[vpFREE] Las Vegas Newsletter

Posted with permission from the publisher:

OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS IN LAS VEGAS.
by Bill Mandel, Publisher.

May 1, 2013…..LAS VEGAS…....

CLOSED IN THE LAST MONTH:
=========================

ARIA: Sweet Chill restaurant closed.

CABBIES: An audit by a Nevada state agency found that every fourth taxi drive was taken on a longer route than necessary. This stealing by Las Vegas taxi drivers is called long-hauling or diversion. It's been going on for years but has not been stopped. The Nevada Taxicab Authority should increase the tickets they give and have the Taxicab companies pay for and instal the RideIntegrity computer hardware system. Locals and tourists should file any complaints at:
http://taxi.nv.gov/Complaints/complaint_form/Complaint/Incident_Affidavit/

CITY CENTER: The Pods by Wolfgang Puck inside Crystals shopping center closed - Aria.

COSMOPOLITAN: Nearly 100 members of the Culinary Union, Local 226 were arrested for protesting and blocking traffic on The Strip. They have been negotiating for over two years for a contract.

FIESTA HENDERSON: Breakfast buffet closed.

FLAMINGO: Olivia Newton-John's upcoming residency shows canceled.

GOLD SPIKE: My favorite downtown dump closed and was sold to my favorite downtown developer, Tony Hsieh (Las Vegas Downtown Project). The Gold Spike was where we had annual penny slot tournaments!

KEY LARGO: Fire burned down this abandoned (since 2005) Hotel/Casino located at 377 East Flamingo. Originally it was going to be torn down to make way for a high-rise hotel, with over 1,000 units, and condominium project, which never materialized. Good bye Key Largo!

KRAVE: The owner of the Krave nightclub and Harmon Theater filed for bankruptcy reorganization listing liabilities of $3.5 million. The gay/lesbian/alternate lifestyle club was located on the north side of Harmon, just east of The Strip.
The Krave nightclub is now in the Rio until June 15th, 2013; when they will move into their new massive space, Downtown in the Neonopolis on 450 East Fremont St.
For more information call (702) 836-0830 or:
http://www.kravelasvegas.com

MANDALAY BAY: The China Grill restaurant closed and will reopen as the Kumi Japanese Restaurant & Bar in July.

MCCARRAN AIRPORT: There is a move to rename the Airport to the Las Vegas International Airport.
McCarran Airport is named after the late Nevada Senator Pat McCarran.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from Nevada has stated "Pat McCarran was one of the most anti-Semitic, one of the most anti-black, the most prejudiced person who has ever served in the Senate". If you have an opinion on this topic, you can email Senator Reid at: http://www.reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

MGM GRAND: The Tabu night club and the Nobhill Tavern closed.

MGM GRAND: The Studio Cafe coffee shop closed.
It will be replaced this summer by the Avenue Bar & Grill.

MIRAGE: Kokomo's restaurant closed.

MISS AMERICA CONTEST: Announced that they will move the event, next year, from Las Vegas to Atlantic City.

NEVADA GAMING CONTROL BOARD: Warned casino night cubs, lounges, pool parties, etc, that they will conduct covert investigations and will not ignore incidents of drug abuse, sexual assault, prostitution, nudity, fights and presence of minors. (Note: The Nevada Gaming Control Board has the power to fine, revoke an executive's gaming license to work in any casino in Nevada and suspend or even revoke a casino's license.)

PALAZZO: First Food & Bar closed.

PLANET HOLLYWOOD: American Storm, a male review show, closed in the Miracle Mile shopping center.

PLANET HOLLYWOOD: Stripped The Play closed in the Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile shopping center.

UNLV: Dropped private developer Majestic Realty as a partner on their proposed new stadium. UNLV is reconsidering the scope and cost of the stadium project.

VENETIAN: Rattlecan Restaurant closed.


OPENED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS:
===============================

ANTHEM COUNTRY CLUB: Vic's Restaurant opened. I like their food description: "upscale, gourmet, junk food".

ARIA: The Wedding Chapel at Aria opened located on the first floor of the Convention Center.

BELLAGIO GALLERY OF FINE ART: Warhol Out West exhibit opened.

"DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM: Opened. Admission is $12. Free admission for children under 1 and free admission for adults over 100!More very interesting info. at:
http://www.discoverykidslv.org

DOS CAMINOS RESTAURANT: Formerly at the Palazzo, reopened at 10,820 W.Charleston Blvd., near the 215. Tel. (702) 462-8800.

FASHION SHOW MALL: LAKA, Manicure Express, opened.

FIESTA HENDERSON: The 24-hour Cafe Fiesta opened where the Denny's was located.

HARD ROCK: Controversial comedian Andrew Dice Clay started his residency at Vinyl.

HARD ROCK CAFE: Pole dancing lessons for girls every Saturday.
No nudity, no men! These classes could only happen in Las Vegas.
(Did I ever tell you that I love this city.) More information at:
http://www.nightschool4girls.com/faq/

HOUSE PRICES: Rose 17.6% in Las Vegas in February over last year, according to a Standard & Poor survey.

LA COMIDA: Restauranteur Michael Morton, of Morton's Steakhouse fame, opened a restaurant downtown at
106 S.Sixth Street, corner of Fremont Street, across from the El Cortez. Expect a mix of spices, American rock sound, color and many tequilas.
Tel. (702) 463-9900.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Reports that New signs of life arise in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas unemployment is down, construction projects are resuming, and tourism is back up after years of recession. Experts stop short of proclaiming a comeback, but there's guarded hope in the air for Las Vegas.

LVH: Burger Bistro opened.

MGM GRAND: Hakkasan Night Club opened. This is part of a $200 million, five level complex which ill be located in the space formerly occupied by Studio 54 and has an entrance from The Strip. Featured are a mixology lounge and an "Oriental Garden. ace formerly occupied by Studio 54 and will have a Strip entrance. They have signed four worldwide DJ's; Tiesto, Clavin Harris, Deadmau5 and Steve Aioki. The two-year deals are in a $65-million-plus contract package! WOW. The restaurant section will open May 3rd. Tel. (702)891-7888. More information.: www.akkasanlv.com

MGM RESORTS: Has started construction on on its version of New York city's Madison Square Park, in front of their Monte Carlo and New York-New York hotels, into an outdoor plaza featuring trees, benches, food trucks and shops.
Tourists will be able to stroll over a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, relax in a beer garden, and enjoy a cone of frozen custard from Shake Shack, an upscale burger stand that has become a New York favorite. Also included is a two-story Hershey's Chocolate World, a Double Barrel Roadhouse, and an 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria.The project will open sometime in 2014 and is estimated to cost $100 million.

MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL: Announced their intention to develop a 20,000-seat arena behind the Monte Carlo and New York-New York hotels, just east of Interstate 15.
The arena, which still needs planning approval, is being developed in conjunction with AEG, the company behind LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. Construction is slated to start sometime this year with completion in 2015.

MIRAGE: The topless Bare Pool Lounge opened.

ORLEANS: All day buffet price is:
Monday through Saturday $25
Sunday $27
(you get it at the Buffet Cashier and you do not have to be staying in the Hotel.)

PLAZA: Phat Pack show reopened. Also VIVA Vegas variety show opened.

POOLS: Most pools opened in Las Vegas. My number one is the Cosmopolitan followed very close in second place by Mandalay Bay.

SOUTH POINT: Zenshin, a new Pan-Asian restaurant has opened.

STRATOSPHERE: PIN UP show opened.

TARKANIAN: Beloved UNLV basketball coach, Jerry "Tark" Tarkanian was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

THE D LAS VEGAS: The Scintas opened a residency show. More
information: http://tickets.thed.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=8

VIRGIN AMERICAN AIRLINES: Started service from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and rolled out a new in-flight system that allows a passenger to anonymously send a perfect stranger a cool cocktail during the flight. Yes, it's a flirty seat-to-seat way to hit on someone in midair. You have to give them credit for thinking out of the box.

WESTERN HOTEL: This downtown dump, which has been closed since 2010, has been bought by Zappos.com chief, Tony Hsieh.


LAS VEGAS CLOSINGS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE:
===========================================

2013

May 3= RM Seafood - Mandalay Place.

Sometime in the 1st week of July= The Valentino restaurant is closing - Venetian.

Oct.27= BELLAGIO GALLERY OF FINE ART, the WARHOL Out West exhibit closes.

Dec.13= Warning! Do not gamble on this day. It's Friday, the 13th. Unlucky! That is why practically all Las Vegas hotels do not have a 13th floor. NOBODY wants to stay on the 13th floor.

Late-2013= THEhotel at Mandalay Bay will be called the DELANO.

Dec.29= Boyz II Men last show (contract ends) - Mirage.

Dec.30= "Human Nature", the Motown tribute show, contract ends - Venetian.

Dec.31= Blue Man Group current contract ends - Monte Carlo.


LAS VEGAS OPENINGS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE:
===========================================

2013
====

Thru May 11= Elton John at The Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

May 3= Tony Bennet (I Left My Heart in San Francisco) in the Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

May 3= 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. First Friday Downtown Arts Festival. No charge to enter. The hub is on Casino Center Blvd. between Colorado St. and California St. More information at:
www.firstfridaylasvegas.com

May 3= The Cantonese restaurant section of Hakkasan complex opens - MGM Grand.

May 3= Sapphire Gentlemen's Club grand opening of their new Pool & Day Club area.Their motto is "Swim with a Stripper".

May 3= The White Cross Market opened where the iconic White Cross Drugs was located. The facade will remain, as well as, the longtime diner, Tiffany's Cafe, which has remained in business even after the drugstore closed in March. The new White Cross Market will be a grocery store that will also offer packaged meats, fresh produce and a full deli with cold cuts and cheeses. It will be open 24/7. Located at 1700 Las Vegas Blvd.S. corner of Oakey Blvd. Jimmy Shoshani, owner of Bells Market (387-9205) across the street, is also the owner of this Market.

May 4= Welterweight Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs.
Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

May 5= Cinco de Mayo.

May 5= = The Bagatelle Beach & Supper Club will open the Beach Club section. The Supper Club section opened on November 16, 2012.
The complete Bagatelle Beach & Supper Club will feature champagne party brunches, beachside activities such as beach volleyball and a bocce ball court.
Also 18 luxury cabanas with their own pools, plus daybeds for dining and lounging.
At night, it will transform into a casual, poolside, restaurant offering Mediterranean-style dining, plus the Bagatelle Nightclub. The facility will also have an outdoor concert venue. The porte-cochère for the Club is on the east side of the Tropicana Las Vegas resort and is decked out with a huge Bagatelle sign. Also it is across the street from the MGM Grand.

May 7= David Perrico & Pop Evolution opens an extended run at the Stratosphere.

May 8-12= San Gennaro Festival at the Grand Canyon Shopping Center, 4245 Grand Canyon Drive and West Flamingo Road. More info. or if you just want to listen to authentic Italian music, go to:
http://sangennarofeast.com

May 9-12= Vegas Uncork'd. More information at:
http://www.vegasuncorked.com

May 9-12= Celebrity chefs, master sommeliers and cutting-edge mixologists (a fancy word they use for juggling bartenders) exhibit their best food and wine for you to taste. For more info. and ticket prices call 1-877-884-8993.

May 10-12= Jerry Lewis - South Point.

May 11= Beach Boys - Cannery. Top 10 at:
http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/top-10-beach-boys-songs-08-20-2011

May 11= StrEATs food-truck, arts and music festival on the Jackie Gaughan Parkway from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Many of Las Vegas' favorite food trucks participate along with local art and clothing vendors. - El Cortez. More info.:
http://vegasstreats.com

May 11= Rolling Stones in the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Tickets range from $150 to $1,300!
PICTURES and AUDIO of the top 10 Rolling Stones songs(a must listen for all Stones fans) at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZMkv0X7ksE

May 12= Mother's Day.

May 13= Grand opening of Bingo at Green Valley Ranch.

May 14-19= Billy Elliot, The Musical - Smith Center.

May 14-June 1= Shania Twain "Still the One" show at The Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

Middle of May= Raising Cane's chicken fingers will open its sixth restaurant in Southern Nevada on Lake Mead Boulevard and U.S. 95.
More info.: www.raisingcanes.com/about/

May 19= Billboard Music Awards - MGM Grand.

May 24= LL COOL J with Ice Cube, Public Enemy and De La Soul at The Joint - Hard Rock.

May 24= Bill Cosby-Treasure Island.

May 24-27= Annual Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival.
More info. at: https://punkrockbowling.com/

May 25= Billy Idol - Palms.

May 26= Fleetwood Mac - MGM Grand.

May 27= Memorial Day.

May 27=The LIGHT, a state-of-the-art nightclub by Cirque du Soleil and The Light Group will open. It's located where the old Rum Jungle was. Famous DJ's and VIP service will be featured.

May 27= Opening date has been reconfirmed. A new 41-acre, $50 million water park called Wet 'n Wild Las Vegas, opening at 7055 S. Fort Apache Rd., in Southwest Las Vegas near the 215 and Sunset Road.
The park will have 25 slides, including the Rattler, a steep, twisting coiled chute with high-banked curves that is part tube and part flume, giving riders the experience of being inside and out. The park also will feature a wave pool, lazy river, water playground and toddler pool, as well as a seven-story speed slide and head-first mat racer.
Investors include Andre Agassi; his wife, Steffi Graf; Dr. Steven and Karen Thomas, members of the Thomas family of Thomas & Mack Center fame.
More information at: www.wetnwildlasvegas.com

May 29- July 15= World Series of Poker - Rio.

May 30 to June 1= AARP LIFE @50+ Expo - L.V. Convention Center. More information at::
http://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/events/national_event/las-vegas/

Sometime in May= Reopening of the Lady Luck, a low-roller joint that closed in 2006. The new name will be the DOWNTOWN GRAND. Located at 3rd Street and East Ogden Avenue, the development is composed of two towers: the 17-story East Tower with 297 hotel rooms on floors 3-17, and the 25-story West Tower with 334 hotel rooms on floors 6-25. The East Tower is connected to the ground level casino. The property is served by a four-level parking garage.
The city agreement requires the DOWNTOWN GRAND hotel to be of a "three star hospitality". On the casino floor, "Commissary on Downtown3rd" becomes the central hub restaurant, adjacent to the "Ultra Tavern" Little Macau.
Other food options for the Downtown Grand include a Biergarten, NY Deli & Sports Book and the S+O Cafe, named after surrounding streets Stewart and Ogden.
On the third floor of the casino, an all new 30,0000-square-foot pool will host the Pool Bar & Grill.
Bars and lounges include the Empire Room, Lobby Bar and Center Scene, a bar located in the middle of the gaming area. Kauai Shave Ice & Daiquiri Bar will feature a street-side pick up area. The Gelato will be part of the fast food options including a dim sum and crepes.On completion, it will have 11 restaurants, seven bars, a 50,000-square-foot casino and retail space. Design will be urban warehouse and exposed walls and floors.
Next door on 5th Street, I Love Burgers, Pizza Rock and Daily Kitchen & Wellness Bar will open. Taking over the former Celebrity Theater, Pizza Rock will have a flaming truck mounted on the building roof.

Sometime in May = Completion of a 20-story, $55 million, time share Grandview Resort tower at 9940 S. Las Vegas Blvd., next to the South Point hotel.

Sometime in May = "XISHI", (pronounced "zai-she"), a pan-Asian restaurant opens and will be centered around a chic lounge bar with beats coming from a deejay spinning nightly music.
It's going to be located in the space currently occupied by Little Buddha and next to the sports restaurant and lounge, Heraea. - Palms.

Sometime in May = Bradley Ogden opens his Ogden's Hops & Harvest, taking over the former Bottles & Burgers space at Tivoli Village.

June 1-July 4= Poker Tournament - Golden Nugget. More info.:
www.goldennugget.com/LasVegas/pdf/gps.pdf

June 4-Sept 1= Celine Dion at The Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

June 13= Carmine's New York City's legendary family style Italian restaurant, offering it's famous abundant portions, opens where Planet Hollywood Restaurant was previously located on the main floor of the Forum Shops - Caesars Palace.

June14= Jeff Dunham, ventriloquist - The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

June15= Grand opening of Krave Massive, a mammoth gay/lesbian/alternate lifestyle club which will be located in the Neonopolis at 450 East Fremont St., downtown. Krave Massive will present five uniquely themed dance rooms, each featuring a distinct musical flavor and its own individual design and ambient entertainment. including a state of the art sound system, LED lighting, high-tech lasers, high output CO2 blasts, and huge video walls. The club will also include three separate bars, staffed by a crew of 24 bartenders; as well as a martini lounge; a members-only VIP lounge called Indulge Private Lounge; a comedy club called Tickled Pink; a performing arts theater; an LGBT movie theater; a retail merchandise store; a multi-purpose or conference room; a lesbians only dance lounge; and even an outdoor pool with cabanas.
For more information call (702) 836-0830 or:
http://www.kravelasvegas.com
Publisher;s note: The principles have declared bankruptcy twice and this project is doubtful.

June 16= Father's Day.

Jun.20-Aug.31= Veronic, who impersonates famous female singers. This show is co-produced by Celine Dion who is also impersonated by Veronic - Bally's.

June 21= Summer begins.

June 22= Super Diamond, the Neil Diamond tribute band - M Resort.
"Sweet Caroline."

Early summer= Cowabunga Bay Las Vegas, a huge 23-acre, new water park, will open near the I-95 and the shopping center "Galleria at Sunset" in Henderson. Season passes are a steep $74.95 per person. The park is 1950's and 60's themed. Much more information at:
www.cowabungabay.com

Jun.21-23= Electric Daisy Carnival returns to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. More information at:
http://electricdaisycarnival.com

Around June 21(Summer)= Lorotiana (a fashion wear store) will open on the Mezzanine Level inside the Crystals Shopping Center - Aria.

Around June 21(Summer)= A Starbucks will open where the Sweet Chill restaurant was located on the 2nd floor (Promenade Level), before the Buffet. - Aria.

Around June 21(Summer)= A Starbucks will open where The Pods by Wolfgang Puck was located on the Mezzanine Level inside the Crystals Shopping Center - Aria.

Around June 21(Summer)= Valentino's (a fashion wear store) will open on the Mezzanine Level inside the Crystals Shopping Center - Aria.

Around June 21(Summer)= Tom Colicchio, renowned New York chef and head judge of Bravo's "Top Chef," will bring cooking with fire to the Las Vegas Strip with the opening of a new restaurant. The 250-seat restaurant will focus on meats prepared entirely over an open flame – from wood-burning ovens to charcoal grills. The restaurant will be located within The Atrium, in the space currently occupied by kokomo's and will be open for dinner. - Mirage.

Around June 21(Summer)= Opening of Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in the space occupied by the Cabo Mexican restaurant. - Red Rock.

Around June 21(Summer)= Work will start on tripling the size of the parking lot at the "FABULOUS LAS VEGAS" sign.

Around June 21(Summer)= Avenue Bar & Grill will open 24-hours where the Studio Cafe coffee shop was located - MGM Grand.

Around June 21(Summer)= The Echo & Rig Steakhouse & Butcher Shop will open in Tivoli Village.

June 28= Justin Bieber at MGM Grand Garden Arena - SOLD OUT!

June 28= Terry Bradshaw: America's Favorite Dumb Blond-A Life in Four Quarters show opens - Mirage.

June 29= The Cirque du Soleil's eighth show "Michael Jackson -The One" will commence a permanent residency in the theater where the Lion King was playing in Mandalay Bay. Michael Jackson always wanted a permanent show in Las Vegas. In fact, serious negotiations took place with Steve Wynn around 2007. Those talks came to a halt because Mr.Wynn could just not get over the child molestation accusations that were brought against Michael Jackson.
I was a big fan of Michael Jackson until I saw Michael Jackson, on TV, say that it was O.K. for young boys to be in bed with him. I hope the show has a short run!

Sometime in June= The Daylight Beach Club opens. It's located where the Landshark pool was. - Mandalay Bay. More information at:
http://daylightvegas.com

Sometime in June= Rx Boiler Room seafood restaurant opens where the RM Seafood restaurant was located on the 2nd floor of Mandalay Place.
Sometime in the 2nd quarter=The Light Group will open the Citizens Cafe where the old Red,White & Blue restaurant was located - Mandalay Bay.

Mid-2013= THE LINQ. A $550 million shopping and entertainment district anchored by an observation wheel. Located across the street from Caesars Palace. The project occupies the alley between O'Shea's and the Flamingo. The LINQ will be a promenade with 30 outdoor retail, dining and entertainment establishments.
The Linq's centerpiece will be the 550-foot observation wheel, dubbed the Las Vegas High Roller. With 28 enclosed, transparent sphere cabins that hold up to 40 passengers each, the wheel can transport an estimated 2,240 passengers per hour. It will take 30 minutes to make one revolution on the wheel and will cost less than $20 per person to ride. Construction is well underway.
More information at:
www.lvopenings.com/linq

Mid-2013= The ONE Group, the New York-based hospitality company, known for its high-energy dining venues, will open a sports-themed restaurant and lounge called "Heraea" (pronounced "ha-ray-uh"). The new venue will takeover the space that was occupied by Garduno's restaurant and will offer a restaurant, state-of-the-art sports viewing and energetic music.
It's located on the casino floor and is adjacent to the pool-Palms.

Jul. 1-3= Masters of Beer Pong 100K Tournament in The Joint - Hard Rock.

Jul. 4= Independence Day.

Jul.12= American Idol Tour-Mandalay Bay Events Center.

July 20-Aug 4= Rod Stewart at The Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

Jul.27= Engelbert Humperdinck (Yes, he is still performing "Please Release Me") - M Resort.

Jul.29= A new home decor floor, C4, will open in the Las Vegas Furniture Market featuring Surya, along with Palecek, Moe's Home Collection, Andrew Martin International, Cisco Bros., Luna Bella and Terra Sur.

Sometime in July= The Light Group will open the Kumi Japanese Restaurant & Bar where the China Grill restaurant was previously located - Mandalay Bay.

Sometime in July= "Heritage Steak by Tom Colicchio" restaurant will open where kokomos was located - Mirage.

Aug. 2+3= Daryl Hall and John Oates at The Joint - Hard Rock.

Aug.10= The Monkees at Green Valley Ranch. My favorite is "Daydream Believer" or maybe "I'm a Believer".

Aug.11-14= A new event, SXSWV2V (South By Southwest) will take place at the Cosmopolitan. More information at:
http://sxswv2v.com

Aug.13= Willie Nelson - Smith Center.

Aug.23-30= Restaurant week. More info. will soon be at:
www.help oputdineout.org

Aug.26 to Sep. 2= Burning Man Festival. Annual art event and temporary community based on radical self expression and self-reliance. Will be held in the Black Rock Desert, 120 miles north of Reno. Nevada. The towns of Empire and Gerlach serve as guardians of the desert
region. The huge Burning Man will actually burn on sundown August 31st. More info.: www.burningman.com

Aug.30= Whoopi Goldberg - Treasure Island.

Sometime during the summer = "FIVE 50 Pizza" is opening where the SKYBOX Sports Bar and Grill was located - Aria.

Late summer= Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana will open in the Village Square shopping center, Sahara and Fort Apache.

Sep. 1= Ziggy Marley will perform his reggae music at the Mandalay Bay Beach.

Sep. 2= Labor Day.

Around Labor Day weekend= Beacher's Madhouse returning to the MGM Grand where the Crazy Horse Paris show was previously located.

Sep. 5= NFL pro football first regular season game:
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos (-7, 49.5) More info. at: http://www.betonline.com/sportsbook#

Sep.6+7= Jerry Seinfeld in the Colosseum - Caesars Palace.One of
the best Seinfeld jokes: "I was the best man at a wedding.
If I'm the best man, why is she marrying him?

Sep.10-15= San Gennaro Festival at the Grand Canyon Shopping Center, 4245 Grand Canyon Drive and West Flamingo Road. More info. or if you just want to listen to authentic Italian
music, go to: http://sangennarofeast.com

Sep.13= Southwest Airliners starts their new policy that if you do not arrive for your flight on time and do not cancel, you will forfeit what you paid for your ticket!

Sep.13= Don't plan on gambling this day as it's Friday, the 13th.

Sep.13-15= Luis Miguel in the Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

Sep.18 - Oct.12= Elton John in the Colosseum - Caesars Palace.

Around Sep. 22 (start of Fall, 2013))= "1842 Pub" by Michael Mina will open where the Seablue restaurant was located - MGM Grand.

Around Sep.22(Start of Fall,2013)= Construction starts on the Shops at Summerlin located near the 215 Beltway and Charleston Boulevard, just south of the Red Rock Casino. The retail project was mothballed for several years due to the poor economy. Macy's department store has signed on as the anchor tenant in the open-air mall. Macy's will be joined by 130 other stores and restaurants, along with offices, hotels and some residential units. Macy's will open by the fall of 2014.

Oct. 1= Shoe and clothing e-commerce giant Zappos.com, moves to downtown Las Vegas to the old City Hall building at 400 Stewart Avenue between Las Vegas Blvd. and 4th Street. More than 1,500 employees will move from Henderson. They will spend $40 million to renovate the old City Hall building.

Oct.3-6= Las Vegas Bike Fest. More information:
www.lasvegasbikefest.com

Sometime in October= Central Container Park opens in Downtown. The Central Container Park will be a half city block on Fremont Street East and 7th Street, which will include a coffee shop, taco restaurant, BBQ joint, cheese and wine bar and a lounge.
Each of those businesses will be created out of two 40-foot shipping containers. There will also be a playground, a dog park and a grassy stage area. The entry to the Park will be a 30-foot "Praying Mantis" art piece.
More information:
http://downtownproject.com/shipping-containers/

Oct.31= Halloween.

Nov. 3= Daylight Saving Time ends. Move clocks back one hour.

Nov.7-10= World Food Championships. More info.:
http://worldfoodchampionships.com/home

Nov. 9= Selena Gomez - Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Nov.9+10= Aviation Nation at Nellis Air Force Base is CANCELED.

Nov.9-11= Sesame Street Live - Cox Pavilion.

Nov.13= Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon. More info.:
http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/las-vegas/register

Nov.28= Thanksgiving Day.

4th quarter,2013= SkyVue will open, featuring 32 climate-controlled glass-walled gondolas and the world's largest HD LED Multi Media displays, each measuring larger than a football field.
The project will also include dining and entertainment options.
The multilevel shopping center will have a food court and prime frontage on Las Vegas Blvd.
It is located directly across the street from Mandalay Bay.
For more info., a picture and a video: http://skyvuelasvegas.com

Late-2013= THEhotel at Mandalay Bay will be renamed the DELANO.

Late-2013= Downtown3rd Development opens with 18 restaurants and bars to downtown Las Vegas.

Late-2013= The Imperial Palace will finish badly needed renovations and will be re-named, The Quad, and re-themed as "Q", will become the distinctive brand icon.
The renovations include changes to the exterior facade, porte cochere, front desk, hotel lobby, casino floor, retail area and dining areas. The entrance to the resort will be moved to the north side of the building with access through Koval Lane or the Harrah's tunnel off Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort will be connected to Caesars' massive entertainment, retail and dining area called The LINQ. The resort will remain open throughout the renovations. More information at:
http://www.caesars.com/thequadlv/

Sometime in 2013= Banger Brewery, a local microbrewery and bar, will open on the first floor, in the space formerly occupied by Jillian's, below Drink & Drag Lounge, in the Neonopolis. The Neonopolis is located downtown, at 450 Fremont Street, two blocks east of the Fremont Street Experience, on the north side of the street. A large replica grain silo, a 16-seat patio and a walk-up service window are included in the plans.

Sometime in 2013= MGM Resorts International will offer free wi-fi in Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor and Excalibur.

Sometime in 2013= South Point Poker to have an internet site open and accepting real-money bets on internet video poker. More information will eventually be at:
http://www.southpointpoker.com

By the end of 2013= Work will be completed on tripling the size of the parking lot at the "FABULOUS LAS VEGAS" sign.

Dec.25= Christmas Day.

Dec.31= Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to celebrate New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. Access will be restricted on The Strip from Sahara Avenue to Tropicana Avenue.
Also I-15 off-ramps will be closed at 4 p.m., Dec. 31, at the following eastbound exits:
• Spring Mountain Road
• Flamingo Road
• Tropicana Avenue
Ramp restrictions will be lifted between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m on January 1, or at the discretion of the Joint Operations Center in the Freeway Arterial System of Transportation.
Escalators at Tropicana and the Strip will be shut down from 2 p.m., Dec. 31 to 2 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 1. Visitors are encouraged to take the stairs or the elevators. Prior to midnight, all stairs and escalators will be barricaded and elevators will be stopped as bridge access will be restricted to pedestrians.
Additionally, vehicle access will be restricted at:
Las Vegas Boulevard northbound at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas Boulevard southbound at Sahara.
• Tropicana Avenue westbound at Koval Lane.
• Tropicana Avenue eastbound at Industrial/Dean Martin Drive
• Flamingo Road eastbound at Valley View.
• The right lane on Sahara eastbound at I-15 will have one lane closed to allow a dedicated turn lane from the off-ramp at I-15 northbound to Sahara eastbound.
Fireworks will burst from seven Strip hotels on New Year's Eve from the Stratosphere to the MGM Grand: MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure island, Venetian and Stratosphere.
Police have warned: "We want everyone to have a good time but If we spot anyone driving while impaired, they will go to jail." BRAVO.
AAA is offering a free 10-mile ride service called "Tipsy Tow" between
6 p.m. New Year's Eve and 6 a.m. New Year's Day for individuals unable to drive.
Partygoers can call AAA's roadside service number at 1-800-222-4357 and ask the operator for a "Tipsy Tow." Anyone can participate, a AAA membership is not required. The responding worker will take drivers and passengers, as space allows, and their cars home.
■ The Regional Transportation Commission will also provide free bus rides from 6 p.m. New Year's Eve and 9 a.m. New Year's Day.
■ The use of metal and glass containers on the Strip and downtown will be banned from 6 p.m. New Year's Eve and 6 a.m. New Year's Day. Plastic cups and containers are allowed.
■ Large backpacks, satchels or knapsacks that could carry cans or bottles are discouraged.
■ A curfew on the Strip for un­accompanied minors has been set for 9 p.m. New Year's Eve and 5 a.m. New Year's Day.
■ People parking and walking toward the Strip or downtown are encouraged to park in well-lit areas, hide valuables, lock their cars, and take their keys.
"It's also a good idea to wipe off the suction cup ring left on the window if you have a GPS or radar unit that mounts to the window," police said. "The ring is a 'something's valuable inside, let's break in' sign."
Temperatures can be around 30 degrees. Individuals attending celebrations outdoors should dress warm.
Around 4,000 pedestrian barriers will be assembled along the Strip.

During 2013 and 2014= Tony Hsieh, co-founder and CEO of ecommerce giant Zappos.com intends to invest
$350 million of his fortune (Amazon acquired Zappos for $1.2 billion in 2009) to revitalize downtown into a pre-eminent location for technology startups, co-working space and the arts.
Hsieh will invest:
$200 million into Downtown Project for land and buildings.
$50 million will go to tech startups that Hsieh plans to recruit to the area with seed investments of $100,000 to $500,000 each.
$50 million will go toward luring local small businesses, such as grocery stores, bakeries, yoga studios and restaurants and
$50 million will go toward education and community projects. They have signed a deal to bring elaborate sculptures and other artwork from Northern Nevada's Burning Man festival for display in Las Vegas. He recently bought the rights to First Friday, an arts and culture festival that draws thousands of Las Vegans every month.

2014
====
Jan.1-5= World Series of Beer Pong IX. More info.:
http://www.bpong.com/the-world-series-of-beer-pong/ - Flamingo.

Sometime during the first week of 2014= The Las Vegas X Railway Express plans to start running a conventional train service, with a maximum of 576 passengers per trip, between the Fullerton Transportation Center, Orange County, in Southern California near Disneyland and Las Vegas, at a train station just west or in the back of the Plaza Hotel in Downtown Las Vegas. The $100 million concept is for the X Train to traverse the route in 5½ hours. Departures from California are planned to be onThursdays and Fridays with returns from Las Vegas on Sundays. An introductory price will be a steep $99 each way. A free buffet and beverages to purchase will be available on the train along with a promised party atmosphere. Flat screen TV's will be at each seat to watch sports or TV channels. Internet service will also be available. The train will have 16 cars, including two food service cars, two lounges and 12 first-class passenger compartments with 48 seats and a small bar. Since cocktails will be served on board, it's strictly an adults-only atmosphere.
In my opinion, this is a doomed project. Here are some comments I have seen on Las Vegas Newsgroups:
"I have my doubts that this (X Train) will work. At $100 per person it is pretty expensive.
I just checked airfare prices from Long Beach to Las Vegas (Long Beach is located near Fullerton). I could get a round trip ticket for $98. I will get there significantly faster and at half the price. Sure, I'll have to take a cab to the Strip but I'd have to do exactly the same thing if I was let off at the Plaza in the downtown area.
The X train also doesn't make sense with groups of people. For instance, 4 bachelors will have to pay $800 total to get back and forth from Las Vegas. While if they pile into a car and each chip in for gas, they could do the trip in $50 - $75 total and still have a car to get around to places off The Strip.
Hopefully, the owners of the train take a look at the bottom line before inking this deal. I don't see this working unless the price drops significantly or they hope to entice the lone traveler who wants to get a buzz on before arriving to town."
As for me, according to the above writer, the X train is too expensive because he can get a plane for less.
Using that theory, Vegas should be empty of tourist except those who stay at Motel 6 and Travel Lodge. But people who live and work in Vegas know that these cheap places are not filled with tourists. The $300 a night rooms are filled with tourists.
And the Strip (even downtown) has more $300 a night rooms that are full, then the $39 night rooms.
Not everyone who comes to Vegas is the bargain basement traveler."

"I hope the X train succeeds, but I just don't see it working financially. Then again as long as it's private equity and not government funds, I wish them all the luck in the world.
Note: Amtrak's Desert Wind shut down in 1997.
More information on the X Train is at:
www.vegasxtrain.com

Feb. 2= NFL Super Bowl XLViii (Super Bowl 48) MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands), East Rutherford, NJ

Early-2014= Bill's Gambling Hall & Salon will reopen after a $185 million renovation. A rooftop pool and dayclub/nightclub are planned.
The name of the nightclub will probably be Drai's After Hours, the current name.

Around Mar.20. OPENING POSTPONED to Spring, 2014= Cowabunga Bay Las Vegas, a huge 23-acre, new water park, will open near the I-95 and the shopping center "Galleria at Sunset" in Henderson. Much more information at:
www.cowabungabay.com

Around June 23 (Summer-2014)= "Third intake straw" completed into Lake Mead will keep water flowing to Las Vegas. Southern Nevada Water Authority's $700 million project.

Around Sep.23 (Fall- 2014)= Macy's will open in the new and to be built Shops at Summerlin located near the 215 Beltway and Charleston Boulevard, just south of the Red Rock Casino. Macy's department store will be the anchor tenant in the open-air mall. Macy's will be joined by 130 other stores and restaurants, along with offices, hotels and some residential units.

Around Sep.23 (Fall- 2014)= The SLS Las Vegas will open on 18 acres and will be a mixed-use resort and casino with more than 1,620 guest rooms and suites and a collection of restaurants and nightlife brands.
James Beard award winning chef, José Andrés, will open a restaurant called The Bazaar by José Andrés and Philippe Starck will open a nightclub called Katsuya. Will be located where the old Sahara Hotel (closed in May, 2011) was located on the south east side of Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara. More information at:
http://slshotels.com/lasvegas/

Sometime in 2014, The Las Vegas Shakespeare Company completes a $45 million expansion, which will include a new theater and rehearsal space, a lounge, a gallery in conjunction with Opportunity Village, and Rosemary's Cafe which will be an upscale eatery and bar and will have terrace seating. Location is the former Reed Whipple Cultural Center building, downtown at 821 Las Vegas Blvd. N., between Bonanza Rd. and Washington Ave.

Sometime in 2014= Marriott's Vacation Club's Grand Chateau complex will complete their third tower. The 37-story, Tower 3, timeshare will include 223 units ranging from one to three bedrooms, with villas as large as 2,100 square feet. Location is Harmon Avenue and Las Vegas Blvd., just south of Planet Hollywood.

Sometime in 2014= MGM Resorts will open its version of New York city's Madison Square Park in front of their Monte Carlo and New York-New York hotels, into an outdoor plaza featuring trees, benches, food trucks and shops. Tourists will be able to stroll over a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, relax in a beer garden, and enjoy a cone of frozen custard from Shake Shack, an upscale burger stand that has become a New York favorite. Also included is a two-story Hershey's Chocolate World, a Double Barrel Roadhouse, and an 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria.
The project has started construction and is estimated to cost $100 million.

2015
=====
Sometime in 2015= Saks will open a new outlet store in the Premium Outlets North Mall in downtown Las Vegas called the "Off 5th" store.

2016
====
Sometime in 2016= The Chinese-themed "Resorts World Las Vegas"
will open. Malaysia-based Genting Group paid Boyd Gaming Corp.
$350 million to acquire the mothballed Echelon development on the hallowed gambling ground site of the former Stardust. Genting said it would spend between $2 billion and $7 billion over the next few years to build the resort ,which will feature a replica of the Great Wall of China, faux terra cotta warriors and displays for live pandas.
The Company operates hotel-casinos worldwide including Resorts World brands in Singapore and at New York City's Aqueduct Racetrack.

Late-2016= XpressWest, will travel at speeds of up to 150 mph non-stop, 185 miles between Victorville, in Southern California and Las Vegas, in 80 minutes, with an average round trip fare of $89. This service will be in addition to the X train which will start sometime during the first week of 2014. More information on this Xpress West is at:
www.xpresswest.com/project.html

======================================================

LAS VEGAS WARNING OF THE MONTH:
================================
Most hotels on The Strip have an automatic daily "Resort Fee", which they charge to your hotel bill every night.
The following hotels have this rip-off:

All MGM Resort properties have a daily $25 Resort Fee automatically added to your bill:
(that's $25 each day!) (for free daily newspaper, free all local calls and free access to Fitness Center):

Aria
Bellagio
Circus Circus
Excalibur
Luxor
Mandalay Bay
MGM Grand
The Mirage
Monte Carlo
New York-New York
THEhotel at Mandalay Bay
The Signature at MGM Grand
Vdara

Cosmopolitan has a $28 per day Resort Fee (for Wi-Fi, Gym and Tennis Courts).

All Caesars Entertainment properties have a $28 per day Resort Fee (for all local calls, Fitness Center and one internet per day):
• Bally's Las Vegas
• Bill's Gamblin' Hall
• Caesars Palace
• Flamingo Las Vegas
• Harrah's Las Vegas Casino
• Imperial Palace
• Paris Las Vegas
• Planet Hollywood Resort
• Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino

*** Both the Venetian and the PALAZZO have increased their "RESORT FEE" to $25 PER NIGHT.***(includes use of the resort's fitness center, Internet access, boarding pass printing, unlimited local and toll-free calls, a newspaper and drink coupons.)


->->-> I invite readers to submit any other rip-offs they see in Las Vegas.
By sharing we all benefit. Thank you.


LAS VEGAS RUMORS OF THE MONTH:
================================
Britney Spears to be resident headliner in Planet Hollywood.

A second Electric Daisy Carnival in the summer of 2014. About 4 weeks apart from the first one.

LAS VEGAS JOKE OF THE MONTH:
============================
George Wallace, comedian and headliner at the Flamingo, swears that the Bonanza Gift Shop on Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara, has a sign in front that says:
"If it's in stock, we have it."

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH:
=================================
Richie Havens, guitarist (1941-2013). Passed away last month.
Remembering Richie Havens......

Little darling, it's been a long, cold, lonely winter, Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here,

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun,
and I say it's alright .


WHERE I STAND:
==============

On December 14th, 20 little children, aged 5 to 10, were gunned down in their elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. This incident broke my heart!
So far we have heard a lot of talk, but nothing has been done!!!
We can no longer throw our hands up in the air and do nothing.
Our politicians must stop talking and start doing. And that goes from the President all the way down to the local City Councillor and to us. We all know what has to be done:
Gun control, but with protection of our Second Amendment rights, much better mental health treatment facilities, extreme violence limitations in movies and video games, while protecting our First Amendment rights.
Doctors should report mentally disabled people prone to violence but the doctors should be spared from legal action for their reporting.

And no more talk,talk, talk by politicians. We will not keep quiet.
Each of us has to do whatever we are capable of doing.

Nevada Senator Dean Heller voted no on an amendment to ban assault weapons, voted no on a measure to limit magazine capacity, and voted no on the Manchin-Toomey amendment to expand background checks for gun sales.
WE WILL REMEMBER SENATOR HELLER AT VOTING TIME!
ALL POLITICIANS MUST START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT GUN CONTROL OR WE WILL THROW YOU OUT OF OFFICE!!

That's where I stand. If you differ, I respect your opinion.
Readers comments, Las Vegas questions, Las Vegas jokes, Las Vegas rip-offs, thoughts and where you stand, are welcome.
Please advise if you give permission to publish your name.
Please direct your email to:
lvbillhere@gmail.com

THE READERS WRITE:
===================
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MISTAKES: This Newsletter corrects mistakes.
Corrections will appear in the next Newsletter.
Email your corrections. submissions, comments, complaints or suggestions to:
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