I just got a press release for the strangest booking in Vegas so far in 2010: “President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States, will speak at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Monday, February 22 at 7:30pm. President Clinton’s lecture is titled ‘Embracing our Common [...]
On Saturday night Miss America is showing live on TLC. I won’t be watching. I have already filed my Los Angeles Times print column on the connection between Vegas and Miss America, and you can read that in Sunday’s Calendar. I have little interest in this contest, but I have a favorite contestant. I doubt [...]
The recession has taken a lot of hubris out of Vegas. On the other side, many good shows, eateries, and concepts have vanished or never had the chance to thrive. 1. Hairspray (Luxor) 2. Spamalot (Wynn) 3. The two weeks that Cathouse was cool (Luxor) 4. 40 Deuce (Mandalay Bay) 5. 40/40 (Palazzo) 6. The [...]
In an auction in which he was the only bidder, Carl Icahn became owner of perhaps the second worst named (Vdara being the winner) project on the Strip, Fontainebleau. My guess is the former owner of Arizona Charlie’s and Stratosphere is not likely to keep that fancy name. Above is a commercial for what the [...]
I am having a busy morning. So, I apologize that this blog item will be brief. I am working on the Los Angeles Times print column on the Miss America pageant currently moving about Vegas from a Planet Hollywood base. The event takes place Saturday night. I went to the welcome ceremony at Planet Hollywood [...]
There is no one better at getting media attention than Jeff Beacher. The shameless showman has performed outrageous stunts, used a troupe of midget impersonators to get headlines, and has kept a few media feuds going with a range of people and groups like PETA and Donald Trump. Then, when all else fails to make [...]
Tonight Hussong’s opens next to Burger Bar at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place. The story behind the arrival of this cantina is an amazing one. Scott Frost, a principal, was in a horrendous motorcycle accident last year that left him a quadriplegic. Throughout his recovery, starting from his hospital bed shortly after the accident, he [...]
Despite last year being a brutal one for headliners on the Strip, Wayne Brady’s show at the Venetian seemed an exception. A variety show based on his humor, Brady managed to provide an update to old school Vegas entertainment without a hint of nostalgia. He also seemed to be drawing good numbers, too. Late last [...]
By combining music sales and concert ticket sales for the past 10 years, The Los Angeles Times music blog has offered a list of commercial champions headed by Celine Dion: “Dion earned the title of Ultimate Top 10 champ for the decade that recently ended, thanks in large part to the money she piled up [...]
Yes, that is Iggy Pop and not Tareq and Michaele Salahi on the red carpet at Pure. (If you will note the lack of a shirt and jeans both disqualify poor Iggy from getting into Vegas nightclubs like Pure.) Interestingly, Pure canceled the red carpet for the couple; yet, the duo were still retained as [...]
