The Jeff Koons statue of Popeye the Sailor Man, which stands at the entrance of the executive offices at Wynn Las Vegas in the hotel’s Esplanade retail promenade, is headed to Wynn’s new resort in Everett, Mass., in late 2017. Wynn paid $28.2 million for the piece last spring.
Published Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 | 5:29 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 | 11:33 a.m.
The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is the AvelloDome at Wynn Las Vegas. That is to mean, the sports book at Wynn Las Vegas, over which Johnny Avello presides.
Johnny seems not to be in the common area at the moment and likely holed up in his office handicapping the NFL playoffs or the next Miss Nevada America Pageant.
Popeye is making some news here today. Not right at this spot but in the hotel’s Esplanade retail promenade, where the Popeye the Sailor statue is to be moved from its current position to the lobby of Wynn’s under-development resort in Everett, Mass.
Popeye is not leaving soon, as Wynn officials have said they hope to open the resort along the Mystic River in Massachusetts in late 2017.
Still, “Popeye is coming to Everett,” Wynn said in an interview with the Boston Globe published Dec. 28, during which the resort’s design features were unveiled.
This Popeye sculpture is no ordinary statue, of course. It is made of stainless steel, weighs 2,000 pounds and stands 6-feet-5 inches. Two guards always keep watch over the purple-shirted Popeye, shown squeezing a can of spinach as if to square off against an unseen Bluto.
Last spring, Wynn paid $28.2 million for the gleaming piece of pop art created by Jeff Koons. To put that figure in perspective, that is nearly three times what Wynn paid in pre-production for his new show, “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers.”
To put it in further perspective … dang, that’s a lot of money for a statue of Popeye.
Koons finished the piece in 2011, and Wynn took it at a Sotheby’s auction in May. It has been standing at the Wynn since July and is among the more familiar works in Wynn’s eclectic collection, which include “Le Reve” by Picasso (famously damaged a few years ago by Wynn’s own clumsy elbow) and a watercolor of Wynn’s dogs by emerging artist George W. Bush.
Popeye sits on the opposite side of the hotel from the similarly shiny and valuable Koons piece Tulips, near the entrances of Le Reve and Encore theaters. In December 2012, Wynn paid $33 million for Tulips, which is reportedly staying in its proper place.
Encore is nearly a mirror image of the Wynn Las Vegas, from the brown glass exterior to the style and placement of the logo — and it's just as luxurious as the original. Some call Encore the younger, hipper sister of Wynn.
Located steps from Wynn Las Vegas, yet under the same roof, Encore's fanciful and intimate atmosphere is unlike anything anywhere, with an environment that is uniquely Wynn and distinctly Encore.
Steve Wynn spared no detail in his newest property when designing Encore. The casino floor is decorated in rich reds, browns and purples with mosaic butterflies embedded into the marble floors and fresh flowers greeting guests in the casino atrium.
Luxury doesn't end of the casino floor. Encore boasts 2,034 impeccable guest rooms and suites. The standard suites resort accommodations are 700 square feet with the larger suites measuring in at 5,800 square feet. Standard suites guest rooms feature plasma screen TVs, high-end bath products, spectacular views of the Strip, and also plush linens and mattresses, which can be purchased in the Encore store, in case you can't get enough.
Dining options include Chef Theo Schoenegger's fine Italian cuisine at Chef Theo Schoenegger's, Sinatra's and the pan-Asian café creations of Chef Jet Tila at Wazuzu.
Guests can also dine on steaks and chops at star Botero Steak. At Switch, Encore's French restaurant, the walls come to life mid-meal and your surroundings appear to change before your eyes. For decadent, hip Asian dining before or after a night at one of resort’s ultra-chic nightclubs, visit Andrea’s, the newest dining experience at Encore.
XS headlines Encore's nightlife and pool party scene while Danny Gans takes care of humor and entertainment. Encore also features two of the most celebrated nightlife experiences in Vegas, XS Nightclub and Surrender. Both feature main room dance floors that flow outside to pools, patio spaces and gaming areas.
When the temperature rises, don’t miss Encore Beach Club, the premier daylife destination that features three tiered pools and luxurious cabanas and bungalows with private infinity pools.
Encore Esplanade features 11 high-end retail stores, with brands like Hermes, Chanel, Loro Piana and Rock, and Republic Piaget luxury watches. The resort also has a Forbes Five-Star spa, a salon and an 18-hole, on-site golf course, which is adjacent to the Wynn.
With world-class dining, shopping, spas, golf and entertainment, there's no shortage of things to do at Wynn. The resort’s aquatic acrobatic show, “Le Reve—The Dream,” a creation by Cirque Du Soleil veteran Franco Dragone and Steve Wynn, will leave guests wanting more with its breathtaking performances that conjure an imaginary world. The Wynn Esplanade offers a unique shopping experience with stores including Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Dior, Oscar de la Renta and many more. Tryst is its signature nightclub, offering a secluded lagoon inside the club and spacious dance floor. Blush, the Wynn’s ultra lounge, draws swanky party-goers. Tryst, Wynn’s signature nightclub, is situated along a private lagoon under a 90-foot waterfall and plays host to some of the world’s most renown DJs.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
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