Kevin's Portraits

Kevin's Portraits Freelance Photographer for Events, Travel, Lifestyle, Non-Profit, Wedding, and Food Photography.

02/06/2026

The first act of Vegas residency started off with good energy of choreography and a dance ensemble for her 1999 song 🎶 “Waiting for Tonight”.
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(It took me a while to get a hang of the right framing of the stage and performers, with people getting up and down in front of us).
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02/06/2026

The actual reason for meeting my family in Vegas beyond eating was to take my mom to see at the Colosseum in . She has always been a fan because her roles in RomComs and pop hits. I didn’t have high expectations for her Vegas residency, since I was never a fan of her vocals but had immense respect for her as a performer and dancer.
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I enjoyed the energy of the music being played by the DJ before the concert started. For those seeing her in March, she came on 8:33pm for a 8pm start, not too bad of a delayed start.
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Unrelated and I sound cheap for this, but I refused to spend $9 for bottles of Aquafina water in the venue. that’s just insulting and highway robbery.
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02/06/2026

My sister made a reservation for an early dinner at in the to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday before our show. With a low profile entrance and neon sign nestled in the Park MGM casino, Bavette’s is a large establishment with regal + speakeasy vibes with chandeliers and upscale wooden decor.
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Before the complimentary ice cream for the birthday, my mom ordered the Short Rib Stroganoff (what I normally would have leaned to) and I split a Branzino and 10oz Double Wagyu Cheeseburger with my sister. We shared a Mixed Greens & Apple Salad that was a fresh starter. The Branzino was delicious and felt like a healthier choice after a hearty breakfast, but it’s not my favorite fish.
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02/04/2026

Inspired by the amazing season 5’s 18th episode, my family decided to stay at the . Unfortunately, no Excelsior Plus or butlers 🕴️were available. Just kidding 😬 (watch the episode if you haven’t.
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My sister had the great idea to treat my mom to a Vegas trip in celebration of her 70th birthday, and we chose the 5-star accommodations of the since my Mom is very low maintenance and doesn’t ever splurge on herself.
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Adjacent and embedded in the property of the Mandalay Bay, the Four Seasons Las Vegas was classy and felt regal with marble floors and a high level of hospitality. The room was large, clean, and well-kept. It leans to those who like quiet, privacy, and elegance being smoke-free and without a casino. However I wouldn’t personally choose it being on the southern end of the strip and away from the action. For me location on the strip is worth the value and to minimize time/spend of Ubers. I’ve also spoke to almost a dozen drivers who speak about how low they pay drivers in Vegas and the competitive environment post-pandemic.
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My mom and I similar because we love the energy of busy places and cities like Vegas and NYC, but neither of us drink or gamble.
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02/04/2026

Got lucky and captured a bunch of iconic audio/video snippets from a trademark game win and arena experience at Madison Square Garden , including Zombie Nation 🎶, defense into a fast break dunk by , Celebrity Row, an and 1 foul of , “Go New York Go New York Go!”, and of course seeing LaMelo Ball lose.
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(Flashback to a decisive win in December after a very decisive win tonight in Washington, D.C.)
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02/04/2026

This girl was a baller and lived every kid’s dream of hitting shots before the buzzer to win money in front of an arena () and your home team at halftime!
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Though the game wasn’t close, it was full of energy moments that are usually rare for and I to capture.
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02/04/2026

If you’ve never been to an arena, the starting lineups and the tipoff at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden . Glad they had an honorary kid starter in the lineup from the local Make-A-Wish office I volunteer with !
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02/04/2026

Following the solid 7th straight win tonight against the Wizards, I figured I’d share another cool suite experience at in December, thanks to . It didn’t feel right to post that month, since a close friend (basically family) passed way the week prior and my whole friend group was reeling from the loss.
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It felt nice to reflect that I started my career supporting the suites near the top of arena as an employee, only to return to those suites so many years later as a guest of the NBA in November, and then again in December with an amazing vantage point of the court from the Lexus suites.
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I was intent on fully enjoying the seats and experience this time. After I arrived we enjoyed a great performance of the national anthem.
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02/01/2026

Day 2 in chilly Las Vegas - the actual reason for me being here was not to eat but to meet my family. Grabbed breakfast with my hotel credit at . The line at was ridiculously and unnecessary long, was not worth (what I guess was) a 45 min wait.
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For $8 and a short line, I was not expecting such a massive sandwich with the “World’s Best Scrambled Egg & Cheese” (plus ham) on a biscuit. Amazing value. I always choose breakfast choices, but my family got the slider combos.
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Ate back at the room for the comfort of sitting and to show what my room looked like, rather that sitting at the stools with a MAGA hat 🤡 with a pronstache and tanktop in the winter (with his Karen). Plus people were walking around coughing and unmasked with the superflu whooping cough. Glad we played it safe masking up. Spotted some throwback venue names in the vicinity of Marquee and Beauty & Essex.
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Last month I found some photos of my parents, taken at the World Trade Center. On the year of the 25th anniversary of 9/...
02/01/2026

Last month I found some photos of my parents, taken at the World Trade Center. On the year of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which is also my father’s birthday, who would’ve guessed such a tragic event would have impacted our lives and generation to come. My sister, mom, and I still miss him dearly.
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My father was not a first responder, but responded to volunteer at Ground Zero to help cleanup for months. It never dawned on me that we missed his birthday, and it was overshadowed for several years. We never spoke about that day, what he saw at the site, and the conditions that ultimately led to his illness. I only recall him mentioning how they would find bodies, and it was hard to breathe in the heat and smoke.
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1/31/2026 marked the 11th year since the day my father passed in hospice due to Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. It was on a cold Saturday morning after a snowfall and I had just returned to the hospital after being sent home by a large contingent of family from NYC and Philly. I was fatigued and probably had an odor from being several days sleeping overnight in two hospitals. I arrived in time for my dad to hear my voice enter the room and be there when he took his last breaths 😢.
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02/01/2026

Continuing my big back activities and exploring dining options of , I took a nap before my reservation at . I wanted to sample the Chef’s tasting menu “José’s Way” while supporting humanitarian with my food credit. I opted out of the wine pairing, $14 mocktail. Verdict: the tasting menu was filling with numerous tapas style dishes, which may justify the value. However it was underwhelming on flavor despite culinary techniques, I felt “Jose’s picks” only chose weaker/cheaper menu items.
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Highlight of meal was long conversation with a couple from Houston next to me, talking about shows and Vegas.
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$135 included (keep in mind smaller portions):
🟢Pan de cristal con tomate. Toasted crispy bread imported from Barcelona brushed with fresh tomato $14. Manchego cheese added. Oily but flavorful.
🟡Jamón Serrano 18-month cured Serrano ham $19. Straight forward charcuterie.
🟡Cono salmón crudo* - A crispy cone filled with salmon tartare and topped with trout roe $7. Not notable.
🟡Tichi’s Gazpacho - Chilled Spanish soup made with tomatoes, cucumbers and bell pepper $11
🔴Aceitunas ‘Ferran Adrià’ - Ferran Adria’s ‘liquid’ olives $4. Spoonful of an olive sphere pressed in oil.
🟡Croquetas de jamón - Traditional Spanish fritters made with Spanish jamón $21. Creamy interior, nothing stands out.
🔴Lascas de ensaladilla y boqueron* Crispy bread thins topped with ensaladilla rusa, Spanish white anchovies and piquillo oil $13. Too simple, lacks flavor.
🟢Bruselas fritas con cerezas - Fried brussel sprouts with apple purée, Marcona almonds, dried cherries and sherry dressing $17
🟢Carne a la Navarra* - Grilled 6-oz flat iron steak with confit piquillo peppers $32
🔴Arroz de verduras de temporada. Paella-style rice with seasonal vegetables and mushrooms 60. Completely disappointing. No flavor and cold.
🟡Gambas al ajillo - The classic Spanish tapa of shrimp sautéed with garlic and flauta bread 22. Freshly cooked shrimp in oil.
🟢Flan.
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They were kind enough to accommodate me, as tasting menu usually requires a 2-person min for normal portions sizes.

02/01/2026

Closed out the late Vegas lunch with a few nibbles of the La Leng Mian and the Quesabirria dishes of before I took the rest to go.
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I was already quite full, but I was hoping to close with crisp and refreshing vegetables of the noodle salad. However I was severely disappointed by the colorful brightness of the dish and a description of “refreshing cold” salad that was room temperature and barely had any sesame chili oil on the bottom to mix. If it had a peanut sauce with the chili oil, a better ratio, and served cold, it would have been worth it. You’re paying almost $16 for a handful of wheat noodles with a small pile of sliced radish, cabbage, and julienne carrots/cucumbers.
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Sadly despite the nice presentation and fresh ingredients, I think this restaurant misses the mark and potential for showcasing both Chinese and Mexican cuisine at a high price point, and disappointingly has no fusion dishes (just two separate menus).
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