Disclaimer: If you're expecting a tale of debauchery that normally describes a trip to Vegas, you'll be greatly disappointed. I've been to Vegas a total of 2 times now -- and both times for business! Only in Tatyana's life does the Sin City become Sin-less.
(ah, another booty-worshipping city!)
(running-on-adrenaline-only Tatyana)
Twice annually, fashion designers and fashion brands descend upon Vegas for the annual MAGIC trade show. It's basically one of the biggest buyer/sellers market for the retail industry in the world. And with the amount of celebrities afflilated with fashion these days, the show can turn into a minor star-studded affair.
The last time I was in Vegas was for a research trip, to meet jeans designers catering to the ever-wonderful fuller booty. Not full-figured, just fuller booty-ed. While there are larger brands like Apple Bottoms and Baby Phat were in attendance, I was pleasantly surprised to uncover a hidden gem -- PZI Denim. An African-American husband-and-wife team from Atlanta. Before PZI, to my knowledge, only "urban" brands were designing bootylicious denim. For a gal not interested in brand heavy, "junior" designs, the search for denim has always been a crapshoot. In fact, I'd reached a point where I wasn't wearing denim all that much.
PZI jeans are cut with a more mature, classier woman in mind. But they are still trendy and flattering!
Ok, enough backstory. If you want to read more about them, you can stroll back through the archives.
I won't give you details as to why I was in Vegas specifically, but let's just say it was to finish up my "journey" with this jeans company. In between filming, we wandered about the tradeshow, checking out some booty and scoping out celebrities.
I met the infamous owner of the Girls Gone Wild brand, Joe Francis.... spotted Flavor Flav, which is always pretty funny. He was there with his MOM!
(Flav and entourage at the Baby Phat booth)
Also, Gene Simmons was making an appearance, so after a bit of coaxing from my crew, I approached his Publicist about my project and asked if Gene would comment on booty for us on camera. His publicist explained that this wouldnt be possible based on all of the legalities of Gene representing his many brands.... but that he did want to meet me. I didn't know what to do. I am probably one of a small handful of people who didn't even really know who KISS was until a couple of years ago... I've lived a sheltered existense. So what was I going to say? I was hardly his biggest fan. So I came over, and before I could say anything, Gene grabbed my hand, spun me around and began to waltz with me, in front of everyone!! As we danced, he asked me about my project, commended me on it and asked me if my own booty was going to be featured. When I admitted that it was, he seemed very satisfied! It was such a blur.... I rememeber people snapping pictures and me shaking Gene's hand, and then that was that. Sadly, I have no evidence to prove this all happened. But my crew will attest to it!
I have to thank Hugh, Gene's Publicist, and a fellow friendly Canuck, for making this little meet-and-greet possible!
We finished up filming with PZI, who were gearing up for a busy week.... I am not sure when I will see these amazing folks again, but I am behind them every step of the way.... and my booty is too!
(Daniel & Claire Jason and me!)
I have to thank Hugh, Gene's Publicist, and a fellow friendly Canuck, for making this little meet-and-greet possible!
We finished up filming with PZI, who were gearing up for a busy week.... I am not sure when I will see these amazing folks again, but I am behind them every step of the way.... and my booty is too!
(Daniel & Claire Jason and me!)
(The Crazy Girls Revue Monument -- with the famous tagline "No Ifs, Ands or Butts about it!")
So when we finally wrapped after an intensely long day, we had a bit of time to chill out. I blew 60$ on slots (I'm sticking to Niagara Falls' Fallsview Casino from now on -- the slots there like to WIN me money)... Then of course we had to eat. 
(crew shot - I work with the best people!)
It's always such a gamble picking a spot for one good meal with limited time in a foreign city. We treated ourselves to a well-deserved meal at SENSI, in the Paris Hotel. Great great great food! It started out with some seafood appetizers and then I had the most amazing scallops and eggplant ravioli main..... mmmmmm... then the waiter brought us a nice little boite of tiny yummy cookies which we nibbled on... a good end to a dinner and a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth when you don't have any actual room left in your belly.
Apparently we were in Vegas a couple of days before the biggest weekend in the history of the city -- with all of the fashion designers in town AND the NBA all-star game AND Chinese New Year! Madness in Vegas.... and probably nowhere to party, with the celebs buying out all of the hottest clubs for their own private parties this weekend.
(the paradise everyone ELSE at the Flamingo hotel seemed to have time to enjoy.. we were just passing through)
I've become quite a master at North American airports, but even so, I'm still learning....
Things I learned on this particular trip:
- do not book connecting flights through Denver in the winter (the delays were beyond insane.)
In fact, after a sweaty dash through the airport, we did make our 7PM connection to Vegas... but our bags didn't. Which meant we had to stay up until they came in on a later flight and were delivered...which in our case ended up being 3AM! I actually did fall asleep, fully clothed on the hotel bed for a little catnap while waiting. I woke up with my contacts severely glued to my dry eyeballs.... nice, huh? Then I drifted off to sleep for another 4 hours before we had to start our day. If anyone thinks I'm disgustingly lucky because of all the travelling I get to do, they should consider how ridiculous our travel/shoot schedules are....
(crew shot - I work with the best people!)
It's always such a gamble picking a spot for one good meal with limited time in a foreign city. We treated ourselves to a well-deserved meal at SENSI, in the Paris Hotel. Great great great food! It started out with some seafood appetizers and then I had the most amazing scallops and eggplant ravioli main..... mmmmmm... then the waiter brought us a nice little boite of tiny yummy cookies which we nibbled on... a good end to a dinner and a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth when you don't have any actual room left in your belly.
Apparently we were in Vegas a couple of days before the biggest weekend in the history of the city -- with all of the fashion designers in town AND the NBA all-star game AND Chinese New Year! Madness in Vegas.... and probably nowhere to party, with the celebs buying out all of the hottest clubs for their own private parties this weekend.
(the paradise everyone ELSE at the Flamingo hotel seemed to have time to enjoy.. we were just passing through)
The Flamingo hotel itself is an aging building. We booked the budget rooms and definitely got what we payed for. The newer rooms are apparently state of the art. These were so unimpressive that I didn't even take my obligatory snapshot of them. But hey, it was a fairly clean bed in a quiet room.... it did the job. And we were barely in it.
LATEST "THINGS I'VE LEARNED" LIST:
I've become quite a master at North American airports, but even so, I'm still learning....
Things I learned on this particular trip:
- do not book connecting flights through Denver in the winter (the delays were beyond insane.)
In fact, after a sweaty dash through the airport, we did make our 7PM connection to Vegas... but our bags didn't. Which meant we had to stay up until they came in on a later flight and were delivered...which in our case ended up being 3AM! I actually did fall asleep, fully clothed on the hotel bed for a little catnap while waiting. I woke up with my contacts severely glued to my dry eyeballs.... nice, huh? Then I drifted off to sleep for another 4 hours before we had to start our day. If anyone thinks I'm disgustingly lucky because of all the travelling I get to do, they should consider how ridiculous our travel/shoot schedules are....
- consider taking a shuttle to your Vegas hotel
Anyone else experience the taxi lines? We're talking several hundred people long. Even at 9PM at nite! I wanted to take a picture but with people probably feeling as grumpy as they looked, it probably would have been a bad move.
-check into your flight early
This one wasn't really our fault --this time. But in our mad dash to make the Vegas connecting flight, we ended up being the last to board a full flight. The only spot left was a middle seat between a nice old man who smelled funny and a severely overweight man who looked uncomfortably crammed into his seat. NOT on my list of best flights, that's for sure.
- even if you are trying to be extremely efficient and packing light, ALWAYS bring comfy shoes.
Ok, so this isn't a point that anyone other than myself should take note of. I had a temporary lapse of judgement here because I generally travel in runners. But because we were only going to be in Vegas for one full day, I opted for my "small" suitcase. The other bag I own is one that I've taken on month long vacations. This meant I could pack only one pair of shoots and wear one. So, I put one pair of heels for going out (wishful thinking!) into my suitcase and wore a pair of high heeled boots for the rest. I really think I would have been fine, but after 3 days straight on my feet in the boots, my feet gave up. It was around the point where we stood in the airport check in line for a good 45 minutes on the way back to Toronto. Flights were delayed AGAIN because of Denver. And my feet just gave up. I'm a fighter and I've endured long periods of time in painful shoes but this experience was like no other. I was probably the only person over age 3 that trekked through the airport from that point forward in my socks.
(my poor, poor feet!)
(the offending footwear -- why do they have to be so cute!?!)
Anyone else experience the taxi lines? We're talking several hundred people long. Even at 9PM at nite! I wanted to take a picture but with people probably feeling as grumpy as they looked, it probably would have been a bad move.
-check into your flight early
This one wasn't really our fault --this time. But in our mad dash to make the Vegas connecting flight, we ended up being the last to board a full flight. The only spot left was a middle seat between a nice old man who smelled funny and a severely overweight man who looked uncomfortably crammed into his seat. NOT on my list of best flights, that's for sure.
- even if you are trying to be extremely efficient and packing light, ALWAYS bring comfy shoes.
Ok, so this isn't a point that anyone other than myself should take note of. I had a temporary lapse of judgement here because I generally travel in runners. But because we were only going to be in Vegas for one full day, I opted for my "small" suitcase. The other bag I own is one that I've taken on month long vacations. This meant I could pack only one pair of shoots and wear one. So, I put one pair of heels for going out (wishful thinking!) into my suitcase and wore a pair of high heeled boots for the rest. I really think I would have been fine, but after 3 days straight on my feet in the boots, my feet gave up. It was around the point where we stood in the airport check in line for a good 45 minutes on the way back to Toronto. Flights were delayed AGAIN because of Denver. And my feet just gave up. I'm a fighter and I've endured long periods of time in painful shoes but this experience was like no other. I was probably the only person over age 3 that trekked through the airport from that point forward in my socks.
(my poor, poor feet!)
(the offending footwear -- why do they have to be so cute!?!)
Wow, long post! I'm finally seeing the light at the end of all of this filming... only a few more shoots to go....
Tatyana
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