Sunday, August 24, 2014

A Trip to the Mob Museum


If you're into American history, crime and Las Vegas (especially any combination of the three), take a few hours of your day to visit the Mob Museum, which is located in Downtown Las Vegas. It's just a couple of blocks from the Fremont Street Experience, so if you're staying in the area, it's easily accessible by foot.

I didn't expect to enjoy the museum as much as I did. I spent two hours exploring this three-story museum, and I could have easily spent three -- it's that interesting! It includes tons of photos, videos and artifacts.

Before my visit, I really didn't know much about the mob, except for what you see in movies. The museum gave me a better understanding of how it operates, the violence, and its place in Vegas and American history. Let's just say that I now believe that the mob played a role in the assignation of JFK (until another conspiracy theory convinces me otherwise).

Here are some highlights via photos:

The Mob Museum is located in the old Las Vegas court house. What's notable is that this was the venue of the Fed's investigation into mob activities.
The actual St. Valentine's Day Massacre Wall. Members of a mob family were killed at this wall in Chicago by an opposing mob family that were dressed as police officers. A video tells more about the events of the massacre.
A close up of one of the bullet holes in the wall.
The actual courtroom where federal investigators interviewed mob members. Again, a short video goes into detail of the government's attempt to investigate the mob.
An actual Tommy gun in on display, and . . . 
. . . you can actually pull the trigger!
An electric chair that was used for death sentences. The Hubz didn't come with me to the museum,
or else I would have asked him to sit in it . . . 
. . . and I would have flipped the switch! I kid! I kid! The Hubz is the best.
I thought this was fitting for the last photo to post. I chuckle that his freedom from the mob is only worth half is fortune. 
Want another perspective of the Mob Museum? Check out this review at the Left Field Wander blog.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Looking for "Feet" Relief


I don't care how comfortable your shoes are. If you're walking morning, noon and night for consecutive days, your feet are gonna hurt. After walking 22,000 steps on day one, 18,000 on day two, and 24,000 on day three, my feet were screaming for relief!

Happily, we found Feetish Spa Parlor, located on East Fremont Street. Just one block past Neonopolis on the second floor of the Emergency Arts building, it's conveniently accessible for those staying in Downtown Las Vegas. 

Owner Andrea Lipomi not only offers foot massages, but back and body massages, facials, manicures and pedicures as well. She performed magic on my (and the Hubz') aching feet, and she is also the sweetest person ever!

The Hubz and I both opted for the 30 minute Signature Feetment (60 minutes also available). The treatment started with a foot soak and bath. After, I moved to the massage table where Andrea worked on my feet with her magic hands using hot towel wraps, warm stones and a tingly foot balm, which I got to keep. I definitely dozed off during the treatment, and the Hubz reported back that he did too!

Our visit to Andrea was a spur of the moment thing -- we called about 30 minutes before our appointment time. If we had more time, we would have definitely gotten a longer treatment or come back on another day for a full body massage! 

Thanks Andrea and we'll definitely see you on our next trip to Vegas!

Feetish Spa Parlor treatment room. 

Owner Andrea Lipomi is the sweetest person ever!

Visit her website at feetishspa.com for info.


Sunday, August 10, 2014

Vegas Food Diary 2014


On this particular trip to Vegas, our eating destinations were pretty low key. No steak houses or fancy buffets. We mostly ate at "home" (the Cal), using our Vacations Hawaii food vouchers, and coffee shops or fast food places while were were out. It wasn't really planned, but we sure ate a lot of burgers. Not complaining though. They were good burgers!

Late night pizza from Piccadilly Pizza on Fremont Street. The Hubz
thought the crust was too doughy, but I thought it was good.

Country Fried Chicken for breakfast at Du-par's at Golden Gate.

Pastries and pies from Du-par's. 

Look at the size of these cinnamon rolls!

Oxtail chili cheese fries from Bachi Burger. So GOOD!

Caesar chicken salad.

Black and Green Burger -- American wagyu beef, sauteed mushrooms,
bacon, point reyes blue cheese, spinach, roasted garlic

Crusty Crab -- crab cake, mango chutney, remoulade, tomato,
avocado, crispy onion rings

Ronin Burger -- Caramelized onions, Japanese cole slaw, miso goma
dressing, fried egg, katsu BBQ, yuzu citrus aioli

My Black & Green cut in half.

Back at the Cal -- steak . . .

. . . and Oriental saimin. . .

. . . and country fried steak . . . 

. . . and a loco moco, eggs scrambled well.

Double double animal style for the Hubz and a
cheeseburger for me from In-N-Out.

Grinding in the car. So simple. So good.

We found the secret pizza place at the
Cosmopolitan. So good!

Late night noms -- chili and rice and saimin.

Like In-N-Out, Krispy Kreme is a must-eat in Vegas!

More late night snacks. Not as good as Bachi
Burger, but it will do.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries. A regular includes two
patties! I got the Little, which was still quite big!

All-you-can-eat peanuts at Five Guys.

I'm told these are the latest omiyage to bring home.
Mini bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes. 

Yummy!

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Vegas Trip Diary - 2014


Another trip to Vegas completed. The weather was scorching hot the first two days, with temperatures reaching 104 degrees. But on our second night, it cooled down to about 90, with lightning brighting up the sky. After that, it remained steady at this temperature. For a moment, I thought I was still in Hawaii.

It was a super fun trip. Here's how it unfolded. But stay tuned. More posts to come about the food we ate and the things we did!

 Fremont Street Experience show. 

Unfortunately, the daily tummy rubs did not bring me luck.


The SlotZilla zip line. I did not do this.
I debated though. Maybe next time. Maybe.

Formerly Lady Luck, Downtown Grand is the newest casino on the block.
Outside the Grand is a quaint street.
Once all the businesses moves in, it's going to be bustling!

At the end of the street is the Mob Museum.
I thought these were cool. I accumulated a lot
of change.

The Iron Man machine was very good to me the first night.
Not so much the rest of the trip. Damn you, Tony Stark!
Flowers at the Bellagio.

"Live" painting. Everything is a real plant.
This was cool.
The koi pond had a camera in it, transmitting live video to this "painting."

Birds feeding.

This will have to do until I can get to Paris.
Cascading waterfall at Wynn.

Wasn't invited to this event at the Venetian.
Venetian foliage.

This was the event I wasn't invited to.
I guess ping pong is big?
Bye-bye pirates! Retail space under construction at TI.

Floral horses at the Wynn.
Pretty arrangements at Wynn.

This is what $1 million looks like. All mine!
Pool scene at Red Rock.

Giant keyboard at the Cal.
Aria lit up at night.

At the new Poloroid Bar at Linq.  You can turn your
digital pictures into Poloroids for $1 each.
Looks like something caught our attention!

The new Linq ferris wheel.
It was shut down for a while due to lightning.

The erupting volcano at the Mirage.