A
Wynn-Wynn Vacation
by
Jason Cogan
Leave it
only to Steve Wynn to outdo Steve Wynn. Sheree Bykofsky and I recently had
the pleasure of spending a long three-day weekend at the fabulous Encore
hotel. Since both of us are
poker players, we are used to seeing luxurious hotels and casinos.
But Steve Wynn has once again reset the bar in casino luxury and
design.
Metamorphosis is the idea that inspired the hotel’s designer Roger Thomas to
infuse the hotel with butterfly designs.
Butterfly mosaics swarm the floor, the Swarovski crystal, the lavish
ceiling, and the roof itself.
As you experience Encore, you will not only feast in color, movement and
entertainment, but you will feel the transformation in yourself from
stressed to relaxed, from lethargic to energized, and from jostled to
pampered. The Encore is not only decorated with crystal butterflies; it is a
butterfly itself.
We began
our Encore experience when we arrived in a taxi from the airport after our
five-hour flight from the east coast. Magnolias from North Carolina
line the drive, and Wynn seems to pour out millions of dollars from his
casino each day just to keep the flowers and horticulture in bloom.
Our valet graciously welcomed us to “The Encore,” and we began our
love affair with this lavish but comfortable hotel.
When you arrive you walk into an indoor space that feels outdoors,
because you can see the trees and serene pool in the courtyard—and the lobby
is filled with exotic flora and fauna from around the world. Unlike most
casinos designed to confuse you, the Encore sits under a canopy of natural
skylight, allowing you to feel oriented and not lost.
 Check-in was smooth, and we
were whisked away to our suite.
The simplest suites at Encore have luxurious couches situated near
floor-to-ceiling windows. Our
suite had a stimulating view of the strip, but another suite where our
friends were staying had a stunning vista of the Vegas mountains.
Each suite has a 35-inch flat screen TV that could be seen from the
bedroom, living area, and the oversized bathroom.
We got a lot of use out of our large soaking tub, and the separate
shower with plush towels also came in handy after a vigorous workout in
Encore’s magnificently appointed gym with tons of state-of-the-art
equipment.
As for
the bed itself, Wynn’s famous down-covered signature bed and smooth cotton
bedding almost made sleep the only thing we desired when we slipped under
the covers. A console near the
bed allowed us to open and close the drapes and control the lighting without
leaving the comfort of the sheets. We also toured the palatial tower
suites, which were in such high demand that Wynn went ahead and constructed
twice as many as originally intended.
Fortunate guests staying in these two-story villas enter through an
exclusive lobby that would awe even the most jaded billionaire, and they are
treated to all the traditional Wynn luxury on an even grander scale.
 After relaxing in the room,
we were off to unwind in Encore’s unrivaled spa.
The Encore Spa is off the hook, with every imaginable treatment.
Wynn treats his guests to a magical blend of wading pools, heated
chairs, and soothing transcendental music.
We both fell asleep after our treatments, and awoke with an almost
spiritual glow washing over us. It was tempting to spend all of our time in
this oasis. But when hunger calls…
 Refreshed and relaxed from
our time in the spa, we eagerly sampled some of Encore’s culinary delights.
The restaurant Wazuzu has a 27-foot crystal dragon that presides over
an Asian wonderland; the menu includes delectable dishes from China, Japan
and Thailand. If you want to experience a true gastronomic sensation,
have your dinner prepared by the famous five-star chef himself at Daniel
Boulud’s Brasserie. As with all of Wynn’s namesake chef restaurants, Daniel
Boulud shows up everyday to prepare your meals for you.
It’s not even unusual to sit next to Mr. Wynn himself, as we did, at
Sinatra’s. The restaurant is of
course named for Mr. Wynn’s good friend, “Old Blue Eyes,” with images,
personal letters and Sinatra songs providing the backdrop for a total
Sinatra engagement. The cuisine is Italian—but Ossobuco and Veal
Milanese Italian and not Veal Parmigiana Italian. After finishing our meal,
we waved to Mr. Wynn and thanked him for a terrific experience.
 One of our most memorable
dinners was at Switch, a remarkable seafood restaurant that seems more like
an amusement park ride if Food Network were to have a theme park.
Every twenty minutes, the room itself performs a ballet, as dramatic
music heralds the ultimate transformation: walls move up and down, the
lighting changes, and the ceiling opens to reveal the extension of the
elaborate chandeliers. In the
course of an hour, the room becomes three entire different decors. The
only thing that doesn’t change is the food on your table, and thank goodness
for that!
 The retail area that
connects the Encore to the Wynn is as much fun to browse as it is to shop.
From Rock and Republic to Chanel, Wynn has stores on a scale that you
just can’t appreciate from the Esplanade.
Ceilings are cut.
Sculptures are encrusted with jewels, and stores do not reveal themselves at
a glance. We browsed for three
hours on Saturday afternoon, until Sheree finally broke down and bought
herself one of Wynn’s signature giant down pillows.
Things are not cheap at the Encore, but sometimes, you just have to
treat yourself.
 As for the gambling, the
Encore is fantastic for high stakes craps and slots.
Wynn definitely caters to his clientele, because the gambling has a
Monte Carlo feel to it. Not
wanting to lose too much, we kept our dice throwing to a minimum.
But there is nothing quite as exciting as seeing a box man push chips
your way and stacking them on the rail.
And the poker? Well,
Wynn sees to it that you make your way to the Wynn poker room, which was
alright by us. We love playing
there, and while the room is smaller than some, the action is always
fantastic. I found myself in a
juicy two five game, and luckily for relationship harmony, Sheree worked her
magic at an adjoining table.
Who won and who lost? Well,
let’s just say that together we walked away with more than we came.
Alas,
our three days in this Vegas paradise were up, and as Sunday evening
approached, we prepared to say goodbye to our temporary home.
We picked up our bags from the valet as they summoned us a taxi, and
made our way to the airport and back to the East Coast.
What a
pleasure to have experienced the metamorphosis that is Encore. True to its
name, the Encore certainly deserves a standing ovation.
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