Subscription Banner

Advertisement

Luxury Vegas Flights,
Private Terminal (no TSA),
Start At $89.
This is a bucket list item:

Take a Las Vegas city tour with Maverick Helicopters - Click Here

Enjoy Our Archives

Access Vegas Insider Vibe October 10, 2012

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

American Coney Island Brings A Taste Of Detroit To the D Las Vegas – DetroitÆs favorite American Coney Island opened on the Fremont Street Experience in October 2012 as part of the dramatic transformation in downtown Las Vegas. Known as a high-quality restaurant, it offers specially seasoned Dearborn sausage brand hotdog topped with sweet chopped onions, fine mustard and the Keros family secret recipe Coney Island Chili Sauce served in a warm steamed bun.

Rice & Company Bewitches This Halloween With Sushi And Sake Duo – Rice & Company at Luxor Hotel and Casino will celebrate Halloween with the spooktacular Demon Slayer sake paired with the Wicked Roll of the West for the entire month of October.

Adult Halloween enthusiasts, who are interested in more treats than tricks, will dine festively with a celebratory sushi and sake pairing, created just for the holiday. The Demon Slayer sake, with a clean, subtle and dry taste, will complement the Wicked Roll, made with spicy tuna, yellowtail, cucumber and avocado and topped with a spicy mayo. The sushi and sake duo will be offered at the bewitching price of $30.

Las Vegas Halloween Parade Invades Downtown On October 31 With Free After-Party – The Las Vegas Halloween Parade is back for its third annual event on October 31 at 7 p.m. The parade will start on Garces and Fourth Street, just North of Charleston Blvd. The parade will end on Third Street between Ogden and Stewart where a huge free after-party will conclude the event. The parade will include music, art cars, mobile artworks, giant puppets, fire performances, a costume contest and the unexpected by the wonderful and creative people of Las Vegas. The North or South of Fremont Street on Fourth Street are the best places to watch the parade. The parade is free and for all ages.

Cabo Wabo Las Vegas Celebrates æHappy Halloween HourÆ With Drink Specials – Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino invites all ghouls, goblins and ghosts to start the night with the Strip-side restaurant and drink up on Wednesday, October 31, with discounted cocktails for customers in costume.

Fremont Street Experience Taps Into Fear During the Fourth Annual OktoberFrightFest – Scream, party and drink this October at the Fourth Annual OktoberFrightFest at Fremont Street Experience. Guests who love Halloween and Oktoberfest can find the best place to enjoy the events especially on its nationally ranked haunted house Asylum located at the 3rd Street North area.

PBR Rock Bar To Be Official Headquarters For Professional Bull Riders World Finals – Professional Bull Riders World Finals find its home as Pabst Blue Ribbon partners with PBR Rock Bar & Grill at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The event will begin on October 24 and will end on October 28.

las vegas grand canyon helicopter toursMaverick Indian Territory Grand Canyon Tour – This exciting tour begins by flying over the beautiful Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead, the world famous Hoover dam and Fortification Hill, an extinct volcano. View the breathtaking scenery and wildlife of the southwest along the way. Maverick Helicopters will descend and land in the Hualapai Indian Territorym 3,500 feet into the Grand Canyon.

Click To Book Maverick Indian Territory Grand Canyon Tour Now!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

The Rat Pack Is Back by Sarah Jane Woodall

The Rat Pack Is Back, Swinging Live In Las Vegas! – Vintage Vegas has never been hotter – the days of swanky lounges, classic cocktails and sharply tailored tuxedos are back en vogue, thanks to shows like Mad Men and the resurgence of mid-century modern style. And what better ambassadors could old-school Vegas have than those iconic bad boys of yesteryear… the Rat Pack?

Mac King Comedy Magic by DW Grant

Mac King Comedy Magic – King of the Afternoon – If I had a little brother who was a magician, he would be Mac King. Clever, silly, a bit naughty and annoying, but totally loveable and entertaining, this is the man (boy) I laughed and cheered for in Harrah’s show room this afternoon. Maybe that’s why he’s called “The King of the Afternoon” and why his show is rated one of the 7 best in Las Vegas.

His gift shop offers a “Lunch Box O’ Magic,” so you know he’s not Criss Angel, and there’s plaid fabric everywhere, on his posters, on stage, and on his double breasted suit, so you know he’s not going to be the regal Lance Burton.

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – A cloudy, rainy, 65-degrees-for-a-high Las Vegas as a cold snap plows through our little plot of high-desert paradise. If you are visiting soon, have no fear. Next week, we bounce back into slightly unseasonable highs in the 80’s. However, we are bidding a tearful farewell to summer soon as November days barely make it into the upper 60’s (on average) and our December average is 57. Fortunately, just about every day is sunny, so even the cooler days feel pretty good when you are out and about in the daytime!

Blue Man Group skydiving
Photo Credit: Jeff Provenzano

It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s… Very Blue! – We’re super-happy to have Blue Man Group back as a sponsor, and they are super-happy to be at the Monte Carlo, where they’ve built a “must see” theatre customized just the way they wanted it. Very flashy and… blue. Even if you’ve seen them before, you’ll want to strongly consider seeing this new version in the new venue.

The day of their first Monte Carlo performance, they joined the Red Bull skydivers and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane high above the Las Vegas Strip, nailing the landing right at Monte Carlo. We’ll have video of this amazing jump for you next week.

the D neon sign

Getting All Of The F’s Out – Wednesday, we joined some of our media colleagues for a personal tour of the new D Casino & Hotel from owner Derek (who often goes by simply “D”) Stevens, the proud papa of this $15 makeover of what was formerly Fitzgeralds.

One of the first things Derek noted before the tour got underway was that he couldn’t believe how many “F’s” (for Fitzgerald’s) were all over the casino and had to be removed! (The name Fitzgerald’s was only licensed to the property, and since the Las Vegas hotel had no relation to other Fitzgerald’s around the country, they wanted a clean break)

Plenty of general news coverage exists (some of which we’ll be linking to next week), and we’ve covered the renovation news on a regular basis (including being the first ones to tell the public of the concept of a party casino downstairs and retro casino upstairs). So, just some thoughts and notes:

  • The outside of the hotel is by far the most modern, sleek looking of any downtown. Thousands of LED lights and a whole bunch (easily 50, probably more) plasma TV screens make an unending array of patters across the entire facade. Former Cirque du Soleil guru Roger Perry was involved in the design. (We’ll be getting night photos of it to share with you soon).

Dancing bar girl

  • If the above bar and dancing bartenders look familiar, the idea was “stolen” from sister-property Golden Gate. Except that this bar is twice as big, with one end featuring the dancers and a myriad of frozen cocktail flavors, and the other end showcasing flair bartenders who will pour you some serious spirits.

coin operated slot machine

  • The conversion of the downstairs casino was done first, and immediately both crowds and energy went through the roof. Upstairs, improvements were nice but reasonably nominal and they have left most of the old-school (including many coin operated — pictured above) games on the floor. We’re already reported (and were the first with pics) of the Sigma Derby game they salvaged from the old Frontier hotel, and it is a runaway hit.

    Stevens describes — in musical terms — the downstairs as more “Black-Eyed Peas” and the upstairs as more “Frank Sinatra”. IE, downstairs is modern party music and upstairs you’ll hear hits from decades gone by (generally 60’s and 70’s). So, for all of you who chronically complain that Vegas is only for the young and rich, get your butt to The D upstairs.

the D king-bed room

  • Made In The USA: The D is very pro-American manufacturing (their car giveaways will only feature domestic brands) and were extremely proud of the fact that all of the furniture used in the remodel of the rooms and suites was made in the U.S.A. Standard room pictured above.

Coney Island

  • American Coney Island Chilly Dogs, a 95 year old company that holds a respectable claim to the invention of the Coney Island Hot Dog, has opened their first non-Michigan location at the property. They also feature a small selection of meal-type salads and gyros and figure to do well as a quick food pit-stop right on Fremont Street (under the new escalator leading up to Vue Bar and the Vintage Casino).

the D escalator

  • Change I don’t like: The Vue Bar upstairs used to have tables and chairs, and cocktail service so you could enjoy a drink sitting down overlooking Fremont Street. I noticed that the tables and chairs were gone, and pressed Derek on this very popular issue. I was left with the impression that they weren’t planning to replace them, but might revisit the idea.
  • Easter Egg: Those of you who play computer games may be familiar with this term. It is a special, unadvertised surprise. For example, go down a hidden hall, turn a certain way, touch a wall in a special place, and an unknown part of the game opens up. 

    The D has its own Easter egg, and one you have to be looking for. As you ascend the escalator to the second floor, your natural inclination will be to look down out at Fremont Street. Instead, stand on the right side of the escalator and look at the plasma screens directly in front of you. As you pass many of the screens, you’ll be surprised by the people you “meet”. That’s all we’re going to say. You’ll have to try this one out for yourself!

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

  • F.A.M.E. Las Vegas – F.A.M.E. (food, art, music and entertainment) Night Market and Lounge is one of the lauded new tenants at Project Linq Las Vegas, debuting late 2013. Get a taste of what Caesars Entertainment is bringing to the former O’Sheas (and beyond) area.
  • Legends In Concert Las Vegas Show – Internationally acclaimed Legends In Concert is known as the pioneer of live celebrity tribute artist shows and possesses the greatest collection of celebrity tribute artists ever assembled featuring live concert shows of famous musicians and celebrities of yesterday and today.
  • Rao’s at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Seafood Salad – Get the inside peak at how Rao’s prepares their famous and popular Seafood Salad.

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.

Latest Concerts Added This Week!

There is no better place to see your favorite acts then in Las Vegas! You’re relaxed, can enjoy a fine meal, have some cocktails without the worry of driving, and no alarm is going to jar you awake all too early the next morning.

More Las Vegas News – Shows – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe September 26, 2012

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

Bellagio Gardens Fall Display Celebrates Wine Country With Authentic Cider Mill And Vintage Wine Press – A captivating fall exhibition is on display now through November 24, 2012 at BellagioÆs Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. See the sights and smell the scents of the harvest season while falling in love in the romantic journey through wine country without leaving Las Vegas. A bevy of seasonal visuals will boast this yearÆs exhibit including a vintage wine press, authentic cider meal and aged stone face.

Da Vinci Las Vegas Exhibition Is The First To Host ôHorse And Riderö Mold And Original Bronze Cast – Art lovers must not miss the chance to get fascinated with Leonardo da VinciÆs work ôHorse and Riderö that will be displayed to the public for the first time at Da Vinci û The Genius at The Venetian in Las Vegas by Imagine Exhibitions. The exhibition will feature the original mold sculpture and the first bronze cast sculpture.

ôHorse and Riderö was a creation made by Leonard da Vinci for more than 500 years ago and it is the only known Leonardo da Vinci sculpture remaining today. It was authenticated by Dr. Carlo Pedretti, a notable authority on the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci. According to PedrettiÆs verification, the mold was originally made from a block of solid beeswax. In the intention to preserve Da VinciÆs unfinished work it was later casted in bronze.

Celebrity Chefs And Schedule Announced For Las Vegas Food & Wine All-Star Weekend – A star-studded ultimate outdoor cookout will hit the shores of Mandalay Bay Beach as Food & Wine All-Star Weekend kicks off on Friday, October 5, 2012. The MirageÆs All-Star Tasting will offer bites and sips from famous chefs along with the Surfside SoirÚe at Mandalay Bay Beach on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 7 p.m.

Hosted by Gail Simmons, superstar chefs will be joining her including Rick Moonen, Michael Mina, Hubert Keller, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger in the all-star event. Mandalay Bay Beach, the only beach on Las Vegas Strip, creates a tropical paradise combined with a live entertainment that gives guests the chance to relax with the sand under their toes while tasting the signature dishes from some of the best chefs and cocktails from some of the mixologists in the world.

Chateau Terrace At Paris Las Vegas Now Offers Low Cover, First Drink Free, Flip-Flops OK – Chateau Nightclub & Gardens opens the Chateau Terrace every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. The exclusive outdoor terrace provides guests a stunning setting and a vibrant atmosphere for an exciting nightlife experience.

Located in the second story of Paris Las Vegas, the Chateau Terrace overlooks the famed Las Vegas Strip and the Bellagio Fountains. Guests can easily find the place as it has direct access from Las Vegas Boulevard. Guests on stilettos or flip flops are welcome to enjoy the liveliest party or just to relax as they wrap up their day.

American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks Gets A Year-Long Extension At Bally’s – The talented American Idol winner Taylor Hicks extends his contract at BallyÆs Las Vegas and will continue to perform until 2013 starting on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Hicks became Las VegasÆ most popular acts and the first American Idol winner to secure long-term residency in the city. He is now exclusively committed to Caesars Entertainment and will showcase his talent to other Caesars properties across the country. Expect Hicks performances throughout the year and wait for further announcements of the specific dates and locations of his performances.

Crazy Girls At The Riviera Las Vegas Invites Public For Re-enactment Of Famous “Assets” Pose With Giveaways And Specials – ôShow Us Your Assetsö and recreate the iconic Crazy Girls pose as the longest running topless revue on the Strip celebrates its 25th Anniversary with Las VegasÆ Longest Butt Lineup on October 2, 2012. Arm-in-arm and hip-to-hip, women 21 years of age and older are invited to make history at the Riviera Casino & Hotel. Craig, Al and Andy from KOMP 92.3Æs morning show, who will broadcast live from the event from 1 û 3 p.m., are giving away a host of fabulous prizes, including staycations, dining and entertainment packages. All participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt as well as access to food and drink specials and entertainment passes.

Trevi At Caesars Palace Offers $9.99 Pizzas Through October For National Pizza Month – Trevi will give pizza lovers a reason to celebrate the National Pizza Month with featured pizzas valued at $9.99. Executive Chef Peter Scaturro will make a new brick oven pizza every day in the entire month of October at the famous Italian restaurant.

Mouthwatering brick oven pizza selections by Scaturro will keep guests coming back as they will be delighted with his creation. The selection includes Philly cheesesteak, carbonara and barbecue chicken.

Thrill-Seekers Wanted To Rappel From The Roof Of Planet Hollywood Las Vegas – For adrenaline junkies looking for a little adventure, PBR Rock Bar & Grill is offering the opportunity to rappel more than 300 feet from the hotelÆs rooftop for ôOver the Edge,ö a fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Nevada.

To participate, individuals must raise or personally donate a minimum of $1,000 to Special Olympics Nevada. Fundraising is done by soliciting donations from family, friends and co-workers through the ôOver the Edgeö online giving site www.overtheedgelasvegas.com. ôRaising the money to rappel is not a challenge once you explain what you are doing and that you are raising money for Special Olympics athletes in southern Nevada. People either think you are cool or crazy, but no matter what, they recognize their donation is worth the cause it supports,ö says Maggie Schwarz, Special Olympics NevadaÆs Regional Vice President.

PBR Rock Bar Las Vegas Counts Down “End Of The World” With Weekly Drink Specials – PBR Rock Bar & Grill inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino will count down to the end of the world with drink specials each week starting Monday, October 1, 2012.

Patrons will be invited to check-off their bucket lists with the Strip-side destinationÆs ôBeer Bucket Listö with $19 Budweiser buckets every day. To conclude the countdown, revelers can attend the ôEnd of the Worldö party in Rock Bar on Friday, December 21, 2012.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Announces Glittering Lights Annual Drive-Through Spectacular – The largest regional holiday light show, Glittering Lights, will entertain guests nightly starting November 16, 2012 to January 6, 2013. The holiday drive-through spectacular is all LED which will brighten Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the world’s largest light tunnel and over 450 animated light displays along a 2.5-mile racetrack. NASCAR scene and Avenue of Trees will be added as the Glittering LightsÆ displays expand this season.

1900D Beechcraft Interior Shot of Maverick AirlinesMaverick Grand Canyon Western Territory Tour By Plane û Experience the thrill of the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, on a flight with Maverick Airlines. Fly in Maverick style on a Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to Grand Canyon West as you enjoy spectacular views along Eagle Point. At the Indian Village you will receive a brief introduction to the Hualapai Indian legends and culture, and then proceed to Guano Point, where you’ll observe a breathtaking view of the canyon. Optional Activity: Don’t miss out on the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the new glass bridge attraction suspended more than 4,000 feet above the Colorado River on the very edge of the Grand Canyon’s West Rim. A meal will be served while you sit back and admire the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Canyon as you conclude your journey. Operator Maverick Airlines a division of the Maverick Aviation Group.

Click To Book Maverick Grand Canyon Western Territory Tour By Plane Now!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

The Mentalist by Guy Chapman

The Mentalist – An Enjoyable Night Out Leaving Your Mind Amazed – While there is always something to see in the Las Vegas StripÆs entertainment scene, it does become difficult at times to find something past all the showgirls and elaborate stage productions. Fortunately, there are some great finds on the Strip that push the boundaries of something different. Seeing ôThe Mentalistö in the V Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino will have you trying to guess ôHow did he do thatö well past the end of the show.

Gerry McCambridge has created an evening of entertainment that is designed with full audience participation in mind, so if you have ever wanted to become part of the act, this is your opportunity.

Stripper 101 by Sarah Jane Woodall

Stripper 101 – A Light And Fun Way To Learn The Art Of Seduction – Why should guys have all the fun? Vegas used to be known as a boysÆ town, a place for men to get their secret debauch on without wifey knowing what was up. Thankfully, times have changed… these days, thereÆs plenty of opportunity for us gals to reconnect with our wilder sides, too û and now, thereÆs even a class to show you how!

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – Over they years of doing this, I’ve had nightmares that we’d have a week with little-to-no news. Obviously, those fears have been vastly unfounded. As always, we’re presenting a packed issue with the Vegas news that you really care about!

From Dust To Dreams – PBS stations nationwide are playing this specially shot opening night at our new Smith Center for performing arts. Doogie Howser Neil Patrick Harris hosted with performances by Jennifer Hudson, Willie Nelson, Carole King, Emmylou Harris, Joshua Bell, Martina McBride, Arturo Sandoval, John Fogerty, and others.

This is not some “Las Vegas Strip” extravaganza like you are used to seeing on TV. Strictly a performing arts setting where the important people in town enjoyed that we now have “culture”. Check your local PBS listings over the next few weeks to find when it is playing in your area. Speaking of…

“Vegas” Of To A Good Start – The new Dennis Quaid CBS TV crime Drama Vegas trounced the competition in its time slot this past week. (If you follow us on Twitter or Facebook, we reminded you a day before it aired). Part old Vegas, part crime drama, and part “modern” western, the show takes you back to the days when Las Vegas really was more of a cowboy town and Fremont Street ruled. Vegas continues weekly on Tuesday nights, check your local listings.

Get Your “D” On Soon! – On one of our regular sojourns downtown to stagger from East Fremont to The Plaza combine enjoying Vegas with getting some exercise in, we were pleased to see The D construction moving towards completion. With the dearth of resort construction going on here in our fair neck-of-the-woods, all eyes have been on the upgrades taking Fitzgerald’s and turning it into The D. I’ll tell you right now that the downstairs improvements (Longbar and a new pleasure pit) have really brought the aging property back to life.

We snuck an exclusive photo of the (obviously under construction) outside bar which — while similar to the one at sister-property Golden Gate — looks to be much larger (we barely got half of it in the shot) and will surely do good business both with passer-bye and those watching the free live bands which play nightly on the adjacent 3’rd Street Stage.

The tall black bars on the wall are actually flat-screen video monitors, and we’re guessing they’ll display various graphics and colors to make interesting designs.

In an effort to draw crowds up to the second floor casino (a rarity in the gaming industry), a “first of its kind” (for downtown) outdoor escalator is going to whisk people directly up to the Vue Bar and into the casino. For those who aren’t into thumping music and “pleasure pit” gambling, you’ll be happy to know that the second floor is old school. Classic hits music and traditional/retro slot machines, some of which even take coins! We’re hoping that they don’t screw with the high-payback video poker at Vue Bar.

Monorail Not Dead Yet – The people running the monorail are attempting to seriously revive the notion of running it over to the airport. Fresh out of bankruptcy reorganization, the monorail is now only carrying $13 million in debt (down from the $757 million they owed). However, investors don’t appear the want to take another haircut and the only funding in sight for the beleaguered ride is the hope of federal funding (your tax money, thank you very much).

Monorail officials are citing the eventual re-opening of The Sahara (no date set) and the 2013 opening of Project Linq, and also talking about building a stop to serve Venetian/Palazzo/Sands Convention center. Personally, I think they are being a little over-optimistic about the number of people who are going to make Linq a “ride the monorail to” destination stop. However, the combination of all of the above won’t hurt.

Word is that to get some federal funding, the ride would have to be taken over by a government agency (whom I imagine couldn’t do much worse). The same guy has been running it for years, reportedly making a nice $300k+ income all the while ridership has dropped year after year.

They would probably have to secure the government funding before Harry Ried were to perhaps retire or be voted out of office. However, Ried is pretty much up to his neck in the funding for the “train to nowhere” (high speed train from Las Vegas to Victorville). No indication whether he’d want to take this one on as well.

Also, the fight with the cab companies would be legendary. Even though it appears like Las Vegas is served by many taxi services, they are all owned by a very small number of actual cab companies, which wield immense amounts of political power.

Steve Wynn vs. Joe Francis Defamation Lawsuit – – Some of you have been keeping up on this action where Wynn/Encore owner Steve Wynn went after the infamous Girl’s Gone Wild founder Joe Francis after Francis (basically) said that Wynn was mobbed up and might kill Francis over a $2 million gambling debt. Wynn won, and Francis is appealing the verdict.

Our friend Tony Snyder — a practicing attorney in the state of Michigan — wrote a great article examining the case in layman’s terms and is a must-read for anyone who has heard about the case. Read: Defamation of Steve Wynn

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

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.

Latest Concerts Added This Week!

There is no better place to see your favorite acts then in Las Vegas! You’re relaxed, can enjoy a fine meal, have some cocktails without the worry of driving, and no alarm is going to jar you awake all too early the next morning.

More Las Vegas News – Shows – Events

AccessVegas Insider Vibe September 19, 2012

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

Caesars Entertainment Reveals “The Quad Resort & Casino” As New Name For Imperial Palace – Caesars Entertainment revealed plans today to re-name the company’s center-Strip resort currently known as Imperial Palace to The Quad Resort & Casino. Although guests will begin to see the brand transformation on property as early as November, the official conversion will be completed by Dec. 21, 2012 with renovation plans scheduled for finish by late 2013.

Interior and exterior renovations to the property are already under way. The renovations are scheduled to be completed in phases and will bring improvements to the exterior faþade, porte cochere, front desk, bell desk, hotel lobby, casino floor, retail promenade and dining levels

Food & Wine All-Star Weekend Returns Bigger Than Ever Oct. 5-7 – The third annual Food & Wine All-Star Weekend returns to the Las Vegas Strip Oct. 5-7, but this time make sure to bring an even bigger appetite. Hosted by Food & Wine magazine’s Gail Simmons, the year’s premier culinary event has expanded its roster of resorts to include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage along with original host properties ARIA and Bellagio. The three-day event invites food lovers to partake in a series of first-class interactive experiences from the country’s most talented celebrity chef superstars, renowned sommeliers and creative mixologists.

Culinary masters participating in the array of events include Shawn McClain, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Julian Serrano, Michael Mina, Masa Takayama and Rick Moonen. Here’s a small taste of what’s on the All-Star Weekend menu:

  • The Mirage’s tropical paradise pool will host this year’s All-Star Tasting featuring a lineup of acclaimed MGM Resorts’ restaurants and their savory dishes. Mingle with celebrity chefs, sip exotic cocktails and enjoy the best eats all night long alongside host Gail Simmons.
  • Experience a one-of-a-kind lunch at ARIA’s Sage, where world-renowned chefs including Masa Takayama, Shawn McClain, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Jean-Philippe Maury will fuse their culinary talents to create an unforgettable meal.
  • For those looking to experience a sustainable farm-to-table approach, executive chefs Roy Ellamar of Sensi and Brett Smith of Zolo Grill, an award-winning southwestern restaurant in Boulder, Colo. will transform the Grand Patio at Bellagio into a farmhouse and prepare a lunch featuring seasonal ingredients harvested from their favorite farms.

To reserve tickets or view a detailed event schedule visit mgmresorts.com/foodandwine/.

Flamingo and Harrah’s Las Vegas Spas Support Breast Cancer Awareness With Special Offers In October – The Spa at Flamingo and Harrah’s Las Vegas supports the Breast Cancer Awareness month by offering special price on signature treatments. From October 2-4, 2012, both spas will offer 50-minute signature facials or massages at the price of the 25-minute service. Every $5 on each treatment will proceed to the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” campaign.

Fremont Street Experience To Host Bikefest Rockfest Free Concerts To Complement The 12th Annual Las Vegas Bikefest – Fremont Street Experience gets revved up with BIKEFEST ROCKFEST, a series of free concerts that will complement the 12th Annual Las Vegas BikeFest. Beginning Thursday, September 27 through Sunday, September 30, 2012 the four days will be jam-packed with entertainment by some of the world’s best tribute bands of rock superstars.

Everyone is invited downtown to enjoy the feel-good sounds of great music while surrounded by the iconic neon lights of the Fremont Street Experience. All concerts are free and open to the public.

Performance schedule for BIKEFEST ROCKFEST at Fremont Street Experience:

New Bacchanal Buffet At Caesars Features Nine Kitchens, More Than 500 items, And Extraordinarily Modern Design – The new Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace change the paradigm of buffets and redefines the Roman feast by serving more than 500 dishes every day which seats 600 guests. The expansive 25,000 square foot Bacchanal Buffet, overlooking the well-known Garden of Gods pool oasis, is designed by internationally renowned firm Super Potato.

The Best Seats in the House – Fall may bring cooler temperatures, but it’s also a welcome sign that heated rivalries are back in play. Major League Baseball will come to an exciting conclusion while the NFL, NBA and NHL all return after thrilling 2011-2012 seasons. How could we forget about the college gridiron, too? Enjoy all of the action at any one of these sports bars or state-of-the-art Race & Sports Books across MGM Resorts:

  • Casual yet stylishly contemporary, The Pub at Monte Carlo is a go-to spot for the ultimate combination of sports, food and beer. With more than 35 TV screens, three HD projectors, two bars, a horseshoe of couches and an assortment of tables, The Pub is a great place to catch the game in a comfortable yet friendly atmosphere.
  • A prime destination for sports fans, The Sporting House is a 33,000-square-foot sports bar and restaurant located near the Race & Sports Book at New York-New York Hotel & Casino. Boasting an unrivaled atmosphere and unbeatable access to the day’s games, The Sporting House has more than 130 video monitors throughout the two-story venue including two 16-foot screens inside “The Screening Room.” The menu features a wide variety of dishes including American classics and unique spins on sports favorites.

With the ability to wager on and watch all major athletic events, the Race & Sports Books across MGM Resorts offer guests an exciting game-viewing experience. The state-of-the-art Race & Sports Book at ARIA features a total of 90 HD monitors (some as large as 103 inches), plush lounge seating and two self-betting kiosks. For guests who desire a more private experience, MGM Grand is the first Race & Sports Book in the industry with Skyboxes, comfortably hosting up to 10 guests.

Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hosts Third Annual Fall Beer Festival With Brews, Brats, and More – On Friday, October 19, 2012, the Third Annual Fall Beer Festival will kick off in The Grand events center. Samuel Addams will sponsor the first event of the two-day festival with the All American Craft Beer Tasting from 7-10 p.m. Over 120 craft beer selections are available for guests to sample while enjoying chef-inspired appetizers. It is a perfect event where live music sets the mood and where guests can mingle with some of America’s hottest award-winning brew masters. A commemorative glass is given as souvenir. Event’s ticket costs $50* individually.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Presents Haunted Tours October 21-31, 2012 – RMS Titanic’s heartbreaking story is popular worldwide, but this Halloween the story of the ill-fated ship will thrill guests with a new creepy perspective. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor will run a Titanic Haunted Tour from October 21-31, 2012 starting at 6 p.m. giving a unique experience perfect for the whole family.

Cabo Wabo Las Vegas Offers Football Season Food And Drink Specials – Every Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights of the football season, football fans can enjoy Cabo Wabo Cantina ’s food and drink specials during the games. The cantina is located inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Grand Canyon White Water Rafting ToursMaverick Helicopter Combo Adventure with River Rafting Tour – One of the most amazing ways to experience the Grand Canyon is with a landing tour and the added bonus of river rafting through the scenic Black Canyon on the Colorado River. You will enjoy a helicopter adventure through the Grand Canyon and see awe-inspiring scenery at one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Following the helicopter tour through the Grand Canyon, you will land at the Boulder City Airport and meet up with the rafting crew. Your fully motorized and narrated river rafting voyage will depart from the base of Hoover Dam and float 12 miles down the grand Colorado River. The Colorado River rafting tour includes several stops along the river and lunch served upon reaching Willow Beach, Arizona. The rafting crew will transport you to your hotel at the conclusion of the tour.

Click To Book Maverick Helicopter Combo Adventure with River Rafting Tour Now!

Las Vegas Show Reviews

Legends In Concert by Sarah Jane Woodall

Six Nights A Week, You Can Still See The Big Names In Vegas – At some point in their careers, all the big names come through Vegas – Cher, Aretha, Tom Jones… and of course, Sinatra. You can still catch some of these headliners if you happen to be in town on the right weekend… but what about those acts that, like Elvis, have already “left the building?” It’s too late to see them, right?

Wrong! Six nights a week at Harrah’s, you can still experience the majesty of Elvis in his glory days… as well as witness the magic of Michael Jackson, the fireball that is Tina Turner, and the provocative teasing of Madonna – all in the same room!

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

Well, the days are already getting shorter, with sunset clocking on about 6:45 PM. We sit on the very edge of Pacific time (Boise, ID in Mountain Time is actually west of us) which gives us one of the few drawbacks of living here — the early sunset. On the flip side, shorter days have brought and end to 100 degree temps and evenings are unbelievably pleasant with shirtsleeve and shorts weather while you bask in the post-sunset neon-lit Las Vegas Strip. If you have a favorite outdoor restaurant or bar here, fall is a great time to enjoy it without melting!

This Episode Brought To You By The Letter Q – As noted earlier in the newsletter (and as we tweeted and put on Facebook and Google+ when the news broke), Caesars Entertainment (the company, not the hotel) announced that their Linq project will be fronted by the remodeled Imperial Palace and given the name “The Quad”. (Bold type is ours). Yes, we all agree. Lousy choice. In fact, this generated the most Twitter replies and re-tweets of any topic we’ve ever put out there, all of them negative.

Dictionary.com defines quad as “a quadrangle, as on a college campus”. However, I can’t think that they want to appeal to broke college kids (many of whom are not old enough to do Vegas anyway). I’ve looked over the Linq drawings and plans and perhaps where Linq will meet with Quad and Harrah’s will form some kind of quadrangle. Who knows?

With the amazing history of Las Vegas hotel names (both past and present), this is a disappointment. I’m still calling Bill’s by The Barbary Coast and (should it ever get remodeled), I don’t see how I can call The Sahara by the new proposed SLS name. What happened to names like Dunes and Stardust!

Customs Waits – Our beautiful huge new McCarran Airport Terminal 3 (T-3) has been open a couple of months now, and is a really nice change for our international guests who used to be regulated to a junky old terminal that is facing the wrecking ball. That’s the good news. The bad news? Customs waiting times have been long despite T-3 having plenty of custom lanes and the most modern technology. Why? The federal government staffs the customs lines, not the airport. You can have the best tools, but you need people to be using them.

With around 30% of our readers from outside the US, this is of key interest to us. Please send us your Las Vegas airport customs experiences to AccessVegas@AccessVegas.com so we can keep tabs on this issue and help make sure it is properly addressed.

Las Vegas Makes You Feel Young – We have a nice segment of senior who enjoy reading and often write about how Las Vegas makes them feel young, which is great! Many have given thought to why one seems to have extra energy while visiting. The old myth was that hotels pumped oxygen into the casino, but alas… that would be impossible. Not only are you looking at an amazing expense, but oxygen is flammable. Any fire would immediately burn with far more intensity than normal.

Certainly, many factors come into play. The synergy of so many people doing so much activity adds a buzz to the air. The fact that most are doing so much more walking than normal really gets your blood pumping. But there is an unquantified, unexplained energy that does radiate from The Strip, no doubt about it. I live just a few minutes from The Strip and I can feel it. It’s always there, radiating out. It would be interesting if there was a way to study or explain it!

Lady + Gold = Synergy? – The people rebuilding the Lady Luck (as the Downtown Grand) are taking over gaming operations at the next-door Gold Spike. A few years ago, The Spike was completely remodeled, turning it from a lovable dive (which we had a soft spot for) into a nice but pretty generic boutique hotel-casino. Downtown Grand developers are also behind the resurgence of 3rd Street (next to the Mob Museum) including numerous bars and restaurants. The entire area sits just one block off of Fremont Street and they are surely hoping to create a synergy that will get you curious enough to make the very short walk.

Vegas Video Network Surpasses 600 Live Shows – We want to congratulate our friends at the Vegas Video Network for passing the 600 show mark! We’ve been big fans from Day 1 of their great shows like Living In Las Vegas, Pub Crawl, and Talktails.

We’re super-excited to announce their latest venture, which will be a show in conjunction with the Fremont Street Experience (the official collection of downtown hotels) filmed live on and around Fremont Street.

The initial run of 10 episodes will start in October and we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop. Those of you who are having trouble getting your friends to try out (formerly) “dingy old downtown” will be able to show them all of the excitement and amazing improvements in the area.

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.
Latest Concerts Added This Week!

There is no better place to see your favorite acts then in Las Vegas! You’re relaxed, can enjoy a fine meal, have some cocktails without the worry of driving, and no alarm is going to jar you awake all too early the next morning.

More Las Vegas News – Shows – Events

AccessVegas Insider Vibe September 12, 2012

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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

Senor Frogs Las Vegas Throws A Party For Mexican Independence Day – Experience the weekend-long fiesta as Se±or Frog’s Las Vegas celebrates the Mexican Independence Day from Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 16, 2012 at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.

Se±or Frog’s offers patrons Mexican party specials including its signature flavored margaritas and two-for-one tequila shots while enjoying the live Mariachi music.

Rhumbar Las Vegas Features Drink Specials During Football Season – RHUMBAR at The Mirage Hotel & Casino will make football fanatics feel like they have 50-yard line seats as their stylish patio turns into a pigskin haven. RHUMBAR will offer drink specials and big screen television viewing for guests every weekend.

Aria Unveils Uncommon Cocktails At Sage – In-House Barrel-Aged White Spirits and Innovative Ingredients – Sage at ARIA Resort & Casino introduces 12 craft cocktails to complement Chef Shawn McClain’s extraordinary flavor profiles. Master mixologists stir up rare ingredients including white spirits barrel-aged in-house, gin-compressed blueberries, atomized angostura orange bitters and elderflower dust, heightening the restaurant’s innovative beverage offerings. The new cocktails available at Sage include:

Wine Spectator Honors Restaurant Guy Savoy And Renews Its Grand Award; Old Homestead Garners Its First Award Of Excellence – Restaurant Guy Savoy has been honored in Wine Spectator’s 2012 Restaurant Wine List Awards along with Old Homestead at Caesars Palace. Restaurant Guy Savoy once again grabs its coveted Grand Award while Old Homestead received its first Award of Excellence.

Siegfried & Roy Kick Off Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas Oktoberfest Celebration – Hofbrõuhaus is bringing the German spirit in this year’s Oktoberfest celebration in Las Vegas. The 9th Annual Oktoberfest will kick off on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 7 p.m. with Siegfried & Roy. Six weeks of endless night German tradition at Hofbrõuhaus Las Vegas, the traditional Bavarian restaurant, will definitely delight partygoers.

Tender Steak & Seafood Luxor Las Vegas Offers Tailgate Lounge Menu During Football Season – Football fans and TENDER Steak & Seafood patrons will enjoy the tailgate lounge menu. The restaurant located at Luxor Hotel and Casino offers the menu every Sunday and Monday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the regular season.

Mirage Las Vegas Celebrates “Siptember” With Wine Specials – The Mirage Hotel & Casino invites guests to celebrate the joys of fine wine during Siptember, a month-long event featuring extraordinary bottle specials. From 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily at kokomo’s, FIN, Onda Ristorante and Samba, wine novices and aficionados alike will have the opportunity to explore an abundance of varietals. Exclusive offers will be available such as half-off bottles of wine and champagne at the four restaurants plus several bars throughout the hotel.

Stratosphere Welcomes Dr. Havock’s Sideshow of Curiosities Through Halloween – Dr. Havock’s Sideshow of Curiosities is back at Stratosphere giving a bigger and better way for Casino players to enjoy Halloween.

The sideshow features visual illusions and dark humor that will surprise the audience with fully immersive and bizarre show experience. Dr. Havock’s Sideshow of Curiosities has its inspirations through the medicine pitch men, vintage circus and carnivals sideshows of the past. The chilling scenes and characters with a hint of steampunk mystique is a “creepy-cool” supernatural experience for the Halloween minus the gore element of other haunts.

Tourist picnicing during their Maverick Grand Canyon Landing TourMaverick Grand Canyon Landing Tour – You will start your experience with a breathtaking flight over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Fortification Hill, an extinct volcano, as well as many other awe-inspiring views. After descending 3,500 feet inside the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, you will enjoy a light snack, a cool beverage and a champagne toast 300 feet above the Colorado River. Your journey will conclude with a flight through beautiful Black Canyon on your return to the South Las Vegas terminal. Operator Mustang Helicopters a division of the Maverick Aviation Group.

Click To Book Maverick Grand Canyon Landing Tour Now!

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – If you follow any the news at all, you already know that Las Vegas got hit with torrential (that is an understatement) rain on Tuesday, September 11. Within hours, the skies were clear but the damage was done. Flooded homes, cars, and dirt/sand/gravel covering streets around the valley.

I had my own personal scare. Water was coming off my roof in sheer sheets (like a waterfall — we don’t have gutters here, and a gutter wouldn’t have held up anyway) and ponding of the water briefly came up on the back of my house a few inches. Fortunately, the rain let up just enough for it to subside before the next storm band slammed in and did it again.

All of the local news stations pretty much focused on the high water and flooding in the suburbs (locals generally don’t visit The Strip, which I’ve always found kind of strange… like living at the beach but never hitting the sand). However, we found a couple of good YouTube videos from The Strip and we’ve linked them up in the “What We’re Watching” segment.

Temps for the next 10 days are generally in the low 90’s with no rain in site. If you have a pending visit, you’ll be fine!

Many, Many, Many Thanks – A couple of months ago, we noticed that our sites were running just a little bit slow. We didn’t give it much thought at the time. Sometimes the internet is slower than others. Then… our IT guy told me that we need to upgrade to better, faster servers. I’m like “Why, what’s up… the way we’ve been doing it the past couple of years has been fine”. In fact, a couple of years ago, we upgraded to a situation that had far more capacity than we needed!

I’m going to confess something that may confound others in this field, but I don’t keep track of our traffic. We’re a small, privately held outfit. We just do what we do and let the chips fall where they may. Hence, I didn’t realize that our website traffic has been on a pretty nice rise!

So, I very much want to thank those of you who continue to tell your friends to visit AccessVegas.com — where they can subscribe to this newsletter — and for those of you who use us to help keep you informed on what’s hot and what’s new in Las Vegas by clicking on all of the informational links to stories that we provide each week.

We know that many of you are able to take advantage of direct room offers from the hotels themselves and thus can’t patronize our hotels partner (who helps support our efforts here). But, you can still tell people about our newsletter and AccessVegas.com on your favorite travel message boards, trip reports you make on those ratings sites, and similar.

For those of you yet to tell your friends… what are you waiting for?!? If they visit Las Vegas, you know that we’ll deliver the very latest, best, and most pertinent visitor information without the stuff you don’t care about. We spend countless hours sifting through Las Vegas information so you don’t have to!

holly madison peepshow las vegasLights Out For Holly – Peepshow mainstay Holly Madison — now in her fourth month of pregnancy — will make her last Peepshow appearance on October 21. Prior to Holly, the show had a somewhat rotating cash of lead females including Kelly Monaco, Melanie Brown, and Aubrey O’Day. Rumors  that Jenny McCarthy or Carmen Electra might take over the roll have been squashed.

Madison had initially been scheduled to end her run at the end of this year in order to start a family, but evidently got started a little early! The father is her boyfriend Pasquale Rotella, the CEO of Electric Daisy Carnival.

Peepshow has been a long-time sponsor of this newsletter and we hope that the show (and our advertising relationship) continues to have a great post-Holly run. But if you want to see “Holly-Peep” version of the show and you’re going to be here before October 21, Click For Peepshow Las Vegas Tickets.

Light Up Your Life With Las Vegas – You can now buy a light from the famous Las Vegas sign. The actual lights used on the sign are changed out the first Tuesday of each month, and done so sequentially. Availability permitting (first come, first served), you can buy a light related to a specific month and a specific day of that month. Which means you can get a light that was on the sign when you visited it, or simply a light that was in use on a special day in our life. Read more at Man has bright idea to sell part of Las Vegas history and you can purchase the lights at http://officiallasvegaslight.com

Don’t Hold Your Breath For Interstate 11 – For the past couple of years, I’ve been keeping you up on the move to upgrade the Phoenix to Las Vegas portion of US Highway 93 to Interstate 11. This would involve four-laning the entire route (approximately 1/4 of the stretch is still two-lane highway), brining it all up to Interstate highway standards in terms of speed and safety, and making the entire stretch “controlled access” freeway (overpasses with onramps and offramps with no roads or driveways offshooting the route).

Sounds good, right? Certainly for those of you who visit by driving in from Arizona, New Mexico and points southeast of us.

Not so fast. Although in the planning stages, the project could take up to 20 years for completion with nearly the first decade alone being devoted simply to environmental studies of the route. Now, let me be clear on something: I don’t believe in being cruel to animals. I could understand if this was a brand new highway looking to run through some kind of wildlife refuge and they want to make sure that all the animals don’t get hit by cars (which could hurt the car occupants just as much as the animals). But with the exception of a new 12 mile stretch that will bypass Boulder City, what we have here is an already established route that has been in place for many, many DECADES.

Why on earth do we need a long, expensive, costly environmental study to improve an existing road is far beyond unreasonable. For more on this story, check out Interstate 11 could become an afterthought

Putting It In Perspective – During the height of the recession when the naysayers were hoping for the death of Las Vegas (how’d that work out for them), hotel occupancy was in the upper 70’th percentile and I noted that most cities would kill for those kinds of numbers.

Case and point: Occupancy in London for the Olympic Games was right around 80%. For the Olympics! And, most U.S. cities see occupancy rates of around 55-60% regularly. By last year, room occupancy was already pushing 90% here, and we expect an even better 2012!

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor / News Researcher: Rick Ziegler

Concerts and Headliners: Amy Rayner-Cooley

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.

Latest Concerts Added This Week!

There is no better place to see your favorite acts then in Las Vegas! You’re relaxed, can enjoy a fine meal, have some cocktails without the worry of driving, and no alarm is going to jar you awake all too early the next morning.

More Las Vegas News – Shows – Events

Las Vegas Tours

Soar into the sky with Maverick Airlines - Click Here For More Details

Canyon Dream - Airplane, Helicopter and on Foot Grand Canyon Tour - Click Here

Las Vegas Gambling Tips

Gambling

Visit World Famous Gaming Writer Victor H. Royer’s
Casino Gambling Articles