I just voted for the first time. And yes, I feel good about it. Vegastripping.com is doing its annual Trippies, best and worst of Vegas awards. And, the Buffet is honored to be among the nominees for best blog this year and relieved to have not been chosen among the worst in any category. But when voting for us (and I would totally understand if you voted for Vegas Rex), take some extra time examining the ballot of nominees and you'll learn quite a bit. They say it is an honor just to be nominated, but since this contest offers best and worst categories, you get a snapshot of choices on both ends of the Vegas spectrum. If you want to choose which high-end hotel to spend time at, the nominees for most overrated hotel are at least as interesting as the predictable choices for best, like Wynn (which got my vote).

 

Poor Criss Angel has managed to be nominated for worst show before his show has even officially opened. I did not vote in that category. But in another category I voted for Jeff Beacher over Angel for most annoying Vegas personality. And I owe Beacher a phone call today.

Angel might be taking a battering, but his partners at Cirque are doing much better in the Trippies, with all but one of the best shows nominees being Cirque productions. The only non-Cirque nomination is "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay. That seems random. I would have voted for Penn & Teller, "Jersey Boys" or "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" if they were options. Those shows were not nominated. My vote for worst entertainer, I am happy to say, went to Danny Gans, who now headlines at Mirage and will soon move to Wynn's property.

The ballot asks some detailed questions about slots and table games at different casinos that I could not answer as a non-gambler. In fact, it's unlikely that any one voter possesses the Vegas expertise to answer every question here. The survey seems strong, for example, on gambling questions, but a little out of touch with entertainment and night life. And not just because "Mamma Mia!" should not be on any list of best shows in Vegas. Nightclubs, for example, are misidentified as ultra lounges in a voting category. "Ultra lounge" is the casino jargon used for lounges spruced up with nightclub elements, like Revolution at Mirage and Tabu at MGM. But the places nominated in the ultra lounge category -- including LAX at Luxor and Studio 54 at MGM -- are just straight nightclubs. Another hint of bias: the ultra lounge category offers the unique option to vote that they all suck.

Regardless, Vegastripping.com is now and has been for some time one of the best sites on the Web for learning about the Strip as a place to stay and play. Constantly updated with detailed property photos, I would never book a stay on the Strip without seeing first what VegasTripping.com had to say about the place. (photo by Sarah Gerke)