COMING INTO THE “NEW” LAGUARDIA AIRPORT

Many years ago when now President Joe Biden was the Vice President, he didn’t win many friends in New York by comparing New York City’s other airport, LaGuardia, or LGA, to a “Third World ” airport.

This didn’t sit well with many New York politicians, including then governor Andrew Cuomo, who grew up in the borough of Queens where LaGuardia is located.

JFK is located in Queens as well, but they’re ALWAYS adding more terminals to it and there’s even a hotel right near the runway.

LaGuardia is different.

Nothing has happened to that airport in years, so those of us who have flown out of LaGuardia, agreed with Vice President Biden.

Not only does it look like a Third World airport, not for nothing and sorry not sorry, LaGuardia looked like a dump compared to JFK and even the other New York area airport, Newark Liberty over in New Jersey.

When I returned from my 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas, I flew into the “new LaGuardia” at Terminal B, which looks NOTHING like a Third World airport.

It’s a beautiful terminal and it reminds me of a lot of United States airports that I’ve been to, especially BWI, the other Washington DC area airport.

If JFK wasn’t close by my house, (basically in my backyard) I’d fly out of LaGuardia a lot more.

There’s a lot more work that needs to be done at LaGuardia but in the words of many a preacher, “We’re not where we wanna be, but Thank God, we’re not where we used to be!”

PICTURES FROM RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS

The last 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas I took was in June of 2021.

The day after I left, another casino opened up .

It was Resorts World, but unlike the one near my home in Queens, New York, it has two hotels attached to it, Hilton and The Conrad.

Both the Conrad and Hilton have separate entrances for their guests.

I wanted to see for myself what the Resorts World was all about, after hearing so many different opinions about it.

When I went not only was it Chinese and Lunar New Year, but going on in town wasn’t only NHL All Star Weekend, but the NFL Pro Bowl, which is the All Star game for the National Football League.

My own opinion of Resorts World is this, it’s beautiful and different than the usual hotels that Vegas is used to.

The area where Resorts World stands used to be the old Stardust Hotel, and as you walk into the lobby of Resorts World, you see part of the old Stardust.

Enjoy the pictures of the newest hotel and casino in town.

TEXAS STYLE BARBECUE IN AN ASIAN SETTING

I finally got to visit the new Resorts World Hotel and Casino Las Vegas on this 30 Plus Teams Tour.

There will be more about the Resorts World Las Vegas in an another post.

Since it was my full day in Las Vegas there were a few places and things that I wanted to do but it didn’t happen that way.

Something else came up to spoil the Sports Diva’s plans, but the something else that came up was something very unexpected.

More about that also in another upcoming post.

As usual, the Sports Diva got hungry as I only had a Dunkin Donuts and a cup of coffee early in the morning.

I knew most of the restaurants in Resorts World are Asian themed because there’s a Resorts World in my neighborhood and they were opened before the one in Las Vegas was.

I couldn’t decide between the sushi, Pho or a food that I hadn’t had in a long time, Indian food.

I went to the order board and looked over my choices.

One particularly caught my eye right away.

Being the Sports Diva that was raised by parents from North and South Carolina, my eye went to a restaurant that has its roots in Texas, Blood Brothers.

So what did I order?

Texas style barbecue Brisket on white bread, a Pineapple Fanta soda and potato salad.

Now being the good girl raised by Southerners, you better believe that some hot sauce went all over this delicious food.

No matter what you order from any of the restaurants at Resorts World, your food is either brought to you or you pick it up when it’s ready.

Just put in your phone number and when your food is ready, you get a text.

The food court is just like the hawker stalls in Malaysia and Singapore where your food is brought to you.

It brought back memories of going to Malaysia and Singapore when I worked for Malaysia Airlines in Los Angeles.

All in total, I paid $21 for my meal, the brisket was $17 and some change, which I’m sorry isn’t expensive.

I would have paid a lot more in New York City for this and besides, Beef Brisket isn’t a cheap cut of meat.

For the meaty slices that I was given, I would have paid more, really.

Every time I do a 30 Plus Teams Tour of somewhere, I keep a list of restaurants that I want to return to when I go back to that city.

Another one has been added to the long list for Las Vegas.

FINALLY EATING AT HEXX.

It seems that whenever I do a 30 Plus Teams Tour of anywhere, I’m either going to a sporting event or eating at some restaurant.

This latest visit to Las Vegas for All Star Weekend is no different.

As often as I come to Vegas, one of the restaurants that I’ve avoided is HEXX, which is located inside of the Paris Casino.

The restaurant is in a prime location, across the street from the Bellagio Hotel and the Bellagio fountains.

You can request a table right by the window and watch the Bellagio fountain show.

In the summer, not only can you request a table by the window, you can sit outside as well.

I was going to eat at another restaurant for breakfast, but since I had just won $65 at Paris Hotel and figured that I need to treat myself to a meal at a place that is always mentioned by YouTubers and travel bloggers alike when they come to Las Vegas.

From the moment that I walked in to the time that I finished my meal, I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The service was excellent whether it was the hostess who seated me, the waiter who served me, (his name was Mike, I think, but his mom is from Michigan and he worked in New York)or even the server who refilled my water and coffee.

As for my meal of three eggs Sunnyside up, apple wood smoked bacon, and potatoes, it was delicious.

The meal was $14.99,(and worth every penny)and it came with English muffins or your choice of wheat or white bread.

If you’re like me and didn’t want any bread of all, you had the option of having fruit, which is a dollar more.

HEXX also has bottomless Mimosas for brunch, which starts around 8am, and costs $30 per person.

I passed on the Mimosas but throughly enjoy my coffee, and that view that I had from my table.

The hostess asked me if I wanted to sit at the bar since I came in alone, but a table was good enough for me.

I was so full from the brunch that I skipped lunch.

I’ve decided that for my next trip God willing, HEXX will be a stop for brunch.

Come to think of it, I have two more days for this 30 Plus Teams Tour, HEXX might be a brunch stop whether I’ve won money at the casino or not.

SHENANIGANS OUT WEST

In a few hours God willing, the Sports Diva will be on a Delta Airlines jet from JFK.

As usual, it’s for a 30 Plus Teams Tour.

I’m really excited about this particular 30 Plus Teams Tour.

There is a game going on but that’s not it.

It’s the NHL All Star Weekend, and that means not only will I be in the host city but also some of my favorite and not so favorite hockey players as well.

Did I forget to mention that also in my suitcase are two sharpie pens for autographs?

Besides the All Star game, there’s the four day Fan Fest from February 3-6, culminating on Saturday, February 5 with the NHL All Star game.

There’s going to be a few posts about all the fun and not so fun stuff going on, so you just KNOW that the Sports Diva is going to be acting the fool along with everyone else.

Did I mention where all this craziness is going to happen?

VEGAS BABY!

ACTING THE FOOL IN LAS VEGAS

One of the reasons I went to do a 30 Plus Teams Tour in Las Vegas was because the local NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights was playing in the semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens.

Now they didn’t win the game but it gave me a chance to get together with some of my fellow hockey people from Las Vegas, who I hadn’t seen since March 2020 when we were all together for yes, another hockey game in Las Vegas.

Hey, the Sports Diva doesn’t play around when it comes to her sports watching and getting together with other sports loving peeps.

Now even though my “seat” was standing room and it was the hockey semifinals, it cost $75, which seems like a lot, but trust me, in New York City, at Madison Square Garden, we’d LOVE to pay only $75 for standing room, let alone a seat.

It was hard to say goodbye to my fellow Sports Divas, but thank God for social media, where we can keep the memories going of acting the fool in Las Vegas, and that’s a good thing.

CHEAP EATS AT LA SALSA CANTINA

A lot of buffets in Las Vegas still haven’t opened and many of the restaurants are expensive and stop serving breakfast at 11am.

Now a lot of us don’t come to Vegas to eat at McDonald’s for breakfast, but we will go into Denny’s, no lie.

For the five days that I was there, I ate at a place that was recommended by YouTubers who go to Vegas a lot and Las Vegas Facebook groups.

It’s called La Salsa Cantina and it’s located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino.

Like most places in Las Vegas lately, you have to wait in line to get a table.

The wait seems to take forever but once you get in, believe me the food is worth the wait.

The breakfast special, which includes 2 eggs anyway you want them, a choice of ham, bacon and sausage with potatoes, and either Texas Toast, flour or corn tortilla, is under $5.

They even have 99 cents Bloody Marys and for $4.95 you can get what they call breakfast cocktails, Mimosas, Baileys and Coffee or Bellinis to name a few.

The first two times I went, I had Bloody Marys. Strong but not too strong.

My last day there, Mimosas.

As much as I love the Vegas buffets, I think I’ve found a new breakfast spot in town, La Salsa Cantina

BACK AT THE EXCALIBUR HOTEL AND CASINO

The last time I stayed in this hotel which is between the Luxor and New York New York Casino was in March 2020 right before you know who came.

I decided to stay here again for my 2021 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas.

Now I didn’t get that great rate that I got at Bally’s, but since Excalibur is part of the MGM Properties, as a member of the MLife Players Club, I was able to get a good rate for my stay, which was Wednesday June 23 until Friday morning, June 25.

(Yeah, the Sports Diva plays the slots a lot in Vegas and Atlantic City, which also has MGM and Caesars Properties, don’t judge me!)

I had requested a room in the older, Resort Room section of the hotel.

When I arrived, I did what a lot of people do when they come to Vegas.

I asked if there were any complimentary upgrades on rooms.

All they could say was no, right?

The front desk clerk said she would check and five minutes later, I was moved to one of the newer rooms in the Royal Tower, all the way on the 24th floor, with double beds.

I had a nice view of not only Mandalay Bay and Luxor Hotel Casinos, but Las Vegas McCarran Airport, where I could watch the planes take off and land, and a partial view of Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Being the Sports Diva, you know I was happy to see something sports related.

This was a 30 Plus Teams Tour anyway, right?

The bed was nice and comfy.

My only complaint was unlike my stay at Bally’s a few nights before, there was no refrigerator in the room.

You just know another 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas is going to come, God willing.

If I can get a good or even a great rate, I’ll be making another visit to Excalibur.

GETTING TO KNOW SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AGAIN

They don’t fly out of Newark Liberty Airport anymore and they definitely don’t fly out of JFK .

In the New York area, they fly out of McArthur Airport , which is in Islip and Laguardia, which is close to me but I’d rather fly out of Newark Liberty then fly out of the madhouse that is Laguardia .

As for Islip McArthur, it’s way too far and it isn’t even in the city of Islip ,Long Island .

It’s in Ronkonkoma.

So when my 30 Plus Teams Tour took me on a one day trip to San Francisco , I jumped at the chance to take my favorite airline for the one hour and 10 minute flight from Las Vegas .

As I really didn’t have any luggage, just a drawstring bag that held everything pretty much , security was quick and easy for once, and I arrived at the airport way earlier than my 6:15am flight.

Southwest doesn’t charge for carryon bags like some other airlines do, and your first two check in bags are free.

The seats have numbers but there’s no assigned seating , which means that you can sit anywhere on the plane , even the exit row, if you feel like helping out in cases of emergency .

It was nice having the middle seat empty.

A whole row to myself would have been nice, but hey, the Sports Diva is on the plane, living her best life,doing that 30 Plus Teams Tour of San Francisco .

There are no screaming babies on the flight and no kids kicking the back of my seat .

Coming back, I’ll be taking Alaska Airlines , a carrier that I have never been on before .

My return will be on another post .

In the meantime , it’s about the planes that are blue, orange and red, Southwest Airlines.

I just have one question for them though.

Would it be asking too much for you guys to fly out of JFK ?

I’m just asking for a friend who also loves going on 30 Plus Teams Tours .

FAN FEST TIME WITH THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

This is a 30 Plus Teams Tour after all, and the Sports Diva is making the most of it.

On the last day of February , the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team had their annual Fan Fest at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.

This year was different , though

Normally, the players meet and greet the fans.

Not this year.

Even though they never mentioned it, concerns about the Coronavirus might have had something to do with why the players didn’t interact with many of the fans , even seasons ticket holders.

However, fans did interact with the team mascot, Chance, the cheerleaders , known as the Vegas Vivas, the team play by play broadcasters and the in game entertainment people.

There were some Golden Knights players though, and while they were on stage, many of us loved the games that they played.

How well do you know your teamate, Vegas Golden Knights Family Feud, and other games were played by the players as well as a Question and answer session with the coach and new players .

Now what would a fan fest be without some swag and of course, the Sports Diva was happy .

A Team Sports Apparel Fashionista ALWAYS needs new swag.

Even though this fan fest was different, a good time in Vegas was had by all .