80-81 LSB Vickies Vegas.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 14/05/2019 08:48 Page 80
VICKIE’S VEGAS
Inset: Vickie O’Malley (pictured (right) with Nimbus Nine's Tina-Louise Foster at a previous Licensing Expo) wants to know if you’re a Vegas Virgin or Vegas Veteran. Below centre: The Neon Museum… so good, Vickie recommends it twice.
In May, Vickie O’Malley turns 50 and Rockpool Licensing, the agency she founded, will be five. We know, impossible to believe on both counts. To celebrate, here are Vickie’s 50 Vegas tips made-up of top fives – ranging from must sees through to ‘did we really see that?’. Keep a tally of how many you’ve done and find out if you’re a Vegas Virgin or Vegas Veteran below.
Kings and Queens of the desert Must sees
If You Like It Old Skool…
• Bellagio Fountains. Word is, the fountains are going… to be Above: The fountains at The replaced by mall! I will Bellagio are a must see. lie in front of bulldozers. • The Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada Sign. A photo is de rigueur. • Downtown. Cheaper, stickier and the best place for an adventure that you can’t tell your mum about. • Limo down the strip. If your friends pretend they are too cool for this, get new friends. • A Cirque, any Cirque. I love Le Reve but you can’t really go wrong. Except for the clowns. Wow, they’re unfunny.
• Mirage Volcano. Dean Martin may walk out of the mist at any moment. • Champagne brunch. Sundays at Bally’s is the original and best… • Rat Pack Tribute Act. The voices will be amazing but best to squint, the likenesses can be tenuous. • Visit the Neon Museum. A wonderful idea, brilliantly curated. Day and night tours available. • Atomic Liquors, oldest free-standing bar in Clark County, beloved by Sinatra and Streisand, featured in Casino and The Hangover.
High Rollers • Eat at Joel Robuchon. So delicious, so mindbogglingly, credit cardmaxingly expensive. Above: Lady Gaga’s Enigma show has been pulling in the audiences. • Stay in Penthouse Suites. The Nobu Villa starts at $35K per night. • See the A-Lister in residence. Gaga Tickets are going for $598 plus booking. • Get their Qi Balanced (no, me either) at the Mandarin Oriental. $600 for the hour. • Book Dance Floor tables at Hakassan. $15K, minimum. MINIMUM!
80
Brand New To Do! • Kaos – Part of its $680M refurb, this new super club is buzzing the Palms. • Vanderpump – Lisa’s eponymous lounge at Caesars. Real Housewives of Licensing Expo? • Celestia - A new show at the Strat featuring acrobats, daredevils and wonderment… in a tent. • The Naked Magicians. The blurb says “Good magicians don’t need sleeves and great magicians don’t need pants.” I’m in. • Ambros – Unfathomably, this banana-flavoured whisky is Vegas’ current must-drink drink. I’m out. Above: The Naked Magicians… need we say more?
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2019
Left: Informa’s Jessica Blue.