When you arrive at the 61-story ARIA, the first sign you'll see of grandeur is Lumia: the dramatic water display designed by WET, creators of the Fountains of Bellagio and the Mirage volcano. A 270-foot curved water wall envelopes the entrance and serves as the perfect backdrop for the twisting arcs of dancing water emanating from the reflective pool. It's just the first of many surprises that await at the resort. Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, noted for the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Canary Wharf Tower in London and New York's World Financial Center, ARIA's modern design is ahead of its time, inspired not by the 21st century, but rather by the 22nd. In fact, the resort boasts the most technologically advanced guestrooms in the country, with rooms that remember guests' temperature, movie and television preferences, for instance, and allow guests to customize their in-room lighting, music and privacy preferences.

Perfectly in line with ARIA's contemporary feel, Sage specializes in "modern" takes on the traditional. If you want to experience it for yourself, you should know that there are two ways to access the restaurant. The first is from the Arrival Lobby, which borders the 150,000-square-foot gaming floor. The second is toward the rear, near the Park, which separates ARIA from Crystals, CityCenter's high-end retail destination. No matter where you enter, when you arrive you'll see that the dramatic entrance to Sage -- just beyond Bar Masa and Julian Serrano -- is highlighted by soaring floor-to-ceiling wine towers, making it impossible to miss. During the day, the two multi-story columns are surrounded by a metal screen that's fashioned in the shape of tiered wine bottles! Illuminated from above, the beige corner pillar reads "Sage A Shawn McClain Restaurant" in purple above a framed menu. The hostess station is toward the left of the door. Once the restaurant opens for service you'll see for yourself, without distraction, the glass wine towers attached to each column. As you walk through this oenophile's paradise you'll find yourself in the lounge area.