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Inside The Crystals, A Work In Progress

Where: 3720 S Las Vegas Blvd. [map], 89109
December 18, 2009 at 5:54 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

The grand opening of the Aria Resort and Casino took up most of our time and attention but we can't forget about CityCenter's luxury shopping mall, The Crystals. Designed by Daniel Libeskind and with interiors by the Rockwell Group, The Crystals will be the new home for luxury designers in Las Vegas.

Not all the space is filled yet (more stores will open later this year) but you can currently shop at the massive Louis Vuitton store (the largest in North America), Tom Ford (his first West Coast shop), Mikimoto and Tiffany, amongst a few others.

Word is, each store will sell something that can only be found in the Las Vegas store, not elsewhere. (We didn't find out what that is at LV but that's the word on the Strip.) We actually spent the most time inside the Tom Ford store which has a little room at the back for cologne testing. Seriously. We recommend the Tobacco Vanilla scent. It's unisex too.

Right now, there's not much else happening in here. Instead, the action is happening at the Beso restaurant from Eva Longoria Parker and its upstairs nightclub, Eve, which has a giant disco ball on the dance floor.

While The Crystals is not one of the most shocking malls out there, it is pretty spectacular for America even if it does end up being a just a giant mall for window shopping.

UPDATED PHOTOS: THE CRYSTALS FEBRUARY 2010

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Now Presenting, The Ladies of Aria

Where: 3730 Las Vegas Boulevard [map], 89109
December 17, 2009 at 11:49 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

We're still trying to digest through all the opening madness of CityCenter and Aria to bring forth some cool and informative posts on what to see and do there but c'mon who doesn't like some eye candy? It's something both sexes can enjoy!

We snapped pics of the various women we've seen working it at Aria and put them together in a nifty little photo album. Hey Tiger Woods, this is your new cheat sheet!

We did miss snapping a few of the working girls at the event like the futuristic supermodels carrying metallic torches and the girls in revealing harem-esque clothing outside of Blossom, the Chinese restaurant. But still, we think you can find what you're looking for here. Consider it a Stocking Stuffer. Heh.

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The Wait is Over as We Go Inside a Room at Aria Resort and Casino

Where: 3730 Las Vegas Boulevard South [map], 89109
December 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM | by juliana | 3 Comments

We spent yesterday inside the new Aria Resort and Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas and we were fortunate enough to get a room tour before it officially opened to the public.

This video here is a room on the 39th floor in the Aria Sky Suites towers, which has its own entrance, round-trip transfers from the airport and other personalized services a la MGM Grand Skylofts or Hotel32 at The Monte Carlo.

But a hotel rep assured us that all standard rooms in Aria look just like this one, including that wall of glass with killer views.

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'Welcome to CityCenter. Have a Great Day'

December 16, 2009 at 6:55 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Those were the final words of MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren at this morning's press conference, officially introducing Aria Resort and Casino to the world. Watch him kick off his speech in the video above.

It's been a long and bumpy, very bumpy, road to opening and all the executives who spoke today acknowledge the tough times that they had to endure. We actually loved CityCenter CEO Bobby Baldwin's quip about the cost of building CityCenter, "And to think we get all this for only $8.5 billion."

We're still in the midst of digesting what we saw today but we did want to say that having Aria open has truly made CityCenter complete. Vdara, The Crystals and Mandarin Oriental are all nice but not that exciting. Those properties were meant to be give off an "out of Vegas" feeling. But you know what? We like being IN Vegas.

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Viva Elvis Still Has a Whole Lotta Rehearsing To Do

December 16, 2009 at 1:25 PM | by juliana | 3 Comments

It's not fair to judge a show based on a preview of only four numbers. It's just not. So the sneak peek that we received yesterday for the Viva Elvis show is probably not going to be the same as what theater-goers on February 19th, the show's grand opening gala, will see. But folks with tickets on Friday will probably see a version close to this. And we are a little worried about that.

But let's take it from the top. The Viva Elvis theater is spectacular. It's new, it's got incredibly high ceilings and the seats are red and plushy with cup-holders, almost like giant Laz-e-Boys. Elvis' TCB with lightning bolts logo (which is found all over Graceland) is found all over this theater from the door handles to the TCB belt buckles that the ushers wear. (TCB? Taking care of business.) The souvenir shop outside the theater has everything you could want of Elvis memorabilia.

The feeling is very much like the frenzy that fans feel at LOVE at The Mirage, the Cirque du Soleil show about The Beatles. Even in the media preview with just a smattering of folks in the audience, the anticipation was high.

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The Tables at Aria are Getting Warmed Up

Where: 3730 Las Vegas Boulevard South [map], 89109
December 15, 2009 at 10:11 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Today is not quite THE day but Aria did open its doors today to select media folk and the MGM Mirage employees who were testing out the casino operations. (We hear the Play Days people only get fake money to gamble with. Booooo.)

We sampled some of the tasty delights at Sirio from Le Cirque's Sirio Maccioni, Jean Georges steakhouse and Michael Mina's American Fish. We also got a sneak peek of the Viva Elvis show from Cirque du Soleil and had a post-show drink at The Light Group's new GOLD Lounge.

Tomorrow the madness gets turned up full steam with an 11am press conference to officially open Aria. We'll be tweeting every moment of it all (well, not every moment because that would be insufferable) and we'll file our updates as soon as we can. Got a question about Aria, Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, The Crystals or Viva Elvis? Hit up the request line and we'll get back to you on it.

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CityCenter Gets 'All Shook Up' with Viva Elvis Press Conference Today

December 15, 2009 at 12:12 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

The Viva Elvis wrap on the Harmon Hotel, opening date TBD.

And so it begins again. While the grand opening for the Aria Resort and Casino is not happening until tomorrow (there's a press conference in the morning and a fireworks extravaganza at night), Cirque du Soleil will be hosting a press conference this afternoon to show off their newest Vegas show, Viva Elvis.

Founder Guy Laliberté, CEO Robert FX Sillerman and Priscilla Presley will be on hand to comment on the creation of the show and the show's cast is expected to give a sneak peek performance.

After that, folks will head on over to the GOLD Lounge at Aria, a nightclub run by the Light Group that pays homage to the life and times of Elvis Presley. Yes, signature Elvis Presley cocktails will be served here.

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Sorry Wynn and Encore, There’s a New Luxury Kid in Town

December 8, 2009 at 11:17 AM | by Whalehead | 0 Comments

It was with much excitement that we donned a tuxedo Friday for the opening gala at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

Yes, the party included bottomless flutes of Dom Perignon. And yes, there was a “Whiskey Salon” and a “Chocolate Bar,” both of which ranked among the places we spent most of our time. There was a violinist. There was also Aubrey O’Day. Oh, and they sent us home with hot chocolate and Courvosier.

Still, perhaps the most impressive part of the opening bash was, in fact, the resort itself. While A-list partygoers were hobnobbing on the 23rd-floor SkyLounge, Mandarin staffers took at least one intrepid reporter on a tours of on-site restaurants, guest rooms and the spa (which is open only to guests).

The bottom line: this place was made for business travelers.

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Eva Longoria Parker Will Give a Big, Fat, Beso To CityCenter Tonight

December 3, 2009 at 7:04 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Yes, the CityCenter Grand Opening festivities are still going on. And get used to it folks. We believe there is going to be something going on nearly every day until at least New Year's Day.

Tonight, Eva Longoria Parker will open her Beso restaurant in The Crystals tonight and tomorrow, the Mandarin Oriental will welcome its first guests. We, unfortunately, had to be in NYC today and tomorrow so we can't attend the parties or snap stalkerazzi shots. FAIL. But if you've got your own, send 'em to us!.

Here's what else is on in Vegas:
· Tiger's mistress denies sexytime with golfer [UsMagazine]
· Nascar is here! [Yahoo Sports]
· Simon Cowell officially bringing X-Factor to Sin City [Hollywood.com]
· It's freezing in the desert! [AP]
· Las Vegas Sands gets crapped on by Moody's but stocks are ok [TheStreet.com]
· Yee-haw! Cowboys in Vegas! [Rapid City Journal]

[Photo: DailyStab]

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Window Shopping The Crystals, Live from The Strip

December 2, 2009 at 7:05 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Tomorrow, The Crystals luxury shopping mall will open and if your budget is anything like our budget is these days, you'll be window shopping at best. So let us make it easier for you. Here's a drive-by video of The Crystals, taken last night. No need to thank us.

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Inside The Vdara Hotel's Deluxe Suite

December 2, 2009 at 12:28 PM | by juliana | 1 Comment

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.

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Vdara Breaks Out The Bubbly (and Orlando Bloom) for Opening Night

Where: 2600 W. Harmon Avenue [map], 89109
December 2, 2009 at 3:46 AM | by juliana | 2 Comments

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.

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