I Love This Place

I Love This Place
Photo By Matthew Field

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Heard It In Vegas



Heard It In Vegas is a website that posts quotes overheard in Vegas. There are some pretty funny ones.

Here is one from HIIV so you can get an idea-
"Well, I got a Lap Dance in the Buffet Line

Posted on 21 February 2009

Girl 1:

Smell my face. Smell right here. Doesn’t it smell great? The stripper I got a lap dance from was wearing great perfume.

Girl 2:

It smells like pickles.

Location: Toby Keith’s Restaurant

Heard by: At least it doesn’t smell like tuna"

Here's The Link-

Heard It In Vegas

Friday, February 20, 2009

Video From The Shadow Bar At Caesars

Here is a short clip taken by my pal the Rabbit at The Shadow Bar at Caesars Palace

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Vegas Links Q&A With Vegas Guru Mike E



Name or Alias

MikeE/Mike_E

Website URL to link back to


Best Hangover Food/Restaurant

Terrace Point Cafe Lobster Benedict AND pancakes.


Best Romantic Spot For Dinner

Picasso

Best Vegas Burger -Money No Object
The Country Club: A New American Steakhouse (lunch menu)

Best Vegas Gourmet Burger

Anything off BLT's menu

Restaurant In Vegas To Eat Your Last Living Meal

Joel Robuchon at the Mansion

Best Value Hotel Room

THEhotel during slow seasons

Best Upscale Standard Hotel Room

Encore

Best Off Strip Day Excursion Or Adventure
ATVing outside Valley of Fire

Best On Strip Adventure

Surfing Imperial Palace's parking garage when it's raining.

Best Place To Drink And Hold A Conversation

Eastside Bar at Encore

Best Place To Get Your Groove On

MIX Lounge

Must Visit Vegas Website Not Including Your Own

Tough one. Will have to go with VegasTripping.com

Best Vegas Strip Joint

Sapphire... oh, you mean on the strip? Wynn/Encore hands down.

Best Vegas Show
Don't know yet. Have yet to see a show that I've been eager to go back to.

Best Vegas Upscale Shopping
Forum Shops at Caesars. They've got a John Varvatos there. I'm a sucker for his menswear.

Best Vegas Value Shopping

Forum Shops in June or November when the new arrivals are coming in and all the previous season's stuff is on sale.

Most Overrated Restaurant

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab at Caesars

Biggest Vegas Rip Off

Don't mean to keep bashing Caesars, but their room rates are almost always way more than anything else comparable in town. Suites are highway robbery.

Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Mandalay Bay From The Airport

Town Car/Limo

Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Wynn From The Airport

In one of their ten Rolls Royce Phantoms

Best Vegas Secret That Everyone Should Know About

Get friendly with people working in higher end hotels. They get free or significantly discounted bottle service at nightclubs on industry nights.

Thanks for your responses- Joey

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Vegas Links Q&A With Serena Denise From Single Girl In Sin City



Serena was an exotic dancer at Club Paradise across from the Hard Rock until she recently got fired. Now looking for new employment you can follow along and find out where she turns up next. Serena's blog, Single Girl In Sin City is updated regularly and she holds pretty much nothing back in her writing. If you want the real scoop on what it's like to be in her shoes, check it out.

Name or Alias Serena Denise

Website URL to link back to http://singlegirlinsincity.blogspot.com/


Best Hangover Food/Restaurant
Original Pancake House at GVR

Best Romantic Spot For Dinner
It's been a while since I've had a romantic dinner........But from what I remember, Alize at the Palms Casino or Drais

Best Vegas Burger -Money No Object
Sierra Gold at Warms Springs and Stephanie.

Best Vegas Gourmet Burger
Sierra Gold....they have damn good food!

Restaurant In Vegas To Eat Your Last Living Meal
The Melting Pot......MMMMMmmMMMM

Best Value Hotel Room
Any Station Casino

Best Upscale Standard Hotel Room
Venetian

Best Off Strip Day Excursion Or Adventure
Red Rock Canyon

Best On Strip Adventure
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

Best Place To Drink And Hold A Conversation
Fontana Bar's outside patio at Bellagio

Best Place To Get Your Groove On
Anywhere in The Hard Rock

Must Visit Vegas Website Not Including Your Own
http://www.thelasvegascourtesan.com/

Best Vegas Strip Joint
Little Darlings (I'm a regular there...I know I of all people should know better LOL)

Best Vegas Show
Love at Mirage.....Love the Beatles and Cirque.

Best Vegas Upscale Shopping
Fashion Show Mall

Best Vegas Value Shopping
Las Vegas Premium Outlets

Most Overrated Restaurant
Stack at Mirage

Biggest Vegas Rip Off
Bottles in the club. People seriously spend $400 or more for a bottle of vodka. I know I'm in the industry but it's insane!

Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Mandalay Bay From The Airport
Take a cab or limo....who needs directions? You can also take a shuttle from the airport. Its cheaper and not many people take them.

Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Wynn From The Airport
See above

Best Vegas Secret That Everyone Should Know About
If a cabbie drops you off at a strip club, you should not have to pay the fare or tip him. He's getting a kickback from the club. Usually $50 minimum for every person he drops there. Everything is Vegas is negotiable.

Thanks for playing along Serena!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Friday, February 13, 2009

Observations From The Latest Trip



Highlights-


Fix at Bellagio


Fontana Lounge For Drinks In Front Of The Fountains


Wynn Buffet


Kokomos on Mirage $29.99 price fixe dinner special


Vegas Concierge Updates on Twitter


Placed Third In The Vegas Rex Poker Tourney


Video Interview With Vegas Cabbie


VegasMate


Encore Was Amazing


Wynn Buffet Rocked


Pleasure Pit Dealers at Planet Ho were extremly friendly and fun while the Pussycat Doll dealers at Caesars all looked miserable dealing with long looks on their faces.


Bellagio $10 2-1 blackjack tables


Harrahs 6/5


$10 Blackjack at Palazzo and Venetian


Still love Venetian for value/location/rooms, but will look to stay elsewhere next year to broaden horizons.


After walking through Encore I now understand what the fuss is all about. You have to understand that I was a critic of all the folks that blew Steve Wynn and shit on Venetian as if it was a motel 6. While I still think the Venetian is very nice, Wynn is clearly a notch above and Encore is at least two notches above. The place is stunning and I can no longer defend Venetian as being in the same league even though I was a fierce proponent of that notion until I spent time touring Encore and Wynn this past trip.


Bad-Ah sin sushi at Paris all you can eat deal. What they don't tell you in the ad is that there is a limited selection of sushi available in the all you can eat deal and it is not prepared by the sushi chefs at the counter, it is prepared in the kitchen way in advance which made for mushy rice in the hand rolls. I've had better pre-prepared sushi at supermarkets.


TI's breakfast buffet at $17 is no way near the value of Wynn's $20 breakfast buffet- take the short walk across the street, well worth it


Canyon Ranch Spa pass @$40 is not as good as Qua at Caesars and it all has to do with the service. Spa attendants routinely spoke in loud voices and made loud noises in spaces that should have been peaceful tranquil areas (like in the hot tub area). Also a teeny tiny indoor jacuzzi at Canyon Ranch that would be full with 4 men. Mandalay bay's spa facility is older but way better run and with way better wet facilities. Qua at Caesars blows Canyon Ramch out of the water.


TI's smaller spa provides far greater and professional attendants.


Horrible horrible horrible- the expansion in front of Palazzo/Venetian that has been halted with the cranes still up and abandoned. Creates major eyesore for hotel guests and from the street as well.


Not a fan of Wynn sportsbook as the entire space is made up of those cubby like desks which takes away from that party like atmosphere that you get at Mandalay Bay with thier comfy chairs or Caesars where you can sit in a circle in the chairs and bullshit with your buddies. Because Wynn's sportsbook is made up entirely of those desks with the high partitions , you lose that.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

CASINOVAC from VegasTripping



Chuck from VegasTripping has found yet another way for us to waste a few moments researching and sharing the Vegas Love. Check it out to find the right spot to hang your hat in Vegas.

From VegasTripping-

"Welcome to CASINOVAC™!
CASINOVAC™ is the first intelligent* robotcomputer ever specifically built to help Las Vegas tourists choose a hotel based on their likes and dislikes. Our patented (and unbelievably complex) algorithm uses advanced calculus, physics and hither-to-unheard of artificial artificial intelligence (that's not a typo) to provide users with a listing of Las Vegas hotel/casino resorts which are guaranteed** to satisfy your every need. Coupled with the amazing room rate comparison engine provide by Kayak.com, preparing for a Las Vegas trip has never been easier.
So, without further adieu, we open the doors of the VegasTripping secret laboratory and invite you to experience the wonder filled world of
CASINOVAC™ - The Worlds Only Intelligent* Las Vegas Casino Finder."

Here's The Link-
CASINOVAC From VegasTripping

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

VegasLinks Q&A with PS Love


From PS Love

"The stats say people keep clicking on this page looking for something, so here ya go.
I live in Las Vegas and write. And write and write. Well, sometimes I do something around this fabulous town and then I come home and write."





Name or Alias
PS Love



Website URL to link back to
PSLoveBlog.com



Best Hangover Food/Restaurant
You'd think a old drunk like me would be the expert on that, but given I haven't had a drink in 17 years, I'm a bit out of touch.But I'd bet it would be anything Mexican and oozing with cheese and beans. Do we have a Roberto's or Alberto's here? I think I just saw one somewhere when I was driving around in the bloggermobile.



Best Romantic Spot For Dinner
I would have to Charley Palmer's. But having not had a date since shortly after I quit drinking.... I may not be qualified to answer that one.



Best Vegas Burger -Money No Object
I finally found one! AWESOME burgers at the Yard House! They are the best I've had since those olive burgers on Long Lake in Portage, Michigan.



Best Vegas Gourmet Burger
Wouldn't the gourmet part of that equation really mess up the burger part of the equation?



Restaurant In Vegas To Eat Your Last Living Meal
There used to be a place called Mircado or something like that. It was fabulous Japanese. I loved that place. It is gone now. I guess I can't die.



Best Value Hotel Room
The Orleans. Very comfortable, adequate rooms, GREAT DEALS, and friendly, helpful staff. Definitely the best over all value.



Best Upscale Standard Hotel Room
I'm not sure, but I really enjoyed staying at the Wynn once. Big fluffy bed with even fluffier pillows. Concierge was so friendly and went well beyond the call of duty to help me. The bathroom was to die for. They actually have BIG tubs. With jets!



Best Off Strip Day Excursion Or Adventure
Can I say Fremont Street Experience here? It is so much fun down there... or is it up there? I guess it is up there.



Best On Strip Adventure
Any time Karen from Denver is in town. The strip turns in to quit an adventure for anyone near by!



Best Place To Drink And Hold A Conversation
Now that is really hard to find!Probably the best kept secret for that is that lounge at the top of the Stratosphere. It is like walking in to the 1960s, complete with jazz bad and cozy tables. Some of them even have veils around the table! It is small, quiet, quaint and really pretty romantic actually with the view and all.



Best Place To Get Your Groove On
My groove died with the turn of the century. Pity.



Must Visit Vegas Website Not Including Your Own
http://www.lvol.com/lvlc/events.html if you're looking for what's going on. Other than that, I dunno. Everyone is in to something different, you know?



Best Vegas Strip Joint
LOLI haven't a clue.



Best Vegas Show
I'm partial to Blueman. I love the blue guys! I laughed so hard I cried.



Best Vegas Upscale Shopping
Probably any of those casino malls would do the trick in an upscale shopping emergency.



Best Vegas Value Shopping
Fashion Show Mall. I hate malls, but I love that one! It is SO cool and I got a lot of great deals in there.I wish they would ban those overly aggressive Israeli kiosk salespeople though. Man, I can't stand them. There should be a law.



Most Overrated Restaurant
That BLT Burger at the Mirage comes to mind. But the hype is probably done by now.I don't know. Does anyone rave about any of them really?



Biggest Vegas Rip Off
Voodoo Lounge at the Rio. What a rip. The food is really good, don't get me wrong, but the prices are absolutely ridiculous for what you are served and speaking of serve... the service sucks big time.



Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Mandalay Bay From The Airport
Twitter vegascabbieHe'll get ya there, without a trip through the tunnel. ;)



Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Wynn From The Airport
Seriously, twitter vegascabbie. Don't waste your time trying to get places on your own. You're on vacation! Hire a driver! Behave like a spoiled Princess! Make memories, not traffic.



Best Vegas Secret That Everyone Should Know About
We know what you did here.You don't think we know, but, oh, we know.....And I will put it in virtual print if I ever find out about it!



Thanks for your responses- Joey

Monday, February 2, 2009

VegasLinks Q&A With Michelle Dressen From Five Hundy By Midnight



Next up on the VegasLinks hit parade is Michelle Dressen the fun loving partner of Tim on Five Hundy By Midnight. The Dressens won best Vegas podcast in the Trippie Awards once again for 2008. Five Hundy Rocks!


Name or Alias
Michele from Five Hundy (although I have to admit I'm neither a Vegas webmaster nor an insider)

Website URL to link back to


Best Hangover Food/Restaurant
Bagels from the nearest coffee shop (usually Seattle's Best in Wild Bill's Saloon and Shootery). Not that I have any experience with this whatsoever.

Best Romantic Spot For Dinner
Anywhere Tim happens to be

Best Vegas Burger -Money No Object

Bradley Ogden (bar menu)

Best Vegas Gourmet Burger

Bradley Ogden (bar menu)

Restaurant In Vegas To Eat Your Last Living Meal
Michael's at South Point

Best Value Hotel Room
Any room that's free

Best Upscale Standard Hotel Room

Wynn

Best Off Strip Day Excursion Or Adventure
Double Down Saloon

Best On Strip Adventure
Attempting to have a drink in each hotel, starting at the Stratosphere and working your way south, or Mandalay Bay and working your way north. My advice? Don't rush it.

Best Place To Drink And Hold A Conversation
Peppermill (Fireside Lounge) or Trader Vic's (when the weather allows)

Best Place To Get Your Groove On
Karaoke in the lounge at Bill's Gambling Emporium

Must Visit Vegas Website Not Including Your Own
Vegastripping.com

Best Vegas Strip Joint
No idea

Best Vegas Show
With tickets? Love. For free? The array of costumes (or lack thereof) at Bill's when Drai's lets out

Best Vegas Upscale Shopping
The Esplanade at Wynn (host to one of two Manolo retail outlets in the U.S.)

Best Vegas Value Shopping
Las Vegas Premium Outlets

Most Overrated Restaurant
Hofbrauhaus

Biggest Vegas Rip Off
Most video poker pay tables on the Strip, and 6:5 blackjack

Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Mandalay Bay From The Airport
By taxi (not through the tunnel, unless you're in a huge hurry and price is no object)

Best Way For A Tourist To Get To Wynn From The Airport
By limo (you might as well splurge on transportation as well, right?)

Best Vegas Secret That Everyone Should Know About
Low rollers can have just as much fun as high rollers -- that's what makes this place so great.