Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide

What's new...What's old...What's up?

Mandalay Bay opens this week. Tuesday March 2nd to be exact. This Hotel looks great! Standing tall with its gold mirrored tower and it's unusual "southeast Asia" fantasy theme, complete with waterfalls, and flowing fountains the theme is…interesting, though a mixed bag of design concepts. It appears to me that the Circus Circus folks have looked at every interesting theme façade in Vegas and incorporated a bit of each into their outdoor display.
Mandalay Bay is Circus's entry into the "higher priced" market. It is still a Circus property and will have the "Circus" appeal I am sure. Will kids be allowed into this resort? Will there be an over abundance of children like it's predecessors, Circus Circus, Excalibur, and the Luxor? Will the higher cost of rooms keep the "families" away? We must wait to see what Mandalay Bay brings to Las Vegas.
Many of you have already read details about the Hotel itself, so I won't go there, until I can give you my eyewitness view in the coming weeks. What about the Four Seasons Hotel located on the uppermost floors of the Mandalay Bay tower? This is an unusual concept as well...how will they separate these two? I can't wait to see for myself! I do know that Mandalay Bay will bring 15 new and exciting restaurants to Las Vegas…I can't wait to try them all!
Mandalay Bay will also have a display called the "Treasures of Mandalay Bay Museum", filled with more than $40 million in rare gold and silver coins, old west bank notes and memorabilia, and much, much more! The Museum will be open from 9am 'til Midnight every day, and tickets are $6 each. Is this another addition to the future "Culture Capital of the World?" I can't wait to see a surfing competition in their "tropical lagoon" complete with wave machines…ah, culture! Las Vegas will never be the "Surfing Capital of the World!"...never say never in Vegas!
I'm getting excited about the opening now...there will be two more major resorts opening to get excited about this year…and for some reason, I'm more excited about them, then I am about Mandalay Bay!

The Venetian will open in mid April! The $1.3 billion Venetian with 3,036 rooms is preparing for it's opening as well! The Venetian is patterned after Renaissance Venice complete with canals, gondolas, restaurants, and retail shops. The rooms will be mainly 700-square-foot suites, about twice the size of the average regular room in Las Vegas, with an average daily rate between $110 and $300 a night, depending on the day of the week, and which convention is in town. The casino will have 2,600 slot machines, and 115 table games. The Venetian will be the first to fill its rooms during many major conventions for several reasons. First, it is connected to, and with, the Sands Convention Center to its rear. Many of the largest conventions in town utilize the SCC for a large portion of their exhibits. Comdex (computer electronics), Magic (Men's Apparel), and NAB (Broadcasters/TV/Motion Picture), just to name a few, fill the convention site annually, as well as several others. Convention exhibitors and attendees will be a major focus of the marketing team at the Venetian. Las Vegas, is the "Convention Capital of the World!" And then, there's Paris!

Paris, Las Vegas…I have said it before, and I'll say it again, watch for Paris to be the "glimmering gem" of the new hotels in Vegas this year! Scheduled to open in September, Paris will be a feast for the eyes, the pallet, and the mind! The Eiffel tower rises 540 ft. above the street, the Arc De Triomphe looms magnificently over the entry way, what can be more romantic, more intimate, more enticing then the streets of Paris, Las Vegas. Well, ok, Paris, France…but to have a piece of the City of Lights right here in Vegas…the "other" city of lights…that's cool! Paris will not be completely geared towards the high-end visitor… but towards the "regular" visitor to Las Vegas. Granted there will be high-limit tables, and high limit rooms, but over all, the Hilton Corporation brings Paris to Las Vegas for everyone's enjoyment. Rooms will be in the $110 to $250 ranges per night, again dependent on days of the week and special events. There will be fine dining inside, as well as Parisian style sidewalk cafes along the streets of Paris, artists, and perhaps a strolling mime will appear to entertain (and embarrass)! I can't wait to stroll down the streets of Paris myself, as a guest, or as a mime! (http://www.expage.com/page/garythemime). Yes, I do that too! I truly look forward to the opening of Paris, in Las Vegas, the "Romance Capital of the World!"

Old news?:
Mandalay Bay will re-introduce Broadway style musicals to Las Vegas, with the opening of "Chicago' in their showroom! Will this be the re-birth of this type of show in Vegas? I believe so… many of the hotels in Vegas will follow their lead in the coming months. The Broadway Musical was tried once before in Vegas, but it seems that the "Vegas Extravaganza" provided more of what the Vegas visitor was looking for back then. Now with the introduction of real culture to Las Vegas…thanks to Steve Wynn?, I think Broadway musicals will fare well! Will Las Vegas become the "Musical Capital of the World? I don't know, I think New York has a foothold on that title.

Whats up?
There is a new "thrill" attraction on the strip! The Great Balloon Experience has landed on the strip for an extended stay. The West Coasts largest passenger carrying, tethered helium balloon is based just north of the Fashion Show Mall, beside the New Frontier, and across from the Desert Inn. The 118-foot tall balloon, with a 25-seat gondola, will begin operation on March 1. Balloon rides will take visitors up 400 feet into the air for a 15-minute view of the strip. Cost will be $22 for adults, $17 for children 12 and under and $17 for seniors Monday through Thursday. There are only 14 balloons of this type in the world. The attraction promises to be a "super smooth and safe ride". Let me know how it was for you! Las Vegas is becoming the "Thrill-ride Capital of the World!

Will Vegas become the "Everything Capital of the World"?
It already is in many of your minds...I know it is in mine!!!
I LOVE THIS TOWN!

As always your comments, suggestions, feedback, and remarks are always appreciated!

LOTS OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!

Gary Jacobson

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