Las Vegas

Travelers' Takes

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The art of the Casino

A March 2001 trip to Las Vegas by Kerry

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In the bizarre world of the las Vegas strip the real king is not the deal maker or the high roller. It's the artisan and the craftsman who manages these extraordinary mirages in the desert.

  • 12 reviews
  • 18 photos

The art of the CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Overview

As creations of pure fantasy, the strip casinos have always fascinated me with their enormous scale and lavishness, but the art work is what makes it really come alive. Divide it into three parts, the 2d world: murals and faux finishing, the 3d world: sculpture and facades, and the electrical world: the wonderful neon that keeps the postcard industry going. All of these are evident in almost every place you visit on the strip.

Quick Tips:

My best tip is quite simply to look up! Take your time, and look above you. The whole scale of these buildings from the inside and out is designed to be seen from the ground. Large public areas are meant to be seen and are almost always complete with a friendly bench where you can relax and take them in. Don't hesitate to stop and loiter as long as you like, and always ask questions. The staff at the casinos are always very friendly and if treated with some respect and courtesy will tell you everything you'll want to know and more!

Best Way To Get Around:

While much of the strip is designed to keep people flowing in, always start with a good stout pair of well broken in walking shoes and a bill set aside just in case you've had it with walking and want a cab back to your lodging. The trams are all free, but are designed to keep you moving to certain casinos and sometimes missing others, so consider skipping them and hitting the street.

The Battle BarBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Buccaneer Bay
This is absolutly the best place to see the Pirate battle at Treasure Island. The hot tip is to go early, order drinks and drink them slowly until the show starts. Make sure you bag a table by the rail and don't let any interlopers in. I like to get the giant skull mugs though more than one can give you a buzz to remember. For the play it safe, stick with light beer or soft drinks, and don't forget to tp the barmaids!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

The Battle Bar
3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 894-7111

Le Village BuffetBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Paris manages to inject something special into the very tired casino buffet scene. Five sections, each featuring a different province, and excellent selections from each. The food is of excellent quality and the staff is pleasant. The decor is great and the whole package is well above average.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Le Village Buffet
Paris Las Vegas Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 946-7000

Venetian Resort Hotel CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The murals of the Venetian"

Afloat
For murals, the Venetian has really upped the ante on the strip. At the entrance to the Grand Canal shopping area the ceiling is covered in murals that mimic several styles and call to mind some of the painters of the Italian Renaissance. The detail is excellent and the colors extremely vibrant. While further into the Grand Canal the attention to detail slips and the design becomes more mundane (the piazza is an exception) the entry murals are among the best of the casino murals.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(877) 883-6423

Jimmy Choo Grand Canal ShoppesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Jimmy Choo"

Jimmy Choo
I thought I'd slip this in even though it deviates from my stated theme on the idea that even what you put on your feet can be a work of art. Women's shoes are not at all my strong point, but I have it on the very best advice that "for a pair of very elegant strappy sandals you can't beat Jimmy". Jimmy Choo was a favorite of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and has quite a following, though I can't imagine that many people not in royal funds could afford many pair even from the sale shelf (which is quite small).
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Jimmy Choo Grand Canal Shoppes
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 414-4500

Bellagio Gallery of Fine ArtBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Bellagio Art Gallery"

The Bellagio
The new Phillips Collection on loan at the Bellagio is really a wonderful trip through modern painting. It touches just briefly on several art movements and presents a compact yet detailed tour . The audio presentation is so-so, and some prefer to see the works undistracted. The staff is excellent and will also point out some of the other work in the Casino that might otherwise be missed.

Beginning in April, a 28 piece collection owned by actor Steve Martin will be on display, featuring the works of Georges Seurat, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, David Hockney, and Edward Hopper.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 693 7871; +1

Desert Passage at the AladdinBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Desert Passage"

Desert passage
As a mall, it's nice, but as a piece of art work it's fantastic. Each of the shops sticks to the stated themes on the exterior and the stylization throughout is extremely well done. It's a mile long and divided into several zones with a different theme.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Desert Passage at the Aladdin
3663 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89019
(888) 800-8284

MGM Grand Hotel and CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "MGM Grand"

The MGM is no different from other casinos, except for a great set of murals surrounding the rotunda at the main entrance. In a vibrant art deco style it includes images resembling several classic screen stars. It's probably my favorite of all the murals in strip casinos. There's a bar up by the stage and it's a good place to kick back with a margarita and ponder the artwork.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(877) 880-0880

Acca KappaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The upper echelon of bath things. Not a shop you find just anywhere, and for those small luxuries while traveling it's a good place to check out.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Acca Kappa
Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Paris Imperial Palace Hotel & Ctr Strip Las VegasBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Paris"

Paris
The exterior visuals are among the best on the strip. The half scale Eiffel Tower is a fun diversion and great for seeing the strip from a different perspective. The building itself is well presented and the detail is well attended to.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Paris Imperial Palace Hotel & Ctr Strip Las Vegas
3535 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 731-3311

New York New York Hotel and CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "New York New York Casino"

NY NY
One of the most recognizable aspects of strip architecture is the NYNY skyline. Conceptually it's a great exterior and the interior is well done, though it's beginning to show wear. The best time to see it is just after sunrise, when the quality of light is warm and the shadows show it to good effect.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

New York New York Hotel and Casino
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(800) 689-1797

Treasure Island Hotel CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Treasure Island Exteriors"

Pirate ship
Of the many casino exteriors, Treasure Island does an amazing job of presenting another world and defying the nature of what goes on beyond the wall. The level of detail is fantastic and it's worth the time spent to check out the entire set. It's essentially an outdoor performance space, though as a piece of sculpture it works on a different level. It's what many kids grew up wishing was in their back yard!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kerry on March 15, 2001

Treasure Island Hotel Casino
3300 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 894-7111

About the Writer

Kerry
Kerry
Portland, Oregon

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