Caesars Palace books a real Strip election party
The Kats! Bureau at this writing is one of my favorite posts — The Forum food court at Caesars Palace, where the hotel is 50 years old but the pies at Di Fara Pizza are fresh.
I’ve been seeking a Strip angle for tonight’s election, and I didn’t need to look far. Just around the corner actually, where for the first time Caesars is clearing out the sports book to broadcast election returns. It’s going to be a whole thing, with the book’s 143-foot-wide LED video wall trained exclusively on the night’s results.
Domestic drafts, which is not an NFL term but a beer term, are $5.80 each. That price is in honor of the 58th election. No odds are posted, as presidential elections are off the books in Las Vegas casinos, but overseas bookmakers at Ladbrokes in the U.K. have put Hillary Clinton as a 2-to-9 favorite to win the presidency (meaning you would need to bet $9 on Clinton to win a $2 profit).
Elsewhere in this hotel, across the way at the Colossuem, Celine Dion is struggling with a viral infection that wiped out her performances Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. She is expected back onstage Friday night, provided she is cleared by her doctors to perform. Those who ordered tickets with a credit card will have charges refunded to their cards. Otherwise, present the tickets to the original point of sale to get your money back.
More from the scene:
WHAT’S UP AT TRUMP INTERNATIONAL?
Well, the restaurant DJT — a fine eatery — has moved its main dining area from its original, closed-off hovel to the wide-open lounge next to hotel entrance. The old space is now used for private banquets.
More timely: The hotel has no plans for a public party on election night, at least nothing to promote, but is broadcasting the results. For sale in the gift shop are shelves of “Make America Great Again” hats for $30 apiece. While supplies last, of course.
PENN’S BALLOT
A source of curiousity and debate throughout the campaign has been for whom Penn Jillette would cast his ballot. He appeared twice with Trump on “Celebrity Apprentice,” an experience he says convinced him the series host was unfit for office. But Jillette never has been a Clinton fan, and he and performing partner Teller are avowed Libertarians. They even sell a metal, TSA-edition, wallet-size Bill of Rights at their shows at the Rio. When anyone attempts to walk through airport security while carrying this card, the Bill of Rights triggers the alarm, and the passenger actually hands over his or her rights to continue to the gate.
With that sensibility, Penn had endorsed Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and running mate Bill Weld. But upon early voting, he cast his ballot for … Clinton, even though, “I do not agree with her on anything.”
Jillette further explanation on his “Penn’s Sunday School” podcast was that, “(Clinton) is not as apt to blow us to kingdom come with nuclear weapons as Trump.” He added, “I have personal experience with Trump and don’t want him to be president.”
Jillette also said that he bartered his vote for a dozen or so Johnson/Weld votes in such “safe” Blue States as California, New York and Massachusetts.
HITTING THE POLES, IF NOT POLLS
Crazy Horse III Gentlemen’s Club is hosting its own non-voting, pole-ing place beginning at 6 p.m. Dubbed “Polls for Poles,” the event starts at 6 p.m. Anyone bringing an “I Voted” sticker receives a free drink. Promotions include a Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump look-alike contest (top prize is $500).
And the kicker: Should Donald Trump lose, he receives free lap dances for life at CHIII. You cannot make this stuff up.
TRUMP TRIVIA ACTION
Before the development of what is now Symphony Park, Trump toured what was then dubbed Union Park in Downtown Las Vegas with then-Mayor Oscar Goodman. This was in the fall of 2002, and Trump asked Goodman about talking over the entire development and anchoring the project with a pair of Trump Towers.
This was long before serious plans for the parcel were ever drafted, and Trump wound up on the Strip on the site of the Frontier, in partnership with Phil Ruffin.
PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA ACTION
In honor of this election, we are reminded of a future president who actually headlined on the Strip. Care to guess?
(Pause.)
Ronald Reagan, in his acting career, hosted a variety show at the showroom at the then-Last Frontier for two weeks beginning April 28, 1954. Reagan’s special guests were the vocal quartet The Continentals.
John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
