World Series of Poker Quickie: 6/11/08

I know said I was going to cover poker on the East Coast for the next two-three weeks, but I’ve decided to do my best to bring my reader’s WSOP highlights whenever I get a chance. I’m not sure how much that will be, but I’ll try to find a moment when I’m not knee-deep in Poker Open mania.

 

Glum Girl Wins

East Coast cash game regular Svetlana Gromenkova won her first World Series of Poker braclet yesterday by winning the $1,000 Ladies No Limit event. I first became familair with Svetlana after Dr. Pauly pointed her out during a Borgata Poker Open tournament. He started calling her “Sweet Svetlana” and it stuck. Now she’s known as “Glum Girl.” I still think ”Sweet Svetlana” is a better name. The inside joke on the “Sweet Svetlana” name is that she busted as the bubble girl in a Poker Open tournament (I can’t remember if it was the $2,500 or the $5,000) and she was so pissed off that she didn’t come back for several days to collect her money.

 

Gromenkova is a phenomenal player and she shreds her competition (as proven by her WSOP win), but does that make up for the fact that she is considered by members of the media and the poker community as being ”difficult” and a poor sport? Although I don’t like slapping a label on anyone, there is some truth to the poor sport part. I once saw her get so pissed after losing a hand that she threw her chips into the middle of the table and got up and left. I felt embarrassed for her and so did some of her fellow players watching the action. Let’s hope fer her sake that she becomes “Happy Girl” after her win.

 

Sick Final Table for Event #18

The 2-7/Draw with Rebuys final table features some of the best in the game. My pick for WSOP Player of the Year Erick Lindgren makes his second appearance at a 2008 WSOP final table and he has the chip lead. Joinging E-Dog are Mike Matusow, Tom “DonkeyBomber” Schneider, Barry Greenstein, Jeffrey Lisandro, Tony G, and David Benyamine.

 

This arguably the best final table of this year’s WSOP to date. All of these guys can mix it up and switch things around to match their opponent’s style. Although I want Lindgren to get his second bracelet, I’m also pulling for Benyamine. David is one of the best high limit poker players on the planet and he is due to take down his first bracelet.

 

Man Vs Machine

July 3, 2008 features another installment of the “Man Vs Machine” match-up. Phil Laak and Ali Eslami competed against super-computer Polaris 2 last year, with the humans coming out just barely ahead. Although this year’s participants have not been announced yet, poker fans can expect a top-tier player to step forward to beat the machine.

 

The match will take place at the Rio Convention Center.

 

 

The Magic of Red Rock Canyon (Part 2)

After a twenty-minute drive away from the Strip, I found myself leaving the suburban sprawl of Summerlin (a Las Vegas residential community area) via Charleston Boulevard (State Route 159). After passing the recently-opened Red Rock Casino, I found the road narrowing to one lane and I was immediately taken aback by the change in landscape.

 

It was like I had jumped head-first into a time-warp and I was being rewarded by being transported to a place that still looked virtually untouched by the hands of man. After another ten minutes on the road, I found myself at the entrance of the park. I willingly paid the couple of dollars for entry and took the little newsletter that they hand-out to visitors. I knew I wasn’t really going to read the info for a while, as I was already fixated on the beautiful colors of the first set of mountains in the near distance.

 

That first vision of glowing red mountains of rock was all it took. I was hooked on the place almost immediately. Featuring a 13-mile scenic drive and numerous locations along the drive that were explorer-friendly, Red Rock Canyon equally matched the beauty of any of the places I had traveled and I quickly found myself using any excuse to find my way back.

 

I’ll never forget the first time I tuned in to the majestic silence that comes from the stillness of the desert. It was definitely an unforgettable experience and I found quickly found myself daydreaming of this some-what hidden refuge. Shadowed by the Las Vegas Strip, many have no idea that this place exists and I made a promise to myself that I would somehow help spread the word.

 

After nearly a hundred trips to Red Rock, I still find just as much joy as I did on the first day I drove out to the park. I have had a number of incredible experiences like watching the full moon rise over the stoic mountains that fill the desert landscape and finding washes filled with trees that you would have never imagined could sustain life in the 110+ degree temperatures of the desert.

 

With 30 miles of hiking and an expansive 195, 819 acres, I still have plenty of territory to explore and I constantly finding myself at a loss for words when my wife and I take the drive along the one-way road that provides visitors with a route along the mountain range. For me, visiting Red Rock Canyon is a relaxing journey and the rest of the universe seems to just melt away as I find myself surrounded by the “Buddah-like” mountains that continue to quietly sit in mediation as time flies bye.

 

To say that Red Rock Canyon is a place you need to visit is an understatement. The next time you fly to Las Vegas, hell-bent on destroying your brain cells, sowing your oats, or simply just looking to get a fix of the fast life, do yourself a favor and take time out to visit one of the United States more beautiful National Parks. This is as close to a hang-over cure as you can get in Las Vegas and the fresh air might do you some good before you decide to dive back into the debauchery.

 

For more information on Red Rock Canyon, go to:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca.html

 

Oakenfold to Bring the Rain to Las Vegas

Las Vegas has finally landed one of the world’s elite DJs with Rain Nightlcub’s recent signing of superstar Paul Oakenfold.  A legendary producer, remixer, DJ, and label head, Oakenfold is set to play every Saturday night on the nightclub’s new night called, “Paul Oakenfold Presents: Perfecto Las Vegas.

 

Performing through the spring of 2009, Oakenfold will give the numerous Vegas party-goers plenty to he happy about as he unleashes his trademark style that has earned him two Grammy nominations. Having previously held residencies at Cream Nightclub and Home @ Leicester Square, Oakenfold is one of the world’s most in-demand DJs and the fact that he chose to call Las Vegas fans is a big win for the Vegas music community.

 

“There is nowhere in America other than Las Vegas that I would want to be a resident DJ. It’s the world’s oyster and Rain Nightclub is where I belong,” said Oakenfold in a recent press release.

 

Oakenfold’s shows will include video and audio entertainment, performing artists, and plenty of props.

 

I can’t wait to see Oakenfold perform again. I interviewed him at Studio 54 when I worked for RawVegas.tv and his set was off the hook. His interview was pretty weak as I think he was a little sauced at the time, but like a true pro, he pulled his shit together later in the evening and he rocked the turntables deep into the night.

The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival

Golden Gate Park plays host to San Francisco’s three-day Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. Running from August 22-24, 2008, this music bash has a line-up that rivals many of the biggest festivals. One of the big reasons for this is that the same people who run Bonnaroo run Outside Lands.

 

Thanks to Superfly’s wide list of contacts, Outside Lands has a diverse music line-up that caters to many different sounds. Led by headliners Radiohead, Tom Petty & The HeartBreakers, and Jack Johnson, each night has distinct flavors that should keep even the finickiest music fan smiling.

 

If the headliners don’t peek your interest, then the Outside Lands supporting cast just may ease your musical itch. With artists such as Beck, Steel Pulse, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Primus, Steve Winwood, Lupe Fiasco, Regina Spektor, Galactic’s Crescent City Soul Krewe, Wilco, and Widespread Panic, gracing the various stages, party-goers can pick and choose what sounds they want to hear.

 

There are over 60 acts on five stages.

Single-day tickets are $85, while a 3-day ticket is $225.

 

A portion of the ticket cost will benefit the San Francisco Parks.

 

For more information, click here.