2020: A Year in Review, Pt. 2

Be careful about what you wish for…it just might happen. I was talking about country music with my friend Jansen one day and brought up Patsy Cline, who he had very little knowledge of. Not surprisingly, the song “Walking After Midnight” was discussed, and I said it would be fun to do a country-themed shoot…after midnight. A few nights later, he called and asked if I wanted to make that happen, and the next thing I knew, we were shooting the photo above. I love stuff like that, especially when it’s impromptu.

Even though I’ve been back in San Diego for over twenty years now, there are still places I had yet to explore, like the Quince Street wooden trestle bridge (built in 1905) and nearby hiking trails. 2020 is when it finally happened! Such a cool location!

A trip back to Palm Springs meant I got to stay at one of my favorite places again, The Movie Colony Hotel:

I had a photo shoot in Las Vegas; because I was not crazy about flying, I decided to drive it for the first time and finally see Calico Ghost Town along the way. DEFINITELY worth it!

While in Vegas, I made it back out to Red Rock Canyon:

Vegas itself kinda sucked; even RuPaul’s Werk Room was closed…due to COVID, of course. That became the catch phrase of the year. Anything that no longer worked like it should...just add “due to COVID” afterwards.

On the way back, I stopped at the Barstow Train Station, which was once a Fred Harvey Restaurant back in the day. I had to get a selfie in front of one of the vintage Santa Fe cars; if only it had said “Atchison and Topeka,” too!

What’s the best part of traveling? Coming home to Willis!

Another San Diego first was getting out to see the Desert View Tower and its incredible “collection” of rock paintings:

My workout group rented an Airbnb in Catalina; we made friends as soon as we got off the ferry as we sipped a few beverages by the water.

Don’t be shocked, but I managed to shoot a few photos while there. It was nice to return to the Island after my first trip sixteen years ago.

In December, I finally made it back to the Chateau Marmont after having been away for over a year.

Willis was glad to be back, too.

I was especially pleased to get back into painting again, and very grateful for the commission which provided that opportunity to be creative.

Last one for this post shows Willis sporting his Christmas bowtie (thanks Melissa, aka “The Colonel”).

I can’t really complain too much about 2020. It was actually nice not to be on a plane as much as I typically am; it forced me to stay home and get some work done around the house. I also was blessed to be able to spend more time with Willis, which always brings me joy. It doesn’t look like things will be changing any time soon,  so I’ll just continue to make the best of what life has given me, which has been pretty good so far.

See more Daveland photos at my main website.

Vegas: The Final Chapter!

The final stop on my Las Vegas journal of tales here is the Luxor Hotel, which opened in 1993. I’ve never stayed at this one, but have enjoyed the Titanic exhibit (which appears to still be there) and gone to a convention there.

The exterior and all of its statues look like something out of “The Ten Commandments.”

One expects Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston to appear at any moment in their chariots.

I just happened to catch the sun as it was setting over the mirrored pyramid:

I wonder how authentic these replicas are, or if they just sprung from the imagination of the artists who sculpted them?

Am I in a hurry to go back? Hell no. But…if I did…there is one restaurant I had never noticed before that I definitely want to check out: Battista’s Italian Restaurant. This looks like a place where the Rat Pack would have eaten, although it has only been around since 1970.

Sadly, for reasons I won't go into, I did not get an opportunity to dine here and soak up the interior atmostphere.

See more Las Vegas photos at my main website.

Up and Down The Strip, Pt. 2

Crossing Las Vegas Boulevard we begin today’s tour of The Strip at Treasure Island. I think I slept through a Cirque de Soleil show here once. Other than that, not a lot of experience with this hotel.

Between Treasure Island and the Mirage you can see this tribute to Las Vegas legends Siegfried and (the late) Roy:

Moving onto the Mirage hotel:

Still touting the Cirque du Soleil Beatles tribute, “Love”:

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace are probably the best place in Vegas to spend that extra cash burning a hole in your pocket:

Caesars’ homage to Trevi Fountain in Italy:

You know things are bad when Caesar has to put a mask on:

Before I crossed the boulevard to return to my hotel, I snapped this shot of an art piece outside of Neiman Marcus; I loved the way the shadow reflected on the sidewalk:

That’s enough Vegas for today! See more Las Vegas photos at my main website.

Up and Down The Strip, Part 1

Because of the pandemic, my recent trip to Vegas was even less enjoyable for me than usual. Is that possible? Yes! I rarely left my hotel room except for each morning I went on a run, thinking I could get some fresh air when there weren’t very many people out. Let’s face it…Vegas is not an early morning town, other than the people who haven’t been able to pry their fingers off the slot machines the night before. The “fresh” morning air in Vegas was tinged with the smell of weed. Lovely. Here is my photo tour of The Strip from the Flamingo down and back. I figured it was time to take new photos as it had been over ten years since I last did so. First stop…

Harrah's:

I was tempted to come back at night to get the McDonald’s sign when it was lit, but no…not worth the effort. I was feeling lazy.

The Venetian:

Gondola rides were still being given:

The Grand Canal Shoppes:

The Shoppes still looked well maintained, albeit not very crowded.

Lollipops as art:

The Palazzo:

The Wynn is one hotel I have never gone inside; since it wasn’t really themed, it has never been on my radar. Still, it is a beautiful property.

Next time we’ll hit the other side of Las Vegas Boulevard.

See Las Vegas more photos at my main website.

Flamingo Friday

Ignoring this superstitious day I am throwing all caution to the wind by celebrating the Flamingo; the Flamingo Hotel, that is. The original was opened by mobster Bugsy Siegel on December 26, 1946 with Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat on the bill and a number of Hollywood’s glittering stars in attendance. Siegel named the hotel after his girlfriend Virginia Hill, whose nickname was “The Flamingo” because of her red hair and long legs. Despite the hotel’s eventual success, Siegel honked off the wrong people and was allegedly bumped off on June 20, 1947 at Virginia Hill’s Beverly Hills home.

The last of the hotel’s original structures was torn down in 1993; the building you see today is from later additions and renovations, with the most recent revamp dating to 2018.

Overall, it’s a cute little hotel with an excellent location. Views from the room showcase the Strip. Didja’ know that the name “The Strip” came about because the intent was to model Las Vegas after the famous Sunset (Boulevard) Strip in Hollywood.

While the decor still seems fairly fresh, the condition of some of the common areas seems a bit worn. Carpet in the guest hallways is stretched beyond belief, to the point that the hotel could find themselves with a few little trip and fall lawsuits on their hands if they don’t get it fixed.

 

The room was good sized, simple, and clean:

Naturally, there is a flamingo garden courtyard on site:

Sadly, the RuPaul shop was closed for COVID; most of the hotel’s restaurants were, too.

Would I stay there again? Possibly. But the chances of me returning to Vegas anytime soon (especially during the pandemic) are slim to none. People with cigarettes AND face masks? Count me out.

See more Flamingo Hotel photos at my main website.