Ron Sylvester

Story Archive

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. set to open in Harmon Retail Center: Friday, Dec. 14, 2012; Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. will open its first Nevada restaurant Saturday in the Harmon Retail Center, across the street from the Cosmopolitan.
Sunset Station looking for restaurant to replace Hooters: Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012; Station Casinos is looking for a new restaurant to replace Hooters, which closed at Sunset Station in Henderson. Hooters shut down its Sunset Station location Nov. 9, after 10 years of serving spicy chicken wings and sliders.
Seven reasons Las Vegas locals should head to the Strip: Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012; Maybe you haven't been to the Strip in a while. We often hear residents bragging about how long it has been since they've been there. Even locals need to remember what 40 million tourists already know: the Strip is what makes Las Vegas unique.
MGM planning Strip water park at Circus Circus: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012; MGM Resorts International is considering building a water park at Circus Circus, according to a proposal approved by the Winchester Town Advisory Board on Tuesday.
Economists: Las Vegas poised for steady, sustainable growth: Monday, Dec. 10, 2012; If Las Vegas and Southern Nevada can limp through the next two years, the region could see long-term economic growth rivaling the days before the Great Recession.
Horses helped Las Vegas man go straight out of Compton: Monday, Dec. 10, 2012; Charles Cain says football and Gene Autry helped him escape a life of street gangs and drug dealers in south-central Los Angeles. Sports led Cain to Las Vegas, where he played football for UNLV, and horses kept him here through a 28-year career as a Metro Police detective.
Hippie biker is really undercover CEO: Friday, Dec. 7, 2012; Jim and Tina Liaos thought they were hiring a former motorcycle shop owner named Brad as part of a television show in which he was competing to raise startup money for his own business. "He looked like a long-haired hippie biker type of guy," said Tina Liaos, who with her husband runs a Las Vegas PostNet franchise that offers printing and shipping services for small businesses.
Wheel of Fortune slot pays out $1 million at Cosmopolitan: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; A slot machine at the Cosmopolitan paid more than $1 million this week. Casino officials confirmed today that a $1 Wheel of Fortune slot paid $1,359,167.32 Sunday on a progressive jackpot from manufacturer IGT.
Ruth’s Chris to open Strip location at Harrah’s: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; Ruth's Chris Steak House will return to Las Vegas early next year at Harrah's. Seating nearly 400, the new restaurant will feature views of the Strip through a wall of windows from the upper level.
Strip chefs work together to help Sandy victims: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; When Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast in October, it hit home for some of Las Vegas' celebrity chefs who made their names on the streets of New York City. Now some of them, including Connecticut-born Scott Conant and Francois Payard, are now ready to cook up a storm on the Strip to raise money for Red Cross relief efforts back home.
Developer of sports memorabilia museum hopes to score big at Luxor: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012; No one wanted to play ball with Jim Beckmann when he first pitched the idea for Score!, a sports memorabilia museum and exhibit on the Strip. "Everyone said no," Beckmann said. For many, Las Vegas conjured up images of casinos and gambling, which didn't sit well with some image-conscious sports organizations. "It was about educating our partners that sports tourism is a big market here," Beckmann said.
1,000 pounds of chocolate, 3,000 chocolate logs make up candy village: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012; Sylvain Bortolini started planning Christmas in September. As executive pastry chef for the Bellagio, Bortolini spent summer and fall creating a massive candy village that's now the centerpiece of the casino's holiday display at its Conservatory Botanical Gardens.
Mexican restaurant's design includes a rope canopy and chainsaw wood mural: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012; It takes more than good food for a restaurant to succeed on the Las Vegas Strip. Atmosphere can be equally important. Many local restauranteurs import the country’s top designers to create restaurant settings that are just right. One such designer is Peter Bowden, director of design and development for Dodd Mitchell, a global design firm. He is the mastermind behind Javier’s, a new 9,000-square-foot, high-end Mexican restaurant at Aria.
New Cantor sports book opens at the Silverton: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; The Silverton opened a new sports book today. Cantor Gaming will run the 2,000-square foot space, which includes 38 viewing carrels and a high-definition video screen with 2.35 million LED pixels.
Study: Many slot players more interested in killing time than winning big: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; For people who play slot machines, time is more important than money. Instead of focusing on hitting a big jackpot, they spin the reels to relieve stress, entertain themselves or just kill time. That’s according to a new study from Oregon State University. The results are important because they help gaming executives understand — and market to — the slot players who provide the most profit to casinos.
Bacon, basil among 150 flavors of vodka offered at new Strip bar: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012; More than 150 vodkas in flavors from bacon to peanut butter will be served at a new martini bar set to open next month on the Strip.
Las Vegas ranked in top 50 of fastest-growing metropolitan areas: Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012; Las Vegas is expected to be among the 50 fastest-growing metropolitan areas over the next five years, according to a computer projection released today by Pitney Bowes Software.
SLS resort, formerly Sahara, to feature Fred Segal stores: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012; Las Vegas shoppers used to choosing from a number of upscale labels will find only one name inside the retail center of the new SLS hotel and casino.
26,000-square-foot Italian restaurant to open at the Forum Shops: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012; A Times Square Italian restaurant that serves about 1 million people a year is planning to open in Las Vegas next year. The 800-seat Carmine's will sprawl over 26,000 square feet of space at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
New restaurants, 200 jobs coming to Excalibur: Monday, Nov. 19, 2012; Excalibur's new Castle Walk Food Court, which opens Tuesday, will introduce several restaurants to the Strip for the first time, including Cinnabon, Hot Dog on a Stick, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Pick Up Stix and Schlotzsky’s. The food court also is expected to bring 200 new jobs to Las Vegas.
Las Vegans stock up on Twinkies as news of Hostess closure spreads: Friday, Nov. 16, 2012; Nostalgic Las Vegans made a run on Twinkies and cupcakes today after Hostess announced it will be going out of business after more than a century. Locally, 171 people at a Hostess plant in Henderson stand to lose their jobs. Hostess Brands Inc. filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court today seeking to close its business and sell its assets.
Treasure Island poker room gets new digs: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012; Treasure Island will move its poker room next to its sports book this week. The TI poker room on Thursday will take over the old location of Canter's Deli, which had been limited to counter service during the renovation.
Ice skating coming to the Las Vegas Strip: Monday, Nov. 12, 2012; Ice skating comes to the desert later this month, as the Cosmopolitan and Venetian bring the winter pastime to the Las Vegas Strip.
Richard Petty Driving Experience replaces Dale Jarrett Racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012; The Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure is leaving Las Vegas. It will move from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, the company announced today. It will be replaced by the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which recently signed an exclusive deal with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
What it takes to become Prince four nights a week: Monday, Nov. 5, 2012; Jason Tenner, decked out in eyeliner and glitter, sat in his Mercedes and smiled as he watched a man in a Zorro costume cross the street in front of him. Both men were dressed for work. Zorro, in a cape and tights, spent the night posing with tourists on Fremont Street. Tenner, in a black wig and purple trench coat, spent it onstage singing “Little Red Corvette” and “1999.” Tenner, 37, performs four nights a week as Prince in the “Purple Reign” tribute show at the D Las Vegas.
Celebrity impersonators: A conversation with 'Michael Jackson,' 'Elvis' and 'Cher': Monday, Nov. 5, 2012; Many people have heard someone say, "Has anyone ever told you that you look like (insert a famous name)?" But only a few have made careers out of their celebrity resemblances.
Local culinary student among those competing at World Food Championships: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012; Down the street from where world-renowned French chef Herbert Keller had thrown a dinner for the release of a new cookbook the night before, culinary school student Pora Tardy meticulously wrapped braised lettuce around a breaded chicken in a parking lot just off the Las Vegas Strip.
New supper-nightclub planned for Encore: Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012; A new mega supper-nightclub is hitting the Las Vegas Strip. Andrea's, opening Dec. 28 at Encore, will feature a 155-seat dining room and terrace that will span more than 8,200 square feet.
Boyd casinos introduce 'Penny Lanes' for penny slot fans: Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012; Four Boyd Gaming casinos debuted new "Penny Lane" areas today dedicated to penny slots. The idea is to make the games easier to find.
For seasonal holiday shop owners, work is year-round: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012; There are 54 shopping days left until Christmas. Every year, seasonal stores pop up around the valley during Halloween and Christmas. They sell holiday-specific items for a few weeks or months, then disappear.
Judges lined up for World Food Championships: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012; Seven judges, including Las Vegas Sun columnist Robin Leach, have been named to select the final winner from this weekend's inaugural World Food Championships.
MGM pairs with Royal Caribbean for customer rewards program: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012; MGM Resorts International and Royal Caribbean announced a new partnership Tuesday that will allow people to use customer reward points for amenities offered by both companies.
South Point's spa to get a makeover: Monday, Oct. 29, 2012; The South Point casino is getting a full makeover for its spa with a $500,000 renovation set to open Dec. 1.
Sandy cancels dozens of flights to Las Vegas, leaves tourists stranded: Monday, Oct. 29, 2012; Hundreds of flights carrying people bound for Las Vegas were canceled Monday because of the threat of Superstorm Sandy, which began to pound the East Coast in the late afternoon. Almost 200 flights carrying passengers headed toward Las Vegas nonstop or via connection were grounded from Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
Illegal offshore gambling ring could hurt Nevada's emerging online gaming industry: Friday, Oct. 26, 2012; Just as the Internet gambling industry was building credibility in Nevada, along came Michael Lloyd Colbert, the local Cantor Gaming sports book director and a Nevada gaming licensee who was among 25 people indicted in what prosecutors call a national illegal sports-betting ring.
Nightclub guru talks about plans for new SLS at site of old Sahara: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012; Mio Danilovic was working his way through college at the El Dorado bar in Brentwood, Calif., when he heard about a new nightclub on the Sunset Strip. "I had heard there was this young, ambitious guy who was starting a business that was going to revolutionize the way people go out in Los Angeles," Danilovic said. He walked into Shelter and found owner Sam Nazarian sitting in an office drinking iced coffee. Within five minutes, Danilovic had talked his way into a job working club security.
Rain nightclub to shut down after Saturday Halloween party: Monday, Oct. 22, 2012; The ring of flames shooting from the ceiling above one of Las Vegas’ trend-setting nightclubs will fizzle out this weekend with the closing of Rain. The club off the Palms casino floor will cease regular operations following Saturday night’s Halloween-themed party.
Social networking: Technology is key to business success: Monday, Oct. 22, 2012; Eight years after the launch of Facebook and six years into Twitter, businesses understand the value of social media. Now they must learn how to catch — and keep — customers’ attention, particularly as consumers become increasingly distracted with new ways to communicate.
Aria closes its buffet for remodeling: Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012; After three years and strong consumer reviews, the buffet at Aria has closed to remake its food and atmosphere. The buffet closed Monday and is expected to reopen by the end of the year.
World Food Championships bring 400 comfort food specialists to the Strip: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012; Las Vegas will trade foie gras and tartare for ground beef and beans next month as the World Food Championships bring state fair food to the Strip. The cookoff will feature 400 competitors, who've won culinary titles across the country, at the weekend throwdown.
Javier’s restaurant opens in Las Vegas at Aria: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012; A beach-inspired blend of Mexican and Southern California flavors has come to the Aria with this week’s opening of Javier’s restaurant.
How to design a casino table game that's a worldwide hit: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012; Roger Snow's career as a table game designer started when he opened a casino invoice. Now executive vice president and chief product officer for SHFL entertainment (formerly Shuffle Master), Snow at the time worked at the Mirage and saw a bill from Shuffle Master for $2,000 for a game named "Let it Ride." He was shocked, both that a company owned the game and that the casino paid for it. When Snow learned that the Mirage and other casinos payed $2,000 per "Let it Ride" table, he vowed to capitalize on the set up.
Derek Stevens tries to bring a bit of Detroit downtown with the D: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012; Just as people from Hawaii view the California casino as "the ninth island," Derek Stevens wants people in Detroit to look at the D in downtown Las Vegas like a second home. He is advertising throughout the Great Lakes region, has brought a beloved Detroit eatery to his Fremont Street casino and even the name "the D" is a nickname among Detroit residents for their city.
Stiletto heel hole in your couch? No problem for Encore Upholstery: Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012; A truck rolled into Encore Upholstery at 3 p.m. on a recent Wednesday delivering a $20,000 leather couch punctured with holes and other furniture marred by tears and burns caused during a night of partying on the Strip. “See that hole? That’s from a stiletto heel,” Encore owner Audrey Gregory pointed out. The furniture came from a three-story bungalow overlooking the Marquee Day Club Pool at the Cosmopolitan.
Coming soon to a 7-Eleven near you: Eco-friendly condoms, energy chocolate and nonstick gum: Monday, Oct. 8, 2012; Beef jerky and energy drinks were two big themes at this year's National Association of Convenience Store Trade Show, which began Monday and aims to sell wares to convenience stores across the country. But there were lots of other things creators hope will land in a store near you.
Why some performers choose Circus Circus over Cirque du Soleil: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012; Some might see Circus Circus, built in 1968, as a second-tier stage in a city where Cirque du Soleil is king. But there’s nowhere else Veronika Ernesto, and many other performers, would rather work. "At Circus Circus, you're going to be able to do what you do," Entertainment Director Jill Breslaw said. "I allow you to do your art the way you need to do it."
Goodbye, slot machines; Hello, iPad slots: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012; The slot machines you see in casinos today could soon be things of the past. Not in 20 years, but in five. Experts predict that the games themselves aren't likely to change. They'll just get more portable.
The jugglers, acrobats and slack wire walkers of Circus Circus: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012; Wooden bleachers shake as parents walk their children to find seats at the Circus Circus Midway. A drummer and keyboardist take their places in front of the raised stage. "Ladies and gentleman," a ringmaster’s voice booms. Every half hour from 11 a.m. to midnight every day, one of 12 circus acts takes the stage.
Company unveils holographic dealers at Global Gaming Expo: Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012; Two women deal cards in the air and throw dice that float, matching bets placed by gamblers on electronic games. None of it is real, except the money on the bets. The holographic dealers are among the more advanced technology being shown for a select group of people this week at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. Getting past the security and velvet ropes to view the demonstration is much like trying to get into the Marquee Nightclub on a busy weekend night.
Original American Coney Island dog stand coming to Las Vegas: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012; The family that lays claim to inventing the Coney dog will open its first stand outside of Detroit in downtown Las Vegas. American Coney Island, whose founder Constantine “Gust” Keros first ladled chili on a hot dog in 1917, will open its new restaurant Oct. 10 at the D Las Vegas casino.