It’s not often that you hear of a quarter-billion-dollar project in Las Vegas that does not involve poker tables, trendy nightclubs or luxury condominiums. But the Las Vegas Springs Preserve — 180 acres of museums, theaters, gardens and trails — is just that.

The project, above, a few miles west of the Strip, had been in the works since the late 1990s.

In June of 2007, the city opened the most unlikely of attractions: the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. The 180-acre tract about four miles northwest of the Strip marks the spot where a natural spring helped give the city its name (“the meadows,” in Spanish). Though the spring all but dried up half a century ago, it’s now the heart of a new non-gaming attraction that aspires to be the Central Park of las Vegas.

“Definitely not your traditional or stereotypical Las Vegas experience,” said Jesse Davis, the marketing and public relations manager for the preserve. It is a “100 percent non-gaming attraction,” he added for safe measure.

The project (www.springspreserve.org) is in an area filled with underground springs that helped give rise to, and later sustain, the desert city.

In 1978, the area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. One section, the Origen Experience, will trace the history of the Las Vegas Valley, and will include a complex with three museum galleries; an indoor IMAX-type theater; and an outdoor amphitheater with about 2,000 seats.

A separate section of the preserve, the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, will focus on the state over all, and is expected to be completed in 2008.

Another feature of the project is also decidedly un-Las Vegas: a collection of five buildings constructed of materials including straw bales and rammed, or compacted, earth. The Desert Living Center is intended to be a model and a learning center for sustainable and conscientious living, Mr. Davis said.

But what might turn out to be some of the most popular parts of the project are its botanical gardens and trails, both free. Desert gardens are being completely redesigned and expanded, and there will eventually be about two and a half miles of trails for those looking to stretch their legs after hours playing blackjack.

When you run out of land, then the only place to build is … up, up and way. It now appears the Las Vegas Sands has similar ideas with plans of continuing expansion of the Venetian Casino and Hotel.

Having just recently opened the Palazzo, the companion hotel adjoining the Venetian, Las Vegas Sands is now moving ahead with plans to add about 400 condos that will attach to the Palazzo. The condos will be built above a Walgreen’s and other stores, on land owned by the operators of the former Rosemont Grill restaurant.

The Rosmont owners wish to maintain ownership of the land, to build shopping areas. Sands will purchase the airspace right to build above whatever tenants the land owners wish to install.

The airspace purchase is common in congested cities which have run out of buildable land, but the practice will be new to Las Vegas, which is surrounded by wide open desert, which the city can easily expand.

However, the hot Strip locations have become so desirable that Sands and other corporations would rather build up than elsewhere. The goal is to constantly increase their square footage at the prime location, where all the action is.

Picasso Restaurant

Look up when you cross Picasso’s threshold: Rows of ceramics are embedded in the ceiling, a rustic touch that sets the stage for an unpretentious meal among precious, familiar-looking works of art. You are now ready to dine at Picasso Restaurant.

These are Pablo Picassos, all right. His paintings, gouaches and ceramics of several career phases are displayed in the room’s most flattering lights. The rest of the space is kept wisely neutral, so your eyes always wander to one piece or another.

Julian Serrano, the Spanish chef who presides over Picasso’s kitchen, is a Vegas anomaly. He moved here in 1998 after a long stint at venerated Masa’s in San Francisco. (To be fair, Alessandro Stratta lives in Vegas, too.)

Compared with the culinary fireworks offered in Vegas’ other high-end restaurants, Mr. Serrano’s food can come off as subtle, sometimes even safe. Certainly, there are charmed fillips, like the amaretto-nutmeg marshmallows in butternut squash soup that dissolve instantly in the mouth, leaving nothing but a tremor of spice.

And entrees such as fallow deer medallions with caramelized green apple and zinfandel sauce exhibit undeniable skill, though a ragout of seasonal vegetables with pieces of foie gras came off as unctuous.

The persistent romance of the setting elevates the meal, though. When the Bellagio’s water-fountain show explodes outside the window, obliterating the view of the Strip’s neon and the faux Eiffel Tower across the street, it’s hard not to smile inwardly at the myriad tricks up Vegas’ sleeves.

Bellagio Las Vegas
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-693-7223
http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/

Article by: Bill Addison Restaurant Critic – Dallasnews.com

Elvis is coming back to Las Vegas.

First hint was the site TradeMork, which follows trademark news and rumors, recently reported that Elvis Presley Enterprises has filed paperwork to protect the trademark names: “The Elvis Las Vegas” and “The E Las Vegas.”

Is this enough evidence to conclude that an Elvis themed resort will be coming soon to Las Vegas? Possibly.  But maybe this is.

FX Real Estate and Entertainment has announced plans to build an Elvis Presley themed hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

The building will be located on an 18-acre lot beside the MGM grand and across from the Monte Carlo.  The site is currently home to several retail spaces owned by FX.

The complex will feature a 2,269 room hotel, a 93,000 square foot casino and a convention center with accompanying retail space.

The project is expected to cost roughly $3.1 billion dollars and could open as early as 2013.

Initial rumors also circulated about Graceland hosting the resort hotel. There are goals for “Graceland” in Memphis to double its annual visitors from today’s number of about 600,000. Adding an Elvis resort hotel near Graceland was another possibility and would help achieve that goal.

It still may happen, but Elvis is first coming to Vegas. Viva Las Vegas!

It’s no where near a beach but the Arroyo Course at Red Rock Country Club has plenty of sand. Lots of it.

The Arnold Palmer signature golf course has close to 100 bunkers, but even more importantly, some 40 acres that used to be irrigated turf have been returned to the desert – ergo more sand … and rocks and cacti.

The plentiful sand doesn’t make the course difficult but just makes it more striking. It’s really more a  natural landmark of Red Rock Canyon.

The bunkers, though plentiful, are shallow and generally not difficult to play from, and the new desert landscaping shouldn’t come into play if you’re smart and moderately skilled.

Playing at 6,857 yards to a par-72 from the back tees, the Arroyo Course isn’t overly long and not particularly tight either.

Keeping the ball in play is fairly easy for most players. Couple that with superb conditioning, and the Arroyo Course, which is situated in the master-planned community of Summerlin, is enjoyable for all skill levels.

After a satisfying round in the desert sun, players can enjoy a country club feel in the Arroyo Grill, which features a full bar, appetizers, salads and entrees. The grill is also open for breakfast, and there are both men’s and women’s locker rooms to use before and after the round to give the daily-fee player the country club-for-a-day feel.  Full article

The Mirage, which revolutionized the concept of the megaresort in 1989 (ancient history in Las Vegas) got tired of being known as yesterday’s hot property, and these days taps into the Palms/Hard Rock market of young, good looking party people. Jet, the property’s first nightclub, was conceived by The Light Group — the people behind Mist, Fix and Light. Apparently monosyllabic titles are the keys to hot reputations.

The Jet nightclub in the Las Vegas Mirage, has 15,000 square feet, three unique rooms and a multilevel environment crafted by designer Jeffrey Beers from wood, stone and arching steel.

Each room has its own dance floor, DJ booth and sound system. Option #1: rock, hip-hop and popular dance music; Option #2: house music, featuring guest and international DJs; Option #3: a little bit of everything with a dance beat, from rock to classic ’80s tracks.

Jet also boasts a one-of-a-kind light and laser grid, state-of-the-art cryogenic effects systems and four full-service bars. European bottle service is available in each room.

A substantial number of online food lovers, as well as many Las Vegas locals I know, credit Bellagio with offering the best buffet in town. It costs $20 at lunch, and the crowds can vary from teeming to nonexistent to teeming again in a matter of minutes. If the line swerves round the corner, don’t sweat. It moves quickly.

It is, as buffets go, classy. Among the many choices: a composed salad station offering a decent niçoise; kurobuta pork shoulder braised in apple cider with apple compote; dry-rubbed, St. Louis-style ribs; pizzas that emerge constantly fresh from the oven; curried duck breast (the most polished dish I sampled); sushi rolls; turkey with stuffing; and soft-serve ice cream.

Roving servers are sweet souls who won’t prod you to rush. I spied folks who looked like they’d been lingering for quite some time.

A remodeling of the buffet’s Parisian café setting, street lamps and all, will soon occur. No word yet on what the new look might be, though the hotel will be installing a new station offering – wait for it – flambéed dishes. Yeehaw!

Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-693-8111
www.bellagio.com/restaurants

If you want to live like Hugh Hefner for a night, be prepared to dish out at least $40,000 to rent out the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at The Palms in Las Vegas. Sitting atop the Palm’s Fantasy Tower is a two-story luxury suite, modeled after the world famous Playboy Mansion.

This incredible space, 9,000 square feet in all, takes up the entire 52nd floor of the hotel and showcases the best of everything including: a large living room, full bar, media room, dining room, fully equipped gym with sauna and a spa-style treatment room.

For some unexpected panache, enjoy the glass elevator, eight-foot, round rotating bed, an extra-large show tub, and pop-up plasma TV.

In the Hefner villa, the iconic bunny is everywhere – in the middle of the pool, in the artwork, even facing the Vegas Strip 18 feet high on the side of the building. They’re not quite yet sewn on the suite’s bathrobes. “We’ll get that on there, of course,” Palms owner George Maloof, says with a grin. “How could we not?”

“Our aim is to create something you’ve never seen before,” Maloof continues.

All this is sweet, but the true centerpiece is the cantilevered Playboy Jacuzzi pool (see above) with a glass end wall and the ultimate spectacular view of The Strip that seats you and 24 of your best friends. Time to go make that reservation!

Las Vegas hotel rooms used to be fairly basic with enough conveniences to make your stay comfortable. But come on now, your room was just the launching pad to unlimited hours of gambling, buffet meals and stage show entertainment.

Well things have changed for the better in Vegas. Rooms now have become a guest’s “home away from home.” The entire industry is on a hospitality trend. Existing rooms are being remodeled and upgraded, new ones are being introduced with luxury amenities.

For example, Mandalay Bay just completed a massive $154 million room remodeling project. Almost three fourths of the rooms were given complete makeovers.  Full article

Celine Dion is stepping down after years of success headlining at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Whoever took her place would have some big shoes to fill.  I think Caesars did just fine with their choice.

Cher is the epitome of glitz and glamour and will bring the proverbial house down at Caesars. Las Vegas symbolizes the pinnacle of capitalism where money morphs into a chip in a game, where could you find a more appropriate place for an American icon?

At Caesars Palace Cher won’t just be a former sex symbol and idol from the 1970′s she’ll become enthroned as a immortal siren, glittering and perfect like a rhinestone. Luring you into the place where the basis of our society (money) so clearly becomes an abstraction. All meaning will melt away into an atmosphere of glamour.

When discussing fine art, Las Vegas will rarely come to mind.  But the MGM Mirage is developing a $40 million public arts program, promoting Las Vegas a destination for the art world. Several of the featured artists will be: Maya Lin. Henry Moore. Frank Stella. Jenny Holzer. Nancy Rubins.

Under construction is an $8 billion, 76-acre (31-hectare) development called CityCenter that MGM Mirage is building on the Vegas Strip. MGM Mirage is the city’s biggest resort corporation. The site is planned to open late 2009 with a 4,500-room hotel-casino, five non-gaming boutique hotels and residential towers, and a 500,000-square-foot retail district.  Full article