In order to apply for my Residencia Temporal, which allows me to work legally in Mexico — and get health insurance, open a bank account, and enjoy other perks — I had to leave the country and visit a Mexican consulate elsewhere in the world. I didn’t want to go back to LA; I feel that I am just starting to settle in here and I didn’t want to be pulled backward. I considered Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, as well as Hawaii, Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago, but Las Vegas ticked all the boxes:

• Mexican consulate is not overly busy (unlike in Texas, Arizona, and Southern California): No appointment necessary, same-day service
• Cheap airfare and super-cheap midweek hotel rates
• Easily drivable from LA for my boyfriend

I don’t like Las Vegas. However, it turned out to be a good choice for Takin’ Care of Business, as Elvis would have said. We stayed off-strip at a boutique hotel called the Artisan, located just west of Downtown. Did the Neon Museum tour at dusk, which was perfect for shooting neon signs against a twilit sky. Got my hair done at a groovy little place called Hillary Salon, in the Arts Factory, ground zero of the growing Downtown arts scene. Checked out a great dive called Frankie’s Tiki Room, had a beer at LV’s first microbrewery, Hop Nuts, and ate breakfast at a couple of great greasy spoons, Vickie’s Diner and Omelet House. We also had an authentic and delicious meal at a place in Chinatown called Ichiza and a lovely brekky at a Downtown joint called Eat (I now believe that every egg should be truffled).

Take a look at the gallery.