A Petaluma360 Blog

Bucket List Journey

List Worthy Experiences in Travel, Food & Adventure

Octopus on a Stick? Why not.

Monday, at 8:12 by

I like a lot of things on a stick; suckers with tootsie roll centers, the old-school creamsicles from the ice cream truck and even those little cake pops at Starbucks. However, I do draw the line at corn dogs from Hot Dog on a Stick. I could never get past watching the poor girls pump out lemonade in their corny striped outfits. I wasn't quite sure where Octopus pops would fit into my "on a stick" fetish. It could go either way. Happy hour was a necessity in Las Vegas. Not only because… Read More »

The $85 Lobster Pot Pie that I Didn’t Eat | Nobhill Tavern

Wednesday, at 7:00 by

After being dazzled by Cirque du Soleil Ka at the MGM in Las Vegas, my stomach was growling something fierce. All those acrobatics worked up an appetite. For me. Before the show, we had scoped out all the well renowned restaurants and after a short game of eenie-meenie-miney-mo, Michael Mina’s Nobhill Tavern was “it”. I instinctively clutched my purse, as I had heard they had an $85 Lobster Pot Pie. Then, I opened up my wallet to make sure I… Read More »

Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas Doesn’t Disappoint

Monday, at 7:00 by

I have been to Las Vegas a handful of times, yet have never seen a show of any kind. Nope. Not even a freebie cabaret singer or anything that remotely resembled the Thunder from Down Under. So unfortunate. This time I wasn’t leaving Sin City until I saw a show. It would be sinful. My preference would be Cirque du Soleil, but any fancy-schmancy, over-the-top one will do. Even though I scoped out numerous websites to pre-purchase tickets, there were… Read More »

I Won in Las Vegas! At the House of Blues.

Wednesday, at 7:00 by

I am one of those pseudo gamblers; spending a couple of bucks on the five cent slots, a single $10 bet on red at the roulette table or, when I am feeling extra lucky, I will drop 20 bucks at the Black Jack table. I am the epitome of a “low” roller. But, I did win BIG in Las Vegas this time! Or, at least I won something. Going to a Blues Bar is on my bucket list and I really can’t believe… Read More »

8 “People” I Met At Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas

Friday, at 7:00 by

Forget the gambling or late-night partying, when I was in Las Vegas my amusement was going to be posing with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds. Yes, that's how I roll. Party animal.  1. Jerry Springer We were greeted at the door by talk show host, Jerry Springer and I was ecstatic that he was wax. I wasn't in the mood for paternity tests, flying chairs or to hear about obscure fetishes. 2. Cameron Diaz Peter was hoping that Cameron wasn't made of wax. But, she certainly… Read More »

Chillin’ at the Minus5 Ice Bar in Las Vegas

Monday, at 7:02 by

I am always cold. It's a fact. If you are wearing a short sleeve shirt than I am wearing a sweater and if you have a sweater on then I will definitely be sporting a jacket and scarf. I couldn't even imagine what I would have to put on in order to have drinks at an ice bar, but I was sure it would be something that would make me walk like a penguin. Fitting. We were greeted at the Minus5 Ice Lounge in Las Vegas by attractive girls… Read More »

Can I live at THEhotel at Mandalay? Pretty Please.

Wednesday, at 7:02 by

I have only stayed at one other 5-star hotel before in my life, The Peninsula in Chicago, and they put chocolate on my pillow. Not the cheap kind, but the really good stuff with a high quantity of cocoa butter. The best part was that my ex-company footed the bill…score. I was dreaming of chocolate covered pillows when I decided to stay at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. I walked down the shiniest hallway towards the reception and had… Read More »

Don’t Bring Your Piggy Bank to Las Vegas

Monday, at 7:02 by

There was an instant perma-smile on my face after I confirmed traveling to Las Vegas. It was not there because I was staying at a 5-star hotel or that I would be seeing Cirque du Soleil for the frst time or even that there was a chance of meeting chef Mario Batali at his restaurant Otto. Nope. This grin came from finally being able to purge the bucketful of coins collecting at my home. Enough cabbage, I thought, to fill at least 6 childrens piggy banks.  I overloaded my change purse,… Read More »

The “Reinventing Las Vegas” Tour 2011

Friday, at 7:00 by

I have whooped it up in Las Vegas a handful of times. Translation: I have lost way too much money, danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly, partied with Rob & Big at my company Christmas party, attended a chapel wedding (not with Elvis), played pool in the Real World suite at the Palms and a few other unmentionables. But, it was time to reinvent Vegas, maybe in a more sophisticated way. Or at least sans the black jack table and upside down shots. Southwest Airlines sent me a hard-to-pass-up… Read More »