Renaissance Vegas

Real Renaissance Men are few and far between. I count my friend Joey among them.

I can’t say for sure that Joey’s shaken Sinatra’s hand, but it would come as no suprise to me … know what I mean?

So, when I polled friends to ask what we should do when we visit Vegas next week, I was hoping I’d hear from Joey. There are simply people you expect to know certain towns.

It would be unfair to keep it to myself. Without further ado, here’s Joey’s Vegas:

1. Rent a car. There are some neat things to see and so outside of the strip: Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire…
2. Eat well. Patio at Mon Ami Gabi. Amazing Japanese at Aburiya Raku. $20.13 lunch at Milo’s in the Cosmopolitan. Northern Thai at Lotus of Siam.
3. Play some low minimum craps downtown or at Bill’s Casino next to the Flamingo. If you don’t know how to play craps, find an empty table in the daytime and the dealers will teach you. It’s the game of your fathers and grandfathers. It’s what Frank and Dino would play.
4. Frankie’s Tiki Bar
5. Cocktails at the Petrossian Bar in the Bellagio.
6. Splurge on a room upgrade.
7. Day spa for the ladies while the guys bet the ponies at the sports book.
8. Absorb the Old Vegas vibe at the Riveria, the Golden Steer Steakhouse, Piero’s Italian, El Cortez downtown, Golden Gate Downtown.
9. Late night grub at the Peppermilll Coffee Shop next to the Riv.
10. Penn and Teller at the Rio.
11. If you like Asian, head to Spring Mountain Road. Probably at least a hundred chinese, korean, thai, vietnamese, japanese mom and pop joints.
12. If you miss Murphysboro’s 17th Street BBQ, it’s here under a different name: Memphis Championship BBQ.
13. Tip well. The town runs on "tokes". The extra dollar or two will make a big difference in how you are treated and in the lives of LV workers who have been hit hard by the economy.
14. Avoid the newest, hippest.

Thanks, Joey. I just added "Go to Vegas with Joey" to my bucket list.