MGM/Mirage announced that they would be investing $160 million in the “M Resort” in Las Vegas.

The 2,000 room “M Resort” is set to open in 2008 in the FAR southern end of the Las Vegas Valley.

When driving in on the I-15 from Southern California, you know the point where you crest that last hill before finally seeing the lights of Las Vegas?

It looks like this:

Well, this casino will be near that point.

At St. Rose Parkway and the I-15. (thanks to http://www.rockymountainroads.com/ for the photo)

An unusual location for an MGM endeavor, but hey, money is money.

The estimated total cost of the casino/hotel/commercial center is $1.8 Billion.

MGM Mirage plans to issue an eight-year subordinated convertible note to finance the investment.

MGM Mirage has the right to convert the note into a 50 percent stake in the spa and casino resort 18 months after the note’s issuance if it has not been repaid, the company said.

Casino-sprawl continues. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing. But as a strip-dweller, it’s unlikely that I will personally ever make it out there … unless they put a topless show in the place. In which case, I will be a frequent visitor.

Pictured at left, is exactly what happened to me the last time I went to the Mirage topless pool.

But not to be outdone, they have taken the perverted side of swimming up a notch, and even launched a promo website for the “Bare Pool” itself … although it is nothing more than a short Flash animation … with no nudity whatsoever.

Bastards.

You can watch the video here, but don’t get your hopes up.

The official site of the pool itself has a little semi-nudity, but not nearly enough if you ask me.

The official information follows:

The Light Group, renowned for providing unparalleled service at its sophisticated and stylish Las Vegas nightlife and restaurant properties, brings its exceptional operational prowess to Bare at The Mirage, providing an exclusive adult alternative to the typical Las Vegas pool experience. Bare opens March 15 and the season runs through October 15.

Scott Sibella, president of The Mirage, said, “The Light Group set the standard on The Strip for superior service. At Bare, each guest will enjoy world-class hospitality and an experience that is not only pleasurable but also unforgettable.”

The ultimate in poolside pampering, Bare is defined by its distinctive contemporary ambiance and ultra VIP service. The DJ-spun music mix sets a lively mood as guests enjoy European-style sun bathing secluded by towering palms.

Two luxury dipping pools create a temptingly cool respite from the hot Vegas sun. Private Daybeds and Boat Beds provide a luxurious option while poolside chaise lounges put guests in the middle of the action. A menu offers sumptuous specialty food items and cocktail service is
available throughout the pool area. For those choosing to rent a Daybed or Boat Bed, Europeanstyle bottle service is offered and some titillating twists: an exclusive pitcher service provides a unique alternative to standard bottle service with pre-mixed cocktails such as Mojitos, Bloody Marys and Sangria served in specially made pitchers guaranteed to keep your beverages ice cold.

VIP service is the standard at Bare. The attentive staff mix with the clientele, offering complimentary services to every guest including: chilled cucumbers to soothe the eyes; iced towels, rolled and chilled in flavored water; exotic frozen fruit, skewered for easy snacking; icy popsicles; mini fruit smoothies, served in individual shot glasses; and Evian misting bottles, super-chilled and ready to spritz.

BARE also is available for private events 7 nights a week for groups up to 450 people. Whether it’s a cocktail reception or dinner soiree, Bare is sure to help heat up the night as the desert sun sets.

Heading up operations at Bare is eight-year Light Group veteran Liam Dwyer, who commented, “Our goal is to cater to our guests so thoroughly that they are able to fully relax and enjoy the incredible setting and ultimate service we offer.”

Bare is open Thursdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission charge Thursday and Monday: $10 for women, $30 for men. Friday, Saturday and Sunday: $20 for women and $40 for men [perverts].

Sexists.

See that picture at left?

Well, if all the women were topless and wearing thongs, that is what it would look like to walk down a Downtown Las Vegas street.

At least I thought that would be the case when I moved here.

DAMN PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS!

Anyway, the Las Vegas Valley now has (almost) 2 Million people, and the growth shows no signs of relenting.

Any why would it? This is the greatest city in the world. People would be crazy not to move here. As a matter of fact, if you are reading this from anywhere other than Las Vegas, I submit that you are insane. I dare you to find a Pussycat Dolls Gambling Pit in Pittsburgh.

It is nice to see the real estate speculators getting spanked, though. It’s not cool to price actual residents out of their own market, and here is hoping that their foreclosure is bona-fide resident’s affordable home.

More residents than ever. More visitors than ever. More revenue than ever.

Las Vegas … if you’re not here … you’re camping out.

The population of the Las Vegas area grew 5.3 percent from a year ago to 1.91 million in 2006, while the median household income rose 12.2 percent to $53,100, according to an annual comprehensive profile of southern Nevada released Tuesday.

The Clark County population grew by 97,000 people, or about 8,000 a month, according to the 2007 Las Vegas Perspective booklet, compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

But as evidence of an overheated housing market, total home sales fell 26.7 percent to 71,500 and residential building permits fell 13.3 percent to 33,900.

The median price for new homes rose 9.5 percent to $339,500, and the median price for existing homes was up 0.5 percent to $286,500. Average apartment rents increased 5.3 percent to $852 a month.

“The residential market continued to seek out a new equilibrium as resale home inventory levels rose rapidly and the rate of demand (sales) was off the feverish pace reported in 2004 and 2005,” said researchers from Applied Analysis, which contributed to the survey.

Jeremy Aguero, principal of Applied Analysis, said the rising number of homes for sale and the surge in foreclosures was “merely the market correcting itself from an aggressive nature that we had during some of the past couple of years.”

“The 18 months it took us to get into this problem it will take us to get out of this problem,” he said.

The Las Vegas area created 47,000 new jobs in 2006, with employment up 5.7 percent to 875,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 4 percent.

The number of visitors to the area grew 0.9 percent to 38.9 million, while gross gambling revenues in the county grew 9.5 percent to $10.6 billion.

While combing through some photos we had taken from the top of the Stratosphere last year, we realized that we had some decent shots of the North Strip property that MGM/Mirage has just purchased, as well as the new Fountainebleau site a/k/a the old El Rancho site.

Maps are great, but sometimes photos put things into a different perspective.

If you click the image above, you can view the full-size photo. (much better view)

Statistics released today show that Las Vegas again ranks #1.

As if a reasonable person would have any doubt.

Okay, so we rank #1 in the nation in car theft … but that’s not the point.

The point is that when Las Vegas sets it’s mind to a task, we do it better than anyone else.

And if that includes stealing cars, then so be it.

Better to be #1 than #3. Third place is for pussies.

So who are the jerk-offs that cower under our supremacy in yet another category?

These cities with half-assed thiefs:

2 Stockton, Calif
3 Visalia/Porterville, Calif.
4 Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Ariz.
4 Modesto, Calif.
6 Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, Wash.
7 Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, Calif.
8 Fresno, Calif.
9 Yakima, Wash.
10 Tucson, Ariz.

Hey Yakima, you suck!