Take the best aspects of steakhouses – good food, drinks, service and atmosphere – and trim the bad – dark rooms, oversized plates and expensive pricing. What you have is the blueprint for the modern steakhouse.

Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Sam Marvin (best known as creator of Bottega Louie in Los Angeles) recognized this blueprint and used it to create Echo & Rig Butcher and Steakhouse in Tivoli Village, located next to One Queensridge Place.

The menu features all-time favorite cuts of beef, but the mouth-watering steaks are cooked over red oak and served with unique sauces such as brandied mushroom, charred onion and horseradish cream, among others.

Recognizing that not everyone eats red meat, Echo & Rig’s menu also features pastas, chicken and seafood. Entrées are accented by an extensive list of distinctive sides, highlighted by baked brie in sourdough and stone fruit, Portobello fries, grilled octopus, grilled thick-cut bacon and asparagus with fried egg.

Echo & Rig has much more accommodating hours than most steakhouses, opening at 11 a.m. for lunch on weekdays and at 9 a.m. for brunch on weekends. Steaks and entrées are available for lunch as well as specialty salads, sandwiches and small plates. The brunch menu offers a range of breakfast favorites with a steakhouse twist in addition to the salads, sandwiches and small plates.

The Butcher Shop

Sam Marvin successfully created a new age steakhouse, but he also paid tribute to the good old days with the Echo & Rig Butcher Shop. Located a floor below the main dining room, the shop features one of the most acclaimed butchers in the country, a large open glass meat locker, vertical displays and a demonstration area.

Piaget

Source: Wynn Las Vegas

Georges Édouard Piaget started his career as a luxury and precision watch maker in 1874.  Today, Piaget watch designs vary in complexity and extravagance, but all have an aura of simplicity that gives them an elegant and highly refined look.  The brand Piaget has expanded its flawless craftsmanship to the creation of other jewelry, such and necklaces and rings.

Wynn & Co

Source: Wynn Las Vegas

Located inside the Wynn Las Vegas, Esplanade is the Wynn & Company’s luxury watch store.  What makes this jewelry company unique is that is does not limit itself to one brand – it is a collection of all the best watch brands in the world.  Wynn & Company is committed to providing customers with rare and elite watches, some of which can only be found in the Las Vegas Wynn.

Jason of Beverly Hills

Source: Daryl Walter

Jason of Beverly Hills is relatively new to the jewelry industry, being founded in 2002 by Jason Arasheben.  Jason is best know for his opulent and extravagant diamond pieces that have been purchased by international royalty and wealthy celebrities.

Palazzo

The Palazzo shopping center, located inside the Palazzo Hotel and Casino, provides over 450,000 sq. ft. of luxury shopping, with over a dozen high-end watch and jewelry designer stores.  With the wide range of amenities offered at the Palazzo, costumers can do their jewelry shopping, pick up an Anya Hindmarch purse, or sit down for an opulent meal–all without leaving the building.

MJ Christensen

Source: M.J. Christensen

MJ Christensen is a family-owned business with two locations in the city of Las Vegas.  They offer designs from other jewelry houses, as well as having their own collection.  They are committed to family values and to giving back to their community and people in need.

Tourneau

Source: Toureau

Tourneau is the largest fine watch seller in the United States.  They sell watches from over 85 different designers and pride themselves having staff members who are well educated in watch craftsmanship and can help each customer to find the perfect new watch for his or her collection.

The Ridges

The Ridges sits on 800 acres of the some of the most valuable and beautiful land in Nevada.  There are ten separate subdivisions, each with a guarded gate at the entrance.  All residents have access to the elite Club Ridges that features tennis courts and swimming pools, as well as an ultramodern fitness center.  The massive Jack Nicklaus Bear’s Champion Golf Course is housed in this exclusive community.

Tomiyasu

The homes on Tomiyasu Lane are expansive mansions where you can pay more than $15,000,000 for a home and get over 20,000 sq. ft. of lavish living space.  Many of the homes offer ample acreage so that each estate feels like its own oasis in the vast desert valley of Las Vegas, far enough away from the Las Vegas strip to afford the residents a peaceful reprieve from the city.

Mandarin Oriental

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, are located directly on the Las Vegas strip at the MGM Resorts International City Center.  Residents have the entire city right outside their doors with an endless string of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.  A “night in” does not need to be a dull experience with the many luxury amenities, such as a restaurant and spa.

Ascaya

The builders of the Ascaya luxury estates in southern Nevada plan to keep the beauty of the desert countryside and seamlessly incorporate their homes into the landscape.  The Ascaya project has been in the works for decades.  The land was bought and the mountainside shaped and carved, but then no homes were built due to the economic downturn.  Now, as the Las Vegas economy is bouncing back, the estate plans are again being prepared for construction.

One Queensridge Place

The high-rise living units at One Queensridge Place are perfectly situated between fine dining and shopping options at Tivoli Village, prestigious golf courses, and the beautiful Red Rock Canyon National Park.  Amenities include a breathtaking spa and fitness center, a private wine cellar, and multiple common living spaces.

Las Vegas has always been known for making luxury more accessible than any other city in the world. Whether it’s renowned entertainment, celebrity chefs, PGA-rated golf courses or five star accommodations, luxury has greatly influenced this city. Additionally, Las Vegas’ lower cost of living ensures that one’s money will go further here than other major cities around the world.

So exactly how does one of Las Vegas’ truly iconic properties, The Crown Penthouse, match up against others around the nation? Let’s take a look…

Las Vegas – The Crown Penthouse | $12.9 Million | 15,570 square feet

Never mind the fact that the luxury high rise community of One Queensridge Place itself acts as almost a beacon for Las Vegas residents when communicating around the city – it’s architecture and stature make it that striking across the valley. But what stands out most are the three-story penthouses perched atop the two sprawling towers as well as their attention to detail.

As for features for a potential buyer, The Crown Penthouse boasts three terraces, luxury gourmet kitchens with Viking appliances, private showroom garage for up to 15 vehicles, 40-foot ceilings and more than 15,000 square feet of living space.

Miami – Porsche Design Tower Penthouse | $33.5 million | 17,000 square feet

Currently under construction outside Miami, the Porsche Design Tower will have two 17,000 square foot penthouses that are currently listed at $33.5 million each. The tower will feature a futuristic parking system in which residents can drive their vehicles into an elevator that leads to a “garage-in-the-sky.” The vehicles will be viewable from inside the residences via a glass wall. The 57-floor, 132-unit building also will feature oceanfront views, but at a price that is nearly triple that of The Crown Penthouse.

New York – The Plaza at 1 Central Park South | $25 million | 4,283 square feet

The Plaza is a National Historic Landmark and offers beautiful views of Central Park. Owners can avoid the hotel lobby by entering their home via a private elevator or grand staircase and have access to hotel amenities such as a butler, nanny, doorman and concierge. But the cost of this private residence comes at $5,837.03 per square foot.

San Francisco – Villa | $24.8 million | 16,000 square feet

Las Vegas is known for having the latest and greatest. Most other major cities struggle with keeping up in this regard. San Francisco, for example, is home to a 16,000 square foot luxury villa with a gated driveway, four-car garage, elevator, stained glass skylight and views of the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was built in 1905. The residence is listed at $24.8 million and updating it would only add headaches and increase expenses.

Although the economic downturn of 2008 certainly put a damper on the Las Vegas real estate and tourism markets, they are roaring back even bigger and better.

In an indicator of the improving health of the city’s real estate scene, a recent report from the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors said the median sales price of previously owned single-family homes in southern Nevada topped $200,000 in July, up 11 percent from July 2013 and the highest level since August 2008. The tourism market is improving as well, with 39.7 million visitors in 2013, up from 37.5 million visitors during the peak of the downturn five years ago.
The improving fortunes of the city’s real estate market are even stronger at the top, highlighted by the number of luxury developments that have opened in recent years.

CityCenter

The $9.2 billion CityCenter Las Vegas, for example, is the largest privately funded construction project in the United States, featuring a 16.8 million mixed-use, urban complex on 76 acres on the Las Vegas Strip. The project, which opened in 2010, is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Dubai World. It features 2,400 condominium units and 4,800 hotel rooms across several high-rise towers surrounding Crystals, a luxury shopping center.

The Cosmopolitan

The $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, or simply the Cosmo, opened in December 2010 south of the Bellagio on Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort’s two high-rise towers feature nearly 3,000 rooms, 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a 110,000-sqare foot casino, along with an 1,800-seat theater and 15,000 square feet of meeting room space. In 2013 travel guide Gogobot dubbed the Cosmo “The Best Hotel in the World.”

The Cromwell

Boutique hotels are making inroads into the resort environment as well. The Cromwell Hotel, which opened in May 2014, is a one-of-a-kind resort accentuating the stylish side of Las Vegas. The 188-room boutique hotel features Parisian-style architecture and the 65,000-square-foot Drai’s Beach Club, which offers both an indoor and outdoor rooftop party experience.

The hotel is also the site of the first restaurant operated by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis.

SLS Hotel & Casino

And the boutique SLS Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, owned by SBE Entertainment and Stockbridge Real Estate, opened August 23rd after a $415 million renovation. The hotel, on the site of the former Sahara Hotel and Casino, features 1,600 guest rooms and suites created by French designer Philippe Starck in collaboration with San Francisco design firm, Gensler. A number of suites were also designed by musician Lenny Kravitz. Included in the property are four nightclubs, the clothing store Fred Segal, 30,000 square feet of meeting space and several restaurants.

As for the future, the vacated lot of the abandoned Echelon Place that was set to replace the historic Stardust is now controlled by Malaysian multinational company, Genting Group, and planned for an Asian-themed mega-resort complete with a replica of the Great Wall of China and an enclosure for a public panda display.  Reports are that the company intends for this resort to be the “first phase” of a property to be estimated between $2 billion and $7 billion by the time of its completion.

Although Las Vegas has a reputation as an “anything goes” sort of place, that’s not all there is to the city. There are plenty of organizations around town that work tirelessly to assist people in need. Over the course of the year those groups raise millions of dollars to help make life easier for residents of all walks of life.

Opportunity Village, for example, helps thousands of Las Vegas residents with intellectual disabilities find jobs, gain independence in their lives, and realize their creative dreams. Food bank Three Square works to ensure that Las Vegas residents have access to three square meals a day, distributing more than 30 million pounds of food and grocery products in 2013.

But without the assistance of Las Vegas businesses and trade groups, many of these organizations would find it difficult or even impossible to accomplish their mission.

In July 2013 One Queensridge Place hosted its Gatsby Gamble event to benefit Three Square, raising $15,000 for the food bank, or enough to provide 45,000 meals. The event, held in the luxurious Crown Penthouse atop the OQP’s two 18-story towers, featured cuisine prepared by celebrity chef Carla Pellingrino and entertainment by Frankie Moreno, the Shaun DeGraf Trio and DJ Baby Chino.

And the following November, the Las Vegas chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) held the first of what promises to be an annual black tie charity auction to raise money for Jillian’s Army and St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Jillian’s Army is dedicated to helping 4-year-old Las Vegas resident Jillian Moore win her fight against Stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer, while St. Baldrick’s is a volunteer organization working to fund research to find cures for childhood cancers. Supporters of St. Baldrick’s often shave their heads in support of the foundation as well as to show solidarity with those who have lost their hair as a result of chemotherapy treatments.

Whatever your interest or concern, whether it be supporting soldiers returning from the battlefield to caring for unwanted pets to making sure that no child goes hungry, there is a charity in the Las Vegas area that needs your support.