NV Travel Guide - Page 20
Tags: W Hotels / Hotel Hype / Viva Vegas / → All Tags
Express Check-Out: Who Will Conquer The Clooney Cursed Land?
There seems to be some rumbling in the desert that the failed W Las Vegas will attempt to rise from the ashes once again.
Andrew Calvo at Passions of a Zealot has the detes on a report from the WSJ about Related Companies buying the Cosmopolitan Resort which is currently under construction in Sin City. Related would then put in a W Hotel.
You can read all the gory biz detes over there but essentially, if Related can win this one, then a W Las Vegas will open up between the Bellagio and the MGM CityCenter -- allegedly. It shouldn't be too hard, considering the building is half-done and W already has their design scheme in place, but this land is cursed, right George? Here is a recap for those who missed it:
Read the following in your best Vincent Price Brady-Bunch-idol-of-doom-episode voice-over voice:
September 2005: George Clooney and Brad Pitt get ready to build their dream casino on this very lot, and they have renderings.
February 2006: As rumors swirl that Las Ramblas sleeps with the fishes Clooney goes on a media blitz, visiting Larry King where both men appear confused about...everything.
April 2006: Amid reports that Las Ramblas is crapping out, the voodoo land is sold, to Edge Resorts, who plan to put a W Las Vegas on this spot.
2006 and 2007: The celebrity hotelier Clooney curse hits Richard Gere, Nicky Hilton and others.
April 2007: Though months earlier W Las Vegas claimed a 2009 opening, by May of 2007 W had given up on the Clooney Cursed land, citing rising construction costs.
That brings us up to date. Remember, that classic Hawaii idol Brady Bunch was a three part episode, and it appears that we are just starting part three of the Clooney Curse -- stay tuned.
Tags: Viva Vegas / Hotel News / Hotel Hell / → All Tags
That's the Night the Lights Went Out in Vegas
Is there a real-life Ocean's 13 team working in Vegas? Casino bosses certainly hope not.
But no one can explain how a transformer at an intersection on the south end of the strip caught fire last night at 8pm, leaving four hotels without power for 90 minutes. The Luxor, The Excalibur, The Mandalay Bay and The Four Seasons were all affected. There are some reports of guests getting stuck in the elevators, which is personally our biggest fear ever.
The power is thankfully back on today.
Tags: Movie Set Hotels / Viva Vegas / Celebrity Scoop / → All Tags
Movie Set Hotel:: '21' at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
The new movie 21, which is based on the book Bringing Down the House which is based on the true story of a bunch of MIT grads who swindled Vegas casinos for millions (got that?), filmed most of its Sin City scenes at the newly renovated Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, formerly the Aladdin.
The movie's worldwide premiere was also held at the Planet Hollywood where Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and Jim Sturges walked the red carpet.
Of course, you can't just swindle one casino in Vegas. The movie was also filmed at other hotel-casinos such as the Red Rock Casino Resort Spa, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, The Palms, and Riviera.
The PH does get top billing in the trailer so we're guessing most of the stuff goes down here. Let's hope the cast and crew got better room views than we did.
Tags: Las Vegas Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / Bette Midler / Celebrity Chefs / → All Tags
Bette Midler and Bradley Ogden Celebrate Earth Day
It's almost enough to make you believe in humanity again--and in Las Vegas's Caesars Palace of all places. Earth Day is coming up on April 22, and there's a special deal going to celebrate it.
It seems that the Ogden family, of the Bradley Ogden restaurant at Caesars, have joined their sustainable, farm-fresh food leanings together with the concerns of Bette Midler's non-profit New York Restoration Project, which is creating green space in underserved communities of New York. Bette replaced Celine Dion earlier this year with her The Showgirl Must Go On show, and was keen to work with the restaurant on its fifth anniversary to plan the Earth Day Menu.
From last weekend until Earth Day itself, April 22, you can get the Earth Day menu at Bradley Ogden, for $75 or for $115 with the matching wines. 15% of the proceeds will be donated to Midler's NY Restoration Project.
The menu does sound pretty inviting, with delicacies like twice-baked Maytag soufflé, free range Petaluma chicken with Meyer lemon gnocchi, and one of our favorites, butterscotch pudding. All guilt-free calories, of course, because you're supporting a good cause.
[Photo: Joelk75]
Tags: Viva Vegas / Hotel Renovations / Hotel News / → All Tags
Excalibur Halfway Through Renovating Cheesy Camelot Decor
Long gone in Sin City are the days when guests desired only a bed for catnaps between bets, a 4-drawer wood dresser for underwear and socks, and a tiny closet to hang the Hawaiian print shirts and rhinestone beaded dress.
Today's hotel guests demand much more from their hotels like flat-screen TVs, WiFi (preferably free), luxurious linens, and a big ole' bathtub.
Fortunately for such demanding guests, the Las Vegas hotels are paying attention. (Or perhaps they saw our Crapping Out mention)
The 4,000-room Excalibur which opened in 1990 boasting a medieval castle theme, with some floors devoted solely to non-gambling entertainment for children and the young at heart, has gotten a new look.
Tags: Viva Vegas / Hotel Art / Hotel News / Project CityCenter / → All Tags
MGM's Massive Art Program at CityCenter
The folks of Sin City are going to get a $40 million project that doesn't involve gambling, drinking, or burlesque shows. Instead Las Vegas will be getting a $40 million fine art program at the ginormous City Center by MGM Mirage, mega-retail/hotel/residential/gaming complex.
The amazing list of artists adding to the aesthetics of CityCenter include Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer and Nancy Rubins, who are collaborating with CityCenter's architects to create permanent site-specific commissions. This is the first time that ANY artist of this caliber will create a new work of art specifically for Las Vegas.
Additional pieces are being acquired for the program by artists such as Claes Van Oldenberg, Frank Stella, Henry Moore and others.
Tags: Viva Vegas / Hotel Shows / Hotel Restaurants / Hotel Deals / → All Tags
'Jersey Boys' at the Palazzo Opens Friday April 4th
While The Palazzo Las Vegas opened back in early January, not much was officially opened besides a few floors of rooms and Jay-Z's 40/40 Club. Indeed when we were there, the place seemed pretty dead. And it was Friday night.
But since then, the hotel-casino has opened its mammoth Shops at the Palazzo which include several high-end boutique stores and a Barneys New York department store.
Additionally, Eater LA has been monitoring the restaurant situation, reporting that Cut (a TomKat fave from the Beverly Wilshire hotel) is open along with CarneVino, Dos Caminos, and Restaurant Charlie by Charlie Trotter.
Now the big show, the Tony-award winning musical Jersey Boys has an opening date of April 4th and we've gotten a great kick out of the info under the Official Age Recommendation:
Jersey Boys contains smoke, gun shots, strobe lights, "authentic Jersey language" and is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Gosh, we're so proud that we can speak authentic Jersey language. (FYI: We've seen the show and authentic Jersey language is essentially an episode of The Sopranos--a lot of F-bombs.)
Right now the Palazzo is offering suites during the week for $179 a night starting March 24. We always say Vegas during the week if you can swing it is the most economical option. That way you can gamble, shop, dine and catch a show feeling a little less guilty about your total bill.
Tags: Viva Vegas / Hotel Hell / Hotel News / → All Tags
Hotel Guest at Excalibur Wakes Up With White Powder On His Bed, Freaks Out
After last month's scare of deadly toxin ricin found at the Extended-Stay America motel, Las Vegas is on high alert for any other potential ricin sightings.
The Excalibur Hotel was actually investigated as the man found with ricin at the Extended Stay had actually spent some time at the medieval-themed hotel and casino. Thus the near-hysteria today after a man at the Excalibur woke up with white powder on his bed. From the AP newswire:
Authorities are combing a Las Vegas hotel room where a man reported finding an unidentified white powder on his bed.
A hazardous materials team at the Excalibur hotel-casino is trying to determine what the power is. The hotel hasn't been evacuated.
Clark County Fire Department spokesman Scott Allison says one theory is that laundry soap may have been left on the sheets. The man isn't sick and authorities don't believe he was exposed to anything dangerous.
Um...yeah...so this is Vegas, right? And people end up doing all sorts of crazy shizz when they are there, right? Things they don't remember in the morning, right? Could that white powder possibly be something else? Discuss amongst yourselves....
Tags: Viva Vegas / Steve Wynn / Hotel Hype / Hotel News / Encore Las Vegas / → All Tags
Wynn's Encore Suites To Open in December 2008
One minute we're high: Wynn Encore, the follow up to Steve Wynn's Wynn Las Vegas, will be ready to open December 2008. And the next minute we're low.
That's like another year away. Ugh. Anyways, here are some detes as to what's inside:
Encore Suites' accommodations are comprised of 2,034 spacious suites that offer a cosmopolitan style and sophistication ensconced in a comfortable, residential feel.
Featuring Resort Suites spanning 700 square feet and VIP Suites measuring up to 5,800 square feet, the resort pampers guests in an atmosphere both intimate and indulgent. Suites are functionally defined by sitting and sleeping areas featuring architectural millwork, chic decor and luxurious amenities.
Additionally, Encore will get five new signature restaurants (all of which will undoubtedly earn Michelin stars once they open), 11 retail outlets (holy crap!), seven cozy bars and lounges (seven? and define cozy?), an ultra-chic nightclub (better than Tryst?) and a luxurious spa and salon (um yeah, luxurious means "$300 for a blowdry".)
Original price estimates for the hotel were $300-$400 a night back in 2005. We say those are the rates you'll find on a Tuesday. For the weekends, it should be $500 and up.
[Photo: Luxist]
Tags: Elvis Hotels / Viva Vegas / Hotel Hype / Hotel News / → All Tags
An Elvis-Themed Hotel Gets One Step Closer to Actuality
TradeMork a funny site all about "trademark oddities, information and news" reports that Elvis Presley Enterprises recently filed paperwork to protect the trademark "The Elvis Las Vegas" and "The E Las Vegas."
The protections are for three categories which include these goods and services: resort hotel, hotel, restaurant, bar as well as real estate services for residential apartments, condominiums and retail establishments.
We've been following the plans for a Las Vegas Elvis-themed hotel for a while now but TradeMork also speculates that a hotel could go up near Graceland in Memphis.
While we don't doubt that will happen someday, we are guessing the Elvis Las Vegas is the actual hotel that will go up in Las Vegas and the E Las Vegas sounds like the residential bit of the hotel complex.
Afterall, would you live in a place named after Elvis? On second though, don't answer that. There are probably plenty of you who will.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Hotel Opening Rates / Viva Vegas / Palms Place / Hotel News / → All Tags
Sneak Peek at The Rooms Inside the Palms Place
In case you have forgotten, a sister property to the Palms Las Vegas is opening soon. Yup, on the heels of the Palazzo opening we have yet another hotel opening in Las Vegas to obsess about.
The Palms Place Hotel and Spa is technically set to open on February 29th but actually you will have to wait until March 17th to get in there as the rooms on the website are being listed as "Sold."
What's open on that date is a Studio Suite which has this description:
600 sq ft strip or mountain views, 300 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets & deluxe pillow top mattresses, some feature a balcony, mahogany hardwood and marble floors, floor to ceiling windows, plazma TV's, deluxe gourmet kitchens and queen sleeper sofa.
Yeah, the Palms spells plasma as "plazma."
Still, all that sounds pretty sweet given that the going rate is $209 for a weeknight. Even the weekend rate of $329 is not so bad.
More on the one-bedroom suite after the jump.
Tags: Viva Vegas / New Hotels / → All Tags
Las Vegas: Moulin Rouge Casino - Take 2
First opened in 1955 on W. Bonanza Ave, near downtown Las Vegas as the first interracial casino hotel in Las Vegas, the Moulin Rouge only lasted 6 months. Apparently not even a star studded cast of Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., George Burns, Gracie Allen, and Jack Benny who all performed almost nightly, could not keep the doors open. Even though it lasted 6 short months because of financial problems - it made history by being the first hotel and casino in Las Vegas that allowed black and white gamblers, employees and hotel guests.
Since that time the hotel has sat unused, except for the filming of "Casino" in 1995 and in May 2003 the site was completely gutted by fire (except for its facade and sign) which was ruled as arson.
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