tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60523663938321014202024-02-21T10:43:10.041-08:00Vegas InsightMike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-13646872955108082152023-11-03T19:35:00.001-07:002024-02-21T10:42:35.315-08:00#VegasHalloween 2023 -- chapter 1<p> I'll spare the history and the almosts, I went to Vegas for Halloween. Again. </p><p>It was my ninth time in Vegas on Halloween night since my first visit in 2011. </p><p>Yeah, I love it. </p><p>I don't write a trip report every time I travel to Vegas, but here are memories from this trip, in chronological order, for the most part, spread out over a few chapters. </p><p>I traveled with my life partner, who doesn't have the same affection for Vegas that I do. But she enjoys our trips, and I try to make sure she gets to check a few boxes on her personal wish list. </p><p>We chose Downtown Grand as our hotel of choice for this trip. Fremont Street is a great show on Halloween night, and we don't stay downtown that often. Staying at the Grand meant I could enjoy the show late into the evening, and my life partner could retire to our room when she had seen enough. (I'll write about Downtown Grand separately in the days to come.) </p><p>But before reminiscing about Halloween, here are a few details about the days leading up to Oct. 31. </p><p>We arrived on Sunday evening, Oct. 29. We rent a car. It makes a lot of sense for us. Some people wouldn't consider renting a car while in Vegas. It has made sense for me for more than a decade. </p><p>We drove to Downtown Grand immediately to check in. Then we were back in the car and off to Ellis Island. Some folks love Ellis Island, others find it beneath them. I visit every trip. </p><p>We often have the prime rib dinner at Ellis Island during our trips, and this year was no exception. We've had several cheap prime rib dinners over the years, and Ellis Island does it best. The cheap dinner has jumped in price plenty over the past 10-15 years. It's up to about $27 these days, which isn't the cheapest meal out there, but we always have an American Casino Guide coupon for a free meal, so two plates cost us about $30 total, before tip. </p><p>We had to wait about 30 minutes to eat, so we had cheap drinks at the bar, and I played low rolling keno at the bar while we waited. Such a simple pleasure in life, and yet one I can't enjoy here in Minnesota. Sure, I can gamble. Sure, I can drink craft beer. But enjoying a comped beer while playing 25-cent keno? Not around these parts. </p><p>We had thick cuts of prime rib for dinner. We didn't order thick cuts. We ordered the simple prime rib dinner. But you'd think we had ordered king cuts. Thick and tasty, no complaints at all.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6J4XAJ26-gJMooaPlRC3FaE-yKgbP0EE9oawlvFVLYjVbGMLU0atP8nM1MjB1IYuaW4ehfFJMJ0RKLaA43w-bsVlpb2YsKFbpIE4XI91lbquYb2YlpCdz-96hK34gzfO2OYUF8plTWVhPTEZZq35qWpACU4V1gFGadMtLj0xzd0vp7NzJZk9RRk2R1E/s4032/20231029_212015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6J4XAJ26-gJMooaPlRC3FaE-yKgbP0EE9oawlvFVLYjVbGMLU0atP8nM1MjB1IYuaW4ehfFJMJ0RKLaA43w-bsVlpb2YsKFbpIE4XI91lbquYb2YlpCdz-96hK34gzfO2OYUF8plTWVhPTEZZq35qWpACU4V1gFGadMtLj0xzd0vp7NzJZk9RRk2R1E/w400-h300/20231029_212015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures of prime rib inevitably elicit moronic comments from your friends on Facebook, such as "Is that before they cooked it?" </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After dinner I failed to hit on a $10 match play at roulette. (This would not be the last time.) We sat in the Front Yard and played keno and blackjack at the bar while drinking comped drinks for a while. I managed to hit a small win on keno and pocket a few quarters for my time. Literally. I think I was $1.50 ahead. But the $10-12 I spent on tips for drinks for me and my life partner before and after dinner was the real win of the night. </p><p>It was late October 2023, and a few weeks before a much hyped, and maligned, Formula 1 race takes over Las Vegas. Given I spend little time on the strip, driving to Ellis Island from the freeway was the biggest hassle of my vacation. Lanes were reduced along Flamingo Road as we went east toward Koval Lane. And when you get to the intersection of Flamingo and Koval... wow! </p><p>Given the F1 race goes down the Vegas strip, it has to loop somewhere to bring traffic back to the strip. I haven't paid much attention to the race plans, but I knew the race would bring the action past Ellis Island. My mind was blown when we approached the intersection at Koval and my choices were either veer off to the right awkwardly to turn onto Koval or climb the giant, odd, temporary bridge that flows traffic over the intersection as it moves east and west along Flamingo. I knew temporary bridges were a thing, but I was not mentally prepared for what I saw. I'm not going to copy and paste a picture from the internet to show you, <a href="https://x-default-stgec.uplynk.com/ause/slices/9c6/b9cd621bb5cc43d8b6bdc641d1acdca8/9c6c42e892d84efd97cc7fcf057d0fe6/poster_f3831c555a014819a670e9853658d674.png" target="_blank">but this link will take you to such a pic if you really want to see one</a>.</p><p>As we turned the corner and onto Koval, it was equally bizarre. It was dark and I was driving, so I didn't get a great look, but the giant grandstands and/or other race structures built along both sides of Koval near Ellis Island were mighty impressive. I realize they are building grandstands on the strip for race viewing, but it's easy to forget how much construction is happening in an already busy, heavily-traveled corridor. I wish I would have had a chance to see it during daylight hours, and walk around a bit. It's such a bizarre, incredible, ridiculous spectacle, I wanted to experience the lunacy firsthand. But I must admit, not having to deal with a lot of hassles during my visit to Vegas caused by F1 was a consolation prize worth winning. </p><p>When we left Ellis Island we took the scenic route, which gave my life partner a closer look at Sphere in its illuminated glory. We made it back to Downtown Grand and I spend a couple of hours playing Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em. I never was down much, and I was never up much, either. My life partner, who shouldn't have been as tired as I was, retired before I did. I made it to 2 a.m. Vegas time before I had seen enough, which was 4 a.m. back home. Given I had less than 10 hours sleep combined the past two evenings, I was more ready to sleep off my first night of beers and cocktails in Vegas. And I was a winner. I pocketed $15 for my trouble.</p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-46353461708784571542023-07-26T00:13:00.012-07:002023-07-27T21:37:15.762-07:00The tantalizing talent that was Joe Chavira<p>As a kid, I loved the NBC show "Unsolved Mysteries." </p><p>If featured great stories that often left you with plenty of questions and an opportunity to draw your own conclusions about what happened, and how. </p><p>I still love a good mystery, and there's an intriguing one that floated through Vegas this past winter. It's a story that didn't gain a lot of media attention and scrutiny at the time, and will likely be lost in the annals of Vegas history. But damn, it's a spectacular tale that left me with plenty of questions I cannot answer. Where's Robert Stack when I need him?</p><p>Last November I was introduced to a bizarre celebrity who had a colorful, and questionable, history. (To be fair, his celebrity status is debatable, as well.) </p><p>He wasn't a longtime Vegas entertainer who toiled in casino lounges and turned up in variety shows up and down the strip during the glory days of Vegas. He was a longtime entertainer, allegedly, but relatively new to the Vegas scene. Yet somehow last December he was scheduled to receive a star on the Vegas version of a walk of fame. It's a thing, I feel like it's not well known, and its history seems to be as sketchy and ridiculous as the well-established version in Hollywood. (The most important criteria for both seems to be somebody's willingness to pay the inclusion fee for the celebrity being honored with a star.) </p><p>I learned about this multi-talented sensation by reading two articles from Vegas 411. I've linked to them before, and I will do so again. Writer Sam Novak did a great job of collecting info about this new Vegas legend who had burst onto the scene and was already lined up to receive a star along the Las Vegas Boulevard sidewalk. </p><p>Read about the legendary Joe Chavira here: <a href="https://vegas411.com/vegas-unfiltered/when-is-a-star-not-a-star-when-his-name-is-joe-chavira/" target="_blank">Part one</a></p><p>And here: <a href="https://vegas411.com/vegas-unfiltered/joemania-part-2-the-bizarre-tale-of-joe-chavira-and-the-star-gets-even-crazier/" target="_blank">Part two</a></p><p>I won't rehash everything Sam wrote, but I will sum it up for those in a hurry. Joe was a legend in his own mind. </p><p>He could play the guitar and piano. And the drums, too. He has had all kinds of odd success, allegedly, in his life. He was a stand out high school athlete, a military serviceman and allegedly created a cartoon character that was published in the Los Angeles Times newspaper, among others. He was a child prodigy when it came to music, and he somehow befriended <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trini_Lopez" target="_blank">Trini Lopez</a>, a singer and actor who was most notable during the 1960s and 1970s.</p><p>Joe was a songwriter who performed regularly, or so we were told. He had big plans to promote his brand, whatever that was, upon his arrival in Vegas and he was good at dropping names of prominent people. </p><p>And Joe seemed to be in the good graces of a widow who may have been financing his bizarre ascension to Vegas sidewalk royalty. </p><p>Joe Chavira was a stage name, and it appears he chose a name that has a thin connection to Vegas history. How convenient. </p><p>Sam is well plugged into the Vegas entertainment scene, and received a lot of feedback in response to his articles about Joe's well-deserved honor. He also received comments suggesting that Joe's history was a little less than honorable, including a suggestion that Joe may have taken financial advantage of his friendship/working relationship with Trini Lopez. It's all in Sam's articles. If you didn't read them, you're missing out on great stuff. </p><p>Joe got his star on Dec. 7, it appears. There was talk of a protest by real Vegas entertainers, but I don't think that happened. Joe has a very public Facebook page, and why shouldn't he? He's beloved and a Vegas treasure. The following photo is courtesy of that page: </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmdZ64QruGPkZLgq1UdNsVkoRwMiprdDvKt7xo8qGYIFs10HsjSgLpPlF_Y_wmupR03whxAsQUmUjoPTBHpJTtiGWce0DLMd7hEdhysFBeNkysNGjuaBGv2Iw40CaNea3SttEbAmTSqwcxX53xzctdtBdtaZUN52Iy4oY6QUj8aVc9j_WxNCIWp-S1pA/s960/joe%20star.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="744" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmdZ64QruGPkZLgq1UdNsVkoRwMiprdDvKt7xo8qGYIFs10HsjSgLpPlF_Y_wmupR03whxAsQUmUjoPTBHpJTtiGWce0DLMd7hEdhysFBeNkysNGjuaBGv2Iw40CaNea3SttEbAmTSqwcxX53xzctdtBdtaZUN52Iy4oY6QUj8aVc9j_WxNCIWp-S1pA/w310-h400/joe%20star.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weeks of toiling in the Las Vegas entertainment industry paid off for "Joe."<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Sam stopped chronicling Joe's story prior to that memorable day in Vegas history. As he noted in his second article, ol' Joe had legal muscle that was trying to pressure Sam into removing his reporting from the Vegas 411 site. That legal muscle has failed to this point. It's almost as if facts, the truth and fair comment and criticism are difficult to suppress. </p><p>But I was hooked. Who was this guy who had an odd history and lackluster music on YouTube? Sam embedded YouTube videos featuring Joe's music in his articles, including "<a href="https://youtu.be/FueUWLFNoZw" target="_blank">Tantalize</a>." I'm not a music critic, and I'm not a musician. In my uneducated opinion, it ain't good. But the video and production of it are on par with the music, that's for sure. </p><p>After a December social media break to accept his prestigious award, Joe started celebrating his hard-earned Vegas star a few weeks after the fact with multiple Facebook posts. And he teased that he'd be appearing on the cover of My Vegas Magazine. He was very proud of this achievement. And why not? </p><p>Joe, never one to shy away from dropping names or boasting about his incredible accomplishments, was not ashamed to tout that he was good friends with the publisher of My Vegas Magazine, and would be on its cover. Just a coincidence, I'm sure. </p><p>And sure enough, he did make the cover of the magazine earlier this year, based upon pictures from the My Vegas Magazine Facebook page. (They do a real lousy job of putting a month, date or issue number on any issue the produce. And by lousy, I mean they don't appear to do it at all.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozpueRcytLWFEqnSnk_JFpv7T_eTEarpGkLr05omAWCHAWOLw0gwLYStNlhZqOM2kiPQTjiQfWcKjfiJ_mnwUxwm6o5Yt-l7yqzGLLC4b6lcQpcqFhnzYrsZKV49exZ7upU12cSwItLaQ600_2mYWQUlAfLymgp7wo7A9k6-dD-nBVlCy5c0iW5tYwvE/s1350/1joec.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozpueRcytLWFEqnSnk_JFpv7T_eTEarpGkLr05omAWCHAWOLw0gwLYStNlhZqOM2kiPQTjiQfWcKjfiJ_mnwUxwm6o5Yt-l7yqzGLLC4b6lcQpcqFhnzYrsZKV49exZ7upU12cSwItLaQ600_2mYWQUlAfLymgp7wo7A9k6-dD-nBVlCy5c0iW5tYwvE/w320-h400/1joec.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gGBo0-OjQ5avRtq56IoYuzJnb3JiihF2-1I_Se8gFyfIjXPyoGxV4bgsjXRykpB8VHpyaBA0E4dRVUSxVEazPbqXHJ-IZNMmPCO42lsqg5lyi5yYJLE1-V4F63YznIEC_CMGEYUmwsz97tYCAjLtXF1SRFaj8h1hFSX5tr1aKr7IACYC3DQJm7fu4Hc/s438/joe%20c%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gGBo0-OjQ5avRtq56IoYuzJnb3JiihF2-1I_Se8gFyfIjXPyoGxV4bgsjXRykpB8VHpyaBA0E4dRVUSxVEazPbqXHJ-IZNMmPCO42lsqg5lyi5yYJLE1-V4F63YznIEC_CMGEYUmwsz97tYCAjLtXF1SRFaj8h1hFSX5tr1aKr7IACYC3DQJm7fu4Hc/s438/joe%20c%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHRVO2JP7dfYiHwHHOSSvjgdMuemFsp1IcRpi-j2FC9yEV6039PQ0hO26n8TmGq-D8BcvjY-cbQOp4Wzp27-hGoBbjzC8IYGTQZGkh01tObdsfBpsWMNx8j3WZktGXQeTzui8_1NwYV2OrcJ1NsT-Pk2b3lE9PTvjtQ5eHWrGVwcaHBuAEC78CXYgjRc/s1371/2joec.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHRVO2JP7dfYiHwHHOSSvjgdMuemFsp1IcRpi-j2FC9yEV6039PQ0hO26n8TmGq-D8BcvjY-cbQOp4Wzp27-hGoBbjzC8IYGTQZGkh01tObdsfBpsWMNx8j3WZktGXQeTzui8_1NwYV2OrcJ1NsT-Pk2b3lE9PTvjtQ5eHWrGVwcaHBuAEC78CXYgjRc/w320-h400/2joec.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My Vegas Magazine strikes me as a promotional vehicle that might produce copies with multiple covers. While it's hard to say definitively, photos on its Facebook page certainly suggest that's the case. They have a website, of course, and <a href="https://myvegasmag.com/digitaledition/" target="_blank">you can download PDF copies of the magazine</a>. That's what I did, as I wanted to read the magazine's article celebrating the golden boy of Vegas entertainment. </p><p>I'll get to that article in a moment. What I noticed first was that Joe wasn't on the cover of the PDF version of the magazine I downloaded. That only affirmed my belief that the magazine produces multiple covers for each issue. </p><p>I eventually realized that I wasn't looking at several back issues that were available to download, I was looking at several covers for the same issue. Had I looked at the webpage for downloading the current issue, all confusion would have been cleared up immediately, as the page spells it out nicely: "CHECK OUT ALL OUR AMAZING COVER CLIENTS BELOW!"</p><p>"Cover clients," you say. Thank you, My Vegas Magazine, for removing all doubt.<br /><br />As I looked through the magazine index, I didn't see a reference to Joe's story. Wouldn't a cover client be highlighted in the index? </p><p>As I flipped through my virtual copy of the magazine I noted several things. There were a ton of contributing writers and photographers listed, but only one full-time employee for editorial or advertising, and that was a director of photography. That seemed rather odd. </p><p>No editor, no ad director, no staff writers, no account executives. The only other "employee" I could identify was the publisher, who has a column at the beginning of each undated issue. </p><p>The mag had sections about doctors, real estate agents, fitness, legal resources and restaurants. It was hard to determine what was an ad and what was supposed to be an article. Some pages of text had a writer listed. Others didn't. And the photos looked like publicity shots provided by the subject.</p><p>You want to talk about blurring the lines between reporting and advertising, My Vegas Magazine does a great job of it.</p><p>I finally got to the entertainment section, and there, on page 154, is our cover boy. The new star of Vegas. </p><p>I read the article, and it read like a poorly written biography that Joe would have put together himself, featuring plenty of stunning accomplishments and incredible twists of fate. Joe was a survivor, fighter and champion who succeeded at everything he did, according to the one-page article with no writer's credit. </p><p>Here is a screen capture of the first paragraph of his story.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="438" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gGBo0-OjQ5avRtq56IoYuzJnb3JiihF2-1I_Se8gFyfIjXPyoGxV4bgsjXRykpB8VHpyaBA0E4dRVUSxVEazPbqXHJ-IZNMmPCO42lsqg5lyi5yYJLE1-V4F63YznIEC_CMGEYUmwsz97tYCAjLtXF1SRFaj8h1hFSX5tr1aKr7IACYC3DQJm7fu4Hc/w400-h165/joe%20c%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that's the first two sentences of an "article" in a "magazine."</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yeah, it's that poorly written. And lacks editing. And the whole article is that way. It's not professional work, to state the obvious. </p><div>If you haven't figured it out by now, My Vegas Magazine is not a news magazine. It's just a fancy advertising vehicle disguised as a magazine. Is there content in there that's not paid for? Perhaps, but the line between paid advertisement and actual journalistic effort does not exist. I see no evidence that the magazine attempts to denote what is paid content and what isn't. Perhaps there's no denotation necessary. Hard to know, but the articles look like text heavy ads in most instances. At least in the issue I reviewed. I didn't bother to seek journalism in any other edition. </div><p>Are you shocked to find out Joe was profiled by this prestigious magazine? Probably not. </p><p>But damn, Joe was mighty, mighty proud to be on the cover of this magazine. That strikes me as rather sad and pathetic when I realize what this magazine is, and more importantly, what it isn't. </p><p>Hell, I could be on the cover of it, at least for a couple dozen copies, if I want to fork over the dough to have my seldom-used blog site highlighted as the most important voice in Vegas tourism. (I'm trademarking that phrase.) </p><p>Recently I was reading comments on some of Joe's Facebook posts, and some of his acquaintances wanted to know where to find his My Vegas Magazine profile online. As people discussed Joe's big splash in the mag, a few people shared interesting tidbits about the mag. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18-TckRz1JyMpngMocJjC72t1pO3UlJiqZ77voquTlgTDoDikIBNNXLjoJChfP4AIcS_dYRy2qzhDcrNkKdlxnRxrk1SDYwkxIkzq_gEozqVCulAvSQtGzk6rO8_UbDHiKWThNbXYh-DPWq0C0gzEwN1MW4JGnPkLZDrlRLGVOrPrsh6yJAebAKDtek0/s908/joe%20chavira.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="908" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18-TckRz1JyMpngMocJjC72t1pO3UlJiqZ77voquTlgTDoDikIBNNXLjoJChfP4AIcS_dYRy2qzhDcrNkKdlxnRxrk1SDYwkxIkzq_gEozqVCulAvSQtGzk6rO8_UbDHiKWThNbXYh-DPWq0C0gzEwN1MW4JGnPkLZDrlRLGVOrPrsh6yJAebAKDtek0/w400-h74/joe%20chavira.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqOTVybHkKo5USgElIGC5PQZ59aIzlYr070HTBwzG5hh7DJJnaq6pJeHxn8TlQo2cQe05e2zKdE0P-7xty0RObvUMsjTKOpKnRBpIg5z1YIGlIgv7NPet2OS5a1BRWn3DgqLZPJ10pvxxu7fRiC-C_uxL2IhMOA46zsM9s9sFwOX29huZC57GeYn4Fq0/s866/joe%20c%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="866" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqOTVybHkKo5USgElIGC5PQZ59aIzlYr070HTBwzG5hh7DJJnaq6pJeHxn8TlQo2cQe05e2zKdE0P-7xty0RObvUMsjTKOpKnRBpIg5z1YIGlIgv7NPet2OS5a1BRWn3DgqLZPJ10pvxxu7fRiC-C_uxL2IhMOA46zsM9s9sFwOX29huZC57GeYn4Fq0/w400-h96/joe%20c%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't need Robert Stack to solve this mystery for me. </p><p>But there is an unsolved mystery in all of this: Who paid for Joe's big splash in My Vegas Magazine? </p><p>I didn't see a lot of Facebook posts by Joe suggesting he was gigging around town, actually getting paid to perform for his many fans and eager tourists. How does a Vegas star make money if he's not performing night after night?</p><p>I have no idea how much Joe was earning on a daily basis selling his mediocre music or licensing his talent to film or television, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess he wasn't cashing many checks. (He claimed in an odd video interview that he had written music for one film and intended to do more of that, as well as get into acting.)</p><p>Joe's media blitz was likely funded by the same benefactor that funded his well-deserved Vegas star. I've seen no confirmation of that, but I'm at a loss to come up with a better explanation. </p><p>Joe is an enigma. He was welcomed personally to Vegas by none other than the mayor, Carolyn Goodman, in a video Joe is proud to share on his YouTube page. His YouTube page has very few subscribers, but lots of self-promotion mixed in with an occasional song you'll likely never listen to twice. </p><p>And he has plenty of pictures of himself with folks who are important, or at least give off the impression they are, on his Facebook page. </p><p>And then there's his poorly maintained website that offers an outdated fan club package with a 2019 calendar. </p><p>But a lot of people think he's swell. Really.</p><p>How do I know? Joe died March 19 at the age of 64. There's <a href="https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/joseph-chavira-11210224?fbclid=IwAR3VV71XlFfF1_v06oMBoEcWtoEcuS4XZfLjwbOH0788XE3CVwnVc3usaAk#:~:text=Joseph%20Stan%20Chavira%2C%20age%2064,com%20for%20the%20Chavira%20family" target="_blank">a web page dedicated to his memory</a>, although it conveniently says little about him. Yet there are plenty of people who posted testimonies to what a great guy he was. You can find similar comments on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joe.chavira.7/posts/pfbid02G4SBvBQN9VHzTFFZB7XdfAbsRBdzho2sPh9ir6rqTZ9TooxDXbBtdThj3RnXXyUFl" target="_blank">the last post to his Facebook page</a>. </p><p>The guy seemed like a character from a low-budget '80s flick that went straight to VHS. Everything about Joe Chavira is so preposterous that you'd swear he is a thing of fiction. Like a good pro wrestler who sells his character both in the ring and everywhere he goes outside the ring, Joe's career seemed to be a work. </p><p>What's real, what's fiction and who did Joe manipulate to achieve all his success and fame? Those are great questions I cannot answer. I wish Robert Stack was here to help me solve the mystery. </p><br />Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-57609050720443416242023-02-21T12:49:00.003-08:002023-02-21T14:19:26.710-08:00Worth my time: Awakening, 1961 Vegas and Elko and Primm, again<p>There were a few things I've read/watched the past few weeks that have stuck with me. I won't say all of it is stuff you can't overlook, but it was memorable for me for one reason or another. </p><p>I'll start with a detailed synopsis of “Awakening,” a stage show at Wynn. It comes from Sam Novak at Vegas 411, who consumes a wide array of live entertainment, and was fond of the previous Wynn extravaganza, “Le Rêve – The Dream.” I saw Le Rêve five or six years ago, and it was an outstanding spectacle. I get that few things last forever, and stage entertainment is more difficult than ever, but creating anything that lives up to the reputation Le Rêve earned is an uphill battle. </p><p>Sam may be a bit biased when it comes to his beloved Le Rêve, but he'd be shouting at the mountain tops if Awakening came close to providing the same entertainment value. <a href="https://vegas411.com/opinion/rude-awakening-fifth-element-knockoff-is-an-assault-on-the-senses/" target="_blank">He paints a vivid picture of what unfolded during his ingestion of Le Rêve</a>, and it ain't pretty. The show has already been retooled because it has had a tepid response, and I'm confident Sam isn't the only one who walked away more than slightly disappointed. </p><p>If you have zero interest in a live stage show where tickets are upwards of $100, you'll still find Sam's critique worth your time. </p><p>Old video footage of Vegas finds its way to the social media outlets periodically. Often it's in the form of an individual's home movie camera, which was centuries behind the audio and video quality of today's cell phones. It's amazing how much great video footage, and far more <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/44HJFz2WjoU?feature=share" target="_blank">mediocre video footage</a>, of Vegas is available today. </p><p>I have no idea if this video was a new discovery, or the recycling of something that has floated around Twitter for years. But I enjoyed this simple, 45-second look at Fremont Street from more than 60 years ago. </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/summacorp/status/1621299447622926337" target="_blank">1961 Vegas</a></p><p>I will close with a couple of videos I enjoyed. Your mileage may vary. </p><p>As I noted a few weeks ago, content associated with prostitution and brothels usually does well. </p><p>I had watched Bobby G's video touring through the northern Nevada metropolis known as Elko, which has its share of brothels. It was a simple, entertaining tour of Nevada life far away from Las Vegas. </p><p>Bobby G and his wife revisited Elko recently, this time as guests of a brothel. A look inside the brothel surprised me a bit. I've seen brothel video before, so I was far from amazed. But I was impressed. I didn't expect the Desert Rose to have as many amenities as it does. I didn't expect it to be a dump, but it was fancier than I would have guessed. </p><p>Is it the most exciting 22 minutes you'll spend this week? No, but if you are curious to see what life is like inside a brothel that isn't an hour away from Vegas, this video will scratch that itch nicely. That's a metaphor I probably shouldn't use when writing about brothels. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fSGeluJ4x6A" width="320" youtube-src-id="fSGeluJ4x6A"></iframe></div><br /><p>And finally, here's another look inside Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, the Primm casino that reopened earlier this year. </p><p><a href="https://vegasconfessionspod.podbean.com/" target="_blank">Vegas Confessions Podcast</a> host Julian Romero cranks out a lot of content, both audio and video, about Vegas. Like most content creators, not all of it speaks to me, but it doesn't have to. I can't watch it all. And perhaps that's the key to a successful YouTube channel, providing a variety of content for those who want to see food reviews and guys like me who don't. </p><p>Some of what I heard and saw in Julian's video is comparable to what I saw from a Miles to Memories video I recommend a few weeks ago. But Julian brings plenty of new information in his modest 8-minute video. If you've ever been curious about those California border casinos, this video is worth your time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ze5OdxwO87U" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ze5OdxwO87U"></iframe></div>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-11983184547634449082023-01-30T00:19:00.004-08:002023-02-21T14:15:39.630-08:00Worth my time: Las Vegas transplants<p>I didn't spend a lot of time reading a lot of fascinating Vegas stories this past week. There are a couple of things I have wanted to check out, but never got to them. </p><p>One thing that stood out was this article I stumbled upon via Yahoo. This article isn't really stunning, but it speaks to a common phenomena. People who work in fancy, expensive tourist destinations may have a hard time living where they work. Not exactly shocking, I know. </p><p>It's easy to work in the Beverly Hills service industry and commute to and from your job, although I have it on good authority it's not exactly cheap to live in Burbank. </p><p>If you live in Hawaii, however, it's not so easy to commute to work from a modest suburb, for obvious reasons. This article notes that folks, particularly descendants of Hawaiian natives who don't have extraordinary wealth, flee to the contiguous 48 for its more reasonable cost of living. And <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/native-hawaiians-flock-las-vegas-135728852.html" target="_blank">the most popular place they choose to congregate? Yep, Las Vegas</a>. </p><p>There is a bit of irony in this phenomena. The wealthiest of tourists tend to flock to Las Vegas Strip properties. Yet the fancy houses and high-end real estate isn't found in the shadows of Caesars Palace. </p><p>From my experience, you can live in modest, and in some cases less than modest, housing a few blocks off the Vegas strip, as there's not a lot of high end real estate, other than maybe high-rise condos, to be found around the strip, not that I know of anyway. </p><p>My buddy lives in a nice apartment complex south of the Tropicana. He can walk to the south Strip casinos, or the Pinball Hall of Fame, without a lot of effort, if it's not 110F when he does it. Yeah, it takes more than five minutes, but it's quite walkable in the evening. I've been to his apartment, and took a picture of the strip from his apartment balcony. It's a quiet area, if you don't mind noise from the nearby airport. I didn't notice airport noise while inside his apartment one November evening. But I imagine he deals with it. </p><p>If I moved to Vegas, I'm not sure where I'd want to live, but you could do a lot worse than my buddy's apartment complex. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_NXvFD8_TzJb2FaNatrRAClzvKUsZYTQdTjXaHarbXSQJiOdeiVsVAEzDiGdb3kam-NJ0byjH69zoMbklPzmxg2dw9Ad3lkUx67kBQBcoZlUjt6CE7H-_BsVXyBijP-Yrgsau5vrGw5wXRjzK1EONp5Nqo0f10CRWw93gbhyXObCZYP_4jPbQVJj/s4032/20221102_204722.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_NXvFD8_TzJb2FaNatrRAClzvKUsZYTQdTjXaHarbXSQJiOdeiVsVAEzDiGdb3kam-NJ0byjH69zoMbklPzmxg2dw9Ad3lkUx67kBQBcoZlUjt6CE7H-_BsVXyBijP-Yrgsau5vrGw5wXRjzK1EONp5Nqo0f10CRWw93gbhyXObCZYP_4jPbQVJj/w400-h300/20221102_204722.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I lived in Vegas, perhaps I'd live this close to the Luxor, and the abandoned Skyvue wheel poles, as seen on the left side of this photo.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-69805106977101793372023-01-22T09:03:00.002-08:002023-01-24T12:46:44.884-08:00Worth my time: Chris Hansen, Primm, Elvis' private jet<p>Lots of good stuff out there this week in the world of Vegas reporting and conversation, and I found a few things that have stuck with me. </p><p>Let's start with the Jeff Does Vegas podcast interview with Chris Hansen. </p><p>Hansen is not quite on par with Tom Brokaw, but his name is well known. During his years at NBC, he was part of several undercover investigations dubbed "To Catch a Predator." If you don't know: Adults seeking minors for sexual liaisons are busted in undercover law enforcement stings, which are recorded for broadcast to the masses.</p><p>There are clips from these stings all over YouTube. It's crime porn, almost literally. It's hard not to watch, and at times it's amusing because both the perps and Chris Hansen say things that aren't one-liners, but are funny. If you've seen it, ever, you know what I mean.</p><p>The point of the investigation, however, is anything but funny. Hansen's career seems to have become dedicated to busting the predators. After NBC cashed in on the concept, both at the mothership and via its cable outlets, Hansen has carried on the crusade, churning out new content for either a cable channel, a streaming app or both. I'm not sure on that part. But he's out there, proving that as the platforms evolve, the predators are still looking for victims nearly two decades after the predator stings began. (Not a surprise.)</p><p>All that said, Hansen is cashing in on his work catching predators through a behind-the-scenes presentation. In Vegas. </p><p>It seems odd to me that a showroom that exists primarily for comedy and musical entertainment is going to host ticketed presentations about baiting and trapping online predators, but that's the opportunity South Point Casino is offering you next month. I won't explain how and why my favorite Vegas podcast would up interviewing Hansen, but the host will if you listen to this discussion of both Hansen's career and his encounters with online predators. Great discussion, Jeff. </p><p><a href="https://www.jeffdoesvegas.com/e/have-a-seat-my-conversation-with-chris-hansen/" target="_blank">Jeff Does Vegas interview with Chris Hansen</a><br /></p><p>As I have noted, I don't follow any Vegas YouTube channels closely. To my surprise, I was unfamiliar with Miles to Memories. YouTube recommended one of their recent videos, showcasing the sadness that is Primm, Nevada. </p><p>I've been to Primm. Once. Probably in 2018. On a weeknight in September, I believe. Not much was happening, as you would expect. </p><p>I get why Laughlin works. It's on the Arizona border and it's 100 miles closer to Arizona residents than Las Vegas. You want a night of casino action, or cocktails served with prune juice instead of orange juice: You go to Laughlin. It saves you at least three hours of travel time, valuable time if you're not making it a weekend getaway. </p><p>If you're coming from California, I can appreciate why Primm made sense for a weekend, at least back in its day. Between the three casinos and the outlet mall, it was a cheaper alternative to Vegas if your primary interest was casino action, and you didn't need all the eye candy a night in Vegas offers.</p><p>Whatever the reason, Primm made sense to a lot of folks in decades past. Now it's a sad relic full of testaments to the greatness that once was, and Miles to Memories does a great job of capturing a lot of that in a video that is well edited and narrated. </p><p>Too many "content creators" think they're doing great work by walking around a casino floor for minutes at a time, pointing out the obvious and chatting about some random memory. There's an audience for that, I guess, but I'm not that audience. Miles to Memories, at least for me, produces quality content that's rarely matched in the bowels of YouTube. </p><p>Like the channels I do follow on YouTube, I won't watch every video, but I will be sampling more Miles to Memories content in the weeks to come. They have another recent video from Primm that I have yet to watch, so I'll start with that. Based upon what I've seen in my introduction to their videos, I'll be checking out their content with some frequency. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yn3Lt1Is-HI" width="320" youtube-src-id="yn3Lt1Is-HI"></iframe></div><br /><p>The following story was not the most amazing thing I have ever read, but it was an entertaining little story from something called Robb Report. I am not familiar with it, but a wealthy Canadian podcaster certainly is, so I'll assume if he is reading Robb Report, it's a credible source.</p><p>The host of the <a href="https://www.jeffdoesvegas.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Does Vegas</a> podcast recommends a lot of great articles I'd never find since I don't scour the internet for Vegas news on a regular basis. This nugget he unearthed is the story about an airplane that Elvis Presley purchased late in his life. (It couldn't have been his first, could it?) So what happened to it after his death? Here's the answer: </p><p><a href="https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/elvis-presley-private-jet-sells-mecum-collector-car-auction-1234792793/?fbclid=IwAR3RutJWdwPWm056UERJdLpG0Fi-t_xVNrxRRflICpNqt2FYmQd2M5umVnE" target="_blank">Elvis Presley's private jet</a><br /></p><p>And finally, I'll note two stories from the Vital Vegas blog that were memorable for one reason or another. </p><p>I'm probably not the only person who finds the saga of the long-delayed Fontainebleau casino/resort to be entertaining. I was certain the structure would be torn down rather than completed. Yet here we are, promised the latter. </p><p>A blog post this past week shared photos of construction progress toward completing the tower more than 15 years after it began. The photos do not come from Vital Vegas author Scott Roeben, but they were shared with him for use in his blog, and it was mildly interesting to see what's happening right now. </p><p><a href="https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/exclusive-photos-inside-fontainebleau-reveal-construction-progress/" target="_blank">Exclusive: Photos Inside Fontainebleau Reveal Construction Progress</a><br /></p><p>And finally, in-depth coverage of a "food hall," as the marketers like to say, isn't fascinating, but an overview of the new fast food dining options downtown at the Fremont casino pointed out something that greatly surprised me. </p><p>I can't name every restaurant in every downtown casino, but I have a pretty good idea of what's available, for the most part. With the opening of a food hall at the Fremont, it's Second Street Grill appears to have closed permanently. This grill was essentially the 24-hour cafe of the casino, as best I can tell. I had no clue it existed. I was slightly stunned to learn it was a thing. </p><p><a href="https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/fremont-food-hall-opens-second-street-grill-closes-permanently/" target="_blank">Fremont Food Hall Opens, Second Street Grill Closes Permanently</a><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-9453869421769558732023-01-15T18:46:00.005-08:002023-01-20T20:50:36.405-08:00Worth my time: Showgirls, Joe Chavira and Elko<p>I don't read any news source exhaustively, and I don't have time to listen to every episode of every podcast. Neither do you. </p><p>I'm not a news aggregator, nor will I be, but I thought it might be worth sharing things I have consumed, and enjoyed, on an occasional basis. </p><p>The Jeff Does Vegas podcast shared this article in late November, and it provided a great inside look at the world of organized busking. (I like to call those folks tipsters. Take your pick.)</p><p><a href="https://tinyurl.com/worthmytime115" target="_blank">Nevada Independent article</a></p><p>I have long wondered why folks who invest in a decent costume, as well as those who don't try very hard, act as if they're owed an exorbitant fee for posing for pictures. They can't set a fee, of course, but there are enough stories about how awful they get when you try to play dumb, or pass off a couple of bucks as a tip. If I knew they'd be happy with $5 for a picture, wouldn't I be inclined to get more pictures with these tipsters during my Vegas trips? Absolutely. But they realize that plenty of people are easily manipulated into paying far more than $5 for a photo, and this story really drives the point home. </p><p>The article provides a great look at other facets of the business, as well. </p><p>I have enjoyed Sam Novak's writing and photos for years. He is currently the deputy editor of Vegas 411, a website with stories and information that is generally of interest to tourists, and a lot of information you won't find elsewhere. He wrote a two-part story in November about a rather odd celebrity named Joe Chavira. It's a very bizarre story about a guy who nobody knows by name, yet was set to be honored in December. Admittedly, it wasn't a significant honor, but nonetheless it's a crazy story about a guy you've never heard of, and a guy I'm not sure has ever actually entertained anyone. (Word is that he was quietly honored in December, in a manor to avoid a lot of public attention. I can't speak to that with any authority.)<br /><br /><a href="https://vegas411.com/vegas-unfiltered/when-is-a-star-not-a-star-when-his-name-is-joe-chavira/" target="_blank">Vegas 411 article 1</a></p><p><a href="https://vegas411.com/vegas-unfiltered/joemania-part-2-the-bizarre-tale-of-joe-chavira-and-the-star-gets-even-crazier/" target="_blank">Vegas 411 article 2</a></p><p>If nothing else, check out 90 seconds of this video for the song "Tantalize" and you'll be as skeptical as I am that this guy has ever entertained anyone. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FueUWLFNoZw" width="320" youtube-src-id="FueUWLFNoZw"></iframe></div><br /><p>Finally, I don't watch many Vegas YouTube vlogs, because I find them to be too long and relatively uninteresting most of the time, at least for me. There's an audience for watching people dump $100 into a slot machine, but I'm not that audience. </p><p>There are a few folks I will sample the work of occasionally, because they will churn out something worthwhile and interesting. There are a few channels I'll never feature content from, most likely. And they don't need me. They're doing way too well without me. That YouTube money flows like oil from a Texas well, it seems. </p><p>I haven't been a regular viewer of Bobby G’s Gambling Times and Adventures, but I saw <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyGsGambling/status/1612173487745171456" target="_blank">one of his recent tweets</a> noting, not to my surprise, that a video referencing legal prostitution has performed very well on his YouTube channel. </p><p>So I checked it out, not because I was hoping to see nearly naked women in the window of a brothel. I'm sure I'm far from the only person who is mildly fascinated to see what life is like in areas of Nevada not associated with Las Vegas. </p><p>I've traveled outside Vegas occasionally, but I haven't driven around the state. In the video below, Bobby G goes to Elko, a modest town that has casinos, and prostitution. It's far from the trappings of Reno. It's not exactly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searchlight,_Nevada" target="_blank">Searchlight</a>, it has 20,000 people or more, so it's not a small, desolate town in the middle of nowhere. And Bobby G's video isn't anything extraordinary, but I found it to be an interesting, simple and entertaining look at a city that has to be a regional epicenter for a lot of old, small towns an hour or more in every direction. It's nearly 300 miles from Elko to Reno, but only 230 miles to Salt Lake City, Utah! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wuhkWHJLSTo" width="320" youtube-src-id="wuhkWHJLSTo"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-37567211270015151882021-11-30T23:35:00.000-08:002021-11-30T23:35:06.911-08:00#VegasHalloween 2021 -- day 3, part 2<p>Halloween 2021 was not what I expected. </p><p>It was my seventh #VegasHalloween in 11 years, and my plan, typically, is to spend the evening downtown. </p><p>In 2019 my life partner really wanted to see Lady Gaga on Halloween Night. She didn't want to pay $400 per ticket, and that was lowest priced ticket days before the show, if you were shopping the online ticket resale sites. </p><p>Fearing a major overhaul was in the works at the dirty circus, we stopped at Circus Circus the day before Halloween, in the middle of the afternoon. I hadn't seen the inside of that joint in years, and wanted to see it in its vintage glory, in case the recent sale of the property was soon to bring a whitewashing of the décor. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA_Pd44Lia0kHO2fH2tEEb1Zw2RrVI9CYESCpaQyv_rs4QJqNjqIOYhjmdSXLTjHq5nrV4PcOxQLuiMF_eCNIdFFXASSmL8iTHgOMG0NN2JTQa-_Evs-aY84y1-xg6aT576F_HzKzRns/s2048/circus+inside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA_Pd44Lia0kHO2fH2tEEb1Zw2RrVI9CYESCpaQyv_rs4QJqNjqIOYhjmdSXLTjHq5nrV4PcOxQLuiMF_eCNIdFFXASSmL8iTHgOMG0NN2JTQa-_Evs-aY84y1-xg6aT576F_HzKzRns/w300-h400/circus+inside.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobody heaps praise on Circus Circus. It's old, it's kitschy and it's not the least bit glamourous. But so many of us bemoan the loss of casino theming, it would be a shame to ever lose this Vegas relic.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXvnVU8dahTsq14GBr8vKu5IPxKohsoq10bZ9H_rYMDmev4s3XDsxuu_31HMbk1_QlBKN1nEF6jImXMC3taAgjsUSjpRr5YwFjCsuq8SfVDomIBhptPr8wsfhL6op-1r68zBUAK8qKDs/s2048/circus+outside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXvnVU8dahTsq14GBr8vKu5IPxKohsoq10bZ9H_rYMDmev4s3XDsxuu_31HMbk1_QlBKN1nEF6jImXMC3taAgjsUSjpRr5YwFjCsuq8SfVDomIBhptPr8wsfhL6op-1r68zBUAK8qKDs/w334-h400/circus+outside.jpg" width="334" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from outside the dirty circus on Oct. 30, 2019. This view is going to change, one of these years. Allegedly change is coming in two years. Yeah, we'll see.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>While walking around, we found a ticket booth selling show tickets. I knew it was a waste of time to price check what they had, but my life partner insisted. Much to our shock, we found tickets at approximately $135 each. I had been watching ticket prices drop a little bit from day to day, but nobody was dumping them that cheap a full day before showtime. Sure, they were near the top of the theater, which ain't great, but I've seen much worse seats. It's not the hockey arena we were visiting, after all. It was a ticket in, and we had no regrets. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALpqtffv1uKI5U8Gw_zdE18ObC1hGcUmWFuZz4OQ62wa_67shEiAk19o2RSAHHJrWrwcHhKI7EIrFuXE5AONNntuOGzCUrXxYLsRA9KUmqwxbz9dA3oIvatbJzXQNJ_UjEQSrWiFRm-4/s2048/lady+gaga.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1635" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALpqtffv1uKI5U8Gw_zdE18ObC1hGcUmWFuZz4OQ62wa_67shEiAk19o2RSAHHJrWrwcHhKI7EIrFuXE5AONNntuOGzCUrXxYLsRA9KUmqwxbz9dA3oIvatbJzXQNJ_UjEQSrWiFRm-4/w319-h400/lady+gaga.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 2019 cellphone wasn't going to get a good pic of the Lady on stage, or flying through the air of a dark theater, but I got a pic of the giant video display showcasing her piano prowess during my Halloween 2019 concert. My first Gaga concert, and probably the last. I'm cheap. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Flash forward two years, and the three sisters are talking about going to Lady Gaga on Oct. 30. We saw the "Enigma" show, a corny production with a simple story that unfolds as Gaga performs the hits. Last month, she was doing the jazz and piano show she likes to do, and the sisters wanted to see it. I didn't need to go. Count me out. <p></p><p>They didn't go to the show on Saturday, Oct. 30, because midway through the week the bride-to-be decided she wanted to have a dinner gathering for the 18 of us there in Vegas for the wedding. That killed any plans for the sisters to see Gaga. </p><p>Given there was no formal group gathering happening on Halloween night, the sisters started talking about going to see Gaga that Sunday night. I learned about this on Sunday afternoon, after the wedding, while we were dining at Saltgrass. </p><p>Somewhere in the discussion it went from a party of 3 to 4. The bride's father's sister became part of the plan. (She's not an aunt to the sisters, who are cousins to the bride. Let's leave it at that.) </p><p>So after changing clothes at the Plaza, I headed downstairs, knowing that I'd eventually be hitting the road and dropping off a group of concertgoers at Park MGM. It was just before kickoff of the NFL's Sunday night football game, and a World Series game 5. I wanted to place small wagers on each. I wanted to wager on the Atlanta Braves to win, and I wanted to wager on Dallas to beat Minnesota. </p><p>I got there in the final seconds of the wagering for baseball, and as I was about to place a wager, it went off the board. Oops. So then I wagered on the NFL game. I wagered $25 on the visiting Dallas Cowboys. </p><p>The moment I put my wallet in my pocket and turned around to head out of the sports book I heard the NFL pregame announcement. The Dallas starting quarterback was not playing, and a backup with no experience was starting the game. Dallas was a 5-point underdog, but suddenly this looked like an easy victory for Minnesota. Just my luck. </p><p>At Circa I watched part of the game in the free seats in the sports book with the bride and groom, while other family members milled about at the Mega Bar. (It's a big bar in a huge casino. I don't know why that's so amazing.) As 7 p.m. approached, it was time to head to the concert. </p><p>We drove over to Caesars Palace to pick up the bride's aunt, which I thought would be a nightmare, but we got lucky. Weaving in and out of Caesars entryway is a chore right now, thanks to construction, but we succeeded. Getting into the Park MGM area to drop off the foursome wasn't much of a challenge either. So far, so good. </p><p>By the way, they had slightly better seats in the balcony than we had two years ago, and the tickets cost them about $180 each that afternoon via whichever ticket site they used. </p><p>My options: Go back downtown, only to head back three hours later to pick them up, or find somewhere else to go. For those who think that they should have taken a cab back after the show, the sisters were splitting the rental fee for the SUV between them. All it cost me was gas money and my driving service when needed during the weekend. Fair trade in my world. And even without the fair trade, you put others before yourself sometimes. This was one of those times. </p><p>Given every trip to Vegas for more than a decade has included a visit to the Pinball Hall of Fame, and I hadn't been there on this trip, and was resigned to the idea I wasn't going for the first time in many years, Lady Gaga gave me a convenient excuse to drop in. I had been to the latest incarnation on the south end of the strip in June, twice, so I knew what I was getting. It was a quick jaunt on the backroads to loop around Mandalay Bay and pull into the lot. </p><p>I had a nice chat with a local couple, who had to be in their 70s. They were just getting in their car, and I said hello. We talked for five minutes. There they were, on Halloween night, getting out and enjoying pinball together in Vegas. Warmed my heart. </p><p>Inside it was not very busy. It was Halloween night, plenty of people had other plans. I saw proprietor Tim Arnold walking around, something that's not uncommon. I've talked to him before, but he doesn't know me enough to remember me. But I said hello and asked how late he was open. He said that he's still maintaining reduced hours as a result of the pandemic, so he was closing at 9 p.m.</p><p>That gave me an hour to look around, see what I didn't recognize, play a few old favorites and head for the door. The first game I played was Theatre of Magic, a game I don't to play regularly back in Minnesota, mostly because I don't go to a lot of places to play pinball on a regular basis these days. I won three free games on top of the game I paid 75 cents to play, and chewed up a bunch of time on that machine alone. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIbaR2MNfmpnpeCx9PPWzTmzv8EeuvCeePCAcEgnp0kYOsi6cEoXr9tdQlLpIqj4_ovAD_1FD3lsKGdYJgE_8LNEAKaOq7pcGPW7ExGBftSJvVCvkTBYzpOMOXNRn2IOb-yYGyJWMzZ4/s2048/20211031_201439.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIbaR2MNfmpnpeCx9PPWzTmzv8EeuvCeePCAcEgnp0kYOsi6cEoXr9tdQlLpIqj4_ovAD_1FD3lsKGdYJgE_8LNEAKaOq7pcGPW7ExGBftSJvVCvkTBYzpOMOXNRn2IOb-yYGyJWMzZ4/w300-h400/20211031_201439.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I played this machine first.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>By the time an hour had passed, I had spent less than $3, and played plenty of pinball for that money. Almost criminal. My final game of the night, an Elvira-themed machine, is one of three Elvira machines that has been licensed over the decades. This one was the second game to feature Cassandra, and was manufactured in 1996.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3QOM-P-JT4Glzy2gAZX6slPq_a9333GK0_qMVDpGcKKg-ns4JwmtNrfzv97UqjXsz_6EI35Y3i4WYaBqgtQbh84HzfchiE_EOBZyYWpJfPkjAceGh0fTZdeld13-23CYdW9JRXSY7g8/s2048/20211031_204828.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3QOM-P-JT4Glzy2gAZX6slPq_a9333GK0_qMVDpGcKKg-ns4JwmtNrfzv97UqjXsz_6EI35Y3i4WYaBqgtQbh84HzfchiE_EOBZyYWpJfPkjAceGh0fTZdeld13-23CYdW9JRXSY7g8/w300-h400/20211031_204828.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I played this last. Seemed like an appropriate final game on Halloween. (Cell phone photography of pinball machines is not my strong suit.)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So it's 9 p.m. on Halloween, and I'm back in the parking lot. Where do I go from there? I contemplated the Orleans, a place I have stayed many times and typically visit when I don't stay there. Instead I chose to go check out <a href="https://www.fox5vegas.com/more/halloween-themed-pop-up-bar-to-again-open-in-las-vegas/article_700579fa-1a2c-11ec-881a-f3eb25365558.html" target="_blank">a locals bar I read about, courtesy of one of the local TV stations</a>, The Sand Dollar, a "lounge" along Spring Mountain Road. <p></p><p>I'm not sure the Halloween makeover of a longtime bar warranted news coverage by one of the TV stations, but that's how I learned about it. I had considered stopping in on Friday afternoon for one drink, but was too tired and not in the mood. </p><p>So there I was, shortly after 9 p.m., heading into the bar. I didn't plan an elaborate Halloween costume this year, but I had this cheesy manufactured costume I bought a few years ago. Basically you wear it over your normal clothing and you're supposed to look like you're at the podium, bidding on a The Price is Right showcase. It was a perfect, simple costume for a theme party a few years ago, and it was a simple, easy way to play along with Halloween without going to a lot of effort. I had no idea how grateful I was going to be for not planning an elaborate costume this year. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqKR6IhtXPYl3fhpZVrbf2mpFI0O0G67NdfMLI5p_YeKf1bEal7xBUoew6wjs_VmpixaEHv3QiJU_52kXFIsM_Am0gHFIEGrRvP1rZvOQe_Dmss4Z1XwfGGD6HkQz7jAB512d2SqPYPo/s1500/tpir+costume.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1186" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqKR6IhtXPYl3fhpZVrbf2mpFI0O0G67NdfMLI5p_YeKf1bEal7xBUoew6wjs_VmpixaEHv3QiJU_52kXFIsM_Am0gHFIEGrRvP1rZvOQe_Dmss4Z1XwfGGD6HkQz7jAB512d2SqPYPo/w316-h400/tpir+costume.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Amazon, for providing this stock image of my costume. The microphone looks more phallic than the picture suggests. People will remind you of that.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I threw on the costume and headed inside. The place was not packed, but there was a decent crowd assembled, most donning some sort of costume. This place ain't fancy, and it's a venue for live music. I knew that much going in. <p></p><p>The entire place was decorated, but I wouldn't call it amazing. They had plenty of fake cobwebs across the ceiling, and lots of little decorative touches through the bar. Cute, but not jaw dropping. I wouldn't recommend going there just to see the Halloween makeover. I took a simple picture of the pool table area when nobody was in that corner, and a picture of the decorated entryway to the place. I didn't want to look like a tourist, taking pics of every decorative accent in the building, and it wasn't that amazing, anyway.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGUgdWaLAAPZBGSwGcy1ZjyV8AzQEeK6Qb2U4QedjVfMK2vZFFmUrvsAp4eNXwLGc7Ns7Ys-bUVwC0kIetw1eC5ZIgJRhVZ47ULQpoCqzf7_PWPA4V7agewCFB06QDf1jhjTMCB4CJgQ/s2048/20211031_211810.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGUgdWaLAAPZBGSwGcy1ZjyV8AzQEeK6Qb2U4QedjVfMK2vZFFmUrvsAp4eNXwLGc7Ns7Ys-bUVwC0kIetw1eC5ZIgJRhVZ47ULQpoCqzf7_PWPA4V7agewCFB06QDf1jhjTMCB4CJgQ/w300-h400/20211031_211810.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, cell phone limitations in play. But you get the idea. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47x003KujaQ3m6XsDknEslQKBBpZekwEGWowyPf2XHXCDygsqr7hEzIZYF24OLhhuJaXdZQl-Ei5kBOIkyMs7MvL-EZ3cyLX386b9JnPbvosxE1TbrGVfYGdck9XYjwIlsHaAHM7hx3Q/s2048/20211031_225712.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47x003KujaQ3m6XsDknEslQKBBpZekwEGWowyPf2XHXCDygsqr7hEzIZYF24OLhhuJaXdZQl-Ei5kBOIkyMs7MvL-EZ3cyLX386b9JnPbvosxE1TbrGVfYGdck9XYjwIlsHaAHM7hx3Q/w300-h400/20211031_225712.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nifty entryway into The Sand Dollar.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU11WZjN7guc2K4hBcKqKvKJE323It93d6uHzw8In1rKXgKenRMGT2wwV4jTmlc3BkJI2rxbu7Zzt1focwTuZXlNj0Z-HXS1dkyENnjluZxYQvxDZ9O8Ohiqmv_zQAtnQXoQ62yt5hPs/s2048/20211031_213154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU11WZjN7guc2K4hBcKqKvKJE323It93d6uHzw8In1rKXgKenRMGT2wwV4jTmlc3BkJI2rxbu7Zzt1focwTuZXlNj0Z-HXS1dkyENnjluZxYQvxDZ9O8Ohiqmv_zQAtnQXoQ62yt5hPs/w300-h400/20211031_213154.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were the only Sand Dollar patrons in costume I took a picture of. Somebody else had asked them to pose for a picture first. That was my cue to follow suit. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />The bar had Halloween-themed cocktails, but I ordered a simple cocktail to start. A band was warming up, so I was optimistic the music would start any minute. I wasn't in the mood to try to make chit chat with anyone, so I was content to stand and enjoy the music. I found spot to stand that wasn't in anyone's way, and waited seemingly forever for the music to start. Turns out the band didn't play until 10 p.m.<p></p><p>So the music finally starts playing. I figure the band is going to play cover tunes, and given it was Halloween, there would be something, anything, referencing the fact it was Oct. 31. </p><p>My expectations were a little low. The six-piece band began with an instrumental tune. And after several minutes, they were still going strong. After 25 minutes it sounded like their opening jam was about to end. And then it picked back up again, and continued until 10:50, at which point they ended the jam and took a break. </p><p>It was quite a surprise, and very entertaining. Not what I was expecting, but very enjoyable. There was no introduction or sign telling me what band it was, but my after-the-fact research tells me it was Überschall, an improv band that is composed of past and present musicians performing for the Blue Man Group, evidently. </p><p>The Sand Dollar's Halloween decor wasn't worth the price of admission, (there was none,) but if you enjoy an improv band featuring three drummers, two guitars and a keyboard player, you'd be entertained by Überschall. They play at the Double Down Saloon periodically, it appears.</p><p>Lady Gaga's show lasts about 2-1/2 hours, I was told, and I assumed she wouldn't start at 8 p.m. sharp, so I expected to be getting a "show's over" text by 11 p.m.</p><p>What I didn't expect was to run into somebody I know at the Sand Dollar. </p><p>Toward the end of the Überschall set, a guy approached the area where I was standing. He looked familiar to me, based upon his profile. But it's dark, there's music playing and I assumed there was no chance I knew this guy. A few minutes later the music ends, the guy turns around to head to another area of the bar, and looks at me, as if he recognizes me. </p><p>My general rule: When you see somebody you don't immediately recognize, but are so sure it's somebody you know and haven't seen in a long time, you're probably right. </p><p>I texted my friend Sam, who is a well-known scribe in Vegas, asking where he was at the moment, and if it was a lounge. I received a generic "LOL" reply, and I wondered if that was his way of telling me he was doing something far more interesting on Halloween night. Sure enough, that was Sam, and seconds later he walked up to me, asking why I what I was doing at the lounge. </p><p>Sam knows I'm a tourist, and we first met in 2015. I have read his work for years, and enjoy much of what he writes. When I was in town this past summer, <a href="https://www.jerseystudios.net/2021/06/27/60-sam-novak/" target="_blank">I interviewed him for an episode of my non-Vegas podcast</a>. It was the second time we had met in six years. And I certainly didn't expect that Friday afternoon we'd cross paths again, if only for a few minutes, barely four months later. </p><p>Sam was simply out and about that night, hitting up a few spots specifically because it was Halloween. He was soon on his way, and I took that as my cue to ready myself for the return trip to Park MGM. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNofHQgRtuKq3cthilvm-Hj8Rn25kQTGNP5Dg4Iny9VBjS04Y2_iagGzgYND7lgzhiP0ya4PfBrzUQWgest2juKqO5Zsbpb7Q5t1amb24ssVEWjqp4jKRPeAJE1SqBiHOiRE4yuqiz10/s2048/20211031_225211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNofHQgRtuKq3cthilvm-Hj8Rn25kQTGNP5Dg4Iny9VBjS04Y2_iagGzgYND7lgzhiP0ya4PfBrzUQWgest2juKqO5Zsbpb7Q5t1amb24ssVEWjqp4jKRPeAJE1SqBiHOiRE4yuqiz10/w400-h300/20211031_225211.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam is on the left, the decaying writer of this blog is on the right.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The return trip was quick and easy, the pick up was no challenge, and we dumped the aunt off on the Flamingo Road sidewalk alongside Caesars rather than drive her into the property. I offered to pull into that side entrance area on Flamingo that accesses one of the towers, but she wanted to walk around to the front of the property, so she did. And off we went to downtown. </p><p>I dropped the sisters off at Golden Nugget and parked our rental vehicle at the Plaza. </p><p>I grabbed my costume and headed out to Fremont Street moments before midnight in order to gaze at the spectacle that is Halloween in Vegas. Before I ever made it out of the Plaza, I ran into the Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth. I have a special place in my heart for the Macho Man, as <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFOWEX5Ut9QItT6vpTWGo-I5dIEqJbbWLQs83LXvLz-GgSgjp1vgGCee9qWMwyG7-7cXwnAuSnAs-p_O4_TrNM9kipmUg4hbNEY6pOiWovY77fq_OxuFpgfoB7jxdMuWH2MxtGD-mIG4/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" target="_blank">he was my costume inspiration in 2016</a>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Hjzb10xcOeUBt5acX8dfPsxX87dghyphenhyphenpDZ78Ta66iPHD4EtVTR2aZg3buIEOGIdXbvhbn5xXEnq11-yXz47wsMMAnxgOqKlsoWOBBSkUwX1oWk9cwEXSwrU_kylFPnM9G9p_jvpxSG7Q/s2048/20211031_235211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Hjzb10xcOeUBt5acX8dfPsxX87dghyphenhyphenpDZ78Ta66iPHD4EtVTR2aZg3buIEOGIdXbvhbn5xXEnq11-yXz47wsMMAnxgOqKlsoWOBBSkUwX1oWk9cwEXSwrU_kylFPnM9G9p_jvpxSG7Q/w300-h400/20211031_235211.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can find these folks on YouTube, I would later learn. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I didn't request too many specific photos on Fremont Street. I'd often take pics of folks posing for somebody else, and sometimes that included a random person in the picture. And while I don't avoid pics of the scantily clad women parading about on Halloween, they're usually not my priority. Here's a sample of what I found after midnight. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx3338kFGp8-ePjxHkelP8a2j0GPb-V5ie3wqx1cs7hMfiMqSUEmTGBr6nHc79ZBjp8gnOUUY1R0KRD8FlHnQOw4Yg5l0NV_RFUPsnvj9UhtY-asENawjbr8yy-C7pZ0vKVORukc4g4Y/s2048/20211101_001607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx3338kFGp8-ePjxHkelP8a2j0GPb-V5ie3wqx1cs7hMfiMqSUEmTGBr6nHc79ZBjp8gnOUUY1R0KRD8FlHnQOw4Yg5l0NV_RFUPsnvj9UhtY-asENawjbr8yy-C7pZ0vKVORukc4g4Y/w300-h400/20211101_001607.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did not tip this street performer for this picture. Shame on me. His balancing act was quite impressive. And yes, he picks up that bottle and uses it as part of his act. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw2lgXje3FlOLN3dyeBuKKqLZ5vOB_if-myJ8ejP2giwZSnyJj9z4oXuwZ2Q4qwj4U1FD8DQVWmdDGH_rsF6dVoqQtpojQ2Ptlhnh31kfrYr2i_AYh-QhVJL5uhAO9Vv5syJcgqmqs5I/s2048/20211101_001727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw2lgXje3FlOLN3dyeBuKKqLZ5vOB_if-myJ8ejP2giwZSnyJj9z4oXuwZ2Q4qwj4U1FD8DQVWmdDGH_rsF6dVoqQtpojQ2Ptlhnh31kfrYr2i_AYh-QhVJL5uhAO9Vv5syJcgqmqs5I/w300-h400/20211101_001727.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My second Macho Man of the night. I saw one more, but never at a good time to stop him and get a picture. Oh well.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgxx44rE1LfLxFhgIE3oqXtL7fN2CdksDlxt9r21XN6W8VeyXP3J3UIeoP7FCwHS_yZGEBN-IhtGb8NgQAZ5WzyWzxXbtEPGrrTVY46DFU66UikkeLo3ksIiLeZi4nvSs-XppcYogdlQ/s2048/20211101_001839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgxx44rE1LfLxFhgIE3oqXtL7fN2CdksDlxt9r21XN6W8VeyXP3J3UIeoP7FCwHS_yZGEBN-IhtGb8NgQAZ5WzyWzxXbtEPGrrTVY46DFU66UikkeLo3ksIiLeZi4nvSs-XppcYogdlQ/w400-h300/20211101_001839.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These clowns were creepy, and garnered plenty of attention.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmMpHhUZwuX-Rh93maq3rXxrBNAL1T5pLDjjIBeeC_Qo2IMmUrhWoSIjXaWkGa1X6WalV9ZiosN6z9KV_mdj7ywQbIyrqoCnq8_CacYz1HRA14TAh5gi6I6GsZ335dcxU-4-rHa6vSNs/s2048/20211101_002525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmMpHhUZwuX-Rh93maq3rXxrBNAL1T5pLDjjIBeeC_Qo2IMmUrhWoSIjXaWkGa1X6WalV9ZiosN6z9KV_mdj7ywQbIyrqoCnq8_CacYz1HRA14TAh5gi6I6GsZ335dcxU-4-rHa6vSNs/w400-h300/20211101_002525.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't immediately realize the entire cast of Gilligan's Island was represented by this group. Once I realized they had all seven castaways, I waited nearby until somebody else asked them to gather together for a group photo. Then I grabbed mine. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogWcpMurQN9tRLuAkQEhVQbs-dZtDZbXFSDUmQaI9AtTkkN6oKjVbOz6SlCUI2l5CLl4FFX-YMOJhmKfHeoel8OVRdlmntK3V1malK5dwsYerkMWxcB7WRvop-WYMC8pQ08pcYT5e-Tg/s2048/20211101_005144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogWcpMurQN9tRLuAkQEhVQbs-dZtDZbXFSDUmQaI9AtTkkN6oKjVbOz6SlCUI2l5CLl4FFX-YMOJhmKfHeoel8OVRdlmntK3V1malK5dwsYerkMWxcB7WRvop-WYMC8pQ08pcYT5e-Tg/w400-h300/20211101_005144.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A simple costume idea. It would have played well five years ago. It still gets laughs, although Hillary Clinton never went to prison, but plenty of Trump bobos have. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZqyJ_DxaofAMpqJ-UBLNwwBIOpiTQzyvGzm-7wHlzq3BmoQjFjoHCsHJy4O0W9iBrrNSCJJVypgpoXZuMw_D4aU3IPwy3lsn_LM1ARVTgw8AopqN3ef1cHq9ps2Iq5zzmh7c18YBoGw/s2048/20211101_005235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZqyJ_DxaofAMpqJ-UBLNwwBIOpiTQzyvGzm-7wHlzq3BmoQjFjoHCsHJy4O0W9iBrrNSCJJVypgpoXZuMw_D4aU3IPwy3lsn_LM1ARVTgw8AopqN3ef1cHq9ps2Iq5zzmh7c18YBoGw/w300-h400/20211101_005235.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I asked this guy for his photo. His dedication to a creepy look was outstanding. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwviVGpLerxpF1eNzzQyydjqZeImUz6nPtjwvI_kuiU7i559DcwT54Gw2ZX80IMKa_KA-FavoFBvsQpnbypPW80y9eIZ1bouiKA_mPWnwx365PEWPh5Qv1tsTappy0K6-029FQdlB7M4/s2048/20211101_010249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwviVGpLerxpF1eNzzQyydjqZeImUz6nPtjwvI_kuiU7i559DcwT54Gw2ZX80IMKa_KA-FavoFBvsQpnbypPW80y9eIZ1bouiKA_mPWnwx365PEWPh5Qv1tsTappy0K6-029FQdlB7M4/w400-h300/20211101_010249.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This seemed like a pic worth grabbing at the time.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd2UW6MenVfXu8RvHh6WQ3yTk0E_L33GakryNsZgNKEhN7UZIEyzePIFTMf8-LSou3Yy8UAIkPTt6krPPV8zRx3cIUav6OUi2kDSvEPsDVJ60QXgaPb2RecRMSFTndrYNb2gXdMXgC40/s2048/20211101_030632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzd2UW6MenVfXu8RvHh6WQ3yTk0E_L33GakryNsZgNKEhN7UZIEyzePIFTMf8-LSou3Yy8UAIkPTt6krPPV8zRx3cIUav6OUi2kDSvEPsDVJ60QXgaPb2RecRMSFTndrYNb2gXdMXgC40/w264-h400/20211101_030632.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill Cosby's career is forever tarnished, and that likely includes appreciation for the old "Fat Albert" cartoons. Nonetheless, this simple Dumb Donald costume blew me away. I had to ask this guy for a pic.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I ended my evening back at the Plaza, where I bought in for $200 at a table game. It was my one big gamble of the weekend. I didn't win, but I held onto a little and finished my night playing a few bucks through the machines at the bar before going to bed. Another Vegas Halloween, as odd as it was, had come to an end. <div><br /></div><div>Not drinking much that night and not staying awake until 4 a.m. didn't bother me, I had an afternoon flight home. I typically avoid flying home the day after Halloween, but it made sense to do so for this trip, as my life partner and her sisters were doing so, and this was a bonus trip in my world. Three nights is short by my standards, but I'm so grateful it worked out. </div><div><br /></div><div>The final hours in Vegas were uneventful. I checked out of my room, picked up the sisters and drove us to Ellis Island, where we had lunch before heading to the airport. The lunch service was a lot slower than we expected. I'm pretty sure the waitress forgot to put our ticket in for a while, so we waited more than 30 minutes for our food. It didn't appear tables around us were waiting that long. </div><div><br /></div><div>I ordered prime rib for lunch given I hadn't had my standard prime rib meal the entire weekend. Fun fact, other than a breakfast bar in my hotel room an hour earlier, I hadn't eaten a meal since Sunday afternoon at Saltgrass. Other than a little candy at the Pinball Hall of Fame, I ate almost nothing until lunch at noon on Monday. That happens to me in Vegas occasionally, and I didn't even think about a meal that entire evening. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nYk5htE5k8FBTbCbq-Gi0TIm4JwdC1yT6LzjAIa0QpxwYBrIBwhDFMKHjQ4OppuwUXwetcTmTZgNy_TBmYRdiPTAzRoGaUfhDsiyy7VxShe6yJm-jLZ5kEv2Ih3gtk3RvmPKKH3i754/s2048/20211101_123512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nYk5htE5k8FBTbCbq-Gi0TIm4JwdC1yT6LzjAIa0QpxwYBrIBwhDFMKHjQ4OppuwUXwetcTmTZgNy_TBmYRdiPTAzRoGaUfhDsiyy7VxShe6yJm-jLZ5kEv2Ih3gtk3RvmPKKH3i754/w400-h300/20211101_123512.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One food pic from my trip, prime rib at Ellis Island. No complaints for less than $20.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I gave myself about two hours to return the rental car and get to my gate for departure. The shuttle buses were slow at the rental center and security screening was super slow on Monday afternoon. A friend who was in town that weekend, but I had not seen, was on the same flight home as I was. She messaged me that it took more than an hour to get through the security screening. I was certain I would miss my flight, but TSA did something to pick up the pace, as the line eventually started moving far more briskly than it had been when I arrived. I was the last ticketed passenger to be seated, and they bumped me up to an exit row. I wasn't the last guy on the plane, there were a few standby passengers hoping and praying they'd get a seat to Minneapolis, as well. I think they did. </div><div><br /></div><div>My seventh trip to Vegas for Halloween in 11 years was complete. I wouldn't have been sad had I missed out, at least that was my thought leading up to the trip, but I suspect I'd have regretted not being there come Halloween weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh yeah, those Sunday night sports bets. I missed betting on Atlanta, and Houston went on to win that night, so it would have been my fourth consecutive failed sports bet of the weekend. As for the Minnesota-Dallas NFL game, I regretted betting on Dallas as soon as I walked away from the counter and learned that five-year pro Cooper Rush, who had never started an NFL regular season game in his life, was the Dallas starting quarterback as the Cowboys' regular starting QB, Dak Prescott, was a late scratch. </div><div><br /></div><div>I watched some of the first half at Circa and followed the scoring updates on my phone at the Pinball Hall of Fame. It looked like Dallas was going to struggle to score points, but Minnesota failed to light up the scoreboard, as well. Dallas not only covered the 4.5-point spread, but won outright 20-16. I won cash on Sunday night all because I was a minute too late to bet on baseball and because I bet against Minnesota seconds before I learned late breaking info that would have led me to switch my bet. </div><div><br /></div><div>When it comes to sports betting, I swear I'm wrong 90% of the time. I need to bet the opposite of my instincts. </div>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-53996100810575654082021-11-10T23:38:00.000-08:002021-11-10T23:38:02.039-08:00#VegasHalloween 2021 -- day 3, part 1<p>Halloween, a bittersweet day in my world. </p><p>As a child, Halloween was always an exciting time. Yes, there's a historic, religious origin that gave way to the commercial silliness of today. Be it the promise of candy, the creepiness of the afterlife that dwells in the hallways of haunted attractions across the United States or the convenient excuse for adults to showcase their creativity and be anything other than who they are, Halloween is fun for all ages. If you're into any of those sorts of things. </p><p>I can't explain my attraction to horror, the undead or the creepiness that lurks down a dark corridor of an abandoned building, but as a kid I was drawn to the challenge of bravely navigating the local haunted house during my earliest years living in Small Town, Indiana. There were years in my life when Halloween came and went without much fanfare, but more often than not, partaking in the Halloween festivities became an important part of my fall. And for the past 15 seasons, I have worked in the haunt industry. All but one of those years as an employee of a corporate amusement park's Halloween weekends. That's another story for another blog. </p><p>For the seventh time in 11 years, I spent my Halloween in Las Vegas. I won't recount all of those trips, either, but I will note that my first was in 2011, prior to this blog. </p><p>This year's Halloween trip wasn't a sure thing. Under different circumstances, perhaps I would have skipped Halloween in Vegas this year. I haven't made them all since 2011, obviously. But it was a wedding I was not obligated to attend that prompted my trip to Sin City for Halloween weekend. </p><p>After a late night playing cheap keno and drinking cocktails at the Plaza, I had a hard time rolling out of bed before 9 a.m.</p><p>No big deal, I had nowhere to go that morning, but I did want to wager on some early NFL game. I am rarely in town on a Sunday morning, particularly during the football season. After not betting on college football Saturday, I had to have a little action on Sunday morning. Having lost $60 on two UFC fights on Saturday, I wagered a healthy $20 on Sunday morning. Buffalo was hosting Miami, favored by plenty, and by 7.5 or 8 at the half. Figuring Buffalo was going to score a bunch at home, I wagered $20 on Buffalo to cover the first-half spread. </p><p>And the score at halftime was 3-3. </p><p>I don't bet on a lot of sports. And I usually bet something simple, often against the spread. I swear I win less than 20% of the sports wagers I make. I need to pull a George Costanza and bet the opposite of every sports instinct I have. </p><p>Wager placed before kickoff, I ventured out of downtown. I wanted to take a little time and just drive around, seeing the areas tourists never see. Or roll down Boulder Highway on a Sunday morning, before traffic was heavy. Maybe have breakfast at Klondike Sunset. But I was slow to get going, so I had two objectives Sunday morning: Supplement my cash at a non-casino ATM and grab a fast food breakfast, preferably from somewhere I don't have access to back here in Minnesota. </p><p>And where did I end up grabbing breakfast from? McDonald's. At least I knew what I was getting. </p><p>Back to the Plaza, it was time to clean up for the wedding. While I was staying at the Plaza, solo, my life partner and her sisters are getting ready at Golden Nugget, where the wedding party is also staying. </p><p>The wedding party went to the wedding chapel via a limo, I picked up the sisters. I have been going to Vegas for nearly 25 years, but never for a wedding. On Halloween 2021, it was time for my first. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehamq3rLYBjlaAONGT3UTsjv-w5DjkjtC1-EhL7tjHSbOov67eyr7jbk75t_A91OLFPPmXT1JX_u5bA90t0mKHQFj4dmMeOhNJu9rYJq8S3Ovxhi9CKwfwqZNb9K3MvXHoS5MdkFAKxQ/s2048/20211031_133049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehamq3rLYBjlaAONGT3UTsjv-w5DjkjtC1-EhL7tjHSbOov67eyr7jbk75t_A91OLFPPmXT1JX_u5bA90t0mKHQFj4dmMeOhNJu9rYJq8S3Ovxhi9CKwfwqZNb9K3MvXHoS5MdkFAKxQ/w400-h300/20211031_133049.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a block or so off Las Vegas Boulevard, and it's a nice place <br />to get married if you're not getting married at your casino. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>The chapel of choice was The Little Vegas Chapel. No fancy casino chapel for this party. We went to some nifty little building a block or so off Las Vegas Boulevard, a couple of blocks away from Dino's Lounge. </p><p>The wedding couple chose the Elvis wedding. The chapel was a nice little room and Elvis did a nice job of running a wedding ceremony. There were several elements to the ceremony, including a few songs by Elvis. We were invited to dance with the newlyweds during the final song of the ceremony, and thanks to the insistence of a few in our group of 16, including the bride and groom, we all danced during the final song. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhWn7nIeAtgSGVsVzsq67DqMvDLQeNbY7AJ3db7s5vKg9VcqlSDfwvTTByqloNW-mLIkm0CsQazjslYYOikI_hskZYh93NprUche7zzu8uZMnOL1t1oudxqnXMdbK0nnDsl1__d5dqxA/s2048/20211031_131437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhWn7nIeAtgSGVsVzsq67DqMvDLQeNbY7AJ3db7s5vKg9VcqlSDfwvTTByqloNW-mLIkm0CsQazjslYYOikI_hskZYh93NprUche7zzu8uZMnOL1t1oudxqnXMdbK0nnDsl1__d5dqxA/w300-h400/20211031_131437.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The King doesn't get a lot of love in Vegas these days, but you can count <br />on him to be performing a wedding somewhere in Vegas on any given day. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />After the ceremony there were a few pictures outside the building, along with those that were taken inside the building prior to the ceremony. I think that was plenty. Most folks want 1,000 pictures from their wedding day, and there's value in having those, but probably not as much as people spend for them. The photo collection the newlyweds amassed seemed to be plenty. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ltGsZWiMiXEtdX3QSWaGVZBHGrYZHAMaXWVPPx9rNddp0k9yRqeC62Rx8Oyooto9R1TkUkOwcpXkG4I6AlR_FhSOkcg_h6_WCaP6RyMey72iU9dGtkpwzoKuZ0RmbFYpylW4DeoGFQ/s2048/20211031_125619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ltGsZWiMiXEtdX3QSWaGVZBHGrYZHAMaXWVPPx9rNddp0k9yRqeC62Rx8Oyooto9R1TkUkOwcpXkG4I6AlR_FhSOkcg_h6_WCaP6RyMey72iU9dGtkpwzoKuZ0RmbFYpylW4DeoGFQ/w400-h300/20211031_125619.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pre-wedding photo inside The Little Vegas Chapel.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-homE-5ObvsU304woBgohqBgrH2tmSSEHpV9MX6Mch4EEqORfgp9L4GI7Q0ox2UCdSXSoqJ68KNpR_ZI7GQBJVCiIDqg2UNxoVNUU_mjJyvcN_Gy5SFhyhbR5zQnN2-sFu2e2KQS70w/s2048/20211031_134024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-homE-5ObvsU304woBgohqBgrH2tmSSEHpV9MX6Mch4EEqORfgp9L4GI7Q0ox2UCdSXSoqJ68KNpR_ZI7GQBJVCiIDqg2UNxoVNUU_mjJyvcN_Gy5SFhyhbR5zQnN2-sFu2e2KQS70w/w400-h300/20211031_134024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This must be a classic Cadillac, right? </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLwbEMgZk4uqs_jY_nGF3kKeLL9VysHT2uxB5RaOziyq-KZ2HfwezvoiBEdx25pyL21BB3XbLbvaX6NoXJUg7LThHaudBSvUafEEBYPZ0bN4-3WkTQOklKizh8msb9gAqf9tEVIbTRVk/s2048/20211031_134056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLwbEMgZk4uqs_jY_nGF3kKeLL9VysHT2uxB5RaOziyq-KZ2HfwezvoiBEdx25pyL21BB3XbLbvaX6NoXJUg7LThHaudBSvUafEEBYPZ0bN4-3WkTQOklKizh8msb9gAqf9tEVIbTRVk/w400-h300/20211031_134056.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure how often these cars hit the streets, or what they're used for, but I suspect they send them when you don't have a wedding party to pick up, and therefore don't need the stretch limo.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ceremony is over, it's back to the casinos, and vacation mode. </p><p>There were two children in attendance. Young kids, too. Elementary school age. They're the niece and nephew of the bride. So it was kind of important that they be there for their aunt's unorthodox wedding. They were not staying at a casino. Their family was at a timeshare off the strip, down from Ellis Island. </p><p>The problem on Sunday afternoon was finding a place where a group of 12 or 14 people can assemble for food and drink, with two children in tow. With no plan, our destination ended up being Saltgrass, the modest priced steak house at Golden Nugget. </p><p>My overpriced chicken sandwich wasn't anything to go back for, but add a large beer to that, and a good one, not that Bud Light I usually drink, and a bill for about $25, or slightly less, wasn't obscene. The service was efficient, and the staff was quite accommodating to our large group spread out over two giant tables. I'd order something a bit fancier if I dine there again. </p><p>Late afternoon is upon us and it's time to go change clothes, after a stop upstairs. The sisters were discussing their Sunday evening plans, and they had yet to be finalized, so I went up to their room, awaiting their plan. That plan didn't involve me, technically. </p><p>With that Sunday night plan yet to be finalized, it was time for me to head back to the Plaza. No more Sunday church duds for me. It's time for casual clothes prior to some of us reconvening at Circa, where the bride and groom want to watch their Minnesota Vikings take on the Dallas Cowboys. There was no set plan for the remainder of the evening, other than the bride and groom planned to remain downtown and take in the Halloween atmosphere. I planned to do that, too. And eventually I did. </p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-32946260264701445692021-11-03T00:11:00.004-07:002021-11-10T22:39:28.241-08:00#VegasHalloween 2021 -- day 2<p>My first full day in Las Vegas qualifies as atypical in several ways. </p><p>Having a rental vehicle, I have easy access to places many tourists may never go. </p><p>Having fallen asleep before midnight on Friday, I must have gotten a full eight hours of sleep. I set my alarm for sometime after 7 a.m., and didn't jump out of bed at the sound of the first, second or third alarm. Eventually I rolled out of bed and began getting ready for the day ahead. But my first destination of the day was sidetracked by breakfast. </p><p>My life partner texted me. She and her sisters were coming to the Plaza for Breakfast at the celebrated Hash House A Go Go, <a href="https://www.hashhouseagogo.com/locations/" target="_blank">which has more locations than I would have guessed </a>in the Vegas area. Surprised by this, I invited myself to join the, especially given the fact I had a $25 meal voucher courtesy of the Plaza. </p><p>After breakfast I placed a couple of wagers on the afternoon UFC main events. Yes, UFC had Saturday morning and afternoon fights, thanks to the card taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. My buddy is pretty good at handicapping the UFC, so I put a modest $30 down on two picks he gave me, which were the co-main events. I bet on one fight to go over 2.5 rounds, and the other to go under 4.5 rounds. </p><p>Then it was off to the Broadacres Marketplace in North Las Vegas for flea market action. I had been there in June with my podcast producer, and I made my first visit on a Friday night in October 2020. I don't buy much at flea markets, garage sales or any other type of secondhand goods outlet, but I can spend long hours browsing at the right place. I spent more than two hours under the warm Nevada sun, and I will detail my experiences and observations about this giant flea market in a future post. And soon. I promise!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_zi2LQlFyrFY6ztybRGkAgUYwFiLAK6nZaZiFe2a29N6z-4CRqRrOP-HhgJU8JC1ajSfr6hXi5M07QDBoRKKMe5fbzc6Sb_ittAC865VhFPpqVREdrN3gRtvTUC4ONsnimpg4jAXpyo/s2048/20211030_110546.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_zi2LQlFyrFY6ztybRGkAgUYwFiLAK6nZaZiFe2a29N6z-4CRqRrOP-HhgJU8JC1ajSfr6hXi5M07QDBoRKKMe5fbzc6Sb_ittAC865VhFPpqVREdrN3gRtvTUC4ONsnimpg4jAXpyo/w400-h300/20211030_110546.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who buys a mattress set at a flea market? <br />Somebody must, because there was more than one vendor selling them. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5QMECuN9J_PDzffGOKapdLCkTCILP8W0yAHZ4IIkKnGUNvfvY11_VsIGfvy2m6Cs25M3pvZKBhhzzdNIUWjiQ1DAUniucf__4q11IYlF_sua3NZAM-3p7bT1SOS-AZhWZX6vyDocAYY/s2048/20211030_124941.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5QMECuN9J_PDzffGOKapdLCkTCILP8W0yAHZ4IIkKnGUNvfvY11_VsIGfvy2m6Cs25M3pvZKBhhzzdNIUWjiQ1DAUniucf__4q11IYlF_sua3NZAM-3p7bT1SOS-AZhWZX6vyDocAYY/w400-h300/20211030_124941.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what a bunny sells for at the mall pet store, but $65 must be a bargain. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCzwa8J7X-JD77SoKoOS43IQkBlqLcw3rDyQ9Qrgg37j2zpU6RbU1BssoZs7LjFc5uJbrwLV-7RQeF0Phpoq4NTi1cutROo0OqVtNTMQqc7Dlg5JkfT0trX2Qpu6zCDyxeOAw9JXyUPI/s2048/20211030_123848.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCzwa8J7X-JD77SoKoOS43IQkBlqLcw3rDyQ9Qrgg37j2zpU6RbU1BssoZs7LjFc5uJbrwLV-7RQeF0Phpoq4NTi1cutROo0OqVtNTMQqc7Dlg5JkfT0trX2Qpu6zCDyxeOAw9JXyUPI/w300-h400/20211030_123848.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadacres Marketplace has several food vendors, a stage with live music, <br />beer sales and a few carnival rides, as well as carnival games, for the kids. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>After my day at the flea market was complete, with one $10 purchase I won't discuss at this time, it was off to Jerry's Nugget. I wasn't hungry at this point, so I stopped at Jerry's Nugget on my way back to see what kind of low-roller action was available. Jerry's had $5 craps with 2X odds, some $5 blackjack, albeit with continuous shuffle machines and a $5 table game that was a lot like Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em, but seemed to be a bit different. I didn't take the time to learn how it was different. </p><p>Jerry was offering hand-shuffled blackjack, but even Jerry wants $10/hand for the privilege these days. </p><p>I opted for my conservative craps play. I don't make many exotic bets, I pretty much bet the pass line with an equal odds bet behind it. I don't make big money on a hot roll, but I don't drop huge money in short order. If we make points, I make a little money. If we crap out, I don't. </p><p>I had a couple of decent rolls, making a few points, but nothing spectacular. There was a woman who joined the table and talked quite a bit. She was making multiple side bets before many rolls, and was basically telling the dealers who was supposed to be getting paid. She was a handful, to say the least. </p><p>Jerry's Nugget offers a couple of those prop bets where you have to roll all the numbers. If every combo of 2-12 is rolled before the 7, on any come out roll, anyone betting at the start of the come out roll wins 175-1. If you bet on 2-6 or 8-12, you get like 34-1, or something close to that. So in 10 rolls, a $1 bet could win $175, but it's likely one of the 10 numbers won't be repeated, assuming the shooter doesn't crap out. </p><p>This woman was betting a couple bucks on all three props each turn. After me, the dude before her began shooting. He had no dice technique, he just picked them up and tossed them. And it took a while for him to do it, but he eventually hit all 10 combos without crapping out. When he hit his final number, a 3, she erupted. She had $4 on the 175-1 bet, paying her $700. She had three bucks on the lower range of numbers, so that paid her just over $100. And she collected previously on the 8-12 spread, too. So she won over $900 on this guy's turn. Amazing. </p><p>She had several bets on the table when she won the big payout. She immediately gave the shooter about $50 in chips. As she waited to get paid, she told the dealers all her bets on the table were theirs. As soon as she got paid, she walked away, leaving money on the table for the dealers to reap the benefits of. And the shooter continued his turn several more rolls before finally hitting a 7. </p><p>How high maintenance was this woman? She was so slow in tossing out her side bets each turn, and disputing what the dealers and stickman were doing, that it sometimes took more than two minutes for the next roll to occur. The boxman had seen enough, declaring no more string betting, or the action would be declined. He was not having any more of it. </p><p>And how did I do with my conservative, boring strategy? I finished the afternoon $15 ahead. The woman near me walked away with hundreds of dollars. I walked away with $15. But it was fun playing on a live table for low stakes. You don't find $5 tables anywhere tourists frequent. </p><p>After Jerry's, I decided I had to see what the Silver Nugget was like. You pass it after Jerry's, on your way to the flea market. I decided Saturday was the day I'd see what it had to offer. </p><p>There was a little kiddie fall festival/Halloween carnival in the parking lot next to Silver Nugget, or perhaps that was part of the Silver Nugget parking lot. It wasn't open, but people were getting ready for that evening. It looked cute, and lame for kids 10 and older. </p><p>There were a few folks seemingly hanging out in the parking lot, which I found odd. I didn't park particularly close to the door, and that didn't matter, but it could have mattered. I noticed that the front parking area and entry to the casino looked rather messy, as if cleaning up the outside of the building wasn't a priority. The pile of Pringles on the ground near the front doors was a nice touch. </p><p>I knew Silver Nugget was a mistake when I saw the signs taped up to the entrance doors: Masks available for $2. </p><p>If this joint can't afford to give away masks to customers too lazy or careless to bring them, this place was not for me. </p><p>Inside I found a casino with no table games, a weird layout of machines, as if they didn't have enough machines to fill the floor space, one bar with a few folks hanging around and yucking it up, a small sports book in the back corner and a side annex that had machines scattered in there, as well as an entrance to a restaurant that didn't appear to be open in the middle of the afternoon. I would later learn that there's a bowling alley and "event center" at Silver Nugget, but I didn't realize it at the time. It's in an enclosed area separate from the casino, allegedly. </p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/VegasInsight/status/1454579741445423104" target="_blank">I tweeted about what a mistake it was to stop in</a> after driving by the place a few times, and for some reason that tweet blew up, at least by my standards. It got a few retweets, and I think I know which retweet brought it to the masses, but I can't guarantee it. All I know is that I got a lot more action on that tweet than I do on anything else I tweet, and that lasted for more than 24 hours. Very unexpected. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaPXAXyVijf2fWfzwwDwChYkLwdUtYqU-QwuAc48-S0nkcK-D4CRM8onw6nMLkMa4y7dmYLtr7rg0f8c6MCJozQc2t1tFA_tYNoJl6KagG2mQGd5PfNvbl1pebefFWrMG8sbUc6WDOq0/s2048/20211030_154219.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaPXAXyVijf2fWfzwwDwChYkLwdUtYqU-QwuAc48-S0nkcK-D4CRM8onw6nMLkMa4y7dmYLtr7rg0f8c6MCJozQc2t1tFA_tYNoJl6KagG2mQGd5PfNvbl1pebefFWrMG8sbUc6WDOq0/w300-h400/20211030_154219.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had no idea this simple picture and a comment via Twitter would <br />garner more attention than anything else I shared during my weekend in Vegas. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>After wasting 15 minutes at Silver Nugget it was time to go back downtown, where I bopped around and won a few bucks at the Plaza, only to lose a few bucks low rolling at Circa. Those UFC bets I made? The fight I bet to go over 2.5 ended in less than 2.5, and the fight I bet to end in less than 4.5 went the full five rounds. So much for my expert. </p><p>Oh yeah, I had a small ticket to redeem at Circa, and I took it to the cage. As I was waiting, some old dude was at the cage, off to the side, with two much younger women. I'm not sure exactly why, but the dude was rubbing one of the young women's butt quite vigorously for several seconds. He didn't care if anyone saw him, clearly. It wasn't the most bizarre thing you'll see in Vegas, not by a long shot, but that image is forever burned in my mind. </p><p>I returned to the Plaza to clean up. Dinner was at 7 p.m., and we were going to Chicago Joe's. </p><p>I know of it, and it was my suggestion we go. The bride-to-be wanted a group dinner on Saturday night, and we had 18 people there for the wedding. She decided a group dinner was a great idea about four days before Saturday night. And she really wanted Italian. A little online research reminded me that Chicago Joe's isn't miles away from Fremont Street, and I've read references to the quirky little building that looks like a house. People are mostly positive toward it, so I thought it was a reasonable option, assuming they could take a reservation for 18. Sucker bet!</p><p>And yet, against all odds, they said yes. We sat at five tables in the back of the building. It was a bit tight, but it worked. We couldn't move about easily, but it worked out well, and everyone seemed pleased with their meals. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gtDKAUSALG0yZencNvx-VNNCJpuGW8AqkNLtdc2WMAoEx7165TJTAzzZdX7daSxz9vc0Fg5KqoFHM_LfLvBvbTYq2gpYOKs2ww0DBbDRyFcgT0VsESErvjIBs71o_IyFlxJ4WnTdTzE/s2048/20211030_185123.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gtDKAUSALG0yZencNvx-VNNCJpuGW8AqkNLtdc2WMAoEx7165TJTAzzZdX7daSxz9vc0Fg5KqoFHM_LfLvBvbTYq2gpYOKs2ww0DBbDRyFcgT0VsESErvjIBs71o_IyFlxJ4WnTdTzE/w400-h300/20211030_185123.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our group waited outside the entrance to the quirky Italian restaurant known as Chicago Joe's prior to our dinner reservation. It's downtown, about a one-mile walk from Golden Nugget, so says Google.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Chicago Joe's is a modestly priced place that makes good Italian food. They serve beer and wine, but no alcohol, as best I could tell, and they've been in business since 1975. It's not a must-visit restaurant, but it's fun, delicious and a good value. I'd like to dine there again sometime. </p><p>I will say this, I splurged on a shrimp and pasta meal, but didn't love the shrimp. It wasn't bad, but I think next time I'll skip spending extra on the shrimp and go with the big meatball or Italian sausage. </p><p>Perhaps most amazing: We had one waiter for the entire party, for the entire evening. Drink orders, food orders, food distribution, drink refills and multiple checks and credit card charges: Darrin did it all. He was on the move from start to finish. He would make loud announcements occasionally to the entire group, and you'd think he was from Boston, not Chicago, but he got the job done efficiently, and paid attention to detail when it was necessary. It was borderline amazing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K6xvTB6DVc_BRNzw_MdMfe0YSIopfKDl8w8rmOra5djuQ-P-y_spH1DnzeqOQqDDuvdtfBvHgnXduuRrFNVQfkeKnCIfjbtWTeN-RNGFNqdahfTXbVWIZsCi5QBjOUSicOZw3prEIaE/s2048/20211030_202625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K6xvTB6DVc_BRNzw_MdMfe0YSIopfKDl8w8rmOra5djuQ-P-y_spH1DnzeqOQqDDuvdtfBvHgnXduuRrFNVQfkeKnCIfjbtWTeN-RNGFNqdahfTXbVWIZsCi5QBjOUSicOZw3prEIaE/w400-h300/20211030_202625.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the best photo, but the only one I have that shows the interior of quirky Chicago Joe's.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Dinner ends and we return downtown. I hung out for a bit with my life partner and her sisters. We had a drink at a Golden Nugget bar. The ladies, after a day at the pool and plenty of drinking, were ready to call it a night. These aren't late night people, for the most part. I departed and hit Fremont, soaking in the Halloween atmosphere provided by many people in costume. </p><p>I also toured many of the casinos, as if I expected to find something new or unexpected. I walked down to El Cortez, then worked my way back through a heavy crowd in the Fremont East district. I popped into the Fremont, California and Main Street Station and gawked at the crowds. I didn't gamble a dime, and was most tempted to play a nickel video poker progressive game at Main Street Station that had a nice payoff working on the royal flush for a 50-cent max play. But I skipped it. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDvdjC73K4elwHfZfVjO5ao7ADotmxN08hmrSQBysG90LRXJmbgoJolQUwNF6Pko2aBURc9K7YDxLkdnRd_88Vv7JN0PDC1pT-XIGf6WSnrWEd19eIaSylWRoTVjZvzLVZaLvkEcshNA/s2048/20211030_231214.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDvdjC73K4elwHfZfVjO5ao7ADotmxN08hmrSQBysG90LRXJmbgoJolQUwNF6Pko2aBURc9K7YDxLkdnRd_88Vv7JN0PDC1pT-XIGf6WSnrWEd19eIaSylWRoTVjZvzLVZaLvkEcshNA/w400-h300/20211030_231214.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't take Halloween photos on Saturday night, but there was a Day of the Dead group <br />that gathered in front of a fire truck parked in the middle of Fremont Street near El Cortez. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>My night was almost over. I went back to the Plaza, intended to buy a $3 Bud Light and retire to my room. But then I decided to sit down at the bar, order a cocktail and play 25-cent keno. My goal was to hit 4-for-4 and win a whopping $25 for my 25-cent play. I did that within the first $5. Wow, big winner!</p><p>The bartenders were rather prompt with the drinks, so I had a few and decided to lower my keno wager to 10 cents, simply to avoid losing my tiny profit swiftly. And thanks to my continued play, I hit 4-for-4 twice more, which amused me greatly. Each subsequent win paid me all of $10. Of course I should have stayed at a quarter a game, but I didn't care. I wasn't going to win big money either way. I had about six cocktails and won $30 while doing so. I felt like a king at the end of the night. </p><p>It's amazing how a modest win can make for such a pleasant final hour of your day.</p><br />Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-90066118629851740502021-11-01T23:50:00.003-07:002021-11-02T22:30:27.566-07:00#VegasHalloween 2021 -- day 1<p>I am old and lazy, so I don't write as often, or as frequently as I would like, about my trips to Las Vegas. but I will chronicle a lot of details from my trip during the next few days. </p><p>In 2011 I spent my first Halloween in Las Vegas. That was a solo trip. In 2021 I spent my 7th Halloween in Vegas. It's that much fun. </p><p>This year's trip wasn't necessarily going to happen. My life partner and her sisters were traveling together to Vegas for their cousin's wedding. I was not obligated to go. I did not book a trip with them. The two sisters are married, with two children. Their families were not going, and I wasn't expected to go, but perhaps it was presumed I would go since I go at least once a year, and often more than once in a year. </p><p>When I go, I like to go for several days, and given I went for eight nights this summer, I would have been fine with skipping this Halloween. The cousin's wedding was on Sunday, and that necessitated a weekend trip. I often go from Sunday to Friday or Saturday. </p><p>Long story short, when I got another three-night offer from the Plaza a couple of months ago, after the sisters booked their trip, I booked a three-night stay that overlapped the wedding weekend. Then I found a reasonable round-trip flight via Delta, using my points. Sounds like a cheap trip, eh? </p><p>Indeed it was. And we like to rent a car, and opted for the convenience of having one, which the three sisters split amongst them. </p><p>My job: To do the driving, and transport the sisters, as necessary. </p><p>I arrived on Friday, Oct. 29, early in the afternoon. The sisters did not book their flights on Delta, so I traveled separate. I arrived about five hours before they did. </p><p>I'll skip the detailed story about the rental car considerations and pursuits. I avoid renting from Budget, but that's who we used this time around. The sisters chose an intermediate SUV, and after 45-50 minutes of waiting in line to complete the paperwork, it was off to the parking ramp, where I had to wait about 15 minutes for my vehicle to show up. That's how short they are for rental vehicles these days. And of course I got a white vehicle. I never choose white. Alamo, and others, let you choose from a row of vehicles. Oh well, I'll live. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h2dRU3v3okFoMnqzdBKF4-CzQGNODk9J_dPwfOPDXpZHrpWLI22MN1-bJ9c4qwbM-pZg6flBHqKJIli_g9wqn3B1FKua_V5fKA16v39xEkvpBS2fJPNhIHa0yCigSyvDMy7RIqw7PSA/s2048/20211029_134319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h2dRU3v3okFoMnqzdBKF4-CzQGNODk9J_dPwfOPDXpZHrpWLI22MN1-bJ9c4qwbM-pZg6flBHqKJIli_g9wqn3B1FKua_V5fKA16v39xEkvpBS2fJPNhIHa0yCigSyvDMy7RIqw7PSA/w400-h300/20211029_134319.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody wants to rent a car from Budget...until they do it.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>For what it's worth, there weren't many people waiting at any other rental agency, but Budget had a long line waiting. Rates are higher than I've ever seen, and cars are in relative short supply, reportedly, but somehow Budget knows how to undercut the competition. </p><p>I ended up with some Nissan, and it was a nice ride. </p><p>From the airport it was check-in time at Plaza. I slept less than four hours on Thursday night, as I worked late into the night on a ton of stuff, and didn't have much time to sleep. I could have used a nap on Friday afternoon, but determined I wouldn't get much rest before having to go to the airport to pick up the sisters. Given I hadn't eaten breakfast, or a meal at the airport, I needed something to eat. I went downstairs to Pop Up Pizza. </p><p>It was fine, but nothing exceptional. Given it was 4 p.m. Vegas time, or 6 p.m. back in Minnesota, and I hadn't eaten a meal, I had no complaints. (A fig bar on the way to the airport and a Delta in-flight cookie do not count as a meal.) </p><p>I bummed around downtown for an hour, blowing $20 on low-roller stadium gambling at Circa before heading to the airport. </p><p>Airport pickup was a success, and we had time to spare. We had dinner reservations at the celebrated Herbs and Rye on Sahara Avenue, west of the strip. Our reservation was for 8 p.m., so we were hoping to get in an hour early. </p><p>We were within a mile of the place when one of the sisters got off the phone. She had multiple calls from a Vegas phone number, but no message. So she called to find out why. One call: Ignore it. Multiple calls: Something is not right. </p><p>It turns out the sister's wallet fell out of her giant purse, which tipped on the floor of the plane. And somebody from the airline found it, so she was welcome to come retrieve it. Therefore we turned around and started heading back to the airport. </p><p>As we were driving back toward the airport on Interstate 15, we suddenly heard a funny, puzzling sound. We had no idea what it was. I turned the radio off, and it stopped. We came to the determination that my life partner's cellphone was trying to sync up with the car stereo. </p><p>Except it wasn't. Moments later that loud, unsettling sound began again. Did we have a flat tire? It didn't seem like it. The car was still smooth. Troubled, I exited near the car rental center, and pulled into the Boot Barn parking lot. (I went to that store with a friend many years ago.) I checked the tires, and all were fine. There was nothing in the wheel wells to suggest what the problem was. There was no sign of anything dragging under the bumpers, either. </p><p>I got down on the ground and looked under the SUV. There's the problem. The front of the underbody panel was hanging loose. We hadn't hit anything, but the screws or whatever was holding it in place had come loose, lowering the front of the panel. The wind it was catching intermittently created that horrible sound. The panel wasn't dragging on the pavement, it was all airflow vibrating into the panel opening. </p><p>With three sisters and their luggage in tow, our first objective became exchanging the rental vehicle. </p><p>We were near the rental center, so that was easy enough to get to. I expected a delay getting a vehicle, and a lot of hassle. Were they going to try to stick me with a damage claim? I didn't hit anything. It was not due to my negligence. </p><p>So we pull in to the return center, I quickly explain what happened, and with no hesitation the nice woman at the return center tells me they'll get me a new vehicle. She looks under the vehicle, sees the damage, says that's not safe, and 30 seconds later we're hauling our luggage to the "Fastbreak" counter in the garage, where I had to fill out a short form detailing what happened to the vehicle. The counter employee offers us a choice of about three SUVs, and I simply asked for one that isn't white. He gave me a Chevy Blazer, which wasn't the best choice, it turned out. </p><p>We quickly learned there was far less cargo room in the back of the Blazer than there was in the back of that Nissan we had. And I didn't like the feel of the vehicle as much. But we were out of there, with a different vehicle within 15 minutes, that was most important. </p><p>Onto the airport, where the sister runs into the baggage claim area to retrieve her wallet. Within minutes we're back on the road, and it's just before 8 p.m.</p><p>We're not going to make it to Herbs and Rye by our reservation time, however, so my life partner calls and asks if we can still be seated. Herbs and Rye is playing hard ball, acting like they can't wait more than 10 minutes to seat us. But a little negotiating and pleading catastrophe seems to win us five minutes or so of favor, so we proceed. At this point it's 10 p.m. back home, none of us have had dinner, and the sisters are more than ready to go to any other restaurant in Vegas, but we set out, once again, for Sahara Avenue. </p><p>We're again within that final mile of our destination. I'm in the left lane, as you need to make a U-turn to get to the restaurant. I'm prepared for that, but what I'm not prepared for is the moron to my immediate right, who I'm not watching. He decides to start moving over into the left lane, as he seems to have just figured out he needs to make a U-turn, as well. My girlfriend tells me to watch out, as if I can do anything at this point. I look to my right, and I can see the moron's rearview mirror within six inches of our vehicle. There's nothing I can do at this point. There's a median to my left, so I can't just move over if there's no traffic coming from the other direction. </p><p>Thankfully the moron wakes up in time to realize he's going to hit my black SUV, and moves back into his lane, probably terrified by the fact he nearly took us both out on Sahara Avenue. (I never saw if the driver was male or female, I just assume the moron was a male. I'm sexist.)</p><p>I didn't have time to freak out, as I only caught the last glimpse of the near-collision. But the moron was still trying to get over to the left, and had slowed down, of course, after nearly killing all of us, or so it appeared in my rearview mirror. This, of course, wreaks havoc for the cars behind us. I'm surprised the moron didn't cause a crash involving those drivers. </p><p>It appeared the moron did get behind me, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was trying to get to Herbs and Rye, as well. But that didn't appear to be the case, as best I could tell. I was largely focused on my driving. </p><p>So we finally get into the restaurant, the stress on my heart at this point is about to kill me, and we sit down in this rather dark restaurant to eat. Good luck reading the menu! </p><p>Herbs and Rye is well known because it offers half-price steaks during its happy hours, which run like 5-8 p.m. and midnight to 3 p.m.</p><p>It's a dinner only restaurant, and not open on Sundays. It's quite the unique business model in Sin City. </p><p>I don't know for how long, but they have been running their happy hour pricing all night in recent weeks, and that included our Friday night visit. All the steaks are half price. And a few of the pasta dishes are, too. And a couple of appetizers, I believe. If you want a rail drink, that's half price, as well. </p><p>Two of us had half-price steaks. I had the New York strip for $24.50. Yep, it's a $49 steak, allegedly. </p><p>My life partner had the ribeye, which I think was menu-priced at $59. </p><p>My steak had too much fat in it, and it was hard to see where the fat was when you're cutting it in the dark. I had a sample of the ribeye, and it was better than mine. The steaks are naked. Like any steakhouse, if you want anything for the steak, that's an extra charge. I like mushrooms with my steak, but I don't need them. And if your steak is any good, it shouldn't need sauces or anything extra. </p><p>We split a few sides for the table, and they're not huge, yet cost about $10 each. But they were pretty good, and we had enough to go with our entrees, so I have no complaints. </p><p>We tried their fancy cocktails, as well. I had the "weekend at the Waldorf," a rum drink I thought I would love. I did not. It wasn't bad, but I didn't love it. It was $14 or so, and not really worth it. </p><p>The restaurant is nice, and it was well staffed. It's not a fancy steakhouse at Bellagio, but it's a nice enough place. Some folks were far more casual than I was. </p><p>I will try it again, and I will try a different steak. I don't do steakhouse dinners in Vegas often, and if I get a better steak than the strip steak I had, I could see myself going there once per trip in the years to come. </p><p>Sorry, no pictures of the food. It was dark in there, and I'm not a food blogger. I'll take food pics, but it's not a priority every time I eat a meal. </p><p>We were all tired after dinner. None of us had any interest in a wild night on Fremont Street, so I dropped the women off at Golden Nugget, where they were staying, along with the wedding party, and I parked at Plaza. We noticed there was a fire in a lot along Main Street, a block or two off of Fremont Street. The fire department was on the scene, and we couldn't see it clearly, but we're certain it was a Dumpster fire. Yes, a literal Dumpster fire. Seemed appropriate for how chaotic our night had turned out. </p><p>There would be no big Friday night for me. Seems lame, I know, but I worked my ass off on Thursday night, not going to bed until 4 a.m., I needed rest to make it through the weekend. I got a $3 bottle of Bud Light and retreated to my room shortly after 10 p.m.</p><p>I spent an hour watching TV and playing games on my cellphone, but I was asleep before midnight, and I have no regrets. </p><p>Up next: My unorthodox Saturday, the tweet that resonated with a lot of people and a visit to a quirky, longtime Vegas restaurant. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT406_P6yp4EmfJg8euxH6TqySHGFJkk_rhZFRopKV9x3FDK4R3WdQx1zGwqjgQyMnvZL0k7abk8nDR1stAst6KjpniElY05m_L9gHIT260tZvfXmuRQXmnCtQ-j_H1DIl4kI2qP8Q3H0/s2048/20211029_164402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT406_P6yp4EmfJg8euxH6TqySHGFJkk_rhZFRopKV9x3FDK4R3WdQx1zGwqjgQyMnvZL0k7abk8nDR1stAst6KjpniElY05m_L9gHIT260tZvfXmuRQXmnCtQ-j_H1DIl4kI2qP8Q3H0/w300-h400/20211029_164402.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One obligatory photo of Fremont Street, as I first exited the Plaza on Friday afternoon, Oct. 29. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-91605552790842937592021-07-07T23:20:00.003-07:002021-07-08T08:57:11.350-07:00The loss of Tuscany table games is a sign of the new normalIt has been a long, long time since I've taken the time to post an instant reaction to something happening in Las Vegas, but this one piggybacks on my observations and conclusions made during my trip last month. <div><br /></div><div>The fine folks at Vital Vegas, (it's one guy,) wrote about the loss of table games at another Sin City casino. In this case, the often forgotten <a href="https://vitalvegas.com/tuscany-casino-dumps-all-live-table-games/" target="_blank">Tuscany Casino dumped its modest collection of table games</a>, I learned today. </div><div><br /></div><div>Shocked I am not. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I noted a couple of weeks ago, I could find $5 blackjack downtown and at plenty of off-strip casinos just a few years ago. Two decades earlier, $5 blackjack was the standard, with some casinos offering $3 minimums or gimmicky $1 tables to attract low rollers. Times change, and $5 doesn't go as far as it use to, but two years ago it wasn't that hard to find $5 minimums on table games if you were willing to play off the strip. </div><div><br /></div><div>Given the fact we all presumably earn more per year, due to inflation if nothing else, than we did 20 years ago, and the fact that there are plenty of $10 or $15 players to be had at craps and blackjack tables up and down Fremont Street, what incentive does Main Street Station have to offer a $5 blackjack table when it reopens? In the summer of 2018 I ended up killing an hour on an August Friday night, and I most certainly played $5 blackjack. </div><div><br /></div><div>Table games are labor intensive. I don't have any inside knowledge about the economics of a blackjack pit, but it doesn't take a math major to know that the house will win more over time if the table minimums are $15 rather than $5. </div><div><br /></div><div>Casinos had higher minimums for their table games during the pandemic simply because they had fewer seats available at a blackjack table. If you're capped at three seats to a table due to social distancing requirements, you're going to want to increase the minimum for the seats you have, as long as you can still put asses in those seats. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once the capacity restrictions were lifted, plenty of people made it a priority to return to Vegas. And it didn't take $5 tables to put asses in the seats. So we have a new normal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously smaller operators with less traffic don't have the luxury of simply raising the table minimums and expecting people to fill those seats. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Orleans wasn't offering $5 blackjack on a Thursday night last month. If you're a local or a low roller who doesn't want to play at the higher minimums, you go elsewhere. But elsewhere is quickly becoming extinct, it seems. </div><div><br /></div><div>During last month's trip, I made it a point to visit a handful of odd joints I don't normally visit. My friend/podcast producer was with me, and he has never seen the locals casinos, so we made that part of our experience. </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew Joker's Wild had removed its table games. That made sense. They are a locals joint that doesn't attract big spenders, so the low roller blackjack tables and the famous $1 minimum craps game weren't going to make meaningful money. Instead of simply closing the tables during the pandemic, they were pulled. As of mid-June, they hadn't been restored. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wound up inside Casino Royale during my trip, a place I don't visit very often these days. I remember playing Spanish 21 there one night many years ago, when I was still staying and playing on the strip. I had a great time on a Sunday night, and the pit was busy. Not to my surprise, there are no tables at Casino Royale, at least not as of mid-June. Casino Royale is known as one of the last bastions of low rolling on the strip, so perhaps its days of live table games are over. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had never been inside the sketchy Wild Wild West, despite driving by it many times on my way to The Orleans. Having hyped its sketchiness to my friend, we were compelled to visit on a steamy Sunday afternoon. It was rather empty, not to my surprise, and there were no longer table games to be found. That wasn't a shock, either. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are still tables to be found at smaller casinos. On our Friday afternoon trek down the Boulder Highway we stopped at Skyline Casino. The tables were there, but they weren't open, not to my surprise. I suspect you can get $5 action there. And we went all the way down to Club Fortune Casino, which I had never been to. Again, they had tables, but they weren't open on a Friday afternoon. I'm guessing they still offer $5 action. But these aren't destinations typical tourists will ever see. </div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, you can still play $5 blackjack. We had lunch on Saturday at Jerry's Nugget. (More on that another day.) We stayed to play blackjack, as $5 tables were the norm. So was $5 craps. It's a Saturday in Vegas, at a very locals casino, and there were a bunch of people playing low minimum blackjack, roulette and craps. The craps table was pretty full, and offering a $5 minimum. Jerry's Nugget knows how to draw the locals, and was doing so. </div><div><br /></div><div>We also played a few hands of $3 blackjack prior to lunch at Jerry's Nugget. Real deal blackjack at none other than Poker Palace. This name may not ring a bell to tourists, but it's a small, no frills dump a few miles from downtown. We had been at the big flea market that morning, and after four hours of flea market scouring, we stopped at Poker Palace for a beverage. Turns out they were just getting ready to open their tables, so we sat down for 10 minutes on a Saturday, around the noon hour, to play at Poker Palace. The cards at the table looked like an old deck kept behind the bar at a small town Minnesota bar. And the joint had hardwood flooring. It was so, so weird, but dammit, we played $3 blackjack in Vegas, and somewhere I have one of the Poker Palace silver dollars from the table to prove it. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr2pwFZ_ElIT-beTuJwFWP4_jFNmChP2ag4u3-eExSm8By969jWy5OUR5IOYxXSy3aLK5qwpb5CaCsLhrmsUjMNH4ln8WqVHP2oZOPALqIXACDSExWHqfvhzv2cVUo1TpanTflr0HjAc/s2048/20210612_122218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr2pwFZ_ElIT-beTuJwFWP4_jFNmChP2ag4u3-eExSm8By969jWy5OUR5IOYxXSy3aLK5qwpb5CaCsLhrmsUjMNH4ln8WqVHP2oZOPALqIXACDSExWHqfvhzv2cVUo1TpanTflr0HjAc/w300-h400/20210612_122218.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mistakenly thought we were at Bellagio.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I've always known that Tuscany has table games, but I've never been there to see it for myself. The casino is still there, but with no tables, I'm not likely to stop in any time soon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tuscany isn't as convenient as Ellis Island when it comes to accessing the property from the strip, but it would seem that now, more than ever, the Tuscany tables should have been doing brisk business, offering $5 games not far from the strip. Perhaps it was just far enough that people wouldn't walk over to it, but it isn't that much further away than Ellis Island is, and Ellis Island is doing just fine offering lower minimum table action.</div><div><br /></div><div>The loss of table games at low roller joints like Joker's Wild, Wild Wild West and Tuscany suggest to me that the days of $5 tables are mostly history. Sure, they could return, and sure, The Orleans could start offering them again after the pent-up demand for burning through cash in Vegas subsides. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I think the absence of tables at Tuscany is another sign that the days of the $5 tables are about over, even for the locals joints. Stadium gambling, bubble craps and other machines are the new normal for low rollers. On the heels of the pandemic, video gambling that requires less labor is helping usher out the $5 craps and blackjack era. Tuscany is another nail in that coffin. </div>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-17724989375185383252021-06-30T21:59:00.001-07:002021-07-01T11:31:19.391-07:00And so it ended<p>I spent 8 nights in Vegas, and it all went by in a hurry. It always does. </p><p>Let's start with a recount of my final night in Vegas.</p><p>Most of my time was split with two friends. Thomas, my podcast producer, was there first. Dave, my college friend, came second. Their stays in Vegas overlapped one night. </p><p>Dave took a red-eye flight home on Thursday, and I wasn't leaving until Friday afternoon, so I was on my own for the final night. After dropping Dave off at the airport, I drove straight to The Orleans, a place I have stayed many times.</p><p>Normally I'd park in the ramp, head in and hit the tables when visiting The Orleans. Instead I parked in the front corner lot, far from the door. There weren't many cars in the area. I was closer to Tropicana Avenue than I was to the front doors of The Orleans. </p><p>I stood there looking at everything from a distance for at least five minutes, wondering if it was my last time at The Orleans. My future in Vegas had been on my mind periodically during this trip, as I noted in <a href="https://vegasinsight.blogspot.com/2021/06/a-las-vegas-obituary.html" target="_blank">my previous blog entry</a>.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIbeVlGWuaJulr3ritLnCIKfvObS7wt3t4tbdRVKdr7-WGLfcxsPnNtZos_kkli2gBOtLWBeuy9W-KPA9jNUkLDKiU-359hIBST7N8ednzGOVFYUCb48TAUhfmUoNSKK6Vyx8OmMv6C8/s2048/20210617_221555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIbeVlGWuaJulr3ritLnCIKfvObS7wt3t4tbdRVKdr7-WGLfcxsPnNtZos_kkli2gBOtLWBeuy9W-KPA9jNUkLDKiU-359hIBST7N8ednzGOVFYUCb48TAUhfmUoNSKK6Vyx8OmMv6C8/w300-h400/20210617_221555.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the roadside sign for The Orleans, the casino I have stayed at multiple times over the past decade. <br />I have found myself sitting in a quiet corner of its parking lot for a few minutes the past few trips, contemplating life as I know it. </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I took a picture of the giant Orleans sign out front and finally headed inside to try my luck at cards. </p><p>I spent a couple of hours playing Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em. I didn't win money. I lost about $65 during my time on the table. It was a mostly forgettable night of cards, save for two things. </p><p>A dude, probably younger than me, but hard to tell for sure, ended up right next to me. This dude was wearing a track suit, and had an East Coast accent. He referenced being from Boston at one point. And he also mentioned something about being comped at the casino, suggesting he was not a Vegas transplant. </p><p>His distinct look is not what I will remember most. It wasn't his incessant table talk that I will remember most. It was his cash that I will remember most. </p><p>I don't walk the tables at Bellagio, Wynn or other swanky casinos. I suspect I'd see a lot of cash on some of those tables if I did. I see people with hundreds of dollars in chips sit down at Orleans tables periodically, but I don't recall having ever noticed anyone with $5,000 in chips seated anywhere on the floor. I'm sure I have, but it doesn't fascinate me enough to remember it happening.</p><p>Mr. Track Suit didn't have a huge stack of chips in his possession as he sat down, but he had a fistful of black chips. It looked like $1,200 or $1,300. That's a lot for a $5 Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em table, but not obscene. And he played $25 hands every time, talking up a storm and trying to decide whether or not to bet his 9 high pocket card following the river. Seriously, the guy talked a lot. Given I talk a lot, that's saying something. </p><p>The thing that struck me as odd about his presence was the cash he was carrying around. I'm sure a lot of people are carrying more cash than I would guess. But Mr. Track Suit had a strap of $100 bills tucked into one of his pockets. I didn't gawk at it, but he pulled it out on two different occasions, looked at it briefly, and somewhat discretely, then put it back wherever he had it tucked. </p><p>I suppose it could have been a single $100 bill on top of a stack of $1 bills, but I doubt it. I'm guessing they were all $100 bills, and it sure looked like $10,000 to me. Perhaps there was a little less in it, given he had more than $1,000 in chips on the table.</p><p>I'm sure most longtime gamblers have seen big stacks of cash flashed somewhere, but I don't recall ever seeing it, and I never would have bet on the place where it happened being The Orleans. </p><p>I was lucky that night. As I said, I lost about $65. Hardly a disastrous night. But I was set to drop $170. No big deal, given I was up for the week. But I took home an extra $100 thanks to an error. </p><p>Dealers make mistakes. It happens. I had noticed earlier in the evening, after the hand was done, that I was shorted $10 on a full house payout. I knew it didn't seem quite right at the time of the payout, but I wasn't sharp enough to catch why as I studied the payout.</p><p>Cards were scooped up, I pulled chips back, here comes the next hand. Then it hit me. I was paid even money on my "blind" bet, when I should have been paid 3:1. It seemed a little late to call for a check of the payouts, so I accepted it as a dealer error that went against me. Sometimes the dealer errs in the player's favor. That has happened plenty of times. So this one went against me. It likely wasn't the first time, but in this case, I realized it after the fact. </p><p>So as the night goes on, my luck swings back and forth. I'm never ahead at the table, and as midnight passes, I'm down on my luck again. I need to check out of my room at 10 a.m. Friday anyway, and I'm betting with my last chips. There would not be another buy in. </p><p>The dealer made an improbable queen-high straight, killing the table. Me, too, I think. I'm pretty sure that despite the king in my pocket cards, I don't have a straight. She looked at it for a moment, and I realized she was trying to analyze it. I almost told her I didn't have it, as I am certain I didn't. Then she paid my hand and cleared my cards. </p><p>Nobody said anything, not even Mr. Track Suit. We all sat there in silence for a second, then I lamented how the dealer's 9 in her pocket killed everyone else at the table. Onto the next hand, I'm still in the game.</p><p>I certainly didn't try to mislead the dealer, or suggest I had a winning hand, as Mr. Track Suit liked doing periodically. I'm 99% certain, based upon the cards I was seeing past midnight, that I didn't win. The silence at the table certainly suggested to me that I didn't, otherwise the other players would have commented about my nice hand. </p><p>Was I wrong for not sharing my doubt about having a winning hand? Perhaps. You could argue it was unethical. If I'd had a straight, and she scooped my chips, I'd be quick to point that out, of course. </p><p>On the other hand, I am confident a dealer mistake earlier that evening cost me $10. It's not an even mistake, I came out ahead, but until that point, I was shorted $10 by the house for more than an hour. </p><p>I'm not losing sleep over this. </p><p>I played a bit longer. I played the next hand, and put a $1 tip on the "trips" bet for the dealer. Given the gift it appeared I had just received, I figured I could offer a modest tip for the dealer. And on the very next hand I hit a full house. A nice little win for me, and a $9 tip for the dealer. </p><p>I tipped a buck on the "trips" bet again during the next hand, but my luck had run out. After another modest win and a loss, I was ready to call it a night. I colored up for $100 that I shouldn't have had and made my way to the door. </p><p>It was time to go back to my room at the <a href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnclubvacations/hotels/us/en/las-vegas/lascv/hoteldetail" target="_blank">Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Desert Club Resort</a>. That's the name that shows up on Google, anyway. </p><p>It's a timeshare joint on Koval Lane, behind the High Roller wheel at the Linq, and next to the MSG Sphere that's under construction. It's a decent place, and like many non-casino hotels, it has its benefits and drawbacks. Dave owns timeshares. Yes, more than one. He bought them on the cheap from disgruntled owners, and seems to like the perks and benefits he gets as a result. We paid for five nights at the Desert Club, we weren't using his "owned" week, or whatever he has. It was $200 for five nights, just a short walk down the street from Ellis Island. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZbLGtF77Ao3B2n2YXX6nlUtqhNXriLA3LkSdYzxVAJULgSoXTFUjfpbrIpr84QCJa7MI1UK5NekCflUUiD6LwxuYoKPWUKJlfT0sxQRpMCg8blxtjEuzGs6HNvRWJ6I5EieVWzdRhXI/s2048/20210618_102655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZbLGtF77Ao3B2n2YXX6nlUtqhNXriLA3LkSdYzxVAJULgSoXTFUjfpbrIpr84QCJa7MI1UK5NekCflUUiD6LwxuYoKPWUKJlfT0sxQRpMCg8blxtjEuzGs6HNvRWJ6I5EieVWzdRhXI/w400-h300/20210618_102655.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spent five nights at the Desert Club Resort on Koval Lane. From the north boundary of the property you can get a good look at the fantastic MSG Sphere. A concert venue behind the strip? Why not, it works for T-Mobile Arena, although access to MSG Sphere won't be as slick. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>I returned to the Desert Club to begin packing and preparing for my Friday departure. I didn't have a ton of packing to do, but I did run a load of laundry before going to bed. Having a washer and dryer in your vacation unit is nice. </p><p>Perhaps I'll elaborate on the pros and cons of the Desert Club in the future. </p><p>My Friday morning was highly uneventful. I played a little pinball before returning my rental vehicle and heading to the airport, wondering when, or if, I'll have an appetite to do it all again. </p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-74157964177639600532021-06-19T00:04:00.005-07:002021-11-12T09:59:30.523-08:00A Las Vegas obituary<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1tJ5PX3djk_dptsUUSgYSQZoyYCOYZv7_pRyipgRkTrPYUsbLo3tNPe0hnDdJoY_U_HEbjxn-XxXWgzbTukmp87glfGVutoKeFHsGM6G2Tpl6KEkl24U_iEH2d84zco2IaL0NExx5xk/s3529/20210614_191805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="3529" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1tJ5PX3djk_dptsUUSgYSQZoyYCOYZv7_pRyipgRkTrPYUsbLo3tNPe0hnDdJoY_U_HEbjxn-XxXWgzbTukmp87glfGVutoKeFHsGM6G2Tpl6KEkl24U_iEH2d84zco2IaL0NExx5xk/w400-h101/20210614_191805.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went to see the Las Vegas Aviators on June 14. That's a minor league baseball team, which plays in a fancy new ballpark near Red Rock Casino in Summerlin. The visiting Reno Aces defeated the Aviators 21-16 that night. Yes, it was a baseball game. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I don't know what major media organizations do nowadays, but there was a time when they wrote early obituaries. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before the internet and TMZ made our world a better place, your major news sources had obituaries ready to go, in case word broke that a major celebrity or public figure died with little advance warning. Some form of that practice probably remains in place. When former president Jimmy Carter dies, you'll see information pouring out in rapid succession, Perhaps some of that will be the result of news aggregation, but I suspect there will be a few base pieces that were put together long ago in anticipation of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>What does this have to do with Vegas? </div><div><br /></div><div>It's too early to say my Vegas career is dead, but I really had to wonder when I left town this time. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just spent a week in Vegas. I had a good time, and enjoyed a lot of the things I did. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the same time, the things I enjoyed didn't seem to warm my heart quite the same way. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have been traveling to Vegas for 24 years. A lot changes during any 24-year period. And like all those who bemoan how Vegas was better when the mob ran the casinos, I'm starting to think Vegas was more enjoyable for me back in my glory days, too. I just can't thank the mob for that. </div><div><br /></div><div>I stayed on the strip almost every time I visited Vegas during those early years. I was young, and didn't have a ton of money, but that didn't seem to prevent me from enjoying the Vegas strip. I could play all the $5 blackjack I wanted, and there were plenty of cheap places to eat and drink. I was far less discerning back then, and had an iron gut, so that helped the cause. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the past 10-12 years I have been staying either downtown or off the strip. The Orleans has been a frequent destination when staying off-strip. There was no single reason I gravitated away from the strip, but there were a few contributing factors. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think my off-strip exploration had anything to do with higher minimums on the strip for table games. That became a factor in cementing my departure, but there were still $5 games to be had circa 2009, when I started making my move off the strip, as I recall. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think my disenchantment with the strip was driven primarily by two things: Low rollers were finding fewer options on the strip and the casinos became dull. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you're playing blackjack in Egypt, New York, Paris or under a circus tent, it's the game that matters. But I, like many, found the less colorful casino decor and abandoned themes to be less entertaining than their predecessors. </div><div><br /></div><div>Take away low roller gambling, make the casinos less fascinating and keep increasing prices of everything else in and around your casino... suddenly downtown Las Vegas looks far more appealing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Downtown became my savior, despite its lack of entertainment alternatives. There was no observation tower, fake volcano or sky parade to entertain the masses, but downtown casinos still valued those folks who don't need to burn through a C-note in 10 minutes to feel as if they're entertained. </div><div><br /></div><div>The days of the cheap table games, and cheap yard drinks, at Slots-A-Fun are long gone. (As are those 99-cent half-pound hot dogs I stopped eating in 2000.) And the $5 Spanish 21 tables up and down the strip are a dim memory. But I found a lot of replacements for those days, and I found them everywhere but on the strip. And that was fine. </div><div><br /></div><div>Two years ago my alternate-universe Vegas, the one that contrasted greatly from 1997 Vegas, was still a lot of fun. Vegas 2019 is gone, too, and what I'm left with has me wondering if there's a lot of Vegas in my future. </div><div><br /></div><div>I blame some of it on the pandemic. The pandemic forced casinos to raise their table game minimums, due to the limited capacity at each table under social distancing guidelines. Now that tables are full, the minimums are not going down. There's no shortage of players willing to drop their cash at a $15 minimum blackjack table, so why would a casino offer $5 tables? </div><div><br /></div><div>Sure, there are still 25-cent video poker machines and machines offering nickel-based wagering, but for those who like the table games, you'd better be happy with stadium gaming or a fully computerized experience. Some of that was coming, regardless of the table minimums. Automation and technology have long reduced labor costs for casinos, and such corners will be cut as often as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div>So is it simply the fact I can't spend an evening playing $5 blackjack at The Orleans that has me soured on Vegas? No. </div><div><br /></div><div>I never found that an evening spent listening to free cover bands on Fremont Street, elbow to elbow with drunk strangers, was an important part of my life. I'll listen to a little music, sure, but dancing around like I'm having the greatest night of my life as Zowie Bowie pretends to rap "O.P.P." is beyond preposterous. And the light show up above Fremont Street is pretty impressive, but after a couple of trips downtown, it's not all that fascinating.</div><div><br /></div><div>And my disinterest in downtown is not just at night. On a recent Sunday afternoon they had a "dancing DJ" or whatever it is they're selling, cranking out the tunes for those walking by. I didn't have to shout in order for my friend to hear me, but I didn't need a dance party at that time of day, either. </div><div><br /></div><div>Couple that with the buskers and homeless clogging up Fremont street, between kiosks selling crap I want no part of, and Fremont Street is a big disappointment to me. And nothing pisses me off more than the "circle jerks" whose dance crew, bucket drumming or audience-participation spectacle creates a choke point on Fremont. Yeah, it's the pedestrians that create the circle, not the performers, but their spectacles aren't cut out for the performance circles that were intended for showgirls, creepy KISS dudes and Star Wars rejects.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fremont Street has lost me, too. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can find plenty of favorite places and activities to visit in Vegas that still make it a great city to visit. And it's still a low-cost city, if you want it to be. But after nearly 25 years, I have walked away from Vegas wondering why I'll be in a hurry to go back. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm not saying I'm done with Vegas. But it really feels like my Vegas days are numbered. And I'm not interested in going back right now. That tells me a lot. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL0swlXF2eYh1ln_iMbASaubuJZRpiDN0k0nnUz64PQuwpDP5pqIcgCYUvc17Ba5oQytnrcIX1L1LrXA0GqVd5APHLBL1S1AT6Q6uLjdm34zW78RHMQRWnUmTaj7zvO1_wrrH7_moZzw/s2048/20210618_105814.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL0swlXF2eYh1ln_iMbASaubuJZRpiDN0k0nnUz64PQuwpDP5pqIcgCYUvc17Ba5oQytnrcIX1L1LrXA0GqVd5APHLBL1S1AT6Q6uLjdm34zW78RHMQRWnUmTaj7zvO1_wrrH7_moZzw/w400-h300/20210618_105814.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people really don't like the Pinball Hall of Fame's new home on the Las Vegas Strip, I learned on June 18. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-37284393768832343022021-03-08T23:30:00.002-08:002021-03-16T22:48:28.765-07:00Enjoy the thrills of Vegas when you can't be in Vegas!<p><u>The short of it</u>: Del, the creator of videos at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NeonVacation/featured" target="_blank">NeonVacation</a>, and me, the writer of blogs here, are creating an online group aimed at providing a little fun, with a little Vegas flavor, for anyone who wants to join us. </p><p>We're not casino operators, and we're not getting into the casino business, but for those who want to have a little of that Vegas action in their lives when they can't be in Sin City, splashing chips across the roulette felt, we have created the Las Vegas Fun and Games group. </p><p>If you want to contribute $3 or $5 to the pot for a game of chance, you might win enough for two of those expensive drinks at that fancy new Circa casino in downtown Las Vegas. Or 25 bottles of the latest $3 beer offered at the Fremont and California casinos. </p><p>Is that all you need to know? Join us here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/lvfunandgames" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/lvfunandgames</a></p><p><u>The long of it</u>: Late last summer I was invited to join a "raffle club." A longtime friend was running a group, via Facebook, where you could "donate" a few bucks to a game of chance. The games varied a bit, as did the payout structure. Sometimes the winner received cash, sometimes the winner received a prize. Sometimes the winner had a variety of prizes to choose from. Good times, for sure. </p><p>Turns out, there are plenty of raffle groups out there. I was invited to join a few others. They all differ a bit. But at the end of the day, the purpose was the same...gambling. No matter the terminology used, it was low-stakes gambling. And many of us enjoy a little of that in our lives. It's part of the reason many of us go to Vegas. </p><p>My first thought wasn't, "How do I start my own group." But as the months progressed, I noticed there was something missing from these groups: Games of chance based upon sporting events. When it comes to sports, many of us will drop a few bucks on the outcome of the game we're going to watch, just to make the game a little more exciting, especially if we don't have a rooting interest in the outcome. </p><p>One of the things I noticed about the groups is that the people running them put a bunch of time and effort into doing so, from setting up the games to collecting electronic payments and running the games via live videos. And it culminates with disseminating the prize(s) to the winner(s). It's not labor intensive, but it takes time and attention to do it well. Most group operators take a cut of the prize pool, and people don't seem to mind that, myself included. </p><p>So my question was, "How can I make a group that's different than the others I have been a part of?" One that players will participate in and appreciate? A little brainstorming and a few discussions later, the Las Vegas Fun and Games group was born.</p><p>I needed somebody to help me get a new group going. To what extent, I wasn't sure, but I couldn't do it all on my own. I knew I wanted a Vegas themed group, so I reached out to a guy whose Vegas videos I've been watching for a while, a guy who has been dedicating greater time to his video content in the past year. </p><p>That's how Del and I started the ball rolling. We hope it rolls for more than a week. </p><p>What makes our group different? There will be a variety of games of chance, some linked to sporting events, others based upon games run through free gaming websites. All we need is a bunch of entries and a <a href="https://wheelofnames.com/" target="_blank">free online prize wheel</a>. With that we can hold a "raffle." </p><p>But it's a Vegas group, so we'll try to find ways to have a little casino-style fun in determining some of our winners. </p><p>The prizes awarded through prize wheels or other games of chance will be done via live videos posted to our group. You do not need to watch live to win a prize, but the video will be there for you to review if you're not watching live. </p><p>And one of the important aspects of our group: The prize pool goes to the players. If there are 10 entries at $10 each, the prize pool will go back to the players. There may be $5 or $10 withheld from the prize pool, and that $5 or $10 will go toward bonus prizes or future games for members. Participation will have an added benefit down the road, without a doubt. </p><p>Bottom line: If people want to have fun and are willing to play, we won't collect a commission for our effort. </p><p>So, why should you trust us? As content creators, we are out there sharing our love of Vegas, and hoping you enjoy what we produce. We're not in the business of alienating consumers of our content. If you don't know of us, perhaps you were invited by a friend who does, somebody who knows that we, too, work for a living and are trying to bring a little entertainment to the world, through our love of Vegas. We're not going to jeopardize that trust after uniting a group of Vegas lovers for low-stakes fun and games. </p><p>And when the outcome is not linked to a sporting event that we have no control over, we'll make it a point to have an observer join us for the live videos of the game being played. When the video goes live, group members get a notice, so anyone who is available is free to watch the action as it happens. </p><p>All you need to do to participate is have an online payment account, such as Venmo, join our group and register for a game when it is announced. You need to be able to pay in U.S. dollars, and if we end up with non-cash prizes, you'll need to live in the United States to receive them.</p><p>With all that, let me close by saying that we hope you're interested enough to join us for fun and games. </p><p>-- Mike</p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-29610320835561300432021-03-02T22:41:00.001-08:002021-03-02T22:46:57.982-08:00A visit to the Magical Forest <p>In December 2018 I visited the <a href="https://www.opportunityvillage.org/what-we-do/events/magical-forest" target="_blank">Magical Forest</a>, a Christmas-themed Las Vegas wonderland. </p><p>I have lots of photos and tidbits from past Vegas trips that have never made it to my blog. I intended to write about my visit to a fabulous Christmas attraction, but I never did. </p><p>For the past week I have been watching YouTube videos by Jacob the Carpetbagger. I've been following his travels via YouTube for about five years. He has been in Vegas for the past week, sharing daily videos and gathering content for additional videos when he returns home. He was invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of Magical Forest, which reminded me that I have yet to share my simple cellphone photos from my visit. </p><p>Magical Forest is a seasonal attraction that needs no explanation. Take a look at my photos and video below and you'll have a pretty good idea. It's a fundraising event for Opportunity Village, an organization that provides vocational training, community employment and other services for adults with disabilities in the Las Vegas area. Its mission is close to my heart, so I was extra happy to visit in 2018. </p><p>It turns out they do a Halloween version of their forest, as well. I did not know this. You can put that on my to-do list during my next October visit to Vegas, whatever year that might be. </p><p>Here's Jacob's recent video of his Magical Forest tour: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bWAT9hDR21s" width="320" youtube-src-id="bWAT9hDR21s"></iframe></div><br /><p>And here, from 2018, is a collection of photos I took during my visit to the forest. I didn't take pictures of the amusement rides. There's a small collection of them within the property, including a cool carousel that is featured in Jacob's video. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyy_uDwT0BfCRfhNjqmLJGGlomIEBINwnwUb-ge5hNrtzQmbNeC9vFDPOvtxq_6Y3nFNyPsGcv3J8AOPFFQq2wvFhtztIHxP7eUD7_sY6IqpiUxoJKMzNd21OBLusZiCeZCqVk6cuC04/s2959/20181203_174650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="2959" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyy_uDwT0BfCRfhNjqmLJGGlomIEBINwnwUb-ge5hNrtzQmbNeC9vFDPOvtxq_6Y3nFNyPsGcv3J8AOPFFQq2wvFhtztIHxP7eUD7_sY6IqpiUxoJKMzNd21OBLusZiCeZCqVk6cuC04/w400-h144/20181203_174650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWmlZ32iyKFyGGnfKXfHZZuMahDjLtuTJqMytIIssSbp89VB4vjqs_Bv1gaacOanLYMB-pX898LYXroqCNBd_CfF8SovyDxeXLHBRx0L7pq9UhZ-HSkhQoxfkx6L-4VjCCDQqRS1Djjo/s2048/20181203_180254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWmlZ32iyKFyGGnfKXfHZZuMahDjLtuTJqMytIIssSbp89VB4vjqs_Bv1gaacOanLYMB-pX898LYXroqCNBd_CfF8SovyDxeXLHBRx0L7pq9UhZ-HSkhQoxfkx6L-4VjCCDQqRS1Djjo/w300-h400/20181203_180254.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxUcqLw9NrvZmbU8oae3nHTQdTUpx2vj-zSBKr3CVfmqIK1w-C6-B4IdZ9dCgLe4v0NzpsXzrg7B0-eJ_ewqfd6BdTFR6kCpBXf9Cp4Kov2Nxz4uDXei4pIZreca1tixPmwvYKK7jkDs/s2048/20181203_180258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxUcqLw9NrvZmbU8oae3nHTQdTUpx2vj-zSBKr3CVfmqIK1w-C6-B4IdZ9dCgLe4v0NzpsXzrg7B0-eJ_ewqfd6BdTFR6kCpBXf9Cp4Kov2Nxz4uDXei4pIZreca1tixPmwvYKK7jkDs/w300-h400/20181203_180258.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DB307wIBp0wMHjs3SpuP33p_JzgmFRTywW_GqThWAf-JD2tJkhr1GNDU514ASu0Q27dJkXua_slKY-OudHR-ulesNuFpYAn0mTm5v8P1JCO3lgMfzABKRHxr7cO6I4aekRiFnbyvTTU/s2048/20181203_180310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DB307wIBp0wMHjs3SpuP33p_JzgmFRTywW_GqThWAf-JD2tJkhr1GNDU514ASu0Q27dJkXua_slKY-OudHR-ulesNuFpYAn0mTm5v8P1JCO3lgMfzABKRHxr7cO6I4aekRiFnbyvTTU/w300-h400/20181203_180310.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1qKarK1dhD_FtKtZG7WRznlW4GtwmJcdw5kbMEd5MVP5peHKfi9zdiJDkBY6pCUUedC_OFJjpA8MLxWGu8UrMCRJvB-_Ha3akFaljaLmG1nGkTClPMEoEYmSNlwAPQbHH5-cmrmln9M/s2048/20181203_180352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1qKarK1dhD_FtKtZG7WRznlW4GtwmJcdw5kbMEd5MVP5peHKfi9zdiJDkBY6pCUUedC_OFJjpA8MLxWGu8UrMCRJvB-_Ha3akFaljaLmG1nGkTClPMEoEYmSNlwAPQbHH5-cmrmln9M/w400-h300/20181203_180352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3kBkRiWpN2BPqcfa24PAcVg66PoV1t8oQDoZKDkEvG02g_oyhmC208y9bjVOGlwKbawg132Jp751ws_BAchDKoE109Qr9H0CNKLuLQPwChsHaKoIULQb0APMaPBi3ygRirgHl7MlClA/s2048/20181203_180406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3kBkRiWpN2BPqcfa24PAcVg66PoV1t8oQDoZKDkEvG02g_oyhmC208y9bjVOGlwKbawg132Jp751ws_BAchDKoE109Qr9H0CNKLuLQPwChsHaKoIULQb0APMaPBi3ygRirgHl7MlClA/w400-h300/20181203_180406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZvwo35LC7P88Lem7-PCGsPZEZ0qF8PnnyUV1n08b05YpRRll_Er5VKGSpoa-Kuf93Exro4l3pZTlziI2B9qep90HI1J_oIzv2j423j4b-Y5v5iJAzXhIMArdEYwvUjiaVV-cU9NoWos/s2048/20181203_180434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZvwo35LC7P88Lem7-PCGsPZEZ0qF8PnnyUV1n08b05YpRRll_Er5VKGSpoa-Kuf93Exro4l3pZTlziI2B9qep90HI1J_oIzv2j423j4b-Y5v5iJAzXhIMArdEYwvUjiaVV-cU9NoWos/w300-h400/20181203_180434.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT3FMHFsFOr5Q2Rs1QEkQwcIhTQQBkHwyvJqS9ViyHx-BkqpbCgBDW1FVyiILl9uSCtjhfUjJUwMHaeUucr_pgY4r0xt8Hwx-KT9kDRfO3SN6QRsR2vIC47hxgRqoPiKHBb8K-zU5VHE/s2048/20181203_180536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT3FMHFsFOr5Q2Rs1QEkQwcIhTQQBkHwyvJqS9ViyHx-BkqpbCgBDW1FVyiILl9uSCtjhfUjJUwMHaeUucr_pgY4r0xt8Hwx-KT9kDRfO3SN6QRsR2vIC47hxgRqoPiKHBb8K-zU5VHE/w400-h300/20181203_180536.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DRTTOlacqlKmtIIE7uN4cVuiCiiLs-J5ZvvOAp2QW24drtxaF4qqVlaTIlIphd0gXP9spTpdtrJbp8vC0ejcOtZsdPQ6Tn56veVVUV2r6gGuLz3Wf9mvpRiwp-y1NRQ5oXgHNhwoerk/s2048/20181203_180543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DRTTOlacqlKmtIIE7uN4cVuiCiiLs-J5ZvvOAp2QW24drtxaF4qqVlaTIlIphd0gXP9spTpdtrJbp8vC0ejcOtZsdPQ6Tn56veVVUV2r6gGuLz3Wf9mvpRiwp-y1NRQ5oXgHNhwoerk/w300-h400/20181203_180543.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW4SjnnF2MaHLf0azAJYWkdh6C7fF2oafzJM4DFCu6VMe0m3SBR9LV84wBYtdHfYM5cGHFlFGDO-hQ5yjttU6dxppVVyMnOUt-kBRgiwXt98IDDAuPGErB29-9HNs97dcu56PSNc2Co8/s2048/20181203_180628.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW4SjnnF2MaHLf0azAJYWkdh6C7fF2oafzJM4DFCu6VMe0m3SBR9LV84wBYtdHfYM5cGHFlFGDO-hQ5yjttU6dxppVVyMnOUt-kBRgiwXt98IDDAuPGErB29-9HNs97dcu56PSNc2Co8/w400-h300/20181203_180628.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can ride a train through the forest. I managed to avoid getting a picture of it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtwEHfTfvmrQ1qpD-2hHYcgbrOFDH_M9XhZIs-SBOnT3rBYMcJmBoI9rd_V1pxmpnqa2N3rs7GSoqJi4UpgZYk2PJLhf7dwbvVUG3G3gB-u-QcrJ8K7X8ZwJKcPinH5pPTHw-ZfwcQ94/s2048/20181203_180937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtwEHfTfvmrQ1qpD-2hHYcgbrOFDH_M9XhZIs-SBOnT3rBYMcJmBoI9rd_V1pxmpnqa2N3rs7GSoqJi4UpgZYk2PJLhf7dwbvVUG3G3gB-u-QcrJ8K7X8ZwJKcPinH5pPTHw-ZfwcQ94/w400-h300/20181203_180937.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gC_EaWzCBYIwu20pC5-6FctLoOgJU02Z5CYEIYyOhPEu8s4hrD049xQ31JONdW8q9sAFYwMdxb8DFvZN-hUb3LLoA929rzYklpeATeEXRGuQK5E9X9duY1TM4_Uc5Voi2eTsl39-LFU/s2048/20181203_181002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gC_EaWzCBYIwu20pC5-6FctLoOgJU02Z5CYEIYyOhPEu8s4hrD049xQ31JONdW8q9sAFYwMdxb8DFvZN-hUb3LLoA929rzYklpeATeEXRGuQK5E9X9duY1TM4_Uc5Voi2eTsl39-LFU/w300-h400/20181203_181002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6i2N8cC-8XAqfeNxnwwpmYFPL8xXO9heNU_55t_TxS3zXvBwyERK2SbRuvWbnuJX5vVc72Z92OyhI9g7VOY41MXoSKDWaZqK-ubFysLqVxHUgzDyEfLb4An1Qcpm_0XSqc2Zxt5IZPzM/s2048/20181203_181019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6i2N8cC-8XAqfeNxnwwpmYFPL8xXO9heNU_55t_TxS3zXvBwyERK2SbRuvWbnuJX5vVc72Z92OyhI9g7VOY41MXoSKDWaZqK-ubFysLqVxHUgzDyEfLb4An1Qcpm_0XSqc2Zxt5IZPzM/w300-h400/20181203_181019.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjii3BmFboWtF2JOeC5XwGVwkOp7NQGNVsPaSsypytYiGnw7Hoa5B04gVnUtwvl0ifFgpuyzw3bodG-MFoTff7z7pgcCez78FyG2WQsQpjMijs-qPMV3K9a7FxqRcI3v2-CsUBs98zMHc/s2048/20181203_181031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjii3BmFboWtF2JOeC5XwGVwkOp7NQGNVsPaSsypytYiGnw7Hoa5B04gVnUtwvl0ifFgpuyzw3bodG-MFoTff7z7pgcCez78FyG2WQsQpjMijs-qPMV3K9a7FxqRcI3v2-CsUBs98zMHc/w300-h400/20181203_181031.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The giant slide Jacob attempted to navigate can be seen in the background.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FFbG4eOAOgKad4qZ8aNP5Z4_CdGZcDNNhgBoWfuOUKH6rjmTTnzjOSi7GYDPOUepHUchZ6oA4VDN8F3GITWpjazm3CVzncw6Zr6KkGXT9dia1TcNEBP-9Q0d2dYdTolNiliqIbeCnuk/s2048/20181203_181044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FFbG4eOAOgKad4qZ8aNP5Z4_CdGZcDNNhgBoWfuOUKH6rjmTTnzjOSi7GYDPOUepHUchZ6oA4VDN8F3GITWpjazm3CVzncw6Zr6KkGXT9dia1TcNEBP-9Q0d2dYdTolNiliqIbeCnuk/w300-h400/20181203_181044.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXydgpRceTsd_vcbimyZ3Z6S7KDrBMKh-zUNXzy0dMJAPrrQDIbSe6QFfvqMfsTP8opujlALXdOog4-EyaZXxt0xI5hvbLNMU11u-nzykuW8KGZQ3mxQPo9kGRvl9wc0vmNdvBwffJ64/s2048/20181203_181141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXydgpRceTsd_vcbimyZ3Z6S7KDrBMKh-zUNXzy0dMJAPrrQDIbSe6QFfvqMfsTP8opujlALXdOog4-EyaZXxt0xI5hvbLNMU11u-nzykuW8KGZQ3mxQPo9kGRvl9wc0vmNdvBwffJ64/w300-h400/20181203_181141.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi334Px7r_x2LYZBCnLFXN42iK0vcmS531uqbVoe3HyZlbWBgMobnJsKx-Ma7pvaTirYQRlGZlTT2d_2oxAzf87lRk5S0lG1pdJ1fCrnOtsTMla5BeVv-yciN8jj3Rze7kLXvpLFmr81zA/s2048/20181203_181219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi334Px7r_x2LYZBCnLFXN42iK0vcmS531uqbVoe3HyZlbWBgMobnJsKx-Ma7pvaTirYQRlGZlTT2d_2oxAzf87lRk5S0lG1pdJ1fCrnOtsTMla5BeVv-yciN8jj3Rze7kLXvpLFmr81zA/w300-h400/20181203_181219.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhggyvaGEAq7dVfBcicHDyhh42Hc5SbtUALwTXuAVb4OsxeOh4tFmQ-5tmwSlWeVtnHq74sW_Czc1EnzpMQ9h5LxTjO-KJxcxTLTCisMS4R6kAKCu7gmBi5CIFiHPwa7BgWFh5kQ98sGc/s2048/20181203_181232.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhggyvaGEAq7dVfBcicHDyhh42Hc5SbtUALwTXuAVb4OsxeOh4tFmQ-5tmwSlWeVtnHq74sW_Czc1EnzpMQ9h5LxTjO-KJxcxTLTCisMS4R6kAKCu7gmBi5CIFiHPwa7BgWFh5kQ98sGc/w300-h400/20181203_181232.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My photo isn't the best, but this is a tree sponsored by Penn and Teller. Notice the rabbit/top hat on top.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OC9NP3KxfcAJJTs0rtbaU1p_EI5ycM1crq_pwLZAV6FU49ExIW8svgNHItbGQ747VOfJIXahCklkLdQvCDpBoSp09Nt8d2h3rY1tSQfEDpndueEBLMOn7jRO0oc4cHklfReyS-6juLc/s2048/20181203_181347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OC9NP3KxfcAJJTs0rtbaU1p_EI5ycM1crq_pwLZAV6FU49ExIW8svgNHItbGQ747VOfJIXahCklkLdQvCDpBoSp09Nt8d2h3rY1tSQfEDpndueEBLMOn7jRO0oc4cHklfReyS-6juLc/w300-h400/20181203_181347.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37DKXpJOVcTK1FlECHduedvydFLbQoDmUut3yuQPHfos_UrdoI5lyxCV0jDHJTrIBIk4GI0rUDrVT3VIkDxO8u_1TEJlJcH5lJ1UB63L57W4usRkomeYTog9ia96Mk1zDod7bWKsG1vg/s2048/20181203_181531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37DKXpJOVcTK1FlECHduedvydFLbQoDmUut3yuQPHfos_UrdoI5lyxCV0jDHJTrIBIk4GI0rUDrVT3VIkDxO8u_1TEJlJcH5lJ1UB63L57W4usRkomeYTog9ia96Mk1zDod7bWKsG1vg/w300-h400/20181203_181531.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNJFcCLK2K_xxircwKyZ04VkFJSEp1XwqfD0qBOIcsnST8c10bZvdXbQTxywpmpGWn94XJ3Sbbok-KX_G3pCVbcj78KuiArIK9syGGhTCBm1xTjT6DbImcfpBtbj5DwnfTfcPVhuHpeI/s2048/20181203_181725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNJFcCLK2K_xxircwKyZ04VkFJSEp1XwqfD0qBOIcsnST8c10bZvdXbQTxywpmpGWn94XJ3Sbbok-KX_G3pCVbcj78KuiArIK9syGGhTCBm1xTjT6DbImcfpBtbj5DwnfTfcPVhuHpeI/w300-h400/20181203_181725.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWQ8EMqesPrPdcThTQoXQcOelqrr0-Vs_P9LrfSrK0EGeRu9tHhyphenhyphenfamxCaAsomcKnWpnIQOjgvspcOTRYrqZHe7EymMimvp9xzT6KPPAUabi9i1RJfSTHvMcLEnq-Aa2C4w2evwstn2A/s2048/20181203_183620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWQ8EMqesPrPdcThTQoXQcOelqrr0-Vs_P9LrfSrK0EGeRu9tHhyphenhyphenfamxCaAsomcKnWpnIQOjgvspcOTRYrqZHe7EymMimvp9xzT6KPPAUabi9i1RJfSTHvMcLEnq-Aa2C4w2evwstn2A/w300-h400/20181203_183620.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>And finally, here's a video I took, showing the musical light show discussed in Jacob's video: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQzJMJ7RPdzRU_XJtH95K9-d-MzUXHhdZ30V6BLXqYY_wxOzYNCQBnUSoULga-LKK3dpoPa3EoB5suSGDJwQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-17986098596910741492021-02-16T23:40:00.008-08:002021-02-17T23:25:39.465-08:00A good night's sleep? <p>If you ever talk about a Vegas vacation with anyone -- yours or theirs -- there are certain to be two questions.</p><p>"Did you win?"</p><p>"Where did you stay?"</p><p>My first trip in 1997 included three nights at the MGM Grand, and I arrived on the night of a star-studded preview party at the New York New York, which was opening to the public the following morning. </p><p>I have stayed at several properties up and down the strip over the years, and occasionally at downtown casinos. I have stayed on the strip once during the past decade or more, and that was at The Strat, about as far away from the action as you can get and still make a legit argument you're staying on the strip. </p><p>If I'm not staying downtown, I'm usually staying at the Orleans. I have used timeshare-style properties a couple of times during the past decade or so, although I wasn't there because of, or for, a timeshare pitch. </p><p>I rent a car every trip, and staying off strip is more my style. I should really book a room at South Point or Silverton one of these years, although I never play there, so they're not going to entice me with a discounted rate. And I do like being closer to the action. Orleans has been a great destination for me, for the most part, during the past decade. </p><p>I like gambling, but I have little interest in gambling with my hotel accommodations. I don't visit Vegas during the biggest weekends of the year, so I have little reason to look to the smaller independent hotels and chains that are scattered all over Vegas. </p><p>The website photos look nice, but I can't imagine I'll be booking a room at <a href="http://www.shalimarhotellasvegas.com/" target="_blank">The Shalimar Hotel </a>any time soon. </p><p>But I often wonder, who stays at those odd, unassuming flop houses still in business east of downtown Vegas? </p><p>Want a low roller vacation? Stay at <a href="https://hotelgalaxyvegas.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Galaxy</a>. Right across the freeway from the Luxor! It looks like a slice of paradise, according to the website, and nothing says low roller like a small, independent hotel that nobody will accidentally find their way to. And just minutes from the action! </p><p>Like many other Vegas enthusiasts, I watch YouTube videos about Sin City. I don't watch any channel religiously, but I have sampled plenty of them. One of the more modest channels out there is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NeonVacation/featured" target="_blank">NeonVacation</a>. </p><p>Del, the content creator, hasn't been hammering away at videos for years, but he has uploads dating back nine years. He has been more active in the last year or so, and has been producing content that I'm not seeing elsewhere. (Admittedly, I'm not looking for it, either.)</p><p>One of the things Del does occasionally in Vegas is stay at one of the older independent hotels, and give you a look at them, inside and out. No, these are not the most fascinating videos ever produced, but when you've been to Vegas more than 40 times during the past 24 years, as I have, you start to wonder about these places. Del gives me a glimpse into that world. </p><p>Recently he stayed at the <a href="https://www.thunderbirdhotellasvegas.com/" target="_blank">Thunderbird Boutique Hotel</a>. Maybe it's not as old as I assume, but it's just up the road from The Shalimar Hotel, not far from The Strat on Las Vegas Boulevard. That whole stretch between The Strat and Fremont Street is a bit dingy these days, but there are wedding chapels as well as hotels along the way, harkening back to a time when downtown gamblers didn't venture as far as The Tropicana when they visited Vegas. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_bl9cHj0Wo8" width="320" youtube-src-id="_bl9cHj0Wo8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>I correspond with Del occasionally, but we haven't discussed what his motivation was for staying at the Thunderbird. I am also curious as to what the room rate was, including taxes. Trivial stuff, I know, but interesting stuff for longtime Vegas enthusiasts, I'd argue. </p><p>I was impressed by how nice his Thunderbird room appeared to be. I was expecting 30-year-old amenities and rather dull, basic furnishings, but that didn't appear to be the case. </p><p>The pool looked rather unspectacular, but that's not a surprise. Old motor lodges weren't known for their elaborate pools. </p><p>Much to my surprise, however, is that there's a wedding chapel and banquet room on the property. Going to Vegas for to get married? Why hassle with going to the top of The Strat for a ceremony when you can get married at the Thunderbird? </p><p>Years ago I was making periodic solo trips to Vegas. I stayed at a timeshare property near the Orleans one year, and as a result I ended up at the Orleans on subsequent trips. I never considered booking a room at one of these quirky, odd, old school properties. </p><p>Even with a rental car, the drawbacks of booking a room at a quirky old Vegas relic are obvious. The Thunderbird has a lounge with some sort of food service, but it's not as if you have easy access to numerous dining options. And there's no gambling and heading up to the hotel room from the casino floor at the end of your night. Those are things Orleans offers, and I value. </p><p>If I lived in southern California and wanted to head to Vegas for short trips on a recurring basis, perhaps that would inspire a weekend stay at Shalimar, which has a Florida-themed bar and grill, as well as a coffee shop, so says the website. And I can get married there, too! </p><p>When you drive east on Fremont Street toward Boulder Highway, you pass old hotels with quirky neon signs. Some still appear to be in business, some clearly are not. Many appear to be rather sad and pathetic. But they remind you of a simpler time, before Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Super 8, Motel 6 and the others took over the Vegas landscape. And there were even a few of those old, independent motels still hanging on along the strip in the late 1990s.</p><p>And thanks to Del's videos, I've seen the inside of a few such places still waging war against the casinos and national chains. </p><p>Perhaps I'll get a chance to revisit that era of Vegas one of these years. I might even book a stay at the Hotel Galaxy. </p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-2106990869763212862021-02-05T23:43:00.007-08:002021-02-06T23:47:29.399-08:00Pinball players hate the Pinball Hall of Fame<p>I'm a pinball player, and when I visit Las Vegas, there's one place I make it a priority to visit every single trip, the Pinball Hall of Fame. </p><p>I've <a href="https://vegasinsight.blogspot.com/2018/08/pinball-best-bet-in-vegas.html" target="_blank">written about the Hall of Fame</a> in the past, and I have recommended it countless times. </p><p>I know its story and history, more or less, but let me recount it, as best as I can recall. Don't hold me to having every last detail perfectly accurate. It's late, and I don't feel like trying to research every last tidbit. This is a blog, not the newspaper of record for Clark County.</p><p>The Hall of Fame evolved from the massive personal pinball collection of Tim Arnold. Arnold grew up in Minnesota and started making money in the pinball business before he was an adult. He made a lot of money courtesy of the video game industry during the 1980s in Michigan, and purchased a lot of old pinball machines that were gathering dust and taking up space. He was able to retire at a young age and moved to Las Vegas, trucking his massive collection of machines to the desert. </p><p>He started the Hall of Fame by hosting game nights in a pole shed, with local players gathering occasionally. From those game nights came the Hall of Fame, and a dedicated space in a strip mall for more than 100 machines from his massive collection. The first Hall of Fame was a few miles east of the Las Vegas strip on Tropicana Avenue. </p><p>More than 10 years ago the Hall of Fame moved to a standalone building on Tropicana, closer to the strip, but still a couple of miles away. </p><p>The Hall of Fame operates as a nonprofit business, staffed by volunteers. The quarters spent to play pinball pay the bills, and additional revenue is donated to charity. This has been going on for years. </p><p>A few years ago the Hall of Fame announced its most ambitious plan, to set up shop on the Las Vegas strip. Incredibly, profits from the Hall of Fame's operation were set aside for the project, and used to buy a large piece of land on the far south end of the strip, near the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. It's not the heart of the strip, but it's a far more accessible site for tourists on the strip. And the new home of the Hall of Fame is going to blow away its current home, which hosts more than 200 pinball machines. </p><p>The Hall of Fame stopped donating its profits to charity so that it could bankroll the project, both the land acquisition and the construction of a building. Unlike its first two locations, the Hall of Fame will have a brand new building to call home, designed for hosting hundreds of pinball machines and other coin-operated machines of years past. It's going to be an amazing display of American history, ingenuity and creativity. </p><p>The Hall of Fame owns its building on Tropicana Avenue, and an adjacent empty lot. The sale of those will help offset costs for the new project on the strip. But the new project is far more expensive than the value of those parcels, without a doubt. It seemed to me, a guy who doesn't know much about financing a commercial construction project or anything about Las Vegas strip real estate, that the Hall of Fame was rather proactive in financing the project. </p><p>I don't recall the details of the plan when it was first announced, but I thought there was some level of debt that would befinanced in conjunction with this project. The organization is a proven success, however, and I suspect that any debt load wouldn't take decades to pay off. Arnold has stressed that his goal is to resume donating profits to charity.</p><p>So, all that said, the project commenced last spring, after the pandemic shuttered Vegas. The project had been in the planning for many months, and the financial pieces were in place, so construction proceeded as planned. </p><p>Here's the well-known wrinkle in all the planning: It was anticipated that the Tropicana Avenue Hall of Fame would continue producing revenue during construction. The pandemic put a big dent in that projected revenue, and recently Arnold initiated <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/new-museum-building-on-las-vegas-strip" target="_blank">a fundraising campaign</a> to make up a deficit of $200,000. </p><p>According to his campaign, the new Hall of Fame is a $10 million project, and will be paid off upon completion. If that's correct, meaning there's no debt to pay off after the fact, my mind is blown. Without a final $200,000, the project won't be completed, he claims. </p><p>The campaign has circulated among pinball players and Vegas nerds for a few weeks now, and as of tonight a little more than $100,000 has been donated. </p><p>I saw yet another mention of the campaign earlier today, with the suggestion the new Hall of Fame might not see completion. I was among the doubters. There's too much invested in the project, and too little to finance, for it to suddenly go belly up.</p><p>Some pinball players are happy to donate to the project. Others think the late fundraising campaign is despicable. More than a few. I was a bit surprised. </p><p>I get the vitriol, sort of, regarding Arnold and the Hall of Fame. Folks claim he's a curmudgeon and that he or the volunteers are rude toward visitors who don't follow a very strict, unwritten protocol. This is not new, I've heard this before. Is it a fair representation of the Hall of Fame? Hard for me to say yes, I've been there at least 25 times during the past 13-14 years, and I've never seen it. </p><p>A few people bemoaned the fact that of the Hall of Fame's 200+ machines, there are always machines that are in need of a tune up, if not outright repair. I guess it's easier than I would imagine to maintain dozens of machines that are 40-60 years old, as well as dozens more that are only 20-30 years old, all of which are played 365 days a year. Regardless, the machines do not play as if they're showroom new, so the venue isn't worth supporting, evidently. </p><p>More fascinating than the hatred for a guy whose personal collection is available to play 365 days a year is the financial wizardry and knowledge of many pinball players. Several have concluded that Arnold is a clueless dolt who has mismanaged this project spectacularly. He is $200,000 short, after all, so he must he be an idiot. </p><p>Here I thought a guy who has shepherded the Hall of Fame for more than a decade, banking cash and donating to charity, must be doing something right. If it's a $10 million project, he came up $200,000 short due to the financial hardships of a pandemic that nobody projected, or planned for, two years ago. Foolish me, I'm impressed by what has been accomplished so far. The new building on the strip is nearly complete. </p><p>Other financial geniuses suggested that Arnold foolishly started the project last spring after the pandemic shut down Vegas casinos for more than two months. I don't have a clue what the financial ramifications would have been to suspending the project indefinitely and sitting on the vacant land instead of keeping construction workers employed during the pandemic, but pinball's Mensa members know that Arnold is a financial fool. </p><p>Point of reference: I have seen plenty of construction projects continue, or commence, since the pandemic graced Minnesota with its presence last spring. Why didn't all of those grind to a halt? </p><p>A few financial gurus noted that they have or do run a pinball business, and they don't ask pinball players to donate to their business. Fair enough, although none of them mentioned running their business as a nonprofit or noted how many thousands of dollars they have donated to charity.</p><p>If there's anything I question, it's the need to raise $200,000 from the pinball community. Some pinheads wondered why there isn't some sort of corporate sponsorship or other fundraising mechanism to help build an oversized arcade dedicated to preserving the history of pinball. Fair question. </p><p>Arnold isn't interested in amassing debt in order to build a Las Vegas strip Hall of Fame, although it can't be that hard to finance the final $200,000 of construction costs for the project. But it appears he just doesn't want to do it. Building a big new Vegas attraction without a huge debt to pay off? How un-American! </p><p>One way or another, we'll have a new Hall of Fame in Vegas, on the strip, and likely before my next visit to Vegas.</p><p>It will attract thousands of tourists per week, if we ever get past the pandemic. Most of those tourists will go home with a smile on their face, having relived their youth or experienced something new, something they never imagined. </p><p>And yet half the pinball community, if Facebook discussions are to be believed, absolutely despise the place.</p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-48591914309545369032020-11-02T23:55:00.006-08:002021-02-28T23:32:52.576-08:00Neutered Vegas (day 4)<p> I've been putting off writing this final chapter, perhaps because it lacks a spectacular final moment. </p><p>Saturday, Oct. 10, followed a similar script. No breakfast, just a breakfast bar in the hotel room. But instead of heading out to lunch, we headed out to the Fashion Show Mall. I didn't stay at the mall, however, I was simply dropping off my life partner. For me, it was off to the Pinball Hall of Fame.</p><p>Every Vegas trip for at least a decade has included at least one visit to the Pinball Hall of Fame. Some trips include more than one visit. Some trips feature the HOF as a final stop before returning the rental car and going home. Our departure on Sunday morning was too early for a pre-flight visit, so Saturday's trek to the HOF was all I was going to get, and I promised to stay for one hour. </p><p>I've <a href="https://vegasinsight.blogspot.com/search?q=pinball+hall+of+fame" target="_blank">written about the HOF before</a>, and shared mediocre pictures of its games. I won't recount its history, or any more of my history with it. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIIkru88RuSAFGAlwKC3VkpuUG0bXYO4HEarQXnECp4u_rJU7Kufh2vDbAbG9nGnJVkVJaofTTjAEzQUAGyRaME2ANGYhJdlEOgcVPv3H-8Ni22oo1Zaabg4SnRmVgHcUWu17DKgnl_g/s4032/20201010_120036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIIkru88RuSAFGAlwKC3VkpuUG0bXYO4HEarQXnECp4u_rJU7Kufh2vDbAbG9nGnJVkVJaofTTjAEzQUAGyRaME2ANGYhJdlEOgcVPv3H-8Ni22oo1Zaabg4SnRmVgHcUWu17DKgnl_g/w300-h400/20201010_120036.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's 2020, what better time to develop a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pinball machine. (It's not the first, there was a game produced in 1991.) I played it one time, and it seems like a lot of fun. I look forward to playing it again. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEzuuUxEKkyqoZrlsItShp4mJB_3O3Wbae1PQOcYn9Jcz6FREGhueB8YXRpdJE5tVKzLxe3UHbKzx0lNfdgemFW4k_5MmX72jQm4ih6V22zsu0IfYABVmLpeL9PQgBwkaV62A9vAEtfE/s4032/20201010_121520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEzuuUxEKkyqoZrlsItShp4mJB_3O3Wbae1PQOcYn9Jcz6FREGhueB8YXRpdJE5tVKzLxe3UHbKzx0lNfdgemFW4k_5MmX72jQm4ih6V22zsu0IfYABVmLpeL9PQgBwkaV62A9vAEtfE/w300-h400/20201010_121520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The latest pinball machine to feature Elvira, the ageless mistress of the dark, was released in 2019.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEzuuUxEKkyqoZrlsItShp4mJB_3O3Wbae1PQOcYn9Jcz6FREGhueB8YXRpdJE5tVKzLxe3UHbKzx0lNfdgemFW4k_5MmX72jQm4ih6V22zsu0IfYABVmLpeL9PQgBwkaV62A9vAEtfE/s4032/20201010_121520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHqvBNHd3pKXO4eR9VRUXqQj8vucN73omW8EBgLNCMOX9hr_T-l30atfSLHDNVf7owm8eT1oHgfqjbhXRKJTkdcYlsQB54ImTsENg6miNR6gjhH3gavWf4XhnT8tRy5iJTT2tx7mF0PQ/s4032/20201010_122636.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHqvBNHd3pKXO4eR9VRUXqQj8vucN73omW8EBgLNCMOX9hr_T-l30atfSLHDNVf7owm8eT1oHgfqjbhXRKJTkdcYlsQB54ImTsENg6miNR6gjhH3gavWf4XhnT8tRy5iJTT2tx7mF0PQ/w300-h400/20201010_122636.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pinball Hall of Fame has an assortment of video games and other coin-operated machines, including a pair of 1961 machines from Disneyland. These are not Mold-A-Rama machines, at least not in name. I assume it's the same technology at work. But Mold-A-Rama, the name brand associated with this type of machine, debuted in 1961. The Mold-A-Rama technology dates back to the 1950s, according to Wikipedia.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhUlQFKysowF1sarx-eFPrLakmHchXZUl4hyphenhyphent7UVDa5jLISVQd1dGyrXd5S8fgoH9d3BDSU-8NmNv-zufBw_A0WZ_98HnPXUuFunfI3Ny5jirxV8T-WtukMZZNIJU-qsaH8Rbz-YGR_c/s4032/20201010_115349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhUlQFKysowF1sarx-eFPrLakmHchXZUl4hyphenhyphent7UVDa5jLISVQd1dGyrXd5S8fgoH9d3BDSU-8NmNv-zufBw_A0WZ_98HnPXUuFunfI3Ny5jirxV8T-WtukMZZNIJU-qsaH8Rbz-YGR_c/w400-h300/20201010_115349.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun fact: I own one pinball machine, the game seen on the left side of this picture.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Not to my surprise, just about every other machine was turned off to help provide social distancing. There are two front doors, and one is now designated the entrance, the other the exit. There was a turnstile to ensure one door was for exiting only, and there was a sign at the entrance regarding safety protocols and rules. </p><p>I'm not paranoid about getting sick by playing pinball, so it didn't bother me that I didn't see any indication that the volunteer staff was wiping off machines after people finished playing them. I didn't see any hand sanitizer available, either. I'm not saying that there was no such protocol, I just didn't see it. Although I wasn't looking for it. </p><p>I played a couple of new machines I had never tried before. There's a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game that is a lot of fun. Elvira, the mistress of the dark, has licensed her image to machines twice in the past. The HOF has all three machines, so I was compelled to play all of them. </p><p>I'll spare you the pinball analysis and simply note that the machines were produced in 1989, 1996 and 2019. I had played the 1996 game, Scared Stiff, occasionally over the years, and enjoy it. I don't recall ever trying the 1989 game, but found it to be enjoyable, given its vintage. I played the 2019 game one time, and wasn't dazzled by it. Perhaps I'd enjoy it more after learning the rules better. It's got modern bells and whistles that weren't being used in pinball manufacturing 23 years earlier, but that didn't make it a better game overall, based upon my first play. </p><p>An hour passes, I head back to the mall and we head back toward the Orleans. It's pool time. But first, we need to pick up lunch. We opt for Jack in the Box, a chain we don't get back here in Minnesota, and something different than the past two fast food lunches. There's one very close to the Orleans, and after picking up an order via the drive-thru, we parked in the nearby Home Depot lot and ate. Fancy! </p><p>Time to head back to the hotel. I decided to take an access road near strip mall buildings across the street from the Orleans, sure enough, it's an easy shortcut between the Orleans parking and Jack in the Box, eliminating the need to pull onto Tropicana Avenue. I had just discovered an amazing Vegas hack! </p><p>One final afternoon at the pool for this trip. Another Vegas afternoon in the 90s. Oh how I miss that. </p><p>The pool staff wasn't obnoxious, but there were a few "wear your mask" touts directed at us loungers during the afternoon. It got to the point that whenever I noticed a staff person starting to walk around the pool, I slipped my mask on and/or grabbed my beer. </p><p>We stayed out at the pool for a few hours before cleaning up and heading to Ellis Island for a cheap barbecue dinner. Two chicken and rib dinners and one coupon makes for an insanely cheap night out. We didn't have to wait long, either, much to my surprise on a Saturday night. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FLj32wbGvsIggYydqoh0PkTu82SJzcMlOORPQ2YSMqFu45piE2ESjHnA9LhAetIzmDM8JsXoRctqFDYwWVC1AJYc08kmJ3N8BLcI8898IGmRhRiyVjp32YJ7C4AnNjGXBDqeR3-J8BE/s4032/20201010_210621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FLj32wbGvsIggYydqoh0PkTu82SJzcMlOORPQ2YSMqFu45piE2ESjHnA9LhAetIzmDM8JsXoRctqFDYwWVC1AJYc08kmJ3N8BLcI8898IGmRhRiyVjp32YJ7C4AnNjGXBDqeR3-J8BE/w400-h300/20201010_210621.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory dinner photo<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There wasn't much gambling on Saturday evening. I dropped a few bucks in a machine or two and we headed back to the Orleans. Final night in town means big gambling, right? Nope. I picked up cheap postcards at the souvenir store near Ellis Island and spent Saturday night scribbling short notes to eight people. I'm weird, I know. I just didn't have the gambling bug during this trip. </p><p>We headed for the airport about 8 a.m. Sunday, as we were flying out about 10:30 a.m., and I'm old, I guess. Three hours sleep before heading to the airport is not my idea of a good time. </p><p>I don't regret going to Vegas. I'm very appreciative of the fact I was able to spend a birthday in Sin City, even if the city is less vibrant and pandemic tinged. I didn't think I'd be going to Vegas at all this year, so the fact I did seems like a win. But I wouldn't have been bitter had I waited for the pandemic to end before returning, and now that I have, I'm more determined not to go back until it looks and feels like Vegas again. </p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-67403060859605757712020-10-20T23:45:00.003-07:002020-10-20T23:45:12.684-07:00Freedom of the blog<p><i>I'll be wrapping up my recent Vegas vacation trip report in the near future. (The final installment is not that exciting.) But this can't wait. </i></p><p>As somebody who has worked as a newspaper reporter for far too long, you would think I would have a firm grasp upon what freedom of speech/freedom of the press permits, and what it doesn't. </p><p>But I don't. </p><p>I don't spend a lot of my free time following freedom of speech/information cases related to the media. I'm not exercising my rights to public data often enough, in part because I could work 75 hours a week and not run out of things to do. I do a little of almost everything as a newspaper reporter in 2020, and waging battles for public data is just not something I can afford to do very often. And I'm smart enough not to get my newspaper into legal trouble over anything I report.</p><p>Therefore I'm not in a position to comment upon the outcome of the legal battle between the Sahara casino/hotel and Vital Vegas, the most popular blog in Sin City, as best I can tell. But I will anyway.</p><p>For the record: I have read the blog for years, <a href="https://vegasinsight.blogspot.com/2016/04/can-we-have-jazz-funeral-for-la-bayou.html" target="_blank">I have blogged in response to topics its author</a>, Scott Roeben, has written, I have met Scott more than once and <a href="https://www.jerseystudios.net/2017/04/10/007-scott-roben/" target="_blank">I have been fortunate enough to have him as a guest on my non-Vegas podcast</a>. </p><p>Scott has garnered plenty of followers over the years, and developed an anti-fan club over the years, as well. Some joined the club in 2020, others flash membership cards dating back several years. </p><p>I watch the barbs and insults, the comments and the criticism -- from both sides -- without getting in the middle of it. I don't have enough time to pursue my passions in this world, (thanks to that damn journalism career, which ain't much of a passion at this point in my life,) and therefore I don't have a lot of time to defend or criticize Scott's tweets, be they brilliant or cringeworthy. I'm not above criticizing, but sometimes you need to leave that to others. </p><p>All that said, I have casually followed the legal battle between Scott and the Sahara. If you're reading this, you probably know that not so long ago, around the end of July, Scott shared a rumor that Sahara was looking to shut the place down due to the lack of foot traffic in the casino and hotel. That resulted in the Sahara seeking legal relief from the claim. </p><p>I seem to recall that the rumor claimed Sahara might shut down in September. The original post is no longer available via the blog, and I'm not going to search for a bootleg copy, so I can't review the original claims Scott made. </p><p>Those claims were attributed to a trusted source. Some will refute Scott has any of those, but he knows a lot of people who work in the industry, and his blog is well known as a source of inside information, from sources that he protects. Again, some will refute that. </p><p>At the end of the day, Vital Vegas is a blog. It's not a comprehensive news source. The blog posts run the gamut from industry rumors and inside information to reviews of local restaurants and attractions to features on interesting shows and attractions that aren't always found in the tourist publications. (Look up <a href="https://vitalvegas.com/wheel-of-misfortune-las-vegas-discovery/" target="_blank">his blog post on the Wheel of Misfortune</a> if you need an example.) </p><p>His blog's website suggests it's a source of news, tips, deals and WTF, although I don't recall any Vital Vegas deals being floated to his readership. (I'm always looking for a deal when I'm planning a trip to Vegas.)</p><p>The internet has spawned plenty of questions, and lawsuits, about what is legal and what's not when it comes to disseminating information. Anyone with a computer and internet access can create a blog, or post a rumor, via many platforms. </p><p>I'm not surprised that the Sahara's claims against Scott were in vain. I'm no legal expert, but I didn't expect Sahara to prevail. Like Scott, I'm of the belief that their defamation claim was an intimidation tactic, a tactic that may well have worked against many bloggers who don't have the willingness, courage or financial wherewithal to stand up to such a claim. The Sahara lawsuit obviously failed, thanks in large part to Nevada's anti-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation" target="_blank">SLAPP</a> law that protects folks like Scott. </p><p>The end result of this moment in legal history leaves me with two thoughts. </p><p><u>One</u>: How credible are Scott's sources? I have always assumed he has well placed sources that he can trust. His rumor mongering doesn't always pan out, but why should it? </p><p>If you hear a rumor that your employer is thinking about reducing the vacation accrual schedule of its employees, but doesn't, does that make the rumor false? If you're not part of upper management meetings, how would you know if the honchos are or aren't considering it? </p><p>Should your co-worker, who is sleeping with one of the bosses, even be sharing that information with you? No, of course not. And by sharing it, all s/he did was worry you about not earning that fourth week of vacation next year. </p><p>Was there any truth to the Sahara rumor? Unlikely any of us will ever know. And Sahara's lawsuit, or continued business operations, doesn't indicate one way or another that there wasn't strong consideration to pulling the plug at the property. </p><p>I have no reason to dismiss Scott's sources, or his trust in them. Yes, he floats rumors about property sales and other business dealings that don't pan out, but I have to believe Scott's source regarding Sahara was a legitimate source. Scott has pretty much pimped Sahara, and its SLS predecessor, whenever he could, and I don't recall him ripping the joint very often. Perhaps he mocked that goofy statue that once stood outside SLS, but other than that, I only seem to remember him promoting the restaurants he enjoyed, or reporting on the demise of restaurants and businesses that didn't survive during the failed SLS experiment. </p><p>It seems unlikely that he'd open the door to the wrath of Sahara, or people on Twitter, by tweeting and blogging a rumor about Sahara's demise from a lousy source. Perhaps to you that's a play within Scott's range, but it seems unlikely to me. Given the fact all his eggs are in the Vital Vegas basket these days, it seems like being a source of bad information is the obvious play to avoid right now. </p><p><u>Two</u>: The fault I have with what happened is that he didn't follow one of the golden rules of journalism, even if he's just a blogger. (Remember, he is a source of news, according to his website. Although in fairness, he's a source of WTF, too.)</p><p>I remember being told this many times, and following the rule, during my collegiate days of journalism school: Always have two sources. </p><p>At some point, I learned that you could get away with a one-source story, in some circumstances. I recently wrote about a new recreation area that was created within a national wildlife refuge. It's a simple feature story, and not meant to be heavy on details. I spoke to a representative of the wildlife refuge. Only one. And that was all I needed. I didn't need to ask the same questions to another government employee, although I'm sure you can argue that I should have. The reality is that I just don't have the time to do it, and in my judgment, it wasn't necessary for this story. </p><p>You can argue that a blog site and Twitter account sharing news and rumors doesn't need a second source. And Jehovah knows Scott enjoys being the first to titillate the masses with a juicy tidbit, but in this case I think there should have been some sort of attempt at reaching out to Sahara for the standard denial. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VegasUnfiltered/posts/880964519064792" target="_blank">And I'm not the only one who thinks so</a>. </p><p>Legally Scott was free to share the rumor without the standard, corporate denial, as the lawsuit proved. But given that his blog has a substantial following and his information spreads like wildfire across Facebook and Twitter, the rumor reasonably had the potential to create a sense of panic among those who are connected to Sahara, either by employment or room reservations. Floating the rumor doesn't accomplish a whole hell of a lot, other than rile up the masses, so it would have seemed like something to treat as news, rather than WTF, in my uneducated opinion. </p><p>Many people hate Vital Vegas, (at least 10 that I am aware of,) and will continue to do so. More power to them. I tend to ignore the things that don't interest me, and pause for those that do. Whatever the future holds for Scott's blog, podcast and Twitter handle of the same name, I hope that the end results are better for this recent ordeal. I do wish that for him. </p><p><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-4441115006909592382020-10-16T23:08:00.000-07:002020-10-16T23:08:01.151-07:00Neutered Vegas (day 3)It's Friday morning, Oct. 9, and I'm awake before 8 a.m., time to venture out into the parking lot. <div><br /></div><div>Twenty years ago I learned about the high tech game of hide-and-seek: Geocaching. I wrote about it for my newspaper chain, and spent a little time the next several years searching for hidden containers of trinkets and crap in public parks and other places. During that era of my life I found a few hidden caches at point along the strip. It's a fun, family-friendly activity that I stopped making time for years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then I wound up babysitting my nieces during the past several months. Before long I was introducing them to geocaching. </div><div><br /></div><div>Knowing there was a geocache in the parking lot of the Orleans, I ventured out shortly after the sun had risen to find a small, hidden metal tin using GPS coordinates, take a few pictures and ponder all the things I'll never experience in Vegas as a resident of Minnesota. I spent a few minutes in the parking lot that morning watching cars cruising Tropicana Avenue in both directions, regretting I didn't snap a picture of the colorful woman who was walking down the sidewalk, probably not for exercise, and considering how my life might have been different had I made different choices at points in my life. More on that another day. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL66y9uh7sY3aaJW1bwHTalAlGvyXaNdf8-94aHaMqxK6ZiS8JKBkspjo_XyyKJOokaWmb8UW68RiX_D6q5GIRKstRH9iCvJPQVaV1UHdJTz5DVkzV2p5eOIhWmk1F85DaQwVV2uqueFE/s5568/20201009_082805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="5568" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL66y9uh7sY3aaJW1bwHTalAlGvyXaNdf8-94aHaMqxK6ZiS8JKBkspjo_XyyKJOokaWmb8UW68RiX_D6q5GIRKstRH9iCvJPQVaV1UHdJTz5DVkzV2p5eOIhWmk1F85DaQwVV2uqueFE/w400-h118/20201009_082805.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parking lot view of the hotel where I've spent the most nights during the past 10 years.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After my short parking lot excursion, I took coffee up to the room, we relaxed for a while, snacked on breakfast bars we brought with us and decided our lunch would be at In-N-Out. My trips often end with lunch at In-N-Out before heading to the airport, and usually at the Maryland Parkway location near the Pinball Hall of Fame. This trip would have a morning departure, so our In-N-Out visit came early, and we opted for the location down the street since we wouldn't be dining in the restaurant. We used the drive-thru, which took about 20 minutes, then dined at the outdoor table outside the gift shop next door. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx1QeMNqDqPw1-LQe0r7PHquH1FFI2BqBKzih6x3wwg1PS01IcPRVabKQ-xRu3iZ7KrmCPc2ypldSTjiDtRdE4JspZKsu0DkBNBdKoEoAToZkUyYOY1oHZueK0kIM7NkxGK2w863JycQ/s4032/20201009_122240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQx1QeMNqDqPw1-LQe0r7PHquH1FFI2BqBKzih6x3wwg1PS01IcPRVabKQ-xRu3iZ7KrmCPc2ypldSTjiDtRdE4JspZKsu0DkBNBdKoEoAToZkUyYOY1oHZueK0kIM7NkxGK2w863JycQ/w300-h400/20201009_122240.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long wait for a burger and fries.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Then it was back to Orleans and a visit to the pool. We spent a long afternoon at the pool, which again wasn't very busy, although it seemed like a lot of the pool visitors came later that afternoon. Once again there were announcements telling us to wear our mask, and for whatever reason, one of the poolboys made a pass around the pool deck during the late afternoon telling everyone not wearing a mask while lounging to wear their mask. But it's not as if the mask police were pounding the pavement all afternoon. </div><div><br /></div><div>We left the pool late in the afternoon and cleaned up before heading north. Our first destination: Broadacres Marketplace. </div><div><br /></div><div>Broadacres Marketplace is a huge outdoor flea market. I'm a sucker for flea markets, although I often have a tough time parting with my cash when I visit one. My buddy, who is a master at scooping up old video game cartridges in bulk and selling off his purchase game by game for a nice profit, had been to Broadacres once upon a time, and vouched for it as being a good flea market. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a couple of miles north of downtown, and it's huge. Huge. HUGE. It's a couple of bucks to get in, and they have security doing metal detection when you enter, which didn't exactly comfort my girlfriend. </div><div><br /></div><div>The flea market runs Friday evenings and weekends. There are many food vendors scattered about the market grounds, and there are tables and a stage area where they feature live music during less pandemic times. There also appears to be a small variety of simple amusement park rides on the grounds to help entertain the kids, but those were all shut down on this Friday night. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wondered if some of the vendors have semi-permanent set ups at this flea market. Plenty didn't, without question. Despite opening at 4 p.m., we were there at 6 p.m. and some vendors were still setting up, including the one vendor I found that had an extensive collection of Halloween merchandise. Their entire space seemed dedicated to Halloween merch, but they weren't ready to begin selling when I walked by. I thought I'd come back later, but forgot about them before we left. </div><div><br /></div><div>The layout of booths is organized, but it's hard to keep track of where to go, or where you've been. It's not a basic rectangle of shopping aisles. And as I noted, it's huge. Huge. HUGE. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for the merchandise. I was both amazed and disappointed. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were booths that had odd collections of random secondhand crap, which is what I like to see at a flea market. And there were plenty of dealers selling new merchandise, as I expected. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were plenty of vendors selling household products you'd find at your local grocery store, such as laundry soap and toilet paper. I didn't price compare the bargains to be had. I don't recall seeing Tide laundry detergent, but there was plenty of less prestigious brands. I couldn't help but wonder, who comes to the flea market to buy their plastic sandwich bags or aluminum foil? Can it really be that much cheaper than the generic products at local stores around Vegas? </div><div><br /></div><div>Need $5 leggings? I don't, but I saw at least a dozen vendors with big displays of leggings, some noting their product was $5. If you're looking for cheap leggings, I guess you eye them up and assume they'll fit to your liking. The vendors don't have fitting rooms, that I could tell, and I'm guessing they aren't in the business of making exchanges, a la your local Target store.</div><div><br /></div><div>I saw a few vendors with lingerie prominently on display, as well. I also multiple vendors with socks and tighty-whities, but those weren't displayed as prominently, for some reason. Plenty of new women's and children's shoes to be had, and a few men's sneakers, I believe. I only recall one vendor selling new cowboy boots. But dang, that booth had a ton of them, and I think they were all $50 a pair. I can't imagine they were high quality, and I'm guessing boots in your size are hit and miss.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you need bright yellow or orange clothing for wearing at a construction site, several vendors at the flea market had you covered. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bulk candy and/or nuts, you could find that several times over. A lot of those products seemed to be things you'd more commonly find in a Mexican market. </div><div><br /></div><div>Several vendors had toys, although it didn't appear many of the toys were name brand products. There were some, I believe, but I sensed that a lot of the toys were generic versions of known commodities, like Disney princess dolls. I saw a smattering of dealers selling Funko Pops, but I didn't bother looking at what they had or what they were asking for their inventory. I don't collect them, and I have no idea which ones are "valuable." </div><div><br /></div><div>The oddest things I found were tires, mattresses and appliances. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't see many vendors selling tires, maybe only one, but I had to wonder who buys a set of tires from a random vendor at a flea market? </div><div><br /></div><div>Several vendors had mattresses. How does a person decide they're going to buy mattresses in bulk and resell them through a flea market? And how much can you make selling them? </div><div><br /></div><div>And appliances! There were a few vendors with washers and dryers. So weird!</div><div>hI was disappointed that I didn't find many vendors selling collectibles or outdated media. I don't collect comic books any more. I haven't for decades. But I always enjoy checking out books for sale, and buy some cheap old books for reading and passing along, often via a Little Free Library. </div><div><br /></div><div>Same with baseball cards or other sports collectibles. I get a kick out of looking at the stuff, but rarely see anything I'm even tempted to buy, unless I think I can easily turn around and sell it on eBay for a healthy product, and most vendors know what the going rate is for such merch. </div><div><br /></div><div>I found one vendor with old video games, but I don't play them, I don't collect them and I have no idea what any of them are worth, so I wouldn't know a bargain if I saw it. I was surprised not to see many DVDs, CDs or other media for sale. Many of us don't want that stuff any more, but I'll buy a cheap CD if it interests me, although I don't have the patience to search through an unorganized collection looking for the diamond in the rough. </div><div><br /></div><div>More than anything, I'd love to know the stories behind these vendors. Where do they source mattresses, leggings, bulk candy and generic toys? How much do they earn after a weekend at Broadacres? Why is the flea market business appealing to them? </div><div><br /></div><div>I know we missed an aisle or two of vendors, but I didn't want to spend two hours looking at merchandise I wasn't going to buy. I had given up hope of finding vendors with merchandise that interested me, so after about an hour it was time to head for the car. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn373d-yFNkilFMGNBUJG8t3VtJS8XgQbQeTsqGkos4d-gNcFQb13JNssm1c5ZhCJo4oglY7ulyQrvW5HdPMU6MlVmH2wSwhnx68sWbmWEnWGbpC4-RqhURlhVFhgFtBfoGzgq-8sl5w/s4032/20201009_181542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn373d-yFNkilFMGNBUJG8t3VtJS8XgQbQeTsqGkos4d-gNcFQb13JNssm1c5ZhCJo4oglY7ulyQrvW5HdPMU6MlVmH2wSwhnx68sWbmWEnWGbpC4-RqhURlhVFhgFtBfoGzgq-8sl5w/w300-h400/20201009_181542.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My picture at the start of our flea market adventure doesn't <br />give you a good idea of how expansive Broadacres Marketplace is. <br />And I didn't stop to take pics of all the odd merchandise I found at this flea market. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I'd love to have a chance to go back some day, by myself, and scrutinize the merchandise for a couple of hours. My girlfriend politely tagged along, but she'd gladly stay at the hotel on a Saturday and allow me to scour the merch all morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>From Broadacres we headed downtown for dinner at Chicago Brewing Company inside Four Queens.</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday night downtown during a pandemic. You wouldn't know it. Like many have reported, plenty of people are rolling in on the weekends. Fremont Street was crowded, and although they're not doing temperature checks outside the casinos, they still have gates funneling you into and out of areas. Not sure why that makes sense when social distancing is preached everywhere we go. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner at Chicago Brewing was good, but we had to tolerate three jackasses who were drunk, watching NBA basketball and yelling every time they got a little tingly in their pants. I've been emotionally invested in televised sports, but Chicago Brewing ain't a sports bar. The waiter working the room told the dudes, more than once, that they needed to dial it down, and the second time he did, one of the dudes got belligerent. Dudes should have been kicked out. They were done eating, and one of the dudes was practically passed out on the table for a while. And yet, when it appeared they were going to pay their tab and leave, the waiter ends up bringing three more beers. Made no sense to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>After dinner we went to the Plaza to play. I finally sat down to play Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em, and had no luck. My girlfriend had no luck on the slots, either. After an hour or so we headed back to the Orleans, where I played cards again, with no luck. It wasn't a late night for me, and it wasn't an exciting night of gambling in Vegas, but it was a great day in Vegas nonetheless.</div>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-46036038624265814342020-10-16T00:54:00.002-07:002020-10-16T00:54:44.308-07:00Neutered Vegas (day 2)There wasn't much of an itinerary for last week's Vegas vacation, as proven by our first full day in town. <div><br /></div><div>My first full day is often a Monday, and it's a real treat to spend the morning relaxing in the room and watching The Price is Right. Monday's are not my fun days at the office, to put it mildly. But this Thursday, Oct. 8, was much like my normal Monday. The morning was spent in bed, relaxing and watching Drew Carey in action. Upon the conclusion of the fabulous, 60-minute Price is Right, it was time to get dressed and grab a meal. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite my objection to eating at Steak 'n Shake in Vegas, I buckled. I had a gift card for Steak 'n Shake a couple of years ago, and went to pay for our meal with it at the former Hooters hotel. I was told that the price-hiked casino location would not accept cash that had already been paid to the corporate headquarters, which I find to be bullshit. I guess that's a concession the Steak 'n Shake corporation had to make in order to get its name inside a lackluster casino in Vegas. I don't get the benefit of that, but I'm not a Wahlberg, so what do I know about running a burger joint? </div><div><br /></div><div>I had been to the South Point Steak 'n Shake a couple of years prior, and decided that if I was going to pay for a premium for a burger I enjoy, and can't get in Minnesota, I'd at least do it at a casino I like. So we took the rental car and headed south for lunch. </div><div><br /></div><div>We returned to the Orleans after lunch and headed to the pool. It wasn't very busy, and we didn't expect it to be. Despite the mandate that you wear a mask outdoors at pools, unless you're in the water or sipping a drink, it didn't appear that anyone was wearing a mask while relaxing in a lounge chair. A pool boy would occasionally provide a "friendly reminder" over the sound system that masks are required, but nobody seemed to care. I wore mine when I got up to get beers, or visit the restroom, but there was nobody near us while we lounged in our chairs, so masks really seemed unnecessary outdoors. But I'm not a public health expert, unlike most people using Facebook. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Om_sBjbrWP1juqmtouUlrBdWbAim8-3uRsnnUPmE6_MTBJMbYDOL8OpIopn0TbV1iTri_qLCrDRBYERDOD9yuNKZqqx_aRWmiG8RNHO7Y9sWgHWenPRHYU4Uhe-SCJb8wBjMbVwLw6M/s4032/20201008_151640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Om_sBjbrWP1juqmtouUlrBdWbAim8-3uRsnnUPmE6_MTBJMbYDOL8OpIopn0TbV1iTri_qLCrDRBYERDOD9yuNKZqqx_aRWmiG8RNHO7Y9sWgHWenPRHYU4Uhe-SCJb8wBjMbVwLw6M/w300-h400/20201008_151640.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking cheap beer from an aluminum bottle while enjoying 90F weather in Vegas. <br />I'll take that any time I can get it. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />A long afternoon at the pool ended and it was time to clean up for dinner. Thursday night's dinner was prime rib at Ellis Island. Thanks to 2-for-1 coupons, I end up eating dinner at Ellis Island every year. The prime rib dinner is about $17, and you never know exactly what your cut is going to look like when you show up. This year we ended up with the thickest slab I've ever had at Ellis Island. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lo4aMaJ9xvOAHrDJWh7TFO1A2aDNq8fJHELS_ihlOW2NyLasNm7bFJcb1nromK_K4FixjIjcnItazpTFTOc1nYu6OrdOB8Wvs8_XuhRa8f2MQSCOYOa8NS9Ctl_8odRM9ye1-FET0MA/s4032/20201008_193454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lo4aMaJ9xvOAHrDJWh7TFO1A2aDNq8fJHELS_ihlOW2NyLasNm7bFJcb1nromK_K4FixjIjcnItazpTFTOc1nYu6OrdOB8Wvs8_XuhRa8f2MQSCOYOa8NS9Ctl_8odRM9ye1-FET0MA/w400-h300/20201008_193454.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My prime rib was not as rare as it looks. <br />Yes, there's a little fat on my cut, but not a lot, and it's a thick cut. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />Not the fanciest meal, but a good value if you like a basic prime rib meal without all the ambiance. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was able to watch my Chicago Bears prior to departing Orleans and at Ellis Island. I contemplated wagering $20 that afternoon on the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but didn't pull the trigger. The underdog Bears won outright, so it was a win-win for me, despite not wagering. I watched the final few minutes at the bar, running a few bucks through video blackjack while my girlfriend wandered off and played a slot machine she had never played before. </div><div><br /></div><div>It took her but a few spins after putting a $50 bill in the machine to turn a profit. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfrILZ6qEsHsNdEpg04VUnWNuvNABa-e1QQ6dV4FzQCU-OKl_j0fK-8lAxq_HbdNYxicV89Lz8sCACBQFA7cbyyRG-zEvcUkp4bWf39FLlNDBSHTymMhEv_CeyuPAN9y-U15pRX1IZ-c/s4032/20201008_205254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfrILZ6qEsHsNdEpg04VUnWNuvNABa-e1QQ6dV4FzQCU-OKl_j0fK-8lAxq_HbdNYxicV89Lz8sCACBQFA7cbyyRG-zEvcUkp4bWf39FLlNDBSHTymMhEv_CeyuPAN9y-U15pRX1IZ-c/w300-h400/20201008_205254.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She cashed out more than $150 ahead after 15 minutes of play.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After Ellis Island we headed back to Orleans, where I dropped off my girlfriend. I was headed to the Sahara. </div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier in the day I had received a Twitter message from Chris, who has been hosting his Faces and Aces Las Vegas podcast for years. I've been a fan of his podcast because it focuses on storytelling, not unlike my own, non-Vegas podcast. A few years ago he invited me to discuss Halloween in Vegas, as I had tweeted plenty about my Halloween adventures in Vegas over the years. We discussed Halloween in September, 2017, but that interview didn't turn up until more than a year later. The Mandalay Bay shooting occurred prior to Halloween 2017, and that shifted his podcasting plans for the months that followed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chris was in town, as it turned out, and invited me to join him and a few others that Thursday night. My girlfriend wasn't interested in hanging around a couple of podcasting nerds, so she spent the remainder of the evening at Orleans while I headed to Sahara. In addition to Chris, I met Saul, a real Las Vegas junkie who I had corresponded with occasionally since he oversees the Las Vegas Junkies group on Facebook, and has hosted his own podcast under the same name. I also met two Vegas residents who Chris has known for a while. They are recent transplants in Vegas, and I'm pretty sure I remember both their names, but I'm not positive I can spell both of their names. </div><div><br /></div><div>After chatting at Sahara for a short while, where nobody was having luck gambling, Saul departed for the night and the rest of us headed to Westgate. I know all about the SuperBook at Westgate, but I had never set foot in that casino during my 40+ visits to Vegas. SuperBook is impressive, no doubt, but otherwise the rest of the casino is standard Vegas fare. I didn't walk around the property to get a feel for exactly how expansive it is, but driving around it gave me some idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chris and I chatted a bunch at Westgate, and by midnight it was time to head back to our respective casinos. I did a walk through the Orleans casino on my way up to the room, but didn't stop to play. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't make a habit of tracking people down or meeting up with groups of random Junkies when I'm in Vegas, but the invite from Chris was a nice surprise, and I'm glad it worked out. </div>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-74322176642668310092020-10-14T23:43:00.002-07:002020-10-14T23:43:49.439-07:00Neutered Vegas (night 1)<p><i>Vegas isn't actually neutered, but I wasn't sure what the best adjective should be. </i></p><p><i>And no, I didn't intend to let this blog sit dormant for a year. </i></p><p>Once upon a time, I dreamed of celebrating a milestone birthday in Las Vegas. </p><p>I had never spent a birthday in Vegas, but my 50th birthday seemed like a good one to spend in Vegas, for a variety of reasons. </p><p>Then a pandemic began, and within a few months I had written off spending my 50th birthday in Vegas. There was no doubt that it wouldn't be the same Vegas I have known and loved, and I was certain my life partner wanted nothing to do with a pandemic vacation. </p><p>We had alternate birthday plans in place, and then, out of the blue, my girlfriend asked me if I was still interested in going to Vegas for my birthday. With three weeks to go before the big 5-0, she said she'd be willing to travel. </p><p>The decision was not automatic. A neutered Vegas was not exactly my idea of a dream vacation. We discussed the pros and cons and took the plunge. We booked a four-night trip, departing on my birthday: Oct. 7. </p><p>We booked our trip on budget airline Sun Country. I used to love Sun Country. It's a homegrown airline, and offers direct flights to Vegas. And those flights are more affordable than the steady diet of departures offered by Delta, the local market behemoth. I loved Sun Country because it was well run and offered a pleasant experience from start to finish. A few years ago the company determined it needed to target the penny pinchers and compete with other such airlines. That means cramming a few more rows of seats into the plane and cutting other corners to keep the cost down, and the planes full. </p><p>I'm not a big spender, but I have managed to avoid Sun Country in recent years, mostly because I've flown free via Southwest, albeit indirect, to Vegas. </p><p>So my first Sun Country experience aboard the stripped-down airline turned out to be about what I expected. Nothing fancy, but not too painful. </p><p>During the pandemic, I've heard stories, many stories, about how empty planes are. How airlines are cutting back on flights, struggling to stay afloat and leaving seats open to provide some semblance of social distancing. </p><p>Not Sun Country. My Wednesday afternoon flight was full. I'm not the only person willing to gamble with my health, evidently. </p><p>Yes, we're required to wear masks on the plane, and no snacks or beverages were made available, allegedly in the interest of public health. A few people didn't think masks were mandatory at all times, but for the most part people complied with the rule. </p><p>After a boring, slightly uncomfortable flight, I arrived in Sin City. Sure enough, the airport on a weekday afternoon feels as barren as has been described repeatedly during the past several months. </p><p>After picking up my rental car at Avis, which I had never rented from before and would rather not rent from again, it was off to the Orleans to drop off the bags and change clothes. </p><p>For all the times I've stayed at Orleans, I've never been compelled to dine at their TGI Friday's. But I suggested stopping in there for a drink and appetizer since our dinner reservation was a late one that night. </p><p>From Friday's it was off to the Golden Steer, the old school steakhouse that looks like some sort of cheesy steakhouse chain from the outside. The quirky strip mall location doesn't sell the ambiance, either. I had never been to Golden Steer, but it gets rave reviews, and I figured what better reason to splurge on a steak dinner than a birthday in Vegas. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4n_8ePNmdnzB21a1gPRoRR1iu0jPPCkoBcTi8PEDDKFtwrVvBJ88-Gw1I1BHYesXKo4zfO-bQbbPhB9I2IXtf66oYXT-nmPfQzckEbmilBXGORg2HR6HPQncknMNriyVIssfLTnKhtRI/s4032/20201007_205436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4n_8ePNmdnzB21a1gPRoRR1iu0jPPCkoBcTi8PEDDKFtwrVvBJ88-Gw1I1BHYesXKo4zfO-bQbbPhB9I2IXtf66oYXT-nmPfQzckEbmilBXGORg2HR6HPQncknMNriyVIssfLTnKhtRI/w300-h400/20201007_205436.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VIP seating for me.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My porterhouse steak and baked potato did not disappoint. And the restaurant most certainly has that authentic feel of yesteryear. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HjaFmuEt8vujQnDJpktwrik9WMd3ygck55shAY2kbmXLJ7ZHEQMYlZ8LsZiY2tycmv-MV3TDafC1rOvfAbAagkzbodwgNHdL88wDRVALH6KaetwDz7vo35e0KZvUpiHZltScHpjFb_A/s4032/20201007_212051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HjaFmuEt8vujQnDJpktwrik9WMd3ygck55shAY2kbmXLJ7ZHEQMYlZ8LsZiY2tycmv-MV3TDafC1rOvfAbAagkzbodwgNHdL88wDRVALH6KaetwDz7vo35e0KZvUpiHZltScHpjFb_A/w400-h300/20201007_212051.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steak and potato, happy birthday to me!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The staff is what you'd expect from a steakhouse: Prompt, meticulous and professional. </p><p>I won't make Golden Steer a regular destination, I don't often spend that much on a meal, but I will be back, without a doubt. </p><p>Fun fact: Pandemic dining means fewer asses in the seats. In some restaurants, tables are removed. Not sure if any tables were removed at the Steer, but they had a fun way of designating tables as off limits. Here's one example: </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-fFRyQcZBHfIFAZIo0XYc6qbEF06HeS1g9RWJCW53N0KWJrfuIGngNVvRph_-d5LPccOcjctjK3JO4K4l6ufhdWvvk6TP6KxFYwel_-hUkIGSHmsSLmIVaMpCsuvkewkpX8_sUQeVa8/s4032/20201007_221436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-fFRyQcZBHfIFAZIo0XYc6qbEF06HeS1g9RWJCW53N0KWJrfuIGngNVvRph_-d5LPccOcjctjK3JO4K4l6ufhdWvvk6TP6KxFYwel_-hUkIGSHmsSLmIVaMpCsuvkewkpX8_sUQeVa8/w400-h300/20201007_221436.jpg" title="Seated at the table next to us!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seated at the table next to us!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had suggested finishing our night at another new destination, The Golden Tiki. It seemed like the perfect way to wrap up my 50th birthday. But we had a late evening reservation at the Steer, and I was so full from dinner, and my complimentary 50th birthday dessert, that I couldn't rationalize trying to suck down a fancy cocktail at the Tiki. And I was tired. It had been a long day, given I gained two hours by flying west. I was ready for bed. No gambling on my birthday. I hadn't planned on it, anyway. I was tired and ready to relax, happy to have celebrated by birthday with a steak dinner in Vegas. </p><p><br /></p>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-63301451007453048652019-09-18T11:59:00.001-07:002019-11-08T14:17:11.866-08:0010 places I've visited while in Vegas that the average tourist hasn'tPerhaps I'll enhance this with photos and/or links some day, but for now, here's a simple list of 10 things I've seen/visited during my 22 years of traveling to Vegas that I suspect the average Vegas tourist has not. To be fair, most folks aren't that interested in many of these places.<br />
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In no particular order:<br />
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1. Rhyolite ghost town, which is more than two hours north of downtown.<br />
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2. The defunct Flipperspiel Wunderland pinball joint, back when it was in the same general vicinity as the Pinball Hall of Fame. (It evolved, moved and doesn't really exist these days, but it was an interesting alternative to the famous pinball haven of Vegas.)<br />
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3. Mt. Charleston Lodge, a high-altitude restaurant that plenty of people visit, but it's unlikely most Vegas tourists ever venture up the big hill.<br />
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4. Valley of Fire, a state park that I find more interesting than Red Rock Canyon, which is closer and therefore draws more Vegas tourists.<br />
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5. Freakling Bros. Trilogy of Terror and Las Vegas Haunts (Two local haunted attractions that have been around for years during the Halloween season.)<br />
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6. The Magical Forest, a fundraising holiday light display held during the Christmas season.<br />
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7. Wheel of Misfortune (Nobody does a better job of detailing this site better than the fine folks at Vital Vegas: <a href="https://vitalvegas.com/wheel-of-misfortune-las-vegas-discovery/">https://vitalvegas.com/wheel-of-misfortune-las-vegas-discovery/</a>)<br />
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8. Bonnie and Clyde's death car at Whiskey Pete's Casino in Primm. Plenty of California visitors who drive to Vegas have stopped at these Nevada border casinos, I'm sure. Those of us who fly to Vegas probably don't ever end up in Primm. </div>
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9. Searchlight, Nevada: A few years ago we drove to Laughlin late in the afternoon simply because we needed an excuse to drive the rented BMW convertible more than five miles from our hotel. On the way back we stopped at one of the tiny casinos in Searchlight, which I had stopped at years prior. The casino had Rolling Rock on tap for 50 cents. I splurged and bought a bottle of Bud Light for $1.</div>
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10. Colorado River: Last summer I went kayaking below the Hoover Dam. There are plenty of companies offering river excursions, and plenty of people doing them, but those of us who have are likely in the small minority of Vegas tourists who do. I don't sense a lot of people are aware that river kayaking is a thing.</div>
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Bonus entries: Grand Canyon Skywalk and Cashman Field (in 2018, the final season the Las Vegas 51s minor league baseball team played its home games there)</div>
Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-20982389307578468622019-07-14T21:01:00.000-07:002019-07-14T21:17:40.471-07:00A Tape Face franchise?I couldn't help but share thoughts on a fresh new blog post by the fine folks at Vital Vegas. (It's one guy!)<br />
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I posted most of my comments below on Scott's blog, but I'll replicate them here, with one addendum and a few clarifications. Most important, if you want the commentary below about Vegas headliner Tape Face to make any sense, read Scott's fresh, new and exciting blog post first. It's right here: <a href="https://vitalvegas.com/caveat-emptor-your-tape-face-may-not-be-the-tape-face/" target="_blank">Vital Vegas hyperlink</a><br />
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Here's my three cents, two I shared on his blog, and one I added:<br />
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When Bon Jovi comes to Vegas and plays a concert, you’re not getting the band that recorded “Slippery When Wet.” Richie Sambora ain’t in the band.<br />
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People come and go in bands. That’s the nature of bands. But typically it’s well known. Nobody is fooled into thinking they’re seeing Sambora on guitar in 2019.<br />
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KISS is a more interesting band. They switched out guys in the 80s and 90s, then reunited the original band in the latter half of the 90s, and are back to mixing and matching. Of course, for the last 15+ years they’ve had different musicians playing the roles of the Space Man and the Cat, two of the four costumed musicians from the 70s. It’s all very public.<br />
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And it offended some longtime, hard core KISS fans. The original KISS members doubled as characters, but a lot of fans didn’t like that they hired replacements rather than bring in new characters in the early 2000s, as they did in the early 80s before KISS was “unmasked.”<br />
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It seems shady to sell the persona of Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in the 2000s, but KISS has enough fans that they’ve kept making money. Some people claimed they no longer wanted to support the entity, but plenty of people don’t seem to care, so KISS continues printing money, and Tape Face is taking a page from Gene Simmons’ playbook.<br />
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For what little I know, I agree: Tape Face has been known as, and associated with, one person. I don’t know the history, but I’m guessing there were others who helped “Sam,” the actor/comedian behind the tape, develop his act. But it was his act, I’m guessing, not the act of an ensemble who took turns doing the shtick. To suddenly franchise it out seems insulting to the fans.<br />
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While it shouldn’t be trusted, there’s no suggestion I saw to indicate that Tape Face is a brand, according to Sam’s Wikipedia page. I’m going to guess the paint is still drying on the branding. Awfully convenient, all of a sudden, that his longtime character is a brand, don’tcha think?<br />
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It’d be one thing if Tape was retiring, and his son was following in his footsteps, and he handed off the character to his son. But to simply train another performer seems fraudulent, unless you’re selling it as Tape Face, Too, and making it clear who you’re getting on stage.<br />
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I would be pissed if I paid to see Carrot Top and showed up to find out that another guy with curly red hair is telling the jokes that night, and pretending to be Carrot Top.<br />
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The Tape Face corporation may be noting Sam has a protege via social media, but it sounds like the corporation is trying to monetize the shtick with its own franchise employees and not be forthcoming about it. That’s dirty business, no matter how you justify it.<br />
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Reminds me of the odd story of how there were two comedians selling the comedy of Gallagher, the odd comedian who got big laughs for smashing produce with a sledgehammer. This paragraph tells a bit about the bizarre dueling Gallaghers: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallagher_(comedian)#Conflict_with_brother" target="_blank">Gallagher Two hyperlink</a>Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6052366393832101420.post-68073648125716717872019-04-13T23:58:00.000-07:002019-04-25T23:04:52.296-07:00Virtual Las Vegas: What a strange world it isHere's a little exercise I like to challenge people with occasionally: When did you first learn about the Internet?<br />
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I knew of the Internet back in the 1980s, although I don't think anyone referred to it as the Internet. But I knew that through the power of a computer, telephone and acoustic coupler, you could connect to the world in a way I never dreamed of. And I certainly never dreamed of buying comic books (I collected them) through a computer, and having them delivered to my door, without ever leaving the house. Needless to say, there's a lot of things I never imagined using a computer to do. And here I am, doing a variety of things every week that I never would have believed were possible 25 years ago.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomR9jEhn6IWIFL02mXmAupnqXGWZMuJHE-EbObdUdZrYWoKF9lIozBXstNJ4dajsOrn1eU-6c6DPLO_FVD11kCsQbww5Uipbi_J3HVKqUgBjcxQiHjmQGHIkTCaap52yGktjKSkFLEb0/s1600/acoustic-coupler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomR9jEhn6IWIFL02mXmAupnqXGWZMuJHE-EbObdUdZrYWoKF9lIozBXstNJ4dajsOrn1eU-6c6DPLO_FVD11kCsQbww5Uipbi_J3HVKqUgBjcxQiHjmQGHIkTCaap52yGktjKSkFLEb0/s400/acoustic-coupler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of an acoustic coupler. I don't remember where I lifted it, but I found it via Google. This was how we did the Internet in the 1980s, before anyone knew what the Internet was.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't know when I learned of the Internet that we know and love today. I do know that I had dabbled with it prior to May 1997, when I left a desolate, Canadian-like community for my triumphant return to the big city. I had used email and accessed websites through a community college computer system, but those opportunities were few and far between. Cellphones were a luxury at that time, I would never have imagined I'd not only come to rely upon one, but that it would essentially become a computer.<br />
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But to this day I don't remember when I first understood the concept of the modern Internet. I would assume it was at some point during 1996.<br />
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Moral of the story: This powerful tool I use daily, many times per day, was non-existent in my world 25 years ago.<br />
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My first trip to Las Vegas occurred in January 1997. At that point it never occurred to me that I might want to seek information about Sin City via the Internet, which I had limited access to. Who knows what I might have found in late 1996. Not a hell of a lot, I'd bet.<br />
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I've been reflecting upon how my world, and my relationship with Vegas, has changed as a result of the Internet. A recent change in my online world signaled the time to finally put a few of those thoughts into words.<br />
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I have used Vegas message forums for a long time. The message forum was my first introduction to the world of Vegas chatting, and I believe it's still the best. But message forums are not as popular as they once were. I have been a member of a few Vegas forums over the years, and continue to use one to this day.<br />
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Part of the reason forums have lost their luster -- perhaps the main reason -- is Facebook. Today we have Facebook groups that bring people together when they have a shared interest. There are plenty of Vegas groups, big and small, available through Facebook. I belong to a handful, but I don't actively use most of them.<br />
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I find Facebook groups are less effective ways to share information, but I get why they're popular. Facebook is, if you believe online statistics, the third most popular website on the planet, behind Google and YouTube. A website that exists primarily for the purpose of personal communication, and is open to the masses, is the perfect place for Vegas enthusiasts to connect and chat. You have a question about Vegas that you need an answer to? You join a Vegas group and you have hundreds or thousands of people available to answer. And you're already on Facebook anyway, posting pictures of your cute kids. Could it be any easier?<br />
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The drawback to Facebook groups is that you don't have categories of discussions. Go to a Vegas forum and you might find sections dedicated to the strip, downtown, off-strip casinos, gambling strategy, transportation and bargains. You can search for topics by keyword on Facebook, but Facebook's groups are not highly organized. That's why a Vegas message forum is still an important resource for me after more than 15 years.<br />
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One of the great things about the Internet is that it has opened up so many opportunities for those of use who use a computer. I had no idea in 1997 that I'd go to Vegas more than 40 times during the next 25 years of my life. And I certainly didn't dream that I'd be one of many voices in the online world sharing thoughts about a popular vacation destination. Yet here I am.<br />
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And I'm not even a blip on the radar. There are folks who do far more interesting, far more compelling work than I do. If you're reading this, then chances are you are familiar with Vital Vegas and Vegas Unfiltered.<br />
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Vital Vegas provides inside scoop like nobody can. I've been reading it for years, and rarely does a day go by without me checking it for new content. Vegas Unfiltered provides interesting content that's hard to find anywhere else these days. Both of the blogs are one-man operations, and the authors are well connected, but their websites don't exist to generate income, as best I can tell. I've been fortunate enough to meet the authors of both of these blogs during my visits to Vegas. I never imagined meeting total strangers when I first visited Vegas in 1997. And thanks to the Internet I've been reading the writing of two people I'd have otherwise never met. How cool is that?<br />
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The users of Facebook groups and message forums like to organize social gatherings, and that makes total sense. When you communicate with a group of people for an extended period of time, it seems like a natural thing to want to meet the faces behind the screen name. I don't make it a priority to meet up with groups of strangers, but I've done it occasionally.<br />
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On Halloween morning, 2011, I met up with a small group of message forum users at the El Cortez. I don't remember much about that group, other than our de facto leader that day was a gentleman named Dewey. Dewey is one of those guys who contributes a lot, is well liked and finds his way to Vegas now and again. Or at least he did until recently.<br />
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I have appreciated everything Dewey has offered to the online world, either through the message forum or through his own blog writing, and I've managed to keep in touch with him. We may only trade messages a couple of times per year, but that has been going on for more than seven years. And we did manage to meet up again a few years after that first meeting, when another Halloween trip overlapped. Dewey is that cool guy in high school that everybody wanted to be friends with, and I am lucky enough to be able to brag that Dewey is a friend of mine.<br />
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For my Halloween 2016 trip I was staying at The Plaza. That hotel just happened to be the home base of a couple of people from the Facebook group Everything Las Vegas. I was actively using the group at the time, and despite my aversion to mixing and mingling with a group of relative strangers, I stopped into their early evening social gathering for 30 minutes. I was able to meet a few of the group's leaders and regular members, people I recognized by name and face. It was a nice perk of being a part of that group. I hope I get to enjoy another such gathering some day, even if nobody remembers me more than two years later.<br />
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There are great resources online, and great people behind them, usually. After an hour of reminiscing, I'll close for now and plan to continue my online reflections in a second chapter about Virtual Las Vegas. Despite the fact it takes me weeks to put thoughts together, I'll bend over backwards to keep it from being six weeks before I finish what I've started.<br />
<br />Mike H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14643727143711597446noreply@blogger.com0