Las Vegas - Fun Stuff

		Shark Attack Think finding good living quarters in NYC is a challenge today? Step back in time to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. For $17 ($13 for seniors and students), one ticket gets you a guided tour of a nearby brownstone, renovated to resemble the dimly lit flats that once housed approximately 7,000 people from more than 20 countries between 1863 and 1935. Pick up your pass in the museum gift shop, where videos on the immigrant experience run constantly and vintage toys for purchase abound. Your best bet is to go on Wednesday, when a tour ticket provides discounts and freebies at stores and restaurants all over the modern-day Lower East Side. Check the website for the full list. 108 Orchard St. (212) 982-8420 www.tenement.org

Stage Backing The water spectacle known as Le Reve is not to be missed. But a behind-the-scenes look at where all the magic happens ups the ante for this on-going Las Vegas event created by Cirque du Soleil expressly for Wynn Las Vegas. VIP tickets afford the guest a bottle of Champagne, a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries, and a monitor letting us in on what goes on backstage, underwater, and in the control center throughout the show. 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 770-9966 www.boxoffice.wynnlasvegas.com

Green Piece So many pros practice at the TPC Las Vegas that we were shocked there was room for us on the green. But with the help of the golf concierge at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa at Summerlin, we were not only on the green, but, amazingly, at the requested start time. Also amazing were the many obstacles on this 18-hole championship course: steep ravines, elevation changes, and lake were picture-perfect. A great day in Sin City with no sinning whatsoever. P.S. Reservations can be made 180 days in advance on the TPC Las Vegas site. 9851 Canyon Run Dr. (702) 256-2500 www.tpc.com

Nothing Fishy Here Hard to believe, but in the middle of the desert we found ourselves nose to bottlenose with dolphins during our Dolphin Trainer for a Day experience. At the Mirage Las Vegas, inside Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, we transformed from tourist to trainer. Temporary duties included commanding these charming creatures to do double back flips and taking their blood samples to be charted for medical records. Although we were spared no chore, the six hours we shadowed the park’s permanent trainers seemed to fly by as we had learned almost all it takes to work with these amazing mammals. 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 791-7111 www.mirage.com

Lively Lounge If you want to kick it up a notch but aren’t yet ready to hit the big clubs, Blush is the perfect avenue for easing onto Las Vegas’s high-octane lane. Filled with dramatic decor, complete with one-of-a-kind onyx dance floor, this intimate space hosts a lively crowd, while its open-air terrace is the perfect place to chill with a cool cocktail before heading back into the mix. 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 770-3633 www.wynnlasvegas.com

XSive Fun If it’s decadence and debauchery you seek, head to Encore’s XS — Las Vegas’s latest addition to an already impressive roster of mega clubs. This vast space does not disappoint with its luscious tropical interior, poolside bar, and bustling gambling tables. Expect a wild night in Sin City’s newest trend spot, but beware come the weekend, when XS very quickly fills up with the hottest people on the Strip. 3121 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 770-0097 www.xslasvegas.com

Tryst and Shout Competitive clubbers out to enjoy Las Vegas’s very best should make a point of heading to Tryst located in the Wynn hotel. Inspiring awe with its towering waterfall, this fantastic backdrop is perfect for the club’s packed dance floor and bustling bar. Note: Expect a fiendish experience and a packed house. 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 770-3375 www.trystlasvegas.com

Smooth Soak Ginger ale is not the only reason to book a table at Sensi, in the Bellagio’s Spa Tower, but it’s a darn good one. This ginger ale is homebrewed, fresh each day. The golden bubbly is so addictive you will want many more than one. The recipe is a highly guarded secret, but they did share this with us: Use 1-1/2-half ounce of fresh ginger mix, fill the glass with club soda, and top off with a dash of fresh nutmeg and a lime wheel. Enjoy with any one of Chef Martin Heierling’s creative culinary creations. 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 693-7223 www.bellagio.com

Posh Spot Celebrities are often seen frequenting the ever-popular LAX nightclub, situated within the belly of Luxor Las Vegas. Part-owner and world-renowned DJ, Adam Goldstein (aka DJ AM) can often be seen behind the decks. Other celebs and Hollywood socialites prefer this hot spot, and one or more occasionally can be counted upon to host high-end, high-profile private parties. Big anthems blast through LAX’s crisp sound system while partiers strut their stuff to the backdrop of goth decor long after the midnight hour. 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 262-4529 www.laxthenightclub.com

Slapshot In The Dark The ultimate midnight show in Las Vegas doesn’t feature gambling, dancing, comedy, magic, or even boxing. It’s the annual midnight hockey game at the Orleans Arena, pitting the local Las Vegas Wranglers against a different team every year since 2003. The Wranglers play 72 games a season, but more people wake up for this one. Usually held in December, it typically draws more than 5,000 fans. Why? For many of the Strip’s performers, a midnight game is the only one they can attend. So keep an eye out for the fans in blue body paint — these might just be their working clothes. 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. (702) 471-7825 www.lasvegaswranglers.com

Vegas Oasis Las Vegas may be a golfer’s wonderland, but if you want to tee off on the Strip, there’s only one place to go: Wynn Golf and Country Club. Forty attendants make the gorgeous fairways and manicured greens their No. 1 priority. After completing a successful round on this desert oasis, head over to the boutique-style pro shop, showcasing high-end specialty golf products, unique attire, and fine cigars — stored in a walk-in humidor, the perfect place to chill out, especially if your game was off. 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 770-7070 www.wynnlasvegas.com

In the Black For those who prefer to chill out amid the non-stop action of the Strip’s nightlife, clubby Noir Bar at the Luxor Las Vegas offers a refined atmosphere of dimly lit corridors and a friendly staff. Tired feet from dancing? Plenty of spacious leather sofas offer a place to rest. A major perk near Noir Bar: A private entrance allows you to you skip the long line of eager prospective patrons outside the ultra-exclusive LAX. By the time you’re ready to crank it up a notch, this tidy venue provides a special elevator to whisk you to and from the more exuberant nightclub upstairs. 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702) 262-5257 www.luxor.com