Daytrip out of Los Angeles: Las Vegas

Low limits, fast action and loose women make this my go-to casino of choice. I’ve always been lucky here, and if my long suffering girlfriend asks; Molly, I want you to interpret that last statement very narrowly.

As one of the few independently owned casinos on the strip (whatever that means) they tend to try and lure people in with crazy gambling schemes and promotional chips. Thinking I was smart I bet one promo $25 chip on black and one on red thinking I’d make money no matter what. Guess what number the roulette ball hit, dear readers.

As much as my girlfriend loves musical theater, I like how the Venetian thinks about the men that get dragged along. Hence, “The Phantom” a shortened version of the famous Broadway Musical. Lots of murky dialog and fantastical singing is only augmented by the great abbreviation in show time. It reminds me of the time I tried mescaline… for religious purposes of course.

Haven taken over Vegas with countless variations on the same theme (androgynous acrobats floating through space and time with the sole purpose of giving me creepy heebie jeebies), Cirque Du Soleil is really the preeminent act in all of Las Vegas. Check it out, if only for the train wreck factor.

The Bellagio buffet boasts a fine array of foods from all around the world. Hailing from the restaurant industry you would think that I’d immediately gravitate to all the pickings with a high food cost, (crab, kobe beef, prime rib) but for some reason, I always end up getting seconds and thirds on the guacamole pork dish they have here. It’s delish!

Although many all you can eat sushi restaurants get a bad rap, this place offers a wide range of options with high quality ingredients. However, a mild thumbs down to the chef for refusing to pound a sake bomb with me. As a former sushi chef, I don’t think I never said “no” once to an offer of free liquor. Too bad it only happened once or twice in my year long tenure.

Located in the heart of Caesar’s Palace, this walkway boasts high end boutiques as well as mass market brands. The original and still the best.

My girlfriend’s father is an executive with the Louis Vuitton group, so I’m glad that mi corazon has become virtually impervious to the lures of LV. Having said that, she’s still a fashionable chick, and as such is still interested in handbags and leather goods, which are in large supply here.