Laughlin Jr./Sr. High School Art Show

15th Annual Art Show

Support the Laughlin Jr./Sr. High School Art Students by visiting the 15th Annual Art Show Display at the Laughlin Outlet Mall

May 15th-20th.

Free.  Drop by and see the wonderful art they created.

Best In Show

For more about the local Laughlin area, visit http://www.laughlinbuzz.com 

Edgewater Casino Race and Sports Book

Edgewater Casino Hotel in Laughlin, Nevada 

Finally!

Sign Duct Taped to the Curtains at the entrance to the Race and Sports Book

If you have ever been to the Edgewater Casino Race and Sports Book, you may have noticed it was in severe need of a makeover.  

As of May 13th, the William Hill Race and Sports Book in the Edgewater Casino is undergoing a remodel. It   Hours have changed and are now 9am-8pm, 7 days a week the remodel is finished (expected to be done June 18th).    

Perhaps they will also fix the   A   on the sign now too!

We would love to see some much improved customer service to go with the new look coming soon! 

For more about the Laughlin area visit  http://www.laughlinbuzz.com 

Joan Jett and Steve Miller about to Rock Laughlin, Nevada

 The Steve Miller Band and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts show in Laughlin, NV is coming up soon!

Laughlin Amphitheater
May 18, 2013

Gates open at 6:30 pm
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will open the show at 8:30 pm
The Steve Miller Band is set to take the stage at 10:00 pm.


Below is the seating chart for the Laughlin Amphitheater as published by Ticket Force.

Tickets are priced at $40, $50, $60, $80 and $100, available through TicketForce or by calling 887-840-0457.    Ticket force website link:  http://tickets.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1114

Tickets breakdowns are as follows:
VIP - $100
Section A - $80
Section B - $60
Platinum Bleachers - $60
(rows 1-10)
Gold Bleachers - $50
(rows 11-26)
Silver Bleachers - $40

Note from us at Laughlin Buzz:  All of the 100, 200, 300 sections are metal bleachers.  The price difference simply reflects how high up on them you are seated.  As of today's blog post we checked availability and only bleacher seats appear to be left.  Call the number listed above if you want to check on what is available. 

The middle section (VIP, Section A and B) are floor (parking lot) seats consisting of folding chairs.

Sections B1 and B6 are reserved for ADA guests.  Tickets must be purchased in these floor sections to guarantee wheelchair/companion seating.

The Bleachers as seen for the River Walk 

The Amphitheater is located in between Casino Drive and the Laughlin River Walk  in a large parking lot right next to the River Palms and Golden Nugget.

Floor/Ground Seats at the recent Reba Concert

After the first show at the venue there were some complaints over a faulty generator, the seating, etc.  Here is a response that the officicial sponsor of the event put out on the Laughlin Amphitheater Facebook page:

-

Hey everyone, we shared your complaints and comments with the Laughlin Tourism Commission. MJ at the LTC wanted to let everyone know the following:

The venue seats 8,000 and only 8,000 tickets were sold. 

We have always run generators at our events, it's the only way to power at these remote sites. We've never had an issue before. There was a faulty generator but it was switched off immediately once it was found. We will look into an alternative placement for the generators.

Our bleacher seats are 18 inches wide, compared to most venues where they measure 14-16 inches and are completely safe.

We will be adding a jumbo-tron to Steve Miller and Toby Keith.

-

The jumbo-tron will be a welcome addition to the show, especially for concert goers seated in the middle to upper bleacher seats.  

Weather looks like it is going to be beautiful and it should be a great evening on the Colorado River for the show!   If you are going be sure to read our review below about parking and getting to and from the site.   

Read our review of the seating and venue from the last concert we attended at the Amphitheater.

Add us to your Twitter feed to keep up on events going on in and around Laughlin
http://www.twitter.com/laughlinbuzz

http://www.laughlinbuzz.com 

Bubba Gump in Laughlin

Just a short time ago Joe's Crab Shack closed in the Golden Nugget Laughlin.  Bubba Gump replaced it and opened on April 12, 2013.  

We made our first visit to Bubba Gump a couple weeks later.   Unfortunately it was a bit too windy for us to sit on the deck, which is right on the Colorado River.  This is one of the only places you can have lunch or dinner right on the water in Laughlin.

They were only moderately busy when we arrived.  Despite the hostess podium they have just outside the entrance we had to go into the restaurant to find someone to seat us.

No Host or Hostess at the Entrance 

 A couple of girls working there seemed unsure who was doing the seating and we ended up standing there for too long.  On an positive note they were bubbly and friendly but still didn't know what they were doing or even if they should seat people.  A line started to form behind us and finally one of the girls who seemed to be waiting and looking for the actual hostess to seat us told us to follow her.  She grabbed a napkins and utensils and menus and showed us to the closest table.  Then she proceeded to do the same with the others in line.  She seemed very frazzled, didn't even say anything as she seated us and ran off.  She simply left the menus and utensils in a pile on the table.   

Sometimes we wonder if it is just us or if poor service just seems to run common in most of the Laughlin restaurants.

Another server finally showed up at our table, very friendly again.  She did apologize for the confusion on seating and took our drink orders.  Many of the drinks come with a souvenir shaker (plastic) glass you get to take home.  There are many good sounding drinks on the menu to choose from.  The CoronaRita was on special too!

Given the expected size of the entrees we skipped the Appetizers.  They looked good though, especially the new Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and soups (Clam Chowder and Shrimp Gumbo).

Since it was our first visit and this is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., we went ahead and ordered the two signature dishes.  The Shrimper's Heaven and Forrest's Seafood Feast.

The Shrimper's Heaven features 4 kinds of shrimp: Hand Breaded Coconut Shrimp, Chilly Shrimp,
Fried Shrimp, and Japanese style Tempura Shrimp. Plus fries. Three dipping sauces accompanied it: Asian, Cocktail and a Cajun Remoulade, which was the best one.  We had to get an extra cup of it, it was that good. All the shrimp very good and fresh.  Honestly though, the shrimp are about on par or maybe a little better than you would get at a place like Red Lobster during Shrimpfest.   They were nicely  presented on newspaper and served in cones.   $20.99, perhaps a bit high but given it is a theme restaurant it was about what is expected.

Forrest’s Seafood Feast includes Southern Fried Shrimp, Seafood Hush Pups, Fish & Chips, Coleslaw and three dipping sauces, Tartar, Cocktail and the Remoulade.   We actually preferred this dish to the Shrimper's Heaven.  The fish was juicy, light, and tasty.  The batter was good, not thick or overwhelming, had a nice crunch.  The Seafood Hush puppies were a big improvement over normal every day dry hush puppies.  Moist and delicious, we both loved them (and one of us normally doesn't like hush puppies).  The presentation was nice again, on newspapers (detailed as if the paper came straight from Forrest's hometown paper in Alabama).  The coleslaw was a nice mix of fresh cabbage with a vinegar based dressing. The Feast was $19.79.

This was a very big set of entrees for two people, we shared and had to take some home as we couldn't finish it.  No room for dessert either.  Many other items on the menu seem worth trying, so we will be back to visit again.

The dining room is the same as Joe's was, now just with a different theme.  And a more pronounced theme. Everywhere you look is about Forrest Gump, signs, sayings, and even the movie playing on the TV.  Drinks are displayed on Forrest Gump ping pong paddles.  The servers even come around and ask Forrest Gump trivia questions.

In spite of the rocky start to our service, the rest of the time everything went smoothly.  We didn't even have to use the sign provided on the table.  If you need something, you can flip the blue Run Forrest Run sign over to the red side to get the attention of your server. 

The restaurant has the obligatory little gift shop at the front, with T-shirts, glasses, etc..  If you get a drink with the souvenir glass you pick it up at the front gift shop desk on the the say out.  A clean, new one of course in a Bubba Gump bag to go home.  Right up to walking out the door all the staff was very friendly and bubbly.  They try very hard and succeed at giving the entire visit a Forrest Gump theme.

Expect a meal for two with a drink to be a bit high in price, more if you get appetizers, dessert, or more than one drink.  We do recommend it as long as you enjoy this sort of theme style restaurant.  We look forward to trying some of the other (lower priced) choices.

But, yes, Joe's Crab Shack is still preferred over Bubba Gump by us and will be missed.

Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/laughlinbuzz

and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/laughlinbuzz

Laughlin Chef Food Fest 2013

26th Annual Chefs Food Fest presented by the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce.

Guests can enjoy the cuisine from over 20 of the Tri-states finest restaurants.  Experience amazing food, spirits, brews and wine tastings.    

After your the delicious food, enjoy and dance to entertainment by Matt Farris and his Kinfolk Band

Each property plans and prepares months in advance in hopes of winning 

“Best Booth Design” and “Best Food Creation”

June 20, 2013  5:30PM at the Aquarius Pavillion 
Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada

Tickets are $50 per person 
A Full table (of 10) can be reserved for $500

Mark your calendars now and book early, because this event sells out quickly. 
Proceeds go to the River Fund, Inc. benefiting struggling local area residents.

Tickets are available by calling the chamber at (702)298-2214 ext 20.
They are also available in the Chamber of Commerce office located
at:
1585 S. Casino Drive (across from the Riverside Resort and Casino)
Hours: M-F 8:30am - 4:30pm

Admission is restricted to 21 years of age and over. 

Laughlin Labyrinth

Who would of ever thought a Labyrinth would be located in Laughlin, Nevada?  Turns out there are four of them.  One afternoon when it was a bit cloudy and cooler we took a short hike up to the site of the Laughlin Labyrinths.    

Watch for this Sign on Thomas Edison Drive in Laughlin

A flag marks the start of the route up to the Labyrinth site

Yellow Arrows on White Stones Point the Way

The site is a few hundred yards at the top of the small not very steep hill

The Top of Hill in Front of the first Labyrinth

Laughlin Energetic Labyrinth

Benches located near the Energetic Labyrinth

Destiny Labyrinth

Spiral Labyrinth

There is a fourth Labyrinth located a bit further down another path.  We will see that one on our next visit.  According to the keeper of the site, a 5th Labyrinth is being planned.   In addition to the energy and peace of the Labyrinths one also gets a good view of several of the Casinos and the mountains from the top. 

The River Palms Hotel and Casino in the distance on Casino Drive

Tropicana Laughlin over the other hill

The Golden Nugget Laughlin just down the hill.

The Labyrinths are really easy to find and only a short walk.   

The easiest access is to go 0.4 miles south on Thomas Edision at the intersection of Bruce Woodbury and Thomas Edison. Watch for the white Labyrinth sign and follow the path uphill.

If you want to access the site from Casino Drive, look for a path a path adjacent to Papas Pizza (in the small strip Mall).  Follow the upgrade to the top of the hill.  This path seems a bit steeper of a climb. 

For more information about the Laughlin Labyrinth and how to enjoy it, visit the Laughlin Labyrinth Facebook Page at  https://www.facebook.com/laughlin.labyrinth 

For more about the Laughlin Area visit us at http://www.laughlinbuzz.com 

Alberto's Restaurant and Lounge

Alberto's Italian Restaurant and Lounge - Lauglin, Nevada

As an alternative to the usual spots on Casino Drive or driving into Bullhead City we tried Alberto's restaurant one night for dinner. This is a small local place with a few booths and tables.  They feature a diner/cafe type menu with a wide variety of choices, American, Mexican, Italian.

The best thing on the menu is the Broasted Chicken. Delicious, crispy, cooked fresh and delicious. Be advised the menu asks to allow 25 minutes for this order. So get a drink, have an app and relax, it is worth it. Our party had a bowl of chips with salsa and mozzarella sticks. Both were good.

Other dishes those in our party tried:
-Meatball Sub - very large, had to take half of it home, sauce was good, meatballs very tender, bun was fresh.
-Burgers - large, well cooked, can get a number of varieties of toppings.
-Chicken Quesadilla - this was probably the least favored dish ordered, mostly because she preferred a white meat chicken, didn't care for the dark. Large portion again.

There are many other choices, something for everyone. From what we could tell everything looked decent. Will have to go back again to try some of the other items.

The staff is very friendly, goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable and absolutely no issues with poor service that you sometimes find at other places in Laughlin. Prices are fair for the portions. Seems very popular for people eating in and picking up to take home.

They share a space with Alberto's Lounge (right next door) that has video poker machines. Plus there is easy parking right outside the door in the Laughlin Town Center off of Needles Hwy.

Laughlin Town Center

While you are at the Town Center there are a few other spots to choose from.

Brown Bear Coffee Den

Humberto's Mexican

Mama's Pizzeria

For more about the Laughlin area visit Laughlin Buzz at:
http://www.laughlinbuzz.com 

A visit to the Food Court at the Laughlin Mall

Laughlin Outlet Mall on Casino Drive 

The past two years has obviously been tough times for businesses trying to stay open in the Food Court at the mall in Laughlin.  In less than the last two years McDonald's, Dairy Queen and Orange Julius closed.  So did a Pizza place, which then reopened and closed again.   The Rice Garden seems to be the longest lasting place and the only other one currently open is Kappastrami.

Food is sparse in the Food Court.  4 of the 6 spots are vacant.

Food Court at the Laughlin Outlet Mall

Kappastrami in the Food Court at the Laughlin Outlet Mall

Kappastrami
Ever since they opened we have heard good things about Kappastrami.  We went in expecting a very good Pastrami sandwich and were very disappointed.  Even from the first bite it was clear the Pastrami wasn't going to be a favorite.  It lacked any flavor and was dry.  We like our Pastrami lean and this had some chewy fat.  The bun was only semi-fresh and it was smothered in way too much mustard.  The pickles did nothing for the taste either.  We also tried one of their Burgers and the Chicago Hot Dog.   They have several varieties to choose from.  We could see them preparing the burger by taking it out (apparently partially pre-cooked) and putting it in some sort of griddle/heater.   The end result was very unappealing to look at. A grayish mound of meat and this is a kind description. We thought we took a photo of it but don't seem to be able to find it.  The bun was also dry. The fire ketchup was the best part of it.   The Chicago Hot Dog was big, juicy and flavorful.  However, it is nothing different than you can get from any other hot dog vendor that sells them.  Fries were decent, served to us with virtually no salt on them though.  Prices are higher than a typical fast food food court place.  This would be fine if the quality was too.   We normally aren't so critical about a restaurant or meal but this really was poor.  They have a pretty good menu for a food court location.  Unfortunately the food is not up to par.  Apparently there is another location in Bullhead City. The one they had put in next to Walmart has closed.    We may have to try the Hut in Bullhead City as another place to find good Pastrami.

They also serve lemonade.  This looked really good but we didn't try it.  In addition they offer ice cream too.  Since Dairy Queen closed this is something you can only get at the mall at Kappastrami or upstairs at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Rice Garden in the Food Court at the Laughlin Mall

Rice Garden
Rice Garden remains open in the Food Court, despite the one that was at the Riverside closing (and changing to a FatBurger last year).  The fast food Chinese is typical mall food court Chinese.  In our opinion the quality, freshness and selection is lower than at Panda Express (across the street in the Aquarius Casino).    Half the bins usually only have a small amount of items that appear to be there longer than you would like. It depends on the time of day when you visit.  Go when it will be busier at meal times and you are more likely to find fresher choices.  Often you can get a coupon for a 2 for 1 entree, which is a good value.

As you can see the food court is usually not very busy for people eating.  Most people who are there are sitting using the Free WiFi.  We have heard rumors of other places opening but nothing definite.

Share your thoughts by leaving us a comment or visit us on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/laughlinbuzz

River Palms in Laughlin, NV Sold

The River Palms Hotel and Casino in Laughlin has been sold for a reported $7 million dollars.  

Sale of the 1001 room hotel and casino was made to M1 Gaming, based out of Reno, NV. Station Casinos based in Las Vegas had also been interested in the acquiring the property.  

M1 gaming is headed by CEO Dean DiLullo, who said "We plan to make a significant investment in the property and in the Laughlin market. We look forward to building a strong team and developing the River Palms to its fullest potential."

Dean DiLullo was formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Before that he was an Executive with Station Casinos for 12 years. 

Tropicana Entertainment Inc, which locally also owns the Tropicana Laughlin, will continue to operate the River Palms until the sale is completed. The final transaction is pending Nevada gaming regulators approval, expected sometime this fall. 

The River Palms is located on the banks of the Colorado River on Casino Drive  

http://www.laughlinbuzz.com

First weekend in May

The Laughlin River Run 2013 has come to a close but many other events are already gearing up for the upcoming weekend.  The heatwave backed off a bit, next few days should only be in the 80's in Laughlin.  Hopefully the wind will stay down as well.

Smoke On The Water - BBQ Festival 
BBQ, judging, demonstrations, and great food and music all in one.

Live music will also be provided by:
Powerhouse on Friday from 12noon to 3pm
Groove, Inc. on Friday at 4pm
The Mustangs Saturday 4pm-5pm and 5:45pm-7:30 pm

Takes place at the Riverside Resort
Friday, May 3rd  11am - 7pm
Saturday May 4th, 11am - 7:30pm
Admission is free.

Baja Days Festival
On the Riverwalk between the Edgewater and Colorado Belle Casinos.  This is their version of a Cinco de Mayo fest featuring musicians and classic Mexican food with a Baja theme.

Music will include a mariachi band, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, and a Beach Boys tribute band.
Friday, May 3rd 4pm-9 pm
Saturday, May 4th 12noon-9 pm
Music is free, food/beverages sold separately.

In addition
RAMON AYALA 
will be playing at the Edgewater E Center
on Saturday, May 4th at 8PM.


Visit  LaughlinBuzz.Com for more news from the area.