World Series of Poker / Doyle Brunson / Poker / → All Tags
The World Series Of Poker Is Almost Here
Last night, the poker world was shocked with news that one of the most popular players, Doyle Brunson, would be retiring from the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Afraid I am finally gonna give in to Father Time and pass on tournament play at WSOP. #toomanyhours
— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) May 15, 2013
The World Series of Poker begins May 29 at the Rio and a spokesperson says they will try to talk Brunson into playing in one of the tournaments.
Events / Memorial Day Weekend / Comedy / Music / Pools / Pool Scenes / Eating / Drinking / → All Tags
A Look At What's Going On In Vegas Memorial Day Weekend
Our favorite time of the year? When it's nothing but one holiday after another! Memorial Day Weekend. Fourth of July Weekend. Labor Day Weekend. Pure (party time) bliss. And, with the first holiday weekend coming up fast, we couldn't wait any longer to check out what's on tap for Vegas May 24-27:
Mandalay Bay
LIGHT nightclub opens May 24
DAYLIGHT Beach Club debuts May 24
Michael Jackson ONE launches May 23 (starting at $69)
Snoop Lion performs at Mandalay Bay Beach May 25 ($50)
Bell Biv DeVoe performs at Mandalay Bay Beach May 26 ($32.50)
Pools / Pool Scenes / Happy Hours / Drinking / Deals / LVH / Off Strip / Free Vegas / → All Tags
LVH Wants You To Stay Cool By The Pool (And Happy, Too)
It may not be summer officially, but the temps in Vegas have called for poolside relaxation for weeks now. And, while the LVH pool may not be at the top of your list (or, let's keep it real, on your list at all), this just might get you to reconsider.
LVH has launched a daily "Cool by the Pool" happy hour that's open to not just guests, but to all who want to pop by. Set for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the best draw may be the chance to work on your tan for free while pregaming with 2-for-1 drink specials. Two dollar shrimp cocktails will also be offered. If that's not enough, LVH promises daily drawings with "fabulous prizes," too. If you win one, let us know how fabulous fabulous is.
LVH's pool deck can be found on the third floor.
(Photo: SpaWeekBlog.com)
Shopping / Retail / Stores / Gameworks / Marshalls / → All Tags
What's Replacing GameWorks On The Strip? Oh...
We told you about the closing of GameWorks and the plausible future of GameWorks as well. Now, here's the replacement for GameWorks: Marshalls.
The discount fashion and home goods store operates five other locations in Las Vegas. TJX Companies, their parent company, also owns six local T.J. Maxx stores. It does make sense. Less than block down the Strip, Ross Dress for Less does incredible business. It can be be jammed with shoppers in there. Try it on a Saturday night. Any enterprising retailer would have seen that. Plans are in place to add an elevator to the subterranean store. But, that's all we know right now. They don't seem a company that will dawdle on construction.
Just One Drink / Bellagio / Drinking / Cocktails / Drinks / Just One Dish / → All Tags
Taking Just One Drink For A Ride At Bellagio
Sometimes a full restaurant review just won't do. Perhaps, there wasn't time for an A-Z meal. Maybe it's a restaurant we've written about before. Or a dog ate our good pictures. There may still be that one dish worth writing about. A new one, an old one. A newsworthy one or a memorable one (for better or worse). It might be the one dish, or drink, out of the whole experience that gets us to return. Or, stay away. Now, another installment in our Just One Dish series.
Our dish is a cocktail today as the series turns its attention to Just One Drink at the Bellagio. The Cable Car is a drink very familiar to our lips, but it was only recently pointed out that the cocktail that originated in San Francisco is a Bellagio signature. Who are we not to pay tribute to a highlighted item? So, of course, we stopped in to sample one. Or, four.
Free Vegas / The Cosmopolitan / Events / → All Tags
Get Ready To Dive Back Into Movies At The Cosmo
Just when we were considering a trip out to Vegas' only drive-in, the Cosmopolitan has come through with a much better way to enjoy an outdoor movie -- poolside. The resort will bring back Dive-In Movies soon, but with a new twist. This summer will be all about the double feature.
Starting May 27, The Cosmopolitan will again host weekly Monday movie viewings at Boulevard Pool. Films will be a mix of classics and family friendly flicks, ranging from Ghostbusters to Despicable Me. But, the best part will be the two separate showtimes, one at 7:30 p.m. and the other at 10 p.m. which will give us double the reasons to keep on drinking the selection.
Dive-In Movies are free to attend for hotel guests. All others will need to fork over three bucks. (Another change from last year when it was gratis for all.) Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Monday, May 27
7:30PM | Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
10PM | The Goonies
Monday, June 3
7:30PM | Ghostbusters (1984, PG, 105 minutes)
10PM | The Sixth Sense (1999, PG-13, 107 minutes)
Monday, June 10
7:30PM | Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994, PG, 94 minutes)
10PM | The Great Gatsby (1949, PG, 92 minutes)
Monday, June 17
7:30PM | The Pursuit of Happyness (2006, PG-13, 117 minutes)
10PM | To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, NR, 129 minutes)
Monday, June 24
7:30PM | The Sandlot (1993, PG, 101 minutes)
10PM | Moneyball (2012, PG-13, 113 minutes)
Monday, July 1
7:30PM | Despicable Me (2010, PG, 95 minutes)
10PM | From Here to Eternity (1953, NR, 118 minutes)
Monday, July 8
7:30PM | Little Giants (1994, PG, 102 minutes)
10PM | Friday Night Lights (2004, PG-13, 117 minutes)
Monday, July 15
7:30PM | The Breakfast Club (1985, R, 95 minutes)
10PM | Rebel Without a Cause (1955, NR, 111 minutes)
Monday, July 22
7:30PM | Lord of the Flies (1990, R, 90 minutes)
10PM | Stand by Me (1986, R, 98 minutes)
Monday, July 29
7:30PM | The Karate Kid (1984, PG, 127 minutes)
10PM | Rocky (1976, PG, 119 minutes)
Monday, August 5
7:30PM | When Harry Met Sally (1989, R, 98 minutes)
10PM | My Fair Lady (1964, G, 170 minutes)
Monday, August 12
7:30PM | The Little Rascals (1994, PG, 82 minutes)
10PM | Tommy Boy (1995, PG, 98 minutes)
Monday, August 19
Monday, September 2
(PHOTO: vegasmagazine.com)
7:30PM | Clueless (1995, PG, 97 minutes)
7:30PM | Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009, PG, 90 minutes)
10PM | Ocean's Eleven (1960, NR, 148 minutes)
Downtown / Downtown Vegas / Downtown Grand / Construction / Openings / → All Tags
Interesting Tidbits Regarding Downtown Grand
Above, Downtown Grand as it appears today. At the very bottom of this post, a rendering of how the former Lady Luck will appear by September if a promised debut holds true.
A walk by the active construction site late this morning found framework for an "industrial chic" facade taking shape. The exterior is now being described as "blending multiple storefronts with a brick and granite facade" with the "raw energy of a factory juxtaposed with ornate fixtures and canopies." Or, as our Richard Lane more succinctly describes it, old timey.
Eating / Dining / Just One Dish / PRESS / Four Seasons / Dessert / → All Tags
Four Seasons' New Lounge Impresses with Just One Dish
Sometimes a full restaurant review just won't do. Perhaps there wasn't time for an A-Z meal. Maybe it's a restaurant we've written about before. Or a dog ate our good pictures. There may still be that one dish worth writing about. A new one, an old one. A newsworthy one or a memorable one (for better or worse). It might be the one dish out of the whole experience that gets us to return. Or stay away. We present you with Just One Dish.
Affordable indulgence. Las Vegas can gouge every penny, but occasionally can offer you a new adventure for the absolute right price. For decades a cheap, huge steak or prime-rib let you think you were beating the system. Think one dollar oysters or .99 cent shrimp cocktails. Cheap entrées to the world of an expensive entrée. And then, there are the prime indulgences. This is a city where foie gras, caviar and their ilk are available at every turn. The Cosmopolitan's Wicked Spoon buffet features bone marrow. Not long ago that would have been unthinkable. At the even more surprising off-Strip Eureka Casino, Fat Choy, sells bone marrow as a "snack" that will obsess your thoughts. Which brings us to Baked Alaska.
Baccarat / Gambling / Golden Nugget / Stats / → All Tags
The Baccarat Takeover Of Vegas Continues
If you keep an eye on the casino business, you may have seen the repeated domination of baccarat in recent months. The casinos continue to make more money every month from baccarat. In March, all casino gaming revenue increased by $60 million over the same period last year and baccarat accounted for $35 million of that. There's a small house edge for casinos in baccarat, but since the limits are so high there is money to be had by both players and casinos.
Baccarat used to be a game of great mystery and was once only found in luxury resorts as part of hidden high roller rooms. That's no longer the case. Baccarat is becoming so popular that you can find it expanding out of the luxury resorts like Wynn and Bellagio and into downtown. The D already offers baccarat for its high rollers and, last week, the Golden Nugget added a baccarat pit in the hallway heading towards the Rush Tower.
Glitter Gulch / Fremont Street / Downtown / Strip Clubs / Downtown Vegas / Naked Vegas / → All Tags
A Peek Inside The Girls Of Glitter Gulch
Glitter Gulch is, of course, the famous nickname coined for the the conglomerate of Fremont Street casinos. The Girls of Glitter Gulch is the downtown strip club that has forced its ta-tas into many a Fremont photo, whether intended or not. ("I was admiring the Goose, I swear!")
We've often wandered past the GoGG, but admittedly never been tempted to step inside by the real-life toothless strippers advertising their goods outside the entrance. The show we got when one barely bikini'd senior citizen employee took her break by popping a squat on Fremont before shooting firing up... cigarettes... we'll assume they were cigarettes.... was enough of a peek behind the curtain for us.
Bars / Drinking / Coyote Ugly / Red Square / Mandalay Bay / New York-New York / → All Tags
Two Of Our Fave Bars On The Strip
Everyone’s tastes are different, especially when asked for opinions on the must-see bars in Vegas. With that in mind, we thought it would be good to get out in front of this frequently asked question with a new segment called Sip or Pour.
"Sip" will provide a guide to bars with the tastiest drinks, and most talented bartenders around, where you can chill with a great cocktail and a little ambiance. "Pour" will give you the lowdown on some of the most happening bars, places to get hammered your groove on, party the night away, and ensure you wake up with the true Vegas hangover experience. Without further delay, here are our first two picks:
Slot Machines / Gambling / Stats / → All Tags
Slots Are Looser Than You Think
Casino games are created to take our money. We know that going in so there's really few results that are worse than expected. Ya win some, ya lose some. Odds and returns are based on long-term play so, when you sit down, it's often during a hot streak or a cold one. You may hit both if you play a while and that's where long-term odds are really felt.
Slot machines generally win anywhere from 5% to 12% for casinos, but that doesn't get in the way of our desire to hear the loud noises and see the bright lights. When the Nevada Gaming Control board (NGC) does its monthly and annual casino revenue reports, they include all slot machines along with video poker, video keno (not to be confused with human keno) and the electronic versions of table games.
