We will miss their surprisingly good nachos.

Disney is shutting down almost all of the ESPN Zones, including the one at New York-New York. Disney, why do you hate sports so much? First you stuck a hockey team — a hockey team! full of guys who hit each other with sticks for a living — with the name “Mighty Ducks.” Then you couldn’t even stand by the Ducks and abandoned them years later, but somehow got them to keep the name, if not the terrible colors. What next, Disney? Are you just going to sabotage the Special Olympics, too? Like some sort of cartoonish villain? Where would you even get the idea to play the role of cartoonish villain? Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

NEEEEEEERDS!

FINALLY, for one night we can go somewhere where talking about Voltron for 45 minutes will be normal. We were going to do it anyway, but nouveau New Wavers The Spazmatics at Rok Vegas inside New York-New York make it a more nerd-friendly environment tonight instead of say, having the conversation with the cashier at the grocery store like we had planned. Naturally, it’s a nerd costume party too, with DJ sets from Robert Oleysyck, Alex Terranova and Freddy B. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

You could argue they wouldn’t tolerate Jive Turkeydom. You could also argue we just wanted to put up a pic of Sanford and Son.

Just admit it: Thanksgiving morning wouldn’t be complete without a pounding hangover. To properly kick off the start of a four-day weekend, Rok Vegas at New York-New York hosts Jive Turkey 3 with DJs Aurajin and Shr3d with a live performance from RnR. The SpyOnVegas Open Bar runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on the patio, and $59 rooms are available just so you don’t have to call your parents to bail you out from a DUI while they’re trying to watch a parade. Hit the link to get on the list.

By Jason Scavone

He’ll be bringing in his buddies Paulie, Petey and Dominic shortly. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

This town ain’t big enough for the both of Vinnys.

Vinny Blue won the New York-New York contest to be the property’s ambassador/spokesVinny, and the key to the property. Which we think means he can sneak into Rok whenever he wants to drink all the booze. Although it’s kind of a conspicuous key. Kind of hard to hide under your shirt, but whatever.

The three-week contest saw both Vinny Red and Vinny Blue working the floor in an effort to drum up votes. Vinny Blue won with 8,459. He reportedly celebrated by stealing the stereo out of a ’99 Celica and watching Casino.

By Jason Scavone

Used to have a little, now they have a lot. They’re still Vinny from the Bronx. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

If all New York-New York wanted was a loudmouth paisan in a track suit as their new spokesman, we could’ve saved them the trouble of going through a contest. We know a dozen guys that could do the job, and all it would take to get them on the plane is a couple of comped nights and few hundred bucks in free play.

But, instead, the casino is pitting Vinny Red against Vinny Blue in a series of contests to be the new spokesman. Yesterday, they tied up in a hot dog-eating contest and spent money passing the boot, collecting money for the Clark County Fire Department’s Muscular Dystrophy Association with firefighters. Hopefully, future contests will include, “Complaining about the other guy’s favorite pizza,” “Lookit this guy over here,” and, of course, “Didjoo see the goddamn Jets game? OH!” Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

They’ll get that General Sherman yet.

The Show at Rok Vegas inside New York-New York shifts gears from old-school to crunk when the Yin Yang Twins bring a whole bunch of Atlanta to town. And you know what that means. General Sherman will be hanging around all night with a torch and some oily rags. THAT guy. Leave Atlanta alone, dude. We get it. You don’t like The Big Peach. You’re not happy unless it’s engulfed in flames. Message received. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Does he buy his hats already like that or does he seriously sit down with a pair of scissors at cut the holes?

Voiceover actor Coolio, best known for his turn as Kwanzaa-bot, will be making an appearance at Rok Vegas at New York, New York Wednesday Night.
We’re told he’s also something of a rapper with hits like “Fantastic Voyage” and some video involving Michelle Pfiefer where a guy raps in a sauna.
The Grammy Award-winner is set to take the stage at 1 a.m.

By Jared Harmon

Just once, bring the parachute pants back. Do it for us. (Photos by Scott Harrison | Retna)

If Rok at New York-New York had any problems, well consider them solved. Vanilla Ice was on the scene like police passing him up for dope fiends last night. While Ice has spent the last 19 years taking abuse as a fraud and a hack, everyone usually talks about how he talked up his thugness, or he wasn’t a particularly great rapper. No one ever points, though, that he was using the “lyrical poet/in case you didn’t know it” rhyme as late as 1990. Jesus.

Although we do need to point out that MC Hammer did a show here last week, and now Ice last night. Do you hear that, Gerardo? Vegas is calling.

By Jason Scavone

Photos of the elusive Vanilla Ice are as rare as that of Sasquatch. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

You thought he was just some kind of bogeyman your parents used to scare you into behaving. “Timmy, if you don’t clean up your room tonight, Vanilla Ice is going to come out from under your bed and eat you.” “Billy, eat your vegetables. Vanilla Ice can sense Vitamin D deficiency in children, and he snatches them up to live in his cabin in the woods.” Yes, we know. We’ve heard all the old stories. But Vanilla Ice is real, and he’s going to be at Rok Vegas inside New York-New York tonight. You’ve been warned.

• Andre Legacy and Dirt Nasty are at Revolution inside The Mirage.
• Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock Hotel does Wasted Wednesdays.
• LAX at Luxor does its Industry Night.
• The SpyOnVegas.com Open Bar is at Town Square’s Brio with Jeremy James from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Lavo inside Palazzo does Label Junkie.
• Luxor’s CatHouse presents Vanity Wednesday at 1 a.m.
• It’s a trio of Latin nights with Azucar at Red Room (3101 W. Sahara Ave.); Noches Latinas with DJs Muneco and Willie at the Thunderbird Lounge (1215 Las Vegas Blvd.); and Tropical at Club Aruba (1215 Las Vegas Blvd.) featuring DJ Muneco.
• Cheyenne Saloon (3103 N. Rancho Drive) features Surviving the Atomic Bomb, Interior Astronaut, Fractured vision and Unconfined at 9 p.m.
• Bunkhouse (124 S. 11th St.) holds Rhythm and Rhymes.
• AJ’s Tavern (3650 S. Decatur Blvd.) does karaoke with Frankie Almost at 9 p.m.
• Double Down (4640 Paradise Road) has The Tell Tale Heartbreakers, Thee Headliners and DJ Beelzebozo.
• Beauty Bar (517 Fremont St.) has L’Eighties Night.

By Jason Scavone

Everybody’s talkin’ all this stuff about him. Why don’t they just let him live?

Bobby Brown is getting on stage tonight at Rok Vegas inside New York-New York, so you know what that means: One lucky winner gets hooked on crack tonight. What? You said you always wanted to live like a celebrity, and now’s your chance. You could be just like Whitney Houston and strung out and locked in the bathroom. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone