82 drinkers ticketed with DUIs spent New Year's Eve in Las Vegas Jails.

It was an interesting New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.  According to reports, 82 people where charged with DUIs on New Year's Eve, another 57 on miscellanous charges and 2 were charged with felonies.  I guess when it comes to celebrations, revelers in Las Vegas seem to think that over-the-top is the only way to go.

From the R-J:

Several dozen party-goers spent the night sobering up behind bars after the Nevada Highway Patrol used all available troopers to help police Las Vegas' New Year's celebration.

Eighty-two people were arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs -- far more than the 12 arrested by state troopers last year. Another 57 were arrested on miscellaneous charges and two were arrested on felonies.

Trooper Chelita Rojas said the department had every trooper from its Southern Command, plus some from its Northern Command, on valley freeways making traffic stops.

"There were a lot more officers on the road able to pull people over," Rojas said.

Las Vegas police also had all of its 3,241 officers working on New Year's Eve. Some were operating DUI checkpoints, but the department did not release the number of people arrested.

But it was a relatively peaceful celebration for the Las Vegas Valley. Law enforcement agencies reported no slayings or fatal accidents on New Year's Eve or the morning after.

In the Reno area, authorities arrested 27 people for driving under the influence on New Year's Eve, down slightly from last year.

But the number of people taken into protective custody for intoxication was up to 32, compared with 26 last year.

Additionally, the Washoe County Jail reported five arrests were made for domestic battery. In all, 84 people were booked into jail over a 12-hour period beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday.

In Las Vegas, about 315,000 people from out of town rang in the New Year on the Strip and downtown -- the largest such party west of the Mississippi, according to tourism officials. That's an 8 percent jump from the year before.

In downtown Las Vegas, officials gave out 5,000 more wrist bands to people than last year to watch the various tribute bands under the Fremont Street Experience.

Along the Strip on New Year's Eve, the crowd was still streaming in at 11:30 p.m., with hundreds of people walking over the Flamingo Road overpass at Interstate 15. They were greeted by a rocking performance by a group playing bongos between Caesars Palace and Bellagio.

Some visitors came to forget their troubles, some to see off a 2009 that has been tough on many, and yet others came for, well, different reasons.

Clad in traditional Scottish wear, including a green plaid kilt, 26-year-old Jackson Murray, from Scotland, said he and friends traveled across the pond because they enjoyed the hit 2009 comedy, "The Hangover," in which a group of friends wake up in their Caesars Palace hotel room not remembering anything that happened during the raucous night before.

Asked where he was staying, Jackson said, "Caesars, obviously."

Las Vegas Strip will be closed to automobile traffic on New Year's Eve -UPDATED

Getting around town will be a tad tougher on New Year's Eve night with these closures announced:

From the Las Vegas Sun:

Getting around Las Vegas will be a little more difficult than normal Thursday night as thousands of people descend on the city to ring in the new year, closing the Strip to vehicle traffic for the night.

Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed from Sahara Avenue to Russell Road from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Beginning at 6 p.m., walkways, elevators and escalators along the boulevard will be shut down and hotels and other Strip business close their driveways.

Metro Police will beginning closing roads that connect to the strip at 6:30 p.m.

Because the Strip will be closed to allow for foot traffic, cars also will not be allowed to use the east-west arterials to go through the area, including Tropicana Avenue, Harmon Avenue and Flamingo Road.

Locals who want to get from one side of town to the other will need to use roads north of Sahara or south of Russell, or take one of the valley’s freeways.

Freeway ramps on Interstate 15 will be partially closed to only allow traffic to go west on the arterials beginning between 5 and 6 p.m.

If you want to get around the valley without driving, the Regional Transportation Commission is offering free bus service valley-wide from 6 p.m. Thursday to 9 a.m. Friday. Buses will then run on a reduced Saturday schedule for the rest of New Year’s Day.

The bus will also offer free service from the new Centennial Hills Park and Ride lot on Grand Montecito Parkway, near Durango Drive and Elkhorn Road. The buses will go from the lot to downtown Las Vegas from 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 4 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Because of the closure of the Strip, the double-decker Deuce service will only run on Las Vegas Boulevard from downtown to Sahara Avenue.

In addition, routes 105 (Martin L. King), 108 (Paradise) 116 (Koval/Industrial) and 207 (Alta/Steward) will have detours during the street’s closure.

Celebrations on the Strip officially end at 1 a.m., when cleaning crews move in to get the road reopened by 4 a.m.

The Fremont Street Experience will have restrictions as well on New Year’s Eve.

The pedestrian street will close at 5 p.m. Gates to enter a party, which costs $10 for locals and $20 for out-of-towners, open at 6 p.m.

New Years Eve also brings tighter restrictions for minors and drinkers on the Strip and in downtown.

City and county ordinances ban cans and bottles on the Strip and in downtown areas from 6 p.m. Dec 31 to 5 a.m. Jan. 1.

Metro also asks partygoers not to carry large backpacks or other bags that could carry cans or bottles.

A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under the age of 18 from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the Strip.

Don't Drink and Drive

Drunken revelers have several options for getting home safely this new year.

The Regional Transportation Commission will offer free bus rides along its regular bus routes from 6 p.m. today until 9 a.m. New Year's Day.

The Designated Drivers program makes sure both inebriated drivers and their vehicles get home safely. It's free over the New Year's Eve holiday. The program's number is 456-RIDE (7433).

And AAA Nevada will pour you into a tow truck cab and haul your vehicle home.

The ride is free for the first five miles; after that drivers must pay the company's regular towing fee, which varies.

The service is offered from 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. New Year's Day. Its number is 800-222-HELP (4357).

If none of these options appeal to you, there's always a cab.

DON'T SHOOT, EITHER

North Las Vegas police are again promising stepped-up enforcement of firearms laws to reduce celebratory gunfire meant to ring in the New Year.

It's part of the city's "What Goes Up Must Come Down" campaign.

Additional officers will be on patrol tonight, with some specifically assigned to respond to gunfire calls.

The extra officers are necessary to "reduce this reckless behavior before someone is seriously injured or killed," Police Chief Joe Forti said.

Residents should call 911 if they see someone firing a gun and can help police pinpoint the shooter's location. But refrain from reporting "possible gunfire" because those noises often turn out to be fireworks, police said.

Las Vegas New Year's EVE Fireworks and Celebrations- UPDATED

With New Year's Eve kicking off a long-holiday weekend this year, it was announced that firework displays will return to famed Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority  announced today that the New Year’s Eve celebration known as America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2010 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Las Vegas Strip.

The firing locations (from the south, heading north) include the following resort properties:  MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island (TI), Venetian and the Stratosphere. 

Fireworks by Grucci of New York will again coordinate the pyrotechnic display.   Locally, Fireworks by Grucci has produced many of Las Vegas’ largest special events and grand openings, including the official Las Vegas Centennial celebration.

 In addition to designing the pyrotechnic display, Fireworks by Grucci will work directly with the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services to ensure both fire and structural safety guidelines.

“We are moving the fireworks show back to where it should be,” said LVE President Pat Christenson.  “Fireworks by Grucci, the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services and the individual resort properties have worked tirelessly since January of this year to address the fire and structural safety issues associated with firing the show from the rooftops.  Our goal each year is to design a show that is befitting of this city and provides a great backdrop for the thousands of revelers on the Strip.”

According to the LVCVA, Las Vegas hosts several hundred thousand visitors for New Year’s Eve.  

"Las Vegas continues to be the best venue in the world to ring in the New Year," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the LVCVA. "The fireworks will culminate an evening of celebrity-hosted events at nightclubs, special dining experiences at restaurants, live music at the Fremont Street Experience downtown and much more.  There is no other destination that offers the excitement on New Year's Eve."

The pyrotechnic show will display the letters LV along with such effects as blue comets, a golden kamuro, silver palm trees and multicolored peacock tails.

The New Year’s show, which will last 7 minutes, 11 seconds, will feature about 96,000 aerial bursts launched from the rooftops of seven casinos along the Strip.

If you are going to Las Vegas for the holiday weekend and need show tickets, click here:  Las Vegas Show Tickets

Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience party will feature "TributePalooza," a collection of classic rock acts playing the music of Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen. FSE will also have a live fireworks show. The event begins at 6 p.m. and there is a $10 charge for locals. The event was free last year.

"It's a nominal fee. It won't break anybody," Goodman said. "The priority is to have a great party."

Las Vegas' famed Fremont Street Experience is ready for a rockin' New Year's 2010 Weekend celebration with its 2nd Annual TributePalooza.  The spectacular New Year's Eve includes live concerts by eight of the world's best tribute bands, a 2009 year-in-review show on the Viva Vision screen, followed by a countdown to midnight with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and then Fireworks by Grucci under the canopy choreographed to virtual fireworks on Viva Vision.

TributePalooza bands will deliver performances emulating classic favorites Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen.  Plus, there will be a live stage show, Jimi Hendrix and the Psychedelic Ride.

New Year's Eve is the only day of the year with ticketed admission to Fremont Street Experience. Wristbands are $10 for locals with valid Nevada ID and $20 for out-of-state visitors.  Fremont Street Experience is restricted to persons 21 and over on New Year’s Eve.  Wristbands can be purchased in advance by calling 702-678-5600.

The street will be packed with action while the giant Viva Vision screen dazzles with a light-and-sound extravaganza 90 feet above the street.  The five blocks of the fabulous Fremont Street Experience, home to 10 legendary casinos, will be transformed into the biggest private party in Las Vegas, with upwards of 30,000 people in attendance.

Revelers are invited to celebrate the dawn of a new decade in true Las Vegas fashion at the city’s one-stop outdoor entertainment venue.  The night will be filled with music as the eight ultimate tribute bands will provide continuous live concerts on both 1st Street and 3rd Street stages from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m.  The performance schedule is as follows:
 
6 - 7:15 p.m.
INXS-IVE (INXS) – 1st Street Stage                                                            
The Joshua Tree (U2) – 3rd Street Stage                                    
 
7:30 - 8:45 p.m.
Blasphemous Rumours (Depeche Mode) – 1st Street Stage                        
Fan Halen (Van Halen) – 3rd Street Stage                        

9:15 - 10:30 p.m.
No Duh (No Doubt) – 1st Street Stage
Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin) – 3rd Street Stage            

10:00 -11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.
Jimi Hendrix and the Psychedelic Ride Main Street Stage            

11,11:45 p.m. and 12:15-1 a.m.
Aeromyth (Aerosmith) 1st Street Stage
Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses) – 3rd Street Stage
 
The New Year's Eve celebration at the Fremont Street Experience brings crowds of partygoers to Downtown Las Vegas every year and has become a tradition for visitors and locals alike.  Fremont Street Experience continues the 2010 launch party throughout the holiday weekend with Rock `N Recovery free concerts on Friday, January 1 and Saturday, January 2. 

About 250,000 people are expected to be on the Strip, with more than 30,000 downtown.





As City Center opens, the Mint Tower Closes

 You know how much we love the Mint Hotel around here.  Well, we aren't the only ones.  Seems our good friend, John L. Smith, columnist for the Review-Journal, does as well!

From today's R-J:

Somewhere out there, Hunter S. Thompson is grumbling in his grave. Above ground, K.J. Howe is nursing a helluva heartache.

The Mint hotel, which Thompson observed in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and Howe promoted for a couple decades, is going dark.

With the crescendo of coverage of the opening of CityCenter and its promise of 12,000 jobs, you might have missed the news of the downtown closing and loss of 100 jobs. Although in recent years it's been called Binion's hotel, most locals still recognize the tower with the penthouse restaurant as the Mint, a casino that opened in the mid-1950s, was bought by Del Webb in 1961, and in 1965 briefly became the valley's tallest building.

The Mint was eventually bought by the Binion family and is now the property of TLC Casino Enterprises, but I never heard anyone but tourists call it Binion's hotel.

With its glass elevator, ritzy "Top of the Mint" restaurant, Quarterdeck seafood house, and Merri Mint Lounge, it was a happening place. In its heyday, Vic Damone and Patsy Cline headlined there. The Mint 400 off-road race attracted national media to Fremont Street.

Thompson drew an assignment to write about a narcotics officers' convention and the Mint 400 when he crossed the desert on his long, strange trip. He stayed at the Mint in Room 1850. A legend was born, but Thompson didn't need hallucinogens to colorize the Mint's characters. They were everywhere.

Suzi Arden and Freddie Bell were lounge favorites. Lee Greenwood dealt cards there. And singer Patti York, Howe recalls, occasionally worked as an elevator operator.

Long before Thompson made the scene, Lee Marvin and Woody Strode took a break from the 1966 shooting of "The Professionals" and made headlines when they ambushed Vegas Vic from their suite at the Mint.

Whether out of an abundance of playfulness or whiskey, Marvin and Strode got it in their minds Vegas Vic was making too much noise. Since they had a long bow at their disposal (the movie was a Western), they used it to shoot arrows at the metal cowboy famous for saying "Howdy Podner!"

Vic escaped with minor injuries, and Marvin and Strode got their archery privileges taken away.

That was tame compared to the time former Mint public relations director Howe whacked a Christmas tree and wound up on the naughty list.

At the Top of the Mint, management placed a Christmas tree to celebrate the season. Trouble was, the crowds were big and the tree kept getting in the way of customers. Howe rang in the New Year by hurling the offending evergreen off the top of the Mint and watching it twinkle out of sight.

That would have ended it if New Year's celebrants hadn't seen an object dropping through the darkness and assumed it was a jumper. Security was called, but Howe wasn't fired. He was only suspended.

Howe confirms the story, but playfully adds, "There's no truth to the rumor I was naked at the time."

Watching the tower go dark is almost too much for this die-hard Vegas guy to take.

"When I heard, my stomach just fell out," Howe says. "The Mint was a perfect place. It made money. It was a boutique little (365-room) hotel with a great staff and great service. We treated the $5,000 cardholder like a high roller. The Mint had a certain cachet that a lot of properties on the Strip wish they'd had. It's a damn shame it's gone."

Ironically, the boutique hotel experience is part of the $8.5 billion CityCenter's marketing strategy.

May the new Las Vegas have even half the colorful characters that place did.