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Access Vegas Insider Vibe February 23, 2011

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! If you are reading this after a weekend visit, we apologize for the weather. Wind, clouds, highs in the 50’s, and a smattering of showers gave us a brief reminder that we are still in the desert and it is still February. This coming week? Much improved with temperatures flirting with 70 degrees for the first week of March!

Touching Down In Vegas – We found this cool photo (representative of the kind of clouds we are dealing with over the weekend) on Flickr:

Las Vegas Strip from the Plane

Congratulations To Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular On 2000 Performances! – After four and a half years of haunting The Venetian, Phantom û The Las Vegas Spectacular continues to prove it is an audience favorite among locals and tourists alike. After 2,000 performances…

  • “The Phantom,” has spent 2,000 hours in the make-up chair, equating to over 83 days
  • With 11 costume changes a night, “Christine Daae” has had a total of 22,000 costume changes to date
  • More than 7,600 hours have been spent maintaining the other star of the show, the $5-million, one-ton chandelier
  • The crew has executed more than 21,000 elaborate set changes, creating 13 separate locations on stage each night
  • “Christine Daae”áshares two kisses with “The Phantom” and three with the charming “Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny,” amounting to 10,000 kisses since opening night

Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular is a LONG-TIME (and much appreciated) sponsor of this newsletter. Get some tickets for yourself and that special lady for your next Las Vegas visit. You won’t be disappointed. Click To Book Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular Tickets Now!

084 freemont street experience las vegas nv

Open air bar, Freemont Street Experience, Las Vegas, NevadaGo Downtown, But… – We love downtown Las Vegas and the Fremont Street Experience. If you are past your first visit to Las Vegas, we consider going down there for an evening a must-do. Just a quick tip, however: It is kind of dead on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Oh yes, the spectacular free light show happens every hour (on the hour) from dusk to midnight. And yes, the food and drink specials and party atmosphere are still there. But later in the week (and on weekends) you are more likely to enjoy the free entertainment, bands and simply a more festive crowd then you’ll find on the “off” nights of Monday and Tuesday. If staying downtown, use those nights to go to The Strip. Seems like everyone else does.

Betting On The Oscars, Emmys, Grammys – Traditionally, Nevada sports books could only offer wagers on events that had a random outcome and involved some sort of athletic challenge. Regulation changes have paved the way for properties to take bets on events ranging from awards shows to TV contests such as American Idol. To date, the details are getting fine-tuned and no such wagers have been offered. We’ll keep you posted!

The Train To Victorville – One of the high-speed rail options serving Las Vegas still on the table is the Desert Xpress. This option, backed by Nevada Senator Harry Ried (D-NV) and some long-time local power brokers (including prominent Republicans… we are not picking on a particular party here), would result in a new rail line running from Las Vegas to Victorville, CA. No, you don’t need glasses nor did I mis-type. I didn’t say Los Angeles or Orange County or San Diego or even Riverside. They want to build the line to Victorville to supposedly hook up with a “figment of someone’s imagination” (supposedly proposed) high speed rail line that will serve Los Angeles and Sacramento/San Francisco. Via Victorville. Or something like that. The catch? Desert Xpress now wants to borrow upwards of $5 billion from the government (Federal Railroad Administration).

Look… We don’t even have an Interstate Freeway running from Las Vegas to either Phoenix nor Reno. Nor a traditional rail line between either city. And yet these people think that (providing all this gets build out) Southern Californians will hop on one train to Victorville (should it ever be built) or drive to Victorville to then hop a train to Las Vegas? No wonder we have so much political unrest in the United States. Some of these taxpayer-funded ideas are so obviously crazy that you start to wonder about the mental capacity of those proposing them.

Blue Man Group Moving – Lots of talk about the Blue Man Group moving from The Venetian to Monte Carlo. No one can argue about the amazing success of the Las Vegas troupe for this extremely fun and unique show. Launching at The Luxor in 2000, the Blue Men moved to The Venetian in 2005 and at this rate it looks like the show will run here in perpetuity.

When is this big move getting so much news? In about 18 months. What does it mean to their legion of fans who enjoy them time and time again? Simply double-check your ticket confirmation when you purchase come next year so you end up at the correct venue! Blue Man Group is also a much-appreciated long-time sponsor of this newsletter.áClick To Book Blue Man Group Tickets Now!

Not Everybody Is Partying Like It’s 1999 – Home prices in Las Vegas have reverted to 1999 levels. If you bought during the boom, this obviously isn’t funny as you are most likely sitting seriously underwater. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t hold out hope of prices returning to boom levels for a long, long, long time. The real estate frenzy caused homes to be priced way, way above what they were truly worth. This is simply a market correction. Visitor spending and volume is around what it was in the early 2000’s and home prices are similar to that era. On the flip side… Buyers, Start Your Engines. If you are liquid/solvent, this is an amazing time to pick up a piece of Las Vegas.

An AccessVegas.com Meet and Greet? – For years, readers have wondered why we have not done a reader meet-up. Well, I agree. It is about time! No details yet, but we are talking with a hot new venue on The Strip (one comfortable to adults… no clubs) to possibly do a happy hour reader event. We might even “strong-arm” them into tossing in a couple of free drinks for everybody. Stay tuned, hopefully more soon.

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Terry Fator Welcomes Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady To His Stage At The Mirage March 4-5 – Unparalleled ventriloquist Terry Fator will welcome special guest Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady to Terry Fator: Ventriloquism in Concert March 4-5 in the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage. Eady will open the show at 7:30 p.m. each night, delivering a fun, entertaining routine that will delight the audiences. Eady, who was first runner-up in the 2011 Miss America Pageant, captured the nation’s attention when she performed the ventriloquist act “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” during the talent round of the competition.

In Celebration Of Eva Longoria’s Birthday, Locals Receive Special Offers In March At Beso Steakhouse – In celebration of her birthday, Eva Longoria will extend a special offer to Las Vegas locals at her celebrated Beso Steakhouse and Eve nightclub, available throughout the month of March. Las Vegas locals that dine at Longoria’s sultry Beso steakhouse will receive twenty percent off their entire bill all-month long in addition to complimentary admission to her opulent nightclub, Eve. For nightlife connoisseurs, local guys will receive a reduced admission for just $10 at Eve, while local ladies enjoy complimentary admission and free champagne nightly until 1 a.m. Residents also will receive preferred reservations and VIP bottle service.

P.J. Clarke’s, New York’s Landmark Saloon And Eatery Brings Its Distinctive East Coast Flair, No Nonsense Food And Friendly Service To Las Vegas – In 1958, the unforgettable Nat King Cole bit into a bacon cheeseburger at the original P.J. Clarke’s in New York and declared it the “Cadillac of Burgers.” Nat’s legacy and the legendary burger lives on and you don’t have to travel to midtown Manhattan to find it. You can now celebrate the Cadillac, and other classic burgers, steaks and landmark American fare, at P.J. Clarke’s newest “neighborhood joint” inside The Forum Shops at Caesars on Level One; next door to Joe’s Stone Crab and adjacent to the distinctive spiraling escalator.

Maverick Indian Territory Helicopter TourMaverick Indian Territory Helicopter Tour û This Grand Canyon landing tour takes you to the West Rim where you will enjoy spectacular views along Eagle Point and receive a brief introduction to the Hualapai Indian legends and culture.

Click To Book Maverick Indian Territory Helicopter Tour Now!

What We’re Watching û Vegas Videos You’ll Enjoy

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

  • Las Vegas Trip Report û Vegas Sign, Good Weather, Smoking In Casinos, Photo Takers, Hotel Ads – Trip to the Vegas sign, question about smoking in casinos, intrusive hotel ads, a good cab report, and more. Make sure to chime in with your own comments below their letter!
  • Want To Go See Pawn Stars Las Vegas Shop û What Should I Do? – Want to visit the infamous Pawn Stars pawn shop in Las Vegas? We give you the inside tips.

    • Iáwrote in July about coming out to Vegas in Sept for my 50th Birthday and was looking for a good place to get Veal. Well your readers came thru for me. We had dinner at Maggiano’s in the Fashion show mall. It was WONDERFUL the Veal Parm was some of the best that I’ve ever had, service was great and the strolling Violin player/ singer who serenaded me to ” Unforgettable” was unbelievable, it topped off an exceptional 50th Birthday to say the least. So much so I will be returning in Feb for my Sisters Birthday.

    Thank you Ted and crew for doing a great job of getting this info out to all that want to have a good time in Vegas and don’t know all the in and outs. I know with out your help we would not have had the time of our lives.

    Peace and Love,

    Pat Williams

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Want to comment on a current reader post? Use the comment box on that particular web page. Many of the stories we post also have comment boxes at the end of the story. Make your voice heard!
  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe February 16, 2011

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

Can’t see all the great photos and graphics? Click to Read This Issue Online! Need to contact us? Send feedback to AllVegasTV@aol.com

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend! Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

This newsletter is published exclusively for visitors to AccessVegas.Com and can only be signed up for there. We do not buy or rent lists, and this information is only for our members and guests. If you feel you have received it in error, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom. To subscribe, visit our Newsletter Site.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Summer was already threatening and the days are getting longer just in time to enjoy it the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, the next ten days may bring some scattered showers and selected days only may reach the 50’s. Punch up zip code 89119 on your favorite weather site or app the day before you leave to make you you are packing accordingly.

Jersey Boys Las Vegas Current Special: $55-off Front Orchestra Seating for 3 PM Sunday Matinees, Use code 55MAT at Jersey Boys Las Vegas Tickets

Bird’s Eye View – You don’t have to be a big casino boss to have this view of the casino floor. The Chicago Brewing Company in the Four Queens downtown sits elevated above the action. They have a nice menu and brew their own suds. It also happens to have the rare distinction of being one of the few places in town with a smoking section where one can light up while waiting for their order or after eating, right at their table. (They also have a non-smoking section, but the main dining area is part of their cigar bar, so keep that in mind).

If You Don’t Like It, You Don’t Have To Fly – We were ranting about the TSA airport screenings a couple of months before they made national news. As the vast majority of our readers fly into Las Vegas, we’ve been very concerned about the needless inconveniences. In many news stories, people said that it was OK to be groped or x-rayed if it kept things safer. Except that it doesn’t.

Don’t take my word for it.áRead this blog by a commercial airline pilot: Security Silliness I honestly (as a nation) don’t understand why we are putting up with this nonsense. The terrorists have won by the very fact that they have causes billions of dollars worth of inconvenience, lost time, and productivity.

Real Estate Predictions – Experts across the board are predicting that Las Vegas real estate prices will decrease yet again this year. This comes as no surprise to our readers as I have noted how the timing of the end of construction projects over the past two years will trigger those unemployed in the trade to be exhausting benefits while unable to find new work over the next 18 months.

No one has a crystal ball, but if you’ve been thinking about buying that retirement home (present or future) or off-strip vacation condo, I’d consider doing it this year. Also for those thinking about buying in this market (either as a primary home or vacation/rental property): Check out the weekly show Getting REAL (Estate) in Vegas every week for invaluable advice about buying a home in Las Vegas (web|rss|itunes)

Enjoy This Issue!


Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor
AccessVegas.com

Comments about what we cover this issue? Please go to the online version and scroll to the bottom to leave your thoughts. Other questions and comments about Las Vegas? Drop us a line at AllVegasTV@aol.com

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Miracle Mile Shops Las Vegas Fountain Turns Red For American Heart Month – This February, Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino supports the American Heart Association by turning its fountain red in honor of American Heart Month. Miracle Mile Shops’ fountain displays a bold red hue between regularly scheduled water shows. All money tossed into the popular water feature as well as the center’s indoor rainstorm will be donated on behalf of Miracle Mile Shops to the American Heart Association. The fountain will keep its vibrant red glow until the end of the month. Regularly scheduled water shows take place at the top of every hour from noon to 11 p.m. daily. Miracle Mile Shops is open 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday û Thursday and 10 a.m. û midnight Friday û Saturday.

Cabo Wabo Cantina Las Vegas Hosts UFC 127 Penn vs. Fitch Viewing Party Sunday, February 27 – Live from Sydney, Australia, Cabo Wabo Cantina will host the UFC 127 viewing party on Sunday, February 27. The highly anticipated Welterweight bout features American fighters Jon Fitch and BJ Penn, former Lightweight Champion. Admission is $20 and includes access inside Cabo Wabo’s viewing party where UFC enthusiasts can catch the Welterweight bout, as well as the Middleweight bout between Bisping and Rivera and all other main card fights. Shown on multiple high-definition television screens throughout the restaurant and bar, guests can watch the fights from the best seats on the Strip while enjoying killer margaritas and tasty Mexican fare.

Bingo Is Back At Binion’s With The Biggest Jackpot In Downtown Las Vegas – Binion’s Gambling Hall has brought bingo back to the iconic Las Vegas property û and in a big way. Binion’s Bingo Hall, a brand new room that opens to the public at 11 a.m. on February 1, offers players six daily sessions and features downtown Vegas’ largest jackpot: the $50,000 Super Triple Multi-Win. There are 13 games in each daily session. Sessions begin at 11 a.m. and run every two hours, with the last session starting at 9 p.m. The $50,000 Super Triple Multi-Win is available in the seventh game of each session. But that’s not the only chance for players to score big money.

Warm-Up For The Big Day With A Mini St. Patrick’s Day Party At McFadden’s Feb. 17, 2011 – McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino loves an excuse to have an Irish celebration. Thursday, February 17, McFadden’s Beerfest: College Night presents Mini St. Patrick’s Day with outstanding drink specials, beer pong and much more.

Tacos & Tequila Kicks Off Spring Break Fever At Luxor – Go Loco For Daily Specials And Spring Fever Wednesdays – Spring Break Fever at Tacos & Tequila (T&T) is back. Kicking off Monday, February 21, through Sunday, April 3, Tacos & Tequila will host Vegas’ wildest spring fiesta with Spring Fever Wednesdays and a spicy lineup of food and drink specials. Spring Break revelers can indulge their appetites and quench their thirsts with T&T’s Spring Fever menu available every day, all season long from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy six specialty tacos and six little neck bottles of Sol Mexican beers for just $29, $8 taquitos, $8 chicken quesadillas and one-half-pound of zesty habanero hot wings for $10, along with $5 house made casaritas and $5 bottles of Dos Equis.

Rockhouse Gets Patriotic For Presidents Day – We’re Gonna Party Like Its 1789 With Drink Specials – Rockhouse Bar & Nightclub will celebrate George Washington’s birthday with a Presidents Day weekend party Friday, February 18, through Monday, February 21. In honor the our founding fathers, Rockhouse get into its patriotic spirit with $3 Bud Light Golden Wheat drafts and $5 Washington Red Apple shots all weekend long. Rockhouse will also host a $500 Red, White & Blue Beer Pong tournament on Sunday, February 20 at 6 p.m. Beer pong teams of two can register for $30 at Rockhouse beginning Friday at 10 a.m., or by calling 702.731.9683.

The Venetian And The Palazzo Kick Off Chinese New Year With Dragon Dance

The Venetian and The Palazzo kicked off the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit with an authentic dragon dance complete with firecrackers and eye painting ceremony today.

Symbolizing good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year, the dragon dance is an important ritual of Chinese culture. The Chinese consider dragons to be friendly and helpful creatures associated with strength, good fortune, wisdom and longevity. Photo credit: Jacob Andrzejczak / Images of Vegas

Exotic Car Driving Experience Power PackageExotic Car Driving Experience Power Package û Visit the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and select your favorite exotic car and speed around the race track for 5 laps of adrenaline-pumping fun. Select from a Lamborghini, Audi, Aston Martin or Porsche, not only will you drive one of these supercars, you’ll get to race one!

Click To Book Exotic Car Driving Experience Power Package Now!

What We’re Watching û Vegas Videos You’ll Enjoy

  • Home Movie Footage Of Las Vegas In The 70’s – Featuring Caesars Palace, Holiday Casino (Harrah’s), The Frontier, Flamingo Las Vegas construction, Silver City, Stardust, Aladdin, Jocky Club, McCarran Airport, more.
  • Wynn Best Resort Room Secret – Find out which rooms to ask for that essentially nets you a free ‘upgrade’ on the ‘basic’ resort rooms at Wynn Las Vegas plus a nice look at the room.
  • A Few Words With Chumlee From “Pawn Stars” in Las Vegas – Austin ‘Chumlee’ Russell, of ‘Pawn Stars,’ the hit reality History Channel show, is a fan favorite. We bumped into him at Vanguard Lounge in downtown Las Vegas. He was signing copies of Vegas Seven magazine (he was on the cover) for fans. Nice guy, and enjoying the ride of being an overnight TV sensation.
  • The Spa at Trump – The Spa at Trump is perfectly positioned for locals looking to get away for a daycation. And get this, they offer 25% off treatments Sunday through Friday…It might be just what the doctor ordered. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the spa…in a way only Trump can deliver.
  • Fans Pack The Thomas and Mack For The 2011 Lingerie Bowl – Lingerie Bowl championship was played in Las Vegas during halftime of the Superbowl. Las Vegas gets a team this coming year.

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe February 2, 2011

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

Can’t see all the great photos and graphics? Click to Read This Issue Online! Need to contact us? Send feedback to AllVegasTV@aol.com

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend! Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

This newsletter is published exclusively for visitors to AccessVegas.Com and can only be signed up for there. We do not buy or rent lists, and this information is only for our members and guests. If you feel you have received it in error, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom. To subscribe, visit our Newsletter Site.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! We’re recovering from a short but nasty cold snap. Certainly not as bad as most of the US, but mid-week this past week temps got down to freezing at night for two straight nights and highs didn’t get out of the 40’s F. Good news? Super Sunday is scheduled to be 68 and sunny!

Jersey Boys LV Special: With football season ending, take the missus to see a show on Sundays during your stay! $55-off Front Orchestra Seating for 3 PM Sunday Matinees, Use code 55MAT http://tinyurl.com/49w8pao

Playing Hooky – I was supposed to do Newkirk’s Notes Thursday evening. But hey… it is Superbowl Weekend, I’ve been working pretty hard, and I needed to just get out and blow off some steam! The nice thing about living here (especially since I choose to live so close to The Strip) is that you can work hard and have your normal life. But… when you need a “Vegas Vacation” you only need to drive a few minutes and get the fun started!

First it was up to the new Air Bar in Stratosphere Tower. They yanked out the old Starbucks and put in a pretty nice lounge! Crowds were thin on this Thursday night at around 10 PM and maybe for good reason: 

Riding to the top of the tower has been proclaimed free for locals Sunday – Thursday but when I inquired at the ticketing window, I was told that I would have to buy a ticket. Even with my Nevada ID. They mentioned that if I bought the “all you can drink” $25 margarita that admission would be waved. but that offer only runs 7 – 10 PM, further adding to the confusion.

Air Bar Stratosphere Hotel Las Vegas

I went ahead and paid and went up (company can write it off) but don’t suggest that locals try this until we get some definitive answers, which we are requesting next week. I hate to suggest something only to find out we had bad info.

Shrimp Cocktail

The view up there never fails to excite me, despite countless trips to the top. A few years ago, I rode the Big-Shot — the needle-looking ride at the very top — 10 times in a row! If you are a visitor and are going to have to pay the $12 to ride to the top, I still suggest doing it. Get there about an hour before sunset, as no words can describe watching The Strip light up. Have a drink at Air Bar and enjoy the show. Not shown in the photos are the seating right along the glass looking out over all the Las Vegas Strip. Note: Above shot is looking towards the airport as I prefer watching the planes float into the sky.

Next was the quick hop over to Palace Station. I got a ride from Strat to Palace Station and was going to cab it home later that night so I could indulge. Hence, wanted to keep things close to my neighborhood. I also wanted to try Palace’s new $2.99 shrimp cocktail. Which I did after a little video poker:

Shrimp Cocktail

After a nice win at video poker (look at my straight flush!), it was over to the Grande Luxe Cafe for the shrimp cocktail. Ladies and Gentleman, this is a serious deal. Ask yourself how much you are going to pay for this thing where you live! I’m still partial to the $1.99 version at the Golden Gate downtown for sentimental reasons. But I’ll surely be enjoying plenty more of these at Palace in the future.

Shrimp Cocktail

Done with that, I wanted to play some craps. I’m a low-limit guy. You can’t go nuts gambling when you live here. (Actually, we don’t suggest that anyone wager outside their limits even on vacation). A table was hot, I was able to grab the last spot, and tossed $100 down. The shooter held the dice for another 40 minutes. I’m not kidding.

Even betting conservatively ($5 pass line and 2-3 come $5 bets doing 3x odds), I ended up with a profit of $532 when all was said and done as the dice stayed hot for three more shooters. Pretty much everyone else at the table was betting a lot more than me, and made thousands. Many thousands per person.

Shrimp Cocktail

The hour was late, I was beat, and I had nearly $600 more in my pocket then I left the house with. I cabbed it home, had a late snack, and crashed all comfy in my own bed. Paul Stanley of KISS once sang “You gotta live like you’re on vacation”. I agree.

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Delta Air Lines

Valentine’s Day Offerings At The Venetian And The Palazzo – With over 30 world-class restaurants, the largest spa in Americas and romantic entertainment to set the moodàwhat better place than The Venetian and The Palazzo to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart? Below are Valentine’s Day offerings at both properties.

Photo: Robyn Andrzejczak, ImagesofVegas.com

Miracle Mile Shops Heats Up With The Hottest Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas – This Valentine’s Day, skip the box of chocolates and roses and impress your significant other with unique and exclusive gift items from Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Put a twist on a traditional gift, and impress that special someone with one-of-a-kind jewelry from Miracle Mile Shops. Club Tattoo, Lucky Brand Jeans, White House | Black Market and Indian River Gallery feature elegant, eclectic and unique jewelry designed to win someone’s heart.

safe harbor seafood las vegasN9NE Steakhouse And Nove Italiano Inside Palms Casino Resort Adopt Safe Harbor Certification Program – N9NE Steakhouse and Nove Italiano located inside Palms Casino Resort are the first to implement the Safe Harbor Certification program, to ensure their guests are served the safest and highest quality seafood available in Las Vegas. To commemorate their participation in the program, Executive Chef Barry S. Dakake and N9NE Steakhouse hosted the Safe Harbor showcase event to the Food and Beverage industry on January 17 with well over 30 Las Vegas restaurants and casinos, including N9NE Steakhouse and Nove Italiano, in attendance. Currently, there are more than 30 restaurants implementing the Safe Harbor program in Las Vegas.

Sexy New DJs Hit The Turn Tables At Luxor’s Tacos and Tequila In Las Vegas – Tacos and Tequila (TandT) has switched up its nightly entertainment lineup with two sexy new DJs spinning Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights at Luxor. DJ Mika Gold and DJ Soxxi will bring a feminine edge to the high-energy Mexican restaurant and tequila bar with flawless talents, impeccable track selection and precise mixes.

MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris Dancers And Special Guest Star, Claire Sinclair, Featured In Upcoming Episode of E!’s Holly’s World – MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris featured guest, Claire Sinclair, Miss October 2010 Playboy Playmate, will seduce viewers with her artistic performances in Season 2 of E!’s Holly’s World February 13, 2011. Recently, the gorgeous Sinclair debuted her captivating moves alongside the renowned Crazy Horse Paris dancers at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. The young fresh face of “Bettie Page” charmed audiences along with Playboy special guests such as Hugh Hefner and fiancÚe Crystal Harris, sons Marston Hefner and Cooper Hefner and of course Holly Madison and her Holly’s World co-stars Josh Strickland, Angel Porrino, and Laura Croft.

Wind Dancer Grand Canyon Sunset Landing TourWind Dancer Grand Canyon Sunset Landing Tour û Enjoy an extended landing time in Hualapai Indian Territory. Champagne, beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Adventure concludes with a sunset flight over Downtown Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip.

Click To Book
Wind Dancer Grand Canyon
Sunset Landing Tour Now!

Winning In Las Vegas With Victor H. RoyerVictor H. Royer Interview: The Truth About Casinos and Las Vegas – Part I û Chances are, if you visited a Las Vegas casino during the ôgraveyardö, or late-night shift, you might catch a glimpse of Victor H. Royer. A prolific author of 22 gambling books and an impressive card-counter, Royer is an all-round expert on everything casino related. However, whilst you might have heard of publicity-fond players such as Semyon Dukach and Mike Aponte, when wagering Royer carefully shrouds his identity in order to keep playing and writing about casinos. We spoke to Royer about how he began his career in gambling, his ability to card-count and how heÆs used it to his advantage (both as a player and as a consultant to Vegas casinos), online gaming and the truth about Las Vegas.

Click To Read The Truth About
Casinos and Las Vegas

Las Vegas Show Review

Frank Caliendo: Topical, Political and Pop Impressionist Master

Only in Las Vegas might one find a gathering of politicians, celebrities, icons and even puppets together on one stageàin this case, all these personalities are voiced by a lone performer. Popular comedian and “MadTV” alum Frank Caliendo headlines at the Monte Carlo, presenting his much celebrated and beloved impressions of stars and celebs including John Madden, Dr. Phil, George W. Bush and Al Pacino. Boasting some of the StripÆs most comfortable accommodations, including legroom aplenty, the former Lance Burton Theatre.

What We’re Watching û Vegas Videos You’ll Enjoy

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

  • When Will Las Vegas Casinos Get Back To Customer Service and Decent Slots? – When are the casinoÆs going to realize that the main reason that most people come to Vegas is to play the slots? When they keep returning less and less it becomes no fun any more. When it becomes no fun people eventually quit playing. When they remove all hope of that winning streak that used to happen one time in ten, people will quit playing.
  • Enjoyed Las Vegas LocalÆs Casinos û Which One To Stay? – I emailed you recently looking for advice on visiting off strip casinos. So for the first time in ten visits, we rented a car and looked into your suggestions on casinos. We visited several from your list like SamÆs Club and The Orleans. We really liked the off strip casinos and want to thank you for your suggestions.

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe January 26, 2011

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Sunny, sunny, unseasonably warm, upper 60’s F for the past week… you shouldn’t know that it was snowing somewhere. Every fall, I remind people to book a winter vacation here because about the time you are fed up with the cold, we’re breaking the bonds of our very short winter season. This fall when everyone is thinking “holidays” you need to be thinking “book late January trip to Las Vegas”.

Don’t take my word for it! Look at what Rhumbar (Mirage) looked like the past two NFL Playoff Sundays:

Rhumbar

Live From Las Vegas – This past Wednesday night, we enjoyed a first-hand look at a live taping of Vegas Video Network’s Pub Crawl program. Hosted by David and Alicia Ivy, it is an excellent show, tons of fun, this week had great reports on Todd English P.U.B. (CityCenter), “Secret” pizza place at Cosmo, Joe’s Stone Crab and lots more.

Most fun if you watch weekly live at 8 PM Pacific on Wednesday nights: http://www.vegasvideonetwork.com/live (make sure to get into the chat, I often do) but fortunately the shows are also archivedáat http://www.vegasvideonetwork.com/our-shows… and also available via RSS and iTunes. Check it out!

Vega$ Available On DVD – Some of may remember the late 1970’s TV series Vega$ which was both set here and shot here. Season 2 has now been released on DVD (Netflix has it). If you are a regular visitor, this is worth watching just to see what The Strip and downtown looked like and how much has changed!

Stop In For A Grand Slam – If you are a Californian headed out of town, barely got out of your room in time, on the road, hung over, and hungry (that’s never happened in Vegas before)… The new Denny’s at Primm is offering a $3.99 Grand Slam (includes two buttermilk pancakes, two bacon strips, two eggs, and two sausage links) through the end of March 2011. Also something to keep in mind if you are taking the Primm Outlet Mall Shuttle to go hit the deals for a few hours. Primm’s hotel, resort, and the mall are all part of the same complex.

Bringing Your Baby To Las Vegas – Maybe it is just me, but over the past year I’ve noticed more and more pregnant women in Las Vegas. Not an inordinate number, but I’m seeing it. In particular, I’m seeing their significant other taking photos of them proudly displaying their baby bump next to oft-photographed locations around The Strip.

Actually, I can’t fault this idea. Once you have Junior, a trip to Vegas is probably going to be out of the question for a while. And with Las Vegas as a popular city to celebrate a 21’s birthday, a child can look at the photos for a look-back at their very “first” trip to Vegas!

One More Week – Victor Royer’s gaming column resumes in one more week. We have them in hand, but not yet prepped. Our bad.

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Las Vegas Show Review

B û BeatleShow Tribute:
Love Letter To The Music, Performers, and Legacy

There are few places (outside of the UK) that celebrate and have as much history with the Beatles as Las Vegas does. From some of the original hotels the Fab Four stayed in to lavish spectacles that celebrate their music, one may assume that ôBeatlemaniaö can be best covered by only one show. ThatÆs where fans of John, Paul, George and Ringo can learn that there is a lot of Beatles love to go around.

Disney’s The Lion King And Mandalay Bay Deliver New Deal 2 Good 2 Be True – 2/2 package includes 2 tickets to THE LION KING and 2-nights stay at Mandalay Bay for only $200! Disney’s THE LION KING and Mandalay Bay invite guests to enjoy the best new deal on The Strip now through February 28, 2011. The world’s No. 1 musical and Las Vegas’ premier four-star resort join forces to create this amazing 2/2 offer û 2 tickets to THE LION KING and 2-nights stay at Mandalay Bay for only $200.

Hopping Into The Year Of The Rabbit, Colorful Dragons, Lions, Rabbits To Fill The Forum Shops At Caesars This February To Celebrate Chinese New Year – To celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the year of the Rabbit, The Meadows School will perform the traditional dragon parade throughout The Forum Shops at Caesars. The cast of singers and dancers includes 120 Meadows students û 60 from kindergarten and 60 from fifth grade plus the school’s very special guests, founder Carolyn Goodman and her husband Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Tickets For 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament At Shadow Creek In Las Vegas Now On Sale – Tournament Offers Public First-Time Access To Exclusive Golf Course – Tickets for the 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), hosted by ARIA Resort & Casino at Shadow Creek, are now on sale. The premier celebrity golf event will make its Las Vegas debut March 31 û April 3, giving fans the opportunity to watch four days of competition with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. This also marks the first time that Shadow Creek û one of the country’s most celebrated golf courses û will open its doors to the public.

Rita Rudner Welcomed To Her New Home At The Venetian In Fabulous Style – Rita Rudner was welcomed to her new home as the newest headliner at The Venetian in grandiose style today, complete with a red carpet arrival covered with pink rose petals. Wearing a red Valentino dress and pink and purple fur coat, Rita emerged from her limo to a delightful scene of singing gondoliers, Streetmosphere performers and cheering onlookers. Rita jumped on the bell cart with her bags in tow and was wheeled onto the red carpet and into the lobby for more surprises. Photo Credit: imagesofvegas.com/ISPhotography

Simon At Palms Place Mixes And Mingles With The Ultimate Anti-Valentine’s Day Celebration: The Simon Singles Soiree – Forget the disenchanted dinners, phony cards, ugly roses and candyà For this Valentine’s Day, you don’t need Cupid to have a great time. Simon at Palms Place is throwing the ultimate unconventional Valentine’s Day party, its Singles Soiree. The Soiree is for the unattached to defy the holiday’s typical traditions by being social with great food, delicious drinks, and friendly activities such as combating a heart-shaped pi±ata. You never know who you will meet. . .Prizes will be given away throughout the event including gift cards to Sunset Tan, Drift Spa & Hammam and Palms Casino Resort.

Celebrate Chinese New Year At Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens – Dramatic Display Welcomes Year Of The Rabbit Now Through March 5 – Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens invites guests to celebrate Chinese New Year û Year of the Rabbit, with a unique display replete with symbolic meaning and tradition. A serene sanctuary guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui û the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy û is on display now through March 5. The majestic centerpiece of this exhibit is a 35-foot Chinese Junk Boat with a 38-foot mast inspired by traditional 15th century fishing vessels. Making its debut at the Conservatory, the boat was created using teak, mahogany and cedar by Daniels Wood Land, Inc. û which is best known for building full-scale replicas of The Black Pearl for Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie franchise.

The 2011 Miss America Pageant From Las Vegas Increases Ratings By 49% On ABC! – The Miss America Organization announced today that the 2011 Miss America Pageant, which aired from 9 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15, drew ABC’s biggest non-sports audience in the time slot since April 2009 and easily placed second to Fox for the night. The announcement of the 90th Anniversary Miss America, Teresa Scanlan, a 17-year-old from Nebraska and one of the youngest winners in the history of Miss America, kept ratings growing through the night despite the gridiron competition of two NFL Divisional Playoff games.

The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas Celebrate Chinese New Year 2011 -Festive decor and traditional dragon dance honors Year of the Rabbit – The Venetian and The Palazzo will ring in the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit with an authentic dragon dance with firecrackers and festive decorations featuring a 16-foot, 1,000-pound animated rabbit in the atrium gardens of The Shoppes at The Palazzo with handcrafted silk hanging lanterns and orange trees representing good luck and fortune.

Death Valley Explorer Tour by Tour Trekker TourDeath Valley Explorer Tour by Tour Trekker Tour û Experience the beauty of the largest national park in the contiguous United States – Death Valley. Highlights include Mercury, former home of atomic weapons testing, and venture into the fascinating ghost town of Rhyolite, home to rustic ruins from the past as well as the Goldwell Open Air Museum.

Click To Book Death Valley Explorer Tour
by Tour Trekker Tour Now!

What We’re Watching – Vegas Videos You’ll Enjoy

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe January 19, 2011

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! We’re back after an unusual two-week break. We needed time to recover from our New Year’s Eve hangover, recover from watching my Oregon Ducks lose the BCS game on a fluke play and last second field-goal, organize a number of newsletter and site improvements which we’ll be implementing over the next few weeks.

Hopefully, we’ve escaped the grips of winter here finally. Temps are flirting with 70 F all week, and Martin Luther King Day (last Monday) we hit a record high of 74F. It was really nice to spend Sunday afternoon sitting outside in back of the house enjoying some sunshine and NFL football on TV.

Speaking Of NFL Football (as to not confuse our 25% international readership with your football), casinos and bars have already been releasing their Superbowl party plans. Of course, they have to call it the Big Game (or something similar) as the NFL really doesn’t like Las Vegas (long story) and will most likely sue any venue using the trademarked name of the event to promote a party. You can go check out Las Vegas Superbowl Parties and Events 2011 if you are thinking about being here for the “Big Game”. Unless you have a ticket, being here is more fun than being in the host city!

New Year’s Eve In Vegas! – Since this is our first newsletter of the New Year, longtime readers know what to expect: 1. I’m going to tell you how great the fireworks were and how much more exciting our party is than some 60 second ball drop, 2. Tell you that it was warmer here than New York (oooops on that one… for the first time in my memory, we were colder), and 3. Lament that the only reason the U.S. doesn’t see us as the New Year’s Eve Capital is because midnight Eastern time is only 9 PM Las Vegas time.

Now… we did post a link last issue where you could watch the entire 2.5 hour live/local streaming show covering everything: The Strip, Downtown, the crazies, the clubs, the fireworks, you name it. If you tuned in and caught the stream, then you KNOW how amazing it is here compared to other celebrations around the country. If you forgot to tune in (or fell asleep watching that boring ball drop on national TV), we’ll do a re-run for you. We don’t have permission to post the entire show, but we did find KLAS-TV’s complete fireworks coverage (click to view):

Las Vegas New YearÆs Eve Fireworks Video
2010 – Ringing In 2011

What We’re Watching – We debut a new section this week called What We’re Watching. When we started this newsletter in 1999, streaming video wasn’t a factor and most people still had dial-up connections. Times have changed, and so have we!

The mission of this newsletter is to sift through huge piles of Las Vegas information (so that you don’t have to) and only present the best for you. We’ll now be doing this with video. Hate to click on a YouTube video that looks interesting only to find out you wasted your time? That won’t happen when you enjoy videos we select to pass along.

Welcome New Readers! – Since we took a two week break from publication, almost 600 of you have subscribed and are completely new to our newsletter. We’re happy to have you on board! This isn’t quite a normal issue as we’re doing a lot of “housekeeping”ábut stay subscribed and next week you’ll get a true taste of what being and AccessVegas.com newsletter member (subscriber) is all about!

Also returning Next Week: Victor H. Royer’s gaming column (a big reader fave) and fresh, weekly show reviews.

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Comedian Tim Allen Makes His Return To Standup At The Venetian Las Vegas In 2011 – After giving fans a taste in 2010, Golden Globe Award-winning actor and comedian Tim Allen returns to stand up in a big way in 2011 with a ten-weekend Las Vegas residency in the 742-seat Venetian Showroom. “We’re thrilled that Tim Allen has chosen The Venetian as his Las Vegas home,” said Chris Yancey, executive director of entertainment at The Venetian and The Palazzo. “Tim’s legion of ‘Home Improvement’ fans will now get the chance to see him do what he does best.”

Forum Shops Las Vegas Fabulous Fashion Briefs And Forum Firsts For 2011 – WHAT A YEAR 2010 WAS: As we set our sights on soaring to new heights in the New Year, a quick look back on what made 2010 such a great year at The Forum Shops at Caesars. This past year, The Forum Shops continued its winning streak as the premier retail, dining and entertainment destination with the addition of a variety of new retailers and restaurants including the largest H&M in the U.S., Las Vegas’ first P.J. Clarke’s and Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man. In addition, due to increasing sales and demand, a number of world-renowned retailers such as Burberry, Cartier, St. John, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci and Versace expanded or renovated their stores.

Golden Nugget Las Vegas Receives New Year’s Wish From Outer Space – Owner of the Golden Nugget, Tilman Fertitta, received a special call from friend and fellow Houstonian, Scott J. Kelly, commander of the International Space Station, Expedition 26, late last night. Kelly, who was at the time traveling 17,000 mph over Hawaii, wished everyone in the Golden Nugget’s Rush Lounge a Happy New Year over speakerphone during Frankie Moreno’s set. Photo of Las Vegas sent from space by Scott J. Kelly.

Celebrate Valentine’s Weekend At The Suncoast Showroom With The Scintas, February 11-13 – Popular Las Vegas entertainment family, The Scintas, return to the Suncoast Showroom Valentine’s weekend, February 11, 12 and 13, each evening at 7:30 p.m. The Scintas, Buffalo, New York-raised brothers Joey and Frankie, sister Chrissi and “Irish Scinta” Peter O’Donnell, entertain, surprise and provide an anything-but-typical performance filled with music, comedy and impersonations.

X107.5 Presents ‘Wing Off Wednesdays’ AT McFadden’s – McFadden’s Hosts Qualifying Rounds For The 2011 Wing Bowl Starting This January – McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and X107.5 presents “Wing Off Wednesdays” every Wednesday night starting January 12. The weekly competition hosted by Dave and Mahoney will give wing fanatics a chance to qualify in the second annual Wing Bowl Las Vegas and scarf down as many tasty tender wings as possible. McFadden’s will serve pounds of the best chicken wings in town to confident contestants looking for a chance to enter the second annual Wing Bowl Las Vegas. The top two wing eaters of each of the four nightly heats will earn a spot in the final Wing Bowl event on February 5 at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa and a chance at the $2,500 grand prize.

Starlet Angel Porrino Returns To Peepshow At Planet Hollywood Las Vegas – PEEPSHOW, Las Vegas’ hottest show and only striptease spectacular is pleased to announce Angel Porrino, Las Vegas local and co-star on the new hit TV series, “Holly’s World” on E!, has signed on to take over the role of “Bo Peep,” a modern woman who discovers her sexuality, during Holly Madison’s hard-earned vacation dates throughout 2011. Porrino will once again perform alongside a sizzling ensemble of sexy PEEPSHOW GIRLS.

Las Vegas Double-Decker Bus of the Stars TourLas Vegas Double-Decker Bus of the Stars Tour û This one-of-a-kind tour takes place on an original London double-decker bus where you’ll enjoy a performance a by celebrity impersonator. You’ll have the opportunity to interact, take photos and ride along with the celebrities, while enjoying the world-famous sights of the Las Vegas Strip.

Click To Book Las Vegas Double-Decker
Bus of the Stars Tour Now!

What We’re Watching

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Change is in the air (and I’m not talking about politics). After much reader suggestions/feedback and in-house discussion, we are making permanent changes to this section:

  • Many readers have expressed how difficult it is to search through old segments or find a post that interested them some time ago. Including the entire posts as part of this newsletter makes it impossible to do a specific search on them. If you search the newsletter archives, you’ll get anything ever included in the newsletter. Not specifically past reader comments and reports you may be looking for.
  • Because the posts are inserted in the body of theánewsletter, web search engines don’t do a good job of indexing the information. This inhibits the rest of the internet from finding and enjoying the specific posts.The more people that find our information, the moreásubscribe. The more subscribers, the better our financial picture is (we are more attractive to advertisers) and the better job we can do bringing you information (which takes time which takes money). Especially since no one else essentially does this kind of Las Vegas newsletter, especially complimentary.
  • We often get great responses to posts in this section. Other readers chiming in. Which is great… for me. But of absolutely no help to you as readers never see the comments.

Hence…

The posts are going to go online. We’ll provide a link and a summary. In addition, we are going to (over the next few months) move every Members Mania post dating back to the beginning of the newsletter online. This will allow you to easily search for advise pertaining to what you want. Looking for comments on a certain hotel, buffet, or show? It will be tagged for easy search.

Note: We will still post short notes directly in the newsletter.

Placing them online will allow other readers to add their own comments, which helps everybody! Even though we live here and are on The Strip and downtown often, we can’t possibly do and see it all. Your comments are important and helpful!

Now… We’ve had some people complain that they will have to (gasp) actually CLICK to read the posts, and they don’t like that. We gave that quite a bit of thought and um… That is kind of the way this computer/internet thingy works. You click to open a program. Click to open an email. In our news section, you need to click if you want to read the details of a story. In the More section, you need to click to read a story. We also hope that you click to patronize our advertisers when you are making your Vegas plans.

If you get bored of us, you need to click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter. Lots of mouse clicking needed to use this internet stuff. We also figured that people who find clicking to read a post too much work will probably not unsubscribe as clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter would also be too much work.

Finally, we’ll start to be able to publish quite a bit more informationáas soon as we get underway with this new system. In the past, many great emails from readers simply never got published. Now, we can use them and you can benefit!

  • Riviera Las Vegas û Access Vegas Readers Love It! – Three different readers wrote with very nice things to say about staying at The Riviera (and tips to stay in the good rooms). If you’re thinking about staying at The Riv, wanting to stay in a hotel that feels more “old school” Las Vegas, or have stayed and want to comment, this is for you.
  • When Is Las Vegas Spring Break In 2011? Want To Avoid The Crowdsà – Ah, Spring Break and March Madness and cabin fever setting in make springtime in Las Vegas the most popular time of the year to visit. If you want to make sure a spring vacation is enjoyable, you’ll want to click and read this one.

Greetings from the cold,snowy state of Maine! We just visited Vegas over Christmas. We arrived near the end of the RAINS!!! Imagine our surprise when we were greeted by hundreds of UMBRELLAS!! The sidewalks and casinos were full of people from many nationalities!! Many had children ,and grandparents as well!!

I attended the Nutcracker Ballet, EXCELLENT! The costumes were Beautiful and the dancers were Extraordinary!!! The only question I have is, Why the recorded music? In Maine we have a Live orchestra.

We always stay at Bally’s. The rooms are nice and you can’t beat the the location! many thanks for the GOOD time and enjoyable newsletter.Las Vegas we love you. We have visited at least a dozen times. The Cosmapolitan is Wonderful!!!

D. Cook

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe December 29, 2010

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! We usually don’t publish the week prior to New Year’s Eve, but we have some important notes for those arriving for the festivities (and for those who want to watch it streaming live at home):

Streaming At Home: Kudos to KLAS Channel 8 as they will once again be streaming our New Year’s Eve celebration live to the world! Their program kicks off at 10 PM Pacific time and will continue until after the midnight fireworks show. Tune in Friday evening 1 AM Eastern, 10 PM Hawaiian (everyone else, do the math) over at http://www.8newsnow.com

Note: The following section is just for locals or those who will actually be in town. If that isn’t you, skip/scroll down to our usual sections.

Oh So Bitterly, Crazy Cold – No, I’m not talking about the Eastern U.S. (although I hope you are all doing well digging out). The problem is that this might be the coldest New Years Eve since I’ve moved here nearly 18 years ago, with temps barely above freezing at midnight. (Normally, it is in the low-40’s F as we shoot off the fireworks).

See preview news video from Channel 3áat Freezing Temps WonÆt Stop 300,000 For Las Vegas New YearÆs Eve

I posted Las Vegas New Years Eve Fireworks Info and Insider Party Tips a couple of weeks ago and now need to amend it:

  1. If you are from cold climates and freezing weather does not bother you (or if you are young and will be drunk and won’t be feeling it and have a warm hotel room you can get back to in short order), then simply enjoy yourself! Fortunately, the mass of bodies will make things feel not quite as cold as they really are.
  2. If staying at a Strip hotel, stay inside until about 11:30 PM. Warning: The center of The Strip gets ultra jammed and you might not even barely get out of your hotel. If center-strip, you may have to get outside much earlier. If north of TI or south of CityCenter, crowds will be far less and you can head out with 30 minutes to go with little problem.
  3. If you are a local or staying off-strip, this is the year you might wish to skip getting in the middle of it all because of the weather:
    • You’ll need to park by 6 PM, and probably some distance from The Strip. It isn’t just the time out (even if you spend the first few hours inside a hotel or bar). It is the very freezing return walk to your vehicle.
    • I’d attempt to park at Sahara or Hilton (keep in mind that as the evening wears on, they may restrict their parking to hotel guests) and use the monorail to get to The Strip. No, not the center of The Strip. Ride it all the way down to MGM where the crowds will be lightest outside. You can always work your way north on the closed Strip (Sahara to Russell stretch set to close at 6:30 PM). Then monorail it back once you are done partying, keeping in mind it stops running at 3 AM.
    • Drive down to a good viewing point away from the traffic and street closures, park your car, watch the show, drive back home. The industrial area behind CityCenter (Google Maps Link) has a great view in a number of areas. Many of the streets have no parking signs but it isn’t like you are leaving your car. Trust me, Metro (police) will have better things to be doing at midnight then giving out parking tickets or towing cars, especially with you standing next to it.
    • Skip the fireworks this year and go downtown, where is is much easier to duck inside a casino and warm up and the layout of downtown (combined with the throngs of people) will keep things a bit warmer. Tickets are $20, which keeps out the riff-raff and can be purchased at https://shop.prestigeticketing.com/goldennugget… The event starts at 6 PM and I’d get down there early and make it a night. No shortage of good food and entertainment to keep you plenty busy through midnight.

      Downtown Parking suggestions: Plaza has a huge surface lot with the entrance just a block south of Fremont Street. One block north of Fremont, Binion’s has a 7 story garage that always has room at the top, even during busy times. Note: You’ll probably encounter a modest fee to park for more than 4 hours. Just pay it and be happy you are parked and ready to have fun! Or cab it down and back (which is what we may just end up doing).

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

The Sporting House At New York, New York Las Vegas Introduces New Happy Hour And Updated Weekly Promotions – The Sporting House Bar & Grill inside New York-New York Hotel & Casino is giving fans a reason to celebrate with a twice daily happy hour every Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. In time for the NCAA Football bowl season, fans can enjoy $4 domestic drafts, $5 premium drafts and $4 house cocktails throughout happy hour.

Hopping Into The Year Of The Rabbit, Colorful Dragons, Lions, Rabbits To Fill The Forum Shops At Caesars This February To Celebrate Chinese New Year – To celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the year of the Rabbit, The Meadows School will perform the traditional dragon parade throughout The Forum Shops at Caesars. The cast of singers and dancers includes 120 Meadows students û 60 from kindergarten and 60 from fifth grade plus the school’s very special guests, founder Carolyn Goodman and her husband Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Host One-Night Performance Of Tuaca Body Art Ball – Serving as the kick off to their national tour Tuaca Liqueur will bring their eye-catching Body Art Ball to the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino on January 5, 2011. A perfect blend of body art, drama and personality, this bold take on pop culture is a choreographed stage show featuring painted performers illustrating the transformation of the human body into a canvas.

Dream Catcher Sunset Grand Canyon TourDream Catcher Sunset Grand Canyon Tour û Your journey begins with a flight out of Las Vegas to Hidden Valley to see the arches. Continue your journey to the Valley of Fire, were you will see red rock formations and some of the most remote, desolate, and fascinating desert landscape. After you fly through the Valley of Fire your journey will take you to the Grand Canyon. Enjoy the sunset as you finish your journey over the Las Vegas Strip as the lights turn on.

Click To Book Dream Catcher
Sunset Grand Canyon Tour Now!

Members Mania (Readers Comments and Questions) is on hiatus until the first of the year. WeÆll be bringing it back in a new, expanded format! In the meantime, we continue to welcome comments and questions to the email and phone line listed below.

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe December 22, 2010

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Most of you are receiving this over on Christmas Eve or over the Christmas weekend, and I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. We’ve been on the job and have all the latest news and Las Vegas information — plus a BIG jackpot winner — to tell you about.

All Fogged In – We had a full week of clouds and rain. I mean nearly constant rain and drizzle with complete cloud cover. If you were visiting, take solace in the fact that you saw a rare sight here in Las Vegas during some of the extremely low clouds: The towers of the Las Vegas Strip vanishing up into the clouds!

News Editor Rick Ziegler and I were headed east on Sahara just past Valley View a few nights ago, and he says to me: Where is the Stratosphere? Usually it towers over that area. After looking really hard, we could barely see the bottom of the tower column as it vanished into the clouds. A couple more blocks and we looked over to see the Encore tower similarly shrouded, with the top few floors totally engulfed in the fog. Pretty cool (and extremely rare) to see!

Don Reynolds, Dorothy Reynolds (winner), Jill Crosswhite, Gary Crosswhite
Plant Hollywood Las Vegas Guest Wins $2.9 Million On Penny Slots û Dorothy Reynolds Wins Millions on Her Family Vacation to Las Vegas

On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Planet Hollywood Las Vegas guest Dorothy Reynolds won $2,948.494.50 on the progressive WMS Gaming penny slot machine, ôWizard of Oz.ö Reynolds travels to Las Vegas twice a year with her husband, Don. This week-long trip, she is also joined by daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Gary Crosswhite, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Read The Exciting Details…

The Holidays Continue In Las Vegas – Boyz II Men continue their Las Vegas holiday show at the Flamingo through January 9, 2011. Click for tickets and to watch a video of Boyz II Men singing Let It Snow

I leave you with a couple of shots from last year’s Bellagio Gardens Christmas Display (which will be on display this year through the new year):

Bellagio Gardens Christmas Las Vegas 2009 024

Bellagio Gardens Christmas Las Vegas 2009 016

Bellagio Gardens Christmas Las Vegas 2009 003

Bellagio Gardens Christmas Las Vegas 2009 023

If you missed our Las Vegas New Year’s Eve tips, make sure to read Las Vegas New Years Eve Fireworks Info and Insider Party Tips

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Primm Valley Golf Club Tees Up With Lavish $59 Winter Golf Special – Primm Valley Golf Club capitalizes on the desert climate and year-round golf weather with the new Winter Golf Getaway offer. For $59 per person, the package includes:

ò One-night stay at Primm Valley Casino Resorts
ò One round of golf at one of two award-winning Tom Fazio-designed Primm courses, the Lakes Course or the Desert Course
ò 50 minute treatment of your choice including Fusion Stone Massage, Caribbean Hand Therapy, Botanical Skin Resurfacing and more at The Spa at Primm, a 13,000-square-foot Aveda retreat
ò One steak and lobster dinner at GP’s, the fine dining steakhouse
ò Two free drinks at the golf course

Cigar Ambassador At Your Service – Casa Fuente Introduces Embajadora de la Casa Rathna Singh – Visitors to Casa Fuente inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace have something in addition to magnificent cigars and exotic cocktails to enjoy as the cigar bar & lounge now features an Embajadora de la Casa. Serving as ambassador and guide to everything Casa Fuente is Rathna Singh. From helping pick out the perfect cigar for every palate to pairing an aged scotch to sip on, Rathna is the key to enjoying the Casa Fuente experience. Versed in the history of the Fuente family and an aficionado of the cigar collection at Casa Fuente, Rathna has been immersed in everything cigar related at the bar since moving to Las Vegas from her native Fiji Islands.

The Palazzo Las Vegas Celebrates The Holiday Season With Woodland-Inspired Winter DÚcor And Festive Seasonal Cocktails – The Palazzo Las Vegas celebrates the holiday season with a natural woodland-inspired winter display and festive holiday cocktails.

Fantasy Extends Contract With Luxor Through 2011 – Resort’s Adult Revue Celebrates 11 Years – Luxor’s steamy adult revue, has extended its contract with the resort through 2011. Celebrating its 11th successful year on The Strip, the high-quality production has shaped itself into one of Las Vegas’ leading topless shows. Created and produced by Anita Mann, FANTASY is constantly striving to raise the bar in Las Vegas entertainment with fresh choreography, appealing dancers and dynamic leading performers. New star Lorena Peril adds an exciting and unforgettable element to the long-running production with her fiery personality, exotic beauty and powerhouse vocals.

The Return Of The Beloved Tradition, The Miss America Parade – The Parade To Take Place Friday, Jan. 14, 2011 At Paris Las Vegas – The Miss America Organization has announced the highly-anticipated return of a beloved tradition, the Miss America Parade, renamed the “DSW Show Us Your Shoes Parade” presented by DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse! The parade will be hosted by the incomparable Robin Leach, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Rockhouse Brings Its Own Series Of Beer Pong To Vegas With The ‘Rockhouse Cup’ – Rockhouse has never had a problem being second best and this January the only ultra-dive bar on the Strip will turn the losers of the world’s biggest beer pong tournament into winners at ‘The Rockhouse Cup.’ On Tuesday, January 4, Rockhouse will give drop-out beer pong aficionados the chance to compete in a second chance tournament to win $5,000 in cash.

Valley Of Fire Buggy TourValley Of Fire Buggy Tour û Drive a buggy on an off-road adventure through the dramatic red rock formations of the Valley of Fire. View spectacular desert landscape on this exciting, but safe, half-day adventure. Only 2-seat buggys are offered on this tour. While you will occasionally encounter Big Horn sheep and other wildlife, the Valley of Fire is world renowned for its beautiful rock formations and red sand.

Click To Book Valley Of Fire Buggy Tour Now!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Members Mania (Readers Comments and Questions) is on hiatus until the first of the year. Now that weÆve been able to start increasing staffing levels, weÆll be bringing it back in a new, expanded format! In the meantime, we continue to welcome comments and questions to the email and phone line listed below.

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe December 15, 2010

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AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! I’d tell you what is up with the weather, but I’m clueless: Two weeks ago, cold (for us) temps that dipped into freezing overnight. Then an incredible week of 70 F and sunny. Now we’re looking at 60’s and some rain for quite a few days. After that, who knows? If you were here last week, you hit the jackpot with the great weather. A nice, mild evening greeted the new Cosmopolitan as well. Speaking of…

Cosmopolitan testing their lights at 3:00 AM

Billion$ Of Dollars and Bank-Owned After Foreclosure, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Is Open! – We were at Cosmo on opening night. The excitement level was off the charts. Combine the party end of The Palms, the Hard Rock Hotel Vegas, put them on the Las Vegas Strip on an intimate (small) footprint, create a trendy/hip atmosphere, and design/decoration aimed squarely at females (local Las Vegas writer and blogger David McKee stated “In sensibility, it’s the gayest thing to hit the Strip since Liberace”, and you have the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The CosmopolitanWill it fly? Probably. For the price of other upscale rooms in Las Vegas, you can get a large suite with balcony and (on the north and east side) mindbending Strip views. With balconies!

So, where isá my report on it? I’m not filing one yet. If you are coming to town in the next couple of weeks, absolutely check it out. Unlike CityCenter (which some consider a daunting hike off The Strip), Cosmo is Strip-front, with side doors are right next to the Bellagio fountains. No excuse to not stick your head in.

So when will my report be? Soon. Why the delay? Opening night is in NO WAY representative of a property. I want to see what the crowds are like under normal circumstances. How many people are gambling on a weeknight. The experience that you will encounter. The good, bad, and ugly under normal circumstances.

The Ugly? Yes. Widespread reports from opening night of guests with reservations having to wait hours beyond their assigned check-in time for a room. Problems with room safes, rooms with no mini-bar (yet), and others. Hotels always have rough spots the first few weeks of operation. But the reports we heard were serious. So much so that we are not going to promote or sell room reservations for the Cosmo until I’m satisfied these issues have been ironed out. I’ve never knowingly promoted something that I know has issues just for the sake of our bottom line. I’m not going to start now.

We aren’t going to leave you out in the cold when it comes to reports on Cosmo! For now, we’ve culled some of the better news story videos that we’re sure you’ll enjoy:

Small Town Atmosphere – It seems that everybody moving to town has their sights set on the far northwest corner of the Las Vegas Valley. But many who are retiring and want to live in the Las Vegas area also year for the “small town” atmosphere they may have grown up in (or are moving from). If that is you, don’t overlook the far southwest Las Vegas (area) city of Henderson.

You can live in the nice, master planned Green Valley area or choose from “old town” Henderson, the core of the original city where just about everything is walkable and revitalization has been underway for a number of years. With this job, it really helps for me to be in super-close proximity to The Strip. But if that weren’t such an issue, I’d be giving Henderson strong consideration. You’re only 15-20 all-freeway minutes from both The Strip and the airport. Related article Redevelopment: Henderson had earlier start on transformation, more to work with when efforts got under way

BTW… In a recent issue, I said that others can have Aliente, Summerlin, and Green Valley. I like vintage (old school) Las Vegas near downtown. It garnered some emails from those who live in (insert area I mentioned) noting how much they like those areas. Make no mistake: The neighborhoods I listed are very nice! But both because I like action and because of my vocation, I prefer to live near downtown and The Strip. Especially now that so much revitalization is taking place!

Finally, A Bus To The Airport! Kind of. A new express bus service running from McCarran Airport to Summerlin could turn out to be very handy for some visitors who want to skip the cab line (and costs). The new WAX route runs nonstop from the airport to the first stop at Tropicana and The Strip. NOTE: It does not continue up The Strip. You’ll need to get off and switch to The Deuce.

The WAX then hits the I-15 for a non-stop trip downtown, stopping at the Outlet Mall and Fremont Street Experience. If you are traveling light and staying on the south end of The Strip or downtown, it is worth checking out: Las Vegas WAX Express Bus Route Schedule (PDF)

Back Bigger and Better – Our New Years Eve fireworks display details have been announced. The 8 minute show will be the largest display west of the Mississippi and we’re expecting 310,000 people in town. If you’ve never been, imagine the entire 4-plus miles of the Las Vegas Strip closed to traffic and filled with revelers. Drinking is allowed (no glass) and the party atmosphere is second-to-none.

I’ve made an extensive blog post entitled Las Vegas New Years Eve Fireworks Info and Insider Party Tips that is a must read if you are even thinking of contemplating coming. (And with room rates at historic lows that probably won’t be seen in future years, you may want to at least test the waters). Even if you can’t make it, I’ll let you know how to enjoy our spectacular show online from anywhere in the world! Plus, the blog has a video included to give you a feel for the pending excitement.

We know that many of you hardcore Vegas fans and visitors participate in other Vegas forums, lists, and message boards. By all means, post this link and let others in on the info as well! We’ve created a shortened link to the post. Copy and paste http://x.co/LLu5

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

CityCenter Las Vegas Receives Distinguished AAA Five Diamond Award For Two Properties In First Year Of Operation – In its debut year, CityCenter Las Vegas has received the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award« for both ARIA Resort & Casino and Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. While the award is bestowed only upon select properties deemed the finest in North America, it is even rarer for hotels to attain the rating within the first year of operation.

Panel Of National Judges For The Las Vegas 2011 Miss America Pageant Announced – The 2011 Miss America Pageant presented by DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse promises to be an exciting event with the announcement of the strikingly diverse panel of national judges. They will evaluate the contestants from the preliminaries through the final night of competition, which will broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on SATURDAY, JAN. 15 (8 to 11 p.m., ET/PT) on ABC.

AGO Features Old World Classic Prix Fixe Menu For $12.99 At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Beginning on Dec. 11, AGO introduces an Old World Classic Prix Fixe Menu for $12.99. The new prix fixe menu will include a glass of wine, bread basket, soup or house salad, and choice of pasta entrÚe. Pasta entrÚe selections include Spaghetti with Meatballs or Sausage, Lasagna, Fettuccini Alfredo, Capellini Pomodoro, and Cheese Ravioli. The prix fixe menu will be available daily, during regular hours of operation.

Bellagio Resort & Casino Hosts First-Of-Its-Kind Event, Poker’s Ultimate Bottle Tournament’ January 28-30, 2011 – The AAA Five Diamond Bellagio has partnered with the Charity Case Foundation, a philanthropic group of California winemakers, to create an extraordinary charitable event, Jan. 28-30. The weekend’s festivities will be filled with exemplary wines, astounding cuisine and “Poker’s Ultimate Bottle Tournament.”

Fremont Street Experience And Mayor Oscar Goodman Kicked-Off The Holiday Season With Las Vegas’ Official Tree Lighting Ceremony – Mayor Oscar B. Goodman flipped the switch to light Las Vegas’ official Christmas tree at Fremont Street Experience. Santa Claus and his elves were also on hand to help officiate the ceremony and light the 50 ft. Christmas tree.


Mayor Oscar B. Goodman flipping the switch to light Las Vegas’ official Christmas tree. Photo Courtesy of Larry Burton


Fremont Street Experience had hundreds of people in attendance, as Santa Claus ditched his sleigh and made his grand entrance on the FlightlineZ. Photo Courtesy of Larry Burton

Las Vegas Strip Night TourLas Vegas Strip Night Tour û Take a neon-lit evening tour of the fabulous Las Vegas Strip. You’ll see all the sights and resorts, and be entertained and informed by your friendly guide. From the beautiful atrium and dancing water at the Bellagio to the stars of Madame Tussaud’s at the Venetian you won’t want to miss any of these Las Vegas icons.

Click To Book Las Vegas Strip Night Tour Now!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Members Mania (Readers Comments and Questions) is on hiatus until the first of the year. Now that we’ve been able to start increasing staffing levels, we’ll be bringing it back in a new, expanded format! In the meantime, we continue to welcome comments and questions to the email and phone line listed below.

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe December 8, 2010

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Our cold snap is history (evidently, it made its way east… much of the U.S. looks downright bitterly cold) and temps are supposed to hit 70 F the next few days then settle back into the 60’s. I’ll take it! Lucky you if you’re headed our way in the next couple of weeks, especially if your area is freezing.

Taxing The Tourists… Here We Go Again To build a new arena just behind the Las Vegas Strip, government is looking a (just shy of) 1% sales tax increase for the area of The Strip. This on top of the outrageous 8.1% sales tax already paid in the county. Read about it on my latest blog post Taxing The Las Vegas Visitors… Here We Go Again and leave your comments and thoughts on that page below the post. Make your voice heard!

Up, Up, and Away – Las Vegas gaming revenues on the Las Vegas Strip rose 16% in October. What may have been bigger news was that downtown revenue was up over 12%. The interesting dichotomy (to me) continues to be people complaining about how tight the slots are and how bad the table game rules are, mostly on the Las Vegas Strip.

All the while, downtown Las Vegas (Fremont Street Experience) has kept their slots loose and their table game rules more player-favorable. And yet the people bitching and moaning about their gambling dollar not going far enough wouldn’t leave The Strip and give downtown a whirl when it came time to do some wagering! Of course downtown revenue is up less than The Strip (despite a very busy fall season downtown… we saw it first-hand, often). Downtown casinos are giving you are better shot at winning and keeping less of your money!

$2.50 Service Fee Until End Of The Year At Tickets.AccessVegas.com – If you are like me, you probably dislike the service fees associated with buying tickets online. They are a necessary evil but a pain to pay. From now until the end of the year, we’ve slashed our service fee on ALL tickets at Tickets.AccessVegas.com to $2.50 (other misc. fees beyond our control may apply to various tickets).

Now is the time to buy and guess what? We don’t just have Las Vegas tickets! Looking for college or professional sports tickets (for the entire United States)? We have them. Broadway in New York? Check. We’ve got it. Various touring bands and shows? You bet! And some of the best seats in the house available for those who really want to treat themselves (or a friend or loved one) to the ultimate Holiday present. Oh… and yes, we have all the Vegas tickets you are looking for as well.

Taking advantage of this one-time fee break is simple: Click over to Tickets.AccessVegas.com where you’ll find a search box at the top of the page (to search for a specific show) or a menu bar on the left side of the page to click down to specific events. Or in the middle of the page, a search box by specific city and date. Buy now and save… fees return to normal at the end of the month!

Serendipy 3 Savings – From now until Dec. 17, 2010 you can get 25% off ALL food and drink at Serendipity 3 (the orange and pink restaurant in front of Caesars Palace) by mentioning the Pulse of Las Vegas blog (which is not ours, but I’m not going to hide a deal like this from you no matter who is sponsoring it)! You may want to go print out their blog post just to have it on hand, but you shouldn’t need it. Which brings me to a great Vegas tip:

Print It Out, Print It Out, Print It Out – Las Vegas is constantly offering deals everywhere. The hotels (some of which we have listed toward the top-right sidebar of this newsletter), the restaurants, you name it. We run info on as many of them as we can find. BUT… because new deals are always appearing and specials are subject to change, I have one huge piece of advice: Print out the page of any specials you are taking advantage of. For example, if you are booking one of the hotel specials we mention to get the freebies or similar offers, print out the offer page the day you book.

The hotels are not setting out to rip you off. But by the time you get to town, the hotel may not be offering exactly what was offered when you booked and the perks promised may not be in the system with your reservation. And while they should live up to what they are saying, there might be someone new at the check-in desk who is totally unfamiliar with what had been offered a few months prior. By having the printed sheet in your hand (printed out on the very day you made the reservation), you have the proof you need to get everything coming to you that they promised.

Las Vegas’ Cup of Morning Sunshine Program Offers Free (and Legal) Christmas Music – Our friend Scott Whitney recently started the Vegas Video Network with a number of great Las Vegas based programming available both live and on-demand (at no cost to the viewer). Whether you are researching the party/drinking scene or looking to get some solid info on the local real estate market, the diverse line-up of shows offers something for just about everyone.

Scott is also an accomplished musician who has sold somewhere near 100,000 copies of his ChristmAcoustic holiday CD. To help promote the network, he’s making the CD (one I personally really enjoy) available at absolutely no cost as a download! Simply head over to Cup of Morning Sunshine #004: Free (and Legal) Christmas Music and look for the download link in the show notes below the video page. Make sure to watch the video while you are there and get to know Scott. He’s got some great things going on.

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Legendary Performers The Platters, The Cornell Gunter Coasters & The Marvelettes To Begin Performances At Crown Theater – Crown Theater, Las Vegas’ newest entertainment complex located inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino proudly announces that the intimate theater will be the new home of the longest running musical show featuring the legendary groups, The Platters, The Cornell Gunter Coasters and The Marvelettes, beginning Monday, Nov. 1, 2010.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Toasts The Holidays With Festive Specialty Cocktails Plus Drink Recipes – Tis’ the season to cocktail! Forget about the typical spiced eggnog, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has unleashed five cocktails that will kick-start your holiday. Take a closer look at these specialty party-starting drinks designed by the mixologists at Rare 120, AGO, Johnny Smalls, Luxe Bar and Mr.Lucky’s 24/7. Available Nov. 24 û Dec. 28. Click to full story for recipes:

MGM Resorts Receive 28 Prestigious AAA Four And Five Diamond Awards – Ten Resorts And 18 Restaurants Honored With AAA Four And Five Diamond Awards – MGM Resorts International received 28 esteemed AAA Four and Five Diamond Awards for its resorts and restaurants, solidifying its position among the world’s most elite. The company received seven prestigious AAA Five Diamond Awards including two resorts at CityCenter which opened their doors less than a year ago.

Miss America To Celebrate 90th Anniversary Milestone From Las Vegas Jan. 15, 2011 With Live Telecast On ABC – When Miss America returns to the stage in Las Vegas on Jan. 15 with its live broadcast on ABC, it will mark the 90th anniversary, as well as make the American institution the fourth longest running live event in television history. To commemorate this pivotal milestone, below are 90 interesting past and present facts about Miss America’s rich history:

Blue Man Group Las Vegas Special Holiday Performance Schedule and Pricing – Blue Man Group will implement special holiday pricing for all shows from Dec. 20 through Jan. 1. During this time, Blue Man Group will also return to its holiday show schedule with three shows nightly. Wildly popular around the world, Blue Man Group defies simple description. A musical feast? Yes. A rollercoaster of comedy? Absolutely. A stunning mix of technology and raw imagination? You bet. Nobody describes it the same, but everyone agrees û it’s a must-see.

Tommy Bahama’s Las Vegas Restaurant & Bar At Town Square Unveils Special Holiday Rum Pairing Menu – Originating in the tropics of the Caribbean, rum has a rich history as a cultural symbol of the island lifestyle. Home to the city’s largest rum collection, Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant & Bar at Town Square is offering its unique menu with an island spin throughout this festive holiday season found only in Las Vegas.

December Marks Five Years, More Expansion For Las Vegas’ South Point With $2 Drinks, More – South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas will celebrate its five year anniversary on December 22nd. The month will be highlighted by $2 Drinks, an anniversary celebration and opening of the newest Las Vegas dining establishment Steak ‘n Shake.

Miracle Mile Las Vegas Las Vegas Holiday Tweetup – Enjoy the latest in holiday party fashions, free appetizers & cocktails and fabulous giveaways including a grand prize package.

La Cave Wine And Food (Tapas) Hideaway Opens At Wynn Las Vegas – This December, Steve Wynn and restaurant impresario Michael Morton open La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway, nestled inside Wynn Las Vegas.

Maverick Grand Canyon Western Territory TourMaverick Grand Canyon Western Territory Tour û Fly in a Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to this amazing wonder and land at Grand Canyon West as you enjoy spectacular views along Eagle Point. Receive a brief introduction to the Hualapai Indian legends and culture at the Indian Village, and then proceed to Guano Point, where you’ll observe a breathtaking view of the canyon.

Click To Book Maverick Grand Canyon Western Territory Tour Now!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

I have been going to Vegas since 2006, went this past November for my 12th visit, my first being January 2006. I tell everyone how awesome a city Vegas is. And those who have visited or even visited with me have all agreed, it is an awesome place.

My co-worker and I went as she has not been ever, we stayed at NYNY, the hotels really like to nickel & dime you with resort fees now. When I stayed at NYNY in January 2010, the resort fee was $9.95, now it is $12.95 when I just stayed there. The 6 nights, Wed-Tue, cost $460 total with fees and tax, not bad. I guess because people want to go to Vegas, the hotels know we will all pay no matter what the price. But it is a bit misleading when the resort fees are told at check out online, that you pay it when checking out at the hotel.

With airfare from Toronto being almost $500 return now because US Airways no longer does direct flights and so Air Canada and WestJet have raised the fares almost $200 since last year when US Airways flew direct from Toronto, I have to scale back to one trip a year, maybe two. I always have gone 2-3 times since 2006. But traveling solo most of the trips, $900 approx. cost for 4-5 nights with airfare is high and leaves me with little spending money. No point in going if you are not going to spend any money. But I will say Vegas is the best place ever, I do miss it and will miss going frequently.

I may go for my birthday in late January solo as a treat to myself, but then will have to wait until 2012 to go because of the cost. But 12 trips in 5 years is alot lol.

John from Toronto

Ted Responds:

The resort fees continue to be very controversial, and I personally feel they discourage visitors from spending money. It used to be that the hotels made you feel so great about the bargain price of a room and food that you practically couldn’t wait to start tossing your money back at them in the casino. I know that when I’ve been on vacation and get up-charged (or feel I’m getting gouged), I’m not so free with my money at the hotel. I’ll go to off-site dining when I normally would have enjoyed the hotel dining room or even ordered room service. I’ll head to the local grocery store and stock up on some food (which very few used to ever do on a Las Vegas vacation, but is now almost becoming the norm — witness all the people dragging coolers towards their rooms).

The hotel number-crunchers simply cite the bad economy for visitors being tighter with their money. And no question, the higher airfares (which no one in Las Vegas can do anything about) are cutting into everyone’s vacation budget. But they need to quit overlooking the fact that ill-will tightens people’s wallets. We want to feel good about the company we are giving our money to. Feel like they are giving us an even shake.

Something many of our readers have been doing for quite some time is coming less often, but staying longer. You amortize the same airfare over more days, which cuts down the per-day cost. For example, if you come twice a year for 4 days each visit, you total 8 days of hotel room costs and two separate round-trip airfares. Staying for one stretch of 8 days will cost around the same for your rooms, but you’ll only be paying for one round-trip ticket per person.

But Ted… 8 days in Vegas will kill me! Um… not if you do it right:

Party hard for the first couple of days, then mellow for a couple. You know all that stuff that you keep goingá…one of these visits, I want to See Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, rent a car and check out the local’s casinos, spend more time downtown, day trip to Laughlin, visit some of the great restaurants that are slightly off-strip, hit the outlet mall/rides/golf at Primm, check out the afternoon shows, see CSI Experience or Bodies, take significant other on Venetian gondola ride (I could go on just about forever) and simply never get around to? Now you’ll have the time.

After a couple mellow days, crank up the party/gaming action again for a day or two, then a mellow day. Run hard your last day to get your final shot of Vegas adrenaline and sleep on the flight home.

Thanks for the great comments!

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe December 1, 2010

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

Newkirk’s Notes – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! Winter fiercely rolled in during Thanksgiving weekend. Highs were in the 40’s (F) and lows at freezing or below. NOT funny. Give me 100 degrees and I’m great. Freezing? You can have it. Fortunately, temps are back in the low 60’s with plenty of sunshine. For the record, the average high in both Dec. and Jan. is 57. Dress appropriately.

Appreciate All The Input – Last issue, I asked for input on what you’d like to see from us in 2011. I replied to all who wrote! I’m happy to report that many of the suggestions are already on the drawing board. In addition, some great ideas we really hadn’t considered were floated by various readers and we’re giving them strong consideration.

We had some constructive criticism, which was also valued. In some cases, I simply had to write back and note that we are a very small outfit. We are not owned by a newspaper company (as is the largest Las Vegas website). We get exactly $0.00 per year from the Convention and Visitors Authority. We are 100% independent. Which is how I like it, but doesn’t leave us with ultra-deep pockets to do everything we’d like.

A number of people noted/complained that we sometimes send a reduced issue when I’m 1. Training someone 2. Under the weather or 3. Taking a scheduled vacation. There is only so much of me to go around. I’ll tell you what: I’ll gladly refund your subscription price if you are one of the concerned.

The Biggest News That No One Is Talking About – Happens to be the Zappos.com takeover of Las Vegas City Hall for their corporate headquarters. Why have I yet to see even one major Las Vegas blog talk about the impact? When, what… who cares? You should! Read (and feel free to comment) on my latest blog post:

Zappos.com Moves Downtown Las Vegas, Major Boost Seen For Fremont Street Experience Area

Streamline Towers Now To Rent – Just days before the Zappos announcement and apparently unrelated (as the Zappos news was the best kept secret in town) came word that the Streamline condos — located just a couple blocks north of City Hall and one block from Fremont Street (click for Google street view) — will be turning the units into rentals until the economy improves. Prices are very reasonable considering the location and amenities:

Rent starts at $1000 a month for 847 sq. ft. When you consider that in 2006-2008 was paying $1040 a month for an upscale 950 sq. ft. apartment in an otherwise lousy location on the South Strip (Amalfi at Wigwam and Parvin — do not rent there, lousy management), this doesn’t look like a bad deal. I’d consider it myself but I’m simply still renting until I find what I’m looking for in a house near downtown. You guys can have Summerlin, Aliante, and Green Valley. Give me Vintage Vegas!

Inching Up Again – Visitor numbers for the long Thanksgiving weekend were up 3% from last year. Continued small but positive signs in Las Vegas bouncing back as a travel destination. However, don’t get confused and assume that tourist numbers mean an uptick in the local economy:

50,000 Still To Go – Southern Nevada’s population loss isn’t over yet. With no new construction on the horizon (and as I’ve predicted many times), officials are now projecting a loss of 50k people from our area over the next year. This will have a domino affect of keeping home prices extremely depressed throughout all of 2011.

For example, you can get aádecent 2 bed/2 bath condo in a very respectable neighborhood (I used to have a house in that general area in the early 2000’s) about 7 minutes from The Strip and close toáshopping for $35,000 (listing site). This condo sold for $144,000 in 2007 and hasn’t been valued this low in the past decade. 2011 is going to be a good year to buy if you plan to hold the property for some time.
Disclaimer: I’m simply using this condo as an example. I have no connection to it.

What Happens In Vegas: Bachelorette Party Video – Las Vegas is releasing a new set of the “What Happens Here…” ads focusing on playing someone you aren’t. The fact that in Las Vegas, you can pretend to be whoever you want to be. What are your thoughts? Does this inspire you to visit Las Vegas? Do you think these ads help bring visitors to town? Click to watch What Happens In Vegas – Bachelorette Party Video and post your comments below it.

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

Delta Air Lines

“Legends In Concert” Brings Holiday Cheer To Harrah’s Las Vegas – Celebrity Tribute Spectacular Presents Holiday Version Of Popular Show Through Dec. 26 – The world’s longest running celebrity tribute show, “Legends in Concert” will bring the spirit of the season to the Strip, with the return of the holiday version of the dazzling production starting Nov. 26 at Harrah’s Las Vegas. The seasonal version of the 90-minute spectacular will showcase superstar impersonators of past and present, singing the chart-topping hits that launched their celebrity characters into superstardom, as well as a heart-warming Christmas classic.

Rockhouse Las Vegas… I Really, Really Love This Bar! – Rockhouse Rocks The Rodeo December 2-11 – As the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) hits the Strip, Rockhouse Bar & Nightclub will have every cowboy in Vegas saying “I really, really love this bar!” The ultra-dive bar will rock the rodeo, welcoming cowboys and NFR fans Thursday, December 2, through Sunday, December 11, for viewing parties, drink specials and a whole lot of rodeo fun.

A Very Terry Christmas At The Mirage Las Vegas Through December 25 – Join Terry Fator as he celebrates the 2010 holiday season at The Mirage with A Very Terry Christmas. In addition to his current show Terry Fator: Ventriloquism in Concert, Fator will complement his routine with fun-filled celebrity singing impressions, unparalleled ventriloquism and 10-12 popular holiday tunes. Backed by a sizzling live band, Fator brings to life his puppet co-stars where some of them will be dressed in their own holiday garb including Winston the Impersonating Turtle, the lovable Emma Taylor, Vikki “The Cougar” and Wrex the Crash Test Dummy.

Biggest Las Vegas Gift of Lights Display Ever – 10th Annual The Gift of Lights presented by US Bank, a holiday drive-thru spectacular at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The biggest and brightest Gift of Lights ever! All LED displays.

Click For Las Vegas Gift Of Lights Info

Celebrate Christmas Deliciously At Beso Steakhouse Las Vegas – Beso steakhouse, Eva Longoria Parker’s signature restaurant at Crystals in CityCenter Las Vegas, invites guests to enjoy a delicious holiday menu this Christmas. On December 25, guests will enjoy a delectable three-course dinner from 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. The Christmas menu begins with a fresh Spinach Salad topped with shaved cremini mushroom, truffle deviled egg and a warm bacon dressing. The main course is a Prime Rib Roast complemented by horseradish popover, crawfish salad and mushroom gratin. For dessert, guests will delight in an Apple and Pear Galette, topped with cinnamon ice cream, calvados caramel and amaretto anglaise.

The One Group Arrives On The Las Vegas Strip With Its Popular STK Restaurant At The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas – New York-based The ONE Group seduces the city by bringing its edgy steakhouse, STK, to the Las Vegas strip this December. With siblings in Los Angeles and Miami as well, STK Las Vegas arrives December 15, 2010, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas with its high-energy and sexy vibe. The ONE Group has also named Stephen Hopcraft (Bravo’s ‘Top Chef’ and Food Network’s ‘Chefs vs. City’) as executive chef.

Grand Canyon North Rim Bar 10 Deluxe Air and Ground TourGrand Canyon North Rim Bar 10 Deluxe Air and Ground Tour û Enjoy an airplane flight to the remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon for a day on a real working ranch. Fly over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam en route to the North Rim. A hearty western-style lunch at the ranch is included.

Click To Book Grand Canyon North Rim Bar 10 Deluxe Air and Ground Tour Now!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

We are visiting Las Vegas in November 2011 for our 40th anniversary. When will the show schedules come out?? I want to book everything ahead of time to be sure we get the best seats for all the shows we want to see. We try to come to Vegas every 2 years, so we have seen some of the big shows…O…Celine…Cher…Mamma Mia…Phantom… Sigfried & Roy….Lance Burton…just to mane a few. We also took a helicopter and pontoon ride to the Grand Canyon

Our list includes this year includes….: Jersey Boys…Barry Manilow…Terry Fator…KA..some afternoon shows….Popovick Pets….The Price is Right…..Mac King…Nathan Burton We want to stay downtown at the Golden Nugget…anniversary dinner at the Stratosphere.

Any other suggestions???

Jane Teal

Ted Responds:

Congrats on the anniversary. Great way to celebrate a big milestone like that!

Many shows have NO WAY of knowing if they will be around 6 months from now, let alone over a year out. Lion King (a proud advertiser of this newsletter and a show that we’ve received 100% positive feedback about) IS playing through the end of 2011 before wrapping things up. I believe Jersey Boys has a pretty long-term deal in place. So, you may be able to get those tickets well in advance (and the earlier, the better seats).

A note to everyone: Please do book tickets for our advertised shows (see along the sidebar) by clicking on those ads. Some offer a discount, all go to the official site of the shows, and the credit we get for the booking is how they decide if they keep advertising (which keeps the newsletter complimentary).

For the rest of the shows,áI’d suggest visiting our Tickets.AccessVegas.com link it every couple of weeks and entering your dates until you see stuff start to pop up. Some shows may have tickets 6 months (or more) in advance. Others might only offer them 2-3 months out. Check back regularly and you’ll be one of the first to grab tickets.

Skip the Strat for dinner. View is nice, but service not so good, food average. If you want a very special dinner with a view, do Alize at Palms instead. Long-time renowned áLas Vegas chef/owner Andre Rochat takes both food and service very seriously. If Strat is important for some reason, go up there for drinks at sunset then over to your Alize reservation.

Hope this helps. Thanks for reading and please tell your friends to subscribe!

First off.. I forget how I came across your newsletter, but am I ever thankful that I have. I have been to Vegas countless times and stayed almost every hotel (like to experience it all each time).

In 2011 û Fat Tuesday and my birthday are on the same day; and trying to convince my friends to make this year is one for sure to enjoy for sure. I remember HarrahÆs having a New Orleans theme to it; and Rio having a Brazilian theme (Carnival) but û where else is a good place for beads, fun and stuff? I know its not until March but in order to plan û we have to ask in January for preferred time off times and this would be my chance to get even more to join me.

Thanks for your newsletter, I do read all the content, and hope youÆve fully recovered from that nasty flu that went around (I was one of the first ones to catch that).

Best regards,

Cole

Ted Responds:

You would think that the town would really play it up. The don’t. Last year, we went to Carnival Court and checked out other Strip venues. Nothing.

Downtown did have Cajun bands and similar. We tossed beads off the balcony at Fitz (and yes, some women went a little wild for them). But it wasn’t anything close to a New Orleans type celebration.

I’m going to put the word out early in hopes that some properties will get on board. Harrah’s Corporation Caesars Entertainment especially (and I know they are reading) has thrown parties for different events like Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, Jimmy Buffett concert day and similar. You can view their 2010 Cinco de Mayo event video here: Cinco De Mayo Video: Las Vegas Strip 2010 Party, Music, Fun, and Food

They really need to do something the Saturday before Fat Tuesday and then again do something special for Fat Tuesday (March 8, 2011). If they get the word out early, they’d have a nice crowd.

I wish that I could tell you better news, especially since it will be your birthday. Finally bounced back from the flu… thanks for asking. I heard from many readers across the U.S. that were hit with it also. Just needed some good rest!

We have recently moved to Vegas and your news letter has been an excellent source of information, both before and after our move.

Our family of five is looking forward to our first Vegas New Years Eve. However two of our group are under 21. can you suggest some activities they would enjoy. They are 20 and 18, not kids but not old enough for cocktails either. Keep up the good work!

Terry Kassof

Ted Responds:

Fireworks. Fireworks. Fireworks. Fireworks. Fireworks.

They are free and your kids are above curfew age. As a veteran of many celebrations, we’ll have tips on where to park and best (but least crowded) places to watch them once they announce all the details. Stay subscribed!

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