Posts Tagged ‘Atlanta’

Sin City Specials

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 by JonathanG

I love Las Vegas!! Let me reiterate. I LOVE VEGAS!! A “theme park” for adults is just the tip of the iceberg on how great of a city it is. I know, I know. This is supposed to be a blog about Atlanta, but we do have a section on “vacation spots.”

And you don’t have to love gambling, liquor, or clubs to enjoy Vegas. Though it certainly helps. Vegas is a vacation destination for everyone - and they have everything.

My theory on why Vegas is such a great attraction: It appeals to all 5 senses.

Hear: As soon as you step off the plane, you can’t help but hear it. THe “ding, ding, ding, ding, ding” of the slot machines. You are in Vegas! And that’s just the beginning. The sounds of the dealers, more slot machines, and the pay-outs falls just short of sensory overload, but it’s just a warning of what’s to come.

Smell: Whil the sense of smell is usually associated with something negative, one can’t help but notice a different type of smell in the air. Not speaking specifically about the smoke, there is clearly something that alerts your nose as soon as you walk out of the elevator and into the lobby. Rumor has it they pump oxygen into the casino’s to keep people alert and awake. Maybe they spray a little bit of perfume too.

Touch: As Anyone who has been to Vegas can tell you, as soon as you turn in your cash money, you receive a “tower” of chips. Each token you have, is another price of admission to play. Whether dice, blackjack, or craps, you are IN the game. And there is nothing more satisfying then winning, and picking up a bigger stack than you put down. Of course, if you are into poker, then you get even moreinvolved. Touching the cards, watching your stacks of $5 chips go to $25 chips -$25 go to $100. The sense of touch is greatly hightened, and it’s that involvement that keeps at entertained. That and maybe the hot table that doesn’t want to take your money.

Sight: I know where you think I’ll be going with this one. But we’ve talked about the casino’s already. There’s more to Vegas than gambling. And if you can break from the card games or dice games for just an evening, you will find that there are plenty of shows to go see. Magicians, Mentalists, Dancing, Acrobatics. And if you really want to, yes, there are plenty of adult themed clubs to go to.

Taste: There is nothing like the restaurants that are on the strip. Yes, you can go to an “all you can eat” buffet for $45.99, but the quality of food will not be worth what you can get if you spend a little bit more. On my last trip, we went to SushiSamaba. Not knowing what to order, we allowed our waiter to decide for us. Taking into account the seafood allergy at the table, our waiter quickly brought us 3 “appetizer” plates to munch on as he prepared his choices for our dinner. Little did we know that this was a theme that would continue throughout the night. New takes on Salmon Rolls (using melted mozzarella) or Spicy Tuna, including a dab of Foi Gras on top.

I love Las Vegas, and all5 of my senses are set to overload when I go. I didn’t even scratch the surface. Every time I go, I find a new hotel to walk through, a new place to eat, an interesting game to play, or even some new method to get me to buy a touristy toy or see a new show or walk into a new club. It’s also different, and always fun!



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Atlanta Braves 2011

Monday, April 11th, 2011 by JonathanG

Image by FLC via Flickr

Is it still considered a memory if you keep experiencing it year after year? When the grass is freshly cut and the smell of a charcoal grill is in the air, you know it’s time for baseball. And there is nothing like going to your first game of the season after a long and cold winter.

Yes, it was only 5 months ago that I was last at Turner Field, but it’s like reuniting with an old friend. The excitement of another baseball season is pale compared to how it feels carrying your ticket stub and glove around the stadium taking in all the sensual, yet familiar, cues. The smell of the hot dogs, the taste of the beer, and the sights of another pennant hung inside the stadium.

And that’s only the beginning…

My favorite part about going to a game is walking into my section for the first time. It doesn’t matter where the seat is. Walking into the aisle, the sight of the field multiplies my excitement. The grass has never been greener. The bases?Never whiter. It is this magical experience that takes me back to being a little boy at my first game. Nothing was ever as big as that moment, and everything in the world melts away except for this moment - right there.

What excites you about a new baseball season?

It’s baseball season - Go Braves!!

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A weekend of wrestling

Monday, April 11th, 2011 by JonathanG
History of World Wrestling Entertainment

Image via Wikipedia

Let’s get it all out now. If you’re a wrestling fan, and you went to any of the three major events that were held in Atlanta this past weekend - or even the Wrestlemania Axxess - I want to hear about your experience.

This past weekend, Atlanta hosted World Wrestling Entertainment’s Wrestlemania XXVII. The weekend included a night of wrestling Hall of Fame inductions, Wreslemania, and the aftermath of the “superbowl of wrestling,” WWE Raw. I had the opportunity to attend the Raw event, but all I heard throughout Philips Arena was how awesome Wrestlemania XXVII was the night before.

Honestly, I didn’t grow up a wrestling fan. I know the names. Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H. I was re-introduced to the program in college and learned of the next generation of wrestlers like John Cena and The Miz. Continuing to hear about the craziness of the night before, I was excited to see some “cameo” appearances by The Rock and Stone Cold as they became involved in current story lines.

I must admit, as I am not an avid follower, I was a little confused as to w

hat was going on and what the background has been on some of the feuds. Imagine missing a few weeks of your favorite TV show and not sure how the characters reached this pivotal point in the story arch. It was hard to follow, but entertaining nonetheless.

What always intrigues me are the fans. The people who come out in their wrestling gear, clearly favoring one wrestler over another. Shouting out things that only die-hard fans understand as they stand in line over 2 hours before the doors open. Getting their early accidently (we thought the show start at 8, but it started at 9), we were able to enjoy the Taco Mac by Philips Arena. If you haven’t been - go. Just before a Hawks game, Thrashers game, or any event at Philips. Yes, it’s just a Taco Mac. But it beats waiting in line or trying to find a table at the crowded CNN center.

So come on WWE fans, tell me what you thought about last weekend.

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