Second Nature

Nights like tonight remind me why I love this business… and it couldn't have come at a better time. 

The day started out like most this week. Typical fight goofiness. Who gets wristbands for the green room? Where do we put 'Joe Schmo' celebrity's security who doesn't have a ticket for the fight? So-and-so needs to be added to the credential list. We need to hold 20 more seats @ the weigh in for the casino. Can we add a banner here? Where's my FedEx shipment? Who gets billed for this? We need a space to do a breakfast meeting. Can you hook me up with parking? I need a bout sheet. Who put the ring cards in my office? I need this CAD and manifest asap. Can you do a map for 'show x'? I need directions to the arena for the VIP party. Can you email me the updated budget for 'convention x'? Blah blah blah. 

Around 4.00p I head up to the fight media center to go meet up with the VP of Public Affairs. Today we have a gaming and tourism tour set up. We do these once or twice a year to give the peeps who promote tourism in Vegas a behind the scenes, comprehensive look at what goes into a major event here at the MGM Grand & the MGM Grand Garden Arena. There are about 40 of them. I give them the schpeel on the fight ops. I've given the speech a million times before. I do walkthrus with clients all the time but rarely are the groups this large. We head to the arena so they can get a glimpse of the boxing ring. That's a big hit. I don't think the HBO lighting crew appreciated us too much because I busted in on them raising the light rig. But they got over it. I took a couple of group pics of them on the ring apron with their iPhones and we were outa there. I did screw up big time though. Floyd Mayweather was doing an interview for HBO along with some press in the stands. I was pretty loud (me? naaa…) when speaking to the group. I'm usually very good about being aware of my surroundings but this time I missed it. Major faux pas. Put it on my karma tab. It's 10 miles long.

We finish up the tour out back by the TV trucks with the senior VP of HBO production telling the group about HBO Boxing ops. He's one of my favorite people on earth. I just love this man - smart, tough, funny, charming & has impeccable taste in food, wine and travel. If I could have anyone's life, his would be high on my list. 

I head back to my office and it's 5.00p. I have no idea where my day went. It's funny. People ask me all the time, "So what do you do?" Recently I had to update my job description and it was such a ridiculous exercise. And I had to put percentages to it. There's no way to accurately come close to doing this unless I put "And other duties as necessary" as 90%. What do I do all day? Troubleshoot, maintain relationships & problem solve. Some days I'm better at it than others. 

Hopcraft & Zopfi

So why do I love this business? Because tonight I had dinner with my girls from HBO @ STK at the Cosmopolitan. Not only did I get to hang with women who are at the top of their game I also laughed my ass off! So fun and funny these gals are to be around. Swapping stories - love it. These relationships make all the idiotic people, stupid situations, douchebag clients, irritating exercises in futility worthwhile. My friend Steve Hopcraft is the executive chef @ STK but I didn't call him to let him know I was coming. I didn't want to bug him. After we order, low and behold over pops Hopcraft. He looked at me like, "I can't believe you didn't tell me you were here." He popped over a couple of times to check on us.

3 deserts, in addition to the cake!

One of the girl's had a birthday today so Chef hooked us up with ridiculous deserts and a cake with sparklers coming out the top. Actually they were more like road flares. They were HUGE! Dinner was a total success all the way around. Hopcraft entertained - as he does. Tonight I tweeted: I love this man. I miss this man. And it's true. I never had more fun than the time I spent @ Seablue when he was the chef there. We finished up what we could and chef asked if we wanted the cake. "Naa, just give it to your guys here." I am still on my health kick but even if I weren't, I'm not a sweets fan and the girls are all staying @ hotels so it worked out well. No cake went to waste. And Tyra the Director of Marketing was so sweet to pick up the champagne.

I've spent the greater part of the past 20 years building professional relationships. It's one of my strengths and luckily it's Second Nature to me; I don't have to work at it. If only I could carry that over into my love life.

You Are Not Alone

Tomorrow is the official start of fight week. Mayweather vs. Cotto. Tuesday we start with the media circus also known as the arrivals. Because the name of the fight is Ring Kings, apparently, there's going to be a throne in the lobby of the MGM Grand. Great. What a treat.

Normally I love fight weeks. I know all the players, I get to have lots of fun dinners & convos with my pals in the industry. I'm a schmoozing machine. But this time I'm really not looking forward to it. I am going to dinner with my friend Cindy from HBO @ STK on Thursday. Now THAT I am looking forward to. There aren't many females I like working with and even fewer I call friends in this business. Too much drama and idiocy with many of them. But she's one of the best. We're like sisters from another mother. She handles all the big parties and celebs for HBO. Much like me people don't understand that while we work on big events, our jobs aren't glamourous - we don't hang out with George Clooney (well, she might) and we don't get paid big bucks (well, she prob does). Shit, I should go work for HBO. (Note to self, talk to Cindy about this.)

For this fight we're doing 2 press conferences, because one just isn't exciting enough. Wednesday @ Hollywood Theatre is the presser for Mayweather & Cotto and Canelo & Mosley and Thursday they'll do the rest of the undercard. Friday is the weigh in @ the MGM Grand Garden Arena. And Saturday is the fight. Hopefully by Wednesday my attitude picks up. Fight weeks should be fun, not a pain in the ass. People coming to me for help should be flattering, not irritating. Problem solving should be satisfying, not torturous. Staff who just want someone to talk to should be my opportunity for generosity, not a moment to wish for a Steinway to drop on me or them (whichever is more convenient for God). All this no-drinking-no-red-meat-daily-exercise-crap has made me more bitter, less fulfilled and increasingly introverted. Great. So I'll live to be 100 years old, but alone because I've alienated myself. Tremendous job Amy. Bravo. Well done. But You Are Not Alone yet, so hang in there. There's light at the end of the tunnel you're in. Just be patient...

Working In A Goldmine

Tonight is dinner at STK at the Cosmopolitan. First time there. Wow. I love it. Parts of it are a little too Hollywood & young for me but there's an air of sophistication the Palms and Hard Rock don't have. Cosmo is like the younger, cooler, sexier sister of Aria; Cosmo is the one you wanna date. Aria is the one you wanna marry. On initial appearances it kicks the shit out of anything I've seen on the strip. Small and intimate but cool and refined-modern. It lived up to the hype in my eyes.

Our reservation is for 7.00p. We get there about 10 minutes early but they seat us immediately. We sit in a big round booth in the middle. Excellent location. I ask the hostess to let Chef Hopcraft know that I am here.

When we sit the music is funked-out 80s. I'm lovin' it. So far mom & dad are ok with it too. It's loud enough to provide the cool-vibe but soft enough to still have a conversation. I look over and see a familiar face. Joe one of the servers at Seablue is there with his girlfriend and another couple. Joe is one of the most likable guys around. He's Korean and tries to teach me words sometimes. I'm not really into it so we joke that I'm a "bad Korean." In typical Joe fashion he tells his waiter to box up the bone from his steak and give it to me for my dog. Come on. That's adorable. Even the guys I've dated wouldn't have thought of something that sweet.

We order drinks and before they come Hopcraft is in front of us. "I wanna hop over the table and grab you," he howls at me. Love this kid. Miss this kid. Hopcraft is the guy you want at your party because he's just so fun - in every situation. (Check him out on old eps of Bravo's Top Chef.) He's one of my favorite people in the world. There isn't much I wouldn't do for that kid & his family. He asked if he can do a menu for us and of course we say yes. 

Dad's Zinfandel arrives. I get a Malbec. Mom gets a Riesling. And then the plates start coming. Hamachi, beef tartare, butternut squash angolotti, lil' BGRs, and my favorite - absolute favorite - foie gras french toast. Back when Chef was at Seablue he used to save me & Trubes foie. It's terrible for you but it's so goddamn good. 

Table clears and dad & I order another round of wine. Mom's still sipping on her Riesling. Out comes the serious dishes. First Colorado lamp chops then a 24oz porterhouse. Oh yeah, there were sides too: broccolini, asparagus, spiced maple carrots, parmesan truffle fries and my mom's favorite, the mushroom pot pie. 

Did I mention there were only 3 of us? It was ridiculous how much food he sent. He came out a couple times to check on us. "You don't have to eat it all, just be sure to try a little of everything," banters Chef. Excellent advice. 

Plates clear and we hear, "Save room for desert." My mom literally groans in delight. Out comes a trio of trios: creme brules, cheesecake popsicles & bread pudding. Dad is so full he only tried 1 cheesecake popsicle and eats the ity-bity sized cookie garnishes on the sides of the plates. Mom and I have tastes of all of the rest. So good. Not as good as the foie but good nonetheless.

2 hours in and we are so done. The check comes out and we didn't get charged for a single bite of food. That's Steve. Yes, I've hooked up Hop for things at the arena and I will continue to do so when I can but he didn't have to treat me so well and he didn't have to be so good to my parents. That was all Steve. 

Couple of notes on the restaurant: it's loud. By the time our main dishes arrived we couldn't hear each other talk. Granted I was with two 76 year olds but even I had a hard time hearing. There are only a couple of bathrooms. I didn't go but my parents did at different times. I think they said there are only 2 unisex ones with a guy outside of them like a doorman. When we left there were probably 8 groups of people waiting by the entrance to get in with the lower bar all full. It was a Wednesday night in May and the place was packed. Get there early or make a reservation. Chef is Working In A Goldmine. Now I know why. Now I know where I'll be taking my friends, dates, colleagues. STK. Check it out. And tell Hopcraft Ames sent you.

I Need A Dollar

My friend Beth, Hopcraft & me

Today was a lazy day. Woke up late, tweeted for a bit, opened the blinds and laid in bed with the dog while the sun hit our faces. At some point he nudged my hand with his snout as if to say, "Hey fat ass. Get up and take me for a walk." So we did. It was chilly for the first day of spring but I like it crisp. George Bennett didn't mind either. 

I managed to shower and go get a haircut and pedicure. I told myself I could treat myself to the pedicure but only if I went grocery shopping afterwards. I absolutely loathe that pedestrian task. I know, I know. I should be grateful for the luxury, and I am. Doesn't mean I'm going to stop bitching about it. Aside from the actual act of picking out the provisions I think the part that irritates me more is knowing that I have to actually DO something with it when I get home. Cook. Or more accurately, prepare. I don't really cook. For the past several months my idea of cooking consists of chopping chives, green, red & yellow peppers, carrots and ham into little bits, throwing that all into a big bowl with spinach, some fresh pepper, dill and parmesan with a drizzle of vinaigrette. Sounds lovely and it looks nice but after eating 100 bowls of it, it gets old. If someone wired $15 million into my account the first thing I'd get is a personal chef. No question.

While chopping those vegis today I listened to a great new artist named Aloe Blacc (@aloeblacc). I was turned onto him from a tweet from the Cosmopolitan (@Cosmopolitan_LV). They're the new hot Vegas property. I know I shouldn't give props to a non-MGM Resorts International hotel but you can't deny the truth. They are tremendously smart about using social networking sites and they're doing all the right things to create a buzz and attract the right people to their hotel. I still haven't been there but I hope to take M to STK (if things go well). Even if they don't go well I owe Chef Hopcraft a drive-by. He's been at STK (@STKLasVegas) for over 4 months and I have yet to see him in his new digs. He used to be the Executive Chef at my Happy Place, Seablue (@SeablueLV) before he defected to where the beautiful people play. I love that kid. He's the kind of guy you want at your party. He's not the life of the party, he IS the party. Some of my favorite memories are after hours at Seablue with him at the bar shooting back tequila, sneaking a couple cigs. 

I Need A Dollar so back to the grind tomorrow. Lady Gaga is on Friday. Her production team is so cool to work with and her fans are crazy-fun so I'm looking forward to that show. Plus it's on a Friday so I'll have a rare 'normal' weekend off. Bonus.