LVA in the Media

September 30, 2009

Although hype has centered on the December debut of CityCenter, a second big project at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip will open at almost the same time. Construction is concluding on PH Towers at Planet Hollywood, twin 52-story towers with a combined 1,200 units. Originally planned to be all timeshare, only 240 will now be sold in that capacity, while the remainder will be Planet Hollywood hotel rooms. Planet Hollywood fielded more than 13,000 applications for PH’s 800 jobs, which will be filled by late next month.

In Limbo: Less positive is recent news about the idol Echelon Place construction project on the north Strip. After more than a year since work stopped at Boyd Gaming’s Echelon, workers are prepping cranes for removal and a complete site shutdown is underway. The timetable for reinitiating work could run up to three more years.

Fright Dome: For the eighth year running, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus has been transformed into Fright Dome until Halloween. This year, two new haunted houses are based on the Saw horror movies, with replicas of evil-mastermind Jigsaw’s "games." Otherwise, it’s fright business as usual: extreme scare zones, five haunted houses, freak shows, strobes and lasers. Tickets are $34.95 and it’s not necessarily a kid’s event, with warnings issued for children under 12.

Arcade Play: Here’s one for the kids. All day on Tuesdays, play two games for the price of one at the Excalibur Fantasy Faire Midway. The midway is open from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Question: I’ve seen several stories about people living in tunnels under Las Vegas. Is that for real?

Answer: Yes. Las Vegas has an extensive storm-drainage system, including long tunnels; along with its inhabitants, the tunnel system was chronicled in the book Beneath the Neon by Matt O’Brien. After being interviewed by Britain’s newspaper The Sun, O’Brien was approached by more than 40 media outlets all over the world, which accounts for the press you’ve seen.

September 30, 2009

Although hype has centered on the December debut of CityCenter, a second big project at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip will open at almost the same time. Construction is concluding on PH Towers at Planet Hollywood, twin 52-story towers with a combined 1,200 units. Originally planned to be all timeshare, only 240 will now be sold in that capacity, while the remainder will be Planet Hollywood hotel rooms. Planet Hollywood fielded more than 13,000 applications for PH's 800 jobs, which will be filled by late next month.

In Limbo: Less positive is recent news about the idol Echelon Place construction project on the north Strip. After more than a year since work stopped at Boyd Gaming's Echelon, workers are prepping cranes for removal and a complete site shutdown is underway. The timetable for reinitiating work could run up to three more years.

Fright Dome: For the eighth year running, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus has been transformed into Fright Dome until Halloween. This year, two new haunted houses are based on the Saw horror movies, with replicas of evil-mastermind Jigsaw's "games." Otherwise, it's fright business as usual: extreme scare zones, five haunted houses, freak shows, strobes and lasers. Tickets are $34.95 and it’s not necessarily a kid’s event, with warnings issued for children under 12.

Arcade Play: Here’s one for the kids. All day on Tuesdays, play two games for the price of one at the Excalibur Fantasy Faire Midway. The midway is open from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Question: I’ve seen several stories about people living in tunnels under Las Vegas. Is that for real?

Answer: Yes. Las Vegas has an extensive storm-drainage system, including long tunnels; along with its inhabitants, the tunnel system was chronicled in the book Beneath the Neon by Matt O’Brien. After being interviewed by Britain's newspaper The Sun, O’Brien was approached by more than 40 media outlets all over the world, which accounts for the press you’ve seen.

Britain’s leading tabloid newspaper, The Sun, ran a huge feature on Huntington Press’ Beneath the Neon by journalist Matt O’Brien.

Lovebirds Steven and Kathryn share a well-organized home in bustling Las Vegas. They have a neat, if compact kitchen, a furnished living area, and a bedroom complete with double bed, wardrobe and bookshelf featuring a wide selection including a Frank Sinatra biography and Spanish phrase book.

And they make their money in some of the biggest casinos in the world.

But their life is far from the ordinary.

Because, along with hundreds of others, the couple are part of a secret community living in the dark and dirty underground flood tunnels below the famous Strip.

 Click here to read the entire feature.

Britain's leading tabloid newspaper, The Sun, ran a huge feature on Huntington Press' Beneath the Neon by journalist Matt O'Brien.

Lovebirds Steven and Kathryn share a well-organized home in bustling Las Vegas. They have a neat, if compact kitchen, a furnished living area, and a bedroom complete with double bed, wardrobe and bookshelf featuring a wide selection including a Frank Sinatra biography and Spanish phrase book.

And they make their money in some of the biggest casinos in the world.

But their life is far from the ordinary.

Because, along with hundreds of others, the couple are part of a secret community living in the dark and dirty underground flood tunnels below the famous Strip.

 Click here to read the entire feature.

September 23, 2009

Opening dates for CityCenter, the gigantic metaresort on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, have been confirmed. Four of the six primary components of the complex will open in December: Vdara on Dec. 1, Crystals on Dec. 3, Mandarin Oriental on Dec. 4, and ARIA on Dec. 16. Veer (the residential component) and Harmon (in the midst of a redesign) will not open until 2010. MGM Mirage has begun hiring the more than 12,000 employees who will run the metaresort; this from a field of approximately 160,000 applicants.

Wayne is Back: The long-circulating rumor that "Mr Vegas," Wayne Newton, would be returning to the Las Vegas Strip has finally been confirmed. He’ll be celebrating his 50th year in Las Vegas with a residency at the Tropicana beginning Oct. 14 and running until April. Tickets for the Tuesday-Saturday schedule are already on sale and priced from $80 to $150.

New Club for Encore: Steve Wynn says he’ll build yet another nightclub, which will be the fourth for Encore/Wynn. Plans call for closing the Strip entrance to Encore, removing the driveway, and building a Strip-facing combination nightclub and beach club set to debut next summer.

Neon: The first neon signs have been installed on Las Vegas Boulevard north of downtown as part of the Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byways plan. The vintage sign from the Bow and Arrow Motel has been erected at the corner of the Boulevard and Bonanza Road. Soon to be installed nearby are the slipper from the Silver Slipper casino and the horseshoe from the top of Binion’s. In all, 17 restored neon signs will grace Las Vegas Blvd. from Washington to Sahara avenues.

Question: Does the video poker expert Bob Dancer still offer his free how-to-play lessons?

Answer: Yes, Dancer’s excellent free classes run every Wednesday at Eastside Cannery. All classes are in Marilyn’s Lounge—beginner classes at 1 pm and intermediate at 3 pm. Must be 21 to attend.

September 23, 2009

Opening dates for CityCenter, the gigantic metaresort on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, have been confirmed. Four of the six primary components of the complex will open in December: Vdara on Dec. 1, Crystals on Dec. 3, Mandarin Oriental on Dec. 4, and ARIA on Dec. 16. Veer (the residential component) and Harmon (in the midst of a redesign) will not open until 2010. MGM Mirage has begun hiring the more than 12,000 employees who will run the metaresort; this from a field of approximately 160,000 applicants.

Wayne is Back: The long-circulating rumor that "Mr Vegas," Wayne Newton, would be returning to the Las Vegas Strip has finally been confirmed. He'll be celebrating his 50th year in Las Vegas with a residency at the Tropicana beginning Oct. 14 and running until April. Tickets for the Tuesday-Saturday schedule are already on sale and priced from $80 to $150.

New Club for Encore: Steve Wynn says he’ll build yet another nightclub, which will be the fourth for Encore/Wynn. Plans call for closing the Strip entrance to Encore, removing the driveway, and building a Strip-facing combination nightclub and beach club set to debut next summer.

Neon: The first neon signs have been installed on Las Vegas Boulevard north of downtown as part of the Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byways plan. The vintage sign from the Bow and Arrow Motel has been erected at the corner of the Boulevard and Bonanza Road. Soon to be installed nearby are the slipper from the Silver Slipper casino and the horseshoe from the top of Binion's. In all, 17 restored neon signs will grace Las Vegas Blvd. from Washington to Sahara avenues.

Question: Does the video poker expert Bob Dancer still offer his free how-to-play lessons?

Answer: Yes, Dancer’s excellent free classes run every Wednesday at Eastside Cannery. All classes are in Marilyn’s Lounge—beginner classes at 1 pm and intermediate at 3 pm. Must be 21 to attend.

September 7, 2009

Las Vegas Advisor publisher Anthony Curtis was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for their 2-part feature on Las Vegas’ current economic woes and their effects.

September 14, 2009

British newspaper The Independent ran a feature about Las Vegas’ storm drains and their subterranean population, for which they interviewed Matt O’Brien, author of acclaimed Huntington Press title Beneath the Neon and founder of Shine A Light, a campaign to help the forgotten "tunnel people."

"The isolation inside the tunnels can also be dangerous," says O’Brien. "If something goes wrong, or if a resident feels threatened, they can forget about the cops helping; there’s no one to call."

Click here to read the complete article.