Ice bar in Vegas

The Ice Bar trend is not the newest fad but still HOT. Apparently Vegas got their very own ice bar! It just opened in Mandalay Bay. For those of you who's been to Vegas in the summer would learn to appreciate what Mandalay Bay's got to offer. The scorching sun could use a little ice. Like other ice bars, guests have to put on warm clothes before entering the bar and pay for the experience. A 30-minute visit that includes one drink costs $30 in the bar which is chilled to minus five degrees Celsius (around 23 degrees Fahrenheit). The bar is made of ice, there are giant ice sculptures (including an ice Elvis) and drinks served in glasses of ice. Sounds like this place will be the place to be in summer when Las Vegas temps spike into triple digits.

Michelle Gookin of Escalon, Calif., near Modesto, likes this newest Vegas diversion. "I always wanted to stay in an ice hotel, so this is probably the closest I'll ever come. I come to Las Vegas a lot. I'm always looking for something different to do, and this is definitely different.

"It's amazing to me. You'll never find anything in Vegas that's done halfway."

It took about 150 giant blocks of ice, each weighing 265 pounds, to create the unique attraction. "All the ice is made in Canada," says general manager David Kuhn. "They have a process where there's no impurities, bubbles or anything like that. So when it settles in the room, it's as clear as glass."

Those blocks are also used to create giant ice sculptures. An oversized carving of Elvis, guitar in hand, graces the center of the room. It's a popular spot for pictures. Those photos are taken by a staff member and are for sale upon leaving the bar; personal cameras are not allowed.

[Source: LA Times]