Back in December 2008 when Steve Wynn walked me through the soon-to-open Encore Las Vegas, he made an off-handed remark about how the taxi staging areas at his resorts are decorated to entertain cabbies. It was a little thing…

Reading the analyses of Wall Street smarties on Vegas interests used to be a snooze. Looking at all the same data, these wonks usually came to the same conclusions. Not anymore! …

[ UPDATE #2 : The snafu ended around 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to MGM Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher. Poster GoVegas33 at VegasTripping.Com, though, wrote at 5:20 p.m. that New York-New York continued experiencing problems.] [ UPDATE: @VegasRex reporting people at Monte Carlo are not able to cash out at slot machines. That goes beyond how Absher described the…

My apologies for the blurriness of that photo, but it required some quick work once I realized what I was, unbelievably, seeing. This image was shot on Wednesday at Aria during the VIP party and, yes, that is five of the guests having CLIMBED UP THE WINDOW for unknown reasons. Here’s a clearer shot after the grinning guys…

Here’s this week’s episode of “The Strip,” a rare 30-minute sit-down with Wolfgang Puck in part of his space in Crystals. In addition, see renderings at bottom of the new Puck Brasserie, which opens at Crystals in January. Click on the date below to make the show play or right-click to …

Here’s this week’s episode of “The Strip,” a rare 30-minute sit-down with Wolfgang Puck in part of his space in Crystals. In addition, see renderings at bottom of the new Puck Brasserie, which opens at Crystals in January. Click on the date below to make the show play or …

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com Aria Las Vegas is open to the public A trek through the Aria Hotel and Casino was a visual delight even if the feet were tired from the long march that began at the Bellagio parking garage. This is the place we’ve …

…and tomorrow I’ll have full coverage with pictures, video and commentary. In the meantime, follow my Tweets (I’m @TheStripPodcast ) all evening as I spit out thoughts, quips, quotes and images to the extent that that AT&T Black Hole known as Aria permits. Also keep watch on AriaOpening.Com , brought to you …

…and tomorrow I’ll have full coverage with pictures, video and commentary. In the meantime, follow my Tweets (I’m @TheStripPodcast ) all evening as I spit out thoughts, quips, quotes and images to the extent that that AT&T Black Hole known as Aria permits. Also keep watch on AriaOpening.Com , brought to you by the brilliant folks at …

To unwind, avoid deadlines or reward myself after a story has been filed, I like to log onto the Internet Scrabble Club and play head-to-head timed Scrabble games with strangers around the world. Why Scrabble has not shut this thing down as they did the Facebook thing I don’t know, but I’m grateful…