Boyd Gaming Corp. has made a $950 million offer to acquire a significant portion of locals gaming rival Station Casinos, the company announced Monday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Boyd Gaming currently operates nine casinos in Las Vegas and Henderson. Under the proposed deal, Boyd Gaming would acquire the bulk of Station Casinos’ 18 Southern Nevada properties, including Green Valley Ranch Resort, the recently opened Aliante Station, Santa Fe Station, Texas Station, Wild Wild West, the two Fiesta properties in Henderson and North Las Vegas, and several smaller nonhotel gaming businesses, such as the Wildfire.

Station Casinos would retain ownership of the Red Rock Resort, Palace Station, Boulder Station, Sunset Station and 356 acres of undeveloped land the company controls in the Las Vegas Valley. Those four casinos have almost $2.5 billion in debt tied to them, according to a Station Casinos’ filing with the SEC last August.

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Which two Miracle Mile restaurants are rumored to be on their last legs? We’re told that both of these fairly new establishments will be closed before summer.

It was another celebrity packed weekend here in Sin City. Sinking their teeth into all that is Vegas were Twilight stars Ashley Greene & Kellan Lutz. Greene was in town to celebrate her 22nd birthday on Saturday. The celebration began on Thursday as the duo, and fellow actress Brittany Snow, took in Zumanity. On Friday the birthday girl and friends saw Tony and Tina’s wedding at new home Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and then headed to hotspot Prive to finish off the festivities. The group got comfortable at a VIP banquette by the DJ booth and started drinking champagne, Grey Goose with mixers and Patron Tequila. Greene stuck to champagne and was extremely polite thanking Prive’s staff several times for their assistance. At the stroke of Midnight, Greene toasted with her friends to her birthday and was given a cake to honor the occasion. The group danced and partied until 2 a.m.

Over at The Bank, actress and singer Haylie Duff celebrated her 24th birthday with beau Nick Zano, pals Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, among other Hollywood hotties. The festive evenning started out with a dinner for 14 at celebrity-frequented Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar (client) at Bellagio where Haylie, Nick, Channing (starring as “Duke” in upcoming G.I. Joe film) and Jenna and company enjoyed the culinary delights of up-and-coming celebrity chef Akira Back. In between sake bombs, the party savored Back’s signature tuna pizza and trademark rock shrimp dishes. The group then headed over to The Bank where Duff and Zano were in high spirits spotted dancing and smooching all night only breaking to down shots of Patron with friends or to throw back vodka with Red Bull cocktails. Tatum and Dewan were also seen canoodling throughout the party. Haylie was surprised and delighted when presented with a beautiful pink cake created by Jean-Philippe Patisserie. Also spotted at Duff’s party were the striking Shayne Lamas, winner of season 12 of Bachelor, Brett Claywell of the new show Dollhouse and of One Tree Hill fame, and Robert Kardashian, Jr.

Finally, Drew Barrymore (left), celebrating her 34th birthday Saturday at The Palazzo Las Vegas with a group of friends including fellow birthday girl, Ellen Page of “Juno” and Kristen Wiig of “Saturday Night Live.” Page and Wiig are starring in “Whip It,” Barrymore’s directorial debut. Barrymore’s group strolled through The Palazzo casino singing and dancing to old-school jams on her boom box while walking up to their suites. Barrymore stayed in the 3,000 square-foot, two-bedroom Penthouse Suite, which overlooks the Las Vegas Strip. They dined at Lavo, and had birthday cakes on the hookah patio. Page was celebrating her 22nd birthday…

The 2009 NASCAR race week returns to Las Vegas Monday, Feb. 23 – Sunday, March 1 and MGM MIRAGE properties will offer guests a variety of exciting activities. Fans in town for the 2009 Shelby 427 NASCAR race can take advantage of great room packages, meet and greets with their favorite drivers, and food and beverage specials at various bars and restaurants along The Strip.

MONTE CARLO

Monte Carlo will be the host hotel for JTG Daugherty Racing, the NASCAR team that owns and operates the No. 47 race car driven by Marcos Ambrose in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the No. 47 race car driven by Michael McDowell in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. JTG is participating in the Sam’s Town 300 event Saturday, Feb. 28 and the Shelby 427 event Sunday, March 1.

Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 24, fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the JTG display car located on the casino floor. A meet and greet autograph session will be held Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. with both Ambrose and McDowell. Food and drink specials will be offered throughout the week at the Monte Carlo Brew Pub and Diablo’s Cantina. JTG merchandise also will be available for sale. Entry to all NASCAR functions is complimentary.

The resort also will offer guests NASCAR-themed room packages. The Shelby 427 packages start at $427 and include a two-night stay, two tickets to the Sprint Cup race, slot freeplay in the casino and food court coupons. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to book a room and restrictions may apply. For more information and room reservations, visit www.montecarlo.com or call (800) 311-8999.

LUXOR

Luxor will host Roush Fenway Racing, the NASCAR team that owns and operates the No. 26 Crown Royal race car driven by Jamie McMurray in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Roush Fenway Racing will participate in the Shelby 427 event Sunday, March 1.

The No. 26 Crown Royal car will be displayed on the Luxor casino floor Thursday, Feb. 26 and Friday, Feb. 27. McMurray will host a complimentary autograph session and meet & greet for fans Thursday from 7-9 p.m. This will be open to the first 400 fans in attendance.

The lounges at Luxor will feature Crown Royal specialty drinks throughout the week. A Crown Royal model will be present in the lounges to distribute Crown Royal samples to guests. For more information and room reservations, visit www.luxor.com or call (800) 288-1000.

EXCALIBUR

Excalibur will offer NASCAR fans a VIP room package starting at $181 per night plus tax. The package will be available Friday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 1 and includes two tickets to the Sprint Cup race Sunday, March 1, VIP transportation to and from Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), access to Excalibur’s VIP Hospitality Tent during the race along with access to the LVMS Neon Garage attraction.

Guests must be 21 years of age or older to book a room and it must be booked by Thursday, Feb. 26. Restrictions may apply. For more information and room reservations, visit www.excalibur.com or call (800) 937-7777.

CIRCUS CIRCUS

Circus Circus invites NASCAR fans to stop by the Coors Light Show Car Friday, Feb. 27 from Noon-4 p.m. The car will be staged in front of the property where fans will have the opportunity to meet the Coors Light Girls, enjoy beer specials and compete for the chance to win a variety of fan merchandise and gear. For more information and room reservations, visit www.circuscircus.com or call (800) 634-3450.