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Access Vegas Insider Vibe December 14, 2011

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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.

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows

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

Hello From Las Vegas! – We’re inching toward Winter Solstice (Dec. 22) and I’m looking forward to the days starting to get longer again. The fact that Las Vegas is sunny just about every day means nothing when the sun goes down so early! As we get toward the end of the year here, the news cycle has slowed down a little bit. The next couple of issues will be “kitchen sink” issues (everything but the kitchen sink). A mish-mash of news and thoughts that haven’t made previous issues, but should be interesting to most nonetheless.

New Years Eve – Next week, we’ll have all the details but expect business as usual with a nearly 9 minute fireworks show going off from The Tropicana to The Stratosphere. (Be warned that no hotels between Venetian and Strat will have displays). Let’s hope for better weather than last year when midnight temps were slightly below freezing. I’m getting too old for that! Tip for locals: One of the best “up close” views of the show is from the top of Palace Station parking garage. They close off the top floor and welcome everyone up for the look-see.

Celebrating All The Holidays – We know that Las Vegas goes “boom” in a big way for New Years Eve. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day also result in big weekends. The LVCVA (Convention and Visitors Authority) is now suggesting turning more special event days into “Vegas Holidays”. As usual, the LVCVA is just sobering up and way behind what is actually already happening. I’ve been screaming about this for years!

Halloween has morphed into a Vegas Holiday with the nightclubs really stoking that fire. Cinco De Mayo has turned into a pretty big celebration. Not because of the LVCVA, but because of various casinos and bars doing events. Check out this video of Harrah’s 2010 Cinco de Mayo outdoor celebration. I’m completely floored that we don’t do Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday here. Are you kidding me?!?!? We could out-do New Orleans (and The Strip doesn’t smell like urine). Better late then never. More events for our visitors!

All Drinks $2 – Once again this year, the South Point is serving all drinks at their casino bars for $2 through December 24. I know that some of you gasp in horror at the thought of leaving The Strip, but this is quite the excuse to see how the locals eat, drink, and play at one of the city’s newer properties. (South Point is known for loose slots and good payback on video poker). They have a shuttle (schedule) for $8 round trip or the 6 mile cab fare will run you about $15 each way.

Tour Helicopter Crash – I like to focus on the good news and fun involving Las Vegas. However, I’d be remiss in mentioning the helicopter crash that took the lives of two couples and the pilot. One of the couples was celebrating their 25’th wedding anniversary, the other were newlyweds, and the pilot himself was a newlywed. Without singling out any particular tour companies (including the one involved in this horrible accident), let me note that when it comes to tours, you often get what you pay for.

We’ve been happily associate with a certain helicopter company (which I won’t name in this instance because this isn’t about capitalizing on tragedy) for well over a decade now. They are pretty much the most expensive. They also fly some of the newest equipment and can afford some of the best pilots. Guess what: They have an amazing safety record.

This extends to other aspects of your visit as well. The 1/2 price ticket booths are very popular. But keep a couple things in mind: At any given time, any show can end up for sale that day. Even the top shows rarely sell out every seat, every night. BUT… some showsáend up there day in and day out, and with good reason. They aren’t great shows. And since you’re the last one to buy tickets, guess where you’ll be sitting? Don’t get me wrong, if you just want to kill 90 minutes (shows are often cheaper than gambling), what the heck. But if you want good seats to the better shows, go ahead and book well in advance.

The Defenders – For those who blinked and missed the Jim Belushi/Jerry O’Connell Vegas-based show called The Defenders, Netflix is streaming all 13 episodes.

Special Christmas Menus – Similar to Thanksgiving, many of the restaurants in the hotels will be featuring a special holiday menu (in addition to their regular menu). If spending Christmas here in town (many families do), you might inquire with the restaurants that catch your eye to check options for Christmas dining, reservations, etc. ASAP upon your arrival.

Like And Tweet – Enjoy our information? Share it with your friends and followers (Click to Like or Tweet, hover over the share button for Email A Friend menu):

 

Enjoy This Issue!

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Rick Ziegler

Skip the airport taxi hassles and arrive at your hotel in style: Check out driver and limo service availability now!

 Book A Las Vegas Limo Today!

Winter in Venice, Christmas, Venetian, Palazzo, WinterThe Venetian and the Palazzo Las Vegas First-Ever Winter in Venice Holiday Celebration Continues – The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas are hosting Winter in Venice, the first true celebration of the winter season on the Las Vegas Strip. Winter in Venice is the ultimate destination for an unforgettable holiday experience through Jan. 8. The whimsical festivities features an enchanting ice skating rink above The Venetian’s picturesque outdoor Grand Canal, welcoming skaters to make figure-eights or glide hand-in-hand with loved ones. Surrounded by snowflakes, strung overhead holiday lights and an awe-inspiring 65-foot LED holiday tree sitting atop the Doge’s Palace fountain, guests are entertained by strolling candy cane stilt walkers, puppets, jugglers and magicians.

Odgen, Pool, Downtown, Upscale, kitchen, living room

The Return of Upscale Living in Downtown Las Vegas with The Ogden – Renovations to Streamline Tower Reveal Premium High-Rise – Located in the heart of Las Vegas’ flourishing arts and entertainment district, The Ogden offers an unparalleled experience with front-row seats to the downtown revitalization effort along with an alternative solution for residents that prefer a chic lifestyle paired with a convenient leasing option. The new Ogden will offers contemporary living without the long-term commitment.

Cabo Wabo, Sammy Hagar, I can't drive 55, dollar nachosCabo Wabo Ups The Ante With Sammy Hagar’s ‘I Can’t Drive 55’ Dollar Nachos – Cabo Wabo Introduces its Most Extreme Menu Item – Everyone knows the Red Rocker can’t drive 55, so Cabo Wabo has decided to up the ante with its newest extreme dish, Sammy Hagar’s ‘I Can’t Drive 55’ Dollar Nachos. This colossal appetizer includes Cabo Wabo’s signature tortilla chips piled high with 20 tasty toppings, available for $55. And because the Red Rocker is certain that this dish will take an entire army to finish, he invites guests to take his ‘I Can’t Drive 55’ Dollar Nacho challenge. Cabo Wabo threw just about everything in the kitchen, minus the sink, into this massive mound of nacho goodness.

Ice Skate, The Villiage, Lake Las VegasThe Village Lake Las Vegas Kicks off the Holidays with Skating on The Lake – Bringing back an annual tradition with the world-famous floating ice rink – It wouldn’t be the Holiday season without a spin around one of Las Vegas’ most celebrated attractions. The one-of-a-kind floating ice rink has become a quintessential Vegas winter experience among locals and tourists alike. Guests bundle up and head to this destination attraction to skate on the unique platform that holds up to 75 skaters at one time with the picturesque back drop of The Village Lake Las Vegas.

Yoga, Spa, Mirage, DolphinThe Mirage Nurtures Nature – Offers Yogis One-of-a-Kind Yoga Class With Dolphin Views – The Spa at The Mirage is taking downward-facing dog to the dolphins with a new, one-of-a-kind class, Yoga Among the Dolphins, offered in a serene, underwater viewing area within Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. ”Guests from all over the world cherish the dolphins at The Mirage,” said The Mirage Spa Director Stephanie Doud. ”When I looked at adding yoga to our spa menu, it only made sense to take advantage of the property’s exotic, wondrous dolphin world and the atmosphere of relaxation provided by the animals.”

Maverick Helicopter River Rafting TourMaverick Helicopter Combo Adventure with River Rafting Tour û Our Wind Dancer Flight with an added thrill of rafting the Colorado River through Black Canyon. An adventure of a lifetime! You will begin your day with complimentary hotel pick-up and your jet helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon. Your pilot will bring you back to the Boulder City Airport to be greeted by the river rafter team for a motorized 10-mile float.

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

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

  • Motley Crue Residency At The Hard Rock – In 2012, the world’s most notorious rock band will take on the world’s most notorious city for the first ever hard rock residency in Las Vegas. Enjoy this ”barely safe for work” preview.
  • Book Tickets Now: Motley Crue
  • Historic Railroad Trail At Lake Mead National Recreation Area – The historic railroad trail was a railroad right of way originally used to haul equipment and materials for the construction of Hoover Dam. The railroad was decommissioned in 1961 after the last power generator was installed in the dam. The trail is 3.7 miles one way and goes from the trailhead near the Lake Mead NRA Alan Bible Visitor Center to the Hoover Dam visitor parking structure.
  • Pahrump Valley Winery – Not far from the strip is Nevada’s most award winning winery, Pahrump Valley Winery. You heard me right, our neighbors out at Pahrump are growing their own grapes and turning them into award winning wines. And if that isn’t enough for you to make an easy hour drive, well, you can also stroll their beautiful grounds and grab a bite to eat at their gourmet restaurant Symphony’s, named after their Gold Medal winning wine of the same name.
  • Las Vegas in Kodachrome c.1962 – 16mm Kodachrome home movies from a group of Chicago Police officers and their wives while they visit Las Vegas in the early 1960s. The opening sequence takes place in a bus with long curved plexiglass windows (which makes for easy viewing of the Nevada / Arizona country) and is perfectly clear and in focus – incredible stuff.

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Note From Ted: This week (only) we’ll be featuring some of the feedback toward our decision to move to a paid subscriber newsletter model. Should you wish to chime in, you can use the contact information at the end of this segment. You know that I’m always transparent in addressing reader thoughts and concerns.

Next week, we return to the normal format for this section with lots of reader reports, tips, and questions answered!

We will be so sorry to lose this e-mail from you. Being retired and on a fixed income, and everything still going up, we cannot pay for anything that is not essential. I do save a bit for vacations, etc., and hope to visit once in a while. Just have to watch our pennies to do so. Perhaps we are two of your oldest subscribers as we have been long time readers. Good articles!!.

We thank you for a great newsletter and appreciate all the news about one of our favorite towns. Good luck in your new venture. Will miss you!!

Kay G

 

Ted Responds:

Thanks for the note. The bottom line is that we can’t continue to publish with the current scope for free at the expense of properly maintaining and upgrading our website, which is capable of reaching far more people.

Just as you would not want to work for free, I certainly can’t ask my small crew to put in extra hours off the clock to maintain both the site and the newsletter. Nor can I do it all by myself.

I crunched some numbers: Let’s say that the average cost of a Las Vegas vacation is $1000 a couple just for room, air, and food. Let’s say that it is a four day, three night stay which comes to around 60 waking hours here. That right there is $16.67 per waking HOUR while you are here. Just to be here.

If our information just saves you 1.5 hours of otherwise wasted or wandering time (because you know what is going on), it has paid for itself. Add to that deals we scour the web for that you can take advantage of on your trip, and you’ve more than covered the modest fee we’ll be asking.

Add into that the hours and hours that someone would spend trying to look up and find all this info on their own, and a couple of bucks a month to save all those hours turns into something that actually saves you, not something that costs you.

I appreciate that you may not be able to spare $2 per month for what we do. I respect that and thank you for being a long-time reader. Understanding that the economy is bad, I purposely kept the price as low as possible. To put it in perspective, another long time Las Vegas newsletter (which I have immense respect for) only publishes monthly and charges upwards of $40 per year.

But the simple economics are to cut way back on the information in the newsletter (an option I don’t find acceptable), or to ask readers who find it of value to help us out with $1.99 per month.

Thanks for your feedback,

Ted Newkirk
CEO, Managing Editor
AccessVegas.com

Your newsletter indicates that you are start charging in a few weeks. I can not find where to sign up. Help!!

On another note, I’ve returned from a trip mid November, stayed at the Aria. Used the $20.00 upgrade move and got a wonderful room. Two suggestion when staying there. One, request a room near the elevators, I need a pack mule for supplies to get from the elevator to my room. Two, be careful in the showers, the floor are polished smooth and of course, get them wet, they get slippery.

I have trouble using the electronic to operate the TV but that was probably my fault.

I agree with one of your readers in that they need to install a moving sidewalk to get the general public into the casino. And also for the guests for the Aria that want to go out and wander the Strip.

Dennis Hall

 

Ted Responds:

We’re still getting everything prepped. Don’t worry, we’ll provide plenty of advance notice. I’m so excited about the great, new things we’ll be able to do in 2012 once we’re able to better staff our little operation here! I can’t count the number of great ideas we come up with that we just don’t have the manpower to implement.

We have to keep most of them under our hat, but one is video: The internet is flooded with Vegas video, but 95% of it is unprofessionally produced and you have to sift through so many videos to (for example) find a good walk-through of a hotel room or an attraction you may want to know more about. If you find the “official” video for something, it is usually a 60 second advertisement that does not help much.

We’d love to shoot a series of 3-4 minute videos covering much of what Las Vegas has to offer, well produced, no BS. This would be invaluable to our members, as you could take a nice overview of something from the comfort of your home, and then decide whether it is up your alley. As opposed to coming here, trying it, and maybe finding it wasn’t for you (which wastes your time and money). As you can imagine, that takes time my present crew simply does not have.

Another example: Las Vegas is flooded with deals. I don’t mean a couple of ongoing steak specials. I mean happy hours, limited time prix fixe meals, much more. We’ve had endless requests to make a part of the site featuring all of this and we simply don’t have the resources to do so (it requires so much research to stay on top of it all as deals change weekly and even daily). Once we’re able to increase staffing, we’d like to keep this updated information in (what will be) our members area. That alone will save everybody the cost of the yearly subscription!

Thanks for the feedback on Aria. I agree and we’ve suggested in the past that in really big properties like Aria and MGM, the rooms can be quite a hike if you are don’t get put near the elevator banks. You aren’t the first to struggle with the Aria features. Cutting edge, but perhaps they should come with an operations manual!

We’ll keep an eye on what CityCenter does once The Harmon comes down. They’ll have a second chance to make the property more friendly to those walking The Strip.

Love your newsletter and donÆt mind helping out with the paid subscription. This route certainly makes sense. How will it work? Will you send out e-mails to let us know the new newsletter is off and running with the address to which the check should be sent? Just want to know so that I wonÆt be left out or miss the info. Thanks again for this helpful newsletter and your attention to detail.

Edith

 

Ted Responds:

We’ll have numerous payment options including the ability to send in a check. We’re in the process of working it all out.

Thanks in advance for the support. With everyone pitching in just a little bit, we believe that we’ll be able to produce the most amazing resource out there for Las Vegas visitors!

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.

More Las Vegas News – Shows – Events

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 25, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Special Holiday Issue With Vegas Christmas Photos… And Our Gift To You:

Blue Man Group Las Vegas - Save $35

The famous Blue Men need no introduction. This has been one of the longest running shows in Las Vegas (spanning over 8 years at two different major resort properties) and with good reason:áBlue Man Group delivers an amazing experience every single show!

Isn’t it time you treat yourself a holiday gift? While you’re planning this next Las Vegas trip, take advantage of our special newsletter offer this holiday and save over $35 per ticket on one of Las Vegas’ very top shows!

Purchase Blue Man Group Las Vegas Tickets
Save Over $35 Now!

Also in this special holiday issue: Wynn Encore’s spectacular opening, Bellagio Gardens 2008 Christmas photos, and Las Vegas snowstorm coverage with video.

This is an abbreviated holiday issue. A usually full newsletter format will return next week.

Bellagio Gardens Christmas 2008 Display

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

We have plenty more photos where that came from. If you weren’t here for the season, check out our Bellagio Gardens Christmas 2008 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery and enjoy these spectacular images.

P.S. Remember, these and any of the photos in our huge Las Vegas Photo Gallery can be sent to family and friends as a free e-card. Simply surf our gallery to the picture you want to send, then use the “Click To Send To A Friend” at the bottom of the image.

Wynn Encore Opening

wynn encore las vegas

wynn encore las vegas
Photos Courtesy Wynn Las Vegas

Historic Snowstorm Hits Las Vegas

wynn encore las vegas

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
Hotel Rates Published Accurate At Time Of Publication

December 25, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 26, 2007

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Free Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Christmas was sunny but on the chilly side. We hope you and yours had a great holiday. New Years Eve is in the air and slated to be another huge year. Winds permitting, The Strip with light up with fireworks from the MGM to Stratosphere. The Plaza downtown is putting on their own fireworks show at 12:30 AM as to not conflict with the massive celebration taking place under the Fremont Street light show canopy.

Local TV station KLAS has streamed the fireworks show live in years past. No indication if they are going to do so this year, but you can try their link just before midnight Pacific and see.

It is unfortunate that most of you can’t watch the full 2-3 hour coverage that our local stations do. Short of being here in person, there is really no way to describe the excitement and festivities. The ball drop in New York City is about as exciting as watching paint dry in comparison.

The networks would love to do New Years from Las Vegas. The problem? Midnight on the east coast is only 9 PM here, a time when the party is barely getting started.

Do you have a few people you missed giving holiday Best Wishes to? Co’mon… we all had a couple of people we heard from that we didn’t get a card or note to. It isn’t too late: Pick one of the great holiday photos from our Bellagio Gardens Christmas 2007 Pictures area and send it as an E-Card right now!

Flying Etiquette – Delta Airlines has created a number of short online videos about air travel etiquette called Planeguage. Frequent fliers will find them all too humorous. Those that fly less regularly will enjoy the travel tips.

Mac King Is Everywhere – If you’ve been to Applebees during this season and had kids with you, odds are they were handed a “Holiday Hocus Pocus” with crayons and a little color book with simply magic tricks kids can do. Your local Applebees may still be handing them out. Give them a call and take the kids!

He’s also put out a couple of cool products perfect for kids (of all ages) who want to have fun with magic. Mac King’s Great Big Book-o-Magic contains over 50 very cool (and mystifying) tricks that are easy to learn and available at Barnes and Noble (stores or online). Also available is his Magic In A Minute Truck-o-Tricks with monkeys, cards, balls, strings and other props, jokes, and gags. Available at toy stores nationwide or Mac King Magic Shop. We just may be giving some sets out in the near future.

Also, you can’t go wrong checking out Mac’s afternoon show at Harrah’s. By far the best bargain and a show everyone will enjoy. Check out Mac King Tickets

New Las Vegas Photo Sets – We took a trip down Las Vegas Blvd. South recently. And we mean South. Starting at the west side of the airport at the Las Vegas sign… and heading SOUTH. Everyone is watching the massive construction on The Strip, but the next wave of resorts, gaming, and development is already in planning and progress. Get a good look now. It won’t look like this much longer. (Click photo for complete photo set)

We also added a few photo to reflect the remodeling and upgrades at the Golden Nugget. (Warning… these were taken in early fall when the weather was still very warm. Don’t bring your swimsuit this time of year).

Passing along a couple of “must know” tips…

  • Skip the casino ATM fees. You know that pulling money out of a casino ATM is obnoxiously expensive. Fees for casino ATM’s are approaching $5, then your bank hits you for another few bucks.The solution? Buy something negligible at one of the drug stores along The Strip and use your ATM debit card to get cash back. A pack of gum or bottle of water will cost around a dollar (cheaper than any ATM fee) and most stores will give you up to $100 cash back. This also may work at the many independent sundry/liquor stores. We haven’t tried it yet at hotel gift shops, but never hurts to ask if they will give you cash back with a debit card.

    Do all fellow readers a favor: If you find a certain hotel gift shop or independent sundry store on The Strip or Downtown that lets you use your debit for cash back, drop us a line at allvegastv@aol.com and we’ll start creating a list for all members to access.

  • Avoid the car rental traffic jam. The new car rental facility guides everyone out of the building and sends them south on Gilespie, west on Warm Springs, then north on Las Vegas Blvd. The problem? An almost constant traffic jam once you turn on to Las Vegas Blvd. because you are just south of where it intersects with our Beltway freeway and a major shopping area.Simple solution? Make a left turn out of the car rental lot. Take that road (Gilespie) north until it ends at Sunset. A quick left (west) on Sunset leads to Las Vegas Blvd. and you just zoomed past the entire traffic mess. Google map of suggested route. You’ll save yourself 10-15 minutes. We know. We use this shortcut all the time doing our local business in the area.

Enjoy This Issue!

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

Ultimate Fighting Championship Presents UFC 81: Breaking Point; Showdown Set Between Brock Lesnar And Frank Mir Saturday, February 2 At Mandalay Bay – Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir will put former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Champion and world-renown superstar Brock Lesnar to the ultimate test as Lesnar makes his move from the ring into the OctagonÖ to prove that he is “for real.” This will be a feature fight of the night at UFC 81: BREAKING POINT (Tickets) set to take place live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, Feb. 2. Click to Read The Full Story …

War At The Flamingo – Multicultural Crossover Phenomenon With Comedian George Wallace January 15-26 – The legendary funk band WAR has been tapped by resident comedian headliner George Wallace to share the stage for two weeks in January 2008. (Tickets) Following up the hugely successful visit by Sly and the Family Stone earlier this year Wallace personally chose WAR to extend an invitation to continue the excitement on stage at the Flamingo Showroom. Performing January 15-26 at 10:00 p.m. WAR will rock audiences with their eclectic fusion of rock, funk, jazz, Latin music, R&B and even reggae. This combination has given the band an enduring musical career and sales in excess of more than 50 million records. Click to Read The Full Story …

Sonny Charles & The Checkmates To Ring In 2008 At The Rampart Casino – New Year’s Eve Performance Will Honor Sweet Louie – The Rampart Casino will ring in the new year with a New Year’s Eve concert by Sonny Charles & The Checkmates. This show will pay tribute to the late, great Sweet Louie. The show will be held at Addison’s Lounge inside the Rampart Casino on Monday, December 31. The show begins at 9 p.m. $10 admittance at the door. Click to Read The Full Story …

Sassy And Brassy Babes Of Hogs & Heifers To Host New Year’s Eve 2008 Bash – Hogs & Heifers Saloon will ring in 2008 with live entertainment provided by rockers Southern Stue on Monday, December 31, 2007 Doors open at 1 p.m. There is no cover for the biggest party on Third Street that includes midnight champagne toast and party favors. Valet parking and on-street motorcycle parking is available. Guests must be 21 years of age or older. Click to Read The Full Story …

Golden Nugget Completes $60 Million Expansion – The Golden Nugget has raised the bar again with the opening of its newest addition. The Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino unveiled its $60 million expansion at First and Fremont Streets just in time for the New Year’s Eve festivities. The addition, just west of the current property location, offers a large multi-purpose events center, expanded gaming floor, new sushi restaurant and an exciting nightlife venue unheard of on Fremont Street. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Reader Submitted Photos:

This was taken on Jan 14th 07 – the Tropicana’s water fall, yes its frozen. It was real cold the entire 4 days we were there. We were married on the 15th. The other picture is of the Stardust (well the sign) I know it came down a few weeks later.

Enjoy the pics!
Sandy & Steve

Thanks for the great photos! I saved them for the end of the year because losing The Stardust was certainly a big story of 2007. Also, a good reminder for people coming during the winter: It is sunny almost every day here, but not always warm. Average highs for January are 57 degrees, but average is the key word. As this newsletter goes out, we are facing 2-3 days where the low will be around freezing.

(Note to self… dig out really warm coat). Bring on summer… I so hate the cold…

Well I never made it to Vegas this past weekend. My daughter was sick and I felt I couldn’t leave her, but she’s fine now and it wasn’t serious. I have to say that South Point was great in that they didn’t charge me the requisite 1 night cancellation fee. The rest of the group went so I thought I’d let you know their reviews. They had good things to say about the hotel.The staff at the hotel were very pleasant and check in was no problem. They had reserved King beds and were given double beds but when they called the desk, she promptly found them rooms with Kings and also all on the same floor next to each other. The rooms were spotless, and huge. The casino wasn’t smoky and the pool was good. The only complaint about the pool was it could’ve been a little more secluded. Maybe more lush greenery(ala Mirage pool). The Del-Mar Deli was good and the breakfast buffet was good…especially at $6 with the discount coupon.

The liquor store on-site was a hit with reasonable prices. There is construction going on but the men in the group actually enjoyed watching the crane doing it’s thing while they had cocktail in hand by the pool. They used the shuttle to and from Mandalay Bay frequently, but the complaint was that it stopped running too early. They got tickets to Love. 2 from the group thought it was absolutely the best show they’ve ever seen, the other 4 thought it was just good…not being huge Beatles fans and there was also a 45 minute delay due to technical difficulties.

They did a Red Rock Jeep tour which they all enjoyed. They had dinner buffets at the Mirage and Bellagio with Bellagio getting a slightly better review than the Mirage based on food quality. Dinner at Canaletto at the Venetian was just OK…the food and also a less than pleasant waitress. However, they thought the surroundings were great, along with the gondola ride they took. They spent a little time in the bar at Kahunaville which they thought was fun. And one person won $250 on a slot machine at Bellagio with a $5 chip they found on the floor. So overall they had a good time with lots of laughs -and I was home wishing I was there.

So, thank you for all your info, and I will be checking out the newsletters and planning my trip whenever that may be…hopefully sooner rather than later. Take care!

Denise

Denise had asked about the South Point and ended up not being able to make the trip with her group, but she did report on the experience her group had and we appreciate the trip report!

As our daughter is in Graduate School at UNLV, my wife and I (we live in San Diego) consider Las Vegas our second home (Love Las Vegas and the people). Having mentioned that, I would like your help.I have a birthday coming up and will be in town to celebrate. I have been looking at many of the hotels gift shops for a embroidered black silk jacket or something else, that has the “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign that is on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Love the newsletter and look forward to it every week. Keep up the excellent work.

Regards and thank you for your help in advance.

Paul Wittmann
San Diego, CA

Heck of a question. I’m not sure I’ve seen one. The Las Vegas sign isn’t trademarked, so anyone can use it or variations of it. The hotels pretty much want to sell only stuff with their name on it. When in town, I’d check the Bonanza Gift Shop… it is huge. You might find something there.

Also, you may try Ebay. Try a search for

las vegas jacket

or similar.

Hope this helps!

I would just like to say what a great magazine you have, It is really great to read and it brings back at lot of memories as we came to Las Vegas last year and the year before.Keep up the good work.

Thank you,

Sylvia Worden,
Lancaster, Lancashire.
England.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2007 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

December 26, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 19, 2007

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Free Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Christmas is in the air, New Years Eve is getting close, and this newsletter is jammed with amazing info and photos. Let’s get started!

New Years Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Eve…

The fireworks are set, the concerts ready to roll, and the nightclubs all trying to top each other. The theme is “The Best Is Yet To Come” and the fireworks show will reach from the MGM Grand to The Stratosphere with an display lasting more than eight minutes! (As always, sustained winds at the top of the hotels could put a damper on the display, but so far it has always gone off).

We have an extended listing of New Years Eve events running down the side of the newsletter this week or you can go direct to http://www.accessvegas.com/new-years-eve-2007

Bellagio’s Holiday Display is attracting droves of visitors and features some new twists not seen in years past:

Click on either of the above photos to enjoy the entire amazing holiday photo set for a taste of the season from Las Vegas. Don’t forget to spread the Christmas cheer: All photos in our Bellagio Gardens Christmas 2007 can be sent as a free E-Card. Send friends and family members some holiday E-Cards on us!

We say goodbye and a big Thank You to Celine Dion. Her five year run just wrapped up at Caesars, lasting far longer than originally anticipated. 3 million people saw the 717 shows. Whether you love or loathe her, no one can deny the amazing track record (4000 seats nightly) for a single headliner in the modern Las Vegas era.

What’s more, she adopted Las Vegas as her “hometown” and was very active in the community with charity and other events. She even occasionally was spotted shopping at the Henderson Walmart (closest to her Lake Las Vegas home)! If you missed her here, we do have tickets various dates of her pending tour: Celine Dion World Tour Tickets

Bette Midler is Celine’s replacement, and everyone will be watching to see how she does. Elton John will also be playing his selected Ceasars dates. Here are related links:

Hannah Montana Hits Las Vegas – With Las Vegas now having more than two million residents, Miley “Hanna Montana” Cyrus’ two tour dates here sold out in a matter of minutes. A third date was added, and sold out immediately. If your kids are old enough to visit and young enough to enjoy Hanna Montana (and you understand that sold-out concert resale tickets are going to be a bit expensive), you can check out Hanna Montana Las Vegas Concert Tickets

Vegas On TV – The Las Vegas Bowl (Tickets) airs on ESPN at 5:00 PM Pacific Time on December 22, 2007 with BYU looking for revenge over a struggling UCLA team. Again this year, NBC’s Holiday On Ice airs on Christmas Day (check local NBC listings). The event was taped a couple of weeks ago at The Orleans.

Goodbye Sweet Louie – Checkmates singer Marvin “Sweet Louie” Smith passed away last week while performing aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. If you have visited Las Vegas for more than a few times, you probably saw The Checkmates performing somewhere. It would be easier to list the places they didn’t play over the decades!

The past few years they alternated between The Sahara, Casino Montelago (Lake Las Vegas) and Arizona Charlies East. Sweet Louie was fond of saying that every night was a Saturday night when they were performing, and I saw them light up more than one casino lounge over the years. Video, photos and other info is still online at http://www.thecheckmates.com

Enjoy This Issue!

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

UFC Fight Night Live From The Pearl At The Palms Casino Resort – The UFC and Spike TV will return to The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, January 23 for the first UFC Fight Night of 2008,(Tickets) featuring a welterweight battle between Mike Swick and Josh Burkman. “Mike Swick and Josh Burkman, two tough veterans of The Ultimate Fighter will be facing each other for the first UFC Fight Night of 2008,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Swick is dropping down to 170 pounds for this fight. He has always had speed and power, so this will be an exciting new look at him in a lighter weight class. Burkman is a great wrestler, and he brings it every time he fights. This will be an explosive main event and real test for both fighters.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Orleans Arena Hosts Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic – The Orleans Arena will host the third round and championship round of the sixth annual Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic college basketball tournament. The competing teams are Iowa State, Purdue, Alabama, Missouri State, UT Pan American, Wofford, Bethune Cookman and Texas Southern. Click to Read The Full Story …

Lance Burton & Friends Entertain At Zelzah Shrine Temple Christmas Party For Kids – Lance Burton (Tickets) finished up “The Vanishing Birdcage” at the Zelzah Shrine Temple for over 300 children on Sunday, Dec. 9. The Shriners invited the children’s families for a Sunday brunch and their annual show. This tradition began with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in the early 1950s. Special Guest Star Michael Goudeau entertained at the show for The Shriners’ clients. The comedy-juggler Goudau has performed with Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo since it opened in 1996. Gabriella Versace sang a couple of Christmas songs and comedian Magician Fielding West also performed his act at the event.

Holiday Season Computer Wallpaper – One of the big questions the past few weeks has been What happened to all the great computer wallpaper you used to make available? We’re in the process of revamping and expanding that area of AccessVegas.com. In the meantime, a couple of great wallpapers to hold you over and help out the holiday spirit.

Click on the photo of your choice to view full size and see computer wallpaper simple instructions to make the selected photo your desktop wallpaper:

Atrium at Sam’s Town Hotel Casino decorated for Christmas. The atrium features free laser light and water show. At 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM., 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM daily all year.

Bikini Greetings from the Crazy Girls (Ticket Link) at Riviera Las Vegas.

2 Million And Still Going Strong Mamma Mia! To Record Its 2 Millionth Guest At Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino – After breaking every rule on the Las Vegas Strip, MAMMA MIA! (Tickets) raises the bar again as it prepares to welcome its 2 millionth guest at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Thursday, December 13, 2007. Based on the songs of ABBA, MAMMA MIA! continues to be the longest-running and most successful full-scale Broadway musical to ever hit Las Vegas. Currently in its fifth year, MAMMA MIA! sets the precedent for Broadway musicals in Las Vegas. Click to Read The Full Story …

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2007 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

December 19, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 12, 2007

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Free Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Some of you may notice the absence of my photo from this column. As we continue to grow, this newsletter is becoming a collaboration of so many great people, and we have even more writers coming on board in January. I’m the boss and have decided that removing my mug is a great way to reflect the efforts of many and free up more space. Co’mon… looking at Vegas photos is a lot more fun than looking at me!

Christmas is in the air, and next week we’ll be publishing photos of the current holiday display at the Bellagio. For those staying downtown, huge Christmas tree down there should be lit by the time you get this, and all of the hotels are decked out for the season. If you are going to be here on Christmas Day, you’ll find most all of the restaurants and buffets with a special holiday menu.

Our MySpace Is Up… Get Locked In As Our Friend! – We grabbed MySpace.com/AccessVegas a long time ago. But let’s face it… MySpace used to be mostly full of people under 21. We market only to people who can enjoy all that is Las Vegas.

Times have changed, everyone is using MySpace, and we’ve cranked up our MySpace page. This isn’t just about being our Friend. We’ll be doing special giveaways and bulletins just to our MySpace friends, plus more frequent updates about all that is AccessVegas.com.

Not into MySpace? Have no fear. We are going to continue to publish this newsletter. In fact, we have recently increased publication from 3 times a month to weekly! But if you want to hook up with us on MySpace, don’t delay. Put in an invite request right now at MySpace.com/AccessVegas

More Vegas Photos, More Often! – Regular readers know we have increased the number of photos we are posting just for our loyal readers! We know that many of you visit on a regular basis. Sometimes a few times a year, for others once every year or two. Las Vegas changes so fast, that we continue to bring you looks at everything new plus many of the tried and true scenes. New to our photo gallery:

Evel Knievel’s Last Ride – Unfortunately, this column has read like the obituary section the past few weeks with the passing of legendary Las Vegas locals Robert Goulet and Kevin Dubrow. We unfortunately add Evel Knievel to that list. Most will associate him to Las Vegas with his jump over the fountains of Caesars Palace. What few remember is that he lived in the Maxim hotel (now Westin Casuarina) here in Las Vegas for a number of years in the early 90’s around the time I first moved to town. He did TV commercials and public appearances for them.

This past Monday, Caesars Palace had the actual Triumph motorcycle used in the jump on display:

I had a happenstance meeting with him in my hometown of Portland, Oregon in the mid-80’s. I was working my way through college at Greyhound Bus Lines and he came in to pick up a package from Butte, Montana. Unfortunately, we had no cell phone cameras back then. That would have been a photo nice to have about now. When I was a kid, we all wanted to be Evel Knievel.

Enjoy This Issue!

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

Simon At Palms Place Debuts At New Palms Place Hotel, Condo & Spa – Culinary genius and famed restaurateur Kerry Simon has announced that he will open his latest epicurean paradise, Simon at Palms Place at the new Palms Place Hotel, Condo & Spa. The Rock & Roll chef, who has catered to the stars for almost two decades, will bring his style of cutting-edge, globally inspired fare to the eagerly anticipated new property. Specializing in sushi, steak and seafood with more than 8,400 square feet of dining space, Simon at Palms Place will be a hip, edgy and delectable new dining destination unlike any other in Las Vegas. Click to Read The Full Story …


Click Photo To See All Shark Reef Photos

Go Deep Behind-the-Scenes at Shark Reef Aquarium – In addition to more than 2,000 exhibits, Shark Reef Aquarium now offers a 30-minute, behind-the-scenes guided tour. Guests 13 years of age and older are invited to learn about the facility’s chilling predators and the place they call home. This in-depth, fully guided tour explores the wonderful worlds of water filtration, saltwater-making, food preparation, SCUBA diving and animal care. Visitors will see what it takes to operate a 1.6 million gallon aquarium in the middle of the desert. Tours are available every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 with the purchase of an admission.

Spa for the Holidays – Fall into a luxurious spa experience this season with treatments designed to evoke the warmth of the holidays. Don’t delay — these indulgent services are available for a limited time.

  • Warm yourself from the outside in with a Hot Spiced Rum Stone Massage at BATHHOUSE inside THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. This cozy treatment combines traditional stone massage with essential oils of cinnamon, clove and arnica.
  • Guests of WET — The Spa & Salon at TI are invited to indulge in a Tea Party or enjoy a Double Shot of two salon favorites — a manicure and pedicure. Tea Party features the soothing elements of green tea while Double Shot offers the stimulating effects of coffee. During the service, guests enjoy complimentary tea cookies, coffee cake and a beverage befitting the experience.
  • At Spa Bellagio, guests are invited to purify with pumpkin or relax with cranberry. A Purifying Pumpkin Facial energizes the skin with a delectable blend of botanicals, while cranberry lovers can choose between an exfoliating Cranberry Vichy Shower, Cranberry Hydrotherapy Bath or Cranberry Relaxation Massage.
  • Visitors of MGM Grand Spa can enjoy a luxurious Cocoa Mud Massage — a sinful cocoa mud body wrap followed by a heavenly massage with creamy Swiss chocolate body butter.

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Reader Submitted Photos: – Scott Misener submitted this beautiful photo of Las Vegas at night:

Everyone I show this picture to, cannot believe it yet they want one. It is a sliced brisket sandwich from the Carnegie Deli located at the Mirage. I was there in December 2006. This is a great sandwich, and its almost impossible to eat it all. Almost. Everything in Vegas is Great!John Hewitt
Dallas, TXá

Here is a pic we took of the rotating statue (taken in May ’07) inside Harrah’s casino. We thought it was a hidden gem of kitsch.Betty Suydamá

Excuse me but what is the problem with a cabbie making a referral fee for recommending a particular business? or as you call them “fat kickbacks”? Seems rather hypocritical for a website owner who recommends specific businesses for affiliate referrals to be whining about a cabbie recommending some strip club who will pay him a single referral fee. BTW, would it be better to take a customer to a dead club where the girls are not since the girls follow the guys and that is where the cabbies drop off? It would be the ultimate rip-off to take a customer to places that do not pay referrals. Taking a customer to a dead club is allowing them to be ripped off. There is not a damn thing wrong with a cabbie making a referral, nothing. They pay because our advertising makes them tons more money, simple.

As to this business about longhauling, again, way overblown and little more than another attempt to blame a cabbie for every rip-off a typical visitor is exposed to when staying here. Cabbies are not responsible for $200 to $800 rooms, $100 to $200 show tickets, $35 buffets, $8 beers, $5 waters, $65 limo fees, $5 monorail rides, $2 bag handling charges by airlines, $10 fees to clean a shirt or $25 bottles of $10 wine. Stop blaming the cab driver for a town designed to screw every visitor who exits a plane at McCarran. Do some cabbies longhaul, sure but if you understood how a cabbie is paid you would see how silly and overblown that issue is. The ongoing road construction in this town alone makes longhauling a must or we sit and the meters run, which is cheaper? the longer route 9 out of 10 times. We get paid to move butts not take one butt for a tour.

Next time you want to spout off about the evil cabbie do some research. Understand who owns the cabs and sets the rates. Understand cabbies do not get overtime (most work 60 hours a week) or any other Labor perk most Americans take for granted. We are exempt commissioned sales people according to Federal and State Laws. What the hell do you care if I make an extra $40 to take some guys to a kickass club on a Friday night? A club which will RIP them OFF for an average of 4 bills each. This club cannot pay me a marketing fee of 10%?

Las Vegas cabbies do not own their own cabs. We cannot even lease a cab. We have absolutely no equity stake in the business. Most have no retirement and most work all the Holidays with absolutely no extra compensation.

Las Vegas cabbies move this town. We do over 20 million trips per month, 250 million trips a year. We move 45 million tourists around. We do it because we are hands down the best value even if the rates were double what they are now.

Columns like yours are nothing more than arrogant racially based assaults on working people. You have not a clue about what you are even speaking about.

BTW per State law it against the law to stage a Limo at a Hotel. There is no such thing as un unsolicitated Limo hire. Next time you are at WYNN for example, see if you can see limos staged. Bet you do and guess what, Wynn rents Executive Limo the space. That is completely illegal but does Taxicab Authority do anything about it? Guess who then gets to cherry pick a cabline for those “strip club rides”. Hint, the doorman and limo drivers who already make a killing steal our rides and spilt the “fat kickbacks”. Course most of them are white so no biggy to people like you I guess. Instead bag-on those losers driving cab.

Stephen Brown
Taxidriver Las Vegas, NV

I certainly welcome the opportunity to respond to this letter publicly:

——————–

Dear Mr. Brown,

  • A significant number of the advertisements we run are paid placement. Others are for commission. This keeps our newsletter free. However, I am proud to say that we have never steered someone toward a show or attraction based on advertising or commission. In fact, when I send someone to do a show review, I have but one set of instructions: Review the show in such a manner that people who may enjoy it will understand what they may like about it, and those who wouldn’t be as interested are so informed as well.In cases where sales are commission-based, we make the same small commission whether you buy a ticket to Jubilee or Folies Bergere. Whether you book a room at Bellagio or Venetian. In this issue, we are running photos of Shark Reef taken at our expense for something we get no advertising fee or commission. We are about covering Las Vegas, and simply hope that our readers will patronize our advertisers and use our booking links if they appreciate our information.Cab drivers have been well known over the years to practice strong diversion tactics. This practice has been well documented. Yes, I am well aware that limo drivers also get fees from various venues for delivering passengers. Here’s the difference: The doorman and limo drivers are asking people ahead of time if they want to go to such and such club.

    Side Note: I have no problem with commissions or fees for generating business. This is a free market economy. I do have issues with a hard-sell to a captive audience.

  • I’m not sure what $100 show tickets have to do with cab drivers long-hauling tourists. If this is such a rare practice, why was it highlighted at the top of a USA Today travel chat article about Las Vegas in addition to many numerous local articles.People choose to pay $200 for a hotel room or $25 for a bottle of wine. People do not choose to be long-hauled. Even if someone is staying in a $300 a night room, that is no justification bilking them illegally on their cab ride.
  • I’d take up your work hours, pay and conditions with your employer. Or, find other work. You do not have the right to divert or long-haul passengers just because you feel you are underpaid.
  • Moving 45 million people around each year doesn’t make you the best value. In fact, Las Vegas has some of the very highest cab fares in the nation! Reference:

    You claimed that cabs would be a value at double the rates. Co’mon… you can’t be serious!

  • I’m at a complete loss how questioning the ethics of cab drivers is a “racially based assault.” I didn’t realize that all cab drivers were of one color or race. Once you figure out what race all local cab drivers are, I’d go picket the Review-Journal for their “racist” articles about local cab service. Their circulation is still a bit larger than this newsletter.

——————–

So, there you have it. Las Vegas cabdrivers who think that the fares they charge are a bargain, and how feel it is OK to bilk you on the assumption you are spending a few extra bucks for an upscale room or a nice bottle of wine during your stay.

Kind of makes you want to take an airport shuttle to your hotel next time, doesn’t it? Many of them are owned by the same companies that put cabs on the street, but at least a shuttle is flat-rate.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2007 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

December 12, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 05, 2007

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Free Photos and Wallpaper

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

Ted is taking some time off this week to mourn the loss of his step-grandfather. Enjoy these reports prepared by Amy and Mark:

The entire United States has seen some unbelievable weather and Las Vegas was no exception. No, we didn’t get the hurricane force winds and damage that stuck Oregon and Washington, nor the extreme cold and snow that is gripping most of the country. What we got was something rarely ever seen in Las Vegas: Rain with very low lying clouds bordering on fog on November 30, 2007.

You may say “so what” if you live in an area prone to rain or fog. What makes it different in Las Vegas? We’ll tell you what: The mega-volts of lights shimmering through the fog as massive hotels vanish into the sky. However, we won’t just tell you. Some of us were out that night and we have an amazing, exclusive photo set that is a must see:


The slight orange glow in the middle of the background? Wynn Las Vegas (barely seen from The Venetian)!


This is not a trick photo. The fog behind the Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular adorned tower is all natural, with the new Venetian Palazzo Tower vanishing into the clouds in the background.

These rare photos are amazing. Check them all out in our Fog and Rain on Las Vegas Strip November 2007 Photo Gallery

Speaking of Palazzo, the opening date has been moved back a week to December 28, 2007 with an “official” grand opening in mid-January. If you haven’t been on The Strip for a while or just enjoy catching up on what some of the hotel construction looks like, check out our Palazzo Las Vegas Construction Photos to get a sneak peak at what is looking to be an amazing new resort.

Only a couple more weeks to see Celine here in town. Literally. The demand has driven ticket prices up, but this is the last time to see what has been a unique and amazing show of the kind we may never see again. While Celine is going on tour, a concert tour probably won’t come close to matching the Cirque-style show in a custom venue that was all specifically designed around her music. Check out Celine Dion Las Vegas Tickets before they (and she) are gone.

One quick reminder: The week before Christmas is one of the least expensive and least crowded times to be in Las Vegas, and the city if full of the Christmas spirit. Get your shopping done early and sneak away from it all for a few days. Still not sure? Check out these awesome photos of the Bellagio Gardens Christmas Display 2006 and then visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals for some of the best rates anywhere.

Ted will return next week.

Enjoy this issue!

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

America’s Kitchen Sweetheart Rachael Ray Visits Miracle Mile Shops – Culinary guru and television talk show host Rachael Ray will personalize her newly released cookbook and greet fans at Sur la Table inside Miracle Mile Shops from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 11. Ray, known for her innovative and entertaining cooking techniques, will visit Sur la Table to meet fans and autograph copies of her latest cookbook, Just In Time! Cooking enthusiasts must have a ticket to gain access to Ray’s cookbook signing and meet and greet. Click to Read The Full Story …

Sam’s Town Creates Holiday Wonderland – Tradition Returns To Mystic Falls, This Time With Snow – This holiday season it will be snowing inside the Mystic Falls Indoor Park at Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall. The park will be transformed with tree-lined walkways covered in lights and holiday decorations throughout. The shimmering centerpiece of this celebration is the Winter Wonderland Spectacular, a new show that takes guests on a magical journey through the sights and sounds of the season. With special lighting, dazzling water ballet, lasers and other special effects, this fanciful collage of festive scenes will awaken the holiday spirit. Click to Read The Full Story …

What A Bright Time, It’s The Right Time For Bright Lights On Ice To Shine At The Fremont Street Experience – The legendary Fremont Street Experience is taking holiday magic to amazing new heights when it hosts a live ice skating show, Bright Lights on Ice, December 11-22. The seasonal spectacular will feature an ensemble cast of professional figure skaters and gymnasts in a truly unique combination of winter athleticism and artistry, right on the outdoor promenade of Fremont Street. Amidst the illusion of falling snow, the skaters of Bright Lights on Ice will perform graceful solos, breathtaking lifts and alluring spins from the iced platform of the 3rd Street stage while trampoline acrobats defy gravity from the ground below. Click to Read The Full Story …

Hawaiian Tropic Zone Heats Up The Las Vegas Strip At Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – After enjoying culinary success at the world’s first Hawaiian Tropic Zone in New York City, powerhouse restaurateur Dennis Riese, of Riese Restaurant fame, and Adam Hock, co-owner of PURE nightclub in Las Vegas, have decided to bring glitz and entertainment back into fine dining in Las Vegas. Located at the 50-yard line of the Las Vegas Strip, Hawaiian Tropic Zone will boast a sexy modern dÚcor, multi-tiered dining room, mouth-watering menu items, cat-walk stage for nightly entertainment, full bar and a two-story waterfall. Click to Read The Full Story …

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2007 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

December 5, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 28, 2007

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Free Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! We usually like to start the newsletter on a happy note, but the past couple of weeks have brought us the death of two long-time Las Vegas locals from completely opposite sides of the musical spectrum. We recently reported on the loss of Robert Goulet, and this past week Quiet Riot’s Kevin Dubrow passed away at the age of 52 inside his east Las Vegas home. I didn’t know him personally, although we had numerous mutual acquaintances. His band kick-started what became the “hair metal” craze of the 1980’s that led to the popularity of bands like Bon Jovi and Motley Crue.

Kevin was the co-host of the KOMP radio morning show here for a year in the mid-90’s. The show did well, and co-host Craig Williams noted that there were talks of national syndication. However, it was well known that Dubrow wasn’t fond of the early mornings required and went back to re-form Quiet Riot on the hopes that his genre would make a come-back.á Grunge music pretty much skipped Las Vegas (only a fool is going to wear flannel in the summer) and Las Vegas was still very much a hard-rocking town through the 90’s leading people like Dubrow and Motley Crue singer Vince Neil to move here permanently during that time.

Neil has kept himself in the local spotlight at various events around town plus the opening of his Vince Neil Ink tattoo shop. Dubrow seemed to keep a lower profile, focused on Quiet Riot’s touring and was somewhat settled down for a number of years (until recently) with local radio and TV personality Lark Williams (who was credited for helping Dubrow get clean and sober). Cause of the death is not yet known.

I often receive emails like this one: Hello, we are coming to Vegas and would like to know which casinos you would recommend for more winnings. Thank you.

Over the years, slots at “local’s” casinos tend to be the loosest, followed by downtown with The Strip being the worst. When it comes to table games, it all depends on the variations in the specific rules. Any blackjack game paying 6:5 for a blackjack is worst than one paying 3:2 (7.5:5). Single zero roulette is better than double zero roulette. Craps with higher odds limits are better.

Here’s the bottom line: Unless you are coming here once or twice a month and want to take a few hundred hours to learn the nuances of perfect play for all table games (plus video poker), anything can happen anywhere on one trip. Play where you feel lucky and where things seem to be going well. No matter where you are playing, if you get on a cold streak, stop for a while. Take a walk, have a drink, get something to eat. Then try another casino and give your luck an chance to come back.

This Sunday (December 2, 2007) marks the running of the third annual Las Vegas Marathon. In an interesting twist, Blue Man Group is going to do a performance along the route for spectators and participants. The location is supposed to be secret, but the word “downtown” seemed to sneak out. The marathon starts at Mandalay Bay at 6 AM and heads north to downtown, so if you hear a lot of racket about 6:30 AM downtown, you’ll know what is up. If 6 AM is too early for your taste, Blue Man Group is well worth the regular ticket: Blue Man Group Tickets

As some of you have heard, The Royal White Tiger Habitat at The Mirage has closed to make way for a restaurant called BLT Burger. The restaurant is going to be run by some famous chef from New York and opens this spring. The bummer? No more tigers to look at when you enter The Mirage. The good news, you can still see them (and the rest of the animals) at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat (click for pictures). If you’ve never visited the Secret Garden, it is worth the price of admission and I’d plan to see it soon. The land it sits on is probably too valuable to leave undeveloped.

Bruce Springsteen doesn’t have a Las Vegas date set, but it seems like he’s playing just about everywhere else and we have great tickets. Check out Bruce Springsteen Tickets

Enjoy This Issue!

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

The Gold Coast Partners With “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk” To Host National Finals Tonight – The Gold Coast Showroom will be transformed into Billy Bob’s Texas Las Vegas Outpost from December 6 – 15, hosting the ultimate rodeo after-party. Adding to the excitement, eight-time World Champion and Hall of Fame Cowboy Don Gay along with TV Host Dan Miller will host the nightly National Finals Tonight, a wrap-up of each day’s rodeo events. They will be talking all things rodeo, featuring interviews with riders and a variety of rodeo celebrities. (National Final’s Rodeo Tickets). Click to Read The Full Story … Beyonce Returns To Las Vegas To Perform At The Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, December 30 – Superstar and cultural icon BEYONCE is set to return to Las Vegas to celebrate New Years Eve Weekend. (Tickets) BEYONCE will appear at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, Dec. 30 and the show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Music World/Columbia Records recently released BEYONCE’s B’DAY Deluxe Edition, an expanded two-disc edition of the pop icon’s best-selling Grammy-winning solo album. The first single from the album, “Beautiful Liar,” an irresistible Latin/pop anthem of feminine empowerment, entered the Billboard Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks charts at No. 1. Click to Read The Full Story …

Larry The Cable Guy Performs At The Orleans Arena- “Eat, Drink And Be Larry,” On Dec. 15th – The man who coined the catchphrases “Git-R-Done” and “Lord, I Apologize,” is coming to the Orleans Arena. Dan Whitney, better known as Larry the Cable Guy, has proven to be one of the most successful comics of his era and will be spouting his country wisdoms at the Orleans Arena on December 15, 2007 at 9 p.m. (Tickets) Larry’s one-liner filled act earned him appearances on “Evening at The Improv,” “Comic Strip Live” and the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show.” His success with radio continued when he became a regular on “Jeff Foxworthy’s Country Countdown.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Merry Christmas Las Vegas Being Taped For Local And National Television – The producers of the award-winning weekly television show, Entertainment Las Vegas Style, presents the 22nd Annual “Merry Christmas Las Vegas” a joyful program of seasonal song and laughter. “Merry Christmas Las Vegas” is presented as a Christmas gift from the headliners of the Entertainment Capital of the World, in support of the children known as “Helen Joy’s Young Entertainers” through the Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts. “Helen Joy’s Young Entertainers” and Entertainment Ambassador “Tony Sacca” have once again been invited to perform at the White House on Saturday, December 8, at 7:00 pm, representing the City of Las Vegas. Click to Read The Full Story …

Goodman Meets With ‘Little Legends’ – Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman met with the “Little Legends” cast in his office Thursday, where the performers invited him to their grand opening show Tuesday at the Harmon Theater inside Krave nightclub. (Tickets) “Little Legends” performers Abdoul and Adam Kone, Terra Jole and her boyfriend, who impersonates Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee take a photo with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman on Thursday at his office. Click to Read The Full Story …

Roy’s Is Filling All The Good Boys And Girls Glasses This Holiday With Roy’s Chocolate-Peppermint Kiss Cocktail – Making the holiday season bright, Roy’s is offering a Chocolate-Peppermint Kiss cocktail to sweeten even the grumpiest holiday-goer. Combining all the magical spirit of the holidays in a sweet concoction, Roy’s drizzles heavenly Godiva chocolate liqueur to the bottom of a glass and then mixes in CrÞme de Cacao, Peppermint Schnapps and Mt. Gay Vanilla Rum for a decadently divine, chocolate libation. This season be sure to spoil those who have been nice and even those who have been naughty with the below recipe.

Roy’s Chocolate-Peppermint Kiss

  • 1.5 oz of CrÞme de Cacao
  • .75 oz Peppermint Schnapps
  • .75 Mt. Gay Vanilla Rum
  • .5 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
  • Splash of water

Method: Shake the first three liqueurs vigorously with ice. Then drizzle the chocolate into the chilled Martini glass (chocolate should be drizzled only on one side of martini glass). Slowly sink the .5 oz of Godiva chocolate liqueur onto bottom of the glass and garnish with a York Peppermint Patty. Visit Roy’s in Summerlin 8701 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89117. Click to Read The Full Story …

It’s Time To Start Planning For The Holidays At The Magical Forest – Hundreds of trees frosted with millions of lights, incredible holiday displays, a ride on one of our two “Forest Express” passenger trains, a spin on an antique carousel, a windswept trip down the Alpine Slide, a visit to Santa, and finished off with a heaping holiday dose of hot cocoa and funnel cakes, the Las Vegas holiday classic, The Magical Forest, opens its doors to holiday revelers Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd through December 30th. Every year The Magical Forest reinvents itself with something new just around the next turn on the Forest path, and this year is no exception. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Reader Submitted Photos:

Hello, We are in Vegas 3 to 4 times a year and really enjoy all of it. Here are some pictures we have taken over the years. Hope to see some of them in your newsletter.

Jack & Caroline
Pinellas Park, Florida





Hint: Click on all photos above to see more.

Dear Ted:I visit Vegas 2 to 3 times a year and this is the first year that I will be there on New Year’s Eve. I am trying to find out what options are available for celebrating the new year in Vegas. Can you tell me how to find out what the hotels on the strip are offering for New Year’s Eve? Do they normally have dinner/party packages available for the evening? What about bands, dancing, etc? Are you going to be publishing this in an upcoming newsletter? Thanks for any help you can offer.Julie in Ohio

Ted Responds:

We’ve been adding them to our concert/event calendar to the right side of this page, plus we have pulled together a comprehensive list of everything we have (to date) at http://www.accessvegas.com/new-years-eve-2007. Please understand that it seems like the hotels would be making these plans and letting us know months in advance (especially for a huge date people plan ahead for). But realistically, most New Year’s Eve info only starts to roll into us starting late November each year. Hope this helps!

Hi Ted,I was wondering if you knew what happened to David Osborne. He used to play the piano at Cafe Lago at Caesar’s Palace. I was wondering if he was performing anywhere else in Vegas right now?I really enjoy your newsletter!

Jane Penny
Brady, Texas

Ted Responds:

I was able to contact David who got back to me with the following:

Hi Ted, I am still playing in Las Vegas, I moved to Bellagio after being at Caesars Palace for 12 years. I perform solo piano at the Petrosian 8pm-12:45 on Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s. I perform with a bass player at the Baccarat Bar from 8:45pm -1am on Sunday’s and Monday’s.

I have signed with Alkahest Artists and Attractions and travel with a bass player and a drummer, we are known as the David Osborne Trio. Here is some information on my upcoming performances.

á

  • Tuesday, January 8, 2008 1:30PM, South Florida Community College, Avon Park, Florida
  • Friday, March 28, 2008 8:00pm, Saturday, March 29, 2008 8:00pm, Center for Arts & Humanities, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Tuesday, April 8, 2008, Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall Auditorium, Waterloo, Iowa

I also might add that ifá you can listen to most of David’s music at his David Osbourne Rhapsody Page

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2007 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

November 28, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 20, 2006

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

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families from Las Vegas this year. This slightly abbreviated edition (due to the holidays) still contains piles of the latest news you need to know, plus two new giveaways!

We have a great new photo set of the Bellagio Christmas display for those of you who can’t make it here this season. If you have have seen the display in the past will recognize a few familiar themes along with some great new ideas and themes in this spectacular display. Click to view Bellagio Gardens Holiday Display 2006

Forgot to send a few holiday cards this season? It is never too late! Any of the photos from our Las Vegas photo gallery including the Bellagio Christmas Display pictures can be emailed to friends and family with the click of a computer mouse. Surf to the photos of your choice in our gallery and use the Send As A Postcard link below a any photos you like. Click to view our AccessVegas.com Las Vegas Photo Gallery

The countdown to New Year’s Eve is going strong, and this is literally getting to be “last call” for booking rooms, tickets to the nightclub parties, or that special New Year’s Eve concert. Two words of advice:

  • Still need a room? Do not wait. Book now. End of story. The rates aren’t exactly going down as rooms get scarce heading into the final week. Let us suggest our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals where you can search your dates and what availability is left at the various hotels. Special Note: Most hotels are requiring a Friday arrival. If you try to check for a Saturday or Sunday arrival, it will limit your options and cost even more.
  • We have a huge listing of concert and nightlife events on our December 31, 2006 Concert Listings. Tickets are going quickly for the events not yet sold out. If you want expert help choosing which nightclub party is best for you, call our nightlife experts at 800-696-5721.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

New Year’s Eve:
All The Details On The Coming Spectacle

Calendar Giveaway:
Fantasy at The Luxor and Thunder From Down Under

These two hot shows sent us a stack of Christmas cheer to spread with the rest of you in the form of 15 calendars per show that we are giving away! Unlike most contests, we let you increase your odds of winning by letting you enter once per day, per contest through January 5, 2007.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Special Section: Nevada Smoking Ban Stories Updated

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • 2006

  • Christmas December 22-25 (3 day weekend – Christmas on Monday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (3 day weekend – New Years on Monday)

  • 2007

  • Martin Luther King Day January 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Presidents Day February 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Christmas December 22-25 (3 day weekend)
  • St. Patricks Day March 17 (Falls on a Saturday)
  • March Madness (NCAA Basketball Playoffs) March 15-18, March 22-25, Final Four March 31-April 2
  • Victoria Day (Canada) May 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 26-28 (3 day weekend)
  • Mothers Day May 13
  • Fathers Day June 17
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday (Canada) August 6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day September 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Columbus Day (USA), Thanksgiving Day (Canada) September 6-8 (3 day weekend)
  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2006 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

December 20, 2006 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 29, 2006

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

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

Hello From Las Vegas! We have a freeze advisory tonight. It might get down to freezing the next couple of nights, and highs have only been in the 50’s. Brrrrrrrrr! It has been sunny, but I’ll tell you what: I’ll take our 100 degree summers where we can enjoy the air conditioning in the day, and hang out by the pool all night long instead of freezing overnights. We very rarely dip this low.

Nevada Southern Railway – Riding a tourist train isn’t what most people think of when they think of Las Vegas, but part of the railroad track originally built to haul supplies to Hoover Dam is alive and well running as a tourist railroad in Boulder City (about halfway between Las Vegas and Hoover Dam). The Nevada Southern Railway even offers cab rides and the opportunity to be an “Engineer for an Hour.” Might be worth checking out for train buffs, those with kids, or anyone wanting to enjoy a fun piece of history.

Special American Express Offer To Our Readers: Earn 15,000 Delta Skymiles with A New Delta American Express Card plus Double Miles on qualifying purchases and one mile for virtually every other dollar you spend! I’ve carried the Delta Skymiles AmEx Card for years and enjoy using it as my credit card of choice. Now you too can get the benefits and prestige of an American Express card along with earning miles toward your next trip to Las Vegas (or anywhere Delta flies).

You must use our special offer code 3300297770 in the Unique ID box (copy and paste it in) when you click to Apply For This Great Card!

With Christmas less than a month away, we have a special video for you of Blue Man Group playing Jingle Bells. That, plus all the latest Las Vegas news, events and fun stuff you expect from us every week so let’s get to it.

Enjoy This Issue!

Show Review:
Zumanity – Another Side of Cirque Du Soleil

Reviewed November 2006
by Nancy Dickinson

Cirque du Soleil has always enlightened the spirit with brilliant expeditions celebrating life, beauty, and humanity. It is then only natural that the sultry free-flowing-love show “Zumanity” be born. After all, what is one of humanity’s undoubtedly favorite and essential functions?…sex of course. Love is limitless at the New York New York heating up a giant Las Vegas bedroom cabaret style. Zumanity is peeling away the glorious layers of intimacy and sexuality with a story about personal freedom and acceptance, beauty in all it’s facets, and the celebration of the mysterious, wonderfully convoluted…love. Click to Read Complete Review

Beatles’ LOVE Album Celebrates New Cirque du Soleil Show at The Mirage -á Beatles lovers rejoice! Apple Corps Ltd. and Capitol Records have released the Beatles LOVE album. The much-anticipated album contains the music featured in the Cirque du Soleil/Apple Corps collaborative production, The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage. After being asked by the remaining Beatles to make experimental mixes from their master tapes for a collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, Sir George Martin, The Beatles’ legendary producer, and his son Giles Martin have been working with the entire archive of Beatles’ recordings to create LOVE.

Barry Manilow Trivia Question: When did Barry Manilow (resident headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton) begin his first solo tour? Answer: Barry began his own first solo tour in 1974 and the release of “Mandy” started an unprecedented string of 25 consecutive Top 40 hits, including “Even Now,” “This One’s for You,” “Weekend in New England,” “I Write the Songs” and “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again.” Four years later, five of Barry’s albums were on the charts at the same time, a record equaled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis. Barry’s current album, BARRY MANILOW’S THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES, is tearing up the charts.

Mamma Mia!, The Smash Hit Musical Based On The Songs Of ABBA, Will Celebrate Its 1500th Show At Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino On November 29. – Now in its fourth triumphant year, MAMMA MIA! has been the most successful full-scale musical ever to play on the Las Vegas Strip. Named the Number #1 Show in Las Vegas by Mike Weatherford of the Las Vegas Review Journal, MAMMA MIA! has not only experienced success in Las Vegas — it has been seen by over 27 million people around the globe and has more productions playing worldwide than any other current Broadway musical. Click to Read The Full Story …

Thanksgiving Day Begins Month Long Las Vegas Show Specials! All Military are Free & Las Vegas Locals get ‘2 for 1′ at Larry G. Jones’ Impressionist show – ‘Tis the season to be entertained and Larry G. Jones — The Man of 1002 Voices helps keep the jingle in your pockets & get the joy in your heart! Starting November 23, and continuing through December 25, 2006: All military (including police and firefighters) get in free and all Las Vegas Locals get ‘2 for 1′ Show tickets at Jones’ Singing Impressionist/Comedy show at Fitzgeralds Casino Showroom, 9pm nightly (except Tues,Wed). “In appreciation of their service and as a thank you to the locals for all the support during my last 4 years as a Las Vegas impressionist I just wanted to offer something in return” Jones said. Click to Read The Full Story …

Hot Drink Recipes to Spice up the Holiday Season – Cold weather calls for hot drinks and what better way spice up the holiday season than a hot toddy!? These recipes, straight from Bellagio’s own Master Mixologist Drew Levinson, are guaranteed to make you feel warm and cozy right down to your toes.

Tequila Toddy — a fun variation on the standard
¥ oz Gran Centenario Anejo Tequila
¢ oz Fresh Agave Nectar
¢ fresh lime juice

Add ingredients to hot water in heated coffee mug and stir well with a spoon.
Garnish with a lime wheel and cinnamon stick

Hot Buttered Rum – made to order from scratch

1 ¢ oz. Cruzan Single Barrel Rum
2 heaping teaspoons hot buttered rum mix***

Mix ingredients with small amount of hot water in heated coffee mug and stir well with a spoon. Once mixed thoroughly, top off mug with hot water.
Serve with a swizzle stick.

***Hot Buttered Rum Mix***

1 lb. light brown sugar
1/2 lb. salted butter
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon high-quality vanilla extract
Yields approx. 1 1/2 lbs.

“Texas Hold ’em” Hits The Links As World Series Of Golf Reinvents Amateur Tournaments With Innovative New Play Format – NBC Televised Event Tees Off In Las Vegas May 13 – 17 With A Dream Team Of Partners Including The Mirage Hotel & Casino And Octagon – The World Series of Golf will tee off May 13 — 17 in Las Vegas, introducing the most exciting golf wagering tournament since the Skins Game. To be played at the Tom Fazio designed Primm Valley Golf Club, the tournament combines the skill of golf with the wagering savvy of poker and gives amateur players the thrilling opportunity to compete for $750,000 in prize money on NBC national television. The World Series of Golf will be played in a patent-pending method of play that allows for high stakes to ride on each and every shot of the tournament. Click to Read The Full Story …

Kristofer’s Steak House At The Riviera Provides Relaxed Setting – With an emphasis on fine steaks and fresh seafood, Kristofer’s, nestled in the venerable Riviera Hotel and Casino, has been heralded as one of the finest steak houses in Las Vegas. “Only the best for our guests,” says Executive Chef Sam Chong. Among the inventive entrees are aged, midwestern prime ribs of beef, broiled fresh salmon or Mahi Mahi, double-rib spring lamb chops, and Kristofer’s classic Surf and Turf. For serious steak connoisseurs, there’s the challenge of a 20-ounce, succulent Porterhouse steak. Click to Read The Full Story …

Las Vegas Monorail Demoted To Junk Status – Moody’s Investors Service cut the credit rating on the Las Vegas Monorail Co. deep into junk status Tuesday and said the tourist train will default on its debt by 2010 if it continues its current rate of losses. The rating on $445.8 million in debt was cut five notches to B3 from Ba1, and the outlook was negative, meaning the company could be in for another downgrade. The move follows a downgrade by Fitch Inc. in March, also to junk grade. Moody’s analyst Maria Matesanz said the monorail company’s revenue needed a dramatic boost to keep from depleting its $60 million in cash reserves over the next three years.Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Evel Knievel Video Slots – with Victor H. Royer. In keeping with the heart-pounding thrills of IGT’s new series of video slot machines, this brand new game features a host of Evel’s best jumps and bonuses. This is a five-reel 15-line game which will thrill you just as Evel Knievel’s stunts did. If you are a slot thrill-seeker, then this is the game for you. State-of-the-art 3-D video animation and actual film footage of Evel’s famous stunts will keep you spellbound in this great game. Click to Read Complete Article

Vegas Photo Set Of The Week: Las Vegas New Years Eve – New Years Eve is closing in on us fast, but it isn’t too late to book now and still be here to enjoy this spectacular, nowhere-else-on-earth-like-it event! View all the photos then book while rooms are still available, they are going very fast:

Vegas Streaming Video Of The Week – Blue Man Group Performing Jingle Bells – Blue Man Group is best known for it’s award-winning theatrical productions which critics have described as “ground-breaking,” “hilarious,” “visually stunning,” and “musically powerful.” These performances feature three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else.

  • Click To View Blue Man Group Performing Jingle Bells: Broadband (only)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Readers Write:Dear Mr. Newkirk:Some very close party friends and I are attending a wedding and will be in Las Vegas December 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. We all work in the various fields of engineering, medical, animal medical, accounting and architecture. I guess some of the crowd would be semi-geeks, but we all party pretty hard and are know to stay up late doing it too.I am 43, single, straight, and it’s my first time to visit Las Vegas, so I am really trying to maximize my itinerary. I really want to soak up this experience. I have a degree in Geography and my profession is in city planning, so I have a wide variety of interests. Sexy women, pretty women, and other women close to pretty interest me greatly. 🙂 Anyway, if there are any tips that are “have to things to do or see” please let me know. I used to work in research, so I’ll be checking everything like a city planner would. I am detailed oriented too.

Any information and TIPs you could provide me would be greatly appreciated. If this is something you don’t do, I’m really sorry I wasted your time.

Best regards,

Rob Hammons

Ted Responds:

Rob,

I’m around your age, straight, single. Some advice:

You are going to get here and go nuts, and you couldn’t see or do everything here in three months. So your homework, get hyped, but get ready to just hang loose. You will be back. Trust me. Be very happy going “that looks great, we can do it next time.”

Per clubbing: At our age, skip spending huge piles of cash on my friend, but neither you nor I are going to go home with Paris Hilton, and they like to keep the girl-to-guy ration high which necessitates buying bottle service if you are a group of guys.

Instead, Voodoo Lounge at Rio. Get there before 10:00 PM, earlier is better to get in. Very comfortable, awesome view from the top of The Rio, nice mix of very nice looking ladies from 25-40’ish. And if that isn’t your cup of tea, Palms is a very short walk.

Very much do appreciate you reading, and telling your friends about this newsletter and AccessVegas.com!

What goes on in Dec in Vegas anything worth going to see.? From the 12 through the 23.Thanks,TerryTed Responds:

Slowest time of year. Rodeo is gone and many shows are on vacation.

You can use our shows search on our shows page to see what shows will be playing, and Bellagio indoors always does a huge Christmas display in their gardens.

Take the good with the bad: won’t be as much going on, but you’ll have some elbow room and lines will be shorter than peak weeks.

To whom it may concern,My brother and I will be coming into Vegas on Saturday 12/16 and leaving on Tuesday 12/19 in the afternoon. This is our first time coming out, so we wanted to really do it up.Can you provide me any information on reserving a table at the following clubs (i.e. how much $$ per table, minimum bottle requirement, entrance to VIP areas, and dates)?> Ghostbar
> Tao
> Lure
> Red Square
> V Bar
> Mix
> Pure
> Playboy Club
> Tryst
> Ava
> Social House
> Tangerine

Thank you for any information you can provide.

Ted Responds:

There is no set price for any and every night. Like hotel rates, it depends on weekday or weekend, what club, what celeb might be making an appearance to celebrate their birthday/divorce/magazine layout/new movie and similar.

You can call our reservations hotline at 800-696-5721 or you can visit Travelnice Nightlife to check things online. If calling, you can talk to someone who can help you with all that info, give you all the details, what clubs will be open or might have something special happening, etc.

Have a Vegas comment or question? Post To Our Message Boards!

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

  • Post a trip report to our brand new Trip Report Message Board section! (Simply click on the New Thread option. You may be prompted to register if a fist time user. That keeps our boards safe and spam-free)!
  • Post a comment, Vegas suggestion, or question to the appropriate category of our Message Boards.
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call, and use some of them on our Radio.AccessVegas.com Streaming Broadcast! (Don’t worry … we never broadcast your personal information. All calls used are edited to insure caller privacy).
  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!

Readers Rants, Raves, and Questions – Great reader questions and comments from our Access Vegas Message Boards. Help someone out or post your own comment or question!

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Christmas December 22-25 (3 day weekend – Christmas on Monday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (3 day weekend – New Years on Monday)

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

RSS Feed – We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

Take 4 Posters for $9.95! This and other Great Free Stuff, Bargains, and More on our AccessVegas.com Advertiser Deals page. Click there now!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.All contents copyright 2006 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

November 27, 2006 ISSN: 1529-2770 About UsProud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 10, 2004

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In This Issue: Newkirk’s Notes, Trip Report Giveaway, Airport Parking, Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, Vegas Talk, Desert Inn Implosion, MGM Mirage Development, Austin Powers Slots, Show Coupons, more …
Book online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas hotels, shows, tours, golf, and dining.

Welcome to Access Vegas News and Reviews! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

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

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

Hello from Las Vegas! Fall has settled in and the air is sunny and clear after a couple of stormy weeks. Big announcement this week is our Trip Report Giveaway:

The winning doesn’t have to stop when you get back home! You came to Vegas. You probably had a blast and told all your friends about it. Hey, we’re your friends too and fellow AccessVegas.com readers would love to hear all about it!

Two great ways to win when you post a Las Vegas Trip Report to our Trip Report Forums:

1. Every person posting a trip report during a calendar month will be entered into a random drawing for a Green $25 Casino Chip from the Las Vegas Strip casino of their choice! This is not a promotional chip. This is an actual $25 chip that you can cash in or bet at the tables.

What a great souvenir, and something to keep you excited about visiting Las Vegas again until you get here. Plus, imagine starting off your next trip with a “bet on us.”

2. Readers will be able to recommend (vote for) the various trip reports and the one with the most votes for the month also wins a Green $25 Casino Chip!

What are you waiting for? Click over to our Trip Report Forums and tell us about you recent trip!

Vegas For The Holidays – ‘Twas the week before Christmas … and a great time to be in Las Vegas! Crowds are light, rates are down, and for a rare week, things are more peaceful. Plan a few days here with us. It’s a good excuse to force yourself to finish that holiday shopping early! If you can’t make it this year, check out our Bellagio Botanical Gardens Christmas display photos from last year.

Airport Parking Reservations – Why didn’t someone think of this before??? You know how it is to get to the airport and hunt for parking. Especially during peak times like the holidays. Airport Parking Reservations fixes that problem. You can reserve your parking online, guaranteed and often at a discount. I love this concept! One less thing to worry about when you travel. Check out Airport Parking Reservations.

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Photos – We’ve added photos to our huge Las Vegas photo gallery of the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef. See the photos and read about the Shark Reef.

Blackjack Birthday – There is only one place to celebrate your one-and-only 21’s Birthday: Las Vegas! And our friends at BlackJack Birthday have you set up. Imaging having a VIP access pass to the hottest clubs, shows, attractions and everything else you want to do when you turn 21 in Las Vegas. You’d pay more than $500 for all this high rolling excitement if you had to pay for it.

Or you can let us hook you up with the BlackJack Birthday pass, personalized with your name that you can wear like a rock star for a nominal fee of $21.00 to cover shipping, handling, and personalization. Visit BlackJack Birthday before you turn 21, and turn all your friends onto it as well!

VegasTalk Radio - The only Internet Radio variety show about Las Vegas broadcast from Las Vegas Vegas Talk – You can listen online Friday mornings at 9 AM Pacific, or listen to the archives anytime! This week, an Interview with Frank Marino, headliner star of La Cage at The Riviera. Frank is the longest running headliner in Las Vegas (20 years).

Plus “Fine Dining” with Les Kincaid – Les discusses McCormick and Schmick’s restaurant. Jean Scott, “The Queen of Comps” – Jean tells us how and where to use comps to get things outside of the Las Vegas casinos. “Show Happenings” with Chuck Rounds – Chuck reviews “The Fashionista’s” at Krave and other events happening this week in Las Vegas. Three NFL Football games and point picks with Dave “The Meatman” Scandaliato – Professional Sports Handicapper. The “Vegas Confidential” call with Norm Clarke – voted “Most Connected” person in town and daily columnist for the Review Journal and author of the best selling Norm Clarke! Sin City’s Ace Insider 1,000 Naked Truths

Desert Inn Implosion – The time and date are now set: This Tuesday Nov. 16’th, 2004 at 2:30 AM (that is Monday late night) the remaining two towers of the Desert Inn will come down. This is a date change from an earlier report.

Manhattanization Of Las Vegas – The 90’s brought the era of the megaresort to Las Vegas. This decade brings the high rise boom. Upwards of 30 condo projects are on the drawing boards, and MGM Mirage just announced an urban metropolis on the 66 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo.

Frankly, the term Manhattanization is a little off-target. This boom more reflects the development happening in coastal areas where high-rise condos are built with ocean or gulf views around upscale shopping and dining areas to attract well-to-do baby boomers and young professionals. We don’t have an ocean. Instead the Vegas Strip view is our focal point.

Gambling Talk: Austin Powers Video Slots – All these crazy video slots can be confusing. How do you win? Our gaming expert Victor H. Royer will help you understand these games! This week, click to read his article on Austin Powers slots.

Show Coupons – Remember our coupons for the free Michael Johns Comedy Hypnosis Show and $9.95 coupon for Spotlight: The show at Bourbon Street Hotel Casino.

New Year’s Eve – More events and headliners have been added. Click to our Las Vegas New Year’s Eve page for the latest!

Link To Us! – Have a home page, web page, or blog? Give us a link or mention, let the world know about us, and give yourself an easy link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

See the Grand Canyon in a Jet Helicopter! For years Maverick Helicopters has been providing a true VIP Helicopter experience of the Grand Canyon. We do things a little different than any other helicopter Company. We give you an adventure of a lifetime and not just another tour of the Grand Canyon. Las Vegas Strip tours plus Helicopter Weddings also available!

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Click To Read Latest News:
Vegas Comments and Questions? Post to our message boards and get great advice from people who have been here and done it. And don’t forget our comprehensive Las Vegas Frequently Asked Questions area.

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

Live From Las Vegas,

Ted Newkirk

CEO
Senior Content Editor
http://www.accessvegas.com

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2004 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

November 10, 2004 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

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