Add Cedar Rapids to the list of cities offering a “Las Vegas flavor” to their citizens — at least if Cedar Crossing Casino goes through as planned, which will include a management team of Peninsula Gaming execs rendered homeless by Boyd Gaming‘s takeover of their company. Of course, a rival Iowa City casino is predicting 30% cannibalization of its player base while Cedar Crossing (equally predictably, if rather less credibly) says there’s more than enough business to go around. But when was the last time you heard architect Louis Sullivan referenced as an influence on casino design? Probably never.
Las Vegas casinos are falling behind the industry’s elite, if this list of luxuries is any indication. Note that not one of them is offered in Sin City, not even the “Pleasure Kit” offered by The Drake, in Toronto. (Wouldn’t you pay to see the expression on Sheldon Adelson‘s face if someone suggested putting gold-plated dildos in Venelazzo rooms?) The gondola massages would be a natural for Las Vegas Sands — how have they missed that one? Everybody on the Strip ought to have some “tanning butlers” on staff although I — or rather my body — craves the services of a sleep concierge. As the saying goes, “I have so much to do that I am going to bed.”
Tonight I’ll be dining at Heritage Steak, so I can report back to you on whether some of these restaurant openings are all they’re cracked up to be. One of them, McFadden’s was a dog when it was a big noise at The Rio, about as Irish as a McDonald’s. It’s doubtful the Town Square spinoff will be any better. Few of the others have much buzz yet but, as I’m embarking on a high-protein diet, I can probably rationalize a visit to the new Lucille’s BBQ or two.
