9/22/1999
Mall Expansion Plans Leave V4V Writers Speechless and Unable To Come Up With Sarcastic Headline
The Showcase Mall, located on The Strip just north of The MGM Grand, and currently home to M&M World and The World of Coca Cola, is going to get a $4.3 million expansion. The new area of the mall will feature a replica of... are you sitting down... The Grand Canyon. Approximately 20,000 square feet will be dedicated to the replica which will feature stone walls and sidewalks, a fake sky, and a helicopter hovering above. In addition, a show will take place every hour featuring a simulated thunderstorm, lightning, and flash flood. Expect an April 2000 completion date. Not even we could make up something this silly.

9/22/1999
Trekkies Pool Their Money For Possible Major Purchase
The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that the Las Vegas Hilton, home to Star Trek: The Experience and the ghost of Elvis, is up for sale. Park Place, the company that owns Caesars, Bally's, and Paris Las Vegas is seeking a new owner for the Paradise Road property that sits adjacent to the convention center. Asking price? Not announced, but the LV Sun is estimating at least $350 million. By the way, in case you were wondering about that "ghost of Elvis" crack, the LV Hilton used to be the Continental and was the home to Mr. Presley when he performed. You can even see a large bronze statue of The King adjacent to the lobby.

9/21/1999
Voting Results Show Down The Middle Split
Our recent story and poll about Heather Devon, the woman who unsuccessfully sued over a slot jackpot dispute, has shown a 50-50 split in public opinion. Half of the people who voted said that Devon deserved the jackpot and should have been awarded the prize while the other half said that she didn't deserve it. For more details on the story and your chance to vote in our poll, click here.

9/21/1999
The Scariest Movie Ever Made?
No, it's not "The Blair Witch Project" or "The Sixth Sense" but "Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Box." We don't know about you but we find the concept of one of those giant 3-D IMAX films of the famous Austrian illusionist duo a lot more frightening than some movie about a kid who sees dead people. Seriously, though, the new IMAX film, using a host of never before seen techniques, debuts Thursday, September 23rd in Los Angeles after S&R get their star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame." Don't expect to see it any time soon in Las Vegas though. The film has been contractually forbidden from playing in Vegas while the boys are still doing their show at The Mirage -- which means that it will be at least 2002, when their contract expires, before it could be shown.

9/21/1999
We're Voting For a Y2K Implosion
More ominous news from the "We Swear It's Not For Sale" folks at The New Frontier. As we've reported earlier, rumors of a sale of the legendary Strip property have been swirling for weeks. Officials denied the rumors however, insisting that the transition of the hotel into a link in the Radisson corporate chain were progressing nicely. Now comes word that the deal with Radisson is off. Could it be that the reason The New Frontier won't become The New Frontier by Radisson is because the hotel won't be there any more? Hmmmm....

9/21/1999
For Sale: A Pool With a View
Wet 'n Wild, the water park on The Strip just south of Sahara is up for sale. It is just one of the pieces of the puzzle that is Ogden Corporation, who instead of diversifying has decided to focus solely on energy related businesses and sell off its entertainment assets. Potential buyers include Sahara which could include the park into its property, or the new owners of the El Rancho, the derelict property just to the south of Wet 'n Wild. No price was announced but we're sure it's more than we can afford.

9/9/1999
Maybe The New New Frontier? All New Frontier?
Rumors are flying in both gaming industry publications and in local Las Vegas newspapers that The New Frontier hotel, located just north of the Fashion Show Mall on The Strip, is going to be sold and torn down to make way for a new $900 million resort. The hotel has been struggling for years, crippled by a decade long strike and fierce competition. However, a new owner breathed some life into the property by remodeling rooms and the casino, adding attractions and restaurants, and changing the name to The New Frontier from just the plain old Frontier. A spokesperson from hotel says that these rumors are just that - rumors. We think they're pretty good rumors and are willing to wager that you'll be hearing about a sale before the end of the year.

9/9/1999
Something Special In the Air
National Airlines, the upstart carrier founded partially by money from Harrah's and Rio, is offering Las Vegas bound passengers a chance to win before they get to town. Scratch-off game tickets will offer travelers a chance to win free airfare, hotel accommodations (at Harrah's or Rio), meals, and show tickets plus discounts on future travel. Is this the first step toward the long promised/threatened In-Flight Gaming? Stay tuned.

9/7/1999
Depends On How You Look At It
It took eight years but the reels have finally stopped spinning for a California woman. The result? Lemons. In 1991, Heather Devon had been playing a progressive slot machine at the Frontier when she decided to take a break to get something to eat. She claims she believed the machine was going to hit and so she asked for it to be locked down while she dined and the hotel agreed to a 30 minute time period. When the woman was gone for over 90 minutes, the Frontier unlocked the machine and someone sat down to play and that person won $97,000. Devon sued the hotel for the amount of the jackpot plus additional damages, however last week a jury ruled against her, agreeing with the defense that there is no way to know when a slot machine is going to hit.

9/7/1999
Depends On How You Look At It Part II
But there's more to the story... turns out that Ms. Devon had been playing that machine all night long - for approximately 12 hours. Devon claims that she had a premonition that the machine was going to win and that the hotel agreed to lock down the machine for as long as she wanted to be gone. Additionally, she alleges that the person who ultimately won the jackpot tipped a change attendant to get them to unlock the machine. If it's true, it turns out to have been a good investment because that person had only been playing the machine for a few minutes when they won the $97,000. Devon says that's proof that her premonition was correct and that she should have won the money. So what do you think? Take part in our V4V online poll and let us know. Click here for details.

9/7/1999
Bally's To Get Fit
Approximately $100 million will be spent on a total overhaul of Bally's, the landmark hotel located on the corner of Flamingo and The Strip. Obviously overshadowed by neighbors Bellagio, Caesars, Mirage, and sister property Paris, the resort will get a full remodel of its 2,800 rooms, casino, and front entrance. A new computerized marquee will appear on the corner as a gateway to the new development which will probably extend the property out to the sidewalk, eliminating the moving walkways that currently occupy the space. Construction should be starting any time now with a mid-2000 completion date targeted.

9/2/1999
How Do You Say Success In French?
We're guessing you'd say "Paris Las Vegas" which opened last night to rave reviews and a huge crowd, estimated at around 35,000 people. Catherine Deneuve was one of the famous French folk on hand for the opening that included a grand fireworks show blasting off their 1/2 scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. Perhaps learning a lesson from the disaster that has been (and apparently continues to be) the opening of The Venetian a few months ago, officials with Paris have gone out of their way to make sure that every thing was complete, in place, and ready to go. As a result, both the public and the media have been extremely positive about the new property. We're going to be bringing you a full Vegas4Visitors review soon -- we also learned our lesson from The Venetian and plan to wait a little while so they can get into their groove before we visit.

9/2/1999
Sahara Goes Convertible
More news from the Sahara as they continue to release details about their renovation. A few items down you can read about their new roller coaster, but first read on about the new showroom they are planning that will feature a retractable roof. You read that right - a convertible showroom. The special feature is being planned to accommodate a helicopter illusion from magician Steve Wyrick, who will be departing his home at The Lady Luck in Downtown Vegas in early 2000. The new showroom will be built adjacent to the upcoming NASCAR café, retail, and casino area near the location of the former, famous Congo room which was torn down in the name of progress.

9/2/1999
We Hate Repeating Ourselves
Billionaire businessman Carl Icahn, owner of the troubled Stratosphere, has submitted plans to the Gaming Control Board to spend over $60 million to finish a 1,000 room hotel tower that has been sitting half-finished since the property's bankruptcy a few years ago. Sound familiar? Well, if you scan back in our V4V news archives --- way, waaaaaaay back --- you'll see almost the exact same item. And to further our skepticism on the whole thing, we've been hearing these kinds of grand plans for The Stratosphere for years and have seen no progress at all. About the only thing we've noticed is some construction areas off the main casino that no one was actually working in during our most recent visit. Afraid this has to fall into the "we'll believe it when we see it category."

8/31/1999
Must Be One Heck of a Light Switch
Government officials in Paris (the real one) have agreed to shut off the lights on the Eiffel Tower at the exact moment the replica at Paris (the Las Vegas one) is lit up. The ceremony, part of the grand opening of the new resort scheduled for tomorrow, September 1st, will be carried on giant television screens aimed at the Strip for the waiting crowds. There will be fireworks blasting off the top of the tower and then the doors will open around 10pm. You can get more info on the opening of Paris by going to the accommodations section.

8/31/1999
The Olsen Twins to Replace Siegfried & Roy
We never get tired of that joke. All kidding aside, yet another former sitcom star is joining the cast of "Chicago" at Mandalay Bay. "Barney Miller" himself, Hal Linden, will replace Ben Vereen as Billy Flynn, the unscrupulous lawyer who defends a murderess in 1920's Chicago (hence the name). Linden joins Marilu Henner of "Taxi" fame (playing Roxie Hart the aforementioned murderess) and Jasmine Guy, perhaps best known from her stint on the 80's sitcom "Different World." For ticket information and a review of the original cast, check out our show section.

8/31/1999
We'll Just Watch
Substantial changes are underway at the Sahara, one of the longtime denizens of The Strip, including recently announced plans to build one of the world's tallest roller coasters. The coaster, part of a NASCAR themed area that will include a restaurant, retail, and casino space, will run in and around the hotel, through a tunnel bordering Las Vegas Blvd., and up a 244 foot tower. Expect the whole area to be up and running by early 2000 provided the roller coaster gets approval from -- are you ready for this? -- The Federal Aviation Administration. Our opinion is that if a coaster is so tall that the FAA has to make sure that planes aren't going to run into it, it's too darn high. So you enjoy yourselves - we'll be at the casino bar.

8/31/1999
Suggestion Box
We've gotten a few good suggestions from our story about the new Dick Clark slot machines. So far our faithful readers have suggested Felix the Cat, Frank Sinatra, Madonna, and anything and everything Baywatch. Keep those recommendations coming!

8/18/1999
Whistle While You Work
Actually they'll be singing while they pour now that The Tropicana has brought its singing bartenders to the new Harbor Bar. The drink-masters belt out tunes constantly while taking orders, mixing drinks, and making change which is much more difficult and impressive than it sounds on paper. The Atlantic City Tropicana has been featuring these singing bartenders for quite awhile now and one of them even appeared on "The Rosie O'Donnell," singing a show tune while Rosie and several audience members placed their orders. The Vegas version will appear daily from noon to 2am.

8/18/1999
Get Your Kicks
Historic Route 66 is getting a boost now that President Clinton has signed a law that will support efforts to preserve the famous highway with $10 million. What does this have to do with Las Vegas? Well, if you're planning on driving on your next trip to town, why not take Route 66 and experience Americana. As you probably know it "winds from Chicago to LA" and as you pass through Kingman, Arizona you can jump off on US 93 which winds up through NW Arizona, crosses the Boulder Dam, and then heads right into Las Vegas. For detailed driving instructions, visit the Route 66 web site by clicking here.

8/18/1999
Giant Cher Attacks Las Vegas
One of the biggest trends in advertising lately is something called "building wraps," giant images that are pasted on the side of large buildings. Now, one of the biggest images of its kind is prominently displayed on the side of the MGM Grand advertising the upcoming concert and HBO special by uber-diva Cher. At 190 feet tall and 130 feet wide, the image features the singer juggling three crystal balls and can be seen for miles. In the past, these building wraps have come under fire for creating too much of a distraction. For instance, the ad campaign for last summer's "Armageddon" featured a wrap looking like a meteor had blasted a large hole in the side of several buildings around the country, causing panicked drivers to call police to report the "damage." We feel that a 190-foot high Cher would be enough to make us hit the brakes.

8/12/1999
LA Eye Net Eyes V4V
Los Angeles based KCBS television has signed on our head writer Rick Garman to write a weekly column about Las Vegas for their "Channel2000" web site. The column will feature a news round-up, coming attractions, and hints and tips for Vegas visitors. Since more people go to Vegas from Southern California than any other single area in the US, we're very excited that we can bring our unique perspective to the KCBS audience. Check it out by clicking on the banner below and then selecting the Las Vegas area in the main menu.

8/11/1999
Do You Know The Score To Gigi?
If you do then you might be a good candidate to fill a job opening at the all new Paris Las Vegas hotel: Pianist for the Eiffel Tower lounge. Just yesterday they hoisted the extremely grand piano up the fifty stories of their tower replica and have installed it in the restaurant/lounge area. On Thursday, 8/12 they'll be holding auditions for people to tickle the ivories several nights a week. Over the weekend we're going to put up our preview of Paris which is scheduled to open September 1st. Check back next week for all the details.

8/11/1999
And The Cool Thing Is, The Slots Will Never Age
We already have Elvis slot machines. Three Stooges machines are making their way into casinos as we speak. Who would be the next logical candidate to have themselves immortalized on a flashing one-armed bandit? That's right, Dick Clark. A slot machine manufacturer has entered into a deal with Dick Clark Productions to produce not one, not two, but three (!!?!) Dick Clark themed machines including: "Rockin' New Years," "American Bandstand," and "Bloopers." This is so ridiculous that we can't possibly come up with a joke that would be funnier so we'll just leave it alone. However, we feel that the slot machine manufacturers may need some help in determining the next person to put on a machine so we're going to open it up for suggestions. E-mail us your ideas by clicking here and not only will we forward them to the companies involved, but we'll post the best ideas here in our News Bin.

8/2/1999
No, It Wasn't a Motion Simulator Ride
Two moderate earthquakes rattled the Las Vegas valley over the weekend, however no damage or injuries were reported. The quakes, measuring 5.6 and 5.2 on the Richter Scale were centered on the California/Nevada border about 130 miles northwest of Vegas. Reports from various hotels indicate that while some people on the higher floors of the room towers felt a mild swaying sensation, most of the tourists and residents didn't even know they had happened. That's understandable - It would take something a lot bigger than a 5.6 to get us away from a hot slot machine.

8/2/1999
Safety Advice
Two people were attacked, stabbed, and robbed in a hotel parking lot a couple of nights ago. Although the victims will recover, it brings up an important point about basic safety when traveling in Las Vegas. The tourist areas are generally safe from incidents like this, but you should treat this city no different than any other in terms of where you walk at night, where you park your car, and how you protect your valuables. The best advice we can give you to avoid this kind of situation is to use the valet parking. Every major resort offers free valet parking to everyone, regardless of whether you're staying in the hotel or not. Simply pull up to the main entrance, hand the attendant your keys, and you can walk the few steps into the hotel/casino without having to worry about dark parking lots. A one or two dollar tip is customary when picking up your car.

7/28/1999
We're Back!
We've just completed our latest adventure to Las Vegas and we have all sorts of new things to tell you about. Already on line are our reviews of The Casino Legends Hall of Fame Museum at the Tropicana, The Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand, The Treasures of Mandalay Bay Museum, The Gondola Rides at The Venetian, and restaurant reviews of Asia and the Grand Lux Café. Coming in the next few days will be updated reviews of The Venetian, The Hard Rock Hotel, and our take on the all new Resort at Summerlin.

7/28/1999
Revolving Stage Door
Former Partridge Family star David Cassidy is returning to the Las Vegas stage early next year when he takes over the showroom at The Rio. No details have been announced yet other than it will be a "major production show" and it will revolve around Cassidy. The show will replace popular impressionist Danny Gans who is ankling The Rio to move to his own 1,280 seat performance theater at The Mirage. Gans has been anxious to get out of The Rio for a long time since the relationship between the performer and the hotel have been less than cordial. Gans' new show and theater are expected to bow in April of 2,000 and will be one of three venues at the resort incuding Siegfried and Roy's showroom and another new 1,500 seat theater that will house "Miss Spectacular", a Broadway style musical which is slated to premiere in 2001. Down the street at the MGM Grand, Tommy Tune has announced that he'll leave their production show EFX later this year but a replacement has not been named. Tune, if you'll remember, took over the show in January from... David Cassidy. Is this what they meant by the circle of life?

7/27/1999
Lack of Imagine-ation
The struggling show with the worst name in town, "Imagine: A Theatrical Odyssey" at The Luxor, will be closing later this year to be replaced by avant garde performance artists The Blue Men. Said "men" have been a hit off-Broadway and on tour for awhile now but this will be their first major venture outside of the Big Apple.

7/26/1999
Will There Be a Get Out of Jail Free Card?
If you've been to Vegas recently you may have seen the very popular new slot machine based on the Monopoly board game. Well, later this year you'll be able to take your property acquisition skills to the next level when the new Monopoly Poker casino game comes to a casino near you. The game will be dealt on a blackjack style table and will feature 50 Monopoly playing cards. The object is similar to the board game in that you have to collect various property or color groups, railroads, and utilities while angling for the hotel, house, Community Chest, Chance, and token cards which are bonus or wild. You can win up to 125 times your wager and have a chance at a progressive jackpot. Sounds complicated to us but hey, if you can figure out craps, you should be able to figure out this!

7/25/1999
And the Obnoxious Policy of the Week Award Goes To...
...Napa, the high-priced and supposedly classy eatery at The Rio. Why? Well, an associate of ours made a reservation at the restaurant and was required to give a credit card number over the phone to the reservation agent. Seems that if you can't make it and don't cancel by 11am the day of your reservation, they will charge you $25 per person!! To not eat there!! We know that as travel writers we're supposed to be relatively unbiased, but we officially don't like this place, no matter how good the food is.

7/21/1999
How Do You Say Entertainment in French?
However you say it there will apparently be lots of it at the Paris Resort when it opens in September. Executives announced that the one and only Steve Wonder will open the hotel with a special concert on September 4th. Meanwhile, a production show has been announced for the Parisian style theater: "Notre-Dame du Paris," a musical based on Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame." The show opened in Paris last year and has been such a sensation that it is currently sold out through the end of the year 2000. Initially the show was going to go to Broadway but Paris, the hotel not the city, jumped in and secured the rights for the North American premiere. The musical will be translated into English and will feature "lots of thrills, acrobatics, and very exciting visual effects" according to a spokesperson. And by the way, no, Disney has nothing to do with it.

7/21/1999
Showboat Steams Into a New Port
Word on the street is that the Showboat Hotel, near Downtown Vegas, will be sold to a new gaming company called VSS Enterprises. Harrah's, the current owner, has been trying to dump the property since it came in a package when they bought several other properties. The upstart VSS hopes to take over by the end of the year and this is just the start as they plan on purchasing another existing property and building something new. No word on what they intend to do with The Showboat but expect something substantial - the place has been losing buckets of money.

7/15/1999
Coming Soon to a Vegas4Visitors Near You
One of our frequent sojourns to Vegas is coming up and we have some exciting things that we'll be adding to V4V. We'll be among the first to tour the new Resort at Summerlin which is opening this weekend. Plus we're going to tell you all about the expansion at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Venetian has invited us back and we're going to give you an update on how things are progressing there, including a review of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum which is scheduled to open July 22. Other new attractions will include the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand, The Treasures Museum at Mandalay Bay, and the Gambler's Hall of Fame Museum at Tropicana. As if that weren't enough, we're going to add some new restaurants to our already extensive list. Finally, we're going to tell you how to stay on The Strip for under thirty bucks - and if the old "you get what you pay for" maxim is still true. Look for the updates the last week of July.

7/15/1999
Wacky Tourist Destination of the Week
A space ship may be landing outside of Las Vegas in a few years if some people have their way. A new $40 million science museum, in the shape of a giant UFO, has been proposed for a desolate part of the desert about 85 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The project would include exhibits, presentation, a 3-D IMAX theater, a planetarium, and a restaurant with an Area 51 (UFO) theme. We don't make this stuff up folks, we just report it.

7/15/1999
What's Next? Locusts?
First came the floods, then the fires - 3 of them recently at local casinos - leading some to wonder if "Sin City" is finally being punished for its wicked ways. The first of the fires involved a propane storage tank at Treasure Island, then a blaze in the air conditioning at the new Resort at Summerlin in NW Vegas, and then just yesterday (7/14) an electrical malfunction caused a blaze that damaged the west hotel tower at Luxor. No one was injured in any of the fires and damage was relatively minor. We recommend watching out for lightning bolts.

7/13/1999
The Bonjour Barrage Begins
The media blitz on the upcoming Paris Las Vegas resort has begun. Television commercials have recently begun airing in Los Angeles and other markets hyping the resort which is scheduled to open September 1, 1999. The spots show a tug boat pulling the Eiffel Tower past the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline while quaint Parisian music plays in the background. It's a great spot, in our humble opinion, especially considering the centerpiece of the new $760 million resort will be a 50 story replica of the tower. In addition to restaurants, and observation deck, and shops, you will be able to get married up there. Recently announced plans indicate $2,500 packages that will allow you to exchange vows at the top of the tower and includes all sorts of goodies including one of the big suites. They're already accepting reservations and you can get more info in our accommodations section. Stay tuned for this space for more details about Paris including a full preview sometime in August.

7/13/1999
Wacky Lawsuit of the Week
Although we're sure they don't think it's wacky, the ritzy Alexis Park Hotel on Harmon Avenue has filed suit against Clark County saying that a new runway at McCarron Airport is disrupting their business. The suit has to do with easements, flight plans, and all sorts of other technical jargon that we won't bore you with here. However, the bottom line is hotel execs are saying that guests at the hotel (known for it's seclusion, peace, and quiet) are being rattled out of bed by low flying aircraft (our words, not theirs). Their solution? Close the runway and give them some dough to make up for lost business. Clark County officials were unavailable for comment - they had to rush to catch a plane.

7/9/1999
Las Vegas Storm Update
If you've been watching the news you've probably seen pictures of the incredible damage done to Las Vegas from the massive floods yesterday. However, from what we have seen and heard, the bulk of the damage is away from the major tourist areas. By nightfall yesterday, the Strip was crowded with tourists gambling away as if nothing had even happened. In fact, many people didn't even know what was going on until after it was over since most casinos don't have windows. A great example is the story of the office workers who heard about the storm damage on the radio only to go outside and find their cars floating away through the flooded parking lot. Although several shows were canceled and the popular Forum Shops mall at Caesars Palace was flooded, everything is expected to be up and running by the weekend. If you're planning a trip to Las Vegas in the next couple of days, it might be worthwhile to place a phone call to the hotel, restaurant, show, or attraction that you were planning on attending to make sure that things are "all-systems-go." We'll bring you more details as they warrant.

7/8/1999
Whoever Said It Doesn't Rain In Vegas Lied
A state of emergency was declared in Las Vegas today as widespread flooding brought on by a strong thunderstorm inundated the city. As much as three inches of rain was reported in the first hour of the storm caused by the annual monsoon flow from the Gulf of Mexico. Intersections were closed, roads flooded, roofs collapsed, and at least two deaths have been reported in the area. Some reports had Las Vegas Boulevard (aka The Strip) under several inches of water with startled tourists taking refuge in the casinos. However, even the multi-billion dollar resorts were not immune to damage - Caesars Palace had to close part of its casino and The Forum Shops due to water leaks. For more information and updates we recommend checking out the web sites for the two major Las Vegas newspapers: The Las Vegas Review Journal and the Las Vegas Sun.

7/1/1999
A Divine New Year's
The one and only Divine Miss M, Bette Midler, has just signed to ring in the New Year's at the new Mandalay Bay Events Center. Tickets for the December 31st concert are priced at $500, $300, and $95 while a New Year's Day show goes for $500, $200, and $95. This of course is a bargain compared to the other diva's show happening that night: Barbra Streisand's MGM Grand seats are going for over $1,000. By the way, if you want to stay at Mandalay Bay when you see Bette, they have a 3-night minimum at a cool $1,000 per night. Also, by the way, our head writer loves Bette Midler and his birthday is coming up so...

7/1/1999
Air Wynn?
Mirage Resorts impresario Steve Wynn has a new idea to bring people to Las Vegas: pro-sports. At a recent press conference, Wynn said he may purchase a professional basketball or hockey team and bring them to Las Vegas - if the public agrees to finance and build a sports arena. His idea would build the new 18,000 seat arena adjacent to the I-95/I-15 interchange near downtown Vegas. To drive home his point, he even hired a polling firm that showed overwhelming public support for using tax-dollars to build the new arena - almost 2/3rds said they'd support the idea, especially since Las Vegas is the largest city in the US without a major league sports franchise. Estimated cost to taxpayers? $150-200 million. Ah, come on - you can get that in a couple of hours at the right craps table!

7/1/1999
No More Stripping on the Strip
A district court judge has ruled that the casino/resorts on the Strip have a right to banish leaflet distributors from the sidewalks in front of their properties. Generally speaking these folks hand out flyers about outcall services or strip joints, making the walk from casino to casino a challenge, especially if you've got the kids along. Since most of the sidewalks are on the resorts' private property, the judge ruled that it was not a violation of free speech (as the leaflet distributors had claimed) but an issue of property rights. Expect the fight to continue since this ruling overturns a circuit court opinion that says that sidewalks are public forums whether they are on public property or not.

6/22/1999
Scurrilous Gossip of the Week
Not one but two people have called us at Vegas4Visitors to report that the Roy half of legendary illusionists Siegfried and Roy is dead and a look-a-like has been hired to replace him in order to keep the show going. Now, we're sure that this is completely false but it made us giggle and we thought it was worth mentioning. We even called their publicist for comment but they haven't called us back yet. Hmmmm…

6/22/1999
MGM Lions to Roar Again
A 5,000+ square foot lion habitat is set to open at the MGM Grand on July 1st. The $9 million facility will have anywhere from one to five lions on display at any given time including a direct descendent of the legendary MGM Studios lion. A see-through walkway will wind through the three-story habitat allowing guests to be up close and personal with the mighty beasts. Admission will be free but you can purchase a photo of yourself with a lion or buy the requisite T-shirts, key chains, and other logo items in the adjacent gift shop.

6/22/1999
This Space For Rent
Construction is well under way for the new downtown entertainment complex called Neonopolis, a $99 million project that will feature movie theaters, restaurants, and shops. The only problem is that, with the exception of the 11-screen Mann movie theaters, not one lease has been signed on the 200,000 square foot complex. That's right, not one tacky souvenir shop or Hot Dog on a Stick for the food court. The developers claim to be confident that the entire place will be full by the projected November, 2,000 opening date.

6/21/1999
Judd Hirsch to Take Over For Siegfried
No, we're only kidding. But another former "Taxi" star is coming to Las Vegas when actress Marilu Henner replaces the legendary Chita Rivera in "Chicago" at Mandalay Bay. Rivera, who has been appearing as the incorrigible Roxie Hart since the show opened in March, will be playing the role in the upcoming London production. Henner will be taking over July 6th.

6/18/1999
Did They Rub the Girder and Make A Wish?
Construction crews, company executives, and passersby cheered as The New Aladdin was "topped out" this week. The ceremony, where the final steel beam of the building's tower is put into place, was a milestone for the new resort which is expected to open in May of 2,000. The 2,600 room resort replaces the original Aladdin, most famous perhaps for hosting the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla, and is being designed to resemble the original.

6/17/1999
Debbie Gets a Body Slam
A little more than a year after purchasing the Debbie Reynolds Hotel, The World Wrestling Federation has announced that it is seeking a new home for its proposed theme hotel/casino. There are conflicting reports as to the reason: some say that the property is too small for their grand plans of a 1,000 room hotel, casino, and "sports" venue while others speculate that the 1,100 or so people who own time shares in the existing building are threatening lawsuits. Regardless of the reason, expect the Debbie to go back up on the block and the wrestlers to take their spandex elsewhere. Stay tuned.

6/17/1999
McCarren in Terminal Condition
Executives at Las Vegas' McCarren Airport have announced plans to build a new $175 million terminal designed to accommodate the expected increase in passenger volume from international flights. They are hoping to have the expansion complete by 2004 and are planning on paying for it by doubling the airport access fees charged to every passenger - from $3 to $6. In other words, enjoy the new terminal when it's complete. You paid for it.

6/17/1999
The Circus (Circus) Leaves Town
It's official: Mandalay Resorts Group. That's the new moniker for Circus Circus Enterprises, owner of Circus Circus, Luxor, Excalibur, and Mandalay Bay. I guess they didn't like our suggestion of changing their name to an unpronounceable symbol and calling themselves the Company Formerly Known As Circus Circus.

6/15/1999
Venetian Nearing Completion
After months of delays and false starts, the much-maligned Venetian is getting closer and closer to being done. Officials announced that the Grand Canal Shoppes will open on Wednesday, June 16th but only 16 of the 72 shops will be ready for customers. Additional stores will come online in the coming weeks. The Canyon Ranch Spa has also opened its doors and all but the top two floors of their 36 story guest tower are open. Still no official date for Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and workers are still busy on portions of the exterior façade so wear your hardhat!

6/15/1999
Coming To A TV Near You
The Supreme Court lifted a ban on television and radio advertising for gambling this week saying it violated fair market practices. If you live anywhere near Las Vegas this probably won't make much of a difference since the hotels and casinos have been advertising regionally since a 1993 district court allowed them to do so. However, up until now casinos in Mississippi and the riverboats throughout the country haven't been allowed to advertise. Expect commercials for Biloxi's Beau Rivage any day now from New Orleans to Atlanta.

6/15/1999
More Monets
Officials at Bellagio have announced a $7.5 million expansion and relocation of their amazingly successful art museum. Overwhelming lines and an increase in the number of exhibits has forced the company to move the gallery to another location inside the hotel and more than double its size. The existing room will stay open until construction on the new space is complete.

6/10/1999
Cleaning Up New York (New York)
Inspired perhaps by their namesake's recent revitalization, officials at the Vegas version of New York have announced plans to do some sprucing up of their own. Approximately 10 percent of the 2,000 and change guest rooms will be remodeled and four more penthouses will be added (bringing the total to 12). A new, yet-to-be-named, restaurant and some meeting space will take the place of the race and sports book which will move to where the keno lounge is now located. Renovations are supposed to be done before the millennium celebrations begin.

6/10/1999
Do You Believe The Hotel Will Be Done?
SuperDiva Cher is slated to perform at a private, invitation only event celebrating the "Grand Opening" of The Venetian this Saturday, June 12. The "Opening" is apparently going forward despite the fact that it might not be all that "Grand" with huge sections of the hotel still under construction.

6/10/1999
Mirage Goes Broadway
Mirage Resorts mastermind Steve Wynn made some important announcements at his company's stockholder meeting Wednesday. In addition to some 90,000 square feet of convention space that will be built behind the Mirage, a new 1,500 seat Broadway-style theater will be constructed on the property as well. The theater will house a new musical from the legendary Jerry Herman, creator of "Hello Dolly" and "Mame," entitled "Miss Spectacular." Although no one would say what the musical would be about, they did say that Mirage Resorts will be the sole owner of the work and should it go to the real Broadway or on the road, all the money will go right to the Mirage coffers -- something that no doubt made the shareholders happy.

6/8/1999
New Airlines Begin Service to Las Vegas
Vegas based National Airlines has begun service to Las Vegas from Los Angeles and Chicago with plans to add New York and San Francisco by the end of June. The carrier was started with funds from Harrah's and Rio and is supposed to be competing with other no-frills airlines like Southwest. A recent check of fares from Los Angeles with a two-week advance purchase came in about $150.00 round trip which is pretty average. You can check their fares and schedules by calling 888-757-5387 or by visiting their web site. Another airline, Sun Country, has begun nonstops from Milwaukee, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Dallas.

6/8/1999
Venetian Still Not Complete
The pejorative name running around town these days is The Incompletion since now, more than a month since their opening, the hotel is no where near being compete. A "Grand Opening" was scheduled for June 10th but reports say that the top three floors of the tower are still not open and The Grand Canal Shoppes, Canyon Ranch Spa, Madame Tussaud's, and several restaurants will not be ready. We've been getting reports of elevators and escalators not working, scaffolding and workmen everywhere, and a general sense of chaos. Despite it all, tourists are flocking to the new resort to check it out and play the slots and table games which, of course, are up and running.

6/8/1999
Sam's Town to Expand
Boulder Highway staple Sam's Town has announced plans for a $78 million expansion and renovation. On the drawing board are an 18-screen movie theater, a 1,200 seat sports and entertainment venue, a new buffet, an arcade and child-care center, and 500 more slots in the expanded casino. Some redecorating will occur also with new carpet and wallpaper in the common areas. Officials expect it to be done late in the year 2,000.

6/8/1999
Why Couldn't It Have Been Us?
Last year a woman won $27.5 million dollars on a MegaBucks slot machine at Palace Station, the highest single jackpot ever paid. Last week, an Illinois man won the second highest pot at Caesars Palace, also on a MegaBucks machine: $21.4 million. Now, if that doesn't make you sick, this will: the guy walked up to the machine, put a $10 bill in, pulled the handle ONE TME(!!?) and won all that dough. We want to be happy for the guy, we really do.

6/8/1999
El Rancho For Sale?
The long shuttered Strip eyesore known as El Rancho may finally be sold and redeveloped. The property on the north Strip near Circus Circus has been sitting vacant since 1992 and several different companies have owned it and all have announced several different "grand plans" to renovate it. First there was the Countryland USA scheme that would've built two 20-story towers in the shape of cowboy boots. Next came the Starship Orion debacle that would've turned the property into a science-fiction themed resort. None of the pans ever came to pass. Now the company that owns the property has filed papers saying they are going to sell but wouldn't say to whom or for how much. Stay tuned.

6/8/1999
irage Corporation Refuses To Stand Still
Less than a year after opening the hugely successful (and outrageously expensive) Bellagio, Mirage Resorts has announced that they are moving up the time table for work to begin on their next Strip mega-resort. Originally they were planning on beginning construction in 2002 but now you may see cranes and bulldozers (and maybe a big implosion) by late next year. They just sold off a bunch of stock to finance the new property which will replace the Holiday Inn Casino Boardwalk, just south of Bellagio. No details on the new resort were announced, but expect it to be bigger, better, and more expensive than anything else so far.

6/8/1999
Waves For Everyone
The new wave pool at Mandalay Bay has become such a huge success that the hotel will probably build a second similar pool and charge admission for non-hotel guests. Expect this to be incorporated into the second phase of their beach property which is supposed to include a swim up shark tank and coral diving reef.

6/8/1999
Desert Inn Sold
When Starwood Hotels sold Caesars a few months ago to Park Place (owners of Flamingo Hilton and Bally's among others) they tried desperately to get them to take The Desert Inn as part of the package, but no deal could be struck. Now, a new owner has finally been found in South African developer Sol Kerzner who bought the legendary property for $275 million. Kerzner has been called the "South African Steve Wynn" since many of his properties in South Africa, Atlantic City, and The Bahamas are as highly themed and luxurious as Wynn's Mirage hotels. Nobody would say what the new owner would do with the property but most expect it to be a small part of a much larger package when Kerzner is done with it.

6/8/1999
Bring Me The Head of Lenin
Everybody can relax now - Lenin's head has been found. The saga all started when people failed to catch the irony in having a giant statue of Vladimir Lenin outside the Red Square restaurant in the new Mandalay Bay Resort. After many complaints, the head of the statue was chopped off, a move taken throughout Russian after the fall of communism, and placed inside the restaurant. Late one night the 250 pound head disappeared and has not been seen since -- until this week when it turned up in a thrift store in Las Vegas. Workers at the store say that a large palate of stuff was dropped off after closing and at the bottom of the pile was the head. Mandalay Bay officials say it will be returned to the Red Square restaurant where it will be encased in ice as the centerpiece of their Vodka locker. Only in Vegas.

6/8/1999
Titanic Sinks Again
Wacky developer Bob Stupak lost his bid to raise the Titanic when the city council nixed his plans to build a 1,000 room hotel on the north Strip in the shape of the famous ship. The 280 foot tall structure would've included restaurants, a show room, and a retail area enclosed in a giant iceberg replica. We're not kidding. The city council, bless their hearts, said no after neighbors complained. However, this didn't stop Stupak.

6/8/1999
Stupak Announces Plans to Renovate Moulin Rouge
The legendary Moulin Rouge in North Las Vegas may return to the scene late this year with a $20 million restoration plan announced by zany developer Bob Stupak. The casino/club was famous in the 50's for being the first desegregated hotel in town and was a hot spot for performers such as Sammy Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. Stupak wants to renovate the run-down property, add new rooms and restaurants, expand the casino, and rename the showroom as The Cotton Club Room. It's a great idea as far as we're concerned, especially since we thought of it years ago when we drove by the place by mistake. Of course, Stupak, in his typical fashion, couldn't keep his mouth shut saying, "…the black people need their spots. The ones with their Cadillacs need a place to go." Oh Bob. When will you learn?

4/22/1999
AKA Yippee!
Looks like we've finally hit the big time. As of yesterday, Vegas4Visitors is now listed on the Yahoo! search engine and our hit counter is rising at an unbelievable rate. Welcome to all of you who are visiting for the first time - please bookmark this site and visit often as it changes regularly. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions so send us email.

4/22/1999
Don't Hold Your Breath
In the last edition of the V4V update, we mentioned that this edition would have a full preview of The Venetian, the Venice themed mega-resort on The Strip across the street from The Mirage that was set to open in late April. Well, apparently they couldn't get things done in time (you try choosing bedspreads for 3,000 rooms) and now will not open until sometime in May. The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that an assistant to controversial owner Sheldon Adelson released a date of May 3rd to the media, only to have Mr. Adelson yank the statement saying that he would "let you know" when the hotel would open. Now, he's saying that May 3rd is the date and it is getting reported in all the major papers in Las Vegas. Is he sure? Who knows, but in that cooperative public relations kind of spirit, we'll be bringing you The Venetian preview sometime in the future… but we're not going to tell you when. So there.

4/22/1999
Next Stop, Mandalay Bay
The high-tech monorail system that ferries people from the corner of The Strip and Tropicana to Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay has finally opened. The $20 million, 5-car system has a non-stop southbound run from the corner to Mandalay Bay that takes 2-3 minutes. The northbound leg stops briefly at Luxor and Excalibur and then on to the corner in about 5-6 minutes. The shuttle is free and operates twenty-four hours a day. The only disappointment for Circus Circus executives (the company that owns all three properties) is that famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti declined an invitation to christen the new system. You can read more about the mass transit systems like these in Vegas in our travel section.

4/22/1999
Somebody Please Stop Them Part III
In past editions of the V4V update, we've been bringing you the continuing saga of Bob Stupak and his quest to build a hotel replica of The Titanic on the north Strip. Well, we're sorry to say that Titanic: The Hotel may be sinking. On April 8th the city planning commission unanimously rejected a zoning variance that would allow Stupak to build his $400 million, 280 foot high, 1,200 room Titanic saying that the proposed retail area, housed in a giant iceberg, would be too close to neighboring homes. Stupak, however is not giving up. He intends to alter the plans to fit the current zoning and will resubmit it to the planning committee soon. Now, as if all this weren't ridiculous enough, Stupak went so far as to have an "unveiling" ceremony where he showed off a scale model of the project and had Robert Goulet sing a new Titanic song that Stupak himself wrote. And people ask us why we love Las Vegas.

4/1/1999
Whistle While You Gamble
Initial plans were announced last week by the Walt Disney Corporation to build a new resort property in Las Vegas called, appropriately enough, VegasDisney. The 7,000 room hotel/casino/theme park will be the largest in the world and will be feature hotel towers in the shape of classic Disneyland attractions such as Space Mountain, The Matterhorn, and Epcot Center. The casino area will feature an "enchanted forest" theme and cocktail servers and casino attendants will be dressed like favorite Disney characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. They are even planning to create their own, Disney themed, slot machines including the all new "Run Bambi Run" game where a special symbol on the reel activates a secondary, interactive game in which you hunt the famous fawn with a laser sighted gun. By the way, April fools.

4/1/1999
Okay We're Done Messing Around Now
We've just gotten back from our tours of Mandalay Bay, The Four Seasons, and Bellagio and we're happy to report that all three properties are terrific. You can read full reviews in our accommodations section but in brief: Mandalay Bay is a South Seas themed resort that has already become one of our favorites in town. It features almost 3,700 rooms, a beautiful, well-thought-out casino, tons of restaurants, some great clubs, shows, and a pool/spa area that rivals any in town. Be sure to check it out. The Four Seasons is the pinnacle of luxury in Las Vegas, with 400 luxurious rooms and service that is second to none. Although physically part of Mandalay Bay, the two are completely separate. But be warned, you have to pay for all this luxury. Bellagio has been open for about 6 months now and it seems that they have worked out some of the kinks they had when they first opened. It is a beautiful hotel with world-class service but if we don't like it as much as other Mirage properties it is only because of the price which is a bit on the high side for our tastes.

4/1/1999
Sign of the Times?
Not everyone is doing well in Las Vegas. The infamous Continental Hotel, which opened in the late 70's has finally shut its doors for good. It was a 400 room property at the corner of Flamingo and Paradise roads and if you're wondering why it wasn't listed in Vegas4Visitors it is because, quite frankly, the place deserved to go into bankruptcy. To say the place had gotten dingy in its last few years is probably too kind, but you have to give them credit for being the home of legendary Vegas lounge singer Cook E. Jar and The Crumbs. After going into foreclosure a year ago, the bank finally evicted the operation and plans to sell the property to someone who will probably tear it down and start over.

4/1/1999
Sign of the Times Part II?
Plans had been in the works to create two sister hotels to the massive MGM Grand that would cater to the upscale market but now those plans have been canceled. Both the Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels that were to have been built on the MGM Grand property have gone to that "great idea" scrap heap in the sky.

4/1/1999
Somebody Please Stop Them Part II
In the of V4V News we told you that Bob Stupak, co-founder of the now bankrupt Stratosphere, announced plans to build a Titanic themed hotel in the seedier section of The Strip, just south of downtown. Well now, Mr. Stupak has invested in a corporation that holds items retrieved from the fabled luxury liner, apparently in the hopes that he'll be able to display them at the new hotel, called The Boat. The city council, once they stop giggling, will probably approve the project.

3/12/1999
Somebody Please Stop Them
Falling into the category of overkill, famous (or infamous depending upon your point of view) Vegas impresario Bob Stupak has submitted plans to the city of Las Vegas to build a 1,000 room hotel/casino replica of The Titanic. We say this a lot but it bears saying here... we're not making this up. The ship will "dock" on the location of the rundown Thunderbird hotel, just north of the Stratosphere and will encompass almost 1 million square feet of hotel, retail, conference, restaurant, and casino space. Stupak is one of the guys that founded the Stratosphere which went bankrupt shortly after it opened, partly due to the lousy location and neighborhood that surrounds it. Everyone involved is hoping that the replica of the doomed luxury liner that sank in 1912 will be just the thing needed to revitalize the area which is dominated now by tacky motor inns, pawn shops, and wedding chapels. As long as they promise not to play that stupid Celine Dion song over and over we wish them luck.

3/12/1999
Hitting The Ground Running
The opening of Mandalay Bay and The Four Seasons went pretty well according to most reports but there have been a few hitches and glitches. The wave pool apparently needs some tweaking. Although it is capable of generating six-foot waves, they've found that anything over fifty inches or so has a tendency to wipe out the pool deck and beach bar. Oops. Workers were unable to get the elevated shuttle that runs from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay done in time. The shuttle is considered by many to be crucial to the hotel's success since it will bring people from the busy intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and Tropicana directly into the Mandalay Bay property. The half-mile track, which can move 3,200 people an hour in each direction, will open in early April. One of the bars inside Mandalay Bay is called Red Square and features a large statue of Vladimir Lenin, the father of communism in Russia. Apparently, there are people are failing to see the irony in the whole thing and are calling for the statue's removal. Just when they were getting ready to announce the final plans for the shopping complex that will be built between Luxor and Mandalay Bay, Circus-Circus officials are drastically revising the numbers. Instead of the previously mentioned 1 million square feet of retail space, the new complex will have over 1.5 million square feet, making it the largest mall in Las Vegas when it is finished sometime next year.

3/12/1999
Y2K Vegas
Millennial madness in the Vegas continues unabated. A recent check of hotel rates for the upcoming New Year's Eve confirm what we thought - if you want to spend it in Vegas, you better be ready to pay for it. The average room rate for a Strip hotel is $818 per night with a four-night minimum stay required bringing your total to an eye-popping $3,272... just for someplace to lay down. The highest rates go to Caesars and Bellagio which are charging 2,000 per night while the lowest we've found is $350 a night at Riviera. Actually, the crown of lowest Strip price was going to Barbary Coast which was only charging $89 a night with a two night minimum. Unfortunately, they're sold out.

2/25/1999
Two Openings
Big, splashy hotel/casino openings don't happen all the time, so it's even more remarkable that two are opening on the same day, March 2, 1999. Mandalay Bay, from the folks that brought you Circus Circus, Excalibur, and Luxor is a 3,700 room behemoth aiming to be the most upscale member of their family tree, while the legendary luxury of The Four Seasons tries to outdo the top-of-the-line resorts like Bellagio and The Desert Inn. Here's our exclusive V4V preview of both:

2/25/1999
Mandalay Bay
First of all, lets get the name thing out of the way. There is a city named Mandalay in the country formerly known as Burma but it has no bay, just in case you were wondering. But that's not really where they got the name anyway. It's lifted from an obscure Rudyard Kipling story and then they added "bay" to represent the South Seas/water themes of the new $950 million resort. All we can say is we would hate to be in their marketing deaprtment.

Here are the stats:

• 3,700 rooms (roughly the same as Bellagio, The Mirage, and Monte Carlo but smaller than MGM Grand and Luxor). Standard rooms will be roughly 515 square feet and will include a desk, table, two chairs, his and hers closets, floor-to-ceiling windows, robes, iron and board, fax/computer hook-up, and the usuals like a tv and phone. Bathrooms have twin vanities, separate shower/tub, telephone, blow dryer, and an enclosed toilet. The average room rate will probably be around $110 per night but we've already gotten quotes as low as $89 (and as high as $200). 500 of the rooms are upmarket suites that will range from 690 to over 6,500 square feet with niceties and prices climbing accordingly.
• 135,000 square foot casino with 122 table games and 2,400 slot machines. This makes it one of the biggest in town, falling just shy of MGM's largest at 170,000 and Sam's Town 154,000.
• 12,000 seat concert/sports venue that will open April 10th with Luciano Pavarotti. Just for reference this is smaller than the MGM Grand Garden Arena but much larger than your average showroom.
• 1,700 seat theater that will open with the Broadway hit "Chicago". Broadway legends Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen will star for at least the first six months.
• 500-seat House of Blues entertainment venue (featuring acts like Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, and Michael Bolton) plus a restaurant and House of Blues themed rooms on the 34th floor.
• 1 million square feet of retail space (to open at a later date).
• 15 restaurants including Aureole by Charlie Palmer, patterned after his famed NY eatery plus a new Wolfgang Puck creating called Trattoria del Lupo specializing in Italian cuisine. Also LA based Border Grill will have a new branch here as will the China Grill. Yes, there will be a buffet.
• 11-acre water park featuring a lake, beach, a river ride, wave pool (generating 6ft waves), and several pools. A $75 million expansion will open in 2000 featuring a swim-up shark tank and a coral diving reef for starters. The whole thing has been designed to look like a beach instead of a pool area.
• A 33,000 square-foot health club/spa will offer total pampering including steam, sauna, whirlpool, massage, aromatherapy, facials, and personal training.