This year’s World Series of Poker at Rio Las Vegas started as the third-largest live poker tournament in history, with 6,865 entrants. Now it comes down to just nine players.

The November Nine, a truly international bunch, are pictured below, left to right: Badih Bounahra (Belize City, Belize), Phil Collins (Las Vegas, NV), Matt Giannetti (Las Vegas, NV), Pius Heinz (Cologne, Germany), Samuel Holden (Sussex, UK), Ben Lamb Tulsa, OK), Anton Makiievskyi (Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine), Eoghan O’Dea (Dublin, Ireland) and Martin Staszko (Trinec, Czech Republic).

Nine very happy, and exhausted, campers.

Four countries have a finalist in poker’s world championship for the first time: Belize, Czech Republic, Germany and Ukraine, only one of which this blog can actually locate on a map. Probably.

The tournament now takes a recess. Players will get three months to gear up for the Final Table which will be played Nov. 5-7, 2011 at Rio Las Vegas.

Each of the players who made it this far are guaranteed at least $782,115 in prize money. The top prize will be a whopping $8,711,956. Oh, let’s just say $8.7 million. What’s a few tens of thousands between poker buddies?

The winner will also receive the coveted, custom-designed WSOP gold and diamond bracelet.

It's all about the WSOP bling! And the stacks of cash. But, you know, mostly the bling.

You can catch comprehensive TV coverage of the World Series of Poker starting July 26 on ESPN. Coverage will continue in two-hour blocks each Tuesday for 16 weeks, culminating with Main Event Final Table coverage on Nov. 8, 2011. No, we did not read that in a news release. We are a Las Vegas blog, so we know this stuff off the top of our head. Hello.

A final WSOP fact: In the 42-year history of the World Series of Poker, the prestigious tournament has given out more than $1.4 billion in prize money.

For more information about all this, visit the official WSOP site, or check out articles in the Las Vegas Review-Journal here and here.

TV, music and pop culture icon David Hasselhoff stopped by for some music and comedy at the “Donny & Marie” show at the Flamingo on July 26.

The former “Baywatch” and “Knight Rider” star attended the popular show with his girlfriend Hayley Roberts.

It's good to be famous! Just saying.

Bonus David Hasselhoff trivia: He was recently featured in a new CBS show, “Same Name,” where he swapped places with a regular guy also named David Hasselhoff. Take a look.

Double bonus trivia: Both Hasselhoffs made a guest appearance on one of this blog’s favorite reality shows, “Big Brother,” to promote “Same Name.”

Two entertainment titans square off backstage at Flamingo Las Vegas.

Triple bonus David Hasselhoff trivia: From the video, he appears to have a pet pig.

Catch Donny & Marie, easily one of the most entertaining shows on the Strip, at Flamingo Las Vegas. Catch David Hasselhoff, oh, everywhere else.

One of the Strip’s most popular animal attractions, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, welcomed a new arrival, a dolphin calf, born on July 3, 2011.

We’re a sucker for dolphins, so we stopped by to take a look.

There you've got your "ador," and there you've got your "able."

On the day we visited, the calf (it’s a boy!) was making the rounds with its mother, Dutchess and Huf n Puf, Duchess’ daughter, as well as Huf n Puf’s daughter, Bella. Yeah, it gets complicated, but it’s actually three generations of dolphins.

The calf’s father, Lightning, is kept in another pool. We’re fairly sure it’s nothing personal.

We caught up with the new arrival at the “Birthing and Research” pool, which sounds a lot more exclusive than it is since it’s open to the public. Thanks to our exclusive video, it’s baby dolphin time.

It’s interesting to note that in certain parts of the video, the dolphins are actually napping as they swim. They essentially shut down half their brain, and continue to move in a circular motion around the pool. We like that “shutting down half the brain” trick, and can only assume we’ll be using it at work from here on out.

Officials at the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat took some time before announcing the dolphin’s birth, just to make sure the little bugger was in good shape and ready for his public debut. Dolphins are fairly delicate through their first year, so the attraction’s staff will continue to monitor the calf as he bonds with his mother and grows more independent.

If you're not smiling right now, you're a cyborg.

The new calf is the ninth dolphin at the dolphin habitat.

The calf still hasn’t been given a name, but this blog is kind of feeling like “Pulse” might fit the bill. We’re just saying.

Something else we didn’t know before we read the news release: “The Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage is accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, an international association dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the wild through public education, scientific study and wildlife presentations.” We dig that.

Yes, you get this close.

More dolphin baby facts: The typical gestation period of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins is one year, and a calf nurses for at least a year. Dolphin babies are often born tail first, and weigh between 25 and 30 pounds. Yes, we picked up a brochure during our visit.

Entry to the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat is just $17 (and a mere $14 for Nevada residents).

They might want to put "secret" in quotation marks.

Another intriguing offering we’re dying to try is the Trainer for a Day program. In the program, participants work with dolphin care specialists and train dolphins first-hand. The cost is a hefty $595 per person, but hello, they’re dolphins. Read more.

Just another great item for your list of Things to Do in Las Vegas. Congratulations to everyone at the dolphin habitat on the new arrival! You just never know what surprises might pop out on the Las Vegas Strip.

July 27 is National Crème Brulee Day, and have we got the hook-up for you.

The Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas is offering free tastings of its mind-blowing crème brulee from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on July 27.

No, this is not some Photoshopped stock photo. We actually ate this.

The only requirement for the free crème brulee is that you use the super secret code words, “Chef Joho.”

Chef Jean Joho, of course, is the acclaimed French chef and mastermind behind the Eiffel Tower Restaurant’s dizzyingly delightful menu. No, really, we sometimes feel dizzy. The good kind.

Love the crème brulee, love the man.

There are two things this blog loves: Creme brulee and free. Get both at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant on National Crème Brulee Day, 2011.

Yes, we ate this one, too. We have issues.

Find out more about this world-class restaurant at Paris Las Vegas, and let us know what you think of the crème brulee. Assuming your head doesn’t explode from the awesomeness.

One of this blog’s favorite stand-ups, Charles Fleischer, is the featured comedian at The Improv at Harrah’s, now through July 31.

The Improv at Harrah’s brings the best comedic talent in the business to Las Vegas each and every week, and Fleischer is the cream of the comedy crop.

Charles Fleischer at The Improv.

Charles Fleischer has been prodding audiences into fits of laughter for decades, and his voice (one of them, anyway) is instantly recognizable as the voice of Roger Rabbit.

We caught up with him at the 15-year anniversary of The Improv at Harrah’s, at which time he taunted us about taking too many photos of him onstage. Hey, that’s how this blog rolls. Read more.

Little-known Fleischer fact: His TV debut was on the original “Laugh-In” series, hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin. The dude knows his way around a punchline.

Once you witness Fleischer’s lightning-quick, stream of consciousness musings, and his unmatched mastery of wordplay, you’ll never go back to pedestrian comedy again.

Shows are at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $29.05, and VIP tickets are available for $44.95 (they include special seating, a T-shirt and meet-and-greet with the comics).

Fremont Street, in downtown Las Vegas, has hosted a series of 1980s-inspired concerts this summer, and this weekend (July 23) was no exception. One of this blog’s all-time favorite groups, Wang Chung, whipped out their tried-and-true hits, inspiring droves of fans to both Wang and Chung, as far as we could tell.

The free concert series, “Nina Blackwood’s Absolutely ’80s,” has featured ’80s icons like Berlin, Missing Persons, Colin Hay of Men at Work. At the event, we actually bumped into Nina Blackwood, one of MTV’s five original VJs.

Nina Blackwood probably had a catchphrase, but we don't entirely remember it.

The most recent installment of the concert series opened with a set by Pete Byrne of Naked Eyes. Naturally, we got all up in Pete’s grill for some exclusive video of the group’s cover of a Burt Bacharach tune, “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me.”

Pete Byrne also performed the Naked Eyes’ other hit, “Promises, Promises.” Read more about Naked Eyes. And, yes, our photo is now the official photo on the group’s Wikipedia page. This blog gives until it hurts.

Pete Byrne was born to love you. In a completely appropriate, lyrical context.

When Wang Chung took to the Fremont Street Experience stage, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy. Did we mention the free part? Oh, and Wang Chung is also awesome.

Wang Chung's Nick Feldman and Jack Hues.

Jack Hues and Nick Feldman helped ’80s music fans re-live some of their fondest musical memories, including classics like “Let’s Go,” “To Live and Die in L.A.” and many others.

Craving a Wang Chung medley to help you avoid work? Certainly!

Keeping the Relevance-o-Meter (not a real thing) spiking, the guys played their song, “Space Junk.” How does this song ensure relevancy, you ask? Well, this song was featured prominently in the premiere episode of TV’s hit zombiefest, “Walking Dead.”

This blog doesn't unison clap, on principle. Except when Wang Chung performs.

Wang Chung trivia: The group’s original name was Huang Chung, but they changed it to make it easier to pronounce.

Wang Chung's Jack Hues encourages everybody to have fun. Tonight, in fact.

Never fear, there are more ’80s-fueled concerts on the way: On Aug. 6, it’s Loverboy; Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet hits the stage with Men Without Hats, Aug. 20; and Howard Jones performs Sep. 3. All concerts start at 9:00 p.m. at the Fremont Street Experience.

Everybody plays Vegas, baby!

Las Vegas weddings are the stuff of legend, with a wedding for every style and budget. But Vegas can also deliver epic marriage proposals, as a couple from San Diego discovered at Bally’s Las Vegas.

Jim Canfield, a business consultant, knew he wanted to propose to his girlfriend Paige in Las Vegas (who wouldn’t?), but he also wanted to propose in a unique and unforgettable way. He did some research and contacted the team at Bally’s Las Vegas. After some creative thinking and extensive planning, Jim got to propose in a way we think is entirely awesome.

Thanks, Jim, for setting the bar impossibly high for every other guy on Earth.

Jim cooked up a story about a special promotion where those having a birthday would be able to take a spin of the giant slot machine at Bally’s. Little did Paige know, earlier in the day, slot machine techs had turned off the slot machine and replaced the usual symbols with the message, “Will you marry me?”

The wedding proposal went off without a hitch, and we’ve got exclusive video to prove it!

This Las Vegas blog has personally spoken to several people who have deemed this the “Most Romantic Wedding Proposal Ever.” Hey, it’s a huge slot machine, so who are we to argue?

Following the proposal, and Paige saying “yes” (of course), her first call was to her father. Jim had already asked her father for her hand, which we kind of think is old-school fabulous.

Jim reels in his bride-to-be. Reels. See what we did there?

We couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to find out more about the colossal slot machine that was such an integral part of this couple’s big day. Come to find out, the nickname of the machine is “Colossus.” We’re told it’s also called “Big Bertha” by those who work at Bally’s.

This isn’t the first time a proposal has been done via slot reel, but the last time was a decade ago. Shutting the slot machine down costs the hotel an estimated $100 an hour. The machine was originally made by IGT, but they’re no longer being manufactured. In fact, there used to be two large machines at Bally’s, but one had to be dismantled for parts to keep Colossus operating. If these big machines were made today, they’d probably cost in the range of $80,000 to $90,000.

Sal, a slot tech at Bally's, works his magic to provide the proposal of a lifetime.

Colossus is a true attraction. It’s so popular, in fact, that the marble floor tiles in front of the giant slot machine’s “arm” are actually worn down from the traffic.

We couldn’t help but wonder, “If they can make ‘Will you marry me?’ appear on the reels, what’s to keep a casino from finessing the wheels at other times?” We were assured that in order to make the message appear, the machine had to be set to a special, seldom-used and closely-monitored test mode. The wheels can’t be manipulated by the casino for normal play. Hey, we thought we’d ask.

But enough about Colossus, and more about Jim and Paige’s colossal time in Vegas!

The canoodling couple followed up their winning proposal with dinner at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in the adjoining Paris Las Vegas. Of course we followed. That’s how this blog rolls.

Just one of the spectacular views from the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris.

The Eiffel Tower Restaurant is known as one of the most romantic spots in Las Vegas, and the couple snagged a window-side table so they could enjoy the jaw-dropping views of the Bellagio’s dancing fountains during dinner.

Photo op! Times, oh, infinity.

Thanks to these lovebirds for letting us tell their heartwarming story, and we hope they’ll invite us to their wedding. Which we can only assume will take place in Las Vegas. Hint, hint.

Most casino chips are a mixture of compressed clay, chalk and sand, similar to the ingredients in kitty litter.

Insert your favorite "craps" joke here.

Yep, that chip’s from Harrah’s Las Vegas, eagle eye.

There are lots of reasons to love Las Vegas, but among our favorites are the wild, wacky, intriguing people you meet in Sin City.

Las Vegas is a rare daiquiri blender of people and cultures and attire and income brackets and accents and perspectives and fascinating, one-of-a-kind personalities.

Not long ago, we encountered one of those amazing personalities outside Planet Hollywood. His name: Charlie the Artist.

Charlie the Artist, sharing his art with passersby on the Strip.

Visitors to Las Vegas have become accustomed to seeing “buskers” along the Las Vegas Strip. Some perform. Some wear costumes providing unique, and often useless, photo ops. These folks have become a part of the flavor of the Strip, enjoyed by some, a nuisance to others, but definitely part of the Las Vegas experience.

Charlie’s unique talent is that he’s a brilliant artist, and his favorite subjects are Las Vegas’ iconic landmarks. The artwork we saw was dazzling and complex, a masterpiece of Pointillism featuring many of our favorite spots on the Strip.

Much of Charlie's work is made up of tens of thousands of tiny dots.

But that’s not the “Only in Las Vegas” part.

We asked Charlie, “Can we take your photo for our blog?” Charlie was quick to point out it’s strange we tend to refer to ourselves as “we,” even though we’re actually just one person, but let’s move on.

Charlie said, “Sure. Buy me a steak dinner.”

We were a tad taken aback by that request, mainly because most of the buskers on the Strip seem pleased with a buck or two.

“We’d love to buy you a dinner, Charlie,” we said. “But we are a Las Vegas blog, not an investment banker. How about three bucks?”

Charlie laughed. “Sure, he said. Ten bucks.”

We, of course, also laughed. “OK, how about five bucks?” He nodded, and we took the photos you see here.

Charlie clearly has a lot of free time. Not to mention a love of all things Vegas.

Charlie covers a lot of ground in his work. Even in the small section above, he’s got Flamingo Las Vegas, Rio Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

As we wrapped up our photo session, we couldn’t help but mention, “Charlie, you’re the only busker we’ve ever haggled with for a photo.”

Charlie, without missing a beat, said, “Haven’t you seen Pawn Stars?”

That was the “Only in Vegas” part.

About 50 showgirls from “Jubilee!” at Bally’s took to the streets in Vegas today to take part in a rally against hidden resort fees.

The “angry” showgirls were joined outside Bally’s by Vegas celebrities, including Marie Osmond, Penn & Teller, Chippendales guest performer Jeff Timmons, Mac King and Vinnie Favorito.

Told you they were angry. Well, "showgirl angry."

Caesars Entertainment, which owns a number of Las Vegas hotels, and this blog, come to think of it, has a citywide “no resort fee” policy, estimated to have saved Vegas visitors $37 million over the last year.

When showgirls say "no resort fees," this blog tends to listen.

A majority of Strip hotels charge guests up to $20 a day in sometimes “hidden” resort fees intended to cover amenities like pool entry, fitness center access, Internet access, bottled water and local newspaper delivery.

Word.

Officials took the opportunity to announce a video contest with the theme, “Take A Stand Against Resort Fees.” There are three Vegas getaways up for grabs in the online contest. View a sample video here, and hit the No Resort Fees Facebook page for more information. (Click on the left-hand side contest link thingy.) The video contest ends August 17, 2011.

Yes, there was a helicopter. Hey, news in your town is different from news in Vegas.

Naturally, you’ll want to revel in the photographic goodness we went to a heck of a lot of trouble to bring you. That’s how this blog rolls.

Think your job’s bizarre? Ours certainly is. We’re not even sure blogging is a “job,” per se, but that’s for another time.

Flamingo Las Vegas magician Nathan Burton is a fixture on the Strip, but he hasn’t done it all on his own. Burton surrounds himself with family to help handle the myriad demands that make the life of a Las Vegas performer so, well, bizarre.

Burton’s sister Emily and mother Nancy were featured in a segment on Current TV about strange jobs, and thanks to the miracle that are the Interwebs, we can now share that segment with you!

What a fun glimpse, however zoom-happy, into the world of a Strip performer. It’s a non-stop schedule of rehearsals and PR and performances and marketing meetings and public appearances and PR and charity events and more PR.

Nathan Burton's sister Emily gets to meet some interesting people doing her gig.

We bumped into Burton’s mom and sister not too long ago at, of all things, a public appearance at the Flamingo pool during the days leading up to the Miss USA pageant.

Sis, lifeguard, Nathan Burton, former Miss USA Rima Fakih, lifeguard, mom.

Just another day in the life of the people who bring you unforgettable Vegas entertainment!

See Nathan Burton live at Flamingo, and to get the most bang for your buck, check out the All-Stage Pass. It’s all the Vegas shows you can see (including Nathan Burton’s) in two days for one entirely reasonable price. Find out more.

It’s National Lollipop Day (July 20), so there’s no better time to share a little-known “attraction” on the Strip: The million dollar lollipop at Sugar Factory inside Paris Las Vegas.

The world's first, and we believe only, million dollar lollipop.

The glittery, million dollar pop was unveiled at Sugar Factory’s grand opening at Paris Vegas by socialite and TV personality Kim Kardashian on Mar. 4, 2011.

It’s a Perfect Princess Cut-designed necklace, covered with 125 carats of flawless, white diamonds and 200 grams of 18-carat white gold. Note: Grams are like ounces, but more “foreigny.”

The one-of-a-kind “Couture Pop” (the name for a pop and its fashionable case) is available for purchase for a cool million bucks. Oh, come on, you have that on you, right?

Sweet! No, literally, it's a case for a lollipop. Lollipops are sweet. Try and keep up.

The Million Dollar Couture Pop is on display every day of the week in a guarded, glass case, and was crafted by a team of experts including: Joshua Pianko, Ido Izkovich from The Perfect Princess Cut Diamonds company and Mario Leiva.

Of course, Sugar Factory has myriad other lollipop options for significantly less than a million clams. Our favorite is the Vegas Couture Pop. What else?

This blog's favorite Couture Pop. We might be a tad biased.

Another reason to love Sugar Factory pops? They’re assembled by a local nonprofit, Opportunity Village. Read more about this amazing partnership.

For the record, there’s also a Sugar Factory location inside The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, right across from the popular Earl of Sandwich restaurant.

On the off chance a million dollar pop isn’t up your alley, we reluctantly offer up a novelty item this Las Vegas blog deeply resents: Sin City sucker pops. See below.

We'd write a caption for this photo, but we're too busy being incensed.

If you must, read more about these tasty Vegas collectibles available in just about every souvenir shop on the Strip.

Whether you call them lollipops, pops, lollies, suckers or dum-dums, we hope you have a great National Lollipop Day! Because in Vegas, we’re big fans of lickers. See what we did there?

This blog loves it an unadulterated Las Vegas publicity stunt. Adulterated, even better, but let’s move on.

This week’s Sin City-sized publicity juggernaut comes courtesy of the showgirls of “Jubilee!” at Bally’s Las Vegas.

Vegas tip: You kind of don't want to mess with an angry showgirl.

Apparently, these toothsome performers are miffed about the resort fees charged by many Las Vegas hotels. In fact, they say as much in the video below. We know they can walk with 35-pound headdresses, but lets see if showgirls also have some acting chops.

What have we learned from this video?

1) Las Vegas showgirls are surprisingly passionate about resort fees and fiscal responsibility.

2) Showgirl Jackie’s friends decided not to visit Las Vegas because of resort fees. Jackie clearly needs to re-evaluate her circle of friends. There are any number of hotels that have no resort fees. Basically, they’re the ones we yammer on endlessly about in this blog. Here’s a list.

3) According to one shapely showgirl, “What you see is what you get.” Hint: This is just a figure of speech, so don’t get your hopes up, guys.

4) Occasionally, showgirls apply lipstick even though they’re already wearing lipstick. (Oh, like you weren’t going to watch it again, anyway.)

5) “Something really should be done about hotels that charge resort fees.”

In that spirit, about 50 “Jubilee!” showgirls will be out in full force on July 21, at 9:00 a.m., for a publicity stunt-stravaganza (not a real word) in front of Bally’s. Also expected to attend the rally are celebrity guests including Rio Las Vegas headliners, Penn & Teller.

If you can’t make it to the rally, we suspect this blog will take lots of photos on your behalf. Did we mention there will be 50 showgirls?

Go here to find out more about resort fees and why they make Las Vegas showgirls so surly.

There are few things in life that give this blog as much joy as a daiquiri. Lucky for us, the wheels of Sin City are generously lubricated with these frosty concoctions.

Our extensive research shows the most popular flavor of daiquiri in Las Vegas is strawberry. Extensive in that strawberry is our personal favorite.

In honor of National Daiquiri Day (July 19), we’ve put a Kevlar vest on our liver and compiled the ultimate list of Las Vegas daiquiris. By “ultimate,” of course, we mean “completely biased toward the places we frequent to have daiquiris.” We are a Las Vegas blog, not a champion of objectivity.

Evening Call at Bally’s and Rio

Evening Call is responsible for some of the most flavorful daiquiris in Vegas, and some of the most extreme brain freezes, too. Evening Call has a special perk to celebrate National Daiquiri Day, specifically $4 daiquiris and free shots. Yeah, we probably should have just skipped to the free shots part. Get free extra shots of Bacardi, Jose Cuervo and Smirnoff with any frozen drink purchase all day at all four of the store’s locations. They can found at Bally’s, Rio Vegas, Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Find them on Facebook and Twitter.

We're just getting started, so pace yourself.

Petit Bar, Paris Las Vegas

Oh, you know you want one. Yes, the daiquiri, but also one of the keepsake Eiffel Tower containers that will double as a piggy bank when you get back home. Equally keepsake-worthy is the ceramic chalice shaped like the Paris’ famed Montgolfier balloon (pictured below). Both can be had for $14.99 at Petit Bar near the Le Village Buffet. The Eiffel Tower has 60 oz. of fluid, the balloon has 28 oz. Some inside skinny: Out on the street, the very same drinks and collectible cups cost $18.99, and they’re $16.99 at Gustav’s Bar. Just saying.

Yes, the Montgolfier balloon. We occasionally read books, you know.

Pink’s at Planet Hollywood

It might be known primarily for its dogs, but Pink’s at Planet Hollywood serves up a delicious daiquiri, too. Pink’s is also involved with Vegas charities, so we dig them for that. Read more.

The only hotdog-inspired daiquiri goblet we know of.

Numb at Caesars Palace and Harrah’s

Numb delivers on its titular promise. With two locations, in Caesars Palace and Harrah’s Las Vegas, these daiquiri-focused bars serve up signature drinks with names like Up All Night, Naked Colada, Purple Haze, Strawberry Butterfly and Mango Kush, each more delicious than the next. (Please note all the “titular” jokes we’re not making. Maturity rocks.)

Judy, you've won our heart, three times over.

Rockhouse at Imperial Palace

Rockhouse isn’t merely a great source for tasty daiquiris in large, plastic recepticles, it’s pretty much a 24-7 party. Whether you prefer your libations in a cowboy boot or a guitar, Rockhouse is a refreshing stop center-Strip. If you’re up for it, order the monster-sized 100 ounce “Super Yard.” Hey, it’s either a party or it isn’t.

The aforementioned daiquiri guitar.

Halo Bar at Planet Hollywood

Just outside the casino, on the Miracle Mile Shops side, this circular bar is popular with those in need of a respite from shopping. Halo Bar is also popular with this blog for its strawberry daiquiri. No price gouging, lots of people watching, and friendly bartenders make this a must-stop on our Las vegas Tour de Daiquiri.

The only thing missing is a diving board.

Fat Tuesday at Miracle Mile, Imperial Palace and Caesars

Fat Tuesday, a name that’s easy to remember, churns out daiquiris that are equally memorable. Fat Tuesday can be found at Imperial Palace, The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and inside Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood. There are probably other locations, but again, utterly biased. Fat Tuesday is a firm beliver in the adage, “In Vegas, if your daiquiri doesn’t require a shoulder strap, you’re not doing it right!”

You can call it "Phat Tuesday," they're cool with it.

PBR Rock Bar

Owned by the same evil geniuses as Rockhouse, PBR Rock Bar knows how to daiquiri. The restaurant even features a daiquiri bar with easy, stagger-up access from its Miracle Mile-facing side. The PBR Rock Bar daiquiri is the one we had most recently, and it’s beyond scrumptious. Which is, by the way, a word you should not try to spell after having a few PBR Rock Bar daiquiris, if you know what we mean.

Consider this the "before" photo.

Cabo Wabo Cantina

Why does it not surprise us that Sammy Hagar’s restaurant-bar has some of the most tempting daiquiris on the Strip? On the day we stopped by, a daiquiri expert (the woman in line in front of us) recommended mixing two flavors for the supreme Cabo Wabo daiquiri experience: Dreamcicle and strawberry. Who are we to argue with an expert?

Hold. Us. Back. (Just not effectively.)

Sugar Factory at Paris Las Vegas

One of the appeals of daiquiris is the sweetness, and it’s hard to talk about sweets without a mention of Sugar Factory at Paris Vegas. While the desserts take up most of the limelight at this popular restaurant and confection store, don’t pass up the Sugar Factory’s daiquiris. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you can grab a quick one at convenient walk-up window, too. The “Sugar Stick” (see below) is $20 and should be a good start for your daiquiri-fueled exploits.

The "Sugar Stick" is the one with the growth spurt, third from the right.

La Bayou on Fremont Street

Last, but in no way the least. Sometimes, when you want something truly amazing, you have to head downtown. La Bayou, on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, is home to some of the most spectacular daiquiri goodness in all of Sin City. It’s a hole in the wall, and if you blink you might miss it, but it’s worth the search. Free Mardi Gras beads are a bonus, but the strawberry daiquiri is the main draw. Even Holly Madison, star of Peepshow, considers La Bayou’s to be the best daquiris in downtown Vegas. She even mentioned it in her book.

Sometimes, you just have to trust your favorite Las Vegas blog. Uh, this is your favorite, right?

So, get out there and make the most of National Daquiri Day. Then again, every day is Daquiri Day in Las Vegas. Please enjoy Sin City’s daiquiris responsibly, blah, blah, blah. Oh, just have a blast. It’s not like lawyers read this blog, anyway.

The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood are massive. You could spend all day and all night wandering this shopping wonderland and 1) never experience all of it, 2) soon realize you’re a giant chowderhead for thinking it’s just another shopping mall. OK, that last thing might apply more to this blog than you, but let’s move on.

Our recent wanderings led us to five surprising discoveries we feel compelled to share, mostly because we took pictures, and we hate to waste pixels.

Discovery #1: Cabo Wabo Battle of the Bands

The Cabo Wabo Cantina at Planet Hollywood went and planned a battle of the bands without telling us. We hate when that happens. “Sammy’s Battle of the Bands” began in May. Semi-finals start July 31 and the finale happens Sep. 18.

The "Sammy" involved is Sammy Hagar. We understand he's involved in music.

Discovery #2: Scoop Neck Tees at Ann Taylor Loft

Honestly, this blog isn’t all that big on shopping. As such, this blog is probably a wee light on the shopping tidbits. And we never would have thought to post about this except for the fact someone we were with went into a euphoric tizzy when they saw this deal at Ann Taylor Loft in the Miracle Mile Shops. Something about scoop neck tees, whatever those might actually be, on sale for $6. Our companion literally bought 15. That seems newsworthy to us.

For a limited time only. That's what the sign said, anyway.

Discovery #3: Ice Cream Dessert at PBR Rock Bar

There’s a lot to like about PBR Rock Bar. There you’ve got your hearty portions, your scantily-clad bullriders, your 215 (roughly) TV screens. But until our recent visit, we didn’t know about the “Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet.” Two words: Un. Believable.

We just chipped a tooth on our computer monitor.

It’s a thick, oven-hot cookie topped with generous scoops of ice cream, drizzled with chocolate. Your taste buds are going to offer to purchase you a villa in the south of France, trust us.

Discovery #4: Stripper Bar

To enter Stripper Bar, next to the V Theater, you have to pass through the legs of the woman pictured below. Is this a “discovery”? Not really. Is it awesome? Objectification aside, most certainly.

Insider tip: Keep your eyes on the ground or your wife's going to give you the cold shoulder all night.

What we did discover: She’s 31 feet tall. Additional discovery: The menu at Stripper Bar includes “T&A” (Teasers and Appetizers). We are not making this up. Vegas, you’re something else.

Discovery #5: D’Amore’s Pizza’s Coming Soon

We didn’t know the Miracle Mile Shops are going to get their very own D’Amore’s Pizza. The acclaimed pizza joint is known for having the water used in its dough shipped in from Italy. Yes, that Italy.

"D'Amore" translates as, "from the amore." Or something.

The new D’Amore’s Pizza will be next to the Saxe Theater.

We’d love to hear about your Vegas discoveries. Post them in the Comments section. There are no prizes, just this blog’s undying affection. Which, in most cases, will not violate any local or federal ordinances.