Las Vegas resort offers guests the chance to win buffets for life

by Melanie Nayer on

Anyone who has been to Las Vegas knows there are two things worth staying up late for: the nightlife and the buffet.

Now, the M Resort Spa Casino is giving more than 150 guests the opportunity to win buffets for life, one year or six months as part of its “Biggest Winner Club” promotion starting Monday, August 2.

Belly up to the buffet and grab your one entry with the purchase of any meal at the resort’s Studio B Buffet, which was recently awarded the coveted title of “Best Buffet in Las Vegas” from the city’s daily newspaper. The buffet features more than 200 items daily and guests can enjoy beer and wine selections at no additional cost. Among the more than 117 television screens, the buffet also features a live cooking show and great views of the Las Vegas Strip.

The “Biggest Winner Club” prize includes: — One VIP Studio B Buffet pass (for life, one year or six months) entitling the winner to enjoy a complimentary buffet for two daily. — Priority Line Pass and seating in Studio B for up to four (4) guests. — Custom-designed Studio B VIP t-shirt, hat and M apron. — Two tickets to any Martini Time show, based on availability.

Drawings for the winners will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 pm at Studio B Buffet. Winners will have 24 hours to claim their “Biggest Winner Club” prize. The resort plans to pick more than 150 guests to give this coveted prize to so your odds of winning are pretty good.

Layover alert: superb roti near JFK

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Got a longish layover at JFK? Have an hour to kill before showing up at the airport? Or simply want to get in the mood for the Southern Caribbean?

Some of New York’s best Caribbean-style roti is served at Atma’s Roti Shop (127-07 Rockaway Boulevard, Queens, 718-641-1769) just minutes from JFK by car.

Caribbean roti, for the uninitiated, is a spongy, filling wheat flatbread. It is usually served with curried chicken, goat, shrimp, or vegetables. Atma’s dhalpuri roti (with ground legumes and spices) is ridiculously good, and both the chicken and goat are highly recommended. The latter, quite characteristically, requires nimble deboning. The vegetable sides are also delicious, particularly the spinach with coconut and the creamy eggplant. Pennypinchers can relax. It’s difficult to spend more than $10 per person here.

Atma’s is a sunny blast of Caribbean culture. Recorded music is sold in one corner, and packaged Trinidadian snacks can be purchased at the counter. If you’re not obviously from the Anglophone Caribbean you might be greeted with a slightly bemused smile upon entrance. The proprietors are extremely friendly.

And if roti isn’t your bag, the neighborhood might still be of interest. The commercial strip along Rockaway Boulevard near the Van Wyck is full of Guyanese specialty shops.

(Image: Flickr/stu_spivack)

Travel writer Patricia Schultz and Nature Valley join forces to preserve the parks

by Kraig Becker on

Patricia Schultz, author of the best selling book 1000 Places to See Before You Die, and spokesperson for America’s national parks, has joined forces with Nature Valley in an effort to raise as much as $600,000 for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). This past April, Nature Valley launched the National Parks Project in an effort to fund three unique preservation projects in some of the most iconic parks in the system, and they’re asking consumers to help out in achieving their goals. Better yet, they’re also giving us an opportunity to win one of three trips to to a park later this summer.

Throughout 2010, the NCPA will continue its efforts to protect the national parks for future generations, but three projects are receiving special attention this year. Those projects include reestablishing plant life in the Grand Canyon, freeing Pronghorn migrations in Yellowstone, and rebuilding coral reefs in Biscayne National Park. Each of these projects hopes to reverse the adverse conditions brought on by a lack of proper funding in the past, increased pollution, and global climate change.

Nature Valley has committed itself to helping the NPCA complete these worthy projects and is prepared to donate up to $600,000 to aid the cause. To that end, for every specially marked Nature Valley wrapper that consumers mail to the company between now and August 31st, the company will donate 10 cents to the NPCA. Additionally, we can also make direct donations to the cause as well. More information on both of these options can be found at PreserveTheParks.com.

The promotion doesn’t end there however, as Nature Valley is also giving away three trips to the Grand Canyon later this summer., Check back at PreserveTheParks.com and the company’s Facebook page for a chance to sign-up for the Nature Valley National Parks Project Sweepstakes, and you could win a trip to visit one of the greatest natural wonders on the planet.

When describing the parks Schultz says “In addition to being great vacation destinations, our national parks provide fun and adventurous educational experiences for travelers of all ages.” That’s why many of the parks are featured so prominently in her book, and that is also whey she has partnered with Nature Valley to work to preserve these majestic locations for future generations to visit too.

[Photo credit: Pescaiolo via WikiMedia Commons]

Daily Pampering: The world’s most expensive sushi

by Laurel Miller on

Really top-notch sushi is pricey, no doubt about it. But you work hard, and if you’re a fan of the raw fish, there’s nothing like a serious splurge when your wallet’s fat.

Angelito Araneta, Jr. laughs in your face. The 21-year-old, Manila-based chef, known for his “unusual” food artworks, recently debuted the world’s most expensive sushi, which goes for 91,800 pesos-an estimated $2,000 to $2,700 USD, depending upon which news report you read. The five-piece nigiri, which appears to be augmented with crab, is encrusted with .20-karat African (“gives new meaning to blood”) diamonds, and wrapped in 24-karat gold leaf. Because sometimes, you just have a hankering for precious gems with your hamachi.

Araneta’s prior stunt was a diamond-studded, gold-leaf wrapped wedding cake, which sells for approximately $2,500. The young entrepreneur sells his culinary objets d’art as gifts for courtships or marriage proposals. The downside? Getting the diamonds back after the meal…

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

The Haagen-Dazs inspired hotel suite

by Melanie Nayer on

Some things are just not funny and shouldn’t be joked about, like a hotel room inspired by Haagen-Dazs flavors.

Thank you, San Francisco‘s Hotel Triton, for turning an otherwise boring July into something decadent. Since July is National Ice Cream Month, the Kimpton boutique hotel in Union Square has created the Haagen-Dazs® Sweet Suite – a custom-designed room that offers hotel guests a unique escape, featuring a custom designed ice cream cabinet filled with both classic Haagen-Dazs flavors and new releases such as the new Haagen-Dazs Five flavors. Ummm, OK!

The design of the room is equally as delicious. Vanilla and caramel colors serve as the base coats for a room decorated with “flavored” candles in chocolate, vanilla and dulce de leche. The room, designed by Stephanie Filbrandt of Marsh & Clark Design, features a headboard shaped like the Haagen-Dazs cartouche, and a waffle-textured bed throw and bath robe to keep guests cozy.

Appropriately called the “Sweet Spot,” the ice cream cabinet is stocked with bowls, scoops and spoons and, best of all, guests can enjoy as many complimentary cartons as they desire. FREE ICE CREAM!

The best part? You can indulge without feeling guilty. A portion of each “Sweet Suite” guest’s tab is donated to the Haagen-Dazs brand’s charity of choice, Delancey Street Foundation. Plus, if you choose to purchase one of the custom Haagen-Dazs bathrobes or ice cream scented candles, all proceeds will also go to the benefiting charity.

A quick rate check on the site generated prices starting at $379/night for this sweet escape. I think that more than makes up for the calories consumed from the bottomless cartons of ice cream one might consume in the suite.