What happens in Vegas

Well, I just returned from sunny Las Vegas, Nevada. I mean I think it was sunny - it was really hard to figure out how to get out of the hotel.

Here's my hotel lobby on the evening I arrived:

And here's my hotel lobby at 7am the next morning:

While you can imagine how enticing this was, and I did notice a few empty seats in the casino and at the bars at 7am, I had to pass on the "What happens in Vegas" gig because I was there for the 2008 World Tea Expo; it was the largest tea converence ever and it was great!

Tea and Vegas - a perfect combination.

I'm sure there were thousands of attendees. I met people in the tea business from all over the world including Canada, the UK, South Africa, Bangladesh, China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, and even Florida!

While there I attended a bunch of really interesting educational seminars including the 2008 State of the Industry report. I learned that while sales of many other beverages including coffee, soft drinks and juices are declining, sales of tea in this country are continuing to grow at an accelerated pace. The industry pundits are predicting continued growth in the tea industry, in large part because of the the many documented health and well-being benefits of tea. I found out that even Oprah drinks tea! So tea has arrived.

I tasted many new teas and am sure I'll be expanding my product line in the near future. Probably, after I get the doors open on Lark Street.

While I was away, Joe managed the teashop At the Warehouse with ease and grace. At the Warehouse, by the way, is celebrating it's first anniversary this week. The salvage business and the weekend market are thriving, the dance studio continues to deliver yoga and latin dance classes, and a new cafe will be opening there shortly. I believe it's being run by a well-known local caterer (but I don't know who).

I'm glad to be home.