Tag Archives: Las Vegas

HAPPY HOLIDAYS IN SIN CITY

Posted on 2013/01/14 | Leave a comment

Loving Husband

I’m playing catch up and getting around to blogging about spending Christmas at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. It was spectacular. We arrived to a very busy Valet on Sunday the 23rd and got checked in rather quickly. We’ve always been welcomed in VIP but the lines were so swift we enjoyed the leisure of the open lobby and the people-watching Sin City always promises. After a fabulous upgrade, we arrived to our incredible suite facing the Bellagio Fountains and felt complete bliss. We were home.

Ice Rink Cosmopolitan

I called down to the Bell Desk and asked for our bags while Jacques opened up the curtains and sliding doors. Man, I love this place. Deciding to wing it for dinner until we arrived, Jacques and I walked the resort and found our dinner plans for the weekend before having a glass of wine at the Chandelier Bar. Later that evening we had made plans to see my stunning girlfriend Amber in Fantasy at Luxor. She was fierce. Girl danced twirling circles around that grand stage. Lead singer Lorena Peril has quite the voice and carried the show like a true professional. We were so happy we attended. Afterwards we found ourselves at the neon masterpiece of Peppermill for a spot of late-night grub before turning in. Love the lights of The Strip in my distant view as I slide into slumber.

Amber Stauser

Monday we woke and hit it down towards Wynn/Encore and the Fashion Mall for a spot of shopping. We always stop at the General Store near the Sahara for souvenir buying. I got mom and myself some very fun stuff! Back at the resort we enjoyed our annual lunch at China Poblano. Taste Bud Explosion, down. We wanted to have a moment in the room with some of the showgirls and champagne because there was a delicious bottle delivered to the suite for birthday which was very generous. However, no one wanted to drink before their show so with the cool weather only Amber came over for a round of ice skating at the Ice Rink at BLVD Social Club. Translation: The swimming pool iced over for fun and frolic under the cold night’s air above the radiation of the neon bulbs of The Strip. We had a blast and it meant a lot to me that she came over and spent time with us.

The Cosmopolitan - Bellagio

Christmas Eve we had dinner at Milos inside The Cosmopolitan and it was culinary brilliance. I love seeing Jacques enjoying dinner that he finds really good. My man knows food and I’m lucky because he does. After dinner we walked The Strip before the chilly evening wind called us inside the casino for Wheel of Fortune slot machine realness. I won my money back and that was fine. The warm bed was calling my name even more than the sounds of the dropping coins.

Steven Michael

We love Las Vegas and ALWAYS enjoy ourselves. The Cosmopolitan is the ONLY place we stay. I can’t wait to go back. #777

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MORNING VIEWS OF SIN CITY

Posted on 2012/12/24 | Leave a comment

The Cosmopolitan exterior

From my balcony view at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, I see The Strip beginning its new day of carrying hope-chasers and thrill-seekers to their next destination, translation: CASINO. As I type this quick blast of thought, I see early morning neon still burning down way at Treasure Island TI, the Bellagio Fountains have yet to begin their parade of shows and I realize I could honestly sit and look at The Strip for hours. A twinkle of chrome catches my eye or a hotel window from neighboring resorts calls my view while a low rumble of sound creates the soundtrack accented with a speeding taxi horn or the boots and hollers of party girls in heels or sexy studs out with their bros. There’s a definite winter chill in the air. Last evening I was able to wear this fabulous black velvet jacket and leather pants down to Luxor to see my dear sister Amber tear up the floor in the choreography-heavy Fantasy. Those girls are fierce and lead lady Lorena Peril has the pipes to sing many into the ground. We had a great evening ending at Peppermill for some quick late night grub then back into our warm bed while seeing The Strip wind down its day once again. A text came in from Amber saying she was heading this was to hit Marquee. It was 2 a.m. The city never sleeps… But we needed to. Off for a day of shopping, ice skating and a hot toddy or two. Mary Christmas.

The Las Vegas Strip from The Cosmopolitan

And BIG THANKS to Renata in PR & The Cosmopolitan for the Birthday Champagne and hospitality. Always Fierce. X

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Posted in DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY, HERE'S THE TEA, LAS VEGAS

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MANDALAY BAY SEXY RESORTIST CAMPAIGN

Posted on 2012/07/26 | Leave a comment

When it comes to hot and scorching advert campaigns, few do it like Mandalay Bay Resort Casino in Las Vegas. I LOVE VEGAS! (There I said it!) Last time we took the monorail over and couldn’t help but notice the suggestive photo murals draping the elevators of 2 gorgeous women on one side inside a jacuzzi and 2 equally handsome men on the other. Makes you wonder who is in charge of this marketing and who they are catering to. Nonetheless they know what they’re doing. It is Sin City! I’m certain that you’ve seen the Bathhouse pictorial Mandalay Bay used a few years ago of the the younger Asian twink shooing his smooth glutes while daddy bear leaned in the forefront. Sexy Back, for reals!

If I saw the 5 stunners above walking towards me looking like they look I’d fall into the marble their delicious flip-flopped feet are walking across. It’s hard to decide what order I’d “introduce” myself to first. Ah, 5, 3, 2, 1, 4… But who’s counting? This picture is too damn hot! I wonder where they’re coming from. Visit Mandalay Bay Las Vegas during your next trip to Las Vegas!

THIS IS THE PLACE!

Find out what everyone is talking!

Now where in the world would people get the idea that this place is cruisy and rumored to be a considerably gay clientele? Not sure, but this is not only subjective but suggestive. I’m loving it! I believe it’s the advert that will never die.

Next visit to Sin City schedule and plan a relaxing trip to the Bathhouse at The Hotel in Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. You let me know how good of a time you have. Send me a postcard!

And remember, what happens in Vegas could end up here. So tell me EVERYTHING! I’ll be waiting…

 

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Posted in FABULOUS TRAVEL, GAY FASHION, HERO-WORSHIP, LAS VEGAS, OUR BIG GAY LIFE

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SHARE – THE PREMIERE LGBTQ VEGAS HOTSPOT

Posted on 2012/03/22 | Leave a comment

STEVEN SPILLS © 113

SHARING THE EXPERIENCE

I’m bringing you all the dish, dirt and detail of my recent trip to Sin City. Escape with me if you will to the adult playground Las Vegas. Arriving on Saturday afternoon, the husband and I checked in to our ultra-sleek accommodations at Palms Place. Floor to ceiling windows gave us quite a spectacular view of the Strip from a far. Palms Resort and Casino is up the street away from the Strip which is both good and bad for the Sin City traveler. Good, because you’re not in the chaotic bustle of Strip traffic and can get in and out of the three towers with plenty of self-parking in front of the resort. Bad, because you miss much of the feeling one gets by being in the hustle of the Las Vegas Strip, the energy and power of the neon above you.

At Palms Place, the accommodations are co-op so the condo-style of our hotel room with expansive kitchen was in keeping with the fact that it was a timeshare owned condominium. Unfortunately the balcony doors didn’t open which was such a tease! Explained by our bellman that with the lower than norm room rates found at the Palms and Palms Place becoming more known and possible, younger crowds came in and wreaked havoc by tossing bottles off balconies, etc. He admitted that business had waned slightly once they locked them up.

We wandered over to Palms for dinner at Little Buddha which has fed us before. Sushi and sake, naturally. The concierge got us great reservations! Later in the evening the grand opening of Palm Springs personality Michael Crisp’s newest premiere LGBTQ hotspot, Share Nightclub and Ultra Lounge was happening nearby so we figured Palms Place was a good choice in home for the night. Plus, the city of Las Vegas was giving an official proclamation celebrating Share Weekend so we HAD to be there.

Share Nightclub and Ultra Lounge opened in the finale of last year but their grandest of openings that happened on Saturday evening was, as they say, Spectacular! Spectacular!  The crowds were packed up inside the new LGBTQ destination with scantily clad dancers busting-a-move on platforms and inside private cabanas upstairs. You see, Share Nightclub boasts the fierce fact that they have an adult entertainment license so the go-go and shot boys are able to really go the extra mile to please the clientele. I was ready for some (first and only Showgirls reference) Nomi Malone action, trust. A few of the dancers did make us feel quite welcomed.

There was quite a scroll of celebrities set to appear. During our out-later-than-normal-for-us evening at Share I observed comedian Ross Matthews who was hosting the event and looking svelte and lean. Carson Kressley, who I saw nose buried in his smartphone being led through the Palms Place lobby earlier, now busy being dragged around Share by an entourage of photographers. Adam Bouska and his NOH8 campaign was busy applying logo tattoos on faces and taking portraits for equality awareness. Everyone’s spirits were up and fabulous all night!

Drag superstar and Las Vegas darling Frank Marino and his Divas Las Vegas cast came barreling in and caused quite a stir in the VIP area, bulbs flashing. Luciana was smashing in green glitz and getting ready to perform her smash “I’m Still Hot.” Q Vegas editor Benjamin Lemkie was sexy to the core while a smathering of Palm Springs locals trekked over in support looking for a good time. That’s just to name a few! Michael Crisp really knows what works. When it comes to an elite nightclub experience, Share Nightclub and Ultra Lounge is where you want to be in Sin City! Could a Share Ultra Resort and Casino be next?!

Sunday we moved over to The Cosmopolitan where our amazing Terrace Suite on the 49th floor overlooked the magnificent Bellagio fountains. Impeccable service and class all the way is always found at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. After a delicious dinner at Scapetta, we caught the 9 o’clock show of Vegas: The Show at Planet Hollywood across the street. Offering everything one thinks symbolic of Las Vegas, the fabulous show is chock full of strong vocalists, high on hard choreography done to perfection by sexy male dancers and lead showgirl Tara who shines brightest in the newest must-see production on the Strip. A great finale to an amazing trip.

SEE SHOWGIRL TARA STRUT HER STUFF!

LUV THIS SHOW!
TRUE VEGAS ON STAGE!
 2012 © PULP

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WATCH. OUT. VEGAS.

Posted on 2012/03/01 | 1 Comment

I have been all a Twitter about our upcoming trip to Las Vegas, Sin City, my out-of-town town. Preoccupied would be such an understatement, however, I digress.  One more day of work and then I’m off for three as we two hit it to the Strip. Saturday brings an always welcomed road trip with the man I love to the place I worship. Always have, always will. After checking in at the gorgeous and privately sleek Palms Place, we’ll grab some wonderful dinner at Palms Resort Casino and head to the grand opening of Share Nightclub and Ultra Lounge until the wee hours if we can make out late. I’m ready for some serious Nomi Malone action on my lap from a private dancer. Honesty, please.

THE FIERCE FILM – SHOWGIRLS

Starring Elizabeth Berkley as “Nomi Malone”

The celebrities from the Gay Mafia will be in attendance on the red carpet and I’ll be telling all with vivid detail and delicious dish. Sunday we’re moving over to The Cosmopolitan for our second night. We couldn’t be in Las Vegas and not stay there one night. Heaven. We’ll be seeing Vegas: The Show at Planet Hollywood and then a nightcap somewhere. Hate me. I would. Details soon! ♠♣♥♦

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SHARE NIGHTCLUB LAS VEGAS

Posted on 2012/02/23 | 4 Comments

It always works out that I get busy with travel and happenings around the finale of winter and premiere of spring. 2012 is no exception. Next weekend the Husband and I are heading to – you guessed it – LAS VEGAS! A good (and gorgeous!) friend Michael Crisp has opened yet another premiere nightclub and LGBT lifestyle venture in Sin City and we’re heading over in support and love. On March 3, Share Nightclub celebrates its official grand opening with VIP at 9 p.m. (that’s us!) and general masses at 11. It’s going to be off the blinged-out chain!

Attendees and celebrities scheduled to appear include host Ross Matthews, photographer Mike Ruiz, the NOH8 Campaign, Carson Kressley, sweetheart Ronnie Kroell, Penn and Teller, Luciana, ever-popular Laura Croft and cutie Josh Strickland to mention just a few. Oh, and a cadre international media flying in (again – that’s me!) for the event. Share has an adult entertainment license so they are able to get away, err, provide more service than say other clubs. The website says to ask the Shot Boys for “anything” and you shall receive. I’m living for that! I want the full experience, Ultra Lounge and Private Cabana filled good time. The event benefits not only the NOH8 Campaign but the Golden Rainbow in Southern Nevada, as well, a nonprofit persons living with HIV/AIDS assistance program. I’m thrilled to take part! Details will soon follow! Can’t wait, in fact…! Packing now.

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DINAH WEEKEND PALM SPRINGS SHAPES UP

Posted on 2012/02/18 | Leave a comment

“It’s Ladies Night. Oh, What a Night. Oh, What a Night!”

Here Ye! Hear Me! All Ladies and Vageterians! It’s time to dust off those Chanel shades, bikinis and beach-ready-bodies (or Birkenstocks, Daisy Dukes and sleeveless tees – whatever your style) for Palm Springs #1 lesbian themed event Dinah Shore Weekend including the ever-popular and long-standing events produced by Club Skirts 03/28-04/1. There will be a plethora of female fatales strutting their stuff up and down Palm Canyon to unique parties catered to the girls including performances by Show Me (of the Pussycat Dolls), Chaka Khan and CeCe Peniston among many others. Check out the website for the real Tea or hang in the lobby of host hotel Riviera and find you some!

Quick story about my connection to CeCe. I was choreographing the Mr. Hotlanta pageant back in ’94 and had to do a walk thru with Ms. Penniston who was performing. She arrived and I had just sent all the men contestants back to the Colony Square Hotel and Mid City Fitness to get ready for the evening so it was just us girls. Introductions were made and I mentioned I knew that she had just arrived in Atlanta so lets do this quickly so she could relax. She happily agreed. I immediately started and as I described the scenario it went like this. “OK, so Motion (Atlanta entertainer and dear friend) will come out when Finally starts and start lip-syncing like it’s all planned. You (CeCe) will tip out (strut, walk) the crowd will go up. Motion will look at you and you will say something like “Girl, you need to press.” Motion will walk off and you sing. CeCe just squealed at my use of “press” and I believe stole the phrase from me.

Just a heads up about the difference of this year’s Dinah Weekend, though. Smartly, Girl Bar will not be having their events during the she time. They’ve decided to hit Sin City as their destination 04/27-29 giving Las Vegas some girl-on-girl lesbian love! Check out Fantasy at Luxor! Topless goddess who dance and sing! Plus my own personal Showgirl Amber dances in the show! I know Las Vegas, just ask!

Also it seems that Lucy & Gail “Dinah in Color” celebrating gay women of color that previously celebrated in Palm Springs will be moving to San Francisco in 08/16-19. These changes offer more to the women who attend the events and the cities that have offered to host them. Change is good. Plus, for the hardcore circuit girls this gives ample option of trips to take and places to go.

Of course, with The Dinah Weekend running alongside the very popular Kraft Nabisco LPGA Golf Championship and preceding the White Party from Jeffrey Sanker for the boys, Palm Springs will be one big flurry of LGBT love, life and libations.

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Posted in FABULOUS TRAVEL, HERE'S THE TEA, LAS VEGAS, OUR BIG GAY LIFE, PALM SPRINGS

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STEVEN TAKES SIN CITY

Posted on 2012/01/18 | 1 Comment

STEVEN SPILLS © 109

ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN

As we all know by now that what happens in Vegas during one of my fabulous trips is told here with every gruesome detail of debauchery. Quick recap if you’re just joining in… I love Las Vegas! Always have, always will. OK, with that said, let’s dig into the ultimate sin of having your cake and eating it, too! This is how I celebrated my birthday — my way, in Sin City during the New Years’ holiday.

I turned forty-something on 01/01 or as many call it “thirty-nine for another year.” The husband and I aren’t into big parties so we always discuss how to spend our special days respectively and that’s how we do it. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and I have a very nice relationship with one another. The place is sick! I couldn’t think of a better location for our one night getaway. This stunning resort offers everything I need for comfort and joy. Unique surroundings celebrating individuality of the guest delivering immediate results for every person’s whim or desire. And those magnificent open-air balconies are decadent.

The anticipation grew within me as flashy billboards that dress the sides of I-15 heading into Las Vegas increased in volume and intensity. Since laying low on New Year’s Eve and saving our mojo for Sin City, we lived vicariously through the bright marquees that told of The Dutchess Fergie strutting her “Fergaliciousness” at Mirage, Mary J. Blige bringing her diva style to RPM Nightclub at Tropicana and Kim Kardashian collecting her $600,000 paycheck at TAO at The Venetian for ringing in NYE.

Once we checked into The Cosmopolitan, we discovered that our upgraded suite faced the fabulous fountains of Bellagio. I was in heaven. That’s what I personally call The Cosmopolitan, “Heaven,” because it is. I immediately opened the sliding doors and caught the first of many fountain shows we would witness during our stay. We called down for the bags and within a blink they were delivered to our room and unpacked. Soon after, we headed over to Bally’s to pick up our tickets for Jubilee! and run the Strip for a few minutes before dinner.

The energy downstairs in the casino at The Cosmopolitan was still rowdy and right on target for ringing in the New Year from the night before. Wheel of Fortune slot machines shamelessly gobbled up the twenties we fed them as we strutted through. It didn’t ruin our good moods. However, it was when we entered Bally’s that there was some concern. Talk about Hunger Games.

We took the moving walkway up to Bally’s and entered. It was quite surreal being there considering the property was once MGM Grand where I would visit as an impressionable child with my parents. The hotel hasn’t changed much since then. As soon as we entered, this aggressive sales chick basically jumped on us sinking her teeth into us seeming concerned about our travel needs. I immediately replied, “Get to the pitch. We have to go.” She laughed and pushed us off on an anxious sales guy. We declined their offer and continued on to pick up the show tickets.

Downstairs I strolled through memory lane as we walked past shops where I once spent my trip allowance on Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. Although, I don’t recall desperate sales dudes standing at kiosks offering what appeared to be counterfeit Louis Vuitton and Chanel iPhone cases at special deals “because it was a slow night.” The Strip called us back outside and we were off to enjoy a birthday ritual of shameless plunges into sushi and sake oblivion back at The Cosmopolitan.

With a few minutes to spare I slid into the sunken Japanese tub back in the room for a soak and got lost in the burning neon bulbs of the Strip that radiated before me. Ah, bliss. Once arriving downstairs to Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill we ordered a ton of delicious sushi displayed extravagantly on long boards and even had a generous round of sake complements of the resort. Luckily the walk over to Bally’s afterwards for the show would help walk off our amazing cuisine.

Jubilee! celebrates its 30th anniversary and is quite spectacular still today. Topless showgirls in stunning costumes of beads and rhinestones, grand sets that rise and fall throughout, and familiar songbook classics performed with heart and experience is what any theatre addict will find nightly inside the ballroom at Bally’s. It greatly satisfied the repressed showgirl deep inside me. It’s a must-see for any true Vegas junkie. You can bet on it!

2011 © PULP

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Posted in FABULOUS TRAVEL, HERE'S THE TEA, LAS VEGAS, MY WORDS IN PRINT, OUR BIG GAY LIFE, STEVEN SPILLS

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SIN CITY AND STEVEN MICHAEL

Posted on 2012/01/03 | Leave a comment

I just returned from a fabulous visit to Las Vegas and as always, we had a fierce time. Sin City and Steven Michael always get along. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which I call pure heaven because it is, treated us very well with an upgraded suite and a round of drinks on the house. It gives me everything I love in a hotel room. Immaculate furnishings, an open air balcony and a spectacular view of my favorite place on earth (yes, strong words!) The Las Vegas Strip. The Husband and I found ourselves in a sushi and sake serenade at Blue Ribbon Sushi and Grill on Sunday for my birthday dinner. Delicious! Oh, yeah! I became another year more experienced on Sunday. More mature?! Better like fine wine? Yes, older. It’s all good. Like I say that my mom now says that my Husband also says, “It is what it is.” Cause it is…

Our balcony view of the Bellagio fountains was spectacular and I honestly could sit watching the twinkling neon bulb wattage of The Strip all day and all night. I’ve seen the view plenty of times but I never grow tired of it. There’s always something to catch my attention, my eye, my homage. After dinner, we caught Jubilee! at Bally’s which is now celebrating their 30th anniversary. It was surreal walking in the place considering it was formally the MGM Grand that I would stay in as a child, rather young tween, with my parents. I tell the story of my father tossing me a few hundred dollars and sending loose on The Strip to shop, cruise and get cruised even though I wasn’t sure what was going on at the time.

Jubilee! is chock full of original showgirls with the glitz and gorgeousness of what Las Vegas is all about with grand sets that amazingly raised and lowered during huge production numbers, topless divas who owned the stage with legs to there and sexy thong-wearing male dancers with bare chests blazing. However, a few who could have left pants on. Just saying. We actually sat in the same cushioned booths that I would sit in as child watching shows with my parents. Things haven’t changed very much on the property except the very aggressive people who work there. This one woman nailed us as soon as we walked in about two nights for $99 and WOW! She was too damn much. I told her to get to the point and give the pitch. She did. We immediately declined, picked up my gracious media tickets, walked quickly around and hit The Strip. But not after having a desperate guy standing downstairs at a kiosk try and “make me a deal because it was slow” by selling me counterfeit Vuitton and Chanel iPhone 4 cases with bling. We were slightly in shock that the resort would allow that to go on.

More details will drop in my “Steven Spills” installment next issue of PULP so that’s all for now… What happens in Vegas, will end up here. Stay tuned.

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HERE’S TO TWO-THOUSAND TWELVE

Posted on 2011/12/30 | Leave a comment

You may know, you may not. If you do, here it is again. If you didn’t, here’s something new and exciting for you to hear and me to say. HAPPY NEW YEAR, you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, me! BEST WISHES, we! Heading into Las Vegas on Sunday and arriving as the town should just be awaking from the extremist night they had prior on New Year’s Eve. My birthday happens to fall on the 1st so celebrating the way I always want to… We’re driving into Sin City for the night. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will be home for the evening. Donn Arden’s “Jubilee!” at Bally’s will be entertainment. Share Nightclub will provide some gay entertainment and queens on the move, afterwards. SUPER XCITED:))

More details to follow… in ’12.

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