Vegas Blogs

A Las Vegas and Casino Design Commentary Blog. The Las Vegas Strip, casinos, restaurants and more. The weblog focuses on the gaming industry and how it works.

Total news: 144
Last news: 22 hours 27 minutes ago

Mark and Sazzy give you an insiders view on almost all things tourist in Las Vegas

Total news: 65
Last news: September 6, 2010 23:09:36

Total news: 88
Last news: September 8, 2010 02:00:39

International Travel and Dining Blog

Total news: 17
Last news: September 8, 2010 01:51:03

Las Vegas Restaurant News & Reviews

Total news: 188
Last news: 13 hours 11 minutes ago

With 5000 people moving here each month, somebody had to spill the beans.

Total news: 153
Last news: 20 hours 44 minutes ago

Las Vegas's Favorite Idiot Tells You How It Really Is

Total news: 2
Last news: June 25, 2009 23:21:24

Restaurant Reviews and Culinary Miscellany

Total news: 285
Last news: 19 hours 25 minutes ago

Real Life in the Shadow of the Strip

Total news: 508
Last news: 3 hours 42 minutes ago

Two interesting stories breaking this morning: Binion's to Close Hotel Tower - the legendary Downtown hotel has announced they will be closing the hotel tower and restaurant facilities as a result of the bad economy: http://www.lvrj.com/news/Binions-to-close-hotel-tower-lay-off-100-workers-78149717.html Harrah's Entertainment, who have been buying Planet Hollywood debt, is taking the process to... - [Read more]

Mark and Mercedes visited M Resort and videotaped their adventure. CHeck out M Resort in this wonderful fun video of the newest casino hotel to open in Las Vegas (Henderson)? - [Read more]

[Show as slideshow]

The Place: Mario Batali’s warehouse for his three Las Vegas restaurants.

The address: 7485 South Dean Martin Drive, Suite 106 (a half mile north of Blue Diamond Road on the west side of the street).

The time: Every Thursday beginning from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

The goods: Fruits and vegetables and herbs like you’re not going to see anywhere else in town + compelling delights like smoked goat cheese, agretti, cinammon-spun honey, and micro-greens from HYRO-GREENS in Parumph.

The selection: Limited, but either locally grown or trucked in from SoCal — not flown in from South America.

The rules: Cash only.

The people we should thank: Mario Batali, Kerry Clasby, Zach Allen, Doug Taylor, and all the growers and producers who take the time to grow and bring the good stuff.

Oscar on a Stick!

This is probably the quickest and shortest post I’ve ever done, and there’s nothing about wine.  There will be a more in-depth report a little later, but I had to give y’all the heads-up now.

Last night several hundred of Mayor Oscar Goodman’s closest friends and I hung out on Fremont Street for his 70th Birthday Celebration.  It was time for martinis with Oscar, and we had a blast (and a half!)  Oh my goodness!  Not only were there some of the Cirque du Soleil characters there, but Wayne Brady made an appearance and entertained us all.  In addition, there were lots of famous people in the crowd (don’t ask me; I just *know*).

Guess who got interviewed by Channel 13 News?  !!!!!!!!!!!  Not only that, but I actually MADE IT ONTO THE NEWS AND WAS SPOTLIGHTED!! My 15 seconds of fame!  And I am also a member of the dance troupe that entertained the crowd (Officially, Scene City Imrov, a chapter of the Improv Everywhere group, and unofficially as the Fremont Street Aquarius Dancers) …

Take a look here at:  http://www.ktnv.com/global/story.asp?s=10830470

I took nearly 200 pictures and a few seconds of video and will be posting those once I’ve filtered through everything for the best.

Stay tuned …..   Oh yeah.  Happy Birthday Mayor Goodman!!

Las Vegas conventions are alive and well as reporter Diane Taylor discovered while attending the Electronic Retailing Association D2C and SuperZoo tradeshows. [Read more] - [Read more]

My brilliant plan was to get up early (or just stay awake) and head down to the strip at about 4am.  By that time, the big party has ended and the final phase begins; the clean up.   Back in my chauffering days, I saw how this happens and it is an amazing transformation. Something I [...]

I really wish that’s what the Gaming Control Board would say to Harrah’s.  Just track down that spend thrift of a CEO, Gary Loveman.  Look the bastard in the eyes and say “No.  For the safety and sanity of the Las Vegas tourist; for the integrity of the Vegas gaming market and for the people [...]

Hot off the heels of the 2010 James Beard Award Semifinalist announcements, I wanted to go to one of the nominees that I haven’t been to before.  Almost ashamed to say, I haven’t been to Michael Mina’s Nobhill Tavern at the MGM Grand in the 5 ½ years The Wife and I have called Las [...] - [Read more]

The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is doing a promotion where Nevada locals receive 50% off their “Carnival” Buffet. The promotion requires you to show your valid Nevada ID when placing your order and is good Monday through Thursday.

See you at the buffet!

That’s right Vegas Tourist rockers… You could soon be jetting your way to Las Vegas on a Motley Crue inspired jet.  If you have the cash to do it…. Motley Crue front man and Vegas nice guy Vince Neil has launched his own charter flight service.   It’s called Vince Neil Aviation and will be based at [...]

Mike's adventures continue: Encore Las Vegas, Bellagio, Aria, The Crystals and a stop at Valentino Grill @ The Venetian. Click through to read the complete text. Photo gallery is here: http://photo.ratevegas.com/Other/Strip-Walk-March-2010/11542241_VD4fu... - [Read more]

Welcome to Friday Figures! All information from the GLVAR MLS system. This is the no-spin data you need to know before touring, listing, or making a purchase offer this weekend.

Summary: We’re up to 13261 available houses, condos, and townhomes. I fully expect that we will have 15000 before the end of the year, particularly since time on market is going up (partly due to reduced buyer interest, partly due to short sales falling out). At least prices show signs of leveling off for the moment. While there is no doubt that we have more distressed properties coming on the market, I am seeing anecdotal evidence of an increase in rehabbed properties being sold by investors, particularly in the sub-$200k market. The number of contingent and pending units is down to 14252. Closings are strong this week as we finish up the month. I am concerned by the rise of single family homes priced under $100,000; most of these are bank owned, and few can realistically be financed. A few creative mortgage products involving a second rehab loan exist but I only know one mortgage professional who is enthusiastic about them. These cheap properties might pose an opportunity for an investor with cash, but I can’t in good conscience recommend any of them to the first time buyer who might be attracted by (im)possible low monthly payments.

Other Information: Even though prices are dropping nationally and locally, sales of new homes are up. Sales of existing homes are still “above historical median.” Home ownership is down to a 10 year low and dropping, and that unfortunately means that there are more vacant homes everywhere. Vacant homes are a target for crime, including arson, so please be careful when touring homes (and keep an eye open for strange things at vacant homes near you). A number of sources think this may be a good time to buy a home for several reasons, one of which is low interest rates.

(more…)

Location: 30 Strada Di Villaggio, Monte Lago Village at Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, NV 89011
Date: Now through February 15
Hours: M-F 3-9pm, Sat/Sun/Holidays noon-9pm
Cost: General Admission-$15 adults, $12 for children 12 and under. Call 702.564.1600 for $5 off coupon

If you haven’t been to Lake Las Vegas, you should make it a point to visit.  The floating ice rink at the The Village (which has some great restaurants and shopping) is very cool. . .and they offer ice skating lessons as well!

Here's an open topic thread for y'all - feel free to discuss today's opening of The Crystals, Mandarin Oriental tomorrow or anything at all. On a program note, Steve Friess will be airing his nearly two hour interview with Steve Wynn this Saturday from 4pm - 6pm. You can listen... - [Read more]

A brand-new mystery location to whet your appetite as we march towards the end of the year. There are some partially-hidden visual clues in this one. [Read more] - [Read more]

Got some free play you dont know what to do with? Deuces Wild and Deuces Wild Bonus are fun alternatives to Jacks or Better poker. But there are some subtle differences in strategy when playing to win the bigger jackpots. [Read more] - [Read more]

As the 2008 recipient of the 'Best Blog' award, I'm honored to be nominated again. I think that award really went to the wonderful community that I'm fortunate enough to be a part of - the comments are a huge part of what makes this site special and I can't... - [Read more]

I'm gonna assume you're not sick of CityCenter and want me to keep feeding you all the details... Here's another 4,000 words to keep you busy - Steve Friess writing for LA Weekly: http://www.laweekly.com/content/printVersion/785987 I got to talk to Steve for part of this story - it was fun. Lots... - [Read more]

Here's the schedule for meetups scheduled during ARIA's opening week: 15th 7:21pm Fontana Bar // Bellagio (or maybe somewhere at PHo) 15th 11:21pm Mandarin Bar // Mandarin Oriental (if we can get in) 16th 7:21pm Bar Vdara // Vdara 16th 11:21pm // GRAND OPENING 17th 1:21am CityBar // ARIA 17th... - [Read more]

Location: 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson, NV 89014
Date: Now through January 1
Hours: Sundown - 10pm

I’ve heard this is really something to behold.  The Holiday Cactus Garden at Ethel’s Chocolate Factory has 500,000 lights (can you imagine? I have a hard time adding a couple string of lights to the house!) and also features Santa Claus, and live entertainment.