Goodbye Riviera...Part 2
Riviera Hotel and Casino closed its doors at noon on May 4th, 2015. Last week I made a crazy, last minute, 46 hour visit to Las Vegas all the way from Liverpool, UK, especially to say goodbye to the Riviera. With such a beautiful facade of bursting neon color, I had to make it my business to capture as many photos as possible to keep the memory of the Riv (as it's known by locals) alive.
We flew in to McCarran airport via Atlanta, on a journey that took roughly 19 hours from door to door. Tired and hungry we made a quick pit stop at the Peppermill, a vintage Vegas dining destination. After filling up on a late night breakfast, a portion fit for a giant, we made our way to the parking lot, back to our rental car - all the while admiring the twinkling lights of the Riviera. We stayed across the road at Circus Circus hoping to get a view of the Riv and from the right angle (head squished against the far corner of the window), we could see it, with its neon lighting up the street.
Westbound long-haul flights inevitably lead to early morning awakenings, which in this instance worked in my favor. At roughly 5.30am the sun was already lighting up Las Vegas boulevard and in a crazed frenzy I grabbed my camera and tripod, and hot footed it through Circus Circus casino floor, all the way outside to take as many photos of the Riv before the sun fully popped up over the eastern mountains. So there I stood, in the median of the road, frantically snapping away, with just the diverse company of a few early morning joggers and the traditional Vegas drunks. Later that day we returned to spend some quality time inside the Riv, I even tripled my money - went in with $10 and left with $36.50, thanks to the Beetlejuice slot machine - ka ching!
We planned to come back again that evening for a night time photo shoot, but I completely forgot to calculate in "The Vegas Factor". For those of you who have been to Las Vegas before, you'll know what I'm talking about, but to all you Vegas virgins out there, suffice it to say "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!" Yes, before I knew it, I woke up and it was daylight again. As the Americans would say "DANG!" So... I'll just have to "borrow" the photos my mum took a few weeks earlier....
Before we packed up and left, we went outside our hotel one last time, and took a few final photos. Here's wishing all Riviera employees good luck in their future endeavors and many thanks to the Riv herself for being such a stunning icon, and making 60 years of classic Las Vegas history. You did good kid.
Goodbye Riviera...Part 1
SEVEN days until the Riviera closes it's doors for good. The last time I visited must have been in 2007 and although I have been to Las Vegas a few times since then, the Riviera Casino was at the other end of the Strip from where I was staying.
I love all things kitsch and the old Vegas casinos are the embodiment of this. They still carry the spirit of what made Sin City famous, lights, glamour, casinos, shows and all things that sparkle. In an ever changing city I must say that I am sad to hear that one of it's oldest casinos, at 60 years, is shutting down to make way for more convention space.
My mother has recently visited Las Vegas and I sent her on a mission to take as many photos of videos of the Riviera, thinking that I would not get the chance to do so myself. Upon her return, I saw the photos she'd taken and it was then I decided that I simply had to go and see this wonderful iconic casino one last time for myself.
If I squinted just enough I could imagine members of the rat pack stood next to the tables, smoking their cigarettes and cigars. The chandeliers are a throwback to something out of Breakfast at Tiffany's and the porte cochère made me think of a retro sci fi film.With my imagination running wild (and the Xanadu theme tune in my stuck in my head), I bargained with work colleagues for shift swaps to squeeze in a 48 hour visit to Las Vegas. And this is crazy, coming all the way from Liverpool, UK!
My mission starts on 28th April 2015, follow my journey on social media #GoodbyeRiv
To be continued...
Betty Willis "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" Designer Dies
Most of us have probably never heard of Betty Willis, but her design of the Las Vegas sign has become a global icon. She was born and raised in Las Vegas and worked as a commercial designer. Her other notable works include signs for Moulin Rouge casino and the Blue Angel Motel. She died aged 91 in her home on 19th April, 2015.
The "Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas" sign was never trademarked, which is the reason why you can see the image repeated everywhere on key rings, t-shirts, postcards, you name it! Betty said "It's my gift to the city".
The Las Vegas sign was first lit up in 1959. Since then the surrounding areas have changed significantly, there were no nearby by buildings and the sign stood alone on a gravel covered median of Las Vegas Boulevard. If you wanted a photo you had to risk your life running across a busy 3 lane road! Since 2008 the sign has its own parking lot, making the sign accessible to everyone for the ultimate souvenir selfie.
View a live webcam feed of the sign.
Diana Ross Residency at The Venetian
Diana Ross is coming out and she'd like the world to know about her mini Vegas residency. She has a run of 9 shows during April at the Venetian Hotel & Casino.
DATESFriday, April 3, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Saturday, April 18, 2015
8:00 p.m.
Celine and Shania back at Caesars?
This morning I awoke to a very exciting article by Robin Leach, that the Canadian superstars may both be in talks with Caesars Palace! According to Robin's article in the Las Vegas Sun, "fall return for Celine Dion began circulating this week with a possible Sept. 23 opening" or earlier. Shania Twain announced a north american tour and hinted at additional dates. Rumour or not, this is very exciting news indeed, time to clear your diaries in September just in case!