becominglvlocal.com

With the casting calls for pool season web reality series over and the various other Vegas based reality programming , I thought what other reality shows could be Vegas based…

 Real Reality

Foreclosure Crisis
Children in Between (Foster and Behavioral Center Children)
On the Job Hunt

         




Glam/Strip Reality 

Cirque du Soleil: Behind the scenes
House Bound: DJs-Clubs
Bike Cops: Shwing
Condos on The Strip (Someone lives in those condos!)

What do you have…???

First of all, I’ll say we were lucky enough to get in around the time we wanted calling only two hours prior for reservations on a Saturday night. Walking up to the wrong side, the club doorman walked us to the restaurant entrance. Where 1 out of 3 hostesses made eye-contact with us as the others worked, “a job.” (Hence, they were going through the motions.) After finding our reservations, we were handed a pager and told it’d be 15 minutes. Confused about waiting for reservations, we all grabbed a cocktail and sat down. Eventually, one of the expressionless hostess took us to the table, put our menus down in front of our seats, and said, “Enjoy your meal,” still without emotion. Alright, then.

The server was in high spirits and gave great energy and recommendations for everyone, but being across the way with the club music bumping and full restaurant I couldn’t hear a thing. After looking at the menu, I did not see many vegan options, unless I ordered completely off the menu or a salad, which I do/have in many places, but wanted one of Lavo’s creations. Therefore, I asked the server for vegan recommendations after some talking in circles, I knew not much would come of it. So, I ordered the Organic Mixed Green Salad with Pears and a Sherry Vinaigrette. The salad was quite good because of the pear and vinaigrette coupling. However, I hate ordering salads when I go out to eat! If I ordered a salad, the menu defeated me, in a not so positive way! However, the great wine list was a little bit of a saving grace.

On the other hand: Everyone else shared half a dozen oysters, which came with a cocktail sauce, pico de gallo or ginger-lime relish like mix, and horseradish. No complaints there! The Mr. had the Penne Seafood Alfredo. I recommended he get it with linguine instead, and of course he didn’t listen, but said the crème sauce was great and generous amount of shrimps and scallops tasted very fresh. (Unfortunately, I do not remember the other couple’s order.)

Overall, if you are vegan, my dad, who thought his stay at Wynn got a tad annoying because of the “club” music… which we all know it is not, or looking for a quiet evening I would not recommend Lavo’s dining experience. However, if you are like a lot of individuals “Striping it up “with the ability to eat any fine foods, as long as you can get past the front door "mean girls’ attitude", it is a great pre-clubbing fine-dining high energy experience for your group.

(This was my first dining experience at Lavo. Therefore, I will not give any complete review reports. We all have good days and bad!)

Due to the fact I seem to be eating more than participating in Las Vegas activities, I though it would be important to let readers know what I am looking at, in relation to restaurants without considering the food. I have over 5 years experience throughout high school and college serving, being a hostess, and a little bartending. Therefore, I’ve been around and expect certain jobs to follow what I believe to be general protocol.

I am going to go sequentially through the front of the house…

Greeter: (Sometimes a hostess job as well)

This is a must for most fine dining or casual to fine dining restaurants. I make some exceptions to very small family run restaurants with the hostess working alone, or almost alone, and casual dining. I don’t need a hello when entering a local sports bar, but I will take it.


Hostess:

For fine dining, I appreciate the chair pull out and open menus, but personally this one does not bother me much. The biggest continual hostess problem I have with them is not giving me the proper attention as a customer and directing me like cattle toward seating followed with dropping the menus and bolting.


Busser/Table Attendant: (Sometimes the job of the server)

• Full Water
• Shed the empty Plates
• Full Bread

Bartender: (May or may not stop to see)

• Smiles
• Greetings
• Name
• Listen
• Attentive (I know you can get busy! A smile and eye contact does wonders!)
• Conversation (Casual conversation when it is not busy.) 

At the table, more or less I want my drink to be made promptly and correctly.

Server:

• Smiles!
• Greeting!
• Name (Huge, irritant when you don’t tell me your name. FYI we are doing business together! Heck, I even like to know the In-and-Burger cashier’s name)
• Specials
• Recommendations food and/or drink
• Know a couple recommendation in popular dietary restrictions (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Diabetic)
• Know your wine couplings (and presentation)
• Listen, write down… have some memorization process
• Whomever drops off the plates ALWAYS ask if the table needs anything else before leaving
• Check-up after the first few bites
• Attentive to individuals drinks, plates, slowing down,
• If something goes wrong do not blame your kitchen or other employees
• Ask any after dinner drinks or desert Check/bill with prompt return of change/credit card.
• Thank your customer!

Managers:

• If something goes wrong, I expect to see you apologize to the table as well.
• Do not blame the back house or front of the house! You are the manager!
• I’d love to see you walking the floor, smiling and talking to… but not annoying the guests

 Always nice to see participating in the “floor show.”



How about you is there something you look for when going out to eat in regards to the front house staff?

My top two reason for disliking bathroom attendants seem to be a tad different from popular views, but we will start with the obvious…

5. Do you really think someone deserves a $1 for ripping off a paper towel for you to dry your hands? I understand, I tip servers to bring my food and bartenders to make my drinks, but those services take more than a 10 second flick of the wrist.

4. I know they are a huge part of keeping the bathrooms clean and for that I say, “Thank you!” And, ask the company to pay their own janitorial services.

3. The bathroom is a place of privacy. Sometimes, I might wait until everyone is out if I feel a fart coming. I am sure like a gynecologist it’s nothing they haven’t heard /seen before, but I don’t want to be that weirdo “poofing up” a storm.

Set-up for 1 and 2: Yes, girls, ladies, and women go to the bathroom to use the toilet, but after that most women fix their hair, make-up, and do wardrobe check-ups as well to make sure they look good. And, while doing that, call me cocky, but I mentally pep talk myself about looking nice. I am at a nice restaurant/club and took the time to look better than wearing a old T and pajama pants, I will reinforce it.

On the other hand, every bathroom attendant I have come into contact with looks like they have not washed their hair for days, tied it back allowing it to look either greased down or fly-away central. They wear little to no make-u. I have also had many toothless encounters.

2. Hence, it feels like there is a homeless women in the bathroom looking for handouts. Over priced water sellers stalking the Strip feel much like these tip expectant hand dryers. Yes, I am being petty and arrogant because I pity them. I hate that word and feeling, but I do. Unlike my server or bartenders, bathroom attendants do not smile much, don’t do their hair and make-up, and aren’t seen laughing with people around them. Most of all, the bathroom attendants I’ve encountered look like they hate life. This makes me think how much that job must blow, which makes me feel sorry for them, which takes that awesome night into a negative bathroom energy drain. Now what was meant to be a beauty boost has me running out the door.  

1.  I want to feel beautiful! Some girls differ on this one, but I feel prettier when I am surrounded by pretty things. At least in regards to individuals, people that tried to look nice and are enthusiastic about life. So, who should replace bathroom attendants…
In an ideal world it would be your best gay friend…

“Girl, look at your hair one more time… You happy with that? ….

That dress is amazing! It makes Pam Anderson‘s boobs jealous!”

But I think we can settle for a recording of Perez Hilton or Paris Hilton. With the push of a button after drying off my own hands I can hear, “Damn, look at that sweet thing looking at me! Let’s do our checks, hair…make-up…shoes… and…where did you get those shoes?”

Yes, the reasons I dislike bathroom attendants are a tad pretentious, but come on I am looking for a complete experience from the business and not to pity their employees.

The Mr. and I decided to stop in Aria for some tapas food at Julian Serrano, located directly to at the side of the Aria’s Hotel and Casino check-in. Depending on your personality and seat placement in the open restaurant this location can be a topic of discussion or lacking in privacy. Personally, we were enjoying the late lunch and people watching. If you don’t enjoy the mix of possible celebrity views mixed with kids doing handstands waiting for their parents to check-in, there are seemingly more private areas to sit if asked. Initially, we were greeted at the arced-pillars marking the entrance and the friendly hostess sat us down. Our bus service was attentive throughout. As well as, April, our server, was filled with smiles and suggestions for the vegan and her meat eating companion. The Mr. and I both had a glass of white and red sangria. Unusually, I prefer white, but Julian Serrano’s red sangria is amazing! Definitely, start or end your meal with a glass! I had the Escalibada, Roasted Eggplant, Red Pepper, Tomato, dish, which had a little sour after taste without the accompanied bread, but complimented the taste buds with it. I also had a Bruschetta-like garlic, tomato dish, recommended to me by April. I love Bruschetta! Therefore, this slightly more garlic tasting tomato spread, without cheese of course, was my perfect second dish. The Mr. with recommendations had three dishes: Traditional Spanish Chicken Croquetas , Tuna-Raspberry Skewer (Ahi Tuna, "Molecular" Raspberry, Wasabi), and Stuffed Dates. He would recommend ordering the Tuna-Raspberry  Skewer, which had a tantalizing mix of flavors.

The food, service, and drinks are a great fine-dining tapas addition to Las Vegas’ Strip. Though, overall I would categorize this as a mix between fine and casual dining simply because of the open atmosphere losing the control of ambience. Without a doubt, I shall return!

(No complete review as it was a first time visit.)

Local Grocers…

Everyone is all smiles and positive with greetings! Unlike, walking on a car lot or in a clothing store I don’t cringe at the seemingly fake cares of affection. No one is making commission off of me, but everyone has gained my loyalties. Of course, the less than $1 tofu and huge bars of dark Swiss chocolate I use for cooking and my chocolate fountain are big pluses as well! Additionally, the Mr. loves the pre-made fresh meals to take to work for lunch. The Midwest does not have Fresh & Easy so it was a great surprise. I can use Fresh & Easy for many of my quick special needs, but it is not exactly a full grocery store.

(Yes, yes, I know I mention it a million times, but unless you are one you don’t understand it is sometimes like living with a disability.) So as a vegan, I can say Albertson’s has a much better selection than any department grocery store: vegan cheeses, more vegan meatless choices, more organic options. Unfortunately, no matter how much I love the options and the close location even with my Albertson’s card this frugal lady does most of her general grocery shopping where she can get cheap dishwashing soap and envelopes. I do venture here for my down the street and vegan needs, but sorry Albertson’s, I’m a part time shopper.

Whole Foods Market:

Previous fan when in Iowa, but too far for me now.

For various reasons, mostly involving internet information availability and location of games and practices, I decided to put my daughter in SSGSL, Silver State Girls Soccer League Nevada. While signing my daughter up, I was told the coach would notify me in the beginning of March and to inquire if I did not hear from anyone. March comes around, I call numerous times…no answers, I email… response says they are still making teams. Another couple weeks go by as my irritation grows. Finally, I receive an email that she has been put on a team and I would be contacted shortly. Awesome! Four weeks after I was told, but at least my paperwork was not lost in a pile of could-have-beens. An additional week passes and finally yesterday afternoon, I was contacted by an automotive system via email and recorded voicemail. (After talking with some of the parents, they were not very happy with this type of communication. Mostly because they did not receive the email and the voicemail cutout. Nonetheless, my messages worked just fine and I liked having the double information notification.)

What did the voicemail/email say? Oh, that practice was pretty much in 4 hours. Wow! Nice business you’re running here. I get to practice asking some random girls if they could direct me toward the coach, whom was not there yet. When the coach arrived he had a group of unhappy parents and political “non-answer” answers to questions. In all honesty, I don’t know his role in the league. I am ass-uming he contracts for players to be on his teams ranging in age group and SSGSL hands them out. He mentioned asking for U-11 girls months ago, when the U-15 girls already started practicing, MONTHS AGO, and SSGSL said at that time they did not have any. Odd, sense you have a team put together by parents waiting for the last few months. Moreover, I learned through another mother last year she was refunded her payment 2 weeks after the season started with a simple sorry we could not find a place for your daughter.

There are so many things going wrong here in relation to general business practices! Nonetheless, my main problem is that I was faced with telling my daughter week in and out “I know soccer will start here soon!” She along with most of the other players are first timers getting 4 hours previous notice before practice begins and told their first game is Saturday is robbing them from the chance to succeed from the get-go. Additionally, for the individuals with previous engagements, who would have undoubtedly put their child’s activities as a priority of scheduling, are stuck in that little area of letting their child down. Additionally, if her couch did not petition to have a U-11 team months ago, my daughter, who has been looking forward to starting soccer all year, would have been given a SOL stamp. Oh, and any parent, especially of a young child, knows a random stranger given your enthusiastic kid a SOL stamp is means for imprisonment. (Ok, that’s a little far, but you get the point.)

I don’t know if it is all that comforting to hear the other parents mentioning after they are in one year it is not as difficult of a process afterward. While I have my daughter’s well-being in mind and will obviously prefer to have her stay with the same players a sorry excuse for a business is rewarded for having nothing but my payment in pocket and my daughter as another number! Not Impressed!

What recommendation can anyone give me on other Las Vegas soccer clubs/leagues?

IB-Oh-NoooRa's
 
Nora’s Italian Cuisine

As a local (or becoming one) the Strip takes on a whole new persona. Interestingly, its like being a voyeur of other people’s vacations. Though you are an insider per say because you know a decent amount of the place and people working it, you are an outsider to the emotions everyone’s going through most of the time. Which takes me to things that will undoubtedly be heard walking the Strip…

“WWWHHHOOOAAA! Vegas Baby!”

“ViVVVAAA Las Vegas!”

“Well, you know ’what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ !”

“You recovering?”

“I’m still drunk.”

“Who cares we’re in Vegas!”

“I can’t believe he/she did that!?”

“Did you see that chick?”

“Oh, my god! I can’t believe how much money I spent/lost last night!”

“So what are we going to do next?”

“Is that [input random celebrity]…?”

“I’m in Vegas Trick!”

*Slap Slap* of neon shirt wearing card hander outs

Vegas add on…

From time to time I feel like saying something not so Vegas specific and today is one of those times…

What does Good Friday mean any more? I remember my times at my grandparents where we said the rosary on our knees in the living room every night at 9, where my grandpa would pray in his room every morning for hours, where Good Friday was a day of fasting. Now, true Catholics who believed in those ideals are faced with the harsh realities of the evils involved in power and a facade of perfection yet again hundreds of years later. Does that take away from the meaning of Good Friday?

Personally, some of the most giving, loving, and self-driven individuals I know have no religious affiliations. When I go through hardships, I ask my family to pray for me and most of my friends to send me positive energy. Meditation is prayer like confession is reflection. I see love as love no matter where or who it is coming from.

Therefore, to those that seem betrayed or let down by the Catholic Church and those who do not associate themselves with any religion, I do believe Good Friday is a representation we should all recognize. It is a representation of us walking and talking so hard for our believes, for our rights, and simply for our existence. It is the knowledge that we will be humiliated, we will go to a point of what feels like no return, we will be low and bleeding. Life will at times seem to destroy us mentally and physically. No one is immune to the gantlet of life. Additionally, no matter how hard the pain seems to blind us. There are people walking along side not for sympathy or to save the day, but simply to let us know they will clean us when we fall.

Hence, Good Friday is a celebration of struggles. A recognition we are all in this together. We all have paths that will at the time seem like the end, but really they are the growth in becoming the beginning of everything.

Embrace!