are then invited to stay 2 free nights at Binion's through Jan. 31, 2010.
Seems like this winter, we'll more need a warm bundle of blankets than magic to stay at a hotel that no longer exists...
Standing tall at the M Resort is the nation's highest Christmas tree. The 109 foot spruce was delivered and stood upright today with the help of a large crane. Decorations and thousands of lights will be added during the next week in preparation for the December 12th evening lighting ceremony.
Take the short drive down South Las Vegas Blvd to the M Resort and check out the giant holiday symbol before heading inside for a great meal from the M's selection of fine restaurants. Photos of the tall tree under lights will be posted as soon as available.
CityCenter Las Vegas opens first hotel, Vdara, to the public today. The non-smoking, non-gaming 57 story tower tower contains 1,500 suites and is billed as an ultra modern, eco-friendly facility. Best of all, it employs more than a thousand workers. Unfortunately, with the completion of the project many thousands of construction workers will be laid off.
CityCenter represents MGM Mirage's great hope for future profitability and corporate longevity. The $9 billion dollar, 67 acre city-within-a-city was almost in bankruptcy earlier this year and the grim news had forced MGM Mirage stock down to around $2 per share. MGM Mirage's eternal optimist, CEO Jim Murren, claimed "CityCenter is going to be the symbol of the rebirth, resiliency and comeback of the Las Vegas market." Some of the talk in the street is saying the heavily mortgaged project could become the poster project for "The everything-in-excess bubble has burst, dude!"
The only hotel to have gambling of the six inside CityCenter, The Aria, will open to the public on December 16th. Crystals retail and entertainment district will open on Thursday and another hotel, Mandarin Oriental, is set for a Saturday opening.
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