Back from yet another semi-annual Vegas trip, this time with Linda (wife), Aaron and Arielle (son and daughter-in-law), Joyce and Ken (Linda's sister and brother-in-law) and Linda B (friend from Minnesota). We stayed at our usual hotels, Palace Station, Four Queens and South Point, had a blast as always, lots of good food and good times with family and friends. Gambling wasn't great for us (worse for me than for Linda), but the kids did well as always, each got a $1K royal and Aaron hit the hot seat promotion at SP for $100 FP. Total coin-in was a little less than usual, $61K, with a $1724 (2.8%) loss.
WEDNESDAY
Easy nonstop on Southwest and Uber to PS. Bad start for me, did lousy on 3-play BP and NSUD; Linda hit a couple of premium quads on the dollar BP progressives at the bar but bled green otherwise. We were tired and jet lagged, decided on an early dinner at the Oyster Bar, which was wonderful as always and no wait at 3pm. Had some really outstanding Louisiana oysters; I had cioppino (top-notch seafood, solid but not terribly memorable broth; back to the Alaskan chowder for me next time), Linda had some really good New England clam chowder. I love this place. Took a brief nap, did a little better afterward, got a couple of premium quads on the 3-play BP and a bunch of SF's on NSUD. Early bedtime to get synchronized.
THURSDAY
Slow start, with a major roller coaster session on the 3-play and an okay NSUD session with WR and quint. Lunch was some dim sum at China Mama, all innovative and well prepared. It's a very good restaurant, but I can't agree with the hype about it being one of the best Chinese restaurants in the country (at least not the outlet at PS). Had an unexpectedly good Multistrike BP session after lunch, including a $135 hand with a 2nd line premium quad and 3rd line flush; cashed out about $200 ahead. Up and down all afternoon. We had hoped to hit Golden Steer for dinner but couldn't get a reservation even 4mo ahead, so we wound up at the Charcoal Room, which has never been great but was especially mediocre this time. Had an okay beet, pear and goat cheese salad, a very meh grass-fed filet (maybe I just don't like grass-fed beef) and some okay brussels sprouts; Linda ordered the king crab legs, many of which were good but a few were getting old and one was inedible (they offered us a comp dessert which we didn't want, but no discount; I didn't push the issue). Tab was almost $400 with the tip, way high for a mid-range steakhouse. I think we're done with this place. Had a bad JoB session and a breakeven NSUD session after dinner, and that was that.
FRIDAY
Moving Day, to 4Q and to catch up with everyone else. Lunch was at Aloha Specialties, one of my favorites; I had broiled ahi tuna belly, which was fantastic (I've never been a fan of cooked tuna, but this was fatty enough to handle it), and a Spam musubi. Gambling was less than stellar, had a long losing 50¢ JoB session, always tedious on their old uprights, also a losing 10/7 DB session. Arielle was the winner for the afternoon, got the quad deuces and a couple of WRs at the bar. Dinner was just the kids and I, at Chengdu Taste in Chinatown, widely regarded as one of the best Szechwan restaurants in the country and I tend to agree. We had green onion and pork crispy cakes, mung bean jelly noodles in chili sauce, eggplant in garlic sauce and flour steamed pork, all terrific. Back to 4Q, had a decent JoB session and a loser on the Illinois deuces progressives.
SATURDAY
Mediocre morning, had a bunch of losing sessions, nothing catastrophic, but at least I won some FP on that Spinsplosion game at Binions. Quick and meh lunch at American Coney, more losing after lunch. Dinner was at Oscar's, we went over to the Union Plaza early and gave them some play, hoping to generate some room offers again; had a long but ultimately losing JoB session at the Carousel Bar (I guess it's obvious that I didn't get the royal or the LVA $500 bonus). Oscar's was very good, and such a cool venue. Had a very good chopped salad, some excellent short rib ravioli, a good ribeye, creamed spinach and macaroni and cheese, all very good. Back to 4Q after dinner, up and down, one little bit of vulturing of a ripe Cash Falls machine. Went up to the room, and Aaron texted soon thereafter, he had hit the Illinois deuces bartop progressive for $1176. He's always been good at getting royals.
SUNDAY
Did a little coupon running before moving to SP, the El Cortez isn't what it used to be. Just 3 live BJ tables with CSMs, 2 craps and 2 roulette. Also walked down to the Western, it's all boarded up but still has its signage, I wonder if they'll ever do anything with it. Reminds me of the good old days. Anyway, Uber to SP, got a pool view room this time. Did okay on 3-play JoB in the morning, went across the street to Vito's Tacos for lunch. Interesting place, they have a few stores in Vegas, only have birria (beef or chicken), but it was very good, I'll be going back for sure. Had an okay STP-BP session after lunch, started horribly but got a quad with a 4x multiplier, then a FH with 5x. Meanwhile, Arielle got a $1000 royal (seems like a bad habit with them). The rest of the afternoon was pretty good for a change, did okay on 3-play JoB, $1 single-line JoB and quarter NSUD. Dinner was at Zenshin, always a fun place, had some sushi (uni, tiger roll, 8 second bull ride roll) and some unfortunately forgettable garlic chicken (the other people chose better), also their signature malasada dessert, which has been seriously downgraded, now it's just three plain malasadas over little puddles of custard. Damned shame. Had one more losing JoB session, then bedtime.
MONDAY
Wizard of Oz Day, so not a lot of time to play. SP had a hot seat promo which I didn't hit, but Aaron did, of course, for $100 FP. Morning gambling was up and down; took a shot at the Loose Deuces machine but didn't hit the deuces. Quick lunch at the Del Mar Deli, had an okay Reuben with surprisingly good (and fatty) corned beef. Quick Uber to the Sphere, very cool venue with excellent, efficient service. The Wizard of Oz was really cool, slightly cut (from 100 to 75min) but the remastering (if that's what it's called) was spectacular, really memorable. After the show, Aaron, Arielle and I walked over to the Venetian and had a great dinner at Bouchon. Starters were terrific steak tartare, ricotta truffle gnudi (poached dumplings), somewhat disappointing French onion soup (too much bread and kind of cloying) and excellent cream of parsnip soup. I had braised lamb shoulder (fantastic), Aaron had lobster thermidor, Arielle had steak frites. Back to SP, had an initially good but ultimately losing Good Times Pay BP session; the guy next to me was playing UltX deuces for nickels, got dealt quad deuces with lots of multipliers for $2300, luckier than I. Had a last winning dollar JoB session with two quads (one dealt), a quick losing NSUD session and bedtime.
TUESDAY
Last gambling day, and not a good one, although Aaron started the morning with dealt quad aces on STP-BP (no multiplier, unfortunately). Lost all morning, had some good Korean fried chicken and ddukbokki at Pelicana across the street, though. Everyone left today except Linda and I; Linda B had one more night at NYNY, and the rest went home. Quiz question: Aaron and Arielle had about $8K coin in per day, checked out with a host, were only comped a 1pm check out and a smarmy look; guess which host? I had a few decent sessions after lunch, including a 5x quint on STP-deuces but mostly lost. Dinner was some Chinese food (orange chicken, won ton soup) at the coffee shop, but little did I realize what was coming. Finished the evening with a loser on $1 JoB and a breakeven NSUD session.
WEDNESDAY
I woke up around 1am, from a fever dream of bad orange chicken, sickest I've ever been in my life. I'll spare the details, but I didn't eat again until Saturday. Not a fun flight and I needed a wheelchair in the airports, but we got home. Guess what I'm never going to eat again?
It was a fun trip overall until that last night (and those first few days at home), next trip in August. Thanks for reading!
