Expensive Tastes, Hip Factor Drive Stars In Vegas
Certain Hot Spots Draw Celebs
UPDATED: 9:53 a.m. EST February 24, 2003
LAS VEGAS -- Over the last few years, Las Vegas has upped the upper-echelon quotient in everything from hotel rooms to nightclubs to restaurants and beyond. The result is a revitalized playground for the rich, and often for the rich and famous.
Local newspapers are rife with celebrity sightings, with everyone from Ben Afflec and Jennifer Lopez to Corey Feldman garnering a mention. And, of course, who could forget that bizarre $6 million shopping spree Michael Jackson went on during the recently aired and very controversial documentary about him?
So where can you go to see the celebs? Well, the more expensive the place, the better the chance you're going to have of seeing a famous face. The chances of seeing a movie star playing $1 blackjack at The Sahara are pretty slim, although I wouldn't go so far as to say it never happens.
The "hip" factor also plays a lot, and "hipness," as those in the know know, is transitory at best. What may be really cool and happening one week can be a long-past fad the next.
As of right now, these are the places that celebrity sightings seem to be happening at the most these days:
The Palms: This new hotel just west of the Strip has gained a reputation as being a super-cool hangout for the celebrity set. Check out the high-limit gaming tables, the spa, the restaurants, and especially Ghost Bar, the swank lounge on the top level, where everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to Janet Jackson has been spotted.
Bellagio: Gambling, eating, and shopping are the draws here, so try the high-limit tables, Picasso and Prime, and Tiffany in the Via Bellagio shops. The latter is where Ben took J. Lo and her family on a recent shopping spree. And don't forget the nightclub Light, where I personally saw one of the Hilton heiresses (I forget which one) and Sarah Michelle Gellar, of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame.
Hard Rock: The casino here is very popular with the rock-and-roll crowd, so be sure to walk past the high-limit tables to see who might be blowing his or her latest big paycheck. Also Baby's nightclub is a draw, with folks like Justin Timberlake showing up to get down.
Green Valley Ranch: This upscale hotel is very popular with the locals (and this writer), but it also has proven to be quite a draw for famous folks as well, with the super-hip Whiskey Sky and Whiskey Beach nightclub and entertainment venues. Local gossip columnists reported recent sightings of George Clooney and Pink, among others.
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