Vegas Links

Thanks to Joey at Vegas Links for the nice write-up and the link here! And welcome to anyone who’s stopping by from there.

The Vampire Diaries

About three things I am absolutely positive.

First, the Vampire Diaries is like Dawson’s Creek, vampire-style.

Second, there is a part of me — and I don’t know how potent that part might be — that is addicted to this show.

And third, Ian Somerhalder can unconditionally and irrevocably act circles around the rest of the cast.

Having a Shocker

Snow Patrol

State Theater, Minneapolis, 9/10/2009

As lead singer Gary Lightbody explained during one of the night’s many sound snafus, “having a shocker” is when you have good intentions but things turn out badly. For example, you’re approaching the girl of your dreams and suddenly you forget how to speak. to him and the rest of the band, the night was “having a shocker” but I still had a lot of fun.

The show was originally scheduled for Myth, the nightclub in Maplewood, but it was moved to the State due to Myth being closed because of ownership shenanigans. We (actually Tim) had exchanged our general admission tickets and ended up in row E on the right side of the stage.

We got to the theater a little after 7:30, but decided to grab a quick drink at Hell’s Kitchen because the opening act was the Plain White T’s and I have a restraining order against “Hey There Delilah.” I heard from some people in our row that they were actually pretty good.

Side note on Hell’s Kitchen: I love it as a brunch or dinner spot, but it really isn’t my go-to bar for a quick drink anymore. This was Tim’s first visit there since it had changed over from Rossi’s, and he was not impressed. I believe the phrase he used was “hipster Applebee’s.” While their menu is much more adventurous than your average chain, the vibe is completely different from the previous space. Rossi’s was much more refined– it was dark and subdued, the servers wore white coats, and I never saw anyone under 21 there. HK is much brighter in decor, the servers wear t-shirts (or pajamas on weekends) and have many more piercings, and it has more of a family vibe. We did get some free scotch samples from a guy working for The Naked Grouse, so that was nice.

We went back to the theater and took our seats about 15 minutes before the band started. Gary’s guitar went a bit wonky and they had to switch the set around for songs that didn’t require his guitar. The band was a little rattled but they handled it well, making jokes as they tried to keep the set moving. They were very complimentary to their guitar techs and sound crew, making sure to point out that the crew was trying hard to make the show go on, when it would have been really easy to blame someone. The adversity and the band’s good attitude made the crowd pull for the band even more. I only hope they got all the kinks worked out before they opened for U2 in two days.

The set was a nice mixture of classics and songs from the new album “A Hundred Million Suns.” The set didn’t have a lot of momentum because the band had to stop songs or take long pauses between songs due to the technical difficulties, but it was still an enjoyable evening. When they were in the midst of each song, and everything worked, and there were no distractions, there were some great moments.

Bradstreet Crafthouse Restaurant

Kristen and I hadn’t met up in far too long, and we wanted to try a new venue, so we chose Bradstreet in the Graves 601 Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

There were three seating areas. One was a row of tables and booths in the restaurant area, one was around the kitchen, and one was at the bar. We chose the bar, because we wanted to learn more about the way the drinks were made.

I had heard that they take their mixology very seriously, and do they ever. They had a row of medicine droppers and vials along the back of the bar, and the vials contained specially blended bitters. The row of bottles was unlike any other I’d seen. I recognized a few familiar names (Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray), and many uncommon ones that I would soon come to love (hello, St. Germain liqueur).

I started with a Pimm’s Cup (Pimms #1, Lime, Tanqueray Gin, Mint, Cucumber, Strawberry), while Kristen opted for the Juliet & Romeo (Plymouth, Lime, Mint, Cucumber, Rose Water).  The drinks were fresh and aromatic. To drink at Bradstreet is an experience, from the way the bartenders mix the cocktails, to the visually pleasing presentation, to the unique smells and tastes of the cocktails. They have elevated mixology to an art form.

They are generous with the samples, too. One of the bartenders was creating a new drink for fall, and we tested it for him. It was delicious and whiskey-based — smoky and spicy with a creamy finish, even though there was no cream in the drink. Kristen said it tasted like the smell of the air when people are burning leaves.

For our next round, Kristen got the Black Walnut Old Fashioned (Bulleit Bourbon, Demerara Syrup, Nux Alpina Black Walnut Liqueur, House Orange Bitters), while I had the Son of a Preacher (a bunch of tasty stuff topped with absinthe). Both drinks were served in old fashioned glasses, with a giant sphere of ice in the middle. The large piece of ice serves two purposes: 1. For us to spin really fast while the bartenders finish making the rest of the drinks and 2. It melts more slowly, so it keeps the drink cool without watering it down.

For food, we had the Spicy Marcona Almonds with paprika, the crab cakes with honey fillo, and the spicy lamb sliders. Everything was delicately prepared and delicious. The almonds were a great starter and very flavorful. The crab cakes were seared to form the slightest crispy crust on the outside, and the honey fillo complemented the crab perfectly. The lamb sliders were incredible, and so were the fries and house-made ketchup.

We finished with dessert drinks. I was all set to order the Cooper’s Union (made with my new favorite St. Germain liqueur, which tastes like lychee), when the bartender stopped me and said he’d make me something else. The result was one of the most amazing drinks I’ve ever had in my life. He called it the Girls Can Tell (after an album by Spoon), and it contained strawberry, grapefruit, St. Germain, bitters, special bitters, and club soda. It was fresh and complex and herby and fruity and wonderful. And the cool thing is, if he were to make it again, it would turn out slightly different, so it was like lightning in a bottle (only much more tasty and less life-threatening).

We chatted briefly with a woman from Chicago. She ordered Amstel Lights because she had a presentation to give in the morning. We asked the bartenders if anyone ever came in and ordered rum and Coke. They said people did, but often they hear it’s the best rum and Coke the customer has ever had. They use small bottles of Coke, which tastes different (and better) than Coke from a can or gun.

The evening went far too quickly, even though we were there for five and a half hours. This is my new favorite bar and I can’t wait to return (especially if Ethan and Birk are working).

Smashburger

About a month ago, I picked up a copy of Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine’s burger issue. They had several different burger categories, but Smashburger won the “Thin Burger” category and had the highest overall score.

Smashburger opened a store in Roseville in Har Mar Mall on August 19th, and because it was only a five-minute drive from our house, Tim and I thought we’d investigate. And are we ever glad we did.

We went around 4:15, and there was no line. By the time we left, the line stretched halfway through the restaurant. We ordered at the register. They gave us our beer and a number, and we found a booth to sit in. Our food was delivered a few minutes later. I took pictures to capture the moment, then we dove in and experienced meat ecstasy.

I ordered the Smashburger 1/3 Pound Burger and Smash Fries:

Tim ordered the Twin Cities Smashburger and Smash Fries:

Things I love about Smashburger:

• The burgers are delicious. I just tried to eat my monitor as I was uploading the photos. They are juicy, but not greasy. I’m not sure what’s in the smash sauce on the 1/3 pound burger, but I want more of it. The burger is a little messy, but not enough to be bothersome, and the bun is sturdy enough to make it through most of the meal. The vegetable toppings are fresh and crisp.
• The fries are phenomenal. They are flavored with rosemary, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. I could not stop eating them even though I was slightly full from the burger.
• The booths are long, so you can fit at least three people on each side.
• The burgers come in 1/3 lb. and 1/2 lb. choices, depending on the amount of meat you want.
• The prices are very reasonable ($4.99 for a burger, $1.79 for fries, and $2.99 for beer). I’ve paid much more for burgers that weren’t half as flavorful.
• The service was friendly.
• They serve beer, and I was very pleased to see that they had Summit represented.

Things I do not love about Smashburger:

I need to increase the amount of time I’m working out because I’m going to be stopping here often. While their milkshakes did not bring me to their yard, they looked extremely tempting.

Donny Dirk’s Zombie Den

Last night, Tim called out from the other room, “Have you heard of the new zombie bar?” The Star Tribune had an article about Donny Dirk’s Zombie Den, and I eagerly devoured every word like brains. A repeating theme, in addition to zombies, was the Vegasy vibe.

I had to check this place out. As luck would have it, I had planned to get together with a couple friends at another establishment, but after e-mailing them with a list of reasons, we changed the venue (and a need for the diehard Vikings fan in our group to drown her sorrows over The Favre Incident).

I got lost on the way (note: do not confuse 2nd St NE with 2nd St N), but after a minor detour, I arrived at the bar. It was dimly lit, except when the outside door would open and occasionally splash everyone with sunshine. It smelled of fresh paint and carpet, and it looked fabulous. A mirrored disco ball pattern lined the wall, and the floor was covered in a tiger carpet pattern.

I ordered the Donny Dirk, which is like a Brandy Alexander with chocolate ($6).

I also tried a cherry champagne cocktail ($5).

The champagne cocktails come in other flavors, including peach, aromatic, and rhubarb (which I also got to sample, and it was quite refreshing).

Donny Dirk’s does not serve food (although they have a fine snack mix available in ashtray-sized portions), but you can use a red phone to order from the menu at Psycho Suzi’s nearby.

The drinks were reasonably priced and tasty. They had a huge selection of beer, wine, and liquor. One option is to mix your own beverage (for $9), and they’ll keep it on file for you. I was tempted to pull out some Diamond Lounge favorites, but not without a layer of food to absorb it first.

The service was outstanding. We sat in a booth, and our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. She reminded me (both in dress and in the high quality of service) of the waitresses at the Peppermill in Vegas.

One of my friends, who is a major zombie aficionado, suggested that they add more zombie items to the decor, like a Winchester over the bar. We did notice a glass-encased chainsaw on the way out (“break glass in case of zombie attack”), and the bartenders were dressed like Shaun of the Dead, and they had zombie movies (with boobs!) playing on the flat-screen TVs at each end of the bar.

A fun place, and I hope to visit again soon.

Vegas Trip – July 2009, Day 6

Sunday, July 20, 2009

We had breakfastes at the Augustus Cafe. I ordered the Augustus breakfast with eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, hash browns, and pancakes for $17. Pancakes are underrated. So is maple syrup, especially when it’s mixed with salty meats. Mmmmm.

I still had gambling urges, so I played Gold Fish slots until it was time to check out and won $10.

We took a cab to airport, and the cabbie was a really nice guy. He talked about the City Center development and how badly it’s needed for the Vegas economy. It’s so big it will have its own fire station. Speaking of emergencies, he also said that two people were checking out of Caesars yesterday and had to be carried away by ambulance. Crazy. From the heat. Or something.

At the airport, I made the mistake of playing the Wheel of Fortune slots. It teased me with the 1000 bonus on the wheel, but gave me 25. Bastards. I lost $10 on wheel and dwvp so I was even for the day.

I was a little cranky on the way home, as usual. The airplane had really small aisles, so I kept getting bumped by beverage carts, flight attendants, and people en route to bathroom. Luckily, there were no delays and it was a smooth flight, so we arrived exhausted but safe.

Vegas Trip – July 2009, Day 5

Sunday, July 19, 2009

While I played bonus poker at Caesars, a woman near us on the Wizard of Oz machines was freaking out. She was yelling something about going over the rainbow. I did a stealthy walk-by, and she won about $170 on a bonus round, which was exciting, but not enough to scream over. By the way she was acting, we thought she had won the whole thing.

We had breakfast at the walk-up counter at Payard. We each had a salmon, cream cheese, and chive sandwich on pretzel bread. I ordered orange juice. which was ridiculously priced at $6, but I was thirsty. Water was $5, so for an extra $1 I got additional flavor and pulp and vitamin C with my beverage.

I played a little more bonus poker. I didn’t win, but I played for a long time. If I can’t win, at least let me lose slowly.

We had coupons for two free frozen hot chocolates at Serendipity 3. They are full of win (really, see below). And chocolate. They are normally $8 each for 16 oz, but I would definitely pay for them again. The restaurant was busy, so we stopped by the window to pick them up, then we sat under the canopy outside Caesars.

It had been a few minutes since we’d gambled, so we walked back down to Planet Hollywood. I lost $20 on dwvp, then switched to bonus poker and hit the royal. Awesome.

My slot card decided to stop working, so I went to the booth to get a new one. I was rewarded with $10 in free play and two free buffets. I played Elvis slots with the free play and cashed out $15.

We had the P Ho buffet for dinner. They close down the food between 3:30 and 4 to set up for dinner. We got there at 3 and were able to finish. There was quite a run on the dessert bar. We passed on sweets, opting for liquid dessert  (chocolate martinis) at the bar upstairs and even more at the Paris Diamond Lounge.

We finally tried the infamous Merlot Martini. This has been an ongoing joke between us and Frank the server for ages, but we were pleasantly surprised at how good it was (then again, it was one of Sal’s concoctions, so we shouldn’t have been).

After bidding the Diamond Lounge a fond farewell, we went down to O’Sheas, where Tim programmed “She Bangs” to play 14 times in a row. Unfortunately the beer pong players thwarted our Ricky-roll and programmed a bunch of pseudo rap and paid more for priority status, so we only heard the song once. We have a strategy for next time, though.

We were craving meat, so we went to BLT Burger in Mirage. Tim got a burger and an adult milkshake, while I got the classic angus burger and skinny fries. Tasty.

I went to bed, but Tim stayed up to gamble more, because he had consumed several energy drinks from the minibar in the room earlier. The next morning, I caught the gambling bug and I wished I had done the same.

Vegas Trip – July 2009, Day 4

Saturday, July 18, 2009

We decided to try the breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi, and we were not disappointed. We sat outside on the patio. The keys to the MAG patio are sitting in the shade and not getting waffle prints on your legs from the chairs. Then it’s very pleasant.

I had a delicious crepe with bacon, eggs, and cheese, along with freshly squeezed orange juice.

The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed looking at Bellagio (even though the fountains weren’t going that early) and the City Center construction.

After breakfast, we headed over to P Ho for some gambling. It was a great idea, because I hit a royal on a nickel dwvp machine by the poker nook. When the machine started slowing down, I cashed out with a tidy profit and went up to the room to check out and take 50 room pictures. Video poker called again, so I played some more and cashed out even.

We rewarded ourselves for our gambling efforts by visiting the Paris Diamond lounge again.

We needed some food to break up the beverages, so we walked over to Ellis Island for their steak dinner special for $7.77. It came with beer (we chose the Hefe Weiss, which was delicious), salad, baked potato, green beans, and steak. It was a great value and well worth the walk.

We were in the mood to see another show, so we visited the Harrah’s box office. We were going to see Legends, but they were sold out. We got tickets for Human Nature at Imperial Palace, and were glad we did.

We still had plenty of time before the show, so we played the new Jaws slots at Venetian. I was confused by them, but I’m not sure if it was the slot design or my inebriated state. Venetian had some tacky holes on the outside walls where they had removed banners but didn’t replace them with anything else. I also noticed that I used to love the Venetian smell, but it was too potent for me this time.

We stopped at the Harrah’s Diamond Lounge on our way to Imperial, and had a mudslide and an interesting drink called the “Back to the future north to alaska frozen tundra purple passion mother trucker.” It contains Jack Daniels, amaretto, chambord, Southern Comfort, sweet and sour, vodka, seven, and champagne. Really potent, as expected.

We were really impressed by Human Nature in the Imperial Palace showroom. One person described it as “four white guys from Australia singing Motown,” which is accurate, but they have tremendous respect and passion for the Motown catalogue. They had a solid backing band and did great a capella work too, and they had a ton of energy. I would highly recommend the show to anyone who likes Motown. They had the whole crowd singing and dancing along.

After the show, we went to the Seahorse bar at Caesars Palace. We sipped vodka/sodas while watching chicks work the poles in the Pussycat Dolls pit.

We wanted to go somewhere secluded, because Saturday night on The Strip can be crazy town, so we decided to check out the Sin City Brewery at Flamingo. It was tucked away in the back on the way to the monorail station, so it had a few people stopping but it wasn’t crowded at all. We tried the Amber beer, the Weisse beer, and the light beer. The Weisse beer was definitely the best, but the Amber beer was very pretty.

I vaguely remember helping Tim with his new stand-up act, which mostly involved insulting me, so that wasn’t cool. Some guys from the Air Force stopped by with a falcon head from their mascot, and we all took turns posing with them.

We desperately needed some food before bedtime, so we went to the Augustus Cafe. A chicken quesadilla did the trick. We stumbled back to our room at Caesars and slept.

Vegas Trip – July 2009, Day 3

Friday, July 17, 2009

I felt a little better about our room. It had nice Gilchrist and Soames bath products, which were nicer than the normal Harrah’s soaps and shampoos. And the room was a decent size, and it was clean, and it was larger than any other Caesars room we’d had. Not saying that anything that happened during our check-in process was right, but I won’t feel salty about the room because of it.

For breakfastes, we ate at Payard in their restaurant section, just around the corner from their counter. I ordered a broccoli, tomato, and cheese quiche. It was very good, but a little on the expensive side for breakfast (around $25 per person).

We went over to Planet Hollywood to gamble. I lost a little, but I was able to play for a long time, so I felt sufficiently entertained.

We had reservations for noon at the Diamond Lounge, and we were a little thirsty, so off we went. When I was in the bathroom, the guy next to Tim said “your wife sure can drink.” They had seen us on a previous trip and had a similar thought. I told Tim he should have replied that this was our equivalent of the drinking olympics. We don’t do this at home, really. At least not every weekend.

We took a break from the beverages and played some more at Planet Ho. I found a decent video poker machine by the live poker area.

We were both fading, so we went up to our P Ho room for a brief nap before our show at 8:00. After we woke up, we watched the Luck Be a Lady fountain show as the sun was setting.

We had tickets for Peepshow on the main floor in Row W seats 126 & 127. The theatre was sparse. The section on the main floor with tables was about half full, while the theatre seats farther back was less than 1/3 full. The middle section was the only one with people, and there were still several empty rows.

If you haven’t seen Peepshow, it contains a lot of boobs. A lot. Picture as many boobs as you can, then picture some more. When I walked out, I felt a little too clothed. And then I thought every woman I saw was going to take her top off in the next five minutes, and I was wondering if I was supposed to do the same. It took a while for my brain to return to normal.

Holly Madison was a good performer as the main Bo Peep character, although it was hard to believe the beginning of the story that she was spending a Saturday night alone without a date. She didn’t have a lot to do in the show, but she basically had to stand there and look good and she did that well.

Shoshana Bean was excellent as the Peep Diva. She was a strong singer and had a great, sassy stage presence. She was the glue that held the show together, and I wish she had been on stage more often.

The show weaves a story of Bo Peep falling asleep and having really weird dreams about nursery rhymes, interspersed with scenes of the Peep Diva trying to find her a man. After a while, I found myself thinking, “Okay, we haven’t seen boobs in the last three minutes. There’s no way this song is ending without boobs.” And sure enough, someone (or several someones) would find her top too constricting and whip it off.

The most vivid scene was the Milkshake song, with ladies writhing in a vat of fake milk and pressing various parts against the glass. Ending, of course, with boobs.

There were a couple mildly disturbing scenes, when Bo Peep’s dog comes alive as a male dancer, and when a girl sang about her teddy bear (again, ending with boobs). The show culminated with Holly Madison taking center stage, and you’ll never guess what she did. (Hint: It involves her upper half.)

Me: “I close my eyes and I see boobs.”
Tim: “Now you know how I feel every day.”

After the show, we had dinner at Planet Dailies I had mac and cheese, which was incredible, even though the portion was about five times more than what I could eat.

There were tons of people in the casino waiting to get into Prive (which closed a few weeks later due to illegal activity). The foot traffic was badly set up, with people blocking the aisles with their posing. It might have made more sense to have the line upstairs because there was plenty of room up there, but I’m sure the casino hoped that a few people would be lured from the lines to gamble.