360 Vegas

Random Vegas

Because they used the shell of the Marina Hotel, the entire MGM Grand project was considered a remodel rather than new construction.  Therefore, property taxes were set at the value when the Marina was built. (@AStotland)

Twitpic of the week

While it may be hard to wrap your head around, motels used to dominate the Vegas strip and beyond.  They must have seen the writing on the wall when hotel towers became the future of hospitality but that didn’t stop properties like the La Concha from continuing to try and compete in the market. In 2001, the property was approved to build a 520 foot tall hotel tower, a 645 square foot condo tower and a shopping mall.  In 2004 the La Concha was closed and demolished to make room for the new project.  The iconic concrete shell lobby was carefully dismantled and donated to the Neon Museum who reassembled it and use it as the attractions lobby.  The signage, shown here by @Las_when, is on display in the neon boneyard to this day.  The project was ultimately canceled for reasons unknown and the property has been sold multiple times.  It is currently owned by the Siegel Group and trust me, you don’t want these people opening a hotel/casino.  Think Circus Circus, Imperial Palace and Excalibur at their worst but strip out the themes.

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• 360VV14

 Do you have that one piece of media that you would like to check out, but never seem to get around to it? Like, you’re scrolling through Netflix, and there’s that one movie that you’re interested in checking out, but not this time. Or the next time, or the time after that. It’s always there, and you’re interested, but not interested enough to dive in at the moment. That, my friends, is how Blue Man Group was for me until recently.

I’ve never been one to mince words in my reviews, so I’ll say up front that I liked Blue Man Group. But I’m having a hard time describing Blue Man Group.  I left the theater thinking, “I don’t know what the fuck I just saw, but I’m pretty sure I liked it.” Kind of like a donkey show in Tijuana, but a little more family friendly.

Imagine colored paint leaking out of a member’s chest hole onto an under-lit drum that flashes brightly when struck, showing colored drops of paint splattering through the air. If you are thinking that this seems weird as fuck, you’re right, but there’s a sort of mystical coolness about this when BMG does it on stage.  Watch as they play wild instruments custom made from PVC pipe and create songs that are absolute bangers.They play songs that the group has created themselves, along with well-known classics like Beethoven’s Fur Elise, pop songs like Bad Romance, and even tease a little Freebird.

The theater is nice. It has a capacity of 830 people. There is a low slope on the house floor, so you may have people blocking your view.  I recommend row AA if you don’t want anyone directly in front of you, but you also don’t want to be splashed or singled out.

Shows are 2 - 3 times /day everyday of the week.  Tickets start at $49.  This is a great value show.  I also think it works well as a family show, or show to take the in-laws to when they decide they want to join in Vegas because you’re always going there.

Random Vegas

While already in use at multiple other businesses in the valley, the Las Vegas Club installed the 1st neon sign on a hotel gambling establishment in 1931 (Vintage Research)

Twitpic of the week

While there are many reasons to not like Caesars Palace, the architecture isn’t one of them.  The move from the Sarno block exterior to an aesthetic that more appropriately reflects the time and place its representing was masterfully applied.  Even though we know these are all recreations it still projects a sense of authentic grandeur.  I mean, whose eyes aren’t drawn to statues of topless females and concrete penises.  Thanks to @las_when for sharing a great representation of what we are talking about.

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• Happy Hour Deals

Random Vegas

By 1980, the states five dominate gaming entities were publicly traded companies.  They were Harrah’s, MGM, Del Webb, Caesars World and Hilton (Neon Metropolis)

Twitpic of the week

The concept was unique and interesting to begin with.  City Center, a city within a city.  So big it has its own fire department onsite.  Unfortunately, what we got was essentially a very expensive office park on the strip. While not pictured, Aria is a sexy bitch, but it was designed to usurp Bellagio as the premier property in the portfolio and to date, it has done no such thing.  While Veer towers have always captured our imagination the remaining resorts on property, include Vdara and Waldorf Astoria, don’t have casinos in them so there is no reason to even visit either of these properties, in our opinion.  It is amusing that the most popular resort in the City Center portfolio is arguably Cosmopolitan, a property they had to acquire and fold into the complex.  Thanks to @TheCrybabyvegas for sharing the view from his room during VV12.

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• Cyber Attacks

Random Vegas

There are over 130 unique employee uniform styles at the Aria.  Each uniform is equipped with a radio frequency ID chip (sincitytalk.com)

Twitpic of the week

Welcome to the new strip landscape, one populated by a mesmerizing giant cylindrical object proving that even LED can be done in an interesting way and not just as a giant rectangular TV.  It will come as no surprise that @maverickhelishared this new view.  Here we see the entire strip showcased with the Strat in the foreground all the way down to Mandalay Bay.  The Sphere, of course, stands out because of its uniqueness, not just to the market but in the world as the largest spherical object.  As with everything, someone will probably build one larger, probably in the middle east, unless it’s a huge flop but I don’t think Venetian owners will allow that to happen.  What the hell else are you gonna use that thing for if not its intended purpose.  Is the Sphere too big to fail or will it fail because its too big.  Time will tell.  We are hoping it doesn’t fail either way and instead became as iconic as the Fountians of Bellagio or the Mirage volcano.

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• Comps for Debts

Random Vegas

The myth is that casino carpet is busy to keep guests looking at the slots.  The fact is its to conceal stains as well as wear. (@VitalVegas)

Twitpic of the week

A breathtaking photo of @Caesars Palace from @maverickHeli.  An arial view of the property showing just how diverse and sprawling the property is.  This photo has it all, well, almost all.  It has the 6 different hotel towers, the Roman, Centurion, Fantasy (known today as the Nobu tower), Palace, Augustus, and Octavius towers.  It has the porte cochere and the famous fountains capped off by the Absinthe circus tent.  While I’ve been assured this tent is a permanent structure, I can’t help but wonder why Caesars didn’t build them something more on brand.  Perhaps the juxtaposition better suits the show’s theme.  Whatever the reason it’s a marvelous photo and one I’m happy to add to the Twitpic of the week collection.

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• Adele Disruption

Random Vegas

Silver Sevens deals live roulette again. That makes 67 casinos in the Las Vegas market that offer the game. There are 71 with table games. Of the four that don't deal roulette, three are small locals that only have blackjack. The other is Main Street Station. (@John_Mehaffey)

Twitpic of the week

Whenever we start talking about “locations” for 360 Vegas Vacations, think of this picture from @JustWonOne when we refer to center strip.  From the Horseshoe to Aria.  Just disregard that MGM marquee as it doesn’t serve our narrative and as we all know, it’s all about the narrative.  Or maybe you don’t know that but just go with it.  For the record, we consider South Strip to be Mandalay to Park MGM and north is Cromwell to Palazzo.  We expanded it beyond Mirage thanks to Flight Club Social Darts Experience, as I’m calling it.  All seriousness, this is a great photo of center strip.

• News

Random Vegas

Casino staff often use police code as shorthand when dealing with guests.  For example, a “408” means a drunk guest (@vitalvegas)

Twitpic of the week

It’s a hell of a view of west Fremont St, although not the view it used to be.  But that’s okay.  Business is business and the only constant is change.  Especially in this town.  So we’ll enjoy what we have and be grateful for it.  Or so help me I will turn this car around right now.  Anyway, thank you @cinamongirl for sharing your view from Oscar’s.  At least this view has been classed up by the giant LED showing the various former views down Fremont St.  Or was that a final shot at Plaza, showing them what they used to have, now reduced to a tv on the back of a concert stage.

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• Durango Las Vegas