Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

December 24, 2008 10:18 AM Posted by detroit1051

All the reports here on Encore have been excellent and informative, but, in my opinion, Dave Schwartz really captured the essence of the property in the link Hunter posted above.
"Encore is the ultimate Vegas and the anti-Vegas, both at the same time." I can't wait!

December 24, 2008 11:13 AM Posted by Phil

I'm curious if the Encore website will remain as it is, it hasn't really updated at all, no info on restaurants, spa....etc. I'm not sure if the site isn't ready or this is an actual marketing plan to not give any info out, at least initially, to gain people's curiosity.

December 24, 2008 11:18 AM Posted by mike_ch

McKee's writeup definitely has a lot of insight for the Wynn fans, but Dr. Dave's post made me sit up and actually think about what I saw, and the more I think about, he's right.

Encore is the first high-end Steve Wynn hotel, maybe even the first Steve Wynn hotel period, that isn't trying to knock you over the head with self-importance. As much as I gush about the details, Bellagio definitely has an air of snootiness about it, and I've written a novella about how WLV tries too hard to exclude.

The design of Encore flies totally in the face of everything done there. Very little of the casino feels excluded or tucked out of sight. It did on opening night because of all the staff-made barriers and reservation checks, but on the next day the floor seemed incredibly open. Wazuzu, Society, and even Switch have a lot of sightlines between the dining room and the walkways. All bars are open to the walkway, even the one associated with high-limit gaming.

Sinatra is a bit more secluded and I haven't gotten a good look at it yet, it might be the exception. Botero's entrance seems closed off because of the dark interiors and elaborate designs on the glass, but it's on the esplanade so it's only a bit more closed to the public than Olives at Bellagio, and Olives is one of the most open restaurants to peekaboo if you're walking by. There isn't anything like Prime or Picasso, two restaurants that are not only shielded from outsiders, even the entrances are hidden down a staircase you can only access with reservations.

Encore doesn't quite make the sales pitch to outsiders that Bellagio's fountains and gardens do, but it conducts it's business without the airs and attitudes; and unlike WLV it doesn't make people who aren't staying there feel like an unwanted element.

December 24, 2008 11:56 AM Posted by Brian Fey

Here are my High-Res uploaded pics.

http://gallery.mac.com/brianfey#100086&bgcolor=black&view=grid

December 24, 2008 3:08 PM Posted by Jerry

Vegas Rex covers LV live better than anyone on the internet by a long shot. Five minutes after opening he was broadcasting live pictures from the Encore casino floor and had video of the whole mirage volcano less than an hour after it erupted. There is Rex and then there is everyone else.

December 24, 2008 3:13 PM Posted by Hunter

To each his own I guess. Faster isn't always better.

Surprised you would take the time to leave a comment here if we're not up to your standards.

December 24, 2008 4:16 PM Posted by Dave

Mike and Detroit--thanks for the kind words. I think that Hunter and Chuck deserve loads of credit for all the work they've done. It's not as easy as they make it look! This really is the "new media" at its best.

December 24, 2008 4:30 PM Posted by mike_ch

Well, I too had blurry messy shots of the crazy house that was Encore on opening night, but 3G coverage was terrible so uploading them would have been a chore.

December 24, 2008 5:19 PM Posted by David McKee

Just checking in here from Cameron Park, Calif., where I'm spending Christmas. As schmaltzy and seasonal as it may sound, the greatest pleasure of the Encore tour was getting to spend a couple of hours in the company of a rump faction of the Vegas Gang. Getting their on-the-fly observations was priceless and we all felt for Hunter, I daresay, when the Wynn people made a big show of taking us through one of the now-notorious Tower Suites. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!