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Introducing…
LAS VEGAS!
Supplement your trip to IAAPA Attractions Expo 2009 with a few fun, iconic Vegas activities
by Steve Friess
 From the moment the plane lands in Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, tourists are barraged with an incessant, kaleidoscopic cacophony of images and noise hustling for their attention and wallets. It all looks so good and so exciting, but it can be overwhelming. Time is precious, and money is tighter than ever, so it’s important to choose your activities wisely.
As IAAPA Attractions Expo heads to Vegas for the first time this November, here’s a snapshot of what’s new, what not to miss, and a few offbeat suggestions for time before or after the show.
WHAT’S NEW
The brilliance of the Las Vegas Strip is that it never stops changing. Even now, with the economy in the doldrums and so much new construction on hold, that’s no excuse to stop trying new things—in fact, it’s all the more reason not to.
Shows
Of course, some work better than others. On the show front, for instance, “Jersey Boys,” which occupies a showroom at the Palazzo and tells the tale of Frankie Valli’s legendary career, is at once thrillingly nostalgic and illuminating. Across the street at the Mirage, “America’s Got Talent” winner Terry Fator has turned his singing ventriloquist-impressionist act into one of the funniest 90minutes in show business. The most successful sibling duo of our time, Donny and Marie Osmond, croon their hits and make loving fun of each other at the Flamingo in an endearing and surprisingly up-close and- personal production. And for those looking for something a bit more adult, Planet Hollywood has opened “Peepshow,” the rare topless show where the dancers also sing catchy original numbers and dance to Broadway- worthy choreography.
Concerts
 IAAPA Attractions Expo 2009 takes place Nov. 16-20, so clever travel planning could give attendees the chance to catch one or both of the legendary resident divas who last year began occupying the Colosseum at Caesars Palace after Celine Dion departed. Bette Midler appears from Nov. 13 to 15 in her delicious career retrospective “The Showgirl Must Go On,” and the irrepressible pop chameleon Cher is in the house Nov. 19 and 20 for an extravaganza in which she models no fewer than a dozen outlandish Bob Mackie gowns.
Dining
 Most of the new restaurants worth noting were opened along with the two newest hotel/casinos, the Palazzo and the Encore. Palazzo is a taller, slimmer, less flashy sister to the 10-year-old Venetian to which it is attached. Encore is an even more elegant twin to the 5-year-oldWynn Las Vegas.
Palazzo boasts a strong lineup of celebrity-chef eateries from the likes of Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, and Wolfgang Puck, but the hidden gem is Woo Restaurant, which serves up some of the only genuine and creative Chinese fare by a local family that graduated from a storefront in the suburbs to this beautiful berth.
 Also worth a visit at Palazzo to gawk and browse is the city’s first Barney’s New York department store and a Lamborghini dealership, but one of the greatest pleasures here is to seek out Italian café Espressamente Illy for a latte or an ice cream cone to enjoy at the foot of the stunning waterfall demarcating the Venetian-Palazzo transition.
Encore is Vegas visionary Steve Wynn’s latest attempt to top himself, adorning an intimate casino and several restaurants with showers of natural light and top-notch service. Nightclub XS is a cavernous, elegant hotspot that, weather permitting, opens up to the pool area. The only paean to Vegas pizzazz found here is Switch, a French restaurant where the walls and ceiling transform every 20 minutes in a mini-show so entertaining diners often applaud. While most of the restaurants are expensive— steakhouse Botero is totally worth the outlay—Society Café Encore is a reasonably priced glorified coffee shop where in lieu of a bread basket diners get the most delicious fresh-baked pretzels with a mayo-mustard dip.
Still, there are other new restaurants worth mentioning elsewhere. Serendipity3 at Caesars Palace, for example, is the first outpost beyond Manhattan for the New York restaurant best known for its Frozen Hot Chocolate. At Planet Hollywood, Strip House for steak and Koi for Japanese are clear winners. And over at the Palms, the new Simon Kitchen and Bar from Iron Chef star Kerry Simon offers a terrific variety of basic American comfort dishes with the added delight of a great view of loungers by the hotel’s pool.
THE MUST-SEES
Free Fun
The Bellagio. It’s not enough to take in the Dancing Fountains show that goes off out front every half hour starting around dusk. From the lobby’s astonishing $8 million Dale Chiluly blown-glass chandelier to the untold thousands of flowers and plants that make up the Conservatory’s seasonal displays to the world’s tallest chocolate fountain at Jean- Philippe Patisserie, the inside is bursting with free sights to behold. And for a mere $15, check out the Gallery of Fine Art, which has boasted landmark Faberge, Monet, and Warhol exhibits.
While Las Vegas is moving steadily away from the themed casino era, some of the most enjoyable experiences are still found in or around them. The Mirage, for one, recently refurbished its classic volcano attraction out front to make it livelier and hotter and, thanks to Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, more musically exciting. The Venetian remains a transporting experience, particularly walking along the Grand Canal hearing the classically trained gondoliers serenading passengers. And there’s something lovely about munching on baguettes at lunch while watching pedestrians pass by at the foot of the Eiffel Tower at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas.
 Finally, if you’re seeking a place to unwind with a good drink and a great view, head to Mix atop THE hotel at Mandalay Bay. Admission is free before 10 p.m., and the view straight down the Strip at sunset beats all.
Cirque du Soleil
Many people equate Vegas with Cirque du Soleil thanks to the Canadian conglomerate’s six Strip shows. Great selections include “Ka” at MGM Grand, “Mystere” at Treasure Island and “Love” at the Mirage. Each has its virtues: “Ka” has over-the-top spectacle thanks to its $95 million twirling stage; “Mystere” provides a steady diet of awe-inspiring acrobatics; and “Love” reintroduces the music of The Beatles in a loving tribute complete with a succession of visually beautiful tableaus.
Headliners
Vegas is also known for resident headliners, but not all are created equal. For a surefire laugh, check out Rita Rudner at Harrah’s. For some astonishing magic, Lance Burton at Monte Carlo does the trick. And for a nostalgia act that never gets old, Barry Manilow at the Las Vegas Hilton is timeless.
OFF THE STRIP
There’s plenty of quirk to take in away from the Strip. The city may no longer have a proper public art museum, but who needs one when there’s a Liberace Museum (1775 E. Tropicana, www.liberace.org), an Atomic Testing Museum(755 E. Flamingo; www.atomictestingmuseum.org), and a Pinball Museum, (1610 E. Tropicana Ave., www.pinballmuseum.org)? Of these, the neatest may be the last one because visitors can pay a paltry 25 cents to play on hundreds of vintage machines dating back to the 1940s (for more, see FUNWORLD, July 2008). Vegas is also not overflowing with quaint coffeehouses or used bookstores, but the Gambler’s Book Shop (630 S. 11th Street) has an impressive collection of tomes about the gambling capital and its special history.
There’s also a Neon Museum, but most of the old signage is presently socked away in a series of fenced-in junkyards for which tours require groups of five or more and can only be had by appointment (www.neonmuseum.org). Instead, it might be easier to head to Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, a four block pedestrian mall that connects several of the city’s original hotels and boasts more than a dozen restored classic neon signs. What’s more, after dark the underside of the canopy above the mall lights up for a five-minute video show at the top of the hour. Plus, those old casinos usually have cheaper food, room rates, and gambling minimums.
 Of course no Vegas trip is complete without visiting the Iconic Welcome To Las Vegas sign, which is in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard about a mile south of Mandalay Bay. For years, tourists have pulled up onto the wide median or just parked in the street, so the county finally built a special adjacent parking lot. After you’re done there, if you feel moved to buy a miniature version of the sign—or any number of cheap Vegas tchotchkes—ride up to the World’s Largest Gift Shop (2460 S. Las Vegas Boulevard). A singing Elvis fish awaits!
Steve Friess is a Vegas-based freelance journalist whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, USA Today, and many others. He is also co-host of the weekly celebrity-interview and tourist-news podcast “The Strip” (www.thestrippodcast.com) and author of the blog www.VegasHappensHere.com.
Who Needs Tickets?
In general, it is rarely necessary to purchase show tickets in advance of arrival in Las Vegas. If you want to though, the best way is to go directly to the hotel casino web site.
Some exceptions: Advance ticket purchases are recommended for shows at the Colosseumat Caesars Palace, Cirque du Soleil productions "O" and "Love," and any major touring concerts at the MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay Events Center. Tix4Tonight operates six discount ticket counters on the Strip where day-of show tickets can be purchased for half price or other variations.
For more information, visit www.tix4tonight.com/shows. |
