Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 | 7:06 a.m.
Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at [email protected] or at (702) 259-2327 or (702) 812-9812.
It might seem an odd figure to celebrate -- sort of like an NFL running back rejoicing at 1,100 rushing yards. But Hard Rock Hotel founder and Chief Executive Peter Morton said that trumpeting $800 million in advance sales for Bungalows Residences Flats at the Hard Rock is perfectly sensible.
"It's just a number of sales contracts, but it's an impressive number," Morton said during a phone interview from New York on Wednesday, a day after his "$800 Million Party" at Simon Kitchen & Bar. "We are proud of it."
That number was reached in just six weeks, which the hotel says is a local market and industry record. The Bungaloes are to be five towers of private resort and residential condominiums sitting on 24 acres occupied today by apartments adjacent to the hotel on Harmon Avenue. Celebrities reported to have already signed on for units include supermodel Claudia Schiffer, NHL star Sergei Federov and members of Motley Crue (on the same floor, we can hope).
Construction on the condos is expected to begin in early 2006 and be finished in 2008. The project will triple the size of the Hard Rock by adding 1,420 condominium units, an expanded casino floor, a new (and far larger) concert hall to replace the existing Joint, new restaurants (including the latest Mr. Chow, a chain of trendy celeb-friendly cafes), meeting and ballroom facilities, and new pools and spas.
Morton said that the Hard Rock Hotel, which turned 10 years old this year, intends to remain a destination spot for what he calls "the youngest demographic of any of the properties in Las Vegas."
"It's 21-to-45, a pretty broad number," he said. "... it's always a challenge, whether (the hotel) is a year old or 15 or 20. By no means are we a huge property, but we try to appeal to that demographic, whether it's with new restaurants to 'Beacher's Madhouse' to new bands ... We've had the biggest acts in the business -- from Depeche Mode to the Killers, Tom Petty, and we'll continue to do that."
NoteMart
Beach is back: Speaking of the boundless Jeff Beacher, his dates at the Joint through March were announced Thursday. The next season of the show starts Feb. 4 and performances are scheduled for each Saturday (aside from one Sunday, March 18) through March 25. Doors open at 9 p.m. ...
News a-brewin': Sin City Brewing Co. is opening Monday at the Desert Passage mall at the Aladdin. It is the first stand-alone microbrew bar and retail shop for the Vegas-based brewery, which distributes its suds throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Along with its four brews (Sin City Amber, Sin City Light, Sin City Stout and Sin City Weisse), the Sin City Brewing Co. pub will carry assorted souvenirs, including (just in time for the holidays) yoga pants ...
All aglow: According to the Las Vegas Hilton Hot Sheet, passed along by the incomparable Ira David Sternberg, the Hilton will have issued 150,000 glow sticks to fans attending Barry Manilow's performances at the hotel showroom by the time Manilow's 2005 dates conclude. Fans break out these babies during "Copacabana (At the Copa)," and when that happens, the party is on ...
Do we Carrot all?: In his first endorsement deal since his national 1-800-CALL-ATT campaign, Carrot Top (real name: Scott Thompson) will be featured on Marla Letizia's Mobile Billboards of Las Vegas. The copper dome of the 'Top will be featured on the company's fleet of eight billboard-toting trucks for the next four years; he is currently headlining at the Luxor.
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