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MGM Resorts / Toronto / Vegas News / Ziplines / CityCenter / Condos / Veer / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags

MGM Resorts: Toronto, Ziplines, and Cheaper Condos, Oh My

If you thought Las Vegas was spreading itself around before, listen to this, 'eh?

The Globe and Mail is reporting that MGM Resorts is interested in opening an outpost in Toronto:

MGM is exploring a $2 billion-to-$6 billion investment in the city, one that could go well beyond slot machines and roulette wheels to include hotels, restaurants, spas and convention facilities.

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Bars / Lounges / Drinking / Viva Elvis / Gold Lounge / Aria / CityCenter / Closings / Zarkana / Openings / → All Tags

What's Going to Happen To Gold Lounge?

While imagining ourselves as a big-time celebrity about CityCenter, we realized there's a problem at Aria that no one has seemingly pondered just yet. With Viva Elvis marking its last curtain call later this year, what will become of Aria's Gold Lounge, a nightlife mash-up just as entwined as PB&B.

The entire theme of Gold Lounge was meant to capture Viva Elvis attendees who still felt a hankering for a hunk of burning nightlife. The nightspot's website describes it as inspired by Graceland with connections to Elvis just about everywhere you looked from the golden monkeys ringing its perimeter (Elvis loved 'em) to a horse-shaped lamp (Elvis loved them, too). The food and beverage service also offers nudge/wink tributes to The King. There's also that whole thing of the lounge being a partnership between Aria, The Light Group and Cirque du Soleil.

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Closings / Restaurants / Dining / CityCenter / Aria / Union / → All Tags

Another Restaurant Closes at CityCenter

Close to one year after the sudden closure of Silk Road at Vdara, another CityCenter restaurant has closed its doors. Well, figuratively speaking, as it never really had them.

Union, the casino floor restaurant operated by the Light Group at Aria, is no more. A visit to the resort this morning found a black wall completely hid the venue from view. Not that it was very easy to spot when every other main floor dining venue is located on the complete opposite side of the casino floor.

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CityCenter / CityCenter Fine Art Collection / Art / Art in Vegas / ARIA / Vdara / Veer Towers / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags

The One Where We Remembered CityCenter's Art Collection Is Hidden in Plain Sight

Forty million dollars can buy you a lot of art. And to quote one of artist Jenny Holzer's Truisms, "money creates taste." The CityCenter Las Vegas Fine Art Collection aimed to make a splash and a forceful statement by positioning a tour of the modern art world around its properties. Sixteen artists in varied CityCenter locations and millions of dollars invested. Yet, many visitors will have walked by and never noticed these creations, or realized the fame or international impact of the artists chosen to be included in this grand experiment.

There are plenty of art world Blue Chip names: Henry Moore, Claes Oldenburg, Julian Schnabel. But none of their work carries the impact of a Jenny Holzer installation hidden in Aria's north valet pick-up area. If you go downstairs to the Haze nightclub, you'll see the video reflected in the windows to your left. If you are not going to the club or to pick up your car, you'll never know its there. Which is a shame, because its the crown jewel of the whole collection -- in this writer's opinion, at least. Brilliantly presented and utterly hypnotic. A streaming continuum of thought provoking texts. The display and lighting changes bring variety to the eye, as you stare intently for the next round of insights to appear.

This video installation includes 200 of Holzer's Truisms. Aphorisms, wisdoms, fragments. Good examples can be found in this list. A number of these phrases are melancholy, bitter and completely contrary to the Las Vegas landscape in which they are placed. But, it also fits perfectly. It's a true shame that it is hidden downstairs, though if placed in the lobby you'd probably create a mass pool of tranced-out viewers reading along.

Like the Holzer installation, a few of CityCenter's exhibit pieces are not immediately obvious to the visitor. Anthony Gormley's sculpture is described as located in the "VIP West Oculus." Next to the Aria buffet might be more helpful. And even then you'd probably not spot it. Others, such as Richard Long's pieces at Veer only really work at certain times of the day. Longs' enormous pieces are best appreciated at night. An advertised Robert Rauschenberg piece was moved when Vdara built Market Cafe and now resides in the Bellagio's collection.

Seeing all the current art takes you to Aria, Vdara, the Mandarin Oriental, and the exteriors of Crystals as well as to the Veer Towers. Go early. It's quiet, empty and people are nice and friendly. Particularly the staff who are used to seeing people on this artistic treasure hunt. Some know where the art is. Some most certainly don't. Make it an adventure. And, this gallery will give you a visual guide to help see all 16 art works:

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CityCenter / Veer Towers / Wind Tunnel / → All Tags

The Veer Towers Tone: Problem Solved?

It’s not quite Area 51. Nor even The Taos Hum. But the mystery surrounding CityCenter’s Veer Towers Tone may finally have been solved. For those late joining the VegasChatter in-depth investigation, here’s a recap: During Las Vegas’ windiest days a noise can circulate around the Veer. Like a note, or tone, or whistle or something. VegasChatter even posted video hard evidence.

Now, around CityCenter when the winds kick hard, it can feel mighty strong. In sight range of Veer, the Monte Carlo pool can be quickly and safely closed once chairs and umbrellas look like they’ll take flight. The area is just really susceptible to certain paths of wind racing through the complex. The problem for some unlucky Veer residents is it can get LOUD. So much so, that a number of occupants were permitted to stay for free at Vdara for the night, until the noise died down. With that sort of fallout, Veer and MGM seriously went to work to solve the mystery.

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CityCenter / Aria / Vegas Souvenirs / Bikes / Elements / → All Tags

Searching For A Unique Vegas Gift? Aria Has A Bike For That.

Gift ideas for your Vegas-obsessed loved ones got you stumped? Then head over to Aria, take a picture by the baubly goodness of their holiday decorations and walk into the single greatest gift shop on The Strip.

Yes, Elements takes the crown as the king of in-house casino emporiums! (Opposing views to this VegasChatter correspondent can be posted below.) Tied to Aria Men’s and the women's fashions of Terrene upstairs, Elements is just a wonderful oddity. 24 hours a day. You can buy Krispy Kreme crullers, jewelry, home furnishings and dive-in to a large cosmetics department. Currently, they have a section of retro Pan Am airline-themed gifts. A Hello Kitty area that out-shines ABC Stores selection down the road at Miracle Mile. Glassware? They got vases by the yard. Aria-themed luggage? Check. How many hotel gift shops offer you baskets to carry all your stuff while you shop? How many need to?

But the real prize and a novel concept that can truly be considered a unique shopping opportunity: his and hers Aria bicycles.

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Hotel Promotions / Aria / CityCenter / → All Tags

Stay at Aria From 9 Dollars a Night (Asterisk, Asterisk)

Now that the Legionnaire's scare is behind us (it's behind us, right?) we can get back to enjoying those techno luxe rooms that we just hate to leave at ARIA.

A new email promotion could put you in one from just $9 a night. It offers rates from $109 a night, plus a $100 resort credit. The promotion is good for select dates tomorrow through February 6. Of course, there are some strings attached. First, you have to book at least a two-night stay which means your first night could net to $9 once you rack up $100 in room charges, but that's it. Second, you can't use your resort credit towards your second night. Or, the resort fee that will apply to both.

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Events / CityCenter / The Crystals / Space / Astronauts / → All Tags

One Of These Days, CityCenter, To The Moon! (Actually, Oct. 14-21)

This VegasChatter member grew up in a time where watching shuttle launches in class were a school-wide event. When the original Star Trek was on TV all the time (albeit in reruns). When we were hopelessly hooked on Buck Rogers, Starman, Battlestar Galactica, V, and more. Even now, all growed up, we are still infatuated with the mystique of the final frontier. Anything that has to do with space, time travel, other life, gets us all geeked out.

So, what does all this have to do with Vegas? Nothing usually (although, there's been talk of building a space museum), but if you're as much of a space geek as we are, you'll want to be in town sometime during October 14-21. That's when The Crystals at CityCenter will showcase an exhibit featuring artifacts from the Gemini and Apollo space programs, from a Lunar and Mars Rover to an Apollo 10 spacesuit. Eee!

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CityCenter / Art / Fine Art / The Harmon / The Crystals / → All Tags

Harmon Hotel's Rose Now Blooms In A New Location

Ever since we heard that the Harmon Hotel would never open its doors, we've wondered about what was going to happen to its rose. Or, rather Rose II, a towering, 26-foot-tall sculpture by Isa Genzken that, until recently, bloomed in the Harmon's porte cochere. Now, we have the answer.

Rose II has been replanted in front of The Crystals, just feet from Las Vegas Boulevard. The move must have been an amazing feat, too, to have been done so quietly because the stainless steel and aluminum sculpture weighs more than 1,000 pounds.

But, now it's relocation begs another question -- does this mean that the Harmon is one step closer to demolition?

(Photo: Momentum.MGMResorts.com)

VegasChatter Reviews / Beso / The Crystals / CityCenter / Eva Longoria / Steakhouses / → All Tags

Beso Just So-So

A Travelzoo voucher for Beso has been kicking around Pappagiorgio Central for a couple months now. With the future of the CityCenter restaurant on shaky ground, we figured we'd better use it before management decides not to honor our credit any longer, or worse Eva's place closes altogether.

Care to relive our experience with us?

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Romance / Aria / Crystals / CityCenter / Kiki de Montparnasse / → All Tags

ARIA is getting Kiki When It Comes to Romance

Forget rose petals on the bed and champagne chilling on the desk. ARIA is, ummm, rising to a new level when it comes to romance on The Strip.

The CityCenter resort is teaming up with Kiki de Monteparnasse -- you know, that naughty lingerie shop in Crystals with the couples' dressing room. you don't know? get on it.. or, rather in it... -- to offer the, err, services of a Romance Concierge.

Available for your pleasure, the special program will do whatever it takes (almost) to make your sexy time in Vegas memorable. They'll even come to your room to make sure everything is jjjust right.

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CityCenter / Vegas Weather / Veer / Vdara / Walk of Shame / → All Tags

At Veer, The Winds of Change Can Blow Folks Straight to Vdara

If you've ever been through CityCenter on a really windy day, you've heard it. An eerie yet almost melodic tone produced from the wind tunnel that is Veer.

While it's caught our attention before, we've walked on and never really thought about how it must be for the residents inside the leaning towers of condos. At least until now.

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