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Vegas Golden Knights – Knight Time

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we travel to Sin City to take a gamble on the Vegas Golden Knights:

Establishment Story: The Golden Knights joined the NHL as an expansion team in 2017. Vegas played their expansion draft to perfection, putting together a lineup of “misfits/castoffs” that ended up working very well together. This changed the trajectory of the franchise and instead of struggling for many years, as most expansion clubs do, the Golden Knights have chased the Stanley Cup instead.

Stanley Cups: The Golden Knights captured their first Stanley Cup (2023) in only their sixth season of existence, just as owner Bill Foley forecast, defeating the Florida Panthers. They also came incredibly close in their first year of operation, losing in the 2018 Finals to the Washington Capitals. Vegas has been a contender nearly every season, missing the playoffs only once.

Celebrity Fan: Being based in the entertainment capital of Las Vegas has allowed for many celebrity supporters to adopt the team. This includes long-time performers in the city, such as Wayne Newton, Criss Angel and Carrot Top. Other inhabitants of Vegas, including poker player Daniel Negreanu, chef Gordon Ramsay and boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer have also had associations with the team.

Golden Knights

Super Fan: John ‘Hulk’ Baratta was an original Golden Knights season ticket member, who attended games sporting a Hulk Hogan-style mustache and dressed in a shirt he would rip off when Vegas scored. Sadly, Baratta passed away in March 2020, prompting the Golden Knights to honour him with a video tribute at their next home game. Fans in Baratta’s usual section were given tear-away shirts, which they ripped off when Vegas scored.

Mascot: Chance is a gila monster who came to the team from Red Rock Canyon, located outside Las Vegas. The lizard, coloured the same as the hockey team, debuted at the Golden Knights second ever home game on October 13, 2017. Vegas purposely stayed away from using a knight as their mascot, as they felt examples from other teams weren’t very child-friendly.

Tradition: The Golden Knights home rink, T-Mobile Arena, has quickly become one of the most raucous barns in the NHL. This is thanks to in-game entertainment, highlighted by a battle between knights, themed around that game’s combatants. Given T-Mobile Arena’s location along the Vegas strip, the fun begins well before game time, including a parade that winds its way from the Brooklyn Bridge outside New York New York up to the building.

Appearances in Media: The Golden Knights inaugural season is documented in the film Valiant, released in 2019. The movie received its premiere screening at T-Mobile Arena. Many also believe that first Cinderella season could eventually be turned into a Hollywood film, with casting choices including Anthony Hopkins as coach Gerard Gallant, Jon Hamm as GM George McPhee and Adrien Brody as goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Chance

Events/Scandals: As the Golden Knights chased the Stanley Cup, under the mandate of owner Bill Foley, some have accused the team of being disloyal to players who helped the team become successful. Original misfits, such as Erik Haula, Nate Schmidt and Marc-Andre Fleury (the first face of the franchise), were callously jettisoned to make room for replacements/in salary cap dumps. With a Stanley Cup won in just year six of existence, some would argue the ends justify the means.

Rivalry: A top rival to the Golden Knights, thanks to a nasty playoff history, is the San Jose Sharks. Facing each other in back-to-back post-seasons, both clubs have won one series. The hatred between the teams has diminished lately, though, as San Jose is going through a long-term rebuild. Another adversary of Vegas is any fan who believes their success came to soon and more suffering should have been endured in the team’s earliest years.

Tragedy: On October 1, 2017, days before the Golden Knights played their first-ever game, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock shot and killed 58 people from his 32nd-floor suite in the Mandalay Bay hotel. The victims were attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival nearby. For Vegas’ home opener on October 10, the team paid tribute to those slain, retiring jersey #58, as a remembrance of the incident.

Player Nicknames: Phil Kessel, holder of the NHL’s Iron Man record at 1,064 consecutive games played, joined the Golden Knights for the 2022-23 season. Known for his prolific scoring, rather than his defensive acumen, Kessel was nicknamed Selke by teammates, a reference to the NHL trophy given to the best defensive forward each season. Another good moniker was given to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was dubbed The Dude, during his time with Vegas, comparing him to the protagonist of The Big Lebowski.

Phil Kessel

Line: The Misfit Line, comprised of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, played together since the Golden Knights began play in 2017, up until Smith was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 off-season. Each joined the team as part of the Expansion Draft, with Karlsson and Marchessault being selections and Smith being traded so Vegas selected Marchessault. In year one, Karlsson scored 43 goals, a single-season NHL expansion team record.

Captain: Mark Stone is the only captain in Golden Knights history, given the distinction on January 13, 2021. Prior to Stone’s appointment, the team had gone with groups of alternate captains, with Deryk Engelland and Reilly Smith being part of the leadership group for each season, along with others. In 2017-18, six different players wore an ‘A’ at some point for the club.

Enforcer: Ryan Reaves holds the Golden Knights single-season penalty minutes record with 74. The record was set in 2018-19, Reaves first full season with the team after coming over from the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2018. In the 2021 off-season, Reaves was traded to the New York Rangers, in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2022. Brayden McNabb holds the team’s all-time penalty minute record, while Keegan Kolesar has the most fighting majors in Vegas history.

Family Values: Vegas has yet to have any family members play together or even at different times in their brief history. The best I can fill this section is to highlight second generation/brotherly players who have suited up for the Golden Knights, such as Jake Leschyshyn, whose father Curtis Leschyshyn played 1,033 NHL games; Brett Howden whose older brother is Quinton Howden; and Reilly Smith whose older brother is Brendan Smith.

Mark Stone

Returning Players: While his tenure with the team technically never ended, the Golden Knights did attempt to trade forward Evgenii Dadonov to the Anahemi Ducks at the 2022 NHL trade deadline, with the transaction voided, due to Dadonov having Anaheim on his no trade list. The Ottawa Senators, who had previously traded Dadonov to Vegas, had neglected to inform the Golden Knights of his no-trade contract clause, leading to later punishment of the Senators organization.

Short Stint: A number of the players that were integral to the Golden Knights successful inaugural season left the team that campaign. This included early stars David Perron and James Neal. Also, goaltender Jonathan Quick joined Vegas for 10 regular season games and zero playoff appearances, winning his third Stanley Cup as the Golden Knights took home the 2023 championship.

Undrafted: Defenseman Zach Whitecloud was signed out of college by the Golden Knights in 2018. He remains with the team to this day, having signed a six-year, $16.5 million contract extension in 2021. Whitecloud is the first player to reach the NHL from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and was a member of the team’s 2023 Stanley Cup championship squad. During that playoff run, Whitecloud contributed two goals and six assists.

Trade: With the early success of the franchise, the Golden Knights have often gone big game hunting, in on every NHL star that becomes available. This has led to the team acquiring the likes of Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty and Jack Eichel via trade. While giving up notable assets to add these players to the roster, both Stone and Eichel were key cogs of the 2023 Stanley Cup-winning crew.

Jack Eichel

Signing: Much like going after big fish in trades, Vegas has also pursued many of the top free agents in their early years. The organization’s best signing was luring Alex Pietrangelo from the St. Louis Blues in 2020, inking the former Blues captain to a seven-year, $61.6 million pact. Pietrangelo brought with him to Vegas the experience of winning the 2019 Stanley Cup, hoisting a second championship with the Golden Knights.

Draft Pick: Vegas entered their first ever draft in 2017 with three first round picks. They selected Cody Glass (6th overall), Nick Suzuki (13th overall) and Erik Brannstrom (15th overall), all of which have been traded away in an attempt to sustain the unprecedented success of the team’s first season. Later, Peyton Krebs (17th overall in 2019) would also be sent packing as part of another trade package.

Holdouts: Following his breakout rookie season, defenseman Shea Theodore was due a new contract. With each side looking for a different length to his next deal, Theodore missed the first two weeks of training camp, before finally putting pen to paper. With a seven-year, $36.4 million pact finalized, Theodore continued his upward trajectory, even while being treated for testicular cancer.

Buyouts: Vadim Shipachyov’s time in the NHL was brief, but interesting. The Golden Knights signed him out of the Kontinental Hockey League in May 2017, before they had even formed the bulk of their team via the expansion draft. After three games to begin Vegas’ inaugural season, Shipachyov was demoted to their minor league affiliate. After failing to report to the team, Shipachyov’s contract was terminated and he returned to Russia.

Vadim Shipachyov

Unique Game: Despite their short history, the Golden Knights have already been summoned to participate in a number of marquee NHL events. First, Vegas faced the Colorado Avalanche as part of the 2021 Outdoors at Lake Tahoe. They are also set to oppose the Seattle Kraken for the 2024 Winter Classic. Lastly, the Golden Knights played a pre-season game in both 2021 and 2022 against the Los Angeles Kings in Salt Lake City, with the contests dubbed Frozen Fury.

Goal: James Neal scored the first two goals in franchise history, earning the Golden Knights their first ever victory. Years later, Jonathan Marchessault tallied three game-winning goals in the 2023 playoffs, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts, becoming the first undrafted player to win the playoff MVP award since Wayne Gretzky in 1988. Vegas’ cup-clinching game was won with a score of 9-3, the game-winning goal coming off the stick of Reilly Smith.

Fight/Brawl: As the Golden Knights took a commanding 3-1 lead at the end of Game 4 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals versus the Florida Panthers, a typical scrum between the two teams began. The gathering quickly turned into more than just players grabbing jerseys, as some combatants started fighting with one another. Adding to the chaos was frustrated Florida fans littering the ice with debris. The Panthers were assessed 26 penalty minutes in the melee, while Vegas walked away with just two penalty minutes.

Injury: The Golden Knights have always seemed to struggle with injuries to their goaltenders. In their first month of NHL play, they were forced to use four different backstops and five goalies appeared for the team in that inaugural campaign. The trend has continued with starting netminder Robin Lehner missing two full seasons with chronic hip issues and the team using a triage of goalies en route to their Stanley Cup championship.

Lake Tahoe

Penalty: In the first round of the 2019 playoffs, the Golden Knights were up 3-0 in Game 7 of their series against the San Jose Sharks. Off a faceoff, Vegas center Cody Eakin cross-checked Sharks center Joe Pavelski, who fell awkwardly, hitting his head and becoming injured. The referees gave Eakin a five-minute major for a hit to the head. San Jose scored four goals on that power play, eventually winning the game 5-4 in overtime. Golden Knights GM George McPhee said the NHL later called to apologize for the penalty call error.

Wildest Story: For their inaugural season, the Golden Knights were given 500-1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup. When the team exceeded expectations and made the Finals, sportsbooks must have grown a little nervous about potential payouts. All tolled, only 13 bets were placed on Vegas at 500-1, all $20 or less. That said, a $20 wager would earn $10,000 in winnings, while $1 gambles would translate to a $500 payout. It was all moot, though, as Vegas failed to win the championship.

Blooper: During an April 2022 game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Golden Knights handed their opponents an easy power play goal. William Karlsson won a faceoff in his own zone, drawing the puck back to defenseman Alec Martinez, who while trying to play the puck, redirected it past goaltender Robin Lehner. The tally was credited to Bo Horvat, who took the faceoff for Vancouver. In the end, Vegas still managed to win the game 3-2 in overtime.

Miscellaneous: Lil Jon, who has been attached to the Golden Knights on occasion, is actually listed as the team’s Offensive Coordinator on their website, thanks to a funny viral video, featuring the rapper. The video sees head coach Bruce Cassidy bring in Jon to help his club’s offensive woes, with the rapper advising all will be well if the team just takes “shots, shots, shots… YEAH!”

Vegas Golden Knights: Knight Time

Knight Time

  • 1.5 oz Whiskey
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • Top with Sweet & Sour Mix
  • Garnish with Lemon and Lime Slices

A number of bars around Vegas have got in on the act of supporting the Golden Knights with themed cocktails. This particular offering can be found at Station Casinos around the infamous vacation destination.

Nevada – Casino

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Each week, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the United States, discovering the best each state has to offer in a variety of subjects. Today, we try our luck in the entertainment capital of the country, Nevada. Mrs. Sip and I have travelled to the Silver State many times, even enjoying attractions off the Las Vegas Strip. Time to roll the dice and see what comes up:

Motto: “All for Our Country” – Such selflessness!

Food: While today, casino buffets offer a culinary delight of worldwide dishes, the early days of these all-you-can-eat feasts were a little different. Las Vegas revolutionized the concept, with the first ever offered at the El Rancho Vegas (also the first casino on the Strip). Dubbed the Buckaroo Buffet, it offered a mix of hot and cold dishes, 24 hours a day, for a whopping $1.

Drink: One of the most unique cocktails I’ve ever had was the Verbena, created by head mixologist, Mariena Mercer, of The Cosmopolitan, in Las Vegas. You begin by chewing a Sichuan flower and then move onto the margarita-like cocktail. With each sip, as the flower takes effect, you become a super taster, thanks to your taste buds being altered.

Buffet

Site to See: Outside of Las Vegas, top attractions include tourist towns such as Reno (‘The Biggest Little City in the World’) and Lake Tahoe, as well as sites such as the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Great Basin National Park, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and Valley of Fire State Park. However, what happens there, doesn’t stay there.

Street: One can basically travel the world while walking the Las Vegas Strip (aka Las Vegas Boulevard), with hotels themed after destinations such as Paris, Monaco, Egypt, New York, Venice, and Brazil. Other highlights include the Stratosphere, the tallest structure in the western U.S., and a multitude of dining, drinking and entertainment options. There’s also the Fremont Street Experience, for a taste of old Vegas.

TV Show: I have to go with CSI: Las Vegas in this category for creating the police forensic procedural genre. The show ran for 15 seasons and 337 episodes and was so popular, it spawned spinoffs set in Miami and New York City, as well as a Cyber Crimes series. Honourable mentions go to Reno 911! and Mike Tyson Mysteries for their characters and comedy.

Movie: A tough choice here, as I love The Hangover for its wild and hilarious story. I also enjoy a good heist film, with Ocean’s 11 (the Rat Pack original and the George Clooney remake) ranking among my favourites. Lastly, I can’t leave out Vegas Vacation, for the many lines that have become part of the Sip Family’s vernacular.

CSI

Book/Author: A few other notable Las Vegas films were adapted from books, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (by gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson), Leaving Las Vegas (a semi-autobiographical novel by John O’Brien), and Casino (based on the non-fiction Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi).

Fictional Character: I’m surprised at how few options were available for this category. I’ll go with Balrog from the Street Fighter video game franchise. A former boxer, the character was based on Mike Tyson, even being named M. Bison in the Japanese version of the games. Due to legal concerns, some characters were rotated for the North American ports.

Fictional City: The movie Tremors, starring Kevin Bacon, takes place in the fictional town of Perfection. Things are far from perfect, though, as giant sandworm-type creatures are attacking the town in a hunt for human flesh. The movie spawned a franchise of five direct-to-video sequels, one prequel and a TV series, which lasted one season and 13 episodes.

Actor/Actress: Jena Malone was born in Sparks, with her most notable role being Johanna Mason from The Hunger Games franchise. Other stars from Nevada include Dawn Wells (Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island), Rutina Wesley (Tara on True Blood), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia on Buffy/Angel), and Thomas Ian Nicholas from the American Pie series.

Tremors

Song: Most songs about Nevada focus on Las Vegas and nothing can get you into the Sin City mood more than Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas. Presley was practically an honourary citizen of the state, performing 636 straight sold out shows (two shows a night, seven days a week), as one of the original residency acts. Viva Las Vegas was recorded for Presley’s 1964 film of the same name.

Band/Musician: Rock band, The Killers, were formed in Las Vegas, in 2001. The quartet has sold more than 28 million records and are still going strong today. The group is known for songs like Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me. Special shout out to fellow rockers, Imagine Dragons (also formed in Las Vegas), for their song Radioactive being the longest Billboard Hot 100 chart topper ever.

People: Betty Willis may not be a household name, but the artist born in Overton, created one of the most recognizable pieces in Nevada, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Willis did not trademark her design, instead gifting it to the city. She passed away, in 2015, at the age of 91.

Animal: Nevada has a long history of animal performers. Most famous among them were the tigers and lions part of the Siegfried & Roy act at the Mirage. Sadly, one of those tigers, named Montecore, attacked Roy during one show in 2003, ending the duo’s successful 13-year run at the hotel. There was also Bertha the Elephant, who performed at the Nugget, in Sparks, for over 30 years.

Las Vegas

Invention: While operating a tailor shop in Reno, Jacob Davis invented blue jeans, while making a stronger pair of working pants for a customer’s husband. Davis later partnered with Levi Strauss, who was providing the fabric for the jeans, to apply for a patent on the creation. As a frequent wearer of blue jeans, I thank both gentlemen.

Crime: In 2017, the world was shocked by a mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. Nevadan Stephen Paddock fired more than 1,000 rounds from the Mandalay Bay resort onto the nearby Route 91 Harvest music festival. He killed 58 people and wounded 438 others, with injuries totalling 869 in the panicked aftermath. Paddock committed suicide following the massacre.

Law: Nevada is my kind of state. They have a law that makes sure public intoxication can’t be made illegal and another law that allows the sale of booze to occur 24 hours a day from bars, restaurants and stores.

Sports Team: Nevada was devoid of professional teams until 2017, when the Vegas Golden Knights joined the NHL as an expansion franchise. Similarly, should an NFL season be played this year, the Oakland Raiders will officially relocate to Las Vegas. The city is also the epicenter of boxing and mixed martial arts cards, host to numerous memorable fights.

Jeans

Athlete: Tennis star, Andre Agassi, was born in Las Vegas and lives there to this day. Agassi became a pop culture icon in the early 90’s, thanks to his success on the court, good looks, and high-profile relationships with Barbra Streisand and Brooke Shields. Agassi won a total of eight majors, as well as a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, in Atlanta.

Famous Home: The Underground House, in Las Vegas, looks like a normal residence, until you realize it is constructed 26 feet below the surface and doubles as a bomb shelter. The property includes a home, yard, pool, spa, trees, guest accommodation, BBQ, and fountain, as well as outdoorsy murals. In 2019, it was listed to sell for $18 million, although it sold in 2015 for only $1.15 million.

Urban Legend: Area 51’s existence wasn’t confirmed by government until 1990, inspiring a number of conspiracy theories. These include the housing of UFOs and alien lifeforms, as well as experiments involving weather control, time travel and teleportation. Route 375, leading up to the facility, was renamed the Extraterrestrial Highway, in 1996.

Museum: Mrs. Sip and I have visited and fully recommend both the Neon Museum and Mob Museum. The Neon Museum has a “boneyard” of signs from the history of Las Vegas, while the Mob Museum documents the city’s affiliation with organized crime. Another museum we would like to check out in the future is the Pinball Hall of Fame.

Underground House

Firsts: Nevada was the first state to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment, which barred the government and states from denying people the right to vote, based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Nevada is also the only state to legalize prostitution, although it is technically still illegal in area like Las Vegas and Reno, due to their larger populations.

Company: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leader in mixed martial arts action, is headquartered in Las Vegas. Since its inception in 1993, the promotion has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but has grown from a one-night tough man tournament to a global phenomenon. UFC President, Dana White, is now among the most recognizable people in sports.

Events: When Nevada Governor, Fred Balzar, signed Assembly Bill 98, legalizing gambling in the state, in 1931, he paved the way for Nevada to become the place it is today. The same year, the Pair-O-Dice Club became the first casino to open in Nevada, with the resort being renamed The Frontier later, which is how most remember it. It closed in 2007, with the property now being owned by Wynn Resorts.

Miscellaneous: I couldn’t wrap this article without mentioning the September 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, which occurred in Las Vegas. Shakur succumbed to his injuries six days after the drive-by shooting, at the age of 25. The murder has remained unsolved, despite speculation of gang and rap feud ties, drawing much intrigue from fans and filmmakers alike.

Casino

Casino

  • 1.5 oz Gin
  • 0.5 oz Maraschino Liqueur
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Orange Bitters
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This International Bartenders Association official cocktail is perfect for Nevada. It dates back to at least 1917, when it first appeared in a recipe guide. It’s funny how many drinks for this project use a combination of Gin, Maraschino Liqueur and Lemon or Lime Juice. I will say, this was a tasty blend of that formula.

Sip Trips #131: Strip Show (Part 2)

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Part two of our travels to Las Vegas began with the holiest of drinking days: St. Patrick’s Day! I’ve actually celebrated the holiday in Dublin, Ireland, but being in Las Vegas was sure to be unique in its own way. We began the day with cracking open a few Guinness Nitro IPAs from the six-pack I bought at Walmart as we were out the day before. The beers were an interesting blend of a smooth and non-carbonated, yet hoppy ale.

Our first stop of the day was Ketchup Premium Burger Bar, to use the Groupon we had purchased prior to our trip. Our $10 got us $20 worth of food and drinks. With beverages already in hand (and more chilling in Baby Sip’s stroller!), we elected to go with a few food items, such as their Bacon Cheese Fries, Pretzel Bites and Crunch Dog. I was particularly fond of the fries, while Mrs. Sip enjoyed the hotdog.

As we travelled around the Miracle Mile Shops, we passed Sin City Brewing, which was serving up green beers to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Since this was something Mrs. Sip and I wanted to check off our list for the day, I grabbed us a pair of 24oz German Weisse Beers, which was a great way to enjoy the odd tradition.

Green Beer

After some more exploring, we had a late dinner Dick’s Last Resort in the Excalibur. This restaurant boasts servers that will treat you with contempt, as well as an eclectic food menu. Using a dining credit we had for staying at the resort, we ordered their Wicked Gator alligator bites, BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos and Crabby Balls with fries. To drink, I selected the Four Peaks Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale. The alligator bites were particularly awesome and it’s no wonder the chain is known for this menu item.

The next day, we snagged last-minute tickets (through StubHub) to the Vegas Golden Knights game versus the Calgary Flames. We had always hoped to attend this contest, but when we first saw tickets for only $45 each, we hadn’t taken Baby Sip to a hockey game yet and weren’t sure how she’d handle the experience. Once we knew she’d be okay, prices to Golden Knights games had drastically risen, thanks to the team’s success. So we bided our time and when seats popped up for only $40 an hour before puck drop, we jumped. The 4-0 Vegas win, hat trick by William Karlsson and shutout for Marc-Andre Fleury made for one hell of a contest. All NHL teams should study the Golden Knights in-game experience, which is something I will never forget.

While we didn’t indulge in any drinks at the game, as we were returning to our hotel, we passed by the Pour 24 bar in New York New York, with Mrs. Sip spotting an ad for their own Golden Knights Game-Day Beer. This ended up being a delicious 16oz serving from Hop Nuts Brewing, which I believe was their The Golden Knight Belgian Golden Strong Ale, but I could be mistaken.

Golden Knights Bandwagon

As we ventured out into the night again, we had to pick up some more formula for Baby Sip. After all, she’s allowed to enjoy some beverages just like mommy and daddy. As we shopped, I picked up another walking beer, this time a pint of Oskar Blues Brewing Dale’s Pale Ale. At the checkout, Mrs. Sip spotted a bottle of Kona Longboard Lager for only 99 cents, so we added that to our basket, as well.

We enjoyed these beverages en route to PBR Rock Bar. No Vegas vacation is complete for me and Mrs. Sip without a stop here. Sadly, the Doritos Crusted Mac N Cheese that I have raved about in past Sip Trips is no longer on the menu, replaced by Bacon Mac & Cheese Balls, which are equally delicious. Our other favourite menu item, the Bucking Bull Fries have also been adapted, now including a fried egg. This may be the best serving I have had of these fries, thus far. To drink, I cashed in a 2-for-1 offer Mrs. Sip had picked up earlier to receive a couple servings of Hop Valley Citrus Mistress IPA. The large serving was very tasty and lasted for a while.

After having such a good meal last time we were in town, we next made our way to The Cheesecake Factory for some dessert. Mrs. Sip ordered the Fresh Basil, Tomato and Cheese Flatbread for a small bite, while we agreed we had to try the Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake. This delicious and decadent treat features caramel, peanut butter, Butterfinger bits and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Cheesecake Love

For a nightcap on the evening, we popped into the Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan, home to a drink I just had to try after hearing about it. The Verbena Cocktail is a hidden menu item that just has to be tried by anyone who fancies interesting drinks. It is by far the most interesting beverage experience I’ve ever had, as my entire mouth was first number by chewing on the Sichuan flower. The drink then changes in taste and flavours as your taste buds are incredibly sensitive and feel like they’re actually growing back. I will be back to try it again, despite the high price when converted into Canadian dollars.

Sadly, the time to return home had finally come, but we had time for one more great experience at Lilia’s Mexican Cuisine & Cantina in Bellingham, Washington. My order of Tacos Al Pastor was wonderful. Just as fantastic was my beer selection of Iron Horse Quilter’s Irish Death Dark Smooth Ale, which was on special for just $4.

In closing, my main goal with this vacation was to disprove an article we read prior to our trip where a mother proclaimed that people should not travel to Las Vegas with babies. Sure, the trip could have been different, perhaps even easier, but I wouldn’t trade in the time we shared together for anything.

Sip Trips #115: New Beginnings

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(This article was meant to be posted on September 22, but things became a little hectic for Mrs. Sip and I… read to the end of this post to learn why!)

Well, after a relatively quiet weekend prior, the busy came back with a vengeance last week and into the most recent break from work. Here’s the latest Sip Advisor activity, for your viewing pleasure:

Last Tuesday, we attended the Gentlemen Hecklers show at the Rio Theatre. Prior to the guys’ skewering of the 1996 classic Anaconda, we ended up at the Storm Crow Tavern for a bite to eat. The place is a nerd haven, with round the clock sci-fi and fantasy shows on their TV screens, a mammoth collection of board and card games to play, and one of the most creative menus I have ever come across. You can order a number of items, including burgers and shots, based on rolling the 20-sided dice that role playing fans will be familiar with. As for our meal, we split a round of Teenage Mutant Deep Fried Pickles, with my main being their Klingon Chicken Strips of Prey (with fries), paired with a pint of Red Truck Brew of Cthulhu Lager. We will definitely be back soon. As for our show, it was very funny, and a great reminder of just how bad of a movie Anaconda was. I think I mean bad in a good way, though, as it’s the perfect film to be lampooned by the trio of comedians.

20-Sided Dice.jpg

The rest of the week was used to rest and relax, as the weekend featured a close friend’s stag and what was sure to be a wild day out. We began with paintball at Panther Paintball in Langley. I’m not the biggest paintball fan, but this outdoor location was fun and provided a good starting activity for our group. The poor bachelor had to run through a gauntlet of his friends firing shots at him, but took it like a champion. Hopefully his wounds heal quickly.

Next up was a Vancouver Whitecaps game, where we would be enjoying the luxury of a stadium suite. This was not cheap and when food and drink orders were accounted for the bill was quite high. Our order included the equivalent of a case of beer, bottles of Crown Royal Whiskey and Smirnoff Vodka, trays of chicken wings, dry ribs and hotdogs, potato chips and popcorn, and even a plate of veggies. While the alcohol was all consumed, we handed out what remaining food there was to some needy street folk, doing our civic duty.

Following the game, we journeyed to the Irish Heather for more boozing. I started with their Black and Tan beer cocktail, which combined Guinness and Russell Brewing’s Peaks and Valleys Extra Pale Ale. I also enjoyed a pint of Russell Punch Bowl IPA and joined some of the guys for a round of Japanese whiskey, which was smooth and delicious.

Whiskey Age

The next day, we were off to watch the Vancouver Canucks vs. Vegas Golden Knights in preseason action. I’ve followed the new Vegas franchise since its inception and upon learning their first ever contest would be against my Vancouver Canucks, I knew I had to be at the game. Mrs. Sip translated this desire into getting me and her half-season tickets… I like her thinking. As for the game, the Canucks got torched pretty bad 9-4.

On Tuesday, we attended a free screening of the second season premiere of Kim’s Convenience at the Vogue Theatre. For those unfamiliar with the show, it is centered on a Korean family who own and operate a convenience store in Toronto. The show is hilarious and the event included appearances from the main cast members, as well as airing the first two episodes of season two. The price was certainly right.

This past weekend was to be another busy one, as we had plans to celebrate the Sip Advisor’s 34th birthday in style. On the docket were trips to the VIP Theatre, a Caskival at Yaletown Brewing, another Vancouver Whitecaps game with the guys, and family dinners at EXP and White Spot. Fate intervened however, when Mrs. Sip went into labour on my birthday (September 22) with our daughter, Leela Audrey Giselle Wilson arriving early the next morning! We are thrilled she is finally here and both baby and mom and doing very well!