143 years ago on October 31st Nevada became a state. While Las Vegas loves Halloween, it used to be even better around here as prior to 2000 we used to close down state offices, banks and a few other businesses on the 31st. It felt like a real holiday with many getting ready for some off-the-hook Halloween parties (even though it was really Nevada Day). Many visitors would say how perfectly fitting it was that a crazy state like Nevada had its official celebration on one of the crazier holidays. (more)

The man from "Camelot" and "Man of La Mancha", Robert Goulet, a long-time Las Vegas resident and showroom crooner, died this week of a lung disease. The big-voiced singer--winner of a Grammy, a Tony and an Emmy--first played Las Vegas at the Flamingo in 1963, riding the tide of his breakthrough role in "Camelot," and owned his valley home since 1974.
In the 1970s, Goulet became part of the Summa Corp.'s regular entertainment roster at the Frontier and Desert Inn, at least once co-billing with former wife Carol Lawrence. (more)

With Las Vegas being the center of the UFC universe, we tend to get a bit more info on what the MMA fighters are doing. However, we're still a bit confused with what one of the biggest names in the biz is doing.
Recently, Randy Couture announced his retirement from the UFC even though he had signed a contract for a 4-fight, 18 month commitment.
OK, so a guy can retire if he wants to, right? But the word is, he "retired" from the UFC because he wants a mega payday by fighting Fedor Emelianenko who recently signed with UFC rival M-1. But, of course, it's not about the money, right? Yeah, right. The drama continues...

Slate online magazine contends that gambling is getting nosed out in terms of importance here in Las Vegas, even to gaming companies, with shows, restaurants, nightclubs, rooms, shopping and condo sales providing more money. For example, in the second quarter, mega-operator MGM Mirage reported that casinos accounted for about 37 percent of overall revenues. At some of its properties, including the posh Bellagio, gaming provides only about one-quarter of revenues. The decline of gambling in Las Vegas.

Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Club uniforms' original designers masterminded what is known today as the only work uniform granted a U.S. patent. Who knew a cotton tail and bunny ears would come so far? "The uniform is sexy, not sexual," said Lorna Donohoe, vice president of retail for Playboy. "It's really all in the shape it gives a woman." The strapless corset bustiers pinch the hourglass' center to cause overflow in all the right places. (more)

Well, a real, live, wild and hungry bobcat was on the loose in the northwest part of town, going from Summerlin backyard to backyard chomping on exotic birds and housecats. Who knew we had bobcats? From the Associated Press:
Police killed a bobcat in the Las Vegas neighborhood of Summerlin late last week. (more)

It's a tricky juggling act: anti-terrorism agents tracking suspicious people around town without getting in the way of the big party that is Las Vegas. Here's a look at what the Joint Terrorism Task Force goes through when dealing with suspects in Sin City.

It's weird and wacky but that's why we love it! Here's a look at the annual Las Vegas Halloween concert/party known as Vegoose.
A final day wrap-up from some hurtin' party puppies.
The Vegoose band summary

Voted as "Best Cocktail Server" by the Las Vegas R-J's "Best of Las Vegas" four years in a row, the Rio Hotel has decided to make the outfits of the "Bevertainers" (who do singing, dancing and bottle juggling) even more alluring. We gotta check this out first hand...

He stabbed his estranged wife to death and shot the judge presiding over his divorce. His lawyer says he was insane because he abused recreational drugs to intensify his sexual encounters. He said he loved his wife so unconditionally that he allowed her to have sex with other men and women so that she could satisfy her sexual appetite. Or, was it other way around as has been contended, that she accommodated her husband's interests in alternative sexual encounters and his interest in "wife-swapping." In any case, the trial going on in Las Vegas right now is sure to portray swingers in a bad light. (more)

The San Diego fires have displaced so many people it's crazy so we thought we'd try and help. We've started a FORUM TOPIC and an RSVP EVENT LISTING for LowLife members to open up their homes for our So. Cal friends. If you live in California or a neighboring state and can offer assistance, check out the links. If you are in need of temporary housing, please contact those listed directly and discuss the details.
We want you back on your feet and partying with us soon!

While it may be a bit early to run around singing "Ding, dong, the witch is dead!", considering the season and the magnitude of this week's court of appeals ruling, I think I'll do it anyway!
While many people may not know a whole lot about it, everyone in the adult industry is breathing a sigh of relief (at least) over the court ruling on 2257 this week. And though you may not be aware of the federal statute in question, anyone who takes photos or movies of themselves or others having sex was potentially affected (like you and me!). Ring the bells! Federal statute 2257 has been declared unconstitutional and overbroad by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals!! Woo hoo! (more)

If you're into crack and the working girls that go with it, ya have to walk a bit further to score. When Beauty Bar first opened downtown on East Fremont 2 1/2 years ago, the area was run down and full of the unsavory lowlife (as opposed to our brand of savory LowLife!). Now, with the addition of the Griffin, the Downtown Cocktail Lounge, a bunch of neon and street patrols, East Fremont is becoming a safer place to party and a much worse place to buy crack and crack hos (now ya gotta walk 100 yards further).

If you think the Las Vegas Strip is booming with construction, then the Cotai Strip in Macao is Las Vegas on steroids.
Las Vegas Sands is spending more than $12 billion on 11 different hotel-casino projects along the Cotai Strip. Two other companies are spending almost $5 billion combined on two other large Cotai Strip development sites.
In other words, think of MGM Mirage's massive CityCenter project, under development on the Las Vegas Strip, and multiply it by five.
(more)

As you probably know, deadly, wind-whipped wildfires have triggered the largest evacuation in California history, prompting more than 500,000 people to flee ahead of flames that destroyed more than 1,300 homes and continue to threaten tens of thousands more.
UPDATE: Cooler weather and lower winds have helped fire relief efforts.
TO HELP THOSE DISPLACED...
We started a LowLife "Open Home" feature to try and help those displaced. If you live somewhat close to So. Cal and can spare a room for awhile, RSVP in THIS EVENT LISTING and also provide details in THIS FORUM TOPIC.
Additionally: (more)

Devil's Night X, which was originally an 18+ rave Halloween celebration at Alexis Park, has been moved to the Empire Ballroom due to permit issues.
The event will still feature The Crystal Method (a DJ set--did you know Ken Jordan of C.M. was a Vegas boy?), Uberzone, AK1200 and dozens of other DJ's from around the country.
The explanation on why Devil's Night had to move... (more)

A wireless chip that will allow transfer of a full-length, high-def movie in seconds? That's what I'm talkin' about...
IBM is working with chipmaker MediaTek to develop a chipset that allows ridiculously fast wireless data transfers. The chip uses millimeter wave radio technology and is based on the 60 GHz band of radio spectrum, a frequency so high that it's not even licensed by the FCC. The chip will be able to blast a full-length high-definition movie faster than most people can read this sentence, the companies said. (more)

LowLife members Primemates have a very cool, non-commercial (i.e. free fun!) party bus they've put a lot of work into and they will have the bus cruising around on the Strip this Friday and Saturday evenings (with a designated driver), especially before and after the F & F Ball.
The bus has a dance pole, fog machine, surround sound and club lighting. And, according to them, "it will seat 20, lay 10"!
Limited seating so make sure ya e-mail those wacky Primemates...
The LowLife Party listing...

Ask anyone flying into town: the difference in Las Vegas during daylight versus nightime is, well, day and night. Neon lights make all the difference and here are the top neon attractions around town according to Vegas Pop's Fletch, including Vegas Vic, the Circus Circus sign, the Peppermill, and the Riviera's Splash sign.

Need Halloween Costumes?!
Vegas is Halloween crazy and many people go all out on costumes. Here's where to buy sexy, kinky, goofy, transgender and make-your-own costumes:
---->Click here for a complete listing of places to shop for Halloween costumes.<----
--Be sure and look for the merchants who accept Lowlife Coupons--you can save 10%-20% on your outfits!

While Las Vegas has become one of the fattest cities in the country, it doesn't mean you have to totally abandon that workout regimen you had at home. A health/fitness writer takes a look at staying in shape while visiting Sin City.

One of the co-authors of the best-selling book Freakonomics has a column in the NY Times and he recently asked his readers where he should go with 24 spare hours to spend in Las Vegas. He followed their advice and "as a result this was the best trip I’ve ever had to Vegas".

Caesars Palace is looking for a big name star to join Bette Midler once Celine steps down. And while it has been long thought to be Cher, R-J gossip dude says it ain't so:
"Cher's deal with Caesars Palace has fallen through, and a search is back on for a new headliner to share the Colosseum with Bette Midler. Cher, one of the biggest-selling artists of all-time, had announced more than a year ago on late-night television that she had a deal with Caesars Palace. (more)

Penn Jillette, of Penn & Teller, has his favorite places in Las Vegas...
"Sorry, Gray Line. We wanted a tour guide who is like Las Vegas itself — loud, larger than life and at least a little bit naughty.
Enter Penn Jillette. (more)

Want a good scare? Try one of the numerous haunted houses around town. Here's a look at the Fright Dome which is actually Circus Circus' Adventure Dome turned into a Halloween haunt. The article also lists some of the other haunted houses in Las Vegas, some of which are pretty good.

Long ago it was Foxy's Firehouse Casino, then it was Holy Cow, a sometimes-popular brewpub casino and finally it became the front for the never-got-off-the-ground Ivan Trump condo tower. What the two acres will become now is a mystery but an Arizona investor recently purchased the northeast corner of the Strip & Sahara for $47 million. The buyer won't say for sure but he has a history of putting Walgreens on the Strip so maybe that's what we'll see.
Pretty exciting for 47 mil, eh?

Joey Bishop, the glue of the famed Las Vegas "Rat Pack", died this week so now all of the infamous party gang are gone.
Bishop ended up the last man standing from the famed gang that defined cool on the Strip in the 1960s, having outlived Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford.

The Garden of Love wedding chapel has been in the news a lot lately due to their terrorist tactics in obtaining new customers, allegations of attempted murder of a competitor's employee and grand theft of a rival's equipment. Now there's something else they have to worry about and this time it affects their customers.(more)

While details are sketchy, world-famous magician David Copperfield is being investigated by the FBI for "sexual misconduct". The frequent Vegas performer (who will be at the MGM in November) had his Las Vegas warehouse searched this week. The building serves as a rehearsal studio and prop storage warehouse and includes a second-floor apartment and private magic memorabilia museum.(more)

While you can still find cheapo buffets with food straight out of plastic buckets, many buffets around town are going upscale with good quality offerings cooked to order and prices to match. Forbes takes a look at some of the top buffets including Wynn, Bally's, Mirage, Paris and many more.
The slide show on the buffets.
(If it pops up, click the annoying "Skip this welcome screen" at the top of the page to view)

With the Wynn and the Venetian vying for the same upscale guests, it's always been a sore spot for the Venetian that Wynn had AAA's 5-Diamond rating and they only had 4. Well, all of that has changed with the new ratings that are coming out soon. It's official, the Venetian, with over 4,000 rooms, has become the largest resort with a 5-Diamond rating. Congrats, Venetian!

While the term "fantasy camp" generally has a different meaning on this site, if you are into basketball and have ~gulp~ an extra $15,500 laying around, you might want to check out the Bill Russell & His Legendary Friends camp going on this week at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy. Not sure you'll learn anything but the "counselors" are certainly living legends and include: Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.
Bill Russell interview
Fantasy Camp link

The story is the same, just the team names are different. Typically, Las Vegas becomes the home to some sort of minor league sports franchise and 3-5 years later (if that long), the team packs up and either folds or heads to greener pastures. It's happened to numerous basketball and football teams (remember the XFL or Las Vegas' CFL team?) and now, after five seasons, it's happened to our Arena League team the Las Vegas Gladiators (or should I say the Cleveland Gladiators?). See ya Gladiators. Next?

A quick look at what one guy would do if he had less than 24 hours to spend in Las Vegas.

Jennifer Worthington, the creative force behind the Coyote Ugly bars, has opened up the ultimate "you're the star" concept in in New York's Times Square and thinks Las Vegas is the next logical place to expand to. It's called "Spotlight Live", a venue that is part "American Idol," part restaurant and bar.
The restaurant features a high-tech theater and sound system allowing customers to perform their favorite songs in front of diners with help from professional backup singers, sound recordings and lighting which makes almost everyone sound decent. It's also shown live on the giant JumboTron sign outside the Times Square venue, entertaining passers-by. After all that, wouldn't you want to buy the instantly available CD of yourself?
Sounds like a concept made for the Las Vegas Strip...

As this Boston Globe writer found out, there are Las Vegas pleasures for just about any budget. From $40,000 a night suites to $1.99 breakfasts.

The Las Vegas hotel room occupancy rate for the month of August was more than 91 percent, the seventh consecutive month with a rate higher than 90 percent. Nationally, hotel occupancy rates are about 63 percent, with hotels in popular business or tourism districts reaching 75 percent, according to hospitality industry data.
In a lot of ways that's good but when it comes to room pricing it has been leading to rate creep. In Las Vegas the average daily room rate in August was more than $126, up about 8 percent from the previous August.

Watch yourself with these little buggars--they will grab you and won't let you go. And, state goverments won't give you any help because they make a ton of cash off of them.
Slot machines are becoming increasingly deceptive and addictive and the federal government should investigate and regulate them, says an anti-gambling group.
The National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion called on the Federal Trade Commission to apply consumer and trade laws to slot machines because states are "too dependent" on gambling revenues to regulate them.
So watch out for those deceptive and addictive little bastards as they will suck you in and own your ass like a bowl of crack. Stick to sex while you are here--it's much safer...

The TSA, the airport security people, is once again testing a scanning device that peers through passengers clothing and essentially sees you naked. And once again this testing is going on in Phoenix. While the technologies of the two machines are different the end result for travelers is the same: Both machines produce a clear image of the body. The big concern by privacy groups is not the fact that the TSAers will see your body but that they might store and distribute the images on down the road.

Landry's Restaurants bought the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street (and the sister hotel in Laughlin) in 2005 for $295 million. Since that time, the resort has spent $100 million to renovate the entire casino, add several restaurants, move the buffet and rebuild the pool to include a water slide that goes through a giant shark tank.
Now they are throwing in another $220 million for a casino, convention and nightclub addition and a new 500 room tower, eventually spending more in additions than they did for the entire pruchase. The Golden Nugget has always been the class of downtown and this will distance them even more from the likes of the Fremont, 4 Queens and Binions. Hopefully, this will spur those other guys to get off their duffs and invest in their properties.

Las Vegas is home to many of the great fights--and many great upsets--but we haven't seen one where the two heavy favorites were whupped in such a fashion. Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti skinned champion Joey Chestnut and staved off a comeback by legendary eating champ Takeru Kobayashi to win the chicken wing "Chowdown" for Spike TV in downtown Las Vegas this week. Deep Dish won $25,000 for his efforts. Definitely an upset for the history books...

You may have heard...
Pamela Anderson is two months' pregnant, according to In Touch magazine. Anderson and Rick Salomon got married on Saturday in The Mirage Villas.
And, according to Jimmy Kimmel, a former Las Vegas resident who, many years ago used to work at KUNV, the UNLV radio station: "There was some positive news over the weekend: The blessed nuptials between Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon -- heretofore known as 'Salomonella.' "

"Zumanity" is offering locals half price on its $99 tickets through Nov. 21. If you haven't seen it, now might be a good time.

We mentioned here that Richard Branson, the British billionaire, would rappel down the face of the Palms to commemorate the opening of Virgin Airlines new San Francisco to Las Vegas route. Well, the marketing experience didn't end there as the airlines had a celebration at a McCarran Airport gate which included Carmen Electra and Kyla Ebbert, the Hooters waitress who got kicked off a Southwest flight awhile back. Branson also became a minister for a day and performed an in-flight wedding ceremony and the festivities carried over to the Wynn until the wee hours.
American LowLife welcomes the attitude of Virgin Airlines, especially if it means women can dress as sexy as they want to while they fly...
UPDATE: While Branson was rapelling down the face of the Palms he was to release thousands of dollars worth of free airline tickets. However, there were very strong winds during his descent so tickets scattered everywhere and appeared to head for Las Vegas Boulevard. So, there might be free airline tickets on Flamingo Road between the Palms and I-15!

Now here's a study we would have like to have been part of: A study of how much money a lap dancer makes depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle.
According to New Mexico University professor, in the week before her period dancers made almost twice what they took home in tips during menstruation and roughly a quarter more than they made during the luteal phase, directly after menstruating.
Strippers are asking for a cologne with the pre-menstrual pheromone in it...

Sir Richard Branson has another adventure up his sleeve, this time in Las Vegas.
The British thrill-seeker, who founded Virgin Airlines, loves a challenge, from dangerous transoceanic hot-air balloon races to sitting in a swimming pool in the middle of a hurricane.
Today he plans to rappel 40-some floors off the Palms Fantasy Tower to celebrate his inaugural Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas.
Comedy magicians Penn & Teller will emcee the stunt, starting at 6 p.m. tonight (10/10).
NOTE: We've heard the new Virgin planes have a seat-to-seat chat feature so you can put the mack on some hotties on the flight to Vegas...

Despite the fact that you actually have to pay to gamble ($20 admission fee on weekdays, $40 on weekends), the Palms has declared the first year of the Playboy Club a success. While the gambling aspect has been excellent--a Playboy Club gaming table averages nearly the same business in eight hours as a table in the main Palms casino does in 24 hours--the publicity and branding ops have been incredible.

Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton, has had his highs and lows but is still out there pluggin' away. Vegas Pop takes a quick look at the career of the Newt, including a plea for Wayne to be eliminated from Dancing With The Stars ASAP.
UPDATE: It's a sad day, indeed, for all us Las Vegas residents as Wayne Newton was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars. ~sniff, sniff~

None of the professional sports leagues like it yet they have found they have no choice but to form an association with Las Vegas and our highly regulated sports betting industry. Over time, they have come to realize that we aren't the bad guys but we can alert them to suspicious activity by the bad guys. A look at the "friendship"...

If you caught the just-released November issue of Playboy you just might have noticed that some of the hottest girls in the mag are Playboy Bunnies that work at the Playboy Club atop the Palms. If you'd like to meet them they are having a signing in the Palms Sportsbook this weekend.
The LowLife event listing

This reviewer from out-of-town feels the Las Vegas Strip has some of the worst-dressed people in the country walking around. We tend to agree. What do you think? Seen some horror stories? If so, we've started a Forum topic about this subject and would like you to comment.
Forum Topic on Strip Fashion

It's only about a 1/2 hour away (non-rush hour) but it will seem like a different world once you arrive. It's a quiet, tree-lined Mediterranean-style resort community jutting out from the hillside and sitting on the waterfront (yes, waterfront). It's Lake Las Vegas and it might be something to check out if you are looking for a change of pace.

With 3,000 rooms, a 550,000-square-foot casino floor, 1 million square feet of retail and a 1.2 million square-foot convention center, the Venetian Macau is the second largest building in the world and boasts the world's largest casino. The Venetian is betting their investment in an opulent casino in Macao will pay off big time not just in the Asian country itself but also in bringing some of those high rollin' "whales" over to Las Vegas.

Wanna stay in the room at the Palace Station where the shit went down with O.J.? Well, so far you can't as the hotel hasn't opened it up to the public despite high demand. However, you can stay where Elvis and Ann Margaret camped out together while fliming Viva Las Vegas, or spend the night where the Beatles and Sinatra slept, where Britney got pregnant and where the Who's John Entwistle died, if ya wanted to...

Clark County building inspectors have closed down two recently remodeled floors at the Rio Hotel due to issues with building standards. Interestingly enough, the work originally passed County inspection until one of the contruction workers turned whistle-blower, contacted the local newspaper and they forced the issue.
We have some pretty tough fire codes which were enacted after the MGM fire back in 1980 where 84 people were killed and hundreds were injured. The larger implication with the Rio situation is whether they knowingly tried to circumvent these safety standards. Additionally, since the County initially approved the work, is there more going on than meets the eye? Is this the beginning of a much larger issue which will ultimately involve many more Las Vegas hotels? Stand by...
UPDATE: Harrah's closes 600 rooms

Back in the days when the attitude of Las Vegas seemed like that of the Deep South and, indeed, was referred to as "The Mississippi of the West", Moulin Rouge was where all the black entertainers who weren't allowed to stay on the Strip hung out. Despite the hostile social climate in Las Vegas the Moulin Rouge quickly became a hot spot that attracted crowds from the Strip to its after-hours club where artists like Frank Sinatra gave impromptu performances. Other performers at the Moulin Rouge included the Platters, Count Basie, George Burns and Gregory Hines.
Eventually, the hotel became a dump and despite repeated efforts to revive the place, it has been mostly closed for the past 20 years. Will the latest plan to bring the Moulin Rouge back to glory succeed? It'll be tough since its located in one of the worst neighborhoods in Las Vegas but we're wishing them luck!

Last month the IRS, in an effort to close perceived loopholes, issued a bulletin stating that casinos had to immediately withhold 25% of a player's poker tournament winnings over $5,000. Seeing how poker players often need big wads of cash to get through their next tournament, loaning 1/4 of one's winnings to the government wasn't a palatable idea to many players, tourney organizers and casinos. Besides, since poker players not only claim winnings on their taxes but also loses, the new regulation seemed pretty unfair.
Now, through negotiations between the casino industry and the IRS, a compromise has been reached. Instead of withholding a percentage of the winnings, the casino will issue a W-2 form and the poker player will get to keep all his cash, being able to settle up the final wins & losses tally on April 15th like everyone else.

HALLOWEEN PARTIES
--A Complete List of Halloween Parties

Some are kinda lame but some of the advice ain't too bad. Here's a list of ways to save money while toodling around town.

And so is the Empire Ballroom and Rain at the Palms (for this weekend, at least). Jeffrey Sanker, known as the "high priest of gay parties" (that's what we read, anyway), is bringing his extremely popular "White Party" (20 years in Palm Springs) to Las Vegas this weekend for its inaugural event in Sin City. Planet Hollywood will be the host hotel with gay club Krave holding the Friday night party and straight clubs Empire and Rain being taken over on Saturday and Sunday nights respectively. We just wanted you to know in case you got a little tipsy Sunday night and stumbled into Rain looking for some hot, single fems while "It's Raining Men" is playing...
The LowLife Event Listing

When people bet with their hearts instead of their heads, strange things happen to betting lines. For example, the Chicago Cubs have been installed as -125 favorite* to win their postseason series vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks. It doesn't mean the Cubs are the better team--it simply means most of the bettors are placing money on them, despite the fact the the D-Backs had the best record in the National League, have the home field advantage and won the season series between the two teams.
The same thing holds for other popular teams going against much less popular ones such as Philadelphia/Colorado and Yankees/Cleveland.
The "wise guys" are thinking that it might be a good year to put some money down on the "live dog", an underdog according to the betting line but not necessarily a worse team...
*If a team is named a -125 favorite, it means you would have to bet $125 to win back your original bet + $100 more. Conversely, if you bet the "dog" you would only have to put down $100 to win back your original bet + $125.

Las Vegas had a pretty good live call center business until all the big guys started out-sourcing the service offshore. This trend has seen a backlash of late with customers getting p.o.ed over hard-to-understand phone operators. Add to that a law pending before the House of Representatives that would require customer-service workers to reveal their locations and give consumers the option of working with a U.S.-based representative, and you have a growing pressure to restore call-center jobs in the U.S. so Las Vegas will, most likely, benefit.

Las Vegas does Halloween like no other place around. For us, it's 3, 4, maybe 5 days of incredible costume parties at some of the hottest nightclubs and lifestyle parties anywhere. The abundance of show people and the sexy atmosphere make for an environment of hot and elaborate costumes.
So, where do you buy costumes for this very Vegas holiday? We thought you'd never ask! Once again we've compiled a comprehensive list of stores to find your unique costumes and accessories, including sexy and fetish stores, costume and wig shops, even places to buy material to make your own.
---->Click here for a complete listing of places to shop for Halloween costumes.<----
Be sure and look for the merchants who accept Lowlife Coupons--you can save 10%-20% on your outfits!
A.L.L. will have the most comprehensive listing of Halloween parties anywhere but if you are planning to attend the massive Fetish & Fantasy Halloween Ball, we can save you a few bucks. See F&F Ball listing for details.

Celebrity photographers--the professional kind--have to play by different rules when trying to capture that saleable image in their camera in Vegas. While celebs can be chased all over NYC and Hollywood, a Las Vegas resort is private property and the risk of banishment to a photographer can be a career-buster. Paparazzi's don't particularly like the ground rules but there's not a lot they can do about except behave themselves. On the other hand, it's one of the reasons celebrities like Las Vegas--relative privacy.
It also means a timely camera-phone picture by a non-pro can garner quite a few bucks on the open market.

Wedding bells might not be far off for actress Pamela Anderson. The former 'Baywatch' star and Rick Salomon applied for and were granted a marriage license late Saturday in Las Vegas, according to the Clark County Marriage Bureau. The license means the couple can get married any time during the next year.
Anderson, 40, previously has been married to singer Kid Rock and Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.
Salomon, 38, is best-known for making a sex videotape with his then-girlfriend Paris Hilton and previously was married to actress Shannen Doherty.

A good place to tell other couples to meet in the Mandalay has always been the center bar called the Island Lounge. The lounge has been undergoing a makeover and part is still under construction. When the wall comes down the drink prices will, most likely, go up as the Island Lounge will become the Eyecandy Sound Lounge & Bar.
The estimated 12,000 square foot space will be open 24/7, with the Sound Lounge half of the venue coming alive after 6 p.m. and guests will be entertained by some ultra high tech seating. Passersby will be able to catch a glimpse of the bar, dance floor and the seven interactive tables. Eyecandy will soft open on October 4, with a media event and grand opening to follow later in the month. We've heard the lounge will be the most expensive ever built costing upwards of $19 million.
Sounds fun but we might have to come up with another meeting place as a "Sound Lounge" might not be the best place for that initial getting-to-know-ya small talk.

A new movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz is about to start production in Las Vegas as crews are already set up at the host hotel Planet Hollywood. Filming begins October 15th on the movie about a night of typical Las Vegas partying which ends up with Kutcher's and Diaz' characters getting hitched while in a Vegas stupor.
Besides Planet Hollywood getting face time, several local clubs will make an appearance in the film including Tyrst, Pure and possibly even the Palms Pool & Bungalows.