Boyd Gaming has turned over the Barbary Coast keys to Harrah’s. In loving memory of Barbary Coast, we won’t speak the horrible new name of the hotel and casino in this post. However, we will provide this link to the new Web site, which clears up a few questions lingering since the ownership change was announced:

• Big Elvis is still performing in the lounge
• The Victorian Room is still called The Victorian Room
• Michael’s will be replaced by a new steakhouse
• The casino will have its own slot club rather than joining Total Rewards

We’re still hoping for some decent video poker paytables, fair blackjack rules and low-limit pai gow poker when the renamed casino opens in a couple days and will pass along reports in upcoming podcasts.

Only one other link this week: Our friend Mike E put together a comprehensive report on the hotel-within-a-hotel concept a few days ago. So check it out and poke around Mike’s blog—La Dolce Life is a welcome addition to our blogroll.

We get a lot of information from the Las Vegas Review Journal, but I think it’s time for someone over there to start listening to Five Hundy by Midnight. Today’s paper includes news of GM closing The Drive—the test track behind Sahara where people too dumb to go to a GM dealership to test drive a car for free could pay for the opportunity. GM closed The Drive three months ago, and we reported on it in show #96.

Speaking of closings, let’s hope the Las Vegas Sun’s speculation about MTR Gaming shuttering Binion’s proves false. Someone needs to step in to save the legendary old joint.

If Wayne Newton’s horrible pre-game lipsyncing, post-game shootings and gridlocked Las Vegas Strip traffic aren’t enough to make you glad you didn’t attend the NBA All-Star Game last weekend, surely reports of the mess at McCarran International Airport will make you thankful you stayed home. If you feel like you missed something, read Sports Guy’s extensive wrap-up.

Inspired by our friend Dave Lifton’s weekly Tuesday morning links, we decided to rip off his concept and begin a recurring series of blog posts linking to some Las Vegas stuff you may find entertaining, informative or amusing. Most weeks, we’ll probably feature just one or two links, but if we find several articles or sites to share, maybe we’ll go nuts and post a bunch. So here we go.

RateVegas.com’s latest edition of the Worst Las Vegas Podcast is now available for your listening pleasure. The latest show features an interview with us. We had a great time appearing on the show and thank Hunter for being such a gracious host.

Neither of us are golfers and, quite honestly, we would rather spend a Saturday afternoon squeezing Carrot Top’s back zits over watching golf on TV. However, this article makes us wish TiVo would have captured the Pebble Beach Pro Am coverage, featuring Danny Gans making an ass of himself. Enjoy.