ART AND ARCHETECTURE The first thing one notices about CityCenter is its sheer size and
striking architecture, spanning over 60 acres and topping out at over 60 stories. MGM Resorts International traveled the world to assemble a dream team of the world’s foremost architects. The end result is a collection of distinct buildings, each with unique archi- tectural elements that come together to create a singular identity that is both modern and timeless. Environmentally sustainable elements throughout the project earned CityCenter six Gold LEED certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it one of the largest sustainable developments in the world. CityCenter’s largest hotel, ARIA, is currently the largest hotel in the world with Gold LEED status. A convenient tram connects the Crystals shop- ping complex with other MGM properties, the Monte Carlo to the south and the Bellagio to the north, while a first-of-its-kind fleet of stretch limos powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) escorts visitors around town in eco-friendly fashion. CityCenter presents Las Vegas with another unique first, a major
permanent art collection fully integrated into public space, touted as one of the world’s largest and most ambitious corporate art collections in existence today. The CityCenter Fine Art Collec- tion features works by acclaimed artists, sculptors and visionaries throughout the complex, both inside, and out. The collection encompasses a multitude of styles and media, ranging from sculptures and paintings to large-scale installations. A handy, free App available on iTunes makes it easy and fun to navigating the CityCenter Fine Art Collection.
HOTELS, CASINOS AND SPAS Located in the heart of the development is Veer Towers,
CityCenter’s unique residential development, comprised of two 37-story glass towers inclined at five-degree angles, lending a whimsical “one too many” feel. But the anchor property here is the 4,000-room gaming resort, ARIA. Affordable rooms range from spacious 500-plus square feet with floor to ceiling windows, to over 2,000 square feet of penthouse luxury. If that’s still not enough space for whatever catches your fancy in Sin City, then
foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental is an oasis inspired by the glamour of 1930s Shanghai. Additional amenities include stunning el- evated pools and accompanying cabanas, a top-of-the-line fitness and wellness center and a distinguished salon. There’s a 28-story elephant on the corner at CityCenter, but due
to its sleek modern design, it blends in slightly better than most elephants one might find in a room. The building is The Harmon Hotel, which has an opening date somewhere between “soon” and “delayed indefinitely.” Construction faults are to blame for drastic design changes and ensuing litigation. While the mostly completed hotel sits there empty, there are still many thousands of other rooms and suites to find at CityCenter’s three other resorts.
DINING AND SHOPPING Crystals is CityCenter’s strikingly beautiful 500,000-square-foot
retail and entertainment district. Ultra modern architectural ele- ments include leaning columns, curving trusses and a roof without right angles. Inside is the best shopping to be found in Las Vegas. With names like Prada, GUCCI, TOM FORD, Porsche Design, Louis Vuitton, TIFFANY & CO., Roberto Cavalli and Versace, this isn’t your average mall experience. Within Crystals, interior architect David Rockwell created an ab-
stract 21st century park that “reintroduces and celebrates nature and the seasons.” A central element of this design is the three-story sculptural Tree House that reaches 70 feet from the ground level. Within the actual Tree House is the fine dining Mastro’s Ocean Club. While the hearty fare of fresh seafood, Prime steaks and signature smoking martinis never disappoints, the restaurant’s placement seems odd. With a tab that easily runs 100 bucks a person, it seemed strange to enjoy an otherwise romantic dinner in a brightly lit food court. While the backdrop here isn’t a tacky souvenir shop, diners are still surrounded by retail brands and ogling window shoppers. There are much better places to spend your restaurant dollars at CityCenter. Eva Longoria brings the prerequisite Hollywood celebrity name
to Crystals at CityCenter with her Latin steakhouse, Beso. As I’m a bigger fan of celebrity chefs than actors, I can say the best part
The Best Las Vegas Has To Offer
consider one of ARIA’s Sky Villas. Some of these private sky-high estates reach 7,000 square feet and almost require their own zip code. Down below on the casino floor it’s slightly more egalitarian in what struck me as one of Vegas’ most beautiful casinos. Both the Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa are City-
Center’s luxury non-gaming hotels. But what you will find at both hotels are noteworthy spas. Vdara is an internationally inspired all-suite hotel and spa designed for those who love the excitement of Las Vegas, but prefer to enjoy it in an exclusive, non-gaming and smoke-free environment. Vdara Health & Beauty, a two-level spa, salon and advanced fitness facility, offers treatments focusing on holistic health that use quality ingredients derived from herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables and essential oils. The 27,000-square-
of Beso is Longoria’s partnership with one of my all-time favorite chefs, Todd English. English’s name can also be found across from Beso at P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar). Here, my friends and I enjoyed slightly more affordable prices versus other eateries at CityCenter, and the sliced-to-order rotisserie meats were a perfect family-style late lunch. An entire book could be written about dining options at CityCenter, but omitting Sage at ARIA would be a literary faux pas. This contemporary American, dinner-only, upscale restaurant is a gorgeous, yet non-pretentious playground for foodies. Sea- sonal ingredients and sustainable seafood are the cornerstones of Chef Richard Camarota’s kitchen, while fresh fruit purees and homemade bitters bring a culinary integrity to cocktails from at the social bar.
DECEMBER 2010 | RAGE monthly 59
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