BEAM UP THOSE BORGS: The Las Vegas Hilton's Star
Trek: The Experience attraction is expanding. Borg Invasion 4D,
scheduled to open next spring, will combine live actors and special
effects to create a futuristic research facility clients can tour.
While visitors are in the facility, members of the Borg collective
-- described as "a group of cybernetically enhanced beings who gain
knowledge and technology by absorbing other species" -- try to
capture the visitors and assimilate them using 24th century
cybernetic technology. One of the highlights of the new attraction
will be an original 3-D film featuring Robert Picardo as "The
Doctor," Alice Krige as "Borg Queen" and Kate Mulgrew as "Admiral
Janeway." After their (surprise, surprise) rescue from the Borg,
visitors, if they want, then can enjoy the original Star Trek: The
Experience attraction, grab a bite at Quark's Bar & Restaurant
and browse for souvenirs in the Deep Space Nine Promenade, which
houses the world's largest collection of "Star Trek" memorabilia
and collectibles.
SHOPPERS' PARADISE: Boy, those characters from
Star Trek: The Experience sure do get around. They, along with a
stilt walker, a mime, and other assorted entertainers (such as
dancers and musicians), will be on hand Aug. 8 to 10 to celebrate
the grand opening of the Las Vegas Premium Outlets, a high-end
outlet shopping center located about two-and-a-half miles from the
north end of the Strip. The 435,000-square-foot outlet center,
which had a soft opening Aug. 1, features more than 100 stores and
10 food and beverage outlets -- Kenneth Cole, Polo Ralph Lauren and
St. John are but a few -- and is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Located on South Grand Central Parkway, the shopping mall is
accessible via the local CAT bus line. It also has a designated
tour bus pick-up and drop-off point and features a taxi stand with
pick-ups behind Ann Taylor and drop-offs between Adidas and Brooks
Brothers. For more information, phone (702) 474-7500 or visit www.premiumoutlets.com.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES: Beginning Aug. 7, guests
at the Golden Nugget can hitch a shuttle ride to the new Premium
Outlets for $1 each way. The downtown property also teamed up with
the outlet mall to provide VIP discounts for Golden Nugget
guests.
WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Also on Aug. 1, Chelsea
Property Group, which partnered with Simon Property Group, to build
the Premium Outlets venue, acquired Belz Factory Outlet World,
located two-and-a-half miles south of the Strip near McCarran
Airport, for $104 million from entities affiliated with privately
held Estein & Associates USA, Ltd. The 477,000-square-foot
shopping venue was renamed the Las Vegas Outlet Center and offers
approximately 130 retail outlets, including Liz Claiborne,
Waterford, Wedgwood, Mikasa, Nike, Reebok and Etienne Aigner. Hours
of operation are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (702) 896-5599
or visit www.premiumoutlets.com.
BRENNER'S BACK: Comedian David Brenner will be
playing the new Westin Casuarina Las Vegas. The property, which
according to its Web site is opening Oct. 15, booked Brenner for a
one-year, 44-week engagement that will begin shortly after the
resort opens. Tickets for the 90-minute solo concert, which will be
performed at 8 p.m. daily in the hotel's 250-seat showroom, are
priced at $50 each plus tax; group discounts are available. For
more information, contact the property at (702) 836-9775.