Ron Sylvester

Story Archive

Buy the items featured on 'Pawn Stars' TV show online
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012
The stars of "Pawn Stars" are expanding to the Internet, selling and swapping goods from their Las Vegas pawn shop online.
D Las Vegas casino refunding losing Packers bets
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012
Frustrated football bettors who took the Green Bay Packers on Monday night and lost on a controversial game-ending call can get a refund if they placed their bet downtown at the D Las Vegas, the casino’s owner said today.
Nightclub group hopes to make 'world's largest bachelorette party' an annual Las Vegas event
Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
"The Hangover" and other movies portray Las Vegas as a haven for bachelors looking to get wild before they get married. But just as many women come here for a last hurrah before tying the knot. Local nightclubs report a booming bachelorette business. "We were seeing such an explosion we had to hire extra help in the office just to handle the calls," said Jason Strauss, one of the owners of the Tao Group. This year, the Tao Group decided to try to capitalize on the market by hosting what's being billed as "the world's largest bachelorette party." Hundreds of women have booked special packages to nightclub group's venues. The party begins tonight and runs through Sunday at the Venetian and Palazzo.
Downtown's Golden Gate Casino shows off $15 million renovation
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012
The Golden Gate Casino downtown still has the bar where Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. drank and a telephone that was installed in 1907. But now, it also has a new lobby, updated casino and refurbished rooms. The 1906 hotel-casino recently received a $15 million makeover.
Treasure Island's new Seafood Shack settles in
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012
It took little more than a month for Seafood Shack to open at Treasure Island. The new nautical-themed restaurant, decorated with recycled seafaring materials, opened this week at the former spot of Isla Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar, near the TI buffet.
Day after deadly crash, bus riders wonder about missing passengers
Friday, Sept. 14, 2012
Andre Rodriguez was grateful for the day he overslept. It may have saved his life. “I am here by the grace of God, I thought about it all day yesterday,” Rodriguez said.
Riders worry for their safety at Las Vegas bus stops
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012
Anthony Morse sat waiting for a bus Thursday afternoon, his mind focused on the four people who died earlier in the day after a car driven by a suspected drunken driver slammed into a bus stop. "See that bus stop across the street? I call those death traps," said Morse, 46, pointing to a bus stop on the westbound side on West Flamingo Road near Arville Street.
Shooting range planned for north end of Las Vegas Strip
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
The north end of the Strip has struggled in recent years with half-finished projects, deteriorating buildings and vacant lots. But developer Ric Truesdell sees big opportunities there. "There hasn't been a new building in this block in a decade," Truesdell said.
New buffet brings 500 menu items to Caesars Palace
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012
There weren't any fireworks or huge crowds, but those who showed up for the opening of the new Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace did get the first tastes of 500 menu items.
Zappos opening a pop-up shop in the Cosmopolitan
Monday, Sept. 10, 2012
Zappos is moving into its first casino with a pop-up store and giveaways for gamblers of up to $10,000 inside the Cosmopolitan.
Special Olympics fundraisers to rappel down Planet Hollywood
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012
Planet Hollywood is looking for people to rappel from the hotel’s rooftop on the Las Vegas Strip to benefit Special Olympics.
How much does a Las Vegas lawyer, bartender or dealer make? A look at wages in the valley
Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
There are 126,000 fewer jobs in the Las Vegas Valley today than there were five years ago. But the salaries of many workers increased.
Half-price cocktails with a history
Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012
Trendy bars in the Cosmopolitan, Encore and Bellagio have made names for themselves with cool cocktails and renowned mixologists. But they aren't the only ...
Will a $40,000 chandelier help Las Vegas earn the honor of best bathroom?
Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
Las Vegas once again is in the running for the best restroom in the United States, a title the city has never won despite having some of the fanciest pit stops in the West.
Who knew? A hidden gift shop under the Wynn casino
Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
Through a private door near the Wynn buffet, past a security guard and down an escalator sits a small, brightly-lit convenience store. Its shelves are lined with nylons, makeup, aspirin and snacks. Discounted Wynn merchandise hangs on racks.
ShoeZeum, with 2,500 pairs of Nikes, opens in downtown Neonopolis
Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
The owner of the world's largest collection of Nikes is named Jordan Michael Geller. Steve Geller named his son after the legendary Chicago Bulls player ...
Flavor Flav's chicken meets cheerleaders
Staples of rapper's restaurant to be added to Blondies Sports Bar menu
Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012
It’s no miracle, or even a surprise, that the star of "Flavor of Love" would have his fried chicken served by women wearing cheerleader outfits on the Las Vegas Strip.
Popcorn and pampering: New shops debuting on Las Vegas’ Miracle Mile
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012
This fall, customers will be able to get their hair done while eating popcorn on the Las Vegas Strip.
Revamped Wildfire Sunset casino to open Sept. 1 in Henderson
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012
The Gold Rush is now a Wildfire. The revamped Henderson casino will open under the name Wildfire Sunset at 7 p.m. Sept. 1.
Caesars Palace beefs up its resort dining options with a new buffet
Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012
Las Vegas buffets used to be gluttonous affairs, occasions for filling up on cheap food. Quantity trumped quality with institutional displays of food piled into stainless steel bins. Now, Caesars Palace hopes to take the concept to a new level.
Follow the Restaurant Week money: How fancy dinners help families in need
Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012
Connie Diemoz won’t be eating at Mesa Grill anytime soon. But the dishes the chefs at the Caesars Palace restaurant prepare next week will help put food on her table. Mesa Grill is one of more than 100 local restaurants participating in Las Vegas Restaurant Week, which begins Sunday.
Las Vegas chef to host cable TV cooking competition
Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012
Las Vegas chef Jeff Henderson is the latest to land his own cable cooking competition, this time with a television show on the former Game Show Network.
Gamble on a Las Vegas progressive slot machine, become an instant millionaire
Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012
Want to win big this weekend? Why not head to a casino, where slot machines will entertain with lights, music and action? Statewide progressive jackpots can reach millions and have better odds than the lottery.
New reality TV show focuses on powerful Las Vegas women
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012
Las Vegas is becoming a center for reality television shows, and another one began production this week featuring five powerful women.
Work under way on Seafood Shack at Treasure Island
Friday, Aug. 17, 2012
Construction has started on the Seafood Shack at Treasure Island, and it should only take about four weeks to finish, casino officials said.
Henri Bendel to celebrate grand opening Wednesday at Fashion Show mall
Friday, Aug. 17, 2012
Henri Bendel, a retailer of New York high fashion women’s accessories for 117 years, will mark the grand opening of its first Las Vegas store next week at Fashion Show mall.
MGM Resorts CEO: Strides for women in business are not enough
Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012
Jim Murren remembered watching his future wife struggle in a man's world as they both blazed careers as financial analysts on Wall Street. Years after Heather Murren reached a top executive position with Merrill Lynch, her experiences would follow her husband to Las Vegas and influence how Jim Murren runs MGM Resorts International as its CEO. Murren said he's committed to making sure other women don't face the same obstacles, guiding Nevada's largest employer to a stellar record for promoting women and other groups, who in the past faced disadvantages.
Cabo closes to make way for new Lucille’s barbecue joint at Red Rock Resort
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012
Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que is planning to serve up its baby back ribs, chicken and catfish at Red Rock Resort.
Advice from the top: How to succeed as a (woman) executive
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012
Phyllis James glanced up toward the ballroom banner that read "Women's Leadership Conference." "I've never heard of anyone having a conference for men where they say, 'Come and we'll tell you how to be leaders,'" said James, executive vice president and chief diversity officer for MGM Resorts International.
New TV show profiles casino security, cheating gamblers in Las Vegas
Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012
Most everyone coming to Las Vegas would like to find an edge to put the betting odds in their favor, but some people go too far. Those are the stories behind "Cheating Vegas," a new documentary television series debuting Sunday.
Bellagio spending $40 million to renovate rooms at Spa Tower
Monday, Aug. 13, 2012
The Bellagio is remaking 928 rooms and suites on the Las Vegas Strip, with some becoming available as early as next month. The $40 million project will begin next week at the Spa Tower of the Las Vegas casino-resort and is scheduled to be completed by December.
Hash House A Go Go makes nation’s Top 10 Cheap Eats
Friday, Aug. 10, 2012
Las Vegas is known for its celebrity chefs and swanky steakhouses, but now it’s a city with a top-rated restaurant for every pocketbook. Hash House A Go Go has been named among the nation’s Top 10 Cheap Eats by restaurant rater Gayot.com.
How a Strip chef plans his menu at the farmers' market
Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012
Sam DeMarco stood inside the old bus depot in downtown Las Vegas on a recent Friday morning, inhaled deeply and smiled. DeMarco, chief chef at First Food & Bar at the Palazzo, smelled the freshly picked produce waiting in bins at the Downtown 3rd Farmers’ Market. He walked the aisles, surveying the fresh berries, watermelon and artichokes. Like most chefs, DeMarco, known as "Chef Sammy D," can think up recipes in his head, then go searching for the ingredients needed to make them. But to him, that’s not the true art of cooking.
5 women you want to have drinks with in Las Vegas
Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012
Meet five career cocktail waitresses who make guests feel at home in Las Vegas casinos.
Cocktail waitresses make lifelong careers serving casino customers
Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012
Waitressing in any other city would likely be considered a dead-end job. But here in Las Vegas ...
Stratosphere restaurant going from tacos to steaks
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The Back Alley Bar is going uptown — from taco joint to steakhouse. And with the change, comes new jobs.
Marriott Grand Chateau timeshares adding 223 units in Las Vegas
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
A third tower is under construction at the Marriott Grand Chateau timeshare villas on Harmon Avenue, just east of the Strip.
Casino president applies lessons learned on 'Undercover Boss' to MGM Grand renovation
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The MGM Grand is in the midst of a $160 million makeover to renovate its hotel rooms, remodel its casino and revamp its restaurant and entertainment offerings.
How employees can shine in the workplace, in good times and bad
Monday, July 30, 2012
What makes an employee invaluable?
The answer is the same whether he is vice president of a corporation or a clerk at the front desk of a hotel.
Key attributes include having a positive attitude, pushing to learn new skills and being willing to stretch beyond the scope of a job description.
'Wine angels' scale a four-story glass tower for the perfect Chardonnay
Friday, July 27, 2012
Daphne Lucas saw her dream job on television when she was barely out of high school. Women called “wine angels” wore Catwoman suits and dangled from wire cables strung from the ceiling of a four-star restaurant.
With main sign complete, LVH is bullish about its future
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The LVH officially lifted its new name to the front of the historic Las Vegas hotel Thursday afternoon by placing the final letter of its sign. The resort on Paradise Road opened in 1969 as the International Hotel and later became the Las Vegas Hilton.
South Point bets that virtual horse races will keep gamblers playing
Thursday, July 26, 2012
When someone is on a roll at a craps table or roulette wheel, groups of people often huddle around the player and cheer, creating a buzz that carries across the casino floor.It’s far less common to find that same kind of energy at the slot machines. South Point executives hope to change that. They have invested millions of dollars on a new technology they hope will replicate the excitement and community feel of table games at slots.
Bally’s to anchor this fall's World Food Championships
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Bally’s will serve as the main site for the World Food Championships this fall. The four-day food fight, which announced last spring it would be in Las Vegas, will see hundreds of amateur and professional chefs at Bally’s square off for a total prize pool of $300,000.
Man wins $66,200 roulette bet at Binion’s in downtown Las Vegas
Thursday, July 19, 2012
A Hawaiian man said he's planning to buy a house after winning $132,400 on a single roulette bet in downtown Las Vegas.
The Cosmopolitan to air episodes of 'Top Chef Masters' on digital marquee
Thursday, July 19, 2012
You might think you have a big TV screen at home, but you probably can't watch chefs create 65-foot-tall dishes from your couch.
Additional area code being considered for Las Vegas
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Las Vegas could be getting a new area code, although it probably won't come up all 7s as some have proposed. The Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday approved a measure to allow officials to pursue a new area code.
Las Vegas Strip restaurant featured on TV show
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
First Food & Bar will be featured this weekend on the Cooking Channel’s "Unique Eats," and chef Sam DeMarco’s four-year-old restaurant inside the Palazzo will be offering free samples during the airing of the program Sunday night.
MGM Resorts lets loyalty card holders earn points via social media
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
It no longer takes a roll of the dice or spin of the roulette wheel to become a high roller in Las Vegas casinos. You can now tweet your way to VIP status. Or you can use Facebook, Foursquare or Instagram.
New WSOP app continues social gaming trend
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
As players vied for millions of dollars at the World Series of Poker Main Event, a free online version made its debut Tuesday.
Las Vegas restaurant gives home chefs chance to cook a real ‘Strip steak’
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Home chefs can now whip up a summer dinner like a Las Vegas steakhouse from their patio grills. That’s because they can get their steak from the Strip.