360 Vegas

Random Vegas For the 23rd consecutive month, Vegas is reporting earnings over $1 billion (Review Journal) Twitpic of the week The New York skyline, shared by @VegasTravelNews, eloquently recreated on the Las Vegas strip, provides just enough of the real experience to check it off of my to-do list. Plus it has a roller coaster. Where is your theme park attraction real New York? In all seriousness, the ability to enjoy different themes & experiences per property is one of the magical things about this city. A pyramid, a Medieval Castle, Paris and a number for tropical themed resorts, all in one desert. News 360 Vegas Winter Vacation Report Crazy Housewives Heart Attack

Random Vegas It was reported that while building the MGM Grand, today known as Horseshoe, Kerkorian offered to pay Sinatra half a million to come out of his most recent retirement to perform a 1 week engagement. Even if he wanted to, Sinatra wouldn't have been able to because he was still under contract with Caesars who planned litigation if he attempted to play at another hotel (Vintage Research) Twitpic of the week There it is, north strip, as it was known in 1996. We still see the Stardust, La Concha, Silver Dollar, El Rancho (2ndone) and Riviera. Today, all that’s left is Circus Circus, Sahara and Stratosphere. Today, most of this picture is a wasteland. Comprised of empty lots where dreams were inspired but progress couldn’t match. Sure we got Resorts World and will soon have the Fountinebleau but still. It was a portal into the past, something Vegas doesn’t often regarding with nostalgia. At least we still have Peppermill to visit and transport ourselves to the time and period of Vegas we romanticize. Something @summacorp does very well. News 360VWV U2 Sphere Tru OGs @Cosmopolitan New Blackjack Rules

Most remember the Riviera as the old rundown place it felt like towards the end of its existence. But the Riviera roamed the landscape like giants for a time, attracting the biggest names in entertainment. However that was a long time ago and the Riviera was not able to keep up with changing tastes. And as Liberace and Dean Martin’s stars began to fade, so did the Riviera, gradually declining into the property she was for her last 20 years, a grind joint. The Riviera is no longer with us. While romantic hearts will look at this tragically, realists will acknowledge that Riviera is simply a story of a life cycle, the evolution of a property, from inception to implosion. Here is that story.

Random Vegas Riviera was the first casino in Las Vegas to have a fast food restaurant, a Burger King (@VitalVegas) Twitpic of the week With the help of @Maverickheli, at first glance, it looks like a large metropolis. Half a second later you realize you’re looking at the strip and goddamn is it sexy. It isn’t a colorful as it once was but it still glitters and glows. This POV is simply breathe taking and a sweet addition to our Twitpic of the week collection News The New Bazaar Shops

So this is actually the first Cirque show I’ve reviewed for the podcast. I’ve seen several Cirque shows; the wife is a big fan. Our first trip to Vegas together included The Beatles - Love, which I really need to revisit. Maybe Tony will go with me, since he really should see it. Since that first trip we took together, my wife and I have seen “O”, Mystere, as well as Zumanity. Confession time: I liked Zumanity. I think we saw it twice. I was definitely disappointed when I heard it was going away. But we really like Cirque, and we like New York- New York. We’ve never stayed there, but we always end up hanging out there. So I was very interested in what we were going to get when Mad Apple was announced. I heard a lot of buzz that it was “not your typical Cirque show,” which actually made me really nervous because that’s also what they were saying about “R.U.N.” and that show was apparently a giant belly flop… Not the best photo, but she was hanging by her hair. By her hair! To me, it’s kind of funny that since I started doing these reviews, it’s pushed me to sort of have a greater sense of urgency to see new shows so I can review them for the podcast. We made an effort to see Rouge at the Strat, Miss Behave’s Mavericks, and Mad Apple all within a few months of their opening so that I could get the review content for the show. Anyway, I snagged tickets for a trip in July, and we really enjoyed the show. One of the things I like about Cirque shows is that since I’m a cheap bastard, it’s actually often better to sit back a ways so that you can take it all in. In fact, out of all the Cirque shows I’ve seen, none of them really benefit from front row seats. So there’s a frugal Vegas tip for you. If you ever saw Zumanity, Mad Apple is in the same theater. From the audience perspective, the theater doesn’t really look that different from the time that Zumanity was there. One cool thing is the bar at the end of the stage. So the stage looks like a regular stage, but it has this part that sticks out into the audience, which is actually called a “thrust stage.” Insert joke here about parts that stick out and thrusting. So at the end of the stage, there’s now this half circle bar, and you can go up to the bar and order drinks for yourself before the show starts. When the show begins, there’s a cover for the bar that’s lowered down so it just becomes part of the stage. I don't remember. I just remember laughing my ass off. The show itself isn’t your typical Cirque show. I would describe it as “intro to Cirque.” It has the acrobatics, but it’s not all acrobatics, and it doesn't have the weird French-Canadian stuff that’s all over “O” and Mystere. What it does have is live singers and a live band. A few years back, word was that Cirque du Soleil was moving away from live musicians, so that was a pleasant surprise. It also features 3 different comedians throughout the show, which gives the show a chance to breathe. I think Mad Apple - while not a show for kids due to the humor - is a show for younger adults, or those who might be bored by the more traditional Cirque material. (Seriously, I think it was purely my confusion keeping me awake during “O”.) I try really hard to keep politics away from my Vegas discussions, because Vegas is my escape. However, it should be noted that this is a show that celebrates the bluest city in the bluest state. It’s not too in your face, but I’ve seen complaints online about some of the content. New York City’s population leans left on average, so the show, in that spirit, is going to lean left a little. This shouldn’t be shocking, but apparently some people were nonetheless clutching their pearls. Consider yourselves warned. Feel the thrust of the stage. The format of Mad Apple is more like a variety show than anything else. Between the aerialists, the singers, and the comedians, it feels almost like Ka and Absinthe had a baby, but it’s a beautiful baby. I’ll be the first to admit that I have a short attention span; even more so when I’m in Vegas, and the way Mad Apple frequently switches up the content works for me, and is a great blend of funny, amazing, and musical talent. I enjoyed all three of the comedians. There’s a Little Person comedian, an absolutely hilarious Jewish guy, and someone who is a virtuoso with shadow puppets. From what I’ve been reading, most of the people who are complaining about the show are complaining about being offended by the comedians, which to me is a pretty good indicator that they’re funny as shit. I’ve been told that the writers and producer of Mad Apple gave the comedians free reign, so their routines aren’t run through the corporate filter. If you’re easily offended by naughty words, you should find a different Cirque show (and maybe a different podcast). One of the things I liked about the variety show format is that the traditional Cirque acts seemed to stand out more. An aerialist couple who hang from straps were previously part of Absinthe, and thei

Random Vegas The 93 acres of land Caesars sits on requires 14 full time gardeners to maintain with an annual budget of $350k (Las Vegas: Behind the Tables) Twitpic of the week While a significant number of people in America are experiencing a brutal winter season, in Vegas, when it happens, its breathtaking and typically doesn’t last very long. Clearly someone agreed with us as this week’s winner, brought to us by @summacorp, is a picture of Stardust Jan 5th, 1974. There is something about snow that gives one the feeling of serenity and evokes thoughts of a warm fire and hot beverages. The peaceful silence of its falling to the dangerous elegance of its presence reminds us once again that snow is only good for show in very limited doses and for recreation. News 360 Vegas Winter Vacation Downtown Stadium EarthCam

Random Vegas A common superstition for horse race gamblers is to never look at your ticket after you buy it (Las Vegas: Behind the Tables) Twitpic of the week It’s man behind the scenes shit that fascinates me. As far back as I can remember I’ve always been interested in what’s behind that “Employees Only” door. That interest was only further exacerbated when I fell in love with Disney. I love what they produce at the front of the house but what’s going on behind the curtain to make said magic. @Maverickhelicaptures an arial view of the Flamingo but despite how good that looks, I can’t help but zoom in and look at the stuff on those roof tops. Not only is Flamingo’s undercarriage on display, so is Drai’s at Cromwell. Although Cromwell’s roof is designed as a public space so you won’t find the bones of the operation on rooftop display. If I wasn’t such a rule follower I’d attempt to breach security just to see what I could see before they caught me. However just the idea of getting caught makes me anxious so no worries casino security, I’ll continue to admire from a far News 360 Vegas Winter Vacation MSG Sphere Update Another Dolphin Death Weed Friendly Resort Collusion

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Random Vegas Cirque Du Soleil celebrated “O’s” 11,000 performance this week, bringing you over a decade of acrobatic shrinkage Twitpic of the week This week’s winner by @_GrandpaD captures something you don’t often see from neon signs in Vegas, scale. Here we see maintenance doing the lords work replace neon tubes in the signage. By doing so, we get a perspective that is rarely seen in this new world of LED signage. This sign is massive and if they ever close, I really hope the Neon Museum has the inside track to not only save but display this, one of the most beautiful neon signs in Las Vegas News 360 Vegas Vacation 12 Universal Studios Vegas

Let’s talk about Rouge at the Strat. (And it’s Rouge as in “blush,” not Rogue as in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”) So when Rouge was announced earlier this year, I was definitely interested. It’s probably no secret at this point that I’m a horn dog, and like my Vegas shows to be titillating. I also believe that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, and out of a sense of fairness I once took my wife to a male review; something I probably won’t ever do again. It’s not so much watching the men dance that I have a problem with, it was all the screaming. Why do women feel the need to shriek like banshees during these shows? He’s not going to fuck the loudest one in the room! So for the sake of preserving what’s left of my already terrible hearing, I’m opting out of male reviews for the future. That being said, I’m willing to bet that a decent looking dude could park himself at the bar outside the Thunder From Down Under Theater around 11:30 at night, and it would be like shooting fish in a barrel. This is just a theory, but if it happens to work out for a listener, you’re welcome. Just don’t be creepy. Anyway, I digress. Rouge bills itself as a male and female topless show, and ‘The Sexiest Show in Vegas.’ We recently decided to check it out and see for ourselves. First, Rouge is at the Strat. This is not a place we’ve ever spent much time, because it’s the Strat. You kind of need a specific reason to go there. Now that we had a reason, we ventured over to see it. The Mad Max reboot is really weird. Some words about the showroom. It’s on the 2nd level, almost directly above where you line up to take the elevator up to the skypod. When we entered, an usher did the typical “let’s see your tickets so we can walk you to your seats” thing, but it was kind of weird because they had performers spread all through the audience; including right next to these ushers. The performers were dressed in these really extravagant costumes - probably the best costumes of the whole show - and they were kind of leering at us in a way that was probably meant to be sexy? Honestly it kind of threw me off, because I’m trying to show the usher my ticketing information on my phone, but I’m also looking at this person in a leather corset who’s next to me licking their lips. I mean, normally that’s not a bad thing, but I felt like my attention was kind of pulled two different ways. We found their showroom to be a decent space, with a big variety in seating, including the booth tables that seem to be a disappearing part of Vegas entertainment. I had a “preferred seating” table, which consisted of four chairs around a small half circle table. I was hoping that we would have the table to ourselves, because “Stranger Danger” but a couple that I’m pretty sure were a hooker and her John were seated next to us shortly after. She got paid for her time and treated to a show. Lucky gal… (Side note: they did end up leaving before the show was over. When that meter’s running, I guess you can’t waste too much time on passive entertainment when more active forms await.) This fuckin' guy... Let’s talk about the show itself. There’s an emcee, who struck me as kind of a poor-man’s Gazillionaire (from Absinthe). He seemed like he was trying to come across as this vaudeville showman but his jokes, phony French accent, and porn-stache made a lot of the humor land in more of a sleazy way rather than a naughty way. It’s a fine line, I know. The show has several vignettes or sections. There’s a running bit they go back to a few times throughout the show with this married couple who are unsatisfied because they’re bored with their bedroom life and apparently aren’t communicating about it. So I guess the show can be viewed as a journey through their exploration of kinks, because by the end, everyone’s fucking and happy and fucking happy. My biggest issue with the show is that for me, some of these vignettes work, and some of them don’t. There’s a whole French Aristocracy section, where the women wear these big Marie Antionette style dresses with corset tops, and it’s funny because they turn around and the backs are open so you can see their asses. The men are wearing pantaloons from the same time period, and there’s cut-outs in the back so that each ass-cheek sticks out of its own cheek hole. I get that it’s trying to be balanced (Here’s woman-ass. Now here’s man-ass) but it ends up looking ridiculous. Maybe that’s my straight male privilege talking, but my wife thinks it looked pretty dumb too. You've been on my mind for a while now The other wierd-as-fuck bit was a whole horse vignette, where performers had on bridles and shoes that looked like hooves. I am not making this up. I was too busy WTF-ing through this whole portion to be the slightest bit aroused. That’s not to say that it’s all bad. There’s some sections that work really well, like a bondage section and a striptease portion in which performers in business suits watch while another perform

Random Vegas It’s been reported that the Adele store ad Caesars Palace makes between $120 – 160k every day its open (Vital Vegas) Twitpic of the week Lined up like they were taking a year book photo of their class, this week’s winner by @summacorp captures the Thunderbird road sign like marquees are seldom seen, to scale. By taking pictures in front of the sign you can really see just how big they were in relation to a person. Part of the magic of Vegas marquees is this overwhelming awesomeness of these signs. The only thing that would have made this picture cool is if it was in color instead of black and white. But we aren’t complaining. Thanks to the UNLV Special collections department for preserving the history of the city unlike any other city in the world News Foreshadowing the Queen B Little Miss Nasty

Random Vegas The International, better known as the Hilton and currently known as Westgate, was specifically designed to attract families and conventioneers It offered a supervised youth camp of sorts to keep the kids occupied so the adults could do what they wanted Twitpic of the week It’s been considered the worst eye sore in Vegas history, similar to its predecessor the Landmark. The big blue building known as Fountainbleau, then various other names as new ownership groups attempted to rebrand the property while not making any actual progress to finish the project, is now officially the Fountainbleau again. Its progress to completion is easily visable to the eye and once again, north strip has a pulse. Signage has been installed and the original owners are once again the driving force behind this project. @meltzVegaspicture shows progress and the signage reinforces that she is coming in the 1st quarter of 2023. Led by the people who dreamed her up, its exciting to know that the original visionaries are at the wheel again, 15 years after breaking ground on the project. News Natural Selection MIrage/Hard Rock Details 360 Vegas Winter Vacation 2023

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Random Vegas NYE 2022-23 will have fireworks launched from 8 strip resorts. They are Aria, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, The Strat, Treasure Island, Venetian and Resorts World. It will take five days for 66 pyrotechnicians to install the fireworks (RJ) Twitpic of the week In a city where mega resorts rule the landscape, never has a property done so much with so little. 4.4 acres is all the land that Cosmopolitan resides on. Granted, it cost as much as a mega resort with a 3.9 billion dollar price tag but still. Its clear the future of the strip is in properties like this and Cromwell, boutique hotels doing more with less. @maverickhelicaptures the property in ways only it can. Seriously need to get off our ass and take a helicopter ride around the city News Brew Dog Opens Goodbye Banger

Random Vegas The Neon Museum offers tour scripts in several languages: Chinese, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish The scripts are printed on reusable plastic booklets that visitors can borrow for free then return (VitalVegas) Twitpic of the week It was really inevitable. How can the city claim to be the entertainment capital of the world and not have sports in the list of available options? We are halfway there with the addition of the hocky and football. Just basketball and baseball to go to complete the collection so many cities around the states have. When and where is still up for debate but close to the strip is a solid bet. @Maverickheli highlights sports addition to the famous skyline. Las Vegas is finally becoming what it has coveted for so long, respect as a legit big city. News DivAdele Slingshot Terrorism Hard Rock Evolution

So before I get into this review, a few disclaimers: If you told me a few years ago that I would actually make an effort and spend my own money to see Wayne Newton perform, I would have laughed at you. A lot. If you told me even a few months ago that I would not only see Wayne Newton perform, but also (spoiler alert!) enjoy it enough that I would recommend that others go see it, I would wonder what you were on. Now, to be fair, I like crooners. But when I say that, I mean that I like the Rat Pack. To me, a pleasant evening is cooking dinner with Sinatra and Martin on the stereo and a glass of bourbon within reach. If I could see any concert ever in history, it would be Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack performing one of the Summit shows in the Copa Room at the Sands while they filmed the original Ocean's 11. But I have never considered myself a Wayne Newton fan. What brought me to see Wayne Newton recently was what the kids call the FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out. Like it or not, Vegas is synonymous with change, and like it or not, the legacy of Wayne Newton is inextricably woven into Vegas forever. So even if I did not consider myself a fan of Wayne Newton, I had to admit that he was a living Las Vegas legend, and someday (maybe sooner than we would like) the chance to see that legend perform in the flesh might be gone. As a fan of Vegas and a frequent patron of Vegas entertainment, I almost felt what can best be described as an obligation to see Wayne Newton perform. "To my left is where we keep the TV." If you’ve been living under a proverbial Las Vegas rock and don’t know who Wayne Newton is, he is also known as Mr. Las Vegas, and has been performing on Las Vegas stages and throughout the rest of the world for more that 60 years, beginning in the late 50s at the Fremont Hotel. He’s the guy that tried to woo Helen Griswold away from Clark in Vegas Vacation. When I first started making regular trips to Vegas, Newton was performing at the Cleopatra’s Barge theater at Caesars Palace. When El Dorado took over Caesars Entertainment, they closed several shows and moved Wayne over to Bugsy’s Cabaret at the Flamingo. As shows began to open up post-pandemic, Wayne Newton’s production was delayed; first due to back surgery last year, and again due to a positive COVID diagnosis later on. Since the man is now 80 years old, I was really beginning to feel like I needed to make an effort to see him as soon as possible. As I mentioned before, Wayne Newton, Up Close and Personal is now performing at Bugsy’s Cabernet, which is a small venue located in the center of the Flamingo gaming floor. The venue is also used for X-Burlesque, but you enter the theater through different doors for the different productions, making it seem like they are different venues and that the tuxedo-wearing, living legend isn’t sharing a performance space with a titty show. The size of the theater was a plus for me, because the small room ensured that we could see him well. It truly was “Up Close and Personal.” As we waited in line to get into the theater, we couldn’t help but wonder what we were getting into. We’re in our mid-forties, but we were by far the youngest people in line. Was everyone here for Wayne Newton, or had we accidentally stumbled across the Matlock Fan Convention? Ha ha! Old people… When most of the audience was seated, a woman stood up in front and introduced herself as the hostess. She essentially instructed us to stand up and applaud when Wayne sang his final song of the evening. I’ve seen a lot of shows, but I’ve never been told that I need to give a standing ovation. This irritated me, but it was quickly forgotten. The curtains opened, the 3-piece band began to play, and the man himself stepped out and began to sing. Okay, so I’m just going to cut to the chase here. His voice is not great right now. Don’t get me wrong; he sings better than I do. It’s not awful to hear, but we’re a long way from the gravel mixed with maple syrup sounds he had in the past (for example, in Vegas Vacation). I was actually fine with this, because he’s still an incredible showman. You can tell when you see him live that he has cultivated the art of interacting with the audience. He was pointing at people in the audience he recognized, smiling and waving hello between lines of his songs. This is what I wanted! This is what I paid to see: that old school, still a small town, anyone-can-show-up feeling of old Vegas lounge and dinner shows. At one point, he stops the show to acknowledge his friend in the audience, impressionist Rich Little, who currently performs at the Tropicana. Newton reminisces about their long friendship, and times performing together decades ago at the Frontier. It reminds me of Dean Martin saying hello to Lucille Ball in the crowd at the Copa Room. It’s not the same level of celebrity, but it's the same kind of warmth and familiarity that’s tough to find in live entertainment. The show itself is structured like VH1 Storyte

Random Vegas A 1990 smoking ban in gambling clubs in New Zealand reduced the county’s poker machine revenue by 28% Twitpic of the week Towering over the rest of the Fremont Casinos, Circa is a new landmark one can use to orient themselves in Las Vegas. It’s not quite the same the Strat but still, it lords over its competition both figuratively and literally. As usual, @maverickheli brings a unique and stunning perspective to the city that we love. News Garth Brooks Residency Caesars Expansion Serial Robber

Random Vegas Caesars Entertainment's loyalty program uses 90 different demographic segments for its customers. "Player value" is most associated with frequency of play, type of game played and number of coins/credits per spin or hand. (via Vital Vegas, via "Addiction by Design" by Natasha Dow Schull) Twitpic of the week I never had the chance to check out Lady Luck. The first time I came to Vegas was 2004 and the property was already closed at the time. I’m told, at least in the end, she was a dump. But there is something about neon that romanticizes the past, regardless of its shitholery. That’s what Lady Luck’s Neon exterior does. It’s a shame that we lost such an iconic name as well but again, having never experienced the place for myself, its easy for me to say. My vision of the property will always be influenced by the feelings it stirs up when I look a pictures like the one shared by @summacorp. News Sick New World Vegas The Grandstands of Bellagio

Imagine your favorite local bar gathered its funniest, sexiest, strangest, and most talented patrons and friends, and brought them together to put on a wild variety show and you’ve got a reasonable idea of what you’d experience when you see Miss Behave's Mavericks. So back in spring, there was some buzz starting to grow about a new show downtown, Miss Behave’s Mavericks. Vital Vegas had reported on it. (I have to say here that I often appreciate Vital Vegas’s perspective and info - and I know he’s a friend of the podcast - but he seems to have a love of all things downtown that I don’t necessarily share.) But the buzz kept growing, and it really piqued my curiosity. I knew about the previous Miss Behave show - which was at Bally’s - but only by name. I also am not afraid to admit that I’m kind of a value shopper when it comes to Vegas. I’m always looking for the deals and the bang-for-your-buck. So when I found out that’s tickets were $25 each, I was sold. By the way, they’ve since gone up to $39 per person, but this is still a hell of a deal. You’d be hard-pressed to find another show in town at that price. A little more on cost later. Cheapshot in Fremont East is a whole mood. Miss Behave’s Mavericks is playing at Cheapshot, which is in the first block of Fremont East, in the space formerly occupied by Beauty Bar. We saw this show in July, and of course it was super hot outside. Seating is first come first serve, so we wanted to get there early to get good seats. Now this was probably our least enjoyable part of the experience. It’s Vegas. It’s July. It’s hot outside. We arrived at 6 for a 7:00 curtain time. The website said the doors opened at 6, so we’re thinking this shouldn’t be a problem. But there’s a fence and a closed gate in front of the doors, and they aren’t letting anyone in. I was thinking that maybe they were doing this to make the show seem better, because whatever was inside was better than standing out on the street and melting. The show could have just been watching aardvark’s shitting and it would have been great as long as there was air conditioning. Honestly, the venue staff did their best to try to make up for it. Miss Behave herself (the stage name of performer and host Amy Saunders) came out and apologized and handed out cold water bottles. She explained that the doors didn’t actually open until 6:30, and she had requested several times for the info online to be changed, but it hadn’t been changed yet. Keep in mind that when we arrived, there were 2 groups of people in front of us, and before they finally let us in quite the line had developed behind us. Since seating is first come, first serve, I recommend you still arrive about an hour before showtime, even if the doors open only 30 minutes prior. Just have a cold drink in hand, and maybe choose your show time carefully. I’m just grateful that the venue is on the south side of the street, so we had some shade. Look, I'll be honest: I have no idea what's happening here. A few words about seating… As I’ve already mentioned, the venue is first come, first serve. When it was our turn to be seated, they asked if we wanted to be more towards the front or more towards the back. I said “more towards the front” and they put us right smack in the front row. I wasn’t expecting this, but was fine with it. If I didn’t want to be so close, like some people might, I’m sure they would have moved us if I requested it. The chairs were small cane-back chairs that had no cushions, so it was a little uncomfortable. Lacking a better option, I ended up setting my drink on the stage. Speaking of the stage, like the venue, it’s very cozy. There’s only room for maybe a dozen people in the front row. Everyone is in the same style of seating, and our chairs are on the floor in the bar - there’s no slope like theater seating has - so it might get more difficult to see the further back you are. Thankfully, it's such a small venue that I don’t think this is an issue. One other point about the venue, my wife wants me to point out that the restrooms were nice and big and very clean. Drink service at the venue is excellent. They have a decent-sized menu (available online) of standard cocktails (old fashioned, sex on the beach, margarita), beers, and wines. Drink prices are reasonable for Vegas. Here’s where another cost comes in. You should bring cash to the show - about $20 or so per person - in order to show your support for the performers. See, Miss Behave’s Mavericks likes the audience to support performers “strip club style” by throwing bills on the stage. It’s a fun gimmick that is very Vegas-appropriate. Even if you’ve just got a crisp $20 bill in hand, they’ll make change for you before the show. Okay, so let's talk about the show itself. Miss Behave’s Mavericks is a variety show. It’s a very eclectic variety show. It’s sometimes thrilling, sometimes soulful, sometimes sexy, somewhat confusing and very hilarious. I like to think of it as “Absinthe Lite.”

Random Vegas The NeonMuseum’s current campus on Las Vegas Blvd, north of Fremont St, opened to the public in 2012. On Oct 28th, it celebrated its 10th anniversary (@lasvegasweekly) Twitpic of the week Lettering longer than a football field and taller than a house is what travelers got to experience upon a person’s arrival at the original incarnation of the Stardust. Part of the magic of Vegas is the often larger than life displays, whether it be the signage or experiences, available every time you visit. Its also one of the reasons why the Neon Museum exists and is so popular. Having the opportunity to roam amongst the titans of old gives you a perspective unique to the city and its magic. Thanks to @_GrandPaD for sharing this flash back in time News The Fan District Venetian Reinvestment Reaper Evel Pie F1 For Sale The Fremont Progress Report

Random Vegas Mandalay Bay was originally going to be named “Project Paradise”. (Sincitytalk.com) Twitpic of the week Reflection. It’s how we review our life experiences and learn from them. It’s also how our own bias distorts our perception. Nowhere on planet earth does this metaphor better lend itself than pictures of Vegas after it rains. This week’s winner by @thecalcasino captures both the actual corner marquee as well as its the distorted reflection in a puddle, once again drawing comparisons to Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. No matter your opinion of the property, one can’t argue that this is a lovely photo. News S Bar @Mandalay Bay Vegas Reverse Retro All Net Resort $1 million dollar bar tab Power Slap League Enchant on the Strip

Random Vegas Las Vegas has a dog park on Fremont Street, down by the Western Casino that is home to the worlds largest functioning fire hydrant at 15 feet tall (@vitalvegas) Twitpic of the week It’s all about the signage on this one for me, shared by @summacorp. Formerly the Thunderbird, the property was rebranded Silverbird after Major Riddle purchased the property in the mid 1970s. The marquee was built in 1978 but only existed till Dec 81 when the property closed. It was later purchased and again, rebranded. Its final incarnation was as the El Rancho, an attempt to revive the brand that started the strip. It didn’t work and eventually the property closed, was demolished and in its place now is the Fontainebleau. News When We Were Young 2023

Random Vegas In its first week of operation, the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace served about 15,000 people. The venue was built at a cost of $17 million. (@vitalvegas via Bacchanal's Executive Chef at the time, Scott Green) Twitpic of the week It’s past, present, and future all in one photo. Brought to our attention by @StefanVanDeCook, this picture from @summacorp features the Mirage, with the sands Marquee in the foreground, For a time, the Sands was the property on the strip. Until the Mirage came along supplanting the Sands as the market leader. Eventually accepting they couldn’t continue to compete, they imploded the property and in its place opened Venetian. Fast forward to today and we are on the brink of losing another icon, the Mirage. True it won’t be imploded but we are losing the volcano. it won’t be the same and eventually we will lose the name Mirage but what we will never lose are the memories. News Mirage dolphins El Cortez renovations Franco Dragone Dies Light closes Fertitta building on the Strip

Random Vegas Moulin Rouge would not be the first property to attempt to cater to blacks. The original was in 1942 when Shamrock Hotel on Fremont St attempted to cater to both blacks and whites. It was a colossal failure as whites vehemently protested. In response, city officials denied Shamrock an operating permit sighting Jim Crow policies in place at the time (The Moulin Rouge and black rights in Las Vegas) Twitpic of the week While not being as tall as the real Eiffel Tower in Paris, her replica in Vegas is still larger than life. Especially with the angle shared by @NickyFurmage, with a background sky that can best be described as apocalyptic. We don’t get much rain in the desert but when we do, it comes with vengeance. Thankfully we have photography to capture the magic when it happens. Thanks for sharing, Nicky. News 360 Vegas WINTER Vacation Vegas Holiday Attractions New Signage @Neon Museum Proper Eats

Random Vegas A running gag on the 70's TV series "Vega$" - "Paging Mr. Cohen, Mr. Burt Cohen" is heard over the Desert Inn's intercom constantly throughout the series. Cohen ran the DI. The man himself finally shows up at the end of season 2 in "Siege of the Desert Inn". (@_GrandpaD) Twitpic of the week It just screams Las Vegas and an era fondly recalled by many. It’s actually the sign that unintentionally showcased the evolution from gangster city to corporate America. Here @_grandpad shares the massive Stardust marquee with the original Electra Jag font. After Boyd came in and took over the place they did what they do, tried to make the property appealing to everyone. That included changing the font to helvetica or something easily readable but lacking in character News ACLU Sues Fremont St Experience Wild Wild West Closes

Random Vegas This week it was announced that Coke will be the cola in the guns at Fontainebleau, going against the norm of Pepsi who is the brand of choice at MGM and Caesars properties, equating to about 70% of the market share (@vitalvegas) Twitpic of the week Dream like, or at least that state in between sleep and awake. That’s what this picture from @briantonyavegas makes me feel. It’s sunrise featuring the High Roller, Bally’s and Paris. The color in this is incredible. I can almost smell the crisp morning air and hear the street sweepers. It’s a great time to be awake. News 360 Vegas WINTER Vacation Sun Feb 26th - Monday Feb 27th

Random Vegas A Vegas Bartender friend of Vital Vegas said her tips increase 20% just by curling her hair. (@vitalvegas) Twitpic of the week @TastyOldMan shared a picture of the view from his room at Plaza. It features a sunrise backing the most creative project built in Vegas since Cosmopolitan, Circa. Circa did what a new property in Vegas is supposed to do, change the game, or at least move the needle. Circa is truly a must see. Stadium Swim and Circa Sports are absolute game changers. Derek Stevens is officially the new Steve Wynn, without all the rapey parts. News Ocean Prime Coming Progress at Fontainebleau NYNY Renovated Rooms

Premium Content Preview www.patreon.com/360Vegas The Frontier is a property that, despite its multiple incarnations, has ever appealed to me. By the time I came to the city for the first time she was already a rundown, grind joint on the strip. But Vegas history is Vegas history. So it was inevitable that at some point this property would capture my attention long enough to learn all I could about it. Turns out I don’t have to love a property to find them interesting and worthy of a 360 Vintage Vegas segment.

You never know when you'll get a bonus round.

Random Vegas The stage at “Ka” uses vegetable oil in its hydraulic cylinders, rather than hydraulic fluid, for environment reasons (@VitalVegas) Twitpic of the week Diversity. That’s what this week’s winner brings to mind. @Misnomer shared a photo of south strip from the perspective of Aria…or one of the buildings in City Center. It showcases some of the most diverse options available in the market. Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and NYNY all offer unique experiences within a mile of one another. Capped off by Monte Carlo, known today as Park MGM, and here you see a good example of the great blanding of the strip. Here’s to hoping Hard Rock doesn’t fuck up Mirage News Bellagio’s Garden Table Slot Ticket Theft Bent Cards Flanker Kitchen Wynn’s $10,000 Dinner

Random Vegas Judges in Nevada have the power to ban someone for up to a year from the strip corridor. It’s a punishment primarily used against convicted drug charges and prostituting Twitpic of the week Not a picture you would normally expect to see win Twitpic of the week but this photo from @pennys4vegasshows a view that is all to common to the Vegas frequenter, air conditioning units on roof tops. In some cases we get glimpses of Vegas in the view but often you don’t. But it still feels like Vegas, almost regardless of you room view. Here we are treated to the warm neon glow of Walgreens, Hennessy’s tavern and slotzilla. Now you tell me you don’t see those things and think, damn. How much longer to my next Vegas visit? News Silverton Renovation The Pinky Ring @Bellagio Cross-Property room charging City of Las Vegas Showgirls Silverton Dice Dining Mirage Shooting

Random Vegas A study found gamblers who follow responsible gaming codes of conduct contribute just 4% of gambling revenues (@vital Vegas via “addiction by design” by Natasha Down Schul) Twitpic of the weeks It’s really just the same view as last week, just tweeted at a different angle. Kind of like a mirror image. And yet, that was all that was needed to come up with this monologue. @maverickheli shares a view of what is coming to be considered mid-strip properties. These monstrously sized properties somehow magically reduced to miniatures will forever capture my imagination. Did anyone have, or currently have one of those huge train set that winds through a community. I never did but the scale just enchants me. If Vegas was an option to build I think I might dedicate a room in my home for it. An idea almost certain to be vetoed by Mrs. 360 Vegas News Rain Damage Stadium Craps 2.0 Bally’s new speakeasy & oddities

Random Vegas The Las Vegas Raiders generated the most net ticket revenue in the NFL in 2021 bringing in $119 million in 2021 (Sportico) Twitpic of the week Most likely an enhanced photo but we don’t hold that against pictures. Either way, great job, once again by @maverickheli of capturing just how beautiful the strip is featuring mid to south strip here. Seriously, we need to get off our asses and finally experience this view first hand. I have a feeling its like the sports book at Circa, pictures just don’t do it justice. You have to see it for yourself to appreciate it. When we do finally do this, I promise to take my own pictures and share them News More Fremont St Renovations Downtown Grand evolution Circa 2.0 Sigma Derby Celebration MGM Active Imagination

Premium Content Preview. In this installment, we discuss blocks 2 and 3, better known as Golden Gate and Circa

Random Vegas Mandalay Beach is 11 acres, has 2.700 tons of real sand and a 1.6 million gallon wave pool (@MandalayBay) Twitpic of the week Probably the best view of @mandalayBay I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame this property is located so far south. True, it has incredible views of north strip but it’s a hike to get any place else. Here is where the Las Vegas monorail should have started. Instead, we have retreated underground as plans for the Elon Musk, subterranean Vegas loop continues to progress. Those plans include stops at the airport and virtually all properties on the strip. It will even have a downtown station at Circa’s Garage Mahal. While it will help to elevate traffic concerns for the future, this progress will rob people of the experience of seeing the strip while in transit to your selected home away from home, if only for a weekend. News Dream Vegas dust devil

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Random Vegas Cirque du Soleil first played Vegas in a tent in the Mirage parking lot (theringer.com) Twitpic of the week It’s a view that does not exist anymore. I mean the view still exists but most of the things you see in this picture, shared by @summacorp, are gone. Yes, Treasure Island, Sahara, Circus Circus and Stratosphere are still with us but Treasure Island is now TI, new marquee and all and Sahara isn’t the same. Frontier, Stardust, Silver Casino, Riviera and El Rancho...the sequel, are gone. Whether Resorts World and Fontainebleau reverse the fortunes of north strip, remains to be seen. For now, let's just revel in this otherworldly image of a time passed but not forgotten. News Plaza Reimagined More Adele Diva Bullshit Peeping Trop Bonanza Shooting Diana, an Exhibition LeBron Vegas Service Charges Details Cheating at the Strat Discount Cabanas Fremont Expansion Hawaiian Marketplace closes

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Random Vegas Harry Reid International Airport has had the best capacity recovery of any airport in the world, reporting a 7% increase from June 2019’s 2.6 million seats when THAT was the highest percentage of the worlds 20 busiest airports. (LVRJ) Twitpic of the Trip It’s a view I’m thrilled I was able to have @360Vegas Vacation 11 before we lose the iconic property that started the greatest revolution in Las Vegas gaming. Virtually everything we have in Vegas today is thanks, in some part, to the Mirage. I’m sure people who loved the Sands felt the way I feel about losing the Mirage, specifically that volcano. While a guitar hotel does sound cool it doesn’t add an “only in Vegas” attraction. The more market continues to gentrify itself the less special a place Las Vegas will become. Despite still drawing crowds whenever it starts going off, some say this icons lifespan has come to an end. Doesn’t matter if we agree or disagree with that, the fact of the matter is that we are going to lose her. Sadly, even the Neon Museaum can’t save this icon. So, much like a loved one with a terminal diagnosis, its time to enjoy the Mirage as much as you can before she erased from the famous Las Vegas strip. #360VV11

Random Vegas The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preservice and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signage (Neon Museum) Twitpic of the week Was it the concept or the fact that it was run by a man who lived in the grey area between truth and misrepresentation? Bob Stupak would refer to it as technicalities. Vegas World, shared in all her low rolling glory by @deadcolletti, showcases everything the Nevada gaming industry didn’t want associated with the city. Try as the might, the only thing that would get Stupak out of the market was his own ambition to build Stratosphere, residing in the space were Vegas World used to exist. News Elvisless Weddings

Random Vegas The Neon Museum campus includes two outdoor exhibition spaces known as the Neon Boneyard and the North Gallery, where the Brilliant! LED light attraction is housed, and a visitors’ center housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby (Neon Museum) Twitpic of the week How this view, shared by @maverickheli, doesn’t attract people to Vegas is another reason why I don’t get people. What more could you want? Almost any vice you can find legally is available at a person's disposal. Food, booze, gambling, smoking, girls to your room are just a few things that can be enjoyed by all if they are so inclined. For me its simple, there is no better view of the strip than the one from a Cosmo balcony while having sex on it. Undisputable. News EDC 2023 @Horseshoevegas

Random Vegas Kind of Vegas related, it was reported that earlier this month, the Oakland A’s played a home game in front of 2,488 fans in a stadium that seats 56,782. The Las Vegas Aviators minor league baseball team averages around 6,800 fans per game (LasVegasLocally) Twitpic of the week No matter what you think about Caesars Palace its undeniable that it’s a Vegas icon. True it’s a discombobulated maze cobbled together over years of expansion and renovation, but from the beginning, it drew the masses eager to feel like a Caesar. Sarno blocks evolved into more appropriately accurate roman architecture, enhancing the theme. Today, Caesars is a behemoth in the market, attracting high and low rollers alike, lets never forget is origins, show cased here by @_GrandPaD of the property in 1981, visually stunning News Lovers and False Reports Plant-based Cusine Menu

Random Vegas After the Cosmopolitan deal is complete, MGM Resorts will control 40% of all the hotel rooms on the Vegas strip (@LasVegasLocally) Twitpic of the week It’s a version of the Flamingo that virtually no one remembers or at least does not get talked about. It’s the motel version of the property that existed just before Hilton started building the high rises we know the property to have to this day. That evolution began with the erection of the famous plumb signage. A sign that would be removed during the property's expansion of the casino to the sidewalk. The image, shared this week by @PixVegas777, isn’t the most visually appealing property on the strip during its time but its an important building block in the evolution that made the Flamingo Fabulous. News 5k for 5k+ wsbgvegas.com

Random Vegas The first Vegas resort to have topless showgirls was The Dunes. (@ POVblog) Twitpic of the week A single, solitary sultan, standing astride on top of a roof, hands on hips, somehow intimating that he has a large cock. That last part may be my own inferiation but lets not open that can of worms or acknowledge the fact that I may have just made up a word. Regardless, this marquee was a bad ass monument to a remarkable gambling den. The Dunes would later replace said sultan with the iconic turret sign. The sultan was then relocated to the golf course on property, near the freeway exit until it had an electrical fire destroy it beyond repair. Which is a shame. How cool would the sultan be at the Neon Museum. We, we can only daydream about what could have been. Thanks to @summacorp for sharing a picture that inspired a monologue. News MGM/Cosmopolitan Deal Flamingo for Sale Mirage News

Random Vegas The iconic Barbary Coast signage designed by Buzz Leming featured Tiffany-style glass, a burgundy and gold color scheme and a 19th century-style lettering that is known as "Barbary Coast Block" (Neon Museum) Twitpic of the week The Mirage Volcano. It’s time to enjoy it while we still have it. As sad as it can be, change is the only constant in Las Vegas. We’ve lost some legends along the way. The Sands, the Stardust, the Dunes were all lost in favor of progress, some better than others. The most concerning point is that those that were creative enough to evolve Vegas into the place we know it as don’t appear to be around anymore, except Derek Stevens. That guy gets it. But this monologue is not about that, its about the signature attraction that kicked off a revolution in Vegas, The Mirage Volcano. She will forever have a special place in my heart. Thank you @vegasjaydubs for an epic picture of a game changer in the Vegas market. Cheers to you Mirage Volcano. Thanks for the memories. You will not be forgotten. News Palms Returns Palms Players Club Card

Random Vegas In 1999, the Stardust signed a 10-year deal with Wayne Newton for a reported $25 m per year, the largest entertainment contract in Vegas history at the time. But after 5 ½ years Newton ended his run and was replaced by George Carlin in April 2005 Twitpic of the week I’ll admit it, this is the first Twitpic of the week that I’m not 100% sure where this is located. My educated guess is the Stardust but my experiences with her were so limited. Still, she seems to have the same level of elegance and tackiness as the legend. Thanks to @VitalVegas, we got to thoroughly reflect on the strips past and present. News Fremont Expansion Diva-Adele NFL Draft Transportation Options Arts District Beer Crawl

Random Vegas In France, the movie “the Hangover” was given the title “Very Bad Trip”. In Spanish-speaking countries, it was called “What Happened Yesterday” (@VitalVegas) Twitpic of the week A moment in time capture by @_GrandPaD’s father in 1964 featuring the Stardust, a legend in her prime. Still sporting the original road marquee as well as the properties original frontage. Adding to the glamor is a parking lot full of vintage vehicles. We’ll, back then they weren't vintage but you know what we mean. It’s a great photo of a great place in the sun. News 360VV11 Pay to Play

Random Vegas Private dances at Vegas strip clubs require the dancer to always keep one foot on the floor, preventing straddling, dry humping, and other erotic positions. (@kinziroze) Twitpic of the week Its about to happen again. An icon of Las Vegas signage will be going away, making the strip a sadder place. Of course we are talking about the Mirage volcano, expected to be destroyed to make way for the Hard Rock Brand. In order to bring something even more iconic, the Dunes had to go. Most lamented of which is the beautiful turret signage. Without a doubt, the #1 sign I wish I’d seen, shared here by @Las_when. Supplementing that view was the ability to enjoy some drinks at the Top o the Dunes complete with a unique perspective of that marquee. But Vegas can’t and won’t allow nostalgia to prevent progress. In the Dunes case, we lost the property to an even bigger marquee attraction, the Fountains of Bellagio. Rumor is Hard Rock has plans to build a guitar hotel as they have at other locations around the country. Will this be an upgrade from the volcano? Only time will tell. News Downtown Rocks 2022

Random Vegas The Mirage hotel’s gold windows get their color from actual gold dust used in the tinting process. Twitpic of the week An easy way to get my attention is to share a picture of one of Las Vegas’ legendary resorts under construction, like the one shared by @las_when of NYNY in the early stages of construction. I’ve no handyman skills so construction or renovation of any kind is magical to me. Watching Vegas resorts evolve and develop their footprint always makes me smile as well as showcases how far we’ve come and how uncreative properties like Resorts World and Virgin are, little more than simply buildings with casinos inside, devoid of any personality. Thankfully we have photography to document Vegas’ evolution into the number 1 tourist destination in America. News F1 Vegas

Random Vegas In the late 40s, ownership of the Flamingo saved 30 cats marked for euthanization and gave them a home and a job Not only did they kill the mice and rats at the Flamingo but overachieved by taking care of them in the surrounding area as well. Eager to show off what a good job they were doing, the cats would often bring the remains of their prey to Flamingo staff who would then have to quickly hide the remains, so guests didn't see. So valued were their services that they learned they would receive leftovers from elaborate meals at the property if they simply visited the back door to the kitchen Twitpic of the week It’s a dream like image of a property that lives up to the Hype. Circa fully light up and reflecting off a puddle, symbolizing the Stevens group domination of the Downtown market. Not to be forgot is the reflection of the Golden Gate, the oldest property on Fremont St. It’s hard to come up with the proper way to say this is beautiful but it is and so much more. You’ve got to see @goldengatevegas photo and this week’s winner. 360VV11 RSVP