Just a quick update to our post the other day about the dramatic changes at the former Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, soon to be Gansevoort Las Vegas.

As we were driving by today, we noted the beginning of the end for the hotel’s much-photographed front-facing decorative protrusion thingy.

Yes, we got release forms from the people in those cars. Do we seem like the sort of blog that would not get release forms?

Read more about Gansevoort Las Vegas, coming soon to the Las Vegas Strip.

The recently-closed Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is smack dab in the middle of a massive renovation, as it transforms into the new Gansevoort Las Vegas. How “smack dab”? Behold.

Brace yourself for some Vegas newness.

The entire north wall of the former Bill’s (the side facing Flamingo Las Vegas) has come down, evidence the changes at the iconic corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Blvd. are anything but merely cosmetic.

For a slightly more immersive view of the new “ventilation system,” you might say, click here for a panorama pic.

This blog is currently selling commemorative Bill's rubble at very reasonable prices.

The new Gansevoort Las Vegas will open in early 2014 and will feature 188 “Parisian apartment-style” guest rooms and 19 suites. The renovations will cost about $185 million.

The hotel will also boast a redesigned lobby bar, ultra-lounge, retail outlets and 40,000 square-foot casino.

Here’s a rendering of what the Gansevoort Las Vegas will look like, featuring infinitely less debris.

Day, meet night.

More updates to come. In the meantime, stay in the loop by following Gansevoort Las Vegas on Twitter, or “like” the hotel’s page on Facebook.

We had some amazing times at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall before it closed, but Bill’s (and before that, the Barbary Coast) had seen better days, so it was high time something new took its place. It’s Las Vegas, after all.

That something new will be a boutique hotel, Gansevoort Las Vegas, a collaboration between Caesars Entertainment, New York-based luxury hotel company Gansevoort Hotel Group and Vegas nightlife wizard, Victor Drai.

Bling worthy of the epic intersection of Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard.

The new Gansevoort Las Vegas will open in early 2014, after a hefty $185 million renovation, and will feature 188 “Parisian apartment-style” guest rooms and 19 suites.

The hotel will also boast a redesigned lobby bar, ultra-lounge, retail outlets and 40,000 square-foot casino.

Dibs on the chair.

One of the more buzzed-about parts of the planned Gansevoort Las Vegas is the addition of Drai’s Beach Club and Nightclub, a massive, 65,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor nightclub and rooftop pool experience. The panoramic view alone should make Drai’s Beach Club a must-visit addition to the excitement of the Las Vegas Strip.

The popular After Hours by Drai club, a staple of Las Vegas nightlife for the past 15 years, is set to return, in its same location.

Please, Mr. Drai, keep the lips.

Gansevoort Las Vegas is a serious departure from Bill’s, but it seems a good fit given the ongoing re-vitalization of Center Strip, including projects such as The Linq and The Quad. This blog is always up for some Las Vegas newness!

It should be noted, as an additional perk, that when Gansevoort Las Vegas opens in 2014, it will be part of the Total Rewards loyalty program (Bill’s was not).

Read more about Gansevoort Las Vegas in USA Today.

One of the wondrous things about the human condition is we can feel many emotions at the same time. That was this blog’s experience as we witnessed the closing of Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Casino on Feb. 4, 2013.

Look, if we get a little weepy writing this post, remember: We're a blog, not an automaton.

Two main emotions swirled around that day. One was a certain sadness, as we know how much we’ll miss Bill’s, a great, old-school hang-out with legions of rabid fans.

The other emotion was the feeling of anticipation we get when we think about Las Vegas newness, like the new incarnation of Bill’s (the new name hasn’t been announced yet) that will be a year in the making.

Eerie, much?

As Bill’s closed, right around noon on Feb. 4, we got to see some now-familiar sights. (We were at the closing of O’Sheas, as well.) The last bets at the various games. The final counting and packing up of chips at the tables.

Here’s some random video we grabbed as Bill’s closed up shop.

It’s like having an old friend who decides to leave the country to join the Peace Corps. Or something. It helps to remember the great times, and to keep in mind you’ll be seeing them again.

Time to pack up the chips.

Since this blog happens to be a Bill’s enthusiast, just like many of the players at the tables on closing day, we decided to focus on the “lasts” to tide us over until Bill’s opens again as a boutique hotel that will feature, among other things, renovated rooms and a rooftop pool deck with what will be an incredible view of The Strip.

Among the “lasts” we saw was the final spin of the roulette wheel. The number was “7,” just for the record.

The final pay-out at the last open roulette table at Bill's.

Another memorable “last” was a hot roll by a longtime craps player, Phil Thacker. Phil learned craps at Bill’s, 20 years ago, so the team at Bill’s felt it fitting that he be the last one to hold the dice. As in the case of the roulette wheel, the last roll at Bill’s was a “7.” We caught a pic just as the last roll happened.

The final roll of the dice at Bill's. Phil made sure everyone left with more than they bought in for.

Phil Thacker commented, “I’ve been coming to Las Vegas since 1992. I’m here with my two sons-in-law. We stay at different places on The Strip, but we always come back to play craps here. It’s been a good place to us, and we’ve really enjoyed it.”

Once the table games shut down, Bill’s cleared out, slowly but surely, with customers and team members snapping some photos along the way.

So many memories flood in as you see the different parts of Bill’s. For example, the Victorian Cafe (photo below), and those glorious dinner rolls and stained glass windows.

The Victorian Cafe had closed earlier in the day.

There’s also the lounge, where Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee performed an estimated 7,000 times (even back when the hotel was the Barbary Coast) before moving to Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Many a show and brew were had here.

There are bars, of course. Deep sigh.

Some photos make us weepier than others. Specifically, those of bars, for some reason.

The beer pong. The poker room and sports book.

The slushy drinks at Slush.

We. Love. Slushy. Drinks.

And Rapid Craps. Bill’s was the only place that had the game (it’s moving to The Quad now), and it was surreal seeing the game’s screens reading “No more bets.”

No more bets.

As things wound down, tables were closed, one by one. A tenacious group of guys stuck it out at the blackjack tables until the bitter end. They, too, were on a winning streak.

These guys kept asking the pit boss for "one last hand." About 12 times.

At one point, a cocktail waitresses approached the blackjack table and mentioned it would be the last tray of drinks she’d bring. This blog whispered “last call,” and it all suddenly became very real. One of the players gave her an long embrace. That’s the moment we’ll always remember from closing day at Bill’s.

We tried to preserve more Bill’s memories with our camera. Further consolation may be found in other places to do the things you’ve loved doing at Bill’s.

So, let’s raise our glasses and say “goodbye” to an old friend, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Casino.

It is with mixed feelings this blog reiterates the fact Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon will shut its doors on Feb. 4, 2013.

The popular hotel, at the corner of Flamingo Boulevard and Las Vegas Boulevard, is set for a multi-million dollar renovation and will re-open with a new name (we vote for “Pulse of Vegas Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon”) in early 2014.

Temporary sad face.

That means all the things we’ve loved doing at Bill’s will have to be done elsewhere, at least for the time being. Here’s our top 11, probably because we don’t entirely grasp the metric system.

1. Beer Pong

It’s a captivating combination of alcohol, balls and trash talk, and now we’ll have to seek out another location for all our beer pong needs. Two great options are inside The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, just south on The Strip a bit. Blondies Sports Bar & Grill and DB’s Pong and Pool have everything serious beer pong players (oxymoron, if ever there were one) could desire.

Look at the ball jokes we're not making. This blog's maturity level is truly epic.

2. Big Elvis

Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, was a talent too large for Bill’s to contain, so he moved to Harrah’s Las Vegas a few months ago. Catch his free show at the piano bar. Phew. That was an easy one. By the way, when we asked Pete how many shows he did while at Bill’s (and before that, Barbary Coast), he said 7,000. Wow.

B.E. T.C.B. at H.L.V.

On a related note: Another Vegas institution, lounge icon Cook E. Jarr, will also grab a spot at Harrah’s. He’ll perform each Saturday and Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., starting Feb. 9, 2013.

If you haven't done a Cook E. Jarr show, you haven't done Vegas.

3. Rapid Craps

A hybrid version of craps, Rapid Craps, has been exclusively at Bill’s for years, and loyal fans of the game were worried it would disappear when Bill’s closes. However, we’re pleased to provide a Pulse of Vegas blog exclusive: There are tentative plans to move Rapid Craps to The Quad. Crisis averted.

Rapid Craps is expected to re-emerge at The Quad, like an electronic phoenix of some sort.

4. Poker

The intimate poker room at Bill’s hosted many lively games, but there are plenty of alternatives nearby. Poker fanatics can try the famed poker room at Caesars Palace, across the street, or the poker rooms at Bally’s Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood.

You were small, but nevertheless adorbs, Bill's Poker Room.

5. Nightclubbing

We hear Drai’s Nightclub at Bill’s will take up temporary digs while Bill’s is being renovated, but a location hasn’t officially been announced yet. Until we get more scoop, get up off your thang (if people still do that) at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace or Chateau Nightclub at Paris Las Vegas.

Vegas is full of places to get your "oontz" on.

6. Show Tickets

The Tix4Tonight Half Price Shows booth was a hit at Bill’s. There are other locations around Las Vegas, including downtown. Check out the alternatives here.

We're pretty sure tearing your ticket in half invalidates it. We're just saying.

7. Western Union

Yes, Bill’s had a full-fledged Western Union office. While weird, people liked it. Come to find out, you can pick up money wired through Western Union at the cashier cage at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Which we should have known before an Internet search two minutes ago. Hey, you try fitting all this stuff in one brain.

Western Union may have other signs, but they'll never be as fancy as the one at Bill's Gamblin' Hall.

8. Steakhouse at Bill’s

This joint was old-school Vegas, and had a loyal following. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of steakhouses on The Strip that provide delicious eats and world-class service. Try Center Cut Steakhouse at Flamingo Las Vegas, Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas, the new Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Harrah’s or this blog’s personal favorite, Old Homestead Steakhouse at Caesars Palace.

There are plenty of other restaurants in Vegas that will take care of your meat. Umm, about that maturity thing.

9. Slushy Drinks

We’d grown emotionally attached to some of the great beverages at Slush inside Bill’s, but Las Vegas has never been at a loss for those frosty diversions. Drop by Numb at Harrah’s or Caesars Palace, Margaritaville or Carlos’n Charlie’s at Flamingo and Fat Tuesday at The Quad. Also try Cabo Wabo Cantina or PBR Rock Bar at Planet Hollywood. Oh, and let’s not forget Evening Call at Rio and Bally’s. Vegas definitely knows slushy.

You'll still be greatly missed, Vegas Vice.

10. Craps Lessons

The free craps lessons at Bill’s drew crowds. But here’s the thing: They were at 10:30 a.m. Chances are, if you visit ANY craps table in Vegas at 10:30 a.m., you’ll find idle dealers more than happy to give you a craps lesson. During lulls, dealers are happy to share the basics and their insights from years of watching the highs and lows of the world’s greatest casino game. Objectively speaking, of course.

Craps, the cause of, and answer to, all of life's problems.

11. Go-Go Dancers

Oh, no! If we can’t see go-go dancers at Bill’s, where on Earth will we ever see go-go dancers in Las Vegas? Yeah, right. Sin City always has a back-up plan. Find a slew of shimmying seductresses in the Pussycat Doll blackjack pit at Caesars Palace, onstage in the casinos at Rio and Flamingo, in the Pleasure Pit at Planet Hollywood or in the Ooh La La Party Pit at Paris. Please note, we’re only sharing this video because we like the music.

So, after an appropriate period of mourning over the loss of Bill’s, get out there and find other great places in Las Vegas to play, eat, drink and drink. Oh, did we say “drink” twice? How ever did that happen?

We’ll say it right up front. We’ve never gotten “Auld Lang Syne.” Translated, it means “Old Long Since,” which doesn’t exactly make us scream, “It’s a new year, let’s party!”

We do, however, want to remember our Las Vegas acquaintances, old and new, so we’ve slapped together some images we captured from the New Year’s Eve festivities on the Las Vegas Strip. Some, we actually remember having captured.

Take that, 2012.

As usual, The Strip was the center of the New Year’s Eve universe, with celebrity sightings (yes, that was Nicki Minaj at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace, and Arnold Schwarzenegger at Strip House inside Planet Hollywood), noisemakers, trying to identify things on the ground, funny hats and spontaneous outbreaks of frolicking.

Personal space, schmersonal space. It's New Year's Eve!

The closing of The Strip to vehicles gave pedestrians a unique opportunity to stroll Las Vegas Boulevard, and gave us the chance to see and photograph Las Vegas hotels from new perspectives.

Typically, taking a photo from here would result in serious vehicular injury.

It also gave us a chance to break in the new video camera we got for Christmas.

We are a Las Vegas blog, not a videographer. (Note: The camera was strapped to our chest, so we didn’t know what we were getting.) Hopefully, you get the idea. Bottom line: On New Year’s Eve, The Strip is like nowhere else on the planet!

The Pleasure Pit girls at Planet Hollywood added some additional bling to their outfits for New Year's Eve.

We trust you had a memorable New Year’s Eve, whether you celebrated it in Vegas or not.

In the spirit of a new year in Las Vegas, please join this blog as we break all our New Year’s resolutions, effective immediately. Especially if they involve exercising or not playing craps as much in 2013.

Carnaval Court at Harrah's was off the proverbial chain and/or hook.

This year’s fireworks, launched from seven hotel rooftops, went off without a hitch. Mother Nature knows better than to mess with our party. She and Lady Luck hang out sometimes, so we have some extra pull there.

The fireworks displays, coordinated by a New York firm, Fireworks by Grucci, featured an amazing 80,000 burts. Fireworks by Grucci has put on the fireworks show on The Strip for the last 14 years.

We are happy to have risked frostbite on our index finger to capture this New Year's Eve moment for you.

Please enjoy a collection of random, out-of-focus photos from New Year’s Eve on The Las Vegas Strip, a place so nice, they didn’t need to name it twice, because it’s so flipping awesome. A tagline we should probably trademark, by the way.

Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is a little casino with a big heart, and now it’s getting a big vote of confidence with a $185 million renovation.

The optimally-located hotel-casino, which sits at the corner of Flamingo Boulevard and Las Vegas Boulevard, next to Flamingo Las Vegas, will close temporarily on Feb. 4, 2013 for a serious make-over.

Bill’s, formerly known as the Barbary Coast, will be transformed into a “boutique lifestyle hotel and casino” set to be unveiled in early 2014, with a brand-spanking new name.

Breaking: Bill's Gamblin' Hall will continue to have halls.

The extensive renovation will include the addition of a 65,000-square-foot rooftop pool, which we’re fairly sure will have one of the most killer views of The Strip in all of Las Vegas.

The addition of a pool means there will also be a dayclub/nightclub. Drai Management Group, the folks behind the hotel’s award-winning Drai’s After Hours club, will manage the new club. The club is expected to open in late 2014.

Guest rooms at the hotel will also be remodeled, as well as the casino floor. A new restaurant will be added to the hotel’s second floor.

Bill’s trivia: The hotel originally cost $11.5 million and opened in 1979.

Remember that Strip view we were talking about?

Big changes are certainly afoot center-Strip! The Imperial Palace is now The Quad. The Linq entertainment district is well under way, and the High Roller observation is growing by the minute.

We can’t wait to see the changes in store for Bill’s, especially if it could mean we’d be able to use our Total Rewards cards there, and as long as they don’t take away Rapid Craps.

Check back often for all the latest Las Vegas news.

This blog loves it some Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, and not just because it has “Saloon” in its name.

There are so many things to love, in fact, if we were to list everything, we would need a bigger Internet. Instead, we’re picking five at random. We hope you like them. But if you don’t, feel free to keep that to yourself.

1. Free Craps Lessons

Craps is one of the most fun, boisterous games in the casino, but can be a tad intimidating to the uninitiated. Well, Bill’s is the perfect place to become initiated!

Let's just say the casino guys at Bill's have seen a few things in their day. Ask them to share.

Free craps lessons are provided by highly-trained casino personnel, in plain English, at 10:30 a.m. each day. Yes, that’s relatively early by hangover standards, but life can’t always be about daisies and butterflies.

Here’s a bonus thing to love about Bill’s. After the craps lessons, participants get a craps match play coupon. You bet $5, and if you win, you get $10.

Don't try printing this photo and presenting it at the craps table. Ain't gonna fly.

Taking a craps lesson is one of the best investments you can make, and it can mean the difference between winning small or winning big. (This blog is owned and operated by a casino company. What’d you expect us to say?)

2. Cook E. Jarr

This lounge performer is a legend among legends. He’s been in the singing-on-the-Strip business for nearly 30 years and still puts on a show-stopping performance at Bill’s. Oh, and did we mention it’s free?

The man. The myth. The hair. The inestimable Cook E. Jarr.

Jarr (whose real name is Anthony Pettine, but let’s not ruin the mystique) is a wildly versatile singer, bouncing back and forth between classics and the latest rap hits. Jarr doesn’t skimp on the cheese or the high notes, and schmoozes with his fans throughout the show.

How awesome is Cook E. Jarr? During a recent show we attended, he stopped to accept a call from a fan’s mother. During his show. We’re not making this up.

Try this at other Vegas shows, and you'll be tackled by burly security guards.

A little Cook E. Jarr trivia: His first gig in Vegas, back in the ’70s, was at Cleopatra’s Barge (formerly Nero’s Nook) at Caesars Palace.

Cook E. Jarr puts on his throwback show on Wednesdays, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Read more about Cook E. Jarr, a Sin City institution.

3. Slush Bar

No visit to Las Vegas is complete without a colorful, frosty drink in a collectible cup. Or perhaps several. Slush Bar can assist you in this regard.

The cocktail names are as colorful as the drinks themselves: Picnic Punch, Bad Apple, Red Neck Peach Punch, Rainforest Madness and the Red-Headed Stepchild, among them.

Below, Janet serves up the Say Hello to My Little Friend.

Fact: This Las Vegas blog has never not liked a cocktail that included red licorice.

Also recommended are the Vegas Vice and All Night Long. We’re just saying.

4. Beer Pong

Denizens of the beer pong area at the former O’Sheas casino need not lament or gnash their teeth, for there are a phalanx of beer pong tables awaiting their trash-talking at Bill’s.

Look at all the "balls" jokes we're not making. It's called maturity, people.

The beer pong tables are conveniently located next to Slush Bar (which has beer) and Bill’s Lounge, which has Cook E. Jarr. Ah, the circularity of the universe.

The World Series of Beer Pong (yes, there’s a World Series of Beer Pong) will soon be back in Las Vegas at the Flamingo, January 1-5, 2013, so brush up on your mad skilz at Bill’s. Trademark pending.

5. Bill’s Poker Room

It’s intimate. (Translation: Not large.) It’s welcoming. It harkens back to a time where people played poker for fun, not to be on TV.

The poker room at Bill’s is easily one of the best values in town when it comes to this popular game. It’s the only casino we know where there’s a .50/$1 No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em game pretty much any time you want to play. No, that’s not a typo. And, no, they don’t jack up the minimums when the casino gets busy. It’s Bill’s.

Also, take advantage of the “Aces Cracked” promotion. If you get pocket aces and lose, you get $100. Just for sitting there and whining about your bad luck. Only in Vegas, baby!

Nobody loses in Vegas! And that's the story we're sticking to!

So, those are the first five things that came to our mind.

What’s your favorite thing at Bill’s?

Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Blvd. on The Strip has announced it will close its Steakhouse at Bill’s restaurant on Sep. 16, 2012.

There’s no specific information about what will replace the establishment, but it’s likely to be another restaurant.

It was a great run!

The Steakhouse at Bill’s was known for its old-school service, including table-side food preparation of dishes like salads and bananas Foster.

One of this blog’s fondest memories of Steakhouse at Bill’s was that it hosted the wedding reception for Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee and his charming bride, Amanda. Read more. These days, Big Elvis is belting out the hits at the Piano Bar at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Big Elvis, "taking care of business."

Rest assured, something new and delicious is in the works at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. You’ll know when we know!

Vegas Seven magazine has published its “Best of the City” edition, highlighting some of Sin City’s most remarkable people, places and things.

The magazine’s list of bests is far too extensive to adequately cover here, so we’re just going to single out a couple of items related to Caesars Entertainment, whose blog this is. Hey, if you want objectivity, start your own blog.

Check out the full “Best of the City” feature at Seven Vegas.

This graphic wins our "Best Use of Neon in Artwork for a Magazine Feature" award. (Note: Award not redeemable for cash.)

Among the city’s best stuff was an award for “Best Hotel Technology.” Vegas Seven gave props to the Octavius app available to guests of the Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace.

Get a feel for what the groundbreaking app does online here.

Related: The Octavius app's great and all, but the rooms in this Caesars Palace tower also deserve "Most Awesome Sci-Fi Reading Lights, Ever."

The “Best of the City” issue named Rio Las Vegas headliner Penn Jillette “Best Reality TV Star.”

Penn made quite an impression on the most recent edition of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and was only “fired” because “there is no justice in this world, thank you.” It turned out well, though. Read more.

Sorry, but the Penn should have been mightier than the Arsenio.

Drai’s After Hour, at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, was deemed “Best EDC Week Bonus” by Vegas Seven. EDC, of course, refers to Electric Daisy Carnival, the massive electronic music festival that now calls the Las Vegas Motor Speedway home. A unique line-up of DJs made Bill’s the place to be when EDC ended each day.

Also on Vegas Seven’s list of the city’s best was Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood for “Best Nightclub Art Show.” The mag points out the appeal of the nightclub’s black-and-white erotic photography. Learn more.

Hint: They didn't call it "Gallery" because of its peanuts.

Did Vegas Seven’s list include all your favorite Vegas places and personalities? Check out the issue and let us know what you think in the Comments section or on our Facebook page.

Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, who has entertained throngs of Vegas visitors for decades, is still packing them in at his new venue, the Piano Bar at Harrah’s Las Vegas, after a recent move from Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.

Pete's fans will follow him anywhere!

Vallee, who was named one of the top 10 Elvis impersonators in the world by Time magazine, performs free shows each day between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (dark on Wednesdays).

Hearing “Big Elvis” belt out soulful renditions of classic Presley tunes is easily one of the best free things to do in Las Vegas, so check him out at Harrah’s.

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.”