The Adventures of elATLboy

A Vegas Hash House A Go Go Breakfast & Coffee

Posted on July 22, 2017 | Leave a comment

Everything is bigger and better in Vegas right? A lot of things are over the top. This certainly included the Hash House A Go Go breakfast and coffee two friends and I experienced recently. You would find none of us complaining!

Hash House A Go Go has several locations in-and-around Las Vegas. We found ourselves on an early weekday morning at their spot within The LINQ Hotel & Casino.

Before the food comas would commence, coffee was ordered. Specialty coffee is not hard to find along the Strip with a Starbucks every where you look. A lot of the hotels have a shop of their own as well, pouring out specialty and basic coffee drinks.

Well Hash House A Go Go cranks that up a notch. I ordered a Frosted Mint latte which came topped with a whole can of whipped cream (I kid, or am I?).

One of my friends ordered a Cinnamon Roll A Go Go Latte, which I could have easily consumed in addition to mine. That presentation!

I had chicken and waffles on the mind for quite some time, so when it came to the menu I only glanced for a few seconds. Looking around the packed restaurant and seeing lots of people enjoying their signature dish reinforced my decision. The Hash House A Go Go Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles it is.

Two sage fried chicken breakfasts sat on my tower of hardwood smoked bacon filled waffles. You heard that right, bacon, bacon, and bacon! It was topped with leaks and a maple syrup reduction. Well it was time to dive in.

Hash House A Go Go serves their large then life comfort food 24 hours a day. One of my friends ordered “a” pancake that could have probably filled up the three of us by itself. What was amazing is that he considered ordering a second one. We might still all be there if that was the case.

The other enjoyed some biscuits and gravy, eggs, mashed potatoes and other breakfast goodness.

We all discussed something on the menu that wasn’t even ordered, the “O’Hare of the dog” which was a 24 oz Budweiser in a bag and side of bacon. It must be popular.

Between the three of us, there was enough food for a small army. None of us came close to finishing, all getting full before setting off on the Las Vegas day. Delicious.

Besides Vegas, Hash House A Go Go has locations in San Diego, Orlando, Chicago, Connecticut and Texas. I’m sure I will find myself back at a Vegas location when in town next. Maybe to experience their brunch, lunch and dinner offerings.

Where else would your recommend grabbing breakfast in Las Vegas?

Cruising Along Lake Michigan in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Posted on June 6, 2017 | 10 comments

Is the Michigan summer open road taking you to Mackinac Island or just into the Upper Peninsula and St. Ignace? If so, take some time to drive westbound U.S. Route 2, one of the major east-west drives in the U.P. Once you are about ten miles off I-75 and the Mackinac Bridge you will find yourself along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

You will be on a part of the official Lake Michigan Circle Tour. For miles and miles it will be just lake, beach, sand dunes and brush straight ahead. The brush along the road is narrow, along with the beach that snugs the northern shore of the Great Lake.

There are plenty of places to park the car alongside the road to walk the beach. Despite being here in the middle of the summer, I had the scenery all to myself.

Well without further ado, some more pics of my time out on the open road in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan:

What lake side drives are your favorites? Any in Michigan?

10 Comments

Posted in Lake Michigan, Michigan, Road Trip

Tagged Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan Circle Tour, Michigan, road trip, Upper Peninsula

Ketchikan, Alaska From The Boat

Posted on May 16, 2017 | 2 comments

Ketchikan is a small fisherman town within the Inside Passage of Alaska and a popular stopping point for cruise ships. It was the first port of a Celebrity Alaskan Cruise I went on a while back. Being the first stop a lot of people were ready to get off the ship, walk the town and go on excursions.

I was surprised how few people there were as we came into and also when we left port. Being me I ran quickly from one side of the ship to the other and from the front to the back. I wanted to capture the town and its surroundings. This felt like an excursion in and of itself.

As we came into town in the morning, it was cool and overcast which was the norm. I got my first taste of the colorful buildings and houses that make up Ketchikan.

Fishing and crab charter boats went from docked…

…to out on the open water. The Aleutian Ballad Is part of the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour, one of the more popular tours in all of Alaska. Speaking of fish, Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world.

Besides boats, I watched seaplanes take off and land on the water and cars take the ferry across the Tongass Narrows over to Ketchikan International Airport, as there is no land access. The air and water are the two ways people can get into town. There is no road access to the outside world from Ketchikan, which resides on Revillagigedo island.

Being the first major cruise ship destination coming from the south there were other large ships docked.

I can’t get enough of looking at the colorful fisherman village style buildings that make up the town.

The tan, expansive building with the American flag on top is the historic Tongoss Trading Co. Their ideal location right along the docks, led me and scores of other tourists into picking out various Ketchikan and Alaskan souvenirs. For locals, sports gear, furniture and apparel are aplenty throughout.

The capturing continued as our stay in Ketchikan ended and we started heading north, getting further and further out.

I made sure to look up and out all long the way as Ketchikan is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest.

I previously posted about the scenes I was welcome to on a dawn arrival in Skagway, at the top of the Inside Passage. Stay tuned as in-between our Alaskan journey brought us into the capital city of Juneau.

Are there any scenic places you visited on a cruise that got your camera out coming into and leaving port?

2 Comments

Posted in Alaska, cruise

Tagged Alaska, Alaskan cruise, cruise, Inside Passage, Ketchikan, skyline, Tongass Narrows

Drinking Sambalatte Third Wave Coffee on the Las Vegas Strip

Posted on May 1, 2017 | Leave a comment

Starbucks. Starbucks. Starbucks. It’s one after another when walking Las Vegas Boulevard and the Vegas Strip. Within the hotels and casinos themselves you’ll find cafes and places where you can get drip coffee, lattes and other specialty drinks. I admit some of these are nice spots with good coffee offerings, however they give off more of a restaurant feel then a coffee shop.

While spending the mornings recently just walking the Strip I went looking for a true, craft coffee shop experience, which lead me to Sambalatte Torrefazione just outside the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. This is one of three locations this popular coffee shop chain to locals has in the Las Vegas Valley.

Upon entering just looking at the coffee themed art, renderings, gadgets, bags of beans and historical items, I immediate knew this place meant business.

I did a double take when I saw the coffee roaster. Sambalatte is the only coffee shop you will find on the Strip who roasts their own beans. The coffee beans from Brazil and other spots in South America and Africa are roasted on a weekly basis from only sustainable farms, which they personally visit to ensure quality.

I had goosebumps during my initial visit as I was enjoying my first third wave coffee experience in Vegas! You can have your craft coffee made here by every means imaginable. What to get? What to get? On my first visit, I went for a Rwandan V60 Pour Over. Excellent.

Is specialty coffee your thing? On another visit, I enjoyed their signature Rainbow Latte. Smooth.

Sambalatte refers to their Monte Carlo location as “the theater of coffee” and it is hard to disagree. On both visits I just soaked in the open atmosphere, while savoring my handcrafted coffee drinks in colorful mugs. They also offer outside seating in front. I look forward to visiting again soon for another true coffee experience when on the Strip.

You can find Sambalatte Torrefazione on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Where do you like getting your coffee on the Las Vegas Strip?

Experiencing Makers & Finders Craft Coffee in Downtown Las Vegas

Posted on April 19, 2017 | 4 comments

On a recent early morning on the Strip I was looking for two things. The first was to see more of Las Vegas away from the high rises of Las Vegas Boulevard. Secondly, I wanted to take part in a true craft coffee experience. Both of these led my friend (another coffee snob if you will) and me to the Arts District and the 18b in Downtown and Makers & Finders Coffee.

Upon entering this Cuban inspired coffee shop, I immediately sensed a creative vibe as there were a few people working on laptops or notepads. We set up shop at the full length bar, but could have also sat at a communal table, on couch-like chairs or on the outdoor seating in front. Plenty of options. At the same time I looked up and noticed the industrial feel of the ceiling.

Now sitting, right in front of our eyes stood the M & F neon signage beyond the Syphon, pour over, French Press and other coffee gadgets. My friend ordered a Lavender Infused Latte made with their in-house syrup which looked delicious. That was amongst a full menu of espresso and specialty drinks.

Seeing those gadgets led me to choosing a V60 pour over drip with their Kenyan bean offering. You will find each cup of coffee is brewed to order. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t mind waiting for a craft coffee. It’s part of the true coffee experience which Makers & Finders definitely brings to life. I chatted coffee with the barista as he made my pour over out in the open. I sipped on the coffee during the rest of our stay, outstanding.

We only experienced the coffee of Makers & Finders on this visit. They have a full breakfast offering and a regular menu filled with Latin comfort food. I hear the arepas and empanadas are a must try. Something to look forward to for next time!

This was the best coffee I’ve had in Las Vegas. Next time you are on the Strip or on Fremont Street for that matter and are looking for a true craft coffee experience, make the short trek to the up-and-coming Arts District and the urban Makers & Finders coffee bar.