The iconic Garden of the Gods pool complex at Caesars Palace debuts a major reno this summer.

Summer comes early to Las Vegas with the opening of “ultra” pools all around town and none is more famous than the sybaritic “Garden of the Gods” oasis at Caesars Palace. Debuting March 19th, Caesars has taken its already iconic pool complex and renovated the Roman-themed attraction to  feature eight — yes, EIGHT — pools primed and ready for summer sunners, swimmers and gamblers.  To celebrate the renovations, Caesars is offering summer “pool packages” with special room rates, pool credits and more.

At the heart of the mega-resort, the sprawling Garden of the Gods has been completely redesigned to highlight lavish amenities, over-the-top statuary and landscaping plus, of course, the stunning new water playgrounds. For instance, the new Fortuna pool features an 18-foot waterfall plus swim-up blackjack for guests who want to catch some rays and, with a little luck, a few 21′s! Over at the “invitation-only” Bacchus pools, private shallow sun chaise pools and butler-attended cabanas are featured.

Private pool cabanas at Caesars Palace

In addition to the extravagant new pools, there are 44 new private cabanas each with a stocked refrigerator of juice and water, flat-screen TV, DVD player, iPod docking station, wireless Internet access, ceiling fan and plush furniture. With hundreds of new vibrant blue deck chairs, plush daybeds and loveseat-inspired scoop chairs, guests can keep it simple and do nothing but enjoy a day of sun-worshiping. Completing the Garden of the Gods additions is an all-new whirlpool retreat and an added garden wedding venue.

Spa treatments at the pool

For guests looking to indulge not only in the sun but also spa, CP’s Qua Baths & Spa, a Strip-favorite, offers poolside treatments. Spa services also include neck massages at deck chairs as well as full-service massages in the large Jupiter spa cabana.

Promo code for special Caesars Palace pool package

To be among the first to experience the new Garden of the Gods, go to caesarspalace.com/gog to book hotel, pool and dining accommodations. The “Garden of the Gods Pool & Hotel Package” includes a 3-day, 2-night stay, $25 Garden of the Gods pool credit and a pool bag complete with bag, towel and other necessary pool items. Package begins at $110 per night, based on availability. Use promotion code: PKGCGOG.

Insider’s Tip:  When staying at CP, escape the crowd with breakfast at the tiny but plush Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace.  Surrounded by buttery walls and vanilla leather banquettes, enjoy the rich, European-style coffee and luscious Eggs Benedict on Croissant.  Before you leave, be sure to pick up one of Payard’s fabulous pastries at the counter next door.

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Starting October 7 and continuing through December 13, tabloid TV host (and, I kid you not, former Cincinnati mayor and Ohio congressional candidate,) Jerry Springer, will emcee the new variety show. Headlining the show is former chicken catcher now million dollar show winner, singer Kevin Springer, who will star in the new production along with other favorite acts from the show. (We thought the best acts from this year’s show were Recycled Percussion and the weirdly-named Acrodunk.  And, really, are we the only ones who thought opera singer, Barbara Padilla, had a great back story but as an opera singer isn’t exactly what we consider a “Vegas act?”)

Springer will host the 10-week run of America’s Got Talent Live!, with shows running every Wednesday through Sunday at Planet Hollywood’s 1300-seat CHI Showroom. Tickets range from $64 – $104 but we have seen mailers from PHo touting 2-for-1 ticket deals with certain room packages.  Or check out this deal from i4Vegas — Planet Hollywood from $69 per night!

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A stunning view of Paris Las Vegas as seen from our 25th floor room at the Bellagio.

“Where to stay in Las Vegas” — Hotel Review — The Bellagio:

After our recent three-night stay at the Bellagio, we’re happy to report that the resort remains one of the best hotels in Las Vegas. From the perfect center-Strip location to the recently-remodeled rooms; the posh selection of shops and restaurants and the sophisticated casino; the Bellagio is a worthwhile splurge for Las Vegas visitors.

We’d recently heard rumors that the Bellagio – open since 1998 — was showing its age but if so, we certainly didn’t see it in the maintenance of the hotel or the room we were given. Our room was luscious and restful: sage green, soft golds and creamy ivory tones in the bedding and upholstery were set off by the dark woods used for the furniture and bath vanity. Adding immensely to our enjoyment of the resort was the magnificent view of the Strip and the Bellagio fountains which we had from our 25th floor front-and-center perch. The biggest complaint we had about the room was the small outdated TV but since we don’t spend much time on vacation watching the tube, it wasn’t a huge issue for us.

Bellagio restaurants

We love the restaurant selection at the Bellagio: Olives by Todd English (read our review of Olives here); Palio for a quick breakfast; the decadent Jean-Philippe Maury patisserie; the Bellagio’s own buffet plus the sunny Café Bellagio overlooking the pool and the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens are a few of our favorites when in town.

The pool complex is perfect for a sunny summer day and offers lots of shady spots courtesy of the many trees and well-placed umbrellas.  Pool aficionados may want to reserve one of the large cabanas ringing the main pool.

A “Best Bet” on the Strip

With its great location, plush surroundings plus all the amenities of a AAA Five Diamond Award Las Vegas hotel we can confidently recommend the Bellagio to our readers looking for a posh Vegas getaway. Take a Virtual Tour of Bellagio here.

The new CityCenter construction provides a back-drop to the Bellagio's pool complex.

A comfy king-sized bed plus soft colors make for a restful stay at the luxurious Bellagio Las Vegas.

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Take a tour of Hoover Dam and you'll also get to see the new bypass bridge currently under construction.

We love Las Vegas ANY time of year but particularly in the fall.  There just seems to be something special about the warm sunny days and temperate evenings.  Visit in October and you can expect daytime temps ranging from the 80′s to high-70′s with evenings in the 50′s and 60′s — that’s sweater weather for desert dewellers like us. With weather like that, it’s a perfect time to put down the dice, back away from the buffet and visit some of the top things to do in Vegas that don’t involve the Strip or the gaming tables.

Hoover Dam — This marvel of engineering is located just thirty minutes from the Strip and offers visitors an amazing example of engineering wizardry.  In an article entitled “The Grand Dam” by Julian Rhinehart, the author says “Few structures in America display the diversity of design and craftsmanship that you see at Hoover Dam. It is a showcase of seldom-seen skills of artists and artisans–beautifully presented terrazzo tiles, sculpture, metalwork, and even military emplacements.”

A visit to this “don’t-miss” Las Vegas attraction is  further enhanced  by the opportunity to view the construction of the massive new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge that will route traffic over and away from the dam.  A mind-boggling assortment of pulleys, tracks, winches and cranes is in place and in use for workers building this newest engineering masterpiece.  When completed next year, this signature bridge will span the Black Canyon (about 1,600 feet south of the Hoover Dam), connecting the Arizona and Nevada Approach highways nearly 900-feet above the Colorado River.

Lake Mead/Hoover Dam Cruise — Living in Phoenix, we drive to Las Vegas almost every trip and we still marvel passing by at how beautifully blue the waters are at Lake Mead!  You can cruise Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the United States, aboard the “Desert Princess” paddle wheeler.  While on the lake, you’ll pass by such sights as the colorful Arizona Paint Pots, Fortification Hill, and Boulder Island. Take this all-day trip and you’ll also visit Hoover Dam, make a stop at Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Gardens.

Red Rock Canyon – The stunningly beautiful Red Rock Canyon park, located just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159, was designated as Nevada’s first National Conservation Area.  The area is 195,819 acres and is visited by more than one million people each year and offers visitors access to a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, plus a visitor center with exhibit rooms and book store.  One of the favorite ways to take in Red Rock’s beauty is through a “Pink Jeep” tour of the area.  (Take your camera for some memorable shots of the colorful Calico Hills that surround the park.)

Take advantage of these fall deals from Expedia.com and save on activities, hotel rooms and airfare packages for your visit to Vegas.

+ Book Las Vegas Activities and save on Expedia.com! Expires 9/30/09

+ Book Early & Save on October Trips: Air + 3 Night Vacations from $187! Expires 10/15/09

+ Fall “Free Nights” Hotel Sale: Stay 3, 4 or 5 nights & Get your last night FREE! Expires 10/15/09

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Take in a show this fall then head to the new Pink's at Planet Hollywood for one of their legendary dogs.

We’re starting a new feature this week — Friday Finds – featuring news about Las Vegas that we find interesting plus lots of great deals on Las Vegas hotel discounts, travel packages, shows, concerts, restaurants and more.  Take a look at what we’ve seen and heard this week:

We’re really digging some of the shows planned for this fall at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s “The Joint.”  Tickets are on sale now for Van Morrison (September 25,) Creed in concert on September 27, actor/comedian Dane Cook on both October 9th and 10th at 8:30pm plus one of our all-time favorites, Bob Dylan, on Sunday, October 18th at 8 pm.

At Mandalay Bay, Britney Spears is back with her “Circus” tour; this time featuring special guests Jordin Sparks and Kristinia DeBarge.  Special room + ticket deals are available at these properties:

Luxor “Britney Spears” Concert and Room Package. *Package Price of $154.00 plus tax and resort fee on Sunday September 27th includes: One night stay in a Tower Deluxe Room and Two tickets to Britney Spears in concert at the Mandalay Bay Event Center on Sunday, September 27 at 8pm (*See site for additional details and restrictions). Sep 24 – 30, 2009. Promo Code: PBRIT (Exp 9/24/09)

Mandalay Bay “Britney Spears” Rates from $194/nt. *The Final Act of the Circus Tour Starring Britney Spears at Mandalay Bay Sunday, September 27 –Book Mandalay Bay and receive 2 tickets to see Britney Spears Live in Concert on Sunday, September 27 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center (*See site for additional details and restrictions). Sep 22 – 30, 2009. Promo Code: PBRITH (Exp 10/1/09).

Also at the Mandalay Bay Events Center this fall, look for Grammy® -winning superstar Justin Timberlake who’s bringing his “Justin Timberlake and Friends, a Special Evening Benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children” event to the stage at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 8 PM.  Ticket prices for this charity concert range from $100 – $250. Check out tickets here: Justin Timberlake Las Vegas

On the restaurant front, don’t forget that Pink’s in now open at Planet Hollywood. The hot dog haven (which has been in business since 1939)  has a loyal following — and a sometimes hour-long wait — at its original location in the city of Hollywood.

This week’s restaurant.com deal: Take 50% off w/every $25 Gift Certificate order! Use code MENU and pay $5 thru 9/8/09 at Restaurant.com. And just a hint, when you do use these certificates toward your meal, be sure to give it to the server early on so they have time to validate the certificate number before you get your final bill.

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Stratta will be one of the restaurants at Wynn Las Vegas honoring Julia Child at Restaurant Week Las Vegas 2009. (Photo/content copyright RoyallyFlushed.com 2009)

Masters in their own right, top chefs at Wynn Las Vegas and sister property, Encore, will be paying tribute to culinary icon Julia Child throughout next week’s Las Vegas Restaurant Week. Chefs like Alessandro Stratta, chief toque at Wynn’s two-star Michelin rated French restaurant ALEX and the more casual rustic Italian restaurant, STRATTA, will be offering special and specially-priced menus based on dishes associated with Julia Child and her impact on American cuisine.

Chef Stratta, who met and cooked for Child during his run at Renoir at Mirage Las Vegas, will be preparing his rendition of lobster Newberg at ALEX while at STRATTA, he’ll be offering a special version of coq au vin, the classic dish of chicken, mushroom, onions, bacon and herbs cooked in red wine and served with egg noodles. Diners will be paying at most $50.09 to dine at these and other top Las Vegas dining spots during the national charitable event. A portion of the proceeds from Restaurant Week Las Vegas will benefit Three Square Food Bank, a partner organization of Feeding America, which is working to end hunger in Southern Nevada.

Also at Wynn Las Vegas, award-winning chef Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare will draw on his experience of cooking for Child more than six times when he prepares moules a la mariniere along with gnocchi alla pariginia grainati al formaggi—sumptuous pasta pillows filled with cheese.

At The Country Club – A New American Steakhouse, diners can indulge in a number of Child-inspired creations including one of my personal favorites, coquilles St. Jacques a la Parisienne, a dish that features plump scallops and earthy mushrooms in a decadent white wine sauce. Chef of The Country Club, Carlos Guia, also has experience cooking for Child and in the August issue of Wynn Resort’s newsletter said this — “Her visit to Lutèce was both unexpected and truly special. Before leaving, she took the time to come into the kitchen, thank us personally and tell us how much she enjoyed her meal,” says Chef Guía.

Chef Mark LoRusso, the man in charge at the Encore-located Botero will be channeling Julia Child with his preparation of sole a la Normandie, a particularly scrumptious dish featuring the delicate fish alongside mussels and shrimp in a wine-infused sauce. Having tasted what LoRusso can do with Dover sole, this is no doubt a dish not to be missed.  Check out our review of Botero.

Other Wynn Resorts dining establishments participating in Restaurant Week include Sinatra, Society Café and Switch at Encore and Daniel Boulud Brasserie, Okada and SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas.

A complete list of participating Restaurant Week establishments may be found by visiting www.threesquare.org.

80% off w/every $25 Gift Cert. order. Use code TASTE. Pay $2 thru 8/31/09 at Restaurant.com.

If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at http://www.RoyallyFlushed.com then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at c.c.royal@royallyflushed.com PLEASE. All text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author unless otherwise noted. © 2008-2009 RoyallyFlushed.com

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"MGM Grand restaurant SeaBlue will be just one of the top dining spots participating in next week's Las Vegas Restaurant Week." Photo/content copyright 2009 RoyallyFlushed.com

Restaurant Week Las Vegas starts just one week from now and brings with it your chance to try some of the city’s best – and we mean absolute BEST – restaurants for a fixed price of $20.09, $30.09 or a high (we think “low”) of $50.09. Running from August 31 through Sept. 6, more than 50 of the city’s top dining establishments will participate in the annual event which benefits Three Square Food Bank, a partner organization of Feeding America. Working to end hunger in Southern Nevada, a portion of all Restaurant Week sales will benefit Three Square.

When we say best, we aren’t kidding. Take a look at just some of the top restaurants (link to a list of all participating restaurants at the end of the post) that will be firing up the stoves for this national charitable event:

Wynn/Encore: Alex, Botero, Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, Daniel Boulud Brasserie

MGM Grand: Cat House, Diego, Pearl Chinese Restaurant, SeaBlue

Caesars Palace: Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, Bradley Ogden

Palazzo/Venetian: Pinot Brasserie, Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro

Mandalay Bay: miX, Fleur de Lys (a favorite of ours,) RM Seafood, Aureole

Bellagio: Prime Steakhouse, Café Bellagio

In addition to the special pricing on select meals, many of the city’s best resorts are also offering Restaurant Week diners exclusive entertainment, spa and overnight packages.

For instance, MGM Grand is offering deluxe accommodations and a tasting menu for two starting at just $159 at any one of their signature restaurants including L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Nobhill Tavern, SeaBlue, Italian favorite FiAMMA, Diego, Pearl, Shibuya and the highly-rated Tom Colicchio restaurant, Craftsteak.

At Bellagio, the “Unforgettable Night” package is just $178 per person and includes a ticket to “O™” by Cirque du Soleil®, a prix fixe dinner menu at FIX or Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge (terrific sushi!), a complimentary drink at Caramel Bar & Lounge as well as complimentary entrance to the high-energy nightclub, The Bank.

At Mandalay Bay, Aureole, Fleur de Lys, miX, Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood and StripSteak will all offer specially priced three and four-course tasting menus to pair nicely with the resort’s overnight packages. Both Mandalay Bay and THEhotel will offer special room rates for Restaurant Week visitors that include a dining credit to the House of Blues Restaurant plus other resort goodies.

There are no “tickets” but reservations should be made in advance if you want to secure your seat at the table for what will most definitely be a busy week at participating restaurants.

A complete list of participating Restaurant Week establishments may be found by visiting www.threesquare.org.

Tomorrow, see what the chefs at Wynn and Encore have planned for Restaurant Week Las Vegas.

MGM Grand Las Vegas “Maximum Escape” Rates from $69.99/nt. *Plus, $35 Activity Credit (per stay), 2 Line passes to Studio 54 or Tabu, and 25% off Spa Services (*See site for additional details and restrictions). Jun 23, 2009 – May 31, 2010. Promo Code: MKT205 (Exp 12/30/09)

Bellagio Hotel Promotions

Special Online Promotions at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at http://www.RoyallyFlushed.com then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at c.c.royal@royallyflushed.com PLEASE. All text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author unless otherwise noted. © 2008-2009 RoyallyFlushed.com

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Stay at the famous Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas and enjoy the Fremont Street Experience's end of summer bash all weekend long. (www.RoyallyFlushed.com)

In case you needed an excuse to head to Vegas next month, here it is!  Just in time for that last big summer fling in Las Vegas, the Hotels.com Labor Day Sale is here.  Celebrate this last 3-day weekend of the  “Summer of 2009″ by taking advantage of big savings on lots of great  Las Vegas hotels plus check out all the cool stuff happening around town that weekend.

Our hotel picks:

Our number one choice for Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas is the downtown fav, the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino at just $104 per night average.  Spend the days lounging by the pool (considered to be one of Vegas’ finest) and the evenings at the Fremont Street Experience “End of Summer, What a Bummer Bash” featuring the last of a summer-long concert series the weekend of Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7. Highlighting the weekend will be concerts by Canned Heat on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Three Dog Night on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Looking for a center-Strip location and a reason to party all weekend long? Think Harrah’s Hotel and Casino Las Vegas. No, this isn’t a “top luxury” hotel but the price is right ($142 per night avg.) for a busy holiday weekend plus the outdoor Carnivale Bar, the dueling pianos saloon and the great location all give it extra points in our book.  (And the adjacent Ghirardelli’s ice cream shop doesn’t hurt, either….)

Cool pools, hot nightclubs and a brand-new show debuting from singer Matt Goss will be the highlights at Las Vegas hot-spot  The Palms Casino Resort.  With nine dining venues plus a casual food court, a 14-screen movie theater, busy gaming floor and two of Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs — Rain and Ghostbar — The Palms will keep guests occupied all weekend long.  Room rates:  $151 per night avg.

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Simply magical. The Bellagio gardens shine after the sun goes down. (Photos & all content property of www.royallyflushed.com)

No matter how busy we are during our trips to Las Vegas, we still never miss the chance to see what gorgeous seasonal display the Bellagio has in store for visitors to their remarkable Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. We definitely consider it to be one of the top free things to do on the Las Vegas Strip.

For some reason, we always seem to be at the Bellagio during the day but because we spent two fabulous nights there this trip, we were able to visit the famed Bellagio garden at night and see it in all its evening finery. If you have never seen the garden at night, you really should make a point of going because it truly is a different experience once the sun goes down.  You can see from the photos how the ambiance changes day to night.

This summer the display features some popular design elements used in the past including colorful hot air balloons floating overhead and a pair of father and son bears made entirely from greenery. New this year: a brilliantly-lit Ferris wheel with cars brimming with sunflowers; a glass “green house” with aviaries featuring flocks of rainbow-colored birds like lorikeets and parakeets; and whimsical over-sized tin cans pouring forth glowing cascades of water.

The current display will be on view until September 14 when the theme changes to one featuring autumn leaves and harvest time colors.

Daytime reveals colorful balloons and a green house filled with exotic birds.

Dancing waters accented with LED lights put on a show at night at the Bellagio gardens.

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A dedicated wine room overlooks the main dining area at the contemporary French gem, Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas. (All photos and content property of www.royallyflushed.com)

In honor of this week’s episode of “Top Chef Masters” on Bravo TV, we give you our review of chef/competitor Hubert Keller’s splendid Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. (Warning: gushing ahead!)

This last trip to Las Vegas was memorable for a number of reasons not the least of which was not only did we enjoy a superb dinner at contemporary French restaurant, Fleur de Lys, but also because we had the unique opportunity to meet the chef. (We have been fans of Chef Hubert Keller’s food for years after having dined at his original San Francisco outpost several times over the years so meeting him was a real treat.)

But, more on that later: first, we’ll highlight the food and atmosphere of  Fleur De Lys at Mandalay Bay. (By the way, we used one of our fav dining discounts – a $25 certificate (our cost $5) from Restaurant.com toward our check. See details at the end of the post.)

The space: This is a romantic Las Vegas restaurant perfect for couples and it seems especially designed for those celebrating special occasions. In addition to the low-lighting, lush smoky velvet drapes, widely-spaced tables and hushed atmosphere, the compact space somehow fits in several private, curtained tables for the ultimate in cozy dining. Although compact in floor-space, the room is easily two or more stories high and features a second-floor wine room overlooking the main dining area. (The night of our visit, a private table for two was in use in the glass-fronted, candle-lit space so you may be able to book a table there in advance.)

The focal point of the room is a huge leaf-shaped wall sculpture made entirely of hundreds of fresh peachy-pink rosebuds. When we remarked on it, our server shared that a local floral company came in daily to replace any spent blossoms.

The food: For a chef who has been re-interpreting French classics for decades, Chef Keller’s dishes are as fresh and imaginative as they were twenty years ago. While looking over the inventive wine list – a menu of specialty cocktails is also available – the kitchen sent out an amuse bouche of a tiny bite of cod paired with a creamy smidge of warm potato salad and a spicy aioli sauce.

Tender monkfish, clams and mussels served atop flavorful barley is a winning entree.

Having settled on a bottle of the Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($75,) we indulged in the chewy pretzel bread while deciding on the night’s meal. We began the meal by splitting a light salad of organic greens and heirloom tomatoes in a perky herb vinaigrette.

For entrees, we chose the citrus-glazed monkfish ($43) with clams, mussels and chorizo sausage and the “gently heated” Alaskan King salmon filet ($39.) The generous monkfish plate was a riot of color, flavors and textures with the lobster-like sweetness and meatiness of the fish playing off the briny taste of petite mussels and clams and all set off by a risotto-like side of creamy barley festooned with bits of oven-roasted tomatoes, baby broccoli florets and a smoky dice of chorizo.

Though simpler in presentation and number of ingredients, the Alaskan King salmon filet was a master’s example of how to treat a scrumptious piece of fresh fish. Oven-roasted at just 200 degrees, the fish emerges from cooking with a silky, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and clean, smooth flavor. The accompanying julienne of beets and surprisingly mellow apple rosemary puree and horseradish chive bouillon served to accent rather than overwhelm the pearly filets. We would most definitely order both dishes should they be on the menu on our next trip.

Even though both entrees were more than generous, we specifically went light on the first course so that we could indulge in something sweet post-entrees.  While chocolate and Grand Marnier soufflés are available (order early in the evening to ensure ample time for prep) and we saw several tables sharing the airy confections, we chose the appealing carrot cake ice cream sandwich ($12) and finished every bite. Luscious cream cheese-flavored ice cream was fitted between two slabs of moist carrot cake, the whole sprinkled with candied walnuts and served with a decadent scoop of pineapple coconut ice cream.

The service:  Excellent service with attentive yet non-intrusive servers.

Back to meeting the chef: While we were sipping our wine and relaxing before the first course, out from behind the long velvet drapes that line the front of the restaurant, pops Chef Keller himself – sort of like a culinary Wizard of Oz.  It was so cool to see him in Las Vegas and according to our server, he visits Mandalay Bay for at least one week each month.  Table to table he went, greeting diners and making small talk. Once he reached our table we couldn’t help but ask about his “Top Chef Masters’” experience (he enjoyed it immensely) and compliment him on the many dinners we’ve enjoyed throughout the years at his restaurants.  (For a “foodie” like me, meeting Chef Keller is like coming face-to-face with a rock star you’ve listened to for years!)

More reviews at urbanspoon.

More info:  Save money while dining at some of the best spots in Las Vegas! Save 80% Off w/every $25 Gift Cert. order. Use code PORTION. Pay $2 thru 8/13/09 at Restaurant.com.

Mandalay Bay Resort is a fabulous place to stay while in Las Vegas (have you seen the extensive pool area and “beachside casino?”) plus you can’t beat the great online rates right now.  Check out  Special Online Promotions at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

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For a fun evening out, check out "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood. (Photo property of royallyflushed.com)

So we’re back and still getting over our “eight-days-in-Vegas” hangover while working on putting together all the info we need to give you about what’s going on right now in Las Vegas. We ate at some terrific and not-so-terrific places, stayed at three different resorts, found and used a number of great Las Vegas deals, played lots of video poker, took tons of photos and spent a lot time just checking out the crowds (or lack thereof) on and off the Strip. (Hey, it’s a tough job but someone has to do it….)

Usually, we start with a round-up of where we stayed but this time we’re going to start with our review of the Planet Hollywood burlesque revue, “Peepshow,” starring Broadway-alumni Shoshana Bean, former Playboy Playmate Holly Madison and – we’re going to throw this name in because he deserves it – vocalist Josh Strickland from American Idol, Season 2.

First, what this show is not : It’s not Holly Madison dances “Swan Lake;” it’s not going to be nominated for a Tony; and it’s not got some deep dramatic storyline going on.

What this show is: A lot of music-and-dancing-girls fun! Terrific vocals from Shoshana Bean and Josh Strickland are the high points of the show. (Although, based on the reaction from the big groups of guys in the theater that Saturday night – bachelor parties? – I think most men will say the boobs and butts are points more worthy of notice!) Bean is particularly entertaining with her gravelly-voiced musical narration of a story based on Bo Peep’s (Madison) transformation from goody-goody to “shows-her-boobs-in-the-finale” kind of gal. And Strickland provides a little eye-candy for the ladies along with his powerful vocals.

“Peepshow” is fast-paced with one production number after another featuring dance numbers loosely based on Mother Goose rhymes. Our favorite dancer was “Ms. Pete,” a gorgeous gal pole-dancing inside of a pumpkin (did I really just write that?) in a take-off on the old “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin-Eater” rhyme. (You can make up your own jokes with that one.)

The show offers the ladies dressed in almost every stock-in-trade fantasy outfit imaginable. You got your sexy cheerleaders; your school girls complete with plaid pleats and knee-socks; the mistress of leather and chains and lots more. And, for the pet-lovers among you – there is even a weird dancing dog. (Ummm, yeah, make up your own jokes once more.)

So, can Holly Madison dance? Well, let’s say she has a really pretty face and I hear she is a real sweetheart in person. You can make up your own mind after seeing one of her performances on “Dancing with the Stars” on a YouTube video at the bottom of this post.

Again, it’s not “Jersey Boys” or “The Lion King,” (but those shows don’t have the bare boobs and butts you could bounce quarters off of like “Peepshow,” now do they?) but it can add to a fun evening out in Las Vegas.

More info: We had 2-for-1 tickets that came with our stay at Planet Hollywood but you can also get tickets the day of the show at our favorite discount ticket outlet, TIX 4 Tonight.

Planet Hollywood has some great Las Vegas room deals going right now. And, since the closing of their big nightclubs, Prive and The Living Room, expect to see the deals continue.   Planet Hollywood from $69 per night!

Take alongs: Whenever we have plans to see a show, I take these compact binoculars with me just in case I want a better view.

Holly Madison on “Dancing with the Stars”

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We'll be checking out the new "Peepshow" starring Holly Madison at Planet Hollywood while on this trip to Las Vegas.

Leaving in a couple of days for a week in LasVegas and here’s a  “hit” list for some of the stops we’ll be making to check out some new places both on and off the Strip:

- Lunch and a famous “Frrrozen Hot Chocolate” at Serendipty 3 at Caesars Palace.

- Late-night sliders and the “Lucky Onion Soup – $7.77″ at First Food Bar at the Palazzo.

- Dinners with our discount restaurant gift certificates (from Restaurant.com) at Mandalay Bay spots Aureole, Fleur de Lys and Strip Steak.  Since we’ll be spending so much time at Mandalay Bay’s restaurants, we’ll just have to check out the new Mandalay Bay Beach Side Casino.

- A night with Holly Madison at “Peepshow” at Planet Hollywood.

- Visits to the new M Resort with either lunch or dinner at their highly-praised “Studio B” buffet plus a stop to see what’s shakin’ at Treasure Island since new-owner Phil Ruffin took over (and to sign up for their new players club card.)

Also on the agenda — lots of pool time at The Bellagio, Spin Poker™ at Green Valley Ranch and a stop at our fav bakery, Payard at Caesars Palace.

We”ll report back with all our findings both from the road and after we return home!

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The ethereal Mix at Mandalay Bay offers diners luxurious surroundings, superb food and a fabulous view of The Strip and all at a discount this summer.

If you’re like us, planning the perfect trip to Las Vegas starts with finding the best Vegas hotel room at the lowest rate. Once we’ve secured where we’re staying, we go right on to figuring out the next most important trip detail — where we’re going to eat while we’re in town! We love great food and we love great deals so when we can combine the two it’s like hitting the Vegas dining deal equivalent of a Wheel of Fortune jackpot.

That’s exactly how we feel about the gift certificates available through Restaurant.com. We’ve written about these before and frankly, we really don’t know why everybody isn’t using them not only in Las Vegas but in any vacation spot around the country not to mention for restaurants in their own hometowns. (We and our friends use them here in Phoenix all the time.)

So, we’re writing about them again because in looking over the list of restaurants to choose from for our late-July trip, we were so excited to see a bunch of terrific Mandalay Bay restaurants added to the selection. Here’s a recap on the deal: for just $10, you buy $25 restaurant gift certificates from restaurant.com good at top spots all over Vegas. But, wait (yes, we do know we sound like an infomercial!) use this restaurant discount code SEVENTY and get those same $25 certificates for just $3 now through July 13.

Now, check out the great slate of Mandalay Bay restaurants that are participating in the program –

Fleur De Lys – Renowned chef Hubert Keller’s contemporary French restaurant. We’ve been fans of Keller since he hit the dining scene in San Francisco and we watched as he recently competed on the Bravo TV show “Top Chef Masters.” (He was the winner of that round so we look forward to seeing him in the series finale later this summer.)

Aureole – Home of the famous flying “wine angels” this beautiful spot features a fabulous seasonal menu from Chef Charlie Palmer, by far one of the most influential chefs working in America today. Oh, and did we mention the “to-die-for” dessert list or that on our last visit we stopped in the bar to have a drink and sat two seats down from Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne? Uh, yeah.

Mix In Las Vegas – Perched atop THE Hotel at the resort, MIX is one of the most beautiful dining spots in all of Vegas. Inside hangs the largest chandelier in the world with 15,000 hand-blown Murano glass balls, a menu originally composed by French Master Chef Alain Ducasse and a balcony that offers the best sunset view of THE Strip. Really.

Strip Steak – As much as we love BOA at Caesars Palace, we’re going to give Michael Mina’s Strip Steak a whirl this trip and check out why it was awarded “Best Steak in America 2008″ by Esquire magazine.

Shanghai Lilly – We haven’t been there yet but we’ve heard good things about the eclectic Cantonese cuisine featuring some spicy Szechwan dishes plus they have a $29 all-you-can-eat Shabu Shabu menu.

Along with these new additions to the restaurant.com list, don’t forget old favs like Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood, also at Mandalay Bay, Hawaiian Tropic Zone (Inside Miracle Mile Shops @ Planet Hollywood) and well-known locals hang-out, Hash House A Go Go.

Follow the link below and again, use code SEVENTY to get in on the $3 deal. And, like everything else, be sure to read the details on each restaurant’s offer before you purchase.

Save 70% off of $25 Gift Certificates when you use code SEVENTY.Pay $3 thru 7/13/09 only at Restaurant.com.

Casino Destinations: Book early & save! Air + 4 nights from $205! Expires 7/25/09

Top Travel Deals at Expedia.com

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There’s also a section on the site that we particularly like which pictures all the “slot hosts” and gives their individual email addresses so you can get personalized attention to your questions or comments.  Also, be sure to check out the page that gives you “Slot Floor Updates” including details on all the newest additions to the gaming floor.  We’re really looking forward to playing the new video poker variations from IGT/Action Gaming, “Ultimate X Poker™” and “Good Times Pay Poker™,” when we visit The Bellagio later this month.

Here’s another item of interest from the Bellagio Slots website and we’re quoting them directly:  “Compared to official data published by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, during the first two months of 2009 Bellagio’s average payback on its slot machines was over 2.75% better than the rest of the Las Vegas Strip! In fact, Bellagio’s payback percentage has been consistently higher than the Strip average since 2005.”  So we just added another reason to love the Bellagio casino!

Looking for a great rate at The Bellagio?  Check out The Bellagio at hotels.com for the summer’s best deals on The Strip.

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Sunset Station is one of the casino resorts taking part in this year's huge "Station's 4th of July Blast" fireworks show. (Click the pic to check on rooms.)

Station Casinos will be hosting the biggest fireworks show in Las Vegas this 4th of July 2009 when each of the Company’s nine properties participate in a huge simultaneous pyrotechnics show to celebrate the holiday.  Called the “Station’s 4th of July Blast,” the monster production will go off at 9:30 pm on Saturday with shows at Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Boulder Station, Fiesta Henderson, the new Aliante Station, Santa Fe and Sunset Stations plus the shared location of neighboring properties Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho.

The show will be coordinated and produced by the Grucci Family, a company famous for providing magnificent displays at presidential inaugurations as well as legendary Fourth of July shows from coast-to-coast. During the show, several radio station including KSNE Sunny 106.5 FM, KWNR New Country 95.5 FM and KOMP The Rock Station 92.3 FM will provide a musical accompaniment choreographed to highlight the nine-minute fireworks show.

Want the “best seat in the house” for watching the show?  Here’s a list from Station Casinos of recommended public viewing areas that  each property has carved out  for their guests:

* Aliante Station – Hotel valet/parking lot area

* Boulder Station – Parking garage rooftop

* Fiesta Henderson – Parking garage rooftop

* Fiesta Rancho – Parking garage rooftop

* Green Valley Ranch – Backyard pool area

* Palace Station – Parking garage rooftop (south parking garage connected to casino entrance)

* Red Rock Resort – Pool area and amphitheatre

* Santa Fe Station – Parking garage rooftop (north parking garage) and the race and sports book patio

* Sunset Station – Amphitheater

* Texas Station – Parking Lot C off Rancho entrance

In addition to the free fireworks show, all Station Casinos will be celebrating the holiday weekend with food and drink specials, live entertainment and more.  Be sure to check with each casino for more info on the big Fourth of July bash.

Holiday Hint: Make it a “playcation” and book a night or two at one of the hotels.  Rooms are still available at several resorts including: Sunset Station Hotel And Casino,  Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa and Fiesta Rancho Station Casino Hotel.

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Fourth of July fireworks explode in the sky between The Bellagio and Caesars Palace during 2008's display.

There’s still plenty of time and great hotel deals available if you want to spend this Fourth of July in Las Vegas.  P.B. and I usually spend three or four days at one of the resorts on The Strip hanging out at the hotel pool; sampling any new restaurants and ice cream joints (thinking Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace this year;) and just relaxing over the lazy holiday.

This year we’re going to head for Fremont Street for at least one evening and check out the downtown’s “American Pie 4th of July” celebration which starts Friday, July 3 and goes through Sunday, July 5. The popular Fremont Street Experience has been running a “Summer of ‘69″ event featuring the Viva Vision show, “Don McLean’s American Pie,” so we’ll see that plus enjoy one of the weekend concerts. Headliners this year include Janis Joplin’s original band, “Big Brother & The Holding Company,” on Friday with “The Grass Roots” playing on Saturday. The evening of the 4th also promises a brilliant virtual fireworks show on the Viva Vision canopy.  Get more info here – Fremont Street 4th Celebration.

The Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York Hotel & Casino will be the scene of another week-end long event – the Fourth of July “Beer Bash on the Bridge.” Tickets for this party include unlimited beer from 20 brewers plus a changing schedule of daily entertainment featuring groups like “Boogie Nights,” ” The Spazmatics,” and “Phoenix.” Check out the details at the NYNY Hotel & Casino website, promotion section.

We found some really good hotel deals through Expedia’s big summer hotel sale with great rates at Treasure Island, Luxor, NYNY and The Flamingo plus a great offer at the downtown California Hotel.  Be sure to make your reservations by June 30th and don’t miss the special offer available for using your MasterCard® plus all the special coupon books and other cool freebies when you book through Expedia.

Expedia Hotel Sale! 5000+ Deals worldwide, hotels from $24! – Expires 6/30/09

We’ll be posting more events in Las Vegas as the holiday weekend gets nearer.

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Summer deals await at The Venetian Las Vegas.

Time is running out to book this Las Vegas suites and dining deal from The Venetian.  Starting at just $109 per night weekdays, The Venetian, one of the top Las Vegas hotels, is offering guests a luxury suite plus:

• 25% off bill at Postrio, Wolfgang Puck’s trendy Grand Canal Shoppes eatery.
• $50 off any spa service 80 minutes or longer at Canyon Ranch SpaClub®.
• $30 off your dining bill at Woo (with $60 minimum purchase) located at sister property, The Palazzo.
• Complimentary upgrade to Blue Zone tickets with purchase of Red Zone tickets to The Venetian’s popular Blue Man Group stage show.
• $50 in Slot Credits per stay.

Be sure to use Venetian promotion code “EVBMAY” when booking your Las Vegas room.  Hotel reservations at The Venetian must be made by May 31 to take advantage of this special offer.

To book your luxury Las Vegas room, click here:  Venetian Summer Room Promotion

Other great Las Vegas promotions can be found here: Best Las Vegas Hotel Deals!

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The adults-only GO pool at Flamingo Las Vegas is a tropical oasis in the summer.

It may be hot outside but Las Vegas offers lots of great attractions all summer long and you don’t have to break a sweat to enjoy them.

1.  Tour Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino.  Cruising through the more than 1 million gallons of seawater can’t help but make you feel a whole lot cooler.

2.  Order TWO scoops of super-rich, intensely-flavored ice cream at Sugar & Ice at Wynn Las Vegas.

3.  Enjoy a frozen, fruity concoction while lying poolside at any of the city’s fabulous “ultra-pools.” We enjoy the surprisingly hidden tropical gardens and pool complex at Flamingo Las Vegas — complete with real pink flamingos.

4.  Sip a cold beer inside the Fontana Lounge at the Bellagio while watching the fabulous fountain show taking place just outside.

5.  Wander the wide halls of the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood then stop for lunch at the beach-themed Hawaiian Tropic Zone restaurant (complete with bikini-clad servers!)

6.  Put on your cutest sundress or flashiest Hawaiian shirt and play some blackjack at the new Beachside Casino at Mandalay Bay.

7.  Take in the 2:30 matinee performance of “The Price is Right” at Bally’s Las Vegas.

8.  Burgers and big, thick shakes – with or without alcohol – at BLT Burger at the Mirage.

9.  Try your luck at poker, craps, slots…all in the icy (and we do mean ICY) air-conditioning of your favorite casino.

10. Check out the underwater treasures at “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” at the Luxor.

11. Indulge in white peach sangria while munching on spicy garlic shrimp at Café Ba Ba Reeba at Fashion Show Mall.

12. Dig into a giant bowl of the justly-famous Frrozen Hot Chocolate dessert at the new Serendipity 3 facing the Strip at Caesars Palace.

13. Summer calls for down-home BBQ in our book so head over to the Rio and RUB restaurant where you can sample their luscious pulled pork, tender beef brisket or smoked turkey.

14. Pamper yourself with a complete spa day.  We recommend QUA at Caesars Palace with their extensive menu of massages, water treatments, facials and more.

15. Take a mid-week tour of the Ethel M Chocolate factory (M – F) where employees craft the company’s gourmet chocolate candy offerings.  For those willing to brave the heat, there is a three-acre Botanical Cactus Garden (with more than 300 varieties of plants) on premise that guests are free to wander.

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Head for Planet Hollywood to catch the new "Peepshow" starring Mel B of Spice Girls fame.

With all the outrageous Las Vegas hotel deals (Last minute Vegas values at Expedia.com!) available this spring and summer now is a great time to plan on using some of the cash you’ll save on the room by booking a seat at one of the new shows in town.

At Planet Hollywood, the new “Peepshow” starring Mel B — aka “Scary Spice” from the pop group The Spice Girls — along with soap actress Kelly Monaco from ABC’s “General Hospital” is garnering good reviews since it opened earlier this month.  Part burlesque, part fantasy, the show features lots of lingerie-sporting dancing girls, exuberant singing numbers and a loose storyline.  Hotel packages are available that combine show tickets with room discounts, free slot play and more.  Ticket prices alone begin at $65 and go up to $175 each for VIP table seating.  Check out Planet Hollywood’s website here.

Coming to the Las Vegas Strip in May is the popular Broadway hit “The Lion King” which will open at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.  The Tony® Award-winning Broadway sensation that Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment” will begin regular performances on May 18th.  (Previews begin May 5 and run on select dates through the May 17th opening night.)  Ticket prices range from $53 to $168.50.  Visit Mandalay Bay’s site for more info.

Also, when you visit Mandalay Bay, check out the Beachside Casino, a brand new three-story venue with dining, gaming and more overlooking the resort’s world-famous pool area.  The second floor features Blackjack, roulette and craps where casual beach attire is preferred and encouraged and even the dealers are dressed for a fun-filled day at the beach.

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Avenged Sevenfold ended their nearly two-year tour with a performance at the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.)

There’s lots of hot new stuff happening at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas this spring!  With the grand opening of the new mega-music venue “The Joint” (including performances by The Killers, Avenged Sevenfold and Paul McCartney); the grand opening of Carey Hart’s Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co.; and the season opening of Rehab — complete with a Snoop Dogg set — the property was buzzing with capacity crowds and celebrity cameos throughout the past (4/17 – 4/19) weekend. Here’s a recap of the events and celebs that came to party at the HRH:

The Killers at the Opening of The Joint:

The Vegas hometown band, The Killers, officially opened the new Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas to a sold out show of 4,000 fans. Owen Wilson and Stephen Dorff caught the performance from a studio suite and were ushered backstage post-show to meet the band.  Also spotted were motocross star Carey Hart plus favorite Las Vegas residents, Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graff (who were also seen dining pre-show at Rare 120, the new restaurant at the Hard Rock.)

Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co.:

Carey Hart opened the doors to his famed Hart & Huntington Tattoo Co. with friends Benji Madden and members of the band Avenged Sevenfold on hand to support. TV host Sal Masekela was first to go under the needle as he got a tattoo on camera for his show, the Daily 10.  Later that evening Hart, Madden and company set up shop in the Joint to watch fan favorites Avenged Sevenfold play the last show of their nearly two-year-long tour to another capacity crowd.

Famed Sunday Pool Party Rehab Debuts:

A 30-minute set from best-selling rapper Snoop Dogg kicked off the 6^th season of Rehab, the world-famous Sunday pool party at the Hard Rock.  Both locals and visitors alike came out to celebrate the beginning of pool season with over 3,000 people in attendance.  Celebrity partiers included New Orleans Saints Reggie Bush and Sedrick Ellis.

“Macca” Wows Crowd at Sunday Concert:

Paul opened with “Drive My Car” and played for more than two hours to a sold-out house, before getting back onstage for a double encore. Singing lots of old Beatles favs, cuts from his Wings days plus newer songs, the “cutest Beatle” was in fine voice for a now 66-year-old rocker. Celeb McCartney fans included: Donald Trump; Andre Agassi with wife, Steffi Graff; David Spade; Donny Osmond; and NASCAR driver Robbie Gordon.

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One of the best hotel deals in Las Vegas this Spring -- The Bellagio for just $129 per night.

Looking for the best Las Vegas hotel deals just got a whole lot easier!  Introducing our exclusive new “Best Days, Best Rates in Las Vegas” calendar which shows you the top days for saving money on your hotel room when planning your Las Vegas getaway.  We’ve done the research on which big conventions will be in town so by avoiding those dates, you can book your Las Vegas hotel room for a lot less.  Also, if you can plan your trip for early or mid-week, you can save even more on your Vegas trip.  And because we know that a weekday trip isn’t always possible, we’ve also called out the best weekends to save money each month.

For instance, check out this amazing room deal at the luxurious Bellagio.  When you plan your three-night stay starting Monday, May 25, you’ll pay just $132 per night on average.  That’s 5-Star luxury at an almost unbelievable bargain price.  Or how about mid-Strip favorite, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, for just $89 per night during that same time frame?  And, if you’re looking to save your money for the tables, we found Flamingo Las Vegas — with its gorgeous pool area perfect for a day in May — at an average $52 per night plus a bonus of $30 in resort credits.

Plus, new this Spring, if you book through Expedia or Hotels.com, you’ll receive their new “Premier Shopping Passport” with printable Las Vegas coupons good at retail stores and restaurants up and down the Strip.   Here’s the description of this special coupon package:  “The Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority and Las Vegas Premier Shopping Places – Fashion Show Mall, The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo — would like to offer you a Premier Shopping Passport filled with thousands of dollars in shopping and dining savings. Offers are from over 175 retailers with additional special offers and services reserved exclusively for our valued Expedia and Hotels.com customers. Examples of great offers:  Saks Fifth Avenue Las Vegas- 15% off; COLE HAAN – 20% off; or Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio restaurant — 25% off just to name a few. (Some restrictions apply.)

Here’s our exclusive new “Best Days, Best Rates” calendar for Las Vegas:

April:  27, 28, 29, 30

May:  10, 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27, 28 — Best weekend in May:  7, 8, 9,

June:  14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 — Best weekend in June:  18, 19, 20

Happy planning!  We’ll publish our best summer rates calendar in early May.

Last minute Vegas values at Expedia.com!

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Some of the chefs appearing at the Vegas Uncork'd event include: Guy Savoy, top right; Bobby Flay, top center; and Francois Payard, bottom left; all from Caesars Palace.

Calling all foodies!  Tickets for the culinary festival, Vegas Uncork’d, are selling out quickly.  The annual event — held over Mother’s Day weekend this year — is being billed as “A Bon Appétit Epicurean Experience” with the popular cooking magazine a co-sponsor of the four-day bash.

With the Las Vegas dining event happening May 7-10, this would make a perfect Mother’s Day getaway weekend for the special lady in anyone’s life.  Moms who love gourmet dining, amazing desserts, superb wines and rubbing elbows with the top chefs who make it all happen will really enjoy this year’s agenda.  Mother’s Day hotel deals in Las Vegas are still available.  Check out the deals at Bally’s, The Venetian, Paris and more here >>>> Last minute Vegas values at Expedia.com!

Kicking things off in style is the Masters’ Series Dinner at Caesars Palace where guests can
mingle with celebrated chefs such as Guy Savoy and François Payard, among others. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in a “Sweet Decadence” culinary workshop at the Bellagio during which Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Philippe Maury and Bon Appétit Editor-and-Chief Barbara Fairchild create a lineup of delectable chocolate desserts.  (And, yes, I will definitely be at this event!)

Another sure way to impress mom is with tickets to “A Tale of Five Chefs” at the Bellagio with
Julian Serrano, Todd English, Michael Mina, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Jean-Philippe Maury. Night owls and card players can hold’em or fold’em with chefs and vintners at the Midnight Poker tournament at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

For a memorable Saturday afternoon, guests can attend the Wynn Star Chef Luncheon Series and meet chefs Alex Stratta, Paul Bartolotta, Daniel Boulud, David Walzog and Richard Chen. The perfect ending to a weekend with mom is at one of the Wynn’s two simultaneous Mother’s Day brunches at Tableau with chef Mark LoRusso and The Country Club with Chef Rene Lenger.

Find all the information on events and tickets here at the Vegas Uncork’d website.

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Our initial idea was to do one site which would cover lots of great gambling destinations and give recommendations – and hot deal alerts! -  on where to stay, places to dine, where to shop and what sight-seeing and special events were not to be missed.  We’ve now decided that there is so much to see and do in so many of the good gambling spots we visit that it would best serve our readers to build some additional websites focusing on specific destinations.

With that in mind, we are pleased to announce our first “sister” site, AZCasinoTravel.com.  With 23 casinos spread throughout the state plus so many special things to do and see here in the Grand Canyon State, we felt we had more than enough to work with in building an info-packed site for visitors to our beautiful state. In addition to our casino guide and reviews, we’ll also keep readers up-to-date on the best deals on Arizona hotels, dining, golf, shopping and all types of vacation activities.

This new site is the first in what will be a family of websites our readers can go to for help in planning a casino trip that includes not only where to play but also where to stay, dine, shop, play golf and more.  (We think you’ll find these sites helpful in planning any trip to the specific destination – with or without gaming!)

Also, because these sites will be more location-oriented, we hope our readers will feel comfortable in asking for suggestions, posing questions and leaving comments about each spot we feature.

Click on the name – AZCasinoTravel – to visit our new site now and let us know what you think!

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The M Resort’s iMagine Rewards club members may use their points for dining, cash back, complimentary rooms and suites AND free play. Members can also redeem points at M Resort’s on-site gas station, car wash and pharmacy. ($1 played = 1 point. 333 points = $1 and the resort offers 1,900 slot machines and 64 table games.)

In regards to the overwhelming success of the new resort, Chairman and CEO of the M, Anthony Marnell III, earlier this month said,  “The response has been exciting.  We knew we had a great product to offer our guests and the last few days have confirmed it.”

The new $1 billion resort opened with a bang earlier this month in a grand celebration featuring fireworks, celebrities and a “Who’s Who” of Las Vegas faces.  Located on South Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway, the M features 390 guest rooms and suites, nine dining venues, a state-of-the-art spa, meeting and convention areas and more than 92,000 square feet of gaming space.  The resort’s highlight is a lavish pool and outdoor entertainment plaza with commanding views of the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding mountains.

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Camera and lots of memory cards. I can’t believe how cheap memory cards are these days! We love this $84 Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD in bright red along with lots of LESS THAN $4 memory cards such as the Kingston 4 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/4GB which holds hundreds of pics. Everywhere I go, my camera goes with me. You just never know when the perfect Vegas view will happen.

Ladies, you’ve heard me talk about this before but I always take a light pashmina-style Shawl/Wrap with me. Recently, it really came in handy when we headed over to Botero Steak at Wynn Encore and the doors to the pool area were open and letting in a really chilly breeze. The fresh air was great but I was very glad I had my cozy wrap with me.  They’re also great on plane trips — much better than those skanky cheesy blankets the airlines pass out have the gall to charge for.  Trust me, pack one of these babies just once and you won’t travel without it.

Take sunglasses and sunscreen.  There are always long lines at the sidewalk sunglasses shops because people forget that it is almost always sunny in LV – summer, fall, winter, spring! Be sure to take good sunscreen as well. Even on overcast days, we have some strong UV rays in the desert. No sense using up valuable vacay-time hunting down (and paying way too much for) shades and lotions.  We’ve found this sunscreen (> $15) to be really convenient and easy to pack. We even throw a couple of the little foil-wrapped packets into our pocket for a quick touch-up on hot days.  Coretex SunX SPF30 Sunscreen Towelettes – 25 Individual Foil Pouch Towelettes. PABA Free, Oil-free, Water and Sweat Resistant, UVA/UVB Protection, Easy Wipe on Application.

Again, this one’s for the girls.  Nights out demand a glamorous little bag — one you can take onto the dance floor or into a chic restaurant. We love this Prezzo Square Cross-Body bag in shiny metal mesh.  It’s perfect for stashing my room key, credit card, cash and a tube of lip gloss.  What more do you need for a night on the town?  It’s also very light-weight so it’s easy on the shoulders and it comes in inky black or glowing silver to go with anything.

More tips on what to pack for Las Vegas here: What to Pack for Las Vegas.

Do you have any “must-haves” when it comes to your Vegas packing list?

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We discovered the cozy little "Very Venice" bar at The Venetian to be a prime spot for some relaxed people-watching.

As soon as we get the news on the latest room offers from The Venetian Las Vegas, we pass the details on to you ASAP.  Here’s the 411 on March’s room discount package as well as some info on a great spot to have a cocktail:

From $129 per night on selected days your suite offer includes:

• Luxury Suite at The Venetian
• 2-for-1 drinks at TAO from 5 pm – 7 pm
• Complimentary line pass and admission to TAO Nightclub
• $10 off at restaurant David Burke with $50 minimum purchase
• $10 off at restaurant AquaKnox with $50 minimum purchase
• $40 off tickets for Front Orchestra or Golden Circle seats to Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular
• $25 in Slot Credits per stay

This exclusive offer must be booked by March 16th using offer code:  EVNMAR.

Also, on our last trip to Las Vegas, we found this terrific little bar at The Venetian that’s not only perfect for a quick drink but also a worthy addition to our list of favorite people-watching spots on The Strip.  Check out the “Very Venice” bar — located in the walkway to St. Mark’s Square — on your next trip to the resort.

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Book a stay at Caesars Palace in Vegas for just $90 a night this spring.

We’re back….  After a driving trip across the country’s mid-section (and, sadly, no time for stopping at the numerous casinos along the way) we came home to a mailbox full of outstanding Las Vegas deals.

Las Vegas really does represent one of– if not the — best travel values available in the country right now.  Take a look at these rates for the best in Spring getaways:
Enjoy Caesars Palace from $90 a night or
Las Vegas on Sale: Trump Hotel from $89 a night.
and, remarkably,
The luxury of the 5-Star Wynn Las Vegas from just $129 a night!

You can also get great values on things to do while you’re in town by booking your shows and more online at Expedia.  Pick up tickets for less to shows like the highly-recommended KA at MGM Grand (plan on dinner at Nob Hill Tavern before or after) or the fast and funny “V – The Variety Show” at Planet Hollywood.  (While at Planet “Ho,” have a drink at the casino’s Heart Bar or play a couple of hands of blackjack with their “Pleasure Pit” dealers.)

You can also book trips to visit nearby Hoover Dam or explore the breath-taking scenery of the Red Rock Canyon area while on a Pink Jeep Tour. For all the coolest activities at terrific prices check out: Best of Vegas at Expedia.com

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Nine dining venues will be a major draw of the new M Resort which opens March 1 in Las Vegas. (Image courtesy of the resort.)

When the new M Resort, Spa and Casino opens its doors on March 1, Chairman and CEO Anthony Marnell III  will be able to gaze down upon the legendary properties designed in part by his father’s company, Marnell and Corrao Associates.  With a pedigree that includes work on such resort icons as Wynn Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Mirage and more, the newest generation of the Marnell family is bringing mega-resort luxury, amenities and design innovations to a 90-acre spot on the “South Strip.”

Perched 400 feet above the lights of the Las Vegas Strip, the new $1 billion-plus resort – located about nine miles from Mandalay Bay – uses this vantage point as a key design element in the positioning of the resort’s nine restaurants, 390 guest rooms and suites, as well as the lavish outdoor swim and stage complex called  the Villaggio Del Sole Pool and Entertainment Piazza.

Those staying overnight in one of the resort’s rooms will enjoy dazzling views of both the Strip and the Las Vegas skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows gracing each of the 550-sq.ft. or larger accommodations.  Some of the state-of-the-art amenities are a 42″ HD LCD television, Bose “Wave” sound system, an iPod docking station, an in-room safe large enough to hold a standard laptop plus high-speed Internet access.  While “techies” will love the new digs, old-fashioned luxury is also part of the room and suite design.   Terry robes and slippers, spa bathrooms with separate tubs and showers plus turndown service are all de rigueur.

The resort’s casino features over 92,000 sq. ft. of indoor and poolside gaming with 1,847 slot and video poker machines, 64 table games, a live poker room as well as race and sports book.  Casino players will be able to sign up for the resort’s exclusive new “iMagine Club” to earn rewards including restaurant meals, cash back, free slot play plus shows and entertainment offers.

In addition to the attention being paid to the rooms and casino, the new resort is putting a huge focus on the nine dining venues that are all owned and operated in-house.  With a goal of being the new “favorite locals casino,” Mr. Marnell and company are relying on the quality and variety of dining options to not only bring people into the casino but back as regular visitors.

When talking about the resort’s restaurants, Mr. Marnell said “We believe food is one of the most, if not the most important reason why guests will visit the property.  The restaurants we have developed will introduce a new kind of dining experience that reflects my family’s reputation for great food and great value.”

What’s sure to be a hit is the resort’s 500-seat buffet restaurant, “Studio B,” where a live-action exhibition kitchen will allow diners to enjoy their meals while watching the restaurant’s chefs prepare signature appetizers, entrées and desserts.  Guests will also enjoy a selection of beer and wine as part of their meal at no extra cost.

Other restaurants include the rooftop Restaurant Veloce Cibo and Bar Veloce; Marinelli’s for authentic Italian dishes (including some from the Marnell family recipe book) and Terzetto, the resort’s steak house and oyster bar.  A casual deli, a coffee house and an artisan bakery plus the outdoor Piazza Grille round out the extensive dining options.

For oenophiles, the creatively-named “Hostile Grape Wine Cellar” – wine with an attitude – will offer guests the opportunity to discover more than 120 wines by the glass including hard-to-find boutique wines from throughout the world.  A unique wine dispensing system will be used to pour one-, three- or five-ounce portions so that aficionados can create their own tasting “flights” of wine.

The “spa” part of the M Resort, Spa and Casino is represented by the 23,000 sq. ft. “Spa Mio” that includes a fitness center, salon, 16 treatment rooms plus sauna, steam and Jacuzzi.   Also on-site is the new M Resort Conference Center.  Built to accommodate small to mid-size meetings, the 60,000 sq. ft. area is home to the resort’s Grand Ballroom along with multiple other reception rooms.

Two additional features of the “M” are the wholly-owned gas station where customers can redeem player points for gasoline as well as an on-property, full-service pharmacy, which will be open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. for both customers and employees.

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The Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France in New Orleans is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States.

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras (or for any time at all,) here’s Part II of our terrific piece on the current state of the town — plus tips on what to do and see — written by one of our most experienced food and travel contributors.

Apart from dining, drinking, gaming and shopping there is a wealth of things to do and see in the area.  You don’t have to be a history buff to be seduced by the unique architecture and centuries of colorful stories and characters that inhabit the streets.  The past lives cozily right alongside the present.

Sure, you can spend a bunch, but the budget conscious will appreciate that New Orleans prices are a relative bargain and there are plenty of free and low cost things to do.

Drinking café au’lait and eating beignets at Morning Call Café across from St. Louis Cathedral is people-watching par excellence. Take the free ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers, a tiny colorful neighborhood that calls to mind a separate small town with its Victorian homes and cottages. Strolling through the Garden District admiring the mansions (including author Ann Rice’s former home, a brooding purple pile) is a lovely way to spend a half day — stop for Gulf oysters at little Cassamento’s on Magazine or have a happy hour cocktail on the veranda of the The Columns (the hotel doubled for the bordello in the movie Pretty Baby).

The cemeteries, known as “Cities of the Dead“, are legendary and it is easy to get lost wandering their narrow “streets”. Because of the wet soil, bodies are laid to rest in above ground tombs rather below ground in graves. They range from the staggeringly ornate in the Metairie cemetery to simple “ovens” where bodies are stacked in vaults in a wall. Perhaps one of the most evocative is Lafayette Cemetery # 1, directly across the street from Commander’s Palace. The ages and dates chiseled in the tombs trace the epidemics that swept through the city in centuries past. A tiny tomb is inscribed simply “Our Five Babies”.

New Orleans and the River Road are rich in historic home/museums and plantations, an evocative glimpse of life in other times. If you’re lucky, as we were, a visit might coincide with a charity-driven home tour and an opportunity to see how present day inhabitants live in these old buildings.

Has New Orleans changed? Yes, without question. Driving around outside the District, Quarter and Faubourg Marigny reveals how many crumbling homes and businesses are boarded over, still bearing FEMA’s red identifying marks. And, unfortunately, many of the things that could have been done that would have strengthened the infrastructure and bolstered the indomitable spirit of the inhabitants were not. It is a smaller, less populous place and that in itself is a boon to travelers who would like to experience fun, food and frivolity without the too often obnoxious crowds and long lines of the past.

Would I go back?  In a heartbeat. It is still the city that care forgot offering a million ways to forget your own cares. And, increased tourism can only help bring back the glory days of pre-Katrina. We all owe New Orleans that.
Book now & save up to 50% on Hotels in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Book by 2/23 for travel from 2/13 to 2/28/09.

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Mardi Gras revelers will soon be jamming Royal Street in New Orlean's famed French Quarter.

Beginning this weekend, thousands of revelers will descend upon New Orleans to take in all that the City has to offer for its famous (some would say infamous!) Mardi Gras celebration.  For those of us who enjoy casino gaming, Harrah’s in New Orleans will be high on the list of places to both see and spend some time at during Carnival Week.  If you haven’t made your reservations, there are still lots of hotel rooms available and lots of fun to look forward to in “The Big Easy.”  Book now & save up to 50% on Hotels in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Book by 2/23 for travel from 2/13 to 2/28/09.

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans either for the big party or any time at all, here’s a terrific piece on the current state of the town — plus tips on what to do and where to eat — written by one of our most experienced food and travel contributors. (Look for Part II tomorrow!)

It would be difficult to describe to someone who’d never been there, just what New Orleans was like before Hurricane Katrina.  Historically, culturally, geographically, socio-economically, the city was unlike any other in the United States.

Indolently rooted in the past, but always enthusiastically reveling in the pleasures of the present, New Orleans richly deserves its nickname “The Big Easy”. Hear the words Bourbon Street or French Quarter and the mind conjures up jazz, cocktails, great food and good times. (Although the ostensibly well-named Bourbon Street is an homage to the French ruling dynasty not the American liquor.)

It’s the home of Mardi Gras, the greatest party ever thrown (despite the fact the public cannot gain entrance to the balls and soirees given by the insular carnival Krewes).

But who needs private parties when the streets teem with non-stop action; conventioneers, college kids, tourists and every imaginable kind of pleasure-seeker elbowing convivially through the old quarter.  From Preservation Hall to Pat O’Brien’s, happily clutching to-go cups, they looked for and found excitement, adventure and blinding hangovers.  Retail bustled, casinos were packed, and restaurants like K-Paul’s and Emeril’s only took reservations months in advance.

But Katrina and what happened in the aftermath, or more to the point didn’t happen, changed everything.

First there was news of the devastation, then the lack of help putting things back in working order. Little by little reports were made that the city was getting it together — this despite the fact the population was almost halved by the diaspora caused by the destruction. And the people of New Orleans were the city: the heart, soul, brains and brawn that defined it.

Since my first trip there in the mid-sixties, I’ve felt an inexplicable bond with New Orleans that has only strengthened after dozens of visits. I couldn’t bear not to go one more time.

Given the choice between Mardi Gras madness, when tens of thousands of visitors clog the city, or the relatively intimate, locally-driven celebration that is Halloween, I made my reservations for the end of October hence this “trip report” from that time period.

Let’s start with the restaurants.  For the most part, food and dining — always an integral part of the culture — has roared back with old favorites such as Galatoire’s, Antoine’s and Brennan’s in business but minus the long lines of waiting patrons. Some worthy new places have opened, too.

Among the not-to-miss standards are the palatial robin’s egg blue Commander’s Palace in the Garden District across Canal from the Quarter. (City transportation is good. There are abundant taxis; streetcars run along the river bank to downtown and Harrah’s casino; another line runs directly through the Garden District.) Along with Galatoire’s, Commander’s is a bastion of haute Creole food featuring local game and seafood.

Antoine’s is fun from a historic aspect but the food has always been, to put it in gaming terms, a crapshoot. Brennan’s long, boozy brunches courtesy of old-fashioned, formally clad male service are elegantly hokey.

Interesting newcomers include a contemporary Cajun spot called Cochon on Tchoupitoulas Street that’s done up in a trendy rustic-style with exposed brick and pale wood. As the name suggests, pork rules along with imaginative reworkings of local standards. In the re-gentrifying area of Bywater, Elizabeth’s is an always-crowded, oil-tablecloth joint with big flavored food like chicken livers with pepper jelly and spicy duck hash.

Take a miss on the much-hyped Uptown eatery Jacques-Imo’s; it’s crowded, ugly, chaotic and neither the service or food were particularly noteworthy. Fortunately, it’s an anomaly in a town obsessed with its culinary heritage and the pleasures of the table.

Of course, New Orleans is also the birthplace of the cocktail and local bartenders pride themselves on preparing time-honored quaffs like the sazerac, Ramos’ gin fizz and that brunch staple, bourbon milk punch. The Quarter is full of great bars, from the ultra-posh to the endearingly crummy Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop that looks every minute of its 237 years in existence. (Don’t miss the relatively new Museum of the Cocktail.)

The beginnings of jazz can be traced directly to New Orleans at the end of the 19^th century. The genre continues to flourish locally along with toe tapping zydeco and Cajun-style music. Along with traditional venues such as Preservation Hall and Tipitina’s, I found the free weekly tabloid a helpful guide to who is playing where.

Harrah’s Casino, the largest in the South, differs little in operations from other Harrah’s round the country. But the huge, circular building has plenty of its own charms including 2000 slots and over 100 table games. These days there’s no waiting for a chance to play. There is also live entertainment and an excellent steakhouse helmed by popular local chef John Besh.

Apart from dining, drinking, gaming and shopping there is a wealth of things to do and see in the area.

Read more in tomorrow’s blog post.

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Use our tips to get a great deal at mid-Strip favorite, Bally's Las Vegas.

How do you get the best hotel deals when you are planning your Las Vegas vacation? A little time, a little effort and some “web-work” will help you get the best rates on Las Vegas hotels.

Here are our favorite ten tips for booking the best rates on your hotel room in Las Vegas (or in any casino resort town) :

1. Be flexible in your dates. Can you stay early in the week or mid-week instead of over the weekend? Also, if you haven’t locked in your dates check the convention schedules for your destination and plan to be in town when they – the conventions – are not!

2. Try a new resort or one that is off the major drag. In Las Vegas, the new Eastside Cannery is offering a $29.95 per night special or check out the new M Resort opening March 1 in Henderson for some great deals. Also, off-Strip favorite, The Orleans Hotel & Casino, is offering nights in March as low as $48 and has a free shuttle to the Strip.

3. Check out the deals at places like hotels.com and Expedia.com for room and package offers and hotel/flight specials. I looked at dates in March and found a deal on Expedia for The Palms for three nights starting March 9 for $53 per night while the hotel’s website showed $89 per night for same the time period.
Book with confidence thanks to the Best Price Guarantee from Expedia.com
Search Here for Hotels.com Best Hotel Deals!

4. Search for promo codes. Offer codes, promo codes, discount codes – hotels issue them either by email, in mailers or right on their own websites and having one can save you lots of money when making reservations. We regularly publish codes here — see the Venetian and Palazzo post for February — on our site and are always on the look-out for ones we can pass on to our readers.

5. Call the hotel directly and ask if any special promotions or discounts are available. If you have your heart set on a specific hotel, simply call and ask what the best rate would be for your vacation dates. I’ve seen several stories lately in the travel news saying that this was a great way to get discounts.

6. Make sure you join the “players clubs” at all the casinos you visit. Casinos can’t offer you rooms and other discounts or package deals if they don’t know who you are or how to contact you! And don’t throw out those mailed offers – they may contain the “casino marketing” phone number that you can use in the future to get other great deals.

7. Once you have a players card and number, be sure to visit the casino’s website and register your email address with their online “guest book.” Lots of last-minute offers come through my email box, especially from Harrah’s properties, all the MGM Mirage resorts and the Venetian and Palazzo hotels.

8. Use your contacts. Do you have friends who frequently visit Vegas or other casino resorts? They may have a special “friends and family” discount code for their favorite resort that they would be willing to share with you.

9. Forgo a few of the amenities, especially if you aren’t going to use them. If having a world-class spa on property is important, then by all means book a hotel that offers one. On the other hand, if you plan on spending your time out and about, seeing the sights, playing in the casino and otherwise just using your room as a place to crash, then book a hotel with a great location and fewer in-house features. One of our favs when it comes to a great location for less dough — Bally’s Las Vegas

10. Take advantage of last-minute deals. The old advice was always to book way ahead for the best prices but in this uncertain economy (and one in which companies are cancelling bookings left and right) planning a spur-of-the-moment trip is becoming a great way to save some bucks.

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Treat your Valentine to a gondola ride at The Venetian Las Vegas.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes this super offer from both The Venetian and sister property, The Palazzo — one of the top picks on our recent list of “most romantic hotels in Las Vegas.”

Available on select dates and starting at $149 per night at The Palazzo or $129 per night at the neighboring Venetian, both resorts are offering the “Romantic Getaway” package which includes a Luxury Suite plus -

Get $25 off when you book the hotel’s “Elite Romance Package” which includes:
– Private gondola ride for 2
– Gondolier performance
– Champagne and strawberries
– One souvenir photo
2-for-1 drinks at Double Helix Wine Bar
Complimentary Internet Access
$50 Slot Credit per stay

You must book by February 16.  Use offer code EPNFEB for The Palazzo or EVNFEB when booking The Venetian.

Be sure to check out our recommended restaurants in Las Vegas list here.

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A pre-dinner cocktail in this red and gold jewelbox of a lounge at Wynn Encore is perfect for Valentine's Day.

Romance, NBA basketball –  “Love & Basketball,” anyone? — Friday the 13^th and President’s Day all wrapped into one spectacular three-day weekend.  And you, you’re still waiting for a reason to go to Las Vegas?  I don’t even know where to start to tell you about all the cool things you can plan for a Valentine’s Day weekend trip to Las Vegas.

Okay, I lied; I do know where to start. Let’s begin with some romance, Las Vegas-style, and where you might think about staying for this Valentine’s Day with your honey.  (Hey, guys, you had your Super Bowl Sunday so now it’s time to grab your best girl and head back to Vegas for a different kind of fun!)

Top Romantic Hotels in Las Vegas

Wynn Las Vegas and/or Wynn Encore – We’re putty in Steve Wynn’s hands when it comes to all that glitz and glamour plus all the RED used throughout the new Encore will make you think you’ve landed inside a giant scarlet satin heart.  (If you can walk through that place and not think about romance and Valentine’s Day, we’ll need to check your pulse on the way out.)  Add in some of the best, most indulgent restaurants on the Strip – Alex, Botero, SW, Bartolotta –  luxurious spas, and the hottest new “ultra-club” in town, XS, and you’ve got the makings of a memorable weekend without ever leaving the two adjoining properties.

Bellagio -  Elegance personified not only in the rooms but throughout the entire hotel.  Yards of jewel-toned silk swags in the casino; an indoor garden that just begs to be strolled while hand-in-hand with your SO; a virtual chocoholic’s wonderland at Jean-Philippe Patisserie plus a shopping gallery full of baubles and bangles perfectly poised for gift-giving  (be sure to check out the heart-shaped charms at Tiffany’s) all contribute to a sophisticated yet utterly romantic atmosphere.

The Palazzo – All brocades and crystal, marble columns and burnished gilt — this younger sister to the flashier Venetian is like the Little Black Dress of Vegas resorts.  Understated, timeless and yet fashionable with enough pizzazz – LAVO Bar and Restaurant, Jersey Boys in the showroom, a Canyon Ranch Spa and Barneys New York in the shopping arcade – to never be boring.  (If your sweetie loves shoes – duh! – let her shop the displays at Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin for a guaranteed winner of a Valentine’s Day gift.)

Paris Las Vegas -  Huh?  Are we kidding?  Au contraire, mon ami.  We’re suckers for that whole French vibe, fake as it may be.  (Uh, this is Vegas, remember?  Fake is this town’s middle name.)  Give us  steaks at Les Artistes, the Forest Fruits berries and cream concoction at Le Creperie, dinner or simply drinks at the Eiffel Tower restaurant with its magnificent view of the City and, our favorite three-hour lunch spot, Mon Ami Gabi  just off the front entrance, and we are saying merci and beau coup with the best of them.  (And, let’s face it, we’re Harrah’s Total Rewards Club® members and get great deals here!)

Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa – Nope, not on the Strip, but with its own very hip, very romantic vibe, a “get-away-from-it-all” feeling, and a great selection of restaurants:  the T-Bones Chophouse is a favorite of locals while Cabo Mexican Restaurant offers stunning views of the surrounding red rock landscape.  And bars, particularly the Hollywood- chic Cherry nightclub, one of the most popular clubs in Vegas even without a Strip address.  (Plus, there’s absolutely no reason you can’t call a cab, spend a night enjoying the Strip and then head back to “the Rock” for your own very private celebration.)

Next post, we’ll give you some romantic spots for dinner a deux while you’re in town.

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ACES stands for Atlantic City Express Service and is a joint venture with partners Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.  Upon arrival in AC, shuttles will ferry riders from the depot to any one of the three casinos.

Train service will be offered on eight multi-level rail cars designed with upgraded leather seating, a private lounge, custom-designed food and beverage kiosks and both first and coach class travel experiences.

Introductory ticket prices — on sale now — will start at $50 for one-way coach seat and $75 for one-way first class seat.  Get additional ticket pricing and purchase information at the well-designed www.acestrain.com website. Visitors to the website will be able to reserve their seats and book hotel stays at Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.

Search Here for Hotels.com Best Hotel Deals!

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Las Vegas show and restaurant discounts are posted each morning at TIX 4 Tonight.

One of the best deals in Las Vegas for discounts on popular shows and restaurants — including one of the best buffets in town — is TIX 4 Tonight.  With five locations dotting the Strip plus one downtown, you’re sure to find one convenient to your hotel.

How it works:  This is a “same day” ticket service.  Each morning at 9:30 a.m., the TIX 4 Tonight booths begin posting the shows available for that night (with prices) on screens at each location.  When the booths open at 10 a.m., customers who’ve gathered in line can purchase popular show tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis at up to 50% off the regular price.  Show tickets are NOT sold online so you have to go to the booth of your choice and queue up to get tickets.  Keep in mind, extremely popular Las Vegas shows sell out quickly so it’s good to have a back-up choice just in case.  Also, if you absolutely have your mind set on seeing one particular show, this is probably not the option for you since ticket availability varies from day to day.  But, if you are flexible in your choice of entertainment, this represents a great deal.

A “sneak peek” at a few of the hottest Las Vegas shows available on January 25th:  Blue Man Group at The Venetian 40% off; Zumanity at New York-New York for 20% off; and the popular Beatles-themed Love at The Mirage for 35% off.

Another great Las Vegas deal offered by the TIX 4 Tonight is their dining discount coupons.  Arrangements for these vouchers can be made online and up to seven days in advance or you can purchase them the same time you buy your dicounted show tickets.  For a small service fee of $2 – $3, you can get 50% off coupons good for such restaurants as Enoteca San Marco at the Venetian (subject of an upcoming review,) Les Artistes Steakhouse at Paris, Planet Hollywood at Caesars Palace and more.  You can also book a discounted breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of the Strip’s highest-rated buffets, the Le Village Buffet at Paris.

Find all the information on TIX 4 Tonight including their booth locations and the ever-present fine print, restrictions, and so on.  Be sure to click on the tab marked “Coupon” to print out a $2 off deal you can use at their booth!

$10 off your next flight to Las Vegas! Coupon Code: LASVEGAS10

Click Here for the Best Las Vegas Hotel Deals!

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A view of the new CityCenter project in Las Vegas. (Click on each photo to enlarge.)

Check out these latest photos from two new construction projects happening on the Strip in Las Vegas.  With soaring glass towers in shades of cool blue and chartreuse, wickedly-angled walls and sharp points define some structures while sinuous curves soften and enrich others.  These are the elements that define the new CityCenter project and its neighbor to the north, the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino.

CityCenter, from MGM Mirage and partner Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World, is slated to open in late 2009, and is currently the largest privately financed development in U.S. history.

Directly from an article on CityCenter’s own website comes this description of the massive $8 billion project:   ”Located between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, CityCenter will feature ARIA, a soaring 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; non-gaming luxury hotels including Vdara Hotel and Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; Veer Towers, the development’s only strictly residential buildings; approximately 2,400 condominium residences; a $40 million Public Fine Art Program; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district.  Additionally, The Harmon, a luxury 400-room boutique hotel, is anticipated to open at CityCenter in late 2010.”  Read more on the CityCenter website.

I don’t know about you, but the only thing I see that’s missing is the flying cars ala “The Fifth Element” to take us from one futuristic tower to the next.  I can’t wait to check out these newest additions to the Strip but I’m interested:  What do you think of these new designs?

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Daniel Boulud at Wynn Las Vegas failed to impress this diner.

Our favorite food writer visits Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn and comes away with a less-than-stellar impression.

Not even the crustiest critic goes out looking for a bad experience.  Au contraire! Hope springs eternal that each new restaurant just might be the one that delivers a great meal with adept service in a charming environment.

Naturally, the more high profile the eatery,   the more the diner is led to expect and if the name Daniel Boulud is not emblazoned in the culinary firmament, I don’t know what is.

Boulud’s Vegas home is at The Wynn, tucked downstairs with a view of the lagoon (they actually call it a lake) and its always-surprising conceptual sound and light show. The room is narrow, sinuously curved and with a palette of grays, coolly cozy. Cool might best describe the staff as well, at least until an issue arises.

We were cheerfully ensconced in front of a window, the three of us sipping wine and rooting for the giant frog that sometimes materializes atop the waterfall to appear. Homey, country French dishes appealed and we happily shared meaty rich, ideally seasoned steak tartare; tender, garlic-butter-dripping escargot and a bowl of classic onion soup topped with bubbling, browned cheese. Along with a boulangerie’s worth of exceptional breads, we were happy campers.

After a suitable interval, in which I visited the lavish ladies room and wondered why bother with a glassed-in kitchen which is at the back of the room and not visible by most diners, our entrees were served.

I had ordered a skate special. That wonderfully flaky, delicately flavored specialty is too rarely seen on American menus and I was very much anticipating it. It was presented with a flourish and before I could even appreciate the artful arrangement I was hit with the nose-stinging, eye-watering smell of ammonia. It was strong and it was obvious. So obvious it is difficult to understand why neither the person who prepared it nor the wait staff noticed and put the brakes on.

When I pointed it out to the server, suggesting he inhale a snootful, he visibly quailed and hesitantly offered to take it back. “Please,” I replied. “And, bring me the menu again.”

Meanwhile, my companions each dug into their crispy-skinned duck confit and a tureen of sweet, briny mussels.

The server returned to apologize, explaining the problem was with the lobster garnish.

Did I care? Noooo. Now I had to quickly order something or I would be finishing my entrée long after the other two were done. So, I settled on a charcuterie plate. It was decent, but something I could have assembled myself at a decent delicatessen for a lot less than $26.

Not another word was said or action taken by the staff to ameliorate the situation. I didn’t expect the charcuterie platter to be comped, but dessert on the house was the least they could have done to make up for such a major glitch — especially when dinner for three rang in at close to $300.

Would I go back? Well, maybe if they guaranteed the giant frog cooked and served my dinner.

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What's missing from the entrance to the Monorail station at MGM Grand in Las Vegas? In a word - riders.

Having just gotten back from almost five days in Las Vegas, I have been puzzling over what subject to post about first in regards to this trip.  We visited the new Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, ate at a number of good and not-so-good restaurants, traipsed up and down the Strip, traveled to a couple of outlying casino properties, played a lot of games including a video poker tournament and indulged in my favorite activity – the always interesting Las Vegas people-watching.   All of these experiences and more will be subjects for future posts.

But today, as I sit here this morning organizing notes and photos, trying to make some sort of logical sense of all the information and images we collected, I am watching and listening to today’s remarkable historical event – the inauguration of our 44^th president, Barack Obama.  As we all know (unless you’ve been living under not only a rock but a virtual boulder these past few months,) this is the candidate who ran on an almost single-word platform:  change.  Speaking in economic terms, for Las Vegas that change cannot come quickly enough.

We report here regularly on the downward trend of “numbers” coming out of Nevada’s Gaming Control Board but when you can leave your hotel at eight o’clock on a Saturday night and have no cab line – none – that is when those black-and-white numbers become a full-color reality.  Or take Thursday night when we decided to hop the Monorail for a quick trip down to MGM Grand and found maybe ten people (again during the peak dinner hours) on the whole train.  These instances along with the sight of half-full restaurants and bars, sidewalks not clogged with tourists, and the rows of empty blackjack and poker tables told us much more than numbers on a page ever could.

The good news?  Las Vegas – crowded or not – remains the city of joyful extravagance and neon lights and fabulous restaurants and over-the-top design and world-class shopping and the promise of riches gleaned from a dollar dropped into a slot machine.  Oh, and desserts – luscious, decadent, gaudy desserts.   NONE of that has changed a bit.

We, as always, had a terrific time in Las Vegas and can hope, along with the rest of the country, that this new administration will bring with it a change in our collective economic condition.  I don’t even mind if Las Vegas goes first.

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The Venetian offers a great room deal with a little bit of Jersey on the side.

Check out the February offers for The Venetian and The Palazzo.

It’s the new year and the great Las Vegas hotel deals just keep rolling into our virtual mailboxes.  The Venetian is again offering their $119 weekday suite special plus more than $150 in resort credits per stay.  Those credits include a $40-off deal on certain tickets for the outstanding musical “Jersey Boys,” at The Palazzo theater.  You can also book a room at The Palazzo or for weekends at a higher rate.

From only $119 per weeknight, your package includes:

• A luxury suite at The Venetian
• $40 off front orchestra seating at Jersey Boys at The Palazzo*
• Complimentary passport to Canyon Ranch SpaClub (a $40 value)
• $30 off services at Canyon Ranch SpaClub
• Half off a bottle of wine at Double Helix Boutique with purchase*  (The wine bar there is one of our favorite spots to grab a drink.)
• $30 dinner credit per night at Woo with $70 minimum purchase
• $25 daily slot credits

This exclusive offer must be booked by January 19th.  Ask for Offer Code:  EVOJANY.

While at The Venetian, check out The Grill at Valentino and their perfectly-sauced array of pasta dishes or the Chef’s fresh seafood choice for the night.

*As always, check the “fine print” for offer details, exclusions and requirements.

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A gorgeous view of the mountains and a moonlit Colorado River as seen from Harrah's in Laughlin.

I think one of the best ways to recall a year is to sort through the photos I’ve taken over the past twelve months.  They bring back lots of great memories either through the specific image or by tweaking my brain into remembering what all happened on that occasion.  To break down a whole year into a few paragraphs isn’t easy, especially when I’m fortunate enough to say lots of great stuff happened in the past twelve months.  So rather than doing a monthly blow-by-blow, I chose to pick out some highlights from our year in gaming.

Best Casino “Hits”:  P.B. – Dealt four 4′s then hit for two out of three kickers on the draw playing Triple Double Bonus Spin Poker Deluxe™ with a payout of $1190.  C.C. – Dealt four 3′s and a kicker playing TDB Spin Poker Deluxe™ with a $1600 payout.

Best Discovery:  The Diamond Lounge patio over-looking the Colorado River at Harrah’s Laughlin, Nevada casino.  A great spot for relaxing with a drink, especially on a warm full-moon night.

Second-Best Discovery:  Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas with its selection of video poker machines and its very cool pool area.  (Yes, we know it’s been there all along but we usually stay and play on the Strip so this was a big “ah-hah” moment for us.  You’ll see more here on off-Strip properties this coming year.)

Most Surprising Stay:  Harrah’s Joliet casino.  Beautiful spacious room, really nice Diamond Lounge, and a winning night in the casino.

Best High-End Meal in Las Vegas:  BOA Steakhouse at Caesars Palace.  Meltingly tender steaks, truffled potato chips and for dessert – warm, crispy donuts with caramel dipping sauce.

Best Casual Meal in Las Vegas:  Lunch at our perennial favorite, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris, with chicken liver pate, sautéed trout with capers and chocolate-drenched profiteroles for Le Dessert.

Best New Spot in Las Vegas:  The Double Helix Wine Bar at the Palazzo.

Best Las Vegas Dessert:  A tie between the Lemon Tart ice cream at  Sugar & Ice at the Wynn and the Chocoban Tart at Jean-Philippe Patisserie at The Bellagio.  (Thankfully, much more research is needed for this category in 2009.)

Best Meal at a Casino Not in Las Vegas:  The Indian Fry Bread plate at Cliff Castle Casino in Camp Verde, Arizona.  (Good doesn’t have to be expensive.)

Most Memorable Night in Las Vegas:  Attending a surprise party at Table 10, Emeril’s new restaurant at The Palazzo, for our friend’s sixtieth birthday.  Friends and family from across the country showed up and the look on her face when she saw all of us was priceless.

2008 Will be Memorable for:  Starting this website, RoyallyFlushed, and for all the new experiences we’ve had, things we’ve learned and friends we’ve made because of it.

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Fireworks will light up the sky on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.

There’s still plenty of time to pack a suitcase and head to Las Vegas for a memorable New Year’s Eve celebration.  Las Vegas hotels – both on and off The Strip – are more affordable than ever this year with many offering dining and show ticket discounts as well as last-minute hotel deals.  (Really, if I hadn’t offered to host this year’s party for friends, I would so be loading up the car RIGHT NOW.)

You really don’t even need show tickets when the whole city becomes one giant extravaganza with fireworks shot off from several locations along the Strip and a huge New Year’s Eve party down on Fremont Street.  A $20 ticket downtown gets you eight bands playing for this year’s “Tribute Palooza” — including hottie Michael Johns of “American Idol” fame and his riff on Billy Joel standards.  Tickets for visitors (Nevada residents get in free with I.D.) can be purchased for $20 by calling 877-834-2748.  Click here for a complete rundown of the Fremont Street Experience New Year’s Eve blast.

And hotels?  No problem booking a room at most of the resorts around town including favorites on The Strip.  Check out hotels.com for lots of incredible deals on the Strip especially at the Monte Carlo, Treasure Island and MGM Grand or Fitzgerald’s downtown.

Click Here for the Best Las Vegas Hotel Deals!

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Among all the visitors coming into Phoenix for the upcoming Insight and Fiesta bowls happening here in Arizona next week, there are bound to be a lot of casino gaming fans.  For those who like to play, here is a list of our Phoenix and Scottsdale area casinos along with casino-related info on dining, lounges, shows, golf opportunities and more.

Harrah's Ak-Chin is one of several Phoenix area casinos visitors can choose from to play slots, poker and more.

Casino Arizona:  Two locations, both of which are just off the Loop 101 freeway making them very accessible to all the major hotels and resorts.  Free limo service available by calling 480-850-7790.

Casino Arizona at Talking Stick:  Loop 101 freeway at the Indian Bend Road exit.  This is the casino most convenient to our north Phoenix/Scottsdale mega-resorts like the Fairmont Scottsdale, J.W. Marriott at Desert Ridge, Westin Kierland Resort or any of the hotels on Scottsdale Road north of Lincoln Drive.

• – This is the place for poker players.  Large gaming room with 50+ tables, big screen TVs, table-side food service.  Lots of Scottsdale locals play here.
• – High-limit room for slots and table games.
• – Try the Blue Coyote Grill for their spicy stir-frys.
• – Good selection of slots plus lots of video poker and vp variations including a 25¢ progressive.
• – Blazing 7′s machines near the 50-play video poker machines seem to pay well.
• – Golf:  Talking Stick Golf Course

Casino Arizona at McKellips:  Loop 101 freeway at the McKellips Road exit.  Convenient to Tempe, the Loop 202 plus central and Old Town Scottsdale.

• – More than 1,000 slot and video poker machines including lots of new games.
• – Fun Vegas-style variety show —  ”Showstoppers Live” — is a musical tribute show with Elvis, Madonna and other impersonators.
• – High-end steakhouse “Cholla” offers pricy but excellent food, a great wine list and is open until midnight on weekends.
• – The Piano Bar is a classy spot for a glass of wine and some good laid-back music.

Gila River Lone Butte Casino:  Loop 202 at the Kyrene Road exit.  Close to Chandler and the I-10 freeway.  Good location if you are staying along the I-10 freeway.

• – Arizona’s newest casino (opened November 20) offers 850 slot machines, live blackjack, casino bingo, and poker.  Games include Fortune Pai Gow Poker^® Progressive, Let It Ride Three-Card Bonus^® and Three-Card Poker^® plus slots like the hot new eBay™ and Star Trek™ machines.
• – The gourmet Verona Chophouse restaurant menu spotlights aged beef while the adjacent cozy wine bar has a good list of bottles to chose from.
• – Cascades Lounge is hopping with live entertainment nightly.
• – High-limit room with slots and tables.

Gila River Wild Horse Pass Casino:  I-10 freeway at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard exit and just a couple of miles from the Lone Butte casino.

• – Home to 875 slot machines, live poker, blackjack, keno and a 1500 seat high-stakes bingo room.
• – Next door to the very popular Arizona attraction, Rawhide Western Town, with its famous steakhouse and Wild West shows.
• – Park at the nearby Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort where you can dine at a number of restaurants including “Kai” — one of only two Five Diamond restaurants in all of Arizona – then take a flat-bottom boat ride to the casino.  (This is one of our favorite evenings out!)
• –Golf:  Whirlwind Golf Club with two courses.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino:  It’s a drive out to the town of Maricopa (about 40 minutes from Sky Harbor airport, exit Queen Creek Road off the I-10 freeway) but may be worth it if you are a Harrah’s Total Rewards Club® member wanting to get credit for your play.

• – New slot games like the popular Wizard of Oz™ plus lots of Super Times Pay™ video poker machines bring Phoenix players out to play.
• – The Range Steakhouse – a Harrah’s favorite – offers prime rib, lamb chops plus good seafood options like the sea scallops in chive butter.
• – Live poker, keno, blackjack and bingo as well as slots.
• – On the way, stop at Arena Sports Bar in Maricopa for some of the best Buffalo wings in Arizona.

Fort McDowell Casino:  Located about 20 minutes from Scottsdale near the town of Fountain Hills, this casino is most convenient for those staying in north Phoenix or Scottsdale.  The trip is worth it simply for the spectacular scenery you’ll see driving out on Shea Boulevard to the Beeline Highway and the casino.

• – New slots like Star Trek™ and Wizard of Oz™ plus lots of video poker machines including a $.25 progressive.  Largest “smoke-free” gaming area in town.
• – Lots of dining options including the sophisticated Anhala Restaurant at the adjacent Radisson Fort McDowell resort.  (The fish tacos with watermelon salsa are outstanding.)
• – Live entertainment in the Lucky Sevens Lounge.
• – Golf:  Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Course.

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The alluring pastry case at Payard Patisserie at Caesars Palace.

Making a visit to Payard’s exquisite bakery at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas takes on Holy Grail-like overtones because this place is NOT easy to find.  My advice — save yourself a lot of time and shoe leather and just ask any hotel employee to point you in the right direction.  (It’s at the back of the resort near the Café Lago buffet.  Look for the caramel-toned lighting and chocolate-colored curlicues facing the walkway.)

Once you do find it, you’ll be presented with two options for dining – either the casual counter-service-only café or the adjacent tiny jewel box of a restaurant.  The timing may decide for you since the café is open from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. while the bakery counter serves from 6:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.  Either way, you can rest assured that the fabulous pastries and desserts are on both menus.

And fabulous is not an overstatement when it comes to Monsieur Payard’s artistic pastries and sweets.  Winner of numerous “Best Pastry Chef” awards, Francois Payard proves his culinary mettle in every buttery croissant, velvety mousse and perfectly-constructed tart and gâteau on the menu.   Our favorites include the lush Maple Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote, the classic multi-layered Raspberry Napoleon and the sophisticated Vienne with its masterful blending of dark chocolate, orange and caramel. 

Dessert flavors extend to the decor at Payard with its caramel-toned lighting.

Since man cannot live by dessert alone (well, you could but probably shouldn’t) Payard Patisserie offers breakfast fare including omelets and quiches plus a lunch/light dinner menu of sandwiches and salads including a Tuna Nicoise salad that will remind you why this is one of France’s most beloved dishes.  For a heartier appetite, the Roast Beef Panini on authentic ciabatta with caramelized onions is robustly flavored while the accompanying house-made spicy potato chips are addictive. 

In addition to the café and bakery, there is a retail store stocked with boxes of luxurious handmade truffles and candies as well as Payard’s signature gift baskets to take home.

Where:  Caesars Palace

Hours:  Breakfast: 6:30am to 11:30am
              Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm
Pastry Counter: 6:30am to 11:00pm
Retail Store: Tue-Fri 6:30am to 11:00pm
Retail Store: Sat-Mon 6:00am to 11:00pm

Reservations: Tel.  877-346-4642

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A quiet spot for a drink is just behind these striking light fixtures at BOA Steakhouse in the Forum Shoppes at Caesars Palace.

In our quest to seek out the best bars for a quiet drink in Las Vegas, we give you Part II of our list.  Covering the stretch of the Las Vegas Strip from Caesars Palace to Mandalay Bay, we found great bars and lounges for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cocktail or two while enjoying the company you keep.

Caesars Palace – Between the resort itself and the sprawling Forum Shoppes complex, there are so many options for drinking and dining that you’re sure to find a place to call your own.  For us, that spot is BOA Steakhouse on the third floor of the newer shopping galleria.  Their homemade potato chips with cheese and shaved truffles are as decadent as they sound and a perfect foil to an icy cold beer.  If the weather is cooperating, we’re also partial to the outdoor Spanish Steps bar with its frozen concoctions and best-ever bar stools not to mention superior people-watching opportunities.

The Bellagio – What would you expect from Bellagio but the best in caviar and vodka service at the resort’s Petrossian Bar?  This plush lounge is just off the elegant lobby but tucked away enough to satisfy the mellowest of moods.  An unexpected treat is the lounge’s traditional afternoon tea complete with scones and finger sandwiches.

Paris Las Vegas – Look hard or you’re sure to miss this cozy little bar hidden away by the casino’s sports book area.  A few TV’s turned quietly to whatever game might be on is about the only distraction you’ll find at Le Bar du Sport.  (Yeah, that really is the name.)  Early in the evenings, before the dueling pianos begin banging away, you can also find a conversation-friendly atmosphere at Napoleon’s (located along  the cobble-stoned shopping area) where more than 100 champagnes beckon those with a bent for the bubbly.

Planet Hollywood – Yes, Virginia, there is a quiet spot at Planet Ho and we’ve found it – the bar at celeb-favorite KOI.  You don’t want to be there at peak dining hours but closer to the 5 p.m. opening of the lounge.  The lychee fruit martinis are highly-recommended or choose from the expansive sake list.

MGM Grand – Leave a trail of breadcrumbs as you make your way through this massive resort and ultimately to the restful atmosphere of Nobhill Tavern.  You’ll be glad you made the hike when your bartender serves you a perfectly mixed lemon drop martini or chilled glass of Napa Valley white.  We haven’t been there since the new menu was introduced but knowing what we do of Michael Mina’s food, the offerings should be sensational.

Luxor – The venerable pyramid has undergone a major interior facelift with lots of new restaurants and clubs added to the mix.  We have it on good authority that the lounge at TENDER Steak & Seafood or the bar at Company American Bistro are both perfect for a quiet drink.

Mandalay Bay – We’ve already written about how much we love the view from Mix so we’ll give you another option within the coconut-scented confines of the resort.  Surprisingly, we chose the Orchid Lounge just off the lobby near the main entrance to the resort.  Sweets and coffees as well as cocktails are served here.  You’ll hear a little bit of the casino buzz but still be far enough away to hear your companion whisper….

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The new volcano show features a musical score by Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead fame and Indian impresario Zakir Hussain and comes from the acclaimed design firm WET, creators of The Bellagio lake show.  Fireballs and the aptyly-named Fireshooters explode into the air and send fiery waves of burning lava across the Strip-front lagoon during the four-and-a-half-minute blazing spectacle.

See it for yourself with this terrific video of the opening night’s show from KLAS television.  Mirage Volcano Video.

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Chef Todd English's "Olives" at The Bellagio is a great bet for lunch.

Don’t be fooled by the location or first impression of Olives at The Bellagio, Las Vegas.  It’s open to the walkway through the tony shopping arcade and at first glance appears trendy-casual. And while it is marketed as one of the resort’s casual eateries, Olives at The Bellagio is actually a paragon of culinary consistency and excellence.

Once inside, it’s also pretty nifty looking with rich, dark hues, luxurious furnishings and over-sized arched windows leading out to a lovely patio overlooking the fountain.

The briskly professional staff sweeps to the table with water, menus and the most seductive bread service ever. An artisinal assortment is accompanied by both mellow, satiny black and green olive tapenades and glistening, giant whole olives. Warning — don’t overdo — the dishes that follow are equally spectacular. 

Celeb chef/owner Todd English has assembled a crack culinary staff to produce a roster of dishes that could best be described as “Mediterranean contemporary.”  Ingredients and flavors are direct and emphatic, preparations careful and sophisticated.

A rich, warm interior complements the excellent cuisine at Olives at The Bellagio.

Among the starters are a gently dressed, textural squid and octopus salad. Rosy as prime beef, tuna carpaccio is light but satisfying. Beef carpaccio is paired with an assertive Roquefort polenta that adds plenty of oomph to the blandish meat. All the lamb dishes are good – especially so the seductive little crusty, rare riblets.

Olives pizzas and flatbreads are thin and crackly yet have a pleasingly elastic texture that’s an ideal foil for toppings like earthy Portobello mushroom, Fontina cheese and truffle oil or, profoundly rich, sweet and salty fig and prosciutto.

No flagging with the entrees from delicate tortelli stuffed with butternut squash and moistened with brown butter and sage to duck “three ways” with a killer peach reduction that brings out the natural muskiness of the meat.

Having always opted for two starters rather than a dessert, we’ll assume that category is just as stellar as the rest of the menu.

The wine list is high-end and high-priced. With appetizers ranging from $15 to $20 and entrees going from $30 to $50 at dinner, lunch at Olives is a relative bargain.  But bear in mind, reservations – lunch and dinner – have been a must.

Where:  The Bellagio

Hours of Operation:
Lunch and Dinner Daily
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Reservations:
Suggested by calling 866.259.7111 or 702.693.7223

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Dale Chihuly's exquisite art glass adorns the ceiling at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. (Click on the photo to show detail.)

I have been a huge Dale Chihuly fan for years.  Even before seeing his masterful installation at The Bellagio in Las Vegas, I had admired his bold work at exhibitions in Washington, D.C. and in New York.  I even have a beautiful peach and gold  “Chihuly” rose bush in my garden — which is about as close as I’ll ever come to owning anything with his name on it.

So you can imagine how excited I was to see that his fanciful glass works are now being shown here in Phoenix at our beloved Desert Botanical Gardens.  Whether you are visiting the area or a resident, fans of his Bellagio work will definitely want to plan a visit to the gardens to see “Chihuly: The Nature of Glass.”  It should be especially interesting to see his intricate works of art set against a backdrop of our stark native plants. 

The show will be here until May 31, 2009, so there’s plenty of time to plan a trip to the gardens.  Advance tickets are mandatory so visit the garden’s website for more information and to see some gorgeous pictures of just a few of the wildly colorful pieces included in this exhibit.

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Harrah's Ak-Chin casino in Maricopa, AZ.

Harrah’s was actually pretty crowded Friday, probably due in part to people using the free slot play coupons — good for the holiday weekend only – like the $100 ones P.B. and I had just received in the mail.  (Way to get people in the doors, Ak-Chin marketing!)  Plus Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are when the qualifying drawings are held for the $1,000,000 giveaway finale coming up on December 28 at Ak-Chin so I’m sure lots of players came out for that, too.

We had a fun day at Harrah’s — much more fun than slogging through the stores looking for some Holy Grail of gifts.  We each started out playing Triple Double Bonus games on nickel Spin Poker Deluxe™ and not hitting much at first but then the cards started coming and we each hit for some aces, some deuces, and then threes with a kicker.  I even hit for a Royal Flush in hearts.  P.B. had the “best pay of the day” (we always have a fun competition going between us) with his four aces and a kicker on two lines which paid a little over $440.  We stayed most of the afternoon and left with a little more than we walked in with so a good trip in more ways than one. 

Oh, and on a side note, the bank of new Wizard of Oz™ slot machines was crazy-crowded with people gathered around watching the players and rooting them on during bonus rounds.  People love these new Wizard of Oz machines!  Guess you have to get there early to snag a seat at one. 

The rest of the weekend I’ve spent pulling together the holiday “Gift Guide“ along with the other gift suggestions you’ll find here on our site — all for you to give to the players on your holiday list.  The Internet is a wide and wonderful place if you know where to look!

And how did you spend your holiday weekend?  Get any gaming in you want to tell us about?

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Stunning glassware from Wynn LVNV makes a great holiday gift for someone on your list.

I can’t think of any reasons not to go to Las Vegas this December but I sure can think of a lot of reasons why I should go.  You should go, too.

1.  Christmas decorations at all the casinos.  Just like everything else in Vegas, the lights are brighter, the trees are taller, the decor more over-the-top.

2.  The Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  The designers seem to outdo themselves year-after-year with animated characters, fields of red and white poinsettias, sparkling trees and more.  I can’t wait to see this year’s display and then check out the holiday goodies at Jean-Philippe Patisserie.

3.  Holiday shopping made easy in just a couple of blocks.  The Forum Shops at Caesars, Miracle Mile stores at Planet Hollywood, the Fashion Show Mall and my fav store for beautiful glassware and gifts that will win raves – Wynn LVNV at the hotel’s Esplanade.  (Pictured above.)

4.  A spa day at any one of the world-class resort facilities and a chance to gear down from all the holiday stress — most of which I bring on myself.  I could really use a luxurious massage and facial right around mid-December.  Aaaaaah.

5.  The crowds will be down in December so I can easily get reservations at any of the hottest restaurants including Wolfgang Puck’s Cut at The Palazzo, Alex at Wynn, Bouchon Bistro at The Venetian and “Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio’s craftsteak at MGM Grand.

6.  Since there don’t seem to be as many Christmas parties in my circle this year, a trip to Las Vegas will give me an excuse for a night out (or two or three) to wear all my fun, sparkly once-every-year holiday outfits.

7.  A holiday dessert extravaganza.  What better reason than the holidays to try — for research purposes, of course — all the seasonal dessert specialities at my favorite sweets shops?  There’s Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace, Sugar & Ice at Wynn (hope they have peppermint or egg nog ice cream!) and the aforementioned Jean-Philippe Patisserie at The Bellagio.

8.  Encore at Wynn Las Vegas grand opening on December 21.  Be the first on your block to see it!

9.  HOT, HOT, HOT, hotel deals.  Look here.

10.  The Mirage Volcano reopens in December with a soundtrack from Grateful Dead drummer, Mickey Hart, and Indian musical sensation, Zakir Hussain.

11.  Coming from the colder climes?  Good news, you can still play golf in Las Vegas.

12.  The 12th Annual Holiday Festival at the downtown Fremont Street Experience with a special musical show and a 50-foot tree.

13.  Ooh and aah at the more than 500,000 Christmas lights at this year’s annual Ethel M Chocolate Factory’s Winter Wonderland at the Botanical Cactus Gardens.  Shining every night from 5 – 10 pm.

14.  The dueling piano show at Napoleon’s at Paris Las Vegas will most likely give me the chance to sing Christmas carols…loudly, badly and with a martini in hand.

15.  Who needs an excuse to go to Vegas?  Just go.

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With lights that change colors like an Arizona sunset, a soaring canopy greets visitors to the new Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Arizona.

So what does it sound like when every one of a casino’s 850 slot machines are ALL being played at once?  You would know – or you would have heard – if you were at the grand opening yesterday of Gila River’s new Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Arizona.  Casino-goers flocked to the handsome new gaming facility for a first look and to try their luck at one of the new machines.  Guests not seated in front of a machine or at one of the 24 table games milled around eagerly waiting for the opportunity to play.  Even the new “High Limit” area was crowded with players hoping to hit it big.

The Gila River Community is to be commended on this classy addition to the Phoenix gaming scene.  The interior is light and bright and highlighted by the use of natural materials like sandstone.  Shimmering walls of water surround the aptly-named, Cascades Lounge.  In the center of the casino, another water feature –this time a playful fountain — is the focal point of an outdoor courtyard.  Serving as a seating area for both the casual 24/7 Cafe on one side as well as the more formal Verona Chophouse opposite, this lovely outdoor space is perfect for taking a break from all the bells and whistles inside.  Another gem here is the cozy round wine bar adjoining Verona with a design reminiscent of a Napa Valley tasting room. 

Slot players will love this new casino.  Lots of games — both snappy new video reels as well as old favorites — in all kinds of denominations, will keep players happy.  There are the new eBay™ slots, free-spin favorites like Golden Chariots and the perennial fav — Wheel of Fortune®. 

Check it out yourself if you live in or plan on visiting Phoenix soon.  Lone Butte is located at Kyrene Road and the Loop 202 in Chandler.

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