21st annual Best of Las Vegas poll
Salute to the Best
Poll turns out to be another great year for Agassi, Goodman and Bellagio
Where's one of those big new megaresorts when you need one?
In recent years, it seems, the fickle winds of Best of Las Vegas have favored the newest, biggest kid on the block. Places such as Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, The Venetian, New York-New York. (Well, it didn't work for the Aladdin, which is in bankruptcy and seeking a buyer. Probably just a coincidence.)
With no offense to Green Valley Ranch or the Palms, the past year did not turn up a new resort big enough to capture R-J readers' immediate devotion. In tough times like these, Best of Las Vegas voters did what they had to do. They stuck with Bellagio.
The 21st-anniversary edition of Best of Las Vegas attracted 2,116 ballots, a healthy increase from last year's 1,301 total.
The Bellagio captured most of those ballots in the categories of Best Strip Hotel, Best Architecture, Best Attraction (the fountains), Best Production Show ("O"), Best Hotel Lobby, Best Poker Room, Best Brunch, Best Buffet, Best Seafood Restaurant (Aqua), Best Art Gallery, Best Place to Go When Price is No Object (first and second place with "O" and Picasso, respectively) and even Best Hotel Restrooms.
Almost as reliable and a lot louder is Mayor Oscar Goodman, who soon will need an assistant to keep up with all of his awards (just kidding, we know how R-J readers feel about taxes). The mayor picked up Favorite Male Las Vegan, Most Colorful Character and Best Local Politician, along with a few second-place showings.
Another guy the poll can count on is Andre Agassi. The tennis pro, philanthropist and new dad aced Most Generous Las Vegan, Best Local Professional Athlete and Best Celebrity Resident, a new category this year.
There were other old reliables as well: Olive Garden as Best Italian Restaurant, Pizza Hut for Best Pizza, Golden Nugget as Best Downtown Hotel, Golden Gate for Best Shrimp Cocktail and Jan Jones for Favorite Female Las Vegan.
There were new categories, too, among the 215 on this year's ballot. Euphoria won Best Day Spa, Trader Joe's added Best Gourmet Shop to its basket and Super Pawn is holding first (for now, at least) as Best Pawnshop.
Some other newcomers include "Bottoms Up" as the Best Bargain Show, Star Trek: The Experience as Best 3-D Motion Ride, Studio 54 as Best Nightclub, Drai's as Best After Hours Club and Bahama Breeze as having the Best Tropical Drinks.
And, for the cowboy in all of us, Bonnie Springs Old Nevada picked up a first with Best Horseback Riding Stables.
Another trend among Best of Las Vegas voters is to reward entertainers who actively try to be a part of the community, such as Danny Gans, Best All-Around Las Vegas Performer; Rita Rudner, Best Comedian; Lance Burton, Best Magician; and Clint Holmes, Best Singer.
There was a lot more hoopla surrounding Best of Las Vegas this year. Prizes were offered in addition to the traditional night on the town. An awards show featuring many local performers also was planned.
Prize winners include Jordan Kelley, two tickets to see "O"; Kay Jacobson, two tickets to see Danny Gans; Sheryl Slakoff, two front-row seats at the "Best of Las Vegas Awards Show"; Harvey S. Jacobs, dinner for two at Hugo's Cellar; Tara Rodriguez, dinner for two at Rosemary's Restaurant; Laura Likar, lunch for two at the Palm Restaurant; and Kristi Lombardo, a gift certificate to Boulevard Mall. The winner of a night out on the town is David Cudaback.
With the passing of another Best of Las Vegas, our thoughts turn to next year and a fellow we haven't mentioned. Steve Wynn -- a perennial poll favorite who picked up prizes this year for Las Vegan You'd Like to Know More About, Most Powerful Las Vegan and Best Dressed Las Vegan -- is planning a new hotel on the site of the old Desert Inn. We sure could use a new megaresort. Please hurry.
CREDITS
Best of Las Vegas is a product of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, under the direction of features editor Frank Fertado and assistant features editor Patricia Morgan. It is written by reporters Carol Cling, Doug Elfman, Sonya Padgett, John Przybys, Heidi Knapp Rinella, Mike Weatherford, Ken White and Joan Whitely. It also includes columns by Norm Clarke, Cling, Joe Hawk, John L. Smith, Steve Sebelius and Weatherford. The cover is illustrated by Jim Day. Photography is by Steve Andrascik, Amy Beth Bennett, K.M. Cannon, Ralph Fountain, John Gurzinski, Clint Karlsen, Jim Laurie, Craig L. Moran, Jeff Scheid, Gary Thompson, Denise Truscello and Christine H. Wetzel. Also contributing to the project are copy editors Chuck Pollet, Don Weiner and Chris Stanley.
