April '06 Insider Viewpoint Column

As our name states... Insider Viewpoint of Las Vegas, the facts and gossip from the streets of Las Vegas.

March 25, 2006 Street Facts

* Wednesday, April 5, 2006 is the date for the ground breaking ceremonies for the Poker Dome, a state-of-the-art arena in the heart of downtown Las Vegas that will soon become home to FSN's newest poker series, Mansionpoker.net Poker Dome Challenge. The Gaming Board may require this property to have a license, which might kill the deal before it ever gets started.

* Hooters Casino will kick-off a six-month poolside celebration to commemorate the grand opening of its poolside paradise, Nippers Pool. The Backyard Bash—a three-day party—begins March 31, and will repeat itself every weekend throughout mid-October. Hooters' tropical pool area features two heated pools, beach sand, palm trees, a lagoon-style waterfall, cabanas, and a 12-person and 60-person hot tubs. The 60-person hot tub features a swim-up bar.

* Sunday, March 26 from 2p-5p is Wine-N-Art Festival at the Hofbrauhaus. There will be wine tasting, art show, entertainment, lunch specials and Siegfried and Roy is expected to attend.

* The Museum of the American Cocktail, inside Commander's Palace at Desert Passage, offers its second seminar, "Great Classic Cocktails at Home," on Friday, April 14 from 6p-7:30p.

* Hootie & the Blowfish, ring in their first Silverton Casino performance of 2006 in the Outdoor Events Center on Saturday, April 22 at 8p. Tickets for Hootie & the Blowfish is available for $45.

* The Rampart Casino presents The Original Comets, A Salute to Bill Haley on Saturday, April 15 at 8p. The Grand Ballroom will shake, rattle, and roll with original Comets Marshall Lytle, Johnny Grande, Dick Richards, Joey D'Ambrosio and Franny Beecher. Tickets are on sale now for $20 plus tax.

* As Grand Marshals for the upcoming AIDS Walk on April 23, Penn & Teller are offering a show stopping list of incentives to draw Las Vegans to their team, including a personal commitment to match all funds raised. The Penn & Teller Challenge is open to everyone. Joining is simple, register at AFAN's Web site, www.afanlv.org.

* The Silverton Casino debuts the new fine dining buffet, Seasons, offering gourmet-style entrees, sides and desserts to open inside the property Thursday, April 6, 2006. Seasons will serve classic and exotic cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch.

* Desert Passage has started the first steps toward their $50 million make over, designed to modify the current Moroccan theme for a more contemporary look in a move to create a synergy with the adjoining Aladdin Casino's multimillion dollar transition into Planet Hollywood. Desert Passage's interior renovations will be completed in phases through second quarter 2007.

* The Five Star World Poker Classic poker tournament at Bellagio begins Tuesday, April 4 at Noon with the first of 10 No Limit Hold 'em tournaments as well as additional satellite and super-satellite tournaments. The three-week Five Star World Poker Classic concludes April 18–24 with the fourth annual World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship. Entry fees for the No Limit Hold 'em tournaments range from $1,500–$5,000. and the WPT World Championship costs $25,000 entry fee or earn a seat via winning one of the daily satellite tournaments held throughout the first two weeks.

* Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens has opened their Spring Celebration display with thousands of flowers, butterflies and rain. In the south garden, an exquisite 34-foot pavilion is an extraordinary habitat for the 300 live South American butterflies that reside inside.

April 5, 2006 Street Facts

* The Scintas final performance at the Rio Casino will be Wednesday, May 3. 2006.

* On May 27, Doc Broadus Sports & Entertainment in association with L A Boxing, Maui Sports & Entertainment, and Bang-Bang Boxing Hawaii: Presents, Amateur Boxing "Rampage In Vegas" Las Vegas vs. Hawaii. At LA Boxing Facility, 6315 S. Rainbow Blvd. Total of 15 bouts featuring amateur boxers from Hawaii and Las Vegas will be the lineup.

* Ms. Lisa Broggian, the Designer of Mikimoto's Milano Collection, is coming from Italy to make a special guest appearance when Mikimoto's Las Vegas store hosts Trunk Shows on Tuesday, April 25. Ms. Broggian will be showcasing an exclusive array of new designs from her popular Milano Collection.

* This weekend you can party with Pamela Anderson as she makes an appearance inside the Pussy Cat Dolls Lounge this Saturday at Pure Caesars Palace Casino.

* The James Beard Foundation has nominated Commander's Palace Las Vegas Executive Chef Carlos Guia as Best Chef in the Southwest Region for 2006.

* Clark County Parks & Recreation & Wayne Jefferies Present an all day Reggae Festival—Reggae In The Desert—featuring Yellowman, Gregory Isaacs, Spearhead, ForTwenty Daze & Da Verse on Saturday, June 10 at the Clark County Amphitheater, located at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway! Doors open at 3pm. All Ages show.

* May 7 is the date Celine Dion will perform her 500th performance of "A New Day" and all proceeds will go to ten local charities.

* Former Gap Band front man, Charlie Wilson, brings his unique sound to the stage at the Silverton Casino on Friday, April 28 at 8p. Tickets for Charlie Wilson are $35.

* Starting in June, Nevada's Army National Guard will have a new commander, Frank Gonzales. Gonzales will be in charge of more than 2,200 Nevada part time soldiers.

* Rita Rudner will be leaving New York New York Casino in June and will reopen her show at Harrah's Casino on October 2, 2006. She will be performing in the showroom that Clint Holmes will be vacating. His future plans are not known at this time. Rumor has it, New York New York Casino will transform Rudner's old showroom into a nightclub.

* Long time favorite restaurant, Terrazza at Caesar's Palace will be closing on September 1, after 20 years. The restaurant will be replaced by Rao's. Rao's is a Harlem New York operation since 1896 and they are expected to open sometime in December 2006.

* The famous Las Vegas sign will now be surrounded by synthetic grass rather than real grass. This is part of a nearly three-mile median conversion that will save the tax payers about $380,000 in water and maintenance each year. Total cost to change the medians to synthetic grass was a one time fee of $982,871.