STEVE WYNN OPENS HIS 'ENCORE'

Today is the most important day of 2008 for Las Vegas. Bar none.

Amidst our country's hardest financial crisis in years, Casino mogul Steve Wynn opens his new property called Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. Everyone on the ground seems very optimistic about the billion-dollar property. Wynn Resorts is the only company with a casino on the Strip that has not taken a brutal stock drubbing, layoffs or other savage economic reality lesson this year.

Two of the best Vegas sites (VegasTripping.com and RateVegas.com) have combined efforts with a site for today on EncoreOpening.com.

To read more about Encore, click HERE.

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STEVE WYNN OPENS EATERY NAMED 'SINATRA'

The legendary Frank Sinatra mystique will thrive once again on the Las Vegas strip.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that casino mogul Steve Wynn will open a new Italian restaurant called Sinatra in his new resort Encore.

Considering that the Sinatra family fiercely protects the singer's image, permission to use the Chairman's moniker may be considered a coup. Still, Wynn and the singer have Sin City history together. The hotelier revitalized the Golden Nugget when he snagged 'Ol Blue Eyes to appear exclusively at the hotel during the '80s.

Wynn says the the Sinatra clan has loaned him such priceless memorabilia as the singer's 1953 Oscar and several Grammy awards which will be peppered throughout the eatery. What's more, Paul Anka has also promised the gold record he won for writing the English lyrics for “My Way.”

For those who expect something along the likes of such themed eateries as Planet Hollywood or The Hard Rock Cafe, think again. "It won't be a museum," he told the paper. "It will be the most stunning restaurant in the country."
Encore is the $2.2 billion all-suites sister hotel to Wynn Las Vegas. Look for the new eatery to open its doors Dec. 22.

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PENTHOUSE TO BUY A HOTEL AND CASINO IN VEGAS?

Vegas needs another casino like Robin Williams needs more chest hair. But, that said, Penthouse is looking to throw its hat into the casino ring ala the now-defunct Playboy Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City in the '70s.

In any case, Penthouse CEO Marc Bell went public with plans to buy what he calls a a "significant property" on the Las Vegas Strip in order to join the casino wars.

"The best time to buy is in a down economy," said the South Florida financier in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Interestingly, his business plan includes tying in his 10,000-Web site empire, most of them social networking sites, to generate business.

"We have no intention to rebrand the name of the hotel (we don't believe that, btw). We would like to see a Penthouse casino presence and a Penthouse pool presence," Bell told Vegas Confidential during an interview at Planet Hollywood Resort in what is known as the "Stripper suite."

His Web sites have 200 million members, including "phenomenal" numbers in Europe and Asia. Penthouse launched a cable television network in January and already has signed up 30 million homes, with another 30 million anticipated by next year, he said.

Perhaps they want to mimic the recently-opened Playboy Club in the Las Vegas Palms Hotela nd Caisno. The new club, with its very noticeable neon bunny head, has casinos, bars, and a bathroom with pictures of Playmates on the walls.

To read more, click HERE.

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MY RAT PACK TRIBUTE (video)

Using Windows Moviemaker, my collection of Rat Pack pics and vintage Vegas postcards, I concocted a doozey of a video. Grab a scotch and sit back so we can all remember what Vegas must have been like before the fanny packers took over the tourist town.

I hope you enjoy ...

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RICIN FOUND IN VEGAS HOTEL

Okay, so small traces of the deadly poison Ricin was recently found in a Sin City hotel but authorities claim it wasn't terrorist-related. Ha!! Here's the scenario: A terrorist cell holes away at some obscure Vegas hotel - not a dump, but not a strip resort either. In this case, the Extended Stay America. The group takes in the town, visits strip clubs and enjoy all the fruits of our freedom and democracy all the while mocking us. They videotape certain patterns, learn how things operate and the when the least expects it, hits hard with something unbelievable like a Ricin attack somewhere contained and confined perhaps on something like the Las Vegas monorail. It would kill the gaming and tourism industry single-handedly and bring the town back to its shit-kicking, tumbleweed roots. not terrorism-related... HA!

Here's the story via Reuters:

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Ricin, a deadly poison, was discovered in a hotel room in Las Vegas but is not thought to be terrorism related, police and FBI officials said on Friday.

A Las Vegas police spokeswoman said officers were called to an Extended Stay America Hotel on Thursday after a suspicious substance was reported in one of the rooms.

Preliminary tests indicated the substance was ricin, which can be deadly even in small quantities. Results from further tests were expected later on Friday.

Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating along with the Las Vegas police. "This event does not appear to be terrorism related," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said in a statement.

Three police officers, three hotel employees and another person were taken to the hospital for testing and observation on Thursday but were released on Friday in good health, police said.

Ricin is made from castor beans and in proper doses can be used for cancer treatments. It attacks cells, preventing them from making necessary proteins, and an amount the size of a grain of salt can be deadly.

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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WEDDING CHAPEL WARS IN LAS VEGAS

I tied the knot in Vegas on 777. While the day was a frenzy because of the date, fierce competition for chapel wedding services has escalated into minor warfare between vendors, who are hiring packs of handbillers to stalk couples paparazzi-style and hurl frantic, Glengarry Glen Ross-like pitches at budding brides.

And even though weddings are still huge business in Vegas, a recent drop in marriage licenses has seen competition stiffen, and handbillers -- usually earning $10 an hour -- have been involved in scuffles ranging from fist-fights to stabbings. I DO remember seeing a segment on "Cops" about this and thought it was a wild notion - wedding chapel wars in Sin City. And although the Vegas industry of love is frequently commented upon, the sheer desperation is little-reported, making this an entertaining (if somewhat depressing) read.

Click HERE to read a recent probe at the LA TIMES.

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NO MAJOR INJURIES IN MONTE CARLO FIRE

Via The Las Vegas Review Journal:

Columns of black smoke loomed over the Strip on Friday as flames burned atop the Monte Carlo, forcing thousands of people to evacuate and stirring memories of Las Vegas' darkest day.

The fire started just before 11 a.m. on the upper reaches of the 32-story hotel. Fueled by highly flammable construction foam, the flames quickly spread along the building's facade while firefighters standing on the roof and hanging out hotel room windows attacked them with water.

"It started with a little smoke, and I thought it was, like, kitchen smoke," said Angel Hernandez, who works at a nearby kiosk on the Strip. "The next thing I saw was the black smoke and I went, 'That's not the kitchen.' "

The plumes of smoke soon attracted hundreds of onlookers, who craned their necks and snapped pictures with camera phones from the crowded sidewalks on Las Vegas Boulevard. Meanwhile, news helicopters swirled overhead, capturing live footage of the growing conflagration that conjured images of the deadly MGM Grand fire in 1980 that killed 87 people.

To read the rest of the story, click HERE.

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MONTE CARLO CASINO IN FLAMES

A casino near and dear to my heart is curently on fire ...

A three-alarm fire is burning on the south tower roof at the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino. The fire is on the 32nd floor and higher. Thick, black smoke is pouring from the top of the building.

People are being evacuated from the Monte Carlo property to the Bellagio and New York-New York. Reports from local papers say four Monte Carlo employees were stuck on the roof. Let's hope they got out...

No cause for the fire is known at this time and there are no known injuries. Fire crews from Clark County, City of Las Vegas and Henderson are on the scene.

Las Vegas Boulevard is shut down between Tropicana Boulevard and Harmon Avenue. I-15 had not been closed by 11:45 a.m., but the northbound and southbound ramps at Spring Mountain Road, Flamingo Road and Tropicana Avenue were closed due to the fire. Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Kevin Honey said the closures are to keep the general public out of the area so firefighters "with heavy machinery" can do their jobs.

The fire was reported by passersby shortly before 11 a.m.

Click HERE for more ...

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THE END OF AN ERA (video)

If you can get past all the nincampoopish yelling, this is the swan song of Atlantic CIty's smallest casino.



Somewhere upstairs, 'Ol Blues Eyes is doing this ...

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R.I.P. Sands (1980-2007)

In August 1980, The Brighton was the first casino in town built from the ground up, on the site of its former namesake at Indiana Avenue & Brighton Park. After a healthy opening, financial troubles soon arrived. Some say it was due to the casino’s diminutive size. Others say it was poor management. Whatever the case, it was sold two months later to the PPI Corporation, which also owned the Sands in Las Vegas. To capitalize on the famed casino and to hopefully conjure images of Frank, Dean and Sammy, the Brighton was renamed The Sands the next May.

Tonight the Sands will be imploded to make way for a massive resort ala Borgata.

last November, the legendary carpet joint threw its last pair of dice, leaving only 10 casinos standing in Atlantic City. For now, that is. Before its new owners Pinnacle Entertainment begin construction on their ambitious $1.5 billion megaresort, much had to be done to the Sands building before it's even razed.

Pinnacle CEO and Chairman Dan Lee enlightened the local press on a few post-shutdown procedures. For starters, everything had to be accounted for like slots, table games, chips, cards, dice and other gambling items.



State gaming regulators gave the company approval to recycle the old gaming equipment in their other casinos. In addition, light fixtures had to be removed and there will likely be a salvage sale for such industrial items as copper wiring and windows. A public liquidation of old furniture also was held.

Upon the Sands’ closing, many wondered the fate of The Madison House, a 120-suite boutique hotel operated by the Sands and one of the Atlantic City’s few remaining grand old inns. The snag? It opened in 1930 and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Interestingly, the Sands had 12 years left on its lease. "We can't tear it down. We'll probably use it to house construction workers. However, we don't know what the future of Madison House will be," Lee said. Pinnacle expects to begin construction on its new resort in 2008 and open it by early 2011.

We'll miss ya! Say hi to Frank at the Big Casino in the Sky...

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THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CASINO OPENS TODAY

The hard hats in Vegas better get busy...

The $2.4 billion Venetian Macao Resort, all set to open TODAY, has more floor space than four Empire State Buildings. That's alot of slots...

In all, the games of chance sprawl across a casino more than three times the size of the largest casino in Sin City. What's more, the 15,000-seat sports arena just about rivals Madison Square Garden, a huge convention center has a 6,000-seat banquet hall and the luxury shopping mall has three indoor canals with singing gondoliers; the Venetian in Las Vegas has just one.

Interestingly, the 3,000-suite resort is just the first of 14 hotels that will be interconnected and built by Las Vegas Sands Corporation (owner of both Venetians).

When finished, the ungodly large complex will include a St. Regis, a Shangri-la, a Raffles, a Conrad, an Intercontinental and a Sheraton -- ALL with their own casinos, bars and restaurants. The cost? Oh, about $10 billion or $12 billion give or take.

Already surpassing the U.S. in the manufacture of everything on the planet from cement and steel to DVD players and TVs, looks like China is on its way to establishing itself as THE global leader in the gaming industry.

And it's all cuz of those 'lil green backs.

When Sands Macao, the first American-operated casino, opened up shop in town roughly three years ago, first-year profits exceeded the total cost of the project.

Imagine that!

Also take in mind that Macao surged ahead of Las Vegas last year in total money gambled. AHEAD OF LAS VEGAS. That's alot of bucks being thrown around.

Experts predict, however, that while the gambling industry in Macao will undoubtebly continue to grow briskly, it may not expand as quickly as new casinos and hotels are set to open, resulting in narrower profit margins for the big American operators coming to Macao and for local companies as well.

Currently, Macao resembles Atlantic City — attracting mostly residents of nearby cities, who appear less than glamorous. The Venetian represents the territory’s biggest bet to transform itself into a Las Vegas-like attraction with customers from all over Asia and across the world. A Borgata if you will...

But will there be enough high-stakes visitors? Macao currently has 4,800 rooms in five-star hotels and another 4,000 in four-star hotels, but the Sands project alone will add 2,500 five-star rooms and 17,500 rooms in four-star hotels, including the four-star Venetian. Wynn Resorts opened a casino and hotel late last year and MGM Mirage will open a 600-room five-star hotel late this year.

Still, Macao’s average gambler is still a day-tripper from Hong Kong or nearby Chinese cities in the Pearl River delta. These visitors are so frugal that they often bring their own food and do not rent hotel rooms. By contrast, the average visitor to Las Vegas spends 3.4 days.

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GETTING HITCHED ON 7-7-7

The notion of whisking a bride to Sin City and deciding to take the plunge on a whim has always been the stuff of pop culture fodder. For pulp's sake, throw in a boozy visit to a local tattoo parlor and you have yourself a bonafide Sin City elopement.

Like thousands of other betrothed couples, me and the future misses figured it would be cool to get hitched on July 7, 2007, the so-called luckiest day of the century. No hassles with wedding planning. No big production. No muss, no fuss. Just eight of our best friends and relatives to help us celebrate. Sounds easy, right?

Think again.

From the moment we arrived in town, it was clear that we weren’t the only couple to fancy triple sevens as an anniversary moniker. And if you were in town on July 7, chances are, it certainly wasn't on a whim. Like the thousands of others, we were in Vegas for only one reason - to sanctify our new marriage with Lady Luck.

We arrived in town on July 4 and instantly made our way to the Clark County Marriage Bureau. Smart move considering the line snaked around the block by July 6. What I thought was going to be the most excruciatingly long part of the journey wound up being the plum easiest. And how silly. I mean, we were in Vegas and after all, Vegas knows weddings. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I was expecting the DMV.

Standing in line with all the other couples was surreal. We were all there for the same reason, and in a weird way, it felt oddly peaceful. All shapes, sizes, ages and colors, there was a bonafide unity in the room. An unspoken camaraderie. In between polite nods and innocent "where ya froms?" the line quickly moved. A tame 15 minutes and some 60 odd dollars later, we had a genuine marriage license.

By the morning of July 7, I was pumped. Like De La Hoya on fight night, I was in Vegas to seal the deal. A bundle of nervous energy, I wanted to get down to that chapel as soon as possible. Get in. Get Out. Get drunk. Get on with life. Wasn’t that simple.

We stepped outside of our strip hotel, waiting for the limo who was apparently stuck in wedding traffic. Who knew there was such a thing? After the proverbial "we’re-waiting-outside-in-the-heat" phone call, he showed up. I hoped the rest of the day would be smoother, especially after he kept joking about continually losing our wedding flowers.

As the limo drove up the Strip, one thing was instantly apparent: Las Vegas is almost ugly during the day. Barely a few blocks past Wynn and making our way towards Chapel Row, it hit me. I was with the most important people in the world and I'm bringing them into the belly of seedy Las Vegas without the cushion of neon. What was I thinking? Why didn't we get married on a gondola in the air conditioned mall? This wasn't the Vegas I wanted them to see. Sundry shop Vegas. Postcard Vegas from up high... That's the Vegas I needed.

Where efficiency was the standard over at the marriage bureau, utter chaos reigned at The Little White Wedding Chapel. One of Sin City's most renowned sites after marrying the likes of Elvis, Sinatra and Paul Newman, the building is a landmark. As the limo pulled towards the chapel, ridiculously large Hummers, pink Cadillacs and other wedding vehicles created utter havoc on Las Vegas Boulevard. We weren't allowed into the driveway. Parking lot attendants, sweat drenched and frustrated, demanded limousines drop off their passengers on the street, like cargo. So out we went.

Inside, the staff was just as flustered. As reps tried to contend with the bombardment of brides and grooms, it was clear the chapel was overbooked and understaffed.

The next hurdle? There were no signs instructing couples where to check-in to jumpstart the process. And then, about every minute or so, there was the angry voice screaming, "IF YOU’RE NOT A BRIDE OR A GROOM, PLEASE WAIT OUTSIDE!"

Great. Not only was I a tad nervous about tying the knot, I had to worry whether my 73 year-old diabetic mother would have a heart attack in the Vegas heat wave.

Once we did manage to corner an actual service rep, it didn’t fill me with confidence to see him leaf through a sloppy clipboard to find our names. I kept wondering why there weren't any computers. All I saw were a sea of manila folders. A recipe for disaster. Our 1:30 p.m. reservation for the Crystal Chapel came and went. We were told there was a minister shortage.

Enough was enough. We slyly bamboozled our way upstairs to the chapel and the proceedings began after another long wait. But at least we were away from the craziness below. Our charming pony-tailed Hawaiian minister, a cross between a hippie and shaman, assured us we were next. Fifteen minutes later, I was a married man.

Still, the chapel reneged on a few promises. I understand they were busy, but still, you can't promise things and not deliver. They didn't post our ceremony online and couldn't find our flowers (we brought our own). And while The King sereneded us, Elvis was supposed to walk my bride down the aisle. Blame the massive time crunch. To be fair, they did credit my card when we told them it wasn't online.

We did, however, manage to score the ultimate keepsake. Before the ceremony began, an AP photographer told us he'd be snapping some shots. I figured he'd be capturing all sorts couples and thought nothing more of it. Until the next morning.

Imagine our shock when we landed in every daily paper and news site from Macao to Maryland. I felt like a New year's baby.

With our mugs all over the place, I shudder at the very thought of eloping on the sly without telling anyone.

All I can say is that thank God my mom made the trip. If the exhausting chapel experience didn't almost kill us, she just might've.

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THE FAMED VEGAS IMPLOSIONS

"OCEAN'S THIRTEEN" WEEK CONCLUDES

"Ocean's Thirteen" week concludes appropriately with an ode to the grand Vegas landmarks of yore. The carpet joints that went to the big casino in the sky, making way for the billion-dollar monoliths that pepper the modern Vegas skyline.

We can almost see the boutique resorts in their heyday -- the swankified lounges; the legends in their prime performing in intimate showrooms, crisp suits were the di rigeur; skinny ties and cocktail dresses were the rage not exposed thongs and Red Bull. The casino was smoke-filled and bourban-drenched.

So, here's our ode to kitschy post-war America and, for one last time, let's say goodbye to that atomic age utopia that we'll never see again.

THE SANDS


THE STARDUST


THE ALADDIN


THE DESERT INN


THE BOARDWALK HOTEL


THE CASTAWAYS


THE LANDMARK


THE HACIENDA


THE DESERT INN GARAGE


THE TOP 10 IMPLOSIONS


and as a joke ... THE MONTECITO of NBC's "Las Vegas"


VIVA LAS VEGAS!!

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THE 10 BEST CASINO FLICKS (WITH VIDEO)

Can you tell that we're psyched for "Ocean's Thirteen"? I've spent mucho time inside casinos in both Atlantic City and Vegas. In fact, I used to write for two major gambling magazines. So, in anticipation for Danny and the gang, The Lounge has whipped up some of the best movies that capture the ambiance (or lack therof) of the buzzing action of a casino town.

“Atlantic City” (1980) Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon star in this dark Louis Malle film set in the Queen of Resorts just after gambling was approved. European in its ambiance, and substantially dark in tone, Lancaster stars as a has-been hood who crosses paths with Sarandon, a croupier in search of a better life. After a brief visit to Atlantic City by Sarandon’s estranged gangster husband, the course of the lives of her and Lancaster are changed.

“Casino” (1995) While it’s no “Goodfellas,” you have to give director Martin Scorsese credit for shooting entirely all of his casino scenes inside of a real gaming hall — The Riviera in Las Vegas. Chronicling the final days of mobbed-run casinos, this film is blatantly bloody, brutal and even a bit overzealous at times. But for sheer authenticity, “Casino” is definitely one to watch on the couch over a couple nights. Stars Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and an Oscar-nominated Sharon Stone.



“Ocean’s 11” (1960) The original. 11 friends who know each other from World War II plan to rob five casinos in one night. If you want to capture the feeling of what it was like to swing on the Vegas strip in the ‘60s, then rent this low-scale caper flick starring Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. You can almost smell the booze. All women and glitz. The Clooney remake is also a keeper, but this is the grandpappy of them all.



“Hard Eight” (1997) One of 1997's most underrated films, it stars Philip Baker Hall as an aging pro gambler who takes a young drifter under his wing, eventually becoming his mentor. Throw in a cocktail waitress-prostitute (Gwyneth Paltrow), and a two-timing security manager (Samuel Jackson), and you have a slam-bang character study that oozes with complexity.



“The Gambler” (1974) Another dark gambling film so often found in ‘70s, James Caan stars as Alex Freed, a literature professor who is struck with the gambling vice. When he loses all of his money, he borrows from his girlfriend, his father and finally some bad guys. Despite it all, he can’t stop.

“California Split” (1974) Another yarn of doomed compulsive gambling, director Robert Altman’s film stars George Segal and Elliot Gould as over-the-edge gamblers and explores the emptiness of winning. Shot in Reno, Nevada.

“Fever Pitch” (1985) Considered more than a bomb when it was released, Ryan O’Neal stars as a newspaperman caught with “the gambling fever” in this perfect example of what happens when shoot a script straight out Intro to Screenwriting. Co-stars Catherine Hicks and John Saxon.

“Honeymoon in Vegas” (1992) The first of Nicholas Cage’s “Vegas” trilogy is a light-hearted romantic comedy with stereotypical elements of organized crime thrown in for laughs. James Caan co-stars as a mafioso who falls in love with Cage’s fiancée, Sarah Jessica Parker. Don’t miss the Flying Elvises.

“Leaving Las Vegas” (1995) This modern-day tragedy captures the seediness of the casino life better than any other. In an Oscar-winning performance, Nicholas Cage (in his second Vegas film, “Con Air” would be his third), stars as an alcoholic who arrives in Sin City to drink himself to death. Unfortunately, he didn’t count on falling in love. Elizabeth Shue (who received an Oscar nomination) stars as the “hooker with a heart of gold” who falls for him.



“Lookin’ To Get Out” (1982) Jon Voight and Burt Young star as two gamblers who leave New York after losing a lot of money. Doing what all gamblers in trouble would do, they hurry to the gambling capital of the world — Las Vegas — to turn their luck around. Co-stars Ann Marget.

“Bugsy” (1991) What’s the sense of watching movies about casinos without checking out the flick that immortalizes their modern-day architect — Benjamin “Bugsy” Seigel. Warren Beatty, starring as Seigel, is often too cutesy in his portrayal of the ruthless gangster but the film is complemented with an outstanding cast and great direction by Barry Levinson.

“Swingers” (1996) A guilty, guilty pleasure. While there are only a couple of scenes inside a casino, be rest assured, — they’re hilarious. If anything, this indie cult favorite, perfectly captures the essence of Sinatra’s Rat Pack not seen since “Ocean’s 11.”



“Indecent Proposal” (1993) Although not a film about gambling per se, most of the interesting scenes take place inside a casino and most of the elements within are straight out of “Wagering 101.” Robert Redford stars as a business tycoon who offers Woody Harrelson $1 million to sleep with his wife (Demi Moore).

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PRIMED FOR 'OCEAN'S 13'? LISTEN TO THESE SWINGIN' TUNES

Those Danny Ocean boys are back! In the upcoming "Ocean's 13," the hipster thieves have forsaken Europe and are now back in Las Vegas (thank the Lord). This time out, they plan to fix all the games in Al Pacino's new casino. Should be a hoot...

If you're like us, salivating at the very notion of a fun Sin City film, you'll want to get into the mood. So tunes are essential. So break out your Mary Janes, prep the cuff links and order a bottle of Jack because I compiled a collection of swingin' tunes to get you cool casino cats in the mood for sippin' martinis, throwing dice and smelling perfume well into the wee hours.

“Sinatra at the Sands” (Reprise) - What better way to kick off "Ocean's 13" week than spinnin' THE swinginest disc of them all? There are more than a few discs of The Chairman doing his thing in Sin City, but this is the only one you'll need. Backed up by Count Basie and his orchestra with a young bandleader named Quincy Jones, the 16-track disc perfectly captures Sinatra’s swagger during his heyday in the Sands Copa Room. Recently remastered with “Luck be a Lady,” it’s the epitome of casino-era Sinatra. Time capsule stuff...

“Dean Martin Live at the Sands Hotel” (Prism) - Capturing much of his loose, easygoing and impromptu sense of humor seen in earlier Rat Pack shows, this is the only live disc of Dean Martin’s casino act from the ‘60s. Hits include “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” and the staple “That’s Amore.” Available via Amazon.

“Sammy Davis — That’s All!” (Rhino) - This definitive two-disc live recording taped at the Las Vegas Sands in 1967, captures not only the singer within Sammy Davis, but also the mimic, comic and musician. A jam session with Buddy Rich on drums and Sammy on vibes is worth the price of the disc alone. If anything, Sammy really gets to seriously shine in his own spotlight without Frank or Dean chiming in from backstage. Includes a previously unreleased live version of “My Mother The Car.”

“The Rat Pack Live at the Sands” (Capital) - A tad before cameras rolled for "Robin and the Seven Hoods" in September 1963, Frank, Dino and Sammy had a powwow at the Sands. Much of what will sound familiar from other Pack shows is here in all it's off-color glory. The real key, of course, is the trio's camaraderie, which remains a delight. And the fact they were playin' the Sands is just plain icing.

“Sinatra: ‘57 In Concert” (Artanis) - Even though they were a great team on many of their landmark albums, Sinatra and longtime arranger-bandleader Nelson Riddle rarely performed together. This disc captures one of those rare occasions with classic cuts like “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” “‘The Lady Is a Tramp,” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

“Frank Sinatra with the Red Norvo Quintet” (Blue Note) - While listening to vibraphonist Norvo perform in the Sands’ lounge, the Chairman got the idea to wax a disc for his own stripped-down jazz performance. Unreleased until 1997, these tapes were recorded during Sinatra’s brief Australian tour of 1959 and proves his musicianship has no equal. Perfect for hipsters with that European flair.

“The Summit: In Concert” (Artanis) - Taped in November 1962 at Chicago’s Villa Venice, this 79-minute supper-club show isn’t for the politically correct. Performing much of the same off-color humor Frank, Dean and Sammy perfected in Vegas, it’s more a document of the day than a true representation of their collective work. Still, though, it’s a must.

“Late at Night with Dean Martin,” (Capital) - Although the accompaniment ranges from small jazz combo to a large orchestra with strings, the emphasis here is Martin’s hypnotic and whispery magic. The result is a sexy cocktail collection that includes such staples as “Everybody Loves Somebody” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” Keep this one in the stereo for those of you looking to make a little hey-hey the second you arrive.

“Sammy and Friends,” (Rhino) - Buddies Frank, Dean, Bing Crosby Count Basie and drummer Buddy Rich are all featured on this swinging’ 20-track disc. Contains “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” and “Ee-O-Eleven” from “Oceans 11” as well as “Salt and Pepper” from the film of the same name.

“The Capitol Years: The Best of Frank Sinatra”
“Capitol Collectors Series: Dean Martin” (Capital) - Both Sinatra and Martin will be forever remembered for the tunes they recorded under Capital. All of Sinatra’s brassy standards and bittersweet saloon pop is here from “Witchcraft” to “Three Coins in the Fountain.” The primo Dino collection spans from 1948-1960, compiling 20 of his best cuts from “That’s Amore” to “Sway.” Both artists moved to Sinatra’s Reprise label by 1961.

“Ring-a-Ding Ding” (Reprise) - Sinatra’s first album at his Reprise label is perhaps one of his best. Released in 1961 and capturing the flippant swagger of the era, Sinatra was obviously happy to be out from Capital’s clutches.

“Tom Jones Live at Caesars Palace" (BMG International) - Amidst the glitz and glam of the deliciously gaudy Vegas strip in 1971, this lacquer cracker captures the sheer power and eroticism of the sexy Brit baritone. Very much at the top of his game and at his bawdy best, be sure to crank up the volume for Jones standards like "She's a Lady" and "It's Not Unusual." An essential set.

"Engelbert Humperdinck Live at the Riviera, Las Vegas" (Varese) - Originally released in 1972, this reissued collection captures the smooth-crooning Humperdinck at the peak of his popularity. With soulful vocal backing provided by the Three Degrees, the often billed "King of Romance" turns up the ballad quotient and delivers with assurance on such tunes as "My Prayer," "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and a strident "You'll Never Walk Alone."

"Paul Anka Live in Las Vegas" (Varese) - The bulk of this set contains pretty much what you'd expect from an Anka casino show circa mid-seventies — a healthy mixture of Anka originals, a medley of fifties hits and covers of smashes like "Gentle on My Mind," "Games People Play" and "For Once in My Life." Needless to say, there's also "My Way," and "She's a Lady," which are not covers per se since Anka wrote them.

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FIRST 'OCEAN'S 13' REVIEW

Those Danny Ocean boys are back for another go-round of cool in "Ocean's 13." This time, they've thankfully left behind the shenanigans in Europe (where they should've never been) and are back in Sin City dukin' it out with Al Pacino.

Cue: "Viva Las Vegas"

In any case, the first official review is out via Variety and it's quite positive.

"As smooth as a good mojito, as stylish as an Armani suit and as meaningful in the grand scheme of things as yesterday's Las Vegas betting odds, "Ocean's Thirteen" continues the breezy good times of the first two series entries without missing a beat."

Click HERE to read the review.

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A MUSICIAN YOU SHOULD KNOW No. 1 (MATT DUSK)

Where have all the crooners gone? Hemingway's Lounge certainly has one for ya.


Forget Michael Buble. Really, forget him. He's pretty good. He knows it and there's nothing more annoying that that.

As Patrizio Buanne? Forget him, too. Silky-sweet voice. But maybe too silky. Plus he's too pretty. Sinatra wasn't pretty. He was cool. Big difference - but that's another post.

So any saloon singer worth his salt should be able to belt it out confidently; have a command of the stage; and, most important, have a tinge of bourbon on his voice to make it all sound believable. That's key.

The voice needs to be gruff. Not Tom Waits gruff, but strong. And with extreme vocal charisma.

So, if you agree that's the true definition of an old-school crooner, then I give you Matt Dusk -- the best New School standards singer you've never heard of. New School because he goes out of his way to also sing original material and truthfully, that's the stuff that's worth it for me.

As for his kisser? OK, he may look like he's fresh off "Laguna Beach" but the kid (and he is a kid), has that definitive been-around-the-block thing in his voice.

Sinatra had it. You know what I mean.

Listen to him in the below link. You'll agree. The tune is "Two Shots of Happy," a tune written for Frank Sinatra, by Bono. Great lyrics. The Chairman never had the chance to record the song, sadly. But Christ, imagine if he did.

"...You drove me to drink ... But, hey that ain't so bad ...Two shots of happy, One shot of sad."

By the way, this is the remix version of "Two Shots." It was used as the theme to the reality show "The Casino" on Fox. I like it because I can almost hear Sinatra singing it in the early 90s with all the loungy, dance orchestration. While the original, slower one, is cooler, this one is pure kitsch.

HEAR "TWO SHOTS OF HAPPY"

Born in 1978, Dusk says he always wanted to become a performer. At seven, he was accepted into the St. Michael's Choir School, where he remained for 11 years. Originally, the singer was training for opera and classical music but after hearing a couple Tony Bennett and Sarah Vaughan records at 17, he swayed in the direction of The Great American Songbook.

Around 1998, he delved into the theory of the music; he studied jazz theory with John Gittins, jazz vocal with Bob Fenton, and attended a masterclass with Oscar Peterson. In March 2003 he signed a major record deal with Decca Records. In 2004 Dusk was invited to the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas to perform as in-house entertainer throughout the filming of the hit reality TV show on FOX, "The Casino."

His debut album "Two Shots" was released in 2004. The album produced the hit single, "Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad" which was written by Bono. Last January, Dusk travelled to Los Angeles to record his next album "Back In Town" at Capitol Records' fabled Studio A. He recorded with a 58-piece orchestra as the disc features a mix of jazz standards and originals.

BTW, Dusk boasts the disc was recorded "warm," using original old-school technology to get that wax feel. It was released this spring.

Until next time,

-- Jack Entratter

Check out some cool videos of Dusk. They really are worth checking out. The last two are two very good interviews he did on-site at the Las Vegas Hilton when he released his latest disc:

The video for "Two Shots of Happy"



IN CONCERT: As Time Goes By



IN CONCERT: Fly Me to the Moon

MUSIC VIDEO: Back in Town

IN CONCERT: Learnin' the Blues



INTERVIEW AT VEGAS HILTON: Part One



INTERVIEW AT VEGAS HILTON: Part Two

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CASINO ETIQUETTE 2007

Just because you’re a pro at PlayStation poker doesn’t mean you can hold your own on a real casino floor — Here's a refresher course in casino etiquette

I'll be frank - there’s way too many assholes invading Atlantic City casinos.

You can blame the opening of Borgata who upped the ante and changed the face of the seaside resort when it opened July 2003. It’s instant success solidified the notion that hipsters 18-34 were ready for a sleeker and sexier Atlantic City. And boy, they came with tons of dough.

And then there’s Chris Moneymaker who became a gambling rock star a few years back after he learned how to play poker online and ultimately won the World Series of Poker. He may be a swell guy and all but man, the influx of all the would-be Moneymakers invading A.C. is astounding and yes, fraught with assholes.

The boob tube is also accountable with such casino-driven programming from poker tournies, reality and travel shows to fluffy network dramas on 24/7. They all emphasize swanky casino overindulgences to the point of wretched excess. To them, the promise of winning a fortune with all the booze, food and sex one can muster is pretty much a mere dice toss away.

And even though most casino assholes claim they can count cards better than an MIT student on crank, I’m here to give ‘em the skinny on how to act once the Xbox 360 is turned off. You guys can thank me later.

Leave the cameraphone in your pocket. It’s one thing if you’re Clooney and Co. shooting yet another Danny Ocean flick, it’s quite another when annoying gamblers start snapping away to capture their third blackjack in a row. Most casinos prohibit photographic equipment of any kind on the floor, so leave the shutterbug activity on the boardwalk.

Keep your kids away. Even though they’re allowed on gaming floors in Las Vegas (we don’t know why), children are nothing more than a nuisance in a casino. In fact, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission prohibits kids on any casino floor. At Borgata, tykes can’t even go into the resort unless they’re hotel guests. At the Taj Mahal, a strict curfew is enforced since loitering kids waiting for ma and pa has become something of an epidemic.

We got our own problems. The car payment is due. You’re on the verge of a divorce. Your ex-girlfriend just started dating someone with green hair. Your mom is going to the hospital for tests. Life can be cruel, we know. Before you sit down to play, clear your mind of problems because you have one goal at the table. So, let your inner Adrian remind you — "Win."

Ask before you sit. We know how frustrating it can be when searching for an empty seat at a low-wager game. For example, it’s near 2 a.m. and the only vacant seat at a five-dollar-minimum blackjack table is next to a Hell’s Angel. Check the betting circle in front of the empty chair. If it has a chip in it, chances are he’s playing duel hands. Respectfully see if the circle is open before sitting down.

Stop waving money and be patient. Wait for the end of a round or spin before you bug the dealer to buy in. A good way to agitate a tired dealer who’s been standing on his feet all day is to demand chips as soon as you approach a table. Wait for the end of the turn, have your money visibly ready on the table and tell him you want to "buy in" in whatever denomination you desire. Never hand him money.

Tip when you’re winning. When you’re up, tip the dealer. Believe me, he’ll remember. It doesn’t have to be an exorbitant amount of money, but a mere gesture or token for his service. After all, the dealers are in the service industry much like a waitress or a bartender. If you feel uncomfortable tipping, place a small side bet and let him know it’s for the table. If a generous pit boss recognizes your good will, he just might return the favor when you request that complimentary steak dinner.

Never bet against a trend. Red is your lucky color? Not if the trend at the roulette table is all black. Betting against a trend will only piss off the other gamblers and tick off the gambling gods. And heaven forbid if you win against a table streak, you’ll have to make tracks over to the next casino.

Go easy on the booze. Ask yourself why drinks are free before ordering another round of that double Johnny Walker Black. A fuzzy gambler is a bad gambler. A bad gambler — 100 percent of the time — will make poor judgments and wager more to recoup his losses. Ease up on the snake juice. Any more than one or two and you should be in the casino lounge.

Don’t get caught up in the scene. And man, do assholes ever love the scene by announcing their arrival and stupid shit like that. Sure, the free booze is great and the atmosphere is straight out of a Bond flick, but casinos know the racket — there’s no windows or clocks in there for a reason. Casinos want you trapped.

Channel Danny Ocean. If you really want to be taken seriously, lose the baseball cap which, by the way should only be worn in two places — the ball field and mowing the lawn. Otherwise, show some dignity and put on a pair of black pants and dare I say, even a jacket. You’d be surprised how empowering it is. Trust me, the women will notice.

and finally ...

How to spot a casino asshole in 30 seconds or less. Wears sunglasses at all times; orders Dom Perignone and secretly doesn't know what it is; overtips everyone in sight; tries to make time with every cocktail waitress, even the ones on the skank shift; gives idiotic advice to everyone; calls everyone 'bro' or 'cuz'.

Until next time,

-- Joe. E. Lewis

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And to get you in the mood for all your gambling, here's a look at "Ocean's 13"

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