Wednesday, June 13, 2012 | 2:37 p.m.
Calendar
- Da Vinci - The Genius
- Through October 15, daily, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
- $18-$25
- Venetian, 414-1000
Every once in a while, a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit pops up—not of his artwork, of course, which is sealed away in museums, but of his inventions, as deciphered and built using Da Vinci’s own sketches and notebooks. Though commercial, they’re usually pretty interesting. After all, here’s a guy who was designing flying machines, scuba gear, military crafts and flywheels in the 15th century. Scientists and artisans have gone to great lengths to decipher his notebooks and build his inventions.
One such effort is on display in Da Vinci – The Genius at the Venetian. Created by Grande Exhibitions, the traveling exhibit includes 75 life-size inventions, reproductions of his artwork and, possibly the centerpiece, Pascal Cotte’s research on “Mona Lisa.” Five years ago, with permission from the Louvre, Cotte used multispectral digitization to analyze layers of the painting, giving light to its transformation over the years. His results, still debated by art experts, add to the intrigue that’s held thinkers captive for 500 years.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
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