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City Center Arrives

December 1, 2009

About one year ago, a little hotel called the “Encore” opened, and the expectations for the property seemed unreasonably high.

For some in the media, it was the biggest thing to hit Las Vegas, but I took a slightly more reserved approach. As nice as Encore was, I knew that it was essentially Wynn II, and I was already eyeing something far more significant a full 11 months away.

Fast forward to today. Instead of fanfare the likes of which has never been seen before, a much more subdued opening took place at the new Vdara Hotel & Spa. Granted it wasn’t open to the general public, but the expectations of those who were present seemed a little … subdued.

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel & Spa Grand Opening

Las Vegas City Center - Nancy Rubin Canoe Sculpture

Despite being in what seemed to be a clear minority, I remained excited about what I was about to see. In my opinion, this opening was far more significant than was the Encore. This was my first time meeting Vegas 3.0, and it was Phase I of a project that could very well make or break the very city in which I live.

In my opinion, the opening of Vdara is the single most important opening to happen since the Mirage. Some will debate my opinion since Vdara is only one of four hotels to open within the City Center complex, but I think they are wrong and I’ll tell you why:

First impressions are very important, and if Vdara was a disappointment, then it would set a negative tone for every City Center property to open after it. Fair or not, as the opening act, Vdara was tasked with getting the crowd excited for the subsequent performers.

I can’t speak for anyone else present, but for me it succeeded.

This opening was low-key, subtle, invitation-only … yet very humble. Oscar was not there with his showgirls, and there were no fireworks. Instead, the businessmen who made City Center happen got up before a tough audience, acknowledged that it was a bad time to be opening a property, conceded many of the negative points that have been made time and again in the press, then basically said “we started five years ago, we had to see it through, here we are, we’re going to do our best to make this work”.

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel & Spa Grand Opening

I’m far from a corporate kiss-ass, but as I listened to these gentleman speak with candor and apprehension, while still emoting palpable pride in what they had built, I found it nearly impossible not to root for them.

One need only look 1.5 miles north at the shell of the Echelon to realize what can happen when developers lose motivation.

Take all the shots you want at City Center, but it was finished, and in this economic climate this was nothing short of a small miracle. As I sat and watched the speeches and the ribbon cutting, I felt a sense of relief that it was finally here, and I was almost happy. Not necessarily happy for MGM and its shareholders (it remains to be seen how they will make out), but for the new employees of Vdara and for Las Vegas as a whole … which FINALLY gets a success story and a nudge in the direction of real progress.

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel Employees

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Silk Road Restaurant Employee

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Spa Employees

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel Employee

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Bar

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel & Spa Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

After the ribbon was cut and the employees ceremoniously led into the building, those present were invited for tours. Of course, this was what I was looking forward to the most. I’ve been on the outside looking in for 3 years. I relished in the opportunity to be able to finally do the opposite.

Our guide took us through the lobby, the Spa and the “Meditation Room” (it is what it says it is) … but I was eager to get to the killer app. The rooms. Since Vdara is a hotel/condo, the rooms are the property.

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Lobby

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Conference Room

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hallway

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Spa

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Lobby

We hopped an “up” elevator, and 25 vertical floors later … I was impressed.

The rooms in Vdara range from 500 square feet to 1650 square feet, and they look like the kind of place that I would like to live. I say this with all sincerity.

We were given a tour of a smaller room and a “Panorama Suite”, and these rooms were one of the few new accommodations I have seen in the past couple of years that actually spoke to me. I’m a view junkie, and at Vdara, the views are the star of the show since the living areas are more or less built around the windows. In the suite, even the bathtub is built directly adjacent to a large window pane. The rooms were simple, and had a simultaneous retro and futuristic feel. They didn’t beat you over the head with pretense, nor did they ooze metrosexuality (as I had feared they might).

Vdara Suite Bathtub with View

View from Vdara Suite

They were minimalist, meaning that they had everything you needed … but not much more.

If I had to sum it up succinctly, these rooms were almost the epitome of function over form. Of all the condo towers in which I would live in Las Vegas, so far, this would be it. I told my tour guide to shut the door behind her because I was going to squat, and she quickly shot back “you can live here if you want, some of the units are for sale”.

“It’s a recession for me too”, I responded, “maybe when the great comeback occurs, I’ll take you up on it.”

Seriously, I can take or leave most rooms, but I’m completely down with the Vdara scheme, and this is especially true for the Panorama Suites.

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel & Spa Grand Opening Tour

Las Vegas City Center - Vdara Hotel & Spa Grand Opening Tour Guide

Vdara Hallway

Vdara Suite

Vdara Suite Bath

Vdara Suite Bathroom

Vdara Suite

Vdara Suite Bath

Vdara Suite

Vdara Suite Bathroom with View

Vdara Suite Bathroom

Before the tour and during the tour, much was made about “LEED Certification”, but this honestly doesn’t mean anything to me. My assumption is that it saves the Earth in some way, but I just kind of let the eco-talk wash over my head. Since 80% of humans believe that the Lord is going to come back and invoke the end of the world at his discretion, I can’t for the life of me figure out why they would worry about global warming.

Those of you who drive around with “green” bumper stickers on your internal combustion engines or who buy carbon offsets are probably excited about the LEED Certifications, so if that’s your thing … enjoy.

Of further interest is the fact that once again, all rooms in Vdara are non-smoking. If you will remember, the new Rush Tower is the same. While a vocal minority of people insist that Las Vegas will go to hell in a hand-basket if smokable drug use is prohibited in-property, hotel moguls seem to disagree on some level. They are flipping tobacco smokers the bird with both fingers, and they don’t seem to fear retribution, so we’ll see how it all works out. Frankly, if I just built a new place, it would probably pain me the first time a smoker stayed and left their indelible odor behind (an odor that never truly comes out). I’ve no idea how they are going to enforce the non-smoking rules, but I do find it interesting that so many new properties are taking this approach.

Our guide informed us that employees will deliver groceries to your room without charge (although I would imagine that a gratuity would be expected), and the suites have a kitchen from which you can cook your delivered food. I find this slightly fascinating, but I would like to see this happen in practice before expounding on it much more.

Vdara Suite Kitchen

While City Center aims to replicate a “city center”, it reminds me more of Century City in Los Angeles than any place in Manhattan. I don’t think that this comes as much of a revelation to anyone. It’s one hell of a hike from the Boulevard to Vdara, and it’s not exactly what I would call “pedestrian friendly”. At least not yet. The people-mover was not operational during the Vdara opening, but when it begins running, perhaps it will add a bit more of an urban feel to the project.

I have to admit that I still don’t “get” the canoes either. They seem a little out of place in such hi-tech surroundings, and they almost look as if they were put in place for ironic effect. If that was the intent, mission accomplished.

Las Vegas City Center - Nancy Rubin Canoe Sculpture

Addressing City Center as a whole, the question that naturally comes to mind is … is it a game changer?

Honestly, I don’t know. It’s certainly like nothing I have ever seen before in Las Vegas, and it’s the largest departure from Vegas 2.0 that’s ever been built.

I like what I’ve seen so far, and while City Center is not necessarily delivering on its 2007 hype, it is absolutely delivering on its 2009 revised expectations.

After spending a couple of hours inside of the property, I can unequivocally declare myself to be a fan of Vdara … and by extension, a fan of City Center itself.

I fully recognize that I have only seen 20% of the completed project, but so far, so good.

Vdara Lobby

Vdara Silk Road Restaurant

Vdara Lobby

Vdara Silk Road Restaurant

Vdara Lobby

Vdara Silk Road Restaurant

Vdara Lobby

Vdara Silk Road Restaurant

Share and Enjoy:

Author: Rex
Date: 6:11 pm
Posted in: Current Events, Reviews, The Strip

33 Comments »

Written by Hotel Kortet on December 1, 2009 at 6:52 pm

HI
I would say a perfect place for food,drink, entertainment, vacation, fun.
Written by donnymac on December 1, 2009 at 7:57 pm

Great article Rex, I am looking forward to seeing City Center on my next trip.
Written by photog guy on December 1, 2009 at 8:07 pm

Missed a watermark!

http://wp.casinoguide.com/lifeinvegas/files/2009/12/5404.jpg
Written by BigRedDogATL on December 1, 2009 at 8:17 pm

I can just imagine that the price for those “delivered groceries” would make buying your groceries at the corner 7-11 to be bargain shopping. And who would want to live there with gosh knows how many people that would have access to your place. I just wouldn’t feel secure leaving my personal home stuff in a suite that any illegal alien that could forge a green card and get a housekeeping job, could get into. Vdara may be a nice place to visit, but I doubt anyone would live there very long.

Did the county get Harmon road opened up to the public? Was the bridge over I-15 open on Harmon? Is the new cut through to the West side of the Interstate working?
Written by wrxrob on December 1, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Thanks for the write-up Rex. I’m thoroughly impressed by their expression of function over form, and further surprised to see a kitchen in the suites, to allow one to actually cook their own food instead of being “forced” to spend extra money at the restaurants.

I look forward to visiting Vdara in about a week.
Written by mike_ch on December 1, 2009 at 8:37 pm

I wouldn’t say “since the Mirage opening,” because really if there’s anything in this product that game-changing it’s the Aria.

Mirage was one of those things that was right place, and right time, with the right icon. Mirage was built at a time when Steve Wynn prioritized the middle classes and had the right mix of theme and act (don’t doubt for a second that the whole jungle/paradise motif combined with Siegfried and Roy and their exotic animals weren’t a match made in heaven.) I kind of think you’re buying into the hype of both CityCenter and The Official Steve Wynn Hagiography (which is kind of unlike you.)

Realistically, while Mirage provided a construction boom and was most important from a fiscal perspective, I’d say Caesars and Bellagio were pretty much the two transformative moments in terms of what the city provides. Consider that Bellagio was so good that it took YEARS for someone to even attempt to build a hotel that attained to compete with it, and the one people most likely mention in the same breath was built only because Steve Wynn lost the Bellagio and needed to get back into the game.

CityCenter’s piecemeal opening most reminds me of a compressed version of a six week span in 1994 when Treasure Island, MGM Grand, and Luxor all opened at once. All three accomplished more or less the same goal (a large number of services under one roof) in a very different way (TI with heavy theming, MGM with Absolutely Everything You Could Ask For in one location, and Luxor striking a middle ground and briefly inheriting the No High Limit Play thing Circus was known for.)

Vdara, Aria, and Mandarin will offer something similar to different audiences (Aria being for the gambling/tourist crowd, Mandarin being the luxury/business traveler crowd, Vdara basically gobbling up those who wished they could stay at Mandarin and can’t afford it.) They point to what will some day be the next Bellagio/Mandalay/Venetian style evolution, which has been pushed off for a number of years because of the economy but should really be something eventually.
Written by keith on December 1, 2009 at 8:52 pm

i just get a Jetsons feel when looking at the pictures, and i mean that in a (surprisingly) good way.

the curves of doorways and other objects in weird shapes and what-not really has a cool, relaxing effect.
Written by blueboar on December 1, 2009 at 9:58 pm

The room decor sort of makes me think of SpringHill Suites. (That’s a Marriot chain).

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. They both have very modern colors and decor. I imagine the fabrics and furnishings at Vdara are better though.
Written by ColinFromLasVegas on December 2, 2009 at 12:47 am

What’s with the canoes-on-crack sculpture? Here we are in the desert and canoes and sand don’t make much sense when they’re thrown together. I guess somebody is paid to come up with some kind of aesthetically pleasing sculpture that’s supposed to make people spend. The sculpture thinks, oh, I don’t know, I haven’t a clue on what they want, but, HEY! Out back I got a bunch of old broke ass canoes I need to get rid of, and, well, instead of throwing them in the dipsy dumpster, I guess I could make a huge frickin’ asterisk out of ‘em and then present it as the next wave of expressionist sculpting in protest of the military industrial complex and the marriage of big business with gambling combined with absurd space flight costs. You know, make up some shit to make it sound legit. Kill two birds with one stone. Get rid of these busted canoes and also make money.

But then, what do I know? I ain’t into this modern art thing.

At my appointment at the dentist office once, they sat me in a dental chair. I looked over at this obscure hoity toity artsy fartsy painting of God knows what which looked like a monkey got loose and splattered oil paint on a canvas with his paws in a simian rage moment.

The dental nurse saw me looking at it and asked if I liked the painting.

I looked at her and smiled and said seriously, “Yeah. It’s cool. But it’s upside down.”

She looked at the painting and cocked her head to the side. I got her thinking. Then she came to the realization I was fulla shit. Took a long time though.
Written by mitzula on December 2, 2009 at 2:18 am

Add me to the list that doesn’t get the Canoe sculpture, it looks like a hurricane hit a marina somewhere and they just picked it up, put it on a stick, and sent it to vegas…how much did that eyesore cost???
Written by tully on December 2, 2009 at 3:40 am

The LEED certifications do mean CC will give fewer dollars to Nevada Power, so good for them.

Also, think the glass is a high tech heat deflecting type that will allow the units to stay cooler, even with the large windows. In terms of large scale applications of energy saving techniques/materials, CC is at the forefront. Probably some of the things done will become common building practices in similar urban buildings in the future.

Really do like the kitchen and bath. The whole unit is simple and serene—a good fit for someone wanting a relaxing LV vacation rather than a party til you drop visit. While the latter still outnumbers the former (and always will) the relaxation crowd has grown in recent years., and Vdara should serve it well.
Written by Anthony on December 2, 2009 at 7:37 am

The watermarks plastered across the middle of the photos ruin the pictures for me. I know you want to combat plagiarism but you should not do it at the expense of law-abiding folks that just want to see what the lobby at Vdara looks like. From you of all people I wouldn’t expect this.
Written by Jim on December 2, 2009 at 9:51 am

Rex – Nice job with the article and photos. Almost feels like I’m there. I find the non-smoking in the rooms to be interesting, I wonder which casino will be the first to ban smoking all together (its going to happen sooner or later). I only visit Vegas oncw every 12 – 18 months, but I am really pulling for Vegas to rebound from the tough economy. This opening has to be a real plus to the people lucky enough to get jobs because of this opening. Good Luck!!!
Written by Conan776 on December 2, 2009 at 10:38 am

Ditto about all the watermarks. It’s not 1997 anymore, no one is impressed by the “high-tech power” of “digital photography” — we all have digital cameras now and they sell for $20. No one is here to steal your precious photos, ffs.
Written by alberta on December 2, 2009 at 10:45 am

Those canoes! WTH were they thinking!

Rooms look good.

The rest looks like a 70″s Austin Powers motif. Groovy baby.

What about prices for booze and such?

Thanks for heading over there on media day Rex.
Written by james on December 2, 2009 at 10:53 am

The canoes are lost on me too. Vdara looks like a place that tries to take itself too seriously. The canoe abortion belongs on the wall of a TGI Fridays
Written by LizzieGirl on December 2, 2009 at 11:01 am

Nice work, Rex. Thank you.
Written by gette on December 2, 2009 at 12:58 pm

Great Work Rex!
Awesome pictures, I cant wait to take some myself this weekend , when I am in town.
Written by Dave on December 2, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Man, that carpet in the Silk Road Restaurant is pretty wild!
Written by Vegas Dave on December 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm

The ‘furniture’ in the lobby is plain ridiculous. This retro/space age look will be outdated in a year. Waste of money if you ask me.
Written by yoyoseven on December 2, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Here’s the burning question in my mind:

How the fuck do you pronounce “Vdara”?
Written by SPRUNT on December 2, 2009 at 2:54 pm

For those that don’t like the watermarks… I don’t believe Rex is worried at all about people stealing his photos. The problem is that people link the photos offsite which consumes bandwidth here. The watermark helps to keep people from doing that.
Written by Jay Milton on December 2, 2009 at 8:37 pm

<<>>

What does this mean, exactly? What game is going to change? Occupancy rates? The type of tourist? Future hotels?

As you raised in a column a few weeks back, isn’t CC just a big ass hotel/casino? Really, other than nice linens, fancy carpet and LEED certification, isn’t it really just more of the same….except bigger. I fail to see how this can change any games.
Written by jinx on December 3, 2009 at 6:51 am

Like the coverage Rex, like you I’m cautiously optimistic in what I’m seeing from CC, I don’t think it will rededine things but I think it is a step forward in some ways. Vdara to me though is just a newer version of the signature, condo/hotel, no smoking, kitchen, etc. Or as someone else pointed out Mandarin for those that can’t afford Mandarin.

Aria’s the one that matters, all the others are just different updated versions of the Hotel, Signature, PH Towers, Palms Place, etc. What I see so far is that Vdara seems to make me think that Aria has a chance at being something a bit more updated on the strip. I would say it’s a .5 version of the upgrade though, maybe not a full version.

Glad the canoes are outside though (they are aren’t they?) I’m not impessed by them, but at least they don’t clutter up the inside.
Written by David on December 3, 2009 at 8:12 am

Awesome coverage and review Rex. Don’t mind the haters regarding the watermark on your photos. The watermark didn’t make it difficult to see the photos at all. The decor is definitely retro and futuristic at the same time, what a combo. Thanks and I’m looking forward to your coverage on the other openings as well.
Written by Rex on December 3, 2009 at 8:35 am

If you think about it, the canoes may have been a stroke of genius.

Have you ever heard so much discussion surrounding a hotel sculpture in your life?

Everyone was breaking their necks to photograph the thing, and it’s been a source of constant bemusement/confusion/discussion since it was announced.

The lady who created the thing has been fielding questions about it for the last several months.

I think this may be a case of “I don’t care what you say about me, just spell my name right”

The developers maybe be laughing their asses off at all the canoe talk.

If that is the case … well played.
Written by Rex on December 3, 2009 at 8:47 am

Ditto about all the watermarks. It’s not 1997 anymore, no one is impressed by the “high-tech power” of “digital photography” — we all have digital cameras now

I develop this shit in my basement with a red lightbulb and a vat of noxious chemicals.

The “watermarks” as you call them are the result of slight impurities in the rehalogenising bleach. Any resemblance to actual words or patterns is purely coincidental.

What the hell is a digital camera?
Written by SPRUNT on December 3, 2009 at 10:29 am

To me, the sculpture looks like someone unleashed a small black hole in the middle of a canoe shop and it sucked everything in.

With all the open areas in that sculpture I wonder if it doubles as a fountain after a heavy rain.
Written by alberta on December 3, 2009 at 11:18 am

Let”s start a over under on the canoes.

Rex just to give you a heads up the NFR is in Las Vegas for the next week and a half….
Written by awful jim jam on December 3, 2009 at 12:10 pm

From an artist’s perspective, since people are reacting so strongly to the canoes, the sculpture should be regarded as a resounding success. I think I like the in-your-grill irony of it.

Much better than ubiquitous abstract metal contortions so prevalent nowadays.
Written by SPRUNT on December 3, 2009 at 3:52 pm

If they want irony, maybe they should do a sculpture of a creek of shit full of paddles and no canoe. I think that reflects the current state of Vegas right now. Las Vegas is the creek, hotels and rooms are the paddles, and tourists/canoes are nowhere to be found. (metaphorically speaking, of course.)
Written by roger on December 4, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Thanks for the photos and review Rex. Vdara’s suites are ok but the lobby and restaurant is too funky for my taste. They look uncomfortable and unwelcoming.

On a sidenote. When you’re the best everybody wants to knock you down. People at the top of their game will get attacked and criticized the most. The higher you are, the greater you’ll fall. Ever see a nobody get criticized? If you’re at the bottom, there’s no more to fall right? Of all the Vegas bloggers I’ve noticed that you get the most criticism, which probably means that you matter most. Why else would they even bother wasting their time and energy on you? So Rex, take it as a compliment when they shit on you every chance they get. Seems you’re used to it by now and probably don’t even care but I wanted to give my .02 on it anyway. Keep up your excellent work and don’t let these punks discourage you.
Written by Bill on February 14, 2010 at 2:35 am

The canoe art isn’t bad. Just imagine the same type of art with what you collect or your hobby or what you like. I’m sure the canoe people just love it. Don’t always look at things in a bad way.