Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

December 10, 2006 11:06 AM Posted by Hunter

Hey Guys,

The computer I use for recording the podcasts is in the shop so I won't be cranking one out today. I hope/expect to have it back tomorrow and then I'll bust one out before I head to Las Vegas on Friday.

December 10, 2006 12:00 PM Posted by detroit1051

Hunter, when you're in Vegas, try to find out when the old DI garage is coming down. I'm surprised it's still there considering how close it is to Encore. Are they waiting for the huge employee garage behind Sands Expo Center to open?

December 10, 2006 3:30 PM Posted by mike_ch

I imagine they are. If they didn't wait for it to open, where would the employees park?

I've been in town a few times but haven't brought my camera. We're in a weird sort of phase anyway since it's cowboy/rodeo week so there's Jack Daniels billboards and redneck comedy banners all over time. At risk of stealing Hunter's thunder I'll just write the minor developments here:

Palazzo hasn't moved much. Some exterior facade work is creeping up the tower on the side closer to Sands Ave, and they are definitely putting up a marquee since the legs that were there now have a box sitting on top of them.

I do plan to go visit Mirage on the opening day of Revolution. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Lastly, the walls around Cleopatra's Lounge at Luxor have advertisements. MGM has renamed their spa facilities to "Nurture: The Spa at Luxor." Giza Gallery is now the Luxor Galleria, and thhe same forces that de-pirated Treasure Island are working on renaming shops and repurposing others entirely. A Criss Angel store is opening up but called "The Store @ Luxor." I didn't know what that meant until I saw the @ was actually some little anarchy-style A that is apparently Criss Angel's trademark. So if you're not a fan of his, don't waste your time finding it, you'll just be let down with what you find.

Ads on the lounge wall also include a fine dining establishment called Aspen 702 (I'm guessing this will go in the Isis/Sacred Sea Room space) and a general changes-are-happening advert that shows a closeup of the pyramid and says "The apex of a new era: coming 2007." The phony Egypt style hieroglyphics and assorted theming on the wall going up to the attractions level is being torn out and infrastructure underneath is plainly visible.

December 10, 2006 3:54 PM Posted by Mike E

Thanks for the update, Mike. Do you know the opening date of Revolution Lounge? I'm in town December 17-19. Perhaps we can have a drink there if it's open by then.

December 10, 2006 5:10 PM Posted by mike_ch

Mike, it's rumored to open on the 15th. I'm not into loud music or alcohol, sorry, so I'll basically be taking pictures of whatever you can see outside.

---
And just as I talk about the Egypt stuff between the lounge and La Salsa being ripped off, Five Hundy says the Sphynx is rumored to be torn down. Well, it doesn't appear in any of the promotional pictures for the upcoming renovations, so....

Although they should really go ahead and switch the pyramid with gold glass now so it doesn't look bizarre with THEplace jammed up against it.

December 12, 2006 7:04 AM Posted by Andy

Cheers for the info about Luxor Mike_ch, guess we will end up with another "TI" type mess!!

Does anyone know if the Egyptian theme is being removed entirely?

Thought the revolution lounge looked horrid from the artists impression.

Ps cheers Hunter for the info you gave me on the Mirage in a previous post.

December 13, 2006 10:57 PM Posted by Hunter

I'm still waiting for my computer to come back (long story) but my understanding is that Apple shipped the part I need and I should be back in action tomorrow...

Now, I don't know if I will be able to get the podcast out before I go because I only have a day but I will try...

I will be recording some live segments this weekend with a whole crew of co-conspirators so whatever show that ends up on will be a good one...

December 14, 2006 8:26 PM Posted by David F.

Hunter,

Wish I had known it was going to take this long, I would have loaned you my Mac Mini that I have sitting at home, not doing much ;-)

No worries, we will still be here when you get back, have a great time and don't drink too much!!!!

December 14, 2006 8:41 PM Posted by Hunter

Yeah, I actually could have taken my Mini from the entertainment center to the 'studio'/office but it just didn't happen.

Anyway, I have my computer back (at least for now) though since I am about to leave I don't think I'll get a podcast out before I get back.

Thanks for the support.

December 17, 2006 9:33 PM Posted by motoman

TIME's Person of the Year is: You. The creators of so-called User Generated Content, that is.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6187113.stm

So I'd like to once again thank Hunter for providing us this venue for sharing our particular fondness for looking "behind the curtain" of the Vegas resort experience. Re-reading a couple posts from the archives (Hunter's pre-opening Wynn report and Mike_E's TR from his first Fairway Villa stay last November), I was struck by just how their observations hit the nail on the head of what I like about this blog.

And in the spirit of TIME's recognition of the collaborative power of the Web, I'd extend those thanks to the regular contributors here. Notably detroit1051, mike_ch, Mike_E, Brian Fey, Adam F; a couple others I might've missed; and the Far Easterners checking in from Macao. Cheers!