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Tags: Tweet of the Weekend / Twitter / Criss Angel / Vdara / Do Not Do / → All Tags
Tweet of the Weekend: Too Much Smoking, Not Enough Criss Angel
Many people got trashed in Vegas this weekend, and lots of them told the world about it. So, every Monday we’re bringing you our favourite tweet of the weekend. And don’t forget to follow us at @vegaschatter.
Yes, we all want to get trollied in Vegas, but we don’t always want to smell like an ashtray and wheeze like a trooper the morning after. So we are feeling Eric Uribe’s smoke-induced pain this morning.
Tags: Concierges / Vdara / Drugstores / Shopping / CityCenter / Electronics / Travel Gadgets / → All Tags
Walgreens, Not Fry's, Is The Better Store for Travel Gadgets on The Strip
The front desk at Vdara in Las Vegas.
Ahh...Concierges. In French, this means "know it all." Just kidding. The word actually evolved from the French Comte Des Cierges, The Keeper of the Candles. (Here's the Wikipedia explanation.)
These days there are all sorts of specialized concierges from shopping concierges to teen concierges to pet concierges and yes, Christmas concierges..But what about a good, old-fashioned general concierge? With so much information out there at the touch of our iPhones and Blackberries, we wondered how the concierges were upping their game.
Staying at Vdara Hotel and Spa the other night, we realized that we had forgotten our memory card reader. We knew where we could get one but we thought it would be interesting to see what the Vdara concierge service would recommend.
After all, this is their town. Maybe they knew of a faster way. Or maybe, just maybe, they had one on loan. Isn't CityCenter supposed to be all about technology anyways?
Tags: CityCenter / Vdara / Bellagio / Monorail / Anti-View / → All Tags
When Taking the CityCenter Monorail, Be Sure to Wave to Bellagio Guests
A few months ago, a tipster sent in these shots that showed some of The Bellagio's suites would be overlooking the new CityCenter monorail. While those pictures certainly told a certain truth, we still were shocked to see just how close the monorail was to the Bellagio rooms.
This is the view from our room on the 14th floor at Vdara. That white canopy is the monoraiil stop but also a walkway that leads inside The Bellagio and while we were walking under it, we could see The Bellagio room windows right above us. They were dark so we surmised no guests were in there but we sincerely hope that The Bellagio makes a better use of those rooms.
No one deserves to be gawked at by monorail riders. Certainly not while soaking in the bathtub!
Tags: Vdara / Hotels / CityCenter / CityCenter Grand Opening / Hotel Video Tours / → All Tags
Inside The Vdara Hotel's Deluxe Suite
Here it is, what you've been waiting for: Vdara Hotel and Spa porn.
Yesterday we detailed the step-by-step process of checking into Vdara and now we follow it up with our video tour and some more in-room shots. The room we are in is the starting room category, a Deluxe Suite. The square footage is 582-sq. ft. with large windows taking up the entire side of the room. Too bad our view is of the back of the Bellagio.
When you walk in, you are essentially in the kitchenette which has a small dining table with two chairs, a microwave, stovetop and a mini-refrigerator that has minibar goods on one side and free space to store your own minibar goods on the other.
Beyond the kitchenette is a small seating area with a comfy sofa that pulls out to a queen-sized bed and an interesting media center. This dark wood column is planted in the middle of the room and has a giant flat-screen TV on both sides--one for folks laying in bed, one for folks sitting on the couch. Extending from the column is a desk with a sweet media hub to plug in all your gadgets.
The bathrooms are long and narrow but still fit a vast vanity sink, a good-sized shower and a large soaking tub with a handheld nozzle. The bath products are, much to our disappointment, Aveda which always leaves our hair and skin very dry.
Tags: CityCenter Grand Opening / Vdara / Orlando Bloom / Jim Murren / Norm Clarke / Parties / → All Tags
Vdara Breaks Out The Bubbly (and Orlando Bloom) for Opening Night
Yes, the newest hotel in Vegas is the Vdara Hotel and Spa and we were fortunate enough to spend opening night at the hotel AND to attend a special, private-ish Vanity Fair party to commemorate the very first opening of the massive CityCenter complex.
We say private-ish because although there was a tightly enforced guest list, anyone who had booked a room at the hotel last night could also attend. Which would explain why there were some folks decked to the nines in cocktail chic attire (Vegas locals and media) and others who roamed around a little bewildered in jeans, t-shirts and boots (hotel guests.)
Needless to say the Vegas glitterati was in full force, even if the party vibe was classy and low-key. For the women that meant hair (lots of it), boobs (lots of them), crazy patterned black tights and short mini-dresses. For the men that meant suits or nice slacks and a button down. Thankfully, there was no Ed Hardy in sight. A success!
Of course, the high-up execs from MGM Mirage were there including CEO Jim Murren (who we saw getting pumped for info by the dapper gossip pirate, Norm Clarke) as well as a few real deal celebs like Rosario Dawson, photographer Sebastian Copeland and our husband Orlando Bloom.
Tags: Vdara / CityCenter / CityCenter Grand Opening / Hotels / → All Tags
Checking Into Vdara Hotel and Spa Inside CityCenter
So we've finally made it inside Vdara Hotel and Spa. Since we drove ourselves here we had a little bit of difficulty finding the entrance. Essentially, we had to doubleback down Frank Sinatra drive, cut through Caesars Palace, sit in some traffic on the Strip before making a small right turn into Harmon Drive. And not just anyone can do this.
Right now, Vdara is only open to media (and there are lots of them here) and hotel guests. After giving our name to the security guard hanging out at the ramp to Vdara and Aria, we wound our way across a driveway and pulled up to valet parking. As far as we could tell, there was no self-parking available.
The bellmen waited for our disheveled selves to stash our empty Starbucks cups before taking our luggage. After a short walk of about 20 feet, we were in front of registration. We had to wait about five minutes to check-in, as three of the desk agents were assisting other guests so naturally, we began to look about. And we snapped some photos with our iPhone too.
Tags: Celebs in Vegas / Vdara / CityCenter / Green Vegas / The Crystals / → All Tags
Orlando Bloom Is Guest of Honor at Vdara's Opening
And there we were getting excited about Eva Longoria Parker coming along to open Beso in The Crystals. Today, we found out the guests of honour at the Vanity Fair opening party for Vdara: Orlando Bloom and Rosario Dawson.
It’s not all glitz though – the eco message will be fairly prominent too. The evening will be hosted by Sebastian Copeland, photographer, green campaigner and, incidentally, Mr Bloom’s cousin.
The evening will double as the launch for the Sebastian Copeland Foundation – which will be campaigning against climate change. Will CityCenter turn Vegas into an eco paradise? That’ll be one to watch. Meanwhile, we're hoping Orlando's not flying into town.
[Photo: Nettekeyif.net]
Tags: CityCenter / Vdara / Spas / Vdara Health and Beauty / Green Vegas / → All Tags
Do Not Call It a Spa But Rather, Vdara Health and Beauty
With only one month left until the first building in CityCenter opens, The Vdara Hotel and Spa, you can expect press releases to hit the wire at least daily about all that's opening inside CityCenter. We'll do our best to report on them as we see 'em, starting with this announcement on the Vdara Health and Beauty also known as "The Spa."
As you can gather, Vdara is trying to move away from all previous connotations that the word "spa" might bring to mind. So will Vdara Health and Beauty be all that different from other spa offerings on the Strip? Yes and no.
Yes, because the hotel is heavily emphasizing its eco-friendliness and green options from the organic elements incorporated into spa treatments to the natural products that will be sold post-treatments to the SpaRitual vegan nail treatments and nail care products offered in the Salon. Vegan nail treatments? That's really going above and beyond CityCenter's LEED Certification.
Tags: CES Hotels / CityCenter / Vdara / Flamingo / Hotels / Deals / Conventions / → All Tags
Going to CES? Book Soon if you Want to Snag a ‘Deal’
With all the holidays creeping up on us, not to mention the trips and hotel bookings that come with them, we almost forgot about what comes hot on the heels of New Year’s: the Consumer Electronics Show. The 2010 Tradeshow of Geekdom takes place January 7–10, but if you want to avoid paying exorbitant rates for a room you will barely see, you should get your good self over to the CES Hotel Reservations site, where you can take advantage of “special” rates for registered CES attendees.
We say “special” because, while they are cheaper than what you can expect to pay if you leave your booking until December, they’re still considerably more than what you’d pay on a regular night in Vegas. The price we pay to be an in-the-know geek!
The CES rates range from $30 a night at the Sahara on the Wednesday and Sunday (ie: the lowest-attended days of the show) to $279 a night at the Bellagio on the busiest days, Thursday and Friday. All the big guys—such as Wynn, TI, Mandalay Bay and MGM—are in the $200-$250 a night range and many look like they’ve been reduced since we first started checking this page.
Tags: Cashing Out / Flip Cups / Mariah Carey / Vdara / → All Tags
Flip Cups Tournament Can't Compete With Mariah and Gay Proposal
Over the weekend, The Flip Cup Guys and the 2010 Hooters Calendar Girls hosted the World's Largest Flip Cup Tournament at the Hooters Casino Hotel. The drinking tournament, which originated in esteemed frat houses in America, saw teams from 26 states chugging and flipping to win a trip to Negril, Jamaica. But sadly, the news this day was not on Flip Cups tourney but how a guy proposed to his boyfriend during the Mariah Carey concert...on stage...and she toasted them with champagne! Maybe next year, Flip Cup Guys....
Here's what else is on in Vegas:
· If you want to book Vdara on opening night rooms are $129 plus a $15 resort fee. [Vdara]
· Look closely at this shot of The Bank and you will see Nick Cannon groupies [Flickr]
· More Dubious Celeb Appearances ahead: Kim Kardashian at Tao on October 16 [Lavo Las Vegas]
· Southwest's Rapid Rewards members can use points towards booking Palazzo and Venetian [Press Release]
[Photo: Flip Cup Guys]
Tags: CityCenter / Bellagio / Art / Art Galleries / Vdara / → All Tags
View The Artwork of CityCenter at The Bellagio (Or Just Wait Until It Opens)
An early sketch of the Vdara at CityCenter.
12 +7, Artists and Architects of CityCenter, a new exhibition at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art provides a glimpse of work by the geniuses from whose visions sprang the multi-billion-dollar resort complex slated to open in December.
The exhibition features architectural drawings and models, as well as artists’ sketches of sculptural works to be featured in and around the sprawling CityCenter complex. Additionally, the gallery also showcases actual paintings and sculpture by some of the artists whose work will be on display, if not the specific pieces themselves.
Truthfully, there’s enough original, finished art on display to merit a dedicated gallery show. Yet we overheard one gallery patron observing that this sort of display would be a better fit if housed in the CityCenter sales pavilion (where it could be viewed for free, presumably) rather than in a gallery that requires you to buy a ticket to enter it. Seeing as all the actual art work of CityCenter will, ultimately, be able to be seen for free, this grumbler has a point.
Tags: CityCenter / Openings / Vdara / Aria / The Crystals / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags
Getting Closer to Strip Domination: City Center Unveils Its Opening Schedule
We've been keeping consistent tabs on City Center, opening in December but now MGM Mirage has released specific opening dates for all the buildings within City Center. Mark these down on your calendars:
·
Vdara Hotel: December 1
· The Crystals (retail and entertainment "district"): December 3.
· Mandarin Oriental: December 4.
· Aria Resort and Casino: December 16.
· The Harmon: Delayed until late 2010.
