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Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 12, 2008

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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
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Wow… we are getting some lucky (and nice) fall weather with highs still in the 70’s F and cool (but not cold) nights. If you are starting to regret not planning that fall visit, we’ll do our best as we are a “virtual vacation” in every newsletter!

Plaza Doing Major Upgrades? – Downtown’s Plaza Hotel and Casino is 30 years old and despite the economic downturn, owners are looking a possible major upgrades to the 1000+ rooms in the property. If you are one of the very few who have ever staggered up to the third floor of the property, you’ve seen the huge convention area they have that sits virtually unused all year long.

If they can secure financing for the $10,000,000 in room upgrades, they hope to compete with other mid-level properties for conventions that want to be at aánice hotel, but don’t need the size of bigger convention venues.

Sahara Hotel Las Vegas

Sahara Hotel Casino Photos – We’ve loaded some new interior shots to our Sahara Las Vegas Hotel Casino photo gallery. If you are feeling the economic pinch and want to save a few bucks on your next stay, The Sahara really isn’t a bad choice. Lots of lower limit gaming and slots, a casino that was upgraded not that many years ago and is in good shape, and a monorail stop right at the hotel can have you almost anywhere on The Strip within about 15 minutes. Check out Sahara Hotel Casino Discount Reservations

Is The Las Vegas Club Scene Over? – Not quite, and as long as there is a Las Vegas, there will be plenty of nightlife catering to every segment of society. However, clubs simply aren’t paying sums in the tens of thousands of dollars to second-tier (to put it politely) celebrities just to show up for the night like they used to. We also understand that “bottle service” (paying hundreds of dollars for a bottle of liquor in able to secure a nightclub table) isn’t quite as popular as it used to be.

We have readers of all ages and our feedback (even among those in their 20’s) has been “Las Vegas needs to bring back more live music in the lounges” instead of questions about clubs. Maybe Las Vegas gaming win is down in part because the tried-and-true formula of letting people gamble, drink, watch some great free music (then repeat this pattern all evening long) has faded away at many casinos.

September Visitor Numbers Down – If you were here during September (lucky you as the hot days were winding down), you may have noticed more elbow room than usual. Visitor numbers were down 10% fromáSeptember 2007. No surprise there. Many of you plan your visits weeks (or months) in advance and this summer brought very high advance airfare.

The good news? Those of you who felt “priced out of Las Vegas” are seeing the return of some very affordable prices. I did an airfare and hotel search for January 11-14 and found the following:

$250 airfare from American’s heartland (I used Indianapolis, IN as a reference… some cities are even cheaper) and plenty of $40 a night hotel rooms both on The Strip and downtown through our hotel partners Las Vegas Hotel Deals. $660 total for two people, four days in Las Vegas, air and hotel. Yes, times are tight. But if you are of the mindset that a Vegas vacation is going to set you back thousands, time to go back and do the math!

Not Everyone Likes The New Games – An op-ed piece to our local paper regarding all the automation and lack of interaction on many of the newer casino games made some great points. Sounds like it may have even been written by one of our readers:

During a stopover in Reno 25 years ago, my wife and I discovered Nevada-style gambling — and absolutely loved it. Just as suddenly, on a summer trip to Las Vegas and Laughlin, we admitted the thrill is gone. Since when did the gaming industry rob Nevada of its uniqueness, conspiring to remake its casinos into video arcades?

Most recently, the Excalibur in Las Vegas brags about replacing its live poker room with electronic poker tables. Again, what happened to the state that believed in character — the state that made gambling real? In the old days, even when the games were “electronic,” at least the money they paid was real. Certainly, if the sound and feel of money were not important, why does every ticket machine go “clink! clink!” Click to read full storyáInteraction, winning give way to gadgets, losing

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

Boulder Station from $25, Fiesta H from $29, Green Valley from $85, Red Rock from $90, Santa Fe Station from $50, Sunset Station from $40, Texas Station from $28, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Stone Temple Pilots To Perform At The Pearl At The Palms January 2 – Rockers Stone Temple Pilots return to The Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms on Friday, January 2, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (Tickets) Stone Temple Pilots, commonly called STP, hit the rock scene in the early ’90s with their debut album Core. The band quickly gained a large fan base with hits like “Sex Type Thing,” “Creep” and “Plush,” which subsequently won them a Grammy for “Best Hard Rock Performance.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Larry The Cable Guy Returns To The Orleans Arena On December 13 – Popular for coining the catchphrases “Git-R-Done” and “Lord, I Apologize,” Larry the Cable Guy, returns to the Orleans Arena on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Tickets) Known to some as Daniel Whitney, Larry the Cable Guy has showcased his talent, comedy act and characters on stage, television and in film. Larry’s one-liner filled act earned him appearances on “Evening at The Improv,” “Comic Strip Live” and the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show.” His success with radio continued when he became a regular on “Jeff Foxworthy’s Country Countdown.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Ring In 2009 With Kid Rock At The Pearl Concert Theater 12/31/08 – The infamous rocker with the bad ass attitude is bringing the party this New Year’s Eve with a spectacle of a show inside The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at 10:30 p.m. (Tickets) Grammy award-nominated Kid Rock released several successful albums including Devil Without A Cause in ’98 which includes smash hits, “Bawitdaba,” “Cowboy” and “Only God Knows Why” in addition to becoming Diamond Award certified by RIAA with more than 10 million copies sold. Click to Read The Full Story …

Spice Up Thanksgiving With A Little “Mojo” From Sushisamba Strip – Why slave away in the kitchen this Thanksgiving when you can feast on an artful blend of tasty holiday concoctions at Sushisamba Strip? Join SUSHISAMBA strip on Thursday, Nov. 27, for this gracious holiday festivity. Dinner serving begins at 5 p.m. through 2 a.m. For starters, experience the “Mojo” Marinated Turkey ($28) with cornbread-linguica stuffing, organic fall vegetables and roasted pan gravy to warm the cockles of friends and family. Click to Read The Full Story …

Producer Dick Feeney Receives His Star On The Las Vegas Walk Of The Stars Becoming The 31st Recipient – Las Vegas Producer Dick Feeney was acknowledged for his creativity and talents Oct. 17 by becoming the 31st recipient of Las Vegas Walk of Stars. The Las Vegas Walk of Stars, located from Russell Road. to Sahara Avenue., honors those who have contributed outstanding service to their community in several different categories: show business, literary, pioneers; and civic, humanitarians, sports and military in association with the rules set by Clark County. Feeney’s star, located in front of the New York New York Hotel & Casino, name was added among Wayne Newton, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr., Rich Little, Siegfried and Roy, John Stuart, Trini Lopez, Frank Marino, Tony Sacca, Liberace and Elvis. Please refer to www.lasvegaswalkofstars.com for more information. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High Low Split – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own ôVegas Vicö in the seventh of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High Low Split (broadband)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hello!! Is there a local bar or hotel downtown just to go and tilt back a couple and shoot some pleasure billiards? (Not looking for competitive-type, that’s for sure).

Shelley

Ted Responds:

Jillian’s in Neonopolis has a room dedicated to pool tables called the 9 Ball Billiard Lounge. First come, first served. Before 4 PM, $6.00 per person per hour (Monday-Friday Billiards are complimentary with your meal). After 4 PM, $5.00 per person per hour. Odds are you’ll find other visitors just in to have fun like you are!

We, four 22/23 year old guys, are trying to determine whether to come to Vegas over Thanksgiving (Thurs, Friday, Saturday night) 2008, or over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday night) 2009. Basically, we are looking for the best time to party (clubs/hotels/etc) for the best value. Flight prices seem cheaper over MLK weekend, but hotel rooms look more expensive. Can you give us some advice on when to experience Vegas? Thanks for your help.

Lance

Ted Responds:

There really aren’t any badáweekends for many of the clubs. Thanksgiving extended weekend draws more international visitors. To a lessor scale, some families use Thanksgiving weekend as a time to gather in Las Vegas, but once Thursday is over, extended families spend the rest of the weekend doing typical Vegas stuff.

Thanksgiving offers tons of football betting (college and pro) all four days. It will offer slightly warmer weather than MLK weekend (although not pool weather). Also, MLK weekend does fall in that “dead zone” between New Years Eve and Superbowl Sunday.

If you are looking for crowds, football betting, and visitor variety, I’d look at Thanksgiving. If looking for a slower time when lines might not be so long, and club prices (admission, bottles) not so stiff, lean toward MLK.

We come to Vegas every year and this year we are staying for one month. As far as gambling goes we are not in the ‘upper’ bracket but still contribute to the area’s economy. As well as having some fun we have made very good friends and look foreword to ‘partying’ with them.

Over the years Vegas has changed dramatically, not always for the better. As you have mentioned ‘bean counters’ have a place in business BUT they should be monitored and tempered by experienced persons who understand the psychology of gambling, not just the ‘bottom line’. Remember, Vegas is not built on winners, but a good winner is good for the promotions.

On our first visit, Sam’s Town was still ‘in the desert’. If Vegas did not exist, no one would have the twisted imagination to invent it. We love America, with all its faults, we have found the people to be genuine, with all their foibles, and only serious old age or being destitute will stop us visiting. Perhaps this year we will win, or, break even.

Best wishes,

Wolf and Jean from Coventry, England

Ted Responds:

Couldn’t agree with you more. The guys running the casinos used to be gamblers themselves and understood the psychology of it. These new guys may be financial wizards (or maybe not judging by how gaming companies are doing), but they should be on Wall Street, not making the decisions on how to best get people to enjoy gaming.

Thanks again for this marvelous newsletter – we couldn’t make it to Vegas this year – but as I am turning 40 next year our USA-trip -including Vegas- has been arranged now. We are looking forward to come over in February ’09.

Greetings from Germany

Ollie and Diana

Ted Responds:

Great to hear from you and happy that you are still reading and keeping up on Las Vegas. I passed 40 just over three years ago… you’ll have great fun celebrating it here!

Love the newsletter and all the great information. I have been a subscriber for years and watched your changes and have gotten so much useful information for our frequent visits. Its so nice to be kept “in the know” on what is happening, or has happened or will be happening. I especially enjoy the Q & A column in your news letter from readers… it truly is the inside scoop and I admire your honesty.

Thanks, great job!

S. Pomplun from Eagan, MN

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

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

November 12, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 5, 2008

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
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! We took a little time off to let you get the U.S. elections out of your system. Regardless of who you voted for, am I the only one that could go the rest of my life without seeing a campaign commercial again?!?

Venetian Bankruptcy – Some of you may have heard that Venetian/Palazzo parent company Las Vegas Sands is close to bankruptcy. Please hold the “We have reservations there, will they be open” questions. Just as many major U.S. airlines have continued to operate while in and out of bankruptcy, the odds of the Venetian closing down are about the same as the sun rising in the west tomorrow morning. At worst, they will restructure, perhaps give up part of the company to an investment group, and continue on.

Not Your Grandfather’s El Cortez – Interesting recent article about how the El Cortez downtown (which finished major improvements within the past year) and how they are keeping their table game rules liberal (to the player’s chance to win) while remaining a small, family-owned property. Article at Overseeing an evolution – Executive aims to lead El Cortez from storied past into stellar future

Visitors, Open Up Your Wallet – 100,000 signatures were gathers to encourage the Nevada State Legislature to up the room tax another 3% to pay for education. This at a time when many of you are having to dig deeper into your pocket to visit us in the first place. Many locals (especially those not long-time residents) don’t seem to understand that you spend a lot of time, money, and effort to come visit us year-in and year-out. You work hard for your money, and have plenty of vacation options.

Nevadan’s need to quit taking it for granted that tourism will always be strong (let alone continue to grow… as tourism growth is flat). For the record, I was approached outside of a local Albertsons grocery store to sign the petition. I declined. With Clark County (Las Vegas) school district enrollment flat, they can take projected construction and new teacher spending off-the-board and use the money to pay the present teachers if needed.

Anyone Miss The Stardust? – Construction on Echelon Place (a name that still just doesn’t do anything for me) has been delayed until at least 2009. Even in the best of times, I was curious about how The Strip was going to absorb a truckload of high-end places like The Plaza (former Frontier site), CityCenter, and Echelon. The question is whether it will ever absorb that many upscale rooms even in good times.

Behind The Scenes At A Sportsbook – Ever wonder how the lines are set, who the house wants to win and generally what happens on an average day setting the line at a sports book? The Review-Journal had a really interesting recent article NFL Sundays keep book director busy – Even ‘light’ days add up to heavy wagering

McCarran Traffic Down, What Does It Mean? – Traffic at Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport is down 13% from last year, but those figures are misleading. Tourism remains steady. With the local economy (especially that not based on tourism) doing poorly, you have fewer local residents making flights.

International travel is bucking the trend. Traffic into Terminal Two (the dump of a terminal that some charter and all international visitors have to suffer though) has traffic numbers up almost 6% over last year. Canadian based WestJet is up almost 60% on the year. This all no surprise to us as we count a large number of Canadian, European and even Mexican visitors among our readers. With domestic fuel prices coming down, we hope that once again soon it will be more economical for U.S. residents to visit just as often!

Stomp Out Loud To Close – For now, anyway. Stomp has had a great run at Planet Hollywood but was somewhat cursed by playing in a 1500 seat theatre (larger than many of the major production shows playing on The Strip). The economics of filling a venue that large are tough, even for a well-liked show. Stomp may resurface here as the producers note they are looking at other venues better suited for the production.

Stomp is an amazing show of unique nonstop energy and well worth seeing before the run ends at the end of the year. Visit our review Stomp Out Loud – A Journey Through Rhythm and Percussion to decide for yourself if this is a show you would enjoy.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $39, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $38, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $42, Sam’s Town from $28, Sun Coast from $63, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

TBS Presents A “Very Funny” Festival: The Comedy Festival – TBS Lines Up More than 25 Comics for LOL Lounge And Brings Excitement of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL Live Online For The First Time Ever. Unprecedented Online Coverage of Event to Utilize Cutting-Edge Technology, Allowing Users to Interact with Web Show Hosts and Comics. THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a Co-Production with AEG Live, Returns to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas For Fourth Year Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22. (Tickets) Click to Read The Full Story …

Pianist Philip Fortenberry Of “Jersey Boys” Debuts “Liberace and Me” Cabaret Performance For Limited Engagement At Liberace Museum – Philip Fortenberry, a solo pianist, improvisational composer and cast member of “Jersey Boys,” has debuted his new intimate acoustic cabaret-style piano performance, “Liberace and Me,” for a limited engagement at the Liberace Museum. “Liberace and Me,” conceived and written by Fortenberry, offers a loving respect for the spirit and legacy of Liberace and the impact he had in Fortenberry’s life and career. Fortenberry opens his engaging performance with Liberace’s signature arrangement of “Chopsticks,” while seated at Mr. Showmanship’s own nine-foot Concert Grand Baldwin. Click to Read The Full Story …

Frank Caliendo Performs His Hilarious Stand-Up At Treasure Island Friday, November 28 – Comedian, impressionist and actor Frank Caliendo will perform his stand-up comedy routine Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. (Tickets) Star of “Frank TV,” Caliendo will perform a one-night only engagement inside the Treasure Island Theatre. In 2007, Caliendo created “Frank TV,” a comedy based on his impressions of famous personalities such as Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, Al Pacino, John Madden and George W. Bush. The side-splitting show is an extension of his popular sketch comedy routine. Click to Read The Full Story …

Do Si Don’t Miss the 22nd Annual Downtown Hoedown at Fremont Street Experience – The Fremont Street Experience is going country for the kickoff party for the National Finals Rodeo (Tickets) on Wednesday, December 3. The stompin’ shindig will feature free live concerts and plenty of two-steppin’ fun. The 22nd Annual Downtown Hoedown brings a rollicking entertainment lineup to Fremont Street with top country music talents Lady Antebellum, Heidi Newfield, The Road Hammers and Mark Chesnutt.The performance schedule is as follows: 1st Street Stage * Lady Antebellum, 6-8 p.m. * Heidi Newfield, 9-11p.m. 3rd Street Stage * The Road Hammers, 6-8 p.m. * Mark Chesnutt, 9-11 p.m. Click to Read The Full Story …

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Celebrates Expansion Milestone With Topping Off Ceremony For New North Tower – The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino hosted its topping-off ceremony for the new North Tower Friday, Oct. 24. A crane lifted the traditional evergreen tree and American flag to the top of the structure as hundreds of team members, executives and construction workers looked on “This is a monumental occasion for the Hard Rock, and we are very pleased to celebrate this expansion milestone,” said Yale Rowe, senior vice president and general manager of operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “We have great faith in the resiliency of Las Vegas and while much of our attention is focused on current market conditions, we continue to position the Hard Rock for the future. We are fortunate to be well-funded with partners who have not wavered in their commitment to the redevelopment of the Hard Rock.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hang tough… we know that many of you love this section where I answer readers questions and give my personal advice and insight as only a long time Las Vegas resident in my business can do!

However… I am also a working member of our AccessVegas.com team and we’ve been cooking up some great new resources. These are in beta (design not finished) for the next two weeks, but take a peek and see what you think:

  • Easy Vegas Deals – We are starting to post every deal we see or get our hands on when they happen, in real time at our new EasyVegasDeals.com blog. Food specials the hotels send us, both Vegas Strip and Locals casino deals, food, gaming, arts, events, you name it! For the most part, we are just looking to post good and interesting deals. Whether it be a blowout (dollar drinks somewhere) or a significant discount on fine dining or a fun, free event. Note: Site in beta and will not be updated daily until November 15.P.S. If you see deals we have not posted or enjoyed a great Vegas food, drink, or entertainment special on your last trip, drop us a line at allvegastv@aol.com so we can let everyone know!
  • AAA Vegas News Blog – We’ve started posting all of the casino releases and news we publish here to our new AAAVegas.com blog. This is your one-stop source for all of the Las Vegas hotel and resort news as it breaks every day! Note: Site in beta and will not be updated daily until November 15.
  • AccessVegas.com Twitter – We are joining the ranks of those with a AccessVegas.com Twitter feed. No, we aren’t going to tweet (post to Twitter) every single piece of news and deals. For that, you’ll want to subscribe to the RSS feeds of the new blogs (see above). However, we’ll be twittering the bigger, more interesting, and more special news and deals!

Don’t Know Twitter From Tweety Bird… RSS From R&B? – Have no fear. As always, ALL news, deals, and other interesting information will continue to be published in this newsletter in our More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events newsletter area (next section down in this issue).

However, we now have a way for those that want specific news delivered in specific ways to access it quicker without abandoning our core way of getting the very best Las Vegas news and deals to you on a regular basis.

As always, thank you very much for reading and telling your friends to subscribe at AccessVegas.com

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19
  • Halloween October 31

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

November 5, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – October 22, 2008

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.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Lots to get to, so we’ll dive right in:

10 Years For O – My how time flies. I can still remember my first walk through Bellagio and wondering how the new (at the time) Cirque du Soleil show O would fare. Time has given the positive verdict and we want to congratulate Cirque du Soleil’s O on ten years here in Las Vegas. Cirque du Soleil O Tickets

George Wallace Offers Early Voters Complimentary Tickets – George Wallace, headliner of Las Vegas’ “Best 10 p.m. Show,” is offering one complimentary show ticket to all patrons who present an “I Voted” sticker to the Flamingo box office. Early voters may redeem their “I Voted” sticker for a George Wallace show ticket any time between now and November 11. This offer can’t be combined with any other offer and the “I Voted” sticker must be surrendered upon receiving the complimentary show ticket. George Wallace Tickets

Don’t Forget… Last Chance To See Mamma Mia! At Mandalay Bay – Time is ticking down on the final chance to see another extraordinary long-running fixture of the Las Vegas Strip. Mamma Mia! has consistently been ranked as as a Top 10 show year after year, and there is no substitute for seeing it in Las Vegas. Do so before the curtain closes just after the end of 2008. Mamma Mia! Las Vegas Tickets

Local Housing Market – is looking to be in the tank a long time. I won’t spend a long time on it, but a little bit of new news: The highest areas of foreclosure in the Las Vegas area are in the Northwest (and far Northwest part of town in areas like Centennial Hills). Especially for those of you from out of town who are financially stable and thinking of buying a vacation home here, think twice about buying in these areas. Here’s why:

Las Vegas is really spread out. Most of the newer development (including in this area) is a long drive from The Strip. (Long time locals joke that it should be called “South Reno” as it seems like you have driven halfway to Reno to get there). What good is a dirt cheap foreclosure when you are nowhere near The Strip or the airport?

Now… if you are moving to retire or moving here with a family and don’t care about being close to business centers, the airport, or The Strip, this might be for you. New, quiet neighborhoods that are no different than living in parts of Phoenix, Albuquerque or newer areas of Southern California. For those wanting more research:

Halloween In Las Vegas Event List – As promised last issue, we have been compiling a list of Las Vegas Halloween Events. More event notices are coming in every few days, so you may want to bookmark that page, tell your friends about it, and check back often.

Help Us Help You Out – It is no secret times are tight. One of our (bigger) competitors just recently laid off 10% of their media staff. We have no such plans, but more than ever we ask for your support to keep this newsletter free and as jam-packed with information as always. Here’s how to help:

  • Many write and tell us how invaluable our advice and news was to helping plan a great Las Vegas vacation, but then mention (in the course of their email) that they booked their trip elsewhere.Please take a minute to check the rates of our travel partners Las Vegas Hotel Deals. You’ll be surprised at how low the rates are (sometimes lower than the actual hotel web page) and even if they are only a couple of dollars more a night, use them anyway. A very small price to support a sponsor when you consider the time and money our advice saves you on each trip!
  • Las Vegas’ top shows have been long-time sponsors of this newsletter. They buy space every week for those graphical ads in the upper right hand sidebar and make the investment that allows us to put out a great publication at no cost to you. Click thorough to the sites of each of these great shows and explore the idea of seeing them!
  • Help us spread the word that people can sign up for our newsletter (top of our main page AccessVegas.com)! Many of you participate/post to various message boards, travel boards and internet discussion groups. Make a post about us!Also, o you read (or subscribe to) any travel publications? How about a quick email to their editor, letting them know about this newsletter? Many of them would also appreciate subscribing (and in turn telling their readers) because of the wealth of Las Vegas travel news resources we put into each issue.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $39, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $35, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $42, Sam’s Town from $36, Sun Coast from $58, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Mandalay Bay And The Mirage To Host Closed Circuit Viewing For De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao – “The Dream Match” – Mandalay Bay and The Mirage will host closed circuit viewing in conjunction with the upcoming “Dream Match” between the ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. (Tickets) The championship card, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, will be distributed by HBO-Pay-Per-View and the live telecast will begin at 6 p.m. PST. Circus Circus, TI, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Luxor and New York-New York will host a limited number of closed circuit seats. Tickets for the fight sold out in one day and established a live gate of nearly $17 million. Click to Read The Full Story …

Usher To Perform At The Pearl Concert Theater On November 21 – R&B sensation Usher makes a stop in Las Vegas and is set to perform at The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 9:00 p.m. (Tickets) After being signed by legendary L.A. Reid at the young age of 14, Usher Raymond, released his debut album Usher in 1994. His first single, “Think of You” reached the top of the charts and paved his way to be known simply as Usher and make his mark on the R&B charts. Click to Read The Full Story …

Lance Burton Taps Keg At Hofbrauhaus In Honor Of Oktoberfest – Master Magician Lance Burtoná(Tickets) was honored by tapping the keg at the Hofbrauhaus Sunday night (Oct. 5). This is the fifth year in a row he has tapped the keg at Las Vegas’ landmark German restaurant the Hofbrauhaus. Next to the Christmas tree, Oktoberfest is the most popular German custom that Germany has ever exported to the rest of the world. Click to Read The Full Story …

The Smashing Pumpkins Reunion Tour Stops In Las Vegas At The Pearl At The Palms November 29 – Celebrating their 20th Anniversary Tour, The Smashing Pumpkins make their way to The Pearl at the Palms on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. (Tickets) The Smashing Pumpkins – one of rock’s most forward-thinking, influential, and often misunderstood musical forces – commence their North American “20th Anniversary Tour” November 1. Click to Read The Full Story …

American Superstars Show at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower to Host Limited Engagement Celine Dion Tribute – The American Superstars show at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower (Tickets) will add Elisa Furr as Celine Dion for a special limited engagement through October 27, 2008, announced American Casino & Entertainment Properties officials. ôOur Christina Aguilera tribute artist is taking a break, and we needed a high caliber replacement. Celine Dion is a musical icon with a voice like no other, the adoration of fans worldwide, and a recent record run here in Vegas. We are pleased to welcome the talented Elisa Furr and her amazing tribute to Celine Dion,ö said Mark Callas, who produces American Superstars with his Springtime Productions partner, Donny Moore. Click to Read The Full Story …

Minus 5 Experience Opens First Permanent Ice Lounge in the United States – The first permanent ice lounge in the United States has opened at Mandalay Place, adjacent to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The 2,000 sq. ft. Minus 5 Experience welcomed its very first patrons with an “Elvis sighting,” an unveiling of a life-sized ice Elvis, complete with signature pompadour, glasses, side-burns, and guitar. On a day when the temperature topped 90 degrees in Las Vegas, the inside of the newly opened Minus 5 ice lounge pushed the mercury to a frigid 23 degrees Fahrenheit, or, true to its name “minus 5” Celsius. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own “Vegas Vic” in the seventh of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High (broadband)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

What happened to coffee pots in the rooms? We just visited Vegas within the last two weeks and were surprised to find the was no coffee in our room (unless of course we wanted to order through room service). My wife does not do well without her coffee the first shot out of the cannon. Then we find we can get coffee at the restaurants at the casinos ($3.00 a cup).

Where we were staying we knew we could get a complimentary cup as long as we were gambling, which is what we did. This brings up another story, it seems that where we were staying you could only get one drink at a time, and could not have two containers in front of you at one time. BOOZE i understand, BUT COFFEE?????????

Other than that had a fine time. this was our 9th trip in 12 years and we watch buildings, casinos and coffee go up toward the sky!!!!!!!

T. Dede

Ted Responds:

Excellent question. I remember some years ago (this goes way back) when The Rio removed coffee from the rooms because the health department dictated that the maids didn’t have the proper facilities to wash the coffee pot. Some hotels simply replace the pot with a clean one, others may have arranged to have them properlyácleaned by the maids.

Per getting it from a cocktail waitress, she might have been under the gun to follow ever-more-strict rules. You could try tipping her a little more and seeing if she can hustle for more. However… another option that maybe no one thinks about: There are a number of Walgreens/CVS type stores along The Strip. Stop in and BUY a $10 coffee maker and a $5 can of coffee. You now have coffee in your room for your entire stay, anytime of the day, for the price of what you’d otherwise probably spend on it in a single day. (This is a great tip for bottled water also).

As in-depth as we know Las Vegas, our one weakness may be that we actually do live here, so we rarely get a room. So I toss this out to the readers:

If you can think back to your most recent (or even past few) trips, where did you stay and did the room have a coffee pot in it? Email news editor Mark Jacobs at mark@accessvegas.com and he’ll compile a list!

I have read that you have to wait on line for an hour or more for the seafood buffet before being seated. I & my party of 4 arrive in Vegas on Oct. 26, & planned on going to this buffet for dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 29th. Does waits of an hour or more still apply.

Thank you!

Hap Fairman

Ted Responds:

Hap is already going to be in town by the time this comes out, but I did fire him the following note:

Wait lines depend on buffet, time of day, and day or week. If you really want to check out a certain buffet, go Sunday through Thursday and arrive within 30 minutes after the dinner buffet hours start or wait until about an hour before the buffet closes for the evening to avoid the longest lines.

Hi Ted,

I’ve been an avid reader of your e-letters since our first-ever trip to Las Vegas in May of 2007. We had such a fantastic time seeing all the glitz of downtown, the strip, with the entertainment, and the food, etc. We enjoyed it so much that we couldn’t wait to come back again for a second trip this September, 2008!

With your e-letters and a bit of research on my own.. I’ve learned that deals CAN be found… for hotels, entertainment, and dining… as long as you’re looking in the right places. You have to pre-plan you trip.. decide what you want to do.. how much you can afford to spend… for the length of your stay. Your e-letters helped me greatly with those plans… and I thank you.

I’m concerned with all the talks about on the downturns of Vegas. The economy has hurt many communities from coast to coast in the United States… and Las Vegas is not immune to those downturns. Just the reports on the housing market in the entire state of Nevada alone can make that point. With the cutbacks (in various areas) at some of the casino’s — how has that effected the Vegas visitors gambling experiences? Are the casino’s paying out at all these days?

We were lucky to win $800 on a 5 cents slot machine (at maximum bid … of course) at Sahara on the very first day of our May 2007 trip. We used that winning money towards our other gambling times during the entire week we stayed. In between our shows and sight seeing and dining… we like to gamble a little (it IS Vegas after all)… but we’re not liking the idea of throwing our money away on slots if the machines are hardly “loose” because of the Casino revenue issues. What’s your take on the subject?

Patrick Magee from Upstate New York

Ted Responds:

The downturn in the housing market here has nothing to do with tourism. Too many people moved here and wanted to live the Las Vegas lifestyle without a clue as to how they were going to pay for it. All their friends were getting houses and they wanted one. Add to that the (unfortunate) number of people who bought vacation homes thinking it was a good investment plus the downturn in residential home building, and you had a recipe for disaster.

The condo situation didn’t help. For the most part, only a moron would think that a numerous high-rise condos would work in a city where you can get a 3000 square foot house with a yard and a pool for the price of a 1000 square foot condo. Even Trump Tower here seems to be selling poorly.

The general consensus is that the casinos have tightened slots and table game rules to the point that it is driving away gamblers. People are choosing to see a couple of shows and have some fine dining experiences instead of the disappointment that quick gambling losses seem to bring.

You’ll be able to tell friends and family about seeing Phantom or Mamma Mia for years to come. Similar with what a great meal you had at a celebrity chef or other amazing restaurant. A much better investment then dropping the same amount of cash in a short time at the casino.

We usually get plenty of reader feedback about any problems or changes from previous visits and we haven’t heard much about levels of customer service yet (which means it may not be a problem). If we start hearing about it, we’ll report is as always. The letters that end up here represent what many of our readers are saying!

At your urging, we ventured downtown for the first time. We had this image of seedy, dingy and unsafe. Wow, were we wrong. The atmosphere was delightfully upbeat, day and night, and we never felt unsafe.

We frequented several casinos, restaurants and attractions. Next trip we will skip the Strip altogether! I’ve passed your website onto many people who wonder how we get such great deals. Love the newsletter. Thank you so much.

Tina from New York

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

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

October 22, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – October 15, 2008

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.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! What a strange week it has been. The weekend of October 11-12 brought record cool temperatures (highs in the 60’s F). Things have rebounded nicely, but the sun is down around 6 PM and the evenings are cooling off quickly.

Las Vegas Bikefest Photos – We have the rest of the Bikefest photos from the downtown Las Vegas event a couple of weeks ago. Important: None contain anything you won’t see on basic (U.S.) cable TV but they might not be considered safe for work. Click on a photo to see the associated gallery:

2008 Las Vegas Bikefest Fremont Street Exhibit
2008 Las Vegas Bikefest Fremont Street Exhibit

las vegas bikefest bikini contest
Las Vegas Bikefest 2008 Bikini Contest

las vegas bikefest custom choppers
Las Vegas Bikefest 2008 Custom Chopper Convention

las vegas bikefest bikini contest
2008 Miss Las Vegas Bikefest Contest

As noted last week, if bikes or girls aren’t your cup of tea, have no fear. Coming issues will debut new photo galleries and updates on some of the great Las Vegas Strip hotels and casinos plus a new Bellagio Gardens photo set! And don’t forget, below each and every photo in our vast Las Vegas Photo Gallery is a “send to a friend” link.

At Tale Of Two Plazas – A local jury has decided that the hotel that may (or may not) end up being constructed on the site of the old Frontier Hotel can use the name The Plaza. This despite the fact that downtown Las Vegas has had a hotel named Plaza since the 1970’s. This because the company building the new hotel here owns New York City’s Plaza hotel, which has a 100 year history.

What a huge mistake that would be! Look… I love the downtown Plaza hotel. I’ve easily visited it hundreds of times in my 15 years here in town. When I lived closer to downtown, I’d head down to Fremont Street 6-7 times per month, parking at The Plaza and stopping for a libation and a few hands of video poker before heading out to unwind, people watch, and grab something to eat. However, let’s not mince words: The downtown Plaza isn’t a luxury resort.

The New York City Plaza is known for being the crÞme de la crÞme. Top notch all the way. However, I’ll bet you that over 95% of Las Vegas visitors aren’t remotely familiar with it. The risk is that when people hear the name Las Vegas Plaza, they will associate it with the more modest downtown property. Visitors who visit downtown will tell friends “We went to the Plaza, it was nothing special.”

An analogy: Lexus isn’t about to come out with a car model called Kia. Nothing wrong with a Kia (Kia owners are laughing with every gas station they pass), but it isn’t a Lexus in terms of luxury. Nothing wrong with the downtown Plaza, but risking association with it when you are going to attempt to build a world-class hotel is simply an error.

Dive-In Movies On The Beach Canceled – The 2008 Dive-In Movies at Mandalay Bay Beach, previously scheduled for Friday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 31, have been canceled. No reason was given.

Halloween In Las Vegas Event List – As promised last issue, we have started compiling a list of Las Vegas Halloween Events. More event notices are coming in every few days, so you may want to bookmark that page, tell your friends about it, and check back often.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $40, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $35, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $50, Sam’s Town from $35, Sun Coast from $60, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Paris Las Vegas to host 2nd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration – Following last yearÆs inaugural celebration, Paris Las Vegas is proud to announce its 2nd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration set to kick-off at 12:01 Thursday, November 20, 2008.

Honoring the long tradition regulated by French law, Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine made from Gamay grapes in the Beaujolais region of France, is released no sooner than the third Thursday of November, when it is ready for consumption just six weeks after the harvest. Thus, at one minute past midnight, huge celebrations are held all over the world to taste the latest wine. More than 65 million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau will be consumed in the months to follow.Click to Read The Full Story …

Relax, Unwind, Save a Dime – Did you know that access to some of The StripÆs coolest nightspots is complimentary to guests? HereÆs where you can get down without needing to ante up:

  • Boasting one of the best views of The Strip, miX Lounge at THEhotel (Mandalay Bay) offers guests the chance to dance the night away, 64 floors above it all. Featuring mod leather furnishings and ruby-red lighting, miX Lounge pairs a pulsating nightlife experience with stunning views of Las Vegas. Come early to the party, though. Complimentary admission ends at 10 p.m.
  • With the intimate feel of a neighborhood bar, Mist at Treasure Island is a unique alternative to the Las Vegas party scene. Offering complimentary admission all night long, this hip bar and lounge attracts a lively mix of guests seeking a stylish, yet casual escape.
  • Caramel at Bellagio infuses a relaxing ambiance with the best aspects of a high-energy club. Providing plenty of comfortable seating, this sleek ultra-lounge is the ideal starting point for a night on the town or the perfect setting for an after-show nightcap. Entry is complimentary to all.
  • At Mandalay Bay, the House of Blues features jammin’ live music by some of Las Vegas’ hottest acts. Free entertainment includes Rock Star Karaoke, inviting guests to unleash their inner rock star every Monday night; Nothing but the Blues, featuring local and national blues bands every Wednesday evening; and Acoustic Strip, showcasing unsigned bands and solo artists every Thursday after dark.

PT’s And Sierra Gold Celebrate Halloween By Hosting The 2nd Annual Wicked Costume Contest – PT’s and Sierra Gold invite all ghosts, goblins and zombies to join them as they host a wicked costume contest Friday, Oct. 31, with the showdown beginning at 7pm. One winner from each of the 36 tavern locations will be awarded $100 cash. In addition, guests can participate in games for other great prizes. Guests who arrive in their costumes will receive their first drink complimentary. PT’s and Sierra Gold are also offering Bud, Bud Light and Bacardi specials. Click to Read The Full Story …

Roster Of Chefs Announced At Encore – December 2008 marks the debut of Encore, the new signature resort in the Wynn collection. Adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas, Encore upholds its sister hotel’s mantra: the chefs have moved to Las Vegas and will be cooking in their new kitchens each night. All respected and nationally acclaimed talents in their own right, each Encore chef joins Wynn’s already formidable collection of award-winning restaurants.

Joining the team are Theo Schoenegger, of four-star Patina in Los Angeles; Jet Tila, a nationally recognized chef and expert in Asian cuisine; Marc Poidevin, formerly executive chef of Le Cirque at the Bellagio and most recently Wynn’s executive chef of catering and special events; Mark LoRusso, previously the executive chef of Tableau at the Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas; and Kim Canteenwalla, who worked with Mr. Wynn at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi and has consulted on such projects at Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach and One&Only Palmilla. Click to Read The Full Story…

Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois Pleases the Palate with the 15-Layer Mocha Cake – The perfect way to finish any meal is to savor in a mouth-watering dessert, and Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois is luring in guests with its 15-Layer Mocha Cake. The flourless chocolate cake offers a sweet crunch with its candied hazelnuts and is complemented with vanilla ice cream, creating the perfect marriage. The 15-Layer Chocolate Cake is available for $15 at Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois located the Forum Shops at Caesars. Click to Read The Full Story …

Destination Weddings Destined To Be Remembered Forever – Destination weddings are more popular than ever with getaway ceremonies up 400 percent in the last two years alone. The following resorts offer unique weddings for every taste and, now, brides and grooms can tie the knot in three new ways:

  • At Mandalay Bay, engaged couples are invited to say “I do” in the luxurious Villas Soleil of Mandalay Bay Beach. The “Sun Villa” Package features a 15-minute ceremony and full use of the indulgent cabana for the rest of the day including a $200 food and beverage credit. Additional amenities include Coconut CrÞme Pedicures at Spa Mandalay for the happy couple, a large bouquet for the bride, a boutonniÞre for the groom, one night in a honeymoon suite and a DVD of the ceremony.Couples also receive twelve 4×6 photographs presented in a beautiful album as well as two 8×10 and six 5×7 images. Priced at $4,350, the Sun Villa Package is available Sunday through Thursday only. Guests are limited to a maximum of 25 attendees. Each must be 21 years of age or older. For reservations, contact THEwedding chapel at Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7701
  • The hotel that introduced the concept of the destination resort to Las Vegas invites guests to wed amidst its lush tropical beauty. The new wedding packages of The Mirage û “Simply Elegant,” “Exotic Delights” and “The Sophisticate” û offer romantic ceremonies in a stunning poolside location or within a private indoor venue. Priced at $1,900, $1,950 and $2,100 respectively, packages offer brides three distinct styles of spectacular floral arrangements.An officiant, bouquet for the bride and boutonniere for the groom also are included. The talented chefs of The Mirage also are available to create delectable menus and wedding cakes for the perfect reception bash. For reservations, contact Chantay Sandoval in The Mirage Banquet Services Department at (800) 939-9389
  • The “Wedding a la Carte” Menu at Treasure Island offers couples a budget-friendly way to personalize their ceremony. Starting at just $200 for a 15-minute union complete with a non-denominational minister and traditional music, the “Wedding a la Carte” menu features a variety of options to create a customizable experience. Couples looking for a traditional wedding with keepsakes, bridal bouquet and a DVD of the ceremony will be just as satisfied as those seeking a more luxurious package with his and her robes, a bottle of bubbly and a suite in which to celebrate. For reservations, contact The Wedding Chapels at Treasure Island at (888) 818-0999.

Las Vegas Native Nascar Driver Kurt Busch Charity Poker Tournament Recap – Last night poker players and NASCAR fans alike packed Sierra Gold ultra-tavern on S. Jones Blvd to participate in The Kurt Busch Charity Poker Tournament. Over $25,000 was raised to benefit The Kurt Busch Foundation. The tournament was organized to raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness. Guests included Kurt Busch; Lon Kruger, UNLV Men’s Basketball Head Coach; Al Unser Jr., two-time Indianapolis 500 Champion; George Maloof, owner of The Palms Casino Resort; and Blake Sartini, CEO and owner of Golden Gaming. Click to Read The Full Story…

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Amy unfortunately had to take the week off to fly home and visit two very ill family members. We wish all involved the best and they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Mark and I covered the great work Amy does that makes this newsletter what it is. However, time didn’t permit me to prepare this section this week. Readers comments and questions (and my answers) should return next issue.

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

October 15, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – October 8, 2008

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.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! I swear that I was starting to wonder if we’d ever get this issue out. Every time we got ready to send, more stuff kept flowing in. Photos, news, events… just keep reading!

Last Chance To See Mamma Mia! In Las Vegas – Mamma Mia! closes its amazing run at Mandalay Bay on January 4, 2009. Although I’m going on 16 years as a Las Vegas resident, it is almost hard to remember when Mamma Mia! wasn’t a part of the landscape here. Year after year, it gained raves and often landed on “Top 10 Shows In Las Vegas” lists.

The replacement? No, not another Cirque show (an idea reported to be proposed and rejected). Disney’s The Lion King is shooting for a late Spring 2009 opening. Years ago, Disney resisted being associated with Las Vegas, but no longer holds this concern. The irony? Las Vegas marketed itself as a family destination in the 90’s and now is aáWhat Happens Here, Stays Here getaway. Lion King tickets are not yet on sale. Of course we’ll let you know when available, don’t we always! In the meantime, I strongly suggest seeing Mamma Mia! before it is gone.

If you’ve been, you know how fun it is. If not yet seen, you are in for a treat. This show garners raves from all ages and demographics.

Click for Mamma Mia! Las Vegas Tickets

Wynn Shoots An Encore – Many of you may remember the original Wynn Las Vegas commercial featuring Steve Wynn high atop his new hotel. (We have it archived here:Wynn Las Vegas Commercial). This past week, he climbed high atop his Encore tower to shoot an “encore” to the original. Although details are under wraps, it is said to have Wynn’s typical sense of humor. No word on when it will debut.

More Families In Las Vegas? – If you are seeing more families here on your Vegas visit, don’t think that a “family oriented” Las Vegas is on the return. International tourism is way up (because of our weak dollar). The United States is an affordable family vacation for many in Europe. They’ll spend a couple of weeks here in our country, seeing San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and similar. Given Europe’s comfort level with the human form, I doubt they consider bare behind billboards too risque for their kids:

Mob Museum… What Museum – The long talked about Mob Museum (actually the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement) is just about under construction and should be done by 2010. The location? Next to the Lady Luck Downtown. (Please don’t write and ask what is up with the Lady Luck. If we knew, I’d let you know. Last news as we reported here was that nothing would happen until the economy turned around, and yes… it is a shame they closed it. Same with Stardust. We lost a couple of fun pieces of history for no apparent reason at all at this time).

Anyway, back to the Mob Museum. The marketing campaign will focus around a pretend secrecy and t-shirts have already been printed that say “There Is No Such Thing As A Mob Museum, Nor Have I Been There.” More on this story: Construction planned on a museum you can’t refuse

Nevada’s Recession – Unemployment here looks to stick at around 9% for the next two years, according to a recent Review-Journal article. That is not a typo. Almost 1 out of 10 people out of work. What does that mean for the visitor? Maybe not much. Tourism volume is staying pretty steady and although rumors of hotel layoffs continue to circulate, they can only cut so much staff. Rooms have to be cleaned and food has to be cooked.

Many read the “terrible” economic numbers for Nevada and fail to realize that our recession is affecting the 500,000 or so people who have moved here the past decade and don’t work in a gaming associated business. Construction is way down (both residential and commercial) and the domino affect has hit the “other” (non-tourist) sectors. We don’t need as many strip mall type of businesses.

My prediction? Unemployment won’t stay that high through 2010 but the housing market will actually get worse next year. Why? The same people who picked up and moved here will pick up and move away just as quickly. This will keep the local housing market depressed but ease unemployment. A great situation if you are moving here to retire (or want to purchase a vacation home/condo) in the next couple of years.

Bikefest Roared Through Town – Fall brings Bikefest to downtown Las Vegas and this year’s event was as big as ever. Mark went on a three day assignment shooting choppers, crowds, bands, bikinis and everything else associated. We’ll feature event photos in following newsletters (always stay subscribed, even when your trip is over). The event kickoff was at Hogs and Heifers Saloon downtown. Click the photos for entire photo set:

bikefest las vegas 2008

bikefest las vegas 2008 bar girls

Bikes, babes and bands not your thing? Stay tuned as future weeks will bring new casino photo features plus the latest Bellagio Gardens display.

Halloween In Las Vegas – Coming next issue. Also, a belated happy Thanksgiving to our many Canadian readers.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

CityCenter To Deliver Most Technologically Advanced Hotels In U.S. When It Opens In Late 2009 – ARIA Resort & Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and The Harmon Will Be First in Country to Debut Unrivaled Custom Automation by Control4 Providing Guest Experience Unparalleled in Hospitality Industry. Upon opening in late 2009, CityCenter will debut the most advanced guestroom technology in the country at ARIA Resort & Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and The Harmon Hotel, Spa & Residences. Click to Read The Full Story …

The M Resort, Spa And Casino Debuts Its Latest Innovation – The M Lightship – All eyes were toward the Las Vegas sky yesterday evening as the $1 billion M Resort, Spa and Casino debuted its 178 foot M Lightship û the resort’s electronic blimp with the world’s largest 70′ x 30′ aerial television screen on the side. The M Lightship will be the only airship in the world offering the public a close-up, hands-on experience. The resort intends to create a center, which will provide information about the Lightship as well as offer the public a chance to meet the captain and crew, take photos and obtain Lightship souvenirs. Click to Read The Full Story …

Special Photo Set: M Resort Blimp and South Las Vegas At Sunset

Wynn Las Vegas Hosts The Breeders’ Cup Legends Tour Featuring Jockeys Pat Day, Angel Cordero Jr. And Laffit Pincay Jr. – Wynn Las Vegas Race & Sports Book will host The Breeders’ Cup Legends Tour featuring legendary Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day, Angel Cordero Jr. and Laffit Pincay Jr. on Thursday, October 16 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, will feature a question and answer session, meet and greet and photograph opportunities. Click to Read The Full Story …

Performances of “Raw Talent Live” to Begin at the Sahara Hotel & Casino – ND, the creator, producer and director of “Raw Talent Live” has opened the doors to the highly anticipated spectacular, “Raw Talent Live” at the Sahara Hotel & Casino. (Tickets) “‘Raw Talent Live’ will be a show unlike any other on the Las Vegas Strip,” said ND. “With all of the intricacies involved in the shows development, ‘Raw Talent Live’ will pave the way for the next generation of entertainment in Las Vegas. It’s raw, obviously it does not work, dare to see the show.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $39, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $35, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $50, Sam’s Town from $35, Sun Coast from $60, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

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I am heading to VEGAS for my 14th time spending 4 nights with my boyfriend. We are thinking about seeing the show KA, renting a car for the day and probably getting to Valley of Fire (My boyfriend has been there I haven’t) taking in the pool of course. What would you say is the place to get too outside of VEGAS as a MUST SEE? I have heard great things about ZION PARK but it’s pretty far. We want to try to keep the trip under 4 hours each way if we can. Also any other must get to places?

We aren’t into the clubs I we enjoy live music fun bands. I do like HARRAH’s carnival area too however it can also get packed. Also must get to food places that don’t cost a ton?? We don’t mind buffets and we do like just about every kind of food. Keep in mind we will be at MGM Grand

Thanks,

Alisha

Ted Responds:

Everybody has different tastes, but I’ll do my best:

Everyone I know who has seen KA has really enjoyed it. Zion is too far. Valley of Fire is spectacular, about an hour away.áRed Rock Canyon is 30-40 minutes from The Strip (go mid-morning to avoid traffic). Hoover Dam is amazing. Walking across it is so cool. Carnival Court, Margaritaville (later in the evening live bands) plus the Dueling Pianos inside Harrah’s are fun/party atmosphere that isn’t a nightclub vibe.

The nicer the hotel, the more expensive the buffet. Many hotels (MGM Grand, O Sheas, Monte Carlo and many more) have food courts where you’ll find a variety of regular food chains. Since you have a car, two not-far-away places to check out:

  1. Maryland Parkway across from UNLV (1.5 miles east of The Strip) has a bunch of cool, pretty cheap restaurants and bars. You’ll find something you like.
  2. About 3 miles south of Mandalay Bay right on LV Blvd (The Strip) at Between Warm Springs and Robindale is a big restaurant row. Everything from chains like Chili’s and Chipotle to Mom and Pop type pizza and Mexican places (and tons more). Anybody can find something they like.
  3. Town Square is 5 minutes south of MGM on The Strip (just past the golf course after Mandalay Bay) with a lot of cool shops and restaurants. Blue Martini there has 1/2 off all food from 4-8 PM.

All of the above are literally less than 10 minutes from MGM Grand and #2 and #3 are actually on “The Strip” (just a little bit past the hotel areas).

This was from my Vegas trip, Wayne Newton & I August 2, 2008 at the MGM Grand after Wayne’s show! Please keep me posted on Wayne’s appearances as soon as you hear it.

Thanks!

Donna

Ted Responds:

Wayne is back working for his “old boss” (and friend) Kirk Kerkorian at the MGM Grand through the end of the year after his long run at the Stardust and (more recently) Harrah’s.

He’s also playing in Arizona, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan during November. For dates and tickets: Wayne Newton Tickets

Just wanted to drop a line, first off to thank you for the newsletter and secondly to comment on my recent stay in Vegas (August 8-10).

I am a Canadian who makes the trip at least once a year. Having been in Vegas in June of last year I knew what to expect regarding cost of eating and gambling not being quite the same as previous years… nonetheless… we decided to try it again because lets face it… you gotta love Vegas!! We (me, my husband and a friend) were so disappointed. We stayed at the Imperial Palace (because we were comped) and lets face it…its run down and grungy. The slots at all the strip casinos we went into were so tight… we lost a bundle!!!

But I must say we did get good bar service pretty much everywhere which was nice. We took your advice and went downtown (I really love the atmosphere there anyways!). Had a better time there for sure but still didn’t feel like we were having as much fun as we used to! We did, however, see Jerry Seinfeld while there and boy what a good time we had so all was not lost. Next time we go back we will be staying downtown…enough of the high fallutin’ hotels on the strip… we want to stay where we feel the old Vegas is alive and well.

Barb from Sherwood Park AB Canada

Ted Responds:

Thanks for the report. I’ll speak more on this in a future issue, but gaming executives think that “fun” means playing blackjack where there is an Elvis impersonator dealing the cards, or “fun” is one of the new slot games that nobody even understands.

They forgot that the FUN was playing (and maybe the free cocktails) for a few hours a day. It was the experience of Las Vegas and gambling. The casinos always knew they would usually get your money at the end of the day. By letting people win some, the played longer and were actually prone to losing a little more money. If you’ve been up-and-down, you’ll put in more hoping for another run of luck. If a machine just sucks down your money, you close your purse or wallet and walk.

In previous recessions, people still came and gambled. The downturn in Las Vegas gaming wins isn’t because people are gambling more at Indian casinos. If that were the case, visitor volume would be down substantially. The bottom line is that until people are able to get back to experiencing the true fun of gambling (winning once in a while, getting on an occasional hot streak), the hotels only have themselves to blame. Spend your money on a couple of good shows and an amazing meal or two instead. Much more bang for the buck.

Thanks for reading and telling friends to subscribe!

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

October 8, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – September 24, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Highs in the 90’s (F) and lows around 70 make this time of year oh-so-perfect. If you are starting to feel a chill in the air where you live, you may want to plan a Las Vegas getaway in October while we still have pool weather.

Can You “Believe” That Criss Angel’s Show Is Actually Going To Start? – After numerous start dates being pushed back, it actually looks like Criss Angel: Believe is ready to launch at The Luxor. We have tickets available starting for October 3, 2008 – Criss Angel: Believe Tickets. This is probably the most anticipated show opening in some time given the soft economy and flat visitor volume. We’ll let you know how early reviews go and have one of our writers report on it once the show is in full swing.

If You Haven’t Been To The El Cortez Lately – Then you really have not been to the El Cortez. We were pretty blown away by a recent visit. This once somewhat run-down hotel has been improved and returned to all the glory it once held. Worth checking out when you are downtown and a decent place to stay for the money. My tip? Try Roberta’s Cafe for dinner. Upscale dining steak and seafood style atmosphere but served with “old school” reasonable Las Vegas prices.


Click either photo for complete El Cortez photo set

Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Continue Seeking Applicants – (from Wynn Las Vegas) Despite the escalating unemployment rate in Nevada and nationally, Wynn continues to accept applications for 5,300 newly created job opportunities, as it prepares to unveil Encore, the new signature resort in the Wynn collection. Wynn and Encore began accepting applications in July and have already received more than 65,000 job inquiries.á

SaysáStephanie Rosol of Wynn Las Vegas. “…we are still looking for people who share our dedication to excellence and passion for impeccable, personalized service. These openings present an opportunity to join the only Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, Michelin Five Red Pavilions award-winning team in Las Vegas. Candidates should apply directly online at http://www.wynnjobs.com

M Resort Also Hiring – for their new resort to open in South Las Vegas. Property officials at the M Resort, Spa and Casino announced the resortÆs campaign to recruit up to 2,000 new team members for the $1 billion project scheduled to open March, 2009 on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online today at www.theMresort.com

Possibly The Best $19.78 Burger You Will Enjoy – The $19.78 Morton’s and Make-A-Wish Prime Sirloin Burger is being offered on Sundays through November at Morton’s (400 East Flamingo, less than a mile from The Strip). Guests can indulge in the juicy burger with fries, while helping children at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Morton’s is donating $5 from each Prime Sirloin Burger entrÚe sold to the Foundation. Available from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays through November.

Call Morton’s at (702) 893-0703 for questions or directions. My take? With Las Vegas being he new center of gourmet burgers (Burger Bar, BLT, etc) this is an amazing chance to sample this otherwise very expensive (and worth it) prime rib house while enjoying doing something good for others.

Las Vegas Real Estate Free Fall – Plans for new home developments are being mothballed just as quickly as plans for new Strip resorts. Just a couple of years ago, it looked like the Las Vegas area would sprawl like Southern California to new communities 1-2 hours from town, and small amounts of developable land (land not owned by the federal government) around the edges of Las Vegas would blossom with new homes.á

All bets are off and new home sales are way down (partially as people discover that for the same price as a new home, they can buy in an established Las Vegas neighborhood and get a much bigger lot, a real yard, and be closer to work and play). Related articles:

Church In Sin City – For years (perhaps decades), the myth that Las Vegas has more churches per capita than any other U.S. city has made the rounds (and was debunked a number of years ago).á

However, if you want to see how they do church in Las Vegas, one of the areas biggest churches is now holding virtual services for a worldwide audience. This is more than just a podcast: Services start at set times throughout the weekend to accommodate worldwide time zones and you can (if you wish) engage in pre- and post-service chat rooms and other social networking opportunities. More at http://www.centralonlinecampus.com

á

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

á

Dick’s Las Resort Brews Beer Pong – The Wackiest Joint on The Strip Puts a Silly Spin on Drinking Sport. Dick’s Last Resort invites you to test your skills at Bar Pong, the restaurant’s very own rowdy rendition of the popular past time that is beer pong. With Dick’s entertainer extraordinaire Taco acting as the rambunctious referee, the game has never been this fun. A touch of truth or dare is tossed in to add a twist as missed shots result in kooky challenges that will have everyone laughing. Whether flying solo or with friends, pick one of Dick’s 18 draft beers and join in the everlasting excitement where everyone is a winner.

Stagecoach Depot’s Haunted Corn Maze Opens Friday, Oct. 3rd In Glendale – Nevada’s largest Halloween festivity features a humongous corn maze in the crop circle style of a fire truck and it runs from Friday, Oct. 3-31 and ends with a barbecue and entertainment. The admission prices are $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under includes entrance to the haunted corn maze. On Oct. 3 there will be an outdoor bar and “Rock Star Karaoke” by Myke and Miranda. The band Evenflow will play on Halloween night. Bring a can of food to donate to the poor and receive a dollar off admission prices. The drama department of the local high school will play the spooks. Click to Read The Full Story …

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $45, Fremont from $38, Gold Coast from $33, Main Street from $38, Orleans from $45, Sam’s Town from $29, Sun Coast from $50, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hi Ted,

We recently took both our daughter (25) and son (22)and their partners to visit Las Vegas after spending 4 days at San Francisco. We all loved San Francisco! But all loved Vegas as well! If I sound surprised, I am I was not sure they would see why we keep coming back.

We have been yearly for the last 4 years and this year came in February as well as July. They said it was like being in a nightclub for a week!!

We have stayed at the Luxor every time but its looking a little scruffy now. I know that there is a lot of construction work going on inside but its dirty and not too mention smoky inside the pyramid.

We are staying next, at The Planet Hollywood. We seem to spend a lot of our time in there and it will be nice to stay somewhere that is finished!!! Not to mention the beer in Sin City brewery is the best!!!!

Love the news letter and read it avidly every week!á

Best wishes, Kim and Glyn from Somerset England

á

Ted Responds:

Thanks for the great note! Hitting Las Vegas plus another U.S. city is a popular thing to do for those of you who have to come so far to visit us.

It is interesting how most people (even those who don’t see themselves as a Vegas type of person) end up enjoying their visit here. It is like the worlds biggest indoor/outdoor nightclub for those who wish do live up the nightlife. Others prefer to be up at the crack of dawn (when it is cooler in the summer) for golf or a tour or just to see what all the casinos look like.

The Luxor is being remodeled one piece at a time, and it creates a strange mix. We’ll be over to check out the progress soon as we hear things are really shaping up.

Thanks for the great note and for being a regular reader. Glad you enjoyed your trip and please do remember to tell others who are thinking about visiting (or who come here already) to subscribe as well.

Hi, we usually stay at Sunset Station 2 times a year when we come out but no longer will. The place needs upgrades badly and now charging for drinks at the bar when gambling. What a ripoff, the bartender told us this was managements new policy to save money. The bartender said all his regulars have left there and now go somewhere else to play there money.á

They lost the whole family of 8 of us of ever returning there, poor management is the answer. Fuck them and there comps.á

Bob from Florida

á

Ted Responds:

I hear you. The worst thing you can do is be loyal to one place no matter what. Take your business to a place that wants it!

Next time in town, perhaps stay downtown, rent a car, and check out some non-Station/Fiesta properties. South Point is really nice (and new). Arizona Charlie’s on Boulder isn’t bad. Orleans and Gold Coast are worth a try and close to The Strip.

I just came back from a second stay in Las Vegas and loved it once again! It is truly a unique vacation destination. I enjoying reading your column and I just have a question.á

Since Las Vegas is such a wonderful place to visit and family friendly, why is it that there are so many solicitors of prostitutes all along the strip. I know that prostitution is legal, but really, do they need to have hundreds of people lined up everywhere where you see people with small children and strollers and happy couples walking along the streets. All this does is bother people and create a lot of unnecessary pollution on the streets as most of those papers and cards just end up on the ground.á

I truly loved each visit to Las Vegas because of all the wonderful sights to see, shows, excellent food and service in the hotels and the surrounding natural beauty of the terrain, however I am curious to know if there has ever been any thought to just creating a red light district so that all those hustlers on the streets could be confined to one particular area where people in search of those services could go there directly rather than being such a nuisance to an otherwise wonderful place.á

I will certainly go back to Vegas again and keep up to date with your column but I was just really wondering if this point has ever been discussed with any of the city’s leaders or councilmen. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or info on the subject. Thank you.á

Sincerely, Angela Salera

á

Ted Responds:

Prostitution is actually illegal in Clark County (the county that Las Vegas is in). It is legal in neighboring counties some 60-80 miles from Las Vegas. A couple of years ago, Mayor Oscar Goodman floated the thought of an actual red light district, but nothing has come of it.

The ACLU has fought for the rights of them to hand out what they want. It is a freedom of speech issue, in the same way you could hand out religious information if you wanted. Believe me, every trick in the book to get rid of them has been tried, including the thought of giving the sidewalks to the casinos (which would make them private property) but that was ruled not legal.

Las Vegas is no longer a family-friendly destination and has not marketed itself as such since the 90’s. The “What happens here…” ad campaign was part of dispelling that. However, I’m an adult and would prefer not to have to deal with the solicitors.

Thanks for reading and please telling your friends!

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

September 24, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – September 17, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Appreciate the notes regarding me missing last issue for medical reasons. I’m on the mend (knock on wood) and looking forward to getting back to work on a regular basis.

Wayne Newton Returns With New Las Vegas Dates – Wayne Newton adds October 16 û 22 and November 13 û 19 dates to his performance schedule at the Hollywood Theatre inside MGM Grand. Show time is 8:30 p.m. nightly. My advice? If you are going to be in town, see the show.á

Sure… his voice isn’t what it used to be. But he’s still the consummate showman, performs with a full band, and one of the few ties to the glamor and “Rat Pack” days of Las Vegas. He’s going strong after a health scare last year and we wish him many years of health, but he’s not going to be performing forever. Click for Wayne Newton Tickets (Las Vegas and other cities).

MGM CityCenter Continues To Draw Interest – We keep getting questions about CityCenter and visitors continue to marvel at how fast it is rising on the Las Vegas Strip. For new readers (or those who missed it last time), here’s some of the basics from developer MGM Grand:

ARIA Resort & Casino will be the spectacular gaming resort that will form the core of CityCenter, a more than $8 billion dazzling vertical city currently underway on the Las Vegas Strip next to Bellagio. Opening in late 2009, ARIA will deliver an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service and spectacular amenities, introducing a new generation of resort experiences and redefining the Las Vegas skyline. I’d love to work with you on a story to introduce ARIA Resort & Casino.

Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the dramatic soaring 61-story hotel tower, casino and convention center will be CityCenter’s most iconic feature. CityCenter also will feature three luxurious non-gaming hotels: Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental, The Harmon Hotel, Spa & Residences and Vdara Condo Hotel; Veer Towers, the development’s only strictly residential buildings; The Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district; and a $40 million public Fine Art Program that will deliver new works of art and iconic pieces by the likes of Maya Lin, Nancy Rubins and Claes Oldenburg, among others.

From luxurious accommodations and entertainment to sophisticated retail and fine art, CityCenter will raise Las Vegas’ amenities and offerings to unparalleled heights and capture the world’s attention as the must-see, must-experience destination across the globe when it opens in late 2009.

Long Live Laughlin – (From the Review-Journal). The latest gambit by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to revive interest in isolated Laughlin is a $2.5 million outreach effort in California and Arizona.

It emphasizes the opportunity for visitors to spend time drinking, gambling and partying along the Colorado River at a fraction of what it costs to let loose in Las Vegas.

The ads are aimed at the 40- to 60-year-old demographic of people who, market researchers say, have disposable income but are wary of overspending. The average daily room rate in Laughlin was $46.87 in July, compared to $105.97 in Las Vegas, according to the latest Southern Nevada visitation reports.

Families Not Moving To Las Vegas? 5000 people (give or take) continue to relocate here each month. Despite the continued influx, local school enrollment is up ájust 0.3 percent over last year (basically flat) as those in construction and illegal aliens (sometimes one in the same) with families flee town for work elsewhere.á

This lack of school district growth should flatten out the school district budget needs and (hopefully) quiet some of the “tax the tourists for schools” talk which keeps floating around.

US 93 Widening Is On – Our friends from Los Angeles take it for granted that the ride to Las Vegas is all-freeway. Sometimes a very crowded freeway, but still all prime road. However, our friends who drive ináfrom Arizona, New Mexico and points southeast of Las Vegas don’t have it so good with long stretches of two-lane road during the final trek.

That is changing! Many know that the Hoover Dam bypass bridge is moving along and funding has just been secured to four-lane the 15 miles of US 93 leading up to the bridge (on the Arizona side). Also, talks are getting more serious about a Boulder City bypass which could shed significant time off the journey.

Complimentary First Month With Netflix – I’ve been a Netflix subscriber for a long time, and love it! No due dates, no late fees, and I don’t even have to turn on my car to get (or drop off) a video. Now, you can even watch many of their selections on your computer “on demand” in high quality video (looks great even on the computer connected to my big flat screen).

They want to give all of our U.S. readers one complimentary month to check the service out. Head over to Netflix One Month Complimentary Membership

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $45, Fremont from $38, Gold Coast from $33, Main Street from $38, Orleans from $45, Sam’s Town from $29, Sun Coast from $50, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Ultimate Fighting Championship Presents UFC 91: Randy “The Natural” Couture Vs. Brock Lesnar For The UFC World Heavyweight Championship Saturday, November 15 At MGM Grand – On November 15, the champ is back. Following a one-year hiatus from the sport, UFC« heavyweight champion Randy “The Natural” Couture will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to defend his title against rising star Brock Lesnar. (Tickets) This championship bout, the biggest heavyweight title fight in years and a clash of titans destined to shake the foundations of the sport, will headline UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR, live Saturday, Nov. 15 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Click to Read The Full Story …

Morton’s The Steakhouse Las Vegas General Manager Daniel Hurst (left) presents Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman with a wine locker and his favorite “spirit,” Bombay Sapphire Gin, at the Morton’s Grand Opening of Bar 12-21. Goodman hosted the grand opening, which was complete with a Las Vegas Showgirl, the debut of the Mayor’s “Oscartini” martini and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Hypnomagician Keith Barry To Dazzle Audiences At Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – Psychological Magician and Hypnotist Performs Live In Las Vegas October 28 û November 27. Tickets are on sale now for the limited engagement of Keith Barry: Hypnomagician at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Keith, a European superstar mind illusionist who first astonished U.S. audiences with his celebrity-filled hour-long magic TV special for CBS brings his dazzling blend of magic, illusions and hypnosis to the American stage for the first time October 28 through November 27 at the Planet Hollywood Showroom. Click to Read The Full Story …

Texas de Brazil Opened First Las Vegas Location On Sept.10 – Combining the bold flavors of Southern Brazil with the generous spirit of Texas, Texas de Brazil opened its doors on Wed, Sept. 10 in Town Square Las Vegas. The Las Vegas location marks the restaurant’s 14 location worldwide. “Texas de Brazil is a perfect complement to Town Square and a great spot to try a traditional Brazilian ‘Churrascaria,’ (steakhouse)” said David Parra general manager. “We are eager to provide our guests with beautiful rustic ambiance, flavorful food and unparalleled service.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Fright Dome Prepares To Scare At Circus Circus Las Vegas – Nationally rated Halloween attraction to open at the Adventuredome October 3. Halloween festivities in Las Vegas officially begin at 7 p.m. October 3 when The Adventuredome at Circus Circus reanimates into its sinister alter ego, Fright Dome. Opening weekend festivities include special guest appearances by Sid Haig, who appeared as Captain Spaulding in Rob Zombie’s “House of 1,000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Reject” horror classics, and Bill Moseley, who appeared as Otis Driftwood in both films, as well as “Halloween.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Hard Rock ‘Ups The Ante’ With Vegas’ Premier Poker Lounge Providing Bottle Service, Masseuses, And In-Lounge Sports Betting That Players Can’t Get At A Traditional Poker Room – A private bar, bottle service, certified masseuses, music, plush couches, and video poker machinesàsounds more like a nightclub than a traditional poker room. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has created a decadent atmosphere designed with the player’s comfort in mind to attract the world’s top poker players, as well as high-end bachelor parties, and private events, with Las Vegas’ first Poker Lounge. The new 7,000-square foot, first of its kind, Poker Lounge is a full service poker room, with an inviting, lounge feel and the newest addition in the property’s $800 million expansion and renovation. Click to Read The Full Story …

Strip House Introduces Scotch & Steak Flights This Fall – Strip House offers a selection of signature steaks paired with flights of top-shelf Scotches beginning Sept. 22, 2008. Showcasing three different brands from various areas of Scotland, the first flight allows guests to experience a wide range of flavor profiles. Priced at $30, the pairing brings together Strip House’s trademark selections with Laphroaig 15 Year Islay Single Malt, Highland Park 18 Year Orkney Single Malt and Macallan Fine Oak 21 Year Highland Single Malt. Click to Read The Full Story …

Southern Nevada Pug Rescue To Host Seventh Annual Pug-O-Rama Picnic – Southern Nevada Pug Rescue (SNPR), a non-profit organization, will host its seventh annual Pug-O-Rama Picnic on Sunday, October 26, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Hills Park in Summerlin. The Halloween-themed event will continue to feature costume contests, prizes, raffles, and a silent auction. Pug owners are encouraged to dress up their Pugs, pack a picnic, and enjoy a few hours socializing with other Pug parents. Pug-O-Rama Picnic tickets are available now for $10 per person, $7 for children 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. Click to Read The Full Story …

Can’t Make It To Vegas?
See If A Hot Event Is Playing Near You!

Jonas Brothers, Madonna, The Cheetah Girls, ColdPlay, Mary J. Blige, Neil Young, Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Dave Matthews Band, American Idols Live, Jimmy Buffett, Radiohead, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, NFL Football, PGA Championship, NASCAR Sprint Cup, College Football, WWE Wrestling, Baseball, All Major Concerts and Events

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Ted,

First, I want to compliment you on your newsletter. I look forward to getting each one of them.

I have been going to Las Vegas at least once a year for about 30 years now and have certainly seen the change from ‘the old’ Las Vegas to what it is now. It seems that the “new” Las Vegas wants to cater to the Hollywood types who expect to have their stays comped to the richer people who can afford to pay the extremely high food costs and room costs. I have reservations to go again this year for a week but am thinking about not going again as I don’t like the ‘new’ Las Vegas.á

I liked the old slot machines where the reels went around and around and you knew what would pay and what wouldn’t. I don’t like the new type of slot machines where it has a line going all over the screen and I never understand what pays and what doesn’t.

With the large, nice casino’s the foot traffic down around New York, New York, MGM Grand, Paris, etc you cant even walk down the sidewalk except to get behind someone and just walk at their pace.

Maybe the owners of these places will get the message on their tight machines and things but I doubt if I will ever go back out there to know what happens.

Clearnce Fakes

á

Ted Responds:

I also won’t touch the new slots. I don’t have the time to figure them out and don’t want to play a game unless I know what is going on. They were put in place so you could play anywhere from a penny to a couple of dollars per play on the same game (and to divert your attention to how fast they were sucking down your cash).

The “new” Las Vegas does have plenty to offer, see, and do. But I continue to suggest that people yearning for the “old” Las Vegas try a stay downtown. It will be easier on your budget and you’ll probably have a better shot at winning. Plus, poke around and you just may find some of the older slot games you prefer at downtown casinos!

Dear Ted,

I just returned from my 24th visit to Vegas and had a wonderful time as usual. I stayed at the Flamingo and was really happy with the friendly desk staff, cage personnel, restaurant staff at the Tropical Breeze, and all the Harrahs employees at all the Vegas properties I visited.

I saw three fun and entertaining shows, The Price is Right Live, Nathan Burton and The Vinnie Favorito show. The Price is Right was the most fun I’ve ever had at a Vegas show. I was however subjected to the absolute worst show I have ever seen in Vegas. I went to the X-Burlesque show at the Flamingo expecting to see a tribute to burlesque. This fiasco was anything but a tribute. The music was bad and much too loud, the dancing was awful and the girls were very unattractive except for two of the six girls. This show was nothing like it was advertised and an embarrassment. I have seen Jubilee and Crazy Girls and both of these shows were top notch. X- Burlesque was a disappointing waste of money.á

Despite this disappointment Vegas was as usual a spectacular time and as usual I saw things that weren’t there just a year ago.

Michael from Lowell, Indiana

Back in May/June I read somewhere that HooterÆs was being sold. I was wondering if you had any info on what has happened to that transaction. Did it fall through?

I am curious as we are staying there 8/22 for 2 nights for our nephewÆs 21’st birthday. Our first stay was last Thanksgiving & we had a lovely stay in one of the Bungalow rooms and we would like to stay there again this Thanksgiving.

I enjoy accessvegas.com newsletter very much. Thank you.

Shannon from Costa Mesa, CA

á

Ted Responds:

The sale fell through due to the trouble obtaining financing in the present economy. Hooters is operating as normal and recently added a new country music bar with live music and no cover. Also, both The Mentalist: Gerry McCambridge and Bobby “The Pitbull Of Comedy” Slayton continue to perform (both of which are great shows).

Thanks for reading and telling your friends!

Hi, I haven’t been to Vegas for a couple of years. I will be visiting soon for 4 days. What new things should I see? Thanks for any advise!

Gary Nawrocki

á

Ted Responds:

That would take hours to answer. However, you can go to our newsletter archives at https://las-vegas-news-reviews.com and get up to speed on all of the great, new things to do and see.

Scroll down the right-hand sidebar and you’ll see links to monthly archives of the newsletter. Work your way through those and you’ll be up to speed on all the new stuff from the past couple of years!

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

September 17, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – September 10, 2008

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Ted is on medical leave this week. We hope to have him back next week. Please enjoy this issue with all of the usual features prepared by staff including news of a great deal at one of Las Vegas’ historic hotel steak houses.

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

Can’t Make It To Vegas?
See If A Hot Event Is Playing Near You!

Jonas Brothers, Madonna, The Cheetah Girls, ColdPlay, Mary J. Blige, Neil Young, Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Dave Matthews Band, American Idols Live, Jimmy Buffett, Radiohead, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, NFL Football, PGA Championship, NASCAR Sprint Cup, College Football, WWE Wrestling, Baseball, All Major Concerts and Events

Jersey Boys At The Palazzo Las Vegas Offers Patrons The Absolut Best Seats In The House – The best show in town just got better. JERSEY BOYS, the hit musical about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, now offers the “Absolut Best Seats In The House” Package. (Tickets) Patrons who purchase theáAbsolut Best Seats In The House Package will receive a complimentary ABSOLUT specialty cocktail and access to a private entrance into the theatre through a VIP hallway that features memorabilia from The Four Seasons and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Click to Read The Full Story …

The Mentalist Wins The Magic Oscar – Gerry McCambridge Wins The Prestigious Merlin Award – The International Magicians Society, a worldwide organization, which was established in 1968 and currently has over 37,000 members presented Gerry McCambridge with the prestigious “Merlin” award for Mentalist of the Decade. The Merlin Award to the magic fraternity is what the Oscar is to the movies. Some of the past winners of the Merlin Award are Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Criss Angel, Siegfried & Roy and David Copperfield. Since moving to Las Vegas three years ago, Gerry has been a strip headliner with over 550 Las Vegas performances to his credit. Hooters Casino Hotel recently extended his contract keeping him headlining in the Night Owl Showroom six nights a week for the next year. (Tickets) Click to Read The Full Story …

Trevi Italian Restaurant Features A Variety Of Homemade Pizzas – Hand-Tossed Pizzas At Trevi Brina A ‘Slice Of Italy’ To The Table – Guests can observe the art of making pizza in the open kitchen at TREVI Italian Restaurant at The Forum Shops at Caesars. The chefs have perfected hand-tossing the dough for the variety of pizzas to tempt every taste bud. From the homemade dough and sauce to the special recipe for sausage and roasted peppers, the pizzas are incomparable. “TREVI’s brick oven pizzas are made from homemade sauce, dough and fresh mozzarella,” said Pete Scaturro, executive chef for TREVI Italian Restaurant. “You won’t find pizza better than this. The brick oven pizzas taste better than any other because of the consistent temperature the oven holds.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Four Of Las Vegas’ Top Cantors To Perform With The Las Vegas Philharmonic In Celebration Of The Israel @ 60 Gala Concert – In honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary, the Las Vegas Philharmonic will celebrate with a gala concert on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. The Israel @ 60 celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. with a Kosher VIP reception; VIP tickets are $300 per person and include the reception and premium concert seating. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and ticket prices are $30, $60 and $90, on sale now. The Israel @ 60 concert will feature special performances by world-renowned mezzo-soprano Eugenie Grunewald, tenor Nathan Brian Wine, clarinetist Shelley Hanson, The Adelson Educational Campus Choir and four of the city’s top cantors. Click to Read The Full Story …

House Of Lords At The Sahara Now Offering $75 Dusk & Dark Dinner For Two – One Of The Great Las Vegas Vintage Steakhouses – The legendary House of Lords Steak House at the Sahara Hotel & Casino is challenging the belief that Vegas fine dining has to break the bank. The Sahara now offers a special $75 Dusk & Dark Dinner for Two, which includes a first course, a main course and dessert: FIRST COURSE – Organic Green Salad: Organic farm greens, candied walnuts, roma tomatoes, sweet onion, goat cheese with champagne vinaigrette OR Sweet Lobster Corn Chowder. Click to Read The Full Story …

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $38, Fremont from $38, Gold Coast from $29, Main Street from $38, Orleans from $50, Sam’s Town from $29, Sun Coast from $50, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

September 10, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – September 3, 2008

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! We hope everyone in the U.S. and Canada had a great Labor Day weekend. Las Vegas was packed like we probably have not seen all year and some clouds kept the temperatures generally under 100 degrees (F).

With college and pro football (U.S.) underway and the baseball playoff races heating up, the sports books are full of people living and dying on every play.

We appreciate your patience on our (still) somewhat erratic publishing schedule due to business expansion. Rest assured, we publish three times per month (as always) but not exactly every 10 days at the moment.

Spectacular New Las Vegas Views:
Click Pictures Below For More!

tropicana las vegas pool mint mondays 2008

Mint Mondays continue at Tropicana Las Vegas through the end of September. They are drawing a nice mix of locals and visitors, and billing themselves as an unpretentious pool party that everyone can enjoy. See our August 6, 2008 newsletter issue for more details.

harrahs carnival court 2008

harrahs carnival court 2008

Despite the August heat, Harrah’s Carnival Court drew plenty of partiers on Mondays to enjoy local favorites Yellow Brick Road.

Links to new photo sets:

Your Favorite Team’s Local Bar – The Review-Journal just published their list of various bar/grills around town that are devoted to a specific NFL team. These bars only show “their” NFL team during game times and offer food and drink specials during the game.

You can always watch the game in a crowded sports book (with the chance that the sound for your team is turned down), but if you have a car and want to root with locals who are probably from your part of the country, this is the list to check out: Local bars compete to win over fans with food and drink specials, giveaways

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $38, Fremont from $38, Gold Coast from $29, Main Street from $38, Orleans from $50, Sam’s Town from $29, Sun Coast from $50, , More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Help Stop Hunger in Southern Nevada, Dine Out in September – In the tradition of Restaurant Week in cities such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago, Las Vegas’ most popular restaurants will join forces for a week of affordable fine dining September 1-7 in an effort to stop hunger. Las Vegas Restaurant Week will offer world-class cuisine at very special pricing with a portion of the proceeds going to Three Square (www.threesquare.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger in Las Vegas. More than 60 restaurants are offering three-course menus for just $25.08 and $50.08 per person.

Participating award-winning fine dining establishments include L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Craftsteak, NOBHILL, Aureole, Fleur de Lys, CatHouse, miXáLas Vegas, Japonais, BLT Burger, StripSteak and Isla Mexican Kitchen, to name just a few.

Chocolate fountain at Bellagio Official World Record Set By Jean Philippe Patisserie’s Chocolate Fountain At Bellagio – Displaying a spectacular series of melted chocolate cascades, Jean Philippe Patisserie’s glass-enclosed, floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain at Bellagio is officially the largest chocolate fountain in the world as certified by Guinness World Records. The fountain’s official record-breaking height is 26 feet, 3 and 3/16 inches; the masterpiece circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk and white chocolate at a rate of 120 quarts per minute. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: No Limit Texas Hold’em – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own “Vegas Vic” in the sixth of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: No Limit Texas Hold’em (broadband)

Can’t Make It To Vegas?
See If A Hot Event Is Playing Near You!

The Cheetah Girls, ColdPlay, Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, American Idols Live, Celine Dion, Jimmy Buffett, Radiohead, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Madonna, Toby Keith, Journey, Tina Turner, NFL Football, PGA Championship, NASCAR Sprint Cup, College Football, WWE Wrestling, Baseball, All Major Concerts and Events

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

I’m traveling from the UK in December and will be in Vegas from 30’th of December for 3 nights.

I am a little worried that things are not going to be open. IE Shopping etc. I also want to book a table for New Years Eve and also for the 30th as this is my wedding anniversary. Do you have any suggestions.Nadia Dukic

á

Ted Responds:

Happy upcoming anniversary! New Years Eve is the biggest time of the year here. Everything will be open! News about hotel events and parties won’t be out until later in the year. Let me again note for readers who might be new:

The biggest question we get is “I’m coming to Las Vegas (insert date many months in advance) and want to know if (insert name of headliner or events) will be playing”.

The very reason we do this regular newsletter is to get ALL of the information we receive out as often as possible. If something is not yet listed, we simply don’t have any information on it yet.áOne emailer even wanted to know when a touring band would be coming to Las Vegas… even though the band hand not even announced their tour dates for any city yet!

We aren’t sitting here hiding a pile of from you. We get everything out as soon as possible.

My husband and I were ‘long hauled’ while in Vegas this week. A trip from the airport to the Stratosphere ran almost $35. Had we not been exhausted at the time, having traveled from the East Coast, I would have reported it or at least complained. Which made us wonder…would it have made any difference?

I know these type of complaints are on the rise, but are they taken seriously? Would the driver have been reprimanded, or would we have been entitled to a refund? Love the newsletter. Thank you.

Tina from New York

Ted Responds:

Yes, it would have mattered and yes, the drivers get in trouble. And, I’m very sorry to hear it happened.

You can call the Taxicab Authority at (702) 668-4000 and tell them the cab company name and either the cab number (number on the side of the cab) or drivers name which should be visible on his permit posted in the car. Drivers who get more multiple complaints are subject to fines and other measures of discipline.

At the very least… if you KNOW you got long-hauled: Do NOT tip the driver. You are (by law) entitled to ALL of your change back, down to the nickel. Demand it and let him (or her) know why there is no tip. Side Note: I’d suggest waiting until they have off-loaded your bags or anything else, something which there is otherwise no extra fee for.

A few years ago, I actually took things farther when I was long-hauled. I said that one of two things were going to happen: 1. I was not going to pay for the ride or 2. I was going to pay then call the TA (Taxicab Authority) and report him. My ride ended up free.

Don’t feel bad playing hardball or even calling a report in. If you had $10 sitting on your slot machine and someone just came along and grabbed it, wouldn’t you be calling for security and wanting them to track down the thief? It is no different if a cabbie long-hauls you to rack up an extra $10 (or more) in cab fare.

The Taxicab Authority has a great (must read) FAQ on all aspects of Las Vegas cabs at http://www.taxi.state.nv.us/Forms/DidYouKnow.pdf

Back in May/June I read somewhere that HooterÆs was being sold. I was wondering if you had any info on what has happened to that transaction. Did it fall through?

I am curious as we are staying there 8/22 for 2 nights for our nephewÆs 21’st birthday. Our first stay was last Thanksgiving & we had a lovely stay in one of the Bungalow rooms and we would like to stay there again this Thanksgiving.

I enjoy AccessVegas.com newsletter very much. Thank you.

Shannon from Costa Mesa, CA

Ted Responds:

We did have a news blurb on that a few months ago. The sale fell through due to the trouble obtaining financing in the present economy. Hooters is operating as normal and has even opened a country music themed bar called Dixie’s with live music and no cover.

Thanks for reading and telling your friends!

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

September 3, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – August 20, 2008

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

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

Hello From Las Vegas! We are on a weird publication schedule for the next few weeks until we finish out all the new areas of Access Vegas. Can’t wait to show it all to you… I guarantee you that no other Las Vegas site will be as fun or helpful.

Binion’s $1,000,000 Display Returns… Kind Of – For decades, Binion’s Hotel Casino downtown was famous for (among other things) an display of 100 $10,000 bills available for public viewing 24/7 near their coffee shop. They even took a complimentary photo of you with the display and if you are a long time visitor, you probably have one (or more) stuffed away somewhere.

The new display is a pyramid of stacks of bills ranging from $100 bills to $1 bills and is available for viewing from 10 AM to 10 PM (no complimentary photo but you can take your own). The old display would cost some $16 million to assemble again because $10,000 bills are out of circulation and worth many times face value. You think at least they could make the new display available 24/7. There was nothing like coming out of the Binion’s coffee shop after enjoying their $2/$3/$4 complete steak dinner (depending on the year) at 3 AM and just walking over in front of the old display to stare in amazement.

Visitors To Pay For Schools – Despite the fact that growth in Southern Nevada has pretty much come to a standstill (and families are packing up and leaving), the move to raise the room tax from 10 to 13% to fund education continues to roll on. You are already paying a new tax when you rent a car so a new performing arts center can be built downtown.

Look… the last thing we need to do is make rooms more expensive when it costs so much to get here. And per the performing arts center, why on earth do we need one of those? A handful of powerful, long time local leaders seem bent on us getting some culture. We’ve never exactly been a culture capital, and frankly have don’t need to be.

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places – A recent newspaper article noted that the Las Vegas area has 30,000 more single men than single women. The city draws men who are looking for new economic opportunity or in male dominated fields like construction. So a great situation for women? Not necessarily. Men who are transient (construction) or who are looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow don’t always make the best catches. A significant number of local singles are here for a few years, not looking to put down roots. Looking for fun? There is no better city. Looking for love? Move to a more traditional city.

Dreaming Nevada – If you have Netflix (or a similar service), put the Dreaming Nevada DVD in your queue. This stunning visual journey takes you on helicopter rides over our area scenic wonders including Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and The Strip. Highly recommended!

Enjoy our Barry Manilow review this week. Regular show reviews and new photo sets return mid-September.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Can’t Make It To Vegas?
See If A Hot Event Is Playing Near You!

ColdPlay, Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, American Idols Live, Jimmy Buffett, Radiohead, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Madonna, Toby Keith, Eddie Vedder, Journey, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, NFL Football, PGA Championship, NASCAR Sprint Cup, College Football, WWE Wrestling, Baseball, All Major Concerts and Events

Featured Review:
Barry Manilow Writes The Songs, Performs With Passion In Las Vegas

by Erika Bayer-Polak

Who hasn’t sung Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” at some point or another? Well, if you generally only sing the song in the shower or car because you’re too uncomfortable letting the general public, or certain loved ones, know your true fondness for the tune, imagine being able to sing it unabashedly with about 1,600 other people. Yes, it can be quite a feeling.

Manilow’s show, “Manilow: Music and Passion,” is more than a concert, it is a true Las Vegas show with dancing and sets and boas and all of those Las Vegas-themed props that come to mind. Considering many of Manilow’s hits have been somewhat mellow tunes, the show is surprisingly up-beat and energetic. While he still sings his universally known crooner melodies, such as, “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” among others, he manages to keep the pace of the show lively.

Click to Read Entire Barry Manilow: Music and Passion Las Vegas Review…

Golden Nugget Las Vegas Partners With Professional Bull Riders World Finals Competition – The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino announced that it has signed a partnership with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals (Tickets) presented by Wrangler, whose 2008 competition runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 9 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center. In the agreement, Golden Nugget will be a host hotel for the PBR World Finals and will provide contestant accommodations and host rider meet and greets and official PBR events. It also will offer special PBR ticket and hotel packages. Click to Read The Full Story …

PT’s And Sierra Gold Serve As The Ultimate College Football Destination – PT’s and Sierra Gold celebrate the kick-off of the college football season with food and drink specials at each location. For the third year in a row, each of the 36 tavern locations will represent specific college teams for Saturday and game day viewing. During college games PT’s will feature the PT’s Bucket, complete with a choice of wings or sliders for only $16.99. In addition, Bud and Bud Light pints will be available for $2.50 each and 25 oz. mugs for $3.50 each. Sierra Gold will also feature the Sierra Gold Bucket with choice of wings or sliders for only $16.99. Bud and Bud Light pints are on tap for $2.75 and 25 oz. mugs for $4. Click to Read The Full Story …

Larry G Jones’ ‘Superstar Voices In Concert’ Teams Up With Top ‘Red Skelton Impersonator’ – The Voices Of Billboards Greatest Hits – Las Vegas’ greatest shows combine with legendary comedy to make one hilarious family friendly show. (Tickets) After over 1600 shows in downtown Las Vegas, Larry G Jones takes his talents a bit closer to the action and ‘down the block’ from Las Vegas’ two singing impressionists with 100 million dollar deals (Terry Fator and Danny Gans). ‘Superstar Voices in Concert’ will be hosted by Red Skelton look-alike and tribute artist, Brian Hoffman. Larry’s new show venue is very easy to find, once you know where to look. The Royal Resort Hotel at 99 Convention Center Drive (100 ft from Las Vegas Blvd) is one block from the Wynn and Riviera Casinos. Click to Read The Full Story …

Canyon Ranch Grill Opens In The Palazzo – Organic Food And Beverage Menu Brings Healthy, Vibrant Flavors To Canyon Ranch SpaClub – Canyon Ranch Grill is now open inside the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, located on the pool level of the Palazzo Resort and Casino. Guests of the Canyon Ranch Grill will experience a nourishing menu featuring wholesome, seasonal fresh ingredients with an emphasis on local, organic and sustainable farming methods. Chefs of the famed Canyon Ranch Spa, have expertly prepared a menu including breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert dishes designed to complement and enhance the natural beauty of the ingredients resulting in vibrant flavors, enticing aroma and superior nutritional value. Click to Read The Full Story …

The Long Twins Join The Cast Of The Legendary Folies Bergere At The Tropicana – Highly accomplished acrobatic performers, Bing and Jun Long, join the cast of the Folies Bergere (Tickets) at the Tropicana Las Vegas as the Long Twins, one of two variety acts in the show. Juggler/comedian, Michael Holly, continues drawing laughs from audiences as the second variety act in the production show. The Long Twins, recognized as first class acrobats throughout China, bring their talented and entertaining act to the Tiffany Theatre stage as part of a six-minute act in Folies Bergere. The duo has performed as part of several production shows up and down the Las Vegas Strip. Click to Read The Full Story …

Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel To Open August 28 – Latest Cannery Casino Resorts Property To Open Despite Tough Economy, Industry-Wide Slowdown – Despite a nationwide slowdown in the gaming industry, Cannery Casino Resorts (CCR) will open its second casino in little more than a year û the Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel û on Thursday, August 28. The first major casino to open on the east side of Las Vegas in more than a decade, will officially welcome guests at 8 p.m. Located in the Boulder Highway gaming corridor, the $250 million Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel features a 16-story tower of bronze, glass and steel, with a distinctive saw-tooth roofline, making an iconic impression. Click to Read The Full Story …

Global Ice Age Begins As Minus 5 Brings Unique Ice Lounge Experience To Las Vegas And Other U.S. Cities – World-Leader in Sub-Zero Night-Life Freezes the Competition with Lounges Made Entirely of Ice. A lounge in which everything is made of ice is about to become the hottest destination in the United States; and, the forecast calls for Las Vegas, known for its 100-degree heat, to become a whole lot cooler – as cold as ice. This September, New Zealand-based Minus 5 Group begins an American ice age when it opens the first permanent ice lounge experience ever in the United States at Mandalay Place, located adjacent to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Click to Read The Full Story …

Las Vegas Is On Sale!
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Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Previous Reader Question Answered:

In our August 6, 2008 issue, reader Brian from Ocala, Florida asked why some casinos will have empty $10-15 tables while the place next door has jammed $5 tables. IE, why wouldn’t the other casino lower their limits to fill up their tables?

I heard the answer listening to the audio of a gaming executives round-table recently. The higher-end casinos don’t want to encourage $5 players. They feel the cost of the comps (high-end free drinks and similar that you’ll find in the nicer places) exceed what they would win from the players.

I still question this: Adjusted for inflation, todays $5 tables are the $3 games of 10 years ago. And, you could generally get an import beer or mid-level brand booze while you play.

I’ll stick to what I’ve said before: Today’s bean counters think that if you just make gambling fun (party pits and endless new slot machines), you won’t care how fast you lose your money. Their goal is to separate you from it as quickly as possible.á

I think they have it wrong (and the declines in gaming wins bare this out… it’s not just the economy, especially considering the rate of international visitors at this time). The fun of gambling is taking your days bankroll and (provided that it is enough to sustain such play) be able to gamble 3-4 hours per day. It is the gambling in and of itself that is fun. The roller coaster of emotions and the thrill of having a few winning streaks (which enforce the notion that you actually have a chance at winning).

Your best current “gamble” in Las Vegas? See a show. You’ll get your moneys worth in just about every price range, you’ll see shows in special theatres and set-ups here that you won’t experience in the traveling version (for example, Phantom or Blue Man), and you are guaranteed the full length of your entertainment. You won’t go broke 10 minutes into a show and have to leave like a cold table or slot machine.

Hi Ted,

A while back, I asked you for a recommendation for a nice place for a little cocktail lounge atmosphere for guys my age (I’m 67 and still enjoy Las Vegas even though the rat pack days are long gone…now, those guys were cool!).

You obviously knew exactly the kind of place I was looking for, because you suggested the bar/lounge of The Range Steakhouse at Harrah’s. As you pointed out, it’s up above the strip and yet it’s like a world apart from the chaotic strip atmosphere. But, I could look out and see it from the unique vantage point of a pleasant ambiance I appreciate most. The pianist and jazz guitarist were excellent and provided a great background for my wind-down time before dinner and a show I was going to see that evening.

I had other plans for dinner that night, but a look at the menu convinced me that I should get back in there the next time I’m in town.

I also found that Bellagio’s Baccarat Lounge also offers perfect place to unwind and listen to some good jazz, too. It’s right on the “main drag” in the casino, but due to some great acoustical engineering magic, the noise of slots, etc. are greatly reduced and the music can be heard very well. David Osborne plays piano there on Sunday and Monday nights, accompanied by a fine stand-up bass player.

For people my age, La Vegas is still a fun destination, because while there, we can also enjoy a different brand of entertainment in addition to the kind of stuff the younger kids like. Sometimes, loud, “in-your-face” rock gets tedious (even though our generation started the whole thing!)

Anyway, thanks for the tip about The Range Steakhouse! I always read your newsletter. You’re doing a great job! Keep it up!

Sincerely,

David from McKinleyville, CA

Hi there, love the newsletter and it helped so much with my planning. To travel 14 hours with the purpose of two weeks in Las Vegas required LOTS of planning and shows, times, places to visit, all found within the newsletter.

The first priority was to book and see Wayne Brady – the VIP way with the meet and greet – see pic – he didn’t let me down, It was wonderful, he was gracious and the show was unbelievable. This alone was worth the trip.

Next was the place to stay we we picked the Jockey Club – aware there was building around it but choose it for a smaller hotel without the casino. Just a room and friendly and helpful staff. Again perfect – look at my view from the loungeroom – day or night – the fountains , Paris the strip, it was the best.

All other plans fitted into place from the Car Museum at Imperial Palace to the Mentalist at Hooters, nothing disappointed us unless it was that we ‘ran out’ of time. Next time it has to be 3 -4 weeks to do all we want.

Thank you for all your information and my friends who head there next week have more info from me as well now.

Karen Chatfield from Australia

á

Ted Responds:

I never cease to appreciate those of you who travel so far to get here (whether 4 hours or especially 14 hours) and enjoy Las Vegas. I’m so very happy that you had a great time and that our newsletter helps in that planning. I especially encourage our international readers to tell their friends to subscribe. When traveling that far and spending that much, you really should have the latest, best and most comprehensive regular information and the price is right: Free!

From time-to-time, someone will write and just say “I have not been to town for two years, what should I see?” The truth is that you could easily spend 3-4 weeks here and barely begin to see everything you want to check out. Whether your next trip is 3 days or three weeks (or not yet planned), stay subscribed and we’ll leave you no shortage of information about shows and activities so you can find the ones that suit you.

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

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

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All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

August 20, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

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