Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide

Just when things seemed rather calm, and the only excitement was the approaching grand opening of the Aladdin, all **** breaks loose!

Starting at the far south end of the strip, just south of the Mandalay Bay, a golf course is being built. Right under the take off pattern of McCarran International airport! FORE!!!! What did you say? The tropical themed golf course, tentatively named Bali Hai, will be ready for play in early 2001. I hate the fact that there will be six HUGE billboards touting the course right on Las Vegas Blvd. What an eyesore!

The Mandalay Bay has lost Nordstroms in their still proposed retail mall. Will the mall ever get off the ground? Will construction ever resume? Your guess is as good as mine. Mandalay Bay has also announced the approaching completion of the "shark and tropical fish aquarium". Looks as though summer will pass before the attraction is complete.

The Tropicana has announced...nothing! Why not? Time for that place to be completely remodeled...well guess what folks...financing is in the works for a complete redo. The name may remain the same, but the decor may take on a Caribbean theme, rather then a tropical island theme. We'll have to wait and see.

The MGM Grand is grander! With the Mirage acquisition, MGM is now the largest gaming company in the world. They own NY NY too. A new tower may be coming to NY NY soon...soon as the lease is up on their neighboring property that now houses a small coffee shop. The end of the year for the new plans. The Polo Towers will complete it's tower addition (the exterior is complete) the end of July, allowing for even more time share occupancy.

The Monte Carlo, now joint owned by MGM and Circus Circus (don't know how they will work that out), will not undergo any changes in the near future. The Holiday in Boardwalk will soon hit the dirt...by way of implosion that is. Probably in the spring of next year, the Boardwalk will be replaced by an MGM owned "Generation X" themed hotel. I think that means an attempt to cater, for the most part, to a younger crowd, much like the Hard Rock Hotel and Mandalay Bay.

The NEW Aladdin opens August 17...as close to 100% as possible...what does that mean anyway?. http://www.aladdincasino.com

I think the Aladdin will be a surprise wonder on the strip. The Desert Passage on the strip will rival the Forum Shops at Caesars as far as design, attractions, and retail businesses. The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian will have to enjoy their third place seat! The Aladdin is shaping up beautifully and WILL be open and operating efficiently on August 17 as scheduled!

Take a look at recent photos at these sites:
http://www.vegaspix.com
http://www.vegasresorts.com
and my own photos updated weekly at: http://www.expage.com/page/vegas2k

Paris...we can now all agree that the casino is nice, but awfully crowded. Why did they have to cram those machines in so close together? Cash flow...that's my final...! ...I'm not going to say it! Bally's has undergone an exterior and interior "facelift". Very nice, nothing special, but nice.

MGM's Bellagio...is still Bellagio! In fact, the former Mirage properties including the Mirage, Treasure Island, and the Golden Nugget will remain much the same under Bobby Baldwin's management! (Mr. Baldwin learned from the best, and is now one of the best himself.)

Expect superficial changes at best. By the way, the Art Museum's closing is not the work of MGM execs...it is and was included in the original negotiations and discussions between Mr. Wynn and the MGM big boys. The Art is moving...more about this further down the page. The Flamingo will lose the Radio City Spectacular...it is time. Look for a Broadway style show as a replacement.

Harrah's has completed its renovation. Harrah's is now home to the only open air bar on the strip...located at the Carnival Court area between the Harrah's casino and the Imperial Palace. The Fairfield timeshare folks there may drive you nuts, but a simple "no thank you" is should suffice. If they hound you...just keep walking. Be sure to see Cook E. Jarr at Harrah's, Friday and Saturday nights at midnight.

The Imperial Palace, badly in need of a refurbishing, will NOT get a redo. The Auto Museum is really very nice. A surprise even to those that are not car buffs. The Imperial Palace's poolside Hot Hawaiian Luau-polynesian luau/show is a great early evening experience. $27.95 per person. Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:30pm. Check it out! Casino Royale is...casino Royale. Nuff said.

The Venetian is very nice. Beautiful inside. The Grand Canal Shoppes are nice, but leave me a bit cold. Maybe cobblestone instead of concrete floors might have been a nicer touch. The Venetian has announced that there are plans for Phase II, which will include another 3,000 plus room tower, making the Venetian the "Largest Hotel in the world" with over 6,000 rooms. They already claim to be the largest (they're not)...they probably also claim to have the loosest slots.

The Mirage...no major changes exept for the name perhaps? I doubt it. Danny Gans is still "wowing" the masses! Danny, we're glad all is well and you are back in action!

Caesar's Palace WILL be awesome when the recently announced renovations are complete. New restaurants, new adventures, new dance clubs, new exterior, and expanded Forum Shops. Caesar's will reestablish itself as the most awesome hotel/casino in Las Vegas.

Treasure Island...lots of speculation here. Seems the TI is one of the newly acquired MGM properties that has been mentioned in selloff plans. I don't think so. MGM will need a pedestrian bridge here to...DRUMROLL...the...er..."FUTURE OF LAS VEGAS" site...now lovingly known as "Wynn's World" The Desert Inn property...222 acres of property that could be cleared...and redeveloped into the single most incredible complex in the world!

Mr. Wynn will once again reinvent Las Vegas, and will reintroduce the North strip to the world!! The Art that Mr. Wynn displayed at the Bellagio will in the future be displayed at the soon to be renamed (possibly), Desert Inn Hotel. Mr. Wynn is a man of action! Expect an announcement before the end of the year, complete with artist rendering and completion dates.

The Showcase Mall will have the Nordstroms!...and a Bloomingdales and more! Ground has been broken and completion is scheduled for 2002!

The New Frontier has put off plans to implode the existing structure. New development financing is the excuse the media gave. I think Mr. Ruffin is smart enough to wait to see what he will have to do to compete with the likes of the future Wynn development. The previously announced San Francisco theme may go away as well.

The Riviera. Please, do something with everything behind the aging facade...then redo the facade!

The Stardust has repainted and de-neoned. Too bad, the exterior is rather plain. The "jumping" fountains out front are still fun. The interior is nice, but will get nicer with the addition of a convention center and retail area. Circus Circus is fun for the whole family...if you have a whole family...otherwise, it sure gets noisy in there. No changes planned for Circus. You must eat at The Steak House...the best, and most reasonably priced quality steakhouse in Las Vegas.

The EL RANCHO is coming down. The implosion plans will be announced next week. Nothing planned to fill the area as of yet. The property is now owned by Turnberry Place. Turnberry is building 4 (1 is nearly complete) luxury, multimillion $ condo towers directly behind the El rancho building. I would guess that a very highly end luxury resort may end up here...or an additional 4 towers filled with luxury condos.

The Sahara has finished refurbishing inside and out. It's nice! (Don't forget the $1 Black Jack tables here.)

The NASCAR Cafe in front of the Sahara is open. It's nice...if you're a race fan. It'll do well during racing events at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but not much to see otherwise. The SPEED Rollercoaster looks exciting. Not bad for a 20 second ride! You can see some of my photos at: http://www.vegaspix.com
The NASCAR Cafe website is: http://www.nascarcafe.com

The big empty lot across from the Sahara, owned by Sahara owner Bill Bennett is up for sale. Interested? It's a steal at $65 million! I am willing to take odds (not bet, just take odds) that a "major entertainment/theme park company" purchases and build a hotel/"major" theme park on this spot.

The Adventure Dome theme park next door at Circus Circus is a hit! This would help to keep families with kids at the far north end of the strip. It's so exciting! I just can't stand it! Keep your eyes and ears peeled...as if you don't already! I love this town!

Other news:

The Maxim was just sold to...??? . My thinking is that the purchaser, a company that became incorporated just days before the purchase, is in some way related to the current management team. We'll see soon.

The Embassy Suites will open a new hotel on Paradise (across the street from Wynn's new property)...boy, they must be excited...in June.

The Suncoast Hotel will open in Summerlin. The Suncoast, close to the slow to improve bookings, Regent, will open in the fall.

The Suncoast is owned by Coast Resorts of Gold Coast, Orleans, and Barbary Coast fame. At least they'll have a shuttle bus!

More about expanding, changing, growing, locals casinos in my next column!

Great sites to visit:

Les Kincaid has a Vegas lifestyles, cooking, wine, golf, recipes, and chocolates radio show. Visit this fun and informative website at: http://www.leskincaid.com

The Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide: http://www.lvol.com

MY links and photos pages: http://www.expage.com/page/vegas2k Over 400 archived Las Vegas photos in my photo album accessible from the site!

You want it? They'll get it for you...even in Vegas! http://www.localtreasures.com Please tell them I sent you!

If you haven't already seen this 3D interactive map...it is a must see! http://www.3dcityguide.com/LasVegas/maps/stripmap.htm It is awesome! Please tell the folks at 3Dcityguide that I sent you!

I'm so excited about what is going on in this town! There is something new announced almost every day!

Join me and hundreds of others on the Las Vegas Talk Discussion board for up to the minute information, and Vegas related "stuff" with Vegas Nuts just like yourself! http://www.lasvegastalk.com

As always your questions and comments are always greatly appreciated!

Your Vegas connection,

Gary Jacobson

With contacts in all facets of the hospitality, construction, entertainment, and convention industries, Gary Jacobson gives you an inside look at Las Vegas, as it was, as it is, and as it will be!!! Be sure to check back here every 2 weeks for a new column.
Do you have a question about Las Vegas that you would like to see Gary answer in this column? Email your question to Gary at: VGVEGAS@aol.com