Anthony Curtis nationally syndicated weekly column.
August 23, 2011
Details have been announced for the former “Project Linq,” now known simply as “the Linq,” Building the 200,000 square-foot open-air marketplace at center Strip will result in the demolition of the O’Sheas casino and a complete renovation of the Imperial Palace. The IP will be renamed, expanded, and remodeled to blend into the complex, which will have 40 retail, dining, and entertainment attractions anchored by a giant observation wheel. The Flamingo will also come out on the plus side with a shiny new entrance leading in from the complex.
Losing Elvis: In something of a head-scratcher, Cirque du Soleil has announced that Viva Elvis at Aria will close so the show can be revamped to de-emphasize Elvis. The objective is to make the show “more acrobatic,” which apparently involves replacing several Elvis-related portions of the show with more Cirque-like acts. The show will close for approximately six weeks in January and may get a new name.
Downtown Deal: Hennessey’s downtown offers 2-for-1 breakfast and burgers on Tuesdays and half-price appetizers from 4 to 7 pm on Fridays. The bar is located at the east end of downtown’s Fremont Street canopy (beneath the big beer glass). Hennessey’s also makes a mean Bloody Mary.
Plaza Rates: Downtown’s Plaza hotel-casino that’s set to reopen on September 1 has posted its opening room rate at $40 per night. Considering the major renovations that have been implemented here, including furnishing the rooms with items purchased in a fire sale by the Strip’s Fontainebleau, this may be one of the better room values in Las Vegas.
Question: In a previous column you wrote that a 550-foot “observation wheel” is planned for the Strip. How does that compare to other famous wheels, such as the London Eye?
Answer: If the Vegas wheel (part of the Linq project referenced above) is completed as planned, it will become the tallest in the world, surpassing the Star of Nanchang (China) at 520 feet and the Singapore Flyer at 545 feet. The London Eye is 443 feet tall.
For more information about current Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons, and good deals, go to www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.
