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26TH ANNUAL BEST OF LAS VEGAS: Readers Praise Their FavesRed Rock Resort opens strong in readers' poll, Wynn Las Vegas improvesBy PATRICIA MORGAN REVIEW-JOURNAL
We expected much more from Wynn Las Vegas, considering Steve Wynn is the mastermind behind both properties. But Wynn managed just one win in its debut last year, for Best Outdoor Sign. It triples its victories this year, keeping Best Outdoor Sign and chipping away at Bellagio by capturing Best Service and Best Place to Go When Price Is No Object. This year's new kid on the block, Red Rock Resort, has a little advantage because it is a locals hotel and does not have to go head to head with Bellagio on the Strip. That gives the shiny new resort on West Charleston Boulevard one safe category as Best Locals Hotel -- actually a double win, because the R-J staff agrees with readers on this one. Red Rock also picks up Best Coffee Shop with its Grand Cafe, Best Italian Restaurant with its Terra Rossa and Best Movie Theater, plus shares a win with Sunset Station for Zowie Bowie as Best Lounge Performer or Tribute Act. It also is part of Station Casinos, which picks up Best Football Contest and Best Players Club because of its networked Boarding Pass. Although it is showing some rare vulnerability, shed no tears for Bellagio, which collects reader wins for Best Strip Hotel, Best Attraction (Fountains of Bellagio), Best Architecture, Best Interior Design, Best Poker Room, Best Brunch, Best Buffet and Best Art Gallery. One of the biggest surprises in this year's poll is the absence of "O," which is performed at Bellagio. The show lost not only to its sister Cirque du Soleil production "Mystere" as Best Production Show but to newcomer "Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular." "O" also could not make it three in a row in Best Show Choreography. But Best of Las Vegas is no stranger to surprises. This year's participation, for instance, takes a significant tumble, with 1,657 ballots cast, compared to 3,257 the previous year. We suspect the number of categories, 248 (14 more than our highest previous ballot), was a bridge too far for readers. We hear you. Consider this a rebuilding year, and we will spend the off-season looking for ways to improve the poll. But even if there were only 10 ballots cast, Olive Garden probably would win Best Italian Restaurant and Pizza Hut would win Best Pizza, as they do again this year, much to some readers' consternation. One stalwart does succumb this year. Perhaps thinking too far outside the bun, Taco Bell, a 12-time winner -- including every year in the 21st century -- falls to Roberto's Tacos. When it comes to the people of Best of Las Vegas, readers remain loyal to Celine Dion (Best All-Around Performer, Best Singer and Best Show Choreography), Rita Rudner (Best Comedian and Favorite Female Las Vegan) and Andre Agassi (Best Celebrity Resident, Best Local Professional Athlete, Favorite Male Las Vegan and Most Generous Las Vegan). Readers also continue their love-hate relationship with Mayor Oscar Goodman (Best Local Politician and Most Colorful Character along with Las Vegan You're Tired of Hearing About and Least Effective Public Official) and their mainly hate relationship with Wayne Newton (Entertainer Who Needs a New Act). But enough play-by-play foolishness, it's time to announce the winners of our fabulous prizes: Art Cossid of Las Vegas, two tickets to "Mystere"; Tara Jacob of Henderson, two tickets to Celine Dion's "A New Day"; Roy Woods of Las Vegas, dinner for two at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas; Mike Branum of Las Vegas, dinner for two at Rosemary's Restaurant; Diane Hill of Las Vegas, lunch for two at Triple George; Enne Bondo of Las Vegas, gift certificate to Fashion Show mall; and Theresa Brown of Las Vegas, the grand prize night on the town. |
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