Yet, the arrival of Earth Day on Sunday caused me to wonder if there has been any greening trend in Las Vegas. Gathering any information in Las Vegas takes time. So, far I have heard back from contacts at MGM-Mirage and am waiting to hear back from Harrah's and Wynn. From what I learned at MGM so far (more coming), particularly for the massive currently being built, Project City Center, (billed as the most expensive private construction effort ever) the resorts have been putting far more thought into this issue than I expected.

 

 

 

Coincidently, I was at the other Crazy Horse at the MGM last night checking out Dita Von Teese's guest stint. It was the first time I've seen Crazy Horse since it changed its name from La Femme as well as its ownership. The revamped Crazy Horse in Vegas has changed in the sense that there is a lot less striptease leading up to an unveiling: things are mostly topless now. Still, the basic show is the same and Crazy Horse still offers the most arty of the chorus line and spotlight topless shows in Vegas. And, the showgirls are always among the most beautiful in Vegas. Still, classy isn't necessarily exciting. The obsession with polka dot lighting gives the show a very 70s look to me. Crazy Horse remains an archetype that exposes imitators like Crazy Girls at Riviera as derivative. But both Cirque's Zumanity and John Stagliano's Fashionistas have taken the erotic show to another level in Vegas providing a more sophisticated and theatrically rewarding experiences than any chorus line doing chair dances.

 

The highlight of the show was Dita Von Teese. Her bubble bath was as much in the spirit of fun as sensuality. Good to have pasties back in Vegas. The audience came alive for her guest spot and gave standing ovations when she returned to the stage. My guess is that Von Teese could create an interesting and successful Vegas show given the connection she instantly established with this Wednesday night audience at MGM. She certainly seems to be holding Vegas in the palm of her gloved hand. This morning I even heard her on KNPR's State of Nevada discoursing on the history of burlesque to help bring in the calls for pledge week.

 

Of course, every time you go to a stadium concert, as in other cities, there are people wandering around outside the venue mumbling that they are selling tickets. Yet, unlike in some other cities, the way into the MGM Grand Garden Arena requires walking through the MGM, which is private property.  MGM does not like scalpers on their property. According to a friend of mine, who buys tickets early to shows in Vegas he thinks will do well and then auctions them on E-Bay like it's a stock market, MGM is tougher than any other resort when it comes to scalpers and actually will have security detain people and call the police. Of course, I had that conversation after Tiffany bought her scalped ticket.

Actually, things worked out better than I expected. First off, since we were close to show time she managed to pay a few dollars less than the face price. And, unlike my worst fear, the e-ticket was not a second print out by a huckster but still an authentic scan when we entered the venue. One problem: it was about the worst seat in the house, placing the holder in the highest reaches of the nosebleed section in a corner off to the side almost behind the stage. Fortunately, the seat next to the two for the tickets I had was empty and we were all able to enjoy the show together. But as a rule of thumb I would suggest visitors avoid scalpers at venues. There are too many people on the make in Vegas and truth be told there is enough risk marketed at you by the legitimate corporations.

Dita Von Teese will be a guest performer in the Crazy Horse Paris topless show at MGM between April 15-20. A celebrity star is certainly a good move for this very traditional topless show that, while significantly better than similar old school competitors like Crazy Girls, really can't measure up to the new generation of erotic entertainment shows on the Strip like Zumanity and Fashionistas. Both those shows offer a vastly more contemporary take on sexuality as well as demonstrating more creativity than topless chorus lines and solo chair dances. Ah, but they don't have Dita Von Teese. According to the press release:

 

"Keeping in line with the Crazy Horse Paris tradition, Dita will perform her sensual ‘Le Bain’ bathtub act, evoking the spirit of the 1950s Crazy Horse star Candida, who lathered and bathed herself on stage more than 1,500 times. She also will perform a second seductive surprise act and will be joining the Crazy Horse dancers in the revived finale 'We Are the Girls of Crazy Horse."