Conventions

Apr. 4-5, 2012. NPE is all about plastics and plastic products.  NPE is recognized as one of the largest trade events for emerging technologies in the plastic industry, attracting an audience of more than 2000 suppliers and 75,000 professionals. The show featured a vast array of plastic-made products and services used in various industries like automotive, medical, electronics, construction etc.  Attendees were typically Plastics manufacturers, CEO, Engineers, Plastics processors and original equipment manufacturers, Materials suppliers, Sales & marketing types, R&D specialists, Quality control specialists, Equipment and machinery makers and Designers.  If you can’t make it in plastic, chances are you can’t make it at all…

Apr. 16-19, 2012. NAB is the TV-focused show where “content comes to life”.  Warner Bros. Entertainment, argued that the industry is in a new golden age, both in terms of the creativity of the shows produced for broadcast and cable and in terms of the business.  International markets, we heard, have been playing a key role in reducing deficits between the cost of producing shows and the license fees paid by networks.  Newer digital players like Netflix and Hulu, or subscription video on demand outlets, were recognized as a new distribution channel for library product and new shows.  On hand were “King of the World” James Cameron, and the creators of Vampire Diaries and CSI Miami.  Showcased properties included movie of the moment Hunger Games, coming soon to a smaller and smaller screen near you…

Apr. 10-12, 2012. This show was about “rethinking housing and the construction business in the new economy”.  Manu seems to be the shorthand version of Manufactured and Modular Housing, which is sort of the industry jargon for the kind of ready-made house that gets delivered in pieces on the back of a big truck, and bolted together on-site.  On hand at the show were industry bigwigs across all the main construction-related disciplines, including manufacturers, community owners and managers, financial services specialists, insurers, materials suppliers and more.  A keynote from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) kicked off the proceedings.  ULI is a nonprofit research and education membership organization, and represents the broad spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines.  Who was it said “buy land, they’re not making it any more”?

Drinking Bloody’s a the Cosmo hotel in Las Vegas.

Crazy to think that at a buffet in Las Vegas you could find a hand crafted cocktail such as the Mombo Italiano and yes I do know this is supposed to be about “Bloody Mary” but in reality the Mombo is a Bloody Mary with a twist. The bar at the Wicked Spoon *great name for a buffet btw* has made vodka infused with roasted garlic then mixed it with a balsamic reduction and basil, added mixed with tomato juice and just the right touch of cucumber to make it the tastiest Bloody Mary on the strip, in my EXPERT opinion. Of course #Cosmopolitan_LV needs to incorporate this into their other bars like the Vesper in the lobby.

Despite what the visitors think we actually have 2: Hot & Not that hot. Thankfully we have beautiful hotels such as the Bellagio owned by MGM to remind those of us who moved here from “greener” pastures how beautiful Spring can be. Thanks to Loopy who took the time to capture these fabulous pictures for us.

BTW: The Bellagio on the site of the old Dunes hotel. It was built by Steve Wynn as reminder of his days of traveling in the Lake Como region of Italy. Complete with ornate marble & Renaissance style statuary, the centerpiece of this hotel is the Conservatory. Several times per year, a unique themed display is rolled out to be enjoyed by guests and locals alike. Bellagio also has one of the largest fountain displays this side of Rome with water going off from 3pm until Midnight each with a different mix of music from country/western to pop to opera.

It is “not to be missed” place for those who want a break from gambling but if you want to do that also, Bellagio can accommodate that as well.

Photo credit @lasvegasloopy on twitter.