Las Vegas Confidential

Las Vegas, billed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for massive and lavish casino resorts, the unrestricted availability of alcoholic beverages (as is true throughout Nevada), and adult entertainment. Once officially referred to as Sin City, this image made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs.

As often as you might have seen it on TV or in a movie, there is nothing that prepares you for that first sight of Las Vegas. The skyline is hyperreality, a mélange of the Statue of Liberty, a giant lion, a pyramid, and a Sphinx, and preternaturally glittering buildings. At night, it's so bright you can actually get disoriented -- and suffer from a sensory overload that can reduce you to hapless tears or fits of giggles. And that's without setting foot inside a casino, where the shouts from the craps tables, the crash of coins from the slots, and the general roar combine into either the greatest adrenaline rush of your life or the ninth pit of hell.

Las Vegas is a true original; there is nothing like it in America or arguably the world. In other cities, hotels are built near the major attractions. Here, the hotels are the major attractions. For that matter, what other city has a skyline made up almost entirely of buildings from other cities' skylines? Instead of historical codes to follow, builders in Vegas have to worry about the height of the roller coaster in their hotel.

Once you get to Vegas, you'll want to come back again, if only to make sure you didn't dream it all. It's not just the casinos with their nonstop action and sound, the almost-blinding lights, or the buildings that seek to replicate some other reality (Paris, Venice, New York, and ancient Egypt). It's not the mountains of shrimp at the buffets, the wedding chapels that will gladly unite two total strangers in holy wedlock, or the promise of free money. It's the whole package. It's the Megabucks slots. It's Frank and Dino and Sammy. It's Elvis -- the Fat Years. It's volcanoes and white tigers and cocktail waitresses dressed in Roman togas. It's cheesy and sleazy and artificial and wholly, completely unique. It's wonderful. It's awful. It's wonderfully awful and awfully wonderful. Love it, loathe it, or both, no one has ambivalent feelings about Vegas.

Las Vegas can be whatever a visitor wants, and for a few days, a visitor can be whatever he or she wants. Just be prepared to leave all touchstones with reality behind. Here, you will rise at noon and gorge on endless amounts of rich food at 3am. You will watch your money grow or (more likely) shrink. You will watch a volcano explode and pirates fight sexy showgirls. And after a while, it will all seem pretty normal. This is not a cultural vacation, okay? Save the thoughts of museums and historical sights for the real New York, Egypt, Paris, and Venice. Vegas is about fun. Go have some. Go have too much. It won't be hard.

The Vegas of the Rat Pack years, classic Old Las Vegas, does not exist anymore. Even as ancient civilizations are replicated, "old" in Vegas terms is anything over a decade. Indeed, thanks to teardowns and renovations, there is virtually nothing original left on the Strip. In a way, that is both admirable and ghastly, and also part of what makes Vegas so Vegas. What other city can completely shed its skin in such a short amount of time?

But as much as one might mourn the loss of such landmarks as the Sands, one has to admit that time marches on, and Vegas has to keep pace. Nostalgia for the vanished does not mean you can't enjoy what turns up in its place. Even as you might sneer at the sheer gaudy tastelessness of it all, you have to admit that what's out there is undeniably remarkable.

And when it's all lit up at night . . . well, even those who have lived here for years agree there is nothing like the sight of the Strip in all its evening glory. "It still takes my breath away, even after all this time," says one longtime resident. Everything is in lights in Vegas: hotels, casinos, 7-Elevens, the airport parking garage. Stand still long enough, and they'll probably cover you in neon.

Oh, the gambling? Yep, there's plenty of that. Which is much like saying there's plenty of sand at the beach. Let's not kid ourselves: Gambling is the main attraction of Vegas. The rest -- the buffets, the shows, the cartoonish buildings -- is so much window dressing to lure you and your money to the city. But even a nongambler can have a perfectly fine time in Vegas, though the lure of countless slot machines has tempted even the most Puritan of souls in their day.

Unfortunately, the days of an inexpensive Las Vegas vacation are gone. The cheap buffets and meal deals still exist, as do some cut-rate rooms, but both are likely to prove the old adage about getting what you pay for. If all you're looking for is fuel and a place to catch a quick nap, they'll do just fine. Be prepared to pay if you want glamour and fine dining.

However, free drinks are still handed to anyone lurking near a slot, and even if show tickets aren't in your budget, you won't lack for entertainment. Free lounge shows abound, and the people-watching opportunities never disappoint. From the Armani-clad high rollers in the baccarat rooms to the polyester-sporting couples at the nickel slots, Vegas attracts a cross section of America.

Yes, it's noisy and chaotic. Yes, it's gotten more and more like Disneyland for adults. Yes, it's a shrine to greed and the love of filthy lucre. Yes, there is little ambience and even less "culture." Yes, someone lacking self-discipline can come to great grief.

But in its own way, Vegas is every bit as amazing as the nearby Grand Canyon, and every bit as much a must-see. It's one of the Seven Wonders of the Artificial World. And everyone should experience it at least once -- you might find yourself coming back for more.

Five Places to Beat the Heat in Vegas

Beat the Vegas Heat When you talk about the heat in Vegas, the first jokes are always about the "dry heat." Sure, you don't instantly sweat when you step outside like you do in the humid, "wet heat" of a Houston or Manhattan summer, but hot is hot.

When it's 120 degrees at 6PM and you go to the store and every square inch of the parking lot is radiating heat and your lungs are cursing you, the dry heat jokes are not so funny.

For some reason, this last Vegas heat spell has been making national headlines with the issuance of an "excessive heat warning." Not all of Vegas is tropical and lush like the Secret Garden at The Mirage. This is the desert and deserts tend to be on the hotter side, especially during the summer.

If you dare leave the climate-controlled environs of your hotel room or the blackjack tables, here are five ways to beat the scorching, angry and yes, dry Vegas heat:

1. Snow Day Is Every Day

Qua Snow Spa Harrah'sIf Keegan-Michael Key were to describe Caesar's new luxury spa Qua, he would say that they have taken "luxuriating to a whole 'notha level."

Sure, there are the obligatory fitness rooms and spa treatments, but their unique, not-so-obligatory offerings include Roman Baths, a tea sommelier and the Arctic Ice Room (pictured) where snow falls indoors every day -- yep, snow inside. Somebody should issue an "excessive cool warning."

As you may have experienced, casinos usually keep the air conditioning cranked in the summer so when you come inside from the heat, you risk pneumonia going from one heat extreme to the other. Not here -- the glass-tiled interior promotes the cool vibe, but the floor and benches are comfortably heated so you don't freeze your but off, literally. The room is kept at 55 degrees, which on some days, can be a 60 degrees jump from the outdoor temperature.

What better way to beat the heat than relaxing in a chilled room catching snow flakes on your tongue while folks outside are caught in a solar flare?

2. Night Golfing

In a town filled with golf courses and 24-hour bars, night golfing just makes sense. For decades, the casual Vegas golfer has had to decide between staying out until 6AM at a club or waking up at 6AM to catch a tee time. No longer my friends.

The Cloud Nine short course at Angel Park Golf Club lights nine of the holes for night golfing. There are some interesting layouts, but as in any short course, it's not very challenging and not for serious golfers. But then again, serious golfers are hitting the early bird buffet, going to bed before 'Letterman' and waking up pre-dawn to make their $500 tee time.

3. Flying Inside

Flyaway Indoor Skydiving in Vegas For adrenaline junkies, the heat doubles the dilemma. Unless you're into indoor activities like glow-in-the-dark paintball or disco bowling, you're often forced into the great outdoors during the heat of the day to find the adventure you so desperately seek.

At Las Vegas' Flyaway Indoor Skydiving, you can have the best of both worlds: the adrenaline-releasing sensation of flying without the risk of paralyzing sunburn.

Suit up, take a short training class and then fly indoors on top of a column of air pushing speeds of 120 MPH.

4. The Vodka Locker

Fueled by body heat, even Vegas clubs and bars can feel like small ovens. Given the fleshy scenery, the club heat is a little more pleasant than street heat when crossing the Strip on a foot bridge.

The Russian-themed Red Square at Mandalay Bay addresses the issue with a frozen ice bar and a vodka locker. The ice bar has a frozen top so when you set down your cocktail, it stays nice and chilled. If you have a small group and you're looking to beat the heat, grab a coat and book the vodka locker, a Siberian-esque storage facility housing vodka and a Lenin statue head.

5. Don't Be a Fool, Stay in the Pool

Vegas Pool Guide Golden Nugget

So I saved the obvious for last. While emotionally hot due to the sexy atmosphere, Vegas pools are physically still one of the best ways to beat the heat. I'm not a doctor, so the last statement is not a scientific fact. It just seems with the cabanas, frozen specialty drinks and all of that water, the pool is a good way to stay cool.

Golden Nugget's pool (pictured above) is the perfect example of an aquatic paradise with waterfalls, sharks, a water slide, an outdoor bar and outdoor blackjack. Check out the Vegas Pool Guide for more pool info.

If you go to one of the topless pools (politely known as "European style sunbathing"), just be sure you bring the SPF 125.

Tao Nightclub & Restaurant is by far the top spot in Las Vegas for either Fine Dining or The Tao Nigtclub.

Las Vegas: Sensual energy oozes at Tao, Las Vegas' triple-threat phenomenon - a nightclub, restaurant and ultra-lounge that is one of the top venues on the Strip. Featuring an artful display of Asian culture and artifacts, and located in the beautiful Venetian Hotel and Casino, the Tao Asian Bistro is a top celebrity magnet and the hottest restaurant in town.

Specializing in Asian cuisine true to native lands, chef creations transport guests on a sensual gastronomic trip that truly invokes the senses.

Tao Nightclub offers live entertainment, rose petal filled tubs with bathing beauties, and a moat that runs through the entire club. This ultimate facility is equipped with espresso machines, eight private skyboxes with mini-bars, as well as bottle service, state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems.

Featuring exotic living statues, elegant candle lighting, and incredible strip views, the nightclub is a DJ driven atmosphere with gorgeous go-go dancers and a celebrity clientele that parties into the wee hours of the morning.

The Tao Lounge serves as a chic gathering spot ideal for specialty cocktails and conversation. The lounge is decorated with lush velvets and silks, waterfalls and old woods and stones. The centerpiece is a 20-foot tall signature hand-carved Buddha that floats above an infinity pool filled with Japanese koi. It is truly an Asian metropolis that will transport you to another place, and the ultimate hotspot for beautiful people to meet, mingle, and feel the energy.

Don't waste half the night waiting in line. To gain instant access to TAO, check out LuxeVegas' concierge service, starting at just $40. Your personal escort will lead you past those amateur club-goers and right into the club.

Location: Tao Asian Bistro, The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV

Web site: www.taolasvegas.com

Contact: info@taolasvegas.com

Nightclub Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Lounge Hours: Tuesday, midnight to 5 a.m.; Wednesday and Sunday, 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

On the Turntables: OB-1, DJ Reach, and DJ Vice