360 Vegas
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
360 Vegas Reviews - Fantasy @Luxor
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
We recently released the 360 Vegas show review for X-Country, and Mrs Jaydubs complained that we spent half the review talking about Fantasy. I can’t help it, though. Fantasy is the litmus test by which all other Vegas topless revues will be judged for a long time. Note: I have in the past referred to Fantasy as the Gold Standard of Vegas topless revues, and thought I was very clever for coming up with that. Then I saw the same words on a Fantasy poster on the way into Luxor and realized I was just subconsciously plagiarizing something I’ve seen before. To quote my father, “When someone steals your idea, it’s plagiarism. When you steal someone else’s idea, it’s inspiration.” I’ll run with that.
If you aren’t aware, Fantasy is a nightly topless revue show at the Luxor. The production dates back to 1999, and is the oldest running topless show in Vegas. It was originally titled “Midnight Fantasy,” and it had a 12 am showtime to match. In 2001, Luxor dropped the midnight showtime in exchange for an earlier time slot, but didn’t drop the “Midnight” from the title until 2006. Over its nearly 25 year history, Fantasy has gone through several revisions. I myself have seen it 3 or 4 times, and it is always a solid choice.
The structure is simple: beautiful women take off their clothes for the audience. There are a variety of acts, and the show switched them out regularly. The content of the show can vary by season - or even nightly - due to the various performers taking time off. Your favorite dancer isn’t going to perform in the show 7 days a week, she needs a break! There are numbers that feature single performers, as well as duo and ensemble pieces. To mix things up, the show also features a couple of acrobatic numbers with an aerialist on the silk web. Driving the show forward is a female MC who sings a few songs while performers dance.
The performers themselves are absolutely lovely, and I would describe them as ______________. I should say that Fantasy has a specific aesthetic for its performers, which some may not appreciate. Probably the best way to describe this would be the classic Playboy look, the cast favors lean blondes, and even the darker-skinned girls are light-skinned, if that makes sense. None of the performers are conventionally unattractive, but if you prefer your eye-candy thick and curvy, you won’t find it here. I had no complaints.
An important note: every topless show I’ve seen in Vegas makes an effort to be welcoming of the ladies and the women in the audience, but probably none do it better than Fantasy. Any women reluctant to attend with their SO or girlfriends should put that fear aside. You will not be the only woman there and no one will make you feel strange for being there. This is probably one of Fantasy’s biggest selling points for Mrs. Jaydubs and myself.
Fantasy runs nightly at the Atrium theater at the Luxor. The show shares the venue with Carrot Top, and I can’t help but think that this must lead to some fascinating backstage moments. The venue is a traditional theater with a very sloped house. What this means is there are no bad seats, and you have a bigger risk of accidentally kicking the person in front of you in the head than not being able to see around them. The seats themselves are very comfortable, and the theater can accommodate about 350 people.
In terms of the Audience Fuckery Factor, you should avoid the first 5 rows if you don’t want to be singled out for questions or attention, and the first 2 rows if you don’t want to be called on stage.
Fantasy runs every night at 10:30 pm. There is also sometimes an early show at 8:00 pm. Tickets start at $52 on Vegas.com.
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
360 Vegas Reviews - Blue Man Group @Luxor
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
Who farted?
Do you have that one piece of media that you would like to check out, but never seem to get around to it? Like, you’re scrolling through Netflix, and there’s that one movie that you’re interested in checking out, but not this time. Or the next time, or the time after that. It’s always there, and you’re interested, but not interested enough to dive in at the moment. That, my friends, is how Blue Man Group was for me until recently.I’ve known who the Blue Man Group was for over 20 years now. I remember there was an Intel Pentium TV commercial that they starred in, and a little Googling tells me that was in the year 2000. Sometime after that, I borrowed their album - yes, they have albums - from a friend, because I really liked the unique sound they had. And when I took my very first grownup trip to Vegas in 2002, I stayed at the Luxor, where BMG has had their Las Vegas home off and on since the year 2000.
Men beat their 'bone, live on stage!
I’ve never been one to mince words in my reviews, so I’ll say up front that I liked Blue Man Group. But I’m having a hard time describing Blue Man Group. I left the theater thinking, “I don’t know what the fuck I just saw, but I’m pretty sure I liked it.” Kind of like a donkey show in Tijuana, but a little more family friendly.So the Blue Man Group itself goes all the way back to 1987. Created as a sort of performance art by three friends in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the group started with street performances which gradually grew to full on stage productions. People in New York like weird artsy shit. Gradually it became a phenomenon, with worldwide tours, 3 albums, and more blue latex than any person should have access to. The Blue Man Group brand was sold to Cirque du Soliel in 2017, another Vegas mainstay.So what the hell is it? The show is kind of a techo-surreal experience. Three Blue Men guide the audience through various experiences, like making music, art, and marshmallow tossing. Without spoken words, the show manages to explore themes of science and technology, information overload, and cultural norms. The characters have a sort of naive curiosity in their behavior. It can come across as mime-like in its execution, but there’s more to it than that. The characters seem like visitors from another world, and their experiments and explorations address our assumptions about the world around us.
Chest-hole.
Imagine colored paint leaking out of a member’s chest hole onto an under-lit drum that flashes brightly when struck, showing colored drops of paint splattering through the air. If you are thinking that this seems weird as fuck, you’re right, but there’s a sort of mystical coolness about this when BMG does it on stage. Watch as they play wild instruments custom made from PVC pipe and create songs that are absolute bangers.They play songs that the group has created themselves, along with well-known classics like Beethoven’s Fur Elise, pop songs like Bad Romance, and even tease a little Freebird.Audience Fuckery Factor:Minimal, but they do go out in the audience looking for volunteers. They look for people raising hands, so don’t raise your hand if you don’t want to go onstage.And just like a trip to Sea World, avoid the first several rows if you don’t want to get splashed. I think they hand out plastic rain ponchos, because I saw several people with them.The show plays with light (you may be blinded by the lights during the show) and sound (I highly recommend ear plugs).
This could be you!
The theater is nice. It has a capacity of 830 people. There is a low slope on the house floor, so you may have people blocking your view. I recommend row AA if you don’t want anyone directly in front of you, but you also don’t want to be splashed or singled out.
Shows are 2 - 3 times /day everyday of the week. Tickets start at $49. This is a great value show. I also think it works well as a family show, or show to take the in-laws to when they decide they want to join in Vegas because you’re always going there.
Saturday May 23, 2020
PCP - 360 Origins: Alistair
Saturday May 23, 2020
Saturday May 23, 2020
PCP = Patreon Premium Content Preview
Alistair was originally the co-host of 360 Vegas Reviews. He's a proper English man, a snarky prick, possibly the most thoughtful person I've ever met, and one of my closest friends. He's also the most traveled person I've ever met in my life, seeing more of the United States than 99% of the people that call it their country of origin. During one of this visits to Vegas, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to record the origin story of the man who classes up 360 despite my natural tendency to directly oppose such measures.
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
E-313: #360VV9 Fall 2019
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
Sunday Sep 22, 2019
Enjoy our recollections from 360 Vegas Vacation 9
Tuesday Sep 19, 2017
E-242: 360 Vegas Vacation 5 Fal 2017
Tuesday Sep 19, 2017
Tuesday Sep 19, 2017
Enjoy another installment of our misadventures in Vegas with some kick ass listeners.
Sunday Apr 30, 2017
360 Vegas Review: Golden Gate Hotel and Casino Spring 2016
Sunday Apr 30, 2017
Sunday Apr 30, 2017
It is literally the original hotel in Las Vegas, built in 1906 and given the address 1 Fremont St. It was originally the Hotel Nevada, then in 31 it became a casino and was renamed Sal Sagev, Las Vegas backwards until 1955 when a group of Italian-Americans from San Francisco rethemed it into the Golden Gate.
Fast forward to today and this isn’t what you would expect out of a 110 year old property. This is the very definition of classic. It’s old without being dated, it’s small without feeling cramped and it's themed without being gaudy. Much of that can be attributed to it’s most recent owners, Greg and Derek Stevens. Their 2012 renovation may be the most subtle and functional ever in a place that doesn’t really have any space to grow. With 122 rooms Golden Gate is the smallest hotel/casino in Vegas on Fremont or the Strip but again, that somehow adds to it’s charm.
And the future looks even brighter. The Stevens group’s recent acquisition of La Bayou next door seems to indicate plans for expansion of the Golden Gate. And the purchase of the Las Vegas Club, Glitter Gultch and Mermaids across the street makes it clear that they are making their claim to shape Fremont St as they see fit. Those who are fans of the D have reason to believe a players club card that connects all 3 properties is coming soon.
Saturday Mar 25, 2017
360 Vegas Review: NYNY Hotel & Casino (aka Kayotay Tackos)
Saturday Mar 25, 2017
Saturday Mar 25, 2017
Infamously known as the Kayotay Tackos episode
The themed resort is one of the things that makes Vegas so special. If you just want to gamble, you can find casinos all over the place. Only in Vegas can you walk from an Egyptian pyramid to a Mid-evil Castle to New York City without even traveling a mile.
Enter NYNY, MGM’s contribution to the Vegas themed offerings. Located on the corner of the busiest intersection in the United States, Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd, NYNY was a huge hit from day one. It aimed for the mid-market right out of the gate and they came. Some have argued that the property has an identity crisis with Cirque’s most provocative production in residency while also offering a huge arcade and a roller coaster, clearly aimed at entertaining those not old enough to gamble.
Today, it’s one of the anchor properties of MGM’s outdoor promenade “The Park”, a play off of New York’s central park, if only in general concept and location to the themed resort, complete with a 20,000 seat arena and home to the cities first professional team. Coming up on it’s 20th anniversary, it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Saturday Mar 04, 2017
360 Vegas Review: Bazaar Meat @SLS Spring 2016
Saturday Mar 04, 2017
Saturday Mar 04, 2017
When the fabled Sahara casino closed its doors on May 16th 2011, many were sceptical as to whether new life would be breathed into this grande dame of the strip. Fast forward to August 23rd 2014 and SLS, a shiny white concept of ‘LA in the desert’, was born kicking and screaming into the world. Replete with Olympic mascot lookalike Sam, the shiny silver cyclops welcomed the non-existent foot traffic to the property. Would SLS succeed? Or would it be buzzed off stage faster than Tony Snyder at an America’s got talent audition.
The jewel in the dining crown at SLS was ‘James Beard Award-winning chef’ Jose Andres’ Bazaar Meat. Already a known quantity in Las Vegas through his presence at The Cosmopolitan with Jaleo, e and China Poblano, expectations were high. Fortunately, whilst the rest of SLS seemed to struggle with stores, restaurants and casino layouts coming and going, Bazaar Meat built a solid and growing reputation.
After reading a glowing recommendation in a magazine (but not listening to the constant verbal love fest that Alastair has been having with the place), Keren finally decided to head out to the wasteland of north strip to discover the truth for herself