Monday, April 1, 2013

March Happenings + Easter

This month was another food-filled month for us!  (I swear we aren't fat).  It was Vegas Restaurant Week, so we took the opportunity to try a bunch of places around town at a discounted rate.  The restaurants that participate create three or four course meals at a discounted rate for the public.  Most places that participate are higher end restaurants we wouldn't normally eat at, so it is a great opportunity to get to experience a whole different type of dining!  We went to three different places, but rather than splurge on the higher end restaurants, we chose to stick to places we've actually been wanting to eat at lately.  The first place we tried was Meatball Spot at Town Square.  Not too exciting, but we both had been wanting to try it out since it just opened recently.  The food was great!  With our course meals between the two of us, we tried the Apple Salad, the Garbage Salad, the Spicy Chicken Meatballs, the Parmesan Cream Classic Meatballs, garlic bread, and (the best part) a Minty Goodness Ice Cream Sandwich and a Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwich.  Although the portions look small, they are actually quite filling and we were totally satisfied with our meals.  







After lunch, we decided to try out the new movie theatre in Henderson, the Galaxy Luxury Green Valley theatre.  I refuse to go see another movie anywhere else after going to this place!  The movie theatre has huge, reclining seats that are so comfy.  They have beer and wine service (awesome!) and customer service that is amazing (they walk you to your reserved seats! Who does that!?)  When you pay for your movie upon entry, you get to reserve your seats on a computer screen, or you can pay a $2.00 service fee and reserve them from home).  The prices are the same as a regular theatre, too.  It really is a totally different movie experience.  We went on opening weekend, so the free popcorn didn't hurt either.  We haven't been back since, but I loved everything about when we went so much that I wouldn't want to see a movie anywhere else!  

Reclined, relaxed and ready for the movie! So comfy!
Back to LV Restaurant Week!  The next place we tried was Todd's Unique Dining.  The food was great but the ambiance was kind of strange.  I'm not sure we would go back based on that alone, it felt like a "Early Bird Special" kind of restaurant by the fact that we were easily the youngest people there by a good twenty+ years.  Again, between our course meals, we tried Goat Cheese Wontons with a Raspberry Basil Sauce, Arugula and Blueberry Vinaigrette Salad, Mirin Marinated Mahi Mahi, Filet of Beef with Mushroom Cabernet Sauce, Butterscotch Pudding Parfait and Raspberry White Chocolate Lava Cake.  The food really was great, but probably not amazing enough for us to go back.






The last place we tried for LV Restaurant Week was Bratalian Neapolitan Cantina, which is located on Eastern close to Anthem.  This Italian restaurant was pretty decent but also pretty expensive for what it is.  Dessert, on the other hand, was AMAZINGLY to die for, and would be the only reason we would go back.  Again, the food was good, but the price is what would keep us from returning (minus dessert... I'd pay lots of money to eat dessert there again, SO good!).  The place is very small but I enjoyed spending time to eat there.  Between the two of us, our course meals included Caesar Salad, Deep Fried Calamari and Zucchini, Chicken Piccata, Chicken Milanese, Torta di Mele (fresh apple pie with carmel gelato) and Profiterol (pate choux filled with french vanilla gelato topped with warm chocolate sauce).  Yum!


Other than eating our lives away, we kept busy with going out on the weekends with Harley and our friends.  The first weekend of March was Bark in the Park.  It was held at Cornerstone Park, which is a new park we hadn't been to yet.  It was the first weekend of really nice weather this year, so we braved the decision of bringing Harley down, and crossed our fingers he was good.  Side note: Harley is not the best with outings or being around people he isn't familiar with.  He barks NON-stop which drives us crazy.  Even on walks around our neighborhood, he barks and seems so crazy and non well behaved.  We try to take him out often enough that he gets used to it, but he never does.  So, when we decided to test him out at Bark in the Park, we were really expecting the worst.  To our surprise, he was great!  He barked a few times, but really had so much fun getting out and seeing other dogs.  We walked around for about an hour or so, just looking at booths that were there, seeing and meeting other puppies, and watched a show.  The Henderson Police Dept. put on a demonstration with their K-9 unit, which was pretty interesting to watch.  It took up a good chunk of our Saturday morning, so it was something fun and different to do, plus we got to bring our furbaby with us, so that always makes us happy!

The cutest chow chow puppy that took A LOT for me to not bring home!
Cornerstone Park
Cornerstone Park
Booths at Bark in the Park 
COH K9 demo


Harley enjoying his day out!

We also enjoyed another weekend day out at Lake Las Vegas with our friends for the Brew's Best Beer Festival.  They hold the beer festival twice a year and we usually go every time.  It's a super fun day that usually ends in us sticking around Lake Las Vegas for a couple hours since we're not in very good conditions to drive immediately after!  We went with a bunch of our friends and we love getting to hang out with everyone when we get the chance.  





Last but not least, we celebrated Easter this month at my mom's house, which we do every year.  In the morning we usually spend it our house initially, with Harley opening his Easter basket (yes.... that happens.  He's spoiled, remember?)  We eat breakfast and then start heading over to my mom's in the afternoon for an early Easter dinner.  We always eat a traditional Easter ham, with the side staples of mashed potatoes and pineapple jello salad, among others.  We always get spoiled with a treat from the Easter bunny, also! :)

Harley's Easter basket


He's really good at getting everything out himself :)

Easter goodies


Cuddling with his new toys

Harley rockin' the Easter bowtie 

Treats from the Easter Bunny
Harley got more gifts from Grandma 
Happy dog!
When we go over to my mom's house, I always try to spend time with my cat, Oreo, whom my mom keeps care of since Jason is allergic to cats.  I've had this guy since I was ten years old.  He really hates Harley, so he usually hides when we are all over.  I'll sneak in and steal some love from him every now and then!  He's getting pretty old... lots of white hairs all around his face!  He's 16 and still kicking... so I hope he has a few more years left in him!



That's it for our busy month of March!  

...Until next month!