The Best of The Best

VANGUARD LOUNGE-Las Vegas, NV

Fifth Avenue, meets Sunset Blvd. is how I’d describe Vanguard Lounge in Las Vegas. I’ve been a subscriber of the Robbreport magazine ‘For the Affluent Lifestyle” for more than fifteen years and every year they tour the globe in search of “The Best of the Best” from five star hotels and automobiles that have a base price higher than the median US home mortgage, to timepieces such as Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe! They are as detailed as to include writing instruments and of course fine dining and haute couture. So what’s missing?

Vanguard Lounge of course! Defined, Vanguard means either; the foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle or the foremost or leading position in a trend or movement. I’d bet my next of “His Majesty’s Reserve” cigars that the proprietor of this lounge was leaning more in the direction of the latter and rightfully so as I recently discovered upon a detour of the beginning of my evening out in Las Vegas, on a Monday no less.

As I entered I was impressed by the essence of East coast sheek combined with West Coast cool; of the not underdressed nor pretentiously overdressed lounge goers (with the exception of myself, tongue I cheek) averaging in their twenties and thirties. This is a cozy, but spacious in appearance and well appointed lounge that also has a DJ spinning house on the weekends. The bar stools are comfortable! I know, I just threw that in simply put, but I had to mention it. This is not to say that the white reptilian print leather stools are only comfortable….Vanguard has found a way to make their lounge both comfortable and quite posh. With all of the contemporary design, cool and happy people (did I mention this was a Monday?) and the low glow of snow white candles lining the bar back I was sure to believe that the price of my glass of Vina Echeverria Cabernet, from Molina Chile was going to require that I dip into the equity of my home and as I would attempt to sooth my nerves after signing said check by lighting one of my beloved cigars I would be promptly escorted out onto my arse for SMOKING!

HA! No such luck, the vanguard is not only smoker friendly, and houses a selection of locally rolled Imperial Connericut (not Connecticut) and Churchill Connericut cigars that it turned out I’d smoked for years and find quite pleasant for a daily smoke, but Vanguard is well ventilated and also has a small sidewalk lounge area for those who enjoy people watching on the famed Fremont Street, just a stones throw from the “Freemont Street Experience” and next door to other trendy and hip establishments.

The prices on all of their drinks are reasonable and the place is ventilated so that I didn’t notice any smoke even as I enjoyed my cigar without guilt. Another look at their menu and you can enjoy a non-alcoholic selection of house made sodas in such flavors as Lavender and Hibiscus. Oh yes, if you find that your quick stop here before “going out” turns into being out and staying at the Vanguard as it turned out for me…good news, they have an ATM machine so you don’t have to pause for the cause of going back to that safe of yours in your hotel for more cash!

“Lead follow or get out of the way” was the saying of Thomas Paine the English born American Writer and political pamphleteer, whose ‘Common Sense and ‘Crisis’ papers were important influences on the American Revolution. I don’t think the Vanguard will be spearheading any revolutions, but they as their namesake implies have definitely chosen to take the lead, as what I will vote, the Best of the Best in Las Vegas lounges for locals and tourists alike!

Vanguard Lounge

516 Fremont Street

Las Vegas, Nevada 89101

702.868.7800

www.vanguardlv.com

Ahhhh, Spring is here; Release the Hounds!

As the cold winds and chill of winter have past, its that time of year again, time for the fashion forward jet set to embark on the past times of the spring, be it English riding, playing or watching a polo match at the old Will Rogers polo field west of Bel Air  formerly the Will Rogers estate or driving with the top down; up the coast to Santa Barbara to catch the opening of the Polo Clubs 2010 season or through the desert to Palm Springs to get in a few rounds of golf at Indian Wells.

Maybe, your on the east coast and escaping the hustle and bustle of Manhattan by taking your new Gulfstream IISP to the Hamptons for a "White" party, pardon the expression coming from such a Buppie as myself. In any case one thing is for sure....men, you'll need to drop a line to your nearest haberdashery or at the very least encourage the Mrs. to update her riding wardrobe with the newest in fashion from Equestrian friendly houses such as Hermès.

Drawing inspiration from Hermès' equestrian heritage, Pierre Hardy has spent two years masterminding a collection of bespoke jewelry, which the brand has termed "Haute Bijouterie". With the whip and hoof as their central motif, the pieces make use of rose and white gold, black jade, diamonds, adventurine and pink opal to fuse sensuality with animality and erase the line between masculinity and femininity. "Hermès is not a very precious universe," Hardy told WWD. "I simply went back to its roots and to the horse's hoof, taking the roughest, strongest, almost radical element and giving it the most feminine, the most modern interpretation."

Prices start at 17,500 Euros for a pair of clip-on earrings. You can count on a waiting period of between five to seven months for the pieces, which come in super-luxe custom-made black alligator leather boxes.