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Access Vegas Insider Vibe – May 21, 2008

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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.

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 wild, wacky, weird week in weather. This past Monday we hit 108 degrees (F) with Tuesday checking in at 101. The 108 was one degree shy of an all-time May record.

However… as I write this on Friday afternoon we’re experiencing scattered showers and a “balmy” 63. Average high for May? 88 degrees.

Free Wi-Fi and slots for fun are two of the things that make Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport the second highest airport in a recent J.D. Power survey. Actually, the survey really studies cleanliness, ease-of-use, parking, and similar. But the free Wi-Fi and plenty of slot machines (plus a pretty decent restaurant selection) doesn’t hurt!

Unlucky $50 bills – NASCAR Racer and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch turned down a $50 bill from the outgoing speedway president of Charlotte Motor Speedway this past week. Speedway president Humpy Wheeler was handing out personally signed $50 bills to various drivers as a going-away souvenir.

So what’s the big deal? Long time Las Vegas gamblers have always been superstitions about $50 bills, considering them bad luck. I’ve personally seen people sit out a hand of blackjack or call their craps bets off when a $50 bill has been placed on the table.

I’m not sure of the origins of this notion, but I’ve always made it a point to change a $50 at the casino cage if I was going to play a table game. Bottom Line: Next time you put down a $50, now you’ll know why if some funny looks come your way!

Thinking of moving here? Paying cash for your house will get you a great deal, but don’t expect any easy mortgages out there. Lenders got burned so bad here in Nevada that experts guess it will be early 2010 before lenders lighten up on Nevada home loans. Plus, during tight times when hiring is light, new residents find themselves at the bottom of the job heap.

Thinking of visiting? Plenty of deals to be had! However, don’t expect an empty Las Vegas. áThe lower room rates are keeping the rooms full and that money you save on the room helps offset the gas costs or airfare to get here. Check out all the current special prices that ouráfriends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals are offering right now.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Can’t Make It To Vegas?
Get Tickets To An Event Near You!

NBA Playoffs, Tina Turner, Madonna American Idols Live, New Kids On The Block, Bon Jovi, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Stevie Wonder, Widespread Panic, Cold Play, Carlos Mencia , Melissa Etheridge, Music Build Tour, Ringling Bros B&B Circus, Major League Baseball, NFL Football, College Football

Featured Review:
Mamma Mia! Keeps You On The Edge Of Your Seat

by Denise Almas

With your toes tapping until the very end, the story is both delightful and, at times, mysterious.

As told through the energetic music of Abba, this big fat Greek island wedding is a comical look at how the women’s liberation movement affected two generations. Though the audience is warned of the large amounts of spandex and late 70’s garb, the music and talented performers bring to life a contemporary view of a culturally interesting time.

Having no information about the true identify of her father, Sophie, the blushing 20 year old bride-to-be, invites the three men her mother had written about in her 1979 diary to her upcoming wedding. This is the backdrop to the captivating musical Mamma Mia, a story of a young woman who attempts to find her father and her own identity at a pivotal moment in her life. Sophie’s mother, Donna, who is also unsure of the identity of her daughter’s father, is upset by the unexpected arrival of all three men the day before the wedding.

Click to Read Entire Mamma Mia! Las Vegas Review…

Featured Review:
Trent Carlini Is… Elvis In Las Vegas

by T. Feld

A shoe-polish black forelock dangles precariously over his forehead. The hips gyrate and swivel with unerring accuracy. His eyes beckon the crowd with a knowing twinkle. The upper lip curls into a familiar quiver. Showcasing a powerful vocal range throughout all the standard hits, you may think Elvis really is in the building after seeing Trent Carlini do his thing at the Sahara Showroom.

More than just an impersonator or tribute performer, this son of Italian immigrants breathes life back into the King himself by uncannily recreating the music, mood and moves of an authentic Presley performance. An audience spanning generations filled the 800 seat venue nearly to capacity at a recent Saturday night show that evoked the spirit of a genuine Elvis Presley concert, complete with screaming, swooning women rushing the stage for a chance to touch their idol.

Click to Read Entire Trent Carlini Dream King Las Vegas Review…

CityCenter Commemorates Construction Milestone With “Topping Out” Of First Tower, Vdara Condo Hotel – CityCenter today commemorated the “topping out” of its 57-story Vdara Condo Hotel, the first of six distinctive high-rise towers that will be topped within the coming months. The completion of Vdara’s structure is a milestone for the construction progress of CityCenter as it moves toward opening in late 2009. “CityCenter commenced in 2004 as a blank canvas imagined by a diverse group of people. With the topping out of Vdara, we see our vision of creating one of the world’s most ambitious developments coming to fruition,” said Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of CityCenter. “In less than 20 months, we’ll open the doors to CityCenter and introduce the world to this urban metropolis that will redefine Las Vegas.” Click to Read The Full Story …“America’s Got Talent” Million-Dollar Winner Terry Fator Lands Gig On Las Vegas Strip At The Mirage – Ventriloquist, Singer, Comedian and Impressionist Signs Multi-Year Contract to Perform at Resort Renowned for Extraordinary Entertainment Offerings. Terry Fator, winner of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and The Mirage announced Fator signed a five-year deal, with an option for an additional five years, to perform at the iconic resort. (Tickets). Click to Read The Full Story … Slip Into A Sexy Two-Piece With Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s Bikini Punch Cocktail – Hawaiian Tropic Zone, located inside Miracle Mile Shops, offers the perfect liquid libation for swimsuit season û the Bikini Punch cocktail. A sweet concoction of passion fruit juice, Bacardi light rum, Malibu coconut rum, fresh lime juice, pineapple syrup and orange juice, the Bikini Punch cocktail reflects the sexy and flirtatious atmosphere of Hawaiian Tropic Zone. Served up by one of the beautiful and bikini clad Hawaiian Tropic Zone girls, the mixture is refreshing, tantalizing and ideal for the summer heat. The Bikini Punch cocktail is garnished with a delicious strawberry, making it the perfect treat to enjoy while soaking in a sunny afternoon on Hawaiian Tropic Zone’s strip-side patio. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: The King and I – with Victor H. Royer. Back in the days of grand and glorious Hollywood, there was once a famous motion picture made, based on a Broadway play, starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. It was the title of my story here — The King and I. As much as I would have liked to be either a King, or at least Yul Brynner — I actually always fancied myself either as Elvis, or Jerry Lewis, or perhaps Jack Benny — I did once have a close encounter with royalty. This was many years ago, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, back in those days when Las Vegas was still considered ôold Vegasö. This was a time when you still could drive up and down the strip at two oÆclock in the afternoon at 55 mph, and barely see three or four other cars. Click to Read Complete Article…

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

4 Queens from $36, Bally’s from $69, Flamingo from $63, Gold Coast from $45, Planet H. from $89, Rio Suites from $60, Sahara from $41, Strat. from $48, Tropicana from $50, Tuscany from $42, All Vegas Hotels!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hi There Ted,We have just returned to U. K. after 14 days in Vegas. What a place, had a fantastic time saw some great shows, we got The Deuce and went up and down strip. everyone there are friendly helpful and they offer you a seat if your a bit of a an old codger [used to do that in UK once]á

Iálove magic and saw some great shows but the man to take top prize must go to Steve Wyrick and what a show he puts on amazing. I was very disappointed with Penn and Teller, just a couple of cheap tricks and the bullet trick which they have been doing for years.á

Even the free shows were great especially T.I. Pirate Show we are planning a return in September.Denny Brown

Ted Responds:

Always happy to hear great trip reports! We’ll be sending a writer to check out Steve Wyrick soon. I saw him years ago at The Sahara and had a lot of fun.

Sirens Of TI Pirate Show

If you want to relive a few memories, check out our Sirens of T.I. Pirate Show photo gallery!

Hi Ted,Just wanted to say i love your newsletter! i went to Las Vegas two years ago with two of the girls from work, and am returning this fall with my youngest daughter who is 35.When can we find out if Elton John will have dates the end of October? We arrive on the 28th and leave for home November 1. Thanks and keep up the good work.Marsha
Auburn Hills,MI,

Ted Responds:

We always post concert and event dates when we get them and we add new concert dates every week. Just scroll down the right side of the newsletter every issue to see what is playing.

Also, don’t forget to tell friends and family that enjoy Las Vegas to go to AccessVegas.com and subscribe. We rely on word-of-mouth, and the more subscribers we have the better we can continue to providing the kind of info we do!

My husband and I just returned from our yearly vacation to Vegas. We always stay downtown at the 4 Queens, this may not be for the upper class folks but let me tell you, they have been good to us. Service is good, staff is friendly and the video poker there is our favorite.áWe both hit a royal flush while we were there. The strip is nice to see but there’s nothing like “Ole Vegas” I have been going there since 1977 and look forward to it every year as much as I did the first trip. Keep up the good work, I look forward to your newsletter!!! Thanks so much Jeanette from NYTed Responds:

Thanks for the great note and congratulations on the royal flush! I still love downtown, and the Four Queens has undergone some great renovations. For all of the doom-and-gloom predictions about the future of Las Vegas tourism, the reality is that things are really picking up downtown. News Editor Mark Jacobs had his parents in town last week, and everyone couldn’t believe how busy downtown was on a Wednesday night.

Because times are tight for many in the United States, visitors are rediscovering the value offered downtown. Plus, it is a little easier on the feet. For those who have never been downtown, imagine four main blocks (plus a number of side blocks) with casinos, restaurants, and bars side-by-side-by-side.

Even though your trip is done, certainly feel free to stay subscribed. Many do just to glance through and keep up on what’s happening here.

Three or four years ago I enjoyed seeing Rick Thomas the Magician at the Tropicana. Then the next year I saw him at the Stardust. Last year I again was able to see him at The Orleans. This year (In February) I was unable to find any performances by Rich Thomas.áDo you know if he will ever be back in Las Vegas again (or was he there in February and I couldn’t find his performances)? I really enjoyed his act and his performances were very reasonable compared to other more famous magicians. Thank you. Mike HeadyTed Responds:

No clue. His siteáwww.rickthomas.com has nothing new on it. We enjoyed his show also. As usual, we’ll publish info right away if he gets a new show here.

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:

  • Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 15
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Yom Kippur October 9
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • 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

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

May 21, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – March 26, 2008

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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.

Can’t see all the great photos and graphics? Click to Read This Issue Online! Need to contact us? Send feedback to AllVegasTV@aol.com

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend! Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

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.

Book Online or over the phone! Call 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
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! You have to figure when the boss does something, he’s going to screw it up. Last week was the first newsletter I completely prepped myself in quite some time and…

Corrected Show Review Links – Last week, I mis-linked the full show reviews for Phantom and Rita Rudner. Here are the corrected, working links to both complete show reviews:

Patio Dining and Drinks On The Las Vegas Strip – When I moved here 15 years ago, no dining or other entertainment venues existed right on the Las Vegas Strip. Back then, the philosophy was to keep the patrons inside gambling. I applauded Harrah’s Las Vegas when they broke away from that with the wildly successful Harrah’s Carnival Court (pictures) and other venues have followed suit over the years including a number of nightclubs with outdoor Strip views.

Three of the most recent are Trader Vic’s and Hawaiian Tropic Zone (both at Planet Hollywood) and Diablo’s at the Monte Carlo. We covered the grand opening of Hawaiian Tropic Zone a number of weeks ago (pictures). This past week, it was time for Trader Vic’s and Diablo’s.

Trader Vic’s patio is simply a great experience. The staff is fun and friendly, the views are awesome, and the afternoon we visited had Tommy Rocker (Las Vegas’ Jimmy Buffett) cranking out Buffett and other beach tunes. Drinks aren’t cheap, but they don’t hold back on the pour and the experience is a great way to take a breather from hoofing it casino-to-casino and enjoy some people watching.

Around sunset, we headed down the street to Diablo’s Mexican Cantina at Monte Carlo. Our take:

  • DO go upstairs and have a drink on the second floor patio overlooking The Strip. Great view, relaxed atmosphere.
  • DON’T eat there. Food was understandably expensive because you are partially paying for the view and atmosphere. However, I expected better food for the money. Their carnitas burrito doesn’t hold a candle to Chipotle (a U.S. restaurant chain famous for their awesome $6.00 burritos).Service was poor. Our food arrived and we still didn’t have place settings. We literally had to chase the server down to get utensils to eat with! Things didn’t get any better from there. Go pay $20 at any of the hotel buffets, load up on Mexican food (or anything else you are in the mood for), then go to Diablo’s for a drink if you can find room upstairs.

MGM Project CityCenter Continues To Explode Upwards – Even we who live here are amazed at how fast this thing is going up. It is literally going to dwarf everything around it.

Rio Sky Show Revamp – April 8 is the final day for the current incarnation of the Rio’s long-running sky show (pictures). The Rio is being tight-lipped about the changes. They say the show will continue, but not it its present form.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Featured Review:
Master Magician Lance Burton’s Best Magic Is Done With The Audienceà In So Many Ways

by D.W. Grant

It’s true what the ads say, “You’ll never forget Lance Burton, Master Magician.” And you’ll never forget this marvelous evening, either, if you take full advantage of the Monte Carlo experience and make it a magical night for your entire party, date, or family.

In a flash you’ll be walking past the “Super Lotto” machine and into the $30 million dollar Lance Burton Theater, a classically designed red velveteen palace built to elevate your appetite for getting “amazed.”

Lance Burton is a world champion hall of fame magician who does amazing things in surprising ways. You’ll be applauding from the first bird suddenly appearing from a burning candle stick to the last act when he flies away in his “Back to the Future-ish” Corvette. During this magical journey you’ll experience classic magic moments, thrilling contemporary illusions, laugh a lot, and even learn a little about the history of magic. Click to Read Entire Master Magician Lance Burton Review…

Featured Review:
Lucky Cheng’s Drag Cabaret

by Denise Almas

Enter the world of Lucky Cheng’s Drag Queen Capital for dinner, drinks, banter and “all that drags”. This dinner theater offers a vibrant and unique dance, dining, and service experience. Though what happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, Miss Conception, the show’s master of ceremonies, and her lovely ladies will give you an experience worthy of writing home about.

As you enter the small dinner theater, you will find a very relaxed, casual atmosphere with a stage, tables and small booths complete with red pillows. The servers will greet you with either a smile or a snort depending on their mood and bring your drinks as soon as possible. Though the show has not formally started, the queens are already performing as you arrive. Click to Read Entire Lucky Cheng’s Drag Cabaret Review…

Kenny Chesney To Bring His 2008 Poets & Pirates Tour To MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday, June 6 – Country music star Kenny Chesney will heat up the summer with his 2008 Poets & Pirates Tour. (Tickets) The tour stops at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday, June 6 at 8 p.m. Country sensation LeAnn Rimes is scheduled to open the show. Chesney, the three-time and reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, and two-time and current Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, sold more tickets in North America than anyone last year. Click to Read The Full Story …

Rod Stewart 2008 North American Summer Tour MGM Grand Garden Arena – Concert To Feature Special Guest Bryan Adams – Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame artist Rod Stewart will hit the road on an 18-city North American summer tour which will wind its way through the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Aug. 2. (Tickets) Fans will enjoy hits from Stewart’s extraordinary four-decade career. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. with special guest Bryan Adams. Stewart, a true icon of rock, has sold more than 148 million records, including 19 million in the last 5 years alone, with his record breaking Great American Songbook series. Click to Read The Full Story …

Leap Into Spring With Twin Creeks’ Grasshopper Martini – Twin Creeks, located inside Silverton Casino Lodge, hops into spring with the Grasshopper Martini. A deliciously creamy blend of Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka, Godiva White Chocolate and Green CrÞme de Menthe, the Grasshopper Martini reflects the fun and sophisticated atmosphere of the newly restyled Twin Creeks. Developed by Twin Creeks’ Master Mixologist, John DuPont, the Grasshopper Martini is the perfect liquid concoction for a breezy spring day. Twin Creeks’ Grasshopper Martini comes garnished with a delectable layer of shaved dark chocolate, making it a sweet treat impossible to resist this spring. Click to Read The Full Story …

Kanye West Kicks Off Summer Concert Series At Red Rock Resort – Show to feature special guests N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco to commence a season of top-rated acts spanning multiple genres. Grammy award-winning artist Kanye West is set to perform his “Glow in the Dark Tour” at Red Rock Resort as it launches its 2008 summer outdoor concert series on Friday, April 25, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. (Tickets) Opening the show for West will be rapper Lupe Fiasco as well as funk/rock group N.E.R.D. consisting of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley. Click to Read The Full Story …

With A Nod To The Past And An Eye On The Future, Las Vegas-Based Gaming Company Takes Control Of Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel – TLC Casino Enterprises has expanded its operations by assuming ownership of one of the most storied Las Vegas casinos, Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel. The purchase of Binion’s marks the second time in five years that TLC Casino Enterprises has bought a Las Vegas casino. The company purchased The Four Queens Hotel & Casino in 2003. “We have been looking at downtown Las Vegas in terms of long-term investment opportunities. The purchase of Binion’s was a logical step within our strategy, and we were attracted by the wide reaching name recognition,” said Terry Caudill, president of TLC Casino Enterprises. Click to Read The Full Story …

Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas Provides Scholarship Dollars To UNLV Men’s Basketball – $24,000 donated to men’s basketball over course of 2007-2008 season. The Epicurean Charitable Foundation of Las Vegas presented a $24,000 check to UNLV men’s basketball on Saturday, March 8. Over the course of the season, the Foundation has awarded a $1,000 per game scholarship contribution to the UNLV men’s basketball program in the name of the Runnin’ Rebel student-athlete who best exemplified the competitive spirit and determination in giving UNLV its best chance for victory. The donations have assisted the men’s basketball program with scholarships and academic assistance support. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Video Keno – Part Nine – with Victor H. Royer. Video Keno Strategy – The word “strategy” û as this applies to Keno and Video Keno û will surely sound odd to people whose understanding of casino games is vested purely and only in mathematics. To those readers, I wish to categorically restate that I understand that Video Keno games are negative-expectation games, meaning they are games whose inherent programming does not allow them to mathematically perform at a higher payback level than that which the program dictates. Click to Read Complete Article…

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hi Ted,

I am visiting Vegas in May for my birthday, this will be my tenth visit in 8 years from sunny Scotland, anyway can you recommend any good Chinese restaurants? Over the years I have been to PF Changs and also there was a really nice one in the Flamingo which is no longer there. As it is my birthday we wanted to go to a really nice one but there are so many!!!

Keep up the great work guys your newsletter is brilliant.

Many thanks,

Miss Lorna Ballantine

Ted Responds:

My Asian dining is pretty much limited to Panda Express (a fast food chain). We do have a basic list of Chinese restaurants at http://www.accessvegas.com/restaurants/cuisine-chinese.htm however this is just the basics.

Readers… help us out! Where on the Las Vegas Strip or downtown have you had great Chinese meal? Drop us a line at allvegastv@aol.com

Is it possible to purchase 4X6 photos of the Vegas hotels shown on your website (AccessVegas)? We are annual visitors to Vegas and I would like to make a photo album of several of our favorites. Since I am no good at photography, I thought I would try your website – the photos are great!! Please let me know one way or another – I’ll keep my fingers crossed!

Lori Schaffner

Ted Responds:

We have most of our higher quality (of quality to make prints from) available in our Access Vegas Webshots Gallery. (We’ll soon have our own gallery enabled for full size photos).

Go to the Album (in the link above) which you want and click on the photo you desire. When that photo page comes up, look for the little magnifying glass with the plus-sign under the photo.

Click the plus-sign icon to get the full size version of the photo.

Once the big, original size photo comes up in your browser, right-click on the photo and use the “Save Photo As” option in the menu box that appears. Save as many photos as you wish to your computer. From there, you can print out prints on your home printer.

OR, you may take and burn them to disk or thumb (USB) drive and take them to your local major drug store chain. They can take and create prints for about 40 cents each. Side Note: Most photos do have our site name on them. We only offer unbranded photos for commercial use at commercial terms.

Also, Webshots provides code which allows anyone to put our photos on their website, MySpace, or blog. Either as individual photos or as a photo slideshow. See our Access Vegas Myspace page for examples of what the slideshows look like.

Hope this helps!

Just have a question, I know last year they were putting a Smoking Ban in to effect in 2008. Did the Ban pass? I’m a smoker and just wanted to know if there is smoking allowed inside the Casino’s because I will be returning to Vegas in May. Is there still smoking in your Hotel rooms?

Thank You,

Linda Strouth

Ted Responds:

We covered this extensively at the time, but we always have so many great new readers so let’s do a recap:

The smoking ban was passed by the voting public. Smoking is allowed in casino gaming areas and stand-alone bars which don’t serve food. Smoking is no longer allowed in restaurants (including bar and grills).

The fine for smoking in an improper place is $100. No one has been fined yet as no one really cares about enforcing this in a libertarian-leaning state such as Nevada.

Bottom line: In a non-casino bar, simply ask the bartender and those around you if smoking is going to be an issue. If other patrons object, abstain. If they don’t, the bartender will probably put out an ashtray (or ashtray substitute).

For those who want a more broad re-cap, you can visit our Smoking Ban Archives listing every issue we talked about this subject in.

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:

  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 11
  • Victoria Day, Canada May 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 15
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Yom Kippur October 9
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • 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

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.

March 26, 2008 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 21, 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! I’m still getting used to the end of Daylight Savings Time. The sunsets are amazing, but the sun is setting about 5 PM this time of year. This week, we are also dealing with the sudden end of “summer” weather. Long time Las Vegas residents will tell you that we always seem to have one definitive time in the fall and another in the spring where the temperature makes a sudden shift. This week started with highs near 80 and will end with highs near 60. Every spring, we seem to jump from the mid-60’s to the low 80’s over the course of just a few days in April (all temperatures Fahrenheit).

This is a special photo issue! Usually we post many of the great photos that readers send in, so this week it is our turn. We had Mark Jacobs out shooting photos of the aftermath of The Frontier implosion, over to The Bellagio for their Botanical Gardens Thanksgiving Display, and then to the new Planet Hollywood for the pre-opening of the Hawaiian Tropic Zone bikini bash! (Yes, he really gets paid to do this and no, we don’t have another similar position open right now). Links to all those great photo sets are later in the newsletter.

The L.A. Times did a solid, accurate update on how things are going with the Nevada smoking ban. The bottom line is that enforcement has been all but given up on. Bars have found creative ways around it, and a judge has ruled that violating the ban is only a civil matter. IE, the police aren’t going to do anything about it. This leaves a health department staff without the manpower to enforce the law responsible for trying to catch and deal with violators. The fine if you are caught? $100. The number of people fined to date? 0.

Because this story has generated so much reader feedback over the past year, we’ll continue to follow it. Those interested in the details can read the article Las Vegas bars working around Nevada smoking ban.

As this issue goes out, it is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States and we hope all celebrating have an enjoyable time with family or friends. This would be a great time to tell everyone you know about this newsletter. If you are checking your email at someone else’s place or have a group of people over at yours, gather a few around and share some of the Bellagio Thanksgiving Season photos we feature later in the newsletter. If they are Las Vegas visitors (or just thinking about visiting), click on over to our newsletter website and get them signed up.

Enjoy This Issue!

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

Ring In 2008 With The Biggest Concert In Vegas – Kanye West Live At The Pearl At The Palms – Following an amazing performance in the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West returns to the Palms Casino Resort to perform live on New Year’s Eve inside the Pearl Concert Theater. (Tickets) The evening with Mr. West will begin at 10:45 p.m. There is no doubt that Kanye West is one of most influential artists in hip-hop today. Click to Read The Full Story …

Dancing With The Stars Tour Performs At The Orleans Arena – Dancing with the Stars, ABC’s #1 rated unscripted show, is hitting the road this winter and bringing its most popular team of stars and professional dancers to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV on Sunday, December 30, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. (Tickets) The third Dancing with the Stars tour will feature a cast of the show’s most popular competitors, combining established favorites from previous tours with newcomers from the show’s current season. Las Vegas audiences will be treated to an exciting new line-up of stars including season two winner and special guest star Drew Lachey with Cheryl Burke, Sabrina Bryan with Mark Ballas… Click to Read The Full Story …

Strip House Boasts The Sexiest Uniform In Fine Dining Thanks To World-Renowned Designer Kiki de Montparnasse – Strip House, along with luxury lingerie designer Kiki de Montparnasse, heats up the Las Vegas Strip with Studio Manasse-inspired cocktail dress uniforms. Strip House’s coy but classic cocktail mini-dress, designed by Kiki de Montparnasse, is perfectly executed in a soft, black, fine rib jersey. A high elegant front harmonizes a dangerously low back to reveal a signature satin lace-up corselette bra embellished with tulle lace. Complete with flutter sleeves, Kiki de Montparnasse’s style reflects the sexy sophisticated atmosphere of Strip House. Click to Read The Full Story …

Bellagio, Picasso And Le Cirque Receive 2008 AAA Five Diamond Award – Bellagio Continues To Shine As Only Hotel In The Country Featuring Two Five Diamond Restaurants – For the seventh consecutive year, Bellagio received AAA’s prestigious Five Diamond Award as did Julian Serrano’s renowned restaurant, Picasso. Additionally, Le Cirque received the distinction for the fifth consecutive year, making Bellagio once again the only hotel in the United States to be home to two AAA Five Diamond restaurants. Click to Read The Full Story …

J.R. Johns’ Presents ‘Dog Gone Silly’ At Harmon Theater In Krave – ‘America’s Funniest Dog Show’ Comes To Las Vegas As The Newest Afternoon Show – “Dog Gone Silly” is… Doggone funny! Reno favorite J.R. Johns and 14 of his best friends romp their way on to The Strip and into the audience’s hearts in the Harmon Theater at 3 p.m. daily. (Tickets) This general audience offering is unlike that of any other as veteran physical comedian/dog trainer takes you on a four-part journey through what some press have called a living cartoon. J.R. plays straight man to a constant barrage of pranks perpetrated on him by his canine co-stars. Click to Read The Full Story …

It’s “Cuchi-Cuchi” Time As Charo Brings Her Celebrated Variety Show To The Rampart Casino On November 25 – International superstar Charo visits the Rampart Casino for a one-night engagement on Sunday, November 25. Recognized the world over for her witty humor, loveable accent and mastery of the flamenco guitar, this truly multi-talented icon brings a smile to people’s faces with the mere mention of her name. Her trademark statement, “cuchi-cuchi,” has become the international term for fun and excitement. The performance will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the adjoining JW Marriott starting at 4:00 pm with doors opening at 3:00 pm. Click to Read The Full Story …

Wolfgang Puck Continues To Revolutionize The Fine Dining Scene In Las Vegas – Master Chef To Open Award-Winning Steakhouse CUT – Master chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck is bringing his critically acclaimed, award-winning restaurant CUT to Las Vegas. The Beverly Hills, super-chic steakhouse will open at The Palazzo late December. CUT will mark the sixth fine dining restaurant from the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group in Las Vegas, recognized as a leader in revolutionizing the dining landscape of the city. Click to Read The Full Story …

The M Resort, Spa And Casino Unveils Plans For New Local Las Vegas Resort Destination – M Resort, Spa And Casino To Re-establish Las Vegas Hospitality With Next Generation Of Architectural Design, Service Ane Amenities – M Resort Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Anthony A. Marnell, III, unveiled the 12′ x 16′ M Resort, Spa and Casino model and announced details of the project during yesterday’s press conference. M Resort, Spa and Casino will be located on approximately 80 acres of land at the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard. Click to Read The Full Story …

Michelin Announces First Ever Ratings For Las Vegas:

ONE STAR (by neighborhood)
ESTABLISHMENT NEIGHBORHOOD HOTEL
Alize West of the Strip Palms
Andre’s (downtown) Downtown None
Aureole The Strip Mandalay Bay
Bradley Ogden The Strip Caesar’s Palace
Daniel Boulud Brasserie The Strip Wynn
LÆAtelier de JoÙl Robuchon The Strip MGM Grand
Le Cirque The Strip Bellagio
Mesa Grill The Strip Caesar’s Palace
Michael Mina The Strip Bellagio
Mix The Strip Mandalay Bay
Nobu East of the Strip Hard Rock
Wing Lei The Strip Wynn
TWO STARS (by neighborhood)
Alex The Strip Wynn
Guy Savoy The Strip Caesar’s Palace
Picasso The Strip Bellagio
THREE STARS (by neighborhood)
Joel Robuchon The Strip MGM Grand

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Usually we post great reader photos and comments in this area. This week, we give you these great photo sets we’ve taken the past week for you and your friends to enjoy online!

Click on any of the photos below to see the
respective complete photo sets!

Bellagio Gardens Thanksgiving 2007

Frontier Las Vegas Post Implosion

Hawaiian Tropic Zone Las Vegas Pre-Opening


Hawaiian Tropic Zone Restaurateur Dennis Riese

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 21, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy PolicyProud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – July 31, 2002

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WELCOME to Access Vegas News and Reviews, now with subscribers in over 80 countries around the world! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.com We talk about the Las Vegas attractions, dining, and shows that YOU really care about.

If you receive this by mistake, please note the simple unsubscribe instructions at the bottom. Feel free to forward this newsletter to others in its entirety. To subscribe, simply send a blank email to (click) mailto:allvegastv@aol.com

THIS ISSUE: Summer Beat The Heat Issue

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

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

Hello from Las Vegas! It’s been a little warm, but I’m going to say it: It is a dry heat. The past couple of weeks many U.S. cities have been sweltering under 95 degree temperatures with devistating humidity. I’ll take our 105 and bone dry anytime. Here’s a tip for you: Some of the lowest rates of the year here are in the summer. If you have to be hot, might as well be here on vacation by the pool!

For those who enjoy more moderate temperatures, now is the time to extend your summer this fall. Our average October high is 84 and this brings flocks of visitors from areas the weather has already chilled. That and betting on college football games! The key to locking in great fall rates here is to book NOW. The longer you wait, the higher the rates are going to climb. Check our rates at Rates

FLAMINGO FIESTA – Enjoy great food, beer and other beverages from Mexico in The Flamingo’s restaurants and bars and recieve a free scratch card to win instant prizes including beverages, merchandise or vacations to Mexico. Every card is a winner and the Flamingo Room, Lindy’s (coffee shop) and the buffet have special Mexican menus.

HAWAIIAN TROPIC – Western Regional Pageant semi-finals are being held every Saturday night poolside at Bally’s through Aug. 31. Tickets are $25 and includes two drinks ($15 with no drinks).

WIN SINATRA JR. TICKETS – If you have yet to enter, you have only a few hours left to enter to win Frank Sinatra Jr. tickets for his upcoming engagement at the MGM. He is singing his father’s songs with full 36-piece orchestra. Enter or learn more about this show at Sinatra Jr.

TAXI DRIVERS – finally got busted. I’ve been ranting here forever about how they are screwing you guys over with long rides (without your consent to the alternate routing). The Taxi Authority did undercover work and found that 60-80% of the rides from the airport to The Strip went south through the airport tunnel instead of north toward The Strip. This has been costing riders 35-60% more. A full story from the local paper is available at Taxi Driversl We continue to suggest renting a car, which costs about the price of a couple cab rides a day. Especially at this rate!

SPLASH SUMMER SPECIAL – See Splash at the Riviera through August 31, 2002 and eat at the buffet for free! Splash is the topless show with the most variety of entertainment: with gorgeous showgirls in glamorous costumes, world-class ice skaters, motorcycle daredevils, and the hottest specialty acts on the strip. Book now at Splash

HILTON BUFFET – changed it’s look a while back, but kept the quality. We stopped in for Sunday Brunch and really enjoyed it. $12.99 for champaign bruch featuring all of your breakfast favorites, ommelettes cooked to order, a full salad bar including cheeses, plenty of fresh fruit, peeled shrimp, lox, a nice variety of Asian delights and a full desert area. Well worth the money and then some, and the new decor is more modern and very comfortably upscale.

9/11 – I’ll be flying on 9/11 this year. I had a trip that was bringng me back September 10 and jumped at the chance to extend it a day. Crazy? No. Crazy is those who haven’t flown because of months old airport horror stories. If you are just plain scared to fly, I respect that people have various fears. If not, get on a plane. I’m spending far less time clearning security than before Sept. 11 of last year as are most travelers I talk to.

RESTAURANTS – Our Food Guide Chef John Guinivere continues to make the rounds and report on great Las Vegas dining opportunities. Recently reviews are Andre’s French Restaurant (one of the top restaurants in town, period) and Mr. Lucky’s at the Hard Rock. Those and more at Restaurants

ROCKIN’ UNDER THE STARS – Caesars Palace presents a weekend of music, dancing and celebration. This two-night All-Star Concert Series event will feature Dennis Quaid & The Sharks Saturday, Aug. 31, and Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts Sunday, Sept. 1, with opening act Vesica Pisces both nights. Reserved-seat tickets are priced at $25 (plus handling) and can be purchased by calling (702) 731-7333

POOL PARTY – The Plaza (downtown) has a free pool party on the sports deck of the Hotel on Thursday nights. The Party is for Adults only 21 or older and features wet T-shirt contests, water balloon tosses, limbo and hula hoop contests. There is a disc jockey, dancing as well as specially priced food and drink.

CREOLE HEAT – New show features a slice of life in New Orleans, Broadway-style served cajun hot featuring laughter, song, drama and delight! Get swept away in this alternative and refreshing production! 7:30 pm nightly except Wednesday in the Big Easy Showroom at the Bourbon Street Hotel & Casino. $29.95 plus tax & gratuity includes 2 free drinks. Dinner packages available. Creole Heat for tickets and info.

TEQULA JOE’S – Imperial Palace now has a nightclub. Tequila JoeÆs features a fabulous Daiquiri Bar, great food and a nightly dance scene that is far from the ordinary. The Center Strip location features state-of-the-art sound system, spinning the best of Top 40, house and hip hop, live DJÆs Friday and Saturday nights. It sounds like they are trying to give Harrah’s Carnival Court a run for their money and we’ll be down to check it out soon.

CHICK SINGER NIGHT – Female musicians looking for a venue to showcase their talent now have the perfect place at the Palms Casino Resort with Chick Singer Night (CSN). The Las Vegas debut of CSN takes place Monday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. in the Palapa Lounge. CSN will be held the first Monday of each month for the next three months at the Palms. CSN is open to the public and is free of charge. Singers of all levels of experience, from the aspiring beginner to the seasoned professional, are invited to sing any style of music.

MAGIC ALL-STARS – has opened at the Frontier. It appears they are taking a “comedy club” approach to magic. Host Paull Casas will feature a variety rotating magic acts, both known and unknown. The show plays every Friday at 2 PM. The price is right: $14.95 which includes two drinks. Suitible for all ages, children under five are admitted free.

LINK AND WIN – How do free show tickets sound? Maybe a stunning night helicopter flight over The Strip! How would you like to be automatically entered every quarter (4 times a year) into our drawing for these great prizes? If you have a website or homepage you can enter to win these are more just by linking to us! Full details at Link and Win

SUBSCRIPTION “DUES” – This newsletter is absolutely free! We enjoy bringing you great Las Vegas information. If you enjoy our newsletter, we ask two small things: Consider booking your hotels, shows, and tours through AccessVegas.com or the links in this newsletter. We have great rates and fantastic selection in every category. Also, turn your friends on to Las Vegas by forwarding a copy to them and suggesting they subscribe. They’ll thank you and we thank you.

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!

SHOW REVIEW:

Instead of a show review this issue, I thought I’d give you some ideas for great things to see this summer and early fall in Las Vegas. Both things to stay indoors and “beat the heat” as well as interesting outdoor activites and when to do them.

Stratosphere Tower — The tower has both indoor and outdoor viewing areas so this is a great thing to see no matter what time of day. However, we suggest getting there about an hour before sunset and enjoy watching the entire Strip light up from the lounge. You can enjoy a cool drink in climate controlled area with a million dollar view. Then after the sun dips, head out to the outdoor observation deck and experience the open-air view. To determine sunset for the days you will be here, click to http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/daily/89121?climoMonth=8

Bellagio Fountains and Fontana Lounge – The Fountains of Bellagio go off every 30 minutes from noon until dusk and then every 15 minutes until midnight. The water creates a cooling effect for those watching it. You can view it from the street or from the Fontana Lounge in evening. The Fontana is one of the nicest lounges in the city, with an outdoor area overlooking the lake and fountains.

Helicopter Flights – You probably have extra cash in your pocket because your room rate is so reasonable during the summer. Use that money to jump on one of Maverick Helicopter’s air conditioned jet helicopters for a beautiful flight over and into the Grand Canyon. If you choose a flight with a stop at the bottom of the Canyon, you will find it not only stunning on the eyes, but comfortably cool as well. Click to http://www.accessvegas.com/tours/las-vegas-grand-canyon-tours.htm

Go Shopping – Las Vegas has some of the most incredible shopping malls in the world with various free shows and events on a regular basis. Caesars Forum Shops have various shows occuring every hour. Desert Passage at Aladdin has Arabian music, belly dancing, and more. The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian is a taste of Venice with strolling performers and a canal down the middle of the entire mall. These malls have all been built with a nice “outdoor” feel to them and if shopping is not your thing, sit at one of the cafes or restaurants and just enjoy people watching.

Treasure Island Pirate Show – plays at 5:30 PM., 7:00 PM., 8:30 PM., 10:00 PM. and 11:30 PM. The show is free right out in front of Treasure Island. You’ll want to get a good viewing spot at least 30 minutes before the show starts, so plan to see one of the last two shows so you aren’t standing in the blazing sun. Because of the lights and pyrotechnics, the show is much more spectacular after dark.

MGM Lion Habitat — is free and indoors. Open starting at 11 AM, this is a great “beat the heat” activity and a chance to view live lions up close.

We have additional information on fun Las Vegas activities (many indoors) at http://www.las-vegas-shows-reviews.com/las-vegas-attractions.htm

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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 Shows
* HEADLINERS – listings available at Headliners
* CONCERTS – listings available at Concerts

For comments or questions regarding the newsletter, write us a “letter to the editor” at (click) mailto:allvegastv@aol.com We do certainly read them all and they help shape our content.

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

* Discount Hotel Rooms
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* Tours – Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, More
* Travel Packages (Hotel/Air)
* Toll Free Discount Room Hotline: TOLL FREE 1-888-254-0637, USA and Canada. 561-845-8899, International. Give Promo Code 4558 when calling.

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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.

July 31, 2002 ISSN: 1529-2770