In a very Vegas way, I got lucky. In October 2005, I was hired by L.A. Times editors who had found my Vegas writing online. I became one of the first bloggers in the history of the L.A. Times. Vegas... [...]
Here are some final round-up notes from Fangoria's Trinity of Terrors that took place over at the Palms this weekend: Tom Atkins and Adrienne Barbeau (pictured) have appeared in a few films together over the years, including "Escape From New..." [...]
Buffet photographer Sarah Gerke sent in these images from Fangoria: Trinity of Terrors at Palms on Saturday. The convention, put on by horror magazine Fangoria and featuring films and a variety of actors and personalities, finishes up today. I am... [...]
I am staying at the Palms this weekend (where despite covering the resort since its opening in 2001, I never spent a night before) to blog the Fangoria Trinity of Terrors. The convention did not start until late Friday afternoon,... [...]
I had not seen Jason Egan, owner and creator of Fright Dome, since interviewing him in 2005. Since then, there has been a slow transformation of Fright Dome from what was primarily a locals event to one that increasingly includes... [...]
Last night there was a red-carpet opening for the new Wayne Newton show at Tropicana. I spoke to his former dance partner Cheryl Burke (pictured with Vanna White), who has kept in touch with Newton and stays at his house... [...]
I am checking into the Palms on Thursday to spend three days live-blogging for the Buffet, covering Halloween in Vegas while focused on the Palms' first annual Fangoria Trinity of Terrors convention, movie festival and concert that I previewed Sunday...' [...]
Halloween was the official opening of Criss Angel's and Cirque du Soleil's notoriously bad collaboration "Believe." I have been waiting until after Halloween to return to review what is officially titled: "Criss Angel's Believe." I see shows once a year.... [...]
What is called scalping elsewhere is called being a ticket broker here. It was not legal where I grew up but it is to the best of my knowledge totally legal here in Vegas. I have known one person who... [...]
I had never met or spoken to Perez Hilton before last night at the VIP check-in at Venetian, where the mere mention that I was waiting for him had security leave me alone despite my being in the VIP lounge... [...]
When I moved here I considered smoking in casinos anachronistic and have advanced to viewing it as a necessary evil. I remember an interview with the late Joe Strummer (of Clash fame) who told me that allowing smoking inside casinos... [...]
I had a brief phone interview for the print column of the Buffet with director John Waters. Waters is coming to Vegas for the Fangoria Trinity of Terrors festival at the Palms over Halloween weekend. Here are three Vegas/Halloween-related quotes... [...]
No, not Aubrey O'Day! We still have her to kick around. And we still have Holly Madison too. But the second worst show at the Luxor (yeah, we get to keep Criss Angel), "Fantasy," the topless revue, recently replaced its...' [...]
This concludes my too long excursion into the life and mind of Aubrey O’Day. This is the part of interviewing Aubrey O’Day that surprised me: her obsession with blogger Perez Hilton. The one time I “met” Hilton was at a... [...]
This is Part 2 of the Aubrey O’Day interview dealing with her controversial Hitler comments. “Oh, I read what you wrote and I would summarize that as a strong distaste [for me].” “I had distaste for your comments on Hitler,”... [...]
I am blogging this much anticipated interview with Aubrey O’Day, which took place Friday afternoon, in three items. This first one (below) deals with the interview itself and “Peepshow,” the show O'day is starring in at Planet Hollywood. I will...' [...]
Gay marriage isn't legal in Nevada, although domestic partnerships were recently approved. But divas make their own law. Plus, there's nothing to stop you from proposing while in Vegas. In this really charming video from Saturday night at the Pearl...' [...]
Does it say anything that the Miss USA pageant picks Perez Hilton as a celebrity judge and Miss America goes another way? This press release today from the Miss America organization: "The Miss America Organization (MAO) announced today that Rush..." [...]
Tattoo artist Mario Barth was expecting a huge number of people, perhaps as many as 25,000, to attend the convention he organized for this past weekend at the plush casino Mandalay Bay (the resort connected to a Four Seasons). Mandalay... [...]
The rumor reported on the Buffet is now official: Barry Manilow's headlining gig at the Hilton is ending. Manilow opened at the Las Vegas Hilton back in 2005. His final dates: October 8-10, Nov. 27-29, and Dec. 28-30. If you... [...]
One of the things that amazes me is just how much time our local police force spends worrying about strippers and how they give lap dances in Las Vegas. Every few years, there seems another attempt to rewrite the laws... [...]
Las Vegas has been honored by the Daily Beast as the second-dumbest city in the country: "A city that prides itself on sin performs predictably for each of our intellectual-based criteria." I must admit I was shocked by this story's...' [...]
On Saturday night I went to Stack at Mirage, a restaurant run by the Light Group (the nightclub company whose Vegas holdings include Bank at Bellagio and Jet at Mirage). Light Group is half-owned by a company controlled by the... [...]
Will the last one who leaves turn the neon lights off? That is sometimes how I feel covering Vegas entertainment these days. Today, Mike Weatherford reports in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the Comedy Festival, held annually at Caesars, is... [...]
In recent years, covering CineVegas at the Palms each June has been one of the pleasures of my job. Unlike so many events where Vegas is merely the stage, CineVegas was created by locals (actually, the Greenspun family, who owns... [...]
My date last night on the way home from "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood: "I love the show. It was fun. It is all about Holly Madison. She is so wonderful and cute and fun to watch." I am quoting my... [...]
How big of a draw will Aubrey O'Day be for Peepshow? Tuesday night, the woman who brags of admiring Hitler's intellectual firepower allowed her understudy to perform on what was to be only her second night in the show. Why?...' [...]
I attended a press conference on Wednesday and interviewed Wayne Newton about his latest effort, "Once Before I Go," a show set to open at the Tropicana for six months beginning Oct. 14. Every time I have seen the Wayner... [...]
Usually when a single cast member in an ensemble production show changes and that cast member is not a celebrity, it does not make news. I cannot possibly tell you how many Blue Men, for example, have played Blue Men... [...]
I spent a little time this weekend reading the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's recently published memoir: "True Compass." I know you don't come to the Buffet for book reviews. But one paragraph leaped out at me on page 158....' [...]
In separate tweets, Penn and Teller (Teller's tweet doesn't quite have Tinyurl.com down) have confirmed a report in Variety that they will be doing a series pilot for ABC. The one-hour show will feature them as "Penn Jillette and Teller...'" [...]
Thursday and today I am at the Venetian reporting a few stories on a convention of "Phantom of the Opera" fans for what is being dubbed the first-ever "Phantom Fan Week." Actually, the people I spoke to Thursday think it... [...]
Is it time for me to re-review the Criss Angel and Cirque collaboration "Believe" at Luxor? I usually try to see every major show in the entertainment corridor once a year. This is not an iron rule, as some shows... [...]
"CSI: The Experience" opened Saturday night at MGM Grand. I am interested in this attraction primarily because there have been few new attractions in Vegas for years. And I thought space consuming attractions had finished being much of a value... [...]
I can't say I have ever been a Kanye West fan, a man who made a hit out of a Ray Charles hit only West's was called "Gold Digger." But West has given me a chance to write long overdue...' [...]
Norm Clarke reported in a straightforward way the news that Charo was suspending her show at the Riviera due to an ankle injury suffered after the MDA telethon. Clarke notes: "the legendary flamenco guitarist is out until her doctor 'gives...'" [...]
You cannot cheat the house in Las Vegas, or, at least without there being a video. And, the punishment is extreme for even trying. Now, four Planet Hollywood employees are charged with "felony crimes including theft, forgery and conspiracy to..." [...]
Today, much of the media attention of the entertainment world is focused on the Beatles re-issues, sonically updating their legendary recordings. Having been among the first to hear the results of such mastering in listening to the music to Cirque's...' [...]
Monday, Aubrey O'Day arrived in Vegas to begin her three-month gig in "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood. But she will find an interesting welcome in Vegas, based in part on the clip above where you can see her referring to Hitler...' [...]
Joel Stein's Aug. 24 Time magazine cover story on Vegas continues to draw reactions, mostly negative, in Vegas. Stein's previous coverage of Vegas for Time over the years has been positive. And, in truth, his article offered no new news... [...]
An interesting tweet sent by "Peepshow" star Shoshana Bean talked about running into a woman who seemed to Bean to be embarrassingly wasted at Planet Hollywood on Saturday night. The woman, according to Bean's tweet, turned out to be Paris...' [...]
Walking into the Palms on Friday night you could still see the marquee for DJ AM's appearance at the Rain nightclub that was scheduled for that night. In fact, his death in New York had been reported earlier in the... [...]
Agree with me or not about the commercial possibilities of a Michael Jackson tribute, museum or theme resort in Vegas, at least the taxpayers are not involved with the risk. Not so with the Mob Museum, where at the very... [...]
Nothing, it seems, will stop the rumors of Michael Jackson's Vegas comeback, not even death. I spent years on this blog denying that Jackson was capable of mounting a successful Vegas show. I take no pleasure that his premature demise... [...]
Conceptually, Andy Warhol invented the reality show. The artist famously noted that he no longer had problems once he bought a tape recorder because once people started acting for the recorder, nothing was reality anymore, all was drama, to a... [...]
For an out-of-town reporter, Joel Stein has been a Vegas regular. He covered the Vegas boom in an earlier cover story for Time. He also profiled Steve Wynn for Time. But his current cover story for Time on Vegas has... [...]
“The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all compact: One sees more devils than vast hell can hold.” --from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" Neither Shakespeare nor British director Peter Brook probably imagined the staging of "A Midsummer..." [...]
Back in the day, the real Woodstock generation did not play Vegas much. But on Sunday, Byron Bordeaux played a tribute set dressed as Jimi Hendrix at the Fremont Street Experience. The downtown tourist mall hired him as part of... [...]
It became official Monday that Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond will appear on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars." For some reason the pool of Las Vegas headliners has become an overstocked lake for casting directors of that show... [...]
The one thing that can be said about the spat between comedian Joan Rivers and poker star Annie Duke is that thanks to the entire beef taking place on the reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" there could be no arguing over... [...]
So many titles, and so few skills. Jon Gosselin: Father, reality star, party host and fashion designer. Fashion designer? Did Andy Warhol mention that at minute 16 every ebbing celebrity becomes a designer? Anyway, I predicted a Vegas gig was... [...]
One of my favorite Vegas websites (today the blog uncovers construction plans filed with the county which seem to imply Wynn Resorts is thinking of redoing the Las Vegas Boulevard entrance to Encore), RateVegas.com has a new version of its... [...]
So, ex-Mr. Britney accepts the free bottle service for his party of 15 at the Hard Rock's Wasted Space and then reportedly stiffs the servers on a tip. And you've got to love the response from the Hard Rock's PR...' [...]
I am going on vacation until Aug. 12. I am not leaving Las Vegas -- this is a good town for a vacation, I am told. And since I am here, I will certainly be posting some items over the... [...]
A little over year ago, I wrote about the Rio's attempt to go sexy in a variety of ways. By far the most daring approach was a partnership with the topless bar Sapphire to bring in strippers to mix with... [...]
This week marks the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley's arrival in Las Vegas for his regular gig as a headliner, a job the King would keep until his death. At that time, the hotel he performed at was known as... [...]
Nightclubs exploded in Vegas only over the last five years, and their reign may be coming to a sudden end. At their best, the clubs were largely responsible for finally making Vegas cool again, and for bringing the young and... [...]
When you hear the words “wedding in Vegas,” what do you think of? I am guessing it is of the waking-up-married tradition, made all the more notorious by Britney Spears’ 55 hours of wedded not-quite-bliss with a friend in 2004.... [...]
Monday night I went to Town Square, the shopping center on the south of the Strip, to the Shear Madness theater to see Celebrity Tarot Lounge. I am working on a story about the two nights of performances for the... [...]
Tonight I will be going to the first presentation of comedian Matt Donnelly's Celebrity Tarot Lounge. Though Donnelly has done the Tarot Lounge before, the celebrity angle is new to Vegas. The production is the rare event not connected to... [...]
Meghan McCain tweeting her few days in Vegas has gotten a lot of local attention. This is in part because she is a young Republican (so Republican she bet red and lost nine consecutive times at roulette) and there is... [...]
If terms like "street art" seem a little disingenuous, I have to admit graffiti was never an issue that has really upset me much. But some jerks going at the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign Monday really upset... [...]
I have to admit that I did not work hard this past weekend. I did not intend to work at all. I had fun. I live in Vegas, and mostly my work is fun. I get to enjoy Vegas all... [...]
To use pasties or not? That is the question, Originally, Crazy Horse was surprised that Carmen Electra was willing to go that far, having imagined a more conservative approach to an outfit for her cameo. But Electra wanted to go... [...]
Wynn Resort’s posh nightclub Blush didn’t seem to be enforcing its “casual chic” dress code this past Thursday when poker players gathered to honor one of their own: Doyle Brunson. Wearing a big cowboy hat (normally a club no-no) and... [...]
To promote the opening of a new tattoo parlor, magician Steve Wyrick added daredevil to his resume and advertised plans on Saturday to be dropped from a locked box onto flaming spikes. Here is how the trick was advertised to... [...]
I could not make it to the Pearl inside the Palms to see Jay-Z on Friday. But that turns out to be a good thing for readers of the Buffet on two fronts. One is that Ann Powers happened to... [...]
Two big Vegas players are included on the money end of the Jackson saga. Colony Capital, a partial owner of the Las Vegas Hilton (where Elvis performed), bailed Neverland out of foreclosure. And AEG, which books and produces Cher and... [...]
Do you recognize this woman? Well, the sash is probably a giveaway. This is the winner of the Miss USA contest, Kristen Dalton.She was the winner and therefore was neither asked nor answered a question by Perez Hilton at the... [...]
Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington remembers the day I met him for the first time, on the Strip in 2000. His band's debut had come out a few days before and had shot up the charts. A national music magazine...' [...]
By coincidence, there is an auction beginning today at Planet Hollywood including items that once belonged to Michael Jackson. According to the Las Vegas Sun: "The 21 Jackson- and Jackson 5-related auction items, which include vintage photos of Jackson from..." [...]
Tonight is media night for "Peepshow"'s new star Holly Madison. She started in the show this week. While "Peepshow" received solid reviews and strong buzz, stars Mel B and Kelly Monaco were on three-month contracts. To resolve this Mel B's...' [...]
Criss Angel is trekking to Edwards Air Force Base for a stunt that's just plain tacky. If this is intended as a tribute to the troops, it falls short. He'll walk over improvised explosive devices for his TV show. But...' [...]
I have confirmed the startling news that the Penthouse Club is changing its name to Crazy Horse III. In fact, the signs are already being altered (pictured). The new club even has its own Facebook page with the motto "The..." [...]
Who would guess that Paris Hilton knew a thing about being classy? She seems to think she does. And poor Hilton seems to be under the delusion that Las Vegas strives to be classy as well. Everyone who comes to... [...]
Most people know the family-entertainment concept in Vegas failed long before I moved here a decade ago. Those who do not know that learn quickly. I don't know how I missed the news release on this one. But I did....' [...]
"Teller Speaks" must be the most overused headline for a Vegas entertainer. It seems some law of journalism that if you interview Teller that phrase must appear in bold type. Teller is the half of Penn & Teller who does... [...]
And you thought Holly Madison was known only for her attachment to men a decade -- or so -- older than her, like Hugh Hefner and Criss Angel. Apparently, that rule applies only to men. She hangs out with women... [...]
Today is the last day of CineVegas. A few observations: 1. "Moon," which I saw screened Thursday, has also just opened in Los Angeles. The director, Duncan Jones, introduced it to us as a science fiction movie and that was... [...]
Longtime readers of the Buffet probably remember Mini Britney performed by Terra Jole. Back in September 2007, Jole departed from performing at Beacher's Madhouse, causing the then corpulent Hard Rock headliner to dress up as the singer himself, and declare... [...]
I just got off the phone with Broadway actress Shoshana Bean who is coming to Vegas on Friday to begin rehearsals for "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood, where she will be replacing Mel B. Thanks to Twitter, I was able to... [...]
This is a slow time of year even in the years when we are not having the worst recession in Vegas history. Tuesday, another multibillion-dollar Strip casino-hotel-condominium project filed for bankruptcy before completing construction. But even when times are good,... [...]
More than 10 years ago, a band you may remember — Bush — had a hit, "Glycerine." This weekend the Hard Rock sent out a press release about a show featuring "British musician Gavin Rossdale, best known as the lead..." [...]
The new public relations firm for Bank, Shadow PR, worked hard to get me to go to the nightclub at Bellagio on Saturday to watch Pete Wentz of the moderately well known pop-punk band Fall Out Boy as he celebrated... [...]
Heidi Fleiss didn't even get an application in to the Nye County Commission for her stud farm. But that has not deterred the Shady Lady brothel, also in Nye County, from beginning the interview process for male prostitutes to service...' [...]
Cirque founder Guy Laliberté is planning to leave planet Earth for space. I wonder if as a millionaire space tourist he will have to quit smoking or if he will be able to just light up in space. In Vegas,... [...]
"Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits" at the Hard Rock -- when I saw it Sunday night -- did feature many of Santana's better known songs like "Black Magic Woman," “Evil Ways,” “Batuka,” "Oye Como Va," "Maria Maria," “Jingo,”... [...]
Last week was a busy week and a story I put a lot of time into fell apart. That happens sometimes. And, as I was frantically looking for things to write, I sent a hasty e-mail in response to a... [...]
I thought this would be a straightforward question to get answered. Who paid for President Obama's suite (pictured in the photo that accompanied the news release)? After all, when you put the president of the United States in a high-roller... [...]
The alleged feud between Las Vegas and President Obama has been silly. It entirely consisted of two politicians, Mayor Oscar Goodman (a Democrat) and wildly unpopular Gov. Jim Gibbons (a Republican), taking comments by the president out of context. The... [...]
Even Criss Angel seemed a little creeped out, a point he made to the audience: "This is the ultimate mindfreak." The Criss Angel wax figure was unveiled last week at Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas just a short time before... [...]
Wow, President Obama is no Celine Dion (or Elton John). The president is making a special appearance Tuesday as headliner at a political benefit at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, a room which John and Dion sold out for years,... [...]
The flamboyant, corpulent showman Jeff Beacher's Madhouse at the Hard Rock became one of the wildest and most talked about shows during the glory times of the Vegas VIP binge of three years ago. Madhouse was packed with circus acts...' [...]
I am going to be out on the Strip reporting most of today. First I will be at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas for the unveiling of the Criss Angel wax figure. This will be my first face-to-face encounter with the... [...]
Sometimes, though not often, people wonder why I constantly praise Penn & Teller for having the best show in Vegas. In fact, they have the single must-see show in Vegas. But the reason is certainly not the obvious: that they... [...]
The UFC 100 is coming up this summer. And once again the organization that owns UFC will not credential the Buffet. I do not qualify under its credential policy for media access to their event. In the past, I have... [...]
Casinos are not eligible for federal bailout funds. But in these desperate times there are easy fixes to generate more revenue in Sin City. Of course, most involve increasing the sin. I do not think all of these things should... [...]
Despite good reviews and great buzz, Planet Hollywood's topless "Peepshow" finds itself in the midst of a tiny controversy. The reason for the flap: tiny pasties. Some had argued that, due to use of pasties, "Peepshow" wasn't a topless show...' [...]
The Review-Journal this morning offered a list of the paper's favorite Vegas-themed tunes. Sadly, that list left off all my favorite Vegas songs. So here are my lucky seven to bring with you as a soundtrack to a Vegas vacation.... [...]
Donald Trump on Tuesday argued that somehow all this controversy about Miss California proves the relevance of the Miss USA contest. But before you agree, can anyone name who Miss USA is this year, the woman who won the contest?... [...]
