EP#22: Mob Rules

It's no secret that Las Vegas has a somewhat shady past...and that can pretty much 100% be attributed to the Mob's history in Las Vegas.

There are a lot of myths & legends surrounding Vegas' association with the world of organized crime and I wanted to get to the bottom of it all, so I turned to the experts.

The Mob Museum is one of my favorite Las Vegas attractions.  It's the definitive authority on Mob history, not just in Las Vegas but all across the US & around the world.  The Mob Museum is always on my to-do list when I'm in town and it's always one of my top recommendations for people travelling to Las Vegas.

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Geoff Schumacher, the Senior Director of Content for The Mob Museum.  We talked about Las Vegas' humble history as a stop on the railway line, the growth of gambling & the connection to organized crime and Geoff helped to separate fact from fiction when it comes to some of those legendary stories of the mob's involvement in the building of Las Vegas.

Keep up with the Mob Museum by following them on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.  Get your tickets to visit the Mob Museum here.

Vegas News You Can Use:

- An update about the Pinball Hall Fame & their application to build a new facility

- "Dynamic Pricing" is coming to MGM Resorts in Las Vegas

- And The Cosmopolitan has announced this summer's line-up for Dive Inn Movies

Upcoming Events & Shows:

- If you're going to be in Las Vegas at the start of June & would like to score a hot date with a Firefighter, this is your chance: The 2019 Firefighter Bachelor Auction - Flirt With Fire goes down at The Foundry inside the SLS Las Vegas on Saturday, June 8th.  Enjoy an evening of entertainment featuring 14 of Las Vegas' hottest bachelors and then bid on exclusive date packages.  Funds raised go to support The Burn Foundation.  Get your tickets - while they last - at TheBurnFoundation.org

- If you're in Las Vegas on a Friday night and looking for something different to do, join my very good friend Kenny Davidsen at the Piazza Lounge in the Tuscany Suites & Casino as he hosts Kenny Davidsen's Celebrity Piano Bar.  You never know who might show up to perform!

- Hockey fans...take note: Five-time Stanley Cup Winner & Hockey Hall of Famer, Grant Fuhr is coming to The Space on July 6th for a special screening of his documentary, "Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story", followed by a special Q&A session with the legend himself.  Tickets and info available at TheSpaceLV.com

- Friend of the podcast, Lisa Marie Smith, is ready to take Las Vegas by storm with her new party band, LMS!  Catch them performing all over Las Vegas!  Find out where they'll be and when by following Lisa Marie Smith on Twitter & Instagram and liking LMS on Facebook!

- And don't forget about the best value in Vegas entertainment, Mondays Dark with shows coming up on May 6th, May 20th, June 3rd & June 17th.  Join host Mark Shunock and his friends as they raise $10K in 90 minutes for a different local Las Vegas charity every show!  Information and tickets available at mondaysdark.com

EP#21: Kill Resort Fees!

The topic of discussion for this episode of the podcast is one that affects pretty much anyone who visits Las Vegas: RESORT FEES!

For those unfamiliar with the concept, "Resort Fees" are extra fees that most Vegas hotels will charge guests in addition to the actual room rate.  Depending on the hotel you're staying at, those fees range anywhere from an additional $25-$45 per night and for lower-end hotels, the resort fee is actually HIGHER than the published room rate.

And what do you get for that extra cash?  The hotels try to claim they're giving you access to the pool, resort wi-fi, the fitness center, free local calls and other goodies.  In fact, what they're actually giving you is nothing.

Joining me for this episode of the podcast is Lauren Wolfe, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who, like a lot of other who travel to Las Vegas - and elsewhere in the US where the Resort Fee Plague is spreading - got tired of paying this so-called mandatory fee in exchange for, essentially, nothing.  So, she decided to do something about it.

Lauren is the founder & creator of Kill Resort Fees, a website not only devoted to eliminating resort fees entirely, but educating people on how to avoid resort fees, how to get their resort fees refunded and how to force the government to take action against this illegal practice.

In addition to checking out the website, you can follow Kill Resort Fees on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Also in this episode...Vegas News You Can Use:

- Work has begun on the Viva Vision upgrade at the Fremont Street Experience

- The Pinball Hall of Fame & Museum has taken the first step towards getting their new location

- And another week means another residency announcement...Paula Abdul is coming to the Flamingo

And some quick plugs for some upcoming events:

- If you're in Las Vegas on a Friday night and looking for something different to do, join my very good friend Kenny Davidsen at the Piazza Lounge in the Tuscany Suites & Casino as he hosts Kenny Davidsen's Celebrity Piano Bar.  You never know who might show up to perform!

- Be sure to check out friend of the podcast, John Di Domenico as he brings Donald Trump to life as part of Ester Goldberg's Totally Outrageous Brunch every Saturday and Sunday at the SLS Hotel & Casino.  Get your tickets at TotallyOutrageousBrunch.com

- Hockey fans...take note: Five-time Stanley Cup Winner & Hockey Hall of Famer, Grant Fuhr is coming to The Space on July 6th for a special screening of his documentary, "Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story", followed by a special Q&A session with the legend himself.  Tickets and info available at TheSpaceLV.com

- - And don't forget about the best value in Vegas entertainment, Mondays Dark with shows coming up on May 6th, May 20th, June 3rd & June 17th.  Join host Mark Shunock and his friends as they raise $10K in 90 minutes for a different local Las Vegas charity every show!  Information and tickets available at mondaysdark.com

EP#20: My Special Guest - Lisa Marie Smith

Credit: Lisa Marie Smith on Facebook

My special guest for this episode is Lisa Marie Smith.  Lisa is a Las Vegas-based singer, dancer & model.  She's appeared as a headliner in shows on the Vegas strip at the Stratosphere and the Palazzo.  Just last year, she signed her first record deal with Fervor Records and in November 2018, she released her debut self-titled EP featuring her single, "Get Closer To Me".  Lisa is currently in the process of launching her new band project, LMS.

Lisa is also one of my closest friends.  In the time we've known each other, she's become like a sister to me.  I've introduced her to Canadian delicacies like All-Dressed & Ketchup Chips, Buttertarts and Nanaimo Bars and she's taken me and my wife out to some awesome Vegas restaurants, bars and shows.  Lisa has been there for me during some very tough times and I've been fortunate enough to be able to do the same for her.

During our podcast conversation we talked about growing up in Las Vegas, touring around the world performing on cruise ships, her charity work, her vocal teaching and we also talked about some of her recent personal physical struggles.

Follow Lisa on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.  Stream her EP on Apple Music and Spotify or download from iTunes.

Also in this episode...Vegas News You Can Use:

- Wynn has announced they're eliminating parking fees for guests of The Wynn & Encore Resorts

- Jimmy Kimmel's new comedy club is open in Las Vegas

- And Mariah Carey is coming back to The Collosseum at Caesars Palace

And Here's Some Plugs For My Vegas Friends:

- If you're in Las Vegas on a Friday night and looking for something different to do, join my very good friend Kenny Davidsen at the Piazza Lounge in the Tuscany Suites & Casino as he hosts Kenny Davidsen's Celebrity Piano Bar.  You never know who might show up to perform!

- There's some fantastic events and shows happening at my favourite off-strip Vegas venue, The Space!  Check out TheSpaceLV.com for upcoming tickets and shows and be sure to follow The Space on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

- And don't forget about the best value in Vegas entertainment, Mondays Dark with shows coming up on May 6th, May 20th, June 3rd & June 17th.  Join host Mark Shunock and his friends as they raise $10K in 90 minutes for a different local Las Vegas charity every show!  Information and tickets available at mondaysdark.com

EP#19: Here’s the (Time Share) Pitch!

Here's the scenario:  You're walking down the strip with your significant other enjoying the scenery, taking in the sights and sounds just minding your own business when a total stranger approaches you and says, "What a lovely couple!  How'd you like free tickets to a show?"

The first-timers and newbies are thinking, "Sure...I'd LOVE free tickets to a show!" meanwhile the Vegas veterans are thinking, "RUN!  RUN AS FAST YOU CAN!  DON'T ENGAGE!  DON'T TALK!  JUST RUN!"  Nothing in Vegas is free...and the price for those "free tickets" is sitting through the dreaded TIME SHARE PRESENTATION!

To navigate the murky waters of Time Shares, I've enlisted the help of an expert: Lisa Ann Schreier - aka The Time Share Crusader - is a consumer advocate who's been involved in the time share community for over 20 years.  She's an author & blogger who works to keep people up to date on the time share industry as well as the questionable companies and practices out there.

Also in this episode, Vegas News You Can Use:

- Sting has announced his residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

- If you want to see The Eagles in September, be prepared to shell out BIG BUCKS

- And Criss Angel has scaled back the schedule for his "MindFreak Live" show at Planet Hollywood

And here's some Plugs for my Vegas friends:

- If you're in Las Vegas on a Friday night and looking for something different to do, join my very good friend Kenny Davidsen at the Piazza Lounge in the Tuscany Suites & Casino as he hosts Kenny Davidsen's Celebrity Piano Bar.  You never know who might show up to perform!

- My very good friend, Lisa Marie Smith is back home in Vegas and hitting the city with her new project, "LMS".  Be sure to follow Lisa on Twitter & Instagram for appearances and shows!  Also, her debut EP is currently available for streaming on Apple Music and Spotify and for download from iTunes. (BTW, watch for Lisa to join me on an upcoming episode of the podcast!)  

- There's some fantastic events and shows happening at my favourite off-strip Vegas venue, The Space!  Check out TheSpaceLV.com for upcoming tickets and shows and be sure to follow The Space on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

- And don't forget about the best value in Vegas entertainment, Mondays Dark with shows coming up on May 6th, May 20th, June 3rd & June 17th.  Join host Mark Shunock and his friends as they raise $10K in 90 minutes for a different local Las Vegas charity every show!  Information and tickets available at mondaysdark.com

EP#18: My Special Guest - John Di Domenico

My special guest for this episode of the podcast is John Di Domenico.  John is a Las Vegas-based actor & performer who specializes in character impersonation.  John does this on stage all over the world, on TV, in movies and at corporate events all over the world.  He has an impressive roster of about 30 different characters he portrays but one particular character has been keeping him very VERY busy as of late...

John is recognized as the best Donald Trump impersonator in the world (or as Donald himself might say, "Tremendous").  You've likely seen him as Trump in one of his multiple appearances on Fox News, late night talk shows (including Conan O'Brien) or in his Facebook Watch series, "The Trump Show."  John also landed his first Vegas headlining gig in "Esther Goldberg's Totally Outrageous Brunch" at the SLS and recently released an Amazon Prime special, "Fake News: A Trump Story" which is now streaming.

John was kind enough to invite me into his home where we talked about his start in acting & character work, the changing landscape of comedy and his charity work.  And of course, when you're talking to the number one Trump impersonator in the world, you're going to talk a bit of politics too.

Also in this episode...Vegas News You Can Use:

- The famous Little White Chapel is up for sale

- Rumors are flying that The Cosmopolitan is going up for sale

- And an Arizona native wins a $13.1 million slot jackpot

And here's some Plugs for my Vegas friends:

- My fellow Vegas podcasters, MJ & Bree over at The Keeping It Casual Podcast are getting set to host their first LIVE SHOW on Saturday, April 27.  Tickets and complete show info is available on their website

- If you're in Las Vegas on a Friday night and looking for something different to do, join my very good friend Kenny Davidsen at the Piazza Lounge in the Tuscany Suites & Casino as he hosts Kenny Davidsen's Celebrity Piano Bar.  You never know who might show up to perform!

- My very good friend, Lisa Marie Smith is back home in Vegas and hitting the city with her new project, "LMS".  Be sure to follow Lisa on Twitter & Instagram for appearances and shows!  Also, her debut EP is currently available for streaming on Apple Music and Spotify and for download from iTunes.  

- There's some fantastic events and shows happening at my favourite off-strip Vegas venue, The Space!  Check out TheSpaceLV.com for upcoming tickets and shows and be sure to follow The Space on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

- And don't forget about the best value in Vegas entertainment, Mondays Dark with shows coming up on May 6th, May 20th, June 3rd & June 17th.  Join host Mark Shunock and his friends as they raise $10K in 90 minutes for a different local Las Vegas charity every show!  Information and tickets available at mondaysdark.com