Nov 18, 2005  |  By: TROY PETENBRINK  | COMMENTS     

Las Vegas attracts more than 37 million annual visitors. A 2004 survey by Community Marketing, a San Francisco-based gay travel research and marketing firm, found it ranked second among destinations for gay travelers, behind New York and ahead of San Francisco.

There is no secret to Sin City’s draw — grand casino resorts, amazing entertainment, world-class dining, abundant shopping and a 24/7 approach to life. Vegas is a town that doesn’t care if you are straight, gay or from Mars. As long as your money is green and you wish to have fun, you will feel welcome.

Most visitors opt to stay on or near “the Strip,” a six-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that is the heart and soul of the city.

Gay-friendly accommodations on the Strip include Aladdin (changing to Planet Hollywood next fall), and the MGM collection of hotels, which includes Bellagio, Luxor, New York- New York and Mandalay Bay.

There is also the gay-owned and operated, all-male Blue Moon Resort. It’s a clothing optional, 45-room property, about a mile from the Strip.

MADE FAMOUS BY the likes of Liberace and Siegfried & Roy, Vegas’ entertainment offerings are beyond compare.

Among the current must-see shows are New York- New York’s “Zumanity,” a Cirque du Soleil production exploring love and eroticism via amazing acrobats. Joey Arias, the show’s emcee and veteran New York drag diva, is simply fabulous and so is the show’s steamy man-on-man action. The pro-gay sensibility may come as a surprise, considering that Cirque du Soleil settled an HIV discrimination suit filed by a gay performer who was fired after disclosing his positive status.

The Riviera Hotel features two shows of interest. “La Cage,” hosted by the witty and talented Frank Marino, is a 20-year-old classic where female impersonators have the audience doing double takes. “American Storm” features the hot-male strippers from the VH1 reality show “Strip Search.” The show’s Web site says “gentlemen are welcome,” but the show attracts a mostly female crowd.

In addition, Elton John is doing a special, limited engagement through 2008 at Caesars Palace when Celine Dion’s show is on hiatus. At the Luxor, Harvey Fierstein will reprise the role of Edna Turnblad for the opening 12 weeks of Vegas’ production of “Hairspray,” which is scheduled to launch in February.

VEGAS KNOWS THAT gambling and shopping can take a lot of energy, so it likes to keep visitors well fed with dining options for every taste and budget.

Since the first resort was built, all-you-can-eat dining has been a Vegas tradition and many resorts have radically up-scaled their buffets. The Mirage’s Cravings is one of the best buffets in town, featuring 11 food stations and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just around the corner from the restaurant is the Roasted Bean, which serves up the finest coffee in Vegas.

A superb place for dinner is Tremazzo at Aladdin. It serves wonderful Italian-inspired dishes at affordable prices; entrees start at just $13. Seating near the windows offers a brilliant view of the Fountains of Bellagio.

Gay-specific nightlife has been limited in Vegas for a number of years but that is changing slowly. KRAVE, the first gay nightclub on the Strip, opened in 2004, and has quickly made its presence known. In addition to hosting some of the world’s best DJs, the space is also home to “Fashionistas,” an erotic dance revue. Other longtime local favorites include Gipsy Nightclub and the Las Vegas Eagle, the city’s leather bar.