Caesars Palace through its seemingly endless series of renovations and additions manages to represent both “Old Vegas” and “New Vegas”, all in a single property, Empire? VegasMavens.com

Caesars Palace Not Caesar’s Palace

Caesars Palace has no apostrophe, which was Jay Sarno’s way of telling all visitors, you’re a Caesar when you say at my hotel. A line of similar reasoning applies to the Las Vegas Review web site “Mavens Vegas”, presumably all visitors of mavensvegas.com are Mavens as to what Las Vegas has to offer.

From Harrahs Entertainment to Caesars Entertainment

Harrahs has long considered Caesars Palace its top Vegas property, with the company name change, it makes the pecking order official.

Kathryn LaTour, an associate professor of hospitality marketing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the name “Caesars” has far more high-end connotations than Harrah’s, which made its mark attracting midlevel gamblers. Las Vegas Review Journal November 23, 2010

Caesars Palaces’s market segment could probably be more accurately defined as: Masculine, Sports Obsessed “Cigar Comping” Serious Gambler with Significant Disposable Income. If you want to rub elbows with sports celebrities or sports celebrity gawkers then Caesars Palace is the casino for you.

Gary Loveman left a Harvard Business School professorship to join Harrah’s Entertainment. By putting his theories about customer service into practice, he built the world’s biggest gaming company.How To Survive In Vegas” BusinessWeek August 5, 2010

Knowing a little about how Loveman views his customers, can make your visit to Caesars Palace more profitable, or at least less costly. As the Businessweek artcle says: “He sees his customers as a set of probabilities wrapped in human flesh.”

Spend a few days at a Harrah’s property, and the information the company compiles about you will end up here, analyzed by proprietary software that assigns each and every Harrah’s guest a theoretical value. The higher the value given to you—not to be misconstrued as a source of pride—the more likely you are to lose your money to Loveman.

When they say theoretical value above, they really mean theoretical loss. Theoretical loss is how much the casino expects you to lose. Understanding how casinos calculate “Theoretical Loss” is the key to minimizing loses at casinos. I explain how casinos calculate theoretical loss, and more importantly, how to use this to your advantage, in two previous posts on Vegas Mavens.

  1. It’s All about Theo – explains theoretical loss, and how to use it to your advantage.
  2. A Costly Comp Faux Pas – explains the importance of daily average in awarding comps.

Greetings From Caesars Palace

Fountains at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Fountains at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Fronting Caesars Palace are the iconic fountains, the ones where Evel Knievel made his failed attempt to jump over them on a motorcycle in 1967. These are also the same fountains where Shecky Greene drove his car into and uttered the famous line “No spray wax” The same Shecky Greene that had as his opening act at the Last Frontier in 1956 some guy from Tupelo, Mississippi. Whatever became of that guy.

For instance, there was the time when, drunk, he drove his car into the Caesars Palace fountains and told the cop, “No spray wax.”Las Vegas Sun 12-26-96

Statue of Caesar

Statue of Caesar

A life-sized statue of Caesar greets you at the entrance to Caesars Palace. There are also men and women dressed in Roman garb, that wander around the casino and pool area.

Caesars Palace Greeters

Caesars Palace Greeters

No Fig Leaf for “David”

There are other statues, besides Caesar, scattered around Caesars Palace, but one in particular is worth going out of your way to see. In the Appian Way Shops is a full sized replica of Michelangelo’s “David” Even though it is a replica, it is still impressive and big, roughly eighteen feet tall. Another replica of “David” was presented to Queen Victoria by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1857, Queen Victoria was so shocked by the nudity of the stature, a custom plaster Fig Leafwas designed to cover the offending part. Evidently sensibilities of Las Vegas are more open minded than Victorian England, as “David” is au naturel in The Appian Way.

Michelangelo's "David"

Michelangelo's "David"

Sign for Michelangelo's "David"

Sign for Michelangelo's "David"

Located adjacent to “David” are a handful of  life-like statues that put a smile on the face of everyone that notices them.  Note: Some of the statues are camera shy.

Caesars Palace Appian Way: Realistic Figures Butler and Police Officer

Caesars Palace Appian Way: Realistic Figures Butler and Police Officer

Caesars Palace Appian Way: Camera Shy Realistic Figure

Caesars Palace Appian Way: Camera Shy Realistic Figure

Neil Leifer’s Iconic Sports Photographs

Neil Leifer is widely considered one of the top, if not the top, sports photographers, ever. Visitors to Caesars Palace can view many of these iconic photographs at his gallery in the entrance to the Augustus Tower.The Tower built to compete against the opulent rooms at Bellagio and Venetian.

Leifer began his career as a professional sports photographer at 19, when Sports Illustrated put one of his photographs on the cover, the first of 170 Sports Illustrated covers. In 1978 Leifer switched the focus of his camera to Presidents and Actors, when he joined Time Magazine.

Leifer’s favorite subject was Muhammad Ali, and his most famous picture is the one shown below, where : “Ali stopped Liston with a single punch in the first round of the fight.”

Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston St. Dominick's Arena, Lewiston, Maine, May 25, 1965

Liefer Photograph: Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston St. Dominick's Arena, Lewiston, Maine, May 25, 1965

Even non-sports enthusiasts will enjoy viewing Leifer’s collection of photographs, ands this being Vegas, they’re all for sale.

You can also buy a copy of one of his many books, “The Best Of Neil Leifer” has the Ali v. Liston photograph on the cover.

LeRoy Neiman “Gallery” in Caesars Palace Poker Room

The Poker Room is the largest in Vegas, 8,500 square feet plus an adjacent tournament room with another 6,000 square feet of room.

Caesars Palace Poker Room

Caesars Palace Poker Room

Lining the walls of the Caesars Palace Poker Room are numerous LeRory Neiman paintings. If Neil Leifer is the most famous Sports Photographer, then LeRoy Neiman is perhaps th most famous Sports Artist.

Neiman worked as an illustrator for the department store Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. in Chicago in the early 1950s, alongside a copywriter that later started a magazine. That copy writer was Hugh Hefner and that magazine was Playboy. Since Playboy’s earliest days, Neiman’s work has appeared frequently in Playboy, and still does.

Neiman’s paintings are characterized by their distinctive use of color.

Describing Neiman as “first and foremost a colorist,” Malcolm Lein wrote, “His tones are vivid, jarring, and at times, gaudily biting; they explode in an effusion of reds, blues, pinks, greens, and yellows; they shimmer and dance across the surface plane, electrified bits of pure energy.”

Caesars Palace Poker Room: LeRoy Neiman Painting

Caesars Palace Poker Room: LeRoy Neiman Painting

In American Artist, Neiman identified as the “prime objective” of his work the “phenomenon of change.” “The spectator looking at a painting of mine must deal with this condition of change. Areas are broken up at close range and fit together only at a distance…As one advances on my painting, it becomes more abstract, more fluid, and as one moves away, it falls into focus and is realistic…At no two distances will the painting appear the same.

Caesars Palace Poker Room: LeRoy Neiman Painting

Caesars Palace Poker Room: LeRoy Neiman Painting

LeRoy Neiman Painting:  The Girls of Caesars Palace

LeRoy Neiman Painting: The Girls of Caesars Palace

LeRoy Neiman: Sign "Sic Bo Dealers"

LeRoy Neiman: Sign "Sic Bo Dealers"

While Neiman’s paintings in Caesars Palace’s Poker Room are not for sale, The Centaur Gallery in the Fashion Show Mall does sell his work.

Caesars Palace Forum Shops

Calling the shopping mall at Caesars Palace “The Forum Shops” is a rare example of understatement in Las Vegas. The Forum Shops is comprised of two large interconnected shopping Malls. The most recent addition added 175,000 square feet, including a three story spiral escalator.

The Forum Shops Spiral Escalator

The Forum Shops Spiral Escalator

The higher end stores tend to be concentrated in the new wing of the mall, along Las Vegas Boulevard, Harry Winston is in the new wing, The Gap is in the old wing. The kitsch shows are also in the old wing.

Caesars Palace Attractions: Atlantis Show and Aquarium Plus Festival Fountain show

Caesars Palace Forum Shops: Bacchus Statue

Caesars Palace Forum Shops: Bacchus Statue

The Festival Fountain Show occurs on the hour, with the Bacchus Statue coming “alive” and serving as the central character, how Vegas appropriate, Bacchus is the Roman god of wine and intoxication.

Atlantis Show and Aquarium

Atlantis Show and Aquarium

The rise and fall of Atlantis, complete with fire, water and smoke plays out every hour, on the hour right in front of the Cheesecake Factory restaurant. Beneath the Atlantis set is a large 50,000 gallon salt-water aquarium. A diver feeds the fish at 1:15pm and 5:15pm everyday.

Caesars Palace Aquarium: Feeding Time

Caesars Palace Aquarium: Feeding Time

A Little Bit of San Simeon in Vegas

Caesars Palace has not one pool, not two pools, but six pools, at last count. William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies would feel right at home here, with its San Simeonesque splendor.

Caesars Palace Pool

Caesars Palace Pool

Caesars Palace offers you the opportunity to get soaked at the Blackjack Tables.

Caesars Palace Pool: Blackjack Table Built into Pool

Caesars Palace Pool: Blackjack Table Built into Pool

Beijing Noodle No. 9 and Payard Patisserie & Bistro

There are many restaurants located throughout the vast Caesars Palace complex, but there are two that are worth checking-out for more than just a meal. Beijing Noodle No. 9 has the most amazing design, the aquarium walls are absolutely hypnotic.

As customers walk into the space, they will undergo the visually and physically “unblocked” entry experience, and are comfortably led past the sparkling aquarium tanks to the deep part of the restaurant. The gorgeous double-wall design features the elegant arabesque patterned layers, consisting of one woodland-patterned steel decorative surface above a painted similarly patterned solid back, with glossy finish. This design creates the arabesque shadow effect, and the wall continuously extends to be the ceiling, which generates a soft cocoon-like interior experience.Dezeen “Design Magazine” December 3, 2009

Beijing Noodle No.9 Aquariums

Beijing Noodle No.9 Aquariums

Payard Patisserie & Bistro is run by award winning pastry chef  Francois Payard. As a side note, this is the Bistro that Brett Ottolenghi chose for us to eat lunch, because “The quality of the ingredients used in relation to the price is probably the best in deal in Vegas” high praise indeed, from person that knows something about quality ingredients.

Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace: Clock

Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace: Clock

Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace: Clock Sign

Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Caesars Palace: Clock Sign

As noted in the sign above, a chocolate truffle is dropped from the Grandfather Clock every fifteen minutes.

The next time you’re in Las Vegas, why not take your own walk around the Palace, Caesar.

Visit MavensVegas.com Review Page of Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace Restaurant Reviews

Restaurants at Caesars Palace
Restaurant Notes
Augustus Cafe 24 hour upscale coffee shop. Review of Augustus Cafe
Beijing Noodle No. 9 Giant fish tanks flank the entrance to this restaurant that specializes in fresh made noodles and dim sum. Review of Beijing Noodle No. 9
Bradley Ogden Chef Bryan Ogden, son of Bradley, refers to their cuisine as “Market Cuisine” as he explains focusing on what is fresh and in-season. A`signature dish is the Maytag Blue Cheese souffle. Review of Bradley Ogden
Lago Buffet Less variety than most Vegas buffets, but the quality is above average although not at the same level as the top buffets. The dining room actually has windows, a rarity for Vegas buffets, and faces the pool area.Review of Lago Buffet
Hyakumi Offers two distinct styles of Japanese cuisine: Teppanyaki and Sushi. Open for lunch and dinner. Review of Hyakumi
Mesa Grill Bobby Flay, of Food Network fame is the high level chef here, meaning he won’t actually cook your dinner, but the dishes are his inspiration. Signature dishes include blue corn pancake with barbeque duck with habanero sauce. The cuisine is best described as Southwestern USA. Open for lunch and dinner. Was Michelin rated one star, but lost its star. Review of Mesa Grill
Neros Specializing in prime 28 day dry-aged beef, but also serving a large selection of fresh fish and seafood. Open for dinner only. Review of Neros
PayardPatisserie & Bistro Pastry chef Francois Payard presents a pastry and chocolate shop plus a dining room. Serving breakfast and lunch. Think quiche, french toast with fresh berries or perhaps seared salmon salad for lunch. Review of PayardPatisserie & Bistro
Rao’s Famous New York City transplant, a family business run by the Pellegrinos. Featuring Southern Italian cuisine prepared with the finest ingredients, such as San Marzano tomatoes, although one of the signature dishes is Uncle Vincent’s Famous Lemon Chicken. Review of Rao’s
Restaurant Guy Savoy French cuisine. Although Guy Savoy has earned three Michelin Stars for his Paris restaurant, the Vegas location has garnered two Michelin Stars, still a laudable feat. The restaurant offers a series of ever more expensive tasting menus, starting at $140. Review of Restaurant Guy Savoy
Sea Harbour Authentic Cantonese cuisine, with emphasis on authentic. An actual transplant from mainland China, where Sea Harbour has eight locations. Review of Sea Harbour
Serendipity 3 Another New York City transplant, located adjacent to the Strip. Serving sandwiches and dessert. Known for their “Frrrozen Hot Chocolate” (Their spelling and description) and their Golden Opulence Sundae for $1,000 (Which is a Guinness World Record Holder for most expensive dessert, evidently the 23-karat gold leaf adds to the cost. Review of Serendipity 3


Vegas Wildlife versus The Wild Life

Many people come to Las Vegas with the hopes of experiencing  ” The Wild Life”, if just for a few days. Not too many people come to Las Vegas with “Wildlife” filling their thoughts, perhaps because they believe there is no Wildlife to be found on the Vegas Strip. However, there is indeed Wildlife on the Vegas Strip, and that’s what we’re going to explore.

The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo Las Vegas

Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Flamingo Wildlife Brochure

Flamingo Wildlife Brochure

The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo is adjacent to the tropically themed pool area, the combined area takes up 15 acres of prime real estate . Calling it a “Wildlife Habitat” may be overstating the case, but nonetheless there are an abundant number of critters to investigate. The brochure supplied by the Flamingo claims “…over 100 exotic birds, turtles, and fish…” and then challenges you to find all of them and mark-off the appropriate white box in the brochure.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl

The pond in the Habitat is filled with Japanese Koi, which look like Goldfish on steroids.

Japanese Koi

Japanese Koi

Using the Brochure you can readily distinguish Japanese Koi and Albino Channel Catfish, which look like yellow Koi with whiskers. The brochure also includes some interesting facts, such as the listing for Koi which states: Japanese Koi are prized for their colorful and striking patterns— over $1 million was paid for one Koi in Japan by an avid collector. With good care they can reach over 30 pounds and live into their 60s. The longest-living Koi documented, a female named Hanako, lived to be 232 years old, dying in 1987 at a Buddhist monastery in Japan.



Albino Channel Catfish

Albino Channel Catfish

The Flamingo also has a small flock of Parrots, which sometimes hang out on the Strip in front of the Flamingo, beckoning tourists to enter the casino.

Flamingo Macaws - On The Strip

The Flamingo's Macaws - On The Strip

And of course, there are Flamingos, Chilean Flamingos to be precise.

There were Penquins too, but sadly they are no longer at The Flamingo. Rumors have it that the Penguins developed a taste for the Vegas Wild Life and ran up a large debt, which they were unable to pay off with their meager salaries from the Flamingo, and were forced to flee Vegas in the middle of the night. Another rumor is that they moved to a zoo in Texas where they are happily living-out their retirement years.

The Flamingo's  Flamingos

The Flamingo's Flamingos

The next stop on the Wildlife Tour is across the street from the Flamingo at the Mirage.
The Mirage welcomes you with a tropical oasis atrium lobby. The Mirage website describes the care involved in this lavish over-sized garden:  (note  the atrium is devoid of wildlife, except for the tipsy tourists traisping through)

Four full-time gardeners spend over 160 hours each week to maintain the more than 100 different types of plants in the atrium. Over 300 fresh orchids and 1000 bromeliads grace the walkways. Woven into this waterscape is an artist’s palette of beautifully colored, delicately arranged tropical flowers basking in natural sunlight. Water mists the area lightly throughout the day to enhance the atmosphere and keep the plants cool.

Mirage Atrium

Mirage Atrium

Mirage Aquarium and Dolphin Habitat

At the check-in desk at the Mirage you are greeted by a 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. An excerpt from the Mirage’s website describes the aquarium:

Managed by The Mirage’s own in-house aquarists, the aquarium accommodates more than 1,000 coral reef animals representing 60 species from Australia, Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji, the Red Sea, the Marshall Islands, the Sea of Cortez and the Caribbean. These sea animals were all selected for their adaptability to the environment and compatibility with other species.

One of the most elaborate and technically advanced aquariums in the world, the tank is 53 feet long, eight feet from top to bottom, and six feet from front to back. The acrylic used in the aquarium is 4 inches thick.

Mirage Aquarium

Mirage Aquarium

Mirage Aquarium Fish

Mirage Aquarium Fish

In the back of the Mirage is Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. (Note there is a fee to see this attraction $15 adults and $10 Children) The habitat houses the famous, perhaps infamous, white tigers, plus panthers, leopards, lions, alpacas, in separate areas, of course. The Dolphin Habitat has 2.5 million gallons of salt water. There is  an below ground level viewing deck, where you can watch the dolphins swim underwater.

White Tiger

White Tiger

Dolphins

Dolphins

Dolphins Underwater

Dolphins Underwater

The next stop on our Wildlife Tour is next door to the Mirage at Caesars Palace.

Caesars Palace Aquariums

In the Forum Shops, in front of The Cheesecake Factory, where the Fall of Atlantis animatronic show takes place on the hour, there is a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. The aquarium is filled with sharks, stingrays, puffer fish, and a whole slew of other tropical fish, over 500 at last count. You can watch divers feed the fish everyday at 1:15 pm and 5:15 pm a well informed staff person is present during the feeding to answer any questions you may have.

Atlantis Show and Aquarium

Atlantis Show and Aquarium

Caesars Palace Aquarium Feeding

Caesars Palace Aquarium Feeding

Caesars Palace Aquarium

Caesars Palace Aquarium

Caesars Palace Aquarium: Diver Wave

Caesars Palace Aquarium: Diver Wave

There are two other places. that I know of, with interesting aquariums at Caesars Palace. The first is the Seahorse Lounge, which as might expect, has an 1,700 gallon aquarium filled with Seahorses. You have to really search for the seahorses, because they tend to blend into the background, plus they tend to remain rather stationary.

Seahorses at Seahorse Lounge

Seahorses at Seahorse Lounge

The second place is Beijing Noodle No. 9, the whole entrance way is flanked by large aquariums filled with goldfish.

Beijing Noodle No. 9 Sign

Beijing Noodle No. 9 Sign

Beijing Noodle No.9 Aquariums

Beijing Noodle No.9 Aquariums

Beijing Noodle No.9 Aquariums

Beijing Noodle No.9 Aquariums

Our next Stop on our Wildlife Tour is Mandalay Bay, however, en route the Botanical Gardens at Bellagio are worth a look. Plus, they sometimes include critters and such in their displays, such as these butterflies in this Spring display.

Butterflies at Bellagio Botanical Gardens

Butterflies at Bellagio Botanical Gardens

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is North America’s only predator-based aquarium and exhibit. The aquarium has 1.6 million gallons of seawater and contains over 2,000 animals. Admission: Adults $16.95, Children 12 years old and younger $10.95

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Sign

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Sign

The most dramatic aspect of the Shark Reef display is the tunnel that lets you walk through the display, Sharks literally swim around you.

Tunnel at Shark Reef

Tunnel at Shark Reef

Shark Reef's Golden Crocodiles

Shark Reef's Golden Crocodiles

Shark Reef

Shark Reef

 Moon Jellies

Moon Jellies

Shark Reef Hands-On Exhibit

Shark Reef Hands-On Exhibit

MGM Grand Lion Exhibit

Our final stop on our Wildlife Tour is at the MGM Grand. The MGM Grand has a Lion Exhibit. The lions on display are actual descendants of the the MGM Studio lion that roars at the beginning of MGM movies. The lions are present from 11am-7pm daily. The pride of Lions actually live on a ranch 12 miles from the Strip.

MGM Lion Taking a Nap

MGM Lion Taking a Nap

MGM Lion with Handlers and Casino Reflection in the Glass

MGM Lion with Handlers and Casino Reflection in the Glass

This concludes our tour of Wildlife on the Las Vegas Strip, however if you head down to Fremont Street, you should include the pool at the Golden Nugget on your Tour.

Goldedn Nugget Shark Pool

Goldedn Nugget Shark Pool

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