Her Jar is a Door!

What happens in Vegas...stays in Vegas! Not quite. We recently had an opportunity to do some "shootin'" in Vegas. I'd like to tell you about it.

First of all, we had a great time. We went to celebrate my wife's sister's 65th Birthday. She wanted to see Celine Dion so we all got tickets. WOW! What a show! State of the Art Staging with "visuals" to match and enhance her spectacular "sound system". You couldn't take your eyes off of it. I tried to use my binoculars but then I would miss alot of the overall effects and the expansive choreography. It set me to dreaming about "staging" again and my minute productions back "in the day". What is it? "Young men see visions, old men dream dreams." Or is it the other way around? Anyway, the Director, Dragone, has some "Colosseum" there at Caesar's to work with. To me, from the outside it is shaped like a big "jar". He has taken the lid off the jar and given that audience a spectacular view of an "open door" with all kinds of possibilities and ways of expressing Celine's songs and dances. (hence the title of this post) ie. her band, 2 drummers, 2 keyboards, violin, accoustic guitars etc. are (at times) hidden in "see-through" stair mounds that open and close. Things fly, rise up from under the floor and appear out of nowhere. The lighting design and choreography supplement each other to the degree that they pulsate with the music and her "crystal shattering" vocals. She is very personable with the audience at times and effemeral too. The whole cast, after the bows walks out arm-in-arm to "What a Wonderful World" (L. Armstrong's) She also does a tribute to Frank Sinatra blending voices and pictures just the way Nate King and Natalie did. Go see it. You'll be awestruck too.

Another very interesting experience was our visit to the "Silverton Casino" and the "Bass Pro Shop". This was my brother-in-law's request. He wanted to pick up some fishing gear for his grandchildren. I had been there before with him last August and was quite impressed with the "taxadermy" displays. Half of the pictures above are from there. You've got your stuffed elk, bear, skunk, fish and even African animals. You've got your ammo, tackle and every possible thing you might need to hunt, fish, hike and even mountain climb. I included two stuffed people too,mountain climbers. My wife didn't want to see them or even go near them. She has some awfully scary memories of bears trying to get into our tent-cabin in the Sequoias. We gambled a bit and I found a new table game I really liked and made alot of money at. It is called "Boston 5" and is a form of poker played against the dealer. Minimum bet was only $2. but you had to put it in 5 places to collect. I just couldn't seem to lose. My only other winning instances were at two video poker games where I got four 7's and four 2's. I decided to stop while I was ahead.

We also visited the Atrium/Solarium at the Belagio. We just have to include that each trip to Vegas. Half of the picture above are from that display. Giant polar bears and reindeer made of flowers and pecan shells...not looking threatened or endangered at all. That's more my kind of "shootin' range".

We had some wonderful meals. Buffets at Paris and Bellagio are the best. Our new favorite place happened serrandipitiously. We had reservations at Spago before Celine but when we looked at the weird menu we changed our minds and went across the forum to "The Palms". Great choice! It is trying to be a "west-coast" "Sardi's" you know, with the characatures of "stars" all over the walls. (by the way, Vincent Sardi Jr. just died at 91 in New York) So we felt like stars and our waiter, Fernando Coyote, "Coyote" was quite a character himself. He and I sang the Mexican Birthday Song to my sister-in-law to bring down the house (restaurant) "Estas son las mananitas..." He got a big tip. The food was very delicious. We (both couples) split the salmon and (they) beef. We'll be going there again and look for sister restaurants in L.A. etc. We went out to Lake Las Vegas and to Monte Lagos Casino but we were not impressed at all. It was kind of dead, as in winter-dead. The casino was empty and in the "wine cellar". It was a side trip of only about 45 mins. On the way back we gambled at Mandalay Bay. Ideal place to throw money away. ie. very open, high ceilinged, spacious and the bar maids are "spectacular". I was hanging around the sports book which is close to the Mama Mia show entrance and some lady came up and offered me a free ticket to see Mama Mia (again). I was tempted but no...it is more fun to see, even a second time, with someone you love. So I went back to see my "Mama Mia" and her sister who were having the greatest time with "flaming Sevens" and "Free Merlot". Bob!