Some like it LIVE….The Director’s Cut…
Yes. I did take my December Vegas Trip (12-15 to 12-20). And yes. I wrote a Trip Report. It was a LIVE trip report on another board that shall remain nameless. In the greatest Hollywood tradition, I figured I could repackage it and post it here as the deluxe Director’s Cut…with special additional commentary. So here’s how it works…Anything in normal font was part of the live report. Anything in Italics is additional commentary. Easy enough? Good.
My Gambling Buddy Robin and I had another great trip planned. This one would be a little different than any since around 2001….We’re driving. It’s about a 7 hour drive from Fresno to Vegas. It’s a 45 Minute Flight. Our last few flights have been miserable. 5 hours. Airport delays…vomit in the aisles, crazy people, schlepping our stuff through the airport….And now higher prices and full body scans…for more delays. Screw it. Robin’s got a new car….it’s way past time for a ROAD TRIP!
As always, Robin and I pool some money for communal matchplays….which is our initial focus We put our winnings in the ‘Gambling Wallet’ and then take a percentage of our winnings and bet on Sunday Football games….Finally, Sunday night, we split ‘the goods’. This approach prevents us from losing all of our money on the first day…and has been profitable over the years….and it’s a lot of fun.
Our first two nights were at Southpoint where we each had one free night from Southpoint’s E-Mail promo. Southpoint also had a $2.00 for ANY DRINK in ANY BAR promotion going to celebrate their 5th anniversary. As an ‘Advantaged Drinker’, I had a list of fine spirits I wished to explore…oh boy!
As we were about to leave, Mrs. AlanLeroy handed me two ‘5 Hour Energy’ Drinks. “Here…In case of emergency” she insisted. Never had one of these drinks, but it couldn’t hurt…
WEDNESDAY
Posted 12-15-10 0 10:54 AM
It starts in one hour. I will update this thread if anything happens.
Posted 12-15-10 02:50 PM
Now on Hwy 58 East just outside Bakersfield. It's raining.
Nothing else of note.
Posted 12-15-10 04:30 PM
We're still 90 miles or so from Baker. We just passed Boron. That's where Boraxo is made! 178 Miles to Vegas. 799 bottles of beer on the wall...
Posted 12-15-10 04:50 PM
I wanted to stop at the Boraxo Museum in Boron. Robin said to fuck off. It stopped raining. We will probably stop in Baker to pick up California Lottery tickets and check out the Mad Greek. Our first Vegas stop is M Resort for Dinner.
Posted 12-15-10 06:40 PM
Baker: I went in and smelled the Mad Greek. Took a pic and left. 65 miles to Vegas.
The Plan For Tonight:
Dinner at M Buffet
Check in at Southpoint
Over to LVA headquarters to pick up our POVs that are stashed in a planter
Gold Coast for freeplay
Ellis Island for Egg Nog and free play
Hard rock for matchplay and freeplay
Orleans for matchplay and freeplay then back to Southpoint for the night...and some of that 2 dollar premium booze.
Wednesday Notes. We made it to LVA World Headquarters about 10:30 PM. They were supposed to have stashed our MRBs under a ‘planterlike ashtray’ in the front of the building. Robin hopped out and retrieved our bag. We opened it up. It said ‘GLEN’ on the envelope. There was only one MRB..CRAP…they SCREWED US. Robin then walked around to the ‘front’ of the building and found our MRB’s inside the other ‘planterlike ashtray’. Sorry we opened your envelope Glen.
On our return to Southpoint, we sat down at the Island Bar for our Two Dollar Drinks. I took out my list of premium Spirits I had never tried….I ordered a Henry VIII Cognac. The bartender laughed out loud. I ordered a Johnnie Walker Black. He snickered. I ordered a Don Julio Tequila…Ding Ding Ding…It was a winner. My whole ‘premium’ Tequila experience prior had been shots of Cuervo Gold with lime and salt. I discovered that truly premium Tequila was supposed to be ‘sipped’ not ‘shot’. I had several more to verify that fact.
THURSDAY
Posted 12-16-10 08:20 AM
Last night’s fun:
M + 20
Gold Coast -5
Ellis + 50
Hard Rock + 50
Orleans -20
Southpoint--Don Julio + 5
Don Julio won.
We're late this morning...
Today’s Plan: M Breakfast (+ Freeplay)
Orleans Again (Players Club was closed so we only did MP)
Palms
Downtown (Plaza, Vegas Club, Fitz, Golden Gate, El Cortez, Jerry's Nugget)
Boulder Hwy: E. Cannery, Longhorn
Ventano's Italian for Lunch
Check into Flamingo...Just Check in...we're not staying there until tomorrow.
Terribles
Back to Southpoint for the 49er Charger Game (Go Niners)
Primarily Prime Rib at Soutpoint
Bingo at Southpoint
More Drinks at Southpoint...Lots of more drinks.
It's not time for the lucky hat. Timing is everything.
FRIDAY
Posted 12-17-10 09:52 AM
Thursday Recap
Buffet Breakfast at M (Outstanding)
Nice Communal Matchplay Run +100 (Our gambling wallet is growing)
M
Ventano
Eastside Cannery loved their vintage slot room
Longhorn
Vegas Club
Fitzgeralds
El Cortez
Four Queens
Golden Gate
Jerry’s Nugget
We were at Jerry’s Nugget to place 3 sports bets. We made two bets with the ACG $5.00 matchplays. 1 on the Niners to win Thursday’s game…one on the Chargers to win the game. Robin is a Charger Fan, I’m a Niner fan. Using communal matchplays we were guaranteed a win. We placed the ‘Over’ in the game too. We did this because Jerry’s has a special deal. You can use 1 losing $5.00 sports bet for a blackjack matchplay. So we were guaranteed at least one Matchplay. Either the Over bet would win or it would lose and give us another matchplay. Last year, Jerry’s had no limit on the number of $5.00 losing sports bets you could convert to matchplays, so we bet all of our Sunday sports bets in $5.00 increments and ended up with 26 $5.00 matchplays….we actually lost about 20 of those bets last year. Now they limit you to one losing bet.
Checked into Flamingo $10 Go Room Upgrade, but won’t really move in until Friday
What a nice room this was. Decent size. Nice view. Flatscreen in the main room. TV in the Bathroom…clean…modern. We almost decided to move early…but the Southpoint was a nice room as well.
Studied premium Tequila for $2.00 while Robin and I watched the Niner/Charger Game at Southpoint’s Miguel's Tequila Bar
I have learned much about Tequila.
Primarily Prime Rib at Southpoint
Nice PR Dinner
This was a great value for a nice Prime Rib Dinner…using MRB 2 fer. Good Split Pea Soup
11:00 PM Bingo at Southpoint
I lost.
My third try at Bingo. I’ve never won
Sleep
This morning we packed up and left Southpoint. Drove right to Harri’s Baglemania. Got Bagles, Breakfast Sandwiches and Robin Got some whitefish to go.
Our first visit to Harri’s. Turns out Baglemania is a fantastic Jewish Bakery and Deli. Robin is Jewish and loves whitefish salad, but even after consuming 4 pounds of the stuff from some LA Deli the previous week, he still ordered it from Harri’s and wanted more.
Next to our Flamingo Go Room...where I just consumed my sandwich and am looking down from the 26th floor onto the entire Flamingo Grounds...
Posted 12-17-10 10:34 AM
What I'm looking at.
A job at Jerry's Nugget has no future.
Steak N Shake at Southpoint...at 2:00 AM on the night before Grand Opening.
Steak N Shake at Southpoint on Grand Opening Night. Huge Crowd. Looked like a burger joint to me.
Posted 12-17-10 7:41 PM
Robin and I started the trip by each contributing $100 to the 'Gambling Wallet'. All of our matchplay bets come from the gambling wallet. All of the matchplay wins go into the wallet.
I am happy to report that as of 7:37 PM Friday Night...the matchplay wallet has grown to $800.
We Worked Matchplays throughout the day...Ellis Island, Terribles (Robin hit a nice slot payout on the LVA Rebate Offer), Orleans, Palms, Jerry's Nugget to collect our sports win, Silver Nugget, Bighorn, Lucky's Casino and Cannery.
Finally we hit Mirage Cravings Buffet for dinner. Tonight we’re walking over to Cosmopolitan!
Terribles Rebate. Here’s how we intended to play it: We would do it in series. If Player 1 doubled the $100 on a $1.00 machine he’d quit and player 2 would start play. If player 1 lost the $100, he’d run the freeplay through a .25 cent machine and then player 2 would start play with his 100 on a $1.00 machine, quitting if he doubled the $100 stake or running the freeplay through a quarter machine once if he lost.
We both turned in our coupons. We flipped to see who would go first. Robin won. We found a $1.00 VP Progressive and loaded it up with $100. Robin’s stake dropped and dropped. He actually went all in at one point and then worked it back up to $15 at which time he hit 4 Kings for a $413 progressive payout. Woo Hoo! My turn. I lost my hundy in record time. Then switched to a .25 VP game and ran through my freeplay. I cashed out at $110. Worked out to a $330 win….our biggest matchplay/freeplay win ever. THANK YOU TERRIBLES and LVA.
Jerry’s Nugget. We had to go to Jerry’s Nugget to pick up our winnings. The Chargers won. The Niners lost. The ‘Over’ lost…so we had to collect cash for one ticket and get two free matchplays.
Collected on the winning ticket and moved to the BJ table where we each served up a losing $5.00 sportsbet and a $5.00 bill. The pit boss came over and examined our bets. “Sorry boys…you’ve got to play these on the same day you bet them….” Damn fine print. He went on “I’ve got to enforce that or I’ll get in trouble. Hell, last year some dude made like 50 5.00 bets and then had like 30 for matchplays. Those guys abusing the system are spoiling it for everyone. “ “30 matchplays? That’s ridiculous " I responded. Jerry’s got us again.
This was my first meal at Cravings Buffet. It’s a good buffet (top 6) and a great deal with the MRB coupon.
Posted 12-18-10 02:04 AM
Back from Cosmopolitan. Enjoyed my first Vesper ever at the Vesper Bar. What's a Vesper you might ask?
It's a drink created by the fictional character James Bond in the 1953 novel 'Casino Royale'.
"A dry martini," [Bond] said...."Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it? I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name."
The Vesper Bar at Cosmopolitan used Beefeater 24, Smirnoff Vodka, Lillet Blank and a bitters spray to try to match the taste of the 1953 drink (Both Gordons Gin and Kina Lillet have been reformulated since the 50's so they use substitute ingredients to get the same flavor.)
Robin and I were aimlessly walking around the Cosmo…I was taking pictures. At one point, I reached into my jacket pocket and my Camera was gone. Damn. Someone stole my Camera. Or more likely I dropped my Camera….or Still more likely, I set it down somewhere and forgot it…But it was MY Camera…Next to my wallet and my watch it’s the most valuable thing I carry…And it had my Vegas pictures. So--we attempted to retrace my steps to the last known place I had it…the Big Six Wheel…or maybe the Vesper Bar…or that slot machine. Bottom line….I had dropped it. Someone found it. Security had it. Whew..that only wasted a ½ hour. I must have been ‘tired’.
SATURDAY
Posted 12-18-10 09:12 AM
Today, we're doing more casino hopping! First, back to Baglemania for nutrients. Then Tuscany and Westin. From that point on we're walking or on the Monorail for the rest of the day....
Tuscany
Westin
Hilton
Sahara
Riviera
Venetian
Flamingo again
Bills
Hooters
Tropicana
Excalibur
Luxor
Mandalay Bay (For Dinner)
Planet Ho (For a show)
That’s the Plan!
Friday Pictures from my lucky camera
Posted 12-18-10 09:24 AM
Cosmopolitan Pics
SUNDAY
Posted 12-19-10 07:43 AM
And still it grows. First stop yesterday was for a community matchplay at Westin. Robin and I both bellied up to a Blackjack table and threw our $25 bets...I got a 6/5 and doubled, Robin got a 7/4 and doubled. Dealer busts! First bet we make $150...couldn't paint a better scenario.
We skipped a second stop at Baglemania, because it would have required finding the car….Just walked over to Westin…
In retrospect, this was our first ever win at Westin….At $150 it was our second best matchplay win ever. That Casino has traditionally kicked our butts. After Westin, we were intending to walk on down to Tuscany for a $5.00 matchplay but it seemed so much more appropriate to just turn around and head back to the Strip while farting in the general direction of Westin and Tuscany. Had a nice hit at Bills with Robin getting a Blackjack Win and I hit a Double Down Matchplay. I played a little Craps at Bills on their new Electronic Craps table…Fantastic!
We bought 24 hour monorail passes and zipped down to Sahara for $25 ACG MatchPlays and the MRB 40 for 50. Next, we walked down the Strip to the Riviera where we went for the $25 free for $50 played ACG coupon. We both played VP. About 4 hands into my $50, I hit 4 of a kind. Two hands later I hit 4 of a kind again.…Riviera was a $150 win….tying the Westin for our second best matchplay win ever.
Finally, we walked to the Venetian…had a couple of double espressos and Robin played their E-Deck $50 promo. (Robin hit that for $45)…Then, walked to Harrahs… and the monorail to Flamingo. That was our morning…a nice, brisk North Strip walk!
Westin + $150
Bills + 60
Sahara + 5
Riviera + 150
Venetian + 45
Back to Flamingo.
Monorail time...MGM, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and finally Planet Hollywood for their Echoes of the 60's show.
We did Monorail to MGM. Then Walled to Excalibur and then Trammed to Mandalay Bay. What was to be our Culinary Highlight (Dinner at Shanghai Lilly) was our biggest disappointment…as Shanghai Lilly was Closed until 12/31.
Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur all sell Winn Cards. Winn cards are like cheat sheets for beginners of Craps, Blackjack and Roulette. For $20 you get these Cards + $30 in promotional chips. Trading twenty for thirty is always a good deal, so we bought Winn Cards everywhere possible (also offered at Cannery and 4 queens). Although we didn’t fare so well with our promo chips, it’s still a great deal. By the time we got to Excal, we were starved. Headed over to MGM where I had a Birthday $25 off any Landry’s Restaurant. Rainforest Café it was.
The Rainforest Café was packed, but Robin and I were able to get immediate seating at the bar. I placed my Lucky Hat on the seat next to me. The meal was just OK and overpriced…even with $25 off. We had burgers and nachos…and somehow it was like $50.00. As we were getting ready to leave I went to grab my Lucky Hat and it was gone! I looked around No where. I looked on the floor…zippo.. Someone stole my Lucky Hat from right under my nose…or maybe I dropped it or lost it…but I sure remember setting it on the chair. I called the waitress over and loudly pronounced “Someone stole my Lucky Hat”….She remembered my hat and consoled me. Just then, a group of sheepish looking Aussies at a table right across from the bar piped up “Did you lose a hat”…”Why yes…I did…in the shape of a chimney with Santa’s legs sticking out” I replied. A small girl pulled it out from under their table….and her father handed it to me. “We found it on the floor” he stated matter of factly. “So you thought it was yours?”…The Lucky Hat Thief ignored my question.
Ended up at the 10:00 PM Echo’s of the 60’s show at Planet Ho. Far out, man…yeah…groovey.
Long day...but when we got back to the Flamingo we counted up the wallet and found a $1000 Profit. Robin and I have agreed on $300 of sports bets which I am headed down to place. We're splitting the rest of the goods now and are moving to phase 2 of our gambling...PG (Personal Gambling).
Posted 12-19-10 08:12 AM
Followup post from Friday
Droog is an artsy store at Cosmopolitan where they sell stuff like this $65,000 chest of drawers...In the center of the 'chest' is a plastic encased golden gun with cocaine and diamonds.
Also have a really nice metal chair that you use the included sledge hammer to customize to your own needs...Only $18,,000.
More from the chandelier bar at Cosmo..
Here's some mad Greek Pics. These are from Wednesday...
Would you smell those Greeks?
Today we will revisit the Cosmo, Maybe do a poker tourney at Bills and probably move downtown. We have a room at GN for tonight, but this GO room is pretty nice, and we have it tonight too...Move or Stay Move or Stay?
MONDAY
Posted 12-20-10 08:05 AM
final update..
Yesterday..
I won the poker tourney at Bills...
This was my first Poker Tournament. Robin and I both entered. $30 Entry..Top two are in the money. There were only 10 Players. I lost an early hand and was short-stacked the whole game. When it got down to 4 players, I was all in with just my big blind. Won that hand…and then the next…and somehow, someway, I won it all….$120. I still don’t know how….but maybe Poker Tournaments are my calling. I’m thinkin’ WSOP now.
Our sports bets were miserable. We lost 13 bets and won 2. Luckily one of those wins was our $100 best bet...so only lost a bit at sports.
Downtown. Dinner at Flame. Checked into Golden Nugget. Got a fun book Checked out of the Golden Nugget and back to Flamingo.
As always, a nice dinner at Flame in El Cortez. I was intending to ride the zipline instead of merely walking back from El Cortez…It’s just I had no energy. All this Vegas was catching up with me. We got back to flamingo about 10:00 PM and I just fell on the bed. A little voice was saying “Come on AlanLeroy…this is your last night in Vegas, get out there and party!” Another little voice was saying “Sleep”…Then I remembered my 5 hour energy drink I had stashed away. I started to get up and instead I discovered I was really on the Wings of Morpheus..wait…we’re coming in for a landing…My eyes pop open. It’s 4:30 AM. Crap. Right….”Craps”. Head down to a $10.00 Flamingo Craps Table which is packed for unknown reasons. Immediately lost $300
Went to Bills about 5AM. All of a sudden Security running everywhere. Then right in front me is this guy...mid 20s with a major bloody face. Seems someone punched him in the face and tried to rob him in the restroom then ran out.
8:00 AM Still ahead for the trip (barely). Going to grab a bite and head out. Seems there's a major storm waiting for us back in California.
Great trip. I'll do an epilogue in later this week.
Posted 12-20-10 12:04 PM
Ok.12:00 PM left the M one hour ago. Hit the craps table with my lucky hat…Monster Craps roll. Leaving Las Vegas with all the money I came with + $777.
This was an epic Lucky Hat Monster Roll. I was hitting point after point, number after number…pushing, pressing, parlaying my bets By the time I crapped out, I was betting close to $700 on the hand….people were cheering and it attracted a few new players….I had the urge to take all my bets down when two new guys bought in. Crapped out the next roll. One day I’ll take ‘em down just before I crap out and blow everyone away.
Lucky trip. Now headed over the mountains back into the Great Valley of Central California. It seems as though it has rained in Fresno every day since we left. We are headed directly into the biggest rainstorm to hit CA in years. I like rain though.
Posted 12-20-10 01:18 PM
Just had lunch at the Mad Greek. It was good. I have a few lucky hat pics I'll post later. It's still raining. I'm guessing 4.5 hours to go.
Posted 12-20-10 7:08 PM
Made it home safe and sound. Will post more pics tomorrow. I'm tired.
Posted 12-24-10 02:13 PM
Trip Summary in Pictures
Whiff of the Mad Greek 1
LVA World Headquarters...In Search of the Planter
Southpoint Bowling Bar ($2.00 Drinks)
Premium Sipping Tequilla...Southpoint...$2.00 * ?
Hot Chick at Flamingo
Hot Chick at Flamingo
Many Hot Chicks at Flamingo
Zip Line Downtown
Sign Downtown. Hugs are always free downtown.
Lucky Hat at Flamingo
Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan
More Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan
Wall of sewing machines. Cosmopolitan
CelloHead Cosmopolitan
Vesper Bar Cosmopolitan
Harri's Baglemania Menu
AlanLeroy after his big M win on the way out of town. Note: I took this pic myself using my XShot extender.
Fantastic Gyros at Mad Greek on the way back Unfortunately, My XShot Camera Extender was stolen from me at the Mad Greek…or maybe I dropped it…or set it down somewhere…at least I still had my Camera, Wallet and Lucky Hat.
Headed back to not so sunshiney California.
The End?
It was a great trip. Paying for the trip AND coming back with an extra $777…our 3 biggest matchplay hits on the same trip…The Gamblin’ Gods were smiling. We’ll probably drive next year too, but next time, I’ll actually drink the energy potion when the voice tells me to. I’ve got to learn to hold onto my belongings better…is that ‘learnable’ or are you born with it?
Yes. I did take my December Vegas Trip (12-15 to 12-20). And yes. I wrote a Trip Report. It was a LIVE trip report on another board that shall remain nameless. In the greatest Hollywood tradition, I figured I could repackage it and post it here as the deluxe Director’s Cut…with special additional commentary. So here’s how it works…Anything in normal font was part of the live report. Anything in Italics is additional commentary. Easy enough? Good.
My Gambling Buddy Robin and I had another great trip planned. This one would be a little different than any since around 2001….We’re driving. It’s about a 7 hour drive from Fresno to Vegas. It’s a 45 Minute Flight. Our last few flights have been miserable. 5 hours. Airport delays…vomit in the aisles, crazy people, schlepping our stuff through the airport….And now higher prices and full body scans…for more delays. Screw it. Robin’s got a new car….it’s way past time for a ROAD TRIP!
As always, Robin and I pool some money for communal matchplays….which is our initial focus We put our winnings in the ‘Gambling Wallet’ and then take a percentage of our winnings and bet on Sunday Football games….Finally, Sunday night, we split ‘the goods’. This approach prevents us from losing all of our money on the first day…and has been profitable over the years….and it’s a lot of fun.
Our first two nights were at Southpoint where we each had one free night from Southpoint’s E-Mail promo. Southpoint also had a $2.00 for ANY DRINK in ANY BAR promotion going to celebrate their 5th anniversary. As an ‘Advantaged Drinker’, I had a list of fine spirits I wished to explore…oh boy!
As we were about to leave, Mrs. AlanLeroy handed me two ‘5 Hour Energy’ Drinks. “Here…In case of emergency” she insisted. Never had one of these drinks, but it couldn’t hurt…
WEDNESDAY
Posted 12-15-10 0 10:54 AM
It starts in one hour. I will update this thread if anything happens.
Posted 12-15-10 02:50 PM
Now on Hwy 58 East just outside Bakersfield. It's raining.
Nothing else of note.
Posted 12-15-10 04:30 PM
We're still 90 miles or so from Baker. We just passed Boron. That's where Boraxo is made! 178 Miles to Vegas. 799 bottles of beer on the wall...
Posted 12-15-10 04:50 PM
I wanted to stop at the Boraxo Museum in Boron. Robin said to fuck off. It stopped raining. We will probably stop in Baker to pick up California Lottery tickets and check out the Mad Greek. Our first Vegas stop is M Resort for Dinner.
Posted 12-15-10 06:40 PM
Baker: I went in and smelled the Mad Greek. Took a pic and left. 65 miles to Vegas.
The Plan For Tonight:
Dinner at M Buffet
Check in at Southpoint
Over to LVA headquarters to pick up our POVs that are stashed in a planter
Gold Coast for freeplay
Ellis Island for Egg Nog and free play
Hard rock for matchplay and freeplay
Orleans for matchplay and freeplay then back to Southpoint for the night...and some of that 2 dollar premium booze.
Wednesday Notes. We made it to LVA World Headquarters about 10:30 PM. They were supposed to have stashed our MRBs under a ‘planterlike ashtray’ in the front of the building. Robin hopped out and retrieved our bag. We opened it up. It said ‘GLEN’ on the envelope. There was only one MRB..CRAP…they SCREWED US. Robin then walked around to the ‘front’ of the building and found our MRB’s inside the other ‘planterlike ashtray’. Sorry we opened your envelope Glen.
On our return to Southpoint, we sat down at the Island Bar for our Two Dollar Drinks. I took out my list of premium Spirits I had never tried….I ordered a Henry VIII Cognac. The bartender laughed out loud. I ordered a Johnnie Walker Black. He snickered. I ordered a Don Julio Tequila…Ding Ding Ding…It was a winner. My whole ‘premium’ Tequila experience prior had been shots of Cuervo Gold with lime and salt. I discovered that truly premium Tequila was supposed to be ‘sipped’ not ‘shot’. I had several more to verify that fact.
THURSDAY
Posted 12-16-10 08:20 AM
Last night’s fun:
M + 20
Gold Coast -5
Ellis + 50
Hard Rock + 50
Orleans -20
Southpoint--Don Julio + 5
Don Julio won.
We're late this morning...
Today’s Plan: M Breakfast (+ Freeplay)
Orleans Again (Players Club was closed so we only did MP)
Palms
Downtown (Plaza, Vegas Club, Fitz, Golden Gate, El Cortez, Jerry's Nugget)
Boulder Hwy: E. Cannery, Longhorn
Ventano's Italian for Lunch
Check into Flamingo...Just Check in...we're not staying there until tomorrow.
Terribles
Back to Southpoint for the 49er Charger Game (Go Niners)
Primarily Prime Rib at Soutpoint
Bingo at Southpoint
More Drinks at Southpoint...Lots of more drinks.
It's not time for the lucky hat. Timing is everything.
FRIDAY
Posted 12-17-10 09:52 AM
Thursday Recap
Buffet Breakfast at M (Outstanding)
Nice Communal Matchplay Run +100 (Our gambling wallet is growing)
M
Ventano
Eastside Cannery loved their vintage slot room
Longhorn
Vegas Club
Fitzgeralds
El Cortez
Four Queens
Golden Gate
Jerry’s Nugget
We were at Jerry’s Nugget to place 3 sports bets. We made two bets with the ACG $5.00 matchplays. 1 on the Niners to win Thursday’s game…one on the Chargers to win the game. Robin is a Charger Fan, I’m a Niner fan. Using communal matchplays we were guaranteed a win. We placed the ‘Over’ in the game too. We did this because Jerry’s has a special deal. You can use 1 losing $5.00 sports bet for a blackjack matchplay. So we were guaranteed at least one Matchplay. Either the Over bet would win or it would lose and give us another matchplay. Last year, Jerry’s had no limit on the number of $5.00 losing sports bets you could convert to matchplays, so we bet all of our Sunday sports bets in $5.00 increments and ended up with 26 $5.00 matchplays….we actually lost about 20 of those bets last year. Now they limit you to one losing bet.
Checked into Flamingo $10 Go Room Upgrade, but won’t really move in until Friday
What a nice room this was. Decent size. Nice view. Flatscreen in the main room. TV in the Bathroom…clean…modern. We almost decided to move early…but the Southpoint was a nice room as well.
Studied premium Tequila for $2.00 while Robin and I watched the Niner/Charger Game at Southpoint’s Miguel's Tequila Bar
I have learned much about Tequila.
Primarily Prime Rib at Southpoint
Nice PR Dinner
This was a great value for a nice Prime Rib Dinner…using MRB 2 fer. Good Split Pea Soup
11:00 PM Bingo at Southpoint
I lost.
My third try at Bingo. I’ve never won
Sleep
This morning we packed up and left Southpoint. Drove right to Harri’s Baglemania. Got Bagles, Breakfast Sandwiches and Robin Got some whitefish to go.
Our first visit to Harri’s. Turns out Baglemania is a fantastic Jewish Bakery and Deli. Robin is Jewish and loves whitefish salad, but even after consuming 4 pounds of the stuff from some LA Deli the previous week, he still ordered it from Harri’s and wanted more.
Next to our Flamingo Go Room...where I just consumed my sandwich and am looking down from the 26th floor onto the entire Flamingo Grounds...
Posted 12-17-10 10:34 AM
What I'm looking at.
A job at Jerry's Nugget has no future.
Steak N Shake at Southpoint...at 2:00 AM on the night before Grand Opening.
Steak N Shake at Southpoint on Grand Opening Night. Huge Crowd. Looked like a burger joint to me.
Posted 12-17-10 7:41 PM
Robin and I started the trip by each contributing $100 to the 'Gambling Wallet'. All of our matchplay bets come from the gambling wallet. All of the matchplay wins go into the wallet.
I am happy to report that as of 7:37 PM Friday Night...the matchplay wallet has grown to $800.
We Worked Matchplays throughout the day...Ellis Island, Terribles (Robin hit a nice slot payout on the LVA Rebate Offer), Orleans, Palms, Jerry's Nugget to collect our sports win, Silver Nugget, Bighorn, Lucky's Casino and Cannery.
Finally we hit Mirage Cravings Buffet for dinner. Tonight we’re walking over to Cosmopolitan!
Terribles Rebate. Here’s how we intended to play it: We would do it in series. If Player 1 doubled the $100 on a $1.00 machine he’d quit and player 2 would start play. If player 1 lost the $100, he’d run the freeplay through a .25 cent machine and then player 2 would start play with his 100 on a $1.00 machine, quitting if he doubled the $100 stake or running the freeplay through a quarter machine once if he lost.
We both turned in our coupons. We flipped to see who would go first. Robin won. We found a $1.00 VP Progressive and loaded it up with $100. Robin’s stake dropped and dropped. He actually went all in at one point and then worked it back up to $15 at which time he hit 4 Kings for a $413 progressive payout. Woo Hoo! My turn. I lost my hundy in record time. Then switched to a .25 VP game and ran through my freeplay. I cashed out at $110. Worked out to a $330 win….our biggest matchplay/freeplay win ever. THANK YOU TERRIBLES and LVA.
Jerry’s Nugget. We had to go to Jerry’s Nugget to pick up our winnings. The Chargers won. The Niners lost. The ‘Over’ lost…so we had to collect cash for one ticket and get two free matchplays.
Collected on the winning ticket and moved to the BJ table where we each served up a losing $5.00 sportsbet and a $5.00 bill. The pit boss came over and examined our bets. “Sorry boys…you’ve got to play these on the same day you bet them….” Damn fine print. He went on “I’ve got to enforce that or I’ll get in trouble. Hell, last year some dude made like 50 5.00 bets and then had like 30 for matchplays. Those guys abusing the system are spoiling it for everyone. “ “30 matchplays? That’s ridiculous " I responded. Jerry’s got us again.
This was my first meal at Cravings Buffet. It’s a good buffet (top 6) and a great deal with the MRB coupon.
Posted 12-18-10 02:04 AM
Back from Cosmopolitan. Enjoyed my first Vesper ever at the Vesper Bar. What's a Vesper you might ask?
It's a drink created by the fictional character James Bond in the 1953 novel 'Casino Royale'.
"A dry martini," [Bond] said...."Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it? I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name."
The Vesper Bar at Cosmopolitan used Beefeater 24, Smirnoff Vodka, Lillet Blank and a bitters spray to try to match the taste of the 1953 drink (Both Gordons Gin and Kina Lillet have been reformulated since the 50's so they use substitute ingredients to get the same flavor.)
Robin and I were aimlessly walking around the Cosmo…I was taking pictures. At one point, I reached into my jacket pocket and my Camera was gone. Damn. Someone stole my Camera. Or more likely I dropped my Camera….or Still more likely, I set it down somewhere and forgot it…But it was MY Camera…Next to my wallet and my watch it’s the most valuable thing I carry…And it had my Vegas pictures. So--we attempted to retrace my steps to the last known place I had it…the Big Six Wheel…or maybe the Vesper Bar…or that slot machine. Bottom line….I had dropped it. Someone found it. Security had it. Whew..that only wasted a ½ hour. I must have been ‘tired’.
SATURDAY
Posted 12-18-10 09:12 AM
Today, we're doing more casino hopping! First, back to Baglemania for nutrients. Then Tuscany and Westin. From that point on we're walking or on the Monorail for the rest of the day....
Tuscany
Westin
Hilton
Sahara
Riviera
Venetian
Flamingo again
Bills
Hooters
Tropicana
Excalibur
Luxor
Mandalay Bay (For Dinner)
Planet Ho (For a show)
That’s the Plan!
Friday Pictures from my lucky camera
Posted 12-18-10 09:24 AM
Cosmopolitan Pics
SUNDAY
Posted 12-19-10 07:43 AM
And still it grows. First stop yesterday was for a community matchplay at Westin. Robin and I both bellied up to a Blackjack table and threw our $25 bets...I got a 6/5 and doubled, Robin got a 7/4 and doubled. Dealer busts! First bet we make $150...couldn't paint a better scenario.
We skipped a second stop at Baglemania, because it would have required finding the car….Just walked over to Westin…
In retrospect, this was our first ever win at Westin….At $150 it was our second best matchplay win ever. That Casino has traditionally kicked our butts. After Westin, we were intending to walk on down to Tuscany for a $5.00 matchplay but it seemed so much more appropriate to just turn around and head back to the Strip while farting in the general direction of Westin and Tuscany. Had a nice hit at Bills with Robin getting a Blackjack Win and I hit a Double Down Matchplay. I played a little Craps at Bills on their new Electronic Craps table…Fantastic!
We bought 24 hour monorail passes and zipped down to Sahara for $25 ACG MatchPlays and the MRB 40 for 50. Next, we walked down the Strip to the Riviera where we went for the $25 free for $50 played ACG coupon. We both played VP. About 4 hands into my $50, I hit 4 of a kind. Two hands later I hit 4 of a kind again.…Riviera was a $150 win….tying the Westin for our second best matchplay win ever.
Finally, we walked to the Venetian…had a couple of double espressos and Robin played their E-Deck $50 promo. (Robin hit that for $45)…Then, walked to Harrahs… and the monorail to Flamingo. That was our morning…a nice, brisk North Strip walk!
Westin + $150
Bills + 60
Sahara + 5
Riviera + 150
Venetian + 45
Back to Flamingo.
Monorail time...MGM, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and finally Planet Hollywood for their Echoes of the 60's show.
We did Monorail to MGM. Then Walled to Excalibur and then Trammed to Mandalay Bay. What was to be our Culinary Highlight (Dinner at Shanghai Lilly) was our biggest disappointment…as Shanghai Lilly was Closed until 12/31.
Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur all sell Winn Cards. Winn cards are like cheat sheets for beginners of Craps, Blackjack and Roulette. For $20 you get these Cards + $30 in promotional chips. Trading twenty for thirty is always a good deal, so we bought Winn Cards everywhere possible (also offered at Cannery and 4 queens). Although we didn’t fare so well with our promo chips, it’s still a great deal. By the time we got to Excal, we were starved. Headed over to MGM where I had a Birthday $25 off any Landry’s Restaurant. Rainforest Café it was.
The Rainforest Café was packed, but Robin and I were able to get immediate seating at the bar. I placed my Lucky Hat on the seat next to me. The meal was just OK and overpriced…even with $25 off. We had burgers and nachos…and somehow it was like $50.00. As we were getting ready to leave I went to grab my Lucky Hat and it was gone! I looked around No where. I looked on the floor…zippo.. Someone stole my Lucky Hat from right under my nose…or maybe I dropped it or lost it…but I sure remember setting it on the chair. I called the waitress over and loudly pronounced “Someone stole my Lucky Hat”….She remembered my hat and consoled me. Just then, a group of sheepish looking Aussies at a table right across from the bar piped up “Did you lose a hat”…”Why yes…I did…in the shape of a chimney with Santa’s legs sticking out” I replied. A small girl pulled it out from under their table….and her father handed it to me. “We found it on the floor” he stated matter of factly. “So you thought it was yours?”…The Lucky Hat Thief ignored my question.
Ended up at the 10:00 PM Echo’s of the 60’s show at Planet Ho. Far out, man…yeah…groovey.
Long day...but when we got back to the Flamingo we counted up the wallet and found a $1000 Profit. Robin and I have agreed on $300 of sports bets which I am headed down to place. We're splitting the rest of the goods now and are moving to phase 2 of our gambling...PG (Personal Gambling).
Posted 12-19-10 08:12 AM
Followup post from Friday
Droog is an artsy store at Cosmopolitan where they sell stuff like this $65,000 chest of drawers...In the center of the 'chest' is a plastic encased golden gun with cocaine and diamonds.
Also have a really nice metal chair that you use the included sledge hammer to customize to your own needs...Only $18,,000.
More from the chandelier bar at Cosmo..
Here's some mad Greek Pics. These are from Wednesday...
Would you smell those Greeks?
Today we will revisit the Cosmo, Maybe do a poker tourney at Bills and probably move downtown. We have a room at GN for tonight, but this GO room is pretty nice, and we have it tonight too...Move or Stay Move or Stay?
MONDAY
Posted 12-20-10 08:05 AM
final update..
Yesterday..
I won the poker tourney at Bills...
This was my first Poker Tournament. Robin and I both entered. $30 Entry..Top two are in the money. There were only 10 Players. I lost an early hand and was short-stacked the whole game. When it got down to 4 players, I was all in with just my big blind. Won that hand…and then the next…and somehow, someway, I won it all….$120. I still don’t know how….but maybe Poker Tournaments are my calling. I’m thinkin’ WSOP now.
Our sports bets were miserable. We lost 13 bets and won 2. Luckily one of those wins was our $100 best bet...so only lost a bit at sports.
Downtown. Dinner at Flame. Checked into Golden Nugget. Got a fun book Checked out of the Golden Nugget and back to Flamingo.
As always, a nice dinner at Flame in El Cortez. I was intending to ride the zipline instead of merely walking back from El Cortez…It’s just I had no energy. All this Vegas was catching up with me. We got back to flamingo about 10:00 PM and I just fell on the bed. A little voice was saying “Come on AlanLeroy…this is your last night in Vegas, get out there and party!” Another little voice was saying “Sleep”…Then I remembered my 5 hour energy drink I had stashed away. I started to get up and instead I discovered I was really on the Wings of Morpheus..wait…we’re coming in for a landing…My eyes pop open. It’s 4:30 AM. Crap. Right….”Craps”. Head down to a $10.00 Flamingo Craps Table which is packed for unknown reasons. Immediately lost $300
Went to Bills about 5AM. All of a sudden Security running everywhere. Then right in front me is this guy...mid 20s with a major bloody face. Seems someone punched him in the face and tried to rob him in the restroom then ran out.
8:00 AM Still ahead for the trip (barely). Going to grab a bite and head out. Seems there's a major storm waiting for us back in California.
Great trip. I'll do an epilogue in later this week.
Posted 12-20-10 12:04 PM
Ok.12:00 PM left the M one hour ago. Hit the craps table with my lucky hat…Monster Craps roll. Leaving Las Vegas with all the money I came with + $777.
This was an epic Lucky Hat Monster Roll. I was hitting point after point, number after number…pushing, pressing, parlaying my bets By the time I crapped out, I was betting close to $700 on the hand….people were cheering and it attracted a few new players….I had the urge to take all my bets down when two new guys bought in. Crapped out the next roll. One day I’ll take ‘em down just before I crap out and blow everyone away.
Lucky trip. Now headed over the mountains back into the Great Valley of Central California. It seems as though it has rained in Fresno every day since we left. We are headed directly into the biggest rainstorm to hit CA in years. I like rain though.
Posted 12-20-10 01:18 PM
Just had lunch at the Mad Greek. It was good. I have a few lucky hat pics I'll post later. It's still raining. I'm guessing 4.5 hours to go.
Posted 12-20-10 7:08 PM
Made it home safe and sound. Will post more pics tomorrow. I'm tired.
Posted 12-24-10 02:13 PM
Trip Summary in Pictures
Whiff of the Mad Greek 1
LVA World Headquarters...In Search of the Planter
Southpoint Bowling Bar ($2.00 Drinks)
Premium Sipping Tequilla...Southpoint...$2.00 * ?
Hot Chick at Flamingo
Hot Chick at Flamingo
Many Hot Chicks at Flamingo
Zip Line Downtown
Sign Downtown. Hugs are always free downtown.
Lucky Hat at Flamingo
Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan
More Chandelier Bar at Cosmopolitan
Wall of sewing machines. Cosmopolitan
CelloHead Cosmopolitan
Vesper Bar Cosmopolitan
Harri's Baglemania Menu
AlanLeroy after his big M win on the way out of town. Note: I took this pic myself using my XShot extender.
Fantastic Gyros at Mad Greek on the way back Unfortunately, My XShot Camera Extender was stolen from me at the Mad Greek…or maybe I dropped it…or set it down somewhere…at least I still had my Camera, Wallet and Lucky Hat.
Headed back to not so sunshiney California.
The End?
It was a great trip. Paying for the trip AND coming back with an extra $777…our 3 biggest matchplay hits on the same trip…The Gamblin’ Gods were smiling. We’ll probably drive next year too, but next time, I’ll actually drink the energy potion when the voice tells me to. I’ve got to learn to hold onto my belongings better…is that ‘learnable’ or are you born with it?
