Under Vegas Skies--How do you react to the simulated skies at Venetian, Caesars, Paris and Aladdin?
Jan 24th, 2004, 10:56 PM
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Under Vegas Skies--How do you react to the simulated skies at Venetian, Caesars, Paris and Aladdin?
The four hotels mentioned above all use imitation skies in their shopping/restaurant areas. Those of you who have seen them will remember they are often a very bright blue, but regularly change color and lightness to suggest different times of day and night.
On a recent visit to Vegas, the two of us, whose opinions as to what is beautiful and what is tasteless are usually similar, had such violently opposite reactions to these simulated skies that we are still marveling over it. We wonder if others have had such strong opinions either way and if they can help us speculate where these reactions come from.
One of us found these simulated skies quite beautiful and enjoyed the changes-from the outside world, and from other times in the day--that they created in light, atmosphere and mood. That person, after walking through The Venetian alone while the other attended a business conference session at the all-conventionally-ceilinged hotel where we were staying, selected Canaletto's at St. Mark's Square there as what was hoped to be a very delightfully surprising choice for dinner, on the plaza, under a romantic mood set by simulated Venetian twilight.
The other one of us, though, who had never been in any of these four hotels before, found the attempt to imitate the sky so phony, offensive, disturbing, grotesque and even claustrophobic that after a few minutes under it--during a walkthrough of the avenue of shops at the Paris, and after a brief taxi ride, during a walk along the Canal Shops to St. Mark's Square at The Venetian--upon arrival at Canaletto's was hyperventilating from the oppressiveness of the simulated sky and could only eat away from it in the "inside" portion of the restaurant, under a conventional ceiling, but quickly recovered good spirits after getting out from under the simulation.
Has anyone else had such dramatic reactions pro or con? Thoughts on why?
On a recent visit to Vegas, the two of us, whose opinions as to what is beautiful and what is tasteless are usually similar, had such violently opposite reactions to these simulated skies that we are still marveling over it. We wonder if others have had such strong opinions either way and if they can help us speculate where these reactions come from.
One of us found these simulated skies quite beautiful and enjoyed the changes-from the outside world, and from other times in the day--that they created in light, atmosphere and mood. That person, after walking through The Venetian alone while the other attended a business conference session at the all-conventionally-ceilinged hotel where we were staying, selected Canaletto's at St. Mark's Square there as what was hoped to be a very delightfully surprising choice for dinner, on the plaza, under a romantic mood set by simulated Venetian twilight.
The other one of us, though, who had never been in any of these four hotels before, found the attempt to imitate the sky so phony, offensive, disturbing, grotesque and even claustrophobic that after a few minutes under it--during a walkthrough of the avenue of shops at the Paris, and after a brief taxi ride, during a walk along the Canal Shops to St. Mark's Square at The Venetian--upon arrival at Canaletto's was hyperventilating from the oppressiveness of the simulated sky and could only eat away from it in the "inside" portion of the restaurant, under a conventional ceiling, but quickly recovered good spirits after getting out from under the simulation.
Has anyone else had such dramatic reactions pro or con? Thoughts on why?
Jan 25th, 2004, 02:02 PM
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It would be tacky anywhere else BUT Vegas, but in Vegas it's all good. I think the faux indoor skies, gondoliers, etc. lend themselves to the unreality that's Vegas. That's why spending three days in Vegas is just the perfect amount of time for me--any longer and I start losing perception of what's real and what isn't!
Jan 25th, 2004, 02:38 PM
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I love it! It is like you are outside but don't have to worry about weather etc. I don't know why I love it I just get those good feelings because I know shopping and martinis are near me when I see fake sky. If you find it very disturbing I guess you should skip it maybe it has something to do with your internal clock.
Jan 25th, 2004, 05:21 PM
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The first time I experienced the one at Caesars, we were eating at the restuarant by the big fountain. The change was very subtle and finally I said, "isn't it getting dark in here?" I think at that time they told me it took at hour to go from the brightest to the darkest phase. Last time it seemed like it was on about a 5 or 10 minute cycle, constantly changing which nearly drove me nuts. Somehow I originally felt that it was so well done at Ceasars that you could almost convince yourself you were outside. Particularly the night sky was quite effective.
I don't want to repeat the debate about Venetian, but I found the interiors there so cheesy and tacky that I don't even recall the light changes or an attempt to have a realistic sky -- it was all too plastic and fake for me.
I haven't been in the Aladdin.
I don't want to repeat the debate about Venetian, but I found the interiors there so cheesy and tacky that I don't even recall the light changes or an attempt to have a realistic sky -- it was all too plastic and fake for me.
I haven't been in the Aladdin.
Jan 25th, 2004, 05:57 PM
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The fake skies impress me the same way the "fake skyline" at NYNY does.
Or the "fake Sphinx" at Luxor.
Thet're cheesy Vegas inventions.
But, hey, that's what most people seem to like about Vegas.
Personally I'm not bothered by the fake skies, but thay're not a great enhancement to my experience either.
Or the "fake Sphinx" at Luxor.
Thet're cheesy Vegas inventions.
But, hey, that's what most people seem to like about Vegas.
Personally I'm not bothered by the fake skies, but thay're not a great enhancement to my experience either.
Jan 25th, 2004, 06:26 PM
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My favorite is the Aladdin -- actually the Dessert Passage Shopping mall as I don't think the sky continued into the casino areas. The storm that comes up every hour on the hour was quite lovely. My thought the first time I noticed them, was that some painting crew had had a very lucrative specialty 
I found the Venetian was simply too weird. It wasn't like Venice at all. Paris is kind of campy (they have the most amazing women's restroom with extraordinarily hand-painted pedestal sinks -- didn't look at ALL like the portable green jobs you find on the streets of Paris these days!)
I found the Venetian was simply too weird. It wasn't like Venice at all. Paris is kind of campy (they have the most amazing women's restroom with extraordinarily hand-painted pedestal sinks -- didn't look at ALL like the portable green jobs you find on the streets of Paris these days!)
Jan 25th, 2004, 07:20 PM
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Ooooooooh Vegas! I love every inch of it for what it is! Let's face it, Vegas was created and thrives because it is sooooo outlandish! It's great, to go there and just go crazy shopping, drinking, clubbing, casino hopping! It's all good!
Before anyone says it YES I have been all over the world as a matter of fact and NO of course it's not really like that in Paris! But who cares!!!!! We are headed back for our 6th trip in April and as my husband says: It's just like a giant amusement park for adults!!! We can't wait!
Lily
Before anyone says it YES I have been all over the world as a matter of fact and NO of course it's not really like that in Paris! But who cares!!!!! We are headed back for our 6th trip in April and as my husband says: It's just like a giant amusement park for adults!!! We can't wait!
Lily
Jan 25th, 2004, 07:26 PM
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Ceasars sky always makes me feel like my eyesight is going ... it gets so gloomy and dark..
But none of them affect me to such a degree that I would be bothered. What else would one expect in Las Vegas~
But none of them affect me to such a degree that I would be bothered. What else would one expect in Las Vegas~
Jan 27th, 2004, 09:51 AM
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The fake skies are intended to keep you indoors. After all, you don't need to go outside if you already FEEL like you're outside! Personally, I think they're pretty cool, but they're so commonplace in town, I don't even see them anymore. I guess you just get used to them.
Personally, I think they're pretty cool, but they're so commonplace in town, I don't even see them anymore. I guess you just get used to them.
