Poblete Family Blog

Welcome to the Poblete Family Blog, an online journal of our family's thoughts, reflections and experiences. Scroll down below to read up on the latest and greatest regarding our family get-togethers, activities, and trips.

Rihanna - The Last Girl on Earth Tour R&B recording artist, songwriter and model "Rihanna" stopped in Las Vegas on her "Last Girl on Earth Tour" and Ron, Carole, and a couple of their friends went to the Mandalay Bay Events Center to catch her concert. Pop star KeSha who's song "Tik Tok" spent nine weeks on the Billboard Top 40 was the opening act for the evening. After an intermission between acts to set the stage for the Grammy Award winning artist, the lights dimmed and the video screens lit up as the start of Rihanna's act was about to begin. After the dream sequence video introduction, Rihanna appeared in a gown with flashing red LED lights which was only one of her outfits for the evening. The show was very theatrical and visually amazing as props such as a hot pink machine gun, military and futuristic styled outfits, stunning animated graphics and videos, and dancers dressed in bondage dangling from giant silver machine guns were all included in the show. Rihanna sung all of her hits such as "Umbrella", "Don't Stop the Music", "Disturbia", "Good Girl Gone Bad Live", "Run This Town" and finished the concert by performing "Take a Bow". Check out the rest of the photos from Rihanna's "Last Girl on Earth Tour". Posted on July 18, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Human Nature - The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound If you love the music of Motown you should definately see "Human Nature - The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound" presented by Smokey Robinson. Smokey doesn't appear in the show but introduces the group of these four gifted young men who he discovered in Australia and brought the show to both Las Vegas and America. Ron and Carole got tickets and saw the show for themselves and had a really great time. The group "Human Nature" started over 20 years ago in Australia when two brothers and two of their high school friends got together and formed the group. They are a household name in Australia but it wasn't until the King of Motown - Smokey Robinson himself saw them perform and brought the act to the United States. The 90-minute show which currently headlines at the "Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino" is a journey through all the hits from The Temptations and Four Tops to the Jackson 5 and the Supremes. The show is just like watching Glee or the Broadway musical Jersey Boys but without a storyline. It's 90-minutes of the group singing all the great Motown hits while backed up by a live band. There are a few numbers performed in accapella that will also blow your mind. And don't let the fact that these are 4 white Aussies performing all these old R&B hits fool you. They have more soul than anyone else around. Click here to see some of the photos from the Human Nature show but you should definately see and hear it for yourself. Posted on July 16, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe The Fukuburger Truck Experience There's a new food truck that has joined the gourmet food truck craze and is now cruising the streets of Las Vegas. After following the "Koji KBBQ Truck" in Los Angeles and the "TabeBBQ Truck" in San Diego (See blog entry below, "So Cal Food Tour Part 2), Ron and Carole were excited to try out this new mobile gourmet truck rolling around Las Vegas. So they headed out to Chinatown where the "Fukuburger Truck" had planned to be. As they arrived, they were the first customers of the night and were greeted by co-owners Colin Fukunaga and Robert "Mags" Magsalin and were treated to a "Kakigori" which was their Japanese equivalent of a snow cone or Hawaiian shaved ice. After going through the menu of Japanese-inspired burgers which include the Fuku-burger (Lucky Burger), Tamago (Egg Burger), Buta-burger (Pig (or bacon) Burger), Kinoko (Mushroom Burger), Karai (Spicy Burger), and the Katsu Chicken (Crispy Chicken Burger), they made their decision and ordered the Fuku-burger and the Tamago. The "Fuku-burger" which consisted of a fuku-patty (that had been marinated in sake, mirin, and yuzu and brushed with a special glaze before serving) with lettuce, tomatoe, onion, and pink pickled ginger, topped with American cheese and drizzled with their signature Fuku-sauce. The "Tamago" consisted of a fuku-patty with furikake and teriyaki, finished with crispy onion strings and a fried egg. Along with the burgers they ordered the Fries that were seasoned with togarashi (a blend of seven Japanese spices) and served with banana ketchup and sweet chili aioli and also ordered their Furikake Macaroni Salad which is a must have. The menu at the Fukuburger Truck is definately unique and the burgers are very tasty. After debutting this past July 4th, the Fukuburger Truck will continue to serve their burgers during the early evening/late night hours in various locations in Las Vegas. To find out where they will be next you can go to their website at fukuburger.com or follow them on Twitter (@fukuburger). Check out the rest of the photos of Ron and Carole's "Fukuburger Truck Experience" and go check them out for yourself. Highly recommended and their food really hits the spot, especially for those late night cravings. Posted on July 14, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Chef Tina Martini's Live Cooking Show This past Saturday Ron and Carole got tickets to attend "Martini Time with Chef Tina Martini" which is a live cooking show filmed at the Studio B Buffet inside the M Resort Hotel and Casino. The show is filmed in front of a live studio audience and airs weekly in Las Vegas on Cox Channel 96. After relaxing at the M Resort most of the morning sipping strawberry italian sodas and enjoying the view of the resort pool, it was time to head over to the studio which was located inside the buffet area, hence the name "Studio B Buffet". The set consisted of a rows of seats overlooking the kitchen cooking area with a few table set up in the front where Ron and Carole sat. As the show started, Chef Tina Martini ran out from behind the audience down to the front and welcomed her guests. To start off the show Chef Tina Martini (which is actually her real name) asked "What time is it?" and the audience replied, "Martini Time!", and small martini glasses were given out to everyone before she proceeded with the rest of the show. The show is very fun, educational, and informative as Chef Tina (Nutritionist, Demonstration Chef, and Natural Health Guru) gives out nutritional facts and cooking tips as she prepares the entree. During this particular show she showed the audience how to make and prepare "Summer Melon Gazpacho with Herbed Shrimp Salad" which everyone got to sample during the show. The recipe, more nutritional facts and cooking tips, and other hand outs were also provided to all the studio guests. After the hour long show, the audience was then escorted to a special VIP area inside the Studio B Buffet where they are treated to all the gourmet entrees the buffet had to offer. Tickets are $40 per person which includes the live cooking show along with VIP seating in the Studio B Buffet and show times are Thursday - Sunday at 12 noon and 4pm. The show is highly recommended for those who like to cook or for all food connoisseurs. Click here to see more photos from Chef Tina Martinis Live Cooking Show. (Tip: If you ever plan to go to the Studio B Buffet at the M Resort, do consider checking out the show (must buy tickets in advance), especially on the weekends. On weekends the seafood buffet is $29.95 and lines are very long. For just $10.01 more, you can enjoy the live cooking show and receive special VIP seating right away instead of waiting in line for more than an hour or so.) Posted on July 12, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe 4th of July at the South Bay Drive-In Theater Back in the day when Nico and Kiana were growing up, the family use to drive out the one of the few remaining outdoor drive-in theaters in San Diego to watch movies. It was a great deal where you get to watch 2 or sometimes 3 current movies at a low price, bring your own food, and not worry about bothering other movie-goers if the kids made too much noise. On occasion they would invite others to join along and it would end up being a fun evening with friends under the stars enjoying a night out at the movies. Since there were no big plans for the July 4th evening, the family made last minute plans with some friends to spend the night time hours at the South Bay Drive-In Theater in South San Diego off of Coronado Ave. The Bobis, Torres, Rivas, Robillos, and Simon families came along and everyone brought out their portable chairs, mats, etc... and picked out their viewing spots while the rest watched from inside their cars or vans. It was also a potluck and a table filled with chicken, hot dogs, chips, pop corn, and other munchies was available for everyone to enjoy during the movie. Screen 3 featured "The Last Airbender" which was a live-action adventure fantasy film based on the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The second feature was the movie "Knight and Day" which starred Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Beside the movies, it was a special treat for these movie-goers to see the fireworks display from Imperial Beach in the distance to really make this July 4th even more festive. Check out the photos from this evening of fun with family and friends at the drive-in movie. Posted on July 6, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Hanging out at the Padres Game at Petco Park One other activity the family had planned for on this July 4th Weekend was to head to Petco Park to watch the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball Team play the visiting Houston Astros. It had been awhile since the family tailgated at the park so they arrived early to hang out at Tailgate Park before the game. Longtime family friend Vince Marisigan joined in on the fun as well as the Earl, Eli and neice Rhen. Today's game also happen to be "Padres Beach Towel Night" and everyone received a beach towel as they entered Petco Park. The group sat in the Upper Infield Reserve in Section 301 which was right behind home plate at the top of the stadium. Despite snacking on hot dogs and chips during their tailgate party earlier, they could not resist eating some of their favorite ballpark foods such as nachos and garlic fries which were irresistable from the smell of them in the air. While at the park they visited the "Poblete Family Brick" which has all their names inscribed on it and was placed in the Petco Park Palm Courtyard when the ballpark was built. They also shopped at the Padres Store to purchase more Padres merchandise and walked around the stadium to enjoy the views of the park and the surrounding downtown scenery. For today's game Kevin Correia was the starting pitcher for the Padres and held the Astros from scoring thoughout the game. There was no score from either team until the Padres scored when Aaron Cunningham doubled leading off the eightth inning and scored on Astros reliever Gustavo Chacin's throwing error. The beach towels were waving throughout the stadium as Padres pitcher Health Bell ran out on the field from the bullpen to closeout the ninth inning. One, two, three outs at the top of the ninth and the Padres won 1 to 0 and are still way ahead in First Place in the National League West Division. Click here to see all the photos from this great evening of fun at Petco Park and GO PADRES! Posted on July 6, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Family Fun at the San Diego County Fair For the July 4th Weekend, Ron, Carole and the kids drove down from Las Vegas to hang out in their hometown of San Diego. Their first stop was the Del Mar Fairgrounds where they met up with Richelle and Patrick for an afternoon of fun, food, and rides at the "San Diego County Fair". Formerly known as the "Del Mar Fair", the county fair is held every summer starting in the month of June until the July 4th weekend. The fair features daily musical performances and concerts, animal, agricultural, and art exhibits, rides, games, and most of all food. This year's theme was "Taste the Fun" which is what they did. The fair is known for having some of the tastiest and most bizarre foods in the world. So they all set out to take one of Ron's "Ron vs. Food" food tours and checked out what the fair had to offer. Their first items they got were the Giant Turkey Legs and Roasted Corn which you could not resist from the aroma from the barbeque pits. Richelle and Patrick tried the BBQ Tri-Tip Sandwich with Onion Rings which tasted as good as it looked. As they moved along the midway, Nico the Strawberry Lover that he is could not resist getting the Strawberry Shortcake which included vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream. One other favorite they also had to get was the Austrailian Battered Potatoes which they got with a side of ranch dressing. But probably the most bizzare foods they tasted was the Chocolate Covered Bacon and the Deep Fried Butter. The Chocolate Covered Bacon consist of cooked bacon dipped in dark chocolate and topped with a few sprinkles of sea salt. As you bite into it you taste the saltiness of the sea salt before you taste the sweetness of the chocolate and end up with the salty taste of the bacon. The experience is definately something different. Lastly, the heart-stopping dish of the day was the Deep Fried Butter which consist of pure butter surrounded with dough and deep fried. The outcome is basically a buttery looking churo (and triple bypass surgery). Check out all the photos of the exhibits, rides, and deep fried fun at this year's San Diego County Fair! The food photos will definately make you "Taste the Fun". Posted on July 6, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe More Las Vegas Shows Las Vegas is known as the Entertainment Capital of the World. And during this past week's "Vegas Vacation/Staycation" (See blog entry below.), the family took advantage to see a few shows. The first show they saw was Disney's "The Lion King". Patrick, Eliza, Venice, and Analynn also came along to see the Broadway musical production based on the Disney animated film which plays daily (except Fridays) at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The show is amazing and the visuals, customes, and stage sets were astounding. It's definately a great show for the entire family. (Note to Las Vegas Residents: "2-for-1 Special" for all Las Vegas area residents now until the end of July. Call for exact date and details.) One another night Ron, Richelle, and Patrick went out to the Hooter's Hotel and Casino to see "Purple Reign - The Ultimate Prince Tribute Show". For any Prince Fans out there, this will be a show you will love. No lip-syncing air band playing during this show. The band plays live and the Prince impersonator sings, dances, and even looks just like the "Artist Formerly Known As". There's also a set of songs done by "The Time" with actual impersonators that do Morris Day and his sidekick Jerome. The whole 90-minute show will bring back memories and you would think you were really watching Prince himself performing. Another show they were able to watch was "Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic Show". Papa Rollie, Mama Pearlie, Kiana, and Venice caught the show which plays at the "Flamingo Las Vegas Showroom" at the Flamingo Hotel. Magician Nathan Burton who has appeared on several television shows such as NBC’s "The World’s Wildest Magic", E! Entertainment’s "The Entertainer", and NBC's "America’s Got Talent" now appears in his own show and headlines on the Las Vegas Strip. The show is filled with magical illusions, comedy, beautiful showgirls, and is a great show for all ages. Papa Rollie was so inspired by the magic that he actually bought a "Teach Yourself Magic Tricks" DVD. (Stayed tuned for magic tricks performed by him in the near future.) Click here to see all the photos from all the Vegas Shows this past week and make an effort to come out for yourself soon to enjoy all the entertainment Las Vegas has to offer. Posted on June 14, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Vegas Vacation/Staycation For Papa Rollie, Mama Pearlie, and Richelle it was a week long vacation to celebrate Kiana's Birthday and attend Nico's Graduation. For Ron, Carole and the kids it was a "staycation" in town on the Strip. They were also joined by Patrick, Eliza, and Venice who also flew into town and they all checked in at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino for a few days of rest, relaxation, and fun. To start their Vegas Vacation/Staycation they all went to the South Point Hotel to celebrate Kiana's Birthday at midnight. Jay and Honeylett also joined in on the midnight steak and eggs celebration. During the day if not making trips up to the Stratosphere Tower to enjoy the Vegas view or shopping at the hotel's shops, it was fun in the sun as everyone hung out at pool on the 8th floor of the Stratosphere. A private cabana was also reserved for Kiana and a few of her friends who came to the pool to celebrate her birthday with her. When not swimming or sun bathing by the pool, the family did some sightseeing on the Strip. The one stop they had to make was to the Bellagio Hotel where Mama Pearlie goes on every Vegas trip to visit the hotel's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The garden still had their Spring theme with giant flowers, bugs, and hot air balloons floating in the air. And what is a trip to Vegas without going to at least one all-you-can-eat buffet. One (if not the) buffet that is the family's favorite is the "Studio B Buffet" at the M Resort Hotel. It's the favorite because the quality of the food is so fresh and the choices of food is abundant. Plus the dessert and gelato station is probably one of the best where the desserts are a work of art. Check out all the photos from this Vegas Vacation/Staycation. It's always great when the family gets together on vacation for some family bonding. And "staycations" are always great because if you leave something at home, you're only a few minutes away. Posted on June 13, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Graduation Party at the Stratosphere On the evening of Nico's High School Graduation (see blog entry below), the family and some friends gathered in the spacious 2,100 sq. ft. Chairman Suite (Room 4-24-6) on the 24th floor of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino to celebrate. It was an evening of food, fun, games, and reminiscing as a slideshow with photos of Nico from birth to his high school days played throughout the night. Some even went to the top of the Stratosphere Tower to enjoy the views of Las Vegas from 109 floors up. Click here to see all the photos from the celebration. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us at the graduation ceremony, party, and online via the live web stream and for all the well wishes, cards, calls, text messages, and Facebook postings. You really helped make Nico's Graduation Day very special. Posted on June 12, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Nico's High School Graduation It seemed like it was only yesterday when Carole was trying to hold back tears on Nico's first day of Kindergarten 13 years ago. More tears but tears of joy fell as the day finally arrived with Nico accomplishing 12 years of school (plus Kindergarten) and receiving his High School diploma. The family and friends all headed down to the Orlean's Arena to witness the graduation of Liberty High School's Class of 2010. Nico spent all of his high school days at Liberty High where he was involved in their music program being a part of the Marching Band, Jazz Band, and the Winter Drumline. As his name "Nico Giovanni Poblete" was announced, the family and some of his closest buddies who sat in the same section stood up and screamed at the top of their lungs to congratulate him. It was a proud day for everyone and the celebrating continued afterwards with a family lunch at the Stratosphere Hotel Buffet and a much bigger party planned with family and friends in the hotel suite later in the evening. Nico hasn't finalized what his actual major will be yet but he will be attending CSN (College of Southern Nevada) this fall semester where he will be concentrating on his general education. Because of his passion for music, he will also be looking into CSN's music, audio recording, and audio visual programs. Check out all the photos from the graduation ceremony and congratulations once again to Nico on your accomplishments! We are so proud of you! Posted on June 11, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Nico's Jabbawockeez Birthday It has been 2 years since MTV aired their first season of "America's Best Dance Crew" crowning San Diego's own hip hop dance crew the "Jabbawockeez" season champions. (Go back in time by checking out the "ABDC Viewing Party" photos that the Poblete kids hosted from Season One and Season Two.) Since then these masked performers have gained greater exposure by appearing in music videos, commercials, movies, and televisions shows. Recently the group was booked by the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel to appear in their very own stage show nightly for this month of May. As an early birthday gift for Nico, Ron and Carole got tickets for him and his sisters, and also for a few of his friends to watch the Jabbawockeez for his birthday and also threw him a small pizza party before they headed to the show. The Jabbawockeez performed their show at MGM Grand's Hollywood Theater which is scheduled for a 20-day run. Entitled "MÜS.I.C" (muse-i-see), the group describes their show as "the audio-visual story of inspiration brought to life through the harmonization of sound and movement." Prior to the start of the show, one of the Jabbawockeez comes out to entertain the crowd to get them hyped up for the show. The kids got lucky and got a photo op with him as they called him up by their seats. Then the masked man got back on stage as the lights dimmed to start the show. The show is very reminiscent to a similar show just down the street where these 3 blue masked men perform their own show (The Blue Man Group). But this particular show is done more in hip hop fashion. The show is very entertaining and humorous at times. The dances routines are spectacular and the music is outstanding which samples songs from current hits to old school to older than old school. Another special treat for those who watch the show is that a few of the members from the season two's champions, "SuperCr3w" also perform in the show. Because of the Las Vegas connection with the group "Full Force Crew" which also consist of members from both crews, four members from Super Cr3w (who often call themselves the "Super Wockeez" when they are together) dress up in masks and also dance with the Jabbawockeez to entertain the audience. Click here to see all the photos from Nico's Birthday Party and from the Jabbawockeez show. Tickets to the remaining shows are going fast and almost sold out so get them soon if you are interested. And for those who already have tickets, be prepared to be entertained. Posted on May 18, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Ron's 21st Birthday Party Ron celebrated yet another "21st" birthday this year. Ron (the "Well-Known Eater" that he is) really didn't feel like going out to dinner for his birthday, so instead the family decided last minute to celebrate at home with the family and a few close friends. So after the big kids got out of school, they ran around in the afternoon buying a few party trays of food and ingrediants for Carole who was going to make her special "Arroz Caldo" which is a filipino soup that literally translates to "hot rice". After preparing "Casa de Poblete" for the small birthday party, all the guests started to arrive. The food was all layed out in the kitchen and special desserts were also brought over by family friends Mie and Khit as well as an ice cream cake from Cousin Jay. Alot of mingling, laughing, and eating took place throughout the night. As usual the little kids were all over the place while the bigger kids hung out in the dining room area. The ladies stayed in the kitchen nook area chatting the night away while the men hung out in the backyard watching the Los Angeles Laker vs. Utah Jazz basketball game on the large 12 foot high outdoor video projection screen that was set up for the night. Click here to check out all the photos from the birthday celebration. It's always great spending time with family and friends, especially on a special day like your birthday. A big "Thank You" to everyone who joined in the celebration and for sending birthday greetings throughout the day! Posted on May 5, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Barry Manilow at Paris Ron promised Carole that he would one day take her to Paris. So yesterday he took her to the "Paris" Las Vegas Hotel to watch Barry Manilow who was now headlining there. The Barry Manilow Show was the new headliner show at the Paris Hotel. They had previously seen his show a year ago when it was headlining at the Las Vegas Hilton. Ron had an opportunity to get tickets and somewhat fullfilled his promise to take Carole to "Paris". Barry Manilow, the "King of Elevator Music" performed most of his greatest hits. Just like his previously show at the Las Vegas Hilton, the show was actually pretty energetic. Backed by his background singers and his band, Barry had all the "Fanilows" on their feet. The new venue at the Paris Las Vegas Theatre was pretty impressive and the stage which had large a large screen behind the band and other screens that would drop down from time to time provided a full multimedia experience. They even had dueling pianos and dueling drums during one segment of the show and also an energetic "American Bandstand" set which brought back memories for all those who watched the Dick Clark hosted show. The last song he performed was "I write the Songs" only to return again to perform "Copacabana" to send all the "Fanilows" home in high spirits. Check out the rest of the photos from this new Barry Manilow Show at the Paris Hotel. Posted on May 1, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Supernatural Santana - A Trip Through the Hits After a whole year of concert going last year, Ron and Carole finally saw their first concert for this year and got tickets to see the "Supernatural Santana" concert show at "The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino". Carlos Santana had recently signed a multi-year deal with AEG Live to perform only at The Joint which will be the only place where fans can see him perform live. The show which is subtitled "A Trip Through the Hits" features songs that span Carlos Santana's entire career. And "The Joint" which was renovated last year was a cool venue to hold it and is much larger. It features three levels including private skyboxes and VIP table seating. The acoustics at The Joint were awesome and you can really feel the heart-pounding beats of the band and the powerful sounds from Carlos Santana's guitar solos. The set list reached back more than four decades - as far as their first charting single—1969’s “Jingo”—and first Top 10 hit—1970’s “Evil Ways”—up through their latest hit, 2008’s “Into The Night.” As well as, “Supernatural”, “Oye Como Va,” “The game Of Love,” “No One To Depend On,” “Put Your Lights On,” “Maria Maria,” “Soul Sacrifice” and “Everybody’s Everything,” among other hits! As expected, the last song that closed the show was the song "Smooth" which got the crowd on their feet. After leaving the stage the crowd continued to cheer and the band came out again for one last song. The whole 2 hour show was awesome and it's a must see for any Santana Fan, young and old. Click here to see all the photos from the concert but there's no comparison to seeing and hearing it live. If you get the chance and are out here in Las Vegas, "Supernatural Santana" is definately a show to check out! Posted on April 26, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe "Southern California Food Tour"    Part 2 - The Eating Continues! (Continued from blog entry below...) The next destination on the "So Cal Food Tour" was to track down the "Kogi BBQ-To-Go Truck". The Kogi truck is a traveling Los Angeles landmark that serves up Korean Mexican tacos, day and night. Twitter is used to communicate truck locations but the family got on their website and found the nearest location where the truck was scheduled to make a stop. Friends Alain, Lesley, and daughter Riley also came along and as they arrived, a long line had already formed as customers ordered from their unique menu that consisted of: Korean short rib, spicy pork, chicken, or tofu tacos and burritos; Kogi hot dogs, sliders, and kimchi quesadillas. Although the mixture of Korean BBQ and Mexican food may be quite different, the taste is very delicious and is the reason why people keep coming back. After sightseeing throughout Los Angeles, the family had craved Hawaiian food and stopped at "Island Grill" in Los Alamitos, CA. Island Grill specializes in Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine and serves traditional teriyaki beef and chicken dishes, Hawaiian saimin noodles, sushi, and other traditional favorites. Large portions are served here and the food is very satisfying. As the family headed back out to the Disney theme parks in Anaheim, they also stopped by "Lee's Sandwiches" for some fresh Vietnamese style sandwiches that are served on freshly baked baguettes and croissants. This is one of Poblete kids favorite sandwich places. On every visit to Lee's, they always have to order the "Deli Manjoo" which are small freshly baked cream cakes that are best eaten while they are still hot. There are several "Lee's Sandwiches" located throughout Northern and Southern California and the family was happy to find out that one was opening soon in Las Vegas. After a long day hanging out at Disney's "California Adventure" theme park, the family got a recommendation from friend to check out "Claws Restaurant" in Garden Grove, CA and met up with family friend Liz for some Louisiana crawfish and Cajun seafood. For those who have eaten at "Crab Hut" in San Diego or "Hot and Juicy" in Las Vegas, "Claws" is very similar, and in fact maybe even better! There's no need to practice eating etiquette at this restaurant because utensils are not needed as you eat with your hands. You have your choice of ordering any combination of crawfish, king crab legs, shrimp, clams, and mussles. The seafood here is served in plastic bags and flavored in Cajun, garlic butter, lemon pepper seasoning, or a mixture of all three flavors. If you plan to eat here, reservations made in advance is highly suggested, especially for larger groups. The family waited close to an hour and a half but it was well worth the wait. As the "So Cal Food Tour" was coming to a close, the family headed back home to San Diego where the kids had to order their favorite "Salted Pepper Chicken Wings" at the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant in Chula Vista, CA and had lunch with their cousins Justin and Jake. And before heading back to Las Vegas, one more stop was made at "Hanaoka Japanese Restaurant" in National City, CA for lunch with the Bobis and Torres families for some great japanese food. But before ending the food tour, one last stop was made where the "So Cal Food Tour" began. It was off to the "Flower Fields" in Carlsbad for one last scrumptious "Strawberry Shortcake". It was the best way to end the tour. Click here to view the rest of the mouth-watering photos of this very satisfying vacation throughout Southern California. (Warning: Photos may be hazardous to your empty stomach.) Posted on April 16, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe "Southern California Food Tour"    Part 1 - Let the Food Tour Begin! As the family set out on their Spring Break vacation visiting theme parks and other tourist attractions, they also planned on touring Southern California in search of interesting foods and unique places to eat. With some research, suggestions from friends, and mapping out of locations where they had planned to visit, they came up with a few eating destinations that were not your average commercial eateries but one of a kind restaraunts with unique menus. And so the "So Cal Food Tour" had begun. To start the tour, Ron, Richelle, Patrick, Paula, and Ace stopped at the "Flower Fields" in Carlsbad, CA on their way back from attending a meeting in Anaheim and a quick lunch at "Thai BBQ". During the months of March - May on Saturdays and Sundays only, a lonely strawberry stand sits right outside of the parking lot and sells the best-ever "Strawberry Shortcakes". It is definately worth the drive and stop as a bowl with sponge cake at the bottom is filled with a generous mound of lightly sweetened strawberries and topped with whipped cream. The only word that comes to mind that can describe this bowl of heavenly delight is "Scrumptious". As the family enjoyed a day at Disneyland, a must have at the park is the "BIG" turkey leg, just like the ones King Henry VIII use to eat. These large, juicy, and golden turkey legs could be found at one of the carts parked at Central Plaza in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. If poultry is your craving, make a trip to "Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles" as the family did when they passed by Long Beach, CA (which is one of the five locations in the Los Angeles area). The combination of fried chicken and waffles was perfect since they had no breakfast that morning and it was already lunch time when they arrived. The waffles were flavorful, the chicken was fried to perfection, and the gravy over the chicken or on the side is a must. The next stop on the "So Cal Food Tour" was a place they stumble upon in Manhattan Beach, CA where they had dinner with friends Alain, Leslie and their daugther Riley. The "Versailles Restaurant" is well-known throughout Los Angeles for their great Cuban food. (There are four other locations in the Los Angeles area.) The "Combinacion De Pollo Y Puerco" which was half portion of roast chicken and roast pork marinated in a delicious garlic sauce, topped with onions, served with rice, side of beans, and fried sweet plantain bananas was the favorite. On their trip through Los Angeles and Hollywood, the next food stop was the famous "Pink's Hot Dog" stand which is a Hollywood legend since 1939. Located near the corner of Melrose and La Brea, Pink's is definitely a landmark in Hollywood and is visited by many celebrities as indicated by the 8 x 10 framed photos on the walls. The menu at "Pink's" is abundant and is very unique. The hot dogs are topped with every thing from chili to cheese to bacon to guacamole to lettuce and tomatoes. They also serve hamburgers and burritos but these are not your average McDonald's or Taco Bell items. These creations here at Pink's are works of art. Check out all the photos from this segment of the "So Cal Food Tour". (Warning: The images might make you hungry.) Part 2 of the So Cal Food Tour to be continued in the blog entry above. Posted on April 16, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Southern California Adventure continues at Disney's "California Adventure" As the family's Southern California adventure comes to a close, what better way to finish it off with a visit to "California Adventure". It was back to Anaheim, CA where the family had planned to spend a day at the Disney theme park. It had been 6 years since the last visit to California Adventure and it was also the first visit ever for Nevaeh. The first attraction and also the newest ride they had not experienced yet was "Toy Story Mania", inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” films. Riders grab 3-D glasses, board their ride vehicle and zip off into a 4-D world of exciting, midway-style games. Riders use their spring-action shooter to launch darts at balloons, rings at aliens, eggs at barnyard targets and more! Fun ride for children and adults as well. The rest of the day, the family strolled through the different areas of the park such as Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, The Golden State, A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Each area resembles various aspects of California, its culture, landmarks and history. Some of the other attractions the family rode on were the Grizzly River Run, Tower of Terror, and Souring Over California. Although Neveah was not able to ride all the park's attractions despite her efforts to stretch or tippy toe for the height limit, she enjoyed meeting alot more Disney characters and as she waited for the big kids to ride the big rides. Check out all the rest of the photos from the family's "California Adventure" as their Spring Break vacation comes to a close. Posted on April 12, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Learning about the Universe at the "Griffith Observatory" Next stop on the family's Spring Break vacation was the "Griffith Observatory" which is located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. On their quest to have fun but also educate themselve on this trip, the visit to the observatory was enlightening. The Observatory closed in 2002 for renovations but re-opened to the public in 2006. At the entrance in the central rotanda, a "Foucault Pendulum" is the first exhibit visitors encounter as they step inside the building. The pendulum was designed to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. In the "Hall of the Eye" exhibit area, the exhibit gallery focuses on how people have observed the sky and impact those observations have had on people and society. On the opposite side of the building in the "Hall of the Sky" area, exhibits focus on each person's connection to the primary objects in our sky: the Moon and the Sun. Below the building in the "Depths of Space" and "Edge of Space" exhibit area, more exhibits focus on the planets, our earth, our moon, and the solar system. The Observatory also houses a planetarium and the original 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope which is located in the roof-top dome on the building's east end. The observatory also has three solar telescopes that bring the Sun directly to visitors. Also outside on the terrace there are free-standing telescopes where visitors can enjoy the views of the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding mountains. Admission to the Observatory building and the grounds, and parking is FREE and is open til 10PM every night. (Observatory is closed on Mondays and opens at 12 noon on weekdays and 10 AM on weekends.) Click here to view all the photos of this visit to the Griffith Observatory and make a trip there yourself if you get the chance. Posted on April 10, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Getting Cultured at "The Getty Center" After sightseeing all day through the coastal towns of Southern California, the next destination for the family's Spring Break vacation was to head inland to continue sightseeing through the cities of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Although the purpose of Spring Break was for the kids to have a break from school, it was decided that this trip would not only be fun but educational as well. So the next stop on this trip was "The Getty Center" which is located in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles. American industrialist "J. Paul Getty" was an avid collector of art and antiquities. His collection formed the basis of the J. Paul Getty Museum which includes pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, sculptures and decorative arts. Besides the museum, the Center is well known for its architecture, gardens, and views over looking Los Angeles. On this trip to The Getty the "Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit", "Building the Medieval World", and "Urban Panoramas" were some of the exhibits featured. There were plenty more exhibits and musuems to explore through but it was decided to come back and visit another time. Admission to The Getty and all exhibitions are always FREE, however there is a $15 per car parking fee. (Free parking after 5:00 p.m. during the evening hours on Saturdays.) There is plenty of parking and the tram ride up to the Center is also free of charge and offers awesome view from the tram of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Check out The Getty Center for yourself by clicking here to view photos from this visit. If you are ever in Los Angeles and would like a spend a day getting cultured, a visit to The Getty Center is a destination you must take. Posted on April 8, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Southern California Beach Cities After spending a day at Disneyland (See blog entry below), Ron, Carole, the kids, Richelle, Patrick and Eli left Anaheim and proceeded to Redondo Beach which was their next destination of their Spring Break vacation in Southern California. Before heading to Redondo Beach, a pit stop was made for lunch at "Roscoe's - House of Chicken n Waffles" in Long Beach. The combination of fried chicken and waffles was perfect considering they had no breakfast and it was already lunchtime. After lunch/brunch they drove down the Pacific Coast Highway stopping at "King's Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant" in Torrance to pick up some hawaiian bakery goods and then proceeded to Redondo Beach. Although the weather was a bit too cold to run around on the beach, they hung out on the "Redondo Beach Pier" and enjoyed the fresh ocean air and the sunset. They also met up with friends Alain, Leslie, and their daugther Riley at the pier. The Redondo Beach Pier offers plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment. Before they were married, Ron and Carole frequently visited the pier on trip to Los Angeles and were surprise the same "El Torito Restaurant" they use to dine at was still there. Not craving mexican or seafood, the gang decided to drive up to the next beach town and had dinner at "Versailles Cuban Restaurant" in Manhattan Beach. Versailles one of LA’s most popular restaurants and well known for their cuban dishes. (Stay tuned for more information on "Versailles" and "Roscoe's" in upcoming "So Cal Food Tour" blog.) Check out all the photos from the journey through Southern California beach cities and stops along the way. Posted on April 6, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Disneyland - "The Happiest Place on Earth" Last week Nico and Kiana were on Spring Break from school and the family decided to spend a week down in Southern California. Their first stop on their family vacation was "Disneyland". It had been 6 years since they had visited "The Happiest Place on Earth" and this was a first time visit ever for Nevaeh. Richelle, Patrick, and Eli also joined in on the fun and they all ran into other friends who were also visiting the park. As usual the park was crowded but on this particular day the lines weren't too bad. The game plan for this visit was to see and experience the rides that were new or have not been riden yet. First stop was Tomorrowland. The "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" was one of the first rides they went on where Nevaeh got to see all the characters from the movie right outside of the submarine. Then they all went back to the future and experienced the 3-D movie "Captain EO" starring Michael Jackson which Disney had brought back to the park. Afterwards, Kiana rode "Space Mountain" for the first time where she screamed her head off in the darkness of outer space. Throughout the day they continued to stroll through Main Street, U.S.A, where they caught the "Celebrate - A Street Party" parade". Ventured through Adventureland and New Orleans Square where they stopped at the "Haunted Mansion" and tried to scare each other. They walked over to Critter County but the lines were too long at "Splash Mountain" and decided to save that for the next Disneyland trip. Nevaeh enjoyed herself at Fantasyland and toured Sleeping Beauty's Castle. She also spent alot of time running around Mickey's Toontown and stopped by "It's a Small World" but the lines were too long and decided to save that for the next trip back as well. At the end of the day after all that walking, they all boarded the Disneyland Train which circled the entire park. They got off at the Main Street Station which was by the entrance/exit of the park. Like every Disneyland trip, it was a magical experience and a fun day spent with the family. Click here to see all the photos of their visit to "The Happiest Place on Earth". Posted on April 5, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Richelle's Birthday at "The Butcher Shop" The family got together last Friday night to celebrate Richelle's birthday and went to "Roberto DePhilippi's Steak House" (formerly known as "The Butcher Shop" which had been at this Chula Vista location for years but had recently changed owners and re-named the restaurant.). The ambiance of this establishment is reminiscent of the old 60's lounge decor with red velvet walls and seats and very dim lighting, wine bottles lining the walls, and faded old-school celebrity photos hanging over the tables. But despite the old tacky decor, the steaks at this restaurant are out of this world and they claim to have the "Best Prime Rib in America". The prime rib dinners are usually served with a baked potatoes or fries but the favorite is the twice baked potatoes. The prime rib is cooked perfectly according to what you ordered and the portions are hugh! As many times this family has visited this restaurant, no one has yet to finish the whole meal and take home boxes are usually brought to the table. On this night of celebrating after everyone took their last bite of the night, Richelle opened a gift box which had birthday cupcakes from Cuban style patisserie "Azucar". The restarant also brought out a slice of carrot cake with a birthday candle for Richelle to make a wish and blow. Click here to view all the celebration photos and Happy Birthday Richelle! Posted on March 29, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Run Away With Cirque Du Soleil 5K Run/1-Mile Walk Ron, Carole, and Nevaeh woke up early on this first day of Spring and headed to the Springs Preserve to participate in the "Run Away With Cirque De Soleil 5K Run/1-Mile Walk". The event was to commemorate "World Water Day" with all event proceeds benefittng the Springs Preserve. Cirque Du Soleil's cast and crew were present and provided entertainment and more! Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman kicked things off with a shotgun start, and Nevada Public Radio General Manager Flo Rogers emceed the proceedings. As the gun was shot to begin the run, Ron and Carole proceeded with Nevaeh riding along in her stroller. Throughout the run/walk, Cirque performers from The Beatles LOVE, KÀ, 'O', Viva ELVIS, Mystère, Zumanity, and CRISS ANGEL Believe lined up and followed along the Preserve's trails encouraging the participants on. After everyone crossed the finish line, all were gathered at the Preserve's amphitheater for live entertainment, announcements of raffle prizes, photos with performers, face painting, and booths educating everyone about "World Water Day" highlighting the daily struggles of much of the world to secure safe water. Check out all the event's activities by clicking here to view all the photos. It was a great way to start the first day of Spring. Posted on March 20, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe HDTV (High-Definition Television) on PC Watch "American Idol" or "Dancing with the Stars" live on your laptop computer screen? Yes it's possible. Ron the "Gadget Geek" that he is had to try it out for himself and went to "Fry's Electronics" in search of this new technology which he had recently seen at the "Consumer Electronic Show" earlier this year. There were several units displayed on the shelf and Ron chose the "HDTV on PC - My Cinema-U3100MINI Plus" by ASUS ($49.99) and took it home to test it out. The box contained a USB Digital TV Stick, coaxial cable, Digital TV antenna, and a CD-ROM with the software application and drivers. After installing the drivers and software into his netbook, the antenna was fastened to the coaxial cable and plugged into the UBS TV stick. (You have your choice of mounting the antenna to a small metal plate to sit the antenna on a flat surface or mount the antenna to a small clamp and attach on top of your laptop/netbook screen.) Once the USB TV stick was plugged into the USB port, the software was launched and the application started scanning for over the air high-definition television channels. The application was able to receive all the local television broadcast channels such as NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, PBS, USI, TEL, MyN, Ind, CW, and HBC. Channel signal strengths may vary depending on location and terrain. For better signal reception a larger antenna can also be used and connected to the USB TV stick via the coaxial cable. The software allows you to view your television program in a small window or at full screen. Because the signal is digital and in high-definition, you'll be surprise by the picture quality and sound. (Just as clear as watching on a television monitor.) The software also allows you to record the television program so that you can replay it back in the future. Best of all, this is FREE digital television and there's no need to subscribe to any service or worry about finding a Wi-Fi connection. Check out the rest of the photos of this very impressive gadget. Now you won't miss any Sunday NFL football games or miss out on who gets eliminated on this week's "Dancing with the Stars" if you're not home. Posted on March 10, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Defending the Caveman and The Rat Pack Show After traveling down to San Diego and Anaheim for the past four weekends, finally a free weekend of no traveling came for Ron, Carole and the kids. So this weekend, they made sure to take advantage of the situation and dedicated the whole weekend for the family. On Friday, Ron and Carole had a late afternoon date and went to the "Excalibur Hotel and Casino" to watch the broadway comedy show "Defending the Caveman". Comedian Kevin Burke, the star of this one man show talked about the misunderstandings between men and women and explained how the differences go back to the caveman days. The play attempts to resolve the war between the sexes with alittle humor and explores all of the things that make men and women fight, laugh, and love. Younger crowds may not relate to the subject matter and is recommended for an older crowd, especially married couples. After the show, Ron and Carole had plans to go out to dinner but instead decided to go home and spend the rest of the evening with the kids. Family time continued the next day as Ron, Carole, the kids, and cousin Jay went to the "Sahara Hotel and Casino" to watch Sandy Hackett's "Rat Pack Show". Sandy Hackett (Son of late comedian Buddy Hackett) also starred in the show playing Joey Bishop along with other performers who played as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Although Nico, Kiana and Nevaeh didn't know of these performers except seeing photos of them, the show was somewhat educational as they learned who they were and the songs they sang. The show was very entertaining as they performed songs by the original "Rat Pack" and added alot of comedy bits in-between and during all the songs. They also got to take a photo op with the performers after the show ended. Afterwards the family headed to dinner at "Buffet @ Asia" for some chinese and seafood. Check out all the show and dinner photos from this weekend's family bonding time moments. Posted on March 7, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe More Weekend Celebrating for Carole's Birthday in San Diego After the big party for Carole's Birthday at "Pat and Oscar's" with a few close friends and family (See blog entry below), the celebrating still continued throughout the weekend. And in true "Poblete" fashion, the celebrating consisted of eating, more eating, and even more eating. "Dining with one's friends and beloved family is certainly one of life's primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal." (Julia Child - American chef, author, and television personality) This quote from Julia Child holds true. Although this family loves to eat, it's the bonding, laughing and the experience that happens when dining out which makes it more satisfying. On Friday the family headed over to the "Plaza Bonita Mall" to have lunch at the "El Torito Restaurant". While everyone ordered from the menu, Nico, Ron, Richelle, and Patrick took advantage of the "$8.99 Fajita Express Lunch Buffet" special. Fresh tortillas and steak or chicken fajitas were made to order along with the side dishes of rice, beans, corn cake, salads, and salsas for you to add on your plate. After lunch all the waiters and waitresses came out with a custard flan with a candle for Carole singing "Happy Birthday Panchita!" So after a hugh lunch meal you would think everyone was done for the day? Apparently not as a late night craving came upon everyone and Richelle, Partrick, Eli, Nico, Kiana, Carole, and Ron headed back to Plaza Bonita Mall late that night and went to "Red Robin" for their gourmet hamburgers. For an appetizer, the "Towering Onion Rings" was brought out to the table before the burgers came out. At the end of the burger munching, the waiters and waitresses came out once again with an ice cream sandae with a cherry on top for Carole and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. For the last celebrating of the weekend before the long five hour trip back to Las Vegas, Richelle, Partrick, Eli, Elson, Nico, Kiana, Carole, and Ron headed out again for a late lunch at "Jeong Won" for some "all you can eat" Korean BBQ. This restaurant was not only "all you can eat" but "all you can cook" as each table houses a grill right in the center where eveyone cooks their own food. Everyone helps themselves at the counter of endless marinated meats (chicken, pork, beef, shortribs, etc...), seafood (shrimp, mussels, fish, etc...), vegetables, salad, kimchee, and much more and return to their table for the cooking feast. Rice, miso soup, and Korean style vegetable pancakes are also served to you at your table. It is definately an experience eating here yet a very satisfying one at that Experience it all by clicking here to see all the photos from this past weekend of celebrating, bonding and most of all eating! Posted on February 22, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Strolling Eastlake Shores Unlike MTV's "Jersey Shores", "Eastlake Shores" is a community in the east part of Chula Vista in San Diego County where the Poblete Family calls home. Since the early 90's after Ron and Carole got married, they settled in a 3 bedroom condo just steps away for the Eastlake Shores Beach Club right by the lake. After relocating to Las Vegas 4 years ago, Richelle took over the condo which is also down the street and around the corner from the the big house "Casa de Poblete - San Diego" where Papa Rollie and Mama Pearlie reside. During Ron, Carole, and the kids visit back home from Las Vegas this past weekend, Ron, Carole, Nevaeh and Mama Auring took a morning walk around Eastlake Shores 21.5-acre lake which also offers boating, fishing, a community club house and a swimming lagoon. Many fond memories came to mind as they strolled down the walking path that went around the lake. It was almost 18 years ago when the family celebrated and held Nico's first birthday party at the club house. Many other parties followed years after at the swimming lagoon with all their cousins and friends. Carole walked around this lake every morning or so after getting off from the night shift and after taking the kids to school. Ron and Carole also spent many afternoon taking Nico and Kiana down to the lake to feed the ducks or take weekend paddleboating rides on the lake or bike rides around the community. Unfortunately for Nevaeh, she did not get to grow up at Eastlake Shores as the family relocated to Las Vegas after she was born. But the she does get to enjoy the lake and the community once in awhile on visits back to her hometown. Take a stroll around the lake for yourself by clicking here to see the rest of the photos from the morning walk and of the views of Eastlake Shores. Posted on February 22, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Carole's 16th (again) Birthday at "Pat and Oscar's" It was Carole's birthday and the family had planned a trip back home to San Diego to celebrate. After Nico and Kiana got out of school, they all headed down the Interstate 15 freeway in the family's VW Eurovan hoping to arrive there in time for the party they had planned for. They beat the Southern California rush hour traffic and arrived in perfect timing to set up for the party at the "Pat and Oscar's Restaurant" at the Eastlake Village Walk in Chula Vista, California. Before the guests arrived, orders of chicken wings, pizza, pasta, ceasar salad, and their famous "Pat and Oscar's" breadsticks were made. As the guests arrived, the food was brought out and set on the buffet table in the patio area which was reserved for the party. It was a night of catching up with everyone, story telling, and laughing throughout the evening. At the end of the evening Carole's birthday cake was brought out, candles lit, and all of the kids gathered around to help blow out the candles. Check out the photos from Carole's "breadsticks" birthday party with a few of her special friends and family at "Pat and Oscar's Restaurant". Posted on February 20, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe President's Day Holiday Morning Hike In the spirit of staying fit and exercising, Ron and Carole started their President's Day Holiday outdoors for some fresh air and an early morning hike through the trails at the "Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve" in Henderson. The preserve is one of the City of Henderson's newest parks which had recently opened last year. The 5.69-acre "Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve" features many unique geologic rock formations, an active stream, and diverse desert flowers and plants. Amenities include hiking trails, interpretive centers, and kiosks as well as covered picnic areas and restrooms. The trails are wide and safe with a few inclines/declines in certain areas. The preserve does offer a portion that is ADA accessible and for the most part is pretty level for the younger hikers (as well as for the "not" so young) to enjoy. The preserve also has more challenging trails that lead up to the top of the mesa and offers fantastic views of the nature preserve and of the City of Henderson and surrounding mountains. Check out the rest of the photos from this morning's hike and visit the "Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve" if you get the chance. It's a great place for the whole family to enjoy! Posted on February 15, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe LE REVE...Be the Dreamer It was the first day of February and the kids started the month with a Las Vegas show. Ron had gotten tickets for Nico, Kiana, and Nevaeh to watch "LE REVE" at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort. Ron and Carole had already seen this spectacular water show but it was now the kids turn to see it for themselves. "Le Reve" which translate to "The Dream" takes you into a dreamworld of illusions and offers swopping acrobatics, synchronized swimming, and amazing dance routines. Every seat in the house is a good seat as the layout of the theater (or stadium) is round and the stage itself transforms into pool right in the center. The show is visually entertaining and the whole production from the music to the lighting and special effects to the actual aquatic and acrobatic performances are spectacular. From scene to scene the kids were very entertained, especially Nevaeh who was mesmerized by all the performers in the pool as well as those flying through the air. Although photography is not allowed during the performance, check out the photos from before and after the show. "Le Reve" is a great show for the entire family and this family gives it "two thumbs up"! Posted on February 2, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe January Outings in Las Vegas The year just started but the month of January is about to end. It was a great start for the year 2010 as the family got together to bring in the new year and even stayed alittle longer to enjoy the Vegas life. This month the Pobletes and the Catapats from Dallas and Chicago spent time together checking out the new "City Center" project on the Las Vegas Strip. City Center offers a collection of new spectacular hotels (such as the Aria, Vdara, and Mandarin) and residences, senstational spas, astonishing dining and extraordinary shopping. Before the Catapats left town everyone got together once again for dinner at "Lucille's Bar-B-Que" at "The District at Green Valley Ranch" for some awesome mouth-watering barbeque. More eating took place as the family also dined at the "Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet" at the "M Resort Hotel and Casino". A vote was taken and the "Studio B Buffet" was voted the family's favorite all-around buffet in Las Vegas (for their great all-around menu but most especially for the desserts). For entertainment the family hung out one night at the "Fremont Street Experience" in dowtown Las Vegas. Mama Pearlie, Papa Rollie, Kiana and Eli got to see comedian, musician, and impressionist "Gordie Brown" at the "Golden Nugget Hotel". Great entertainer and does great impressions of many stars from Elvis to Michael Jackson. More entertainment was seen as Ron, Nico, Jay, Patrick, Richelle, and Eli went to see the famous comedian/impressionist "Frank Caliendo" at his show at the "Monte Carlo Resort and Casino". Very funny guy and he had the audience laughing throughout the whole show. Ron also took Nico and Kiana to the Monte Carlo to see master magician "Lance Burton" who is also the headliner for that hotel. Ron and Carole also got to go to an exclusive movie premiere at the "Las Vegas Hilton" to see the special screening of "American Sunset" starring Corey Haim, Frank Molina, Angela Cullins, and Bernard Robichaud. (The movie is due in theaters this summer.) It was a star studded event as the producers and director as well as the actors and actresses from the film were present on the red carpet. Check out all the photos from all our outings for January. We look forward to more family outings and events for next month! Do stay tuned. Posted on January 28, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe "Super Charger" Family It was the last game of the "Chargers" 2009 NFL Football Season and the family was all together and suited up for game day. Prior to the game against the "Washington Redskins", the family decided to do an impromptu photo session with everyone in their "Chargers" jerseys. Ron had brought out his camera equipment and set up his background and lights and the photo session began. The "Chargers" beat the "Redskins" 23 to 20 and became the "AFC West Division" champions". And as the "Chargers" head into the AFC playoffs, "The San Diego Union-Tribune's" website "Sign On San Diego" created a "Charger Fans Photo Gallery" of fan photos showing their enthusiasm for the team. The two photos on this blog entry are featured on the website and look for the photos for possible publication in the newspaper during the NFL playoff. It's gonna be an exciting post-season and this "Super Charger Family" will be ready to root on their team. Check out the rest of the photos from the family's photo session and "GO CHARGERS!" Posted on January 11, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe 2010 CES (Consumer Electionics Show) Every year Las Vegas is host to the "Consumer Electronics Show' (CES). CES is the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow. It features 2,700 exhibitors, including companies who manufacture products or provide services for the audio, digital imaging, home theater, wireless, content and gaming markets. And every year Ron and the rest of the GEMNET/Net-25 crew head out to cover the show for Net-25's tech show "Convergence". This year's crew consisted of Liezel, Jan, Ryan (Seven), Jason, and Aldine. Richelle and Patrick also tagged along (Patrick helping with the photography and Richelle as an extra and hand model demostrating the high tech products.). There were alot of new gadgets and gizmos at this year's "CES". Flat screens were even larger and thinner but the one big thing that stood out at this year's "CES" was "3-D Technology". Very soon in the near future, 3-D televisions will be found in family rooms in most homes. Check out the rest of the behind the scene photos of the crew at work and stay tuned for "Convergence" on Net-25 in the Philippines and other Asia-Pacific countries or on GEMTV on DirecTV Channel 2068 in the U.S. Posted on January 10, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Poblete Family New Years Party at Lake Las Vegas This year the Poblete Family decided to bring in the new year with about 85 friends and family members in Las Vegas. (Click here for more info.) One by one families arrived at "Casa de Poblete" early on New Year's Eve day. Once everyone arrived, they all got in their cars and caravan'd over to beautiful "Lake Las Vegas" to check-in at the "Montelago Village Resort" where everyone had booked a room for the New Year's Weekend. The resort village which sits right off of the lake offered many restaurants and shops to stroll through and even ice skating on a barge which floats right on the lake. The "Poblete Family New Years Party" was held in Suite 201 which was a large 3-bedroom suite which overlooked and village resort and the lake. The room was opened to everyone at 7PM that new year's eve night for dinner and socializing throughout the night. It was a reunion of not only family but friends who had come from as far as Chicago, Dallas, San Jose, and San Francisco. At 10pm everyone gathered for a family prayer led by Papa Rollie to give thanks to the Lord for all the many blessings this past year. After the prayer the "White Elephant Gift Exchange" game was played which was very entertaining for participants and non-participants alike. The gifts that were stolen the most were the bag of goodies from "Victoria's Secret", a "Snuggie", and Kuya Dante's "Hot Cooocoooo!" (You had to be there to understand the "Hot Cocoa" joke.) Right after all the gifts were picked and exchanged, everyone proceeded to the large balcony outside of Suite 201 to view the fireworks which were displayed right over the lake. After the fireworks show, sparkling apple cider was passed around and everyone gathered for a group photo before retiring to their own rooms to get their first sleep for the year. The next day everyone woke up to the beautiful view of "Lake Las Vegas" and took a morning walk around the village. (Some continued to sleep in til noon.) Those who wanted to join in on the buffet lunch (which was about 50 people or so) caravan'd over to the "Green Valley Ranch Resort" for endless "sauteed" crab legs and every other type of food they had to offer. After the big lunch, some decided to walk off their meal at the shopping outlets and the Vegas Strip while the rest chose to go back to the "Montelago Village Resort" to rest and relax, watch videos, and play card games all night long. The next day everyone checked-out of their rooms at the resort. Some made stops to Hoover Dam and the Strip before hitting the traffic on the freeways while some others went back to "Casa de Poblete" to extend their Las Vegas stay. Click here to view all the photos of the New Year's festivities! Thank you to everyone who came to bring in the new year with the Pobletes! We hope everyone had a great time. Posted on January 9, 2010 | Read Comments | Post Comment | Subscribe Click here to view 2009 Blogs