|
|
Las Vegas News of the Week |
| |
February 9, 2009
Vegas4Visitors Weekly
by Rick Garman
|
|
|
Vegas Recovery? Don’t Bet On It
2008 was a bad year for a lot of people. Las Vegas was certainly not immune to the economic crisis engulfing the country and the city has taken a hard hit on just about every level as tourism declines and the money those tourists brought with them vanishes.
Anyone hoping that 2009 was going to be better for America’s playground may be disappointed as a raft of doom and gloom news is surfacing just a few weeks into the new year.
Station Casinos is expected to file for bankruptcy in March as part of a plan to restructure its debt. The company most famous for running a chain of usually highly successful locals’ casinos like Red Rock Resort and Green Vally Ranch has been hit hard as a lot of Vegas residents are staying home and the relatively small chunk of the tourism market they were used to has all but disappeared. The move is not a traditional going out of business bankruptcy, but rather one of those so-complicated-it-makes-my-head-hurt financial moves designed to make the company stronger in the long run, so it could be a good thing ultimately unless you’re one of the people to whom the company owes money.
Hopefully none of those people work at one of the Wynn Resorts because they are going to feel the financial pinch even more. The company announced that employees of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore will be getting cuts to their salaries, hours, and 401(k) contributions in order to save as much as $100 million annually. The good news is that by doing so, Wynn Resorts hopes to not have to lay anyone off, a move that has already been happening at other companies on The Strip.
Meanwhile gaming stocks have continued to drop to some of their lowest levels on record, wiping out corporate value and much hope of these companies being able to even keep the status quo going. One of the hardest hit was MGM Mirage who controls the majority of casinos on The Strip (Bellagio, Mirage, and many more). After a Wall Street downgrading their stock slipped to around $5 (after being well over $100 a year ago) and there are rumors that they may need to sell another hotel or two – after just selling Treasure Island – just to keep the lights on.
Speaking of rumors, there are rumblings that another major casino company may be forced into bankruptcy sooner rather than later and this bankruptcy could be the kind that causes doors to close.
Paradoxically it’s a great time for people like you and me to go to Vegas. Occupancy, which normally hovers in the 90-95% range, is down to the 70-75% range and room rates have dropped dramatically. Accommodations that were regularly going for $400 a night or more are now often in the $100-$200 range and you can find weekend rooms at fine Strip hotels for under $100 easily. That would’ve been unheard of a year ago even at the low-end properties.
return to the top
|
Station Casinos' Red Rock Resort
|
Congress Puts a Hit on the Mob
As a part of the massive economic stimulus package currently being debated by Congress, many cities will get money to help spur local development and Las Vegas will get a chunk of that money. But after a slew of bad press, that cash probably won’t be going where it had originally been envisioned: the mob.
More specifically, the proposed Mob Museum, a multi-million dollar project designated to go into the former courthouse building in Downtown Las Vegas.
The museum is a pet project of Las Vegas city mayor Oscar Goodman, himself a former attorney for various “connected” types back in the day. He has been pushing for years to get the thing built and was hoping that some of the stimulus money could go toward the project that he believes will spur tourism and increase the city coffers.
Whether he is right or not, the project gained notoriety in the media as a prime example of waste in government spending and now it is all but assured to not get a nickel of the $800 billion plus package. In fact, it’s likely that no money will go to any proposed or existing museum or recreation project including things like zoos, stadiums, theatres, or anything else of that nature.
That could be bad news for the Nevada State Museum currently under construction at the Springs Preserve. Budget cuts are putting the completion of the project in jeopardy.
The Mob Museum may still get built if they can raise the money in other ways, estimated to be in the $50 million neighborhood. If it does, one of the exhibits will be devoted to Frank Sinatra who had some “connected” friends of his own. The organizers of the museum have recently purchased a rare painting of Sinatra dressed as a sad clown.
return to the top
|
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Awards
The You Say Goodbye and I Say Hello Award of the Week goes to The Joint, the near-legendary concert venue at the Hard Rock Hotel that closed last week after a reportedly fiery concert by the hard rocking act Motley Crue. A new, bigger Joint will be opening in April as a part of a $700 million dollar expansion of the hotel and one of the first performers on the new stage will be Sir Paul McCartney (April 19 – tickets go on sale February 14 through Ticketmaster).
Speaking of the Hard Rock, the Seeing Double Award of the Week goes to the restaurant portion of that particular chain, which is readying a second outlet in Vegas. The three-story facility is currently under construction on The Strip just north of the MGM Grand and will feature a store, a full restaurant, and a private space for small concerts and other events. It is scheduled to open in July.
The Whoops Mr. Moto I’m a Coffee Pot Award of the Week goes to Java, the new leopard cub born in November at Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden at the Mirage.
And finally the Duuuuuuude Award of the Week goes to Monster Circus, the new act that will be playing at the Las Vegas Hilton. Described as a “high-octane live rock concert with sexy dancers, human circus acts, aerialists, and freaks,” the show will feature a super –band of sorts staffed by people who have played with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Ratt, KISS, and more. The show opens March 19 and will play several nights a month after the Barry Manilow concert, which is funny in ways that I probably don’t need to explain. Go to lvhilton.com for more information.
return to the top
|
Special |
| |
|
Vegas4Visitors Dining Special |
|
|
|
I hope you’re hungry. This week’s column is being overtaken by food, with several new restaurant reviews and a preview of what you’ll find to eat at Vegas’ next major hotel and casino.
Bon Appétit!
return to the top
|
Feature of the Week |
| |
|
Restaurant Review: The Steakhouse at Circus Circus |
|
|
|
My memories of my childhood are sketchy at best, but when it comes to food my recall abilities are much stronger. I also use food as direction – turn left at the Jack in the Box. But I digress.
One of the restaurants I remember fondly growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was the Flame Room, the small city’s only real steakhouse. It was a traditional steakhouse in the best sense of the term, dimly lit (and not just because it was in the basement of a downtown building), white table cloths, fine service, and juicy, flame-broiled steaks.
Those kinds of places don’t exist much anymore. The Flame Room is long gone. The last time I was in the neighborhood there was a gay bar in the space above where it used to be, as if you needed proof that times, they are a-changing.
Even in Vegas, the traditional steakhouse has mostly given way to more upscale, fancier versions of the breed. Although some still evoke the old-world style, in general the restaurants are lighter and brighter, menus are bigger and more continental, and you’ll now find words like Kobe adjacent to what used to just be “steak.”
But the Steakhouse at Circus Circus has eschewed that kind of “progress” and instead delights and celebrates its tradition, doing basically the same thing for the last two decades. Fans of steak may celebrate also.
The room is a dark, warm, green-walled space with clubby booths and white-clothed tables. Fake animal heads and generous use of wood complete the den-like environment and the exhibition kitchen adds a fiery flair.
The menu is as steakhouse basic as you can get. A few mostly seafood based appetizers, a soup and salad or three, and then the meat – several different cuts of steak, lobster and a few other fishy options, a lamb chop thrown in for good measure, your usual side dishes (veggies, baked potatoes, etc.), and that’s it. But what they may lack in extensive options, they more than make up for in quality and execution.
The filet I had was as near to perfect as one can get, not needing any of the accompanying sauces that come with it. Flavorfully smoky, with the juices flowing, it was the kind of steak I find myself craving at moments like this one when I’m writing up this review.
Prices are higher than what you’ll pay at your neighborhood Outback but nowhere near as expensive as most of the high-end steakhouses on The Strip. Steaks are in the $40 range but that includes soup or salad and a side dish whereas at other restaurants you’ll usually pay at least that much and just get your steak ala carte. Figure $50-75 per person once you factor in a glass of wine, dessert, tax, and tip.
Service, as you would expect, is almost flawless – a perfect blend of knowledge, deference, speed, and efficiency.
Times change and many of the newer steakhouses in Las Vegas are better overall restaurants, but if you are looking for a traditional steakhouse experience, you can’t do any better than this one.
The Steakhouse at Circus Circus
Circus Circus
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-794-3767
website
Hours:
Daily 5pm-Close
return to the top
|
Feature of the Week |
| |
|
Restaurant Preview: M Resort |
|
|
|
If you decide to visit M Resort Spa Casino after it opens on March 1, 2009, you should bring your appetite with you . The hotel will have a wide variety of really interesting sounding restaurants to tempt your taste buds. Here is a preview:
Studio B – Show Kitchen Buffet
Studio B integrates a state-of-the-art restaurant with a live-action cooking studio. In the main dining room chefs will prepare appetizers, entrees, and patisserie desserts. Guests of Studio B can enjoy beer and wine selections as part of their meal at no additional cost. Fast-paced, entertaining and ever--changing live cooking and technique demonstrations by culinary experts will have guests routinely coming back for more.
Marinelli’s –Italian
At Marinelli’s guests can dine in the stylish and comfortable restaurant or enjoy the terrace overlooking the Villaggio Del Sole. Menu selections will include risottos, handmade pastas, seafood specialties, steaks, chops and veal dishes as well as selections from the Marnell family recipe book and wines from the Marnell family private label.
Terzetto – Steak and Seafood
Terzetto will combine charcoal-grilled steak and seafood with an even better social atmosphere. Guests can savor hand-selected prime cuts of beef, including a reserve list from the Marnell family ranch and seafood specialties. Terzetto Oyster Bar will offer a casual dining option with made-to-order selections including soups, stews, and pan favorites, oysters on the half shell, seafood salads, cocktails, ceviche and pastas. To top it off, guests can enjoy an extensive wine list or hand-crafted cocktails and the unmatched views both inside and outside.
Restaurant Veloce Cibo & Bar Veloce
Gracing the summit of the M Resort, Veloce Cibo will combine an extensive menu of appetizers, entrees, sushi, sashimi and nigiri with desserts and a range of hand-crafted cocktails and specialty drinks that will take center stage at Bar Veloce. Veloce Cibo offers amazing views of the Las Vegas skyline from its top floor terrace.
Red Cup Café – 24 Hour Café
This 1920’s art-deco inspired cafe will be the place for hand-prepared American classics, Asian cuisine, fresh brewed coffees and homemade desserts. Guests can also choose from a wide variety of breakfast dishes.
Rounding out the offerings will be a wine tasting room, an artisan bakery, a deli, and an outdoor Mediterranean café.
M Resort Spa Casino opens on March 1, 2009 and is located about 10 miles south of Mandalay Bay at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd. and St. Rose Parkway. For more information visit TheMResort.com.
return to the top
|
Special of the Week |
| |
|
Restaurant Review: Magnolia’s Veranda |
|
|
|
This 24 hour café at the Four Queens in Downtown Las Vegas has gained quite a reputation among locals, business types, and even some tourists for its extensive menu offerings, fantastically low prices, and better than usual coffee shop food.
If you can’t find something that sounds good on the six-page long menu you’re just way too picky and need help. They offer up appetizers (chicken wings, shrimp cocktail, and more), soups including Louisiana gumbo and chili con carne, nearly a dozen salads from Caesar to Greek, deli sandwiches, hot sandwiches, burgers, Hawaiian specialties, steak and seafood, fried chicken, Italian pastas, pizza, a full breakfast menu, desserts, and micro brewed beers.
And those are just a few examples. Six pages people!
Those looking for meal deals should also pay attention to this place – they offer things like the $8.95 prime rib dinner with all the fixings nightly.
I was there for a quick lunch and I had the Four Queens Dip, roast beef with Swiss cheese and a side of au jus. It was not the kind of sandwich that I will remember forever but it was good, solid, rib-sticking food and my bill with a drink and the side of fries that was included was about $8. Some of the steak and seafood entrees are more expensive obviously but not a lot more and a fraction of what you’ll pay elsewhere.
If you’re looking for a good, inexpensive meal head Downtown to Magnolia’s Veranda.
Magnolia’s Veranda
Four Queens
202 Fremont St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
702-385-4011
website
Open 24 Hours
return to the top
|
Special of the Week |
| |
|
Restaurant Review: BLT Burger |
|
|
|
I’m a burger purist. Lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, American cheese… bacon is always good. Bleu cheese if I’m feeling adventurous. So the appeal of this whole gourmet burger movement kind of escapes me.
BLT Burger at The Mirage is one of those places that takes the traditional burger and amps it up in terms of ingredients, toppings, and definitely price.
You can get a traditional angus burger but most of the offerings are more daring. There’s an American Kobe beef burger, a Tex Mex with jalapenos and salsa, and various non-beef burgers from lamb to turkey to salmon, and even a pork and shrimp mixture topped with pickled carrots and cucumber.
We had a couple of the more “normal” burgers and found ourselves severely underwhelmed. Mine was undercooked, which didn’t help, but beyond that it was just a decent burger and not much more.
That would be fine, I suppose, if the prices were not much more than decent burger prices but as mentioned, they are higher than that. A lot higher. Prices start at $12 and go up from there, with cheese, bacon, chili, avocado, and other extras another $1 or $1.50 on top of it. Want fries or onion rings? That’ll be another $5 please. Add in a beverage (alcoholic or otherwise), tax, and tip and you’re talking $20 per person easily. If I’m going to spend $20 on a burger meal it better be a fantastic burger and these weren’t.
Now milk shakes… that’s a whole other story. Owing to their twisted diner aesthetic, BLT Burger offers a wide range of handmade milkshakes served in giant soda fountain glasses. From standard chocolate to ones with Twinkies or peanut butter and jelly to “spiked” shakes with booze in them, these might be reason enough to go here.
But if you do, you may want to consider stopping for a $6 Fatburger and then go for the milkshakes.
BLT Burger
The Mirage
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-792-7888
Hours:
Sun, Tue-Wed 11am-2am
Mon, Thu-Sat 11am-4am
return to the top
|
|
