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Tags: Openings / Restaurants / CityCenter / Aria / Todd English / The Crystals / → All Tags
Todd English's P.U.B. Not Quite O.F.B.
OFB: Open for Business.
Todd English's Public Urban Bar or PUB was supposed to open yesterday, judging from the signage in front of the restaurant but when we strolled by last night, the lights were on but the windows were papered up.
The space, wedged between Julian Serrano at Aria and the entrance to The Crystals, has exterior signage and it looks like the interior is almost finished.
Meanwhile, according to the Boston Globe, English is a busy man and perhaps this is the reason for the PUB delay.
He is taping a pilot of a new TV show, and helping launch a men’s fashion collection at Club Monaco. He also has plans to open a cupcake shop on Beacon Hill with his daughter, Isabelle, start a line of children’s food products named after the character Eloise, and open restaurants in Las Vegas and at New York’s Plaza Hotel.
Hopefully, it's just a matter of training the staff before P.U.B is ready to open. As always, we'll keep you posted but if you've got any scoop, send it to us.
Tags: Aria / Technology / CityCenter / Hotels / Hotel Rooms / Control4 / → All Tags
Is There Too Much In-Room Tech at ARIA?
Full disclaimer. We’re not the most tech-savvy gal in the world. We don’t own an iPod. Or an iPhone. And we definitely don’t have our sights on the latest and so-called greatest iPad. We like modern conveniences, but when we checked into ARIA Resort & Casino a few weeks ago as part of a CityCenter hosted media trip, the Control4 in-room technology system proved to be a royal pain-in-the-ass and we lost count how many times we cursed the almighty bedside and televised command central.
Tags: Mandarin Oriental / High Tea / CityCenter / → All Tags
A 'Tea-Riffic' Time at Mandarin Oriental
We tore up the town last week while staying at Aria at CityCenter, indulging in all the activities that Vegas is known for--drinking, eating, shopping, relaxing and taking in a show or two.
But the one thing we never thought we’d do in Las Vegas was actually one of the highlights of our trip--high tea at Mandarin Oriental.
Maybe it was the never-ending deluge of rain and uncharacteristically damp weather that made the prospect of tea so appealing? Perhaps it was the stunning Strip views from Mandarin Oriental’s Lounge on the 23rd floor?
It doesn’t really matter, because as soon as we arrived and settled into our well-upholstered seat, all the hustle and bustle of Vegas seemed to melt away and we were transported to a far more civilized place.
Tags: Shows / Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / Elvis / Aria / CityCenter / → All Tags
'Viva Elvis' Still Has Big Blue Suede Shoes to Fill
When VegasChatter caught a glimpse of Viva Elvis last month, we knew we couldn't make a solid judgment based on a preview of four songs. Yet five weeks later, after seeing the full show, we're afraid Viva Elvis is still not quite living up to its potential.
While we loved the costuming, sets and storyline, the production came up kinda short in the "Cirque" factor and felt more like a musical than an on-the-edge-of-your-seat, za za zsu (to quote "Sex and The City"), over-the-top show.
Sure, it was very entertaining, but were we blown away? Not really. Would we pay $100+ per ticket to see the show. Highly unlikely. We love the King and yes, this show does pay homage to his life and legacy, but this Cirque interpretation is a far cry from what they’ve done with The Beatles LOVE, "O" or even Zumanity.
Tags: Buffets / Aria / CityCenter / Food / VegasChatter Reviews / → All Tags
Is The Aria Buffet Trying To Put Us Off Our Food?
Our final spoils. Btw, if you’re squeamish, don’t scroll down
OK, hotel folk. We know times are tough in Vegas at the moment. We know you want to get as much money out of us on gamblin’ and shows as you can. But surely you can let us get our own back by stuffing our little tummies when it comes to the buffet?
We ask because, after our first bash at the Aria buffet on Saturday, which set us back a whopping $38 (including tax), we have a sneaking suspicion they might be trying to put us off our food to keep their profit margins up.
Tags: Video / Aria / CityCenter / Vegas Pools / → All Tags
Arriving at Aria May Cause You To Take a Bathroom Break
So much water everywhere! Not something you'd usually say in the desert but the fountain at the entrance of Aria reminds you that while you may be stuck in the desert, this is Vegas baby Vegas and anything you dream of can happen---or be made--here. You have to see it at night too when the colored lights really pop.
Speaking of water, the pool scene at Aria is not quite open yet thanks to the low season and low temperatures. But when it opens (probably in March or April) it will have three pool areas with a total of 50 cabanas and an adults-only pool, Liquid, run by The Light Group. We've got a sneak peek of the pool area taken from a room in the SkySuites tower. You can make out at least two pools.
Want more? VegasTripping has a sneak peek video of Liquid. Still curious? Aria is currently hiring its pool staff here. But just be prepared for a lot of job responsibilities. The list goes on forever!
Tags: Snapshot / CityCenter / New Developments / Locals Vegas / → All Tags
Looking To The Future: The Constant Reinvention of Vegas
We were having a gawp at the CityCenter skyline last night when we were reminded of what Loanne Miller Parker – widow of Elvis’ manager Colonel Parker, and longtime* Vegas resident – was saying about the city at the Elvis forum on Sunday.
Obviously she spoke a lot about Elvis, but it was what she had to say about Las Vegas itself that really caught our attention:
Vegas is a city where you’ll never see the same place twice – it’s always changing. It’s not a city that values what was; it’s always looking to what can be and what will be. It’s constantly reinventing itself more quickly than any other city in the world, and that’s why people come here to find themselves.
We can’t speak for you lot, but for us it felt like she put into words what we feel about Vegas – except we hadn’t really realized that we felt that before she said it. Clever lady!
*When we say longtime resident, we mean it – she’s been here since 1968.
Tags: Celebs in Vegas / Barack Obama / CityCenter / → All Tags
President Obama to Visit in February, Does He Have His Vegas Nickname Ready?
Just one year after slamming businesses for putting together meetings, conferences and conventions in Las Vegas, President Barack Obama is headed this way again in February. KTNV reports:
The White House confirms President Obama will be in town to discuss jobs and the economy. Exact details on where and when his visit will be are not being released.
The last time he was in town, he shacked up Caesars Palace. But this time, we're thinking O is going to shack up at CityCenter.
The place is new and hot and filled with tons of new restaurants sure to please the Presidential palate. But also, CityCenter is completely removed from the Strip. We guess you could spend a week there--easy--without having to rub shoulders with the masses on Las Vegas Boulevard. Except for maybe when you need to pop into CVS for some toiletries. Still, this could make protecting the Presidential booty easier to do than say at Planet Hollywood.
Tags: Cashing Out / Twitter / Nicky Hilton / CityCenter / → All Tags
You Can Sleep Peacefully Tonight as Nicky Hilton Approves of CityCenter
In town for the New Year's Eve festivities over the weekend, Nicky Hilton tweeted her thoughts on CityCenter saying,
Just walked around City Center. Its lived up to the hype in my book.
However, she was not so in love with McCarran airport as she tweeted this gem on Sunday:
Lots of fanny packs, mullets and Zack Morris cell phone sightings at Las Vegas airport.
Excuse me Nicky but aren't you supposed to be jetting it privately to and from Vegas? We can't even begin imagine Nicky Hilton on the plane with the rest of us hungover plebes on Sunday afternoon.
Here's what else is going on with Vegas Twitterati:
· East Side Cannery to open new concert venue. Expect country stars and R&B hits. In otherwords, BoyzIIMen and Leann Rimes [@VegasDeluxe]
· Girls Gone Wild 2010 Calendar release party is happening on Friday at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone [@HTZVegas]
· Dueling piano bars and cheap candy drinks at Town Square [@KDCLasVegas]
· Holly Madison makes the cover of PH's magazine. Yes, PH has a magazine! [@PhVegas]
Already on Twitter? Then follow VegasChatter here!
Tags: Elvis / Viva Elvis / Cirque du Soleil / CityCenter / Deals / Shows / → All Tags
'Viva Elvis' Tickets are $75 for The King's 75th Birthday
If you didn't know it, this Friday is practically a holiday in Las Vegas--it's Elvis' (would-be) 75th birthday! So in addition to the geeks and porn stars flooding the Strip, there will no doubt be Elvis' swaggering around town.
But what better way to celebrate The King than by seeing the new Cirque du Soleil show, Viva Elvis?
Via the Cirque Twitter, we found out that they are offering 75 tickets at $75 a piece on Friday, January 8th. The offer also comes with the new CD, "Elvis 75".
Regularly, tickets start at $87 each. But since the show is still in previews (the grand opening is not until next month), at least you aren't paying full price to see it. We were just "meh" on the sneak preview we saw but it's hard to judge from four songs.
Go here for the special coupon for the $75 tickets.
Tags: Restaurants / CityCenter / Aria / Bar Masa / Masayoshi Takayama / Shaboo / → All Tags
Has Anyone Tried the $500 Omakase Menu at Shaboo?
Day-um. We thought we threw down some serious cash for sushi at our 30th soiree at Nobu at The Hard Rock. Our final tab for kitten squad, party of three, didn’t come close to what it costs one singular person to dine at Shaboo, the fancy restaurant-within-a-restaurant at BAR MASA at Aria CityCenter.
Raw fish lovin’ folks have been in a tizzy since famed Japanese chef Masayoshi Takayama set up shop in the desert. His eponymous restaurant in New York City is unapologetically touted as the most expensive in the country (earning him a four-star review in the New York Times, as well as a three-star Michelin rating) and he’s not sheepish in charging a mandatory $500 prix fixe price tag for Shaboo’s omakase-only menu.
The menu is said to feature Masa’s interpretations of shabu-shabu "hot pot" cookery, as well as other items, although we’ve yet to get our hands on a menu to see for ourselves (if such things even exist). The space is more intimate than its more casual counterpart, with just 54 seats.
Tags: Video / Sweet Suites / Aria / Killer Views / CityCenter / → All Tags
The Aria's SkySuites Make You Feel Sky High
The sweet suite with the killer view is, as Theate3541 guessed correctly, a one-bedroom Sky Suite in the new Aria Resort and Casino. These suites have a separate entrance from the rest of the hotel, a dedicated check-in desk, a private lounge stocked with food and drink and roundtrip transportation from the airport. It's actually quite similar to the Hotel32 the swank digs atop The Monte Carlo.
Inside the rooms have all the high-tech amenities of the regular rooms like flat-screen TVs and a control panel that controls all the lights, drapes, temperature etc. But there's a separate living room area, a powder bathroom, a huge master bathroom, a wet bar and a small dining room table for four. The table has the killerest (?) views of all. We can't wait to strike it rich one day and order room service up in this suite.
But until then, staying in the suites will require some creative accounting. One-bedroom Sky Suites start at $575 a night.
