Spring is here, and color and beauty are sweeping back into Connecticut by the day. Designed to "bring the outdoors in," the almost-ready MGM Grand at Foxwoods will reflect that beauty through its exterior wall of windows when it opens on May 17.       

    To enjoy an amazing view of that natural vista, guests need only stay in one of the 825 guest rooms and suites in the new 30-story property.  The modern and stylish rooms complement the view, but it's doubtful that anyone will spend very much time in them, despite their amenities. With a new casino and four exciting restaurants plus an array of hip retail stores on the concourse, guests will enjoy an experience never before found in Connecticut. 

    And then there's the new theater. Gloria Estefan, Larry the Cable Guy, Rosie O'Donnell, Cyndi Lauper, The Steve Miller Band, Joe Cocker, Sarah Brightman and many others will be among the first performers to grace the stage and flood the airwaves of the 4,000-seat MGM Grand Theater with state-of-the-art acoustics. The theater-style seating assures every guest of the best seat in the house.  Only 126 feet separates the front of the stage from the very last row. 

    MGM Grand's casino will feature a variety of 1,400 slot machines and 53 table games including blackjack, roulette, craps, Spanish 21 and 3-Card Poker.  The new casino will feature a palette of bright colors giving the space an exciting and vibrant look.  Two high stakes gaming areas will be separated from the main casino via framed panels of colored glass, wire mesh and wood lattice giving them a sense of privacy within the overall space.  A bar in the center of the casino will feature a large fireplace complete with a large, central lit vortex which will give the space a dramatic sense of lighting. 

    When it's time to eat, MGM Grand at Foxwoods will offer everything from new celebrity chef restaurants to theme dining pavilions to catapult the destination to the forefront of the region's culinary scene.  Acclaimed Chef Michael Schlow will oversee the kitchen of Alta Strada, a 225-seat restaurant that blends traditional Italian flair with modern elegance.  And Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak will further his reputation for celebrating the flavors of seasonal ingredients sourced from small family farms and artisanal producers. 

(c) Copyright Pequot Times, April 2008. All rights reserved.