With The Western closing on Jan. 16, this seems like a good time to take a look back (and perhaps to get a glimpse of my future).

On this week’s show, we announced our Las Vegas poetry contest. Here are the rules and guidelines:

• Write an original poem about Las Vegas. Any type of poetry is welcome. Haiku, iambic pentameter, sonnet, whatever. Make it rhyme or don’t.
• Keep it short. You should be able to read it in less than a minute.
• Be creative. Amuse and entertain us.
• Bonus points for mentioning Viator, Five Hundy by Midnight and/or familiar Five Hundy references.
• One entry per person.
• To submit your poem, recite it on our voice mail line (702-866-9494); record it to an audio file and e-mail it to us at fivehundy@gmail.com; or e-mail us the written text.
• If calling, include your name and e-mail address. Don’t worry. I won’t play your e-mail address on the show.
• If e-mailing, the subject line needs to be “Poetry Contest.”
• All poems need to be submitted by 3 p.m. CST on Friday, Feb. 3.
• We will choose our favorites. It’s entirely subjective and it’s entirely up to us. Finalists will be read/played on the Feb. 5 podcast.
• First and second place winners will be announced on the Feb. 12 podcast.
• The first place winner will receive a $100 Viator gift certificate. Thanks, Viator!
• The second place winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift certificate.

Las Vegas podcast #334 includes:

• Kathy Griffin opener
• Restaurant closings: Boa, Les Artistes, Lago and Union
• Empire Comedy Club is coming to Napolean’s at Paris LV
• Laugh Factory is likely coming to Tropicana
• Icons of Comedy series is coming to Riviera
• Venetian show rumors
• Plaza entertainment news
• Gameworks is moving
• Chuck Jones Experience finally opens
• The Paris balloon is probably going to be fixed
• Royal Resort is trying to make things happen
• Write a clever Las Vegas poem and win stuff from us and Viator
• Annual Trippies Analysis
• Vegas Mate 3.5 is really great.
• Dr. Dave’s Viva Tot Vegas site
• Listener calls about Godzilla slots, Cosmo’s pop-up wedding chapel, Aria’s buffet, China Poblano, Luna Rossa, Las Vegas Club, frozen drinks coming to Bill’s, Strip bagpipe player, THEhotel, Oscar’s and more
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 1/21/12 132:39 min, 121.6 MB) or subscribe.

We’ve known for years how much Five Hundy listeners rock, but now it’s official. Our beloved Facebook group has received the 2012 Trippies Award for Best Community. Congratulations to the 1,200 listeners who use the group as a place to ask and answer questions and chat about their favorite city.

We would like to extend a special thank-you to Pete and Ellen, who started the group several years ago, and to the VegasTripping crew (especially Chuckmonster) for their work on the Trippies and all-around general fantasticalness.

With the podcast now retired into the Trippies Hall of Fame, this is icing on the sweet, sweet Vegasy cake.

Congratulations to all of the Trippies winners, especially our friends at the Vegas Gang Podcast and, of course, our frequent sponsor, Vegas Mate (it’s really great).

We plan to provide our annual Trippies analysis on next weekend’s podcast.

Las Vegas podcast #333 includes:

• Last Cake Standing opener
• More evidence Fontainebleau is never opening
• Gambling properties are making less from gambling
• Playboy Comedy Club is on the move
• New entertainment venue opens at Fashion Show Mall
• Joey Fatone hosts The Price is Right
• The Paris balloon still looks like shit
• Off-Strip hotel renovation
• Union closing rumors
• Our sponsors, Viator
• and VegasMate.
• Listener calls about dogs on The Strip, Lion’s Share, Wicked Spoon, Cosmo’s Pop-Up Wedding Chapel and more
• Listener Dave’s video trip report
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 1/8/12 61:51 min, 56.8 MB) or subscribe.

Las Vegas podcast #332 includes:

• New Year, No Limit opener
• MGM Grand releases the lions
• Cee Lo continues to talk about a residency
• Imperial Palace takes down Capri rooms
• Rio replaces Irish pub with The Irish Pub
• Las Vegas wishes for 2012
• Our sponsors, Viator
• and VegasMate.
• Listener calls about Casino Royale, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Mon Ami Gabi, Absinthe, Rio, Hard Rock, Aria tasting menus, Oscar’s and more
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 1/1/12 75:54 min, 69.7 MB) or subscribe.

Join us on Sunday, Jan. 1, at 7 p.m. CST for a live, streaming show and post-show chat. We’ll be using Stickam as we have in the past, so make sure to sign up for an account if you’d like to participate in the chat.

Hear the stream and chat here.

We look forward to starting the new year with a little live Five Hundy fun.

Las Vegas podcast #331 includes:

• Modern Marvels opener
• Vegas Strip returns on Jan. 8
• Listener Oliver’s MBA Vegas thesis survey
• Dear Tim and Michele: Garth Brooks review
• Cosmopolitan opens novel wedding chapel
• Tropicana offers free burlesque shows
• Bellagio adds new fountain shows
• Fremont Street Experience adds Bon Jovi Viva Vision show
• Binion’s hotel rumors
• Our sponsor, Viator’s Things to do in Las Vegas
• Our sponsor, VegasMate, is still really great.
• Listener calls about Cosmopolitan promotions, MJ Immortal Cirque show, Red 8, Circo, PJ Clarke’s, Rio, Red Square, Prime and more
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 12/26/11 48:41 min, 44.7 MB) or subscribe.

Las Vegas podcast #330 includes:

• Most Daring opener
• Las Vegas Strip New Year’s Eve fireworks locations
• Cosmopolitan hires Tom McCartney
• Is Barry Manilow returning to LVH?
• Anthony Cools takes over Plaza showroom
• Twas the Night Before Vegas, written by Rob Marks, voiceover by Brian Noe, music by Kevin MacLeod
• Our sponsor, Viator’s Things to do in Las Vegas
• VegasMate returns as a sponsor. It’s still really great.
• Listener calls about Parasol Up, Rhumbar, E at Cosmopolitan, Garth Brooks, Absinthe, Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Peppermill and more
• Gambling with Tim and Michele: Dean Martin Vegas Shindig Edition
• Call us at (702) 866-9494

Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 12/17/11 44:51 min, 41.2 MB) or subscribe.

When Five Hundy by Midnight was retired to the Trippies Hall of Fame for Best Vegas Podcast, it never really dawned on us that Five Hundy would pop up in another category.

We were pleasantly surprised this morning to find the Five Hundy Facebook Group nominated in the Best Community category. This nomination is a testament to the great information shared by our listeners and the overall positive vibe on the Facebook Group. Congratulations to everyone who participates on the Facebook group on the nomination. You guys deserve it. Now go vote!

* I was also nominated in the Best Tweeter. I’m honored but completely undeserving.