LIVE ROCK BAND KARAOKE for Shane's Birthday
Last night we celebrated Shane Cash's birthday with some good eats at Dark Horse Tavern in the Virginia Highlands, followed by some Live Band Karaoke with Metalsome at 10 High Club just below Dark Horse.
Dinner was nice with Shane, Ashley, Matt, Ruben and Kim. It was a beautiful evening and we dined on the patio... it was a nice start to the evening. Following dinner we headed down to Ten High which was actually kind of dead at 9:30/10PM. In the process we met up with Kara, Kevin and Amanda. We thought that Karaoke started at 9:30, but I guess the lack of crowd delayed the band... or maybe we were wrong about the time! Who knows, but we were ready to get this show on the road!
The band came on around 10:30! They played a few songs to get warmed up and get the crowd going and I was shocked at how many people started piling in! Paul, Shane and Amanda were our stars for the evening! Everyone else cheered them on! All three of them had sung with Metalsome before so this wasn't their first time to the stage.
Paul was up first with Bon Jovi's 'Dead or Alive!' And he killed it! I recorded each of them on my phone... would have been nice to have the 5D and a link into the sound system, but we kept it casual with the iPhone!
Check out Paul!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwmoJi5Uolg&w=750&h=538]
Shane was right after Paul with ACDC's 'Highway to Hell'! And he knocked it out! I don't think I've ever seen Shane sing like that...
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EyvTlGqeZg&w=750&h=538]
And last of our group (for the first round) was Amanda and she did AWESOME! She was definitely the best female vocalist of the evening!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZMbR0Mfu8I&w=750&h=538]
After the first round of singers, Paul and Shane stepped up to the stage to do one more song each, and blew everyone away. These videos don't do it justice!
Either way it was a blast and you should definitely check it out! I don't sing in public myself unless I've had TOO MANY drinks! But I've heard it's an exhilarating feeling to get up and sing with the band! It's not your typical karaoke, that's for sure!
Happy Birthday Shane! Thanks for a fun evening, we really enjoyed hanging with all our friends for some LIVE ROCK BAND KARAOKE!!! What a Monday night...
Pretty Stoked!
Paul and I photographed a wedding a couple of weeks ago, and I am pretty stoked about how the pics turned out! I've done some second shooter work with him for various weddings, but this one I felt like I brought a lot more to the table!
Check out the post here!
St. Patty's Day Fun | Party ON!
So this past weekend was St. Patty's day weekend, and while we have gone to bars and traveled to places like Savannah to celebrate in the past, we decided to have our own little party! And I must say, while I have always enjoyed going out and drinking green beer with a bunch of strangers, it was a nice change from the norm, and we did it up right. Our close friends, Andrew, Desi & Tristan, and Storey came over for a festive dinner and drinks and an evening of drinking and fun!
In the spirit of St. Patty's Day, we of course had to make some Irish dishes, and what better than Corned Beef Brisket, Reubens and Cabbage in every form. Paul and I purchased two large corned beef briskets and I cooked them up in style! I was a little worried about cooking two at once, in one pot, but they turned out AMAZING! Paul prepared some amazing Reuben Sandwiches with all the fixin's - Rye Pumpernickel, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut and of course Russian Dressing. Absolutely AMAZING! Desi brought some awesome Cabbage Casserole as well as her little experiment, which turned out really good - the little cabbage, bacon, cheese puffs. That was the best way I could explain them, they were delish!
The evening continued with drinking with great friends, and I must say it was one of my favorite St. Patty's day celebrations yet, even if it was low-key! Oh and I almost forgot to mention, Chunk has his own little get together too!
Chunk's friends, Arnie, Chewie, and Eddie all came out to play for St. Patty's Day! They had a blast roaming the house and our yard, and I think all of them were quite tuckered out by the end of the night. Especially Chunk!
I couldn't finish off the evening (and post) without noting I did also make a desert with a little "green" to it! I wish I had pictures... but they were eaten up too fast! But I did get the idea from Pinterest, and they looked just like the pictures! Check it out here! I altered the recipe slightly using Ghirardelli Double Brownie Mix instead of Chocolate Cake.
It was a great evening and I truly hope all our friends had a blast!
Our Final Evening in Vegas...
After skiing we headed back to the city to prep for our last evening in Vegas. After all that we had done throughout the week, I have to say it was a pretty uneventful evening, but we had a good time, and called it a night fairly early!
We had dinner at Triple 7 Brewery in old Vegas, we were all starving and were surprised when we got to the restaurant and there a was a bit of a wait! But it was worth it as the food was great, there was a great selection from ribs, to nachos, to steak, chicken fingers and even sushi!
Kara and Paul both ordered the brewery sample platter of the various beers they have, and they weren't disappointed! But there is one that taste like coffee, and even Elaine didn't like it. But Paul drank it all... nothings goes to waste when he's around, least of all alcohol!
After dinner we decided to walk Freemont Street one last time... I was in search of a souvenir t-shirt - which I didn't find, and John was in search of the arcade he had wanted to visit all week! Along the way, we saw a guy get arrested, saw the really HUGE cowboy sign and Bass glass, and found the Heart Attack Grill where ironically a man suffered a heart attack not more than a few days earlier! Crazy huh?
We ended up finding the arcade that John had wanted to visit, but unfortunately by the time we had gotten there he wasn't up for it, and we decided to call it a night. But not before we said "Hi" to this adorable English bulldog! She was attracting the attention of all the ladies! Isn't she adorable!
Well I'm now finally caught up... and this is my last post from our trip to Vegas. It was an awesome trip, and I couldn't end this series without including one of my favorite parts (our recording of the Bellagio Fountain)! It's so fitting, cause it is "time to say goodbye..." to Vegas!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILBmNRUQWKU&w=750&h=411]
Skiing in Las Vegas!
When we planned this trip, we knew it was going to be a full week in Vegas. And honestly most people don't want to stay in Vegas for more than a few nights. I think it's either because they don't want to lose too much money, or you may just get sick of the gambling and non-stop party.
Because we were there for an entire week, we had to do other things with our time there, and what better to do than find a place to Ski! We've gotten so many comments that people didn't think it snowed at the Grand Canyon, and I have a feeling most people will be even more surprised that there is a Las Vegas Ski Resort! Yes, Vegas is in the desert, but where there are valleys there are also peaks and you are surrounded by them in Vegas!
Kara was the one the initially research and found the Las Vegas Ski Resort! She had never been skiing and thought, "why not experience it in Vegas!" It was just Kara, Kevin, Paul and myself for this trip... we got up, dressed and ready and were headed out to do a half day on the slopes. It was only about 45 minutes or so outside the main strip of Vegas, so it was a pretty easy ride. I was amazed as we were driving through the desert how the elevation started to change. We went from dry and warmer climates to cold and snowy in no time!
When we arrived, the place was pretty packed... there were a lot of snowboarders too! Kara, Kevin and I signed up for a lesson, and had stayed on the bunny slope for most of our time there. Paul got all of us started prior to our class, but once our class started he was off to the crazy fun slopes!
The class was good, Kara and I had taken a couple falls, but nothing awful. I definitely think we learned a lot in our lesson (although it was longer than any of us expected). Kevin decided before they stopped the lifts that he wanted to try one of the more challenging slopes, and said it was a lot harder up there! He said that neither Kara or I would have been happy... haha.
It was a fun day! Check out some of the pics... who would have thought you could ski in Vegas!?
After hours of Skiing and no real lunch, we were ready for some beer! The lodge was open for an hour or so after the slopes shut down and we had a blast filling up on beer and talking with some of the instructors and locals.
What a fun day!
Related articles
- The Beautiful Grand Canyon In Blue (perdueosity.com)
- An Evening True to Vegas (perdueosity.com)
An Evening True to Vegas
We got back to Vegas in the afternoon, after a very long night on I-40. When we got back, we decided to stop at a discount tickets place to buy tickets to a show. While we all would have loved to have gone to a Circ show, the ones we would have been willing to splurge on were sold out. So, the consensus was to get tickets to X Burlesque at the Flamingo. It seemed like a "Vegas" thing to do!
From there we headed back to the room to regroup before our night out! The plan was to get the classic pics in front of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign"...
...hit up the BEST buffet at the Bellagio of course! We got some more awesome pictures in the garden, but didn't think anyone would be interested in pictures of us pigging out!
Roll out of the Bellagio dinner buffet uncomfortably stuffed, stop for a glimpse of the famous Bellagio fountain before we head over to the Flamingo to check out the REAL flamingos in their garden and see an awesome Vegas show!
Unfortunately for you, there are no pics from the show (not allowed!), but you can check out the website and maybe just go next time you're in Vegas! For a burlesque show, it was pretty good! The guys enjoyed it, that's for sure!
We were absolutely beat after the show, and with a big day ahead of us and a long evening and day prior, we all decided it would be best to head back to the room! But we couldn't go back before we watched a full show of the Bellagio Fountain!
It was absolutely mesmerizing! I kind of wanted to save this video for the end of my Vegas series because of the song that played to the fountain, but decided to keep it real!
I hope you enjoy our video as much as we enjoyed it in person! Like Kara said before and during the trip, "I could watch that fountain every day of the trip!"
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILBmNRUQWKU&w=750&h=411]
If I had only seen it earlier in our trip... I would have been there every evening! So AWESOME!
I-40 West Arizona, Snow Storm: Snugglin Up in the Mini Van
We were on cloud nine after being able to experience the Grand Canyon in it's cool blue mood! Leaving the park, the snow seemed to have lightened up and we were ready to coast back to Vegas. We stopped at the first gas station outside the park (that was still open) to fill up with gas, and I couldn't resist checking out some of the beautiful indian jewelry being sold inside. We browsed for a bit and then hit the road.
Paul took the second leg of the drive since Kevin drove on the way out, and ironically as we were leaving, the snow started to fall again! It actually started to come down so hard it was kind of like Star Trek's Warp Drive, moving in warp speed the way the snow was flying at us. The snow was sticking and the ground was getting soft and slippery.
We drove about a 100 miles through the snow and it was coming down hard when we started to come up on traffic. It wasn't too bad, we had completed about a third of the trip back, but no one wants to hit traffic! After rolling on and off for a little while, traffic came to a DEAD STOP! We had limited cell coverage, but of the six of us in our Dodge Caravan, the two iPhones had the best signal! ;) hehehe
We called 511 without much luck on what all was going on, and actually stepped out a couple times to talk to some of the truck drivers (cause they have the CV radios), to see if they had any information.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUdiINTxsGc&w=750&h=411]
So apparently there was a wreck with multiple tracker trailers (one including explosives) that were blocking us from getting through. It was around 8pm by this time, and we had a long drive ahead of us. We were checking news sites online, and calling the department of transportation to see when we might be able to move. It was at least another hour or so before they told us the road was closed without any definitive open time.
We had a feeling it was going to be a LONG night! It was time to snuggle up! We were stopped in the middle of the road, engine off waiting. Paul, Kevin and I played Monopoly on my phone until the battery started to die, it seemed to be a good way to pass the time (monopoly is the never ended game, and we ironically didn't finish it before we got back to Vegas!). We had no information about when we might move, but felt it was necessary to stay up just in case a miracle happened! Paul and I were in the front, so we took turns starting and stopping the engine to heat everyone in the car every so often. With no indication that we would be getting back to Vegas any time soon, we all gave in and slept on and off through the night.
Night fell and morning came with a snowy mountain-scape and wall of trucks! We were all getting hungry although we had packed plenty of water, snacks (chips) as well as alcoholic beverages that helped pass the time! The on-board ac-dc converter would not power the blender, but snow worked well for my skinny girl margaritas! Elaine and John wanted more to eat, so they traded a pack of cigarettes with a truck driver for some fajitas, rice, and some beef and gravy! MMMMM YUM! haha People were wandering around to just get out of their cars and trucks after being cooped up all night, some were even making snow men! You gotta make the most out of such a crappy situation right??
After a while, the police drove by checking to make sure everyone had enough water, but ironically did not have any news about when we would be able to start moving. Another hour or two had passed that morning, and finally we heard over the speaker of a police car that movement would begin and we were all to return to our vehicles! We were finally moving!
We could not believe that this had happened, getting stuck on I-40 for over 16 hours!!! What are the odds... you'd think we would have a better chance of winning in Vegas than that happening right?? Obviously not! It was a once in a lifetime experience that I hope will only happen once in my lifetime!
Related articles
- The Beautiful Grand Canyon In Blue (perdueosity.com)
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The Beautiful Grand Canyon in Blue
On day four of our trip, it was time to make the 3.5 to 4 hour drive from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where you can view the canyon from the overlooks in the national park. We got up early in an effort to be sure we got there in enough time to catch the awesome views before sunset. Kara prepared and packed up snacks, we had bottled water , and some additional beverages just in case! ;)
Kevin was sweet enough to drive on the way out, so the rest of us were able to nap, take pictures and play on the computer. It was definitely a long ride, and I don't think it helped that we stopped a lot, but it's worth it to see the canyon in person!
As we arrived to the entrance of the park, snow started falling. The forecast had a 30% chance of precipitation, so we weren't surprised. We found our way to the new visitor center (another amenity that wasn't there the last time Kara had been), and were able to watch a video about the Canyon and how it came to be. It's really an amazing thing to watch and learn about. Following the video, we walked the path to the overlook, and with all the snow, it was ironically very difficult to see the canyon in it's entirety. We got a lot of pictures and although there wasn't full visibility, it was still and amazing sight!
We hadn't eaten for a while and the snow was still coming down, so we decided to check out one of the lodges in the park. Looking at the map and driving around, I was so surprised at how many people live and work there and what all they actually have accessible within the park! There is a grocery store, various restaurants and eateries, a bank and a post office. There is also a school and lots of housing for employees. It was kind of like visiting a small town in the middle of nowhere. Our friends Elaine and John talked to one of the staff members, and he said there isn't really anything within less than an hour and a half to two-hour of the park as far as activities and entertainment go. Seems crazy coming from suburbia and the city!
We went to Maswik Lodge where they had a food court with various food options. You could even buy beer there, nice huh?! The Lodge had a gift shop and there was also a front desk reservation area if you are a guest. Lunch was tasty... better than fast food, but no fine dining. They have some restaurants that are more fine dining, but we were keeping it simple.
The snow seemed to be coming down even harder after we ate! We were kind of hoping it would slow down, but as we were checking out the gift shop, we noticed it getting worse! Our initial instinct was to get in the car and hit the road, but it started to slow down and we had driven so far to get there, we decided to get out another overlook. We stopped by where they have canyon side cabins (they were so cool) with an awesome view of the canyon. Kara said she had looked into them just in case we wanted to stay in the park for a night, but they were all booked! But as we were walking along the path, we were able to catch some blue sky and were actually able to see the fog lift out of the canyon. Seeing all the way down and across the canyon was absolutely amazing and it seemed like it was fate cause we weren't going to stop, but we were absolutely glad we did!
Paul actually convinced us that we should stop back by the original overlook (by the visitor center) because as the fog started to lift, he was sure he could get some breathtaking shots of the canyon. It was getting dark, but he had his tripod and we walked back out through the trail to the original spot, he set up and you would not believe what he got! Check these beautiful photos out!
I couldn't be happier with the outcome because not only did I get to see the Grand Canyon, I got to see it in a way that many people don't! In BLUE.... When we had first gotten there, Kara and Kevin actually overheard another couple talking and one of them had said he had been to the canyon many times and it was the first time he had ever seen it in these colors. Now see them in HDR!
I know one day Paul and I will go back there... we may even go back with Kara and Kevin who were talking about doing a two-week camping/rafting adventure through the canyon, but I have a feeling that I will never again see it in that light! Absolutely amazing...
Valentine's was Quite a Ride!
Our Valentine's Day only began with the visit to the Neon Museum, and the rest of the day was super fun! I honestly can't believe how much we actually fit into the day.
When we left the sign museum we decided to head out toward Red Rock Canyon Resort where we had heard about an awesome Mexican restaurant that had some great happy hour specials. Unfortunately with it being Valentine's Day, Happy Hour wasn't what we had hoped and we changed plans and went to BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. I was actually surprised by the extensive menu and had trouble deciding what I wanted, they had everything from sandwiches, to pasta and pizza. They had some very nice beer options, and even had gluten-free meal, beer, and desert options!
After leaving BJ's we thought it would be nice to check out Red Rock Canyon. Unfortunately the park area was closed, but Paul was able to get a pretty nice shot from the road! That's definitely another spot I'd like to check out in more depth if and when we got back again.
Now it was back to Vegas we go! This was probably the most fun evening of our entire trip! We headed to the MGM Grand first, and found ourselves a Fat Tuesday's on the way into the Casino! We wanted to see the MGM Lion Habitat, but were disappointed to find that they had closed it a couple weeks prior. The Lions have been retired to a ranch outside of Vegas. Oh well, now onto New York New York! We took Molly's recommendation and rode the roller coaster in New York New York! It was pretty awesome!
After we left New York New York, we headed over to Ex Calibur where we met John and Elaine. Apparently they were pretty successful on the New York New York slots, so they were feeling good! And decided to get a pic with Sponge Bob... I bet Matthew will love to see that one!
We then decided to stop over at the Tropicana, and I was amazed by how nice this hotel was! It was very bright and clean, and I liked that. Of course, it did seem to attract the "Senior" crowd so we didn't stay long, but did get some cool pics on their bamboo wall! Look at these beautiful ladies!
By this time, it felt like we were just getting started, and it became a night of rides cause we headed over to the Stratosphere to hop on some rides there! I was surprised how nice the Stratosphere is considering it is an older hotel!
We all went to the top observation and John, Kara and I were all going to just hang out while Elaine, Kevin and Paul rode some rides. We got some cool videos of the experience. After it was said and done, I gave in and decided to ride the Big Shot Ride, and it was AWESOME! I can only somewhat compare it to Archophobia at Six Flags, but even crazier cause you are on top of a very tall building to start and then go up even higher! And it's crazy cause once you start to go up higher, you no longer see the building around you but just the city skyline around you! Insane!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QgYNheLbus&w=750&h=411]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4WJzyCd5Ww&w=750&h=411]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHydIS8HOmw&w=750&h=411]
That was me playing with a BIG slot machine! Too funny...
The night was starting to wind down a little, but was still not over cause after all those Fat Tuesday drinks and the excitement of the rides, we were ready for some food!!! We headed back to the mini van, had an exciting ride through the parking garage, and then headed to Peppermill for some huge meals! Luckily it's a 24 hour diner cause I think we hit it up around 2am and got some big breakfast meals and hearty sandwiches... I think every one of us had a doggy bag, and were ready to head back to the room to sleep off all that food!
