Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
February 2025 - Las Vegas NV
Winter Recap 2025
Weekly Recap Jan 4 - Jan 10 Best Coffee
Weekly Recap Jan 11 - Jan 17 Cafe Lucille
Weekly Recap Jan 25 - Jan 31 2025 Cafe Mon Amour
Weekly Recap Feb 15 - 21 2025 Las Vega NV
La Quinta CA
Saturday
Steps 8,533
Well, you can't say we didn't try to stick to the agenda, "lunch fish chips Ramsay Linq - Big Elvis 2PM 3:30 5PM (or Mon Wed Fri)".
We left a little later than I planned and it was so crowded when we got to Ramsay's, they don't have any seating, unless you snag one of the 6 seats outside, so we left. We went to Chayo's (we ate here in March) and sat at the bar.
John ordered the Mexican Philly Cheesesteak and loved it. I had the wings. these were very big wings, tasty, not crispy and a few were just too dry. The bartender comped them.
We wandered.
Then went to Harrah's for Big Elvis. We got there at 2:10, it wasn't busy at all. We got a table, ordered and the band said Big Elvis wouldn't be in this weekend. It didn't matter we had a great time. They had two dualling piano players who could perform anything you wished, even, Taylor Swift! One person requested a song, and the musician said "I hate you LOL", when he played the song, he insisted the guy twerk at the chorus, and did!
"Pink Pony Club" is a pop, synth-pop, dance-pop, power pop, and disco track that describes the story of a woman moving to Southern California from her home state of Tennessee, taking a job as a dancer at a gay strip club in West Hollywood despite her mother's wishes.
And a song that John doesn't remember, I do! Short People!
Drunk Elvis showed up, interesting, he must have known Big Elvis wasn't here. The musicians never even acknowledged his presence. He is well known around town as a nasty guy, as I discovered on a Facebook group.
Sunday we did have a plan, but then decided to have a down day. The Strip is very busy this weekend as it is an American and Canadian long weekend.
take bus Venetian coffee at Donutique Wynn Celebrity Food Hall Caesar's
Monday
STEPS 11.608
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We left around 9:30 and headed to the south factory outlets, thinking it is a holiday Monday, that it would be quiet, NOT.
This is the first time we've gone by the Sphere this trip. I have been dying to see the smiley face and AHA!
John giving the finger to tRump tower.
John got a navy pair of Hurley pants that he likes. I got a few tops at Ann Taylor.
Time to head for lunch.
The Alzheimer's Association building designed by CANADIAN Frank Gehry. We stopped there in 2017.
Yes, we're back at Letty's as it is so good, plus John wanted to try the chilangos, after watching the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Egg dishes now have a $1 surcharge.
I had the shrimp ceviche, so good, even John had some. I think we'll go back next week!!!
Next on the agenda, Container Park. We first came here in 2015.
We found a cigar store for John.
BONUS - not on today's schedule, Fremont St. Will we go back, not likely, unless we want to eat somewhere.
I need eye candy too!
As we were getting in the car I noticed Atomic Liquors was just down the block. We had a drink here in 2015.
Within the central courtyard is the 50-foot-tall Big Rig Jig sculpture created by Los Angeles artist Mike Ross. Forged in 2007 from two tanker trucks, guests can clamber through the insides to peek out the top. Like the praying mantis down the street, the Big Rig Jig was featured at the Burning Man festival much beloved by Hsieh.
Back to change and head out to the Neon Boneyard Museum. It has its own post, click here.
We first visited it in 2013, shortly after it opened. But it was during the daytime and on a freezing day. We made sure we dressed warmly this time!!
By eavesdropping on the tour guides, I found out the Las Vegas Strip started as mom and pop motels that were trying to catch people coming in on the highway before they reached downtown which had the major hotels in the 50’s and 60’s. Todays strip is where the old highway used to be, before the Interstates were built. The strip is outside of Las Vegas proper so there were few building regulations which made it easy for the small hotels to set up shop.
The more than 200 signs located outside are arranged in a J shaped sand filled walking path.
Click here for the murals that are associated with the motels/casinos. These are across from the museum.
Found online. See the skull?
Heading home.
Tuesday
Tuesday Signs from our drive down.
We did laundry, it is on the 9th floor, $1.75 wash and $1.50 dry, by credit card or app. We'll do another load before we leave Vegas next Wednesday.
John headed to golf and he said it was a tough course that he had played before. Bear's Best is a Jack Nicklaus course. John said when you start your golf cart, Nicklaus describes the next hole to you. It is also the longest course John has played in a while, 6,600 feet.
You can see the Vegas Strip.
Steps Jackie 7,481
I wandered around Aria, just across the bridge from us. Cosmopolitan, Aria, Vdara are very modern casinos, with upscale shopping malls.
Nancy Rubins’ “Big Edge” sculpture combines over 200 aluminum canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and sailboats, each weighing between 60 and 125 pounds, into one flowering cluster of art.
Wednesday I changed our first hotel stay, heading home, to one night instead of two. The original plan (before tRump's deranged reign of terror) was to make at least three extended stays to see some sights, now we just want to go home. The currency exchange rate is not helping either!!! We have at least two other trips planned this year, nothing into the States.
We headed out at 10:30 to get a haircut (me). Smartcut on Rainbow $18 plus tip.
We passed by the place that we wintered in 2012-13. Last year 2024 we discovered it had been demolished and replaced.
After lunch we walked to Aria and got the tram to Park MGM.
As we were waiting to cross the street (long lights) John noticed the man in from of us was wearing a sports champion ring. He looked and said he looks like the NBA commissioner.
Sure enough, I googled it later and it was! Adam Silver.
Steps 10,861
From there we walked over to Excalibur and caught the tram, we thought, to Luxor, however it went straight to Mandalay Bay. No worries, we went for a drink at Ri Ra.
We took the tram to Luxor and strolled around and found Playland.
A real rigmarole to get into Playland, scan the QR, fill out the form to exonerate them in case you hurt yourself. Then you have to buy tickets to play. There are a couple of bars with excessive prices.
Test your steady hands with Doctor! Doctor! as you perform “transplants".
We walked back to Mandalay and caught the tram to Excalibur, walked to Park MGM (a million miles to the tram) when we saw the walkway to Aria so we just walked back.
2 of 3 postcards I sent have been received, my cousin in Toronto and a friend in England on the same day! 1 more...
Thursday we went to Costco but it was a Business Centre so it didn't have what we wanted. Then we went to Von's to pick up a few things and also some stuff so that we don't have to do any grocery shopping when we get to San Diego for a few days. We are only there for 8 days so we don't do much cooking.
Apt!
Driving back to the condo.
John wanted to be home by 5 to watch the hockey game in real time. AND WHAT A GAME!!!
Friday we were out at 10, destination Venetian and Wynn.
This is new in Vegas, suddenly there are lots of parrots for photoshoots.
Together again. Lisa Vanderpump from Vanderpump Rules appeared on season two of Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars on Fox. In the show, Vanderpump and Ramsay compete against each other to help young entrepreneurs develop their businesses.
More Venetian (and more) in 2015.
Crossing to Wynn's, a good spot for Sphere photos.
Donutique in Palazzo, I had seen this place last March and I hadn't forgotten it!
Crossing to Wynn's, a good spot for Sphere photos.
Wynn is gorgeous and huge. It hasn't changed much in ten years.
My quest. Wynn Resorts added a new level of modern vigor to its world-class art collection with the acquisition of Smiling King Bear, a pop-surreal sculpture created by the famed Spanish contemporary artist Okuda San Miguel. At a towering 16-feet tall and executed in the artist's signature prismatic style, the sculpture is a multicolored geometric masterpiece featuring a whimsical bear with a spiked crown, holding an equally imposing smiling ball.
$500 US for a round of golf and the course is empty.
John, giving the finger to tRump!
A stop at The Yardhouse, a moment of sanity after being outside.
The holy rollers are back again. You have to laugh at the sign the guy in the back has "NEED CASH for strippers/blow".
COOKING
We're at the point that we don't want to travel with a lot of food going to San Diego, 1- we are only there for 8 days, 2 - we are going to see friends and 3 -we don't/can't take most things on the road home.
Bought spaghetti sauce for our first night in San Diego after a long drive. Froze some bread as well.
Bought 4 packs of those gluten free shrimp that we like so much. Handy for light suppers.
We also got the boom boom shrimp and a honey walnut shrimp.
3 eggs left - egg and onion for road trip as there are not a lot of restaurant opportunities.
Saturday L OUT
D chicken stew frozen shrimp and chips
Sunday B bacon eggs
D roast pork roast potatoes chicken stew
Monday L OUT
D frozen shrimp
Tuesday B John steak and eggs
D leftover stew added Brussel sprouts
Wed L salad cheese
D meatloaf with cheesy potatoes. I burned the potatoes, I have NEVER done that.
Thursday L rotisserie chicken
D rotisserie chicken Alfredo (will use up frozen parmesan cheese and cream)
Friday L OUT
D steak broccoli
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ON THIS DAY in 2015 we were in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh Vietnam.
WATCHING
plundered by Nazis during World War II.
White Lotus
Righteous Thieves The head of a secret organization assembles a crew to steal back artwork
Aftermath A returning war veteran, stricken with PTSD, unwittingly gets trapped with his teenage sister on Boston's Tobin Memorial Bridge as a heavily weaponized group of ex-military revolutionists take everyone hostage.
Trial by Fire Trial by Fire is a 2018 American biographical drama film. The story is based upon David Grann's article "Trial by Fire" that appeared in The New Yorker in 2009 about case Willingham v. State of Texas. The story is riveting and frustrating.
READING
One Small Mistake was a good read. Yes, it had some rambling problems and extended issues that could have been left out. But for me, it was a good weekend read.
I finished The Murder List an average read, good for vacation.
I started The Vanishing of Class 3B.
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