What Happens in Vegas
Not surprisingly, several theaters in Las Vegas hosted “sneak previews” of “What Happens in Vegas” tonight. I couldn’t resist, partly because it’s my self-appointed duty to report on movies with “Vegas” in the title, and partly because I was curious to see how many people would turn up to see it in a neighborhood cineplex.
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Book Review - Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia & Palace Intrigue
“It’s difficult to avoid Howard Hughes in Las Vegas.” So writes Geoff Schumacher in his new book, Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia, and Palace Intrigue. Even without reading this fact-packed volume, anybody who spends any time here will begin to notice Hughes’ lasting impact on Las Vegas. You visit Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and find that the eccentric gazillionaire once owned it. You have coffee at a Starbucks on Howard Hughes Center Drive…
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Buffalo Jim Won’t Come Out Tonight
News of the death of James “Buffalo Jim” Barrier first came to me by email. I’ve long been a subscriber to former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller’s e-zine, a rambling missive he sends out to what I imagine is an enormous mailing list whenever he has news or opinions about one of his pet topics…
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Chips and Fish
I’d been looking forward to seeing 21, the film based on Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, Ben Mezrich’s best-selling tale of beating Vegas casinos at blackjack. I make a point of seeing every new film about my favorite city, and my interest increased when I met Mike Aponte the other day at the airport…
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Book Review: Double or Nothing
The books I always remember the longest are those in which the author shares a story about a place or event that draws me into the narrative in a personal way. Whether it’s about battling a white whale or taking a road trip with a poodle named Charley, a great story pulls readers in and takes them on a virtual journey that leaves them wanting more at the end. Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas’ Legendary Casinos, a new book by Tom Breitling and Cal Fussman, is one of these marvelous books…
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