Prologue:
My friend and co-worker, MadMan Mike and I have been talking and planning this trip every since we returned from last year's March trip. Since the birth of his 3rd child Mike has been Vegas "impaired"; limited by his family obligations to one trip a year. He was determined to make this trip count....mission accomplished. We tried to "round up the usual suspects" to make for a truly epic guys trip, the rest of the crew, including Freddie Five Fingers, bailed out on us...pussies. We looked at out flight options to Vegas and decided to go 1st class on Delta. This was a fortunate decision on our part because the TSA has really screwed things up at the Minneapolis airport. They decided to make the check in process more "efficient" by reducing the number of check points down to two sites...and then not fully staffing them. The lines have been ridiculously looong. Passengers have been howling about this new and "efficient" operation with the Governor and our senators getting involved in the melee. Leave it to the Feds to make a bad situation even worse. I checked in for my flight 24 hours ahead of time on-line and scored TSA pre-check. Mike waited until we arrived at the airport, but still could use the 1st class/Sky Priority One line.
The Flamingo gave me a comped night and reduced rate for the other 4 nights. Car rental prices were crazy, but I used some of my points from Enterprise and booked a full sized car for a little over $200 for the week. I had a voucher from Travel Zoo for a dinner for two at BLT steak; a $208 value purchased for $115. I still had my $100 Diamond dining credit from last year that I had to use by the end of the month, so we were good for at least two decent meals. We decided to wait and decide on a show once we were in town, using my monthly free show tickets from CET. Timberwolf (David from San Diego) and his girlfriend Julie were going to be in Vegas so we made plans to meet them while we were in Vegas. We had all of our ducks in a row; now the hard part was waiting and watching the cold Minnesota winter days drag by.....until......Vegas!
Sunday 3/13
I picked up Mike and we headed for the Cities early, taking into consideration the horrors stories about the long TSA lines that we have been reading/hearing in the local media reports. We checked our bags at the Delta desk and then started to walk to the far end of the terminal towards one of the the TSA checkpoints. The line didn't look long at all until we got closer and could see around the corner...Good God, what a mess. I've never seen lines this long at any airport...ever. I cruised by the masses using the TSA pre-check line, trying to avoid eye contact from the passengers in the regular lines....talk about icy glares. I walked right up to the agent, put my backpack on the scanner, walked through the metal detector..didn't have to take my jacket, shoes or belt off and was through the entire process in less than two minutes...sweet. It took Mike about five minutes to be processed and soon we were on our way to the Gate....way, way down to the end of corridor G.
We had time to spare, so at 09:30 we settled onto some barstools for some liquid refreshments. Welcome to the 21st century guys....we had to order our drinks using an I-pad type device and they didn't accept cash. I had my usual preflight double Hendricks gin and tonic....I brought my own cucumber slices to the delight of the bartender. Two doubles and I had a relaxed and satisfied smile on my face...all's right with the world..at least from my barstool perspective. Boarding went smoothly and another gin and tonic before we pulled out of the gate had my spirits soaring. I must comment that the in flight meal that we had was probably the biggest disappointment of the trip. I had a very bland soggy salad, and Mike had a sandwich which was like you would get at a Kwik Trip store....made, wrapped and sitting on the shelf for three days. The meals served on Sun Country airline are head and shoulders better than Delta's offerings. Fortified with another gin and tonic I drifted blissfully into slumber until touchdown.
Our bags were tumbling off of the carousel as we approached baggage claim and we were soon at the car rental center...no line at the Enterprise desk. Ten minutes later we drove away in a new Nissan Altima, destination the Flamingo. Diamond checkin was a breeze, Fab strip view room on the 17th floor, overlooking Caesars Palace. The Habitat elevators are a little slow, but not a big deal. We quickly unpacked and then went on a Timberwolf hunt. Dave and I texted back and forth, but he seemed to be elusive. MadMan and I ended up getting a couple of greasy hotdogs at Nathans in the Flamingo food court...neither of us were able to choke down our meal from Delta. We then walked over to Harrah's and bought into a craps game for a couple of hours. One of the dealers wasn't too sharp; I had to remind him on two separate rolls to pay be for my place bet. I finally was able to locate Timberwolf at the Flamingo diamond lounge, so we cashed out with each a small loss and walked over to meet up with Dave and grab something to eat and drink.
Next stop was at the Cromwell's Bound bar for drinks and to talk to some Vegas regulars, Linda and Rich. Good times and conversation ensued until we decided to hit downtown and gamble at the Golden Gate. Dave played some VP at the bar while MadMan and I had our asses kicked at the blackjack table. The bloodletting lasted three hours before we decided to give up. MadMan took a cab for the Rhino and Timberwolf and I walked down FSE to Binions and played some VP at the bar and then grabbed a late night snack at their cafe...good burgers. I drove Dave back to the Gold Coast where he was staying, and we played VP at the bar until I couldn't keep my eye open anymore. I bid Timberwolf adieu and drove back to the Flamingo, leaving the car with the valet...self parking at the Flamingo is a cluster F**k. MadMan came back to the room around 06:00 and we both slept until 10:30....we hit our first day in Vegas on the run.
Monday 3/14:
We both felt pretty good considering only getting about 4-5 hours of sleep, so it was off for breakfast at the Peppermill. The place was jumping, so we grabbed a couple of seats at the counter and each of us ordered an omlet....HUGE...they must use a dozen eggs....HUGE, and tasty. We put a good sized dent on our plateful of food, but neither of us could finish...stuffed. We drove over to the Gold Coast to hook up with Timberwolf who was playing in a slot tournament. Mike and I settled into a double deck pitch blackjack table with a fun and friendly female dealer. After a couple of hours Timberwolf and I walked over to the Rio diamond lounge leaving Mikey at the tables.
The Rio diamond lounge had some chicken wings and tacos as their food offerings; washed down with a tasty mudslide. We walked down to the wine cellar so that I could have a glass and talk to Lita, one of people who works there. She is a delightful and funny lady; I always enjoy talking to her over a glass of wine...a very nice pinot noir. We went back and picked up MadMan and ended up at the Harrah's diamond lounge so that Mike could stock up on some food while we downed a couple of cocktails and talked to the "regulars". Next, was meeting up with Linda and Rich for happy hour at the Bound bar. They serve a nice pinot there. We then drove downtown to the Gate for another blackjack session. Timberwolf's favorite bartender, Valaria, was working tonight, so he again began a long VP session at the bar. Things went a little better at the tables tonight, but not by much....still ended with a losing session. Shortly before we were ready to leave, I gave Dave a heads up about our soon to departure. When Mike and I cashed out, Timberwolf was no where to be found. We scoured the casino to no avail....I took a shot and walked down to where I thought he might have gone....Binions. Sure enough that is where I found him, talking to some chick at the bar.....lets go, dude. The Vegas adrenalin had started to wear off for Mike and I, so be drove Dave back to the G.C. and then we crashed for the night for some much needed sleep.
Tuesday 3/15:
We were up and ready to meet the day at 0800. Breakfast was at Planet Dallies at the PHO. I had another omelet; not as big as the one at the Peppermill, but still very good. Our waiter was a very nice guy; checking up on us every 5 minutes..never had an empty coffee cup. We walked down to the M & M store so that Mike could buy some things for his kids..they love that stuff. The place was jammed with parents and kids...I finally had enough of the mayhem and went outside to wait for Mike to finish with his shopping. We met Timberwolf and the "crew" at the Bound bar for happy hour and then Mike and I went to have dinner at BLT steak at Bally's.
My Travel Zoo voucher included two appetizers or salads, entree up to $58, a side and dessert to share and two cocktails or glasses of wine. Mike had the crab cakes while I had a Caesar salad. Our waiter brought us several different "extras" including some duck pate. We also indulged with their famous popovers. I had a 16 oz NY strip while MadMan had the 10 oz Filet. Both were cooked to perfection; tender and juicy. We shared a side of grilled green beans and each had a nice glass of Oregon pinot noir. We decided to each get our own dessert. I thought that some gelato would be a good choice to finish off a great meal. I expected a scoop, but was surprised when the waiter brought a bowl with four scoops of mango flavored gelato. He also brought out some brownies and another treat, compliments of the house. They bagged up our brownies and special treat "to go" as we were absolutely stuffed to the gills. Mike and I had a nice meal here last year and this year was no different....nice quiet atmosphere, great wait staff and terrific food/steaks. I stopped at the desk on our way out and was able to make a reservation for 4 people for the Sunday Sterling brunch buffet, at the request of Timberwolf...you are all set, buddy.
We met back up with Timberwolf and gave him our "to go" treats, which he enjoyed in the back seat as we drove back downtown for another round of gambling. We decided to let the dealers at the Gate cool off tonight and we ended up at Binions. Dave and I played VP at the bar while MadMan hit the craps table. I had a pretty good VP session, hitting a couple of quads to cash out $100 ahead. We had some free entertainment from across the bar. A hooker was hitting up this dopey looking guy; really working him. Thirty minutes of hard sell turned up fruitless for the hooker and she finally left to prey on some other tourist. Timberwolf introduced me to the bartender, John, who is a great guy...serves up a very respectable gin and tonic. Mike was doing well at the craps table. He colored up and halfway to the cashiers he said "hey, I think they shorted me $100!" We went back to the table and argued with the boxman, but the dealers and him were adamant that he had got paid correctly. Mike was not totally convinced, but he walked away with a $400 profit. The female craps dealers at Binions are knockouts....the "suits" are still as mean and surly as ever. We drove back to the Gold Coast...MadMan and Timberwolf were not ready to call it a night, so I left them to party on, while I went back to the Flamingo. I played VP at Bugsy's bar; the bartender served me several Tangueray 10 and tonics before I cashed out even and stumbled back to the room. I didn't hear Mike come in around 05:30.
Wednesday 3/16:
We awoke around the crack of 10:00 and drove down to the Gate to eat at Dupars; Mike had a $15 food voucher. I must have been in a rut this trip, because I ordered another omelet. The fresh squeezed orange juice at Dupars really hits the spot. We played an afternoon blackjack session with a pleasant dealer by the name of Richard. Richard hammered us. MadMan gave up and went to another table, while I hung on, hoping things would turn around. I surrendered by last chips when Richard beat my 18 with a 7 card draw to 19. I told the pit boss that a 7 card dealer 19 had to be illegal....or something....no justice.
We again met up with Timberwolf at happy hour at the Bound bar. Really like the atmosphere and the friendly bartenders there. Mike and I decided to use my $100 dining credit for dinner at Martorano's at Paris. The hostess tried to seat us at the worse table in the restaurant; in the back by the kitchen and waiter's station. I was having none of that crap; told her to seat us some place else. She said that the other tables were reserved for patrons that had made previous reservations. I told her that we were not "walk ons" that I HAD made a dinner reservation. She apologized and seated us at a different table. I had the chicken parma and Mike had the veal. Our waitress warned Mike that the veal parma had both sweet and hot peppers and the hot peppers were very spicy. Mike found out that the waitress was not kidding about the peppers. A large piece of hot pepper was hidden under some cheese and Mike's eyes lit up like a pinball machine on tilt when he bit into it. Mike's mouth was on fire for the rest of the meal. He really couldn't enjoy or taste the rest of his food. After Madman's eyes quit watering, we drove over to the Rio to see Penn and Teller.
We stopped briefly at the wine cellar to say hello to Jose; Mike grabbed a glass of wine to go...still trying to put the fire out in his mouth. Penn and Teller was entertaining as usual, with several new tricks being performed. In fact, most of the show was new to me, and I have seen their act at least 6 previous times in Vegas. Amazing and funny show.
We met up with Timberwolf and his girlfriend Julie (she flew in that afternoon) at Paris and played some triple play VP near the high limit slot area. Our beautiful and friendly cocktail waitress was able to hook me up with some Hendrick's gin and tonics. Mike and I hit a couple of quads each to keep us playing for quite a while. Mike cashed out up $100 and me down $100. We walked with Timberwolf and Julie back to the Flamingo; they were staying there one night before moving downtown to the El Cortez. MadMan and I crashed around 03:00.
Stayed tuned for the conclusion: St Paddy's day downtown and the rest......a winning blackjack session, more quads and I finally break my craps embargo at Binions.
My friend and co-worker, MadMan Mike and I have been talking and planning this trip every since we returned from last year's March trip. Since the birth of his 3rd child Mike has been Vegas "impaired"; limited by his family obligations to one trip a year. He was determined to make this trip count....mission accomplished. We tried to "round up the usual suspects" to make for a truly epic guys trip, the rest of the crew, including Freddie Five Fingers, bailed out on us...pussies. We looked at out flight options to Vegas and decided to go 1st class on Delta. This was a fortunate decision on our part because the TSA has really screwed things up at the Minneapolis airport. They decided to make the check in process more "efficient" by reducing the number of check points down to two sites...and then not fully staffing them. The lines have been ridiculously looong. Passengers have been howling about this new and "efficient" operation with the Governor and our senators getting involved in the melee. Leave it to the Feds to make a bad situation even worse. I checked in for my flight 24 hours ahead of time on-line and scored TSA pre-check. Mike waited until we arrived at the airport, but still could use the 1st class/Sky Priority One line.
The Flamingo gave me a comped night and reduced rate for the other 4 nights. Car rental prices were crazy, but I used some of my points from Enterprise and booked a full sized car for a little over $200 for the week. I had a voucher from Travel Zoo for a dinner for two at BLT steak; a $208 value purchased for $115. I still had my $100 Diamond dining credit from last year that I had to use by the end of the month, so we were good for at least two decent meals. We decided to wait and decide on a show once we were in town, using my monthly free show tickets from CET. Timberwolf (David from San Diego) and his girlfriend Julie were going to be in Vegas so we made plans to meet them while we were in Vegas. We had all of our ducks in a row; now the hard part was waiting and watching the cold Minnesota winter days drag by.....until......Vegas!
Sunday 3/13
I picked up Mike and we headed for the Cities early, taking into consideration the horrors stories about the long TSA lines that we have been reading/hearing in the local media reports. We checked our bags at the Delta desk and then started to walk to the far end of the terminal towards one of the the TSA checkpoints. The line didn't look long at all until we got closer and could see around the corner...Good God, what a mess. I've never seen lines this long at any airport...ever. I cruised by the masses using the TSA pre-check line, trying to avoid eye contact from the passengers in the regular lines....talk about icy glares. I walked right up to the agent, put my backpack on the scanner, walked through the metal detector..didn't have to take my jacket, shoes or belt off and was through the entire process in less than two minutes...sweet. It took Mike about five minutes to be processed and soon we were on our way to the Gate....way, way down to the end of corridor G.
We had time to spare, so at 09:30 we settled onto some barstools for some liquid refreshments. Welcome to the 21st century guys....we had to order our drinks using an I-pad type device and they didn't accept cash. I had my usual preflight double Hendricks gin and tonic....I brought my own cucumber slices to the delight of the bartender. Two doubles and I had a relaxed and satisfied smile on my face...all's right with the world..at least from my barstool perspective. Boarding went smoothly and another gin and tonic before we pulled out of the gate had my spirits soaring. I must comment that the in flight meal that we had was probably the biggest disappointment of the trip. I had a very bland soggy salad, and Mike had a sandwich which was like you would get at a Kwik Trip store....made, wrapped and sitting on the shelf for three days. The meals served on Sun Country airline are head and shoulders better than Delta's offerings. Fortified with another gin and tonic I drifted blissfully into slumber until touchdown.
Our bags were tumbling off of the carousel as we approached baggage claim and we were soon at the car rental center...no line at the Enterprise desk. Ten minutes later we drove away in a new Nissan Altima, destination the Flamingo. Diamond checkin was a breeze, Fab strip view room on the 17th floor, overlooking Caesars Palace. The Habitat elevators are a little slow, but not a big deal. We quickly unpacked and then went on a Timberwolf hunt. Dave and I texted back and forth, but he seemed to be elusive. MadMan and I ended up getting a couple of greasy hotdogs at Nathans in the Flamingo food court...neither of us were able to choke down our meal from Delta. We then walked over to Harrah's and bought into a craps game for a couple of hours. One of the dealers wasn't too sharp; I had to remind him on two separate rolls to pay be for my place bet. I finally was able to locate Timberwolf at the Flamingo diamond lounge, so we cashed out with each a small loss and walked over to meet up with Dave and grab something to eat and drink.
Next stop was at the Cromwell's Bound bar for drinks and to talk to some Vegas regulars, Linda and Rich. Good times and conversation ensued until we decided to hit downtown and gamble at the Golden Gate. Dave played some VP at the bar while MadMan and I had our asses kicked at the blackjack table. The bloodletting lasted three hours before we decided to give up. MadMan took a cab for the Rhino and Timberwolf and I walked down FSE to Binions and played some VP at the bar and then grabbed a late night snack at their cafe...good burgers. I drove Dave back to the Gold Coast where he was staying, and we played VP at the bar until I couldn't keep my eye open anymore. I bid Timberwolf adieu and drove back to the Flamingo, leaving the car with the valet...self parking at the Flamingo is a cluster F**k. MadMan came back to the room around 06:00 and we both slept until 10:30....we hit our first day in Vegas on the run.
Monday 3/14:
We both felt pretty good considering only getting about 4-5 hours of sleep, so it was off for breakfast at the Peppermill. The place was jumping, so we grabbed a couple of seats at the counter and each of us ordered an omlet....HUGE...they must use a dozen eggs....HUGE, and tasty. We put a good sized dent on our plateful of food, but neither of us could finish...stuffed. We drove over to the Gold Coast to hook up with Timberwolf who was playing in a slot tournament. Mike and I settled into a double deck pitch blackjack table with a fun and friendly female dealer. After a couple of hours Timberwolf and I walked over to the Rio diamond lounge leaving Mikey at the tables.
The Rio diamond lounge had some chicken wings and tacos as their food offerings; washed down with a tasty mudslide. We walked down to the wine cellar so that I could have a glass and talk to Lita, one of people who works there. She is a delightful and funny lady; I always enjoy talking to her over a glass of wine...a very nice pinot noir. We went back and picked up MadMan and ended up at the Harrah's diamond lounge so that Mike could stock up on some food while we downed a couple of cocktails and talked to the "regulars". Next, was meeting up with Linda and Rich for happy hour at the Bound bar. They serve a nice pinot there. We then drove downtown to the Gate for another blackjack session. Timberwolf's favorite bartender, Valaria, was working tonight, so he again began a long VP session at the bar. Things went a little better at the tables tonight, but not by much....still ended with a losing session. Shortly before we were ready to leave, I gave Dave a heads up about our soon to departure. When Mike and I cashed out, Timberwolf was no where to be found. We scoured the casino to no avail....I took a shot and walked down to where I thought he might have gone....Binions. Sure enough that is where I found him, talking to some chick at the bar.....lets go, dude. The Vegas adrenalin had started to wear off for Mike and I, so be drove Dave back to the G.C. and then we crashed for the night for some much needed sleep.
Tuesday 3/15:
We were up and ready to meet the day at 0800. Breakfast was at Planet Dallies at the PHO. I had another omelet; not as big as the one at the Peppermill, but still very good. Our waiter was a very nice guy; checking up on us every 5 minutes..never had an empty coffee cup. We walked down to the M & M store so that Mike could buy some things for his kids..they love that stuff. The place was jammed with parents and kids...I finally had enough of the mayhem and went outside to wait for Mike to finish with his shopping. We met Timberwolf and the "crew" at the Bound bar for happy hour and then Mike and I went to have dinner at BLT steak at Bally's.
My Travel Zoo voucher included two appetizers or salads, entree up to $58, a side and dessert to share and two cocktails or glasses of wine. Mike had the crab cakes while I had a Caesar salad. Our waiter brought us several different "extras" including some duck pate. We also indulged with their famous popovers. I had a 16 oz NY strip while MadMan had the 10 oz Filet. Both were cooked to perfection; tender and juicy. We shared a side of grilled green beans and each had a nice glass of Oregon pinot noir. We decided to each get our own dessert. I thought that some gelato would be a good choice to finish off a great meal. I expected a scoop, but was surprised when the waiter brought a bowl with four scoops of mango flavored gelato. He also brought out some brownies and another treat, compliments of the house. They bagged up our brownies and special treat "to go" as we were absolutely stuffed to the gills. Mike and I had a nice meal here last year and this year was no different....nice quiet atmosphere, great wait staff and terrific food/steaks. I stopped at the desk on our way out and was able to make a reservation for 4 people for the Sunday Sterling brunch buffet, at the request of Timberwolf...you are all set, buddy.
We met back up with Timberwolf and gave him our "to go" treats, which he enjoyed in the back seat as we drove back downtown for another round of gambling. We decided to let the dealers at the Gate cool off tonight and we ended up at Binions. Dave and I played VP at the bar while MadMan hit the craps table. I had a pretty good VP session, hitting a couple of quads to cash out $100 ahead. We had some free entertainment from across the bar. A hooker was hitting up this dopey looking guy; really working him. Thirty minutes of hard sell turned up fruitless for the hooker and she finally left to prey on some other tourist. Timberwolf introduced me to the bartender, John, who is a great guy...serves up a very respectable gin and tonic. Mike was doing well at the craps table. He colored up and halfway to the cashiers he said "hey, I think they shorted me $100!" We went back to the table and argued with the boxman, but the dealers and him were adamant that he had got paid correctly. Mike was not totally convinced, but he walked away with a $400 profit. The female craps dealers at Binions are knockouts....the "suits" are still as mean and surly as ever. We drove back to the Gold Coast...MadMan and Timberwolf were not ready to call it a night, so I left them to party on, while I went back to the Flamingo. I played VP at Bugsy's bar; the bartender served me several Tangueray 10 and tonics before I cashed out even and stumbled back to the room. I didn't hear Mike come in around 05:30.
Wednesday 3/16:
We awoke around the crack of 10:00 and drove down to the Gate to eat at Dupars; Mike had a $15 food voucher. I must have been in a rut this trip, because I ordered another omelet. The fresh squeezed orange juice at Dupars really hits the spot. We played an afternoon blackjack session with a pleasant dealer by the name of Richard. Richard hammered us. MadMan gave up and went to another table, while I hung on, hoping things would turn around. I surrendered by last chips when Richard beat my 18 with a 7 card draw to 19. I told the pit boss that a 7 card dealer 19 had to be illegal....or something....no justice.
We again met up with Timberwolf at happy hour at the Bound bar. Really like the atmosphere and the friendly bartenders there. Mike and I decided to use my $100 dining credit for dinner at Martorano's at Paris. The hostess tried to seat us at the worse table in the restaurant; in the back by the kitchen and waiter's station. I was having none of that crap; told her to seat us some place else. She said that the other tables were reserved for patrons that had made previous reservations. I told her that we were not "walk ons" that I HAD made a dinner reservation. She apologized and seated us at a different table. I had the chicken parma and Mike had the veal. Our waitress warned Mike that the veal parma had both sweet and hot peppers and the hot peppers were very spicy. Mike found out that the waitress was not kidding about the peppers. A large piece of hot pepper was hidden under some cheese and Mike's eyes lit up like a pinball machine on tilt when he bit into it. Mike's mouth was on fire for the rest of the meal. He really couldn't enjoy or taste the rest of his food. After Madman's eyes quit watering, we drove over to the Rio to see Penn and Teller.
We stopped briefly at the wine cellar to say hello to Jose; Mike grabbed a glass of wine to go...still trying to put the fire out in his mouth. Penn and Teller was entertaining as usual, with several new tricks being performed. In fact, most of the show was new to me, and I have seen their act at least 6 previous times in Vegas. Amazing and funny show.
We met up with Timberwolf and his girlfriend Julie (she flew in that afternoon) at Paris and played some triple play VP near the high limit slot area. Our beautiful and friendly cocktail waitress was able to hook me up with some Hendrick's gin and tonics. Mike and I hit a couple of quads each to keep us playing for quite a while. Mike cashed out up $100 and me down $100. We walked with Timberwolf and Julie back to the Flamingo; they were staying there one night before moving downtown to the El Cortez. MadMan and I crashed around 03:00.
Stayed tuned for the conclusion: St Paddy's day downtown and the rest......a winning blackjack session, more quads and I finally break my craps embargo at Binions.
