Tropicana Changes

Hi Vegas fans,
Not long ago, I was singing the praises of the Tropicana, noting how much they were doing to change an older, kind of run down place into a new, hip Miami-beach themed hotel. Well... it has not been working out so great for them. I'm kind of surprised, because despite the idea that themes were much more popular in the 1990s in Las Vegas than they are now, the facelift and renovations seemed to be just what the ol' joint needed. Alas.

There have been numerous changes since the fall of 2011. Out went Nikki Beach, Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, Gladys Knight and - for a while - the Mob Experience (not to be confused with the Mob Museum, which opened to much fanfare in February 2012).  But they are trying.

The Mob Experience re-opened, and the Las Vegas Advisor recently reported that Hollywood's Laugh Factory comedy club will take over Brad Garrett's spot. Nikki Beach may be gone, but SPF (unofficially it stands for Swim Play Flirt) is following the trend toward sexier, adult-themed party pools. Although it's not a topless venue, I would not be surprised if the coming expansion includes some kind of topless experience. The Bagatelle Beach and Nightclub will replace the current, short-lived RPM nightclub on April 1.

So here's what I love about the Trop and about Vegas. There's a sense of optimism. When one opportunity doesn't work, there is always another idea and another reason to get excited. Las Vegas works very hard to capture your hard-earned entertainment dollars. They are persistent and determined to make things happen. And in a city where there is a LOT of things happening, that can be tough. But they're trying. That's good news for those of us who like to visit Las Vegas and be entertained. Just sit back and watch it happen.

I'll be soaking it in again soon. I can't wait to visit the Trop and see what's happening there. I'll be sure to report back and let you know. Until then, remember the most important thing... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.

Viva,
Mike

Mike Tyson's One Man Show

Former heavyweight champ, Mike Tyson, will perform his one-man show, entitled "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - Live on Stage" at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 13-18. Ironically, the MGM is the same venue that Tyson got hungry and decided to snack on Evander Hollyfield's ear in a 1997 bout.

It's always a little disappointing to me to see an exceptional athlete or entertainer peak so quickly and then decline even faster. It is difficult to stay at the top - there are always people chasing you, critics, distractions - but it seems the faster they rise, the harder they fall (see Lindsay Lohan).

I'm not sure what to make of Tyson's decision to venture into theatrical performance. From the interviews I have seen with him lately, he's trying to turn his life around. And much like Wayne Newton, there are reasons I want to pull for him, I want him to do well. It would be too easy to want him to fail and then say "he had it coming." I like success stories.

But I'm not sure this is the way to do it. It seems odd to me that he has taken this path to try to turn the tables and reach out to people. I'm always a little leery of people seeking the spotlight to regain favor after it was the very same spotlight that showed their flaws. It does take guts, though, and that's something that Tyson has a-plenty. It still seems strange, though... but after all, life is pretty strange.

Viva,
Mike