May '06 Insider Viewpoint Column

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

April 25, 2006 Street Facts

* Free coffee promotion is scheduled for one day, Friday, April 28 at all participating Burger King?s in Las Vegas. As an introduction to their new product, consumers who come in during normal hours of operation on April 28 will receive one 12-ounce cup of BK JOE coffee regardless of a meal purchase.

* One of only two galleries in the world that features the artwork of Peter Max exclusively is in Las Vegas, and the artist will host a public exhibition Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28. Located at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace on the Terrace Level, The Art of Peter Max Gallery offers the largest selection of Peter Max paintings available anywhere.

* Legend rock bands Def Leppard and Journey perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Friday, Aug. 18. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8p and tickets are priced at $45-$85.

* The Cannery Casino presents a Star Spangled Weekend with multi-Platinum, multi-Grammy winning Trisha Yearwood Sunday, July 2. The performance begins at 8p inside The Club. Tickets for Trisha Yearwood are $49.99 and $59.99 on-sale Saturday, April 29 at the Cannery Casino.

* Lenny?s Sub Shops has opened their first location in Nevada, it is located at 5255 S. Decatur Blvd. and the second location at 6087 South Pecos is scheduled to open on May 2, 2006. Lenny?s Sub Shops is expected to develop a total of 25 stores in the Las Vegas market over the next several years.

* The modern rock group Pearl Jam will perform one night only at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Thursday, July 6. Sonic Youth is scheduled to open the show set for 8p and tickets are priced at $51

* Galaxy Theatres, LLC announced today its new location at the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas is adding seven additional DPL Cinema projectors, making all 14 of the theatres fully digital. With the additions the Galaxy Cannery will have the most DPL projectors of any theatre west of the Mississippi. The all-digital theatre is set to open its doors to the public on May 5, 2006.

* So you think you are a tough guy… K-1's mixed martial arts will offer a one-day open tryout at The Mirage Friday, April 28, one day prior to K-1: ?Mayhem At The Mirage II.? The trial will be open to those who meet the requirements of the organization?s two stand-up fighting weight divisions - the 154-pound limit and the 200+ pound super heavyweight group.

* Another Cirque du Soleil show to open in Vegas soon. July 1, 2006 will be the opening date of the ?The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil? at the Mirage Casino. LOVE will bring the magic of Cirque du Soleil together with the spirit and passion behind the most beloved rock group, The Beatles. Tickets will be priced at $59-$150 and the sow is scheduled for Thursday through Monday at 7:30p and 10:30p.

* The Academy of Country Music announced this week the return of Reba McEntire as host of the 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Tuesday, May 23 and tickets are $100-$150. This live event can also be seen on CBS television.

May 5, 2006 Street Facts

* Another amazing milestone is set in Las Vegas today, May 5. Legend in Concert at the Imperial Palace Casino celebrates today their 24th consecutive year of the longest-running independently owned production show on the Las Vegas Strip. Legends in Concert debuted May 5, 1983 and throughout the years 70 celebrities have been impersonated on stage during 14,076 performances which 4,983,200 show goers have enjoyed.

* Three Dog Night, the popular 1970s rock band will perform at the Silverton Casino with two back-to-back performances on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 at 8p. Tickets for Three Dog Night concerts are $40 each.

* Rock of Ages is scheduled for a limited engagement at the Flamingo Casino starting Saturday, May 13, 2006. Show times are May 13-14 and 16-20 at 7:30p nightly. Tickets are on sale now for $55 to $65.

* The eighth annual Gumball 3000, the most rock ?n roll car rally ever created soars through Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Casino on May 6, the final leg of its eight-day, 3,000-mile rally around the world. After kicking-off in London on April 29, the Gumballers journey through Vienna, Belgrade, Phuket, Bangkok and Salt Lake City driving everything from million-dollar vehicles to VW campers.

* On Saturday, May 13, 2006, the Museum of the American Cocktail at Commander?s Palace inside The Shops in Desert Passage hosts COCKTAIL 200?, a celebration to commemorate 200 years of cocktails. The competition will begin at 3p and is open to the public with a $10 entry fee.

* Local corruption trial of two former county commissioners, Dario Herraera and Mary Kincaid Chauncey, both were found guilty of 17 of 19 charges and 13 of 14 for Kincaid Chauncey. The charges ranged from conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and extortion. If the guilty verdicts are not overturned, the federal sentencing guidelines recommend at least 33 months of prison time.

* The Las Vegas Sports Books are receiving great volume of betters on tomorrow?s Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby handles the largest total wagers of one horse race anywhere in the world.

* If you have a spare $3.3 million for street repairs, then the proposed Champ Car Grand Prix Vegas could become a reality. This past week city officials said other entities would have to raise the funds rather than the city of Las Vegas to make this race occur. If the financing can be worked out, it is estimated the event would bring 150,000 people to Las Vegas.

* Rumor, fact or myth… Studio 54 may soon be operated by Pure Management Group and don?t be surprised if Paris Hilton is connected to a nightclub in Las Vegas before the year?s end.

* Researchers this past week have determined the Sierra Nevada snow pack is approximately 177% of normal, which means in northern Nevada, Lake may actually reach capacity during the melt off this year. Who knows, maybe the drought for Nevada is coming to an end.

* Celine Dion will perform on May 7 for ten local charities. All proceeds from her Sunday performance will be donated to local charities. Hopefully they expect to raise more than $1 million.