Although a number of tenants have been announced for The Linq, the first-of-its-kind F.A.M.E. has made us especially curious.

The venue’s name stands for “Food. Art. Music. Entertainment.” But we still weren’t getting it. So, we decided to track down Chul Park, who works with HIG Management, the group bringing F.A.M.E. to The Linq. The Linq, of course, is the new, multi-million dollar shopping, dining and entertainment complex coming to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip (between Flamingo Las Vegas and The Quad).

You can't spell "F.A.M.E." without "M.E." Or "F.A." for that matter.

Park explains that the overall concept for F.A.M.E. is that it’s an “Asian Night Market & Lounge.” Which would be great if this blog knew what that was. We don’t get out much. Thankfully, Park was up for telling us more.

“On the first floor, we’re re-creating an Asian night market. Night markets in Asia are known to offer a variety of street food within a busy, loud and exciting atmosphere. They’re great places to stroll around with your friends and family, to eat, drink and people-watch,” says Park.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

Oh, all right, we'll eat a vegetable if we have to.

“We’ll have stalls and food trucks offering popular street food from different cities in Asia. Once you step into the first floor of F.A.M.E., you’ll feel like you’re standing in the middle of a night market in Taipei. The second floor will be a lounge with sushi bar and robatayaki (Japanese slow-grilled skewers). It’ll give off a vibe that you can only feel at a lounge in Tokyo or Seoul. It’ll be very hip and sexy.”

Given that this Las Vegas is both hip and sexy, we’re now completely onboard. Along with being hip and sexy, however, this blog is also often hungry, so we asked Park for more scoop about the food.

Sure to be one of the more aromatic offerings at The Linq.

Park adds, “There’s going to be an array of authentic street food you’d find at night markets in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei and more. We’ll have noodles, dim sum and satay, but also food that can only be found at night markets in those cities.”

We’re definitely in.

Of course, another component of F.A.M.E. will be the entertainment. Among the offerings will be a Japanese Taiko drum show, Chinese lion dances, live cooking, DJs and street performers.

This video might provide a feel for what’s coming at F.A.M.E.

As far as the art, Park says, “F.A.M.E., as a whole, will be a very artsy space with a lot of attention to detail. Also, in order to portray the authentic street feel, we’ll have a space dedicated to street art where we’ll invite different artists to ‘tag’ every month.”

We were curious about a couple of other things, like who’s behind F.A.M.E., and Park said, “Many of us were born and raised in Asia. Others have multiple, first-hand experiences at Asian night markets and lounges. Each of us brings something to the table and we’re going to make F.A.M.E. as authentic as possible for people who have yet to experience an Asian night market or lounge, or for those who want to experience it again.”

Fact: You will never see a cook at an Asian street market with a wrinkled shirt.

Thanks to Chul Park for sending along some photos, too! They were taken by the F.A.M.E. team during visits to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Taipei.

We were also curious about the fact “Gangnam Style” was mentioned in describing F.A.M.E. Park already knew what we were going to ask next.

“It’s funny the song ‘Gangnam Style’ became popular while we were coming up with the concept for F.A.M.E. Gangnam is an area in Seoul that’s known to have some of the best street food and trendiest lounges and clubs. The atmosphere in Gangnam is fun, energetic, passionate and vibrant and it’s that style, ‘Gangnam Style,’ that we’re bringing to F.A.M.E.”

Don't hate us because we're mainly sharing the food photos.

We had to ask Park what he’s personally most excited about when it comes to The Linq. He said, “The Linq is going to be a place where you can come back every night and experience something new, different and exciting. And the High Roller (observation wheel). How can you not get excited about the world’s tallest observation wheel?”

We can’t wait to get a taste of F.A.M.E. when it opens later this year.

You’d sort of expect excellent food at an Italian restaurant, especially in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Official Motto: “Everything in Las Vegas tastes better because we also have pole dancing.”)

But Trevi Restaurant, inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, does great Italian food one better by also serving up some mind-blowing signature cocktails.

Yes, there's a fountain. It's not the Trevi fountain. Long story. Please try and stay focused. We're talking about cocktails here.

Here, then, are five libations sure to make you feel like you just tossed a coin into an Italian fountain and got lucky. So to speak.

Stealing the show, right off the bat, is the mesmerizing Pomegranate Cosmo. This Sin City-worthy temptation has Sobieski Orange vodka, fresh pomegranate juice, triple sec liqueur and fresh-squeezed lime.

Come to mamma. Or mamma mia. Whatever.

Also ridiculously good is the Capri Coral Crush, with Smirnoff Melon vodka, along with a blend of mango, guava, pineapple and passion fruit juices.

Speaking of "Capri," did you know The Quad hotel in Las Vegas was once called the Flamingo Capri? Yes, there will be a quiz.

The Italian margarita has Sauza Gold tequila, Cointreau, Amaretto and fresh lime juice. What it mostly has is the ability to help you get past pretty much any drama in your life, at least for awhile.

You can tell it's an Italian margarita because after you drink one, you'll feel like putting on a striped shirt and singing to tourists. Probably.

The Coconut Mojito is not only pleasing to the palate, but also to the eye. It contains Pearl Coconut vodka with fresh mint and lime, with splashes of soda and pineapple juice. Don’t try to replicate a “splash” at home. The cocktails at Trevi are prepared by professionals trained in the art of splashing.

Waiter, would you mind bringing over a diving board? Thanks.

Last, but in no way the least, is the Sangrini. It’s one of the best slushy drinks we’ve had in town, and while we can’t entirely remember what was in it, we’d call that a tremendous selling point.

"Peach Bellini with Valpolicella wine" seems to ring a bell.

Every signature cocktail at Trevi is more saporous than the last. And while we can’t guarantee the cocktails will suddenly make you start using big words like “saporous,” we’re pretty sure they can help you mispronounce a few.

During its transition from The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood to downtown Las Vegas, the recently-closed Krave nightclub will temporarily take up residence inside Crown Theater and Nightclub at Rio Las Vegas, starting Jan. 18, 2012.

Not to be confused with a proposed supertall skyscraper called Crown Las Vegas, which we didn't know about until six seconds ago.

Unrelated: Read more about the supertall skyscraper thingy.

Krave was one of the premier gay nightclubs in the country, and will open as Krave Massive (see below) in downtown’s Neonopolis later this spring. Learn more here, or visit Krave Massive’s official site.

Krave Massive, which owners claim will be the largest gay nightclub in the world.

Until its move to Neonopolis is complete, Krave will operate as “Krave at Crown,” open each Friday and Saturday night, 10:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Neonopolis is already home to Krave’s sister nightlife extravaganza, Drink & Drag, where the majority of staff members are drag queens.

Drink & Drag is full of surprises.

The Krave club at Rio will bring over many of the same team from the location at The Miracle Mile, and will feature some of the town’s best DJs, including Michael Graves (reader pick for “Best DJ” in the 2012 “Best of Las Vegas” issue of the Las Vegas Review-Journal), Lightknife, Mikey Francis, Dave Aude and DJ Irene.

Krave at Crown will also have its signature go-go-dancers, voted “Best Go-Go Dancers” for 2012 by the staff of Las Vegas Weekly.

Who says Las Vegas isn’t a champion of culture?

The Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood has announced it will open “Stripped The Play,” direct from Off-Broadway, on Dec. 21, 2012.

This blog doesn't have a six pack. More of a keg.

“Stripped The Play,” which feels like it needs some additional punctuation somewhere, delves into the world of male stripping, following “the true story of an ex-cop’s final night on stage and the struggles he faces before taking-it-off one last time.”

Here’s an interview with one of the major players, Steve Stanulis.

“Stripped The Play” will appear nightly at midnight (dark on Sunday and Monday) at the Saxe Theater.

Learn more about the show sure to put the “ab” in “fabulous Vegas shows.” A tagline this blog should probably trademark, come to think of it.

He’s considered by many to be the godfather of high-end Las Vegas dining. Chef Wolfgang Puck’s groundbreaking journey in Sin City began at Spago restaurant, in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, two decades ago.

On Dec. 11, 2012, Puck celebrated his 20th anniversary in Las Vegas with champagne, a key to the city and a “throwback menu” featuring dishes (and retro prices) from the original Spago menu.

Chef Puck takes part in a time-honored Las Vegas tradition: Pretending to cook something because we asked him to, nicely.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (below) was on-hand to present Chef Puck with the key to the city, which she guaranteed “opens all the slot machines from one end of The Strip to the other.”

We suspect the actual results may vary.

It's Vegas. Shouldn't it be a key card to the city?

Among his many accomplishments, Chef Wolfgang Puck began his formal culinary training at age 14, created a nationally-syndicated newspaper column, “Wolfgang Puck’s Kitchen,” became the official caterer for the Academy Awards Governors Ball and once saved a litter of kittens from a burning building. Note: We may have made that last part up to see if you’re still paying attention.

Also in attendance at the anniversary celebration were VIPs from the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, including David Robins, Managing Partner and Tom Kaplan, Senior Managing Partner. Running an empire isn’t a one-man show, you know.

David Robins, Tom Kaplan, Mayor Goodman and Chef Wolfgang Puck. Had we taken notes, we'd be able to confirm that's in order, left to right.

Through Dec. 20, 2012 Spago will be serving up some classic Wolfgang Puck fare at 1992 prices. Naturally, we’ve got some photos! A few of them are even in focus.

View the entire “throwback menu” (.pdf format).

We're thinking Chef Puck should try to make a go of the culinary field. This Las Vegas blog has an eye for talent.

The time-traveling menu includes tasty appetizers like Sauteed Maryland Crab Cakes, Crispy Petaluma Quail, Crisp Tempura Shrimp and Smoked Salmon Pizza.

OK, in the case of the pizza, they probably should’ve put quotation marks around “appetizer.”

The pie that started it all.

Entrees include irresistible options like Oven-Roasted Salmon, Cantonese Style Roasted Duck with Wild Huckleberries and Venison “Filet Mignon.” Oh, and in a nod to Chef Puck’s Austrian roots, Weiner Schnitzel.

Bottom line: Everything looked amazing, and guests seemed thrilled to schmooze with Wolfgang Puck while enjoying dishes not typically found on the Spago menu.

We're currently craving this, and we have no idea what it is.

Enjoy more exclusive photos from Wolfgang Puck’s big night, and congrats to the acclaimed chef for starting the culinary revolution that continues in Las Vegas today, making it one of the premier dining destinations in the world. And, for once, this blog isn’t just making stuff up to try and impress you.

There’s holiday shopping. Then, there’s holiday shopping in Las Vegas.

Take that, Europe!

That’s The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, and this eye-wooing shopping megacomplex is perfectly willing to spank your local mall and send it crying to its mommy.

While wandering the gift shop at Imperial Palace, we stumbled (it’s just a figure of speech, probably) upon this clever Las Vegas keepsake and just had to share.

This blog loves it some bar gadgets.

This James Bondesque set has five wine accessory thingys, and costs $24.99.

Remember, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Even in Vegas.

Everybody knows the world’s coming to an end in December, right? At least according to those pesky Mayans.

Well, if anyone can make the most of a cataclysmic event, it’s Las Vegas! (After all, the city used to host atomic test explosions the same way Times Square hosts New Year’s Eve.)

PBR Rock Bar at The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, for example, is offering drink specials in anticipation of the end of the world. Guests are invited to check items off their “Beer Bucket List” with $19 Budweiser buckets every day, for example.

To conclude the countdown, Vegas visitors won’t want to miss an “End of the World” party on Dec. 21, 2012.

At PBR Rock Bar, you can celebrate the end of the world by drinking from the end of a bull.

Dec. 21, of course, is supposed to be the end of the world based on what many scientists refer to as “pseudoscience,” or what this blog refers to as “complete malarkey.” According to some, Dec. 21 marks the end of a 5,125-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, whatever that might actually be. Read more if you enjoy fiction.

Whether the doomsayers are right or not, Las Vegas is always up for throwing a party.

Learn more about PBR Rock Bar & Grill at their official site, before it’s too late.

The Linq just got a serious dose of realness!

In case you hadn’t heard (hint: visit this blog more often), The Linq is a $550 million district coming to the center of the Las Vegas Strip that will include copious amounts of retail stores, dining and entertainment, as well as a giant observation wheel called The High Roller. In other words, The Linq is about to dramatically transform what’s already the world’s most exciting city.

This is how Vegas does bling, baby.

Today, an initial group of tenants that will make up The Linq was announced, many of which are making an appearance in Las Vegas for the first time.

Brooklyn Bowl is a full-on entertainment experience centered around a 32-lane bowling alley, with live music every night of the week. Rolling Stone magazine called the original Brooklyn Bowl in, you know, Brooklyn, “One of the most incredible places on Earth,” and the nightlife mecca was even named the best music venue in New York City by the folks at the Zagat Survey. Now, it’s Sin City’s turn! Visit the official Brooklyn Bowl site for some flavor. Or read more in the Las Vegas Sun.

Brooklyn Bowl NYC is to a "bowling alley" as the Gobi Desert is to a "sandbox."

Sprinkles Cupcakes and Sprinkles Ice Cream is said by many to have begun the cupcake craze (they opened the world’s first cupcake bakery in Beverly Hills), and now Sprinkles is coming to Las Vegas for the very first time. Bonus Sprinkles trivia: They introduced the first cupcake ATM. This blog already hearts you, Sprinkles.

You had us at, well, cupcakes.

Chayo Mexicano is an upscale casual restaurant with plans for multiple bars, private dining rooms, indoor/outdoor seating and even a mechanical bull. The menu will feature food made with authentic Mexican ingredients designed by Executive Chef Carlos Garcia Rios. DJs will spin everything from salsa and house to hip hop and top 40.

F.A.M.E. is a brand new “food, art, music and entertainment” concept. F.A.M.E. will re-create the popular “Asian Night Market” vibe, with a lounge, Asian street food, street art and live, Asian-inspired entertainment.

Here’s an exuberant, electronic dance music-filled promotional video for F.A.M.E. that might set the tone.

Koto is an oddities store described as “a cross between Sharper Image and a gift store.” This store has roots in Aspen, and this outlet in The Linq will be a first in Las Vegas.

Off the Strip Bistro is an Italian restaurant which will have a neighborhood feel with a center bar, visible kitchen and a variety of delicious offerings like pastas, steaks, chicken, pastas, fish and pastas. Guess which dish we’ll be trying first? Off the Strip Bistro got its start in the Southern Highlands area of Las Vegas, so it’s homegrown goodness.

Off the Strip restaurant may also serve food. Ahem.

Bella Scarpa is a unique footwear and accessories boutique poised to wow shoe fanatics from around the world. The shop will offer a collection of platforms and heels, wedges and ballet slippers, boots and sneakers, “adorned, embellished and all about fun.”

Ruby Blue will boast some of the hottest trends in costume jewelry and accessories, all amidst a store designed with the feel of a burlesque dressing room. The store will also offer lingerie, bustiers and novelty legwear as well as a variety of sexy novelty games and toys. Do we have your attention yet?

Where's The Linq, again? Right over there.

Yard House is already a hang-out in Vegas, known for its mind-boggling selection of beer, ale and lager, but the restaurant-bar’s location (right across from the High Roller observation wheel) and the fact it’s the largest Yard House in the country, will assure its utter uniqueness. This casual eatery is a mix of family-friendly atmosphere, classic rock music, American cuisine and unforgettable good times.

Here’s a little Yard House sizzle to get you in the mood.

Tilted Kilt is a Celtic-themed sports pub staffed with beautiful servers in saucy plaid kilts and bras. Although there are Tilted Kilts across the country, the very first Tilted Kilt was in Las Vegas, so this will be a homecoming of sorts. This blog has typically not had an issue with establishments wherein beautiful servers dwell. We’re open-minded like that.

We don't make up the news, we just report it.

Flour and Barley is a pizzeria that will sport pizzas with wood-fired crusts, fresh ingredients and house-made toppings. Craft beer will also play an important role at this “rock-influenced pizzeria.” The decor will feature wood and brick, a marble bar top and red and white-checkered tabletops, along with vintage rock posters and black and white sports photography.

Construction of The Linq is already well under way. This structure is going up in the space formerly occupied by the self-park garage of O'Sheas casino.

All-in-all, this eclectic mix of offerings should provide more than enough to keep senses reeling as The Linq springs to life in 2013. Exciting times ahead, folks, and we’re not just talking about the quilts. Probably.

More news to come!

You never know who you’ll bump into when you’re in Las Vegas.

Yesterday, while roaming The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, we stumbled into an autograph signing with none other than former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion of the world, Leon Spinks.

Gratuitous Olympics tie-in: Spinks won the gold medal for boxing (light heavyweight division) at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

The Field of Dreams sports memorabilia store hosted the champ’s visit.

Who’d Spinks defeat to become world champion? None other than a 36-year-old Muhammad Ali. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.

The fighter’s famous, gap-toothed grin might be gone, but the affable boxer hasn’t lost the spark that made him a world champion.

Krave Nightclub, a popular gay club at The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, is pulling up stakes and moving to downtown Las Vegas at Neonopolis.

The new nightclub, to be named Krave Massive, is expected to be the world’s largest gay nightclub and will open in a space formerly occupied by movie theaters.

Trust us on this one. You haven't fully partied in Vegas until you've partied with drag queens.

The folks behind Krave also run Drink & Drag, a fun new drag queen bar, bowling alley and billiard room, also located inside Neonopolis. Neonopolis is located on the northwest corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Plans for Krave Massive claim it will have five themed dance rooms, three bars, a comedy club (tentatively called Tickled Pink) and a performing arts theater. Also slated is an outdoor pool area.

The new Krave Massive club is expected to open in December 2012, with no word yet on when the Krave at The Miracle Mile Shops will shut its doors.

You know you’ve hit the apex of cool when you get your own athletic shoes, and Rio Las Vegas headliners (and professional rabble-rousers) Penn and Teller have done just that. Sort of.

It would be virtually impossible for us to like these shoes more.

Penn’s wife Emily Jillette was kind enough to Tweet about artist Ayin Gurling’s one-of-kind homage to the comedy-magicians, so we had to share her handiwork and find out more.

Gurling describes her shoes as “wearable fan art,” and indeed made this custom pair of “kicks” based on a special request by an avid Penn & Teller fan.

The shoe artist’s work has been featured in People magazine, but ultimately, isn’t the true measure of success appearing in the Pulse of Vegas blog? Yes, we thought so.

Proof positive you can lace up awesome.

Gurling says she starts her process by doing sketches on paper, then paints directly on the shoes with textile and acrylic paint, whatever those might actually be.

She finishes the work off with a sealant, so the Converse shoes are weatherproof and can be washed. (Hint: Don’t you dare, avid Penn & Teller fan.)

The average price for a pair of custom-painted shoes is about $135.

It's possible this Penn looks more like Penn than the actual Penn.

You can find Ayin Gurling online here, and find the actual Penn & Teller at Rio Las Vegas.

They just got these “Hangover” tees at Caesars Palace, and this blog hearts them.

Please come back to Vegas for "The Hangover 3," thanks.

The new T-shirt is available in the hotel’s Lobby Essentials and Forum Essentials stores, which, we understand, is not especially helpful, but we are a Las Vegas blog, not a hotel floorplan.

The ’80s is a favorite era of this blog, so we were downright giddy to learn of a new show opening at the V Theater inside The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood on July 13, “Awesome ’80s Prom.”

The interactive show will take guests back to the days of “shoulder pads, big hair, preppies and jocks,” including being able to mingle with actors portraying characters from ’80s classics like “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink.”

Expect this show to have an ample supply of both Wang and Chung.

In honor of the new show, the V Theater’s mezzanine showroom will be “transformed into a prom dance floor with a stage, disco lights, and classic ’80s decor,” according to the owner of the theater, David Saxe.

One of the highlights of the evening should be the chance to pose for an “awkward ’80s prom photo.” This blog is a big fan of awkward.

From the descriptions we’ve read, the “immersive” nature of the show seems to be akin to the “Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding” experience, a show formerly at the V Theater. Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding is now at Bally’s Las Vegas. Note: There will be a test.

“Awesome ’80s Prom” opens July 13, 2012, running at 8:00 p.m. each day (dark Sunday).

Learn more about the approximately 1,400 entertainment options at the V Theater on the official site.

In Vegas, one of the most exciting things you can see is a construction wall. Why? Because when a door closes in Sin City, a window almost always opens. Or something.

The Promenade Gift Shop at Flamingo Las Vegas, former home of celebrity appearances and beaded flamingos, recently closed and grew one of these mysterious walls.

We tried to get a peek, but the door was locked. And we couldn't find a window.

In Vegas, that pretty much means there’s something new, better, bigger or just plain different in the works.

More news to come!