So I’m unemployed right? That means limited resources. I shouldn’t even be considering a vacation, let alone choosing between two. But I got an awesome tax return so that means I am treating myself to one vacation.
The problem is? There are two vacations I REALLY want to go on: New Orlean’s Jazz Fest for my birthday and Vegas for Blogger’s in Sin City. Both are something I’ve been wanting to do forever and I signed on (mentally) for BiSC the day after they all returned, knowing I really wanted to join them the next year.
Except I got an email about Simon and Garfunkel AND Pearl Jam being at Jazz Fest this year, during the SAME weekend. These are two of my ultimate favorite bands and S&G NEVER performs together so this has to be some sort of epic amazingness. (ed. note: apparently there was a change in lineup which I discovered after reading this–they’re not on the same weekend anymore which makes the choices even HARDER)
That, combined with the fact that I’ve never been to NOLA, has me all sorts of excited to take this trip.
But then there’s VEGAS. A month later. I want to do both but with absolutely no jobs on the horizon and my freelance work just taking a nosedive off a cliff, I can no longer hope to do both. I can only do one.
I CAN ONLY DO ONE.
I’m not good with decisions, especially when choosing between two awesome things such as JazzFest and Vegas with Bloggers. While I’m not going to say I will take everyone’s advice, i’m throwing out the details of each, in hopes that maybe it’ll be clearer to you guys which one I should go on–and myself when I’m done.
New Orleans Jazz Fest April 23-27, 2010 OR April 28-May 3, 2010
Cost: ~$500 (Includes airfare, 3 day ticket to jazz fest, food and drinks)
- I have a free place to stay with one of my very good friends who will also be picking me up from the airport
- His fridge is ALWAYS well stocked with beer
- It’s my birthday right after that and this would be my birthday trip.
- Simon and Garfunkel is playing the first weekend. TOGETHER. They never ever play together.
- Pearl Jam is playing the weekend directly before my birthday. Which makes it hard to choose between the two. (ed. note: It also has been discovered that an event I’m volunteering with is happening during the second weekend so that narrowed my decision BACK to the first weekend)
- I have never been to NOLA before and have been dying to get there for a while now. The architecture, the food, the culture. SWOON.
- My friend isn’t going to be living there forever, he has talked about moving for a little while now. Free place is only temporary!
- I have some other friends going to be down there at the same time, friends I haven’t seen since I left NYC and I would love to hang out/get drunk with them!
Las Vegas Blogger’s in Sin City May 20-23, 2010
Cost: $500 (includes flight, hotel, food and drinks)
- Bloggers + alcohol + vegas…what could be better?
- Meeting some pretty AWESOME people that i’ve been dying to meet, all in one place.
- I’ve already been to Vegas. I didn’t like it. I enjoyed the laying out by the pool and the yard margaritas and the amazing food but the club scene and the casinos were not highlights.
- I’m not a big partier. Even in Vegas. (I’ve lived in NYC–been there done that.) But a big part of me really wants to get drunk and end up in a fountain. And a big part of me wishes I had partied when I went to vegas last year–which I didn’t get to do much of.
So I’m guessing you can figure out which one I’m leaning towards. It’s just a really hard decision! Of course if I DO find a job, both will be happening. We can only hope that a job pulls through and I can go to both and we can forget this little post ever happened.
NOLA or Vegas? Bloggers in Sin City or Jazz Fest? THE CHOICES.
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It sounds to me like you’ve made your choice, at least in your head. But I figure I might as well just be the first one to say PLEASE COME TO VEGAS! It is going to be spectacular! I’m not big into casinos either, but I still have high hopes for drunk fountain jumping and hugging all sorts of crazy-wonderful people. Either way, you’ll have a blast, Jazz Fest, or BiSC.
what a conflict! i can say, however, that drunken fountain jumping is pretty awesome. and we didn’t really party really last year. we just walked around with our margaritas and acted silly. it was good times.
You’re going to get your face kicked in for even pretending like you have a choice to make here.
I mean, I am biased as hell, but obviously, I’m gonna say Vegas because it means we’d get to hang out.
I had to choose between Vegas and Europe this year. Europe won because Vegas will be do-able for me next year and Europe won’t be.
Good luck with your decision!
NOLA and Vegas are my 2 favorite non-NYC cities in this country. I’ve been to both multiple times and am obsessed with each one. I’ve never been to NOLA for Jazz Fest but I hear it’s super super amazing and awesome (and I was just there for Mardi Gras and HOLY JESUS IT WAS FUN). If you didn’t like Vegas the first time you probably won’t like it the second time, though you will obviously enjoy being around tons of awesome bloggers. I’m just going to put it out there that there will probably be a Bloggers in Sin City event next year, but there will NOT be S&G at JazzFest next year. Either way you’ll end up having a good time. =)
So, here’s the deal, Ash. I was just in NOLA and I was in Vegas last year. NOLA is a MUCH bigger party city than Vegas. Like, WHOA, I was super uncomfortable. Like, I even made the comment to my hubs, “New Orleans is way worse than Vegas. I can see how it can get much sloppier than Sin City.” I can imagine for a huge huge huge festival, it can be prettttty drunky and nakedy. HOWEVER, I ate some of the best goddamn food I’ve ever eaten in my ENTIRE life last week. And the city itself is so gorgeous and European that it killllls me.
I don’t do casinos or clubs either and I adored every single moment of Vegas. But I hear ya, you can do pools and beers with buds anywhere. And you’ve been there before, it wouldn’t be new and exciting. So… if I were you, my decision would be about the people with a slight bias towards NOLA.
These reasons are why, for purely selfish reasons, I think you should come to Vegas.
# I’ve already been to Vegas. I didn’t like it. I enjoyed the laying out by the pool and the yard margaritas and the amazing food but the club scene and the casinos were not highlights.
# I’m not a big partier. Even in Vegas. (I’ve lived in NYC–been there done that.) But a big part of me really wants to get drunk and end up in a fountain.
I want to do the same things you want to do.
It definitely sounds like you’re leaning more towards NOLA, so I would say that. And Arielle said it best- there will most likely be Bloggers in Sin City next year, but S&G at Jazz Fest in NOLA will most likely not happen again next year.
My votes for NOLA
I spent $500 IN Vegas last year. I think. I don’t remember. But you can’t put a price on that fountain picture
Then again… there is NO price too high for Eddie Vedder… mmmm… excuse me while I go change panties.
I vote for NOLA. You might not have free place to crash next year and the likelihood of S&G playing together there again is slim to none. Vegas will always be there. Other bloggers will always be here. There can always be a random vegas (or some other city) meet up with those bloggers. Good luck with your decision.
i vote vegas, clearly, because i will be there and you should too
I’ve always wanted to go to NOLA, so I’m voting for that.
VEGAS!
Vegas, baby, Vegas! The epicness will not be challenged!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always will tell you to go to Vegas because selfishly I want to hang out with you. But from the list, it sounds like New Orleans is really where your heart is at. And it does sound amazing too.
I know this is not the popular choice, but I think New Orleans is the better choice here. Vegas will always be there; so will bloggers. Simon and Garfunkel on your birthday? Not a chance.
As someone who has never been to Vegas but has been to NOLA twice, and as a new blog reader, I feel I am the authority on this subject. harhar. But honestly I think NOLA is where it’s at! If I weren’t tied to DFW by my job, I’d be living in the Quarter, no doubt about it.