AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

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

Hello From Las Vegas! A little muggy and smoky this week as western wildfires from far away send a little smoke our way and we continue to flirt with the 100 degree mark. No need to bring a coat or a sweater between now and sometime in September. The nights aren’t dipping below the mid-60’s F.

There has been some confusion over where and when Donny and Marie are playing here in Las Vegas. Prior to their agreement to play a prolonged run at The Flamingo, the brother/sister duo had a week of shows planned at the MGM.

Here are the actual dates for each with ticket links:

• Donny and Marie atáMGM Grand July 17 – 22, 2008
  
• Donny and Marie at The Flamingo Sept. – Dec., 2008

The Las Vegas is in a recession story has been parroted by journalist after journalist and is getting old. What is happening in Las Vegas tourism is not at all out of step with the ups and downs of past decades. Hotels are running at 95% occupancy. (Drive down The Strip on a Saturday night and tell me how much elbow room you have).

For those interested in my detailed analysis, I did a significant blog post about this at Las Vegas Is Not In A Recession… Puhleeeze

A rainbow over Las Vegas! Clouds are rare here and rainbows even more rare. Last month, we were out running errands and happened to see some of the following sites while over near McCarran (Las Vegas) airport:

Many will recognize this scene, taken as you are on Tropicana just before you make the right turn to Paradise Rd. headed to the airport for that trip home. Click on either photo to see a few more great photos of the rainbow, rich hued clouds, and airplanes.

This photo is very important to us here at AccessVegas.com. Almost daily, we peer up and watch planes overhead bringing you to and from Las Vegas.

Sure, we like airplanes. But it goes well beyond that. There very well could be you (our readers) on each flight and the rigors of flying are not lost on us. Our United States readers are paying top dollar to fly in a sub-par airline market to come visit here.

Our international visitors have the luxury of using the worthless dollar to help deflect the cost of the trip. However, many of you are flying 12-16 hours to get here and that commitment to come visit isn’t lost on us either.

Next time you are on approach into Las Vegas… feeling that giddy excitement of the fun to come… we just may be watching from the ground. Content and happy with the part we play to enhance your trip here.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Featured Review:
American Superstars – The Biggest Stars Live

By Guy Chapman

Elvis Presley. áTim McGraw. áRod Stewart. áChristina Aguilera. áMichael Jackson. áThese five names are considered to be some of the most popular and well-known acts in the music industry.á

Each artist on their own is able to command a sizable ticket price when going to see them in concert, but on the Las Vegas Strip, there’s a way to see all five of these acts in one show… or close enough to provide an entertaining spectacle of lights, dance and song. áWith the “American Superstars” show at the Stratosphere, this production showcases an entertaining group of tribute artists that provides a concert that wouldn’t happen anywhere else.

Click to Read Entire American Superstars Las Vegas Review…

• American Superstars Las Vegas Tickets

Featured Review:
The World According Ronn Lucas

By DW Grant

In Ronn Lucas’s world anything can argue with you; dragons, microphones, socks, feet, bare hands, and even some audience members. The 90 minute show, on stage almost everyday at 1 PM at the Thunder Room at the Excalibur Hotel is a fun world for both children and adults.

But the afternoon really belongs to his collection of partners, some he brings out of a trunk and some he brings up from the audience. Buffalo Billy flirts with the ladies in the front seats and duets “Row Your Boat” with Ronn, even though Ronn tries to warn him a ventriloquist can not duet with his dummy. Amazingly they do it anyway, and we can┤t help but love it.

For children Ronn offers “Scorch,” the teenage dragon, trashing-talking his master and singing songs like “Teenager in Love” and rapping other teen faves.

Click to Read Entire Ronn Lucas Las Vegas Review…

• Ronn Lucas Las Vegas Tickets

Journey, Heart And Cheap Trick Together At Mandalay Bay Events Center Friday, July 18 – Three legendary rock bands are teaming up for what is sure to be the tour of the summer. JOURNEY, Heart and Cheap Trick are heading out on the concert trail and will stop at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Friday, July 18. Tickets The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Click to Read The Full Story …

Valentina Comes From Russia With Love For ‘Crazy Girls’ – Valentina Smirnova’s nickname is “Valusha” and hails from the Baltic Sea. “Valusha” moved to Las Vegas via San Francisco as a performer in “Crazy Girls” (Tickets) at the Riviera. She has been performing in “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Topless Revue” for a year-and-a-half now. The 5′ 8″ tall dark-haired beauty is a native of Kaliningrad, Russia where her parents still live. She models and does commercials. She said, “I bought my first car after winning $5,000 in the 2003 Miss Russia California Pageant. My first love is to dance but I also like to travel, socialize, sing and I enjoy all four seasons of the year. I love change, adventure, enthusiasm, interacting in large groups as opposed to one-on-one situations and I am a chameleon who can transform my appearance and nature to suit the environment.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Spirits/Cigar Lounge In Andre’s At The Monte Carlo – With a collection of over two hundred cognacs, armagnacs and calvados plus another forty ports available, you are guaranteed a unique experience at Andre’s Spirits and Cigar Lounge. We have products that are not widely available and so rare that they’re exclusive outside of a private collection. An example is our vintage cognac tasting; this consists of the Hardy Reserve Vintage 1848, Lheraud Vintage 1900, and Hardy Reserve Vintage 1914. Click to Read The Full Story …

Hog Wild For Kids Charity Event To Take Place May 18th -áStrap on your leather chaps, Hogs & Heifers Saloon is hitting the roads with Hog Wild for Kids, a charity motorcycle ride and event to be held Sunday, May 18, 2008. With all proceeds benefiting Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation’s (NVCCF) Camp Cartwheel, Hog Wild for Kids charity motorcycle ride will be revving up their engines as participants cruise the scenic back roads through Red Rock and out to The Mountain Springs Saloon for a rest stop and group photo before ending back to Hogs & Heifers Saloon in downtown Las Vegas (201 North 3rd Street). Click to Read The Full Story …

Randy Owen & Sugarland To Perform At The Fremont Street Experience During The Week Vegas Goes Country For The 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards – The Academy of Country Music (ACM) is announcing that on May 16 Randy Owen and on May 17 Sugarland will perform at Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is the title sponsor of the two-day party featuring free, open-to-the-public musical performances and boot-stompin’ fun. Click to Read The Full Story …

‘Legends In Concert’ Celebrates Silver Anniversary – Longest-Running Independently Owned Production Show On The Strip – On May 5, 1983, tribute artists Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, Bobby Darin and Elvis performed on the stage at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino, and “Legends in Concert” was born. (Tickets) More than 15,000 performances later, impersonators Jay Leno, Dolly Parton, Madonna, the Temptations and Elvis will take to the stage on Monday, May 5, as “Legends” reaches a significant milestone achieved by few entertainment shows anywhere: 25 years of providing family-oriented, value-priced live musical entertainment, two shows per night, six nights per week. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: The Lady M – Part Two – with Victor H. Royer. “See those machines?” he asked, pointing to the three new machines that were brought over. I nodded. “These are $500 machines,” he continued. “That’s $500 per token! And each machine takes three of them. That’s $1,500 per pull, on three machines at the same time. She bets $4,500 per pull. It takes about one minute for her to make these pulls. There are 60 minutes per hour, right? This means she puts in $270,000 per hour! Actually, given distractions, hand-pays, and so on, it averages to about $230,000 to $250,000 per hour. Every hour. And she plays for eight to twelve hours per session. That’s pretty good for one player.” Click to Read Complete Article…

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Mark’s family is in town from the Miami area this week and I’m pulling a little double-duty so we can free him up for some needed time off. This Members Mania section (where we print reader comments and questions with my answers) will return next week

A quick non-Vegas tip for this week: If you enjoy visiting Florida’s Emerald Coast (Destin, Pensacola, and Panama City Beach), our good friend Harley Van Hyning has a twice-monthly newsletter for that area very similar to this one! He’s an area native and shares all the inside tips, plus links to their local news stories (of interest to visitors) and area photos.

If you love to visit that area (as I do), subscribing is a must. There is no charge and we’ll make it easy: Simply visit DestinFloridaPodcast.com and use the sign-up box on the right sidebar. (Hint: the podcast newsletter is the ásame one with all the features noted above).

Happy Reading!

• 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

• Comedy Central Live Presents: “Jim Gaffigan: The Sexy Tour” At Mandalay Bay Friday, July 25Jim Gaffigan Tickets

• Steely Dan Think Fast, Steely Dan Summer Tour August 8 At The Pearl In Las VegasSteely Dan Tickets

• Lewis Black Performs His Dynamic Comedy Routine For The First Time At The Mirage August 30 – 31Lewis Black Tickets

• Tickets For The Premiere Of The Touring Stage Version Of Disney’s High School Musical On SaleHigh School Musical Tickets

• Mark And Carol Lapidos Host Second Annual Las Vegas Fest For Beatles Fans At The MirageLove Tickets

• My Morning Jacket Performs At The Joint Inside The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino September 24My Morning Jacket Tickets

• Now Playing: Cher At The Colosseum At Caesars Palace – Pop Icon Inaugurates Her Three-Year Vegas RunCher Tickets

• Judas Priest To Perform At The Pearl September 1Judas Priest Tickets

• Orleans Arena Hosts Volunteer Jam Featuring The Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special And Shooter JenningsVolunteer Jam Featuring The Charlie Daniels Band Tickets

• Second City comedy troupe wrings fresh material out of simple ideasSecond City Tickets

• Osmonds sign on for six-month gigDonny & Marie Osmond Tickets

• Magicians Nathan Burton, Brett Daniels embrace creativity in effort to competeNathan Burton Tickets
  Brett Daniels Tickets

• Rita Rudner: One Funny LadyRita Rudner Tickets

• Four versions of Seasons’ saga told – ‘Jersey Boys’ weaves group’s complicated history, songsJersey Boys Tickets

• Master Magician Lance Burton Heats Up The Las Vegas StripLance Burton Tickets

• Mac KingÆs Comedy Magic Delights Audiences In Las VegasMac King Comedy Magic Show Tickets

• La Cage Continues A Long Standing Las Vegas TraditionAn Evening At La Cage Tickets

• Folies Bergere Showgirls Entertain The Las Vegas StripFolies Bergere Tickets

• Lucky Cheng’s Drag Caberet Dazzles Las VegasLucky Cheng’s Drag Caberet Tickets

• Bodies – The Exhibition Gives Las Vegas A Unique Perspective On The Human BodyBodies – The Exhibition Tickets

• Stomp Out Loud Takes Over The Las Vegas StripStomp Out Loud Tickets

• The Four Queens Leads Downtown Las Vegas With New Table GamesFour Queens Info and Reservations

• Silverton Casino Lodge Gaming / Dining PromotionsSilverton Casino Lodge Info and Reservations

• Shadow Creek To Close Temporarily For Course Enhancements Effective Monday, May 19

• Miracle Mile Shops Celebrates One Year Of Growing Into Las Vegas’ Ultimate Shopping And Entertainment Complex

• Asia Poker Debuts Exclusively At The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino

• Dick’s Last Resort Showers May With Silliness – The Wackiest Joint On The Strip Cooks Up Crazy Celebrations

• Create The Ultimate Greek Salad At Home With A Recipe And Tips From Strip House’s Executive Chef John Schenk

• Sushisamba Strip To Debut In Las Vegas

• Celebrity Hairstylist, Yoav Tauber, Joins Palms Place Salon Operated By Michael Boychuck

• Rare Komodo Dragon Arrives At Shark Reef Aquarium

• The Club Inside Cannery Casino & Hotel Welcomes Davy Jones Of The Monkees

• Rojo Lounge, The Lobby Bar Reinvented Now Open Inside Palms Place!

• Live Out Your “Rock And Roll Fantasy” With Paul Rodgers At The Club Inside Cannery Casino & Hotel

• Super Summer Theatre’s 33rd Season Presents Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”

• Billy Ray Cyrus To Perform At The Club Inside Cannery Casino & Hotel

• Outernational Music Festival Featuring Gnarls Barkley With Thievery Corporation And Special Guest Bebel Gilberto At Mandalay Bay Beach Saturday, June 21

• Charity begins . . . in Vegas?

• Art and Las Vegas not a good match

• Steve Wynn says European customers boost Las Vegas

• JetBlue starts night flight from Salt Lake to Las Vegas

• Air Travelers Can Avoid Baggage Check Hassles in Las Vegas

• Giant wireless hotspot planned for Las Vegas resort

• Loyalty pays off in Las Vegas

• World Series of Poker tournament to delay final table to add drama

• Here’s a toast to the surprisingly fine food at Yard House brewpub

• Here’s hoping Caesars name gives Harrah’s some Roman-candle sparkle

• Book tells tales of Siegfried, Roy

• Custom outdoor kitchens perfect for those who entertain, want something different

• Culinary event to feature chefs, workshops and plenty of good food

• Water story makes big splash

• Las Vegas taking hard look at salaries, benefits

• Slow job growth attributed to losses in real estate sector

• Study: Few can afford homes in LV

• Fan club wants Elvis to have star in Vegas

• Early wagers back Patriots

• Little Caesar – Our reporter comes, sees, gets conquered

• McCarran count continues to slide

• Station thinks big with Viva project

• Downtown rebound on center stage – Officials break ground on Union Park

• Don’t fall into the unstylish fashion trap of looking like a typical Las Vegas visitor.

• Jeremy Kushnier plays bad boy in Vegas

• 99-cent Vegas shrimp special is history

• IRS investigation into tip practices rattles Las Vegas

• In Vegas, glitzy homes languish unless they’re new

• Barrett-Jackson set for Vegas auction

• Vegoose music festival won’t return for 2008

• New Titans of Las Vegas Reinvent Old Formula

• Industrial market remains robust in first quarter

• Smoke-free trend spreading; Nevada casinos may be next

• Yes, that dust-coated guy at Gold Spike really is the owner

• Rules to strengthen no-lighting-up ban may mean yanked permits, penalties

• McCarran Promotes Off-Airport Check-In

• Why Are There So Many Empty Strip Malls In The Valley?

• Countrywide Takes Away Home-Equity Credit Lines in Las Vegas

• Texas state worker hits $21 million slot jackpot in Vegas

• With all the Italian eateries in town, why settle for mediocrity like Le Golosita

• Le Golosita brings Strip-quality dining to locals

• Gasoline tax holiday out of reach in Nevada

• Cher promises ‘the most special show we’ve ever done’

• Many shows still friendly to families

• Hispanics playing increasingly larger role in daily life in Southern Nevada

• Broadcasters take notice of Hispanics’ love affair with Spanish radio

• Wynn plans ritzy meeting complex

• Study shows sales of businesses down in LV

• Wynn says no to layoffs despite decline

• Study shows spike in price of elder care in Las Vegas

• Frank Marino Meets New Diva Miss USA After Las Vegas Pageant

• Las Vegas Hotels In Bed With Everyone And Advertising It!

• Grammy Winner Akon Heats Things Up At REHAB And Body English In Las Vegas

• Steve Wynn Sued For Destroying Patio Furniture

• Arizona CharlieÆs Decatur Casino & Hotel Day in Las Vegas

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:

• Victoria Day, Canada May 17-19 (3 day weekend)
• Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
• Father’s Day June 15
• Canada Day, Canada July 1
• Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
• Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
• Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
• Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
• Grandparent’s Day September 7
• Jewish New Year September 30
• Yom Kippur October 9
• Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
• Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
• Halloween October 31
• Veteran’s Day November 11
• Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
• Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
• Christmas December 25
• New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
• Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
• Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
• Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
• Valentine’s Day February 14
• President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
• Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
• St. Patrick’s Day March 17
• Easter Sunday April 12
• Cinco de Mayo May 5
• Mother’s Day May 10

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All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

May 14, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

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