Living in Las Vegas, Dave’s home since 2001.
My latest Green Felt Journal is up in Vegas Seven. This week I talk about a brand new attraction at Circus Circus that’s a little spooky: About this time every year, theme parks around the country get a monthlong reprieve from the off-season as they re-theme themselves for Halloween. No one wants to float down […]
13th floor fun in Vegas Seven Read More »
life in vegas, writingThursday once again brings a new Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven. This week I talk about an event that I’m privileged to be a part of, Vegas Podcast-a-palooza: The event is called Vegas Podcast-a-palooza, and it brings together three prominent Las Vegas podcasts: the Vegas Gang, a roundtable discussion among several Vegas aficionados (including
Podcast-a-palooza in Vegas Seven Read More »
life in vegas, news about gambling, writingIt’s another Thursday, which means another Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven. This one is about a remarkable woman who works at the El Cortez, Liz Butler: If you want a lesson in Las Vegas history, you don’t have to go much farther than Liz Butler, who’s still serving drinks at the El Cortez. With
Liz Butler’s story in Vegas Seven Read More »
life in vegas, writingWhat is it about Las Vegas that brings out the worst in some writers? The latest victim shares his thoughts on Las Vegas in Smithsonian Magazine, though I cant imagine why an editor would solicit this kind of superficial “analysis,” much less publish it: I knew, going in, that I’d feel out of place. The
Response to another lame take on Vegas Read More »
life in vegas, writingMy interview with Steve Inskeep of KNPR’s Morning Edition has aired: Las Vegas just added a bit more bling to its famed Strip with the unveiling of a new marquee for The Cosmopolitan — a resort-casino opening at the end of the year. There already are questions about how the city will absorb another 3,000
Too many rooms? on NPR Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingIt’s Thursday, so the new Green Felt Journal is up at last:my weekend at the Star Trek convention, condensed to about 760 words, for Vegas Seven: Anthony and Deidre Flood Jenkins are about to have the moment of a lifetime. Pavilion Room 4 at the Las Vegas Hilton might seem a funny place for this,
It’s Thursday, so I’ve got another Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven. This week, I take a look at the surprising success of hobby-related trade shows, with a focus on Creation Entertainment’s upcoming Star Trek Convention: Things haven’t looked good for business travel to Las Vegas for a few years. Since 2006, the city has
Trek to the Rescue in Vegas7 Read More »
life in vegas, news about gambling, writingThe 2010 issue of Casino Design, a supplement to Global Gaming Business, is out now. It’s filled with tons of great articles with many perspectives on how and why casinos look the way they do. I’d like to point you towards the cover story, a massive look at how CityCenter developed, from drawing board to
CityCenter’s history Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingGreat story from KLAS about efforts to police the seamier side of the Las Vegas casino pool culture: Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak says what happens in European-style pools around the world doesn't necessarily happen in Las Vegas. "International visitors have increased considerably, and this is something that they've asked for," Commissioner Sisolak said. "There
Casino pools warned Read More »
life in vegasLas Vegas is far in the rear view mirror as New York tops a list of “fun cities” compiled by portfolio.com: Portfolio.com/bizjournals created a comprehensive formula to evaluate the opportunities for fun in the nation’s 100 largest markets. The process began with the collection of federal statistics for 14 relevant types of businesses, from retail
Vegas needs more fun Read More »
life in vegasIn addition to my regular Green Felt Journal column this week, I’ve got a “Latest Thought” for your perusal in Vegas Seven: There hasn’t been much written about locals casinos on the scholarly front, so Nedelec, a geographer, shared a conclusion from a chapter in 1999’s The Real Las Vegas: Life Beyond the Strip edited
Hitting the jackpot in Clark County Read More »
gambling & culture, life in vegas, writingIf you really want to see your name in lights, you’ve got the chance this weekend, thanks to the folks at Planet Hollywood. From their press release: Now through Sunday, Feb. 28, Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is giving everyone a chance to be famous by posting photos and messages on
You on the phvegas big screen Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingThis is one of those moment of ambivalence that we all face at some time or another. On one hand, I’m pretty happy to be finished working on the 2009 Nevada gaming breakdown (pdf) and the Nevada Gaming Revenue:Long-term trends report (pdf). On the other, the actual data in those reports aren’t really happy fun
A decade of decline? Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingThe centerpiece casino of the Lake Las Vegas development announced today that it will be closing. Following the news that the Ritz Carlton is soon to close, this raises even more questions about the future of the development–and ties into a Nevada gaming trend that pre-dates the recession. From the LV Sun: Casino MonteLago at
Lake without a casino Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingNo Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven this week because of a production error, but there’s always next week to look forward to, and I’ve got a piece about the promotion of Las Vegas in the Business Press this week: Maybe it isn't. While the ads are amusing and have a fair shot of “going
Fun or bad? You decide Read More »
life in vegas, writingThe 2009 Nevada gaming numbers are in, and they are not exactly encouraging. From the LVRJ: Gaming revenues in Nevada fell 10.4 percent in 2009, the largest single year decline in state history. Casinos statewide collected almost $10.392 billion from gamblers during the year, the lowest one-year total since 2003 according to figures released this
…at least as far as the LVCVA is concerned. The December and year-end visitor numbers, minus the gaming figures for now, was just released. Here are some highlights from the executive summary: December: Visitor volume up 1.5%, room inventory up 6% compared to December 2008. 2009 (total): Visitor volume down 3%, room inventory up 6%
Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I was at the Winter Getaway over the weekend, and since coming back I’ve been absorbed in some faculty governance work that is time-consuming and tedious. It’s mostly very dry procedural documentation and that sort of thing, but it’s actually made me look forward to getting
…rather than the opposite, as this incident–unfortunately caught live on camera–from CES shows: Reporter Dan Simmons from the BBCs technology show Click managed to break a mobile phone marketed as “unbreakable”, during a demonstration at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. via BBC News – Reporter breaks an unbreakable mobile phone at CES. Click
Why it pays to under-promise and over-deliver Read More »
haphazard world, life in vegasAs I was driving out of Aria last Wednesday, I saw something unusual at the corner of Harmon and the Strip. This was the best picture I could get: You’ve got to click a twice to get the image big enough to see what’s going on, but it might be worth it.