AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Newkirk's Notes - comments on Las Vegas from AccessVegas.Com publisher Ted Newkirk:

Hello from Las Vegas! Just a reminder that we are publishing twice a week through the end of the year. We are getting swamped with New Year's Eve announcements, 2005 concert listings, and more. In fact, a number of hot concert listings just missed this deadline so stay tuned to our next newsletter!

Merry Christmas From Las Vegas - I have a yearly tradition of posting photos from the famed Bellagio Resort Botanical Gardens and their amazing holiday display here in Las Vegas. I didn't think I'd make deadline this year, so we posted links to previous years photos in our last issue.

However, I made it over and got some great shots posted at Bellagio Gardens Christmas 2004! This year especially, the photos don't it justice. Snow fell from the ceiling onto the display and the main tree was surrounded by an amazing choreographed water display. For those wondering, this display is virtually all live plants. The trees, the flowers ... everything. Another great reason to visit Las Vegas during the holiday season.

Many of you (record numbers) took advantage of the fact that any photo in our gallery can be sent as a free e-card and it's still not too late to let someone know you are thinking of them during the season!

See the Grand Canyon in a Jet Helicopter! For years Maverick Helicopters has been providing a true VIP Helicopter experience of the Grand Canyon. We do things a little different than any other helicopter Company. We give you an adventure of a lifetime and not just another tour of the Grand Canyon. Las Vegas Strip tours plus Helicopter Weddings also available!

New Year's Eve Updates - More info added to New Year's Event Calendar: Las Vegas kicks off our one hundred year centennial this New Year's Eve with a $600,000 fireworks show taking place up and down the entire Las Vegas Strip! Related links and information:

• Resort and Hotel Parties, Balls, Events, Bashes and Fireworks
• New Year's Eve Streaming Video
• New Year's Eve Photos
• Hotel Tips To Find Discount and Best Room Rates On New Year's Eve
• General Tips: Location, Weather, Crowds, Parking, and Eating
• Party Tips For The Street Party: Boozing, Bathrooms, Police, and Flashing

VIP Club Parties For New Year's Eve

• Body English
• Pimp 'n Ho Presents Rubber - The 2005 Blast Off Party
• Ghostbar
• Tabu
• Rain
• MIX
• Light
• Krave - (alternative unisex club)
• ICE - As seen on Spike TV's The Club

Cirque du Soleil's KA - Dubbed "The Most Expensive Show In Modern History" by Las Vegas entertainment writer Mike Weatherford, KA by Cirque du Soleil has opened to rave reviews. Related links:

• KA - Cirque Du Soleil Show and Ticket Info
• KA - Cirque Du Soleil Picture Gallery
• Cirque Tops Itself (newspaper article)
• Balancing Act - Ka director finds creative spark, challenge by working on several projects at once (newspaper article)

Gambling Talk: Video Slots - Diamond Cinema - Bogart and Bergman - with Victor H. Royer. Rick's Cafe American, the intrigue, the love, the immortal song "As Time Goes By". Here's looking at you, kid. Once again IGT brings back the nostalgia of the silver screen, in this installment in the Diamond Cinema series of video slots. This week, click to learn all about Video Slots - Diamond Cinema - Bogart and Bergman.

"How Can You Live Here" - is a common question I get during our blazing hot summers from visitors. Well ... much of the U.S. is experiencing sub-freezing and abnormally cold weather right now. I'm getting cold just watching it on TV! As that bone-crushing painful chill rips through you, think about how you'd trade it for a 105 degree (F) day sipping a cocktail around a resort swimming pool in Las Vegas. Maybe now is a good time to book a Spring trip to see us.

Speaking of living in Las Vegas ...

Vegas Going Condo Crazy - As we reported here recently, high rise condo development is front and center here in Las Vegas now. At first, places like Park Towers and Turnberry were developed. Not wanting to miss out, major gaming companies ranging from MGM Mirage to Hard Rock have jumped on this trend.

Why? High rise living targets the upscale crowd. The people that casinos crave to spend money on gambling, fine dining, and high-end shopping. What better way to attract these people than to sell them a condo right on the casino property!

Upscale visitors aren't the only group target for this new (to Las Vegas) form of living. With a serious water shortage, condo living makes sense because of shared grounds (instead of every person watering a bunch of grass and plants in their yard). Also, some proposed condos downtown and within a 2-3 mile radius of The Strip are aimed at younger professionals and gaming employees with entry level prices as low as about $150,000.

Related links:

• Looking Up - Developers wonder about depth of local high-rise condo market
• CityCenter at center stage for Strip - Insiders, analysts say MGM Mirage's bold new project is a sign of what's to come in LV
• Las Vegas Manhattanization could take toll on streets
• Condos In Las Vegas Trump Tower Sell Faster Than Expected
• The Las Vegas of the future MGM Mirage's $4 billion CityCenter project says several things about Las Vegas
• Las Vegas' new bet: Condos

Get That Ipod In Vegas - With the weak dollar, we know that many of our international visitors are taking advantage of the cheap prices here in the US on electronics. It just so happens that Mark Jacobs (a good friend of this newsletter) works at Fry's Discount Electronics, which is just about a mile south of Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. They really do have the best prices. That is where we shop for the AccessVegas.com office computers and electronics.

Mark knows that it is a pain to run around trying to fit electronics buying into your vacation so he's made a nice gesture to our readers: Give him a call at 702-321-2169 when you get here or email at msj311@aol.com before your visit, and tell him what you need. He'll not only tell you the price, but can arrange to set aside what you need at the store so you can hop a quick cab, grab it, and be back to your vacation in minutes. Thanks Mark for doing this for our readers!

Airport Parking Reservations for All US Airports - You know how it is to get to the airport and hunt for parking. Especially during peak times like the holidays. Airport Parking Reservations fixes that problem. You can reserve your parking online, guaranteed and often at a discount. I love this concept! One less thing to worry about when you travel. Check out Airport Parking Reservations.

VegasTalk Radio Show - The only Internet Radio Variety Show from Las Vegas about Las Vegas! The weekly variety and entertainment show is archived online at the VegasTalk Radio website. If you are visiting soon, or you just love Las Vegas, listen live on Fridays at 9 AM Pacific time or to the archives available 24/7.

Las Vegas Trip Report Giveaway - The winning doesn't have to stop when you get home! Tell your newsletter friends and readers here about your trip in our forums and be automatically entered to win a $25 casino chip for your next visit (what a great souvenir)! Click to our Las Vegas Trip Report Giveaway page. Note: We'll award past winners in a few days.

Link To Us! - Have a home page, web page, or blog? Link to us, and give yourself and your friends a quick link to find us from your site. Simply link to http://www.accessvegas.com and name the link Access Vegas!

Rewind - What you may have missed last issue:

• New Show: Aussie Angels
• NASCAR Las Vegas Nextel Cup Race 2005 Packages Available!
• Mariah Carey To Open Pure Nightclub On New Year's Eve
• Your Real Story = Free Trip To Las Vegas
• Gambling Talk: Blackjack Deals and Traps

More ... News - Concerts - Events ... Scroll Down!

More Las Vegas News - Concerts - Events

Vegas Comments and Questions? Post to our message boards and get great advice from people who have been here and done it. And don't forget our comprehensive Las Vegas Frequently Asked Questions area.

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.

Live From Las Vegas,

Ted Newkirk

CEO
Senior Content Editor
http://www.accessvegas.com

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All contents copyright 2004 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

December 15, 2004 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us

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