HayleysMom on Vegas

Link to article: Chuck Jones Experience opening Thursday, January 26, 2012 at Circus Circus

2012-01-22T12:38:00.000-06:00

There's a new attraction coming to the Las Vegas Strip this week.

This Thursday, January 26, 2012, the Chuck Jones Experience will be opening at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. For anyone over the age of 40 - and that definitely includes me - Chuck Jones is a bit of a childhood hero. He created many of the iconic Looney Toons characters that are still very much loved by my generation (that would be Generation X, in case you've forgotten). I still watch Looney Toons cartoons to this day, because they're much better than the NEW generation of cartoons.

The attraction will cost $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 5 through 17, military, seniors ages 65 and older and students. Discounts for Nevada residents are also available. I'm hoping that this attraction will soon be available at a discount through Tix4Tonite retailers, because that would make it even more attractive and affordable to the average Vegas visitor.

A brief write up of the event was posted on VegasInc. Here is a link to the article:

What's up, Doc?

Link to article: 20 New Things in Downtown Las Vegas

2012-01-22T12:14:00.000-06:00

My friend Dewey found a great blog entry from Pulse of Vegas that lists some new things to do downtown, as well as some changes that are currently going on there.

Downtown goodies

I have been downtown twice in all my trips to Las Vegas, and I think it's certainly a different view of Vegas than you get from staying on the Strip. All the casinos are very close together, the hotels, drinks, food and gambling are generally much cheaper, and there are tons of street performers (better than the street people on the Strip who just pose for photos - these people actually DO something, like sing, dance, or create art for you).

Definitely worth a look to see what's going on in the heart of Sin City!

Link to article: The Best and Worst of Las Vegas - 2012 Trippies

2012-01-16T17:02:00.000-06:00

In case you wonder what other people think are the "best" and "worst" hotels, bars, restaurants, buffets, shows...the list goes on and on...I am providing a link to the 2012 Las Vegas Trippies, as voted on by readers of the Vegas Tripping site (www.vegastripping.com). In addition to the Reader's Choice Awards, the same awards are voted on by the editors of Vegas Tripping for their own take on the "best" and "worst" of everything Las Vegas has to offer.

2012 Trippies

I can't say I agree with all the choices. We all have our own opinions, of course, but I always wonder what the readers are thinking when they pick some of the places they do. It boggles the mind...

Once again, the LasVegas4Ever (LV4E) message board was nominated in 2 categories - Best Website and Best Community - but didn't win either one. For a small message board, the nominations alone are great recognition, and Bonnie was thrilled when she found out her site was nominated two years in a row. Congratulations again to Bonnie for her great leadership! Here's to the past four years of great information sharing and new friends made, with the hope of many more years and more friendships to come. Salud! (LV4E anniversary: January 21, 2008)

My favorite trip photos: November 20-23, 2011

2012-01-13T17:32:00.000-06:00

Some of my favorite photos from my November 20-23, 2011 trip with Hayley. I didn't have my nice, big Canon on this trip, so the photo quality is not quite up to par, sorry. Still, there are some great memories here. Hope you enjoy looking at these, too!

Bellagio Conservatory - Fall display

Bellagio Conservatory - Fall display
I like this water wheel, but they use it every year...

Planet Hollywood - the elevators on our floor. The best part of the entire hotel. :)

I annoyed Hayley by taking her photo everywhere.
This was while we were waiting for our HUGE sandwiches at Carnegie Deli in The Mirage.

Hayley's sandwich - the "Club Dear".
Yes, it's almost 8 inches tall, and she ate the whole thing.

Waiting for LOVE at The Mirage, outside the Revolution lounge.

Trying to text on my "simple" phone, LOL!

Bellagio tree - my favorite photo of the trip!

I love seeing multiple wilds!

My crappy $5 art from the Art-O-Matic machine outside
The Wicked Spoon buffet at The Cosmopolitan.

Hayley "photo-bombing" me at Palazzo

The Christmas tree at The Venetian - I would've loved to see it lit up!

Mandalay Bay light fixture

Mandalay Bay light fixture - side view

Lobster roll from Lobster ME @ The Miracle Miles Shops - YUM!

Calling grandma from the patio at Mon Ami Gabi, Paris Hotel

Christmas trees at Crystals in City Center

"Lady Gaga", Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace

"Janet Jackson", Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace

"Britney Spears", Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace

The curtain call, Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace

A nice bonus round on Wizard of Oz 'Over the Rainbow' slots before leaving for the airport.

A second bonus round - time to cash out and head home!

Christmas tree in the lobby at Planet Hollywood - it appeared magically between breakfast and our ride to the airport.

Heading home. Until next time...

Bodies: The Exhibition - a review

2012-01-12T16:03:00.000-06:00

Located on the Atrium Level of the Luxor Hotel and Casino, Bodies: The Exhibition was added to our November 2011 Vegas trip when Hayley and I were unable to obtain tickets to Carrot Top (too young - her, not me) and Tournament of Kings at Excalibur (sold out).

I was quite surprised by this exhibit - in a good way. I thought it might be a bit gruesome and a little over-the-top, but each of the displays was presented in a very clinical, educational way, and it was very informative for me, personally.

According to their official website, www.bodiestheexhibition.com, over 200 bodies are on display, creating informative and thought-provoking exhibits with tons of details. There are several rooms throughout the exhibit, and they displays cover the nine human systems: skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine and circulatory.

I was surprised at how much time Hayley and I spent inside the exhibit. She is currently enrolled in an Anatomy class, and I think it was much more explanatory than anything in a textbook could ever be. For instance, you can SAY that the human gastrointestinal tract is over 30 feet long, but to actually SEE it is...surprising, to say the least. And to SEE how many blood vessels there are in ANY part of the body? Also very surprising.

The displays are all done very tastefully, and special polymer blends have been used to preserve the bodies eternally for the exhibits. They even have a doctor on hand at the end of the exhibit to answer any questions you may have and to let you touch (yes, TOUCH!) an actual human heart or hand that has been preserved. That was pretty cool, but we still couldn't resist the urge to go and WASH OUR HANDS repeatedly after we were done, even though they gave us Purell to cleanse our hands after we touched things. There's something about touching another person's dead body - even when well-preserved - that was a bit odd.

The room with the reproductive system displays is included with the digestive system, but they have a secluded, separate room containing preserved fetuses that can be bypassed if you choose to do so. I noted that the only people who did so while we were in there was the couple with two young children. It was not as sad as I thought it might be, and there was nothing to offend anyone. See it if you like, and bypass it if you don't.

Also be aware that there are displays in each room that show cancers, strokes, heart attacks and various other ailments and the effects these have on the physical body. As expected, the lung cancer display was particularly eye-opening to me, and after seeing it I am certainly glad I've never picked up a cigarette in my life.

Among the big, eye-opening discoveries I personally made was the size of a man's bladder versus a woman's - it is nearly 5 times as large! No wonder women have to pee so much! I'm just saying that now I have a frame of reference when it comes to the urinary processes for both sexes.

Seeing a display like this "in person" definitely gives you a sense of your own humanity, and Hayley was quite impressed with it. It could be the fact that she wants to become a doctor, but she was genuinely intrigued by some of the bodies and made a point to do a bit of Google searching to find out even more information while we were in the cab on the way back to our hotel.

I rate this exhibit a perfect 10. It contains educational, well thought out displays that are presented in a very tasteful, informative and completely inoffensive way. There is nothing over-the-top, there are professionals on hand to assist with any questions you may have, and it is a first-class presentation that should be required for all Anatomy students, at the very least. Go and see it if you can, and learn a little something about yourself.

Tickets for the exhibit are $34.00+tax each, or they can be purchased at the Tix4Tonite half price booths same day. In addition, you can also find coupons for $5-$10 off in the 24/7 Las Vegas Magazine (in your hotel room or in cabs) to cut the cost. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily, including holidays. No photos are allowed inside the exhibit, so leave your camera behind.

Seven great bars and meeting places on the Vegas Strip - with no cover charges

2012-01-09T15:43:00.000-06:00

If you like to sit down and have a drink - and don't mind paying for it - there are some great places on the Las Vegas Strip that allow you to do just that. Mix in some great people-watching opportunities (don't forget your camera!) and you have a great afternoon/evening diversion. Here are six great places to meet and drink on the Strip where no cover charge is required.

#7 - Parasol Up/Parasol Down at Wynn - This bar is actually on two levels: the lower level affords great views of the Lake of Dreams just outside the huge, two-story windows, and the upper level offers great people-watching opportunities while the guests, gamblers and various other members of humanity make their way from the valet to the registration desk, through the casino, or attempt to find the exit to the Strip. Parasol Down, on the lower level, has more tables and open seating. Parasol Up, on the casino level, has smaller, intimate tables partially surrounded by curtains, and a walk-up bar included within the curtained area. I have been unable to find a listing for their hours of operation, but they are open every day of the week until at least 9 p.m. Drink prices average about $6-$15 each.

We're going in!

#6 - Napoleon's at Paris - A fairly large bar located on the walkway between Paris and Bally's, near the Paris buffet and shops. Napoleon's features nightly entertainment starting at 5:00 p.m., and they also have dueling piano performers that begin at 9:00 p.m. nightly. This bar does have a Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m., and they include free sandwiches with the purchase of a beverage from the bar during that time. Drinks average $6-$12. Seating in the main bar area is made up of settees and couches, along with small tables and comfy chairs. It can get pretty loud in the bar during performances, so you might want to sit away from the stage if you're hoping to carry on a conversation without shouting. In addition to the main bar area, there is also a separate room called "Napoleon's Retreat", which is a cigar room with comfortable seating for about 20-25 people and doors that close off from the main bar area for a bit of quiet, and there is absolutely no cigar smell in the room, which was surprising to me. Napoleon's opens at 5:00 p.m. daily and is open until 1:00 a.m. on weekdays, 2:00 a.m. on weekends.

#5 - The Piano Bar at Harrah's - Located just off of Carnaval Court right inside of the Harrah's casino, The Piano Bar is loud and rowdy after 9:00 p.m., when the dueling piano performances start. With seating either at the bar or at one of the many tables in the room, there is space for lots of people, and it can get very crowded. Some enjoy getting their drinks and standing just outside the bar area along the railing, so they can enjoy the entertainment without having to jostle for a seat inside. Audience participation is encouraged during both the karaoke performances starting at 6:00 p.m. and the dueling piano act at 9:00 p.m. Prepare to submit your song requests and feel free to tip generously. Drink prices average about $6-$14, and the bar is open from 5:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. nightly.

#4 - Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace - While this is not a "bar" per se, it is a great place to sit and people-watch along the Strip. Beer and cocktails are available, and they have a full menu, too, so breakfast, lunch or dinner can be had while you watch the world go by. Check out their food and drink lunch/dinner menu here: http://www.caesarspalace.com/images/non_image_assets/Serendipity_Menu_10_04_10.pdf
The Frrrrrrozen Hot Chocolate has been called a "must have", and there are lots of options available for any taste. While there is no cover charge, expect to pay a little more for your beer or mixed drinks here, as this is a very popular New York transplant. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., Sunday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m., Friday-Saturday.

Blow Pop Martini

Hubba Bubba Martini

#3 - Sugar Factory at Paris - This bar/restaurant was opened on the site of the old Paris fountain (which was sadly lost but has since been forgiven) and is more than just a place to buy a $25 lollipop with a bejewelled handle. There is a large gift shop, a chocolate bar, a restaurant with a patio and an upstairs club area all included at this location. The small patio offers views of the Bellagio fountains, and it is kept warm by portable heaters in the winter and kept cool by misters along the railing in the summer. Their specialty at Sugar Factory are the "candy drinks", named after some of your favorite childhood things like the Blow Pop Martini, the Hubba Bubba Martini, and a Root Beer Float (alcoholic, not for kids) are included. Drinks at the bar range from $14-$20 on average, but they are very good. The chocolate bar offers chocolate fondue served on heated counter tops with fruits and nuts for dipping. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reasonable prices to boot. There are two other Sugar Factory locations in Las Vegas, but they are mainly retail shops. The other locations are in The Mirage (just inside the entrance directly across from Harrah's) and in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood (on the right-hand side, just up from PBR Rock Bar). Hours of operation for the bar and restaurant vary.

#2 - Carnaval Court at Harrah's - I think this open, outdoor bar area is one of the best places to sit and people-watch in Vegas. It is surrounded on three sides by Harrah's, Ghiradelli's Chocolate and the Imperial Palace. Cheap food and drinks are located at vendors just outside the main seating area, and there is a bar 'inside' with "Bevertainers" performing at random times during the afternoon and evening. This place can get very noisy, but it is open air and covered by a huge tent, so you are able to move away from the stage area if it gets too loud. Be aware that people will dance in front of the stage, and some may attempt to dance on the tops of tables and the bar, too, but Security will quickly get them down. Because of its openness to the elements, it can get very chilly in the Winter and very warm and toasty in the summer, even with the misters around the perimeter, so dress and plan accordingly. There are nightly performances by local bands, including the favorite 70's tribute band "Wonder Boogie", who put on a great show with their 'fros and bell-bottom pants. Carnaval Court is open daily from about 1:00 p.m., depending on the band performing and/or day of the week and closing at about midnight or 12:30 a.m., although some have said the performances go on much longer than that.

A view of The Chandelier Bar from the casino floor, looking up to levels 2 and 3.

#1 - The Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan - The newest hotel on the Strip offers a great meeting place, on three levels. Located between City Center and Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan is a jewel in the middle of the Strip, and this bar has a great ambiance and upscale look and feel. The Chandelier Bar offers open seating along the main walkway on the casino level, or more private and intimate seating on the second or third levels accessible by the elevator or escalators. This open-sided bar has lots of room to meet, greet, people-watch and take some great photos, too. Drink prices start at $6 and go up. No food or snack items are available. Once again, I was unable to find the actual hours of operation for The Chandelier Bar, but I have seen it open as late as 11:30 p.m. while walking through the casino.

Enjoy your time in Vegas!

Twitter added!

2012-01-05T17:08:00.001-06:00

Just got a Twitter account, all because of Claire. Man, she is PUSHY! (That's a joke, son.)

You can follow me here: @HayleysMom1021

I will be attempting to tweet from Vegas during my March trip. This should be interesting, especially if I've had a few Bailey's and hot chocolates!

My Las Vegas Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-04T20:50:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about my New Year's Resolutions again.

Not just for the year 2012, but for the LAS VEGAS traveling year, which is more achievable for me than regular resolutions, trust me.

I try to give myself new things to do and see in Las Vegas for each trip so I can "expand my horizons"...and have something interesting for folks to read about!

Here are my Las Vegas New Year's Resolutions for 2012:

1) Eat at the Wynn Country Club's Jazz Brunch Buffet. This one should be fairly easy to achieve, since I have a March trip coming up and I've already booked a reservation for the Wynn Country Club on Sunday morning. (Mom, if you're reading this...surprise! And happy birthday.) After hearing the reviews about it being comparable to the Jasmine Brunch Buffet at Bellagio, I was determined to put this at the top of my list. And it is. Oh, I'm looking forward to that meal.

2) See two new shows this year. I've seen The Beatles' LOVE by Cirque du Soliel four times now, and I think it's time to see something else. That's not to say I won't go back and see LOVE again at some point in the future, but I need to change things up. I have ideas in mind, too.

3) Try three new restaurants. New to ME, that is. It's all about broadening my horizons this year. I love Mon Ami Gabi, but I want to try something different and see how well I like it.

4) Stay at one new hotel. This one might be a little harder to do. I have the March trip planned like I mentioned above, but I don't have anything planned beyond that. I already have my hotel booked for this trip, too, and I'm not likely to change it for my mom and I. This one is definitely up in the air.

5) Go off-Strip. Well, this one is easy enough, if I decide to do it. There are great casinos and other attractions off-Strip, but my trips are usually either short or with a minor in tow, and neither of those things don't lend themselves to jaunts off-Strip.

6) Take more trip photos and videos. I've gotten away from taking as many photos on certain trips because I've seen it all (well, a lot of it, anyway). What I really need to do is try to take new photos with a different perspective...or just different lighting. There are a few photos I regret NOT getting during my November trip, and I'll try to be more aware and just DO IT. I think they'd make a great photo essay.

So, only six Las Vegas resolutions for the year. That's not too many, and very achievable. If I get them all done, I'll be sure to treat myself to a nice Bailey's and hot chocolate on my next trip!

Review: Divas Las Vegas at Imperial Palace

2012-01-02T17:06:00.001-06:00

The curtain call:
(L-R, front) - Cher, Britney Spears, 2 male dancers, Tina Turner, Bette Midler
(L-R, stage riser) - Diana Ross, male dancer, Madonna/Celine Dion diva in his street clothes, Frank as Joan Rivers, Janet Jackson, male dancer, Liza Minnelli

It's been awhile since I've seen a new, truly "Vegas" show; one where the entertainers are unique to Vegas, and anywhere else might be met by the shake of a head or a dismissive thought. Giving Hayley the option to see something very "Vegas-y" during our November trip led her to select Divas Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace.

We picked up our tickets for the 10:00 p.m. show at the Imperial Palace box office at around 8:30 p.m. I ordered the tickets on Goldstar.com for $42 each the night before we left, which is about half the advertised price of $98 for their VIP seating. I saw a discounted ticket offer in "Las Vegas 24/7" magazine, and I also had a 2-for-1 ticket offer in the Planet Hollywood coupons I received at check-in, so there are plenty of options for discounted tickets available if you take the time to look for them. Our VIP tickets were assigned to table 13, seats 3 and 4, which were right next to the stage according to the seating chart we saw at the box office. This could be interesting.

Divas Las Vegas has a giant, scary Tina Turner performer who comes out to greet the audience while they're waiting in line before the show. I started to worry a little bit about what we were going to see because he/she was very BIG, but I shouldn’t have worried at all – giant Tina Turner was the scariest part of the experience…aside from the scary-looking Whitney Houston/Diana Ross, but that’s a whole ‘nother story, given how both currently look in real life.

Once you're seated in the showroom, waitresses come around to take drink orders, but they have a hard time getting everyone's order filled and delivered before the show begins. I think having them walking around during the performances is a bit distracting. Drink prices are posted on the table, but be warned: a small, $5 glass of soda is a high price to pay for a non-alcoholic drink at any show. Also, if the seats at the front tables aren't filled a few minutes before showtime, you might find yourself bumped up to VIP seating, because Frank likes to see people next to the stage at every performance.

Divas was a really good show, full of lots of songs, innuendo and catty banter. Frank Marino as Joan Rivers might not as spot-on as he once was (or so I've heard), but he sure has some fabulous outfits! After his opening “monologue”, Frank makes about 15 total costume changes in between each performer's songs. His constant comments about his makeup, sex life and the male backup dancers is humorous, but I don't know if I'd enjoy it over and over again. I can't imagine coming up with new jokes about the same old stuff for too long.

One of Frank's/Joan's many outfits

Even though the signs at the box office say no one under age 14 allowed, I saw a couple of smaller kids (like 6-7 years old) being seated, and it was NOT a PG show! That was a bit of a surprise, especially after Hayley and I were turned away from Carrot Top’s show the day before for her being under 18. There is a lot of sexual innuendo and colorful language by Frank/Joan throughout the show, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with children under 15 myself. It would absolutely make a great show for a group of ladies to attend together, and I saw several straight couples - young and old - who were thoroughly enjoying themselves, as well.

I was happy to hear that photos are actually ENCOURAGED during the show, and I did my best to take lots of them. I didn’t use my flash, though, because I didn’t want to blind anyone on the stage or in the audience. It is the only show on the Strip - besides Terry Fator - where you are told that taking photos is absolutely fine and encouraged.

A little Rhythm Nation, anyone?

Aside from Frank, who only appears as Joan Rivers, each performer appears as two divas during the course of the show. I can’t remember every single one of them, but in my opinion the best were Madonna, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Cher. Diana Ross was the scariest looking diva close-up - he/she shook hands with Hayley and I, and his/her face and eyelashes were...frightening, to say the least. The Britney Spears/Lady Gaga performer, Derek, was scary only because he looked very much like the REAL Britney! I remember him appearing on “America’s Got Talent” a couple of years ago, and when they cut him from the show, he said it was okay because he was going to Vegas to perform. Well, here he is! Hayley said it’s wrong for a Britney Spears drag queen to look better in a bikini than she does. I have to agree with her on that point.

Britney Spears. Wow!

Seriously, it's just wrong to look that good.

I don't know where he's hiding it...

Scary Diana doesn't look too bad far away...

I really admire Frank Marino’s dedication to his work. He’s been appearing as Joan Rivers for 26 years now, and he is very involved in the Make a Wish Foundation, which is an awesome charity to begin with and a great way to give back to the community. Proceeds from the sale of his programs, t-shirts and Joan Rivers fans go to Make a Wish. Every diva should do that!

I give this show a 7 out of 10 rating because I don't really care for the table seating and the waitress distractions, but it's a good, solid show. It's not as flashy as a production show like Cirque du Soleil's "LOVE", or quite as entertaining as Terry Fator's extremely talented self makes his one-man show, but it's a great way to spend an evening at a decent price.

Tickets are available at Goldstar.com and the Imperial Palace box office, but can also be found on other websites. Again, VIP seating is not necessary if you don't want to be "up close and personal", or if you'd like to take a chance and see if you get bumped up to better seats.

Restaurant Review: LobsterME at Planet Hollywood

2012-01-02T15:56:00.001-06:00

That's all it is: a storefront.

My mouth is watering, and all I did was download a photo!

I tried this restaurant - really not much more than a fast-food storefront in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood - based on two reviews from friends of mine from the LV4E message board.

Fact #1: I love lobster. Absolutely LOVE it! I love it in a Bubba-from-Forrest Gump kind of way: lobster rolls, lobster salad, fried lobster, baked lobster, lobster and clarified butter, lobster mac and cheese...you get the idea.

Fact #2: Lobster can be very expensive, especially if you order it at a higher-end restaurant where there are no dollar signs on the menus and things like "truffle oil" and "foam"are regular parts of the dishes' descriptions.

LobsterME is really a fast-food restaurant of sorts, offering a specialized, limited menu and serving items on plastic plates with sides of fries and a Coke, among other things.

But...the lobster is fresh and fantastic.

According to the little menu/advertising card they put in my "to go" bag, all their lobster comes from the Atlantic Ocean and is shipped in daily. Their two specialty items are the Lobster Rolls and "The Lobsicle" - a fried lobster tail on a stick. Everything looked delicious. My mouth was watering as I eeny-meeny-miney-moe'd my choices over and over again. I really couldn't decide, especially when I looked at their photos.

I ended up ordering the lobster roll because I have developed a weakness for them after having a particularly delicious serving at Holsteins (in The Cosmopolitan) last Spring, but let me tell you I had a hard time choosing my poison. Lobster mac and cheese? Lobster GRILLED cheese? Oh, my...

LobsterME's lobster rolls are served in two sizes: large (1.25 pound lobster meat) or extra large (2 pound lobster meat). They advertise that the rolls are served in the classic "Maine style"; there are no 'additions' to their simple, delicious sauce. There is no celery or lettuce added, but they are lightly dressed with a bit of mayonnaise, butter, lemon and spices. They are served on a lightly toasted, split-top roll that has been brushed with a bit of melted butter. It was still very warm when I sat down to eat with Hayley (she got food from somewhere else - not a lobster fan, my child). The seasoned fries are almost an afterthought, but they are very good and slightly crispy. De-LISH! I didn't leave a single bite of anything on my plate.

It cost me $19.95+tax for my lobster roll meal, and I think it was worth every penny. I'm looking forward to going back again, but I think I'm going to have to flip a coin and decide between the Lobster Mac and Cheese or the Lobster Grilled Cheese. That might be lobster heaven! The only think I don't think I'd try on their menu is...lobster ice cream. I have to draw the line somewhere.

I give it a 9 out of 10, but only because I feel Holstein's lobster roll is still my favorite more for the atmosphere and choices of sides available. I might change my mind after my next LobsterME adventure!

Check out their website at http://lobsterme.com/

MGM Lion Exhibit closing January 31, 2012

2012-01-02T11:42:00.001-06:00

If you've waited a long time to see the MGM lions, your time is almost up.

The MGM lion exhibit on the main floor of the MGM Hotel and Casino is closing for good on January 31, 2012. As progress goes, MGM decided it was time for a change from the family-friendly lions, and a new club will be opening in its place.

I decided to post one of my favorite lion photos from the exhibit for an "Awwww..." moment:

Shhh...they're sleeping!

Link to trip report: Kodi Dog and Tom's 3-week adventure (Sept.-Oct. 2011)

2012-01-01T22:43:00.002-06:00

Yet another fantastically written report by a LV4E member!

Kodi Dog and Tom's trip report

My friend, "Kodidog" and her husband, Tom, embarked on a 3-week adventure in Las Vegas this past Fall. It turned out to be a budget trip for them, but they made it work very well.

K's writing style and great sense of humor make this a fantastic read, but be warned - like me, she is a very wordy person, and her 3-week trip report should be enjoyed with a nice beverage...and perhaps a snack.

Thanks for letting me share it, Kodi!

Wicked Spoon Buffet at The Cosmopolitan - a review

2011-12-30T21:39:00.004-06:00

Chicken Adobo taco (in bowl), Pecan Swirl French Toast, Moroccan Rice Salad, Antipasti and Asparagus

Bacon & Spinach Quiche (top), Mac-and-cheese (left), Eggs Benedict (right), California rolls

The Wicked Spoon Buffet at The Cosmopolitan is one of the newest buffets on the Las Vegas Strip. It's in the lower mid-price range of all the buffets on the Strip, with the Imperial Palace's Emperor's Buffet being the lowest at about $12 per person and the popular, Sunday-only Jasmine Brunch at the Bellagio starting at $55 before drinks on the higher end. (For the record, Bally's Sunday Sterling Brunch is the highest priced at $78 per person, but they automatically include champagne with the price of every brunch buffet, so I think their price is on-par with the Jasmine Brunch.)

I was really looking forward to trying this buffet because I took it off of my “to do” list in July. On that trip I ended up grossly overeating every day when I booked too many restaurants in my plans. On this day Hayley and I were properly hungry, but not starving, so I personally was ready to try some new dishes and was looking forward to sampling lots of new things.

There are two services available at this buffet: brunch is served from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. daily, with a full selection of breakfast and lunch dishes, and dinner is served from 5:00 p.m. - 10 p.m. daily with dinner entrees. There was no line just before 10 a.m., and we were seated and choosing our first dishes in less than 5 minutes.

The Wicked Spoon buffet area itself is very pretty and modern, with lots of seating and great artistic touches everywhere. The food items are laid out by region (Italy, Morocco, etc.) as well as by separate breakfast and lunch selections across the back of the buffet, so there’s no winding around to find something hidden somewhere. I was very happy that the brunch seating included equal offerings of breakfast and lunch items because I hate to have more choices of one than the other, but that's a personal preference for me when it comes to buffets.

Here are some of the selections we tried:

Bacon, tomato and cheese omelet - Hayley ordered from the omelet chef. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the omelet was a nice size, but maybe a little too much for a buffet.

Buttermilk pancakes - Served with lots of maple syrup, these were light and fluffy. Hayley said she could've eaten a couple of stacks, but she was saving room for other things, too.

Pecan Swirl French toast - This was my favorite breakfast item of the day. They were delicious, fluffy, warm, filled with nuts and slightly caramelized. Add on the hot maple syrup and it was a very good way to start the day.

Bacon and spinach quiche - Light and perfectly cooked, the quiche was topped with chives and a bit of mozzarella cheese, leaving yummy strings of cheese trailing when you took a bite. The pieces of bacon were big enough to pick out but small enough to keep you from having to cut them up. I wanted seconds.

Eggs Benedict - Served in its own little silver pot, it was a very pretty presentation, but not a good item on this day. Eggs Benedict is one of my very favorite breakfast items, so I try to enjoy them whenever I can. These, however, were not good. The egg whites were underdone, to the point of the egg being jelly-like and quite raw, and the English muffin was too tough to cut with a fork, a knife, or both, so I ended up putting that aside.

California rolls - Fresh and bite-sized, these were really good and I sampled a couple of them because I'm too cheap to order sushi at a restaurant. They had a nice selection of sushi available, but I don't get too adventurous when it comes to sushi, so I just admired most of it for its pretty presentation.

Moroccan rice salad - I put it down after one bite. It was way too sweet for my taste. Yes, it had raisins in it, but it was too sugary and not flavorful at all. It was a very overpowering sweetness for a rice dish that was NOT a pudding.

Mac-and-cheese - Also served in small, silver pots, these were good but very dense and almost overly cheesy, so it was hard to eat more than a couple of bites without feeling too full. Definitely a comfort food, but I would've needed a nap after eating the whole serving.

Chicken Adobo taco - A nice, light, bite-sized treat in a tiny corn tortilla. They added too many onions to the taco so it overpowered the chicken, but I ended up taking the onions off so that I could enjoy the flavor of the chicken, instead.

Chocolate-covered strawberries - Hayley was disappointed in these because they added nuts to their topping, and she hates nuts. Who puts nuts on chocolate-covered strawberries?

Pizza - We were both disappointed by their limited pizza selection to even try a single slice; they only had plain pepperoni and sausage pizza slices available on this particular day. I was expecting more varieties of pizza, I guess, especially for a big, nice buffet. No white pizza selections were available, either (the "sauceless" pizzas, with extra cheeses instead of marinara).

Asparagus - These were served crisp and slightly blanched, but they put lemon on them before serving them. I prefer my asparagus with just a bit of salt, no lemon, so that's probably just a personal choice.

Mint and chocolate chip gelatos - Hayley said they had several different flavors available, but chocolate or chocolate chip is usually a safe bet in any case. Theirs was nice and creamy, but the mint was especially delicious. Maybe it's just a favorite of mine and I'm biased - who knows?

Chocolate-covered marshmallows on a stick - Not much to mess up here. The marshmallows are covered in dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, so they aren't as super-sweet as you'd expect. A bite-sized treat that's a great end to a buffet.

Chocolate-orange mousse - A surprising little layered treat in a clear cup, this tiny mousse was surprisingly light and not overpowering with orange flavor. Hayley debated getting a second one, but decided FULL was a good stopping point.

Overall, we were just not happy or impressed with most of the lunch selections we sampled, which is a shame. The breakfast items and dessert selections were fine, but we just weren't WOW'ed by the whole experience, so I'd give the whole buffet a 6 out of 10 rating. There are so many other great buffets in Las Vegas that I don't think I'll be going back to this one anytime soon. I still think that Wynn and Bellagio have the best buffets on the Strip.

The Wicked Spoon Buffet is $22 per person and includes coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks are available at an additional cost.

New Attractions and Revamped Hotels Coming to Vegas in 2012-2013! (Link to article)

2011-12-26T11:57:00.000-06:00

There have been very few changes to Vegas in the past couple of years, and my favorite city is feeling the effects on all levels. It's nice to hear there are some changes underway that will debut in 2012 and 2013. I need some new things to see and do in Vegas!

Here's a link to the Vegas4Visitors.com article that details the changes to some of my "Vegas haunts" as well as some other changes around the town: http://vegas4visitors.com/column/comingsoon.htm

Looks like I need to get my "to do" list updated!

Fremont Street Experience to include Bon Jovi songs!

2011-12-24T11:06:00.004-06:00

If you haven't been to downtown Las Vegas in awhile (and I haven't), now you'll have a reason to visit again: three Bon Jovi songs will be added to the Fremont Street Experience starting on New Year's Eve.

Check out the Vegas Inc. article for the details here:
http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/dec/22/bon-jovi-video-show-coming-fremont-street/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Looks like I'll be heading downtown again - I LOVE Bon Jovi!

Restaurant Review: Carnegie Deli at The Mirage

2011-12-18T13:39:00.003-06:00

The Open-Faced Reuben...that is OBSCENE!

Note that this is only HALF of the Club Dear sandwich (tomatoes, bacon, turkey layers), and a chopstick is needed to hold it together. Hayley finished it all.

Since we were at The Mirage to see LOVE, we decided to eat at Carnegie Deli for dinner. When you enter from the Harrah's/Caesars Palace side, it's located just inside the casino, off to the right. You can order food to go from a separate line, or choose restaurant seating from the hostess around the corner.

The restaurant is not very large, but it is open to the casino on two sides. This makes it ideal for people-watching in my opinion, but it's intimate enough that you can still carry on a conversation with your table mates and not feel the need to yell. The decor makes me think of a diner, but one from the early 1940's perhaps - no blinding aluminum on the walls, just lots of photos and a very diner black-and-white tile floor.

The menu is extensive; they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, and their portions are huge. The menu mentions that they charge $3.00 for sharing, but I definitely think it's worth it if you're not a big eater. Even if you ARE a big eater, look around to see the size of the portions before you decide to get something for you.

You are given a plate of their house-made pickles to munch on while you look over the menu. Given all the great reviews I've heard about these pickles I have to say I was a bit disappointed when I actually tasted them. They were crunchy, yes, but the overall flavor wasn't my favorite. I guess because they also added some extra garlic (in an effort to be more like Klaussen pickles?) they were supposed to be very flavorful, but I wasn't overly impressed by them, and I LOVE pickles!

Hayley ordered the "Club Dear", which has to be the TALLEST club sandwich I’ve ever seen! It contained over 12 pieces of bacon (we stopped counting at a dozen) and at least a pound of turkey. She ended up taking it apart to eat it in smaller bite sizes with the tomatoes because it was impossible to eat any other way. She said it was really, really good, no matter the size. It normally comes with lettuce, but Hayley left that off because it's her least-favorite sandwich topping.

I ordered the "Open-Faced Reuben" instead of a salad because Hayley talked me into it (“They’re famous for SANDWICHES, mom! Have a sandwich.”), but I should’ve ordered a salad because it’s what I really wanted when I walked into the restaurant. I swear the plate my ‘sandwich’ came on weighed at least 5 pounds and the mound of pastrami and corned beef topped with sauerkraut and melted cheese was enough to feed the entire country of Africa for a couple of days. It was huge all the way around, and I only ate about 1/10^th of it before I gave up – it was way too much meat. I don't know what I was thinking. I like corned beef and I like pastrami, but that much meat topped with other stuff and sitting on bread...it's too much for mere mortals such as myself. I believe they have a smaller sandwich that's similar to it and about $5 less, but I didn't really review all of my options on the menu before I placed my order. Shame on me.

We shared an order of fries, which were very good and crispy, and we each ordered an iced tea. Our meal came to $65.91 before tip! For sandwiches! Our meal at Mon Ami Gabi later in the trip was less than that, and THAT meal included a glass of good wine for me!

Our waiter left a little to be desired because he was a bit slow-moving. The restaurant wasn't crowded, but he took forever to get back to us and check on tea refills and see if we needed anything else. I don't know if we came right before he went on a break or what, but we hardly ever saw him.

I would like to try the deli again, because I really want to try a smaller, more manageable salad and get a piece of pie or cake they are famous for. Their cakes and pies are displayed in long, glass-fronted cases, and they all look fantastic. It was just not a possibility for this trip, though.

I would rate the whole meal and experience a 7 out of 10. Given the size of the portions and the selection, it's a great place to take someone for a sharing meal when you don't want to go anywhere too fancy. Still, the price was a bit steep for me when I'm looking for a more casual dining experience in Vegas, especially for sandwiches.

Check out their menu here: http://www.mirage.com/files/carnegie_menu.pdf

Planet Hollywood's standard room - it's not that good, sir

2011-12-18T12:58:00.002-06:00

This is it? Are those sheets? Are we in the military?
What's that over there by the far wall? Nothing!

That's all the storage space right there.
And Hayley's suitcase is almost as big as the armoire...

See the wasted space? Do something with it!

When I booked the hotel for my Vegas shopping trip with Hayley this past November, I chose the room based on my discussion with Hayley about the location and my desire to try new things on each trip, especially after so many trips to Vegas. CET offered me a FREE "Hollywood Hip" room upgrade at Planet Hollywood, where I've never stayed before, and Hayley liked the modern photos on the website. I figured we might as well check it out because A) I might not get another free room offer from them, and B) it was all about keeping the girl-child happy and keeping her near the shopping areas she was looking to visit.

We arrived from the airport at about 1 p.m., and I didn’t know if we’d be able to check in or not because the Caesars Entertainment website gives the earliest check-in time as 4:00 p.m. for all of its properties. There were only a few people in line, and we were told that the comped Hollywood Hip room I booked through the CET website would not be ready until after 5 p.m. at the very earliest, but a standard room was available now if we wanted to take it. I asked Hayley if she cared, and she didn’t. The front desk guy said, “Well, you’re used to staying at Harrah’s, and we’re a step up from their rooms, anyway.” Really? We’ll be the judge of that!

(I like how all hotel employees always assume - or try to convince YOU - that their rooms are superior to everyone else's in some way. It's not that I stay in any high-end hotels on my Vegas vacations, but assuming that your rooms are better than other properties' rooms isn't always a wise thing. Just sayin'.)

Off to the room, and I don’t think they ARE a step up from Harrah’s, personally. The main bedroom area was very basic and a bit worn, and definitely not as large as I expected based on the front desk employee's description. The very first thing Hayley noticed when we walked in was the theme: Predator 2. Oh, boy! We get to stare at aliens every day! (If there were such a thing as a "sarcasm font", you could use it on those last two sentences, believe me.) One of Hayley's big dislikes is aliens, and they're not exactly my favorite, cuddly bedtime friends, either. I should have asked if “Sixteen Candles” was available and we would have both been happy. That would be a great idea to add to the Planet Hollywood room booking: selecting the room 'theme' based on your movie likes and dislikes. So many other theme choices would've been higher on my list.

There were only two drawers and one closet in the bedroom armoire – too much wasted space for a room with double beds. Pretty sure more than one person will (usually) be staying in a room with double beds, so why not give us more places to put our stuff? The hanging space was very limited because of the smaller, single-door armoire, and we had to be very creative about putting away our clothes. I ended up putting most of my folded clothes in the useless door area below the TV because...what else would I put there? A stack of phone books? Two females in one hotel room equals more space needed to put stuff!

No decorative pillows on the beds, no random bed décor, and not even a colored or creative bed skirt in sight…even Harrah’s uses some color for a standard room! We both first thought that there were only SHEETS on the beds, with no comforters at all. Luckily we were wrong about that! All white bedding makes it look BLAH. It was a very sterile-looking bed area. The beds themselves were not the most comfortable I've slept in (Aria and Bellagio top that list...so far...), and it was hard to find a good 'spot' to lay in at night. I did like the suede headboards, but that's all I can say I liked about the beds.

The Roman shade on the window was frayed and worn on the edges, and you couldn't totally block out the light at night on the sides. I really like sleeping in a completely dark room in Vegas. For me, it's hard enough to get comfortable in a strange bed, so I want complete darkness and quiet to help me get the little sleep I manage. To even GET to the window was hard enough: a randomly placed purple chair was right in front of it, between the armoire and the foot of the bed, and we both had a hard time getting to the window to open or close the shade. BEHIND the chair and in front of the window was a random "table" with movie memorabilia in it; again, alien guns weren't the thing I was hoping to see, so leaving that table behind the chair became one of the better decisions for this particular room.

Next to the bed near the far wall was some sort of light display-box-thing that was supposed to 'highlight' one of the alien movie posters on the wall. Again, it had no real practical use, and the bottom portion of it was uneven and barely allowed Hayley to stow her suitcase out of the way. It offered no other benefit or "wow" factor for the room because the lights weren't working. Not that I'd turn on the light to highlight the alien poster in the first place...

And...one random, striped wall? The carpet pattern didn't compliment the wall pattern, and neither of them went with the purple chair. I think either the wall paper or the carpet was left behind from when the hotel was still Aladdin, and they haven't really finished updating everything. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

The bathroom in the standard room is very big, but they could use the space better and put in a couple of open shelves under the sinks for storage, or even add a second sink with all that space - again, I'm thinking double beds, double sinks and a place to put everything that goes along with it. There IS a separate area for the toilet with a door, so that's a plus I like when sharing a hotel room (there's no need to share too much, y'know). The garden tub was nice and deep, but yet ANOTHER alien movie print staring down at you is not the best view when you want to relax in your hotel room. Hayley actually took a bubble bath the first night, but she didn't comment on it.

The shower area is separate and glassed-in, but the tile is older subway-type tiles and very old-looking. They would do much better to re-tile the shower to match the rest of the marble in the bathroom, or just use a pre-fab shower to make it look more updated and less like an old shower. Good water pressure, though, and the water was nice and hot.

So, would I stay at Planet Hollywood again? If you haven't figured it out by now, the answer is NO. Given the below-standard state of their "standard" room, I will be happy going back to Harrah's for my next trip...unless I get an offer for another CET property I haven't yet occupied. I give this room a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 - it was clean but very worn, and the bathroom saved it from being completely useless, but my vacation time should be enjoyable all around, even when I'm in the room.

If you're interested in checking out some of the OTHER rooms offered at Planet Hollywood, check out their website here, http://www.planethollywoodresort.com/casinos/planet-hollywood/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml, but I'd stay away from the basic rooms if I were you.

Demystifying Harrah's two towers and the rooms they offer

2011-12-12T21:19:00.004-06:00

Nothing wrong with a nice Deluxe room at Harrah's, is there?
I didn't think so...

I recently uncovered a post by one of my LV4E friends, CarolWI, regarding the two Harrah's towers and the various rooms available. I thought it might be helpful to re-post her information here, especially for a couple of my friends who are planning a Vegas trip right now and don't know where to stay on their budget, but *might* decide to ask for an upgrade, depending on what they can get before the upgrade request.

Carol used to work at Harrah's as a reservation desk clerk and posted about the rooms that had recently been updated and had their descriptions changed in 2009. Since then all the rooms at Harrah's have been updated to reflect standard colors and fabrics; even the most basic rooms don't have loud or flashy decor anymore, so 'renovated' doesn't really apply. The "new" descriptions are still applicable today, however, so here's the room and tower information she provided to everyone at LV4E. I hope it's helpful to someone else!

There are two towers: Mardi Gras and Carnaval.

Mardi Gras tower sits closest to the casino. The entrance is by the Harrah's cafe'/Ming's Table restaurant.

Carnaval tower sits behind the Mardi Gras tower. The entrance is near the front desk area and Starbucks.

Room types are as follows:

Classic...standard room, lower floor, no view, or upper floor, view of backside of hotel. These rooms have been upgraded since 2009 with basic colors and no additional premium amenities.

Deluxe...formerly called 'Premium', these are in the Mardi Gras Tower. Odd-numbered rooms face the pool and hear music from Carnaval Court outside Harrah's. Even-numbered rooms have virtually no view, or if you are above 10th floor you get a partial view of Treasure Island.

Luxury...a room with a view of the Strip (remember there is NO 'panoramic view' of the Strip and you have to look out OVER the Mardi Gras Tower/Casino roof). There are Luxury rooms in Mardi Gras looking directly out at the Mirage/Volcano. In the Carnaval Luxury rooms, you are higher up; facing North you will see TI/Mirage and facing South you will see over the pool and out towards Caesars...you will NEVER see the Bellagio fountains because of the distance, and some guests say they can hear music from Carnaval Court in these rooms.

Mini Suites...a standard room, only larger. Some have a small sofa that can pull out into a double bed. Others have only a desk instead of a couch. These only have 1 king size bed, no double beds standard.

Petite Suites...these are much larger and somewhat of a triangular shape. Most have only a king sized bed although there are a couple that have 2 queen beds. It is one large room with a sitting area with a couch/coffee table. You have two separate windows with a view of the North and South Strip, but ONLY if you are above the 15th floor in Carnaval.

Executive suites...these are on floors 30 and above in Carnaval tower. They have a separate living room with a bar and big flat screen TV, as well as a separate bedroom area. Most have only 1 king bed, but a couple have 2 queen beds, as well as another flat screen TV in the bedroom area. The bathroom has a corner jacuzzi tub with small flat screen TV, separate shower and toilet. Odd numbered rooms have a view of the Strip, and even numbered rooms have a view of the back of the hotel.

The executive and mini suites in Mardi Gras are the most newly renovated and (they) are not allowed to 'sell' these to hotel guests..they are reserved for higher players and are reserved through a host based on their play.

Then there are larger suites above that: the vice-presidential and presidential suites, with two bedrooms, etc., but those are generally reserved for high-rolling players, or if an upgrade is available for purchase, between $150-$300 per night additional.

ALL rooms above the Classic type are additional $$$ to upgrade. Upgrades must be approved by room management or VIP.

Also to be noted - room types requested at booking are based on availability at the time of check in and are not a guarantee of the room you will receive. But of course (they) always do the best to honor your request.

Thanks again to Carol for putting this information together. It certainly helps to know what to expect, even when you're getting a "comped" free room!

For the record, my favorite Harrah's rooms to stay in are the Deluxe Mardi Gras rooms (view or not), or the Luxury rooms in the Mardi Gras tower. For some reason I like being in that tower more than Carnaval, even though the elevators are not that far away from each other, or very far from the front or back of the casino. Go figure...

Photos: Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan (link)

2011-12-02T19:42:00.001-06:00

I adore the Chandelier Bar at The Cosmpolitan. Here are some photos to brighten up a rainy day!

(Not mine - just borrowed.)
Pretty Cosmo Photos!

Fun fact: Did you know that the Chandelier is made up of over 2 million beads? That's a lot of BLING!

Link to buffet review: Wynn Country Club's Jazz Brunch by Diana

2011-12-02T19:14:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a great place to have Sunday brunch in Vegas, you might want to check out the Wynn Country Club's Jazz Brunch. My friend Diana recently did a buffet review for this one, complete with lots of photos and details! (She's a great trip report writer, and a neat lady to boot.)

As a comparison, she has dined at the Jasmine Brunch Buffet at Bellagio (once with me, on several other occasions with various friends and family), and she says this one is "on par" with the Jasmine Brunch. Be still my beating heart, because I LOVE the Jasmine Brunch Buffet!

It's now on my "to do" list for the next trip - I don't know if I can pass up that much Cajun food in one location!

A link to her blog and the review, plus hours and pricing:

http://www.lasvegasdaze.com/2011/12/wynns-country-club-jazz-brunch.html

Bataan Death March or Vegas Shopping Extravaganza?

2011-11-29T22:35:00.002-06:00

Trip Report Nov. 20-23, 2011

Crack machine win!

First win on Wizard of Oz: Over the Rainbow

Love it!

I took my daughter, Hayley, on her second trip to Vegas during Thanksgiving week. The trip was booked when she showed me her school calendar in early September and said, “Look, mom – a whole week off for Thanksgiving. I think we need to go shopping in Vegas!” Don’t need to tell me twice…

With approval from her dad - yes, I DO check with him for things like this - I booked the flights to get us there and back home before it was time to serve the turkey on Thursday. We planned ahead and bought things we needed for Thanksgiving, pre-ordered a smoked turkey with gravy and dressing from a local restaurant that makes GREAT turkeys (thanks for picking everything up, mom!), and had the rest of the meal pre-planned as potluck with our other family members so we wouldn’t have to work our butts off when we got back. When I plan, I plan EVERYTHING!

Just a warning: This is probably the most boring trip report I’ve ever written. There’s hardly any gambling. Mostly it’s the story of us walking, shopping, walking, shopping, walking, walking, walking…

Sunday, November 20^th

As with the first trip to Vegas, Hayley started feeling homesick for her pets almost as soon as we took off. Not for her dad; just for her dog and her cat. My husband even went so far as to text her photos of them so she’d have them to look at during the trip. Funny, I never feel homesick in Vegas…

I booked a round-trip Towne Car through Presidential Limo to avoid the dreaded airport cab rides. For some reason those are the worst for me, coming or going. Is it the ride TO or FROM the airport that gets them all riled up? Got a cute driver, Brad (Hayley said he was cute), and we were on our way to Planet Hollywood for 3 nights.

We arrived at about 1 p.m., and I didn’t know if we’d be able to check in or not. There were only a few people in line, and we were told that the comped Hollywood Hip room I booked through the Caesars Entertainment site would not be ready until after 5 p.m.; however,a standard room was available now if we wanted to take it. I asked Hayley if she cared, and she didn’t. The front desk guy said, “Well, you’re used to staying at Harrah’s, and we’re a step up from their rooms, anyway.” Really? We’ll be the judge of that!

Off to the room, and I don’t think they ARE a step up from Harrah’s, personally. The room was very basic and a bit worn. The bathroom in the standard Planet Hollywood room is very big, but they could use the space better and put in a couple of shelves under the vanity or even put in a second sink with all that space. There were only two drawers and one closet in the bedroom armoire – too much wasted space for a room with double beds. Pretty sure more than one person will (usually) be staying in a room with double beds, so why not give us more places to put our stuff? No decorative pillows on the beds and no random bed décor…even Harrah’s uses some color for a standard room! We both first thought that there were only SHEETS on the beds, with no comforters at all. Luckily we were wrong about that! On top of all the dislikes, the theme for the room was “Predator 2”; not my first choice of movies, and Hayley HATES all things alien-related. Should’ve asked if “Sixteen Candles” was available and we would’ve both been happy. Still, we had things to do and a show to see, so we were not willing to wait until later to get into another room. And once a teenager unpacks…forget it. It’s done.

I walked over to Bellagio to pick up our tickets to LOVE while Hayley unpacked. I like the fact that you can pick up your MLife show tickets at any MLife property instead of having to walk a mile or two to get them from the “correct” box office. After ticket pickup, we decided to head over to The Mirage to check out their shops and get an early dinner before our 7 p.m. show.

Not much to say for the shops at The Mirage – very little selection. The new Khardashian Khaos shop I’d heard about is really just a gift shop with t-shirts and other items bearing the Khardashian name, and nothing fashion-related at all. Really? The Khardashians have a billion-dollar empire and they open up a t-shirt shop in Vegas? That was a waste of space.

We decided to eat at Carnegie Deli. Hayley is a sucker for sandwiches in any form – it’s her favorite food group! She ordered the Club Dear, which has to be the TALLEST club sandwich I’ve ever seen. It contained over 12 pieces of bacon and at least a pound of turkey. She ended up taking it apart to eat it because it was impossible to eat any other way. I ordered the Open-Faced Reuben instead of a salad because Hayley talked me into it (“They’re famous for SANDWICHES, mom!”), but I should’ve ordered a salad because it’s what I really wanted. I swear the plate my ‘sandwich’ came on weighed at least 5 pounds and the mounds of pastrami and corned beef topped with sauerkraut and melted cheese was big enough to feed Africa for a couple of days. I ate about 1/10^th of it before I gave up – it was way too much meat. We shared an order of fries and each ordered an iced tea, and our total bill was $65.91+tip! For sandwiches! Hayley totally enjoyed her sandwich and ate every bite of it, bit by bit, but I really only enjoyed the fries. That’s my own fault.

LOVE was a fantastic show as always. This was my 4^th time seeing it, and it’s still impressive and totally enjoyable. We were in Section 201, Row O – half way up. Of course, no seats are bad seats in the LOVE Theater, but it was nice to be in “the middle” of everything. Considering it was chilly outside, it was pretty cool inside the theater, too. I ended up giving Hayley my pashmina wrap to cover up with during the show.

We were really smart about our shoes for the evening, though: we packed our dressy heels in our purses and wore comfy boots for the walk from Planet Hollywood to The Mirage, put our shoes on in the bathroom before the show, and then changed back to boots for our walk back to the hotel. We never would have made it otherwise! Paired with hot chocolate from Starbucks, it was a pleasant Vegas nighttime walk along the Strip for November.

After Hayley was safely back in the room and tucked into a nice, warm bubble bath she desperately needed to soothe her feet, I headed down to the casino for a little gambling before bed. It was only 10 p.m. – there’s no way I can go to bed that early in Vegas! I played around on my "crack machines" (Lord of the Rings) for awhile before finally losing my $20, and decided I’d try The Hangover slots again to see if I could do better than my last try at them when I went through $20 in less than 1 minute with nothing to show for it.

I can happily say that I did TONS better this time on The Hangover slots! I played on the same $20 for over an hour, hitting bonus rounds with regularity. I got lots of play, and I played $2.00 a spin, too, which is a lot for this penny slot player, but I wanted to be able to take full advantage of all the bonuses. Every time I got the “Deal in the Desert” bonus off of Mr. Chow’s Free Spins I managed to pick Doug and get $20 in addition to my $$$ from the free spins. Not a bad record for a person who is a notoriously bad bonus round picker! I put a couple hundred points on my Total Rewards card with that $20 investment, and I was up to $140 before I finally played it all back down…and cashed out with $0.46. I know, I know – I’m turning into a degenerate gambler like the rest of my Vegas friends!

I gave up at midnight and headed up to the room. Hayley was fast asleep and didn’t move when I came in and got ready for bed, even though I felt I was making a lot of noise. Day one in the books: one great show, two expensive sandwiches, a few hot chocolates (and a few Bailey’s and hot chocolates for me), no shopping purchases and only $40 lost. I’d call that a pretty good start to a Vegas vacation!

Monday, November 21^st

I actually managed to stay in bed until 8:00 a.m.! It’s not that I didn’t want to get up, but I knew Hayley needed her sleep and she doesn’t generally sleep too late in hotel rooms because it’s not HER bed, so I waited until I couldn’t stand it anymore and had to get up. I got ready for the day and she finally got out of bed to get ready while I…went down to the casino to gamble! This worked out perfectly for us, because I have little patience for teenagers getting ready, especially mine – she really does take forever.

I played Lord of the Rings again but with no success, I tried Kitty Glitter slots with the same results, found Reels O’Dublin (Hot Hot Pennies), Gold Fish, Wizard of Oz Big Event…nothing good happening anywhere. And all the seats were filled at The Hangover Slots at 9:30 in the morning! I promised I wouldn’t leave the property to gamble, and I stuck to that promise the entire trip, but I was unable to find some of the new slots I wanted to play and saw everywhere else we walked, like Ghostbusters. Oh, well – there’s always next time!

I found Planet Hollywood’s casino very easy to get turned around in when staying there. Since the Heart Bar is central to everything, it’s easy to get lost because all the areas around it look exactly the same. In the past when I’ve gambled there, I’ve usually stuck to one area and headed out to gamble elsewhere; staying there didn’t help me figure out where everything was, unfortunately. I think I walked to the wrong elevators at least 4 different times before I realized I was on the WRONG side of the casino each time.

Hayley agreed to try one buffet on this trip, and we tried a new one on our second day: Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan. I was really looking forward to this buffet, as I ended up taking it off my “to do” list in July because I was grossly overeating and knew a buffet would be impossible. There was no line just before 10 a.m., and we were seated and choosing our first edibles in less than 5 minutes.

The Wicked Spoon buffet area itself is very pretty, and the food items are laid out straight across the back of the buffet, so there’s no winding around to find something hidden somewhere. Because the buffet has changed to brunch (8 a.m. – 2 p.m.) or dinner (5 p.m. – 10 p.m.) only, I was happy to find I could get breakfast and lunch items in equal quantities because I hate to choose more of one than the other. Hayley requested a bacon, tomato and cheese omelet and enjoyed their pancakes while I hit the pecan swirl French toast, bacon and spinach quiche and Eggs Benedict. Three of the five items were good: my Eggs Benedict were underdone on top and the English muffin was too tough to cut. Hayley was disappointed that they had nuts on their chocolate-covered strawberries (she hates nuts), and we were both too disappointed by their pizza selection to even try a single slice. I was just not happy or impressed with most of the lunch selections we sampled, which is a shame. (A full buffet review will be posted later.) I still think that Wynn and Bellagio have the best buffets on the Strip.

I decided to get a piece of art from one of the Art-O-Matic machines outside the buffet when we left. Hayley says my $5 was wasted because it looks like someone sneezed on my art. I think I have to agree.

From brunch to shopping, we headed to the Forum Shops at Caesars so Hayley could get some serious shopping done...or so we thought. They have replaced the old FAO Schwarz store with a three-story H&M store, which impressed Hayley greatly. Unfortunately, after about 3 hours of shopping in there, she only came up with a couple of small items she really wanted. I was surprised. I fully expected to be loaded down with bags at that point. Another stop at Victoria’s Secret (for the teen PINK collection, not the adult stuff) and I really found myself surprised that I only had one small bag to add to my arm. She’s holding back, I think. That’s the only explanation.

From the Forum Shops over to the Grand Canal Shops at Venetian, we took a leisurely stroll to see what we could find. I was sad we wouldn’t be staying in the area for the evening, as it was the first day of their “Winter in Venice” theme, which will be on display until January 5^th. A 65-foot tall, LED-lit Christmas tree is sitting in front of the Venetian, and I would’ve loved to see it lit up! They have added a temporary ice skating rink next to the canals, too – how cool! Hayley was ready to do some more shopping.

We wandered through the Grand Canal Shops and the Shops at Palazzo for almost an hour, finding nothing that captured our interest. Hayley decided to continually photo bomb me while I was TRYING to take a couple of photos of the fall display in Palazzo, which was hilarious to the point of tears. We decided to head back to Planet Hollywood to drop off our bags and grab a cab to Mandalay Bay to see how the other end of the Strip would treat us.

Yet another weird cabbie experience to add to my collection. Our driver was an older Caucasian guy, very quiet…until we hear the cabbie complaint radio show he’s got on! Oh, Lord! A show where cabbies can call in and complain about OTHER cabbies and bitch and moan in general about customers? NOW I know why they’re all so mean! This guy was also a bit of an aggressive driver, honking at cars, other cabs, and pedestrians in turn, making quick lane changes and other scary things, which made Hayley freak out a bit. It reminded me once again why I do NOT like cabs unless they are absolutely necessary! We were glad to get to Mandalay Bay in one piece.

The shops at Mandalay Bay had nothing to hold our interest, either. Yes, there were unusual shops, but nothing Hayley really wanted. There was one soap shop that was very disappointing; everything we picked up smelled gross. And one of the soaps had so much GLITTER in it we had to wash our hands four times to get the stuff off...just from touching it with our fingertips!

On to Luxor, where we inquired about the 2 for $75 shows I heard about on LasVegas4Ever. Unfortunately for us, Tournament of Kings was sold out for the night, and no one under 18 is allowed into Carrot Top’s show. What? I hadn’t seen anything about an age limit for his show prior to walking up to the event booth, but there it is on the bottom of their advertisement. It was disappointing to say the least. I always research the shows before we go, and nothing was mentioned on the website. Also, I should’ve ordered the Tournament of Kings tickets on Goldstar.com before I left, but I was hoping to take advantage of the 2 for $75 tickets. Lesson learned. We ended up getting tickets to the Bodies and Titanic exhibits at Luxor to entertain ourselves, instead, but that just meant more walking and no sitting.

The Bodies exhibit was definitely interesting. Hayley is hoping to go pre-med in college, and she is currently taking anatomy, so she was more interested than many teenagers might be. We spent time looking at every little thing, and it was nice to have her identify and talk about things I had no clue about. Our private school investment is paying off!

The Titanic exhibit freaked her out a little bit because things were so “real”. Yes, she’s seen the Kate Winslet/Leonardo DiCaprio movie a hundred times, but seeing actual artifacts from the wreckage made her quiet, touching the iceberg they have on display was too real, and standing on the mock-up of the deck looking out at nothing but a dark sky and stars was overwhelming. It wasn’t just sadness for lives lost, but she also has a fear of the ocean and space. (That’s aliens, deep oceans and space fears for those who are keeping track.) She didn’t want to stay on the “deck” too long, but I personally find it both haunting and soothing at the same time. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must’ve been like to be on that boat. I’d seen the Titanic exhibit before, but I had no problem going back and seeing it again. Hayley was most impressed by the re-created Grand Staircase, which is beautiful, impressive and a little awe-inspiring in its grandeur.

By the time we finished walking through both exhibits we were completely exhausted. Shopping and walking all day, with not much time for sitting and watching anything in particular, is very tiring. We took another cab back to Planet Hollywood and decided to get some food before we headed upstairs. Hayley walked to Lobster ME (a new restaurant in the Miracle Mile Shops) with me to get a lobster roll, fries and a drink, and we headed back to Earl of Sandwich to get her favorite meal – a hot turkey club. We sat and people-watched while we ate like we hadn’t been fed in days. Hayley was just as surprised as I was that she hadn’t found anything great while shopping, but we made a plan to head back to Caesars Forum Shops on Tuesday to pick up a couple of things at Victoria’s Secret/PINK that she had seen earlier in the day before she’d had a chance to shop elsewhere.

A shower to wash off the long day was in order, and we watched a couple of silly shows before Hayley fell asleep while talking to me. I left her a note and headed downstairs to gamble again.

The Hangover slots were calling me, and I had a fun time playing all the bonuses yet again. I did go through $20 quickly, but my second $20 had me hitting bonus after bonus again, racking up points and keeping me playing for a long time before I finally ran it down to nothing and went up to bed. The band playing in the Extra lounge nearby was pretty good, so I got to enjoy good music while I played. Plus a few Baileys and hot chocolates, of course!

Tuesday, Nov. 22

Sleep was not our friend – those beds at Planet Hollywood are not the most comfortable things in the world! We were up earlier than we wanted, and the usual routine followed: I got ready and went downstairs, and Hayley got ready after that. Gold Fish slots were a little kinder to me, but not for long. I was playing a Buffalo slot machine when I got the “I’m ready” text, so it was off to breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris next door.

Oh, delicious breakfast! I decided to have the cinnamon pancakes (crepes) again, and Hayley had blueberry French toast with bacon. It was a beautiful day, sunny and a little warmer with no breeze at all. They put us on the patio without us even asking about it, and it was perfect. Hayley called and checked in with grandma (my mom) while we lazed over breakfast, not wanting to get up and go. Breakfast was $36.81+tip – much cheaper than my solo breakfast in July when I spent that much on myself.

Off to Crystals at City Center to see what could be seen. Well, there’s stuff to see, but nowhere to shop that mere peons like us can afford. The Christmas decorations were already up, so we basically walked around looking at those instead of inside the uber-expensive shops. It turned out to be a much shorter shopping trip than we expected, and we headed back over to the Miracle Mile shops, instead.

Shopping at Miracle Mile was also disappointing. They took out Hayley’s favorite store, Max Rave, and there were few other stores to capture her interest. She did manage to find a cute pair of shoes at The Wild Pair and several nail polishes in a couple of other stores, but still no clothes. I managed to find a new Vegas purse for my next trip, but nothing of any real substance. Off to Caesars Palace to get the things Hayley found at Victoria’s Secret/PINK the day before.

By this time our feet were hurting again, so we took it easy and walked much more s-l-o-w-l-y. This time I noticed a sign announcing JOE MONTANA will be at the Forum Shops signing autographs on December 3^rd. Squee! I LOVE Joe Montana! I quickly texted my husband to find out whether or not he minded me coming back in a week and a half for an autograph. He didn’t. Now, if only could find airfare…

A quick trip by Margaritaville, and I am NOT happy with them basically removing half of their gift shop to add the casino. There are hardly any shirts to choose from! I had instructions from my mom to pick up a shirt for my husband from her as a Christmas gift, and Hayley and I had a hard time finding even one we liked in the limited men’s selection. Phooey!

We were done in again, and headed back to the room to put away our purchases. We decided to rest our weary feet and then pack for tomorrow’s trip home, which was a good decision because we had a late show that night and we were definitely tired when we got back to the room afterwards.

Packed up and ready to eat, we headed back to Mon Ami Gabi for dinner. This was Hayley’s only real meal choice of the trip – she wanted Steak Classique and frites, and I was just ready for yet another lovely meal at one of my favorite restaurants in Vegas. We were seated inside this time, which was fine, since it was pretty chilly out and I didn’t really feel like eating out in the cold, even with heaters all around. The restaurant was steadily busy while we were there, and it was nice and warm where we were. I ordered Gabi’s fish and frites again, and a glass of white wine recommended by our waiter. I wish I could remember the name of the wine! It was a sweeter white, and not too dry. We decided to forgo dessert because they didn’t have a gelato available that night, and we didn’t want anything too heavy before our show. Dinner was $61.24+tip – still cheaper than our two sandwiches at Carnegie Deli on the first night. Seems impossible, but it’s true.

We picked up our tickets for Divas Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace box office at 8:30. I ordered the tickets on Goldstar.com for $42 each the night before we left, which is a little less than half price. Our VIP tickets were assigned to table 13, seats 3 and 4, right next to the stage. This could be interesting. Hayley had to stop and listen to the Toby Keith dealertainer for a couple of songs, and then we checked out the Higuchi shop at Imperial Palace before heading up to the showroom to wait for the show to begin.

Divas Las Vegas is a drag/impersonator show starring Frank Marino as Joan Rivers. A giant, scary Tina Turner comes out to greet the audience before they are let into the theater. I started to worry a little bit about what we were going to see, but I shouldn’t have worried at all – Tina Turner was the scariest part of the experience…aside from Whitney Houston/Diana Ross, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

It was a really good show. Frank Marino as Joan Rivers is probably not as believable as he once was he doesn't look as much like her as he used to, but he sure has some fabulous outfits! After his opening “monologue”, he makes about 15 costume changes total between each performer. Even though the signs at the box office say no one under age 14 allowed, I saw a couple of smaller kids being seated, and it was NOT a PG show! That was a bit of a surprise, especially after being turned away from Carrot Top’s show the day before. Lots of sexual innuendo and colorful language by Frank/Joan. I was happy to hear that photos are actually ENCOURAGED during the show, and I did my best to take lots of them. I didn’t use my flash, though, because I didn’t want to blind anyone on the stage or in the audience.

Aside from Frank, each performer appears as two divas over the course of the show. I can’t remember every single one of them right now, but some of the best were Madonna, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Cher. Diana Ross was the scariest close-up, and Britney Spears was scary close to the real thing. I remember Derek, the guy who performs as Britney Spears/Lady Gaga, appearing on “America’s Got Talent” a couple of years ago, and when they cut him from the show, he said it was okay because he was going back to Vegas to perform. Well, here he is! Hayley said it’s wrong for a Britney Spears drag queen to look better in a bikini than she does. I have to agree.

At the end of the show, the guy who performs as Madonna/Celine Dion removes his costume and makeup during a closing song and leaves the stage dressed as a man. It’s really interesting. Not for everyone, I’m sure, but very interesting.

I admire Frank Marino’s dedication to his work – he’s been appearing as Joan Rivers for 26 years and he is very involved in the Make a Wish Foundation, which is awesome. Proceeds from the sales of his programs, t-shirts and fans go to Make a Wish. Every diva should do that!

After the show, we sleepily trudged back to the hotel and double-checked our packing. Hayley fell into bed, and I made another trip down to the casino, but only for about 45 minutes. I played Lord of the Rings and The Hangover slots AGAIN with no good results, but I was willing to give it a try. It was almost 2 a.m. when I made it up to bed, which isn’t late in Vegas for me, but the walking with no gambling in between is more tiring than anything else.

Wednesday, Nov. 23^rd

I was up at 8 a.m. – again – ready to give it one last try before we headed to the airport. Lord of the Rings, The Hangover, Gold Fish and Sex and the City were all being mean to me, so I took a seat at a Wizard of OZ Over the Rainbow slot I hadn’t noticed before, even though I probably walked past it 20 times. A lady sat down next to me and asked how I was doing, and I said, “I just started playing” when I went into a bonus round. Nice, too, since Glinda visited me twice during my free spins and gave me a total of $134.10 with her wild reels. Excellent! I decided to play down to $100 before cashing out, but I got down to about $107 when I hit ANOTHER bonus round and ended up with an additional $124.75 from Glinda! I think she’s my favorite “Good Witch”! Hayley texted she was ready and I told her I was finishing up. She was surprised when I brought up $232 from my morning gambling, which is a pretty big win for me as a low roller. That bit of gambling brought me up to $35 in the black for the entire trip, making it a winner for me!

We stashed our bags at the Bell Desk and walked over to Café Bellagio for breakfast. We had a couple of hours to kill before we were picked up by Presidential, and we were both too pooped to head anywhere else for last-minute shopping. Not that we’d find anything worth buying, but you know what I mean.

Hayley decided on the Bellagio waffle and bacon, and she was too chicken to ask for a side of eggs because she was HUNGRY. She should’ve asked, because she was still hungry when we got to the airport. I debated several things and decided to have the Bellagio omelet again – it has a whole lobster in it! It really is good, and it’s a very filling meal. I don’t usually eat at the airport because it’s so expensive for fast food and just not worth it to mo, so I was planning on eating well before we had to leave. A leisurely cup of coffee for me and hot chocolate for Hayley before we decided it was time to get up and go. Total bill was $53.94+tip.

We ended up making another quick trip through part of the Miracle Mile shops to get a shirt for one of my cousins. I think we passed that t-shirt six or seven times and I never saw it. My cousin likes long-sleeved t-shirts for Vegas souvenirs, and she never manages to find them when she’s there. It’s doubling as a Christmas present now!

Off to pick up our bags and wait for Presidential to pick us up. Weird…we walk into the lobby, and it’s decorated for Christmas. I asked Hayley if it’d been decorated when we stored our bags a couple of hours ago, and she said no. They decorated the entire lobby - including a Christmas tree with presents – in less than three hours. Stealthy!

We had an Escalade instead of a Towne Car for our ride to the airport, and it was worth it to have a private driver who didn’t try to run anyone over, bitch about the world, or listen to cabbie complaint radio with customers in the vehicle. Our driver was Joe this time, and we chatted about Hayley’s experience in Vegas.

I love curbside check-in at the airport. I don’t want to have to handle our bags any more than absolutely necessary, and the Southwest Airlines guys are always right there to help. Thanks, guys! Hayley found food and we settled in for well-deserved quiet time. Our plane back home was full, but McCarran was not crowded at all – can’t say the same for San Antonio when we arrived, though, because it was packed.

Home again, home again…it was good to be home, even though we knew we had a bit to do before Thanksgiving guests arrived the next day. At least it’s easier to get things done when you’re still on a bit of a Vegas high than waiting until the next morning.

When will Hayley go to Vegas again? Not sure. I need my “mommy away” time from my husband and my daughter, even working full-time again. I go to Vegas to get away, so it’s good to actually get a chance to DO JUST THAT. I think my mom and one of my aunts are trying to set up a trip for mom’s birthday in March, so that might be my next trip to my happy place. Until then…Viva Las Vegas!

A Vegas trip in pictures: July 3-6, 2011

2011-11-13T16:57:00.001-06:00

Just a quick look back at my July 3-6 Vegas trip in some of my favorite photos...before I go on my next trip in one week!

Tiffany necklace - Bellagio

Seahorse statue - Seahorse Lounge, Caesars Palace

Decorative column - Seahorse Lounge

Reflections - Caesars Palace bathroom mirrors

Lights - Cosmopolitan

Dogs in conversation - Cosmopolitan

Aria hallway

Venetian sunset

Patio view of Paris - Olives restaurant at Bellagio

The Mirage volcano from The Venetian

Aria's chocolate flowers

Goldfish - Beijing Noodle #9, Caesars Palace

Goldfish II

Decoration at Julian Serrano restaurant, Aria

July 4th sunrise from my room at Paris

Dale Chilhuly ceiling art, Bellagio

Monte Carlo statue

Paris reception

Fourth of July fireworks over Caesars and Bellagio

Art imitating life, Bellagio Conservatory

Flowers and flags, Palazzo

Bellagio rose bouquet

Marquis entrance, Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan lights

Cosmopolitan escalator

Restaurant Review: English High Tea at The Petrossian Bar (Bellagio)

2011-11-13T16:11:00.001-06:00

A beautiful display!

For the last meal of my July 2011 trip I enjoyed English High Tea at the Petrossian Bar in Bellagio. I made the reservation on my first day, as they only have room for about 6-8 people in the private area of the bar where they serve High Tea, and I hadn't decided before my trip if I was actually going to have tea service or not. Luckily I was completely by myself; there were no other reservations at 2 p.m. I didn’t feel bad about taking photos at all!

There are several different price ranges for High Tea, and your server explains all the options to you for each level. I took the lowest level for $35 per person. This gets your selection of a nice pot of tea that can be refilled as many times as you wish, two blueberry scones served with clotted cream, jam, butter and honey, 3 pre-selected desserts and your choice of four finger sandwiches in any combination. Higher-priced tea services may include champagne or different options in sandwiches or desserts, but I kept it simple because I didn't know what to expect. (When two people are dining, double the number of scones, sandwiches and desserts; for three, it would be three pots of tea, 9 desserts, six scones, and 12 sandwiches, etc.)

While the finger sandwiches are being prepared, the server brings out your tea selection in a porcelain tea pot set on a warmer. The tea I chose was called “Relax”, and it contained mint leaves that really complimented the food. I had my server guide me in my tea selection, as I had no idea whatsoever what sort of teas are the best. She asked me several questions about my likes and dislikes before guiding me to the "Relax" tea, and I am glad I let her choose for me.

I chose four different finger sandwiches for my tea service: Chickpeas with red peppers and green olive mayonnaise on spiced Panella bread (very good!), Alaskan King Crab with avocado on Brioche (my favorite!), Classic Egg Salad with Quail Egg on white bread (yummy!), and Smoked Turkey, Brie and black grapes on cranberry bread (good, but my least favorite). My server said she liked the King Crab, Egg Salad and Salmon sandwiches the best, but I didn’t select the Salmon sandwich because it had caviar on it and I wasn’t sure how it’d taste on a sandwich. It just sounds gross with bread, y'know?

The desserts were also small, very pretty, and very good: a light fruit tart topped with kiwi, grape, melon, banana, apple, strawberry, raspberry and a piece of white chocolate (I don’t know how they got all that on the little tart), a white chocolate and passion fruit cream cheese cake that tasted like coconut when you bit into it, and a cappuccino mousse in a chocolate cup decorated with the Bellagio “B” in gold. They were almost too cute to eat! Almost...

The chef came by my table to talk to me for awhile – nice lady! She is the head chef for the Petrossian Bar, and she hails from Georgia. I wish I'd caught her name, because she was very entertaining. The same goes for my server; I never read her name tag and don't recall what her name was at all, and she was a great help when choosing my sandwiches and tea.

I spent about an hour or so at tea, enjoying the food and tea and just taking my time. There isn’t a really quiet place to have tea in the Petrossian Bar because it's open to the casino and very close to the conservatory and registration desk, and there is a lot of "traffic" in the area. People were even looking in at ME, trying to figure out what I was doing seated up there all alone.

All in all, it was just the right amount of food for one person, and I wasn’t stuffed when I left, which is just as tea should be. I give this whole experience a 7 out of 10. If the location were more secluded for the tea service, I think I would have liked it even better. It just seems so refined and somewhat like I shouldn't be watching so many people while dining. I could still hear the piano player at the bar, which was a plus, but he was not nearly as loud in my area as the casino crowd.

Reservations can be made in person at the Petrossian Bar, by phone or on their website - check out the lovely photo on their webpage!
http://www.bellagio.com/nightlife/petrossian-bar.aspx

Restaurant Review: Breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi (Paris)

2011-11-13T15:14:00.001-06:00

Cinnamon Pancakes (crepes) and Sausage - bon appetit!

In case you didn't already know it, Mon Ami Gabi is one of my favorite Vegas restaurants because it 1) is reasonably priced, 2) has patio seating on the Strip, 3) has a view of the Bellagio fountains, 4) serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, and 5) has some pretty good French Bistro food.

For my last July trip breakfast, I picked up a $30 voucher for Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Total Rewards desk the day before to take advantage of some of the cash I was putting on my card through my gambling. I was told that the vouchers are good for 72 hours, and any unused dollars go back on your card if you don’t use them all. There is a date printed on the voucher, so if you forget how long you have left before it expires, just look at the slip.

There were only a few people eating on the patio at 8 a.m., so I got a nice, small table next to the railing, looking out at the fountains. (Note: The Bellagio Fountains do not start operating until 11 a.m. for testing, then at 3 p.m. on regular days or 12 p.m. on special occasions or holidays, so plan your meal accordingly if you want to watch them while you eat.) I made this reservation through OpenTable.com a few weeks earlier, and I was able to ask for patio seating when I made the reservation. They never questioned it and took me right out saying a thing. Mon Ami Gabi's policy is to never "guarantee" patio seating until you arrive at the restaurant, so I was surprised this was even offered in the process of making the reservation.

I decided to try the Café Gabi coffee drink based on my mom’s recommendation, but I didn’t care for it. Café Gabi has Kahlua, Amaretto and Frangelica, but it was just too strong and not enjoyable all. My mom really liked hers, so I'm guessing that I either had a bad cup, or a bartender who didn't know the right combination of liqueurs. Plus, it’s $8.95 a cup – wow! Not a very big cup, either, just so you know.

I ordered the Cinnamon Pancakes (which are actually crepes, not pancakes) based on the menu description. There are four – FOUR! – crepes filled with a lemon glace' and whipped cream, with a fifth, crispy-edged crepe covering the other four. The top crepe is covered in caramelized cinnamon and sugar and a dusting of powdered sugar, and a bowl of freshly whipped cream is served on the side. The crepes were delicious! I ordered a side of sausage to cut the sweetness, but I only managed to eat about half of the crepes and sausages before I was too full to go on.

With two glasses of OJ ($3.95 each), the bill came to $35.24 + tip. No need to turn in the remaining voucher! Not the most expensive Vegas breakfast I've ever had, but without the alcoholic coffee drink and the second glass of OJ, it would have been very reasonable, indeed. I say any alcoholic drink you've never tried before comes with a risk of not liking it at all. In hindsight I'd also say that trying a new alcoholic drink at breakfast is not the BEST idea I've ever had. Still, the breakfast itself was as good as ever, and I give it a solid 9 for ambiance, food and service.

To view the menus, check out their website:

http://www.monamigabi.com/home/?loc=vegas

Restaurant Review: First Food and Bar at Palazzo

2011-11-13T14:29:00.001-06:00

I'd already taken one pretzel off the stack before I remembered to take a photo.

The large lobster pieces on small buns. Not always a good thing...

First Food and Bar is easy to get to from the Strip – it’s right inside Palazzo, next to The Shoppes at Palazzo, where the hotel shops connect with The Venetian hotel next door. It is easily accessible from the escalator beside Walgreen’s Strip-level entrance. It was much easier to go that route instead of winding my way through the Venetian's July 4th poker tournament, which was the closest indoor entrance. There were TONS of people playing, standing around, trying to walk through…I was glad I’d found the other entrance by accident when I stopped by Walgreens earlier in my trip. The Venetian is hard enough for me to find my way around in without tournaments, so finding an outside, direct entrance was a win in my book.

I made my reservation through OpenTable.com with the intention of going for a late meal and having the Lobster Pot Pie, especially after seeing it in another trip report and hearing about it from several of my LasVegas4Ever friends. Sadly, it was not on the menu. What? Why? It could be that it isn't available on their late-night menu, I don’t know, but I didn't bother asking, either.

While I pondered the missing Lobster Pot Pie and decided what to have in its place, I enjoyed the complimentary soft, warm pretzels with dipping sauces brought to me by one of the chefs. They were delicious! I think I could have made a meal out of these alone. I did manage to eat two of them before I stopped myself and remembered I was there to have a meal, not snack my way through the complimentary appetizers.

I ended up ordering Lobster Rolls because I have a special weakness for them (and I love seafood, as you can probably tell from my food choices). That was probably a better idea anyway, because I’m sure the Lobster Rolls were much smaller than the Lobster Pot Pie from the photos I've seen. I have to say I was disappointed in them; they were not nearly as good as the ones I’d had at Holsteins in Cosmopolitan during my March trip.

The pieces of lobster were just too big for the small rolls they were served on, and their sauce wasn’t as tasty as the sauce they make at Holsteins. Everything about the lobster rolls seemed too large for the small buns, including the chopped celery that was part of the sauce. The buns themselves had a good, mildly sweet flavor, but the bottoms were very greasy, as if they had over-buttered the pan before they were baked, and I found myself wiping my hands repeatedly every time I put down a roll, and not because of the abundance of sauce (it was just enough).

Overall, I was kind of disappointed with the experience. I think I probably would have been happier if I'd asked about the Lobster Pot Pie, but I still think it isn't offered on the late evening menu. My total bill was $22+tip, including iced tea. The service was good and the atmosphere was nice, but the dinner left me wanting more.

The restaurant itself is very nice, with modern decor and dark wood and accents, with a great view of The Mirage volcano from the booths situated just opposite the bar. I think the restaurant probably has one of the better Strip views, especially at night when everything is lit up and glittery.

Disappointment in my meal makes me give this whole experience a 6 out of 10. The flavor was just not the best, and I'm not a fan of wiping my hands between every bite because of greasiness. Still, the location and the other offerings on their menu make me want to go back to try something else.

To view the menu or make a reservation, click here:

http://www.palazzo.com/Las-Vegas-Restaurants/Casual-Dining/First-Food-Bar/

Restaurant Review: Olives at Bellagio

2011-11-13T13:02:00.002-06:00

A meal with a view tastes even better!

Nothing wrong with Olive Tapenade to start

Less tomato, more ravioli would've been better

Before I even get into the meal and the experience itself, I want to share a little story regarding the dress code for the restaurant. The website has since been changed to show "casual" dress, but it said "resort casual" before my trip. What exactly is that? I say that it's upscale casual, like something a rich wife would wear on a day-long boating excursion with her family. I decided on Bermuda shorts, dressy sandals, and a summer cardigan set.

We debated the dress code for Olives at great length on the LasVegas4Ever message board before I left, but let me tell you all I should not have been worried. When I walked up to the hostess stand, a man walked past me who either A) obviously had money, or B) Olives just wasn’t that concerned about his appearance, because he looked like a hobo or a REALLY badly dressed tourist. His salt-and-pepper hair was sticking straight up all over, a la Albert Einstein, and he was wearing black and red basketball shorts with flames coming up the sides. He also had on white socks – yes, SOCKS! – with his black flip flops. Not sandals…flip flops. With his sock toes spread around the thong part. Socks and flip flops is one of my pet peeves. At least his black t-shirt was normal. The rest of his party consisted of nicely dressed older people, so what was the deal with him? Did they call him from the pool? They appeared to be two couples, but I’m surprised his wife/girlfriend/SO didn’t make him change. So I needn’t have worried myself about the dress code there.

I’d made my reservation on the Bellagio website, and it allowed me to ask for patio seating, so I did. Views in Vegas are always my favorite things to ask for if I can get them for free. The hostess noted it and led me out to a table at the front of the patio, overlooking the Bellagio fountains and Paris across the Strip. It was a pretty day: cloudy and cool with a few sprinkles in the area, and patio seating was definitely the right choice for this meal. Passing through the restaurant on my way I noted dark wood and low lighting, which are very nice when you're in the mood for that sort of dining experience, but I was in the mood for light and airy.

They served two delicious olive tapenades -one green and one kalamatta - with a basket of assorted breads, and I took my time looking over the menu while I tried out different combinations. Trust me when I say all the combinations were good. I should have saved myself from another overloaded stomach and had a lighter salad or a couple of appetizers, but their daily special, the Ricotta Ravioli, was calling my name. It was pretty good, but it had a very tomato-y sauce. The ravioli themselves were delicious and creamy, and I could have eaten them without the sauce (and probably should have). The small pieces of Italian sausage throughout the sauce saved it from being way too tomato-y for me, but I think it just was too much food for lunch.

All in all, I enjoyed my meal, the waitress' commentary and my beautiful view, and it was one of the few I paid for. ($26+tax and tip, including tea). I would like to go back again and choose something lighter for lunch. There were several items on the menu I would have loved to try, but dining alone sometimes leaves me with few options. I'd rate the entire experience a 7 out of a possible 10. The view and the tapenades were the best.

To view the Olives at Bellagio menu or make a reservation, visit their website here:

http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/olives.aspx

A major DISLIKE from my meal that had nothing to do with the food: I have a couple of smokers in my family, and I have no problem with them lighting up after a meal if they ask first or even just direct it away from me. Really, I don’t. HOWEVER…if there are only FOUR tables occupied on a patio, all the people are seated close together, and you sit down and intend to smoke - from the beginning – wouldn’t you be courteous and ask if anyone minded if you smoked, or move to one of the other tables a little farther away? I had just started eating when a couple came in and sat right beside me. They both smoked from the beginning, holding their cigarettes up and away from their faces. How nice of them! It was blowing right in mine. I asked the waitress if she minded if I moved back a little, and she looked over and saw why I wanted to move and got me to another table a little farther back. These people had the audacity to look at me like I was the one who offended them! C’mon, people! I don’t mind smoke, but don’t force me to smoke with you. I fully expect it in a casino, but how ‘bout a little courtesy?

End of rant, and end of review.

Restaurant Review: Julian Serrano at Aria

2011-11-13T12:26:00.001-06:00

Decorative touches...

Creamy Risotto

Salmon Roulade

White Ceviche

Julian Serrano was the place for my late tapas dinner when I stayed at Aria. I made the reservation directly through the Aria website, and I had a $50 food credit that was included in my room offer to spend however I wanted.

The restaurant is located near the reservations desk, along a "restaurant row" of sorts, and it's not hard to find. The design is sleek and modern, and the restaurant is open to the rest of the resort on three sides. My late evening reservation found a few other diners enjoying their tapas with quiet conversation in the main dining area, or watching Sports Center on the flat-screen TV's above the bar area. I chose a small booth near the center of the restaurant but against a wall, with a view of most of the restaurant and outside areas (all the better to people-watch, my dear).

My waiter was quick and attentive, willing to describe any dish I wished to know more about. In the end, I decided to try a couple of tapas I’d seen on the menu at home, as well as one of his suggestions and my waiter offered to bring them out one at a time, about 15 minutes apart, so I could take my time and enjoy them all completely.

First I tried the White Ceviche, which is something I don't get to eat too much of at home. The dish was spicy, but just okay. This was one of my own choices), and I was actually disappointed in it. I think it actually needed more lime to give it a good balance. I'm not exactly sure what the "chips" next to it were made of, but they didn't look familiar and I opted not to taste them.

Next I tried the Creamy Risotto, which was also one of my own selections. I had been eyeing the risotto since I first found their menu online, and it didn't disappoint. The dish was very good and quite large and filling for a tapas dish. The warm risotto paired with almonds and mushrooms made it quite earthy and very delicious. A slice of fresh Parmesan cheese was presented on top of it, and I chose to break it up and mix it in while the dish while it was still warm. So good. I probably could have had twice as much of this dish and gone away just as happy.

My third dish was the one recommended by my waiter: Salmon Roulade. It was very good! This dish was presented almost like a large sushi roll on top of a piece of lightly toasted, and very delicious, bread. The roulade mixture inside was very flavorful and fresh. I broke everything apart and ate the bread along with the salmon. I didn’t leave a bite of anything on my plate.

I took my time and savored everything, and my intermittent conversations with the waiter were entertaining, as well. It was nice to be able to sit back, relax, and just watch the world of Vegas go by for awhile.

All in all my tapas meal was a little over $38+tax (+cash tip) for my three tapas and an iced tea, so I didn’t even use my full food credit. Awww. I was too freakin’ full to eat another bite, though.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes tapas and wants to enjoy a wide variety of dishes served in a quiet but elegant setting. It's yet another Vegas restaurant I'll be more than happy to visit again. There were several other tapas on the menu that I would have loved to try, but there's no way I could possibly try any more than three at one time by myself. I'd give my whole dining experience a solid 8 out of 10.

To view the Julian Serrano menu, check out their hours or make a reservation, follow this link:

http://www.arialasvegas.com/dining/julian-serrano.aspx

Aria: A lovely room, indeed!

2011-11-13T10:26:00.003-06:00

Walking in...

That is some bed!

Lots of storage

Space to work OR play...

Need more counter space!

Very big!

For my July 2011 trip, I decided to "double-book" one night at Aria, which is part of the new City Center complex. I booked the offer because it was $79 for one night, plus $50 in Free Play and a $50 food credit at any of Aria's restaurants. Well, that's like free to me! I couldn't pass it up, and I'm glad I added it on to my trip.

Luckily I had Claire text me clear walking directions from Paris to Aria, because the whole City Center complex can be very confusing. The hotels are very close together, and the entrances are not always visible from the Strip. She thought I was kidding when I asked her for the easiest way to get from the Strip to the registration desk at Aria, but I was perfectly serious. I already had blistered feet – I didn’t want to take extra steps if I didn’t have to. Thank you, Claire, for being so awesome from afar!

I packed my overnight bag at Paris -since I had that room booked for all three nights - and headed out to the walkway in front of City Center. A (somewhat) quick walk through Crystals and to the check in desk at Aria was fairly painless. It was almost 6:30 p.m., but there were a few people in line. Every one of them had issues with their reservations, I think. Even so, I managed to get assigned a room quickly, and I was on my way to 18-210 in less than 10 minutes. Figuring out the Aria hallways, though, can be a challenge. I just knew I’d get turned around somewhere, but I never got lost. The way the hallways "branch out" off of the elevators can get a tad confusing if you don't pay attention to your path and check your room number.

What an entrance into a hotel room! I absolutely LOVE the way the lights turn on, the music turns on, and the drapes automatically open the first time you walk in! That was worth the $79/night price for the room alone! I only wish it happened every time you walk into the room, but I can see where that’d be a problem if you’re staying with someone else. If I'd known about it I would've taken a video of it to be sure - I found it very impressive.

Of course I had to take the prerequisite room photos and figure out all the little gadgets to control the room. It was quite nice to see my name all over the place, too! The TV and the room controls all had "Welcome Deann M" programmed in, and I couldn't help but giggle when I first saw them.

There is ample storage in the Aria rooms, with a double armoire, a dresser/bureau and valet station right inside the door, two nightstands, a desk and a mini bar - with extra amenities and goodies that cost quite a bit if you decide to take them with you - plus two chairs and a small coffee table right next to the windows. However, the lovely and very comfortable bed is the focal point of this room! It is EXTREMELY comfortable, and you sink into it quite deeply. Add on the duvet and extra covers and...*sigh*...it's a lovely way to relax. The mattress is so comfy that it makes Bellagio's mattress seem average by comparison, and it's not. I was certainly happier than my husband and daughter when I texted them about the wonderful room and the EXTREMELY comfortable bed. I don’t think they really cared I would be sleeping on a giant marshmallow.

The bathroom is fairly good-sized, with a large, separate marble shower and tub tucked away to one side behind a clear glass door. The toilet is behind another glass door, frosted for privacy (but I still miss real doors when you're separating a toilet from the rest of the bathroom), and there's a phone in the toilet room, too - you never want to miss an important call!

The only problem I have with anything in the Aria room is the lack of bathroom counter space. There are plenty of drawers and counter tops everywhere else in the room, but there is a dinky 12” space between the two sinks, and the only plugs are BEHIND their bathroom amenities, which I knocked over four times before I finally moved them to the shower area because I couldn't even set my makeup bag on the counter.

I couldn't resist setting the controls to wake me up at 7 a.m. with the TV tuning to light jazz music, the bedside lights coming on to a "dim" setting, and the blackout drapes opening to reveal another beautiful Vegas morning. Posh!

I would love to stay in this hotel again. Of the entire City Center complex, it's one of only two with a casino attached, Cosmopolitan being the other. I go to Vegas primarily to gamble, so a casino downstairs is important to me when I choose a place to stay. It has to be my favorite hotel ROOM in Vegas so far, and I would definitely rate it a 10!

Now to wait for another offer like that one to pop up...

For more information on Aria and to check their room rates, visit http://www.arialasvegas.com/, or call (866) 359-7757.

Paris Las Vegas Hotel - Red room review - with photos

2011-11-08T20:49:00.004-06:00

Paris elevators

A beautiful, RED room!

It's a really comfy bed, too.

For my July 2011 trip, I booked a comped room at Paris for 3 nights, July 3-6. I was placed in room 2826 on the 28th floor immediately upon my arrival, and, as it was only 1:30, I was overjoyed I wouldn’t have to check my luggage and I could go chill in my room after a really bad cab ride from the airport.

I had stayed at Paris on a previous trip, but this room looked completely different from the last one I had, which was decorated in blue and gold. I don’t know if the front desk clerk meant to give me a renovated Red Room or not, but I was happy to have it. What a pretty room!

My view was out the back toward Bally’s, which meant I’d get the sunrise. It's a good thing that most Las Vegas hotel rooms have great blackout curtains, or I wouldn't get any sleep at all!

The room layout is the same as the standard, classic blue and gold room, but the renovated Red Room is just that: RED! The carpeting is a black and white hounds tooth pattern that compliments the red accent pieces, red curtains and the red headboards on the bed. It's not overwhelming at all; it works.

The Red Room comes with the standard blow dryer plus a coffee maker on the bathroom counter. A large armoire stores the TV as well as the clothes (behind two mirrored doors and in three good-sized drawers) in the bedroom. A desk and chair are situated near the window, as well as a comfortable and good-sized RED love seat/settee'.

There is plenty of room to move around in the bathroom, too, and the makeup mirror attached next to the sink is a bonus you don't find in all hotels. The shower and tub are separate, and the tub is jetted. I don't think I've ever used a hotel tub except to stand in while showering when it's necessary. I don't think I'd know how to fill one up anymore.

Like most other Las Vegas hotels, checkout is convenient and can be done in one of three ways: via the TV, through a signed checkout card that is provided when you check IN, or in person at the registration/check in desk when leaving the hotel. If you don't have any room charges and your room is comped (free), the easiest and quickest way is to sign the card and drop it in the convenient drop boxes outside the elevators and just leave your room keys in the room.

While I love the look and atmosphere of Paris Las Vegas, I don't spend a lot of time gambling in the casino. I do love a couple of their restaurants, but I don't see myself coming back to stay again and again unless I get more free room offers - there are just too many other places for me to spend my money if I can get a room for free!

Matsuri at Imperial Palace: A show review

2011-11-08T19:38:00.000-06:00

Matsuri was a show I went to based on another friend and LasVegas4Ever board member's suggestion (thank you, Frank/Westie!). I'm so glad I did - it was a fantastic show!

I got a VIP ticket from Goldstar.com for $35+tax before I even left home, and I traded it in at the Imperial Palace box office for my "real" ticket two hours before the show. My seat assignment was Table 15 Seat 6 – literally inches from the stage, right next to the main stage stairs.

There are currently three different shows that use the Imperial Palace's main theater on different days and at different times: Human Nature, Divas Las Vegas and Matsuri. For this particular show, it might have been better to sit in the first row of booths because of all the high-flying action going on near the edges of the stage and into the audience. Unfortunately I waited too long to ask to be moved and the booths were filled, but it was a great, high-energy show nonetheless.

If you've never heard about Matsuri, here's a quick run-down of the what to expect during the show: a fast-paced blend of Japanese traditional and American past times, including Kabuki, martial arts, gymnastics, aerobatics, strength moves, fan dances, hula hoops, yo-yo's, jump ropes and giant swings, just to name a few. The action hardly ever stops, and when it does it's only stopped long enough to get performers on or off the stage under cover of darkness (or in some giant object).

I’m still trying to figure out how the main female performer managed to switch – while crossing the stage - from walking on 8” platform shoes to performing barefoot martial arts moves in less than a minute. From martial arts to fan dances to acrobatics, she was everywhere, all the time. She was amazing.

But I can't really say who was my favorite performer because there were so many of them doing different things and I loved elements from everyone's acts. It's difficult to pin down who did what, too, because they changed costumes often and were running from one end of the stage to the other, getting involved in other activities without ever stopping. It was a great performance, and I would see it again without hesitation.

Currently the show is on tour, but they will be back at the Imperial Palace theater in early 2012. Once the show returns, tickets can be purchased online through Caesars Entertainment (www.caesars.com), Goldstar (www.goldstar.com), by calling (702) 369-5111 or in person at the Imperial Palace box office.

Restaurant Review: Beijing Noodle #9 at Caesars Palace

2011-11-07T22:22:00.001-06:00

Goldfish reflections at Beijing Noodle #9

Treading water

Scallop and Enoki Soup with Pork and Shrimp Dumplings

Throwing noodles

Beijing Noodle #9 at Caesars Palace

I planned a lunch trip to Beijing Noodle #9 in Caesars Palace because I'd heard so many good things about the restaurant while researching different places to eat in Vegas. Finding it is a bit of a challenge if you're not familiar with the Caesars Palace hotel/casino layout, though, so check the signs or ask for directions, or you might end up somewhere completely different and never find the restaurant at all.

Beijing Noodle #9 is located in the BACK of the hotel, past the registration desk. ("Does Caesar live here?" Thanks to 'The Hangover' for making me smile every time I walk in that way.) You will find the restaurant near the buffet entrance, past the High Limit Slot area. There were a LOT of people milling around, and until you walk right up to the restaurant you're likely to miss it altogether.

I LOVE the giant goldfish tanks they have at the entrance! I took lots of photos of the tanks and their inhabitants, but I really wanted to take a picture of the hostess – she was dressed in a beautiful goldfish-orange dress. So pretty! I didn't even ask for the photo op, though, as she was extremely busy.

I didn't have a reservation, and I was perfectly happy to sit at the bar after seeing the open kitchen nearby. I wanted to watch the chefs prepare the meals, and it turned out to be a good choice and very entertaining for this solo traveler. I only had to wait about 5 minutes to be seated, and I chose the bar especially after I’d been watching the men making noodles through the window while I waited. They were quick, flinging and flipping wads of dough into dozens of noodle strands in less than 2 minutes. It was fascinating. I wish I’d recorded a video instead of taking photos because they moved too fast to see the noodles. I also watched another man making wontons from scratch. Very, very quick work. The restaurant was crowded and loud, so be prepared if you go for lunch.

I ordered the Scallop & Enoki Soup, then decided to add on Pork & Shrimp Dumplings because they sounded yummy, as well. The soup was very hot and had lots of scallops and mushrooms in a good-sized bowl of broth. The broth was very flavorful and filling, and I probably should have stopped there instead of adding on the dumplings. The Chinese man next to me dined properly on his soup: chopsticks to pick the solid foods out of the broth, then picking up the bowl with the tips of his fingers to slurp the soup. I used a spoon, instead.

The Pork & Shrimp Dumplings were very flavorful and served in a container that is steamed instead of placed in an oven or microwave. I don't believe I've ever had such truly fresh-made dumplings before, and these were delicious. Dipped in light soy sauce they were just as good as straight out of the container, but enjoyable either way. I declined the offer of a fork and opted to stab the dumplings when my waiter wasn't looking after I realized I couldn't pick them up properly with the chopsticks without dropping them everywhere. Saving face in a Chinese restaurant...

My cute, young Chinese waiter switched back and forth between Mandarin Chinese and English quickly when speaking to me and my bar mate (the older Chinese man who knew how to eat soup), and he called me “Lady” every time he addressed me. “Thank you, lady.” “What will you have, lady?” “Would you like a fork, lady?” It was great to have someone who could converse well in multiple languages, and he received a good tip for his attentions.

I did add a Pepsi to my order, and I have no idea how I managed to eat all of the food given to me. I sat for quite a long time after I finished eating, watching the chefs work and marveling at their skills. It was very entertaining and quite relaxing, too. It also gave me time to digest, and my waiter continued to look after me even though I told him he didn't need to. My total bill was $24.07 + tip, and I look forward to visiting again sometime. I don't know if I'm looking forward to eating more than watching the chefs, though; I guess I'll have to try it again and see which one wins. I would give this meal and experience an 8 out of a possible 10.

Reservations can be made by calling (877) 346-4642, and they are open 7 days a week from 11:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

View their menu here:
http://www.caesarspalace.com/images/non_image_assets/Noodle_9_web_menu_8_2011.pdf

Restaurant Review: Breakfast Buffet @ Grand Lux at The Venetian

2011-11-07T21:33:00.003-06:00

It was a nice, quiet walk to the Venetian on the second morning of my July 2011 trip for the breakfast buffet I’d heard such good things about from other members of the LasVegas4Ever board. I decided I wasn't impressed AT ALL after seeing the selection and size of the buffet, and I won't be wasting my money on a second buffet there.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Grand Lux as a restaurant, but they shouldn't bother offering a buffet within the restaurant because it's just not worth the price, I think. They have fantastic food and lots of choices on their regular menu, and I can share lots of different items with my friends if I so choose, but I was extremely disappointed in the choices - or lack thereof - when it comes to a breakfast buffet.

They had waffles, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, cereal, bagels and toppings, hash browns, yogurt and fruit available. But no Eggs Benedict? How can you have a Vegas breakfast buffet with no Eggs Benedict?!? No pancakes? No casseroles? Nothing out of the ordinary at all? I should’ve ordered off the menu, instead.

The price of the breakfast buffet includes coffee (which was too strong) and OJ (which was very good). But $16.50+tax for their limited selection is not a good deal, in my opinion. I won’t be doing that again.

I didn't even bother taking any photos because it was just not photo-worthy at all. How disappointing is that? I live for taking photos of EVERYTHING in Vegas, and to be so disappointed by a meal that I didn't even want to take a single photo says a lot.

I will be back for breakfast at Grand Lux someday...but I will get something really delicious and unusual to make up for lackluster and boring. I give this whole breakfast buffet experience a 3 out of 10.

Restaurant Review: Les Artistes at Paris (CLOSED January 2012)

2011-10-30T16:54:00.001-05:00

Les Artistes at Paris Hotel and Casino is probably not too long for this world. It has been said that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is going to put a signature restaurant of his own in the current spot (which is right next to the High Limit Slots), so check it out while you can.

When I made the reservation, the lady said the dress code was "casual", but I wasn’t comfortable with “casual” for a 4-star restaurant dinner, so I went with evening wear, instead. There were people wearing shorts and people in full, formal evening wear, so I think anything fits the bill here.

I ended up chickening out on the food photos because the lighting was very, very low, and I would’ve had to use a flash. It felt too hoity-toity for flash photos, so you won't find any good pictures of the inside of the restaurant in this review, sorry.

The walls of the restaurant are decorated with reproduction paintings and stained glass, and it’s really pretty inside, but very dark, too. The main part of the restaurant is open to a second "floor", so you get the feeling you're in a much larger restaurant. There are probably about 30 tables on the main floor, and there were never more than 10 tables filled during my visit.

Once seated, you're served a basket of assorted breads and fresh butter, which gives you plenty of time to ponder hard food choices. They have quite a few appetizer options on their menu, and I had a very large gift certificate to use, so I wanted to make the most of my visit.

For an appetizer, I chose the Garbage Salad - shrimp, salami, egg and olives on field greens with a light vinaigrette dressing. Good, but definitely an unusual combination. At least now I can said I tried it.

The waiter recommended the Chef’s Special for the main course: Filet Mignon and Scallops Au Gratin, served with garlic mashed potatoes and French string beans. For whatever reason, he sold me on it, and I didn't have to worry about making a choice for myself. I ordered the steak cooked medium, which turned out to be a little too pink for me, but it was a very good cut of meat. The waiter offered to take it back for me, but I just ended up eating all the way around the outside where it was crispier. Even the edges had a great flavor! The scallops were buttery and the size of silver dollars, covered in delicious Parmesan cheese. The green beans had crispy edges and were very fresh-tasting, which is just how I like them. The potatoes were sinfully good in their garlic creaminess, and I used extra bread to make sure I got every last bite.

Everything got washed down with a nice California Pinot Noir recommended by the waiter. Even though I only ate about a third of the steak, it was still too much for one person to eat, and it was the beginning of my gross over-eating for the trip. I didn't even order dessert, and I should have; I could have taken it up to my room and eaten it later. The waiter also offered to choose a bottle of wine for me and open it (they can't let you take it closed), but I thought that'd be a little too much for me to finish off before I left.

My total with tax was $95, and I left a generous tip in cash because I was using the gift certificate and felt more than a little guilty for it...why, I don't know. I have guilt issues in strange situations.

It was a good experience overall, and I would give it a 7 out of 10 rating. The atmosphere would be nice for a romantic meal as long as it's open, but I don't know how long that will be.

For reservations or to view their menu online:

http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/les-artistes-steakhouse-detail.html

The Super-Secret Trip Report, July 3-6, 2011

2011-10-30T16:13:00.001-05:00

Monte Carlo statue after dark

Strip fireworks from the City Center pedestrian bridge

I may never eat again.

I WAY over-booked myself on meals, and I ended up canceling two of them because there was just too much to try. I had spread them out over the days and figured I’d be able to do them all because there was plenty of time – and lots of walking – in between, but it was still JUST TOO MUCH.

Other than that, the weather was fantastic, I saw lots of new things, and I managed to miss the rain storms because I was…what else? Eating! HA!

Remember that I do my trip reports day-by-day instead of by subject, so you might have to skim over some paragraphs to find what you want if you’re not into reading every single word I write (there are always lots of them). On we go…

Sunday, July 3

My flight out was uneventful, which is always a good thing, and I managed to sit across from the most entertaining teen-age boy ever. He drummed, shimmied, shook his head and mimed every song he listened to on his iPhone…all the way to Vegas. I have a feeling that the man behind him wasn’t too keen on his music because he was experiencing it through the bouncing of his seat and tray table. I found it amusing, though, and I made a game out of trying to figure out the songs he was listening to.

Once I landed, I found my bag was one of the first off the plane, and I headed to a non-existent cab line. I don’t think I’ve ever walked right up for a cab before, and I thought it might be a good sign. It was NOT. I was about to have the most horrible cabbie experience I have ever had, and I will be more selective of my cab drivers in the future. Read on for…

“The Cab Ride from HELL!”

This little man came running up to the officer directing us to the various cabs and exclaimed that he’d been passed over twice and had been waiting for a cab fare for over half an hour, and the officer said to me, “There you go – number one.” So I followed the cabbie to his car, him pulling my suitcase and telling me how “terrible” it’d been with no fares for so long, and I was already thinking about how he was going to try to hit me up for a bigger tip from the beginning. Not so. Instead, he immediately asked me if I wanted to take the tunnel or surface roads (as we’re obviously headed for the tunnel already), and I said surface. He said, “No, no – there is three accident on the streets. You don’t want to go that way. Highway is quicker.” I reminded him that it was a holiday weekend, and I’d much rather take the surface streets because, even with accidents, there were side roads to take to get around them. He told me that he would turn off the meter if it got too bad, but he assured me again there were no accidents on the freeway.

Oh, how wrong he was. There were several accidents on the freeway, and tons of traffic coming in from California, and that would’ve been okay because he promised to turn off the meter if it was too bad, BUT NO! It got worse. I won’t go into details, but he proceeded to ask me questions (at first I thought he was just making small talk), then RANTED on whatever the subject was! Over the next 30 minutes, he managed to insult San Antonio, Vegas, gamblers, every Vegas hotel I’ve ever stayed in, and then my daughter (I won’t even repeat it). THAT was the last straw for me. When I re-told the cab story to Terri and Diana, Diana said I should’ve waited until I got to the hotel, but I was NOT having any more of his shit. I had sat quietly, with my arms crossed and looking out the window, for all that time, but when he picked his newest subject I asked him to please shut up. Then he had the gall to ask me if he’d offended me! Oh, HELL YES! I let loose and told him exactly HOW he’d offended me, from beginning to end, and then he said, “Sorry, it is a language barrier, I think.” I said I THINK NOT! You asked questions and spoke very clearly when voicing your opinions, but you have stepped over the boundary now!

To wrap this up (it could go on forever), he apologized again and again, which I did not accept, he turned off the meter and high-tailed it (as best he could with the stand-still traffic on the highway) to the first exit and got me to Paris in under 10 minutes. I was livid, and I had already told him I was going to report him to the Taxicab Authority, and he kept saying, “No, please, it is a language barrier. Don’t report me.” I told him TOO BAD, I was going to report him, anyway. Then he came up with a new ploy as we were pulling into the Paris taxi stand: “You no pay. I sorry, you no pay.” I told him, “You’re damn right – I’m not paying you ANYTHING!” The doorman opened my door, and I told him, “DO NOT let that man touch my bags!” and stood with my arms crossed while the cabbie pleaded again. No good, Mr. Ass – you’re being reported for long-hauling and I’m detailing the insults, too. I hope he loses his job.

Okay…I’m over it now. I did fill out the form, and I wrote a letter to the Taxicab Authority, as well, since the form is supposed to be just for long-hauling. But there was no way I was going to wait until I got to Paris to tell him I was pissed. I was in the cab for 42 minutes! No way I should have had to endure that. I sincerely hope he was fired.

It took me a few minutes to calm down and gather myself, and the poor guy at check in probably thought I was crazy, but he was nice and understanding when I was fumbling through my wallet for everything, and he put me in room 2826 immediately. It was only 1:30, but I was overjoyed I wouldn’t have to check my luggage and I could go chill in my room after that experience.

I don’t know if he meant to give me a renovated Red Room or not, but I was happy to have it. What a pretty room! I put away my stuff and took my photos, noting that my view was out the back toward Bally’s, which meant I’d get the sunrise. Don’t forget the blackout curtains, Deann.

Bellagio was first on my list for the day. I wanted to pay one last visit to the Fontana Bar before it closed for good on the 5^th. They had a sign up outside that said they were closed for a private function (boo, hiss) and the curtains were closed, but the bar top VP was still open on the right-hand side. I was unable to go in and get any photos inside the bar and the view of the fountains - which sucks - but I also wasn’t going to start off playing $1 bar top VP to get a drink, either. So I got a couple of photos and headed off. (Note: When I went back on the 5^th, the “closed for a private function” sign was still up and the curtains were still closed, but the bars were all cleaned off and there was no one sitting at the VP games. Sad.)

I still think the Bellagio Conservatory needs to change up their displays. Even though the different seasons’ exhibits are pretty, it’s the same stuff over and over and over now. I’m all for recycling, but Bellagio has money; they need to get some new stuff.

Dinner was at Les Artistes restaurant in Paris. When I made the reservation, the lady said it was casual, but I wasn’t comfortable with “casual” for a 4-star restaurant dinner, so I went with evening wear, instead. I ended up chickening out on the food porn photos because the lighting was very, very low, and I would’ve had to use a flash and it felt too hoity-toity for flash photos. The walls of the restaurant are decorated with reproduction paintings and stained glass, and it’s really pretty inside, but very dark, too. They serve an assorted bread basket when you’re seated, which gives you time to make hard decisions. I had the Garbage Salad as an appetizer, which has shrimp, salami and olives on field greens and is dressed with light vinaigrette. The waiter recommended the Chef’s Special: Filet Mignon and Scallops Au Gratin, served with garlic mashed potatoes and French string beans. I ordered the steak medium, which turned out to be a little too pink for me, but it was good. The scallops were buttery, the green beans were crispy and the potatoes were sinfully good, and they all got washed down with a nice California Pinot Noir recommended by the waiter. Even though I only ate about 1/3 of the steak, it was still too much for one person to eat, and it was the beginning of my gross over-eating for the trip. Total with tax was $95 (comped), and I left a generous tip in cash.

I decided to play at Paris and met a really nice lady from Nebraska named Lana. We chatted for quite a long time while playing Gold Fish, and we even took the monorail down to MGM together (she was staying at Monte Carlo, and I was headed to that end of the Strip to visit some other casinos). Nice lady. I gave her the LV4E website address, so we might see her around here sometime.

I learned a lesson during that monorail trip: don’t wear new sandals! I could already feel the blisters forming on my toes. I knew I should’ve stopped in my room to change shoes! Oh, well – too late now. I said goodbye to Lana and wandered my way through MGM and NY/NY. Not a darn thing held my attention for too long, and my feet did not want to make the trek down to Excalibur, Luxor and beyond, so it was a hobble over to Monte Carlo, instead. I vowed last trip to head back there and do a little more gambling to stay on their radar, and I found a Cleopatra II machine that was very nice to me.

The walk down to Paris was painful. I had totally forgotten about the fireworks when I heard them start to go off over Caesars Palace, but there was no way I was going to be able to rush. I made it to the walkway between City Center and Planet Hollywood and stopped there to take some photos and shoot a couple of videos, but I couldn’t see the whole thing head-on, which was unfortunate. I’m sure the pics and videos would’ve been even better if I’d been a little farther down the Strip. The Strip traffic was extreme; I’m glad I wasn’t down there.

When the fireworks were finally done, I headed on to Paris and went to take off those damn shoes! I resisted throwing them in the trash because they were too cute. I think a lucky person will be getting them through Goodwill, though. I changed into comfy clothes and went back down to gamble some more.

I had the unfortunate displeasure of sitting next to a really creepy guy at Lord of the Rings. He was just…weird. Not in an endearing geeky way, either; just creepy. He finally weirded me out enough that I fled to the Gold Fish machines by Le Cabaret.

I saw an interesting show, although it wasn’t on Le Cabaret’s listing for the night: a cougar who just shouldn’t have been dancing. There’s a time and a place for ‘sexy’ dancing, but it’s not in a bar where people can stop and watch, stare and point, and you’re literally IN the spotlight. At first I thought she was imitating Criss Angel’s “show hands” and “interesting magician’s moves”, but then I realized she was just trying to mesmerize her prey. It was kinda sad, really. I finally got tired of the free show and went to bed.

Monday, July 4^th

I woke up like I’d slept for 10 hours, refreshed and ready for the day. A glance at the clock said it was 5:45 a.m. Wow! Three hours of sleep! Awesome! I was able to get some photos of a very pretty sunrise, though, so I think it was worth the early rising time.

It was a nice, quiet walk to the Venetian for the breakfast buffet I’d heard such good things about. Me no likey too much. There were very limited food choices for a buffet: waffles, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, cereal, bagels and toppings, hash browns, yogurt and fruit. No Eggs Benedict? How can you have a Vegas breakfast buffet with no Eggs Benedict?!? No pancakes? No casseroles? I should’ve ordered off the menu, instead. The price of the breakfast buffet includes coffee (too strong) and OJ (very good). But $16.50+tax for their limited selection is not a good deal, IMO. I won’t be doing that again.

I FINALLY got to play a couple of the different Alice in Wonderland machines in the Venetian and Palazzo, and I really liked them! Probably because I kept getting different bonuses and was able to play, play, play…whatever. I enjoyed the Mad Scatter and Flying Teacups bonuses (I think that’s what they’re called). I have decided that Palazzo is the winner in Vegas when it comes to making a good cup of Bailey’s and Hot Chocolate. THE best, hands down. And the fact that they always serve it to me in an insulated travel cup? Even better! When I was taking photos around Palazzo, I made sure to stop and send a letter to the troops overseas before I headed on. That was such a cool thing to do, and I felt even prouder to be doing it on July 4^th.

Played at Wynn for a bit, but Steve just took my money and laughed, as usual. TI kept calling me to sign up for their slot card, so I went. I managed to turn my $10 free play into $30 on a Dragon’s Fire machine, so that’s a win for me. Other than that particular machine I found nothing to hold me there, so I headed down to Caesars to find my lucky LOTR slots.

Dirty Lord of the Rings! Dirty Caesars Entertainment! They have replaced most of the original Lord of the Rings slots with a newer version: The Two Towers. As several fellow gamblers commented during my trip, the bonuses are not nearly as frequent as on the original version (the new version is at every CET property), so that was a bit of a downer for me. AND Caesars moved their machines from the nice, quiet area near the entrance of the Forum Shops waaaaaaay over to the back near the buffet, Beijing Noodle #9 and the bus entrance. It is very, very loud in that area. I didn’t stay at those long. I went back to the “old” area and played the usual Gold Fish and Hot Hot Penny machines, instead. As my mom noted on her recent trip they have also taken out many of the VP machines in favor of more slot machines. I don’t know if I like those changes or not. Bad move, Caesars.

I managed to play around until lunch time and went back to Beijing Noodle #9. I took lots of photos of the goldfish tanks, but I really wanted to take a picture of the hostess – she was dressed in a beautiful goldfish orange dress. So pretty! I had to wait about 5 minutes to be seated, and I chose the bar because I’d been watching the men making noodles through the window. They were quick, flinging and flipping wads of dough into dozens of noodle strands in less than 2 minutes. It was fascinating. I wish I’d recorded a video instead of taking photos because they moved too fast to see the noodles. I also watched another man making wontons from scratch. Very, very quick work. The restaurant was crowded and loud, so be prepared if you go for lunch.

Scallop & Enoki Soup and Pork & Shrimp Dumplings with a Pepsi were the order of the day – very good stuff. My bill was $24.07 + tip. The cute, young Chinese waiter switched back and forth between Chinese and English quickly when speaking to me and my bar mate (an older Chinese man), and he called me “Lady” every time he addressed me. “Thank you, lady.” “What will you have, lady?” “Would you like a fork, lady?” Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she? I declined the fork and opted to stab the dumplings when he wasn’t looking, by the way. Saving face in a real Chinese restaurant…

When I finally waddled out of there, I headed over to Imperial Palace to pick up my ticket for Matsuri that afternoon. I was a little too early, so I played a multi-screen Lobstermania machine near the box office. Sixty cents to play all four screens isn’t too bad, and I was able to keep playing for quite a long time. Between that and Jackpot Block Party I was very entertained in IP while waiting for the show.

Matsuri was a fantastic show! I got a VIP ticket from Goldstar.com for $35+tax, and my seat assignment was Table 15 Seat 6 – literally inches from the stage, right next to the stage stairs. It might’ve been better to sit in the first row of booths (I waited too long to ask to be moved and the booths were filled), but it was a great, high-energy show. If you don’t know anything about it, it’s a blend of Japanese traditional and American interests: Kabuki, martial arts, gymnastics, aerobatics, strength, fan dances, hula hoops, jump ropes and swings, among other things. I’m still trying to figure out how the main female performer managed to switch – across the stage - from walking on 8” platform shoes to performing barefoot martial arts in less than a minute. She was awesome. There were elements of comedy throughout, and it’s energetic and funny and amazing all at the same time. There was also talk of the show going on tour for awhile, but go see it if it's still available!

I decided to pick up some comfortable black sandals at Hamaguchi before I left Imperial Palace, and I was happy they accepted Total Rewards credits. I did have to get a voucher from the cashier, but it was totally worth it to have comfy black sandals for the evening.

Luckily I had Claire text me clear walking directions from Paris to Aria, where I was staying for one night. She thought I was kidding when I asked her for the easiest way to get from the Strip to the registration desk at Aria, but I was perfectly serious. I already had blistered feet – I didn’t want to take extra steps if I didn’t have to. Thank you, Claire, for being so awesome from afar!

I packed my overnight bag at Paris and headed out to the walkway in front of City Center. A (somewhat) quick walk through Crystals and to the check in desk at Aria was fairly painless. It was almost 6:30 p.m., but there were a few people in line. Every one of them had issues with their reservations, I think. Even so, I managed to get assigned a room quickly, and I was on my way to 18-210 in less than 10 minutes. Figuring out the Aria hallways, though, is a challenge. I just knew I’d get turned around somewhere, but I never got lost.

I LOVE the way the lights turn on, the music turns on, and the drapes automatically open the first time you walk into the room! That was worth the $79/night price for the room alone! I only wish it’d happen every time you walk in the room, but I can see where that’d be a problem if you’re staying with someone else.

Of course I had to take the prerequisite room photos and figure out all the little gadgets to control the room. It was nice to see my name all over the place, too! I was happier than my husband and Hayley when I texted them about the wonderful room and the EXTREMELY comfortable bed. I don’t think they really cared I would be sleeping on a giant marshmallow. I WANT ONE! I want that to be our new bed. I’m seriously thinking about it as a Christmas present for us this year. We need a new mattress, anyway, so why not? It made Bellagio’s mattress seem average by comparison (and it’s not). The only problem I have with anything in the Aria room is the lack of bathroom counter space. There are drawers and countertops everywhere else in the room, but there is a dinky 12” space between the two sinks, and the only plugs are BEHIND their amenities, which I knocked over four times before I finally moved them to the shower area. I chilled in the room for a bit, playing with all the controls and taking a couple of sunset photos through the sheers (it was too bright otherwise) before I got dressed and headed down for my Free Play and a late dinner.

I managed to turn my $50 FP into $60 cash on another Jackpot Block Party machine. Then I turned that into $100 on a Monopoly Grand something-or-other machine (not Grand Hotel) and ticked off the lady next to me. (“I played that machine for TWO HOURS and never hit ONE bonus.”) I hit one on the first spin, hee hee!

Julian Serrano was the place for my late tapas dinner. I made the reservation directly through the Aria website and I had a $50 food credit with my room reservation. I decided to try a couple of tapas I’d seen on the menu at home: White Ceviche (spicy, but just okay), Creamy Risotto (very good and filling) and Salmon Roulade (delicious!). The salmon was my favorite dish – it was presented almost like a sushi roll, and the roulade mixture inside was very flavorful. I didn’t leave a bite of it. All in all it was a little over $38+tax (+cash tip) for my three tapas and an iced tea, so I didn’t even use my full food credit. Aw. I was too freakin’ full to eat another bite.

I played another half hour before the marshmallow bed started calling my name. I couldn’t resist, and I set my cool bedside alarm to wake me up at 7 a.m. with the TV coming on and the blackout drapes opening. Posh!

Tuesday, July 5^th

I still managed to wake up a couple of minutes early so I could watch the drapes open! Silly Deann! Who sleeps in Vegas, anyway?

I made the executive decision (me, myself and I) to skip the Wicked Spoon Buffet that morning. Why? I was still full from last night’s tapas, and I wasn’t interesting in walking over to Cosmopolitan and back to my room to pack up and go back to Paris…in any order. So I took my time, checked out of Aria and took my bag back to Paris. The maids were cleaning the room next to mine at Paris, so I just took the ‘Privacy’ sign off of my door and put a tip out before I left.

I had a few rounds of Gold Fish and two mimosas to get me ready for the day. I had an art museum, a photo gallery, a nice lunch at Bellagio and lots of walking on my list. Off to Bellagio!

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art was a bit of a disappointment for me. I blame “Ocean’s Eleven”. I was under the (wrong) impression that it was a big space, dimly lit, with lots of pretty stairs to go up to get in the door. I say that because I was hoping to get a photo of those stairs. (I found out after I returned that those stairs from the movie were actually removed a couple of years ago, and that is sad.) Nope. The location of the gallery NOW is almost at the end of a long hallway, behind a single door, and there are two security guards standing at opposite ends of the two rooms to watch you so you don’t touch one of the approximately 40 paintings and photographs they have displayed there. I thought it’d be bigger, too! That’s what I get for thinking. Still, for $15, it was a nice enough way to spend an hour. I did enjoy the art I saw for the most part. There were a couple of odd paintings that I totally disliked, but that’s not unusual. The display was titled “A Sense of Place: Landscapes from Monet to Hockney”. I love Monet, but there was only one of his paintings on display. Bummer.

The Jeff Mitchum photo gallery is right next door to the art gallery, and I spent about the same amount of time in there for free. No photos of the photos allowed, though. I love looking at great photography and just admiring the work. His photo of three camels on a desert sand dune with a pink and orange sunset behind them was my favorite. The assistant running the shop offered to get me prices for some of his work, but I declined. Like I could afford one of those huge prints!

Skipping breakfast made me want a little something, so I opted for a nice Tiramisu gelato from Café Gelato ($5 for a single scoop cup), which is on the other side of the art gallery entrance. It’s also directly across from the entrance to the pool, so you can really people-watch if you’re in the mood. I did watch security help a young girl and her friend. One of the girls collapsed (too much sun? it wasn’t hot), and they were waiting for someone from Bellagio to come and escort her to her room. Poor thing. Lots of people-watching and many slot machines later, it was time for my reservation at Olives.

We debated the dress code for Olives with my friends at LV4E, but let me tell you all I shouldn’t have been worried. When I walked up to the hostess stand, a man walked past me who either A) obviously had money, or B) Olives just wasn’t that concerned about his appearance, because he looked like a hobo or a really badly dressed tourist. His salt-and-pepper hair was sticking straight up all over, a la Albert Einstein, and he was wearing black and red basketball shorts with flames coming up the sides. He also had on white socks – yes, SOCKS! – with his black flip flops. Not sandals…flip flops. With his sock toes spread around the thong part. Socks and flip flops is one of my pet peeves. At least his black t-shirt was normal. The rest of his party was nicely dressed older people, so what was the deal with him? Did they call him from the pool? They appeared to be two couples, but I’m surprised his wife/girlfriend/significant other didn’t make him change. So I needn’t have worried myself about the dress code there.

I’d made my reservation on the Bellagio website, and it allowed me to ask for patio seating. The hostess noted it and led me out to a table at the front of the patio, overlooking the fountains and Paris. It was a pretty day: cloudy and cool with a few sprinkles in the area. They serve a delicious olive tapenade with a basket of assorted breads, and I took my time looking over the menu. I should’ve saved myself and had a salad, but their Ricotta Ravioli was calling my name. It was pretty good, with a very tomato-y sauce and small pieces of Italian sausage throughout, but it was too much again. All in all, I enjoyed my meal and my view, and it was one of the few I paid for. ($26+tax and tip, including tea)

DISLIKE here: I have several smokers in my family, and I have no problem with them lighting up after a meal if they ask first or even just direct it away from me. Really, I don’t. HOWEVER…if there are only four tables occupied on the patio, all the people are seated close together, and you come in and intend to smoke - from the beginning – wouldn’t you be courteous and ask if anyone minded if you smoked, or move to one of the other tables a little farther away? I had just started eating when another couple came in and sat right beside me. They both smoked from the beginning, holding their cigarettes up and away from their faces. How nice of them! It was blowing right in mine. I asked the waitress if she minded if I moved back a little, and she looked over and saw why I wanted to move and got me to another table a little farther back. These people had the audacity to look at me like I was the one who offended them! C’mon, people! I don’t mind smoke, but don’t force me to smoke with you. I fully expect it in a casino, but how ‘bout a little courtesy?

I made my way back to Paris through Bill’s. Big Elvis was just starting his first set, and I only stayed for two songs. The entire casino was crowded, and I couldn’t find an open seat at any good games. The lounge was completely crowded as I’d expected, but there was no place to sit and enjoy the show. I headed back to Paris to change for the evening.

I decided to walk down to Harrah’s for some gambling. No matter what anyone else says, I enjoy the casino, the assortment of games, and the atmosphere in Harrah’s. I have never been able to do anything good at Paris for more than a few minutes at a time and, although I love the rooms there, it’s not enough to keep me coming back to stay if I don’t have a comp there, and I usually don’t.

As usual, I played Gold Fish and Lord of the Rings. I watched a couple of ladies play The Hangover slots, but they are a $2 minimum bet (and I could never find an open seat, anyway). At Lord of the Rings I sat next to a guy who was extremely negative about his play, even with his bonus wins exceeding $160 EVERY TIME. He was betting max bet ($4) and he hit bonuses frequently, but he was never happy. I personally was happy when he finally got down to $100 and left – too much negative karma. In the end I played about 4 hours on the same machine and the same $20 (after losing elsewhere in the casino, though), so I was a happy camper.

I headed to the Venetian to get some good photos of the sunset – lots of clouds on the horizon, and the statues look even better when they’re backed by pretty, colorful clouds. Everyone else was watching the volcano erupt and I was taking photos of the sunset. Juxtaposition, anyone?

I played a slot machine in the Venetian called (I think) “Pirate’s Booty”. It has different, minor progressives starting from $5-$50 and increasing from there. If you get 5 of a kind, you win the progressive for that symbol. I hit 5 pirates on the third spin and won $53, which ticked off the lady next to me, and she left. Oh, well! I found another Alice and Wonderland machine I hadn’t seen before and knocked around on that one while waiting for my reservation at First Food and Bar.

First Food and Bar is easy to get to from the Strip – it’s right inside the Venetian, easily accessible from the escalator beside Walgreen’s. It was much easier to go that route instead of winding my way through the Venetian’s poker tournament. TONS of people playing, standing around, trying to walk through…I was glad I’d found the other entrance by accident. The Venetian is hard enough for me to find my way around in without tournaments.

I made my reservation through OpenTable.com with the intention of having the Lobster Pot Pie, especially after seeing it in another trip report. Sadly, it was not on the menu. Could be that I had a late-night menu and it wasn’t available, I don’t know. I ended up ordering Lobster Rolls, instead. That was probably a better idea anyway, because I’m sure the Lobster Rolls were much smaller than the Lobster Pot Pie. Either way, I have to say I was disappointed in them; they were not as good as the ones I’d had at Holsteins in Cosmopolitan back in March. The pieces of lobster seemed too big for the small rolls, and their sauce just wasn’t as tasty. I did like their complimentary warm pretzels and dips – they were yummy!

When the waitress came with the bill, I couldn’t find my credit card. I could only remember paying with it at Olives earlier, and I thought I’d left it in the book on the table while I was chatting with the waitress. My waitress took my other credit card and called Olives directly, but they had no record of it being left or turned in to security. Well, I was walking in that direction to meet Terri and Evoni for drinks, anyway, so I’d stop by and check at Olives myself. It was very nice of the waitress to call for me, though.

Then I opened my wallet to put my OTHER credit card back and caught a glimpse of blue behind my Total Rewards slot card. Yep – my blue Total Rewards credit card was behind my Total Rewards slot card. Apparently I assumed everything Total Rewards must go together. I didn’t bother mentioning it to the waitress and slunk out before she could see my sheepish face.

The Strip was crowded again, even more so than it was on July 4th, and I made my way down to Bellagio in the sea of humanity. I was just in time for a Bellagio fountain show, so I stayed on and enjoyed it with a nice French family, who were all trying to figure out why everyone was standing around and just looking at the water. And I got to take another video! I was “Proud To Be An American”, just like the show.

After that it was on to Cosmopolitan to meet Terri and Diana at the Chandelier Bar. I came upon a woman playing slots with her two miniature Yorkies in her lap while waiting for the ladies, but Terri didn’t find it at all unusual when I showed her. I had to sneak a photo, though. Terri had me make an offering to the Buddhas by the guest elevators for luck, but it didn’t take (sorry, Terri), and we ended up at Holsteins for some alcoholic milkshakes. Yay, America! Diana had the Grasshopper something-or-other, and I had the Drunken Monkey, which wasn’t very drunken. Diana’s was much better. Terri played chaperone and drank her Diet Coke. We had a lovely time chatting, and I shared my Cab Ride from Hell story with them, too. They got the uncut version. It was so great to see the two of them again. They make me feel like I have extra family members in Vegas! We managed to close down Holsteins at midnight. Party animals! Thank you, ladies, for buying my Drunken Monkey for me! Mwah!

They wanted to do some serious gambling, but I was getting a bit tired and didn’t have the mental fortitude for cards when I should be packing, instead. I bid them goodbye and headed back to Paris.

I fully intended to go to the room and pack, but Lord of the Rings was calling me as soon as I walked in the door. I could not resist, and I found my seat from the first night open (when the creepy guy was sitting next to me, yuck!) and proceeded to play until 2:30 a.m. Then I realized I had an 8 a.m. reservation for Mon Ami Gabi and figured I should pack and get some sleep. See ya later, slots!

Wednesday, July 6^th

I forgot to mention that I picked up a $30 voucher for Mon Ami Gabi earlier on Tuesday. I was told that the vouchers are good for 72 hours, and any unused points go back on your card if you don’t use them all. There is a date printed on them, so if you forget how long you have left, just look at the slip.

There were only a few people eating on the patio at 8 a.m., so I got a nice table next to the railing, looking out at the fountains. I made this reservation through OpenTable.com, too, and I was able to ask for patio seating when I made it. They never questioned it and took me right out without asking a thing. I tried the Café Gabi coffee drink based on my mom’s recommendation, but I didn’t care for it. Café Gabi has Kahlua, Amaretto and Frangelica, but it’s just too strong and not enjoyable. Plus it’s $8.95 a cup – wow! Not a very big cup, either.

I ordered the Cinnamon Pancakes (crepes), which are filled with a lemon glace’ and whipped cream. There are four – FOUR! – crepes with a fifth one across the top that’s covered in caramelized cinnamon and sugar and powdered sugar on top of that. They were delicious! I ordered a side of sausage to cut the sweetness, but I only managed to eat about half of the crepes and sausages before I was too full to go on. With two glasses of OJ ($3.95 each), the bill came to $35.24 + tip. No need to turn in the remaining voucher! The waitress commented on how warm it was, but I explained it was cooler than it was in South Texas right now with all the nice rain Vegas was having. It was an enjoyable breakfast for my last day.

When I left Mon Ami Gabi, I managed to find an open seat at The Hangover slots. Yay! Since it was my last day, I figure I’d try $20 just to see what it was like. I managed to get ‘The Villa’ bonus and then proceeded to pick all the wrong stuff and ended up with a $5.30 bonus round. Really? The lady next to me got the same exact bonus round and ended up with $64. $%@$ choices! I hate them! They use the song “Right Round” as their background music, so it was entertaining, at least. I lost my $20 and went up to pack, since I didn’t bother doing it the night before.

Since I’d totally forgotten to get an Identity Card at Cosmopolitan, it was the first order of business after checking my luggage. I also got $10 in Free Play for signing up, so that was an added bonus. I played a Monkees slot machine on my FP, but didn’t end up with any bonuses, even though I played for quite a while. I also found some of the original Lord of the Rings machines in the back near the sports book. Yay! I was glad my sign in worked because I’d heard the Total Rewards sign in wouldn’t work at other properties, but then I remembered I’d set my profile up on Player’s Life first, so all my miles transferred over. It was nice to see the original machines again. Time to go take photos!

I headed back to Caesars to play more Gold Fish and Lord of the Rings slots. Again, the location of the machines was too loud, so I went back to Gold Fish. I’m glad I did, too, because I ended up playing the same machine for about 3 hours, enjoying the company of a nice Asian man while we traded bonuses back and forth. Goldie visited me several times, so I was happy. I still hate picking things!

For my last meal of the trip – and one last little visit before I headed to the airport – I went to High Tea at the Petrossian Bar in Bellagio. I’d made the reservation on my first day, and they only have room for about 6-8 people in the side area of the bar they serve High Tea in. Luckily I was completely by myself; there were no other reservations at 2 p.m. I didn’t feel bad about taking photos at all!

For High Tea, $35 gets you your selection of a nice pot of tea, two blueberry scones with clotted cream, jam, butter and honey, 3 pre-selected desserts and your choice of 4 sandwiches. They have other teas that include champagne or different options for a higher price, but I kept it simple. I chose four different sandwiches (you can keep them all the same if you wish): Chickpeas with red peppers and green olive mayo on spiced Panella bread (very good!), Alaskan King Crab with avocado on Brioche (my favorite!), Classic Egg Salad with Quail Egg on white bread (yummy!), and Smoked Turkey, Brie and black grapes on cranberry bread (good, but my least favorite). My server said she liked the King Crab, Egg Salad and Salmon sandwiches the best, but I didn’t select the Salmon sandwich because it had caviar on it and I wasn’t sure how it’d taste on a sandwich. It just sounds gross.

The desserts were very pretty, and very good: a light fruit tart topped with kiwi, grape, melon, banana, apple, strawberry, raspberry and a piece of white chocolate (I don’t know how they got all that on the little tart), a white chocolate and passion fruit cream cheese cake (cheesecake) that tasted like coconut when you bit into it, and a cappuccino mousse in a chocolate cup decorated with the Bellagio “B” in gold. The tea I chose was called “Relax”, and it contained mint leaves that really complimented the food. The chef came by my table to talk to me for awhile – nice lady! I spent about an hour at tea, enjoying my food and taking my time so I could people-watch into the casino. There isn’t a quiet place to have tea, but it was nice to have something to look at. All in all, it was just the right amount of food, and I wasn’t stuffed. Good thing, because it was time for me to head back to Paris, do a little shopping, then get my bags and head for the airport. Maybe a bit of Lord of the Rings before I leave, too…

I changed my mind when I saw the traffic on the Strip. Bumper-to-bumper, tons of cars exiting Paris, too, so I decided to forgo the gambling and head to the airport. I didn’t want a repeat cab ride, so I was determined to make sure I could get there in a timely manner, without the drama. I totally forgot about shopping, too, until I was at the airport later. I got a nice Indian man who was quiet and polite (thank you!), and I had a nice, safe ride to the airport that only cost $14.10. He seemed surprised when I handed him $20 with my thanks. After the Cab Ride from Hell, I was happy to tip almost $6 for peace, quiet and comfort.

DISLIKE: Another thing I don’t like in Vegas – the lack of seats at the B gates. They have so many gates crammed together with very little seating. I ended up sitting down the hallway with a flight attendant (who managed to spill her water all over her lap, poor thing) before I finally went to my gate for boarding. Good thing I did, too; they were boarding about 20 minutes early, so A22 came up quickly. We were back in San Antonio almost 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

OBSERVATIONS:

Women who have less than ‘A’ cup boobs still need to wear bras, especially if their itty bitty breasts sag like deflated balloons. NOT attractive!

Wondering what holds up a strapless maxi dress on large-chested women. Gravity is working against them, but they manage to stay up. Interesting.

I saw lots of groups of teens on this trip. I know there was a cheerleading competition during the weekend, but there were tons of teenagers that seemed to be traveling together, with no visible chaperones. That was unusual.

I’m considering this my international trip: I had a French dinner, a Chinese lunch, saw a Japanese show, ate Spanish tapas, enjoyed an Italian lunch and a French breakfast, and ended it all with an English High Tea. My American touch for the vacation was fireworks, lobster rolls and a milkshake.

Things I didn’t do that were on my list: Wicked Spoon Buffet; appetizers at Mesa Grill; visiting Excalibur, Luxor and Tropicana; and the Auto Collection at IP (I’ve seen it before, though). Everything else was checked off and done to the best of my ability. I can’t believe I didn’t have The Mirage on my list! I didn’t even walk in there, and I like that casino.

Because I was always so full, I ended up only having a handful of free drinks while I was gambling: White Zinfandel, Baileys & hot chocolate, 3 Pepsi’s and 2 mimosas at Paris; Bailey’s and hot chocolate at Palazzo; white wine at Aria; various bottles of water throughout the days so Mother Terri wouldn’t worry about me being dehydrated. That’s it!

This trip report is now 15 ½ pages long, before the photos. If you’ve managed to read to the end of it, CONGRATULATIONS! It was quite an undertaking in limited time. I don’t know when the next trip will be, as I’m currently looking for a job. Until then I’ll just have to satisfy myself with great memories of a fantastic trip.

Viva Las Vegas!

Link to article: Video Poker Do's and Don'ts

2011-06-26T16:05:00.000-05:00

From videopoker.com comes a good - albeit brief - article on the most basic video poker do's and don'ts for the beginning poker player. Read these basic rules before you even think about playing in a casino for real money.

http://www.videopoker.com/learn/do_and_dont/

Friends often ask me HOW to pick a video poker game to play. Where should they start? I say to use the free online sites (like videopoker.com) to practice before you even get to a casino. If you don't know what you're doing, you'll end up losing money quickly, and the experience will not be a satisfactory one.

Also, there are so many good tutorial video poker games for sale that will help you make the right choices for holding cards, and you can get a feel for the different types of games available. Bob Dancer's selection of videos are especially good for this purpose.

If I had to give one piece of advice that's NOT included in the article, what would it be? Never ask the gambler sitting next to you how to play a particular game. Most serious video poker players find it offensive and annoying (it's just the way they are, don't ask me why).

Have fun and good luck!

Restaurant Review for dessert only: Max Brenner's in the Forum Shops @ Caesars Palace

2011-06-21T13:46:00.003-05:00

The bald man himself, on a napkin

The 100% Pure Chocolate Chocolate Experience Ice Cream Max-wich

Fantastic Popsicle Chocolate Fondue (wrapped ice cream bar on the right)

During my March 2011 trip, I took my mom and my cousin to Max Brenner's - officially called "Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man" - in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

I had eaten there once before in October with my friend Claire, and we both enjoyed it. For this trip, though, my traveling companions and I were only having dessert, but it was more than enough to fill us up.

My mom and my cousin split the "100% Pure Chocolate Chocolate Experience Ice Cream Max-wich", which my mom predetermined as her dessert of choice while perusing the menu in my dining room before we left. It's basically two giant chocolate cookies with chocolate chips, filled with chocolate ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce and covered in chocolate shavings, accompanied by a milk chocolate sauce for dipping. That is just too much chocolate for me, and I love chocolate.

Luckily they saw the size of the dessert when someone at the next table got the same thing before we placed our order, because it is entirely too big for one person to eat alone (except for my British friend John, who is very skinny and apparently has the metabolism of a hummingbird), and they decided to split it instead of making themselves miserable.

They said that the chocolate parts were all very good, but that the cookies were actually a little too hard to bite into without making a mess. I personally like a cookie that BENDS, and it might have made the dessert a little easier to eat.

I ordered the "Fantastic Popsicle Chocolate Fondue" (for 1, but you can get it for 2). This dessert allows you to dip your own vanilla ice cream bar(s) into milk chocolate fondue, toffee bits and/or chocolate drops over and over again. It was like a never-ending chocolate-covered ice cream bar, and it was yummy! I always hate it when the chocolate coating comes off when you bite into a bar like that, but this dessert lets you "reapply" your coatings as many times as you like, in whatever combination you like, until you're done. What a delicious option! The vanilla ice cream bar was not extremely cold, which gave it a consistency of something a little more solid than soft serve, and made it easier to bit into the bar.

Our waiter was nice, but he wasn't very quick (there were two other waiters in the restaurant, and there were only five or six tables occupied), and we had to wait a bit to place our order and get our check. He tried to talk me into getting the two bars instead of one, saying they weren't very big, but I was fine with one because it was just right and didn't leave me stuffed. The ice cream bar was slightly smaller than a regular-sized one, but if you are really into dessert or wanted to share two might be a better option.

I opted for water, since lots of chocolate makes me thirsty, and my mom and cousin each ordered a cup of coffee to go with their cookie concoction. Altogether our dessert came out to $24.21+tip, which isn't too bad for a late-night snack.

Overall I'd rate this experience a 7, and I am looking forward to going back and trying something else next time. Since I really enjoyed their appetizers during my last trip, I'm hoping to try a new, savory option to go along with a dessert the next time I stop by.

For restaurant hours or to view the menu, visit http://www.maxbrenner.com/menus.html

Link to article: Vegas' best bets for late-night dining (Vegas.com)

2011-06-21T12:45:00.001-05:00

A recent blog entry from Vegas.com gives their list of favorite late-night eateries for visitors with the munchies.
Hungry?

The restaurant at the top of their list, Carnegie Deli (at The Mirage), is on my list for late-night dining as part of my upcoming solo trip. I'm looking forward to trying their Shrimp Salad Sandwich - YUM!

Of the others on their list I've only tried Grand Lux (at The Venetian), and I have to say they certainly do have a widely varied, delicious selection of appetizers and entrees. They are owned by Cheesecake Factory, so expect giant portions just like you'd get at CF. It definitely makes sense to share if you can.

Bon apetit!

Restaurant Review: PBR Rock Bar & Grill at Planet Hollywood

2011-05-20T18:00:00.001-05:00

The Miracle Mile entrance (inside)

Yum!

Kickin' Coleslaw is a little too red for me...

The PBR Rock Bar & Grill is located both inside and outside the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino. The main restaurant is situated just inside the entrance to the Miracle Mile Shops, and their patio is immediately outside the mall entrance and impossible to miss. The indoor restaurant and outdoor patio areas have separate hostess stands, so be sure go to the correct one before you ask to be seated.

When you are facing Planet Hollywood from the Strip, PBR Rock Bar & Grill is on the right-hand side of the building, not the left; trying to find it from the left-hand side would cause you to either A) walk through the casino (which could be confusing), or B) walk through the Miracle Mile Shops to the other entrance (which would be tiring and pointless, as it really is a mile long from beginning to end).

It was after 5 p.m. when we arrived, and we decided to sit out on the patio to enjoy the late March weather since the sun was already behind City Center and we wouldn’t be burning ourselves in it. It was perfect weather, a little breeze blowing, and the eclectic mix of music being played was not loud at all.

PBR sort of has a sports bar feel to it, but with a Country twist. There were all sorts of people – young and old, country and punk – all through the place, so we fit right into the "un-mold", and we were able to people-watch from our seats, listen to the music and enjoy the big screen TV's as much as the people-watching opportunities available all around us.

My cousin ordered the Catfish Po-Boy and Kickin’ Coleslaw. She said the hoagie bun was a little too hard for her (she has dentures), but all the inside parts were good, and she ended up eating everything with a fork. Mom and I both ordered the half-pound Fried Dill Pickle Burgers cooked medium – mine with fries, hers with Kickin’ Coleslaw – and even though the massive amount of fried dill pickles were a little overcooked, it was a really good cheeseburger and I finished ¾ of it and most of my fries. The fries were long and thin, crispy and salty on the outside and hot on the inside. They are my preferred type of fries, so I was pleased. They served a horseradish/ketchup dressing with them that gave a nice, tangy kick, too. It was nice to get the burgers made just as we asked for them.

I wondered why the coleslaw was called “Kickin’” Coleslaw and figured it out immediately when the dishes were brought to the table: the little red bits on top were…Pop Rocks! You could almost hear them popping from the next table. I tasted my mom's coleslaw, but it was way too sweet for me, even without the Pop Rocks (which I avoided – that just seemed gross). I am a tart and tangy coleslaw kind of gal, and I avoid sweet coleslaw at home, too.

We were able to sit and enjoy ourselves, drinking several glasses of iced tea while we ate and talked, and we were not rushed by anyone even though almost every table was full. The entire staff was very pleasant and engaging, and they were all very young, too (late teens or early twenties). I'm guessing they are probably staffed by lots of college students, since UNLV is only a couple of miles away from the Strip. But no bad experience with anyone, which is most

enjoyable.

Mom paid for dinner, which included 3 iced teas, and the bill was $49.50 + tip. I'd give this restaurant and dining experience a solid 8. I would've preferred to have the dill pickles a little less well done, but they were certainly edible, as we made quite a dent in our baskets. I'd love to try this restaurant again and try some of their other selections.

To view their complete menu or hours of operation, go to http://www.pbrrockbar.com/.

Drink Review: Sugar Factory at Paris Hotel and Casino

2011-05-18T17:38:00.003-05:00

The specialty drink menu

Hubba Bubba martini

Blow Pop martini

A sugary creation in the Chocolate Lounge

There are three Sugar Factory locations in Las Vegas, but this particular review is for the new, larger location at the Paris Hotel and Casino. Sorry my photos are so blurry - I was apparently unable to hold a camera still and keep the flash off at the same time.

This location was opened in late 2010 and includes a bar, a restaurant and a club attached to the Sugar Factory store at the front of the Paris casino. A second, smaller location is at The Mirage, just inside the Strip entrance, on the right-hand side, and it offers sweets and souvenirs to the public from its storefront. The third location is in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, and is easily accessible from the right-side entrance to the shops, about halfway up on the right. It is also a smaller, storefront location with limited products and souvenirs.

After breakfast with a group of friends in March, my friend Claire and I were off to visit the new location Strip-side at Paris Hotel and Casino, where Claire gave me the 50-cent tour of the main floor. She’s a great tour guide, and we took photos as we walked around and checked out the restaurant, the Chocolate Lounge and the shop on the first floor.

The Sugar Factory is the "new and hip" place to be seen. Advertised by everyone from Kim Kardashian to Britney Spears, there's no shortage of beautiful people in the place, whether they are visitors or photos of the stars staring back at you while you dine and shop.

The Chocolate Bar is located at the back of the store, away from the Strip, and it is a darker area with plenty of cushy chairs and smaller seating areas, which would be great for meeting friends. Their bar top has fondue warmers embedded in the counter top, which is a really neat touch. They offer a wide selection of fruits, nuts and salty snacks to use with their fondue. There's something I'd love to try on another trip!

The restaurant area is pretty and airy; two rooms, open to the natural light and containing lots of small 2-top and 4-top tables, are decorated in black and white. While we were there, construction workers were completing a patio area that overlooks the Strip. Another great place to sit and people-watch while enjoying a drink, a snack or a meal in Vegas!

We did not visit the upstairs club because it was closed, but Claire told me it's a pretty spot, too. It can be accessed by an elevator from inside the restaurant or from a staircase located just inside the Paris casino. Several security guards were on hand throughout the entire store, restaurant, bar and club because of the prices on some of the "bling".

We had a seat at the bar and ordered two candy-flavored martinis from their specialty drink menu. I had the Hubba Bubba martini: a bright pink concoction with a huge piece of Hubba Bubba gum for the garnish. Claire had the Blow Pop martini: green and sticky sweet, with a Blow Pop as its garnish/swizzle stick.

Pop rocks and small pieces of gum were used on the rims instead of sugar, and the drinks were delicious, too! I definitely felt my drink was stronger at the bottom of the glass, but it could be that I'm just a lightweight drinker. At least I had some Hubba Bubba gum to chew on after I was finished! It made a cute garnish, though.

At $16 apiece, those drinks were definitely pricey, but there were many other options on the menu, including larger drinks for sharing...or pretending you're sharing. Claire really wanted me to try one of the specialty drinks, though, and I'm glad I did. I probably would not have set foot in the place if it hadn't been for her suggestion, because I was dead-set against Paris taking out the beautiful fountain that stood in that location previously. But it's such a cute place I'd love to go back to have a light lunch someday, and there are a couple of other drinks on the specialty drink menu I'd like to try, like the Root Beer Float (which looks BETTER than a regular root beer float).

A visit to the shop after our drinks were finished gave Claire the opportunity to replace a gift for one of her boys, while I just marveled at the sparkles on most of the merchandise. I will not, however, be buying a $25 lollipop holder, no matter how cute and glittery it is. Unless, of course, my daughter decides she has to have one...

Thank you again, Claire, for taking me to the Sugar Factory, and buying me a martini to boot!

To check out the store and view the menu or see their merchandise, visit them at http://www.sugarfactory.com/

Link to bus schedule: Westcliff Airport Express connects the airport to downtown Las Vegas for less

2011-05-18T16:27:00.001-05:00

For those of you who like to stay in downtown Las Vegas - or visit a couple of the outlying casinos or outlet malls - there is a new bus route that connects you from McCarran Airport to those outlying areas.

Started in December 2010, this new bus route extends from McCarran Airport to the Suncoast Hotel and Casino, the Las Vegas Premium Outlets (very popular with visitors from other countries), to the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard near the Tropicana, MGM, Mandalay Bay and other surrounding casinos, and back to the airport again.

Get on the bus!

A list of the departure times - as well as a map of the route - are included, which should help passengers to "visualize" their trip and plan accordingly.

I am hoping that the website owner will continue to update this bus schedule if it changes. If anyone notices that things are NOT being updated, please let me know with a comment.

Considering the high price of a taxi ride from the airport to downtown, which is about $40 one way (not including a tip), this would be a great option for the Vegas visitor looking to stretch their dollars. I have a friend who frequently stays downtown for part of her trip, and this would certainly take the pressure off of her to try and find another way to get downtown cheaply.

Happy traveling!