Las Vegas has evolved in ways that you would have never expected 10 years ago. Restaurants and dining are now generating almost the same amount of revenue for casino operators as gaming. Today, the action in Las Vegas takes place in more locations than just casinos. While the casino-resorts are still the hub of the action in Las Vegas, you can walk outside and find almost everything you want.
Much of the restaurant news this week pays tribute to the fact that you can walk a few feet outside of a casino to grab some fresh air on the way to and from a meal. Gordon Ramsay is a good example of taking his talents outside of the casino.
More Gordon Ramsay On The Vegas Strip
His first three restaurants, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Burgr, and Gordon Ramsay Pub were inside Paris, Planet Hollywood, and Caesars Palace, respectively. His most recent restaurant in Las Vegas opened at the Linq Promenade, just outside of the casino. Gordon Ramsay’s next restaurant in Las Vegas will be outside of Caesars Palace in the space formerly occupied by Serendipity 3.
Vegas Seven says “Ramsay is said to be installing one of his Hell’s Kitchen restaurants, which would no doubt be tied to an upcoming season of the show.” Neither Caesars Entertainment or Ramsay have confirmed when this new restaurant will open. His restaurants are extremely popular so you can expect to hear much more soon.
Giordano’s Opens At Bally’s This Week
Giordano’s will be opening this week across the street from Caesars Palace, at the Bally’s Grand Bazaar Shops. The popular Chicago pizza restaurant chain will open its doors to the public on December 13th. I’d add some color to this blurb but pizza isn’t supposed to be eaten with a fork and knife.
Virgil’s Real BBQ Opens At The Linq This Week
One of my favorite restaurants from New York City opens its first Las Vegas location this week. Virgil’s Real Barbecue at The Linq opens at The Linq shopping promenade on December 13. Virgil’s is a small restaurant chain and features flavors from Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, the Carolina’s and Missouri. This isn’t award winning BBQ, but it is damn good and a great restaurant for large groups of meat eaters.
Heart Attack Grill Coming To The Vegas Strip
The newest location for Heart Attack Grill will be opening where the Pete Rose Bar & Grill operated for a couple of months. For better clarity, the restaurant will be located under Chili’s in the Hawaiian Marketplace across the street from Aria. In all the years I’ve lived in and visited Las Vegas I’ve never been in this strip mall. That won’t change.
Caesars Introduces New Dining Rewards Program
Last week Caesars Entertainment introduced a new way to earn Total Rewards Credits (not tier points). Total Rewards Dining rewards your spending at over 11,000 restaurants outside of their casinos with Total Rewards Credits. As you can see here there are currently 74 non-Caesars restaurants in Las Vegas where you can earn credits. Read the FAQ if you have more questions.
New Fees
Cosmopolitan To Charge For Parking Next Year
It should come as no surprise that the Cosmopolitan will begin charging visitors and guests for parking in 2017. Fees are as follows:
Self Park
0-1 hour: Complimentary
1-4 hours: $7
4-24 hours: $10, 24+ hours: $10 per day (or additional portion thereof)
Valet
0-4 hours: $13
4-24 hours: $18, 24+ hours: $18 per day (or additional portion thereof)
Self-parking is complimentary for Sterling status or higher and valet parking is complimentary for Gold status or higher.
Locals are not exempt and must pay the fee.
The self-parking garage at Cosmopolitan is a nightmare but convenient when there isn’t a fee to deal with when you’re not paying. I’m not sure how this will work logistically with the tight space and multiple ramps. I visit the Cosmopolitan pretty often and would rather pay to valet my car instead of navigating the subterranean hole they call a garage. You can find more information here.
United Airlines To Charge For Overhead Bins, Sorta
Those who drive to casinos in Las Vegas aren’t the only one’s being hit with fees. If you fly United Airlines you can expect to be charged for carry-on baggage in the near future in theory. The airline is creating a new class of seats without overhead bins. The thought here is that you’ll be paying for that bin. This is a big deal as the company expects this to raise $1 billion by 2020. That kind of revenue will generate interest from other airlines so expect to see this spread like parking fees in Las Vegas.
Entertainment
The Park Theater Opens This Weekend
The Park Theater at Monte Carlo (soon to be Park MGM) opens this weekend. The first show will be the Las Vegas tour stop for Stevie Nicks. MGM Resorts International officials told the Las Vegas Sun that the 5,200 capacity venue is already “50% booked” for 2017. That will go a long way with MGM Resorts plans to have five times the number of events in 2017 then in 2016.
Journey Residency Returns To Las Vegas
The Hard Rock announced that Journey’s run of shows (aka residency) at The Joint will return in 2017. Shows will take place on May 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19 and 20. The band will be touring and actually have two shows in Hawaii. You can find those dates here.
Jennifer Lopez Adds 15 Shows
Caesars announce that Jenny from the block has added another 15 shows to her residency at Planet Hollywood in 2017:
September: 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30
October: 4, 6, 7
The following J-Lo show dates in 2017 were previously announced:
February: 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25
May: 24, 26, 27, 28, 31
June: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11
Ralphie May To Begin Residency At Harrah’s
The Improv may have closed but Harrah’s will still have some comedy performances. Caesars just announced a full year of RALPHIE MAY: NO APOLOGIES shows in 2017.
Jan.: 26, 27, 28
Feb.: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18
March: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 30, 31
April: 1, 6, 7, 8
May: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
June: 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30
July: 1
Sept.: 28, 29, 30
Oct.: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28
Nov.: 2, 3, 4
Bellagio Holiday Display Is Up
The Bellagio conservatory and botanical gardens is beautiful all year. However, there’s something more special about their Holiday display. It’s magical in a way that few holiday displays are in Las Vegas. Vegas Bright has some sweet pictures and video.
Rumor Of The Week: Fear The Walking Dead Coming To Downtown Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Weekly is reporting that there will be some kind of attraction for the TV show “Fear The Walking Dead.” There aren’t any details or solid information on this but it would be some kind of walkthrough attraction. I’m not sure what to make of this idea but I hope they keep it away from Fremont Street. It’s already a cluster to navigate at night and on the weekend.
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