93721 Mon Oct 15 15:11:13 -0700 2001 13 6 Southwest 0 514102 Howdy all. In need of some serious respite and spiritual restoration, my pal Blondie and I (both New Yorkers) decided that Las Vegas was perhaps the best place to salve our aching psyches. Seeing as my last trip instantly cured me of 7 years of vegetarianism and provided 2 of the most purely blissful moments of my life (involving the fireside lounge at the Peppermill and video poker bar at the Bellagio) that I can honestly say made me a better person, I have high hopes for this visit. I've done Big! Glossy! Vegas!, and I suppose what I'm looking for this go 'round is something...I don't know...less obvious, I suppose. Small, joyful things - like the "Cocktails" sign on the door to the lounge at The Algiers, the swizzle stick and detonation exhibits at the Gambling Museum at the Tropicana, ice cream rather than cream in my Brandy Alexander at the Fireside Lounge and the reverent, expensive hush around the blackjack tables late Thursday night at the (sob!) Desert Inn are what really hit home last time. What shouldn't I miss this time? Some of this will have to do with eating, and some of it will not. Definites thus far include Tom Jones at the MGM, lunch with my pal Kid Cary DeGrosa - Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champ of Las Vegas, the El Cortez, the Double Down, a jaunt to the Hoover Dam in a rental convertible, Lotus of Siam and the tail end of the National Association of Convenience Stores convention (it's for work...and aw hell, for the sheer joy of nitrate laden goodies!). You tell me what else. Side note - I saw Ann Magnuson's new one woman show last night, and there's a great section in it about the healing powers of Vegas. Granted, I won't be using, uh, chemical assistance like she describes, but I'm hoping for similar rejuvenation. Viva. Kat Mon Oct 15 15:11:13 -0700 2001 0 Kat Kinsman 1 514103 I'd have to do a little more thinking to come up with what you are thinking of, especially because you mentioned two of my favorite haunts in LV, Lotus and the Peppermill. But here are a few ideas off the top of my head: Go see the Checkmates at either Arizona Charlie's or Arizona Charlie's East. They are *the* quintessential lounge act, probably the most entertaining one in LV since the Louis Prima/Sam Butera/Keely Smith days. Sonny Charles (who sang "Black Pearl" with Phil Spector producing) has a wonderful voice, but the true joy is in the camaraderie between Sonny and his partner, Sweet Louie. The Checkmates are to most R&B lounge acts as maple syrup is to Mr. Pibb. If I'm in the mood for hot dogs or other Chicago specialities, I like to visit Chicago Hot Dogs, (1078 N. Rancho Blvd. It typifies the plight of the transplanted Las Vegan, wanting to retain the native culture. Cool atmosphere -- shack in a corner strip mall parking lot. You can be assured that WGN will be on at all times. Italian beef sandwiches available. You should play bingo at a locals place (I've always had fun at Palace Station and the Reserve, but almost anywhere besides a strip hotel is likely to be fun). It's especially fun when you are alone and you hang around folks who are much older. Their friendliness laced with condescension can't be beat. Tue Oct 16 02:23:21 -0700 2001 514102 0 Dave Feldman 2 514148 A clarification on Dave Feldman's last post. The Checkmates rotate between the lounges at Arizona Charlie's East and West. A couple of great lounge acts at Bellagio's Fontana Lounge might interest you. One is (Art)Vargas and the other Jimmy Hopper. If you are a Sinatra fan, consider going the the Brown Derby @ MGM to see Bobby Barrett. He does a super Sinatra. For shows, you might enjoy the Rat Pack is Back @ the Sahara. Dino, Sammy, Joey and Frank are ready to entertain. Wed Oct 24 13:46:08 -0700 2001 514103 0 Frank 3 514150 You can track which Arizona Charlie's the Checkmates are appearing in by going to their website, with the link below. Occasionally, the website isn't updated. It always makes sense to call the hotel and confirm the dates. Link: http://www.thecheckmates.com/home.html Thu Oct 25 00:29:44 -0700 2001 514148 0 Dave Feldman 1 514104 Hi, Kat-- I'm going to be in Vegas for Christmas (LoS, here I come!), and I've been looking into stuff to do there as well. Don't know if you're into walking and hiking, but Red Rocks Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, and Mount Charleston are all do-able day trips if you want to stretch your legs and enjoy stunning scenery between blackjack hands. Tue Oct 16 11:45:23 -0700 2001 514102 0 Beth P. 1 514107 My wife and I just returned from my first trip to Vegas last night–stayed five nights at the Venetian. Chowhounds have it SO RIGHT. Eat breakfast at the Peppermill (or, more correctly, eat as much of it as you can; our waitress admitted that few patrons actually finish a plate). Eat almost everything else at Lotus of Siam. If you're looking for a truly rejuvenating experience, however, I would submit that the cold cut sandwiches we had for lunch on Saturday are as good as it gets. Maybe it had something to do with having them on a sandbar in the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Unless you're dead, you should go on the one-day (small) whitewater raft trip from the Hualapai Indian reservation in Peach Springs, Arizona, 150 miles from Vegas. Visit their website at www.river-runners.com. The trips will cease for the season in a week or two. The dichotomy between the most amazing natural wonder (the Grand Canyon) and the most amazing unnatural one (Vegas) is most surreal. Makes for an unbelievable meal. There's little I can add about Lotus that hasn't been said over and over on these boards. Our waiter may have been Bill's nephew, referred to in other posts. He looked to be about twenty years old, and when we told him that we had little familiarity with Thai food but wanted to try the Northern menu, he smiled and was most helpful. For some reason, though, I got the feeling that there are no bad choices, but rather only some that are better than others. We ate truly unremarkable dinners at Renoir in the Mirage (five stars? a Vegas McDonald's must get three and a half) and Wolfgang Puck's Postrio in the Venetian (I honestly would have left our pitiful waiter no tip whatsoever but for the precarious position of all Vegas service personnel right now; Emeril's "image is everything" school of food marketing invades from the West). Apparently pretense is all that is required to be ordained a "fancy" restaurant in Vegas. The staff at both were unhelpful and ungracious, which doesn't bother me so long as the food is good. It wasn't. A steak at Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris hotel was decent (great french fries), as was the sushi at Tsunami Asian Grill in the Venetian. Nothing we had at PS Italian Grill in the Venetian merits mention. Lenotre in Paris has fine pastries. Thanks to all Chowhounds for sharing the Vegas info. If only we had heeded the advice to eat at Lotus at every opportunity. We'll know better next time. - Ross P.S. Do rent the convertible. We had one for the whole trip and it really added to the experience. Take an early morning or late evening drive to Red Rock Canyon. It's only about 20 minutes from the Strip, but I understand that only a tiny fraction of Vegas visitors ever see it. Too bad. Tue Oct 16 16:57:03 -0700 2001 514102 0 Ross 1 514108 Have you been to the Liberace museum? It's on my list for my next trip. I'm also addicted to pools with a river current. My favorite moments of discovery on my last trip were in the new parking garage and visitor center at Hoover Dam. Someone actually cared enough and was sensitive enough to include neo-Art Deco details, so that the architecture, while modern, is in harmony with the original Dam structures. This brought me joy. Also, I recommend reading Joan Didion's essay "At the Dam" (from _The White Album_) just to put you in the mood. Finally, I don't know when you are going and how long you are staying, but "real" people do live in Las Vegas (although in a different universe that rarely intersects that of the tourist). If you have the time, you might want to pick up a local paper and see what's going on in the community -- concerts, festivals, etc. (my best friend is the county folk-life coordinator in LV, and there's always something going on, usually something that involves food!). Tue Oct 16 20:29:39 -0700 2001 514102 0 Ruth Lafler 2 514111 The Liberace Museum is definitely worth a visit, as is the cocktail lounge at the adjoining Tivoli Gardens (unless it has changed once again), which is a tribute to mirrors and light bulbs. Down the way a bit from the Museum, across the street, is At the Hop, an oldies club where you can see AARP'ers dancing to 50s and 60s music. Cool pool table there, too. Wed Oct 17 00:57:44 -0700 2001 514108 0 Dave Feldman 3 514114 The restaurant, Carlucci's Tivoli Gardens, was formerly owned by Liberace. Wed Oct 17 06:44:29 -0700 2001 514111 0 Frank 2 514113 For anyone considering a visit to the Liberace museum, one of the two buildings is presently closed for renovation and improvements. Wed Oct 17 06:43:06 -0700 2001 514108 0 Frank 1 514109 Do yourselves a favor - rent a car and head out to Zion National Park. Yes, it will take you 3-3 1/2 hrs (170 miles)to get there but it is one of our country's great visual experiences. It will be worth it! Tue Oct 16 22:46:21 -0700 2001 514102 0 Chuck 1 514110 Sometimes, perhaps, the obvious is what you need, and that, of course, is a buffet. The Bellagio buffet combines the gluttony with a touch of gourmandaise. Also, take a schvitz. Be like the rat pack and eat hot dogs and light firecrackers while you steam. To me, nothing says Vegas more than sitting in a "spa", wrapped up in towels, watching sportscenter or CNBC, having endless glasses of cranberry (or other) juices brought to me and nibbling on comped fruit. Finally, Chinois in the forum shops mall has great 3 course lunch deals. You can easily time your lunch with Chinois's very expansive happy hour. Ms. VI was very partial to Chinois's espresso/vanilla vodka combo drink. VI Wed Oct 17 00:09:37 -0700 2001 514102 0 Vital Information 1 514142 As a resident of Las Vegas, I highly recommend the buffet at the Regent. This is about 10 miles west of the strip near Red Rock Canyon. They are only open for lunch, dinner and sunday brunch. The sunday brunch was voted the best sunday bruch by both the readers and staff of the Las Vegas Review Journal. If you cannot make it for brunch, go for dinner. The food is very good. Try to get a window seat overlooking the Valley. There is also a very good authentic Irish Pub (excellent fish and chips, shepards pie and beef and guniess pie). The spa at the Regent was voted one of the top ten in the country by the Wall Street journal. It runs about 100-125 plus 18% gratuity but is worth the money. In addition to the one hour massage of choice, you use their facilities including sauna, hot and then cold plunge, steam room,etc. It takes about three hours to do the whole spa treatment. Tue Oct 23 17:19:17 -0700 2001 514102 0 Eric W. 1 514156 If you're into quirky experiences, stop at Lake Mead on the way back and go to the marina. We stopped on a whim during the week and it was full of locals, enjoying a drink on the outside deck. There were families, some people playing salsa music on a boat, and the CARP! Buy some popcorn, stand at the edge of the dock and hold out your hand. HUNDREDS of carp will crowd around, waiting for popocorn. The fish have big suckers for mouths and it was a truly gross sight!! (We did the rental covertible to Lake Mead as well, and it was great fun - try to go early though, because LOTS of people have the same idea and a traffic jam in the desert withouth bottled water was NOT fun!!). Mon Oct 29 09:46:09 -0800 2001 514102 0 Kitty