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If you're planning to catch an NFL game during a Vegas trip, it makes a lot of sense to stay within e Fan District at the Mandalay Bay. Having a hotel home base near Allegiant can eradicate game-day transportation issues. Allegiant has a relatively small parking lot. Not all modes of transportation, including buses, taxis, and rideshares, are allowed directly into the lot. On Raiders game days, the city wisely shuts down vehicle traffic on Mandalay Bay Road. It's common for thousands of fans to walk from Mandalay Bay across the Hacienda Avenue Bridge to get to Allegiant. If you stay at Mandalay Bay, there are game-day bargains and countless places to eat, drink, and entertain yourself before and after a game. During a recent visit, I dined at new eatery Orla, goofed around at an adult playground/bar, and chilled at an ice bar. Orla is a Mediterranean-style restaurant by Michael Mina. Sitting at the bar, I started with a fresh, chilled lobster salad that came in a slickly crafted stack. Everyone around me took notice when the waiter delivered a salt-baked sea bream entree. Served atop a bed of shaved zucchini, the light, white fish came wrapped in grape leaves and an egg white-based casing. When everything was peeled off, the bream was doused with capers. Fascinatingly delicious. Play Playground is in a mall-like hallway that connects Mandalay Bay and Luxor. It's only for the 21-and-up crowd. You can order a mojito and play interactive games, like Doctor! Doctor!, a life-sized version of the battery-powered board game Operation. ey give you a fur jacket and gloves before you enter Minus5 Ice Bar in Mandalay Bay. e bar, tables, and chairs are all made of blocks of ice. I tried to look cool drinking a vodka-infused hot chocolate. A line of "Pretty In Pink" cocktails are also available. In a fun surprise, the Ice Bar exit leads into a cozy, après-chill piano bar. On this night, the show included piano sing-a-longs and burlesque dancing. It all went down smoothly paired with a Bombay Sapphire martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives. I took one timeout from the Fan Zone. Having watched all six seasons of e Crown on Netflix, I detoured to Princess Diana & e Royals: e Exhibition at e Shops at Crystals (part of Aria Resort & Casino). It's a self-guided tour that pays homage to Lady Di, her gowns and accessories, the royal family, and lots of British history. To tie things up neatly in a sports-related bow, I did take notice of one particular artifact: a 1957 University of Maryland football game program that had Queen Elizabeth II on the cover. Touchdown! detour destinations LEFT Minus5 Ice Bar in Mandalay Bay BOTTOM LEFT Salt-baked sea bream from Orla BELOW The Mandalay Bay and Luxor are connected by a mall-like hallway ICE BAR, BREAM: PHOTOGRAPHY BY RON DONOHO MANDALAY BAY: COURTESY PHOTO << ranchandcoast.com 72 AUGUST 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE