Geisha House, Hollywood California

Geisha House in Hollywood California is one of the brilliant restaurants behind the Dolce Group. Dolce Group owns a plethora of great eateries including two of my favorites, Johnny Smalls and Rare 120. I have eaten at all 9 of the restaurants on the Dolce menu and since Geisha House is in my back yard, I frequent this fine establishment as often as possible.

I recently had a few out of town friends stay with me and they wanted sushi for dinner. I was instantly elated at the opportunity to show off my ultimate hot spot by offering them an experience at Geisha House.

We found on street parking about 10 blocks west and walked the wonderfully eclectic and vivacious Hollywood Boulevard to our destination.

Insider Tip: They offer valet parking for $10, but there are metered spots all over the area that are free after 8pm. And walking to the restaurant is half the experience if you've never walked down Hollywood Boulevard. Just don't do it by yourself.

The decor is most impressive inside Geisha House incorporating futuristic warmth with contemporary colors, Japanese fabrics, and a club atmosphere. The two story center pillar with staggered fireplaces helps to fuse the feeling of warmth with the red overtones of the dining area. The main entrance opens to a gorgeous bar with a sensory explosion of video screens, well lit bottles, and beautiful art. Your dinner experience is heightened by local club DJs spinning perfect grooves to accompany your party.

Regarding the menu, Geisha House doesn't stray too far from the norm as far as sushi is concerned, but there is a quality to the ingredients that separates them from their competition. From the edamame to the White Samurai roll, my personal favorite, the presentation and taste are far superior to other restaurants in L.A. The fish is off the boat fresh, the chefs are world class, and the company is often of the celebrity status.

Insider Tip: If you don't have a reservation, you can usually get a table after 9pm without a reservation, but this is highly doubtful on the weekends.

Sensual...ethereal...mysterious...

I strongly recommend Geisha House for your next sushi experience in Hollywood. Definitely check it out and let me know what you think.

Check out the website here: http://www.dolcegroup.com

Geisha House: 6633 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028
323-460-6300 for reservations
Open 7 days a week from 6pm on.

Hotel Review: Eventi Hotel, 851 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

Eventi Hotel

The selection of hotels in Manhattan is staggering at the four star range, and when I am traveling for business I get the pleasure of staying at one of these fine establishments. My recent trip to New York allowed me to stay at one of the newest of these hotels for 16 full nights.

The Eventi Hotel at 851 Avenue of the Americas is fairly new to the Big Apple, but that didn’t stop them from being at capacity for the entire time I stayed there. The Eventi is a Kimpton property, and with that legacy comes an instant following of boutique patrons that expect nothing but perfection when staying on property.

As this property is less than six months old, it is still under construction on some of its outer areas, and there were a few minor detours I was asked to take to circumvent the crews of workers as they labored to finish the exterior before the upcoming holiday season. For instance, to access the restaurant, I was asked to leave the front entrance and enter via 6^th Avenue as the interior entrance has yet to be completed. This was not much of an inconvenience all things considered.

I was extremely impressed with the employees of the hotel. They were very attentive to all of my requests, which when I am working out of a hotel suite can be quite numerous. No matter how odd or inconvenient my request, someone on property was able to help me, or find a solution to my need. As I have stated in the past, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished on the island of Manhattan in 24 hours or less if you know the right person to call. If I didn’t know who to call, they did.

Insider Tip: Become a Kimpton member on the website to receive multiple benefits like free Internet in your room. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a room upgrade if one is available, but don’t ask unless you’re a member…that won’t look very good. Membership is free.

The Hotel itself is gorgeous. The interior decor is whimsical and elegant, with a sense of the modern renaissance. Dark woods, marble, grand artwork, and leather adorn the lobby with a feeling of comfort when returning from a long day in the concrete jungle.

I have stayed at this property three times now, and I have had a different room each time. I like that because it keeps the cookie cutter feeling out of the equation. This hotel has at least five different footprints for the same size room and that allows for a new and unique experience every stay. My first stay I had a large open King suite with a wide entrance displaying some fine art. The baths are all relatively similar, but the layout will vary. Marble, glass, and tile make up the very spacious room and the rain room showers are wonderful.

My second and third stay allowed me to sample the corner suites with a breathtaking view of the Empire State Building via the wall of windows. Viewing the lights of 6^th Avenue from the 25^th floor is a New York experience you will keep with you forever.

Insider Tip: The Eventi is pet friendly and caters to your four legged family members like no other hotel I have ever frequented.

Foodies will be very impressed with the cuisine on property, but I suggest room service over the restaurant for a few reasons. I always dine in the restaurant at the hotels I frequent to check on certain key aspects of a great dining experience and unfortunately, the Eventi came up lacking in some of those key areas. Firstly, bring a sweater because the air conditioner is set at 62 degrees and you will have a hard time using a fork when sitting on your hands. Secondly, your food has a very hard time staying warm when the room temperature is so cold, so you are forced to eat fast. I hate to eat fast…especially when I am with good company, and paying a lot for a meal. Thirdly, as this is a new business, the staff is still working out the kinks, so I will be gentle on them, but the service was not nearly as attentive as the hotel staff.

My first stay had me rising early so I sampled the breakfast buffet in the restaurant and was shocked that there were no plate warmers. The plates were ice cold, which of course instantly made my food ice cold and before I could get back to my seat, I had to ask the waiter for a warm plate. This request was not easy to fulfill. Neither was my request for a warm coffee cup, as the 62 degree mug instantly chilled my hot coffee. Another interesting fact is that I noticed the prices for the menu items had been significantly reduced from my first stay to my third stay, which is good because the buffet was extremely overpriced. Still, at any price, your food should stay warm for the duration of your meal. These issues do not factor in when ordering room service. Your meal is delivered in a timely fashion and at a perfect temperature.

Insider Tip: The roasted chicken with green beans and garlic-mashed potatoes is out of this world! Trust me!

Most hotel gyms are small on both space and equipment. The Eventi gym is larger than most boutique hotel gyms and I won’t really complain about it. My needs were met sufficiently considering I was working 12 to 16 hour days which left me very small windows of time to work out anyway.

Sometimes I wonder if the architects ever actually enter the buildings they design. There are some issues that I noticed that are worth mentioning that I find almost humorous in their lack of detail. The main elevator bank in the hotel lobby has about a four foot standing area while waiting for one of the three elevator doors to open. The issue is that each of these three doors is adorned with a large wooden frame that only allows you to see the elevator door you are standing in front of. And to make matters worse, the light that goes off when an elevator reached the lobby is inside the wooden frame, and the bell that goes off is masked by the music playing throughout the lobby, so unless you are standing in front of the elevator that opens, you could easily miss it. That’s pretty annoying when all you want to do is get to your room and enjoy that view and some fantastic room service!

The Eventi offers plenty of space for events, meetings, private parties, weddings, and even private screenings in their luxurious private theater.

The Eventi also has a top notch spa on the property and if you have the time and the extra money, you will be whisked off into another world for the duration of your experience. I promise it is worth every penny.

I highly recommend the Eventi for your next stay in Manhattan. You will be most impressed with your choice. If you have stayed there, feel free to add a comment. I'm always interested in opinions!

Website:

http://www.eventihotel.com/

Silversun Pickups: Band Review

I had the opportunity to check out Silversun Pickups last weekend at The Greek Theater, in Hollywood, CA. http://www.silversunpickups.com/

First of all, let me just say that I was a huge fan of theirs prior to seeing them live. They are embedded in the alt rock L.A. up and comers scene and have been working their way up the ladder for years! I respect that, but seeing them live has taken them to an entirely new level in my mind. They are absolutely fantastic!!! I have not seen a level of humility and thankfulness from a band that has finally made it in many many years and it was refreshing to witness it.

SSPU are Brian Aubert on guitar and vocals, Nikki Monninger on bass and backup vocals, Joe Lester on Keys, and Christopher Guanlao on drums.

The energy output from this band is staggering. I think Chris Guanlao could power a small town from his drumming alone! I couldn't get enough of them from this show and as the set went on, I realized that almost every song they played was bigger and better than the last. They were actually improving on their game as the night went on. A lot of live shows stay flat, or start out big and waver up and down, but not these guys! They killed it from start to finish!

Insider Story: Brian Aubert told a story to the crowd of how he used to hike in behind the Greek Theater and climb the trees to watch bands as a kid.

They played all of my favorites; The Royal We, Sci-Fi Lullaby, Common Reactor, Panic Switch, Substitution...the list goes on and on.

Insider story: Nikki told a joke that had the audience rolling: She asked the audience if there was a snake doctor in the house and then proceeded to show her biceps and said, "Cause these pythons are sick!" Chick bass players rock!

Overall, a very impressive live show from a group of extremely dedicated, talented, and hard working musicians. See them!

Have you seen Silversun Pickups? Join in on the conversation!

BLVD 3, Hollywood, CA: Club Review

I am rarely in Los Angeles on a weekend, so when I am here, I like to sample the nightlife. Los Angeles has a distinct reputation for being a nightlife destination thanks to the multitude of movies, television series, reality shows, and paparazzi fodder that bombard the general public at all times.
But the reality of that reputation is a bit different. The reality is that the club scene in Los Angeles is anything but a nightlife destination. I'm not saying L.A. isn't a fun town to go out in, but it's not an easy one to navigate at all.
First of all, L.A. is huge. Secondly, the clubs are all spread out around the city, and as a result, it becomes very difficult to "hop" from one to another. You are forced to choose one club and stay there for the evening because once you finally get in to a club, it's already 11pm. The clubs in L.A. close at 2am, so you have three hours to enjoy yourself once finally past the all powerful velvet rope gods.
Thirdly, without exception, unless you find a miraculous parking spot not calling for a local permit, you will need to pay for valet. This will set you back at least $10-$20. Most people pay $10 to park once per evening. The thought of paying multiple valet attendants throughout an evening that only lasts three hours just doesn't make any sense at all.
So, now the choice is clear. One club per night out.
When I go out in L.A. I choose one club for the evening and focus on that one club only. If it's not that great, I'll choose another club next time, not a huge deal.
Last Saturday night I had some friends in town and we chose a local hot spot named BLVD 3.
BLVD 3 is located at 6523 W. Sunset Blvd, in West Hollywood.
BLVD 3 was the Hollywood Athletic Club for 70 years before Peter Famulari transformed the space in 2006 into one of the most visually stunning spaces in the entire city. Back in the hay day of Tinsel Town, Sunset Boulevard was named Boulevard 3, and since Famulari is famed for capturing the essence of this town's rich history, he thought it fitting to name it so.
When you enter BLVD 3, you pass through a strong set of gates that elude to an ancient English Manor Garden. The courtyard is magnificent with ponds and grand fireplaces leading you into the main entrance to the actual club.
Entering the club is an energizing, mind blowing walk into a heart pounding, festival of lights and music, alive with people dancing and partying. The three levels of what was once the library surrounding the dance floor that used to be the Olympic sized pool takes you back thru history, and throws you into the future all at the same time.
Insiders Story: Johnny Weissmuller used to be the life guard here and trained in the pool to win gold in the 1932 Summer Olympics!
There is always a celebrity guest DJ, as well as a stunning visual show put on by the house Go-Go dancers, as well as guest dancers putting on shows. Be prepared for something unique and special to happen on any given night at BLVD 3.
Drinks are reasonably priced for an L.A. club, which is to say, they are expensive, but the atmosphere is well worth it, as this is a club for celebrities to see and be seen.
Insider Tip: Bring a group of friends and call a week or two early to reserve a table with bottle service. This will ensure you get in early, and averaging out the cost of the bottle among friends will probably equal what you will pay on individual drinks at the bar.
Dress to impress. You will not even be considered at the door if you don't look the part. And as usual, if you can bring more women than men in your group, that will greatly assist your plea to the doorman.
The lines are long, and the wait is longer, so if you're not on the list, you will probably not get in. Call ahead and make a reservation.
Enjoy! Here's the link to the website for more information: http://www.boulevard3.com/
The number is listed as well as some other really great information.
If you go, let me know what your opinion is...and if you've already been, post a review of your own! See you out and about!
-Tom

Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas: Hotel Review

The Venetian Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

I had the pleasure of staying at the Venetian Hotel for 5 nights recently and I wanted to take the time to express my opinion on my stay there.

Upon arriving at the Venetian, one is immediately swept away to a feeling of old Europe with an immense grand entrance from the Las Vegas strip that instantly allows you to forget you are actually in Las Vegas. The hotel staff is eager to assist your journey from cab to room, but I highly advise utilizing guest services to handle your luggage as the check in line can take up to 45 minutes on a busy day.

Insider tip: There is a second registration desk to the right of the main registration desk, through an arched entryway that most guests do not know about. Use it, as the line there is usually completely empty.

Keep in mind at all times that the Venetian and the Palazzo Hotels are connected to the Sand’s Expo Hall and therefore are consistently hosting a wide variety of trade shows and events. Translation: Large volume of guests.

After registration, you have a fairly long, although stunningly beautiful walk down the main vaulted marble corridor to enter the casino floor. Brilliant marketing takes you through the slots floor to get to the bank of elevators that get you to your floor. You must show your room key to enter the elevator banks so make sure the key is handy. That way you don’t slow down the line searching your pockets.

There are three elevator halls, as the hotel is built with three, 36-story wings. Choose the correct wing as not all the elevators go to all the floors. Look above the arches for your correct floor number.

Although the Hotel offers suites from 650 sq ft all the way up to 2900 sq ft, I want to focus on the suite that I stayed in, named the Rialto Suite.

The Rialto Suite is an 1100 sq ft masterpiece from start to finish. I opted for the single king size bed as opposed to the double queens and as always, I asked for a non smoking room. Both of these requests were granted upon arriving at the hotel without hesitation. To speed up check-in time and room availability, you may want to consider making these kinds of requests at the moment of making your reservation.

The Rialto Suite offers the following amenities:

A beautiful Italian Marble Foyer, a plush pillow-top King Size bed with Egyptian cotton sheets, two 400-count wool throws, a spacious walk-in closet, a 42” flat screen for watching TV in bed, a sunken living room with another 32” flat screen and DVD player, a three chair dining table, oversized coffee table and ottoman, L-Shaped full sized sleeper sofa, a private work area complete with scanner/printer, wi-fi, and dual line telephone, a 130 sq ft bathroom with a 17” flat screen, Roman tub and separate enclosed shower, an adjacent water closet with telephone, double-sink vanity, and bath products by Agraria San Francisco.

There is also an in-suite safe for your valuables, passports, jewelry, or cash or chips. Please utilize the safe. At all times, please remember you are in Las Vegas, no matter how easily this hotel allows you to forget that fact.

There is a mini bar under the entertainment unit in the living room, and there are some items placed precariously on the surface to the right of the DVD player. Please be careful with these items. They are weighted to the surface and if you move them they will instantly bill your room for the cost of the item. They are not cheap. You will regret this. And don’t try to “Indiana Jones” these items with a similar item of exact weight. It has been tried, and it has failed at every attempt. Even Indiana didn’t get away with that one!

There are two bedding options in this suite. You may opt for two queen beds, or one king bed. I opted for the King, and slept like one! The bed is beyond comfortable, and the remote controlled window shades made the room pitch black. A sleep chamber fit for a king!

One amazing perk to staying at the Venetian is the benefits package you are presented upon checking in. The hotel offers you $25 in free slot play, as well as a variety of 10% to 25% off coupons to the various restaurants on property. There are also a few buy 1 get 1 drink coupons offered in an effort to keep patrons on property, and I can honestly say, it’s worth it to utilize these offers. Not only do they keep extra money in your pocket for gambling or shopping, but all of the offers are for outstanding dining or entertainment.

Also, ask about the various suite packages. The hotel offers packages based upon your vacation desires. If you want to see shows, they have packages that offer Phantom and Blue Man Group tickets. If you are into spas, the Canyon Ranch Spa on property is one of the finest in all of Las Vegas and they offer deals on everything from the gym, to full day luxury experiences.

Insider tip: The gym is not free. The cost is $17 per day. Budget this in or try to work into your package a free membership for the duration of your stay. It never hurts to ask and I know a few people who have received this benefit.

There are several dining options on property at the Venetian. I will discuss only those that I dined at as I do not think it is fair to discuss restaurants I did not sample.

First: Noodle Asia, Pan Asian cuisine: You want to know how I know this restaurant is legitimate? I was one of two Caucasians dining there. Everyone else was Asian. The food was spectacular, and the service was spot on. I ordered the edamame, and the seafood noodle bowl. It was large enough to share, but I didn’t want to! Next time I eat there, I’m going to try the pot stickers. I hear they are wonderful!

Second: Grand Lux Café, Global cuisine: There are two of these restaurants on property, one in the Venetian, and one in Palazzo. The Venetian location is 24 hours and always packed. The Palazzo location is much more hidden and there is hardly ever a wait to get in. I recommend the Palazzo location. The portions are huge and the prices are low. I suggest the Southwest Chicken Salad, but all of the salads are amazing. If you like Cheesecake Factory, you will love Grand Lux Café.

Third: Aqua Knox, Seafood cuisine: Chef Tom Maloney heads up an all-star kitchen with mouth-watering delights from the sea. This restaurant is not cheap, but of all the high-end restaurants on property, I find Aqua Knox to be the best bang for your buck. I interviewed over a dozen Venetian guests and without exception they all agreed with that statement.

There are also two food courts on the Venetian property. If you are in a hurry, or running out of money, there are many cost effective options here. From Subway, to Johnny Rockets, to Nathan’s Hot Dogs. And don’t forget Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream!

By all means, you must visit the Grand Canal with amazing shopping, real gondola rides, and a to-scale replica of St. Marks Square in Venice. This is a truly spectacular visual experience that you won’t want to miss. Gondola rides must be reserved in person on the day of your ride.

Insider tip: If you get lost or turned around, which is pretty easy to do here, just find the escalator that leads to the Blue Man Group theater and go down to the casino floor. This is the best way to get back to the main hotel lobby.

Shows: There are shows a plenty on the Venetian property. Blue Man Group, Phantom, and Jersey Boys, all play nightly and are all Broadway worthy shows. Get your tickets early or plan a package that includes tickets, as these shows are sold out almost every night. There are also many other shows that are in and out of the hotel so be sure to ask what other options you have when putting a package together. David Spade was in the theater during my stay, and Joan Rivers was about to start a month long set.

If you’re a fan of pools, the Venetian has one of the best pools on the strip. The main pool on the fourth floor offers an abundance of chairs and day beds and has a full day of sunlight if you want to get a serious desert tan. If you are more into the pool party scene, the Venetian offers Tao Beach, a Mecca for the beautiful, daylight club world. Tao Beach is an adult only party pool with name DJs and celebrity sightings galore. Keep in mind that it is small, and it isn’t for everyone. This pool is expensive and a single chair can run you upwards of $100.

Insider tip: Hotel guests and locals do get preferred treatment here, but make sure to go to the Tao Beach check in desk on the second floor near the parking garage entrance to get a bracelet and ask for special offers.

There is also a great deal of nightlife at the Venetian. There are a great assortment of bars on property that offer wonderful views of the strip or of the casino floor, but if you really want to step it up a notch, I recommend Lavo, and Tao. Lavo is a smaller, more intimate club with great DJs and a New York lounge feel. Tao is an Asian restaurant that transforms into one of the hottest celebrity hangouts on the strip once the restaurant closes around 11pm. To get into either of the clubs, dress to impress and try not to travel with a group that has more men than women. Even numbers or more women to men ratios will get preference by the door without exception.

The casino at the Venetian boasts a world class poker room, dice games, black jack, slots, and even a mobile gaming device that can be played in your suite! Be sure to register for a Grazie card before playing games to utilize your free $25 slots money and begin to build up your perks points in the hotel.

The Venetian also houses a state-of-the-art race and sports book for the sports fan in the family. There is a bar there as well, and they do offer comps to bettors so don’t be shy to ask. Remember, the key to Vegas comps is asking for them! Don’t be shy!!!

In summary, the Venetian Hotel is one of the best locations in all of Las Vegas, for shows, nightlife, gambling, shopping, dining, and sleeping! Go there, experience it, and enjoy it.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Hotel: 702.414.1000
Reservations: 866.659.9643
Fax: 702.414.1100

Fast Company is looking for Influencers

So, I have added a profile on the following website:http://influenceproject.fastcompany.com/v/dxyz#/wall/focus/dxyz/landing

Basically what we have here is the following: Fast Company Magazine is looking for the most influential people on the internet. They have started this experiment that will run from now until November. In the November issue of the magazine, they will take all of the people involved in the experiment and show them based upon their level of influence on their peers. The more influence they have, the larger their photo will be in the magazine.

Seems like a pretty cool idea...so of course I'm in! I am currently #365 out of almost 20,000 people. Not too bad! That's the 98th percentile! So, looks like I'm pretty influential...but, not nearly influential enough...I want #1! Of course! Who wouldn't? So, I'm spreading the word everywhere...facebook, MySpace, Twitter, my blog, everywhere!

So, go ahead and click on the link above...and feel free to start your own link as well. Let's see your power to influence! Come on, it's fun!!!

-Tom