After several years with only minor additions, Las Vegas is poised for a 2014 with multiple major openings. Leading off will be The Linq, the center-Strip restaurant, bar and nightclub district that debuted partially at the end of last year and will stage its formal opening in March.
The Linq will feature dozens of restaurants and bars, including a Yardhouse, Tilted Kilt, Asian-style "night market," the Brooklyn Bowl and the world’s largest observation wheel.
Strip casinos opening this year include the re-branded Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon and SLS Las Vegas, formerly the Sahara. Other projects include The Park at New York-New York and accompanying sports arena, the South Point Bowling Center, and the Strip shopping onslaught led by Tropicana, Bally’s and Treasure Island.
And the biggest news of all may be the initiation of construction on the massive Resorts World Las Vegas.
» Busy Denny’s: The Denny’s on the Strip adjacent to Casino Royale has closed for a makeover. That wouldn’t be big news if it weren’t for the fact that it’s the highest-volume Denny’s in the world! The restaurant, which opened in 1966 served nearly 750,000 customers in 2013. It won’t reopen until 2015.
» "Jubilee!": The final performance of "Jubilee!" at Bally’s in its current classic format will be Jan. 30. The show will close to undergo a major modernization process, reopening in March. "Jubilee!" is considered the last of the old-time showgirl-dominated revues, but maybe no longer.
» Aliante twofer: Get a two-for-one buffet on Wednesdays at Aliante Casino. The deal runs through the end of January and requires only that you show a players’ card.
Question: How did the Las Vegas New Year’s Eve crowd behave this year?
Answer: Extremely well, apparently. According to official statistics, only seven people were arrested on the Strip and six downtown on New Year’s Eve. By comparison, Reno police arrested 27 revelers.
For more information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and good deals, go to www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.