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Dispatch: AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, 1/8/09
Part of an ongoing series
As mentioned last Friday, the adult industry has gathered this week for AVN's annual Adult Entertainment Expo and Adult Movie Awards in Las Vegas, with the convention running through Sunday at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, and the awards show on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. And while Thursday, the first day of the convention, was only open to members of the adult industry and press, it will be open to the public from today onward.
Mirroring the decline in business at the casinos, which are reportedly down as much as 40% by some estimates due to the recession, it was certainly sobering to see how much smaller the convention is this year compared to years past, or even last year. Absent this year are Naughty America, Shane's World, and Australian-based Abby Winters, and among those who were present, many like AVN have significantly downsized their booth space (that being said, the exact opposite has seemingly happened with FyreTV). Attendance has also decreased, so it'll be interesting if the estimated 30,000 attendees is accurate for both the convention and awards show.
Sponsor
Tickets for AVN's Entertainment Expo are available online, while tickets for for the Adult Movie Awards are available at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office and Ticketmaster.
NOTE: Photos 13 and 18 are NSFW (bottomless and topless action).
Special thanks to Belladonna, Jenna Haze, Stoya, Sasha Grey, Riley Steele, Angelina Armani, Jesse Jane, Teagan Presley, Tori Black, Jenny Hendrix, Ashlynn Brooke, Roxy DeVille, Sunny Lane, Kayden Kross, Bobbi Starr, Lexi Belle, Monique Alexander, Ryder Skye, Dana DeArmond, Sunny Leone, Faye Reagan, Vivid Entertainment, Vivid-Alt, Digital Playground, and AVN.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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