The very best of 2022.
Read MoreTrip To Las Vegas
Back in September, I took my third trip to Las Vegas and I’m finally recapping it now, forgive the lateness. The first time I went was when I was 21 and it was beyond depressing, the second time I went I did way more things that I wanted to do (and wrote about that time over here) and this time was even better.
Also, Baby Dog went to the west coast! If that doesn’t seem insane to you, well, it should. She’s a tiny little dog who was abandoned and now she’s strutting through casinos - a success story for the ages. Nathan was doing shows at the Rio for the week, so we made a trip out of it. Tip: a week in Vegas feels like a month, the ideal time to stay is 3-4 days max. Highlights below!
I went to The Sahara to have dinner at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés. I got the patatas bravas, the spanish meatballs and the cotton candy fois gras. Everything was delicious and perfect. I. love that man’s food. Later that night I headed to The Palms to get a drink at Ghost Bar on the 55th floor. And yeah, the view is nice but it wasn’t anything too special.
The next day we went to see David Copperfield (who was wonderful) and then I went to see Nathan’s show at the Cellar, which was great. And then we played some KISS mini-golf inside the Rio, which you definitely should do if you’re anywhere near the Rio.
I also got to eat at Martha Stewart’s new restaurant The Bedford, which was good but definitely overhyped. Of course my expectations were high because 1) I love her and 2) she’s never opened a restaurant before. The servers are extremely well trained (which is wonderful, I love this detail) they have even been taught to say “cheers” in Polish. The attention to detail on the decor of the individual tables as well as the entire space is perfection, even the temperature was just right. However, there had to be cons. All burgers should have round buns, what reason is there to mess with that simple fact? The smashed potato (which is smashed table-side) is an incredibly stupid idea and almost seems like a joke on the white people who would actually enjoy it. Small side orders of sauces should absolutely never cost $9, that’s ludicrous. The fries were wildly overcooked in overused oil (how does one mess up french fries?) and the prices, sure, they were outrageous but that fact tracks since it’s in Las Vegas. The homemade mustard was really tasty (maybe because you never come across homemade?) and her béarnaise sauce was perfect. The oysters Rockefeller were good, if only a little bit chilly. All in all, it was an experience. One that I’ll happily never have to have again. (The Times has a great piece on it, if you care about all things Martha.)
The real highlight of the trip was going to The Neon Museum, which features signs from old casinos and other famous Las Vegas businesses displayed outdoors. I took the nighttime tour and I promise you - this is the tour to take. Almost all of the signs were lit up in all their glory and it was incredible to see. I talked about it in way more length on this Instagram highlight reel.
Some things I would maybe want to do on my next visit:
Eat at Capriotti’s and get The Bobbie again (it’s a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich that will melt your brain, it’s so good)
Find the art-o-mat (takes $5 bills) at The Cosmopolitan
Brunch at Eggslut
Eat at Giada’s at The Cromwell
Find Wayne Newton’s star on the walk of fame outside The Paris
Get the steak frites at Mon Ami Gabi (or white chocolate bread pudding)
Go to the Shelby Heritage Centre to see old cars (free)
Visit The Golden Nugget again and The Plaza (this is the inspiration behind Biff’s Tanner’s Pleasure Paradise in Back To The Future II)
Visit Red Rock Canyon (this is a MUST)
Visit a pawn shop
Also the view from the plane ride back home was breath-taking. I was glued to the window.
And a tiny small sidenote? I love that there are still thriving TCBY stands in airports across America. Goddamn, it really is the best frozen yogurt out there.
Such a great trip!
September Shenanigans 2022
Officially the latest monthly post I’ve ever done, I’m sorry! I promise it will never happen again. We’re right in the middle of autumn and everything is overwhelming, but a good kind of overwhelming. Here’s what went down in September (oh god that feels like a year ago).
You can find my favourite tweets of the month over here and here.
I finally went to visit the video rental space Kim’s Video downtown.
I made a collection of my favourite photos from the summer.
I recapped what I did off my summer list of things to do.
I wrote my autumn list of things that I intend to do this season.
I did a podcast with Nathan that can be heard over here.
I know I’ve mentioned how good Aquaphor is for ashy elbows, but I’ve also discovered that it’s incredible at healing damaged pimple areas. For instance, when you pop one and it goes so wrong. I did this recently and then put some of it right on top and it was completely healed in two days.
I’ve tried the Carbone jarred pasta sauce and it was great! It’s overpriced, so I’d only buy it on sale. And some flavours can be a little too oily, but overall it tastes great.
I finally saw Nope and I think I liked it. It’s probably my least favourite of his movies, but it was enjoyable to watch. That shoe standing upright bothered me for way too long before I looked it up and connected the idea of “bad miracles” but other than that, it was all right. Love the way that man promotes a movie.
I had dinner at Fiaschetteria Pistoia and the duck ragu was really good. It’s an aggressively tiny restaurant, but the food made it worth it.
Since it’s illegal to operate any cashless operation in New York City, if you ever see a place trying to tell you otherwise - report them! To consumers@dca.nyc.gov - I do it all the time.
Some things I watched:
The Woodstock documentary on Netflix: only three episodes, great watch. You will hate all concert promoters by the end of it.
Volcano: okay, I can finally settle this debate. It is NOT better than Dante’s Peak.
Never Have I Ever (newest season): I almost wanted to hate it (why? I’ve watched all the seasons? I can’t explain this?) but I keep loving it. I can acknowledge that younger people have every right to hate this show. The supplementary characters just keep getting better and better.
The Keaton episode of New Girl: I’ve never seen this show because it looks bad and I wouldn’t like it. That being said, I watched this one because it was a Halloween episode and I also thought there was a chance of Michael Keaton being in it. God, what a mistake. This episode only confirms what a terrible show it really is. Can we retire fat suits already?
Killing Me Softly: honestly just a wild ride of a movie. Everyone should watch it.
Hocus Pocus 2: okay, let me start this by saying that this movie isn’t for me. It’s for children. And I can respect that. I just wish that more characters from the original were in this one, that would’ve made me so much more into it. Nothing will beat the original in my mind and that’s perfectly acceptable.
So I went to Las Vegas again and I got to eat at the new Martha Stewart restaurant The Bedford. Of course my expectations were high because 1) I love her and 2) she’s never opened a restaurant before. The servers are extremely well trained (which is wonderful, I love this detail) they have even been taught to say “cheers” in Polish. The attention to detail on the decor of the individual tables as well as the entire space is perfection, even the temperature was just right. However, there had to be cons. All burgers should have round buns, what reason is there to mess with that simple fact? The smashed potato (which is smashed table-side) is an incredibly stupid idea and almost seems like a joke on the white people who would actually enjoy it. Small side orders of sauces should absolutely never cost $9, that’s ludicrous. The fries were wildly overcooked in overused oil (how does one mess up french fries?) and the prices, sure, they were outrageous but that fact tracks since it’s in Las Vegas. The homemade mustard was really tasty (maybe because you never come across homemade?) and her béarnaise sauce was perfect. The oysters Rockefeller were good, if only a little bit chilly. All in all, it was an experience. One that I’ll happily never have to have again.
I also ate at Bazaar Meat By Jose Andres in Vegas and it was spectacular. I got the cotton candy fois gras, the patatas bravas and the meatball. Love this man. Love his food.
I tried the tacos at Dirty Taco (an LA street-style taco place) in Grand Central Terminal and the duck skin tacos were only all right, but the steak ones were fantastic. The tortillas were also great. Also, maybe it’s a bad idea to have the word dirty in your name?
I made these pumpkin lasagna rollups that have the exact right amount of pumpkin in them.
Also made this blueberry buckle that tasted especially good with some maple syrup on top.
I finally went to the Manhattan location of The Alamo and this theatre is great, but impossible to find. It’s also where the new Kim’s Video is hiding.
I had brunch at Sala in Astoria and just wow. I never thought I’d have the best BLT of my life at a tapas place. Everyone needs to go.
I read the Chloe Hilliard book Fuck Your Diet: And Other Things My Thighs Tell Me and… meh. Can we all make a pact to never use the phrase eating clean ever again? The book was really very okay, I think I just wish it was more about her being a comedian and less about body stuff. It’s obviously my fault since the title really does say it all.
If you aren’t watching the Halloween episodes of Bob’s Burgers this month, you may not be cooler than I am.
Some things that I’m looking forward to doing this month: oh god, so many Halloween related activities, I can’t wait to finalize our costumes, I’m definitely going to make these pumpkin cookies again, I’d love to make garlic chicken meatballs with orzo for dinner on a rainy night, I really want to walk around Central Park with Baby Dog since all the leaves are changing and I’d really love to have next month’s roundup post written on time. Fingers crossed. Oh and here’s a link to all of the fall festivals happening around NYC right now.
If you have any interest in what went on in August, come on over here. I also have an autumn highlight reel on Instagram if you care to see what I’m up to this season.
Yours Cruelly, Elvira Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson - A Review
I’ve always loved Elvira (that should be obvious based on my entire personality), so I was elated when I found out she’d be writing a memoir. It’s as juicy and entertaining as I’d hoped it would be and so much more. This woman has had an insane life. Highlights below.
“My dad soon landed a job at Sears selling Kenmore appliances, so every shred of clothing on our backs came from Sears from then on. (Which explains why, to this day, I have no fashion sense.)” - I can’t explain why, but I absolutely love a woman saying that about herself. I don’t think it’s even true in this case, but I love hearing that she thinks that and doesn’t care. She couldn’t be cooler.
“Halloween took over as my new favorite holiday. As our ex-first lady so eloquently put it, “Who gives a fuck about Christmas?”” - hahahahahah
This isn’t really notable but Lorne Michaels was such a complete dick to her, I wonder what the story is there.
Jimmy Page and Eric Burdon are both gross, awful men for what they did to her when she was only a child. And in that same vein, Wilt Chamberlain sexually assaulted her in the most disgusting way that’s difficult to read about, but also so wildly brave of her to speak of it.
Christ, she has had so many cool things happen to her, a short list:
She was a teenage showgirl in Las Vegas
She spit in Frank Sinatra’s hat
She was in a Bond movie
She passed on casting Brad Pitt and Hilary Swank in parts before they were famous
Drank in a limo with Ray Bradbury
Been to Zsa Zsa Gabor’s Christmas parties
She mailed letters back and forth with Vincent Price
Michael Jackson said that he loved her and that she should’ve done the voiceover in Thriller
She got to shoot a scene at the original Psycho house
Elvis told her to leave Las Vegas before it was too late
Was a tour guide to Goldie Hawn
Went on a double date with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Offered coke from Liza Minnelli
Had sex with Tom Jones, Jon Voight, Robert De Niro and almost Jimi Hendrix
I’ve never read a memoir that was juicier than this one. And all that stuff aside, she’s just had this incredible, full life in show business. It’s weird that the only thing I heard about this book after it was initially released was about how she’s now in a relationship with a woman, that was always mentioned in the headline of every single review. Yes, that’s in the book (in the last two chapters) but it’s such a footnote compared to every other part of the memoir. Seems a little annoying that people would focus in on that aspect alone, since there are so many more things to focus on. Even if you’re not very familiar with her work, this is such a great read.
Your Cruelly, Elvira Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark is available over here.
Highlights of Las Vegas
It's probably a little silly to write about this trip that I took in April now, but here we are! This was my second time coming to Vegas, and I liked it a whole lot more this time around. The first time I went was when I was 21 and I found the whole place wildly depressing, especially in the day time. But this recent visit definitely changed my view point of the city as a whole. I went with Jenn for our annual birthday trip and here's what was on our agenda for the week:
- We stayed at the Bellagio and it was as gorgeous as you'd imagine it to be
- Got pizza on the first night inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel that was really, really good - and I know you're probably rolling your eyes at the fact that all pizza is good, but no really, this was the best thin slice I've ever had outside of New York City
- Lunch at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House inside the MGM Grand (the Fall River clam chowder was OUT OF THIS WORLD)
- Dinner of onion soup and dessert at Jean Georges’ Prime (which was big time overrated)
- Found the Las Vegas welcome sign (it's not that crazy long of a walk either, so everyone should do this if they're in the city)
- Lunch at Lagasse Stadium inside The Palazzo (such great service, food was sports bar food but still good!)
- Ate a Lobster Tail (the dessert, not the seafood) at Carlo’s Bake Shop in the Grand Canal Shoppes (whoa)
- Visited Old Vegas to walk along Fremont Street and gambled inside the Golden Nugget and El Cortez (which is the oldest casino in the city and "one of the only places where the slot machines use actual coins” which I think is amazing)
- Dinner at Emeril's Delmonico Steakhouse (are you seeing a theme here? Yeah, we made a note of eating at all of Emeril's restaurants and each of them were fantastic)
- Saw the volcano at The Mirage (it erupts nightly at 8pm & 9pm)
There were so many other things that we'd planned on doing but didn't have the time for such as:
- Visit the day spa at The Bellagio
- Brunch at Giada’s restaurant inside The Cromwell Hotel
- Eat at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant CUT in the Grand Canal Shoppes
- Eat at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill inside the MGM Grand, which is essentially the cheaper version of CUT
- In-N-Out Burger
- Luv It Frozen Custard for sundaes
- Rao’s for Italian food in Caesars Palace
- Try a buffet at either the Bellagio or the Cosmopolitan (brunch is $28/per person and unlimited two-hour bottomless beverage packages are available for an additional $17 and include mimosas, champagne, Bloody Marys, house red or white wine)
- Mon Ami Gabi for steak frites
- Bars That Look Gorgeous or Have Gorgeous Views: The Chandelier, Mandarin Bar, Skyfall
- Visit Red Rock Canyon (this one I really, really wanted to do)
- Luxor offers free Craps, Black Jack and Roulette lessons daily at 12pm
Next time, for sure.
Such a short, fun trip!
Spring List Revisited
This is how I feel when spring is over.
How is it already over?! It always feels like the shortest season. Did I make the most of it? LET'S SEE. Here's what I actually did off of my spring list.
1. Jog outdoors - Okay, look. I really wanted to do this one but it didn't get done. One day.
2. Go to a baseball game - Nope! Hopefully this'll still happen. I'm thinking September, probably.
3. Plan a spring break vacation - Did it! I went to Las Vegas with Jenn and then did a tiny trip to Atlantic City with Nathan. Come to think of it, I didn't even do a Vegas post, I'll try to get on that.
4. Bake a decadent spring cake - Oh yes. I attempted this Fresh Strawberry Cake and it actually came out pretty well for my Dad's birthday party.
5. See A Quiet Place - Saw it! I liked it for the most part even though some scenes were frustrating (why didn't they just give birth to that baby by the waterfall?!), but it was a fun time. And thankfully we went to see it for free because of the magic that is Gofobo (that I mentioned in a post last month).
6. Spring clean each room in the house - I really intended on doing this one, but we didn't get around to it. Maybe I'd care more about this one if we weren't just renting? In any case, that's the lie I'll tell myself. I mean, I do mop maybe once a year, that's something.
7. Take Baby Dog to Boris & Horton - Oh yeah! Totally went. Great place! The coffee was good and new dogs came in every so often and BD actually kind of seemed to like it, if nervously so.
8. Help plant something - Damnit, I really wanted to do this one and forgot.
9. Buy a new swimsuit - I tried on so many and found nothing I liked. But this one is kind of a personal win because I'm trying to only purchase clothing that I love these days, so I'm taking a half point for really trying.
10. Take a bike ride - Again, totally forgot. Whoops.
So the final total is 4.5/10, which I'm very comfortable with. Maybe only because I feel like I did so many new things in May that I'm okay with this terrible score.
Onto the most dreaded season!
“If you visit Las Vegas and DON’T see Celine Dion, you’ll regret that later in life.”