In Which I Earn the Right to be called "Sir" at Excalibur Hotel & Casino

When I was eight, Autumn of 1990, my family took an Epic family vacation.  The biggest ever from my childhood which involved Disneyland, staying at the Disneyland hotel, Catalina Island, and flying into Las Vegas, my first plane flight.

A special treat during the Las Vegas portion was staying at the newly built, three-month old Excalibur hotel and Casino.  Before then the only kid friendly place on the Vegas strip was Circus Circus, but Excalibur was different.  There was magic.  There were knights.  I got to stay in a castle!

It was a childhood dream realized.

And in the basement there is an arcade where the "Ancient Electronic Crossbow" lies.  It's like those old western like shooters where there's a large room and you aim at targets, trying to get this or that to move, light up, make sounds, etc.  There's one tucked away in Frontierland at Disneyland (hint: shooting at the Bank at night is really fun.)  The one at Excalibur, obviously, has a medieval theme.

Growing up I've always been a really good shot.  While exploring Excalibur, my entire family lined up at the Ancient Electronic Crossbow counter, deposited quarters, and had some fun.  I noticed that I was getting quite a high score, but paid no mind.

Suddenly there were trumpets, and around the corner came a caravan of medieval clad knights, maidens, servants, and the King and Queen.  The King then spoke in a strong voice, asking who the brave knight was that got so-and-so score (I can no longer remember said score), and when I looked up at my station I realized it was me.  Me!  And suddenly I became the center of attention when King Arthur (I assume that's who he was playing) presented me was a certificate, a "Here Ye, Here Ye," and said I was to be called "Sir" within the castle walls.

I wish the memory was clearer.  It's a little foggy now, and I vaguely remember heading towards the sound of the procession before running back to tell my parents what I saw, but it's one of those memories I'll never forget.  I really wonder if they knew a kid scored that high, and it was something they only did for kids.  How often did they award certificates with a medieval procession?  Do they still give out this certificate?  Do the crossbows still exist in the Excalibur basement?

Regardless, it was really, really cool.

Echoes of Star Trek the Experience

When I was in Las Vegas last month I wandered into the Las Vegas Hotel, LVH, which was the former Las Vegas Hilton, where Star Trek the Experience took place.  I was really sad when I found out the Star Trek experience was ending, and thought everything was removed.  As I wandered through the casino nostalgia hit me hard as I walked into the Trek Universe.  I wonder if there are hidden remnants behind walls.  

When I was much younger I visited twice.  As the "ride" starts you think you're about to board a shuttle craft simulator when you're suddenly transported to the Enterprise Transporter room, and then led to the bridge.  It was an amazing experience!  And I'll never forget the shock of being transported, by surprise, and having that opportunity.  It felt so real!  I can say I know what it's like to be transported 

to the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Caesars Palace Las Vegas

 Caesars Palace is a childhood staple of mine along with Circus Circus, Excalibur, and the Mirage.  Back in the day I remember collecting those gambling cups, the ones that hold coins.  I had over 20 different kinds at one point.  A very easy thing to collect because they were everywhere, and they were free.  Just one aspect of Las Vegas that's changed.  But there are somethings that haven't changed, and Caesars Palace still holds some of that old charm.

The large, impressive mall inside Caesars Palace.  I think the new H&M used to be the FAO Schwarz toy store.

When I was a kid I used to stare at the ceilings and wonder if the clouds were painted or projected, waiting to see if they ever moved.  They never did.

The above is an animatronic show that used to play hourly.  It was a huge deal when this was first built!  And this fountain was always crowded with tourist waiting for the next show.  The show was impressive, and I was marveled.  Now it looks old and sad.  Do they still run the shows?

National Association of Broadcasting 2013

 Last month was the National Association of Broadcasting.  It was my third time attending, the first time was fifteen years ago when I was fifteen.  (Technically you're supposed to be sixteen or older to be in attendance, and I felt quite rebellious through the whole of it.  That year the big thing was flat screen T.V.'s, which are now common place, but back in 1998 I was marveled by them).  One of the fun parts about the NAB is seeing new technologies and innovations, the next wave of film and production. 

 This year 4k, super high resolution digital film, was everywhere.  I watched the Canon Theater which showed clips in HD, 2k, and 4k, and the picture quality was
absolutely beautiful.

Another big thing for my family was the Adobe booth.  Usually we go and hang out and just watch presentations all day.  The last time I went to the NAB I did just that, not even venturing into the other buildings or sections.  This year the set up seemed even bigger then its ever been, always drawing a lot of people.  They were really pushing the cloud system, which of course we got.  I'm finally going to learn
 Photoshop and After Effects!

This booth shown above was my favorite!  I really want one of those DJI Phantom camera helicopters.  They had drawings at the end of each day, and I didn't win one, but I did get a shirt.  Actually, overall, I totally made out free goody wise at the NAB this year: tons of pens, a few shirts, a metal bottle, etc.  And we got some great programs to help improve Talea Studios and Cerulean Jade :0)

Inside the Bellagio: The Indoor Garden Spring 2013

Last year I put together a collection of pictures of the indoor Spring garden at the Bellagio.  This year, thanks to the National Association of Broadcasting, NAB for short, I got to visit the gardens again just last month.  Here are some pictures I took.  There was a butterfly theme this year with a butterfly house sitting in the middle of the garden.  I wish there was a way to go inside!  There were blue butterfly's, and the only way you could tell was when they were flying around.  So beautiful.

Inside the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas

I love the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.  It's an indoor Venice Italy.  There is this little canal that runs throughout the shops with gondolas, and those piloting the gondolas sing classic Italian Opera, so throughout the building 

you can hear sweet strains of music.

You can't go to the Venetian and not get gelato, it's like a sin or something.

 Above is a living statue.  It amazes me that this man can stay so still. 

How does he do it?