Sin City
Thursday found me hastily packing for a weekend in Vegas. We left Oakland around midday, and after one of the bumpiest, most turbulence ridden plane rides I've experienced we arrived in time to check in to our hotel, have a quick nap and then dress for the evening. Thanks to the ever well connected Jane, Katrina and I had 6 row center tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show "O" comped and waiting for us. We had a pre-show drink and lively conversation at Caramel in the Bellagio and then went to our seats.
I had heard good things about this show but nothing prepared me for the experience we had that night. The show is amazing. Inside the theater that was specifically designed and built for this show the troupe put on an amazing spectacle. To begin with the stage is enormous, both wide and deep, and the entire thing is constructed in sections which can move vertically up and down independent of each other. For most of the show the stage is a very deep pool of water and the performers spend most of their time diving and jumping in and out of it. The acrobatics are inspired and incredible to watch. We were close, seated in the "wet section" where supposedly we were warned that we would get wet... we didn't but we could feel the spray as high divers plummeted in ones, twos and threes from heights that looked to be double of those regularly attempted by olympic high divers.
There was this sequence where three devices called Russian Swings were used to launch acrobats 40 feet into the air there to perform spins and flips, twists and poses that were visually stunning. As always with Cirque du Soleil the intense athleticism of the performers was broken up by scenes starring the clowns who were sweet and funny and endearing. Ai yai yai!
After the show the two of us just sat and took it in. Eventually, after everyone had filed out and we were in fact asked to leave so that they could clean the theater in preparation for the second show, it occurred to us that there was going to BE a second show that night. How anyone could deliver that kind of experience once let alone twice a night is beyond me.
Still floating on the cloud we had been placed one, we swept out of the Bellagio and hopped a cab across town to the Hard Rock there to have a delicious meal in a restaurant Katrina had selected. It is called Simon Kitchen, and it serves up beautifully crafted haute cuisine in a swank but elegant atmosphere. The wine list was good and the desserts were out of this world. The loungy DJ'ed set was followed by a live performance from an up and coming singer songwriter whose name escapes me, and was VERY loud; loud but entertaining.
Fat and happy, we cabbed it over to the Wynn where we joined Jane and her crew at La Bete for the clubs opening night. It was just fine, not outstanding in any way except for the company. I was left with the reinforced perspective that we definitely have some amazing clubs here in SF and certainly have a corner on the completely fucking incredible house music scene. Around 3a we wandered out and went back to our hotel down the strip there to crash and get the first 8 hour night of sleep either of us had had in days.
Morning found us moving slow and taking our time. We sought out a Starbucks, and fortified by our espresso drinks we met up with Carol and Jane at Neiman and just wandered around the mall for awhile. Carol had to split so the three of us went Caesar's and had lunch at Bertolini's, a decent Italian joint near the Forum shops. All three of us were still working out the toxins from the night before but by the end of the meal were ready to do some serious browsing. We ogled Coach and other boutiques and I found a great shirt which was just calling to me.
Later that evening Kat and I met up with her local buddy Scott and had drinks in Mandalay Bay and then dinner at the bar in Charlie Parker's steak house downstairs. This is the same guy who opened Aureole and we were not disappointed. The three of us shared two lovely salads, and two grilled fish dishes. Then we went for a ride in Scott's 911 out into the desert for dessert. Whoo... when you have to be anywhere and not be say, more than 5 minutes late... 911, accept no substitutes.
Around 12:30 we met up with Jane at La Bete again and the scene could not have been more different. People everywhere, great table service, excellent mix of music and good company. I stayed until the joint had quieted and found us chilling on comfy couches outside in front of the waterfall. Another fabulous night.
Saturday my flight wasn't until 8p and I was more than ready to go home. But the day was good, Kat had a spa treatment and I read my book, "The Kite Runner," a good recommendation if you're interested. Then Kat, Jane and i hooked up and had a lunch at the high rollers buffet consisting of surprisingly good dim sum and other sundry Chinese food. We sent Kat on her way to the airport for her 5p flight and then Jane and I had one last glass of wine before I had to go back and get ready to split for home.
Vegas is growing by the month it seems. Flying in on Thursday afternoon afforded me a view of Vegas I hadn't seen before. The patchwork growth like some urban lichen on the desert floor. The Nevada desert, as unlikely a place for one of the most decadent destinations in the world as there ever was. So many people live there already, with more arriving all the time. For me though, each of my two night visits reinforces the knowledge that two nights really is enough. I jumped my plane and two hours later I was sharing salad, pizza and beer with Scott and Jeff at Jupiter in Berkeley. On the drive home I ruminated on the weekend's events, grateful that at the other end of this drive was a little slice of peaceful heaven, far from the dings and whistles, lights and intensity of Las Vegas.
Then I went to bed.
Cheers!
I had heard good things about this show but nothing prepared me for the experience we had that night. The show is amazing. Inside the theater that was specifically designed and built for this show the troupe put on an amazing spectacle. To begin with the stage is enormous, both wide and deep, and the entire thing is constructed in sections which can move vertically up and down independent of each other. For most of the show the stage is a very deep pool of water and the performers spend most of their time diving and jumping in and out of it. The acrobatics are inspired and incredible to watch. We were close, seated in the "wet section" where supposedly we were warned that we would get wet... we didn't but we could feel the spray as high divers plummeted in ones, twos and threes from heights that looked to be double of those regularly attempted by olympic high divers.
There was this sequence where three devices called Russian Swings were used to launch acrobats 40 feet into the air there to perform spins and flips, twists and poses that were visually stunning. As always with Cirque du Soleil the intense athleticism of the performers was broken up by scenes starring the clowns who were sweet and funny and endearing. Ai yai yai!
After the show the two of us just sat and took it in. Eventually, after everyone had filed out and we were in fact asked to leave so that they could clean the theater in preparation for the second show, it occurred to us that there was going to BE a second show that night. How anyone could deliver that kind of experience once let alone twice a night is beyond me.
Still floating on the cloud we had been placed one, we swept out of the Bellagio and hopped a cab across town to the Hard Rock there to have a delicious meal in a restaurant Katrina had selected. It is called Simon Kitchen, and it serves up beautifully crafted haute cuisine in a swank but elegant atmosphere. The wine list was good and the desserts were out of this world. The loungy DJ'ed set was followed by a live performance from an up and coming singer songwriter whose name escapes me, and was VERY loud; loud but entertaining.
Fat and happy, we cabbed it over to the Wynn where we joined Jane and her crew at La Bete for the clubs opening night. It was just fine, not outstanding in any way except for the company. I was left with the reinforced perspective that we definitely have some amazing clubs here in SF and certainly have a corner on the completely fucking incredible house music scene. Around 3a we wandered out and went back to our hotel down the strip there to crash and get the first 8 hour night of sleep either of us had had in days.
Morning found us moving slow and taking our time. We sought out a Starbucks, and fortified by our espresso drinks we met up with Carol and Jane at Neiman and just wandered around the mall for awhile. Carol had to split so the three of us went Caesar's and had lunch at Bertolini's, a decent Italian joint near the Forum shops. All three of us were still working out the toxins from the night before but by the end of the meal were ready to do some serious browsing. We ogled Coach and other boutiques and I found a great shirt which was just calling to me.
Later that evening Kat and I met up with her local buddy Scott and had drinks in Mandalay Bay and then dinner at the bar in Charlie Parker's steak house downstairs. This is the same guy who opened Aureole and we were not disappointed. The three of us shared two lovely salads, and two grilled fish dishes. Then we went for a ride in Scott's 911 out into the desert for dessert. Whoo... when you have to be anywhere and not be say, more than 5 minutes late... 911, accept no substitutes.
Around 12:30 we met up with Jane at La Bete again and the scene could not have been more different. People everywhere, great table service, excellent mix of music and good company. I stayed until the joint had quieted and found us chilling on comfy couches outside in front of the waterfall. Another fabulous night.
Saturday my flight wasn't until 8p and I was more than ready to go home. But the day was good, Kat had a spa treatment and I read my book, "The Kite Runner," a good recommendation if you're interested. Then Kat, Jane and i hooked up and had a lunch at the high rollers buffet consisting of surprisingly good dim sum and other sundry Chinese food. We sent Kat on her way to the airport for her 5p flight and then Jane and I had one last glass of wine before I had to go back and get ready to split for home.
Vegas is growing by the month it seems. Flying in on Thursday afternoon afforded me a view of Vegas I hadn't seen before. The patchwork growth like some urban lichen on the desert floor. The Nevada desert, as unlikely a place for one of the most decadent destinations in the world as there ever was. So many people live there already, with more arriving all the time. For me though, each of my two night visits reinforces the knowledge that two nights really is enough. I jumped my plane and two hours later I was sharing salad, pizza and beer with Scott and Jeff at Jupiter in Berkeley. On the drive home I ruminated on the weekend's events, grateful that at the other end of this drive was a little slice of peaceful heaven, far from the dings and whistles, lights and intensity of Las Vegas.
Then I went to bed.
Cheers!
posted by Peter at
11:29 PM
1 Comments:
man... you live a life i've never seen. i love to hear it, i'm glad you're well. i'm sitting in on my living room floor eating fish sticks --it's a far cry from vegas. just burned my fingertips on the cookie sheet too... well, back to work for me, you should call me sometime. i'm turning my last bit in tomorrow. peace
By
andrea, at 3:36 PM
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