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.

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.

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.

There’s so much to see at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, you may even forget there are stores.

Our photos are so awesome, we're thinking of blogging for a living.

Seriously, there are stores. (More than 160 of them.) Please buy something so they can build more incredible things for this blog to photograph.

Thank you.

Here’s today’s random photo of Las Vegas. Recognize this spot?

It's not a contest. The answer is below.

This shot was taken at the fountain next to Trevi restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

“Trevi,” by the way, means “three ways,” which seems oddly appropriate for Sin City, if you know what we’re saying. However, “Trevi” in this case refers to the fountain the restaurant was named after, which was built in Rome at the intersection of three streets.

The fountain outside Trevi restaurant isn’t a replica of the Trevi fountain, by the way. It’s the Fountain of the Gods. The Trevi fountain replica can be seen outside the Forum Shops on its east-facing, or Las Vegas Boulevard side (see below).

If you can't find a statue to love at Caesars Palace, you've lost your marbles. Or, technically, marble.

What’s the best thing about Trevi restaurant according to this blog? The gelato stand right outside. Simply not optional during a Vegas visit. Trust us, your uvula will thank you. Or something.

After nearly 20 years, the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas restaurant at The Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace is making a move. Here’s a photo of the space formerly occupied by this iconic restaurant.

Bonus points for spotting the guy carrying his wife's purse. Hey, we've all been there.

The restaurant will soon open on the mall’s third floor. Although, calling The Forum Shops a “mall” is a little like calling Caesars Palace a “quaint bed and breakfast.”

The Planet Hollywood restaurant, not to be confused with the Planet Hollywood hotel, will take up residence in the spot where the former Boa restaurant used to live. Note: There will be a test.

This is what the new restaurant looks like today.

This probably isn't how it will look when it opens. Unless they're going for a giant-sheet-of-plastic vibe.

Once the new restaurant opens, it promises to have all the things customers have come to know and love, including movie memorabilia. The new location will also feature two outdoor terraces with a great view of the Strip.

Not one to have commerce slam to a complete halt, the Planet Hollywood restaurant gift shop is already open for business next to Sushi Roku.

T-shirts are 50% off, ifyouknowwhatweresayin'. Hey, it's Vegas, you can never be sure.

We love Vegas newness, even when it’s not really “new-new.” You know what we mean.

Even if you’ve seen it a hundred times, the Fountain of the Gods at The Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace is always a sight to behold. Whatever “sight to behold” means. Because seeing something kind of implies you’re beholding it. Then, again, it’s better than a “sight to see.”

Let’s not get bogged down in details, shall we? Here’s today’s random Las Vegas photo.

Today's awkward trivia: Pegasus was sired by Poseidon. We're not entirely sure how that would work.

It’s interesting to note that while the Fountain of the Gods is located next to Trevi restaurant, the replica of the Trevi fountain is actually outside The Forum Shops (see below).

To keep your Caesars Palace fountains straight, we recommend a spreadsheet. There are a lot of them.

So, that’s two random photos of the day. This blog is here to exceed your expectations. Hey, it could happen someday.

Last year, around Thanksgiving, this blog put together a fun (but lazy) list of 10 Things to Be Thankful for in Las Vegas.

We figured, this Thanksgiving, why not just rehash our previous blog post idea and save some precious energy that could be better spent diving headlong into some potatoes au gratin?

This year, we’re making our list 11 things, and we’ve added a “free” twist. That way, you’ll feel like we’re going the extra mile, but without our having to actually “do very much.” Here we go, 11 free Vegas things to be thankful for.

1. Numbered lists.

Not specifically a Vegas thing, but look at all the progress we’re making on our list! One down, 10 to go.

Insert random photo we took of a Thanksgiving turkey here.

2. Big Elvis at Bill’s.

He’s big. He’s awesome. And his show is free at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall. For this, we are thankful.

Big Elvis is a Vegas institution. You can call him Pete.

3. Fremont Street Viva Vision light show.

It’s not just a must-see light show, it’s kind of the soundtrack for the ongoing party that is the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas. Bonus: We’re also thankful for the people on Fremont Street who take “dance like nobody’s watching” to heart, in a big way.

Casinos just love it when people go outside to watch free light shows.

4. “Show in the Sky” at Rio Vegas.

There you have your choreography and your music and your exposed, well-toned thighs. What more could you want in a free Vegas extravaganza? Learn more.

Bonus free thing to be thankful for? The Rio's bevertainers, and not just because we couldn't find a photo of the "Show in the Sky."

5. Hotel hower caps.

What? Hotel shower caps are both free and useful. See what we mean.

Oh, like you're not going to try this.

6. Aquarium at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

This blog loves it some fishies. Stop by this massive aquarium, and while you’re there, catch the also-free ”Fall of Atlantis” animatronic show thingy attraction. Since you’re in the neighborhood, see the seahorses at the Seahorse Lounge inside Caesars Palace, too. Oh, and there are tanks boasting hundreds of goldfish at Beijing Noodle No. 9, too.

Now you know why they say much of Las Vegas is under water.

7. Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio.

Changed seasonally, these gardens are on just about everyone’s “free things to do in Vegas” list. We’d pay to get in, but don’t tell the Bellagio that. We like free things better.

Yes, the tree talks. Don't be alarmed.

8. Flair bartenders at Margaritaville Casino.

The wacky bartenders at Carnaval Court outside Harrah’s Vegas are getting some serious flair competition from the beach bums at the new Margaritaville Casino at Flamingo. Can you say “beach bums” in a corporate blog? If not, please feel free to “complain” to “someone who cares.” Moving on.

Sometimes, people in Vegas have booze on the brain.

9. Ethel M Holiday Cactus Garden.

We can’t stop thinking about our recent visit. Again, free, and fun for the whole family. Read more.

It ain't neon, but it'll work.

10. Las Vegas sign photo op.

Did you seriously think you’d come to Vegas and not have a photo taken with the most famous sign in the world? Oh, please.

Curved sides means nobody puts an eye out.

11. Everything else.

Are you kidding? Vegas is so full of free things to be thankful for, there’s no way we could fit them into a list of just 11. There are the flamingos at Flamingo, visits to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, sassy Sirens at TI, the volcano at Mirage, Paul Vigil’s mesmerizing magic show (also at Mirage), circus acts at Circus Circus, and free go-go dancing just about everywhere else.

Right, like we were going to post a photo of the volcano.

Here’s wishing you and yours a great Thanksgiving, whether you’re in Las Vegas or not. Although, honestly, why would you ever want to not?

Just about everyone’s visited the Atlantis aquarium inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium is 160 feet in diameter and holds more than 300 fish.

Yay, free!

But there’s something we didn’t know until just this second.

Aquarists do a public feeding of the fish at 1:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. each day. Which is fairly cool, but this is even cooler: Families can take a free “below-the-scenes” guided tour of the aquarium’s support facilities, Monday through Friday at 3:15 p.m.

This blog loves it some sea life (including sea horses), as well as some free! Enjoy.

Here’s today’s “So, You Think You Know Vegas?” pop quiz. Where on the Strip was this excessively-mucked-with photo taken?

Excessively.

Post your guess in the Comments section for bragging rights. Or just concentrate on your answer really, really hard and we’re sure we’ll pick up on your gamma waves. (Actual results may vary.)

The Las Vegas Weekly has released its 2011 Las Vegas Weekly Awards, and as always, the results are surprising, intriguing and endlessly entertaining. See all the results.

Among the results that caught our eye?

In the “Food” category, “Most Fun Use of Chocolate” went to Max Brenner’s chocolate syringe (pictured below). No argument there! Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man is located at The Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace. See our sweet, creamy post about Max Brenner’s.

Chocolate simulates love, so these could reasonably be called "love injections." Hey, we don't make up the news.

The award for Best Use of Processed Meat went to the fried bologna sandwich at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar inside Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Best Wine List in Las Vegas went to Guy Savoy restaurant at Caesars Palace. That’s really saying something in Las Vegas.

“Best Veggie Burger” went to our friends at KGB: Kerry’s Gourmet Burgers inside Harrah’s Las Vegas, and “Best Burger” was snagged by P.J. Clarke’s at The Forum Shops. Read more.

Chef Kerry Simon, the man behind the burgers at KGB inside Harrah's.

In the “Arts & Entertainment” category, Absinthe at Caesars Palace won “Best New Strip Show.”

It looks like two performers have been designated “Best Strip Headliner.” The ever-incredible Mac King (see him at Harrah’s Vegas) and Celine Dion (she’s at Caesars Palace).

The new Chateau Nightclub at Paris was named “Best Celebrity Spotting” in the Nightlife category.

Krave at The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood nabbed the Best Gay Night Out honors. Or as the mag says, “Krave is not only the best gay night out, it’s one of the best nights out, period.”

Of course, no Las Vegas award list would be complete without Holly Madison, star of Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, being confirmed as Best Vegas Mascot. We may have done a blog post or two about Holly Madison in the past, so check them out. The blog posts, that is.

This blog loves it some Holly Madison.

In another quirky category, the staff of the Las Vegas Weekly picked Rao’s in Caesars Palace as having Sin City’s Best Jukebox.

Congrats to all the winners! See all the Las Vegas Weekly Awards here.

In “lieu” of “having the energy” to “actually write about things,” we offer up this “dazzling” photo we took at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

"Fountain" or "water feature," take your pick.

As an added “bonus,” here’s a “closer-upper version” of the aforementioned “water feature.”

This statue has a long and storied history we are far too "lazy" to research.

The “photo ops” are as endless as the “shopping ops” at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. While you’re there, ask about their deeply-discounted “quotation marks.”

The first day of the Chinese New Year, Feb. 3, was the cause of much celebration around Las Vegas, including festivities at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

Students from The Meadows School kicked off the “Year of the Rabbit” by performing a traditional dragon parade throughout The Forum Shops. They also performed several songs, followed by remarks by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and his wife, Carolyn Goodman.

A colorful parade marked the start of the Year of the Rabbit.

Carolyn Goodman, founder of the Meadows School, recently announced she’ll be running for mayor after her husband ends his colorful mayoral stint due to term limits.

The Chinese New Year is considered a lucky day for merchants, and is the birthday for the Chinese god of wealth.

Drums and firecrackers are said to keep evil spirits away.

Chinese New Years celebrations typically last for 15 days. “Gung hay fat choy,” everyone! Oh, yeah, Cantonese is how this blog rolls, sometimes.

Oh, yes, you read that headline right. This blog is hooking you up with a $21,000 value. First, here is the most lovely photo of the The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace we’ve taken all week.

If you're excited, think about how excited we are, since we took this photo!

Bam! Click here for a larger version.

So, here’s the hook-up. We just valued this amazing photo at $21,000 and we’re going to provide it to you for free!

Here is this wildly under-valued photo in various convenient, computer wallpaper-sized formats:

♠ 800 by 600
♠ 1024 by 768
♠ 1280 by 1024
♠ 1600 by 1200

Enjoy, and don’t say we never gave you anything. Ultimately, we are a Las Vegas blog, not a free thing giver-awayer.