Thursday. Has it really only been two nights? It feels like I’ve been in town for a week already. I’m not used to staying here more than two nights at a time. Usually I arrive late on Tuesday and depart first thing Thursday. Not this time. I’ve got Spiritualized playing the House of Blues Friday night, and then I’ll depart first thing Saturday morning. That’s FOUR nights in Vegas. I can’t fathom how painful it would be to stay here any longer than that. It’s expensive, the weekenders SUCK, and all the restaurants are crowded. Shit, Tuesday night/Wednesday morning this place felt positively DEAD. Now there’s a sea of people everywhere I go.
Thursday morning I woke up at about 9am. So instead of 2 hours of sleep I got five hours of sleep. Not bad. Ken and KT must have left early, because as I walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth and relieve myself I found their unused hotel drink tickets had been slid under my door. Thanks guys, for actively contributing to my alcoholism. See how my hands are shaking? These DTs are for you!
I refused to leave my hotel room before one, just in case the desire to fall back asleep presented itself. It did not, and so I departed my room, stopped at the little coffee counter downstairs, and headed out for an early afternoon walk. I made it as far as the Venetian, where I sat and drank a liter of water and at some macaroons from Bouchon Bakery at a slot machine. I always think fondly of the Venetian because I stayed there before the Vegas Marathon in 2011, which I consider to be one of the best moments of my life. It’s fun to walk the canals, eat at the restaurants (Otto Enotecca, Grand Lux Cafe, Bouchon, Trattoria Reggiano)…I know some people have problems with Sheldon Adelson…but The Venetian will always have a special place in my heart.
From there I walked to the Mirage, where I stayed before this year’s marathon. I played some blackjack, walked around, drank another liter of water (I was rehydrating after 36 hours of only drinking booze), and eventually left to watch some baseball at the Sports Book in Caesars Palace. From there I headed to Holstein’s at the Cosmopolitan. I needed to try one of their Reese’s-infused boozy shakes (it’s also made with banana, malt and Frangelico) and the $28 “Billionaire’s Burger,” a kobe beef patty which comes topped with foie gras, port onion marmalade, frisee and truffle mayo. It was damned good, if a bit excessive. Were I to return, I’d like to try the “Black Cow Float” (3 Olives cherry vodka, coca-cola, vanilla ice cream, chocolate pop rocks) and the sirloin burger with the aged goat these and garlic aioli. Oh well. Next time.
Going out at night alone in Vegas has always been a little weird for me. I’m used to being a part of a crew, so trying to find non-clubby things to do can prove difficult for an introvert such as myself. Alas, after playing the Greyhounds at MGM with a redneck, chain-smoking mother and daughter from Middle America, I made a new friend who tends bar and wasn’t working the graveyard shift. So all I had to do was occupy myself nearby until 2:30 (the penny slots at my old pal “Lucky” at Monte Carlo took care of that) and then I got to hang out back at my hotel, and drink, and goof off with someone.
And, no, this new friend didn’t come at a price, if you know what I mean…
Orchestra Carlo Cordara – Tipsy [MP3]
