Every year I try to celebrate my birthday in style (hey it’s the one day that I actually have a legit reason to party) and this year was no different. The party started with dinner at Kimera in Orange County. I have never been here before, but it was suggested as it was 1. close to the club 2. looked cool from the pictures. The food and drinks were just above average, but the chance to hang out with my closest friends is always priceless.

Table 1

Table 2

You might recognize some of the faces in the pics above. I made the mistake early on to start mixing my liquor and trying out some crazy sugary pink drinks…something like a raspberry mojito (which in theory could be amazing) but more on that later.

*side story: Upon leaving Kimera to head to iLounge. Each group headed off in different cars. Since some of us took a taxi to the club, we scattered to get a free / sober ride down the street. Here’s the conversation that had me almost stranded at the restaurant on my b-day.

JP: “Guys wait up really quick I have to get my present from Stan’s car”
D: “There’s Stan in a BMW X5″
JP: “You sure, I don’t think he has an X5″
D: “That’s him!”
JP: “Ok” as I walk towards the X5 — “Shit that’s not them”
Stan: rolls up in a new Mercedes SUV “Yo grab your shit.”
JP: “Wow, thanks guys!” then turn around to see an empty parking lot
JP to Vic and Pam: “Where did everyone go?”
Vic: “Man, they left and thought you left with Stan in the X5″
JP: “WTF! He doesn’t have an X5!” then called D “Where are you guys? Funny joke hahaha”
D: “What do you mean, we’re at the club waiting for you?”
JP: “You left me! Ok jokes over”
D: “No really we’re at the club” and then a giggle and to the rest of the car “HAHA we left the bday boy behind.”
JP: “Crap…I’ll find a way there.”

Upon getting to iLounge and meeting everyone there, we proceeded to get the party started. Emily pretty much summed up the evening in her blog. Thankfully, she left out the embarrassing parts of the evening and for the record the red shot was disgusting. Tasted like a Hot Tamale candy and had Goldschlager and tobasco sauce. Great evening with good friends, and yes that place is filled with d-bags and their ed hardy gear, but nothing beats hanging out with the homies and a free bottle at 1AM. Thanks to everyone that came out and made my night very memorable (at least I didn’t black out like last year!).

my face says it all…yes I’m that guy

To keep the b-day weekend festivities in order. D and I headed out to Vegas (no Em not to get married) to stay at Encore, the Wynn’s new tower. Wynn was already my favorite hotel and when they offered me a free stay I couldn’t resist. Encore is incredible and a great addition to the Wynn…similar to The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. The decor is super chill with a lot of red, high ceilings, and a modern feel and to celebrate Chinese New Year’s the place was decorated appropriately.

The rooms are very similar to the Wynn, except they are mini-suites, and after using the $20 trick I was able to get a room with a better view higher up. It’s all in the details and Encore gets it right with a comfy bed, plasma screen that swivels so you can watch in either the bedroom or living room area, and floor to ceiling windows with screens and curtains that are controlled by a touch of the button.

Bedroom….notice the mirror

the view was awesome

I especially loved this houndstooth print on the wall…where do I find this!

Another touch I liked in the bathroom above the bathtub

I find myself in Vegas a lot during the year and definitely more than I need to be there, but when I go I like to eat, drink, gamble, and visit the local establishments. So this trip had it all. I received food credit for places in the Wynn and we tried a couple new spots. Stratta stood out so we dined there. I wasn’t that impressed by the food or the service for that matter, so I probably won’t be going back. But Encore was filled with new restaurants to try, such as Switch. Switch is crazy because each hour or so the whole room is supposed to switch to a new theme. The walls turn-around and even the staff changes or so I’m told. I’ll have to check it out next time.

Before dinner, D had a special surprise for me. She took me to this place in the Chinatown section of Vegas for a massage…no not a happy ending one, but I did leave very happy and relaxed. This place was great and it was very reasonably priced at around like $30 bucks or so. They worked out all the kinks in my back and the foot rub was incredible!

One main reason that I wanted to go to Vegas was to see my younger brother that’s now the sous chef at Sinatra restaurant inside Encore. So we set a reservation for my b-day at his restaurant and this dinner probably changed my life. Upon arriving I felt like I was treated like a VIP, everyone knew my name and we were sat at one of the best tables in the entire place. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very classic and elegant with a very high ceiling, a large image of ‘Ol Blue Eyes, and Sinatra tunes that played pleasantly in the background, without being too overbearing like some other places.

Our view from the table overlooked the patio area and garden…incredible.

On to the food. Sinatra serves classic Italian dishes with a modern twist. We were able to sample a lot of different food thanks to my brother. Everything we tried was amazing!!! Stand outs were the lobster and pig feet (my brother’s special dish that he learned to make, while in France), the ossobuco, and my favorite the butternut squash ravioli with a vanilla foam. So good.

this dessert was money!

baked little donut type things filled with chocolate goodness

more treats

my bro

After that very filling dinner we had tickets to see La Reve. This was my 2nd time seeing the show and it was just as good the 2nd time around.

Other highlights of the trip were the Wynn buffet (one of my favorites), XS the club, and of course going out to Spearmint Rhino with everyone (a couple of my friends joined in and my brother.)

XS is supposedly one of the most expensive clubs on the planet. Not sure why, but maybe the gold naked chicks had something to do with it.

Had to post this pic below of the Encore pool…as it’s a teaser of where I want to be in July.

Now can I get an encore, do you want more

The Vegas adventure continues this weekend!