Last month I attended the last 20 Book to 50K conference to be held in Las Vegas. Having attended the previous year, I knew more-or-less what to expect: a four-day whirlwind of information, innovation, and new faces, culminating in the RAVE book festival where I would once again sell my books. Given what was in store, I decided to make the first day an early night the first day. Instead of going to my room, I took myself out to dinner at one of my favorite places on the Strip. This is TAP Sports Bar, and despite occupying a spot just off the MGM Grand casino, it is the kind of place you go when you need something lowkey, reliable, and sure to please.
Atmosphere
I walked in to TAP Sports Bar at four on a random Tuesday in November. With no games currently in progress, they seated me immediately at a table near the front, nestled between a window looking out at the casino and a POS station. I ordered a drink, which came relatively quickly, and I proceeded to read, write, and observe.
I was left this way for…quite a while.
Later on, I realized I must have arrived during shift change because it seemed they lost track of me for a minute. Also, my first server may have misheard me when I said I wasn’t ready to order food, and thought I didn’t want to order at all. If that’s the case, then he was 100% right to leave me in peace. It is, after all, what I want when I’m out writing. Eventually, I managed to flag someone down, and the rest of the ordering process went smoothly. To be honest, I wasn’t upset. I was so happy to have some downtime to decompress after the day that it was kind of nice to be ignored for a bit. Also, slow (or confused) service has other advantages. Keep reading to see what I mean.
Food and Drink
As I write this, TAP Sports Bar sits on the cusp of celebrating its tenth anniversary. In a town like Las Vegas, where you need to make hay while the sun shines because your favorite spot this trip could disappear as soon as you leave, a decade in operation (with a global pandemic in the middle of it) is a huge accomplishment. And as much as I love it, it’s not like TAP is anything super special. So how did they do it?
Location is one factor. TAP is the first casual eatery you encounter as you walk in from the Strip. Its floor-to-ceiling walls of sports-tuned TVs are also only a short walk from the sportsbook. Atmosphere is another. But for me, it’s all about the food. I’ve been to TAP Sports Bar multiple times at this point. I’ve tried multiple different menu items, and they have never disappointed me. Their offerings have changed (and sadly, lessened) since the pandemic, but what remains is still delicious.
This time, I opted for a spicy margarita and fish tacos with a side of elote. Not sure why I went in this direction. I mean, it’s always a good time for a margarita, so that’s no mystery. But fish tacos are not my usual fare. Maybe I was going for a curveball. If anything at TAP was going to miss with me, it would be this.
If that was my aim, I can only say that I failed miserably. The fish was crispy and moist. The cabbage slaw was crunchy and fresh. The aioli on top was creamy and delicious. They even improved on elote by removing the single most inconvenient thing about it–the cob–and turning it into a coleslaw-style side. In my opinion, that is nothing short of genius.
How Did The Writing Go?
Remember when I said that slow service has secret advantages? This is it. Waiting for a server during any part of the process allows me to read, write, or simply listen to my own thoughts without interruption. During the ramp-up of a major conference, that time is particularly valuable. Sure, I could do all that in the privacy and dead quiet of my own hotel room. But why should I when I can do it among people?
As it happened, my phone was running down on battery, so I opted to scribble a few handwritten notes instead. Then I switched back to reading my book. But the point of the outing was to relieve pressure, not apply it. So that was fine with me.
Final Thoughts on TAP Sports Bar
The rest of the week at the 20 Book to 50K conference passed in a blur. I had a wonderful time with old friends and new, I learned a lot, and even sold some books. Then the closing remarks began and the conference organizers began to talk about the years passed. That’s when it hit home: I was experiencing the end of something. Something great and, despite only attending for two years, something that has given me so much knowledge and camaraderie that I don’t know what I’d do if I hadn’t found it. In a town where things come and go so quickly, consistent touchstones are critical. Even if that touchstone is just a cozy casino sports bar.
P.S. 20 Books to 50K may be over, but the spirit of the conference will live on. Author Nation will hold its inaugural conference at the Horseshoe in November 2024. I’m sure you’ll hear more about it from me in the months to come.
TAP Sports Bar is located inside the MGM Grand Casino. For more information, visit their website.
