And It's Official! (EDIT: Or Is it?)

"Michael Jackson is to launch his next world tour with a spectacular show at Las Vegas' Luxor resort. The exclusive news, broken by Vegas insider Michael Politz's TheVegasEye.com, comes after months of speculation suggesting the King Of Pop was planning a major Sin City comeback show.

WENN has obtained one of the secret invites for Jackson's June 10 Luxor show, where he'll perform a string of new songs and announce details of his Live Forever world tour. Jackson will then meet and greet specially-selected fans and celebrities, who will have received a lucky ticket to attend the private dinner reception and concert.

The invitation, which features photographs and images of Jackson performing, calls the event a "memorable evening" and stresses, "This is a semi-formal event so please dress accordingly."

The pop superstar has made Las Vegas his home, in between trips to the Middle East and Europe, ever since he vacated his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California following his child molestation trial in 2005."

Excerpt From Starpulse News Blog

Stay Tuned: VegasRy.com will be on the scene in July and may have an official first hand review to come.

EDIT: LVRJ.com is reporting this is false so who knows at this point. Personally, I don't really care either way. I do think it would be fun to see him in concert, but can't say I'll lose a wink of sleep if it doesn't happen.

Cirque du Soleil just got even creepier...

Just what we need, another CDS show, this one at Luxor. Am I out of touch because I've never heard of this guy? Seriously, who is he?

From today's Review-Journal

"Mindfreak" magician Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil won't open their long-rumored stage production until the summer of 2008, which gives them time to live up to big promises.

"Imagine if we could reinvent magic like (Cirque du Soleil) reinvented the circus," Angel said in a media event Thursday at Luxor to announce the show. "That is my dream, that is my quest and that is exactly what we're going to do when we open the show."

MGM better hurry up and build more casinos so they can open more Cirque shows...

Magician in new Cirque show

VegasRy Book Review: Super Casino

Super Casino: Inside the "New" Las Vegas
By Pete Earley

Super Casino is a very interesting look inside the daily operations of a modern Las Vegas Casino, from the President of the property down to the dealers and cocktail waitresses. Author Pete Earley had complete access to all employees and areas at the Luxor Casino, which he used to describe the unseen mechanics behind the 24/7 operation of the property

The book is split into two parts:

The first is the history of Las Vegas, told mostly from the perspective of Circus-Circus Enterprises, (now MGM-Mirage) the developers and owners of the Luxor. This section describes the evolution of Las Vegas from the desolate outpost, to the mob-run glory days in the 60s and 70s, finally to the corporate governed town it is today. It’s interesting, although you’ve read or seen much on the history of Vegas, it’s a bit repetitive.

The second section is the real revelation, as the author follows the stories of many different people in their roles in the operations at the Luxor; it tells the story of the Casino Shift Manager, and his dealing with the high rollers the casino is trying to attract. Of a showgirl signed to act in the property’s new production show. The Casino President and his managing the many changes taking place at the Hotel. Finally, the story of a prostitute who operates out of a Luxor bar.

The book, published in 2001, is already pretty dated. For example, the book concludes with changes such as the addition of the nightclub RA, which has already been closed and replaced by LAX. On the flip side it is interesting to see how many of their grand plans fared. As we reported here, there are major changes going on at Luxor, lending me to believe that most of their changes didn’t pan out.

My one complaint is that the author seems to take everything that Circus-Circus employees say at face value. There is a bit of a naivety in reporting the efforts of leadership, perhaps due to their willingness to provide access. As anyone who has visited the Luxor can tell you, it is not exactly a high-end property, as the author portrays it. Still the book is a pretty good read, and if you are familiar with the Luxor and it’s (many) shortcomings, it’s fun to compare their vision to the finished product.

Buy Super Casino

Changes at Luxor

There are a ton of changes going on at the Luxor nowadays. Walking through there last weekend it's impossible to not notice the walled off areas and construction. Ordering a few drinks at what is/was(?) Nefrititi's lounge, I decided to ask the bartender a couple questions about what is going on. I happened to record the whole discussion on my iPod:

Download Here

Here is a synopsis:

-The Egyption theme is going away, and they are moving towards a more adult-oriented property.


-The PURE group is opening and operating a version of DJ AM's Los Angeles club, LAX. It will be twice the size of RA, and have it's own sushi bar.


-Nefrititi's lounge will have no more live music.


-The high-roller area in the center of the casino has been removed and there will be a center bar in it's place.


-Upstairs is changing, with the ride and arcade taken out, and possibly the tomb.


-The Nile Bar will be expanded.-An Ultra Lounge, and a tattoo shop upstairs. (I think this is what he said, a little muffled)


-A couple 'mystery things' upstairs.

Also, not mentioned is a new steakhouse called Aspen 702.

Now you never know the accuracy of comments made by casino employees, as more than a few don't seem to even know what hotel they work for, but this guy seemed pretty legit.