CityCenter's Aria Opens Tonight...

...and tomorrow I'll have full coverage with pictures, video and commentary. In the meantime, follow my Tweets (I'm @TheStripPodcast) all evening as I spit out thoughts, quips, quotes and images to the extent that that AT&T Black Hole known as Aria permits. Also keep watch on AriaOpening.Com, brought to you by the brilliant folks at RateVegas.Com and VegasTripping.Com.

Fireworks go off at 11:05 p.m. PT in time for your local news. (We advise you watch KVBC, of course.) Then doors open to the masses at 11:55 p.m. PT. This, above, is what CityCenter looked like from my Panorama Towers rental about an hour ago. There are floodlights bathing it. Not sure that came across in the photo.

And finally, here's my latest report on today's activities for Agence France-Presse. Now I gotta run.

Aria, Aria, Aria

To unwind, avoid deadlines or reward myself after a story has been filed, I like to log onto the Internet Scrabble Club and play head-to-head timed Scrabble games with strangers around the world. Why Scrabble has not shut this thing down as they did the Facebook thing I don't know, but I'm grateful.

Anyhow, look carefully at the above grid from a game about two weeks ago. Do you see it? Three. Three times the word "ARIA" is used on that board. And, get this, *I* had the red tiles in that round. Yeah. It wasn't me. My non-Vegas, non-CityCenter-obsessed opponent did that.

Weird, right? Well, after that in the past few weeks, I started noticing the word is coming up a LOT in games:


I swear I'm not doing it on purpose just for the sake of this blog post. In fact, I'm not usually even the one who's doing it. But this IS Aria Eve, so when better to blog this?

I do admit to having done this one, however, on purpose:


I'm Friesster on the ISC, btw. Challenge me if you dare.

Overdue: Mandarin Oriental Gala Pictorial

I think I was stricken last week with a bug going around called CityCenteritis, the fatigue that is setting in surrounding that little collection of buildings that's been in all the papers lately.

Still, the Mandarin Oriental gala opening on Dec. 4 was a great deal of fun. Another popular Vegas blogger who accompanied me shot a gazillion images that can be found here, but I prefer to use photos here to tell a story.

For instance, it was evidently wild couture night. Models were all over the place and here are some of the looks:

This party was spread across the 23rd floor Skylobby and the 3rd floor convention space, both of which are splendid. Yet while it was expected that the lobby would be lovely, we were particularly jazzed by how beautiful the convention hall is:


There was plenty of food and drink, as usual. A lot of the images below are, for some reason, of chocolate-related items. There was this whole chocolate-journey room with the Johnny Depp version of "Willie Wonka" playing. Yes, the creepy remake, not the happy one. But OK.


Nice of them to form the bread in the shape of an S for me.

We were welcomed to go to the 9th floor to have a tour of a typical room for which the rack rate is supposed to be, uh, $600. Yeah. Anyhow, they're very sleek and modern as all rooms tend to be nowadays:


There was one innovation I found kinda fun, the "valet closet." Basically, there's this closet that opens to the outside of the room and the inside. So the valet can drop off your dry-cleaning or a package and then a light comes on in the unit and you go to your side and get the items left. That wood panel to the right of the room number below is it from the hallway:


Small things. Anyhow, the lady who was showing us the room started to freak out when we wanted to bounce on the beds and take pictures of all sorts of minutae like valet closets, so she urged us to go to the 3rd floor where the "program" was about to start.

That "program" was Vanessa-Mae, the rock-n-roll violinist:


I would've stayed a little longer, but that other blogger was easily bored and wanted badly to go see the spa. We were put on an elevator and got off at the spa level expecting to be greeted by minders whose patience we would surely try. Instead, we found ourselves literally alone opening doors, wandering all over the facility and feeling like we were trespassing when, in fact, it seemed they wanted us to do this.

Here's the yoga/aerobics room:




Dunno what those metal thingies are, but that may explain why I had to rent a tux instead of wearing the one I got married in three years ago. I tried to shape up a little while we were there...

All sorts of wacky treatment rooms abound and the pick-your-shower thing looked fun:


My blogger pal was especially excited to check out the relaxation pools that he said were the only ones anywhere in Vegas or the US or the Milky Way (can't remember) that have windows and views.


Sadly, one of those precious views was of...

a neon McD's!

Next thing I know, I find my friend laying on one of these bed-like things. He's like, "Dude, try this," and I'm like, "Dude, do something else with that bottle, k?"


THEN I tried it out.


OK, OK. That photo didn't take itself. By this point in our maurauding, we came across a lovely guide who said it was great that we'd seen what we'd wanted to but did we have any questions. My bottle-fondling spa nerd friend sure did have some. I don't remember any of them being interesting, though.


That may be because I was causing trouble, as usual, by shooting stuff like this:


My friend and I decided to walk over to Crystals which is around the time, lucky for us all, both my iPhone and my proper digicam died. But not before I got this nice shot of the Veer Towers.


Oh, and this directional at the Crystals amused me...


in this sorta way:


The End. Or...the beginning? Hahaha! Yes, CityCenteritis makes you a little punchy. And that's just the start of The Week Aria Opens!

Wynn on Garth, Bette and Beyonce, A Teleplay

Steve Wynn had asked me not to air the audio of our recent conversation, but he gave me full permission to report the newsworthy stuff that we discussed in writing. I was going to use this sequence about Bette, Garth, Garth's plane, Beyonce and more in different blog posts, but it's so much fun I figured I'd just get out of the way and let the conversation speak for itself. The conversation took place on Nov. 24. Enjoy.


Friess: And when is Bette Midler starting at the Encore?

Wynn: Who? Bette Midler?

Friess: Sure, she’s leaving Caesars, she’ll want another gig.

Wynn: Is Bette leaving?

Friess: Yeah, she’s ending her contract at the end of January. You know that, don’t you?

Wynn: I did not know it.

Friess: Oh, OK. Well, she’s leaving Caesars at the end of January.

Wynn: Who’s taking her place?

Friess: They haven’t said anything yet. Right now the only person that have in there is Cher.

Wynn: Uh-huh.

Friess: So right now they’re out looking for people. And I’m sure you are, too. I’m sure you’re looking for other headliners to fill in for Garth.

Wynn: I only have certain names that I like.

Friess: And I assume Bette’s one of them.

Wynn: Uh, I didn’t know she was leaving until you just told me.

Friess: Can you share some of the other names?

Wynn: No. I don’t want to telegraph what we’re trying to do.

Friess: Well, I’ll tell you this. This idea of doing Garth as this intimate, unplugged thing is fascinating if you do it with other people, too.

Wynn: You can’t do it with other people, Steve. He is so unbelievable when he does it. He walks out with a guitar over his shoulder. The man’s voice, his ability to tell his story, he totally extemporizes. He’s funny, he’s talented, he talks about his history. He talks about Ricky Skaggs to Boz Skaggs, James Taylor to Bob Seger, Billy Joel to Elton John. He sings all their stuff. He does “Against The Wind” better than Seger does. Best thing I’ve seen since the Rat Pack.

Friess: I think somebody like Bette could do an unplugged set, too.

Wynn: I think Bette Midler can do anything she wants. I think she’s the most gifted girl. I think she’s fabulous.

Friess: And you’re gonna be on the phone with her in the next half hour.

Wynn [Laughing]: Well, you gave me the tip off. I’m gonna call her and ask her what she wants to do. And seeing Bette Midler in a 1,500-seat theater is a kick in the ass. To be that close to her?

Friess: I just think it’s a brilliant bit of counterprogramming to get these big stars to do these smaller, more intimate shows.

Wynn: I agree with you. The question is if I can get them to do it. I can’t pay them $500,000 a show. Can’t do it.

Friess: I need to ask you a very simple question about Garth. This idea that you’re buying him a plane. Are you buying him an actual physical plane and he keeps it?

Wynn: He keeps it.

Friess: And he takes it wherever he wants to go.

Wynn: It’s his airplane.

Friess: I’m trying to figure out – those are planes cost $20- or $30 million.

Wynn: This was a great market for airplanes, so it cost a little less. There are hundreds of airplanes for sale.

Friess: Did you buy the one Sarah Palin put on eBay?

Wynn: No, no. I bought him a beautiful Canadair 604. [Click here to see Garth's plane!-sf] It’s a big wide airplane it’s got almost a 4,000 mile range. It can take him anywhere he wants to go but it’s very comfortable. It’s as wide as a Global Express.

Friess: I just don’t understand the math behind this deal.

Wynn: I know. I know ya don’t and that’s because we won’t tell ya.

Friess: Well I understand that, but don’t you see why it would be puzzling? The expense of him and the ticket prices ... and I’ve calculated out the ticket values and I don’t see how you make money.

Wynn: If you take the ticket price and mutliply it by 60 shows at 1500 people a show and you take $125 a ticket and you say well, 'That won't work plus the cost of a jet.'

Friess: Am I wrong?

Wynn: No, you’re right.

Friess: So, how does it work?

Wynn [Laughing]: I don’t wanna tell ya.

Friess [Sighing]: OK.

Wynn: Let’s put it this way. When I got through with Beyonce, I was short. It didn’t work.

Friess: She didn’t really sell out, did she?

Wynn: Yes she did. Absolutely. 100 percent.

Friess: Oh, OK. And the tickets were more expensive.

Wynn: Yeah. But all I’m saying is, we made a terrific amount of money because of the casino. Remember, our only source of income is not the tickets. We have rooms, we have food, beverage and gambling

Friess: Well then I guess the question is, are the shows becoming a loss-leader again.

Wynn: In the case of Garth Brooks, for sure. I don’t mind telling you that.

Friess: Got it.

Wynn: But a loss leader against ticket sales, Steve.

Friess: That’s the old Vegas model then. Cheap entertainment to bring them in to use the other stuff.

Wynn: That’s right. And that’s what Garth is. That’s no secret.

Friess: So is this a function of the economy then?

Wynn: No, no, no, no. It’s a function of getting one of the great world-class performers to compromise so this can happen but even that compromise creates the situation you’re describing. Garth wanted to do this with me. He bent to it. He cooperated. Could Garth Brooks get more money somewhere else? Conceivably yes. But this was the biggest deal I’ve ever made in my life. But it was based upon the fact that I believe Garth Brooks is worth it, that he brings something to our hotel, to our enterprise, a soul, a warmth, a gift to my guests that leave saying that something special happened while they were here. Something they couldn’t see at Texas Stadium or at the Thomas and Mack Arena or Sam Boyd Stadium.

End scene.

Dave Berns Feels "Relief" About Leaving KNPR

In this week's Vegas media shocker, Dave Berns, the host of KNPR's two-hour daily talk and interview show "State of Nevada," left his job abruptly today.

It was a poorly kept secret around KNPR and among those who appeared often on the program -- myself included -- that Berns had grown frustrated and uncomfortable with the direction of the program and clashed with KNPR General Manager Flo Rogers. But today, reached by phone, Berns insisted the parting was amicable.

"Right now, I have a sense of relief and it's because doing the show every day creates a lot of pressure," said Berns, a former Review-Journal business writer and editor and publisher of Las Vegas Business Press, both owned by Stephens Media. "It's nice not to have some pressure."

Berns was vague about his differences with Rogers, who created the show along with former Vegas TV anchor Gwen Castaldi in 2003. Berns subbed for Castaldi often and then became the full-time anchor four years ago after her retirement.

"Basically, Flo and I have had a number of conversations about the direction of the program," he said. "She sees it one way, I see it as another. I won't go into specifics. This is about the direction of the show. The bottom line is, Flo hired me four years ago and this show is her creation. It's not my bat and not my ball. She's been great to me, given me every opportunity to grow professionally and as a person."

As Dave would with a cagey guest, I asked the question a few more ways. He's evidently learned a thing or two from all those politicians he interviewed, though.

"The show I've been doing is the show I could see us continuing to do," he said. "Flo has a slightly different version of it. I don't want to go into her version. We've agreed to leave it at that."

Rogers was unavailable for comment today but said through a spokeswoman: "Obviously, we wish Dave all the best."

Berns had already been stripped of some of his authority related to the show earlier this year. He was, as host and senior producer, the final arbiter of what went on the program until last summer when former Las Vegas Business Press editor Ian Mylchreest became executive producer. Berns says now that this was a logical division of labor, that it did free him to focus on his hosting responsibilities and that Ian remains a close friend. "It just takes a lot of work to keep up with you and (Steve) Sebelius and (Jon) Ralston on Nevada Week in Review and reading all your blogs," he said. "I welcomed the change."

If all this had been brewing for so long, why now?

"It just felt right for the both of us," Berns said. "Part of it is, it's really important for the station to have a good clean transition, so the artificial nature of the end of the year helps."

Berns said he's got several shows on tape to be played this month and that the December holidays are typically a period for reruns anyhow.

Berns brought to his role at KNPR a newspaperman's doggedness with politicians and public officials that Castaldi lacked as a former TV anchor. Castaldi dwelled frequently in long interviews with Vegas old-timers whereas Berns showed a fascination for topics that occasionally were only loosely related to Las Vegas but could be involved in the broader water-cooler discussion of the day. He'd frequently invoke his Jewish, New Yorker and Baby Boomer credentials to engender comraderie with the likes of Harvey Fierstein, Hal Prince and others.

His interviews with Andre Agassi and Tony Curtis rank among his most memorable.

"When Agassi was in recently, I almost felt like I was talking to my younger brother," he said. "And when Tony Curtis was in, I almost felt like I was talking to my father. For some reason, the shorthand was all there and it just worked."

No anchor replacement has been announced.

[Disclosure: I have been a frequent guest of "State of Nevada" and substitute hosted twice this year.]

Wynn Alters Garth Ticketing Plan

I'm working on a piece to post for one of my clients about the Garth Brooks ticketing and anti-scalping effort, but there was some news that I felt needed to get out NOW.

In a letter to ticketholders that arrived yesterday, Wynn Resorts laid out a system that involved ticketholders and all of the people coming to see the show arriving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to get their tickets in a ballroom. Everyone would show ID, receive a handstamp and wristband that they cannot remove until the enter the theater. Each ticket would have the name of the person whose seat it is printed on it and ID would be checked for every attendee at the door of the theater.

Well, ignore all that. Wynn spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne just told me they've changed the plan yet again. Now:

* Only the purchaser has to come get the tickets, although names of everyone attending is still printed on each ticket and no changes will be permitted.
* Never mind about the wrist bands and hand stamps. Not doing that.
* ID will be checked at the door of the theater randomly, not universally.

Anyone who can't use a ticket can get a full refund within, I presume, a reasonable length of time prior to the show. A standby line forms at noon the day of each show for folks to buy returned seats at the Wynn box office.

Gotta get back to writing my piece. But I figured I ought to get this up asap for those who care.

Tiger = Vegas Stimulus Package?

It's a little disconcerting that the same night as my column about how Tiger's scandal could help Vegas, the mayor himself says so and Jon Ralston smacks him down on Twitter as buffoonish. Ahh, well. For the record, I am not saying that committing adultery while in Vegas is something I endorse. I'm just saying, as I suspect the mayor might, that it's good for business. There's a difference. Anyhow, enjoy. -sf

Welcome to Fabulous Lust Vegas, Mr. Woods

BY STEVE FRIESS

I got dragged kicking and screaming into an on-air discussion about the Tiger Woods sex scandal last week by KNPR State of Nevada host Dave Berns. I had happily avoided the topic in its first week and felt smug and superior about sticking to the real and important news of CityCenter and strippermobiles.

“I don’t want to talk about Tiger Woods, Dave,” I moaned at 8 a.m., when Dave asked me to come in for a ramble about several recent topics. “I just don’t care about him.”

Still, the opportunity to discuss the other matters on the docket propelled me to show up and play along. So at about 10 a.m., Berns raised a question that I felt at the time was an erudite person’s excuse to roll in the gutter:

“The revelations that are coming out about Tiger Woods’ personal life, could this endanger Las Vegas’ reputation in some way as a place that you can go and you can have a bacchanal, you can have a wide-open party, you can spend money and you can do it assuredly knowing that whatever you do there truly does stay there?”

Go ahead, roll your eyes. I sure did. And then, when I began answering and started paying a little more attention to this matter elsewhere, I realized it is a legitimate question with, to my mind, a pretty surprising answer.

You see, the more I’ve thought about it, the more it appears to me that the Tiger Woods scandal and its now-multiple Vegas tie-ins is actually one of the best things that has happened to this city in a long, long time.

First, though, let’s answer Dave’s question. Do these revelations betray the “what happens here stays here” ethos?

Read the REST at LasVegasWeekly.Com.