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Access Vegas Insider Vibe March 13, 2013

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Las Vegas Events

Las Vegas Hotels And Construction

El Cortez Hotel Named To The National Register Of Historic Places – The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) named El Cortez Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas as one of the cultural resources worthy of preservation.

ôWe are thrilled to become one of the beloved properties across the nation recognized on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places. Our hotel represents not only the treasured memories of our cityÆs history but also embraces the future of downtown,ö executive vice president of El Cortez Hotel & Casino Alex Epstein said.

Las Vegas Shows, Headliners, And Concerts

March Events And Specials

Las Vegas Restaurants And Dining

St. Patrick’s Day Las Vegas 2013

Las Vegas Nightlife

March Madness Las Vegas 2013

More Las Vegas News

UNLVino Takes Place At Las Vegas Strip Locations For 39th Annual Event April 18-21, 2013 – This year, the 39th annual UNLVino will expand to four days of events, for wine, beer and spirit enthusiasts, April 18-21, 2013. NevadaÆs original wine festival will showcase an array of international beverages and continue Southern Wine & Spirits of NevadaÆs mission to raise millions of scholarship dollars for students of UNLVÆs William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.

Tickets are now on sale for 2013Æs exciting festivities at UNLVTickets.com. The perfect ValentineÆs Day gift for wine connoisseurs û UNLVinoÆs special $350 wine-lovers ôpassportö package û includes admission to all four tastings, a savings of more than $100.

North And South American Wines Go Head To Head During The Golden NuggetÆs Wine Revolution – On April 12-14, 2013, winery owners, winemakers and consumers will get together in the fifth annual spring wine event. The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino will host the said event where wines from North America and South America will go head to head in the Wine Revolution. Guests will enjoy the silent and live wine auctions, wine tastings, poolside receptions and many more.

The event is regularly priced at $260* but discounted price is available for guests who will book in advance. The discounted ticket price is sold for $199* for all four events. Guests can purchase the event separately.

Soul2Soul - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Las Vegas Strip at sunsetMaverick Wind Dancer Sunset Landing Tour û Landing tour with Hors d’oeuvres on the Canyon Floor. Birds eye view of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Get a close look at the extinct volcano Fortification Hill. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. Descend deep into the Grand Canyon and land on the Hualapai Indian territory on the canyon floor for a champagne toast, beverages and hors d’ oeuvres in the heart of this spectacular wonder of the world.

Click To Book Maverick Wind Dancer Sunset Landing Tour Now!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

Million Dollar Quartet by Terri DÆRichards

Million Dollar Quartet – Incredible But True – Shake, Rattle or Roll but DO get yourself to a performance of ôMillion Dollar Quartetö for an unforgettable evening of Rock ænÆ Roll history and live performance. HarrahÆs newly remodeled showroom hosts the Las Vegas version of this hit Broadway and touring production, which gives audiences a fly-on-the-wall perspective into a once-in-a-lifetime event that took place December 1956: the convergence of 4 legends in Rock ænÆ Roll history.

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – NASCAR almost got rained out last weekend (rare spring storm), but now we’re in the upper 80’s all this week! I dusted off all my patio furniture and my trustworthy old CRT TV that I keep on the back porch ($25 from Craigs List… I can leave it out there because it isn’t worth stealing) and it is al fresco dining nightly.

I’d love to tell you that we’re playing hooky, but Rick got hit with a nasty “summer” cold and I’ve been working on our super-cool, soon-to-debut “Best Of” voting software (unlike any other Best Of internet voting out there — it will be really fun), so we’re running a little lighter than usual this issue. All should be back to normal next week.

The Weather Channel is predicting a major winter storm for a good part of the nation next week. You know those cool new gadgets we have called airplanes? Get on one and come see us and thaw out.

Hope you are enjoying this issue!

Associate Editor / News Researcher: Rick Ziegler

Concerts and Headliners: Rick Ziegler

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

  • Wynn Las Vegas ‘Tulips’ Unveiled – As part of the resort’s continued commitment and appreciation of public art, Wynn Las Vegas unveils ‘Tulips’ by renowned artist Jeff Koons. Rendered in mirror-polished stainless steel and transparent color coating, ‘Tulips’ will illuminate the Wynn theater rotunda at Wynn Las Vegas. The sculpture was acquired at auction for a price of $33,682,500.
  • 2013 NASCAR Hauler Parade Las Vegas Strip – The annual NASCAR Hauler Parade is the unofficial kickoff to NASCAR weekend in Las Vegas. All the haulers that bring the race cars to Las Vegas, get polished up and run down the famous Las Vegas Strip. By http://www.thevegastourist.com
  • Lake Mead and Nevada’s Desert – The lake stretches far beyond the dam into the rugged desert landscape along the Nevada and Arizona border very near Las Vegas. Lake Mead is now a National Recreation Area and a starkly beautiful place to visit. In our video, we mention the possibility of renting houseboats to travel into the far reaches of the lake. But if you don’t get out on the water itself, the landscape around is colorful and wild and easily accessible. Just a few miles from downtown Las Vegas, this is the real Nevada, a great state to visit.

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.

Access Vegas Insider Vibe March 6, 2013

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Las Vegas Events

Las Vegas Shows, Headliners, And Concerts

The Rat Pack Is Back! A Tribute To Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean – Old Vegas from the Sands returns nightly in ôThe Rat Pack is Back! A Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Deanö and it headlines at 7 p.m. nightly at The Rio.

The stellar cast includes impersonators of Frank Sinatra (Brian Duprey), Sammy Davis Jr. (Kenny Jones), Joey Bishop (Mickey Joseph) and Dean Martin (Drew Anthony). ThereÆs even a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and performer (Jamie Edwards). The Lon Bronson Big Band Orchestra provides the live music for the entire show. They are legendary in Las Vegas entertainment circles.

Rock Of Ages Headlines Las Vegas Motor Speedway Pre-Race Show For March 10 Kobalt Tools 400 – Rock Of Ages will rock Las Vegas Motor Speedway prior to the Kobalt Tools 400. Cast members of the smash-hit show will perform as part of the pre-race activities at the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event on Sunday, March 10. The performance will start at approximately 11:15 a.m. Pacific

Live Country Music Concerts At Fremont Street Experience Return April 5-6 – The Academy of Country Music and Las Vegas announced today that for the seventh consecutive year, ACM Weekend at Fremont Street Experience will be taking place on Friday, April 5th and Saturday, April 6th. On the heels of the ACM Party for a Cause Festival at The Orleans Hotel and Casino, this ultimate ACM after party continues in downtown Las Vegas at Fremont Street with two nights of all-star concerts headlined by Gary Allan and Jake Owen and featuring performances by Randy Houser, Chris Janson, Jana Kramer, Kip Moore, Joe Nichols and Sunny Sweeney.

Rock æNÆ Roll Fantasy Camp Presents Def Leppard Fantasy Camp Featuring Special Guest Lita Ford – Rock ænÆ Roll Fantasy Camp continues to offer its classes April 4-7, 2013 with the camp headliner Def Leppard. The camp will be joined by the bandÆs members including Joe Elliott on vocals, Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen on guitars, Rick ôSavö Savage on bass and Rick Allen on drums.

Campers will be engaged in different activities including master class which will teach them about music especially from Def Leppard. In addition, fanatics will also have a chance to jam nightly with the famous rock stars, perform live on stage as well as write and record original songs. They will also learn how to play the favorite songs of the band such as ôRock of Ages,ö ôPour Some Sugar on Meö and ôToo Late for Love.ö

The registration is already open and campers can choose either from the Recording Star package or Headliner package. Both the four day packages include scheduled classes, lunch, daily jam sessions, an opening night cocktail reception and a final concert performance DVD. On April 7, Sunday, a live concert will be hosted by the campers and counselors which will be the campÆs culmination. For registration and more information, visit www.rockcamp.com

Construction, Remodeling, And Renovations

Las Vegas Global Business District Unveiled – The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority unveiled its plans today for the Las Vegas Global Business District, an overarching vision for the Las Vegas Convention Center and the surrounding area.

Bellagio Completes $40 Million Room And Suite Remodel In ResortÆs Spa Tower – Bellagio, one of the worldÆs most iconic resorts, recently completed the remodel of Spa TowerÆs 928 rooms and suites which will definitely elevate the guest experience.

The three new Executive Parlor Suites are also introduced which are designed with entertainment as well as technology in mind. The 2,500-square-foot suites each feature a separate high-tech home theater living area and a billiards lounge that invites guests to host interactive yet intimate events in a vibrant setting.

Downtown / Fremont Street Experience

Las Vegas Restaurants And Dining

Tacos & Tequila Celebrates National Salsa Day With Salsa Sampler – Can’t Make It To Vegas? Here’s The Recipe! – Tacos & Tequila (T&T) will bring the heat for National Salsa Day with Chef Saul OrtizÆs salsa sampler trio Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Luxor Hotel and Casino.

Priced at $5, Chef OrtizÆs homemade salsa sampler will feature three salsas including: Scorpion Pepper Salsa which makes a tasty addition to soups and sandwiches; Salsa de Arbol, ideal for accompanying red and game meats; and Roasted Jalape±o Salsa thatÆs best served with chicken or grilled seafood items. To enjoy the flavors of Tacos and Tequila at home, guests can prepare their own version of the salsa sampler with Chef OrtizÆs salsa recipes:

Chef Todd English Takes on Californian Bordeaux at BellagioÆs Epicurean Epicenter – Saturday, March 9, 2013 two giants in the food and wine world û celebrity Chef Todd English and Justin Winery, the pioneer of the Californian Bordeaux-style wine û will join forces at BellagioÆs Epicurean Epicenter series.

Differentiating Epicurean Epicenter from other wine dinners, Chef English of Olives has extensively worked with BellagioÆs Master Sommelier Jason Smith to craft cuisine for this event around Justin WineryÆs featured Bordeaux û instead of the other way around. The result will be imaginative dishes like the ôDuck Duck Gooseö û a Seared Duck Breast with confit leg ragu and foie gras tortellini which will perfectly accentuate the elegant, yet herbal structure of the 2010 JUSTIFICATION Paso Robles.

Travel+Leisure Names Gold CoastÆs Ping Pang Pong One of NationÆs Best Chinese Restaurants – In its most prestigious recognition to date, Ping Pang Pong at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino has been named one of the ôBest Chinese Restaurants in the United Statesö by Travel+Leisure magazine.

The popular Asian cuisine hotspot was the only Las Vegas restaurant to be recognized by Travel+Leisure in the listing.

Travel+Leisure wrote: ôàyouÆll find regional specialties from across China, from dim sum served on pushcarts (Cantonese) to salt-and-pepper frog legs (Sichuan) and double-braised scallop hot pot (found throughout China). The night market fried rice is another standout, a satisfying mix of tender beef tossed with chiles, bean sprouts, and tomatoes. No matter which region theyÆre from, Chinese in Vegas can likely find their hometown specialties here.ö

Las Vegas Events – March 2013

Cabo Wabo Cantina Las Vegas Gets Lucky With St. PatrickÆs Day Specials – Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will celebrate a Baja-style St. PatrickÆs Day with food and drink specials on Sunday, March 17.

The Las Vegas Strip-side restaurant will give Sammy HagarÆs signature Waborita an Irish twist by serving up festive Green Waboritas for $4. Live music and a DJ will keep the energy high as partygoers raise a toast to the patron saint of Ireland with $4 green beers and $4 shots of Cabo Wabo tequila. To stay fueled up for the shamrockinÆ celebration, guests can enjoy two tacos for $5 with a choice of chicken, beef or pork.

More Las Vegas News

Soul2Soul - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Maverick Helicopter over Grand CanyonMaverick Helicopter Wind Dancer Air and Landing Tour û Landing tour with a Continental breakfast or Hors d’oeuvres on the Canyon Floor. Birds eye view of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Get a close look at the extinct volcano Fortification Hill. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. Descend deep into the Grand Canyon and land on the Hualapai Indian territory on the canyon floor for a champagne toast, beverages and hors d’ oeuvres in the heart of this spectacular wonder of the world. Fly back through the Grand Canyon on your way to the Bowl of Fire full of flaming red rock formations. Conclude your journey with an exciting flight between the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip!

Click To Book Maverick Helicopter Wind Dancer Air and Landing Tour Now!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

Terry Fator by Denise Almas

Terry Fator – Puppets And Personalities Capture The Human Spirit – With his entourage of puppets, Terry FatorÆs Ventriloquism in Concert captures his audience with extraordinary wit and humor, guaranteed to tickle the funny bone of even the grumpiest spectator.

Fator starts his show by introducing us to one of his most beloved puppets û Winston. Winston is a turtle with a seriously sweet personality. Crediting himself with FatorÆs success, Winston easily wins over the audience.

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – And, what a week it has been! I thought the lead note today would be our amazing weather the past week. Like clockwork on March 1, the warmth kicked in. I checked my digital thermometer in the shade in back of my office that afternoon and it read a very nice 77 degrees. While the next few days will see a dip into the 60’s, the average high for March is 70, so (with rare exception), you can expect it to be between 60 and 80 if you visit this month. But that wasn’t the big news. I then thought that it would be this announcement…

MGM Resorts To Build 20,000 Seat Arena Behind New York, New York – Out of the blue came the announcement that MGM (the company) is partnering with arena management giant AEG to build an arena and shopping district behind NY, NY and Monte Carlo. Interestingly enough, this sounds suspiciously like the plans that Caesars Entertainment had (have?) with The Linq project. All that empty space behind Harrah’s is supposed to be where and arena goes. However, they’ve faced an uphill battle trying to get a Strip-area sales tax implemented to help fund it.

MGM Resorts is moving ahead with their plan, and financing it privatelyáshould let them start moving on it relatively quickly. We’ve previously documented the “renovation” wars between the two local gaming company giants, and for now it looks like MGM Resorts is not only going to win the arena war, but build their own version of Linq, using arena event traffic to drive the shopping/dining/drinking commerce. Very similar to what has been done with arenas around the country.

That was the big news until (seemingly hours later), it was announced…

Resort World Las Vegas

Resort World To Build On Stardust Property – Genting — a Malaysian company involved in successful business ventures around the world ranging from gaming to energy — bought the old Stardust property, including the skeleton of what was to become the Echelon project. They plan to spend $2 billion now to build a 2000-3500 (reports vary) room Asian-themed property, signifying the return of themes to The Strip. Opening is planned for 2016 and if things go well, they are willing to invest another $5 billion.

We’re guessing the rendering above to be what the full build-out would look like. And for those who are still trying to picture where this is at, the property just above (upper right hand corner) is Circus Circus.

This is going to be a mid-tier property that not only woos gamblers and visitors in generalá, but specifically attracts Asians. While many Las Vegas properties cater to Asians, this will be the first one that is truly Asian-themed (especially with the demise of Imperial Palace) and actually run by Asians.

Some are questioning whether The Strip can absorb the re-opening of The Sahara and this project while visitor spending is still soft. Here’s the little secret that it seems everyone else in the media and blogging world have missed:

In Las Vegas, we have a very significant Asian population living in an area bordered by Sahara (north), Flamingo (south), Jones (west) and… The Strip (east). I know… I live in the area (and have access to some of the most amazing authentic little Asian and Hawaiian restaurants you can imagine).

There is no question in my mind that by building an Asian “CityCenter” that has the true feel of Asia, they will draw nicely from this local ethnic population. Most of whom like to gamble and are at least upper middle-class. This group lives literally at the back door of this new project, and the resort will have easy back-door access to the parking garage off of Industrial, making it a very short, easy (no fighting Strip traffic) drive for these locals. We tested this drive ourselves. Piece of cake.

The media and pundits forgot to factor that in, but I bet that Genting company didn’t! Even if these locals only account for 5 or 10% of the business, that will be a help.

Proud To Welcome – A couple of top performers have joined our advertising roster! We’re amazingly pleased to have both Terry Fator and Soul2Soul: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill on board.

As always, booking our sponsors through the text or graphical links youáclick on in this newsletter or at AccessVegas.com not only gets you direct access all of these great shows, but that way they know you are one of our readers and this encourages them to continue supporting us, which helps us keep the lights on around here.

Note: Although the Soul2Soul ad notes 2 weeks left, they are returning for selected dates in April as well. If you like country, don’t miss this special limited Vegas run!

Hope you are enjoying this issue!

Associate Editor / News Researcher: Rick Ziegler

Concerts and Headliners: Rick Ziegler

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

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.

Access Vegas Insider Vibe February 27, 2013

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Las Vegas Events

Las Vegas Attractions

World-Class, Record-Breaking Roller Coaster Speeding to the Adventuredome at Circus Circus – Coming soon to The Adventuredome at Circus Circus Las Vegas, roller coaster fans get ready for negative G drops, gravity-defying turns and over-the-edge twists! Only the second of its kind in the United States, El Loco, The AdventuredomeÆs newest roller coaster, will offer thrill seekers a unique and exhilarating ride experience in a custom and compact design guaranteed to excite all.

The Adventuredome will begin construction on El Loco in the coming weeks and the coaster will be ready for screams and thrills in December.

Designed by S&S Worldwide, Inc., the worldÆs leading manufacturer of vertical and family thrill rides, El Loco roller coasters are famous for their record-breaking steep first drops and one-of-a-kind moves. With only five other El Loco coasters worldwide, the addition of the ride to AmericaÆs largest indoor theme park will provide Vegas visitors an exclusive opportunity.

’50 Greatest Photographs Of National Geographic’ Open In Las Vegas – National GeographicÆs 50 Greatest Photographs traveling exhibition finds its new home at Imagine Exhibitions Gallery at The Venetian after The Da Vinci û The GeniusÆs limited engagement concluded. The exhibition will showcase the 125-year-old history of National Geographic through the celebrated and unforgettable photographs including ôAfghan Girlö by Steve McCurry, iconic image of Jane Goodall and chimpanzee by Nick Nichols and the never-before-seen view of Mecca by Thomas Abercrombie. Visiting the exhibit will give the guests a chance to expand their knowledge about the exhibits. It features stories behind the photos and the extensive profile of the photographers.

Madame Tussauds Unveils Wax Figure Of Celebrated Icon Whitney Houston – On Monday, February 11, 2013, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas unveiled a wax figure of singer, actress and producer Whitney Houston.

The first single from HoustonÆs second studio album was titled ôI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)ö and earned the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988. The songÆs accompanying video became one of Houston’s best recognized music videos and ran in heavy rotation on MTV, VH1, and BET. At Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, HoustonÆs wax figure will be styled in the same way she appeared in the video, wearing a tight purple-pink tank dress and blonde curly hair. Photo credit: ® Patrick Gray/ Retna

Las Vegas Shows, Headliners, And Concerts

Las Vegas Restaurants And Dining

Town Square’s New Meatball Spot Introduces Happy Hour Specials – Celebrated Chef Carla PellegrinoÆs popular new Meatball Spot at Town Square Las Vegas has introduced a tasty new happy hour every Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Happy hour specials include meatball sliders, featuring all meatball selections, such as classic, chicken and vegetarian meatballs, topped with a choice of sauce including classic tomato, garlic Parmesan and pesto all on a brioche bun, priced at $2.50 each. Patrons will also enjoy two-for-one drink specials on all cocktails. The happy hour specials are available in Meatball SpotÆs bar area.

Palms Casino Resort Opens Heraea- High-Energy Restaurant And Sports Lounge With A Feminine Twist – Ladies now have a new place to play with Heraea, the ultra-chic American restaurant and sports lounge created by The ONE Group, celebrated its grand opening at Palms Casino Resort on February 17, 2013. The original dining concept offers enticing cuisine, energetic music and state-of-the-art sports viewing in a stylish space with a feminine flair.

Trevi Offers Specials For National Meatball Day – On Saturday, March 9, 2013, Trevi Las Vegas will honor National Meatball Day by serving several meatball specials which aims to highlight the classic Italian fare.

Executive Chef Peter Scaturro offers meat lovers a meatball appetizer to start their meal. The appetizer is made from two jumbo-sized five-ounce meatballs, valued at $5. For lunch, guests can enjoy the delectable sub made with focaccia bread, marinara sauce, homemade meatballs and melted mozzarella. The sub is served with patate fritti, valued at $15.

St. Patrick’s Day Las Vegas 2013

Spring Break Las Vegas 2013

Tacos & Tequila Brings South Of The Border Party For Spring Break 2013 – Tacos & Tequila (T&T) at Luxor Hotel and Casino will host the wildest south of the border Spring Break fiestas in Las Vegas with food and drink specials available Friday, March 1, through Sunday, March 31.

The month-long Spring Break offerings include the ôSeis y Seisö package with six specialty tacos and six bottled Sol beers, priced at $29. Spring Breakers also may enjoy a $5 menu daily, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring chicken quesadillas, haba±ero chicken wings, beer, well drinks and more.

Las Vegas Hotels

More Las Vegas News

Soul2Soul - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Maverick Skywalk Odyssey Grand Canyon TourMaverick Skywalk Odyssey Grand Canyon Tour û Your direct helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon Skywalk departs from the Las Vegas Strip. Experience a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon, Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas Strip on your flight. Upon landing at the Grand Canyon, get ready to witness a true engineering marvel, The Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Click To Book Maverick Skywalk Odyssey Grand Canyon Tour Now!

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – Spring is in the air, we’re seeing temps in the 70’s for the next week, March Madness is on the way, and plenty of Vegas news to dive right into this week:

The Shooting And Crash – As most of you know, last week saw a very unfortunate incident on The Strip. To recap in brief, one pimp shot at another pimp (both alleged*) in a car-to-car shooting as they were northbound on The Strip approaching Flamingo at around 4:30 AM, headed away from the nightclub at Aria.

* I say “alleged” because although published reports seem to do a good job of verifying this, I don’t have the deep pockets for legal counsel which the local press have.

The driver who was shot accelerated his car and crashed into a cab which was legally in the intersection, creating a fireball which instantly killed the cab driver and a 48 year old breast cancer survivor. She was tourist from the Seattle area. The cabbie was 62 and a Michigan transplant who had moved out here care for an ailing family member. The Strip was closed for 15 hours right at Flamingo, creating unimaginable havoc for both auto and foot traffic.

When you consider that on average, nearly 110,000 people arrive in Las Vegas to visit every single day of the year, the odds of you being affected by a situation like this are extremely rare. Many have commented that this kind if incident is far more common in a typical, really big city (which we’re not). Still, it is highly unfortunate. Our hearts go out to those affected and best of luck to law enforcement who is actively pursuing a known suspect.

Police do have the suspect in custody. They found him holed up in Los Angeles. For those wondering, yes we have the death penalty here. And yes, if convicted, a person in this situation would be eligible for it under the following stipulation for Nevada capital punishment: The murder was committed by a person who knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon, device or course of action which would normally be hazardous to the lives of more than one person.

The Rumor Is True – Last issue, we noted a rumor floating around that Ceasars Entertainment (CET) was dropping their “No Resort Fee” policy for reservations beginning March 1. We’re super-careful about unsubstantiated information and told you that we’d let you know when and if it was confirmed. It has been confirmed, and booking with their company will mean a $10-25 per day (depending on caliber of property) daily resort fee which will get you free internet (one device), use of the fitness center, local phone calls, and the like.

I monitored much of the internet fallout (we spend the hours and hours doing it so you don’t have to). Outside of the usual outrage, the most common thread seemed to be (and we paraphrase) “I used to stay at CET because of the lack of resort fees, but now that I’m paying them just about everywhere, I’m free to go back to exploring staying at other hotels”.

I’ll tell you why I believe this decision is being made: Last year, CET CEO Gary Loveman (or Loveperson for those of you who are politically correct) announced plans to really spruce up their properties, including the rooms. It is no secret that CET has quite a bit of “deferred maintenance” (some things are a little on the ragged side). Now enter their main competitor MGM Resorts, who recently announced $300 million in pending room renovations. The battle is on! Except that both companies have a heavy debt load. $300 million is not pocket change.

MGM Resorts has indicated a willingness to sell an asset if they need to (a discussion of what they would part with is for another day, but the Crystals shopping center at CityCenter seems to be on the block). I’m guessing that CET simply sat down and said “We could raise the refurbishment capital we need to keep up if we simply added resort fees. Pretty much everyone has them, so it won’t put us at a competitive disadvantage”. And so it happened. At least you have my conjecture.

Theoretical Loss – For you gamblers who get a fair amount of comps and want to better understand how the casino figures out how much you may lose (and thus how much to “reward” you in comps), our friends Jason and Tony from Vice Lounge Online discussed it in Episode #104 of their podcast. You can listen on your computer simply by going to that page and clicking on the download link. It will start playing. This topic takes up about the first 10 minutes of the show.

20,000 And Counting – We were late to the Twitter game, only jumping in about 2.5 years ago with Twitter.com/AccessVegas. We’re extremely proud to have just passed the 20,000 follower mark, despite being an independent organization with no social media budget (and being told by the “experts” that we were doing it wrong).

Aádirty little secret of social media is that you can actually “buy” followers. Some people set up tens of thousands of dummy accounts, you pay them, and they have all the dummy accounts “follow” you and drive your number up. We did NOT choose that route. Our followers are all people who checked out our stream and made the conscious decision to click the follow button.

Note: Whenever we bring up social media, people write concerned that we’re moving everything over there. Not at all. It is just an additional avenue to get people information. Some of you enjoy reading a newsletter like this one, others prefer to read tweets and click on story links over there. Same info, just two different ways to get it to everybody!

ONE The Show – If you’ve ever visited Myrtle Beach, you’re probably aware of a variety show playing the Alabama Theatre. This show has been an area staple for something like a decade. The show title? ONE.

Not to be outdone, Cirque du Soleil was brainstorming to name the new Michael Jackson Cirque spectacular, which had toured for the past couple of years under the name Immortal. They came up with the name of… ONE. The show starts May 23 at Mandalay Bay and tickets are available now: Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: ONE

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

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

I read your news letter all the time and enjoy it more than the [other Vegas publication]. My question to you is what happened to The Amazing Jonathan? Last year when I was in Las Vegas I had tickets for his show at the Harmon Theatre, when we got their they said the show was canceled. Then I think he was going to be at Bally’s and again was canceled.

What is the story on this? I really enjoyed his show.

Thank you,

Carmine

 

Ted Responds:

AJ moved to Bally’s at the end of last summer and basically quit just before the end of the year amid claims that the hotel was doing a very poor job of promoting his show (lack of signage, etc). For now, we understand he is playing occasional out-of-town gigs.

He has also started a regular TV show on the Vegas Video Network every other Wednesday night at 9 PM Pacific. The show is archived for on-demand viewing at

http://www.vegasvideonetwork.com/our-shows/burn-unit/

or you can add the Vegas Video Network for free as one of your Roku channels (check the travel section) and watch it there.

The Vegas Tourist also did a couple of recent interviews with him regarding his classic cars: The Amazing Johnathan talks car auction with Sazzy and The Car Tour with The Amazing Johnathan and Sazzy

I’m going to Vegas and was wondering what was the name of the bar on Fremont that has drag queens bartending and I think a bowling alley?
Drink and Drag? Can my mom and I walk there from Fremont? We donÆt rent a car and donÆt know where it is.

Thanks,

Colleen

 

Ted Responds:

It is indeed called Drink and Drag and yes, they have a bowling alley (just a few lanes, it isn’t the main attraction). We must note that this is for the (how do we say it politely) adventurous. Expect to be served by drag queens, men in their undies, you get the picture. A “fabulous” time.

It is in Neonopolis, which is ON Fremont Street just past the casinos so you’ll have no problem at all. Find the end of the canopy (The D end), cross the street, and it is in the mall across from Walgreens.

Make sure to send us a report!

Hi Ted from South Texas, the changes to the site are awesome well done, Sir. All this information you and your staff put out is priceless and very very much appreciated.

God bless you and have a great day.

Noe Alaniz

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!
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Access Vegas Insider Vibe February 20, 2013

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Las Vegas Events

Las Vegas Shows, Headliners, And Concerts

Jersey Boys And Eiffel Tower Restaurant Raise More Than $10,000 For American Red Cross – February 6, 2013, Jersey Boys hosted the “Oh What A Night” event in collaboration with Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Guests joined together for this unique culinary event at the restaurant, raising more than $10,000 to benefit the Red Cross of Southern NevadaÆs Service to Armed Forces program.

At 4 p.m., Jersey Boys cast members Graham Fenton (Frankie Valli), Deven May (Tommy DeVito), Jeff Leibow (Nick Massi) and Rob Marnell (Bob Gaudio) joined acclaimed Chef Joho in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant kitchen, donning specially designed chef coats to prepare for the event. Photo Credit: David Tingey/Tom Donoghue Photography

Las Vegas Restaurants And Dining

Las Vegas Art & Attractions

Bellagio Gallery Of Fine Art Debuts “Warhol Out West” – Andy Warhol once said, ôThe idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting.ö Now, the wait is officially over as one of Las VegasÆ premier cultural destinations, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) debuted its highly anticipated exhibition, Warhol Out West.

Organized in partnership with The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, this pioneering collection is centered around the iconic artistÆs depiction of all things Western. ôWarhol Out Westö features 56 of WarholÆs works including paintings, sculptures, photographs, screen prints and wallpaper. Exhibits include WarholÆs 1960s Pop paintings of celebrities and consumer products; the 1980s advertisement series; the beloved ôDouble Elvisö painting; and his rarely seen ôCowboys and Indiansö series.

Katy Perry Debuts Her Madame Tussauds Wax Figure – Pop star Katy Perry posed for photos with a Madame Tussauds Las Vegas wax figure of herself at Paramount Studios on January 26, 2013.

ôWhenever I have to go do something particularly that I donÆt necessarily want to do, IÆm just sending her cause sheÆs a great identical version of me,ö remarked Perry.

The figure of Perry is featured in Madame Tussauds Las VegasÆ Music Room. Guests have the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite music icons. Turn the volume to ten by interacting with figures such as Katy Perry, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, BeyoncÚ, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Michael Jackson, Prince, James Brown and many more. Guests can move like the King of Pop at a smooth criminal photo experience, get behind the turntable at an interactive DJ booth and channel their inner rock stars while enjoying a karaoke area. Photo credit: Jerod Harris, Getty Images

Spring Break Las Vegas 2013

NASCAR Las Vegas 2013

NASCAR Hauler Parade Returns As Las Vegas Motor Speedway Hosts Sprint Cup Series – The NASCAR Hauler Parade, the traditional kick-off for Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayÆs NASCAR Weekend, will take place on Wednesday evening this year as the 1.5-mile superspeedway will host a full day of Sprint Cup Series practice on Thursday.

The popular NASCAR Hauler Parade will thunder up the world-famous Las Vegas Strip at 6 p.m. û under the fabulous neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip û on Wednesday, March 6. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice û originally scheduled for late January û has been moved to Thursday, March 7. Practice will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the grandstands will be open to the public, free of charge.

Las Vegas Hotels

Shopping In Las Vegas

BulgariÆs SERPENTI Collection Exhibit Slithers Into The Shops At Crystals – Italian jeweler Bulgari celebrates one of its most iconic design motifs with a walk-through spiral exhibit at The Shops at Crystals. The SERPENTI Collection presents an extraordinary set of snake bracelets, belts, necklaces, watches and rings. Comprised of 18K white gold with diamonds and emeralds, the Serpenti watch coils around the wrist in a seductive and tantalizing manner. Embracing and beautifying the neckline, the Serpenti necklace dons 18K pink gold with rubellites and diamonds in an elegant fashion.

Las Vegas Economy And Real Estate

More Las Vegas News

Commonwealth Introduces æWednesdaysÆ – Celebrate Fashion, Art and Music in Downtown Las Vegas Every Week – Commonwealth will introduce a new night combining the style community and Downtown Las Vegas with the launch of ôWednesdays,ö a weekly event fusing art, music and fashion.

Fashionistas will don their standout attire and raise a glass to culture while enjoying the chic atmosphere with CommonwealthÆs pre-Prohibition decor and expertly-crafted libations.

Maverick Silver Cloud Sunset Helicopter TourMaverick Silver Cloud Sunset Helicopter Tour û This Las Vegas helicopter flight at sunset is a must for Las Vegas sightseeing. Catch a one-of-a-kind sunset aboard our air-only Silver Cloud flight and return from the Grand Canyon as the stunning lights of Las Vegas come to life and transform the city into the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” Air Tour Only (No Landing). Duration: approximately 3.5 hours.

Click To Book Maverick Silver Cloud Sunset Helicopter Tour Now!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

Donny And Marie Osmond by Sarah Jane Woodall

Donny and Marie – A Lifetime Of Showbiz Honed To Perfection – Vegas is full of has-beens who have seemingly crawled through the mists of time only to reemerge on the Strip in half-baked spectacles showcasing highlights from their long-dormant careers. I fully expected Donny and Marie Osmond to be two such performers û I mean, how long has it been since either one of them had a hit? In the theatre, I made sure to order a stiff cocktail from the waitress, to help me get through what was sure to be an unbearably hokey show… and settled back, ready to start making snarky comments to my date.

Then Donny and Marie came on… and my socks were completely knocked off. They are fantastic!

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – I’m taking a few mental health days to cope with the gray skies. I think we’re on our third day of partial cloudiness! OK… I jest. I’m working on a few new projects, so no Members Mania or What We’re Watching this week. But, I do have some odds and ends to talk about, so I hope you enjoy:

No Las Vegas Brothels For Now – Despite what most people think, prostitution is NOT legal in Clark County (Las Vegas). You have to go to the surrounding counties. The past couple years, there have been talks locally to change that. Legalize it, make it safe, tax it (just like they do in surrounding counties). As “libertarian” (with a small “L”) as I am, this isn’t something I can support. Our “Sin City” image is pretty sanitized. You can get into trouble here, but you really have to seek it out. Nice midwestern church-going people can say they are going to Las Vegas without their friends giving them too much disapproval. We don’t need to lose that.

The New Fruit Loop – Over near the airport, an area of a cluster of gay bars is called the “fruit loop”. Please save the complaints. The patrons call it that. Now, downtown’s Neonopolis is turning into a very gay-friendly area. Drink and Drag is open (get served by drag queens and men in their underwear), and Krave nightclub (the gay nightclub formerly at Planet Hollywood) is attempting to relocate to Neonopolis as well. I say attempting because they are facing some financial difficulty. Hopefully, they will get it all worked out.

I’m straight and I’m male so I can’t really say it is my scene. (And, I cannot for the life of me figure out the female obsession with drag queens). However, Las Vegas is “live and let live.” I’m proud of our reputation for being a welcoming place for everybody who wants to enjoy a vacation.

Thinking Of Buying A Vegas Home? – I’m going to do a very hard about-face. For years, I’ve suggested buying pre-owned homes in established neighborhoods. You generally get a bigger lot (including back yard), mature landscaping and trees (yes, we have trees in Las Vegas), and you are closer to the attractions and activities you’ll most likely want to enjoy.

So why my change of advice? Last year, a law went into effect which makes it much more difficult for banks to foreclose on homes. So, despite estimates that we still have serious numbers of homeowners delinquent on their mortgage, foreclosures have trickled down to next-to-nothing. Instead, we’re seeing more short sales. Which are an intensive pain (for the buyer) because they offer no guarantee. You have to make a offer, hope that yours is the highest among multiple bidders (generally investors who will be renting the house out), then wait and wait and wait until the bank gets around to deciding if they will accept the offer.

It gets even worse if you are not paying cash, because many foreclosures are beat up to some degree (missing windows, water heaters, etc) and banks generally won’t loan money for a home that isn’t in move-in shape. And, that is IF you can get the home appraised at the number you are offering.

With a new home, everything is good to go, and you get a warranty plus the ability to choose some of your options. Plus, you’ll be in a neighborhood of home OWNERS who have have a vested interest in keeping the area nice.

Don’t take my word for it. Check out the recent articles Buying a home? Beware of the not-so-short sale, Three Las Vegas-area communities in top 15 for home sales and In Las VegasÆ real estate market, short sales have become the norm

24/7 Coffee Shop (On Steroids) – The Quad (formally Imperial Palace) has announced that the infamous-portion-serving Hash House A Go Go at their location will now be open 24/7. We’re completely in favor of this. Somewhere in the past decade, some of the bean-counters along The Strip decided against having a 24/7 dining option. That is abominable. People come here to forget about time, and if you look at your watch and realize it is 3:30 AM and you are HUNGRY and want some food before bed, you should be able to get it.

The New Rumor – As we send this out, there is a serious rumor circulating the internet regarding Caesars Entertainment dropping their “no resort fee” mantra and joining the resort fee crowd starting with reservations in March. We’re having trouble substantiating it (some blogs are saying one thing, some phone clerks another) and we have yet to see an official statement.

We should have more definitive to say next week. In the meantime, if you hold present reservations, this means that you were NOT party to booking with a resort fee and should demand that one not be charged when you visit.

New Section – We recently added a section noting the latest concert announcements for Las Vegas, along with ticket links. It has proved to be very popular, helping you see who has announced that they are headed our way. Nothing like seeing your favorite musical act here!

But… many don’t know that we have premium tickets (great seats that may cost you a little more) for concerts and events around the United States. And, by purchasing through us, you help support what we are doing here. So starting this issue, we’ll also be listing and linking some of the top draws that others are purchasing tickets to.

Hope you are enjoying this issue!

Associate Editor / News Researcher: Rick Ziegler

Concerts and Headliners: Amy Rayner-Cooley

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.

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