Jenny Southan reports on the transformation of Las Vegas
Dry ice is pouring out of the base of a stage that’s been set up in an empty car park, creating clouds of smoke in the late September sun. A crowd of people are casually hula hooping to Missy Elliott’s One Minute Man, their gyrating bodies casting long lilac shadows across the tarmac. Down the road, the smell of weed wafts by from the High Times Cannabis Village (marijuana is now legal in Nevada), girls pose for photos against day-glo murals and street bars mix up Fernet-Branca cocktails. Now in its fifth year, the Life is Beautiful festival, in Downtown, is in full swing.
Just one week later, tragedy strikes when a gunman opens fire on the Route 1 Harvest country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. It is later revealed that the assailant also booked a room overlooking Life is Beautiful but decided against attacking. Oblivious at the time, the event couldn’t have been more joyful and optimistic, but in hindsight it’s chilling.
Unlike California’s Coachella, which takes place at the Empire Polo Club near Palm Springs, or Nevada’s Burning Man, which sets up camp in the middle of the Black Rock desert, Life is Beautiful is an urban festival. It takes over 18 blocks of Las Vegas’s Downtown area, 9km from the Strip. This year’s line-up, which attracted more than 50,000 people each day, included Gorillaz, Muse, The xx and MGMT. With the help of 60 restaurants, bars and food trucks – and one giant fire-breathing metal UFO from Burning Man – the 72hour festival was expected to have generated US$125 million for the local economy.
Bu hikaye Business Traveller India dergisinin January 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Business Traveller India dergisinin January 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Salathip Thai Restaurant at Shangri-La Bangkok
Nestled along the banks of the majestic Chao Phraya River lies Salathip Thai Restaurant, a culinary gem offering a quintessential Thai dining experience.
Roganic Hong Kong
Roganic Hong Kong a culinary gem, a labour of love by Chef and restaurateur Simon Rogan, is ensconced in the vibrant heart of Causeway Bay.
The Legacy House at Rosewood Hong Kong
The Legacy House stands as a flagship Cantonese restaurant cocooned within the prestigious Rosewood Hong Kong.
Azerbaijan Unveiled
Business Traveller India speaks to Florina Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism to understand the tourism board's plans, growth trajectory and more
AUGMENTED ESCAPES
The Metamorphosis of Travel: Augmented Reality's Reign in Tourism
Why airline alliances work for global travellers
From smoother journeys to frequent flyer perks, airline alliances offer benefits to all
Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel
Opened in 1975 as the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Centre with 555 rooms, expanded in 1984 and 1988, reaching 1,050 rooms.
Sipping SUNSHINE
Cool Summer Cocktails to Beat the Heat
TURKISH Tales
Business Traveller India went on a captivating journey through the vibrant streets of Istanbul to the serene shores of Antalya, delving deep into the intriguing fusion of tradition and modernity that defines these enchanting destinations in the majestical land of Türkiye
THE JEWEL of RAJASTHAN
Exploring the royal history, heritage, and timeless beauty of Jaipur