General Information about Las Vegas , Nevada

General Information about Las Vegas , Nevada:

Las Vegas (often informally abbreviated to "Vegas") is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, United States, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally known vacation, shopping, entertainment, and gambling destination. It was established in 1905 and officially became a city in 1911. It is the largest U.S. city founded in the 20th century.

The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. This 4½ mi (7.2 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard is mostly outside the Las Vegas city limits, in the unincorporated town of Paradise.

The center of gambling in the United States, Las Vegas is marketed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, also commonly known as Sin City or Vice City, due to the popularity of legalized gambling, availability of alcoholic beverages at any time (as is true throughout Nevada), and various forms and degrees of adult entertainment. The city's glamorous image has made it a popular setting for films and television programs

3. Geography:

Typical desert scene in the Las Vegas area.

Las Vegas is located at 36°11′39″N, 115°13′19″W (36.194168, 115.222060)^GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 340.0 km² (131.3 mi²). 339.8 km² (131.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.16 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.04%) is water.

The city is located in an arid basin surrounded by mountains varying in color from pink to rust to gray. The Spring Mountains lie to the west. As befits a desert, much of the landscape is rocky and dusty. Within the city, however, there are a great deal of lawns, trees, and other greenery. Due to water resource issues, there is now a movement to encourage xeriscaping instead of lawns. Another part of the water conservation efforts include scheduled watering groups for watering residential landscaping.

4. Climate:

Las Vegas' climate is typical of the Mojave Desert, in which it is located, marked with hot summers, mild winters, abundant sunshine year-round, and very little rainfall. High temperatures in the 90s °F are common in the months of May, June, and September and temperatures normally exceed 100 °F (38 °C) most days in the months of July and August, with very low humidity, frequently under 10%. The hottest temperature ever recorded is 117 °F (47 °C) set twice, on July 19, , at McCarran International Airport and July 24, , at present-day Nellis Air Force Base.

Winters are cool and windy, with the majority of Las Vegas' annual 4.49 in (114 mm) of rainfall coming from January to March. Winter daytime highs are normally around 60 °F (16 °C) and winter nighttime lows are usually around 40 °F (4 °C). The coldest temperature ever recorded is 8 °F (-13 °C) set on January 25, , at present-day Nellis Air Force Base. Showers occur less frequently in the Spring or Autumn. July through September, the Mexican Monsoon often brings enough moisture from the Gulf of California across Mexico and into the southwest to cause afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Although winter snow is usually visible from December to May on the mountains surrounding Las Vegas, it rarely snows in the city itself.

5. History:

5.1. Founding :

Las Vegas (English: "The Meadows" or "The Grasslands") was given its name by Spaniards in the Antonio Armijo party, who used the water in the area while heading north and west along the Old Spanish Trail from Texas. In the 1800s, areas of the Las Vegas Valley contained artesian wells that supported extensive green areas or Meadows (Vega in Spanish), hence the name Las Vegas. John C. Frémont traveled into the Las Vegas Valley on May 3, , while it was still part of Mexico. He was a leader of a group of scientists, scouts and observers for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. On May 10, , following annexation by the United States, Brigham Young assigned 30 Mormon missionaries led by William Bringhurst to the area to convert the Paiute Indian population.

A fort was built near the current downtown area, serving as a stopover for travelers along the "Mormon Corridor" between Salt Lake and the briefly thriving Mormon colony at San Bernardino, California. Las Vegas was established as a railroad town on May 15, , when 110 acres (44.5 ha) owned by Montana Senator William A. Clark's San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City Railroad, was auctioned off in what is now downtown Las Vegas.

Las Vegas was part of Lincoln County until 1909 when it became part of the newly established Clark County. Las Vegas became an incorporated city on March 16, .

5.2. Major events:

Las Vegas is one of the most dynamic cities in the world, "reinventing" itself as a gambling mecca, family destination, capital of hedonism ("What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"), or hotspot for dining and shopping over the years. Several events stand out as turning points:

The floods of 1955, 1984, 1999, and 2003.

Establishment of Las Vegas as a railroad town (May 15, ).

Legalization of gambling (March 19, ).

Completion of Hoover Dam (October 9, ).

Hoover Dam

Opening of Bugsy Siegel's Flamingo Hotel on what would become the Las Vegas Strip (December 26, ).

Atmospheric nuclear testing (1951 to 1962).

The first Strip property "The El Rancho" was consumed by fire on July 17, .

Elvis Presley returns to live performances in August 31, by opening the International Hotel

MGM Grand Hotel fire the worst disaster in Nevada history on (November 21, ).

A series of explosions destroys the PEPCON rocket fuel plant and nearby Kidd and Co. marshmallow factory (May 4, )

Opening of The Mirage which began the era of megaresort casinos on (November 22, ).

The Dunes became the first Strip property to be imploded on October 27, .

100th birthday, or Centennial, of Las Vegas (May 15, ).

5.3. Economic history:

Las Vegas started as a stopover on the pioneer trails to the west and became a popular railroad town in the early 1900s. It was a staging point for all the mines in the surrounding area, especially those around the town of Bullfrog, that shipped their goods out to the rest of the country. With the growth of the railroads, Las Vegas became less important, but the completion of the nearby Hoover Dam resulted in substantial growth in tourism, which, along with the legalization of gambling, led to the advent of the casino-hotels for which Las Vegas is famous.

The constant stream of tourist dollars from the hotels and casinos was augmented by a new source of federal money. This money came from the establishment of what is now Nellis Air Force Base. The influx of military personnel and casino job-hunt start a land building boom which still goes on today.

6. Demographics:

Las Vegas has been the county seat of Clark County since the formation of the county in 1909. The Census Bureau's official population estimate as of 2005 was 545,147.

The city's Planning and Development Department reported an increase of 41,126 in 2005, for a total population of 575,973. [3]. Recent figures place the population for the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which includes all of Clark County, at over 1.6 million people ( ), and the region is one of the fastest growing in the United States.

Las Vegas was ranked as the 29th largest city in the United States in 2000, but recent estimates suggest that the city's population has since surpassed that of Atlanta, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Louisville, Denver and Boston to place it 22nd in rank. It is likely to surpass Milwaukee and possibly a few other cities to reach the top 20 by the time of the 2010 Census.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 478,434 people, 176,750 households, and 117,538 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,630.3/km² (4,222.5/mi²). There are 190,724 housing units at an average density of 649.9/km² (1,683.3/mi²).

The racial makeup of the city was 69.86% White, 10.36% African American, 0.75% Native American, 4.78% Asian, 0.45% Pacific Islander, 9.75% from other races, and 4.05% from two or more races. 23.61% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 176,750 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families.

25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,069, and the median income for a family was $50,465. Males had a median income of $35,511 versus $27,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,060. About 8.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2004 census estimate, the Las Vegas metropolitan area contained over 1.6 million residents, and contains the largest ethnic Hawaiian community outside of Hawaii.

7. Law and government:

Las Vegas City Hall in downtown Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provides most law enforcement services in the city and surrounding county. Exceptions include cities with their own law enforcement agency; including North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City.

Most of the people and businesses who live in what they call "Las Vegas" are actually residents of neighboring unincorporated communities or incorporated cities. In fact, of the over 1.8 million people who live in the Las Vegas Valley, only 591,536 live inside Las Vegas city limits.

The largest suburbs are Paradise (190,129) between Las Vegas and Henderson (256,390), Sunrise Manor (195,727) east of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas (202,520), and Spring Valley (175,581) southwest of Las Vegas. Paradise, Sunrise Manor, and Spring Valley are unincorporated townships, while Henderson and North Las Vegas are incorporated.

The earliest, Paradise, formed during a 1940s water dispute between the City of Las Vegas and early homeowners south of San Francisco Street, now Sahara Avenue.

The City of Las Vegas government operates as a council-manager government. The Mayor sits as a Council member-At-Large and presides over all of the City Council meetings.

In the event that the Mayor cannot preside over a City Council meeting, the Mayor Pro-Tem is the presiding officer of the meeting until such time as the Mayor returns to his seat. The City Manager is responsible for the administration and the day-to-day operation of all of the municipal services and city departments.

The City Manager also maintains intergovernmental relationships with federal, state, county and other local governments

A Paiute Indian reservation occupies about 1 acre (4000 m²) in the downtown area of Las Vegas.

City council

(Council members' official city websites are also available)

Oscar B. Goodman - Mayor and Council member at Large (Term Expires in )

Gary Reese - Mayor Pro-Tem and 3rd Ward Council member (Term Expires in 2007)

Lois Tarkanian - 1st Ward Council member (Term Expires in 2007)¹

Steve Wolfson, Esq - 2nd Ward Council member (Term Expires in 2009)

Larry Brown - 4th Ward Council member (Term Expires in )

Lawrence Weekly - 5th Ward Council member (Term Expires in 2007)

Steve Ross - 6th Ward Council member (Term Expires in 2009)

Elected on January 26, in a special election to replace Councilwoman Janet Moncrief who was recalled from office.

   Lois Tarkanian will serve the remaining two years of the Ward 1 seat.

8. Economy and City redevelopment:

Las Vegas , Nevada a moneymaker town.

Economy:

Interior of a casino. A major part of the city economy is based on tourism, including gambling.

The primary drivers of the Las Vegas economy have been the confluence of tourism, gaming, and conventions which in turn feed the retail and dining industries.

Several companies involved in the manufacture of electronic gaming machines, such as slot machines, are located in the Las Vegas area.In the 2000s retail and dining have become attractions of their own.

Tourism marketing and promotion are handled by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, a county wide agency. Its annual Visitors Survey provides detailed information on visitor numbers, spending patterns and resulting revenues .

The Lloyd D. George Federal District Courthouse in Las Vegas is the first Federal Building built to the post-Oklahoma City blast resistant standards

Las Vegas as the county seat and home to the Lloyd D. George Federal District Courthouse, draws numerous legal service industries providing bail, marriage, divorce, tax, incorporation and other legal services.

The redevelopment listed below shows how the city is trying to diversify the local economy and revitalize the downtown area. The World Market Center is an example of this.

City redevelopment:

Las Vegas - a city in continuous movement and development.

When The Mirage, the first Megaresort, opened in 1989, it started a movement of people and construction away from downtown Las Vegas to the Las Vegas Strip. This resulted in a drop in tourism from which the downtown area is still trying to recover.

A concerted effort has been made by city officials to diversify the Las Vegas economy from tourism by attracting light manufacturing, banking, and other commercial interests. The lack of any state individual or corporate income tax and very simple incorporation requirements have fostered the success of this effort.

Having been late to develop an urban core of any substantial size, Las Vegas has retained very affordable real estate prices in comparison to nearby urban centers. Consequently, the city has recently enjoyed an enormous boom both in population and in tourism.

However, as a New York Times series on the city reported in 2004, the median price of housing in the Las Vegas Valley is now at or above the nationwide median. The urban area has grown outward so quickly that it is beginning to run into Bureau of Land Management holdings along its edges, increasing land values enough that medium- and high-density development is beginning to occur closer to the core.

As a reflection of the city's rapid growing population, the new Chinatown of Las Vegas was constructed in the early 1990s on Spring Mountain Road. Chinatown initially consisted of only one large shopping center complex, but the area was recently expanded for new shopping centers that contain various Asian businesses.

Downtown Las Vegas: The Fremont Street Experience outside of Binion's Horseshoe Casino.

With the Strip expansion in the 1990s, downtown Las Vegas began to suffer. The Fremont Street Experience (FSE) was built in an effort to draw tourists downtown. While greatly slowing the decline, it did not stop the decline in tourism and revenue. The multi-level Neonopolis, complete with 11 theaters (managed by Galaxy Theaters, Inc.), was built to offer more retail and services downtown.

While there have been changes in ownership and management, Neonopolis has not been able to lease all the space available. As of May 2006, the property has been sold and is under new management. Renovations are under-way to revitalize Neonopolis. Look for new restaurants to open in the late summer to early fall of 2006.

In the early 2000s, some promising signs emerged for downtown Las Vegas. The city successfully lured the Internal Revenue Service to move operations from the far west of the city to a new building downtown that opened in April 2005. The IRS is expected to create a demand for additional businesses in the area, epecially in the daytime hours.

The city purchased 61 acres (247,000 m²) of property from Union Pacific Railroad in 1995 with the goal of creating something that would draw tourists and locals to the downtown area. In 2004 Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced plans for the Union Park Development which will include residential and office high-rises, The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, an academic medical center, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and a new City Hall.

After failed negotiations with The Related Co. on the development of Union Park in October of 2005, San Diego-based Newland Communities was chosen by the city as the new development firm.

The Newland contract calls for Dan Van Epp, Newland's regional vice president and former president of the Howard Hughes Corp., to oversee his company's work on Union Park. The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is expected to be completed in 2007.

Newport Lofts high-rise development under construction with newly finished Soho Lofts in the background.

Along with the Union Park Development, other promising residential and office developments have begun construction around downtown Las Vegas.

New condominium and hotel high rise projects have changed the entire Las Vegas skyline dramatically in recent years. Many large high-rise projects are planned for downtown Las Vegas as well as the Las Vegas Strip.

The city council of Las Vegas has agreed on zoning changes on Fremont Street, which allows bars to be closer together duplicating efforts of similar cities, like the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. It is expected that this change will bring more tourism and business to the downtown area.

Las Vegas from space (1989 Space Shuttle Photo)

In 2005, on a lot adjacent to the city's 61 ac (247,000 m²), the World Market Center opened. It is intended to be the nation's and possibly the world's preeminent furniture wholesale showroom and marketplace, and is meant to compete with the current furniture market capital of High Point, North Carolina.

In 2004, the city partnered with Cheetah Wireless Technologies and MeshNetwork to pilot a wide area mobile broadband system. The pilot system is installed downtown, around the Fremont Street Experience.

On October 23, , plans were unveiled to build a World Jewelry Center in Downtown's Union Park. Similar to the World Market Center, the WJC will be a one stop shop for jewelry trade shows from around the world. The project proposes a 57-story, 815-foot office tower.

9.Gambling and casions in Las Vegas:

9.1. Gambling in casinos:

In most jurisdictions, gambling is limited to persons over the age of majority (21 years of age in most of the United States and 18 to 21 in most other countries where casinos are permitted). Customers may gamble by playing slot machines or other games of chance (e.g., craps, roulette, baccarat) and some skill (e.g., blackjack, poker) (for more see casino games).

Game rules usually have mathematically-determined odds that ensure the house retains an advantage over the players. This advantage is called the edge. Payout is the percentage given to players. In games such as poker, the house takes a commission (a "rake") on bets players make against each other. Playing with house money refers to the situation where a winning player is placing bets with money that has been won from the casino.

9.2. Security:

Casinos have and had a major concentration on security. Large amounts of currency move through a casino, tempting people to cheat the system. Security today consists of cameras located throughout the property operated by highly trained individuals who attempt to locate cheating and stealing by both players and employees.

Modern casino security is usually divided between a physical security force, which patrols the casino floor and responds to calls for assistance and reports of criminal and/or suspicious activities, and a specialized surveillance department, that operates the casino's closed circuit television (CCTV) system in an effort to detect any misconduct by both guests and employees alike.

Both of these specialized casino security departments work very closely with each other to ensure the safety of both guests and the casino's assets.

City attractions in Las Vegas:

10.1. Hotel Mirage:

The Mirage was built by developer Steve Wynn and opened in November on the former grounds of the Castaways hotel and casino, and was owned by Wynn's company Mirage Resorts (later MGM Mirage). It was the first resort that was built with the money of Wall Street through the use of junk bonds.

The Mirage was the most expensive hotel/casino in history, with a construction cost of $630 million. It was reported that the resort would have to bring in a million dollars a day to pay off a 7-year construction loan. But in fact The Mirage did so well, the loan was paid off in just 18 months.

Its construction is also considered very noteworthy in that Mr. Wynn had set a new standard for Vegas resorts, and is widely considered to be the father of today's Las Vegas. Prior to the Mirage's opening, the city was experiencing a decline in tourism that began in the 70's, especially around the time the state of New Jersey legalized gambling and tourists (in particular those on the East Coast) began to frequent the casinos of Atlantic City.

Also, this was a time when Las Vegas was no longer considered a fashionable destination, so a new, high-profile, project was necessary to jump-start the ailing industry. When it opened, The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full time on all table games.^[1]

From 1990 through 2003, the Mirage was the venue for the Siegfried & Roy show. The two headliners combined magic and the use of wild animals. The closing of the popular attraction in 2003, after Roy Horn was attacked by one of the white tigers used in the show, impacted the Mirage for a while. Siegfried & Roy's White Tiger Habitat keeps one of the white tigers always on view.

In 1993, the Mirage hosted an extended run of the Cirque du Soleil show Nouvelle Experience in a tent in the Mirage parking lot. It was during this time that Steve Wynn decided to invite Cirque to create Mystere for the soon-to-be-built Treasure Island resort next door. Finally returning to where they began in Las Vegas, Cirque has a permanent production at the Mirage, LOVE. ref

In 2004 Danny Gans took over the main showroom and marquee becoming the resort's main entertainment attraction.

In 2005, The Mirage was slated for a massive remodel that would continue into 2006. Many restaurants were renovated or replaced. In December 2006 the Beatles-themed REVOLUTION ultra-lounge opened. It is the first time Cirque du Soleil was involved in the development of such a venue, although they do not operate it.

10.2. Bellagio - hotel and casino:

Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It is owned by MGM Mirage.

Inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of its most notable features is an 8 acre (32,000 m²) artificial lake between the building and the Strip. The fountain shows on the lake are a major free attraction and provide a romantic ambiance for couples walking along the strip.

Hand Blown Glass Display by Dale Chihuly

Inside Bellagio, Dale Chihuly's Fiori di Como, composed of over 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers, covers 2,000 square feet (610 m²) of the lobby ceiling.

Bellagio was conceived by Steve Wynn and built by his company, Mirage Resorts, Inc. following the purchase and demolition of the legendary Dunes hotel and casino in 1993. Bellagio was designed by Marnell Corrao Associates and Jon Jerde.

Bellagio is home to Cirque du Soleil's aquatic production of "O", only the second permanent production show for the world-renowned troupe.

The Bellagio employs approximately 10,000 people. In the fall of 2006, the casino floor was remodeled and new uniforms were issued, changing the original color scheme to a more contemporary blue tone.

On October 15, , just before 11:00pm, Bellagio opened. The Bellagio reported to spend $88 million on its opening. The VIPs invited to the grand opening were expected to donate to The Foundation Fighting Blindness $1,000 a person or $3,500 a couple, which entitled them to an overnight stay at Bellagio's suite rooms.

Opening night's entertainment began with Steve Wynn giving a 40 minute welcome speech and then the opening of the Cirque du Soleil production, "O." Performing in Bellagio lounges that night were New York cabaret and recording artist Michael Feinstein, George Bugatti and John Pizarrelli. When it opened, it was the most expensive hotel ever built, having cost over 1.6 billion.

In 2000 it became a MGM Mirage property when Mirage Resorts merged with MGM Grand Inc. to create MGM MIRAGE.

10.3. Fountains of Bellagio:

The Fountains at night.

The Fountains of Bellagio attraction consists of an intricate water fountain display set to light and music. The display takes place in front of the Bellagio hotel and can be viewed from the Strip. The fountain show takes place every 30 minutes in the afternoons and early evenings, and every 15 minutes from 8 pm to midnight. Exceptions: a single or string of shows may be withheld when winds prevail; a single show may be skipped to avoid interference with a planned event.

The Fountains were created by WET Design, who specializes in creating intricate water shows. The design incorporates an array of underwater pipes with over 1,000 nozzles that makes it possible to stage fountain displays coordinated with over 4,000 lights and music.

Three types of nozzles are used for the various effects:

Oarsmans - Swing back and forth to create dancing water

Shooters - Shoots water upwards

Super Shooters - Sends a water blast as high as 250 ft (76 m) in the air.

Following the success that WET Design had with the Fountains, Steve Wynn asked them to improve and modify the volcano attraction at sister casino The Mirage.

10.4. The Aquarium at the Silverton:

Located within the cozy Silverton Hotel, a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium provides entertainment on a scale one can enjoy only in Las Vegas.

Located in the Mermaid Restaurant & Lounge, the octagonal aquarium is part of the $150 million casinowide expansion and is home to more than 5,000 exotic fish as well as vibrant, breathtaking coral. Also among the fish are three species of stingrays and three species of sharks. Three times a day, passersby can enjoy fish feedings held by a marine biologist who interacts with guests and answers any questions.

11. Stage shows:

It used to be that a show was an essential part of the Vegas experience. Back in those days, a show was pretty simple: A bunch of scantily (and we mean scantily) clad showgirls paraded around while a comedian engaged in some raunchy patter. The showgirls are still here and still scantily clad (though not as often topless; guess cable TV has taken some of that thrill away), but the productions around them have gotten impossibly elaborate.

And they have to be, because they have to compete with a free dancing water fountains show held several times nightly right on the Strip. Not to mention a volcano, a Mardi Gras parade in the sky, lounge acts galore, and the occasional imploding building. All free.

The big resort hotels, in keeping with their general over-the-top tendencies, are pouring mountains of money into high-spectacle extravaganzas, luring big-name acts into decades-long residencies and surrounding them with special effects that would put some Hollywood movies to shame.

Which is not to say the results are Broadway quality -- they're big, cheesy fun. Still, with the exception of the astonishing work done by the Cirque du Soleil productions, most of what passes for a "show" in Vegas is just a flashier revue, with a predictable lineup of production number/magic act/production number/acrobatics/production number.

Unfortunately, along with big budgets and big goals come big-ticket prices. Sure, you can still take the whole family of four to a show for under $100, but you're not going to get the same production values that you'd get by splurging on a Cirque du Soleil show. Which is not to say you always get what you pay for: There are some reasonably priced shows that are considerably better values than their more expensive counterparts.

Note: Although every effort has been made to keep up with the volatile Las Vegas show scene, keep in mind that the following reviews may not be indicative of the actual show you'll see, but the basic concept and idea will be the same. What's more, the show itself may have closed, so it's a good idea to always call the venue and check.

The following section describes each of the major production shows currently playing in Las Vegas, arranged alphabetically by the title of the production. But first, here's a handy list arranged by hotel:

Bally's: Jubilee! (Las Vegas-style revue)

Bellagio: Cirque du Soleil's O (unique circus-meets-performance-art theatrical experience)

Caesars Palace Céline Dion (music and variety)

Excalibur: Tournament of Kings (medieval-themed revue)

The Flamingo Las Vegas: Second City Improv (improvisational comedy)

Harrah's: Clint Holmes (music and variety) and Mac King (comedy and magic)

Imperial Palace Legends in Concert (musical impersonators)

Luxor Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor (hilarious performance art)

Mandalay Bay Mamma Mia! (a musical that features ABBA songs and was a great hit in London and on Broadway)

The Mirage: Danny Gans (impressions)

MGM Grand: La Femme (adults-only topless dancers)

Monte Carlo Lance Burton: Master Magician (magic show and revue)

New York-New York: Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity (adults-only provocative revue)

Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino: Penn & Teller (illusions)

The Riviera: An Evening at La Cage (female impersonators), Crazy Girls (sexy Las Vegas-style revue), and Splash (aquatic revue)

Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower: American Superstars (an impression-filled production show) and Viva Las Vegas (Las Vegas-style revue)

TI at The Mirage Cirque du Soleil's Mystère (unique circus performance)

Tropicana: Folies Bergère (Las Vegas-style revue) and Rick Thomas (magic)

Our Favorites

Here are some votes for the best shows: It's a toss-up between O at Bellagio and Mystère at Treasure Island, both by Cirque du Soleil. Either must be seen to be believed -- and even then you may not believe it, but you won't be forgetting the experience anytime soon. Most intelligent show is put on by Penn & Teller and we are grateful.

The best magic show, and one of the most reasonably priced productions (and thus the overall best value for the money), is Lance Burton at Monte Carlo. Best classic Vegas topless revue is Jubilee! at Bally's. Best we aren't sure what the heck to call it but you should really try to see it is Blue Man Group at Luxor.

Hot Tip!

Tickets2Nite is a newish daily service that puts any unsold seats for that evening on sale, starting at 2pm, for -- get this! -- half price. Hot diggity! Of course, there are some drawbacks. It's rare and downright unlikely that really ultrasuper-duper shows are ever going to have unsold seats (because the hotel will just sell them to the always-waiting-and-happy-to-pay-full-price standby line), but you'd be shocked at the range otherwise, from basic crap to stuff that we would recommend even at full price (they aren't allowed to say on the record which shows' tickets often come up for sale).

Alas, the very nature of the service means you can't plan; you have to stand in line and take your chances starting at 2pm (we advise getting in line even earlier than that). So if you have your heart set on white tigers, don't rely on Tickets2Nite, but, if like a good gambler, you like taking chances, head for 3785 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (in the Showcase Mall booth).

Lounge Lizard Supreme

All those faux-hipster artists doing woeful lounge-act characters in Hollywood and New York only wish they could be Mr. Cook E. Jarr, whose sincerity and obvious drive to entertain puts mere performance artists to shame. With George Hamilton's tan, Cher's first shag haircut (it's certainly not his factory-original coif), and a bottomless, borderless catalog of rock, pop, soul, swing, and standard favorites, he's more Vegas than Wayne Newton.

Cook has a cult following of blue-collar casino denizens and the youthful cocktail set, who listen enraptured as he plays human jukebox, complete with karaoke-style backing recordings, terrible jokes, an array of disco-era lights, and (his favorite) a smoke machine. He's actually a solid, throaty singer, with a gift for vocal mimicry as he moves from Ben E. King to Bee Gees to Tony Bennett turf. And his tribute the night Sinatra died -- a version of "My Way" in which he voiced, alternately, Sammy, Dino, and Elvis welcoming Ol' Blue Eyes to Heaven -- was priceless.

He moves around a lot but lately you can often catch him on Friday and Saturday nights, late, at Harrah's Carnaval Court Lounge at 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (tel. ). Don't miss him! (And if he has left there by the time you read this, try to track him down.)

12. Conclusions:

Of course there are some conclusions we can get to about the city of Las Vegas , Nevada but one of most impressive is the one that wathever you do if you get the chance to visit the U.S.A you MUST see for yourself the city of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas , is a must-see and must-go-to city more for the big gamblers because of it's casinos that hosts , but there is a lot of sightseeing you can do there if you are a passionate tourist.

Las Vegas has redefined travel offering a glittering profusion of attractions, activities and pure excitement in a unique desert paradise. Everyone and anyone can find their passion in Las Vegas, romantics looking to tie the knot, and connoisseurs of sumptuous dining and world class shopping not to mention our amazing casinos.

Like much of the rest of the world, you may be under the impression that Las Vegas has evolved from an adults-only fantasyland into a vacation destination suitable for the entire family. The only explanation for this myth is that Las Vegas was referred to as "Disneyland for adults" by so many and for so long that the town became momentarily confused and decided it actually was Disneyland.

Some of the gargantuan hotels then spent small fortunes on redecorating in an attempt to lure families, with vast quantities of junk food and a lot of hype. They now vehemently deny that any such notion ever crossed their collective minds, and, no, they don't know how that roller coaster got into the parking lot.

To put things simply, Las Vegas makes money -- lots and lots of money -- by promoting gambling, drinking, and sex. These are all fine pursuits if you happen to be an adult, but if you haven't reached the magical age of 21, you really don't count in this town. In any case, the casinos and even the Strip itself are simply too stimulating, noisy, and smoky for young kids.

Older progeny may have a tolerance for crowds and the incessant pinging of the slot machines, but they will be thoroughly annoyed with you when casino security chastises them if they so much as stop to tie their shoelaces anywhere near the gaming tables.

The big resort hotels, in keeping with their general over-the-top tendencies, are pouring mountains of money into high-spectacle extravaganzas, luring big-name acts into decades-long residencies and surrounding them with special effects that would put some Hollywood movies to shame.

Which is not to say the results are Broadway quality -- they're big, cheesy fun. Still, with the exception of the astonishing work done by the Cirque du Soleil productions, most of what passes for a "show" in Vegas is just a flashier revue, with a predictable lineup of production number/magic act/production number/acrobatics/production number.

Since you can't get from your hotel room to the parking lot without ambling through a casino, you can't reasonably expect a teenager to be in a good mood once you stagger outside. And those amusement parks and video halls that haven't yet been purged are very expensive places to park your kids for an afternoon or evening, assuming they are old enough to be left unsupervised.

So, as a final conclusion visiting the city of Las Vegas could be a good thing even if you are a kid or an adult because there are a lot of thing you could do there, that's why we suggest that you go for it!

12.Conclusions:

Of course there are some conclusions we can get to about the city of Las Vegas , Nevada but one of most impressive is the one that wathever you do if you get the chance to visit the U.S.A you MUST see for yourself the city of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas , is a must-see and must-go-to city more for the big gamblers because of it's casinos that hosts , but there is a lot of sightseeing you can do there if you are a passionate tourist.

Las Vegas has redefined travel offering a glittering profusion of attractions, activities and pure excitement in a unique desert paradise. Everyone and anyone can find their passion in Las Vegas, romantics looking to tie the knot, and connoisseurs of sumptuous dining and world class shopping not to mention our amazing casinos.

Like much of the rest of the world, you may be under the impression that Las Vegas has evolved from an adults-only fantasyland into a vacation destination suitable for the entire family. The only explanation for this myth is that Las Vegas was referred to as "Disneyland for adults" by so many and for so long that the town became momentarily confused and decided it actually was Disneyland. Some of the gargantuan hotels then spent small fortunes on redecorating in an attempt to lure families, with vast quantities of junk food and a lot of hype. They now vehemently deny that any such notion ever crossed their collective minds, and, no, they don't know how that roller coaster got into the parking lot.

To put things simply, Las Vegas makes money -- lots and lots of money -- by promoting gambling, drinking, and sex. These are all fine pursuits if you happen to be an adult, but if you haven't reached the magical age of 21, you really don't count in this town. In any case, the casinos and even the Strip itself are simply too stimulating, noisy, and smoky for young kids.

Older progeny may have a tolerance for crowds and the incessant pinging of the slot machines, but they will be thoroughly annoyed with you when casino security chastises them if they so much as stop to tie their shoelaces anywhere near the gaming tables.

The big resort hotels, in keeping with their general over-the-top tendencies, are pouring mountains of money into high-spectacle extravaganzas, luring big-name acts into decades-long residencies and surrounding them with special effects that would put some Hollywood movies to shame. Which is not to say the results are Broadway quality -- they're big, cheesy fun. Still, with the exception of the astonishing work done by the Cirque du Soleil productions, most of what passes for a "show" in Vegas is just a flashier revue, with a predictable lineup of production number/magic act/production number/acrobatics/production number.

Since you can't get from your hotel room to the parking lot without ambling through a casino, you can't reasonably expect a teenager to be in a good mood once you stagger outside. And those amusement parks and video halls that haven't yet been purged are very expensive places to park your kids for an afternoon or evening, assuming they are old enough to be left unsupervised.

So , as a final conclusion visiting the city of Las Vegas could be a good thing even if you are a kid or an adult because there are a lot of thing you could do there , that's why we suggest that you go for it!