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Flamingo just upped its estrogen quotient with the opening of Lisa Vanderpump’s newest branded lounge on The Strip: Pinky’s by Vanderpump.

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The opulent venue follows the success of two other wildly successful Vanderpump lounges, Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace and Vanderpump a Paris at Paris Las Vegas.

Pinky’s sits on the southwestmostest corner of Flamingo Las Vegas, just across from Cromwell, in the space that was previously the poker room and a slushy drink stand.

This is the part where we remind you this very blog broke the news Flamingo would get a Vanderpump lounge, as well as a Gordon Ramsay Burger, long before the official announcements.

Pinky’s is not to be confused with The Pinky Ring by Bruno Mars, another high-end lounge at Bellagio.

In case you aren’t a rabid fan of pop culture, Lisa Vanderpump is a reality TV personality who first appeared on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Unlike many reality TV stars, Vanderpump has extended her 15 minutes (her newest TV effort is “Vanderpump Villa”) into a business empire, including licensing deals with companies like Caesars Entertainment.

Celebrity restaurants and lounges at Caesars resorts are operated by Caesars Entertainment, the celebrity gets 5% of the gross (and is obligated to make occasional appearances for PR purposes).

The Pinky’s name? “Pinky” is Lisa Vanderpump’s nickname. Because she likes pink. Please keep up.

Here are some words from the news release: “With a nod to the Flamingo’s vibrant history, the 198-seat restaurant and bar combines Art Deco glamour with lavish and decadent Vanderpump flair. Spanning nearly 7,000 square feet and set against a palette of muted greens, brass accents and soft blush pink hues, the space boasts a dramatic 32-seat bar. Similar to Vanderpump’s other concepts, the design, lighting and fixtures are bespoke Vanderpump Alain creations designed specifically for the space. The VIP lounge can seat up to 40 guests. Dramatic oversized booths are surrounded by brass Art Deco trellises. A vintage-inspired statue spins behind the center of the bar, surrounded by gold chains and crystals. An oversized tree spans the glass ceiling of an epic conservatory looking out over the Las Vegas Strip.”

One person’s “glamour” is another’s “tacky and ostentatious,” but the success of Vanderpump’s previous efforts in Las Vegas is undeniable. People simply love these lounges, and they conjure an undeniably romantic vibe.

Here’s more about the food and drink at Pinky’s: “The extensive and whimsical cocktail menu features Vanderpump classics and nods to the Flamingo’s beginnings, like the Pinky’s Martini, served tableside on a vintage gold tray. Other offerings include the Flip the Bird (a green goddess margarita served in a tiny gold birdcage), the Pump & Bump (a caviar martini served with a pearl spoonful of caviar on a gold plate) and the Daddy Issues (a white peach French 75 topped with pink cotton candy).”

A sense of humor goes a long way with us, so props on the Daddy Issues cocktail, Caesars Food & Beverage team.

As for the food: “The Deviled Egg Gardens feature five upright deviled eggs with decadent toppings, such as lobster, crab salad, caviar, bacon and blue cheese and cornichon. Wagyu Sliders are finished with roasted shishito peppers and dill pickle tater tots. The Pinky’s Shrimp Cocktail arrives in an oversized martini glass with ice-cold smoke pouring out. The Signature Birdcages offer a stunning presentation of cheese and accoutrements or charcuterie, accordingly; and the gorgeous Pinky’s Baked Alaska is sliced to reveal three layers of pale pink and green Neapolitan semifreddo to complement the decor.”

It’s just like you to be jealous of our musical talents.

We haven’t had a chance to visit Pinky’s yet, but we can’t wait to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised by our visits to the lounges at Caesars and Paris, where we found delicious drinks at surprisingly accessible prices. By that, we mean $18 rather than the new norm of $24. It’s the experience!

Pinky’s is just one of the new offerings coming online at Flamingo. The aforementioned Gordon Ramsay Burger opens soon (in the Bird Bar space) and a Cuban restaurant, Havana 1957, opens Dec. 26, 2024.

In the meantime, let us know what you think of Pinky’s by Vanderpump.

The celebrity brand formula certainly seems to be working for Caesars Entertainment.

Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsay, Buddy Valastro, Giada De Laurentiis and Lisa Vanderpump all have multiple locations on The Strip at Caesars Entertainment resorts and beyond, with more in the works.

Caesars has yet to announce what will replace Margaritaville at Flamingo, but we’ve heard it will be a country star collaboration, possibly with Garth Brooks.

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The post Pinky’s by Vanderpump Opens at Flamingo Las Vegas and It’s Fancy appeared first on Vital Vegas.

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There’s a lot going on at Caesars Palace, the grande dame of the Las Vegas Strip. For our fellow youths who may be unfamiliar with the term “grande dame,” Caesars Palace possesses a fair amount of “gyatt.”

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Anyway, the old girl still has some vixen in her with a number of venues coming online in the next month or two, including a high limit slot area, high limit table games area and Caspian’s Lounge, along with Mokbar in the resort’s food hall. A couple of areas have already debuted. Buddy V’s Pizzeria just opened in the food court and a high limit slot area got a beautiful makeover.

Let’s take a look at some of the newness at Caesars Palace, the quintessential Las Vegas resort and a place where we used to work before founding our online media empire. If you thought, ” That ’empire’ should be in quotation marks,” your insolence is duly noted.

Let’s start with the things that have already quietly been unveiled at Caesars Palace.

A small high limit slot room just off the casino floor has gotten a serious refresh.

Prior to the renovation, the room was popular but looked like it had been rode hard and put up wet, unbecoming of a high limit room in the flagship resort of Caesars Entertainment.

Done. Revamped high limit slot room is adorable, echoing the design of the dome above the main casino. Huge new high limit slots and tables areas will be live in the next few weeks. @CaesarsPalace //t.co/aGCw54D3N4 pic.twitter.com/DBWJiCiX1O

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 26, 2024

We texted photos of the abused chairs in the room to higher ups in the company, and we proved once again that whining can have a positive impact on the world. The new chairs are fleek AF.

Do you know this blog at all?

Also new at Caesars is Buddy V’s Pizzeria in the resort’s food hall, quickly becoming a place where you might actually want to eat voluntarily, despite Bobby’s Burgers.

We haven’t tried this Buddy V’s yet, but we stopped by prior to opening and the food looked tasty. (We like his spots at the Linq and Venetian, Harrah’s not so much.) Buddy V’s Pizzeria replaces the price gougefest that was DiFara Pizza. Yes, there’s cake.

Buddy V’s Pizzeria security breach @CaesarsPalace. LFG! @CakeBossBuddy pic.twitter.com/usfzhvHwli

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 26, 2024

New things are awesome, but we especially enjoy seeing what’s next and not publicly viewable yet. We call these sneak peeks “security breaches” just to make them sound more romantic.

Caesars Palace will soon have two new spaces for its high rollers.

The high limit slots salon is going to be resplendent, or perhaps even another word we actually know the meaning of.

It’s clear no expense is being spared. Other sumptuous high limit rooms have been cropping up on The Strip, and locals casinos (like Station Casinos) have been giving the big boys a run for their money with elegant offerings for their much-coveted high limit gamblers.

Here’s a look behind the construction wall.

The room will feature a very fancy chandelier, among other amenities.

This new high limit area will have more of a party vibe than the existing Palace Court high limit room at Caesars Palace, intended to capture some of the Omnia foot traffic. Palace Court isn’t going anywhere, this is additive.

Here’s one of the decorative flourishes on display in the future high limit slots room at Caesars.

The high limit slot area is connected to the high limit table games area by a hallway with a sweet cage. Photos of casino cages is strictly forbidden, so here’s a photo of the cage because we do not live by society’s rules.

The high limit table games salon will continue the club-esque vibe.

There will be a small bar in the table games salon, but no video poker (at opening, anyway).

The high limit table games room will have roulette and blackjack and the usual suspects, but no craps table to start.

The new high limit spaces should be complete by the end of 2024.

Getting a fix on where these high limit rooms are situated isn’t easy, but they’ll be easily accessible from the main casino floor. They’re across from Omnia, sort of next to where the Pussycat Dolls party pit was. Across the way from Stanton Social Prime, that place you haven’t been yet.

Also in the works is Caspian’s Lounge. This new lounge, from Clique Hospitality, sits in the former home of Cleopatra’s barge. At this point, it’s an empty box, no trace of the former showroom in sight.

Caspian’s Lounge will have live music, but it’s not being built as an entertainment venue, we said appreciatively.

Caspian’s will have a small bar, of course.

Clique Hospitality has a number of Las Vegas venues ranging from terrible (Side Piece at Red Rock) to outstanding (Clique at Cosmo and Tailgate Social at Palace Station), so we have high hopes for Caspian’s Lounge, especially if no cigar smoking is allowed.

Enjoy this world premiere of a song we made for you. We can't stop singing it and hope you do not have the same experience, probably. pic.twitter.com/f0BKdxYJWj

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) September 7, 2024

Are you maxed out on Caesars Palace news yet? Tough.

Also in the works at the resort’s food court are Mokbar and Tortazo by Rick Bayless.

The name of Mokbar is officially Mokbar, but the signage says “Mok Bar.” This is a smidge confusing. To make matters even more baffling, it’s really Mŏkbar, with a little thing over the “o.” That diacritical mark is called a “breve.” Mokbar translates as “eat bar.” We didn’t think food court tenants could sell liquor (as it could interfere with the landlord’s liquor revenue), so this should be interesting.

Anyway, Mokbar is from the adorable Esther Choi, so we’re looking forward to trying it. The space was previously Tiger Wok & Ramen.

As for Tortazo by Rick Bayless, it’s not as far along as the other new concepts in the Forum Food Hall, not to be confused with the food offerings at the Caesars Forum, a convention space nowhere near Caesars Palace. Don’t get us started.

We’re almost done, but feel compelled to give a little scoop about the Caesars Palace poker room.

The poker room has been shut down as the casino’s high limit areas are rejiggered, but it will be back. It won’t, however, be in the same spot, we’re told. It’s going to the other end of the casino, closer to the parking garage, the entrance to the Forum Shops and by Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. It’s fluid, but it’s coming back, so don’t freak out.

In perhaps the biggest Caesars Palace news, we’re pretty sure the elevators in the self-park garage are being repaired. Half the elevators were out of order when we left Caesars Entertainment in 2013, and we’re pretty sure they have remained that way until now. Just saying.

Can any cable experts confirm Caesars Palace is repairing its parking garage elevators, at least two of which have been inoperable since we worked there more than a decade ago? pic.twitter.com/7ierXEVKEA

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 26, 2024

All these changes at Caesars Palace follow on the heels of a serious investment in breathing new life into this famed throwback casino, including a beautiful new bar just off the hotel lobby and a new valet entrance.

One last bit of newness! A recent news release we deleted because we are very important and busy said something about a new Omnia Dayclub. This explains some of the tree removal in front of Caesars Palace.

While it doesn’t fit our F1 narrative, we’ve been informed these changes are making way for the recently (and quietly) announced Omnia dayclub. //t.co/8AGshbyOrh

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 16, 2024

It’s expected this space will be used for F1-related activities prior to the construction of the Omnia Dayclub, but few details have been provided. It’s possible the details were provided during our recent behind-the-scenes tour (sorry, “security breach”), but we don’t take notes, which we’re aware is a serious character flaw, however, you are not our mom.

You know we’ll keep you in the loop about all the new developments at Caesars Palace, so check back hourly for updates.

Update (11/7/24): We told you to check back! The day after our post went live, Caesars Palace announced the aforementioned food hall concepts—Tortazo by Chef Rick Bayless, Mokbar by Chef Esther Choi and Buddy V’s Pizzeria—have all simultaneously opened and Forum Food Hall has been rebranded to Celebrity Food Hall.

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The post Here’s What’s New and What’s in the Works at Caesars Palace appeared first on Vital Vegas.

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A downtown Las Vegas fixture, Downtown Cocktail Room, has announced it will close.

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We’re the only news outlet where you’ll find the inside scoop on this surprising (but not surprising) turn of events, distressing to many downtown denizens.

Downtown Cocktail Room is expected to shutter in November 2024.

Downtown Cocktail Room opened in 2007 near the gateway to the Fremont Street entertainment district before it was a district or entertaining.

The bar we rarely visited because it was too freaking loud was the brainchild of Michael Cornthwaite, who many credit with being the spark that ignited what the Fremont East entertainment district (it’s mostly bars and restaurants) is today.

Cornthwaite (who once operated Emergency Arts and The Beat coffeehouse) informed the Tony Hsieh’s vision for downtown, and in time, Hsieh’s Downtown Project acquired the building wherein Downtown Cocktail Room sits. Also in the building are Inspire Nightclub (now closed), Corduroy, the Griffin, Smashed Pig (now closed) and Flippin’ Good Chicken, Burgers, Beer.

The building was acquired by Boston Omaha Asset Management and its co-managing partner, Brendan Keating. The company also owns the nearby Tony @ Carson (formerly the John E. Carson Building).

This is where things get awkward.

A lot of downtown businesses owed their existence to a sugar daddy by the name of Tony Hsieh, he of Zappos fame. Hsieh’s Downtown Project was all about building a community, and not every venue would’ve made it without sweetheart deals for rent and other assistance, often done quietly behind the scenes, sometimes scribbled on Post-it Notes.

What hasn’t been reported is Downtown Cocktail Room’s rent was ridiculously low, based upon sales, a holdover arrangement from the previous ownership.

The deal has been described as “an endless piggy bank,” an arrangement that lasted years because the estate of Tony Hsieh hasn’t been very hands-on with tracking sales volume versus revenue.

Multiple sources have told us the jig is up, hence the decision to close Downtown Cocktail Room. At a higher rent, margins dry up and reality sinks in.

Here’s the Instagram post announcing the closure of Downtown Cocktail Room: “The Downtown sign. It’s been a beacon for those seeking great cocktails and groovy city vibes for almost 18 years, but like all other things in life, eventually it must come to an end. Join us on our short farewell tour. We’d like an opportunity to say our goodbyes! Thanks for the enormous love and support over the years. “Here’s to downtown. We raise our glasses to the early FEW who were the pioneers, and who took risks and believed when no one else did. May you know who you are, and be proud of what we accomplished. Cheers!”

One of the distraught responses to the announcement included a note from the Plaza’s CEO, Jonathan Jossel, who said, “If it wasn’t for Downtown Cocktail Room, good chance I wouldn’t have spent the last 17 years in Las Vegas in downtown. Wow. Thanks for the memories.”

Our fondest memory of Downtown Cocktail Room was finding our way in. No, really. It was a whole thing.

There’s no chatter yet about what might move into the space.

The awkward truth is a number of downtown businesses previously subsidized by Downtown Project have faltered following the death of Tony Hsieh in 2020. His legacy is slowly being dismantled, and his assets are being slowly sold off. The “slowly” part is a story all its own. The lawyers for Hsieh’s estate are making it as difficult as possible for interested parties to get deals done, we’re told.

Downtown Cocktail Room filled a niche in the downtown scene, and there’s still time to check it out before it closes. Just bring earplugs.

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The post Beloved Hangout Downtown Cocktail Room to Close appeared first on Vital Vegas.

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A local’s favorite, Suncoast, is undergoing a massive overhaul, and the casino’s new sportsbook opens Sep. 4, 2024.

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We are not a fan of “waiting” until things are “open.” We are more of a “sneak preview” person (along “with” being a “gratuitous quotation mark” person, “obviously”). So, we grabbed some pics of the new Suncoast sportsbook while it’s still behind curtains.

We’ve also got the skinny on what else is going on at Suncoast. There’s an ass-ton and there will be a quiz.

Suncoast is about 10 minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip, in Summerlin. Summerlin is also home to Red Rock Casino, and we’re pretty sure Boyd Gaming is making a substantial investment in Suncoast because Red Rock has set a new bar for locals casinos and Boyd wants a piece of that action.

Sportsbooks aren’t big moneymakers for casinos, but they’re an amenity appreciated by locals.

Suncoast has done its sportsbook right, gleaning winning aspects of other sportsbooks (both its own places and competing casinos), bringing together all those best practices in its new venue.

One of the trends Suncoast follows is making the most of automated kiosks, rather than human bet-takers. The existing Suncoast sportsbook has more than a dozen live betting windows, the new sportsbook has four.

Suncoast went all-in on its videos screens and capability. I’m sure they’ll add all the technical specs in their upcoming news release, but we’re pretty sure Suncoast’s video display, at 1,700 square feet, is second only to Circa’s in sheer girth.

Seating is ample, with booths and individual seating, providing a lot of flexibility for groups and reserved tables during big sportsball events.

The bar is beautiful, and there are 26 video poker machines in the sportsbook, with 18 at the bar itself.

Suncoast’s sportsbook sits where the showroom used to be, one of several moves and renovations in the works.

A new high limit slot room opened in the former buffet space. A new food court is coming to that part of the casino as well. Boyd knocked it out of the park with its food court at Fremont casino, and it would be great to see a similar mix of offerings at Suncoast. The fast food offerings are a smidge on the underwhelming side at this point, Subwaywise.

The existing sportsbook will close up when the new one opens, and that will become a new bingo room (relocated from the second floor, that space will now be used for meetings and conferences).

Here’s the current sportsbook. We figured you might want to say goodbye.

Bingo doesn’t make much for casinos, either. There’s a reason there are no bingo rooms on The Strip.

Here’s a rendering of what’s coming to the previous sportsbook space.

Also planned is a glorious, 70-seat center bar. We don’t know what it will be called, but it will be right in the center of the casino (the current casino video poker bar is going away).

Suncoast’s bowling center is also getting a revamp, along with the front desk and hotel check-in area (rendering below).

The excellent and relatively new William B’s Steakhouse at Suncoast should get more love than it does, as it’s a Strip-quality steakhouse, just with better prices. It’s what we call an “aspirational” offering at Suncoast, a venue for a customer it may not exactly have yet. (Ditto the sportsbook and fancy new center bar.)

The best off-Strip casino steakhouse you haven’t visited yet could very well be William B’s Steakhouse @SuncoastCasino. Giving Joe’s a run for its money for top banana cream pie in Vegas. Definitely returning for happy hour. pic.twitter.com/vXUtl59cFw

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) March 30, 2024

Boyd Gaming tends to be careful with its financial investments (the company is still experiencing institutional trauma from the closure of Stardust and the failed Echelon project, now the site of Resorts World), but the locals market continue to deliver strong results, and Boyd is doing its revamp thoughtfully and with solid execution to-date.

The company expects all the Suncoast upgrades to be completed in mid-2026.

When it comes to changes at locals casinos, even for the better, you can’t do anything too quickly or dramatically. It’s jarring. Regulars will have freak-outs. This isn’t a happy-go-lucky tourist crowd, they’re unforgiving and aren’t shy about expressing their grievances. Some grinders have still not emotionally recovered from casinos changing from coins to paper vouchers. They like what they like. Locals casinos are extensions of their own homes.

Sometimes, when locals casinos move slot machines around, they post signs telling regulars where their favorite machines went. We are not making this up.

Suncoast’s new sportsbook opens to the public at 11:00 a.m. on Sep. 4, 2024.

Big thanks to Suncoast for not booting us out following our “security breach.”

Update (9/4/24): Here’s more from the aforementioned news release following the opening on the Suncoast sportsbook. “”The stadium-style sports viewing experience includes one of the largest high-resolution, wrap-around LED screens in the Las Vegas Valley, measuring over fifteen-and-a-half feet tall, with a surface area of more than 1,700 square feet. The sportsbook features deco-inspired channel-tufted booths, rows of contemporary lounge seating, a 130-foot-long sports ticker and an 18-seat bar offering commanding views of the impressive video wall.”

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The post First Look Inside Suncoast’s New Sportsbook, Plus Renovation Details appeared first on Vital Vegas.

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You can never have too much golf, apparently.

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