visitmylasvegas.com » 2006 » July

I haven’t been following this much, other than an article I read a few years ago in Popular Science, but Las Vegas hotel mogul Robert Bigelow, of Budget Suites Hotels fame, sent a rocket into space with what appears to be the prototype for his dream of creating a Space Hotel. He’s been getting a lot of attention such as this blog post by “Chad” of HotelsByCity:

Las Vegas hotel mogul Robert Bigelow and Bigelow Aerospace have created their first Space Hotel prototype.

This could possibly be the coolest idea ever. If you thought the view from your hotel room was sweet, just wait until you have the option to wake up to the whole planet!

Bigelow attracted quite a bit of local attention when the rocket went up last week. Ch. 3’s Steve Crupi and Ch. 8’s George Knapp attended the launch.

As I recall, Bigelow has suggested floating a space hotel in low-orbit space and then tethering it to the Earth with a cable that would be used to move guests up and down from Las Vegas to space. I don’t know if Bigelow’s current plans call for that, but just getting something up and inflated above us is quite a feat. Later this year, Bigelow plans to allow average Las Vegans to send up photos into space and have them float around in his inflatable space pod. Right now he’s got some insects and some photos up there of his own. Here’s a link to the technology and Bigelow’s company.

It’s kind of cool to have a Jules Verne-type dreaming up the future in my hometown.

The Scintas put on one of the best variety shows in Las Vegas.  When they were at the Rio they brought down the house, and now that they are on the Strip at the Sahara, I’m sure they’re poised for even greater success.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets!

The Scintas arrived from Buffalo, New York little more than five years ago and are now the hottest ticket in Las Vegas. Two brothers (Frank and Joe Scinta) and sister (Chrissy Scinta) all from a family of Italian heritage, plus one more they call their “token” Irishman (Peter O’Toole), play to packed audiences in the Sahara Theater. New music and a big backup band add to the excitement.

Their story of hard work, desire for the “American Dream” and strong family values make this show a must see event for every visitor to Las Vegas.

Enjoy an evening of great music, hilarious comedy and lots of celebrity impressions with The Scintas now at the Sahara Hotel & Casino. It’s an all new show in a great new theater!

It’s not everyday that you can attend a show and really believe everything is right with the world. And when you walk out of Forever Plaid you also may just believe in heaven.

Click Here for Tickets to Forever Plaid

“Forever Plaid” is the story of four nerdy young men (Francis, Sparky, Jinx and Smudge) whose dreams of musical glory come true. It concerns the miraculous return to earth of the four Plaids to perform the concert of their dreams.

This endearing harmony group’s lives were suddenly ended - while on their way to pick up their custom-made plaid tuxedos for their first big gig - when they were in a collision with a school bus of Catholic teens on their way to see the Beatles’s debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. These nerdy crooners with angelic voices are miraculously revived come back to do the show they never got to do in life.

The hit musical comedy blends ’50s and ’60s music of Rock ‘n Roll, popular show and dance tunes - and serves as a perfect accompaniment to the fulfillment of a once-in-a-lifetime dream.

Power Pass is the exciting new visitor’s passport to Las Vegas. Using smart card technology, Power Pass provides entry to all the best attractions Las Vegas has to offer…a combined value of over $250 in admission fees. And, Power Pass includes “Fast Tracking”, allowing pass holders to skip the line at many attractions. The best news is that a PowerPass only costs $62.50 for an adult pass and $40 for a child.

Additionally, Power Pass comes with a colorful, comprehensive guidebook, and discounts and offers at a fine collection of retail shops, restaurants, sightseeing tours, sporting activities, etc.

With Power Pass, consumers have the freedom to customize their visit to Las Vegas… whether you prefer museums, thrill rides, zoos or artwork there’s something for everyone!

Inclusions:

• Admission to 20 top attractions in Las Vegas
• Discounts at well-known top restaurants and retailers
• “Fast Tracking” at many attractions allows cardholders to “Go to the head of the line!”
• Full color, pocket-sized, guidebook which includes attraction details, hours of operation, directions, plus full street maps and a Las Vegas Monorail system map.

This is a great value and the best way to take advantage of 20+ attractions. I used a similar pass in San Diego and it paid for itself the first day. The cost of an admission to just four of the attractions included in the PowerPass would cost well over $80. It’s a great way to see the city and you can purchase additional days for even fewer dollars. Click Here to Purchase Your PowerPass!

Today in the Review-Journal, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says the recent cool off in the Vegas travel industry can be blamed on fewer conventioneers, rather than higher gas prices.

The Las Vegas Valley hosted more than 3.34 million visitors in May, down 0.9 percent from May 2005, according to information released Friday by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. But a closer look indicates that drivers are still making their way to Southern Nevada despite unleaded prices around $3 per gallon.