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Your Vegas Vacation: Hitting the Jackpot
By Josie Brown
Glitz, glamour, and themed hotels galore. Why leave the chance for a great time to the roll of a dice? So that your Vegas vacation (http://www NULL.lvcva NULL.com/index NULL.jsp) doesn’t crap out, check out these fun things to do in this desert paradise.
Hot Spots
Tryst, at Winn (http://www NULL.trystlasvegas NULL.com/)
(702) 770-3375 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S.Cavernous (12,000 square feet) yet cozy, what with its red velvet walls, this club boasts an indoor/outdoor dance floor as well as 90-foot cascading waterfall and a man-made lagoon. Lounge on the beds that surround it, to tackle the stripper pole in the VIP Room. (The celebutants who are there making the scene are bound to give you some competition for it…)
Studio 54, at the MGM Grand (http://www NULL.mgmgrand NULL.com/nightlife/)
(702) 891-7254 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S.The name is the same, and yes, it does attract a crowd who can still
remember its namesake’s bygone era. And yet, this four-level dance hall
doesn’t let nostalgia get in the way of a great time. Platforms of pro
dancers—both male and female— can be seen from all levels. That party
feel includes drops of confetti, balloons, or show girls in a Cirque du Soleil- like mini-show. No need to ask, “Where’s the party?” Obviously, it’s here.
The Bank, at Bellagio (http://www NULL.bellagio NULL.com/nightlife/the-bank NULL.aspx)
Both posh and pulsating with that techno-vibe, The Bank does its utmost to keep its crown as the unrivaled Vegas Strip club for scenesters. And with 6,600 square feet, it’s got plenty of room to do so. Check out the double-decked pavilion, which hasVIP booths on all sides of its elevating glass-encased dance floor.
Must Eat
Fiamma Trattoria at the MGM Grand (http://www NULL.mgmgrand NULL.com/dining/fiamma-italian-restaurant-bar NULL.aspx)
(702) 891-1111 3799 S Las Vegas Blvd.This restaurant’s New York State of mind comes from its Soho roots. A New York Times review earned it a three-star designation, while its James Beard nomination bespeaks the savory sophistication of its authentic Italian cuisine.Add to that an elegant setting, and it could be Rome as opposed to Las Vegas.
Sushi Roku, at Caesar’s Palace (http://www NULL.harrahs NULL.com/casinos/caesars-palace/hotel-casino/property-home NULL.shtml)
(702) 733-7373 3570 S Las Vegas Blvd.Minimalist Zen decor and leather booths set the mood. A fresh take on its sushi specialties make its rep. Try the seared yellowtail sashimi with ponzu and diced chilies, or the monkfish pate wrapped in salmon. And don’t say no to the baked lobster roll with creamy spicy sauce. It’s cantaloupe martini is a perfect complement to your food. Try to snag the raised booth for primo people watching.
Must Shop
The Forum, at Caesar’s Palace (http://www NULL.caesarspalace NULL.com/casinos/caesars-palace/casino-misc/the-forum-shops-detail NULL.html)
(702) 893-4800 or (800) CAESARS 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd.No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a promenade through the Forum. This exclusive indoor mall not only lets you beat the heat, but with its 160 boutiques, the odds are you’ll find every designer brand under one roof.
The most recent expansion added another 175,000 square feet and additional levels. The mall now extends all the way out to Las Vegas Boulevard, where a grand pedestrian plaza creates a signature entrance.
Shops include:
- Bvlgari
- Burberry
- Christian Dior
- Fendi
- Gianni Versace
- Gucci
- Harry Winston
- Louis Vuitton
- Roberto Cavalli
- Salvatore Ferragamo
- Valentino
Must See and Do
Yes, you must get off the Strip this time, if only for one afternoon. And yes, that means out in the red rock heat: or, to be precise, to the cool blue of Lake Mead and the Art Deco Hoover Dam. Built in 1935, this concrete arch-gravity dam, located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, borders both Arizona and Nevada. Once the world’s largest electric power producing facility and the world’s largest concrete structure, it’s scope, size and architecture is impressive.
Even more so than all the Flying Elvi. I swear.
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