First Look at the Nation’s Tallest Christmas Tree

November 17th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

We know, we know, Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened and here we are posting about our December holiday happenings, but we are truly so excited to share our BIG news that we just couldn’t help it. This year, we’re celebrating big, really big. So big that we’re the home of the Nation’s Tallest Christmas Tree!  Here’s a first look at our tree – it’s the beautiful one in the center of our photo!

MChristmasTreeFirstLook

One of the common questions we’ve been getting is – is it really the tallest? YES! We’re taller than Rockefeller (76 ft Norway Spruce) and we’re taller than the Capitol Christmas Tree (85 ft Blue Spruce). We’re even taller than South Coast Plaza’s tree (96-ft White Fir). South Coast Plaza is in Costa Mesa, California for those wondering.

Our beautiful White Fir will stand proudly at 109 ft.

Our tree will make the approximately 900-mile trip here to be placed in our piazza for the entire city of Las Vegas (and nation) to see. Our outdoor piazza was so well-designed that even a hole for the tree was pre-dug during construction. That’s advanced planning at its finest.

We hope the tree will bring visitors to our great city and also spread a little holiday cheer throughout our community and the nation.

We’ll be sure to post photos of the tree’s arrival, decorating and of course the lighting. We’re also creating a special tree commercial that we’ll post as soon as it’s finished – we might even show some previews.

Mark your calendars now – the Tree Lighting Ceremony will be Saturday, December 12 at 5 pm. We’ve got much more in store for the month of December and we’ll be spreading holiday cheer right here every Tuesday.

 
 

Turkey Day Wine Picks

November 11th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

When it comes to wine and Thanksgiving dinner – relax! There’s no one wine you SHOULD have with this special dinner, but rather, there are many opportunities that lend themselves to pair different wines based on each course and your tastes. On the other hand, if you want to make it simple, provide a red and a white variety and go for a lighter, fruity style such as Pinot Grigio or a Pinot Noir. They work with both turkey and traditional Thanksgiving side dishes. The Hostile Grape Wine Cellar here at the M Resort offers many for you to choose.

Here are four wine recommendations from Agi Toth, Sommelier at the M Resort:

Jeio Prosecco, NV, Italy

This light, refreshing bubbly is a great way to start off the Thanksgiving holiday.  It’s bright acidity and soft fruity flavors will bring on an appetite for your turkey feast.

Dillmann Delight, 2007 Riesling

A slightly sweet riesling with citrus, tropical fruit and mineral aromas, this light-bodied, un-oaked wine complements creamy sauces and balances the spicier dishes.

Drouhin, 2007 Beaujolais Villages

A classic fruity red wine from France, this wine is a soft easy-drinking option for those red wine lovers.

Concha y Toro, Casillero del Diablo, Carmenere 2007

If you’re looking for something richer, spicier and brimming with darker luscious fruit, try a little Chilean carmenere, an old-world variety with a new-world twist that will stand up to your rich gravies and roasted turkeys.

Remember, you don’t have to serve the same wine throughout the meal. Just include an additional glass or two to the place setting and let your guests try different wines with each dish. Stop in and talk to one of the Hostile Grape’s sommeliers and they’ll steer you in the direction that suites your taste and your pocketbook!  Hostile Grape is also offering 10 percent off a bottle when you purchase it at Hostile Grape!

 
 

Celebrity Hairstylin’ at Spa Mio

November 4th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

Spa Mio Entrance

You probably already know that Spa Mio is a world-class spa, but what you probably don’t know is that we have a celebrity hair stylist in our spa. Enter – Anthony B.  Anthony got the chance to work at this year’s 61st Primetime Emmy Awards!

We sat down with him to talk about everything from stylin’ hair at the Emmy Awards, to how he got started in the biz and why he loves it so much.

Tell to us about the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. That must have been a huge honor for you to get the call to style the hair of celebrities.  What was the experience like?

Styling hair at an awards show is such a fun, hectic experience. The day of the Emmy’s I worked a solid 12 hours. We had dry runs to make sure each celebrity liked their hair style and then we did the real thing.  It’s crazy! I’ve styled hair at awards shows before, but each one is obviously different. I’m working on different hair and there are different needs involved.

I love working the shows though because the energy is always so high. People are rehearsing on stage, production crews are setting up and there’s just a lot going on around you and it’s exciting.

How did the opportunity come about?

I’ve worked several awards shows styling celebrities’ hair, so I usually get the call to do the shows from people that I know in the industry and off I go.

Who were some of the celebrities that you styled for this year’s Emmy Awards?

I did a lot of the presenters’ hair. I worked on Kate Walsh, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Blake Lively and Debra Messing.

Any fun tidbits you have about working on their hair?

They all have great hair and they were incredibly down-to-earth and very nice. Sorry, nothing juicy!

What did you take away from the experience?

I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes. It always amazes me how much goes into these shows. You see the crew setting up and all these well-known actors and actresses actually rehearsing their lines. I saw Bob Newhart – he’s legendary – rehearsing his lines. It’s seeing things like that that make it fun for me.

What do you like most about your job?

I love doing hair. I was born to do it. I enjoy interacting with people and giving them confidence with just a haircut. I really do love working at Spa Mio. The place is truly beautiful. I’ve worked in hot salons around the country, but this one just blows me away.

How did you get started?

I’ve been a hairstylist for almost 20 years. I did my friend’s hair one day when I was a kid and just honest-to-God liked doing it and knew it was what I wanted to do. I’ve been able to live all over – Las Vegas, London, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. I’ve worked with some of the top people and in some of the top places in the industry and it has been great. 

What advice do you have for people when it comes to hair?

  1. Really know your hair.
  2. If you like someone’s hair cut, don’t be afraid to walk up to them and ask who cuts it.
  3. Listen to your stylist.
  4. Keep is simple. Don’t try to reproduce exactly what the stylist did in the salon. We use different styling products and unless you have those same products at home, you won’t be able to replicate the look exactly.
  5. Don’t get into a rut. Make sure you re-invent yourself and try new hairstyles and color.
  6. Above all: Do not cut your own hair.

Spa Mio Lounge
Spa Mio and Salon is open daily from 7 am-7pm. Be sure to stop in and say hi to Anthony when you’re here.

 
 

When You’re Here – It’s All About Our Food

October 28th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

To say that food is important to the M Resort is an understatement. We have nearly 30,000 square feet of kitchen and culinary work areas dedicated to the culinary arts. We have our own reserve list of Marnell family beef at Terzetto, our steak and seafood restaurant and a bounty of live fish arrive daily and are housed in our ocean of tanks within our main kitchen. In addition to our fresh food, we also have our very own wine created from grapes from the Marnell family vineyard. We even have homemade gelato and artisan breads.

Our love of food though isn’t anything new. If you aren’t familiar, the Marnell family is credited with bringing many unique culinary innovations to the Las Vegas market while owning and operating the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino from 1992 to 2001. Many of the innovations are still widely used today. Below is a sample of some:

First in Las Vegas to host James Beard Out-of-House Events, which included the most recognized American celebrity chefs. It was the catalyst in attracting the late Jean-Louis Palladin, who eventually made the Napa Restaurant his home.
First in Las Vegas to introduce programs that exemplified an unsurpassed dedication to food.
First full seafood buffet in Las Vegas.  
First in Las Vegas to sell specialty foods made on premise.
First to establish roof restaurants and lounges in Las Vegas.
First to have a master sommelier on staff in Las Vegas.
First to have own charcuterie on premises in Las Vegas.
First to open the largest wine cellar and tasting to the public.

If you’ve eaten at our restaurants, let us know your favorite meal. If you haven’t eaten here, what are you waiting for? 

Here’s a sample of some of our favorite dishes.

Osso Bucco, mushroom risotto & roasted vegetables @ Marinelli’s
Maryland Lump Crab Cakes, mustard remoulade & lemon @ Terzetto
Banana Gelato and Vanilla Bean Gelato @ Baby Cakes
Surf ‘N Turf Roll, spicy tuna, kobe beef, sushi rice, nor seaweed @ Veloce Cibo
Tiramisu, mascarpone cream & coffee lady fingers @ Marinelli’s
Flan @ Baby Cakes
Filet Mignon w/ Bearnaise Sauce @ Terzetto
Tomahawk Ribeye @ Terzetto
Chicken Lettuce Wraps, spiced chicken, peanuts, green onion & water chestnuts @ Veloce Cibo

 
 

Viva Italia!

October 13th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

Italian Fest
Drum roll please…the Italian Festival is back! 

 Now, some of you might remember the Italian Festival and some of you might not, so we’ll do a quick refresher course and then talk about this weekend’s big event.

First begun by the Marnell family 17 years ago at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the Italian Festival was a locals’ favorite, attracting thousands of people over the course of the two-day event. For a decade, the Marnell family Italian Festival was the talk of the town. Now, they’ve brought it back at the M Resort – with a few added twists.

Our Italian Festival weekend is all about food, fun and entertainment for the entire family. (By the way, admission is free!) Here’s a rundown of what you can expect.

 Pasta Baby A Feast for the Senses

Stroll through our outdoor piazza and treat yourself to authentic Italian dishes like calzones, pizza, sausage and pepper sandwiches and various specialties prepared by local restaurants and our very own world-renowned chefs. We’ll also have over-the-top desserts like cheesecake, cannoli, biscotti, Italian ices and the ever-popular fried dough.

For the Bambinos
We have face painting, colorful balloon art, airbrushed tattoos and roaming stilt walkers – not to mention great live entertainment by Louis Prima Jr. on the main stage at 3, 5 and 7 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Grape Stomp
You can check out your favorite local radio and TV personalities as they compete during one of our Grape Stomping Competitions on Sunday at 2 pm.  We also have public contests throughout both days.

Spaghetti Eating Contests
If clearing your plate comes easy, save room for spaghetti and put your skills to the test at our Spaghetti Eating Contest. Kids and adults can sign up at our festival information booth.

Bocce Ball Tournaments
If a true competition is more your style, sign up for our bocce ball tournaments or free play hours.

 Farmer’s Market
Authentic Italian cuisine can only be achieved with the freshest of ingredients. Shop Italian-style at the open air Farmer’s Market and take home delicious fruits and vegetables.

Here’s a recap for the most important information.

The Details
This Saturday & Sunday, October 17 & 18
11 am to 9 pm
M Resort’s Villaggio Del Sole Outdoor Piazza
FREE Admission
Purchase tickets for food (no cash at the booths) both inside and outside on the piazza.

Hope we see you there!

 
 

What’s Your Game Choice?

October 6th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

Recently, we caught up with Rich Strafella, vice president of casino operations for the M Resort. Rich is one of the coolest gaming guys we know. Not only is he a movie star (he was in the classic movie Casino and went to the premiere with Las Vegas Mayor Goodman), but his incredible knowledge about the casino industry is as fascinating as it is entertaining.

We thought you’d find it fun to see what Rich had to say about people’s game choice and their personality traits.  In fact, Rich was recently featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio when they came to broadcast their shows from our resort talking about this very topic.  We thought we’d share his insights with you!

Here’s what Rich had to say about game choice and personality traits:

  • Baccarat= style/class/money/ego
  • Craps=confidence/excitement/no patience
  • Roulette=sophistication/class/proper
  • Black Jack= disciplined/patient/reserved/a quick study
  • Slot Machines=reserved/don’t need to lots of attention/simplistic
  • Video Poker=determined/knowledgeable/patient/meticulous

 Let us know what you play and if you agree with Rich’s assessment.

 
 

Recap: Grey’s Anatomy Viewing Party

September 29th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

Last Thursday marked the season six premiere episode of Grey’s Anatomy. As you know from our prior post, we held a Grey’s Anatomy viewing party inside the  Ravello Lounge.  Thank you to everyone who came! We had a great crowd of Grey’s fans and MIX 94.1 listeners join us for the fun and stay for the two hour show, which was filled with drama that only Grey’s Anatomy can provide.

Our host JC from MIX 94.1 tested everyone’s knowledge with Grey’s trivia and gave away some great prizes including DVDs and t-shirts – one lucky winner took home an M Resort hotel and dinner package.   

The menu for the evening included specialty drinks named for popular characters, including the Fizzy Izzie Champagne Cocktail, McDreamy’s Chocolate Martini, the Dirty Sexy McSteamy Martini and Meredith’s Seriously Sake Martini.  To satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth, our Executive Pastry Chef, Jean-Claude Canestrier created over 800 chocolate confections for the party and guests indulged in the delicious truffles and chocolate covered fruit – the bananas on the left were a crowd favorite. 

Our bartenders even got into the Grey’s theme and were decked out in surgical scrubs!

If you were able to make it, leave a comment and let us know what you thought about our event.  We’d love to hear from you.

 
 

Grey’s Anatomy Returns… to Ravello Lounge!

September 22nd, 2009 by M Social Media Team

If you’re a fan of the show, then you’re counting down the hours until the season six premiere episode of Grey’s Anatomy airs this Thursday. The M team has some dedicated Grey’s followers too, and this year, our resort has teamed up with Channel 13 and JC from MIX 94.1 to host the ultimate viewing party inside the Ravello Lounge. We considered a handful of locations for this event, but we ultimately decided on Ravello – it’s the perfect place to watch great entertainment, whether it’s live music, pro football or the Grey’s Anatomy season premiere! With so much going on in Ravello this fall, we’d like to take this opportunity to shed a little light on our favorite lounge.    

Ravello Lounge was named after the Italian town, Ravello, a popular tourist destination located above the Amalfi Coast. Renowned for its beautiful surroundings and affinity for the arts, Ravello is a worldwide destination for artists, musicians and writers and served as the inspiration for our lounge here at the M.

Designed by the experts at Marnell Architecture, the Ravello Lounge provides optimal sound and stage visibility – there really isn’t a bad seat in the house! It also features plush seating, cozy booths and tables and an outdoor terrace with spectacular views of the Strip – did we mention the killer cocktail list? It’s only natural that Ravello Lounge is home to great live music and it’s all brought to you by the dedicated M Entertainment Team. Since opening, they’ve booked some amazing local talent, including Rock Daddy, performing dance and rock hits this Tuesday through Sunday night. If you’re coming to the Grey’s party, stick around after the show and check them out.

You might wonder how Ravello manages to double as a live music venue and viewing party location.  The secret is the giant projection screen that comes down from the ceiling with the push of a button. Couple this with the video wall, multiple TV’s at the bar and two additional flat screens on the stage and there you have it.  The unique set-up allows us to host viewing parties for Sunday and Monday night football, Grey’s Anatomy and just about anything else we might want to show.  Since we’re a new property, we’re just starting to tap into all the possibilities our lounge offers and we assure you, there’s more to come. 

If you’re interested in attending our Grey’s Anatomy Viewing Party, head to our website to RSVP and check back on Friday for photos from the big event.

 
 

Ladies – You Drink Free this Weekend!

September 16th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

This Friday and Saturday, we’ll host – not one, but two – of the best Ladies’ Nights to hit Las Vegas. This weekend, ladies can enjoy complimentary specialty drinks from 7pm – 1am. We created a special Ladies’ Night menu featuring an assortment of M’s signature cocktails and some new ones you’ll definitely want to try. There’s something for everyone, including a vanilla blueberry mojito, candy apple martini, raspberry and melon margaritas and five more tempting handcrafted cocktails. 

M Mojito

The best part of M Resort’s Ladies’ Night extravaganza is that the whole resort is in on the fun!  The ladies’ night menu is available at Lobby Bar, M Bar, 32° Draft Bar and Ravello Lounge.  Grab your girlfriends and join us this weekend.  We’d love to hear from you, visit the M Point of View next week to let us know your favorite drink!

 
 

Last Bash of the Summer

September 8th, 2009 by M Social Media Team

On Sunday, the M Resort hosted its first Labor Day Festival.

More than 6,000 people came out to our piazza to enjoy great food, entertainment and fun for the whole family. We were hoping the weather would cooperate (despite the forecast for rain all week) and lucky us – it did! We had a perfect day full of sunshine. Our team members were quick to help out at all the food and beverage stations and we even opened our pool up for swimming. The watermelon-eating contest was a hit with kids and parents!

Check out our photos from the big event!

Labor Day Entertainment

Labor Day Food

Loveshack

Labor Day Fireworks