AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

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

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Happy to be back this week. My how time flies when you don’t know what you are doing. Got a sneak peek at…

Palazzo, Palazzo, Palazzo, Palazzo! – The new monster hotel next to Wynn Las Vegas has been open for about a week and celebrates its grand opening this weekend. Palazzo is somewhat interesting as the property has an understated elegance that sinks in and becomes deeper as you spend time inside the property.

We’ll let others tell you about it. Instead, we’ll show you Palazzo with our exclusive pictures taken just days ago!

Send this photo as an ecard to a friend (click photo)
and let a friend know their seat in Vegas is waiting!

We are going the extra mile for you, trying something new: In addition to our usual photo gallery presentation, we have combined selected photos into a new screensaver. Plus… something we’ve never done before: We’re making the entire photo set available full-sized as a zip file download. Once again, no charge to our readers! Our photos cover the outside, inside, gardens, fountains and casino interior. Here you go:

• Palazzo Las Vegas First Look Photos (View Online)

• Palazzo Las Vegas Screensaver (35 MB download)

• Palazzo Las Vegas Photos Zip File (60 MB download)

Right-click to download screensaver or zip file. Detailed instructions for screensaver and zip files, plus usage limitations at bottom of this issue. No registration needed, contains no shareware or viruses.

Nevada Caucuses are a joke – We don’t often get political here (skip this section of politics bores you), and I need to make it very clear that I am writing this prior to the Nevada political caucuses. As I write, I have no clue about the outcome so please don’t read support of any particular candidate into anything I note. If I could predict the future, I’d be making millions a year betting sports!

For those of you that follow politics, don’t put much (if any) stock in the outcome of the Nevada caucuses. Turnout won’t be representative of the voting population here in any way, shape, or form. Here’s why:

Nevada has a large tourism-oriented workforce. What are the busiest days and shifts for this workforce? Friday and Saturday swing shift. When is the caucus scheduled? On a Saturday morning at 9 AM. Which means… a significant portion of the population would have to literally attend in what is the middle of their night (sleep time).

Then, you have people who work traditional hours Monday through Friday who just aren’t going to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday. Add to that a pretty sizable number of devout Jews who don’t conduct business on Saturday. Bottom Line: Whoever chose 9 AM on a Saturday morning for this event was off their rocker.

Side Note: To accommodate the varied workforce here (plus the number of people who travel), Nevada has both early voting and easy-to-request absentee ballots in other elections. This presidential primary should have been handled the same way here.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

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

Wildest Irish Pub On Earth Comes To The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino In Las Vegas – McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, the “Wildest Irish Pub on Earth,” has crossed the great Mississippi River to land in the wildest city on Earth, Las Vegas. Throwing open its doors today, McFadden’s 7,000-square-foot-plus tavern at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will be Sin City’s newest pub-hub for crowds seeking out an unpretentious party bar where both men and women can roll up their sleeves and have a great time. Click to Read The Full Story …

The Longest Running Full Broadway Show Ever To Play The Las Vegas Strip Extends Stay At Mandalay Bay To January 4, 2009 – 5th Anniversary Celebrated On February 13, 2008 – MAMMA MIA!, the global smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will extend a record-breaking run at the Mandalay Bay Theatre through the end of 2008. (Tickets) Due to popular demand MAMMA MIA!, which was previously scheduled to end in August after more than 2,300 performances, will now play through January 4, 2009. Click to Read The Full Story …

New Lobby Aquarium Features Sea Creatures From Around The World – After a two-month transformation, The Mirage’s famed lobby aquarium û already one of the most elaborate and technically advanced in the world û now offers visitors a new sensory escape. The addition of hundreds of new sea creatures to the exhibit provides a rare glimpse into the aquatic wonders of our planet. Nearly 1,000 marine life forms now comprise a thriving undersea community within the 20,000 gallon display. Click to Read The Full Story …

Orleans Arena Hosts The 2008 AVP Hot Winter Nights Volleyball Tour – The Orleans Arena will transform into a sandy beach this winter when it hosts the final stop of the first-ever AVP Hot Winter Nights indoor volleyball tour. More than 200 tons of sand will be brought in for the three-hour competition and “winter beach party.” The most popular and talented professional volleyball players including Kerri Walsh, Jake Gibb, Elaine Youngs and Stein Metzger will compete as teams of two in a round robin play format. Click to Read The Full Story …

Gambling Talk: Video Keno – Part Two – with Victor H. Royer. Similarly to Big Board Keno, Video Keno has been equally misunderstood. Although this machine is often among the best paying slots on the casino floor, many casual players have so far avoided this game because they think it’s too intimidating, or perhaps because no one has ever explained what a really great, fun, and profitable game this can truly be. With new advances in computer technology, many new variations on Keno games are now possible. Click to Read Complete Article…

Members Mania – We Love Our Readers!

Reader Submitted Photos:

Enjoy the newsletter. We will be in Las Vegas in January when it gets cold enough to wear heavy jackets and coats and that brings up the problem: I don’t recall any cloak rooms in the casinos. Do we have to wear our jackets etc. or am I wrong about cloak rooms?

I. Rudyard Stone

No question it is coat weather for the next couple of months still. You know… in almost 15 years of living here, I’ve never thought about that! If I’m headed to a specific show, restaurant, or club I just leave it in the car and deal with the cold for a couple of minutes until I’m inside. If I’m casino-hopping in the cold, I hang it on the back of my chair (making sure nothing valuable is in the pockets).

Readers, have you seen a coat check area in a casino, restaurant, or club here? What was your experience? Drop us a note at allvegastv@aol.com

Terri Culver

Have fun and act like you are turning 30 (within reason… don’t kill yourself). Many ladies (and quite a few men) like to have a spa treatment. My hint for that: Services and prices will vary greatly so stop in check out the spas (and prices) of various hotels. (Unfortunately, we don’t have spa listings yet, but are working on it). Since it is a girls-only trip, go to a show (whether a male revue or a “Broadway” style show) that the men might otherwise not find so interesting. Watch our concert listings in the newsletter and go see a concert of interest to you if one happens during your visit.

Harrah’s corporation may be in transition to a private equity firm if everything works out. Many hotels charge various extra fees that are mandatory (usually a few dollars a night). Hotels do often place a hold on your credit card that is released upon your departure.

More Las Vegas News – Concerts – Events

• Stomp Out Loud Named One Of Top 10 Shows Of The Year By Las Vegas Review-Journal

  Stomp Out Loud Tickets

• Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular Named One Of Las Vegas’ Best Shows For Second Straight Year

  Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular Tickets

• Wynn giving ‘Le Reve’ a lift

  Le Reve Tickets

• Less means more of Barry Manilow

  Barry Manilow Tickets

• Madame Tussauds to unveil Knievel

  Madame Tussauds Tickets

• The Palazzo reeks of luxury, sophistication and contemporary chic

  Palazzo Resort Casino Info and Reservations

• Company American Bistro Tackles Hunger With Taste Of The NFL

• Sing A Song With The Piano Man During The Billy Joel Tribute Show Featuring Michael John

• Wynn Las Vegas Odds-Maker Predicts Golden Globe, Celebrity Apprentice Winners

• Chinois Chinese New Year Menu

• The Third Annual Celebrity Poker Tournament To Benefit Opportunity Village Returns To Caesars Palace On February 16

• LA Sunset Tan To Open First And Only Las Vegas Location Inside Palms Place February 2008 – The Famed LA Sunset Tan, Of The Hit E! Reality Series, To Set Vegas Ablaze

• Harrah’s Goes A Little More Country With The Addition Of The Toby Keith Gaming Pit

• Springs Cafe By Wolfgang Puck Officially Opens At Las Vegas Springs Preserve – Fresh Dining Options Offered At Eco-Friendly Attraction

• Sushi Roku And Boa Steakhouse Win Two Prestigious Citations For Excellence In Design

• Vegas’ other playground

• A New Tower for the Las Vegas Skyline

• Rite Aid folds stores in Las Vegas

• Toronto fringe hit to gamble on Vegas

• Mamma Mia! Extends to January 2009

• Vegas Strip shows

• Las Vegas losing millions in unpaid parking fines

• Housing downturn boosts multifamily rentals

• Luxury condos still hot sellers

• Official: Cranes nearly ready to finish Hoover Dam bypass bridge

• Consumer Electronics Show Draws Huge Crowds

• Extra Taxis Costing Drivers Money

• Board Discusses Proposed Education Budget Cuts

• University Officials Meet at UNLV to Discuss Serious Budget Cuts

• Las Vegas Tackles Prostitution with Strict Program

• Southwest adding roundtrip flight to Las Vegas

• Air Tran To Suspend Service To Vegas In April

• Fewer people getting married in Vegas

• Lakeside resort trumps Las Vegas

• Rodeo still ours, Vegas and all

• Kerry Simon’s new Cathouse pulls out all the culinary stops

• Franchising Las Vegas

• Group working out foreclosure solution

• Federal agency drops opposition to Las Vegas water pipeline plan

• Monorail has to tap reserves

• Judge says Titans can’t be held liable in Minxx shooting

• Lake Las Vegas properties change hands

• On his 73rd birthday, Elvis’ admirers remember their hero

• When Elvis Roamed Vegas

• Certificate of occupancy secured for Allure Las Vegas

• Hoover Dam has changed in the past few years

• Most casinos fail to see benefit of providing a well-designed parking garage

• Plans for Klondike Inn site stalled

• Fight vowed in bid to up gaming taxes

• Love it or hate it, restaurant not your father’s Trader Vic’s

• Sleigh rides offer breathtaking, scenic view of Mount Charleston

• Neighbors discover squatters at vacant homes – Poor market leaves many houses empty

• Mandate on pets passed by NLV – Dogs, cats need to be sterilized

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:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 18-21 (3 day weekend)
• 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

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!

Instructions for Screensaver: Right click and download to your computer using the “Save As” selection. Remember what folder (on your computer) you saved it to. Go to that folder, and double click on the screensaver install icon. Follow the brief install messages and your new screensaver will be these incredible photos!

Instructions for Zip file. Download the same way you would the screensaver, but simply double click on the zip file (Windows XP and Vista) to open up the photo folder. Then, copy/paste (or drag) all the photos to another computer folder. This will “unzip” them back to normal.

Important Note: We create our screensavers “in house” here. No spam, no viruses, no registration, no nothing. Just the screensaver. Plus, if you tire of the screensaver you can go to the Add/Remove Programs area of your computer (where you would go to remove any other programs) and you’ll find it listed. You can uninstall it just as you would other programs.

Photo rights and usage: All Palazzo photos are taken by AccessVegas.com and fully copyright 2008. You may freely use them online or in print, for private or commercial purposes under this condition: Photos may be resized but cannot be cropped. The AccessVegas.com text must remain on the photo.

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 16, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

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