Kimo’s Vegas
Pius Heinz and his loot. Photo from Kimo Akane
WELCOME TO Kimo’s Vegas … the Player’s Edge!
CONGRATS TO World Series of Poker champion Pius Heinz of Germany. The 22-year-old not only gets bragging rights as best of the best, he also brings home a custom Corum bracelet and $8.72 million to prove it.
WORD OF THE DAY in the Juan Manuel Marquez camp after the Pacquiao fight: rematch.
BY LAW, sports books in Vegas can only take bets on sporting events … so no matter how sporting the Jerry Sandusky trial may become, they won’t accept your action.
KIMO’S VEGAS TIP … You know you go Vegas too much when friends and relatives say “no need bring me back any beef jerky” or bagel chips, nuts, candy, whatevahs. But what they’re really saying is find some new kine omiyage. Chef Terrance Fong says that locals are ordering malassadas from his restaurant, Island Sushi A Hawaiian Grill, in the Plaza Hotel by the dozens. The topsecret recipe took him years to perfect, and deez buggahs are so ono that you can now buy them in all six 7-Elevens in Vegas.
EVERYTHING YOU’VE HEARD about the new Vacations Hawaii Omni 767 airplane is true. More room for da bruddahs, and I hear they even fit five people in the middle bathroom …
AFTER 41 YEARS, the Western Casino will seven out Jan. 16. The owners say there is just not enough business at that Downtown location …
WHAT DO YOU CALL a casino that makes more money from its rooms and restaurants than its gaming? A resort! Since the Cosmopolitan opened, experts have questioned its business strategy. They reported that only $23.9 million or 16.6 percent of its third quarter net revenue of $126.6 million came from gaming. During the same period, the $3.9 billion desert palace also lost $58.5 million.
HIS HONOR Oscar Goodman has been busy since he termed out as the mayor of Las Vegas.
He’s been named the city’s official ambassador by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, he’s got a soon-to-open steak joint with his name on the marquee, and his latest gig will be starring in a new reality show called Las Vegas Night Court with Oscar Goodman.
THE CREATORS of the five-star rating system for travelers has released its 54th annual list. According to the Forbes Travel Guide, there are 57 hotels, 30 spas and 25 eating establishments in the world that have been recognized with a perfect 5 outta 5 score. The Mandarin Oriental, Skylofts at MGM, Tower Suites at Wynn and the Tower Suites at Encore are the four Las Vegas five-star hotels. The Encore, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Wynn have the best spas, and Joel Robuchon and Twist by Pierre Gagnaire are the city’s only fivestar restaurants.
In comparison, Hawaii has only two places that make the list: the Four Seasons Resort at Hualalai on the Big Island and the Four Seasons Resort at Wailea, Maui. I’ll bet they have a line around the block every time an inspector position opens at the travel guide.
