10 posts tagged “resort”

SincityNow -- The Strip's newest resort opened today with customary Vegas showmanship: confetti, aerialists, a red carpet and fireworks crackling overhead. But the sleek, gilded Palazzo -- a $1.9 billion, 3,066-room hotel-casino -- better reflected the city's newest persona: Fancy, not Kitschy, Vegas.

The only theme to the Palazzo, which is Italian for "palace," is a lack of one -- in stark contrast to the pyramid, the castle, the New York skyline and the pirate ship that dot Las Vegas Boulevard. In this way, it mirrors the Wynn, the last major Strip resort to open, more than the Palazzo's sister property, the Venetian.

The Palazzo's photo-op backdrops are its massive fountains, including a multi-story cascade in the lobby. (The voluptuous women at the fountains indeed proved popular with camera-wielding tourists.) Next to the giant Barneys New York, another waterfall poured, a curlicue "P" projected on it. A red carpet awaited VIPs as aerialists twirled above.

This afternoon, employees buzzed about, prepping a resort that is still a work in progress, though it had a so-called "soft opening" weeks ago. The sidewalk-level windows offered glimpses of ladders still in place. Casino escalators were roped off. Turn the wrong way in the parking garage, and you spotted piles of planks.

Only one-third of chef Mario Batali's steakhouse is ready, but waiters ignored the construction workers and smoothed tablecloths as starched as their shirts. The restaurant's centerpiece had arrived -- a 320-pound bull statue named Bo -- and the bottom half of a bull ice sculpture was awaiting its head.

At Jay Z's 40/40 club, TV screens were turned to Fox News, which was broadcasting updates on that other newsmaker, the Nevada caucus. Pillows were stacked on white couches that had yet to encounter their first vodka-cranberry drink.

Tourists shuffled into the Grand Lux Cafe, where an omelet was nearly $11 and filet mignon nearly $30. As the afternoon waned, the pocket bar across from it filled up; women leaned on posts as thick as redwoods and covered in zebra print.

Waitresses, wearing what resembled copper-colored negligees, circled through the Wheel of Fortune machines, teetering on gold heels. In a sign that some of old Vegas remains, a white-haired woman, smoking and playing slots, flicked ashes on the new carpet.

Like most things in over-the-top Las Vegas, the cocktails are a phenomenon that other cities would find tough to match. Fresh from Frankenstein's laboratory -- make that Quark's Bar at the Las Vegas Hilton -- comes the Warp Core Breach. The $29.50 drink has enough punch to tank two grown men with 10 ounces of liquor from five different-flavored rums, Razzmatazz and fruit juices. And be sure to heed the waiter's warning: Do not dip your fingers into the drink. The ice used to chill it is the dry kind that comes with lots of bite.

LAS VEGAS CONFIDENTIAL — They came in black-sequined cocktail dresses and neatly pressed, salmon-colored maid uniforms. Men with rumpled hair, just off their bar shifts, wore their sunglasses inside. They stood on opposing sides of ballrooms up and down the Las Vegas Strip, screaming the names of their candidates, blowing ear-piercing whistles and shaking signs in one another’s faces.

It was a long way from Iowa.

For Nevada, this was the first real caucus that attracted more than just the party faithful — only 9,000 Democrats participated in 2004. And as it played out along the Vegas Strip this time, with voting sites set up inside the casinos, caucusing Nevada-style was raucous and colorful.

Workers from every part of the casino, including glamorous women who serve in a concierge-like role to high rollers and those who slice vegetables in the kitchen, showed up to choose a presidential candidate. Many of the workers made their way to the caucus in uniform on their lunch break.

Half an hour before the official caucusing began at the Wynn Hotel, men in chef’s toques and women in housekeeping uniforms began to gather in the center of the room, quickly joined by scores of workers in red T-shirts indicating their affiliation with the Culinary Workers Union.

A large group of Barack Obama supporters began to chant his name loudly and were met with gym-coach whistles and boos from a Hillary Rodham Clinton group. People on both sides held up signs, often shaking them in one another’s faces, and hooted, cheered and generally gave the room the feel of the biggest football game of the season.

Many voters showed up not quite knowing what to expect, often with no clue as to how it all would turn out or even whom they would vote for. “I haven’t decided at all,” said Rachel Smith, the manager of the Tryst nightclub in the Wynn, who got together with a bunch of co-workers and decided that they would go to the hotel’s Lafite Ballroom to see what a caucus was like.

In the ballroom, with plush purple banquettes and giant gold light fixtures in the ceiling, the Obama backers were on one side and the Clinton backers on the other. In the middle of the room sat supporters of John Edwards — just eight of them — and three people who could not make up their minds.

After a count of votes, supporters of Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama were able to leave because their candidates easily gathered the 20 percent of votes needed to be deemed “viable” under the caucus rules. The Edwards and undecided caucusgoers stood around, somewhat confused, as surrogates from the Clinton and Obama campaigns tried to persuade them to come over to their sides.

In the end, Mrs. Clinton took 189 votes and Mr. Obama got 187 at the site, which essentially split the delegates 38 to 37 respectively.

Confusion abounded across the state on Saturday, as more than 100,000 voters went to caucus. Some found themselves at the wrong polling spot, or in long lines, often behind people who were just registering to vote.

Some workers showed up, filled out their paperwork and looked around, unsure of what they were to do next and unaware that an hour of their time would be needed.

“We didn’t get the opportunity to vote,” said J. R. Koehl, a bartender who stood with one of his co-workers and took in the action from the sidelines. The two had turned up close to 1 p.m., mistakenly believing that they had from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to participate.

LAS VEGAS CONFIDENTIAL

Chuck Liddell's clubbing ways weren't criticized when he was winning, but now that he's had back-to-back defeats (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 71 and Keith Jardine at UFC 76) , fans have been quick to put him down for the very thing that made him such a success in the first place.

At UFC 79: Nemesis, the Iceman has another shot in this Saturday's highly anticipated bout against Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

This time, Liddell's partying has been low-key (or hasn't been covered as much) and he's been seen having more discipline and focus.

Because a third loss in a row for the 38-year-old mixed martial arts fighter might pull him out of The Octagon for good.

Tickets up to $1,000 are sold out on Ticketmaster, but can be seen live on Pay Per View Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. PT or on Bravo a day after.

One place Chuck Liddell will not be tonight is the TAO nightclub (at the Venetian), where Tito Ortiz (who Liddell defeated at UFC 66) will host an opening party for his new TV show.

The Huntington Beach Bad Boy will be joined with girlfriend Jenna Jameson to preview NBC's latest "The Apprentice" with celebrities.

This seventh edition of the Donald Trump reality show will feature Ortiz and 13 other celebrities including Gene Simmons, Stephen Baldwin, Carol Alt, Marilu Henner, Nadia Comaneci, Vincent Pastore ("Big Pussy" on "The Sopranos"), Lennox Lewis, and Omarosa (yep, that Omarosa, who became famous from season 1).

The winner of "Celebrity Apprentice" will receive $250,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

It premieres Jan. 3.

The next big casino in Las Vegas is set to officially open Dec. 28.

The $1.8 billion Palazzo, an extension of The Venetian and Sands Expo (all owned by Las Vegas Sands), is an all-new freestanding luxury casino hotel and resort, with 450,000 square feet of shops and restaurants scheduled to all be open by Jan. 18, 2008.

Just announced are the shops that will inhabit the Shoppes at The Palazzo, and they'll be giving the Fashion Show Mall and Caesars Forum Shop across the street a run for its money.

First and foremost will be a Barneys New York, occupying 85,000 square feet.

New stores to Las Vegas will be present, including Chloe, Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, Diane Von Furstenberg, Van Cleef & Arpels, Anya Hindmarch, Poleci, Lambertson Truex, Phillipe Charriol, Edidi, and Michael Kors.

Other upscale stores will include Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, Piaget, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, and Montblanc.

Restaurants (where our heart is) include celebrity chefs Mario Batali (CarneVino), Wolfgang Puck (CUT), Emeril Lagasse (Table 10), and Charlie Trotter (Trotter).

Other restaurants are 40/40 Club by Jay-Z, Dos Caminos, Grand Lux Cafe, Jade, Mainland, Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro, Prime Blue Grill, SushiSamba, and Woo.

Also at the Palazzo will be the second Lamborghini showroom (the first is at Wynn Las Vegas).

Our stomachs and credit cards can't wait.

Music mogul Jay-Z will celebrate the grand opening of The 40/40 Club — his upscale sports bar/lounge — on December 30 at The Palazzo.

Jay-Z and girlfriend Beyonce Knowles will perform together at the event, which is expected to attract several A-list celebrities and athletes. Some of the high-profile stars expected to attend include: David Beckham & Victoria Beckham, Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez, Mariah Carey, Magic Johnson, Tom Brady, Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Oprah Winfrey and Shaquille O'Neal.

Jay-Z and his friends will continue the party on New Year's Eve when they celebrate the start of 2008 at The 40/40 Club. Doors open at 9 p.m. at the venue. Tickets for the party are on-sale now and available at www.the4040club.com. Tickets start at $200, with each ticket including a champagne toast.

Music mogul Jay-Z will celebrate the grand opening of The 40/40 Club — his upscale sports bar/lounge — on December 30 at The Palazzo.

Jay-Z and girlfriend Beyonce Knowles will perform together at the event, which is expected to attract several A-list celebrities and athletes. Some of the high-profile stars expected to attend include: David Beckham & Victoria Beckham, Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez, Mariah Carey, Magic Johnson, Tom Brady, Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Oprah Winfrey and Shaquille O'Neal.

Jay-Z and his friends will continue the party on New Year's Eve when they celebrate the start of 2008 at The 40/40 Club. Doors open at 9 p.m. at the venue. Tickets for the party are on-sale now and available at www.the4040club.com. Tickets start at $200, with each ticket including a champagne toast.

Pamela Anderson, the former "Baywatch" star, will ring in 2008 as she hosts the New Year's Eve party December 31 at Pure nightclub.

Anderson is presently starring in illusionist Hans Klok's "The Beauty of Magic" show at the Planet Hollywood Resort. The Caesars Palace venue will opens its doors at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve. For table reservations, call 702.289.2002. For more information, log on at www.purethenightclub.com.

Kevin Federline, the ex-husband of former pop music princess Britney Spears, will host the New Year's party on December 31 at Tangerine nightclub.

British singer/songwriter James Blunt will be performing February 8, 2008, at The Pearl Concert Theater as part of his "Lost Souls" tour.