360 Vegas

Random Vegas  Although argon gas was used as often as neon, the lighting method assumed the name “neon” to refer to the light produced by either gas. (Spectacular – A History of Las Vegas Neon)  TwitPic of the week  It’s the heart of the strip that simultaneously has the best view in all of Vegas available to guests of the north facing strip at Cosmopolitan, shared by @Vegas_Visual. This is a picture that often gets submitted for Twitpic of the week but often gets passed over because I see this view all the time. And while it is fabulous, it can’t win every week. But this week’s photo, taken in what looks like panorama captures the whole view as the eye gets to see it with Cosmopolitan, Bellagio and Caesars Augustus and Octavious towers in the shot. I love everything about this picture and the real-life trek that this is this area of the strip.  News New Years Fireworks New in 2025

Random Vegas Downtown Las Vegas has 6 of the world’s largest.  (Vegasexperience.com) World’s largest slot machine in Slotzillla (also the busiest and most successful urban zipline in the world) World’s largest keno board at 100 feet long outside of the D, World’s largest pint glass at Hennessey’s Tavern at 85 feet tall World’s largest working fire hydrant at 15 foot tall on Fremont East, across from the Western World’s largest fire-breathing praying mantis at Container Park World’s largest mechanical neon sign is Vegas Vic at 40 feet tall, although his mechanical parts haven’t worked since 1991 TwitPic of the week The year is 1964 and the Dunes is rocking in all her glory in the arial photo shared by@summacorp. Aside from the Diamond of the Dunes hotel tower and the turret marquee the thing that really gets my attention here are all the cars parked right up front. Something that used to be common on the strip when the properties primarily catered to automobile visitors. There are still remnants of this time in Vegas today just repurposed. I’m thinking specifically about Horseshoe and Caesars Palace. It’s a time in Vegas we are fond of because it inspired all the classic super pylon marquees we know and love. News 360 Vegas Book Update El Cortez’s $20 million refresh FTC Bans “Junk Fees”

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Random Vegas  Las Vegas is the number 1 wedding destination in the US and the 2nd in the world behind Istanbul.  TwitPic of the week  It’s a time whose lamentation has been well documented on this show. The evolution of Fremont St into the Fremont St Experience, shown here, in development by @Summacorp. Say what you will about the results, progress is sexy. Here we see the roads tore up as they are redeveloped into pedestrian walkways. Like getting a room with a view of the AC units, I appreciate these behind the scenes glimpses of progress in motion. Evolution is what made this city the place it is today and development captures that journey.  News 360 Book Update F1 in Vegas Murrenization Returns Stratosphere Projection Mapping

Random Vegas It cost the Harris/Walz campaign $900,000 to advertise on the sphere for a week (@_GrandPaD) TwitPic of the week Black and white photography is simply beautiful and inspires thought. This week’s winner by @Vegas_Visual shows off the Dunes in all her glory including the turret marquee, the Diamond of the Dunes hotel tower and the Dome of the Sea restaurant in stunning black and white. While a simple google search would reveal what the place looked like in color it’s more fun to imagine it. Truth is color takes some of the romance out of it, not like the elegance of black and white. News 360 Vegas Book Update Senor Frogs Closing Dirtiest Casinos Excalibur Wrongful Death

Random Vegas There is a scene in the 1979 movie Melvin & Howard that shows someone driving down the strip, past Flamingo and headed south. If you look close, when they get to the MGM marquee, Universal Pictures, the production company behind the film, covered up their rival MGM’s name from their unremarkable marquee. (@summacorp) TwitPic of the week She isn’t the newest or the prettiest but is Circus Circus really that bad? The answer is yes, she’s always been that way even when she first opened back in 1968. But when you’re a well-run property that prints cash why would you listen to the noise. This week@ATXVegasFanshared a picture of the property that for some reason I’m drawn to because it's still a Vegas property and it has a history. That’s apparently all you need for me to show you some love, even if your ownership doesn’t do it. News 360VV15 update

Random Vegas The original monorail was only a joint venture between MGM Grand and Bally’s.  It opened in June of 1995.  In the early 2000 it expanded to become the Las Vegas Monorail (vintagelasvegas.com)   TwitPic of the week It isn’t anything historic except that it was the first incarnation of the Caesars Palace sign, shared by @summacorp.  You can tell because it only uses 3 of the 4 pillars on the sign. Future versions added more sign boards and eventually grew to encompass 6 pillars of signage. It was never the tallest or the grandest, it’s just a great POV of a magnificent sign that captured my imagination. News 360VV15 Update Virgin Strike Tallest hotel proposed

Random Vegas This week in 1974 the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials began airing on NBC.  All (except the 1st) were taped in the Ziegfred Room at the original MGM Grand.  It went on hiatus from 80-83 after the hotel fire. The last was taped in late 1984 (@_GrandpaD) TwitPic of the week It’s beyond sad to see the Dunes turret marquee in pieces, as shared by @Vegas_visual. A marquee among marquees. A game changer. Its destruction was a giant wake-up call to all who loved the city, it will continue to grow and evolve at any and all expense. Nothing will stop this city from evolving into whatever it needs to be to continue to be one of the most popular tourist destination in the world. So we have to be grateful for what we have and enjoy it while we have it, or risk getting your heart broken. News 360 Book Update When We Were Young 2025 A’s Stadium Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace Caesars Sales

Random Vegas For a time, Las Vegas had the three tallest neon signs in the world as the Dunes sign rose to 180 feet, the Frontier’s sign rose to 184 and Stardust’s most iconic sign rose to 188 feet to be the tallest sign in the world for the decade to follow (Spectacular – A History of Las Vegas Neon) TwitPic of the week Oh come on Harrah’s, how is that riverboat casino not like a 1,000 x better than the homogenized casino you have now.  In this week’s picture by @las_when, we not only get to enjoy the riverboat again but its neighbor Imperial Palace.  Then just for fun take a look to the right at all that undeveloped real estate in between Excalibur and Caesars. You can tell this picture is from the mid 90s because they are working on the land that will become the Fountains of Bellagio. The savvy viewer will spot Aladdin across the street from all that land.  This POV is from Treasure Island, the same view that helped us fall in love with the city for the first time in 2006. News 360 Book Update

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Random Vegas  The largest free standing LED sign in the world is Aria’s marquee at 260 feet high and 65 feet wide  TwitPic of the week  Only in Vegas can a building grow. For example, look no further than Caesars Palace. This is a property that opened as a 700-room resort and today has almost 4,000. More than that, its multiple expansions took over an entire city block.  Say what you will about the interior layout this property is sexy as hell, especially shared via @maverickheli's unique POV. I’m not sure which I prefer, the original with the Sarno blocks and teal backlighting or the more authentic Greco roman esthetic. Either way, she’s a looker.  News 360 Kickstarter Bed Bug Scars Sick New World 2025 LIV Las Vegas Closing Bally’s Tropicana Plans

September 2024

Random Vegas  The temperature in Las Vegas reached 100 degrees six times in Oct 2024.  Between 1937 and 2023, It hit 100 degrees in October a TOTAL of 6 times. (LasVegasLocally)  TwitPic of the week  A unique perspective of a unique lady in Vegas history. The Tropicana was called “the Tiffany of the strip”.  The nickname is said to come from the property’s shape as a necklace. That POV was captured with week by @_GrandpaD. We are honored that we got to be there for her demise. She will forever have a special place in my heart as a result.  The saddest part of this story is that Tropicana was profitable before it closed, just like another icon many feel was gone before its time, Stardust. News G2E 2024 Slot Vultures Halloween In Vegas

Random Vegas Most people know the story about Sands boss Carl Cohen knocking two of Frank Sinatra’s teeth out after one of his legendary temper tantrums.  But did you know that a similar situation happened at Caesars Palace?  Sinatra wanted credit to play $16k a hand at baccarat but the casino limit was $2k and he was already being allowed to play at $8k a hand.  When he was told no, Frank of course got angry and made a scene that included some threats.  In response, the hotel’s executive vice president pulled a gun on Sinatra.  He was later booked for assault with a deadly weapon but charges were later dismissed.  That man’s name was Sandford Waterman.  Sinatra didn’t finish the rest of his engagement at the property but eventually returned and apologized. TwitPic of the week Thank you 1968 for existing and for the photographer that captured this view, shared by@Summacorp, of the Stardust marquee in all her massive glory. This sign is one of the most iconic in Vegas history and thankfully was saved by the Neon Museum. Here’s to hoping they reignite her in 2027 when the museum will relocate to the Arts district. News Venetian Tier Match Vegas 101 Coldplay in Vegas

Random Vegas Clark County paid $4k for the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in 1959.  In 2008 they paid $400k to build the first 12 parking spaces. (@Vegas_Visual) TwitPic of the week It may not be as glorious as the original, but Fremont St is still stunning as shown by @FSELV.  Even the Fremont St Experience canopy stretching 4 city blocks is beautiful in its own way.  Arial views of Vegas give us a change to appreciate the collection of awesome we get to experience as humans.  I’m so grateful for the ordinance that requires neon to be preserved downtown. News Review Journalism Caramella Celebrity Gambling

Random Vegas Over $40,000 per year is collected and donated to charity from coins tossed into the Venetian canals and fountains (VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week This week’s winner by @Bluestorm2000 perfectly sums up the appeal of Vegas, sometimes things just line up and despite the odds and the house edge, sometimes you just win.  That’s why we gamble, for those moments.  Here we have a picture of Bellagio with the sun acting as a solar crown to the peak of the building.  What else can you say about this building that hasn’t already been said.  Nothing I can think of this week. News Top Rated Hotel Casinos

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Surly dragon, sexy showgirl, and cute puppies. If I told you the best magic show in Vegas right now is starring a short, unkempt, surly Englishman in a poorly-fitting sequined dragon costume, you would probably question my opinion.  But Piff the Magic Dragon is hands-down the most entertaining magic show I’ve seen in Vegas, and that includes all the celeb-magicians. Caesars Entertainment snatched up a contract with Piff in 2015 after he appeared on America’s Got Talent. He was no stranger to Vegas, having worked in the Cosmopolitan’s Rose.Rabbit.Lie and Spiegelworlds’s Vegas Nocturne in 2014. He also toured as a supporting act for Mumford & Sons during their 2012 tour and is on their album cover for “Babel.” I first saw Piff in 2020, shortly after he was moved from the tiny Bugsy’s Cabaret (the same place you can currently see Wayne Newton and X-Burlesque) to the 700 seat Flamingo Showroom due to social distancing requirements. Mrs. Jaydubs describes Piff as “that surly uncle who comes to the party, and you don’t want your kids around him because you don’t know what he’s going to say. But he tells the best stories.” This is pretty accurate. I brought the whole family to see him during spring break and tried not to mentally cringe as he dropped S-bombs during the show, but 1) they’re already hearing it at school and 2) they were so captivated by Piff’s bombastic magnetism that much of it flew past them without registering. Plus: Mr. Piffles. Piff’s chihuahua in a little dragon costume is definitely a gimmick, but Mr. Piffles is so adorable that the gimmick is forgiven. When we last saw Piff, Mr. Piffles was so tired that he fell asleep onstage during his bit. I fear the tiny pup is not long for this world. Piff’s greatest strength is his mis-direction. His biggest trick starts at the beginning of the show, but he doesn’t bring it home until the end. He slowly revisits the trick, building on it and adding layers of complexity. You start to wonder where he’s going with all this seemingly random stuff until it all comes together at the end in a very impressive way. If you've ever wanted to see a dog in a dragon costume driving a car, have I got a show for you... Part of Piff’s schtick is his surly, rude demeanor. And it’s mostly schtick, as he is a super nice guy. He heads out into the Flamingo gaming floor after the show to take pictures with any and all audience members. If you want to get a taste of his act, check out his full special “Reptile Dysfunction” which is free on YouTube. But don’t watch it all until you’ve seen him live so you don’t spoil any of his tricks. Then come back and watch the whole thing after you’ve seen him live and watch the whole thing, because it’s fucking hilarious. Piff is my answer for the best magic show in Las Vegas right now. He may not have the best tricks - I don’t really know enough about magic to say what the best tricks are - but he is by far the most entertained I’ve ever been at a magic show in Vegas, and he’s the only magician I’ve gone back to see more than once. Piff works well in the Flamingo Showroom Audience fuckery factor: So there’s definitely some audience participation in this show. Frankly, I haven’t seen a magic show that didn’t have volunteers or some type of audience involvement. There’s several instances in which Piff asks for volunteers for the audience, but none that I can recall in which people were chosen at random. The showroom itself is gorgeous and reminds me of old Vegas. Seating is comfortable and available at a variety of price points. Seat styles range from “chairs in a row” to table and booth seating. There is drink service during the show, but Mrs. Jaydubs got terribly sick from one of their specialty cocktails, so maybe best to stick with bottles and cans. Shows are currently nightly at 7, dark on Fridays. Tickets start at around $50.

Random Vegas If you’re dealt a winning hand in video poker and accidentally fail to hold some or all of the cards before hitting “deal/draw”, some casinos, upon request, can review the last hand played and pay you what you would have one. (@VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week It’s the best view I’ve ever seen of the mistake in the desert, shared by @VitalVegas.  The giant MGM lion entrance formerly on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana.  It still seems like a silly superstition that designers should have known about.  Apparently, Asians consider it bad luck to walk under the mouth of a lion or some variation on that theme.  So, they avoided entering the property via this entrance.  In response, MGM decided to tear it down just 3 years after opening.  It’s one of the largest architectural missteps in Vegas history. News Hughes/Silver Slipper Myth Riviera Plans U2 UV Las Vegas Ad

Random Vegas Another reason the Strip began to outpace Fremont St was theming.  By the 50s the western motif was outdated and abandon by new properties opening on the strip.  This is why a more sophisticated client was attracted to the area. While on Fremont, the western motif was alive, well and expanding.  (Spectacular – A History of Las Vegas Neon) TwitPic of the week History in the making, literally.  This week’s winner goes to @FSELV for a picture of the Fremont St Experience canopy under construction.  We lament on this show the loss of the black sky to frame Fremont Neon but respect what the Fremont St Experience did to draw people back downtown.  It is in that spirit that we celebrate this photo. News 360 Vegas Live Boring Co Update