I'm off work with a bad back for a bit so I thought I'd finally file the report for my trip last June. That's right, last JUNE! I guess except for the weather, it isn't time sensitive. Can't find any notes so I'll be shooting from the hip.
Here we go.
I left Sat the weekend of the US Open. I seem to recall it being the 12th, but it doesn't matter. The line for TSA went forever but I got through in about 20 min. Flight boarded on time, but they couldn't get the PA to work properly, so we were delayed almost an hour. Got into LV, took my carryon to a waiting car shuttle and ten minutes later was driving out with my car. Stopped by Smith's for wine and scotch, made it to my friend's place only about ten minutes past my original ETA.
Got my stuff up to the room sans gifts for Bob and Sue. Came down and gave Sue her miniature giraffes to add to her massive collection and the obligatory Seahawk shirt for Bob. At this point we usually move to the patio (covered) for a couple of hours o catchup 'till dinner. Seeing as it was about 113 or 114, we stayed inside to talk. Caught them up on everyone at home and then we traded medical ailments and the Hawks coming season. Since Fox had the Open there was also golf to watch later than usual. We had a great dinner of ribeyes and talked for a while after. Bob and I are both early workers, so we hit it early.
Had a great nights sleep and woke up about six (kinda late for me). I showered, got dressed and headed down for coffee. I told Bob we should eat at the Village Pub as it was on the way. These are owned by the Ellis Is people and have great food for the price. After breakfast we drove over to SouthPoint to watch the Open and play some VP. Played at least 3 hours of VP and lost maybe $20 which was great. I'm not as concerned about breaking the casinos as I am not letting them break me! We watched a lot of golf and some Mariners baseball before heading home.
The plan for the night (Fathers Day) was for me to take them for dinner. Prior to the trip I had consulted the famous Westie for recs on Italian (Bob's Italian) restaurants close to Green Valley. I had chosen one and made reservations. However, while we were gone Sue got on the net to check the place out. Her verdict was that she heard it was good, but too expensive. Understand that the steak the night before were over $20 apiece to cook at home. Forget that my last trip they demanded they take me out instead of the usual. We went to Texas de Brazil and the tab was over $200 before tip! When Sue is right, she's right. They wanted to go to Olive Garden instead as they went there often. I'm not a chain guy nor had I ever been there, but to my amazement they had room in about and hour. To my surprise the food was decent, especially for the price. Only negative was how you could have Italian food without offering Chianti. Oh well.
With the late broadcast, we got home in time to watch the end of the US Open. The next five or ten years of golf should be fun to watch. DJ really fell apart on 18. Kinda felt sorry for him. He'll get his major soon though.
After more talk we adjourned for the evening.
Monday morning we headed over to old Henderson for breakfast at the Rainbow. If you haven't been there, try it some time. The food is good and prices are low. I think my mushroom and swiss omlet was only $7.99. While you're down there visit all the old casinos downtown. Not quite the same as Wynn or the Cosmo! Since Bob was nursing a hernia and temps were up, I just skipped golf this trip. Funny how it wasn't that long ago that 110 or 112 wasn't bad for golf. We even played Tuscany one trip when it was 117 at the airport which meant a few more out that way. The older I get, the less heat I can take. Oh well. We went back to the house and just hung out for a few hours. Around noon I collected my things to head out as I had a few stops I wanted to make before checking in at the Fremont. I stopped at the LV Outlets So and shopped a fair amount, but only came out with a couple of tee shirts and shorts from Reebok. I also checked out the North location. I prefer the shops down south and the air conditioning! After another visit to Smith's for snacks in the room.
I got to the Fremont about 3 or 4 with quick valet and no line to register. In no time I was in my 12th floor room just a few rooms down from the elevator. I unpacked, hung clothes and organized my bathroom stuff. Next was an ice run followed by a stop at the gift shop a paper to complete my afternoon ritual. I almost always head to room at 4:00 or 4:30 to read the paper and watch the early news with a scotch. After my "constitutional" I headed down to play a bit before dinner. VP tables were ok but not great. I played some BP a while but got nowhere. I got up to walk around and saw one of the Little Green Men machines. I threw a twenty in and played about an hour with some profit and a fair number of points. I thought about dinner at the buffet. Their's is ok, but I'm not a big buffet guy. I went in to Tony Romas and sat the bar to find out food was only served in the dining room. I moved next door to the fine dining, I think it's the 2nd Street Market. They served at the bar (good for singles) so I was in. I felt like a good steak and thought I'd pay $40 or so before the $15 per day F&B credit I received daily. I ordered a JW Black and looked at the menu The personable bartender asked what I felt like and I said steak. He recommended the special which was either a T-bone or porterhouse (it's been six months) for about $23. I jumped and was amazed. It was a full on porterhouse cut. The filet side was easily 2" wide. Beyond that it was cooked perfectly and very tender. The meal and service were great. My total before credit was about $50-55 and well worth it. I paid my bill and left the BT $20 and thanked him. BTW, I forgot we had a great conversation about the F&B biz as we were both grizzled vets.
I repair to the casino and a played noneventful (no loss) session of craps, grabbed something from the snack bar for the room and went to bed. I'll finish this segment now as I have to finish dinner. I'll finish the report in the next segment.
Good Luck!
Ric at Joes
Here we go.
I left Sat the weekend of the US Open. I seem to recall it being the 12th, but it doesn't matter. The line for TSA went forever but I got through in about 20 min. Flight boarded on time, but they couldn't get the PA to work properly, so we were delayed almost an hour. Got into LV, took my carryon to a waiting car shuttle and ten minutes later was driving out with my car. Stopped by Smith's for wine and scotch, made it to my friend's place only about ten minutes past my original ETA.
Got my stuff up to the room sans gifts for Bob and Sue. Came down and gave Sue her miniature giraffes to add to her massive collection and the obligatory Seahawk shirt for Bob. At this point we usually move to the patio (covered) for a couple of hours o catchup 'till dinner. Seeing as it was about 113 or 114, we stayed inside to talk. Caught them up on everyone at home and then we traded medical ailments and the Hawks coming season. Since Fox had the Open there was also golf to watch later than usual. We had a great dinner of ribeyes and talked for a while after. Bob and I are both early workers, so we hit it early.
Had a great nights sleep and woke up about six (kinda late for me). I showered, got dressed and headed down for coffee. I told Bob we should eat at the Village Pub as it was on the way. These are owned by the Ellis Is people and have great food for the price. After breakfast we drove over to SouthPoint to watch the Open and play some VP. Played at least 3 hours of VP and lost maybe $20 which was great. I'm not as concerned about breaking the casinos as I am not letting them break me! We watched a lot of golf and some Mariners baseball before heading home.
The plan for the night (Fathers Day) was for me to take them for dinner. Prior to the trip I had consulted the famous Westie for recs on Italian (Bob's Italian) restaurants close to Green Valley. I had chosen one and made reservations. However, while we were gone Sue got on the net to check the place out. Her verdict was that she heard it was good, but too expensive. Understand that the steak the night before were over $20 apiece to cook at home. Forget that my last trip they demanded they take me out instead of the usual. We went to Texas de Brazil and the tab was over $200 before tip! When Sue is right, she's right. They wanted to go to Olive Garden instead as they went there often. I'm not a chain guy nor had I ever been there, but to my amazement they had room in about and hour. To my surprise the food was decent, especially for the price. Only negative was how you could have Italian food without offering Chianti. Oh well.
With the late broadcast, we got home in time to watch the end of the US Open. The next five or ten years of golf should be fun to watch. DJ really fell apart on 18. Kinda felt sorry for him. He'll get his major soon though.
After more talk we adjourned for the evening.
Monday morning we headed over to old Henderson for breakfast at the Rainbow. If you haven't been there, try it some time. The food is good and prices are low. I think my mushroom and swiss omlet was only $7.99. While you're down there visit all the old casinos downtown. Not quite the same as Wynn or the Cosmo! Since Bob was nursing a hernia and temps were up, I just skipped golf this trip. Funny how it wasn't that long ago that 110 or 112 wasn't bad for golf. We even played Tuscany one trip when it was 117 at the airport which meant a few more out that way. The older I get, the less heat I can take. Oh well. We went back to the house and just hung out for a few hours. Around noon I collected my things to head out as I had a few stops I wanted to make before checking in at the Fremont. I stopped at the LV Outlets So and shopped a fair amount, but only came out with a couple of tee shirts and shorts from Reebok. I also checked out the North location. I prefer the shops down south and the air conditioning! After another visit to Smith's for snacks in the room.
I got to the Fremont about 3 or 4 with quick valet and no line to register. In no time I was in my 12th floor room just a few rooms down from the elevator. I unpacked, hung clothes and organized my bathroom stuff. Next was an ice run followed by a stop at the gift shop a paper to complete my afternoon ritual. I almost always head to room at 4:00 or 4:30 to read the paper and watch the early news with a scotch. After my "constitutional" I headed down to play a bit before dinner. VP tables were ok but not great. I played some BP a while but got nowhere. I got up to walk around and saw one of the Little Green Men machines. I threw a twenty in and played about an hour with some profit and a fair number of points. I thought about dinner at the buffet. Their's is ok, but I'm not a big buffet guy. I went in to Tony Romas and sat the bar to find out food was only served in the dining room. I moved next door to the fine dining, I think it's the 2nd Street Market. They served at the bar (good for singles) so I was in. I felt like a good steak and thought I'd pay $40 or so before the $15 per day F&B credit I received daily. I ordered a JW Black and looked at the menu The personable bartender asked what I felt like and I said steak. He recommended the special which was either a T-bone or porterhouse (it's been six months) for about $23. I jumped and was amazed. It was a full on porterhouse cut. The filet side was easily 2" wide. Beyond that it was cooked perfectly and very tender. The meal and service were great. My total before credit was about $50-55 and well worth it. I paid my bill and left the BT $20 and thanked him. BTW, I forgot we had a great conversation about the F&B biz as we were both grizzled vets.
I repair to the casino and a played noneventful (no loss) session of craps, grabbed something from the snack bar for the room and went to bed. I'll finish this segment now as I have to finish dinner. I'll finish the report in the next segment.
Good Luck!
Ric at Joes
