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Articles for ‘Gambling Vacation’ Category

Las Vegas: Skip the Strip and enjoy the outdoors

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Hoover Dam (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)

Hoover Dam (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)

By E.C. Gladstone

Think you’ll be cooped up inside one of our Las Vegas hotels your entire time here? Think again. Despite the deserved reputation of our mega-resorts as never-need-to-leave wonderlands, fact is, the Vegas valley is filled with more outdoor activities than most visitors imagine. Now that the weather has cooled a bit, I thought it would be a great time to tell you about them.

First among our outdoor attractions would have to be the Hoover Dam, the marvel of the modern world whose construction put Las Vegas on the map. Little more than a half hour from the Strip, the tour that takes you 537 feet down into the power plant is a fascinating education in construction engineering, water usage and electricity generation for the old or young, and certainly worth the drive. (Several reputable tour companies run bus trips as well: the tour is the same no matter who takes you there.) On the way, you can check out Boulder City’s State Railroad Museum, bighorn sheep-dwelling Hemenway Valley Park, and Bootleg canyon zip lines.

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Top 10 Las Vegas burgers

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Certified Natural Angus burger at Simon (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)

Certified Natural Angus burger at Simon (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)

By E.C. Gladstone

Gourmet burgers are hot everywhere you turn these days. But the top restaurants of our Las Vegas hotels may be the most competitive anywhere in trying to create the finest formula. Rating them (for flavor, texture, and presentation) proved serious business — several perfectly good (and popular!) choices didn’t make my cut, and to be fair, differences from one number to the next were often minute. For the record, numbers one through three below are all absolutely excellent in their own right, the next five all very satisfying, and the final ones I’d happily eat every day (if my doctor would let me). Most are $12-$19 dollars unless otherwise noted. In my opinion, medium-rare cooking is strongly recommended.

10. Wolfgang Puck Solara, Palazzo

When I began this odyssey a few months ago, I accidentally had a chance to try the burger at Solara, Palazzo’s poolside café, and was shocked to experience a flavorful but tenderly toothy thick patty, cooked with just enough char and covered with thin melted cheese, onions browned to oblivion (virtually remoulade), crisp sweet pickles, lettuce and a beefy tomato slice on a soft, sweet egg-glazed seeded bun. Not a thing wrong with it. If a pool burger can be this good, anything at a more serious venue certainly needs to top it.

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Hotel 32 brings Monte Carlo to Vegas heights

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

By E.C. Gladstone

Loft living area in Hotel 32 at Monte Carlo (Courtesy of MGM/Mirage)

Loft living area in Hotel 32 at Monte Carlo (Courtesy of MGM/Mirage)

With the opening of the monumental City Center mere weeks away, virtually all of the major Las Vegas hotels on the Strip have been sprucing up to try and keep pace. But none has done more perhaps than City Center neighbor the Monte Carlo. For a long time, this European-styled resort was something of an also-ran in Sin City, but in the last year major changes have given it new life: revamping Andre’s Restaurant, Dragon Noodle, and the Pub; adding Brand Steakhouse and Diablo’s Cantina; introducing comedian Frank Caliendo; bringing back lounge lovers Zowie Bowie; and even revising Lance Burton’s image. But the crowning glory of the Monte Carlo (literally) is their new boutique floor, Hotel 32.

While perhaps not on the level of the highest high-roller Vegas accommodations, Hotel 32 nevertheless represents a significant upgrade in service and style, comparable to many of the nicest rooms in town. The personalized experience begins with a personal driver retrieving you from (and, ultimately, returning you to) Vegas’ McCarran Airport. Upon arrival at the Monte Carlo, your suite assistant will escort you up dedicated elevators to the 32nd floor lounge, where a concierge will fulfill any request throughout the day. Everything from Voss water and Champagne to gourmet light breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres are all complimentary-even snacks throughout the day. (more…)

LGBT Las Vegas and 2009 Halloween happenings

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

By E.C. Gladstone

While Las Vegas has always been known as an “anything goes” town, it doesn’t always get top billing as a destination for LGBT travelers. And that’s an oversight, especially since the passing of Nevada’s Domestic Partnership Act. Vegas is actually a very gay-friendly town if you know where to look; but since I’m not in that category myself, I consulted with my friend and colleague Steve Friess, author of the Gay Vegas travel guide. Here’s Gay Las Vegas at a glance:

Penn & Teller flanking Holly Madison and Josh Strickland at a Human Rights Campaign event (courtesy of R&R Partners)

Penn & Teller flanking Holly Madison and Josh Strickland at a Human Rights Campaign event (courtesy of R&R Partners)

ACCOMMODATIONS & WEDDINGS

While none of the major Las Vegas Hotels are unfriendly to the Gay community, some are friendlier than others. Wynn Encore and Paris Las Vegas in particular have regular promotion packages aimed towards same-sex couples, Luxor and Mandalay Bay both hosted Gay pool parties over the summer, so are certainly friendly. Other good choices include the Venetian/Palazzo with three Broadway shows under one roof (Jersey Boys, Phantom and Blue Man Group), Planet Hollywood, adjacent to the Krave club, as well as the Bellagio, Flamingo, Caesars Palace, the Palms, Hard Rock Hotel and the Mirage.

And then there’s the intimate Blue Moon Resort, the only dedicated Gay hotel—and certainly the only one with a clothing optional pool! (more…)

Vegas Strip Stars A-Z

Monday, October 5th, 2009

By E.C. Gladstone

So many new shows have been opening on the Strip and in all the Las Vegas Hotels, that it seems almost impossible to keep up. I have to confess that despite my Strip-hound reputation, even I haven’t had a chance to see them all. While I do, I figured the least I could do is give everyone a quick encyclopedic list of everything I have seen and would recommend (with a few I’m about to see, based on strong tips).

The uniquely dark and disturbing show, "Freaks"

"Freaks" courtesy of Harrah's Entertainment

A is for affable but accomplished tiger tamer Dirk Arthur, of Xtreme Magic (two shows daily, Wed-Mon, Tropicana) as well as Australians—specifically Human Nature, the show-stopping Motown tribute singers from down under (8 PM Sat-Thurs, Imperial Palace).

B
is for The Beatles LOVE (two shows nightly Thurs-Mon, Mirage), Cirque du Soleil’s pop rock celebration. B is also for Bette Midler, whose frolicky fun Showgirl Must Go On revue appears intermittent weekends at Caesars Colosseum. Added to this list is the provocatively pungent Blue Man Group (Two shows nightly, Venetian ) and Bite, the topless vampire rock musical you’ve always wanted to see (10:30 PM Fri-Wed).

C is for Cher (who trades off with Bette at the Colosseum in her fashion-filled career review) and the elegantly erotic Crazy Horse of Paris (two shows nightly Wed-Mon, MGM Grand).

D is for David Copperfield, certainly the most esteemed magician in town, performing intermittently at  MGM Grand. (more…)

Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel Rocks Anew

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

By E.C. Gladstone

Perhaps more than any of the other Las Vegas Hotels, everything about the Hard Rock is focused on attracting the young and gorgeous. That isn’t the type of property where “aging gracefully” is an option, especially since (slow economy or not) many others would love to snag their hot and happening clientele. So their new expansions- Paradise Tower up and running, HRH tower coming first quarter 2010 — almost seem overdue.

Paradise Hotel Courtesy of Erik Kabik/RETNA

Paradise Hotel Courtesy of Erik Kabik/RETNA

In fact, the new towers are actually the capping numbers on an album of hits the HRH has been playing ever since the luxury-leaning Morgans Group took over in 2006.

They built a big 3,000-ish capacity new (Rogue) joint for big shows, while opening Carey Hart’s intimate rock bar Wasted Space; they put sexy go-go dancers right on the casino floor and added a smart-designed Poker Room that gets good marks from novices and pro players alike; they got designer Mark Zeff to test out the new tower’s aesthetic with some gothic suites in the original building, and added 65,000 more square feet of meeting space; they replaced aging AJ’s Steakhouse with the new hip Rare 120, while bringing James Beard Foundation-awarded Italian chef Marco Porceddu in to revive Ago (Nobu remains intact); They even added new retail, including a sprawling John Varvatos boutique.
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The best of downtown Vegas: Restaurants and bars

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Las Vegas hotels

The Flame Steakhouse at El Cortez (Courtesy Kirvin Doak Communications)

By E.C. Gladstone

There are some people that say if you haven’t been to the downtown Las Vegas hotels, you haven’t really been to Las Vegas. Last week, I covered where to stay, entertainment and gambling around Fremont Street; this week, the best restaurants, bars and some secret tips.

Restaurants & Bars

Dining in and around Fremont Street may look uninspiring on the surface, but there are many hidden gems within Las Vegas hotels there — some of them surprising values. I’ve had very good steaks, served with style at both El Cortez’s The Flame and Binion’s Ranch.

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The best of downtown Vegas: Hotels, entertainment and gaming

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Las Vegas hotels

(Courtesy: Las Vegas News Bureau)

By E.C. Gladstone

There are some people that say if you haven’t been to the downtown Las Vegas hotels, you haven’t really been to Las Vegas. Centered around Fremont Street, where the town began as a railroad stop some 100+ years ago, downtown Las Vegas has weathered the ages, preserving a classic spirit while trying to keep pace with modern times. Despite what you may hear, DTLV is safe, friendly, and offers something for every visitor. Of course, you might want some pointers on what’s good, better and best. That’s why I’m here. Because there’s so much to cover, I’m actually splitting this topic into two blogs: this week, where to stay, entertainment and gambling; next time, restaurants, bars and some secret tips.

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Puerto Rico blends exotic and familiar for vacation fun

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Flamenco Beach (Photo: Lena Katz)

Flamenco Beach (Photo: Lena Katz)

By Lena Katz

You don’t exactly swim in the limpid blue-green sea off the shore of Puerto Rico’s famous Flamenco Beach; you bob like a cork. The warm, calm water and soft sand make this one of the most swimmable beaches in the Western Hemisphere — and hardly trafficked compared with others of its stature. This is only one of many surprises that make Puerto Rico one of America’s favorite Caribbean vacation destinations.

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Las Vegas’ top 10 Italian restaurants

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Martorano's meatballs (Courtesy: Harrah's Entertainment)

Martorano's meatballs (Courtesy: Harrah's Entertainment)

By E.C. Gladstone

Vegas has long had a healthy Italian population, so naturally it has always had more than a fair share of Cucina Italiano. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it had good Italian food. It wasn’t until the arrival ten years ago of Valentino (Venetian), Circo (Bellagio) and others that Las Vegas hotels began offering truly elegant, inspired, Italian food with gourmet ingredients.

Now, fancy fritto mistos are everywhere you turn, but to be frank, all are far from equal. Your intrepid blogger set out to try them all, but to be honest — at a certain point, I had to cry uncle and let a few pass (based on other reliable reviewers, I don’t think I missed much).  Of the top four here, each has so many strengths that I’d strongly recommend all. From there, there are some with particular strengths, and for the more adventuresome, a list of some well-regarded local places.

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