Lake Las Vegas bouncing back - Business - ReviewJournal.com

Photo Credit: Craig L. Moran/Las Vegas Review-Journal

"Construction foremen Gordan Laffranchi, left, and Nate Westmoreland move a cart loaded with cables while working Tuesday on the renovation of Casino MonteLago at Lake Las Vegas. It joins the former Ritz-Carlton as closed resorts in the area getting a second chance."

Lake Las Vegas bouncing back - Business - ReviewJournal.com

Casino MonteLago Goes Bye Bye - Arrivederci !( Or is that "Buy, Buy"?)

Was I one of the last to know or what? When I found out that they are closing one of my favorite spots in Henderson next month, the Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas, I just had to visit the property tonight to pick up my last midweek "player appreciation" gifts and say goodbye to some of the people that I know who work there and will soon be looking for new employment. Oh, and also to say goodbye to my money for maybe the last time ;-0 Those gifts were a "step above" most casino promotions. And most of the people that worked there were very friendly and nice to me and my wife. And it wasn't just the casino that attracted me -- it was also the restaurant ( Tenuta Cafe ); and long walks though the village which were good for my heart; and perhaps most importantly, an endless schedule of events like concerts, wine tasting, and fireworks in the village ( which incidentally will remain open ).

I knew or sensed, based on the traffic, which was beginning to get poor even on the weekends, that this casino's days were numbered. But everybody acted like the party would never end.

So for me the closing will begin a period of grief and mourning, almost like losing a good friend; and then maybe I will stay home more or more likely start spending my spare nickels at the "M" resort !

Rumor has it that investors, including Donald Trump, are already eyeing this "distressed" property; so, I predict that we may see the resurrection of this casino in the near future. Well, at least I can indulge in some wishful thinking ...

In case you missed the news here is a list of breaking news reports.

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Click here for current events at Montelago Village Resort at Lake Las Vegas.

October Schedule Of Events At Monte Lago Village

I just got the October schedule for the Monte Lago Village at Lake Las Vegas, and feel obligated to repeat it here. They need more traffic from locals. Since the weather is getting cooler, I love to "wander the village":

walk around the village, people watch, and occasionally spend some money! :-)

Fall is here! The Village at Lake Las Vegas is buzzing with events all month long to entertain the whole family! Come enjoy the beautiful weather lakeside every weekend for great events:

• Saturday, Oct. 3 - Endless Summer Cruise at the Lake Car Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring up to 100 of the area’s top hot rods and muscle cars. In addition to the car show, guests can partake in raffles for great prizes, giveaways, games and a live auction.



• Saturday, Oct. 10 & Sunday, Oct. 11 - Enjoy an evening of art, wine and jazz! Wander through The Village enjoying amazing Fall Arts Festival from local artists on both Saturday (10 a.m.- 10 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Vino di Lago will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is the perfect evening when paired with “Jazz on the Lake.”



• Saturday, Oct. 24 - Bring out your furry friends for Dogtoberfest and celebrate “Vegas Dog” magazine’s 10 year anniversary! From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., you and your pup can enjoy live music, great food, costume contests and much more.



• Saturday, Oct. 31 - Celebrate Halloween with The Village and Action Sports United with “Tricks & Treats” starting at 5 p.m. BMX athletes will perform the “tricks” while the shops and restaurants throughout The Village give out the “treats.” In addition, guests can enjoy the spooky haunted house, piñatas full of candy, games, raffles, a pumpkin patch and prizes.

Click here for a full calendar of events at Monte Lago Village.

Fourth Of July At Monte Lago Village Resort

Celebrate 4th Of July At The Village At Lake Las Vegas

Celebrate the 4th of July at The Village! Fun for the whole family- The Village will be alive with a DJ, face painting, games and fun contests for children including a coloring contest and cupcake eating contest. A performance by the JV All-Starz will start at 4 p.m and fireworks will go off at 9 p.m. The Village at Lake Las Vegas is the perfect place to celebrate this holiday!

Other Lake Happenings In July

Vino di Lago will take place on Saturday, July 18 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is the perfect evening when paired with the “Jazz on the Lake” concert featuring local artist Boy Katindig. Wine Enthusiasts can experience wines from vineyards across the country without worrying about the drive home with the many packages offered at MonteLago Village Resort. This month’s wine tasting will feature five beer tasting stations.

Take Advantage Of These MonteLago Village Resort Offerings

This month MonteLago Village Resort has amazing packages for overnight stays! Enjoy the 4th of July weekend with packages starting as low as $99!

The MonteLago Village Resort biking packages are the perfect getaway for biking enthusiasts! Guests can enjoy a night at the Resort and then a ride with an experienced biking tour guide. Packages include transportation from the Resort and back; high-quality, full-suspension bicycle equipped with disc brakes, helmet, gloves, hip pack and tools; healthy snacks; and unlimited bottled water. Lake Mead/ Hoover Dam Bike Package includes an overnight stay and half-day ride for two through Lake Mead National Recreation Area and then a 45-minute tour of Hoover Dam. Packages start at $349 per-night. Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Package includes an overnight stay and half-day mountain bike tour for two through Bootleg Canyon. Packages start at $294 per-night.

The National Park Service has set up fee-free days at more than 100 National Parks this summer for select dates. Visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area for FREE on July 18 & 19 and August 15 & 16. Book your room at MonteLago Village Resort and you are only several miles from the Entrance Gate at Lake Mead. Close to Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire!

For lodging reservations and pricing, please call 888-600-2688 or visit www.montelagovillage.com.

Escape To The New And The Old Vegas, The Glitz and The Glittter

(Editor's note and apology: Somebody read this post and pointed out all the negative connotations and qualities of the words "glitter" and "glitz". By way of explanation I am referring ( probably poorly and at risk of coining new meanings ), to only the positive qualities of these two words. I took the liberty to use "glitz" to mean sumptuous; that is, something inherently wealthy or expensive, and "glitter" to mean "gorgeous but superficially glamorous" After all, the area around Fremont Street is still called "glitter gulch" and in my mind this is still an apt description ...)

This weekend was a kind of escape into tourism ( versus localism ? ) for me, maybe because business is slow, the world is catching its collective breathe waiting to see what changes are in store economically ( and politically ), and Vegas went from Summer to Winter, or at least warm to cold in what seems to this local like a very short time. Every year the fact that the high desert of Mojave seemingly has no transition season between Summer and Winter always surprises and amazes me, and when the market took a dive lately, I'm not sure many of us were prepared for that transition either. Let's just say my 401K is now more like a 201K!

So as a master of escapism ( Houdini like ), my first destination ( the glitzy one ) yesterday was the Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson. I had a mailed postcard for a "free" gift: a leather duffel bag that looked like just the ticket to pack some personal effects and go on a not so well deserved trip away from Vegas. So, since Casino Monte Lago is know for its high end gifts to loyal patrons ( in addition to mugs and tee shirts ) --- I felt obligated to "pay them back" for their generosity, which I did handsomely on one of their new penny slot games that I am not familiar with that replaced the old "Twilight Zone" and "Nickel Wheel Of Fortune" machines. I wrongly assumed that a new game would pay more at the beginning to attract new players, but I was sadly mistaken.

Anyway, after picking up my "consolation" gift and a coupon for a free meal celebrating Oktoberfest at their new Portofino events room, I felt a little better. The events room is mentioned in their latest monthly Monte Lago Village Resort newsletter:

'Book your holiday party at Portofino! Portofino is Casino MonteLago’s new Events Room located next to the Tenuta Bar. Domed painted Cathedral ceilings and wrought iron sconces accent this beautiful Tuscan-styled room, which boasts 1,100 square feet of meeting space and accommodates up to 100 people. Outdoor patio space is available for pre-function events.'

'For additional information or to schedule a tour, please contact Chris Eissler at (702) 939-8922.'

I left the "glitz" of Casino Monte Lago with an idea that I would go back to my old haunting grounds in downtown Vegas ( the "glitter" part of my great escape ) as soon as possible. So today I wandered downtown to the Plaza Hotel and Casino at One Main Street and what a contrast! I decided to play craps at a 3 dollar minimum table, and mind you I have not played at a table game in over 5 years! But once learned, craps is like riding a bicycle, in that you never forget how to play, although there is no guarantee you won't still fall off your bike. Playing and winning are two different things, however, and I lost most of my small stake after an hour of play and knew it was time to quit when the box man raised the minimum bet to five dollars. Luckily, a short play at the 25 cent wheel of fortune and I won my most of my money back. I vowed that I would stick to the slots for a while.

And while in the Plaza Hotel and Casino, I noticed that there was what looked like a really fun old fashioned dinner show called "The Rat Pack Is Back!" which I made a mental note to attend in the near future.

'The Plaza Hotel & Casino is bringing back the roots of Las Vegas entertainment, classic Vegas-style dinner shows with huge success. The Rat Pack is Back! is an eccentric must see show, featuring the best Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and Comedian Joey Bishop impersonators around recreating a nostalgic return to the Sand’s Copa Room. Boasting the only remaining live big band in Las Vegas, the energetic show features the Lon Bronson Orchestra and is the only Las Vegas based show with national touring productions and an award from the “Congress of the United States.” The show is a hit and a perfect fit for this nostalgic showroom, evidenced by the fact the show has recently been playing to sold-out audiences.'

'Dinner options are also available at 6 p.m. nightly including seating inside the showroom, which also retains the real classic-Vegas feel. The dinner show, the Rat Pack is Back!, performs at 7:30 p.m. nightly, except Sunday, with an additional show on Saturdays at 10 p.m. Tickets start from just $49.00 plus tax and fees for general show admission and from $59.99 plus tax and fees to include dinner.'

After visiting the Plaza, I wondered back to Henderson via the long "scenic" route on East Freemont ( always an exciting experience ) to Boulder Highway. I stopped by the Eastside Cannery to see Jimmy Limo play his guitar at the newest property on the Boulder Strip. Mind you I had not actually caught Jimmy playing at his new venue since the Eastside Cannery opened in late August. I requested or asked politely ( Jimmy always takes requests ! ) for Jimmy to play "Secret Agent Man" and it sounded oh so good. Then he played Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door" which sounded even better with his new vocal harmonizer gizmo that adds two and three part harmony to his vocals in real time. And then he indulged me by playing his original composition called "Sunset Ridge" which he almost forgot he had written ( just joking, Jimmy! ). Jimmy performs at the Pin Ups Lounge every day except Tuesday ( Monday, Wednesday - Sunday 4:30pm - 7:30pm ) . Jimmy is such a class act that he exhibits both sides of Vegas, the glitter and the glitz! His music is a perfect complement to the Eastside Cannery's 50's and 60's theme. Anyway, stop by the Pin Ups Lounge some evening and relax at the bar or at your favorite casino slot game, and tell Jimmy "Mercurial Mike sent me" ! He will probably reply: "Who?"

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About The Plaza Hotel And Casino

"The Plaza offers an array of innovative table games and slot machines; a new restaurant called Lombardi’s Italian Kitchen; the DOME, Las Vegas’ only ultra sports lounge; the largest race and sports book downtown; the hottest shows in town – the Rat Pack is Back and Viva Las Vegas; free live entertainment right on the casino floor in the Aqua Lounge; the Lucky 7’s Buffet; and a host of other amenities including a roof top swimming pool and tennis courts. Guests may call (702)386-2110 or (800)634-6575 or visit www.plazahotelcasino.com for more information and/or hotel reservations."

Casino Monte Lago Slot Club Gifts Are A Step Above

Vegas locals and tourists alike: if you are looking for a slot club that is slightly out of the way but a step above the rest, then try Club Uno at the Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas resort in Henderson. The Casino Monte Lago is adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton.

The latest free offerings for players are depicted above. They are a great improvement over the traditional mugs and tee shirts! Actual items may vary slightly from the images shown.

From left to right:

• Folding Travel Chair & 4 pc Stainless Steel Mug Set


• Folding Travel Table & Beach Towel


• Rolling Collapsible Cooler Bag

I talked to the people who run the slot club, and they could not tell me what level of play is required to get the free gifts. Club Uno also features weekly bonus free play and the ability to exchange points for free play or food at the restaurants. Also occasionally, bonus "Monte Lago Lira" moolah is issued ( varying from $5 to $25 denominations ) which can be used at any of the shops in Monte Lago Village or in the casino restaurants. Recently, regular casino patrons were offered 1/2 off coupons for the annual outdoor traditional Fourth Of July BBQ.

Also, Lake Las Vegas offers recreational activities, concerts, free movies, and other events on the lake.

Celibrate Mother's Day At The Monte Lago Casino

( Click image above for larger version. )
One of their recent "gifts", a "bennie" of their Club Uno player's club.

Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas Resort is quickly becoming my favorite place. I wish they would scrap the piped in radio music and substitute live music. Rumor has it that there will eventually be live music at their Tappo Lounge, but I have not seen it yet. Apparently, the casino footprint that used to be a live lounge act stage was torn down & replaced by a HIGH LIMIT ( READ: high roller ) slot room. But the place is cozy, clean & classy.

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Casino Monte Lago's Mother's Day Brunch Menu At The Tenuta Cafe

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More Mother's Day brunch options are at the Gayot.com site.