QUESTION: According to Complex’s 2008 N.E.R.D. cover story, what famous fresco did KAWS recreate in Pharrell’s home?

Enter your contact info and answer below for a chance to win!

Bachelor party? Vegas! The next level? Grab a crew and take a ten-stop tour of the greatest gambling destinations in North America. Well, actually there’s much more out there than just Vegas destinations. In our October/November issue we came up with our Top Ten Casinos list, and gave our breakdown of each spot in a way the usual brochures can’t. Whether you’re hoping to stack some paper in the apres ski environment, or are going on a balls-out gamble fest, there’s a little something for everyone. Keep reading to see how each venue stacks up against each other…

#10: ATLANTIS BAHAMAS
(Paradise Island, Bahamas | atlantis.com )
• The only reason you should be indoors in the Bahamas is if a crazy storm is rolling through, which, if you go between June and November (hurricane season), can happen quite frequently. If the sun don’t shine, get busy here, at one of the Caribbean’s largest and most luxurious resorts.
GAMBLING NOTES: Slots are for the elderly, so we’re not going to tell you about the thousands they have here, but if you’re having trouble sealing the deal late night, take your lady to one of 100 table games, including blackjack, mini- and regular Baccarat, craps, roulette and Caribbean Stud Poker (ayo!).
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 3/5
Extras: 5/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#9: CASINO DE MONTRÉAL
(Montréal, Canada | casinosduquebec.com )
• Maybe it’s the never-ending parties in Montreal (even when it’s brick-ass cold), the strip clubs, or simply the joy of taking in a Habs/Bruins game, but if you find yourself up here, leave the digi-cam at home. If you’re an American in Canada, you’re up to no good.
GAMBLING NOTES: The casino here is open 24 hours (awesome) doesn’t allow smoking (awesome) and you can play War for money (awesome). You can’t drink at the tables (not awesome), but what else are you gonna do at 6 a.m. on a Saturday? NOTE: Strip clubs are downtown and close between 2 and 4 a.m. Split your late-night accordingly.
Crowd: 3/5
Gambling: 3/5
Extras: 3.5/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#8: EL SAN JUAN HOTEL AND CASINO
(Carolina, Puerto Rico | elsanjuanhotel.com)
• Drink rum to drown out (or enhance) the Reggaeton and bear witness to Boriqua madness. The El San Juan is one of the fancier hotels, so while you might not be staying here, it’s definitely the spot to catcall enhanced Latinas and German tourists working on their tan lines.
GAMBLING NOTES: You can’t see the ocean from the casino floor, but it’s there. The El San Juan’s gaming deck is open until 4 a.m., and is non-smoking, so if you’re in P.R., stop here before you leave and give the roulette wheel a spin—you might just pay for your next trip.
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 3/5
Extras: 3.5/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#7: PLANET HOLLYWOOD
(Las Vegas, NV | planethollywoodresort.com)
• Instead of buying a new building, Planet Hollywood came in and re-did the Aladdin…and made it fucking awesome. Hit the tables before you party it up at Prive or the Koi Lounge, or watch the “Peepshow” for a view of Holly Madison’s boobage.
GAMBLING NOTES: A new smoke-free poker room houses 15 tables, and the resort’s “Pleasure Pit” features blackjack and roulette dealt by lingerie models and go-go dancers. Poker faces indeed.
Crowd: 4/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#6: HARVEYS
(Lake Tahoe, NV | harveystahoe.com)
• Neon signs meet nature’s finest at Lake Tahoe with waterskiing, golf, and hiking in the summer and some of the greatest skiing in the world (Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar) when the snow begins to fall.
GAMBLING NOTES Harveys is the most fun of the South Lake Tahoe casinos, aimed at the action set—think flatscreens playing FuelTV while you waste the après-ski away at the blackjack table. If a smoke-filled basement is more your steez, check the Biltmore up on the North side of the lake.
Crowd: 3/5
Gambling: 2.5/5
Extras: 4/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#5: ENCORE LAS VEGAS
(Las Vegas, Nevada | encorelasvegas.com)
• Located at the North end of the strip, the Encore is the latest creation by legendary casino developer Steve Wynn. Connected to its larger sister resort The Wynn by a shopping mall, the Encore attracts a slightly older, more sophisticated crowd than some of the strip’s bigger names, thanks to the hotel’s opulent suites, thoughtful design and 5 high-roller restaurants. Don’t let that fool you though, when club XS is banging, there is nothing like it on the strip.
GAMBLING NOTES: Instead of the typical open casino floor, the Encore has sectioned off the gambling area with columns and drapes into a series of smaller, more intimate dens—great news for an experienced, laid-back gambler. But if you thrive on the excitement of a massive, bustling casino, the Encore might seem quiet.
Ratings:
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#4: MANDALAY
(Las Vegas, NV | mandalaybay.com)
• It’s all about options—in addition to the House of Blues, Foundation Room, and a variety of smaller lounges, wander into the connected sister casino Luxor for parties at LAX or head up the elevator at the hotel for one of the greatest views of the strip at restaurant/lounge Mix. The spa is a must when you’re trying to get the brain cells/energy back up for night number two.
GAMBLING NOTES: People fly from all over the world to gamble at the Mandalay. More than anything though, this spot is about fight nights and sport books, so keep that in mind when you’re working on your testosterone fix this season.
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#3: BORGATA
(Atlantic City, NJ | theborgata.com)
• Atlantic City was (and still kind of is?) best-known for its salt-water taffy and cracked-out hookers, but the people behind the MGM Mirage sank some serious bank to build the nicest (and youngest-skewing) casino resort in the area. Jersey!
GAMBLING NOTES: If you’re here for hold ’em, the casino has the best dedicated poker room (and competition) on the East Coast. The slots are notoriously tight, but this spot is great for the card games, with blackjack tables galore.
Crowd: 2.5/5
Gambling: 4.5/5
Extras: 3/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#2: THE PALMS
(Las Vegas, NV | palms.com)
• The Palms is off the strip, but what it lacks in location it more than makes up for with its younger crowd, stacked nightclubs, and fantasy suites—check the two-floor Hugh Hefner Sky Villa and the sports-themed Hardwood Suite with a full basketball court.
Gambling Notes: The exclusive Playboy Club on the 52nd floor features nine blackjack tables and a roulette wheel. Once you’ve lost your rent money to a bunny, head upstairs to the Moon nightclub and party the night away under the stars.
Crowd: 4.5/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#1: HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO
(Las Vegas, NV | hardrockhotel.com)
• New renovations are making the Hard Rock a multi-sin destination. Summertime here is about the pool, but this place rocks all year round with concerts at the Joint and a never-ending party around the Circle Bar.
Gambling Notes: The new poker lounge features massages while you play, bottle service, and go-go dancers for hire. Also, the Hells Bells pit has some of the sexiest in-casino entertainers in Vegas while you ante up.
Crowd: 5/5
Gambling: 5/5
Extras: 4.5/5

After ascending 19 floors on the private elevator, you’ll be struck by the amount of space and stunning views of NYC vistas like Times Square and Madison Ave. Located on Madison at 46th street, the spot is open 6 days a week (5 p.m.-Midnight on weeknights, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. on Saturday). Still not convinced? Check out a photo of the outside view below…

RELATED: Jamie Chung x Complex: The Uncut Gallery, Video & Interview

QUESTION: What is Wale’s “favorite shoe,” according to his recent Complex.com interview “My Sneaker Essentials”?

Enter your contact info and answer below for a chance to win!

QUESTION: How many times has Pharrell appeared on the cover of Complex Magazine?

Enter your contact info and answer below for a chance to win!

• CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHARITY CHALLENGE!

QUESTION: What is Melanie Fiona’s favorite rap album, according to her recent “Complex 7″ interview that ran on Complex.com?

Enter your contact info and answer below for a chance to win!

What did Big Boi recently do to make headlines in the sneaker world?

Enter your contact info and answer below for a chance to win!

Get free Wi-Fi, pretty much anywhere. [Life Hacker]

Mike Tyson’s Ohio mansion, in pictures. Holy cow, you have to click on this. [Mash Kulture]

Madsteez x Nike 6.0. Choose your own adventure. [Stinkween]

Dalek collaborates with Hurley on a crazy pair of boardshorts. Summer ain’t over yet! [High Snobiety]

Tom Ford x Sex. Again. [Pedestrian]

Carmelo Anthony, La La Vazquez, and Terry Kennedy

The TAG Pool

Ciara Arrives

Can We Interest You In Some Body Spray?

DJ Reflex

The TAG Signature Series

Ciara and Ludacris

The Silver TAG Dancer

Ludacris Gets His

The San Diego Hard Rock Hotel is taking the term “wild thing” to the extreme. In case living the life of a rock star (at least for a few nights) isn’t enough, guests can book any number of packages to make their most of the area while outside of the hotel. The newest package combines the amenities of being in downtown San Diego’s hippest new joint with an expedition into the history of pachyderms in California…


You can literally have a day with wild things and a night with even wilder things at one of the new Hard Rock bars – Float and 207. The lines are out the door every weekend as locals mingle with celebrities and visitors downstairs at 207 or upstairs by the pool at Float. In fact, if you time your stay right, Sunday offers a special Intervention party (April through September) where bikini-clad girls gyrate to music on the rooftop bar and thongs are always in fashion with San Diego’s great year-round weather. The Hard Rock offers a discount Intervention Stay Packages that start at $149 and include a hotel room and two complimentary VIP guess passes for the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. party. Get a cabana, grab a margarita and watch the sights. It’s an experience unlike anything else in San Diego.

While there will be plenty of foxes any time of the day in the lobby, at the pool, at the bars, or in one of the hip restaurants like Nobu San Diego and Maryjane’s Coffee Shop, there won’t be any elephants. It’s as if the hotel has a weight limit, which is good news for any guys looking to mingle. However, one’s guaranteed to find elephants in the zoo package. Rates for this start at $908 per two-night stay and include admission for two to the San Diego Zoo and a personal guided behind-the-scenes tour of Elephant Odyssey. Rounding out the Hard Rock Package is a $300 credit at the Rock Spa, which can be applied to a mud bath, if you so desire.

Anyone who thinks going to the zoo isn’t a cool date hasn’t been to the San Diego Zoo, which spans 100 acres and has its own bus tour. But you haven’t experienced this zoo until you’ve gone through the VIP experience. In addition to checking out the new $44 million, 7-acre Elephant Odyssey attraction with a zoo guide, you’ll get to feed an elephant. Getting food hovered out of your hand by a gentle giant is not something you’ll soon forget. The customizable package also offers stops on the roof of the ape attraction, where you can get up close and personal with gorillas. Other options include the seal exhibit and the panda bears, to name a few. While other guests are limited to standing behind glass, many of these stops on the VIP tour include personal time with the animals (when they’re safe, of course).

The Hard Rock is conveniently located across the street from the San Diego Convention Center, home for the mammoth Comic-Con every July, and just a block away from Petco Field, home of the San Diego Padres. Baseball fans can take part in the Hard Rock ‘n’ Home Run Package, which starts at $189 for one night, and includes a $30 credit at Maryjane’s Coffee Shop. Every game day Chef Thomas Borgia offers a special menu with $3 Bud Lights, $1.50 Sliders, and an $8.95 Home Run TV Dinner (hotdog, fries and Cracker Jacks). After the game (the package does not include baseball tickets), guests receive a pair of complimentary passes to either 207 or Float.

Every weekend, the Hard Rock is party central in San Diego. The hotel is filled with young people partying on just about every floor. While there’s security that only allows guests up to the rooms and suites, many young guests share rooms and it’s pretty easy to get invited to a party on your floor. It happens all the time. And getting beer is convenient with the Gas Lamp District’s abundant stores, restaurants and bars.

Whether you’re visiting San Diego for the first time or you’re just passing through, there’s no hotel that offers the Hard Rock experience anywhere else in town. And the vibe in San Diego’s Hard Rock is similar to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas – minus the never-ending system of pools. They do share the same magnet for attracting the hottest girls in town. And Intervention offers a close-up look at all of these beauties’ assets (and tattoos). So check out the hotel, catch the zoo, watch a ballgame, or just sit in the lobby and see who shows up. It’s always a fun time at the Hard Rock. And you don’t even have to be a good singer or guitar player.

Since 2004, the group’s founder—a Cambodian-American b-boy from California named K.K.—has been helping underprivileged kids stay off the street by teaching them the art of breakdancing (read more about their story in this recent New York Times article). The crew is in NYC for a special performance/fundraiser on Friday night, which features DJ sets by Chris Robinson and DJ Ings, along with appearances from MC Tame One of the Artifacts and Cambodian MC Kadep. It costs $50 to get in, but we’re giving away a pair of tickets for free. Read on to see more details and find out how to win…


TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO THE EVENT, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

What is the capital city of Cambodia?

Enter your answer and contact info below for a chance to win!

Danny Kass took first place in this year’s halfpipe event, making him the first individual ever to take home five U.S. Open halfpipe championships. He broke the record of four, formerly held by Terje Haakonsen. This past Saturday was an awesome display of snowboarding and sun, so check the jump for Ruprecht’s photos and know that you’ve got about two and a half weeks before all the snow is gone. Get out there!


Luke Mitrani at Friday night’s Quaterpipe contest


Danny Kass, taking first place at Saturday’s U.S. Open Superpipe championship

Even the girls go hard. Women’s champion Elena Hight took third place, rocking a Volcom snowboard (?)

Nuts

Antti Autti, guy in the sky. Spin till ya hit.

Not only will the winner get all the e-fame you could ever want, you'll also get to see your design printed on a limited edition T-Shirt. Awesome.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER & LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST!

All Photos by Rochelle Morton

After an inspirational speech by gold medalist and world recorder holder April Holmes about her perseverance in sprinting while being a paralympian, Mayden and the master of ceremonies Jordan talked about the legacy of the Jordan brand, how the Jordan 2009 caters to the needs of on-court athletes, and touched on the long back-and-forth about what this latest model would be called. “23 is my number, 24 would diminish what that meant. 23 started a whole different legacy, I felt 24 would demean the 23 because it [23] was such a synonymous number for our shoes,” Jordan said. When we asked president of Jordan Brand Keith Houlemard what the name of next year's Jordan would be, he said, “If I was a betting man, the Jordan 2010 would probably be the safe bet.” The first release of the Jordan 2009 is on January 31.

All this snow might be getting your ski/snowboard wheels turning, and if you need some ideas, the Wyoming ski resort Jackson Hole just welcomed winter with its latest and greatest tram lift. The $31 million machine takes 100 skiers and snowboarders at a time from the base of the mountain directly to the top (a 4,139 vertical foot jump) in about 9 minutes, which is good.

The tram has been big news for a bit (check it in our latest Dec/Jan issue), but it’s only one of the many things that make this place a mecca of sorts for everyone from Nalgene-toting hippies to urban aventurists and ski bunnies. Hit the jump to learn a bit about what makes this place so sick and our Top Reasons Why Jackson Hole is a Must Stop for any Winter Enthusiast…

The Terrain Is Unstoppable

• The terrain at Jackson Hole is so for real it blows everyone’s mind every time. Yes, there is beginner terrain, and a liiiitle bit of intermediate, but the sport’s best, including hometown hero, Travis Rice, are here consistently every winter because of the expert terrain at this Grand Teton outpost. Jackson Hole will scare enough shit out of you for stories to last several lengthy nights at the Cowboy Bar (oh, and just in case you wuss out, the Four Seasons Spa is right at the bottom of the hill). By the way, did you watch Travis’ movie yet?

It’s Really Not That Hard To Get To, And There Are Girls

• There are two main problems with most ski resorts: they take forever to get to, and when it comes to apres ski, you’re usually looking at dude soup in the hot tub. Fly into Jackson, and the airport shuttle will whisk you past the fields of elk and buffalo to chilling in the hotel in 30 minutes for about $28. As far as problem two, the average ski resort guy to girl ratio is around 140 to 1. Jackson’s might be closer to 3 to 1. Math = not so bad.

The Restaurants Are Dope

• When you go skiing or snowboarding, you have to eat. Anything above mac and cheese can be risky, or crazy expensive, but this place has the restaurant game on lock. You can go out at any price point, but be sure to check out notable eateries like the NYC-style modern Italian spot Osteria, the legit BBQ bar Q-Roadhouse, or get mountain town-y with a stop at the Snake River Brewery for some fresh beer and home-cooking.

The Resort Is On Its Eco-Game

• Everything these days is green this, green that, and ski lifts aren’t always the most natural of machines. But Jackson Hole limits development to cut down on crowds and carbon, and if you come to the resort, look into staying at the Hotel Terra, a soon-to-be LEED-certified hotel that cuts your impact without being crunchy. Oh, and all the on-hill lodge burgers are made with organic beef. No street meat, yay!

Harrison Ford Flies The Medevac

• Jackson, Wyoming, the town just outside the resort, is home to celebrities including Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, the Anheuser Busch family, and the soon to be ex-VP Dick Cheney, who come for the scenery and stay for the awesomeness. Indy keeps to himself mostly, but stores a few planes and a helicopter on his wildlife preserve of a house. A little known fact is that Han Solo lends his helicopter to the town as the medevac, and pilots it himself from time to time, picking up stranded or hurt hikers and skiers. Feel safe knowing it’s all good, because that dude from The Fugitive will be coming to get you. Remember, “The gift is knowledge!”

In addition to the pieces that were on sale last night, Ecko and Marco hooked up for a limited edition shirt featuring Marco’s Hollis Crew Quarter Century design. 1,000 of the low-run shirts will be available at shopecko.com in a few weeks. Until then, check out some pics from the party below, including guests like Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and the always recognizable Retro Kidz…