nostalgic for old vegas.

My first trip to Las Vegas was in February 1999. The Strip has undergone a magnificent transformation since that time, making my first trip seem like light years ago. What are the differences? How about:
* Paris
* Mandalay Bay (opened in March 1999)
* Wynn Las Vegas
* The Aladdin Planet Hollywood
* The Venetian
* The Palazzo
* The Palms (off Strip)
* The Encore (coming this year)
* The Echelon (coming 2010)
* CityCenter (coming 2010)

More importantly, the corporate culture has changed dramatically (thanks to 9/11 for the nudge). The separate entities began merging a few years ago, creating several mega-corporations. Long story short, Harrah's owns at least seven Strip properties while MGM Mirage owns 10 or 11, including the monstrous CityCenter.

Where am I going with all this? I was reading a bit about the Sands Hotel and Casino and it made me nostalgic for the Las Vegas I never knew personally. If I had a time machine I'd love to go back to Vegas in the 60s and 70s, when corporations of a different sort ran the town.

Don't get me wrong. I truly love what's become of Vegas. In the 10 years we've been dating, I've watched Las Vegas grow into an international entertainment destination. It's not just for gamblers anymore. But there's something magical about the Rat Pack days of Las Vegas that we'll never get back.

These days, we get Paris Hilton.

That just doesn't seem fair at all.