{"id":276,"date":"2008-09-12T10:55:26","date_gmt":"2008-09-12T15:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/las-vegas-is-a-cultural-desert-but-in-a-good-way\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T17:42:17","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T23:42:17","slug":"las-vegas-is-a-cultural-desert-but-in-a-good-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/las-vegas-is-a-cultural-desert-but-in-a-good-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas is a cultural desert (but in a good way)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bellagio_las_vegas\"<\/a>
\nBy E.C. Gladstone<\/em><\/p>\n

Ever since 1955, when Noel Coward graced the stage at the Desert Inn<\/strong><\/a>, there’s been an ongoing debate about whether or not culture could thrive in the freewheeling, easy-dealing Sin City. Surprisingly, when art collector Steve Wynn opened the Bellagio<\/a><\/strong> with its own Gallery of Fine Art<\/strong>, the discussion only became more heated.<\/p>\n

But the upcoming performance of legendary operatic tenor Placido Domingo<\/strong> at Planet Hollywood<\/strong><\/a>‘s Theatre for the Performing Arts on September 15 seemed like a good time to review the more refined pursuits of our little oasis.<\/p>\n

Small by museum standards,  <\/a><\/strong>Bellagio’s Gallery nonetheless continues to present worthy exhibitions. The current American Modernism review includes many rarely seen canvases by Georgia O’Keefe<\/strong>, Max Weber<\/strong>, Hans Hoffman<\/strong>, Marsden Hartley<\/strong>, Arthur Garfield Dove<\/strong> and Arshile Gorky<\/strong> in an unusually relaxed and intimate setting. Visitors to the property should also enjoy three free attractions: The Art Of Richard MacDonald<\/a><\/strong> in the foyer of the ‘O’ Theatre, the glorious Dale Chihuly<\/strong> glass sculpture in the hotel lobby, and the ever-changing floral displays at Bellagio<\/a><\/strong>‘s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If science or history are in your sights, Luxor<\/strong><\/a> has a newly expanded presentation of Bodies The Exhibition<\/a><\/strong> and the Tropicana<\/a><\/strong> houses an exhibit of genuine S.S.Titanic artifacts. Forum Shops<\/strong>, Fashion Show Mall<\/strong><\/a> and the Grand Canal Shoppes<\/strong> all have a wde variety of retail art galleries worth exploring (Peter Max, Peter Lik and more).<\/p>\n

Anyone here the first week of the month (or any) should try to attend First Fridays<\/a><\/strong> downtown, a regular open house and fanciful block party of our city’s downtown galleries on and around Charleston Boulevard. Golden Nugget<\/a><\/strong> is certainly the preeminent place to stay downtown — though it’s actually the budget-priced historicEl Cortez<\/strong><\/a> casino which has a free First Friday shuttle.<\/p>\n

Farther afield on the west side, the Las Vegas Philharmonic<\/a><\/strong> is celebrating its tenth year; Bosendorfer Pianos<\/a><\/strong> of Las Vegas displays the largest selection of the uncommon instruments in the country; and the Las Vegas Art Museum<\/a><\/strong> is presenting a selection of contemporary art owned by local collectors, including works by Basquiat<\/strong>, Hirst<\/strong>, Hockney<\/strong>, Murakami<\/strong>, Price<\/strong>, Ruscha<\/strong> and Warhol<\/strong> (LVAM is hosting a celebratory gala at the elegant Wynn<\/a><\/strong> resort on September 27). Summerlin’s Red Rock Resort<\/a><\/strong> and JW Marriott<\/a><\/strong> are two fine places to stay nearby.<\/p>\n

So feel free to continue the debate about Las Vegas culture over a plate of fine cheese and a glass of excellent wine at any number of excellent restaurants up and down the Strip\u2026 we’ve already made up our minds!<\/p>\n

Insider tip<\/strong>: Though it is a retail store, Bauman Rare Books<\/strong> (Palazzo<\/a><\/strong>) displays astounding historical literary works, political documents, and even some artworks — but Las Vegans may be most intrigued by their impressive collections of Western Frontier maps and rare food, wine and cocktail books.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n