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Access Vegas Insider Vibe – January 14, 2008

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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! – Winter is finally over here in the beautiful Desert Southwest. I just got back from a walk in the 65 degree (F) sun, wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. If winter is in full swing where you are, come on out and visit. Our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals have unbelievably low room rates ranging from basic rooms at $25-30 a night to the very top hotels in Las Vegas (and in the world, for that matter) for under $200 a night. And… last I checked, airfare is down a bit.

I’m not surprised. The past few years, many of you have written and said “Las Vegas no longer caters to the middle class” and has gotten too expensive. Time and time again in this newsletter, I simply said: Give it time. All of these posh new hotel rooms are going to have to be filled and the rates will be adjusted to fill them. I said how Las Vegas will again be an incredible bargain with the ability to rent rooms for a fraction of what a similar hotel room would go for in another city. (Check out what $100 a night will get you in New York or San Francisco, then what it will buy you in Las Vegas right now).

Yes, times are tight right now. If you are in a very unfortunate job or financial situation and a trip just isn’t in the cards, by all means stay subscribed and we’ll bring a little bit of Las Vegas to you each week until you can come back and see us again. But if you even have a few bucks to spend, come on out and enjoy a few days. Nothing takes your mind off of things like a visit to Las Vegas.

Largest Hotel In the World Coming To Las Vegas! – Oh please… how many times have I typed (and mocked) this headline. And yet another group is claiming that they are going to do just this:

A 6,745 room, four tower hotel. And… not even on The Strip. Instead next to the Hard Rock Hotel (on the site of George Clooney’s project that never got off the ground… and that was in good economic times). Bottom Line: If this thing actually goes somewhere, I wish the developers well and (as always) we’ll keep you up-to-date on the progress.

las vegas wetlands park
Photo Courtesy Access Clark County (government)

Las Vegas Wetlands Park – Wetlands in Las Vegas? You bet! Now… if you are in town for a few days to see how much drinking and gambling you can accomplish, this might not be for you. However… if a local or a tourist who enjoys renting a car and seeing things like Red Rock Canyon, you may find the Las Vegas Wetlands a fun adventure for a couple of hours.

The Las Vegas Wash (a wash is what we call a creek here in the desert) has been cleaned up over the past few years, with weirs built to slow down the water flow and create lush, green areas teeming with wildlife. Finding the wetlands is simple: Head east on Tropicana (from The Strip) for exactly 7.9 miles and make a left on Wetlands Park Lane. For more info, read Wetlands Park expands with opening of bridge

Lion King Las Vegas To Play Full Show – Many Broadway style shows have (and continue to) enjoy great runs here, but are often a condensed version of the Broadway hit. The standard notion: With so much to do and see, people don’t want to sit through a really long show. (And the notion that the hotels want you back in the casino spending money more quickly).

The Lion King is going to buck the trend and perform the nearly 2 1/2 hour show, with a standard 15 minute intermission. It will be interesting to see how it works out (and how many people get on a hot gambling streak during intermission and simply don’t make it back into the theatre). Ticket sales are expected to be brisk as this show looks to be a major draw. You may wish to reserve now: Click for Lion King Las Vegas Tickets

Is The Club Scene Over? – We’ve received very mixed reader email on the club scene boom here. Some of you enjoy them, others feel priced out by those willing to spend thousands of dollars in just one night in a club. Readers of all ages have bemoaned the loss of many of the hotel lounges, and I’m among you. Hotels wonder why their gaming revenue is dropping. Could one reason be that the excitement of live music playing on (or just off of) the casino floor made the gambling more fun? DUH!

Local columnist Norm Clarke had an interesting article Celebs cut back on making it rain that is worth a read. Truth be told, Las Vegas being a little less of a celeb hot spot may be a good thing. The focus is coming back to our core business of the past many decades: Give you a reasonably priced room, good food, favorable gaming odds and some of the best shows and entertainment you’ll find on the planet, and you’ll keep coming back for more. Which leads me to these comments…

Loose slots

The Eggheads Just Don’t Get It – Nevada gaming revenue is in a free-fall (down around 8% in 2008). You aren’t gambling as much when you visit, and we don’t blame you. We’ve noted how recent years have brought tighter slots and unfavorable table game rules. Casino management blames it on the economy. I blame some of it on the guys running the casinos:

Even after the mob pretty much left town, Las Vegas was run by guys with resort, gaming, and tourism backgrounds. Not that many years ago, signs likeá99% Payback On Slots, Better Odds On Craps/Blackjack and others regarding easy comps were common up and down The Strip.

Now, things are run by a bunch of guys with educations from prestigious eastern universities whose backgrounds are Wall Street, not Las Vegas Boulevard. And it shows (just look at how Wall Street and Banking have been doing). They don’t seem to understand that you’ll come and (probably) lose a pile of cash. And still enjoy it and tell others what a great time you had doing so.

But… only if you are getting some value out of it. Only if the gambling lets you have a few win streaks. Only if you can go home and tell your friends about the incredible meal deal you had. Only if we offer you some real fun, a chance to win, and value in hotel and meal prices.

The word is starting to resonate. Read (from our local paper) Strip’s Salvation Lies In Offering Value

We’re Number Eight? – After being tops 19 out of the past 21 years, Nevada has finally given up the longstanding “fastest growing state” mantle. Neighboring states Utah and Arizona took the top two honors with Nevada falling to the #8 spot.

When people inquire about moving here, I suggest they check out Salt Lake City, Phoenix (and Albuquerque) as well. I love Las Vegas and it is an amazing place to visit, but unless your fortunate enough to be one of the (maybe) 100 people here with a job like mine, living here isn’t all about shows and buffets. It is about the daily grind just like you’d find anywhere else (even for people like me).

Why Salt Lake City, Phoenix or Albuquerque? All are short non-stop flights to your favorite vacation destination (Las Vegas, of course). Salk Lake offers traditional winters (snow and skiing), Phoenix offers a major city atmosphere with big league sports, and Albuquerque is a mid-sized city which has the beautiful desert mountain scenery of Las Vegas without our 110 degree summers.

Finally, let me leave you with an amazing Las Vegas photo blog find I found. A couple who recently married here posted photos ranging from their plane over the desert and on approach to some very cool shots all over The Strip and Downtown Fremont Street. Enjoy LAS VEGAS marriage pics. Picture Heavy!

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 $25, Fiesta H from $29, Green Valley from $125, Red Rock from $125, Santa Fe Stn from $39, Sunset Stn from $40, Texas Stn from $29, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Motley Crue To Pass The Joint Into A New Era At The Hard Rock – As the saying goes, “as one door closes, another one opens.” The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will close its legendary concert venue, The Joint, on February 7, 2009 to make way for a brand new expanded and state-of-the-art Joint. As part of their Saints of Los Angeles 2009 Tour, M÷tley Cr³e will help close The Joint doors in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion with two closing weekend performances scheduled for February 6 and 7. (Tickets). Click to Read The Full Story …

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant Celebrates Four Years In Las Vegas – RA Sushi Bar Restaurant will celebrate four years in Las Vegas with a prom-themed anniversary party on Saturday, January 24. The event begins on Saturday, January 24 at 9 p.m. and features live entertainment from Last Pop Nation, Justin Carder and RA’s own DJ G-Raw. Ladies are encouraged to don their most gaudy dresses and men in the craziest tuxes they can find to celebrate the prom-themed event. Click to Read The Full Story …

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2009 AT Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens – Beginning January 14, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will celebrate the 2009 Chinese New Year, the Year of the Ox, with a unique display filled with hidden meaning. The Conservatory’s design will be guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui û the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy. The dramatic centerpiece of this exhibit will be a botanical 15-foot-long ox. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hello. Love your newsletter!

A group of us just visited Vegas Dec. 7-11, 2008 (we have visited 2 or 3 times a year since 2003). Had a wonderful time as always. In these past years of visiting Vegas right up to our recent trip last week, we have always wondered why a 24/7 city closes most, if not all, of its restaurants at 10 or 11 pm. The fine dining establishments i can understand… but I have always wondered why more casual to fast food places donÆt stay open 24 hours.

Each hotel has ONE restaurant that stays open all nite and the wait is usually unbelievably long, not to mention how long it takes to get waited on and served. It seems a Subway shop or a 24-hour deli would be appropriate for those who want to party until all hours and THEN grab a quick bite to take back to their room.

I stayed at MGM again this trip (which I love, by the way) and they have a Deli that stays open until like 1 am and the line at 12:30 goes on forever. So I canÆt believe that a 24-hour fast food place wouldnÆt make money in the middle of the nite. I was just curious if anyone had any insight as to why all the food courts close at 11’ish and why more casual places donÆt stay open all nite.

Thanks,

Sharla from Columbus OH

Ted Responds:

I’m probably not making any friends in casino management in this issue, and we’ll be returning to our more Las Vegas news in future issues. However, these issues do need to be addressed.

The decision makers at hotel casinos are apt to be tucked into bed and asleep at midnight. They don’t know what is going on in situations like this. They forget that you are partying, boozing and having fun well into the late night and wee hours. And… what does just about everyone want to do after a long night of imbibing? EAT. (Visit any Waffle House or similar restaurant at 3 AM on a weekend. This isn’t just a Las Vegas phenomenon).

The best we can do is highlight the concerns of our readers and let them filter to the decision makers who simply have no clue what is really happening during those late night “Prime Time In Las Vegas” hours.

My wife and I have been coming to Vegas every year since the late 70’s and have seen to many changes. I enjoy playing blackjack, but this year I played maybe twice. The 6-5 payoff on a blackjack in most every casino has taken away the enjoyment of the game. Let’s get the bean counters out of Vegas.

Love your newsletter.

Bill from Orlando

Ted Responds:

For those unfamiliar with what Bill is talking about, the original rules for blackjack (and the rules in Las Vegas for decades) was that you get 3 chips for every 2 chips you bet when you are dealt a blackjack. 15 chips when you bet 10. Now, most Las Vegas casinos only pay you 6 chips for every 5 bet or simply 12 (instead of 15) for every 10 bet.

The El Cortez downtown is still dealing with the original rules and if you really hunt, you may be able to find some others. Bottom Line: If you play a blackjack game where they are only paying you 6 to 5 on a blackjack, you are getting ripped off. Keep walking. How much of a difference does it make? You get dealt blackjack more often than you realize. This can add up to a substantial amount of money per hour that should be in your pocket, but isn’t.

We have been subscribing to your newsletter for several years now and really enjoy it!

We’ve been coming to Vegas for four years for the first weekend of the PBR finals. Your newsletter has been extremely helpful.

We’ve stayed at the Excalibur the last couple of years. The first year the rooms were OK, but this year we stayed in one of the remodeled rooms and were very impressed with it. We got to look out over the pools and the improvements in the rooms were really nice.

This is the first year the finals have been at the Thomas & Mack Center instead of the Mandalay Bay Events Center. We were a little worried about transportation, but were pleasantly surprised by the taxi service we got all three nights. Our taxi cab drivers were very pleasant and we felt like they did a great job getting us there and back.

We are auto enthusiasts and really enjoyed the Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace.

Thank you for your newsletter and keep up the great work!!

Debbie R.
Kansas

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

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

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 I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • 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)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)

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

January 14, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – January 7, 2008

Posted on by

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! All year long, national and international news stories have predicted the demise of Las Vegas. Yet, if New Year’s Eve was any indication, 2009 is going to be bigger and better than ever.

More people came for New Year’s Eve this year than last year, despite the doom and gloom of current economic news. Both ESPN and Fox (Network) broadcast their New Year’s Eve shows live from The Strip and both featured incredible daredevil stunts:

Fox last generated their NYE show from Las Vegas twelve years ago when they blew up the Hacienda hotel (site of Mandalay Bay) live at midnight eastern time. If you missed that, I dug out the video from the reams of local TV recordings I make every New Year’s Eve and we have it posted online: The Hacienda Hotel imploded live on the Fox Network

The only downer? This years fireworks were a joke. Because of the Monte Carlo fire, the county has dictated that a structural report must be done from the top on every hotel prior to using it to launch fireworks. Instead of spending the lousy $200,000 to do the reports, the fireworks were shot off from various parking garages and not even visible to the entire Las Vegas Strip.

This was an embarrassment and indications are that next year, things will be back to normal. Editorial note: The head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors authority has a $100,000 slush fund to buy himself humanitarian awards with, but our leaders can’t find $200,000 to do the reports needed for our trademark world famous fireworks show. Shame, shame, shame on those who made this decision. $200,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to the almost $300 million spent to market Las Vegas each year.

Top 10 Shows In 2008 – The Las Vegas Review-Journal has named what they feel were the best shows of the past year. Click each show for tickets:

  1. Jersey Boys
  2. Tony Bennett
  3. Bette Midler’s Showgirl Must Go On
  4. George Carlin (RIP)
  5. Cirque Du Soleil’s “O”
  6. Tom Jones
  7. The Second City (closed)
  8. Blue Man Group
  9. Donny and Marie Osmond
  10. Cher
famous las vegas sign
Hint: Click on the photo to send it to a friend,
or to download the full-sized version!

Welcome To Las Vegas – 40 million visitors a year come to town, yet very few stop by and see the famous Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Many simply don’t know where it is (just a couple blocks south of Mandalay Bay) and it has had limited accessibility. Until now.

A new small parking lot (12 spots) has opened at the sign, making it safe and convenient to see it up close and get that memorable photo. No access to a car on your next trip? Tell the cabbie to run you by it on your way in from the airport. It will only add a few dollars to your fare. Of you can catch The Deuce bus down Las Vegas Blvd. southbound. After passing Mandalay Bay, the bus will be getting pretty empty. Simply ask the driver to drop you off at the bus stop closest to the Las Vegas sign. The return (northbound) Deuce runs every few minutes.

viva mcdonalds las vegas strip

viva mcdonalds las vegas strip

Viva… McDonalds? A few issues ago (December 3 Las Vegas Insider Vibe), we told you about the cutting edge “only in Vegas” McDonalds opening on the upper-Strip (near Circus Circus… you really can’t miss it). As promised, we sent Mark down to the opening with camera in hand and got some great shots. Check out our Viva McDonald’s Restaurant Grand Opening Las Vegas 2008 Pictures

david copperfield las vegas ticketsFake Or Real – No… we aren’t talking about what you might be thinking (female anatomy). We’re talking magic. How many times have you seen an illusion where the magician supposedly bangs metal plates together or passes through a “real” jet engine (or similar) and you think: Real… my a**. That thing is made of plastic.

Evidently, David Copperfield uses very real steel and metal in some of his illusions. Last month, an assistant in his show was banged up pretty bad when caught in fan blades during an illusion (blades that Copperfield later appears to pass through). He spent a number of days in the hospital.

I’ve had the good fortune to see Copperfield’s show from the front row a number of years ago (archived 2002 David Copperfield review), and it was jaw-dropping. I was literally no more than 20 feet from some illusions and could see no mirrors, trap doors nor how he pulled off a number of his major illusions.

If you are going to be in town while Copperfield is playing, I rate it a “must see” even at the somewhat steep ticket price. The MGM Theatre he plays in here is much smaller than the usual auditoriums and arenas he plays around the world and it is a special opportunity to see one of the great performers of our time like few others get to. Click to check out David Copperfield Las Vegas Tickets

Buying A Las Vegas Home? – While we primarily a newsletter for Las Vegas visitors (and locals who enjoy doing all the fun stuff this town offers), we know that many visitors have a little bit of “What if we moved to Las Vegas” rolling around in the back of your heads. Hence, we do continue to cover the local housing scene from time-to-time.

So… is it a good time to buy in Las Vegas? A recent study called Las Vegas homes “undervalued” and 3008 saw around 30,000 foreclosed homes. Those conditions would seem to make it a perfect time to buy. But even if you have extra investment cash, don’t be too quick to buy that second home here. Las Vegas homes are undervalued on paper, but the true value of a house is if anyone can afford to buy it. With local unemployment heading toward 10% and population growth grinding to a halt, you may be sitting on that “investment” for years before it pays off.

If you are independently wealthy (or have a stable job you can perform from any city) and you are looking to make a permanent move here, I agree: great time to buy. But the quick bucks flipping homes in the Las Vegas housing market are long gone.

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 $25, Fiesta H from $29, Green Valley from $120, Red Rock from $125, Santa Fe Stn from $39, Sunset Stn from $40, Texas Stn from $28, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

44th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards Live From The MGM Grand Garden Arena Sunday, April 5, 2009 On CBS – Country Music’s Party of the YearÖ, the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, honoring country music’s top talent and the industry’s hottest emerging talent, will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 8 p.m. EST/PST on the CBS Television Network. (Tickets) In addition, the Academy has announced the Artist of the Decade Special Honoring George Strait which will be taped at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Monday, April 6, 2009 to air at a later date on the CBS Television Network. Click to Read The Full Story …

New Year to Bring New World-Class Entertainment to Las Vegas Strip – Already home to world-renowned productions, Las Vegas will soon welcome more entertainment powerhouses to The Strip. Here are the must-see productions for your next Vegas vacation:

  • At The Mirage, celebrity impressionist, singer, comedian and ventriloquist Terry Fator will debut his new show. Fator won NBCÆs 2007 season of “America’s Got Talent” and has performed to rave reviews on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Click for Terry Fator at Mirage Las Vegas Tickets
  • At Mandalay Bay, award-winning Broadway phenomenon DisneyÆs The Lion King will debut May 2, 2009. The spectacular production will join the six other highly successful companies ofáThe Lion King worldwide.áClick for Lion King Las Vegas Tickets

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art to Debut “Classic Contemporary” – On January 23, 2009, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) will debut “Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol & Friends.” On loan from the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the collection will feature contemporary masterworks by such iconic artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol Lewitt and Frank Stella, to name a few. The compelling exhibition will be on view at BGFA through September 8, 2009.

Billy Joel Returns To MGM Grand To Celebrate Valentine’s Day With A Marathon Of Hits – Billy Joel will make his triumphant return to Las Vegas with an appearance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, Feb. 14 as part of a limited number of shows in select cities this winter. (Tickets) The engagement will be one of the first in North America since his record-breaking and critically acclaimed “Last Play at Shea” at New York’s Shea Stadium in July 2008. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Since his worldwide return to the stage in 2006, more than one million people have seen BILLY JOEL in peak form, delivering more than two hours of hits at each performance. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

I’ve been coming to Vegas for many years and have visited at least twice a year in the past 5 years. I love Vegas and I don’t even gamble. We visit during New Years mostly, bet on Bowl Games, flew in from Pittsburgh just to be with a great crowd at Caesars when WE won the Super Bowl year before last. It was spectacular, we were offered a lot of money for our terrible towels. Didn’t sell them. They’re originals from the Iron Curtain days.

Anyway, I am so happy to find this site. Don’t know why I never found it before. I love to hear all the info there is about Vegas. We stay at the Flamingo. It’s affordable and right in the middle of things. I always beg for a room with the a good view of the strip.(and thankfully always get it.) I open the drapes and see the Fountains at the Bellagio and the beautiful front entrance of Caesars and the big flashing billboards and I know I’m in Vegas and I’m in heaven. Last year a saw the Family Stone (Sly) at a casino off of the strip. It was really a great show. If anyone gets a chance to see it GO it was one of the most affordable shows I saw in Vegas.

I enjoyed Earth Wind & Fire and the Venetian last New Years Eve (2008). The first new years eve that I spent in Vegas I did go down to the street right in front of the Flamingo and watched the crazy parade and the fireworks. Again the Flamingo is great because I was right in the middle of things and just turned around and got back into the hotel.

A REMINDER: Right after the fireworks, there is a big crowd that are trying to get into the casinos. My friend did not come downstairs to watch the fireworks (watching a bowl game) and LUCKILY I brought my key) because of the crowd, the hotel staff will not let anyone up to the rooms without a key. The crowd of partiers usually subsides around 1:00 AM.

We’re going back this year leaving Pittsburgh on the 30th and coming back on the Jan 5. I won’t have as much money this year as last. I am looking for some good places to eat that won’t cost very much. We’ll splurge a few nights on dinner but will have to watch our money. I still going to Vegas and I’m sure there are places I can go, not spend to much and have a good time,. Any one with some actual experiences of good affordable places to eat and or places to go, Please post it. I will be checking this site often.

Bebe

Greetings! I thought you and your readers might enjoy this story. My wife and I had planned a trip to Vegas arriving December the 6th. We made our reservations months in advance. However, in early October, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had her surgery and the doctor told us she should do just fine after treatments. She has started her radiation treatments and should finish them in late December.

Now to reason I am writing. We had our plane reservations with Delta Airlines. We live on east coast. After trying to make new arrangements, refund (no way), or credit for later travel, I got in touch with the nicest lady (Ms Walker) from Delta and she worked out a new schedule with us. We will be flying to Vegas on January the 10th for 5 days. The only charge I will incur will be $10 plus change because taxes have gone up since we purchased the original tickets. We just have to give ‘Kudos’ to Delta and its employees for being so helpful in our time of sickness.

Thanks for you great and informative website.

Astor Kinney

Ted Responds:

My best to you and your wife and my thoughts and prayers are with her for a complete recovery and full health. It is really nice to hear about an airline that goes out of their way for you like this and we appreciate our readers sharing things like this.

I go to Vegas 3 to 4 times a year and love it. There are many things to see and do away from the strip. I urge travelers to see all of your city. ( the Springs Preserve etc.) I do the Strip also, but won big at the Orleans!! I’LL BE BACK

Jon from Montana

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

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

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 I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • 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)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 2 (3 day weekend)

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

January 7, 2009 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 25, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Blue Man Group Las Vegas - Save $35

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

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

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

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

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

Bellagio Gardens Christmas 2008 Display

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

bellagio gardens botanical christmas display december 2008

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

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

Wynn Encore Opening

wynn encore las vegas

wynn encore las vegas
Photos Courtesy Wynn Las Vegas

Historic Snowstorm Hits Las Vegas

wynn encore las vegas

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 25, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 17, 2008

Posted on by

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 Sale – Tickets 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

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

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

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

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

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

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – December 3, 2008

Posted on by

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! They say the law of averages catches up with you, and our unusually warm fall has given away to more “average” December/January daytime temperatures in the upper 50’s (F). Leave the shorts and bathing suit at home,ábring a jacket. Granted… it can often be 10 degrees warmer (or colder) than the average but let’s just say that pool parties are on hold for a while. Winter is a great time to see all those great indoor activities you skip the rest of the year.

My advice? Top of the Stratosphere Tower (which has both indoor and outdoor viewing areas) around sunset. The winter sunsets over the mountains to the west are spectacular.

On another note, the past few newsletters have focused on the Las Vegas economy (at least where tourism is concerned) a bit more than we have in the past. This isn’t a shift in direction. We’ll always cover visitor activities first and foremost. However, the Las Vegas economy continues to be national and international news. Hence, I’ll be noting my thoughts on it.

New Years Eve Stunts Planned – Besides the usual amazing fireworks up-and-down the Las Vegas Strip on New Years Eve, three major stunts will take place for nationally televised audiences:

  • Robbie Knievel is going to jump the brand new (upgraded) Mirage volcano fountain at 6 PM. I’ve seen Robbie jump live. Even more amazing than seeing it on TV as you fully grasp the height and true distance of such jumps. Click to Read Full Story
  • Robbie Maddison will jump 120 feet and land on top of the Paris Las Vegas Arc de Triomphe replica. Yes… land ON it according to the info we have. Click to read Maddison has Arc in his sights
  • Rhys Millen will attempt a back-flip with a truck (something never before accomplished). If this sounds familiar, he was going to try this last New Years Eve here but an injury forced him to call off the stunt. Location not yet announced, but The Rio was where last years stunt was held.

las vegas stratosphere hotel casino

las vegas stratosphere hotel casino

Strat Pictures – If you have not been to the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino (or have not been lately), we’ve added some new interior photos so you can take a little visit from right where you sit, anywhere you are in the world. Click to view our Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel Casino Photo Set

Viva McDonald’s – The first ever Las Vegas-themed McDonaldÆs in the world is opening up the upper-Strip (just south of Circus Circus). This location is going toáfeature state of the art technology (including digital video screens) plusáMcDonaldÆs largest built kitchen. We’ll have more details soon and are working to get a photographer over to the opening. Now… if they could just bring The Stardust back…

las vegas santa trainSanta Train – Few know that we have a full-scale operating tourist railroad here in Southern Nevada! If in town this coming weekend, you can take a ride for a mere $2 per person from 10 AM to 3 PM (train leaves at the top of each hour for the 45 minute trip). Train leaves from depot at 601 Yucca St. in Boulder City, Nevada (about 30 minutes from The Strip). More info at http://www.nevadasouthern.com

Thanksgiving In Las Vegas – Hate to say “told you so” but Thanksgiving was a great time to be here. Some rare rain burned off to temps in the 70’s (F) and sun. To those who still can’t understand Thanksgiving in what has always known to be Sin City, check out this story: Once a slow time of year, Las Vegas attracting more visitors for Thanksgiving

Wynn Opening Full Speed – Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore edition is set to open December 22. We expect a full-scale extravaganza that will help bring international attention to Las Vegas. Steve Wynn has never let anyone down (going back to his implosion of The Dunes hotel in a fireball) but no one has ever opened a hotel like this one in this type of economy.

No shortage of a buzz surrounding the “encore” commercial produced to promote Encore. Steve Wynn himself is seated on the ledge of the top of the building to tout his new property. Youtube videos:

New Jersey Boys Cast Member – After six months of successful performances at The Palazzo, Jersey Boys Las Vegas welcomes Deven May to the talented company. May has assumed the role of Tommy DeVito. No stranger to the role, May is well known for his portrayal of Tommy DeVito from the first national tour. Presented in Las Vegas in a unique, custom-built theatre, The Palazzo is currently the only place on the West Coast to seeáJersey Boys. This show continues to get rave reviews from those who see it. Check out Jersey Boys Las Vegas Tickets

Let’s Go Bowling – Can’t Make Las Vegas? At least treat yourself to another great party in one of the cities hosting a College Football Bowl game. We have the best seats at competitive prices. Hey, you deserve a little Christmas time treat. We have NCAA College Football Bowl Game Tickets

Interesting Side Note: Stomp Out Loud has been named the official show of the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl (Tickets). I’m sure this was done before the decision to close the show (in hopes of finding it a venue more suitable to the size of the show). We wish them all the best. Stomp Out Loud is a great show and worth seeing if you can catch it by the end of the year. Stomp Out Loud Las Vegas Tickets

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 $50, Texas Stn from $25, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Thank You For The Music! – TicketsáOn Sale Friday For Final Performances Of Mamma Mia! At Mandalay Bay – Benny Andersson and Bj÷rn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, based on the songs of ABBA, will play its final performance at Mandalay Bay Theatre in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 4, 2009. TicketsClick Here for the final performance are on sale. After nearly six years on The Strip, MAMMA MIA! prepares to end its record-breaking engagement after celebrating more than 2,100 performances and two million guests to date. Click to Read The Full Story …

T&T (Tacos & Tequila) At Luxor Begins Mariachi Brunch Every Sunday With Drink Specials And Live Music – T&T (Tacos & Tequila) at Luxor now spices up the weekends by offering Mariachi brunch every Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Guests can feast on delicious Mexican entrÚes and enjoy drink specials and live Mariachi music. T&T’s Executive Chef Saul Ortiz mixes up a zesty Sunday brunch featuring an assortment of breakfast burritos, huevos rancheros and chilaquiles. Brunch items include albondigas soup with a Mexican meatball in a spicy tomato mint broth ($8); Chilaquiles, mixed with crispy tortillas, chicken, red or green sauce, panela cheese, crema fresca and onion ($13) and the machaca burrito, with scrambled eggs salted dried beef, black beans, Oaxaca cheese, salsa verde, crema fresca and habanero salsa ($14). Click to Read The Full Story …

Country Music Sensation Lorrie Morgan To Perform At Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel – American country music singer Lorrie Morgan to perform at the Casablanca Room inside Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel on Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. Morgan is one of country music’s most popular and successful female artists, having charted over a dozen top ten hits including “Five Minutes,” “What Part of No,” and “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” which all landed at number one. As the daughter of Grand Ole Opry star George Morgan, Morgan spent many nights backstage at the Opry and made her debut there at the age of 13. By the age of 21, she was opening shows for award-winning country singer George Jones. Click to Read The Full Story …

“Defending the Caveman” Moving To A New Cave – “Defending the Caveman,” Broadway’s smash hit about the sexes, is proud to announce a limited engagement at Excalibur December 15 – January 11. Tickets “Defending the Caveman” performances are 7 p.m. nightly inside the Thunder from Down Under Showroom with additional matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. “Defending the Caveman” is a hilariously insightful play about the ways men and women relate. It offers side-splitting opinions on contemporary feminism, masculine sensitivity, and the erogenous zone. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournaments Part 2 – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own ôVegas Vicö in the tenth of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournaments Part 2 (broadband)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

To celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday and our 34th anniversary we visited Las Vegas 9/29/08 through 10/8/08. We stayed at the Wynn & renewed our vows at the Wynn Lilac Wedding Salon. So many people asked why we would go to Vegas if we don’t gamble… we toured Lake Mead & Hoover Dam, visited the Dolphin Habitat and the Secret Garden at the Mirage, saw the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, finally got up the nerve to ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower and take in the nighttime view of the strip and the Bellagio Fountains.

Saw Le Reve and Blue Man Group. Saw the new aquarium at Caesars Palace, Liberace Museum, Car Collectors Collection at Imperial Palace…& so many other things too many to list. Gambling? Who needs it when Vegas has so much else to offer. We are already looking forward to our next trip to Vegas!

Rich & Lynn from Oakland, NJ

Ted Responds:

Thanks for the great report! More and more, people are coming to enjoy everything else and skip the tables, and yet so many (who have yet to visit) continue to think of Vegas and gambling.

Hoover Dam has always been amazing and the rest of your activities I would recommend to almost anybody.

Congrats on the renewal of vows. What a great way (and great place) to celebrate 34 years!

How do I get coupons for shows in Vegas?

Maggie

Ted Responds:

Your time in Las Vegas is valuable. Just because a show is offering a coupon doesn’t mean it will be a good use of your time.

I’d suggest reading our newsletter week after week to find out information on the many current things to do and see. From time-to-time we will note specials or discounts on shows and other events and attractions.

If you get to town and you see a coupon for something you want to see (usually in the local in-room magazines), by all means use it. However, don’t waste time on a first visit specifically chasing activities just because they have a coupon.

Correction: We recently said that Allegiant Air flies from Toledo, OH to Las Vegas. They do not. They serve only Tampa and Orlandoáfrom Toledo. The closest Allegiant city to Ohio is South Bend, IN. However, the drive from Detroit or Cleveland (and surrounding areas) still might be worth it if you save enough. The one way to drive down airfares overall is to travel from the city that gives you the best deal. We thank the many readers who pointed this out.

Find your newsletter very informative. Thanks to a letter from a reader, we experienced a wonderful dinner at The Range restaurant at Harrah’s followed by some excellent jazz music. This is “the best kept secret” on the strip. Are there any other comparable places?

Thank you,

Mary from Milwaukee, WI

Ted Responds:

Glad our advice helped. Envy Steakhouse (just off The Strip on Paradise) has a smooth jazz Sunday brunch, as does Gorden Biersch (restaurant row on Flamingo at Paradise) but we still can’t find another place on The Strip restaurant offering live, relaxing lite jazz every night of the week like The Range does. Even if not grabbing a bite to eat, we suggest people head up their for a cocktail and enjoy getting away from the hustle, bustle, and noise of the casinos.

Often Asked Question:

Special Specific Casino Offers? – From time-to-time, we receive questions about an offer a certain casino sent a regular visitor ranging from why we don’t mention it here to specific questions about the offer (or casino host making it).

If you are a regular player at a certain hotel, they will offer you things based on your play. (Granted… they are only offering you a fraction of your expected losses, but if you are coming you might as well take advantage of it). Why don’t we publish those offers? They are computerized and customized for you, not for the general public. This is no different than your credit card company. They may offer you 1.9% interest on a cash advance , and offer your next door neighbor 8.9% on the same cash advance check offer. Two different customers with two different spending or credit profiles.

Also, we have no connection to the casino hosts or marketing people who make these offers. They are a completely separate part of a resort’s marketing department. We are in no position to answer questions as to why (or why not) you got a certain offer nor and dealings you have with them.

If you get an offer from a casino and can use it, by all means do so. However… if it isn’t the same offer someone else you know got or if you have a problem with it (you arrive and they put you in a different kind of room or moved you to another hotel altogether), you will need to take that up with the specific hotel that made the offer.

By all means… if you book your room through our travel partners like Las Vegas Hotel Deals or patronize one of our show sponsors (see right hand sidebar) and you encounter a problem with no resolution, let us know ASAP. Knock on wood, we’ve had not one complaint this year regarding any of our advertisers as we are very careful to only work with top companies that offer you great deals and get the job done!

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

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:

  • 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 3, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 26, 2008

Posted on by

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
Special Events
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! A cloudy Las Vegas with scattered rain showers, that is. I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving weekend. Even if you live outside the U.S. or Canada and aren’t having a Thanksgiving celebration sometime during this month, take a little time to count your blessings. Life isn’t perfect, but if we dig down and look around, we can all find something to be thankful for.

Fortunately, our current weather isn’t miserable and the rain is infrequent enough that it shouldn’t be interrupting anyone’s vacation. Nice change of pace for we locals and what the heck… much warmer than most of the rest of the United States this weekend.

As I just looked out my window (literally as I type), I saw the Virgin Air 747 coming out of the clouds with a plane full of our European friends (probably some readers among them) getting ready to touch down. I’m continually thankful and appreciative of the time, cost and effort you exhibit to make the Las Vegas visit whether you are a few hours away by car or spending half a day on an airplane to visit from the other side of the world.

Phantom û The Las Vegas Spectacular continues the amazing run at Venetian Las Vegas.

A couple of months ago, Phantom passedá1,000 performances which included:

  • “The Phantom,” has spent 1,000 hours in the make-up chair, equating to over 41 days
  • The delicate ingenue “Christine Daae” has had a total of 11,000 costume changes to date
  • Mr. Ubaldo Piangi has belted out 2,000 high Cs, the ultimate note for any tenor
  • More than 3,802 hours have been spent maintaining the other star of the show, the one-ton, 15-foot tall, 16-foot wide chandelier
  • The crew has executed 14,000 elaborate set changes, creating 13 separate locations on stage each night
  • Nightly, “Christine Daae” shares two kisses with “The Phantom” and three with the charming “Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny,” amounting to 5,000 kisses since opening night

From the moment you enter the magnificent custom-built theatre you are immersed in the storied Paris Opera House and become part of The Phantom’s world. Featuring every beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber song from the original, spectacular sets, new effects, and a breathtaking chandelier experience, Phantom is an only-in-Vegas experience.áClick for Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular Tickets

Historic Las Vegas Hotels and Showgirls – I found this great YouTube video with a montage of vintage Vegas stuff. Well worth a look especially if you have some extra time off this holiday weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkxJVeJMCGM

hilton grand vacation club las vegas

hilton grand vacation club las vegas

Hilton Grand Vacations Photos – If you are like me, you’ve seen this place up (more or less) across from The Sahara but never given any thought to walking inside the place. After all, it really isn’t a casino or entertainment venue. When we sent Mark to shoot some current photos of The Sahara (see previous issue), I had him snap a few of the Hilton Grand Vacations. Nice place… click on any of the above photos for a quick virtual tour.

Screeching To A Halt – For the first time in 40 years, Clark County (Las Vegas area) has LOST residents. An estimated 10,000 people have left town this year. That in stark contrast to the usual 4000-5000 per month who move here each month. In addition, Nevada unemployment is at 7.6%, the highest in 23 years and headed for the 10% mark.

What does that mean to you, the visitor? Perhaps something good: Las Vegas got “hot” starting about 2002. Reality shows, non-stop coverage on travel networks and celeb-gossip programs. This brought way too many carpetbaggers to town. People who didn’t care about Las Vegas, the history, the live-and-let-live tradition which attracts visitors, and who only saw visitors basically as people with wallets to be drained. Unfortunately, Las Vegas’ reputation took a bit of a beating as customer service went downhill while prices went way up. This is starting to change!

Those of us who have been here many, many years and love our town and love helping and serving (and are gratefuláá for) our visitors will be here long after the present economy has flushed out those who never belonged here in the first place.

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 $50, Texas Stn from $25, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Nevada Ballet Theatre Dazzles Audiences With Its Cherished Holiday Favorite, The Nutcracker! – The most famous cast of holiday characters, including Clara, Fritz, the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy, reunite for Las Vegas’ most cherished and beloved annual event û The Nutcracker! Staged by Ballet Mistress Clarice Geissel-Rathers, with original choreography by Bruce Steivel, this annual tradition will be presented on Wednesday, December 17 through Sunday, December 28, 2008 at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre, 4505 Maryland Parkway. Perhaps the most famous fairytale ballet of all time, The Nutcracker premiered over 100 years ago in St. Petersburg, Russia. Click to Read The Full Story …

mandalay bay shark reef las vegas

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Fun at Shark Reef Aquarium – This holiday season, Santa will be making his list and checking it twice at Mandalay BayÆs Shark Reef Aquarium. Children are invited to share last minute holiday wishes with “Santa in the Shipwreck” December 21-24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With each paid admission, children under the age of 12 also will receive a complimentary candy cane and photograph with jolly St. Nick to remember this unique holiday experience. Entry to Shark Reef Aquarium is $16.95 for adults and $10.95 for children ages five through 12. Children four and younger receive complimentary access. Click to view Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Pictures


New Treasure Island (TI) Las Vegas Room Design

Rest Easy With the New Room Designs of TI and Circus Circus – This fall, Las Vegas visitors are invited to indulge in the new contemporary comforts of Treasure Island and Circus Circus. At Treasure Island, tempting new room designs pair plush luxuries with modern conveniences. Framed by soothing neutrals and draped in crisp white sheeting, each roomÆs dreamy focal point is the TI Elite Sensational Pillow-Top Bed. Specially designed to provide uniform shape, true back support and soothing comfort, the bed is so sensational, itÆs available for purchase. To keep visitors plugged in, TI also made must-have technologies standard û from 26-inch LCD flat-screen televisions to MP3/iPod-compatible clock-radios. High-speed Internet access also is available.

At Circus Circus, guests are invited to be among the first to experience a modern new room decor that combines a calming neutral palette with fun pops of vibrant color. Located in the propertyÆs West Tower, each standard accommodation features a pillow-top mattress, sleek marble-topped workstation and comfortable sitting area. Hi-tech amenities include 32-inch plasma televisions and wireless Internet access.

Fall Into Relaxation At The Spas Of MGM MIRAGE – From a revitalizing coffee pedicure to an aromatherapy massage designed to melt away the stress and strain caused by long summer days, these fall-inspired treatments leave spa-goers relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated.

  • Hot Cafe y Horchata Pedicure, MGM Grand Spa û Enliven your day with this energizing foot treatment. The stimulating 50-minute pedicure includes a hot coffee foot mask and a sweet milk foot soak. ($95, Monday-Thursday; $105, Friday-Sunday)
  • Moroccan Jasmine Tea Manicure and Pedicure, Kim Vo Salon at The Mirage û This intoxicating 90-minute service begins with a gentle sugar scrub infused with exotic jasmine oil. Next, guests enjoy a calming manicure and pedicure before a nourishing jasmine- and green tea-infused creme leaves hands and feet silky smooth. ($155)
  • Relaxation Massage, The Spa at New York-New York û During each indulgent 50- or 75-minute session, a citrus aromatherapy oil awakens the senses while a gentle scalp massage melts away tensions. The latter treatment also includes an exfoliating peppermint foot scrub and massage. As a special treat, guests are invited to enjoy a delicious orange and chocolate bar after their service. ($125, 50 minutes; $185, 75 minutes)

Gambling Talk: Introduction To Poker Tournaments – 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: Introduction To Poker Tournaments (broadband)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

This will be our first trip to Vegas. We will be staying at the MGM Grand. I was actually in Vegas many years ago when I was like 13 so I don’t count that. We will be in town for an expo but will have the late afternoons and evenings free. What would you say would be the things not to miss?

We are in our early 40’s and still like to be on the go not couch potato kind of people. What would you say is the best place to get a great Prime Rib dinner as my fiance is a prime rib lover. Any advice you could give would be helpful as we would like to make the most of our time in Vegas.

Thanks,

Colleen from New Jersey

Ted Responds:

With so much to do and see, I try to steer clear of suggesting “must see” things to those who have never visited or have not been here in years. Also… you’ll be back (trust me on that one) so don’t kill yourself trying to do everything. Especially when here for a convention. Some tips:

1. DO go read the back issues of our newsletter (archive links are listed by month on the right sidebar… scroll down the site when you click to it) You’ll be far better informed than most other visitors and thus be able to make the most of your time.

2. Primarily Prime Rib in the Orleans gets raves both for food and atmosphere. A quick two mile cab ride from your hotel, The Orleans is a nice, big, full-size casino with a mix of locals and tourists:áOrleans Hotel Casino Las Vegas Photo Set

3. Voodoo Lounge on top of the Rio won’t scare off those over 30. Call ahead to verify but usually no cover until sometime in the evening. Moderate dress code enforced (don’t show up in a t-shirt and old tennis shoes). If possible, get there 45 minutes before sunset and watch The Strip light up in front of your eyes outdoors while you enjoy a cocktail.

Many of the photos in this set were taken there at sunset (the others were taken from Stratosphere): Las Vegas At Dusk Photo Set

I know there are free shuttles to off strip casinos/hotels such as the Rio, Sam’s Town……….but is there any free shuttles to the new Cannery or Silverton? Is there still a free one to Gold Coast? A lot of the sites are not updated on free shuttles……….. IF I am going to spend money, I would rather do it IN the hotels/casinos……….not on getting there.

Thanks!

Yankee

Ted Responds:

I absolutely agree that you’ll have a better chance of winning at a “local’s” casino. No guarantees… you can have a bad run of luck anywhere. But state revenue statistics seem to show that year in and year out, local’s casinos pay out the best.

We stopped posting a free shuttle list some time ago because that information is subject to constant change. If you print it out and then it isn’t accurate when you arrive, we get the blame!

Many off-strip hotels do have a free shuttle. Some (like South Point last time we checked) are only for guests going to and from the strip. Others are happy to take visitors from the strip to their casino and back.

My advice? Call the various hotels you wish to visit upon your arrival. Tell them you are staying on The Strip (or downtown if the case) and ask if they have a free shuttle there and back, from where, and what hours it runs.

Enjoy your visit and let us know how it went when you get back!

We love coming to Las Vegas. Try to come 2 times a year but the cost of a flight from Ohio is getting way out of our price. Any tips on how to save money on a flight and still have money left to gamble with?

Jeanne from Lorain, OH

Ted Responds:

You can always check your local paper travel sections for package deals (sometimes a regular charter flight deal may be available that you wouldn’t find online). For example, Allegient Air has non-stopsáfrom Toledo (not too far from you) and usually has really reasonable pricing.

Also, keep in mind that airfares may be up, but hotel prices are down. If you have to spend more for air, make up the difference with your choice of hotel. Let’s face it, most of the time in Las Vegas you just need a place to put your luggage and get some shut-eye. Our friends at I4Vegas continue to really have some great deals: Las Vegas Hotel Deals

As a long time recipient of your excellent newsletter I thought it was about time I made a small contribution. My wife and I have just returned to the UK after our latest visit to Las Vegas, (about our 12th trip in the last 10 years or so), once again we had a wonderful time.

Even though we are not big gamblers, we only play the low stake slots, we still enjoy the atmosphere and feel of the place. Our main vices are the restaurants and the shops so here are a few recommendations your readers might like to try.

  • Carnevino Located in the Palazzo Hotel – This is one of the best in Las Vegas, food, service, atmosphere all top class, itÆs a little pricey but well worth a visit.
  • The Steakhouse at Circus Circus – Best steakhouse in Las Vegas. They also have a Champagne Brunch, (Sunday 9:30, 11:30 and 1:30), itÆs the best in Las Vegas and only $35.95, don’t miss it.
  • 9 Fine Irishmen at New York New York – Great Irish bar, Saturday night live Irish Band, Magners, Guinness and a bloody good sing song not to be missed.(The foods pretty good as well).
  • Memphis Championship Barbecue. 2250 E.Warm Springs Road, Las Vegas, NV 8911 (702) 260-6909. www.memphis-bbq.com – The ribs are the best you will ever taste anywhere and also the service and food are great and the prices are as good as the food.
  • Montana Meat Co. Durango, (9135 S. Durango Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89113. (702) 407-0362 www.montanameatco.com – Excellent food, great service and above all very reasonably priced.

If anyone fancies a little road trip away from the bright lights of the strip take a trip to see the Pioneer Saloon 30 miles south of Vegas at Goodsprings you may even see the ghost. ThatÆs all, hope this is of use to someone keep up the good work and see you in Vegas come Superbowl Weekend.

John & Sheila from Leeds, England

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

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

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:

  • 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

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

November 26, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 12, 2008

Posted on by

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! Wow… we are getting some lucky (and nice) fall weather with highs still in the 70’s F and cool (but not cold) nights. If you are starting to regret not planning that fall visit, we’ll do our best as we are a “virtual vacation” in every newsletter!

Plaza Doing Major Upgrades? – Downtown’s Plaza Hotel and Casino is 30 years old and despite the economic downturn, owners are looking a possible major upgrades to the 1000+ rooms in the property. If you are one of the very few who have ever staggered up to the third floor of the property, you’ve seen the huge convention area they have that sits virtually unused all year long.

If they can secure financing for the $10,000,000 in room upgrades, they hope to compete with other mid-level properties for conventions that want to be at aánice hotel, but don’t need the size of bigger convention venues.

Sahara Hotel Las Vegas

Sahara Hotel Casino Photos – We’ve loaded some new interior shots to our Sahara Las Vegas Hotel Casino photo gallery. If you are feeling the economic pinch and want to save a few bucks on your next stay, The Sahara really isn’t a bad choice. Lots of lower limit gaming and slots, a casino that was upgraded not that many years ago and is in good shape, and a monorail stop right at the hotel can have you almost anywhere on The Strip within about 15 minutes. Check out Sahara Hotel Casino Discount Reservations

Is The Las Vegas Club Scene Over? – Not quite, and as long as there is a Las Vegas, there will be plenty of nightlife catering to every segment of society. However, clubs simply aren’t paying sums in the tens of thousands of dollars to second-tier (to put it politely) celebrities just to show up for the night like they used to. We also understand that “bottle service” (paying hundreds of dollars for a bottle of liquor in able to secure a nightclub table) isn’t quite as popular as it used to be.

We have readers of all ages and our feedback (even among those in their 20’s) has been “Las Vegas needs to bring back more live music in the lounges” instead of questions about clubs. Maybe Las Vegas gaming win is down in part because the tried-and-true formula of letting people gamble, drink, watch some great free music (then repeat this pattern all evening long) has faded away at many casinos.

September Visitor Numbers Down – If you were here during September (lucky you as the hot days were winding down), you may have noticed more elbow room than usual. Visitor numbers were down 10% fromáSeptember 2007. No surprise there. Many of you plan your visits weeks (or months) in advance and this summer brought very high advance airfare.

The good news? Those of you who felt “priced out of Las Vegas” are seeing the return of some very affordable prices. I did an airfare and hotel search for January 11-14 and found the following:

$250 airfare from American’s heartland (I used Indianapolis, IN as a reference… some cities are even cheaper) and plenty of $40 a night hotel rooms both on The Strip and downtown through our hotel partners Las Vegas Hotel Deals. $660 total for two people, four days in Las Vegas, air and hotel. Yes, times are tight. But if you are of the mindset that a Vegas vacation is going to set you back thousands, time to go back and do the math!

Not Everyone Likes The New Games – An op-ed piece to our local paper regarding all the automation and lack of interaction on many of the newer casino games made some great points. Sounds like it may have even been written by one of our readers:

During a stopover in Reno 25 years ago, my wife and I discovered Nevada-style gambling — and absolutely loved it. Just as suddenly, on a summer trip to Las Vegas and Laughlin, we admitted the thrill is gone. Since when did the gaming industry rob Nevada of its uniqueness, conspiring to remake its casinos into video arcades?

Most recently, the Excalibur in Las Vegas brags about replacing its live poker room with electronic poker tables. Again, what happened to the state that believed in character — the state that made gambling real? In the old days, even when the games were “electronic,” at least the money they paid was real. Certainly, if the sound and feel of money were not important, why does every ticket machine go “clink! clink!” Click to read full storyáInteraction, winning give way to gadgets, losing

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 Station from $25, Fiesta H from $29, Green Valley from $85, Red Rock from $90, Santa Fe Station from $50, Sunset Station from $40, Texas Station from $28, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Stone Temple Pilots To Perform At The Pearl At The Palms January 2 – Rockers Stone Temple Pilots return to The Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms on Friday, January 2, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (Tickets) Stone Temple Pilots, commonly called STP, hit the rock scene in the early ’90s with their debut album Core. The band quickly gained a large fan base with hits like “Sex Type Thing,” “Creep” and “Plush,” which subsequently won them a Grammy for “Best Hard Rock Performance.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Larry The Cable Guy Returns To The Orleans Arena On December 13 – Popular for coining the catchphrases “Git-R-Done” and “Lord, I Apologize,” Larry the Cable Guy, returns to the Orleans Arena on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Tickets) Known to some as Daniel Whitney, Larry the Cable Guy has showcased his talent, comedy act and characters on stage, television and in film. Larry’s one-liner filled act earned him appearances on “Evening at The Improv,” “Comic Strip Live” and the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show.” His success with radio continued when he became a regular on “Jeff Foxworthy’s Country Countdown.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Ring In 2009 With Kid Rock At The Pearl Concert Theater 12/31/08 – The infamous rocker with the bad ass attitude is bringing the party this New Year’s Eve with a spectacle of a show inside The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at 10:30 p.m. (Tickets) Grammy award-nominated Kid Rock released several successful albums including Devil Without A Cause in ’98 which includes smash hits, “Bawitdaba,” “Cowboy” and “Only God Knows Why” in addition to becoming Diamond Award certified by RIAA with more than 10 million copies sold. Click to Read The Full Story …

Spice Up Thanksgiving With A Little “Mojo” From Sushisamba Strip – Why slave away in the kitchen this Thanksgiving when you can feast on an artful blend of tasty holiday concoctions at Sushisamba Strip? Join SUSHISAMBA strip on Thursday, Nov. 27, for this gracious holiday festivity. Dinner serving begins at 5 p.m. through 2 a.m. For starters, experience the “Mojo” Marinated Turkey ($28) with cornbread-linguica stuffing, organic fall vegetables and roasted pan gravy to warm the cockles of friends and family. Click to Read The Full Story …

Producer Dick Feeney Receives His Star On The Las Vegas Walk Of The Stars Becoming The 31st Recipient – Las Vegas Producer Dick Feeney was acknowledged for his creativity and talents Oct. 17 by becoming the 31st recipient of Las Vegas Walk of Stars. The Las Vegas Walk of Stars, located from Russell Road. to Sahara Avenue., honors those who have contributed outstanding service to their community in several different categories: show business, literary, pioneers; and civic, humanitarians, sports and military in association with the rules set by Clark County. Feeney’s star, located in front of the New York New York Hotel & Casino, name was added among Wayne Newton, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr., Rich Little, Siegfried and Roy, John Stuart, Trini Lopez, Frank Marino, Tony Sacca, Liberace and Elvis. Please refer to www.lasvegaswalkofstars.com for more information. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High Low Split – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own ôVegas Vicö in the seventh of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High Low Split (broadband)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hello!! Is there a local bar or hotel downtown just to go and tilt back a couple and shoot some pleasure billiards? (Not looking for competitive-type, that’s for sure).

Shelley

Ted Responds:

Jillian’s in Neonopolis has a room dedicated to pool tables called the 9 Ball Billiard Lounge. First come, first served. Before 4 PM, $6.00 per person per hour (Monday-Friday Billiards are complimentary with your meal). After 4 PM, $5.00 per person per hour. Odds are you’ll find other visitors just in to have fun like you are!

We, four 22/23 year old guys, are trying to determine whether to come to Vegas over Thanksgiving (Thurs, Friday, Saturday night) 2008, or over Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday night) 2009. Basically, we are looking for the best time to party (clubs/hotels/etc) for the best value. Flight prices seem cheaper over MLK weekend, but hotel rooms look more expensive. Can you give us some advice on when to experience Vegas? Thanks for your help.

Lance

Ted Responds:

There really aren’t any badáweekends for many of the clubs. Thanksgiving extended weekend draws more international visitors. To a lessor scale, some families use Thanksgiving weekend as a time to gather in Las Vegas, but once Thursday is over, extended families spend the rest of the weekend doing typical Vegas stuff.

Thanksgiving offers tons of football betting (college and pro) all four days. It will offer slightly warmer weather than MLK weekend (although not pool weather). Also, MLK weekend does fall in that “dead zone” between New Years Eve and Superbowl Sunday.

If you are looking for crowds, football betting, and visitor variety, I’d look at Thanksgiving. If looking for a slower time when lines might not be so long, and club prices (admission, bottles) not so stiff, lean toward MLK.

We come to Vegas every year and this year we are staying for one month. As far as gambling goes we are not in the ‘upper’ bracket but still contribute to the area’s economy. As well as having some fun we have made very good friends and look foreword to ‘partying’ with them.

Over the years Vegas has changed dramatically, not always for the better. As you have mentioned ‘bean counters’ have a place in business BUT they should be monitored and tempered by experienced persons who understand the psychology of gambling, not just the ‘bottom line’. Remember, Vegas is not built on winners, but a good winner is good for the promotions.

On our first visit, Sam’s Town was still ‘in the desert’. If Vegas did not exist, no one would have the twisted imagination to invent it. We love America, with all its faults, we have found the people to be genuine, with all their foibles, and only serious old age or being destitute will stop us visiting. Perhaps this year we will win, or, break even.

Best wishes,

Wolf and Jean from Coventry, England

Ted Responds:

Couldn’t agree with you more. The guys running the casinos used to be gamblers themselves and understood the psychology of it. These new guys may be financial wizards (or maybe not judging by how gaming companies are doing), but they should be on Wall Street, not making the decisions on how to best get people to enjoy gaming.

Thanks again for this marvelous newsletter – we couldn’t make it to Vegas this year – but as I am turning 40 next year our USA-trip -including Vegas- has been arranged now. We are looking forward to come over in February ’09.

Greetings from Germany

Ollie and Diana

Ted Responds:

Great to hear from you and happy that you are still reading and keeping up on Las Vegas. I passed 40 just over three years ago… you’ll have great fun celebrating it here!

Love the newsletter and all the great information. I have been a subscriber for years and watched your changes and have gotten so much useful information for our frequent visits. Its so nice to be kept “in the know” on what is happening, or has happened or will be happening. I especially enjoy the Q & A column in your news letter from readers… it truly is the inside scoop and I admire your honesty.

Thanks, great job!

S. Pomplun from Eagan, MN

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

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

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:

  • 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
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11

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

November 12, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – November 5, 2008

Posted on by

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! We took a little time off to let you get the U.S. elections out of your system. Regardless of who you voted for, am I the only one that could go the rest of my life without seeing a campaign commercial again?!?

Venetian Bankruptcy – Some of you may have heard that Venetian/Palazzo parent company Las Vegas Sands is close to bankruptcy. Please hold the “We have reservations there, will they be open” questions. Just as many major U.S. airlines have continued to operate while in and out of bankruptcy, the odds of the Venetian closing down are about the same as the sun rising in the west tomorrow morning. At worst, they will restructure, perhaps give up part of the company to an investment group, and continue on.

Not Your Grandfather’s El Cortez – Interesting recent article about how the El Cortez downtown (which finished major improvements within the past year) and how they are keeping their table game rules liberal (to the player’s chance to win) while remaining a small, family-owned property. Article at Overseeing an evolution – Executive aims to lead El Cortez from storied past into stellar future

Visitors, Open Up Your Wallet – 100,000 signatures were gathers to encourage the Nevada State Legislature to up the room tax another 3% to pay for education. This at a time when many of you are having to dig deeper into your pocket to visit us in the first place. Many locals (especially those not long-time residents) don’t seem to understand that you spend a lot of time, money, and effort to come visit us year-in and year-out. You work hard for your money, and have plenty of vacation options.

Nevadan’s need to quit taking it for granted that tourism will always be strong (let alone continue to grow… as tourism growth is flat). For the record, I was approached outside of a local Albertsons grocery store to sign the petition. I declined. With Clark County (Las Vegas) school district enrollment flat, they can take projected construction and new teacher spending off-the-board and use the money to pay the present teachers if needed.

Anyone Miss The Stardust? – Construction on Echelon Place (a name that still just doesn’t do anything for me) has been delayed until at least 2009. Even in the best of times, I was curious about how The Strip was going to absorb a truckload of high-end places like The Plaza (former Frontier site), CityCenter, and Echelon. The question is whether it will ever absorb that many upscale rooms even in good times.

Behind The Scenes At A Sportsbook – Ever wonder how the lines are set, who the house wants to win and generally what happens on an average day setting the line at a sports book? The Review-Journal had a really interesting recent article NFL Sundays keep book director busy – Even ‘light’ days add up to heavy wagering

McCarran Traffic Down, What Does It Mean? – Traffic at Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport is down 13% from last year, but those figures are misleading. Tourism remains steady. With the local economy (especially that not based on tourism) doing poorly, you have fewer local residents making flights.

International travel is bucking the trend. Traffic into Terminal Two (the dump of a terminal that some charter and all international visitors have to suffer though) has traffic numbers up almost 6% over last year. Canadian based WestJet is up almost 60% on the year. This all no surprise to us as we count a large number of Canadian, European and even Mexican visitors among our readers. With domestic fuel prices coming down, we hope that once again soon it will be more economical for U.S. residents to visit just as often!

Stomp Out Loud To Close – For now, anyway. Stomp has had a great run at Planet Hollywood but was somewhat cursed by playing in a 1500 seat theatre (larger than many of the major production shows playing on The Strip). The economics of filling a venue that large are tough, even for a well-liked show. Stomp may resurface here as the producers note they are looking at other venues better suited for the production.

Stomp is an amazing show of unique nonstop energy and well worth seeing before the run ends at the end of the year. Visit our review Stomp Out Loud – A Journey Through Rhythm and Percussion to decide for yourself if this is a show you would enjoy.

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 $39, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $38, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $42, Sam’s Town from $28, Sun Coast from $63, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

TBS Presents A “Very Funny” Festival: The Comedy Festival – TBS Lines Up More than 25 Comics for LOL Lounge And Brings Excitement of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL Live Online For The First Time Ever. Unprecedented Online Coverage of Event to Utilize Cutting-Edge Technology, Allowing Users to Interact with Web Show Hosts and Comics. THE COMEDY FESTIVAL, a Co-Production with AEG Live, Returns to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas For Fourth Year Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22. (Tickets) Click to Read The Full Story …

Pianist Philip Fortenberry Of “Jersey Boys” Debuts “Liberace and Me” Cabaret Performance For Limited Engagement At Liberace Museum – Philip Fortenberry, a solo pianist, improvisational composer and cast member of “Jersey Boys,” has debuted his new intimate acoustic cabaret-style piano performance, “Liberace and Me,” for a limited engagement at the Liberace Museum. “Liberace and Me,” conceived and written by Fortenberry, offers a loving respect for the spirit and legacy of Liberace and the impact he had in Fortenberry’s life and career. Fortenberry opens his engaging performance with Liberace’s signature arrangement of “Chopsticks,” while seated at Mr. Showmanship’s own nine-foot Concert Grand Baldwin. Click to Read The Full Story …

Frank Caliendo Performs His Hilarious Stand-Up At Treasure Island Friday, November 28 – Comedian, impressionist and actor Frank Caliendo will perform his stand-up comedy routine Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. (Tickets) Star of “Frank TV,” Caliendo will perform a one-night only engagement inside the Treasure Island Theatre. In 2007, Caliendo created “Frank TV,” a comedy based on his impressions of famous personalities such as Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, Al Pacino, John Madden and George W. Bush. The side-splitting show is an extension of his popular sketch comedy routine. Click to Read The Full Story …

Do Si Don’t Miss the 22nd Annual Downtown Hoedown at Fremont Street Experience – The Fremont Street Experience is going country for the kickoff party for the National Finals Rodeo (Tickets) on Wednesday, December 3. The stompin’ shindig will feature free live concerts and plenty of two-steppin’ fun. The 22nd Annual Downtown Hoedown brings a rollicking entertainment lineup to Fremont Street with top country music talents Lady Antebellum, Heidi Newfield, The Road Hammers and Mark Chesnutt.The performance schedule is as follows: 1st Street Stage * Lady Antebellum, 6-8 p.m. * Heidi Newfield, 9-11p.m. 3rd Street Stage * The Road Hammers, 6-8 p.m. * Mark Chesnutt, 9-11 p.m. Click to Read The Full Story …

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Celebrates Expansion Milestone With Topping Off Ceremony For New North Tower – The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino hosted its topping-off ceremony for the new North Tower Friday, Oct. 24. A crane lifted the traditional evergreen tree and American flag to the top of the structure as hundreds of team members, executives and construction workers looked on “This is a monumental occasion for the Hard Rock, and we are very pleased to celebrate this expansion milestone,” said Yale Rowe, senior vice president and general manager of operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “We have great faith in the resiliency of Las Vegas and while much of our attention is focused on current market conditions, we continue to position the Hard Rock for the future. We are fortunate to be well-funded with partners who have not wavered in their commitment to the redevelopment of the Hard Rock.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hang tough… we know that many of you love this section where I answer readers questions and give my personal advice and insight as only a long time Las Vegas resident in my business can do!

However… I am also a working member of our AccessVegas.com team and we’ve been cooking up some great new resources. These are in beta (design not finished) for the next two weeks, but take a peek and see what you think:

  • Easy Vegas Deals – We are starting to post every deal we see or get our hands on when they happen, in real time at our new EasyVegasDeals.com blog. Food specials the hotels send us, both Vegas Strip and Locals casino deals, food, gaming, arts, events, you name it! For the most part, we are just looking to post good and interesting deals. Whether it be a blowout (dollar drinks somewhere) or a significant discount on fine dining or a fun, free event. Note: Site in beta and will not be updated daily until November 15.P.S. If you see deals we have not posted or enjoyed a great Vegas food, drink, or entertainment special on your last trip, drop us a line at allvegastv@aol.com so we can let everyone know!
  • AAA Vegas News Blog – We’ve started posting all of the casino releases and news we publish here to our new AAAVegas.com blog. This is your one-stop source for all of the Las Vegas hotel and resort news as it breaks every day! Note: Site in beta and will not be updated daily until November 15.
  • AccessVegas.com Twitter – We are joining the ranks of those with a AccessVegas.com Twitter feed. No, we aren’t going to tweet (post to Twitter) every single piece of news and deals. For that, you’ll want to subscribe to the RSS feeds of the new blogs (see above). However, we’ll be twittering the bigger, more interesting, and more special news and deals!

Don’t Know Twitter From Tweety Bird… RSS From R&B? – Have no fear. As always, ALL news, deals, and other interesting information will continue to be published in this newsletter in our More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events newsletter area (next section down in this issue).

However, we now have a way for those that want specific news delivered in specific ways to access it quicker without abandoning our core way of getting the very best Las Vegas news and deals to you on a regular basis.

As always, thank you very much for reading and telling your friends to subscribe at AccessVegas.com

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:

  • 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
  • Halloween October 31

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

November 5, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – October 22, 2008

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

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! Lots to get to, so we’ll dive right in:

10 Years For O – My how time flies. I can still remember my first walk through Bellagio and wondering how the new (at the time) Cirque du Soleil show O would fare. Time has given the positive verdict and we want to congratulate Cirque du Soleil’s O on ten years here in Las Vegas. Cirque du Soleil O Tickets

George Wallace Offers Early Voters Complimentary Tickets – George Wallace, headliner of Las Vegas’ “Best 10 p.m. Show,” is offering one complimentary show ticket to all patrons who present an “I Voted” sticker to the Flamingo box office. Early voters may redeem their “I Voted” sticker for a George Wallace show ticket any time between now and November 11. This offer can’t be combined with any other offer and the “I Voted” sticker must be surrendered upon receiving the complimentary show ticket. George Wallace Tickets

Don’t Forget… Last Chance To See Mamma Mia! At Mandalay Bay – Time is ticking down on the final chance to see another extraordinary long-running fixture of the Las Vegas Strip. Mamma Mia! has consistently been ranked as as a Top 10 show year after year, and there is no substitute for seeing it in Las Vegas. Do so before the curtain closes just after the end of 2008. Mamma Mia! Las Vegas Tickets

Local Housing Market – is looking to be in the tank a long time. I won’t spend a long time on it, but a little bit of new news: The highest areas of foreclosure in the Las Vegas area are in the Northwest (and far Northwest part of town in areas like Centennial Hills). Especially for those of you from out of town who are financially stable and thinking of buying a vacation home here, think twice about buying in these areas. Here’s why:

Las Vegas is really spread out. Most of the newer development (including in this area) is a long drive from The Strip. (Long time locals joke that it should be called “South Reno” as it seems like you have driven halfway to Reno to get there). What good is a dirt cheap foreclosure when you are nowhere near The Strip or the airport?

Now… if you are moving to retire or moving here with a family and don’t care about being close to business centers, the airport, or The Strip, this might be for you. New, quiet neighborhoods that are no different than living in parts of Phoenix, Albuquerque or newer areas of Southern California. For those wanting more research:

Halloween In Las Vegas Event List – As promised last issue, we have been 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.

Help Us Help You Out – It is no secret times are tight. One of our (bigger) competitors just recently laid off 10% of their media staff. We have no such plans, but more than ever we ask for your support to keep this newsletter free and as jam-packed with information as always. Here’s how to help:

  • Many write and tell us how invaluable our advice and news was to helping plan a great Las Vegas vacation, but then mention (in the course of their email) that they booked their trip elsewhere.Please take a minute to check the rates of our travel partners Las Vegas Hotel Deals. You’ll be surprised at how low the rates are (sometimes lower than the actual hotel web page) and even if they are only a couple of dollars more a night, use them anyway. A very small price to support a sponsor when you consider the time and money our advice saves you on each trip!
  • Las Vegas’ top shows have been long-time sponsors of this newsletter. They buy space every week for those graphical ads in the upper right hand sidebar and make the investment that allows us to put out a great publication at no cost to you. Click thorough to the sites of each of these great shows and explore the idea of seeing them!
  • Help us spread the word that people can sign up for our newsletter (top of our main page AccessVegas.com)! Many of you participate/post to various message boards, travel boards and internet discussion groups. Make a post about us!Also, o you read (or subscribe to) any travel publications? How about a quick email to their editor, letting them know about this newsletter? Many of them would also appreciate subscribing (and in turn telling their readers) because of the wealth of Las Vegas travel news resources we put into each issue.

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 $39, Fremont from $39, Gold Coast from $35, Main Street from $39, Orleans from $42, Sam’s Town from $36, Sun Coast from $58, More Savings At All Vegas Hotels!

Mandalay Bay And The Mirage To Host Closed Circuit Viewing For De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao – “The Dream Match” – Mandalay Bay and The Mirage will host closed circuit viewing in conjunction with the upcoming “Dream Match” between the ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. (Tickets) The championship card, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, will be distributed by HBO-Pay-Per-View and the live telecast will begin at 6 p.m. PST. Circus Circus, TI, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Luxor and New York-New York will host a limited number of closed circuit seats. Tickets for the fight sold out in one day and established a live gate of nearly $17 million. Click to Read The Full Story …

Usher To Perform At The Pearl Concert Theater On November 21 – R&B sensation Usher makes a stop in Las Vegas and is set to perform at The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 9:00 p.m. (Tickets) After being signed by legendary L.A. Reid at the young age of 14, Usher Raymond, released his debut album Usher in 1994. His first single, “Think of You” reached the top of the charts and paved his way to be known simply as Usher and make his mark on the R&B charts. Click to Read The Full Story …

Lance Burton Taps Keg At Hofbrauhaus In Honor Of Oktoberfest – Master Magician Lance Burtoná(Tickets) was honored by tapping the keg at the Hofbrauhaus Sunday night (Oct. 5). This is the fifth year in a row he has tapped the keg at Las Vegas’ landmark German restaurant the Hofbrauhaus. Next to the Christmas tree, Oktoberfest is the most popular German custom that Germany has ever exported to the rest of the world. Click to Read The Full Story …

The Smashing Pumpkins Reunion Tour Stops In Las Vegas At The Pearl At The Palms November 29 – Celebrating their 20th Anniversary Tour, The Smashing Pumpkins make their way to The Pearl at the Palms on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. (Tickets) The Smashing Pumpkins – one of rock’s most forward-thinking, influential, and often misunderstood musical forces – commence their North American “20th Anniversary Tour” November 1. Click to Read The Full Story …

American Superstars Show at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower to Host Limited Engagement Celine Dion Tribute – The American Superstars show at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower (Tickets) will add Elisa Furr as Celine Dion for a special limited engagement through October 27, 2008, announced American Casino & Entertainment Properties officials. ôOur Christina Aguilera tribute artist is taking a break, and we needed a high caliber replacement. Celine Dion is a musical icon with a voice like no other, the adoration of fans worldwide, and a recent record run here in Vegas. We are pleased to welcome the talented Elisa Furr and her amazing tribute to Celine Dion,ö said Mark Callas, who produces American Superstars with his Springtime Productions partner, Donny Moore. Click to Read The Full Story …

Minus 5 Experience Opens First Permanent Ice Lounge in the United States – The first permanent ice lounge in the United States has opened at Mandalay Place, adjacent to Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The 2,000 sq. ft. Minus 5 Experience welcomed its very first patrons with an “Elvis sighting,” an unveiling of a life-sized ice Elvis, complete with signature pompadour, glasses, side-burns, and guitar. On a day when the temperature topped 90 degrees in Las Vegas, the inside of the newly opened Minus 5 ice lounge pushed the mercury to a frigid 23 degrees Fahrenheit, or, true to its name “minus 5” Celsius. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High – with Victor H. Royer. Join our own “Vegas Vic” in the seventh of a series of poker instruction brought to you via streaming video! This week: Limit and Pot Limit Omaha High (broadband)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

What happened to coffee pots in the rooms? We just visited Vegas within the last two weeks and were surprised to find the was no coffee in our room (unless of course we wanted to order through room service). My wife does not do well without her coffee the first shot out of the cannon. Then we find we can get coffee at the restaurants at the casinos ($3.00 a cup).

Where we were staying we knew we could get a complimentary cup as long as we were gambling, which is what we did. This brings up another story, it seems that where we were staying you could only get one drink at a time, and could not have two containers in front of you at one time. BOOZE i understand, BUT COFFEE?????????

Other than that had a fine time. this was our 9th trip in 12 years and we watch buildings, casinos and coffee go up toward the sky!!!!!!!

T. Dede

Ted Responds:

Excellent question. I remember some years ago (this goes way back) when The Rio removed coffee from the rooms because the health department dictated that the maids didn’t have the proper facilities to wash the coffee pot. Some hotels simply replace the pot with a clean one, others may have arranged to have them properlyácleaned by the maids.

Per getting it from a cocktail waitress, she might have been under the gun to follow ever-more-strict rules. You could try tipping her a little more and seeing if she can hustle for more. However… another option that maybe no one thinks about: There are a number of Walgreens/CVS type stores along The Strip. Stop in and BUY a $10 coffee maker and a $5 can of coffee. You now have coffee in your room for your entire stay, anytime of the day, for the price of what you’d otherwise probably spend on it in a single day. (This is a great tip for bottled water also).

As in-depth as we know Las Vegas, our one weakness may be that we actually do live here, so we rarely get a room. So I toss this out to the readers:

If you can think back to your most recent (or even past few) trips, where did you stay and did the room have a coffee pot in it? Email news editor Mark Jacobs at mark@accessvegas.com and he’ll compile a list!

I have read that you have to wait on line for an hour or more for the seafood buffet before being seated. I & my party of 4 arrive in Vegas on Oct. 26, & planned on going to this buffet for dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 29th. Does waits of an hour or more still apply.

Thank you!

Hap Fairman

Ted Responds:

Hap is already going to be in town by the time this comes out, but I did fire him the following note:

Wait lines depend on buffet, time of day, and day or week. If you really want to check out a certain buffet, go Sunday through Thursday and arrive within 30 minutes after the dinner buffet hours start or wait until about an hour before the buffet closes for the evening to avoid the longest lines.

Hi Ted,

I’ve been an avid reader of your e-letters since our first-ever trip to Las Vegas in May of 2007. We had such a fantastic time seeing all the glitz of downtown, the strip, with the entertainment, and the food, etc. We enjoyed it so much that we couldn’t wait to come back again for a second trip this September, 2008!

With your e-letters and a bit of research on my own.. I’ve learned that deals CAN be found… for hotels, entertainment, and dining… as long as you’re looking in the right places. You have to pre-plan you trip.. decide what you want to do.. how much you can afford to spend… for the length of your stay. Your e-letters helped me greatly with those plans… and I thank you.

I’m concerned with all the talks about on the downturns of Vegas. The economy has hurt many communities from coast to coast in the United States… and Las Vegas is not immune to those downturns. Just the reports on the housing market in the entire state of Nevada alone can make that point. With the cutbacks (in various areas) at some of the casino’s — how has that effected the Vegas visitors gambling experiences? Are the casino’s paying out at all these days?

We were lucky to win $800 on a 5 cents slot machine (at maximum bid … of course) at Sahara on the very first day of our May 2007 trip. We used that winning money towards our other gambling times during the entire week we stayed. In between our shows and sight seeing and dining… we like to gamble a little (it IS Vegas after all)… but we’re not liking the idea of throwing our money away on slots if the machines are hardly “loose” because of the Casino revenue issues. What’s your take on the subject?

Patrick Magee from Upstate New York

Ted Responds:

The downturn in the housing market here has nothing to do with tourism. Too many people moved here and wanted to live the Las Vegas lifestyle without a clue as to how they were going to pay for it. All their friends were getting houses and they wanted one. Add to that the (unfortunate) number of people who bought vacation homes thinking it was a good investment plus the downturn in residential home building, and you had a recipe for disaster.

The condo situation didn’t help. For the most part, only a moron would think that a numerous high-rise condos would work in a city where you can get a 3000 square foot house with a yard and a pool for the price of a 1000 square foot condo. Even Trump Tower here seems to be selling poorly.

The general consensus is that the casinos have tightened slots and table game rules to the point that it is driving away gamblers. People are choosing to see a couple of shows and have some fine dining experiences instead of the disappointment that quick gambling losses seem to bring.

You’ll be able to tell friends and family about seeing Phantom or Mamma Mia for years to come. Similar with what a great meal you had at a celebrity chef or other amazing restaurant. A much better investment then dropping the same amount of cash in a short time at the casino.

We usually get plenty of reader feedback about any problems or changes from previous visits and we haven’t heard much about levels of customer service yet (which means it may not be a problem). If we start hearing about it, we’ll report is as always. The letters that end up here represent what many of our readers are saying!

At your urging, we ventured downtown for the first time. We had this image of seedy, dingy and unsafe. Wow, were we wrong. The atmosphere was delightfully upbeat, day and night, and we never felt unsafe.

We frequented several casinos, restaurants and attractions. Next trip we will skip the Strip altogether! I’ve passed your website onto many people who wonder how we get such great deals. Love the newsletter. Thank you so much.

Tina from New York

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

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

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 22, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – October 15, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Serving Las Vegas Visitors and Residents Since 1999

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
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

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