Returned from the trip last night and in recovery mode today on the couch with NFL games in front of me. Full review of our (myself and girlfriend) experience...
- 3 night hotel stay at Aria in City Center
Very nice hotel....modern design and non-themey which we preferred. At check-in we made up some story how the trip was a belated birthday gift for the girlfriend and were free upgraded to a strip view on the 53rd floor (hotel is 54 floors total) so that was sweet. The beds were ridiculously comfortable.
- Italian dinner at Olive's in Bellagio
Weren't able to get an outdoor table due to a 2 hour wait, but did get one inside next to the window so was still able to see some fountain show. Good wine and good food. I had the ravioli which was very tasty...great, fresh sauce. Gf had the fig and proschutto flatbread pizza which she enjoyed. As we were waiting for our table with some drinks at the bar we started chatting with a woman who ended up being the manager for the Wu-Tang Clan (rap group for those unaware). She was definitely an interesting, outspoken woman....a couple of martinis in her system and she was pretty uncensored. Good times.
- After dinner drinks at the Mandarin Bar at the top of the Mandarin Oriental
Fantastic views of the strip, but it was pretty dead so the overall vibe wasn't great. Had one drink and took off. We were pretty beat by then after a day of traveling and decided to call it a night so we could survive the next two nights.
- Explore/shop in the Aria Crystals and Wynn area
Perused some very high end stores (Gucci, Prada, Fendi, etc.)....gf lusted over pretty much every single bag and stiletto shoe in her sight. I ended up getting a bottle of Tom Ford cologne and a fall jacket from Zara. :style:
- Watch first NFL game of season (Vikes vs. Saints) at Emeril Laggasse's Stadium in Pallazzo
Great sports bar and highly recommended...just make sure to call in advance to make a reservation. Had a reserved seat in the couch area, and we scored one of the big chaise lounges so was like we were home on the couch. Placed bets on the Saints (-5.5) and for first TD to be caught by Percy Harvin (8 to 1), Robert Meacham (8 to 1) and Reggie Bush (8 to 1)....lost on all 4. Damnit.
- Gambling at Bellagio
Played 1/2 NL hold 'em ($200 max buy in) on a couple different 4 hour sessions throughout trip. Played tight, met some great people, had some free beverages. Ended up about $200 total ahead when all was said and done.
- Zumanity (Cirque De Soleil) show at NYNY
Very entertaining show. In a smaller theatre so more of an intimate vibe. Some pretty racy topics covered, but also mixed in some good humor as well which we weren't expecting. At $112 per ticket probably a bit overpriced, but was an enjoyable experience.
- Sushi dinner at Okada in the Wynn
Solid sushi, but we wouldn't go back.....we have a place around the corner at home in MKE (Nanakusa) where we regularly have sushi just as good, if not better.
- Clubbin' at Tryst in the Wynn
Okada is literally about 10 steps away from the Tryst entrance....we walked out of dinner at 11pm and the line was crazy long already. We were able to get on the list from some inside contacts so were able to walk by everyone, get ushered in with no cover charge. Interesting feeling getting up and down looks from every skank and guido waiting in line and wondering who the hell we were. (yep, we're kind of a big deal) Decent club, but nothing overly jaw-dropping. You walk in and see a pool with a big waterfall which is unique, but after that nothing really stood out as special. Dance floor wasn't very big so quickly got too packed. Lots of hot chicks roaming around, but after a while an interesting effect happened where all of them just started looking the same and nothing all that special. Long hair, short dresses, high heels. Not a bad thing at all but weren't many stand-outs after a while. Basically a room full of 7.5's-8's....if I'm in Vegas I expect to see a nice dose of 9's which was lacking. Decent time, but both the gf and I said we would've been disappointed if we would've had to drop the $60 in entry fee. When go back to Vegas won't be returning to this club. If able to do over would've gone to XS in the Encore as supposed to be much larger with bigger dance floor and room to roam.
Overall great trip to pop my Vegas cherry. Was fun with the girlfriend, but next time around will most definitely be with my boys for true debauchery.