We just got back from Vegas, this was our first post-COVID (really, peri-COVID) trip, first since February 2020. It was a good trip overall, our son and daughter-in-law (Aaron and Arielle), and Linda’s sister and brother-in-law (Joyce and Ken) joined us, and our friend from California, Lolly, also dropped by for a visit. Vegas was fairly crowded, probably back to pre-COVID density or possibly a little less. Mask compliance was good, probably around 90% overall, with the occasional eye-roll but no significant push-back. In contrast, mask compliance during the sardine-like concert on Fremont ST was probably under 50%. As for gambling, we did fairly well, had about $62.3K coin-in; I’m up $19 and Linda is down $612, for a net loss of 0.95%, not too terrible for a no-royal trip.
TUESDAY
We had stayed at the airport Marriott in Tampa overnight, which was convenient; easy nonstop on Southwest, and no problems at all with Uber to Palace Station, waited about 3min (most Uber trips were fine, our longest wait was 14min, but the surge pricing sometimes sucked). Hard start on 3-play BP, got beaten up but then had a few quads and a full housefest, turned my initial $100 into $400. Dinner was at the Oyster Bar (~45min wait at 5pm), had a nice combo pan roast and some oysters. Linda got a straight flush after dinner, I got the shaft. Early bedtime.
WEDNESDAY
Difficult day, lost plenty today. Lunch was nice, I took the SX to Orchids Garden, an okay dim sum place with cart service out on West Sahara. Very tasty overall. Had a few wild rides in the afternoon, mostly in a bad direction, though. Dinner was at the Charcoal Room, which was kind of uneven, maybe not worth bothering with in the future. Oysters Rockefeller (dry but slightly tasty), a good chopped salad, a very good Creekstone Farms New York strip, mediocre charred corn.
THURSDAY
Another real dogshit morning of gambling. Lunch was at Tomi Ramen, across the street from PS, had tonkotsu ramen and chicken kara-age, both very forgettable (very little flavor in the ramen). I had a good multistrike BP session in the afternoon with a top-line FH, but wound up cashing out even in the end. Dinner was at the Brass Fork (coffee shop), very forgettable French onion salisbury steak and not nearly as good as the old coffee shop (boy, they had a good chicken-fried steak). Played some Bonus Deuces after dinner for the first time in my life, had fun and got quad aces for $100, that helped (interestingly enough, Joyce got quad aces on BD as well, at the GN). Last 3-play BP session before bedtime was too ugly to discuss.
FRIDAY
Moving day, to Four Queens. Played a little more in the morning and got a “free” waffle iron that cost about $100. Easy Uber downtown and we met up with Aaron and Arielle, who stayed at 4Q for four nights. Had a good start on dollar JoB, quick chili dog at American Coney (got a bundle of His on mine). Had a good day overall, two quads on quarter DB, a few other good hits. Aaron played the DDB progressive at the bar (might have been his first time screwing around with DDB), got the aces with a kicker for $511, yay! I also did a bit of a coupon run, lost a couple of $25 MPs. Dinner was comped at Hugo’s, and was fun as always, everything was nice except the food preparation (that’s been a chronic problem that few people acknowledge, if they had a decent chef they’d be famous). Prices are ridiculously jacked up now, so it’s only a good option with a comp. I had fair lobster bisque and okay but poorly cooked veal Oscar. Gambling was fairly good after dinner.
SATURDAY
Up and down in the morning, turned my $150 FP into $115 cash on the dollar DB machine (someday I’ll hit something big on the FP). Lunch was at Aloha Specialties with the kids, I love that place. Had the Korean chicken (with two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad, of course). Arielle hit a RF for $1000 after lunch, that was a real trip-changer for the kids (that, plus Aaron’s quad aces with the kicker and Arielle’s quad deuces on NSUD later in the trip). Aaron and I went to Yui Edomae Sushi for dinner, what a treat that was! It’s considered to be one of the best places in town for an omakase meal, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a very unassuming place, behind a few dumpsters in a plaza on Spring Mountain, fairly sparse inside but highly focused on doing things right and in the classic manner. The omakase started with some sparkling chardonnay, then zensai (appetizer course: king crab salad, wagyu beef tartare and crevalle jack liver), a clear soup with grouper and okra, a sashimi course (giant clam, kamashita, oyster, fluke, jack mackerel), a yakimono course (grilled abalone with liver, black cod, wagyu beef, tomato), then nigirizushi (crevalle jack, king tiger prawn, sea bass, marinated tuna, o-toro, salmon roe, uni, chopped toro with caviar, sea eel, sea trout), an o-toro temaki (hand roll), dessert (roasted green tea ice cream, mocha, yuzu cheesecake). Fantastic meal, great interaction with the chef. Gambling was pretty good after dinner; had a real cliffhanger of a DB session, was down to my last credits (yeah, zero on the meter) and got dealt quad sevens; didn’t get rich but felt lucky. Got another $100 FP (current promotion), turned that into $85 cash.
SUNDAY
Moved to the Union Plaza today, usual fleabag room but no major problems. Everyone went to Saginaw’s Deli at Circa (what a gorgeous place!), had a fairly good reuben sandwich, not anywhere near as good as the one at Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor (where the owner got his start). Had a good gambling day overall, mostly dollar JoB. Finished my coupon run today, lost every last MP this year, that has to be a world record. The machines were good today, though. Played a little bit of KBJW, which is fun and different, got two quads and cashed out ahead. Dinner was at Bob Taylor’s Original Ranch House, I think it’s the oldest restaurant in town now, way up on the north end and practically in the desert. Fun place and historically important, I guess, but very disappointing overall. Service was friendly but incompetent; the steaks were good (I had a forgettable smoked prime rib), most of the other food was poor and flavorless. I’m glad we went (although Uber surge pricing was a bitch), but it’s definitely not worth the pilgrimage.
MONDAY
Another fairly good gambling day, mostly stayed ahead. We also visited with our friend, Lolly, for a bit, she was staying at 4Q with family; it’s always great to catch up with her. The kids and I went to Aloha Specialties again, I had the garlic chicken with gravy (and two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad, of course), also a spam musubi. Dinner was at Market Street at the Cal, which was pretty good, I had butterfish misoyaki and some fried wontons.
TUESDAY
Last day. I walked down to the El Cortez, they’re giving $10 FP and a $25 MP if you show your boarding pass; I turned the FP into $7.50, and of course the toolbag at the craps table threw a 2. We checked out of the Union Plaza and moved our bags over to Joyce and Ken’s room at the GN; they and Linda had breakfast at the Claim Jumper, I went down to Neonopolis and ate at Dirt Dog, had a house dog, a pastrami dog and some esquites. Pretty tasty but a bit overengineered and heavy on toppings for me. They probably won’t last, only insomuch as they’re in Neonopolis; nothing lasts in there. I did give Circa a little play, we’ll see if anything comes of that. Easy flight home.
It was a fun trip overall, some good gambling (although no major hits), some good food, lots of nice family fun. Next trip is planned for February, assuming that things don’t go in the wrong direction again. Thanks for reading!
