Casinos: It's Official, MGM Resorts Intl., Moody's No Longer So Moody on Vegas,

So before I come home later today, I want to catch up on some of the important gaming news I've been missing.

- It's official, MGM Mirage is now MGM Resorts International. The company says they did it to "better reflect the resort developer's global presence as it expands in Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere", but I'm wondering if this means The Mirage will be up for sale next. MGM Resorts denies it (wow, I need to get used to saying "MGM Resorts"), but we'll see. Whatever they want to call themselves, they still have $13 billion total debt. And while they are making progress in paying it off, they may need more cash on hand soon if they intend to fast-track more debt payments and/or buy Cosmopolitan to integrate it into CityCenter and/or restart stalled renovation projects for their other casinos.

- In some much appreciated good news for the gaming industry, Moody's has upgraded is overall outlook for gaming from "Negative" to "Stable".

"Although monthly gaming revenue by jurisdiction varies considerably, overall, U.S. gaming revenue was flat year-over-year in March and April 2010, and it appears the trend will hold for May," Keith Foley, senior vice president at Moody's, said in a statement. "While not a stellar performance, it's a marked improvement over the consistent -- and often substantial -- declines of 2008 and 2009. It also has favorable implications for gaming company operating profits, a majority of which comes directly from slot machine and table game revenue."

While Moody's is not yet all-out bullish on gaming (they later noted the continuing struggle to get more tourists to spend more money), it at least reflects Wall Street's re-embrace of the casinos after going so sour on gaming in 2008 and 2009.

- There's some increasing controversy over online hotel reviews and who's actually doing the reviewing. Apparently, paid casino promoters are now taking to sites like Expedia, Yelp, and TripAdvisor to shill for their clients and/or attack their clients' competitors. I guess the 'net is always prone to this kind of abuse. Whatever. The travel sites say they're cracking down on it, and the casinos deny that they pay people to do this kind of sh*t. And moi? Well, I have ways of determining which reviews are real and which aren't... And ultimately, it isn't these anonymous reviews that make my hotel decision for me.

- $1.2 billion in Fontainebleau contracts have been pulled... So construction will be resumed soon? Not so fast. Carl Icahn has said for some time that he wants to wait until Vegas stabilizes some more before he finishes F-bleau, so we can't be so sure this is a sudden change of heart.

- And finally, Steve Friess recently did an interview with Donny Osmond. He talks about the recent death of Marie's son, their return to The Flamingo, his "teen fame" in the 1970s vs. Justin Bieber mania today, and more. As always, Mr. Steve keeps it interesting!

And that's all for now. I may pop out one more blog post before I fly out of Long Beach this afternoon, and I promise to resume regular Nevada blogging later this week once I settle back into "life in paradise".

Casinos: More Techie Goodness

Yesterday, we took a look at some new, exciting slot technology coming into the casinos. Well, it looks like the casino floor won't be the only part affected by new technology. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas gave a sneak preview of what's to come at this week's Gaming Technology Summit.

Cosmopolitan’s chief information officer, Marshall Andrew, said during a technology executive panel at Tuesday’s Gaming Technology Summit at Green Valley Ranch that the resort is using technology create a “wow factor.”

Andrew said people will have to wait for a public relations blitz for specifics, but he said the technology will focus in three areas: server-based gaming, mobile apps and in-room technology.

The property’s website, which will be launched in June, will detail the technology better, Andrew said.

Like its neighbors Aria and Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter, Cosmopolitan’s in-room technology will feature a central remote controlling all of the room’s devices, Andrew reluctantly shared.

“They are going to have more features and functions,” Andrew said of the Cosmopolitan rooms. “Aria kind of laid the groundwork. A lot of us went over there and stayed in the rooms to check it all out. We saw things that we liked, but we saw things that we could improve upon, and that’s what we’re working on right now.”

So a Cosmo guest will be able to turn on the TV, open the drapes, turn off the iPod stereo, and handle every other electronic device/equipment with just one remote control. WOW!

And there's even more hi-tech goodness awaiting us outside the casinos!

Harrah’s put its first app for a property on the market in February 2010. Ceasars Palace allows users to check property maps, make restaurant reservations, check out current events at the property and even dig into the Caesars Palace history with photo galleries.

The app has 588 ratings in Apple’s App Store, with an average rating of 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Lane said the company developed the app to help its customers make decisions on things like shows and restaurants while on the property.

“Most decisions with our guests happen on the casino floor. That’s where you have to reach them,” Lane said.

Along with the Caesars app, the Harrah’s technology team also created a mobile site where customers can check their players club point balances in real time, a mobile slot game called iSpin and an initiative Harrah’s is calling “textpress” that lets guests bypass the check-in process at Caesars Palace.

MGM Mirage recently rolled out some mobile apps of its own. During April and May, the company released property-specific apps for MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York and the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss.

More are under way for MGM Mirage Las Vegas properties, company executives said. The apps do similar things as the Caesars Palace apps — guests can make restaurant reservations, navigate their way with property maps and watch previews of resident shows on property. It also lets customers access the property’s Twitter feed so they can see what others are saying about the resort.

All three Las Vegas property apps have a rating of three out of five stars in Apple’s App Store.

And now, MGM Mirage is upping the ante with its own "Vegas Reality" iPhone app:



OK, so not everyone is excited about MGM Mirage's new app. Hunter at RateVegas explained the limitations of augmented reality (AG), and why most tourists probably won't be interested in holding their iPhones in front of them. Oh, and the app only provides details on MGM Mirage casinos... Understandable, but a little frustrating if one was expecting to use this somewhere like The North Strip, where there's only one MGM Mirage casino (Circus Circus).

And with all these technological advances, we'll have to wait and see how tourists react. So far, Aria's "fully integrated room technology" isn't getting overwhelming rave reviews due to the constant glitches. If Cosmo and other hotels are hoping to go in this direction, it will be crucial for them to ensure that everything actually works.

Otherwise, the future looks bright for more geeky techie goodness coming to entertain us, comfort us, and inform us here in Las Vegas. :-)

NV-Sen: Suzy Lowdown Campaign Meltdown?

So Suzy Lowdown tried desperately to change the subject from her flailing campaign this week by attacking Harry Reid for saving CityCenter, taking Perini's side in the MGM Mirage v. Perini dispute over CityCenter, and looking like a fool. So what is she saying? That Perini did a great job in screwing up The Harmon? That all those construction worker deaths were no big deal? That it would have been better if CityCenter weren't built and MGM Mirage, Nevada's single largest employer, had gone belly up bankrupt?

Oh yeah, and didn't Ms. Suzy have her own little issue with not paying the construction bills for her fancy dancy Summerlin mansion? What was that line Jesus said about taking the log out of one's own eye before worrying about the speck in someone else's?

Yeah, Suzy Lowdown, destroying Nevada workers' jobs really is your job!

And of course, this was only just one facet of the continuing Suzy Lowdown campaign meltdown. According to the "poll" from "the 'newspaper' that shall not be named", Ms. Suzy holds a measly 30-25 lead over Batsh*t Crazy Sharron Angle in the GOoP primary with Lil' Tark Shark swimming just a little further behind at 22%. Heh. And "the 'newspaper' that shall not be named" was already crowning Lowdown the winner just a month ago?

And what about the other GOoPers nipping at Suzy Lowdown's big, red designer heels? Apparently, they didn't get the memo that Ms. Suzy was already supposed to be "the winner"... And the teabaggers are thumbing their noses at her as they're embracing the new love of their lives, Batsh*t Crazy Sharron Angle.



So is this Ms. Suzy's swan song? Or should I say chicken cluck?





Maybe not yet. She may yet survive the GOoP primary... But no matter who makes it out clucking, a certain someone from Searchlight is still smiling. I guess Jon Ashjian didn't even have to wreck the Nevada GOoP... Suzy Lowdown is already on her way to doing that herself, whether or not she wins the primary. :-)

Vegas Uncork'd: "Better by the Bay" with Charlie Palmer & Alain Ducasse

(Also at TWHT/RateVegas)







Ah, dinner on the beach! When I left Orange County, I wondered how long I'd have to wait to enjoy another romantic meal so close to the ocean. Well, I did not have to wait any longer!

OK, so Mandalay Bay's "beach" is far from the real deal, but it's still the best pool complex on The Strip and the ideal spot in Vegas for a beachside barbeque dinner with superstar chefs Charlie Palmer (of Aureole & Charlie Palmer Steak) and Alain Ducasse (of Mix in Las Vegas). There were whole pigs being roasted, lobsters being grilled... And even cookies and ice cream! Damn, who needs some stinky litter infested California beach picnic when one can have this??!!

So today, I'll be giving two reviews in one: Charlie Palmer's classed-up all-American dishes and Alain Ducasse's South of France inspired dishes. Let's start with the good ol' US of A.





The pork was amazingly succulent and easy on the mouth. The heirloom tomato salad done almost caprese style with mozzarella hit all the right tangy, creamy, and even sweet (just a little) flavor notes. Oh, and how could I forget the grilled chicken flat bread! The sweet BBQ sauce worked surprisingly well with what tasted like jack cheese on a slightly crispy flat bread crust.

So what about the lobster? Well, I enjoyed its sweetness paired with the potato-garlic stuffing... But for others, not so much. A couple sitting at my table were "lobster purists" from The Northeast, and they did not appreciate anything taking away from the naturally sweet lobster flavor. So you may or may not like Palmer's twist on half grilled Maine Lobster, depending on how strongly you believe in New England lobster preparation tradition.

I also tried the steamed Carolina Clams with "spicy broth" served in a sourdough bread bowl. And while it wasn't terrible, I'd have to say it was the weakest Palmer dish in my book. The bread was great (disclaimer: I LOVE good, artisan breads!), but the clams did nothing for me.

Whatever. Other than the clams, this was a solid dinner that I thoroughly enjoyed. Oh, and Chef Palmer himself was such a gracious host! There was plenty of food for everyone last night, served with plenty of smiles.





But wait, there's more! Remember that we didn't just have one celebrity chef doing BBQ for us, but two... Famed one-man international culinary powerhouse Alain Ducasse also joined us, and he had plenty of his own tasty offerings for us to try.

The herb stuffed ravioli brought a variety of garden flavors to explode in my mouth. The stuffed baby eggplant was simply irresistible, along with the stuffed cherry tomatoes. And that onion tart, oh that onion tart! I am still savoring those sweet caramelized onions.

And how about the bouillabaisse? The traditional Provencal fish stew got kicked up more than just a notch by Chef Ducasse with lovely herbal flavors all over and delectable little garlic croutons.



But wait, there's still more! Let's talk about dessert. Charlie Palmer kept it simple, yet oh so sweet, with an assortment of hand churned ice creams, chocolate chip cookies, root beer floats, and strawberry short cake. Now the short cake didn't do much for me, as the "cake" was actually done biscuit style and didn't have too much flavor. However, that was quickly forgiven and forgotten when I tried the cookies with some banana brownie ice cream! My goodness, why can't I have this more often!

I then looked for Alain Ducasse's dessert options, but I had looked too early. Apparently, he waited to clear the dinner options before bringing out the sweets.



Oh, and before I forget, there were a number of great wines and Patron tequila cocktails served last night. I was really digging the deconstructed mai tai on the cocktails end, and the California Muscat blooming with orange flavors when it was time for some dessert wine.

So who won? Who lost? Come on, we had two amazing chefs cooking for us... We all emerged winners out of this one! Chef Palmer was so charming throughout the night, and it was amazing to see Chef Ducasse in person working his magic. For me, this was the perfect ending to my absolutely fabulous Vegas Uncork'd weekend. :-)

(And don't forget, I have plenty more Uncork'd goodies for you at my Twitpic@atdleft and my Twitter@atdleft.)

Vegas Uncork'd: Dishin' the Dishes at The Grand Tasting at Caesars Palace

(Also at TWHT/RateVegas)

I did it. I really did it. I pretty much made the entire rounds at The Grand Tasting at Vegas Uncork'd!

We were placed in the gloriously renovated Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace. Now this is quite the sight to behold!





Isn't this just regal? For a moment, I was even reminded of the Roman inspired pools at the famed Hearst Castle on the Central California Coast. Whatever your complaints are regarding Harrah's Entertainment and the way it has run Caesars Palace since 2004, you can't fault them for neglecting the pool(s)!

So are you now ready for the main attraction? Yes, my dears, it's time for us to dish on the dishes!









Let's start with the savory highlights:

- Guy Savoy's artichoke and black truffle soup really packed the flavor punches in all the right places! The accompanying crostini was also quite tasty.

- The beef served at Sage was super tender!

- The spicy beef and noodles from Lotus of Siam really were hot and spicy! But fear not, it was still mighty yummy.

- The sushi from Nobu was as stunning and delectable as ever.

- The lamb sausage topped with sundried tomato from Bradley Ogden was full of rich flavors, even if it was cold.

And my favorite sweets of the night:

- Bradley Ogden's butterscotch pudding was perfectly sweet and creamy and satisfying.

- Vosges' chocolate truffles were out of this world, and the coffee infused truffle and the sweet potato truffle were my two favorites there.

- Jean Philippe Patisserie's sweet creations were ethereal, and their mini napoleons were just divine!

And while I wish I could just be nice to everyone, I also think I would be doing a major disservice to you if I didn't mention the disappointing lowlights of the evening:

- Diego's crab with salsa did nothing for me, as the crab tasted like it came from a can and the salsa had virtually no flavor.

- Bar Masa's foie gras dish wasn't all that bad, but for foie gras I was expecting more... So I guess I won't be missing too much when I return to being an ethical and eco-conscious vegetarian?

- For some reason, I wasn't digging Craftsteak's beef too much... Was I missing something?

Fortunately, I ran into some great new friends last night who helped me immensely in providing second and third opinions when I needed them. @jsmeeker and David Ross from eGullet helped show me the way, along with a couple nice ladies from Seattle who "adopted" me when I was lost in line to get in. Oh, and I can't forget the new friends I met at the Bradley Ogden dinner and Joel Robuchon luncheon that I bumped into again last night! Oh, and Chef Bradley Ogden himself remembered me from Thursday night... AWESOME!







OK, that's all for now. However, the foodie fun isn't quite over yet... Stay tuned for a very special report from Mandalay Bay's "Better by the Bay" BBQ with Alain Ducasse and Charlie Palmer! And until then, bon appetit and "keep eatin' like you mean it". :-)

(And as always, remember to check my Twitpic and my Twiiter@atdleft for more on everything Vegas Uncork'd this weekend!)

Vegas Uncork'd: The Joel Robuchon Luncheon of a Lifetime

(Also at TWHT/RateVegas)





Hello, again! I'm back with a very special report from a very special place... A place that can boast of "The Chef of the Century"! Yes, my dears, I did lunch at Joel Robuchon's place. He, along with his right-hand men from Vegas AND Paris, did the cooking.

Both of Joel Robuchon's MGM Grand restaurants, Joel Robuchon at The Mansion and L'Atelier, feel distinctly removed from the usual hustle and bustle of the massive MGM Grand complex. L'Atelier feels like an elegant, but still approachable, Euro modern bar with a lovely zinc bar and great views of the kitchen. The Mansion, meanwhile, feels like a luxurious penthouse one would have found in Paris in the 1930s. As always, I have plenty of pics of the digs, the food, and the chefs (including one of moi with Mr. "Chef of the Century" himself!) at my Twitpic @atdleft.





We started off with an actual cooking show at L'Atelier. None other than Joel Robuchon himself was leading the class, teaching us how to do langoustine fritters and seared beef just as he would serve right there at L'Atelier... With his Paris and Vegas crews there to do "sous chef duties" and translate his French instructions into English.

Since we don't have forever, I won't bore you too much with the cooking class details. Let's just say Robuchon doesn't do things the way most of us Americans typically cook. Wait on the salt, don't overdo the garlic, give the meat some time after pulling it out of the refrigerator, and always remember to cook with love. :-D

After the cooking demonstration, we were whisked away to The Mansion for some fine French Champagne with none other than Joel Robuchon himself. And yes, I obviously had a chance to meet him and snap a quick pic. Let me just say he isn't actually as intimidating as person as you'd think Mr. "Chef of the Century" "More Michelin Stars Than Anyone Else Around!" would be. Dare I say he was actually quite the charmer? He even did a toast with us!

OK, so let's get to the food! Here's what you've been waiting for:

- The amuse bouche was a lovely small plate of grapefruit gelee and avocado creme. It may sound odd, but the rich and creamy avocado balances surprisingly well the strong tart of the grapefruit.

- The langoustine fritters were amazing! The langoustine itself still tasted fresh and direct-from-the-sea, while the batter was light and didn't overwhelm the langoustine.

- The beef ribeye was seasoned simply with mainly just salt, pepper, onion, and garlic... And that's all it needed, as the natural beef flavors were singing a beautiful melody with my taste buds! The wasabi spinach that accompanied packed a nice punch, alongside the hearty mushrooms, asparagus, and green & red bell peppers.

- The strawberry panacotta was simply divine, with a simple panacotta that was surprisingly made from heavy cream and yogurt, along with real vanilla beans (which we had a chance to smell and feel during the cooking show!). The strawberry basil couli lovingly highlighted the natural sweetness of the fruit and the basil without any type of "sugar overload".

- And finally, we were served a fantastic 2008 Sancerre Loire Valley white wine with lunch. It had a nice fruity taste, with some floral highlights. This especially matched the langoustine fritters well.









So I hope I answered all your questions on today's fabulous Joel Robuchon luncheon at L'Atelier and The Mansion. And in case you didn't get enough here, check out my tweets @atdleft for more of my thoughts on today's luncheon, as well as my game plan for The Grand Tasting at Caesars Palace's newly renovated Garden of the Gods pool oasis tonight. Bon appetit!

Vegas Uncork'd: From Mandalay Pool to Chef Photo Op... WHAT??!!

No really, you wouldn't believe what just happened. After I submitted my first entry to Hunter, I decided to do some real(ly fun!) "investigative journalism" and head over to Mandalay Bay's famed beach. Now remember that this is my first time staying at the Mandalay complex, so I hadn't seen the pools before.

OH. MY. GAWD!

Now there may be hipper pool scenes here in Vegas and there may be sleeker and sexier pool areas... But I don't think I've ever seen a pool area as fun and enjoyable overall as Mandalay's. The wave pool is quite BIG, and quite nice. The lazy river is also something else, and I'm determined to take some time tomorrow to rent an intertube so I can really ride it the way it was meant to be experienced.

Another interesting thing I was noticing was the vibe and the design of Mandalay's beach. When it first opened, Mandalay was supposedly meant to evoke some exotic South Seas locale. But other than a few Southeast Asian style reliefs sprinkled here and there, the design of the beach area (or should I say 2007 redesign?) gave me more of the feeling that I was back home in "The OC". No really, the beach today looks much more "California Modern" than "Ancient Burmese Treasure", and the crowds and the overall size of the complex also gave much more of a "summer day in Surf City" vibe than "hideaway in Fiji".

And honestly, I have no problem with it. Perhaps some might decry the infestation of "Modern Generic Moderne" into just about every MGM Mirage casino these days, but I can actually see how the "Californication" of Mandalay Bay works. It markets itself these days as "Untamed Luxury", and its lineup of hotel offerings, restaurants, clubs, and other entertainment options pretty much does this trick.

So once I was done at the pool, I headed back up to my THEhotel suite to prepare for the big night tonight and...

OH. MY. GAWD!

Much to my surprise, I didn't even have to go to the Vegas Uncork'd opening press event... It actually came to me!

No really, I was walking into THEhotel's lobby and immediately came upon Guy Savoy. And Cat Cora. And Joel Robuchon. And Carlos Guia. My goodness, what did I walk into?!

Sadly, I couldn't take too many good photos due to the poor lighting and massive crowds. However, I did snap a good shot at Guy Savoy and a couple other salvageable pics that you can find at my Twitpic.

So after about 150 seconds of just being "starstruck", I figured out that the chefs were all here for a special media event at Mix. So what did I do? Oh, I just looked like a fool in my still-somewhat-wet "pool couture" and snapped some pics. Just for you. Since Hunter and I love you so much. :-p

As always, stay tuned @atdleft on Twitter for the latest Uncork'd news. I'll soon be on my way to the Bradley Ogden dinner, and I'll spill all the beans to you when I check in tomorrow morning. So until then, eat well and enjoy!

Vegas Uncork'd: THEexperience at THEhotel

(Also at Rate Vegas' Two Way Hard Three)

So I have arrived at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. In fact, I am now writing from "THE wifi" at "THE desk" at "THE Living Room" at "THE Suite"... And I'm listening to "THE Beyonce" as I write from "THE Macbook" on "THE desk". Am I sounding annoying yet?

I digress.

Anyway, I'm now here and I'm getting ready for my first Vegas Uncork'd event of the weekend: dinner at Bradley Ogden, WITH Bradley Ogden! Yes, I know, this is exciting and I'm so excited that Hunter was gracious enough to let me be a guest contributor this weekend so I care share this and other adventures with you at Las Vegas' biggest and most fabulous culinary action-packed weekend, with celebrity chefs from all around the world descending upon our humble 'burg to give us a taste of what they're all about.

However since I know you're also interested in hotel and casino design, I'll also be providing some of my observations of the Strip casinos I go in and out of. So let's start with my home base for this weekend: Mandalay Bay.

Honestly, "THE Suite" is quite sweet. Sure, there aren't the types of fun electronic gadgets you'll now find at any room at Aria, Encore, or Palazzo. But as a "boutique hotel", it works nicely with three flat panel TVs, a fully loaded wet bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, plush carpeting, chic furniture, and plenty of room to roam. And for a hotel that opened in 2003, my suite at THEhotel has minimal damage.

The decor is very hip. The color palette is mainly earth tones. The furniture really looks like the kinds of items I'll find at my yuppie friends' pads in Manhattan and West Hollywood. If you want to take a look at where I'm staying, check out my homemade "sweet suite tour" video (which I'll also upload to YouTube later), as well as my Twitpic.

And the actual Mandalay casino? It's still looking good for someone in Vegas going on eleven. I only found minimal chips in the marble. The water features were all working properly. And THEhotel lobby still looks as stunning in its uber-chic minimalist postmodern way (although that could just be the dim lighting!). For some reason, it seems like MGM Mirage is taking better care of Mandalay Bay than Bellagio. Weird, right?

I'll write more today as I explore, and expect a full review tomorrow morning of all the action at Bradley Ogden's Vegas Uncork'd event. I'll also be listening to other "eyes and ears on the ground" to let you know about the other events tonight. And as always, please feel free to follow me @atdleft on Twitter all weekend as I explore more at Mandalay Bay, take a glimpse at the other Strip casinos, review more restaurants, and follow all the Vegas Uncork'd madness for you.

Casinos: CityCenter Makes Conde Nast Traveler's "Hot List", Harrah's to Sell Rio?, Boyd Throws Station Reorganization Plans into Limbo

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Yep, you heard me right... MGM Mirage finally got some good news for CityCenter. Conde Nast Traveler has put both Aria AND Mandarin Oriental in its "2010 Hot List"! Apparently the rooms, the art, the restaurants, and the green touches all make Aria a winner in its book (even if Vegas Tripping and Rate Vegas' TWHT weren't as impressed initially). And since Conde Nast Traveler is quite revered as an authority on luxury travel, perhaps it can help encourage more of those high-end travelers needed to come and help CityCenter turn a profit?

Meanwhile in Harrah's territory, they may be considering (AGAIN!) selling The Rio. But unlike past rumors, which were just glorified gossip, this time it's getting press in Bloomberg Businessweek.

Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., the casino company owned by Apollo Management LP and TPG Inc., is seeking bids for the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, people with knowledge of the situation said.

Starwood Capital Group LLC and Colony Capital LLC are among the companies that are weighing bids for the resort, said the people, who declined to be identified because the talks are private. Some bids value the Rio at about $500 million, two of the people said.

Harrah’s, the world’s biggest casino company, is exploring a sale of the off-Strip property two months after buying Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Las Vegas is coming out of a two-year slump that took casino operators to the brink of bankruptcy. Chief Executive Officer Gary Loveman cut Harrah’s debt by $4.2 billion in 2009 by offering creditors new bonds at a discount. He extended maturities on another $5.5 billion this year.

Dave McKee has more on this, including his thoughts on who might be the early favorite to snatch The Rio. He thinks Colony Capital (which currently owns The Las Vegas Hilton, as well as a chunk of the possibly-soon-to-emerge-from-bankruptcy Station Casinos) is the frontrunner, followed closely behind by Starwood Capital Group (which currently owns Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, and a number of other hotel brands). However someone in the comments there mentioned the constant rumor that Penn National Gaming (which came close to buying the bankrupt Fontainebleau, which ended up in Carl Icahn's hands) may get it, which is always a possibility considering how badly it wants to enter the Las Vegas market.

So will The Rio be banished from Planet Harrah's? We don't really know yet, since the company isn't saying anything... Yet. But since Harrah's has already tried multiple times to sell The Rio, I wouldn't be surprised if they finally let it go this year.

And finally, speaking of Station Casinos, its long, hot mess of a bankruptcy isn't over quite yet... Boyd Gaming and the unsecured creditors are challenging the reorganization plan! They specifically object to the proposed PropCo/OpCo plan to let Station keep Red Rock, Sunset, Palace, and Boulder along with the proposed "Viva" site and the Las Vegas Blvd/Cactus Ave. plot of land while putting all the other assets (or OpCo) into "auction". Boyd and the creditors are claiming that the "auction" process and PropCo/OpCo divide put Station and Colony at an unfair advantage over everyone else (including Boyd, which badly wants to buy as much of Station as the Nevada Gaming Commission will allow).

Oh, and a group of independent lenders is also objecting to Station's plan.

"By excluding OpCo assets of significant value, as well as the PropCo assets, from the proposed Station Casinos sale, the debtors are not allowing their assets to be shopped as their fiduciary duty requires," Boyd charged in court papers.

Boyd also noted that its offers to purchase Station assets in February and December 2009 were not accepted. The last offer for the entire company was for $2.45 billion.

"We now know that the debtors were only interested in pursuing an insider transaction at the expense of their creditors' interests in breach of the board's fiduciary obligations," Boyd's filing said. "The court should not sanction the debtors' ongoing blatant disregard for the creditors' interests by approving these one-sided bidding procedures."

Similar objections were filed Wednesday by the case's Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, representing bondholders and others owed some $2.5 billion. The unsecured creditors charged that the Fertittas and Colony Capital have arranged to acquire a 50 percent interest in the PropCo properties at a 15 percent discount while arranging a lucrative 25-year management deal for those properties.

"These series of transactions are structured, using New PropCo and Fertitta Gaming, to camouflage the conflicts of interest and self dealing that are at the heart of the ... plan," attorneys for the unsecured creditors charged.

"The proposed restructuring is simply a deliberate campaign by those controlling Station Casinos to benefit themselves, its equity owners, at the expense of Station Casinos' creditor constituents," the creditors charged.

Another objection was filed by a group of independent lenders, which also complained that assets crucial to the operation of the OpCo casinos would not be included in the OpCo auction.

"From the perspective of the OpCo creditors, the process makes no sense: It's like selling KFC without the Colonel's secret recipe, or selling Coke without the formula, because the seller fails to capture the full value of the enterprise and the buyer acquires a business crippled without its competitive advantage," the lenders charged.

So will all their objections be enough to derail the Fertittas' plan to take Station out of bankruptcy? We'll have to wait and see.

Casinos: MGM Mirage to MGM Resorts International? And Are MGM's Fortunes Really Looking Up?

So MGM Mirage is about to become MGM Resorts International? If the shareholders approve, MGM will have a new name.

The Strip casino giant told shareholders the proposed name reflects the company's current vision and future growth. MGM Mirage, through its MGM Hospitality Division, has plans for nongaming hotel brands in several international markets, including China, India and the Middle East.

The company's first international venture was the MGM Grand Macau which opened in December 2007.

"MGM Resorts International better represents our company's growing global presence," company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren told employees this morning. "As a truly international company, our name should clearly reflect that.

"This is a significant step and we don't take it lightly," Murren said.

It also reflects what would happen if The Mirage were no longer part of MGM's casino collection. Now The Mirage's earnings actually held up fairly well in Q1 2010, especially compared to other MGM casinos. So in the short term losing Mirage makes no sense... But what about the long term?

Let's face it, both the sale of TI early last year and the opening of CityCenter late last year shifted MGM's center of gravity further south of Flamingo Road. With the exceptions of The Mirage and Circus Circus, all other MGM casinos are now south of Flamingo: Bellagio, Aria, Monte Carlo, New York New York, MGM Grand, Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay.

MGM is also looking to possibly buy Cosmopolitan when it opens to integrate it into CityCenter. And in order to do this, MGM will need to raise capital... But can it?

And is more trouble on the way? Jim Cramer trashed MGM (while talking up Wynn Resorts in advance of Encore Macau opening tomorrow) yesterday on CNBC...



But Goldman Sachs (yes, them... And I'll get to them tomorrow.) likes what it's seeing with MGM Mirage.

Shares of MGM Mirage rose on Tuesday as a Goldman Sachs analyst said the casino operator's stock could move 25 percent higher on momentum in Las Vegas and strength in Macau.

Analyst Steven Kent said in a client note that competitors Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Wynn Resorts Ltd. will be reporting their first-quarter results shortly, with both likely to indicate that business is improving in Las Vegas and Macau remains solid.

Macau, the only place in China where gambling is legal, has reported strong gaming revenue gains since last summer. The same cannot be said for Las Vegas, which has been hindered by the housing downturn and economic slump. But signs are beginning to emerge that the U.S. economy is improving, which has led some consumers to increase their discretionary spending at casinos.

Kent anticipates that solid quarterly results from Las Vegas Sands and Wynn will boost investor confidence and bump MGM Mirage's stock higher.

The analyst added Las Vegas-based MGM Mirage to his Conviction Buy list, which indicates top stock picks.

So perhaps things are really looking up for MGM Mirage, possibly soon to be MGM Resorts International? Perhaps, so. No matter what they want to call themselves in the future, their future success depends on the return of consumer spending. And if consumers are feeling better enough about their personal finances to start spending again, MGM will be back.

Taking a Look at MGM Mirage's Preliminary 2010 Q1 Earnings

So today, MGM Mirage gave us a sneak peek of what to expect when it releases its full Q1 earnings report in the next couple of weeks. Here's The Wall Street Journal's rundown.

MGM said it expects a 22-cent first-quarter loss, swinging from a 38-cent profit a year earlier, though both contained one-time items.

Excluding a large gain from extinguishing debt and a smaller impairment charge, the loss would have been 31 cents a share. Analysts, who typically exclude one-time items from their view, were expecting a 21-cent loss, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

The company also said revenue would likely be $1.46 billion, above the average analyst estimate for $1.43 billion. The first-quarter projection represents another year-on-year sales slide. Total casino revenue is expected to be approximately 5% lower than the prior year, an improvement from the fourth quarter's 11% drop.

MGM said that its revenue-per-available-room, a key lodging metric, on the Las Vegas Strip fell 8% from a year earlier, with occupancy of 85%. The tourist haven has struggled in the recession as gamblers either quit to save money or placed their bets at casinos closer to home, while corporations are avoiding taking business trips to such a flashy locale.

So MGM Mirage's early results look mixed compared to Wall Street expectations, but Wall Street is looking fairly negatively so far. MGM stock closed about 5.6% lower in after hours trading (though off its lows from about two hours ago), which means it will likely open much lower when the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) reopens for trading tomorrow morning. What's all the commotion about?

As the analysts were saying on that CNBC clip I posted above, there's still concern over consumer spending... And apparently rightfully so, considering MGM's Las Vegas Strip REVPAR (revenue per available room) slid 8% to $94. However MGM's average room rates actually rose to $111 per night while occupancy remained stable at 85%, which was especially quite the feat considering Aria being a drag at only 63% occupancy.

And that's just it, CityCenter's first earnings report was a dud. MGM Mirage is expecting to report a $255 million operating loss on CityCenter in Q1 2010. However, it is still quite young and MGM is still expecting better results later in the year as summer tourist season approaches. And with overall Vegas tourism and gaming numbers improving in late 2009 and continuing this trend so far in 2010, there's certainly reason to hope.

So what should we take out of the early MGM Mirage numbers? It's still looking tough out here in Vegas, but things aren't looking so scary any more. And hopefully when the Las Vegas Sands, Harrah's Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts numbers come out, we'll get an even better picture of the overall financial health of The Strip.

Casinos: Whither Circus Circus? The North Strip?

One upon a time, Circus Circus was MGM Mirage's most profitable casino. Ever since Jay Sarno was forced in the early 1970s to sell his then failing experiment to Bill Bennett, Circus Circus was transformed into a supreme moneymaking "grind joint" with low operating costs allowing the casino to make loads of money off low rollers.

However, this has changed. In less than two years, Circus Circus went from MGM Mirage's biggest moneymaker to its biggest money loser.

Circus Circus used to be fed by pedestrians coming up its way from the New Frontier, the Stardust and Westward Ho, but those resorts are gone. The detrimental effect has been considerable, MGM Mirage spokeswoman Yvette Monet says.

The next-door neighbors that Circus Circus has left are having more than their share of economic troubles, too. Financial figures aren’t available for the Sahara because it is privately held, but the property has been closing some of its rooms now and then to save operating costs. The Riviera reported a $5.6 million loss in the fourth quarter and is negotiating with creditors to restructure the company’s debt, which may include seeking bankruptcy protection.

For that same quarter, Circus Circus was MGM Mirage’s biggest money-loser on the Strip.

After expenses, the resort posted a loss of $3.4 million in operating income. It earned only $4 million in operating income for all of 2009, down from $33.7 million in 2008.

So why is this happening? Two reasons. First off, the recession forced the casinos into a "musical chairs price war" and downscale hotels/motels like Circus Circus have been left standing... Without a chair.

Circus Circus is a lower-rent property, and analysts and executives say budget properties are suffering as customers upgrade to well-appointed resorts that are offering deep discounts. If tourists can pay just a little bit more to stay at a more luxurious, newer hotel, they do it.

The industry has a name for this trend: price compression.

Think about it. Circus Circus regularly offers rooms for under $100 per night... But today, the same can be said of a number of more upscale Strip hotels. And for only $20-30 more per night, wouldn't you want to upgrade to, say, Luxor, Monte Carlo, or New York New York?

And speaking of that end of The Strip, that's the other reason why Circus Circus' fortunes have so suddenly changed. Much of The North Strip now consists of mothballed "skeletons" of former construction sites, so Circus Circus can't count on pedestrian traffic from nearby casinos like Excalibur can on The South Strip.

Excalibur is more centrally located on the Strip, with more walk-by traffic and proximity to higher-end hotels, and it posted operating income of $8.4 million in the fourth quarter. That’s within striking distance of the $8.9 million earned by neighboring Mandalay Bay, a much larger and more luxurious property that includes The Hotel, an upscale hotel expansion.

For 2009, Excalibur posted $48 million in operating income. That’s down from $84 million the prior year but was better than Monte Carlo, New York-New York and Luxor, which are more expensive properties with higher-end amenities.

Circus Circus and Excalibur earned vastly different amounts of a key profit indicator called EBITDA — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. By this measure, Excalibur earned $72.1 million against Circus Circus’ $27.1 million. Excalibur’s EBITDA fell 35 percent, which is more within the range suffered by other major casinos in the recession. Circus Circus’ EBITDA, however, fell by 52 percent.

Excalibur benefits from being "the low rent alternative" to Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and other nearby higher end MGM Mirage casinos. The same can't be said, however, of Circus Circus, since its next door neighbors are now... Well, nothing. The lot at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara Ave. is empty, and Echelon won't resume construction until 2012 at the earliest.

And obviously, it isn't just MGM Mirage feeling the pain with Circus Circus. Riviera and Sahara have also suffered from this curse of the mothballs, as Fontainebleau looks likely to remain a smoldering hot mess until Carl Icahn decides to finally finish it.

So in the coming weeks, months, and years, it will be interesting to see what happens on The North Strip, what was once "The Original Strip". Many of the casinos up there were once sturdy survivors... But will they be able to survive the rest of "The Great Recession"?

Casinos: Rumjungle at M-Bay Files for Chapter 11, Encore's Switch Beach Club Pics Leaked, MGM Mirage & Perini Fight Over CityCenter, & Some Good News for MGM Mirage

- Yikes! Things aren't looking pretty at Rumjungle these days. They've filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, claiming that MGM Mirage is trying to drive them out of business. Mandalay Bay just opened its new "eyecandy" lounge near the casino, and Rumjungle is claiming this violates their contract with MGM for Rumjungle to be the only nightclub at Mandalay. However, MGM counters that they owe $1.1 million in unpaid rent.

- Meanwhile, MGM Mirage actually gets some good news today. Malaysian casino operator Genting Malaysia Bhd. is buying another $18 million in MGM debt, which CEO Jim Murren is feeling good about.

- However, MGM Mirage still has to deal with Perini's move to try to impose a lien on CityCenter over $492 million in unpaid construction costs. MGM counters that the $492 million claim isn't accurate and The Harmon's construction defects result in a larger counterclaim for them. This should be a fun one to watch in court.

- Meanwhile on the other end of The Strip, more photos have been leaked for Encore's new Switch Beach Club and Surrender nightclub set to open Memorial Day Weekend. There's now a great debate over whether the club is edgy or trashy. I personally think the pool looks a little dull so far, but I have a feeling the real deal will glam it up some more... Especially since Surrender is looking quite promising!

- And finally, back to MGM Mirage... And what the hell is this??!! Are they actually inviting group orgies (on the cheap) to Luxor? Whoa, nelly! I guess this will be the new place to find a way to get laid FAST... And many times over... And still have some change left over to toss in the penny slots. Go figure. Only in Vegas. :-p

MGM Mirage Strikes Back at New Anti-Reid "Swift Boat Ad"

After news broke on Rethuglican smear master Floyd Brown's new "Swift Boat-Willie Horton" style ad trying to accuse Harry Reid and MGM Mirage of supporting "slave labor" in Dubai (HUH??!!), MGM Mirage is now striking back.

Nevada's largest private employer is lashing back at attack ads aimed at linking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to alleged exploitative labor practices in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Lawyers for resort giant MGM Mirage say claims in the ads are "false, offensive and defamatory" and called on the creators to retract the commercials, posted online at www.exposeharry.com and scheduled to run on television this week in Las Vegas.

Oh yes, and did I mention these "Expose Harry" California carpetbaggers (they're based in San Diego County, by the way) are also "birthers" who continue to claim that President Obama is supposedly "illegitimate" because he's supposedly not a "natural born citizen"? Oh yes, it gets crazier. No wonder why this ad stunk.

"This doesn't really stand up to tests of reason. It is a big stretch," said Joseph Valenzano, an associate professor in the communications department at University of Nevada, Las Vegas who specializes in political rhetoric.

Valenzano said the labor ad is a success in that it prompts voters to think of Harry Reid, slave labor and CityCenter as being associated.

But it fails for two reasons, he said.

First, it doesn't establish any clear connection between the concepts other than mentioning them in the same ad. Second, the issue of alleged labor abuses in Dubai has nothing to do with how voters in Nevada will decide who to support in the upcoming election.

"This ad is designed for shock treatment," Valenzano said.

As the ad percolates in the public discourse it will lose effectiveness as voters realize the implied connections between Reid and Dubai labor practices are suspect and that nearly every Democratic and Republican politician in Nevada supported CityCenter because it was credited with creating thousands of new jobs during the greatest recession in state history, he said.

So are all our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, now guilty of supporting "slave labor" because they supported the completion of CityCenter? Would Nevada have been better off if CityCenter failed, Nevada's largest employer collapsed, and Nevada's economy slid into another Great Depression?

Obviously, these California carpetbaggers know nothing about Nevada and how our state works. They shouldn't attack Harry Reid like this, they shouldn't attack MGM Mirage like this, and they shouldn't bash all of Nevada like this. These "Swift Boaters" just don't know yet how this crap will come back to bite them (and help reelect Harry Reid this year).

NV-Sen: Worst. Ad. EVAH!

(Also at Stonewall)

There's only one word that can truly describe this despicable bullshit:



FAIL!

I'd talk more about the despicable bullshit lies thrown around in this trashy excuse of a political ad, but for now I'll focus on it as the radical right's EPIC FAIL. From Dullard Mush:

For all the hype regarding the Expose Harry ads that were coming down the pike, one could be forgiven for thinking the Harry Reid death blow was at hand. After all, this was going to be from the team that helped doom Michael Dukakis in 1988 with the classic "Willie Horton" ad.

But, instead, it looks like something a Jr. High beginning video class would put out ... as a rough cut. For chrissakes, it plays like a low-budget union ad against MGM Mirage, not some great indictment of Reid.

It fails on virtually every level. Where was the deep and concerned narrator's voice, the ominous background music, the financial ties to Reid (like, oh, how much money he's received from MGM Mirage) and what's with the monstrous fonts at the end? It looks and sounds like something Todd Taxpayer whipped up for a buck and change over his lunch break.

Now how can I argue with this? I can't... And why should I? It's the Rethuglicans embarrassing themselves BIG TIME!

Richard Abowitz, who usually doesn't focus on politics at Gold Plated Door, made an exception today in his critique of the ad:

Wow, this is a stupid advertisement. I don’t often have opinions on political matters. But you can really tell that this was created by people outside Las Vegas and Nevada. I do think it is a scandal that Nevada gaming authorities gave Dubai World a pass on the behavior of a sovereign dictatorship no matter how benign and business-like the veneer. But blaming the Senator from Nevada via attacking his efforts on behalf of MGM-Mirage (the largest private employer in Nevada) is hardly an approach designed to appeal to voters here. And, when done bashing the Senator, the commercial seems to take a gratuitous shot at unions; in Las Vegas that means attacking a great many of the workers in casinos on the Strip. Maybe, nationally this sort of low blow advertisement can make a Senate Majority Leader less popular. But to a Vegas audience this advertisement is incoherent.

Translation moment for locals: when the advertisement calls MGM-Mirage “the slave bosses” –this is not a metaphor. And, how does that relate to Senator Reid? Oh, yes; he supports MGM-Mirage who are “the slave bosses.”

Sure Senators from Nevada are beholden to casino interests. But the sad truth is that you have to be a bit more specific to form that reality into a complaint. All Senators from Nevada support casinos, always, and forever. There will never be a Senator from Nevada who denounces casinos, duh.

Nevada is not used to being this important, politically. We were the place everyone else wanted to dump nuclear waste. Now, with a Senate Majority Leader from this state, that insane idea is dead. And, Nevada instead attracts advertisements seemingly dumped here from out of state.

Oh, yes... This should really win votes! Curry Nevadans' favor by trying to convince us to dump our powerful voice in Nevada, denounce our largest employer and bash them as "slave masters", and bash our friends and family members who work at the casinos as "evil union leaders"?

I wonder what MGM Mirage workers think about this. No wait, actually I don't. I bet they agree with CEO Jim Murren and are glad that CityCenter opened and they have jobs.



Again, this is just trashy... And I'm confident this won't work. In fact, I'm hoping by showing you this video, I will have lit a fire under your ass so that you'll be making sure we continue to have a strong advocate for working Nevadans in Harry Reid.

Casinos: MGM Mirage Reveals "Exit Strategy" Out of Atlantic City

Now that the New Jersey gaming control board has made it clear that MGM Mirage isn't welcome in Atlantic City any more (as long as it wants to do business in Macau) (H/T to Hunter), they've reached a settlement with the state to let go of its 50% stake in Borgata.

The deal was driven by the division's recommendation to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission last year that MGM Mirage's partner in the Chinese gambling district of Macau, Pansy Ho, be found unsuitable because of allegations her father Stanley Ho has had ties to organized crime.

The division recommended that MGM Mirage be directed to disengage from any business association with Pansy Ho. MGM Mirage instead chose to maintain its casino partnership in Macau and at least temporarily exit the New Jersey market.

Las Vegas-based MGM Mirage had previously disclosed settlement talks were under way focusing on placing the company's New Jersey interests into a divestiture trust. Under today's settlement, which is subject to approval of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission:

-- MGM Mirage's interest in the Borgata and the land will be placed into a divestiture trust and the interest is to be sold within 30 months.

-- MGM Mirage will cease doing business as a gaming licensee in New Jersey, but can re-apply for a license there 30 months after the sale

"We have the utmost respect for the DGE but disagree with its assessment of our partner in Macau," Jim Murren, MGM Mirage chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. "Regulators in other jurisdictions in which we operate casinos have thoroughly considered this matter and all of them have either determined that the relationship is appropriate or have decided that further action is not necessary. Since the DGE takes a different view, we believe that the best course of action for our company and its shareholders is to settle this matter and move forward with the compelling growth opportunities we have in Macau."

Well, what else can MGM do? And perhaps in the long run, this will be seen as a smart move. We all know just how lucrative of a gaming market Macau is quickly becoming. And with both Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands now saying they're "primarily Asian companies doing some business in America", how can MGM be blamed for picking Macau over the rather thorny situation in Jersey.

And speaking of Jersey, Atlantic City continues to be in a free fall... Even as we recover here in Las Vegas and other big US gaming destinations are also seeing signs of recovery. But then again, not all of Atlantic City's problems are directly related to the economy. In particular, AC is now facing the harsh reality of increasing competition from Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland as all these states loosen their anti-gambling laws and allow more gaming (with PA, in particular, posing a real threat with new full hotel-casino resorts opening in or near Philadelphia, AC's biggest "feeder market").

So when we look at the full picture, it's easier to see why MGM is ready to leave AC. With increasing gambling options all over the Northeast, it's becoming increasingly difficult to see how AC can remain top dog. And at least now, MGM no longer has to worry about it.

Betting on Michelin Stars: Tapas Muy Deliciosas en Julian Serrano

Tucked in a corner of the grand casino at Aria, the heart of MGM Mirage's brand new CityCenter project, is Julian Serrano. Yes, it's Spanish. Yes, it's tapas. And yes, the food here is fantastic!





Start off with something like the stuffed piquillo peppers. The goat cheese inside is creamy and tangy. The pepper outside is cooked just right. And oh my, the savory tomato sauce pulls it all together and makes it extra delicious!





And if that isn't amazing enough, order the mushroom and manchego risotto. Maybe you've had good risotto dishes before, but this takes risotto to another level with tasty mild mushrooms and tangy manchego cheese. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that the risotto is cooked to al dente perfection... Perfect to absorb that lovely sauce.



Go ahead, order a sangria. It's quite refreshing... And fruity, too!





And while we're talking sweet stuff, it's time to talk about flan. Honestly, the flan itself doesn't really have a strong flavor profile... But thankfully, the strawberry compote on top and light caramel sauce on bottom enliven this plate! And when all three combine, that's when the magic happens on this plate.





And just days after Cafe Ba Ba Reeba closed further up The Strip, it was truly heartwarming to go to Aria today and find all these fabulous tapas dishes at Julian Serrano. Maybe it didn't work out at first, but it ultimately looks like good Spanish cuisine is back on The Strip and will be here to stay.



And by the way, don't hesitate to come and enjoy this place! MGM Mirage did something truly revolutionary on The Strip in taking CityCenter in such a green direction, and the rest of Las Vegas really is following. All of the CityCenter hotels (Aria, Vdara, and Mandarin Oriental) have achieved LEED Gold Certification in sustainable design, as well as the adjacent Crystals shopping mall.

So if that isn't enough to bring you here, I don't know what is. ;-)

And by the way, you always find more of my food reviews at my Urbanspoon page.

A "Birthday Gift" I Want to Share With You

Because I love you. You're the best blog pals ever! ;-)

NV-Sen: Reid Takes Lead in 3-Way R-J Poll, Still Isn't "Dead"

I never thought I'd say this... But it looks like The R-J coughed up a poll with Harry Reid leading. While the two-way race between Reid and either of the GOP front runners still looks lousy according to The R-J, we all know now that this will be at least a three-way race after all with the Tea Party forming its own splinter group with its own candidate. Right after they talked about how far down Reid is in their poll, they managed to spit this out...

But the polling done for the Las Vegas Review-Journal also shows this year's U.S. Senate race could undergo a major shake-up if a Tea Party candidate gets involved.

It would be a new ballgame, and Reid would be the big beneficiary.

A disaffected conservative running under the Tea Party banner would drain support from a Republican candidate, according to polling of a three-way contest.

In that case, Reid would draw 36 percent of voters, while the Republican nominee would get 32 percent and the Tea Party candidate 18 percent if the election were held today.

And according to CQ Politics, Reid even has a lead among independents with another 30% of them undecided in the three-way match-up. OK, so maybe the Tea Party won't really draw this much support in November... Or maybe they will? We don't know for sure, but whatever the case all the news from this month shows that our Senate race is still very fluid and Harry Reid really can't be counted out.

Oh, and here's another reason not to count Reid out. One of his good friends, who happens to be one of Nevada's biggest employers, is promising to be of help.

In an interview after President Barack Obama's first visit to CityCenter on Friday, Murren used strong words to make it clear he would not only remain loyal to Reid for his efforts to save MGM Mirage's $8.5 billion project but he would take on those trying to remove Reid from office.

"I think it's un-Nevadan, unpatriotic, to go against Senator Reid and I will call out those who try," the MGM Mirage chairman and CEO told Vegas Confidential after the world premiere of Cirque du Soleil's "Viva Elvis."

And for better or for worse, the casinos still hold a hell of a lot of sway in Nevada politics. If the Republicans can't lean on them for help, then they're screwed with this Senate race.

And you've been wondering why I keep saying it's unwise to bet against Harry Reid in this state?

CityCenter... Revisited

I'm sure y'all remember what happened last year when I shared my honest opinions on CityCenter. So have things changed? What's happening so far in 2010?

Well, it looks like MGM Mirage is surviving with it so far. The company's overall losses are dropping, and there seems to be a viable plan for Aria to turn a profit (scroll down to see the comments at this link to see the Aria profit talk).

So how's it really faring? Well, I did a little "investigative reporting" (hehe) when I did a grand tour of CityCenter with Hunter @ RateVegas see for myself. Here's the "evidence" (with some Bellagio pics thrown in for the heck of it).

And the verdict? I'm still amazed by the architecture. I'm fascinated by the very "un-Vegas-y" minimalist design.

However, there are still some clear problems popping up that MGM Mirage needs to fix ASAP for CityCenter to reach its full potential. For one, why isn't it easier to reach Aria from The Strip? And if all the tourists heading to Aria must be funneled through Crystals, then why aren't there more stores that cater to more of them? (Not all tourists can afford a Louis Vuitton handbag, and not all of them are interested in buying that or a Hermes scarf... Seriously, no Disney Store? No Vegas souvenir store?)

Also, why is Vdara still such a hot mess? Here's a news flash for MGM Mirage: The "condo-tel" concept hasn't really worked in Vegas, and this is even less likely to work since the standard "suites" are way too damned small (550 sq. ft.) to function as real "homes". Oh, and at this point (nearly 4 months since opening!) there's no good excuse for bad layout, malfunctioning items, and uneven service!

Clearly, CityCenter is still suffering from some serious growing pains. And seriously, MGM Mirage still has plenty of work to do in fixing them and making CityCenter (especially the main Aria/Crystals/Vdara component of it) work. I'm hoping they'll succeed, since it's in the best interest of Las Vegas and Nevada for CityCenter and MGM Mirage to succeed. It's just that CityCenter still needs a little more reworking to really work out for everyone's benefit.