No one-two punch could possibly better nail the breadth and diversity of Las Vegas and its countless non-gambling-oriented entertainment options than Wayne Newton and “KÀ,” the most recent Cirque du Soleil offering in Sin City. Not even Celine versus Elton.
Wayne Newton calls himself “Mr. Las Vegas,” yes, but he’s not just a self-proclaimed fixture. When you fly into Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, you’re at 5757 Wayne Newton Blvd. And that’s some pedigree. Little about Newton’s live show (flamingolasvegas.com) has changed over the years, and that’s paramount to much of his success. There’s still the big band, the big-band hits, the endless race jokes (he is American Indian) and the obnoxious, incessant patriotism. And people still eat it up as they have for decades.
“KÀ,” on the other hand, is the most mind-altering, world-redefining production Las Vegas – or perhaps any city – has seen. Cirque du Soleil is widely known for its formula, which is spectacular but unfortunately redundant. The company slightly broke from the mold with “O,” the water show at the Bellagio. But with “KÀ,” the company reaffirms its creative dominance and relentless ability to blow minds with staging, audio and theatrics that put the rest of its catalog to absolute shame (visit ka.com for tickets).
Best of all, Newton does early shows and “KÀ” is presented both early and late – so catch both in the same night for a truly mind-bending experience.
In Vegas, the options are endless – even if you’re staying away from the slots. Here is a compendium of the bests and the second-bests in Vegas to-dos, entertainment and must-sees.
Movie moments
THE GOOD: Circus Circus (circuscircus.com) was no doubt the inspiration for the late Hunter S. Thompson’s creation of Bazooko Circus in his novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” which was later expertly made into a film by Terry Gilliam. Talk about warring metaphors – casinos and circuses. The atmosphere lends itself perfectly to Thompson’s unique and often mimicked brand of debauchery, which was an extreme sport with the author and his characters. Sadly, Circus Circus has no polar bears, transmorphing human-lizards or rotating carousel bars. If only.
THE PRETTY GOOD: It’s undeniably (if absurdly) wonderful when the title characters in “Beavis and Butt-head Do America” are on the bus to Vegas and misunderstand an elderly woman and her muffled speech. Old woman: “Agh, there’s so many slots you won’t know where to begin.” Beavis: “Whoa. Hey Butt-head, this chick is pretty cool.” Tour buses are everywhere on the Strip – amid the sea of taxis and alongside the flatbed-trailer wedding chapel – so there are plenty of opportunities to remember our friends from MTV past.
Casino-front goodies
THE GOOD: The Fountains of Bellagio (bellagio.com) are an engineering feat as ridiculous as they are magical. When you combine 1,198 water-emitting devices, 4,792 lights, tons of speakers and eight acres of water, the result is mammoth.
THE PRETTY GOOD: The Sirens of TI (treasureisland.com) is supposed to be a sexy 17th-century skirmish between a group of temptress sirens and renegade pirates. And while that idea fits TI’s new image – made over in recent years to be sexier, edgier, bustier – the free show doesn’t bang with entertainment value.
Celebration of a single musician
THE GOOD: The Liberace Museum (liberace.com) is a nonprofit organization housing Mr. Showmanship’s wardrobe, pianos, jewelry, custom cars and antiques – all of which are as extravagant and flamboyant as Vegas itself. Proceeds go toward the Liberace Foundation for the Performing Arts scholarship program.
THE PRETTY GOOD: Elvis-A-Rama (elvisarama.com) boasts more than $6 million in Elvis memorabilia – the biggest collection of Elvis junk outside of Graceland. Outside the museum is a gift shop and theater for live impersonator shows.
Bright lights
THE GOOD: The Neon Museum (neonmuseum.org) is scattered across the thoroughfares of downtown Las Vegas, mainly Fremont Street. And while it’s a terrific idea, it’s not as interesting as The Boneyard, the three-acre lot where the museum’s non-restored lights are kept. You need an appointment (and a $50 donation, which can be spread across a group), but it’s worth it.
THE PRETTY GOOD: Fremont Street Experience (vegasexperience.com) is the gazillion-light canopy in downtown Vegas flanked by casinos peddling 99-cent shrimp cocktails and 2-cent slots. It looks better than it used to, but that’s not saying much.
Eating out
THE GOOD: These are simple times, and the Peppermill (peppermilllasvegas.com) is a simple restaurant. Don’t give in to one of the Strip’s many Denny’s or sub- par, overpriced buffets when this North Strip joint has a gigantic, solid menu served 24 hours a day. If you can get by on cocktails and appetizers, ditch the main room and kick back in the restaurant’s fireside lounge, which nails space- age kitsch with enviable precision.
THE PRETTY GOOD: The Florida Café
(floridacafecuban.com) is halfway between the Strip and downtown inside the Howard Johnson’s (excellent!), and as a regular-joe (or HoJo) hangout and one of Vegas’ only Cuban eateries, it’s a much-
needed respite from the city’s overwhelming neon fist.
Wildlife
THE GOOD: The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat (caesars.com) is a charming outdoor home to Chilean flamingos, yes, but it also has African penguins, swans and a host of other wildlife.
THE PRETTY GOOD: The Mirage’s (mirage.com) wildlife attractions are impressive – but a bit too Vegasy. There’s the massive aquarium, the rain forest, the White Tiger Habitat and Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, where Atlantic bottlenose dolphins rule the waters and Asian elephants own the fields. While it’s a spectacle, it’s also a lot on the garish side.
Museums and galleries
THE GOOD: The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian (guggenheimlasvegas.org) has programming that is fully determined by the directors of the Guggenheim and Hermitage museums, which keeps it legitimate and allows the space an epic catalog from which to cherry-pick. “Rubens and His Age: Masterpieces From the Hermitage Museum” is the Vegas locale’s eighth exhibit, and the 40-plus artworks will be on display through July 31.
THE PRETTY GOOD: The Wynn Collection of Fine Art (wynnlasvegas.com) is small but brilliant. But it’s also, like everything else Wynn, an obnoxious extension of the man, Steve Wynn. He vocally guides you through the intimate galleries via his audio tour, which culminates with Andy Warhol’s screen prints of Wynn himself.
Shopping
THE GOOD: The Forum Shops at Caesars (caesars.com) is one of the most successful shopping centers in the country. And with 160 boutiques – from Kate Spade to FAO Schwarz – and 13 restaurants all designed around the smart, accessible Caesars redesign, it makes sense.
THE PRETTY GOOD: M&M’s World (shop2.mms.com) is four floors and 26,000 square feet of candy-coated capitalism. The quality is there for kids, but what are the little ones doing in Vegas anyway? Vegas is not a kid-friendly town. Get a babysitter and avoid this popular spot on the South Strip.
Otherwordly moments
THE GOOD: The New Frontier Hotel and Casino (frontierlv.com) is one of the oldest hotels on the strip, and it’s wonderfully perched right across the street from the brand-spanking-new Wynn – providing a biting juxtaposition of the old and the new. The Old West casino is very bare-bones, but everybody loves its sign, which advertises Gilley’s Saloon, its internal country- western bar and its bikini bull riding (starts at midnight Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) and live female mud wrestling (starts at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) – classic lowbrow, old-Vegas goodness.
THE PRETTY GOOD: Gondola rides at the Venetian (venetian.com) aren’t anything like the real thing in Italy, but that’s what you get when you can still hear the incessant ding-ding-dings of the slot machines.
Car lovers
THE GOOD: The Carroll Shelby Museum (carrollshelby.com) is set amid the car manufacturer’s 100,000-square-foot facility near the Las Vegas International Speedway. It’s a detailed celebration of all of Shelby’s cars, including vintage Cobras and the contemporary Series 1 cars.
THE PRETTY GOOD: The Imperial Palace Auto Collections (autocollections.com) doubles as a museum and an auction parlor. It is expansive and always changing, which makes repeat visits more interesting.
Amusement park rides
THE GOOD: Insanity: The Ride (insanityride.com) is one of the greatest amusements ever conceived. Hanging off the top of the Stratosphere tower, this rotating swingset is sure to make your stomach at least a little bit queasy.
THE PRETTY GOOD: Adventuredome (adventuredome.com) is more about traditional amusement park themes, befitting its five-acre location behind Circus Circus’ west tower.
Staff writer Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-820-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.
