Tahoe Casino News Source: http://www.mercurynews.com
Casino brings outdoors in
By Rachel Leibrock
Scripps-McClatchy News Service
A casino is a casino is a casino. Or is it?
That's the first question that pops into my mind upon arriving at the new MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa.
Because if it looks like a casino (<a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.qklinkserver.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=&k=slot%20machines" onmouseover="window.status='slot machines'">slot machines</a>, gambling tables), sounds like a casino (crowds chattering, coins jangling) and smells like a casino (cigarette smoke) -- then it must be a casino, right?
The answer: Yes, no and sort of.
The iconic but creaky Caesars Tahoe -- a fixture on the South Lake Tahoe strip since 1980 -- has been transformed into MontBleu with a grand-opening ceremony that included fireworks and a visit from Howie Mandel. We made it our mission to say goodbye to the togas and check out the new digs.
When my husband and I arrived in Tahoe on a recent Wednesday, it was a perfect day, with the temperature hovering around 75 degrees and the still-snowcapped mountains smartly set off against the blue sky and even bluer lake. It made us feel just a tiny bit crazy at even entertaining the thought of entering a stuffy, smoky casino.
Because if Reno is about grubby charm and no-frills gambling, and Las Vegas is about the high-rolling party lifestyle, then Tahoe's character comes alive in its gorgeous scenery and the gazillion alternatives to gambling.
There was no need to worry; the name MontBleu, after all, is French for ``blue mountain.''
$20 million remodel
Purchased in June 2005 by the Columbia Sussex Corp. for $45 million, renovations at the property began in October. In the months since, Caesars evolved into MontBleu via a $20 million-plus remodel that includes new restaurants, two nightclubs, a full-service spa and a yacht. The intended effect, says Joe Yung, director of development for Columbia Sussex, is a ``sophisticated mountain environment.''
``We want to bring the outside indoors,'' Yung says. ``We also wanted to provide an upscale environment for the 21- to 45-year-old market -- one that hasn't been seen before in South Lake Tahoe.''
Translation: MontBleu's ambience marries Tahoe's stunning, outdoorsy beauty with a trendy, Lifestyles of the Hip, Young and Beautiful vibe.
The Roman Empire had not completely crumbled by the time the ribbons were cut and fireworks lit, and we noticed several lingering Caesars statues, logos and name tags.
The rooms, remodeled by Caesars just a few years back, are also mostly the same. In fact, many of the casino's changes seemed subtle during our initial once-over. There were the same old slot machines being played by the same old <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.qklinkserver.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=&k=fanny%20pack" onmouseover="window.status='fanny-pack'">fanny-pack</a>-wearing tourists -- most of whom seemed to be well beyond any ``hip and edgy'' phase of life.
But as our eyes adjusted to the smoke and dim light, we noticed some key touches.
The HQ Center Bar, for example, practically buzzed with a trendy energy. As its name suggests, HQ acts as a hub; situated as the ostensible meeting point between all those slot machines and blackjack tables, it's an oasis for thirsty gamblers.
What we noticed most, however, was that it didn't seem to attract just any old nickel-and-dimer. No, HQ, with its sleek, minimalist design and TV screens transmitting never-ending ``SportsCenter'' clips and Ashlee Simpson videos, seemed to be a place reserved for the under-30 set.
Gorgeous columns of blue light caught my eyes as well. Rising tall throughout the casino, these bright <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.qklinkserver.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=&k=neon%20lights" onmouseover="window.status='neon lights'">neon lights</a> are supposed to emulate Tahoe's famed lake -- indeed, the effect is refreshing and pretty.
I also was enticed by signs for the new spa. Promising all the ``girlie stuff'' that my work-weary heart could desire (pedicure, massage, etc.), I was disappointed that it's not scheduled to open until the end of the summer. The spouse, of course, couldn't care less that it was still shuttered -- he's not quite sure what a casino needs with a spa anyway.
Ah, but a man needs to eat, right?
Which brings us to dinner. Admittedly, we were both a bit nervous about checking out the new Ciera Steak + Chophouse. Sure, it looked lovely (if tiny) with its dark, glossy wood, mood lighting and expansive wine list but . . . but, well, we're vegetarians. And it's a steakhouse.
As it turned out, there was no need for concern because the staff was more than prepared to take our special requests. While the rest of the patrons dined on steak and fish, we enjoyed tasty tofu, couscous and fresh, grilled vegetables. It may seem like a minor detail -- especially to carnivores -- but I see it as an important sign that MontBleu is trying to attract something other than the usual meat-and-potatoes crowd.
Certainly, with its seven restaurants, MontBleu's putting a new spin on the old something-for-everyone ethos. To wit: There's the requisite buffet, but even that comes with a twist. The Unbuffet features ``live action stations'' where chefs prepare dishes while you wait in line.
Among the other offerings: a Mexican grill (del Soul), a 24-hour diner (20-Four) and a coffee bar (the inevitable Starbucks).
But enough about food; it was time to get our drink on.
Karen Staeheli enjoyed a frosty pink drink as she checked out the scene at the Ultra Lounge (a.k.a. the Opal Eurasian Cuisine sushi restaurant) with a pal.
Laid-back energy
Here, Little Black Dress-wearing cocktail waitresses served pretty concoctions as sultry Fiona Apple tunes segued into atmospheric trip-hop. The effect, set against the club's <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.qklinkserver.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=&k=leopard%20print" onmouseover="window.status='leopard-print'">leopard-print</a> bar, deep-sea-blue walls and ambient lighting, came off as laid-back yet somehow also energetic.
As the owner of a local sushi joint, the Naked Fish, Staeheli, 39, has watched in recent years as casinos have used trendy, after-hours clubs to woo a younger, more in-the-know clientele. The town's already seen it, she says, with spots such as Harrah's Altitude club and Harveys 19 Kitchen-Bar. The Ultra Lounge, Staeheli says, is the best attempt she's seen.
``I really like the energy here -- it's very comfortable,'' she says. ``They've really managed to accomplish an upscale vibe [that is] more Vegas than Tahoe.''
The standard suite we stayed in was cushy, what with its hot tub and enormous bathroom stocked with sample-sized Aveda products.
But then we laid our eyes on the Tuscan Suite. A leftover from the Caesars era, it's a reminder that no matter what a casino does to its restaurants, its nightclubs and its gambling rooms, those who expect the high-roller lifestyle will not be satisfied with anything standard-sized. For $1,250 to $1,500 a night, you can live it up in a 1,200-square-foot pad.
What does your hard-earned money get you? For starters, there's a master suite, a guest bedroom, two bathrooms (stocked with full-size Aveda bottles), a tiny kitchen and a postcard-perfect view of the mountain-ringed lake.
Throw in some marble floors and heavy Italian-inspired furniture and you're ready for the South Lake Tahoe edition of MTV's ``Cribs.'' |
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