360 Vegas

E-366: 360VVX Recap

 Random Vegas 
Celebrity chef deals with Caesars Entertainment require the personality to visit his or her Las Vegas restaurant(s) at least once each year for at least 24 consecutive hours.  Contracts also require the chef to be photographed in their restaurant(s) (Vital Vegas) 
Twitpic of the week 
 
A sizzling photo of just how sexy lightbulbs can be when you group thousands of them all together. Throw a couple mirrors strategically placed to overwhelm the senses in the best way it can be done legally and you get Plaza’s porte cashere, shared by @LasVegasLocally with a hat tip to @Summacorp.  Once your senses get done absorbing all this glowing awesomeness you realize the easter egg, the view down Fremont St as it was before Slotzilla and the canopy came to be.  Since we don’t see the Mint signage it can be determined that this photo is at least post Binion’s 1988 acquisition of the property. 
 
News
360VVX Recap

360 Vintage Vegas PCP: Tropicana LV

Tropicana is the kind of property in Vegas that everyone knows about but most don't spend much time at, which is a real shame.  Its contribution to the experiences available in the market is a unique blend of classic intimacy and affordable luxury.  Many properties in Vegas seek to transport you from everyday life to a personal version of paradise but the use of bright spaces gives it a feeling of warmth and carelessness.  Without excessive ornamentation or theming, Tropicana has succeeded in what can best be described as that happy place on a beach people can retreat to when the stressed of life reaches levels requiring such a place.   A truly transformative experience, all with the convenience of virtually any other imaginable adventure available just outside, brought to you as only the Las Vegas strip can. 

E-365: The Eureka Effect

 Random Vegas 
June 27, 2002: On the eve of a concert tour by the Who, bass guitarist John Entwistle is found dead in his hotel room at Hard Rock. The coroner determined that Entwistle died of a heart attack caused by cocaine use. (latimes.com) 
 
Twitpic of the week 
 
Inspiring, every time I see a shot of the Mint in all her swooping neon glory. It’s the animation that does it.  Taking something as common and as simple as a single light bulb.  Now multiply that by thousands and with some careful choreography you’ve now brought it to life with animation.  Even though we lost the Mint signage, we are fortunate that this animation is a common lighting trick deployed on Fremont St to this day.  Thanks for the reminder @las_when.
 
News
MGM Resorts Poolside Mobile Ordering
WhiskeyX @Cosmopolitan
Cirque Demand
Cannabis Lounges Approved
Dog Friendly Encore

PCP - 360 Vintage Vegas: Jackie Gaughan & the El Cortez

*Premium Content Preview
Patreon.com/360Vegas
There are a collection of men who helped build the city of Las Vegas during its formative years that didn’t have colored pasts.  Their origins are not linked to organized crime and their stories aren’t the sort of things people make movies about.  However they would become the shining examples that the gaming industry could not only exist without the Mob but could continue to grow. A fact that was established in 1941 and continues to endure to this day.  The El Cortez is the city’s oldest hotel casino to continuously operate under the same name and only the 2nd casino ever added to the nation’s historical preservation list.  It’s also the only casino on that list still open to this day.  This is the story of the people and the properties that shaped Downtown Las Vegas.

E-364: Maskless Assholery

Random Vegas 
Flamingo's cascading feathers signage, on display today on the southwest corner of the property, was created by artist and parade float designer Paul Rodriguez in 1976.  He was also the designer of the Clown marquee for Circus Circus Reno (Neon Museum & Research) 
 
Twitpic of the week 
 
The Eiffel Tower experience in all her French glory, glowing blue, white and red.  The 2/3rd replica of the arc de triomphe, the Paris balloon, it’s all there.  Its a postcard worthy snapshot from @maverickheli of another resort that has embraced its theme in the wake of detheming.  And doing so shows they know who its audience is and how to cater to them.  Continued thanks to MaverickHeli for providing unique perspectives that inspire impassioned monologues. 
 
News
Resorts World Entertainment Calendar
Maskless May
Caesars Slashes Entertainment

E-363: Covid Condoms

Random Vegas
In 1968, just before his 2-week residency in the lounge at the Riviera was coming to an end, Shecky Greene was informed that plans were to turn the showroom into a Keno lounge.
In an attempt to be funny, Greene came to the stage that final night and began chopping up the stage floor and giving out pieces to guests in attendance as souvenirs
The next morning, unaware of this antics, ownership informed Greene they were going to extend his run in the lounge for another month. (Vintage Riviera Research)
Twitpic of the week
The legend as I’m sure she’s looked to many of her patrons on many a nights.  This is El Cortez after a case of Coors Light and a tough night at the tables.  Magnificent and frightening.  Somehow sticky too, all communicated via their classic signage and usage of neon.  @zotaramichael shares with us a view askew.  A journey that no doubt comes with a story for the ages.
News
Palms Sale Confirmed
Wynn returns to 100% Occupancy
Star Trek Returns
2022 NFL Draft
A-Lot at Area 15

E-362: Question Mark?

Random Vegas
Tiesto and Zedd will make $250k per set during their residencies at Resorts World.  The average headliner club set lasts about 2 hours (@LasVegasLocally)
 
Twitpic of the Week
Possibly the best sign in Vegas history, the gold and maroon turret at the Dunes.  The biggest mistake in Vegas history was losing that sign to a publicity stunt as part of the implosion of the Dunes.  We can’t live in the past but thanks to pictures like @summacorp we can visit it.  Don’t lament that they are gone but appreciate what she gave us while she was around.
 
News
Palms Purchased
Harmon Site Purchased
Tao acquires Hakkasan
 
 

E-361: Then You Ruined It

Random Vegas
Mohegan Sun pays Virgin $18 million a year in rent (@VitalVegas)
Twitpic of the week
Only Vegas makes, or use to make, signage that is entertainment in and of itself.  This week’s winner by @Vegasnvrsleeps shows us two classic icons no longer with us, the Imperial Palace and the Flamingo plumb sign.  The two of them are mesmerizing.  Signage, when done right, tells a story about an experience.  In Vegas, that experience typically comes with a story about the best times you’ve had in your life.
News
Vegas RisesKaraoke ReturnsUsher Residency
Resorts World Commercial 
Brewery Row