Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide

Part 2 of 2 "From the Tip to the Top"

TO THE TOP

Our walk/ride, begun in part 1 last week, had taken you to Treasure Island via your legs, trams and monorails. Now we cross Spring Mountain Rd. (to the west is Spring Mountain Rd., to the East is Sands Rd.) to the "other part of the strip"…the older part, and even more accurately speaking, the less renovated portion. This half of the strip will begin to experience a renovation boom in the next few years…some of the locations to rival the spots visited in Part 1 of this tour.

Once you have crossed Spring Mountain Rd. you will see the Fashion Show Mall. Enter the Mall from the front…if you care to do your standard mall shopping, only with a few higher prices then your own town mall, you may do so. The Fashion Show is very nice, but very typical. Directly in front of the mall are some very cool and very classy restaurants. Try Sfuzzi, for fine Italian, or Chin's for fine Asian, but for my few bucks, you've got to visit Dive! You can't miss Dive!...there's a yellow and gray submarine protruding out over the sidewalk…and the entryway is a huge hatch. This interesting locale is owned by none other then Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen (it is David, isn't it??), and believe it or not, Steve Wynn owns a few thousand shares as well!! Walk inside and you are in the belly of a submarine, with periscopes (look through them for LIVE video views of the strip), undersea sounds, a huge video screen, portholes…and a monorail in the sky with unusual submarine models spinning around the room over your head! Very cool! The food here is fun too. Subs…of course…are the main offering, although their newly revised menu includes many alternative dishes. My suggestion: The Fries! Served in a hanging funnel...with your choice of dipping sauces…the Cajun Mustard is my pick!!! Hmmm. Now that you've had your snack it is time to continue your tour. Upon exiting Dive!, walk north to the New Frontier. For several years the workers at The Frontier were on strike. They picketed, shouted, and kept me, for one, away. The new owner of the New Frontier plans to renovate, add a tower, and include a Gilley's country Restaurant and Nightclub. A Smith and Wesson gun museum has also been discussed in the future plans…ah, culture is coming to Vegas…Steve Wynn has changed the face of Vegas…well, some of it at least! I have heard that the service at the New Frontier is remarkably good, and that the place is improving…good news! If you entered the New Frontier, you will now exit and walk across "The Strip" to the Desert Inn. Enter through the beautiful "Port Cotierre" (canopy covered entrance). You have just entered a beautiful mansion, with marble everywhere, lush flora and plants everywhere, fountains, and furnishing fit for a king! Bellagio is class, but this is elegance!!! Smaller, more personal, your very own mansion! You cannot help but love the Desert Inn for its intimacy, elegance, charm, and outstanding customer service! Fine dining, excellent lounge…I think I'll just sit here and look around for a while…..ahhh. After your tour, you will exit at the northernmost doorway facing The Strip. Walk north, past a "strip" mall, and across Convention Center Drive. The Silver City Casino is at this corner. Silver City is…a bit dumpy…but there are some $2 Black Jack tables! Play a few hands then walk out and cross the street to the Stardust Hotel. The Stardust is nice. Not overly fancy, a bit older, but well kept and well managed by the Boyd Gaming Group. William B's Restaurant is superb fine dining with a casual yet elegant atmosphere, and is my pick for best gourmet room in Las Vegas, with outstanding food and service! "Enter the Night" at the Stardust is a great show, with a variety of acts that make this show very enjoyable! At around $30 this show is a bargain as well! Exit the Stardust and walk north to the Westward Ho. Look in...grab a huge .99cent Hot Dog, if you deem necessary, then walk next door to Slots of Fun! Try a few games here, you may be lucky. Walk to the rear of Slots of Fun, and exit directly to Circus Circus. All décor inside Circus Circus is pink and purple, and there are kids everywhere…but the gaming is pretty good. Lots of $3 Black Jack, and loads of slots! Free circus acts overhead at the midway (even more kids)! Grand Slam Canyon Adventure Dome, at the rear of the hotel is a great, dome covered amusement park, with great rides and even more kids!!! Walk to the front of the casino to exit. Cross the Strip once again to the Riviera. The Riviera is a very nice hotel and has a large casino with a nice atmosphere. Visit the bronze statue of the "backsides" of the "Crazy Girls" out front. The statue is a "head to toe" actual casting of the cast members of the spicy show. Crazy Girls is always a sellout! Avoid "Splash", the showroom spectacular…by no means spectacular. There are usually great entertainers at the Riviera, both comedy and performance. Newly added "Nickel Town" at the northern end of the casino is fun and a bit wild. Elvis impersonator (you thought it was really Elvis?) emcee's special bonus periods…lots of fun! Exit the Riviera at the front of Nickel Town, and be prepared for a little walk to the north, to the Sahara. You will pass the former El Rancho" site, fenced, partially torn down, an eyesore waiting to be imploded and removed. The sign says "Countryland USA" coming soon. It's not. Most recent word is that Universal/MCA is interested in the property…they just bought "Wet 'n Wild water park next door…sounds good to me! There will be many others walking with you in this somewhat dark area...however, no reason to be alarmed…but I wouldn't walk here after midnight or thereabouts. You will pass Wet 'n Wild too...a wonderful water park, open during the summer...great place to leave the older kids for a day! You have arrived at the huge overhead Port Cotierre of the Sahara. Newly remodeled, the Sahara is very nice. Reasonably good, very inexpensive buffet at the back and upstairs. The Sahara Speedworld, at the rear of the Sahara, gives you the opportunity to test drive "virtual race cars". The décor in this area is real "raceway"…rather cool…but will be even better in 1999 when NASCAR takes over and also completes the NASCAR Café upstairs! Nice casino, older, but nicely remodeled. Exit the Sahara at the front…and once again be prepared for a little walk…north to the Stratosphere. Believe me you can't miss it! Walk north across Sahara Ave. to the Holy Cow Brewery. Have a great Holy Cow brew. Walk across the Strip to the World's Largest Gift Shop. Pick up some worthless souvenirs for the folks back home. There are more worthless, souvenirs to be found here then anywhere else in the world! You may see a few seedy characters around, but stick with the crowds, and you'll be ok. Do not leave The Strip though; things get seedier as you move off of The Strip in this area. There will be several other tourists walking here...once again, not too late. The Stratosphere Tower jutting over head is very cool; in fact the entire place is pretty nice. The casino is bright and well maintained. Take the escalators at the center of the casino up to the Stratosphere Shops. You must walk through the shops to get to the Tower entrance. The shops are nicely decorated, and the walk is not unpleasant. The Tower view is a must see, especially in the evening. The view from the top is awe-inspiring. The Top of the World restaurant is said to be very good. The Big Shot ride will provide you with the worlds highest rush! Unbelievable!...at least that's what my wife told me! The show at the Stratosphere, American Superstars, is very good. Incredibly talented impersonators of Madonna (my friend Coty Alexander), Charley Daniels, Gloria Estefan, Michael Jackson, Will Smith (from Men in Black), and more…a great show at a reasonable price!

From the top of the tower you will see the entire strip...our starting point, the Luxor far off in the distance! It is now time to head back…it's a long walk...so now it is time to take a cab…part way back anyway! For about $10 + tip, take a cab to Bally's. At the rear of Bally's is the monorail that will take you to directly to the MGM. A quick two-minute ride and you're at the MGM. Take in a great meal at Emeril's, or the Coyote Café, or any one of the fine restaurants in their food court…even McD's if you like…see Catch a Rising Star, a fine comedy show, play a few Majestic Lion Dollar slots...dance at Studio 54...if your legs can hold out!!! Exit the MGM via the pedestrian bridge to either the Tropicana or NY, NY. Then the pedestrian bridge across to the Excalibur. Take the moving sidewalk to the Luxor, take the "inclinator" to your room, fall down on the bed…good night!!!

Have a pleasant 4 or 5 hour rest, then hit the streets for more fun in "FABULOUS LAS VEGAS!!!"

Recent observations:

Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse and Cigar Bar (upstairs) will open in December. Located next to the Showcase Mall in front of the MGM.

McCormick and Schmicks Seafood Restaurant opens end of November. Located one block east of The Strip on Flamingo Rd.

The Paris Hotel, under construction, looks incredible. The 55 story Eiffel tower replica is nearing completion, as is the Arch De Triumph beside it. The buildings around the beautiful tower appear as if they were shipped directly from Paris (the City of Lights) itself!

The Venetian façade is nearly complete. The clock tower in front is almost finished. The huge hotel tower is being faced all the way to the top! The expansion of the Sands Convention Center, attaching to the Venetian Hotel, is also nearing completion!

The Hard Rock Hotel's newly enlarged and remodeled retail store (over 3,000-sq. ft.) opened November 12th.

The concrete foundation for the New Aladdin Hotel will be poured within the next two months.

The All-American SportPark is planning a huge pre-holiday "Grand Opening" Event! (had to get this one in!)

I hope you enjoyed the tour "From the Tip to the Top"

In 2 weeks: "The Holidays in Vegas"…The weather, performers, specials, who's offering what? and why?

Thanks all!!! I appreciate and welcome your questions, remarks, and comments!

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!

Gary

With contacts in all facets of the hospitality, construction, entertainment, and convention industries, Gary Jacobson gives you an inside look at Las Vegas, as it was, as it is, and as it will be!!! Be sure to check back here every 2 weeks for a new column.
Do you have a question about Las Vegas that you would like to see Gary answer in this column? Email your question to Gary at: gj_agt@mailexcite.com