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| (photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
Showing posts with label City Center Las Vegas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City Center Las Vegas. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Who's That Guy In the Crystals/Aria Ads at City Center?
Gives new meaning to window shopping. These billboard size ads at the Crystals tram station at City Center gives an idea of the image that the complex wants to promote and the kind of stuff we should buy. Love their tag lines "Get It Here. Wear It Here" and "Bring your treasures out of the shopping bag and into the showroom."
City Center Las Vegas: Halo and Glacia by WET
WET, the water feature and fountain design firm, responsible for the Mirage Volcano and the Fountains of Bellagio, have created five installations for City Center. Lumia, Focus and Latisse are within the Aria Resort & Casino. This post covers Glacia and Halo, both located in Crystals, which I encountered again as I returned to the Cosmopolitan after touring City Center taking a route through the retail complex. There's always something interesting about water in a controlled environment manipulated in unusual ways.
Visit wetdesign.com for more information about the firm and to learn more about their water featrues.
HALO
Halo materializes as a series of water vortices held captive within clear cylinders that thrust up through the floor. Swirling water appears caught in constant motion. These colorful swirls of water is set as focal point of the Crystals atrium. Guest are free to walk through and touch the maze of spinning water while staying completely dry.
GLACIA
Near ground level entrance to the Crystals, Glacia is meant to cool guests with large pillars of carved ice that rise as tall as 15 feet. And "rise" is the operative word, as these columns emerge silently from a pristine pool, ascending slowly upward as immense monoliths of frozen water. Colored lighting combines with the varied clarity of the ice (sometimes crystal clear, sometimes frosty white) to produce a visual experience that never repeats itself.
City Center, Las Vegas: The Aria Express
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| The Aria Express returning to the Bellagio station. |
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| Inside of one of the Aria Express cars. |
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| The portion of rail running from the Bellagio's Spa Tower on a rail that runs between the Cosmopolitan and Vdara and stopping at Crystals between the Harmon and Aria before it moves onward to the Monte Carlo. (above photos: TheHopeful Traveler) |
After touring City Center and then walking through the Vdara, I happened onto a path that leads to the Bellagio. I had no intention of visiting the Bellagio today. So I hopped on the Aria Express at the Bellagio's Spa Tower and took a ride for one stop to return to Crystals where I could take a shorter walk back to the Cosmopolitan where I am staying.
The Aria Express operates daily from 8am-4pm. The tram arrives about every 15 minutes and the ride duration is two to six minutes depending on your final stop. The tram travels at a top speed of 23 mph and is able to transport more than 5,000 people per hour.
The longest system is the Las Vegas Monorail which serves hotels on the east side of the Las Vegas Boulevard which from the MGM Grand runs north to Bally's Paris, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara.
On the west side of the strip are Mirage-Treasure Island Tram and the Mandalay Bay-Luxor-Excalibur Trams.
A whole editorial could be written about the inefficiency of these systems. But when the Las Vegas heat is hovering at 100 degrees and when walking may be a chore and driving or catching a cab too expensive, these systems are useful. Those planning on using any of these systems should note that the trams on the east side of the strip are free. The Las Vegas Monorail costs $5 per ride, $14 for an unlimited one-day pass or $30 for an unlimited three-day pass. All prices are per person.
Click HERE to learn more about each tram/monorail system and to view a larger version of the map below.
City Center Las Vegas: A Resort & Casino, A Hotel & Spa, A Mandarin Oriental, Two Leaning Towers and One "Blue" White Elephant (Just The Facts At A Glance)
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| The City Center complex (photo: MGM) |
- The glittering mega block that is City Centers sits on 67 acres between the Monte Carlo and Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
- Construction broke ground on April 3, 2006 and opened on December 3, 2009.
- 78,000 tons of steel used for City Center, enough to build 10 Eiffel Towers; and enough concrete to build a 4-foot sidewalk from Las Vegas to New York and back. The 2.7 million square feet of glass used is enough to enclose 12 Luxor Hotels.
- Occupies 1,200 feet along the Las Vegas Strip.
- Approximately 2,400 residences in total between Veer Towers, Vdara and Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.
- Employs 12,000 permanent employees.
- The only resort property on the Strip to feature its own fire station.
Click on the following links for more information:
The Crystals (overview of City Center's shopping attraction)
City Center, Las Vegas: A City Within Itself (overview of the complex)
ARIA RESORT & CASINO
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| The 61-story Aria viewed from the Las Vegas Strip. |
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| The hotel's porte cochere (above photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
- Opened December 16, 2009
- 61-story gaming resort with 4,004 rooms, including 568 suites, ranging from 520 to 2,000 square feet.
- Two curved towers joined make up the four wings of the hotel.
- Features 16 restaurants and 10 bars and lounges.
- Mainstay show is 'Viva Elvis by Cirque due Soleil' (opened February 19, 2010 & closing August 31, 2012) to replaced by 'Zarakana by Cirque du Soleil' (opening Nov 1, 2012).
- Features 150,000 square foot casino.
- Pool deck measures 215,000 square feet featuring three primary pools and Liquid (an adults-only pool).
- Two-level 80,000 square feet spa with 620 treatment rooms and the country's first Japanese Ganbanyoku Stone Beds.
- Fun facts: The concierge staff offers assistance in 16 languages including Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Serbian, Armenian, Dutch and Albanian. Construction workers added one floor to Aria every seven days from September 2007 to the topping out in September 2008. There are approximately 21,000 pillows in the hotel tower.
- Slot machine bases in the casino were specifically designed for the Aria to serve as air-conditioning units cooling guests from the ground up.
- Visit arialasvegas.com for more information.
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| From the Aria entrance guests get a view of all of City Center's buildings including the Harmon (left) and Vdara (right). |
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| The back view of the Aria as seen from Vdara. (above photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
THE HARMON
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| The Harmon: the most expensive billboard on Las Vegas Boulevard. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) |
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| The south face of the Harmon as viewed from the pedestrian bridge to Crystals. |
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| The Veer Towers (left) and Cosmopolitan tower of the 26 stories of the Harmon. |
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| The side of the Harmon facing Las Vegas Boulevard. |
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| (above photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
VDARA HOTEL & SPA
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| The curved Vdara tower faces south. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) |
- Click HERE to read a previous post about the infamous "Vdara Death Ray".
- Opened December 1, 2009.
- 57-stories offering 1,495 condo-hotel units and suites ranging from 500 to 1,650 square feet.
- Spa & Salon Vdara is an 18,000 square-foot, two level spa.
- Lobby lounge called the Bar Vdara.
- Pool features 19 cabanas, one primary pool, semi-secluded plunge pools and a high-energy bar and lounge.
- Visit vdara.com for more information.
VEER TOWERS
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| The Veer's twin leaning towers. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) |
- Opened July 14, 2010
- Comprised of two 37-story glass towers inclined at five-degree angles.
- Each tower houses approximately 335 modern condominium residences ranging from 500 to 3,300 square feet.
- Amenities include an infinity-edge pool, sun deck, recreations rooms, media rooms, fitness center and business center.
- Visit citycenteronsale.com for more information about all residences at City Center.
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| Veer Towers surrounded by the Mandarin Oriental (left), Aria and Harmon (right) and Crystals (forefront). View from Planet Hollywood. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) |
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, LAS VEGAS
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| The north side of the Mandarin Oriental. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) |
- Opened December 4, 2009.
- The first Mandarin Oriental to ever open in Las Vegas.
- 47-story, non-gaming hotel and residences.
- Features the restaurant Twist by three-star Michelin Chef Pierre Gagnaire.
- Accommodations include 392 rooms and suites
- Spa at Mandarin Oriental inspired by 1930s Shanghai and reflecting the glamour and fusion of the era.
- Pool facility features 20 cabanas, two lap pools and the Pool Cafe.
- The top floors of the hotel are occupied by 225 luxury condominiums.
- Visit mandarinoriental.com for more information.
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| The Mandarin Oriental and Veer Towers occupy one corner of City Center. The Crystals fronts the Veer. (photo: TheHopefulTraveler) |
City Center Las Vegas: The Crystals
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| Entrance to Crystals from the pedestrian bridge that connects to the Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood. |
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| Above Crystals are the Veer Towers. (above photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
The Forum Shops at Caesars (636,000 square feet, over 160 stores) still is tops among the largest shopping centers tied to a casino. Though Crystals is similar in size to the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (500,000 square feet, over 140 stores), it has far less retailers. The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood (475,000 square feet, over 140 stores) is located adjacent to Crystals with a mix of more affordable stores. If you include malls not connected to a casino and hotel, the Fashion Show Mall rules the Strip (1,888,151 square feet, over 250 stores).
Sometimes it's nice to window shop and it's likely the average Las Vegas visitor will do just that at Crystals. Among the luxury stores at Crystals are: Bulgari, Cartier, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Harry Winston, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tiffany & Co. and Versace. Many would find the dining options at Crystals more affordable. These include Todd English P.U.B. and Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina.
(continued below)
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| The ceiling reflects the unusual shaped buildings that is Crystals. |
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| The shops of Crystals are located on two levels. (above photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
I'm sorry I missed the opportunity to see the three galleries in Crystals. Those who admire the glass sculpture above the registration lobby at the Bellagio would want to visit a gallery featuring the work of artist Dale Chihuly. The other galleries features the works of photographer Rodney Lough Jr. and artist Richard MacDonald. This will definitely be a must thing to do upon a return visit to Vegas. Fans of the Bellagio fountains should stop by to gaze at two of five water features created by WET for City Center located in Crystals.
Crystals is bright and airy without the distractions of a theme that prevails at its competitors. The building that is Crystals has unique design elements (e.g. the Treehouse) that will make one take notice. Some may question if such a high-end shopping complex can succeed on the Las Vegas Strip. Some of these retailers have locations elsewhere in the city but they are mixed into a broader collection of shops. The concentration of stores will bring in those attracted to such similar central shopping attractions such as New York's 5th Avenue or Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive. The unusual look of Crystals will bring in the average Las Vegas tourist with many of them just wanting to make their way to the Aria casino or showroom. Let's not forget the built in audience of guests and residents of the City Center's five buildings.
Crystals opened on December 3, 2009. Visit crystalsatcitycenter.com for more information. Hours: Sun-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 10am-midnight.
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| Before the noon, the crowds at Crystals are sparse. Crowds should build as visitors to Las Vegas awake from a late night of gambling and entertainment. |
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| The Pods by Wolfgang Puck is a full-service coffee bar. |
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| A touch of Las Vegas glitz on a stairway at Crystals. |
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| The 80-foot-tall "Treehouse" houses the Mastro's Ocean Club Restaurant. |
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| A grand exit on the Level 2 leads to the Aria Resort & Casino |
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| A mix of real and artificial greenery and water features brighten the surroundings of the shops at Crystals. (above photos: TheHopefulTraveler) |
City Center, Las Vegas: A City Within Itself
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| The urban complex that is City Center Las Vegas. (photo credit: citycenter.com) |
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| The view from Las Vegas Boulevard: (from left) Veer Towers, Aria Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa. In the forefront is the Crystals dining, retail and entertainment complex. Not pictured is the Mandarin Oriental and the unfinished Harmon Hotel. (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler) |
The Cosmopolitan at Las Vegas, where I am staying during this trip, is a neighbor of City Center and sometimes mistaken as part of the complex. Separated by Harmon Avenue, a pedestrian bridge connects the Cosmopolitan's second level with City Center's "The Crystals" retail district.
City Center is simply staggering and was featured in an episode of the Discovery Channel series "Build It Bigger" (click HERE to link to iTunes to purchase and view the episode). The complex is 76 acres and was the largest privately funded construction project in U.S. history. This spot of prime Vegas real estate formerly was home to the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, a parking lot and various commercial buildings.
Owned by MGM Resorts International and operated with Dubai World and built for approximately $9.2 billion, City Center is comprised of the following structures:
- Aria Resort & Casino, the centerpiece of City Center rising 61 stories includes 4,004 hotel rooms and a 150,000 square foot casino and showroom.
- Vdara Hotel & Spa, the 57-story hotel-condo tower with 1,495 rooms that made the news for its infamous "death ray."
- Mandarin Oriental, part of the luxury chain this location is mixed-use with 392 hotel rooms and 225 condos housed in 56 stories.
- Veer Towers, twin 37-story towers reputed for their leaning design is comprised of 674 condo units.
- The Crystals, the center's 500,000 square-foot entertainment, retail and restaurant complex.
- Harmon Hotel, reduced from 50-story tower reduced to a 25-story shell that was planned to be a non-gaming boutique hotel and much written about for its construction problems.
As I wonder through City Center, the next few posts will highlight the individual elements that make up the complex. For more info visit citycenter.com.
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| The monorail (bottom center) joins City Center with the Bellagio and Monte Carlo hotels and crosses over Harmon Avenue in this photo. (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler) |
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| Rather than being completed in segments, each structure of City Center was constructed at the same time. (photo credit: Las Vegas Real Estate) |
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| This rendering of City Center shows the Harmon Hotel at its originally planned 50-story height. The Harmon is the oblong tower at right covered in multi-colored blue glass. (photo credit: TheHopefulTraveler) |
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