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.) (more…)
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.(more…)
The iconic Mirage Volcano made it’s newly-renovated debut on The Strip in Las Vegas last night. Under construction since February of this year, the $25 million face-lift caps a recent $110 million room and suite redesign to The Mirage’s 2,765 Deluxe and Tower Deluxe accommodations.
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.
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.
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 atJean-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.)(more…)
Lots of fun things to do this weekend in and around Phoenix casinos. Enjoy these events and a stop to play your favorite games including live poker and blackjack, lucky slots and more in the Valley of the Sun.
At Fort McDowell, enjoy the Orme Dam Victory Dayscelebration including a powwow and the All-Indian Rodeo with bull riding, calf roping and more. East of Fountain Hills off Arizona 87 east of Fort McDowell Road (follow the signs). The carnival starts tonight at 5 p.m. and events continue through Nov. 16. Complete calendar here. (more…)
Casino Arizona at Indian Bend - construction has progressed rapidly since this photo was taken in early September.
Casino Arizona is moving right along with construction of its new resort and spa at Indian Bend and the Loop 101. Members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community are betting that this new 15-story resort featuring almost 500 rooms and a huge, 13,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art spa along with the location’s already-operating Talking Stick Golf Club will appeal to Scottsdale visitors looking for an activity and amenity-packed resort experience.
The centerpiece of the new resort near will be the casino with its 240,000 square-foot gaming floor featuring 800 slot machines, 50 poker tables, a Vegas-style off-track betting lounge, and a high-limit slots area. When it comes time to dine or just relax with a cocktail, guests will be able to choose from among eight restaurants and 10 lounges. Also, a new 750-seat showroom will bring live entertainment year-round to the venue.
In addition to Scottsdale/Phoenix locals and vacationers, the new Casino Arizona Resort & Spa will also be courting the business and convention community by offering over 50,000 square-feet of meeting and expo space.
Slated to open in December 2009, the new hotel will be privately operated by the community. A “topping-off” ceremony was held earlier this week when members and invited guests gathered to celebrate the placement of the final beam onto the structure. (The photo above was taken in late-summer.)
In addition to the Indian Bend location, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community also operates Casino Arizona at McKellips Road and the Loop 101 and hosts more than 7 million visits yearly at its two properties.
Whether you are planning a visit to Phoenix or you live right here in the Valley, if you haven’t visited Fort McDowell Casino lately, now is the time to take advantage of a special player’s club discount and enjoy a fall stay at a great rate at the luxurious Radisson Fort McDowell Resort. Spend the day enjoying the resort’s many amenities -spa, swimming pools, gourmet restaurant, golf at the nearby We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - then play the night away at the casino. (more…)
