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Reacquainting Western New York with Non-Stop Service to Las Vegas! At Andiamo Las Vegas Charters Incorporated we are committed to servicing our
customers. We welcome you to visit our office located at 2797 Delaware Avenue, in the Village of Kenmore. Our friendly staff is on hand to assist you in planning for your up coming visit to Las Vegas. If you should need assistance with a reservation or a specific itinerary including day tours and shows - we are available and committed to servicing you. Planning a family function or group for your business leisure needs - contact us, we can coordinate and provide you with several benefits as a group leader. Restaurants: Themed RestaurantsLas Vegas is a mecca for tourists, and one thing you're sure to find in a tourist town is themed restaurants. Vegas has them all -- from Star Trek to NASCAR -- there's something for everyone's taste. So the next time you're in town and want to dine among the memorabilia, just consult our list of Vegas' most popular themed restaurants. High Tea at the Four Seasons , Bellagio and The Ritz-Carlton
At Bellagio, enjoy high tea at the Petrossian Bar. Ensconced in brocade sofas or velvet high-back chairs, you can sip from a variety of teas while nibbling on open-faced English sandwiches, pastries and scones with Devonshire cream and Baxters preserves. Petrossian serves high tea seven days a week from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. High tea is $35 per person for assorted teas, $37 for Jasmine tea and $45 per person if guests include sparkling wine. Reservations are requested at least two days beforehand. At the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, enjoy this English custom at the Verandah in the Four Seasons. This beautiful, elegant room serves what they call English afternoon tea from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is $30 per person, or $38 per person with a glass of Louis Roederer Premier Brut Champagne. High tea at the Verandah also includes scones, sandwiches and pastries. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. At The Ritz-Carlton you can enjoy your tea on the patio with a beautiful view of Lake Las Vegas. Seating times are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Florentine tea service is $30 for adults, $20 for children. Numi flowering tea service is $38 for adults, $28 for children. The price includes scones, pastries, cookies, tea breads, sandwiches and more. Champagne accompaniment is $8.00. Champagne cocktails are $11.00. Reservations are accepted. Enjoy an afternoon fit for a Jane Austen novel in any of these luxurious resorts.
Besides memorabilia and a shop where you can buy every type of Hard Rock merchandise under the sun, the cafe offers some great food. Appetizers include Tupelo chicken tenders (we told you they like Elvis here), Santa Fe spring rolls and handmade onion rings. House specials include home-style meatloaf and honey bourbon New York strip steak. The Hard Rock offers some mouthwatering desserts, and don't forget the drinks -- how about trying the Hard Rock Hurricane, available in a take-home souvenir glass or the Hard Rock Pilsner? Fill it up with your favorite beer or cocktail and take home the 20-ounce glass as a memento of your visit to the ultimate rock 'n' roll restaurant.
While you're dining, you'll be entertained by movie clips playing on screens throughout the restaurant. You also can shop for Planet Hollywood merchandise in the adjacent gift shop. The menu features Planet Hollywood's signature Crunch Chicken -- chicken strips coated with a crunchy sweet substance (rumored to be Captain Crunch cereal). Other menu items include grilled Tuscan chicken, barbecue pulled pork, burgers, steaks and a variety of pastas. Like any good themed restaurant, Planet Hollywood also serves up some specialty cocktails. Try the Die Hard Daiquiris or the Indecent Proposal -- a margarita topped with Grand Marnier.
The centerpiece of the café is the Carzilla Bar, the world's largest stock car, a Pontiac Grand Prix that weighs more than 3 tons. It measures 34 feet long and 12 feet wide and is mounted on a hydraulic platform. Every hour it rises to the second level, starts its engine, blows smoke and turns on its lights. Almost makes you feel as if you're at the track, doesn't it? The food here is appropriately named -- Dipstick fried cheese, Winston Cup wings, Talladega tenders and Supercharged chili are just a few of the menu items. You also can enjoy some "High Octane" cocktails such as Battery Acid, Brickyard Lemonade and the ever-popular Caution Flag Margarita.
Among Vegas' themed restaurants, this one has one of the coolest gift shops. The shop features apparel, home accessories, jewelry, plush toys, games and many gift items, which all incorporate the rainforest theme. Visit the Magic Mushroom Bar to find a selection of specialty drinks, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies. The Rainforest Cafe offers a wide variety of exotic menu items, including Caribe Coconut Chicken, Jungle Safari Soup, Paradise Pot Roast and Mogambo Shrimp. Save room for dessert -- the giant "chocolate volcano" features caramel and chocolate "lava."
The House of Blues restaurant is a great place to catch live blues bands while enjoying a menu full of savory Southern selections. Food choices include Crispy Catfish Nuggets, Seared Gulf Shrimp, New Orleans Style Seafood Gumbo, Cajun Meatloaf, Louisiana Crawfish and Shrimp Etoufee and Creole Jambalaya. Visiting the House of Blues on a Sunday is a special treat. The restaurant hosts the Gospel Brunch, which offers live gospel music and an amazing buffet. Some of the food selections include smoked Barq's root-beer chicken, rosemary cornbread skillets with maple butter, smoked fish and traditional breakfast items. You must buy tickets if you want to enjoy this entertaining meal. The House of Blues also has the requisite gift shop complete with T-shirts, shot glasses and more.
Toby Keith's I Love this Bar & Grill Toby Keith's I Love This Bar is a themed bar, restaurant and entertainment venue inside Harrah's Hotel & Casino. The restaurant also houses a retail store where you can pick up memorabilia. Offerings include casual American food, and the bar/lounge features the country artist's music and videos, a recording studio, private dining area, stage and dance floor for live country acts and surprise appearances by Keith.
A 28-foot-high, 15,000-pound Harley Davidson replica bursts through the façade of the café. Inside, you'll find more than 15 custom motorcycles, including bikes from Elvis (of course). Seven of the latest Harley Davidson models are displayed from a conveyor belt that winds through every area of the café. An impressive American flag, made from 44,000 chain links and weighing more than 7 tons, hangs 40 feet from the ceiling. Warm up before your meal with a few cocktails. You can indulge in the Sturgis, the Hill Climber or the Kickstart -- a mix of vodka, Chambord and cranberry juice -- served either as a shot or as a martini. For the faint of heart, there's the Easy Rider -- a grape soda with whipped cream on top. For the main course, try the Choppers cobb salad or The Harley Hog sandwich, made with Carolina pulled pork. Desserts include the Hunka Hunka chocolate cake (Elvis would be proud) and the Tank Full of Sundae, served with three scoops of ice cream.
ESPN Zone is made up of three separate areas -- the Screening Room, the Sports Arena and the Studio Grill dining area. The Screening Room features 11 "Zone Thrones," leather reclining chairs with speakers in the headrests and tray tables along the sides. Lucky patrons who manage to grab one of the chairs will feel as if they're right at home -- except that they get to watch the action sitting just 10 feet away from two 14-foot TV screens, surrounded by 12 36-inch TV screens. If you're not quick enough to get to a Zone Throne, don't worry -- the booths lining the back of the room are nothing to sneeze at, either. Each booth has its own flat 18-inch touch-screen monitor mounted on the table, which can be used either to watch the games or to surf the Internet. Speakers also are set in the booth's headrests so guests can hear a specific game. The second floor of ESPN Zone features the 10,000-square-foot Sports Arena -- an area that is filled with games including a climbing wall, virtual reality boxing game, video games, a football throwing game, College Hoops free-throw game, a duckpin bowling alley and more. The Studio Grill offers a variety of food, including typical sports bar fare such as chicken wings, cheese fries and sliders. For those with more discriminating tastes, ESPN Zone also offers entrées such as pastas, steaks, Baby Back Back Back Back Ribs and seafood. Desserts are worth saving some room for. Try a Sudden Death Brownie or the Krispy Kreme sundae -- two Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts smothered with hot fudge and caramel, served with strawberries and ice cream. |
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Las Vegas History: In the Beginning
Those few acres of dusty land in the middle of the Mojave Desert have become the most exciting city on the planet: a major metropolis of nearly 2 million people, to which around 40 million people a year visit. This is Vegas, baby, so here at VEGAS.com we decided that no regular timeline would suffice to mark our namesake's wild, wacky and sometimes weird history. Instead, we sought out the unique, the unsung and the truly bizarre moments. What we have here are 100 wild facts, events and trivia and broken them down into 10 easy-to-digest lists of 10 items. Click on and be dazzled, astonished, amazed and entertained. After all, that's what Las Vegas is all about.
Want even more Sin City history? Check out the Las Vegas Sun's in-depth look at the history of Las Vegas with videos, interviews and more. Gaming: How To GambleLet it Ride Poker|Pai Gow Poker|Roulette
It would be a shame to visit Vegas and spend all your gaming time and money sitting helplessly behind a video poker or slot machine. It's time to get involved in those table games everyone keeps talking about. It may be intimidating to step up to the table, but with our helpful hints and basic rules (not to mention gambling lessons at some casinos), you will have a much more exciting time in Vegas and have more stories to tell the folks back home. A Bit of Advice
The
Rat Pack Is Back
Before there was Elvis there was The Rat Pack -- Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Dean Martin - -who won over audiences with their cool musical stylings and playful stage demeanor. During the 1960s, the Rat Pack brought fame and recognition to Las Vegas as both an entertainment capital and gambling destination during their run at the Sands in the original Copa Room. Today, audiences can relive the revelry and timeless music of the Rat Pack era in the show The Rat Pack is Back at the Plaza, directed by Dick Feney and Sandy Hackett, which pays tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean. Before the show even starts, the retro-authentic showroom sets the vibe for this timeless act. There are booth seats or tables with chairs as seating options depending upon your ticket. Sparkling crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and on the walls of the theater, accenting the otherwise primarily red showroom. It is one of the only theaters in Las Vegas with an option for an actual dinner in the showroom, re-creating the authentic dinner and a show Vegas experience that was common with some of the city’s most famous entertainers back in their heyday. Drinking, gambling and carousing are not only encouraged, they are mandatory in this show, explains the announcer before simulated thunder and lightning fill the theater. “I’m sending you back for one last show,” says the late Buddy Hackett, acting as God while the brewing storm fades away. He explains that he wants to get all the guys together for one last hurrah while clips from old Vegas, including the Sands, play on large screen on both sides of the stage. In response to what happened to the Sands he replies, “they blew it up…too many markers.” As the curtain opens, the 12-piece Rob Cook Orchestra gets the audience going with some toe-tapping music before Frank, Sammy and Dean appear. The three characters, played by Brian DuPrey, Kyle Diamond and Johnny Edwards, sing and dance, conveying all of the charisma and camaraderie of the real entertainers. Next, Joey, played by stand-up comedian Sandy Hackett, comes on stage where he arouses laughter from the audience with his jokes and interaction with the crowd. Dean appears on stage swingin’ with drink in hand and fittingly sings, “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes.” His smooth voice and casual stage presence re-create the feeling that you are watching the real Rat Pack live. He pauses between songs for some playful joking with the audience. “I’m on the whiskey diet,” says Dean, “in one week I lost four days.” Everyone laughs before he gets back to singing the Italian love song “That’s Amore” and invites the audience to join in. He does a smooth rendition of “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” before Sammy Davis Jr. comes on stage. His energetic presence sweeps over the crowd as he moves out into the audience to greet people while singing “That Old Black Magic.” “Someone say alright!” exclaims Sammy while he makes his way back to the stage. Next he changes tempo with “What Kind of Fool Am I.” Dean strolls out on stage and the two sing “Sam’s Song,” while Dean substitutes his own lyrics that both defy yet amuse Sammy. Just like the real Rat Pack, you never know who is going to come out on stage next. Sometimes the performers interrupt one another for some good old fashioned ribbing. Amidst Sammy’s act, Joey walks on stage dressed in a kimono and exaggerated wig and starts speaking in a broken Chinese accent for a few more jokes. “What is underneath the kimono?” asks Sammy. “Dragon,” replies Joey and the audience erupts in laughter. Finally, Sammy has the stage to himself again and sings “Mr. Bojangles” before introducing Frank. Frank embraces all of the qualities of the real entertainer from the bright blue eyes to the immaculate voice as he sings “When Somebody Loves You.” During his set Joey, Sammy and Dean interrupt at different times as the four try to get a rise out of one another, which adds a comedic element between songs. Smoke is used throughout the show, creating an ethereal effect for the performers, which goes along with the premise that they are heaven sent. Next, a dazzling Marilyn Monroe, played by Stacey Nicole, appears wearing a red sparkling high cut gown. “Why are all these people staring at us?” Marilyn asks Frank. “They see dead people,” he replies. Marilyn performs a steamy lap dance for one lucky guy in the audience, singing “Happy Birthday” in a raspy and flirtatious tone. The four reunite on stage to belt out a few more classics including “Luck Be a Lady,” “Lady is a Tramp” and “New York New York,” encouraging the audience to sing along. It is a fun night of outstanding entertainment where you can relive the swingin’ hits of the Rat Pack with four cool cats who really know how to have a good time. |
Pinkies up, it's time for high tea. Enjoy an afternoon of elegance at any of these premiere Vegas resorts. 
The Hard Rock Cafe is the classic themed restaurant and probably Vegas' oldest. The cafe, which sports a 45-foot neon
Gibson Les Paul guitar at the entrance, opened here in 1990. Inside, the Hard Rock Cafe pays homage to the ultimate Vegas
performer -- Elvis -- with an entire Elvis wall, complete with a life-size statue of the King, plus some of his guitars and
gold albums. Some of the other featured memorabilia in the Hard Rock Cafe includes Madonna's jacket, a feathered Elton
John outfit and Marilyn Manson's guitar. 
When celebrities come to town, they occasionally make a stop at Planet Hollywood for publicity events, so bring your camera.
You never know whom you might run into at this Hollywood-themed restaurant located inside the Forum Shops at Caesars. Here
you will find memorabilia from movies and television, as well as personal memorabilia from your favorite celebrities. 
For all those racing fans who come to town for events at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the trip wouldn't be complete without
a pit stop at the NASCAR Cafe. The two-level restaurant offers authentic NASCAR merchandise, giant television screens featuring
NASCAR racing and nearly 20 authentic NASCAR stock cars. 
It's a jungle inside this rainforest-themed eatery -- literally. The restaurant is decorated with jungle trees, flowers
and rainforest animals. You'll even hear the sounds of the rainforest, including a tropical storm, while you dine. 
The House of Blues is a Southern/blues-themed restaurant. There also is a concert venue and bar on site, which routinely
hosts some of the hottest acts in music. 
Bikers and nonbikers alike will enjoy a visit to the Harley Davidson Cafe, which is -- you guessed it -- a Harley-themed
restaurant. 
ESPN Zone is another favorite Vegas themed-restaurant. This sports/ESPN-themed bar and restaurant is a sports fan's dream
come true. 
It's a safe bet - and those are rare around these parts - that the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Co. had
no idea what it was setting in motion when it auctioned off the first parcels of land that became the town site of Las Vegas
in 1905. 
