Viva Las Vegas Part One

Ah, Las Vegas...Whenever I visit this desert town with its grandeur of lights and people, I am constantly astounded. Las Vegas is larger than life and as Americana as you can get. It appeals to the vices of all kinds of people, young and old, and from all walks of life. It is hedonism and indulgence - it is, afterall, Sin City.

Part One of two back-to-back Las Vegas weekend trips is to celebrate Kareeeeeee's last weeks of single-ness before she ties the knot with her supertall German fiancee in central Illinois. A run-down of the weekend:

• Friday, 5/13: After a super busy day at work, I make it to the airport to find out the flight is delayed 1 1/2 hours! ARGHH!
• Saturday, 5/14: I finally arrive in LAS at 12:30am. This University of Hawaii kid on the shuttle asks "Where do you go?". Oh, bless your heart!!! Then, I go straight out to...
• The Rubber Club @Seven- uhmmm, let's just say "no" to that. Kareee, her ex-college roommates, cousins, and Edwin's sister are incredibly drunk...and tons of fun! Next on the stop is...
• La Bete @Wynn (brand new casino & hotel) - This lounge/club has an outdoor fountain and is pretty swanky. I like it and would go back. We meet Boston Bob and Toolbox Neil here. We close the place down and with my drink poured into a plastic cup (another plus of LAS), we make our way to...
• Drai's @the Barbary Coast - I must note I was completely smashed at this point. I meet an Argentinian and Dr. Chicago at this late night-hook-it-up club. Then at 7a.m. we go to have Korean.
• My advice: Never have Korean food on the strip. It was salty and nasty.
• Finally, after 28 hours, I am asleep at 9a.m.
• Back up at 1p.m. My head is pounding from a hangover. We hit the Aladdin pool and it is SCORCHING hot. The pool is actually better than I remembered from my last visit.
• We get a call from Kareeee at 5:30p.m. who JUST woke up! Someone had it exceptionally BAD!! LOL - Now, this is a real bachelorette party!
• We have dinner at The Grand Wok @MGM Grand. An Asian restaurant and it was pretty good - excellent Wonton Noodle soup, Nasi Goreng (spicey Indonesian fried rice), and Dragon rolls.
• The new Cirque du Soleil show "KA" @MGM Grand - I would say the storyline is good and the costuming and set design are amazing. I was disappointed that they focused too much on the previously mentioned items and not enough of the thrilling acrobatic acts. It is similar to their "O" show @the Bellagio in this way, which I also gave a mediocre review. The "Alegria", "Dralion", and my favorite "Mystere" @Treasure Island shows are much more captivating.
• Sunday, 5/15: Tangerine @Treasure Island - The girls crankily go out late Saturday night/early Sunday morning but it turns out to be a fun night. Tangerine plays some good hip hop beats and has intermittent burlesque acts. It is a really small club and can get very crowded. Annoying dreadlock-haired men freak the beejezuz out of Jenny, Mia meets an NYPD detective, and I meet Eric, a sweet Cali boy of Mexican heritage.
• Rain in the Desert @the Palms - I always have a blast here. We're dancing, dancing, dancing....and I close out the club...then eating and hang out til the wee hours...
• I finally get some shut-eye in the afternoon around 2:30p.m. for 1 1/2 hours....Then, Irim and I take a visit to....
• The Claude Monet exhibit @the Bellagio - Excellent showcase of Monet's works. I love that with all the craziness that occurs in Vegas, I can also check out an art exhibit. An hour stint at the slot machines pays for...
• Dinner at Le Cafe ile St. Louis @Paris - Food is expensive in LV BUT at this restaurant, I had the Chicken Marsala for $16.95 that included a glass of wine which normally costs $7 a glass. What a deal!!!
• Monday, 5/16: I get 3 hours and 5 minutes of shut-eye on the Red Eye flight. Back in Chi-Town at 4:30a.m., get 2 hours of sleep, and then I'm at my desk at 9a.m...PHEW!

What an incredible weekend of NO sleep and TONS of CRAZY FUN!!!! As for any specific details of the weekend, I coyly respond: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!".

I am now resting up for Part Deux...starting this Friday!