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Snapshots from Vegas
Wynn

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These were taken at Wynn Resort. Steve Wynn is The Man in Vegas. He drastically raised the stakes when he first built The Mirage. Treasure Island, and then later, Bellagio followed. He no longer owns those properties, and, frankly, they've suffered in his absence. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Bellagio, once the crown jewel of Las Vegas, has become ghetto, but it's no longer close to the ultra-resort it once was. Frankly, Caesars Palace still has better rooms and more to see and do and a better casino. But then Wynn managed to up the ante one more time when he built his namesake resort-casino -- Wynn. It's built where the Desert Inn used to be, and it boasts the only golf course on the strip. It's 60 stories, which in size alone is huge. When he talks about the resort, Wynn says he had a different objective. He didn't want to throw everything out in the open as he had with Bellagio and the lake and fountains. Instead, he created Wynn as a place to be discovered. And that's exactly how the place works. There's a huge mountain built outside of it, and you have to get around that mountain and have a hotel view to see that the mountain showcases stunning 100 foot waterfalls. Then, once inside, there's no grand lobby. Instead, there are brightly colored mosaic floors that thread through an atrium with registration off to the side. Once inside, you'll discover what he calls "the lake of dreams," which features nightly light shows. The decor is both more bright and yet more classy and subdued than any of his other, previous casinos, with a somewhat European-Asian flair. It's entirely too classy a joint for me, but, fuck it, you know? They didn't kick me out. In fact, everyone is incredibly nice. Another area to explore is the Esplanade, which features high-end shops like Oscar de la Renta and Rolex. I didn't buy anything, not because I'm not classy, but just because I'm too poor. But, again, who gives a fuck? I was at the Wynn! I almost felt bad, because I could see the rich folk eyeing me nervously, wondering if I was the harbinger of the rapid decline of this property, too. And the guest rooms kick ass, featuring the most comfortable bed you'll ever sleep on, and large flat-screen TV that swivels so you can watch from bed or the sitting area. But the real centerpiece of the rooms are the magnificent floor-to-ceiling, panoramic view windows. I was lucky enough to be on the 59th floor, and I could see Mandalay Bay and the MGM and Paris at one end of the strip. And then, directly across the street is Treasure Island and Mirage, which are both big hotels, but they become nearly dwarfed by the Wynn. (It's really not shocking at this juncture that the guy thinks that size matters. I mean, he's the same dude who gave us exploding volcanoes and jetting fountains.) I took a couple of shots, and, of course, neither came out spectacular. In one, TI is all dark, and I don't know why, because it's all lit up at night. And the other is blurry. I was drinking a little bit. And this the new condo that Donald Trump is building. It won't have a casino in it. (If you've followed the Wynn-Trump battle for a couple of decades now, you know that Steve must be truly delighted that even though Trump is moving into his 'hood, he won't have a gaming license.) It wasn't completed, so I don't know what it'll look like at night, but it's a gold color during the day. And then there's the pool, which is very cool. There are five pools in all, and two of them are joined by a long canal. One of the pools allows European sunbathing, which is the classy way of saying topless. The nice part of that is that kids aren't allowed back there. So if you don't mind seeing some tits -- and really, who does? -- then you can make sure you won't have any screamers around, either. Because remember -- just cause folks are rich doesn't mean their kids behave. And a cool feature of that pool is that it has a large platform in the water where you can put your chair so you're half-in, half-out of the water. But the coolest part of that pool is that it's also got its own bar and outdoor casino! Craps, blackjack and poker tables. I had to take these pics early in the morning, so the tables weren't open yet. I tried to get a picture later in the day, but was told to put the camera away out of consideration to the boob-flaunters. Because, apparently, it's okay for them to show their tits to the public at the pool, but god forbid someone catch it on film. Honestly? I think most of the chicks make money by showing their tits on film, and that's why I'm not allowed to take pics for free. Anyhow. Here's the bar and casino. And, yes. I really did gamble my ass off to get in at the Wynn. I didn't just knock over some rich fuck and steal their pictures. That old adage that money doesn't buy happiness? It's a lie. If money buys you life at the Wynn, it buys you happiness. Look at me here -- I look fucking deranged with happiness! And now, once again, I'm broke. But I have a nice tan and I don't care. Page 1 -- Sundry Page 2 -- Bellagio Page 3 -- Caesars Palace Page 4 -- Mirage & Flamingo Much BETTER pics of Vegas are available at UrbanPhotos.net

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