It has been quite a few years since I attended the SEMA/ APEX show in Las Vegas. It is an annual convention that is incredibly huge. This year it was estimated that over 400,000 people would attend this week long event.
When Tracy and I had our company in Indianapolis, we attended every year. Our business was automotive aftermarket products and services. Every year we came back with something new. Attendees get access to hundreds of manufacturers throughout the world that produce automotive related products. Hot rods, new cars, vintage cars, race cars, dragsters, you name it they were there.
When I told Tracy I wanted to attend, she suggested we celebrate our anniversary a month early. When we attended in the past it was two to three days of nothing but viewing, negotiating, and meetings. Then leave with something new for our company.
View from our hotel room
We arrived Sunday morning pretty early in the morning. . We checked in the Bellagio at 8:30, left our luggage with the valet, and decided to find brunch. We went to Denny’s of all places. Breakfast was nice. Place was packed and we had a very nice waiter
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Their display outside the main lobby. Everything is made from flowers.
We decided to just explore that day. We walked a ton. Visited MGM, Mirage, and The Venetian. It was fun to just walk, explore, and watch people. Ok I admit it, we did gamble a little
Tuesday was all about SEMA. We got up early for breakfast and wanted to go to their little restaurant, Sadelle’s Café , but the line was huge. So we decided on their buffet. Belly up to the bar folks. Tons and tons of delicious food. I ended up creating the classic breakfast with the chef making an omelet for me. I tried to stay away from the breads, doughnuts, and other pasties. Believe me it was hard!
What shock to see this amount of people at SEMA. It is estimated 500,000 people attended the event. It is quite overwhelming for someone like me who really does not like large crowds. It has changed a good amount since my last visit.
When we arrived, we went to the north entry. As you get closer to the event, there must have been 100 classic cars and hot rods lined up along the street. Getting through security was easier than I expected Spent most of the time in the building where my industry suppliers are. Outdoors there were many other vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Classics vehicles, performance vehicles, and what I call fantasy vehicles. We even saw Eric Estrada there.
That night we went to Giordano’s. It is a Chicago style pizza place. That is some super thick pizza. When we lived in Indianapolis, we made many trips to Chicago and had this style of pizza. We met up with some very good friends of ours that was had not seen in some time. We had a great time there. Awesome pizza, beer and atmosphere.
Wednesday was another trip to SEMA. But this time I went alone because I wore Tracy out the previous day. Before I left for my venture, I made arrangements for breakfast room service, and a spa treatment. When I woke her up to leave, I gave her the itinerary for the morning.
Suggestion here guys. Happy wife, happy life. I found out many years ago while traveling that room service most times are without additional cost or minimal fees. Some days you really just don’t want to spend time around other people.
My trip to SEMA today was to explore the rest of the event. Did I say this place is huge? Well it really is overwhelming. Tons of people. Tons of media. All trying to get to the same viewing place you are. It is almost chaos but in a good way. I went through the main building which took me three hours. I did stop at a few of the suppliers that I use. Had some very good meetings. But I did not want to spend the entire day there.
Returned to the hotel to a very happy wife. Totally relaxed and was getting ready for the rest of the day. Tracy said the masseuse was incredible. She said the masseuse walked on her back and has never had a massage that great before. Her breakfast was perfect including a rose on the tray.
We decided to venture out to The Venetian and walk through the mall area. One thing about this place is you are bombarded with people trying to sell you perfumes. While in the magic store purchasing gifts, we were told all the perfume stores are owned by the same company. He said they hear complaints all the time.
Next, we went to the Mirage. We decided to visit the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Very enjoyable and relaxing. We walked around and viewed white lions and tigers. The dolphin exhibits were very interesting and informative. One dolphin had a new baby about two months old. We watched them play with the baby.
For dinner we went with Italian. On one of our Lyft trips I asked the driver where he would take his wife. He said Battista’s Hole in the Wall. Now with all the trips she and I have made to Las Vegas throughout the years, why didn’t we know about this? Our first trip to Vegas was a small hotel across the street from this place. Again, why in the world did we not know about this earlier! Old style baby. I think this place was established in 1970. it looks like some of the original decor is still there. Tons of photos of celebrities around the place. The menu is a chalk board on the wall. There are about 15 items available. With your entree you receive wine, salads and more. Food is excellent. If you want to go, only reservations in order to get in.
That night we went to see Cirque Du Soleil Mystie’re in Treasure Island. Incredible! What a performance. We went to the 9:30 show. Did I say it was great?
Yes we gambled that night. Not too bad. We played until 3 AM and only spent $80.00.
Thursday morning we decided on room service. Was very nice and relaxing morning. And they sent me Tabasco.
The rest of the day we spent with my cousin we have not seen in 12 years. He has been living in Australia and is moving back to Las Vegas with his family who I have never met.. We had a great time with him. We went to the Elephant Bar. The atmosphere was great, food was good also. it was really good seeing him again
That night we attended a party with one of my suppliers. We went to Virgil’s Real BBQ at the Linq Hotel. Now don’t get me wrong, the BBQ was good. I was told this was Texas BBQ, close but no cigar. We had a blast there. Our party took over the second floor. The restaurant had their own country dancers and they kept the party goers involved with the dancing. We did have a great time.
Oh, guys if you have to pee they have kegs made into urinals.
Now for the hard part. The party ended at 12:30. We needed to be at the airport at 3:30 AM for the required two hour check in. We made the decision not to tap an hour nap. Wish we did! We arrived at the airport, eyes barely open. Flight was on time, direct to Austin.
We arrived in Austin very early and went to the Fairmont Hotel downtown. it is a new hotel next to the convention center. Very nice hotel and friendly staff.
This was our final stop for our anniversary celebration. I had purchased Doobie Brothers tickets months ago.
We were able to check in early and decided to take a much needed nap. We were asleep for about 45 minutes and there was a knock at the door. Room Service delivering a bottle of Champagne and handmade chocolates. It was a very nice of the hotel management. We slept past lunch.
Dinner was a quick walk up the street to Fogo De Chao. This is a Brazilian style restaurant where they bring a ton of meats from the rotisserie. The salad bar is huge. We had lamb, pork, chicken, and about five kinds of beef. The atmosphere was great, and everything was delicious. Yes that says 42nd annuversary.
We finished dinner a little too early to head to the concert so we walked back to the hotel to freshen up.
It was cold and rainy that night, we took an electric cab to the Moody Theater where they film Austin City Limits. Let me tell you, there is not a bad seat in the house. This concert was a benefit concert for the Alzheimer Association. We watched the remaining 30 minutes of the auction prior to the show. At the end they were asking for $100 donations from the people attending the benefit. Sure wish they allowed the audience to donate because I would have offered.
The concert was the perfect ending of our celebration. It was extremely easy and fast to get in the auditorium, almost center seats, perfect view and sound. When we left we had the same cab driver back to the hotel.
This trip was very enjoyable for Tracy and I. Even though it was technically a business trip, we were able to do many fun things, meet up with long time friends, establish new relationships. And more importantly see my cousin. And the last night was a perfect ending of our anniversary celebration.