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CasinoMan Blog - Category Articles: las vegas

A review of Zumanity, Cirque du Soliel's other side

Who knew that Cirque du Soleil had a sensual side? If you’ve ever watched a Cirque production like “O” then you’re well aware of the high-flying, insanely precise, entertaining brand of acrobatics that only Cirque can bring you. For audiences of Cirque’s newest show playing at the New York, New York hotel and casino, Zumanity may be too much for your senses.

It’s a racy and sometimes raunchy adults-only show that explores human sexuality for over 2 hours. The performers are gorgeous and just as talented as you’d expect any Cirque du Soleil performer to be. And just like you’d imagine a dirty Vegas show – yeah, it’s that provocative.

As soon as the curtain lifts, you get a full idea of why this show is labeled “adults only”. This tribute to human sexual expression pays homage to Las Vegas’ nickname of “Sin City,” and does so extremely well. But while some acts in the show are worthy of the Cirque name, others have a tendency to appear amateurish and seem like they’d be seen in strip clubs or cheesy bars.

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Do you Believe? A Criss Angel Show

We’re all a little excited about seeing magic. When that guy at a party does a card trick, you immediately ask, “How’d you do that?” Of course, he never tells you. And the truth is you don’t really want to know.

Every magic fan in the world knows who Criss Angel is. As the star of his own hit television show Mindfreak, Criss has done everything from walk on water to making pedestrians disappear.

His entire career is based on an extremely rare ability to make us question what is possible in the world. You watch Criss and know that it’s just a trick, but you’re not sure how it’s not real. Team Angel’s immense talents up with Cirque de Soleil and you have the makings of one of Vegas’ greatest shows: Believe.

According to Criss, he’s been planning this show for around 15 years. When you see it, you’ll see that his time was extremely well spent. Believe is playing at the Luxor Hotel and Casino, and the beautiful theater does the show justice.

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Penn & Teller in Las Vegas Headliner Magicians

Conspiracy theorists debunked, holistic remedies found to be fraudulent, and the words “Holy cow” were proven to be offensive. Who are the detectives on the case? It’s none other than Vegas’ own Penn & Teller.

Their hit Showtime late night series “Bullshit” is a number-one rated comedy for the magically talented duo. Penn, who’s the tall and talking member of the duo, is sure to tell outlandishly loud tales with Teller, the short and silent “other” half of the duo sets up and carries out most of the tricks.

The two are currently playing at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Their show doesn’t have some catchy name – they’re Penn & Teller, they don’t need one.

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A Review of the Las Vegas Show Danny Gans at the Danny Gans Theatre

For people not overly familiar with Las Vegas, you may not know who Danny Gans is. If not, he’s a singer-slash-comedian who was once a professional baseball player. Danny’s been called “the man of a thousand voices,” “the ultimate impersonator,” and even “the most famous actor who never appeared in Bull Durham,” (an ironic pun to the fact Danny appeared in the hit Kevin Costner film but ultimately had his scenes cut) but is also a very accomplished and funny comedian. Any man who has a theater in Las Vegas named after him must be doing something right. And if you’re feeling the need for a good laugh, Danny Gans is currently at the Danny Gans Theater.

The reigning Entertainer of the Year in Las Vegas welcomes the audience in with some warming commentary before going straight into his act. Although, many have seen his show multiple times and claim Danny has a propensity to switch it around some.

However, a lot of his material, such as the singers he impersonates, remains the same. If you’re looking to be blown away by any showgirl-type kicks or high-flying acrobatics, then you’ve better cancel in advance.

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Le Reve at the Wynn Las Vegas

Meaning “The Dream” in French, Le Reve was the first-ever production show to open in the Wynn Las Vegas casino resort. This ultra-lavish show is held in a one-million-gallon capacity theater and hosts an array of diving and other spectacular displays of acrobatics and special effects.

The show was created by internationally acclaimed director Franco Dragone. The aquatic in-the-round dome theater makes sure that no audience member is more than 40-feet from the stage during the show, enabling every participant to witness the close-up action. There are probably better shows playing in Vegas, but Le Reve is definitely worth seeing.

First off, the domed theater just looks spectacular. Le Reve strikes you immediately as one-of-a-kind, but it’s also blended with a little Cirque de Soleil. So it only makes sense that any Cirque lovers would absolutely adore this show. You will also be taken aback at just how intimate the setting is.

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What on Earth are the Blue Man Group

If you’ve never witnessed a Blue Man Group show live, then now’s the perfect chance. The group, which consists of three “blue” men played by Phil Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman, has now found a permanent home at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The trio has been likened to new-age mimes, as they’re mute performers who entertain by incorporating a mix of idiosyncratic instruments and gut-busting playground comedy into their routine. They present themselves covered in blue grease paint over latex bald caps and wear black clothing.

The group initially shocked audiences by the element of surprise. No one was aware of the group’s intentions, and to find unexpected humor and actual talent was a much welcomed and impressive gift.

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Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Review

Fans of Las Vegas, Nevada can agree – there’s a little something for everyone. No matter what you’re into, you can find something to do in Vegas. It’s truly the land of a million options, although most only arrive for one or two. One Vegas attraction that some are unaware of is the Folies Bergere show at the Tropicana.

Critics of the show agree that Folies Bergere is the glamorous spark that takes Las Vegas back to a long-removed golden era. This timeless musical show personifies “sexy” Vegas, and provides classic entertainment that proves to be a much appreciated break from magic and mayhem. The show takes its name from The Folies Bergere, a Parisian music hall which was extremely popular throughout the late 1800s to around 1920. It’s still in business today.

For lovers of all things music, dance and entertainment, Folies Bergere has a seat reserved just for you. It contains all the elements that a great Las Vegas show needs to succeed: singing and dancing, gorgeous scenery, gut-busting comedy, and the crème de la crème of Las Vegas – the showgirls.

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The Number One Illusionist of all time is David Copperfield

Before Chris Angel and David Blaine came along with their edited for TV magic, David Copperfield reigned supreme as the top illusionist in the world. This master magician has made the Statue of Liberty disappear – enough said.

He plays 500 shows a year and constantly tries to top himself. David has been playing Las Vegas for years, and his magic show always prevails as one of the top entertainment destinations, not only in Las Vegas, but in all of America.

He is hailed by both fans and critics alike as the greatest illusionist of all time. If you’ve never seen David Copperfield perform, there’s no better time than right now. The man has walked through the Great Wall of China, flown through the air, and even made audience members disappear. He’s truly one of a kind.

Of course, he can’t recreate every televised trick for the Vegas audience, but he does demonstrate similar and equally impressive illusions by using objects a bit more suitable for a stage setting. For example, Copperfield pays homage to his Great Wall walk-through by using a large sheet of metal and effortlessly walking through it.

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Star Trek The Experience is Closing it's Doors

A sad day sits on the horizon for many Trekkies. Space has never felt this empty. As the Hilton Hotel makes preparations to close down their Star Trek: The Experience site this coming autumn, loyal fans set their phasers to stun and prepare to wage war against the Borg-like fat-cats who decided that this exhibit isn’t popular enough to keep alive. As the stars slowly dim and fade away, Hilton execs are busy working on something to replace the exhibit.

The Experience is a blend of ship simulator, environment, museum, and gift ship/restaurant. It opened up 10 years ago, during the heyday of the Star Trek: The Next Generation movie series.

This exhibit gives fans a change to boldly explore a Trek time-line with a collection of various sci-fi vestiges. After purchasing a ticket that allows for unlimited rides for the day, customers are free to walk through a museum of Star Trek History. You can then explore displays for each of the major alien races from the show/movies, including the Borg, Klingons, and Ferengi.

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The Bellagio 'O' by Cirque du Soleil

Translating to Circus of the Sun, Cirque du Soleil is an entertainment empire based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy Laliberte, and Daniel Gauthier. The original name was Les Echassiers, and they toured Quebec in 1980 as a performing troupe.

Le Grand Tour Du Cirque du Soleil was a success in 84, and after securing a second year of funding, Laliberte hired Buy Caron from the National Circus School to recreate Cirque du Soleil as a proper circus. Their popular rapidly grew, and Cirque du Soleil went from a handful of employees in 1984, to over 3,500 today. Among their Big Top Touring shows are Alegria, Quidam, Dralion, Varekai, Corteo, and KOOZA. The list of resident shows includes LOVE, KA, Mystere, La Nouba, Zumanity, and the show currently featured at the Bellagio, simply titled “O”

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How Las Vegas was founded

Las Vegas, which in Spanish means “The Meadows,” was named by Spaniards in the Antonio Armijo party, who used water from the area while heading north and west along the Old Spanish Trail from Texas. In 1844, John C. Fremont traveled into the Las Vegas Valley, while it was still part of Mexico.

He was a leader of a group of scientists, scouts, and other observers for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. In 1855, Brigham Young assigned 30 missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the area in attempts to convert the Paiute Indian population to Mormonism. A small fort was built near the current downtown area, serving as a stopover for weary travelers along the “Mormon Corridor.”

Las Vegas was then established as a railroad town in 1905, when 110 acres was auctioned off in what is now downtown Las Vegas. Las Vegas was part of Lincoln County until 1909, when it became part of newly established Clark County.

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The Fremont Street Experience

The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in download Las Vegas. The FSE occupies the westernmost 5 blocks of Fremont Street, including the area known for years as “Glitter Gulch,” and also portions of other adjacent streets.

The attraction is a barrel vault canopy, which stands 90 feet high at its peak, and covers approximately four blocks. Las Vegas is known for never turning the outside casino lights off, so each show begins by turning off the lights on all buildings under the canopy, giving views of the FSE show the full effect of the lights.

Fremont Street has a storied history. It held many Las Vegas firsts, including the first hotel, first telephone, first Nevada gaming license, the first elevator, first traffic light, and the first high-rise. For many years, the western end of Fremont Street was the area most commonly portrayed whenever producers wanted to display the lights of Vegas.

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The History behind the Bellagio Hotel and Casino

The Bellagio is an AAA Five-Diamond rated luxury hotel and casino in Las Vegas, located on The Strip. MGM Mirage holds ownership of this luxurious hotel and casino, and it was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.

Inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, Vegas’ Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of the most notable features of the Bellagio is an 8-acre artificial lake between the hotel and the Strip, which holds the famous Fountains of Bellagio. The Bellagio has been one of Vegas’ most famous resorts since its inception. It employs approximately 10,000 people, and is visited by millions each year.

The Bellagio was conceived by Steve Wynn, an American casino resort developer, and built by his company, Mirage Resorts, Inc. Wynn is often considered as the man who changed Vegas. In 1989, his first major Strip casino, The Mirage, opened, setting a new standard in Vegas, making immediate history.

With his second project, the 1993 Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Wynn proved once again that his vision for Vegas was different. The $450 million dollar resort was another instant smash with the public.

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A Brief Bio on Sheldon Adelson

Born August 1, 1933, Sheldon Gary Adelson is an American billionaire businessman and property developer. As the third richest person in the United States, Adelson’s net worth of 26-billion dollars has earned this CEO the respect and admiration of millions who wish to follow in his footsteps.

Adelson is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., which is the parent company of Venetian Macao Limited, which also operates The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center. Adelson’s biggest increase in wealth came when he sold 10% of his casino shares to the public.

Adelson has recently bore the brunt of rumor and scandal. He has come under fire for his involvement with right-wing lobbying groups. The allegations suggest that Adelson has financed several unsuccessful Republican congressional candidates and has attempted to raise as much as $250 million to attack Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

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A mini-bio on Steve Wynn

Stephen Alan Wynn was born on January 27th, 1942 in New Haven, Connecticut, and is best known for being an American casino developer. He was thought to be responsible for the efforts of reestablishing Las Vegas in the 90s, spearheading the resurgence and expansion of the Vegas strip.

His companies refurbished and built some of the most widely recognized resorts in Las Vegas to date, such as the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Wynn. Wynn currently lives with his wife in a suite at Wynn Las Vegas, awaiting completion of their Highlands Golf Club home. He has two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian. Wynn suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, which affects his peripheral vision.

Wynn’s father Michael Weinberg ran a host of bingo parlors in the United States. In the late 40s, he changed his name to “Wynn”, a marketing strategy and an attempt to counter anti-Jewish bias.

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Is it a good time to invest in real estate in Las Vegas?

In the real estate market, you often hear teams like “peak” and “max”, as if there’s an imaginary ceiling that’s going to stop it. And over the past few years or so, the big buzz has always been about when exactly real estate is going to max out. This is a theory that has been circling around since early 2002.

It’s nothing more but a reaction to the substantial increases in real estate values around the country. This fuel-fed paranoia has mostly been doused by media types and loud mouths who really don’t know a thing. The thought of real estate reaching its peak seems to be based on nothing more than the collective fear that real estate values through the USA may drop.

However, there is no fact-based reasoning put forth to support this fear. So, reasonably and rationally, it’s still safe to purchase real estate in hot-spots through the U.S. like Las Vegas. Your property will continue to have value.

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The oldest casino in Las Vegas, The Golden Gate Casino

When you’re in Las Vegas, odds are you’re there to gamble. Not many people pay attention to other aspects of Vegas. To stop and look at Vegas as a whole, many would notice that it’s dry, dirty, hot, and extremely expensive.

The euphoric rush which takes over while gambling and partying often blinds individuals to the current state of affairs. But let’s face it, we all love to gamble. And some places in Vegas do have more appeal than others.

Though some people may rather stay in places like the Bellagio and Caesars Palace, the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino really tells the sordid story of Vegas, and people still frequent its small quarters.

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Top Ten Things to Do in Las Vegas

Dozens of things to do in Las Vegas means there is fun for the entire family not just those with blue hair. Traditionally, Las Vegas is known for a mixed bag of things to do including getting married, getting divorced, gambling and watching a few of the headline entertainers at a floor show. That has all changed now and changed for the better. Here are some tips for enjoying Las Vegas with the entire family:

1. Gamble

A major activity in Las Vegas will always be gambling. Everything from slot machines to World Class Poker Tournaments can be found in the 24 hour day casino hotels.

2. Gambling classes

If you don't know your way around a deck of cards or a roulette wheel, why not learn as part of your activities in Las Vegas. Most of the large casinos will be happy to enroll you in a class to top off your knowledge of one or more of the games of chance.

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