Whatever Happens in Vegas….Never Happened?!

I’m a few days back from my annual pilgrimage to Sin City, traditionally the biggest, most stressful, most important, most miserable and most enjoyable business trip of the year.  It colors my life for months preceding and following it; basically, my life revolves around Las Vegas. 

I’ve long described Las Vegas as “The most awful, awful, wonderful, wonderful place on earth.”  The “awful, awful” part is evident.  The constant ding ding ding, the complete absence of any concern for the environment (all of that trucked in water and non-indigenous plant life!), the lack of exercise, family, reading, cooking, and any other activity that normally sustains me and my mental well-being, the stench of cologne and cigarette smoke and pumped in perfume a constant companion, the endless string of meetings, events, parties and impromptu get togethers that one is obliged to attend, making your way from the Platinum Pavilion back to the Design Center 320 times a day... 

The “wonderful, wonderful” part?  The people.  Walking through the Venetian on the way to the Sands, or walking down the halls of the more subdued Wynn, and knowing a good 50% of the people whose paths you cross, and genuinely liking many of those people?  That’s pretty crazy, right?  I typically get hit on all the time in Vegas (by non-industry people, of course!) whereas in New York City, nobody ever looks twice at me.  Ever.  I suspect that’s because in Vegas, I’m smiling 99% of the time, even when I don’t feel like smiling.  In New York City, I’m a scary scowler.  In Vegas, I’m hot! 

Okay, back to the business of Las Vegas, here are some highlights, as clearly as I can recall and in no particular order:

• The opening party of the Luxury by JCK Show—Outdoors, at Tao Beach, small, intimate crowd, good chat with Desiree over a bite, and me and Phyllis Bergman both in pant suits.
• Discovering my new secret hiding spot.  No, I won’t tell you where it is because then it wouldn’t be secret!  
• Lunch with Brooke, Talya and Jessica outside at the Wynn.  Yes, we probably shouldn’t have splurged, but it was so nice to get a moment of loveliness with those lovelies. 
• Bob Moeller—I was tweeting some of his nuggets of wisdom throughout the show, but this man is officially my new favorite person in the industry.  And his wife is a total hotty and super sweet as well….about his wife, “How did you land her, Bob?”  His response?  “Get ‘em drunk, get ‘em jewelry, and you’re done!” 
• WJA DIVA Gives back to D.E.F. press conference and party at LAVO on Monday night.  Everything went off without a hitch and Miss Africa was lovely.
• The launch of Wintour Watches at the Wynn Tower Suites.  Private appointments and a fabulous party that was a “must-attend” for industry big wigs (and Miss Africa!)
• Getting to know the folks at D.E.F.  Not only do they have an amazing mission and are really good people, but they make me feel closer to Russell…
• The five minutes of alone, ding, ding, ding-free time Matt Rosenheim and I had to chat on the back patio at the party for the newly established GenNext.  Me taking an offered sip out of a strangers martini glass on my way to the next event.  Thanks for that, random jewelry industry person, whoever you are! 
• The photographer LOS' doing a spectacular job shooting for us…..pricey but worth every penny.  No joke. 
• Bill Furman.  'Nuf said. 
• Having a relatively quiet moment with Ann and Yancy on Yancy’s birthday.
• Running into Eddie Griffin at the new, unofficial “late night lounge,” the Palazzo casino bar, and chumming around with him and his crew while he and Dave Bonnapart became BFFs (see below picture).  
• Crashing the dinner party of a large group sitting outside at Morel’s.  It was the first time I'd breathed real air in over 36 hours. 
• Running into Anna Martin, fresh off a plane from London, at 3am at the Grande Luxe to-go window.  I burst into tears. 
• The cocktail party at the Jewelers for Children gala.
• Lars and I having a long conversation while both wearing our "friend hats."  Such a welcome respite! 
• Getting a little lovin' from "Mama Kami" over at the AGTA Pavilion, just when I really needed it.
• David Brown telling me "Some black girl up in Harlem is going 'where's my butt?!' Michelle has it!!" 
• Dirty Vegas night at Casino Royale.  Tanya, Frank, Monica, Yancy, James, Susan, Lesego, Jordan, David, Mark and many others in attendance, Alex Alvarez and Amanda Gizzy were deeply missed.  My favorite line of that night was from Susan Killkenny to the dealer at the blackjack table, “I was just one over, I thought maybe you wouldn’t notice….”
• Getting off the strip for a quiet dinner at Raku with vegis and healthiness galore (well, relatively).  It completely revived me.
• Being around $400 UP on my way out of Vegas.  Sweeeeeet! 

And that's all that comes to mind right now!  Please remind me in the comment section if I've missed anything, and don't be mad if I come back with yet another installment of Vegas 2009 Adventures!

Comments

[Carli Blum]

I'm lovin your Vegas synopsis!!! It sounds like you had a great time... it always is with you! I wish I could say I wish I went, but I can't... that perfume smell still haunts me! However, I did miss my jewelry buddies! I'll be there next year.

P.S. Those New Yorkers are nuts... you're always a hottie, wherever you go! HBB fo sho! (HBB = Hottie Boom Body)

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