Should they stay or should they go? That has certainly been the hot topic of discussion around here for several years. There seems to be both good and bad in both keeping and eliminating the rallies, and while the bikers bring a boom to some businesses they most certainly bring a big bust to others. Our VIP Crew mailing list is made up of a diverse cross section of the population and represents both locals and, what I call, part time locals. I asked in a recent newsletter for peoples opinions on the matter, and found, like I am assuming the Horry County Council and the city of Myrtle Beach are finding, a pretty even split. Here is what some of our VIP Crew had to say:

As full-time, tax-paying residents of Myrtle Beach, we want the Bike Rallies to end.
The services (fire, police, rescue, hospital, etc.), which "we" pay for simply cannot cope with an invasion of 300,000 bikers. Nor do we want our taxes to be used for cleaning up the aftermath.
The alleged income these rallies are supposed to bring to our community does not materially pay for the cost of hosting these events. Any income, which is realized does not serve to reduce our tax burden.
Additionally, some of these visitors, encouraged by their massive numbers, come with the express intent of disrespecting our citizens, trashing our beautiful city, and thumbing their noses at our law enforcement efforts and our local establishments. The trash and the carnage and the tarnished image they leave for other prospective visitors is unacceptable.
This matter needs to be on the ballot and the issue should be decided by the voters . . . not the visiting bikers, our elected officials, or out-of-town business interests.
The above is simply our opinion; however, we believe that it is shared by the majority of the voting residents of Myrtle Beach.
Thank you for asking for our thoughts on the matter.
Happy 4th of July!

T&C C

Without question, the Harley motorcycle rally and the bikers should stay.
You have to wonder what the local politicians are thinking about!
Every time they open their mouths it’s more taxes, and less revenue producing items.
The Harley rallies produce a tremendous amount of revenue for our area.
When will they ever learn…? When people start to move away, don’t retire here, and, avoid it as a vacation spot?

J. I.

The bikers weeks should GO. The two best month of the year are besieged by these noise generating machine with way to many driven by drunks and trouble makers rather than true enthusiast respectful of residence and their rights. No-one can enjoy what the cities really have to offer during these great weather months. Thanks for asking.
E. K.

As an owner of two properties in North Myrtle Beach, I deal with the, "Biker Weeks", every year. The HOA for my building doesn't allow motorcycles on property at any time so I lose two weeks of potential rental income every year. I don't think the idea of a bike rally is a bad idea I just think they need to move it to a slower time. Having something over Memorial Day or the weeks close to that makes no sense as the traffic issue is compounded and the potential for rental income loss is higher. I would suggest moving the rally weeks to a slower time. This would allow the rally weeks to continue, promote business during a slower time and reduce the chance of traffic accidents as there would be less cars in the area.
Have a great day, Happy 4th Anniversary and I look forward to seeing you in August when I am down with the family.

J.S.

SeaBlue,
We think the biker events should go elsewhere and give Myrtle Beach back to the folks who live here. It is especially sad to see the beautiful and normally family oriented month of May ruined for everyone except bikers because of the indecent behavior of some and the jamming of traffic so that nothing moves. Other locales have succeeded in discouraging these kinds of events. Can we learn from their example?

M. P.

As far as the biker debate, I would be happy to see them go elsewhere.
The money they bring to to area is one thing, but how they take over
the roads in an unsafe matter is another. Numerous bikers pulled out
RIGHT in front of us not once or twice but several times and almost
causing serious accidents on the roads. This is a valid concern. Thanks!

R. L.

the biker events should stay. so three weeks a year there is extra activity,we can use the income around here. in case nobodys watching gas prices are up and will be in this range for AWHILE,food prices are up,and there are people feeling the pinch.
don’t run off an income event of several years in an unstable economy!!! lets be real stupid (stupid is as stupid does)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if we start running off people any other visits from them will be lost and most bikers come here more than bike weeks.
besides I think most police will tell say the teenagers from graduation are more of a problem.

G.D.

Bikers should go!

J. H.

The bike rallies should stay! The communities make too much money that time of year to eliminate it.

I hate the noise myself, but it is a short time to have to put up with it. Besides, we have some pretty bad crimes committed all year, not just during that short time in May.

P. C.

The great debate continues, I am sure for a long time to come.
Kelly

The tapas style of dining is, to me, the best way to eat. I believe it was Thomas Keller who said that anything over three bites is a waste. I totally agree. First bite awakens the senses, excites the tongue, provides hints of flavor and wakes the brain’s “ingredient memory” files. The second, should hopefully, delight, surprise, and serve as a sort of confirmation. “Was that tarragon?” The third is simply for pure enjoyment, maybe leave you a bit wistful, wishing for just a touch more. But there should not be more, there should just be the desire for more. This is one of the main problems that I see with eating out in the United States. Not only is there more, there is SO much more. Portion sizes are huge. So large, in fact, that I rarely order an entrée while dining out. My sense of taste is so bored by the time I soldier even half way through. I become literally exhausted at the thought of having to take another bite of the same thing. I crave variety, multitudinous flavors, textures, and temperatures. A bite of this a bit of that. Sound a bit high maintenance? Perhaps. It is similar, I suppose, to what I call compartmentalized eaters. You know the people who will eat all of one thing on their plate before progressing to the next. My sister always ate the thing she liked the best first, I, always a student of delayed gratification, to this day, will save until the last bite, that which is my favorite. If that is your preferred method of eating, have at it, as with everything else, to each his own in that department.
So often while dining in other cities, and wanting to really experience the chef, the restaurant, the cuisine, wanting to try as many things as possible, without being wasteful, we turned to appetizers. This arrangement truly satisfied my desire for sampling without the ensuing ennui, and we thought, provided a vast sampling to test the range of the kitchen. An off night with an entrée and you give the place a bad review, one bad appetizer out of 6 is indicative of a weak spot. Thus our love affair with many flavors and textures and items was born and when we decided to open our own place it seemed only logical to open it in this style of dining.
If you are a tapas newbie or if this is old hat, we invite you to come and experience many different tastes, flavors, cooking styles and cuisines. Excite your palate and Drink, Dine, Discover.

Vegas Blog November 2007 Japonais

Japonais opened it’s Las Vegas location at the Mirage in 2006. Proclaimed as being “one of Chicago and New York City’s most adored and critically acclaimed restaurants” combined with our love of Japanese food made this restaurant a must. Having previewed and reviewed, on more than one occasion, I might add, we were looking forward to a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting We trepidatiously approach the labyrinth that is Japonais and Japonais Lounge. Overlooking the casino floor, this massive 11,000 square foot space is beautifully, if somewhat confusingly, divided into several lounge, and distinct dining areas, which according to their website “allow guests multiple ways to experience the restaurant. Upon finding the restaurant proper, entrance, we were promptly seated for out 8pm reservation. Our circular booth toward the back of the dining room provides a beautiful overview of the space. Curved walnut “fins” cover the ceiling, copper and onyx details, and the beautiful red walls, combined with the dramatic lighting, makes this a truly beautiful place to enjoy a meal. I am particularly struck by a mirror treatment, in which many square foot tiles of mirror are placed to form one large mirror which breathtakingly reflects a blue glass waterfall.

The menu, as reflected in the name, presents - Japanese with a twist of French, a plethora of choices. Sushi, Chef’s special rolls, maki nono, Les Entrees Froides – Cold Appetizers, Les Entrees Chaudes-Hot Appetizer, Robata, Toban Yaki, and of course Les Plats Principaux. What could be a rather daunting menu, is broken down and easy to understand and while having many different cooking- or uncooked- styles does not present you with a perverse number of choices within each style.
Dining with four hungry men can be either a good thing or not. Keeping with my positive energy I choose to exploit their hunger allowing for us to try many of the offerings at Japonais. We began with toro, it is November, and we are relatively close to the west coast, and toro is kind of like caviar, if they have it, you should get it. Rich and buttery, both the Otoro and Chu toro were lovely. The Maki mono, Spicy Tuna and Unagi Avocado, nothing to write home about, yet nothing to complain about. If you have a decent sushi restaurant at home, you will most likely be able to find a comparable roll. And if I can find it close to home, why am I traveling across this great country to eat it?
The Sakana Carpaccio featuring thinly sliced tuna, whitefish and salmon with individual sauces, fits the same bill, although you can never go wrong with really fresh raw fish, nothing so far had really separated this sushi.

“The Rock” appetizer, consisted of thinly sliced marinated New York Strip steak, brought to the table raw, accompanied by a rectangular black rock on which to cook it. An impressive presentation and the flavor, I am told, was wonderful as well. The Tuna Flatbread, ahi tuna, mocha cheese with olive anchovy sauce on fresh made ohba and wakame crust, was a unique and unusual combination of flavors that really worked. Both the Seafood and Jumbo Asparagus Toban Yaki, served on Hot Japanese Clay Pot, with yuzu butter were wonderful. The Nori skin encrusted Salmon Japonais with horseradish oyster leak stew, was medium to well – although I do not know if a temperature was taken. The highlight was the newly added SeaBass en papillote, was presented with a beautiful brown broth with a glistening white piece of fish, in clear plastic with a chopstick enclosure that was removed by the server. The plate, with the plastic un-enclosure on it, was then topped with a tomato conserve. The combination of flavors was divine, and in my opinion, the best thing on the menu.

Our server was knowledgeable, making several suggestions on both how to order and particular dishes to order. Michael twice had tap water added to his sparkling and the proliferation of plates on the table was sometimes overwhelming, but overall the service earned the requisite 20%.

Japonais
Mirage Hotel and Casino
3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Lunch: Mon - Fri: 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: Sun - Wed: 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Thur - Sat: 5:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Reservations: 866.339.4566