Rancho Mirage and Vegas:
We got back late Sunday yesterday, charting an interesting route to which road-warrioring native Californians can relate, even if not to the exact sequence: 15-58-223-166-101-1. It just shows how diverse and special is our state, from desert to the edge of the tallest mountain in the Lower 48; pine to oak-shrouded hills to Pacific shore. Plus a long stretch through the most productive and diverse ag land -- and close to the most water-wasteful -- in the nation. About the only thing missing going this way is the low desert, redwood rainforest and the basin grasslands beyond the Cascades. And we missed So Cal ... on purpose.
Wednesday round at the ANA Inspiration (at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage) simply reinforced the respect I have for the LPGA Tour and its players. Except for a few gamers out there, every guy on this board who plays golf would improve by emulating these women. One of our pairings was Ai Miyazato and she is a charmer. (We finished upper-mid in the pro-am pack.)
The Strip is grungy. The construction, the buskers, the sewage stench that previously seemed to be the domain of Caesars and Imperial Palace, the homeless; it's grungy out there. And the next property that pushes out toward the street's edge with yet more cookie-cutter eats and yard-drink stands will simply be the most recent one-too-many of that ilk.
Aria is still stunning.
Friday was outfit-by-Kleenex night at Hakkasan, apparently, judging by the high-heeled masses queued up to get in. Pathetic was the pervy dudes taking cell phone videos of the ladies in line.
We had some really good Pinot -- Zotovich and Foley -- a killer right bank Bordeaux (Chateau Cheval Blanc) and a "Bordeaux" from Harlan Estates that makes some of Napa's wine cultdom make sense.
Good beer is abounding. You obviously pay six-pack pricing for a pint but most anywhere you turn you can get something other than Coors Lite or a Miller tallboy.
The drive from the Coachella Valley through the heart of the Mojave ranks up with the best drives of the region. And the deductible for a new windshield is only a single Ben!
Much speed, no tickets is a good thing.
Dinner at the Mansion ... dinner at the Mansion: that sums it up. A second go at Craftsteak in the past four months was a second success and has now negated my initial reactions to the joint some time back the first time through.
Even on "down" weekends MGM Grand still roils and boils with humanity and is close to being Douchebag Central. That place just never quits. Miss the lions but like Tap, not so high on Mina's gastropub out back. Our Exec King abode needed some TLC, something I noticed in November, too.
Golf played poorly at Shadow Creek is still good stuff. Another round played more like golf is even better. But Shadow isn't really about golf. It is the experience. And Mr. __ and Mr. __ get props for the breakfast burrito suggestion and Rhonda makes the best margarita this side of our kitchen.
What happened to the outlet in Primm? Primm still looks "same trailer, different park" but the mall was muy bootstrapped since the last visit however many years ago.
Hanging out up there with friends really brings it together.
We got back late Sunday yesterday, charting an interesting route to which road-warrioring native Californians can relate, even if not to the exact sequence: 15-58-223-166-101-1. It just shows how diverse and special is our state, from desert to the edge of the tallest mountain in the Lower 48; pine to oak-shrouded hills to Pacific shore. Plus a long stretch through the most productive and diverse ag land -- and close to the most water-wasteful -- in the nation. About the only thing missing going this way is the low desert, redwood rainforest and the basin grasslands beyond the Cascades. And we missed So Cal ... on purpose.
Wednesday round at the ANA Inspiration (at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage) simply reinforced the respect I have for the LPGA Tour and its players. Except for a few gamers out there, every guy on this board who plays golf would improve by emulating these women. One of our pairings was Ai Miyazato and she is a charmer. (We finished upper-mid in the pro-am pack.)
The Strip is grungy. The construction, the buskers, the sewage stench that previously seemed to be the domain of Caesars and Imperial Palace, the homeless; it's grungy out there. And the next property that pushes out toward the street's edge with yet more cookie-cutter eats and yard-drink stands will simply be the most recent one-too-many of that ilk.
Aria is still stunning.
Friday was outfit-by-Kleenex night at Hakkasan, apparently, judging by the high-heeled masses queued up to get in. Pathetic was the pervy dudes taking cell phone videos of the ladies in line.
We had some really good Pinot -- Zotovich and Foley -- a killer right bank Bordeaux (Chateau Cheval Blanc) and a "Bordeaux" from Harlan Estates that makes some of Napa's wine cultdom make sense.
Good beer is abounding. You obviously pay six-pack pricing for a pint but most anywhere you turn you can get something other than Coors Lite or a Miller tallboy.
The drive from the Coachella Valley through the heart of the Mojave ranks up with the best drives of the region. And the deductible for a new windshield is only a single Ben!
Much speed, no tickets is a good thing.
Dinner at the Mansion ... dinner at the Mansion: that sums it up. A second go at Craftsteak in the past four months was a second success and has now negated my initial reactions to the joint some time back the first time through.
Even on "down" weekends MGM Grand still roils and boils with humanity and is close to being Douchebag Central. That place just never quits. Miss the lions but like Tap, not so high on Mina's gastropub out back. Our Exec King abode needed some TLC, something I noticed in November, too.
Golf played poorly at Shadow Creek is still good stuff. Another round played more like golf is even better. But Shadow isn't really about golf. It is the experience. And Mr. __ and Mr. __ get props for the breakfast burrito suggestion and Rhonda makes the best margarita this side of our kitchen.
What happened to the outlet in Primm? Primm still looks "same trailer, different park" but the mall was muy bootstrapped since the last visit however many years ago.
Hanging out up there with friends really brings it together.
