This blog was saddened to hear about the passing of screen legend Leslie Nielsen. The star of “Airplane!,” “The Naked Gun” and innumerable movies and TV shows was truly a one-of-a-kind talent.

We spotted this eye-catching portrait of Leslie Nielsen gracing a wall at the Planet Hollywood resort not too long ago.

Ever-fearless. Ever-funny.

From what we know of the actor’s sense of humor, we suspect Leslie Nielsen would have gotten a kick out of being remembered for, in addition to his on-screen accomplishments, appearing topless in Vegas.

You’ll be missed, Mr. Nielsen, surely.

One of the highlights of the holiday season in Vegas, the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, is set for Dec. 4.

Close to 9,000 Santas took part in 2009, and this blog was there, of course. Read our post about the Las Vegas Great Santa Run.

It's a sea of Santas. And a guy in a hoodie and sunglasses. (Probably looking for the World Series of Poker.)

The massive, St. Nick-saturated run takes place at Town Square at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The event benefits Opportunity Village, a nonprofit serving those with intellectual disabilities through vocational training, community employment, day services and advocacy.

There is a 61% probability this is the actual Santa.

Special guests slated to attend include Mirage headliner Terry Fator and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Participants can run a 5k or one mile course. Registration is $35 for adults, $25 for children ages two to 12, and free for children under 2.

A nice jog might put an end to that whole "bowl full of jelly" issue.

Find out more about this fun event that helps so many gain independence and attain their goals. Oh, and hanging out with thousands of people in Santa suits just happens to be a blast!

If you still have the energy, you can also take part in the second annual Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon on Dec. 5 to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Find out more.

Random poker discovery of the day: A wallet fashioned from playing cards. What’s not to love?

It's great to be flush with cash! (See what we did there?)

We’re counting the seconds until the marketers of this product call it the “Bill Fold.” Because, you know, in cards, you sometimes “fold.” Anyway, get it here.

While you’re in the shopping mood, find tons of poker-related gifts at the World Series of Poker online store.

Well, this one was a bit of a no-brainer, but Caesars Palace pretty boy Matt Goss was recently voted “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Man Alive.”

By “pretty boy,” of course, we mean, “This Las Vegas blog deeply resents that Matt Goss can be both incredibly talented and good-looking when we can barely manage the incredibly talented part.”

This blog is so much sexier than Matt Goss. We just don't like to, you know, show it on the outside.

Watch the Channel 8 segment where the contest results were revealed.

During the segment, Matt Goss also lets the cat out of the bag about adding Sundays to his schedule of performances at The Gossy Room at Cleopatra’s Barge inside Caesars, starting the second weekend of January. His legions of die-hard fans just took part in a collective swoon, trust us.

Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, who struts his stuff at Paris Vegas, took a respectable second place in the “Sexiest Man” contest.

See Matt Goss live at Caesars Palace.

If you’re a fan of downtown Las Vegas and its history, you’ll love this item. The oldest operating casino in Vegas is the Golden Gate, and this classic hotel recently took its biggest bet ever as part of a taping of “The Buried Life,” a reality show on MTV.

Downtown's Golden Gate, built in 1906, has seen it all.

The cast of “The Buried Life,” which follows four friends on a quest to complete their list of “100 things to do before you die,” bet $125,000 on roulette and won, then let it ride.

Nobody will “officially” say whether the whopping $250,000 bet won, but thanks to the wonders of the Interwebs, you can see the results. Spoilers follow!

The $250,000 was bet on black, but Lady Luck didn’t smile on the “Buried Life” guys, unfortunately.

Watch the Golden Gate take its biggest bet ever in the official The Buried Life episode tonight on MTV.

Bonus Golden Gate factoid: In 1907, the Golden Gate got Las Vegas’ very first phone number, the easy-to-remember “1.”

But that doesn’t mean this blog doesn’t think they’re funny or worth sharing.

Despite this blog’s ongoing confusion about what nightclub “hosting” actually entails (beyond what insiders call “showing up”), we’re please to announce R&B powerhouse Rihanna will host at Pure Nightclub inside Caesars on New Year’s Eve.

Bonus: Pure will be one of the best vantage points in town for viewing New Year's Eve fireworks.

The multi-talented singer has sold more than 15 million albums and 45 million singles worldwide, and her hits include “Umbrella,” “Disturbia” and “Love the Way You Lie,” a collaboration with rapper Eminem. Check it out on YouTube, because with only 213 million views, Rihanna and Eminem clearly need all the help they can get.

Bonus Rihanna factoid: She has a number of tattoos, including one tattooed backwards on her chest that says, “Never a failure, always a lesson.” She had it done backwards so it can be read in a mirror.

Hang out with Rihanna on New Year’s Eve in Vegas! Get tickets here.

It’s a great time of year to stop and reflect upon just how lucky we are, to renew our sense of appreciation for the things we sometimes take for granted. Here, then, are our “Ten Things to Be Thankful for in Las Vegas.” (With a TM at the end, of course.)

1. Flesh.

Oh, yes, we’re getting this one out of the way right off the bat. Whether you’re a fan of the sweaty studs at Chippendales inside Rio, the lovely ladies of X Burlesque at Flamingo, or even one of Sin City’s famed strip clubs, you’re bound to find ample amounts of glistening skin to satisfy your prurient cravings.

In Vegas, we tend to play to our strengths.

2. Decadent dining.

Speaking of cravings, Las Vegas is home to some of the most mouth-watering restaurants in the world, many boasting renowned celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Guy Savoy and Kerry Simon. Take your pick and enjoy a lifetime’s worth of sublime culinary offerings, all in one city. Vegas, baby!

Be honest. This dish at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill made you want to bite into your computer screen.

3. The Luxor light.

No matter where you are in Vegas, you pretty much always know where you are because of the beacon emanating from the Luxor’s distinctly-shaped hotel. Bonus factoid: The Luxor beam is touted as the most powerful in the world at 42 billion candle power.

4. Hotel room deals.

Say what you want about the economy, but the upside for Vegas guests definitely has to be that Las Vegas hotel rooms can be had at incredible values. Just when you thought they couldn’t get lower, you find out from this very blog that you would be, uh, wrong. Ever hear of Cyber Monday? It’s the online version of Black Friday, and Caesars Entertainment hotels across the country are digging deep to offer savings of 20-40% for rooms booked on Nov. 29-30. Bookmark this page and check it out on Monday.

What does a model, blowing on pixie dust, have to do with cheap hotel rooms? We have no idea. We are a Las Vegas blog, not a stock photography chooser.

5. Holly Madison.

Sure, we could have listed Peepshow star Holly Madison under the “Flesh” category, but you clearly don’t know how this blog rolls! Holly Madison’s smile (yes, her smile!) just makes Vegas a happier place.

Holly Madison's slot at Planet Hollywood is very popular. What? Slot machines are called slots. Ask anyone.

6. Lady Luck.

There’s this weird thing you hear from time to time: “The house always wins.” What a load of turkey gizzards! Nobody’s saying the house doesn’t have the advantage, but that’s over an infinite number of wagers. Lady Luck doesn’t care about an infinite number of wagers. She cares about lucky streaks, and they happen all the time in Vegas.

For the record, this roulette table is happy to see you.

7. The funny.

An often unheralded aspect of Vegas is that it’s the absolute best place on Earth to get some funny. If laughter is the best medicine, Vegas is like a giant pharmacy. But with strippers. Thankfully, you can get comedy in the expected places like The Improv at Harrah’s, or from master laugh-makers like George Wallace and Vinnie Favorito at Flamingo. But you can also get it in places you didn’t necessarily expect to, like the Donny & Marie show at Flamingo or from Anthony Cools at Paris, easily two of the funniest shows in town!

At Anthony Cools' show, your inhibitions and funny bone are in serious jeopardy.

8. What’s new.

There are few things in life you can absolutely rely on, but here one: There’s always, always something new happening in Las Vegas. New hotels are opening (like The Cosmopolitan, opening Dec. 15), there are fresh coats of paint (Harrah’s Entertainment is now Caesars Entertainment), and a new restaurant or attraction opens every 15 minutes or so: A tasty new food court at Flamingo just opened up, PBR Rock Bar at Planet Hollywood is in full swing and Sugar Factory at Paris is nearing completion. Vegas is almost never the same place twice!

9. Free Vegas stuff.

We love us some free, so we’re always in a thankful mood because Vegas is known for its free stuff! The dazzling dancing fountains at Bellagio are free, as are its botanical garden displays. The massive aquarium at The Forum Shops at Caesars is free. The Show in the Sky at Rio is free. The Big Elvis show at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall is free. Oh, and this blog is free. Feeling thankful yet?

Big Elvis at Bill's is one of the most beloved free shows on the Strip, bigtime.

10. You.

Yes, we’re thankful for you. Because Vegas isn’t Vegas without the people who help make it such a fun, colorful, intoxicating (you know who you are) place. The more you’re you, the more Vegas is Vegas. So, get a room, put on some Mardi Gras beads, and just be you. But a more fun you. Wearing someone else’s underwear on your head. Yeah, that you.

Have a great Thanksgiving. Better yet, have it in Vegas.

Somebody’s definitely in the holiday spirit. On Nov. 24, McFadden’s at Rio Vegas hosts an evening of revelry and charity, featuring a couple of notable faces from reality TV.

McFadden’s is teaming up with Mark Long from “Road Rules” and the unforgettable Trishelle Cannetella, from “The Real World Las Vegas,” for a food drive to benefit a local Vegas food bank, Three Square.

Factoid: The McFadden's logo includes a Celtic symbol meaning, "Take that, liver!" (We made that up.)

To help those less fortunate, McFadden’s will reward canned food donations with drink specials. The more you bring, the more you get back. Bring in one canned food item, get a drink on the house. Bring in 10 cans and take part in an open bar for just $10 (10:00 p.m. to midnight). Bring in 30 or more cans and receive a free bottle of premium vodka.

Insider bonus: Teachers get their first cocktail free.

See you at McFadden’s!

As of today (Nov. 23, 2010), Harrah’s Entertainment is Caesars Entertainment. Discuss.

This Las Vegas blog is 41% sure this is the first time you're seeing the new Caesars Entertainment logo, so we're calling "Exclusive!"

Don’t panic. Same great Total Rewards loyalty program. Same fun. Same friendly dealers. Same spa treatments this blog can’t pronounce. And if you’re pining for a little Harrah’s action, there are Harrah’s resorts all over the place, including Harrah’s Las Vegas on the Strip.

Now, our “Top Five Reasons to Love the New Caesars Entertainment Logo.”

1. Roughage!

2. Red and black fall neatly in line with Ewald Hering’s opponent color theory, whatever that might actually be.

3. New business cards for us, neener-neener-neener.

4. Apostrophes are for suckas.

5. That little “R” in the circle is absolutely adorable.

Back to our regularly-scheduled nonsense.

We’re betting you’re going to have the uncontrollable urge to French kiss a certain Las Vegas blog when you hear about this exclusive hook-up!

Here’s the skinny (but not for long, trust us): Get a succulent 25% off your tab at Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace just for mentioning this Pulse of Vegas Blog, the Facebook page for Caesars Palace or the Caesars Palace Twitter account. It’s that deliciously simple!

Stop licking your computer monitor, it's disgusting. The Deep Fried Oreos and Ice Cream dish is better in person.

This special insider discount is good weekdays (Monday through Thursday) from Dec. 1 through Dec. 17.

Super awesome you-owe-us-bigtime bonus: The 25% off deal is also good for cocktails! Now, do we have your attention?

Just dive headlong into the 100 items on the mind-boggling Serendipity 3 menu. You’ll find not only amazing desserts, but a vast array of signature temptations for breakfast (yes, breakfast!), lunch and dinner.

Saying Serendipity 3 has breakfast is like saying the Gobi desert has some sand.

Cowboy up and take on the Saints and Sinners French Toast Log (pictured above). It features eggs, breakfast potatoes, French toast, bacon fresh berries and whipped cream.

So, let’s review. You’re in Serendipity 3 outside Caesars. You order. You mention this blog (or Caesars Palace on Facebook or Twitter). And 25% of your bill goes away just like magic.

You can't miss it.

Oh, and please let us know when this French kiss thing is happening. We’ll stock up on ChapStick.

Do you already find it challenging to keep track of when you want to hit or stand at the blackjack table? Well, get an eyeful of this blackjack table layout at Planet Hollywood, featuring Peepshow star Holly Madison.

Your blackjack hands aren't the only hands you need to watch, buster.

If you’d like to see the “Holly’s World” star in the flesh, so to speak, catch Holly as the titular (yeah, we said it) Bo Peep in Peepshow.

Remember, it’s not about plot, it’s about hot. Yes, we just made that up. We’d put a TM next to it, but we haven’t figured out how to do that yet.

We may have mentioned in the past how much this Las Vegas blog loves it some free, especially when it comes to free stuff in Sin City.

Bally’s just started a new sweepstakes on its Facebook page, and a lucky winner will receive a stay at Bally’s Vegas, two tickets to Jubilee!, the most sequin-tacular (not a real word) show on the Strip, two spa passes and two passes to the Bally’s Sterling Brunch, a feast so sublime, it consistently gets raves on Trip Advisor and other review sites.

Definitely not a gratuitous "Jubilee!" photo.

The sweepstakes runs through Dec. 13, with a winner to be announced a few days later. It’s free to enter, so have at it and good luck.

Bonus diversion: Check out the Official Rules for this giveaway. They’re free and fun to read! Enjoy fancy terms like “hereby” and “void” and “natural person” and “cause of action.” All, absolutely free! Don’t say we never hooked you up.

Steakhouse 46 at Flamingo Las Vegas has officially closed up shop, we’re sad to say. This beloved steakhouse was named after the year the Flamingo first opened, 1946.

One of Steakhouse 46's specialties was its basted meats. "We're master basters!" they would proclaim. At which point we were probably fired.

Bonus Flamingo factoid: The original Flamingo hotel cost $6 million to build.

“So, now where will I ever find great steak on the Strip?” you ask, providing us the perfect opportunity to talk up some steakhouses in the neighborhood of the famed Flamingo, five to be exact.

Let’s start with the Steakhouse at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Casino, a restaurant that harkens back to the early days of Vegas, with crushed re velvet booths, a stained-glass dome ceiling and an old-fashioned attention to putting the customer first.

Yes, we take photos of everything. Leave us alone. It's easier than having a life.

Our Steakhouse at Bill’s hook-up: On Mondays, get any bottle of wine half-off with the purchase of an entree.

Next, just across Flamingo Blvd., it’s the Bally’s Steakhouse.

The Bally's Steakhouse has done it all and seen it all. We can't wait to read its autobiography.

This welcoming steakhouse has a storied history, and continues to serve up reasonably-priced, high-quality fare. Our insider tip: Before dinner, have a cocktail at the brand-new Steakhouse Bar. The perfect spot to meet up with friends, or those who are about to be. (Hello, it’s Vegas!)

Next on our Tour d’Meat (not a real term), continuing south on Las Vegas Blvd., is Les Artistes Steakhouse at Paris Las Vegas. Feast your eyes on the meaty gloriousness of Les Artistes below.

Oh, now we have your attention. When it comes to Vegas, it's all about bone-in. (Can't fire us twice!)

Les Artistes is a singular dining experience. It’s supremely romantic, and the architecture is nearly as impressive as the menu. We’ve yet to have anything at Les Artistes we haven’t loved, and that includes our latest visit, where we’re pretty sure we ate escargot, something we never thought we do without being tortured first.

On the other side of Flamingo, in our quest for steak, there’s the Range Steakhouse at Harrah’s.

We haven't personally eaten here yet, but it smells good, so that's a great start.

You’ll find all your favorites, including seafood, and wrap-around windows provide stunning views of the Strip, including the entrance to The Forum Shops across the street at Caesars Palace.

And speaking of Caesars, give Neros a try.

No apostrophe, just like there's none in Caesars. Whip those factoids out at your next dinner party.

Neros is more than a steakhouse, but that’s where this well-respected restaurant excels. The Black Angus, USDA-certified prime beef at Neros comes from Creekstone Farms and is dry-aged for nearly a month before being served. Unforgettable.

That should tide you over until we find out more about what’s next for the space occupied by Steakhouse 46. One thing’s guaranteed: There’s always something new to see (or devour) in Vegas.

Oh, and thanks to our friends at VegasChatter.com, one of our favorite Vegas blogs (that isn’t us), for the tip about the closing of Steakhouse 46. Hey, we can’t be everywhere at once.