Vegas Trip Summary

As you know it was a trade show that brought me to Las Vegas on Saturday morning for a stay until Wednesday. The weekend was Greg and Gaby's 15th anniversary, and perversely, they invited me and Austri to spend it with them.

We met up with them around 5pm Saturday for an early dinner at Daniel Boulud's Brasserie at the Wynn. I'll take credit for the pick -- mostly because the menu looked good. Gaby and Greg were sceptical of the place because she isn't a fan of anything French. I had reasonable expectations as did Austri. To sum it up, this was one of the best meals we've ever had. We all agree. In fact, it may be the second best meal I've ever eaten. The food portions were reasonable -- not that art over edibility crap -- and the flavours were distinct yet excitingly blended. The food was succulent, tender, moist, firm, and every other texture all at once. We all shared each others' food (me skipping Gaby's mussels as I don't do shellfish) and they were all excellent beyond measure. The deserts were just as good. Although overpriced like most Las Vegas restaurants, we still came in at just under $100 per person with alcohol included. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's at least a 15 and possibly a 20. Go eat here. Really.

Next up was the Wayne Brady show at the Venetian. It was funny. Good but not great. As an "improv" variety show parts were good and parts weren't. But when something fell flat, he didn't let it go. I wouldn't go back, but I didn't hate it.

Sunday was walk-around day, leaving Greg and Gaby to their devices. Austri went home today because she had work early Monday morning, so it was just the three of us for the 7pm Jersey Boys at the Palazzo. Gaby really wanted to see this but neither Greg nor I did. It's the story, in case you don't know, of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Gaby enjoyed herself. Greg and I were pleasantly surprised. This was a GREAT play. And unlike most plays in Vegas it wasn't a shortened, dumbed-down version of the Broadway play: this was the whole enchilada. The music, was of course, fantastic. But the play, which Greg and I thought would be dull and un-interesting sprang to life. It was a fantastic show and I'd even see it again.

After that Gaby booked us at Table 10 the new Emeril Lagasse restaurant at the Palazzo. We went in with extraordinarily high hopes -- after all his Delmonico's at the Venetian remains the finest meal I have ever eaten in my life. What a let-down. The service was the best part of the meal. The food was okay, but not spectacular. The ambiance was all right, but the food lacked the certain je ne sais quois that makes a great restaurant a legend. Almost as pricey as Boulud's but not even half as good.

A word about the Palazzo while I'm on it. I've stayed at the Venetian twice before both as a paying customer and invited guest. Great hotel. The Palazzo is the sister property in the back and they're connected. It was designed to be a second Venetian -- same standards. The hotel is new, only a few months old.

Upon check in, I noticed the room was warm. I called maintenance who eventually came and fixed the AC which was broken. He was unable to fix the burnt out bulbs as he didn't have any with him and promised he'd send someone up -- indeed he called down while we were there. For two days nobody came to fix that burnt out bulb (my reading light over the bed, dammit). The clock was wrong when we checked in (about 5-1/4 hours off). Sounds simple enough. I was unable to figure it out. The alarm was easy enough, but not the time. I called down to ask how to fix it. They said you need a screwdriver to take it apart to set the time! Really! So they had to send someone to fix it. Nobody showed up, so the aforementioned AC repair guy fixed it for us after he called for instructions because he couldn't figure it out. That earned him a nice tip :) Walking over to the blinds to look out at the view, I noticed a few moths flying around inside the sheer Roman curtain. Looking down, there were dead ones. Not that I care, but I was there from Saturday until Monday. They were never cleaned up. Further, and again, I don't care but the buttons on the couch in the room were coming off. I picked one off the floor and left it on the table. Another was missing. For that amount of money, these problems are inexcusable especially in a new hotel. Oh, and video check-out doesn't let you type in your fax and/or e-mail to get a copy of your receipt. You have to stand in line at the counter to get one defeating the purpose of video checkout. Never again.

Ah well. Monday was a boring day and I didn't do much. Switched over to Planet Hollywood (formerly the Aladdin) which I am sad to report has a great casino but the rooms now suck. I won't be back. Half the room was broken. That evening I had dinner with a friend from LA who flew up. Arrived at 4, we ate at Kokomo's at around 6, and he left at 8. Turns out Greg's evening plans were cancelled so I sat with him while he ate some stuff and then we gambled.

Tuesday was the show. The show was a big waste. I was surprised as the show's usually good. So much for that and I'll skip boring you with the details. That evening we saw Louie Anderson at the Excalibur. Very funny but for $60 you think he'd go longer than 70+ minutes. We gambled more. I got up at 345am and flew home, arriving at 130pm followed by my luggage at 230pm. Then, trooper that I am, I went to work.

Robin Williams' Reality What A Concept

When I was a kid -- 300 to 400 years ago --, I first heard Robin Williams' album "Reality ... What a Concept" and it was uproariously funny (subversively bawdy might be a good term). I believe it was my cousin Mike who first played this album for me. I never forgot it, though my vinyl collection had long since vanished while I was off at college. I always wanted it on CD though it's never been able to be released. Once, I saw a copy on e-bay for like $90. Yeah, as if.

Anyway, I was perusing the web with Google. Google's an amazing thing. On a lark, I typed it in and boom. There it was. Laugh.com sells it for a reasonable price. I ordered it and it came yesterday. I listened to it today and it's as funny as ever. What scares me, is that I still remember almost every bit as crystal clear as when I used to listen to it over and over and over again.

"Rented lips" and "Sammy Davis Junior Junior" come to mind. As well as the New York Echo. I laughed hard listening to it again. I also got some bits that I didn't get when I first heard this album in 1979. Innocence I suppose. I would encourage everyone to locate and purchase this album. It's 41 minutes of bliss. It's classic OLD Williams -- unfocused, random, pointless, and guaranteed to cause paroxysms of laughter.

My eyes won't stop watering but I don't think I'm actually sick. This is day two of mostly runny eyes and occasional sneeze attacks. It feels like a bad allergy onset, though god knows to what.

It's Passover and I was off to see Mom and Grandma for dinner. On the way over, there was some sort of horrific accident. It must have just happened because I was only about ten cars back. Finally a cop comes flying through. Moments later traffic begins to slowly creep by on the median, directed by someone who had stopped. Ambulances and other police hadn't arrived. I got to the front and it was pretty horrific. There was a guy laying in the center lane, a big, bald biker dude who wasn't wearing a helmet. He was clawing at the ground in obvious pain and there was an enormous puddle of blood. It was everywhere. I drove on since a cop was already on scene and others had stopped to help -- what could I do? Some minutes later I passed an ambulance head that way. I'm sure it was far too late. I didn't relate this story over dinner.

I got to Grandma's, gave her the present from Sophia (Feng Fang Fu) and took a photo which is posted over at Flickr. Then we had dinner at Outback. The service was good, the food was average -- I am not an Outback fan as they've gone downhill. I had a nice time.