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From
the September 5, 2005 Newsletter
* Harrah’s Casino, is
currently assessing their Grand Casino Gulfport and Grand Casino Biloxi for
damage and expect to be at least four weeks before reopening/rebuilding
decisions can be made. However, as an outstanding gesture, Harrah’s Casino
will continue paying their 6,000 employees affected by the hurricane their
base salary for the next 90 days.
* Final confirmation is in and another billion-dollar new casino project is
underway. Starwood Hotel, is bringing their W hotel brand to Vegas. Located
just west of Hard Rock Casino, W hotel will have 3,000 rooms, 75,000 sq. ft
casino with 300,000 sq. ft for conventions. Construction is scheduled for
early 2006 and completion by 2008.
* Elvis did leave the building. During remodeling of the Las Vegas Hilton
lobby, the famous Elvis statue had to be removed. The 1978 landmark statue
will be back on display at the casino when work is completed.
* Las Vegas is getting more prepared, the Las Vegas Valley disaster plan.
Local police, firefighters and soldiers are staging practice terrorist
attacks on October 6, at The Galleria at Sunset Mail and the Meadows Mall.
These practice response attacks will be held from 11p-6a, not to interrupt
shoppers.
* This past Wednesday was an exciting day for UNLV’s Center for Academic
Enrichment and Outreach when they were notified of being awarded two grants
in excess of $50 million over the next six years.
* Kathryn Landreth, Nevada's former U.S. attorney (1993-2001) has become the
new Nevada director of The Nature Conservancy.
* The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight reported this past
Thursday the average U.S. home price increased 13.4 percent for the second
quarter when compared to same time period last year. Nevada’s 28.13%
increase over the past one year received the #1 ranking of all states again.
Arizona, Hawaii and California were the next three highest ranking state
increases. In Las Vegas the median resale price of a house is $280,000.
From the September 15,
2005 Newsletter
* Blue Man is
about to overtake The Venetian, where the wildly popular Blue Man Group
opens an updated version of their show in a custom- built, 1760-seat theatre
on October 10, 2005. For their new home, Blue Man Group has redesigned and
modified their wildly popular show. Tickets are $75-$110 plus tax and
service fees. Shows are performed nightly at 7p and/or 10p.
* Another new nightclub is coming to Las Vegas, and it is called The Empire
Ballroom. Located in the old Utopia nightclub site, this new club will
feature one of the most amazing state-of-the-art sound systems and a
completely redecorated interior, including a sunken dance floor and VIP
rooms.
* Are expansions in the near future for the Golden Nugget? Recently the
Gaming Control Board was given an outline of what Landry’s would like to
modify and add to the Golden Nugget property. The changes would include a
1,200 seat theater, an additional hotel tower, expansion of the casino, more
convention space and redesigned pool area.
Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball will be held October 29 at the Las Vegas
Sports Center.
* Gentlemen Start Your Engines, or is that Robotics? On October 8, 20
robotic vehicles will compete for a $2 million prize by traveling 150 miles
through rugged Nevada/California deserts. A field of forty-three robotic
vehicles will compete In California for the 20 final spots on race day.
Final course location is kept a secret until two hours prior to final
competition. This is the first year this robotic competition has gone
public, in years past, this was a secret program called Grand Challenge.
From the September 25,
2005 Newsletter
* New restaurants
inside the Desert Passage’s (Aladdin Casino) are scheduled to open this Fall
2005 through early 2006. The new dining hot-spots will be – classic grill
Max’s Café, Brazilian-style Pampas Churrascaria, microbrewery Sin City
Brewing Co., fresh and healthy Tacone Flavor Grill and famous pizza place
Sbarro.
* After touring the country with his renowned comedy show for more than 15
years, comedian Carrot Top moves to Las Vegas to debut an indefinite
headlining show at Luxor Las Vegas beginning November 24, 2005. Carrot Top
will perform in the 350-seat Atrium Showroom Wednesday through Monday.
Ticket prices will be $52.50 inclusive.
* Dwight Yoakam will perform in the Danny Gans Theatre at The Mirage on Dec.
2-3. Tickets are $60 plus tax.
* George Carlin will return to the Stardust Casino October 6-19. The
ever-edgy comedian, a popular attraction on the Las Vegas Strip for more
than three decades, will appear in the resort’s 900-seat showroom every
night at 8p. Tickets are $54.50 plus tax.
* The Fab Four show has returned to the V Theater in the Aladdin Casino.
Tickets are available on the Insidervlv.com web site.
* Yes there is more to do in Las Vegas on Monday night than watch football.
Rainbow Bar and Grill have started their Rock Mondays and it has become a
huge success in just a week. This is the place for late night Monday action.
* The $5 billion dollar multi casinos, condo, timeshare, entertainment,
dining and much more complex will soon become a reality as the higher ups of
the MGM Mirage Corporation announced they will start ground breaking within
the next six months. This is the largest private undertaking ever and will
take more than three years to build. It will be located between Bellagio and
the Monte Carlo.
* The second Las Vegas boxing related death this year has occurred.
Leavander Johnson, 35, died this past Thursday, five days after he sustained
injuries during his Saturday fight at the MGM Grand Garden. This was his
first title defense. Martin Sanchez died on July 2 from injuries he received
the day before with a fight with Rustam Nugawv at The Orleans Casino.
* In a 6-0 vote on September 22, The Clark County School Board will sell a
18.6-acre parcel of land to the city of North Las Vegas for $6.81 million.
The property is located at the southwest corner of Carey Avenue and Hamilton
Street. The School Board originally wanted to build a school on this
property but it is located within 1,500 feet of Silver Nugget Casino, and
that would be a violation of State law.
Good Luck in Las
Vegas
Richard Reed
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