------- Wynn and Encore Hotels, Las Vegas ------

Wynn and Encore Hotels

Two of Las Vegas' Most Exclusive Venues

No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a look inside and out at Steve Wynn's fabulous Wynn Hotel, one of the key landmarks along the central part of the Las Vegas Strip - the hotspot of Las Vegas Boulevard and home to many of the world's largest and most beautiful hotels.

Wynn Las Vegas | Encore Las Vegas

Steve Wynn's Las Vegas success story is more interesting than that of any big time gambler.

His amazing properties have set new standards worldwide. Wynn parlayed his stake one of Las Vegas early casino hotels, the "Golden Nugget", investing in larger projects including his groundbreaking luxury masterpiece the Bellagio which was later sold to MGM Grand. Wynn built his current masterpiece the Wynn with those profits and followed up with the Encore several years later, one of the more recent additions to the Las Vegas Strip Scape.

Lavo at the Venetian

We'll be profiling all of the amazing clubs in Las Vegas over the next few weeks. These are not in any particular order and you'll find each has it's own unique theme. Even if you are not a "club" person, you'll want to visit some just for the sake of checking out the places that often rank among Las Vegas most popular venues. Celebrity watchers will also note many of these names as the places where celebrities tend to hang out when in Las Vegas:

LAVO (at The Venetian)

Official LAVO Website is HERE

The Nightclub

LAVO Nightclub is the latest hot spot from the creators of TAO Asian Bistro, TAO Nightclub & TAO Beach. Located at the Palazzo, LAVO has become Las Vegas' newest celebrity haunt that has already hosted a long list of star studded evenings.

Located directly on Las Vegas Boulevard, LAVO's terrace (available for dinner, cocktails and private events) overlooks The Strip, affording one of the best views in all of Las Vegas. With over 20,000 square feet of space, LAVO offers a multitude of indulgent entertainment experiences. Guests can start or end the night with cocktails in one of the sexiest lounges in town, or enjoy incredible Italian cuisine in one of the warmest fun filled dining rooms around. Above the restaurant, the award winning LAVO Nightclub boasts one of the most intimate, yet energetic, dance floors in Las Vegas surrounded by lush table seating and an expansive bar.

With the restaurant, lounge and terrace open 7 nights a week, the club open 6 nights and some of the latest hours in Vegas, LAVO has quickly become a "must-go" destination for those who love great food, music, dancing and a high quality nightlife experience.

People Magazine, "Vegas' New Hotspot."
Las Vegas Weekly, "Best Intimate/Boutique Nightclub."

Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 6th
Holly Madison will be hosting
the "Holly Bowl" at LAVO

Saturday, February 13th
Kim Kardashian cordially invites you to join her at LAVO Italian Restaurant & Nightclub at The Palazzo for the Queen of Hearts Ball. This pre-Valentine's Day event will be an enchanted affair in celebration of love.

The Lounge

The LAVO Lounge serves as an ideal meeting place to socialize in the early evenings and indulge in the culinary creations of our Italian Restaurant. With twenty foot ceilings of old wood and low chandeliers crown an area featuring a curved bar and leather seating. The lounge is highlighted by a spectacular glass and wood screened bridge and is bordered by a grand carved stone wall. This setting allows the guest dramatic views of the Las Vegas strip from our outdoor terrace.

Winemaker Dinners at Bellagio Las Vegas

Bellagio has announced two winemaker events - one for February and one for March - that are sure to be extraordinary.

Click here for the official Bellagio Announcements and information.

Stratosphere Las Vegas North Strip

Stratosphere LasVegas 374
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The Stratosphere is effectively the northern terminus of the Las Vegas Strip, the world famous portion of Las Vegas Boulevard that is home to dozens of the world's largest hotels and casinos. The Las Vegas Strip is about 3.5 miles long - the distance from the Stratsophere to Mandalay Bar area on the south end.

Other properties on the Northern end of the strip are the Sahara, Circus Circus, and Riviera.

You'll find that the most beautiful, extravagant, and expensive hotels tend to be in the center of the strip - Wynn, Encore, Bellagio, Venetian, Caesar's Palace. Although there are several very nice "still big and beautiful" hotels at the South Strip: MGM, Mandalay Bay, Luxor (though it seems to be in something of a decline based on my last trip).

The two ends seem to be falling into greater disrepair over time although the Stratosphere seemed to be holding up pretty well as the north strip anchor property. There are spectacular carnival rides near the top of the tower though note the steep admission even if you just want a nice view from the observation deck. It's not clear to me if you can eat at the restaurant and avoid the high price of a tower ticket.

Crystals Retail at CityCenter Las Vegas

Crystals Retail at Aria Resort
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The beautiful wooden interior of the Crystals Retail Center on the Strip at CityCenter was quite spectacular, though I hope the wood holds up under all the traffic this area will see. I was there within weeks of the opening and noticed already there are some marks on this remarkable floor, which appeared to be a blend of various exotic woods.

The staircase has embedded agates which are backlit to create an amazing effect - Crystals has a very beautiful decor.

Paris? Nope, it's VEGAS Baby! Paris Hotel from in front of Bellagio

Paris? Nope, it's VEGAS Baby! Paris Hotel from in front of Bellagio
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

One of the prettiest views in Las Vegas is from the front of the Bellagio looking out over the Bellagio Fountains, across the strip to Paris Las Vegas' half sized Eiffel Tower.

Note that the Bellagio is something of an "anchor" for a lot of fun action in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The fountains are a "must see" and inside you'll find some of the most appealing hotel decor in the world, including an incredible art gallery (fee charged but worth it), huge chocolate fountain, and beautiful conservatory with flowers that change with the season.

A tram now takes you from the Bellagio to the Crystals Shopping Area where you can access the Vdara Hotel, Aria Hotel and Casino, or keep riding to the Monte Carlo.

Canoe Sculpture at Vdara, Las Vegas

Canoe Sculpture at Vdara, Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The Casino Times has a nice feature with ten items that distinguish Las Vegas' new city within a city - CITYCENTER. This huge project was large even by Las Vegas Standards and many were concerned about a year ago that it would not be completed, but after a lawsuit against and and subsequent loan to partner in the project MGM, Dubai World and MGM did complete one of the world's greatest commercial developments.
http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/top-10-citycenter-facts-and-figures-191964