Fused - Articles - Fuseds guide to Las Vegas

The original sin city has a reputation for gambling, shot-gun weddings and an abundance of Elvis Impersonators but it is so much more. You don’t even have to scratch the surface, or move off the famous strip, to experience more than mega buffets and crazy hotels. Its media image rarely exposes more than the obvious clichés but its surprisingly extensive art scene is growing so fast that it is soon to be the envy of most hip cities.

Home to some of the best restaurants, shows and hotels in the world Las Vegas is the biggest and most fun playground you are ever likely to visit. Whether you’re a high roller, a hipster or a down and out let Fused introduce you to the best artists in the current scene and guide you through the best of Vegas.

Hipsters Vegas
So you think Las Vegas is tacky and way too kitsch? Well think again. The art scene is eclectically wonderful, all the big DJ’s and bands include it on their circuit and A-listers scramble to get an invite to the many celebrity parties in town.

Where to sleep: TheHotel at Mandalay Bay. At 750 square feet, these are the largest standard rooms in Las Vegas. With a 42" plasma TV in the living area and marble and granite bathroom the suite is as lush as they come. Accommodation at THEhotel starts from £110 per night per room www.thehotelatmandalaybay.com

Where to gamble: The Hardrock Hotel. It may seem like a cliché but The Hardrock is where you’ll bump in to celebs and cool kids with the best threads.

What to see: House of Blues, Mandalay Bay. Not only does this venue have great outsider art on the walls it also manages to book the hippest bands visiting the city. Recent people to grace the stage have include the fabulously filthy Peaches.

What to do: First Friday: On the First Friday evening of every month a happening occurs just off the strip in the arts district. Artists, illustrators and musicians all come together for the event. Galleries open, the streets are cordoned off, people set up stalls, stages appear and the night comes alive with art, music and thousands of visitors.
Information on First Friday can be found at www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org

Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce at Mandalay Bay. Not the easiest of places to get in to but Forty Deuce is always a hit with the in-crowd. It’s a sexy and glamorous club that boasts its own bump ‘n grind band and a host of very saucy burlesque dancers. A low bar, plush intimate seating and seductive lighting all go hand in hand to give Forty Deuce the ultimate in lounge bar style. If you are uber hip then you might even get to sit at table number one with the best views in the house – but that is usually saved for the Hollywood A listers or the seriously rich.

Where to party: Tao, The Venetian. This club come restaurant come lounge comes from NYC and includes a 20-foot tall Buddha and waterfalls. Celebrity spotting is easy there too with Chloe Sevigny, Nelly and of course Miss Paris Hilton amongst its clientele. www.taorestaurant.com

How to get around: Every Hipster needs to be chauffer driven by Celebrity Coaches. With TV and DVD players, a selection of beverages as well as a driver that can not only tell you the best places to visit but can get you there in the quickest time it’s a must. They look pretty cool too. www.celebritylasvegas.com

High Rollers Vegas
Lucky you – you won the big one ay so time to splash out. It is very easy for you to spend it up in Las Vegas and you can do it in quite some style.

Where to sleep: The Venetian. A recreation of Venice the hotel is happy to boast winding canals, gondolas, arched bridges and over 4,000 suites. Nothing appears too lavish for the Venetian with opulence oozing out of every tiny detail.

Where to eat: For Dinner: Aureole, Mandalay Bay. On its way to securing the moniker of one of the best restaurants in the world Aureole is an elegant restaurant away from all the glitz of the strip. With its Swan Court (yes with real Swans) where guests can sit on private patios Chef Charlie Palmers eatery is about as lush as they get. The centre piece to the restaurant (other than the food) is the unique 42 foot tall wine tower which sits centre stage and holds 10,000 bottles. ‘Wine angels’ entertain diners by flying inside (with the aid of mechanical hoists) to collect their orders. Master Sommelier William Shearer is on hand to help you pick from one of the 60,000 bottles available.
A three course meal at Aureole costs £45 per person excluding wine. www.aurolelv.com

For Breakfast: Bouchon, The Venetian. Authentic French fare modelled after the original Bouchons of Lyon. Breakfast at Bouchon starts from £6 up to approximately £22 www.venetian.com

What to see: Grand Canyon / Skywalk. The Grand Canyon is a must for everyone to see whilst out in Las Vegas but the best way to do it is via Helicopter. Las Vegas Helicopters will pick you up from your hotel and whisk you off across the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead for the 40 minute ride to the Canyon. You can be dropped off at the bottom along the Colorado river for a boat ride and then fly back to the top of the canyon for the amazing views. The Grand Canyon West group will take you to the Hualapai Ranch to experience the Cowboy Cookout, Wagon Rides and then on to the Indian Village and the amazing Skywalk. Exceeding 4,000ft the Skywalk is currently under construction and will be a glass bridge suspended above the Colorado River on the very edge of the canyon.
A day trip to Grand Canyon West for the "Above and Below" experience with boat rides is approximately £215 per person. To book log on to
www.destinationgrandcanyon.com / www.lvhelicopters.com

Where to shop: For some top class shopping therapy head to the Grand Canal Shops at the Venetian. Along with Burberry and Jimmy Choo the opulent surrounding along with a Gondala Ride is the best way to shop.
www.thegrandcanalshoppes.com

How to get around: If you are a high roller in Vegas you won’t ever have to step foot on the strip. There will always be a limousine courtesy of your hotel on hand to take you on your journey.

What to do: Visit the Bathhouse Spa at Mandalay Bay for a massage.
A 25 minute Swedish massage at THEBathhouse costs approximately £40. Reservations can be made online at www.thehotelatmandalaybay.com

Down and out Vegas
If the super air conditioning, the lack of exit signs and clocks, the inability to leave your place at the fruit machine and the free alcohol have all robbed you of your hard earned cash don’t fear. There is something for everyone to do in Vegas – even the broke ones.

Where to eat: Buffets are a valuable source of nutrition in Las Vegas for not very much at all you can eat at the Knights of the Round Table Buffet (the biggest in Las Vegas) at the Excalibur Hotel any mealtime.

Where to gamble: If you’ve lost all your money you really shouldn’t be pumping anymore in to the slot machines but you could go for the original Las Vegas experience and go downtown to the Golden Nugget.

What to see:
Mud Wrestling at Gilleys - The Frontier
The Freemont Street Experience - Downtown

Where to shop: Premium Outlets discount mall. It’s a big outdoor shopping mall which has all the big sports, Women’s and Menswear brands as well as home and accessories and its all at a discounted price. What’s more if you log on to
www.premiumoutlets.com/VIP and register you can download savings offers and get even more discount.

What to do:
Palm reading at Psychic World
Pretend to Gamble and get free cocktails in any casino
Free Shows: Pirate show at TI / Watch the water show at the Bellagio
Go up the Eiffel tower to see the views

How to get around: The bus service along the strip will take you along all the major hotels and down to Freemont Street.
The Monorail drops off at all the major hotels along the strip and you even get to see the Wynn Hotel golf course (which will probably be your only chance if you’ve spent all your money).

How to get to Vegas
bmi flies direct to Las Vegas three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) from Manchester. Economy fares start at £396 return, inclusive of all taxes and charges. To book or for more information visit www.flybmi.com or call 0870 60 70 222.

For further information on Las Vegas log on to www.visitlasvegas.co.uk or call 0870 523 8832.

Image by Richard Brian