Here’s a Vegas room deal you won’t want to miss. Total Rewards loyalty club members can get 25% off rooms at select resorts in the Caesars Entertainment family of hotels for 72 hours (starting March 12, 2012). Check it out.

Caesars Entertainment hotels in Las Vegas include Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Flamingo, Rio, Harrah’s, Bally’s and Imperial Palace.

Las Vegas, will you have our baby?

And remember, while certain hotels in Las Vegas which we can’t mention (MGM Resorts hotels) are jacking up resort fees in Vegas, Caesars Entertainment destinations have none. Zero resort fees. Absolutely zip. If you’d like, we’re happy to keep typing it until it sinks in. We have nothing better to do. No resort fees. At all. Get the scoop from our friends at Vegas Chatter.

If you’re not already a Total Rewards member, you can join for free, and you can even sign up online. Once you’re a member, you can even take advantage of the new “Escape to Total Rewards” giveaway, where 90,000 prizes are up for grabs, including Vegas escapes and the opportunity to have this blog make an honest woman of your sister. (Actual results may vary.) Learn more about the giveaway.

All right, maybe not 90,000 at this point, since a ton have been given away already, but still, there are plenty left.

Total Rewards members can get room discounts at hotels across the country (up to 35% off) during this 72-hour sale, too. See all the deals and get you some while they last.

All good things must come to an end, and this time, that good thing is O’Sheas casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

The beloved casino will officially close its doors on April 30, 2012, to make way for The Linq, a development project that will change the face, and cleavage, of the Las Vegas Strip in a big way. (Yes, cleavage. It’s Las Vegas, after all.)

We heart you O'Sheas. In a fairly inappropriate way, if we're being completely honest.

Now, you’re allowed to have a sad face about O’Sheas closing. This blog certainly does. We spent many days and nights having a blast at O’Sheas, many of which we actually remember. Change can be rough. We got a little misty-eyed when the Stardust and Sahara closed their doors, too. Visiting the O’Sheas Facebook page, it’s clear a lot of people feel the way this blog does. We’re going to miss O’Sheas a lot.

Here, then, are our hastily-slapped-together “10 Things We’ll Miss About O’Sheas.”

1. Strip Poker

Where else can you play poker 12 feet from the Las Vegas Strip?

Poker while you people watch? Vegas heaven.

2. New Games

We love the way new casino games, like the craps hybrid Three Dice Football (below), have often been given their debut and trial run at O’Sheas. Soon, they’ll have to find a new testing ground.

We love dice newness.

3. Free Shows

The free entertainment on the stage near the Dublin Up bar has always been a big draw at O’Sheas. Whether it was the band Acoustic Soul, or the wacky “Rock and Roll Game Show,” free is always good, and good-free is even better.

Steve Brooks and Matt Phillips of the "Rock and Roll Game Show" will have to find a new place to make us do embarrassing things in public.

4. The Hooch

You hear the word “epic” used a lot these days. Sometimes, it fits. O’Sheas has always been known as a great place to get a cheap drink, including atmosphere galore. Show ‘em how to throw a party, Lucky!

Granted, the whistle we won’t miss. Moving on.

5. The Tats

One of the most popular tattoo shops in Vegas is Vince Neil Ink at O’Sheas. The shop will be closing along with the rest of O’Sheas, and folks at the shop haven’t heard anything about re-opening somewhere else any time soon. Ah, the slings and arrows and needles of outrageous fortune. Check out the tat our friend Max got at O’Sheas, and keep track of the Vince Neil Ink gang on Facebook.

Ow. But we're still sorry to see you go.

6. Soft Serve

Seriously, that soft serve at the Burger King inside O’Sheas was surprisingly awesome.

You miss what you want to miss, we'll miss what we want to miss.

7. Beer Pong

The suds. The competition. The trash talk. O’Sheas has always been the center of the beer pong universe. We’ll have to see where beer pong turns up next. Sin City is full of surprises.

Look at all the ball-handling jokes we're not making.

8. Dirk Arthur’s Cats

We’ve known some of magician Dirk Arthur’s cats since they were tykes. We trust they’ll find a new home soon.

Get a new gig soon, guys! All the raw meat isn't going to pay for itself.

9. Block Parties

Did we already use the word epic? The good news is The Linq is going to be a promenade likely to feel like a block party all day and night, every day and night. With a huge observation wheel in the mix, too.

The Linq probably won't have as much green.

10. Holly Madison Playing Beer Pong

Yeah, that was kind of a one-time thing, but like we said, you miss what you want to miss, and we’ll miss what we want to miss.

There are just so many things to love about O’Sheas, but there are great things on the horizon with The Linq, too. Read more about The Linq, a retail and entertainment complex set to open in 2013. See all our O’Sheas posts here.

Oh, and not to be a buzzkill, but there are 285 folks who will be laid off when O’Sheas closes. They knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it suck any less, we suspect. Caesars Entertainment, the company that owns O’Sheas and a slew of other Las Vegas hotels, is working with the affected employees to hopefully find positions at other casinos in town. Ultimately, The Linq project will create 3,000 construction jobs and add 1,500 permanent, full-time jobs when it opens in 2013.

Further consolation: Brian Thomas, the aforementioned Lucky the Leprechaun, isn’t going anywhere from what we hear. He’ll be staying with Caesars Entertainment in some capacity, and we’ll bring you an update when we know what’s up.

Can we keep a brick or something?

Happier news? O’Sheas will host its last hurrah in the form of a St. Patrick’s Day block party on March 17, starting at noon and going until everyone’s livers are sufficiently tested. You haven’t partied in Vegas until you’ve done St. Patrick’s Day at O’Sheas.

So, let’s have one last blow-out, and see what’s next for the Las Vegas Strip. We’ll miss you, O’Sheas, but there are more great times ahead in Sin City. Share your favorite O’Sheas memories in the Comments section.

There are everyday gifts (yawn), then there are Las Vegas gifts (yipee!).

Yesterday, we received the amazing gift below, purchased at Whiskey Run, one of the shops at Imperial Palace. (Yes, there are shops at Imperial Palace.)

No, we didn't make it appear larger in Photoshop. What would we know about making things larger in Photoshop? And why are you interrogating us like this?

This awesome gift, a mere $4.75, involves several of this blog’s favorite things.

First, Rice Krispie Treats. Although it’s not called that. On the packaging, they’re called “Coated Crisped Rice Treats.” Yay, lawyers! Ultimately, though, this treat is a gigantic Rice Krispie Treat, arguably the greatest invention since spiced rum.

Also one of our favorite things: The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. We’ve posted a lot in this blog about the most recognizable sign in the world, including the fact it was never copyrighted, which means it has been put on just about everything, including key chains, coffee mugs, dice, mouse pads and, yes, even Coated Crisped Rice Treats.

In Vegas, size matters, so please note this bad boy is a whopping four inches across, and three inches deep and 2.5 inches tall, making it roughly the size of The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Yes, this blog has tools, and we're not afraid to use them.

The package says the monster of a treat is two servings, at 390 calories each. Not that we’re counting. Las Vegas is not a place for “counting calories” or “acting prudently” or “not having a coronary.” Vegas is all about letting loose and throwing caution to the wind.

Bottom line: We love Las Vegas so much, we could just eat it up! No. Literally. We just ate it up. We’d have saved you some, but, you know, our research has to be exhaustive.

Here’s a Las Vegas hook-up in two simple words: Social Rewards.

Social Rewards is a program that gives you perks and freebies for things you’re probably already doing, like following your favorite Las Vegas hotels on Twitter, or liking them on Facebook, or telling friends about various Las Vegas awesomeness.

We are a Las Vegas blog, not a graphic designer. You get the drift.

Depending upon what action you take in the social networking realm, you’ll earn a certain number of Social Rewards points. Those points can be redeemed for Reward Credits, those magical “points” you can use to get things like show tickets, free rooms, food and drink, as well as back rubs from certain Las Vegas blogs. (We made that last part up, but anything’s possible in Sin City.)

Here’s how it works. First, you visit the official Social Rewards site. It’s on the “Internet.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it.

If you’ve never registered with Social Rewards before, you’ll need to do so. This could take upwards of 14 seconds, because all you really do is click a button to associate your Facebook or Twitter or Foursquare account to Social Rewards. You’ll also be asked for a few other tidbits of information, then you’re set.

Next, click on the logo thingy of a Las Vegas hotel. Maybe Planet Hollywood or Caesars Palace or Bally’s. Preferably one owned by Caesars Entertainment, whose official Las Vegas blog this is, otherwise it’s going to be very awkward.

Don't play favorites. The more Vegas hotels you like and follow, the more points you earn.

This is where you can immediately rack up some points. Follow Planet Hollywood on Twitter, get 50 points. Follow Flamingo, get another 50. Like them on Facebook, 50 more points. They add up quickly, and you’ll barely lift a finger. We love perks where we don’t have to do a lot of finger-lifting.

Social Rewards keeps a running tally of the points you’ve earned on the right side of the screen.

Try and catch up to us. We'll wait.

Earn additional points for watching videos. Weren’t you already kind of doing that already? Granted, these videos don’t have as many cute cats, but you get the idea.

Even more points are available if you’d like to Tweet or post some love on your Facebook pages. You get to decide what’s posted and when.

More Social Rewards goodness: Get more points when you check in on Foursquare, or when you invite a friend to join Social Rewards.

Recent studies indicate checking in on Foursquare increases verility. Your results may vary.

Here’s another slick benefit of dipping your toes into the Social Rewards world: If you Tweet or share a room deal on Facebook, you snag not only 25 points for sharing it, but receive an additional 250 points when someone books a hotel stay based on what you’ve shared. It’s like magic, but without all the annoying scarves and doves.

By the time you’ve done all this stuff for all the hotels in the Caesars Entertainment hotels, you’ll have a hefty number of points, and you’re ready to trade your points for Reward Credits to get the most from your Las Vegas experience.

Please don't try to read that small print. This graphic is for illustrative purposes only.

In the “Rewards” section, you can check out all the stuff you can redeem with your points, including drink comps, dining credits and show tickets. For example, two show tickets for “Peepshow” require 25,000 points.

Trivia: Those 25,000 Social Rewards points break down to be 12,500 for each of “Peepshow” star Holly Madison’s best assets—her smile and her public relations acumen, obviously.

Insert gratuitous photo we took of Holly Madison here.

There’s some fine print to all of this, but not much. Find it here.

You might want to follow Social Rewards on Twitter, too, or “Like” them on Facebook for all the latest news about this fun program.

So, sign up for Social Rewards and get started on the path toward getting lots of free stuff while doing relatively little. Which, to us, is how all of life should be. One blog’s opinion.

You never know who you’ll bump into when you’re in Las Vegas.

As we strolled the Strip the other night, we spotted a TV crew tailing two Metro officers we can only assume were in the process of taping an episode of truTV’s “Vegas Strip.”

That TV crew should probably be cited for tailgating.

The officers and their crew were all business as they patrolled outside Imperial Palace, heading toward Harrah’s Las Vegas.

“Vegas Strip” is described as an “action-packed drama that puts you up close and personal with the tough-as-nails police officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, giving you a never-before-seen look at the wildest street in the world.” Which is a little different from the episodes we’ve watched, because we’d describe those as “lecturey.”

Find out more about “Vegas Strip” on the official site of truTV, a network whose cap key is clearly on the fritz.

You know how sometimes celebrity endorsements are kind of lame and disappointing? Well, Jimmy Kimmel talking up the Total Rewards loyalty program is kind of the opposite of that.

Kimmel made the video below, kind of an extended commercial, to kick off the Escape to Total Rewards giveaway game, which Total Rewards members (it’s free to join) can play for a shot at winning upwards of 90 jillion prizes, give or take.

Seriously, we LOL’d. Multiple times, so take a look for yourself.

Our favorite line? Jimmy Kimmel tells an inmate he can use his Reward Credits to get a balcony suite on Norwegian Cruise Lines (a Total Rewards partner), then asks, “Have you ever been to Norwegia?”

Jimmy Kimmel and friends in the Big House.

“The more you use the card, the more you earn. It’s practically like stealing. You guys like stealing, right?” says Kimmel. How this video made it past the lawyers, we’ll never know, but we love it.

Find out more about the newly-revamped Total Rewards, and enter the Escape to Total Rewards giveaway if you’re into, you know, free stuff you don’t have to steal.

This blog has had a lot of pizza. We’ve had it in just about every major U.S. city, and in pizza joints around the world. And we can say, without a doubt, Martorano’s restaurant at Rio Las Vegas is currently serving up one of the best pizzas on the planet.

Eduardo, everyone. Everyone, Eduardo. Every great pizza starts with great dough. And possibly Eduardo.

The restaurant’s Thin Crust Pizza ($18) hasn’t been on the menu for about a year, but we’re happy it’s on there now! Get the full menu here (.pdf format).

Each component of the pizza is made in the restaurant, from the dough to the sauce to the mozzarella cheese.

Yes, even the cheese is made from scratch. Why do we even bother telling you things if you're going to be so skeptical? You may want to look into that.

How many restaurants make their own mozzarella? We don’t know. That was a rhetorical question. All we know is that Martorano’s does.

The pizza goes into the oven, bippity-boom (the technical culinary term), and when it comes out, it’s topped off with Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano, two cheeses we would not have known how to spell were it not for the assistance of the Internet.

Eduardo lets the fresh basil fly. The reason the basil's so fresh is that it's grown at a hydroponics plant in the desert near Las Vegas. We aren't making this up.

We think you’ll agree it’s like this pizza is making moves on your taste buds. Bottom line: World-class deliciousness!

Also new on the menu, the homemade meatball with hot and sweet peppers. We didn’t actually try it, because of the whole “hot peppers” thing, but other people seem to like it.

Come for the meatballs, stay for those other things there in front.

Honestly, we could just keep posting photos of the food at Martorano’s all day.

Told you. That's the Shrimp Scampi Bread appetizer.

But it’s probably best if you try it for yourself.

And please let us know if you don’t think the pizza is one of the world’s best. We will ignore what you say, but feel free to tell us, anyway.

Oh, and famous people drop in from time to time.

Enjoy this complimentary photo gallery of other finds at Martorano’s inside Rio Las Vegas.

The big moment has arrived. “Jersey Boys” is making its debut at Paris Las Vegas.

"Places!" Yes, actually, this blog did some musical theater in college.

We stopped by for a sneak peek at the show, and judging from the portions we saw, it’s clear why this lively musical romp has become the hit it is, both in Vegas (formerly at the Palazzo) and on Broadway (it originally opened in 2005).

Jeff Leibow had to pull a lot of strings to get the part of Nick Massi. See what we did there?

The only downside, if you consider it a downside, is that we can’t get those Four Seasons songs out of our head! Hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man” aren’t going anywhere, trust us.

The guys were even nice enough to point us toward the bar.

“Jersey Boys” is a documentary-style musical based on the story of the meteoric rise of the Four Seasons. Even if you’re not a fan of the group’s music, we predict you will be after seeing “Jersey Boys.”

The stage at Paris is gorgeous, and serves as a colorful backdrop against which the talented cast brings the music of the Four Seasons to life. The show integrates large video screens to visually enhance the action onstage.

A little Lichtenstein-inspired eye candy. Yes, we took an art class in college, too.

“Jersey Boys” is structured so that each of the Four Seasons group members narrates one of the show’s “seasons,” a unique way to hear four different perspectives about the accomplishments of one of the most popular bands of the 1960s. Kind of like “Rashomon,” but with better choreography.

A little “Jersey Boys” trivia: The Four Seasons named themselves after a bowling alley of the same name.

We snagged snippets of songs from the show (see below), and again, if you don’t want to be humming these tunes all day, you might want to skip this video altogether. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

“Jersey Boys” features Jeff Leibow, Deven May, Rob Marnell and Graham Fenton, who swaps out the role of Frankie Valli with Travis Cloer. Our sneak preview, and these photos, feature Cloer. You can see photos of the guys with Graham Fenton when they were welcomed to Paris Vegas. Learn more about the cast.

Their voices? Like butter.

Learn more about Jersey Boys, and find out why one critic called it “a big thumper of a show,” whatever that might actually mean. (Hint: It’s probably a good thing.)

Enjoy a few more photos of this crowd-pleasing new entertainment option at Paris Las Vegas.

Here’s an important lesson: Just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean it’s better. That lesson applies to craps, too!

When you approach a craps table, two big numbers jump out at you, the Big 6 and Big 8.

Eye-catching! Hmm, any guesses why?

Craps is all about the odds, and the 6 and 8 are decent bets, because only the 7 is rolled more frequently. A bet on that giant 6 and 8 pays even money (bet $5, and if a 6 or 8 is rolled, you win $5), and your bet stays up until a shooter “sevens out.” (That never happens! Actual results may vary.)

Look, we can see our sucka bet from here!

Here’s the thing. Don’t bet on the Big 6 and 8. Yes, they’re big. We’ve established that. And red, too. It’s not a horrible bet, we know that. But betting on the 6 and 8, on another part of the table, makes a lot more sense.

Up near the dealer are a row of numbers, including the 6 and 8, and when you “place” your bet there, it pays 7-to-6, rather than even money. For betting on the same numbers.

Doesn’t sound like a big difference? A bet on the Big 6 and 8 has a 9% house advantage (hint: that’s a lot). A place bet of $6 (since it pays 7-to-6, you place a multiple of $6) has a house advantage of just 1.5%. You do what you want with your hard-earned clams, but this blog kind of has a crush on that 1.5%.

Oh, and before we forget, while it’s called a “place” bet, players don’t physically “place” a “place” bet, the dealer has to do it. Just lay your chips on the table and tell the dealer “place the 6 and 8.”

This is where place bets live. Same numbers, mo' money.

Remember, just like with the Big 6 and 8, you can take your place bets down at any time.

One subtle difference between placing the 6 and 8 and betting the Big 6 and 8 is that the Big 6 and 8 is always “working,” while place bets are, by default, “off” (or not working) during the “come out” roll. So, if a 7 comes up on the first roll, your place bets are safe (they don’t pay if a 6 or 8 is rolled, but you don’t lose them with a 7), while you can say so-long to your Big 6 and 8 bets.

Here’s a pretty good overview of the basics of craps, from our friends at the hotel formerly known as the Sahara.

So, now you know! The next time you’re playing craps, and you see someone betting the Big 6 and 8, you get to be the one to ask, “What were you thinking?” People love that.

As a Las Vegas blog, we have a vested interest in keeping track of both our wines and our spirits.

We were a tad dismayed, then, when we learned the Carnaval Wine & Spirits shop, between Harrah’s and Imperial Palace, has closed as part of the ongoing Linq development project. Read more about The Linq.

Want to make a Las Vegas blog despondent? Close a Wine & Spirits shop.

Thankfully, our concerns were quickly allayed, and trust us, there are few things more satisfying than having ones concerns allayed in Las Vegas. We’re just saying.

A handy sign on the former Carnaval Wine & Spirits shop alerted us to a new source of said libations, Flamingo Wine & Spirits, a short stroll away.

Las Vegas, is there anything you can't do?

The new, full-service liquor store, on the Strip-facing side of the Flamingo, will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. each day.

In other Linq project updates, there’s a gaping hole behind the aforementioned Flamingo Las Vegas. Exciting, and it’s much larger (and deeper) than it appears.

We're digging this Linq project. See what we did there?

And during our stroll to Carnaval Court at Harrah’s, we caught a glimpse of this gaping hole in the side of Imperial Palace.

Remember, in Las Vegas, gaping holes are often indicative of Vegas newness!

Don't try to hide the newness, you tease!

We’re giddy with anticipation to see what the masterminds behind The Linq have in store. Rest assured, there are more light-on-actual-information updates still to come!

Just because we don’t condone it doesn’t mean we don’t think it’s funny.

What makes it a "Las Vegas T-shirt"? We saw it in Las Vegas. What, you're a professional interrogator now?

Rio Las Vegas headliner Penn Jillette has already made a big splash during his stint on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” including raising $40,000 for a Las Vegas charity, Opportunity Village.

Being in the Boardroom can be serious business, even for funny guys.

In a recent episode, Penn took on the role of Project Manager, and guided the men’s team, Unanimous, to victory in a task requiring them to put on a show at Medieval Times. Kind of right up Penn’s alley.

Penn shows off his juggling skills with the assistance of teammate Arsenio Hall.

In the Boardroom, things got a little tense, but the usually outspoken Penn is playing to win, weighing his comments carefully, and steering clear of conflict with his respectful tone and masterful way with words.

Great casting means another great season of "Celebrity Apprentice."

Ultimately, the guys won, resulting in a significant amount of cash being raised for Opportunity Village, a nonprofit that serves the needs of those with intellectual disabilities.

Penn stopped into the organization’s office in Las Vegas to drop off the donation.

Sweet!

During his visit, Penn notes, “It was here that the scarves for Elvis were made.” We did not know that!

This blog’s a big fan of Opportunity Village, and visited to see its work assembling Couture Pops for Sugar Factory at Paris Las Vegas, as well as the support the organization provides by putting together courtesy packets (sugar, cream, stirrers) for Caesars Entertainment hotels in Las Vegas. Take a look.

Nice going, Penn!

Penn is definitely the one to beat on this season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” And if you don’t watch the show, you’re forgiven. We’re understanding like that.

Caesars Entertainment, with more than 40 casino destinations across the U.S., including 10 in Las Vegas, kicked off its biggest giveaway ever with a series of high-profile concerts and special events on March 1, 2012.

In honor of unveiling the “next generation” of the Total Rewards loyalty program, concerts were held in various cities featuring Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Cee Lo Green (who just announced a residency at Planet Hollywood), Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy (see below) and Gavin DeGraw.

Mr. Diddy, performing in New York, and also on a TV at a Caesars Palace viewing party. This blog can't be everywhere at once, you know.

Around Vegas, special outdoor Total Rewards lounges sprang up at Caesars Entertainment hotels, and some of the most recognizable destinations in Vegas were turned orange, the color of the new Total Rewards logo.

Bally's Las Vegas gets its orange on.

The Escape to Total Rewards giveaway is intended to highlight the evolution of the most popular loyalty program in the casino industry. Total Rewards Credits, often called “points,” can be earned and redeemed in more ways than ever, including while dining, shopping, visiting spas or taking in shows.

We weren't making up the 90,000 prizes thing.

The new giveaway offers a whopping 90,000 prizes. Did you not just see a graphic with that information on it? Please pay attention! Enter here, already.

The giveaway will run for three months. A variety of experiences are up for grabs, and a lucky winner will receive a once-in-a-lifetime, all-expense-paid trip to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Caesars Palace probably won't be orange when the winner arrives, sorry.

The Grand Prize winner and seven extraordinarily appreciative guests will be flown to Las Vegas aboard a personal charter jet from XOJET, a private aviation company. Yes, please!

You have to be a Total Rewards member to enter the giveaway, but it’s free to join, and you can sign up online.

Beyond the massive giveaway, the perks of Total Rewards membership are many. With the new Total Rewards, members will be able to redeem their Reward Credits for free play. Members may also gift up to 5,000 Reward Credits to friends or family members.

We don't make up the news, we just photograph it.

Total Rewards members will receive preferred pricing at restaurants at Caesars Entertainment resorts, and there will be more discounts at resort retailers, too. Another great benefit: Total Rewards members will now have pre-sale access to show tickets for many of the top-tier entertainers that perform at Total Rewards casinos.

Somebody got ahold of some spray tan!

The kick-off of “Escape to Total Rewards” also marked the official unveiling of a new look and feel for Total Rewards. Read more, and check out the snappy new Total Rewards cards.

Read more about the enhancements to Total Rewards, and enter the Escape to Total Rewards giveaway by clicking the link we generously provided several words ago.

Pink and orange together are a metaphor for how all the world's cultures can live in harmony. Or it's just promoting the new Total Rewards. Whatever works for you.

Tip: Visit the Facebook page of your favorite Caesars Entertainment casino for special codes for additional giveaway entries.

“Like” the Total Rewards Facebook page for more details. Hey, and why not “like” the Pulse of Vegas blog’s Facebook page while you’re at it? We’d do the same for you. (Actual results may vary.)

This blog swore it would never happen, so today we’re eating our words.

On March 1, 2012, a fleet of concrete trucks, about 130 in all, rumbled into the once-empty lot across from Mandalay Bay at the south end of the Vegas Strip to deliver the makings of a foundation for a 500-foot observation wheel, the Skyvue.

It’s true. Here’s a photo of the foundation in question.

We probably should have warned you to adjust your expectations.

The process of laying the foundation began in the early morning hours, so by the time we ambled over for a look-see, most of the trucks were gone, but we’ll be darned if we’re getting up that early just to take photos of some trucks. Unless they’re carrying showgirls. Which is not out of the question in Las Vegas, come to think of it.

This photo of a showgirl-free truck will have to do.

Spokespersons for the Skyvue wheel say it will open in July, 2013. Laying a foundation seems a far cry from getting funding for a $200 million wheel and retail complex, but what do we know? We are just a Las Vegas blog, not a financial analyst.

Another massive observation wheel, the High Roller, is planned as part of the Center-Strip redevelopment project called The Linq. Read more about the Caesars Entertainment (whose blog this is) Linq project. The High Roller will be 550 feet tall and boast 28 cabins, each with a capacity of 40 people. This ain’t your grandpa’s Ferris wheel!

The more observation wheels the merrier, we say! This blog loves it some Las Vegas newness, especially the vertical kind likely to involve cocktail service.

Read more at the Las Vegas Sun, which apparently employs people who don’t mind getting up really early.

It’s been rumored for months, and singer CeeLo Green himself has been saying it for ages, but now it’s official: The performer of the best song ever, and co-host of NBC’s “The Voice,” will become Planet Hollywood’s newest headliner starting Aug. 29, 2012.

The new show, “CeeLo Green Presents Loberace,” is described as “more of a spectacle than a show,” where CeeLo Green, “as the conductor/ringmaster ‘Loberace,’ will take you on a ride through colorful decades of music, stopping at legendary moments in time, from Prince to Blue Magic to The Rolling Stones, new wave to disco and beyond.” Mr. Green, you had us blog at “disco.”

CeeLo Green is a huge fan of Las Vegas, which makes this blog an even bigger fan of his.

“Loberace,” of course, is part CeeLo and part “Liberace,” the over-the-top pianist who personified flamboyance, excess and, well, Las Vegas.

According to the news release we totally didn’t just copy-and-paste from, the new CeeLo Green production will “combine CeeLo’s sense of style and over-the-top creativity, magnified and intensified, with his soulful voice covering some of his favorite music, as well as original songs. Part dance party, part live intimate concert, this energetic, exotic show will be as inspired and visually alive as CeeLo Green.”

The show will also feature magic and showgirls and what are sure to be eye-popping costumes, especially if you saw CeeLo Green’s much-buzzed-about performance at the 2011 Grammy Awards. Why, here it is now.

Ain’t that some shhh? (We’re trying to find out if Green’s version of “F**k You” at Planet Hollywood will be the original or the radio-friendly version. Fingers crossed! It’s Sin City, after all.)

“Loberace” performances will be held after Holly Madison’s Peepshow, on Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m., and Saturdays at midnight, with additional shows at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. The 2012 performance schedule of 28 shows includes Aug. 29-31, Sep 1-29, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-29. A ticket on-sale date has yet to be announced.

You won’t want to miss this highly-anticipated show at Planet Hollywood.