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Access Vegas Insider Vibe – May 14, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! 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:

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:

Las Vegas Rainbow

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.

Airplane taking off from Las Vegas

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…

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…

Donny & Marie To Debut At Flamingo Las Vegas – Flamingo Las Vegas announces Donny and Marie Osmond as the resort’s newest headliner in the Flamingo Showroom. Tickets Beginning Sept. 9, the duo will dazzle audiences of all ages with their iconic style of entertainment. Presented by Danny Gans and Chip Lightman of GansLight Entertainment, the 90-minute extravaganza will highlight Donny & Marie’s greatest hits in a multimedia spectacle presented on a custom designed stage with multiple video screens and a large cast of dancers. Click to Read The Full Story …

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!

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:

  • 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

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.

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

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

á

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – March 26, 2008

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

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

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

This newsletter is published exclusively for visitors to AccessVegas.Com and can only be signed up for there. We do not buy or rent lists, and this information is only for our members and guests. If you feel you have received it in error, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom. To subscribe, visit our Newsletter Site.

Book Online or over the phone! Call 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

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

by D.W. Grant

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

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

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

Featured Review:
Lucky Cheng’s Drag Cabaret

by Denise Almas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hi Ted,

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

Keep up the great work guys your newsletter is brilliant.

Many thanks,

Miss Lorna Ballantine

Ted Responds:

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

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

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

Lori Schaffner

Ted Responds:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope this helps!

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

Thank You,

Linda Strouth

Ted Responds:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

Coming Hot Holidays – The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

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

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – January 23, 2007

Posted on by

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! The Super Bowl is looming and we always get a flood of “What is happening Super Bowl Sunday” emails. I’d love to tell you… but we’ve heard very little. No, Las Vegas didn’t forget how to party for big events. However, the NFL (No Fun League) certainly did, and has used court orders and legal threats the past few years to keep our resorts from throwing the once famous huge events surrounding the big game.

Specifically, admission can’t be charged for any event displaying the game, and the game can’t be shown on TV’s larger than would be used for normal home viewing. (This came as a result of The Palms plans to show the game in one of their movie theater screens one year).

This is really a complete shame. In the past, casinos threw these lavish events where one fee would cover an open bar, food, tons of giveaways, the Miller/Bud/Coors girls and tons of fun for a pretty modest fee. Profit wasn’t the goal. The goal was fun!

Do not despair! Las Vegas is still the best place place in the world to watch the game (short of attending the game live). Every TV in every casino is tuned to the game, millions of dollars are bet, and every play generates unmatched whoops and excitement. You still have time to book a trip here. Visit our friends at Las Vegas Hotel Deals and see what rooms they still have.

The game is February 3, 2008. If you really want to splurge, we do have a few Big Game Tickets available. If you really, really, really want to splurge: Buy tickets to the game, book a Friday – Monday room here in Las Vegas, fly down to Phoenix on Sunday to see the game in person, then back for the evening in Las Vegas!

P.S. I can hook you up with a stadium suite at the actual game in Phoenix for around $200,000. Serious inquiries only on this one to ted.newkirk@gmail.com (and don’t delay… this will be snapped up quickly).

Palazzo is fully open, generating more world-wide publicity for Las Vegas. The combination of Venetian and Palazzo (two hotels operating under one roof and jointly run as one hotel) along with the Sands Convention Center is being billed as the largest indoor complex of its type (in terms of square feet) in the world.

My advice: Visit Palazzo and Wynn Las Vegas back-to-back. They are just across the street from each other. Doing this creates an interesting compare/contrast in the styles of two of the biggest casino titans of the modern era. Missed last week’s issue? Then you missed our exclusive sneak peak. Check out Palazzo Las Vegas Photos

Palazzo Las Vegas News Stories

You heard it here first… our political caucuses were a joke. (As usual, skip this section if no interest). This will be the last we talk about this, but last week I noted just some of the surface problems which I anticipated with our Presidential political caucuses and why to not read too much into the results. The sparks are still flying and my comments follow:

On the Democratic side, the entire system was geared to get Obama the nomination. This included a union endorsement from that union that 80% of the Strip resort workers belong to, and nine “special” at-large caucuses in actual Strip hotels. Let’s see here… a very powerful union, caucuses at the union’s job site, and a caucus format that makes one’s vote very public. Nothing strange about that? (Correction from last week: The Democratic caucuses were at 11 AM. Also, the legality of these special caucus sites was still being disputed when I wrote last week).

The Clinton’s fought back with a vengeance. Hillary campaigned heavily and publicly in working class neighborhoods likely to have a high percentage of hotel workers. Bill spent much of the week walking (working) the “back of the house” at numerous Strip properties and visiting a number of hotel caucus sites.

On the GOP side, only Mitt Romney and Ron Paul actively campaigned here. Both poured a ton of money and time into Nevada. However, the time of the GOP caucus (Saturday morning at 9 AM) was tailor-made for Romney’s voters. The Mormons and Evangelicals who made up a large chunk of his support here were most likely to actually be up at 9 AM on a weekend. Ron Paul’s base of libertarians and younger people (both groups most likely to party into the wee hours on a Friday night) may have suppressed his vote. (Disclaimer: None of the candidates I’ve mentioned from either party are my first choice for the Presidency. I’m just speaking as a pundit).

Those who want to read more can check out the numerous letters to the editor or our local paper from earlier this week: Next time, Nevada should try a primary. I couldn’t agree with them more.

Quick Amazon Tip – This isn’t Las Vegas related, but a very cool idea I stumbled across. If you are like me, you go to Amazon.com for one or two items on a regular basis. This leaves you short of the “free shipping on a $25 purchase” deal they have. What do I do? Simply add some printer ink to my order. It is something I know I’ll need. Plus… it puts me over the free shipping limit.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Sammy Hagar To Perform At The Pearl Big Game Weekend – Legendary Rocker Makes A Stop In Las Vegas At The Palms On February 2 – While thousands are in town for football, some have good ol’ fashion rock ‘n’ roll on their minds. This Big Game weekend, The Palms will be chock full with festivities, including a headlining concert with one of the most distinctive voices in rock, Sammy Hagar. (Tickets) The singer truly began to be a household name in the mid ’80s when he fronted the already formed Van Halen, replacing David Lee Roth. Hagar comes to The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms on Saturday, February 2, 2008, at 8 p.m. for what is sure to be a winning performance. Click to Read The Full Story …

American Superstars Show At The Stratosphere Casino Hotel And Tower Adds Rod Stewart Tribute – The American Superstars show at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower has added veteran tribute artist John Anthony as Rod Stewart to its line-up of celebrity tributes to yesterday’s and today’s hottest music stars, announced American Casino & Entertainment Properties officials. (Tickets) “Rod Stewart has a look, voice, and energy level that are uniquely his own. It takes an accomplished performer like John Anthony to nail a tribute that is sincere and accurate while covering the scope of Stewart’s enduring career,” says Mark Callas, who produces American Superstars with his Springtime Productions partner, Donny Moore. Click to Read The Full Story …

MGM MIRAGE Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars Highlighted by Only Restaurant to Receive Three Star Honors, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand – The November 2007 debut of the Michelin Guide in Las Vegas is a European nod to Las Vegas’ evolution into one of the world’s top dining destinations. Sixteen restaurants were honored with at least one Michelin star, and seven of those restaurants are within MGM MIRAGE properties. Receiving top honors is the Michelin three-star restaurant, Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand. The only Las Vegas recipient of this well-respected distinction, Joel Robuchon represents “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey” according to Michelin’s three-star criteria.

Earning an impressive two stars is Chef Julian Serrano’s Picasso at Bellagio. Two stars is defined by Michelin as “excellent cooking, worth a detour.” Rounding out the honors and capturing one star for “a very good restaurant in its category, offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard” are five impressive restaurants — L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand, Le Cirque at Bellagio, MICHAEL MINA Bellagio, Aureole at Mandalay Bay and miX atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay.

AOL Names ‘Crazy Girls’ ‘Las Vegas’ Sexiest Topless Revue’ – In Its 22nd Year The Riviera Show Is Now To Be Featured In A Series Of New Movies – “Crazy Girls” has appeared on hundreds of magazine covers and has proven itself as the best long-running show as well as “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Topless Revue” time after time and now a series of movies are being made about the famous revue. (Tickets) No show in Las Vegas’ history has raised so much controversy as the “Crazy Girls” at the Riviera Hotel & Casino by virtue of performing and entertaining the 10’s of millions of visitors who flock to Las Vegas each year with the type of style of entertainment that made “The Entertainment Capital” the success that it is today. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Video Keno – Part Three – with Victor H. Royer. I have often written that knowing the pay tables for machine-based gambling games is essential, and paramount to your ability to win money. While powerful profits are possible even on games whose statistical profile distinctly classifies them in the “not so good” category, knowing this before playing is equally as important as knowing the information that statistically so classifies them. Just as important is knowing the odds on such machines, and the payback percentages. Click to Read Complete Article…

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Got a couple of great responses to last week’s question about coat-check and what to do with your coat in Las Vegas during the winter:

Hi Ted & Others,

Re this question in your latest column, being a woman, I’m “hot and then cold” while in Vegas (both weather-wise and luck-wise, for that matter). I try to layer a couple of sleeves. That way I can take off a sweater or jacket once I’m inside if the casino’s too warm. But I wouldn’t recommend putting a coat or sweater on the back of a chair, especially if you’re playing the slots. Most of us machine-hop fairly often, and what are the odds you’re going to remember that coat or sweater on the back of a chair? I’ve had to try to retrace my steps to locate a sweater (in that case) that I left on a particular chair.

In wintertime Vegas, the daytimes are most often sunny, and it means you won’t need a heavy coat. But a couple of layers of sleeves is a good idea, especially if you’re walking from property to property on The Strip–quite a distance in some instances.

Another thing that works for me is tying my sweater/jacket sleeves around my waist after I remove the sweater/jacket. No easy answer, but wintertime Vegas beats summertime heat for me, without a doubt! Have a great time,

J. Steele
from the Texas Hill Country

At Delmonico’s in the Venetian they offer to take your coat. Where they put it I don’t know, but of course we all got our coats back after dinner!

Barbara Smith

Russell, PA

Hi Ted,

Like many other readers I enjoy your newsletters. I have to ask……I haven’t seen any mention of any Mega Buck winners for almost a year now. Think the last big news was a nickel machine at the Golden Nugget a long while back. Has the ticket in ticket out put a drought on the winners?

Regards, John

Great question! It seems like there were record jackpots a few years ago, and people were hitting them every few months. A check with Megabuck creators IGT Gaming shows that someone hit $1.00 Megabucks for $10,762,067 in May of 2007 at The Fremont downtown. The current jackpot is over $16,000,000.

Some conjecture that the machines were tightened up to create the series of record jackpots. A downside of tighter machines? People give up and stop playing them.

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:

  • Chinese/Lunar New Year February 7
  • Lincoln’s Birthday February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day February 16-18 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday March 23
  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 11
  • Victoria Day, Canada May 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 15
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Yom Kippur October 9
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 – Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 – January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)

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.

January 23, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – January 31, 2007

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AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Free Photos, Wallpaper, and Streaming Videos

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Where did January go? I think most of us are glad to see it go. Way too cold! Things look good for a stunning Super Bowl weekend here in Las Vegas. Temperatures brushing 70 F are going to make it an amazing guys weekend for hitting the links and watching the game. Where to watch it? Anywhere and everywhere. Every TV (including many brought in just for the game) will be tuned to it in every corner of every casinos.

If you can get here, we might still have some rooms and tee-times open. Call us (toll free) 800-696-5721 and see if we can still hook you up. Short of actually having a ticket to the game in Miami (big game tickets still available here as of press time), being in Vegas for Super Bowl weekend is the next best thing!

Stardust Implosion – Local gossip writer Norm Clarke is suggesting a March 12, 2 AM implosion of The Stardust. However, no date is yet set in stone and likely not to be noted until the week of the implosion. If you were already thinking about coming for a few days in March, take the gamble and book that week and keep your fingers crossed. But don’t book based only on this early rumor. We will let you know the minute we know (provided it is more than a couple of days in advance), so please… no more “when is the implosion” emails!

Send A Postcard To Spread Cheer – Many of you send postcards from Las Vegas (and many of you enjoy sending our online postcards). Here is a chance to send one for a good cause: 8 year old Luci LaMonica of Las Vegas is fighting leukemia. She is an honor student who loves to study and her new favorite subject is geography. A recent local TV news story encouraged all Las Vegans vacationing in other cities to send her a card from that city. I’d like to take it one step further:

We have readers all over the world, and wouldn’t it be fun if she received postcards from the many wonderful cities and towns, big and small that you are reading us from! Just tell her where your city is, tell her hello, and that you hope she feels better. For a few cents and a minute of your time, you can really brighten up her day. More info on her and the address to send the cards is available at: Postcards giving hope to local girl

Enjoy This Issue!


Photo Courtesy MissAmerica.org

Miss Oklahoma Wins The 2007 Miss America Pageant – Miss Oklahoma Lauren Nelson from Lawton, Oklahoma was crowned Miss America 2007 tonight at the Aladdin, soon to be Planet Hollywood, Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The Miss America 2007 final night of competition was broadcast live from Las Vegas, on CMT. Nelson, age 20, is a student at the University of Central Oklahoma. Her personal platform issue is Be NetSmart — Protecting Kids Online. Her scholastic ambition is to obtain a Master’ Degree in Musical Theatre and her career ambition is to become a Broadway performer. With the title, Nelson won a $50,000 scholarship to continue her education. She was crowned Miss America during the final night of competition, which aired live from Las Vegas on CMT. Nelson sang “You’ll Be in My Heart” as her talent selection for the evening. Click to Read The Full Story…

“Sugar Shane” Mosley Will Face Former Welterweight Champion Luis Collazo Saturday, February 10 At Mandalay Bay – Boxing superstar and three-time world champion “Sugar Shane” Mosley will make his long-awaited return to the ring Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. A new opponent will be in the opposite corner but Mosley will have the same desire to kick off the new year with a resounding bang. Looking to defeat Mosley will be former welterweight champion Luis Collazo, an exciting, upset-minded boxer eager to topple the three-division champion. Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

‘Legends’ Rocks With Rod Stewart, U2 – John Anthony, 2U Tribute Band Impersonate Superstars at IP – “Some guys have all the luck” and so will you when Rod Stewart joins “Legends in Concert” beginning Monday, Jan. 15, at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino. And you, too, can see U2 when 2U also joins the cast of the longest-running independently owned production show on the Las Vegas Strip. John Anthony has never looked back after making his mark in 1991 with his tribute to Rod Stewart. An amazing look-alike and sound-alike, Anthony thrills audiences with his dynamic, soulful and energetic performance covering a wide repertoire of the legendary superstar. Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

Pamper Your Valentine Las Vegas Style – Valentine’ Day, that yearly celebration of love, is just around the corner. While many think of Vegas as the quintessential singles spot, the city has a wealth of romantic ways to pamper you and your loved one. Check these out:

  • Spoil Your Sweetheart at the Spa – This Valentine’ Day, give your sweetheart the ultimate in indulgence — reserve a decadent spa treatment at WET, The Spa at TI (Treasure Island). Pamper your loved one with a Cupid’ Crush Body Wrap or make sure your sweetie only has eyes for you with a Love Spell Manicure and Pedicure. Cupid’ Crush features a luxuriant strawberry body buff and chocolate wrap, soothing vanilla scalp massage and rich application of chocolate body butter while the Love Spell mani/pedi includes a fragrant star jasmine mask. Both treatments are 75 minutes in length. With easy access via Spring Mountain Road, Nevada residents receive a 10% discount on all WET spa services.
  • Languish Your Love with LOVE – Treat your love to The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage then splurge on lavish gifts from the LOVE Boutique featuring fashion and souvenir apparel, accessories and gifts inspired by the show. For the truly extravagant, the boutique carries rare autographed items such as an autographed edition of The Beatles’ White Album – a double album originally released in 1968 featuring the signatures of all four principals for $15,500 or a framed photo collage featuring images of Beatles milestone performances and appearances for $14,500.
  • Seduce Each Other with the Maximum Sweethearts Package – MGM Grand has the ultimate romantic offer for the season of love. The Maximum Sweetheart’ Package includes:

    • One-night stay in a Celebrity Spa Suite
    • A couple’ Amazon Rainforest Ritual treatment at Grand Spa
    • Dinner for two at SEABLUE
    • Tickets for two to MGM Grand’ Crazy Horse Paris
    • Complimentary VIP Passes to Studio 54 and Tabu Ultra Lounge

    The package is priced at $1,135 per couple, taxes included, and is available February 1 — 28, except Tuesdays. For information/reservations, call (800) 929-1111

  • Sample the Seductive Offerings of the Eroticafe at Zumanity – Zumanity introduces the seductive tastes of Eroticafe, a menu based on ancient aphrodisiacs. Served exclusively at the Zumanity Theatre inside New York — New York, these tempting treats awaken the palate and stroke the senses — what better way to celebrate Valentines with the one you love!? Indulge in the succulent threesome of Menage a Foie which includes; Florets of Champagne Pate with hazelnut oil and saffron & vanilla poached pear, Truffled Duck en Croute with fig marmalade and Chasseurs Pate with licorice honey. Ignite passions with the Tuna Sutra, deliciously spicy tuna on a crispy wonton, served with wasabi honey and pickled kumquat. Inspire a libido with a Horni Margarita featuring Sauza Hornitos tequila or tickle the tongue with a Silk Panty profiling the innocence of peach vodka and Schnapps.

“U” Shaped Steel Structure of The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West Prepared for Placement – Structure Jacked Seven Feet in the Air Just 20 Feet from the Canyon’s Edge – The “U” shaped steel structure, which will support the glass floor and side rails for The Skywalk, was lifted off the ground seven feet during the phase of the construction that prepares the walkway for placement. The construction team jacked up the structure eight inches at a time and it took two days to complete. The structure was lifted to allow for the x-ray evaluation of the welds and to make room for the concrete runways for the “rollout” process. Click to Read The Full Story …

A Taste Of Wine – The Fortuna Wine Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton features Wine Guy Juan and Wine Gal Melony. The affable hosts offer guests assistance with wine selections and tastes of four featured wines free of charge (plus a little cheese and bread). A variety of wines are available by the bottle and by the glass. 36 wines are available for customers to purchase at wine store prices. Hours are 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily at Fortuna.

Gambling Talk: Playing Internet Tournaments — Overview – with Victor H. Royer. Most of the poker tournaments that you will play either on the WPT or WSOP circuits will be Texas Hold’Em no limit tournaments, and very few — if any — of the remaining land-based brick-and-mortar casino or poker room type tournaments will offer any of the other games, such as Seven Card Stud, Stud/8, Omaha High, Omaha/8, as well as some of the other interesting poker games. But you can play games like this, and tournaments featuring these games, on the Internet, and I have chosen PartyPoker.com has an example because that’s where you can find so many players participating in these tournaments that makes it worthwhile, definitely from the prize money perspective. Click to Read Complete Article

Vegas Photo Set Of The Week: Westin Casuarina Las Vegas – The ultra-modern Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa resort in Vegas lives up to the expectations created by the Westin name. Come enjoy the luxury, fun, excitement, and great location. Guest Rooms The more than 800 modern luxurious guestrooms at the Westin Casuarina Feature The Westin Heavenly Bed, Heavenly Bath, contemporary furniture, elegant granite bathrooms complete with double head shower and deluxe spa amenities including large towels and robes, hair dryers, 27′ television w/remote, iron/ironing board, dual-line cordless telephones, data ports, in-room safe, coffee makers, in-room video games and movies and much, much more!

Vegas Streaming Video Of The Week – David Copperfield – Master magician and illusionist David Copperfield brings his 2007 tour back to MGM Grand’s intimate 740-seat Hollywood Theatre with scheduled performances February 5 through February 18. Enjoy this David Copperfield interview from December 2005.

  • Click To View David Copperfield: Broadband (only)

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Hello there,

We may need some help booking an upcoming anniversary trip in March. Should we just follow your advice in the newsletter? We’ve never been before but are very excited about it! At least two other couples are going.

Thanks for any advice,

Lorie Schultz

Ted Responds:

With so much to do and see in Las Vegas, don’t over-plan. You won’t be bored for a minute.

However, if you want to see a concert that will happen while you are in town, or one of the more popular shows, you’ll want to take care of those arrangements ahead of time. You can keep your eyes on our newsletter to see what is coming up in the next few months.

Important Note: Some shows don’t put tickets on sale more than three months in advance. (On the other hand, some like Celine are available right now through the end of her run in December). If you want to see a show and don’t yet see tickets for your future dates on sale yet, check back every couple of weeks, and especially check once you get inside that three month window. Then grab them!

Note: This was sent to us on New Year’s Day, 2007 from a visitor who was here in town. If you have your laptop or access to the internet while visiting, drop us a line at allvegastv@aol.com and let us know how things are going!Dear Ted,From the lobby of the Luxor, we would like to wish you, your family and colleagues a very happy New Year. We are having a whale of a time in LV, having seen in 2007 on The Strip last night. Everyone was so well behaved and we had had a super meal in the Italian restaurant in New York New York. We were so impressed with the good behaviour of the crowd with the inconspicuous police presence, although very much in the background having made a vast amount of preparation for a successful night.We had a very relaxing coffee in The Wynn yesterday morning and today we’re off to the Stratosphere. Thank you for all your advice and we can only very highly recommend, thanks to your advice, The Maverick Helicopter tour over and into The Grand Canyon. The pilot, Paul, was superb at keeping us novices at our ease. It was a wonderful experience. Las Vegas is wonderful; we are taking back such wonderful memories plus plenty of snaps.

Thanks,

Pam and Mike French

Have a Vegas comment or question? Post To Our Message Boards!We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Post a trip report to our brand new Trip Report Message Board section! (Simply click on the New Thread option. You may be prompted to register if a fist time user. That keeps our boards safe and spam-free)!
  • Post a comment, Vegas suggestion, or question to the appropriate category of our Message Boards.
  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call, and use some of them on our Radio.AccessVegas.com Streaming Broadcast! (Don’t worry … we never broadcast your personal information. All calls used are edited to insure caller privacy).
  • 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:

  • 2007

  • Valentines Day February 14
  • Presidents Day February 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Christmas December 22-25 (3 day weekend)
  • St. Patricks Day March 17 (Falls on a Saturday)
  • March Madness (NCAA Basketball Playoffs) March 15-18, March 22-25, Final Four March 31-April 2
  • 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) September 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)

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 2006 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

January 31, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Access Vegas Insider Vibe – January 10, 2007

Posted on by

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

Book Online or over the phone! Call (toll free) 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Free Photos, Wallpaper, and Streaming Videos

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Everyone’s hangover from New Year’s Eve is starting to subside. Even presumably Britney Spears’, whose passing out or falling asleep (depending on which source you believe) overshadowed the fireworks, all the other celebs, and the 300,000 revelers that jammed our fine city.

For those who want a recap, enjoy the following:

Is it just me, is the conversion of The Aladdin to Planet Hollywood taking forever? Doesn’t it seem like this things started about the time they started building Wynn Las Vegas (which is already well underway on their second tower)? They actually are making headway, and we have brand new photos later in this issue.

In the biggest non-news of the week, Celine Dion is wrapping things up on December 15, 2007. Her run was scheduled to end this year, and there was no indication otherwise. But the clock is ticking, so don’t keep putting it off if interested.

In more interesting news, Mamma Mia! will be closing at Mandalay Bay in about 18 months. Lots of speculation that yet even another Cirque du Soleil show will take its place. But, 18 months is a LONG time. Two years ago, predictions of Las Vegas turning into Broadway West were all the rage based on the success of shows like Mamma Mia. (Anyone remember Avenue Q or Hairspray)? Now the predictions are Cirque. My opinion? Fun, entertaining shows have awesome, long runs here in Las Vegas.

With the nightclub scene stealing patrons away from the traditional shows, I’d be inclined to bet more investors start exploring combining those two activities. Steve Wyrick is giving it a shot (see story in news links).

Because we didn’t publish last week, we have extended our calendar giveaway! You still have a chance at Fantasy at The Luxor and Thunder From Down Under calendars as we have 15 of each for lucky readers. Missed the details? They are in our December 20, 2006 Insider Vibe issue.

NBA All-Star weekend is in just about a month, and we have tickets to the game and all the secondary events. If you are a local, or you are going to be in town the weekend of February 18, 2007, you need to check out our NBA All-Star Tickets Section. Can’t make it to Las Vegas? Grab yourself some NFL Playoff Tickets.

Enjoy This Issue!

Important Note: During peak times, some of our news and event story links may take extra time to load. We are working on significant upgrades to handle this increased demand. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience during the extra few seconds a story may take to appear when you click on it.

Show Review: Chippendales

Reviewed December 2006
by Nancy Dickinson

Attention all red-blooded healthy females (and surely males): Someone has gathered all the most beautiful men from all over the world and shoved them in a Theatre at The Rio for your viewing pleasure. Oh, and they’re not exactly clothed. And talented, too! Was it mentioned that they’re not really clothed? The Rio showroom is home to one of the most renowned male review shows this side of the six-pack… er… western hemisphere. Since 1981, Chippendales has been celebrating all that is MAN with the sexiest, most crowd pleasing party ever thrown. The secret to the show’s success lies in the magical mixture of the unparalleled chaos from a “girls night out” on steroids (the audience) and the impeccable pecs that flood the place.

Click to Read Complete Review

First Creative Session with Susan Stroman and David Hasselhoff as The Producers’ “Roger DeBris” – For Las Vegas, the legendary, eye-popping and drop-dead funny production will be reconceived as a 90-minute extravaganza (with no intermission), especially for the resort’s Paris Le Theatre des Arts. Like its New York counterpart, the production at Paris Las Vegas will feature music and lyrics by comedy icon Mel Brooks, book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (Hairspray, Annie) and direction and choreography by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy for You, Contact, The Music Man, Oklahoma). THE PRODUCERS has a Tony Award-winning book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Tony Award-winning music and lyrics by Mel Brooks and Tony Award-winning direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. The musical also has scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long and lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski (Tony winners all for their work). Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

Rod Stewart To Bring 2007 North American Tour To The MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, March 17 – Rock ‘n roll superstar Rod Stewart will roll his 2007 North American tour into the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, March 17 at 8 p.m. The tour, which will celebrate Stewart’s return to his rock roots, will highlight songs from his No.1 chart-topping album Still The Same… Great Rock Classics of Our Time. The album features a number of classic hits from his more than three-decade career. For the first time in more than a decade, Stewart’s stage will be designed in-the-round giving fans an intimate 360-degree view of his energetic performance. Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

2007 Grammy Award Nominee Jamie Foxx Brings His Unpredictable Tour To The Aladdin Theatre For Performing Arts Friday, February 16 – Academy Awards winner Jamie Foxx, nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best R&B Album for Unpredictable, Best Rap Duo/Group for “Georgia” with Ludacris and Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group for “Love Changes” with Mary J. Blige, will be bringing his Unpredictable Tour a night of comedy and music – to The Aladdin, future home of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Theatre for the Performing Arts on Friday, February 16 at 9pm. Jamie Foxx won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005 for his portrayal of the legendary Ray Charles in the Taylor Hackford-directed biopic “Ray.” Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

Rascal Flatts Brings “Me And My Gang 2007” Tour To Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, March 10 – Rascal Flatts will bring their 2007 concert tour, “Me And My Gang 2007,” to the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m. The concert will feature Jason Aldean as the opening act. Aldean performed on select Rascal Flatts dates during the 2006 tour. Rascal Flatts’ highly anticipated new album, Me And My Gang, was released earlier this year and debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen’s Soundscan Top 200 album chart and the country album chart, making it the highest-selling CD across all genres. Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

Slater Mario Lopez Dances His Way Into The Miss America Spotlight As Host Of The 2007 Miss America Pageant Live On CMT From The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino In Las Vegas – Television star Mario Lopez (“Dancing With The Stars,” “Nip/Tuck”) has been tapped to host the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT, airing live from The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (Aladdin) in Las Vegas on Monday, January 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT* on CMT. Don Mischer Productions will produce the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT. Sarah Brock, CMT executive producer and vice president, production, music and events, notes: “Mario Lopez is a fantastic choice to host the 2007 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT. With his soaring popularity, his former hosting experience and his undeniable charm, he will certainly excel as this year’s host.” Click to Read The Full Story and Purchase Tickets …

Gambling Talk: Poker Is Not Gambling — Part One – with Victor H. Royer. The entire history of the United States, particularly the Western lore, were all about gambling, and in particular all about poker. Even though for many years playing poker was not considered something that nice people would want to do, the fact remains that many presidents of the United States going back to the Revolutionary war, and soon thereafter, and for all the years since, all played poker. Poker played well is not a gamble, but a game of skill and knowledge. Although there is a significant element of luck, such is present in all aspects of human life, and not relegated only to poker. Click to Read Complete Article

Vegas Photo Set Of The Week: Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Construction – Slowly (amazingly slowly) and quietly, the changeover of The Aladdin to Planet Hollywood is taking place. If you haven’t been to town lately (or simply haven’t been inside the place in a while), we have great photos of both the continuing changes inside and outside. (Photo Credit Mark Jacobs)

Vegas Streaming Video Of The Week – Chef Live – Where else can you cook with glamour and glitz? No where! Cheflive is Cooking VEGAS-Style! FOOD and VEGAS û What else could you ask for? Cheflive presents a state-of-the-art exhibition kitchen and cooking demonstrations featuring chefs from around the world and Las Vegas. Experience the taste of the Strip. Cook like a Gourmet VEGAS chef. Take a little of VEGAS home with you as you will be able to watch and cook along with your VEGAS Chef at HOME!

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Readers Write:

Hi Ted,

6 of us are coming to Las Vegas 22nd January for a weeks holiday. We are traveling from Wales in the UK and we are wondering if you could tell us what the weather will like then eg. rough idea of the temperature so we know what to pack.

Thanks for your help,

Cheryl Morcom

Ted Responds:

Good question. We have the info at http://www.accessvegas.com/faqs/las-vegas-weather.htm and realize we should make that info easier to find!

We are going to be in Vegas l/11/07 thru 1/14, any suggestions for a show?Four of us all sisters for the first time ever in Vegas and we are sooooooooo looking forward to our trip, we thought we would do a show or something!

Thanks for the news and any suggestions,

Sarah Rosser

Ted Responds:

Celine (if you can get tickets). Or if Celine isn’t to everyone’s liking, you can’t go wrong with any of the Cirque shows (although keep in mind that Zumanity is R-rated, the rest won’t offend anyone).

Le Reve isn’t a Cirque show, but was created by some of the same people, and has been getting very good reviews the past few months. If you want Broadway, Phantom for something serious, Mamma Mia! for something fun.

Why do never suggest a certain specific show? Everyone’s tastes are different, and there is no “one best” show!

The best thing to do is go to our shows page: Do a search for your dates (left hand sidebar of that page) and see what is available at what price.

(Note: I personally wrote Sarah back on this last month, and even though she’ll be in town as you read this, I thought it was a great question).

Dear Ted,In November I completed my 14th Las Vegas vacation from England and have booked the 15th for Feb 07. I got to see several shows I would recommend to other Vegas lovers.

1) Fantasy @ the Luxor, highly entertaining dancing high energy show with fantastic looking girls and a good atmosphere created.

2) Jeff Trachta @ The Rio – a good afternoon cabaret style show, Man that guy can really sing. Totally unknown in the UK (sadly) but worth seeing.

3) Carrot Top – radical.

As stated in my letter to you Feb 06 regarding The Gold Coast Buffet, I would say it ranks top 3 in Las Vegas for value for money (where else can you eat Mongolian Ribs?) under $10. It took a 15 mile run to burn off what I’d eaten next morning.

Several more folk from NE England have booked Vegas vacations on my recommendation – more will follow.

Keep up the good work Ted.

Owen (South Shields, NE England)

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More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

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Special Section: Nevada Smoking Ban Stories Updated

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

  • Martin Luther King Day January 13-15 (3 day weekend)
  • Presidents Day February 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Christmas December 22-25 (3 day weekend)
  • St. Patricks Day March 17 (Falls on a Saturday)
  • March Madness (NCAA Basketball Playoffs) March 15-18, March 22-25, Final Four March 31-April 2
  • 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) September 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)

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!

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All contents copyright 2007 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

January 10, 2007 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

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