Downtown trip tidbits

Stayed at Fitzgeralds for $29 per night including tax and daily breakfast. High floor corner room looking out at the Stratesphere on one side and mountains on the other. Very nice. Didn't do breakfast but did try the soup, salad bar and baked potato bar for $6.25. Clean room, great service and a few wins on slots paid for a good half of room and meals.

ElCortez -- Didn't feel the love this time. Usually win at Bj, but nada. New piano bar is clubby and cozy. bar top minimum $.50 VP with 8 machines. The place was jammed with slot tourney people. Indiana Jones machine seduced me then took all my money. bad, bad Indy. They still have 2fers on Martinis in the afternoon. Very excellent, sooths the losses a bit.

The plaza -- has a really odd smell -- maybe the new carpets? Tried the sushi restaurant and had great variety of food with entertainment and attentive, friendly staff. Lots of Hawaiians and a festive happy feel. I got little plastic "helpers" SO my chop sticks worked without any effort on my part. live entertainment with rocking bands and a dueling piano show were going strong. there are a few new slots, but pretty much the same as before the great remodel. I hope the place does well, it's nice to having something anchoring that end of Fremont.

Don't Tell Mama on Fremont had open mike night. No ordinary Karoke, these people can really sing. The bartender belongs on broadway. there's something for everyone here. Funky and funny.

For anyone who has read this far, I have coups left over including free breakfasts at the Fitz and Strip, downtown match plays etc to share.

Thanks, Kris, for those Downtown tidbits!

I paid a visit on 11/1 to Plaza and I do think that it has improved. I didn't notice a smell myself (which is an improvement from before).

I don't know if it is still going on, but they had a Daily Slot Tournament which you had to qualify for by earning 50 points at Plaza.

There were three machines that had 9/6 Jacks Or Better Video Poker at the $0.25 and up levels just to the left of the Swingers Club.

And I thought that the new bar area at El Cortez looked nice. And I did not do terribly there -- about what I expected for the machines and tables that I was dealing with.

And it's surprising to me how many people at the Blackjack tables make that Royal Match bet. I say that because it offers a casino advantage of almost 4%!

RecVPPlayer

Those are great tidbits, I hope we see more like that in this forum.

Sad to see the bartop VP at EC's new lounge is 50 cent, I prefer quarter, but great to hear they're shaking and stirring the happy hour martinis there. I join you in hoping the renovated Plaza can succeed. And I'll keep an eye open for open mike at DTM, I've yet to go in there, wasn't ever sure what I'd find, and that name's kind of off-putting.

Thanks for posting your tidbits! I have yet to visit the NEW Plaza, but hope it is as much fun as the OLD Plaza was! And I will check out Don't Tell Mama on my next trip after reading your report!