The world’s largest nighttime running event, the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, will be held Dec. 4, 2011.

A full marathon starts at 4:00 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay, and a half marathon begins at 5:30 p.m.

The event will result in a healthy number of street closures along the famed Las Vegas Strip, of course. The bulk of the closures and detours will happen between 3:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Dec. 4. Get more specifics about the road closures.

Told you it would be clustery.

Although this blog does not do anything that even remotely resembles running, it’s going to be an amazing sight when thousands of people lope down the blinky Las Vegas Strip at night.

Here’s a video from Vegas-based Zappos.com, the main sponsor of the event.

Representatives say the Las Vegas marathon is sold out, with 44,000 entrants set to take part. The event will benefit the Chrohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

Find out more about the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon at the official site.

It tends to happen around lunchtime. We get a major league hankering for a dish we simply can’t wait to try again.

Today, that dish is an appetizer at Mesa Grill inside Caesars Palace. Behold, the Blue Corn Pancake.

"Pancake" should probably have quotation marks around it.

The Blue Corn Pancake ($15) at Mesa Grill features barbecued duck and habanero chile-star anise sauce. This blog does not have to know what “habanero chile-star anise sauce” is to say this was a delicious appetizer.

Bonus: Chef Bobby Flay, the culinary mastermind behind Mesa Grill, has been kind enough to provide the recipe for Blue Corn Pancakes on his Web site.

Please, Mr. Flay, may we have another?

You can check out the full Mesa Grill menu on the Caesars Palace site. Great food, decent prices, and don’t even get us started about the tequila.

We said DON'T get us started about the tequila. Please pay attention.

What do you think?

One of the most memorable advertising catchphrases of all time, “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” was recently inducted into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame along with the Coca-Cola polar bears and Capital One’s “What’s In Your Wallet?” Read more.

You can't just put "fabulous" on a sign if it's not true, you know.

A riff on the “What happens here” theme, Know the Code, is the latest effort of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to talk up Las Vegas by, you know, encouraging people to not talk about Las Vegas. Hey, were are a Las Vegas blog, not an Authority, so what do we know?

You know that tall, pointy thing at the north end of the Strip? Pretty iconic, the Stratosphere.

The Stratosphere tower was the result of a concept whipped up by Bob Stupak, a Las Vegas character who made an indelible impression on Las Vegas, not to mention its famous skyline. Stupak passed away in 2009.

It tends to stand out a little.

There’s something you might not have known about Sin City’s Stratosphere tower: As the Stratosphere project was originally being conceived, it was going to include a giant ape that would carry riders up and down one of the tower’s columns.

The King Kong-like ape attraction concept was later scrapped, but it’s a fascinating “what might have been” from Sin City’s colorful history.

Now you know.

It’s no secret Las Vegas has a wealth of culinary talent. The city’s world-class chefs provide visitors a variety of dining experiences, from casual to highfalutin. Yes, that’s a word. Let’s stay focused.

Of all the chefs in Sin City, though, this blog has a particular fondness for pastry chefs. These sugar-slingers make every meal a treat for the senses.

Not too long ago, we breached security and stopped by the pastry kitchen at Flamingo Las Vegas. What we witnessed was something we never expected to see in a pastry kitchen (or any other kind, for that matter). Specifically, power tools.

Take a peek as Olivier Carlos, Executive Pastry Chef at Flamingo, cleverly decorates a tray of cupcakes in record time.

Ingenius! Haven’t you ever wondered how these folks supply the hundreds and thousands of pastries to Las Vegas restaurants and buffets each and every day? Ingenuity and horsepower, baby!

Chef Carlos also enjoys getting his souffle on, as the kids say. Somewhere kids are saying that, right?

From what we remember, the “air brush” frosting is cocoa butter-based, and the coloring is from a local manufacturer, Chef Rubber. Yes, it’s Chef Rubber. And look at all the jokes we’re not making! (Hello, maturity!)

Chef Rubber makes “specialty products for pastry chefs, artisans and mixologists.” Anyway, here’s the official site.

There's a good chance this blog is the only one endlessly fascinated by all this.

Chef Carlos fact: The French chef once made a replica of Elvis Presley’s wedding cake for Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall entertainer Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee. Read more. Find more Chef Carlos facts here.

So, the next time you’re enjoying a scrumptious pastry in Las Vegas, remember the team that helped make it possible. Specifically, Mr. Black and Mr. Decker. Oh, and Chef Carlos, too.

In what’s become a popular Vegas tradition, the “Las Vegas Great Santa Run” will happen on Dec. 3, 2011 (10:00 a.m.) at Town Square at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.

The event is a “5k fun run,” although this blog is not entirely sure why anyone would want to put “fun” and “run” so close together. It sounds an awful lot like exercise.

We're gonna need to put out more cookies.

The event is billed as being for the casual runner/walker. Registration for the event includes a five-piece Santa suit.  Money raised at the event goes to Opportunity Village, a nonprofit that serves those with intellectual disabilities.

Here’s a handy video promoting the event.

Special bonus: Those participating in the fundraising event will also be part of an attempt to break the world record for “Largest Gathering of Santas.”

The Las Vegas Great Santa Run averages about 10,000 Santas each year. The event also features live entertainment, a zipline, an appearance by 500 members of the Army National Guard and a number of other fun diversions we did not have time to research.

This is the actual Santa.

Cost to register is $35, or $45 on the day of the event.

Find out more about the event on the official site, and you can register here.

That tingling sensation in your lower leg can only mean one thing. It’s Cyber Monday. Are we having fun yet?

At the moment, Caesars Entertainment is offering 72 hours of substantial savings on its hotel rooms across the country, including 20% off rooms in Las Vegas. Go get some.

Honestly, does anything say “substantial savings” better than gratuitous beefcake?

Chippendales guys know a big deal when they hold one. Or something.

Thank you, Chippendales dancer guys, for letting us know about Cyber Monday in such a unique, oiled-up way. Especially that second-from-the-left guy that nearly made our co-worker’s head explode. His name is Nathan Minor, by the way.

Nathan has been in the Chippendales show at Rio Las Vegas longer than any other cast member, having performed in the popular male revue for 12 years.

We asked Nathan some questions, mainly to give us an excuse to post more photos of Nathan just to see if our co-worker’s head would, actually, explode.

POV Blog: Nathan, what is your best feature, and what do others say it is?

Nathan: I definitely think my best feature is my smile. I’ve heard other people say my best feature is my ass.

What’s not to love about this guy?

Sorry, we only got photos of Nathan's smile. You'll live.

More softball questions, please!

POV Blog: What’s the most popular misconception about your line of work?

Nathan: The most popular misconception is that this is all we do.  We are also realtors, construction workers, trainers, stylists, massage therapists, husbands and fathers, too!

POV Blog: What would surprise people about what you do?

Nathan: People would be surprised at our actual talent and the production value of our show. We have a singer, a guitarist and we do choreographed numbers. There’s a lot going on.

POV Blog: What do you do when you’re not performing in Chippendales?

Nathan: I am a personal trainer, a strength coach for high school athletes and a very devoted father.

POV Blog: Do you have any quick tips for looking great that your fans might be able to use?

Nathan: Drink more water than you think you need.

This blog could drink 480 gallons a day and still not look even remotely like this.

POV Blog: What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened while you were onstage?

Nathan: I tend to trip a lot when I’m really into my performance, and I’ve fallen down a few times. It usually gets a laugh, particularly from my fellow cast members.

POV Blog: Where do you and your fellow cast mates hang out when you’re not performing?

Nathan: We like going out to eat at Sushi Mon.

Nice plug, Sushi Mon, wherever you might actually be.

POV Blog: What’s the best perk of your job?

Nathan: With the shows being at night, it allows us all to have other careers and spend time with our families and friends, too.

Note: That would NOT have been this blog’s prediction. We were thinking more along the lines of, “Hundreds of screaming women thinking we’re adorable.” But to each their own.

Thanks to Nathan for taking the time to answer our annoying questions, and for making this blog feel even more self-conscious about its physique.

Oh, and did we mention there are 20%-off room deals happening? Please pay attention. Get a room, already.

This is how a Las Vegas blog sees the Flamingo, anyway.

We love you, Las Vegas.

Last year, around Thanksgiving, this blog put together a fun (but lazy) list of 10 Things to Be Thankful for in Las Vegas.

We figured, this Thanksgiving, why not just rehash our previous blog post idea and save some precious energy that could be better spent diving headlong into some potatoes au gratin?

This year, we’re making our list 11 things, and we’ve added a “free” twist. That way, you’ll feel like we’re going the extra mile, but without our having to actually “do very much.” Here we go, 11 free Vegas things to be thankful for.

1. Numbered lists.

Not specifically a Vegas thing, but look at all the progress we’re making on our list! One down, 10 to go.

Insert random photo we took of a Thanksgiving turkey here.

2. Big Elvis at Bill’s.

He’s big. He’s awesome. And his show is free at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. For this, we are thankful.

Big Elvis is a Vegas institution. You can call him Pete.

3. Fremont Street Viva Vision light show.

It’s not just a must-see light show, it’s kind of the soundtrack for the ongoing party that is the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas. Bonus: We’re also thankful for the people on Fremont Street who take “dance like nobody’s watching” to heart, in a big way.

Casinos just love it when people go outside to watch free light shows.

4. “Show in the Sky” at Rio Vegas.

There you have your choreography and your music and your exposed, well-toned thighs. What more could you want in a free Vegas extravaganza? Learn more.

Bonus free thing to be thankful for? The Rio's bevertainers, and not just because we couldn't find a photo of the "Show in the Sky."

5. Hotel hower caps.

What? Hotel shower caps are both free and useful. See what we mean.

Oh, like you're not going to try this.

6. Aquarium at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

This blog loves it some fishies. Stop by this massive aquarium, and while you’re there, catch the also-free ”Fall of Atlantis” animatronic show thingy attraction. Since you’re in the neighborhood, see the seahorses at the Seahorse Lounge inside Caesars Palace, too. Oh, and there are tanks boasting hundreds of goldfish at Beijing Noodle No. 9, too.

Now you know why they say much of Las Vegas is under water.

7. Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio.

Changed seasonally, these gardens are on just about everyone’s “free things to do in Vegas” list. We’d pay to get in, but don’t tell the Bellagio that. We like free things better.

Yes, the tree talks. Don't be alarmed.

8. Flair bartenders at Margaritaville Casino.

The wacky bartenders at Carnaval Court outside Harrah’s Vegas are getting some serious flair competition from the beach bums at the new Margaritaville Casino at Flamingo. Can you say “beach bums” in a corporate blog? If not, please feel free to “complain” to “someone who cares.” Moving on.

Sometimes, people in Vegas have booze on the brain.

9. Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden.

We can’t stop thinking about our recent visit. Again, free, and fun for the whole family. Read more.

It ain't neon, but it'll work.

10. Las Vegas sign photo op.

Did you seriously think you’d come to Vegas and not have a photo taken with the most famous sign in the world? Oh, please.

Curved sides means nobody puts an eye out.

11. Everything else.

Are you kidding? Vegas is so full of free things to be thankful for, there’s no way we could fit them into a list of just 11. There are the flamingos at Flamingo, visits to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, sassy Sirens at TI, the volcano at Mirage, Paul Vigil’s mesmerizing magic show (also at Mirage), circus acts at Circus Circus, and free go-go dancing just about everywhere else.

Right, like we were going to post a photo of the volcano.

Here’s wishing you and yours a great Thanksgiving, whether you’re in Las Vegas or not. Although, honestly, why would you ever want to not?

The holidays in Vegas just got a little merrier. The popular, animal-free Circus Vargas will return to Rio Las Vegas, Dec. 25 through New Year’s Day.

Circus Vargas has put together an entirely new show for 2011, featuring an array of aerialists, acrobats and comedians.

A fine example of "work-life balance."

The show shared this: “This edition of Circus Vargas takes you on an artistic journey, encompassing the cultures of the world, in a series of vignettes depicting the experiences, memories and visions of a traveling circus performer.”

Yes, their slogan is, "The Big One is Back." We're thinking they mean the tent.

And speaking of their tent, Circus Vargas’ blue and gold Big Top was featured in the Century Fox flick, “Water for Elephants.” Take a look.

No, we didn’t precisely see that movie. It seemed to have a lot of “talking.” We tend to enjoy high-wire performers, death-defying acrobatics and people balancing bikes on their faces, thank you.

It should be noted that, unlike the circus in the movie, Circus Vargas uses no animals in its show. Two thumbs up from this blog.

Thirty minutes before showtime, audience members will get a pre-show peek into the world of Circus Vargas, hosted by Jon Weiss. Weiss, a contestant on season four of “The Amazing Race,” takes kids center stage for a crash course in circus skills.

Find out more here, or call (877) 468-3861 to save your spot under the Big Top.

Today’s featured Imperial Palace dealertainer (part blackjack dealer, part entertainer) is Kerri, who appears to be the monozygotic twin of Wynonna Judd. Whatever a monozygotic twin might be.

Kerri does her Wynonna Judd thing.

Come to find out, Kerri is a former member of the cast of Legends in Concert, the celebrity tribute show at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

See all our featured dealertainers, because experts agree, there’s a lot of money to be made by “wasting more time on the Internet.”

Do you have a favorite Imperial Palace dealertainer? This blog does not especially care. Because the more it’s about you, the less it is about this Las Vegas blog, and we won’t be a party to that.

Nothing says “It’s the holidays in Las Vegas!” like egg nog being consumed from giant plastic guitars.

Oh, and there’s that “Nutcracker” thing, too.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre is set to present its 2011 production of “The Nutcracker” at Paris Las Vegas, Dec. 17-24.

This blog wouldn't know a grand jeté if it tripped over one.

This is the third year the show has appeared at Paris, and Nevada Ballet Theatre’s 30th year of presenting it. And boy are their pointe shoes tired!

The Vegas version of “The Nutcracker” features ample doses of humor and whimsy. In that order, we hope.

Tickets start at $32. Showtimes are Dec. 17 (2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.), Dec. 18 (1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.), Dec. 20–23 (7:00 p.m.) and Dec. 24 (1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased at the Paris Theatre Box Office, or online at Nevada Ballet Theatre’s official site.

Find out more about this family-friendly thing to do in Las Vegas during the holiday season. Then, get busy taking back all that stuff you said about Las Vegas having no culture. Hmph.

We seriously love this.

We have a sweater just like that.

Best piggy bank ever?

No, this blog doesn’t get a piece of the tchotchke action, but you can buy it here.

A popular Las Vegas restaurant will bring its authentic Chinese menu to Rio Las Vegas before the end of 2011.

KJ Kitchen restaurant will open its second location inside Rio in December, offering a selection of fresh seafood from a team of chefs trained in the preparation of authentic Chinese cuisine.

Already, we're having cravings. Thanks.

KJ Kitchen will feature high quality dim sum, something this blog knows a lot about, if by “a lot” you mean “absolutely nothing.” Come to find out, dim sum is a style of Chinese food prepared as small, individual portions of food traditionally served in steamer baskets or on small plates. Thank you for that, Internets! Read more about these dim sums, which we’re fairly sure isn’t the way you pluralize dim sum.

At KJ Kitchen, the “dim sum experience” will include a tableside cart allowing guests to select their shrimp, lobster, crab and giant clam dishes. The menu will also include many favorite dishes from the original location, including XO Salt & Pepper Crab and Stir-fry Mongolian Beef, as well as new menu items exclusive to the Rio.

Neon plus food equals one happy Las Vegas blog.

The new eatery will seat about 350 people, and will be open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. The restaurant will be located in the former home of the Lucky Strike bowling lanes, near the poker room and Carnival World Buffet.

Dim sum trivia: In Cantonese, having dim sum is called “going to drink tea,” since tea is usually served with dim sum.

Dim sum etiquette tip: When you’re having dim sum, it’s customary to pour tea for others before filling your own cup. Do not embarrass this blog, please. You could cause an international incident.

A first look at the KJ Kitchen logo and stuff.

We swung by the original KJ Kitchen location here in Vegas, and the place was packed. We take that as a good sign!

We look forward to tasting this new offering at Rio Vegas. Join us, won’t you? And we’re not just saying that so you’ll treat. Probably.

The owners of the Western Casino in downtown Las Vegas say the struggling operation will close in mid-January, 2012.

It's probably time.

The Western has been a downtown fixture for 41 years. The casino is known for its low table limits, but has become run down in recent years, and has been in financial straits as well.

The Western was also home to possibly the worst karaoke night in the known universe. One blog’s opinion.

The owners say they’re reviewing redevelopment options, but this blog’s thinking don’t hold your breath.

The Western is one of the few Vegas hotels offering special parking for seabirds.

The company that owns the Western Casino, Tamares Real Estate, also owns the Las Vegas Club and the Plaza on Fremont Street.

This blog had some good times at the Western, and it’s always a little sad to see a Vegas casino shut its doors. Thankfully, there are a few other casino options in Sin City, so we’re covered.