JenLeoLIVE!

SimonLA and STONE ROSE

This is a picture of the STONE ROSE lounge at the Sofitel, a Rande Gerber joint. It is located at the Sofitel Hotel next to SimonLA.

We had drinks at STONE ROSE, then dinner at Kerry Simon's restaurant. A little piece of Vegas right here at home. Read their menus on the Sofitel Website and then make reservations. It was packed, even on a Monday night.

And no matter what the waiter tells you, the meatloaf is better than the braised short ribs. If you like having fun, don't miss the "simon junk food sampler" which includes rice krispy and cocoa krispy treats, cotton candy and carmel popcorn, mini snow balls and ring dings, plus a vanilla milk shake, little sundaes and sorbets, and a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

Sofitel Los Angeles
8555 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.278.5444

SimonLA
310-358-3979
Reservations: OpenTable.com

New Job Blogging for the LA Times

I can finally tell you about my new job! I am the Travel Deal Watch blogger for latimes.com.

The LA Times launched a brand new travel site today. travel.latimes.com. And on the right hand side, you'll see the Daily Deal Blog. That's me. Our aim is to bring travel deals of all budgets to Southern Californians so they can getaway, relax, and have fun. My boss, Andrew Nystrom, said it best in his intro to the blog.

Go check it out! And please, pass it onto anyone you think might benefit. Obviously we're in early stages. The blog will expand to several writers, with hopefully some columns and posts geared towards building community. It's going to be a fun and inspiring resource!

CURRENT: PASADENA, CA
NEXT: ???

Bittersweet Reunion

The best thing happened this week. I got back in touch with my Idaho family after seven years of silence.  My youngest cousin Celeste emailed me out of the blue to catch up. The next day, her sister Angela did, too. Their voices sounded so familiar even after the long hiatus. I've been wanting this for a while but have always let my initial efforts slip through the cracks for no good reason.

Sometimes I can be a big ignoramus. Not always but sometimes. Chris used to tell me repeatedly  that I didn't need to send a gift with every correspondence. But that never quite sunk in. When family has a baby, you send a gift. When they have two kids, you send a gift for the new one, the older child than you never got around to sending gifts to before, and of course everyone else in the family you've neglected. And then there's the books you never sent. Not one, but five. If someone gets married, you obviously can't send a gift without a catch up letter, or the books. And you can't send that letter without sending it to everyone. Who gets books? One set for the whole family, or a set for each couple. Now it's time to call the publisher and request two boxes of books. This is not a snowball effect, it's an avalance. The one that went on inside my head month after month. If I'd have stopped for one second I would've realized I was being ridiculous. But the conversation never left my head. And so I started asking, if not praying for a way to make it happen. Especially with the engagement.

My Idaho family, not all of them are in Idaho anymore, are the most loving people you've ever met. So  gracious, loving, and kind that they could easily be from Wisconsin. We agreed to put the guilt out with the trash and start again. No blaming anyone or anything. My Aunt Gayle called me the other night and her voice was so angelic. She simply said that all I needed to do was pick up the phone. Their love, extinguishing the flames of guilt in one fell swoop.

Everyone is married, most with little children, some with two, some with more on the way. Some even are poker players. I can't wait to talk more with the rest of the cousins. There are six total. But this also comes at a sad time. It turns out that our grandma is on her way out of this life. A surprise for sure. My uncle Steve and Aunt Gayle are taking care of her now in Oregon and Jason and I will go up to help them with the property next month. I don't usually talk about the most personal family matters here on the blog, but I thought I'd mention this briefly.

I just want to welcome the Livingston side of the family here to the blog. I'm so thankful that we're in touch again. There is still much more to catch up on than what a few one hour phone conversations can do. But we've made a fine start. And Grandma is surrounded in peace and love, I believe that.

CURRENT: PASADENA, CA
NEXT: LAS VEGAS (March 9-10)

I Gave Up Romance for Poker

John had a few surprises for me last night. And at 5:25pm he gave me a choice. He said that we could go have some mush time with drinks at (presumably the Peppermill's Fireside Lounge that I've been wanting to go to) or we could play in the 5:30pm $65 Paris poker tourney.

I picked poker.

And, believe it or not, I won the thing! I still can't believe it. Only 11 people showed up including me and John, but it still took almost three hours. I was up early on, then went all the way down to the point where I was all-in several times with not much, then when it got down to four players, I caught cards and pushed my stack around. When it got down to two players, I got all the cards and just pummeled him. They paid three spots, so there wasn't much net profit after tipping the dealers but it was fun. John busted early and went upstairs to work and start my surprises with chilled wine and a mushy card.
He finished his work before I was done playing, but rightly stayed in the room so as not to bring me any bad luck. We agreed later, this was best.

I still didn't know where he was taking me for dinner. And after leading my thought process in several directions all night we ended up in one of my faves—Mon Ami Gabi! I couldn't have been happier. We didn't even have to leave the building. It was fantastic as usual, and we stuffed ourselves stupid on mousse pate, steak frites, garlic spinach, and bread pudding.

The best part about Valentine's Day was that we were already engaged. If he hadn't asked me two weeks ago, I would've really been sweating it today. If you want to read the story about how we met, you'll have to buy Women's Poker Night.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Here's hoping your guy didn't cop out with the lamest excuse of all times—I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, it's so commercial, it's just a Hallmark Holiday, every day is Valentine's Day. If they did, hold out. Don't put out for at least four dates if not more. Of course that statement is true, but it doesn't mean he still doesn't have to suck it up and make sure his woman saves face at the office. Do you know what women think of men who don't do Valentine's Day? Oy.

And, as I type this, John is doing a dance that he's off the romance hook for two months. Yes, we agreed that this year we would make romantic nights out a new change to our otherwise full and busy schedule. Once a month we take turns doing surprise dates. It was actually my idea. And now it's my turn. I'm pretty sure I can out do him. One of my favorite restaurants and chilled wine with a mushy card? Pishaw. Too easy to top. This year promises to be even more fun than last year!

CURRENT: Las Vegas, NV
NEXT: Pasadena, CA (tomorrow)

Happy Valentine's Day from Vegas, Baby!

My favorite day of the year, in my favorite town! Life is good and filled with a long list of work to-dos. We'll be celebrating V-day at dinner tonight, but the whereabouts is a surprise. The question is, did John plan to go with a standby favorite like Nobu or Fiamma, or did he get creative and plan an outing to a place I haven't tried before like the Charleston Lodge? Either way it's win win win.

As you know, John's nearly impossible to shop for. So, I have one little surprise that I still need to go get. And one thing that we agreed on, a massage. Professional that is. Since we added a night to our stay, we were at  South Point last night. It is a good room, and for only $70, I'd be back here in a heart beat. The next two nights, which were planned, we'll be staying at Paris. That's where I'll book his massage. I can't wait to go to the Creperie tomorrow morning!

Last night I went to Tao. There was a 20 minute line to get into the nightclub. I was there with the beauties from Penny For Your Thoughts, and we decided to hit the lounge first. We must've looked our best because we immediately got stamped for Temple Tuesdays and passed all the right lines to go straight upstairs and into the club where go go dancers and bathing beauties got their groove on in all Tao fashion. I love it there.

Now I just need to find a wedding location. I worry that nothing will make me happy. It's 50k to rent Olives at Bellagio, Mix was taken, now I'm getting creative with the possibility of renting a large vacation home. I'll keep you posted. We have an artists working on our logo, so hopefully the website won't take too long to get up.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I hope that everyone gets a treat today, even if you think it's a Hallmark Holiday. Remember, staying in can be even more fun than going out! It's all in your attitude.

CURRENT: Las Vegas, NV
NEXT: Pasadena, CA (Friday)

2007 Oscar Countdown

Just under two weeks until the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Here are the movies that I still need/want to see if I'm going to be able to watch the ceremonies and give any kind of opionion. (X) means I've already seen it. (!) means I really want to see it beforehand.

BEST PICTURE
Babel   (X)
The Departed (!)
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine (!)
The Queen (!)

BEST ACTOR
Leo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond (X)
Ryan Gosling - Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole - Venus
Will Smith - Pursuit of Happiness (X)
Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland (!)

BEST ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren - The Queen (!)
Meryl Streep - Devil Wears Prada (X)
Kate Winslet - Little Children

Plus: Children of Men (!) and Flight 93 (!) Dreamgirls

And here, you movie fans, are some sites where you can find out all sorts of Oscar goodies, including printing your own ballet.

WEBSITES/BLOGS

LA Times: The Envelope

Daily News: On the Red Carpet

New York Times: Carpetbagger

USA Today: Red Carpet Report

CNN: Oscar Blog with Tom Leopold

I Beat the Over Under!

After John gave me the ring and decided it was OK to cut the see-through plastic chain that kept the ring attached to my wrist at all times - he set the over under of me losing it as Feb 10. I wanted to bet him real money, but there was definitely a part of me that was concerned he could be right. A freak out, where did I put it moment, might be in the cards.

Well, I should've put my money down because I survived. I have not lost it. And I think I've only taken it off twice. So there.

What else can we bet on?

Current: Pasadena, CA
Next: Las Vegas, NV (Tue-Fri of this week)

Wifely Duties

So, I'm practicing up. On cooking that is. Ever since John gave me the ring, I've cooked at home two or three times. The first night was shish-ka-bobs and rice, yum! The next night was a green bean salad and roasted potatoes. The third night John suggested we just have apps, but when I came home with a cheese log he refused to eat.

The Grammy's are this weekend so that means some of John's music friends are in town. We went out last night to El Compadre on Sunset and saw Jack Blades from Night Ranger. Who? The guy who sang Sister Christian. Ooh ahh. I'm just glad that I didn't have so many flaming margaritas that I hit the tattoo parlor on the way back to the car.

Tomorrow night I'll be cooking again, this time for six people! Don't think for a second that cheese log ain't making a come back.

Alright, I've got work to do. LOTS of work to do. TGIF.

Current: Pasadena, CA
Next: LAS VEGAS, NV (2/13-16)

That's Mrs. Blogger To You

Well, its high time I got back to blogging don't you think?!!!

The absence is all John's fault. Let me practice saying that—It's all John's fault—like all good wives do because John put a rock on my finger last week the size of Colorado. As one friend said, "How did you Photoshop a Volkswagen on to your ring?"

Yes, we got engaged and I've been trying, between working and calling Vegas chapel folk, to call my family and friends before blogging about it. I still haven't finished, but I'm starting to get that weird haven't blogged in more than a week twitch.

So, most of the poker media that we are friends with found out before me while John was in Australia having the ring made. The rest found out on Amy Calistri's wonderful tribute to me on Calistri's Corner.

Yes, the engagement is very exciting and we're truly happy and happier. BUT, the thrilling part is that we're going to do the deed on July 7, 2007. Silly, geeky, crazy, lucky - just like us. I know what you're saying, "We haven't even met John yet!" Well, sometimes that happens. And in cases like this, you just write your love story and put it in an anthology for the whole world to see. Women's Poker Night edited by Maryann Morrison released this week. My story of why I moved to Vegas, how I met John, and what happened when I became a poker player's girlfriend is called "I'll Have a Cheeseburger, Fries, and a King of Hearts." Buy it!

But the story ends after our first trip to London.  Lou Krieger and Amy Calistri got me talking even more on their show, "Keep Floppin' Aces" on Holdem Radio last week. We were chatting about my start in poker, meeting John, my gambling roots, strip poker, the proposal—you know, the usual. It starts on part 1 & finishes on part 2.

So, yes. It's true. I am officially (and nearly legally) off the market. Holy crap, what have I done. Well, for one thing, I went straight out and bought www.777VegasWedding.com. I need to build it out yet, but you can be sure that I'll be posting regular Vegas info there soon.

So, back to our regular schedule programming, yeah? YEAH! Woohoo!

CURRENT: Pasadena, CA
NEXT: Las Vegas, NV (Feb 13-15)