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Reporter treats himself while in Las Vegas for assignment

By Brent Stewart, The Southern

Saturday, January 26, 2008 11:26 PM CST

It's morning in Las Vegas. I'm listening to the radio in my hotel room with the volume of the television on mute.

In the top right corner of the screen, a clock counts down the Miss America pageant. My time here is almost done.

Since I arrived in Vegas, I've heard on numerous occasions from family, friends, and co-workers that I need to go out and have fun.

When you're basically working 12 hour days, chasing down interviews and covering a fire that breaks out in the middle of all that, it's easier said than done.

At home in Southern Illinois, I've settled into a fairly comfortable routine of working, going to the gym, reading and sleeping. I usually go out one night a week, and I'm happy with that.

Of course, when you get the opportunity to be in Vegas for five days, you probably should go out and find something to do.

Friday evening, I had a ticket to see "The Phantom," the Las Vegas production of "The Phantom of the Opera," at The Venetian. The performance was at 7 p.m., and because the preliminary competitions were over and the contestants were off for the day, I had an opportunity to get my work done early, in time to see the show.

Though the workday was shorter, it was still crazy and exhausting.

Earlier in the day, I spoke with a friend who very explicitly told me that because my last two days of finding a good meal were horrible failures, I must find somewhere fancy. She even did a quick Internet search for recommendations.

As Friday's workday drew to a close, I began to agree with her. I had been working my fanny off for four days. I deserved to treat myself, as long as it was in the parameters of my expense account.

I finished up my last article, hit "send" to e-mail it to the copy desk, threw on a nice sweater and a pair of pants that had only been worn once and headed downstairs to catch a cab.

"The Phantom" was very, very good. I've never actually seen it, on film or in the theater. The Las Vegas version is probably more flashy than it is on Broadway, but it was still a lot of fun to watch.

The mechanics of the staging of the show are so intricate, you wonder how many people it takes to pull it off and how much rehearsal the actors and technicians needed to get it just right.

After the play, because the restaurant my friend suggested was full, I decided to go to Pinot, which is also at the Venetian.

While I was there my friend called to make sure I was following her instructions. I told her that I was having trouble deciding between the lamb shank and the salmon. My friend's recommendation was to go for the lamb, because I could get salmon at home. She also said that I should be sure to get dessert. As you wish.

The dinner was very nice, certainly a change from the last two nights.

The lamb literally fell off the bone. Except for the two couples who decided to air their personal grievances in a public place, the atmosphere was great. For dessert, I had a croissant pudding with Wild Turkey sauce, which was absolutely amazing.

After dinner, I walked back to the hotel, taking in the streets and sounds of the Las Vegas Strip.

It's really is a good idea to treat yourself, as long as it's within the parameters of your expense account.

brent.stewart@thesouthern.com

351-5074