Casinos: Encore Beach Club Is OPEN!

It's here! It's here! It's finally here, bitchez!



Encore Beach Club is HERE! And Surrender. And the newly remixed Switch.

Here are the deets, via The Sun.

The Las Vegas Strip today has another nightclub and adult pool to add to its growing list. Encore Las Vegas will open its Encore Beach Club and Surrender nightclub, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend crowds.

The $68 million pool-nightclub complex is replacing Encore’s porte-cochere, so those walking the Strip will be able to peek in on the action.

Opening festivities will begin when Surrender’s resident DJ Steve Aoki takes over the turntables and will continue through the weekend with musical guests Ne-Yo, Kaskade and LMFAO. The 5,000-square-foot Surrender nightclub will open to the outdoors as weather permits.

The 60,000-square-foot Encore Beach Club will be a 21-and-over pool complex. The pool will feature 26 cabanas, eight two-story, 350-square-foot bungalows, a restaurant and poolside blackjack and craps.

Sean Christie, who operates Blush Nightclub and Society Cafe, will operate both the pool and the nightclub. Wynn Design and Development Executive Vice President Roger Thomas is responsible for the design of both the Encore Beach Club and Surrender.

Hopefully soon, I'll have a chance to see it all for myself and give a better, more accurate assessment of it all. But so far judging from the pics and vids I've seen, I'm liking it. Everything looks so sexy and sumptuous and sensual and oh so luxurious.

I know the design, along with the whole entire pool day club concept, have generated some controversy. But for me, it's all a perfect fit.

Why? Well, why not? Las Vegas is the 24/7 fun party town... Or at least The Strip is. And we're already known for our more notorious pool day clubs Rehab @ Hard Rock. Why not let Wynn & Thomas glam it up with their own fabulous day-into-night luxury party spot? I'm all for it.

Score another WIN for Steve Wynn and Roger Thomas! :-)

Casinos: On the Passing of "Theme Park Casinos"

Casinos may no longer be done like this, but the debate rages on. Were we right in ditching the theme parks for something else?

Hunter at RateVegas posted a photo of TI, and it got me thinking... And arguing.

In the early 1990s, Circus Circus mastered the art of bringing middle class families (with the kids!) to Las Vegas in building Excalibur, and later Luxor. And from there on, the other major casinos were trying to follow suit. MGM Grand originally had a giant theme park (where The Signature towers now stand). Treasure Island was intended to be a place where the kids could explore while the parents gambled. Vegas was a very different town back then.

These '90s theme parks were evidence of the Vegas casinos pursuing the "middle class family" sector that regularly takes trips to the two Orange Counties (California and Florida). That's what all the heavy theming was really all about. The kids wanted somewhere fun, and the parents wanted somewhere for the kids to have fun while they gambled. They were "exotic destinations" that the whole family could supposedly enjoy. But ultimately, the formula didn't work. I couldn't ever imagine Disneyland with a casino.

And by the early 2000s, attitudes were changing. The Strip was becoming "adults only" again. Mandalay Resort Group was already starting the de-theming with Luxor v.1996 and Mandalay Bay. The Palms didn't even go with any type of theme park, opting for a "hip party palace" vibe instead. And after initially flirting with Vegas in the '90s, the family set ultimately stuck with the two Orange Counties while MTV's "Real World: Las Vegas" (FINALLY) made Vegas look attractive to younger crowds.

Let's be honest here. Las Vegas has never really been considered the ideal "family friendly destination", and that's why I think the "theme park casino" concept was doomed from the start. Sure, there are places here in town where the tourists can take the kiddies. Obviously if we can raise kids here year-round, tourists can survive with the kids in tow. However, we'll never be a place like Orange County where families can go from Disneyland to Surf City and keep the kids excited all day.

And you know what? That's OK. We have gambling. We have fine dining. We have shopping. We have great spas. And of course, we have nightclubbing... And now dayclubbing! We're an adult oriented destination, and that's OK.

That's why I honestly don't miss the "theme park casinos" that dominated The Strip in the 1990s. It seemed then like they were pretending to be something they weren't. The casinos were pretending to be "kid-friendly fun zones" when they really just wanted the parents' cash, and Las Vegas was pretending to be another Orange County when we could never really fit that mold.

When I step into Wynn and Encore, it feels like a place where Steve Wynn and Roger Thomas finally had the full freedom to create a unique and luxurious experience. When I step into Aria, it feels like a cool and jazzy place that is really its own place. I even feel very comfortable at Mandalay Bay, as I think Circus Circus/Mandalay Resort Group saw where Steve Wynn was starting to go with Bellagio and taking it further in dropping the heavy theming to instead just provide a classy resort that doesn't have to pretend to be something else (save for perhaps the wave pool/"beach").



For me, it's OK for casinos to just be casinos... OK, maybe not. Still, I appreciate the casino resorts of today that aim higher. Wynn and Encore are a study in "maximalist" postmodern design that simultaneously incorporated the rich history of "Old Vegas" opulence and "New Vegas" chic. CityCenter is what happens when a casino resort complex takes a new direction in incorporating natural elements, contemporary minimalist cool, and the great postmodern art of our time.



So what's wrong with Las Vegas being herself? Especially when we have nothing to be ashamed of? Let's just be ourselves, especially now that we've matured into

Casinos: A Sneak Peek at Encore Beach Club

In case you're curious about the new Encore Beach Club set to open Memorial Day weekend at Steve Wynn's latest Vegas megaresort, Hunter has photos for you at Rate Vegas. You just have to take a look at the progress made so far in construction... And the surprises not found in the early renderings!

It looks like there will be water features at the pool after all, including a rather nice fountain the middle of it. The cabanas are also looking quite spacious, like they're set to become "the biggest and best in Vegas" (as Steve Wynn and Roger Thomas wouldn't have it any other way).

All in all, amazing stuff... I can hardly wait to see the finished product next month!

Only in Vegas: Want an Encore Beach Club Job? Come in Your Swimsuit!

Well, at least Wynn Resorts is engaging in a little job creation...

Wynn Resorts announced today that it will be hiring 400 people for a new nightclub and pool complex at Encore Las Vegas.

The resort will be begin accepting applications Saturday for Encore’s new nightclub, Surrender, and the Encore Beach Club. Group interviews will begin on March 11.

Positions will include cocktail servers, bartenders, hosts, promoters, lifeguards, pool attendants, security, as well as other positions.

Wynn Resorts Chairman and Chief Executive Steve Wynn first released the details of the 60,000-square-foot venue during Thursday’s earnings conference call. Wynn said the Encore Beach Club is scheduled to open May 21 but it is unclear when Surrender when open.

The company ripped out the Encore porte-cochere in November to being work on what it called an “entertainment complex.” Wynn said the ornate porte-cochere was built with the idea that projects like El-Ad’s Plaza Hotel and Boyd Gaming’s Echelon would be across the street.

“We turned it into something that will produce revenue,” Wynn said.

This should be interesting. And honestly, I'm at least a little interested in seeing the place when it opens... OK, and this is piquing my interest a little more!

The Encore Beach Club and Surrender Nightclub, debuting Memorial Day weekend, begins accepting applications tomorrow, February 27, for 400 positions. Group interviews will begin March 11. Applicants must apply at wynnjobs.com to be considered. The 60,000-square-foot venue is seeking to hire Las Vegas' finest service personnel for the new entertainment complex at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.

Positions to be filled at the venue include: model cocktail servers, model bartenders, hosts, promoters, lifeguards, pool attendants, security and more. Model classification candidates are required to interview in swimwear and will be required to present a zed card/headshot upon check-in. All other applicants should come in a fitted t-shirt or tank top. [Emphasis mine.]

Hey, this is still "Sin City"! People here like their LUST.

It's just too bad for Las Vegas that the best way to get a job these days is to sport six-pack abs... Or is it? (When is this place opening, again?) ;-)

Betting on Michelin Stars: That's What You Get for Waking up in Vegas!

Yes, this song still haunts me. No really, we hear it everywhere here. But in this case, I guess Katy Perry really is right...

That's what you get for waking up in Vegas!

So what do you get for waking up in Vegas? Well, you get some great choices for breakfast. Let me explain on all your mouthwatering choices for starting the day off right in "Sin City".

Society: The Classy Way to Start One's Day













Tucked away in a corner in the fabulous Encore at Wynn Las Vegas is Society Cafe. Chef Kim Canteenwalla presides over this lovely little "casual cafe cum upscale comfort food given a major makeover" joint and cooks quite the tasty breakfast. Start off with some freshly squeezed and organic fruit juice while you peruse the menu and make those tough decisions.

The omelette or the frittata? The "XL Sticky Bun" or the buckwheat pancakes? Decisions, decisions!

My favorite is the Frosted Flake (coated) French Toast with caramelized bananas, chocolate cream, and organic maple syrup. It may sound like "sugar overload", but just give it a taste... And you'll see why it's become my "breakfast of champions".

First Food & Bar: Oh So Hipster, But Oh So Satisfying











OK, so you're hungover and you just stumbled out of bed totally drunk, dazed, and confused. What to do? Trust Chef Sammy DeMarco to wake you up gently and "just the right way" at First Food & Bar at The Palazzo.

Just look at this breakfast menu! How can you say no to freshly baked donuts? You just can't!

One also can't resist a good ol' fashioned 'shroom omelette with goat cheese. I knew I couldn't, so I ordered one... With a cup of fresh fruit salad and a wedge of bread pudding. Everything tasted great, especially that omelette full of tangy cheese and juicy mushrooms!

And since I was there for Sunday Brunch, I only had to pay $7 extra to make it a "Champagne Brunch" with a bottle of nice California bubbly. Isn't that sweet!

When Simon Says "Brunch", Just Do It!



















Now speaking of Sunday Brunch, there's one place that absolutely can't be missed for the best fresh plates, best made to order "buffet" variety, and best drinks to cure (or is that add to?) the hangover. Yes, my dears, I'm talking about Simon at Palms Place!

"Celebrity Chef" Kerry Simon was out to make "food that makes a statement" when he opened his namesake restaurant at The Palms' new "condotel" tower, and he's certainly achieved it so far with his much celebrated Sunday Brunch. Utilizing the best seasonal and organic ingredients, his culinary team has turned simple brunch fare into something quite extraordinary.

Start with a saunter over to the bar for a good bellini or bloody mary ($7-8 extra for unlimited booze), then stop and admire the freshly baked pastries... And start devouring those bear claws and beignets! It's OK, you're in Vegas now so you're supposed to commit some sin!

Once you're done gorging off the pastry baskets, try something lighter. Have the sushi chef make you a divine avocado roll that's spicy yet still creamy and refreshing. Or perhaps, have the panini chef make you a panino with fig jam and bleu cheese that's simultaneously sweeet, tangy, savory, tart, and oh so yummy!

Oh, and don't leave without ordering off the menu. It's included in the $38 "admission fare". My favorite so far is the Frosted Flake (coated) Brioche French Toast paired with fresh blueberries and raspberries, then topped with organic maple syrup. If there's one french toast that can give Society's a real competition, it's this one!

So I hope this helps. Whenever you wake up in Vegas, remember these places for breakfast/brunch. This will make you want to wake up in Vegas more often. Trust me. ;-)

Society Cafe
@ Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 248-3463
http://www.encorelasvegas.com/site.cfm#/dining/societycafe/

First Food & Bar
@ The Palazzo
3327 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 607-3478
www.firstfoodandbar.com

Simon Restaurant & Lounge
@ Palms Place
4381 W Flamingo Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89103
(702) 944-3292
http://www.simonatpalmsplace.com/