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THIS ISSUE: Las Vegas Updates, I Love LaFong, Fielding West

LAS VEGAS DEALS – for April / May:

* Aladdin Resort & Casino – From $75.95 until 05/31/02
* Flamingo Las Vegas – From $49.95 until 06/30/02
* Imperial Palace – From $59.95 until 06/30/02

All of these and more available at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-discounts.htm

$100 HOTEL COUPON! Our partners at Hotel Reservations Network are giving you a coupon for up to $100 back on any hotel stay in Las Vegas or any major city they reserve. Full details at http://www.accessvegas.com/100-rebate.htm

LAS VEGAS: Tours, Entertainment, Hotels, Packages, Weddings, Gambling, Golf, Nightlife, Dining, and Weather — get it all at http://www.accessvegas.com !!!

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Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Scenic Southwest Tours – by plane, bus, or even helicopter! You’ve seen the glossy ads in the tourist brochures. You’ve thought about it. You come all the way to Las Vegas — why not see one of the some of the most famous landmarks in the world! Don’t by tricked by web sites & magazines that offer discount tours. Taxes, park fees, permits can almost double the price. Our prices are inclusive – no hidden charges! Best Las Vegas Tours

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NEWKIRK’S NOTES – comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello from Las Vegas! Change is in the air. The weather has finally settled in to a beautiful springtime after a few weeks of hit-and-miss with some cold days. More importantly we’ve changed and updated things on http://www.accessvegas.com to give you quicker access to the more deals and more Las Vegas information.

NEW LOOK – If you have not stopped by http://www.accessvegas.com recently, now is a great time. We are excited about our new, cleaner look that lets you see deals and headliners at a glance and access all the Las Vegas information you need with just one click!

APRIL PROGRAM – Our April episode of All Vegas TV is available. Simply go to http://tv.accessvegas.com and click on the big TV screen for both current and past episodes. This month we tour Little Chapel of the Flowers, showing you a “behind the scenes” on getting married in Las Vegas. We have video highlights of the new “I Love LaFong” show, and finish with an interview with video poker expert Rob Singer. If you are frustrated with attempts to play video poker and win a little here and there only to have the machine suck it all back in, stay tuned through the show for this.

SHOW VIDEOS ONLINE – You come to Vegas and see advertisements for shows — “Best of This, Best of That” — and you’ve never heard of these people. Or the person in your office who visited last month says “You gotta see so-and-so.” What are they gonna do … tell you they wasted $75.00? Hell no … not any quicker than they will tell the truth about how much they lost!

We’ve got you covered. We have online streaming videos of almost 20 top shows at All Vegas TV and the viewing price is right: FREE! Simply click over to http://tv.accessvegas.com/videos/shows and preview the shows you want to see.

NEW MESSAGE BOARD – We had to replace our old message board. Unfortunately, we couldn’t save and transfer the posts so we are starting from scratch. Please feel free to post Las Vegas comments or questions to our new board at http://boards.accessvegas.com Here’s the way it works: Before you go on vacation (or if you are just curious) feel free to post questions and comments and then when you get back you can post your comments so that those visiting soon enjoy your knowledge of Las Vegas!

CHIPPENDALES – has opened at The Rio for an indefinite run. It will be interesting to see if having a little equal opportunity for the ladies here is successful for the long term. Details at http://www.vegasguide.com/detail_shows.cfm?amid=143&cscheme=2&id=194

JAZZ FESTIVAL – 9’th Annual City of Lights Jazz Festival takes place Saturday, April 27, 2002 at Hills Park Amphitheater at Summerlin. Summerlin is located in the Northwest Las Vegas Valley. The line up includes invited artists: world renowned Jazz vocalist Randy Crawford; the hottest, multiple award winning horn in Jazz today, trumpeter Rick Braun; the stimulating Jazz keyboards of Brian Culbertson; plus crowd pleasing Urban Jazz Pianist/Vocalist Joe Mc Bride; award winning Smooth Jazz guitarist Joyce Cooling; and hot new saxman from Denmark Michael Lington, plus other artists to be announced. Tickets available at 1-800-969-VEGAS

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Rental Cars – Don’t pay top dollar! Enter the dates of your visit and compare prices from virtually every major rental car agency (most US cities). Book the lowest price company or your regular agency. Save the hassle and some money – Car Rental Savings Search. Few regret renting a car. Free shuttles and city bus rides can be slow and smelly. Taxis can cost what a rental car costs. Your vacation time is valuable — make the most out of it!

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ITCHING TO GAMBLE – and Vegas is too far but you still want to visit a REAL gaming destination? We offer the same great discounts, guaranteed lower rates, and the $100 Rebate Spectacular for rooms in Atlantic City, Gulfport / Biloxi, and Reno as we do in Las Vegas!

* Reno:
http://www.hoteldiscounts.com/cgi-bin/pickinput?SID=IVC&LKF=IVC&Dest=RNO
* Atlantic City:
http://www.hoteldiscounts.com/cgi-bin/pickinput?SID=IVC&LKF=IVC&TRK=H1-citylistMore&Dest=ACY
* Gulfport / Biloxi:
http://www.hoteldiscounts.com/cgi-bin/pickinput?SID=IVC&LKF=IVC&TRK=H1-citylistMore&Dest=BIL

* $100 Rebate Spectacular good on above rooms:
http://www.accessvegas.com/100-rebate.htm

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SHOW REVIEWS:

We’ve got a double dose this issue. Although these shows share the same showroom, they are about as diverse as possible. That is the great thing about Las Vegas — something for everyone! If you are scratching your head going “Where is the Bourbon St. Hotel,” have no fear. It is on Flamingo Rd just behind the Flamingo and Barbary Coast. Look down Flamingo from The Strip and you’ll see — it is closer to The Strip than the Bally’s / MGM monorail.

I LOVE LAFONG – When I first heard that a world famous female comedian and ventriloquist was setting up shop here, I thought “Mmmm … must be one of the new free shows for kids at Circus Circus.” If that crossed your mind also, think again. Michelle La Fong has appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, A & E and is not only one of the top female comedians today but someone who has taken ventriloquism to a new level.

Michele’s show opens with a taped introduction from comedian Jackie Mason who minced no words regarding his love and appreciation of LaFong’s act. La Fong kicks off the show with fast paced impressions of Joan Rivers, Bette Midler, Andrea “Dice” Clay (ya … she does that … you’ve seen it when flipping through the channels and have stopped to laugh) as well as Dr. Ruth. It is during this time we get a taste of her quick, multifaceted comedy along the lines of Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s On First” (which she does with a unique twist on later in the show).

LaFong came to the attention of famed Ed Sullivan regular and ventriloquist Senior Wences just a couple years before his death. So impressed was he that he left his legacy with her in both performance secrets and some of his most prized characters and props. She recently brought his “Johnny” alive in a Mercedes commercial and brings him alive nightly as well.

It is LaFong’s “boyfriend” Paco who steals the show. Paco is her smooth talking puppet with the gold chains, the snappy outfit and chauvinistic patter. La Fong’s strength lies in her ability to make her puppets truly come alive with their own personality. So strong, that you actually feel like you are watching a two person show. If you are a guy, you’d want to go watch the game and have a beer with Paco. If you are a girl, he’s the kind of guy you’d be telling your girlfriend about later going “He was such an ass, but he was kind of funny and charming.”

This is a fun show to go for laughs, but you will walk away impressed and appreciative of these characters that truly came alive before your eyes to entertain you.

I Love LaFong plays at the Bourbon St. Hotel and Casino (on Flamingo Road across from Bally’s). For current times and ticket prices, please click http://www.showvegas.com/svpricing.cfm?amid=143&cscheme=2&showid=276&cityid=1 and enter the dates of your visit to display prices and availability. We have online streaming video highlights of her show in this months April 2002 All Vegas TV episode at http://tv.accessvegas.com

FIELDING WEST: COMEDY, TRICKS, AND NAKED CHICKS – I like Fielding West. I like watching explosions and car wrecks in the movies as well as Las Vegas hotel demolitions live. They call it “controlled demolition” and Fielding West is a “controlled demolition” of a show in a good way. I also like comedy and West keeps the laughs coming with his twists on both traditional and original magic tricks.

West starts by making “Bob the Bird” appear and then proceeds to “torture” him, mystifying the audience while putting a mocking spin on standard animal magic routines. Later, Houdini’s metamorphous is given a similar a unique treatment. This is an illusion standard to most magic shows, where the assistant is wrapped and chained inside a box and then switches places with the magician in the blink of an eye. Except that West is a “failure,” only ending up swapping clothes with the beautiful assistant.

Speaking of … you read the title right. He’s added an adult twist to the show with assistants that spend a fair amount of time sans a top. The only person still yapping about Las Vegas as a family destination is Jay Leno to squeeze another dead joke. Vegas is back to “Boys (or Girls) Night Out” or “Romantic Couple Getaway” and that is who West is successfully aiming his show at. Having said that, this isn’t a strip club nor is the nudity presented in a way to make couples uncomfortable. The night I attended a significant portion of the audience was couple, with plenty of “Boys Night Out” groups as well.

West didn’t skimp when it came to selecting assistants. Natalie Lund was crowned Miss Minnesota in 1999 and competed in the 2000 Miss America Pageant. She has also performed in professional dance companies and appeared in two films with Mickey Rooney. Marcy Parker also dances in Melinda, First Lady of Magic at the Venetian, the Shadow Bar at Caesars Palace and most recently starred as a cheerleader for the XFL Las Vegas Outlaws.

West has written and devised acts for many of the bigger names you are familiar with, and this is a chance to see his off-the-wall comedy and magic at he source.

Fielding West: Comedy, Tricks and Naked Chicks plays at the Bourbon St. Hotel and Casino (on Flamingo Road across from Bally’s). For current times and ticket prices, please click http://www.showvegas.com/svpricing.cfm?amid=143&cscheme=2&showid=341&cityid=1 and enter the dates of your visit to display prices and availability. Sorry guys … no streaming video available on this one!

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Show Review Criteria: We understand that Las Vegas attracts visitors of varied budgets and interests. Shows are reviewed on the basis of value for dollar spent as well as to present the reader enough knowledge of the content to make an informed decision.

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EVENT LISTINGS:

* SHOWS – listings available at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-shows.htm
* HEADLINERS – listings available at http://www.accessvegas.com/entertainment/index.htm
* CONCERT – listings available at http://www.accessvegas.com/entertainment/index.htm

CONVENTION CALENDAR:

Your best hotel deals are the weeks when convention traffic is light. If you are flexible, check our convention calendar at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-conventions-hotels.htm before choosing the dates of your Las Vegas visit!

FEEDBACK:

We encourage you to post comments about specific Las Vegas hotels, shows, attractions, and general trip reports to our Comment Las Vegas message board at http://boards.accessvegas.com

For comments or questions regarding topics in the newsletter, write us a “letter to the editor” at (click) mailto:allvegastv@aol.com We do certainly read them all. They help shape our content and we do personally answer specific Las Vegas related questions!

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QUICK TRAVEL LINKS: Book Online and Save – Easy and Secure with Instant Confirmation:

* Discount Hotel Rooms: http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-discounts.htm
* Discount Rental Cars: http://www.travelnow.com/cars/search.jsp?cid=2005
* Low Airfare: http://www.accessvegas.com/a-travel-center.htm
* Travel Packages (Hotel/Air): http://www.accessvegas.com/a-travel-center.htm
* Toll Free 24 Hour Discount Room Hotline: 1-800-666-5268

MESSAGE BOARDS – Help others and share your Las Vegas opinions! Our boards are new so let’s fill them up with the good, bad, and just general comments on your last visit. Plus, we now have a section for trip reports. New boards at http://boards.accessvegas.com

ENJOY THE BEACH! – We know many of our friends in the Midwest and southeast are familiar with the beautiful sugar-white sands of Panama City Beach and Florida’s Emerald Coast. If you aren’t, you should be! These beaches are closer and less expensive than other parts of Florida and continue to be ranked among the best in the world. Get the same great discount rates we offer for Florida also! Learn more about this spectacular area and get your FREE beach scenes screensaver http://www.beautifuldestin.com

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New to the list? Back issues and subscription info can be found on the web at: https://las-vegas-news-reviews.com

Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates, or better yet click here: http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=826126 to recommend it to friends with a chance to win $10,000!

All contents copyright 2002 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
March 27, 2002 ISSN: 1529-2770