E-385: Mirage Mourning

 Random Vegas

58% of restaurant and hotel employees intend to quit their jobs by the end of 2021 (@VitalVegas)

Twitpic of the week

A beautiful picture of a beautiful property.  Balconies and roof top pools were both things you couldn’t do successfully in Vegas.  Cosmopolitan proved that wrong.  At 4.4 acres, it’s the best use of available space in Vegas history and offers one of the best views of strip for people to enjoy via your balcony.  Again, @MaverickHeli gives us a unique perspective as only they can.  It makes one wonder if the person taking all the pictures is a brilliant photographer or if the views are just that great.  Don’t know, super care.

News

• Mirage Sold
• Las Vegas Superbowl
• Homeless Attack

E-384: Legged and Dangerous

 Random Vegas

Dancing dealers at one popular Fremont street casino bring home upwards of $1800 in tips a week, twice what regular dealers make. (@LasVegasLocally)

Twitpic of the week

If you can’t be on the strip at least you get a great view of it.  @MaverickHeli gives us a gods view of the Stratosphere tower.  Well, maybe not a gods view considering you can get a view like this via apple maps.  Either way, it’s a great pic because it showcases all the stuff properties make a concerted effort to hide from guest’s view.  Personally, I’m attracted to said views because its like stepping behind the scenes.  I really enjoy seeing behind the magic.

News

• Adele Residency
• ABBA Voyage
• Bally’s Shooting
• I-15 expansion
• Miracle Mile Renovation
• Emmitt’s Las Vegas
• new field bet options

E-383: Sticky Floors & Vomit Aromas

 Random Vegas

In Bulgaria, if your palms itch, it's considered bad luck and gambling should be avoided. In Serbia, it's the opposite. Itchy hands means luck is on your side, expect a win. (Vital Vegas)

Twitpic of the week

It’s a shame that the Neon Museum didn’t rescue this part of Vegas history and repurpose it like it did the La Concha main lobby, now the main lobby to the Neon Boneyard.  It was right up there with the Flamingo marquee as the best neon sign on the strip.  The only thing that would have made it better was if it was animated.  It’s hard to moan about the lost of this theming when you consider the Cromwell is a vast improvement.  Today, its been replaced by a beautiful view of the strip while dining at Giada’s.  Thank you @VitalVegas for the blast from the not so distant past.

News

• Jonas Brothers Restaurant
• Red Rock Robbed
• Future of Resort Fees
• New Pins at BattleBorn
• Reclining Connected Forms

E-382: Boarder Wars

Random Vegas

Giant tall slot machines generate 23% more revenue than the regular kind, per gaming professional (Vital Vegas) 

Twitpic of the week 

Never has the metaphor “through the looking glass” been more appropriately applied to Vegas than it is in this week’s winner, brought to us by @Fox5vegas.  In addition to the massive amounts of “only in Vegas” experiences, it also has many things you can find elsewhere. But here, they are slightly askew with some special Vegas magic.  Case and point, Mon Ami Gabi and their outdoor dining overlooking the strip and featuring an epic spot to view the fountains of Bellagio.  Whatever it is, it's more special in Vegas including the reflection of a neon sign in a puddle. 

News

New Wynn Leadership

Best Places to live

More Pedestrian Bridges

E-381: Factualness

 Random Vegas

• When Jay Sarno would play craps downtown at the Horseshoe, Ted Binion, casino manager at the time, would deal the game himself.  It was the only way the game would move as fast as Sarno liked it.  He didn’t want the dice to stop rolling.
• Fun fact - He always played the pass line even though the odds are better on the don’t pass, Sarno said he didn’t like to bet on failure.

Twitpic of the week

Two awesome things in the photo.  First, it’s a picture of Caesars early on in its construction and it is wicked to see, not only the progress on the project but how much undeveloped land there is beyond the site.  It may not look like it today but Vegas really was an oasis in the middle of the desert.  Second, the photo was taken from a room at the Dunes.  Two things that together make me smile when I look at this picture shared by @Summacorp

News

• Mirage for Sale
• Picasso Sale
• Palms Update

E-380: Yu So Shellfish

Random Vegas

98% of MGM Resorts salaried employees got the covid vaccine by the Oct 15^th deadline.  Only 90 employees nationwide decided to quit due to the mandate. (@LasVegasLocally)

Twitpic of the week

I love this picture but it isn’t inspiring monolog.  I think the only thing I miss at today’s Cromwell is Barbary Coasts exterior neon.  But I can’t lament about it when you consider what significant renovations did to it.  It’s definitely better off.  It may have remarkably more douches in it but for the most part they’re standing in line to get to the pool.  Hey, what do you know, the picture by @Las_when did inspire a monolog?

News

Made in Vegas Closes

EDC Issues

Fountainebleau Update

Free Downtown Parking

Venetian Locals Discounts

E-379: Coincidence Realization

Random Vegas

In 1971, the Silver Slipper became the first property on the strip to hire female dealers. (lvstriphistory.com) 

 

Twitpic of the week 

Before the giant rainbow signage we previously remember Fitzgeralds having, there was a sign that is remarkably similar to the sign it has today at The D.  I’m in no way insinuating that this sign inspired its current incarnation but in earnest.  This week’s picture from @VitalVegas is what caused this coincidence realization.  Gotta love those huge old sandwich board signs. 

News

Atomic Range

Durango, A Stations Casino

Riviera Frontage Sale

Caesars Inks Deal with Spiegelworld

Planet Hollywood to Neon Museum

E-378: Apropospriate

Random Vegas

• In July of 59, the New Frontier was the only casino in town who let their dealers grow mustaches, a fad at the time.  The property said they did it for two reasons 
• One, it made them look like gamblers 
• Two, they looked different from any other dealers in town   

Twitpic of the week 

He’s iconic.  Only Vegas could make a cowboy stay relevant by outlining him in neon.  Seeing Vegas Vicki resurrected at Circa to her original operating self only wets the pallet for Vic to return to motion.  However that is probably only slightly less likely than the Fremont Street Experience canopy being removed.  Regardless, this week we celebrate Vic via @las_vegas in all his neon glory. 

News

MGM Moves

Wynn Returns

Misleading Survey

E-377: Manneken Pissed

Random Vegas

In April of 1964, the Silver Slipper had its gambling closed on a dice cheating charge.  Gaming officials said that the slipper had been operating a crap game with “flat dice”, dice shaved on one side so that the winning combination of 6 and 1 did not come as often as it should, giving the house an extra percentage over the player 

 

Twitpic of the week 

The year is approximately 1972/73 and the original MGM Grand is almost complete.  It would go on to be one of the largest hotels, not just in Vegas but in the world with 2100 rooms.  After its 1980 fire in which 85 people died, it would become the safest hotel in the world.  Then in 1986 it was rebranded Bally’s and that brings us to today.  Rumor has it that another rebranding is on the horizon.  Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.  Thanks to @las_when for sharing the properties origins 

News

Vegas Costume Contest

Oyo options

Newton Returns

Beer Garden Tailgating

Station Past Posting

Cosmopolitan Mural

Manneken Pissed

Resort World Art Tour

Resorts World Building Wrap

E-376: Concuragement

 Random Vegas 

• In April of 1962, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of an $85,000 personal injury suit against the New Frontier 
• The suite was attempting to hold New Frontier liable for a fall the plaintiff had into a planter in the lobby 
• It was decided that the fall was a result of the plaintiff's intoxication and not the negligence of the resort 

 

Twitpic of the week 

In a world before color photos, I’ll bet things were even more grand when you saw Vegas in living color.  Not just the neon but everything.  A magical experience in a magical place.  Sadly virtually everything in this picture is gone.  No more Desert Inn, New Frontier, Landmark and Sahara is dead to us after their assault on free speech.  But that’s not what this monologue is about.  Its about this picture, shared by @TonyIllia.  Thank you, once again, for inspiring us. 

News

Cosmopolitan for Sale

Allegiant Vaccinations

Macao Concerns

Main St Opens with different casino

E-375: World Crawl

 Random Vegas 

An employee at Wynn Resorts desk stated that the company has received over 12,000 cancelations since the 2^nd mask policy was implemented (@svoth1) 

Twitpic of the week 

The Stardust, in all her motel glory.  It’s hard to imagine the casinos we know today as motels but that’s how they did it in the old days.  No property better showcased that than the Stardust shared by @GrandPaD.  Traditional architecture thought so little of it they nicknamed it the Painted Shed. That didn’t seem to impact its success. 

News

Boring excitement

Trump Bomb Scare

World Crawl Bar @Neonopolis

Game of Thrones Vegas

E-374: Handertucky

 Random Vegas 

Of the million dollars in fines levied so far in 2021 by the FAA, $112k are Vegas related.  7 of the 9 incidents involved passengers flying into Vegas.  Top violations include drinking alcohol not purchased from airline and not complying with the mask mandate.  Fines ranged from $9-$15k. 

 

Twitpic of the week 

Pretty much every building built since the Landmark topped out at 31 stories was built taller but that doesn’t diminish the feeling the Landmark exudes as a skyscraper.  Something about that pod at the top captures the imagination.  Sadly the casino at the top didn’t last long as gamblers like to get right into the action and didn’t see the point in making the trip to the top.  So they turned it into suites.  Considering its fate, imploded to make way for more parking for the Las Vegas Convention Center, its apropos that existing parking is featured prominently in this week’s winner, brought to you by @PixVegas777 

News

Bally’s Dining Options

Rise Vegas

Allegiant Stadium Outage

New BattleBorn Pins

E-373: Podcasting Power

 

Random Vegas 

The original Vegas Vicki was a hostess role at the Pioneer Club created in the early 60s, two decades before the famous neon sign of the same name.  (vintagelasvegas.com) 

Twitpic of the week 

She was a shithole at the end, there is no debating that but the memories Imperial Palace gave so many is invaluable.  Memories of low limit gaming tables, dealertainers and movie quality theming come flooding back when you see the photo shared by @UCVegas.  Just like most properties we’ve lost along the way they live on in the recollections of time past 

News

Eight Lounge

Concert Vaccinations

Bally’s Rebranding