Las Vegas Connection

BY BART TORRES 
 

June 29, 2009

Las Vegas Plans an Electrifying 4^th of July Weekend

Visitors coming up to Vegas for Independence Day will find plenty to keep themselves busy.  As part of their “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” extravaganza, downtown’s Fremont Street Experience will present their second annual free “American Pie 4^th of July” celebration with top entertainment including Janis Joplin’s Original Band Big Brother and The Holding Company performing from 9-11 p.m. on the 3^rd Street Stage on Friday, July 3 and The Grass Roots taking over from 9-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 on the 1st Street Stage. Other top bands begin performing as early as 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 8-11 on Sunday, July 5. The weekend event will include a spectacular virtual fireworks show on the Viva Vision canopy and various downtown properties will open their outdoor patios and dish up mouth-watering BBQ favorites. Another patriotic evening takes over the Mandalay Bay Beach stage on the 4^th of July with a fantastic fireworks show at 9 p.m. followed by a concert featuring the Mystic Roots Band (MRB). Admission is a reasonable $20 per person with a limit of eight tickets per person. For reservations, call (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. All Station Casinos will set their fireworks shows off simultaneously on the 4^th so just look up in the sky and you will no doubt see some great illuminations no matter where you are. A free pyrotechnic show will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton after dark. On July 4 at 7:30 p.m., the Eldorado Casino out in Henderson will put on a fireworks display atop the parking garage. Adult admission is just $5 or use 4,000 Prime Rewards points. Kids under 3 and parking are free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The rockets will blare at the M Resort where they will be having their free Freedom Fireworks spectacular on July 4 and Old-Fashioned Food Fare. The doors open at 7 p.m. with the fireworks getting underway at 9:15. In honor of the 4^th, the El Cortez will be passing out free White Castle Burgers to their Club Cortez members from noon to 6 p.m.

Patriotic Blood Drive Sponsored by The Rampart, JW Marriott and United Blood Services

The Rampart Casino has partnered up with the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa and United Blood Services to conduct a blood drive on July 4 and 5 at the Marriott’s Marquis Ballroom between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Anyone donating will receive a complimentary buffet and a free gift plus a free 30-minute golf swing diagnosis from GolfTec. To make an appointment, visit www.bloodhero.com and enter the sponsor code: “Rampart.” Walk-ins are also accepted and welcome.  

FIRST Food & Bar Opens at The Shoppes Inside The Palazzo

A new eatery, FIRST Food & Bar, a trendy, comfortable restaurant and lounge at The Shoppes at the Palazzo is now serving affordable breakfast, lunch, dinner and all-night fare. A few of their signature dishes include the “First Original” Mini Burgers, Lollipop Buffalo Wings and Lobster Rolls. Among the libations you will find are a unique Cucumber Gimlet and Cotton Candy Kiss. The average dinner check is only $22. No matter what time you want to eat, FIRST Food & Bar, located on the second floor of the resort next to Barneys, is open pretty much 24/7.  Sunday-Wednesday they serve from 7 a.m. until 4 a.m. and Thursday-Saturday between 7 a.m. and 6 a.m.

LV Hilton has Tickets on Sale for “Sgt. Pepper Live” Featuring Cheap Trick

Rock ‘n’ roll history will be made at the Las Vegas Hilton with an exclusive engagement of “Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick September 13-15, 17-19 and 21-23 in a Bill Edwards Presents, Inc. production. Tickets are now on sale for $65, $80 and $95 plus tax and fees. For reservations, call, (800) 222-5361. You may also order tickets by logging on to www.lvhilton.com, through www.ticketmaster.com or www.vegas.com

Three-Bedroom Duplex Apartment at Wynn’s Encore

Hey big spender, got a few bucks allocated for some elegant digs?  Then reserve one of the opulent Three- Bedroom Duplex Apartments at Wynn’s Encore. Measuring nearly 6,000 square-feet, the two-story apartments comes with 7 flat-panel TV’s, including “pop-up” ones in the bedrooms, a 70-inch TV in the living room and one in all of the three bathrooms. Other frills you will find are a butler’s pantry with fridge and fully stocked bar, an elevator, wet bar, game room and massage room complete with a treadmill. You even have access to a separate check-in area.  These rooms are normally offered only to high-rollers, but with the economy in the state it is in right now they are being made available to anyone who has the $3,500 (midweek) or $5,000 (weekends) per night to shell out. For information, call (877) 321-9966.

Take Advantage of July Gaming Promotions at Cannery Casino & Hotel

It seems like a majority of the resorts in town have fallen off on the monthly promotions for their club members. Probably not a good idea in this tough economy, at any rate, there are some decent ones being offered at the Cannery Casino & Hotel beginning with their California Dreamin’ CCR Swipe & Win. This giveaway begins Wednesday July 1 and continues through July 30. C.A.N members can swipe their club cards for a chance to win up to $10,000. The first swipe is free and additional swipes are given for every 50 base points earned. Every swipe is a guaranteed winner. Drawings take place at 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in July. Coming up on Mondays, July 6, 13, 20 and 27 is the resort’s “Trinkets of Treasure” giveaways. C.A.N members earning 999 base points during the same day will receive one FREE “Trinket of Treasure” plus a cash prize. Winners can take home a share of $10,000 in cash each day of the promotion. Everyone will win up to $1,000. Players may trade in their $5 cash prize for $10 in FREE play. There is a limit of one trinket and one cash prize per day. Trinket of Treasure” make-up days will be July 8, 15, 22 and 29. Check with the club booth for complete details.

MGM’s City Center on Schedule for Fall Opening

Construction is going ahead as planned on the mega MGM CityCenter that is said to be on schedule and expects to open in the fall. Two of the properties are already taking reservations for their proposed openings. The non-gaming 57-story Vdara Hotel and Spa adds another 1,495 suites to the Strip inventory, all measuring from 500 to 1,650-square feet. Another important bit of information to take note of- this is a completely non-smoking resort. Anticipating an October 1 opening, rates will start at $199 per night and top out around $400 for a Panoramic suite. Also be prepared to cough up an additional expense of a daily $15 resort fee. For reservations, call (866) 745-7767. Connected to Vdara will be the 4,004 room, including 568 suites, Aria Resort and Casino which expects a December 16 debut. A 1,800-seat theater will feature a Cirque du Soleil Elvis Presley production. A stay at Aria will set you back about $179 per night for the most inexpensive room. For more information, call (866) 359-7757.

Mandalay Bay Offers “Dive with Sharks” at the Shark Reef Aquarium

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience check out the “Dive with the Sharks” adventure now being offered at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium. The four-hour dive begins at 3 p.m. where you will take the plunge and be surrounded by more than 30 sharks in a 1.3-million-gallon tank. Participants must be guests of Mandalay Bay and THEHotel and must present verification that they are certified divers. For safety concerns, a guide will be beside them during the dive. There is a limit of two divers on just one dive per day. To remember the experience, a video will be provided. Guests can bring up to four observers to watch from an area outside the tank. The price is $650 for a single diver or $1,000 for two people booking together. For more information and reservations, call (702) 632-4555.

Vinnie Favorito in the Deal for Rio’s World Series Of Poker Main Event Tournament

Comedian and the master of celebrity roasters Vinnie Favorito will be bringing his poker face as he joins 6,000 card sharks at the Rio on July 6 where he s taking a seat in the World Series of Poker Main Event. Vinnie, no stranger to a poker room is playing in his third WSOP tournament. The public is invited to watch all the poker action. During his time away from the tables, you can catch Favorito at the intimate 220-seat Bugsy’s Cabaret inside the Flamingo nightly at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.95 and $59.95 plus tax and handling fees. For reservations, call (702) 733-3333.

Riviera Signs Charo and Illusionist Scarlett as Headliners

A dominance of female headliners are taking over the Riviera in the next couple of weeks with the announcement in that illusionist “Scarlett and Her Seductive Ladies of Magic” will begin an extended engagement in the Versailles Theatre on Wednesday, July 1. Performances are 10 p.m. nightly (dark Friday) with tickets available for $44.55 and $53.64. Her sexy backup girls will spice up the show by going topless. For reservations, call (702) 794-9433. Opening Friday, July 10 is Charo in Concert: A Musical Sensation. The international “cuchi-cuchi girl”has performed for many years in Vegas but this is her first stab as a regular in a showroom. The curtain goes up on the family-friendly show Wednesday-Monday at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are priced at $49.95, $59.95 and $69.95. For advanced reservations, call ((877) 892-7469.

Check with resorts for all current offers published. Hotels have all rights and cancel or modify at anytime. On your drive up to Vegas tune your radio to the Highway Stations FM 98 & 99 for my up-to-date Las Vegas reports.
GOOD LUCK!