OK, outsiders. You're here. Welcome to Nevada, welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, and welcome to Netroots Nation 2010!
So Erin has some advice for you. It all sounds good. Still, let me give you some more advice you'll need.
1. As Erin noted, Rio is part of the Harrah's empire. And since Harrah's is all union, 100% pro-LGBTQ equality, and good to Nevada Democrats, you're fine staying and playing at any of the Harrah's casinos on or near The Strip (Rio, Caesars, and everything from Planet Hollywood to Harrah's along the east side of Las Vegas Blvd.).
2. MGM Resorts is also good, as they're also pro-union, pro-equality, and good to local Democrats. You're also allowed to stay and play at MGM Grand, Mirage, Circus Circus, and everything from Mandalay Bay to Aria to Bellagio along the west side of Las Vegas Blvd.
3. But whatever you do, DO NOT PLAY at Venetian or Palazzo! Not only are they hosting the "right-roots" this weekend, and not only were they slated to host the teabagger convention before it was postponed, but owner Sheldon Adelson is VERY anti-union, anti-progressive, and pro-Republican.
4. RTC is fairly good for transit. The ACE Gold Line is fantastic for traveling up and down The Strip, and even to Downtown! But if you want to come out here to the 'burbs, watch out... Some routes don't do late night service and/or only run on an hourly frequency.
5. For good grub, The Rio has... Oh hell, who am I kidding! Go across the street to The Palms for Simon, or across The 15 to Caesars for Serendipity, Rao's, Bradley Ogden, Guy Savoy, or Munchbar! Oh, and don't forget the sweets at Payard!
6. For more good eating tips, check out the foodie fun files of this blog and my Urbanspoon reviews.
7. Cirque du Soleil has a number of great shows worth seeing. "Mystere". "O". "Zumanity". "Love". Now trust me on this, "Criss Angel Believe" is NOT one of them! Really, your significant other would rather have the gambling money.
8. And speaking of gambling, bon chance! No really, you'll have really good luck at the video poker machines at The Palms... They're 99% payback! Whatever you do, don't expect to win much at The Rio. (Their machines can be a little on the tight side.)
9. If high prices really piss you off, just go Downtown already and be done with it! Fremont Street is the one place left abounding in "Old Vegas spirit". That's why it often smells like puke, you don't have to venture too far away to find the "working girls & boys", and most of the food sucks. Oh, and did I mention there are tons of penny machines and $5 blackjack tables there?
10. Believe it or not, the Las Vegas you will most likely be experiencing these next few days is FAR DIFFERENT from the Las Vegas I live every day. It may be 24/7 party central at your hotel room, but my 'hood is quiet as usual... Except for the occasional rowdy kiddies at our community pools. Over here in the 'burbs, we socialize, do grocery shopping, go to church/synagogue/mosque/temple/insert-other-house-of-worship, get ice cream, and go hiking like any "normal town". But again, I don't suggest staying out here in "Real Vegas" too late if you're relying upon RTC... ;-)
(And don't worry, I'll have more travel tips ready for you in the next day...)
Showing posts with label bargain travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bargain travel. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Are Strip Malls "Dressed for Success"?
Is everything changing at The Strip's malls?
Well, it makes sense. So many of us have changed our spending habits, so it makes sense that a number of tourists have, too. Maybe five years ago they would have splurged on a Burberry scarf, but now they just want an "I Got Lucky in Vegas" t-shirt.
But wait, are we over-simplifying this? Is the uber-high-end really dead? Actually, no... Far from it!
Come on, let's face it. High-rollers and big spenders do NOT come here to "save money and be thrifty"... They want the most lavish and extravagant experience of their lives! So as long as those big spenders keep coming back to Vegas to live out their fantasies, I guess there will always be a need for Prada and Chopard.
So where does it all fit in? Diversity. That's it, diversity.
Vegas has all sorts of people coming here for all sorts of different experiences. Some just want $5 blackjack tables, cheap dinner buffets, and that "I Got Lucky in Vegas" t-shirt, while others want private gaming salons, exquisite multi-course haute cuisine dinners, and that perfect Chanel little black dress.
The Strip's retail scene needs all sorts of stores to please all sorts of people. Perhaps the malls were in over their heads packing in the same ol' luxury brands four years ago, but now it would be foolish to completely drop them.
This is probably the key to The Forum Shops' continued success. They have ultra luxurious boutiques, kitschy souvenir shops, and everything in between. They seem to have something to target any tourist stopping by.
This makes me wonder how Crystals can keep going as is. Have they tied themselves too tightly into just one niche (luxury clothing & accessories)? Or are they being smart in sticking with the big spenders who just need to make their regular splurges to keep them afloat? We'll have to wait and see...
High-end retailers along the Strip — think Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Chanel — are mourning the loss of splurgers — vacationers who reach deeper into their wallets for a big-ticket purchase because that’s one of the frills and thrills of the Vegas escape.
These days, Macy’s is the day’s fancy outing.
And it helps explain why Strip malls are branding down, and a new retail center planned across the street from the $8.5 billion CityCenter and its uber-posh Crystals mall will be anchored by Walgreens.
“The success of high-end luxury retail before the Great Recession was attributed to those who could afford it, and the aspirational consumer who wanted to trade up to luxury,” said Pamela Joy Ring, president of the Ring Retail Advisory in Las Vegas. “Those aspirational people are gone. They are spending within their means and patronizing the middle market.”
Well, it makes sense. So many of us have changed our spending habits, so it makes sense that a number of tourists have, too. Maybe five years ago they would have splurged on a Burberry scarf, but now they just want an "I Got Lucky in Vegas" t-shirt.
But wait, are we over-simplifying this? Is the uber-high-end really dead? Actually, no... Far from it!
The Forum Shops, which kicked off the move to luxury when it opened in 1992, said the upper-end market shouldn’t be written off. It cited recent remodeling and expansion by some of its retailers.
Versace, Gucci and Ermenegildo Zegna have recently expanded their stores, and others that are expanding include Burberry and Cartier.
The Forum Shops reports its sales were up double digits during the first quarter of this year, coming off a down 2009 when sales were about $1,400 per square foot. Even though sales dipped from $1,500 a square foot in 2008, the mall kept its No. 1 ranking in the country. [...]
Crystals’ operators say they are not second-guessing their high-end tenant-mix strategy, even in the face of the recession and competition from other luxury stores in town.
“We leased the building in the worst economic time ever and we know that,” said Farid Matraki, vice president and general manager. “But despite that, we had a mission, and we stayed on course on that mission. We knew we wanted a certain type of client and we pursued (that client).”
“I think our tenants appreciated the strategy as well. You don’t want to put a magnet souvenir store next to a Louis Vuitton.” [...]
“Las Vegas continues to draw high-end customers who enjoy certain dining and shopping,” Hermes USA President and CEO Robert Chavez said, citing high-end domestic and international travelers. “We are very optimistic about the potential upside of our business in Las Vegas.”
Come on, let's face it. High-rollers and big spenders do NOT come here to "save money and be thrifty"... They want the most lavish and extravagant experience of their lives! So as long as those big spenders keep coming back to Vegas to live out their fantasies, I guess there will always be a need for Prada and Chopard.
So where does it all fit in? Diversity. That's it, diversity.
Vegas has all sorts of people coming here for all sorts of different experiences. Some just want $5 blackjack tables, cheap dinner buffets, and that "I Got Lucky in Vegas" t-shirt, while others want private gaming salons, exquisite multi-course haute cuisine dinners, and that perfect Chanel little black dress.
The Strip's retail scene needs all sorts of stores to please all sorts of people. Perhaps the malls were in over their heads packing in the same ol' luxury brands four years ago, but now it would be foolish to completely drop them.
This is probably the key to The Forum Shops' continued success. They have ultra luxurious boutiques, kitschy souvenir shops, and everything in between. They seem to have something to target any tourist stopping by.
This makes me wonder how Crystals can keep going as is. Have they tied themselves too tightly into just one niche (luxury clothing & accessories)? Or are they being smart in sticking with the big spenders who just need to make their regular splurges to keep them afloat? We'll have to wait and see...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Betting on Michelin Stars: Burger Time!
OK, I'm sure some of you have loved my recent reviews of some of Las Vegas' finest dining establishments... And some of you have just been rolling your eyes and wondering when I'll step out of Fru-fru-land and get to the burgers and fries.
So guess what?
IT'S BURGER TIME, BITCHEZ!
I want to share with you two of my favorite burger joints, one on Strip and one off Strip. Both are fantastic, but neither will destroy (what's left of) your 401(k).
Burger Bar: I'd Like a Pinot with My Burger, Please.
Where else can I get away with sipping a glass of Syrah while munching on my veggie burger and not get stared at? I love this place! It's so tasteful, yet still so tasty.
Want a beef patty? Or a buffalo patty? Or a veggie patty? Want to top it off with spinach? Or bacon? Or bleu cheese? Or cheddar? Or all of the above? Whatever you're craving, you can actually have your burger your way... And it will still taste great!
Just make sure to order some delicious sweet potato fries with your burger. And for a little more fun, pair it up with a nice wine or beer. I always have a good time at this burger joint, and I'm sure you will, too.
Burger Bar
@ Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 632-9364
http://www.mandalaybay.com/dining/burgerbar.aspx
LBS Burger Joint: No Bull, All's Good
OK, so one must drive all the way through Summerlin to Red Rock Resort & Casino to get to LBS. I didn't know what to expect when I first came here, as this place was all the way on the other side of town and the 'burbs hadn't yet seen a true gourmet burger joint.
So here's what happened. With tip included, I paid $60 for lunch for both me and my dad. We both had root beer to drink. My dad ordered an organic beef burger with mushrooms and horseradish while I ordered a veggie burger with brie and alfalfa sprouts. He had the potato fries while I had sweet potato fries. For dessert, I ordered a brownie sundae that he took a few bites of.
And honestly, all the food was excellent! Perhaps I'm just more of a bread person, but I really appreciated the fresh wheat roll that supported my burger. And my goodness, the taste and freshness of the veggie patty easily rivaled the quality of my other favorite veggie burger at Burger Bar... Well, maybe not so much. Actually, dare I say my burger at LBS was actually better?
I don't often heap so much praise on a place that advertises itself as "a burger joint", but I guess I must today. LBS was easily worth $60 for a meal for 2. When I'm back in Summerlin and craving a burger, I'll be going here for my big burger jackpot.
LBS: A Burger Joint
@ Red Rock
11011 W Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 835-9393
http://www.lbsburger.com
So guess what?
IT'S BURGER TIME, BITCHEZ!
I want to share with you two of my favorite burger joints, one on Strip and one off Strip. Both are fantastic, but neither will destroy (what's left of) your 401(k).
Burger Bar: I'd Like a Pinot with My Burger, Please.
Where else can I get away with sipping a glass of Syrah while munching on my veggie burger and not get stared at? I love this place! It's so tasteful, yet still so tasty.
Want a beef patty? Or a buffalo patty? Or a veggie patty? Want to top it off with spinach? Or bacon? Or bleu cheese? Or cheddar? Or all of the above? Whatever you're craving, you can actually have your burger your way... And it will still taste great!
Just make sure to order some delicious sweet potato fries with your burger. And for a little more fun, pair it up with a nice wine or beer. I always have a good time at this burger joint, and I'm sure you will, too.
Burger Bar
@ Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 632-9364
http://www.mandalaybay.com/dining/burgerbar.aspx
LBS Burger Joint: No Bull, All's Good
OK, so one must drive all the way through Summerlin to Red Rock Resort & Casino to get to LBS. I didn't know what to expect when I first came here, as this place was all the way on the other side of town and the 'burbs hadn't yet seen a true gourmet burger joint.
So here's what happened. With tip included, I paid $60 for lunch for both me and my dad. We both had root beer to drink. My dad ordered an organic beef burger with mushrooms and horseradish while I ordered a veggie burger with brie and alfalfa sprouts. He had the potato fries while I had sweet potato fries. For dessert, I ordered a brownie sundae that he took a few bites of.
And honestly, all the food was excellent! Perhaps I'm just more of a bread person, but I really appreciated the fresh wheat roll that supported my burger. And my goodness, the taste and freshness of the veggie patty easily rivaled the quality of my other favorite veggie burger at Burger Bar... Well, maybe not so much. Actually, dare I say my burger at LBS was actually better?
I don't often heap so much praise on a place that advertises itself as "a burger joint", but I guess I must today. LBS was easily worth $60 for a meal for 2. When I'm back in Summerlin and craving a burger, I'll be going here for my big burger jackpot.
LBS: A Burger Joint
@ Red Rock
11011 W Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 835-9393
http://www.lbsburger.com
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