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Archive for April, 2008

April 23, 2008

Access Vegas Insider Vibe - April 23, 2008

April 23rd 2008 Posted to Las Vegas News

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

Book Online or over the phone! Call 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Our good friend Kimo Akane is broadcasting live from Las Vegas this coming week on radio station Hawaiian 105 KINE. Kimo is Hawaii’s foremost Vegas expert! Besides his broadcast radio duties, he also publishes Kimo’s Vegas both online and in a Honolulu newspaper column. The entire program will be from Las Vegas, and Vegas oriented.

Kimo’s show will stream live at http://hawaiian105.com this coming week on April 30, May 1, and May 2! Since this newsletter is read in just about every time zone around the world, you’ll have to do your own calculations on when to listen in your area. I’ll give a few location times to help you calculate your local time to listen:

  • USA Pacific Time: 9 AM - Noon (Las Vegas, Los Angeles)
  • USA Eastern Time: Noon - 3 PM (New York, Miami)
  • London: 5 - 8 PM
  • Japan: 1 - 4 AM (the following day)
  • Hong Kong Midnight - 3 AM (the following day)
  • Sydney: 2 - 5 AM (the following day)
  • Moscow: 8 PM - 11 PM

We don’t have Osmonds tickets yet for their fall run at Harrah’s. I’ll let you know when we do.

Mark was out last week, soaking up the 85 degree (F) sunshine and taking in two of the great Las Vegas Strip vistas: Stratosphere Tower and Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. Fortunately, he took plenty of photos so you can enjoy it virtually wherever in the world you are:

Click To View Entire
Las Vegas Vistas April 2008 Photo Set

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

Featured Review:
Toxic Audio Explained - It’s Voice, And All Voice

by DW Grant

“Toxic Audio,” what the heck is that?

It’s one of best small shows in Vegas; and at half the price its just as much fun as The Blue Man Group, moves with just as much energy as Gans or Newton, and delivers just as many laughs as a night out with the Second City comedy troupe.

So, what is it? It’s Voice, and all voice. Not a sound comes from the stage that isn’t produced by someone’s voice. Drums, guitars, sax, bass, and some mysterious musical modulations come out of the mouths and noses of these performers with such amazing clarity you can then understand why the promotional icon is a guy with a microphone for a head.

It’s five singers with no back up band or recorded tracks pumping out “Autumn Leaves” in English, French, German, Korean, Scat, and Pig Latin. Its Paul Sperrazza, a “human beat box,” tearing up the audience like a mix of Jim Carey, Jerry Lewis, and that guy who almost won American Idol last year. It’s also Rene Ruiz, the founder of the group, whose credits include “Forever Plaid,” delivering a unforgettable show to a cheering audience.

Click to Read Entire Toxic Audio Las Vegas Review…

Featured Review:
La Cage Las Vegas - Believe It When You See It!

by Nicole “Niko” Acevedo

Believe it when you see it! There’s no need to go back in time to experience the legendary Diana Ross and sophisticated Judy Garland, and you don’t have to squint your eyes to witness the dance moves of Michael Jackson and Britney Spears in large overcrowded stadiums. Why not intimately see them all on the same evening at the snazzy zebra-striped Mardi Gras Pavilion of Vegas’ one and only Riviera Hotel & Casino?

Presented by stunning female impersonators of famous celebrity superstars such as Madonna, Celine Dion, Cher, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, Judy Garland, and the mega-diva Diana Ross, you will be so enthralled by their performances that you will forget that they are in fact merely impersonating! When “Celine Dion” performed “My Heart Will Go On”, her passionate facial expressions and mannerisms were flawlessly identical and encompassed a witty charm. For a moment I was so excited to catch one of her final Las Vegas performances at Caesar’s Palace until of course I realized Bette Midler had already replaced the show.

Click to Read Entire La Cage Las Vegas Review…

Stomp Out Loud Sweeps Into its Second Year at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino - STOMP OUT LOUD, the high-energy production from the creators of the international sensation STOMP, celebrates its first anniversary at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on April 17, 2008. (Tickets) Named one of Las Vegas’ Top Ten Shows of 2007 by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, STOMP OUT LOUD has proven to be at the forefront of Las Vegas entertainment. This engaging one-of-a-kind production has captured the hearts and minds of Las Vegas locals and tourists alike. Celebrities such as Tommy Lee, Cedric the Entertainer, David Hasselhoff, Sugar Ray Leonard, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have all been spotted taking in this thrilling spectacle. Click to Read The Full Story … Mindy Moo Returns To ‘Crazy Girls’ After Yearlong Break - Lifelong Las Vegan loves dancing as a showgirl in ‘Las Vegas’ Sexiest Revue’ at Riv. Mindy Drake is among a very elite group who left “Crazy Girls” (Tickets) and returned to perform after they find out the proverbial saying “the grass is greener on the other side” isn’t true. The only “Crazy Girl” who was born and raised in Las Vegas and still lives at home with her parents attends UNLV to pursue her degree in psychology. At a perfect 5′6″ and 115 pounds she’s svelte on stage with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania - We Love Our Readers!

Hi Ted,I”m very happy to be updated with your news letter. I’m a French Canadian woman from the city of Repentigny, Quebec Province, just next city from Charlemagne, where Celine Dion was born. I’m wondering about the webcam from Imperial Palace Hotel. I used to watch them very often to see people walking the sidewalk and also when I’m at Vegas, I used to call my family and they can watch me live. I can’t see them anymore, what appended. Do you think that Imperial Palace will disappear soon? Is there any other webcam to see, in the area? It gives me an idea how to pack my suitcase when I plan to go to Vegas.Sorry about my writing. You have a very easy way to make me understand you. I’m planning to be in your area at the end of September so I will be very attentive to your next news letters.

Keep going, you do a great job Ted, also your assistant editor Amy Rayner-Cooley and your news researcher Mark Jacobs.

Monique Lavigne

Ted Responds:

Thanks for the great note! We have many Canadian (and French Canadian) readers and appreciate your love and visits to our city. The IP isn’t going anywhere soon. However, Harrah’s now owns it and they do things differently. We are going to revamp our webcam page and try to find the best ones that work all the time so you can say hello to people back home.

No promises (since we don’t control the cameras… we just link to them), but we are working on it. In the meantime, try the Traffic Department at http://www.nvfast.org/trafficcameras.html which has a few cameras on the Las Vegas Strip.

Thanks for telling everyone you know about our newsletter. We aren’t owned by a big TV station. We are just a handful of long-time Las Vegas locals who are working hard to keep everyone informed and we need readers to spread the word!

Dear Ted,I have been receiving your newsletter for about 6 months and find it to be the most informative of any in Las Vegas. So pleased with it that all others have been canceled. Planning a trip in early July and was wondering if LV does any fireworks over the 4th holiday.Kathy
Chicago, IL

Ted Responds:

Historically, Stratosphere (and sometimes Hilton) does a show. Many other displays happen around the “normal” parts of Las Vegas (where everybody lives).

We usually don’t get the info until 10-14 days in advance of July 4. But if history is any indication, you’ll be able to enjoy fireworks on the Las Vegas Strip on July 4.

Thanks for the great feedback. We work very hard at what we do, so nice words are appreciated.

I look forward to reading your newsletter but last week you had a big photo of a desecrated corpse from that bodies display thing. That is a sick and twisted exhibit. Corpses belong in the ground not as entertainment. I lost a lot of respect for you Ted. That was a bad call. Truly offensive. Ron

Editors Note: This is in reference to the Bodies - The Exhibition review that ran in our April 2, 2008 Insider Vibe Issue

Ted Responds:

I do agree that not everyone wants to see a medical display. I myself could never be a doctor because that kind of stuff makes me a little squeamish.

However, I do want to emphasize that this is an educational/medical display. Area schools hold trips to view the exhibit and parts of the exhibit show the difference between healthy organs and of those who abuse themselves in various ways.

I do appreciate the input, and we’ll stick to photos of Las Vegas Showgirls and Chippendales performers in the future. We’ve never had a complaint about that!

Thanks for the input,

More Las Vegas News - Concerts - Events

Coming Hot Holidays - The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 11
  • Victoria Day, Canada May 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 15
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Yom Kippur October 9
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 - Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 - January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12

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!

RSS Feed - We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

For comments or questions regarding our content or this newsletter write us at allvegastv@aol.com.New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

April 23, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

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April 16, 2008

Access Vegas Insider Vibe - April 16, 2008

April 16th 2008 Posted to Las Vegas News

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

Book Online or over the phone! Call 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! Hopefully everyone’s mood is rebounding from tax day (US) on April 15. For those of you getting a refund, it is still a pain to file. For those like me who cut quarterly checks… let’s just say that an overhaul of the tax system sounds good to me. But on to Las Vegas…

Media Queen Rachael Ray of Food Network fame was in town this past week filming for her Rachael’s Vacation show. Food Network hit Las Vegas at OriginIndia Restaurant and Bar on Paradise Road. Rachael Ray stopped by to film her new show “Rachael’s Vacation”. Owners Raja Majid and Alena Olevic were pleasantly surprised to meet the hostess and were greeted by Mrs. Ray with huge smiles and hand shakes.

Every few minutes there were bursts of laughter as Mrs. Ray charmed the staff. Rachael talked about Origin India’s prominence as a local favorite and the beautiful presentation of the food. Mrs. Olevic and Mr. Majid were thrilled that she enjoyed the OriginIndia experience. Click to read more and see extra event photos…


From left to right: Gopi (Tandoori Chef), Vivek (Sou Chef), Rachael Ray and Bhuwan Bhatt (Executive Chef) posed for a photo after the shoot in the OriginIndia kitchen

One of the more common questions we get is “When will a movie or TV show be filming in Las Vegas… I want to see it.“ We probably answer this here in the newsletter a couple times each year and the answer is always the same: Rarely will a production let the public know about a shoot, and only when it is a scene or event that actually needs a crowd scene. For the most part, they don’t want the crowds and security hassles.

The best way to see a celeb while in town? Simply keep your eyes open! I saw Flavor Flav playing craps at the South Point a couple of weeks ago. I’ve previously noted playing craps next to Matt Sorum of Guns n’ Roses at Hard Rock. I happened to be getting something to eat at The Klondike and they started shooting Vegas Vacation.

I’ve seen more than a few movies and music videos (not to mention car commercials and similar) being shot downtown over the years. All of this just at random. Nothing I had been tipped off to or had any kind of VIP invite.

A few huge-name star use the back hallways and stay out of sight. However, plenty of pretty well-known names will just be gambling or eating or doing all the normal activities you do here with just a couple of friends. Looking and acting like normal people. So much that you might walk right by them and not recognize them unless you are keeping your eyes open!

National radio hosts Sean Hannity and Mark Levin are teaming up with country music legend Lee Greenwood for the 2008 Freedom Concert at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 8 p.m. This show benefits the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund which provides additional support to the children of America’s military heroes who have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Tickets are $35 and $25 and can be purchased at 702-284-7777.

P.S. If you dislike these radio hosts, hold the hate mail. We tell people about Las Vegas events and always put charitable events front and center regardless of cause (and including gay-friendly HIV/AIDS benefits in the past). In my nine years of doing this, you’d be hard pressed to guess my politics. This is about Vegas!

Binion’s new owners are bringing back the right, proper, and real rules for table games! The new owner TLC Casino Enterprises has changed the house rules for blackjack and craps. Blackjack now pays 3 to 2 on double deck and shoe games, and bettors can wager 10 times odds on craps with a $5.00 minimum bet. Limits also have been raised for most of the blackjack games.

Funny… a few years ago these rules were the norm. However, most casinos figured you were all stupid and reduced pay on a blackjack and lowered odds on craps. Now we just need to see the return of the famous Binion’s $2 (or $3 or $4 depending on the year) full steak dinner special and all will be right with the world!

After either years at The Mirage, Danny Gans will follow Steve Wynn up the street and be the new headliner at Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore. You can’t argue with the long-running success of a show like that. Danny Gans Tickets

Spamalot prepares to end the show’s Las Vegas run in mid-July. If this was one of your “we should see that… it sounds like fun” shows, waste no more time in getting your tickets: Monty Python’s Spamalot Las Vegas Tickets. You can also read our review of Spamalot.

Oh… speaking of Binion’s… Make sure to scroll down and read gaming writer Victor H. Royer’s article “Poker’s Big Gun”s. What a great look at some of the history of Las Vegas’ (and poker’s) biggest and most famous names.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

On Saturday, April 26, the “Oprah” show travels to Las Vegas for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime visit with legendary superstars Cher and Tina Turner. The episode will tape at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and feature interviews and exclusive performances as these legends come together to pull out all the stops for a true Vegas spectacular. “The Oprah Winfrey Show: Oprah, Cher and Tina in Vegas” is scheduled to premiere Thursday, May 8, 2008 (check local listings). Select tickets are available to the general public by visiting Oprah.com and clicking on “Be on the Show.”

Valentina Comes From Russia With Love For ‘Crazy Girls’ - Valentina Smirnova’s nickname is “Valusha” and hails from the Baltic Sea. “Valusha” moved to Las Vegas via San Francisco as a performer in “Crazy Girls” (Tickets) at the Riviera. She has been performing in “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Topless Revue” for a year-and-a-half now. The 5′ 8″ tall dark-haired beauty is a native of Kaliningrad, Russia where her parents still live. She models and does commercials. She said, “I bought my first car after winning $5,000 in the 2003 Miss Russia California Pageant. My first love is to dance but I also like to travel, socialize, sing and I enjoy all four seasons of the year. I love change, adventure, enthusiasm, interacting in large groups as opposed to one-on-one situations and I am a chameleon who can transform my appearance and nature to suit the environment.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Vegas Gifts to Remember for Mom and Dad - Spend the special day by bringing your parents to Las Vegas! This Mother’s Day, why not go beyond flowers? For Father’s Day, does dad really need another tie? Instead, surprise them with these indulgent spa experiences:

  • Show dad how much he’s appreciated with a Father’s Refresher at Spa Bellagio, a rejuvenating service featuring a custom massage and men’s facial. At Spa Monte Carlo, the Men’s Warrior Facial is packed with vitamins to reduce wrinkles while The Art of Shaving at Mandalay Place offers a Barber Spa for the ideal shave.
  • Treat mom to a relaxing Mother’s Makeover at Spa Bellagio, which includes an aromatherapy massage, full-body exfoliation, nourishing wrap and custom facial. At WET — The Spa and Salon at TI, the Youth Renewal Stone Facial uses warm and cool stones to ease tension and produce a youthful glow while the Sweet Red Rose Facial at The Spa at The Mirage uses hand-picked rose petals to leave skin velvety soft.

“Sugar” Shane Mosley & Zab “Super” Judah Go To War In Intriguing Welterweight Showdown Saturday, May 31 At Mandalay Bay Live On HBO Pay-Per-View - With everything riding on the line, the stakes will be high when “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Zab “Super” Judah square off in a welterweight showdown Saturday, May 31 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. (Tickets) Mosley vs. Judah: “High Stakes,” headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink, Tecate Beer, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. Click to Read The Full Story …

Fun in the Sun, Las Vegas Style - The heat of summer is almost here, but the pools of MGM MIRAGE are a sure bet for a cool escape. Dip into these latest ways to make a splash in Las Vegas:

  • Daylife is born this April as MGM Grand unveils WET REPUBLIC, an alluring 53,000-square-foot ultra pool combining an exclusive nightlife vibe with poolside pampering and relaxation. An adults-only mecca for discerning partygoers, the glitterati and celebrities, WET REPUBLIC will feature distinct experiences within a series of intimate spaces and will redefine poolside entertainment as the first ultra pool in the world’s sexiest city. Elite VIP service, high-end amenities and renowned entertainers will be the standard at WET REPUBLIC.
  • Already a crowd favorite, Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay now features the only climate-controlled poolside gaming on The Strip. Nearby, Moorea Beach Club continues to draw sunseekers by providing high-energy music in a luxurious setting.
  • A paradise fit for royalty, The Excalibur pool has doubled its size — adding two luxurious pools and 17 cabanas stocked with all the essentials to keep cool. Just steps away, Drenched offers the latest in causal poolside dining.
  • In just a year, Bare at The Mirage has made a big splash. The adult pool, known best for its European-style sun bathing and exclusive VIP service, has quickly become a must visit for celebrities ranging from Fergie to Leonardo DiCaprio. New for 2008, Bare features a delectable menu by California Pizza Kitchen.

Gambling Talk: Poker’s Big Guns - with Victor H. Royer. It was a Tuesday in October 1974. The place was the Horseshoe Club in downtown Las Vegas, in its heyday. The Horseshoe Club’s founder and owner, Benny Binion, was playing World Poker Champion Johnny Moss heads up in a pot limit five-card stud game. Benny Binion was one of the now legendary “Texas Bad Men of Poker.” He had run gambling games in Texas for some time, and had gotten into some hot water after, reportedly, killing some men with whom he had had dealings and who didn’t live up to Benny’s expectations (to put it mildly).

So, Benny headed west for Las Vegas, where gambling was legal and there were no such bothersome things like extradition treaties between the states for insignificant little things, like killin’ a weasely gamblin’ cheater. Click to Read Complete Article…

Members Mania - We Love Our Readers!

Note from Ted: This was a great personal story sent in by our readers. I’ve been looking for the time and place to run it. Spring is in the air and we actually have a “slow news week” (very rare). Enjoy this great retrospective!

We realize this won’t serve as a review for those looking to book a wedding, but its a story for those of us, who love the “new” Vegas, but enjoy remembering the “old” Vegas.

…Remembering our wedding and the Stardust

Here’s my Vegas wedding story…My fiance and I had been together for 8 years and were talking marriage. I had recently received a small settlement and decided after paying bills I would put a little aside for a vacation getaway. I woke up in the middle of the night, and it hit me…”What the hell, lets go to Vegas and get married.” The very next day I called my sister (she’s a Vegas NUT and has been going to Vegas for years) and needless to say she was ecstatic and we immediately started internet shopping for the perfect chapel for us. I needed inexpensive, simple, and quaint.

After an exhaustive search, we decided on the beloved Starlight Chapel at the Stardust Hotel and Casino. Because I’m 50 years old I was feeling a bit nostalgic with my choice. And what a wonderful choice it was. We booked the chapel that day and the very next day, a sweet young lady named Heather called me with all of the information and any extras we wanted. We booked a limousine for the 6 of us (myself and my fiance, my sister and her girlfriend, and my brother-in-law and his wife) to take us from Excalibur where we stayed to the Stardust to get married. Had I known that a year later, the Stardust would no longer be there…I would have booked our rooms there as well.

Before I go any further, I should tell you it was NOW that I told my boyfriend that we were going to Vegas to get married. It was my sister and I who had made all of the arrangements; but he was very happy.

We arrived for my first trip to Vegas on January 29, 2006 and on January 30, 2006, at 10 am we were married by John A. Williams at the Stardust. He was a wonderful minister (originally from our state, Ohio) and I certainly hope another chapel discovered him after the Stardust closed. Everything at the Starlight Chapel was adorable, the ceremony was wonderful, and everyone had a great time. I felt a lot of love in the chapel that day. Of course, then it was back to the Limo and off to party!!

To close, I’ll say this. I know change is a good thing but there are times when you just wish things could stay the same. Las Vegas should have built a glass box around the Stardust and preserved that landmark forever. I can only pray that our cherished memories of our special day at the Stardust lasts as long as the Las Vegas strip was blessed with the existence of the Stardust. It certainly made my first trip to Vegas my best vacation ever!

Just a footnote to this story… I’ve been back to Vegas 4 times and heading back for my fifth visit in April 2008. For anyone who has yet to visit your wonderful city, I leave you with this warning! Las Vegas gets in your blood so be prepared…and enjoy it. It’s a wonderful place!!

THANK YOU STARDUST!!

Sheila and Troy Adelsberger
West Jefferson, Ohio

Hi — we are hosting a government conference at the Embassy Suites (near the convention center) the week of 2 June. We would really like to use some of the pictures from your web site in our free attendee handout. May we have your permission to use the pictures? Thank you.

Don Houpt

Ted Responds:

Happy to help! As you can imagine, we have a little bit of fine print but nothing out-of-the-ordinary. (Note — This applies to everyone, not just Don):

We own a great many photos on our site, but not all of them. (Some are PR photos). Here is our policy:

1. Visit our Webshots gallery at http://community.webshots.com/user/AccessVegas

We own almost all photos from all albums with the EXCEPTION of:
Tony n Tina’s Wedding
Las Vegas Computer Wallpaper
Maverick Helicopter Tours

2. Send us the URL’s of photo(s) you wish to use.

3. We will confirm our ownership and send you the clean copy along with the required photo credit text required to accompany the photos.

So… whether you just need a photo for your Myspace, hobby site, or need some of our great photos for a major venture, please do ask first so we can affirm details. Contact us at the email listed below!

We love to hear from you, and value your feedback! Here’s how to participate:

  • Call our recorded comment line at 702-507-0055. We listen to every call.
  • Drop us an email at allvegastv@aol.com - We read them all!

More Las Vegas News - Concerts - Events

Coming Hot Holidays - The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 11
  • Victoria Day, Canada May 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 15
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Yom Kippur October 9
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 - Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 - January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12

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!

RSS Feed - We now have an RSS/XML feed! Most RSS programs let you visit AccessVegas.com and automatically pull the feed. For those who want to enter it manually, the feed is:
http://www.accessvegas.com/xml/whats-hot.xml

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend!

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

New to the list? See our Newsletter Archives for back issues and subscription info. Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to friends and associates.

All contents copyright 2008 Ted Newkirk. All Rights Reserved.

April 16, 2008 ISSN: 1529-2770 About Us Privacy Policy

Proud Member:
Las Vegas Internet Chamber of Commerce

Comments(0)

April 9, 2008

Access Vegas Insider Vibe - April 9, 2008

April 09th 2008 Posted to Las Vegas News

AccessVegas.com Insider Vibe

Welcome to the Insider Vibe! This is the official newsletter of AccessVegas.Com. We talk about the Las Vegas activities you really care about.

Can’t see all the great photos and graphics? Click to Read This Issue Online! Need to contact us? Send feedback to AllVegasTV@aol.com

Share the info: Click to Email this newsletter to a friend! Missed an issue? Click to Read Back Issues Online.

This newsletter is published exclusively for visitors to AccessVegas.Com and can only be signed up for there. We do not buy or rent lists, and this information is only for our members and guests. If you feel you have received it in error, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom. To subscribe, visit our Newsletter Site.

Book Online or over the phone! Call 800-696-5721 to book all Las Vegas Hotels, Shows, Nightlife, Tours and Golf. We live here. We know Las Vegas!

AccessVegas.com Quick Info Menu:

Las Vegas Essentials
Featured Shows
Photos and Wallpaper

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

Hello From Las Vegas! It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No jingle bells here. I’m talking about how we are heading into those precious few weeks where the high temperature is around 85 or 90 (F) with a low around 60. In my book, it doesn’t get much better. With our dry climate, 90 is great and during this time, and it is never too hot or too cold.

Spring Membership Drive!

No, we aren’t going to ask for your money or promise you a DVD for a $60 pledge. (Note to self… maybe that isn’t a bad idea).

This newsletter is always sent at no charge and we are keeping it that way. As you can imagine, tremendous time and effort goes into each issue and we love to be your connection to Las Vegas. We’d love to serve you even better: Trip-a-month giveaways, tons of free tix, prizes, Vegas stuff plus even more extra expanded coverage of all the great things you email and ask about.

So how can you help us help you? Simple:

We need every reader to tell their friends and co-workers to check up out and subscribe. More readers = even more clout = even more pull to get you better information, deals, and offers.

1. There are people in your email address book that visit or are thinking about visiting Las Vegas and you may not even know it! How about sending an email blast to all your relatives, business associates, friends and/or everyone else and just saying “You know I love Vegas and always know what is happening. I want to help spread the wealth! Please head over to http://www.accessvegas.com/newsletter and check out the best Las Vegas information anywhere.

2. You may belong to a club or organization that has a message board, bulletin board, or newsletter that allows member postings and classifieds. Put in a mention for us!

3. Some of you enjoy reading various online travel forums and blogs. Make sure when you participate you let all your online friends and the readers know you enjoy our information, and to come on by and sign up!

4. Do the stores, restaurants, and other businesses you visit have a free-for-all cork board where people can post misc. stuff? Grab a few 3×5 cards, write “Free Insider Las Vegas Newsletter AccessVegas.com” and stick a few up around town.

We very much appreciate it. Our resources go into publishing the newsletter. We rely on you to help spread the word.

More Cher Tickets On Sale - We’ve had numbers of emails from people saying “I’m coming later in the year, how come no Cher dates?” September and October Cher tickets are finally on sale! Click to Cher Caesars Palace Las Vegas Tickets.

Enjoy This Issue!

Ted Newkirk
CEO/Managing Editor

Associate Editor: Amy Rayner-Cooley
News Researcher/Editor: Mark Jacobs

Featured Review:
Folies Bergere - Timeless Showgirls and Classic Entertainment

by Chuck Stanec

Raw. Provocative. Sexy. Alluring. Just a few words among many that can be used to describe Les Folies Bergere at the Tropicana. If you’re looking for a trip into Las Vegas past, this is it — without the DeLorean.

When one thinks of old Vegas, they envision the big, bold shows with the tall and supple women and the huge, bright feathers that adorn them. The energy, the passion, and the colors all appease the senses as you’re engulfed into history. The transient experience makes it feel as if you can walk out of the theater and sit down with Dean, Frank, and Sammy for a drink.

Click to Read Entire Folies Bergere Las Vegas Review…

Featured Review:
Stomp Out Loud - A Journey Through Rhythm and Percussion

by Erin Guernsey

For those seeking high-energy entertainment, comedic antics and pure theatrical brilliance look no further than Stomp Out Loud located at The Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Don’t let the show’s humble opening of one lonely cast member sweeping the stage fool you as it barely gives a hint of what is to come.

Every night the talented performers take audience members on a journey through the world of rhythm and percussion. The show throws the definition of a traditional musical instrument out the window by creating magnificent sounds from the most random objects such as keys, lighters, trash cans and lids, brooms, sand, plastic bags and of course … kitchen sinks.

Click to Read Entire Stomp Out Loud Las Vegas Review…

Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble And Josh Groban To Perform In Concert At Mandalay Bay Events Center Friday, May 23 To Pay Tribute To Songwriter And Producer David Foster - A one-night-only concert celebration featuring music’s most beloved stars including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble and Josh Groban, will take place Friday, May 23 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. (Tickets) The event, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., will pay tribute to the celebrated songwriter and producer David Foster. Foster also will perform the hits he has written or produced with many of the artists with whom he has worked over the course of his 35-year career. Click to Read The Full Story … ‘Crazy Girl’ Lizzie Comes From Family Of ‘Just The 11 Of Us’ - Elizabeth “Lizzie” Grantham has that girl-next-door look and is the newest resident of Green Valley after buying a newer repo. The Memphis-born dancer has lived in Las Vegas since the age of 12 and is the second to the youngest of nine children but she has performed in “Crazy Girls” (Tickets) at the Riviera Hotel & Casino for three years. “I was born in Memphis, and I actually began my dance training there at age 8 in this little dance studio. It wasn’t until I arrived in Las Vegas,where I went to junior high and high school, that I got serious about dance. I learned a lot about choreography at the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts where I attended high school and was a dance major.” Click to Read The Full Story …

“Tim McGraw ‘08 Live Your Voice Tour” Lands At Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, June 21 - Tim McGraw was accompanied by wife Faith Hill and completed “Soul2Soul II”, the most successful consecutive multi-year tours in country music history. Now, the popular headliner and country music icon returns to touring as a solo act and will bring the “Tim McGraw ‘08 Live Your Voice Tour” (Tickets) to the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, June 21. The concert, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., will feature special guests Jason Aldean and Halfway To Hazard (David Tolliver and Chad Warrix). Click to Read The Full Story …

David Letterman’s Intern Reigns At ‘Crazy Girls’ - Magician Tony Douglas Referred To As “Chicken Salad Sandwich Guy” - Tony Douglas is a native of Long Island who has been performing magic and comedy practically all of his life but the newcomer to “Crazy Girls” (Tickets) was brought onboard because of the repeat customers. Tony started at the bottom as an intern for CBS’ “The Late Show” as David Letterman’s “Chicken Salad Sandwich Guy.” His energy and demeanor on-stage is contagious and the audience soon finds themselves laughing so hard that it hurts. Tony Douglas’ comedy is a combination of self-reflection of poking fun at everyday events. While his magic is both audience participation and pure illusion, he entertains all demographics with his wit and humor in “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Topless Revue.” He said, “I’ll be doing my rope tricks and some other western-style tricks.” Click to Read The Full Story …

R&B Superstar Alicia Keys To Bring “Alicia Keys As I Am Tour” With Special Guests Ne-Yo And Jordin Sparks To MGM Grand Friday, May 9 - Alicia Keys, one of the most prolific performers and recording artists in the world, will bring her highly anticipated “Alicia Keys As I Am Tour” presented by Lexus, to the MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday, May 9. (Tickets) The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and will feature special guests Ne-Yo and Jordin Sparks. Keys is enjoying one of the most successful years of her career as a performer, producer and songwriter. She received a Grammy Award for “Best R & B Song” for the smash single “No One,” and also won a Grammy for “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.” Click to Read The Full Story …

Members Mania - We Love Our Readers!

I have just returned from a week in Las Vegas (visit at least three times a year) and I was thrilled to NOT SEE quite so many of the people that thrust the GIRL TO YOUR ROOM cards in front off you as you walk down the Strip. Was it my imagination or has there been some kind of a crackdown on them? Love your site, you have the best news on Las Vegas on the web - Thanks!

Mark
Cape Cod, MA

Ted Responds:

It could have been the areas or times of day you were out. More convention traffic or guys weekend (Superbowl and similar) usually means more of those handouts.

The ACLU has fought and the courts have agreed that they constitute federally protected free speech. I don’t like them anymore than you do and for what it is worth, the girls that get sent to someone’s room don’t look half as good as the ones on the flyers.

Dear Ted. I’ve read quite a few negative letters/comments about the Las Vegas monorail. I’d like to give a positive spin on it. My friends and I tried it for the first time on our last visit in October 2007 while staying at the MGM. We loved it and thought it was a great way to get around. Sure there’s a bit of a walk from the stations to the casinos but its Vegas baby!!! Pretty much every place in Vegas is a bit of a walk.

We found it a very convenient way to get around. Especially when you’re tired and you want to get from Harrah’s to the MGM without ‘hoofin it’. Plus, it was a great way to visit the Hilton (off strip).

For those who think the Deuce is the best way to get around…PAHLEEZE!!! In most cases I can walk from location to location faster than the bus gets me there. They are crowded and they stop too often, and the stops take FOREVER!!! I’m not sure why they don’t have an express bus. Especially one that maybe stops 3 times on the strip and then shoots to downtown. But that’s for a whole other letter.

All in all the monorail was a clean, non-crowded, fast, and fairly inexpensive ($9 for 24 hours) way to get around the strip. We would hate to see it shut down. Come on Vegas visitors…give it a try.

Thanks
Sharla

Ted Responds:

Monorail is great it you are staying at one of the hotels along the route. However, it is pretty much worthless to get from (lets say) Treasure Island to Monte Carlo, Stratosphere to Wynn, and so many similar trips. It isn’t that anybody hates it. It simply isn’t useful for most.

The Duece is slow for those going a long way on The Strip, but a pretty good option for shorter hops. Plus, you don’t have to tip the driver or worry that you are getting long-hauled.

Dear Ted, My wife and family have visited Vegas every year for the last 9 years from our home in the UK. After the first few times getting snarled up in traffic on the strip I “discovered” Koval and Dean Martin (formerly Industrial) both of which run parallel with the strip for part of it .

So if we want to go to the middle of the strip from our hotel (we usually stay at the Orleans which is ex. value and child friendly ),we go east on Tropicana cross the strip, take a left onto Koval take another left into the parking garage of Planet Hollywood and walk straight into the shopping mall. You can do the same on the west side of the strip and swing into Treasure Island.

Enjoy the newsletter see you all in September.

Best wishes,
Paul Austin

Ted Responds:

Hey Paul, why don’t you put a cork in it and quit giving away all our “local” secrets! (I’m kidding, or course).

You are correct: Too many people think they have to take The Strip to get anywhere and just end up sitting in traffic. While side roads can have traffic tie-ups, they usually are not as bad. You can check out this Las Vegas Google Map to see where Koval (east) and Dean Martin (west, across I-15) are.

Dean Martin Drive looks off the beaten path, but the two minutes it takes to get over and on it are child’s play as the road usually flows quite smoothly!

More Las Vegas News - Concerts - Events

Coming Hot Holidays - The following dates are huge times to be in Las Vegas, and rooms are in high demand. Booking in advance is the best way to save. Visit our friends at I4Vegas Discount Las Vegas Reservations and spend one of the following hot dates having fun in Las Vegas:

  • Cinco de Mayo May 5
  • Mother’s Day May 11
  • Victoria Day, Canada May 17-19 (3 day weekend)
  • Memorial Day May 24-26 (3 day weekend)
  • Father’s Day June 15
  • Canada Day, Canada July 1
  • Independence Day July 4-6 (3 day weekend)
  • Civic Holiday, Canada August 2-4 (3 day weekend)
  • Labor Day, U.S August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Labour Day, Canada August 30-September 1 (3 day weekend)
  • Grandparent’s Day September 7
  • Jewish New Year September 30
  • Yom Kippur October 9
  • Columbus Day October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Thanksgiving Day, Canada October 11-13 (3 day weekend)
  • Halloween October 31
  • Veteran’s Day November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day November 27-30 (4 day weekend)
  • Hanukkah Dec. 22 - Dec. 29
  • Christmas December 25
  • New Year’s Eve-Day December 31 - January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) January 19-21 (3 day weekend)
  • Chinese/Lunar New Year January 26
  • Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S February 12
  • Valentine’s Day February 14
  • President’s Day, U.S (Observed) February 14-16 (3 day weekend)
  • Washington’s Birthday, U.S February 22
  • St. Patrick’s Day March 17
  • Easter Sunday April 12

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