Who are we? We are lovers of all things Las Vegas. We love the casinos, the restaurants, the shows and even Criss Angel. Well, OK, we love the casinos, restaurants and shows.
We’re here to give you the essential news and information you need to get the most from your next Las Vegas visit, all with a slightly skewed, occasionally intoxicated, perspective.
We were going to write a mission statement, but it sounded too much like having a job, so we made this instead.
We know people. We dig things up. We lampoon as needed. We’re so inside, we’re concave.
One of the most baffling things about us is we’re just one person, Scott Roeben, although we speak about ourselves in the first person plural. Drop us a line at [email protected].
We’ve been in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years, and once created words for one of the world’s most recognized Web sites, LasVegas.com.
From there, we went on to write the blog for Caesars Entertainment, the world’s largest gaming company.
Given our love of Las Vegas, it was just a matter of time before we started a site devoted to the entire city.
Here’s the thing about VitalVegas.com, though. What’s vital is hearing from you, and creating a place where the community of people who love Las Vegas can chat each other up, answer questions and share tips.
So, please comment. Share our posts if you enjoy them. If you don’t, keep it to yourself. Tell us about your trip and your Vegas discoveries.
Thanks for visiting, and we hope you’ll be back.
Valid point and appreciate hearing it! We use it because saying “I” all the time sounds weird to our ear. We also think it’s funnier when it’s one person but they say “we.” Here, it’s done tongue-in-cheek–not sure why others do it, other than possibly it sounds like there are more people involved than there really are, which is certainly the case here. Also, this site has been live for about a week, so we haven’t sorted all that out yet. Old habits die hard. Appreciate your thoughts, though. Hope it’s not too distracting.
is there an rss feed?
Thanks for asking! Does this help? http://www.vitalvegas.com/wp-rss2.php
https://vitalvegas.com/feed/
Thanks, Manny.
Ah ha! I thought I recognized your writing style from the Pulse of Vegas blog. I love that one and am looking forward to reading this one, too. (I’m not just blowing smoke – I use it frequently as an example in the PR classes I teach.) I have my own blog about Vegas, askdrvegas.com. It’s been, um, sleeping for a while as I’ve been switching jobs and moving my whole life around, but I plan to pick it up again in the next few weeks. Would love to hear what you think!
Very flattering, thanks, Jessalynn! It’s only a little scary knowing our work is influencing young minds. We’ll definitely take a look at your blog, and thanks for the kind words.
Can you do a piece on best places to catch live music on the strip and downtown? I’m looking for a place to grab a drink, relax, and watch some talent without paying $150 for a show.
Great idea! We’ll keep that in the editorial mix. Fremont Street is always a great, free option. Picnic at Downtown Grand has started having live bands, too. Might try Brooklyn Bowl for bands, their schedule is full!
Why don’t you learn to play an instrument then you can play for people for nothing. I am so irked by people that want to sit and listen to “ live music” but don’t want to pay a cover and their idea of grabbing a drink is asking a server for a glass of water.
Hello,
Ive been realy curious about a tour I attended about a year ago at Elara.
The rooms that we were shown were completely different than what I’ve seen there
before. Deep purples and grays, different headboards, furniture, hallways, etc.
(kinda Cosmopolitan-ish). This is one of my favorite hotels to stay at because
the rooms are nice, large and close to the strip. I have been trying to find more info on these new rooms but cannot find anything online. I’ve stayed twice since the tour
and although the lobby has received a big face-lift, I keep getting booked into the same red Planet Hollywood themed rooms (they’re nice but the other rooms I saw were much nicer). Anyway.. I found this interesting and would like to find out
more. Hopefully it is something you would be interested in looking into as well.
😉
That is interesting. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any information about that.
Rss feed yet?
I don’t know about all that. Could this work? http://www.vitalvegas.com/wp-rss2.php
http://www.makeuseof.com/
The news feed is working. Great
That’s cool. No idea how, but we’ll take it!
The Elara is slowly remodeling all their rooms from when the Westgate was majority owner. Needless to tell the new Westgate (old Hiltion LVH) is buying all their old furniture back and putting them in Westgate again. However, I do have list of floors that have been remodeled at the Elara. A majority of the Elara rooms are still the red black decor you’re use too.
Can’t read your new content with the multi colour background. Words get lost in the colours on my iPad.
Can’t seem to replicate that, John, sorry. The center content areas actually have a white background.
First I’ve have been reading your blog for about a year and I really enjoy
it. You do a great job. I’m sure you have seen that the VegasChatter
folks are all but done on Friday the 31st; Which to me is quite sad.
I’m not a writer (I’m sure you can tell by now) but, just a big fan of
all the work you guys do by providing us with the Vegas411 (which is a
cool site name).
So comes the purpose of this email…. if you ever run a paid membership
to read your blog I would love to commit to something like that to keep
it going. Also a source of revenue for your site could be the Amazon
affiliate program offered to small business. Visitors click the link on
your site and you receive a 8% commission on anything bought through
your site. I use Amazon a lot and I make sure to click links of my
favorite small business so they receive advertisement commission.
Thanks again for all the hard work you provide. I really enjoy everything on your site.
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Not sure you’ll see this but I was a dedicated daily VegasChatter reader, so I was very bummed to be suddenly be cut off from my favorite Vegas site “cold turkey”. I have been aware of VitalVegas for over a year and have occasionally visited your page if Chatter wasn’t covering something I was looking for. The main reason Chatter was my first choice was two-fold: 1) they seemed to discuss “future Vegas/construction updates” topics more often (my favorite category) and 2) they seemed to update their blog more frequently and had more stories on a daily/weekly basis. Now that VitalVegas is my only reliable source for Vegas news, I thought I’d put in my two cents on what made VegasChatter my first choice and hope some of what I said will resonate here as I am now a daily follower of Vital Vegas.
Hi, and thanks for your note. I read all the comments on my blog and try to respond to all of them as well. Also bummed about Vegas Chatter, and pleased folks are giving my site a look. Appreciate hearing your thoughts, and hope you’ll visit from time to time, but this definitely isn’t that. This site is a hobby and a labor of love. I sort of post when I can, but often opt to drink or gamble instead. It’s one of the great things about it being a hobby! I can’t possible keep up with the quantity of material Vegas Chatter put out. I’m happy just doing stuff and taking pictures and sharing them. Hopefully, we’ll be part of your Vegas site routine, though. Combined, all the sites and blogs in Vegas can cover a lot of ground, although nobody’s going to replace Vegas Chatter anytime soon.
Yes we need a Rss feed
I was on Freemont street on Tuesday and they were filming something in 2 spots. One was on the street between the Nugget and 4 queens and later on Freemont street. They had the road closed from Las Vegas Blvd down to the El Cortez and on that shoot they had 2 folks riding horses don the middle of the street. (I noticed that after I took my friend to the container park and scared the sh** out of him with the fire breathing preying mantis) Any idea what they were filming?
Good eye, Benjamin! They’re shooting “The Player,” a new show with Wesley Snipes. The show has been picked up, and they expect to shoot downtown often.
Good eye, Benjamin! They’re shooting “The Player,” a new show with Wesley Snipes. The show has been picked up, and they expect to shoot downtown often.
How about a review of the new hypnosis show, Hypnosis Unleashed, at Binions?
Keep meaning to see it. I’ve heard it’s pretty good, on par with other comedy-hypnosis shows in town–although it would be hard to beat Anthony Cools. Raunchy and very funny.
Hey Scott! I wanted to see if you would be open to guest blogging?
Happy to discuss! Please send more details to scott(@)vitalvegas.com. Thanks for asking!
My wife is a horny and sexy 70 year old. Would she qualify as a professional whore at one of the brothels. //////////////////////////////we woud be ready to relocate.
Lovely, and congrats. Definitely contact the brothels. They accept applications via their Web site.
Lmao. Scott, I enjoy some of your responses. Polite and no nonsense when responding to, (oxy-moronically), an ABUNDANCE of nonsense. (Covertly sarcastic is the punchline, and that my friend is a punchline that only a like-minded intellect like myself, can not ignore!
Thanks. I’m honestly exhausted. I didn’t think the fun could be taken out of Las Vegas, but the discourse online has become truly draining. Appreciate the sentiment. I do what I can to listen to all opinions, but some of the discussions aren’t even about the story people are commenting on. Those have to go, and politics really have no place here. They’re boring, the opposite of Las Vegas. “)
Are these comments real? I feel like they’re either fake or written by friends of yours.
Thank you! And appreciate your leaving one.
Any idea how the parking fees work at MGM resort hotels? In/outs allowed? Can you stay at MGM and pay parking and use Mirage parking lot, or pay again? Thanks for this blog, keeps me connected to Vegas!
Any update on the fashion show mall front remodel?
Does anyone really know what is going to happened with the Harley Davidson cafe? I am a member of Tacos El Gordo and I think the owner will like to put the restaurant there,if The Harley Davidson cafe decides to leave. Can anyone let me know. Thank You
Dear God (i.e Scott Roeben) Why Oh Why has Cheeseburger Las Vegas in the Miracle Mile closed?
Michael at Vegas Bright says he was told the rent was jacked up. If it was doing well, that probably wouldn’t matter too much, but if they were on the fence, that probably sealed its fate.
I loved my island cheeseburger. 2 napkins please!!. always good! Lost this and BLT in the same couple months!
As you guys work with the FSE do you know when the street surface will be repaired & brought up to it’s former glory/condition?
Since the Zip line monstrosity was built, the street surface, especially near the GG is wrecked.
Years ago Fremont was special, gold & silver coloured flecked pavement that was repaired regularly & always spotless during the day, Now, in places, it looks, well, tatty.
Any ideas? We love downtown & want it to look as good as it did.
They’re working on the surfacing (you can see tests near the SlotZilla tower), but no timeline on when the whole thing will take off. Even when it starts, it’ll be months doing the work, so it’s awhile off.
Hi gang, Am I wrong or is downtown being gentrified (to a degree ?). Since the under 30’s don’t spend time or money in the casinos….and now we LV vets have to pick up the slack by paying for parking and possibly soon drinks…..could we be downsizing to Fremont St. I’m over 70 and the walking around the strip is more of a chore. So having all the stripness within 4 blocks fits better ?
Yeah, there’s a lot that’s changing about downtown, but ultimately, it’s still the grittier option with better value. The Strip is just a different experience.
I really like boobs…not so much gigantic butts. Many examples of these can be seen, really seen, on Fremont St. Am I getting too curmudgeonly, or do the exposees of the aforementioned naughty bits need to be reeled in a bit ?
Yeah, I’m a big fan of pretty much all body parts, but have issues with the amount of skin being shown on Fremont. There are a lot of aspects of the street “performers” that are detrimental to the destination.
Scott, your worst nightmare may come true. I just read an article where Caesar’s is looking to expand to land they own on Kovall lane, and they are even considering developing the 7 acres of land they own in front of Caesar’s Palace.
Some land is fine to turn into shopping. Not if that land has an iconic fountain on it, though!
Hey Scott,
We were in Vegas Nov. 2-9 and the man and I and another couple did a “Nugget Crawl.” Four unwary Canadians.
We were staying at the Golden Nugget so decided to start the day at the Silver Nugget, went to Jerry’s Nugget and finished back at the Golden Nugget. Want to hear about it?
We’re not great writers but not bad……
It was a trip…..
Dal and Chad
Jerry’s Nugget is worthless, so sorry about that leg of the crawl.
Bah!!! Scott!!! My buddy won $1300 bucks in there!!! For real!!!
Errrrrr…… too many wobblers last night I just got it Scott lol lol lol
Does anyone know what’s going on in front of Bellagio? The fountains are fenced off the length of the strip. (don’t know if they are fenced on Bellagio side.
Hi Scott,
Please check your FB inbox.
best,
Olivier
I don’t know if I’ve ever done that! DM me on Twitter or shoot a note to scott (@) vitalvegas.com.
Hi Scott. Will you be writing a piece on the affect a culinary union strike will have on the city? I’m thinking it will be awful, I am supposed to be in town the second week of June but may have to cancel if the strike happens. Thanks.
@Shawn Maybe Scott will give you a reply now that the union has reached a partial deal!
How can we personally e-mail you? Would love to share some in sight.
Hi,
Looking to collaborate with your blog! Please email me.
Hello, do you have a business email?
Yes.
Hello Scott, I am part of a Commodore user group, the Clark County Commodore Computer Club here in Vegas. We are part of a Commodore show taking place at the Plaza on Aug 24-26, Commodore Retro eXpo, or CRX. We expect participation from our membership and Commodore fans from throughout the southwest US. This is the 2nd year for this show. last year was at the Alexis Park.
We are hoping you might help promote our event. We (5C’s) are a co-sponsor, the event is being presented by CBMSTUFF.COM. This years theme is Retro Commodore, featuring recent commercial products that enhance and upgrade the line of Commodore 64 and Amiga computers. It seems that nearly everyone who was around in the 1980’s to early 2000’s had a Commodore computer. The Commodore 64 is rated by Wikipedia and Guinness Book of World Records as the best selling personal computer of all time. We hope you will take an interest in this event, and of our user group which has been in existence here in Las Vegas since 1983.
Best regards,
Forrest Nettles
vice-president
Clark County Commodore Computer Club
702-363-3331 x5
8633 Trafalgar Dr
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Thanks for the information, Forrest.
You guys sure did a 360 with the drink coupons!!!! That person who convinced you it was a good way to do business must have given you a free drink to write what you did. I still think the whole idea
SUCKS and it rates right up there with the pay to park issue on the Strip.
Even though I disliked that story–Overall I enjoy your comments.
Thanks. I hear you. It’s not that I like them, it’s just as I’ve spent more time using them, I realize they do more good than harm.
After being in gambling for 50 years, and dealing the wheel for 20, I just learned from your site a basket bet is 5 numbers. As a previous owner of dealing schools, and teaching students, including at UNLV, have I been teaching my student the wrong terminology for all these years? A basket bet is the 0 00 and 2. A five number bet is called a five number bet, a line bet or a top line bet, not a basket.
Yes, you’ve been teaching the wrong terminology to your students. It’s five numbers as shown.
I think I heard this from VitalVegas, but not sure. I heard that in December, 2018, they would BEGIN a $17 Million dollar upgrade on the Freemont Street CANOPY.
December has come and gone and I have not heard any update from anyone, VitalVegas included. You guys seem to have the best inside story on lots on Vegas news.
Can you tell me/us what the status is and WHAT the upgrade entails????
Ha, yes, it’s happening. The upgrade will be happening over the rest of the year, with a debut on NYE 2019/20. They’re manufacturing the LEDs now, and installation will take about nine months. The canopy will keep doing the light shows, just with sections out during the upgrade. Hope that helps. Nearly forgot I haven’t done a story about this. Weird, since I work there.
Awesome job keeping your finger on the pulse of LV. Any chance Emery will get a page / corner of the blog for her perspective ? I think she is a great counterbalance to you on the podcast and would be interested in reading her stuff as well.
Thanks, and absolutely not. She’s already stealing some of my limelight, and I will not abide that under any circumstances. I mentioned your request, and she said, “I’m lazy. I like being on the podcast because I only have to talk.”
Enjoy seeing you on the News. I’d like to be on any posts, eblasts you send out
Thanks! I don’t do a newsletter, but post frequently on Twitter and Facebook.
I used to frequent VegasTodayAndTomorrow to find out what was being built, or planned to be built, in Las Vegas. That web site died some years back. I just now discovered your blog, and appreciate it.
vitalvegas and Team,
We are looking for additional inventory for our premium advertisers.
We also provide our publisher partners with a video player, content (over 1M pieces of premium video in our library) and Google monetization. It’s a plug-and-play contextual video solution that creates net, new inventory with fantastic CPMs and fill rates.
Let me know if you have some time to hop on a call.
Regards, Tom.
I really love this blog. It is very funny. I only go to Vegas about once per year but really enjoy keeping up with what is going on. Thanks,
Thanks for saying so, Craig.
Hi Scott,
Huge raiding the rock vault fan! Have you heard the future of the show after Virgin takes over?
Thanks
How nice to find a blogger with so much personality! I also missed VegasChatter when that nice lady moved away, and was thrilled to read your jaunty words and opinions today. I will surely be a follower and sometimes commentor…just can’t keep it to myself somedays.
Well, thank you. I was a fan of Vegas Chatter as well.
I think RiRa at Mandalay Bay will be sold to MGM by the investors by next year (prior to stadium opening.
Heard the sultry tones of your podcast’s voice on National Public Radio yesterday and my worlds collided. Consider yourself rarified. Mazel tov.
Just got back from our bi-annual trip to Vegas yesterday…..after having gone there 40+ times, the one thing that strikes me is, is there just one guy fixing escalators for the whole city? When they are off on the strip it is commensurate to climbing a mountain. In Jan when we were there is had rained a couple days and they must turn them off in the rain……hundreds of billions of dollars of investment on the strip and no one can run an escalator in the rain? I’m sure they think it might be slick, but it is a total turn off. I know you have done many articles too, that elude to the continual fleecing of the travelers, but maybe it is time to do another one in general.
This is by far the best Vegas oriented blog! Thanks Scott for what you do as it’s always an enjoyable read.
Thank you!
I love your ground breaking info. Here’s ground breaking I’m a great Nfl handicapper and I separate myself from all the Scumbags by showing every pick at kickoff with a tweet @grpwins and on my web site to hopefully begin a cleanup of this industry. Please check out my web site and contact me if you want to do a story! Thanks and keep up the good work.
What is the latest on The Drew /Fountianblue?
They say they have funding, but I don’t believe that’s the case. Don’t hold your breath.
Hi Scott,
Just got back from Vegas and was pleasantly surprised to see that there are now clearly marked flat rates for cabs from the airport to various locations on the strip. We spent a flat $19 to Mandalay Bay – a bit pricey but at least no long haul. The airport had posted the rates on the way out the doors to the cab stand. I hadn’t seen this good news on your site so I thought I’d pass it along.
Best regards,
Yep, thanks. While a relief, it’s too little too late, and some believe those flat rates are institutionalizing a price that’s more than rideshare, so of little benefit to customers.
Yeah, my husband says the cab fare now is more expensive than it had been prior to the flat rates. I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about been long hauled.
Hey!!! How come no info about the coronavirus and Las Vegas? Keep us informed!!!!!
Sorry, most of the news is happening so quickly, it’s impossible to do updates on the blog. Hit Twitter @VitalVegas.
Wow the world has sure changed in a few short weeks. Let’s all hunker in and try some of your suggestions. This may take some time but we WILL get through it all. DK
you’re blog is great–if you maintain an email list to send your newsletters as u write them please add me to your list
thanku, donna from toronto
Really missing Vegas and found this blog. At least you’re one of the more educated writers out there – and entertaining too! I look forward to seeing what you post each week. Maybe you can get some inside scoop about the true future of CES for us.
Thanks! Yeah, there’s been a lot of chatter about CES related to the current situation.
With “social distancing” how are the swimming pools at the resorts going to be affected? I got to hand it to you,you sure know your stuff!
Not sure if you have been to the locals casinos yet.
Suncoast killed all the $5 roulette tables.
It was near impossible to get a seat at either bar, because they did not put plexiglass between machines, they just took chairs away, ppl were still standing and playing.
Enjoy all the Vegas news. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to thank me. “)
Scott,
Thank You so much for your Work on the Blog!
So Glad the Judge Sided with Free Speech!
You keep me updated until I get to make Vegas my Permanent home when I retire in:
6 years 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours 28 mins
Hi Scott,
I’ve been following Vital Vegas twitter for quite a while and just began listening to the podcasts. Love both, thank you.
In several of the early episodes you call out casinos for reducing pour size and cutting down on comp drinks.
I agree that that is sad but I don’t think you should blame the casinos, you should blame government regulations and taxation.
Casino margins have been severely cut by regulations and taxation, so the casinos have to cut cost to offset that reduction. Don’t blame the casinos, go after the regulations and taxation.
If the government would roll back regulations and taxes, casinos would go back to keeping their patrons as happy as possible.
Hi Scott, as a las vegas local its great to get some insight on things to do in Las Vegas, cause after all being a local you can only do so much drinking and gambling as a local
Would you please expand to social media sites that do not censor people? Twitter is among the worst; it is an enemy of free speech and informed opinions.
Same with Facebook.
Gab is a free-speech zone and does not censor.
Since I do not post on Twitter, I wanted to state that your governor lied tonight in his talk-down to Nevadans.
He stated that the safety and efficacy of the vaccines were proven by government agencies and confirmed by the western coalition states. That’s a bare-faced lie, and he knows it.
The vaccines were approved strictly on an emergency basis, foregoing the usual standard practices of testing for safety, which takes YEARS, not months. These vaccines are absolutely NOT proven to be safe, not proven to have efficacy, not proven to even be needed, since the survivability rate of alleged Covid is 99.7% and the PCR tests are worthless due to the “40” amplification rate used in American labs. They are using the American people as lab rats for these vaccines, and that is a fact.
I was appalled by the fear porn he was peddling, and the ridiculous wearing of a face mask when there was zero need to be wearing one. His entire lecture was riddled with inaccuracies and lies.
I don’t live in Nevada, but your governor has a political agenda that is killing businesses for no reason. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be such a patronizing, pathological liar to the people who pay his salary. Unbelievable.
I completely agree! I cancelled a trip last year (2020) because of this ‘plandemic’ and the regulations that were forced on people, ALL of which have been proven to be false. It was and still is about control, that’s why the people who are ‘in charge’ don’t want to give up their power.
I am planning a trip to Vegas this year (2021) but will only fly IF the airlines no longer require the wearing of ‘masks’ AND the casinos, restaurants, stores and shops, entertainment venues, etc. DO NOT REQUIRE THE USE OF MASKS, as they do nothing but make people look ridiculous.
I’m not saying that the virus is phony, but it isn’t any worse than the flu or a cold and there are meds that will help in overcoming it.
IF these things are doable by the airlines, resorts, and businesses in general (govt too), then I will be in Vegas this year. If they can’t be done, then another state will be receiving my vacation money for the last 4 years of planning and saving. Should be able to employee at least a couple of people for three months or so. We were planning on having a really good time…but I guess time will tell….
BTW…love reading and keeping up to date on the new stuff happening and places that we want to experience. Excellent articles and superb info. THANKS!!
Wow, how have I not come across your website before? I’m loving it. I don’t see that you offer an emailed summary newsletter (weekly), correct? Do you plan on offering that at any point in the future?
Yep, hope to launch a newsletter soon. Check back again.
That would be great ! I will be checking back also -thanks.
You keep me updated until I get to make Vegas my Permanent home when I retire in:
6 years 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours 28 mins
Hello VitalVegas,
Any idea when/if Vegastodayandtomorrow.com will be resurrected? Vital Vegas has been my POC for all things Vegas for years now, but VTT had some good stuff. Like the vegas hotel timeline, interesting tidbits about Vegas architecture, who owns what, etc.
Please advise if you can and keep up the good work.
Yeah, it’s a go-to for a lot of great information, but haven’t heard about it restarting again.
Hey Scott,
I am so glad that u are working this gig full time…..your post this year have been awesome. I hope this works out financially for you, cause it’s working out great for us! I quite frequently have a Capt and Diet Coke to salute you, or the weather or cars driving by or ….well anything really…..
Thank you! Doing this full time has definitely allowed me to focus on digging up some big scoop I may not have been able to get previously. Cheers, and appreciate your note.