Title: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on May 26, 2005, 11:50:16 AM Woohoo! Just booked a trip to Sin City for my wife and I- September 16-20th at the Bellagio. What I want from you folks- suggestions for favorite casinos, restaurants, shows, etc. Also- please warn me off any places that are NOT worth visiting :-D
Any of you plan to be in town during the same time (or live there), might be fun to hook up for a cocktail or 30. Holla! Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on May 26, 2005, 11:55:28 AM If you didn't get your Danny Gans tickets six months ago, don't decide to go see that French fucker at the Venetian. Put that Frankin into video poker instead. He blows.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on May 26, 2005, 12:01:09 PM Bellagio, nice choice. Try the dinner buffet there, its pricy, but outstanding selection if you like seafood.
Personal favorites: Luxor for Poker, its easy to get a seat, and they use the same 2/4 4/8 formats that I'm used to in my local casino. Avoid Excalibur - its pretty much white-trash family hell. Mandalay Bay and the walk between Mandalay and Luxor are very nice. Shows: well, if you want a good example of weird Vegas, there's always Stagliano's Fashionistas http://www.fashionistastheshow.com/ - No nudity, but amazing dancing and some really fucked up shit. Great music too. It plays at the Krave, just outside the Aladin. Then, when its over, you find yourself in a Vegas "alternative" club. What more could you want? :-o Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: schild on May 26, 2005, 12:04:08 PM Shows: well, if you want a good example of weird Vegas, there's always Stagliano's Fashionistas http://www.fashionistastheshow.com/ (http://www.fashionistastheshow.com/images/galleries/frontPagePromo/052.jpg) The safety word is banana. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Mr_PeaCH on May 26, 2005, 12:05:25 PM Avoid Excalibur - its pretty much white-trash family hell He kind of buried that in with the rest and if you don't remember anything else you need to remember this. Have fun! And how can you say 'banana' with a ball-gag... no, I don't want to know. thx Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on May 26, 2005, 12:08:14 PM I will say, the above picture is a very limited portion of that show.
And yes, I should have expounded upon the horrors of the Excalibur a little more. Stayed there for a week on business this Winter. The rolls of pasty white flesh bouncing between the aisles of slots still haunt me. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: schild on May 26, 2005, 12:08:56 PM Those are the action figures you can buy after the show. The chick's outfit is inspired by The Lady of Pain from Planescape.
WAP, the Bellagio is great, and honestly, the only other place I'd spend time in is The Luxor as Bunk mentioned for Poker. Also, I've been interested in seeing Fashionistas also, so go and tell us how it is. K? Gud. The MGM Grand is white trash heaven as well. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Rasix on May 26, 2005, 12:13:06 PM Woohoo! Just booked a trip to Sin City for my wife and I- September 16-20th at the Bellagio. What I want from you folks- suggestions for favorite casinos, restaurants, shows, etc. Also- please warn me off any places that are NOT worth visiting :-D Restaurants: Mesa Grille (common, it's Bobby fucking Flay), Aladdin's Buffet is pretty good too (nice for breakfast), Postrio (at the Venetian) is also really good and a great dining experience (went to the one in San Francisco). You can get good Crepes in the Paris hotel. The Aladdin has a decent gellato shop. I like Vegas for the food, quite honestly the rest of the experience is meh. 4 days in Vegas is for me 3 days too long. Poker: The Aladdin had a pretty OK poker room. A lot of assholes, drunk bastards and dip shits playing fast and loose with their money. I got killed, but I managed to stick around pretty long getting absolutely cold decked. Some stupid dick was actually playing without looking at his cards and just throwing out big bets on everything because he'd always just buy back in if he busted. I'm sure more experienced players would just clean up there. I think I liked internet poker better, easier to ignore some stupid assholes typing than their behavior and body odor. You'll tire of Texans really fast. I hear Mandalay Bay has some nice poker rooms, the atmosphere might be a bit better there too. Aside: You never quite know what horror is until you've see an Orca-fat drunk guy(that's been downing a shot of Jaeger and vodka tonic every half hour) get his thong snapped by some overweight hussy that's been trying to get him to fuck her for the past hour and a half. It's hard to play when you're hearing stories of probably ugly as sin chicks having a three way upstairs and that they're running low on coke. Bellagio is pretty nice for blackjack but I liked the atmosphere of Caesars probably the best. Quote Any of you plan to be in town during the same time (or live there), might be fun to hook up for a cocktail or 30. Holla! Would love to, but I'll be in France! (neener neener neener or something) Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hoax on May 26, 2005, 12:21:04 PM Just make sure you pop inside Wynn's new casino and let us know how it is.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Paelos on May 26, 2005, 12:35:51 PM See a Cirque D' Sole show if you can. I prefer "O". Also, stay out of the Bellagio at night unless you like high min table games. They cater to a $25 minimum bet crowd, and the $10 tables are near impossible to find. I suggest the Sahara if you like low limit craps, and the Bellagio if you like a great sports book.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: schild on May 26, 2005, 12:38:52 PM "O" is fantastic. Though, we booked our tickets like 6 months in advance when we went. 2nd Row seats, even that far away from the date were still ridiculously expensive. Worth. Every. Penny.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: El Gallo on May 26, 2005, 12:50:01 PM I have always been satisfied with the poker room at the Bellagio and pretty much live there when in LV (nice hotel, and I would second the dinner buffet if you feel like gorging yourself vegas style once during your trip, the food is actually good). The Mirage is close, has a poker room, and feels more "old school." Of course, you might want to make a trek down to old vegas to play at the Horseshoe if you are a poker nerd. You will find that the players are much, much worse than they are online. Really.
I must admit that I miss out on most of the Vegas experience because I am a pretty compulsive gambler when I am actually at a casino. I will catass a good 12+ hours a day every day I'm there (la gallina does not like Vegas so she isn't there; it might not work for you unless Mrs Par is a poker freak as well). I have a good friend who recently moved out there, I'll ask him if he can suggest any must see shows or must eat restaurants. I usually go to Mortons for good eats unless I am sucking, but you can go there in any city. I'm just a steak whore. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Llava on May 26, 2005, 01:11:41 PM My personal favorite casino/hotel is the Luxor, just for the decor, good rooms, and it's easy to get a seat at the games. Plus there are a few rides up on the entertainment level.
Despite the warnings about Excalibur, there's a pretty damn good fancy-ish Italian restaurant there with pretty good prices. I definitely wouldn't recommend the joust dinner, though. Very pricey, not worth it. If you're into live animals, visit the MGM Grand and look for the lion exhibit. Really I recommend you spend a day just walking up the Strip and going through all the places you can- the imaginitive decorations are my favorite thing about Vegas. That and the fact that the streets are literally littered with pr0n. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: UD_Delt on May 26, 2005, 01:17:13 PM Find Battista's Hole in the Wall. It's near the main strip but on one of the side streets, can't remember which one exactly. It's decent Italian, fairly priced, free house wine (red or white), and a great roaming accordian player.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Rasix on May 26, 2005, 01:25:31 PM That and the fact that the streets are literally littered with pr0n. That's probably the only thing I miss about Vegas. Mexicans standing on street corners slapping their wrists with stacks of stripper flyers. Is that slapping motion supposed to get me to pick one up? I never quite got that. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on May 26, 2005, 01:29:13 PM I have been trying to remember stuff from my trip. Not because I was loaded, just because my brain doesn't work properly and it was April 2001. I'm glad I went on the Dam Tour before the closed the Dam Thing. I toured on April 1st and it was mildly amusing. Didn't get any Dam Bait, though. I did walk around embarassing my wife by saying "Dee moneyyyyyy! I got dee moneyyy!!!" over and over. That was fun.
I think my favorite part was exploring Valley of Fire State Park, but then I am way too Scottish to appreciate gambling with money. As I mentioned, we didn't plan ahead and therefore were not able to see any good shows. Well, other than the general spectacle of Vegas and if you like watching people as much as I do, that alone is a lot of fun. Mexicans standing on street corners slapping their wrists with stacks of stripper flyers. Is that slapping motion supposed to get me to pick one up? I never quite got that. I would have taken one from one of the girls on the flyer, but a sweaty Mexican man? Negative. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on May 26, 2005, 01:52:03 PM I'll leave most of the poker room stuff to the B&M board over at 2+2 as it has more complete info in there than I could ever post, except to say I like playing at the Mandalay (good room, good comp beer and stacked waitress/whores in thongs) and Monte Carlo rooms when I am serious and the Luxor when I want to drink it up. Haven't played in the new Bellagio room. MGM supposedly has a very nice, very new room.
All this stuff is relatively close to Bellagio: Shows: If you want goofy, decently entertaining magic show that isn't ungodly expensive, Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo is pretty decent. It is a kid oriented, throwback-type magic show, but I liked it for some strange reason. Blue Man Group is a must-see IMO. I totally dug that show. Loved it. If your wife is anything like mine, Mama Mia at the Mandalay is a good bet. It is actually a pretty good show and if you like ABBA at all (hey, I'll admit it, they have great hooks) it is a no-brainer. Never went to any of the Cirque shows, too expensive. Heard mixed reviews of Penn & Teller's Rio show. Bars: Don't hit these much in Vegas, but there is a pretty fun Irish Pub over in New York, New York that has dancers and pipers, etc. The piano bar in the Bellagio (its just by the lobby as you are walking into the casino) is pretty good. Good cheese plate and caviar if you are into that sort of thing. The Brew Pub at Monte Carlo is pretty decent. Stay away from the hip clubs at the top of most of the casions (Foundation Room, Sky Room, etc. etc.) They are pretentious, expensive as hell and you aren't their target customer so they will give you a hard time. Restaurants: First, skip all buffets. On site at Bellagio, for casual type eating both Noodles and Olives are good. There is a good coffee/pastry/Starbucks type place just up the hall from the elevators towards the convention areas that is good for mornings. For spendy, Picasso's is tremendous, but very spendy. Aqua is unbelievable, but again very spendy. Breakfast, the "coffee shop" over by the flowers has real good food. I particularly like their crab eggs benedict. Off site: Andre's at the Monte Carlo is really good french food, but spendy. Red Square at the Mandalay is one of my and my wife's favorite places. Huge vodka/martini selection, bar-top made of ice and good food. Spendy but not in the league of many places down there. There is a good Italian place in the mall at Caesar's that is escaping me at the moment. I've heard good things about the steakhouse at Circus Circus of all places and I liked Blackstone's Steakhouse over at the Monte Carlo. I'll try to think of some others. EDIT: Oh, and "stuff to do" near there. (for me these generally fall into "stuff my wife drags me to when she pries me from the poker room") Avoid the M&M place. Looks fun from the outside, is tremendously tedious on the inside. There is a cool new mall that spans between the Mandalay Bay and Luxor. It has a store for men's shaving items which is neat, a cool toy store, a store completely for tea and a killer wine store called 55 Degrees. There are a couple of cool shops in the Ceasars Mall (The Forum?). Don't like rides so haven't been on any of the roller costers. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Paelos on May 26, 2005, 01:56:28 PM I've had dinner twice at the restaurant inside the Mirage, which I think is called Kokomo's. Fabulous steak and ambiance. The entire place is set up like you are eating in the islands indoors.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Samwise on May 26, 2005, 02:12:57 PM If you like Irish music at all, go to Nine Fine Irishmen (it's in New York New York) some night. The band that plays there is awesome.
(edit) Oh, and if you like vodka, go to Red Square in Mandelay Bay. It's a bit pricy but DAMN is it good. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: tazelbain on May 26, 2005, 02:13:53 PM Besure to checkout those guys that hand out the cards with the phone numbers of call girls with stars placed over the naughty bits, they're great!
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on May 26, 2005, 02:17:49 PM Quote Irish music at all, go to Nine Fine Irishmen Aha! Yes, that is the place I was referring to above and I concur. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on May 26, 2005, 03:18:04 PM I'll agree with the Caveman on Red Square. Cool little vodka bar at Mandalay. Went there after our last convention to celebrate. Got a funny story from the host as to why the statue of Lenin outside the bar has no head. Apparently a few people recognized him when the place opened up and went:
OMG!!1! COMMIE PINKOS!!111!1 They wanted the bar to tear it down, so they just removed the head instead. This way, your average American tourist has no idea who it is, and feels perfectly safe in their freedom loving, democratic vodka bar. (That happens to be called Red Square, and is decorated wall to wall with Communist Russia motifs) snarf Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Merusk on May 26, 2005, 04:38:56 PM I was just there back in December for an Autocad convention. I had a good time even though Vegas isn't really my thing and being there alone was a 'meh' experience. Stayed in the MGM Grand and that place is HUGE.. go and take a look around while you're on the strip. The Rainforest Cafe was a pretty good deal on food, but I'm not one to enjoy $75 meals for some reason so my taste is on the low end.
The company's VP of Architecture took us to Smith & Wollensky one night. Was a great meal, so long as I wasn't paying. Could just be that I was hungover, but I've had better steak at far cheaper places. (Dinner is listed as $21-80 per person at Trip Advisor (http://las-vegas-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g45963-d422717-Reviews-Smith_Wollensky-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html) and that seems to be about what I remember through my haze. I'll definatly agree on the Excalibur, though. I walked in just to take a look around and it felt like one huge Everquest convention. I lasted about 5 mins before I left. See a Cirque D' Sole show if you can. I prefer "O". MGM had one that looked good, called Ka. Japanese-themed but I didn't get to see it because they weren't in town until Friday, which was the day my plane left. I was going to suggest it or "O" On the 'risque' side of things, I'd say pick-up a show at Bally's 'Jubilee' show just for the traditional Vegas showgirls. MGM had a new one called "La Femme: The Art of the Female Nude" that looked pretty good as well. Oh, and the guys flipping the cards? It's just to get the uninitiated or uninformed to look at them so they can shove the flyers in your face of course. It worked on enough folks that I saw, so nobody must have warned them in advance. (or, like me they were looking for 'souviners' to bring home to the wife.) Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on June 27, 2005, 01:36:58 PM Quick bump to gather some more advice. Also, I found a pretty decent comprehensive Vegas review site here (http://www.cheapovegas.com/index.php).
Sounds like we are going to see 'O'. Other activities planned include becoming sloppy drunk, watching and betting football in a Sports Book, and recovering near a pool. Oh yeah, and gambling. Lots of gambling. From the sounds of it, I won't be playing much in Bellagio- I can't stand betting $10+ per hand of blackjack, at least until I get a decent card count going. I also wanna play craps, but it goes too damned fast at $10+ a roll. Think we will head to some off-Strip joints to do that kind of gambling. Anyone join any/all of the player's clubs? I am wondering which ones cough up the best mailing offers for future trips. Never hurts to have a cheap/free room! Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Paelos on June 27, 2005, 03:53:41 PM On the strip casino's if you aren't averaging $25 bets, players clubs are useless. Off strip I can't say much about. Typically, players clubs benefit the slots players and the medium level table players. The slot players get rewards because they know they have you by the balls. My advice is, if you're a table min player, don't bother unless you can get an assurance from the pit boss that your min is being tracked.
Also, the Sahara is a great place for low limit craps. It's a great place to find $5 tables, and even $3 tables in some places. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on June 27, 2005, 04:41:33 PM Quote Anyone join any/all of the player's clubs? I am wondering which ones cough up the best mailing offers for future trips. Never hurts to have a cheap/free room! My soon-to-be-brother in law had one big night on the craps table at the Rio and they comped him a shitload for two years. I think the limits over there aren't quite as high as the prime strip places but are likely higher than the crap-hole downtown places. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Madman on June 28, 2005, 10:53:17 AM Shows: well, if you want a good example of weird Vegas, there's always Stagliano's Fashionistas http://www.fashionistastheshow.com/ - No nudity, but amazing dancing and some really fucked up shit. Great music too. It plays at the Krave, just outside the Aladin. Then, when its over, you find yourself in a Vegas "alternative" club. What more could you want? :-o You do realize that this was originally a hard core porn movie right? This a like to a NOT WORK SAFE review of the movie: http://www.adultvideonews.com/editch/edch0103_02.html Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on June 28, 2005, 12:14:22 PM Yea I know that. It just added to what made the show interesting. The show itself is most deffinately not porn, as its not in a casino - so that can't even have nudity. Thats not to say it isn't erotic of course.
Just all in all, it was a really interesting show. Not for everyone's taste, but I thouroughly enjoyed it. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Viin on August 22, 2005, 12:09:46 AM I'm in Vegas for the next two weeks if anyone happens to be in town. We could hookup and lose some money playing craps together...
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Fabricated on August 22, 2005, 12:11:08 AM My brother is in Las Vegas right now actually. He's really into poker, so I expect him to be poor when he gets back.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Soukyan on August 22, 2005, 05:47:46 AM I'll agree with the Caveman on Red Square. Cool little vodka bar at Mandalay. Went there after our last convention to celebrate. Got a funny story from the host as to why the statue of Lenin outside the bar has no head. Apparently a few people recognized him when the place opened up and went: OMG!!1! COMMIE PINKOS!!111!1 They wanted the bar to tear it down, so they just removed the head instead. This way, your average American tourist has no idea who it is, and feels perfectly safe in their freedom loving, democratic vodka bar. (That happens to be called Red Square, and is decorated wall to wall with Communist Russia motifs) snarf Also at Mandalay is a great restaurant called Rum Jungle. As the name implies, they have a huge selection of rums from around the world. That wasn't the selling point for me. They have an open fire pit where they prepare multiple types of meat and poultry dishes. Along with a rice dish, a salad, a couple potato dishes and vegetables, they serve you several of the meats and poultry. And then they keep bringing it until you tell them to stop. Now, the "all you can eat" angle of it is nice, but I was stuffed in short order. The food was excellent and quite delicious. That particular entree will run you about $40 per person, but is the best deal in the house. Appetizers run around $16 and up. Drinks range from $8 and up. A bit pricey, but great food and a very neat atmosphere. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on August 22, 2005, 08:41:57 AM Forgot one thing if you go to Red Square. Get the olives stuffed with blue cheese instead of pamentos for your straight up vodka (assuming you are a man and drink it that way). Mmmmmmm.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on August 22, 2005, 10:09:03 AM Less than a month away. Woohoo!!
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Viin on August 22, 2005, 03:46:25 PM Seeing as we are a bunch of Air Force folks, can anyone recommend a strip club or two for this weekend's festivites? A friend of mine suggested Spearmint Rhino (or something like that), but have no idea if it's a good one or just the first (and only) one he went to.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on August 23, 2005, 12:53:33 PM I've found casino doormen to be the best source of info on such things (altough they may be getting payola for sending you there). If you can get a "top 3" recommendation from them earlier in the day shift (as opposed to on the way there when the night guys are looking to push people to a particular club) you will probably get a more unbiased report.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 29, 2005, 02:08:46 AM So, it seems like I will be going to CES in january 2006, so I too need a good, but not immensely expensive hotel, where I can get to the convention center without renting a car (no liscense).
Any things to see apart from the city itself(first time US visit). Finally, I might be flying either KLM or American Airlines. KLM flew me to South Africa few years back, which was ok, but nothing special. I've never flewn any US carriers, but have heard some bad things - any views on airlines going from Europe to Vegas? Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: schild on August 29, 2005, 02:36:08 AM We'll be there.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Shockeye on August 29, 2005, 07:16:49 AM So, it seems like I will be going to CES in january 2006, so I too need a good, but not immensely expensive hotel, where I can get to the convention center without renting a car (no liscense). Good luck with that. Hotel room rates skyrocket during convention times. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Fargull on August 29, 2005, 07:53:02 AM Hanzii,
Not sure about Trans-Atlantic, last time I flew to Europe it was on TWA, which to be honest, peeling one's face off with a spoon is about as much fun. I have flown Delta and American with in the states for the last couple of years and so far American is top of the list there. I don't know shit about Vegas, so no suggestions there. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on August 29, 2005, 09:12:12 AM If you want to go low on Hotels, staying off the Strip is a good start. Most of them have shuttles that go to the strip, or you could take a cab for a few bucks.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on August 29, 2005, 10:17:24 AM So, it seems like I will be going to CES in january 2006, so I too need a good, but not immensely expensive hotel, where I can get to the convention center without renting a car (no liscense). Good luck with that. Hotel room rates skyrocket during convention times. Cab rides are cheap. I stayed across the street from the Hardrock, which is one mile off the strip, and cab rides to the Mandalay Convention center were under $10. Book early if its convention time. The place I stayed was affordable, but pretty rundown and old, so I wouldn't recomend it unless you get desperate. Hell, I can't remember what is was called anyways. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on August 29, 2005, 10:47:51 AM Do you have a license, or just no US license? Your license should suffice, but if you want to feel extra comfortable you can get an "international driver's license" which basically says you gave someone <ten US dollars in your currency>.
Edited bracket faux-pax. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 29, 2005, 12:13:43 PM No license at all (yes, that actually works fine over here... allthough the 20 or so privates pushing my around in a truck while I did my national service as a sargeant might not agree).
The company I work for isn't exacrtly poor, but a lot of the hotels on the Strip is allready sold out (and yes, the special convention rate seems to be high), but I am hoping to get a day extra on both sides of the convention, which I might have to pay for myself... so while going luxury might pass with the comapany, that would hurt me later. What are the Bellagio prices? Their online booking is out of order. Luxor looks nice (in that special Las Vegas tacky way), but looks to be sold out allready. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 29, 2005, 12:20:13 PM As far as carriers....
I took British Airways on both of my legs to Rome. They were great. I took Virgin Atlantic back to the US from London. They were even better. I took US Airways twice, between Philadelphia and Orlando. They were ok I suppose; It was just a domestic flight, after all. It will be a damn long flight from you, coming out of northern Europe. If I were you, I'd upgrade to one of the better carriers if possible. Good amenities and legroom are key on those long hauls. Cute little British chick flight attendants don't hurt, either. 8-) Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on August 29, 2005, 04:22:21 PM No license at all (yes, that actually works fine over here... allthough the 20 or so privates pushing my around in a truck while I did my national service as a sargeant might not agree). The company I work for isn't exacrtly poor, but a lot of the hotels on the Strip is allready sold out (and yes, the special convention rate seems to be high), but I am hoping to get a day extra on both sides of the convention, which I might have to pay for myself... so while going luxury might pass with the comapany, that would hurt me later. What are the Bellagio prices? Their online booking is out of order. Luxor looks nice (in that special Las Vegas tacky way), but looks to be sold out allready. Bellagio is notably ritzier than the Luxor, so likely more expensive. Personally, I like the Luxor - good poker room. Avoid the Excalibur unless you really like white trash and snot-nosed kids. Alladin is central on the strip, and supposedly not bad. Which convention center do you need to go to? That should help you decide where to stay. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Rasix on August 29, 2005, 04:35:05 PM Bellagio is notably ritzier than the Luxor, so likely more expensive. Personally, I like the Luxor - good poker room. Avoid the Excalibur unless you really like white trash and snot-nosed kids. Alladin is central on the strip, and supposedly not bad. Having stayed there recently, the Alladin is not bad all. The room was nice even if the sheets were somewhat disappointing. The buffet was good. Poker room didn't seem too terribly great, although playing with a mix of drunk jackasses, Texans, old folks, and Eurotrash was a hoot at times. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Shockeye on August 29, 2005, 06:09:09 PM Whatever you do, avoid the Imperial Palace. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 31, 2005, 01:27:26 AM So, Virgin Atlantic from London and I will be staying at the Sahara.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 02:31:50 AM Enjoy their 1.2 Gazillion media selections on that VA flight.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 31, 2005, 03:27:09 AM Enjoy their 1.2 Gazillion media selections on that VA flight. No, I need to find out who to blow to get an upgrade to the top floor. Individual beds and a fucking bar... I want in. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 03:29:11 AM That shit is just unnecessary.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 31, 2005, 03:48:03 AM I take it, you don't fly as much as I do.
Anything to get you out of monkeyclass and help you forget that you're in a flying tincan with a bunch of smelly strangers is a good thing. Business and (especially) 1st class is absolutely not worth the premium the airlines charge for it, but anytime a company springs for business to impress me, I'm a happy camper - I hate flying. And a free bar can never be considered unecessary! You're probably under 21 years, but I would think that after a prolonged trip to Europe, you would grasp the concept of a bar. Add to that free and 30.000 feet above ground - what's not to like? Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 04:18:03 AM Evidentally, you don't pay attention much. I'm well over 21, and I wouldn't give a shit if every drop of drinkable alcohol on the planet vanished. I cannot stand going to bars; I am immediately bored, and I'm rarely in a bar for mroe than an hour....and I'm rarely in bars as it is.
You yourself said premium is not worth it. Sure, I would take a better seat if it was Given to me, don't be stupid. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 31, 2005, 04:56:20 AM Bars=good!
Anyway the operative words being 'free' and 'upgrade' (and perhaps 'blowjob') we're not really disagreeing much here. And I'm grateful that you reminded me of Virgin Atlantic. The alternative was going SAS and changing in O'Hare - SAS has gone to the dogs as an airline, and I don't want to see the inside of any additional US airports if it can be helped. (other airlines involved a transfer in Europe and then again in the US) Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: schild on August 31, 2005, 05:01:28 AM I can only divine from a handful of Strazos' posts that the part about being social to make friends and get some nookie managed to skip over him on his way through high school and college. Chicks at his school are ugly. The girls on his trip overseas were ugly. Bars aren't worth going to. Upgraded seating on a fucking 8+ hour flight isn't worth paying for. Etc etc.
Let me just say this right now, I was the only person flying in an upgraded class in highschool overseas and it was worth every damn penny. Stop applying to the doctrine of reverse elitism. It only worked back in middle school and even then it was pretty stupid. Bars are good. Women are good, particularly since you're a nerd (pot, kettle, etc). Upgraded seating is worth it. The girls on your trip weren't ugly and you shouldn't have given two shits about their "personality" on a few week trip overseas. I could go on, but it wouldn't be worth it as none of the above will sink in despite the fact I can smell the [sexual] angst in your posts. I'm well over 21, and I wouldn't give a shit if every drop of drinkable alcohol on the planet vanished. I cannot stand going to bars; I am immediately bored, and I'm rarely in a bar for mroe than an hour....and I'm rarely in bars as it is. Oh, and TALK TO PEOPLE. Ya know, that social thing, it works. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 07:02:33 AM Bleh.
Chicks at his school are ugly. I never quite said that. I just personally don't know many, if any, at my school. Then again, I'm a history major...which isn't a very popular choice among the ladies. Also, I'm not really available to other people on my campus - I'm in class for however many hours a day, on some day I go work in my office for a few hours, and then I go the fuck home and take a fucking nap (usually). Thems the breaks. Quote The girls on his trip overseas were ugly. Heh, no....they just weren't really my type, and vice versa. Also, they were pretty much all pretty much spoiled, immature elitist bitches. If you think I'm elitist, imagine what it takes for me to call that on someone. Quote Bars aren't worth going to. I don't really drink, at least, not to the "standards" of my peers. I also don't particularly like to hit on random people. Quote Upgraded seating on a fucking 8+ hour flight isn't worth paying for. If you're paying for it, sure...But I don't have the cash to burn an extra...I dunno, fuckton of cash, on a cushier seat with 4 more inches of legroom and a bar I don't need. That's great if you can get someone to pay for you, but it's not something I would easily do myself. I just need a seat that doesn't have someone leaning on me. Note: I was (well, still am, really) one of those guys who can fall asleep, quite comfortably, in those solid desks at school, sitting straight up. Sleeping in class is the best, most refreshing sleep you can ever get. Quote The girls on your trip weren't ugly and you shouldn't have given two shits about their "personality" on a few week trip overseas. Definately not going over That again...../sigh I'm well over 21, and I wouldn't give a shit if every drop of drinkable alcohol on the planet vanished. I cannot stand going to bars; I am immediately bored, and I'm rarely in a bar for mroe than an hour....and I'm rarely in bars as it is. Oh, and TALK TO PEOPLE. Ya know, that social thing, it works. Quote Noez...not another rehash.... Sorry, pre-semester jitters. I cannot sleep....and probably will not until about 8pm, if I can make it that far. Horray insomnia. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: MrHat on August 31, 2005, 09:35:28 AM I was under the impression that all international flights were 'drinks-included'.
I'd recommend BA anytime. Also, some companies (Siemens) will let you pocket the cash you don't spend on a business trip. In that case, I'd take economy for a 15 hour flight, play my PSP, watch 2 shitty movies, get drunk and sleep for 8 hours. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on August 31, 2005, 12:25:31 PM I think that college girls are not as interested in your major as they are in your Major, if you get me.
Air Canada was nice. Flew Atlanta-Toronto-Glasgow. I'd recommend them if the Toronto airport wasn't a reeking portal to the underworld. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 12:42:31 PM I think that college girls are not as interested in your major as they are in your Major, if you get me. I get you, but that wasn't what I meant. What I meant is that I come into contact with very few decent chicks, because not many women overall go into History, and naturally, not all of them can be attractive. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on August 31, 2005, 01:19:16 PM Your standards are too high.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 01:20:29 PM You haven't been in my history courses.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on August 31, 2005, 01:26:08 PM Touche.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 01:34:48 PM Boom, headshot! (http://kidvsballround2.ytmnd.com/) I win. :wink:
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on August 31, 2005, 01:45:41 PM I was under the impression that all international flights were 'drinks-included'. . Sure, but VA has an actual bar. (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridion/images/ucsbar206x205_tcm4-40368.jpg) and they call their 1st class for Upper Class... I like it. My company doesn't pay for business tickets, just economy. So that's why I was hoping for the upgrade. They don't even let you keep frequent flyer points (but that's not a problem since no two trips are for the same destination or with the same carrier). I'm not complaining though, they're springing for a week in Vegas... I was just getting hot for that fucking ridiculous bar, which would cost me $13K if I was actually paying for it. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on August 31, 2005, 01:47:30 PM That is pretty sweet. I fucking hate flying, but if I have to go transoceanic, that is how I wanna do it. Either that, or unconscious.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 01:48:12 PM I want to see Schild try and justify paying 13k for a flight I paid, what, $400 for?
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Shockeye on August 31, 2005, 01:49:00 PM I want to see Schild try and justify paying 13k for a flight I paid, what, $400 for? Settle the fuck down. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: schild on August 31, 2005, 01:52:01 PM I want to see Schild try and justify paying 13k for a flight I paid, what, $400 for? Settle the fuck down. No no, it's ok, he's just twisting my words. I said upgraded seating once and upgraded class once. Not Playboy Luxury Class. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on August 31, 2005, 02:33:39 PM Let me just say this right now, I was the only person flying in an upgraded class in highschool overseas and it was worth every damn penny. What does this mean then? Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Righ on August 31, 2005, 03:07:19 PM It's a well known and slightly humorous way of saying that something for nothing is nice to have. As in "free beer is worth every damn penny". And it is.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: DevilsAdvocate on August 31, 2005, 11:02:34 PM I live in Las Vegas, I don't drink nor do I gamble, so I can make no recommendations for those things.
Check out the House of Blues website for shows during your trip if you are into music. (http://www.hob.com/) If you are a gamer, right next to the MGM Grand (which is worth visiting for the Lion Habitat (http://www.mgmgrand.com/pages/index_flash.asp)) is Gameworks (http://www.gameworks.com/) which is basically a big arcade. Fun place to hang out and the M&M Store (http://shop.mms.com/service/lasvegas.asp?UID=) and the Coca-Cola Store (http://www.nextexit.com/dap/woc/wocdemo2.html) are right near it. Also, at night, if you walk the Strip, you will have a chance to see the Mirage Volcano (www.themirage.com) and the light show outside the Bellagio (www.bellagiolasvegas.com). Also, if you are going with your sweetheart, stop by the Venetian (www.venetian.com) and ride the gondolas. The gondoleers are roleplayers of the best kind, they speak with an accent, speak italian, dress up and boy, can they sing! Finally, if you are interested in roller coasters and such, Circus-Circus has the Adventure Dome (www.adventuredome.com) behind it. Circus-Circus (www.circuscircus.com/index2.php) also does free circus type acts (high wire, trapeze, and such) nearly every night. All in all, have fun, that's what Vegas is all about and don't forget to tip your servers. Usually, they are younger folks and they aren't making a whole lot of money. One last thing, about half an hour out of town on the way to California is a casino called Buffalo Bill's (http://www.primmvalleyresorts.com/pages/bb_home.asp). They have a pretty damn big outdoor roller coaster that I rode when my gf's sister was in town. It was pretty fun, but might be a bit of a drive. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Viin on September 01, 2005, 12:26:32 AM I'm staying at Boulder Station, which is maybe 5 miles from the Strip. Nice enough rooms, though their casino is filled with smoke. Nice thing about this place is that it has a few restaurants inside (buffet, pasta place, steak place, plus fastfood chinese, burger king, TCBY, and starbucks). Not sure how much cab ride to the strip would cost, but they do have a bus that runs between their "station" casinos and one of those might be on the Strip or near it (never looked myself).
But let me tell you, 2 weeks in Vegas is waaayyy too long. I want to go home! :cry: Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on September 01, 2005, 11:43:32 AM One last thing, about half an hour out of town on the way to California is a casino called Buffalo Bill's (http://www.primmvalleyresorts.com/pages/bb_home.asp). They have a pretty damn big outdoor roller coaster that I rode when my gf's sister was in town. It was pretty fun, but might be a bit of a drive. Funny you should mention this. I really dig rollercoasters and was checking this out - apparently it's the tallest coaster in the world (or used to be). I'm so going to check it out. What about those on top of the tower in the city proper - good or just gimmicky by being on top of such a tall building? Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on September 01, 2005, 11:56:00 AM The coaster at New York New York was not worth the ten dollars. It could have been decent but they had let it go for too long without replacing the wheels. A rickety wooden coaster is charming, a rickety steel coaster is uncomfortable.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Shockeye on September 01, 2005, 12:04:15 PM Stratosphere ride prices. (http://www.stratospherehotel.com/stratosphere_tower.html)
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on September 01, 2005, 12:38:27 PM I can find plenty of ways to make myself vomit in Vegas without thrill rides. Buffets, free drinks, Elvis impersonators...
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Hanzii on September 01, 2005, 12:42:06 PM I can find plenty of ways to make myself vomit in Vegas without thrill rides. Buffets, free drinks, Elvis impersonators... I don't like buffets and I don't like Elvis... Free drinks - I'll be there... but I thought they were reserved for people that lose a lot of money. Or people the casinos would like to lose a lot of money. I like thrill rides. 2 min 45 seconds I think I can find in my schedule between the free drinks and strippers. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Yegolev on September 01, 2005, 01:50:27 PM What do you mean, you don't like Elvis? Next you'll say you don't like booze or donuts.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on September 01, 2005, 02:01:19 PM And buffets at Vegas - in the good hotels - are a whole different story. I highly recomend the Bellagio buffet. Its about $35, but I thought it was well worth it.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Shockeye on September 01, 2005, 02:04:35 PM I've heard good things about Rio's seafood buffet, but I've never been.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Furiously on September 01, 2005, 02:25:54 PM Can you all please get back to Strazos's coming out party.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on September 01, 2005, 02:50:46 PM Generally, the drinks are free for gamblers, though tipping is customary.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Shockeye on September 01, 2005, 02:53:18 PM Can you all please get back to Strazos's coming out party. No. Any more requests for that shit will meet with a swift time-out. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Furiously on September 01, 2005, 02:59:20 PM That was supposed to be green.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: DevilsAdvocate on September 02, 2005, 07:14:15 PM I'm staying at Boulder Station, which is maybe 5 miles from the Strip. Nice enough rooms, though their casino is filled with smoke. Nice thing about this place is that it has a few restaurants inside (buffet, pasta place, steak place, plus fastfood chinese, burger king, TCBY, and starbucks). Not sure how much cab ride to the strip would cost, but they do have a bus that runs between their "station" casinos and one of those might be on the Strip or near it (never looked myself). But let me tell you, 2 weeks in Vegas is waaayyy too long. I want to go home! :cry: You are right down the street from my house. We go to Boulder Station for two reasons: the buffet and the movie theater. If their theater isn't showing what we want to see, it's guaranteed that Sam's Town, just a short drive away, is showing it in their theater. Sam's Town is kinda nice to go to, if you get the chance. They have an indoor waterfall and atrium that I am always drawn to every time I go in there. Kinda fun to get ice cream at Calamity Jane's and then go eat it in the atrium. I believe the Palace Station is the one closest to the Strip. I'm not 100% certain, but I think the Barabary Coast may be a Station casino as well. If you are gambling, I have hard that the Station Player's Club is decent. Particularly since it is applicable in all of their casinos. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Viin on September 04, 2005, 08:57:42 PM .. Sam's Town is kinda nice to go to, if you get the chance. They have an indoor waterfall and atrium that I am always drawn to every time I go in there. Kinda fun to get ice cream at Calamity Jane's and then go eat it in the atrium. I believe the Palace Station is the one closest to the Strip. I'm not 100% certain, but I think the Barabary Coast may be a Station casino as well. If you are gambling, I have hard that the Station Player's Club is decent. Particularly since it is applicable in all of their casinos. I just got home yesterday morning, so this comes a bit late for me. But I'll remember it for next time! I could see Sam's Town from my hotel room but didn't get a chance to head that way. I did see The Transporter 2 on Friday at the theatre, which is nice to have in the same place. Even at $9.50 a pop, seeing a movie is a *much* cheaper way to spend 2 hours. And don't tip those craps dealers, they took all my money! Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on September 04, 2005, 09:02:55 PM That's what happens when you go with the big-pay sucker bets. :-P
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on September 15, 2005, 09:24:59 AM Just a reminder- I will be wheels down in Vegas in about 25 hours. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone who wants to stop in and buy me a drink, feel free :-D Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on September 22, 2005, 12:08:34 PM Apologies for any grammatical or spelling errors- pretty much stream of consciousness here. Comments welcomed.
Friday Sept 16th- 8 am flight from SeaTac (after a sleepless night)- get to Vegas about 10:15. Collected luggage, then caught the shuttle to Bellagio. Took about 45 minutes to get there, but I enjoyed the ride; I haven’t been to LV since 1992, so there was a ton of new stuff for me to see. Got checked in at Bellagio (thank GOD our room was ready), and headed upstairs for a quick nap. Met up with my buddy and his wife, and we headed to Monte Carlo for some beer and food at the brewpub there. Beer was decent, Wild Mushroom and Three cheese pizza was incredible. Friends had to take off for dinner and ‘O’, so my wife and I wandered past NY NY to Excalibur. Played some blackjack (up about $30), then wandered over to the Tropicana (‘won’ a sweatshirt playing their rigged $20 slot game, but it was fun) and MGM (played some more slots). Got back to Bellagio around 9 and relaxed in our room for awhile waiting for my buddy to get out of O. Buddy calls about 12:30 am, and we head down to the poker room for my first Vegas poker experience. We get on the list for $4/$8 and loiter around the entrance. A very small Asian man wearing headphones walked past me to have a cigarette, and I realized it was Chau Giang! I then peered into the back room, and realized that Jen Harman and Barry Greenstein were also onhand playing. Starstruck! Got into the $4/$8 game. While I was waiting for my blind in the 9 seat, a drunk guy at the other end of the table was doing his best maniac impression and completely pissing off the guy next to me. I soon realized that most of the maniacal behavior was an act, and that this guy (while drunk) knew what he was doing. Guy next to me busts and leaves in a huff, and I the dealer if I can have the seat. “Sure- you can’t play any worse than that guy did!”. Heh. I drag a couple of pots, have some fun, and end up ahead $79 before I am too tired to continue. Head upstairs for some sleep. Sat. Sept. 17th. Get out of bed and get ready- meet our friends and head over to Paris for the buffet Stand in line for about 45 minutes, but it ends up being worth it. Wow- very nice spread from Paris. I particularly enjoyed the Eggs Benedict (I am a sucker for hollandaise). Stuffed, we wander through Paris and work our way up the Strip on foot, stopping every now and then for a quick $slot or blackjack hit and a cocktail or two. We find an empty $5 BJ table at Imperial Palace, so we all sit down to try our lucky. Buddy his first base, his wife, then me, then my wife. I clean up, while everyone else loses. My wife swears she will never sit to my left at a blackjack table again (I stole about 10 cards that would have given her winners! Heh)- See Pete Rose signing autographs in the Forum shops, and am almost killed by the irony of seeing him in a gambling town =) Eventually head back to Bellagio for a some downtime with plans to head downtown later.- Up about $40. Friends have rented a car, so they pick up my wife and I and we head to Binion’s. Downtown was a freakin’ ZOO- there was some sort of biker gathering going on. Not really my crowd…Wander into Binion’s so my buddy and I can see the Wall of Champions. Finally find it, and the brush talks us into playing some $2/$4 while our wives and his MIL watch the Fremont Experience outside. I drag the first 2 pots, then go ice cold. End up down $38, but up cocktails, so it wasn’t a bad trade. Forget to take a pic of the Wall of Champions (the whole reason I went there in the first place). ARRGGH. Head back to Bellagio (with a quick detour for In N Out….woohoo!). Play a couple of slots, then head to bed- early day tomorrow for football! Sunday Sept. 18th- Get up at 8 (ugh), shower, then head over to my buddy’s room. He has his laptop set up with Internet access, so I check my fantasy lineups, do some quick online banking, and then we head to Caesar’s (the book we had decided on in our scouting trip the day before). Get there right around 9, and the whole damned place is full already. Bugger. End up sitting in the Keno area on the edge of the book; security forces us to play Keno while we study the morning game lines. I end up taking Baltimore (ugh), Minnesota (double ugh) and Jacksonville (who thankfully cover the generous +9 they were given, even though they lose). Buddy had Indy and Minnesota, so he is 0-2. Wives stop by to see us right before the afternoon games start. They take one look at how tipsy we are already and my wife exclaims “Have you guys EATEN ANYTHING?? I tell her that I had an olive in my first Bloody Mary =) She rolls her eyes, and her and buddy’s wife head off to get us some food before we drink ourselves dead. We bet the afternoon games, have some more cocktails and sit back. I take the Chargers (who end up pushing), and put $55 on Seattle (my home town boys). The Seahawks run out to a 21-0 lead at halftime, and I call my dad to wish him a happy B-day and chirp about the money I will have after the game. Then the dreaded Seattle collapse starts, and I have to keep pounding drinks to keep from slitting my wrists. Finally they hold off Atlanta, and I cash out up $65 for the games. Buddy and his wife are flying out Sunday evening, so we bid them goodbye and head out.” Wife encourages me to try a few spins at a $1 Megabucks machine on the way out of the book, so I comply. 2nd spin, I hit for $150, so I cash out the rest and head on my merry way. So begins a night of slot heaven- I couldn’t freakin’ lose. I hit a couple of small wins (doubling up my original $20 investment) playing Jackpot Party at Treasure Island and Wynn, and empty the hopper at a Jackpot Party machine at the Venetian (paid out 480-odd quarters. Wandered the Strip in a drunken haze the rest of the night, pausing long enough to win $75 at a Treasure Island BJ table playing like a donkey (and totally pissing my wife off, since she can’t seem to win ANYTHING this trip). Head back to Bellagio dead tired and footsore, but up for the day. Is there anything better? Monday Sept. 19th Get out of bed around 10, shower, and head downstairs to catch the Bellagio buffet (no line- gotta love weekdays!). Chow down some decent grub, then decide to play some more poker while the wife goes shopping. I immediate seating at a rocky $4/$8 table and play for a couple of hours. Someone asks about tournaments, and there is mention of a Mandalay Bay tourney starting at 6pm. I call my wife and see if she wants to meet me down there (I haven’t seen MB yet). She agrees, so I cash out at Bellagio up $7 (big score) and make my way down to Mandalay Bay. I find the poker room about 4:45 PM and get signed up for the tournament (which is limited to 30 players…doh! I doubt I would have come if I had known how small it is). Get seated in a $4/$8 game and am instantly confused by the blind structure- the blinds are $1 and $2, and there is also a half-kill going. I eventually figure it out, get comfortable, and take down a few pots. Cash out up $70 in time to play the tourney. Slowly accumulate chips with some tight aggressive play in the tournament (which ends up with only 25 players). I get the honor of busting the first player out, and then cruise to the final table about 2nd or 3rd in chips. We get down to 6 handed (it pays 5), and then everything stalls. Every time a short stack gets all in, they win the pot. We play this way for a good 30 minutes. I take advantage of bubble time to steal a ton of blinds, so my stack is headed north (although I get caught stealing once with 97s and double the bb up, but such is life). Make it down to heads up with a semi-hot blonde who has a 3-1 chip lead on me. She is still playing it close to the vest, so I steal most pots with a preflop raise. We end up about even in chips, when I shove with J9o in the small blind. She thinks about it for a bit and finally calls, turning over J9s! We end up chopping the pot. After some back and forth, I can’t get her to commit any chips (she has a slight chip leade at this point). I get AJs and decide to get cute and limp from the button. She checks, and we see a flop-884 (no diamonds for me). She checks, and I bet $1900 (min is $1600). I am trying to represent a big hand trying to get paid off with a little bet. She thinks and thinks, and finally shoves for about $4000 more. Figuring I am more or less committed, I call. She turns over Q4, I get no help and take 2nd place and $300. After the tourney, wife and I hit Shark Reef, which was about as cool as I could have hoped (I am a big zoo.aquarium nerd). Totally worth the time and money (and the freakin ½ mile walk from the casino…it is buried WAY in the back of the place!). We head back to Bellagio after a brief stop at Luxor (drop $40 in slots there). Grab a late night bite at Noodles (LOVED it) see Robert Willliamson III chilling in the Baccarat Bar, and then head to bed about 1:30 am . Tuesday Sept. 20th- Get up about 10, get packed and go check out. Leave our bags with the bell station. Wife goes shopping, I go to the Bellagio poker room. Have to wait about 30 minutes for a new game to start, so turn $20 into $100 playing video poker right outside the room. Get called for the new game, and proceed to see exactly dick for cards for 2 straight hours. Get AK once, pot gets capped 5 ways preflop. Had a wheel draw busted, so fold the river when a 2nd 4 hits the board. Winner tables quad 4s, then proceeds to make quad As then very next hand with A8s on a AAA75 board (this guy hit everything he looked at the first 2 hours). I buy another rack of blue and hope my luck improves. I finally break my session cherry about 2.5 hours in when I make a continuation bet after raising preflop with AJs. Both opponents muck ,and I take down a tiny pot. Yay! Best hand of the day- I have 53o in the big blind, and actually get to take a flop with 5 others. Flop is 355. Hey, that might work for me! SB checks, I check, luckbox quad guy checks,1 bet, 2 folds. SB calls, I call, and luckbox raises. Original raiser calls, SB folds, and I call. Turn is a T. I check., luckbox bets, 7 seat folds. I raise, luckbox re-raises, and I raise again. He calls instead of capping, and we see go to the river. A 6 comes off. I bet out. Luckbox says “do you have a straight?” and calls. I table my hand and take down a nice pot- SB says “VERY nicely played”. After that, I go ice cold again. I finally cash out down $147 for the day (just ugly). Wife comes back ,and we have about an hour to kill before we have to hit the airport. I haven’t played craps the whole trip (haven’t played in like 12 years and can barely remember how it works), so we bite the bullet and I snuggle into a $10 table (which is a little high for my limited bankroll, but I am up for the trip, so what the hell). Bounce up and down for a few shooters, and finally get my chance to throw the dice. Hit 3 points and a couple of hardways, which makes me pretty popular at the table. Eventually crap out, play through one more shoot, and leave the table up $70, This gambling is easy! Finally head to the airport and find out our flight has changed to be an hour earlier. Luckily we were at the airport early, so this is good news for us. Of course, the flight gets delayed and eventually takes off at almost exactly the same time as originally scheduled. Bumpy flight home, but nice to sleep in my own bed and see my poor cat (who assumed we had left him for good!). Had a GREAT time, and can’t wait to go back (winning about $600 didn’t hurt). Now that I have seen almost everything (missed the Mirage and Aladdin this trip), I can concentrate on playing more poker and hitting some more tournaments next time down. Can’t wait! Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Strazos on September 22, 2005, 02:35:28 PM Only thing that confused me (besides all the Poker jargon) was the changing of your flight to be Earlier....I wasn't aware that ever happened.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on September 22, 2005, 03:53:12 PM They actually changed the flight- it had a new number and everything. I was probably notified about it at some point, but never saw it. As for the poker jargon, I originally posted the trip report on a poker site, so I emphasized that part of it.
I did forget to mention that unbelievable quantity and quality of cleavage in Vegas. It is truly a magical place. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on September 22, 2005, 09:58:30 PM Good trip report. Next time I will try to make it down so we can tear up the poker rooms together. :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Bunk on September 23, 2005, 09:00:36 AM Quote After some back and forth, I can’t get her to commit any chips (she has a slight chip leade at this point). I get AJs and decide to get cute and limp from the button. She checks, and we see a flop-884 (no diamonds for me). She checks, and I bet $1900 (min is $1600). I am trying to represent a big hand trying to get paid off with a little bet. She thinks and thinks, and finally shoves for about $4000 more. Figuring I am more or less committed, I call. She turns over Q4, I get no help and take 2nd place and $300. This struck me as funny. The last day I spent in Vegas in March, playing no limit, I had pocket QQ and the flop came up 884. Hit a Q on the turn and then had two people go all-in in front of me. My boat killed three 8s and pocket aces. Walked away up $380. Must be a lucky flop. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on September 23, 2005, 09:25:21 AM Good trip report. Next time I will try to make it down so we can tear up the poker rooms together. :mrgreen: Yeah, that isn't too far for you to go, is it? I will be down again sometime in the first half of 2006 almost for certain- gonna have a bachelor party to attend. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on July 02, 2007, 04:31:19 PM Necro!
I am headed back to Vegas September 6th through the 10th, staying at the Wynn (we got a mailer from them that had a FANTASTIC deal- about $600 for 4 nights, which is less than 1/2 price!). Thinking about catching a show this time through, but Christ they are spendy. Do you know how much gambling I could do with $300? If we do it, will probably catch Love or O, or maybe Ka. Love to hook up with any and all who happen to be in town around then. I may even open my wallet for a beer or twenty :-D Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: trotski on July 03, 2007, 10:29:25 AM Bastard! I was just there two weeks ago! Although i could probably be persuaded to go down again...if the wife approves :roll:
Hmmm...remembering the donkeys at the 1/2 NL table at the Luxor at 1am is making me salivate.... Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on July 03, 2007, 10:31:59 AM Quote Hmmm...remembering the donkeys at the 1/2 NL table at the Luxor at 1am is making me salivate.... See? That is how you pay for your trip! Unless you go on a serious cold streak or play like an asshole, it is pretty hard to lose substantial money playing poker with Vegas tourists. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Signe on July 03, 2007, 11:07:00 AM Donkeys? Are you sure you're not confusing Nevada with Mexico?
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Phildo on July 04, 2007, 01:33:31 PM http://www.skymaniafuncenters.com/
Dodgeball on trampolines. 'Nuff said. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on July 04, 2007, 02:16:34 PM Link to some deals on various Cirque tickets (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=195896&t=552146)
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on July 05, 2007, 10:00:29 AM Link to some deals on various Cirque tickets (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=195896&t=552146) Ab, you are the MAN!! Just bought 2 for Love (September 6th, 7pm). Next trick is to get you and the missus to come hang out for a night or two for some poker and drinking. First few are on me for the link! :-D Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on July 05, 2007, 05:48:16 PM No prob. It was very serendipitous that I saw that posting. I was worried they would be all gone by the time you saw it. Glad you managed to snag a couple.
If I can swing it I will try to make it down, but being so new to the job my ability to take off is highly limited. Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on August 29, 2007, 01:48:36 PM Just a reminder- anyone that can get to Vegas next weekend (Th through M) has the rare opportunity to witness me in my native environment. Watch as it gambles, drinks, eats, and stumbles around incoherently. See if it can talk a host into comping it some cool shit. Make it buy you a drink!
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: Abagadro on August 29, 2007, 08:24:12 PM If I wasn't neck deep in the hell of my comp exam prep I'd come down there. Have a good time and bluff-raise a busted flop with 87s for me.
Title: Re: Vegas, Baby! Post by: WayAbvPar on September 05, 2007, 08:26:55 AM I will be in the air in just over 24 hours. Woohoo!
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