Vol. 3, No. 12, December 2007
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The Gift of Giving
The quintessential guide to the perfect gifts for your holiday shopping list… Las Vegas style
classic, affordable—and not so affordable—wares and services this side of Manhattan.
No need to don knitted snow hats and wool gloves, either. Just throw on your shorts and sandals and let us guide you on our holiday extravaganza, Las Vegas style. We have chosen our picks carefully, in hopes of giving to you, some fresh ideas and time-honored concepts for holiday gifting. Perhaps you’ll find just what you’re looking for. Welcome, to Casino Connection’s holiday picks for 2007…
Delicate Delectables
Let’s begin with something that evokes the joy and warmth of the holidays like nothing else: food. It’s the one thing that works for almost everyone. This season as calorie counting becomes a subject of deliberate denial, at least until after the first of the year, let us eat and be merry.
Edible Arrangements specializes in creating delicious works of art. Their bountiful designs are filled with mouth-watering strawberries, pineapples, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, bananas and pears. Arrangements are guaranteed fresh upon delivery and available in a variety of holiday styles and sizes. And for the chocolate lover, yes, all or part of the bouquet may be optionally dipped. No need for a centerpiece for your holiday meal, here’s one you can eat. Do not confuse this brand with copycats. Featured on CNBC, MSNBC and the Food Network, Edible Arrangements is the originator of this unique, all natural concept. Stores are nationwide meeting the needs of those who will be gifting out-of-towners. Prices range from $50 to $200. With four locations in Las Vegas call 702-433-2491 or log onto www.ediblearrangements.com.
Ethel’s Chocolate is definitely in the news. Not only has the name been changed, but the product as well. Thanks to new chocolatier Chef Jin Caldwell, former pastry chef for Wynn Las Vegas, this new line offers unique, contemporary arrays that are sure to please the palate of premium chocolate lovers everywhere. New holiday flavors include pumpkin pie, cranberry and eggnog. For loyal fans of the old Ethel M’s, don’t worry. The Classic Collection remains available, including those spirited liqueur treats. Ethel’s is created only in Vegas and Chicago which makes it quite a novelty gift in other parts of the country. Your friends and family in Boston and Florida will love receiving a gift-wrapped box of some of the finest chocolates made. The valley’s own since 1981, there are 11 locations to serve you. Prices range from $14 to $70. You can call 702-877-2777 or log onto www.ethelschocolate.com.
Legal Sea Foods is succulent, live lobster, delivered right to your door overnight. OK, this one is cheating just a bit, but the novelty of the gift outweighs the crime. You can’t find a present of this kind in the Valley, and you wouldn’t want to. It’s the real deal, straight from Boston. Perhaps this year, there is a non-traditionalist on your list with a desire to forego stuffing the bird, in exchange for baked stuffed lobster and genuine clam chowder. If it’s a seafood lover you’re looking to please, Legal’s extensive menu includes scallops and bacon, seafood cannelloni and king crab legs. Consider a gift that will allow friends and family to feel like gourmet master chefs while preparing the most unconventional of holiday meals. Pricing is not for the faint of heart. Best to plan on $200 per person for a festive seafood feast fit for the discriminating non-conformist. Call 800-343-5804 or log onto www.legalseafoods.com.
Gifts for Him
Although there is a place for the standard new tie and wallet for gift giving, (please pardon the yawn here), we’re about to step outside that box hoping to put a look of surprise on the face of the men in your life. If atypical and very personal are concepts you’re looking for, read on. These ideas are sure to offer a jolt of pleasing results.
Eagle Rider satisfies a need… the need for speed. If there is a man on your holiday register who would enjoy twisting the throttle and feeling the wind on his face, let him wrap himself around a twin cam, 88-cubic-inch, 1450cc engine with a 5-speed transmission that gets 46 miles to the gallon on the highway. And, yes, it’s a Harley Davidson. Your guy can choose scenic spots like Mount Charleston or Red Rock Canyon for an afternoon of fresh air and worries left behind. Prices are between $150 and $180 to rent a day of adventurous pleasure. Call 702-876-8687 or log onto www.eagleriderlasvegas.com.
Victoria’s Secret wouldn’t usually show up here, but we’re going to add a subtle Vegas twist to this spirited gift for your holiday lover. Go shopping, ladies, and try on as many ensembles as you like. Now this is key, so stay with me. Purchase the lingerie you truly believe that he would most enjoy. Take your romantic offering home and wrap it with a festive bow. As he opens the box and discovers the content, reveal to him a shy, holiday smile. Your man will most certainly receive the message behind this present. If he doesn’t, he’s probably dead, or you’ve given it to the wrong guy. In any case, Victoria’s Secret will only set you back an affordable $100 or so for this seasonal gift, that will most likely be the one to keep on giving. Call 702-737-1313 or log onto the fabulous online shopping catalog at www.victoriassecret.com.
Gifts for Her
She’s a princess, an angel, the mother of your children. She’s your own beloved mom, a special sister, your darling daughter. And she doesn’t want a new vacuum cleaner or an ironing board cover to be awaiting her under the tree this year. Women know this about women. Men, not so much. So in deciding gifts for her, don’t trust the department store salesman to know what she wants. Here are some creative choices with a personal touch.
Brioni located along the Esplanade inside Wynn Las Vegas Hotel is the home of this discriminating men’s clothing store. You can’t wrap this one up for Dad or Brother. Every suit is measured and fitted keeping with tradition of painstaking Italian tailoring of long ago. Each and every tailor is trained at Brioni’s own school for four years before he receives permission to actually handle client fabric; a seamstress, for two years before she has earned the right to sew on a button. Brioni has dressed en vogue celebrities like Pierce Brosnan and Richard Gere for decades. For the James Bond on your list, Brioni sets the bar for unequaled style and quality. Suits start at a very pricey $2,000. Call 702-770-7000 or log onto www.brioni.com.
Merry Maids was founded in 1979, the largest home cleaning franchise in the world. A gift card, presented to the woman in your life, will speak volumes on how much you appreciate the domestic mountain she continually climbs. Whether she is a working mom, or just a busy gal, a break from household chores is a little slice of holiday heaven. Depending on the size of her home and family, you can purchase an initial cleaning for an average of $250. To continue service thereafter, the cost is around $150 per monthly visit. With locations on W. Charleston and Tropicana, call 702-259-5007. Log onto www.merrymaids.com.
Coach Handbags are chosen by fashion editors worldwide and the pick of every accessory fashionista on this season’s list. Coach began more than half a century ago as a family run workshop in a Manhattan Loft, and it didn’t take long for discerning buyers to discover their quality workmanship. With the high end cost of these signature bags exceeding $1,200 it’s no wonder this classic design and American style is desired by so many, and acquired by so few. Don’t be fooled by look-alikes at a fraction of the cost and quality. She deserves the best. Genuine Coach can be found at the Forum Shops and Fashion Show Mall. Fashion Outlets carry bags from previous seasons for a bit of a reduced price. Call 702-759-3451 or log onto www.coach.com.
Art encounter is privately owned with an exclusive in-house design and production staff capable of making magic with memories. To create the most unforgettable holiday gift for her, hunt down those old photos, theater tickets and dried flowers that will most remind her of cherished days gone by. Art encounter will restore the old photos if needed, and tastefully mat and frame them, in the most nostalgic way. Treasures of remembrance can be sealed in shadow boxes for eternal safe keeping and attractive display. If she leads with her heart, as most women do, watch for tears of joy upon opening this emotionally intimate gift. Art encounter has rush services available for the holiday season. Plan on $150 minimum, depending on the number of keepsakes you wish to create. Call 702-227-0220 or log onto www.artencounter.com.
For the Sports Fan
Howard Cosell, possibly the most famous sports broadcaster in American history, is quoted as saying, “Sports is the toy department of human life.” With that in mind, lets wrap up some tickets for this year’s giving that will make the fans on your holiday roster feel like they’ve just been let loose in FAO Schwartz. Let the games begin…
The Las Vegas 51s are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and proudly entering their 26th season at Cashman Field. The official 2008 baseball season will begin in April and end in September. Season tickets start at $360 for general admission, $432 for reserved seating, $504 for plaza seating, $576 for field level and those awesome seats right behind the dugout will go for $720. Individual seats range from $8 to $13. Also available are 10- and eight-game packages. Call 702-798-7825 to purchase tickets.
Casablanca Golf Club is nestled in the rugged Virgin River Valley, only about an hour north of Vegas. For the hole-in-oners lucky enough to be on your holiday list, this one shines above the rest. Awaiting them will be a beautiful 18-hole, 7,011 yard championship golf course, complete with pro shop, driving range, putting green and golf cart, included in the green fees. All these amenities and more are only going to set you back $77. Casablanca offers weekend packages that includes a two-night stay and two rounds of golf for—hold onto your hat—$99. Call them at 866-401-6021.
The Las Vegas Wranglers are the city’s own professional hockey team, an affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. The 2007-08 year runs October through April and marks the 5th anniversary of this 36-game season at the Orleans Arena. Ticket purchase for the Wranglers is a shopping expedition in itself. You can pick the sections where you want to site from the family zone to the glass. Build your own customized packages from 10 games for $100 to full season passes at $1,400. Call 702-478-7825 or log onto www.lasvegaswranglers.com.
Something for Everyone
Some gifts just don’t fall easily into any one category. They work for friends and family, young and old, men, women and children alike. If you’re plain dumbfounded on what to get someone, this might be the section to explore first. In addition to the suggestions here, you can always consider a gift that would warm the heart of even the coldest Grinch perched high atop Mount Crumpet north of Whoville, a subscription to Casino Connection (www.casinoconnectionnevada.com/Subscription). For the troubled motorist, a membership to AAA could go a long way. Or, read on for some more interesting suggestions sure to brighten anyone’s holiday.
Rave Motion Pictures begs the question, “Who doesn’t love the movies?” This state of the art concept in film presentation creates a unique movie going experience.
Rave offers all digital projection and sound, on giant wall-to-wall screens, many with 3D capability. Comfort abounds with 48 inches between rows and 18-inch risers for unobstructed views. All auditoriums have plush rocker style seats. The perfect holiday gift card for friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Movie pricing is $7.75 for adults and $6.25 for children and seniors. Gift cards start at $10. Purchase at the box office in Town Square at I-15 and the 215 Beltway or order online at www.ravemotionpictures.com.
A Warm Wish is this year’s most charming sleeper. Located at 3013 Rancho #12 the hands-on owners of this speciality shop pay intricate attention to detail. Although classic holiday gourmet food baskets are available, they have made it easy for you to personalize content with themes ranging from romantic moments, to bath and body spa pampers, all stunningly wrapped, for an eye pleasing holiday presentation. There is only one location to serve you, making exclusivity a most attractive component to this pick. Prices begin at around $75 with the sky being the limit for custom orders. Call toll free 877-208-1270 or view their enchanting website at www.awarmwish.com.
The Producers, playing at Paris Las Vegas, is certain to bring tears of laughter to anyone on your holiday playbill. After seeing the original Broadway production of this twelve-time, Tony Award winning musical with Nathan Lane, it was thrilling to hear it had come to Vegas. Re-starring in the lead role as the underhanded Max Bialystock, is America’s fave, Mr. Tony Danza, and he is doing Mel Brooks proud. This show is worth every penny of the price of admission and one of my favorite picks for this year. Tickets are from $69 to $143.50. To top off this holiday offering, consider adding the gift of dinner at Le Artistes Steak House offering a Broadway style menu for $68.50 per person. This gift is sure to put your friends and family in a festive New York state of mind. Call the box office at 702-946-4567 or log onto www.harrahs.com.
Electronics
E lectronics have been—and will likely remain—some of the most sought-after gifts in recent years. As technology advances and last year’s hit gadget becomes this year’s pretty power-sucking paperweight, you can’t go wrong if you stay current on these items.
The Kindle is the long awaited wireless reading device just released by Amazon, well worth the wait. With a weight of 10.3 ounces, it’s lighter and thinner than a paperback book. This little bit of magic gives you more than 88,000 books to choose from including all of the New York Times bestsellers. If you would like to browse through the Wall Street Journal or LeMonde from France, it’s all at your fingertips. The latest issues of Sports Illustrated, or Vanity Fair are with you wherever you travel. The KINDLE accepts e-mails and pictures from your PC, allowing you to read personal or business documents on the go. This electronic gadget is completely wireless which equals no monthly bills or service plans to be concerned with. The Kindle holds more than 200 titles and offers free wireless access to Wikipedia. At $400 this one is getting the market’s attention and that of any avid reader on your holiday shopping list. Only available at www.amazon.com.
Samsung Juke is the cell phone that features a unique TouchFLO interface that lets you fire up the music player and check your inbox for messages. Sprint’s 3G network streams Sprint TV in full screen mode and downloads 99-cent songs over the air. Includes a two megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth and, on top of all of this, it actually makes phone calls. There are a lot of teenagers who would be interested in receiving this multitasking cell for the holidays. Reasonably priced through Sprint at $99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate. Call 702-877-4810 or log onto www.mobilemedia.com.
OK, Computer
Skip the hassles and crowds and shop online
Every year thousands of people fight traffic and crowds and brave hour-long lines buying gifts during the holiday season. In some cases, these hassles are unavoidable, but in most cases, they can be sidestepped with a trip to the virtual mall on the internet.
There aren’t very many things you can buy locally that aren’t available online. And while you’ll have to pay taxes on anything bought from an online retailer based in Nevada, you skip sales taxes on purchases from vendors in every other state. You’ll have to pay shipping, which can offset this saving, but if your time is of any value to you, the time you save will more than make up for the time lost dealing with crowded stores.
The internet, however, is not a panacea for the problems of holiday shopping. Mixed in with the reputable retailers are some shady sellers who will do everything from simply not shipping your item, to selling your personal information or stealing your identity.
There are a number of steps you can take to make your online shopping adventure safer. The first is to always use a credit card for online purchases. Your credit card provides you a strong level of security should you happen upon one of the internet’s unscrupulous retailers. If your item never ships, if you start finding strange expenditures on your bill, if you’re overcharged or if the item comes and you realize it’s complete junk, you are protected if you made the purchase with a credit card. Call your credit card company, report the problem, and they’ll take it from there. Using a debit card or personal check does not afford you this safety.
Also, do a little research before you buy. Generally, the age-old axiom that “a deal too good to be true probably is,” applies. If a digital camera (or any other electronic item) that sells for $350 at most other sites is available for $150 from one retailer, something is probably wrong. Look up the online retailer at www.resellerratings.com to see what kind of experience other online shoppers have had with them. While very few-if any-retailers will have perfect ratings, you can read the descriptions and usually determine who is griping just to gripe, and who had a legitimate complaint. If there are only a few positive reports and a heaping pile of negatives, you’re well advised to stay away. The $100 you are trying to save probably isn’t worth it.
Lastly, don’t skimp on shipping. If you shop early, you will have no problem going with the cheaper ground shipping, but if you wait until 10 days before you need the item, pony up the cash and pay for the option that will get the item to you in time (and for the love of your friends, stay away from UPS three-day select).
If you follow these steps, you can save a lot of time, headaches and even money.
And there you have it shoppers. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. We have come to the end of this shop ‘til you drop expedition. The last couple of items on our list are to roll the credits and extend to all of you our wish, for a most joyous and happy holiday season. Until next year…
