The Movable Buffet print column I do for The Los Angeles Times yesterday was on Frank Marino who has been a name on the Strip for 25 years. For some reason, the photos of Marino by Lanie Crossman did not make it into the on-line version of the story. So, I include them above with [...]
This footage, ABC News reports, shows a lion attacking his trainer at MGM Grand. Small point: I am not sure “trainer” is the right word as the lions in the MGM Grand habitat don’t perform any tricks or entertain. Why would the cats need a trainer? So, let’s call him one very lucky lion keeper.
It is clear that the new power players in Vegas are no longer swaggering casino executives but bankers. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is about to be opened under the ownership of Deutsche Bank after the original developer defaulted. And, there are many other resorts that exist at the mercy of their bankers. It will be [...]
This seems so random. I am amazed to discover the Golden Nugget has partnered to create a Facebook game. I am not a game person. But I am pretty sure Golden Nugget is now the first and only Vegas casino to have a Facebook game. Anyone who plays this game please comment on if it [...]
$8.5 billion is how much the press reports CityCenter cost to build. That number comes from MGM. I am not the first to point out that $8.5 billion is not an accurate number and can not be. It is an almost arbitrary number with real world significance perhaps only to accountants and tax collectors. My [...]
During the boom times Las Vegas companies made all sorts of deals with countries that do not grant political rights to their citizens. China, of course, through Macau, is the most obvious way in which the gambling resort companies worked comfortably within the laws established by corrupt and totalitarian regimes. In fact, longtime rivals Sheldon [...]
I am working on a couple projects. But some quick Vegas reads from obscure corners: This story from Computer World looks at one of two data centers in Venetian. I am so stealing this idea for a story. I have never been to a casino data center. That they exist is obvious looking back but [...]
Want to watch drunken tourists all the time? Yes. You Vegas voyeur. There are a few live webcams capturing life on the Strip. Here is my favorite which covers the area around the MGM Grand. The description promises the “excitement” of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard. That usually amounts to this sample picture. But I [...]
I am so sorry to have been gone since June 1. I’m back. Vegas working vacation. As some of you know I am working at a novel and when things are going well for the fictional world then I follow. But I have also been busy writing elsewhere and so while I catch up on [...]
I had some particularly scathing things to say this morning about Perini vs. MGM Mirage. But a filling deserted my mouth and so I am reduced to a whimpering victim until I am repaired at 1:30. So, here are scattered thoughts produced and delivered in pain: One interesting thing to look at is who owes [...]
