Top Stories Las Vegas

The Chinese circus performances have continued to dazzle the world with their amazing showcase of different circus exhibitions throughout the ages. Because of this, they have been the subject of various western artworks, like paintings and drawings. This wonderful Chinese hallmark is truly impressive in its own way.

This ancient art is believed to have actually started 3000 years ago. Until now, it is still performed in its traditional form. Chinese circus troupes perform a wide range of breathtaking acrobatic feats and balancing acts, as well as other unique Chinese art forms. What’s surprising is that they have preserved and still wear the same costumes they have used since the 17th century, making every experience with them both authentic and unforgettable.

Now let’s see what’s in store for you when you get to witness this marvelous Chinese performing art:

1. Contortion acrobatics. In this act you will witness an unusual form of physical display where highly trained contortionists flex and bend their bodies in ways you thought was impossible. These contortionists have natural flexibility which were enhanced due to persistent training. And the basis for choosing contortionists is their physical appearance and attractiveness.

2. Multi-plate balancing. This act involves balancing and twirling a number of plates on a thin stick. The plates are placed on top of the stick, and are balanced so they won’t fall off. The performers then dance and do other tricks for additional thrill.

3. Extreme kungfu and Shaolin demonstrations. If you saw perfect martial arts only in the movies, now is your chance to watch it live, right in the heart of the circus ring performed by highly regarded kungfu and Shaolin masters.

4. Multi-plate balancing. This balancing act uses plates which are mounted on top of a thin pole, making sure they don’t fall off. The performers then do other routines like dancing and acrobatic stunts as an added thrill to the show.

5. Balancing acts using Chinese yo-yo. Another Chinese heritage that’s being used today is the Chinese yo-yo. They are also used as props in circus performances, adding to the excitement of seeing performers do acrobatic and balancing acts while playing with the yo-yo.

The Chinese circus is for everyone to behold. It will truly inspire and impress those who will come to witness it. The Chinese circus legacy lives on, and you shouldn’t miss it for your life.

Brian Sutherland has performed magic since 1990. He now works with aspiring magicians looking for magic card tricks and shows them the secrets of magic card tricks–visit his website to grab more right away.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

A vacation to Hoover Dam is one of the most popular adventures for vacationers making Las Vegas their vacation destination. A construction marvel in the 1930s and today still, Hoover Dam has become a landmark that draws tourists from across the country and world. It remains one of the most sought out attractions in the area, and one that you will not want to miss seeing. However, don’t just settle for a popular but common ground excursion, when you can add some adventure and see it from an completely different perspective. Las Vegas rafting tours can provide you that spice in a whole new way that is likely to happily excite everyone in your group.

You will launch from an location on the Colorado River located near the base of the dam. These rafts are large and comfortable meeting all Coast Guard safety requirements, drifting you on the Colorado River just below the foot of the dam, presenting a magnificent view you never thought possible.

Once Hoover Dam is behind you, you will proceed with your trip along the Black Canyon, enjoying a safe and exciting journey along it’s swift currents. The amazing walls of the canyon will surround and amaze you, with some points reaching heights of two thousand feet or higher. On either side of you will be the Eldorado Mountains. You’ll notice the area is vibrant in black volcanic rock, from which the canyon gets its name.

Streaming along in such natural beauty, don’t be surprised if as the wild life is abundant, such as the beautiful eagles so commonly spotted here. They are seen in the area and often, as does osprey and blue heron. Majestic bighorn mountain sheep can also be spotted roaming the canyon cliffs. While you enjoy the sights, your tour guide will fill you in on the area’s rich history.

The raft regularly stops along the shore of the river, providing you the opportunity to swim, or a little rest and relaxation, on the shore. For the swimmers in the group be advised that the river remains pretty chilly. Because of the speed of the river’s current, it never has the a chance to get warm and stays at a constant fifty to fifty-two degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

Just after rafting a distance of about twelve miles, the tour arrives at Willow Beach Harbor, on the Colorado River’s Arizona side where you’ll leave your raft. The rafting segment of your trip officially comes to an end here but the fun continues. You may want to take an hour or two enjoying the little town of Willow Beach, or rent a boat at the Marina and do some fishing before heading back to Las Vegas if you did not select the combination tour.Its definitely worth checking out the several outdoor fun-filled activities and other things to do in this small town that is located on the Colorado River.

Those travelers that book a combination tour will typically be picked up at Willow Beach and transported back to Hoover Dam on a coach. Now that you have arrived at the main entrance of Hoover Dam, you will be guided on an inside tour including an amazing look into the walls of the dam and how it functions. You will surely want to snap some shots as you visit the many sections of the dam, like the museum, visitor’s center, observation deck and a 1930s generator. After the tour ends, it will be time to head back to Las Vegas. But not before you make a stop at a community park for a glimpse of the wild herds of bighorn mountain sheep that commonly seen in the area..

Whether your visit consists of one day, two days or a week, Las Vegas rafting tours are sure to leave you fulfilled with the best the time of your life.

Locate some great ways to get Things to do in Las Vegas by searching online. There you will find information on Las Vegas rafting and other ideas. Go online today and find out more.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

The overall economy has been evolving and both real estate investors and also individual property sellers have to know what exactly to know. No longer are costly real estate over a hilltop or possibly a monumental mega-house inside the woodland the wanted location individuals want to settle directly into. Prices to construct have risen, and also folks are finding it difficult to pay back those mortgage loans together with the surge of employment layoffs, a simple home is the only thing that some individuals could imagine possessing. When people can no longer find the money for their households, a foreclosure may be seen in their near future. For the new owners, house foreclosures could be deemed as a good thing. House foreclosures give you a way to purchase a house that you may not really have had the capacity to pay for before.

Whilst foreclosures are probably not commonly promoted towards the public, there are many real estate foreclosures in Las Vegas on a regular basis. Banks sometimes tend not to discuss these details for several reasons, choosing simply to provide the info to agencies as well as property firms they are fully aware will help them sell swiftly and inside a price structure they are able to still re-coop their own investment funds.

When you have identified a trustworthy realty company that has all of the foreclosure properties, it is easy to sign up to a tour motor coach ride of numerous homes. Remax is actually a trusted agency that has these types of excursions for those seeking to acquire less expensive properties. There are various locations that every bus travels by promoting these kind of homes. If English just isn’t your original dialect, you can also enroll in a tour that speaks Spanish or Chinese to really make it that much easier to comprehend and even ask questions concerning the properties and methods of getting a foreclosed property. If signing up for a Las Vegas Foreclosure Bus Tour, simply enter your name, email address, telephone number and also the time frame you wish to go with and last but not least, include the purchase price range of houses you are looking to look at.

A number of important things to bear in mind for the audience looking to start on a bus tour and get a household that was in foreclosure. The key reason why your house was foreclosed on is actually simply because the previous proprietor could quite possibly no longer manage to pay their bank loan. This will likely also imply they’ve already needed to obtain a second property finance loan on the residence, or even have unpaid court cases on the home. It might also suggest they may have never been able to afford to pay to renovate the roof, the ceilings, or any other big work that should be undertaken. After you purchase a foreclosed property, you can expect to get all financial obligations owed from this residence. That means, even though initial expense might be more affordable to buy, it may wind up costing you an abundance of funds ultimately. As long as you shop around, it is possible to however obtain the perfect home by using a foreclosure bus tour.

In case you are looking at taking a look at several foreclosed real estate, you’ll be able to use the internet or perhaps phone a Remax office within your community. Having foreclosures on the rise and at the greatest they’ve been within over twenty years inside some states, it’s documented that 68 per cent of the U.S. is at risk for surrendering his or her properties due to home foreclosures. Many real-estate companies are generally looking for ways to continue to keep sales proceeding and to try and provide houses for those that still wish to purchase fairly priced residences for their young families. Possessing a schedule for bus tours and travel to go into multiple neighborhoods through Las Vegas to exhibit these exclusive listings of foreclosed residences, is a great means for real estate property agencies to stay reasonably competitive.

Jessica J. Bitts is a housing writer that specializes in investment strategies and Las Vegas foreclosures. You can learn more about foreclosures in Las Vegas from her.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Farmer Boys

Photo: Ken Miller

Farmer Boys

5847 S. Decatur Blvd., 871-8500; 4450 N. Lamb Blvd., 434-0100.

“World’s Greatest Hamburgers?” Really? That’s what you want your slogan to be? How about “Eat fresh!” or some similarly nondebatable point? Yet such was the decision of Farmer Boys, a primarily California-based chain with a few Nevada locations. Such hubris can’t go unchallenged. Verdict: The Farmer’s Burger, sporting cheese, bacon and avocado, falls somewhere in the middle of my life experience with burgers. Every order is cooked fresh, so for fast food, this is a significant leap above others of its ilk. But in the realm of truly great burgers, this wouldn’t crack my top 10. Love the onion rings, though.

Five Filters featured article: “Peace Envoy” Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

The present financial situation has everyone tightening their belts. Business world and people alike are coping with these rough times. One of the toughest hit seems like stands out as the home owner and the house market with foreclosures reaching record extraordinary rates and also unhappy home owners struggling to salvage something from all of these brutal economic situations.

Nevada is not any different; the house sector was hit fairly badly a result of the downward spiral. But, for every downside there’s always an upside. Yes, hopeless while it feels, often there is a positive aspect. In this instance, the Las Vegas home marketplace on the whole might be troubled but short sales and also property foreclosure sales are prosperous.

I want to talk somewhat about how Las Vegas foreclosures and short-sales work to aid you to better know how there is an attractive aspect within it for the knowledgeable entrepreneur.

A short-sale comes about when the property owner is unable to make their bank loan installments plus the bank agrees to allow a sale of the property at under the total amount owed for the residence. Why would a financial institution do that? To tell the truth, first the payments must stop, because money institutions are about income, they are not likely to comply much less until it really is clear they cannot obtain the full amount. After that, the house market needs to be suffering hard times to allow them to hardly expect to see a much better return of investment. The homeowner and the client are connected, a sale is arranged which the mortgage lender must approve, the home-owner gets out of under a residence they cannot afford, the new house owner gets a tremendous deal on a Las Vegas house, and also the loan company receives at minimum some of the investment back.

A foreclosure sale happens when the financial institution has had to use steps to get the real estate back, now the mortgage lender doesn’t want the home, so they really are stimulated sellers, plus with the market place being down, the homebuyer gains all the perks.

Right now, short-sales and foreclosures are a successful category in Las Vegas house sales, these are generally astonishing properties and dumbfounding bargain selling prices.

The Lakes is actually a structured local community in Las Vegas, that’s centered close to a man developed lake. There are many houses for sale in this fabulous neighborhood, that features two and three storied stylish residences with mindfully manicured lawns plus well-grown trees.

Are you currently hoping to see something somewhat higher end in a bargain price in Las Vegas houses? Possibly the properties in Seven Hills a gated deluxe area would suit your needs. This neighborhood is located seven miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Seven Hills provides the Anthem Country Club, the Rio Golf Course, plus the Revere Golf Club.

There are several more communities in Las Vegas and also with residences to suit just about any taste. The thing each will have in very common is the fact that though the home industry is down, the marketplace for short-sales and foreclosures is up for Las Vegas houses, and also these produce a way for the individual with experience to possess the house of their wishes in glittering Las Vegas.

Jessica J. Bitts has been an skilled article writer for over 10yrs and specializes in real estate investment buying and Nevada real estate, in particular. You can study more about homes Las Vegas by checking out her site.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Las Vegas is an area full of adventure. If you are going to be in this area you will definitely need to put Hoover Dam tours #1 your list of things to do. Starting now, you should check out the assortment of Hoover Dam tours that exist. Here you can read about some of the kinds of excursions as well as some possibilities that you will want to put to mind while you pick which tour you want to go on.

If you are going to go on one of these tours you’ll be sure to check the pricing. By planning ahead you will be able to make sure that you have a great time during the tour knowing you prepared yourself to get the best tour available matched with the best rate.

One excursion to think of would be the option of the popular helicopter tours. On board one of these flights, experience some of the wonderful aerial views possible only from flying high above everyone else. You’ll get some of the most wonderful photos that you can take of the vistas that is all around this massive dam, such as Lake Mead, the mighty Colorado River and Black Canyon. Get a first hand look at the new spectacular Hoover Dam Bypass, the latest gateway connecting Nevada and Arizona.

You could also find that you’d rather keep your feet planted firmly on ground. If that’s more your speed then you should check out taking one of the ground tours. The ground tours allow the option to take pleasure with an abundance of fine views possible with numerous of photo opportunities in addition to having a really peaceful time, but be aware that can attract many tourist and visitors alike. You really do get it all on the ground tours, perhaps why they are so favored.

Did you know you can view it from the river below the dam walls, right on the Colorado River? It one of the truly exciting ways to experience and now that you are aware, you’ll find that the water rafting tours can be a something you’ve been looking for. The view from the Colorado River will be without a doubt astonishing giving you a totally different view on one of the greatest technical achievements in the united states from an entirely new perspective.

Then there is the VIP tour that is another option.The VIP tour is a more intimate look at Hoover Dam. This tour gives you the option of an in-depth look with a behind-the-scenes looked into this wonder of the world. Should you select this particular VIP style tour you will want to ensure you are camera ready to capture for memories of this for a lifetime.

If choosing the right tour is a difficult decision, no need to fret, you can always just take multiple tours. What a a great way to tour the dam and the Nevada desert vistas from every perspective possible. Oh what a gift you would be giving to yourself. However, should you consider this option, be aware that engaging it all in the same day is possible, so long as you plan the time for it all..

You probably have seen the ads for the Las Vegas area tours, and probably never gave it a second thought about them before. However now that you are thinking about it,and you want to see one of the greatest marvels in the world its only fitting that you should consider the various types of Hoover Dam tours available and pre-book one for you future escape in the Las Vegas valley.

Hoover Dam Tours and Las Vegas Tours can offer you a lot of exciting moments, so do not forget to schedule yours today.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Moving can be very stressful. Doing it yourself may not be possible or practical. You must look for a mover. Whether leaving Las Vegas or moving locally, there are some important things you should know when choosing one of the many Las Vegas Movers.

You might have a small apartment to move – or a whole house. Either way, a key concern in today’s economy is finding an affordable mover. Time and again people have been victims of shady people posing as movers who list an ad in a local periodical or online. The most important thing is to find a reputable outfit or company. Damage, loss and fabricated costs added to the move once the scammers have your stuff on board – are a few concerns you must be aware of.

Friends and coworkers can be a great source of information when looking for a reliable mover. There are good people who can’t afford an office or website who will do an inexpensive job – but this can be a gamble you shouldn’t take. Check-out any sources you hear good things about and do your own research.

Find the website of the operation and have a look at how professional it appears. Check with your local Better Business Bureau or government complaints/information documents to see if any negative reports have been made about the companies you are researching.

When you’ve narrowed-down your options, consider price. Find-out what they offer as services. Do they just pick your stuff up, load it and move it; or do they pack your home also? Make sure you get at least one free quote. Quotes shouldn’t cost you, so get a few. Be certain they include all costs including any surcharges for distance or the amount of items you are moving.

Depending on how soon you plan to move, have a few essential things – often forgotten about – done after you know which company and what service you’re using. Make lists. Banks, people you know, your workplace – and so on – will need to have your new address. Get your mail forwarded. What are you leaving behind? Sell it or donate it. Cancel and reschedule your utilities and services such as your home and cell phone, internet service provider, television cable or satellite company and power and gas utilities. Organization and your choice of which of the many Las Vegas Movers you choose are essential to making your move smooth.

This article is brought to you by Las Vegas Movers. For affordable moving service in Las Vegas, visit our Las Vegas Movers website.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Poreotix of performs during the 2009 Hip Hop International’s USA Championship Adult Division.

Photo: Justin Bowen

Hop Hop International will bring together 1,500 dancers hailing from 30 different countries, all showcasing the best they can offer in breaking, popping, locking and other styles of dance. You might think that provides plenty for the audience to watch, but as far as Matt “Dumbo” Nguyen is concerned — it’s all eyes on his crew, Poreotix.

Hip Hop International

July 26-31, times and prices vary per session.

Red Rock Casino and Orleans Arena, 323-850-3777

hiphopinternational.com.

The California-based crew won the USA division of HHI last year — an impressive feat, considering they were first-time competitors in the now-nine-year-old event. At the time, the win helped silence haters who discredited the crew Season 5 victory on America’s Best Dance Crew, a show decided by viewer votes via phone and text. “HHI is being decided by judges. It’s really a dance competition, not a popularity contest,” says Dumbo.

Returning to HHI as the reigning US champions means fans and fellow competitors are looking at them as the crew that will set the bar, or, better yet, raise it from last year’s winning performance. That’s a lot of weight on their shoulders, and Dumbo and the boys are feeling the pressure to be on point.

“A lot of people think we’re crazy to come back and compete (at HHI). If we don’t win…” says Dumbo, trailing off. “Well, we can’t afford to lose. We have to win.”

Five Filters featured article: “Peace Envoy” Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

R.I.P.: Vegas punk veteran Todd Sampson (1964-2010)

Spencer Patterson

Sun, Jul 25, 2010 (1:28 p.m.)

Todd Sampson (right) performing with M.I.A.

Photo:

Joe Photo

One of Las Vegas’ original punk-rock heroes has fallen. Todd Sampson, who fronted seminal local outfits M.I.A., Self Abuse and Sampsons Army over more than three decades on the scene, died early Sunday morning at age 46 after being helped offstage toward the end of an M.I.A. show at the Black Door. The cause is unknown.

“He just started going down during the show,” said musician and close friend Rob Ruckus. “Backstage afterwards, he was totally burning up, kinda going out of it. We tried putting ice on his head, cooling him down with water … we loaded him into the truck and got his breathing slowed down; he actually walked into his house on his own. But he started heating up again, and then he started hyperventilating, so we raced him to the hospital as fast as we could, but he stopped breathing on the way. When we got to the hospital there was no heartbeat.”

Sampson’s musical journey began in 1980, when the 16-year-old Clark High student joined fledgling local punk band The Swell. The group called itself M.I.A. for an outdoor New Year’s Eve performance atop a flatbed truck—and the new name stuck. The band, however, did not, at least not in Las Vegas. M.I.A. soon relocated to Newport Beach, California, with bassist Mike Conley now on lead vocals. “I was 16, so my parents wouldn’t let me go with them,” Sampson told the Weekly in 2008.

An early press photo of Sampsons Army, with Todd at bottom-right.

Sampson responded by forming Self Abuse in 1981; the new band debuted live that December. According to the band’s MySpace page, “songs at the time consisted of covers by The Adolescents, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, Wasted Youth, TSOL and The Chiefs. Originals included ‘I’m Not the One,’ ‘A Classroom Horror’ and the 45-second masterpiece, ‘Locked Up for 90 Days.’” Self Abuse played on and off, eventually reuniting for shows in 2001 and again in 2009.

Sampson launched his next band, Sampsons Army, in 1984; it soldiered on into the early 1990s before re-forming for occasional shows in the 2000s. According to its Facebook bio, Sampsons Army was the very first band to play the Double Down Saloon.

Following the 2008 death of longtime M.I.A. singer Conley, Sampson rejoined that band’s lineup. On June 11, the group played its first show in Las Vegas since 1985—with Sampson’s on the mic.

“He was one of the most warm-hearted and talented musicians I’ve ever had the privilege of playing with,” Ruckus said. “The guy was all real, no bullshit. He gave every show everything he had. Look at it, it killed him. He went out doing what he loved.”

Sampson is survived by his son, Daz, and his girlfriend. Messages of shock and sadness have been piling up on his Facebook page throughout the day. “A Vegas legend. Rest in peace,” reads one. Another: “Thank you for touching so many lives with your love, life and music.”

Five Filters featured article: Headshot – Propaganda, State Religion and the Attack On the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

The usual solution for a Las Vegas hotel that is past its prime is to implode it, start over from scratch and create a bigger and better property to take its place.

When the Tropicana hotel was taken over by the Onex Corporation (led by former MGM Mirage executive Alex Yemenidjian) in 2009, the company decided to go against the norm and preserve one of the few 1950s Las Vegas Strip hotels still standing by choosing to remodel instead of demolish the property.

“The Tropicana has a pretty storied history and there’s a lot to that in terms of recognition and we knew we wanted to keep a touch of the past in terms of the brand name,” said Arik Knowles, vice president of hotel operations for the Tropicana.

“Also the timing was interesting because you had CityCenter coming to an end, you had Fontainebleau and the Echelon projects come to a halt and a lot of other projects were coming to completion or ending, and so for us, we found it was an opportune time to do a remodel because there was a lot of availability for contractors, subcontractors, designers – the whole development world. We call it smart development – it made sense for timing and it made sense for an ROI (return on investment),” said Knowles.

The Tropicana Hotel has been a fixture on the Strip since it opened on April 4, 1957.  It was a first-class property with 300 rooms, an Olympic-size pool, lush landscaping and nicknamed the “Tiffany of the Strip” by the Saturday Evening Post in reference to the property’s elegance.

The hotel was revamped several times over the years. In 1959, an additional 150-room wing was added. In 1962, a 116-room wing was added and in 1978 the 600-room Tiffany (now Paradise) Tower opened. Ramada Inns, Inc. acquired the property in 1979 and in 1985, the resort converted to “The Island of Las Vegas” theme, adding the 22-story Island Tower. The hotel’s rooms were freshened up in 1998-1999, but the property hasn’t been updated since then.

It was definitely time for a makeover and Knowles said the goal of the renovation project is not to completely do away with the Tropicana’s image, but to improve upon the existing product and create “best in class” rooms.

“We’re not trying to compete in the luxury market. We’re not trying to be Wynn, we’re not trying to be the Bellagio. The Tropicana for a long time competed in what I call the ‘C’ level category of hotels. We originally thought we’d be at the top of the ‘C’ level when the renovation was complete, but we’re seeing very quickly – because a lot of these ‘B’ level hotels haven’t been remodeled in a long time – that we can compete with the ‘B’ level. That middle market is a very big market here in Las Vegas and we think that we can compete with the top of the ‘B’ market and so that, combined with a Four Diamond rating from AAA are our main goals.”

The slogan you’ll see posted everywhere around the Tropicana these days is “We’re changing everything” and it’s not an exaggeration. Areas that have already been remodeled or are scheduled for updating include the guest rooms, pool, sports book, spa, convention center, casino and restaurants. The property is converting to a South Beach style with décor that features white marble, shutters and lots of plants and palms.

The remodeled Paradise room at the Tropicana

Knowles said the big change Tropicana guests will enjoy is the new rooms. “Our room product is the newest room product in that ‘B’ category and competes with the best of them. Our beds are brand new – pretty much every single thing in the rooms is brand new. We say all the time we have good bones. The hotel had good bones, it just needed a facelift and that’s what we’re doing in the rooms.”

The hotel’s new Paradise Tower rooms, which opened in April, feature 42-inch flat panel TVs luxury bedding, iPod docks and plantation shutters on the windows.

Construction is continuing on the Island Tower rooms (scheduled for completion in September), which are much like the Paradise Tower rooms, but are geared toward convention goers who visit the resort’s revamped 110,000-square-foot convention space.

“The Island Tower sits on top of the convention center so it’s geared more toward a conference center/convention client because of ease of access and location, so we made one design change in there where we put a desk unit that comes out from the TV dresser area and adds more space for a convention person to spread out and have more workspace,” said Knowles.

Swim-up blackjack at the Tropicana pool

Next to the guest rooms, Knowles said the resort’s new pool area is the highlight of the refurbishing project.

“It’s not a concrete hole in the ground like most of our competitors, it’s very lush, very resort feeling. A lot of our customers now that come here and see the renovation are saying that it feels more like coming to a resort destination rather than to Las Vegas,” said Knowles.

The first phase of the pool project was unveiled in May and features an expansive pool deck with lush landscaping, waterfalls, swim-up blackjack tables and cabanas.

Phase two of the pool development will be the addition of the Nikki Beach complex slated for spring 2011.

The new Las Vegas location will be the largest Nikki Beach property in the world. The opulent beach club will feature loungers, opium beds and cabanas, complete with bottle service and hors d’oeuvres. Nikki Beach will include a restaurant, outdoor cafe and bar and a private island in the center of the tropical pool.

Along with Nikki Beach will come a new nightlife offering at the Tropicana — Club Nikki, a 15,000-square-foot nightclub decorated in an elegant all-white color scheme. Club Nikki will feature interactive entertainment such as “champagne muses” and world-renowned DJs dueling on each side of the dance floor.

While the Nikki Beach complex won’t be ready until 2011, there are many more changes scheduled for completion by the end of this year. The Tropicana will open a new poker room and a new race and sports book operated by Cantor Gaming, which will include mobile gaming and skyboxes.

Also by the end of the year, a new restaurant and updated bars will open at the hotel. One of the highlights will be Ambhar, located in the main casino area, which will feature cocktails crafted with Ambahr Platinum tequila.

The Tropicana was home to the storied “Folies Bergere” production show for many years and Knowles said the hotel is looking at new options for entertainment with the goal of renovating the theater and having a show in by early next year. For now, guests can enjoy a new comedy club from actor and comedian Brad Garrett.

Brad Garrett has opened a comedy club at the Tropicana

“Tropicana was the perfect home for me because we’re trying to build what Vegas used to be, make it all about the customer,” Garrett said. “I think the older Vegas, it was really all about the customer and the clientele and making them feel that the hotel will go the extra mile for you.”

The hotel is also opening the Mob Experience exhibit in December, a large collection of authentic artifacts, memorabilia, photos and videos about organized crime.

Although most of the changes are on the interior, customers will also notice an overhaul on the outside of the Tropicana. The porte cochere, valet and check-in have all been redone.

“The entrance is new with white marble steps and the ceiling is very, very Miami, it’s very, very South Beach in that sort of art deco look and feel — basically it’s all white and very cleaned up,” said Knowles.

He said in addition to the aesthetic improvements at the property, a focus on customer service is a priority at the new Tropicana.

“The fixing of the neglect of the building, the physical part of it, to us is actually the easiest part — you design it, you pay someone to come in and create it for you. The service culture is actually our biggest focus. We actually have a service culture team that we’ve put into place that has been working with the team members to change the idea of what a visit in Las Vegas is,” he said. “So, we jokingly — but not really jokingly — say that we’re a boutique, because when all is said and done, we have 1,658 rooms on the Strip. All of our competitors have more and we’re able to engage the customers in ways that they wish they could.”

Knowles said the biggest hurdle the hotel has faced with its facelift is that some people didn’t want the hotel to change. “There are a few people who liked the Tropicana how it was and when those people come to see it, we change their minds,” he said.

“There was one customer we were talking to in the valet — we happened to catch her and she’d been coming to the Tropicana for 15 years and she was sort of unimpressed with what she saw so far because we were under construction. So we walked with her into the front door — and it was a week after we got the new pit carpet, the new tables in and the walkway was complete — and she just kind of stood there for awhile looking at it and I wasn’t sure what she was going to say but she goes, ‘okay, I get it now.’”

Knowles said the idea of what the Tropicana is in people’s minds and actually seeing it are two completely different things.

“Our goal is to get people to come see what it looks like so they can change their mind about what they feel when they hear the name Tropicana.”

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.