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Random Vegas The temperature in Las Vegas reached 100 degrees six times in Oct 2024. Between 1937 and 2023, It hit 100 degrees in October a TOTAL of 6 times. (LasVegasLocally) TwitPic of the week A unique perspective of a unique lady in Vegas history. The Tropicana was called “the Tiffany of the strip”. The nickname is said to come from the property’s shape as a necklace. That POV was captured with week by @_GrandpaD. We are honored that we got to be there for her demise. She will forever have a special place in my heart as a result. The saddest part of this story is that Tropicana was profitable before it closed, just like another icon many feel was gone before its time, Stardust. News G2E 2024 Slot Vultures Halloween In Vegas

Random Vegas Most people know the story about Sands boss Carl Cohen knocking two of Frank Sinatra’s teeth out after one of his legendary temper tantrums. But did you know that a similar situation happened at Caesars Palace? Sinatra wanted credit to play $16k a hand at baccarat but the casino limit was $2k and he was already being allowed to play at $8k a hand. When he was told no, Frank of course got angry and made a scene that included some threats. In response, the hotel’s executive vice president pulled a gun on Sinatra. He was later booked for assault with a deadly weapon but charges were later dismissed. That man’s name was Sandford Waterman. Sinatra didn’t finish the rest of his engagement at the property but eventually returned and apologized. TwitPic of the week Thank you 1968 for existing and for the photographer that captured this view, shared by@Summacorp, of the Stardust marquee in all her massive glory. This sign is one of the most iconic in Vegas history and thankfully was saved by the Neon Museum. Here’s to hoping they reignite her in 2027 when the museum will relocate to the Arts district. News Venetian Tier Match Vegas 101 Coldplay in Vegas

Random Vegas Clark County paid $4k for the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in 1959. In 2008 they paid $400k to build the first 12 parking spaces. (@Vegas_Visual) TwitPic of the week It may not be as glorious as the original, but Fremont St is still stunning as shown by @FSELV. Even the Fremont St Experience canopy stretching 4 city blocks is beautiful in its own way. Arial views of Vegas give us a change to appreciate the collection of awesome we get to experience as humans. I’m so grateful for the ordinance that requires neon to be preserved downtown. News Review Journalism Caramella Celebrity Gambling

Random Vegas Over $40,000 per year is collected and donated to charity from coins tossed into the Venetian canals and fountains (VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week This week’s winner by @Bluestorm2000 perfectly sums up the appeal of Vegas, sometimes things just line up and despite the odds and the house edge, sometimes you just win. That’s why we gamble, for those moments. Here we have a picture of Bellagio with the sun acting as a solar crown to the peak of the building. What else can you say about this building that hasn’t already been said. Nothing I can think of this week. News Top Rated Hotel Casinos

Surly dragon, sexy showgirl, and cute puppies. If I told you the best magic show in Vegas right now is starring a short, unkempt, surly Englishman in a poorly-fitting sequined dragon costume, you would probably question my opinion. But Piff the Magic Dragon is hands-down the most entertaining magic show I’ve seen in Vegas, and that includes all the celeb-magicians. Caesars Entertainment snatched up a contract with Piff in 2015 after he appeared on America’s Got Talent. He was no stranger to Vegas, having worked in the Cosmopolitan’s Rose.Rabbit.Lie and Spiegelworlds’s Vegas Nocturne in 2014. He also toured as a supporting act for Mumford & Sons during their 2012 tour and is on their album cover for “Babel.” I first saw Piff in 2020, shortly after he was moved from the tiny Bugsy’s Cabaret (the same place you can currently see Wayne Newton and X-Burlesque) to the 700 seat Flamingo Showroom due to social distancing requirements. Mrs. Jaydubs describes Piff as “that surly uncle who comes to the party, and you don’t want your kids around him because you don’t know what he’s going to say. But he tells the best stories.” This is pretty accurate. I brought the whole family to see him during spring break and tried not to mentally cringe as he dropped S-bombs during the show, but 1) they’re already hearing it at school and 2) they were so captivated by Piff’s bombastic magnetism that much of it flew past them without registering. Plus: Mr. Piffles. Piff’s chihuahua in a little dragon costume is definitely a gimmick, but Mr. Piffles is so adorable that the gimmick is forgiven. When we last saw Piff, Mr. Piffles was so tired that he fell asleep onstage during his bit. I fear the tiny pup is not long for this world. Piff’s greatest strength is his mis-direction. His biggest trick starts at the beginning of the show, but he doesn’t bring it home until the end. He slowly revisits the trick, building on it and adding layers of complexity. You start to wonder where he’s going with all this seemingly random stuff until it all comes together at the end in a very impressive way. If you've ever wanted to see a dog in a dragon costume driving a car, have I got a show for you... Part of Piff’s schtick is his surly, rude demeanor. And it’s mostly schtick, as he is a super nice guy. He heads out into the Flamingo gaming floor after the show to take pictures with any and all audience members. If you want to get a taste of his act, check out his full special “Reptile Dysfunction” which is free on YouTube. But don’t watch it all until you’ve seen him live so you don’t spoil any of his tricks. Then come back and watch the whole thing after you’ve seen him live and watch the whole thing, because it’s fucking hilarious. Piff is my answer for the best magic show in Las Vegas right now. He may not have the best tricks - I don’t really know enough about magic to say what the best tricks are - but he is by far the most entertained I’ve ever been at a magic show in Vegas, and he’s the only magician I’ve gone back to see more than once. Piff works well in the Flamingo Showroom Audience fuckery factor: So there’s definitely some audience participation in this show. Frankly, I haven’t seen a magic show that didn’t have volunteers or some type of audience involvement. There’s several instances in which Piff asks for volunteers for the audience, but none that I can recall in which people were chosen at random. The showroom itself is gorgeous and reminds me of old Vegas. Seating is comfortable and available at a variety of price points. Seat styles range from “chairs in a row” to table and booth seating. There is drink service during the show, but Mrs. Jaydubs got terribly sick from one of their specialty cocktails, so maybe best to stick with bottles and cans. Shows are currently nightly at 7, dark on Fridays. Tickets start at around $50.

Random Vegas If you’re dealt a winning hand in video poker and accidentally fail to hold some or all of the cards before hitting “deal/draw”, some casinos, upon request, can review the last hand played and pay you what you would have one. (@VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week It’s the best view I’ve ever seen of the mistake in the desert, shared by @VitalVegas. The giant MGM lion entrance formerly on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana. It still seems like a silly superstition that designers should have known about. Apparently, Asians consider it bad luck to walk under the mouth of a lion or some variation on that theme. So, they avoided entering the property via this entrance. In response, MGM decided to tear it down just 3 years after opening. It’s one of the largest architectural missteps in Vegas history. News Hughes/Silver Slipper Myth Riviera Plans U2 UV Las Vegas Ad

Random Vegas Another reason the Strip began to outpace Fremont St was theming. By the 50s the western motif was outdated and abandon by new properties opening on the strip. This is why a more sophisticated client was attracted to the area. While on Fremont, the western motif was alive, well and expanding. (Spectacular – A History of Las Vegas Neon) TwitPic of the week History in the making, literally. This week’s winner goes to @FSELV for a picture of the Fremont St Experience canopy under construction. We lament on this show the loss of the black sky to frame Fremont Neon but respect what the Fremont St Experience did to draw people back downtown. It is in that spirit that we celebrate this photo. News 360 Vegas Live Boring Co Update

Random Vegas The Sphere has been averaging over $1 million in ticket sales per day. It generated nearly half a billion dollars in revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30th. (LasVegasLocally) TwitPic of the week Talk about things changing but staying the same. This perspective shows us the strip south of the curve in Las Vegas Blvd. Featured prominently is the Mirage marquee. Then, because it’s 1994 and Caesars Palace is set back from the strip, and the Dunes site is being prepared for Bellagio construction, we get to see all the way down to Excalibur and the brand-new Luxor. Across the street we see Harrah’s while it’s still a riverboat called Holiday Casino, then we see LINQ still themed as Imperial Palace. Hilton still owns Flamingo, Bally’s still uses MGM Grand’s original marquee, and the original Aladdin still exists. Speaking of MGM Grand, in the distance we can see the new MGM Grand and the recently deceased Tropicana. Thanks as always to @Summacorp for sharing this pic. News Paris Celebrates 25 Vegas Heat 7 Classic Vegas Experiences Lost Michelin Guide Vegas Top 5 Lists Shows - Josh · Best Topless show: Fantasy · Best Comedy Show: Carrot Top · Best Magic Show: Piff the Magic Dragon · Best Cirque-esque production show: "O" · Best All-Around Show: Absinthe Books - Mark · Grandissimo – David G Swartz · At the Sands – David G Swartz · Winner Take All – Christina Binkley · Like an Onion: The Vegas Skim – Wayne Clingman & Roger Gallizzi · The Gambler: Kirk Kerkorian – William C Rempel Restaurants - Keren · Bazaar Meat @Sahara · Oscar’s Steakhouse @Plaza · EDO · Lotus of Siam · Peppermill Cocktails - Tony · The Sinatra Smash - Off menu at Overlook Bar at Wynn Las Vegas · The Rum Old Fashioned at Carbone at Aria · The Desert Sunset - Off menu at Legacy Club at Circa Las Vegas · Serpico at Giada's at The Cromwell · The Verbena Cocktail at Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan.

Random Vegas Super successful restaurants make $20-25 million a year. STK at Cosmopolitan makes almost $50 million a year and Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace generates more than $60 million a year. (Vital Vegas) TwitPic of the week Dunes, Caesars Palace, Flamingo and Aladdin. Those that still remain look radically different from how they looked in 1980. This photo shared by @summacorp shows just how cluttered things used to be on the strip before the Mirage boom started buying up all available land to make super casinos. Today, this same perspective would show off Mekka Walgreens, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Horseshoe and Flamingo as well as Caesars and Bellagio. News E-500 Swingers F1

What is it with Cirque du Soleil and Vegas? Ever since Steve Wynn invited Mystere to set up shop at Treasure Island in 1993, the French-Canadian circus brand that has made absurdity its trademark has become an inextricable part of Vegas entertainment. As of this writing, there are 5 Cirque du Soleil shows that call Vegas home (6, if you count the Cirque-owned, but not Cirque-developed, Blue Man Group) and there have been a total of 11 Cirque shows that have had permanent runs in Las Vegas. Some of them had shorter runs than others... Come aboard, we're expecting you... Kà was the fourth Cirque du Soleil show developed for the Las Vegas market, and it has the distinction of being the first Cirque show to tell a cohesive narrative. If you’ve never seen a Cirque du Soleil show: most Cirque shows have a theme but not a narrative. Mad Apple is themed after New York City. “O” is themed after water. I’ve read that Mystere is themed after “the origins of human life and our connection with the universe,” so you know, someone smoked a lot of weed. The story is fairly simple, but I do think people need to know the basics of it before they see the show. Compared to the current iteration of Awakening (which now practically serves up the entire story to the audience on a silver platter) Kà’s narrative works best if you know the story notes going in. A twin brother and sister are part of a tribe that gets attacked by bad guys. The twins are separated and most find their way back together and also save their people. Each twin kind of goes through their own rite of passage on their journey before they are reunited and save their people. The massive sandcliff deck. Let’s talk about the tech behind Kà. Kà is an absolute technological marvel. It doesn’t have a proper stage floor, it just has an open pit that is full of various nets and airbags for the performers. Instead, there are two moving stages that are so massive and heavy that Cirque had to go outside of the theater industry and turned to Timberland Equipment, a company that normally builds mining equipment, to build their moving support structures. In one scene, one of the moving platforms is covered with 350 cubic feet of “granular cork” imported from Portugal to simulate sand on a beach. At one point in the show, the larger sandcliff deck has these pegs that stick out of it. As they are supposed to look like arrows shot onto the surface, they pop out of the deck very fast. But the performers have to climb using these pegs, so there are dual safety features incorporated into the pegs. First, they won’t shoot out if anything is blocking them, and second, they won’t go back in if there’s any kind of weight on them. I could go on and on. Kà has won awards for its technical achievements in theater. I even read somewhere that it was the most expensive theatrical production ever made, but I couldn’t corroborate that anywhere. This machine makes french fries 3 different ways! Of course, all the technology in the world doesn’t necessarily give you an entertaining experience (Take notes, Avatar: The Way of Water). I’m happy to report that Kà is indeed an extremely entertaining experience, and one of the Cirque shows that I have enjoyed the most. I’m always looking for a narrative, so the fact that this show has one helps that enjoyment immensely. That being said, I recommend buying a program or at least reading through the show’s wikipedia page so that you can get a basic understanding of the story beats and recognize what’s happening. Like any well-told story, the show does a good job of varying the pace. There are intense action sequences and there are peaceful pas de deux. You have, of course, your typical array of Cirque acrobatics, some of which even takes place in the wings on either side of the stage. I recommend you arrive for your seats about 20 minutes early, as there is some pre-show action to enjoy. I really enjoyed the final battle, in which the sandcliff deck is positioned...

Random Vegas Frederick W. Smith, the founder and CEO of FedEx saved his company by gambling in Las Vegas. When FedEx had a hard time paying their $24,000 fuel bill, Smith took the company’s last $5,000 to gamble and managed to win $27,000 on blackjack and kept the business afloat. TwitPic of the week The year is 1985 and featured in this picture is the Dunes in all her glory including the satellite casino named the Oasis. Beyond being a snapshot in time of a property I adore, shared by @Summacorp what captivates my imagination is virtually all this landscape has been almost completely reimagined over the next 20 years. We all know Bellagio is in the place Dunes used to be but other than the Jocky Club, everything is different. The entire southwest of the real estate. It’s missing Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, all of CityCenter, Park MGM, NYNY, Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Ironically almost everything around it is the same, although updated like Barbary is now Cromwell and Flamingo is no longer a Hilton. News Rod Stewart Residency Red Rock Stabbing ZorkFest 2024 Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Bar

Random Vegas Open containers are legal if you are using a limo or party bus. Not legal in a rideshare or taxi. (Las Vegas Trivia Tidbits Book) TwitPic of the week It’s something we take for granted for in Vegas, not knowing what time of day or night it is. But viewing an atomic explosion has got to be an experience like no other. Here we see downtown Las Vegas in the midst of just such an occasion, shared by @Summacorp. Even in this picture the magnitude of these explosions is palatable. The light in the distances somehow makes the casinos in the foreground look like they belong to a model playset in comparison to the expanse of light. Amazing that you can describe something so destructive as beautiful. News Caesars Sells WSOP Venetian Happy Hours

Random Vegas Hilton, at one time, had the tallest sign in Vegas at 362 feet tall, taller than the Landmark Hotel itself and only a few feet shy of the Hilton itself. On July 18, 1994, it was blown down by 70-80 mph high winds. Fortunately, no one was injured. The sign was rebuilt in 1997 but not nearly as tall at only 279 feet tall. This is the sign Westgate has to this day. @summacorp TwitPic of the week Do you realize how much Vegas history is in this one shot shared by @Summacorp? We’ll start with Circus Circus since it’s the easiest to orient yourself with. Here you can see her 5 fountains and carousel marquee as well. Next door you have Travel-lodge to the left, still there today, and Westward Ho on the right, not with us anymore. Across the street you have the Thunderbird, Algiers and Riviera. Today its Fontainebleau and a parking lot for the LVCVA. Beyond that we can see the International, the Convention Center and the Landmark. Today the International is the Westgate and the convention center is now so much bigger that it repurposed the Landmark parking lot into an extension of the convention center. News Downtown Grand For Sale 360 Vegas Vacation 15 Bellagio Expansion

Random Vegas There were 137 employees that worked all 34 years and 8 months at the Mirage. All current employees get $2k per year worked and first dibs on Hard Rock jobs in 2027 (@Vegas_Visual) TwitPic of the week It’s the best picture I’ve ever seen that really shows off the scope and grandeur of a live performance at the Sphere, shared by @meltzvegas. The 18k images dwarf the performers while enhancing the music. It’s an experience unlike no other and of course its located in Las Vegas. Even if its only to watch the movie I can’t recommend the Sphere experience enough, unless you get motion sickness. Then stay away from that shit. News Neon Museum Expansion Hard Rock Las Vegas

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Random Vegas YESCO replaced more than six miles of neon lighting with RGB LED strips on Mandalay Bay and Delano (Vital Vegas). TwitPic of the week I was never a fan of the property, but damn did they have a nice marquee. The Frontier marquee, born in 1966 and shared by @_GrandPaD with an assist from @summacorp, was designed by Ad Art. It was at one time the tallest super pylon in the world at 184 feet, 4 feet taller than the previous record holder the Dunes. Originally the “F” at the top of the sign rotated but that functionality was troublesome and eventually abandoned. Unlike the Dunes I was fortunate enough to have seen her in real life and to be fair, pictures don’t do it justice. Not like being in its presence. I’m grateful for that time and for this picture for inspiring not only this monologue but the memories. 360 Vegas Book Mirage-TI Tram closes E-500 YouTube Livestream Cosmopolitan Changes to MGM Neon City Festival

Random Vegas Vegas has the 3 largest video screens in the world. Sphere @Venetian at 580,000 square feet (515 long by 367 width), Resorts World at 161,636 square feet (475 long by 340 width), Viva Vision Screen at the Fremont St Experience at 130,000 square feet (1,500 long by 90 width). TwitPic of the trip Technically this was before360VV14started but according to the rules I’ve made up in my head, it counts. This was a unique point of view of a common visual of the tallest building in Vegas. Fontainebleau, the property that continues to disappoint is showcased here looming over one as they attempt to enjoy the pool. Fortunately it doesn’t cause a shadow but it does hulk over the strip as a cautionary tale. It isn’t as easy as field of dreams. You need to do more than just build it to get people to come. Regardless, its an attractive building as showcased in this week’s picture. 360VV14 Trip Report Sunday, June 23 - 6 pm - Meet & Greet @Furnace @Downtown Grand - 8 pm - Group Gaming @Downtown Grand Monday, June 24 - 1 pm - Flight Club @Palazzo RSVP$ required ($90 per person for 3 hours, includes the cost to play and all you can drink well booze & domestic beer) - 6 pm - 360 Family Meet and Greet, @Alto @Caesars Palace - Pennys4Vegas - Stripwalking - The Bettor Life - Vegas Confessions - VegasNearMe - Vital Vegas - You Can Bet On That Tuesday, June 25 - 8 am - 360 Vegas Exercise Experience w/@RaisingLasVegas RSVP - Noon - Cocktails @Flamingo suite RSVP$ required ($70 per person) - 3 pm - Group Gaming @Flamingo

Random Vegas Ever wonder why they call them tokes instead of tips? The reason is many years ago dealers tried to convince the IRS that the cash they received from players was not a tip and therefore did not have to be reported as taxable income. The logic behind this dodge was that a tip was defined by the IRS as a payment in return for special treatment. Since it is illegal for a dealer to provide any sort of favor to a player, the dealers argued that the money they were given was a “token of appreciation” for dealing an honest game, and therefore not a reward for special services. The IRS didn’t buy it, but the term “toke” stuck.” (Super Casino) TwitPic of the week It’s the best picture of the sultan at the Dunes that I’ve ever seen, perfectly lit up a night. It was a Porte cochere like no other. Well, it was actually kind of an uneventful Porte cochere but it has a giant sultan on the roof. And he had a gem that lights up at night in his turban. This, looking at this, just makes me smile. The picture was shared by @VitalVegaswith a hat tip to Las Vegas Memories Facebook group. News Vegas is Expensive Poolside Gaming COVID Gaming Changes Casino Smoking

Random Vegas Justin Timberlake was paid $6 million dollars to perform at Fontainebleau opening night. That night, he stayed at Wynn. (VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week You’ve heard me talk about it before, the Stardust. Here we got a picture from @_GrandPaD showing off the entire property, including the old Royal Nevada that they rebranded the Stardust Auditorium. It also shows the properties first hotel tower that existed between the two properties, connecting them together. Next you can’t help but look at all those motel units behind the Stardust Frontage. And lastly, you’re reminded this is in the middle of a desert by the Barron wasteland that stretched beyond the resorts reach. All silhouetted with the beautiful mountains. News Electric Playhouse Fontainebleau expands “The Friends’ Experience“ Tuscany Deal