The Magician’s Study Secret Location, South Strip Thurs.-Sun. 7 and 9:30 p.m. $99-$159
Large-scale magic shows used to be a fixture in Vegas — David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Lance Burton … That scene is still around to a lesser degree with Cris Angel, Shin Lim, Mat Franco, and Penn and Teller, but a much more intimate experience is offered at the Magician’s Study — part speakeasy, part magic show, and part stand-up comedy.
The performance itself, roughly 90 minutes, is an up-close show, with a lot of sleight-of-hand and card tricks, mixed in with a little mentalism and a couple of traditional show-stopper tricks.
The room seats only about 50 people and VIP tickets (which I sprung for) get you in the front row, where you will become part of the show. If you’re shy, I wouldn’t recommend the VIP seats, but that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be left alone. There’s a lot of audience participation and plenty of acerbic wit from the host directed at the crowd.
The VIP tickets were $159 each, and I’m glad I got them, but you’ll enjoy the show just as much from the “regular” seats, which go for $99. Tickets can be purchased only with a code word at the beginning of the ordering process (fill out the form on the home page and if there’s availability, you’ll receive the secret password that allows you to unlock the ticketing page). In addition, the show is held at a secret location, which is given to you on the day of the show, along with another password to gain entry (for purposes of planning your evening, I’ll tell you that it’s somewhere on the South Strip).
Note that The Magician’s Study has a strict no-photography policy, which is why I couldn’t provide any pictures of the show. Also, you must be at least 21 to attend.
The Mandalay Bay pool complex is one of the best in town. Given the regular pools, beach, wave pool, and lazy river, there’s a lot to choose from. You can elevate your experience even further by renting a cabana.
Due to all the options at the Mandalay pool complex, along with access by a limited number of non-hotel guests, it’s a busy and crowded pool complex, with lots of families and kids.
Since I was staying at the W, I could book a cabana (#W72) at the quieter pool, accessible by W hotel guests only, while being steps away from the main attractions.
The cabana comes with a fridge stocked with water and soda, plus a couple of dedicated loungers with an umbrella for shade and two inner tubes for use in the lazy river (more on that later), which I think normally rent for $30 each. The cabana also boasts a TV, ceiling fan, and safe for your valuables. The cabana technically seats six and I could have fit five other people, but that would have been a little tight. It would have been perfectly comfortable for four people. I was solo, so it was moot.
Towel and food/drink service were plentiful. I never had to wait long for an attendant to come by if I needed anything.
The full-day rental cost $375, but I booked it months in advance. Day-of reservations were going for at least $500.
I found the experience to be well worth it. I’m the kind of guy who likes to sit in the pool with my book and have someone bring me fruity drinks and I got exactly what I wanted. When I felt like it, I took a break to enjoy the wave pool, which is a fun, unique, Vegas attraction. I also tried the lazy river, but I don’t like this lazy river as much as other lazy rivers I’ve experienced in other cities; the current on this one was actually a little too fast for my comfort. It wasn’t really “lazy” at all!
Like everyone else, I’d heard all the amazing things about Sphere over the last two years. I’d been wanting to experience it firsthand, but none of the bands that have played there so far have interested me enough to go and certainly not enough to pay Sphere prices to see them.
So I was excited when I realized that my next scheduled Vegas trip was only a few weeks after Sphere’s debut of the remake of The Wizard of Oz. I grabbed tickets early and was glad I did; demand has only gotten stronger after all the word of mouth about the show.
Two caveats. This review contains spoilers and is from the perspective of someone who hadn’t yet experienced the largest screen on Earth. If you’ve already seen a concert or movie there, some of this will be old territory for you.
I went to a 10 a.m. show and arrived a little before 9. There were plenty of kids and families at that hour and a handful of people (kids and adults alike) were dressed up in character; Sphere is encouraging people to don Oz costumes for their Halloween-weekend screenings. Doors opened between 9 and 9:15 and entry/security checkpoints went more smoothly than I expected. You don’t need to arrive as early as I did, but do give yourself some extra time. Merchandise lines are long and there are a few fun things to see in the lobby.
My seat was in Section 307, row 11, which was ideal: dead center and not too high up. I would have had a better view from one of the lower rows of my section, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the 200s; in the rear rows of the 200s, your view is partially blocked by the overhang from the 300 sections.
You have to climb down some very steep stairs from the concourse to the 300-level seats; if you’re prone to veritgo or dizziness, keep your head down, focus on the stairs, and wait to look around the theater until you’re in place. And no one, vertigo or not, should navigate the stairs without hanging onto the handrail for dear life.
The show itself was absolutely amazing all around. You felt like you were inside the movie. The best comparison I can make is that it’s like riding Soarin’ at Disney World for an hour-plus. At certain points, you feel like the theater is actually moving (it’s not, but again, if you’re prone to vertigo, maybe close your eyes for a few seconds during these sequences). The film is so high def that you can count individual pieces of straw during the Scarecrow’s scenes. The sound is impressive (though I did spot some minor lip-sync issues in one or two spots — barely noticable and not surprising, considering all the work they did to transform the original film).
And the effects … man! I can’t overstate how impressive they are. There’s not a lot of Disney/Vegas crossover in general, but this really was Disney-level Imagineering, like you’d get on a ride such as Remy or Rise of the Resistance: Apples fall from the sky during the forest scene, actual flying monkeys in the theater supplement the ones on screen, and the tornado scene causes the audience to break into spontaneous applause. I won’t completely spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, you’ll be very impressed.
Runtime is 75 minutes (the movie has been edited down slightly, though what’s missing isn’t particularly discernible), but budget some time to take in the post-show theatrics in the lobby.
Tickets are expensive (and dynamic — check the website for your preferred show and seat location), but I paid $150 to a company owned by someone I find distasteful to see a movie I own on video and definitely felt it was worth it.
Sphere’s website claims to have strict no-bag and no-photo/video policies, but I saw both violated with abandon and no apparent consequences, but your mileage may vary.
If you’re on the fence about this, don’t be. The Wizard of Oz lives up to all the hype.
If you’re a fan of the British royals (or even just the Netflix series “The Crown”), you’ll probably want to check out the Princess Diana exhibit at The Shops at Crystals. Located on the third floor next to the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit, this is an worthwhile daytime activity (open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) if you’re looking to take a break from the crowds and noise of the casinos.
The exhibit occupies more than 10,000 square feet and boasts 700-plus artifacts related to Diana and the royal family. It’s organized into three main collections: “Wedding of the Century,” “Fashion Icon,” and “Royal Obsession.” It traces her life from her own family’s background of nobility through her school days, her whirlwind courtship with Charles, her life as princess, and her tragic death. The exhibit also follows her children, Prince William and Prince Harry, into adulthood; like most modern media accounts, the exhibit tends to subtly favor William.
Artifacts include her school papers, some memorabilia from her 1981 wedding (a piece of wedding cake, a seating chart from the wedding reception, an official pass to Clarence House where Diana prepared for her wedding day), historic royal textiles, and seven evening gowns, reportedly the largest collection on display anywhere. You can also get glimpses of her less serious side, such as store-bought birthday cards she sent to friends (including one to pop star George Michael).
My wife, a former archivist, had some technical criticisms. For example, many of the labels were either missing, difficult to read, or crooked and most of the gowns, tiaras, and Diana’s wedding dress on display are re-creations (which wasn’t clearly indicated).
We purchased the timed-entry tickets, which required a little advance planning, but it wasn’t at all crowded when we went (10 a.m. on a Friday morning), so I can’t imagine that walk-up tickets weren’t available. A VIP ticketing option is available, with all-day entry and an audio headset, but we found that wasn’t necessary. Some visitors might like the context of and untold stories behind the artifacts that the audio provides.
Tickets are $32.95 base and just a $2.50 booking fee, $35.45 total, with discounts for 55+, military, locals, and children (6-12). Photography and videography are allowed without flash and you can use the hashtag #vegaslovesdiana for a 10% discount in the gift shop.
All in all, we enjoyed the exhibit and were glad that we went. It’s definitely worth an hour of your time if you’re at all interested in Diana, British royalty, or a distinctly non-Vegas experience.
A million bands play rock and roll. Only one band is rock and roll. And since perhaps no city is more rock and roll than Las Vegas, I always make it a point to try and see the Stones in Vegas whenever they come through town.
The Stones played at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday. I’ve written previously about the benefits of staying within the Mandalay/Luxcalibur campus if you’re going to a game at the stadium. What I hadn’t realized before is how much the Delano improves on that.
For those who don’t know, the Delano is the “extra” building that’s part of Mandalay Bay, just as Encore is for Wynn and Palazzo is for Venetian. The key here is that Delano is a half-block closer to the stadium than Mandalay itself, which makes the walk all the more easier. Not only that, but the elevators at Delano are on the stadium side of the tower, only a few steps from the exit. The elevator practically spits you out onto Hacienda Avenue, the street that goes over I-15 and connects the south Strip resorts to the stadium. It’s closed to vehicular traffic on event days and becomes a giant pedestrian mall.
I’ve seen the Stones before in an outdoor stadium (Giants Stadium) and indoor arenas (MGM Grand Garden, Madison Square Garden), but I never in an indoor stadium. The crowd was geared up and ready to party and the band didn’t disappoint; it never does! They came right out of the gate with classics like “Start Me Up,” “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and “Get Off Of My Cloud.”
The large enclosed space gave rise to some echoes in the sound, which enhanced some songs and muddled others. But Mick’s vocals and Keith’s guitars were as solid as ever.
Every time I see the Stones, I think, this could be the last time (to quote a lyric to a song they didn’t play), as they can’t keep this up forever. Then, a few years later, I see them again and they’re stronger than before. Keep in mind that these guys are 80 years old! And they move around and dance in a way that I can’t do (30 years their junior) and what’s more, that I couldn’t do when I was half the age I am now. Mick definitely got more steps in, prancing around the stage, than I did on the walk to the stadium and back.
The backup performers were all top-notch and the Stones bring in a huge, crisp, high-def video screen that’s even bigger than the permanent screens in the stadium. The smell of pot (or any smoke at all) was practically nonexistent, which was a pleasant surprise.
There was an opening act that I’d never heard of and didn’t care about. The Stones went on at 9:15 for an 8 o’clock show and played two solid hours of hits. When the show was ever, exiting was a breeze and I was back in my room at Delano a mere 20 minutes after leaving my seat.
In a town full of world-class entertainment (on the same night, in fact, you could have also seen such huge draws as Carlos Santana or Justin Timberlake), there’s nothing like a Stones concert in Vegas. When they come around again in a few years at age 83 or 84 or even 85, I highly recommend going to see them. Just make sure you rest up beforehand and bring some extra energy. You’ll need it more than they will!
The Circa sportsbook is a sight to behold. With its three-story wall of video screens faced by stadium-style seating, this place is so huge that it has its own escalators.
The center section is by reservation only. Private booths in the back of the center section are pretty much for high rollers, but the front of the center section is a couple of rows of recliners. This is the place to be, in my opinion. While the prices for football weekends are insane, the cost for the recliners for midweek games, even Monday Night Football and the NBA Finals, is much more reasonable, in the $150-$200 range. Even better, that’s a minimum food/beverage spend, rather than a rental fee, so if you’re going to eat or drink more than the price, the seat is essentially free.
The recliners are very comfortable and the views from there are exceptional. You’re also steps away from the counter, so it’s easy to go up and back to make your bets. You can also use the Circa app and not have to go to the counter at all.
If you don’t want to spend that much money, the two side sections consist of first-come first-serve seating, though for a big event, you’ll likely have to line up hours ahead of time.
Now for the bad news.
While Circa has lots of food options, the only two that deliver to the sports book (and count toward your minimum) are Victory Burger and Project BBQ, neither of which I can recommend. I didn’t actually have a burger from VB, but the fries were too salty and the wings were pretty poor (granted, I’m a wings snob … so your mileage may vary).
Project BBQ was also disappointing. The sauce on the pulled-pork sandwich was too vinegary, the meat was too fatty, and the homemade chips weren’t as “chippy” as I like them. To each their own and maybe you’ll like the food better than I did, but unfortunately, despite the awesome atmosphere, this is enough to dissuade me from going back anytime soon. But every sports fan should check this place out at least once.
I was back in Vegas last month and did the Disney Immersive exhibit at the Lighthouse ArtSpace at The Shops at Crystals.
It might surprise you to learn that my second favorite place to visit is Las Vegas. My wife and I are big Disney fans and she has no interest in Vegas, so my favorite place to visit is actually Disney World. In fact, we specifically moved to Florida to be just a car ride away.
I don’t know about you, but I built up a lot of unrequited Vegas energy during the pandemic. I also saved a lot of money by not paying for plane fares, hotel rooms, restaurant meals, shows tickets, drink tabs, Raiders seats, and gambling during the 2-1/2 years that COVID kept me away from the Promised Land. For a guy who visited Las Vegas three or four times a year for a week at a time, I was in severe withdrawal.
My first trip back to Vegas was in June 2022 and I went all out. Vegas is a great place for a nice splurge for any reason under the sun, so here are some things you might want to consider treating yourself to.
[Editor’s Note: As a follow-up to Dapper Dave Kamsler’s previous post about the Raiders game-day experience (or maybe as more of a prequel to that post), we asked Dave to provide some advice on how to score Raiders tickets in the first place.]
The easiest — and also hardest — way to get tickets is to be a big enough high roller that your casino host simply hands them to you when you ask.
[Editor’s Note: This post is written by Dapper Dave Kamsler, a Las Vegas and football aficionado extraordinaire.]
One of my favorite times of year to come to Vegas has always been during football season. Coming from the East Coast, it’s so much fun to roll out of bed on Sunday mornings and have games start at 10 a.m., then for Monday Night Football to start at the much more reasonable hour of 5:30 — perfect for having dinner at a sports bar while watching the game.
