The rest of Vegas (with Mystere)
Slowly getting un-jetlagged.
One more Cirque show seen: Mystere, which I've been waiting for since I was a poor college student walking back and forth past the theater and wondering how the heck one can manage to spend $70 on seeing a show, however intriguing it may appear.
Mumble-teen years later, I was not disappointed. Mystere is the perfect example of classic Cirque. A great soundtrack, whimsical costumes, a loose surreal theme, often too much happening at once for a single attention span, and of course fantastic, beautifully choreographed acts. All in all, just what a discriminating fanatic would expect. Ka still wins the title of my favorite show ever, but Mystere is where I'd send someone to see what Cirque is all about.
In the more good food department, a couple of places that turned out better than they have any right to be. Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian, operated by the founder of Cheesecake Factory: menu is diverse and non-generic, prices are Vegas-reasonable, food is tasty. The Sugar Factory Restaurant, right outside Paris, and therefore with a fantastic view of the Bellagio fountains across the street: unfortunately we were too tired for dessert, for which the place is famous, but the food was delicious and interestingly put together.
Also, much hyped and entirely living up to it: the Burger Bar between Luxor and Mandalay Bay. You can build a burger with not just a choice of multitudes of toppings, but also half a dozen types of bread, and, best of all, a variety of choices of meat - three grades of beef including wagyu, buffalo, lamb, turkey, salmon, chicken and veg. The result is every bit as good as it sounds.
Elsewise, just meandering the casinos was glorious glitzy fun. A few of the relatively more recent ones (read: built since 1997 when I was in town last) - Aria, Wynn, Palazzo, Venetian, Belaggio - are well-lit and airy and gorgeous. It's good to be home, but in a way, I miss the gilded tackiness of it all already.
One more Cirque show seen: Mystere, which I've been waiting for since I was a poor college student walking back and forth past the theater and wondering how the heck one can manage to spend $70 on seeing a show, however intriguing it may appear.
Mumble-teen years later, I was not disappointed. Mystere is the perfect example of classic Cirque. A great soundtrack, whimsical costumes, a loose surreal theme, often too much happening at once for a single attention span, and of course fantastic, beautifully choreographed acts. All in all, just what a discriminating fanatic would expect. Ka still wins the title of my favorite show ever, but Mystere is where I'd send someone to see what Cirque is all about.
In the more good food department, a couple of places that turned out better than they have any right to be. Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian, operated by the founder of Cheesecake Factory: menu is diverse and non-generic, prices are Vegas-reasonable, food is tasty. The Sugar Factory Restaurant, right outside Paris, and therefore with a fantastic view of the Bellagio fountains across the street: unfortunately we were too tired for dessert, for which the place is famous, but the food was delicious and interestingly put together.
Also, much hyped and entirely living up to it: the Burger Bar between Luxor and Mandalay Bay. You can build a burger with not just a choice of multitudes of toppings, but also half a dozen types of bread, and, best of all, a variety of choices of meat - three grades of beef including wagyu, buffalo, lamb, turkey, salmon, chicken and veg. The result is every bit as good as it sounds.
Elsewise, just meandering the casinos was glorious glitzy fun. A few of the relatively more recent ones (read: built since 1997 when I was in town last) - Aria, Wynn, Palazzo, Venetian, Belaggio - are well-lit and airy and gorgeous. It's good to be home, but in a way, I miss the gilded tackiness of it all already.