Las Vegas News

First Look at Fontainebleau Rooms and Suites

/ Tim

With Fontainebleau Las Vegas inching closer to reality – a feat that once seemed impossible – the team of world-famous, blue-ribbon sleuths from the Five Hundy Investigative Center have been busier than ever. Fueled by Funyuns, OK Soda and Jason Isbell’s Weathervanes album, the sleuths acquired floorplan layouts of Fontainebleau’s rooms and suites.

Because this is an unofficial preview, room names and features are subject to change as Fontainebleau management fine-tunes its plans. With that in mind, here’s what’s in store for Fontainebleau’s guests.

Bleau Rooms

Standard rooms at Fontainebleau will be branded as Bleau rooms, available with either a single king bed or two queen beds. Bleau King rooms are a generous 488 square feet with Bleau Queen rooms slightly larger at 494 square feet. Restrooms include dual sinks, tub and separate shower. Bleau rooms will make up the majority of Fontainbleau’s room product with 1,255 Bleau Kings and 1,265 Bleau Queens available.

Bleau King
Bleau Queen

Gold Rooms

One step up from Bleau rooms are Gold rooms. Gold King rooms measure in at 545 square feet with Gold Queen rooms at 590 square feet. The Gold King bathroom skips the separate tub and shower in favor of a single Party Shower® that appears to include a healthy sprinkling of tile pubes. Weird.
Gold King
Pube Shower
Gold Queen rooms have a separate tub and shower in lieu of the pube-laden Party Shower®.
Gold Queen

Junior Suites

When standard rooms just don’t cut it, Fontainebleau has plenty of suite options, beginning with Junior Suites. At 896 square feet, Junior Suites include a single king bed, with a separate living room/salon area. The bathrooms include a tub and a Party Shower® (no pubes version).

Junior Suite

Platinum King Suites

Fontainebleau has appointed some of its triangular rooms as Platinum King Suites. The name sounds impressive but they’re smaller than Junior Suites at 660 square feet and have no tub. Good news though – Party Shower®.

Platinum King Suite

Royal Suites

Have you ever dreamed of being a prince, princess, king or queen? Well, the Royal Suites at Fontainebleau will make you feel like a member of an inbred family funded by taxpayers. At 936 square feet, Royal Suites include a king bed, separate salon living room, kitchenette and two bathrooms. The foyer bathroom includes a Party Shower®, and the primary bathroom includes a tub and shower.

Royal Suite

Noble Suites

Taking up the same amount of space as a Royal Suite but with a different layout, Noble Suites have similar features, including a kitchenette, salon and king bed. Again, two bathrooms but, alas, no Party Shower®. The foyer bathroom has a standard shower, and the primary bathroom includes a tub and a separate standard shower.

Noble Suite

Executive Suites

Are you a high-powered executive who demands hotel accommodations matching your executive stature? Well, Fontainebleau Las Vegas has just the suite for you. Executive Suites clock in at 1,138 square feet. Minimal space is wasted on the king bed because powerful executives like you don’t have time for sleep. Instead, you need ample room for deal-making. The dining area is perfect for entertaining clients or important meetings with your lowly minions. The neighboring salon includes a huge L-shaped couch, perfect for unwinding with a scotch on the rocks after a long day doing business things.

The bathroom layout in these 21 Executive Suites is a little kooky. It comes with two toilets – one for you and one for people not worthy of sitting on the same porcelain as you. Your bedroom-adjacent toilet, however, is detached from the rest of the bathroom. Fortunately, you won’t care because you have both a tub and a Party Shower®.

Executive Suite

Panorama Suites

Now we’re getting to the good stuff. At 1,651 square feet, Fontainebleau’s 45 Panorama Suites are huge. Upon entering, guests will want to relieve themselves in the foyer bathroom (toilet and sink only) before venturing down the suite’s long hallway. Along the way, they’ll find the bedroom with king bed and walk-in closet and primary bathroom with separate tub and shower. People who stay in rooms like this are far too classy for shower parties, thus no Party Shower®. Farther down the hallway is a dining room containing a sculpture or something similarly artsy to help fill the space. Finally, in the back corner, the Panorama Suite has a spacious salon with L-shaped and U-shaped couches.

Panorama Suite

Grand Panorama Suites

Fontainbleau tops off its suite selection with its 10 Grand Panorama Suites. At 2,022 square feet, this triangular suite includes a huge entertainment space, featuring a Gorgeous Pool Table®, bar, long-ass couch and several other seating options, along with a small dining space tucked into the corner. This suite includes a foyer bathroom with a toilet and sink, and a primary bathroom that includes a shower, oval tub and makeup counter, dual sinks and toilet.

Grand Panorama Suite

First Look at Circa Resort & Casino Bars

/ Tim

The world-famous, blue ribbon team of sleuths from the Five Hundy Investigative Center have been at it again. After holing up in a suburban Twin Cities underground lair for the past two weeks, our crew got their grubby little hands on yet another treasure trove of as-yet-unannounced Circa Resort & Casino details and renderings. This time around, let’s look at what’s in store for bars.

Circa Bar

Before even stepping foot into downtown’s newest casino, you’ll have the chance to get your booze on at Circa Bar. Because everybody loves a good Las Vegas dick measuring contest, this bar will be touted as the longest bar on Fremont Street. Grab a selection of 24 frozen cocktails or, if your palate has advanced beyond that of a 12-year-old, order your favorite beer or mixed drink.

Circa Bar

Vegas Vickie’s

If you’ve been to Circa’s website, you’ve already seen this beauty of a lobby bar, Vegas Vickie’s. Located just steps from the registration desk and the casino, this retro-styled bar with crushed velvet seats will provide a great place to meet friends under the watchful eye of every Vegas Nerd’s favorite cowgirl.

Vegas Vickies

Overhang Bar

The second-floor casino features Overhang Bar, so named because it overlooks the sports book. Also, Hangover Bar would be a little too spot-on. This bar will be open 24/7.

Overhang Bar

Mega Bar

You may have seen cropped renderings of the first-floor casino bar, but now it has a name – Mega Bar. This 24/7 bar is about 65 feet longer than The D’s Longbar, so Mega seems appropriate. Mega Bar includes 40 TVs that will air sporting events carefully curated by Circa’s experienced team of active content management professionals. Even better, Mega Bar will offer 120 beers on tap from two dozen different brands. Try all 120 and win a prize – cirrhosis of the liver.

Mega Bar

Legacy Club

Finally, we have the jewel at the top of Circa’s crown, Legacy Club. This rooftop cocktail lounge includes an outdoor terrace with a fire pit to cool you down on those warm summer nights. Like other Las Vegas bars with a view, cocktails prices will likely match the altitude, but so what? You’re on vacation in Las Vegas. Live a little.

Legacy Club

First Look at Circa Las Vegas Rooms and Suites

/ Tim

While we await the Circa Las Vegas opening date announcement (tomorrow), the world-famous, blue ribbon team of sleuths from the Five Hundy Investigative Center got their grubby little hands on a treasure trove of room and suite renderings. Here’s what Circa has in store for guests.

Standard Rooms

Standard rooms at Circa will be available in a bunch of options:

  • Single King (+ Single King Pool View and Single King Strip View)
  • Double King (+ Double King Pool View and Double King Strip View)
  • Flex King (+ Flex King Pool View and Flex King Strip View)
  • Entourage King

Each standard room includes a couch, dual vanity and walk-in shower, plus a mini-fridge, clothing steamer and hair dryer. These rooms are a comfortable 439 square feet. Beds feature the Serta Prestige mattress.

Double king rooms include two king beds – a rare standard room option. Flex king rooms include a single king bed and a foldout couch. Guests booking an Entourage room will presumably have to allow the guy who played Turtle to crash on the couch when he’s in town.

Circa Standard Room
Circa Standard Room
Circa Standard Room
Circa Standard Room

Corner Studio

A step up from the standard room, Corner Studio rooms include a king bed, similar amenities to the Standard Room and an additional 90 square feet (529 total) to stretch out. Also available with a pool view.

Circa Corner Studio Room
Circa Corner Studio Room

Circa Studio

Next up we have the Circa Studio at 691 square feet. This room includes all of the standard room amenities, but with a separate living room space where you can watch hotel room porn without disturbing your still-sleeping spouse. Also available with a pool view.

Circa Studio
Circa Studio
Circa Studio

Bunk Pad

Rolling into town with your dirtbag buddies Monty, Mooch and The Slouch, who are too cheap to get their own rooms? You’re in luck. The Bunk Pad includes two sets of bunk beds and a living room wet bar. This room is 713 square feet.

Bunk Pad
Bunk Pad
Bunk Pad

Circa Suite

At 867 square feet, the Circa Suite includes a  living room with wet bar, a dining room table and a convertible couch. The king bed features a Serta Chateau mattress. Also available with a strip view.

Circa Suite
Circa Suite
Circa Suite
Circa Suite

Circa End Suite

As a general rule, rooms at the end of the hallway are more spacious. Welcome to the Circa End Suite. It has everything you know and love from the Circa Suite with additional space (980 square feet total) for your friends from yoga class to stretch out. Also available with either pool view or strip view.

Circa End Suite

Panoramic Sunset Suite

Enjoy watching the sunset from your Las Vegas hotel room? Well, that’s weird. However, Circa has you covered with the Panoramic Sunset Suite. Measuring in at 1,167 square feet, this room includes a king bed with Serta Chateau mattress, living room with wet bar, dining room and convertible couch.

Panoramic Sunset Suite
Panoramic Sunset Suite
Panoramic Sunset Suite
Panoramic Sunset Suite

Bunk Suite

Don’t mind the indignity of sleeping in the same type of bed as your nine-year-old twin nephews, but need maximum capacity to throw down with your boys? The Bunk Suite includes 1,362 square feet of space, a wet bar and a rich variety of seating options.

Bunk Suite
Bunk Suite
Bunk Suite

Panoramic Sunrise Suite

It’s a lot like the Panoramic Sunset Suite, except larger and facing the other direction! The Panoramic Sunrise Suite is 1,548 square feet and includes similar stuff enjoyed by those weirdos who watch the sunset from their room. This room has an amazing view of the sunrise that you’ll never see because you won’t have stumbled in from da club for at least another hour.

Panoramic Sunrise Suite
Panoramic Sunrise Suite
Panoramic Sunrise Suite
Panoramic Sunrise Suite

Hospitality Suite

So, you drew the short straw at work and have to host a bunch of lanyard-wearing dorks for a suite party. At least you’ll get a nice room out of the deal. The Hospitality Suite includes a ton of seating options, banquet table, convertible couch, bar and full refrigerator. These rooms come in 1,274 and 1,603 square foot variations.

Hospitality Suite
Hospitality Suite
Hospitality Suite
Hospitality Suite

Founder’s Suite

Here it is. The king of all Circa suites, the Founder’s Suite. At 1,830 square feet, you’ll enjoy all of that rad stuff from the other suites, plus an electric fireplace, banquet table, full fridge and powder room. It includes two bedrooms. Do Vegas like the boss you are.

Founder's Suite
Founder's Suite
Founder's Suite
Founder's Suite

Binion’s Needs Investors for Hotel Renovations, New Brochure

/ Tim

Since Binion’s closed its hotel tower in 2009, rumblings and rumors about renovation plans have come and gone a bunch of times. Some of them were fueled by all-too-common, all-too-unreliable “inside sources,” – typically a bartender who heard speculation from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another you’ve been messin’ around (© REO Speedwagon). At least one was based on an animated video on an investor website from owner TLC Casino Enterprises that showed garish rooms decorated in black and white cow hide patterns and cow skulls.

Binion’s again has hotel renovation plans and is again seeking investors. This time, instead of dumping money into an animated video, TLC put together a brochure. I got my hands on a copy and, after closely reviewing it, I have a few observations about the plans.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store, according to the August 2019 edition of the brochure.

TLC’s sales pitch to potential investors begins by pointing out Binion’s great location near such bustling Fremont Street resorts as Las Vegas Club (RIP 2015) and Fitzgerald’s (RIP 2012).

Renovations will include:

  • Hotel with 365 rooms
  • Restaurants
  • Rooftop pool and bar area
  • Lobby area

New construction will include:

  • Nightclub
  • Spa and salon
  • Gym

I love me some hotel renderings, and the Binion’s brochure’s got ‘em. Let’s start with the hotel’s exterior.

The tower on the right is clearly an updated version of the existing hotel tower, built in 1965 for The Mint and acquired by Binion’s in 1988. The much larger tower on the left with Cosmopolitan-like terraces doesn’t currently exist. With an overall project budget of $48 million and a room count matching the pre-closure room count, this tower doesn’t seem to actually be part of the current Binion’s plan, yet it’s prominently featured in a brochure selling investors on that plan. Because why not?

Let’s see what’s planned for the interior renovations.

That sounds delightful! Here are a couple renderings of the lobby.


Snazzy! You won’t find a lobby that looks like that in your run-of-the-mill Hilton Garden Inn in Palo Alto, or Lowes Regency in New York City.

The pool area renovations will include the addition of lavish cabanas.

Binion’s is really proud of its rooftop pool. The sales pitch boasts that no other downtown resort has one. This is absolutely true as long as you don’t count Plaza, Downtown Grand, The Cal and soon Circa.

What’s in store for the hotel suites?

They take on an authentic western feel – almost like something you’d find in a contemporary Colorado home designed by Andrea Schumacher, an Omni Hotel in Fort Worth or a Hotel Le Germain in Calgary. Almost.

If TLC puts as much TLC into renovating Binion’s as it put into developing a current, high-quality sales brochure, complete with original renderings, it’s sure to be a hit. Plenty of legitimate investors with deep pockets and poor Google image search skills will no doubt be interested.

Grand opening date: TBA.

FHBM #703: Space for More VR Theaters and Esports Arenas

/ Tim
Las Vegas podcast #703 includes:
  • Schitt’s Creek opener
  • Become a Five Hundy Patron, get bonus stuff
  • The Summit
  • Hard Rock owners change Virgin transition plans
  • Barney’s is closing
  • SLS closes 800 Degrees
  • Neonopolis has go-karts
  • Elvis in Vegas book review
  • Listener calls about Four Season, Fleur, Tacos El Gordo, Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips, 4 Queens rooms, Lago and other Vegasy stuff
  • Hey Remember This: Drink and Drag
  • Call us at (702) 866-9494
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Direct download of the podcast: Five Hundy By Midnight 8/18/19 (39:50 min, 48.3 MB) or subscribe.