The Burnished Passport

Valhalla Powder Cats

2011-02-02T15:52:00.003-07:00

Here's a quick video I put together of a Cat Skiing trip I took with some buddies. Valhalla Powder Cats is located near Nelson BC. Their website is: http://www.valhallapow.com/

2010 Canadian Grand Prix

2010-08-04T17:58:00.003-06:00

After a one year hiatus, the Grand Prix du Canada is back and was held on June 13, 2010. I was fortunate enough to attend the race with a few buddies of mine. We made the trip out from Calgary on the Wednesday and partied our way through Montreal for the remainder of the week.

As I've mentioned before in my City Guide, Montreal is one of the best cities to party in North America. This statement stands doubly true for when the F1 is in town. The biggest parties are centered on Boulevard St. Laurent and Crescent Street. Both are completely blocked off from car traffic from Thursday to Sunday for the F1 celebrations.

This year we had seats in Grandstand 12 overlooking Senna Corner. These seats had great vantage point of the action and provided for some fantastic photography opportunities. Here are some of my favorite shots from the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.

The Front Strait

Lewis Hamilton

Parade of Nations

A Hardcore F1 Fan

Hamilton Leading the First Lap

Massa Getting Sideways in Turn 1

Senna Corner

Hamilton Leading Vettel

Button Accepting his 2nd Place Trophy

Champagne

Hamilton Returning the Favor

Favor

The 2010 Podium

Alonso Giving out a Souvenir

Santiago City Guide

2010-02-22T12:20:00.007-07:00

How to get around

Santiago’s metro system is cheap, safe, and easy to use. Most major destinations are only a few blocks away from a metro station.

Taxis are also a pretty convenient way of getting around town if a metro station isn’t nearby. There are two types of cabs in Santiago. The normal black and yellow taxis which you will see everywhere and more upscale and expensive private taxis which usually only can be hailed at major hotels, office buildings, or by telephone. In my three months of living in Chile I never once had a bad experience with the regular black and yellow cabs. The drivers won’t likely speak any English so either brush up on your Spanish or write the address that you want to go on a piece of paper; and don’t expect a luxurious car as many of them are showing their age. Compared to Europe or North America they are inexpensive and the drivers don’t expect to be tipped.

El Golf Neighbourhood

El Centro

This is the historic heart of Santiago.

If you start from the La Moneda metro station you will emerge onto Av Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, or just “Alemeda” as the locals call it. It’s Santiago’s grand main boulevard.

The Presidential Palace (La Moneda) is just around the corner facing the boulevard. La Moneda is probably Chile’s most visited landmark, as it was the site of many historical events. You can access the palace’s central courtyard from the Southern plaza. The Southern plaza also has the entrance to an underground museum, restaurants, and exhibition space on the Western side. Around the North side of the building is the Plaza de la Constitución. The North entrance of the palace is closed to the public and guarded by the palace guards. I believe there is a changing of the guard ceremony everyday at 10am. I cannot make any recommendations for that though as I never stuck around to watch.

From the North side of the palace, walk a few blocks over to the pedestrian only streets of Paseo Ahumada and Pasio Estado. These run parallel to each other north from Av Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins to Plaza de Armas. This is the liveliest public square in the city and is it's heart and soul. It’s always packed full of street performers and vendors. Don’t miss it.

From there keep walking North on Paseo Puente (same street as Paseo Ahumada but it's name changes North of Plaza de Armas). The last building on your right before the street ends by and a bus loop and park is the Central Market (Mercado Central). It’s a really neat spot to visit and a good place for lunch. There are all sorts of little restaurants on the main and upper floors.

Bandera is another interesting street. Definitely more shabby, but you can find some interesting souveniers in the shops lining this street.

Bellavista

Bellavista is one of the coolest areas in the city. Once the favorite haunt of Artists and Bohemian types, it has become gentrified over the years and is a little more mainstream these days. It is now home to some of Santiago’s trendiest restaurants and clubs and an absolute must visit for some nighttime dining and drinking.

The nearest metro station is Baquedano which is across the river to the south on Av. Vicuna Mackenna which goes by the name Pio Nono north of the river in Bellavista.

Patio Bellavista is the central plaza in heart of the area; it is hidden in the middle of a block of buildings. The entrances to the Patio Bellavista plaza are on Pio Nono and Constitucion between Dardignac and Bellavista streets. There are some good restaurants and bars based around the plaza. The other best restaurants and bars are all along Constitucion or Dardignac. A favorite restaurant of mine is Etniko on Constitucion; be aware that it’s not traditional in any way as it serves asian fusion food.

While you’re in the area make sure to take a tour of “La Chascona”, the house of Nobel winning poet Pablo Neruda. He had some quite unique tastes. In Chile he is a national obsession.

The dividing line between the trendy upscale Bellavista and the more grungy parts to the west is Pio Nono. It’s an busy street with an interesting mix of people. For cheap empanadas and beer Pio Nono is second to none. There are lots of bars that have tables out on the streets which serve very cheap pitchers of beer.

Cerro San Cristobal

This is the highest point in the city and gives some great views of the city (if it’s not too smoggy). You can hike up it yourself or you can take the funicular which is pretty cheap and takes you from Bellavista up to the top. The funicular station is at the north end of Pio Nono.

Barrio Lastarria & Bellas Artes

This area is bounded by Parque Forestal to the north, Cerro Santa Lucía to the West and Avenida Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins to the South. This is a small area which doesn’t take too much time to explore.

This area is home to many intellectuals and artists. There is an abundance of cultural establishments and cafes to visit. Calle Jose Victorino Lastarria is a cool little street with lots of cafes. On Sundays the street hosts a flea market. One of the the main crowd pullers of the area is the redeveloped Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro which has three of Santiago’s newest museums; the precoloumbian art museum, the visual arts museum and the archeological museum. (Museo de Arte Precolombino, Museo de Artes Visuales & Museo Arqueológico de Santiago). The plaza is located near the north end of Jose Victorino Lastarria.

Check out Cerro Santa Lucia for a very cool hike up a maze of windy rock carved steps to a castle at the top. It provides another very good view of the city and is worth checking out.

At the north end of this area (in Parque Forestal) there is the Museo de Bellas Artes, Chile’s most prestigious fine arts museum. Around the back of the same building is the modern art museum (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Santiago, or MAC) which is worth a short visit if you have time.

Barrio Brasil

This is the most bohemian area of the city. The vibe is very laid back and unpretentious. Most places in the area cater to the lower budgets of students and artists so your dollar will go far at the bars and restaurants in the area.

From Republica metro station on Av Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins head up Calle Concha y Toro to a small plaza (which I cannot remember the name of). Another of my favorite restaurants, Zully, is located in that square in an old stone mansion. It’s a little out of the way and not the easiest place to find.

From there head north on Av Brasil; this will bring you towards Plaza Brasil (located on Av Brazil between Huerfanos and Compania de Jesus streets). The plaza is usually filled with students, artists, and travelers. If you’re looking for a night out that won’t break the bank this is definitely a place to visit. Just a note; it can get a little sketchy if you get too far away from the plaza so it’s best to just stick to the main square and roads.

Providencia

This is the area where “new” Santiago starts. It’s more residential and middle class than the older areas mentioned above. A lot of big businesses are relocating to this area as it is newer and cleaner than some of the older parts of Santiago. There aren’t any real must see attractions in the district but it is one where you can just wander around for hours without worry.

Bar Ligura is about as authentic a Chilean restaurant/bar as you will find in the city. They serve authentic Chilean dishes and drinks. You must try a pisco sour (Chile’s national drink) from here. There are a couple other restaurants that go by the same name but go to the one located at Av. Providencia 1373 (near the Manuel Montt metro station) as it is the original.

Further north, Av. Suecia and nearby streets are home to some of the largest dance clubs in the city. Boomerang is one of them that is probably the most well known. Los Leones is the nearest Metro station. In true South American style most true nightclub places won’t open until 12pm at the earliest.

Los Condes & Vitacura

These are the newest and richest areas of the city. Expect glass skyscrapers, luxury hotels, boutique retailers, and restaurants that match any in Europe or North America. Like Providencia there aren’t any must see attractions in the area but if you’re looking to relax, dine, or do some shopping this is the place. It also has the most upscale nightlife if you are looking for something a little on the classier side.

El Golf is a district within Los Condes and is the new commercial core of the city. Isidora Goyenechea is the street that runs through the centre of the area and has some great restaurants along it. Don’t miss the restaurant Taramisu; I ate here more than any other place in Santiago (as it was close to my office). They have the best pizza I’ve ever had outside of Italy and at reasonable prices. The address is Isidora Goyenechea, 3141, Los Condes. Also nearby is Flannerys Irish Pub… this is a great meeting spot if you are looking for a pint of Guinness and to meet some other international travelers. The address is Encomenderos, 83, Los Condes

Depending on the exchange rate at the time there can be some good deals on luxury fashion. Avenida Alonso de Córdova is the most upscale shopping street… think Armani, Luis Vuitton, Burberry, etc. If you’re looking for a mall with the normal international stores and restaurants you would see in Europe or North America check out the Parque Arauco mall. It’s located on Avenida Presidente Kennedy. Honestly there isn't much interesting there besides international chain stores and a few good restaurants around the outdoor plaza.

Further into Vitacura, along the river to the north, there is the Borde Rio development. It’s inauthentic to say the least but there are some very popular restaurants and lounges here that are good if you want to get dressed up an upscale night out. Lamu Lounge and Zanzibar are two of the better ones.

Black and White Photos

2010-02-13T10:45:00.001-07:00

Here is a collection of my black and white photography. Locations include Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Japan, New York, Chile, Argentina, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and more. The music is by Philip Glass.

My Vancouver City Guide

2009-11-18T19:36:00.003-07:00

One of the cities I visit most often is Vancouver. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains It has one of the most beautiful natural settings of any city on the planet. It is also the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Where to Stay:

Without a doubt the answer to this question is to stay on the Downtown peninsula; this is the center of the action and is one of the most walkable areas of any North American city. It is densely populated and can easily be handled on foot for most people.

Burrard Street runs the width of downtown and has the highest concentration of hotels along it. Anywhere along Burrard Street is a good location. It is central to all the areas of interest on the downtown peninsula. Some good choices are

There are also some good choices which are in general more reasonably priced in the area around the intersection of Granville Street and Davie Street. These hotels also happen to be a little closer to Yaletown’s shopping and entertainment district.

Where to Shop:

Robson Street is probably the most well known of Vancouver's shopping streets. The majority of the stores on this strip are international chains. Adjacent to Robson and kitty corner to the Vancouver Art Gallery is the Pacific Center Shopping Mall, this is where a large number of the more exclusive brands have their flagship stores; think Hugo Boss, Holt Renfrew and Zegna. Granville street is the other main shopping street in Downtown Vancouver and contains a wide variety of shopping. There are more casual stores such as Puma, and Urban Outfitters along this street, as well as a good assortment of bars, and restaurants which make it a great place to go at night too.

Yaletown has a smattering of upscale shopping that is worth checking out; mainly boutique clothing stores carrying hard to find labels and home design stores. Most are located on Homer, Hamilton and Mainland Street, which incidentally is also the heart of the lounge and club scene in the evenings.

Where to Eat:

Vancouverites love their food and there is certainly a great selection of restaurants to try. First of all, if you happen to be visiting during Dine Out Vancouver I highly recommend taking in as many restaurants as you can. It’s a great event! The date changes from year to year, but in 2010 it runs from April 26 until May 6. Visit Dine Out Vancouver’s website for additional information: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/dining/dine_out_vancouver

The restaurant scene isn’t particularly centered in one area so it’s hard to generalize; but some of the newest most innovative restaurants seem to be located in Yaletown. The central business district (which is could be described as the triangle north of Robson and West of Granville street) also has a large number or great places to eat.

Vancouver is renowned for its sushi. Don’t miss your chance to have some of the best sushi you will eat outside of Japan. There are tons of small and cheap places which have surprisingly good sushi, don’t be scared off by their small size or simple decor… try a couple out and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. There are also some more upscale places worth checking out. A couple suggestions would be ShuRaku Sake Bar and Bistro (http://www.shuraku.net/) or Zest (http://www.zestjapanese.com/)

Seafood and Asian Fusion restaurants are also very popular in Vancouver and there are many choices to try. A couple of my favorites are The Shore Club (www.theshoreclub.ca) and Goldfish Pacific Kitchen (http://www.goldfishkitchen.com)

Things to See:

When you're visiting Vancouver alot of tourists make the trip up the Harbour Center building to the Vancouver Lookout. While it does have a nice view it is nothing compared to the views you'll get from Grouse Mountain... see the writeup below on the grouse grind.

Gastown is the heart of the old city. Make sure to spend a day visiting this beautiful area and to admire it's cobbled street and classic architecture. There are lots of great boutiques to explore and interesting placfes to grab a bite to eat. One warning... don't wander too far east out of Gastown, you can end up in East Hastings which is one of Vancouver's sketchiest areas.

Stanley Park is one of the most beautiful urban parks in the world. No trip to Vancouver is complete without a walk, run, or bike around the sea wall. This is a don't miss! There are plenty of places where you can rent a bike for a few hours. Stanley Park also is home to the Vancouver Aquarium which is quite impressive and worth checking out if you have the time or interest.

If you are an art buff I recommend checking out the Vancouver Art Gallery. They have a large permanent collection of Emily Carr's paintings as well as rotating collections of paintings, photography, and sculpture. It's located right downtown on Robson street between Howe and Hornby Street.

Off The Peninsula:

Most visitors forget the fact that the majority of the city isn't actually on the Downtown Peninsula, you'd be doing yourself a disservice to miss some of the great places outside of downtown. Here are my recommendations:

False Creek Neighborhoods:

I am using the term Face Creek in a general sense to describe the two neighborhoods that form the waterfront; Fairview and Mount Pleasant.

Fairview is the community which is directly across the water from Yaletown. Granville Island is one of the areas biggest attractions. It is located directly under the Granville Street Bridge and contains one of the largest public markets in the city. To get there you can either drive in from Fairview from the south or you can take the short Water Taxi ride from the terminal at the southern end of Hornby Street. You can find fresh foods, and handicrafts of all varieties here. There are also enough art galleries, performance theaters, and restaurants to keep you occupied for the majority of a day. The Granville Island Brewery is another great attraction; they host tours and tastings daily at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00. It’s on a first come first serve basis at the retail store. See their website for more information: www.gib.ca

Not to be confused with Granville Island which I just described, or the portion of Granville Street in Downtown, Granville Street in Fairview is the central shopping and dining street in there area. There are lots of clothing and design stores to explore; this portion of Granville Street also boasts some fantastic restaurants. “West” is largely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the city and I whole heartedly agree. West is located at 2881 Granville Street (www.westrestaurant.ca).

Mount Pleasant also has some great areas to explore. Main Street is the center of the action and has more of a hip and independent vibe than the more commercially oriented Granville Street. Go to check out the many cafes, diners and vintage stores.

Kitselano (Kits) Beach:

This is the place to see and be seen in the summer months. It's the most poplar beach in Vancouver and is always busling with people working on their tans, playing volleyball, or trowing around a frizbee. If you're looking for something more relaxing then I could recommend visiting English Bay or Sunset Beach (both on the Downtown Peninsula) as they may be more to your liking.

North Vancouver:

This is actually a different city from Vancouver proper. It is across the Burrard inlet to the North and can be accessed by crossing the Lions Gate Bridge. Lonsdale Quay is a popular public market and shopping area that is worth checking out.

If you're feeling fit, you should take the time to complete one of Vancouver's favorite challenges; The Grouse Grind. It is a very steep and challenging hike from the base of Grouse Mountain up to the ski hill. Don't underestimate this one... you will definitely be feeling it at the top. A normal time to finish the trail is 90 minutes for a person in good fitness. The view from the top is amazing and well worth the effort. You can also grab a snack or bite to eat while you're there from the ski hill lodge. You can hike back down or take the gondola for $5 (Yes, you could take the gondola up as well but what fun is that?). Check out this website for directions how to get to the start of the trail. (http://www.trailpeak.com/index.jsp?cat=hike&con=trail&val=10)

Where To Party:

As always having a good night out on the town is just as important as all the exploring you do in the day. It's pretty hard not to have a good time at night in Vancouver. There is a busy nightlife scene centered on two main areas, Granville Street and Yaletown. As the popular clubs change all the time I'm not going to give any specific recommendations. It easy enough to just walk around these areas and pick a place that looks like it's rockin. If you don't like the place you're in, just head somewhere else a couple doors down. Most of the action on Granville Street is on the northern portion, between Robson and Nelson Street. Yaletown's nightlife is most active on Hamilton, Homer and Mainland Street.

Word Art

2009-11-10T18:22:00.004-07:00

Wordle (www.wordle.net) lets you create word art from any website or selection of text. Here's one I created using all the posts from this blog. Pretty sweet!

My New York City Guide

2009-11-07T09:09:00.005-07:00

Over the last year I have had numerous requests from friends for some tips on New York City. New York is an amazing city to visit so eventually my short e-mail evolved into this guide. This is my shot at a New York City overview.

Where to Stay:

I stayed in the Garment District right near Madison Square Gardens. I think that was about the perfect place to stay because it's close enough so you can easily walk to most neighborhoods. So I would look for a hotel in Midtown West, Times Square Area (but not actually in Times Square... that would be hell), or The Garment District (also called Madison Square Gardens Area).

You wouldn't want to stay in Uptown (ex: Upper West or Upper East Side) or Downtown (ex: Financial District or Tribeca) because you'd have to spend a lot more time on the subway.

Just for a sense of scale, walking from the Upper West Side to the Financial district would take you about 2 hours and is about the same distance as from Chinook Center to Downtown Calgary (for you Calgarians).

How To See the City:

I think the best way to see New York is to do it by neighborhood. Walk a big loop through some nearby neighborhoods or take the subway somewhere in the morning and wander your way around that neighborhood and the nearby neighborhoods before heading back later in the day. I attached a simple map of Manhattan neighborhoods so you know what I'm talking about.

I'll start from the southernmost Manhattan hood and work my way north. I also recommend going to check out Williamsburg in Brooklyn if you have the time.

Financial District:

Home to Wall Street, the World Trade Center site and the Staten Island Ferry. These are all must sees when you're in New York. It's best to go see this area on weekdays while people are working. On the weekends and evenings this is one of the more dead areas of Manhattan. You can also catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty here. I recommend you skip the massive lines and fees for that and just take the Staten Island Ferry instead. It's free and goes right by the Statue of Liberty so you can take some sweet pics.

Tribeca:

Another area to see in the day... a little slower at night. There are some beautiful buildings and great restaurants in the area but nothing you would really kick yourself for missing if you're on a short trip. Although not technically in Tribeca, City hall and City hall park is on the eastern boarder of Tribeca on Broadway and worth a visit. Lots of celebs live in this area... it's really clean and nice compared to a lot of the rest of NYC.

China Town:

While you're in southern Manhattan don't miss China Town. It's huge and has a ton of sweet places to eat. Also, this is the place to get knock off purses etc. My girlfriend bought a couple (although they fell apart in weeks and she says she'll never buy any fakes again). You won't find any knockoffs in the stores you just have to walk along and as you go buy people will whisper "Gucci... Prada..." as you walk by. Talk to them and they'll take you inside a stairwell or something and show you a printout of what they have, they'll deliver it to you in few minutes while you wait to give them money on the street. Bayard and Mott Street is pretty much the center of the action.

Lower East Side:

Home of the hipsters, artists, skinny jeans and grubby beards. A grungy but very cool area... tons of little indie stores. You'll find some very interesting stuff here. In recent years it's become very expensive as it's become more trendy and slowly is being taken over by the Yuppie set. The artists are moving out as they can't afford the rents anymore. Check out Ludlow and Orchard street. Don't miss going to Schartz's Deli... it is the best sandwich you will ever eat! It's on Ludlow and East Houston street. Some of New Yorks newest and best restaurants are moving into the area. WD50 is a notable one which I have heard nothing but good things about from friends.

Soho:

One of the poshest and trendiest areas in New York. Full of big name fashion labels and one off designer stores as well as some great bars and restaurants. Good to visit in both the day and night. Prince, Spring and Broome street and the side streets in between have the majority of the stores, restaurants and lounges. Dress up if you go there at night, this isn't an area to slum it.

East Village:

Lots of cool boutiques and restaurants. Used to be the home of hippies and free spirits but has become a little more moderate recently. Check out the streets from 7th to 10th east of Tomkins Square Park. We found some good sushi restaurants and neat little galleries. Really funky fashion t-shirt shops in this area too.

Greenwich Village aka West Village:

Really cool area... not as posh as SOHO, not as grubby as the Lower East Side but it has more interesting places with a bit of an edge. The area around NYU is buzzing with students and funky bars. A good area to go at night if you don't feel like getting dressed up is Mac Dougal St. and Bleeker Street. Another spot with lots of funky restaurants and bars is Christopher Steet and 7th Ave.

The Meat Packing District:

The hottest place in New York right now. The newest and best stores, clubs, and restaurants are here. You must visit this area both in the night and in the day. The heart of the action is at 14th street East and 9th Ave. A cool place for drinks is the rooftop patio of the Hotel Gansevoort, it's an upscale boutique hotel. The entrance is on 9th ave between 12th and 13th street. The Standard Hotel is a relatively new and popular addition to the area... there are a number of bars and lounges there. If you want a fantastic dinner I highly recommend Scarpetta (www.scarpettanyc.com/) It's one of the best meals I've had in my entire life. Try and get a reso... although I think they have a very limited number of walk ins allowed. Also check out the high line... it's a sweet park built on top of an old elevated railway line just west of Washington street.

Chelsea:

Full of art galleries on between 20th and 24th street and 11th and 9th ave. The rest of it is pretty residential. If you're looking for some physical activity then Chelsea Piers is a great place to go for an afternoon. Oh... also this is where alot of NYC's gay population lives.

Midtown Manhattan:

I'm grouping Grammercy, the Garmet District, West and East Midtown, and Times Square all into one. There is just too much in this area to describe. This is what most people think of when they think of New York. This really is the heart and soul of the city. Just go wander around and you'll find so many hidden secrets.

Top of the Rock viewing platform is a must... good both day or night... skip the lines at the Empire State Building and go to the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center: www.topoftherocknyc.com/) instead. You'll get a better view and also get to take great pictures of the Empire State Building. The entrance is on 50th street between 6th and 5th aves.

Also don't miss Grand Central Station, Times Square (although don't stay there long... it's tourist Hell), Shopping on 5th Ave, MOMO, Theater Distict (between 9th and 7th ave and 48th and 52nd street). I'm sure I missed stuff in this area... get a tourist map!!!

A really great place to go drink at night which you shouldn't miss as a tourist is called "230 5th" (the address and the name) it's on 5th ave between 26th and 27th street. www.230-fifth.com/ It has one of the the most amazing rooftop patios you will ever see and beautiful views of the city at night. Another place we really liked if you are a beer lover is The Ginger Man www.gingerman-ny.com/ they have a ton of different great beers from all over the world to try. We spent several evenings there drinking the night away.

Upper East Side:

The most uppercrust area of New York. This is where the old money families live. I have to say that it really wasn't my favorite area of New York to explore, but there is one thing that you have to see. The Metropolitan Museum of Art... DON'T MISS THIS! This is one of the Top 3 museums in the entire world. So amazing no matter what kinds of things your are interested in, History, Art, Sculpture, Weapons, etc. This place is beyond huge and will easily take most of a day. I cannot explain how amazing this place is. If you go to one museum in New York this has to be it. It's on 5th ave and 82nd Street.

Central Park:

What do I really have to say about this... just go there and explore.

Upper West Side:

Pretty residential, similar to the upper east side but more new money families and more liberal. Has lots of good reasonably priced places to wander and eat. We had some great Seafood and Indian there. Try Amsterdam Ave or Broadway between 81st and 72nd street for a ton of choices. The Natural History Museum is big and really impressive as well. The Lincoln Center for the performing arts is the place to go for opera or classical music.

Williamsburg (Just across the river in Brooklyn):

A really funky area where most of the hipsters who can't afford to live in Manhattan moved (although this area is getting gentrified as well now). Take the subway to the Bedford Ave station and walk up and down Bedford Ave. Really interesting dining and shopping choices around there.

Well there's my rundown of some of the things I think people should see in New York if visiting.

Feel free to comment on this post and add your favorite things to do or see in NYC.

My Las Vegas City Party Guide

2009-11-04T20:14:00.002-07:00

Getting From The Airport To The Hotel:

Skip the massive taxi line and take a limo. It's the best way to kick off your time in Vegas and depending how many people you are with it can actually be cheaper than taking a cab. Book ahead; there's a million places to do it online.

Where you should stay:

That entirely depends on what you want to spend. In my opinion you won’t be disappointed with pretty much any place on the main strip. I find that the NYNY and MGM Grand are about as far south on the strip as you would want to go in my opinion. Mandalay Bay and Luxor are good hotels; but they just a little too far for walking to everything and wandering around. Here’s some suggestions for price ranges… I left out the hotels I don’t care for:

High End: Bellagio, Wyyn and Wynn Encore, Aria, Venetian & Palazzo.

Middle Upper: Caesar’s Palace, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Mirage

Middle: Monte Carlo, TI (aka Treasure Island), Paris

Forget anything less well rated than these, like Tropicana, Imperial Palace, Bally’s or Excalibur… they all kind of suck and so you shouldn't bother.

Personally, I've stayed at the MGM Grand a couple times and think it is one of the better ones for the price. Planet Hollywood is pretty sweet too and in a bit better location.

How to Get Around:

Like pretty much every city guide I've written my first recommendation is to walk. Wandering up and down the strip, drinking, shopping and gambling is one of my favorite things to do. The best thing about walking the strip in Vegas is that you can drink while you do it. As you walk up and down the strips I'd recommend you stop that the convenience stores and grab a cold beer. The gift shops in the casinos are also a decent place to get a drink to go. Or try stopping for a shot in each of the Casino's along the way... it's a guaranteed good way to get the party rolling. One thing to note; Vegas can be scorching hot in the summers, but since it's a dry heat it's really not that bad. Just remember some sunscreen as I've seen way too many lobstered out tourists in my times there.

Unless you are somehow way better at planning things out than me, at night, when you're heading to the clubs catching a cab is the way to go. Lots of the time the cabbies also can have "VIP passes"... well you should know that they're not really VIP anything, but they can usually get you out of paying cover at the club.

Where you should party:

This depends on the nights of the week that you are there. On the weekends everything is open and packed.

Sunday - Body English, The Bank, Moon or LAVO
Monday - JET or Prive
Tuesday – Pure, Moon, LAVO
Wednesday - LAX or Body English
Thursday - Tao or Tryst

XS at the Wynn Encore is the absolute hottest club in Vegas right now... if you can go don’t miss it. My other favorites are Tryst at Wynn and Pure at Caesar’s Palace. If you only have a couple nights choose to go to these ones!

Next best on my list are Tao at Venetian and LAX at Luxor, go to them on weeknights that the ones I mentioned above aren’t open.

Go check out Jack Colton's website... he's a local and has the best reviews and info on clubbing in Vegas

www.jackcolton.com

Vegas.com also has some good info and reviews

www.vegas.com/nightclubs

I have a few tips for getting into Vegas clubs. Firstly, the lines don’t go in a linear fashion in many places. Those at the front of the line aren’t always the ones that get in fastest. The bouncers often walk up and down the line and pick people out. So be looking good and make sure you are right against the rope so the bouncers can see you... if you're with some ladies put them in front of you so that they will see them first, generally the sexier they're dressed the faster you'll get in. It may seem like a stupid tip, but I find making eye contact with the bouncers also helps get you noticed. Maybe it's gives off a "I belong in this club" vibe... I don't know.

Bottle Service:

If you have a group of 4 or more consider getting bottle service at the club, in my opinion it's worth it. Expensive up front, but trust me... I have done it both ways and bottle service is worth spending the cash. Best way to book is to call the club’s VIP guys directly (numbers can be found on the Jack Colton website). Not only do you not have to wait in line but cover is included too (cover is like 30 bucks each at a lot of places). Besides drinks at the bar can run you just as much money, like 15-20 bucks for a highball at the good clubs (it will be usually be really strong though). The best part about bottle service is having a place to sit. That is like the chosen land in Vegas clubs and you will instantly attract tons of people (aka hot girls) to party with. If you want them to hang out and party, invite them sit at your table. We met and partied with a ton of fun people by having a table. All in all it really isn’t that much more expensive in the end if are with a group that really like to party and drink lots. If your group is a little tamer then maybe it’s not worth it.

Other things to do:

There’s tons of things to do besides party and drink. Dune buggies, shooting ranges, shopping, etc. If you go to http://www.vegas.com they have a good listing of all sorts of activities and the prices. I recommend you check that out.

Renting an exotic car is pretty sweet, Red Rock Canyon is such a blast to drive and is only 20-30 mins drive off the strip. Here’s the place I have rented cars with before: www.dreamcarrentals.com/vehicles.php

There are a ton of shows but I haven’t been to any of them so I can’t really recommend one.

Buffets can be fun to hit up; the Seafood Buffet at the Rio is amazing… they had all you can eat lobster tails last time I was there. I have also heard that the Bellagio buffet is top notch as well.

I'm not much of a gambler so i don't have many recommendations on that. I do know that if you want to play some tournament poker at a decent price then the Monte Carlo has poker tournaments starting at a $50 buy in. That is a fair amount cheaper than most of the poker rooms around.

In my experience the best places to shop for designer labels are the Forum Shops in Caesar’s Palace, Planet Hollywood, and the Fashion Show Mall (right across from the Wynn). The Bellagio and Wynn also have some good shopping but they are REALLY REALLY high end and way out of my price range (think $40,000 diamond encrusted cell phones… ridiculous stuff like that). I’ve never gone to the outlets so I can’t tell you much about them.

Of course when you are in Sin City there are the strip clubs. The best reviewed strip club is the Spearmint Rhino. It's the classist with the best looking staff. Sapphire is too big and is the most expensive… don’t go there.

Things to watch out for:

I can’t think of anything off the top of my head, except maybe to ignore the “VIP” Hosts that will try to sell you night club packages that are worthless. Just don’t be a sucker and realize everyone in Vegas is out to make money off you.

My Montreal City Guide

2009-10-28T19:16:00.007-06:00

Montreal is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in Canada today. The mix of cultures have created an amazing and unique urban fabric that is unlike any city in the world. Montrealers have a reputation for hospitality and entertainment. You will not be disappointed if you choose to visit Montreal. Here is my quick guide on the best thing to see and do while in Montreal.

Where to Stay:

In my opinion, if you're visiting Montreal the place to stay is in Old Montreal. It's the most beautiful area of the city and offers something special that the others cant. There just isn't anything like it in the rest of North America and I know you will not be disappointed if you stay in the area. There aren't many chain hotels in the area so you're either going to have to shell out big bucks for one of the boutique hotels that have been popping up in the last few years or be willing to stay in a bed and breakfast or hostel.

Not to say that there isn't a wide selection of good places to stay throughout downtown Montreal, for example the major chain hotels near Crescent Street are also a fine choice but they just don't offer the charm and uniqueness of Old Montreal.

How to Get Around:

Use the metro as much as possible… its super convenient. You can buy multi day metro passes… I highly recommend this! Walking is another good option... most of the attractions in Montreal can be walked to in less than half an hour and it gives you a great chance to discover some of the areas off the beaten track.

Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal):

Old Montreal is the historic heart of the city. Jacques Cartier Plaza is the logical place to start. Walk down from the plaza and along the waterfront for some of the best opportunities to take pictures of the Montreal skyline. Rue St. Paul is another great street to explore in Old Montreal, it is packed with art galleries, design stores, and restaurants. It runs parallel to the waterfront all the way from Jacques Cartier Plaza to Rue McGill.

You definitely owe it to yourself have at least one nice dinner in Old Montreal at least evening during your trip. There are loads of great fine restaurants in the area. Go exploring off into the side streets of Jacques Cartier Plaza for something a little less touristy and probably more authentic. My favorite places to go in the summer is Jardin Nelson. (www.jardinnelson.com) The restaurant itself is located in the empty shell of a historic old Montreal building creating a wonderful outdoor courtyard in which to drink and dine. They almost always have a live jazz band performing as well.

Place D'Armes:

Place D' Armes is located on the edge of Old Montreal and the Central Business District.

Notre Dame Basilica looms over the plaza from the southern edge. The basilica is realty beautiful inside containing an amazing amount of intricate wood carving and stained glass. It is definitely worth the few bucks to enter.

From the North West edge of the Place D' Armes I suggest taking a walk south down Rue Saint Jacques and stop and take a look inside all of the historic bank buildings… This was the capital of Canadian finance before Toronto took over in the early 1900s. They are all simply beautiful inside.

Shopping:

Rue Ste-Catherine has the widest selection of shopping. Most of the major stores are along this street, or on one of Ste-Catherine's side streets. Don't expect to find a ton of small boutiques here, most stores are of the large designer variety.

Boulevard St. Laurent has a better selection of unique and independent boutique stores. It also has a much more relaxed atmosphere. Take a break from shopping to sit at a cafe, drink espresso, and do some people watching.

While you are on St. Laurent make sure to go to the legendary Schwartz’s Deli for the best smoked meat sandwich ever! (www.schwartzsdeli.com) Seriously... don't miss this!!!

Drinking:

Crescent Street is one of the biggest party/entertainment streets in Montreal; it is a little more touristy and more English. Newtown is one of my favorite places there (plus it’s owned by Jacque Villeneuve the F1 driver). Crescent is home to lots of English and Irish pubs and some really huge nightclubs.

My personal favorite party street is Boulevard St. Laurent. There are a ton of great bars, restaurants, and lounges. Most places are located between Rue Sherbrooke and Rue Napoleon. One of the places we seemed to end up back at is Tokyo Bar. (www.tokyobar.com) They have 2 large rooms on the second floor as well as a huge bi-level rooftop patio. It always seems to have a good crowd to party with. I can also recommend MED Grill + Bar + Etc. (www.medgrill.com) It's a classy lounge to have some drinks at before getting too crazy. Compared to Crescent Street, St. Laurent seems to have more hip and classy lounges and smaller more intimate nightclubs.

Old Montreal also has some good offering for nightlife. Rue St. Jacques and Rue St. Paul have some of the most popular places such as Tribe Hyper Club, Suite 701, and Pub St. Paul.

And of course there is also Montreal's famous strip clubs...

That's the end of this guide, hopefully it helps you enjoy and discover Montreal! Please feel free to post any comment or questions you have for me.

24 Hours in Santiago

2008-11-05T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here is a time lapse video I recorded from my apartment in Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. The view is facing west towards Cerro San Cristobal.

A Weekend In Santiago

2008-10-13T07:19:00.004-06:00

I finally got to see some of the city on the weekend. Before that I was pretty much just working all week. I'm starting to get a few phrases of Spanish down now... although most of the time when I'm at a store or something and someone asks me something in Spanish I have no clue what they are saying and look like a tool.

I went and checked out some of the older parts of town... they are quite interesting to see. Most of the buildings have a real art deco feel to them. I walked around some of the main shopping avenues and saw the houses of the government.

Also, as it was a Sunday I saw some sort of religious parade through the main square where they were hauling along some sort of Catholic idols. I didn't have a clue what was going on but it looked neat. When I was over by the main government square I had an interesting experience. First of all I noticed that the square was quite empty which struck me as odd since everything else around there was packed. So I'm walking into the middle of this square when all the sudden my eyes start burning pretty bad. Like a pins and needles feeling in my eyes... not fun. Anyways, I got out of there pretty quick. As it turns out there was some sort of protest at that spot in the morning where they tear gassed the people or something... so the chemicals must still have been lingering in the area. Can't say it was much fun. Even this morning my eyes were still bugging me a bit.

Old downtown is quite a contrast to the part of the city where I am in. Santiago pretty much has two downtowns... the old one where all of the old churches, government buildings and public squares are, and the new downtown where most large companies have their headquarters. Both my office and my apartment suite are in this newer part of Santiago. It is very modern here and the architecture is quite amazing... far more modern than most buildings in Calgary. Lots of glass and steel high rises.

A friend of mine from back in Calgary has a sister who lives down here in Santiago. I went out with her, her husband and a bunch of their friends on Friday. Had a blast! We started with a BBQ at one of their friend's lofts and eventually moved on to the club. Clubs here don't even open until 1 or 2am. So we partied there until 5-6 in the morning. The most popular drink here is called a Piscola (Pisco & Coke) I had never even heard of Pisco before coming here. It tastes kinda like rye and kinda like tequila... somewhere in between. It was really good though... I'll bring some back! Drinking this stuff floored me... first of all it's like 50% alcohol, secondly if you fill your glass with anything less than 1/2 Pisco before adding the coke you will be ridiculed by everyone! Needless to say after drinking a ton of these the end of the night was a little foggy!

First Post From Santiago

2008-10-08T06:04:00.007-06:00

Well here I am in Santiago… I have to say, I haven’t seen much of the city yet. I’ve pretty much been working the whole time since I arrived. I am really looking forward to the weekend when I can explore the city in more detail.

At first impressions Santiago is a very modern city… there is architecture here of higher design quality than in Calgary. I am really excited to go out and take some pictures of the city. As pretty much all South American cities there is a poorer component to society… driving from the airport you pass several neighborhoods that consist of row upon row of identical concrete apartments separated by barren dirt fields often filled with children playing soccer.

I just moved into my apartment suite today and am looking forward to doing some exploring and taking some more pictures for you all to enjoy.