CITY GUEST STAR - LAS VEGAS

Hotel: Wynn

3131 Las Vegas Blvd, www.wynnlasvegas.com/
.
When in Vegas it is a must to walk through the main hotels on the Strip and critique their modern-day renditions of foreign cities and ancient civilizations. And so I did. Two hotels stood out because, rather than base their design on an imitation of something already existent, they went with something new and spared no expense to create it. There is no faux marble; there are no talking statues, no plastic columns. These two luxurious oases are the Wynn and the Bellagio. Since the Bellagio has had its fair share of exposure already, I would recommend staying at the Wynn if your pocket book will allow. It is at the end of the strip, across the street from the Venetian and Fashion Show Mall and is much concealed by its sleek, dark exterior. Inside it is fresh and airy, filled with elegant boutiques and a more sophisticated clientele (you have to be 21 or accompanied by an adult just to enter the hotel). On a nice day, have lunch or dinner on the outdoor patio of one of its restaurants situated on the edge of a hidden, exotic lagoon – a tranquil escape from the ringing of slot machines and the tipsy cacophony of the barely legal.


Restaurant: Gallagher’s Steakhouse

New York, New York, www.nynyhotelcasino.com/restaurants/restaurants_gallagherssteakhouse.aspx
.
A good steak should be blood red, tender, a great cut and of the best quality. Now combine that with the biggest steak you’ve ever seen x2, and that is what you will find at Gallagher’s. A tasteful and friendly white-cloth restaurant located in New York, New York, Gallagher’s has some of the best, and definitely the biggest, steak in town. So for all you carnivores out there, it is definitely worth saving your stomach space all day to make way for this delicious meal. And don’t forget to make a reservation because the word is out.


Entertainment: Love by Cirque de Soleil

The Mirage, www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/love/intro/
.
The days of cheesy shows and tacky singers in Vegas are très over. There is no way you can witness the acrobats and performers of Cirque de Soleil and not be blown away. Everyone needs to see a show of theirs at least once. I have never been a huge Beatles enthusiast but this production left me aching for my iTunes, wanting to hear more, more, more! And if you are wondering how the Cirque de Soleil manages to turn a bunch of old songs into a 90 minute spectacle, you will just have to go see it for yourself.


Shopping: Premium Outlets

865 South Grand Central Parkway, www.premiumoutlets.com
.
Forget Fashion Show Mall. What kind of a name is that anyway? The future of shopping in America is the outlet mall. I am proud to say that early this month I had my first outlet experience and it left me feeling more energized and full of glee (yes, glee) than an espresso on an empty stomach or a semi-annual sale at Tod’s. Sure I had heard tales of friends venturing across the border to a Coach or Burberry outlet, but I just assumed that the stores would be full of unsightly rejects from their flagships. I have now seen the error of my ways and am turned outlet apostle. The Premium Outlets in Las Vegas has stores from almost every major designer under the sun, including Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, David Yurman and Jimmy Choo. You really will feel like a kid in a candy store! So what are you waiting for?