LAS VEGAS -- Having never been to Las Vegas before, I didn't know exactly what to expect, being unable to parse decades of myth and hearsay. But, it's much as I expected it to be -- wildly over the top -- although with few of the fabled "high rollers" screeching up to casino doors in their Ferraris.
It is amazing how focused Vegas is on its mission. Everything is geared to making sure you keep funneling money into slots and onto blackjack and roulette tables. And everyone is catered to; I even found a place in my hotel that has a list of a dozen grappas by the glass! Frankly, I half expected Vegas to have nothing much of interest other than from a gawking standpoint.
But the food has been good -- in one case astonishingly so -- the people friendly and the entire atmosphere one of complete and utter TILT; the noise, the lights, the hustle, the lines. Even on a Tuesday morning, there are lines everywhere. And Starbucks! There are at least three in my hotel alone!
We're digging up some great Milwaukee stories in Vegas and you'll be able to read them all here at OnMilwaukee.com in the coming weeks.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
