Witness history as the “November Nine” compete for one of the largest prizes in WSOP history in November! Heads-up play on Nov. 9 begins at 10:00 p.m.

The best bracelet stand EVER.

Witness every hand live at the Penn & Teller Theater at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. This event, sure to garner worldwide attention, is open to the public and tickets are free.

The November Nine are: Darvin Moon, ($58,930,000 in chips); Eric Buchman ($34,800,000); Steven Begleiter ($29,885,000); Jeff Shulman ($19,580,000); Joe Cada ($13,215,000); Kevin Schaffel ($12,390,000); Phil Ivey ($9,765,000); Antoine Saout ($9,500,000) and James Akenhead ($6,800,000).

Rooms are going fast at Rio Las Vegas, so reserve yours today.

The Final Table will be broadcast on ESPN Nov. 10. Learn more.

Updated: Bonus insider scoop! Hit the Final Table viewing party at ESPN Zone on Tuesday, Nov. 10 (6:00 p.m.) and rub elbows with none other than poker legend Doyle Brunson.

Just came across a great write-up about the wonders that await at Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace.

Our favorite, the "Candy Bar."

 Here’s our post about a recent visit to Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro.

The popular casino game Pai Gow is thought to be thousands of years old. Pai Gow translates as “make nine.” (Because, with a few exceptions, the best a hand can score is nine.)

The 2009 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals in Las Vegas will showcase the world’s best bull riders as they vie for more than three million bucks (ahem) in prize money.

The PBR World Finals will span two consecutive weekends, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-8.

Careful with big, metallic logos. They're prone to lightning strikes.

Both weekends of the PBR World Finals will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Tickets start at $30. Find out more.

The spectacle of the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Nationals rumbles into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway today, running through the Nov. 1 finals.

Aside from the events at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, there are tons of drag racing-themed events scheduled to satisfy even the most ardent racing fan. Learn more about special events.

Fans attending this weekend’s NHRA Las Vegas Nationals will be able to give back to the community while enjoying the drag racing. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway will collect non-perishable food items to benefit City Mission of Las Vegas on Fri., Sat. and Sun.

Get more information at the NHRA’s official site. Take a look at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway site for details.

And if you love cars…

Own the road in this shiny, red hottie.

Drive some of the sexiest cars in existence, brought to you by Day Dreamin’ Exotics at Flamingo Las Vegas. Learn more about this amazing automotive experience.

Or check out the classic car collection at Imperial Palace. It’s $100 million of antique and muscle cars.

And, somebody, please tell us the difference between “Top Fuel,” “Funny Car” and “Pro Stock.” We’re a blog, not Jay Leno. Thanks.

After 50 years performing in Las Vegas, the iconic Wayne Newton talks about his new show and how it could very well be his last. Read more.

Las Vegas is known around the world as Party Central for Halloween (and just about every other occasion you can think of), so it’s not surprising that Sin City also provides great inspiration when it comes to Halloween costumes!

If you’re like us, you’ve waited until the last minute to choose a Halloween costume, so here are 20 costumes inspired by the greatest city on Earth, Las Vegas.

1. Just as "Jubilee!" never goes out of style, dressing up like a showgirl is always a hit, too. Bonus accessory: 30-pound headpiece.

See Don Arden’s Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas.

2. Our hero, Lucky, the beloved spokes-leprechaun for O'Sheas. Bonus accessory: Pot o' gold.

Visit O’Sheas, center of the beer pong universe.

3. The Blues Brothers, dealertainers at Imperial Palace. Bonus accessory: Aretha Franklin.

Learn more about the Imperial Palace Dealertainers.

4. It's Vegas fixture, Flavor Flav! Bonus accessory: Clock, natch.

No list of Vegas-centric costumes would be complete without Elvis!

5. Elvis or Big Elvis, take your pick. Bonus accessory: Hound dog.

Big Elvis performs at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

6. Hail, Caesar! Bonus accessory: Empire.

Don a Caesar costume, and the world is yours. This statue, as well as a bazillion others, can be found at Caesars Palace.

7. Donny Osmond on "Dancing With the Stars." Bonus accessory: Boisterous Italian judge.

Catch Donny & Marie at Flamingo Las Vegas. And speaking of Marie…

8. Try dressing up like Marie's new "Grand Finale Fashion Doll." Bonus accessory: Legions of doll-crazed fans.

See photos of Marie in action at a recent doll signing at Flamingo.

9. Dress up as an Anthony Cools "flyertainer." Bonus accessories: No comment.

The lovely ladies above were last seen distributing flyers for the Anthony Cools show at Paris Las Vegas. Maybe not Vegas icons (yet), but there’s no denying the appeal of the costumes! Learn more.

10. Chippendales dancers! Bonus accessories: Pectorals.

See the Chippendales guys at Rio Las Vegas.

11. Casino dealer. Bonus accessory: Giant wheel.

We love our dealers! Make your own Big Wheel, attach it to your back, and you’ll be the hit of your Halloween party. Francis, above, is one of the friendly, helpful dealers at O’Sheas.

12. World-famous chef. Bonus accessory: Charming French accent.

Guy Savoy is just one of the world-famous chefs you may wish to emulate for Halloween. Find out more about Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace. Another option: Bobby Flay of Mesa Grill, also at Caesars Palace, of course.

13. Garth Brooks! Or at least the Dealertainer playing Garth Brooks at Imperial Palace. Bonus accessory: Sold-out concerts.

Yep, in case you haven’t heard, Garth Brooks is coming out of retirement for a series of concerts in Vegas. Read more.

14. Sleazo the Clown in "Freaks." Bonus accessory: Staple gun.

Everybody loves an evil clown, and the “Freaks” show at O’Sheas had one. (Note: “Freaks” is no longer at O’Sheas. Sigh. Doesn’t mean you can’t still be a freak in Vegas on Halloween!) Why a staple gun? Well, those cards are actually stapled to Sleazo.

15. Slot machine "candle." Bonus accessory: Working lights.

This opens up a whole world of costume possibilities. Choose your favorite casino game, and start the brainstorming! Dice, cards, slot machines, roulette wheels…they’re all fodder for creative costumes.

16. Sushi chef. Bonus accessory: Fugu.

Aki, above, is just one of the city’s amazing sushi masters. He calls Ichiban Restaurant at Bally’s home. More here.

17. Bronze paint, check. Broom, check. Bonus accessory: Ability to remain frozen for, oh, ever.

The popular statue above is at the crossroads of Paris Las Vegas and Bally’s, just as you exit the self-parking garage. Again, once you’re bronze, just hold really, really still.

18. Penn! Bonus accessories: Wit, fingernail polish.

See Penn & Teller live at Rio Las Vegas. Fingernail polish? Yep. Penn keeps one of his fingernails painted red. (The color is Jelly Apple Red by Essie.)

19. That drill guy from "Freaks." Bonus accessory: Aieeeee!

We were so sorry to see “Freaks” go. Magician Dirk Arthur now makes the theater at O’Sheas his home. Find out more.

20. The Vegas sign. Bonus accessory: People taking photos in front of you.

Sure, it might take some doing, but you’ll wow your friends and co-workers if you show up on Halloween as Las Vegas’ renowned “Welcome” sign, currently residing on the south end of the Strip.

That’s it! Twenty Las Vegas Halloween costumes to inspire you to get into the spirit of “All Hallows’ Eve.” Post your Vegas-themed costume ideas in the Comments section.

And have a blast on Halloween. We will!

The Horseshoe was the first Las Vegas casino to install carpeting.

Speaking of casino carpeting, check out this fascinating site with page after page of photos of carpeting from casinos. Thank you, Interwebs.

Fess up. You love to win free stuff. We, conveniently, love giving away free stuff. Ah, the circularity of the universe.

Take advantage of us by entering the Sin City Showcase Sweepstakes! It’s free to enter, and you could win a Bally’s Las Vegas getaway or tons of Instant Win prizes.

Three dice?! Somebody call a pit boss!

The grand prize includes airfare, accommodations and tickets to see The Price is Right at Bally’s.

And here’s the part that’ll probably get us fired. Typically, you can enter every day, once a day, for a shot at the grand prize. However, we have it on relatively good authority that if you follow @total_rewards on Twitter, you may very well get secret access codes for bonus entries.

The giveaway features the wildly popular Plinko game. Like sports, but with less perspiration.

Enter the Sin City Showcase Sweepstakes today. It’s free stuff. Did we mention that?

The award-winning Beijing Noodle No. 9, at Caesars Palace, is serving up authentic Chinese fare with a tasting menu that pays homage to its signature lucky number. For a limited time, enjoy nine items for just $19.99.

You can't miss it.

Offerings include steamed pork bun, Har Gow shrimp dumpling, Imperial seafood soup dumpling, pork and vegetable wonton in chicken soup, sautéed noodles with pork, Beijing-style noodle with tomato and egg, green tea ice cream, baked barbecued pork pastry and red bean paste bun.

Read more about some recent accolades.

While you’re there, make sure to check out the hundreds of goldfish on display. They’ll take your breath away!

Some number nine trivia: In Chinese, the number nine is a homophone (words that are pronounced the same way, but which have different meanings) of the word for “longlasting.”

We don’t know a whole lot about rugby, but we know it’s coming to Vegas!

On Feb. 13-14, the USA Sevens Tournament and Festival will be held at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, the home of the University of Las Vegas Rebels football team.

The word "ouch" springs to mind.

The event will feature 16 professional rugby teams from all over the world. Over the two days, 44 games will be played, for eight hours each day.

Bonus rugby trivia: The Cornish called rugby “hurling to goals,” a game that dates back to the bronze age.

Learn more about the bone-jarring action ahead, and catch the International Rugby Tournament and Fan Festival in 2010.

Still haven’t firmed up your Halloween plans in Vegas? How about the “Carnal Carnival” at VooDoo Lounge in the Rio? Find out more.

Carnal: Marked by the appetites and passions of the body. Hello!

Speaking of carnal, don’t miss the full-body-painted Voodoo Dolls go-go dancers. (Let’s hope for rain.)

Another cool selling point of this particular Halloween celebration? It’s hosted by Corey Haim, star of the classic Halloween-friendly, “The Lost Boys.” He was also part of the popular “The Two Coreys” reality show.

Updated: The event will also feature a “body suspension team” and other “sideshow creeps,” a cash costume contest, Lucid Absinthe and Bud Light drink specials, and DJs Jeff G and Michael Toast.

Doors at 9:00 pm, $20 cover, but ladies in costume receive complimentary admission.

We just discovered the new iPhone app from Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace!

This new Guy Savoy app offers recipes (to read or share with your contacts by e-mail), a reservation booking module and photos. Now you can book your table conveniently by phone or e-mail! Click here to get the new app.

It took awhile, but hey, better late than never. Las Vegas Boulevard, from Washington Ave. to Sahara Ave., has been designated a National Scenic Byway.

In order for a roadway to be designated a “National Scenic Byway,” it has to qualify by having at least one of the following qualities: cultural, historic, natural features, archeological, scenic or recreational. We’ve pretty much got all of those!

Here’s the breakdown, the way we see it:

   * Cultural? Our buffets span just about every culture you can think of. Italian. Chinese. Japanese. Mexican. French. American. Endless, delicious cultural diversity!

   * Historic? Take note the Arc De Triomphe and mega-historic Montgolfier balloon at Paris Las Vegas, thanks.

Yes, that balloon.

   * Natural features? Yes, there are still some of those. Although, we have our fair share of silicone, too.

   * Archeological? Hello, Vegas has a pyramid!

   * Scenic? Don Arden’s Jubilee! at Bally’s. Chippendales at Rio Las Vegas. X Burlesque at Flamingo. Need we say more?

   * Recreational? Slam dunk!

Read more about this newly-bestowed honor.

The TV chatfest “Live! with Regis and Kelly” is coming to Las Vegas for a series of tapings the week of Nov. 23. The trip marks the show’s first visit to Vegas in nine years. What took you so long? Read more.

Get ticket information here.