SKY’S THE LIMIT ON NEW ATTRACTIONS
If there’s one skyline in the world that keeps changing, it’s that of the Las Vegas Strip. While hotels and resorts are constantly renovating or rebranding, new construction makes each visit a new opportunity to explore. In 2014, the High Roller and The LINQ promenade essentially created a whole new district behind Harrah’s with the world’s largest observation wheel and surrounding restaurants and retail. In 2015, the Grand Bazaar Shops added a bright new aesthetic — and heavy foot traffic — outside of Bally’s. And 2016 is no exception; the T-Mobile Arena and its supplemental district, The Park, have taken the Strip by storm, with a few more headline-worthy openings along Las Vegas Boulevard.
T-MOBILE ARENA
Las Vegas’ first freestanding arena fits right in just off the Strip. The 650,000- square-foot state-of-the-art structure was designed to blend in seamlessly with the desert on one side and with the Strip on the other. With a 200-foot-wide video mesh wall and telescopic seats to customize lines of sight, the $375 million T-Mobile Arena incorporates some groundbreaking technology. The new venue seats up to 20,000 and will host concerts, awards shows and sporting events, including a just-announced NHL expansion team.
And there will be way more going on
beyond the main events.
Toshiba Plaza out front has the capability of hosting pre-show entertainment on two stages; an 18,000-square-foot Hyde Lounge overlooks the action on one side and Strip views on the other.
Craft cocktails from Tony Abou- Ganim are on tap at concessions; and Shake Shack and Pizza Forte vendors feed eventgoers the familiar (not to mention carving stations and food carts with fresh fare made in-house by Levy Restaurants chef Garry DeLucia).
Private suites, luxury boxes and club membership — and the menu options that pair with each — will surprise even the most frequent Vegas VIPs.
THE PARK
MGM’s new The Park just outside the arena plaza offers four restaurants in an inviting al fresco space. Fans can grab a beer and play a round of cornhole at the new Beerhaus beer garden or snack on starters at California Pizza Kitchen’s wide open deck and bar before a show or game, or spill out for revelry afterward. Sake Rok offers Japanese with over-the- top live entertainment, and Bruxie concocts signature waffle sandwiches.
The site’s art installations are sure to appear all over social media feeds, from artist Marco Cochrane’s Bliss Dance sculpture to the 16 color-changing shade structures rising 55 to 75 feet in the air. Stay tuned for Monte Carlo renovations, including a 5,300-seat theater by the end of the year, and a luxury hotel called Park MGM, plus outposts of New York’s Eataly, The NoMad Hotel and The NoMad Restaurant in late 2018.
TOPGOLF LAS VEGAS
Topgolf combines the sport, Vegas-style partying and technology for a unique indoor golf experience. Parties of up to six rent a driving range bay where they can enjoy food and beverages as they play various golfing target games. Microchips track each player’s performance. The concept’s new four-level complex at MGM Grand is its largest ever, with five bars, event venues, live music, lessons, retail and, of course, cabanas and VIP suites.
There also are two pools, so guests could spend a day here without ever picking up a club.
A concert venue accommodates 900, hundreds of HDTVs mean you won’t miss a game, the driving range offers incredible views of the Vegas Strip, and other games, from cornhole to billiards, are available.
CAESARS PALACE TURNS 50
The iconic hotel has half a century to celebrate, and guests can get in on the fun throughout the 50-day countdown. Take a self-guided walking tour through the property to reminisce or discover its history, look for dining and drinking specials at Caesars’ bars and restaurants, and use social media to enter sweepstakes and explore anniversary room packages.
The festivities culminate Aug. 5-6 with a birthday cake, toast and, of course, birthday surprises. Follow #IAmCaesar or visit caesars.com/CP50 for all the info.
EVEN MORE DINING
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas recently unveiled its own versions of New York’s Beauty & Essex and Los Angeles’ Eggslut. Beauty & Essex re-creates the swanky shared-plates restaurant hidden behind a pawn shop on New York’s Lower East Side with just as much glamour and bling. Eggslut delivers all of the eggcentric comfort food its cult following has come to expect, namely decadent sandwiches and burgers.
Plus, don’t miss chef Brian Malarkey’s Herringbone outpost at Aria, along with the sequel to New York City’s Carbone Italian restaurant and the new Brioche by Guy Savoy in the Caesars Palace casino.
And stay tuned for Momofuku, Morimoto, Milk Bar and In-N- Out Burger outlets coming this year.