A Vegas institution, Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, who has performed for thousands of people at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon (formerly the Barbary Coast) for a decade has stunned his fans by announcing he’ll be moving to Harrah’s Las Vegas on May 3, 2012.

The final “Big Elvis” show at Bill’s will be May 1, 2012.

Big news. Bigger talent.

The Elvis tribute artist made the surprise announcement on his Facebook page, stating, “A chapter comes to a conclusion at Bill’s Hotel and Casino. Were moving to Harrah’s…if you’re coming out to see me, the show will be at the piano bar. Thank you, Bill’s, for 10 great years! Thanks to the fans and friends. Hope to see you at Harrah’s.”

Vallee’s show in the piano bar at Harrah’s will take place Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The new show will be, as it’s always been, free. Mark your calendar, and check out this must-see free show in its new location at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Check out this sign at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

Let's ponder this for a moment, shall we? (Hint: Yes, we shall.)

So, this blog’s thinking, isn’t it highly unlikely the “best-kept secret” in Las Vegas also appears on a giant sign on Flamingo Boulevard?

Then we went into the place and took the photo below. Now, we’re thinking that sign might not be quite as oxymoronic as we believed it to be.

Old-school Vegas, baby, secret or not.

So, now Bill’s Steakhouse is definitely not a secret. Sorry about having to change out that sign, guys.

Find out more about this classic Vegas steakhouse.

Beer pong fans are about to hear some staggering news. See what we did there?

The era of beer pong at O’Sheas casino on the Las Vegas Strip (at least in its current form) has come to an end. In anticipation of the casino’s closing on April 30, as part of the massive Linq development project, beer pong has been discontinued inside the much-beloved watering hole.

The day the beer pong died: April 11, 2012.

The good news is that in Las Vegas, when one door closes, another opens. And in Sin City, that new door often has a ridiculous supply of frosty beverages and gambling nearby.

It appears another much-beloved casino, nearby Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, will open a new beer pong area on April 13, 2012. Let the mostly-incoherent trash talk begin!

The next chapter in the Las Vegas beer pong saga may happen here. Or something.

The new beer pong area at Bill’s is adjacent to the also-new Slush Bar, so close, in fact, the beer pong tables will even be branded with “Slush Beer Pong” (see our exclusive, spectacularly clumsy tabletop rendering below).

The fact "Slush" contains the word "lush" is purely coincidental.

The Slush Beer Pong area is mere feet from the currently-being-revamped Bill’s Lounge, home of Big Elvis and other live entertainment.

Yes, we have a photo. A little demanding, aren’t you?

The reconfigured lounge at Bill's. There's even a kiosk for a 12-step program.

So, while we may have gotten a little weepy about the end of beer pong at O’Sheas, we’ll survive. We can take solace in the fact the new Linq will be entirely awesome, right? No pressure, The Linq.

Some good news: O’Sheas is offering $1 Miller Lite and Coors Lite drafts until the joint closes down. That should help soften the pain a little.

We breached security to capture the scene behind O’Sheas. This parking structure is coming down shortly following the closing of O’Sheas.

Progress never sleeps in Las Vegas.

Before the self-park garage closed, we took note of the demolition preparations, camerawise.

If this blog were going to demolish a parking structure, these are the markings we would make.

Yep, it’s getting all kinds of real up in here, as the kids say.

More news to come! There’s still time to knock one back at O’Sheas. Yeah, like anyone ever knocked just one back at O’Sheas.

Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is full of surprises. In addition to its ideal, Center-Strip location (on the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard), it’s also home to some of this blog’s favorite hotel suites, much larger, better appointed and much more affordable than you might suspect.

This baby's in the "Z4" suite. You'll need to know that later.

These large, comfy suites get great word-of-mouth, but unlike most rooms in Vegas, you can’t find them on the hotel’s Web site, and you can’t reserve them online. You have to go old-school, call and ask for them.

The trick is knowing how. They don’t really have formal names, per se. They have codes that aren’t really publicized. The room referred to by hotel staff as the “Contemporary” room, for example, is a Z1 (see below).

Even your freeloading friends have a place to crash at Bill's.

The standard rooms at Bill’s (Classic, Deluxe, Luxury) are solid bets, but the suites at Bill’s kind of elevate your Vegas experience and are as luxurious as any on the Strip for a great value.

See virtual tours of the standard rooms on the official Bill’s site.

This blog loves it some Z4.

Rates for the suites fluctuate based upon demand, but overall, you can get a sweet deal for a ton of square footage, not to mention tubs the size of municipal swimming pools, especially during the week. For the dates we checked, these suites ranged from $190 per night midweek to $285 on a busy weekend.

What you’re likely to find is that the price bump between a standard room and a suite isn’t all that much, so why not go for it? In Vegas, it’s go big or go home.

The Z4 has a bar and dining area. This suite's so big, you never have to see your spouse if you don't want to. Which Bill's should totally use in its advertising, if you ask us.

Like most things in Vegas, it’s best to plan ahead if you’re thinking about snagging one of these suites. Because this is a “boutique” hotel, the inventory of suites isn’t vast. For example, there are only three of each of the suite models shown here.

The Z3 is so huge, you'll have to hire Search and Rescue to find your bed. Or something.

You can find out all the suite details by calling Bill’s at 866-245-5745.

The helpful staff will tell you about all the amenities and things like square footage, you know, all the stuff we’d have written down if  we were into “exerting effort” or “being thorough” or “not enjoying a cocktail while we’re taking photos of Las Vegas suites.”

Bubbles and a Strip view? Yes, please. (Code name: Z1.)

Enjoy more photos of the suites at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. And tell Big Elvis we said “hello.”

This blog does not give out awards lightly, so it is with a great deal of pomp and/or circumstance that we bestow the award for “Best Men’s Room Sign in Las Vegas” to Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, and not just because it has the word “saloon” in its name.

We long for the early days of Vegas, when you had to wear a top hat to enter a restroom. Probably.

This stained-glass beauty makes a visit to the men’s room at Bill’s feel like a formal affair.

Congratulations, Bill’s, on this incredible honor, which, we should mention, has no cash value. We are a Las Vegas blog, not a cash prize doler-outer.

Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, one of the most acclaimed Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas, celebrated three things on Feb. 28, 2012: 1) his birthday, 2) a decade of performing at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Casino (formerly the Barbary Coast), and 3) a proclamation from the Mayor of Las Vegas officially naming Feb. 28 Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee Day.

Hey, when you’re Big Elvis, you have to celebrate your birthday in a big way!

Big Elvis getting his own day is a pretty big deal.

Fans packed into Bill’s to honor Pete Vallee, and the larger-than-life performer didn’t disappoint, following up a proclamation presentation from Caesars Entertainment Regional President Rick Mazer (below, left) by belting out some of The King’s tried-and-true classics.

When it rains, it pours, even in the desert.

The proclamation, issued by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, acknowledged “Pete as one of the Top 10 Elvis Impersonators of all time by Time magazine (2010)” as well as his other sizable accomplishments.

Taking care of business at Bill's.

Ten years after he began his historic run on the Vegas Strip, that’s 7,000 free performances, Big Elvis is still paying homage to Elvis Presley and providing thrilled Las Vegas visitors memories to last a lifetime.

Learn more about Big Elvis, one of the Best Free Shows in Las Vegas, and catch him live at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

Congrats, Pete! You’re a big dude, but your heart is even bigger.

One of this blog’s favorite Vegas tribute performers, Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, will celebrate his birthday on Feb. 28, 2012, but this year, he’ll have even more reasons to celebrate.

Big Elvis is seriously good.

Vallee, the larger-than-life talent who pays homage to The King with a free show at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon each day, will also be celebrating 10 years and more than 7,000 performances on the Las Vegas Strip.

In honor of Vallee’s birthday, the mayor will officially proclaim the day, “Pete ‘Big Elvis’ Vallee Day.”

Fans are invited to attend the proclamation ceremony at Bill’s at 3:00 p.m. The event will include special guests (not the mayor, though, sadly) and birthday cake. Check out last year’s birthday party for Big Elvis.

Yes, please.

Big Elvis performs Monday through Friday at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

And did we mention it’s one of the best free shows in Vegas?

There are few things this Las Vegas blog enjoys more than a frosty beverage, but we simply can’t condone some of the questionable names given to said drinks up and down the Strip.

Here are five cocktail names we hope our mother never sees.

1. Up All Night

We’d be even more offended by this cocktail name were it not for the fact it’s absolutely delicious.

We'd know what they're getting at, even without the visual, thanks.

The All Night Long is served up at Numb Bar at Caesars Palace.

2. Happy Ending

Another great cocktail, but it’s hard to fully enjoy it while one is blushing.

Oh, yes, they did.

The Happy Ending is sold at the Fresh Grill and Bar in The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. It even has a special collectible glass so you can tell all your friends back home about the Happy Ending you had in Vegas. Now, do you see why this cocktail name is so problematic? Where does it end? So to speak.

If you're not satisfied with your purchase...well, we'll just leave it at that.

The Happy Ending is $22, and refills are $17. Then again, who can put a price on happiness?

3. Call Girlz

Inappropriate. Despite that, we have to say this cocktail, the most popular at Evening Call at Rio Las Vegas, is one of our favorites on the Strip.

Just because it's good doesn't make it right.

4. Naked Colada

If Las Vegas frowns on anything, it’s nudity, so this cocktail name is beyond the pale.

If people were intended to have coladas that are naked, they would have been born that way. Or something.

The Naked Colada is also available at Numb at Caesars, or at the establishment’s sister location at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

5. All Night Long

Starting to see a pattern here? This double entendre-lover-friendly drink comes courtesy of Slush Bar, the brand new offering at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Casino.

We didn’t try that particular drink, but we did try another offensively-named drink, the Vegas Vice (below).

This blog is discussing a new "Vegas Vice" TV show with the Travel Channel.

Vice? Vice is defined as “an immoral or evil habit or practice.” In Las Vegas? Never!

The new Slush Bar at Bill’s keeps the good times flowing with borderline-appropriate beverages like “Bananas Foster,” “Picnic Punch,” “Southern Sinner” and “Scent of a Woman.”

A new spot to get slushed in Vegas. Yes, we made that up.

The cocktails at Slush Bar come in a variety of sizes: 16 ounces for $9, 24 ounces for $12 and 32 ounces for $16. Extra shots are $2. Not that this blog condones those either, of course.

While we were at Slush Bar, we met Luciano, a flair bartender with some impressive skilz. Yes, with a “z.”

That woman on the TV was totally into Luciano's skilz.

Luciano’s skilz are currently being featured below through the miracle of the YouTubes.

Luciano also let us take a photo of his name tag, which was actually a little video screen showcasing tons of Bill’s offerings as well as shows and restaurants at other hotels in Las Vegas. First time we’ve seen that.

What will those evil geniuses in marketing think of next?

Here are more pics from Slush Bar, which we’re sure you’ll visit the next time you’re in the neighborhood, despite this blog’s warnings about all the cocktail names. We hear you’re strong-willed like that.

National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is in Las Vegas through Dec. 10, 2011, and Sin City is rolling out chuck wagon (just play along) for thousands of rodeo fans.

NFR takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center, but NFR-inspired events are taking place throughout the city for the duration of this popular gathering of riders, racers, ropers and wranglers.

Harrah’s Las Vegas is being touted as “your Wrangler National Finals Rodeo headquarters,” and they’ve even put together a handy list of offers for rodeo fans. Take a look-see. Or perhaps a gander? Or something.

Let the cowboying-up begin. Thanks to Tom Donoghue for the pic.

Among the highlights is the “Ride the Bull” promotion that runs Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11. A mechanical bull will be placed in the cul-de-sac between Flamingo and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. Total Rewards loyalty club members who ride the bull will get a free drink at select Harrah’s and Flamingo bars. This blog loves it some free. Guests who manage to ride the bull for eight seconds or more will win official National Finals Rodeo apparel.

Yes, this blog is up on its bull riding, thanks to the expert advice of Karie Miller, the lead mechanical bull operator at PBR Rock Bar at Planet Hollywood. Read more.

Karie is an expert at both "yee" and "haw."

You can bet PBR Rock Bar will be a major hang-out for rodeo stars and their fans during NFR. Here’s the only video you’ll watch today with the words “thighs of steel” in it.

Check out a big ol’ list of more rodeo events from our friends at Vegas.com.

Get all the NFR goodness at the official site, and enjoy the ride.

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?

With one of the best locations on the Las Vegas Strip (the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard), Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is a fun hang-out with lots to do. Here’s our quick list of things to do at Bill’s.

1. Take a Photo

The escalators outside Bill’s give a sweeping, bird’s-eye view of the Strip. If you snap at the right moment, your photo will include Bally’s Vegas and the Paris, too.

Bill's is an unpretentious good time in Vegas.

Just across the pedestrian bridge, on the Caesars Palace side of Las Vegas Boulevard, is one of the best photo ops in all of Las Vegas.

We have an urge to stick our tongue in your ear, Las Vegas.

Yes, you can have our photo as a computer desktop image, if you insist. Click here to get the 1600×1200 pixel version. You’re welcome.

2. Learn Craps

Bill’s is one of just a handful of casinos that still offers free craps lessons. Bill’s has lessons each day of the week at 10:30 a.m. Yeah, we’re not fans of that time either, but did we mention how free these craps lessons are?

This is our favorite photo of a sign saying "craps" that we've ever taken.

3. Catch Big Elvis

Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee puts on what is easily one of the best free shows in Las Vegas. This is a must-see. Find out more.

Pete Vallee pays homage to The King with his larger-than-life voice.

4. Try Rapid Craps

Yes, it’s another craps-related thing to do at Bill’s, but it’s worth a mention because Bill’s is the only place in Las Vegas where you can play this high-tech version of the best casino game ever. Objectively speaking. Read more about Rapid Craps.

Craps meets "Star Trek." Or something.

5. Enjoy Some Amazing Buns

Yes, we said it. We’ve tried buns up and down the Strip (some might call them dinner rolls), and we’re fairly sure the buns at the Victorian Room Cafe inside Bill’s are the best.

Insert another "buns" joke here, thanks.

Of course, there’s a lot more to see and do at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. Yes, we could go the extra mile and “look into what those things might be.” We could even “spend more than five minutes” writing a blog post. But that’s not how we bun! You should know better by now.

Cruising by Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon the other day, we noticed this eye-catching offer, “Bill’s Comp Explosion Giveaway.”

The details are so straight-forward, even this blog can understand them.

"Explosion" is just a metaphor. Chill.

Just swipe your Bill’s Players Club and you could win one of six $100 prizes given away each day. That’s a pretty good return on the effort required to swipe a loyalty club card. How many people can be vying for these prizes? The odds certainly have to be better than, say, keno. (Oh, yes we did. Hey, we didn’t say it isn’t fun.)

If you’re not already a member, it’s free to join, and new sign-ups get coupon book stuffed with goodies like 2-for-1 deals and discounts on dining, shows and hooch. If you earn $2 (not a typo, although their site says $5, but we checked by phone) in comp dollars within three days, you’ll even get a T-shirt. Have we mentioned how much we love free?

See you at Bill’s, and let us know what you think of Rapid Craps while you’re at it. It’s exclusively at Bill’s.

Here’s today’s “So, You Think You Know Vegas?” quiz. Where in Sin City was this photo taken?

Hint: We don't give hints. This is a Las Vegas blog, not the public education system.

Post your best guess in the Comments section for bragging rights. Because bragging rights will take you far in life. Like having relatives in the curd business.

One of the Las Vegas Strip’s most beloved performers, Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, celebrated his birthday in larger-than-life style on Feb. 28 at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

No ordinary-sized card will do when it's for Big Elvis.

Big Elvis was surrounded by friends and fans, many of whom had traveled from other states for the occasion.

He was treated to birthday balloons and other surprises, and his birthday gifts included a stained-glass wall hanging based on a Thomas Kinkade painting of Graceland (see below).

Thomas Kinkade isn't for everyone, but look, it's Graceland.

The birthday celebration featured an appearance by a Vegas showgirl who posed for photos and did double duty distributing birthday cake to members of the audience.

No worries. Big Elvis' wife was nearby. She does hula in his show.

The Big Elvis show is free, and Pete Vallee was named by Time Magazine as one of the world’s “Top 10 Elvis Impersonators.” Read more. And did we mention the free part?

Oh, like we're not going to take a photo of the cake. Please.

We snagged some exclusive, poorly-lit video of Big Elvis performing a song we didn’t exactly know existed until his birthday party. It’s called, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Big Elvis is a must-see show when you’re in Vegas. Learn more.

One of the most beloved Elvis tribute artists on the Strip, Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee will celebrate his birthday on Feb. 28 at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee works the crowd at Bill's.

The Big Elvis show is consistently rated as one of the best free shows in Vegas, and not just by this Las Vegas blog. See more free Vegas shows.

Pete Vallee’s friends and associates have a virtually day-long celebration in store for his 46th birthday. He’ll be doing his usual free shows at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., along with his musical cohort, featured singer Chuck Rawlings.

Throughout the performances, the ongoing party will feature special contests and prizes for fans, as well as cake and special guest performers.

Vallee’s charming wife Amanda will be in attendance, of course. We know she’s charming because we were at Big Elvis’ wedding. See our coverage.

Amanda and Big Elvis at their wedding, takin' care of business.

We hear Big Elvis fans from across the country will be flying in for his birthday blast.

Inside scoop on the cake: It’ll be a chocolate bavarian cream cake wheeled in by a surprise guest. Naturally, there will be enough to share with audience members. (The cake experience is expected to transpire between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.)

But don’t expect Big Elvis to over-indulge. He currently works with a nutritionist and fitness trainer as part of an ongoing weight loss program. Read more about Vallee’s amazing 500-pound weight loss journey.

Bonus Elvis fact: Elvis Presley's favorite color was blue.

What’s coming up for Big Elvis?

We hear he’s working on several new projects, including recording some original music in the studio. We were intrigued to learn Vallee is working on a duet with his late mother, Delores Vallee, performed with an orchestra, along the lines of the successful duet by Natalie Cole and her father, Nat King Cole.

Join in the Big Elvis birthday celebration at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon on Feb. 28.