Access Vegas Insider Vibe – April 18, 2007

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Running very late this week, but with excellent reason. This issue is jammed with more photos (and links to more photos) than ever before in our history! Staff member Mark “Yes, I really get paid to do this” Jacobs was busy this week staggering up and down The Strip, catching images of the “new” Planet Ho(llywood) inside and out, plus some amazing shots of the progress of MGM CityCenter construction. Speaking of…

Oopps I Did It Again – No… not talking about Britney Spears and her recent (alleged) visit for LipoDissolve here in town. I screwed up some important newsletter links again in the last issue. (Hey… cut us a break. Look at the massive amount of info we crank out each week)! So, for the record, these are the working, valid links: 1. Jubilee! at Bally’s and 2. Online edition of April 11, 2007 newsletter.

Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. – are the hottest tickets of any kind we’ve seen in nearly a decade. We still have some left and they aren’t cheap, but this isn’t one to miss. Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. Tickets

New Car Rental Facility – is now open. I talked about it in our February 28, 2007 issue (where it is, tips for getting out of there, etc.) and want to add a couple more tips: If you find yourself with time to kill (checking out early, get to the area of the rental facility early, here is a couple great ways to kill time:

1. One of the area’s biggest outlet malls is 1/2 mile west of the car rental facility at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. South (the “new” South Strip) and Warm Springs Road and 2. Winchell’s Pub & Grill just across Warm Springs to the south of the rental facility has great food, full bar, and video slots (just like in the casinos). Beats killing extra time at the airport and paying airport prices for food/drink if you are really running early.

Planet Ho(llywood) – has unwittingly branded themselves the permanent name Planet Ho among Vegas insiders, but not for reasons you may suspect. See… they were putting the new sign on top of the hotel the past couple of weeks, and for some reason stopped for a couple of days just when they had reached:

Click for brand new Photos of Planet Hollywood Las Vegas and Miracle Mile (former Desert Passage) Shops and Shows.

2007 American Casino Guide – is still available and worth 10 times the Amazon price of $11.53. In addition to the $1000+ dollars worth of coupons, the book is even worth buying if you may not be visiting a gaming destination between now and the end of the year. Excellent advice on getting best gambling odds and best chances to win on everything from slots to video poker to table games. Order the 2007 American Casino Guide.

Enjoy This Issue!



First-Ever Official Bettie Page Boutique Now Open In Sin City! – ’50s Pin-up Legend Reflected In Clothing, Lingerie, Accessories And The Largest Selection Of Artwork By Famed Artist Olivia At Bettie Page Las Vegas – With fans world-wide, it’s only fitting that the first-ever official Bettie Page boutique opened doors this month in Sin City û a major hub of international travel. Outfitted in classic Bettie style with leopard print, pink and black, Bettie Page Las Vegas is located at the Shops in Desert Passage at the Aladdin. “I look forward to the grand opening of the Bettie Page store in Las Vegas, and couldn’t think of a finer city to act as its home,” said the legend herself, Bettie Page. Click to Read The Full Story …

July Opening Of The Signature At MGM Grand’s Tower 3 Marks Completion Of Las Vegas’ First Condo Hotel Project – The Signature at MGM Grand announced today the July opening of its third 576-suite tower. The debut of this all-suite tower will mark the completion of The Signature at MGM Grand complex, a first-of-its-kind hotel concept in Las Vegas that features an entirely non-gaming, non-smoking environment focused on personal service within an intimate, exclusive environment. Click to Read The Full Story …

David Hasselhoff To Complete His Run As The Flamboyant “Roger DeBris” In The Mel Brooks’ Musical Comedy The Producers At Paris Las Vegas Sunday, May 6 – Paris Las Vegas announced today that David Hasselhoff, due to a prior commitment as a judge on the hit TV series America’s Got Talent, will leave the cast of the MEL BROOKS’ musical comedy THE PRODUCERS (Tickets) on Sunday, May 6, as scheduled. Hasselhoff, who plays the outrageously flamboyant character “Roger DeBris” in the most critically acclaimed show in Broadway history, leaves as an original company member in the new 90-minute production that opened to sold-out houses on January 31, 2007. Mr. Hasselhoff will be replaced Lee Roy Reams, currently starring as “Roger DeBris” on Broadway. Click to Read The Full Story …

MTV Scores Winning Hand Greenlighting First Ever Reunion Series “Reunited: The Real World Vegas: – Production Begins This Month At The Palms Casino Resort In Las Vegas – MTV: Music Television and Bunim-Murray Productions announce today a first-ever for the “The Real World” franchise as they take a trip back to Sin City in “Reunited: The Real World.” This new series turns the tables on the original cast of “The Real World: Las Vegas” as they head into their former home û the “The Real World” suite at the Palms Casino Resort — to see what’s happened in the five years since the seven cast members lived together. Production begins this month and will premiere on MTV later this spring. Click to Read The Full Story …

Rush Announces “Snakes & Arrows World Tour” At The MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, July 28 – Renowned rock trio RUSH will arrive in Las Vegas with the “Snakes & Arrows World Tour” (Rush Tour Tickets — All Shows) Saturday, July 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The tour will kick off in North America June 13 at Atlanta’s HiFi Buys Amphitheatre and will visit more than 45 cities throughout the United States and Canada before heading to Europe. Click to Read The Full Story …

Ultimate Fighting Championship Presents UFC World LIght Heavyweight Championship UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson – Over the last four years Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell has been unstoppable. He has dominated his last seven fights and gained legendary status in the OctagonÖ as the UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion. In what many believe will be the mega-fight of the summer, Liddell will meet Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in an attempt to avenge his loss to the last man who defeated him. Liddell will face his greatest challenge to date when The Ultimate Fighting Championship« organization presents UFC 71: LIDDELL vs. JACKSON (Tickets) live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, May 26. Click to Read The Full Story …

Rio Masquerade Show in the Sky Computer Wallpaper – Experience the excitement of Brazil’s Carnivale Masquerade Show In The Sky, Las Vegas’ best free show! The Masquerade Show in the Sky features state-of-the-art floats that suspend from the ceiling above the casino floor. click and download Rio Masquerade Show in the Sky Computer Wallpaper

Noodling During Lunch – The 888 Noodle Bar at the Las Vegas Hilton, which has been open only for dinner since it opened last year, has lunch hours as well. The bar features Pan-Asian noodles, congee, and rice dishes, as well as other Asian specialties prepared by expert chefs in an open exhibition kitchen. Appetizers, soups and salads range from $7 to $9 and entrees range from $10 to $28. 888 Noodle Bar is located in the heart of Benihana Village at the Las Vegas Hilton and is open 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m-8:00 p.m. Reservations are not required (guests are served on a first come first serve basis).

Steve Martorano Brings South Florida’s Acclaimed Cafe Martorano To Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino – What do you get when you combine a South Philly boy and his wildly popular South Florida Italian restaurant and late-night hotspot with Sin City’s Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino? You get a good time and great food with a little Philly ‘tude on the side. Cafe Martorano Las Vegas, now open, promises to be a one-of-a-kind restaurant/nightclub combo. Netting top Zagat ratings, Cafe Martorano Florida is as widely known for its celebrity clientele as its South Philadelphia-style Italian-American cuisine. Click to Read The Full Story …

Holding Four Queens, Las Vegas Businessman Bets $20 Million – Addition Of The Canyon Club Brings New Energy And Live Music To Neon-Laden Downtown Icon – Since acquiring the Four Queens Hotel & Casino three years ago, local businessman, Terry Caudill, has invested over $20 million in the historic downtown property. Having remodeled its guest rooms and public areas, added new dining options, refreshed the casino floor and upgraded its gaming machines, the Four Queens announces its latest achievement — the anticipated April opening of the Canyon Club. The mastermind behind the successful launch of the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay, Lance Sterling, reenters the market with the Las Vegas version of his prospering L.A. nightspot, the Canyon Club. Click to Read The Full Story …

Vegas Photo Set Of The Week: MGM CityCenter Construction April 2007 – The huge pit between Monte Carlo and Bellagio is rising quickly out of the dust of the ashes of the former Boardwalk Hotel. Enjoy these photos taken this past week!

Gambling Talk: Playing Small Pairs In Tournaments Playing 9s, 8s, and 7s – with Victor H. Royer. These are the pairs that are traditionally considered to be middle pairs. All of them are highly vulnerable to overcards, and therefore all of them should be played extremely cautiously. In late positions, you can play pocket 9s as if they were pocket 10s, but other than that any of these medium pears are usually a candidate for the muck especially in early and middle positions, and particularly if there has been any kind of action before it becomes your turn to act. Click to Read Complete Article



Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Reader Submitted Photo – Susan of Buffalo, NY submitted these two great photos. She writes:

My husband and I were in Las Vegas at the end of January and took about 500 photos but these are my 2 favorites (Venetian & the Mirage). Great job on the newsletter! I look forward to getting them every week. Keep up the good work!

Click to more Photos of Mirage Las Vegas.

If you have a great photo of Las Vegas to share with our readers (can be artistic or just a really enjoyable photo), send them to us at allvegastv@aol.com. Click to more Photos of Venetian Las Vegas.


Hi Ted,

Your comments regarding the NBA All-Star Game in comparison with NASCAR seem to me to have racial overtones, or at the least a dislike of a sport that is dominated by none white players as opposed to NASCAR?

You say:

“Hello From Las Vegas! Wow, wow, wow… what a past 10 days here in Las Vegas. NASCAR blazed into town with record crowds (unlike the NBA All-Star game, NASCAR produced no shootings or significant arrests)…”

I could be wrong but I really don’t think that the NBA All-Star game produced the shootings or arrests. Could it be that some unsavory people took that opportunity to try and turn a memorable and fun weekend into a tragic one???

I visit Las Vegas often and I have heard of the thousands of gangs that are there… and during one of my many visits, when there were no sporting events taking place, I heard on the news of a day time shooting at the stop-and-go that took place not to far from the Tropicana Hotel and a car jacking that occurred in the underground parking facility of the Fashion Show Mall and don’t forget about the beating of a MGM security guard that made the world news. I could go on… Therefore, please don’t insinuate that a sporting activity is causing violence, when in actuality it’s some unsavory people causing the violence and mayhem.

In closing, I love Las Vegas and I enjoy reading your newsletter about Las Vegas but you really need to leave your unwarranted comments on the editing room floor, or maybe I should just unsubscribe to your newsletter?

Kind Regards,

Angella Moore

Ted Responds:

I’ll already addressed this 5 minutes into my last podcast, but for those who didn’t listen: My anti-NBA feelings preceded the event and had nothing to do with race.

I’m unhappy with any event that brings 5 shootings and over 400 arrests during one weekend. That is unheard of. Even New Years Eve (250,000 very racially diverse visitors) doesn’t even begin to come close.

Comparing sporadic gang violence normal for a city this size (the vast majority of which happens away from The Strip) to the most concentrated number of shootings and arrests ever during one weekend in the tourism area is apples and oranges.

The “Don’t Come Back, NBA” cry was echoed by everyone from the rank-and-file dealers, waitresses, and other service workers as reported by virtually every media outlet here. In fact, the sentiment so so strong that Mayor Oscar Goodman recently submitted a proposal to the NBA for a team here that was sure to get vetoed. Even the mayor who has been groveling for an NBA team for years heard the cry of the entire area: “NBA… Don’t Come Back”.

I challenge anyone to comb the past eight years of the archives of this newsletter and/or the many podcasts I have done and find even anything remotely racist. I celebrate the diversity of our readers and visitors and this is reflected in the stories and photos we run.


I will be coming to Las Vegas in June and would like to know if there are any Jazz Clubs on the South end of the strip. Really enjoy reading your newsletter.

Doris

Ted Responds:

I enjoy both traditional and smooth jazz (a far cry from the rock I was raised on… which I still also enjoy). Events and concerts come and go, so I’m going to simply provide these links to local jazz concerns:


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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:

  • 2007

  • Victoria Day (Canada) May 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 26-28 (3 day weekend)
  • Mothers Day May 13
  • Fathers Day June 17
  • Independence Day July 4
  • Civic Holiday (Canada) August 6 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day September 1-3 (3 day weekend)
  • Columbus Day (USA), Thanksgiving Day (Canada) October 6-8 (3 day weekend)
  • Christmas December 25 (4 day weekend – Christmas on Tuesday)
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 29 – January 1 (4 day weekend – New Years on Tuesday)

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