It is a cool 60 degrees outside and the crowd is watching in amazement at what can only be the strangest site in our modern universe, Las Vegas’s Chinatown. Though much smaller then San Francisco’s …
June 23, 2009
Nevada
Las Vegas’s Chinatown
Las Vegas down, but this won't help San Diego
When folks run out of gas, they lose interest in sin. This does not apply just to the elderly. Ask Sin City — Las Vegas. High fuel prices are walloping incoming air and auto traffic. …
July 16, 2008
The Drunken Clowns of Vegas
If you’re a complete debauchery amateur, Vegas is racy. Other than that it’s about as provocative as birthday cake. Considering my 20s, gambling, booze, drugs, and women are a Monday-morning stretch and yawn. The one …
May 14, 2008
The Sport Of Love
The phone rings, I pick up, Dorothy Giliam says, "Hello." "Dorothy, been a long time. How are you?" UNLV, 1969 "I'm good," Dorothy says. "I finished editing Frank's book, and it's published now. I remarried. …
September 13, 2007
Tale of Two Cities
At 7:30 a.m. on the morning of November 21, 1980, Charlie Wright and me were drinking at the Barbary Coast, a midsized casino adopted by locals on the corner of Flamingo and the Strip. Caesars …
March 22, 2007
Chief executive of Genoptix marries in Las Vegas, tries to annul
In its advertising, Las Vegas boasts that "What happens here, stays here." But that's not true if you are a well-known San Diego biotech executive who went through a quickie marriage in mid-2005, a week …
March 1, 2007
Minor Bowl
Christmas is upon us, which means two weeks -- make that three weeks of postseason college football. Everyone is familiar with the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl and other bowls of that ilk. But, …
December 21, 2006
New Suits For Nude Dancers
If nothing else, the Kearny Mesa strip joint called Cheetahs has had a colorful family history. For 12 years, according to police records, it was owned by Jack and Michael Galardi. Jack was a hardened …
October 5, 2006
Mr. Bling
"I grabbed the palm-sized, diamond-studded medallion hanging from a platinum chain around his neck and said, “I see you brought your bling."
May 18, 2006
Pro Football Too Corrupt for Sin City?
Las Vegas is trying to woo the Chargers. Sports reporters say there could be a roadblock: major professional sports leagues claim they are reluctant to see teams relocate to Sin City. The gambling industry might …
May 18, 2006
Loathing Las Vegas
The worst thing that can happen to a man who gambles is to win. -- Charles H. Surgeon 'Why don't you gamble?" David pondered his answer for the span of two exits. I was lost …
May 26, 2005
We Say Everything Is Wonderful
'Dear San Diego Tourism Industry: Stay as sweet as you are. Leave the vice to Vegas. But in playing the ingénue, don't get cute with the statistics, as your convention center is now doing. If …
March 3, 2005
I Warn People
You can buy a "Brain Machine" at the online store O2Planet.com. According to the site's promotional material, the machine uses light and sound to "induce a range of altered states of consciousness," "quickly achieve states …
March 3, 2005
It's the bribes, stupid
The Las Vegas city council last week finalized its million-dollar deal with Cheetahs Las Vegas strip-club owner Jack Galardi, who took over after his son Michael, the previous co-owner, copped a plea to federal bribery …
February 26, 2004
Close look at Las Vegas gambling
The pilot has changed course to avoid the thunderstorm in the west and passengers on that side are crowding the windows. The black bank of clouds is randomly lit from within by strokes of lightning …
April 25, 1985