E-305: The Face

Random Vegas

Average Las Vegas casino electricity bill is about $100,000/month. Big casinos are much more. For example, MGM Grand averages $350,000/month. (VitalVegas)

Twitpic of the week

I never liked the Frontier.  I didn’t like the theme, thought the place was gross and was indifferent to the signage.  I understood why other people liked it because I kind of liked O’Shea’s and it was a shithole.  But honestly, I was happy to see it go.  Then perspective set in while I continue to try and learn everything I can about the city that changed my life.  And even though the Frontier was nothing more than an attempt to copy the El Rancho but make it better in every way, the fact is…they accomplished it.  Think about it, Walt Disney didn’t invent amusement parks, he just found a way to do it better than everyone else.  Also, this show was created in the same vain.  In 2011, when I was just a fan of Las Vegas like all of you listening and looking for podcasts to listen to about it, I couldn’t help but think of all the things I wish the shows I enjoyed would do.  Not being the kind of person to tell someone else how they should produce their creative outlet, that desire for more evolved into the 360 Vegas Podcast.  All that said, it still doesn’t change my feelings about the Frontier, but now I respect it and it’s place in the city’s history.  Thank you @classiclasvegas for helping to guide that revelation

News

360VV9 Details

Strip Gaming Woes Continue

Booking.com Backdown

Sprinkles Closes @LINQ

E-303: Have You Seen Minority Report?

Random Vegas

The Hacienda Hotel & Casino was one of a chain of 4 properties each featuring a distinctive horse and rider sign.  The other 3 locations were in California. (Neon Museum) 

Twitpic of the week

It’s so Vegas it's kind of annoying while simultaneously being sexy as hell.  If LED signage is eye-catching, what does one 30 stories tall do.  @Palms hopes it draws people to the off-strip property that kicked off the nightclub revolution in the city only to eventually be outdone by their strip counterparts.  Returning to the well is a risky proposition but how else do you recommend they reclaim their place in the market?  But when renovation costs exceed that of some newer projects, is there any chance they can recoup their investment?  Time will tell. 

News

m00nshot.com

Battle Born Pins

Encore Boston for Sale?

Vegas Fees Impact

LINQ VR

Stadium Parking woes continue

MLS in Vegas

Booking.com fights back

Eldorado/Caesars Merger Update

Meek Mills/Cosmopolitan Situation

Boyd Approved to leave NV Energy

E-302: 360 Vegas Vacation 8 Spring 2019

Random Vegas 

Since it opened in 1941, despite multiple expansions and renovations, the property has never changed it exterior façade.  On Feb 22, 2013, the El Cortez, the original hotel/casino built on Fremont St, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Twitpic of the week 

Metaphor, oh how I love the.  Unless the architect for the property’s marquee signage was Nostradamus, there is no way they could have known how the landscape of the Vegas valley would evolve over the years.  Regardless, when the El Cortez opened in 1941, its marquee design would essentially direct your attention to the future of the city on Highway 91, a POV we had the opportunity to enjoy for the first during 360VV8.  Then again, maybe they did see what lay just beyond the horizon.  After all, 1941 was also the year that the El Rancho, Las Vegas Blvd’s first proper hotel/casino, would open.  An event that signaled the rise of what would later be known as the Strip.  A nickname coined by another Vegas pioneer and former LA Police officer Guy McAfee, inspired by the famous California Sunset Strip.  If that name rings a bell for another reason, it may be because McAfee built the Golden Nugget and co-founded the city of Paradise Nevada so casino owners on the strip could avoid paying taxes to the city of Las Vegas by establishing themselves outside of the Las Vegas city limits. 

360VegasMark pics

360VV8 Photos

Official Photographer @japluto09

E-293: Icahnic Evil

Random Vegas 

3 years after the 1993 Dunes implosion destroyed one of the most iconic strip marquees in Vegas history, the Neon Museum nonprofit was officially launched after 16 years of planning.  One of their goals, prevent anything like that from happening again (VegasSeven.com) 

Twitpic of the week 

What most people don’t realize, is that, like most things, snow in Las Vegas isn’t the same as it is everywhere else.  It’s better.  Here, it's just mother nature's contribution to the spectacle.  And just like the decorations on display promoting whatever random celebration is going on that week, the following week, you’re unable to find a trace of the past.  Watching snow fall here is just as magical as it is everywhere else without any of the residual issues that come with a prolonged winter season.  @NickyFurmage shared our favorite picture of snow falling around the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign this week.  I was hoping for a great picture of Luxor covered in snow but unfortunately all that were shared looked like they were taking with a Motorola razor flip phone.

News

Carl Icahn Looking to Destroy Caesars Entertainment

Starbucks Closes @Bally's Grand Bazaar

LVCVA Selling Riviera Strip Frontage

Tattoo'd America Coming to LINQ

E-280: Flat Billed Baseball Hat...Slightly Eschew

Random Vegas

Celine Dion makes $500,000 per show.  For a typical 90-minute show, that' $5,555 a minute (@VitalVegas)

Twitpic of the week

Cynical snarkyness aside, the booze wall at the NoMad bar, shared this week by @EaterVegasis an impressive view.  Overwhelming in scope, the wall of good times glows gold with a seemingly endless variety of options to elevate your Vegas experience despite the glaring omission of bar top gaming.  It's been misunderstood that our incessant critique of Park MGM represented a dislike in the project which is not accurate.  Ours is one of disappointment in the gross over spending on a poorly planned, uninspired idea.  No one will dispute that Monte Carlo was in need of a reimagining.  But when you compare MGMs investment plan to what Caesars did to Imperial Palace, arguably the worst property on the Vegas strip, it's laughable just how foolish the plan of taking a low-end resort and turning it into one that competes with Bellagio and Aria was.  Despite all that, the amazing thing about Vegas is the people it attracts and the inspiration it evokes.  Fortunately, even the current court jester of Vegas CEOs Jim Murren can't bland that down to the infinitely forgettable.

News

Celine Dion's Residency Ends

Park MGM's Best Friend

Mabel's BBQ Opening Date Announced

MGM Park Jumps the Track

Pop Up Pizza Renovation

Taco Bell Cantina coming to FSE

LINQ Evolution Continues

E-270: The Howard Hughes of Podcasting

Random Vegas

When it first opened, one of the selling points for the Desert Inn was individual thermostats in all guest rooms (Vital Vegas)

Twitpic of the week

Thanks to the unbreakable rules I've made up in my head to govern the "Twitpic of the week" selection process, I've known who this week's winner was going to be for about two weeks.  Even thought I could break one of said rules and almost non one would know, considering I'm the only one who knows what they are, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that doing such a thing would be unthinkable.  Let me explain.  The 1st "Twitpic of the week" after a 360 Vegas Vacation is actually the "Twitpic of the TRIP".  A photo, usually taken by me, that best encapsulates the spirit of that 360 Vegas Vacation & inspired a monolog.  After the trip report, all candidates nominated since the last "Twitpic of the WEEK" was awarded are reviewed.  That means a photo has to stand out for 2-3 times longer than usual to earn, and in some cases retain, the right to the designation.  In some cases, this only reaffirms the reason a picture is eventually awarded the honor.  This week's winner was one that was able to pretty easily hold off potential usurpers.  Captured in the air, on approach to McCarran, official 360 Vegas Vacation photographer @Japluto09's photo of the strip over the wing of a plane creates a coastal beach illusion causing those familiar with the desert landscape surrounding the strip to do a double take to comprehend what they're seeing.  As if the view wasn't ethereal enough, placing the strip in the distance over said wing inspires correlations to stories of afterlife ascension.  This shot embodies peace and tranquility amidst chaos and disorder, wrapped in mathematical probability.  An equation that most certainly always equals an epic adventure on the horizon.

News

360 Vegas Vacation 7 Details

Stevens Group Expands Again

Solar Powered Casinos

Lego Vegas 2.0 revealed

Sports Betting Franchise Ownership Dilemma

Wynn Drops Parking Fees

The Hangover Experience @Madame Tussauds

LINQ Renovation Plans

More Convention Center Parking for LVCVA

E-267: Didn't Be Like

Random Vegas

The International (aka Hilton, LVH & Westgate) was the first Vegas property to use the 3-wing hotel design; also know as the hug concept.  The Mirage, Treasure Island and Monte Carlo all used the same concept.  Bellagio and Venetian are variations of the concept. Wynn & Encore are considered to be a further evolution of the practice.

Twitpic of the week

I've never been one to lament the virtual elimination of the small business.  I fully support property consolidation, if only so low rollers have more options while still being able to get credit for their action, as long as it's kept within reason.  Anti-trust regulations were created for a reason.  That being said, I get it.  Especially when I look at the Twitpic of the week, brought to you by @Summacorp.  It's a picture of Fremont St circa 1963.  And while all these structures still exist, in one form or another, the only one that is today, what it was in 63, is Golden Gate. The rest have been repurposed or absorbed by its neighbors.  And honestly, my real disappointment may simply be an excessive desire for more signage, or different signage.  Although, the more I look at this picture, the more I start to think, I prefer it the way it is now, minus the Fremont St Experience canopy.  Thank you, pictures, for allowing me to enjoy how things existed in the past while not forcing me to have to live with them in the present. 

News

I love Sugar coming to LINQ

More Plans for LINQ

Vegas Water Conversation

Electric Safari

PCP - 360 Vintage Vegas: Imperial Palace

Patreon.com/360Vegas

Imperial Palace.  Never have two words meant such polar opposites to people, depending on what side of the globe they live on.  To the Japanese, it is the elegant residence of the Emperor; a sprawling park like area with Edo Castle as its centerpiece, originally build in 1457.  In the 1980s, it's value was greater than that of the entire state of California.  Also in the 1980s, the Imperial Palace came to be known as a hotel casino on the Las Vegas strip.  Unlike its namesake, while inflation would increase the monetary value of the property, time would give it the reputation as one of the worst kept properties in the market, competing for the title year over year with Circus Circus.  And just like the property it shared that dubious distinction with, Imperial Palace’s ownership didn’t care.  Why should they?  They knew exactly who their demographic was and how to cater to it and they didn't seemed to be complaining.  Seeking the approval of those that looked down at their customer base wasn’t part of the business plan.

Despite the companies well-documented investment mismanagement, LINQ is Caesars proof of concept, showcasing that a total transformation can be done without imploding and starting over.  Its success no doubt encouraged other such projects in the market, like the complete reimagining of Bill's Gambling Hall, better known as Barbary Coast, into Cromwell and Monte Carlo's transformation into Park MGM.  As much as we support the preservation of history, Vegas has shown it should never be done at the expense of progress.  Preventing an abandon, outdated building from being destroyed or replaced by something better suited for the needs of today doesn't honor its place in history, it sullies its memory (I'm looking at you Moulin Rouge).  The same way no one likes to say goodbye to a loved one, time comes for us all.  Honor their memory by allowing them to pass on with grace and remember them the way they would have wanted to be remembered, bathed in neon at 2:30 in the morning.

E-264: Savory Yogurt

Random Vegas

In 1995, a monorail was built to connect the MGM Grand to, fittingly enough, the former MGM Grand, now known as Bally's.  It would later be incorporated into the Las Vegas Monorail, making MGM Grand one of its anchor bookend properties

Twitpic of the week

Neon, signage and history are just a few of my favorite things about Las Vegas.  The concept that is Brilliant! at the Neon Museum takes the "dream come true" metaphor to another level.  If Nightmare on Elm St has taught us anything, it's that a person can be aware that they are in a dream, while in a dream.  I'm pretty sure other movies have said that as well but I'm going with Nightmare on Elm St.  Write your own fuckin monolog.  One of the ways one can help the subconscious recognize that they are in a dream is by identifying the things that are just slightly out of place from the way they are in reality.  Take the Stardust sign, shared here by @RaisingLasVegas and brought back to life by the Brilliant! light show @Neon Museum and such an experience can be described as a "dream come true" to some. But take a step back on the "come true" part and look closer at what you're seeing.  Yep, there it is.  Those are two different fonts being used.  The A is from the original font used at the property known as Electra Jag. The rest is the Futura Typeface font that replaced it in 1991 (some argue Helvetica, whatever).  And that's when you realize it; this isn't real, this must be a dream because these two fonts never existed together in reality.  Hold on, don't freak out, this a cool thing. You're aware you're in a dream. Try doing something cool like flying or something without consequences like playing triple zero roulette. Write a random sentence, and read it during the show, in a cadence that sounds like, your wrapping up this monolog.

News

Zorkfest Individual Events Announced
Promocode - Zork360Insane
MGM Explores Wynn Acquisition
Yogurteria Coming to Palazzo
 Aria Esports
Park MGM Pool Price Points
Kind Heaven Coming to LINQ
Chocolate Chair Coming to Grand Bazaar
Knights Vow

E-253: Tears For Fears of Cirque

Random Vegas

There is a small thematic sub-text of cirque’s Beatles LOVE being the band’s last concert? (Vegas Chatter)

Twitpic of the week

Palpable, in a word, is how I would describe @jenhaught's picture and this week's "Twitpic of the week".  The view of the strip, south of Paris, at night, taken from the Eiffel Tower experience is so intense it's almost tangible, also known as the actual definition of the word Palpable.  One of the most interesting effects views like this and ones available at the Mandarin Oriental or the High Roller is, while they are stunningly beautiful, they also create an intense desire to abandon said view and become a part of it.  It reminds one of the philosophy that there are two kinds of people in the world, Astronomers and Astronauts.  Astronomers observe and enjoy space from a distance, in the safety of familiar surroundings; while an Astronaut ventures into the vast unknown to experience it.  I get the impression the majority of people who love Las Vegas are the latter, even if only in Las Vegas.

News

Caesars Sells Harrah's

MGM Resorts hires sexual predators 

Auto Collection Closing at LINQ