January 1 is National Hangover Day.

So, OK, it’s not specifically a Vegas factoid, but you get the point.

Have a thrilling and safe New Year’s Eve!

Corey Taylor, of the hard rock band Slipknot, popped in at a recent Penn & Teller performance at Rio Las Vegas.

We're pretty sure Corey (center) is signing "I love you." Metal guys can be such softies.

Bonus Corey Taylor trivia: He’s been a guest musician on albums by tons of bands, all with cool names. They include Soulfly, Apocalyptica and Damageplan.

There was a lot of holiday joy being served up at Harrah’s Las Vegas on Christmas! Exactly how much? We’ve got an exclusive tally of how much food was served at Harrah’s Las Vegas on Christmas day. Take a look.

On Christmas day, Harrah’s served guests:

• 2,600 lbs. of turkey
• 100 gallons turkey gravy
• 800 lbs. mashed potatoes
• 20 whole bone-in hams
• 500 lbs. stuffing
• 150 lbs. cranberry sauce
• 600 lbs. prime rib
• 300 lbs. sweet potatoes

We’re thinking a good percentage of that food was enjoyed at Flavors, The Buffet at Harrah’s. Find out more.

No figgy puddings were harmed during the making of this blog post.

The team at Flex, a magazine with an emphasis on bodybuilding and fitness, recently held a photo shoot at Flamingo Las Vegas to show off the, well, fitness of several finalists in its 2009 Flex Bikini Model Search.

Flex took advantage of the rushing waterfalls, lush tropical gardens and, of course, iconic flamingos at the famed Strip resort.

The flamingos know how to work it.

Check out a video of the photo shoot. Learn more about the Flex Bikini Model Search Championships to be held during Olympia Weekend here in Vegas in 2010.

There’s simply nothing to match the electricity of New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Visitors flock from around the world to participate in the city-wide party that culminates in one of the most spectacular fireworks displays on Earth. Here’s what’s in store for those planning to hit Las Vegas this December 31.

Dancing in the Street

On New Year’s Eve, the majority of the Strip closes to automobile traffic as early as 5:00 p.m. The blockade, from Russell to Sahara, covers all hotels from Mandalay Bay at the Strip’s southern end to Stratosphere at the north. The Strip transforms into a giant block party where tens of thousands of revelers gather to eat, drink, gamble and be merry. Here’s a breakdown of the Strip closures.

Oh, snap! Take that, Times Square!

The Best Places to View Las Vegas Fireworks

Las Vegas will usher in 2010 by blanketing the midnight sky with an assortment of fireworks launched from the tops of seven Strip destinations: Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Treasure Island (TI), Venetian and the Stratosphere.

With multiple hotels contributing to the display, the pyrotechnics will be visible for miles. There are no bad views! However, here are some ideas about the best places to be when the New Year’s Eve show starts:

• In front of the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This vantage point allows a clear view all the way to the north and south ends of the Strip.

The perfect place to party with, oh, a few thousand of your new best friends.

• Observation Deck at the Stratosphere. The tower offers a bird’s-eye view of all the excitement. Same goes for the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. However, the Foundation Room provides access for members-only, and it’s likely to be a little cramped on New Year’s Eve.

• The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. We looked up the term “jaw-dropping,” and there was a photo of the Eiffel Tower at Paris. See below for specifics about Eiffel Tower Experience packages.

• Las Vegas Hilton. The Hilton takes full advantage of its vantage point by giving paying party-goers a panoramic skyline view.

• VooDoo Lounge at Rio Las Vegas. Talk about spectacular views. The view atop the Rio is one of the most impressive in all of Vegas. Insider tip: You might just try viewing the fireworks from the top level of the Rio parking lot. We hear it’s a nice little workaround to avoid the crowds.

Insider tip: If you're at VooDoo, and see this view, you're facing the wrong way! Fireworks. Other. Direction.

Getting the Party Started

Most, if not all, Las Vegas hotels plan lavish celebrations complete with live music or DJs, party favors and champagne toasts for New Year’s Eve. Some hotels schedule multiple parties, each one designed to fit the theme of the club, restaurant or ballroom where the soiree will occur. It pays to do your homework and plan ahead. Don’t be left out in the cold!

Here are just a few of the parties going on for New Year’s Eve:

• Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace. Pure in Caesars Palace will ring in 2010 with multi-platinum rap artist 50 Cent with a special New Year’s Eve performance. DJ Marshall Barnes will also spin throughout the evening.

• Sinful Snow Ball at VooDoo Lounge at Rio. VooDoo will be decked out in winter decor, including living ice sculptures. The famous VooDoo Dolls will appear, along with entertainment by DJ Quickie Mart, Video DJ Crime and DJ Jeff G. A light snow fall will be created at midnight to ring in the New Year. Cost: $50 in advance, $75 at the door. Doors open at 9:00 p.m.

• iBar at Rio Las Vegas. Open bar tickets start at $150 (9:00 p.m. to midnight), with VIP table seating packages starting at $300. The VIP package includes a champagne toast, party favors and admission to VooDoo Lounge after 12:30 a.m. Tickets available by calling 702-777-7777. Admission starts at 8:00 p.m.

• “The Affair” at Risque and Ah Sin restaurant at Paris. The Affair offers entertainment by DJs Kriscut, Mr. Bob, Kowax and Jeffrey Thomas. Doors open at 9:00 p.m. and admission is $60, or $125 for an open-bar all night.

Because of the time difference, New Year's Eve will last even longer at Paris. Or something.

• Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris. The Eiffel Tower Experience has limited-availability, fireworks-viewing packages available. Each package is $200 and includes tower admission, two drink tickets, a souvenir photo and party favors. Get tickets at the Paris box office.

• Indigo Lounge at Bally’s. Toast to 2010 with JAMMS, covering popular music from the Beatles to Barry White, and a house DJ.  Admission is $69 and includes an open bar, 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with a midnight champagne toast and party favors. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.

• Drai’s After Hours at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. The party features hip-hop and house music, 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with general admission at $20 for women, $50 for guys.

The party at Drai's goes until 6:00 a.m. Sweet!

• Find out more about the special events at Harrah’s Las Vegas and Flamingo Las Vegas.

We’ll See You On New Year’s Eve

Las Vegas is the only place to be on New Year’s Eve, so ring in the new year Sin City-style!

Here’s a comprehensive list of events around town.

Two Vegas visitors are millions richer after Megabucks jackpots paid out big over the last few days at Strip resorts. We love when that happens!

Two words: Cha. Ching.

The lucky slots players won at Paris Las Vegas and the Bellagio, with jackpots of $1.2 million and $12.2 million, respectively. The player at Paris, part of a family holiday trip, won on a Wheel of Fortune progressive machine. Learn more.

Paris Las Vegas is the place to stay and play, and not just because it rhymes.

Southern Nevada transit officials have announced there will be free bus rides for those taking in the festivities on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. The free rides will be available on New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day, and apply to all “fixed-service” routes across the Vegas valley. The hope is to decrease traffic, as well as to keep those who shouldn’t be driving from driving.

The free rides will run from 6:00 p.m. Thursday until 9:00 a.m. Friday. Please note that some routes will be detoured due to the Strip being closed off to car traffic for the New Year’s Eve celebration. Find out more.

Latest word is that a team representing “The Jay Leno Show” will be among the competitors thirsty for victory at the World Series of Beer Pong at Flamingo Las Vegas, Jan. 1-5.

Ross Matthews and Owen Benjamin from the show, calling themselves Team Broverload, will take part in the event (featuring $65,000 in prize money up for grabs) and a segment featuring their adventures will appear on “The Jay Leno Show” on Jan. 8.

Bonus beer pong trivia: The game is also known as "Beirut."

Find out more about the World Series of Beer Pong. Or get into the game at the weekly beer pong tournaments at O’Sheas.

From space, the brightest man-made place on Earth is Las Vegas, Nevada.

Big things are in the works for New Year’s Eve on the Strip. Among the highlights are New Year’s Eve celebrations at Harrah’s and Flamingo.

Carnaval Court at Harrah’s will host the Strip’s only outdoor New Year’s Eve bash. Live bands will include the popular Spazmatics (during the day) and The Crashers (at night), along with DJ L1 who will help ring in the New Year by spinning the hottest music until 3:00 a.m. Tickets are $30 and available by calling 702-369-5111.

Brace yourself for a 2010 blow-out at Carnaval Court.

Margaritaville at Flamingo is offering a New Year’s Eve package that includes live entertainment starting at 10:00 p.m., appetizers, an open bar (restrictions may apply), access to the rooftop to watch the fireworks and more.

The place to see and be seen on New Year's Eve.

Tickets to Margaritaville’s New Year’s bash are on sale for $125 per person. New Year’s party hours are 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. To purchase tickets, call 702-697-2546.

Pure nightclub just announced that rapper, singer and producer will.i.am will spin at the popular night spot at Caesars Palace on Jan. 1. Remember, you heard it here first!

If you love the Black Eyed Peas hits “Boom Boom Pow” or “I Gotta Feeling,” don’t miss will.i.am’s special appearance at Pure. Get on the official guest list here.

A guy with punctuation in his name is automatically cool. Period.

Well, sort of. Piers Morgan, best-known in the U.S. as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” and as the winner of Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” staged a mock wedding to socialite Paris Hilton to publicize his new show in Great Britain (featuring Las Vegas, of course). Read more.

Las Vegas has been named the top travel destination by Yahoo Travel for 2009. We’ll take it. Read more.

You’ll never guess who stopped by our corporate offices here at Harrah’s Entertainment! Yep, this guy.

Beard? Check. Hat? Check. Jolly? Check.

Come to find out, this prone-to-chuckling fellow drops by our headquarters often, but tends to get more double-takes around this time of the year.

Our postal carrier, Craig, is the spitting image of everyone’s favorite holiday visitor. We thought about calling him “jolly ol’ St. Craig,” but weren’t sure Craig would appreciate that so much. We’d prefer not to end up on anyone’s “naughty” list.

Shorts! Another reason to flee the cold and head to Vegas.

On behalf of St. Craig, a proud representative of the U.S. Postal Service, and the whole blog team here at Harrah’s, have a wonderful, safe, sassy holiday season. At one of our Las Vegas hotels if possible, but anywhere is fine.

Don't argue with jolly ol' St. Craig. We insist on your having "Happy Holidays"!

We just heard a great story through the grapevine, and it seems perfectly suited to the holidays!

A team member here at Harrah’s Entertainment (the company that owns the Pulse of Vegas destinations featured on this blog) recently heard about a group of local Marines returning from Iraq. The Marines were in need of employment upon their return, so the employee took this as an opportunity to reach out and help these Marines from Las Vegas (Detachment 2, Bravo Company, 6 Motor Transport Battalion).

As a result of her efforts, and that of other team members, Bally’s Las Vegas was able to offer seven Marines full-time positions, including security and front desk positions.

You get a proud salute from us, Bally's!

The good news continues: An additional six Marines are completing the hiring process and should be working at Bally’s soon. Now, that’s the spirit of the holidays as only Vegas can do it!