I’m not going to pile on the Tropicana AC story today. They got their license ripped, and I’ve said all I’m going to say about it on this thread at 2 Way Hard 3 and to several journalists who’ve called me just to chat about this today. Instead, I’m going to provide a public service: […]
Vegas winter travel advisory Read More »
life in vegasI’m not totally sure that this is news, but I’m going with it today anyway–otherwise, I’d have to post my usual thoughts on the lower AC revenue numbers. Caesars Palace has raised its table limits to what it says are the highest in town (but which may not in fact be). From the LVRJ: The
Caesars raises limits Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingThere’s always an arms race of sorts going on between slot cheats and casino security. The cheats figure out a way to rip off the machine, the security folks learn how to detect and prevent it, so the cheats come up with a new scam. Ad infinitum. Now, surprise surprise, comes news that ticket-in/ticket-out machines–which
New slot scam, and a whacky estimate of casino theft Read More »
news about gamblingThe 2007 Las Vegas Marathon is over, and it was a great run. We had ideal weather–cool, slight cloud cover, with not much wind–and it was a pretty good run. I managed to run get run over by any Elvi, which is harder than you might think. Running with the pace group was great, and
As I said yesterday, I was lucky enough to volunteer to help facilitate UNLV’s Debate Watch event yesterday. You can read about the debate itself from the LVRJ: Hyped as the single most anticipated night of the long presidential campaign thus far, Thursday marked the first time in history a presidential debate was held in
Thoughts on the Sin City Showdown Read More »
life in vegasToday my office is a few hundred yards from the center of a media firestorm, through no fault of my own. The Democratic Presidential debate is happening at the Cox Pavilion right here on campus. From the LVRJ: It’s fight night in Las Vegas. The jabs will fly. The contenders will duck and weave. They
Sin City Presidential Showdown Read More »
life in vegasWith the Global Gaming Expo dominating the world of Las Vegas gambling, it’s only appropriate that I post something about it. From the LVRJ: For some casino operators, the Global Gaming Expo serves as a preview to the future. Others want to know what can go on their gaming floors immediately. This year’s industry trade
Download the future Read More »
gambling & culture, life in vegasA sixty year-old Las Vegas institution came tumbling down last night. Or did it? First, read the story from my buddies at KLAS: The New Frontier casino-hotel was imploded early Tuesday morning after a booming fireworks display, putting an end to the second property to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The 16-story hotel tower
Meet the new frontier… Read More »
life in vegasSteve Friess. Gay Vegas: A Guide to the Other Side of Sin City. Las Vegas: Huntington Press, 2007. 211 pp. In honor of Steve’s author event at UNLV today, I figured I’d finally post my review of his book Gay Vegas. There are many, many guidebooks to Las Vegas. Some are good; some are insanely
Book Review: Gay Vegas Read More »
book reviews, life in vegasIt’s not that often that I read something in a major East Coast paper promoting the cause of running in Las Vegas, so I’ve got to link to this Bill Ordine piece in the Inquirer: I have a daily ritual when I’m in Las Vegas that’s probably a little different than that of most visitors.
Marathon publicity Read More »
life in vegasLast night, the FBI raided David Copperfield’s warehouse. No one’s saying exactly what they were looking for, but it sounds serious. From KLAS: David Copperfield, famed illusionist and Las Vegas regular, appears to be the target of a late night FBI raid. A dozen FBI agents stormed Copperfield’s warehouse near West Russell and Valley View
Watching the Fontainebleau go up lately, I’ve had two thoughts: “wow, that’s a big structure at the back of the property” and “I bet those people in Turnberry Place are pretty mad.” Turns out I’m right on both counts. From the LVRJ: Aventura, Fla.-based Turnberry Associates started building Turnberry Place in 1998, constructing four 38-story
Working with lightning speed and a rare determination, I managed to totally revamp the Neon Survey exhibit in less than 24 hours–with not a minute of overtime, no less. I’ve already started reworking the Xanadu exhibit. In general, I’m making all of the exhibits conform more readily to the UNLV web standard, but I’m also
As promised, here’s information about the latest Author Event sponsored by UNLV Libraries and the Center for Gaming Research. Steve Friess, who you might know as one of the most famous Vegas podcasters around, will be speaking at UNLV November 8. From the CGR website: WHAT: Steve Friess, author of GAY VEGAS, will speak, answer
Steve Friess speaking at UNLV Read More »
life in vegas, what's newA university study says the Vegas music scene is lame–it must be true! From the LVRJ: A recent study contrasting the music scenes of the top 50 markets in the United States finds some mixed results for this city. Done by the University of Chicago, the report, “Chicago Music City,” shows that Vegas still is
Bright lights, bland music Read More »
life in vegasI was looking at a brochure for the Las Vegas Marathon when I noticed something: even though we’re not running under the Fremont Street Experience this year, part of the course takes us through East Freemont. Yeah, that’s how it’s spelled. You can see it on this course map. Some people will say it’s just
Possibly in the market for some new digs, my wife and I stopped by Inspirada this weekend. I’d heard how it was a hallmark of the “new urbanism,” so true to my training as an urban historian I thought it might be fun to stop by and see the new urbanism in practice. First of
Seeking inspiration Read More »
life in vegasI just had to post this one. From KLAS: Las Vegas investigators will continue questioning O.J. Simpson today and possibly tomorrow about his involvement in a break-in at a local hotel. Metro police held a news conference at 12:20 p.m. and said the investigation is still in its infancy. Police say just before 8 p.m.
I don’t really care too much about the story itself, but you can’t beat the headline: Casino Carpet Unrolls on the MTV Awards – Forbes.com Casino carpet, apparently, has come into its own. The thing is, I’m sure the editor was trying to juxtapose the “red carpet” of big LA events with the jangling noise
Casino carpet in the news Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingAt one point, Las Vegans wanted to called the Strip the Gay White Way because of all of the lights. Now, some people think the lights are a little too bright. From the LV Sun: Perhaps the Las Vegas Strip has gotten just too bright for its own good. Clark County officials are considering a
Turn down the lights! Read More »
life in vegas