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Vegas, here I come!

It’s time for my annual trek to the Ninth Island. Where do you recommend I go?


Island Sushi & Grill in Henderson is run by Hawaii locals.

Yes, it’s time once again to escape the holidays for a week of gambling, shopping, shows, and, of course, eating in Las Vegas. Last time I was there, I did a Metromix gallery on new(ish) places that Hawaii locals like to eat, outside of the usual spots downtown.

This time, I’m going back to some of those restaurants and bakeries to see what’s new, but will try to check in to new hotspots as well. I hear Caked Las Vegas is off the hook; Studio B and Baby Cakes in the M Resort are supposed to be well worth the visit.

Since I’m going to be blogging every day on the road, I’ll also try to take in some shopping and new attractions. But not everything will be brand new — since I’m on assignment from InsideOut Hawaii and Vacations Hawaii, I do have to check out what’s going on at the Hawaii favorites in the Boyd casinos downtown. I hope to find out what the hot new games are and if there are any new menu items at the restaurants.

Kari of Retro Bakery is known for her bacon cupcakes.

While I’m there, I’ll be meeting up with friends along the way, including Nonstop’s Ed Morita (note: he’s coming to Vegas on his own!). We also hope to be tweeting up with some Las Vegas locals.

Do you have any suggestions on what to do, see, or eat? Where do you like to go when you visit the ninth island?  Any ideas on where to go for New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas? Post your suggestions here, I’m open to ideas!

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You can read all of Melissa’s blogs at www.nonstophonolulu.com/urbanmixplate. Follow Melissa on Twitter @Melissa808, on Foursquare as Melissa808, or email at Melissa@nonstophonolulu.com.

My recent blog posts:
Hawaii: In Real Life~building a gingerbread house
Tweets from the road: Marathon 2010
What’s up with the knee high socks?
I want a Bit of Sugar!
Terry’s Place and the Underground Chefs
What’s your passion?
Hawaii: In Real Life at Padovani’s Chocolates
Black Friday aftermath
Happy Thanksgiving
Introducing Hawaii: In Real Life

Recent Posts:


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JamesL 5 pts

One restaurant I always visit when I'm there is Texas de Brazil in the Town Center. Meat, meat, and more meat!! This place is SO good!!

harrycovair 77 pts

You and your gang looking for restaurants or buffets? Steak House, Cosmopolitan, Oriental, or else? nathankam already mentioned the eateries in City Center.

Just tried Vic and Anthony's, A Steak House in the Golden Nugget in November. Awesome place. Steaks were excellent and one bud enjoyed his Lobster Bisque and was thinking about ordering another bowl.

The Grotto at The Golden Nugget was okay. What I ordered wasn't exceptional but I just didn't enjoy the open wall next to the public walkway.

If everyone's tapped out there's always In N Out Burger: http://www.in-n-out.com/locations.asp Heh, you knew I was going to mention INOB someplace, somewhere, somehow.

Since this is a working trip, your blogs will help me when I'm back in LAS the week after New Year's. I need to find places off the beaten path as I don't want to stand in line at the more famous places when there's an expected 120,000 more peeps expected in LAS the same weekend.

Melissa808 268 pts

harrycovair nathankam We're looking at both. Not sure how much ground we can actually cover, but we shall see! You can also check out my previous gallery at www.tinyurl.com/mmxvegas.

mjc_808 13 pts

ed, the crablegs at the Harrah's oyster bar are split "lengthwise" so no messy fingers, meat slips right out and flavor is yummy, I still want some of that lavosh too...

jimmy 6 pts

NYE is no fun in Vegas...they lock all the doors, shut the elevators, had to walk 22 flights down and can't get into any other casinos.

Melissa808 268 pts

jimmy for real? You can only stay in one casino?

jimmy 6 pts

Melissa808 That was my experience. It was crowd control outside of the casinos after the fireworks. I'm sure if you look decent...they do selectively let people (non-guests) in at the casino doors. The strip is closed down for, practically, the whole night...so no driving around. I'd like to hear your experience this year.

Ymakalena 5 pts

Zipline at the Fremont Experience. From a 65 ft platform at Fremont and Las Vegas Blvd. Four parallel cables allow for multiple riders ensuring short lines. The ride is open daily at 2PM, closing at midnight on weekdays and 2AM on weekends. Tickets are priced at $15 before 6PM and $20 after 6PM. Special pricing available for second rides and includes a line pass. Harry and I can't wait for you to post your photos on FB.

Melissa808 268 pts

Ymakalena Thanks Miss Yvonne!!! Also I'm glad you were finally able to post on this blog! I know there's been some issues....

nathankam 40 pts

SAGE at the Aria I hear is a nice meal. I wanted to try Joel Robuchon's Atelier when I was there but didn't get to...so many good places to eat there now. Have fun!

Melissa808 268 pts

nathankam Ah!! Yes, I ate at Sage last year, it was so nice! Atelier sounds nice....ooooh so many choices...

Annoddah_Dave 82 pts

Wine gurl: Isn't Las Vegas the wedding capital of the world? Is there going to be some emotion on this trip? Or is it fuud, fuun, and buuze?

edmorita 71 pts

Annoddah_Dave I'm sure Melissa will be buuzing it up, but I don't drink when I gamble. Need a clear head to play the tables.

Melissa808 268 pts

Annoddah_Dave no emotion, but everything else! I also don't drink when I gamble, unless I'm super nervous. Then I throw back some shots.

harrycovair 77 pts

Melissa808 Annoddah_Dave One shot is all it takes. "Double my numbers. Hard 12 two ways". Ooops...

M 64 pts

Hello Melissa!
I don't gamble so I don't go Vegas very often. Japan is where I like to go and I been there more times than Vegas.

M 64 pts

Melissa808 I have tried. I rather spend my money else where.

tiabla 6 pts

I always recommend the Atomic Museum - it's fascinating and a nice break from the madness of the strip. I want to check out the Neon Museum!

edmorita 71 pts

Melissa808 tiabla wait... There's an atomic museum?

MoOgooGuypAN 20 pts

Ever been to the "Pink Taco" in Hard Rock? Yah I know it sounds kinda "punny" but the food and atmosphere is awsome. Kinda reminds me of every movie that Antonio Banderas been in.

Melissa808 268 pts

MoOgooGuypAN never have! Hmmmmmm

edmorita 71 pts

MoOgooGuypAN I love the Hard Rock! I have a coin from the grand opening.

MoOgooGuypAN 20 pts

edmorita MoOgooGuypAN Totally! Hard Rock Casino rocks! It's kinda more for single folks me thinks.

Patrick 12 pts

My feelings range from jealousy to insane jealousy. Sounds like a great trip

Melissa808 268 pts

Patrick there are 5 girls, and one Ed. You should totally go.

edmorita 71 pts

Melissa808 Patrick no, I think the girl to Ed ratio is just fine. Although, if more girls want to to come along then sure!

bettydalycity 20 pts

Be careful of certain business. A Chinese restaurant I went to in Vegas seem nice but a worker (waiter) use my credit card numbers and to charge for trip to Japan where he and his girlfriend went to Ginza and other places living it up on my credit card.

Lucky the credit card company inform me of it and ask if I went to Japan and froze the account and caught them and went to jail on it. I heard they have paid it back every month too, Crime does not pay.

Ynaku 78 pts

No worry beef curry, we be checking out your shenanigans.

808marv 107 pts

Man I just thought about it and realized that I haven't been back there in 7 years. There will be a UH-UNLV game coming up next year though, might go to that...would like to visit Sin CIty one time during the Christmas/New Year's break like you are though.

Maybe you can give this food truck in Vegas a try...they're called Fukuburger and I saw them pop up in a tweet from korean taco truck (whose owners lived in Vegas before coming back here), perhaps the korean taco truck folks can get you a hook up.. http://www.fukuburger.com/ The burgers look pretty good. Well have fun!

Melissa808 268 pts

808marv korean taco truck OK cool, thanks!

harrycovair 77 pts

Melissa808 808marv korean taco truck Also hanshiktaco

turkfontaine 202 pts

i can see it now. you and Ed busted at the tables at Sam's Town, 4hrs sleep in 3days, hung over from the hangovers, standing in the buffet line sucking down comp'd bloody mary's with wilted stalks of celery. "gimme some of the blue, some of the orange- and don't get stingy on me."

Melissa808 268 pts

turkfontaine Exactly!! I do & say ridiculous things in Vegas that I wouldn't at home. Drinking numerous vodka shots at the craps table & yelling "This one's for the stick man!" comes to mind. That I can remember.

edmorita 71 pts

Melissa808 turkfontaine Ummmm... O.o

Remember, if you get arrested, I'm not bailing you out!

mjc_808 13 pts

You must check out the brand new Cosmopolitan that opens today on the Strip. Chef Jose Andres has two restaurants there. So many choices for fine dining but back in June my friend took me to the Oyster bar at Harrah's for delicious half lb Alaskan king crab legs sliced up cooked in the shell. Yummy but what I also was thrilled at was the super Ono lavosh they serve there unlike the bland lavosh ubiquitous in Hawaii restaurants...

Melissa808 268 pts

mjc_808 ooooh thanks! I didn't know about that one. maybe I should go there for New Year's Eve?

nonstopmari 245 pts

Melissa808 mjc_808 another iron chef restaurant! garces was a hotly debated iron chef choice, partly bc neither he nor the other finalist were v strong. otoh, he seems up and coming, so maybe the food will show that he's got game.

Melissa808 268 pts

nonstopmari mjc_808 Same chef as Bazaar, which I liked!

edmorita 71 pts

Melissa808 nonstopmari mjc_808 nonstopmari Melissa808 mjc_808 I don't concider any of the chefs from American show "Iron Chefs." The Japanese show are the only true Iron Chefs to me.

As for the crab legs, I'm game, but in reality, it's harder to get the meat out of the pre cut legs than the whole ones. Oooh! Melissa, we need to go somewhere that has crab legs so I can show you how to get meat out of a crab leg. Blog post?

Melissa808 268 pts

strobie Thanks, I WILL!!!!!!!!

edmorita 71 pts

Melissa808 strobie there's room in the party bus if you's like to join us. =)

strobie 56 pts

edmorita Melissa808 Don't tease me. After 3DLV launched, it's all I think about. Next time I'm there and I'm buying the first round at Firefly downtown.

edmorita 71 pts

strobie Melissa808 I love Firefly! Their Tres Leches cake is pretty good. Come on... You know you want to come.

About Melissa Chang

Melissa has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and public relations. She is currently a freelance writer and independent marketing consultant, specializing in social media. 

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