Hi Vegas Fans,
Trouble in Paradise?
Lots of news these days about how the economy is affecting tourism in Vegas. Then there's the restaurant market, which is also having trouble. And now nightclubs are getting busted for illegal activities. Station casinos are filing for bankruptcy protection, major projects are being put on hold, shows are folding...
Despite the news, Vegas is still a great vacation spot for those of us who love to gamble, look at pretty lights, consume our favorite adult beverages, see some great shows (and some skin), eat, and generally let our hair down. Viva Las Vegas indeed.
Free!
And, in this troubling economic time, what could be better than free? With no strings attached? Nothin' - so take some time today or tomorrow to try to win a really cool luggage tag by partaking in my scavenger hunt. It's only three questions and will take you a few minutes. I draw a random winner each month.
I will be looking for new treasures the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Vegas is calling!
Hi Vegas fans,
Almost there
I'm one month away from my trip to Sin City. In my mind, I'm already winning all of my double-downs in blackjack, hitting my numbers in craps, and collecting on my 00 winnings at roulette. Just kidding on that last one. If you've read my book, you know that I don't play roulette. Especially a double-zero wheel!! But I do hope to win a little cash money on this trip.
August is a tough time to tool around in Vegas because it's so dang hot, but I am still looking forward to my favorite activities, including hanging out, casino hopping, drinking another rum and coke, listening to my custom-made Vegas tunes (I create some for each trip), and general goofing. Yup, good times.
Photos
I also plan on taking a bunch of new pictures on my next trip. I love to get up early, zoom down the Strip, and snap some digital goodness. And I know a lot of you do, too. If you've seen my Flickr group, you know that it contains over 2300 pictures and about 200 members. That's a variety of Vegas pics!
And so I want to bring some of those shots, and others, to my website. I am reaching out to the Vegas fan community and asking you to send me one Vegas photo that you have taken that you think would look great on the home page of my website. I'll choose the best ones and display each for 2 months. And, of course, I will give the author credit for the photo. This is a great way to display your talent, and a nice way for me to say thanks to all of you who visit my site!
For more information, email me (mattisano@yahoo.com) or visit the website. I'll be sure to brag about your photos the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Almost there
I'm one month away from my trip to Sin City. In my mind, I'm already winning all of my double-downs in blackjack, hitting my numbers in craps, and collecting on my 00 winnings at roulette. Just kidding on that last one. If you've read my book, you know that I don't play roulette. Especially a double-zero wheel!! But I do hope to win a little cash money on this trip.
August is a tough time to tool around in Vegas because it's so dang hot, but I am still looking forward to my favorite activities, including hanging out, casino hopping, drinking another rum and coke, listening to my custom-made Vegas tunes (I create some for each trip), and general goofing. Yup, good times.
Photos
I also plan on taking a bunch of new pictures on my next trip. I love to get up early, zoom down the Strip, and snap some digital goodness. And I know a lot of you do, too. If you've seen my Flickr group, you know that it contains over 2300 pictures and about 200 members. That's a variety of Vegas pics!
And so I want to bring some of those shots, and others, to my website. I am reaching out to the Vegas fan community and asking you to send me one Vegas photo that you have taken that you think would look great on the home page of my website. I'll choose the best ones and display each for 2 months. And, of course, I will give the author credit for the photo. This is a great way to display your talent, and a nice way for me to say thanks to all of you who visit my site!
For more information, email me (mattisano@yahoo.com) or visit the website. I'll be sure to brag about your photos the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Photo Contest!
Have you taken a great snapshot of the Strip? Outstanding homage to the outskirts? Detailed digitals of downtown? Then your photo could be prominently displayed on the home page of Simplifying Las Vegas.
Email me (mattisano@yahoo.com) 1 photo (landscape preferred) and include a few words about it, and anything you'd like to tell me (why you'd like it displayed on the site, etc.). The author will be credited for the shot. I will pick my favorite six photos. Each will display for two months and then will be archived. I will take entries until August 16, 2009.
Viva,
Mike
Email me (mattisano@yahoo.com) 1 photo (landscape preferred) and include a few words about it, and anything you'd like to tell me (why you'd like it displayed on the site, etc.). The author will be credited for the shot. I will pick my favorite six photos. Each will display for two months and then will be archived. I will take entries until August 16, 2009.
Viva,
Mike
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Vegas News n' Notes
Hi Vegas fans,
Two items caught my attention this week:
Harrah's plans revealed:
Harrha's has decided to tear down the model of tearing down old casinos and building new ones. A few years ago, they purchased a lot of land behind the Flamingo. Everyone was convinced that they would build casinos and casino-like stuff.
Well, surprise! They are planning to build a walkway between the 'Mingo and O'Sheas and are calling the project Project Link. This walkway will contain an avenue of restaurants and bars, ending at a huge Ferris wheel, where you can see what happens in Vegas (mostly, you'll see other Harrah's properties).
A few notes on this project:
- I like the idea, especially considering another casino would just mean more traffic mid-Strip, and folks would be stuck in their cars around this area.
- The article points out that "Las Vegas has long needed a Strip-fronting dining district like the one Harrah’s is proposing..." but I'm not so sure. There's a ton of foot traffic on the Strip, and the design is such that you can easily stop in to a number of places and grab a bite or a drink. I think this will add to that experience, but to make it sound like it has not existed, well, I think that's a stretch.
- And Downtown has the Fremont Street Experience. It's the same kind of concept, of course downtown has casinos added to the mix.
- More restaurants may be adding competition to an already crowded market. My brother-in-law recently sent me this New York Times piece, which discusses the challenges for the Vegas restaurant market.
- It'll take some time to build Project Link given the economy and the scale/expense of Harrah's proposal, so don't look for it any time soon.
Vegas Sign Vandalized, Cleaned Up
I'm not going to post pictures of the crimes committed against the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. It sickens me. The good news is that the sign has been refurbished, and you can now take pictures of it again without the graffiti.
Why someone would do something like this to a historic landmark is beyond me. Go spray paint your house if you want to express yourself.
That's all for this week. I hope to get some good shots of the Welcome sign and other sights the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Two items caught my attention this week:
Harrah's plans revealed:
Harrha's has decided to tear down the model of tearing down old casinos and building new ones. A few years ago, they purchased a lot of land behind the Flamingo. Everyone was convinced that they would build casinos and casino-like stuff.
Well, surprise! They are planning to build a walkway between the 'Mingo and O'Sheas and are calling the project Project Link. This walkway will contain an avenue of restaurants and bars, ending at a huge Ferris wheel, where you can see what happens in Vegas (mostly, you'll see other Harrah's properties).
A few notes on this project:
- I like the idea, especially considering another casino would just mean more traffic mid-Strip, and folks would be stuck in their cars around this area.
- The article points out that "Las Vegas has long needed a Strip-fronting dining district like the one Harrah’s is proposing..." but I'm not so sure. There's a ton of foot traffic on the Strip, and the design is such that you can easily stop in to a number of places and grab a bite or a drink. I think this will add to that experience, but to make it sound like it has not existed, well, I think that's a stretch.
- And Downtown has the Fremont Street Experience. It's the same kind of concept, of course downtown has casinos added to the mix.
- More restaurants may be adding competition to an already crowded market. My brother-in-law recently sent me this New York Times piece, which discusses the challenges for the Vegas restaurant market.
- It'll take some time to build Project Link given the economy and the scale/expense of Harrah's proposal, so don't look for it any time soon.
Vegas Sign Vandalized, Cleaned Up
I'm not going to post pictures of the crimes committed against the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. It sickens me. The good news is that the sign has been refurbished, and you can now take pictures of it again without the graffiti.
Why someone would do something like this to a historic landmark is beyond me. Go spray paint your house if you want to express yourself.
That's all for this week. I hope to get some good shots of the Welcome sign and other sights the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Vegas To-Do List
Hi Vegas fans,
I've been thinking about all the cool stuff I wanna do on my next trip. I really would like to see Blue Man Group at the Venetian and perhaps the Pinball Hall of Fame. That and gamble till the cows come home.
But I was compiling a list of stuff to do in Vegas for my brother, whose wife is not a gambler. Here are just some of the things I came up with:
Viva,
Mike
I've been thinking about all the cool stuff I wanna do on my next trip. I really would like to see Blue Man Group at the Venetian and perhaps the Pinball Hall of Fame. That and gamble till the cows come home.
But I was compiling a list of stuff to do in Vegas for my brother, whose wife is not a gambler. Here are just some of the things I came up with:
- Wine tasting (good stuff... not the kind in the box that I drink)
- Jazz on the Lake (Sat nights at Lake Las Vegas)
- Red Rock Canyon
- Arts District downtown
- Liberace Museum
- Atomic Testing Museum
- Ethel M Chocolate Factory
- Natural History Museum
- Old Mormon Fort (you can pick up an extra wife there, I think)
- Planetarium and Observatory
- Springs Preserve
- Botanical Park
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Comings and Goings
Hi Vegas fans,
As the summer heats up, so does the action in Vegas.
Comings
Stayings
Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo. He just extended his contract for 6 more years. I haven't seen him, but I hear he puts on a good magic show. Magic just isn't really my thing. Never saw Siegfried & Roy, but now I wish I had. Chis Angel's Cirque du Soleil show, Believe, has not received good reviews thus far and has been tangled up in some controversies.
I did see Penn & Teller a few years back at the Rio, and they took a different angle to illusion. They are more myth busters than magicians. They even show you how some tricks are performed.
I liked the show. I wouldn't say I loved it, but that may have been due to the circumstances, which were not Penn & Teller's fault. We had to wait a long time to get into the theater because the air conditioning was not working. And, when we did get in there, it was still a little stuffy, which made it a little difficult to enjoy the show.
But I digress.
Goings
I've got a lot of work to do between now and then, and I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun stuff to report the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that Simple.
Viva,
Mike
As the summer heats up, so does the action in Vegas.
Comings
- Coming soon, that is, a Gambling tab to the site. It'll have some tips and observations about trying your luck in Las Vegas, and I'll have a guest commentator, too.
- Also, I'm thinking about putting a message board on the site. Could be fun and informative... more on that soon.
- My Question of the Day about Bathrooms in Las Vegas is scheduled for July 5th on the Las Vegas Advisor. This is what my life has come to. Writing tidbits about opulent outhouses. And I love it!!!
Stayings
Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo. He just extended his contract for 6 more years. I haven't seen him, but I hear he puts on a good magic show. Magic just isn't really my thing. Never saw Siegfried & Roy, but now I wish I had. Chis Angel's Cirque du Soleil show, Believe, has not received good reviews thus far and has been tangled up in some controversies.
I did see Penn & Teller a few years back at the Rio, and they took a different angle to illusion. They are more myth busters than magicians. They even show you how some tricks are performed.
I liked the show. I wouldn't say I loved it, but that may have been due to the circumstances, which were not Penn & Teller's fault. We had to wait a long time to get into the theater because the air conditioning was not working. And, when we did get in there, it was still a little stuffy, which made it a little difficult to enjoy the show.
But I digress.
Goings
- The Social House at Treasure Island. According to the Las Vegas Advisor, TIs upscale restaurant will close for good pretty soon.
- Me. To Las Vegas, that is! In late August, I'll be there for 5 glorious (and hopefully profitable) days.
I've got a lot of work to do between now and then, and I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun stuff to report the next time I.... Go to Vegas. It's that Simple.
Viva,
Mike
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