So, last week I flew out to California from the East Coast to begin a nearly three week getaway filled with one bachelor party and two weddings (both of which I am in). After arriving in San Diego late Thursday night (minus my bag which didn't make the change of planes) I was able to get just enough sleep to charge my body (and mind) for the forthcoming weekend in Vegas. Fortunately my bag was by the front door when I woke up on Friday, and 14 hours after landing in San Diego I was on the road to Vegas.
The reason for heading out to Vegas was to celebrate the Bachelor party of my brother-in-law-to-be Matt. Given that I was the only one who was not a longtime friend of Matt's, I figured that made me Alan for this trip and I did my best to live up to any and all expectations that came with that role (rufilin and all). While everyone else was flying to Vegas, I decided to make the drive into the desert and lucky for me, I have awesome parents who let me borrow one of their cars. And not just any car, my mom's new Audi A4....SWEET! Going from driving a 1996 Honda Civic with power nothing and an am/fm stereo to a 2010 Audi was unbelievable to say the least. When I pressed the gas to go, I went...and fast.
Having made the drive to Vegas before, I knew there was a high probably of traffic if I left in the afternoon/evening (especially on a Friday) so I made a conscious effort to leave in the morning. Well, apparently I have been away from California for too long because even with an early start, I hit traffic. The thing I didn't understand, is why? I mean, where did all of these people come from and why the hell are they all out here on the 15 freeway? With plenty of time to think while sitting in traffic, I realized that the roadways were so crowded because there are a ton of people that actually live out in this part of the state - a fact that I find utterly crazy. Having worked in the construction/development industry while last living in CA, I saw firsthand how much growth was happening (or being planned) for the Riverside/San Bernardino areas and on the drive to Vegas I saw what the most current outcome has become. The fact that such large, sprawling cities like Corona, Norco, Fontana and Victorville even exist kind of blows my mind, because quite frankly, these places are shitholes. They are hot, ugly, suburbia desert-lands filled with big-box retailers and fast food, which to me makes it difficult in understanding why so many people have decided to take residence there. Personally, I'll take a little podunk country town on a two lane road over these places and their 8 lane wide freeway any day. At least in the country there are lush trees, open fields, wildflowers, local stores and a sense of appreciation for nature. Needless to say....I don't miss California.
After making my way through the wasteland known as the Inland Empire and finally through the long stretch of barren desert (which always provides me with at least one smile as I pass the Zzyzx exit), I made the ever-so-exciting drop down the hill into Las Vegas. It truly is a site to see (especially at night with all of the Vegas lights lit up) as one comes over the hill and sees the city rising out of the desert floor. With so much excitement to finally be in Vegas I didn't mind being stuck in traffic once again as I worked my way to the exit, and then again as I inched my way down The Strip.
The hotel we stayed at is the Aria, which is located middle of the Strip between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo. The hotel is the most recent hotel in Vegas to open and it is part of the larger City Center development - an $11 Billion project still nearing completion. Needless to say, the hotel (and City Center as a whole) is awesome and I immediately became a big fan. Even before setting foot in the hotel I was in love with the architecture and design of the hotel and surrounding buildings. The modern look and construction materials gave the place a feeling of sophistication and luxury, yet at the same time I felt very comfortable and natural in my surroundings.
Once inside I was continually amazed at all of the features and design elements of the hotel and casino. The hotel rooms are all electronically controlled, such that, upon entry, the tv and lights turn on to welcome you and the curtains automatically open - which in our room revealed an awesome view looking south down the Strip. After that, all elements of the room (including all of the iPod and audio/video hookups) were controlled by the push of a button or through the touchscreen control pad on the bedside table. Technological advancements aside, the hotel also did an excellent job with all of the decor, interior design and functional layout. I particularly loved the use of fabric on the walls rather than wallpaper (it was so fun to touch) and I even felt as though the paintings on the wall were a pleasure to admire and could actually be considered art. Oh, and I must not forget the bed which is one of the most comfortable beds I ever laid my body on. It supported my body in just the right way that I felt as though it were made just for me and to lay down for even 10 minutes was a very relaxing experience.
Outside of the room I spent many hours walking through the hotel, casino and surrounding shops/areas of the City Center (including the amazing Rodney Lough gallery) by myself admiring, touching and interacting with everything that was around me. And while I could go on for hours sharing about how great/beautiful/neat the experience was, I don't think many people love buildings as much as I do, so instead I will just say this - go visit! And speaking of visiting Vegas, I have a really hard time believing that our economy is in such bad shape given the number of people that I saw visiting. Sure, Vegas wasn't the most crowded I've seen but there were still tons of people walking around, gambling, clubbing, shopping, drinking and generally just spending money (such as with the line of over 100 people waiting an hour and half to spend $50 minimum to shoot a gun). Slow economy? Really?
As for the actual shenanigans of the bachelor weekend, let's just say that fortunately no one married a stripper, lost a tooth or had anything to do with a naked Asian man. We did however have a lot to do with gambling, drinking, gambling, drinking, drinking...and the aforementioned guns. I think the highlight of the trip (at least for me) was on Saturday night when we decided to do it up right for Matt and get bottle service at one of the clubs. Now, I'm not really much of a club person but I do love to dance, so in that sense I was very excited to be heading out for a night. Having never done such a night out before, I quickly learned that in Vegas (as is true in most places) a lot depends on who you know. Fortunately one of the guys in the group knew someone and after a few phone calls earlier in the day we had secured a table at Moon Nightclub at the Palms Casino. After a nice dinner at Sage (one of the restaurants at Aria) we took a limo ride across the freeway and made our way to the Palms.
Having arrived about 15 minutes before the club actually opened we had a little time to kill so a group of us all sat down to play blackjack. While the blackjack itself wasn't so exciting, it was nice to know that after 20 minutes of playing I could leave the table with the same amount of money I started with and have a free drink in hand. As we all were walking back to the club we passed the craps tables, and given that I LOVE craps, I felt this sudden urge to place just one bet. I walk up to a table with a lone guy shooting and I place a $25 chip on the field bet (which the shooter also was betting). The shooter quickly rolls and what do I see....double six. A 12. A "Pays Triple" 12! The dealer quickly stacks up 3 more $25 chips next to mine, I look over at the shooter, shake his hand with a smile and a "thank you", grab my money and I'm gone. Literally, this all happened within 30 seconds and the next thing I know, I'm checking in for our table with a huge smile on my face.
Now, bottle service isn't exactly cheap, especially in Vegas. Anyone who gets bottle service knows they are doing it for anything but the actual bottle of liquor itself. I mean, when you pay $450 a bottle for something that you just saw the day before at a liquor store for $40, you clearly are paying for something more than just the booze. One is paying for the experience...and man, what an experience it was. After checking in with the host, we were led past the line of 100+ people waiting to get in, past the people in the VIP line, and straight into the elevator which took us directly into the club on the top floor. Without ever having been to Moon before I had no idea where we were going or more importantly, where our table was at, but as we followed the host into the club, past the dance floor, past the other tables tucked away in some dark corner, and out onto the balcony, I certainly had no complaints. Next thing I know, the host points out our table and much to my enjoyment I find before me a table up against the glass with a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip. (See below for a general idea of what the view was like)
In all of my previous visits to Las Vegas, I had never strayed off the Strip, so to be in this environment, with this view, with this service, was truly a treat. To see the Strip from afar (from some 60 stories up) was amazing in its own right, but to then have the convenience of not waiting at bar, to have a place to sit, and to have awesome people to share it all with - that is the experience that one pays for with bottle service. While I certainly enjoyed my time at the table, I also made sure to enjoy the dance floor which I did until 3:30 or so as the club was starting to close down. Needless to say, I was the last one from our group still in the club, so after finally getting my fill of awesome dance beats and vodka I closed the chapter on my Moon experience and joined the guys back downstairs in the casino.
With everyone so happy and excited after a fun night in the club we stuck around the Palms to gamble for a bit as a group of us took over an entire table of Single Deck Blackjack. To me, there aren't many ways to enjoy a gambling experience in Vegas more so than taking over a Blackjack table with friends. Everyone is there rooting for each other, and in Single Deck, I actually feel like one has a chance of playing the odds a bit better - and ultimately staying at the table for awhile. After another hour or so at the Palms we all worked our way back to the Aria and given that I was up after my time at the table, I decided to call it a night (again being the first one in bed - at 5:30am).
At 7am my roommates all roll back into the room and at 8:30 I woke up (hangover free) and by 8:45 I was on the road back to Carlsbad in spite of the lack of sleep. Luckily, my mom's car has Sirius satellite radio and with it tuned to Channel 38, the electronic dance station "Area," I rocked out in the car for the 5 hour drive home. I felt almost as though I had never even left Moon and with that fact in mind, I had a really enjoyable drive (traffic free) back home. Once home I immediately hit my bed and passed out, knowing that another fun Vegas adventure was complete.
While I don't invision myself heading to Las Vegas any other times soon, I definitely feel like it is worth a trip if you haven't been recently (or at all). In walking around the town I noticed that Vegas really does attract every type of individual. With so many options, there truly is something for everyone - even if you just want to eat.
