Built at a cost of $630 million – chump change for current Vegas economics, but the most expensive project at the time – The Mirage was the original mega-resort. It was something entirely new. In fact, the concept of the resort was anathema and developer Steve Wynn was largely viewed by his peers as making a massive mistake. The property was so large and so audacious it needed to pull in more than $1 million a day just to break even.

Of course you know the rest of the story; The Mirage was an unmitigated success, kicking off an incredible building boom that hasn’t stopped. Las Vegas is now home to countless mega resorts, but without The Mirage who knows what Las Vegas would be like today.

And since nothing is sacrosanct in this town, even the one that started it all has to keep up with the times. Several years ago this property was starting to lose its luster as other bigger, newer resorts started to encroach on its fabled territory. Now The Mirage has been almost entirely reconceived and been turned into one of the most modern and exciting resorts on The Strip.

The Mirage is known for its towering volcano hovering over a lagoon that greets guests by spewing smoke and fire into the air hourly from 6 pm to midnight. But once inside, it’s a tropical getaway. There’s a 20,000-gallon artificial coral reef aquarium stocked with tropical fish behind the registration guest and a lobby atrium with tropical flowers, palm trees and waterfalls serving as the entranceway to the main part of the resort.

Probably the most exciting change here was the debut of LOVE, a new production from Cirque du Soleil. An homage to The Beatles, the show was created in conjunction with Apple Corps Ltd. Utilizing new arrangements from their extensive catalog, the music serves as a dramatic soundscape for the multi-sensory production.

After the show, suggest a visit to The Beatles REVOLUTION Lounge. Based on the band’s aesthetic from the Sgt. Pepper era, this place has 30,000 dichroic light reflecting crystals on the ceiling and has the world’s coolest tabletops. They are interactive, meaning you can create artwork and then fling it to a diamond shaped column in the center of the lounge for all to see.

With its debut last fall, Japonais has set a new standard for progressive Japanese cuisine. Originally from Chicago, this new addition at The Mirage is a masterful blend of French technique fused with clean and simple Japanese ingredients. Japonais offers an extensive menu that includes terrific cuts of sushi – the creamy toro melts away – and much more. Recommend the Spicy Mono, a spicy octopus roll topped with spicy tuna tartare and sweet unagi sauce; Tuna Tuna Salmon, delicate salmon tartare graced with sliced tuna, avocado sauce and wasabi tobiko sauce, or the Crispy Shrimp and Salmon, a crispy panko shrimp roll topped with marinated salmon sashimi and wasabi tobiko sauce. There is an extensive sake menu too, which is worth multiple visits. Call (702) 792-7979 for reservations.

STACK Restaurant & Bar is firmly rooted in American tastes and cooking techniques. While the food is top quality, the chefs don’t take the menu too seriously, adding cheeky touches throughout. Take the adult tater tots for example, which inject bacon and brie into this childhood classic. Crunchy tuna tacos with a mango-wasabi mojo use a wonton wrap for the shell, creating the perfect balance of texture and flavor. The steaks, such as the 24 ounce Cowboy rib eye, are as sumptuous as they are filling. Make sure to suggest tasting a signature cocktail as well. They’ve been handcrafted by renowned mixoligists. Call (702) 792-7800 or www.stacklasvegas.com.

Other restaurants include Fin, a high-end Chinese restaurant featuring authentic Chinese dishes in a contemporary setting, kokomo’s, which serves steaks and seafood and the Samba Brazilian Steakhouse, which serves endless amounts of skewered meats served tableside. Onda Ristorante concentrates on classic regional dishes of Italy, as well as American cuisine, while their Wine Lounge features a weekly wine tasting every Friday.

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