Las Vegas, But Classy

I know I have said it before, but this time our trip to Vegas really was a classy affair. 

Anna, Shannon and I were due for what has now become our bi-annual trip to see each other. And with flight options to warm weather locations limited out of Walla Walla, we decided to meet up in Vegas for a three day weekend getaway. We planned on good food, some shopping and a spa day. And with Shannon being pregnant and me living my best 47 year old life (because while I look a bit beat up and tired for 43, I look pretty good for 47), that is exactly what we got. No hangovers, no late night clubbing, just some really good meals, a big day of shopping, a show at the Sphere and a full day at the spa. 

Here are some ruminations on the trip. 

I love planning and enjoying a good meal. But even more, I relish the challenge of ordering the perfect meal for a group.  And Anna and Shannon were willing to humor me the entire weekend, making every meal into a shared affair. We had sushi at Catch (easy enough to share), a traditional steak dinner at Vic and Anthony’s (with a shared steak and all of the sides) and tapas at Julian Serrano (no effort required). We also had a really yummy breakfast at Bardo Brasserie (shared pastries were a must) and had our only miss meal-wise at Giada’s which I blame on too much onion juice the night before. 

We bought into the hype and saw Postcards from Earth at the Sphere. The hype is worth it. The show was incredible, difficult to explain but totally a must when in Vegas (despite the fact that the super steep seats were vertigo inducing). However for those going in the future, you really only need 15-20 minutes for the Atrium pre-show. That was about as long as it took me to get fully creeped out by the life-like robots on interactive display. 

We relaxed Saturday with spa treatments at the Aria (one of the main reasons why we stayed at the Aria was the reviews about their spa). While the treatment was nice and the amenities were luxurious, the time before and after the treatment was a bit too chaotic for my liking. Not sure if it is an Aria issue or an overall Vegas issue, but the sheer number of people at the spa, not to mention the bachelorette party hanging out in the whirlpool definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.  My 47 year old self was slightly annoyed. 

And then there was the shopping which was a bit over the top. After a year of not buying anything “new” (my New Year’s resolution for 2023 was that I wouldn’t buy new clothes but could buy vintage or used clothes) I was officially ready to open the flood gates. In addition, while I hate to admit it, I felt the need to buy myself a nice purse to add some clout to my new fancy job title. Unfortunately my $50 Michael Kors purse from Nordstrom Rack really doesn’t scream “I am good with money!” when dining with bankers. So a new purse was in order… Let’s just say, it was a successful trip shopping. And I haven’t fully given up on buying used or vintage. 

Success after shopping!

I have said it before, but need to say it again.  These women are amazing. And I am so lucky to have met them over 16 years ago in Switzerland. While we have all changed and grown so much over the years, we can still pick up right where we left off like no time has passed at all. 

"47" and Fabulous