Ok Vegas fans,
These two topics are not linked, so get your minds out of the gutter. I just happened to notice stories about both on the same day. Let's take a look at each one:
Hooters files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. I think we all saw this coming. Here's why. Hooters in many cities is an edgy, forbidden fruit type of deal. In Vegas, it's mild -at best. On my last trip to Vegas, my buddy and I visited it to see if they had good blackjack/craps rules. They did not. We thought that the Hooters brand might attempt to draw customers in with fun, sexy dealers, bikini bull riding, or something else of value. They did not. The whole joint kind of reeked of mediocrity and boredom. Not what you want in a Vegas casino.
Las Vegas wedding chapels see a huge decline in business. People just ain't gettin' hitched in Vegas like they used to. The destination wedding is a little extravagant. But I say it's worth it. Where else can you have Elvis perform at your ceremony? Or, if you're in a hurry, just stay in your car and pull up to the next window. Easier than fast food.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Flamingo Website
Hi Vegas fans,
As you know, I tend to rail on Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC) for a few main reasons. First, their table games typically have horrible rules, especially for us average Joes. Second, they try to build consistency and brand recognition but in doing so have taken unique properties and turned them into blah. Finally, navigating (and even looking at) CEC websites is a painful experience.
For a major corporation who has a stake in all things Vegas, they sure don't make their sites very appealing. Remember your dad's old paisley ties that were wide enough to be bibs? Remember how you wanted to hurl when he kept wearing those well into this decade? That's how I typically respond to CEC websites.
However, I like to be a positive person. I like to give credit where credit is due. I like to avoid hurling. So here it goes.
The Flamingo website contains a cool video on the home page that makes me think maybe, just maybe CEC is starting to turn it around. Now, granted, it's a modest little video that only lasts about 30 seconds, so it's not like it's going to win a Webbie or anything. But it's good. Be sure to watch it (at 30 seconds, you can't go wrong), but here's a synopsis:
It begins with an old station wagon, complete with a radio (not a stereo with a CD player or Auxiliary jack for your MP3 player, just a radio that you tune to stations) and an old analog clock. It drives into the desert, and then you see the sparkle of a pool. The familiar Flamingo sign is out of focus, but you can see the classic Vegas neon lights, and you know we're getting closer. Then, some beautiful women. Of course. A woman puts on her lipstick, then there's scenes of them by the pool. The Flamingo sign comes into focus. Then, fellas in sunglasses are enjoying a drink. Everyone looks happy. Then the station wagon drives off into the sunset.
What's so great about this? Here's what I like about it:
And that's the feeling I get from the video, in a nutshell. The guys driving the station wagon aren't just going to meet some gals. They are going to meet some gals in Vegas, and they're going to have fun at a classic stop on the Strip. Bingo.
Now, if they would only change their blackjack tables to pay 3:2 instead of 6:5 in the 6 deck shoes, I might just play there....
Viva,
Mike
As you know, I tend to rail on Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC) for a few main reasons. First, their table games typically have horrible rules, especially for us average Joes. Second, they try to build consistency and brand recognition but in doing so have taken unique properties and turned them into blah. Finally, navigating (and even looking at) CEC websites is a painful experience.
For a major corporation who has a stake in all things Vegas, they sure don't make their sites very appealing. Remember your dad's old paisley ties that were wide enough to be bibs? Remember how you wanted to hurl when he kept wearing those well into this decade? That's how I typically respond to CEC websites.
However, I like to be a positive person. I like to give credit where credit is due. I like to avoid hurling. So here it goes.
The Flamingo website contains a cool video on the home page that makes me think maybe, just maybe CEC is starting to turn it around. Now, granted, it's a modest little video that only lasts about 30 seconds, so it's not like it's going to win a Webbie or anything. But it's good. Be sure to watch it (at 30 seconds, you can't go wrong), but here's a synopsis:
It begins with an old station wagon, complete with a radio (not a stereo with a CD player or Auxiliary jack for your MP3 player, just a radio that you tune to stations) and an old analog clock. It drives into the desert, and then you see the sparkle of a pool. The familiar Flamingo sign is out of focus, but you can see the classic Vegas neon lights, and you know we're getting closer. Then, some beautiful women. Of course. A woman puts on her lipstick, then there's scenes of them by the pool. The Flamingo sign comes into focus. Then, fellas in sunglasses are enjoying a drink. Everyone looks happy. Then the station wagon drives off into the sunset.
What's so great about this? Here's what I like about it:
- It's perfect for the web. They pack a ton of good stuff in half a minute. Lots of good images, cool music, and few spoken words. Even with the sound down, this is a fun video to watch.
- It blends the modern and the classic. It's in black-and-white, but yet you get a sense of modernism through the pool and the young folks enjoying drinks.
- It has character. This is what I'm craving from CEC. Nowhere in the video does the narrator say "Flamingo" or "Caesars" but you know when he's talking about "a place" he means that the Flamingo has always been a Vegas staple. That's their niche - Ben Siegel and pink flamingos. 1946 and a cool pool. Showgirls and art deco. Now blend that with modern Las Vegas and you have something.
And that's the feeling I get from the video, in a nutshell. The guys driving the station wagon aren't just going to meet some gals. They are going to meet some gals in Vegas, and they're going to have fun at a classic stop on the Strip. Bingo.
Now, if they would only change their blackjack tables to pay 3:2 instead of 6:5 in the 6 deck shoes, I might just play there....
Viva,
Mike
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Simplifying Las Vegas Website... it's gettin' there!
Hi Vegas fans,
I've been chipping away at the website. You'll notice new stuff on the Home page, and the tables are slowly but surely coming along. Updating the tables takes a lot of time. I always learn so much by visiting the properties' websites and doing research on other Vegas sites. Sometimes I spend more time on a single property than I expect.
Take Encore, for example. That's a tough one. Encore is of course linked to Wynn, so when I go to the website to see what new restaurants, shows, etc. I can find, I wind up spending time trying to figure out what belongs to Wynn and what belongs to Encore. Essentially, these two properties are linked. But I like my website visitors to get a good sense of what the difference is between these properties, even if the differences are subtle. If you're searching Simplifying Las Vegas on you smart phone or tablet, you don't care if Encore and Wynn are sister properties... you want to know where XS is so you can dance your booty off until dawn. So when you search and see it's in Encore and not Wynn, you're saving yourself some time searching for it.
That's what I'm aiming to do with both my book and website. Make your life easier to find the stuff you want. That and give away fun stuff. Heck, I've given away a bunch of luggage tags since 2008, and I plan to keep giving them away. I want you to have a luggage tag on your bag, so please fill out my three-question trivia contest for your chance to win. I give one away every month. Same with the t-shirts. Don't miss out on your chance to win! No strings attached, no purchase necessary, no shoes no shirt no problem! This is Vegas, after all.
Please keep visiting the site and commenting on the blog, the forums (VegasTalk) and more. Always feel free to shoot me an e-mail with questions or comments. I love hearing from you, Vegas nuts!
Keep on the lookout for Simplifying Las Vegas 2012, coming soon...
Viva,
Mike
I've been chipping away at the website. You'll notice new stuff on the Home page, and the tables are slowly but surely coming along. Updating the tables takes a lot of time. I always learn so much by visiting the properties' websites and doing research on other Vegas sites. Sometimes I spend more time on a single property than I expect.
Take Encore, for example. That's a tough one. Encore is of course linked to Wynn, so when I go to the website to see what new restaurants, shows, etc. I can find, I wind up spending time trying to figure out what belongs to Wynn and what belongs to Encore. Essentially, these two properties are linked. But I like my website visitors to get a good sense of what the difference is between these properties, even if the differences are subtle. If you're searching Simplifying Las Vegas on you smart phone or tablet, you don't care if Encore and Wynn are sister properties... you want to know where XS is so you can dance your booty off until dawn. So when you search and see it's in Encore and not Wynn, you're saving yourself some time searching for it.
That's what I'm aiming to do with both my book and website. Make your life easier to find the stuff you want. That and give away fun stuff. Heck, I've given away a bunch of luggage tags since 2008, and I plan to keep giving them away. I want you to have a luggage tag on your bag, so please fill out my three-question trivia contest for your chance to win. I give one away every month. Same with the t-shirts. Don't miss out on your chance to win! No strings attached, no purchase necessary, no shoes no shirt no problem! This is Vegas, after all.
Please keep visiting the site and commenting on the blog, the forums (VegasTalk) and more. Always feel free to shoot me an e-mail with questions or comments. I love hearing from you, Vegas nuts!
Keep on the lookout for Simplifying Las Vegas 2012, coming soon...
Viva,
Mike
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Casino Games and Las Vegas Odds
Hi Vegas fans,
Do you like math? Me neither. I'm not fast enough to count cards at blackjack. But, I know enough to play the good games and stay away from the bad ones.
There are plenty of sites and books that will give you the odds for the various games you can play in Vegas. The odds will vary slightly depending on the casino's rules. However, the breakdown is pretty similar - video poker and blackjack are the best player advantage games, assuming you find the tables/machines with the best rules and play perfectly every hand. Baccarat and craps are also good games. Slots, big wheels, keno and double-zero roulette tend to have the worst odds in the casino.
A lot of people think that the games with the better odds are harder to win or harder to play. Not true - it just takes a little practice. Take craps - the table is big and the felt has a bunch of stuff on it. But if you want to make your life easier (and make the plays with the best odds), just stick to the basic bets: pass line (backed up with odds - the only true fair shake you'll get in the casino) and come bets (backed up with odds). After you try it a few times, or watch other players do it, you'll see how easy it is.
Also, give yourself a break and don't feel guilty if you use a little of your money for the games with not-so-great odds every once in a while. The last time I was in Vegas, I was losing pretty steadily at blackjack. One night I decided to just throw $20 into a Wheel of Fortune, and for some reason I won $40.
You never know... but, you'll win more (and keep your losses to a minimum) if you stick to the games with the best odds.
Viva,
Mike
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Staying at Aria Could be "Scary-a"
Hi Vegas fans,
In case you didn't hear, MGM and CityCenter have had a rough week. Think you're job's tough? Try this:
1. Eve the Nightclub closed temporarily at Crystals due to financial troubles. This is Eva Longoria's joint, and I think she has a few spare dimes, so don't feel too bad.
2. The unfinished Harmon hotel was deemed unsafe. Ok, so they can build the Veer towers, that lean at unimaginable angles, with no problem. But the Harmon? I think they used silly putty instead of cement or something.
3. The coup de grace, the kicker, was the discovery of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at Aria.
I still like MGM and their properties. Much better than Harrah's. Chalk this one up to a bad week. If you have stock in MGM, hold on to it. Just know that it's going to lose a few points this week.
Viva,
Mike
In case you didn't hear, MGM and CityCenter have had a rough week. Think you're job's tough? Try this:
1. Eve the Nightclub closed temporarily at Crystals due to financial troubles. This is Eva Longoria's joint, and I think she has a few spare dimes, so don't feel too bad.
2. The unfinished Harmon hotel was deemed unsafe. Ok, so they can build the Veer towers, that lean at unimaginable angles, with no problem. But the Harmon? I think they used silly putty instead of cement or something.
3. The coup de grace, the kicker, was the discovery of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at Aria.
I still like MGM and their properties. Much better than Harrah's. Chalk this one up to a bad week. If you have stock in MGM, hold on to it. Just know that it's going to lose a few points this week.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Hey! What Happened to the Visit Las Vegas Web Site?
Hi Vegas fans,
I'm a big fan of updating web sites - making improvements, adding new stuff, creating new content, and so on. But, you have to make sure the changes are in the right direction. The new Visit Las Vegas site is different, and there are some things I like about it, but I'm not sure it's better than their previous site. Hmm.... As I'm thinking about it, here's a pros and cons list:
Pros
I'm a big fan of updating web sites - making improvements, adding new stuff, creating new content, and so on. But, you have to make sure the changes are in the right direction. The new Visit Las Vegas site is different, and there are some things I like about it, but I'm not sure it's better than their previous site. Hmm.... As I'm thinking about it, here's a pros and cons list:
Pros
- Streamlined navigation - it is easier to find what you are looking for with the new drop-down lists
- Cool images - nice, big pictures that promote fun
- More content - because they have made their navigation simpler, you can find more information faster
Cons
- Generic look - although the images are nifty, it looks a little like most other websites you've seen
- Maps - they used to have the best Vegas maps on this site, but they've moved them to their sister site, lvca.com. The maps on Visit Las Vegas are more generic.
- Missing persona - you used to be able to create your own persona on the site, complete with a Visit Las Vegas-generated nickname. Mine was something like "wild biscuit." But that has gone away, and now my biscuit is dry.
- Itinerary builder - I'm not a big fan of they way they do this. You visit the site, picking out the things that you like, then add them to your itinerary. On my site, I give you a different approach, and of course it is also free. If you want a customized itinerary, you can get one when you purchase my book.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
3 Cheers for the Riviera
Hi Vegas fans,
The Las Vegas Advisor recently reported in a response to a Question of the Day that the Riv is making some improvements. I for one think this is great news and am looking forward to seeing them thrive and set a pattern for the rest of the North end of the Strip.
On m
y first trip to Las Vegas, almost 20 years ago, my friend Steve and I stayed at the Riv. Back then, we walked a lot - heck, we were 20 years younger. We had the Stardust, the Dunes, the Desert Inn, and the Sahara. We also had Vegas World, but we didn't visit it for some reason, and Circus Circus. The only ones left intact in that group are the Riv and Circus Circus. MGM owns Circus Circus, and it has a definite niche with Adventuredome and a huge RV park. The Riv is now independently owned (Barry Sternlicht) and I really like the direction he is taking with the Riv for three reasons:
The Las Vegas Advisor recently reported in a response to a Question of the Day that the Riv is making some improvements. I for one think this is great news and am looking forward to seeing them thrive and set a pattern for the rest of the North end of the Strip.
On m
y first trip to Las Vegas, almost 20 years ago, my friend Steve and I stayed at the Riv. Back then, we walked a lot - heck, we were 20 years younger. We had the Stardust, the Dunes, the Desert Inn, and the Sahara. We also had Vegas World, but we didn't visit it for some reason, and Circus Circus. The only ones left intact in that group are the Riv and Circus Circus. MGM owns Circus Circus, and it has a definite niche with Adventuredome and a huge RV park. The Riv is now independently owned (Barry Sternlicht) and I really like the direction he is taking with the Riv for three reasons:- Focus on better gaming. I really, really hope this concept takes off and other casinos take notice. The Riv is putting in more slots and table games. Good ones, too. For slots, they're putting in Wheel of Fortune. As far as slots go, it's a good, fun game with a bonus feature that players love. And how about this: single deck 3:2 blackjack. That's unheard of anywhere these days, much less the Vegas Strip! There are probably some other rules that will negate the 3:2 advantage (I'll guess doubling-down on only a 10 or 11, limited splitting, etc.), but still it's worth checking out. They are also including single-wheel roulette and 10x odds in craps. They may never get me outta the casino!
- Renovations that make sense. Most Vegas visitors these days expect new restaurants, fancy clubs, high-end shopping and Broadway-style shows. But the Riv is not going to compete with Wynn, Venetian, Bellagio, Aria or Cosmo on these grounds. They are also not going to follow the path of the failed Sahara and try to win whales and high rollers. Instead, they're looking at making a fresh start with what they have - a modest theater, good restaurants, and a nice, big pool. They're not trying to be who they aren't, which leads me to...
- Bringing back Classic Las Vegas. Don't get me wrong. I love the modern casinos and enjoy strolling through them, even if I can't afford everything in them. But this town is big enough for all types of casinos. The Riv is part of Vegas history - it opened in 1955 and has undergone a ton of changes. The current facade was completed in 1990 - the brainchild of architect Nikita Zukov. Like many of the older, independent casinos on the North end of the Strip, it has struggled to make its mark. But there's hope and possibilities, and I think the new owner and staff are taking it in the right direction.
I'll be staying at the Riv again in September. I can't wait. For the first time in my life, I've even upgraded the room because it was only a few sheckles more and I thought it would be nice to stay somewhere other than the very least expensive room in a hotel. 
I'm looking forward to visiting Crazy Leroy's Sports Book and winning several college football parlays. I'm looking forward to spending some time in the giant pool in the afternoon shade. I'm looking forward to having a few beers at Queen Victoria's British Pub. Most of all, I'm looking forward to embracing part of classic Las Vegas history again.
Viva,
Mike
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