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HOTEL SPECIAL – Harrah’s Las Vegas from $59.95 a night! This deluxe casino hotel is located in the heart of the strip across from Mirage and Caesar’s Palace. Some of the features include a state of the art fitness center with sauna, Olympic size pool, whirlpool and much more. This rate is subject to limited availability and is subject to change without notice. To view more information, Click Here: http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-discounts.htm

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This Issue: De La Guarda

Curious about a show, restaurant, or other Las Vegas attraction that looks fun? Let us review it for you first! Suggestions are always welcome at allvegastv@aol.com

EDITORS NOTE: It was an interesting week in Las Vegas, with two straight days of rain and one lucky $9 million Megabucks winner. Despite a match that is failing to draw intense interest, SuperBowl weekend is shaping up to be as huge as ever so make sure you check out our link to the updated listings. Also, if you enjoy this newsletter, please take a few seconds and rate us at http://www.ezine-dir.com/cgi-bin/links/rate.cgi?ID=93

LAS VEGAS NEWS – of interest to tourists:

SURVIVOR – A handful of local hotels have placed odds on who will win the new round of the CBS television show Survivor. The odds are for entertainment only, since Nevada law prohibits taking bets on events with a known outcome (which explains why you can’t bet wrestling, something that is frequently asked). Story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-10-Wed-2001/news/15190913.html

SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING – Visitors and new residents are sometimes surprised to discover that you can ski and snowboard an hour from Las Vegas on beautiful Mt. Charleston. Story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-09-Tue-2001/living/15120727.html

SIEGFRIED & ROY – are rumored to be on the verge of signing a “lifetime” contract with the Mirage that will let them finish out their careers at the hotel that brought them their present wealth and fame. Story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-15-Mon-2001/news/15228696.html

HOT SPRINGS – About an hour east of town is a scenic and reasonable secluded area with two springs that well out of the desert. Full story and map at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-07-Sun-2001/living/15131923.html

ART BELL – The infamous late night talk host returns to the airwaves Feb. 5, broadcasting from his remote house in Pahrump, NV (about an hour west of Las Vegas). His show is heard on over 400 stations nationwide (you can’t flip around the AM dial late night without hearing him on 2-3 frequencies) and the show returns to flagship station KDWN 720 AM here in Las Vegas. KDWN is one of the many Las Vegas stations you can listen to online. We have a full list at http://www.accessvegas.com/tvradio.htm

NOT SMOG – That brown haze that hangs over Las Vegas is dust kicked up from the desert. It isn’t pretty, and we are in EPA violation over it. The desert is a naturally dusty environment and the onslaught of new construction kicks it up at a ferocious rate. Full story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-13-Sat-2001/news/15221246.html

NEW YEARS EVE PHOTOS – It appears some people were confused and assumed that the five example photos were the only photos we posted. If you didn’t see all 30 photos, the photo tour starts at http://www.las-vegas-new-years-eve.com/01.htm

REGIS – broadcasts his show from The Rio this week (Tuesday – Friday). Check local listings for show times and channels.

MEGABUCKS HIT – at Harrah’s for $9 million. A US Airways flight attendant decided to do some gambling on her layover and made it a very profitable one. Full story at http://www.casinowire.com/archive/200101/2212.shtml

$25 HOTEL REBATE — you pick the hotel! Our partners at Hotel Reservations Network are giving you $25 back on any 2+ night stay in Las Vegas or any major city they reserve. Claiming your cash is simple:

1. Print out: http://www.accessvegas.com/100-rebate.htm
2. Book a room online at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-discounts.htm
3. Send in for your rebate when you get home.

It doesn’t get any easier than that, and you get their low price guarantee
to boot!

CONCERTS AND SHOWS:

SHOW REVIEWS – Recent reviews appearing in the media:

* Legends of Comedy – http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-12-Fri-2001/weekly/15173462.html

SHOWS – See which shows are playing during your stay and book reservations EVEN if the tickets aren’t on sale yet. Let ShowVegas takes care of all your needs directly online! Search by dates at http://www.showvegas.com/svpricing.cfm?amid=3230&cscheme=1

SuperBowl – More hotels have listed their SuperBowl parties. List at http://www.lasvegas.com/events/superbowl2001

Drew Carey’s Improv All Stars – comes to the MGM Jan. 25-28. Live performances on Jan. 27 will air live on Pay Per View. Tickets are $85 inclusive and on sale at (800) 929-1111 and MGM discount rooms are available at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-strip-hotels.htm (MGM link).

Headliners – The following headliners have been added to our Shows and Headliners page at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-shows.htm : Don Rickles, George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Carrot Top, Englebert Humperdink, Tom Jones, and David Copperfield.

RESTAURANT REVIEWS – Recent reviews appearing in the media:

* Florida Cafe (Howard Johnson’s Strip) – http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jan-03-Wed-2001/living/15095704.html

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LAS VEGAS WEATHER – This 5 day forecast is courtesy of Weather.Com:

Friday – 54/36 Mostly Cloudy
Saturday – 54/34 Mostly Cloudy
Sunday – 62/33 Partly Cloudy
Monday – 62/32 Partly Cloudy
Thursday – 62/33 Partly Cloudy

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FEATURE STORY: De La Guarda

DE LA GUARDA – This new show at The Rio defies all description, but I’m going to try! The show combines elements of carnival, rave, concert and theater. There is no dialogue, no star, and NO SEATS! Instead, the action and performers fly over your head in a loosely choreographed display. Later in the show, the cast actually mingles in the audience encouraging general happy excitement and dancing. Confetti, balloons, and manufactured rain contribute to the controlled and very entertaining chaos.

Most of the show takes place over your head. You walk into a dark theater surrounded in black with a paper ceiling over your head. The paper covers the entire show area, and is backlit to provide a unique landscape that lets the cast and technicians use sight and sound creating a buildup to a show that explodes from the sky.

The free flowing show uses electronic music and live vocal chants to stimulate the ears as a sharp contrast to the primal basics of water, balloons, unusual lighting variety and the human form to pleasure the eyes.

The beauty of the show is that you can make it out to be whatever you want. You can stand at the edge of the action and just take it all in (keeping clean and dry) or you can surge to the center of the crowd and dance in rave fashion soaking in the “rain” and excitement. While not sexual in nature, it is primal and stretches your imagination. It is for the young or young at heart and requires an open mind. If you still enjoy a good rollercoaster ride, you will probably enjoy this show.

De La Guarda plays Tuesday – Saturday at 9:00 PM with an additional Saturday night show at 11:30 PM. Tickets are $45 plus tax and available by calling 702-252-7776 Casual attire is encouraged.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Jean Haka of Waukesha WI wrote:

>Hi Ted!!!
>
>Just a short note today on our wonderful New Years Las Vegas
>experience!á We arrived in Las Vegas on December 30 from the snowy
>Midwest — were happy to just to be in the warmest place in the nation
>for over New Year’s!á Yes, and we broke the rules and brought our 2
>kids along, but both are teens / almost teens and have been to Las Vegas
>before.á (Also, being an airline employee, they’re used to traveling
>and have been to Vegas 2 times before). I was prepared for massive
>crowds and waits to play the slot machines etc., but I was surprised
>that I could get to almost any slot that I wanted, the crowds didn’t
>overwhelm us and we had a great time!á We stayed at the Flamingo which
>worked out well especially on the night of New Year’s Eve.á Whenever
>we go with the kids, it is a different type of vacation than when just
>the hubby and myself go — visited Madame T’ s Celebrity “Wax”
>Encounter — it is amazing!!!á Also went to the top of the Stratosphere
>with the kids — well worth it!á Did the malls at Venetian and MGM, too.
>Had a great time!á The night of the fireworks we started out down by
>the Luxor — thinking that it would be less crowded down there and a
>better view up the strip.á We decided to relocate closer to our hotel
>about 10 PM and took the monorail back to Bally’s.á We ended up
>standing in front of Ballys in the plaza area with some other local
>families with kids, too.á There were a ton of police and security all
>over — so we all felt safe.á We did NOT venture out onto the street
>itself, which was closed and packed with people–mostly the
>twenty-somethings and all having a great time!á We enjoyed the
>fireworks — it was great to be part of the biggest party in the world
>for New Year’s Eve for the REAL millennium and the kids really enjoyed
>it, too!á Then we just had to fight the crowds going across the street
>and back to our hotel and get an elevator up to our room along with
>the hundreds of others all doing the same thing!á We returned back to
>the snowy mid-west on January 3 — I’d say that by Jan.á2 almost half
>of the original NY Eve guests were gone–but some were starting to
>come in for the big electronics convention the following weekend.á I
>was amazed that when we were walking back to the Flamingo after the
>fireworks had ended how many of the crowd were walking down the street
>back to cars etc. — I’d say that over 50% of the crowd was walking away
>from the strip!!!á (Does anyone stay in California to celebrate the
>holidays — do they all come to Las Vegas?) But over-all it was great!
>I’d do it again — with or without the kids!

Glad you had a great time. There isn’t anywhere quite like Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve! My continued strong warnings about bringing children to Las Vegas aren’t anti-child or meant to be a blanket statement. It is a warning for first-time visitors under the false impression that this is a family town. While Las Vegas was only marketed as a family destination for a couple of years in the early 90’s, the general media continues to perpetuate the myth.

Many of our readers are gleaning information for their first ever visit and to them I continue to advise coming without the children. After a visit, you can then decide if your children’s ages and interests are conducive to what Las Vegas has to offer, and more importantly, if you are willing to think about the arrangements ahead of time so that both parents have the time to gamble if they wish.

Ken Armstrong of Ontario, Canada wrote:

>Look forward very much to your newsletter.á We have been to Vegas each
>year for the past eleven years & booked our trip for this year today.
>We have always stayed at the Stardust as we bring other couples with
>us and they find it easy to find their way around there.á Good
>location, nice clean rooms, good restaurants & the new buffet is
>great.á We liked the old Warehouse (buffet) but things change.á The staff at
>the stardust are all just great people.á My question is regarding the
>Frontier hotel. On our last visit there was talk of a new building
>replacing it & as I check construction news etc., I find no mention of
>it.áPerhaps you can help.áKeep up the good work & thanks for
>keeping people informed.

Plans to remodel or implode the Frontier were put on hold a few months ago in light of a softening economy and tighter financing market.

Mark Basingstoke of Hants, England wrote:

>ááááááááááááááááááá I have been receiving your news letter for over a
>year now and think the content and advice you give is first class.á I
>went to Vegas for the first time in Jan. last year for 4 days and I was
>hooked.á We then went for 10 days in Sept which was absolutely
>fantastic, I just love the place.á My girlfriend and I are planning
>another 2 or 3 breaks there year.á One will be New Years Eve (enjoyed
>your photo’s) we cannot make up our mind about other times.á Do they
>have any major celebration’s for 4th July as this is one time we are
>thinking of coming over.á Keep up the excellent work.

New Year’s Eve is unique in the total closing down of The Strip, and this is the first time in over a decade that there have been fireworks (although talk is strong of making it a yearly tradition). American holidays like July 4’th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, et. al. are just very, very crowded and expensive weekends. While Las Vegas has a number of July 4’th fireworks displays, the only one near The Strip has been at the Stratosphere, and not the overwhelming type of display we had on New Year’s. With the exception of New Year’s, I’d plan your vacation away from the crowded holiday weekends.

Wendy Prior wrote:

>I would just like to write and thank you for the comprehensive news
>bulletin on Las Vegas and for all the hard work you so readily put in.
>Again this is greatly appreciated.
>
>I will be visiting Las Vegas in the first week of June and your
>bulletin has allowed us to obtain the optimum stay.

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Your input is welcome. Write us a “letter to the editor” at allvegastv@aol.com While space doesn’t permit publishing every letter, we do certainly read them all and they help shape our content. Please include your name if you wish to have it published (stating your city is optional). Also, guest article submissions are welcome with full credit to you, your website, etc., if accepted.

Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Scenic Southwest Tours – by plane, bus, or even helicopter! You’ve seen the glossy ads in the tourist brochures. You’ve thought about it. You come all the way to Las Vegas — why not see one of the some of the most famous landmarks in the world! Don’t by tricked by web sites & magazines that offer discount tours. Taxes, park fees, permits can almost double the price. Our prices are inclusive – no hidden charges! Best Las Vegas Tours

ONLINE POLL – If money were no object, which high end show would you go see? Let’s hear your opinion at http://www.accessvegas.com — results will be published next week!

FREE CONTESTS:

RULES: (unless otherwise noted or link to outside contest): You may enter every contest, but only one entry to each. The 20’th entry in each contest will be the winner. Send a blank email to the specified email address — we’ll get your mailing address from you only if you win. Also, please do not enter if you have won within the past month.

Weatherbug – Download Weatherbug and you are entered to win a free Las Vegas vacation when you register. Weatherbug is a great program that give you up-to-the-second updates on the weather conditions in your area using the same weather stations the TV news uses. More info at http://ww2.weatherbug.com/aff/default.asp?zcode=Z3390&DoCheck=True

Free Helicopter Tour – Win a Free Las Vegas “Strip” Helicopter flight for two. Enter at http://www.maverickhelicopter.com/enter.htm

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AIRFARE SPECIALS – This area will appear whenever we come across airlines offering Las Vegas specials. We can’t sell you a room unless you can get here! Please remember (as with any special), fares are restricted and subject to availability:

Vanguard Air – Is returning to serving the Las Vegas market on April 1 with fare specials. Check http://www.flyvanguard.com/pressreleasedetail.asp?ID=148 for details

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Have a request for a review? Boggled when you come to town and see the hundreds of dining, attraction, and show opportunities? Let us know what you’d like to hear about! Unlike the tourist magazines where all of the “articles” are really paid ads, we give you the honest scoop. If you appreciate this service, please consider booking your rooms and rental cars for ALL destinations with us at http://www.lodging.com/affiliates/us_reservations.cgi?remote=tedinvegas You get secure ordering with the convenience and savings of booking online!

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New to the list? Back issues and subscription info can be found on the web at: https://las-vegas-news-reviews.com

Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates, or better yet click here: http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=826126 to recommend it to friends with a chance to win $10,000!

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All contents copyright MM Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.
January 17, 2001 ISSN: 1529-2770