WE SPEND ONE NIGHT IN LAS VEGAS

By william tomicki4 weeks ago

Is it worth it to spend one night in Las Vegas? We say emphatically yes. We drove five hours one morning across the Mojave desert with the intention of having lunch, dinner and a visit to the Mob Museum where former made man Paul Cantarella was making an appearance alongside two FBI special agents.

We booked downtown at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, across the street from the museum. The hotel exceeded expectations—large contemporary rooms, clean casino, and a team that was courteous and kind.

Our room was big and bright and immaculate, non-smoking of course. In-room amenities included a SNOOZ white noise machine, pillow top mattress with high thread-count linens, 2 bottles of water refreshed daily, complimentary WiFi, large screen HDTV, laptop safe and standard and USB power outlets. The H20 Therapy bath amenities were high quality. This hotel represents the modern side of Downtown Las Vegas with excitement for all visitors. Located just a minute walk away from Fremont Street, The Downtown Grand offers a quieter respite from the Las Vegas Strip just steps away from all the action, setting it apart from other downtown Las Vegas hotels. Above the Casino, we found the Citrus Grand Pool Deck, a poolside paradise with all the ideal amenities for good times overlooking the city’s skyline. Showcasing more than 35,000 square feet of space, the Citrus Grand Pool Deck features a sparkling swimming pool, shaded cabanas, outdoor daybeds and lawn games.

It was hard to pull ourselves away from a comfy pool cabana, but hunger motivated us to walk across the street to one of Sin City’s favorite steakhouses, the Triple George Grill for a memorable lunch.

Recognized for its power lunch specials, happy hour offerings and classic cuisine, the Triple George is known as one of the first independent eateries to emerge in the beginning years of the revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, paving the way for what is now a thriving and eclectic urban dining scene.

We sat in a private dark wood-panelled cozy room reminiscent of the Tadich Grill and enjoyed superb steaks and salmon served by a friendly and efficient team. We’re going back for their famous succulent porcini-crusted rib-eye steak, fire-roasted, hand-tossed pizza and cheesecake. A perfect Caesar salad and two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and we were ready for a nap.

We were due at the Mob Museum across the street from the Downtown Grand for a fascinating presentation inside their historic courtroom.

There we listened to The Last Godfather: The Takedown of New York Mafia Boss Joe Massino about Joe Massino, the last man standing among New York’s old-school Mafia bosses who survived in the role for more than 20 years through savvy tactics and keeping a low profile. But after the FBI flipped several key members of his crime family, Massino’s days of freedom were numbered. For the first time on a public stage, retired FBI agents Jeff Sallet and Kim McCaffrey, along with former mobster Paul Cantarella, told the epic story of how it all went down. You must visit this fascinating museum dedicated to featuring the artifacts, stories, and history of organized crime in the United States, as well as the actions and initiatives by law enforcement to prevent such crimes. The museum is housed in the former Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse, which was built in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After this sit down with the mob, we needed a drink and we headed to the museum’s Speakeasy for a stiff one; it was packed and lively.

Mob life takes its toll and in our case it was hunger. Dinner brought us to the very glamorous Chyna Club in the vibrant and extravagantly elegant Fontainebleau Hotel, itself a must-see in Las Vegas for its soaring architecture, 150,000-square-foot casino, nightlife, artwork, flowers, bars, world-class restaurants and unparalleled service.

In our opinion, the Chyna Club is the best restaurant in Las Vegas. It is certainly the most beautiful: in a sexy atmosphere of Chinese luxe, you will served like a Mandarin the finest Peking duck, Hunan scallops and other refined Cantonese-French dishes of superb quality.