Lots of stuff, as usual, going on in our town, of which this first item saddens me a bit. Another Las Vegas landmark is no more. What was left of the Castaways (formerly the Showboat) was imploded last week to make may for we don't know what yet. Owners Station Casinos bought the 26-acre site a little over a year ago but has not said what they plan to do with the land.
The casino had been closed since January 2004. The ownership had filed for bankruptcy in June 2003, listing debts of more than $50 million. The original Showboat, opened in 1954, had gained international fame mainly because of its 106-lane bowling center and as the site of nationally televised bowling tournaments. During the '70s and '80s, it hosted many sporting events, including championship boxing, wresting and roller derby. But it fell on hard times, mainly because of its location at the end of the Boulder Highway, and fierce competition from hotel-casinos along the Boulder Strip.
But this is Vegas and as one hotel disappears, another is being built. Ground has been broken on the $1.8 billion 3,000-room Cosmopolitan Hotel-Casino, which will soon begin rising on the center Strip just south of Bellagio. Two 60-story towers will occupy the narrow eight-acre site, housing 2,000 condos and 1,000 hotel rooms that will be managed by the Grand Hyatt. In addition, the Cosmo will feature a 75,000-square-foot casino, a 3,800-space underground parking garage, a convention center, spa and mid-size mall. The Cosmo Beach Club will be a five-acre pool deck overlooking the Strip. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.
LOVE WITH A VIEW
If you haven't decided where to take your SO for Valentine's Day, you might want to try Romance at the Top of the World, the renovated Top of the World Lounge at the Stratosphere. The new lounge features elegant décor, bottle service, upscale drinks and incredible views of Las Vegas.
The lounge was completely remodeled with all areas, including the bar, designed to maximize the breathtaking views. The primary color throughout the room is a deep burgundy that is accentuated with subdued lighting and candles. The bar now features a glass top illuminated with fiber optics. There are 12 VIP sections that face either the Las Vegas Strip or surrounding areas. Each section contains luxury couches enclosed for privacy or bottle service that can be reserved for any occasion.
In addition to bottle service, Romance features a variety of champagnes and sparkling wines from around the world. Upscale beverages include almost 30 martinis with The Top of The World Martini (Hennessy Paradis, Grand Mariner, and Ultimat CV Vodka -- shaken, not stirred) for $100 as the signature drink. Not a place for lowly paid journalists so you'll have to tell me if it's worth a hundred bucks. Does sound like a great place to take a date, though. By the way, the dress code is casual chic and is strictly enforced -- no athletic wear, oversized or torn jeans, shorts, T-shirts or hats. Fashionable sneakers are allowed. What the hell does fashionable sneakers mean? Do they have to have a designer name? Do your initials have to be stitched into the tongue? Do the laces have to be a certain length?
And if you're afraid of heights, some bad news. Romance at Top of the World is located on Level 107 of the Stratosphere Tower, one floor above the Top of the World Restaurant. The good news is there is no cover charge. At $100 for a martini, I would hope not. Romance is open daily from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. For more info or if you want to book a table, call 702-380-7764 or 800-99-TOWER. While I'm still talking about the Stratosphere, the hotel has just opened Naga Sushi & Asian Bistro in the site formerly occupied by Hamada Asian Village, which I'm told is a "celebration of Asian cuisine with Japanese, Chinese and Thai influences." It's open daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
HIGH ROLLER RUNS OUT
Not wanting this to sound like a Stratosphere column, I'd be remiss if I didn't also tell you that the High Roller on top of the Stratosphere has closed after 9 1/2 years and nearly 4 million riders. Hey, it was fun while it lasted, even if it wasn't that scary. Stratosphere spokesman Mike Gilmartin, said, "We just felt it had kind of run its course. There are a lot of opportunities for bigger and better things. There's so much you can do up there, and we're considering anything and everything. Rest assured it's going to be dramatic and appealing."
NEVADA OPERA PRESENTS 'TOSCA'
"Passion, honor, loyalty, love, jealousy, murder and tragedy." Have I got your attention? No, it's not a rerun of "Dallas," but it is a presentation of Puccini's opera "Tosca," which will take the stage at 2 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Artemus Ham Concert Hall at UNLV. Performed by the Nevada Opera Theatre, it will feature internationally acclaimed guest artists with Maestro Frank Fetta conducting the Nevada Opera Theatre Orchestra.
There will be a pre-performance lecture in the lobby at 1:20 p.m. before the curtain rises. Ticket prices are $20, $30, $40 and $50 and may be purchased by calling the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Offce at 895-2787 (ARTS). For additional information or to purchase tickets, call 699-9775 or 731-3370. The web site address is UNLVTickets.com.
BIG WINNERS
This is the part that always hurts me. Seems players got hot recently at The Palms with Maritza Dillon of San Antonio, Texas, hitting a $363,577 jackpot playing a 25-cent Quarter Million machine; Marilyn Kivel of Las Vegas won $40,000 playing Game King video poker; Yelena Glozman of Las Vegas won $20,000 playing Triple Play Draw Poker; Pardip Singh of Vallejo, CA, won $15,000 playing a Five Times Pay machine; Daniel LaPorte of Las Vegas won $10,000 playing Multi Draw Poker; Be Thi of Las Vegas won $10,000 playing Five Play Draw Poker; and James Walker, also of Las Vegas, won $10,000 through Power Paycheck. Did you see the name Len Butcher anywhere? I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to end this column. I'm too depressed to continue.
Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out www.valleyblogs.com
If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@cox.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.
