City Series: Las Vegas: Stratosphere, Level 107

Now THIS is a room with a view!  I took this photograph while standing in the Level 107 Lounge at the Stratosphere Hotel (looking over into the "Top of the World" restaurant) and all I could think was, they aren't kidding.  This is the top of the world.

We met up with some old friends at Level 107 and enjoyed drinks and appetizers while the sun went down and the lights of Las Vegas came on.  As you can see, my shrimp cocktail was gorgeous - "three large Mexican prawns with cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish and Yucatan-style shrimp ceviche."

*sigh*  I loved it.  I also talked Dan into giving me one of his mini Kobe burgers and after two bites, I didn't want it to end.

While we were reminiscing, Executive Chef Rick Giffen stopped by our table and let us in on some fun.  He'll be cooking in an upcoming episode of Food Network's hit show "Chopped" - airing sometime in September.  He said to look for Episode 13 of Season 12.  Fingers crossed that 13 is his lucky number! 

At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.  If you come to Las Vegas, you simply must see the city from up here.  We went out onto the open air observation deck to take pictures and soak up the view.  While we stood outside in the night air and shared a quiet moment, people were arriving with something else on their mind. 

You see, The Stratosphere is also a magnet for adrenaline junkies.  There are four spectacular things to do that will have you telling the story for years.

You can do a "controlled free fall" in a harness from the 108th floor (Oh yes, I'm serious, I saw a blur shoot past the window and overheard, "There goes one!").  You can be strapped in a seat and held by a mechanical arm 64 feet away from the building (and 900 feet in the air) while it spins - yikes.  Or you can sit in a roller coaster car as it teeter-totters back and forth (off the side of the building and 866 feet off the ground) until it feels like it will go right off the track.  It stops at the last second, but I'll tell you, I had a hard time watching it from the terra firma of the observation deck.  But what a great photo!

Viva Las Vegas, indeed.