TGIM!
You know things are crazy when you spend the majority of your Tuesday thinking it’s still Monday.
Maybe I should blame it on Vegas? š Nah. We had an awesome anniversary trip that was very different from our “grand” adventure last year. For one thing, there were a few more lights!
We stayed at the Luxor, which was pretty nice – the slanted rooms and elevators were cool and the only downside was that there was no Wi-Fi to be found. But that’s not really a downside while in Vegas since the room is really just a resting spot in between trips to the casino floor, right? Right!
In reality, Bobby and I barely gambled (as in, three rounds at a blackjack table) and won a grand total of $5.00. From our perspective, the real fun in Vegas was in the shows and, more importantly, the food! We kicked off our weekend with a visit to Nine Fine Irishmen in New York-New York.
This bar was amazing! The beer was great, but the music was even better. For dinner, we had the lamb stew – diced lamb with potatoes and vegetables in a traditional broth – and herb crusted goat cheese salad, which was essentially arugula with oven dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and hazelnut vinaigrette. On the side we were served fresh Irish soda bread. Unfortunately all my pictures were too dark to share, but everything was very tasty.
Here’s a sampling of the entertainment:
We spent the rest of our first night in Vegas taking in the sights of The Strip, and may or may not have capped off the evening with a couple margaritas. The next morning, we woke up bright and early to pick up tickets for a Saturday night show. We decided on Le Reve – The Dream after Nicole recommended it in my last post. We went to pick up tickets at the box office and were impressed by the lobby of the Wynn!
Real or not real?
Definitely real. Nice work, Steve Wynn.
Our next test: real or not real?
So this one isn’t real, but the Paris hotel will transport you, albeit temporarily, to a French fairytale. And what really makes it feel authentic is Mon Ami Gabi, a Fitnessista favorite that I knew Bobby and I would have to try for breakfast.
We waited a bit so that we could have a table on the patio and enjoy the fresh fall air.
I started out with an AWESOME latte while Bobby went for the freshly-squeezed orange juice.
And then we enjoyed an incredible meal. I went with the special, a beefy eggs benedict with hollandaise and hash browns. I’m not usually a beef-in-the-morning kind of girl, but I loved it.
Bobby made the better choice, though. He had what we both agree is the best French toast ever made! The blueberries…the whipped cream…the everything. Oh my goodness, if only we could recreate this exact recipe at home. I snuck more than my fair share of bites.
We left Mon Ami Gabi with happy bellies and spent the rest of the afternoon watching Northwestern football. I know…kind of lame in Vegas. But we couldn’t imagine a better way to spend our time. That is, until the Wildcats lost to Nebraska at the very end of the game. Sigh.
Good thing we had dinner reservations at Joe’s to cheer us up!
This one was a recommendation from my mom’s friend Carol, and it was another winner. I started out with a new cocktail for me: the Moscow mule, made with vodka, ginger beer and lime.
We also enjoyed this bread basket, which featured a variety of rolls and flatbreads.
The seafood at Joe’s is all flown in fresh. I started out with the stone crab bisque, which had a rich and creamy tomato base. I also had a crab cake, which was by far my favorite thing I ordered in Vegas. Everything about it was perfect and the dipping sauce was nice and spicy!
Bobby ordered a shrimp-based pasta that was also really good.
And for dessert, the team at Joe’s brought out a complimentary brownie sundae, complete with another candle for making a wish. Two wishes in one week left us feeling pretty lucky – and it’s always nice to feel lucky in Vegas.
After dinner, we made our way back to the Wynn to see Le Reve!
Overall I’d rate the show as excellent. It reminded us a lot of Cirque du Soleil but had a few interesting twists that we enjoyed. The water acrobatics were by far the most impressive (and scary)! At one point they literally drop performers from the ceiling to plunge into a seemingly shallow pool. I was holding my breath and in awe when they finally emerged. It was awesome.
Post-show, we made our way back to The Strip and wandered toward the Bellagio, which was decked out in its seasonal finest. Inside we discovered a talking oak tree and some festive fall decor.
Outside, we had the chance to watch the fountain show with Paris in the background!
Billie Jean was the song selection for our viewing that night. You can check it out below:
It was a fantastic evening and a fun anniversary weekend. I think Bobby enjoyed his first Vegas experience, too. By the time we got back to the Luxor, we realized we had walked approximately eight miles throughout the course of the day. Not quite Grand Canyon distance, but some good exercise nonetheless! Can’t wait to see what next year will bring.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, too! What were some of the highlights?
Abrazos,
Ah so fun!!! We LOVE Vegas and are actually trying to plan another trip next year. Flights are crazy expensive though. š So glad you guys enjoyed your anniversary in style. š
It’s amazing how expensive flights are these days! Hope you can find some cheap tickets and make it back. š
SO fabulous! Delicious food. My favorites are the latte and crab bisque. Glad you had a great weekend. Best part of mine? Komen run!
Awesome – thanks, Erica! š
Hey, if you won $5 total in Vegas, you came away a winner! (Which is more than a lot of people can say…) Glad the show was great – and the food too!
Agreed! And I meant to tell you that we were bummed because Blue Man Group wasn’t available when we went to the ticket booth that morning. Next time we’ll plan ahead!
Was the french toast better than the one we had when i was in chicago…omg, over two years ago!??! Hah!
I’m glad you had a good weekend in Vegas with Bobby!
Oh man – that’s a really good question! I think it’s definitely a close call. š And I can’t BELIEVE that was more than two years ago!
It looks like you guys had a really amazing time! And I hope Le Reve was a good suggestion š
I’ve tried to eat at Mon Ami Gabi in Vegas a couple times (since I’ve heard how wonderful it is!) but it’s normally pretty crowded and since we typically travel with a group, it’s impossible to get a table. I am hoping to change that my next visit š
I love all the Fall decorations – I am super excited to see the Christmas stuff out when we go in December!
Le Reve was a great suggestion – thanks again! You will definitely have to make it to Mon Ami Gabi in December. I bet it will be so cool to go at Christmastime!
what a great trip! The architecture firm I work at in Chicago design Mon Ami Gabi and Joe’s! It’s great to see people enjoying the space and food!
I’ve never been to Vegas before, your pictures look awesome!
How cool that your firm designed both restaurants! We definitely enjoyed ourselves. š Thanks, Jenn!
Looks like such a fun trip! I freakin’ love Joe’s. That crab cake looks so good I can’t even stand it.
It was pretty much perfect. I wish I had had at least three more!
Your trip looks like it was a blast! Vegas is such a fun place to visit–I haven’t been since I was in high school (I tagged along with my dad on a business trip a couple times), so I’d love to go back now that I’m a little older š
I went in high school, too, and it’s definitely a totally different ball game now! Perhaps you and Seth will have to make a newlywed visit sometime after the wedding. š
Good times in Vegas! I still remember my one “gambling” experience in Vegas… I was ten years old, staying at the MGM Grand with my family, and they had a bunch of slot machines adjacent to the lobby. I gave my Mom a dollar to play for me, and she won $4! Woohoo! I’m rich!! Then we got in trouble b/c the people watching the security cameras thought that Patrick and I – both underage by quite a few years – were standing too close to the machines… haha. Mmmm… lattes and French toast… yum. Glad you had such a good time!
That’s a great story! We got carded a couple of times while on the floor – I suppose we should take that as a compliment while it lasts, haha. š
What a wonderful celebratory weekend! It looks like you two had a lovely time. Happy Anniversary, you two!
P.S.: I am loving your “Hunger Games” reference, Jenn! š
Thank you, Karla! And I’m so glad that someone noticed the Hunger Games reference. š
Oh yes, I’m pickin’ up what you’re throwin’ down, as they say. š And it’s all awesome! Is it time for movie #2 yet?
So fun seeing your Vegas pictures. We ate at a few of the same places and loved seeing the Wynn gardents.
Vegas always looks like tons of fun – who cares about gambling when there is so much else to see and do (and eat!) there. My bf is probably going for his birthday in a few weeks. Alas, due to internship, I can’t go with him. One day I’ll get there…
Vegas is a great place for parties! If you haven’t heard, Hakkasan nightclub is opening. It is the biggest nightclub at the MGM GRAND. complex also has a fine dining restaurant. Check it out…
Vegas is a great location for partying… If you haven’t heard, Hakkasan is opening! It is the biggest nightclub at the MGM GRAND. The nightclub also has a restaurant. I found a nice video about Hakkasan nightclub here… Check it out…
Wow, thanks very much for posting this! It is gonna help when I head to the casino next time! Mind Blowing!
fantastic submit, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector
do not realize this. You must proceed your writing.
I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!