Connecti-cut Short

I was supposed to be spending this entire week in Connecticut for work. Had a few things planned, including meeting my cousins over at UConn and hitting up an iconic hamburger joint in New Haven called Louis' Lunch.
http://www.louislunch.com/

I saw this place highlighted on the Travel Channel as the apparent birthplace of the "Hamburger Sandwich." Alas, I will have to try it out some other time, as a threat of weather in Connecticut forced me to cut my trip short, and consequently drive back into the storm that was ravaging Eastern PA and New Jersey. Made it home safe and sound by about 3 am, and for those not getting the snow right now, this is what home looks like these days:

And this was just really weird....

I did spend Monday and Tuesday at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, CT for work meetings. The weather was cold, but not blizzard-like, and I must say: if you're looking for a classy establishment with impeccable customer service, breathtaking decor, and a variety of good shops and restaurants, Mohegan may very well be the place for you. It was my second year attending the meetings at this casino, and while it's not as ornate as the casinos in Vegas or even Atlantic City, the words tacky, gaudy, and cheesy never cross your mind. It's on an Indian Reservation, so there is a very earthy motif, lots of bright colors, and a definite nod to the history of the Mohegan tribe. In addition, the entryway to the hotel/ casino looks like the canopy of the Pandoran forest from Avatar:

As for the food at the casino, I had one really great meal. It was at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse, which is apparently a mini-chain, but of which the location in Mohegan Sun is apparently the best and the classiest.
http://www.michaeljordansteakhouse.com/

Now MJ and I have a special bond: we share the same birthday. I thought the connection ended there, and if you've ever seen me jump, you'd surely assume the same, but apparently we both have a penchant for a well-cooked steak with AWESOME side dishes. I had a 6 oz filet mignon, and our table split some creamed spinach, lobster mashed potatoes, and grilled aparagus. Each of these sides was done to perfection, and I'd have to give the place 8 Bearclaws.

*I also had ice cream from the Ben and Jerry's store downstairs. The "Chocolate Therapy" flavor gets 9.5 Bearclaws. Hands down one of the best combinations of ice cream ingredients ever created.
http://www.benjerry.com/flavors/our-flavors/#product_id=94
(Ali, you'll probably need to brush your front teeth after just reading those ingredients.)