The Jeff Does Vegas Podcast

One of the things I've enjoyed the most about doing this podcast has been helping people plan their own trips to Las Vegas, and I've been able to do that in couple of different ways. Firstly, with my "trip report" episodes ; I've loved being able to share my Vegas experiences and provide reviews of hotels, restaurants, shows, attractions and anything else I've gotten up to...

One of the most popular topics I cover on the podcast is Las Vegas history.  People love hearing about the colorful & interesting past of their favourite city as well as the cast of "characters" who helped to shape it.  I've had the pleasure of speaking with authors, other podcasters and historians on a huge variety of subjects, covering everything from the mob's role in creati...

Over the course of the last year or so, I've had the opportunity to talk gambling and gaming with some very cool guests and cover what I thought were some fun and interesting topics.  We talked about everything from how to bet on sports, to apps that help you keep track of table game limits, to when "skill" becomes "cheating" and even superstition as it relates to Las Vegas. As...

It's a little-known fact that just over 60 miles away from the glitz & glamour of the Las Vegas Strip, the United States Government used to test atomic weapons. Just as the Cold War with Russia was beginning to heat up, the US Department of Energy began testing nuclear bombs in the Nevada desert.  The blasts lit up the sky and the mushroom clouds could be seen for miles around - including...

If you've ever been to Las Vegas, you're well aware of the unique scents of the various casinos & hotels up and down The Strip.  In fact, if you ask people what one of their favorite parts of Vegas is, they'll tell you "it's the smell inside the casinos".  And it seems that everyone has their own preferred scent - so much so, that there are thousands of posts online fro...

December 15, 1952 saw the opening of one of the most iconic hotels in the history of Las Vegas: The Sands Hotel & Casino During its heyday, it played host to some of the biggest names in entertainment of the day, most notably the legendary "Rat Pack" featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr.  And although that might be what the Sands is best known for, there's way...

There's no question that the COVID-19 outbreak, lockdown and the subsequent limitations on re-openings have been extremely tough on everyone in Las Vegas.  But one of the hardest hit segments are the people involved in the entertainment industry. After 7 long months, shows are finally starting to re-open along The Strip and my guest for this episode is one of those people who's found himse...

When you're headed to Las Vegas, it's important make sure your smartphone is loaded up with all the essential apps - including your casino loyalty apps, rideshare apps and your photo sharing & social media apps to make your friends jealous about your Vegas trip. There's a brand new app available for use in Vegas that could save you time, the aggravation of waiting in lines and - mo...

As important as it was for me to get the "tourist point of view" on what's been happening in Las Vegas as of late, I felt it was equally as important to get the local's point of view as well. So, my guest for for this episode is Jake Gallen, the host of a podcast called The Guest List which focuses on the stories of Las Vegas locals.  Jake is one of those rare "unicorns" wh...

Needless to say, Las Vegas is going through some very weird times. We're not really "post-COVID", in that COVID-19 is still "a thing" and a concern in Las Vegas & around the world.  However, over the course of the last few months, Vegas has been slowly opening back up to tourists and, as great as it's been to see people going back, the re-opening hasn't been without...

Currently, as a Canadian, I still can't really travel to Las Vegas.  Borders are technically closed and even if I did manage to "sneak down", I'd have to quarantine upon my return home.  Not exactly an ideal situation. One of the things I'm missing the most about going to Vegas is the ability to check out shows and see world class live entertainment.  But just because I can&#39...

The Las Vegas Strip attracts a lot of different types of people.  Vacationers, gamblers, foodies, partiers...and daredevils. And there's one specific spot on the Strip that's been particularly appealing to those who make their living defying death: The Fountains at Caesars Palace Since Caesars Palace opened in 1966, this usually-serene spot on an otherwise-busy Las Vegas Boulevard has play...

The Las Vegas Strip has its fair share of iconic hotels & resorts, perhaps none of which are more steeped in history and folklore than The Flamingo. Part of the Vegas landscape since the mid-1940's, it was the brainchild of a Los Angeles-based nightclub owner, restaurant owner and entertainment news editor who wanted to build one of the most luxurious hotels & casinos Las Vegas had eve...

I have to be honest.  This is an episode that I hoped I wouldn't have to record for a very long time - if ever at all. As you've probably guessed from the title of this episode, I've made the decision to put the podcast on a temporary hiatus.  For how long?  I'm not exactly sure as of yet.  That being said, I thought I owed you - the loyal listeners & supporters of the podcast...

"Vegas was better when it was run by The Mob." Anytime I've been in Las Vegas, I inevitably run into people who loudly & proudly say this.  But just how accurate is this statement?  My guest for this episode decided to find out for himself - with his own podcast. Reed Redmond is the host of Mobbed Up: The Fight For Las Vegas, an 11-part true-crime podcast that chronicles the rise a...

Fred Hazelton & Seb Gagnon are the hosts of a brand new Las Vegas podcast called The Unofficial Vegas Podcast.  Fred is a Vegas veteran who visits annually as part of his gig with The Unofficial Vegas Guide and Seb is his good friend & co-host who's only had the opportunity to visit Vegas a couple of times. I reached out to the guys to see if they'd be interested in joining me on t...

Almost 40 years ago, the Las Vegas Strip was the site of what would become the third-worst hotel fire in modern US history and what remains as the worst disaster in the history of the state of Nevada. On an early morning in November of 1980, a small fire broke out in what was - at the time - the MGM Grand Hotel (now, Bally's).  The fire quickly spread, engulfing the casino level and sending th...

The very first episode of the podcast was released all the way back on December 1, 2018.  When I launched the podcast, I was simply looking for a creative outlet and a way to share my love for Las Vegas. I've had the opportunity to talk to & meet with some amazing people - including entertainers, fellow podcasters and Vegas-related experts - and share these conversations with an amazing au...

Sergio Portesan is the creator of the website, Viva Las Value - an awesome site crammed with tons of great tips & tricks on how to do your Las Vegas trip on a budget.  Sergio is also my first ever "three-peat" guest on the podcast, with first 2 appearances being among my top 10 most-downloaded episodes of all-time. I asked Sergio to hop back on the podcast for a couple of reasons... Fi...

If you've found yourself strolling through The Linq on a recent Las Vegas trip, there's a very good chance you've seen my guest for this episode of the podcast performing. Justin Michael Rodriguez is one of the performers in the show Extreme Live - a very cool, high energy, interactive show at the Linq. Justin and I chatted about the time he spent growing up in Las Vegas, scoring a lea...

One of my favourite things about Las Vegas is the vast array of entertainment options available.  One of the most popular types of shows are the "celebrity impersonator" or "tribute shows" - and my special guest for this episode of the podcast is one of the best in the city! Christina Shaw has been a professional celebrity impersonator for close to 20 years.  As Britney Spears, Chr...

My guest for this episode of the podcast is someone I've been trying to connect with for awhile, but up until now our schedules just never clicked.  I'm a HUGE fan of hers and anytime I have a chance to see her perform, I know I'm going to have an awesome time! Sarah Hester Ross is an incredibly talented musical comedian & singer-songwriter.  And if you've spent time in any of...

Las Vegas is a city all about gambling & taking risks...but it's not just the tourists who go there to gamble. Tens of BILLIONS of dollars have been shelled out over the last 30 years on the construction of mega-resorts, massive hotels and giant attractions all intended to keep the Vegas economy moving forward - and of course to make a tidy profit for the investors behind the scenes. But i...

It was a little over a year ago that Vegas entertainer & actor, John Di Domenico - who's regarded as the world's best Donald Trump impersonator - invited me to his home to have a conversation for the podcast ( check out that interview in Episode #18 ).  During the course of our chat, John dropped into the conversation that at one time Donald Trump actually thought John had died.  Appar...

I made my first visit to Ri Ra Irish Pub in the Shoppes At Mandalay Bay back in June 2019 and reviewed the experience on Episode #24 of the podcast.  As I described it at the time, everything about Ri Ra was "authentically Irish".  Sitting in this pub in a mall in Las Vegas felt exactly like sitting in the pub in Dublin - and a lot of things helped contribute to that...from the food, to th...