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twitterANSWERS: CLARK COUNTY:
Dining while dangling above Strip proposed
Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Dinner in The Sky
Select few enjoy the first ever "Dinner in The Sky Las Vegas"
Beyond the Sun
One side says it is David versus Goliath, a creative upstart that a multibillion-dollar corporation is trying to squash.
But the little guy is armed with a crane and a dinner platform instead of a slingshot, and so far, he also has the support of local officials.
Whether or not his high-hanging gastronomical business can move to the Strip, however, will be determined Wednesday by the Clark County Commission.
Who is David and who is Goliath?
Goliath is Wynn Resorts, whose Wynn and Encore properties anchor the near-north end of the Las Vegas Strip. David is Michael Hinden and his Dinner in the Sky operation.
And what, exactly, is that?
“We are one of the few businesses that is exactly what our title says we are,” Hinden said.
Twenty-two Formula One race car seats with five-point harnesses are affixed to the perimeter of a 17-foot-by-30-foot platform. Diners take their seats and a “sky chef” and three “sky waiters,” who assist in the final preparation and serving of dishes such as “Sky-High Chicken” or “Over-the-Top Filet,” stand in the middle of the platform.
They prepare and serve the food 150 feet in the air. Diners have no floor beneath them, though they have foot rests. They can also turn their seats 180 degrees, so if Hinden sets up shop on the Strip his diners will to get what Hinden calls an exhilarating, unobstructed view of the Strip and the valley surrounding it.
How’s the thing get in the air?
With the help of a 250-ton, hydraulic, telescoping crane that reaches 183 feet into the air. The platform and seats weigh 7 tons, are held by eight cables and need a really strong wind to make it more scary than exhilarating. Hinden said the entire apparatus is rated to be safe in winds up to 35 mph. “This is smoother than an elevator,” Hinden said.
Has this been done anywhere else?
Hinden said it is being done in Canada, China, Belgium (where the idea was put together) and more than a dozen other countries around the world. Though he wants to expand to other U.S. cities, Las Vegas is his first place of business. The wedding caterer and event planner who has lived in Las Vegas 12 years has had a Dinner in the Sky at 2800 West Sahara Ave. on weekends since March. His plan is to operate six days a week from 3 p.m. to midnight on the Strip.
Is it expensive?
When he spoke to the Clark County Planning Commission, Hinden said Dinner in the Sky would cost from $200 to $500 per person. It would be costlier if, for instance, diners wanted to take their “flight” — his term for going for a sky-high dinner — during sunset.
Why does Wynn Resorts dislike the idea?
Hinden wants to put his business in the burned-out remains of the Trump building sales office across the street from the Wynn properties, just north of Fashion Show Mall. Terry Murphy, who spoke on behalf of Wynn Resorts at the July 21 Planning Commission meeting, said “this is just not acceptable in terms of what the Wynn is asking for in their neighborhood.” Wynn Resorts complained that Dinner in the Sky is a “carnival-like attraction.”
The owner of Dinner in the Sky chuckled at the “carnival” characterization.
“This is far from a carnival ride,” he countered. “This is a five-star dining experience.”
The Planning Commission liked his idea and approved it, which is why it is going to the County Commission on Wednesday.
What did the Planning Commission like about it?
Charley Johnson, longtime Planning Commission member, said he finds the idea “unique, and I think Vegas is built on unique things ... I don’t know why Steve Wynn is against it, because he’s asked for a lot of unique things and things that were controversial in his day.”
Any word from county commissioners, who will have the final say?
The area is represented by Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, and she supports it.
“It’s kind of a jazzy, innovative way of bringing something to Vegas,” she said. “It’s not cheap, it’s not cheesy. It’s respected internationally. It’s new business.”
Hinden said that if he can move to the Strip, he expects the number of Dinner in the Sky employees to increase from 15 now to about 80 by the end of the year.
He also says Steve Wynn will be pleasantly surprised once he sees it up and running.
“We’ll have patrons who will pay $200 to $500 per person, and those are the kind of people you’d think he would want to visit his hotel across the street,” Hinden said.
Discussion: 38 comments so far…
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"We'll have patrons who will pay $200 to $500 per person, and those are the kind of people you'd think he would want to visit his hotel across the street," Hinden said.
Hm, I wonder just what kind of people "those people" really are. . .
I have watched this a few times on Sahara and it is a very strange sight.
Patrons pay up the nose for a very short 35 minute meal. It seems like it would be better if they just served drinks. I can't see spending 300.00 and up for a quick meal swinging in the breeze.
This is by far the greatest thing i have ever done .I am looking foward to doing it again .It is out of this world . I am looking to buy out the table for hollween i think my friends would love dinner it
the sky.
Wait a minute, Wynn representatives are complaining of a carnival-like atmosphere? In Las Vegas? Really?
The guy that came up with this argument probably complained that the music at the Metallica concert he voluntarily attended was too loud.
I love this place. It is amazing and I had a great time there...20 of us visted the place after coming in from canada and we loved it there. We hope to be back again at the end of August.
Dinner in the sky was amazing! Dinner,Champagne,the Staff,Chef,Host ..Wow from the Red Carpet arrival with photos,cocktails and appetizers to experiencing the most breathtaking views at a standstill height of 180feet in the air..Amazing! Would Definetly do it again,Its Vegas at a whole new Height!!!
As one of the employees of dinner in the sky, I can say with all of my heart that this experience is truly amazing and it attracts people from ALL walks of life...from royality to the friendly neighborhood plumber...Iam always truly amazed how 22 strangers go up in the air for dinner and come down life long friends...
Dinner in the sky. WOW! What an amazing atmosphere! It gives your senses a whole new level. You experience all different emotions, but most of all the view is absolutely astonishing. Honestly, you need to be put in the situation to know that its in Vegas' best interest. I'm most definitly doing it again! and looking forward to it!
Why limit it to just dining. Maybe after dinner, Prive' could take over and we could have music, drinking, and dancing (lap or otherwise). Now that would be even a higher thrill that could attrack visitors.
Great Idea, Great Location. Ths is just whats needed on the Strip, everyone will benefit from it, Casinos, Tourists, and Las Vegas, Great Idea, can't wait to try it.
we can't get people here for a $200 a night room, what makes you think we'll get people for a $200 dinner?
Iam always truly amazed how 22 strangers go up in the air for dinner and come down life long friends...
*****
The bonding comes from knowing that you may go tumbling to your death at any second!!!
While I find the idea of dining in a 30mph 100 degree wind unappealling I doubt highly Steve Wynn wants the few tourists we have left dining across the street from his property at $200 a pop when they could get the same meal in a climate controlled environment within his Casino for 1/2 to 1/3rd the cost. Having seen this 'attraction' off of Sahara 'flying' it is not a very attractive and does not really blend into the theme of the Strip.
One last thought as I read the comments on this article as it seems like some of the 'comments' are just advertisements for the attraction. One was admittedly written by an employee but it seems as a few others were written by family members or friends of Mr. Hinden as well as this article only posted 12 hours ago??
While I think this is a fun idea, I think the price tag in an economy such as this makes it impractical right now. I understand their insurance will be through the roof and that the cost of space on the strip is (even now) at a premium, but the reality stands that charging $200-$500 per person for a chicken dinner just won't fly. Pardon the pun.
I predict this place will be out of business faster than you can say "recession".
That was my point. Will Vegas ever learn that reasonable rooms, food, beverage, the old payouts at 21, and a few comps will do more than any kind of rediculous idea like dining in the sky? I thought the recession had taught the locals a lesson, but the plants here are arguing for more of the same.
Count me out on this experience.
I agree with Steve Wynn. It seems tacky.
I guess I think it's kind of weird.
If I wanted to dine with a view, why wouldn't I go to the Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris, Las Vegas or even the Stratosphere.
It even looks like a car on a ferris wheel at a carnival.
Apparently some people like it, and at those prices?
No pass.
At first I read this article and comments and found it much ado about nothing. That was until I watched the embedded video advertisement for the 'Dinner in the Sky' found on this page.
My hubby and I had visited Victorias Chapel (owned by Mr. Hinden) twice prior to getting married but decided on another venue due to many concerns which I will not discuss here. So 2/3 of the way through the video Ira and Rosanne Silverman appear as guests to the attraction raving about the experince.
Only problem is that Rosanne Silverman is actually Mr. Hindens' mother!!! Rosanne had been our guide for the Victoria's facility tour both times and told this fact to my hubby and I each time we visted their establishment over on W. Sahara.
So my recommendation to Las Vegas would be to really give some thought to having this business relocated to the Strip. I mean when you pose your own mother as a guest just to drum up business is pretty low and speaks to the lack of integrity in this fair city of ours.
What ever happened to the King Kong that was supposed to climb the Stratosphere tower 10 years or so ago? Sort of the same thing, without the food.
Who lent them the money to get started? Probably the same banks that funded Fontenbleau.
I've seen this before in other countries.Though you wouldn't catch me dangling my feet while eating 183 feet off the ground...excuse me...but if I had to excuse myself to hit the john...ummm do I scale down a greasy wire or will they have a porta-potty dangling from a cable adjacent to the dangling table? All this for $200-500 ? Thank you but I'll spend my $200 on the ground with my feet firmly planted to the carpet in the restaurant.
To each his own.
Personally, I don't feel that I would be able to choke down a meal while danglng in the sky. I am terrified of heights.
I think Steve Wynn just might be upset that he didn't think of it first. With all of the eyesores in respect to unfinished projects in the valley, I am truly surprised that Steve Wynn of all people would make an issue of this fine example of free enterprise!
To really make it a memorable night, after the final course is served the dining box should spin around at a rapid rate of speed a few times. You could then sell tickets to spectators below and they in turn could bet on which of the diners would blow their lunch first.
$200-$500 a head will get you dinner at Alex, Picasso, or Guy Savoy and an all day pass to the rides on top of the Stratosphere. And you'll eat a lot better than "Sky High Chicken." I think I saw that on the menu at Denny's.
ya...after you eat they should make it spin like tommy lee's drum kit circa 1987.
and actually have it blast "wild side" by motley crue just to mess with the people pulling into wynn.
"This is far from a carnival ride," he countered. "This is a five-star dining experience."
Really?? As a proprietor of a legitimate 3 star rated restaurant I would love to know who rated this a '5 star' restaurant. There are less than 50 TRUE 5 star rated restaurants in the ENTIRE U.S.A. and I am sure that 'Dinner in the Sky' is not one of them.
Sounds like the proprietor of this establishment will say whatever it takes to sell a meal. I for one can be counted out and if this actually gets approved I will eat my health card!!!
I am going to agree with the entrepreneur and not Wynn on this one and I am not hardly a Wynn basher.
Wow. I actually agree with henderson on something! While I don't know if I'd do this (I'd MUCH rather spend $200+ on a REAL 5-star dinner, like at Joel Robuchon!), I can see how it can be a major tourist attraction... Even in a recession. It's wild & crazy enough to fit in with all the other wild & crazy Vegas attractions. So IMHO, the Clark County Commission should approve "Dinner in the Sky" and finally breathe some new life into The North Strip.
c'mon people. what else are you going to do with all the out of use cranes dotting the strip? And I'm sure those crane operators enjoy being able to pick up a paycheck nowadays.
While I agree that the North Strip needs something I don't think a floating dinner platform is it. Who wants dust in their food?? Champagne glasses tipping over in a wind?? What if you have to go to the bathroom?? Do they offer cups to urinate in?? You get the idea. Las Vegas would be much better served by putting in a water park or mini-golf course than this overpriced blunder.
We have dined in the sky, and I would recommend the experience to anyone that has the means to attend. The open air 360 degree view of the strip is amazing and cannot be compared to anything currently available to us in Las Vegas. You would be shocked at how sturdy it feels being up so high. The table is so heavy-it doesn't shake at all. As far as I'm concerned, the actual attraction isn't the issue. Steve Wynn is in no position to dictate what other attractions on the strip may take away from, or help bring patrons to his property. In this economy-any business that earns a profit and contributes a portion of its earnings towards county/state/federal taxes should be welcome with open arms. Why restrict a business owner from creating an attraction that's earnings would supplement the local budget, especially when the local government had to make recent cuts affecting the school system and other improvement projects? The County Commissioners only need to be concerned with the proven safety record of the attraction when casting their votes tomorrow. After that, it is up to us-The Consumer, whether local or tourist, if we want to enjoy a sky high dining experience.
I wouldn't do it, but it looks cool.
NO freaking water parks on the strip. this isn't branson or orlando.
i wish there was a really cool guitar shop on the strip that would sell REAL collector guitars, not those stupid things at the memorabilia places.
i love it when i see stevie ray vaughn's signature on a no-name generic guitar that was built in 1996, years after he died.
Wynn mad because he didn't think of it first. I hope they get approved and stick it to Mr. Wynn.
I will be excited to see this new location "propel" this attraction to new "heights"...seriously, Vegas is all about innovation, originality, being a trend-setter and simply being unique. It will just give me one more reason to visit, especially in the new location! Guests of the Wynn will not only want to experience it, but once they see it in action, they will NEED to!
Came back a couple of days later to check on this story and its comments only to see that still more of the comments are outright blatant advertisements that the owner of the company should hire some of these people as PR reps. If the comment above this one is not proof I don't know what is.
no way jose..too crazy
We experienced "Dinner in The Sky" on New Years Eve! It was much more than a meal, it was a unique experience! The view,the dinning and the fresh air came together to inspire me to encourage others to experience Mr. Hindens worthwhile contribution of what Las Vegas has to offer!