Vegas Gang #42 – December 31st, 2009

This time on the show:

* CityCenter Opens
* 2009 Recap/2010 Look Forward
* Gary Jacobs and MGM Mirage

Have a Happy New Year. We love you.

http://www.vegasgangpodcast.com/2009/12/vegas-gang-42-december-31st-2009/

Blue Moon Lights 2010 Las Vegas New Year’s Parties

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Every 19 years there is a blue moon for New Year's Eve and tonight's the night. As if Las Vegas needs another reason for crazy, once in a lifetime stupid human tricks, the month's second full moon guarantees there will be some weird and beyond belief behavior from the more than 300,000 visitors in town.

Most of us will be in one of two places, the Fremont Experience in downtown Las Vegas or the Las Vegas Strip uptown. For those heading to the downtown bash, the TributePalooza, the cost of admission is $20 for out-of-staters and $10 for those with a Nevada ID. Tribute bands perform throughout the evening and a special fireworks displays "under the canopy" will count down the seconds to the next decade. Las Vegas mayor, Oscar Goodman, is expected to join the countdown.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Las Vegas Strip from Sahara Avenue to Russel Road will be pedestrians only. There's no charge to join the cattle walk and mill around the strip with hundreds of thousands of drinkers and tokers. You'll have a front row seat to the nation's biggest fireworks display, a half million dollar extravaganza that will be simultaneously launched from the tops of seven strip hotels - MGM Mirage, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, The Venetian, Treasure Island, and The Stratosphere.

The forecast is predicting temperatures in the upper thirties and lower forties so dress warmly, have fun, and above all stay safe; because, we want all of you to be around for some great stuff we have planned for the the next decade of LasVegasVegas. Have a very Happy and Properous New Year!

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Vdara General Manager Responds

A few weeks ago I wrote an open letter to Vdara General Manager Angela Lester about problems I had during my stay. I'm happy to say that today I got a detailed, point-by-point response from Ms. Lester that covers each specific issue I raised.

All service operations have missteps, especially brand new ones. The thoughtful response indicates that they truly want to fix these problems and improve quality. I appreciate her taking the time to respond in full.

As for if I will visit Vdara again - certainly. While I prefer gaming properties when in Las Vegas, a Vdara firing on all cylinders could be a nice alternative.

Ms. Lester's response is after the jump.

Happy New Year!

Free coffee tomorrow morning at 7-Eleven

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tomorrow you may be regretting tonight, but some local convenience stores will at least help rid you of that hangover in the wee hours of 2010.

Between midnight tonight through 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 7-Eleven is offering free cups of coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, or cappuccino.

Just stop by 7-Eleven and look for the sign in the window that says "Free Coffee."

A Las Vegas Happy New Year, Everybody!

Melissa and I want to wish all of our Living in Las Vegas Podcast listeners a very Happy New Year!  For us, the New Year celebration will be an intimate one—we’re having a few friends over to the Whitney Villa to join us and our daughter Savannah and her boyfriend Dak for some adult beverages, games and joyous noise.  (You might be surprised how many drinking games can be created by combining Wii Fit with Mr. Boston Platinum Edition Drink Mixing Guide.)

We know that 2009 has been a rough one for many folks.  We were fortunate to have steady employment and pretty good health throughout the year.  For those in more difficult times, we’re putting out warm thoughts on your behalf.  I sense that 2010 will be an exciting and recuperative year for many folks in need of such relief.  If you fit into that category, be prepared for a great year!

Finally, thanks for playing along with the two of us over the course of the last few years.  January 12, 2010 will mark the four-year anniversary of the show, and during those four years, we’ve made great friends and have had some wonderful times!  We are grateful for both.

Happy New Year, Everybody!  Have FUN and be SAFE!

Las Vegas Monorail option for New Year’s Eve

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Las Vegas Strip shuts down at 6 p.m. for New Year's Eve festivities, and it won't open back up for vehicles until 3 a.m.

Those who have ventured out to their favorite Strip casino don't have to be stranded. You'll still be able to get around via the Las Vegas Monorail, which is open late tonight (until 3 a.m.).

Fares will also be $1 for locals by showing Nevada ID at the MGM Grand booth before 6 p.m. or the Sahara booth before 11 p.m.

Year End Beer n Blog

The year is coming to end and it’s time for one last Beer n Blog. We are going to stick with Gordon Biersch for the next few weeks until we get a schedule going for the start of Feburary.

A lot of folks will be nearby next week for CES, so it seems like a logical meeting place for the short term.

Hope to see some of you out there tonight.

2-for-1 Darling Stilettos at Las Vegas Hilton

On Jan. 2 at 8 p.m., the Darling Stilettos perform with special guest Matt Sorum (Guns n' Roses, Velvet Revolver) on drums.

The Stilettos are an all-girls rock group inspired by Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde, and in their show Rock n' Roll a Go-Go, they take the audience on a journey of rock music from the British Invasion to Punk to Classic rock.

They've been making the rounds of Las Vegas, but on Jan. 2 will perform at the Las Vegas Hilton, where you can get 2-for-1 tickets by mentioning the code 2FERDS.

Tickets are normally $19-$39.

To purchase, visit the box office or call 1-800-222-5361.

New York New York bridge bash for New Year’s Eve

Looking for last-minute ideas for New Year's Eve?

In Las Vegas, just head to the Strip!

Or if you want to avoid the big crowd for a smallish crowd, you can hang out in the private section of the Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York for $125 (plus tax and fee). This gives you an open bar, live entertainment, fireworks, and people-watching from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Other NYE packages at NYNY (not including tax and fee):

Zumanity + bridge entry
$145

Zumanity and ROK Vegas nightclub
$145

Bar at Times Square
open bar 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with live entertainment
$100

ROK Vegas nightclub
pen bar 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
$125

To purchase tickets, call 1-866-606-7111, visit this link, or visit the Zumanity box office at New York New York.

Clark County Gives Half Million Dollar Handout to Newspaper to Print Tax Supplement

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Clark County, the home of Las Vegas, is in such dire straits that drastic budget cutting measures are in order now that county tax revenues have fallen off the charts and into the economic disaster dumpster. The necessary cost cutting steps are reducing government services to the minimums and non-essential personnel are finding themselves standing in the long lines of the unemployed.

What's the political brain trust of Nevada doing about this dilemma? They decided it was in the best interest of all to provide a half million dollar charity package to the Las Vegas Review-Journal in the form of advertising revenues to publish a 500 page, 4.5 pound supplement to Monday's daily paper listing the Clark County tax assessment records, the complete tax roll for every property owner in Clark County.

Ironically, the first paragraph of this massive carbon footprint states, "This preamble and 2010/2011 assessment list is available on the Internet at the address listed above." That address is accessclarkcounty.com/assessor, the county's website. I could read this on the Internet, keep the half mil and not cut down one tree. Wow, that seems to be a no-brainer decision.

How come no one wised up and stopped this environmental catastrophe? Well actually, they did. The Nevada assembly introduced and passed Assembly Bill 307 that would have permitted governments to publish the information online to save money and the trees; but unfortunately, the Nevada do-nothing for the greater good Governor, Jim Gibbons, vetoed the bill saying he did so because Internet access in outlying counties was dial-up. Apparently, the gov thinks people actually read these reams of mental mush. In reality, it was common knowledge that the Las Vegas Review-Journals Publisher Sherman Frederick was lobbying the governor on this issue. Guess the gov figured he might need the front pocket money for his upcoming divorce.

How many more of these greed driven indiscretions must the citizens of the great state of Nevada endure before we get out the pitchforks, torches, tar and feathers and a rail to send the thieves packing? After all, the pen printing press is mightier than the sword but it ain't no match for a bunch of mad-as-hell battle born citizens.

Want to know more? Follow the links:

• http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11739667

• http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/31/jim-gibbons-gov-veto/

• http://blogs.lasvegascitylife.com/various-things-and-stuff/2009/05/18/newspaper-corporate-welfare-may-end/#comments

• http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Reports/history.cfm?ID=607