Yet another fun trip, our usual 7 days, this time with Linda's (wife's) sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Ken from Pittsburgh, and our friend Linda B from Minnesota. It was a good trip and a slight winner, we're up $91 on $81,400 coin-in, an 0.11% win. Not bad for a non-royal trip (but we had seven SFs, about 6.5 more than usual). This was also Joyce and Ken's first stay at South Point, actually their first stay anywhere other than the Golden Nugget (trying to seduce them into the Light).
WEDNESDAY
We had a late morning Southwest flight out of Tampa, uneventful other than a major headwind, so we didn't get to the Four Queens until about 3:45pm. That made for a very slow and tedious grind since we needed to get in $8K per day to get those Lunar New Year dragon figurines (this makes 11 of 12 now, almost done!) and they only have 9/6 JoB up to 50¢. We did okay, though, I got a SF and a few quads (one dealt), lots of successful 4-flush draws, and Linda did okay as well. We had a quick chili dog at American Coney (funny how they never tell you what the chili is made from), then back to grinding. There was a $1500 progressive on the quarter Illinois Deuces bartops (up to $1600 by the time we left), I played that some, did okay but didn't get the progressive (you'd know by now if I did). Finally got Linda's dragon, and she turned her $50 FP into $145 (got a quad and some FHs), and finally collapsed for the night.
THURSDAY
Okay start, had a few roller coaster sessions with quad bailouts. Linda B arrived late last night and was staying at the Cal; we met her for the MSS buffet. MSS is pretty dead, and the buffet is even deader, it's barely a shadow of its former adequate self. Modest selection, most things mediocre quality and most things dried out for lack of customers. Never again. Back to grinding at 4Q, mostly up and down, more down than up. Also went over to Binions for the free Spinsplosion slot promo, got another shot glass. Dinner was at Binions BBQ, which is barely adequate. Back to grinding, had a good evening with three sets of quad 3s in one session. Got dragon #2, visited for a little while with Joyce and Ken who got in late, then bedtime.
FRIDAY
Moving Day, to the Union Plaza, north tower. Fun place, hoping to spend more time here. Bad start, though, mostly on dollar JoB. Linda B and I went over to Circa for lunch at 8 East, which is always great; had the cumin lamb chops, Tokyo crêpes, duck rolls, sizzling shrimp and some pad thai, all tasty if not completely authentic (Linda the Wife went over to GN, had breakfast with Joyce and Ken at the Claim Jumper). Back to the Plaza, not a great afternoon on JoB, had one serious roller coaster where I almost tapped out but got a SF and then a quad and finished up a little. Also tried deuces and joker wild for the first time, had fun and did okay, aside from getting an annoying dealt natural SF, a real waste of luck. Quick dinner at Pop-Up Pizza, and I did mostly okay in the evening. We wanted to play that LVA coupon for the $500 bonus for a royal at the Sand Dollar bar, but that isn't going to work for us, the Sand Dollar is a live music venue with a cover charge (they had a Journey cover band and a $27 cover charge; I think the real Journey is at the Cannery for a $22 cover).
SATURDAY
Good start, with a few winning dollar JoB sessions. Joyce got a comp entry into the GN's BJ tournament, didn't win but had fun, and it was fun to watch. Everyone went to Aloha Specialties at the Cal for lunch, it's one of my favorite Vegas restaurants and certainly my favorite downtown, real mom and pop Hawaiian food, always packed. I had the Aloha Bento. Found a Joe Blow Gold machine on the way out that was ready to vulture, turned $40 into $113. Did a coupon run after lunch, my shitty luck with MPs continues, I won only one of six. Meanwhile, back at the UP, Linda hit a dollar SF and a quad storm, turned $100 into $700. Dinner was at Victory Burger, at Circa, another disappointment. Fun place, lots of hype, hamburgers were pretty good but everything else was mid-range frozen prepared food and bottled sauces. Another restaurant off The List. Had a great after dinner session with a SF and a quad, turned $100 into $400.
SUNDAY
Difficult start, major claw-out session, $100 dropped quickly to $5 but got back to $200 with mostly two pairs and trips. Hate that. At this point we were up over $1000; I took a shot (not a big one; I've played $5 a few times, that's exciting enough to kill you) on $2 JoB, got an early FH for $90 but ultimately lost. Linda B and I were going to have lunch at Aloha Grill at the UP, but it turns out that they went out of business the night before, quite the disappointment. Wound up at Fresh Mexican Grill, which was highly forgettable aside from the memorably poor service. We also visited for a bit with Tannie and Jeff, some old friends from near Vancouver; they were staying at the D, dropped by to say hi to Linda B and us (they were going to join us for dinner but were both recovering from COVID and didn't want to take any chances). Another roller coaster session or two after lunch, also lost my 7th MP, at DTG. Dinner was at Andiamo, always great; had lobster bisque, an excellent Caesar salad and an equally excellent Tomahawk ribeye. Okay evening, a few winning sessions but another annoyance on the deuces and joker wild machine, a dealt natural quad that paid $3.75, not even enough to get cheese on your hamburger.
MONDAY
Moving Day, to South Point. We got some donuts at Pinkbox, their donut selection is something to see and they're always busy. Got an apple fritter and a Nutella doughcro (their version of a cronut), both very good but both a bit too sweet. Said goodbye to Linda B, who was going to Cosmo next, Uber to SP with Joyce and Ken. Today was the gambling Day from Hell for me, which is much preferable to the seven consecutive Days from Hell that Linda and I have both had in the past. Still, it makes the win/loss record a lot less pretty. I couldn't catch anything, couldn't turn pairs into trips or two pairs into FHs, couldn't connect on 4-flushes or outside straight draws. I did get $50 FP in their Monday kiosk game; Linda got $25 and Joyce got $75. The game gives between $5 and $100 FP (much nicer than the El Cortez, for example, whose kiosk game gives between $10 and $1000, but nobody knows anyone who has gotten anything other than $10). Lunch was at the Oyster Bar, had a passable combo pan roast (there's a reason why there's never any wait for a table there but a 90 minute wait at 10am at the Palace Station oyster bar). Much, much more losing in the afternoon. It was nice to play with Joyce, though (Ken doesn't gamble), and she and Linda got to play a lot of BJ together. Dinner was at the coffee shop, had a decent, downtown-quality prime rib and some very gummy beef barley soup. More evening losing, then bedtime.
TUESDAY
Much better day than yesterday, came back a few hundred and was actually able to pay off our markers with cash at the end of the trip. Started with a very bad 3-play JoB session but ultimately got a SF and two quads and cashed out ahead. Had an exciting Good Times Pay NSUD session but ultimately a loser. I had a bunch of winning sessions on dollar JoB, 3-play quarter JoB and STP BP, though, and was really happy to not see yesterday repeat. We wound up back at the coffee shop for lunch and I decided to try some of their Chinese food (we couldn't sell everybody on Zenshin), I had some won ton soup and lemon chicken, both surprisingly good; we'll definitely do that again. Did well for most of the afternoon, also had a very long but ultimately unsuccessful DDW session. Dinner was at Don Vito's, generally very good but kind of uneven; I did well, had a good Caesar salad and good osso buco with risotto. Things continued to go well after dinner, had a great next-to-last session on dollar JoB, got SF #7 and another quad. One more short quarter NSUD session, got our CB and bedtime.
WEDNESDAY
Last day, sigh… We settled up with one of the hosts (our usual, more generous host was off today), got a pastrami sandwich and a potato knish at the deli, and took the SP shuttle to the airport. Uneventful Southwest nonstop flight home, aside from about a 2 hour delay.
All in all, a successful and very pleasant trip. Next one will be in August, hoping for another winner. Thanks for reading!
