Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

The uninvited push to see opening-night festivities

It was an opening night marked by lavish praise, colorful fireworks and an even more colorful guest list that made for a very interesting VIP party at New York-New York.

Multimillionaires conversed freely with free-lance photographers. World-famous actors waited patiently in line along with local poker players for a Nathan's hot dog or an Italian ice.

It was a mix that could happen only in New York City or another city known as the world's entertainment capital.

No wonder there were thousands of people standing outside the barricades on all sides of the property begging security guards to let them in.

"We want to see New York-New York," said Babu Biswas, a local taxicab driver. "Please let us in. We don't want to wait until tomorrow."

Standing beside Biswas and his wife, Sheila, was John McElfresh of Breckenridge, Colo.

"I'd really like to be inside," McElfresh said. "I love casinos. I love openings. I'd love to be able to tell all my friends I was there at New York-New York opening night."

Inside the hotel-casino, the wine and champagne flowed like the cold waters of Niagara Falls.

It was a festive occasion filled with laughter and mirth. There was also a surreal aspect to the evening heightened by -- of all things -- models dressed as Lady Liberties, who carried torches and smiled at guests.

"We're ambassadors of courtesy," said Roxy McPherson, who wore a 1940s flavor of emerald and sea green silk.

"We're here to make sure everyone is happy and enjoys himself," said Ann Tadmor, who wore a similar outfit.

Low plunging necklines were the most common choice among female guests.

"I love it," said Emily Hill, an adult film actress. "I wish we could get dressed up like this every day. You can feel the excitement in the air."

Standing by herself near a decorative tree was photographer and recreational poker player Jamie Kalikow.

"I have my own little space," Kalikow said with a smile. "I'm from New York, and I'm having fun tonight. This place is cleaner. It's really self contained."

Not far from Kalikow, a bellman loaded luggage onto a cart.

Like other bellmen, he wore a traditional 1940s New York City-styled tiel green bellman outfit with gold buttons and an old-styled cylindrical-shaped cap.

"Some of the guys aren't too hot on the caps, but it's part of the uniform," the bellman said. "I guess we'll all get used to it -- and, who knows, maybe they'll come back in style."

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