Vegas, baby! – Part IV

Slow getting up this morning… scratch that, slow getting up this afternoon. Last night was a late one. We started the evening by going over to the Rio. We had dinner at the Voodoo Lounge at the top of the hotel/casino on the 50th & 51st floors. A glass elevator on the front of the Rio takes you to the top. We had a drink before dinner in the bar where you can walk outside on the rooftop for amazing views of the city. After dinner, we went back down to the casino level to see Penn & Teller. I think I’ve seen most of their TV specials and it was great to see them live. Even when they’re showing you how a trick is done, like using clear plastic cups for a simple cup & balls trick, you’re still amazed at their slight of hand.

We were thinking about heading back up to the Voodoo Lounge after the show, but Lago wanted to go over to The House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay for their RockStar karaoke. It’s not affiliated with the TV show on CBS, but does employ the same format of singing in front of a house cover band instead of singing along to some lame recording. We had a good time, even though Lago didn’t sing. We got their too late for her to sign up.

The Queen of Karaoke was there with her date, a cardboard cutout of Elvis. Mojo Nixon was right, Elvis is everywhere! My camera-phone picts do not do justice to the crazy Queen, who pulled off her skirt during her performance. Believe me, this is something no one wanted to see! OK, well maybe that one guy in the photo below, but that's it.


We met up with a couple doctors from Lago’s hospital and another doc who had interned there, but was now practicing in New Orleans. He was a funny dude who sparked a debate over the greatest rock ‘n’ roll song ever. He swayed between Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” I liked the Stones choice, but I thought there were better Led Zep tunes than “Stairway.” I posed another Stones tune, not for its writing but for its simplicity and I think one of the greatest recordings ever, “Gimme Shelter.” That song gives me shivers every time I hear it. Look up the definition for “rock ‘n’ roll,” know what you’d find? The definition for rock ‘n’ roll, of course.


The House of Blues closed at 2 a.m. PT, so we meandered over to the casino lounge for a couple more drinks before calling it a night an hour or so later. It's not easy livin' large in sin city, but dagnabbit we're giving it one hell of a try!