● Hard Rock Cafe (Strip: Central) - Cheeseball cafe opens state-of-the-art flagship on the Strip.
● The Pub (Strip: Central) - Burgers, brews, beer pong and boobs make for a Brohemian Paradise on the strip.

The crapped-out economy has hit Las Vegas hard. With the city’s industry crashing like casinos were Chryslers, everyone from CEOs to chambermaids is muttering that “It’s never been this bad.” And, well, it hasn’t. Gambling revenues tumbled, with the take on the Strip’s tables dropping 15% in January (compared to January 2008). Moody’s Investors Service has repeatedly downgraded virtually every casino company -- MGM Mirage twice in a week! -- citing "aggressive and substantial debt-financed development activity and earnings pressure from slowing consumer spending trends that began in fiscal 2008." In short: Casinos went into massive hock to expand extravagantly. Then everyone got The Fear, and blowing five grand on blackjack and bottle service became less appealing. Well, not less appealing, but more difficult to get away with on a regular basis.

C’mon! Big money! Big money!

1. Aureole (Strip: South) - Nothing says “winner” like a $500 bottle of wine before dinner. Nothing says big winner like ordering a $1,000 bottle of wine with the appetizer.
2. Fred Leighton (Bellagio) - Because an 8-carat diamond ring is vulgar, but a 16-carat emerald, diamond and platinum art deco bracelet is not.
3. Pinball Hall of Fame (Off-Strip East) - Go ahead, buy that Kiss pinball machine. You’re on your own getting it home, though.

● One Six (Henderson) - Sleek lounge and restaurant sits atop the low-priced/high-styled Eastside Cannery.

Friday
Stay: Golden Nugget. Check in. Inside the hotel, there’s a Bond villain-worthy pool complex and newly renovated bars and restaurants. Outside the hotel, historic downtown Las Vegas.
3 p.m.: Brass Lounge. Enjoy a “Hello Vegas!” cocktail with a view.
4 p.m.: Nothing in your luggage glamorous enough? For ladies, try the Bettie Page store. Gentlemen can pick up slick threads from days gone by at Valentino’s Zoot Suit Connection.

Friday
2 p.m.: The Venetian. Check in. Large, velvet-upholstered rooms make one feel like an imperial mistress.
3:30 p.m.: Lunch at Mon Ami Gabi. Sit on the patio, watch the Bellagio fountains, and plan the weekend’s attack.
5 p.m.: Sephora. Someone forgot their cleanser/lipgloss/eyeshadow brush. Or whatever excuse you want to make.

Go ahead, ball out of control. This is Vegas after all.

Friday
Stay. TheHotel. You need a place that’s isolated, where they won’t ask questions. A place with two exits.

3:30 p.m. Big Elvis at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon. A 500-lb. hunka hunka burnin’ love pays tribute to the King.