Too Much Vegas - Maybe?
So I'm at another convention in the City of Sin and as I've mentioned before, the thrill has mostly worn off, but I still find the place intriguing. It had its charm back in the day and it seems everyone wanted to buy property there, but now its in one of the most depressed housing markets in the US next to LA and Detroit. I wonder how those condo towers will do with their dreams of time-share goodness next to one of the hottest tourist destinations in the US?
Still, if a convention or some special event comes along, I find some draw to going there. Maybe its just saying the word "Vegas", maybe its the lights and the money or maybe... well, who knows.
In any case, I'm here for the convention (Webmasterworld) and also to spend an extra day with B to catch Tom Jones at The MGM. Its nice that she can fly in and join me later. After that, I think the only other old-school show I must see is Don Rickles when he shows up again. After seeing the "Mr Warmth" documentary about him on HBO this weekend, I truly must see Rickles perform before he joins Frank, Dean and Sammy at their casino in the sky.
Here's a list of hotels and stuff I've done from memory from all my trips there... its pretty diverse:
1. July 2001 (road trip stop) - Frontier (now demolished) and seeing 'O' at The Bellagio
2. December 2001 (fun) - New York New York and seeing Danny Gans at The Mirage. When you see his ads plastered all over the city its overwhelming.
3. December 2002 (fun) - Barbary Coast (now called Bill's Gambling Hall - whatevs) and clubbing with Josh. Taking advantage of the buffet at Harrah's a little too much.
4. September 2004 (fun) - Imperial Palace - complete with tacky mirrors on the ceiling. We're kinda glad it may be the next to go onto the chopping block... But where will the Dealertainers go?
5. December 2004 (fun) - Westin Causarina with some spa action, discovering The Golden Steer with B, drinking some good wine at Aureole.
6. August 2005 (wedding) - Bally's - we attended a Ben Sherman open-bar party at Hard Rock to see The Dead 60's and because of a mixup in the room reservations, we got a suite with his/her bathrooms and a whirlpool tub. To help me pass the time while B was at her bridemaid duties I got some relaxation at the Spa as well. The 60-minute massage was by some old Russian guy who beat me up like I was a prisoner at a Gulag. No funny stuff...
7. December 2006 (convention) - Aladdin as it was being renovated to the "ph" (planet hollywood), attending an industry party at The Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at The Palms and a client dinner at The Golden Steer
8. January 2007 (fun) - Mandalay Bay to hang with D, L and S, checking out the Pinball Museum, laughing at all the AVN Awards attendees, driving around to scope out Downtown's old-school flair and discovering the beauty that is the Peppermill Lounge
9. April 2007 (convention) - Mandalay Bay, another industry party at The Hefner Sky Villa, scenic drive to Red Rock, check out the sweet pool at Mandalay, see Jay White as Neil Diamond (we were the youngest people there - sweet), score free tix for B to Le Reve while I have a client dinner at Red Square and more Peppermill action
10. December 2007 (convention) - Mirage, dinner at Japonais, Tom Jones at MGM, maybe catch Phantom, Blue Man or Wayne Brady thanks to some connections at The Venetian and there must be a dash of Peppermill added somewhere
Note: The first 3 December times I've gone have been the same week as the National Finals Rodeo so all the hotel bars become Country Hoe-Downs. Makes for an interesting stay. When we walk behind couples, sometimes I have to look twice and make sure its not my parents.
Still, if a convention or some special event comes along, I find some draw to going there. Maybe its just saying the word "Vegas", maybe its the lights and the money or maybe... well, who knows.
In any case, I'm here for the convention (Webmasterworld) and also to spend an extra day with B to catch Tom Jones at The MGM. Its nice that she can fly in and join me later. After that, I think the only other old-school show I must see is Don Rickles when he shows up again. After seeing the "Mr Warmth" documentary about him on HBO this weekend, I truly must see Rickles perform before he joins Frank, Dean and Sammy at their casino in the sky.
Here's a list of hotels and stuff I've done from memory from all my trips there... its pretty diverse:
1. July 2001 (road trip stop) - Frontier (now demolished) and seeing 'O' at The Bellagio
2. December 2001 (fun) - New York New York and seeing Danny Gans at The Mirage. When you see his ads plastered all over the city its overwhelming.
3. December 2002 (fun) - Barbary Coast (now called Bill's Gambling Hall - whatevs) and clubbing with Josh. Taking advantage of the buffet at Harrah's a little too much.
4. September 2004 (fun) - Imperial Palace - complete with tacky mirrors on the ceiling. We're kinda glad it may be the next to go onto the chopping block... But where will the Dealertainers go?
5. December 2004 (fun) - Westin Causarina with some spa action, discovering The Golden Steer with B, drinking some good wine at Aureole.
6. August 2005 (wedding) - Bally's - we attended a Ben Sherman open-bar party at Hard Rock to see The Dead 60's and because of a mixup in the room reservations, we got a suite with his/her bathrooms and a whirlpool tub. To help me pass the time while B was at her bridemaid duties I got some relaxation at the Spa as well. The 60-minute massage was by some old Russian guy who beat me up like I was a prisoner at a Gulag. No funny stuff...
7. December 2006 (convention) - Aladdin as it was being renovated to the "ph" (planet hollywood), attending an industry party at The Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at The Palms and a client dinner at The Golden Steer
8. January 2007 (fun) - Mandalay Bay to hang with D, L and S, checking out the Pinball Museum, laughing at all the AVN Awards attendees, driving around to scope out Downtown's old-school flair and discovering the beauty that is the Peppermill Lounge
9. April 2007 (convention) - Mandalay Bay, another industry party at The Hefner Sky Villa, scenic drive to Red Rock, check out the sweet pool at Mandalay, see Jay White as Neil Diamond (we were the youngest people there - sweet), score free tix for B to Le Reve while I have a client dinner at Red Square and more Peppermill action
10. December 2007 (convention) - Mirage, dinner at Japonais, Tom Jones at MGM, maybe catch Phantom, Blue Man or Wayne Brady thanks to some connections at The Venetian and there must be a dash of Peppermill added somewhere
Note: The first 3 December times I've gone have been the same week as the National Finals Rodeo so all the hotel bars become Country Hoe-Downs. Makes for an interesting stay. When we walk behind couples, sometimes I have to look twice and make sure its not my parents.