Photos from La Vie in Vegas

Here are some photos from my trip to vegas that illustrate my previous post...

Red Rock Resort (Robert Indiana's sculpture in background)

Chef Rene Lenger at his Country Club Steakhouse - Wynn Resort

Lake Bellagio

BILL BOGGS AND "LA VIE IN LAS VEGAS"

I was set for a Simon Super Chef Live show at Caesar's Palace in the middle of July--so why not head out to Food City, ok maybe it's supposed to be Sin City--but I'm happy enough to let my rapacious appetite do the sinning.

First Vegas stop was not actually in Vegas, it was the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa in Henderson. It's far enough away from the strip that you feel the slower pace of desert life. Carol and I mounted a couple of horses over at the Bonnie Springs Ranch for an excursion through scenic Red Rock Canyon and then galloped back to Red Rock Resort for two terrific meals at the "TBONES" Restaurant--where the $90.00 serving of King Crab legs brings you five large legs perfectly prepared. The resort's pool area sports the iconic LOVE Sculpture by Robert Indiana.

On the strip, we visited Bellagio and my favorite spot in all of Vegas--the little outdoor cafe operated by JeansGeorge's ''PRIME". Its vista on Lake Bellagio and the Paris Hotel across the street is uniquely intimate for flashy and sprawling Vegas--it's the most romantic place in town for a drink. Of course we needed dinner at Bellagio, too, and I can strongly urge anyone headed for a little Vie in Vegas to visit the jewel box LE CIRQUE Restaurant. It has all the glory, history, and charm of the legendary Sirio Maccioni creation that first appeared on East 65th street in New York and is now going strong at Beacon Court in New York and also Mexico City, and of course, Las Vegas. Tell the lovely manager, Morgani, that Bill Boggs sent you. The desserts at Le Cirque are the best in town.

Down the strip at the Venetian, Carol and I had wonderfully fresh heirloom tomatoes at the bar at B & B, the Mario Batali-Joe Bastianich creation, which is the closest thing you'll find to New York's "Babbo" in town. Then, a short stroll over to "DAVID BURKE at the Venetian" to have dinner with David Burke himself and present him with the coveted FIVE STAR DIAMOND AWARD. I'm an International Consultant for the award.

The next day, somehow, hunger struck us again and it was off to the new Wynn Resort for lunch at ''THE COUNTRY CLUB''--a new American Steakhouse under the direction of Executive Chef Rene Lenger. His gazpacho and fresh shrimp are top picks there for a light lunch. The lunch was a warm up for dinner that night at Wynn's ''SW STEAK," under the direction of my longtime friend, the talented chef David Walzug. His duck presentation was extraordinary and Carol feasted on a dazzling triple-tiered shell fish arrangement with shrimp, tuna tartare and mammoth King Crab legs.

One more meal to mix in and that was at the Alain Ducasse creation ''MIX IN LAS VEGAS" atop the new second tower at the Mandalay Bay Resort. We sat in a modernist cube-booth and watched the sun go down while toying with an intriguing "pomegranate foam" amuse bouche. As night falls the place turns into one of the town's hottest bar and dining scenes. Fabien Riviere, the manager, is the man to see for that special "booth."

I also had a chance to be a guest on Ed Bernstein's long-running television interview show to discuss (and shamelessly plug) my HarperCollins book, GOT WHAT IT TAKES? And then off to work with Food Network colleague, Duff Goldman, "The Ace of Cakes." The show went on at the "Forum of the Caesar's"--which is probably one of the best places to shop in the U.S. And no matter what anyone ever tells you about Vegas-take it from me--it is one of the world's top culinary destinations and will continue to grow in that direction for years to come.

Ah, La Vie in Vegas, now when can I return?

RAVE Review from The Christian Science Monitor!

A great review by Ari Pinkus of GOT WHAT IT TAKES? was published today in The Christian Science Monitor. The last line reads: "Wherever you are careerwise – anywhere from your first day of work to your last – this easy read of a pep talk speaks volumes."

CLICK HERE to read the full review.

I'm pleased by all the great press and reviews the book has been getting lately. You can catch up on all of them at http://www.gotwhatittakes.net/

More soon!

Early Show Video "live" on the Web

My appearance on the CBS Early Show with Harry Smith is availabe for viewing at

http://www.gotwhatittakes.net/.

You can also catch it on YouTube by clicking here.

Enjoy the fireworks!

Happy Fourth of July!

The holiday is off to a great start! Appeared on the CBS Early Show with Harry Smith this morning. CLICK HERE to read a report from the CBS News web site. Also, if you missed the broadcast...we'll be featuring a video of the show on my book's web site at www.gotwhatittakes.net so please visit.

Just received this nice note from an Early Show viewer:

"Bill - After staying up till 4am last night/this morning to meet a promised deadline, I arose at 7:59am and scrambled to pop on the CBS Early Show. I caught your segment (was taping it just in case), as did my Mom - and we both agreed you were so wonderfully upbeat, concise, totally prepared, and you certainly packed lots of pertinent info into the oh-too-short amount of time allotted to you and Harry Smith...but you looked and sounded like the handsome, articulate, compassionate pro that you always were! Congrats to you, Bill. I find the topic of your book very intriguing, and look forward to getting a copy and meeting you to sign it in person... "

Hope you all enjoy the fireworks on Wednesday.

Be back soon....

Rise & Shine for THE EARLY SHOW on CBS!

Here's the latest news...

I'll be appearing on CBS TV'S EARLY SHOW, July 2nd, between 8 and 9 AM.

Should be fun, so set your alarm clock and don't oversleep!

More soon.

Nosh in Knoxville & Other Tidbits

I'll be hosting SIMON SUPER CHEFS LIVE at the West Town Mall in Knoxville, TN this weekend. If you're in the area please stop by -- it's a ball!

*****

I'm excited to report that my wife, Carol Campbell Boggs was nominated for Launch Magazine Publisher of the Year for Hallmark Magazine. Results will be in very soon.

Go Carol!

*****
Last weekend I saw Michael Fienstein in a tribute to Bobby Short--he rocked the joint!
Attended FROST/NIXON matinee with my son Trevor--it's a strong piece of theater and Frank Langella is likely to win the Tony for it this Sunday night.

Stay tuned!

Wednesday Gems!

I was interviewed by Frank Diamond for his Wednesday Gems column today in The (Philadelphia) Evening Bulletin. Just CLICK HERE to read the feature.

Here's a tidbit:

"Bill Boggs is too stinking successful. I mean it'd be easy to hate him if you were the jealous, petty type. Which I'm not. Really. Boggs was raised right here in Philadelphia, attended Lincoln High School and then the University of Pennsylvania. He came up through the same streets as you and I did, in other words. Except, he's gone much further. He's won four Emmy Awards, helped launch entire TV networks (Court TV), and has even sung in an off-Broadway hit called "Our Sinatra." In addition, he's a loyal and dedicated husband and father. He's like the guy from high school who becomes so successful that it lets the air out of every other "so what have you been up to" conversation at the reunion.Now, he's had the temerity to come out with a book called Got What It Takes? Successful People Reveal How They Made It To the Top. I jumped at the chance to interview Boggs when the opportunity presented itself. Lucky for him that I'm not the jealous, petty type."

You can also download a PDF version of the interview from my web site.

More soon!

Gala Luncheon at Le Cirque

Bill, Marco Maccioni, and Carol

It was quite a luncheon at Le Cirque in NYC, where my wife Carol and I jointly celebrated two events... the publication of my book Got What It Takes? and the success of Carol's Hallmark Magazine.
It was a great day for all!

New Performance Dates!

If you plan to be in New York this Fall, I hope you'll catch my show at the Triad Theater. Performance dates are: Tuesday Sept. 11th @ 7pm / Tuesday Oct. 9th @ 7pm / Tuesday Nov. 6th @ 7pm.

To find out more about the show, please visit the web site:

www.talkshowconfidential.com

TODAY SHOW Update

Quick Update: you can catch my appearance on the NBC WEEKEND TODAY SHOW'S "At Work" segment, this Sunday, May 6th.

FLASH from today's New York Post

STARR REPORT: "* Sunday: Bill Boggs guests on "Weekend Today" to discuss his new book, "Got What It Takes?," which includes interviews with A-listers - including Renee Zellweger, Brooke Shields, Mark Burnett and Norman Lear - discussing the secrets of their success. "

Watch for WEEKEND TODAY!

Good news! I'll be appearing on NBC's TODAY show, Weekend Edition, next weekend. Stay tuned for more details in my next post!

RAVE for GOT WHAT IT TAKES? on FORBES.COM

Tara Weiss just reviewed my book on FORBES.COM: "It's not a dense business book you have to force yourself to open. Boggs conducted 44 interviews with leaders across all industries and the result is an energizing, quick read that's full of interesting anecdotes about how the best of the best made it...the interviewees' stories are a fun read and a look into how average people became extraordinary... Required reading."

CLICK HERE to visit the book site where you can download a PDF of the complete feature.

CLICK HERE to see the review & Special Slide Show on FORBES.

Bill Hits it Big on Wall Street!

BREAKING NEWS!

More Great Reader Reviews!

"Well written and organized. Particularly impressed by the way you present the material...by subject matter with comments from those interviewed...very effective. I think the book has the potential of helping many people and being a big success...Impressed also by the larger quotes listed and not lifted from a passage to follow. References of you own life and accomplishments were well done and contributed to the overall positive messages of the book."

Backstage with Barry Noland

If you're on the East Coast, I'll be on CN. 8's Backstage with Barry Noland tommorrow night (Thursday, April 19) at 8:PM.

Also, there's a podcast interview with me on the HarperCollins web site: click here.

Stay tuned for more!

THE RADIO FACTOR WITH BILL O’REILLY

Crazy days. I've got a whirlwind schedule promoting my new book, GOT WHAT IT TAKES?, just out from HarperCollins. One stop is the Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly, so mark your calendar. The show airs Friday, April 27th at around 3:PM (check your local listings).

Bill, of course, is one of the contributors to my book and the conversation should be lively.

Spin-free, too, of course.

More soon!

New Arrival!

The book is selling fast at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Charlottesville. Word of mouth at UVA sure spreads quickly. Here's the latest comment: Hi Bill,I just wanted to let you know that the copy I ordered from Barnes & Noble arrived. Your book is a wonderful mix of light and serious, and I am absolutely impressed with the format. While it has the positive attributes of a "self-help" book (which EVERYONE loves to read and learn from), it also gives us realistic and candid glimpses into the celebrities who are REAL PEOPLE with real parents, talents, amazing insight and intelligence, and insecurities. -DEBBIE