Lucky Dragon, the Chinese-themed casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, could soon shut down completely with lawyers for the embattled property filing a motion to end hotel operations and stop all payments to employees and vendors.
The request comes eight months after Lucky Dragon’s casino closed its doors for what it said at the time was part of a “repositioning” process. Despite stating it planned to re-open casino operations by mid-2018, the Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that the resort’s main creditor, Snow Covered Capital, was the winning bidder at an auction for Lucky Dragon’s real estate held last Monday 10 September.
Lucky Dragon, a boutique property featuring distinctly Chinese themes and aimed primarily at Asian tourists and California’s large Asian population, opened its doors in late 2016 but struggled to gain any momentum and was quickly forced to make 100 staff redundant in March 2017.
In January it “temporarily” ceased casino operations only to file for bankruptcy protection just a month later.
Lucky Dragon was the first of two Chinese-themed casino-resorts planned for the Las Vegas Strip, with Genting’s US$4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas currently under construction nearby and scheduled to open in 2020.
Two years since its grand opening on the Las Vegas Strip, Taco Bell’s busiest location unveils their grand expansion today. To celebrate, the company’s flagship location will be giving away commemorative merchandise and a Doritos Locos Taco to the first 100 fans starting at 8 p.m. Sept. 25.
With the additional 1,200 square feet, the expansion adds a brand-new second floor private space with Las Vegas Strip views, serviced by a new second floor bar capable of hosting larger weddings and additional special events. On the first floor, guests will find a larger interior dining area, retail space, an expanded kitchen and back of house, and self-order kiosks. The added space came from neighboring Bonanno’s Pizzeria which relocated to the MGM Hotel and Casino Food Court.
Since its opening in November of 2016, the Flagship Cantina location has showcased many brand-firsts, including 24-hour service, DJ entertainment, VIP lounges, weddings, retail experience and a Freeze wall; all of which contributed to its success and desire to expand and meet increased consumer demands.
It’s that consumer demand that leads to Taco Bell eyeing a second Cantina location in Las Vegas with franchise partners Diversified Restaurant Group, this time on historic Fremont Street. Slated for a 2019 opening, the 6,000 square foot location would take over a portion of the former El Portal Theatre which closed in the late 1970s.
After 8 years, Céline Dion‘s Las Vegas residency is coming to an end. She will play the last date of her Céline show at Caesars Palace on June 8, 2019.
“I definitely have mixed emotions about this final run,” the vocal powerhouse said in a statement posted on her Facebook. “Las Vegas has become my home and performing at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace has been a big part of my life for the past two decades. It’s been an amazing experience and I’m so grateful to all the fans who have come to see us throughout the years. Every show we do at the Colosseum throughout this fall, and right up until the final one, will feel very special.”
Tickets for the final run of 28 shows will go on sale to the public this Friday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. PT.
In March, Dion, 50, was forced to cancel some Vegas show dates to “undergo a minimally invasive surgical procedure.”
She revealed on her Facebook page that she suffered a condition in her middle ear known as Patulous Estachian tube.
A former Las Vegas Academy teacher has been arrested on charges of sex with a student in 2017.
John Morris, 56, was arrested Sunday by police.
“A former Las Vegas Academy student reported to her university counselor in early 2018 that she had a relationship with a teacher while at Las Vegas Academy from March to May 2017,” Clark County School District Police Capt. Roberto Morales told News 3. “The university has to report such incidents to police and we were called and began an investigation in January.”
The results of the investigation were sent to the Clark County District Attorney’s office after a short investigation and an arrest warrant was issued Sept. 5, Morales said. He did not specify any details about the relationship.
A CCSD spokesman said Morris was employed at LVA until May 2018. No starting date for his employment or reason for ending the employment was available.
The Las Vegas Academy website says Morris was in his 27th year of teaching for CCSD and was a founding member of the academy. His biography on the LVA website says he served as director of the theater department for at least seven years.
Morris was initially booked into the Clark County Detention Center, but was not in custody as of noon Monday.
CCSD police are expected to release some additional information Monday afternoon.
A new report in the New Straight Times, and Published by Yahoo News has hit that alleges that a great deal more than thought before was used to fund the Hakkasan nightclub empire.
According to the report, “This was based on findings by the US Department of Justice following the arrest of former Hakkasan Group chairman Khadem Al-Qubaisi, who was arrested by Abu Dhabi authorities last week for his alleged involvement with politicians, banking companies and entertainers from around the world.
Interestingly enough, Hakkasan has reported that despite this enormous influx of cash that they are actually losing a great deal of money including paying a “$50 Million golden goodbye last year, sending its finances even further into the red.” The Chinese restaurant and nightclub operator Hakkasan handed outgoing boss Neil Moffitt a $50.5m (£39m) golden goodbye last year, sending its finances even further into the red.
Public filings obtained show that the high-end Chinese restaurant and nightclub group Hakkasan posted losses of $145 (£112m) for the year ending 20 June 2017.
Interestingly enough, despite being confirmed by numerous sources, Moffit’s attorney denied to me that he received anywhere that amount – which means that someone is lying. If the $50 million is not true, then we may have an issue with Hakkasan filing a falsified report in the UK?
Here’s another question: will the Department of Justice ask famous DJs to eventually repay their profits, as they did with the Wolf of Wallstreet Producers?
Communications were snarled and police, fire and medical responders were overwhelmed by 911 calls, false reports and the number of victims during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, according to a report released Monday by U.S. and local authorities. However, the report clearly places the blame with LVMPD and the Sheriff, pointing out that among other things, Metro wasn’t even aware of the country music festival that had 22,000 people was going on — so when the shooting happened, they had no idea it was a mass causality event for almost an hour.
The Metropolitan Police Department and Clark County Fire Department worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to share their best practices and what they learned on that night so they can be better prepared for a similar tragedy.
“Congested radio traffic made coordination difficult for response agencies,” the report said. “The calls caused a heightened sense of alert, and in some cases the fear of a multi-pronged, coordinated attack near the initial shooting.”
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in January that a LVMPD dispatcher told first responders shortly after the shooting that UMC, home to the state’s only Level 1 trauma facility, was “completely out of beds” and that the victims couldn’t go there.
The report said that for special events of the festival’s size, a “unified command post should be established among all agencies.”
Some more really shocking news out of Hakkasan and the money laundering scandal that has plagued it and other companies that took investments illegally from the malaysian 1mdb fund. According to recent filings, six months late in the UK, the company is still losing ridiculous amounts of money, and has never been profitable.
One director, who is not named in the reports, took $50 million in 2016-2017, not long after the scandal erupted – and the reason is not noted why one person would be paid that much especially with the company losing money.
According to Sarawakreport, “What seems notable about this decision to pay a whopping amount for directorship services is the fact that the company’s accounts show a lamentable performance in terms of profits for the period concerned.”
In the meantime, Hakkasan seems to be trying to stop the bleeding, having shut down their restaurants and clubs worldwide. Their flagship restaurant in London was shuttered recently, and even the famous one in Dubai is gone for the time.
PKWY Tavern invites sports fans to celebrate the return of football season with fantasy draft deals and unbeatable food and drink specials during all college and professional games throughout the season. With over 80 TVs indoors and outdoors and more than 250 beer available, PKWY Tavern is the perfect location for visitors and locals alike to grab a burger and beer while taking in all the action and cheering on their favorite college and pro teams.
Football specials and events include:
Fantasy Football Draft Parties
Now – Sept. 5
Fantasy football leagues are invited to host their draft parties now through Sept. 5 at all four PKWY Tavern locations across the Las Vegas Valley. Groups booking at PKWY Tavern can draft a winning a lineup and enjoy free Wi-Fi and draft kits, as well as a variety of unbeatable food and drink specials including $5 Jägermeister shots, $15 Miller Lite buckets and$20 Mini Meister buckets. To book, visit PKWYTavern.com.
Game-Day Specials
During all college and professional football games
Guests can catch all the action of the 2018 – 2019 football season at all four PKWY Tavern locations and enjoy drink specials including Miller Lite drafts for $4, Jack Daniel’s for $5 and Miller Lite buckets for $15.
PKWY Tavern is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with locations all across the Las Vegas Valley. For more information or to reserve a table, please visit PKWYTavern.com/Reservations or call 702.243.5329.
A new service charge is coming to MGM Resorts on the Las Vegas strip…that is if you use the spa.
MGM Resorts International will implement a 20% service charge at all spas and salons inside the company’s Strip properties. According to the company, the added service charge essentially replaces tips. The new charge will go into effect by the end of august at Aria, Bellagio, Vdara, Mandalay Bay and Delano Las Vegas. mgm properties The Mirage, Excalibur, Luxor, MGM Grand and New York-New York already have a service charge in place.
“Our policies are based on industry standards and focus on providing superior service and an unforgettable guest experience, The Spa and Salon policy will help improve facilities and service, streamline interactions and allow guests to focus even more on the experience they choose to receive,” a press release claimed.”
Chris Donohoe was removed from Encore Beach Club at the Wynn Las Vegas, allegedly because of his choice of swimwear. Donohoe, who is gay, believes that it was an act of discrimination — which seems likely since they allowed women to wear the same thing.
Donohoe posted a video to his Facebook page that showed his confrontation with a general manager off camera.
“I was made to leave the pool for wearing a Mr. Turk bathing suit that they said was not ‘in integrity’ with the brand of the pool party. In other words, I was kicked out for being a gay man wearing a bathing suit that was just a little too gay for the Beach Club Encore Las Vegas to tolerate,” he wrote.
Photos show employees of Encore and Wynn wearing thongs and other similar clothing — including a uniform bikini which was .
Also, numerous photos of celebrities like Adrianne Curry, have been promoted with her wearing less clothing.
An Encore VIP Host who didn’t want to go on record, said this is not the first time this has happened, and they have been instructed to remove people who “don’t fit the profile” of the party.
We asked the employee point blank what he meant, and he told me “our audience is all straight men who want to see women in bikinis. No one wants to see a gay guy with his junk in a banana sack.”
The swimsuit in question appears to be a swim brief, like a Speedo, which the person off camera says is against the pool’s dress code.
However, on Encore’s website, the dress code states: “Dress to impress, no baggy clothing, jeans, or basketball shorts. Pool attire is required to enter the venue.” The only listed “proper swim attire” are swimming suits, which Donohoe was wearing. It says nothing about gay swimsuits being banned.
After he shared his video, another man gay man, Juan Casado, shared his own experience, in which he was violently pushed from a dance platform into the pool by a security guard at the club.
Donohoe writes that it was “because only women are allowed to dance on the podium.”
Michael Weaver, chief marketing manager of Wynn Resorts, lied to press, claiming that “In order to maintain a five-star experience, Wynn Las Vegas requests that guests adhere to certain dress code policies throughout the resort,” although these policies were not posted anywhere or on the website.
In response to the complain, Weaver says now they will allow Gay Men to wear speedos, although this seems to be a little too late.
Wynn has asked me to post their full statement, which I will do for full transparency.
In order to maintain a five-star experience, Wynn Las Vegas requests that guests adhere to certain dress code policies throughout the resort. In the Encore Beach Club, we had a policy, clearly posted at the entrance, which prohibited Speedos. Upon receiving a guest complaint, we reviewed the policy and have changed it. The new policy will allow Speedos, but will prohibit risqué and indecent swimwear for both men and women. We will include the new policy on entry signage, as well as the club website, in order to help guests plan appropriately and enjoy a welcoming environment. We apologize to the guest who was affected by our previous policy.
Regarding LGBTQ+ guests, our policy has been clear and consistent for years: Wynn welcomes and appreciates all of our LGBTQ+ guests. Decisions to enforce policies are solely based on guest behavior, or in this case, attire. We have always and will continue to apply attire policies equally to all of our guests, regardless of sexual orientation.
