I was talking to two tourists from Seattle at the opening of “Viva Elvis” at CityCenter. Their primary reason for coming to Vegas is to see shows. And, I was amazed to discover that they had never bought discounted tickets because they did not know such things existed. This couple had been coming to Vegas [...]
Harrah’s has so many billions in debt reporters are hailing the company for not being crushed by it yet. The one action the company has taken recently that surprised many was to take over Planet Hollywood through assuming more debt. And, as I noted this morning, yesterday brought rumors Harrah’s is trying something similar with [...]
Honestly, yesterday I did not make two calls I should have made. I should have checked on the horrible and tragic goings on with Wayne Newton who has been dealing with family misfortune on an epic scale even as process servers show up to his house to evict him. The Kats Report made the calls [...]
Just read “About a Mountain” by John D’Agata. There are still very few books more ambitious than travel guides about Las Vegas. I think ”About a Mountain” is the most surprising and interesting since film critic Dave Thomson’s “In Nevada” (1999). My one serious complaint is that for a new book it seems oddly dated. And, even worse, seems dated [...]
The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics opens its entry describing the form with repeated end words for all six lines though in varying order across six stanzas as well other rules that depend on the particular approach to the sestina with “The most complicated of the verseforms initiated by the troubadours.” The entry goes [...]
On the red carpet for “Viva Elvis,” Perez Hilton told me he had heard Criss Angel can not be fired by contract. I have heard similar things. But any contract can be bought out. And, anyone who runs afoul of casino regulators is going to be out of a resort showroom. And, a show that [...]
Criss Angel arrived early and did not linger on the red carpet for “Viva Elvis” last night. But Perez Hilton did. Angel was nowhere to be seen when Hilton walked the carpet engaging in a slightly obscene relationship with his “Criss Angel” t-shirt. Honestly, Angel should be grateful that Hilton is kind enough to promote “Believe.” [...]
This is a guest post from LitPopCult.com by Richard Abowitz Susan Boyle is a good singer who everyone has heard of only because she undermined a total conviction among the public that artistic gifts rest with the young and attractive. She did not actually win the television talent show she was on; but the well [...]
Yesterday, early evening, the announcement went out that Pure was closing the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. This is interesting timing in light of lounge singer Matt Goss relocating (from a short and less than stellar stint at the Palms’ lounge) to Caesars’ barge shaped lounge where he was to be closer to his mom, I mean, producer, Pussycat [...]
The economy has brought a lot of hardship on Vegas. But hiding with that excuse are those things that were clearly disasters from the outset. Sure blame the economy now, but even in boom times these were bad ideas: 1. Lake Las Vegas: An artificial lake built for rich people 20 miles from Las Vegas. [...]
