Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Attraction, The Venetian   

3377 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-862-7800
www.mtvegas.com

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Ever dream of getting close to J-Lo? Or marrying George Clooney in front of flash-popping paparazzi? Well, now you can. Just head over to Madame Tussaud's Interactive Attraction (formerly Madame Tussaud's Celebrity Encounter), where Jennifer Lopez is a permanent resident along with 100 other celebrities. The 300,000-square-foot, two-story wax museum combines the worlds of film, sports and music with the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, and features intricately designed replicas of stars past and present. The "celebrities" are gathered in five areas, including the VIP Room and the Sports Arena. The arena allows sports figures from past and present to "mingle." Here, Muhammad Ali can get in the ring with Evander Holyfield (who's missing part of his ear), and Shaquille O'Neal can pick up putting tips from Tiger Woods. Vegasphiles certainly enjoy the Las Vegas Legends Room, where Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Wayne Newton have been assembled, ready to perform. Guests are also treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the intricate process involved in making wax figures. Approximately 3,300 pounds of wax were used in the 100-plus figures, the equivalent of 105,600 birthday candles. Sculptors spend up to six months creating a figure and take more than 150 precise measurements of the subject's body, hands and face. Because wax shrinks, each figure is made two percent larger than the celebrities they recreate. And like their real-life inspirations, wax figures have their hair washed and makeup retouched regularly. The final result: You're hard-pressed to tell the difference between the wax Tom Jones and his real-life counterpart. Other highlights include 'The King in Concert,' in which Elvis Presley sings, speaks to guests and poses for pictures, a Celebrity Poker scene offering the chance to play Texas Hold 'Em against Ben Affleck, and 'Hef: The Experience' recreating a night in the Playboy mansion with a pajama-clad Hugh Hefner. What's next? While at the Venetian, ride an authentic gondola or grab some excellent Mexican food at Taqueria Canonita.