December 15, 1999
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This Issue: Bellagio Buffet
Curious about a restaurant, event, or other Las Vegas attraction that looks fun? Let us
review it for you first! Suggestions are always welcome at: allvegastv@aol.com
Note: If you enjoy this part of the newsletter, subscribe to the EverythingLasVegas free email newsletter. Twice a week, this list will includes links to newspaper stories, informative websites, travel specials, weekly Las Vegas entertainment updates, restaurant reviews, and more. Subscribe at http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/EverythingLasVegas
LAS VEGAS NEWS - of interest to tourists:
WHEEL ... OF ... FORTUNE - If you have spent any time in a casino, you hear those slot machines spit out that chant every few minutes until you are sick of it (unless you are playing and winning). Well, the real thing is coming. Kind of. Beginning Dec. 23, the world's most popular TV game show also will be played as a live, nightly attraction at the MGM. Tickets are $17.50 and audience members will be participating. Full story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Dec-10-Fri-1999/weekly/12481186.html
THE LAS VEGAS BOWL - matches Fresno St. and Utah this Saturday Dec. 18. You can view the game on ESPN2 at 6:00 PM Eastern time and get a little of Las Vegas in your living room. Or, if you want to get away for the weekend and see some good football, tickets start at $10 and are available online at (702) 895-3900 Las Vegas Bowl stories are available at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/sports/packages/lvbowl/
RODEO - the National Finals Rodeo rolled through town for it's 12 day run and people in country attire could be seen having a good time both on the Strip and downtown. I'm not "country", but these people seem to be some of the nicest and friendliest people you will meet. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. is going to ad a nationally televised winter season beginning in January with the finals to be held at the MGM. Story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Dec-06-Mon-1999/news/12497185.html and we are giving away the NFR guide from the Review Journal in our contests section.
ANTIQUE ORGAN - The once-adored Kimball organ sits center stage under the bright lights of Roxy's Pipe Organ Pizzeria at the Fiesta hotel-casino. A crew of 25 artists, cabinet makers and electricians resurrected the 20,000 pieces and this is a must-see. Full story at http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/archives/1999/dec/05/509553586.html?%22pipe+cleaners%22 and Fiesta discount rooms available at http://www.travelnow.com/s/hotel.html?ID=120406&cid=2005 The Fiesta is 10 minutes from downtown and 15 minutes from the Strip in the northwest part of town.
PLAYERS EDGE - a column written by noted gaming experts Bob Dancer and Jeffrey Compton detail the tremendous deal, giveaways, and bonus points that casinos are using to get people in the door during this slowest time of the year. Read all about it at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Dec-10-Fri-1999/weekly/12508475.html
LIVING IT UP AND DOUBLING DOWN IN LAS VEGAS - is the new book by author and attorney Anthony Martinez. He took the $50,000 advance for a book, and came to Las Vegas live out the life of a high roller for 30 days, then chronicle what happens, both good and bad. Full review at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Nov-28-Sun-1999/lifestyles/12341196.html and you can purchase the book from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375501819/invegascom Amazon can still deliver by Christmas using standard shipping.
SHOPPING - is bringing people to Las Vegas for an excuse to combine Christmas preparation with pleasure. The huge shopping galleries at the Venetian, Caesars and the Fashion Show Mall are taking center stage. Plus, rooms are dirt cheap between now and Christmas and lines are almost nonexistent. Story at http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Dec-09-Thu-1999/lifestyles/12484934.html
NEW YEARS EVE LAS VEGAS ROOMS - are still available and some of the prices have dropped! Call Hotel Reservations Network at (800) 666-5268 for a free price quote! NOTE: You MUST stay on the line until you get a person. HRN is NOT booking these specific dates online. We will be leaving this notice up as long as rooms continue to be available, but they are going fast.
WINNERS! - Marie Gordon of Skokie, IL won the Siegfried & Roy Calendar. Debra Barnes of Santa Ana, CA is the winner of Sahara Speedworld Motion Theater passes. Steve Current, John Pennisi, Laurie Grinbergs, Sarah Adams and Lisa Ceslikoski each won a Siegfried & Roy postcard.
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Quick Concert and Show Notes:
See which shows are playing during your stay and book reservations EVEN if the tickets aren't on sale yet. Let ShowVegas takes care of all your needs directly online! Search by dates at http://www.showvegas.com/svpricing.cfm?cscheme=5&amid=143
CHER - returns to the MGM on Jan. 29 with tickets priced from $40 to $150. Tickets are available at (702) 474-4000. MGM discount rooms available at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas.htm (MGM link).
THE JUDDS - bring their reunion tour to the MGM on Feb. 6. Tickets run from $30 to $65 and are available at at (702) 474-4000. MGM discount rooms available at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas.htm (MGM link).
CREED - plays the Thomas and Mack on March 2. All tickets are general admission $26. The Hard Rock hotel is a 4 minute walk from the Thomas and Mack. Tickets available at (702) 474-4000 and Hard Rock discount rooms available at http://www.accessvegas.com/las-vegas-other.htm (Hard Rock link).
Note: We are really enjoying the Christmas music channel available online at http://www.mediamazing.com We have no relation to the company but they have a great selection of 27 music formats, and unlike the radio, you can skip any song you don't like or mix and match 2 or more formats at a time!
FEATURE STORY: Bellagio Buffet
Every couple of weeks, we get general requests to review high-end restaurants at hotels. The problem? This town has about 60 hotel casinos, many with a number of high end restaurants! And since I am still working on my first million (with a LONG way to go), I am sticking pretty much to that Las Vegas tradition, the all-you-can-eat buffet. (If you do visit one of the nicer hotel restaurants, drop us a note at allvegastv@aol.com and share your experiences with everyone). However, that line between all-you-can-pig-down and fine dining is starting to blur with the introduction of upscale buffets like the Bellagio and Paris.
We
went for lunch on the advice that the more expensive dinner was pretty much the same fare.
This is not your average buffet. The theme centers around a softly lit Italian village
with different rooms, cobblestone streets, and a park-like atmosphere. While you help
yourself to the food, the service is very attentive with drinks and plate removal.
However, there is no formal dress code and we saw plenty of t-shirts and fanny packs so
don't let your tourist attire deter you.
Any one area of this buffet is worth the price of admission. The salad bar had numerous kinds of fresh salads, cheeses, strawberries, delicately cut melons and more. Enjoy bread with your meal? What kind? You name it, they had it.
Forget paying $8-10 for a shrimp cocktail appetizer in a restaurant for a few shrimp. Laid
out at Bellagio were tasty gulf shrimp, four kinds of smoked salmon, mussels, cevich and
creamed herring. All you care to eat.
We have all had "buffet" vegetables. They open a big can of some generic brand
mix in the back and stick it on the warmer. Not here they don't! Available were minted
snow peas, creamed mushrooms, garlic potato puree, broccoli, oven roasted tomatoes, and
steamed zucchini. All looked freshly prepared and inviting.
If pizza is more your style, the pizza station had a full compliment of gourmet California
Pizza Kitchen style pizzas to suit every desire. Antipasta? How about herb fusille, tomato
linguine, mushroom fettuccine, goat cheese rigatoni and a full compliment of toppings! If
you dislike Italian food, a nice selection of both Mexican and Asian dishes are just a few
feet away.
The carving station featured a great cut of prime rib or turkey. I suspect that the
selection is broader at dinner.
The deserts were phenomenal. Both the quality and presentation were flawless. Specifically the cheesecake of which quality would run you $5 or more just by itself for one slice in any nice restaurant.
We
always try to judge for value -- what you get verses what you pay. The Bellagio lunch
buffet? An A+, and that's coming from someone who doesn't part with a dollar easily. We
strongly suggest treating yourself to lunch there on your next visit. Be prepared for it
to be your "big meal of the day", though. You won't leave hungry.
Breakfast runs 7-10:30 AM for $9.95, lunch 11-3:30 PM for $12.50, and dinner is 4-10:00 PM
(11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday) for $22.95. Sunday brunch runs 8-4:00 PM and costs
$18.50. Reservations are not accepted and children under 18 must be casino guests. (Note:
The above photos are of Bellagio's atrium area, not the buffet).
Note: A reader brought to our attention that the MGM Grand Theme park, noted in last weeks newsletter as a "Top 10 Free" thing to do, is closed for the winter and will re-open in spring of 2000. Another noted that the park has varied between offering free admission and charging. The park has never been a real success, and they have been "stealing" parts of it for other ventures. We will review it when it re-opens.
Another reader names Susan noted the Bellagio Fountain show times:
>The Fountains of Bellagio Show Times:
> Monday - Friday:
>3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., every 30 minutes
>7:00 p.m. until Midnight, every 15 minutes
> Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays:
>Noon until 7:00 p.m., every 30 minutes
>7:00 p.m. until Midnight, every 15 minutes.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Kit Lindsay of Warrensburg, MO wrote,
> Just thought I'd drop you a note, I just booked reservations for
>Mystere' via your link that was posted at the latter half of the
>newsletter. It is GREAT! I have always had to have the casino guest
>services book those for me, and since I am not a super high roller there
>were times that I couldn't get a seat. This is great. I hope that things
>like this become more common in the future. Thanks again for the
>opportunity and the great newsletter. I know it is a lot of work, and
>you do a fine job.
Thanks for the kind words! So far, we have had a 100% positive response regarding ShowVegas at http://www.showvegas.com/svpricing.cfm?cscheme=5&amid=143 For a very reasonable service fee, they do all the leg work to get the show you want on the date you want. As with any of our sponsors, all feedback is appreciated.
Name withheld writes:
>Do you have information about a 3rd person law that protects hotels from
>liability in case of accidents not caused by the hotel or a hotel
>employee? I was injured at Rio..Las Vegas in July 99...when a guest
>luggage rolled into my path and I fell on top of the luggage,and floor
>injuring my knees badly...The hotel has refused any reimbursement using
>the 3rd person law, for my injures and expenses incurred. After asking
>me how the hotel could compensate me.
>Please let me know about this.
My personal attorney James Smith has a website at http://www.james-smith.com and is happy to give free initial consultation regarding Nevada legal problems. If any of you have similar situations, he's the guy to ask.
Regarding last weeks question about scooter or wheelchair rental:
> A friend of mine said he thought he had seen a place on the s, strip. Not
>sure, just know of one of those medical rental places called Medical Mart on
>2797 S. Maryland Prkwy. 702-369-9107 I think they can deliver. I don't much
>about prices for scooters or If you can use insurance. They have not got any
>bad comments from my friends Mom. She used that service for a relative. Hope
>that helps you some.
We called them. They do rent wheelchairs, but nothing electric. They do not deliver, so your own car or a rental car (or taxi ride -- they are about 3 miles from the center Strip area) is necessary to pick up and drop off. Rentals are $15 a day or $35 a week for a standard 18" wheelchair and a credit card deposit of $150 is mandatory. You also might call ahead to your hotel and see if they can accommodate a request for a wheelchair.
Ann Wright writes:
>I really enjoy your newsletter and am taking my elderly parents out
>there in mid March of 2000. We have reservations at Bellagio. I take
>them every year, last year we stayed at Bally's, year before MGM.
>
>There is nothing my parents enjoy more than getting a deal or comps of
>any kind. There used to be a person who had a site that gave the best
>deals. For instance. the steak dinner at Binion's, for $?? .99 cent
>shrimp cocktail at ??, breakfast buffet at ??, lunch buffet at ??,
>IMAX show at ?? . etc..
>
>They also told about the casino's best comp programs when you sign up
>for their casino cards. Like how quickly you could accumulate enough
>points to get a free buffet or get one just for signing up.
>
>I can't find the site anymore and thought maybe you would like to post
>such a list at your newsletter. A lot of times the info in the letter
>didn't change for months and that was okay. It uncovered some pretty
>interesting deals a lot of tourists never would have known about
>similar to your writings.
>
>Please keep up the good work, I read you religiously.
The deals tend to change more than ever, although we have noted things like the $4.95 steak 24 hours at Ellis Island, the late night Binion's $3.00 steak and the like.
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Your input is welcome. Write us a "letter to the editor" at allvegastv@aol.com Please include your name if you wish to have it published (stating your city is optional). Also, guest article submissions are welcome with full credit to you, your website, etc. if accepted.
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FREE CONTESTS:
Note: You may enter every contest, but only one entry to each. Please note the expiration date and only enter if you will be in town and can use them. The 10'th entry in each contest will be the winner (unless otherwise noted). Just sent a blank email to the specified email address -- we'll get your mailing address from you only if you win. Also, please do not enter if you have won within the past month.
EAGLES and JACKSON BROWNE - Enter to win a pair of tickets to their Dec. 29'th show here in Las Vegas at (contest closed) You must be a resident of NV, CA, AZ, or UT and be at least 18.
NFR Guide - If you wonder what it's like during National Finals Rodeo time, this is for you. We have one guide that was printed in advance of this year's events. Enter at (contest closed)
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Have a request for a review? Boggled when you come to town and see the hundreds of dining, attraction, and show opportunities? Let us know what you'd like to hear about! Unlike the tourist magazines where all of the "articles" are really paid ads, we give you the honest scoop. If you appreciate this service, please consider booking your rooms and rental cars for ALL destinations with us at http://www.accessvegas.com You get secure ordering with the convenience and savings of booking online!
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New to the list? Back issues can be found on the web at:
http://www.las-vegas-news-reviews.com
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All contents copyright 1999 Ted Newkirk
December 15, 1999
