Software Soapbox

Last Day to Register for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 is tomorrow!

Register Here: http://cesweb.org/

CES show attendance rebounds after dip in 2009

via Yahoo! News.

According to preliminary figures, The International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had more than 120,000 attendees last week, the Consumer Electronics Association said Monday. Its preliminary figures are usually within a few thousand of the final, audited figures. In 2008, 141,150 people attended the annual show at the enormous Las Vegas Convention Center. Then the figure dropped sharply last year to 113,085, as the recession coincided with raised registration fees intended to keep out gawkers with no connection to the industry.

Useful, useless and unusual at US gadget show

via Yahoo! News.

Sharing space in the cavernous halls at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with snazzy new electronic readers, tablet computers and 3-D televisions were scores of other items -- both high- and low-tech.

Attention CES Exhibitors! Donate your leftover materials to Greener Vegas

Many wonder what happens to all the stuff that fills the CES convention halls.  Well, the sad truth is that much of it gets thrown away.  However, CES exhibitors should call Greener Vegas before they just throw stuff out - much of it can be used in local Las Vegas classrooms and nonprofit organizations.  The effort is much needed and much appreciated! 

2010 CES Twitter Session Details

I'll be here:

Tens of millions of consumers are Twittering like crazy about their activities, their interests, and yes, their consumer electronics purchases. The Parnassus Group, host of the Twitter Conferences, will bring to the stage real-world examples of companies taking full advantage of this new social media platform.

2010 CES Up Next

Up Next At CES

Up Next at CES is a special series of sessions that cuts through the new media hype and gets down to business, presenting real-world strategies for monetizing media content across the most promising platforms. From Smartphones to broadband-enabled HDTV sets, consumer electronics are a vital part of that value chain. UP NEXT is where you'll see the best creative, business and technical talent share and compare the smartest ways to produce, promote and profit from media content.

Stan Lee will be at at CES

YouTube - Stan Lee on Marvell Semiconductor.

The Geek's Guide to Las Vegas for CES 2010 - 5th Annual Edition!

This guide is in it's fifth 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 2010, from my perspective as a Las Vegas resident, IT professional, and CES veteran. 

This just in - CES publishes their own Tips page too.

FIRST THINGS FIRST  - Flights, rooms, getting around

Getting to Vegas:

Flights - A few options rise above the crowd this year - my new favorite airline Virgin America has direct flights from the Bay Area and New York, Southwest has good deals from everywhere else.  British Airways has a new direct flight from Heathrow.

Cars: Hertz often has one-way deals to Vegas.  Or try VroomVroomVroom, a great improvement over the usual online car booking experience.  Road Trip!

Orientation: There are two main convention centers in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Convention Center. Most of CES 2010 is in the huge Las Vegas Convention Center, located on Paradise Road and Desert Inn.  The Sands Convention Center is attached to the Venetian and Palazzo Hotels on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard ("The Strip") and Spring Mountain Road.  Note that in years past the Sands Convention Center has hosted exhibits for CES, but not this year, though there are some exhibits in the attached Venetian Hotel.

Last Minute rooms - There appear to be plenty of last-minute deals on rooms this year.  A quick search of hotels online show rooms just about everywhere - a couple of years ago this would not have been the case. Earlyvegas is a great place to look for last-minute deals - they track hotel promo codes and link directly to the hotel Web sites for the best deals.

If you like really good deals and can stand that new-hotel room smell, new towers at the Hard Rock Hotel, the Palms, Planet Hollywood and a few hotels at CityCenter just opened and have pretty good deals.  Extra Super Bonus:  The Palms Place tower, The HRH Towers at the hard rock, Planet Hollywood Westgate, and some of the places at City Center were supposed to be Condos, but did not sell, so they're bigger than normal hotel rooms, and many come with full kitchens.  Ask when booking.

For location, the Las Vegas Hilton is attached to the Las Vegas convention center.  The Venetian and Palazzo hotels are the hotels on the strip that are closest to the action (others are closer, but not on the strip).  The Venetian has some CES exhibitors and events (and the Annual Adult Entertainment Expo at the attached Sands Convention Center- fair warning! :).  It's a 10-20 minute free shuttle bus ride or 10 minutes/$10 away by taxi (depending on traffic and the boarding line) to the main convention center .  The Wynn, the new Wynn Encore Tower, The Trump Hotel and the Treasure Island are all 5 minutes walk from the Venetian.  The Wynn is great, the Encore is brand new, The trump tower is converted condos so the rooms are big, and Treasure Island is older but cheaper than the other options.

For those of you who can't stand smoke and/or hate walking though a casino to get to your room, the Palms Place Tower and The Trump Hotel are completely non-smoking and non-gaming (but the Palms Place is connected to the regular tower and Casino via a walkway). 

Last year I was asked where I would stay  - if I were to book a room for CES, it would probably be at the Hard Rock Hotel.  They are off the strip and closer to the convention center than most strip hotels (5-10 minutes), and have very reasonable rates and great rooms.  Plus this year they have a new spa and tower, good restaurants and bars, and in general I just really like their style.

Getting Around:

Official CES buses: There are shuttle buses to CES from many hotels and every 10 minutes from the Venetian.

Cars are still king in Vegas.  Parking at Casinos is free and plentiful, or tip the valet a buck not to be on bad valet.  the "Gold" Convention center parking across the street from the main entrance costs about $10, and I've had no problems finding spots for the last five years: Hertz has good deals directly, or try VroomVroomVroom for a good overview of all options. 

Note that a new car rental center opened off-airport this year, so you take the yellow buses marked "rental center" to pick up all cars (individual rental company buses are no more).

Taxis are plentiful.  They will get you between the convention center and most strip hotels and elsewhere for $15-$20 each way.  From the airport to a strip hotel is $15-30.  Both depending on traffic, and the mood and "initiative" of your driver. 

Note that the length of the efficient but inevitably overwhelmed CES airport and convention center taxi lines are legendary, but shorter lately.

The Monorail is a good bet of you are staying (or parking) at the MGM Grand, Paris/Ballys, Flamingo, Harrah's or the Sahara, as there is a stop right at the convention center.  Buy a return or multi-day pass, as the ticket booths on-site are backed-up for the evening outbound rush back to the hotels.

The Deuce double decker buses that run on the strip are an option, but are mostly fun options for tourists and therefore not too efficient at getting you around.  You're in Vegas on business, remember?  Fun trivia fact - most public buses in Las Vegas have free wifi.

Limousines are more reasonably priced than you think.  Cost per person from the airport can be similar to taxis for three or more people, and some limos are on call by the hour if you need it during the conference.  Bell Trans and Ambassador are reliable options.

For larger groups, rent a Double Decker Bristol.  And invite me. 

CES TIPS:

Best parts to Visit: The show is huge, so you probably won't see everything, even if you stay all four days.  Use the great online CES planning tools like My CES.  Also, keep track of CES events and updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr.  The new CES Social Circle is supposed to be active soon as well.

If you don't have a plan after all that, start at the the “Innovations” section and work your way out from there. 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.  ANd that was before H1N1....I've caught a bad one last two years, and it lasted about a month each time.  I took Airborne last year, and drank plenty of fluids and got plenty of sleep, and still got it.  I'm taking Oscillococcinum (this stuff works!) and bringing Purell, lots and lots of Purell....

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 around CES week.  But don’t bring a coat or jacket inside the show. It’s hot in there. There are coat checks in the main hall.

Footwear: Good shoes are essential, the walking distances are huge and concrete floors suck the life energy out of your feet.  And if you have new shoes, break them in before you get here.

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.

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 and the nearby Residence Inn Convention Center have free Wifi for guests.  Also, the Vegas Airport (McCarran) has Free Wifi.  Here's a list of other open Wifi Hotspots in Vegas.

Off-hours CES: Vegas Tips:

This year I'm looking forward to hanging out at the annual It Won't stay in Vegas event and the International Tweetup.

Most large Vendors (especially Intel and Monster Cable) have parties, concerts and events most nights, and there are several awards events and industry receptions.  Keep your eyes open for invites!  

Otherwise, if you want to get away from the conference and experience a bit of Vegas, here are my tips: 

SIGHTS

-Bellagio Fountain and conservatory, and the chocolate fountain behind the conservatory
-Ride to the top of the Paris Hotel Eiffel tower replica
-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.
-Weird little robotic show outside the Cheesecake factory in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops (Vegas for Mall)
-Wynn hotel's free water show - best at night
-Browsing rock memorabilia at the Hard Rock Hotel
-Fake Canal at the Venetian.
-Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace - Free coupons all over the place out front.  Amazing Cars and all for sale.
-Las Vegas pays a lot of money to import culture.  The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and the Wynn Museum are good bets, also there's a new row of Art galleries, cool fountains, and other new installations at CityCenter.
-Free evening "Sirens" Show at Treasure Island
-Just walking up and down the strip and taking it all in.

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE:

Las Vegas has 2 weekly entertainment magazines - check the Las Vegas Weekly and CityLife Web sites  for the latest info on concerts, comedy shows, etc.  Note that there are a lot of last-minute concerts and comedian shows in Vegas.

My favorite place these days: The Town Square Marketplace is a great shopping, eating and entertainment district a 15 minute drive/cab ride from most hotels on the strip, and right next door to Fry's electronics store. Very un-Vegas ambiance - walking distance to everything, no hotels, no gambling at all, and kind of feels like downtown Santa Barbara.  Lots of shops, a whole foods market with good, healthy eat-in and takeaway food, good restaurants, and a Rave Movie Theater.  Blue Martini is the new cool place for happy hour for local twentysomethings, and the Cadillac Ranch and Bar Louie are good too.   Amazing happy hour specials usually from about 3-6  The Yard house is there too, but food and drink specials rate a meh.  Lots of different kinds of beers, yes.

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.  And the new Cirque Show Viva Elvis just opened.  BTW, for next year - Cirque show reservations can be canceled with a full refund with 48 hours notice.

NIGHTCLUBS:
Pure, Tao, and The Bank are currently the fairest of them all.  Educate yourself about Bottle Service before you go.  Note that many clubs are closed for private CES receptions for at least the early evening, so call ahead.

Breaking news!  BB King just opened a Blues Bar at the Mirage - pretty cool place.  Great bands.,  BB King is a resident of Vegas, and played New Year's Eve.  So he's probably in town.  Maybe the CES crowds will draw him out.  Here's hoping!

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.

Minus 5 Bar at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
if it's not already cold enough in Vegas, you can freeze at this place.  If you don't want to go though the whole experience of putting on the jacket and sitting in ice chairs at an ice table, you can just have a drink in an ice glass in the bar next door.

SPAS:
You don't have to buy a massage or treatment to experience a Vegas Spa.  All Vegas Spas have reasonably priced day passes, which include access to all Spa facilities, usually including the gym (and outdoor pool, but it's too cold for that), robes, slippers/sandals, lockers, refreshments, and are well worth the experience. Qua at Caesars palace is the best.  It has a snow room!  I also like the small but very good Drift Spa and Hammam at the Palms Place Tower.  Other well rated Spas are at the Wynn Encore, Mandalay Bay, and the Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian.

OTHER 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.
Vegas has a small but accessible and fun Ski Resort.  Bet you didn't know that.
There are several tourist gun ranges.  You know you want to.  Good Automatic Weapons packages here.

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.  Emeril Lagasse has a new sports bar in Jay-Z's old club at the Palazzo, called Lagasse's Stadium.

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). 

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 10-15 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 5-10 minutes drive/cab ride in normal traffic from the strip.

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 in the Venetian: the Bouchon walk-up pastry outlet under the escalators across from the Phantom of the opera theater entrance  Also great gelato in the food court nearby.

There's also a good CES food guide at BakeSpace, but I don't agree with all the recommendations - especially Pampas at Planet Hollywood.

ROOM SUPPLIES:
There are ABC stores hidden in a few malls around the strip, otherwise the 24 hour CVS and Walgreen’s pharmacies are next to CityCenter and between the Palazzo and the Venetian. All have reasonable prices on bottled water, etc, and the cheapest and tackiest souvenirs in Vegas.

PARTY SUPPLIES:
Lee’s Discount Liquors south of the airport on Vegas Boulevard is the best and closest place  Great prices.

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!

FIRST THINGS FIRST  - Flights, rooms, getting around

Getting to Vegas:

Flights - A few options rise above the crowd this year - my new favorite airline Virgin America has direct flights from the Bay Area and New York, Southwest has good deals from everywhere else.  British Airways has a new direct flight from Heathrow.

Cars: Hertz often has one-way deals to Vegas.  Or try VroomVroomVroom, a great improvement over the usual online car booking experience.  Road Trip!

Orientation: There are two main convention centers in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Convention Center. Most of CES 2010 is in the huge Las Vegas Convention Center, located on Paradise Road and Desert Inn.  The Sands Convention Center is attached to the Venetian and Palazzo Hotels on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard ("The Strip") and Spring Mountain Road.  Note that in years past the Sands Convention Center has hosted exhibits for CES, but not this year, though there are some exhibits in the attached Venetian Hotel.

Last Minute rooms - There appear to be plenty of last-minute deals on rooms this year.  A quick search of hotels online show rooms just about everywhere - a couple of years ago this would not have been the case. Earlyvegas is a great place to look for last-minute deals - they track hotel promo codes and link directly to the hotel Web sites for the best deals.

If you like really good deals and can stand that new-hotel room smell, new towers at the Hard Rock Hotel, the Palms, Planet Hollywood and a few hotels at CityCenter just opened and have pretty good deals.  Extra Super Bonus:  The Palms Place tower, The HRH Towers at the hard rock, Planet Hollywood Westgate, and some of the places at City Center were supposed to be Condos, but did not sell, so they're bigger than normal hotel rooms, and many come with full kitchens.  Ask when booking.

For location, the Las Vegas Hilton is attached to the Las Vegas convention center.  The Venetian and Palazzo hotels are the hotels on the strip that are closest to the action (others are closer, but not on the strip).  The Venetian has some CES exhibitors and events (and the Annual Adult Entertainment Expo at the attached Sands Convention Center- fair warning! :).  It's a 10-20 minute free shuttle bus ride or 10 minutes/$10 away by taxi (depending on traffic and the boarding line) to the main convention center .  The Wynn, the new Wynn Encore Tower, The Trump Hotel and the Treasure Island are all 5 minutes walk from the Venetian.  The Wynn is great, the Encore is brand new, The trump tower is converted condos so the rooms are big, and Treasure Island is older but cheaper than the other options.

For those of you who can't stand smoke and/or hate walking though a casino to get to your room, the Palms Place Tower and The Trump Hotel are completely non-smoking and non-gaming (but the Palms Place is connected to the regular tower and Casino via a walkway). 

Last year I was asked where I would stay  - if I were to book a room for CES, it would probably be at the Hard Rock Hotel.  They are off the strip and closer to the convention center than most strip hotels (5-10 minutes), and have very reasonable rates and great rooms.  Plus this year they have a new spa and tower, good restaurants and bars, and in general I just really like their style.

Getting Around:

Official CES buses: There are shuttle buses to CES from many hotels and every 10 minutes from the Venetian.

Cars are still king in Vegas.  Parking at Casinos is free and plentiful, or tip the valet a buck not to be on bad valet.  the "Gold" Convention center parking across the street from the main entrance costs about $10, and I've had no problems finding spots for the last five years: Hertz has good deals directly, or try VroomVroomVroom for a good overview of all options. 

Note that a new car rental center opened off-airport this year, so you take the yellow buses marked "rental center" to pick up all cars (individual rental company buses are no more).

Taxis are plentiful.  They will get you between the convention center and most strip hotels and elsewhere for $15-$20 each way.  From the airport to a strip hotel is $15-30.  Both depending on traffic, and the mood and "initiative" of your driver. 

Note that the length of the efficient but inevitably overwhelmed CES airport and convention center taxi lines are legendary, but shorter lately.

The Monorail is a good bet of you are staying (or parking) at the MGM Grand, Paris/Ballys, Flamingo, Harrah's or the Sahara, as there is a stop right at the convention center.  Buy a return or multi-day pass, as the ticket booths on-site are backed-up for the evening outbound rush back to the hotels.

The Deuce double decker buses that run on the strip are an option, but are mostly fun options for tourists and therefore not too efficient at getting you around.  You're in Vegas on business, remember?  Fun trivia fact - most public buses in Las Vegas have free wifi.

Limousines are more reasonably priced than you think.  Cost per person from the airport can be similar to taxis for three or more people, and some limos are on call by the hour if you need it during the conference.  Bell Trans and Ambassador are reliable options.

For larger groups, rent a Double Decker Bristol.  And invite me. 

CES TIPS:

Best parts to Visit: The show is huge, so you probably won't see everything, even if you stay all four days.  Use the great online CES planning tools like My CES.  Also, keep track of CES events and updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr.  The new CES Social Circle is supposed to be active soon as well.

If you don't have a plan after all that, start at the the “Innovations” section and work your way out from there. 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.  ANd that was before H1N1....I've caught a bad one last two years, and it lasted about a month each time.  I took Airborne last year, and drank plenty of fluids and got plenty of sleep, and still got it.  I'm taking Oscillococcinum (this stuff works!) and bringing Purell, lots and lots of Purell....

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 around CES week.  But don’t bring a coat or jacket inside the show. It’s hot in there. There are coat checks in the main hall.

Footwear: Good shoes are essential, the walking distances are huge and concrete floors suck the life energy out of your feet.  And if you have new shoes, break them in before you get here.

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.

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 and the nearby Residence Inn Convention Center have free Wifi for guests.  Also, the Vegas Airport (McCarran) has Free Wifi.  Here's a list of other open Wifi Hotspots in Vegas.

Off-hours CES: Vegas Tips:

This year I'm looking forward to hanging out at the annual It Won't stay in Vegas event and the International Tweetup.

Most large Vendors (especially Intel and Monster Cable) have parties, concerts and events most nights, and there are several awards events and industry receptions.  Keep your eyes open for invites!  

Otherwise, if you want to get away from the conference and experience a bit of Vegas, here are my tips: 

SIGHTS

-Bellagio Fountain and conservatory, and the chocolate fountain behind the conservatory
-Ride to the top of the Paris Hotel Eiffel tower replica
-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.
-Weird little robotic show outside the Cheesecake factory in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops (Vegas for Mall)
-Wynn hotel's free water show - best at night
-Browsing rock memorabilia at the Hard Rock Hotel
-Fake Canal at the Venetian.
-Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace - Free coupons all over the place out front.  Amazing Cars and all for sale.
-Las Vegas pays a lot of money to import culture.  The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and the Wynn Museum are good bets, also there's a new row of Art galleries, cool fountains, and other new installations at CityCenter.
-Free evening "Sirens" Show at Treasure Island
-Just walking up and down the strip and taking it all in.

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE:

Las Vegas has 2 weekly entertainment magazines - check the Las Vegas Weekly and CityLife Web sites  for the latest info on concerts, comedy shows, etc.  Note that there are a lot of last-minute concerts and comedian shows in Vegas.

My favorite place these days: The Town Square Marketplace is a great shopping, eating and entertainment district a 15 minute drive/cab ride from most hotels on the strip, and right next door to Fry's electronics store. Very un-Vegas ambiance - walking distance to everything, no hotels, no gambling at all, and kind of feels like downtown Santa Barbara.  Lots of shops, a whole foods market with good, healthy eat-in and takeaway food, good restaurants, and a Rave Movie Theater.  Blue Martini is the new cool place for happy hour for local twentysomethings, and the Cadillac Ranch and Bar Louie are good too.   Amazing happy hour specials usually from about 3-6  The Yard house is there too, but food and drink specials rate a meh.  Lots of different kinds of beers, yes.

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.  And the new Cirque Show Viva Elvis just opened.  BTW, for next year - Cirque show reservations can be canceled with a full refund with 48 hours notice.

NIGHTCLUBS:
Pure, Tao, and The Bank are currently the fairest of them all.  Educate yourself about Bottle Service before you go.  Note that many clubs are closed for private CES receptions for at least the early evening, so call ahead.

Breaking news!  BB King just opened a Blues Bar at the Mirage - pretty cool place.  Great bands.,  BB King is a resident of Vegas, and played New Year's Eve.  So he's probably in town.  Maybe the CES crowds will draw him out.  Here's hoping!

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.

Minus 5 Bar at the Mandalay Bay Hotel
if it's not already cold enough in Vegas, you can freeze at this place.  If you don't want to go though the whole experience of putting on the jacket and sitting in ice chairs at an ice table, you can just have a drink in an ice glass in the bar next door.

SPAS:
You don't have to buy a massage or treatment to experience a Vegas Spa.  All Vegas Spas have reasonably priced day passes, which include access to all Spa facilities, usually including the gym (and outdoor pool, but it's too cold for that), robes, slippers/sandals, lockers, refreshments, and are well worth the experience. Qua at Caesars palace is the best.  It has a snow room!  I also like the small but very good Drift Spa and Hammam at the Palms Place Tower.  Other well rated Spas are at the Wynn Encore, Mandalay Bay, and the Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian.

OTHER 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.
Vegas has a small but accessible and fun Ski Resort.  Bet you didn't know that.
There are several tourist gun ranges.  You know you want to.  Good Automatic Weapons packages here.

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.  Emeril Lagasse has a new sports bar in Jay-Z's old club at the Palazzo, called Lagasse's Stadium.

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). 

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 10-15 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 5-10 minutes drive/cab ride in normal traffic from the strip.

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 in the Venetian: the Bouchon walk-up pastry outlet under the escalators across from the Phantom of the opera theater entrance  Also great gelato in the food court nearby.

There's also a good CES food guide at BakeSpace, but I don't agree with all the recommendations - especially Pampas at Planet Hollywood.

ROOM SUPPLIES:
There are ABC stores hidden in a few malls around the strip, otherwise the 24 hour CVS and Walgreen’s pharmacies are next to CityCenter and between the Palazzo and the Venetian. All have reasonable prices on bottled water, etc, and the cheapest and tackiest souvenirs in Vegas.

PARTY SUPPLIES:
Lee’s Discount Liquors south of the airport on Vegas Boulevard is the best and closest place  Great prices.

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!

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!

Las Vegas offers surprise hotel bargains for CES

via Reuters via Yahoo! Tech.

With just two months to go before the January 8-11 show, hotel rooms on the Strip are usually sold out by now. But this year, rooms are not only still available but rates are doing the improbable: falling.