Steve Wynn has announced two restaurants for his Encore hotel in Las Vegas. The first, called Sinatra, will be an homage to Frank Sinatra. The Italian restaurant will be decorated with Sinatra memorabilia including Sinatra's Academy Award for best supporting actor in "From Here to Eternity," and his Grammy awards loaned from his family. Paul Anka is contributing the gold record he won for writing the English lyrics for "My Way," one of Sinatra's most famous songs. Wynn says the restaurant won't be a museum. His other restaurant announcement is called Switch, which will feature transformations during dinner including changing walls and ceilings and the staff switching clothes. The Wynn Encore opens December 22.

The new website for Steve Wynn's latest last Vegas resort, Encore is not what I was expecting. A colorful cascade of butterflies scatters across the page followed by the words "Curious? Good. The opening isn't so far away." It seems Wynn is ready to start building anticipation for the new tower next to the Wynn Las Vegas. Encore is accepting reservations for dates starting January 12, 2009. Encore will have five signature restaurants, 11 retail outlets, seven bars and lounges, a nightclub, spa and salon. Wynn's most dramatic display at his first hotel isn't glitz, it's the shock of nature, a mountain and waterfall, amidst all the neon. The Encore carries on that theme with an atrium, natural light, foliage and pools of water. And yes, butterflies are part of the design, on the carpet, tiles and walls.

One thing the press release doesn't mention is the casino. Yes, there will be one. And according to a recent article in the Las Vegas Sun the entire east wall of the casino is floor-to-ceiling glass, which will be draped in the morning (no sense letting the all nighters know what time it is too early). In the article, Wynn referred to Encore as " the prettiest thing we've done." The hotel has 2,034 suites. Each Resort Suite measures more than 700 square feet while the Tower Suites measure up to 5,800 square feet.

A new condo tower in Charlotte, North Carolina promise some of the priciest and most distinctive penthouses in the city. The 20-story Encore condo tower includes the Encore 5 – five 7,000-square-foot units priced from $4.5 million to $5.5 million which are pitched at five specific types of buyers: the art collector, the food enthusiast, the wine connoisseur, the technology buff and the consummate entertainer. So far, condos in the area haven't sold at this price but the developer behind the Encore believes that these five penthouses can sell because they are each aimed at that one special person who will love the idea. Each of the five penthouses will be specifically designed to incorporate the interests of the penthouse buyer.

The Encore project will preserve the 81-year old Carolina Theatre at North Tryon and East Sixth streets and offers three floors of office space, a restaurant level, theater lounge floor, an amenities floor for residents and a 1,400-seat auditorium for movies, live entertainment, charitable benefits and corporate events. The developer Jim Donnelly of Pursuit Group Charlotte told the Charlotte Observer that he has "contracts on nine units priced from $1.75 million to $5.5 million" and hopes to break ground this summer.

Steve Wynn is expanding his empire by creating the Encore Suites in Las Vegas. Encore Suites will offer 2,034 suites and will include resort suites which are 700 square feet and VIP suites, some of which measure more than most houses (up to 5,800 square feet). Encore Suites will also have five new signature restaurants, 11 retail outlets, seven bars and lounges, a nightclub and a spa and salon. There will also be an outdoor pool area and will have 60,000 square feet of event space. Wynn's Encore will open in December 2008.