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One of, if not the most, well known acts in Las Vegas entertainment history was the famous Rat Pack. Their antics were legendary and helped set the stage for what we now call "Sin City." Their show was only a great memory to those lucky enough to see it. Until now. "The Rat Pack Is Back" show at the Plaza Hotel and Casino is a faithful and energetic reproduction of their infamous stunts.

As recently noted by the Las Vegas Shows Reviews blog:

Sammy is on stage next, his shark skin is shiny blue, and he just about takes over the show. And it would be Sammy’s show if Dean didn’t keep butting in and Joey didn’t try so hard to make Sammy look small, but that couldn’t happen to Sammy. “That Old Black Magic” comes out big and as smooth as silk, and “Mr. Bojangles” still brings a sad joy to the heart. There is something electric about Kyle Diamond’s performance. Perhaps it’s the excitement in his eyes and the pure Sammy Davis Jr. energy that he pours out onto the audience. He makes us as glad to be in the audience as he is glad to be on stage. Now that we’ve been blushed by Joey, boozed by Dean, and seduced by Sammy, we know we will not be disappointed with Frank.

In contrast to the goofy antics of his buddies, David DeCosta walks Frank Sinatra on to the stage with an authority that ends all questions to who is the real star. Looking suave in his expensive grey suit with the small red triangle handkerchief in his breast pocket, he commands and corrals the other players into now participating in HIS show.

After he belts out the classic "That's Life", "Frank" brings up the cast to pull up a stoll and sing some songs. It's just like it was in the Copa Room at the Sands in 1962. The performers do a fantastic job of recreating the voices and actions of the legendary entertainers. Some performances feature different cast members and at some shows even a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like joins the festivities!

There's also a dinner package available and the food is quite good! For anyone that longs for the "Old Vegas" and a glimpse into how Vegas started off being the "Entertainment Capitol of the World" The Rat Pack Is Back is simply a show not to miss!

You can read the complete review at: Indeed, The Rat Pack Is Back In Las Vegas

Posted by Access Vegas staff

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Mariah Carey Gallery

Mariah Carey Sexy


Mariah Carey Nice Pic


Mariah Carey Nice Photo


Mariah Carey Wallpaper


Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey Gallery

Mariah Carey Sexy


Mariah Carey Nice Pic


Mariah Carey Nice Photo


Mariah Carey Wallpaper


Mariah Carey

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In a town known for it's unique entertainment one of the more interesting shows currently running in Las Vegas is Menopause - The Musical. The show has been running at the Las Vegas Hilton since 2001. It's a 90 minute production that follows the trials and tribulations of four women that are all in the midst of the big "change."

As the Las Vegas Shows Reviews blog recently noted:

Set in Bloomindales in New York City, no menopausal stone is left unturned in this hilarious musical. These four strangers meet in the department store, bond when they realize they’re all going through “The Change,” and become fast friends. The actress is in denial about her age and chalks her mood swings up to being part of the acting process. The businesswoman forgets what she’s supposed to talk about in the meeting she is about to lead, thanks to her menopausal brain fog.

The overweight Iowa housewife hates the physical changes forced on her body and can’t fit into the skimpy lingerie she so desperately wants to buy on her first trip to New York that she hopes will put. Our Earth Mother is way too cranky to successfully meditate any more, so she eats too much and terrorizes her husband instead. The women find relief in their anti-depressants. They all pop a different pill and our hippie downs the St. John’s Wort instead.

Menopause features several hysterical musical numbers that will keep your toes tapping throughout the show. They twist the many famous songs with lyrics that poke fun at such issues like stretch marks, hot flashes and plastic surgery.

The characters are our mothers, our sisters, even us. The characters are captivating and keep the audience captivated throughout the entire show. With their shared experience the ladies form a bond that trancends their own individual lives and which leads them to realize there's no reason to not be happy! At the end the audience is invited onstage to join the party.

You can read the complete review at: Menopause The Musical - Laughing With Life’s Changes

Posted by Access Vegas staff

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The Weekend

It is a beautiful Saturday here and I am enjoying the morning off. Steven and I have been "house-sitting" for some people in Stehekin. They have a nice cabin, a garden, a horse, and a dog. It is really quiet here and we have enjoyed the change in scenery from the landing for a few days. We awoke this morning and drove to the bakery just in time for a cinnamon roll fresh from the oven...it was great! Steven also had an egg sandwich...one of his favorite breakfast foods. After breakfast....Steven drove up the road to the ranch to work on the manure spreader...sounds like fun huh? I went to our house and cleaned up a little since we hadn't been there in a few days. Now I am just relaxing and waiting to ride my bike back down the road to the shuttle bus stop. I am going to take lunch up the road and eat with Steven before he guides a raft trip this afternoon. My plan for the afternoon is to take some more rafting photos, work with one of the horses...his name is Leroy, and make some roping reins for lesson kids. The split reins seem to be too long and don't have any grips...so I am going to attempt to make a set that will be a little easier for the kids to hold. Tonight there is live music at the restaurant down at the landing so we are excited about hanging out there and relaxing together. Tomorrow is Sunday and we both have the day off...YEAH! I am not quite sure what will become of the day...but I will keep you "posted." Hope everyone else is enjoying their weekend as well!

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Las Vegas has long been known at the "Adult Playground." Part of that reputation is the abundance of "gentleman's clubs" that are here. If there's any ladies have ever dreamed of learning some of the moves that the girls use in the strip clubs, than "Stripper 101" is the show for you. Held in the V theater in the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino, it's a great way to learn some new moves!

As recently noted by the Las Vegas Shows Reviews blog:

A group comprised mostly of twenty-somethings but including ladies into their 40s and beyond, most of the 20 - 25 attending patrons seem to instinctively dress sexy and skimpy, dressing the part and embracing the “character” even before arriving. The group is lead into a dimly lit, sultry studio, outfitted with a dozen floor and ceiling supported stripper poles, stacks of ballroom chairs and even a roaring fireplace, creating a cozy corner to warm up anyone feeling the chill of the room (intentionally kept cold to cool the roomful of hot proto-strippers to come). Several benches are arranged around the room perimeter, providing seating to those wishing to observe or whose modesty overwhelms them, although at Stripper 101, this problem rarely ever arises.

Leading the class, former stripper Kindra (who, along with Rachel, alternates instruction of this 1 1/2; hour course) offers a brief introduction on her history and experience. Kindra is a spirited hostess with an engaging, warm and playful personality which the attendees quickly respond to. With a true talent for teaching in addition to dancing, Kindra creates an encouraging, comfortable and fun environment, with the atmosphere kept very tasteful and reassuring.

The show is undoubtly naughty but never nasty. It's more R-rated than X-rated and has a strict women-only policy. Photographs are taken throughtout the class which only adds to the excitement of the night. There's no nudity as well and with a vibe of good-natured fun the participants are quickly at easy with instructors that genuinely have a passion for their craft. All are made to feel welcome regardless of age of skill level. It's a great way to spice up your love life or just a fun girls night out. Don't forget your high heels!

You can read the complete review at: Stripper 101 - Saucy, Sexy Sin City Fun

Posted by Access Vegas staff

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The Next Animal

The guess what was next wasn't a joke people :-) We actually did see another set of animals on Saturday while we were at Buckner Orchard. My mom, Ms. Yvonne, and I had just completed the self guided tour there and were back in the truck to drive to the main road (if you can call it that...it is the only road really). Anyway....mom said "look at the deer over there...they sure are big" Then I looked again and thought...those aren't deer. Mom said "I think they are Elk!!" She was right....3 elk to be exact....I don't know what you call male and female elk...I just know one had antlers, one didn't, and one was small....a little elk family! I did get pictures of those Edie and I will try to find the picture of the bears to post on here. I know the bear photos aren't really clear though because we were definitely keeping our distance.

Update on "the moms"...they left yesterday (Monday) at lunch time and are back on the east side of the United States. The visit was fun and I miss them already!! Definitely fun to share this neat little place with them though...even if it was just for a week. Who will visit next????

Thursday...a fun day with lots to see

On Thursday, I woke up around 6:00 and headed up the road at 7:00 to run the horses back into the corrals and prepare for my morning day rides. Mom and Ms. Yvonne woke up after I left and strolled to the bakery and back for their morning walk. My day ride was full with four adults and two kids…a good group for sure. The weather was nice with the wind blowing a bit and the sun shining…definitely a perfect day for a day ride with the horses. At 11:15 “the moms” got on the shuttle bus to head up to the ranch to meet Steven and I for lunch and prepare for the afternoon day ride they were going on. Just as I was finishing my morning ride and untacking the horses, they arrived at the ranch…perfect timing I must say. We all ate lunch at Monica’s house and Steven was even able to join us before he started his afternoon raft trip. Lunch was chicken salad sandwiches on croissants that I prepared the night before. After lunch, I headed down to the corrals and started catching horses again to prepare for the afternoon ride. “The moms” came down and took some pictures and watched as I caught and tacked 6 horses. Both of “the moms” were going on the ride and another family of 3….a mom, a dad, and their son…and me as the guide. After everyone arrived and waivers were signed, I matched everyone up to a horse and adjusted stirrups to fit so they would be comfortable for the ride. We started down the trail and the weather was perfect…yet again…with the wind blowing just enough to keep the dust out of our faces. I was telling them about Stehekin and the area and different animals we sometimes see on the trail rides. The young boy, Riley, told me about a bear they had seen while hiking into Stehekin from Hwy 20 over Rainy Pass. I told him about the few bears I had seen here in hopes that we may catch a glimpse of one on the ride. Next thing you know, we rounded a curve in the trail and there was a black bear with two small cubs in the middle of the trail. The momma bear proceeded to move the bears off the side of the trail….one climbed up a tree and the other watched from the ground. They continued on about their business as we talked and rode by…everyone excited to have seen them all. We continued to Coon Lake, the destination for the trail ride, and took a short break there. On the way back we were trying to remember exactly where we had spotted the first set of bears…everyone was debating on the location as we came up a small hill and saw….another bear with one small cub. It was definitely a different set of bears as the cub was much smaller and not even big enough to climb up the tree. We waited for about ten minutes as they crossed the trail to the other side…we continued talking loudly and waving our arms…but they stayed there. As we passed by on the horses…the momma bear was definitely keeping an eye on us and wondering why we were so close to her cub. What a great ride that was for sure!! After the ride….the horses were untacked and went out to graze for a few hours while we freshened up and changed clothes for a night of dinner “at the ranch.” Steven arrived about that time from the rafting trip to join us for dinner. Flank steak was the special and it was oh-so-good. We enjoyed it with a salad and even shared a piece of pie for dessert. As if seeing five bears in one afternoon wasn’t enough…as we drove home down the dirt road from the ranch…we saw a cougar (also known as a mountain lion) headed down the road. It stopped and looked at us, then ran up the side of the mountain and watched curiously as we passed. Of course we scrambled for a camera…but weren’t quick enough to capture a photo of the animal…some people that live here year round never even get to see those!! Anyway…we reflected on our sightings for the day before bed that evening and all wondered what animal we would see next…any guesses????

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This was a recent "Letter To The Editor" of the Access Vegas
Insider Vibe:

My wife and I just returned
home from our Vegas trip (6 nights/5 days). We stayed for the
first time at the Paris (2 nights) and then 4 nights downtown at Main
Street Station. The biggest
change we noticed was the lack of people. I know it was the 4th of July
week, but the 'people'
traffic was much less than before. We asked a floor person at MSS about
traffic and she too
said the size of the crowds were much smaller than they use to be. My
guess as well as hers
was, 'all about the cost of gas'.

I think the casinos are
helping their bottom line by making slots
much tighter, just as the airlines are charging for suitcases and
giving less service. It may be
time to re-think our Vegas trips. Enjoy your weekly publication.

The Kinneys,

Pleasant Garden, NC

AccessVegas.com Managing Editor Ted Newkirk responds:

I agree with you: The gaming properties tried to squeeze
tourists too hard during the good times, and it is biting them back
during the bad times.

For decades, people would go through hell and high water to
get to Las Vegas regardless of the economy. They knew the reward would
be reasonably priced rooms and food, plus a fair chance at winning some
money.

It is a rude awakening for many in hotel/casino management,
many whom have never been here long enough to see a downturn and
thought the "gravy train" of the past few years was the norm.

My prediction? Everyone will finally see a return to some of
the "old Vegas" way of doing things that attracted so many for so long.

Per July 4'th, it is my opinion that the LVCVA (Visitors
Authority) completely botched marketing July 4. Americans see it as a
holiday to grill with some friends and watch their local fireworks. If
a New Years Eve style fireworks "Tribute To America" kind of show had
been set up for The Strip and well-promoted, I'd think we would have
had full rooms despite the traditional "backyard grilling" nature of
the holiday.

This for a couple of reasons:

1. New Years Eve here is legendary, but ultra-expensive with
the highest room rates of the year. Give people a chance to experience
a sample of it in July and the word-of-mouth (and desire for a return
visit) would have been off the charts. I don't mean a complete "shut
down the street" situation like New Years Eve. Simply a coordinated
fireworks show well promoted.

2. International visitors would have been drawn to town to
experience a "real" American 4'th of July. This could have been
marketed to those visitors whose currency is much stronger than ours.

Thanks for taking the time to write and thanks for reading!

Ted Newkirk

CEO, Managing Editor

AccessVegas.com

Posted by Access Vegas staff

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“The Moms” are here :-)

My mom (Wanda) and Steven's mom (Yvonne) arrived in Wenatchee,WA on Saturday evening after being on a plane, bus, and a train. I met them at the train station and we spent the night at a hotel in Wenatchee. It was so great to see them after almost 3 months...can you believe it has almost been that long since we left the south? Anyway...we departed from Field’s Point on Sunday morning around 9:45 on the Lady II boat for the ride up Lake Chelan to Stehekin. They have been here for three days now and it is great!! Steven and I have had to work during the day, but we have been enjoying times together for dinner and during the evenings. They have already had a tour….by us of course…of the valley. They even went hiking yesterday for a few hours and on a rafting trip today with Steven. The adventures will continue as the week progresses and I hope to get some pictures of us all together to post before they leave!

Rafting Photos....Trial Run

Of course this has something to do with me taking more pictures...which I love. I am trying to help get a program started and organized for taking photos of guests doing activities while they are here is Stehekin during the summer. We are starting with the raft trips since that is the activity in which people can’t really bring their cameras…unless of course they are waterproof. Yesterday afternoon (Saturday), I didn’t have a horseback ride so I was able to do a trial run with my camera. The company is trying to determine what equipment will be needed to take the photos and we are using my stuff to “test” it out. I take several pictures in to different locations along the river, then quickly processed them and put them on a CD with the help of Bethany, the ranch manager. We had them ready for the guests when they completed their raft trip. It went quite well for the first time around and we even sold one CD with the pictures….still working on some of the locations for shooting the pictures to get the best angles and lighting of course. Still working through some of the steps for processing and how to present the images too. I am excited though to be able to help in the process and assist with setting up the new program. I added a few of the pictures below from the “trial run.” Let me know what you think..thanks!

HAY TIME

On Wednesday evening....a few weeks ago now...a lot of people got together to unload hay...maybe I should say A LOT of hay. The hay came in on a trailer that was on the barge around 6:30 and the entire trailer had to be unloaded that evening because the trailer needed to go back out the next morning on Thursday to pick up part of a bridge. I took some pictures because it was neat to see everyone working together to get most of the hay unloaded at the ranch and the rest at the corrals behind the bakery.

As if that wasn’t enough time spent with hay…Steven cut some hay on Thursday, bailed it on Friday and Saturday…then rounded up people on Saturday afternoon to load those bales. I didn’t get any photos of the process though…which would have been great to see. Maybe I will get some next year to share. Needless to say…as I am doing laundry this morning….I am noticing a lot of small pieces of hay coming out of our clothes.

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Las Vegas McCarran Airport

This was a recent "Letter To The Editor" of the Access Vegas Insider Vibe:

Since reviewing things on your site as well as others, it’s apparent that Las Vegas is experiencing a slow down in economy. Gambled money and room occupancy is down, even our paper has reported it in the Sunday travel section. My suggestion is to have the city and casino’s work in conjunction with the airlines to help lower the cost of flights in and out of Las Vegas.

My wife and I travel on the average 4 times a year to L.V., being that we gamble a lot, Hooters has “comped” us for each stay. The travel is what’s costing us and preventing us from going more then 2 times this year so far. An example of price fares form Cleveland to L.V. via Continental airlines – In April it was $ 198. round trip ; in May it was $ 218. round trip; now the cheapest we can travel is $ 438. round trip.

I know airlines are taking a beating on fuel cost, but if the city and casino’s can work with the airlines to help subsidize travel I would bet that more people would come out and reverse the decline in gambling revenue and room occupancy. It’s just a suggestion, for a 4day – 3 night trip we generally add $ 1,500. to the L.V. economy via gambling; food; drinks; and misc spending. Thank you for your time to review my request,

John M. Kacvinsky

AccessVegas.com's Managing Editor Ted Newkirk responds:

John,

Interesting thoughts. Actually, the hotels are starting to "subsidize" the cost of the flights by slashing their room rates. You end up paying more for your flight, but less for rooms.

I realize that doesn't help those like you who gamble enough to get your stay comped. For those of you who do play enough to get free rooms, I'd strongly suggest writing the hotel you give your action to and simply tell them "Hey... we come and gamble a lot of money, but airfare is killing us and a free room just doesn't make it worth coming out. Is there any way players at are level can get something like a rebate on our airfare, extra free play, or meals?"

Per the city or casinos subsidizing flights:

The Las Vegas Strip isn't even inside the City of Las Vegas and all local governments are experiencing shortfalls. As it is, McCarran Airport (owned and operated by Clark County, Nevada) has one of the lower fees in the nation that they charge the airlines.

Side Note: With 2 million people living here (and using the airport for their travel to other places), a blanket subsidy wouldn't work anyway. Imagine the paperwork trying to figure out how much of a flight was tourists, and how many on the flight were locals.

Hotels have run "junkets" over the decades and/or partially invested in certain airlines. The now defunct National Airlines was partially funded by Harrah's Las Vegas and Rio Las Vegas (prior to Rio being bought out by Harrah's).

I'm going to tell you a little secret: The media reports are overblown. Considering that it is the "slow" time of year for Las Vegas (summer season) and the U.S. is at the mid-point of a recession, numbers aren't down that much. Gaming revenue is only down a few percentage points. Room rates are down quite a bit, but in previous decades, significant room rate reductions in the summer were not unusual.

Gaming stocks are down, but this is mostly because of the "sky if falling on Las Vegas" stories that have spread like wildfire.

Also, how expensive it is to get here depends on what market you live in and what your major airlines are. Some visitors are reporting spending twice as much on airfare. Other markets are reporting only a 20% increase.

Californian's aren't happy about the price of gas, but at the end of the day many of them are used to 45-60 minute commutes do pouring piles of cash in the gas tank is nothing new. Once again, the cheaper rooms are offsetting what they spend coming here.

At the end of the day, new exploration for U.S. oil will start to drive down oil speculation and the price to fly will stabilize (and maybe even come down a bit).

The good news for tourists? I see the low room rates (which were a hallmark of Las Vegas for decades) staying for years to come. Especially with all the new rooms coming online.

For comped players? This will mean more competition for players gambling at the "room comp" level. Thus, the same amount you are playing now will get you comped at a more upscale hotel.

Ted Newkirk
CEO, Managing Editor
AccessVegas.com

Posted by Access Vegas staff

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To say that things change here in Las Vegas is an understatment! There's always something new and exciting going on in the entertainment world. One fabulous show which has remained a constant is the Crazy Girls revue at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. For over 20 years this legendary show has entertained millions of people and has secured it's place in Las Vegas history.

As the Las Vegas Shows Reviews blog recently noted:

The closest comparison to defining “Crazy Girls” is similar to what people would expect a classic “Golden Age” Las Vegas show to be. The girls perform a variety of acts that are playful and cheeky to sensual and alluring, set to music from the classic burlesque age to more modern songs. “Crazy Girls” keeps it simple, yet captivating, and for regular show-goers on The Strip, it makes for an experience that isn’t going to be found just anywhere else.

When defining “simple”, this means that the show sticks to its core idea of beautiful, half-naked women without delving into a lot of extraneous side acts. That’s not to say that the entire show is made up of just dancing and beautiful women. The show gives the audience a chance to cool down and be entertained in a new way by offering a series of fun card tricks after the opening act, and a longer comedy magic performance by illusionist Tony Douglas.

Crazy Girls gives you a real feal of being at a classic burlesque show with modern touches. There's not much left these days of the "Old Vegas" we all grew up loving but this show is a great throwback to a time gone by. This is an adult show and no children are allowed. If you're looking for an entertainment experience that's reminicent of how things once were, this is the show for you!

You can read the complete review at: Crazy Girls Keeps It Simple, Yet Sensual and Captivating

Posted by Access Vegas staff

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