Don Chareunsy
The Mandarin Oriental grand opening at CityCenter on Dec. 4, 2009. This is a view from the 23rd floor Mandarin Bar.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | 2:30 p.m.
Frapless: Starbucks’ frappuccino happy hour—why were you so short-lived? You couldn’t possibly have spread enough joy from 3 to 5 p.m. with your brief run. And just when it was starting to warm up! Half-price caffeine blended sensations are perfect for summer. Frozen bliss, come back. -Laura Davis, Listings Editor
Homes Alone: So let me get this straight—Las Vegas has 9,500 brand-new, vacant homes, and it’s currently building 1,100 more? Isn’t that kind of like solving the problem of a sinking ship by taking on more ballast? Our economy tanked because of greed. Aren’t we supposed to learn from history? -Ken Miller, Contributing Editor
Global TV: CNN, MSNBC—Al Jazeera? Mandarin Oriental’s in-room entertainment includes an international array of news channels, including Al Jazeera, Hunan TV and Russia Today. For the foreign clientele, it’s a way to stay connected to home. For domestic guests it offers something cooler: a peek at what’s important around the globe. -Sarah Feldberg, Online Editor
Wonder Wall: When the world looks gray and options seem scarce, a pilgrimage to the Great Wall of Vodka at Lee’s Discount Liquors reminds me of life’s rich choices. An entire wall—maybe 400 square feet—showcases artistic bottles and outlandish flavors. Maybe someday I’ll try that bubblegum or banana or bacon vodka. -Joe Brown, Managing Editor
Mission Setback: Developer David Mozes’ planned $95 million arts district venue, The Mission Las Vegas, has lost a major land parcel—at 1001 S. First St.—to foreclosure. It’s a serious blow to the mixed-use project, though Mozes says he plans to buy the land back. (The other parcels are “currently fine.”) -Kristen Peterson, Staff Writer
The 47-story hotel and condo tower is the first venture for Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas. It is the only resort in Las Vegas that has a five-star hotel, a five-star restaurant and a five-star spa.
The tower has 392 guest rooms and 227 residences, decorated in a contemporary design with oriental touches.
Amenities include a 27,000-square-foot spa and a pool complex with 20 cabanas. Mandarin Oriental also includes six restaurants and bars, including Chef Pierre Gagnaire’s first U.S. restaurant, Twist.
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