Viva Las Vegas
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©2006 JCO, Inc. May not be distributed without permission. www.jco-online.com Viva Las Vegas DAVID S. VOGELS III he devastation visited by Hurricane Katrina Tforced the AAO to relocate its 2006 annual session, originally scheduled for New Orleans. With 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the world, Las Vegas was uniquely equipped to take over the hosting duties on short notice. The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the adjoining Sands Expo and Convention Center will be the center of activities May 5-9. Gambling is, of course, the major industry in Sin City. JCO’s annual AAO convention preview will leave the gaming tips to others—many of the casinos even offer free classes—and focus on restaurants, shows, shopping, and recreational Las Vegas at night (photos: Las Vegas News Bureau). activities. Travel Information rails operate on the west side of the Strip—one running a loop to the Excalibur, Luxor, and Days should be warm and sunny in early Mandalay Bay hotels, the other between Treasure May, with average highs in the 80s. It’s a good idea Island and the Mirage. to pack sweaters and jackets, however, because Las Vegas has a curfew for young people nights can be cool in the high desert. under age 18, who must be accompanied by McCarran International Airport is modern adults on the Strip after 9 p.m. Remember that and user-friendly; a light-rail line connects the only adults age 21 and over are allowed in the main terminal to the outer concourses, as in casinos and nightclubs, and that no-smoking Denver and Orlando. The airport is so close to the areas are scarce. city that taxis cost only about $10 to the Strip and $18 to downtown, each way (note that credit cards are not accepted). Rental car counters are in Dining the middle of baggage claim, with the companies Over the past decade, the explosion of luxury operating their own shuttles to reach the lots. megahotels in Las Vegas has suddenly made the Cabs, shuttles, and limousines pick up outside the city a Mecca for celebrity chefs. Steve Wynn baggage claim area, but some hotels have com- started the trend in the late 1990s by luring top plimentary vans that pick up below baggage names to front the restaurants in his Mirage and claim, at “level zero”. Bellagio hotels. At his new Wynn Las Vegas Although taxis are readily available in the city, cab lines can be long at the hotels. A public bus, operated by Citizens Area Transit (information: 228-7433), runs around the clock on the Strip for Boldface names in this article are listed in the $2 one way, and costs somewhat less in other parts Directory on pp. 183-184 with their telephone of town. The four-mile Las Vegas Monorail numbers and street addresses. For a website (699–8299), traveling from the Sahara Hotel to the link, call up the article in the JCO Online MGM Grand Hotel all day except early mornings, Archive at www.jco-online.com, and click on is another option on the east side of the Strip; a the boldface name within the text. The article single ride is $5, and discount ticket books and can be accessed at no charge by clicking on its multiple-day passes are available. Two free mono- title on the JCO Online home page. VOLUME XL NUMBER 3 © 2006 JCO, Inc. 177 MARYLAND PKWY ST. 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The exceptions are at Pearl (Chinese fusion). Alex, where Alessandro Stratta has brought his Another exalted French chef, Alain Mediterranean cuisine from the Mirage, and Ducasse, has created a buzz with Mix, at the top Daniel Boulud Brasserie, a low-key outpost of the of THEhotel in the Mandalay Bay Resort New York chef. Wynn’s highly regarded new and Casino. Still, San Francisco’s Hubert Keller restaurants include Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare and his Fleur de Lys are more highly rated. Charlie (Italian seafood), Okada (Japanese), SW (steak- Palmer’s Aureole is probably better known for its house), Tableau (new American), and Wing Lei skyscraping glass wine tower than for its New (Chinese). York cuisine. The China Grill and Shanghai Lilly The Bellagio Hotel is still home to Julian are Asian alternatives, and Giorgio Caffé & Serrano’s top-rated Picasso, where an inventive Ristorante is a top-notch trattoria. French menu shines in a spectacular setting. Also Bradley Ogden is the hot name at Caesars at the Bellagio are Todd English’s recently re- Palace, with his new American cuisine, and Puck modeled Olives; Sirio Maccioni’s Le Cirque, is also on hand with the Hollywood favorites imported from New York; Michael Mina, run by the Chinois and Spago. Also notable are the frenetic, San Francisco seafood impresario; and Jean- Benihana-style Hyakumi, the Italian-style Il Mulino Georges Vongerichten’s Prime Steakhouse. New York, and the Miami-style Joe’s Seafood, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has Prime Steak & Stone Crab. brought Thomas Keller of French Laundry fame to If you want to venture off the Strip, try recreate his bistro-style Bouchon from Napa, Rosemary’s, a new-American star on the west Emeril Lagasse of “Bam!” fame to recreate his side; Nobu Matsuhisa’s Hard Rock Hotel outlet, Delmonico Steakhouse from New Orleans, Nobu; the Second Street Grill, at the downtown Wolfgang Puck to recreate his Postrio from Los Fremont Hotel; the San Francisco-inspired Triple Angeles, and Piero Selvaggio to recreate his George Grill; or long-time French favorites Alizé, Valentino from Santa Monica, California. Of Pamplemousse, or André’s (with the downtown course, the entire property is a recreation of location favored over the Monte Carlo Hotel and Venice—certainly nothing that would raise an Casino branch). eyebrow in Las Vegas. What does set these restau- rants apart from many others on the Strip is their comprehensive wine lists. Emeril has also lent his name to the New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand Hotel. But the big news at this granddaddy of the megahotels is the arrival of three-star chef Joël Robuchon with his Parisian restaurants, Joël Robuchon at the Mansion and L’Atelier. The former features a pricey 16-course tasting menu; the latter is more informal and innovative.