Tag Archives: Las Vegas

Entertainment, Las Vegas Gaming, Las Vegas Information

Oscar Goodman’s whirlwind book launch for ‘Being Oscar’ ends with burgers at Smashburger

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Oscar Goodman
Oscar Goodman

Oscar Goodman’s whirlwind book launch for ‘Being Oscar’ ends with burgers at Smashburger
By Robin Leach
[FROM] Tuesday, May 28, 2013 | 5:20 p.m.

By now, everybody from New York to Las Vegas knows that our former three-term Mayor Oscar Goodman has a bestseller on his hands with the publication of his memoir “Being Oscar.”

When I caught up with him in the whirlwind of autograph and photo sessions that stretched nonstop for six days after his jet-set, two-day, round-trip promotions in Manhattan, he told me, “The movie version is next. And a second book will be coming!”

In The Big Apple, he even had dinner with star chef Daniel Boulud, who last week revealed that he’s returning to Las Vegas to team with The Venetian and the Palazzo for two new restaurants. “One of the best meals of my entire life,” chuckled Oscar, “and very expensive!”

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue captured Oscar just about everywhere throughout the Las Vegas Valley: It was definitely him and not a masked man. Although for two appearances at The Mob Museum Downtown, there were plenty of Oscar masks for one amazing photo shoot. Oscar’s image is now even on T-shirts complete with his trademark pinstriped suit.

The excitement began at Oscar’s steakhouse Beef, Booze & Broads in the Plaza Downtown. The line of fans was already out the door a half-hour before he arrived. That first-night celebration continued via Downtown bus tours, with Oscar as official guide over his accomplishments while in office — and even out to Walmart stores. Read more

Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

Full Pink Moon – May 25th at 12:59 Las Vegas Time

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Full Pink Moon
Full Pink Moon

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. This month, learn about the Full Pink Moon, and the Best Days to do certain activities based on the Moon’s phases.

BACK EAST
Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

Each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred.

These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

April’s moon is called the “Full Pink Moon”
This full Moon heralded the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon.

OUT WEST
From Western Washington University:
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here [is the information from one tribe.]

Apache, Southern Plains
According to WWU, in the Apache language the name for April’s Moon is: “Moon of the Big Leaves.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Western Washington University

Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

The Full Worm Moon: March 27, 2013 at 2:30 A.M. Las Vegas time

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Full Moon
Full Moon

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
Full Moon Video
Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about the Full Worm Moon, Moon illusion, and when and why the Moon rides high or rides low. Click below to watch video.

Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

Each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred.

The Full Worm Moon was given its name by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. At the time of this spring Moon, the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of robins. This is also known as the Sap Moon, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins.

OUT WEST

From Western Washington University:
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here [is the information from one tribe.]

Zuni – Southwest, New Mexico
According to WWU, in the Zuni language the name for March’s Moon is: “li’dekwakkya ts’ana” or “little sand storm.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Western Washington University

Las Vegas Information

The Full Snow Moon: February 25, 12:28 P.M. Pacific Time

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Full Moon
Full Moon

This Video narrated by Amy Nieskens is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac:


From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

Full Moon Names
February’s full Moon is traditionally called the Full Snow Moon because usually the heaviest snows fall in February.

Hunting becomes very difficult, and so some Native American tribes called this the Hunger Moon.

Other Native American tribes called this Moon the “Shoulder to Shoulder Around the Fire Moon” (Wishram Native Americans), the “No Snow in the Trails Moon” (Zuni Native Americans), and the “Bone Moon” (Cherokee Native Americans). The Bone Moon meant that there was so little food that people gnawed on bones and ate bone marrow soup.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Miscellaneous

Monti’s Blog

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Monti Rock
Monti Rock

I first saw Monte Rock on the Johnny Carson show back in the day. He was different. He was one of the first effeminate/gay, make-up-wearing, all-out, characters. At the time he was an East coast celebrity hair stylist, “the first openly gay man in the 5os and 60s that got on television.” He was so vulnerable, you felt protective of him. He is no longer vulnerable.

Who is Monte Rock? This is from a recent post on the Zeitgeistworld.com

“Does the name Monti Rock III ring a bell for any of you? How about Disco Tex? Monti Rock III was one of the first quasi-openly gay men that I ever saw on TV. He was a frequent talkshow guest, first on Merv Griffin’s show starting in the mid-60s and then he was on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show A LOT in the 70s and 80s. (He was probably on the tonight show as often as Steve Martin was during that era). I was really too young to have consciously realized what Monti’s flamboyant persona meant, but I think with a character like Rock (not to mention Paul Lynde, or Kenneth Williams in the British “Carry On”), you just kind of got it by osmosis. Or via the eyeliner and glitter. (Or your dad’s grumbling every time Monti appeared on his TV set, perhaps!) I must admit that the name Monti Rock III has not crossed my mind often in the past, I don’t know, maybe… three decades, but I was happy to read this fun article from Paisley Dalton at Zeitgeistworld (via World of Wonder) indicating that Monti Rock is indeed alive and well and living in Las Vegas.”

“NYC in the 70s would have been just another cesspit had it not been for the sparkle provided by the head queen himself Monti Rock III. Having scored two top 40 hits Get Dancin’ and I Wanna Dance Wit’ Choo, produced by Bob Crewe (The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli, early Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack), under the group name Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes, Monti provided the soundtrack for many gay men who were celebrating newly found sexual freedom on the enfranchised dance floors in New York’s underground disco scene. After fame and notoriety hit from over 80 appearances on talk shows like Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin and a feature spot in mega movie Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta, Rock exited stage left with an addiction to booze, a severed relationship from Bob Crewe and a self-imposed moratorium on anything having to do with the glitz, glamour and gayness that made him beloved and in his words ‘a joke’. Now at 72, Monti is talking again…about life as a hustler, endowment (not talkin about money here!), the effete glitter years and… a new life as an ordained minister? Zeitgeistworld: Hey Monti! What’s up with you? Monti Rock III: First of all, I thank you for searching me out. I guess most people think I’m dead. Right? Zeitgeist: To be honest, I don’t think most people under 40 have any idea about you and your contributions. I was a bit surprised that your still doin’ it in Las Vegas. Monti Rock III: I’m working on a movie. The focus of the film is ‘hope and never giving up’. I see it as a guy, the first openly gay man in the 5os and 60s that got on television. The story should start with that. How being openly gay was very romantic in that era. What it was like to be a trailblazer. Everyone knew I was gay. I was very over the top, darling! If you donned long hair and beads and wore pancake make up in 1961, if that wasn’t openly gay, what was it? The ‘queens’ didn’t do that back then.” read more…

He’s in Las Vegas, he has a blog and it’s here: Monti’s Blog – January 2013

Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

Full Wolf Moon – January 26, 2013 at 8:40 P.M. Las Vegas time

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This Video narrated by Amy Nieskens is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

Each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred.

These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

The Moon for January, 2013: The Full Wolf Moon
This full Moon appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. It is also known as the Old Moon. To some Native American tribes, this was the Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next full Moon, in February.

Miscellaneous

November’s Full Moon on November 28th: The Full Beaver Moon

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November’s Full Moon – November 28 at 6:47 A.M. Las Vegas time.

This Video narrated by Amy Nieskens is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

Each full Moon name was applied to the entire month in which it occurred. These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

November’s full Moon was called the Full Beaver Moon because it was the time to set traps, before the waters froze over. This Moon was also called the Full Frost Moon.

From Western Washington University
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are two of those names:

Hopi House
Hopi House

OUT WEST
Hopi – Southwest, Arizona

According to WWU the Hopi word for November’s Moon is “kelmuya” or “moon of fledgling hawk.”

Longhouse
Northeastern Longhouse

BACK EAST
Passamaquoddy, Northeast U.S. – St. Croix River Region

According to WWU the Passamaquoddy word for November’s Moon is “kelotonuhket” or “freezing moon.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Western Washington University
Visit the main pages of LasVegasBuffetClub.Com

Las Vegas Information

Yes there will be another Full Moon, September 29: Full Corn Moon / Harvest Moon

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Harvest Moon, Credit: Robin Osbon
Harvest Moon, Credit: Robin Osbon

Yes there will be another Full Moon – September 29, 2012 at 8:18 P.M. Las Vegas time.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
The Full Corn Moon corresponds with the time of harvesting corn. It is also called the Barley Moon, because it is the time to harvest and thresh the ripened barley.

This month, we also celebrate what we call a Harvest Moon, which is the full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox. It can occur in September or October and is bright enough to allow finishing all the harvest chores.

The Full Harvest Moon is different than all our other full Moons. Around this date, the Moon rises at almost the same time for a number of nights in our northern latitudes. Learn more in our article, Shine on Harvest Moon

From Western Washington University:
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months. [Two of those names are mentioned here]

Back East
Mohawk, Eastern Woodlands
According to WWU: in the Mohawk language the word for this months moon is, seskhoko:wa (time of much freshness)

Out West
Tlingit, Pacific Northwest Coast
According to WWU: in the Tlingit language the word for this months moon is, dis yádi (big moon)

Shine on Harvest Moon, Ruth Etting
“This song was first introduced by Nora Bayes and songwriter-husband, Jack Norworth in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1908. Ruth Etting’s performance of the song in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931 was a tribute to Nora Bayes. The 1931 production of the Follies was the last to be produced under the direction Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.; he died shortly thereafter in 1932. It’s interesting to note that Nora Bayes recorded this song for Victor in 1910 but it was never released.”

I’ll be out there at the appropriate time looking at the Moon, will you?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Western Washington University
Visit the main pages of LasVegasBuffetClub.Com

California Information, Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

Full BLUE Moon: August 31, 6:57 A.M. PDT

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There will be yet another Full Moon Aug 31, 6:57 A.M. Las Vegas time.

“The August 31 Blue Moon will not be blue in color. This August 2012 Blue Moon will be called Blue because it is the second full moon of a month.”

The following article is from Earthsky.Org

According to modern folklore, a Blue Moon is the second full moon of a calendar month. Learn how this name came to be, in this post. The next Blue Moon is August 31, 2012.

August 2012 is a month with two full moons. And, by popular acclaim, that means it’s a Blue Moon month – but it’s Blue in name only. That’s because a Blue Moon is sometimes defined as the second full moon in a calendar month. The first full moon is August 1. The second full moon is August 31, 2012.

It’s very rare that you would see a blue-colored moon, although unusual sky conditions – certain-sized particles of dust or smoke – can create them. Blue-colored moons aren’t predictable. [So don’t be misled by the photo above.] The sorts of moons people commonly call Blue Moons aren’t usually blue. For more about truly blue-colored moons, click here.

Now on to folklore’s Blue Moons. Every month typically has a full moon (although sometimes February doesn’t). In fact, our word for “month” comes from the word “moon.” Most of the time, the names for full moons coincide with particular months or seasons of the year. So whether you define a Blue Moon as the second full moon in a month – or the third full moon of four in a season – the name Blue Moon accounts for times when there are more full moons than is ordinary.

Blue moon as second full moon in a month.[sic] In recent decades, many people have begun using the name Blue Moon to describe the second full moon of a calendar month.

“There are two more definitions for Blue Moon. It can be the third of four full moons in a single season. Or, someday, you might see an actual blue-colored moon.” read more from Earthsky.Org

From LasVegasBuffetClub.Com:
“Blue Moon” is a classic popular song. It was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934, and has become a standard ballad. The song has been covered as a released single by artists such as Billie Holiday, Mel Torme, Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard. In popular culture, the song has featured in musical films such as Grease and “Blue Moon” is sung by Crewe Alexandra fans, whilst also being regarded as the anthem of Manchester City Football Club read more from WIKI…

Visit the main pages of LasVegasBuffetClub.Com

Miscellaneous

History Channel hits a basis-loaded Home Run: Counting Cars

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Danny The Count Koker
Danny "The Count" Koker

“Most people in Las Vegas bet with chips, but Danny “The Count” Koker bets with cars. Known from his numerous appearances on Pawn Stars, this Sin City legend walks, talks and breathes classic American muscle cars. When he sees a car he wants, he will do whatever it takes to get his hands on it—including making on-the-spot cash offers to unsuspecting owners. On the HISTORY series Counting Cars, Danny and his team restore, customize and sell cars in a hurry, scrambling to keep their Las Vegas shop in the black. From vintage Thunderbirds to classic Corvettes, toy cars to souped-up sidecar motorcycles, Danny and the crew of Count’s Kustoms will stop at nothing to find and flip the greatest rides of all time.” read more from the History Channel

The Count – A.K.A. “Count Cool Rider” as the head of the Koker & Family ownership group “purchased Channel 33, Inc. (first air date, 1989.) Under the Kokers, KFBT was an independent station with a firmly local flavor and soon garnered much acclaim with features such as the scary B-movie night Saturday Fright at the Movies, hosted by Count Cool Rider, which aired at 10 p.m. Count Cool Rider was actually Danny Koker, one of the station’s owners, who has since gone on to become a respected builder of custom motorcycles, as well as a regular expert on the History channel series Pawn Stars and host of its spinoff, Counting Cars.”

PAWN STAR’S bike-expert and way-cool, Danny Koker – AKA -The Count owns, operates and performs at COUNT’S VAMP’D – a Las Vegas rock ‘n’ roll club that was co-owned by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil. “Count Vamp’d is the old Feelgoods in Vegas that was opened by investors with Vince Neil of Motley Crue being a minority investor and marketer. Once Neil got divorced he had to sell his stake in the business and the name had to change. Vamp’d is a dracula-themed rock club, bar/restaurant. Yes, it’s all those things. Unfortunately, I have not caught a show there yet so I cannot speak to the concert setup or sound. I do know they attract national to local acts, George Lynch probably the biggest name that hits there regularly, and local Vegas Iron Maiden tribute band ‘Aces High’ is also a regular. The bar itself is very cool, has lots of guitars behind glass, cool decor, and rock-star type memorabilia.” Access a previous LasVegasBuffetClub post on COUNT’S VAMP’D

…Not to mention, Count’s Kustoms

The History Channel’s Official Website
COUNT’S VAMP’D Official Website
Count’s Kustoms Official Website
Main pages of LasVegasBuffetClub.Com