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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

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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.

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

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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

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