Tips for CES 2009

This guide is in it's fourth year!  Thanks to all who provided suggestions and feedback.

Here's my advice on what to do and what not to do in Vegas during CES 2009.  I  thought I should add my .02 as I’m a rare breed – a middle aged, married IT professional living in Las Vegas that is not employed by the gaming industry. So here are my biased, subjective tips for CES geeks in Vegas.

CES TIPS:
Best parts to Visit: The show is huge, so you probably won't see everything.  The Sands is where it’s at in terms of cool stuff to see, in the “Innovations Plus” section. Other than that, Hall S3 and S4 (upstairs in the South building, farthest from the Hilton) and the Hilton booths house all the little startup companies from Asia and Eastern Europe and elsewhere, not cool enough for an Innovations Plus booth - yet. I usually start at Innovations Plus, then move on to the Hilton, then S3 and S4, then work my way downstairs and north through the main halls (mostly car audio and TVs) if I have time.

CES Flu: It seems that every year more and more people get sick during and/or after CES with a nasty flu.  I've had the last two years, and it's not good - lasted about a month each time.  I took Airborne last year, and drank planty of fluids and got plenty of sleep, and still got it.  I've been taking Oscillococcinum when travelling lately and swear by it, I'll be taking it each day I visit the show.  I'll let you know how it goes....

Swag: Don’t bring a bag to the show if you can avoid it, they have swag bags all over the place if you need one.

Water - buy water and drink it wherever you can.  It's winter, but it's still the desert. And the convention halls are very dry.  Avoid alcohol and caffeine when you can as they dry you out.  For the uninitiated, note that a lightheaded feeling, headaches and even nosebleeds can be signs of dehydration.

Jacket - If you plan to be outdoors, it gets cold in winter here.  In the last few years it has even snowed during CES week.  But don’t bring a coat or jacket inside the show. It’s hot in there. Alternatively, there are coat checks in the main hall.

Footwear: Good shoes are essential, the concrete floors suck the life energy out of your feet.

Best free stuff: The XM Satellite Radio booth usually has concerts, comfortable seating, and free Starbucks in the morning. 

Coffee: There's a full-service Starbucks in the main hall, just outside the XM radio booth.

Best onsite food: there’s an Indian food stall around Hall S3.

STAYING CONNECTED

Almost all hotels in Vegas have Wifi now, for a fee.  Also, lots of open hotspots on the show floor, and the Renaissance Las Vegas, next to the convention center has free Wifi for guests. 
The Vegas Airport (McCarran) has Free Wifi.
Other than that, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, It's a grind coffee house, Panera Bread and Krispy Kreme have free Wifi.

Off-hours CES: Vegas Tips:

Sadly this year, the the PodTech Bloghaus is no more.  Haven't heard if there's a replacement.  I'm still looking forward to hanging out at and the Blogger Reception. Also, here's a list of a few more events.  If this is not for you, or you just want to get away and experience a bit of Vegas, and you haven’t been invited to the myriad (that's right, myriad!) CES parties taking over all the cool bars in town, here are my tips: 

SIGHTS

-Museums - Las Vegas pays a lot of money to import culture.  Sadly, this year the Guggenheim closed. Still open are the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and the Wynn Museum (No link to that one.  Note again to Steve Wynn - summarizing what I said lin years past - fix your crappy Web site!).
-Bellagio Fountain and conservatory, and the chocolate fountain behind the conservatory
-Paris Eiffel tower replica
-Weird little robotic show outside the Cheesecake factory in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops (Vegas for Mall)
-For Hemingway (and cigar) fans, a pretty good replica of La Floridita at Casa Fuentes in the Forum Shops.  Have a Daiquiri and a Faux Cuban and take in the sights on the strip below.
-Wynn hotel's free water show - best at night
-Browsing rock memorabilia at the Hard Rock Hotel
-Fake Canal at the Venetian, and for Casino Geeks, the Palazzo Tower is open, but many of the original bars are already closed.  The new Planet Hollywood (the old Aladdin) is now fully refurbished and open.
-Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace - Free coupons all over the place out front.  Amazing Cars
-Free evening "Sirens" Show at Treasure Island
-Just walking up and down the strip and taking it all in.

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE:

About Gambling:
Please do Gamble.  What happens in Vegas...Pays my Taxes!
Q: How do you make a small fortune in Vegas?
A: Start with a large one.

SHOWS:
If you see one show, make it "O" at the Bellagio or my second choice, Love at the Mirage.  Both are expensive, and worth every penny.  BTW, for next year - Cirque show reservations can be canceled with a full refund with 48 hours notice.

GEEK BARS:
There are a few bars in town who are using new technology and displays to create some pretty fun and interesting electronic experiences as part of their lounge features.  Many are in the VIP areas, so you may have to shell out a lot.  And if you're going to do that, you should invite me along to um, show you around or something....

Revolution Lounge at the Mirage
Perhaps Revolution's most novel embellishment is its clutch of interactive tables, where patrons can take an ashtray or a cocktail glass and sketch designs on the tabletop from a series of different motifs projected onto the glass, from squirming jellyfish to fluttering butterflies.The images are then projected on a large column in the middle of the room.

Tabu nightclub at the MGM Grand
Wave a hand above a black-and-white image of a woman's pursed lips on the table top and the area below your hand turns to color. Other tables appear littered with dozens of paper clips that scatter to other parts of the surface when an object passes over them. Yet another table is decorated with a fairly plain motif, until an item -- say, a drink -- is placed on it. At that, a Lord of the Rings-style circle of fire surrounds the object.

Eyecandy sound lounge & bar at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
Featuring interactive touch tables exclusively for eyecandy sound lounge, this groundbreaking technology allows guests to be in control of their nightlife experience all from the comfort of their booth. Using interactive, multi-touch tables, guests can create visuals and messaging as well as project images onto screens above the dance floor. This high-tech table technology allows guests to create and control the visual and audio environment, becoming part of the sensory experience, where each night has a unique vibe.

Windows Surface at iBar at the Rio Hotel
With the unique interaction that Microsoft Surface enables, Harrah’s has created an innovative suite of custom applications to provide guests with hip new ways to create their very own ultimate entertainment experience in an ultra-lounge venue.

Lastly, if it's not already cold enough in Vegas, you can freeze at Minus 5 Bar at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
It's not really as high-tech as the others, but definitely has geek appeal....

BEST NON-VEGAS EXPERIENCES
Helicopter tours of the grand canyon.  Maverick is the best operator.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is now open.
The Valley of Fire is an amazing place.
Closer to Vegas, Red Rock Canyon is worth catching at sunrise, like Tony Soprano did.  Peyote optional.

DRINKS:

I like the Nine Fine Irishmen Pub in the New York New York. A great live Celtic band starts at 9, and they have live step dancers!

MIX in the Mandalay bay is a cool choice, with a great view of the strip, and free before 10, after that everyone is herded around into standing-only pens unless they want to buy bottle service.

For sports bars, I like the one at the Bellagio or the Wynn, or Blondie’s in the Mall behind Planet Hollywood.

FOOD:
The Las Vegas Strip is a great case study on the meaning of expensive vs. overpriced. However, there are some diamonds in the rough…..If you’re on expenses or just want to splash out, I recommend Bouchon at the Venetian or Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel.  Also anything by Michael Mina - Seablue for healthy seafood at the MGM Grand, and unhealthy but great seafood like the the lobster pie at Michael Mina restaurant at the Bellagio.

For a good meal moderately priced I like Nine Fine Irishman (the seafood chowder is amazing) in the New York New York, Café Ba Ba Reeba for tapas in the Fashion show mall, or the Wynn Buffet, (IMHO the best buffet in town). 

New this year is the Town Square Marketplace, a shopping, eating and entertainment district a 10 minute drive/cab ride from most hotels on the strip. Blue Martini is the new cool place for happy hour for local twentysomethings.

Bargains: The few edible meal bargains left in Vegas are off-strip. My faves are both at the Hard Rock Hotel: : The $7.77 Steak and Shrimp (ask for it – not on the menu) at Mr Lucky’s, and happy hour 5-7 in the Pink Taco, 2-for-1 drinks and appetizers.

SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS:
Lots of healthy food at the several Trader Joe's and two Whole Foods Markets in town.  Also many products for special diets: Parve, Halal, Vegetarian, you name it....There is a new Whole Foods Market on the Strip, at the new Town Square Marketplace, a 10 minute drive/cab ride from most hotels on the strip.  Lots of very good, healthy, reasonably priced (for Vegas anyway) prepared foods.  The closest alternative is Albertsons on Flamingo.  Should be no more than 5 minutes by cab in normal traffic.

DESSERT:
The best dessert in Vegas is at the patisserie in the Bellagio. And the floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain is worth a visit. The white chocolate cheesecake is my favorite. The second best is across the street at the Paris hotel Patisserie.

ROOM SUPPLIES:
There are ABC stores hidden in a few malls around the strip, otherwise the CVS and Walgreen’s pharmacies are down by the Monte Carlo Hotel. all have reasonable prices on bottled water, etc, and the pharmacies are open 24 hours a day.

PARTY SUPPLIES:
Lee’s Discount Liquors south of the airport on Vegas Boulevardis the best and closest place.

GEEK SUPPLIES:
Yes, Vegas has a Fry’s. If you don’t know what that is, it’s an amazing, huge and fairly cheap electronics superstore. If you can’t find it there it probably doesn’t exist in the retail world…..I call it Nerdvana….

Hope that helps!  Have Fun!  Leave comments of you have specific questions!

This guide is in it's fourth year!  Thanks to all who provided suggestions and feedback.

Here's my advice on what to do and what not to do in Vegas during CES 2009.  I  thought I should add my .02 as I’m a rare breed – a middle aged, married IT professional living in Las Vegas that is not employed by the gaming industry. So here are my biased, subjective tips for CES geeks in Vegas.

CES TIPS:
Best parts to Visit: The show is huge, so you probably won't see everything.  The Sands is where it’s at in terms of cool stuff to see, in the “Innovations Plus” section. Other than that, Hall S3 and S4 (upstairs in the South building, farthest from the Hilton) and the Hilton booths house all the little startup companies from Asia and Eastern Europe and elsewhere, not cool enough for an Innovations Plus booth - yet. I usually start at Innovations Plus, then move on to the Hilton, then S3 and S4, then work my way downstairs and north through the main halls (mostly car audio and TVs) if I have time.

CES Flu: It seems that every year more and more people get sick during and/or after CES with a nasty flu.  I've had the last two years, and it's not good - lasted about a month each time.  I took Airborne last year, and drank planty of fluids and got plenty of sleep, and still got it.  I've been taking Oscillococcinum when travelling lately and swear by it, I'll be taking it each day I visit the show.  I'll let you know how it goes....

Swag: Don’t bring a bag to the show if you can avoid it, they have swag bags all over the place if you need one.

Water - buy water and drink it wherever you can.  It's winter, but it's still the desert. And the convention halls are very dry.  Avoid alcohol and caffeine when you can as they dry you out.  For the uninitiated, note that a lightheaded feeling, headaches and even nosebleeds can be signs of dehydration.

Jacket - If you plan to be outdoors, it gets cold in winter here.  In the last few years it has even snowed during CES week.  But don’t bring a coat or jacket inside the show. It’s hot in there. Alternatively, there are coat checks in the main hall.

Footwear: Good shoes are essential, the concrete floors suck the life energy out of your feet.

Best free stuff: The XM Satellite Radio booth usually has concerts, comfortable seating, and free Starbucks in the morning. 

Coffee: There's a full-service Starbucks in the main hall, just outside the XM radio booth.

Best onsite food: there’s an Indian food stall around Hall S3.

STAYING CONNECTED

Almost all hotels in Vegas have Wifi now, for a fee.  Also, lots of open hotspots on the show floor, and the Renaissance Las Vegas, next to the convention center has free Wifi for guests. 
The Vegas Airport (McCarran) has Free Wifi.
Other than that, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, It's a grind coffee house, Panera Bread and Krispy Kreme have free Wifi.

Off-hours CES: Vegas Tips:

Sadly this year, the the PodTech Bloghaus is no more.  Haven't heard if there's a replacement.  I'm still looking forward to hanging out at and the Blogger Reception. Also, here's a list of a few more events.  If this is not for you, or you just want to get away and experience a bit of Vegas, and you haven’t been invited to the myriad (that's right, myriad!) CES parties taking over all the cool bars in town, here are my tips: 

SIGHTS

-Museums - Las Vegas pays a lot of money to import culture.  Sadly, this year the Guggenheim closed. Still open are the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and the Wynn Museum (No link to that one.  Note again to Steve Wynn - summarizing what I said lin years past - fix your crappy Web site!).
-Bellagio Fountain and conservatory, and the chocolate fountain behind the conservatory
-Paris Eiffel tower replica
-Weird little robotic show outside the Cheesecake factory in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops (Vegas for Mall)
-For Hemingway (and cigar) fans, a pretty good replica of La Floridita at Casa Fuentes in the Forum Shops.  Have a Daiquiri and a Faux Cuban and take in the sights on the strip below.
-Wynn hotel's free water show - best at night
-Browsing rock memorabilia at the Hard Rock Hotel
-Fake Canal at the Venetian, and for Casino Geeks, the Palazzo Tower is open, but many of the original bars are already closed.  The new Planet Hollywood (the old Aladdin) is now fully refurbished and open.
-Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace - Free coupons all over the place out front.  Amazing Cars
-Free evening "Sirens" Show at Treasure Island
-Just walking up and down the strip and taking it all in.

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE:

About Gambling:
Please do Gamble.  What happens in Vegas...Pays my Taxes!
Q: How do you make a small fortune in Vegas?
A: Start with a large one.

SHOWS:
If you see one show, make it "O" at the Bellagio or my second choice, Love at the Mirage.  Both are expensive, and worth every penny.  BTW, for next year - Cirque show reservations can be canceled with a full refund with 48 hours notice.

GEEK BARS:
There are a few bars in town who are using new technology and displays to create some pretty fun and interesting electronic experiences as part of their lounge features.  Many are in the VIP areas, so you may have to shell out a lot.  And if you're going to do that, you should invite me along to um, show you around or something....

Revolution Lounge at the Mirage
Perhaps Revolution's most novel embellishment is its clutch of interactive tables, where patrons can take an ashtray or a cocktail glass and sketch designs on the tabletop from a series of different motifs projected onto the glass, from squirming jellyfish to fluttering butterflies.The images are then projected on a large column in the middle of the room.

Tabu nightclub at the MGM Grand
Wave a hand above a black-and-white image of a woman's pursed lips on the table top and the area below your hand turns to color. Other tables appear littered with dozens of paper clips that scatter to other parts of the surface when an object passes over them. Yet another table is decorated with a fairly plain motif, until an item -- say, a drink -- is placed on it. At that, a Lord of the Rings-style circle of fire surrounds the object.

Eyecandy sound lounge & bar at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
Featuring interactive touch tables exclusively for eyecandy sound lounge, this groundbreaking technology allows guests to be in control of their nightlife experience all from the comfort of their booth. Using interactive, multi-touch tables, guests can create visuals and messaging as well as project images onto screens above the dance floor. This high-tech table technology allows guests to create and control the visual and audio environment, becoming part of the sensory experience, where each night has a unique vibe.

Windows Surface at iBar at the Rio Hotel
With the unique interaction that Microsoft Surface enables, Harrah’s has created an innovative suite of custom applications to provide guests with hip new ways to create their very own ultimate entertainment experience in an ultra-lounge venue.

Lastly, if it's not already cold enough in Vegas, you can freeze at Minus 5 Bar at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
It's not really as high-tech as the others, but definitely has geek appeal....

BEST NON-VEGAS EXPERIENCES
Helicopter tours of the grand canyon.  Maverick is the best operator.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is now open.
The Valley of Fire is an amazing place.
Closer to Vegas, Red Rock Canyon is worth catching at sunrise, like Tony Soprano did.  Peyote optional.

DRINKS:

I like the Nine Fine Irishmen Pub in the New York New York. A great live Celtic band starts at 9, and they have live step dancers!

MIX in the Mandalay bay is a cool choice, with a great view of the strip, and free before 10, after that everyone is herded around into standing-only pens unless they want to buy bottle service.

For sports bars, I like the one at the Bellagio or the Wynn, or Blondie’s in the Mall behind Planet Hollywood.

FOOD:
The Las Vegas Strip is a great case study on the meaning of expensive vs. overpriced. However, there are some diamonds in the rough…..If you’re on expenses or just want to splash out, I recommend Bouchon at the Venetian or Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel.  Also anything by Michael Mina - Seablue for healthy seafood at the MGM Grand, and unhealthy but great seafood like the the lobster pie at Michael Mina restaurant at the Bellagio.

For a good meal moderately priced I like Nine Fine Irishman (the seafood chowder is amazing) in the New York New York, Café Ba Ba Reeba for tapas in the Fashion show mall, or the Wynn Buffet, (IMHO the best buffet in town). 

New this year is the Town Square Marketplace, a shopping, eating and entertainment district a 10 minute drive/cab ride from most hotels on the strip. Blue Martini is the new cool place for happy hour for local twentysomethings.

Bargains: The few edible meal bargains left in Vegas are off-strip. My faves are both at the Hard Rock Hotel: : The $7.77 Steak and Shrimp (ask for it – not on the menu) at Mr Lucky’s, and happy hour 5-7 in the Pink Taco, 2-for-1 drinks and appetizers.

SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS:
Lots of healthy food at the several Trader Joe's and two Whole Foods Markets in town.  Also many products for special diets: Parve, Halal, Vegetarian, you name it....There is a new Whole Foods Market on the Strip, at the new Town Square Marketplace, a 10 minute drive/cab ride from most hotels on the strip.  Lots of very good, healthy, reasonably priced (for Vegas anyway) prepared foods.  The closest alternative is Albertsons on Flamingo.  Should be no more than 5 minutes by cab in normal traffic.

DESSERT:
The best dessert in Vegas is at the patisserie in the Bellagio. And the floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain is worth a visit. The white chocolate cheesecake is my favorite. The second best is across the street at the Paris hotel Patisserie.

ROOM SUPPLIES:
There are ABC stores hidden in a few malls around the strip, otherwise the CVS and Walgreen’s pharmacies are down by the Monte Carlo Hotel. all have reasonable prices on bottled water, etc, and the pharmacies are open 24 hours a day.

PARTY SUPPLIES:
Lee’s Discount Liquors south of the airport on Vegas Boulevardis the best and closest place.

GEEK SUPPLIES:
Yes, Vegas has a Fry’s. If you don’t know what that is, it’s an amazing, huge and fairly cheap electronics superstore. If you can’t find it there it probably doesn’t exist in the retail world…..I call it Nerdvana….

Hope that helps!  Have Fun!  Leave comments of you have specific questions!