Spend spring break in Vegas!

Like so many Hawaii residents, I love Las Vegas. Most people go up for the gambling, but I am one of the minority who actually doesn’t care much about that. I go for the food, the world-class shows, and I have to admit, the good shopping. A recent trip brought me up there, and I wanted to share with you what I thought was really awesome.

THE SPA AT WYNN LAS VEGAS

Wow.

I might have to build this massage at the Spa at Wynn Las Vegas into my own vacation ritual. I certainly felt relaxed and ready to win, after leaving the massage table 80 minutes later.

When you enter the Wynn Las Vegas, it’s an oversized extravaganza of luxury. Nothing is small at the five diamond Wynn. I walked for what felt like blocks before getting to the spa, passing restaurants, casinos, fancy shops, and chic nightclubs along the way. By the time I got to the spa, I was ready for some relaxation.

I was not disappointed. This massage is based on the five elements of feng shui, an ancient art of geomancy. Practiced for thousands of years in Asia to achieve health, wealth, prosperity, happiness and harmony, this unique treatment combines heated Thai herbs, a luxurious lemon verbena and peppermint foot treatment, ultra moisturizing hand therapy, and a relaxing, wild lime botanical scalp treatment.

The Good Luck Ritual begins with a 50-minute custom massage using Thai herbs and essential oils. The therapist asked me what kind of pressure I prefer; I like a sports massage, so she proceeded to work me like dough. They could, however, adjust the pressure to whatever you want. This went from head to toe. I fell blissfully asleep at some point. It was so wonderful.

When I woke up, she was applying a wild lime botanical scalp treatment on my head, and an invigorating hand and foot scrub on my extremities. Have I said it was wonderful? You really should check this out for yourself. It’s a bit steep at $250, but it’s so worth it.

The spa has a whopping 45 rooms, spread out over 45,000 square feet, for individual or couples treatments that include massage, facials, hydrotherapy, and other body treatments. Separate facilities for men and women both have eucalyptus steam rooms and saunas, with a whirlpool, plunge pools and lush foliage.

I’m not sure if I was any luckier at the slot machines after I left. So you know, I think I need to return to test this once more.

Open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Open to Wynn Las Vegas guests only on Friday through Sunday. Non-guest appointments available Monday through Thursday. Call 702.770.3900 for reservations.
Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV, 89109
http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/#Spa/

LE REVE

“Discover an extraordinary world where dreams swim in the air and dance on water” is how this show is billed, and it certainly lives up to the hype. Created by Dragone, it’s presented exclusively at Wynn Las Vegas.

Le reve means “the dream” in French, and most of it takes place when wet. It’s evocative and stunning, with a whirling blend of aerial acrobatics, sexy choreography, and out-of-the-box stunts (synchronized swimmers doing the tango in red high heels?). Maksim Chmerkovskiy of “Dancing with the Stars” fame choreographed three dance scenes, including “Tango”, “Paso Doble” and “Piece Montèe.”

Eighty six athletes and entertainers work the stage to capture your imagination, awe your senses, and still engage your funny bone. The 82’ high dive into the 1.1 million gallon pool will blow your mind. The costumes are amazing and surreal.

What I found interesting is the “in the round” theater concept. It’s exactly what it sounds like: you all sit around a round pool, which means there is no backdrop, per se. All the sets will be seen from all sides, and nothing can obstruct the view from the other side. No seat is more than twelve rows from the stage, which means the theater is intimate, and the audience is engaged. No craning necks to see stuff happening.

There’s so much going on in this show, including a little manipulation of Mother Nature. At some point, it rains and it snows. The rain falls from over 80 feet from the high grid. As for the snow, over two thousand ounces of soap are used each week to create the snow effect.

The performers run, skip, jump, dance, and do gymnastics, all in their costumes. You might be surprised to know the costumes used in the water last only two weeks! And all the shoes have dozens of holes drilled in them to drain the water. Boy, their costume department sure has their work cut out for them.

It takes only the highest level performers to execute a show like this, and many of the talent has background in National, World and Olympic competitions. Though they make it look easy, it’s not. “The high energy combination of dance and athletics performed in the Red Man costume makes it the most repaired item in the show. It takes the Wardrobe Department four hours each day to hand check every costume in the show for repairs and touch-ups,” according to the Wynn’s p.r. department.

Le Reve’s subtitle is “a collection of imperfect dreams” but I’d say that’s wrong. They should drop the im- and just call it perfect.

Ticket prices are $99 (Splash Zone), $125 (Premium Seating) and $179 (VIP Indulgence Package), plus tax. The show schedule is 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The show is dark (no performances) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information please visit www.wynnlasvegas.com or call 702-770-WYNN.

MGM GRAND’S CRAZY HORSE PARIS

If you want a non-traditional showgirl revue, Crazy Horse Paris is for you. It’s MGM’s replica of the French cultural phenomenon famous for its productions celebrating beautiful women and the art of the nude since 1951. This was my favorite show.

“You got us tickets to a strip show?” my wife asked, as her eyes narrowed.

“No, Honey. Look, it says right here on the website that the show elegantly balances sensuous choreography with a combination of light effects and projections to create a moving canvas of skin, where reflections and images meet in a kaleidoscope of colors and textured designs,” I replied, trying to sound authoritative and nonchalant.

“Hmm,” she uttered reluctantly, as we made our way to the door.

As it turns out, the show is all about gorgeous women wearing less than my drink napkin. But it was really classy. The show combines the best of cabaret with the best of Parisian fashion, art, and women in an elegant, surprising and innovative manner.

Talented and smashingly beautiful dancers perfectly integrate the choreography and their spectacular bodies.  Each dancer is bathed in richly colored and textured lighting designs, which makes it hard to determine where skin ends and the color reflections begin. The result is a unique show that engages the mind as much as the eye.

Growing up in Denmark, I’ve often heard about the original Crazy Horse in as an illustrious night spot that has drawn international and U.S. celebrities, including Madonna, Warren Beatty, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, President John F. Kennedy, Christina Aguilera, Prince, Jean Paul Gauthier, Dita Von Teese and Pink. If you can’t get to Paris, this is just as good – or maybe better, because it’s right here in Vegas!

Crazy Horse Paris performs nightly at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., dark Tuesdays.  Guests must be at least 18 years of age to attend the show.  Tickets are priced from $47 (limited seating) and $57 plus service fees and include a show program.  Tickets can be purchased at MGM Grand ticketing outlets, by phone at (702) 891-7777 or (800) 929-1111, or online at http://www.mgmgrand.com/. 

“O” CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AT BELLAGIO

My wife voted this one her favorite. The “O” Cirque du Soleil at Bellagio is a gorgeous, well-executed, flawless production that incorporates water into a beautiful tapestry of artistry, surrealism and theatrical romance. As Writer and Director Franco Dragone put it, “Welcome to a place where all the world is water, and the stage is all the world.”

The name of the show was inspired by the concept of infinity and the elegance of its pure form. “O” tells the tale of theatre through the ages, and challenges the audience to lose themselves in a world without limits.

Its name is a play on words; when spoken, it sounds like the French word for water, "eau." And all the action takes place in, on, and above a 1.5 million-gallon pool. In this show, you’ll see synchronized swimming, duo and solo trapeze, Russian swings, high dive, trapeze Washington, contortion, clown, flying men, bungee jumping, and the craziest aerial acrobatics. It’s like the circus, on steroids.

A whopping 85 people – from 23 countries- work in the show, from acrobats, synchronized swimmers, divers, and characters. Nearly a dozen performers from "O" have taken part in the Olympic Games. Some are gold medalists. All of them, plus 150 technicians, have scuba certification; 14 technicians work underwater during every performance.

Since the pool is such a central part of the show, I was curious about how it’s maintained. The water is kept at a comfortable 88 degrees. The pool takes 12 hours to fill and the sophisticated filtering system cleans all 1.5 million gallons of water three times a day.

Launched in 1998, "O" required more than three years of development, including 12 months of intensive rehearsals. Over 8.5 million people have come to see the show in that time.

Lest you think this is only about water, there’s fire, too. The plot draws on ancient folklore from around the world, including Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia. Two Hawaii natives, Junior Faitau and Steven Silulu, stand out in the fire stunt.

It’s a magical show that transports audiences into a world where anything is possible. So if you ask me what “O” stands for, my answer is: “Oh, wow!”

“O” performs twice nightly at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. There are no performances on Mondays and Tuesdays.

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/o/o-Las-Vegas.htm

MAGICIAN STEVE WYRICK
International illusionist Steve Wyrick’s website says he was the International Magician of the Year. After seeing his show, I can see why. Word on the street has it that this is Wyrick’s best show of his 11 years in Las Vegas.

“Magic has been a lifelong passion for Steve Wyrick. As a child growing up in Texas, he often practiced magic and the art of illusion for his friends,” according to his bio. “His passion eventually led him west to Las Vegas. Eleven years ago, he became the youngest Las Vegas headliner ever, when his show debuted at Lady Luck in downtown Las Vegas. Before starting his name-sake theatre at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Steve performed at the Sahara Hotel & Casino in a theatre custom-built for him at a cost of $56 million dollars.”

His unique and unconventional brand of magic has led him to perform for the President’s family at the White House. Wyrick has been featured as a renowned master magician on numerous national television specials and live stage performances around the world. His most recent television appearances include The Late Show with David Letterman and Vh1’s Celebracadabra.

Wyrick spent $35 million to build this newest custom theater; this is the fourth time he’s built his own performance space since he started at the Lady Luck. This one is a 500-seat theater and nightclub at the Desert Passage mall.

What a venue! Located in the 33,000 square-foot multi-level Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex, the Steve Wyrick Theatre features a 30 by 50 foot LED wall and comfortably seats 425 theatre-goers. It’s at once large yet intimate, allowing for aircraft on stage, yet the classic card tricks using audience members. In case you can’t see, the action is smartly replicated on a huge tv screen on stage.

His mind-blowing magic includes lots of surprisingly folksy anecdotes about his family, which leaves you feeling like you actually know him by the time you leave. To our surprise, we happened to be sitting next to his mom (or at least, a woman who said she was.)

Larger than life magic tricks include a woman appearing in a tank of water, or a razor blade that saws through a deck of cards. His renowned “Blades of Death” illusion is unrivaled, while the appearance of a Lear Jet 35 aircraft is the largest stage illusion in the world. Wyrick is a daredevil who attempts things that have never been tried anywhere before and his new $20 million dollar production is faster-paced and more edgy than anything he has ever attempted before.

I always find myself wondering when I see these shows, “How’d he do that?” This time, I put the analysis on hold to just sit, enjoy myself, and get lost in an evening of illusion.

Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex
Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino   
3663 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 777-WYRICK (777-9974)
www.stevewyrick.com, http://www.stevewyricktheatre.com/

AN OCEAN AMIDST THE DESERT

Las Vegas has a lot of land sharks. But did you know it also has real sharks? Dangerous predators and unusual aquatic creatures are the focus of Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, a 90,560-square-foot aquarium.

We marveled at the ocean from a huge plexi-glass tunnel, which made us feel like we were right there, under the sea. At 1.6 million gallons, the shark exhibit is expansive and impressive. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2003, this gorgeous facility was conceived with an international team of aquarium and exhibit designers.  

As you meander through this aquarium, you’ll see more than 2,000 divinely dangerous animals including sharks, crocodiles, sawfish, piranhas and a rare Komodo Dragon.  Shark Reef Aquarium holds nearly 1.6 million gallons of fresh and seawater in 14 major exhibits.

The dragon joined the aquarium in the summer of 2008. “We are thrilled to offer our guests at Shark Reef Aquarium the rare chance to be within arm’s length of such a rare and endangered predator as the Komodo Dragon,” says Adrienne Rowland, the facility’s director.  “It is fascinating to closely observe the powerful nature of this magnificent creature.”

I’m sure glad he was on the other side of the glass. Having no known predators in the world, the Komodo Dragon is the most deadly of all lizards. With just one bite, virulent saliva containing about 50 kinds of bacteria reacts with the prey’s blood.

With a world population of less than 5,000, the largest and heaviest lizard species lives on the Southeast islands of Indonesia, including their primary habitat, Komodo Island.  As part of the conservation effort, 75 Komodo Dragons are in human care at zoos and aquariums throughout North America. These facilities, including Shark Reef Aquarium, work to ensure the survival of the species through education, awareness and breeding. 

It wouldn’t be Las Vegas without a little theatrical flair. Unlike other aquariums and zoo exhibits in the U.S., this one is set up like a themed journey through an ancient temple that has been slowly claimed by the sea and onto the deck of a sunken ship in shark-infested waters.

Rowland says, “Unlike other major aquariums and zoo exhibits in the U.S., Shark Reef Aquarium offers an unforgettable themed adventure, transporting visitors to a jungle to see creatures normally found in such an environment and then leading them into a sunken ship with sharks gliding overhead. It is thrilling to be within reach of such fascinating animals.”

It really was a total sensory experience. In the temple exhibits, not only did we see the animals, we felt the mist on our skin, heard birds sing and smelled exotic flowers all around. It’s a wonderful way to spend an hour or two.

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Last entry is one hour prior to closing.  Ticket prices are $16.95 for adults and $10.95 for children; children four and under are free.  Discounts are available for Nevada residents with identification.  For more information call (702) 632-4555 or http://www.mandalaybay.com/entertainment/sharkreef.aspx

CELEBRITY SUITCASE
What won’t they travel without?

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D- 2nd Congressional District of Hawaii)

Mazie Keiko Hirono was elected in November 2006 to represent the 2nd District of Hawai‘i in the United States House of Representatives. When the 110th Congress convened in January 2007, she became the first immigrant woman of Asian ancestry to serve in Congress. She was formerly Hawaii’s Lt. Governor, and before that, she served for 14 years in the Hawai‘i State Legislature.

“I travel a lot,” says Hirono. “I’m constantly going between Washington DC and Hawaii. I have permanent jet lag!”

The veteran traveler always has to have Bose noise canceling headphones, her iPod (Israel Kamakawiwoole is a favorite), and a Magellan folding foot stool “because I’m so short!” she laughs.

Once a year, she takes a break from all the work trips and indulges in a little pleasure. She goes to her friend’s house in San Diego where they like to sculpt clay.