My Week in Vegas

March 20, 2009

The Six Figures to Seven Workshop (41 people) and the Mentor Summit (73 people) were fabulous. The Platinum Hotel, a last-minute replacement, did a GREAT job, provided suites for everyone at $129, and catered outstanding food with gracious service. I urge anyone and everyone to consider this place for their meeting or stays. There is no casino, which makes it less frenetic, but it’s a mere five minutes from the strip.

Tonight is the Million Dollar Consulting® College Reunion cocktail reception in our suite at the Bellagio, followed by a dinner with friends, and tomorrow is the Reunion itself. Chad is managing it, and I’m not sure if we have 30 people or 50 people.

Reviews:
1. Cher: Just what you’d expect, twelve songs, 20 costume changes, all kinds of dancers and diversions to allow her to change and catch her breath. She looks great and is in fine voice. She’s in the theater that Celine Dion used (and where the dreadful FX played), which is shared with Bette Midler, whom we’re seeing in June. Somehow, though, there wasn’t that much energy in the place.

2. Zumanity: Produced by the Cirque du Soleil folks, this is a train wreck. It’s old vaudeville, with some specialty acts (women climbing ropes, contortionist, etc.), very lame sexual double entendre, audience involvement on stage, and toplessness. I fell asleep 20 yards from a nude women, which should tell you something about the show.

3. Yellowtail: An outstanding Bellagio sushi restaurant with dark, exciting ambiance, and both a formal dining room and lounge/bar. Wonderful cold saki, original rolls, and very fresh fish. The chef wouldn’t give me my quail eggs on the tobiko and ikura because he didn’t feel they were of sufficient quality. Great service.

4. Rao’s: In Caesar’s, this is a tough ticket in New York but a huge place here. Fine Italian food, but somewhat over-rated. Our service here was utilitarian, but not gracious. The outdoor tables overlook the pool and are quite pleasant.

5. Spago: Wolfgang Puck’s famous eatery, also in Caesar’s, with very innovative food and a wonderful half-bottle wine list. Very open air, I prefer to sit well inside and not alongside the people wandering through the casino, many of whom don’t add to the aesthetics of fine dining. The maitre d’ said, “Take any seat you like.” That’s both a sign of wonderful hospitality and the slowness of business here.

6. Michael Mina: We got back to the Bellagio after the cocktail party I hosted at The Platinum, and asked our concierge for a dining recommendation in the hotel. You get to Michael Mina by walking through The Conservatory, an oasis of quiet, flowers, flowing water, and butterflies (yes, huge butterflies). Once inside, we had a novel, encrusted Dover sole that was spectacular. After my martini, the captain asked if I’d like a glass of wine. “I would usually order a Montrechet by the bottle, do you have anything close?” I asked. “We serve Montrechet by the glass,” he informed me. Walking in late, with a reservation from 20 minutes earlier, we were nonetheless seated overlooking the lighted pools. Go there.

7. Gallaghers: A chain which we chose because it’s in New York New York, right across from the Zumanity theater, it helped to salvage the night. Outstanding cowboy steak (bone-in rib eye) with real New York service: They care, they just don’t want you to know it.

Business is clearly down in Vegas, but the place is still crowded and pulsating. I’m off for a massage to prepare for the cocktail party of unknown number tonight!