Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 17, 2008

AccessVegas.com InsideráVibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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


AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Sleigh bells ring, are you listening… In Las Vegas, snow is glistening! I kid you not… as I write this on Wednesday, I’ve been looking at constant snowfall out of my window. And… it is sticking. And sticking. For hours and hours now.

TV news just showed people having snowball fights… at the Welcome To Las Vegas sign (just south of Mandalay Bay). Except for those hit with flight delays, I have to think that even our visitors who usually expect constant sunshine here are realizing how rare and special it is to be part of this. (If you were here this week, don’t worry: We’ll turn the sunshine back on for you next time you visit).

I realize those of you from cold weather climates are yawning and going “what’s the big deal?” Trust me… snow in a desert resort town when we are more used to 110 degree temperatures all summer is amazing. Just a couple of weeks ago, we were having highs highs in the 70’s. This is truly monumental.

We’d been having some unusually cold and wet weather. We took a few photos the previous few days, thinking we had captured some pretty cool stuff:

stratosphere las vegas clouds december 2008
Stratosphere Hotel Casino enveloped by clouds and fog on December 15, 2008.

stratosphere las vegas clouds december 2008
Snow on the mountains surrounding Las Vegas on December 16, 2008.

However… that didn’t begin to prepare us for today (as I write), December 17, 2008. A couple of photos taken from various staffers and writers homes:

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
Not quite exactly pool weather today. For those interested, we’ll put a few more photos at the end of this newsletter.

Bonus Issue Coming: Treasure Island Sold plus Las Vegas Snow Photos – We’ll have a special edition in a few days talking about the sale of Treasure Island to financier Phil Ruffin (former owner of The Frontier here in Las Vegas).

Anyone can tell you that the news happened. I’ll tell you what it means to your future visits and the Las Vegas experience as a whole. In that special edition, I’ll also include a bunch of spectacular photos of the mountains surrounding our desert valley all covered with snow plus all the snow-related stories and video. Stay tuned and don’t miss the next issue!

las vegas cocktail waitress
Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Review-Journal

What Will That Cocktail Waitress Be Wearing? – Look… let’s not pretend that no one (especially the men) notice that cocktail server bringing the drinks while you gamble. The recent gaming convention brought out some new looks you may expect to see in the next year. Story with photos: Suit Up – The latest cocktail lounge uniforms.

P.S. The cocktail server theme of this newsletter was pure happenstance. The news and photos pour in, we report it. We’ll see if we can do a male revues issue before long for you ladies.

Least Family Friendly City – Las Vegas has been named the least family friendly city… to live in. They determined the average family income and then the cost to raise a family and found the following for Las Vegas:

  • Median Annual Family Income: $58,672,
  • Average Annual Family Budget: $48,058,
  • Budget as Percent of Income: 82%.

Hey, at least hotel rooms are dirt cheap right now. (As always, check out our friends and sponsors Las Vegas Hotel Deals ). Maybe better to visit than live here right now!

vince neil motley crue las vegas club feelgoodsHe’s The One They Call Dr. Feelgood – Vegas Rocks! magazine has announced that Motley Crue’s (and long-time Las Vegas resident) Vince Neil is opening a local bar here in early 2009 called Dr. Feelgood’s. The report notes that the “club will also have a restaurant with killer food and a smokin’ vibe.” Vince Neil Band and Slaughter (band… from Las Vegas… remember “Up All Night, Sleep All Day”) guitarist Blando will be entertainment director. Photo courtesy Vegas Rocks Magazine.

So That’s Where Your Money Is Going – We’ve been vocal critics of the proposed 3% room tax raise. Times are tight and Las Vegas needs to return to the “value” roots of the past where you know you could come here and get a nicer room and better food deals than you may find in other resort cities.

The latest insult is the CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority spending $25,000 of the organization’s money (basically money already raised from visitors) on an out-of-state charitable group that turned around and gave him a humanitarian award.

The LVCVA was taking huge credit for the boom Las Vegas experienced in years past (ignoring the contribution of everything from publishers like myself to the massive celeb coverage generated by hotels like The Palms). Yet, they are slow to take any blame for why their $200+ million budget can’t help keep visitors coming, especially in light of the dirt-cheap rooms and falling airfare.

Side Note: Yes, the economy is bad. But in past bad economies, Las Vegas has stolen visitors from other resort destinations. Gentlemen… where’s your plan to do that? You still have a massive budget to work with. And zero results with chunks of that money seemingly (according to local media sources) unaccounted for. We’re waiting…

Cheap Vacation Condo? – If you were thinking about buying a vacation condo in Las Vegas but were put off by price tags in the hundreds (sometimes many hundreds) of thousands of dollars in the past, the Monterey Country Club condos are starting at $99,000 and are literally in the back yard of the Las Vegas Strip. Click to read Monterey country club condos start at $99,000.

PS If it makes you feel any better, many of those over-priced high-rise condos pretty much have sat empty (and unsold). Whoever thought that people would pay that kind of money for a small high-rise when a great hotel suite is just a couple hundred dollars was insane.

$67,000 – The number of a new jackpot? No… that was a number recently reported on the local PBS Nevada Week In Review program that the average person in the hotel/casino industry makes. Don’t come rushing to Las Vegas… casinos aren’t doing much hiring right now. But not a bad chunk of change.

More “I Told You So” – I’ve been touting the great shows like Blue Man Group, Jersey Boys, Phantom Las Vegas and (the soon to end) Mamma Mia! plus have been a big proponent of going downtown for the kind of great food and looser gambling that made Las Vegas famous.

A survey of local cab drivers highlighted that manyáhave been doing these exact things (and enjoying them): Cab, limo drivers take pulse of tourists

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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


Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

Boulder Stn from $30, Fiesta H from $29, Green Valley from $90, Red Rock from $90, Santa Fe Stn from $50, Sunset Stn from $38, Texas Stn from $25, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!


Hard Rock Open Bar – Are you following our EasyVegasDeals.com on a regular basis? If you are, you know that the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino had an open bar event open to the public on Wednesday evening. That’s right… for two entire hours (7-9 PM), every bar was serving free drinks. To all the public. No VIP admission, no gimmick, no slot club membership needed.

As you know, we cram this newsletter full of information. But… there is so much more incredible fun (not to mention cheap and free deals) that happen here in town that doesn’t get included because of deadlines and our publishing schedule.

This is why we’ve started our Easy Vegas Deals blog. We update is almost daily with all of the latest news on great casino and dining promotions that are available to the public. We have three ways for you to keep abreast of the latest and hottest Las Vegas deals and specials:

  • Bookmark EasyVegasDeals.com and check it every day for the latest.
  • RSS Users: You can add our feed http://www.easyvegasdeals.com/feed/
  • Subscribe to our separate Easy Vegas Deals email list by going to Easy Vegas Deals Sign-Up Page Note: List debuts January 5, 2008. You’ll only receive emails when we add new deals.

las vegas sexy cocktail waitress server hard rock hotel

Hard Rock hotel Las Vegas cocktail servers dressed in sexy Santa’s helper outfits during Christmas December of 2008. Photo credit Hard Rock û Erik Kabik.

$1 Any Drink – The last time I remember $1 drinks for any significant amount of time was downtown at The Plaza hotel. The South Point (run by the same family that used to own The Plaza) is bringing this back in a big way, for a short time: Between now and Christmas Eve, ALL drinks at ALL casino bars at The South Point are only $1.00. 24/7 and the information we received had no fine print to it.

We don’t want to encourage drinking and driving, especially since the South Point is a ways from The Strip. However, if you are a local who wants to blow off some steam for a night or a tourist looking for a good place to stay during the next couple of weeks (with a free shuttle to The Strip for hotel guests), check out our South Point Hotel Casino Las Vegas Discount Rates

Tickets For Terry Fator And His Cast Of Thousands Are On SaleTickets for celebrity impressionist, singer, comedian and ventriloquist Terry Fator at The Mirage Las Vegas are on sale. Winner of NBC’s 2007 season of “America’s Got Talent,” Fator and his cast of thousands have entertained millions across the country and will make The Mirage their new home in early 2009. “In what seemed like all of a sudden, it took me 25 years to become an overnight sensation. Ever since that life-changing night on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I feel like I am truly living the American dream,” said Terry Fator. Click to Read The Full Story …

Stratosphere Casino Hotel And Tower Announces “Cocktail Server Blackjack Tournament” Winners – The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower recently held the first annual “Cocktail Server Blackjack Tournament. Winning first place and $500 each in the “Creative Costume Contest” were Sommer Horris, Brenda Magiros and Melissa Merrick, all cocktail servers from the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower. 37 teams of cocktail servers representing the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Venetian, Palms, Blackjack Lodge, Big Dog’s and many others competed for the first place trip to Hawaii and $1,500 in the “Creative Costume Contest,” announced American Casino & Entertainment Properties officials. Click to Read The Full Story …

Missed our original photos from this event? Click on over to Stratosphere Cocktail Servers BlackJack Tournament 2008 Photos

Gambling Talk: Poker Tournaments Part 3: Keys To Success – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own “Vegas Vic” in the tenth of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: Poker Tournaments Part 3: Keys To Success (broadband)


Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

My husband and I get to Vegas at least once a year. Generally we see a show and gamble and relax. My son graduated high school this past June and instead of a party, he wanted to come to Vegas and see Kevin James. So, we were there the beginning of October.

Although I always have a good – no make that great – time while I am there, this time proved to be even better. Since my son is older but not of gambling or drinking age, we found other things to do. While my husband likes to stay in the casino – which is OK with me since he won 2 progressive jackpots on the draw poker machine within 24 hours – my son and I went around the strip. We went to the wax museum. Had an absolutely fantastic time. I never would have thought I could have so much fun there.

Another site we took in was the Secret Garden at Mirage. The animals are beautiful and fun to watch. Fortunately for us, some of the trainers were out there with the dolphins and the lion cubs. We went to the Stratosphere where my son went on all 3 rides at the top. I was in a slot tournament. Although I have been invited numerous times to participate, this is the first time I was able to join.

Of course, the reason we came was to see Kevin James who happened to be with Ray Romano. It was non stop laughter from the time the opener started. After the show, we were hanging around the Mirage and happened to see Martin Lawrence. My son approached him and asked if he could have a picture with him and autograph. Martin was very accommodating, and talked to my son for a couple minutes. I wouldn’t normally bother a celebrity while they are out in public, but we did. Martin was the nicest person. Very friendly. It was good to see a celebrity who will still act like a human being and remember who their fans are. Now, my son is figuring out when he can get back there!!

Some of the other letters you received recently showed some negativity of Vegas. I still saw the brilliant city, service and great attractions that make us come back every year.

Thanks,

Donna from Melrose Park, IL


Editors Note: This was not addressed to us, but to the Editor of the Review-Journal. However… it echoes much of what you write to us, and we couldn’t agree more:

Bring Back Winning:

For decades, the conservatives have taunted that reducing the rate of taxation can result in government revenues increasing. This strategy could also be applied to Las Vegas visitors and gambling, thus resulting in more guests and providing a timely reversal to the gaming industry’s financial ills.

If players felt they could actually win, then hotel room occupancy might increase.

In years past, the wonderful high spirit of Las Vegas included the sound of constantly exploding jackpots…

Continue to read Bring Back Winning (forth letter down on that page)


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


More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

las vegas mayor oscar goodman showgirls christmas tree

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day, U.S November 26-29 (4 day weekend)

Bonus Photos:
Snowfall In Las Vegas December 17, 2008

fronsty the snowman las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
Frosty visits Las Vegas. No word on how his luck was at the tables. (Hard to see, but his arms were made from small fallen palm frawns).

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
Palm trees with branches weighed down from the snow. Word is that many of them all over the city may be damaged beyond repair. We hope not. We love our desert palm trees!

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
Not exactly “lounging by the pool” conditions as the chaise lounges are covered with snow and the jacuzzi sits empty.

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
Who says the trees don’t lose their leaves here!

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
Cars and trees covered with snow. Extremely rare site in Las Vegas.

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
All that these trees need are some lights and decorations!

las vegas snow snowstorm december 2008
This poor tree isn’t used to branches weighed down like this.

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

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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 17, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – October 15, 2008

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
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! What a strange week it has been. The weekend of October 11-12 brought record cool temperatures (highs in the 60’s F). Things have rebounded nicely, but the sun is down around 6 PM and the evenings are cooling off quickly.

Las Vegas Bikefest Photos – We have the rest of the Bikefest photos from the downtown Las Vegas event a couple of weeks ago. Important: None contain anything you won’t see on basic (U.S.) cable TV but they might not be considered safe for work. Click on a photo to see the associated gallery:

2008 Las Vegas Bikefest Fremont Street Exhibit
2008 Las Vegas Bikefest Fremont Street Exhibit

las vegas bikefest bikini contest
Las Vegas Bikefest 2008 Bikini Contest

las vegas bikefest custom choppers
Las Vegas Bikefest 2008 Custom Chopper Convention

las vegas bikefest bikini contest
2008 Miss Las Vegas Bikefest Contest

As noted last week, if bikes or girls aren’t your cup of tea, have no fear. Coming issues will debut new photo galleries and updates on some of the great Las Vegas Strip hotels and casinos plus a new Bellagio Gardens photo set! And don’t forget, below each and every photo in our vast Las Vegas Photo Gallery is a “send to a friend” link.

At Tale Of Two Plazas – A local jury has decided that the hotel that may (or may not) end up being constructed on the site of the old Frontier Hotel can use the name The Plaza. This despite the fact that downtown Las Vegas has had a hotel named Plaza since the 1970’s. This because the company building the new hotel here owns New York City’s Plaza hotel, which has a 100 year history.

What a huge mistake that would be! Look… I love the downtown Plaza hotel. I’ve easily visited it hundreds of times in my 15 years here in town. When I lived closer to downtown, I’d head down to Fremont Street 6-7 times per month, parking at The Plaza and stopping for a libation and a few hands of video poker before heading out to unwind, people watch, and grab something to eat. However, let’s not mince words: The downtown Plaza isn’t a luxury resort.

The New York City Plaza is known for being the crÞme de la crÞme. Top notch all the way. However, I’ll bet you that over 95% of Las Vegas visitors aren’t remotely familiar with it. The risk is that when people hear the name Las Vegas Plaza, they will associate it with the more modest downtown property. Visitors who visit downtown will tell friends “We went to the Plaza, it was nothing special.”

An analogy: Lexus isn’t about to come out with a car model called Kia. Nothing wrong with a Kia (Kia owners are laughing with every gas station they pass), but it isn’t a Lexus in terms of luxury. Nothing wrong with the downtown Plaza, but risking association with it when you are going to attempt to build a world-class hotel is simply an error.

Dive-In Movies On The Beach Canceled – The 2008 Dive-In Movies at Mandalay Bay Beach, previously scheduled for Friday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 31, have been canceled. No reason was given.

Halloween In Las Vegas Event List – As promised last issue, we have started compiling a list of Las Vegas Halloween Events. More event notices are coming in every few days, so you may want to bookmark that page, tell your friends about it, and check back often.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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


Las Vegas Is On Sale!
Get Great Rates At All Hotels:

California from $40, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $35, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $50, Sam’s Town from $35, Sun Coast from $60, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!


Paris Las Vegas to host 2nd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration – Following last yearÆs inaugural celebration, Paris Las Vegas is proud to announce its 2nd Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration set to kick-off at 12:01 Thursday, November 20, 2008.

Honoring the long tradition regulated by French law, Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine made from Gamay grapes in the Beaujolais region of France, is released no sooner than the third Thursday of November, when it is ready for consumption just six weeks after the harvest. Thus, at one minute past midnight, huge celebrations are held all over the world to taste the latest wine. More than 65 million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau will be consumed in the months to follow.Click to Read The Full Story …

Relax, Unwind, Save a Dime – Did you know that access to some of The StripÆs coolest nightspots is complimentary to guests? HereÆs where you can get down without needing to ante up:

  • Boasting one of the best views of The Strip, miX Lounge at THEhotel (Mandalay Bay) offers guests the chance to dance the night away, 64 floors above it all. Featuring mod leather furnishings and ruby-red lighting, miX Lounge pairs a pulsating nightlife experience with stunning views of Las Vegas. Come early to the party, though. Complimentary admission ends at 10 p.m.
  • With the intimate feel of a neighborhood bar, Mist at Treasure Island is a unique alternative to the Las Vegas party scene. Offering complimentary admission all night long, this hip bar and lounge attracts a lively mix of guests seeking a stylish, yet casual escape.
  • Caramel at Bellagio infuses a relaxing ambiance with the best aspects of a high-energy club. Providing plenty of comfortable seating, this sleek ultra-lounge is the ideal starting point for a night on the town or the perfect setting for an after-show nightcap. Entry is complimentary to all.
  • At Mandalay Bay, the House of Blues features jammin’ live music by some of Las Vegas’ hottest acts. Free entertainment includes Rock Star Karaoke, inviting guests to unleash their inner rock star every Monday night; Nothing but the Blues, featuring local and national blues bands every Wednesday evening; and Acoustic Strip, showcasing unsigned bands and solo artists every Thursday after dark.

PT’s And Sierra Gold Celebrate Halloween By Hosting The 2nd Annual Wicked Costume Contest – PT’s and Sierra Gold invite all ghosts, goblins and zombies to join them as they host a wicked costume contest Friday, Oct. 31, with the showdown beginning at 7pm. One winner from each of the 36 tavern locations will be awarded $100 cash. In addition, guests can participate in games for other great prizes. Guests who arrive in their costumes will receive their first drink complimentary. PT’s and Sierra Gold are also offering Bud, Bud Light and Bacardi specials. Click to Read The Full Story …

Roster Of Chefs Announced At Encore – December 2008 marks the debut of Encore, the new signature resort in the Wynn collection. Adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas, Encore upholds its sister hotel’s mantra: the chefs have moved to Las Vegas and will be cooking in their new kitchens each night. All respected and nationally acclaimed talents in their own right, each Encore chef joins Wynn’s already formidable collection of award-winning restaurants.

Joining the team are Theo Schoenegger, of four-star Patina in Los Angeles; Jet Tila, a nationally recognized chef and expert in Asian cuisine; Marc Poidevin, formerly executive chef of Le Cirque at the Bellagio and most recently Wynn’s executive chef of catering and special events; Mark LoRusso, previously the executive chef of Tableau at the Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas; and Kim Canteenwalla, who worked with Mr. Wynn at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi and has consulted on such projects at Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach and One&Only Palmilla. Click to Read The Full Story…

Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois Pleases the Palate with the 15-Layer Mocha Cake – The perfect way to finish any meal is to savor in a mouth-watering dessert, and Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois is luring in guests with its 15-Layer Mocha Cake. The flourless chocolate cake offers a sweet crunch with its candied hazelnuts and is complemented with vanilla ice cream, creating the perfect marriage. The 15-Layer Chocolate Cake is available for $15 at Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois located the Forum Shops at Caesars. Click to Read The Full Story …

Destination Weddings Destined To Be Remembered Forever – Destination weddings are more popular than ever with getaway ceremonies up 400 percent in the last two years alone. The following resorts offer unique weddings for every taste and, now, brides and grooms can tie the knot in three new ways:

  • At Mandalay Bay, engaged couples are invited to say “I do” in the luxurious Villas Soleil of Mandalay Bay Beach. The “Sun Villa” Package features a 15-minute ceremony and full use of the indulgent cabana for the rest of the day including a $200 food and beverage credit. Additional amenities include Coconut CrÞme Pedicures at Spa Mandalay for the happy couple, a large bouquet for the bride, a boutonniÞre for the groom, one night in a honeymoon suite and a DVD of the ceremony.Couples also receive twelve 4×6 photographs presented in a beautiful album as well as two 8×10 and six 5×7 images. Priced at $4,350, the Sun Villa Package is available Sunday through Thursday only. Guests are limited to a maximum of 25 attendees. Each must be 21 years of age or older. For reservations, contact THEwedding chapel at Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7701
  • The hotel that introduced the concept of the destination resort to Las Vegas invites guests to wed amidst its lush tropical beauty. The new wedding packages of The Mirage û “Simply Elegant,” “Exotic Delights” and “The Sophisticate” û offer romantic ceremonies in a stunning poolside location or within a private indoor venue. Priced at $1,900, $1,950 and $2,100 respectively, packages offer brides three distinct styles of spectacular floral arrangements.An officiant, bouquet for the bride and boutonniere for the groom also are included. The talented chefs of The Mirage also are available to create delectable menus and wedding cakes for the perfect reception bash. For reservations, contact Chantay Sandoval in The Mirage Banquet Services Department at (800) 939-9389
  • The “Wedding a la Carte” Menu at Treasure Island offers couples a budget-friendly way to personalize their ceremony. Starting at just $200 for a 15-minute union complete with a non-denominational minister and traditional music, the “Wedding a la Carte” menu features a variety of options to create a customizable experience. Couples looking for a traditional wedding with keepsakes, bridal bouquet and a DVD of the ceremony will be just as satisfied as those seeking a more luxurious package with his and her robes, a bottle of bubbly and a suite in which to celebrate. For reservations, contact The Wedding Chapels at Treasure Island at (888) 818-0999.

Las Vegas Native Nascar Driver Kurt Busch Charity Poker Tournament Recap – Last night poker players and NASCAR fans alike packed Sierra Gold ultra-tavern on S. Jones Blvd to participate in The Kurt Busch Charity Poker Tournament. Over $25,000 was raised to benefit The Kurt Busch Foundation. The tournament was organized to raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness. Guests included Kurt Busch; Lon Kruger, UNLV Men’s Basketball Head Coach; Al Unser Jr., two-time Indianapolis 500 Champion; George Maloof, owner of The Palms Casino Resort; and Blake Sartini, CEO and owner of Golden Gaming. Click to Read The Full Story…


Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Amy unfortunately had to take the week off to fly home and visit two very ill family members. We wish all involved the best and they are in our thoughts and prayers.

Mark and I covered the great work Amy does that makes this newsletter what it is. However, time didn’t permit me to prepare this section this week. Readers comments and questions (and my answers) should return next issue.


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

  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.
  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com – We read them all!

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:

  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 10
  • Father’s Day June 21
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada September 5-7 (3 day weekend)
  • Jewish New Year September 19

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

October 15, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy