Debriefing
The Weekly continues its quest to eradicate ignorance, one blog entry at a time.
01.26.09 · 8:17 PM
PETA stages Strip protest minus the fake blood or nude models
For nearly 30 years PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been getting attention for animal rights, often for its building-sized posters of naked celebrity flesh with the tagline “I’d rather go naked than wear fur.” The animal rights organization is also notorious for its attention-getting antics, which include stunts like having Pamela Anderson stand naked in a shop window, dropping a dead raccoon on Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s table at the Four Seasons or sending girls wearing ... Read more...
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Facebook01.25.09 · 3:13 PM
Celebrity stylist Ken Paves offers glamour (and therapy) to Vegas
Even at noon on a weekday, ElevenSpa Vegas owner Nikki Oden is impeccably styled in a dark, designer shift and heels. She strides through construction workers laying tape without missing a stiletto-clad step. Oden is touring the nearly finished ElevenSpa Vegas, which will open in mid-February at Town Square. The founder of the 11,000 ElevenSpa in Delray Beach, Oden takes style and comfort very seriously. Walking through her new Vegas outpost, she pauses to describe each station’s imported materials and ... Read more...
01.24.09 · 7:10 PM
Here she is, Miss Indiana takes home the tiara
Katie R. Stam, has just been announced as the 83rd Miss America at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts. Miss Georgia, Chasity Hardman, was first runner-up. “I’m going to thank all these amazing girls behind me,” a stammering Stam said when asked by host Mario Lopez what she would do first as Miss America. A capacity crowd of more than 7,000 watched the event live. It will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Pacific time on TLC. More from ... Read more...
01.23.09 · 5:10 PM
Rogers throws blows in defense of higher ed
On Wednesday night, Jim Rogers fell went to bed at 6:30 p.m. “But I was up at about 4:30,” he says. On Thursday night, at 6:30 p.m., Rogers looked like he was again about ready for early beddy-bye as he waited to take the stage in front of about 2,200 sign-wielding students on the UNLV campus. The throng congregated like moths drawn to a porch light in the courtyard behind the school’s Student Union building. “Don’t be afraid to come ... Read more...
01.23.09 · 2:09 PM
All the baskets have been stolen!
After getting my heart broken, I needed some chocolate. On my way home from work I stopped off at the Albertson’s at Maryland Parkway and Silverado Ranch for a short solo shopping trip. But there were no baskets in sight. I stopped a passing clerk, who informed me that they had all been stolen. “It’s the five-finger discount,” said the clerk, who asked that her name be withheld. “It’s bad. People just don’t have money. It’s getting bolder and bolder. ... Read more...
01.23.09 · 12:11 PM
Pundit triumverate opines freely at Ham Hall
UNLV’s Barrick Lecture Series is one of the best free events in Las Vegas, and last night’s program at a near-capacity Ham Hall was easily worth the ticket price. A triumvirate of pundits – Washington Post columnist and frequent cable news show analyst E.J. Dionne, syndicated columnist and former Rep. J.C. Watts, and CNN political expert Gloria Borger — filled 90 minutes with commentary in a program that was ostensibly to discuss the first 100 days of the Barack Obama ... Read more...
01.23.09 · 1:39 AM
Let the protests begin: College students and teachers rally against budget cuts
The wonders never cease. Right on the heels of a presidential campaign that reawakened the country’s interest in politics and a historic inauguration day that drew 2 million people to Washington D.C., students are rallying at UNLV. They’re holding signs and chanting slogans and booing and cheering at all the appropriate intervals. They’re protesting, and not just a hopeful handful. A crowd of roughly 2,000 college students, teachers and supporters gathered on UNLV’s campus Thursday night to protest Governor Jim ... Read more...
01.21.09 · 9:30 PM
“We were there when”
5:30 a.m. – Is that my alarm? It still feels like 2:30 in the morning to me. I’m excited, groggy, but excited to head downtown. Some people woke up hours earlier or even stayed up all night so they could get in line as soon as possible. We’re lucky enough to have seating tickets, but who knows if there have been more tickets handed out than seats. We may not even get in. Only way to see is to go ... Read more...
01.21.09 · 8:48 PM
On being there: thoughts from the inauguration
These words came from people who attended the inauguration on January 20 in Washington D.C. From Nevada and beyond, their emotions were echoed throughout the historic day. Mike Jackson Las Vegas, Pastor. Traveled with wife Kathy, their two sons, Anthony and Keith and godson, Steve. “It’s such a historical event. There’s nothing that replaces the idea of coming here and being part of the event. Bringing my children so they have that memory to even share from generation to generation ... Read more...
01.21.09 · 3:43 PM
Weekly’s most boring cities in the U.S. (Take that, Forbes)
Sure, Henderson and North Las Vegas aren’t thriving metropolises in their own right, full of world class dining, thrilling entertainment and enough scantily clad skin to fully distract one of Forbes magazine’s editors from his commas and clauses, but guess where you can find all of these things. Ding! Fabulous Las Vegas! It’s hard to deem anywhere mere minutes from Vegas as boring, let alone one of the 10 most boring cities in the country. So, in response to Forbes’ ... Read more...
01.21.09 · 1:15 PM
The multi-tasking President
If Barack Obama hadn’t managed to squeeze in any serious work on his first day as President Obama, it would’ve been hard to hold it against him. After all, our 44th President had to make it through an oral obstacle course of an oath and a lengthy speech that referenced the American Revolution and condemned the anti-terrorism tactics of his predecessor as well as prayers, a benediction and a poem. After the official business came the official parties. Decked out ... Read more...
01.21.09 · 11:32 AM
A presidential roast and toast, 365 days apart
A lot can change in 365 days. On Jan. 20, 2008, I celebrated the less-than-a-year-left mark for the country’s 43rd president at a community center in northwest Washington. The event was playfully dubbed “End of an Error,” and it was a lot of fun. On Jan. 20, 2009, I celebrated the inauguration of the nation’s 44th president in a stately auditorium in downtown D.C. It was a full-blown inaugural celebration and was hosted by Google. It, too, was a great ... Read more...
01.21.09 · 10:56 AM
A harmonically Vegas convergence for Lynette Boggs
A circle of sorts was completed yesterday at District Court in Las Vegas. Onetime promising Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to one count of filing a false statement of residency, which is a gross misdemeanor. She entered an “Alford” plea agreement, under which she admitted no wrongdoing but conceded that prosecutors could prove their case at trial (read the story by the R-J’s David Kihara here.) The agreement closes a ... Read more...
01.20.09 · 5:11 PM
Get this: Toby Keith, Obama fan
Barack Obama famously opposed the invasion of Iraq in a 2002 speech that helped launch him toward the White House. Conversely, Toby Ketih famously wrote, in “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”: “This big dog will fight/When you rattle his cage. And you’ll be sorry that you messed with/The US of A. ’cause we’ll put a boot in your ass/It’s the American way.” While not in the same songwriting genre of, say, “Eleanor Rigby,” Keith does make his sentiments ... Read more...
01.20.09 · 4:27 PM
Text of President Barack Obama’s inaugural address
Text of President Barack Obama’s inaugural address on Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.OBAMA: My fellow citizens:I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have ... Read more...
01.20.09 · 3:01 PM
Seeing, or rather, hearing history on the National Mall
I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it, but after hours of waiting in the middle of a mob of inauguration-goers, I passed through security and found my place in front of the Capitol. I witnessed Barack Obama as he was sworn in as the country’s 44th president. It was amazing to be here, watching history being written right before my eyes. Or, should I say, hearing it with my ears. Despite being given what I was assured ... Read more...
01.20.09 · 2:22 PM
A sense of relief as Obama is sworn in
The country might not be totally crippled, but this morning its outgoing vice president showed up to Barack Obama’s inaugural event in a wheelchair. At least Dick Cheney doesn’t have to worry about spineless health insurance in treating his trick back, and there was something karmic about one of the Bush’s policy architects leaving office somewhat traumatized. Not that we relish the suffering of anyone, as today marks the beginning of a national healing, of sorts, with the change not ... Read more...
01.20.09 · 11:42 AM
Tears and hope in front of the JumboTron during inauguration
President Barack Obama seemed larger than life this morning to a crowd watching on the Las Vegas Strip. His voice boomed from screens outside Planet Hollywood as he delivered his historic inaugural address. Small crowds of visitors gathered around the screens. Construction workers crossed the street from CityCenter to watch the event. Miss America contestants held hands and bowed their heads in prayer during the Rev. Rick Warren’s invocation. “Where there is work, there is work to be done,” Obama ... Read more...
01.20.09 · 9:56 AM
Words from the Mall
Weekly staffer Timothy Giles traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration of our 44th President Barack Obama. These are a few of the people Giles met while attending pre-inauguration events on Tuesday. William Smith, 52 Originally from Pittsburgh, Penn. but now lives in Miami. Dentist for the federal bureau of prisons. Took off work to be at inauguration. “I had to be here. I had to experience the transformation of the country. This has to be a transformation … ... Read more...
01.19.09 · 5:22 PM
History in the making: A guide to Vegas’ inaugural parties
Where you are during Barack Obama’s inauguration will likely be remembered for your lifetime. If you aren’t joining the masses on the National Mall and are planning to watch the broadcast, you’re in good company. Obama’s swearing in is expected to be viewed by billions worldwide - numbers normally reserved for sporting events of international scope like the Olympics and the World Cup - making it one of the most-covered live events in television history. The $100 million ceremony and ... Read more...
01.19.09 · 2:39 PM
Betting on Obama, literally
With Barack Obama ready to take the Oval Office tomorrow as the 44th President of the United States, the world is preparing to watch history in the making. A record audience is expected to tune into the inauguration, and online gambling sites are giving people the chance to cash in on the historic event. Gambling on politics is illegal in Nevada, but offshore sites like Paddy Power and Betsson are providing bettors with wagers that range from the color of ... Read more...
01.16.09 · 4:20 PM
When celebrities attack: A-listers flock to Obama’s inauguration
Whoever said politics aren’t glamorous? An ever-growing list of bold and beautiful stars would seem to disagree, as over 160 celebs have headed east in anticipation of Barack Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday. Judging from the collection of celebrity-studded performances and appearances, Hollywood will be a relative ghost town this weekend. Here is a list of who will be where and when in Washington this coming week: Saturday The Hip-Hop Caucus will host an afternoon roundtable with featuring legendary hip-hopper Chuck ... Read more...
01.15.09 · 4:29 PM
Joe Francis gone wild! Amateur porn poster boy talks bailout and America’s hottest girls
Climbing up the Sands Convention center steps one day during the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo last week, someone caught my eye. Not, for once, a glamorous porn star flirting with indecent exposure. He was the only fully-clothed man, besides Kid Rock, to distract me throughout the entire sextravaganza. He ran halfway down the steps, paused to turn around on his tiptoes and make sure his cameraman was coming, bounded down and was off, his thick dark hair and trim figure ... Read more...
01.14.09 · 6:03 PM
Highly regarded McCartney touches down at Planet Hollywood
A couple of years ago when I was talking to Luxor President Felix Rappaport about what it is like to be the president of the Luxor, he continually praised his then-VP Tom McCartney, who was a “true visionary,” as Rappaport put it, in the resort industry. He lauded McCartney’s vision, his energy and a rapid-fire wit. Looking back, it was as if Rappaport wanted me to bank for future reference what he’d said about McCartney, because McCartney, too might run ... Read more...
01.13.09 · 5:07 PM
More Spanish ‘Fly
Since my first visit to off Strip tapas parlor Firefly I haven’t been able to get enough of their tasty shared plates like toothpick-speared chunks of tortilla Española, bite-sized meatballs in tangy sherry tomato sauce and chorizo clams swimming in a broth so toothsome I’d chug it out of the bowl, if it wouldn’t scare the folks at the next table. Now, there’s more ‘Fly to go around. The restaurant, which opened in August of 2003 under the watchful eye ... Read more...
01.13.09 · 9:54 AM
CES/AEE postmortem: Why do they overlap?
A couple of odds and ends as I helped shut down the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo press center on Sunday. Actually, it wasn’t just me. Oskar Garcia of the Associated Press was at the next table, but I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we have closed down worse joints. All that was missing was bar backs pushing vacuum cleaners and setting stools upside-down on the bar. Anyhow, what I’ve never quite understood about ... Read more...
01.12.09 · 6:17 PM
Locals alert! Monorail rides for just a buck
Nevada residents can ride the Las Vegas Monorail for $1 per ride. This news is new to me. Maybe this is “out there” in some circles — LV Monorail Fan Club meetings, maybe — but I didn’t know this to be the case until this afternoon. A couple of hours ago a friend commented to me about my blog from the CES/AEE conventions wherein I rode the Monorail for the first time, from the Sahara station to the Las Vegas ... Read more...
01.9.09 · 5:35 PM
An adventure in Vegas transportation, starring the Monorail
It’s a landmark day, and not just because during my walk-through at CES I managed to fight through what some might call an “allergic reaction” to highly advanced technical gadgets. Sure, when someone pushes an iPhone in my direction, my glands swell, I hyperventilate and black out for about 12 seconds, and when I come to I’m missing a couple of toenails. But allergic? It is to laugh. No, it’s a landmark day because I finally rode the Las Vegas ... Read more...
01.1.09 · 3:37 PM
A very Vegas New Year’s Eve with Oscar Goodman
It is New Year’s Even in downtown Las Vegas and everything about this scene is set at maximum volume. High above, on the multimillion-dollar Fremont Street Experience canopy, a splash of color accompanies the pulsating Queen anthem, “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions.” A crowd estimated at 30,000 seems bent on redefining “revelry.” It is a staggering throng in every respect, and in the midst of the chaos a onetime mob attorney knifes through the real-time mob, managing to ... Read more...
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SMS Alerts
Featured Cocktail
May 15, 2013
by
Sabrina Chapman
The Golden Pillar: An architectural cocktail built for XS
This Sunday, XS nightclub celebrates the grand reopening of its after-dark pool party, Night Swim. Along with the bash comes a new offering of signature cocktails served by the pitcher, ...
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