A columnist reminisces about the old days in Vegas and takes a look at today's offerings.

The first review from the Las Vegas version of Spamalot which just opened at the Wynn. Our listing for the show.

Bare, Las Vegas' newest entry in the local "Euro-style" pool scene (read: "topless") at the Mirage has a website with a good look at the new pool and desired image. Click on all the categories for additional pictures and also click on the tiny thumbnails which appear at the bottom of the page once you've looked at one of the categories.

Rita Rudner, the author, actress and comedian, is extending her stay at Harrah's for three more years. Just thought you'd like to know...

We mentioned earlier in "Know It A.L.L." that LegoLand in So. Cal was building a 2 million Lego brick version of the Strip. Well, now it's done. Here's an article with a couple of photos. Here's a fact sheet on the project with some interesting trivia.

The Palms and MTV's Real World Las Vegas are talking about returning to where it all started: the Real World Suite, built specifically for the original show and would include the original cast.

Snopes.com, the best place to investigate so-called urban legends, has a page on some Las Vegas myths and folklore that might debunk some of the gambling stories that make the rounds now and then.

The World Series of Poker has a few changes this year including starting nearly a month earlier so TV replays can avoid football competition, a new building at the Rio for the tourny and a wider variety of games.

The word we heard is that the rock 'n' roll lounge the Rainbow Bar & Grill, across from the Hard Rock, is closing down. That news is sorta known but the relocation news is generally classified. However, we'll spill the beans: the new home will be inside Sapphire Gentleman's Club. Not sure how that is going to work but we'll let you know when we hear.

The majority owners of Ultimate Fighting Championship, Palms owners Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta, have agreed to buy their biggest mixed martial arts rival, Pride Fighting Championships setting the stage for some mega-fights.
"This is really going to change the face of MMA," Lorenzo Fertitta said. "Literally creating a sport that could be as big around the world as soccer. I liken it somewhat to when the NFC and AFC came together to create the NFL."

LV metro Police are recommending that NFL football player "Pacman" Jones be charged with one felony and two misdemeanors in the "Melee at Minxx" during the NBA All-Star weekend. Police are unable to identify the actual shooter, however.

If you're a buyer of knockoff Guccis, Burberrys or Louis Vuittons you might want to grab 'em while you still can as people are working very hard at stopping the supply of this $600 billion industry.

The rebranding of the Aladdin into Planet Hollywood has been pushed back again, this time until "the end of the third quarter," according to Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl.
Work, however, is ongoing, and the front of the Aladdin is already being transformed with bright billboards.
The Desert Passage Mall is also being rebranded as the Miracle Mile, and the 50-story Planet Hollywood Towers is finally rising just south of the hotel.

Celeb chef Wolfgang Puck, owner of several restaurants in Vegas resorts, is changing his food-buying and serving practices. No more caged veal cows, no more enlarged duck livers, no more eggs from abused hens. Full list of practices.
"I want to feel good about killing which is why we drive the animals to the slaughterhouse in hybrid trucks." (Actually, Wolfgang didn't say that--I lied about that part. Sorry, my bad.)

Hugh Hefner celebrated his 81st birthday with his 3 "girlfriends" by watching Cirque's "Love" at the Mirage and partying with the cast afterwards. Even if Hef ain't bangin' 'em the foursome is always a good photo op.

A cool site dedicated to the history of resort implosions in Las Vegas. Everything you ever wanted to know about our ever-changing resort landscape.

How many Cirque du Soliel shows can Las Vegas handle? Six will be here for sure and maybe seven. The Luxor announced that they will open a new Cirque show in the summer of '08, this time teaming up with alt-magician Criss Angel.
"It's a Criss in Wonderland. He appears in a world he doesn't control and he has problems with girls, with giants, with evil," Director Serge Denoncourt said. "It's that kind of acid trip show. It's like being in Criss' head for two hours, which is something."
There's also an Elvis-themed Cirque looming on the horizon...

It's been an issue for years but how can all these clubs and resorts, especially in a union town such as this, hire the hottest bartenders and cocktail servers and not face discrimination issues? In the old days one would often see 60 year old cocktail waitresses stuffed into a supposed-to-be-sexy Caesars Palace server's outfit but that sight isn't so common any more.

After years and years of talk about a California to LV high-speed train, are we getting any closer?

Robin Leach has compiled a slide show of the sexiest shows in Las Vegas. It's fitting which one he starts with...

If you're visiting Las Vegas and seemed to have come down with a bit of coughing, sneezing, watery eyes or lung congestion you are not alone. The pollen count is extremely high right now and even people who never knew they had allergies seem to experience them in Las Vegas in the spring. Mulberry and Pine trees are the main culprits and mornings are the worst times. Pray for rain or temperatures of 104.

Word is, the Luxor is considering a name change. The name the execs decided upon first was "The Pyramid", which makes sense, but now there's talk of changing it to "Shapes" and adding buildings in the shape of a triangle, globe and a rectangle.

When Prince concludes his run at the Rio this week, he'll be replaced, not with another performer, but with a new nightclub. Latin America hotspot Coco Bongo, which is from Cancun, Mexico, is scheduled to open in April.

Want to add a bit of civility while over-dosing on the debauchery of the Strip? How about an afternoon tea at the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton or the Bellagio.

While you can't actually bet on it, one sportsbook has posted the odds on the upcoming season of Dancing With Stars.
Boxer Laila Ali is a narrow favorite over former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars IV." Ali is listed at 4-1 and Fatone at 5-1 at the Wynn Las Vegas race and sports book.
The rest of the odds are as follows: TV personality Leeza Gibbons, 7-1; country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, 8-1; Miss USA 2003 Shandi Finnessey, 10-1; NBA great Clyde Drexler, 12-1; actor Ian Ziering, 14-1; skater Apolo Anton Ohno, 15-1; Paul McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills, 18-1; supermodel Paulina Porizkova and "Cheers" mailman John Ratzenberger, 25-1.

If you get the sense that there are a lot of transplants from Michigan living in Las Vegas, it's not just your imagination...

Let's blame it all on the people from California!
I think they all just need a good spanking...

Jeff Simpson, biz editor of the Las Vegas Sun, has targeted the following hotels for the demolition block:
"No. 1: New Frontier. Owner Phil Ruffin has been promising to build a new megaresort on the site of the New Frontier since the last millennium, but has yet to announce a timetable. The property's management does the best job they can with the aging eyesore, but the New Frontier needs to come down, and soon.
No. 2: Imperial Palace. It's hard to believe that it is even tackier than it is profitable, but it is. And, as I've written before, the IP is home to the worst parking garage on the Strip.
No. 3: Sahara. The Los Angeles-based businessman with a deal to buy the Sahara says he's going to make the place a hip, happening spot, with new nightclubs and great restaurants. Unless plans call for imploding the existing structure, which is decades past its prime, the new owner is almost certain to fail.
No. 4: Circus Circus. Another property that targets the budget-minded demographic, Circus Circus is seedy, with a carnival theme that seems increasingly out of place in the modern Las Vegas. Once MGM Mirage finishes its big CityCenter project, the Circus Circus site would be a good place to point the company's redevelopment staff.
No. 5: Riviera. Arguably the last of the old-school Strip resorts, that's not enough reason to keep the Riv around much longer. Nor are its never-ending succession of billiards tournaments, Sweet Adelines conventions or cheesy shows. "

Joey Porter, now with the Miami Dolphins, and Levi Jones with the Cincinnati Bengals, were talking trash to each other at a Palms blackjack table on Sunday then took it out to valet where it erupted into a brawl.

There is land, there are plans and there is money. Will Harmon Avenue from Las Vegas Blvd. to Paradise Rd. (Planet Hollywood/Aladdin to the Hard Rock) be turned into the next Las Vegas Strip?

These have been relatively calm times as far as unions and Las Vegas resorts go but could the end of the peace be near? Union contracts that affect nearly 50,000 workers expire June 1st and the unions aren't looking too kindly at the trend of hiring outside operators to run restaurants, clubs and now entire hotels. Additional article

Normally, Las Vegas is the one to take another city's theme such as Paris, Venice, NYC, etc., and re-create it here. This time Carlsbad, CA, the home of LegoLand, has done it to us. Opening March 29th, as part of the Miniland USA exhibit, Miniland Las Vegas will open.
Using more than 2 million Lego bricks, the mini Vegas will show things such as Elvis impersonators, an exploding Mirage volcano, battling pirate ships, spraying NY NY fireboats and working versions of the Top of the Stratosphere rides.

Slot Machines are about to make a quantum leap into the 21st century with the merging of Silicon Valley and Las Vegas. The new slots will act much more like a computer where payouts and even the pictures on the reels can be changed in real time. For example, the cherries on the reels could be changed to Wayne Newton prior to his show and back to cherries once the show starts. Line up 3 Waynes and receive instant front row tickets!
Hackers oughta like the challenge of "playing" with computers that pay out jackpots...

Olympic Gaming will begin construction of a billion dollar hotel/casino near Southern Highlands making it the first resort visitors from So. Cal will see when they drive to Las Vegas on I-15.
The resort will be a bit larger than many of the off-Strip properties as it will have 3,200 rooms, a 120,000-square-foot casino and a 530-foot-high hotel tower.

In conjunction with the opening of The Pearl, the brand new, state-of-the-art concert facility at The Palms, iTunes will make available exclusive concert recordings beginning with the grand opening act Evanescence on March 17th.

Looks like a bunch of non-locals have purchased condos with the intent to "flip" 'em...

Yep, it's not just your imagination it really is warm early this year in Las Vegas, inducing pools like the Palms to open early.

If you are interested in joining the First Annual LowLife March Madness Challenge, fill out your bracket ASAP. The winner will get $100 and the top 3 winners will get gifties compliments of American LowLife and some of our sponsors. And just like American LowLife, the contest is free.
Here's the forum link for sign-up information and rules. It's also a good place to post smack about other contestants...

While casinos have long had cameras watching every move you make, now the Las Vegas Convention Center does, too, and sometimes they are even in a performer's dressing room...

Even though he spilled the beans on everyone involved and cooperated fully with the Feds, the strip club owner who started the whole bribe-a-commissioner campaign, Michael Galardi, still got 30 months in the pen.

An article with pictures about the two openings this week. While Lucky Strike is small for a bowling alley (10 lanes), Polly Esthers is 29,000 square feet divided into 4 theme rooms and can hold 1,000.
More on Lucky Strike from Robin Leach.

ShoWest is a big and, by most accounts, important convention here in Las Vegas that deals with big things like Big Movies and also big concession trays that will hold big tubs of popcorn.
Add: Lots of awards handed out, too.

The ol' Stardust Hotel will come tumbling down late tonight so if you hear a rumble or two from your room, don't be alarmed. Of course, you could watch it live either on the Strip of from a "demolition party" with an excellent view.

While downtown isn't everyone's cup of tea, there are good values to be had there. Perhaps the El Cortez' recently completed upgrades might entice.

A couple of non-traditional clubs are opening this week in Las Vegas. The new age bowling center & nightclub Lucky Strike Lanes opens it's doors with a Thursday celebration and former pop icon Debbie Gibson will open the Stratosphere's retro dance club Polly Esther's on Friday with host Danny Bonaduce

The legendary Stardust Hotel was imploded to make way for the multi-billion dollar Echelon Place. See video of the extensive fireworks and the explosion. (The actual explosion starts about 3 minutes into the video if you want to skip ahead.) Included is a video on the Top 10 Casino Implosions that's kinda cool.
Also: An article on the pre-explosion preparations that took place at the Stardust.

Here's a glimpse at a trade show where you can catch a good buzz: the Nightclub & Bar Show. And there were vodkas and more vodkas at the show...

If you need a break from the casinos, a short trip to Nevada's first and largest state park--Valley of Fire--might be in order.

After years of the south end of the Strip getting all the attention, the northern segment is finally getting it's due. With the sale of the Sahara and the huge Echelon Place replacing the Stardust, the focus is finally on the other end of Las Vegas Boulevard.

There have been a bunch of complaints about the reconfiguration of the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And the complaints continue: "The race will suck," said Kevin Harvick, who finished seventh (in Saturday's Busch race). "The paving is awful. It's rough. They had some guys that pave parking lots out there doing it. It's pretty awful."

We lose an hour to daylight savings time tonight so it's essential to party approximately 17% harder per hour*. Please don't let us down.
[*Source: American LowLife Bureau of Partying]

Rather than get stuck in the congestion of 160,000 fans trying to get to and from the NASCAR races, take a helicopter for a 22 minute round trip.

The big NASCAR races this weekend will attract 95,000 visitors and $130 million in non-gaming revenue which is one of the reasons many Las Vegas businesses look forward to this event.

With the massive influx of NASCAR fans this weekend, one columnist thinks we should have two races per year, not just one. And the 160,000 fans who will attend this Sunday's race will surely agree (at least until they attempt the drive back to Las Vegas after the race).

One of more off-beat shows on the Strip, The Amazing Johnathan, says he will be leaving the Sahara at the end of the year due to a heart condition. See further explanation at the bottom of the A.L.L. show listing.

Bellagio chef Jeff Henderson used to be a big-time coke dealer, then landed in prison and now will have a movie made of his life starring Will Smith. His recently-released best-selling book "Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, From Cocaine to Foie Gras" started it all.

Having played London and taken in numerous awards, including the Olivier Award for Best Musical, "Jerry Springer the Opera" is finally coming to America. The musical will preview on March 17 and 18, performed concert-style at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. We almost had Jerry Springer play himself in the Vegas production! See details.

Robin Leach, whose sources have been wrong before, is reporting that the Pittsburgh Penguins might be moving to Las Vegas.
Update: Looks like Mr. Leach is wrong again (i.e his NBA-team-in-Vegas prediction). Robin, stick to entertainment--you're striking out on sports...

The 42nd Country Music Awards Show will be held in Las Vegas again this year at the MGM on May 15th. The list of nominees has been released.

The Pussycat Dolls Casino-within-a-casino makes it less painless to lose money.

The first of at least five Vegas Grand Prix's should provide a much needed economic boost to dowtown when it winds 2.4 miles through the Fremont Street area April 6-8. The race and street festival is expected to attract 150,000 spectators.

The site of the original Ocean's 11 movie, the Sahara Hotel, will be sold to an investment group. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. It will be interesting to see what they will do with an aging hotel and 17.5 acres on the Southern end of Strip.

Check out a slide show on what some of the Palms Fantasy Suites look like...

The timeshare industry is big business as it contributed $2.8 billion to the state in 2005 and employs nearly 16,000 people. Timeshare owners seem to be bigger-than-average spenders while they are here, too.

While there are many stories about Michael Jackson regarding upcoming Las Vegas projects, some wonder if it's a viable concept overall...
Steve Wynn says "not at my hotel".

A new casino within Caesars Palace opens this Saturday and the grand opening guests will be none other than the namesakes of the Pussycat Dolls Casino and also Christine Aguilera. Not sure when the festivities will actually begin as the Dolls open for Ms. Aguilera earlier in the evening. They held auditions recently to staff the casino hotties.

An inside look at the Minxx melee which contradicts some of the news reports.

Mike Weatherford, a reviewer for the local newpaper The Las Vegas Review-Journal, ranks the topless shows in town.
1. "Fantasy" -- The Luxor revue has the most across-the-board appeal, with interesting choreography by Cris Judd balanced by live singing.
2. "Crazy Horse Paris" -- I need to catch up to whatever changes come with the renamed "La Femme." But for years, the MGM Grand revue has been a pricey but stylized confection, perhaps too sophisticated and demurely erotic for its own good.
3. "X Burlesque" -- Dance aficionados and rockers will form an unlikely alliance. But is it too hip to be a turn-on?
4. "Crazy Girls" -- This perennial is pushing 20 years in an agreeably seedy showroom at the Riviera. While not as accomplished as "X Burlesque," it is more simple and direct, particularly for fanny-packers who may be seeing their first nudie show.
5. "Bite" -- Female vampires and Styx songs at the Stratosphere are funny, but not erotic.
--As a postscript, I should point out that "Fashionistas," now at the Empire Ballroom, isn't topless and is too ambitious to be lumped in with the cabaret revues. But it's also more interesting and in many ways sexier than all of them.

Where to go, what's going on each night of the week around town!

Some fun lies people tell in Las Vegas. An example:
When bouncers at trendy clubs say: "It'll be about 20 minutes."
They really mean: "It would be about 20 minutes if you were a gorgeous female barely out of your teens and your top. For you, I'd recommend either Denny's or tipping me $100."

With the new smoking ban that was passed late last year, enforcement responsibility falls upon Health District Enforcers, who are generally medical personnel. Plus, they must cite the smokers caught-in-the act not the bar owners so there's still smoke in many bars & taverns.

We've been asked where to send donations to help the manager/bouncer who was paralyzed by a gunshot during an All-Star weekend melee at Minxx Gentleman's Club. Here's the address: "Tommy Urbanski Fund", Silver State Bank, 400 Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, NV 89074.