AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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AccessVegas@AccessVegas.com

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AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials Las Vegas And Grand Canyon Tours Las Vegas Hotels Las Vegas Shows Headliners and Concerts Las Vegas Deals Access Vegas on Twitter Access Vegas on Facebook Access Vegas on Google+ Las Vegas Photos

Featured Shows MAMMA MIA!Rock Of Ages Absinthe Jersey Boys

Hot Hotel Happenings – Save Big Now!

Stay at Bally’s Las Vegas and get choice of One Day SPA TreatmentsSave up to 15% Off at Harrah’s Palace Las VegasCaesars Palace Las Vegas Buffet of Buffets Deal! Stay 2 Nights From $134/Night & Get 2 All-Day, All Access Buffet Passes to 8 Buffets in Sin City!Special Offers at The Palms – Entertainment Packages and Resort Packages

áPalms Las Vegas – Enjoy 24-hour checkout times only when you book online! Book Now!

Las Vegas Buffet of Buffets Deal! Stay 2 Nights From $52/Night & Get 2 All-Day, All Access Buffet Passes to 8 Buffets in Sin City!

Palms Casino Resort Stay 4 nights and get 25% off your stay. Stay More, Save More – Play, Dine & Dance a little moreàon us.

The Quad – Best Rate Guarantee – Rates low as $30 a night, Center Strip right at LINQ!

Click To View ALL Las Vegas Hotel Deals

Print Too Small? (Deals – Large Print)

This Week’s Top Tours

	Neon Dream Vegas helicopter tour, soar out to and over Hoover Dam/Lake Mead, Fremont Experience and entire Strip!
	Vegas Sunrise Hot Air Balloon ride. Unforgettable views and memories. An experience your friends can’t top!
	Visit Grand Canyon, Mojave Desert, Black Mountains, Eagle Point, Hoover Dam photo op, more. Day tour from Vegas!

Featured Tour Video From Las Vegas

You can book this amazing flight now and save $21! Neon Nights Air Tour

Click Here To See More Great Tours…

ALL tours listed on our AccessVegas.com tour page (link above) have been hand-selected. We only work with the top, most professional companies and operators who vow to give our readers a great experience! Because of this, we can not recommend nor vouch for tours not listed on here in the newsletter or on our tour page. Questions? Our tour page lists phone contacts where tour experts are available for live help!

Great Casino Deals – Win Cards – Episode 1

This is Episode 1 of our new series of Great Casino Deals with gambling expert Victor H. Royer. In this series we will profile some of the great casino deals from Casinos in Las Vegas, including the new Win Cards from The Tropicana. Get these great cards next time you are in Las Vegas to help you win more at the table games! For more great casino deals, visit: www.MoreCasinoDeals.com

July 2014 Events And Specials

Trevi Las Vegas Makes Summer A Dream With July 2014 Specials On Pizza And Ice Cream – Trevi Italian Restaurant inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace will celebrate summer by offering brick oven-fired pizzas for $10 each throughout July along with introducing $5 house-made waffle sundaes to honor National Ice Cream Month.

To celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month, TREVI has introduced a gelato sundae served in a house-made waffle bowl, priced at $5 each. The sweet treat consists of a choice of gelato flavor, drizzled with a chocolate or caramel sauce, whipped cream and topped with sprinkles and a cherry.

• Full story/details/info: Trevi Specials On Pizza And Ice Cream

Crush Las Vegas Introduces New Summer Cocktails And Beers To Complement The Season – CRUSH eat, drink, love at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino has introduced new summer cocktails and draught beers to the menu, providing refreshing relief from the hot weather. The new seasonal cocktails include:

ò Summer Love made with Bombay Sapphire gin, Pavan Liqueur, strawberry liqueur, fresh lemon juice and prosecco priced at $14;

CRUSH, eat, drink, love, is a 7,000-square-foot restaurant serving a cosmopolitan share-plate style menu with large and small plate dishes prepared by Executive Chef Billy DeMarco. Located inside MGM Grand, CRUSH is open daily for dinner, starting at 5:30 p.m.

• Full story/details/info: Crush New Summer Cocktails And Beers

• Cabo Wabo Cantina Las Vegas To “Rum-Member” National Daiquiri Day

• Miracle Mile Shops Las Vegas July 2014 Events, Deals, And Promotions Continue

• Silverton Casino Hotel Las Vegas Announces July 2014 Dining Specials

Las Vegas Hotels

• New hotel chief removes ‘L’ from LVH marquee (with video)

• Lake Las Vegas casino delays opening

• MGM Resorts sets plans for 40-acre recreation park hosting Rock in Rio and more

• Westgate CEO plans sweeping changes for newly acquired LVH

Dining, Drinking, And Dancing

Park On Fremont Restaurant Downtown Introduces Seasonal New Menu Items – Park on Fremont welcomes the warmer weather with tasty new menu selections, adding refreshing salads, a new summer smash cocktail and deep fried sensations to the bar and restaurant’s offerings, available now.

Those looking for a taste of South of the Border flavors will enjoy the fish tacos, made with tempura fried Mahi fish topped with coleslaw and chipotle dressing, priced at $9; as well as the Park Paloma, a new summer cocktail made with Cazadores tequila, Pavan liqueur, fresh lime, simple syrup and a splash of grapefruit juice, priced at $8.

• Full story/details/info: Park On Fremont Introduces Seasonal New Menu Items

New Mixologist To Mix Up Las Vegas Rhumbar’s Cocktail Menu With Exciting Elixirs – RHUMBAR, located at the The Mirage Hotel & Casino, welcomes Lillian Hargrove to its team as lead bartender and award-winning mixologist.

Recently named Campari’s “Best Aperitivo” Las Vegas Champion, Hargrove brings years of mixology experience to RHUMBAR’s cocktail lounge. Through her expertise, Hargrove ensures that each beverage she concocts has a special flair that is reflective of RHUMBAR’s signature libations.

Already at the top of her game, Hargrove has concocted fresh new cocktails for the popular Strip-side bar.

• Full story/details/info: New Mixologist At Rhumbar

• Many of the great 24/7 hotel coffee shops of the past are no longer. However, you can still round up some great grub in the later hours of the night!

• Double Barrel Roadhouse Las Vegas Introduces Hosted Bar Wristbands

• Review: F.A.M.E At Linq Las Vegas

Las Vegas Tours And Attractions

• From pool parties to the neighbouring Grand Canyon, here’s a guide to summer attractions in Las Vegas and surrounds

• Dig This: Work is play for some people

• Black Canyon Water Trail offers a cool change

• Check out these great pictures of the current Bellagio Gardens display, and make sure to click the Share button so your friends can check them out too!

Click Here To See More Great Tours…

More Las Vegas News

• Some U.S. Bound Air Travelers Will Have To Power Up Cell Phones To Get Past Security (with video)

• Extravagant and ecofriendly: Henderson home created for 2014 International BuilderÆs Show

• Al Davis envisioned Las Vegas Raiders

• Our dry heat might feel cooler, but therein lies a danger

Upcoming Las Vegas Events And Holidays

• National Tequila Day Las Vegas 2014 (July 24)

Newkirk’s Notes: The Boss Speaks…

Newkirk’s Notes are comments and insight from AccessVegas.Com publisher and 20+ year Las Vegas resident Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! – Monsoon season is here, which isn’t out of the norm for July. We’ll have a few days of “normal” weather (highs in the low 100’s F), interrupted by a few days of 90’s with some humidity and thunderstorms. Not Florida-style humidity, but more than we’re used to.

MAMMA MIA! Exclusive 30% Savings To Our Readers! – Most of you got a special email from us this past week letting you know that Las Vegas’ happy hit show is giving you this great opportunity to save on a show everybody love! If you missed the email, you can still click to MAMMA MIA! Exclusive Access Vegas 30% Offer

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Now, We Can Really Kiss The Las Vegas Hilton (Name) Goodbye – Westgate Time shares purchased the LVH hotel last week, and have big plans. Fortunately, they are not going to turn the whole thing into a owners-only timeshare. Although they plan to turn some of the rooms to luxury timeshare villas, it appears they pretty much still intend to operate it as a hotel casino.

New owner David Siegel may be best known to some of you from the documentary The Queen of Versailles (available streaming on Netflix) and as the man who built the PH Westgate Tower behind Planet Hollywood Hotel, which he subsequently lost it in the financial crisis.

He’s planning to put hundreds of millions of dollars into refurbishment of the iconic property, widely know as the hotel where Elvis had his huge Vegas run. The old Star Trek space will be turned into a nightclub (good luck with that at this location, unless it is a more mellow affair catering to people over 30), but also of interest is that the Shimmer Cabaret is going to be used as a lounge with free live music playing day and night. Real live music, not a DJ. How cool is that!

He’s keeping the property open during the renovations and while we’re not the kind of publication that goes crazy posting zillions of hotel construction photos, we’ll keep you in the loop on the progress. By the way, if enough people are interested in seeing more construction photos of Las Vegas, let us know. We just haven’t heard the demand. Most people just want to know when it is over!

We’re Not The Ones Using It! – Because of the drought here in the Southwest, many readers are asking about Las Vegas and water. Many visitors assume that because of our water features on The Strip, Las Vegas is a big user and waster of water. This leads people to further assume that the dropping levels in Lake Mead are our fault.

Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Although the Colorado River sits right outside our back door, more than 10 times the water we use is pumped up to 100 miles inland to the Imperial Valley of Southern California (Brawley, El Centro) to water crops. Because pretty much nobody lived in Las Vegas when they divided up rights to the river water, they didn’t figure we needed any of it!

The reality: There are more swimming pools in Southern California filled with Colorado River water than there are in Las Vegas.

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On a per person basis, the water used to keep the resorts looking lush and the water features running is well used. Yes, the lake at the Bellagio holds a fair amount of water (although not as much as you think as it isn’t that deep), but tens of millions of people enjoy that same amount of water. Also, a little known fact: The lake is filled with water pumped from a well, not the river. When Steve Wynn bought The Dunes hotel (where Bellagio now sits), it came with a golf course which came with well water rights. Honestly, I’ll bet the lake takes less water than the golf course did!

Having said that, if we don’t start seeing some very snowy winters in Western Colorado over the next couple of years (feeding the river at its source), Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico could start to see water restrictions. Keep that in mind if you were planning to move here and you consider a big, green lawn a must. Me? I have desert landscaping. Saves a ton on my water bill and I don’t have to mow it.

As a visitor? Don’t worry about it. Water isn’t going to be cut off to the hotels, and they are pretty water-efficient to begin with. (Saves them money). Also, shower as long as you’d like. Our wastewater is treated and then goes back into the river. (Probably just like where many of you live).

Hey Las Vegas, Can You Turn It Down? – We’ve been getting a more and more steady stream of complaints about how loud the music is all over Las Vegas. Attention Casinos, Pools, and Restaurants: These complaints are NOT coming from only retired people (whose gambling money you really need to do a better job of catering to). I’m talking about people in their 30’s! I can absolutely understand the dayclubs and party spots blasting it out. However, it is getting to the point where you can’t hold a conversation in some restaurants. Talking over a meal… what a concept!

Hope you are enjoying this issue!

Associate Editor / News Researcher: Rick Ziegler

Concerts, Headliners, Special Events: Puneet Adobe

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

• MGM Resorts Presents The Park – An artist video rendering of MGM Resorts International’s project, The Park, which will connect New York-New York and Monte Carlo with an eight-acre outdoor entertainment experience. Get a peek at what is coming!

• Exploring The Beauty Of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – The city has giant mega-casino hotels, decorated with lavish care and attention to detail to create a fantasy-like atmosphere. The casinos often have names and themes that evoke romance, mystery, and far-away and exotic destinations. If your friends think that Las Vegas is all slot machines, have them watch this!

• Casino Wars National Geographic Documentary – Great 45 minute show about cheaters in Las Vegas and how they got the slots to win.

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Having enjoyed Las Vegas since the 50’s and enjoying each and every visit since then (except for the last 4 years due to my health), I’m ready to go again—-but—–my lovely wife thinks otherwise.

She says Las Vegas is no longer for us. Las Vegas belongs now to the younger generation and my wife and I probably (skip that and insert) assuredly would no longer enjoy Las Vegas as much. She says “It’s no longer the city it used to be, what with the constant changes with hotel themes, downtown is a madhouse and the young people are no longer polite,and rather push you aside than say ‘excuse me’.”

Judging from our last visit, I’m almost ready to agree. What say you???????

Al In Milwaukee

Ted Responds:

First of all, let me note that I’m envious that you got to enjoy Las Vegas in the days of the Rat Pack and through the era when Vegas was “Vegas” and a comp was a comp! And, I wish you returning to good health that allows you to travel regardless of your destination for many years to come.

I do think that we’re going to look back on this era of Las Vegas as the “directionless” era. Steve Wynn once had grand plans to build a massive complex on all the property he owns behind Wynn and Encore (where the golf course is), but the recession scrapped that and he’s busy with Macau. I bring him up because he has no equal when it comes to being a visionary about doing amazing things in Las Vegas.

This Asian-Themed Resort World (former Stardust) looks very cool, very themed, and very promising! (I hope they pin a better name on it when they are done). Perhaps it will be a wake-up call that people really, really like themed resorts. And yes, the boring names have to go. You are coming here to stay in a property that evokes some kind of emotion!

Unquestionably, the current dirty little secret is that we’ll hit a new record in numbers of visitors this year, but it is because of the 20-somethings who often come just to get out of control. We continue to receive notes that the hotel hallways have gotten a bit louder the past few years.

The guys running the two main gaming companies are more bankers and statisticians then they are gambling and entertainment gurus. Having said that, the Linq project has been received better than I anticipated. (Plus, no costumed characters)

However, what is going to happen if we lose the group that has enjoyed Vegas for what Vegas has always been? These 20-somethings are not much in the way of gamblers. The clubs are sucking money out of many of them now, but when they hit 30, are they going to instantly turn into gamblers? Or are they going to go “Vegas is nice, but we have nice malls here and I don’t club anymore, so no reason to return”?

That could be a huge wake-up call for a city built on gambling that needs to return to its roots. Sleeping in, brunch buffet, having some cocktails around the pool, a nice dinner, an amazing show, and then a good dance with lady luck will hopefully never go out of style.

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

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

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

Need to contact us? Send feedback to
AccessVegas@AccessVegas.com

Did someone forward this to you and you’d like to be on our list? Sign up at AccessVegas.com
Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Hot Hotel Happenings – Save Big Now!

Stay at Bally’s Las Vegas and get choice of One Day SPA TreatmentsSave up to 15% Off at Harrah’s Palace Las VegasCaesars Palace Las Vegas Buffet of Buffets Deal! Stay 2 Nights From $134/Night & Get 2 All-Day, All Access Buffet Passes to 8 Buffets in Sin City!Special Offers at The Palms – Entertainment Packages and Resort Packages

áPalms Las Vegas – Enjoy 24-hour checkout times only when you book online! Book Now!

Las Vegas Buffet of Buffets Deal! Stay 2 Nights From $52/Night & Get 2 All-Day, All Access Buffet Passes to 8 Buffets in Sin City!

Palms Casino Resort Stay 4 nights and get 25% off your stay. Stay More, Save More – Play, Dine & Dance a little moreàon us.

The Quad – Best Rate Guarantee – Rates low as $30 a night, Center Strip right at LINQ!

Click To View ALL Las Vegas Hotel Deals

Print Too Small? (Deals – Large Print)

This Week’s Top Tours

	First a Las Vegas Strip helicopter tour, then dinner at Smith & Wollensky’s is the perfect way to begin your night!
	Experience Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, all of Vegas by helicopter, save 30%!
	Richard Petty Rookie Tour: YOU drive the Vegas Motor Speedway in a V-8 NASCAR style car!
	Vegas Indoor Skydiving, right on Vegas Strip, winds up to 120 mph, just like the real thing
	See the Grand Canyon, Route 66, Mojave Desert, and more direct from Las Vegas. The Full day tour is only $229 including snacks, lunch, and fees!

Click Here To See More Great Tours…

Las Vegas Hotels

Goodbye Quad – Caesars Entertainment To Spend $223 Million On Renovations And Will Rename It LINQ Hotel & Casino – Caesars Entertainment announced its newest property, unveiling The LINQ Hotel & Casino as the latest addition to its portfolio of iconic Las Vegas resorts. Located at the heart of Center Strip at 3535 Las Vegas Boulevard, the LINQ Hotel & Casino is a complete re-imagination of the current Quad Resort & Casino.

The Las Vegas hotel will feature 2,256 brand new rooms and suites, a completely renovated welcome experience built around a signature lobby bar, all new retail and spa amenities and a dynamic new pool deck to deliver an entirely new guest experience. Combined with the world’s largest observation wheel, the High Roller, and The LINQ retail, dining and entertainment promenade, The LINQ Hotel & Casino is set to become the new social center of Las Vegas and will welcome its first guests beginning on Oct. 30, 2014.

Urban Inspired Hotel Room Design

The new resort will boast 2,256 rooms including 204 suites along with 29 cabana suites with private access to the all-new pool area. The standard room features a fresh, modern design with floor to ceiling windows, boasting views of the iconic Las Vegas Strip or the High Roller. The centerpiece of the room design will be three distinct accent wall murals featuring stylized interpretations of vintage Las Vegas glamour.

• Full story/details/info: Caesars Entertainment Renames Quad To LINQ

• The Cromwell û A Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Las Vegas

• Want the Palms Place rooftop penthouse? You can snag it for $38 million

• Las Vegas, Back From the Bust, Revives Dead Projects

July 2014 Events And Specials

• El Cortez Hotel & Casino July 2014 Promotions, Deals, And Events

• Station Casinos’ Las Vegas July 2014 House Free Entertainment

• RÝ Rß Las Vegas July 2014 Listings And Food & Drink Deals

Las Vegas Shows, Concerts, And Headliners

Dee Snider Of Twisted Sister Attends Rock Of Ages Las Vegas – Twisted Sister frontman, Dee Snider, attended Rock Of Ages June 27, 2014 at The Venetian Las Vegas. Snider, who performed the role of “Dennis Dupree” in Rock of Ages during a three-month stint on Broadway in 2010, headed backstage following the show to share words of enthusiasm with the cast and to take a photo. Snider also shared his sentiments in a tweet saying, “What a great show! @rockofagesvegas @VenetianVegas ROCKS! Must see! What a great cast! #facemelted #nogolf #ridetolivelivetoride.”

• Full story/details/info: Dee Snider Attends Rock Of Ages
• Click to Book Tickets Now: Rock Of Ages

• æJersey BoysÆ fails to deliver excitement of stage version (with video)Book Jersey Boys Las Vegas Tickets Now

• Frankie Moreno Celebrates Stratospheric Achievement

Book Frankie Moreno Las Vegas Tickets Now

Alcohol Freedoms And Restrictions

• Final 2014 EDC numbers: 400,000 fans from 50 states and 40 countries, 70 weddings

• Grass Roots Juice Bar Bursts Into Downtown With Fresh Juices And More

• Well-executed whimsy lends to steampunk atmosphere at Rx Boiler Room

• Craft beer bar joins Las Vegas’ Strip

• Las Vegas mulling further alcohol restrictions on Fremont

More Las Vegas News

• Appeal rejection portends end of Nevada same-sex marriage ban

• Court upholds $19 million judgment in case involving Steve Wynn

• Statistics show Las Vegas housing beginning recovery

• Part of Colorado River declared National Water Trail
• U.S. recognizes spectacular scenery on Colorado River below Hoover DamBook Your Air, Land, And Water Rafting Tour Today

Upcoming Las Vegas Events And Holidays

• July 4th Weekend Las Vegas 2014 (July 4 – 6)

• World Cup Las Vegas 2014 (June 12 – July 13)

Newkirk’s Notes: The Boss Speaks…

Newkirk’s Notes are comments and insight from AccessVegas.Com publisher and 20+ year Las Vegas resident Ted Newkirk:

Hello From Las Vegas! – A pretty toasty Las Vegas as we’re getting one of our 2-3 “heat waves” we experience in the summer where the temperatures get over 110F for a few days in a row. We’re used to it and many of us actually don’t mind it. We don’t shovel snow, and we don’t have to layer clothing, we don’t have to put on a warm jacket to go to the grocery store (except at night in the dead of winter).

However, do like a local and stay very hydrated. You are certainly allowed to ask the bartender for an ice-water back with your beer or cocktail. (I often ask for them to use a pint glass and fill it halfway with ice and then full of water, then tip and extra dollar, which beats paying $4 for a bottle of water with three gulps worth in it).

Also, that tap water in your hotel room is very, very safe to drink. Otherwise we’d have 2 million sick people in town (we locals). It does come out of the mineral-rich Colorado River, so it may not taste as good as the tap water some of you enjoy in other places.

However if you don’t have (or are unwilling to buy) bottled water, it will do the trick! Get a couple glasses in you whenever you return to your room, and ESPECIALLY after a night on the town. Dehydration can mean the difference between a mild hangover and a really bad one. Get another glass or two of it down when you wake up. Trust me, you’ll thank me. Our dry desert air dehydrates you way more than you realize!

In our news section is the big story about The Quad being renamed The Linq in conjunction with the $238 million remodel of the property, top to bottom. One thing that confused me (and that I don’t have an answer to yet) is the fact that they are adding bars and lounges. To the casino? Does this mean they are going to take what many consider a very bland casino design and give it some ooomph? The story just broke, so I don’t know yet. However, we’ll be on top of it!

NOTE: The following was meant to run last issue and inadvertently left out.

R.I.P. Steve Rossi – We sadly note the passing of legendary comedian Steve Rossi, a local resident and best known as 1/2 one-half of the legendary comedy team of Allen and Rossi. A decades-long Las Vegas resident, he was supportive of other shows and performers in town up until nearly the end, attending many of our entertainment options regularly. He was also very instrumental in launching the career of the late Danny Gans.

As I’m in my late 40’s, they were a bit before my time. However, I’d love to jump in a time machine and go back to the 50’s and 60’s and experience the headliners and acts that lined The Strip during the Rat Pack era. I wonder if 50 years from now, someone will be saying “Wouldn’t it have been interesting to visit Las Vegas in the era of Celine, Shania, Rod Stewart, Elton John and such” when they look at “old” footage and photos of what we’re doing today!

SLS (Former Sahara) Opens August 23 – How Will It Do? – Lots of questions float around. Will the location hinder the property? Perhaps not as bad as people think, since a large part of their target audience will probably be drive-in visitors from California. Given that owners SBE are headquartered and entrenched in Los Angeles with nightclubs and hotels, it will depend how “hot” they can make SLS. Californians tend to be very, very trendy. Get a great buzz going for SLS and they should do OK.

The bigger challenge is getting people staying at other properties to come all the way up to the north end of The Strip. Here’s an idea: Give anyone presenting a valid monorail ticket free play or some kind of reward that covers the round-trip ride. If people know they can get up to see you without an expensive taxi ride or slow bus ride, they might be more likely to do so. They will see how quick and close you are via monorail, and the monorail company will adore you (and surely work a promotional deal with you).

Finally, how well with they do with locals? They have noted that the property sits at one of Las Vegas’ busiest intersections and Sahara is a major east/west artery. Having said that, Sahara runs past the blank “ass end” of the property and just because I drive by there on my way to see my chiropractor or run some errands, it doesn’t mean that stopping in is going to be top-of-mind.

If they want the locals to help make them successful, they are really going to have to target those of us who live relatively close. Being an L.A. company, I’m dubious about their ability to understand the local market and attract locals. Hey SLS: Come about December 10 and you are scratching your head wondering why you’re not getting any of the local market, give me a shout. I live 5 minutes from your hotel. I’m the kind of local you need to be getting in the door!

Sweet 16 – If you didn’t vote in our Best Of Las Vegas Hotels Sweet 16, you still have a few more days to vote in this round and make your voice heard! We have 8 match-ups and you simply click on the hotel you feel is the better property in each match-up. Quick and easy!

Membership Note: We’ve delayed our VIP Premium Membership start until August 1 to work out the kinks. We’ve already contacted our members (who are already seeing a different, reduced ad version of this newsletter). However, the free version (which you are reading now) will not change until August 1.

Hope you are enjoying this issue!

Associate Editor / News Researcher: Rick Ziegler

Concerts and Headliners: Amy Rayner-Cooley

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

• Monte Carlo’s New Open-Air Mall On The Strip Featuring Outdoor Dining, Live Music, and Street Performers – Monte Carlo has completed a multi-million-dollar reinvention of its facade, and they didn’t destroy it as badly as we were worried about. Debuting a lively open-air plaza with six unique dining concepts, vibrant community spaces and dynamic live entertainment, the new plaza delivers a cool, high-energy atmosphere making it a pretty cool place to hang out during the many, many months per year of great Las Vegas weather!

• Wednesdays Downtown Street Festival – During May and June, DTLV.com and FEED presented Wednesdays Downtown, a seasonal weekly event that brings together all the good stuff Fremont East has to offer – cocktails, dining, live entertainment, art – and wraps it up in refined, San Francisco-style urban swagger. This is a really cool look at what is going on in the Fremont East area, which is just past the big Slotzilla launch tower on Fremont Street. Word is that this event will resume again this fall, and we’ll keep you posted.

• Las Vegas 1962: Come Fly With Me – A nostalgic look back at vintage Las Vegas. The film is from Jeff Altman of Chicago who transferred and color-corrected the 16mm film from his grandfatherÆs and grandmotherÆs 1962 trip to Sin City. The YouTube member posting the video added the opening title and the music of OlÆ Blue Eyes. What a great, historic look at Las Vegas!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

When show tickets say “no cameras allowed” will I be searched and the camera be confiscated?

I will be traveling to Vegas in August (from the UK) and I have booked an early evening spin on the High Roller followed by Penn & Teller at the Rio. Whilst I have no intention of taking photos during Penn & Teller, I would hate to lose any big wheel photos (and the camera!) if Rio’s “no cameras in the showroom” policy is strictly enforced.

Regards,

Andrew From The UK

Ted Responds:

We found out that Andrew was a paid premium member (we guarantee to answer their questions), and was specifically concerned about Penn and Teller, so we got to work for him!

Specifically for Penn and Teller, you can’t take a professional-style camera into the theater. However, you CAN check it at the box office for safe keeping until after the show. AND… should you wish, you are certainly allowed to take pictures of Penn and Teller after the show when they greet fans.

On a more general note, many shows simply prohibit flash photography.

As a general rule of thumb:

Nice, expensive cameras are going to get you a second look by security whether it be a show or if you are in a casino. They are concerned about the use of unauthorized commercial photography that might not be flattering to them, plus an expensive camera’s ability to zoom into table game areas, to specific people at the pool, etc. Las Vegas still very much tries to maintain guest privacy and anonymity.

The cell phone issue is pretty much one where the cat is out of the bag. Don’t use a flash and don’t be obvious.

And most importantly, follow ALL instructions given to the audience either on the ticket, at the box office or before the show regarding their photo policies.

Great question and happy to help a paid subscriber who supports what we do!

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

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