Since its inception, Las Vegas has been portrayed as the epitome of opulence, and luxury. While this reputation aided in transforming the city into what it is today, it has also negatively impacted “Sin City”. When the Great Recession of 2008 hit, no major city felt its devastating effects to the extent of Las Vegas.
The majority of tourists could no longer afford to spend exorbitant amounts of money on travel, especially to places as highly priced as the Strip. Thus, tourism and casino revenues plummeted, leaving thousands without work. The Recession also took a toll on multiple developments, leading to the bulk these projects halting construction Oncasinogames Canada. One of the more notable failed Strip projects was Echelon Place, now known as Resorts World. Hey everyone, how’s it going? My name is Jonah Stahl, and welcome to Abandoned Explained. In today’s video, we’ll be taking a look into what lead to the development of the Strip’s most recognizable reminder of the Recession, Echelon Place. In order to provide you with the complete picture of what happened here, we must first cover the history behind the infamous Stardust Resort. Since I started this series, these two topics have been requested numerous times. Considering these two establishments directly affected one another, I thought it would be best to cover them both in one video. If you do not want to learn about the history behind the Stardust, skip to the time code posted on the screen. If you have any topics you want me to cover in this series, let me know down in the comments below! Also, if you enjoy the video at any point be sure to hit that like and subscribe button! Anyways, let’s dive right into it! During the early 1930’s, a small railroad town known as Las Vegas passed a bill that forever changed the valley. In 1931, Nevada re-legalized gambling under “The Wide Open Gambling Bill”, thus laying the foundation for an economy that would transform the sleepy little town into a World Renowned Tourist Destination. Development was slow at first, however things picked up following construction of the El Rancho Hotel in 1942. While this event seemed insignificant at the time, the El Rancho paved the road for future developments in Las Vegas. What many failed to realize was, the opening of the El Rancho marked the birth of the Las Vegas Strip. Throughout the 1950’s, Las Vegas saw the development of a variety of casinos that eventually became Strip icons such as The Mint, the Flamingo, and the Stardust. During the early 1950’s, Tony Cornero conceived a plan to construct a casino in Las Vegas shortly after recovering from an assault. Prior to moving to Las Vegas, Tony and his wife lived in Beverly Hills, California. On February 9th, 1948, while meeting with two potential investors for a casino project in Mexico, Tony received a knock on his door. After opening the door, he met a character who he assumed to be a delivery person. The man handed Tony a box and uttered the words “Here Cornero, this is for you” before shooting him in the abdominal region four times. Miraculously, Tony survived the assault, however, his deal with the investors he met fell through. After recovering from his injuries, Tony moved his family out to Las Vegas, Nevada. Once settled, Tony devised a plan to construct the world’s largest casino-resort, the “Stardust Resort and Casino”. After finalizing his plans, Tony purchased a 40-acre parcel of land on the Las Vegas Strip. Today, this section of land is located adjacent to the Circus Circus Hotel and Resort. Following his purchase, Cornero filed an application with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to sell stock in the property. Once approved, Tony bought 65,000 shares in the property for .10 cents a piece, making him the majority stockholder at fifty-one percent. He then sold the remaining stock and filed for a gaming license with the Nevada Gaming Commission. By 1955, construction was well underway on the project, which expected to have over one thousand hotel rooms. Up until this point, construction on the project had mainly been financed by American Gangster Moe Dalitz, who provided Tony with three loans, totaling to 4.3 million dollars. As construction progressed, Cornero encountered a major problem. The Nevada Gaming Commission refused to issue him a gaming license due to his extensive criminal history. In response to the sudden change of events, Tony struck a deal with investors led by the Notorious Illegal Gambler from Los Angeles, Milton B. “Farmer” Page to lease the “Stardust” for $500,000 per month. On July 31st, 1955, Cornero encountered a string of bad luck that ultimately lead to his demise. Within one night, he gambled away $37,000 on a craps table at the Desert Inn Casino. Adjusted for inflation, in one sitting Tony managed to gamble away nearly $350,000 dollars. As the night went on, Tony and the Dealer wound up in a heated argument over a twenty-five dollar chip. According to the LVPD Coroner's Office, Corner suffered a “massive heart attack, and passed on before hitting the floor”. Despite the Corner’s statement, rumors began to circulate that someone had poisoned Tony’s drink. These rumors gained credibility when eyewitnesses came forward and informed the public of what they saw. Witnesses claimed that prior to authorities arriving on scene, employees removed Cornero’s body from the casino. Witnesses also claimed that the glass he drank from was immediately washed after his passing. Despite the suspicious details surrounding the death, police never performed an autopsy on Tony’s corpse. Following Cornero’s death John Factor, a con artist associated with the Chicago Outfit, purchased the under construction resort for around four million dollars. Once the purchase was finalized, Factor brought in the projects loan holder, Moe Dalitz, and the management team from the Desert Inn to run the Resort. To complete construction on the resort, the new developers received a ten million dollar loan. On July 3, 1958, Tony’s vision became reality as the Stardust hosted their grand opening ceremony. The main “star” of the Stardust’s grand opening was the “Lido de Paris” show at nine pm, the first topless french revue production on the Strip. Upon opening, the Stardust became the largest resort on the Las Vegas Strip with the capacity to host over 1,000 guests. The property sat on 40 acres of land, with rooms arranged into six buildings named after different planets. Developers arranged the hotel structures in such a way that permitted at-door parking for every guests. Developers also soundproofed every room, a luxury provided by few casinos at the time. The luxuries afforded to guests made a stay at the Stardust one of a kind. While a room here only ran you six bucks a night, or fifty dollars when adjusted for inflation, guests were provided with countless amenities not offered anywhere else on the Strip. Guests here had access to thirty-six different services ranging from Auto Rentals to Babysitters. The pool, otherwise known as the Big Dipper Pool, extended over 105 feet, and set a world record for its size. The Stardust also offered rooms with individual temperature controls, a rare luxury at the time. The Stardust boasted one of the largest casino floor on the Strip, spanning 16,500 square feet. To put this into perspective, the largest casino floor on the Strip today is at the Venetian Resort, which is approximately 138,000 square feet. The Stardust’s original casino floor could fit inside the Venetian’s Casino eight times. Upon opening the Resort, the Stardust remained open 24/7 to keep up with the Las Vegas Nightlife.
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Hey Cruisers! Royal Caribbean is awesome for adventure travelers of all ages, families with kids, and fun-seekers wanting an adrenaline rush. We’re stoked to share some general tips with you, and finish off the episode with some expert money saving tips from Matt, the host of Royal Caribbean Blog. But first a little love for our sponsor cruiseline.com. If you haven’t checked out Cruiseline.com yet, head over there right after this video.
You can find reviews, tips and photos from real, everyday cruisers, no matter what class of Royal Caribbean ship you choose. So much cool stuff there, so be sure to check it out! Let’s get going with #1. If you’re splurging on a drink package, book your package EARLY using Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner. Die hard Royal Caribbean fans KNOW that if you wait to book your drink package onboard, you’ll pay more for it. You could save up to $10 per DAY by booking early. Of course, the drink package doesn’t always make sense, so be sure to calculate how many drinks per day you’d have to drink EVERY day of your cruise to make it worth the cost. If the drink package isn’t your thing, you should know Royal Caribbean still allows cruisers to bring two bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom, a great way to save a little cash. Leave the non-alcoholic beverages at home though, you’re no longer allowed to bring soda or water onboard. #2 You can also make your specialty dining and activity reservations early using Royal Caribbean’s cruise planner. If you book early, you might even be able to get a discount https://www.casinoslots.co.nz/entropay. Whether it’s venturing down the rabbit hole at Wonderland, indulging in a traditional steak at Chops, or booking a show, a little pre-planning can ensure you get the most from your dining and entertainment experiences onboard. Insider tip: DON’T book your Aqua show tickets on the first night of your cruise leaving Florida. Rough seas tend to lead to cancellations. Also, when it comes to activities, showing up early is always recommended. Great examples of this are the parade and aqua shows, it’s best to arrive early to find the best seating for you and your crew. #3 Visiting Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination? We have some tips for you. First, you’ve gotta try a Labadoozie. You can order this citrusy, tropical concoction with or without rum, and it’s a cult favorite for a reason. Want to know a secret? The recipe can be found on RoyalCaribbeanblog.com, but don’t tell anyone. There’s a ton to do in Labadee, including, shopping, zip lining, an aqua park and even a roller coaster, but renting a cabana, if you score one early, is a total treat. You’ll enjoy little luxuries like a cooler full of water, extra towels, privacy, and even a beach attendant. #4 Let’s jump back on the ship for some dining tips! The Windjammer buffet hides a little secret that many cruisers don’t catch on to until later in their cruise, and that’s the custom food stations. You’ll find everything from omelets at breakfast, to carving stations at dinner, which go way beyond standard buffet fare. That’s not all. Royal Caribbean's Cafe Promenade offers delicious coffee, which is considerably better than what you’ll find at the buffet. Café Promenade ALSO offers killer roast beef sandwiches. They’re a huge fave amongst Royal Caribbean cruisers in the know. #5 How about some activity hacks? Quantum-class’s North Star is awesome anytime you can take advantage of it, but you'll get the best views on sea days, because the rising glass capsule sometimes can’t extend out as far while in port. Catch the North Star on sea days for a better chance at the full 300 foot experience. When it comes to activities, one of the best tips we hear, time after time, is to maximize that first day! Some of the most popular activities on Royal Caribbean ships tend to be a LOT less crowded on embarkation day, so pack your swimsuit and sunscreen in that carry-on bag, and check out the FlowRider, Ripcord by iFly, rock climbing and bumper cars on day 1. While everyone else is getting a feel for the ship, and hitting the buffet, you can be crossing adrenaline rushes off your list. Now, if you’re super serious about this idea, you can even sign the waivers for activities like the zip line and flow before you cruise, so you can save time and hassle on your first day. Just check for them in your cruise planner on the Royal Caribbean website. #5 Want to get the inside scoop before your Royal Caribbean cruise, from verified Royal Caribbean cruisers? You always hear us say “know your ship before you cruise” and in this case, the best way to do that is to check out tens of thousands of ship, port and even cabin reviews at cruiseline.com. If you’re looking for a way to connect with other cruisers before you sail, check out ShipMate App as well, and don’t forget to upload YOUR review and photos when you return from your cruise. #6 Work that Cruise Compass! Your daily newsletter is the key to making the most of your Royal Caribbean cruise, so pack a highlighter pen, and a magnetic clip to affix your daily newsletter to the metal walls in your stateroom. If you’re cruising with kids, they’ll love being involved in choosing activities for the next day, and you may even minimize those “what should we do now” situations. Now, we’re honored to bring you “five money saving tips for getting the best Royal Caribbean cruise deal”, from our friend Matt Hochberg, the host of the award winning podcast and website, RoyalCaribbeanblog.com. Matt is commonly asked how someone can save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise or just get a good deal on their sailing. While Matt says there is no silver bullet solution that will work for everyone, there are some good guidelines Matt can share to getting you the best possible pricing. #1 Book as early as you can to get the lowest possible fares. In general, Royal Caribbean rewards those that book their cruises early with the lowest fares. As more people book a given sailing, prices tend to rise because there is less inventory available. Matt suggests we place a deposit on a sailing that can lock in that price until your final payment date. This not only gives you the lowest possible price, it also gives you the most time to make payments on the cruise. And, that deposit is fully refundable if you happen to change your mind later. #2 - Use a travel agent. Whether you are brand new to Royal Caribbean or a veteran, book your cruise with a good travel agent. It is their job to stay on top of the various deals and promotions Royal Caribbean rolls out and because they are constantly pricing a variety of sailings across Royal Caribbean's fleet, they may be aware of deals and savings that you might not have considered. In addition, even after you book a cruise, Royal Caribbean is constantly rolling out new promotions that could save you even more money, and a good travel agent will be there to re-price things for you while you plan the fun parts of your cruise. #3- Book a cruise during less-busy months. Matt’s first two tips will get you some great prices, but if you want to find those super low cruise fares, consider taking a Royal Caribbean cruise when many others are not willing to. What does that mean? Since Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line, you can save money by avoiding taking cruises when kids are off from school for holidays. Summer, Christmas, Spring Break and Easter are all times when families have built in vacation time and many look to cruise. In short, book your cruise while school is in session. Here are the specific times of year when you will be able to save big: January (except New Years), February (except Presidents Week), the First two weeks of March, October, November (except thanksgiving), and the first two weeks of December. #4- Consider ships sailing from alternate ports: In addition to considering time of year, also consider the ports Royal Caribbean sails from and which ones can get you a better deal. Royal Caribbean offers cruises from a variety of ports around the world, but some sailings always seem to be priced lower than other sailings mainly due to where the cruise departs from. In North America, you can often find great rates from Galveston, Texas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Tampa, Florida. #5- Skip the brand new ships. When you watch any of Royal Caribbean's TV commercials, you will see scenes from their Quantum and Oasis class ships and they are absolutely amazing experiences, but they also come with premium pricing. Royal Caribbean has a fleet of 23 cruise ships and they all offer really fun experiences. The thing is, Royal Caribbean charges a premium for its newest ships, so some of the best deals can be found with the relatively older classes of ships. Here are Matt’s five favorite ships that offer a tremendous value for the money: Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas. There are plenty of others as well, but the bottom line is if you can look past the latest and greatest, you can find great deals on some truly amazing ships. Huge thanks to Matt from RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com for these awesome money saving ideas. We hope you’ve enjoyed this episode enough to give it a thumbs up. We have dozens of videos on topics like packing, dining, and cruise planning, so check out our playlists, and follow CruiseTipsTV on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for the latest cruise goodness, and an inside look at our cruise travels. Most importantly, leave your Royal Caribbean tips and tricks in the comments below and until next time, we’ll see you on the high seas! Cabana boy, bring my Labadoozie! Hey, click me to subscribe Harrah's Las Vegas opened in 1992 taking over the former Holiday Casino (opened in 1973). Pull into the port cochere, about a 15-minute drive from the airport. Harrah's offers complimentary parking for hotel guests. Across the street from Caesars Palace and near the High Roller observation wheel, Harrah's has a back entrance off Krueger Drive. Check in to one of 2,530 rooms and suites at the front desk.
The Valley Tower debuted renovations of its 600 rooms and 72 suites in February. The rooms were designed by Diana Sin of Marnell Architecture. A Valley Tower standard room features a king bed, armoire, floor-to-ceiling windows and more. Valley Tower standard rooms have 49-inch HD TVs and a small vanity with a backlit mirror and docking station. A Lightning connector on the clock radio fits the newer iPhones in a Valley Tower standard room. A coffee maker and ice bucket are on hand in a Valley Tower standard room. Opposite the vanity, a work space is available. Two chairs and a table offer seating by the window near a large mirror in a Valley Tower standard room. The bathroom of a Valley Tower standard room offers a wide single vanity with a backlit mirror and a hair dryer on hand online roulette new zealand. Facial soap is on hand in the bathroom of a Valley Tower standard room. The bathroom of a Valley Tower standard room also offers a standing rain shower. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash dispensers are provided in the shower of a Valley Tower standard room. An iron and full-size ironing board are available in the closet. A safe is shown in the closet of a Valley Tower standard room. A Valley Tower Executive Suite offers this living area with a sofa, flat-screen TV and dining nook. A dining table seats four by the window in a Valley Tower Executive Suite. The bedroom of a Valley Tower Executive Suite features a similar setup to the standard room. The bedroom includes an armoire and small vanity, plus seating by the window. Plush chairs offer views over Vegas in a Valley Tower Executive Suite. Sliding doors connect the bedroom and bathroom in a Valley Tower Executive Suite. The bathroom features a whirlpool tub with bathing amenities. Custom toiletries are offered by the bathtub in a Valley Tower Executive Suite. The bathroom of a Valley Tower Executive Suite offers two separate, wide vanities with backlit mirrors. Toiletries, such as body lotion, a shower cap and mouthwash are provided in the bathroom of a Valley Tower Executive Suite. Valley Tower Executive Suites include a bar area with a sink, coffee maker and refrigerator. The Vice Presidential Suites in the Valley Tower start at 870-square-feet with a living room and dining room. The bedroom features a king bed, a little more space and a chair you can kick your feet up on. The Vice Presidential Suite bathrooms boast this long vanity, a whirlpool tub, backlit mirrors and amenities. An aerial view shows the layout of the pool area. The Pool at Harrah's Las Vegas debuted renovations in 2015 and is open seasonally for hotel guests only. The pool is lined with loungers and day beds. Day beds are shaded and comfortable with pillows, and poolside food and beverages are available. Cabanas are available to rent by the day and boast seating, a TV, reading materials, a fridge, a phone, a raft, towels, fruit and water. The new wading pool hosts in-water loungers so you can get your feet wet while relaxing and sunbathing. An oversized chess set offers recreation around the pool. Guests can play cornhole in a pool area. The lobby of the spa, salon and health club offers seating for waiting and retail products. Swedish massage treatments are available for de-stressing. Facial treatments and aromatherapy are also available. A whirlpool in the men's spa offers secluded relaxation next to refreshments. The men's spa hosts a dry sauna. The women's spa has a similar whirlpool near the locker room. Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill offers live music curated by the country star nightly and southern fare. On Sundays, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill hosts a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and live music during the day. Teodoro Jimenez shucks oysters at the Oyster Bar & Grill. Flavors Buffet offers regional cuisine from around the country and specialties from around the world. Fresh sushi rolls are shown in the Flavors Buffet. Pork roasts are prepared on a rotisserie in Flavors Buffet. Oyster Bar & Grill was voted “Best Seafood of 2015” by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Fulton Street Food Hall offers nine stations with New York City specialties 24/7. Guests can grab baked goods, pizza, sushi, tacos and more in the Fulton Street Food Hall and dine here. A coffee kiosk offers desserts and sandwiches in the Fulton Street Food Hall. Decadent desserts are displayed in the Fulton Street Food Hall. Pizza is offered by the slice in the Fulton Street Food Hall. Ye Hong mans a sushi bar in the Fulton Street Food Hall. A California Roll, left, and a Tempura Roll are plated. Ruth's Chris Steak House has a location at Harrah's. The Ruth's Chris dining room overlooks the Strip. Guests will find USDA Prime steaks and an award-winning wine list at Ruth's Chris. The restaurant offers a view of the wine cellar and a sneak peek at select bottles. Big Elvis performs rock 'n' roll at The Piano Bar. Signature Bar is open 24 hours a day with 16 beers on tap, beer cocktails called Hop’tales and more. Carnaval Court is made to feel like an open-air party in the street with flair bartenders, blackjack tables, live music and more. Flair bartender Jamie Vandewater makes a drink in Carnaval Court. Flair bartender Vache Manoukian juggles a bottle in Carnaval Court. Flair bartenders Jamie Vandewater, top, and Vache Manoukian show off their skills. Numb Bar & Frozen Cocktails offers frozen drinks and beer on the casino floor. The recently renovated race and sports book boasts 40 HDTVs, seating for 45 and two giant screens. "The Greenbacks" sculpture by artists Conversano and Chiodo is displayed on the casino floor. Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins collaborating at Sun Records Studio on Dec. 4, 1956. Performances take place two times a night, Sunday to Friday in the Main Showroom. Mac King combines comedy and magic in his two shows a day, Tuesday through Saturday, in Harrah's Main Showroom. Review 67: D by Baron Brady D Written by Baron Brady 194 Pages Copyright ©2008 $14.63 Paperback $7.50 E-Book They aren’t people, but they play just as large a role. Birk’s watch (with “Remember you will die” written on the face) seems to jump forward and lag behind. He takes it in for repairs only to discover that it isn’t the watch that’s defective, it appears to be reality itself that is listing this way and that. Another character is the diner Lucky’s where call girls mysteriously disappear, an anachronism in the middle of the sprawl of Los Angeles. As the writing becomes more complicated and more fun, we get this description: It was a dead street, a street without humanity, but a street which had been forgotten if it weren’t for Lucky’s on the corner. At least there wouldn’t have been any spectators if it weren’t for Lucky’s; and I was beginning to think that people came to Lucky’s hoping to witness a murder or, at the very least, find the victim of one. As I read, I had to re-examine what I thought I knew about this book. The internal dialogue that I had passed over as filler in the early chapters starts to become very important. By the time I realized what was going on, it was too late, the book was over, the case was solved, and I had a newfound respect for Baron Brady and his characters. I wouldn’t be completely honest if I didn’t mention that the book in its current form is a little rough around the edges. A chevy changes from ’92 to ’93 and back again. Small misspellings here and there mar the reading experience. These are cosmetic things though and I’m sure by the time you take a look, they will be corrected. Give the book a chance to prove its true colors and see if you can solve the mystery! Review 67: D by Baron Brady
D Written by Baron Brady 194 Pages Copyright ©2008 $14.63 Paperback $7.50 E-Book I read the first several chapters and thought with a certain amount of disdain that it was simply a whodunit, the kind of story I’ve written myself. Pull Sam Spade into the present, photoshop a cell phone into his hand, and he becomes Birk Dillinger our dashing protagonist. Birk is a fun character to write, a hard drinking, hard charging private eye. Unfortunately, he’s not a fun character to read. His dialogue is too simple, his character too much of a cliché. Consider this bit of writing as Birk ruminates on Lieutenant Todd , The policeman who doesn’t take him seriously: He accomplished nothing and had the nerve to belittle my achievements because he had a badge and I didn’t. He reeked of arrogance, as unmistakably pungent as cat piss. I didn’t tell him to go to hell, and I should have. Worse yet, a few chapters in Baron Brady starts sidetracking into lengthy discussions about what constitutes reality. Why does a simple man like Birk Dillinger need to ponder reality for pages on end while he’s looking for clues to solve his case? Granted, there is a lot of subterfuge here to contend with, there are the requisite femme fatales who don’t give straight answers. There are competing private eyes who are either looking for answers or working in cahoots with the killer. too many people with the initial “D” to figure out whodunit quickly.However, as I kept reading, cracks kept opening in the narrative. There are red herrings, What had started out as a simple private eye story detoured into a Stephen King novel, complete with a dwarf with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth and a psychiatrist we always hear but never meet. As we veered off of the obvious track, I found myself enjoying the story more than I thought I would. In fact, the further we got away from Sam Spade, and closer to Ralph Roberts (from the King novel Insomnia), the more fun the book became. Entrekin
by Will Entrekin Copyright: © 2008 163 pages $5.00 E-book $12.79 Paperback One dollar from the sale of every book goes to the United Way New York City. Will Entrekin’s self titled book, Entrekin, is a book that has had some exposure already. Upon writing this review, I have not taken a look at his popular MySpace page. Nor have I read the PODler review he links to on the book’s page. Having read Mr. Entrekin’s book for myself now only validates why I started write my essay in the first place. This is a POD book with lots of heart and character. It’s well polished. It is good writing. And it deserves to be read. I told Mr. Entrekin in an email that the cover sold me. If I had eventually come across this book on my own, based on the cover and the blurb on his page, I would have bought a copy. Great job at making this book your own, Will! Entrekin begins with a short story called It is important first to look at the layout of this book since it is a collection of the author’s work. It is an anthology of short stories, some fictional and some nonfictional, interwoven with some poetry. Entrekin begins with a short story called “For Cynthia” in which the author meets a girl in a bookstore and briefly begins seeing her. He falls pretty hard for her only to have her call it quits, but they can still be friends. There’s nothing new to this story you haven’t read before. But the author does a brilliant job of leaving the reader hanging, just as humans are sometimes left hanging when a relationship abruptly ends unexpectedly. He has captured that moment perfectly, gently exposing himself right on the page. The best line in the story is, “Maybe home’s just not as familiar as I thought it would be.” I do not want to make these reviews too big that is why I am going to end this part right here, hope you all do not mind. I also hope that you like this review and my other reviews so far. Thank you for being with me and supporting me! See you in my next post! |
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