E-424: Lava Lamp

 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.  @maverickheli captures 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

E-423: Black Religion

 

• 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 

E-422: The Good Stuff

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

E-421: Neeeeeerow

 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

E-420: Clap Worthy

 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

E-419: Ben Long

 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

E-418: Puppy Power

 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

E-417: Sobertober

 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

E-416: Recreational Crack Smoker

 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

E-415: Rand McNally

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