Las Vegas Weekly

December 7, 2009 · 12:01 AM

Week in Review: CityCenter opens in glittering, glamorous style

By Robin Leach

CityCenter, including the illuminated Crystals, at night.

Photo: Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau

Posted at 8:27 p.m.

This past week was easily one of the busiest in recent Las Vegas history, if not all Las Vegas history, with the CityCenter openings of Vdara on Tuesday; Tiffany & Co., Crystals and Eva Longoria Parker’s Beso on Thursday; and the Mandarin Oriental on Friday. And we still have Aria to looking forward to on Dec. 16, as well as additional stores inside Crystals that same day, and Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis previews beginning Dec. 17.

While we certainly aren’t discounting our NASCAR, National Finals Rodeo, Great Santa Run and inaugural Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon sports friends in town, as well as our music friends Sammy Hagar, Kenny Chesney, The Cranberries, Morrissey, Chickenfoot, Metallica and David Gray, the spotlight shined front and center on CityCenter, our city’s $8.5 billion undertaking five years in the making.

Hollywood stars Orlando Bloom and Rosario Dawson celebrated the opening of Vdara on Tuesday; Tiffany & Co.’s gorgeous and pricey gems sparkled on early Thursday afternoon; Steve Wynn and his girlfriend Andrea Hissom, chef Todd English and fashion designer Nanette Lapore were among the attendees at Eva’s Beso party on Thursday night; and the Friday morning Mandarin Oriental ribbon cutting and celebration included celebrated French chef Pierre Gagnaire and a sneak peek at his first U.S. restaurant Twist, Feng Shui Master David Cho blessing the property and Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, foie gras and caviar for the luxurious hotel’s first visitors.

We published our five-party CityCenter series and exclusive interview with Eva last month and will most certainly cover the debuts of Aria and Viva Elvis in the coming weeks, as well as the Harmon Hotel next year.

What a difference a week makes in the Entertainment Capital of the World!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

Share This