I'm not a good barometer to read when it comes to prices as I still live in the '50s, where I could go to a movie for a quarter, buy a new car for a few grand and a nice house for $15,000. So when I heard the cost of the next few items you'll read, I once again yearned for the "good old days."
You think a steak dinner is kinda pricey at the local Sizzler, do you? You might think twice when I tell you what a steak of Kobe beef is selling for on the Strip. If you're at Shintaro in Bellagio, a 10-ounce Washugyu tenderloin is going for $190. If you're really hungry and want the 12-ounce sirloin, get ready to shell out $170.
Hmmmm ... a little expensive? You might wander over to Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace, looking for a break, only to find the 8-ounce Kobe steak goes for $175. You'll do better at Craftsteak in the MGM Grand, where a 10-ounce filet mignon is price at $100 or a Kobe ribeye for $98. For this kind of money, I want a hooker and a fantasy suite thrown in.
And listen to this, even though it gets a little complicated. It has to do with the tax on renting a car here. Here's why it's so high, according to the good folks over at Las Vegas Advisor. Nevada sales tax for car rentals is 7.75 percent. But all car rentals also require that you pay a 10 percent concession recovery fee, a 6 percent government license surcharge and a 4 percent license recovery fee, plus a $3-per-day customer facility fee. Still with me?
OK. In 2003, the Nevada Legislature authorized a further 2 percent increase in the tax on rental cars to fund the building of a performing arts center and a training facility for culinary workers. In February 2005, the Clark County Commissioners moved to implement the tax hike, which went into effect last July. The problem shows up in the way rental car companies seem to be combining all the taxes, fees, and surcharges when they collect them.
Some are adding the new 2 percent tax to the existing 6 percent government license surcharge (making it 8 percent), while others are adding it to the 7.75 percent county sales tax (making it 9.75 percent). The bottom line is, no matter how you slice it, non-locals now pay 29.75 percent, plus $3 per day, in taxes and fees to rent a car in Las Vegas. Locals, exempt from the new 2 percent, pay the old 27.75 percent, plus $3 per day. Seems like just another gigantic rip-off to me and guess who's getting screwed yet again?
'THE ENTERTAINER' DELISCO
Went to see a guy named Delisco at the Las Vegas Hilton the other night and was really impressed. Great singer, good rapport with audience and from the applause, they obviously liked what they had come to see. For those of you who don't know, Delisco was the winner of Wayne Newton's recent reality show, "The Entertainer," which was filmed at the Hilton. Delisco is playing in the resort's Shimmer Cabaret Tuesdays thru Saturdays and tickets are a reasonable $35.50, which includes taxes and service charges. For more info, call 702-732-5755.
GOLF GREATS
If golf's your game, you'll be pleased to hear that some of the biggest stars from the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA will battle for a $900,000 purse and tour bragging rights at the 2005 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Lake Las Vegas Resort's SouthShore Golf Club. ABC Sports will broadcast tape-delayed coverage of the event Dec. 17-18, 1-3 p.m. PST.
Representing the Champions Tour will be Hale Irwin, Jay Haas and Craig Stadler. Playing for the PGA Tour will be Mark Calcavecchia, Kenny Perry and John Daly, and representing the LPGA, Lorena Ochoa, Grace Park and Cristie Kerr. Should be a good event and maybe some of you duffers can pick up some pointers.
FLY AWAY
Up, up and away. Boulder City Airport will have an open house on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be an aerobatic demonstration from noon until 2 p.m., parachuting demonstration and formation fly-bys. But there's plenty more. How about free airplane rides for ages 8-17, courtesy of the EAA/Young Eagle Program, from 9 a.m. until noon and 2-3 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Helicopter rides will be available, and vintage, experimental and general aviation aircraft will be on display. For more info, call 702-293-9405.
EGGS-TRAORDINARY TRIVIA
For anyone who likes trivia or just likes to show off their knowledge to their friends, the New Yorker magazine published some pretty remarkable statistics about eggs in Las Vegas. Did you know that the Tropical Breeze coffee shop at the Las Vegas Flamingo serves a million eggs a year?
It also serves 300 pounds of bacon every day. There are five egg cooks on each shift -- one each for omelets, overs, poached, steak and eggs, and a relief cook. The average meal takes five minutes to prepare and 15 to serve; tables turn over on average every 37 minutes. Out of 4,000 employees at the Flamingo, 1,100 work in food and beverage.
And just think that this same scenario is happening at many more of our hotel-casinos. This you'll also find interesting. The onion soup, turkey gravy, beef broth, marinara sauce, clam chowder, and chili served at the Tropical Breeze are made in giant steam kettles at Paris Las Vegas where they're pumped into two-gallon plastic tubs, loaded onto carts and distributed around the Strip. How about that, huh? This has all made me very hungry, so if you don't mind, I'll end this column here and make myself an omelet.
Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out www.valleyblogs.com
If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@cox.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.
