It looks like the Crown Las Vegas project, which was to be a super tall hotel tower at one point, is dead - at least in its current incarnation. Something will be built there someday, the question is what.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/17044791.html

My friend Chuck at VegasTripping.com/MacauTripping.com has opened a fund raising drive for another trip to Macau in 2009. Chuck is responsible for some of the best English language content on Macau including reviews, a trip report, and many photos. Of course, tripping from SoCal to China is pricey and he's letting the public vote with their dollars.

I think it's a worthy cause and I put a couple of bucks in myself - I want to see the content continue and while I'm thinking about my own trip, I got a lot more than my $20 donation in value out of his writing so far - I consider it well worth it and encourage you to donate if you are able.

http://www.macautripping.com/tripping/post.php?p=156

Another open topic for discussion.

One thing of note - I got some photos from Mike_Ch which I published:

http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/most_recent

Thanks Mike!

VegasRex is covering one of my biggest pet peeves in Las Vegas - people that don't know how to WALK. You'd think that walking would have been mastered at a young age - certainly by college... But no... It seems it is still a mystery here in 2008. People don't realize that not everyone wants to walk/stand at their speed and they make it impossible to get around them. How about a little courtesy for your neighbors?

Sometimes I think walking should require a license - something I can revoke for the idiots that don't get it.

http://www.vegasrex.com/2008/03/23/vegasrex-vindicated-again

Whew. I feel better now.

According to the WSJ (sorry, registration required), the Related Companies, no stranger to distressed Vegas developments, is looking at the Cosmopolitan project.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120613069739055703.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news

Thanks to Brian for the tip! Happy Easter!

Vegas Gang #4 has been posted and we now have a new Web site focused on that podcast:

http://www.vegasgangpodcast.com

The RSS feed has changed so please sign-up again if you'd like it in your podcatcher, in iTunes, etc... The site has a direct iTunes link.

Steve Friess picked up on the news from Wachovia that Elad is putting the Plaza Las Vegas project on hold due to the challenging credit market:

http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2008/03/plaza-put-on-hold-as-wynn-predicted.html

Very interesting, especially coupled with the Cosmopolitan news. Friess apparently just did an interview with Steve Wynn where the casino mogul predicted this.

Update: Elad, the developer, is denying the report so at this point this is in question.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/17/financial/f175003D71.DTL

Thanks Hail2Skins!

He's back!!!

Many thanks to Mike Ch for another installment of our 'Strip Walk' feature. This time we have shots of Encore, Echelon, Fontainebleau, City Center, the Mirage Volcano, Bellagio, Palazzo and more. It's great stuff.

The photos are available here: http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/most_recent

Mike's info follows after the jump. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Strip Walk: March 2008 - Encore Suites, Echelon, Fontainebleau, Wynn Las Vegas, Palazzo, Mirage Volcano, Bellagio, City Center, and More..."

Here's another Vegas book, but I'll skip this one:

Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos, by Tom Breitling

I've just deployed an early version of a special Las Vegas news headline app for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Mashing up headlines from this blog as well as a bunch of others, visit the following URL on your iPhone or iPod Touch to get up to the minute info:

http://www.ratevegas.com/iphonenews/

For those without one of the above mentioned devices, here's a screen shot for you to check out:

We talk the concept of 'free' and casinos, lots of fresh details on Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, Majestic's Vegas numbers, and more. This is a don't miss for Wynn fans.

The participants include:

Jeff Simpson - http://www.lasvegassun.com and http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com

David McKee - http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/blogs/dmckee/

Dave Schwartz - http://www.dieiscast.com

Chuck Monster - http://www.vegastripping.com

Direct Download: http://media.ratevegas.com/37-VegasGang03062008.mp3