Category Archives: Las Vegas Newsletter

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û December 30, 2009

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AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! We often don’t put out an issue right at the end of the year, but I wanted to personally wish each and every one of you an amazing 2010 and thank you for reading. Next issue, I’ll delve in to my thoughts on Las Vegas in the coming year and we’ll have coverage of the 300,000+ people who are in town right this very minute getting ready to enjoy the countdown!

In this issue, we’ll get some news updates, information about what has been happening at AccessVegas.com, plus I want to link you to some of the more interesting Las Vegas stuff I’ve found on the web.

Tours, Tours, Tours And More Tours! – Amy has been very hard at work adding just about every conceivable type of are tour to our tours section. Grand Canyon? Check. Skydiving? Check. Horseback rides? Las Vegas Strip? Check. Hoover Dam, Valley Of Fire, Red Rock, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead and other parks? Check.

Our pick? Maverick Helicopters Tour of the Grand Canyon that actually lands you IN the bottom of the canyon. Are you kidding me? That is amazing! Plus, you get to see Hoover Dam on the way out, then an air tour down the entire Las Vegas Strip on your return. All on the same tour!

Don’t take my word for it. Settle back for a stunning 10 minute video preview of this great tour. Even if your next visit isn’t on the horizon for a while, you’ll want to enjoy watching this one. Click for Maverick Helicopter Tour of Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, and the Las Vegas Strip Video

Looking for something different? We now have hundreds of tours available to suite every interest:

AccessVegas.com Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Southwest United States Tours

Suzanne Somers Live In Las Vegas – I found this 7 minute clip on YouTube. I’m guessing from the early 1980’s after she bailed Three’s Company. Long before Cher, Celine, or Bette, Suzanne Somers was the queen of the Las Vegas Strip. Click to watch Suzanne Somers (Live In Vegas)

James Bond Diamond Are Forever Filmed In Las Vegas – If you want to go back even a little bit further in time, many forget that James Bond’s ‘Diamond Are Forever’ was filmed extensively in Las Vegas (and parts of the surrounding desert).áIncluding significant scenes inside Circus Circus (which surprisingly has not changed that much). However, Fremont Street downtown has changed quite a bit! Well worth Netflixing if you have an account. Click to watch James Bond Diamonds Are Forever 1971 Trailer Filmed In Las Vegas

Las Vegas Dining Listings – Did you know that we have an extensive Las Vegas Dining Page featuring listings by hotel, cuisine and area (Strip, Downtown, etc.)? And, did you know that we’ve partnered with Open Table so that you can book most of these restaurants online and ahead of time? We know that you like to plan your trip ahead getting show tickets and arranging activities. After all, the early bird gets the worm (or the best seats and dining times).

Now, you can plan that special meal in advance and lock up your reservation before arriving in Las Vegas. Check out our Las Vegas Restaurants and Dining Section.

Don’t Forget The Pictures – We have hundreds of Las Vegas photo sets containing thousands and thousands of Las Vegas photos. Mark has re-organized them to make every photo set easy to get to and enjoy. Click to visit our new Las Vegas Photo Gallery

Enjoy This Issue!

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

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

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $33, Fitzgeralds from $21, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $24, Riviera from $27, Sahara from $22, Stratosphere from $25, Tropicana from $28, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Bette Midler The Showgirl Must Go On FINAL DATES – Performance Schedule: Dec. 30, 31 Jan. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31 — Show Time: 7:30 p.m. — Dark Days (No Show): Monday, Thursday, and Friday — Click For Bette Midler Final Las Vegas Show Tickets

Le Reve At Wynn Las Vegas Celebrates 2,000 Performances – Wynn Las Vegas breathtaking show, Le Reve,ácelebrated its 2,000’th performance on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 7 p.m. The show opened concurrently with Wynn Las Vegas on April 28, 2005 and has since astounded audiences.

Interesting Facts: More than 250 cast and crew work on Le Reve each day. Thirty-two performers and 58 production staff have been with the show since the very beginning. In all 2,000 performances, 1,200,000 towels have been used, more than 12,800 pairs of red tango shoes have been repaired and some 104,000 loads of laundry have been done ù just a portion of the work involved in keeping a show like Le Reve running 2,000 performances strong.

Le Reve redefines the traditional theatrical experience with an evocative aqua spectacle in-the-round. The show features an ambitious blend of aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography, powerful performances and elaborate effects. Click for Le ReveáAt Wynn Las Vegas Tickets

Monte CarloÆs Street of Dreams now offers the following venues:

  • Art of Music – Known as the largest distributor of certifiably authentic music memorabilia in the U.S., Art of Music features a large collection of celebrity artwork, fine art and collectibles. Hours of operation: Daily, 10 a.m. û 11 p.m.
  • Harley-Davidson – The freedom and passion of the Harley-Davidson lifestyle is celebrated in this name brand store. The motorcycle companyÆs instantly recognizable logo adorns clothing, accessories, souvenirs and collectibles.
  • Marshall Rousso – Marshall Rousso offers discriminating women stylish fashions for any occasion. Patrons will find casual and formal attire by such noted brands as Juicy Couture, BCBG, Betsey Johnson and more. Footwear and accessories also are available for purchase.
  • The Big Chill – This full-service walk-up bar provides a mix of modern libations and classic cocktails. Frozen specialty drinks include such tasty selections as Strawberry Daiquiri, Tropical Mojito and Pina Colada. A wide array of bottled and draft beer also is on tap.
  • The Cupcakery – Tasty cupcake treats are baked fresh daily from only the finest ingredients. More than 16 signature flavors include such delectable choices as Strawberry Shortcake and Oh, My Gosh û Ganache!

World Series Of Beer Pong At Flamingo January 1-4 – More than 900 fierce competitors will come together at Flamingo Las Vegas for the opportunity to vie for $50,000 and the title of ôWorld Series of Beer Pong Champö (WSOBP). Beer Pong, widely known as ôBeirut,ö was born in frat houses and college basements across the country, but has since grown into a world-wide phenomenon. The four-day tournament guarantees that all competitors will play a minimum of twelve games with the champions earning $50,000.

Best place to play beer pong on the Las Vegas Strip? O’Sheas (next to The Flamingo).

Luxor Opens New Spa and Salon – Nurture Spa and Salon. Providing everything from skillful cuts and styles, to image-transforming color and highlights to make-up services, the salon also features a complete nail care menu. For bridesûto-be, special Bridal and Ultimate Bridal Packages make preparing for the big day easy. Nurture Spa and Salon at Luxor is open daily to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to book an appointment, call (702) 730-5720.

Devi Kroell Now Open At The Forum Shops – This is the New York designer’s first and only store outside of New York City. Check out the fantastic and exotic handbags and accessories.

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:

  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 25-28 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25

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

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û December 23, 2009

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

The “winds of change” are blowing into Las Vegas literally as we get ready to turn 2009 into 2010. Those of you who watched the Las Vegas Bowl saw conditions so windy that one of the field goal nets was blown into the goalposts and the overhead camera (the one that runs on wires above the entire field) had to be taken down for saftey reasons. From time-to-time, we do get the reminder that we live in the middle of a desert!

We’re crossing our fingers for NO wind on New Years Eve so that the world-famous fireworks can go off without a hitch. Might be a little chilly New Years Eve with an overnight low of 32 degrees (F), probable temp of around 38 degrees at midnight. Granted… that is the 10 day forecast and with any luck, we’ll be a bit warmer. Temps at midnight have traditionally been in the low-to-mid 40’s when the fireworks bring in the new year. So… bundle up or check the sidebar of our newsletter and get a ticket to one of the hot indoor parties!

Bellagio Conservatory Christmas Display – As has been our Christmas tradition for many years now, we present to you photos from the always amazing holiday display at the Bellagio Gardens. You have an added incentive to view it this year if in town the next three weeks: It is on your way from the Bellagio casino to the CityCenter tram.

Christmas Las Vegas Bellagio Gardens

Christmas Las Vegas Bellagio Gardens

Christmas Las Vegas Bellagio Gardens

Click To View Entire
Bellagio Gardens Holiday Display Photo Set

Hint: Once you go to the individual photo pages, you can click on the Full View link, which will then bring up the full screen version that you can save to your computer or right-click on to use as your holiday computer wallpaper.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from AccessVegas.com!

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

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

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $26, Fitzgeralds from $21, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $24, Riviera from $29, Sahara from $22, Stratosphere from $28, Tropicana from $28, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Special Offer: Guests who stay at El Cortez and pay for two consecutive nights in January will receive a complimentary two night stay in April.

Carrie Underwood Brings ‘Play On Tour’ To Orleans Arena May 22 – One of country music’s most prolific and versatile power vocalists, Carrie Underwood, announced her new headline “Play On Tour” and a stop at the Orleans Arena May 22 with tickets for all shows going on sale next Friday, December 18. Underwood’s new headline tour kicks off March 11, 2010 with special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia. “I am getting so excited about next year as we are currently working through all the big plans for the tour,” says Underwood. “I cannot wait to perform new music and see familiar faces across the U.S. and Canada!”

Sweet Surrender Cupcake Shop Now Open At The Palazzo Las Vegas Please Bow, Cupcake Royalty Has Arrived! – Cupcakes, cookies, lollipops, toffee, licorice, hard candies and dipped treats, oh my! The Palazzo Las Vegas cupcake and candy store, Sweet Surrender, brings together remarkable pastry chefs and the finest ingredients to create irresistibly indulgent treats.

Aria Resort & Casino Opens Forever Changing The Las Vegas Strip – Grand Opening Day And Gala Party Highlighted By Rooftop Fireworks Finale – Under a canopy of fireworks illuminating the night sky, ARIA Resort & Casino opened its doors and welcomed its first guests. Located at the heart of CityCenter, ARIA is the centerpiece of this extraordinary urban resort destination. Its debut signifies the official grand opening of this city-within-a-city, following two weeks of celebrations for the reveals of Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Crystals retail and entertainment district.

M Resort Lights Nations Tallest Christmas Tree – Our White Fir came on the largest allowable flatbed truck, a 900-mile journey from Oregon and on Saturday it “came alive” with thousands of lights. M Resort Spa Casino Chairman and CEO Anthony A. Marnell III and his children flipped the switch to lit the tree. More than 3,000 people came out to our piazza. Hot chocolate, sugar cookies, warm cider, candy canes put smiles on faces. The lighting was hosted by KSNE 106.5’s Melanie and Michael and a special thanks to Cannon Junior High School, Las Vegas Academy Advanced Women’s Choir, Dance Zone and Phat Strad.

A Classic Taste Of Motown, The Temptations Return To The Orleans Showroom January 22-24 – For more than 40 years, The Temptations have shined as pioneers of popular music with decades of smash hits and sold-out performances. Otis Williams, Bruce Williamson, Terry Weeks, Ron Tyson and Joe Herndon bring classic Motown back to The Orleans Showroom January 22, 23 and 24 starting at 8 p.m. each evening. The Temptations are central characters in the history of contemporary American pop. An essential component of the original Motown machine invented by Berry Gordy, The Temptations began their musical career in Detroit in the early ’60s.

The 2nd Annual Tribute Palooza To Rock – Fremont Street Experience For New Year’s 2010 Weekend – Las Vegas’ famed Fremont Street Experience is ready for a rockin’ New Year’s 2010 Weekend celebration with its 2nd Annual TributePalooza. The spectacular New Year’s Eve includes live concerts by eight of the world’s best tribute bands, a 2009 year-in-review show on the Viva Vision screen, followed by a countdown to midnight.

Famous Faces Wish Las Vegas A Happy Holiday Season On Miracle Mile ShopsÆ Strip-Side LED Screens – Some of the cityÆs most recognizable residents, headliners and show cast members wish Las Vegas a happy holiday season in a series of special video messages on Miracle Mile ShopsÆ Strip-side LED video screens. Every half-hour from 10 a.m. to midnight today through Dec. 31, Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will broadcast a few special holiday messages from famous Las Vegas personalities, headliners and show cast members. Each video is unique and can be seen and heard by anyone cruising The Strip.

More than 20 different messages will be shown throughout the month, including greetings from Mayor Oscar Goodman, Blue Man Group, Chester Bennington, PEEPSHOW star Holly Madison, rocker Sammy Hagar,áDonny and Marie Osmond, Zowie Bowie, George Wallace, Coach Lon Kruger, Gordie Brown, and Santana band members among many others.

Authentic Coal From The RMS Titanic Makes Fun Last Minute Stocking Stuffer! – This is coal you WANT to find in your stocking this year! Whether a prince or a pauper, every history buff can have a memento of the RMS Titanic now available at the retail shop inside Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor. Come see the half million dollar, 55 pound piece of coal currently on display and if $500,000 is slightly out of the budget, pieces are available for $20 and $45.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

After seeing all the stereotypes on television and in the movies of seedy hotels and nothing but drinking and sleaze, we decided to take our first trip to Las Vegas back in March to see for ourselves. IÆm glad we went against what we were made to believe because I immediately fell in love with the city.

To our surprise, it was absolutely gorgeous! The media didnÆt capture a fraction of the beauty we saw in person. We didnÆt gamble, barely drank, and didnÆt do too much partying; just admired the gorgeous lights and buildings when we werenÆt enjoying some R&R in the Trump which made it the perfect, well-needed getaway for us.

I love that Las Vegas has something to offer everyone no matter what each personÆs tastes are and is a trip IÆm now looking forward to every year. Trying to bump my March 2010 trip up sooner 😉

Candice

Ted Responds:

You found what others find out on their first visit: We’re simply a world-class resort destination with virtually unlimited activities to suit almost every taste and palate. One can go to New York to see a Broadway-style show and pay $400 a night for a good hotel room, or come here and see the same (and more) staying in a world-class hotel for $150 a night.

The other great thing is that you have an option on how much or little R&R you want to get. Some people come and sleep only 3-4 hours a night and cram as much possible into their trip (as we’re truly the city that never sleeps). Others come just to unwind.

Trump is a solid choice for those who want a more peaceful stay. Those rooms were originally meant to be condos but are rented out as hotel rooms until the market improves enough for them to be sold, and you don’t walk through a big, noisy casino to get to your room.

Since you’ll be telling all your friends about Las Vegas, make sure to tell them to subscribe to our newsletter!

I just wanted to say its not the economy that keeps my wife and I from returning to Vegas this year. We have been regular Vegas customers for 15 to 20 years now. Last year we had such tight slots all four days that we was there we ran out of money early in day and then was bored to death. Aside from that meal prices have skyrocketed, hotels have turned to the charge you extra for every little thing, such as a $9.00 charge for a phone in your room that no one uses.

They need to go back in time with better gaming, cheaper meals, and better comps. Other wise we have no reason to return to Vegas with almost every state now having casinos. Again I say its not just the economy keeping people from returning to Vegas.

Michael Vigor

Ted Responds:

I continue to agree. Las Vegas has always been recession-proof. We don’t have a recession problem. We have a “casinos tried to screw people too hard in the mid-2000’s” problem and it is going to take a while to reverse some of the negative memories.

The good news is that things are changing. We’re hearing about people winning again, and there is a buzz of electricity on The Strip not seen in quite some time. Follow our Vegas Deals Blog EasyVegasDeals.com and you’ll see we are listing food and drink specials with regularity again. And… room rates will stay at historic lows throughout 2010!

Thanks for putting out an awesome newsletter so often! Las Vegas is my favorite city in the world!

Geno from Ontario, Canada

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:

  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 25-28 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9

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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

December 23, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û December 16, 2009

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

I’m back in the saddle, but with a bit of a heavy heart (which I’ll briefly note later). CityCenter has been in the process of opening and parent company MGM Mirage (and other agencies associated with it) have been very gracious in extending me all of the top level invites. I opted to sit out as my heart just wasn’t in it. However we have been running all the info and linking to all of the major stories and continue to do so.

CityCenter

CityCenter

You see… this section and all of the “rah-rah Vegas” I write about isn’t just an act for me. I couldn’t do this in Orlando or Chicago (with all due respect to those fine cities). I’m going on 17 years living here and I still — to this day — get a tingly feeling in my body when I’m on The Strip. That surge of electricity. I love everything about this town more than ever.

Some people move here for a while, but they never really like it. You’d have to pay me incredible money to even get me to think about living somewhere else. The main road in my neighborhood has a view of half of The Strip and even just driving home, I never tire of it.

And… what I write is from the heart. The joys of this amazing vacation destination. So, for the past two issues I stayed active behind the scenes (and penned the New Years Eve tips in our last issue) but just had to sit out writing my column. I am happy to be back.

Oh, and as for coverage of CityCenter? Those of you coming in the next few weeks will (and must) certainly check it out. What $8.5 billion can build is beyond breath-taking. If your hotel plans are still up in the air, you have no choice: Stay at Aria. There isn’t anything else quite like it. More details and great rates: Aria Resort at CityCenter Las Vegas (Make sure to click on the Photos and Rooms tabs).

If your vacation is a little further off, have no fear: Starting in January, we’ll be doing a six-part story (one for each of the hotel/condos and one about the shopping) accompanied by lots of fantastic photos. Stay subscribed!

CityCenter Latest News And Updates

Clarification – Last issue in the New Years Eve tips I noted a new “best kept” parking secret for New Years Eve if you want to get to The Strip and enjoy the action, but don’t want to end up parking well over a mile away (or get stuck in street closings). I need to clarify the following:

This is a “best kept secret” because it is only a couple of blocks from CityCenter but in an area filled with No Parking signs. With one exception: Harmon Ave. between Polaris and Ziebart has parking allowed on the south side of the street. Google Map

Governor Goodman Alert – We were way ahead of the curve letting you know that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman had a high probability of running for Governor (something gleaned through a conversation I personally had with the man himself). Goodman has just (as of today) switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent, something that he noted would be doing if he ran.

Goodman was a registered Republican up until he moved here in the mid-60’s. He told me that as an attorney living in Las Vegas in that era, you were a Democrat and that-was-that (explaining his Democrat party affiliation).

With the financial crisis facing Nevada State government for the next few years, being governor won’t be an enviable job. However… Mayor Goodman is now dipping more than just a toe in the water.

B3 Burrito Nascar Cafe

Sahara Closing? – I took the above picture recently at The Sahara. Their “big as a baby” burrito is free if you can finish it all! Sahara has also been in the news because they recently closed two of their hotel towers and their buffet. Some are calling it the demise of The Sahara. Not so fast:

  • One of their towers remains open with more rooms available than most hotels in the U.S. even dream of having. The two shuttered towers look to be used during New Years Eve and also will be brought back online when demand increases. Why? With the opening of Aria flooding the market with even more rooms, rates are really low and people who would normally stay at The Sahara are taking advantage by staying at higher end properties for cheap.
  • The buffet closing is said to be seasonal. They note it has been closed for periods of slow demand in the past. Note: If you have a car and miss the Sahara’s sub-$10.00 dinner buffet, take the three minute drive to Palace Station where prices and selection are similar.
  • I was over at The Sahara the week before Thanksgiving (traditionally a slow/dead week) on a weeknight and the place was hopping! All of the tables in the party pit were full, craps tables were full, slots and table games had nice crowds. Not exactly the picture of a place fixing to close permanently.

In Loving Memory – This newsletter is all about Las Vegas. If I have a health issue or my dog has fleas (actually, I don’t have a dog) or if I get in a fender-bender… that has nothing to do with Las Vegas. We’re here to bring the Vegas Vibe to you, give you a “being in Las Vegas” feeling when you can’t be here, and get you all revved up for your next trip.

However, I had the great misfortune of losing my Great Aunt Helene recently (pictured to the left on her 100’th birthday). My paternal grandparents died when I was young and my maternal grandparents lived 1000 miles away. Helene and (Great Uncle) Harold couldn’t have kids and lived in the same town as us, becoming default grandparents. Some relationships with relatives are closer than others, but Helene’s kind and undying support and encouragement from my very earliest days as a child to even my most recent years was unparalleled. Always helpful, always willing to listen, always full of kind words, never overly judgmental.

Financial help in school, early endeavors, and even in the early days of this business (no one knew what the internet was in 1996) can’t be understated. Even more important was the thoughts, prayers, notes, cards, and letters. Even though she now lived almost 1000 miles away, we wrote back-and-forth every couple of weeks with her last letter to me coming just a couple of weeks before her passing.

She would have been 102 in January and until this past year lived a wonderful life in great health. Trust me… we should all only hope to be that lucky. She took a serious fall a few months ago, had some complications, and went downhill from there. Knowing that she’d need a walker and could never garden again (her true passion) took its toll and she decided to call it a day. She was content knowing where was going. I will miss her until my final day.

I’ve been sharing my joy Las Vegas with you for over ten years now in this newsletter. Thank you for allowing me to share this memory with you.

Ted Newkirk AccessVegas.com Signature

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

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

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $26, Fitzgeralds from $21, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $25, Riviera from $29, Sahara from $21, Stratosphere from $27, Tropicana from $29, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

christmas tree las vegasMayor Oscar B. Goodman Turns On The Holiday Lights At The Fremont Street Experience Tree Lighting Ceremony – Mayor Oscar B. Goodman brought holiday cheer to the Fremont Street Experience on Tuesday, December 8 when he flipped the switch to light Las Vegas’ official Christmas tree.

The 50-foot tree was garnished with festive decorations and will stand below the 12.5 million lights of the Viva Vision screen. Directly following the ceremony, Fremont Street Experience’s holiday show, Candy & The Canes, performed a live song and dance show to holiday music hits. Also in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese, Fremont Street Experience President, Jeff Victor, and Santa Claus. The official Las Vegas Christmas tree will be on display at the Fremont Street Experience through the Christmas holiday.


Mayor Oscar Goodman, along with Santa Claus, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese and Fremont Street Experience President, Jeff Victor and friends, pose in front of the Fremont Street Experience Christmas tree moments after flipping the switch.

Chef Pierre Gagnaire To Open First U.S. Restaurant In The New Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas At CityCenter – Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, prominently situated at the entrance of CityCenter, the extraordinary new urban resort destination, will introduce the award-winning cuisine of three-star Michelin Chef Pierre Gagnaire at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire. Opening in December 2009, Twist will be Gagnaire’s first restaurant in the United States. The innovative menu will infuse the simplicity of classic French cuisine with a modern spin, relying on a pairing of flavors and textures for which Gagnaire is known. Located on the 23rd floor of the hotel, the Adam D. Tihany designed signature restaurant, seating 74, will feature a dramatic, glass staircase leading up to a suspended wine loft.

Grand Opening Of Crystals At CityCenter Brings Unprecedented Shopping Experience To Las Vegas Strip – Crystals at CityCenter opened its doors to the world, showcasing an unparalleled array of the world’s most exclusive retailers and forever redefining the Las Vegas retail experience. Opening day activities gave invited guests an early preview of this unique retail and entertainment district at the core of the extraordinary urban resort destination, CityCenter. Festivities began at noon with an invite-only shopping event for several thousand Las Vegas locals, for which a portion of the proceeds were donated to local charities including Nevada Cancer Institute, Keep Memory Alive, Nevada Ballet Theatre and The Smith Center for The Performing Arts. Crystals opened its doors to the public at 5 p.m.

Vanity Is Las Vegas’ Favorite Sin – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Opens Opulent New Nightclub With Grand Opening Party Hosted by Diddy – Celebrate your inner “Vanity” this New Year’s Eve inside the latest indulgent nightlife creation at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Located in the luxurious new HRH Tower, Vanity nightclub opens its doors Thursday, December 31st to ring in 2010, followed by the official grand opening party January 2nd with illustrious party host Diddy. Brought to you by The Nightlife Group (Body English, Rare 120, Rehab, Wasted Space) and co-owner Jason Giambi, Vanity focuses on the most important person in the room û you.

viva elvis las vegas cirque du soleilCirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis Tickets Available! – Viva ELVISÖ by Cirque du Soleil«, at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas is a harmonious fusion of acrobatics, dance and live music, and a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley.

Created in the image of The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – powerful, whimsical, sexy, truly unique and larger than life – the show highlights an American icon who transformed popular music and whose image embodies the excitement, freedom and turbulence of his era.

Significant moments in his life blend with the timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts.

Click For Viva Elvis by Cirque du Soleil
Tickets And Availability

Las Vegas Rocks Cafe At Neonopolis Is Open – Downtown Las Vegas’ Newest Restaurant Is A Historical Dining Experience – The Las Vegas Rocks CafÚ downtown at Neonopolis, located at the corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Blvd., had the outdoor sign installed and opened at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009. After a remodel, the restaurant’s founder Tony Sacca, longtime producer, host and entertainer, is unveiling his Las Vegas history-themed restaurant in the space once occupied by Jillian’s. The new eatery, open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, offers themed-style foods, an atmosphere filled with a historical perspective on Las Vegas, and live entertainment.

Hash House A Go Go Opens At Imperial Palace Las Vegas – Sin City’s Favorite Twisted Farm Food Makes Strip Debut – One of Las Vegas’ favorite restaurants, Hash House A Go Go is proud to open the doors of its newest restaurant today inside the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace location of Hash House A Go Go will offer the same over-the-top, unique and mouth-watering menu as its now famous off-the-Strip location and will operate under the direction of Hash House A Go Go co-owner and Nevada Restaurant Association’s 2009 “Nevada Restaurateur of the Year,” Jim Rees.

Two Legends Collide At UFC 109 When Randy Couture Battles Mark Coleman At Mandalay Bay Saturday, Feb. 6 – Scheduled Fights Include Josh Koscheck vs. Paulo Thiago II; Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Brandon Vera; Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen and Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg. In 1998, two of the greatest amateur wrestlers in the United States û Randy “The Natural” Couture and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman û were scheduled to meet in a relatively new battleground called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The colossal meeting of Hall of Fame fighters in the making for more than a decade will be live on pay-per-view from the Mandalay Bay Events Center and presented by Bud Light.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

My wife and I visited Vegas from Nov.8 to Nov. 13. We had a great time and felt relatively safe, but I have a concern.

We were in Las Vegas in the early ’80’ s. It was nothing to see people walking on the streets with drinks, but I don’t remember ever seeing anyone intoxicated, or witnessing any rowdiness whatsoever. When the city was catering to families, I noticed drinks on the street were cut to a minimum.

This time I wasn’t surprised, since the focus is on adults again, to see the drinks, as before, but the control seemed to be missing. Many people were drunk and very, very boisterous. When at a machine in the Flamingo, I heard shouting right behind me and turned in time to see a man pick up a chair and forcefully throw it at another person. Others in the group tried to intervene. The security guard that arrived was an elderly man who just stood there, because he certainly couldn’t physically handle the situation and then a girl who was thin and seemed to be not much more than 5 ft. tall, and she couldn’t stop it either. The police arrived very soon and broke everything up.

My memory in my last visits to Vegas was that the casinos seemed to have complete control over the behavior and atmosphere, and the security guards were physically able to handle security problems. Consequently, I never saw anything like this before. In Casino Royale, a man was so inebriated, that, as he was trying to cash money at the cashier’s cage, he fell down and had to be helped to his feet by the security guard who leaned him against the counter and walked away.

On the street, as I was crossing from the Bellagio to the Planet Hollywood, I met a young man who walked leaning on the girl he was with. He had shaken a beer bottle so it was foaming and he was yelling vulgar comments about it as loudly as he could. He stare at me and I just smiled. He then yelled, “You think I’m crazy!” and started cursing at me. The girl dragged him away and I kept walking.

As I mentioned, I still felt quite safe during the extent of my stay. I’m wondering, though, if this type of atmosphere continues, it inevitably could worsen and adversely affect safety in the future and discourage people from coming.

Fred

Ted Responds:

The hotels have privately (and sometimes not so privately) lamented that the extremely low room rates have brought in more of a “spring break” crowd year-around. You’ll see that start to fade away over the next 12-18 months as rates bounce back to normal (for Las Vegas). When you are letting people essentially rent a luxury sports car for the same price as a compact, you’re going to get people who take the thing out and crash it.

You’ll likely never see the return to the “100% family friendly” Las Vegas. That experiment was tried throughout the 90’s and deemed a failure. People with kids along generally don’t spend as much. You can’t gamble while keeping track elementary school kids, nor are you likely to take them to a high-end celebrity chef restaurant.

The exception is our upscale international visitors who who come to the U.S. for a couple of weeks at a time, spending a few days in a number of western U.S. cities and tend to enjoy shows such as The Lion King and some of the finer dining with their families.

Per security having control of things: I think that Las Vegas hotels made a major (and I mean major) mistake about 10 years ago when they decided to quit arming their security guards. Side Note: Many are still armed with a concealed weapon, not something publicly visible.

The notion was that they didn’t want the patrons to be scared by seeing a gun on an officer. It felt too wild-west. Big mistake. I know that I felt much safer seeing security armed. And believe me… all but the most rowdy drunk is going to pipe down at the sight of an armed officer.

I really enjoy your newsletter and have been a subscriber for a few years. I live in Las Vegas and would like to see a section for locals and special deals on show tickets etc.

Thanks,

Jeaninne Oliver

Ted Responds:

As only 11% of our newsletter readers are locals, we really can’t go overboard with locals only deals in the newsletter. However… Much of that stuff goes on our EasyVegasDeals.com site and our Access Vegas Twitter Feed.

Thanks for reading and telling your friends!

I really enjoy your newsletter and have been a subscriber for a few years. I live in Las Vegas and would like to see a section for locals and special deals on show tickets etc.

Thanks,

Jeaninne Oliver

Ted Responds:

As only 11% of our newsletter readers are locals, we really can’t go overboard with locals only deals in the newsletter. However… Much of that stuff goes on our EasyVegasDeals.com site and our Access Vegas Twitter Feed.

Thanks for reading and telling your friends!

My wife and I have been coming to Vegas once or twice a year on business for a little more than 20 years. We decided to celebrate our 35 wedding anniversary in your great city this year. Here are just a few of the stats from our jam-packed 5 day stay at Trump Las Vegas.

We played slots and table games in 19 casinos. We placed bets in 5 different sports books. We ate in 10 different restaurants. We took 17 cab rides. We perused 5 different hotel and retail shopping malls. We went to 8 shows. (I failed to count the adult beverages consumed.)

Our results: Newest, cleanest casino û The M. Best slot win û BallyÆs. Best table win û Palms. Best sports book win û CaesarÆs. Best restaurant (and view) û VooDoo Cafe atop the Rio. Best cab ride û All but 3. Best shopping û CaesarÆs. Best show (and the most fun) û The Improv Comedy Club at HarrahÆs. Best adult beverage û Toby KeithÆs.

Thanks for all of your insights that keep us up to date between visits. WeÆll be back in March 2010!

Chuck & Elaine From Maine

Ted Responds:

Thanks for the fantastic report and congratulations on your 35’th anniversary!

I second the best view being Voodoo Cafe atop The Rio. Especially at sunset watching The Strip light up (although keep in mind that they don’t open until 5 PM so it might be February before they open in time for sunset).

Crystals at CityCenter is going to give Caesars Forum Shops a run for the money. Make sure to check it out on your next visit!

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:

  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 25-28 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9

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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

December 16, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û December 9, 2009

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Ted has been on leave due to his family’s loss. He is scheduled to return next issue. Please enjoy all of the great information prepared by staff!

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

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

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $26, Fitzgeralds from $21, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $25, Riviera from $29, Sahara from $25, Stratosphere from $27, Tropicana from $29, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Las Vegas New Years Eve 2009
Events Available Now!

Eve The Nightclub Las Vegas – Toast the night away at Eva Longoria Parker’s new Hotspot
GhostBar Las Vegas – Ghostbar presents: The Spectacular Spectacular New Year’s Eve
Prive Las Vegas – NYE hosted by Holly Madison w/ sounds by Jermaine Dupri!
Rumjungle Las Vegas – 5 Hour Open Bar – New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas Strip
Hawaiian Tropic Zone Las Vegas – The ultimate NYE destination in Las Vegas
Lavo Las Vegas – Lavo New Year’s Eve hosted by Nicole Richie
Rain Las Vegas – Featuring “The Spectacular Spectacular” with Paul Oakenfold
Vanity Las Vegas – Vanity New YearÆs Eve with DJ Vice
Pure Las Vegas – Pure New Year`s Eve featuring 50 Cent
Body English Las Vegas – Body English New YearÆs Eve with Eric Cubeechee
Blush Boutique Nightclub Las Vegas – High Society 2010: An Upscale New YearÆs Eve
Moon Nightclub Las Vegas – The Spectacular Spectacular New Year`s Eve ft. DJ Z Trip
LAX Las Vegas – LAX New Year`s Eve hosted by The Black Eyed Peas
Christian Audigier The Nightclub Las Vegas – New Year`s Eve at Christian Audigier with Schwayze
XS Las Vegas – XS NYE 2010
Tryst Las Vegas – TRYST New Year`s Eve
Drai’s Las Vegas – Drai`s NYE Afterhours : Ringing in 2010
TAO Las Vegas – Tao NYE hosted by Christina Aguilera
V Bar Las Vegas – Dance the night away w/ Video DJ Andrew B.
Lagasse’s Stadium Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve 2010
Gonzalez y Gonzalez Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve 2010 at Gonzalez Y Gonzalez
Caramel Bar & Lounge Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve at Caramel in Bellagio
Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas – NYE 2010 w/ Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys) and DJ Muggs
Brand Steakhouse Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve at Brand Steakhouse in Monte Carlo Casino
Diablo’s Cantina Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve at Diablo’s
Gold Lounge Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve at Gold Lounge
Revolution Lounge Las Vegas – New Year’s Eve at The Beatles Revolution Lounge
The Bank Las Vegas – Robin Thicke performs live for NYE 2010
First Food & Bar Las Vegas – FIRST Food & Bar New Year’s Eve
Jet Nightclub Las Vegas – JET New Year`s Eve featuring Pete Wentz and DJ Skeet Skeet
Haze Nightclub Las Vegas – David Guetta
Cathouse Las Vegas – Special New Year’s Eve 2010 Celebration

Our Las Vegas New Years Eve Tips:

  • The Clubs – As you’ve seen above, absolutely no shortage of amazing nightclub activity happening for Las Vegas New Years Eve. You’ll be (for the most part) inside, out of the cold and each club pulls out ALL of the stops to make it their biggest, most incredible night of the year. Clicking the links in the above club list will give you details for each event. You may not see the outdoor fireworks, but you’ll certainly be creating some of your own!
  • Downtown Fremont Street Las Vegas – Note: At press time, we have no info on the specifics yet, so we’re just telling you about years past. Consider this controlled chaos. For an entry fee of about $30 (no charge for downtown hotel guests), various bands play throughout the evening as revelers fill the Fremont Street Experience. At midnight, a special “fireworks” show plays out on the four-block long overhead screens. Still outdoors and still a party, but easier to duck inside and not quite as rowdy as The Strip.Las Vegas New Year's Eve 2004 2005 058

    Las Vegas New Year's Eve 2004 2005 072

  • The Las Vegas Strip – If you want to party with hundreds of thousands of your “closest” friends, this party can’t be beat. The entire Las Vegas Strip is shut down to traffic (generally starts closing down around 8 PM) and you get the chance to booze it up standing right in the middle of one of the world’s most famous streets.During this time, hotels only allow admittance for their guests (including parking in their garages), so scope out the porta-pottties early in the night. Hint: Ask any cop. Temps are usually in the low 40’s, although that doesn’t stop many from wearing very little. How much of a crowd do you want to be in? Simple: The closer to the center of The Strip, the more tightly pack the crowd. Want elbow room? Get yourself south of CityCenter or north of Wynn and keep walking away from the center of The Strip until the crowd thins.

    New “best kept” parking secret with The Strip closed down? Use Russell to get across The Strip (which is not closed that far south) and park in the industrial area just across the I-15 from CityCenter. Quick walk across the overpass and you are in the (city) center of the action. Google Map Example

    You’ll have a good view of the fireworks just about anywhere from The Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay as they erupt at midnight from the roofs of various hotels up and down The Strip.
    Use these resources to help you decide if The Strip is where you want to be:

    Las Vegas New Years Eve Fireworks Video
    Las Vegas Strip New Years Eve Partiers/Crowds Video
    Las Vegas Strip New Years Eve Partiers/Crowds Photos (NSFW)

  • Other Events – No shortage of activities (many with little or no charge) both up and down The Strip and at hot spots around Las Vegas. For the most complete, constantly updated list we have (bookmark it and keep checking back), click to our Las Vegas New Years Eve 2009 page.
The King Of Country George Strait Announces 2010 Tour With Special Guest Superstar Reba McEntire – The “King of Country” and 17-time Country Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” nominee George Strait will kick off his 2010 arena tour early next year and this time, he is bringing along a special lady – Reba McEntire. The two superstars are scheduled to perform together on the MGM Grand Garden Arena stage Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Strait has the most No. 1 singles (57) of any artist in history, including Elvis.

Holly Madison Ushers In The 2009 Harvest Of Beaujolais Nouveau At Paris Las Vegas – Celebrating the classic French tradition at Paris Las Vegas, blonde bombshell Holly Madison and a Lucille Ball impersonator kicked-off the resorts 3rd annual Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau celebration with a traditional grape stomp, reminiscent of the iconic “Lucy” scene. According to French Law, Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November. The time-honored event is celebrated at midnight throughout the world as people anxiously await the current year’s vintage. The Las Vegas festivities were held at 3 p.m., coinciding with midnight in Paris, France. Holly Madison, “Lucy” and Yann Bourigault, North America Export Director of Les Vins Georges DuBoeuf were on hand at Paris Las Vegas to unveil this year’s custom designed bottle and were among the first to sample the 2009 harvest.

Las Vegas Nascar 2009 Championship Week – Event was a huge success. Even if you don’t care about NASCAR, you must check out the videos of NASCAR drivers doing burnouts on the Las Vegas Strip!

Cookin’ With Jazz Brunch At Country Club – A Modern American Steakhouse At Wynn Las Vegas – Every Sunday, The Country Club brings a bit of The Big Easy to Vegas with a new “Cookin’ with Jazz Brunch.” Guests start with a complementary “Eye Opener” cocktail and indulge in country-inspired dishes from the appetizer buffet, grilling stations and entrees from chef Carlos Guia’s a la carte brunch menu. A live jazz band further enhances the New Orleans vibe. The “Cookin’ with Jazz Brunch” prix fixe, Sundays from 11:30am-2:30pm.


Photo credit Las Vegas News Bureau/Glenn Pinkerton

The Mirage Celebrates 20 Years of Trendsetting on the Las Vegas Strip – Las Vegas’ first true destination resort, The Mirage, commemorated 20 years of fun and excitement on The Strip with a special celebration in the hotel’s lobby. Guests marveled at the three-foot-tall cake, a replica of the building itself with three distinct sides, created by executive chefs at the property. Scott Sibella, COO and President of The Mirage, and dozens of the property’s “day one” employees were also on hand to celebrate the exciting last two decades. Almost 600 employees have been with the property since it’s opening in 1989, including current Vice President, Franz Kallao, who started his career checking in guests on opening day.

Nutcracker In Paris – Nevada Ballet Theatre Brings Las Vegas An All-New Production Of The Nutcracker To The Paris Theatre – Nevada Ballet Theatre announced today it will present a new production of its annual holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, at the beautiful Paris Las Vegas. Choreographed by Peter Anastos, this production will make its Las Vegas debut on Friday, December 18 in the 1,533-seat Paris Theatre, Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The show will run through Thursday, December 24. A traditional story ballet, The Nutcracker has become a highly-anticipated holiday event, beloved by families across the country. Anastos’ unique version includes imaginative and lighthearted choreography complemented by ornate sets and costumes by designer A. Christina Giannini.

Winter Treatments And Packages At Canyon Ranch SpaClub Enrich And Rejuvenate Skin For The Holidays – Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian and at The Palazzo introduces spa treatments designed specifically to prevent winter dullness and dryness and to protect and nourish-a perfect holiday gift for the skin. Special packages of multiple treatments include breakfast or lunch at Canyon Ranch Grill and access to the incredible Aquavana thermal suite. Canyon Ranch SpaClub Winter Services include: Enrich Massage – Massage with the amazing new Enrich body oil ÔÇô pure nature, with nothing added. This natural dry-skin oil will nourish and soften parched skin. Macadamia, olive, coconut and evening primrose oils condition, while geranium, ylang ylang and vanilla leave skin exotically scented. Guests will be able to see and feel the difference with seriously soft, smooth and healthy-looking skin. Treatment lasts 50-minutes.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Ted has been on leave due to his familie’s loss. He is scheduled to return next issue.

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:

  • Hanukkah Dec. 12 – Dec. 19
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 25-28 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9

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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

December 9, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û December 2, 2009

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Ted has been off the past week mourning the loss of a very close and important relative. He will return next week. Please enjoy all of the news and information prepared by staff.

We have the very first of what will be many, many photo sets on CityCenter as it opens in stages over the next couple of weeks. Enjoy the first few!

CityCenter Las Vegas Photos

CityCenter Las Vegas Grand Opening

CityCenter Las Vegas Grand Opening

CityCenter Las Vegas Grand Opening

CityCenter Las Vegas Grand Opening

CityCenter Las Vegas News Stories

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

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

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $26, Fitzgeralds from $23, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $25, Riviera from $29, Sahara from $24, Stratosphere from $28, Tropicana from $29, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Ultimate Fighting Championship Presents UFC 108: Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva Saturday, January 2 At MGM Grand – The UFC announced that the bout between former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and Brazilian knockout artist Thiago Silva will headline UFC 108, a result of Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira having to pull out of his fight with Cain Velasquez due to a severe left elbow injury. UFC 108: EVANS vs. SILVA, presented by “Bayonetta,” will be held Saturday, Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Sammy Hagar Rocks The Las Vegas Strip With Opening Of Signature Cabo Wabo Cantina – Sammy Hagar has opened his hard rockin’ dining and nightlife experience, Cabo Wabo Cantina, on the Las Vegas Strip. The two-level, 15,000-square-foot Cantina brings the best of Cabo San Lucas to Vegas, with its prime location at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Mandarin Oriental Opens – Prestigious Luxury Hotel And Residences In New CityCenter Development – Opening December 4, 2009, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas will be a sophisticated sanctuary of modern elegance in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Ideally located at the entrance of CityCenter, the extraordinary urban resort destination, the 47-story, non-gaming hotel is poised to bring spectacular accommodations, superlative dining, an unparalleled spa, and the legendary service of the renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to Las Vegas for the first time.

Disney’s The Lion King And Mandalay Bay Present A Special Winter Offer For Locals – Just in time for the holiday season, Disney’s THE LION KING and Mandalay Bay are now offering locals an opportunity to take advantage of the newest production on the Las Vegas Strip. Locals can enjoy 50 percent off orchestra and mezzanine seats beginning Wednesday, November 25, 2009. Offer is valid for purchases from Nov.24 – Dec. 24, 2009, and performances from Jan. 4 – Feb. 11, 2010

Back Alley Bar At The Stratosphere Hotel & Casino Goes Country For NFR – The Back Alley Bar will go country in honor of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) held through December 12, 2009. Back Alley Bar will feature the country/rock band D-Zire, performing nightly from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., along with Jack Daniels prize giveaways, drink specials and delicious down-home dishes like pulled pork sandwiches. American Superstars show tribute artists Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood will also make special appearances. Stratosphere patrons will also be eligible to earn drawing entries to win tickets to attend the NFR.

Barry Manilow Brings New Show To Paris Las Vegas – Celebrated Music Legend Signs Two-Year Deal With Paris Las Vegas And AEG Live – Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow is making music and magic at Paris Las Vegas with a new resident show. On March 5, 2010 Manilow will throw open the doors to the Paris Theatre at Paris Las Vegas with a reimagined stage show that will be both more intimate and more exciting than ever before. Manilow will perform 78 shows each year for two years at Paris Las Vegas. The shows are produced by AEG Live in conjunction with Paris Las Vegas. Tickets for performances March 5 through July 18, 2010 are on-sale today at 9 a.m. EST.

Hash House A Go Go To Open New Location Inside Imperial Palace Dec. 10 – Restaurant Famous For Twisted Farm Food Makes Its Way To The Las Vegas Strip – Imperial Palace is proud to announce that one of Sin City’s favorite eateries, Hash House A Go Go will open its second Las Vegas location inside the hotel-casino on Dec. 10. Hash House A Go Go is famous for its creative menu offerings, over-sized portions, unique presentation and a tradition of using only the freshest ingredients. Said Rick Mazer, President of Imperial Palace. “It’s a fresh, funky dining experience and there’s not currently anything like it on the Strip.”

Grand Opening Of Vdara Hotel & Spa Offers First Access To Spectacular Resort Destination, CityCenter – Celebratory events marked the first opening at CityCenter, the extraordinary urban resort destination destined to refine and redefine the Las Vegas Strip. Company executives and local dignitaries participated in a press event and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Vdara Hotel & Spa.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

This feature will return next week.

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:

  • Hanukkah Dec. 12 – Dec. 19
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 25-28 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9

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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

December 2, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û November 25, 2009

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper
  • Las Vegas Photos
    (Send A Free E-Card or Download Full Size For Computer Wallpaper!)

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – Going into Thanksgiving week, temps have been trying to push 70 degrees (F) although it gets aábrisk as the evening wears on. Average highs for December and January are identical: 57 for a high and 37 for a low. February brings 63 degrees for an average high. If you live in cold climates, planning a February vacation here to Vegas is a smart move. You’ll have something to look forward to and get to escape the worst of the winter doldrums!

New Cher Dates – We’ve added Cher’s dates stretching well into 2010. See the story in this issue. One of the most common questions we get is “I’m coming such-and-such week… who will be playing?” The answer is simple: When we get the info, we add it. Just stay subscribed and keep your eyes on the newsletter sidebar. Or… go to our Access Vegas Headliners Concerts section, surf to your dates, bookmark that specific page, and check back often. Keep in mind that many concerts and events are only scheduled a couple of months out.

Facebook Fan Page Winners – Will be announced next week. We picked up some cool swag (stuff) to send out! Not an AccessVegas.com Facebook fan yet? Use the link in our Quick Info Menu at the top of the newsletter.

Don’t Forget The Turkey – We have an extensive list of dining and entertainment opportunities over the long Thanksgiving weekend here at Thanksgiving 2009 Las Vegas Dining/Events. If local or visiting us later in the week, make sure to check it out. Also keep in mind that virtually every restaurant in ever casino has a special Thanksgiving menu available on Thanksgiving day.

Keeping my section short this week as most of our U.S. readers are looking forward to a long four day weekend starting with Thanksgiving this coming Thursday. Me? I’m thankful for all of our great readers who love visiting Las Vegas. This job never gets dull.

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:

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $28, Fitzgeralds from $23, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $33, Riviera from $27, Sahara from $20, Stratosphere from $24, Tropicana from $28, Tuscany from $20, Click For More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Lion King

London Cast of Disney’s The Lion King Welcomes Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman – The London cast of Disney’s THE LION KING welcomed Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman as he was in town to promote the inaugural British Airways non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Las Vegas, which launched Oct. 25, 2009. While in town Goodman attended the spectacular production, now seen by more than 50 million people worldwide, and headed backstage at the Lyceum Theatre following the performance to pose for photos with principal cast members Tanya Edwards (Nala), Sakhumzi Mbele (Mufasa), Brown Lindiwe Mkhize (Rafiki), Andile Gumbi (Simba) along with two iconic Las Vegas showgirls.

Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night Tour With Special Guest Miranda Lambert At Mandalay Bay – Reigning Country Music Association (CMA) and Academy of Country Music (ACM) Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley recently announced his highly successful American Saturday Night tour will extend into 2010 and include a stop at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, Feb. 20. The show will feature Paisley, along with special guests Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore.

Cher
Photo Credit: Denise Truscello

Cher Returns To The Colosseum At Caesars Palace With New Show Changes And The Addition Of Spring 2010 Dates – Due to overwhelming demand, Spring 2010 performances of Cher at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace will go on sale Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. These new available tickets will include 24 performances from April 10 -25 and May 8 -30. In addition to more performances, the pop icon will return to The Colosseum stage on November 19 with a newly added opening sequence and even more glitzy Bob Mackie costumes. Celebrating old-time Hollywood glamour and style, these new additions feature dazzling theatrics that pay tribute to the grace and timelessness of the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Trace Adkins To Perform At The Pearl At The Palms During NFR – The Pearl goes country during the National Finals Rodeo with a special performance by country music sensation Trace Adkins on Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Trace Adkins is a multi-platinum country music recording star who has remained a chartbuster for more than 11 years. He has become one of country music’s top headlining performers and has sold millions of records, won dozens of industry awards and is a member of the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.

Nevada Ballet Theatre Names Marie Osmond As Its ‘Woman Of The Year’ For The 2010 Black & White Ball – Nevada Ballet Theatre is honored to announce singer, author, television personality, Broadway performer and philanthropist Marie Osmond as its ‘Woman of the Year’ for the 2010 Black & White Ball. As one-half of the beloved singing duo “Donny & Marie,” this all-around entertainer will be honored on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Paris Las Vegas. Surrounded by arts supporters as well as local dignitaries and celebrities, this iconic performer will accept her ‘Woman of the Year’ award in the Champagne Ballroom at Paris Las Vegas, following an elegant evening of cocktails, dinner and lively entertainment. This year, in place of a VIP reception held prior to the event, those guests will instead be treated to a special VIP post Black & White Ball Meet and Greet with Osmond.

Mario Barth At The Mirage: New Concept By Mario Barth Combines Tattooing And Nightlife – Tattoo mogul Mario Barth partners with The Mirage and The Light Group as Las Vegas’ new triple threat. Barth has created Mario Barth at The Mirage, an exclusive lifestyle tattoo studio, interactive lounge and bar room. The baroque inspired venue is set to open its doors the first quarter of 2010. The 4,000 square foot venue is strewn with marble flooring, lavish fabrics, extravagant chandeliers and chairs fit for a king. The traditional elaborate decor will be balanced with a rock ‘n’ roll edge including glass skulls which will adorn the bar.

MGM Grand Spa’s New Treatments Provide Soothing Relief From Stresses Of Day – The pressures and anxieties of the times are leaving more and more people with yet another problem of unwanted kinks, aches and pains. Calming comfort, however, can be found in the therapeutic new treatments of MGM Grand Spa. Perfect for releasing stress, MGM Grand Spa’s Headache Remedy uses a steady yet gentle massaging touch on the face, neck and shoulders to reduce inflammation and clear blockages. A soothing Ayurvedic Shirodhara experience of streaming hot oil targeting the center of the forehead, or “third eye,” completes this refreshing 50-minute treatment.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

We continue to get email asking about Nevada’s smoking ban, so we’ll take some time to address it. There certainly is some confusion. If you look at a map of states with smoking bans, you’ll see that Nevada has one. If you come visit Las Vegas, you’ll find people smoking all over the place. So what gives?

Nevada’s “Clean Indoor Air Act” banned smoking in most public places with two exceptions: Casino floors and bars that don’t serve food. The fine? $100. The number of people who have been tickets and fined? Zero.

Why isn’t the law enforced? A couple of reasons:

* Enforcement was deemed to be the job of the health department. The rational was that our local law enforcement had far better things to do than trying to chase smokers down. However, the health department equally does not have the manpower to send someone running each time a smoking complaint is called in.

* Southern Nevada’s politicians are (with rare exception) long time Las Vegas residents who are partial to the concept of less regulation. The smoking ban was viewed by many as a California-style “nanny state” law which was voted in under the very confusing circumstances of two similar, competing ballot measures. Could the county commission pull the liquor licenses of non-complying businesses or lean on them in other ways? Yes. Do they have the political will? Probably not.

There is talk of either an enforcement plan, or the health department giving demerits for restaurants (usually bar/grill type places) that ignore the smoking ban. áWhat’s the hold-up? The minute this is enforced, restaurant/bar owners are poised to sue.

Why? Laws have to be equally enforced. You can’t make a law that forces Ford dealers to close at 6 PM while Chevy dealers are allowed to stay open as late as they wish. Allowing casinos and some bars that hold unlimited gaming licenses the ability to allow smoking while those holding limited licenses (most bar/grills) are prohibited from doing so is seen as inequitable.

So why not just change the law? No politicians are going to butt heads with the gaming industry. It drives our state and if casinos felt that being non-smoking was in their best interest, they would have done it a long time ago. A two week smoking ban in New Jersey (long story) caused significant revenue loss for casinos.

Could the people vote in a stiffer ban? Sure they could. They could take a knife and cut off their big toe if they were so inclined. Gaming is still a very major employer here (and with the current condition of the economy, it is a prime and very valuable employer). When you live here, you either work in gaming, work in tourism, or know people that do. Or you run a business where many of your customers do. No one except the most ardent anti-smoker is going to vote in a law that could very well result in them, family, or friends losing jobs.

So what to do?

Nonsmokers – Most of the casinos built in the past 15 years have incredible ventilation. Unless a smoker is sitting right next to you, it seldom is an issue. If everyone at your table is not smoking, you can often even ask to have the table be designated non-smoking (to keep a smoker from walking up and sitting down).

Another trick (and I’m serious): Take the ashtrays from the machines next to you and move them a few slots away. Don’t go nuts with this and clean out your entire slot bank. Just move them a couple of machines down. The smoker probably doesn’t want to bother you anymore than you want to be next to them.

Smokers – Keep in mind that while the law is not enforced, business owners continue to decide whether they allow smoking or not. (They were forced to put up the No Smoking signs. That does not necessarily mean that the business owner agrees with it or prohibits smoking). Even if you see a No Smoking sign, you can always ask “Can I smoke here, or can you point me to somewhere that I can?” In addition to casino floors, many hotels and restaurants have very comfortable outdoor food and drink areas that can be used much of the year.

Me? I don’t smoke cigarettes, but also am not bothered by second-hand smoke. I’m just clearing up questions related to the issue and posing some suggestions for those on both sides of the coin

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, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • 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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

November 25, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û November 11, 2009

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

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

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Seasonal Vegas Information
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – Overnight temps in the upper-30’s (F) over the weekend have been a reminder that our two months of winter is almost upon us here. Leave the swimsuit and home, but come and enjoy the things that never stop: Our world-class hotels, shows, and celebrity chef dining!

Plus the NFL playoffs and college bowl games will be in full swing December and January. Even if you don’t usually bet sports or if your favorite team isn’t playing, you can alway make what we call a “TV bet”: This is where you put some money on a nationally televised game (one that will probably be on all the TV’s at every hotel and in your room) just to give yourself some rooting interest. Think about it: Going to a movie (with the concession stand) is going to set you back $20 for 1.5 hours. That same amount will give you rooting interest in a three hour ballgame.

las vegas new years eve fireworks

Good News For New Years Eve – Last year, the organizers of Las Vegas’ New Years Eve fireworks show really dropped the ball. Fire officials upped the ante for levels of inspections needed before fireworks were shot off from hotel roofs. Fireworks organizers Las Vegas Events decided not to spend the extra (reported) $100,000 for the inspections and simply shot them off from parking garage roofs. Which just sucked. (I like to be eloquent, but no other way to put that debacle). Unless you were right under then, you couldn’t see them.

The good news? This year, they will be back to shooting them off from the tops of various hotels along the entire three miles of The Strip offering the incredible show that people have come to expect and enjoy since 2001!

Next week, we’ll have a map of fireworks locations for you and in two weeks, we’ll have a complete New Years Eve site up giving you everything you’d want to know about enjoying our one-of-a-kind party. In the meantime, a couple of archived videos from earlier this decade to get you in the mood:

* Las Vegas New Years Eve Fireworks Video
* Las Vegas New Years Revelers

Need A New Years Warm-Up? – CityCenter’s official December 16’th grand opening will feature plenty of fireworks as well. That particular week (after National Finals Rodeo and before the ramp-up to New Years) is traditionally quiet here. If you can do a pre-Christmas mid-week getaway, you’ll find rates as low as $25 for Las Vegas Strip hotels. Check out our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals for those rock-bottom rates.

The Latest Vegas Controversy – Is unfortunately something I can’t really discuss or this email will end up in too many filters and never make it to you guys. However… if you didn’t see the story of the Deja Vu-Mobile on CNN or your local news, check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n4KnW00cC8

I personally can’t believe this is an issue. I’ve never been the the club. I don’t know anybody involved with it. I do know this:

1. I’ve had friends from all over the country asking me about this! Deja Vu was able to do what the LVCVA (convention authority… same people who dropped the ball on the fireworks last year) have never been able to do, and that is Create A Viral Buzz Worldwide About Las Vegas (without tanking the tens of millions the LVCVA goes through with little to show for it… that they skim from each and every hotel reservation you make).

In our current age of cell phones, Twitter, Flickr and similar, you can bet that tens of thousands of photos of this truck have been taken and sent by visitors to their friends all over the world (not to mention posted on blogs, social networking services and online photo galleries). That in just the one week the truck was running.

2. This is Las Vegas, not Birmingham, Alabama. Not Salt Lake City, Utah. The mobile dancers featured are no different than the Crazy Girls ads that have blanketed our tourism areas for years. And not any more distracting than many of the other sights and sounds that drivers face up and down The Strip.

Count The “Trucking Company” Owners – I’ve been in the Golden Gate Las Vegas downtown many more times than I’ll ever be able to count. Hundreds at least, often stopping in for their world-famous shrimp cocktail ($1.99 and a bargain at that) or one of their amazing sandwiches. For as long as I can remember, the deli area has been adorned it the above photo of hotel parters circa 1973. If you think all that stuff about “the boys” running Las Vegas is mostly myth, just take a look at some of these guys.

Twitter Issue – We use software to manage our Tweets (since we send so many of them and want to space them so they don’t hit you over the head with five at a time). Unfortunately, a wrong setting started publicly tweeting everyone we made a friend request to and created a Tweet each time. I believe we have this fixed and apologize for the inconvenience. You can follow our Twitter account at http://twitter.com/AccessVegas

Congratulations To Our Winners – Blue Man Group contest winners were Eric from Langley, BC, Paul from Marstons Mills, MA, and Thomas from Cortland, OH. Alize French Restaurant dinner winner was Joey from Cabot, AR. New giveaways coming soon.

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:

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $28, Fitzgeralds from $21, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $33, Riviera from $27, Sahara from $20, Stratosphere from $22, Tropicana from $29, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – It’s Vegas, Baby. And, If You Haven’t Been In The Last Six Months – Heck, Even The Last Two – There’s A Whole New Town Waiting For You To Explore. Here’s A Look At The Hottest New Venues, Now And On The Horizon:

* Indulge your sweet tooth at Sugar Factory at The Mirage. From signature ‘couture lollipops’ to tasty candy confections, this new shop is a sweet lover’s dream. And with celebrity fans such as Britney Spears and Kim Kardashian, you never know who might be standing in line with you.

* B.B. King’s Blues Club has just made its Las Vegas debut at The Mirage. From early morning to late night, the restaurant serves the best in Creole cuisine (think Lip Smacking Ribs and Banana Bread Pudding) and will feature live music by the 11-piece B.B. King’s All Star Band nightly.

* Step into the role of a crime scene investigator at CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand. Based on the top-rated television series, this interactive exhibit challenges guests to solve one of three true-to-life mysteries using real scientific principles and investigative techniques.

* Two of The Strip’s newest headliners now can be found at Monte Carlo. Popular Las Vegas music act Zowie Bowie and comedian/impressionist Frank Caliendo are must-see experiences. Zowie Bowie’s unique blend of today’s hottest dance, hip-hop and Top 40 music has crowds on their feet dancing to the sizzling sound while Frank Caliendo’s side-splitting comedy features dead-on impressions of such well-known celebrities as Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Dr. Phil and John Madden.

* In December, Las Vegas will change forever when CityCenter makes its December debut. Opening December 1, Vdara Hotel & Spa will offer all-suite accommodations to visitors who love the excitement of Vegas but prefer to enjoy it in a more exclusive, non-gaming and smoke-free environment. On December 3, Crystals will become the city’s preeminent shopping destination, pairing dramatic architecture with some of the world’s most elite brands including Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The next day, Mandarin Oriental – renowned for legendary service – will introduce its celebrated hospitality to Las Vegas for the first time. On December 16, ARIA Resort & Casino will deliver an experience like no other before it – from first-in-the-market fine dining concepts by some of the world’s premier chefs and state-of-the-art guestroom technology to groundbreaking LEED-certified sustainable design and a thought-provoking public art collection.

Tacos & Tequila Hosts Las Vegas’ Hottest Entertainers At Mischieve Wednesdays – The Girls of FANTASY Take On Thunder From Down Under In Live Human Rooster Fight

The cast of Thunder From Down Under and FANTASY prepare for the Cock-a-Doodle Duel, all part of T&T’s Mischieve Wednesdays. The event lineup included Marty Ammiott, Yesi, David Moore, Craig Stott, Tracey, David Hughes, Jennifer and Matthew Fardell.

Disney’s The Lion King And Mandalay Bay Welcome New Young Cubs To The Pridelands – Disney’s landmark musical event THE LION KING is pleased to welcome Aubrey Joseph as “Young Simba” and Diamond White as “Young Nala” to the company. Johnson and White made their Las Vegas debuts on Monday, October 19. Produced by Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions, THE LION KING is currently playing at Mandalay Bay Theatre. Aubrey Omari Joseph, 10, is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He loves football, basketball and swimming and was also nominated as student of the month along with the most talented in school. THE LION KING in Las Vegas will be Joseph’s theatrical debut.

Sneak Peak At Crystals Retail And Entertainment District CityCenter – As the front door experience to CityCenter, Crystals’ winding pathways, extraordinary features and vibrant design elements will welcome guests directly from Las Vegas Boulevard to create their own journey. It will be a magnificent gathering place where guests can shop, dine and explore while enjoying a unique sense of place at the heart of the world-famous Strip. Designed by internationally renowned architects Studio Daniel Libeskind* and David Rockwell, Crystals will be an experiential environment combining dramatic architecture with exclusive offerings from the world’s most-elite brands.

Comedy Megastar Bill Engvall Delivers Family-Friendly Humor To the Treasure Island Theatre – Texas native, author and platinum recording comedic sensation Bill Engvall returns to the Treasure Island Theatre December 3-4 and 10-11with his fun-poking, family-entertaining stand-up performance. Showtimes are 9 p.m. What began as a shot in the dark at a Texas nightclub quickly launched funnyman Bill Engvall to comedic superstardom. The Galveston native originally aspired to be a teacher when he discovered his gift for making people laugh.

Holly Madison To Stomp Grapes At The 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration At Paris Las Vegas On Wednesday, Nov. 18 – Highly anticipated celebrity kick-off for Paris Las Vegas‘ annual Beaujolais Nouveau celebration. This year the resort welcomes Holly Madison and a Lucille Ball impersonator for a traditional grape stomping that is reminiscent of the iconic “Lucy” scene on the property’s Strip-side harvest-themed patio. The daytime event coincides with the start of festivities at midnight in Paris, France. Honoring the long tradition regulated by French law, Beaujolais Nouveau is released no sooner than the third Thursday of November, when it is ready for consumption just weeks after the harvest. Thus, at one minute past midnight, huge celebrations are held all over the world to taste the latest wine of the harvest.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra To Rock Orleans Arena With Two Shows On December 5 – The world-renowned Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), one of rock music’s biggest arena attractions, will return to Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena with two shows on Saturday, December 5 at 3 and 8 p.m. The band’s concert performances continue to surprise their loyal fan base with a combination of the arena-rock spectacles of Pink Floyd and the musicality of Queen.

Society Cafe Encore Adds Additional Dinner Options With “Triple B” Menu – Find creative twists in burgers and barbeque, topped off with perfectly paired beers. Society CafÚ Encore, recently selected as one of the “Best New Restaurants in America” by Esquire magazine, brings casual dining to a unique, sophisticated level with the new “Triple B” menu.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hielloooooooooo Sin City… So what’s the latest going on with the Imperial Palace? Are they going to remain open or at some point are they going to demo it as the planned to do a few years back? We always stayed there being it was dead center to it all.We loved it there,we were always treated like “ROYALTY” from everyone.

We come out several times a year ,in fact we were seriously thinking of relocating at some point.

So what’s new with the Greatest Entertainers of all time, Our Beloved Siegfried & Roy. We miss them so very, very much,we were one of their favorites we took in their show everytime we came out, which was several time a year. So what does that say about them & for us.We also miss seeing the tigers & other other animals as well. By the was is it true that Celine is going to return to Ceasars in 2010?

Don & Maureen from PA

Ted Responds:

We’ve debunked the Imperial Palace implosion rumors a number of times, including dismissing them when they very first surfaced. You won’t see any demolitions in Las Vegas for a long time. The resort companies learned their lesson.

Roy continues his recovery but between his health issues and the age of the duo, they have done their last performance (which was a special one-time short act at a high-end charity dinner earlier this year).

According to local reports, Celine is trying really hard to have a baby. I can’t imagine her returning to Caesars until either she completes the pregnancy or finds that having a second child isn’t in the cards right now. Cher announced a ton of new 2010 dates for Caesars and we’ll have those tickets available soon.

We’ve enjoyed your newsletter throughout the years but, sad to say, we’ll probably be reading it less in the future. We’ve been going to Vegas at least once, & usually twice, per year for the past 20 years. We last went in January 2009 & stayed downtown where we’ve been staying for the past 5 years. The January trip was horrible from a gambling point of view. It was like there was a vacuum cleaner sucking up our money as soon as we sat down at the blackjack & roulette tables. It wasn’t fun at all. We realize it was just a run of bad luck but it couldn’t mask the overall big picture.

How Vegas has changed. The word “value” is nowhere to be found.

Nothing Vegas does now is in the interest of the gambling patron. High table minimums. Blackjack that pays 6:5 instead of 3:2. Even the Plaza & Vegas Club downtown have installed some continuous shuffling machines at the blackjack tables which certainly aren’t friends of gamblers. No double downs allowed after splitting at some casinos. We remember slot areas with noise as people cheered their winnings. You’d be hard pressed to hear anything now with the seemingly tight machines everywhere.

We thought we would have mellowed some after the unhappy 1/09 trip & would be looking forward to our annual Christmas trip in December. However, that’s not the case. We can’t get over the perception that everything that can be done to lessen our chance of winning is being done. It’s like being slapped as soon as you get there & then accepting the fact that you’ll be continuously slapped as long as you’re there. We’re tired of being slapped. We start to doubt our intelligence when we rationalize losing by saying we’re having fun. This is not fun when the losing & unfavorable rules appear to be so calculated. I think we’re done with Vegas.

Skip & Darlene from Houston

Ted Responds:

I appreciate the input and have taken casino management to task over the tight machines and poor odds. Having said that, much has changed in the (nearly) year since you visited.

1. Hotels rooms are a bargain. It isn’t even funny how low the prices are. You can stay at a pretty decent hotel/resort for less than a Motel 6 is going to cost you in much of the country.

Especially downtown, food and drink specials abound. They are easy to find… the casinos have basically plastered the front of their buildings with posters and banners touting them. Food on The Strip still can be a little more expensive unless you really keep your eyes open, but specials abound. And not just cheap prime rib or similar. As we’ve been publishing the past few weeks, many high-end restaurants where dinner for two would normally approach $200 introduce prix fixe (fixed price) menus that are a relative bargain. Once again, you simply need to look around in almost any casino you are in and you’ll see these advertised.

Continuous shuffling machines (that shuffle the cards in place of the dealer doing so) don’t hurt your chance of winning unless you are counting cards. A recent check of the Las Vegas Club (and many downtown hotels) saw that they were still paying 3-2 for blackjack. Some of the specific rules you mentioned like double-after-split are probably over the head of many readers and to those of you knowledgeable players who look for the very best blackjack rules, ask the dealers about specific rules and walk away if you don’t like the answer.

Side Note: I used to be a very proficient card-counter (making modest money at it) back in the mid-90’s. Sadly, blackjack is pretty much now unbeatable even for the skilled player. But still lots of fun to play.

However, you brought up a point valid to even the novice blackjack player who are scratching their head over this 3-2 and 6-5 business.

I’ll put it in layman terms:

If you bet $10 and get a blackjack, do you want to be paid $12 or $15? Casinos that deal 6-5 blackjack only pay $12 on a $10 bet. Those who deal 3-2 (traditional) blackjack pay $15 for a $10 bet.

Before sitting down at a blackjack table, ask the dealer “How much would blackjack pay on a $10 bet” and get the answer. If they say $12, walk away. (If you don’t want to talk to the dealer, just look on the felt and make sure it says Blackjack Pays 3-2). The average player hits a number of blackjacks per hour. If you hit 5 blackjacks in an hour and they are stiffing youá$3 per blackjack (tables that only pay 6-5), you just gave the casino $15 that you didn’t have to.

And… you’reáfrankly going to find better gaming conditions than at casinos in other parts of the country. Las Vegas still offers nearly full-pay video poker (and actually full-pay if you want to really hunt it down), and everywhere we see the craps tables full of action as craps is a game where it is tough to twist the payouts without destroying the essential parts of the game.

We’re fortunate that both our newsletter subscriber numbers and web traffic is up by double-digits this past year. Visitor numbers are starting to stabilize and rise again as people get home and tell their friends that Las Vegas is a real bargain right now.

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 I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • 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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

November 11, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û November 4, 2009

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.

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Perfect weather in the 70’s F with cool (but not cold) nights. Huge amounts of info in this issue, so we’ll dive right in:

Facebook Fan Us – The good news (for you Facebook users): We have created a AccessVegas.com Facebook Fan Page! What are we going to do with it? We’re leaving that up to you:

  • Make sure you are signed into Facebook and click to our AccessVegas.com Facebook Fan Page and click the Become A Fan button (top center of the page).
  • If so inclined, make a post to our wall suggesting how we should use our page.

As a way of saying THANKS, we’ll pick one person who fans us between now and Nov. 15, 2009 and send them a cool Vegas prize. No need to comment or post anything. Just fan us! We’ll also pick what we feel is the best suggestion(s) for how we should use our fan page and reward that person with some cool Vegas stuff as well.

Cirque Du Sol-Elvis – In one of the more poorly kept secrets of recent time, the new Cirque du Soleil show at CityCenter will focus on the life of Elvis. We’ll let you know when tickets become available.

The Showgirl Won’t Go On – Bette Midler ends her Caesars Palace run at the end of January, 2010. She is quoted as saying “These legs have had such a great run in the desert—it may be time to haul them to places with more humidity and fewer slot machines. But first I need to finish recording my album of the sexiest new love songs that only a showgirl could sing”. Tickets for her final Las Vegas shows available: Bette Midler Las Vegas Tickets

Boyd Gaming Continues To Pursue Station Casinos – With cash available due to the stoppage of work on Echelon Place, local casino giant Boyd Gaming continues to make a play for rival Station Casinos (which is in bankruptcy). It would give them utter domination of the locals market and it would be interesting to see how hard Boyd works without a major rival. One of the great things among competition for players is that gaming properties are forced to offer a great customer experience or lose to the competition.

Speaking Of Echelon Place – Boyd now estimates it will be 3-5 years before work resumes on the nearly $5 billion project with no guarantees it will follow the original plans. I hate to see projects fail or get put on hold, but when this thing was announced I was on record as questioning the demand for the project and even went as far as (nearly) mocking the choice of the name Echelon. It just doesn’t have that cool, Las Vegas resort name. Hey Boyd… you have time to change it and get the “stink of death” currently associated with the name Echelon behind you.

Yogurt In Opens At The Shoppes At Mandalay Place – The Yogurt In allows guests the opportunity to create their own frozen dessert masterpiece or order from an extensive menu of sweet and savory crepes. Patrons choose from 16 rotating frozen yogurt flavors along with an abundance of do-it-yourself topping options or design a unique, made-to-order shake. For those looking for a warm indulgence, crepes filled with a variety of ingredients will provide a perfect snack or light meal. The Yogurt In is open daily from 10 a.m. û midnight

Height Of Football (US) Season – Football fever sweeps Las Vegas nearly every day of the week with college and NFL game action. Click to Las Vegas Football Parties 2009

Winners – We have picked and notified the winners of both our Blue Man Group and Alize French Restaurant promotions. We’ll announce them next issue. We’ll also have a new giveaway starting in a few days. Stay subscribed or watch our Access Vegas Twitter Feed for details.

CityCenter Opens Soon! – Some hail it as the latest and greatest in a long line of Las Vegas developments. A few have said that it looks more like a Houston, TX office park. The buzz we are getting is that the hotels and shops making up CityCenter could set a new bar for Las Vegas. We’ll be passing along plenty of reports and photos throughout mid-and-late December as CityCenter comes online (which is scheduled in phases).

With Veterans Day upon us, I want to thank those of you who have served our country and protected the freedoms (including the freedom of speech to publish my thoughts and opinions). I salute you all.

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:

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $28, Fitzgeralds from $23, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $33, Riviera from $27, Sahara from $20, Stratosphere from $22, Tropicana from $29, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Phantom Celebrates 1500 Performances At The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino – The Las Vegas Spectacular hits another milestone as the show celebrated 1,500 spectacular performances on Friday, October 30. The Las Vegas production of the worldwide favorite is enjoying enduring success that few other Las Vegas productions have achieved. After three and a half years of haunting The Venetian, Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular continues to prove it is an audience favorite among locals and tourists alike. Phantom has established a position at the forefront of Las Vegas entertainment.

Las Vegas’ Longest Running Dinner Show “Marriage Can Be Murder” Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary – “Marriage Can Be Murder,” an award-winning comedy and murder mystery dinner show, celebrates 10 years of having audiences laughing and guessing whodunit on a nightly basis. The longest running dinner show in Southern Nevada, “Marriage Can Be Murder,” is an interactive experience where the audience unseeingly becomes involved with mystery unfolding around them. “Guests keep coming back to see the show because they enjoy the interaction of the characters on stage and in the crowd,” said Eric Post, co-creator of the dinner theater concept with wife Jayne Post

Cabo Wabo Cantina Ready To Rock The Strip With Early November Opening – Sammy Hagar To Bring Infamous Dining And Rock ‘N Roll Hotspot To Miracle Mile Shops – Sammy Hagar is ready to rock Vegas – Cabo style, with the opening of Cabo Wabo Cantina in early November inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. On Friday, December 4, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will host an official grand opening bash with a live performance by his band, the Waboritas. The two-level, 15,000-square-foot live music venue, cantina and restaurant will be located directly on Las Vegas Boulevard across from the new CityCenter complex.

Jersey Boys Walk Like A Man To Platinum – Grammy-Winning Cast Recording Achieves Major Milestone As The Musical Continues Its Stellar Run Reaching Three Continents – Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, adds another award to its crowded mantle. The Original Cast Recording has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) commemorating sales of over one million copies in the United States. The album won the Grammy for Best Musical Show Album in 2006 and continues to be a sales juggernaut, repeatedly landing in the Top 25 of Billboard’s Top Catalog Albums chart nearly four years after its release.

Bon Jovi To Return To MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, March 6, 2010 – With New Jersey’s New Meadowlands Stadium as its backdrop, GRAMMY Award-winning hometown heroes Bon Jovi performed at a concert and media event today that announced “The Circle World Tour.” The band is preparing to spend nearly two years spanning the globe, including the kickoff event of New Meadowlands Stadium scheduled for May 26 and 27, 2010. Bon Jovi will make a stop at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, March 6, 2010.

Beijing Noodle No. 9 Offers Nine Tastings For $19.99 – Known for its authentic Chinese fare, Beijing Noodle No. 9 pays homage to its signature lucky number with its new tasting menu; guests can experience nine of Beijing’s signature dishes for only $19.99. Offerings include steamed pork bun; Har Gow shrimp dumpling; Imperial seafood soup dumpling; pork and vegetable wonton in chicken soup; sautÚed noodles with pork; Beijing style noodle with tomato and egg; green tea ice cream; baked barbecued pork pastry and red bean paste bun.

Payard Turns To Fall – Award-winning Pastry Chef Franþois Payard has created a brand new fall prix fixe lunch menu. Choose between asparagus salad with truffle vinaigrette and ciabatta toast or parsnip and mushroom tart for starters. Then select either Seared Sea Bass with Bok Choy and chocolate soy sauce or traditional couscous. The impeccable lunch concludes with a choice of a Payard pastry. Payard is a beautifully designed, multi-layered experience that includes a chocolate shop, a pastry shop and a traditional dining room.

Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits Adds Concert Dates In February 2010 At Hard Rock HOtel & Casino Las Vegas – Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits, the exhilarating rock-n-roll concert experience featuring Carlos Santana and his band, will continue its successful run at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in February 2010. Featuring an ever-changing set list and a new opening number since its May debut, concertgoers will continue to be wowed, even if they’ve already seen the show. Through 2010 The Joint will be the only venue west of the Mississippi where fans can see Santana.

Gift Of Lights Makes Holidays Sparkle Sunset Park Is Illuminated Nov. 13 Through Jan. 3 – The Ninth Annual Gift of Lights illuminates Sunset Park beginning Nov. 13 through Jan. 3. The award-winning holiday event is a local tradition as families cruise through the park to marvel at millions of twinkling lights, including the second phase of LED lights for a greener planet. The brilliant display is open from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays at Sunset Park located at Eastern Avenue and Sunset Road.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

We are planning a trip to Vegas in March 14 to 21. Could you tell me if spring break or NASCAR is in that time frame? Also did some hotel searches, found some good rates at Hooters. Is this hotel suitable for our age group 50’s? Thanks!

Judy

Ted Responds:

NASCAR weekend is Friday, Feb. 26 – Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. Spring Breaks vary across the U.S. from late Feb. to April. Hence, will be spring break visitors from somewhere in town. The beginning of March Madness will coincide with your visit, so things might be a little more rowdy than usual.

Hooters isn’t a frat party or anything like that. It is a smaller property with more of a boutique feel but it sits next to Tropicana and directly across the street from the porte cochere of MGM Grand (with a stoplight to assure you you can walk between the two). You’ll be fine!

My wife and I enjoy your news letters from Vegas,and often go several times a year mainly to see the shows. In the first part of October we went to see CHER and what we thought was to be a classy show. We were very disappointed from start to finish and regretted spending the two hundred dollars to see a rude, crude, potty mouth singer.

To begin with the audience was kept waiting for fifteen minutes before CHER came on stage,and then were shocked to see her grab her crotch, and inform the audience that she has been doing this for forty five years and felt like putting a loaded gun in her mouth and pulling the trigger.

Through out the show, she said the “f” word several times which embarrassed many people around us and negative comments were made about that. She then belittled the stage hands, and did not even thank her band or her dancers for the hard work they had done to make her look good.

We observed several couples get up and leave the theatre (I wish we had left also). The only nice part of the show was the outfits that she wore. Cher should wake up and realize she is not a class act when she treats her audience the way she did that night.

Donald Gariepy

Ted Responds:

Cher’s people will not accommodate us to go see the show and do a write-up on it. Might be why they don’t want us to send someone. Sounds like she needs to take some lessons in showmanship and class from Wayne Newton.

I just have a general comment to make. If Vegas wants more tourism, the airlines need to reduce the fares to Las Vegas! I know of several people who wanted to go, but went elsewhere because of the airfares out of Chicago.

Gary Nawrocki

Ted Responds:

Unfortunately, cities and hotels have no control over the price of airfare. Cities like Chicago are simply expensive places to fly out of. A few days ago I checked the following cities for airfare to Las Vegas Dec. 2 – 9 of this year:

Chicago: $279
Boston: $247
Jacksonville: $230

This despite the fact that Chicago is only slightly farther than Jacksonville, and significantly closer than Boston to Las Vegas.

As we’ve noted in the past, the extremely low room rates Las Vegas offers (something the hotels do have control over) more than offset the cost of airfare. Let me know what a Wynn Las Vegas caliber hotel is going for in Chicago!

What many are doing is just staying a couple more days. Your airfare is set, the hotel rates are cheap. By staying longer, you amortize that airfare cost over more days.

I love visiting the stunningly beautiful beaches of Destin and Panama City áBeach, Florida. The cost for the same time stretch I used in the above sample for me to head there? $351 and hotel rooms that start at about $100 a night (for a basic place, not a resort). Makes Las Vegas seem like a bargain! P.S. For those who enjoy Florida’s Emerald Coast like I do, you must check out http://www.destinfloridapodcast.com

A friend and I were in Vegas in July, and purchased tickets to The Price Is Right. We were really disappointed in the show. The cost of the tickets were too much for what you got out of it. It was nothing like the show, and I discourage anyone from going. The rest of the trip was great.

Denise in Massillon, Ohio

I love your newsletter, your spirit and your frank reporting on my favorite vacation destination.

Here’s a question:

I usually need to bring about $1000 on my vacation, but don’t like to carry that much in my wallet. These days I take travelers checks which the casinos gladly cash. In days gone by, I would use the ATM’s in the casinos, but the high fees there and back home make that a costly way to go. I’ve looked for plain vanilla bank machines with no, or low fees on the strip, but can’t find ANY.

Do you or your readers have any knowledge of places where cash advances from accounts or credit cards can be made cheaply? Are there any bank branches anywhere on or near the strip or downtown?

p.s. My last visit was at Four Queens in September, and I couldn’t have been happier!

David Fraser from Canada

Ted Responds:

1. Wells Fargo has an ATM toward the back of Harrah’s Carnival Court.

2. Bank of America has an ATM in Caesars Forum Shops next to Casa Fuente (the world famous cigar shop).

3. Bank of America has an ATM at their tower downtown. Super simple to find when you are at Fremont Street Experience: Go to Third Street (Between Binion’s and Fremont Hotels). Walk two blocks south to Bridger Ave. Cross Bridger and a well-lit outdoor ATM (set up for auto use) will be on your left. Note: Downtown is generally safe, but I’d probably stick to doing this on-foot in the daytime.

All of these are actual bank owned and operated ATM’s and will charge you the same, simple fees that you would pay using any Wells Fargo or Bank of America ATM anywhere else. (No charge at all if you are a customer of that respective bank).

I agree that the in-casino ATM scam is ridiculous. You think they would WANT you taking out plenty of money to spend. You think that they would have no fee (or maybe something like 50 cents just to cover their basic costs). But they jack you even though you are extracting money to spend at their casino!

Also, the various chain drug stores along The Strip that accept debit cards will usually give cash back (although often will put a strict limit on the amount).

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:

  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9
  • 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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

November 4, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û October 28, 2009

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! – Winter stormed into much of the U.S. this past week and Las Vegas was no exception. Wednesday only hit 60 degrees (F) with (what would be called) tropical storm level wind gusts. Thankfully, temperatures have rebounded into the mid-70’s.

m resort las vegas labor day 2009

M Resort Las Vegas – Las Vegas’ newest resort continues to get raves from our readers. Photographer Greg McFalls covered the resorts “open to the public” Labor Day festivities and we finally have some space to run them. If you want to get a nice look at the M Resort and see how the locals party on the holidays, click to our M Resort Las Vegas Labor Day 2009 photo set.

Frank Caliendo – We finally have Frank Caliendo tickets available: Frank Caliendo at Monte Carlo Las Vegas Tickets

Casino Legends Hall of Fame – We still get inquiries about the this exhibit which was at the Tropicana for years. Sadly, the exhibit is permanently closed. However, I remembered that we covered the 2002 Casino Legends Hall of Fame induction ceremony featuring Pat Cooper, The Characters, Oscar Goodman, Charo, Vicki Carr and Trini Lopez. And guess what… we still have the video online. You can view this blast from the past at 2002 Casino Legends Hall of Fame Ceremony Video

“Governor” Goodman Update – Mayor Oscar Goodman is still pondering a run for governor, but pulled back on his (all but announced) plans to run. Polls show he’ll do well in a crowded field, but the next governor will face some of the most difficult budget issues the state has ever seen. This year, the legislature basically combined using stimulus money and putting off many hard decisions that will eventually have to be made.

One can understand that the self-proclaimed “World’s Happiest Mayor” isn’t in a hurry to trade in his “gin and showgirls” job for a much tougher, less visible one (Note: Goodman actually works hard at city business as well, but is no stranger to the glamor side of being mayor). If you attended the Vicente Cigars grand opening (and took advantage of the open bar and amazing complimentary Cuban cuisine), you can view pictures of the event by clicking on the photo below.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman with Don Vicente Cigars
Mayor Oscar Goodman with “Don” Vicente Perez of Vicente Cigars

Of Interest To Guys – We recently stopped into Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (better known as the TV show Pawn Stars) at 713 Las Vegas Blvd S. It really is a working pawn shop, and they really do have items like Super Bowl rings and Olympic Gold Medals on display along with some of the most interesting stuff I’ve seen in a long time (everything from old coins to antique guns). And yes… the guys from the show are really behind the counter.

Our suggestion for little “Guys Adventure” downtown: Lunch at Chicago Joe’s (820 S 4th S.), then a one block walk over to Pawn Stars, then a block walk north to Don Vicente Cigars (624 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) to enjoy Cuban ex-pats roll cigars for you. From there, you are only a 1/2 mile walk up to Fremont Street Experience (downtown casinos). Ladies… encourage your man to go. Perfect opportunity for you to get some shopping in while the boys get some grub, meet some of their TV favorites, and experience authentic Cuban rolled cigars.

Out Of Water – A judge has killed a previous ruling which would allow the Las Vegas area to import water (via pipeline) from the Eastern Central area of Las Vegas. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has acquired rights to the water, but residents of that area are worried that it would create and Owen’s Lake (California) type of problem where the area pretty much dries up.

Despite the fact Las Vegas sits a mere 15 miles from the Colorado River, rights to Colorado River water were divided up when virtually no one lived in Las Vegas and the vast majority of river water is diverted hundreds of miles to Southern California and Central Arizona. Without the ability to acquire water from elsewhere, Las Vegas will (at the very least) become growth restricted in a few years and could also face water shortages during drought. While water shortages are unlikely to be felt by tourists, residential restrictions may be put in place.

Despite the notion that Las Vegas resorts “waste” tons of water with elaborate landscaping and water displays, the amount of water they use when compared to the amount of guests who enjoy the benefits is actually very water savvy. In addition, water for many Las Vegas water attractions is greywater.

Take Me Down To Cabo Wabo – Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina opens at Planet Hollywood in just a couple of weeks. Nearly a decade ago, a Cabo Wabo was planned for Sunset Station and all Station Casinos started offering Cabo Wabo tequila drink specials. Just a couple of years ago, we had pretty strong rumor that one of the Harrah’s owned casinos would be end up being the long-sought-after home to this exclusive bar/grill. (Only two others exist: One in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and one in South Lake Tahoe). Planet Hollywood ended up with the former Trader Vic’s space available, a coveted spot overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. More on this next 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:

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $28, Fitzgeralds from $23, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $24, Riviera from $27, Sahara from $20, Stratosphere from $32, Tropicana from $28, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

Defending The Caveman û A Hilarious Look At The Genders

defending the caveman las vegas

ôDefending The Cavemanö is by far one of the funniest shows on the Las Vegas Strip. The fun starts even before the show! Stroll on into the showroom and youÆll be greeted by a caveman and a cavewoman, who will pose for pictures with you. “Defending the Caveman,” a one-man show performed by Kevin Burke, is about the inherent differences between the sexes and how we relate to one another.

Madame Tussauds û Letting You Hang Out With The Stars

Nestled deep within the outskirts of the Venetian Hotel and Casino is a chance to meet and mingle with some of the greatest celebrities and historical figures of our time. It doesnÆt matter if they are still alive or not, or even if theyÆre from this century. TheyÆll be waiting for eager visitors to hang around them, or even snap as many playful photos as one wants with them, and they wonÆt even say a word. Of course, the fact that these “celebrities” are made from wax could have something to do with all of this.

Jersey Boys Las Vegas Welcomes New Four Season Drew Gehling – Now in its second smash-hit year at The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, JERSEY BOYS Las Vegas welcomes Drew Gehling to the talented cast. Gehling will assume the role of Bob Gaudio with the Las Vegas Company until November 8. No stranger to the JERSEY BOYS family, Gehling comes to Vegas from the Chicago Company where he was well known for his portrayal of Bob Gaudio. Joining Rick Faugno (Frankie Valli), Jeff Leibow (Nick Massi) and Deven May (Tommy DeVito), Gehling will be performing in a unique, custom-built theatre that is currently the only place on the West Coast to see JERSEY BOYS.

Super-Starlet Holly Madison Signs Yearlong Extension With Peepshow At Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – PEEPSHOW, Las Vegas’ newest hit production and The Strip’s only striptease spectacular is pleased to announce that Holly Madison has extended her run as “Bo Peep” in PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and will continue to dazzle audiences until September 2010. Madison began her well-received run as “Bo Peep,” a modern woman who has yet to find her own confidence and sexuality, in June. Joining Madison beginning September 21 is pop star (Danity Kane) and Playboy Cover Model Aubrey O’Day who will star in the role of the “Peep Diva” (originated by the Spice Girls’ Mel B).

Elvis Is Back At Imperial Palace Las Vegas – The King’s Ransom Museum Keeps Presley’s Legacy Alive – Imperial Palace Las Vegas Las Vegas welcomes The King’s Ransom Museum, a one of a kind exhibit of Elvis Presley artifacts and priceless personal treasures, on Oct. 21, 2009. This multi-million dollar collection is on display for the first time ever in Las Vegas, the very city where The King set up court and reigned supreme in the 1970’s. The King’s Ransom Museum provides an exciting opportunity for fans to get a rare glimpse into the life and career of one of the world’s greatest entertainers, Elvis Presley. Showcasing pieces from both Elvis’ personal life and his acting and singing careers, The King’s Ransom Museum is truly unlike any other exhibit.

Golden Gaming And The Kurt Busch Foundation Hit The Greens For Golf Tournament Fundraiser Tuesday, Dec. 1 – The Kurt Busch Foundation and Golden Gaming, Inc. hit the links in support of the foundation with the Golden Gaming Golf Tournament hosted by Kurt Busch at the DragonRidge Country Club on Tuesday, Dec. 1. “This tournament is a great way to have a good time with friends while playing for a good cause,” said Busch. “It’s always nice to see the support the foundation gets in my hometown of Las Vegas.”

MesmerEyes Opens at Bellagio – MesmerEyes offers a collection of luxury eyewear including such renowned brands as Porsche Design, Barton Perreira and Alain Mikli. Custom prescription lenses also are available. MesmerEyes is the first-ever boutique for Eye Lux LLC, dedicated to providing exceptional eyewear and unparalleled service in a luxury environment. Located just off BellagioÆs main lobby next to the concierge desk, MesmerEyes is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight.

T&T Has The Deadliest Cure For The Halloween Hangover – Recover from Halloween mayhem and celebrate El Dia de los Muertos – that’s The Day of the Dead for you gringos – at Tacos & Tequila (T&T) on Sunday, November 1. Take that morning walk-of-shame with pride and strut on over in last night’s costume – we won’t tell. T&T’s $1,000 Deadliest Dressed costume contest is the perfect excuse to still be wearing leftover Halloween attire. The fiesta will heat up from noon until 5 p.m. with killer brunch and drink specials and spooky entertainment.

Chickenfoot – Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony & Chad Smith Coming To Hard Rock – Rarely has a band come freighted with such expectation and promise than the new outfit that calls itself Chickenfoot. It’s a silly name for a band — and album — that kicks a donkey’s ass six ways to Sunday and back again. Maybe that’s because long before the four men who comprise Chickenfoot came together they already filled the pages of rock history with enough individual mind-blowing chapters to boggle the mind. The news that they’ve pooled their inordinate talents to one collective whole quickly spread across the Internet last year (and perhaps that crazy name helped just a little).

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Legends The Four Tops Return To The Orleans Showroom November 20-22 – The Four Tops, whose meteoric rise to fame began with their 1964 Motown hit “Baby I Need Your Loving,” bring their soulful songs to The Orleans Showroom, November 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. each evening. One of the few groups to have hits in three consecutive decades, The Four Tops’ songs were splashed across the pop and R&B music charts from the 1960s through the 1980s. “I Can’t Help Myself,” a 1965 R&B and pop smash, is one of Motown’s longest-running chart toppers.

Harlequin Art On Display At Paris Las Vegas For Three Month Exhibition The Heart Of A Woman: Harlequin Cover Art 1949-2009 – In celebration of Harlequin’s 60th anniversary, the internationally recognized publisher is sponsoring an exhibition of original cover art that will focus not only on the changing shape of desire and fantasy but also on the social meaning and context of these images. THE HEART OF A WOMAN: Harlequin Cover Art 1949-2009 debuts at the Paris Gallerie on Oct. 24, 2009 and will be on display until Jan. 31, 2010. Open to the public at no charge, the gallery is located just outside of the Paris reception area. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Belgian Chef Unites With Chef Kerry Simon For Decadent Beer Dinner At Simon At Palms Place – Chef Kerry Simon unites with seventh generation Van Steenberge Brewery owner Jef Versele and Acclaimed Belgian Beer Chef Achim Vandenbussche to present guests with a special collaborative dining experience. Each of the five dinner courses will be masterfully paired with a world-famous Belgian beer.

Paris Las Vegas Welcomes The 2009 Harvest With 3rd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Celebration Beaujolais Nouveau Est Arrive! – On Wednesday, Nov. 18 – Honoring the famed Parisian tradition, Paris Las Vegas once again welcomes the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau for the properties 3rd annual wine celebration. This year’s highly anticipated celebrity kick-off will feature a traditional grape stomping that is reminiscent of the iconic “Lucy” scene on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m., coinciding with midnight festivities in Paris, France.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

I find it hard to believe all the people who say that Vegas is hurting, and attendance is down. We were at the Flamingo from October 11 to the 18th, and tried to get a late checkout because our flight didn’t leave till 11:30pm. The best they could do for us was 1:00pm because they were completely filled up. There’s at least one hotel that’s not suffering.

Glenn Kinzie from Whitby, Ontario

Ted Responds:

You observe correctly. Las Vegas is drawing over 3 million people a month (which was the norm up until we had a couple of boom years).

Now… gaming companies (hotel/casinos) are hurting financially for a couple of reasons:

1. Rooms are deeply discounted right now.
2. People are not gambling as much (which is just as much the result of the tight machines as it is the economy).

But we’re not exactly running a ghost town here! The doom and gloom about our unemployment and bad housing market gets mixed in with news that tourism is down (from the record highs) by outside media to create a story. We routinely get stuck in traffic on The Strip mid-afternoon in the middle of the week. Not exactly the sign of an empty town.

We are going to be in Las Vegas in November. Is there a way to find out where any TV shows or movies are being shot at this time?

Also, are there free bus trips to Laughlin any more?

Fred Moss

Ted Responds:

Movies and TV shows don’t publicize that they are going to shoot, as it would create a crowd control nightmare. I’ve seen many movie shoots and TV commercials being filmed but it was always due to being in the right place at the right time (usually late at night). Every once in a while when hundreds of extras are needed for a crowd scene, a note will be in the local paper a day or two ahead of time.

Last issue, we did note info regarding the current version of Let’s Make A Deal at The Tropicana.

I’m not familiar with any free Laughlin trips so I don’t want to suggest a particular one. I’d imagine they might still exist. If they do, a web search would be your best bet.

I’m staying at the Tropicana and the Palace Station, and they both were booked from your website. Both hotels are charging fees that were unexpected. I believe that the Trop charged a $8.99 per day fee, and someone told me that Palace Station will charge a stiff $ 17 per day charge.

I would not have booked if I knew that ahead of time. I was told that these charges were for use of facilities, such as the gym, but I had no plan and didn’t use any of those facilities. Please clarify as I felt that I was unknowingly ripped off by both hotels. Thanks.

Joe

Ted Responds:

Most hotels everywhere have started charging mandatory “resort fees” that are not included in the original price. It is similar to airlines charging a fee for bags, which is not included in the price of a ticket. I am stuck paying them myself and notáfond of them.

Palace is on the steep side because of their airport and Strip shuttles for guests (which are worth it if used, saving a significant amount in cab fare).

You could perhaps write your government representatives and note that this seems like fraudulent activity on the part of the hotels. Perhaps if enough people speak up, things will change. On the flip side, even with resort fees you are still paying far less than a comparable room would cost in another city.

Upon checking in, you may wish to call aside a front desk manager, complain about the fees, and note that you are taking it out of your gambling budget you were intending to spend at their hotel. If enough people complain, maybe they will modify their policies.

I just want you to know that your newsletter it outstanding. I usually read it a little more closely when I’m planning a trip (3-4 times a year usually), and still read certain sections (Members Mania) all the time. Anyway, you do an outstanding job with this newsletter!

Mark from Raleigh, NC

Just wanted to sayáThank You. Due to the economy a vacation has not been in the cards this year. We use to go to Vegas at least twice a year. But thanks to your news letter, that comes every week it helps me stay in touch with “my Vegas feelings”. I know Ill be back soon, until then keep the news letter coming to, that keeps me there in spirit. Thank you so much!

Donna

Ted Responds:

Something I love to stress is that we welcome everybody to stay subscribed and keep up on Las Vegas between visits. Plus, it is never too early to plan your next trip to Las Vegas!

Many regular visitors pretty much book their next trip soon after they get back from their last one (even if many months in advance). This allows you to lock up best seats for shows and take advantage of the current rock bottom hotel rates (which will not last as the economy improves).

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, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 18-20 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9

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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

October 28, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe û October 21, 2009

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! Is it raining or snowing where you are at? I was out running errands mid-afternoon in short sleeves, shorts, sunglasses and sandals. Which is pretty much what everyone was wearing walking the Las Vegas Strip on this beautiful 77á F degree “summer” late October day.

Welcome Back – This past week, we were able to get ourselves off the “blocked email” list of a couple of major internet companies. We follow all the rules, but because we talk about the “grown up” Las Vegas related topics, we sometimes get snagged by automated filters. If you are seeing us for the first time in a long time, great to see you again.

Always remember that you can go to http://www.las-vegas-new-reviews.com and catch up on all the archives. If your trip is over, certainly feel welcome to stay subscribed so you can have us around for your next trip. If for some reason you simply never want any Las Vegas information again, we do put an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every newsletter.

Come On Down! – The latest incarnation of Let’s Make A Deal is now airing on daily on CBS (check local listings). Wayne Brady is the host and the show tapes at the Tropicana. And yes… you can put on a goofy outfit and try to get on TV. (If any of you do, make sure to write and let us know how it went). Ticket info plus a video of a recent episode available at http://www.cbs.com/daytime/lets_make_a_deal/

New Photo Sets As Promised! – Photographer Greg McFalls has been busy, busy, busy. First we had him over to shoot the latest Bellagio Gardens Fall Botanical display. If you’ve never enjoyed it, the gardens are open to the public at no charge inside the Bellagio. Click on photo for entire photo gallery set:

bellagio gardens las vegas fall 2009
Bellagio Gardens Fall 2009

If you prefer pretty girls over pretty flowers, we caught the recent MMA Xplosion bikini model search from the Hawaiian Tropic Zone. If you can’t be in Las Vegas right now, we are bringing Las Vegas to you! Click on photo for entire photo gallery set:

hawaiian tropic zone mma bikini contest las vegas 2009
Hawaiian Tropic Zone MMA Xplosion Bikini Contest

Friends In High Places – Garth Brooks may sing about friends in low places, but having Steve Wynn as a friend can’t be that bad either. Unless you’ve been in a cave somewhere, you probably know that Garth Brooks is coming out of retirement to play five years worth of shows (on selected weekends) at Encore Las Vegas. Tickets on sale starting October 24 at wynnlasvegas.com

Gay Day – May 1 is known as May Day. October 1 may well be remembered in Nevada as Gay Day, the first day legal domestic partnerships were made available. Unless the couple has no kids, no joint property and a few similar stipulations, dissolution of the domestic partnership follows the same proceedings as an actual divorce. Straight couples may (and have) filed as well. No word yet on whether this is a boon to wedding chapels, many of which have offered a gay ceremony option for quite some time.

Former Inside Vibe staffer Zig (now feeling very chilly back in his home state of Connecticut after a number of years in the desert) was in town recently as the “best man” for a gay wedding (Note: Zig is straight) and gave the following report:

They got their certificate of domestic partnership, and held a ceremony in a church. The pastor was also gay. About 30 people showed up. First me and the best man (or woman in this case) walked down the aisle and lit the two candles. It was actually a very nice ceremony. I learned that in a gay ceremony the bride is not given away. Instead the couple walks down the aisle together.

Gaming Revenue Down Again – Gaming revenue (the money you are kind enough to donate at the tables and slots) is down for 20 straight months as of latest available numbers. Note to gaming executives: How has that “let’s tighten up the slots and institute lousy table game rules” stuff working out for you? Were any of you around 10+ years ago when casinos advertised 99% payback slots, full pay video poker, and fought over who had the most liberal blackjack rules? Seems like we didn’t have a gaming revenue problem back then. Visitors could actuallyáplay more than a few minutes on a $20 bill.

Blue Man Group Mega-Giveaway

Blue Man Group is one of the most exciting, over-the-top shows in Las Vegas, and we’re proud to offer this exclusive giveaway to our readers:

Grand Prize:

Two tickets to see Blue Man Group at the Venetian Hotel & Casino including a meet & greet plus a special Blue Man Group paint can and a Blue Man Group DVD.

Second Prize:

Two tickets to see the Blue Man Group plus a Blue Man Group logo hat.

Third Prize:

Blue Man Group merchandise consisting of the following items:

  • Blue Man Group white logo t-shirt size XL
  • Blue Man Group refrigerator magnet
  • Blue Man Group mints
  • Blue Man Group hand sanitizer
  • Blue Man Group lip balm

Enter: Blue Man Group Mega-Giveaway

Remember, you still have a few days to enter to win dinner for two at Alize French Restaurant at the top of The Palms Las Vegas. Click over to Alize French Restaurant Dinner Entry

Event Updates – We’ve added even more football parties (most of which offer food and booze specials) at Las Vegas Football Parties 2009 plus a slew of Halloween events at Las Vegas Halloween 2009 Events. Make sure to check them both out.

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:

Bally’s from $39, El Cortez from $21, Fitzgeralds from $21, Hooters from $20, Orleans from $34, Riviera from $27, Sahara from $18, Stratosphere from $21, Tropicana from $29, Tuscany from $20, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

Blue Man Group û A Rare Gem Everybody Can Enjoy

blue man group las vegas

It may not seem likely that a show which features three blue, mute men can provide not only live music, skillful comedy, more than a few tidbits of interesting information, and social commentary regarding contemporary issues, but it is true, and can be found in the Blue Man Group at The Venetian.

The show begins once you enter the theater, with the stylishly cool atmosphere and the sardonic yet humorous disclaimers. Before the Blue Men come out, the audience is instructed to follow a few verbal cues to get everyone in an appropriate state of mind. And, if you happen to be one of the rather late arrivals, you may end up blushing a bit.

Following Rick Thomas And His Magic To The Edge Of His Dreams

Follow Magician Rick Thomas to the edge of his dreams just for the thrill of it. Its more fun than just another magic show. ItÆs a trip into a world of imagination and the very art of dreaming itself.

First there are white 500 pound tigers roaring across the stage, birds appearing as singles and doubling into pairs before your eyes, napkins turning into birds, and girls turning into tigers. ItÆs a classic show full of disappearing motorcycles, beautiful women being levitated and sawed in half, old silver ring tricks, and even some great card tricks. But wait, thereÆs more!

Sultry Siren Aubrey O’Day Has Taken The Stage As The “Peep Diva” In Peepshow – O’Day, who appeared in the hit Broadway production Hairspray, is a Playboy Cover Model (March 2009) and former member of the girl group, “Danity Kane.” She takes the Las Vegas stage as the mistress of ceremonies, the “Peep Diva,” which is currently played by Broadway star and recording artist, Shoshana Bean, and previously played by pop superstar, Mel B. With a plan to feature rotating headliners, PEEPSHOW constantly reinvents itself by bringing in today’s hottest stars. O’Day will perform alongside a sizzling ensemble of sexy PEEPSHOW GIRLS, showstoppers from film, TV, Broadway and beyond, who were handpicked to perform in this multi-million dollar production which features today’s best-known hits and original songs created especially for PEEPSHOW.

Neil Sedaka Returns To The Orleans Showroom November 12-15 – For more than four decades, Neil Sedaka’s timeless standards have influenced the sound of popular music. Renowned for his work as a singer, performer, producer and songwriter, Sedaka will perform at The Orleans Showroom November 12, 13, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. With countless hit singles, platinum and gold records, Sedaka is recognized as one of rock and pop music’s legendary pioneers, with songs that continue to stand the test of time.

BITE Celebrates 5 years On The Las Vegas Strip At The Stratosphere Hotel – Creative, Classic Rock And Vampire Show A Proven Success With Locals And Tourists Alike – Launched in 2004, BITE has become one of the most iconic and successful shows in Las Vegas today. At more than 1,500 performances and nearly a half-million audience members since it first began, the undeniably powerful combination of sexy dancers, amazing acrobatics, high-energy rock ‘n roll and the darkly mysterious allure of vampires have proven to be a formula for success. “There are so many factors that have contributed to making BITE a success,” said Tim Molyneux, producer and writer of the show. “The world has always had a fascination with vampires – they’ve been a part of popular culture for hundreds of years and we are once again experiencing a real resurgence in television, film and print. Some people come to see BITE simply because it’s a vampire show, but ultimately they are always blown away by the production.”

Wayne Newton’s Limited Engagement Production Once Before I Go Begins Preview Performances At Tropicana Las Vegas – Previews for the all-new, limited engagement production, Once Before I Go, at Tropicana Las Vegas run October 14 – October 27 with a Grand Opening slated for October 28. Tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime production are currently on sale. A celebration of 50 storied years as told by the man who shaped them, Once Before I Go is a rare opportunity to experience an iconic career through the entertainer’s own lens. No other performer has seen 50 years from center stage in the ever-changing city of Las Vegas and it’s likely none other ever will.

Minus 5 Sizzles During One Year Celebration – Holly Madison and Carrot Top Are Crowned Ice King And Queen – The first Minus 5 ice lounge in the country celebrated its one year anniversary on Friday, September 25 by crowning the first “Ice King and Queen.” Peepshow star Holly Madison was crowned Queen while comedian Carrot Top was proclaimed King of the arctic lounge. Madison and Carrot Top bundled up in their faux fur coats to accept their new titles. They officially became the first “Ice King and Queen” during a special coronation in which they received ice crowns.

Robin Williams To Bring Hilarious Comedy To MGM Grand Saturday, December 5 – Robin Williams, one of the most gifted actors and comedians of our time, returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Dec. 5. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Academy Award and GRAMMY« winner Robin Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian and has created a repertoire of indelible characters, first in the hit series “Mork & Mindy” and then in numerous film roles. In 1997, Williams received Academy and Screen Actors Guild awards for his performance in “Good Will Hunting,” having been previously nominated by the Academy for performances in “The Fisher King,” “Dead Poets Society” and “Good Morning Vietnam.”

CityCenter Reveals The Spa At Aria, Opening December – Innovative 80,000-square-foot Spa And Salon Brings Nature’s Elements Within – Synchronizing balance and beauty, The Spa at ARIA invites guests into a peaceful haven where nature’s healing properties take center stage. Salt, stone, earth, fire and water join to create a spa experience that will elevate guests to a meditative state for introspection and relaxation. Opening with ARIA Resort & Casino this December, the two-level Spa will feature 62 treatment rooms, a full-service salon, an advanced fitness center, boutique, poolside spa cabanas and Las Vegas’ first co-ed spa balcony, featuring an outdoor therapy pool and views of ARIA’s spectacular poolscape. In addition to skincare and massage rooms, The Spa will feature ashiatsu, couples’ massage, thai massage, hydro-therapy and vichy rooms, as well as three exclusive spa suites.

So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2009 Hits Las Vegas For One-Night-Only At The Orleans Arena November 14 – Audience favorites from the fifth season of the popular television program So You Think You Can Dance will appear live on stage at the Orleans Arena for a one-night-only event, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2009. Ade Obayomi, Brandon Bryant, Evan Kasprzak, Janette Manrara, Jason Glover, Kayla Radomski, Kupono Aweau, Melissa Sandvig, Randi Evans, and America’s Favorite Dancer Jeanine Mason are the Top 10 Finalists from the hit television show, performing the hottest routines from the program, as well as original pieces created specifically for the national tour*.

“OktoberFrightFest” Brings Beer & Brats, Bats and BOOze To Fremont Street Experience – Fremont Street Experience unveils the ultimate Oktoberfest and Halloween combined street party with its first ever “OktoberFrightFest,” a festival through October 13-31. Fremont Street Experience transforms itself into the ultimate adult playground with Oktoberfest and Halloween festivities, including a haunted house attraction inside Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel, a Viva Vision light and sound show themed to “Time Warp” and “Monster Mash,” seasonal Oktoberfest food & drink specials, plus three free Halloween-themed stage shows never seen before in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Deals

These are only a few of the many Easy Vegas Deals we find each and every week (many of which happen too quickly for newsletter deadline). For a complete and constantly updated listing:

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Members Mania will return next week. We are just flat out of room this issue with the giveaways, photo sets and show reviews.

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, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 18-20 (3 day weekend)
  • Super Bowl Sunday February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 14
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • Mardi Gras February 16
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 4
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 9
  • Memorial Day, U.S May 29-31 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 20
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada July 31-August 2 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 9

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 2009 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

October 21, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

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