Before WrestleMania gave me spectacle, pyro, and nostalgia, it gave me Anthony and his mom on the Las Vegas Monorail.
I started WrestleMania weekend the way I hadn’t in five years- riding the monorail to WWE World at the Las Vegas Convention Center. While standing on the Paris Station platform, Vegas did what it always does when you let your guard down: it handed you people.
“Excuse me,” a woman named Denise asked. “Do you know if this takes us to the Convention Center?”
“Mom! I told you this was the way!” her son snapped.
“Yup,” I said. “Where are y’all from?”
That was it. That was the start.
Anthony and his mom, Denise, were from New Jersey, in Vegas for the first time to see John Cena’s last WrestleMania. They both worked as servers at an Italian restaurant. As the train crawled in, Denise proudly shared that she regularly waited on Anthony Rizzo’s aunt—and WWE wrestler Sheamus.
“You know, it’s true what they say about Irish people. They can drink. Steven (Sheamus’ real name) can really throw ’em back. He told me to let him know when I get here. I gotta text him.”
Now, I wish this ended with Sheamus meeting us at WWE World and giving us front‑row seats to WrestleMania. But this isn’t fiction.
Denise quickly clocked my Italian roots and, without any filter, started asking about my lineage, stopping just short of deciding we were related. With her gravelly voice, steady smoker’s cough, and weathered skin, she went over the schedule with Anthony again. At every stop, he asked if this was the one.
Her plan was to find somewhere quiet while Anthony did WWE World. I suggested the Westgate.
Anthony, recently 21, wore a faded Rhea Ripley shirt and basketball shorts sliding off his thin frame. Between the two of them, I broke down the entire two‑night Mania card with Anthony and mapped out how to get from The Horseshoe to Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. They were only going one night and planned to find somewhere to watch Saturday.
A few stops out, Denise’s anxiety thickened the air. It became clear Anthony didn’t live independently.
“How much are the tickets for this thing?” she asked.
“Like fifty bucks,” he said.
“Maybe I should just go in with you. I’ll probably lose that on the slots anyway.”
“Ma, I told you! I’ll be fine!”
Sometimes, I really hate being me.
I told them I’d help Anthony find his way around, but only for a few hours. Denise let out a cough‑punctuated sigh of relief and reminded him to text when he was ready to leave so she could meet him outside.
We stepped off the monorail. Denise immediately lit a Marlboro Menthol and limped with Anthony and me toward the Convention Center before peeling off toward the Westgate but only after confirming he had his wallet (Velcro) and phone (30 percent charged).
The Convention Center towered over us, WrestleMania banners hanging like sacred text. Anthony and I checked in and followed the signs into WWE World. Music blasted as we entered the South Hall, passing massive replica championship belts.
The place was packed.
Check-In at WWE WorldHorrible video I took from the entrance.
A huge crowd gathered around the main stage for a live broadcast of The Pat McAfee Show. Anthony bought an autograph from Dakota Kai which was one of the most affordable Superstars, and we squeezed our way forward to catch McAfee interviewing Triple H before I helped Anthony find the correct line for his autograph session. Every Superstar had their own long queue, with photos and autographs running anywhere from $40 to well over $200.
McAfee Shoe
Once he understood the process, I wandered.
I toured the displays- replica belts, the Triple H exhibit honoring his 2025 Hall of Fame induction, and the full entrance stage where fans, kids especially, recreated their favorite Superstar walkouts, complete with music and video. Watching kids nail Rhea Ripley’s entire entrance, stomp included, to “THIS IS MY BRUTALITY,” or stride out to “Head of the Table” with fingers raised as the crowd chanted “OTC,” was genuinely awesome.
I almost bought this.
After a soft pretzel and water, I grabbed a front‑row spot for a live broadcast of Busted Open, a show I listen to almost daily. When I’d had enough, I wrapped up my time at WWE World in the Superstore, grabbing a shirt and a hat.
As I exited, I found Denise just outside the gate, in full panic. Anthony’s phone was dead, and she couldn’t reach him.
I told her I’d find him. I didn’t have to go far.
He was in line at the store. I reconnected them just in time for a heated debate about merch spending. They negotiated. He agreed to pay her back for the hoodie and T‑shirt. She agreed.
We headed back to the monorail. And yes, Denise lost more on the slots at the Westgate than the ticket to WWE World would’ve cost.
Anthony excitedly replayed meeting Dakota Kai.
“She’s so pretty. I couldn’t even talk!”
I can only imagine his heartbreak when she was released shortly after WrestleMania.
The ride back turned into another round of arguments, with me somehow cast as referee for discussions about money, Anthony’s future, and what this trip was really costing them. Like I said, sometimes I hate being Sal Rizza. I wanted a quiet ride. I didn’t want to worry about how they’d get to Allegiant Stadium or think about their struggles as Denise wanted to sleep and Anthony wanted to keep going.
I offered perspective. I talked about balance, listening to your mother, affordable options around town. Denise nodded and said, “See? Even he listens to his mother, and he’s almost my age.” (Not even close.)
Eventually, Anthony drifted back to thinking about John Cena’s last match and agreed to watch SmackDown and the Hall of Fame ceremony in the hotel room with pizza. We argued Jersey pizza versus New Haven pizza, which isn’t much of a debate if you’ve had both.
When we parted, Denise gave me a big hug. Anthony followed it with an enthusiastic fist bump.
I walked back to Vdara alone. Glad I helped, grateful for the hug and the fist bump, but quietly wishing for a moment where I didn’t have to be Sal Rizza: problem solver, guide, referee, emotional support human.
That feeling didn’t last.
The very next day, Terry happened. Different person, same pull. Another unexpected connection on the road to WrestleMania. (See The Long Road to WrestleMania.) If it sounds familiar, it should.
That’s the thing about WrestleMania weekend and Vegas itself is you don’t just come for the matches. You come for the moments you didn’t script. A monorail ride. A nervous mom. A kid meeting his crush.. A reminder that for all the belts, fireworks, and million‑dollar entrances, professional wrestling works best when it’s human.
The next night, after the walking and the talking and the noise finally quieted, I sat down to watch my first WrestleMania. I was alone—but not really. Anthony, Denise, Terry, and the many moments of my childhood- they all rode shotgun in my thoughts.
Sometimes the best match isn’t on the card. Sometimes it’s just getting from one stop to the next together.
In April of 2025, we finally made it to Delilah and it turned out to be one of the best Vegas nights we’ve ever had.
You enter through a softly lit, extravagant bar filled with plush seating and old-world glamour. We met our host at a set of deep red velvet curtains. She pulled them back and led us through the room, revealing itself like the Goodfella’s Copacabana Room scene as Anne and I descended a stair case like Henry Hill and Karen Friedman expecting a waiter to carry a two-top over his head and pop it down in front of the stage.
Large ornate chandeliers floated over tables covered in white linen. Elevated stages were scattered throughout and a prominent main stage anchoring the front of the room.. The room is enormous but feels intimate, buzzing with energy.
On the main stage, women in ball gowns belted out classics and jazz standards while, men in black tie played piano and saxophone. On the smaller elevated stages, performers in shimmering sequin dresses danced gracefully, every movement effortlessly choreographed. Servers in crisp white dinner jackets moved purposefully, focused, polished and enthusiastically.
Our handsome server with a solid build and clean-shaved head, knew every inch of the menu. He spoke confidently about the allergens and made recommendations that felt persona, as if he already understood our taste.. Most impressive was how the staff read the room. Every glane, whispered comment, and subtle expression seemed noticed.
When Anne sampled the shrimp cocktail she leaned over and quietly whispered it wasnt what she expected. Not bad- just not her style. Ashlyn, whom I believe is an Assistant Manager ,picked up on it immediately. Tall and slender with long brown hair and, as it seems to be a requirement at Delilah’s, a perfect smile, she approached with warmth and sincerity , gently offering alternatives without judgement or a hint of pressure.
The vibrant room filled with voices from the stage belting out classics. Every bite of every dish, magnificent. Anne loved the burger. I enjoyed perfectly prepared tuna tartar, succulent cavatelli and what may have been the absolute best pistachio cheesecake I’ve ever had.
Ashlyn impressed us again during dessert service. Before coffee and sweets arrived, she checked in. Anne mentioned her slight disappointment that the ice cream, oddly, wasn’t gluten free and nothing else interested her. About ten minutes later, Ashlyn returned to tell us she had called restaurants throughout the Wynn trying to track down chocolate ice cream but came up empty. She handles us her card and promised that the next time we returned, she would personally makes sure Anne had a dessert waiting.
Ashlyn is a model and actress who’s appeared in television and fil but what stood out most was that she, nor any of the staff, weren’t acting, as if they cared. At Delilah, the hospitality feels genuine and that isn’t something easy to find in Vegas these days. Beyond the glamour, fancy dishes, and overall incredible vibe, that’s what made this an unforgettable experience.
I get this question all the time. A few weeks ago, Nico, one of the amazing students I have the privilege of working with said, “Sal, so what exactly do you do in Vegas?” This was quickly followed by Sanjay (another student) who said, “Yes, Papa, what exactly do you do in Vegas?” For some reason this year’s orientation team (jokingly) started referring to me as “Papa.” I guess that’s better than Gramps.
I happen to be sitting in a big comfy chair at the time, so I leaned back like the old man that I am and said, “settle in children, it’s story time.”
Sanjay (L) Nico R)
Preface
I should note that this will be the first summer since 2020 and only the second in over 15 years that we won’t be traveling to Vegas. We visited this past February (Superbowl) and in April during Anne’s spring vacation. This summer, we had the amazing opportunity to go to Ireland for a week initiated by an extra ticket for my wife to see Taylor Swift in Dublin. With O’Shea’s being the only Irish themed property in Vegas, I felt that our first trip to Europe should be to a place poorly represented on the Vegas Strip. Who needs Venice when you have the Venetian or Italy when you have the Bellagio or Paris when….you get the point. Perhaps another post on our Ireland adventure is in the future. In short, the scenery was breathtaking, the coffee sucked, the toilets were tiny, there were lots of cows, the people were incredibly nice, my wife LOVED the concert, and the drinks were marvelous.
Sal and Anne at Blarney Castle
Part 1: The Prep and Check-In
So, as Sanjay and Nico waited with great anticipation hoping for tales of huge wins and celebrity dinners, I sat back and said, “get ready for a very boring ride because my Vegas life isn’t all that exciting.”
I’ll spare the incredibly dull weeks that precede Vegas when I read reviews of shows, scour calendars for special events, and meticulously research menus to find new places to feast. Instead, I’ll jump right to the moment our plane lands at Harry Reid International Airport. Along the way, I’ll include some of my favorite experiences of the past few years being that it has been some time since I’ve posted.
We prefer a late morning flight (from the east coast) that gets us into Vegas in the early evening. One of the best parts of every trip is the walk towards baggage claim, grabbing our suitcases, standing in the cab line and enjoying the drive to the resort. As we roll our suitcases to the check-in desk and see those dragging their baggage towards the exit I always feel a slight sense of sadness knowing that in just a few short days another Vegas trip will be coming to a close.
We have really landed on Vdara as our resort of choice. Located on Aria’s campus with full access to the larger property’s amenities, Vdara offers a lowkey vibe in a smoke-free environment without the chaos of a casino and volume of tourists. Each room is a spacious suite equipped with a mini fridge, kitchen, and living room. Recently, they’ve improved their walkway to Bellagio and built a new walkway to The Cosmopolitan. So, within a five-minute indoor walk you have access to three of the best casinos on the strip.
Staying at Vdara is the antithesis of Superbowl weekend at The Excalibur. Quick story of our check-in at Excalibur.
I
I am a rabid member of Bills Mafia. I dreamed of seeing my team play their first Superbowl in over 30 years in my favorite city. By the time the Bills lost to the Chiefs in the divisional round, it was too late to cancel the room. Excalibur is a hard pass. Like, don’t stay there. Ever. I knew this going in but I just couldn’t justify over $1K a night for my preferred resorts. On most weekends, I could probably stay at Excalibur for an average of $7 a night but on Superbowl weekend, over $300 a night. Excalibur is over thirty years old and has become rundown, dated and downright cruddy. We took a late flight and arrived at Excalibur at around 11pm. Now, I should have listened to my wife when she said, “do not check into our room online.” She reminded me several times that I should have listened to her. This is a routine occurrence. We were assigned a room on the fifth floor of the Royal Tower. There was nothing Royal about this room. By the time we made it to our room, Anne was already in the middle of an asthma attack from what had to be mold from the hallways. The room smelled like cigarette smoke not as if someone had been smoking in the room recently but as if it was ingrained in the paint on the walls and the fabric of the carpet. We could hear the clanging of people kicking around beer bottles from the street below. I seriously don’t know what the hell was happening but it sounded like some drunk bros were playing soccer with bud bottles. Anne went over to the AC wall unit—yes, a wall unit—and pulled out the filter which was obsidian. Just caked with mold and dirt. At this point, she was in a full-fledged asthma attack. I knew what this meant; Kar-Anne was about to speak with a manager. By the time we made it through the line and made it Jasmine, I honestly thought we would be on a plane back to Connecticut within minutes with a full refund and three free nights in an Aria Sky Suite for April. I have to give the manager credit. I don’t remember her name but she was calm and offered us a Stay Well Room and $150 in resort credit. Granted, Anne couldn’t really yell through her wheezing. The Stay Well Room in the Resort Tower was acceptable. If I had listened to my wife, we would have most likely avoided the asthma attack that impacted her breathing for months that followed and been placed in the Stay Well room from the start. But hey, we got $150 in resort credit. Morale of the story, listen to my wife and don’t ever stay in Excalibur.
Super Bowl Weekend, 2024
II
Our first nights in Vegas are uneventful. We check-in, unpack, and go to one of our favorite restaurants. One of my favorite restaurants to start with is Jaleo in The Cosmopolitan which is one of Jose’ Andres’ many places on the strip. I love walking through the Cosmopolitan on the first night, having a few drinks and tapas (Gambas al Ajillo is the best) or seafood paella. If we are feeling up to it we take the longer walk outside and catching a glimpse of the Bellagio fountains on our way to CVS or Walgreens from some drinks and snacks for the next day. Anne usually heads up to the room a little before me and I’ll hit some slots to get the gaming started. We try to have an earlier first night so we can get the next day started early!
Part 2: The Morning Routine
The first morning in Vegas begins as early as 6:30am. The top priority is coffee. Anne is not human before she has coffee. Her coffee consumption is legendary. On a normal day, she may drink anywhere between 10-15 Keurig coffees. I’ll head down to Gwendoline the barista (yes, I remember their names) at the Vdara Starbucks and order two Venti Americanos for Anne, one for me and I’ll grab a breakfast sandwich. You read that correctly. Two for Anne. Pools generally open between 8am and 9am depending on the resort and time of year. Until the pools open, we take a nice slow morning. I’ll check email, watch some TV, and peruse the in-room magazines. I know that while on vacation you should disconnect from reality and especially work but one of the things I like about the time difference is that I can check in with the office early in the morning and when the temperatures heat up and I’m floating in the pool, everyone in the office has gone home for the day. I know I’m weird.
Part 3: Pool Time
Anne and I LOVE the pool. We’ve become a bit bougie and reserve chairs. We don’t want to battle folks to grab prime seating so we spend a little bit on a day bed, chairs at Aria’s Sky Pool (exclusive to Sky Suite guests but chairs can be reserved by anyone) and on special occasions, a cabana. I usually head down to the pool before Anne and once I’m settled in, I’ll order a Bloody Mary. It should be noted that drinks are NOT cheap at the pool. At all. To defray costs, I’ll load a Yeti with ice and bring in a few waters and sodas. Most pools don’t care. They’ll check your bag but are looking for alcohol or glass bottles. At just about every pool in Vegas, I’ve become an expert at which chairs to grab for maximum sun—for Anne. I’ll make sure that our location has an umbrella adjacent to cover my side as I prefer the shade. Anne will join me at the pool about an hour later with a third Americano and read peacefully poolside for hours. We’ll stay at the pool until early afternoon, order a light lunch, maybe a few mojitos or coladas and just relax. Magical.
I
Cabana life is NOT cheap. Reserving a cabana for the day ranges from $250 to well over $1000 depending on the resort, time of year, and day of the week. If the price is right or you are with a group, it is a great way to spend the day in a private area, sometimes with your own plunge pool, TV, fridge, couches, and comfy chairs. We’ve only done this a handful of times. In 2023, Anne and I visited Stadium Swim on one of our pool days. Stadium Swim is downtown at Circa. The pool complex has three decks with a screen 40 feet tall and 143 feet wide that broadcasts live sports. We rented a cabana for the day. The way the cabanas work at Stadium Swim is that you have to spend a minimum and on a weekday in August we had to spend $500. Don’t judge us. We lived it up! We ordered tons of water, drinks food and soft drinks. By the end of the day we hadn’t come close so our server brought Anne a fancy hat, sunscreen and more water just so we made our minimum. I can’t wait to go back and would love to visit during football season.
Stadium Swim
Part 4: Post Pool and Early Evenings
As has become tradition, we change out of our sunglasses to regular glasses after exiting the pool and Anne gets another Americano. I might have one too. Sometimes, Anne will treat herself to a massage at the spa and I’ll play some golf. Honestly, it depends on the weather. If we get cloudy days or we feel like doing something different, we may cut a pool day short and treat ourselves to a different experience.
Most of the time, we head back to the room and get ready for the night. After I shower, I’ll head to the casino to play some slots or chill in the sportsbook while Anne gets ready. One of my favorite moments of every Vegas day is the “Anne reveal.” I’ll get a text from her that says, “location” or “on my way” and I’ll wait for her in a designated location. As I watch the droves of people walk by I’ll catch myself saying, “who is that hot lady?” and without fail its Anne in a new dress I haven’t seen before. As we get our evening started, we may visit one of our favorite spots like the Bellagio Botanical Gardens or have a pre-dinner drink at the Lobby Bar at Aria or Chandelier Bar in Cosmo. Every trip, we try to see at least one show, go to a Golden Knights Game or check out something new!
Chapter 5: Show Nights
On one of our very early trips to Vegas, we went to the 10pm show of Cirque Du Solei Ka at MGM Grand. It was one of the most expensive naps I’ve ever taken. The show is good. That wasn’t the issue. We were just exhausted after a full pool day, a big dinner and too many drinks. The seats were very comfortable, the theater is very dark, and the music was very soothing. All of those variables resulted two very expensive naps. The pieces of the show I remember were great but after that night, we decided that we would only go to early shows when possible and have late dinners.
Over the past four years we’ve been on a streak of amazing shows including Katy Perry, John Mulaney, Sting, Magician’s Study, Cirque Du Soleil Mad Apple (very underrated), Lady Gaga (an absolute dream come true), and U2 at the Sphere.
I
I want to feature one show and I should probably write about U2 at The Sphere but I feel compelled to share our experience at Lady Gaga. We saw her on Easter in 2022 at Park MGM. While I really want to see her pop show we went to her jazz show. We’ve been to the Dolby Digital Theatre at Park MGM a few times and it is a fantastic venue. We didn’t have great seats but as the cliché’ goes, “there isn’t a bad seat in the house.” One of the things I absolutely love about residencies in Vegas is that they normally start on time, no opening act, and they are ninety minutes to two hours. I mean, the shows are meant to draw you to Vegas but the goal is to get you back into the casino. Lady Gaga didn’t start on time. She started an hour late but Lady Gaga is worth the wait. The show is flawless. Her voice is transcendent. The show was about two hours long but it didn’t feel nearly long enough. The majority of the set were covers of classics like La Vie en Rose, Luck be a Lady and Fly Me to the Moon. She played a few modified versions of her own songs including Born this Way which I will remember for the rest of my life. She shares stories and provides insights into how she carefully selected each song for her show and the inspiration and meaning behind it. Of all the residencies I’ve been to in Vegas, nobody is better than Gaga. Nobody.
Chapter 6: Dinner
Anne and I are bougie. Years ago, we went to buffets, The Cheesecake Factory and themed restaurants. Those days are behind us for the most part. Sure, every once in a while we’ll dine with the young folks stumbling into chain restaurants with yard long slushie drinks from Fat Tuesday hanging from their necks on lanyards. But that’s not how Anne and I Vegas. We prefer fine dining like Carbone in Aria, Sinatra at Wynn, Jaleo at Cosmopolitan and what has become one of our favorites, Bavette’s Steakhouse at Park MGM. A few years ago, Anne recommended we try Bavette’s and we met Brian who is the BEST server in Vegas. We really connected with him and he gave us his cell phone number and told his to let him know anytime we make a reservation or if we every have any issues with finding one. The food is fantastic and the restaurant is supremely underrated. Bavette’s is a Chicago style steakhouse. The bread service (which is no longer complimentary) is the best sourdough bread I’ve ever had. I always order an Old Fashioned made with Rye which is what turned me into a fan of the classic cocktail and I’ve only had a few that come close to being as good. The only shrimp cocktail that is better is at any Bobby Flay restaurant, the black miso cod, Brussel sprouts, French fries, lyonnaise salad, crab cakes, filet mignon, coffee, carrot cake, ice cream sundae, and every single thing we’ve ever ordered has been stellar. But the entire experience is made by Brian. Every time we sit down he greets us with champagne and a huge smile. Brian is full of life, has been at Bavette’s since its opened, and is a true Vegas veteran. I wouldn’t say Brian is old but he’s seasoned and has the slightest southern accent. He always asks us about our trip, lives and shares really interesting anecdotes about Vegas with us. In the same trip we saw Lady Gaga on Easter, we went to Bavette’s the next day. I’ll never forget our conversation which started with Brian asking us about Easter.
“We saw Lady Gaga last night,” I said.
“Isn’t she lovely,” Brian responded with an air of familiarity.
I paused, and with skepticism said, “wait, have you met her?”
“Many times,” Brian shared as he poured water. “She’s a tiny little thing.”
In awe, I asked him to tell us some more. He shared that she comes in all the time, is extremely generous and knows everybody’s names. He said, “sometimes, she comes in and she’ll sit with her friends and family right in the middle of the restaurant,” and pointed to the large table in the center of the room. He continued, “people will stare and it isn’t uncommon for her to go table to table, offer to take pictures and talk to folks. She is truly so nice.” He said that on some nights, she’ll sit in the private room in the back as well but she’s always kind and generous to the staff. I couldn’t help myself and said, “can I ask a question?”
“Certainly,” Brian said.
“What do people call her? Does anyone call her Stephanie?” I asked assuming he wouldn’t have a clue.
“Funny story,” he said. “First, everyone calls her Lady or Gaga. Some of her closest relatives may call her by her birth name.” It was as if even Brian hesitated saying her name out loud as if she might be listening. “One day, she came in and one of the bartenders knows her drink order so he get her drink ready. I would venture to say that he is one of her favorites at Bavette’s. Well, she was on the phone and was clearly engrossed in conversation. Well, he brought the drink over and called over to her quietly to try to get her attention. After a few attempts, he jokingly said, ‘hey, Steph!’ and she gave him a look and a smile that said, ‘very funny but never again…’ She never said a word. The look said it all.”
This is just one conversation with Brian. Over the years he’s provides us not only with outstanding service but insights to new Vegas construction, upcoming shows, and fun stories and anecdotes about Vegas life. One of the great things about Vegas that I haven’t found elsewhere are the servers. We’ve had some duds. But more often than not, servers do more than just take your order and give you a bill. The spend time with you, provide recommendations, and truly make your dining into an experience. They are savvy enough to know whey you don’t want to be chatty and also when you are looking for conversation. This is true not only of restaurants but at bars, pools, casinos and hotels. I’ve had incredible interactions with Judith the server at Sky Pool at Aria, Anthony the manager at Beauty and Essex, Uber drivers, security officers, cashiers and so many others.
Anne and I truly enjoy or dinners in Vegas. We love to extend our time, enjoy multiple drinks, coffee, and desserts.
Another great dress in front of her favorite restaurant.
Chapter 7: After Dinner
On most Vegas nights, we have a later dinner. It is rare that we leave restaurants before 10:00pm and most nights it is later. After dinner, we’ll take a very casual walk back towards the hotel. We may stop to grab some drinks for the next day, check out a Bellagio fountain show, pop by a few shops, and sometimes we’ll relax at a bar and enjoy one more drink and maybe a lounge singer. As we’ve gotten older, our nights end a little earlier. We want to make sure we maximize our pool time the next day. By 11pm, Anne has had enough and is ready for bed. I’ll usually play slots for another hour or so, do some people watching, and enjoy a cocktail or two. Most nights, I’m donating to the great slot machines but every now and then, I’ll get lucky.
I
During a recent stay at the Bellagio, I had my biggest win. While Anne was getting ready before dinner, the Buffalo machine was kind to me. I was up $300. Look, I’m a low roller. $300 is a lot for me to win during a session. Later that night after dinner and too many drinks, I told Anne that I was going to try my luck. She always says, “win big Mo,” which is a line from the move Dirty Dancing. I stumbled around the casino looking for a machine that appealed to me. My favorite machine by far are Top Dollar machines. I saw one in the distance in front of what is now the Pinky Ring by Bruno Mars Cocktail Lounge. It had a different name at the time. I sat at the machine and in my compromised state put my $300 ticket into the machine. I had enough sense to see that it was a quarter machine. I hit max bet twice and saw my credits drop pretty significantly. What I didn’t realize is that I was playing $15 a spin. Recklessly, I said, “F it,” and kept spinning. A few wins and a few losses but I knew I was up at least another hundred dollars. Still, I fully expected to lose $300 in the matter of minutes. To this day, I have no idea what I hit but some combination of sevens and double diamonds appeared and the screen and the machine just did a lot of beeping and ringing. Because I win so infrequently and because of my inebriation, I felt like I had somehow cheated and cashout out quickly. I looked at the ticket…$1975!! I think the big hit was $1200. I had never won this much. I found a ticket machine quickly, grabbed the cash and stuffed the wad of cash in my pocket clenching it tightly as if someone was going to bop my over the head and steal it. Then, for reasons I still can’t explain, I went into the bathroom and locked myself in a stall to count it. Let me say once again, I was wavy. This behavior is also how I know that I should never take any mind-altering substances. Exhilarating but filled with fear, I loaded the hundos in my wallet, clenched the wallet in my pocket and walked feverishly to the elevators. Every time I get back to the room, Anne will wake from her slumber and whisper, “how did you do?” Most nights I’ll respond with, “Ok…” or “even…” or “not bad…” on this night I said, “I WON $1000!” to which she responded, “good job Mo.”
Final Chapter: Rinse, Repeat and Goodbyes
As I said to start this, we don’t live a crazy Vegas life. Yes, we’ve had some amazing moments. In addition to our routine, we’ve gone to several Golden Knight’s Playoff games including their first ever. We were in Vegas for the Superbowl. We’ve seen Vegas on Christmas Day, celebrated New Year’s Day, and have take a few trips off the strip to the Neon Museum, Pinball Hall of Fame, or to visit my brother Giovanni and his husband Matt in West Sumerlin. Some of my favorite memories over the last few years is having dinner with Gio and Matt, having drinks at a bar, and spending time with the person that is more than my best friend but my other brother.
Vegas days repeat with new twists. Coffee, pool, shows, dinners, drinks, slots, and we also fit in a new experience. Leaving is certainly the saddest part. As we drag our suitcases off the elevator and I see those that are just smiling as they have just arrived, I’m always jealous that they are getting to start their trips. Anne and I will grab a cab but before we leave, we always take a picture in front of the resort sign commemorating another Vegas trip.
“So, kids. That’s what Papa does in Vegas.”
Van Gogh Experience VGK Playoffs Dinner with Matt and GioTraditional Goodbye Picture
While the trips keep getting better, we are now entering a stage of being harder to impress. That isn’t to say that I am less passionate about Vegas just a lot more comfortable in my excitement. I’ll continue to watch countless fountain shows but now I’m much more critical. On this trip, we didn’t venture out very far from the Bellagio with the exception of a journey to the Neon Museum for the new Brilliant experience. My first review captures the essence of our trip.
The Second Best Part of Vegas 26: Beauty and Essex
The absolute best part of Vegas 26 was going to see the Golden Knights in their first play-off game which also happened to be my our NHL play-off game. On Sunday night, Anne and I went to Beauty and Essex in the Cosmo for what was one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in Vegas with a horrendous ending. First, let me say that we will absolutely return.
Beauty and Essex has the ultimate hipster vibe. You walk through a fully operational pawn shop before entering a dark, sparkly and velvet covered restaurant. The music played just loud enough to be noticeable but not so loud to disrupt a conversation.
Our server was fantastic. Well, mostly. Anne ordered a glass of wine and I had a beer. The three items that are worth noting were the deep-fried tai shrimp, barbecue fried and the burrata and tomato on toast. All were excellent. My favorite shrimp is Emeril’s New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp. The deep fried tai shrimp is a close second. Not breaded, crispy on the outside and cooked perfectly on the inside, I would easily have ordered more. Anne is a connoisseur of French fries and she was very happy with the barbecue fries. She describes them as like eating really, really good barbecue chips but exponentially better. I wasn’t as impressed with the burrata and tomato. The burrata wasn’t all that creamy and the tomatoes tasted a bit like ketchup. The focaccia was great! I peeked over at a couple enjoying the ceasar salad toast which looked like a much better play.
At the end of our meal, we were relaxed and enjoying the vibe of the restaurant. In looking at the gluten free menu and reviewing it with the server who made some fantastic recommendations, we settled on two cappuccinos and the tiramisu ice cream sundae. I can’t recommend this dessert enough. The espresso ice cream was light and flavorful, covered with rich chocolate powder and chocolate nibs and a flavorful cake base. Wait? Did I say cake? We were halfway through the dessert when I took a bite of the cake and said, “this is not gluten free.” One of the servers came over to check on us and when we made her aware, she immediately reacted. Moments later the manager came over. Before we could even explain, he apologized, comped our meal and asked Anne how she was feeling and if he could do anything for her. It was so unfortunate because everything was so great. He gave us his card and asked us to call him if we return in the future but understood if we wouldn’t be back. Fortunately, Anne was only slightly impacted the next day. We will definitely return.
Hotel Review: Bellagio
The Bellagio just isn’t what we wanted it to be but is exactly what we expected. The property is congested because of the tourist traffic. The pool complex is large and nice enough but lacks any privacy from the tourists walking through the resort. The room is fine but is starting to show its age. The casino was incredibly kind to me! Finally had a very nice run on the slot machines. We ate at Harvest and Prime which we fabulous. The most disappointing aspect of the Bellagio was the service. We were mistreated on several occasions including a front desk associate who, when my wife complained about the music coming from the one of the clubs, was told to “get some earplugs from the gift shop.” And the next day when we spoke with one of the supervisors was told that we were “ in Vegas” and continued by saying, “what do you expect.” This type of treatment continued in several areas of the hotel including a security supervisor being incredibly rude and disrespectful to an elderly couple at the pool for being in Cypress (VIP pool). The couple didn’t understand at first and were berated. We shared our experience with Joe, a manager, who did an outstanding job of listening to everything. He kindly removed one night of charges and sent us a bottle of champagne and strawberries for our troubles. It is as if the Bellagio relies on its name but forgets that they need to continually earn their guest’s loyalty. We will go back to the restaurants and maybe to play but I don’t see us returning to stay there unless the deal is just too good to ignore.
We loved the Neon Museum and when we heard that they had a new feature, we bought tickets right away. The Neon Museum features a collection of over 200 retired and restored neon signs from Las Vegas. Brilliant is a new feature created by artist Craig Winslow which utilizes many of these signs to capture the history and spirit of Las Vegas. A story told through music and cutting edge technology called “projection mapping” brings the signs to life. Vegas geeks like my wife and I will certainly enjoy the experience. Watching Liberace projected onto a neon sign of a piano as if he were playing once gain is surreal. I don’t know if most people would be as entertained or interested but if visiting the Neon Museum, I would recommend seeing Brilliant.
Aces of Comedy at the Mirage
The Terry Fator Theatre is a fantastic venue. We’ve now seen Terry Fator, Boys II Men and Ray Romano featuring David Spade there. One of the reasons I love Vegas as much as I do is that I don’t know of any other four-mile street (the Las Vegas strip) where you can have dinner at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant at 5pm, see Celine Dion at 7pm and Ray Romano at 10pm if you wanted. While the sets were shorter than we expected, the show was worth the money. Spade and Romano both delivered and even took the stage together at the end of the show for some Q and A. If given the opportunity, we would love to see George Lopez, Kevin James and many others who are featured at the Mirage.
Golden Knights: The Best Part of Vegas 26
This trip featured a lot of luck. The casino was kind but even more lucky was the fact that the Las Vegas Golden Knights played their first every play-off game on Wednesday, April 11th vs the LA Kings. Anne and I decided to be VGK fans the moment that the NHL announced that Vegas would have a hockey team. As a Yankees fan, I’ve been spoiled by lots of winning in my lifetime. This is different. The fans are still learning how to be fans. The city is figuring out what this means. The team and venue have done an awesome job in building a culture and winning certainly helps. In a closely contested game, the crowd stayed engaged throughout all three periods and the arena was explosive. However, until you’ve experiences some real hard losses and drama, you can’t find your intensity as a fan base. Conversely, I know this pain too well as a long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. As both a Yankees and Bills fan, I can attest to the tension and anxiety that comes with each and every pitch or snap. I LOVE being a Knights fan but like the rest of the fans, I’m just happy right now. The pain will come and that’s when Vegas will learn what kind of fans they will be. Sitting in the “Fortress” for the first play-off game was a true “once-in-a-lifetime” experience and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. I didn’t need another reason to love Vegas more but as luck would have it, I certainly found one. Go Knights Go!
‘Twas the morning of Christmas, 2007, in Aun’t Sue’s Queens Village House The robotic figurines were singing with Santa Mickey Mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
Aunt Sue smeared red lipstick on my cheeks. The musty red pants and jacket trimmed in white grated against my skin. Countless uncles, aunts and cousins adorned the costume throughout the years and, somehow, it was now my turn. Aunt Sue called me just a few days before Christmas and asked me the question that I undoubtedly knew would result in a catastrophe. What I didn’t realize is that it would ignite a chain reaction of failures that would scar me forever.
“Can you be Santa this year?” she asked.
I replayed the conversation in my mind as she put the finishing touches on my look and adjusted my beard and hat.
“Yes,” I had replied. “But, I don’t want to be held responsible when Cailyn figures out that Sal is Santa and Santa isn’t real.”
“She won’t know and if she figures it out, I’ll handle it,” she said.
As I prepared for my first, and last, appearance as Old Saint Nick, I reminded myself that if I would be on a flight to Vegas in just a few short hours. Vegas during the holidays is a special place to be. My first day in Vegas was New Year’s Day. On my next trip, I celebrated New Years Eve at the Hard Rock. And, with a few summer trips in between, I looked forward to the day when I’d land in Vegas to the pilot, flight attendants, cab driver and hotel desk would wish me a “Merry Christmas” in Vegas. I’m a Vegas guy but I’m also a Christmas guy and a Christmas Eve baby. Needless to say, I was excited to combine my love of Vegas with my love of Christmas. But first, I needed to play the role of Santa. The children bustled in the living room above; With visions of Santa and the story of a white glove; And my wife in her sweater getting ready for a laugh, Double checked her luggage tags on the bags nicely packed,
I could hear Anne’s cousins Cailyn and Ava dancing around the living room asking when Santa was coming. Cailyn was seven and had begun questioning Santa’s legitimacy. Her parents had gone so far as to leave a hand-written note carefully crafted by a friend of the family to mask the handwriting and a single white glove, complete with chocolate chip cookie stains. She had sealed the glove and note in a Ziploc bag and told the entire family the story while, downstairs, Aunt Sue instructed me on how I would make my grand appearance. My mission was to wait until I heard the manufactured reindeer hoofsteps on the ceiling and then begin “ho ho ho-ing” from the deck.
When out of the living room arose such a clatter, I sprang from the basement with presents I gathered. Away to the patio I flew like a flash, Tore open the screen door and prayed they fell for my cheap beard and mustache.
The entire family stood in the living room as I “ho-ed” the best I could. Now, it is important to note that I have had some theatrical training in college. I dabbled in the arts and acted in a few shows. I’ve got skills. But, when the seven year-old I’ve known my entire life stared through me skeptically, I knew I had no chance of pulling this off. My wife says I looked terrified and that I was the worst Santa ever. And, I’ll admit that it wasn’t my best performance. I plopped down in the big chair next to the fireplace. The tree to my left and presents scattered around the room, I called Cailyn over to give her some gifts. She sat on my lap and without skipping a beat she said, “Sal? You’re not Santa.”
The heart in my chest fell to my stomach below, Rapidly, I grew flustered and searched for words to follow, When what to my wandering eyes did appear, But another littler girl and I spoke with so much fear,
“Cailyn, it is Sal,” I whispered. “Don’t tell Ava.”
That’s all I could muster. Very few feelings are as terrible as taking the magic of Christmas away from a child. Ava seemed to be clueless but Cailyn was acutely aware of what had just transpired. She ran to Aunt Sue, her Grandmother, who said something about Santa having to visit a lot of children and that I was filling in but it was too late. The damage was already done. I don’t remember exactly what happened from there. Shortly after the Santa debacle, I found myself back in the basement racing to get out of that costume. Scrubbing my face over the sink, soap mixed with tears as I struggled to remove all remnants of my Santa failure. I dressed slowly as I was too embarrassed to show my face to the family. Anne came downstairs.
“You Ok?” she asked.
“No. Not really. How is Cailyn?”
“She’s dealing. She wanted me to tell you that it’s ok and she forgives you.”
Yes. She really did say that. The seven-year old forgave me for basically ruining her Christmas forever. As I put myself back together, Anne reminded me that we would be on our way to the airport soon . Vegas is a surefire way to change my attitude about anything. So, I returned to the family. They laughed at my expense but I found no humor in what happened. I still don’t. But, at least things can’t get worse, I thought.
When I finally emerged from the basement, Cailyn’s Mom, Alyson, assured me that she was fine.
“You did ya best,” she said in her New York accent. “Cawl and check to make sure your flight is running on time,” she advised.
Please. This wasn’t my first time to the show. No delays or cancellations in New York. After opening presents, enjoying Christmas dinner and having a cup of coffee, Anne and I were ready for Christmas in Vegas. Hopped in my car, so lively and quick, We were on way to Sin City and jumped on the Van Wyck. More rapid than timeshare hawkers harassing tourists in vain, We whistled through traffic and reviewed our Vegas stops by name: To the fountains, conservatory, Olives and Bellagio Buffet! We’ll hit the Miracle Mile, Forum Shops, Venetian and Cirque Du Solei!
With time to spare, we parked our car and began the cold trek across the parking lot to the terminal. My Santa failure faded into the gray Queens sky behind me as the Christmas and Vegas spirit filled my core as I took in the frigid air.
We pulled up to the counter. The Delta representative greeted me with a hearty, “Merry Christmas!” We presented her with our credentials and she began clicking away at her screen. The process seemed to be taking a little longer than usual.
“Everything all right?” I asked.
“Ummm…you’re at the wrong airport,” she replied.
From the depths of New York I pleaded! Who can you call? Help us get away! get away! Get away from this all. Despair set in. I begged they help us fly, But, we were met with obstacles from getting in the sky;
The best advice they had at JFK was to get to Laguardia. Without a word, I grabbed our suitcases and raced back to the car. I was determined to make the flight. Our flight was in two hours and Laguardia was only 20 minutes from JFK. The clock was ticking.
So back to the car, we certainly flew With shame and embarrassment, Terrible Christmas, part two— Slamming the car doors, driving with something to prove Punching and grunting, I felt like a complete doof.
We made it to Laguarida with less than an hour to our flight. We ran to the counter hoping for mercy and a Christmas miracle. When we finally attempted to check in for our flight, we were too late. The Delta representative, Angela, was incredibly kind. We simply had no options. We rebooked for the following day, I called Planet Hollywood and they nicely accommodated our request and added a day to our reservation. Similar to the moments after ruining Cailyn’s Christmas, I don’t remember the walk back to the car.
For the 2nd time on this Christmas, I found myself ashamed and embarrassed and pondering my failures. Sitting in my car at the Laguardia parking lot with the motor running, I made phone calls to a few friends and family members letting them know that we weren’t on our way to Vegas. So ashamed of my moronic error, I lied and said that we just rearranged our flight to leave on the 26th. Anne and I had barely exchanged a word since the Delta representative said, “Umm…you’re at the wrong airport.” I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer but all Anne said was, “It’s ok. I forgive you.” I temporarily lost all emotional control and just broke down. How can this have happened on Christmas?
As I drew in my head, the day that had seemed to confound, From my failed performance of St. Nicholas to an empty seat in the air and me on the ground. Filled with anger, regret and shame, from my head to my foot, Christmas, tarnished forever? I believed it would;
We spent the night at Aunt Sue’s. Our flight was scheduled for the mid-afternoon on December 26th. I barely slept and the next day, I checked on our flight almost continually and I made sure that several people checked that we were going to the right airport. We arrived at JFK three hours before our flight. Clutching my boarding pass with a bag on my back, We sat by the gate, so thankful my wife never gave me any flack. Her eyes—with that Vegas twinkle! She began to smile, well, barely. For weeks we hoped for a Vegas Christmas so Merry. Perhaps it wasn’t too late, after all we were on our way now, And no weather in site, no rain, sleet and thank god no snow;
I don’t remember the flight. I don’t remember landing. Nobody wished me a Very Merry Vegas Christmas. But, as soon as we were in the cab and saw the lights of the Vegas strip, I began to feel healed and whole again. I regaled the Planet Hollywood front desk with the story of our journey and perhaps it was the pain in my voice but he simply said, “I think you’ll enjoy your room.”
The room was corny and cheesy, if I do say so myself, And I laughed at the James Bond themed items, funny as hell; I walked to the window, a grand view would be great Little did I know, all my bad luck was about to change;
Anne and I stood at the window and stared for quite some time. We had a great view of the Bellagio Fountains and, could even hear the music. Christmas songs played as the fountains danced. Normally, on the first night in Vegas, I can’t wait to go out and explore but everything caught up with me and I passed out with a smile and the fountains dancing in the background. That trip was fantastic. We saw some great shows, had some luck in the casino, loved our stay at Planet Hollywood and dined in places that we would return to several times. But, it was that view that made the difference. Every morning, Anne would sit by the window with a coffee and enjoy the view and every night, we would spend some time watching the fountains dance. A few years later, I finally got to Vegas on Christmas day and, while I loved it, it is the worst Christmas ever that will be etched in my memory forever.
We work hard every day until that final whistle, And we look forward to our Vegas trips which always shine and never fizzle. As we celebrate Christmas, think of those neon Vegas lights, I say to you all- “Merry Vegas to all, and to all a good night!”
I’m a sucker for Vegas movies. I’ll watch anything that shows the city in all its splendor even real clunkers like “Burt Wonderstone” and “What Happens in Vegas.” I’ve been looking forward to Last Vegas ever since last October when I was in Vegas for a conference and I saw them filming. I’m pretty sure I saw Deniro as he was on set, walking in front of the Mirage, and I was standing in front of Casino Royale. Pretty sure. My excitement was reignited a few weeks ago when I was in town for the Vegas Internet Mafia Family Picnic or #vimfp and the Last Vegas cast was there as well for their premier.
So, as I was traveling to San Antonio for a conference, I hoped for a free night to catch the movie. The first night in Texas, as I was taking in the Riverwalk, I had that empty feeling that I often associate when I’m away from home (CT) but not in my 2nd home (LV) and I passed a mall with a movie theatre. With a couple of clicks on my iPhone, I found that I had 10 minutes to catch the last showing of Last Vegas so I raced up a couple of working escalators (strange to find a city with so many working walkways) purchased tickets and took my seat. I have to include information about this AMC theatre. The seats in this AMC Theatre are all reserved so I chose my perfect location and, get this, they are full leather recliners. Like, what?! Perfect.
The plot is simple; Paddy, Billy, Archie and Sam (Deniro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline respectively) have been friends for over 60 years and call themselves the Flatbush Four. They’ve lived full lives. Paddy’s wife, who was from the old neighborhood, passed away a year ago. Archie recently had a stroke. Sam lives with his wife in a Florida retirement community and bachelor Billy is finally settling down with a woman less than half his age. Billy wants his old friends to celebrate his Vegas wedding by joining him for the weekend and of course they decide to throw him a big bachelor party the night before the wedding. Billy and Paddy have unresolved issues, Archie is dealing with his overprotective son while Sam is in the midst of a very late mid-life crisis. Add Mary Steenburgen who plays Diana, an attorney turned lounge singer, and you have your main players. The plot line and story are a bit thin but this isn’t about a solid story with a substantial plot and satisfying resolution. This is about four old guys experiencing Vegas. Movies that choose to set their stories with Vegas as their backdrop need to learn how to use the city to complement their film and help propel it. Part of the charm of The Hangover, Oceans 11 and even Vegas Vacation is that Vegas becomes another character of the film. We wait to see how that pesky antagonist, Vegas, will impact those romping around in her playground and often, we look forward to the magic Vegas moment where the city forgives and sometimes rewards her pawns. The majority of the movie is set in the Aria which is one of my favorite places to stay. I wonder how much MGM/Mirage paid because the Aria is shown beautifully in every way from success in the casino to a grand night at Haze and a suite with revolving beds and a personal concierge. The cast of Zarkana makes several appearances including even participating in Billy’s bachelor party. The rest of the city takes a back seat to the Aria with the exception of Binions which is where Diana performs. In fact, little things about the movie’s use of Vegas drove me crazy like the characters walking the wrong way to the Aria and, later, being dropped off at baggage claim instead of the departure terminals when they were leaving from their adventure. The movie captures the spirit of the city but doesn’t fully use the nuances that could have added so much humor and conflict like old guys on a budget paying for steaks, watching a Cirque show with absolute confusion, being accosted by the street walkers, hustling a few young bucks at a poker table or maybe getting arrested for starting a brawl. Perhaps it was the PG-13 rating, but I felt that they didn’t push these old men who were, mostly, looking for a little “life” in their lives and turned to Vegas for that lift. But, it was more vanilla than an episode of the Golden Girls. That’s not to say that the movie doesn’t have some laughs and isn’t fun. After all, the cast is just too good to let the movie fall completely flat. Overall, what saves this is five great actors letting their characters’ friendships grow, develop and reconnect. I haven’t spent much time in Vegas with my closest friends but I look forward to early bird dinners with my wife, being the old couple at the pool and sharing our love of Vegas with friends, nieces, nephews and godchildren as they get to experience Vegas for the first time. Hopefully, our adventures won’t be quite as bland as the Flatbush Four.
As for Last Vegas, if you love Vegas, don’t expect to be overwhelmed by the way the movie features the city but you’ll appreciate the way the characters celebrate the spirit of Vegas. As a movie, it was a low B-. Wait for DVD unless you absolutely love the actors or are obsessed with Vegas.
As much as I have enjoyed the moniker, “The Vegas Expert” and the website “theVegasExpert.net,” I started to feel as though this seemed a bit pretentious. Through the web and social media, I discovered a community of Vegas enthusiasts, such as myself, who are experts in their own right. For the past several months, I’ve been searching, making lists, reading, talking to friends, colleagues and other bloggers about their thoughts on a new direction to express my love and obsession with Las Vegas. I narrowed down my list to a few concepts. I asked myself what I wanted to communicate to others about Las Vegas. I’ve always wanted to provide my personal stories of Vegas geekery, reviews and opinions from myself and others, and maybe, most importantly, tips and advice on how to have the absolute best Vegas experience possible. I wanted something catchy, different and authentic.
I started playing with words and concepts and one night I was playing with some alliteration using the word “Vegas” and it just happened. During a text conversation with my good friend and colleague, Eric LaCharity, it all clicked. Veni, Vidi, Vici or “I came. I saw. I conquered” which really speaks to what I want to say about Vegas. Go to Vegas; See Vegas; Conquer, or win, in Vegas. Winning just doesn’t refer to gaming but also in having the best experience possible. The further I explored these ideas, the more I thought about my personal experiences of Vegas which are filled with over-the-top and sometimes gaudy entertainment, the gluttonous meals and spirits, the freedom to be unnecessarily excessive and the fun and sometimes brutal world of gaming. Vegas feels strangely like a place that reflects the stories of ancient Roman times existing in our modern world.
With that, Veni. Vidi. Vegas! was born.
Since that day, I’ve been working to incorporate this brand/concept into the website and into a new business venture that I hope to start.
I am happy to introduce the NEW VeniVidiVegas.net!
Most of theVegasExpert.net still remains with a few new additions.
Twitter- I will continue to tweet primarily from @salvegas24 which will not only include Vegas related content but also the musings from my daily life. For Vegas related information only, please follow @veniVidiVegas . Tweets are much more seldom from this account.
Shop for cool Vegas stuff- I am most excited about this new venture! I’ve opened a new Vegas shop utilizing Etsy.com. The first item is the official Veni. Vidi. Vegas! T-shirt “I came. I saw. I Vegased!” which is available for $19.99 or $18.99 if you don’t mind adorning venividivegas.net on your back to help promote the site.
VIMFP- I am looking forward to attending my first Vegas Internet Mafia Family Picnic http://www.vegastripping.com/picnic/ in two weeks. Knowing that so many other Vegas enthusiasts will be gathering to celebrate their love of Vegas, share their experiences and network is part of the reason I wanted to make some changes.
Thanks- I would be remiss if I didn’t thank some people that humored my obsession and helped me develop this concept. Thank you to my friends, colleagues, brain trust, or “Rizza’s 11-7.”
The Professional- Ray Bendici, an accomplished author, editor and blogger (http://www.damnedct.com/.
The Professor- Andrew Marvin, an incredibly intelligent professor, writer and blogger (http://andrewmarvin.net/ ) .
The Realist- Chris Piscitelli, a realistic and grounded professional, caterer and owner of Grill 145. (http://grill145.com/Home_Page.html )
The Ideas Guy- Eric LaCharity, a talented graphic designer and creative mastermind.
The Better Half- Anne Rizza, the best school teacher and composition professor in the world. She’s also married to this guy who is obsessed with Vegas and not only humors his obsession but supports his frequent trips and daily Vegas ramblings. She is an awesome wife, fellow Vegas enthusiast, friend and my official partner in Vegas and in life.
Athletes, actors, performers and teachers all have rituals that they have before big games, performances or major lessons. So do Vegas geeks like myself. I’m pretty sure that many of us all have our own ways to mentally, financially, strategically and spiritually prepare for the next trip to the “motherland.” Some of our ritualistic behavior may have to do with superstition, habit or just the act of getting as amped up as possible to fully enjoy the greatest place on the planet. In The Vegas Pre-Game Series, I will share the ways I prepare for my Vegas vacations. This series will be in no particular order or sequence. While some of the pre-game series will be absolutely ridiculous (like listening to Las Vegas radio stations for weeks before the trip) some will be practical advice (like researching where conventions/conferences will be in Vegas to avoid long waits at restaurants). I hope this series offers a bit of entertainment and advice and helps you find your own pre-game ritual.
Happy Vegas-ing!
Vegas Viewing: The Top Five Movies You MUST Watch Before Vegas!
I’m a sucker for any movie or TV show that even mentions Las Vegas. Whether it is a shot of the strip (Oceans 11), scene in a casino (Swingers) or Vegas related antics (The Hangover) watching a few Vegas themed flicks is a great way to get into the spirit. Below, I’ve listed the top five movies to watch before your trip. As a film buff, I’ll be the first to say that the movies below are NOT the best quality films about Vegas but movies that will help you get in the right mindset regardless of what type of Vegas trip you’re going on.
5. Casino- Arguably the best film ever made about or featuring Las Vegas, Casino (1995), directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring dynamic performances by Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci, is not-so loosely based on real life gangsters Frank Rosenthal and Anthony Spilotro. This outstanding film offers an inside look of the era when organized crime ruled Las Vegas and some of the principle players and stories associated with that time period. The reason I like this film is that it highlights some of the events immediately preceding the mega resort era of the very late 80’s and 90’s. Watch this film before the others if possible! (Accompany viewing of this film by reading the book Super Casino, if possible and/or reading a little bit about the history of Las Vegas- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Las_Vegas#1970-Late_2000s:_explosive_growth ) (Vegas sites featured- The Riviera Hotel and Casino)
4. National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation- I believe that prior to every trip my wife and I have taken to Las Vegas, we’ve watched Clark Griswold and his family be seduced by the sins of Sin City. Initially, I think it was just coincidence and then we started making a habit of it and now we watch it the week we are leaving. As much as this isn’t a great movie, it is absolutely enjoyable. The movie is a bit dated and Vegas has changed a LOT since 1997 but Clark’s Black Jack scenes, the music and the feel of the entire movie are still pretty relevant. I specifically recommend watching this if you plan on visiting the Hoover Dam. (Vegas sites featured- The Mirage, The Hoover Dam)
3. Swingers- The entire extent of Vegas in this 1996 indie hit lasts maybe 15 minutes as Trent (Vince Vaughn) and Mike (Jon Favreau) take an impromptu overnight trip to “Vegas, baby!” But within their brief foray into Vegas and throughout the rest of the film, this movie lives, breathes and screams Vegas. Some great Vegas quotes from “Vegas, baby, Vegas” “they’re gonna give Daddy the Rainman suite,” and “we’re gonna be up five hundy by midnight” all come from Swingers. I specifically recommend watching Swingers with your buddies if you’re taking a guy trip to Vegas and I dare you not to say, “you’re so money,” while you’re walking the strip.
2. The Hangover- In 2009 when this incredibly popular comedy debuted, myself and a group of very fun and spirited guys and gals planned a trip to Vegas. A few weeks before our trip, most of us went to watch The Hangover together in the theatre and it set the tone for our trip. While none of us were kidnapped, drugged or married a stripper while we were in Vegas, we definitely had a few very fun and memorable (for most of us) nights. The Hangover does the best job of showcasing the “night out” in Vegas. And although it is a completely ludicrous plot, it isn’t as farfetched as you may think. Additionally, The Hangover also does a great job featuring some of Vegas’ celebrities, performers and socialites. As you walk the strip, you will find numerous characters from The Hangover hanging out with Batman, Superman, Homer Simpson and other superheroes, cartoon and movie characters. And yes, it is a lot of fun to go up to the front desk at Caesars and ask if “the real Caesar lived here.” I did it and the staff member I spoke to didn’t seemed pleased. (Vegas sites featured- Caesars Palace)
1. Oceans 11 AND Oceans 13– If you’re going to watch just one movie, I’d recommend Oceans 11 and I would watch it as close to your trip as possible. If you can fit two movies in, add Oceans 13 or The Hangover depending on what you’re in the mood for. The Oceans movies do the best job of capturing the casinos, strip and feel of Vegas. While the other movies may get you all hyped for the partying and gambling, these movies do the best job with making Las Vegas another character in the film. The film’s director, the incredibly talented Steven Soderbergh, does aparticularly great job with making the Bellagio look warm, luxurious and irresistible. Most of the shots in the movie at the Bellagio are by the Petrossian Bar located off of the main lobby. However, the layout of the lobby has changed significantly since 2001 but you still get a great sense of the Bellagio. There is something magical in the scene where all of Danny Ocean’s 11 are standing against the railing watching the Bellagio fountain show. After watching Oceans 11, you’ll be ready for the lights and action of Vegas and hoping for that one perfect hand where “you bet, and you bet big and then you take the house.” (Vegas sites featured- The Bellagio)
Conquering Vegas begins with Salvegas24. 