{"id":3180,"date":"2019-02-01T02:40:23","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T09:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=3180"},"modified":"2019-01-31T18:42:36","modified_gmt":"2019-02-01T01:42:36","slug":"going-gaga-in-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=3180","title":{"rendered":"GOING GAGA IN VEGAS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


I\u00a0can’t\u00a0remember\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time\u00a0we\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0Las\u00a0Vegas\u00a0just\u00a0to\u00a0play!\u00a0Past trips were for work and trade shows. When I saw Lady Gaga tickets go online I jumped on them! Marla\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0Vegas\u00a0every\u00a0summer\u00a0as a child as\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0her Dad’s sales’ territory. Harry called on clients and Joline played craps. Mar saw all the shows and met many stars from Pat Boone to Tom Jones. Ray Bolger (the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, etc) gave her younger sister, Lora, swim lessons in the Sahara pool! Years later when Marla and\u00a0<\/strong>
I saw\u00a0the\u00a0\u201cJackson\u00a0Five,\u201d\u00a0Michael\u00a0pulled\u00a0Marla\u00a0up on stage to dance as we had front\u00a0row\u00a0seats!<\/strong>\u00a0 !<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Marla,upper\u00a0right,\u00a0was\u00a012\u00a0when\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0taken\u00a0at the “Painted Desert Room” in “Wilbur Clark’s DESERT INN.” This was the era when everyone dressed to the nines! The Desert Inn (Or “DI” as the knowing called it) was eventually torn down and the Wynn resort was built.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Marla\u00a0attended\u00a0this\u00a0show as a child with her family at the “New Frontier Hotel” in 1956, courtesy of a relative who was a “Pit Boss.” 7000 people were turned away on opening weekend. Listen to this recording of Judy Garland on opening night: <\/strong>http:\/\/www.thejudyroom.com\/songs\/Lucky-Day-1956.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0try\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0hotel\u00a0for\u00a0us\u00a0so\u00a0we\u00a0booked\u00a0the\u00a0“Aria.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two\u00a0days\u00a0later\u00a0almost\u00a0every\u00a0chair\u00a0was\u00a0occupied\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0temperature\u00a0reached\u00a0a\u00a0whopping…60\u00a0degrees!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0design\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0“Aria\u00a0Hotel”\u00a0is\u00a0very\u00a0dramatic!\u00a0The\u00a0“Aria\u00a0Campus”(formerly known as “City Center”) is comprised of the Aria Resort and Casino and the Vdara Hotel & Spa. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel (formerly the Mandarin Oriental) is next door.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u00a0loved\u00a0the\u00a0creative use\u00a0of\u00a0wood columns\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Aria\u00a0Spa.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Aria\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0fascinating\u00a0artworks\u00a0spread\u00a0throughout the building. I love this work composed of undulating strips of silk.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An\u00a0art\u00a0installation\u00a0near\u00a0their\u00a0fine\u00a0dining\u00a0area.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0saw interesting buildings walking to the Park Hotel before the Lady Gaga “Enigma” performance at the Park Theater. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’m\u00a0channeling\u00a0my\u00a0“not-quite”\u00a0super\u00a0hero\u00a0pose!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0ordered\u00a0a\u00a0spritz\u00a0at\u00a0“Eataly”\u00a0before the show. Eataly has a number of exciting\u00a0Italian\u00a0eateries\u00a0and\u00a0bars.\u00a0Highly\u00a0recommended!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lady\u00a0Gaga’s\u00a0“Enigma”\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0full-blown musical & dance extravaganza and of course over-the-top!\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0truly\u00a0amazing!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All\u00a0the\u00a0Vegas\u00a0hotels\u00a0decorated\u00a0their\u00a0lobbies with colorful displays and good luck symbols for the Chinese New Year, the “Year of the Pig.” The Bellagio Hotel’s atrium was spectacular!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0loved\u00a0breakfast\u00a0at “Sadelle’s” in the previous “Cafe Bellagio” space. The decor and food are wonderful, including the best Belgian waffle on the planet!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spectacular\u00a0Bellagio\u00a0lobby\u00a0and\u00a0their famous\u00a0“Chihuly”\u00a0glass\u00a0ceiling.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0include\u00a0these\u00a0super\u00a0cute\u00a0soft\u00a0pigs!\u00a0The\u00a0Chinese\u00a0New\u00a0Year is a huge event in Las Vegas!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0dined\u00a0at\u00a0“Piero’s”,\u00a0a\u00a0Vegas\u00a0Classic\u00a0for\u00a0great\u00a0food\u00a0and\u00a0fascinating clientele! Years\u00a0ago\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0visit\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0set\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0“Godfather”\u00a0or\u00a0the\u00a0“Sopranos.”\u00a0So deliciously old school and so much fun! The image is a bit blurry and so were we when we left! Check\u00a0out\u00a0this\u00a0great\u00a0link\u00a0on\u00a0Piero’s\u00a0history:<\/strong>https:\/\/vegas.eater.com\/2015\/1\/28\/7932091\/the-inside-secrets-of-the-timeless-classic-piero-s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0“Beatles\u00a0Love”,\u00a0a\u00a0Cirque\u00a0du\u00a0Soleil”show at the Mirage Hotel was a fitting close to a fabulous trip to Vegas!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

***Next\u00a0week\u00a0I’ll\u00a0take\u00a0you\u00a0shopping\u00a0for\u00a0$1400\u00a0Christian Louboutin trainers and luxury boutique window shopping in Las Vegas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u00a0can’t\u00a0remember\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time\u00a0we\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0Las\u00a0Vegas\u00a0just\u00a0to\u00a0play!\u00a0Past trips were for work and trade shows. When I saw Lady Gaga tickets go online I jumped on them! Marla\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0Vegas\u00a0every\u00a0summer\u00a0as a child as\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0her Dad’s sales’ territory. Harry called on clients and Joline played craps. Mar saw all the shows and met many stars from Pat Boone to Tom Jones. Ray Bolger (the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, etc) gave her younger sister, Lora, swim lessons in the Sahara pool! Years later when Marla and\u00a0 I saw\u00a0the\u00a0\u201cJackson\u00a0Five,\u201d\u00a0Michael\u00a0pulled\u00a0Marla\u00a0up on stage to dance as we had front\u00a0row\u00a0seats!\u00a0 ! Marla,upper\u00a0right,\u00a0was\u00a012\u00a0when\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0taken\u00a0at the “Painted Desert Room” in “Wilbur Clark’s DESERT INN.” This was the era when everyone dressed to the nines! The Desert Inn (Or “DI” as the knowing called it) was eventually torn down and the Wynn resort was built. Marla\u00a0attended\u00a0this\u00a0show as a child with her family at the “New Frontier Hotel” in 1956, courtesy of a relative who was a “Pit Boss.” 7000 people were turned away on opening weekend. Listen to this recording of Judy Garland on opening night: http:\/\/www.thejudyroom.com\/songs\/Lucky-Day-1956.mp3 We\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0try\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0hotel\u00a0for\u00a0us\u00a0so\u00a0we\u00a0booked\u00a0the\u00a0“Aria.” Two\u00a0days\u00a0later\u00a0almost\u00a0every\u00a0chair\u00a0was\u00a0occupied\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0temperature\u00a0reached\u00a0a\u00a0whopping…60\u00a0degrees! The\u00a0design\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0“Aria\u00a0Hotel”\u00a0is\u00a0very\u00a0dramatic!\u00a0The\u00a0“Aria\u00a0Campus”(formerly known as “City Center”) is comprised of the Aria Resort and Casino and the Vdara Hotel & Spa. The Waldorf Astoria Hotel (formerly the Mandarin Oriental) is next door. I\u00a0loved\u00a0the\u00a0creative use\u00a0of\u00a0wood columns\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Aria\u00a0Spa. The\u00a0Aria\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0fascinating\u00a0artworks\u00a0spread\u00a0throughout the building. I love this work composed of undulating strips of silk.\u00a0 An\u00a0art\u00a0installation\u00a0near\u00a0their\u00a0fine\u00a0dining\u00a0area. We\u00a0saw interesting buildings walking to the Park Hotel before the Lady Gaga “Enigma” performance at the Park Theater. I’m\u00a0channeling\u00a0my\u00a0“not-quite”\u00a0super\u00a0hero\u00a0pose! We\u00a0ordered\u00a0a\u00a0spritz\u00a0at\u00a0“Eataly”\u00a0before the show. Eataly has a number of exciting\u00a0Italian\u00a0eateries\u00a0and\u00a0bars.\u00a0Highly\u00a0recommended! Lady\u00a0Gaga’s\u00a0“Enigma”\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0full-blown musical & dance extravaganza and of course over-the-top!\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0truly\u00a0amazing! All\u00a0the\u00a0Vegas\u00a0hotels\u00a0decorated\u00a0their\u00a0lobbies with colorful displays and good luck symbols for the Chinese New Year, the “Year of the Pig.” The Bellagio Hotel’s atrium was spectacular! We\u00a0loved\u00a0breakfast\u00a0at “Sadelle’s” in the previous “Cafe Bellagio” space. The decor and food are wonderful, including the best Belgian waffle on the planet!\u00a0 Spectacular\u00a0Bellagio\u00a0lobby\u00a0and\u00a0their famous\u00a0“Chihuly”\u00a0glass\u00a0ceiling. I\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0include\u00a0these\u00a0super\u00a0cute\u00a0soft\u00a0pigs!\u00a0The\u00a0Chinese\u00a0New\u00a0Year is a huge event in Las Vegas! We\u00a0dined\u00a0at\u00a0“Piero’s”,\u00a0a\u00a0Vegas\u00a0Classic\u00a0for\u00a0great\u00a0food\u00a0and\u00a0fascinating clientele! Years\u00a0ago\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0visit\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0set\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0“Godfather”\u00a0or\u00a0the\u00a0“Sopranos.”\u00a0So deliciously old school and so much fun! The image is a bit blurry and so were we when we left! Check\u00a0out\u00a0this\u00a0great\u00a0link\u00a0on\u00a0Piero’s\u00a0history:https:\/\/vegas.eater.com\/2015\/1\/28\/7932091\/the-inside-secrets-of-the-timeless-classic-piero-s The\u00a0“Beatles\u00a0Love”,\u00a0a\u00a0Cirque\u00a0du\u00a0Soleil”show at the Mirage Hotel was a fitting close to a fabulous trip to Vegas! ***Next\u00a0week\u00a0I’ll\u00a0take\u00a0you\u00a0shopping\u00a0for\u00a0$1400\u00a0Christian Louboutin trainers and luxury boutique window shopping in Las Vegas. Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[286,254,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrations","category-fine-dining","category-travel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/1-1-IMG-9607.jpg?fit=2131%2C2448&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3180"}],"version-history":[{"count":72,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3276,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3180\/revisions\/3276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}