The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is the Cosmopolitan of My Heart

I don't even know what that title means. Oh yes, here's what it means:

I love Las Vegas.

I would go every weekend if I could. It's not at all about being crazy or parties or any of that...it's just the perfect vacation spot. I love any vacation where you get there, and never have to get into a car to get anywhere. That's why I love Las Vegas...everything is RIGHT THERE. You check in, you're there. It doesn't even matter where you want "there" to be...you're there. Eating, dancing, people-watching, spa-ing, shopping, games, naps, pools, sunshine, art...everything is a short walk away. Also, I love any vacation where there is no concept of time. Also Las Vegas. I know they're strategic about hiding the clocks so you never leave, and I love it. You can sleep until 11, eat at 2, go to the pool at 4 and dance until 2...then do it all over again.

Las Vegas + Shannon = True Love.

For the past six years, some of the greatest friends ever and I have trekked to our Mecca (does it count as sacrilege if it's not my religion?) in Spring/Summer for what started as vacation, and now serves as reunion (as some of us have moved...I'm being nice in being vague, because it sure as hell wasn't me). We stay in different places on the Strip every year...until next year (until forever)...because we found our home. I don't ever want to stay anywhere other than The Cosmopolitan.

I'm actually creating a will (overdue?) and requesting that my ashes be spread there.

Here are a few (I think it might be many, actually, because in looking back on this, I went from three pictures to a lot) of the reasons this place is absolutely perfect (for us, but maybe not really for people into spelunking or anime or breeding cattle).

I'll start with what's most important. After that, they're in no partic order.

Food:

We ate at three (four?) different restaurants in the hotel, and they were all amazing. I especially loved DOCG (I don't know...don't ask), where our server was really creepy, but in a delightful way.
But by far the best food was at The Wicked Spoon, The Cosmo's answer to a buffet.

So wicked.
I love it like I love Las Vegas (circular? Likely.), and I love Las Vegas like I love to love.

You can't find three happier girls. Actually, you can, but it's us, because we get happier and happier as the pictures progressed.




That was actually a series of eleven photos. You're welcome for the editing.

Delicious everything--our agreed upon fav was the polenta, and my favs included the mashers, the greens/roasted tomato salad, and the pot roast. It actually made me wonder if I'd ever had pot roast before. ALSO...just as good as the actual food quality...the actual food...it was pre-portioned! Instead of getting a spoon of mashers, you got a tiiiiny pot of mashers. Instead of a piece of fried chicken (I initially typo'd "friend chicken"..."Hello chicken, my friend"), you got a tiiiiny fryer basket of chicken. Ummmmazing. And it was so good. Really seemed to remedy the nasty buffet food waste problem, but I imagine the dishwashers are suicidal.


Food...you are so adorable.

Sparkle:

Don't be intimidated if you aren't into the sparkle...it wasn't too over the top (yes it was and that's why I loved it). Listen...I'm also into making pizza in sweats and a t-shirt from the 80s on Tuesday. But in Las Vegas, there is no room for those things. It's about being completely over the top. That's why I can only go for three (seven) days. The Cosmo was the best of all of that. There is a three story chandelier with a bar in it. COME. ON. It was like being not in reality all of the time.

View from the floor.


My fav picture, I think...it's from the third story of the chandelier, looking up.


Soooo (not) over the top (for Vegas)


They are RADIATING SPARKLE.


We're tired slash happy....but we're all of that IN A CHANDELIER. CAPS.



Emphasis on shoes:

My life has a strong shoe emphasis. Of the material goods I love: food, then my iPod, then shoes. I'm not CRAZY about shoes or anything...I just love them, and think about them a lot, and choose carefully those in which I invest. Stop it...that's totally normal. But, (as I may have mentioned) since The Cosmo was created based on the thoughts that float around my mind, they too had a clear love of shoes, as displayed in their abundant shoe art.

This is literally perfect. Shoe. Cake. Not in that order.


Choco-shoe. I would like to wear it.


This made me think that the friend shoes were chasing after the worn shoes because they wanted to be worn. It makes a lot of sense. I'm pretty sure that's what the photographer was going for too.


A shoe I could sleep in. I wouldn't though. That's ridiculous.

These pieces of fine art provided nearly-divine inspiration for my own shoe art, and I chose to document our trip based on my shoes.

These were night one...they were excellent Barge dancing shoes.


Day two...pool day. These are the same jellies I had when I was five...but different...because of the fact that I'm not five.



Night two. Perfect for running around and stabbing people in the temple.


Zipper on zipper...night three.


Late late tv time. Perfect. Cousin is so green!

The casino floor:

Two words, plus one indefinite pronoun: ALL top shelf.

In the rough.


Ok, so I'm not really a gambler. I mean, I really try sometimes, but it's pre-he-hetty low key. I never gamble my rent money or child support or anything. But we managed to get ten dollars in free play, so I put my fake money into this slot called Kitty Glitter, only so I could take a picture for Mindy, who loves kitties (not like me) and glitter (also not like me....aaahhh I'm only keeedding!!!), but in a twist of fate, my free ten dollars turned into fifty real dollars!!! It was my most successful gamble ever. Look at the shock/delight in the crazy eyes.

I didn't go back. I know when to fold 'em.

Music:

The Cosmo prides itself on being "independent," and showcases that by having an unusually amazing line up of up-and-coming music. So weird for Vegas, and so perfect for me. We happened to be there when Marina and the Diamonds were there too. What??? Excited. We missed Robyn by days and Mumford and Sons by a thousand dollars. But Marina...she was free. Please enjoy what is possibly the lowest possible quality video available.


Dear Cosmopolitan,

I love you.

With love,

Shannon D. Cosmopolitan