Theatre - House Of Coco Magazine

Hotels & Spas February 6, 2018

The #TeamCoco Guide to Wynn & Encore Las Vegas

We just can’t seem to keep away from Las Vegas. From the infamous strip to tours of the Gran Canyon and flights over the desert, Sin City is the destination that just keeps giving. With Ceasar’s Palace and The Venetian on most visitors hit lists, our #TeamCoco girl Jenna decided to check out two less stereotypical resorts, The Wynn & Encore. Being entirely cladded in copper tinted glass, the two hotels stood out from a mile away in the Vegas sun, here’s exactly how to make the most of them on your visit…

“After flying Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic (what a dream) and being picked up in a blacked out Chevrolet, we made our way from the airport. Driving up Las Vegas Boulevard, it’s impossible not be overwhelmed by your surroundings. Palm trees and 20ft Billboards adorn the sidewalks advertising shows, private dancers and of course, gambling. The suns shining and we look up in shock at how large the Wynn & Encore really are – Encore has 63 floors, which slightly towers over the Wynn at 60. Their impressive structure makes them incredibly Instagrammable from almost anywhere on the strip.

Where to eat

I don’t know about you, but I always plan my trips around Restaurants and dining experiences. Food is a huge passion of mine and thankfully, you don’t have to stray too far from the Wynn & Encore to find an array of options. A personal favourite was for sure Mizumi. Located just a stones throw away from the Wynn Theatre just through the Esplanade, Mizumi is a Japanese restaurant with the biggest Sake menu i’ve ever seen.

Walking into Mizumi, the interiors just hit you. The entire restaurant looks out over a private Japanese garden, complete with koi pond and a stunning 90-foot waterfall – you can even eat outside right on the edge. The brains behind the concept, Chef Devin Hashimoto, uses his unique and extravagant approach to Japanese cuisine by presenting a choice of dining experiences at Mizumi which are not only cutting edge, but beautifully done. This includes a robatayaki bar, a dedicated teppanyaki room, and ocean-fresh sushi and sashimi. I can honestly say that we were all blown away by the Sushi and Sashimi we had and the Shrimp Tempura and Avocado were to DIE for.

If you’re looking for something a little more traditional (well, as traditional as Vegas can get), Lakeside is your best bet. Located down a curved escalator between the Encore & Wynn, it really is what it says on the tin. Similar to Mizumi, Lakeside has just as stunning views for dinner, this time – backing onto the Lake of Dreams a stunning installation that combines water and video projections. Not only does this restaurant offer a multi-sensory experience with the Lake of Dreams and burnt orange interiors, it offers some of the best fish in the world. Chef David Walzog’s specialties include “ocean-to-table” fish caught from Hawaiian waters, a wide variety of oven roasted lobster and crab, and prime aged steaks. The steaks are honestly enormous, so proceed with caution!

On my visit, I tried the Snapper with Coconut Rice & Seafood Curry and it was honestly incredible. Our server told us that this fish would have been swimming in the sea just 48 hours ago, and you could tell. This Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award-winning restaurant offers a unique environment that sets the stage for a menu that focuses on fresh, seasonally available preparations. Vegas Seven (a popular and respected publication in the city) describes Lakeside as, “one of the best places in the world for enjoying the bounty of the world’s oceans.”

Tip: If you’re hungover you NEED to visit Charlie’s Dinner which is right next to the Casino floor at Wynn. Their Burgers are massive and you also get that authentic American food experience everyone goes on about!

Where to sleep

Encore is pretty special as it has been awarded the AAA Five Diamond Award every single year since opening, and luckily Encore was going to be where we were staying. Encore and its sister property, Wynn Las Vegas collectively hold more Forbes five-star awards than any other casino-resort in the world which makes it one of the most prestigious hotels in the world. When we checked into our Deluxe Twin Queen Suite on the 61st floor, we knew we’d made the right choice.

Looking out of our window (after asking Amazon Alexa to open the curtains, sweet!) we could see every single iconic hotel. The view was panoramic to say the least and we never got bored of it, we even ate our room-service breakfast right by the window every single day. From the Encore, you can see it’s twin, Wynn, catching the sun or glittering at night. It makes a stunning backdrop to any picture and makes you feel very ‘Vegas’ when you look out over the strip.

The beds are ridiculously comfortable and feature overstuffed pillows and 507 thread count linen, which was like sleeping on a cloud. Very useful for those hungover mornings and drunken nights! The Italian marble bathroom features an incredibly deep bath with separate glass-enclosed shower, his & hers sinks, a TV to watch as much Kardashians as you like and the most UNREAL bathrobes you’ll ever find in a hotel. You can even buy the robes in the Wynn Lifestyle store they’re that sought after, kinda regretting not getting one now!

Tip: Make sure to order breakfast to the room, they bring it on the cutest table and set it right up for you with the best view. The Bagels are awesome!

Where to party

If you’re not off to Hakkasan, Tao or Magic Mike Live….there’s plenty of places to let you hair down on the resort. From the Encore Lobby Bar that serves up the best Lychee Martinis and has waitresses dressed as show girls, to the famous XSclub that backs onto a pool, you can have a chiller or a killer any night of the week. The resort also has two more clubs, Intrigueand Encore Beach Club – which both have incredibly seductive reputations.

A great memory of mine from this trip is definitely sitting at the Allegro Italian bar and drinking Gin & Tonics until 5am with some Canadians. It was super chilled out, but absolutely hilarious and showed me that you don’t have to go to a club every night to get the Vegas experience. It’s everywhere!

Tip: Order the Allegro Truffle & Paramesan fries when you get the munchies, they do NOT disappoint and are served right up until they close.

What to do

If you’re not satisfied with checking out the bars and restaurants Wynn & Encore have to offer, it doesn’t stop there. Of course, there are the vast Casino floors that kept me entertained for hours – but Wynn & Encore offer so much more than that.

For those who like shopping, you have to visit the Esplanades & Wynn Plaza. The Esplanade is a clever invention that connects the two hotels, with luxury shopping. From Hermes to Chanel, you can shop here until late and spend your winnings from the Casinos – very clever invention Mr Wynn, Bravo.

WYNN PLAZA: Louis Vuitton Men’s, Nirav Modi, Saint Laurent, Stefano Ricci. WYNN ESPLANADE: Alexander McQueen Brioni, Cartier, Chanel,Chloé, Chopard, Dior, Givenchy, Graff, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Prada, Rolex, Salvatore Ferragamo, Watches of Switzerland, Wynn Collection. ENCORE ESPLANADE: Chanel, Hermès, Loro Piana.

If shopping isn’t your thing, you’ve got to check out the shows. Luckily for us, we were staying exactly where we needed to be for what has been voted one of the best shows and productions in Las Vegas. Le Rêve – The Dream welcomed us into a thrilling acrobatic fantasy world, set inside an aqua theater-in-the-round. From a dramatic high dive (I screamed when he dropped!) to a sexy underwater tango, the powerful soundtrack, lighting and effects absolutely blew us away. I’ve never quite seen synchronisation like it and the performers were super talented. Voted “Best Production Show” in Las Vegas for an amazing seven consecutive years, I can completley see why. An absolute MUST SEE if you’re in the city.Tip: Turn up early to the box office to grab your tickets as the queues are huge and you need to have enough time to grab a Wynn Frozen Margarita!“——Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Hotel 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 770-7000 – (888) 320-7123
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Room Reservations (877) 321-9966 roomreservations@wynnlasvegas.com
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Concierge (702) 770-7070(888) 320-7122 conciergeservices@wynnlasvegas.com —– Show Tickets (702) 770-9966(888) 320-7110 —– Dining Reservations(877) 321-9966(888) 352-3463 dining@wynnlasvegas.com

Food & Drink November 20, 2017

Festive Feels – London Christmas Wrapped Up – Pt 3

Do we indulge in a tipple because it’s cold or is it cold so we can indulge in a few tipples? Big questions, we know.

Let’s make it simple and guide you to a cosy den where you can mull over life’s biggest questions with a historic hot gin….or three at The Sipsmith Frost Fair popping up at the National Theatre’s Green Room Garden Bar.

What: Hot gin cocktails, Sipsmith mugs, wintery haven above the Thames.

Where: National Theatre, South Bank

When: 22nd November 2017 – early 2018.

Instagrammable Pick: A foot long lamb and rosemary hot dog. Yes, really.

All the info: GreenRoom.NationalTheatre.org.uk / @GreenRoomSE1

Girl Bosses of Great Britain September 19, 2017

GirlBossesofGreatBritain: Passion, Determination & the X Factor with Leah McKenzie

#SpoilerAlert ! This interview contains unbridled enthusiasm and passion for life, we fear it may be contagious…

This week, House of Coco caught up with super ‘slashie’ Leah McKenzie on her passions, plans and how on earth she does it all!

HoC: Hey, Leah, welcome to House of Coco. We know you as a lady of many talents – tell us a little about your passions!

Leah: I have one passion in life and that is living life! Everything goes into that, I think we are so lucky to be able to have such an amazing experience, even in dark times. When the time is right we are all thankful for this opportunity to experience things like food, culture, arts, music, love, laughter, joy and even things like pain and sadness, its all part of this amazing experience.

HoC: We completely agree and we can see your passion for life spilling through to your work from presenting and acting to X Factor’s BootCamp! How did you build your portfolio career?

Leah: I have always known that showbiz is definitely my destiny! From a young age when I became aware of my self, my intellect, my talents and emotions, I realised a wanted to be a showbiz star; an actress, singer song writer, a presenter, a TV personality.

To get to where I am now I’ve done both paid and unpaid work and also made sure I was constant with all my social media’s, to the point where people would say I post way too much but I felt this method was right for me as I have so many sides to show! I want people to see and understand my growth, I believe that is why people are interested in me as they see I am real and authentic, my journey is serious and also raw to the core and I want to share this with people all over the world.

HoC: Talking of you at a young age; what advice would you have now for a younger you?

Leah: If I could talk to a younger version of myself I would first of all explain to them how important it is to get as much training as possible because when you’re given a gift it’s raw like a diamond in the rough. But when you start to shape it up and polish it, you get to appreciate its beauty.

Also I would tell them to be themselves, be true, dress however they feel to dress, speak how they want to speak and follow their dreams with the right intentions and never, ever give up. Like all the Greats have said; you work hard, lose sleep, you stress, you cry and scream but you never, ever let that stop you going because one day that door will open for you and it will be right for you.

If it’s your destiny and you it want THAT much it will happen for you.

HoC: Inspiring stuff, we love it! So what’s on the cards for the rest of 2017?

Leah: I would like to have an EP out, and my TV show ‘Leah McKenzie Loves Life’ doesn’t matter if it only has a few hits… haha, I’m sure it will have loads!

I would also like to establish a company that can help other British artists to excel. Not just artists in music but all creatives. I think the word ‘Creatives’ breaks all the barriers and there is no boxes; anyone is a creative as long as what they are creating comes from within.

To be honest, I’m open to see what else the rest of this year has in store. It’s been full of so many great surprises!

HoC: Sounds like a busy couple of months ahead; how on earth do you squeeze it all in?

Leah: Being a boss is one of the most challengingly things to do especially when you have a young family, like me. When you’re so driven like I am, I have ideas galore but trying to prioritise and make them happen is so challenging. I have failed many times. I have started things and not completed them and it has been a learning curve. What I’ve realised, as I’m becoming older and more mature, is if you start something you HAVE to finish it.

You need to be organised, write your ideas down and execute them one by one and just make it happen. I don’t really socialise that much, even though my Instagram portraits I’m a really bubbly sociable person as that’s work for me! When I’m not working, I’m at home working on myself and trying to make this happen. Consistency, willpower and determination is what drives me; even if you fail, just get up and keep on marching.

HoC: We can respect that hustle! Please tell us you allow yourself some R&R time too? How do you unwind from all the craziness?

Leah: If I’m lucky enough to go holiday, I like to escape to a beach!Ahhh, the sun, sand and sea (and a few vinos!) and just happy vibes…. If I’m in England, I love to go for strolls in the park and just be around nature. I don’t like to think about work or money on my days off, I just want to walk, have a laugh and be in fairyland. I do love going to the gym but even that I see as work so when I’m trying to relax I try not to do anything like that!

HoC: Give us some gossip; you’ve got to tell us what the X Factor bootcamp was like, is it anything like what we see on TV?

Leah: It was so amazing, the whole experience was fantastic. It is a lot like what you see on TV but at the end of the day people have to understand that X Factor is an entertainment show, it’s there to entertain!

We do see the funny characters going through [to the next round] for our entertainment and also see some amazing singers go through. I will say that on and off screen I had a fantastic time and the production team were great, I met some amazing artists and the opportunity was fantastic. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys singing. You may not want to be the next big superstar but just go for the experience and they make you feel like super stars……..until you get dropped and sent home, haha!

HoC: It’s been such a pleasure to meet you, Leah, and we’re super excited to see what you get up to next. How can we keep up with your adventures?

Leah: I’m on all the social channels; find me on instagram @leahmckx, twitter @LMMWORLDXX and Facebook is ‘Leah McKenzie’

I’m one of the little fish trying to make it in the big pond. I’m sure I will grow and succeed on this journey but we all need support! The little people that need your support will appreciate that ‘like’ or ‘follow’ so much more than Drake or Rihanna. So come on guys, get following!

Arts August 25, 2016

Tales of Edie

Channeling the ‘Superstar’ Edie Sedgwick we pay homage to the ultimate ‘IT’ girl famed for her friendship with artist Andy Warhol.

The tragic artist had a short life – and no one could predict what we could have expected from her – but what we do know is that she has impeccable style.

Edie stories by Narita Savoor – Model Sophie Bailey @ Boss Model Management Beauty by Jenny Machin and Styled By Taheed Khan