Wynn casinos prepare to charge for parking

Until now, the only charge for parking at Wynn casinos has been for valet, but that’s about to change.

Gates are being installed in the self-parking garages at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. The date and amount the casinos will begin charging have not been announced, but it’s expected to commence within the next few months. Wynn joins MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Cosmopolitan in charging for self- and valet parking.

Bridge closed: After being closed for several months and reopening for the July 4 holiday, the Strip bridge connecting MGM Grand and New York-New York will close again and remain so through late September for repairs. The bridges at the intersection of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue have been up for 22 years and are used by an average of 130,000 pedestrians daily.

24-hour buffet closes: Las Vegas is once again devoid of a 24-hour buffet. The all-nighter at the Palms has been discontinued with the closing of the entire buffet, which is being converted into a food-hall concept. It’s part of a bigger restaurant shake-up at the Palms, where the new 24hour Lucky Penny coffee shop just opened.

Buck-fifty brews: It’s bad news/good news at Longhorn, a small bargain-minded casino on the Boulder Strip. Its long-running $1 Miller Lite special has been discontinued, but now all bottled beers – Bud, Heineken, Corona – are $1.50 all the time.

Question: Is it now legal to smoke pot in public in Las Vegas?

Answer: No, but it’s legal to buy and possess. On July 1, Nevada became the fifth state to establish a recreational marijuana program. Adults 21 and over may purchase up to one ounce of marijuana to smoke, or 1/8 ounce of edibles or concentrates from licensed retail outlets. While it’s easy to buy, the problem is finding a legal place to smoke it: Public consumption is still not allowed.

For information, go www.LasVegasAdvisor.com. to