Summer 2012 – Day 10
Today is the last day in Laughlin and I head on to the Silverton for a couple days before returning right back here again for a poker tournament. So, today I am going to play tour guide.
There is a water taxi that runs all day here and makes stops at all the hotels and casinos along the river. It costs $4 per person each way or $15 for an all day pass. However, if you use your Harrah’s Reward Points, you can get them for half off, so we went down to the Reward’s booth and bought two round trip tickets. Cindy signed up for the club and as an enticement to play was told that if she put 50 points on her card within 24 hours, she’d receive two buffet comps. That didn’t take too long. After a couple of misses on a cat themed and then a dog themed machine, we headed over to Jacks or Better video poker. I scored four quads in a relatively short period of time, won back the money we lost and when 50 points were reached, we were $10 ahead. After picking up the buffet coupons, which we were going to use for breakfast tomorrow, we saw that it said Lunch and Dinner only on them. Hmm…didn’t bother to mention that before.
Why this pic? An amazing find!...hot food being served in the Diamond Lounge at Harrahs Laughlin... Someone messed up.
The water taxi is a nice way to get around the couple of miles of casinos that make up Casino Drive in Laughlin. For those of you who have not been here, Casino Drive is where the nine or ten casinos sit, all but one, the Tropicana Express, sit on the river’s edge. On one end is the Riverside (the very first casino and hotel here), and on the other end is Harrahs. Because of the unsettled weather we’ve had here the last couple of days, the water was pretty choppy, but the ride from Harrahs to the Riverside was okay as the many jet skis moved out of our way. I called my parents, who are staying at the Riverside, to see where they were which turned out to be in the café. We sat with them for a while and caught up on things. They had a couple of comp tickets to a one-hour boat tour of the river and gave them to us to give to Cindy’s daughter and her boyfriend, which they could use tomorrow if they wished.
From the Riverside, we went along the River Walk, which is a walkway that extends along the river’s edge from the Riverside to the Royal Palms (it doesn’t make it Harrahs). The plan was to take the River Walk and go into each casino along the way. First was the Aquarius where we had been just yesterday, so there was no need to walk in; however, as we walked along, sitting at a window seat and waving was Danielle, Cindy’s daughter who along with Robert, were having breakfast at the buffet. We visited with them for a while and made plans for tomorrow as they are taking Cindy with them back to San Diego.
When we said our goodbyes we realized it was already 12:30 and we hadn’t eaten anything all day, so we stopped by the Subway Sandwiches outlet inside the Aquarius and split a Spicy Italian (yum, 3 ½ forks). Back out on the River Walk it was warm, but not the blistering heat I was expecting. However, the humidity was high and made the walk a little less enjoyable. Next stop along the way was the Edgewater Hotel and Casino. This is a place in need of a spruce up. We played a Village People machine and caught one bonus round but there was nothing here to stick around. The casino wasn’t very busy for a Saturday and both the pizza and Nathan’s hotdog outlets where deserted.
We then took the pathway to the Colorado Belle. With the same owners as the Edgewater, the Colorado Belle is also beginning to get run down. Not long ago, on the second floor were the café, the buffet, a good Italian restaurant, and Mexican taco stand, and a steak house. Most all of those have closed with the brewery on the first floor taking over duties of the café and the second floor completely closed to traffic until the dinner hours. These two places were once thriving but the inability of the owners to keep them up with the times is allowing each of these places to fall by the wayside. We did sit down and play a Godzilla game, and once again after catching bonus, cashed out and headed on.
For some reason, the Regency Casino has taken to the milk cow for a mascot.
We then walked into the little casino, which does not have a hotel attached to it called the Regency. This little joint is easy to miss as when you drive along Casino Dr. you can’t see the building, only a lone sign gives the passerby any clue that it’s there. There is a small cocktail area with a stage in the corner, which lies empty and next to it a small snack bar/café. There was a lone woman sitting at a table in the far corner. In the casino, there were a couple of people at the bar, and perhaps one or two people playing machines. Their faux Hawaiian motif is a bit tacky. Above the bar there’s a sign that during “Happy Hour” you and 14 friends can buy 15 kamikazes for $25. Those marketing geniuses, what will they come up with next?
The inside of the Regency. How do they stay in business?
Cindy was getting tired, so we decided to end the tour here and head back to Harrahs. We backtracked to the Colorado Belle and picked up the water taxi. I was able to take a couple of pictures of the hotels from this perspective. The beaches along the way were crowded with people enjoying the water without the oppressive heat. After returning to Harrahs, Cindy wanted to nap, so I took on the casino. For the next hour, I took my swings at Jacks or Better, and three or four penny machines. After adding on another couple hundred points ($2K in play), I ended the session down only $20. Again, the Royal continues to elude me this trip.
The River Palms
The Pioneer from the river view
Harrahs Laughlin from the view of the water taxi
It was getting close to 5 PM, and we were to meet my parents for dinner at the Prime Rib room on the second floor of the Riverside. I took the car out of valet and drove over there and parked in the garage parking across the street and took the covered pedestrian bridge into the main casino where we met up with them. The Prime Rib room is a great place to have a great meal at a very reasonable price. I’ve eaten here a few times before and the only surprise was that we were able to get in right away in a booth overlooking the river. This is really a buffet style meal; however, they follow a set system. You have a waiter who brings you the drinks and you go get your salad. When you’re done with that course, you go get your potatoes and vegetables (oddly, there were three choices of potatoes and only one choice string beans of vegetable this day—yes, there was creamed spinach—but yuk). When the “cutter” sees that you have the vegetable/potato plate at your table, he will come by and ask what your cut of prime rib choice would be. We had medium rare and Pop likes his rare. The prime rib also comes with mushrooms and horseradish if you like. He cuts the meat at your table from a rolling station. If you’re not a meat eater, they also have a couple of fish entries (salmon or mahi mahi) and a chicken (cordon-bleu). This prime rib is outstanding. When you’re done with your dinner, it’s up to the buffet area again to select a dessert of assorted pies, soft-serve ice cream, cakes, and parfaits. Not only is the meal and ambience excellent, but the price can’t be beat at $14.95 complete including drinks (non-alcohol). Wear your shorts and casual attire here—just hope it isn’t anyone’s birthday as on this night we sat through four renditions of their Happy Birthday song with screeching (granted funny), RIV-ER-SI-II-II-II-DE. (considering value: 4 forks!)
Pop, Mom, and Cindy at the The Prime Rib room in the Riverside Hotel and Casino
We said our goodbyes and headed back to the Harrahs as the day was not over and there was a concert to be attended this night. It didn’t start until 9PM so we watched a little TV and noticed a double rainbow across the landscape. I took a pic but I’m afraid it just barely captured it properly.
An attempt to catch a double rainbow hovering over Bullhead, Arizona
All day we were nervous about the concert because it’s taken place at the outside arena adjacent to the hotel, and it’s been sprinkling off and on all day long. We decided to go, but if it began to rain steadily, we’d leave. Fortunately, with the exception of a stray drop here and there, the entire night went great. The temperature was perfect and though the humidity a little high, everyone enjoyed the show. Huey Lewis and the News was first up (the act I was most anxious to see). They came out and opened with “Heart of Rock and Roll” and it was hit after hit after that. They only played two songs from their latest album, SOULFULNESS, and the band (especially horn section) was top-notch. Huey, at 61, can still belt them out, but on this night, I noticed a little difficulty hitting some of those high notes. The set was an hour long and then, of course, the requisite encore of “Power of Love.” I have to apologize for the pictures. On this night, my camera simply wasn’t up to the distance and the powerful stage lighting. The vast majority of pictures (and I took many) were so out of focus, I had to just delete them. I did manage a couple that was at least viewable.
That's Huey Lewis and the News. We sat closer than this pic indicates.
I was prepared to leave as I’m not a big fan of Joe Cocker, but Cindy asked to stay for least a couple of songs. The breakdown of Huey Lewis’ equipment and the next band took almost 45 minutes; however, Joe came out at 10:45 PM and started his set. I’m SO glad Cindy talked me into staying. Joe Cocker who is 69 years old (and sports short gray hair and a healthy paunch) was vocally AMAZING! Close your eyes and you were hearing the exact same voice that jolted Woodstock back in the 60s. Most of his hits are covers of other bands, but his soulful renditions and his booming, scratchy, and earthy voice made every song sound original. He might be pushing 70, but Joe Cocker can still nail those high screams. I was so pleasantly surprised. We stayed all the way to the end with (of course) “A Little Help with My Friends.” I have a new found respect for this guy. He didn’t have any patter whatsoever in the show, just going from song to song (and taking long drinks of water between every song and sometimes in the middle of them), but there’s no mistaking he doesn’t just “phone in” his performance. He had Huey Lewis come up on stage and play the harmonica for one tune that sent the audience into hysteria.
The concert was over at midnight. It turned out to be a terrific show and a great time was had by all (odd watching people in their 60s dancing up and down isles and pushing into the front of a stage like teenyboppers). Every time I think I might go ahead and not renew my Diamond status, they throw in a freebie (tickets were otherwise selling for $85 each for our seats) like this that makes me think again.
More tomorrow.
Today is the last day in Laughlin and I head on to the Silverton for a couple days before returning right back here again for a poker tournament. So, today I am going to play tour guide.
There is a water taxi that runs all day here and makes stops at all the hotels and casinos along the river. It costs $4 per person each way or $15 for an all day pass. However, if you use your Harrah’s Reward Points, you can get them for half off, so we went down to the Reward’s booth and bought two round trip tickets. Cindy signed up for the club and as an enticement to play was told that if she put 50 points on her card within 24 hours, she’d receive two buffet comps. That didn’t take too long. After a couple of misses on a cat themed and then a dog themed machine, we headed over to Jacks or Better video poker. I scored four quads in a relatively short period of time, won back the money we lost and when 50 points were reached, we were $10 ahead. After picking up the buffet coupons, which we were going to use for breakfast tomorrow, we saw that it said Lunch and Dinner only on them. Hmm…didn’t bother to mention that before.
Why this pic? An amazing find!...hot food being served in the Diamond Lounge at Harrahs Laughlin... Someone messed up.
The water taxi is a nice way to get around the couple of miles of casinos that make up Casino Drive in Laughlin. For those of you who have not been here, Casino Drive is where the nine or ten casinos sit, all but one, the Tropicana Express, sit on the river’s edge. On one end is the Riverside (the very first casino and hotel here), and on the other end is Harrahs. Because of the unsettled weather we’ve had here the last couple of days, the water was pretty choppy, but the ride from Harrahs to the Riverside was okay as the many jet skis moved out of our way. I called my parents, who are staying at the Riverside, to see where they were which turned out to be in the café. We sat with them for a while and caught up on things. They had a couple of comp tickets to a one-hour boat tour of the river and gave them to us to give to Cindy’s daughter and her boyfriend, which they could use tomorrow if they wished.
From the Riverside, we went along the River Walk, which is a walkway that extends along the river’s edge from the Riverside to the Royal Palms (it doesn’t make it Harrahs). The plan was to take the River Walk and go into each casino along the way. First was the Aquarius where we had been just yesterday, so there was no need to walk in; however, as we walked along, sitting at a window seat and waving was Danielle, Cindy’s daughter who along with Robert, were having breakfast at the buffet. We visited with them for a while and made plans for tomorrow as they are taking Cindy with them back to San Diego.
When we said our goodbyes we realized it was already 12:30 and we hadn’t eaten anything all day, so we stopped by the Subway Sandwiches outlet inside the Aquarius and split a Spicy Italian (yum, 3 ½ forks). Back out on the River Walk it was warm, but not the blistering heat I was expecting. However, the humidity was high and made the walk a little less enjoyable. Next stop along the way was the Edgewater Hotel and Casino. This is a place in need of a spruce up. We played a Village People machine and caught one bonus round but there was nothing here to stick around. The casino wasn’t very busy for a Saturday and both the pizza and Nathan’s hotdog outlets where deserted.
We then took the pathway to the Colorado Belle. With the same owners as the Edgewater, the Colorado Belle is also beginning to get run down. Not long ago, on the second floor were the café, the buffet, a good Italian restaurant, and Mexican taco stand, and a steak house. Most all of those have closed with the brewery on the first floor taking over duties of the café and the second floor completely closed to traffic until the dinner hours. These two places were once thriving but the inability of the owners to keep them up with the times is allowing each of these places to fall by the wayside. We did sit down and play a Godzilla game, and once again after catching bonus, cashed out and headed on.
For some reason, the Regency Casino has taken to the milk cow for a mascot.
We then walked into the little casino, which does not have a hotel attached to it called the Regency. This little joint is easy to miss as when you drive along Casino Dr. you can’t see the building, only a lone sign gives the passerby any clue that it’s there. There is a small cocktail area with a stage in the corner, which lies empty and next to it a small snack bar/café. There was a lone woman sitting at a table in the far corner. In the casino, there were a couple of people at the bar, and perhaps one or two people playing machines. Their faux Hawaiian motif is a bit tacky. Above the bar there’s a sign that during “Happy Hour” you and 14 friends can buy 15 kamikazes for $25. Those marketing geniuses, what will they come up with next?
The inside of the Regency. How do they stay in business?
Cindy was getting tired, so we decided to end the tour here and head back to Harrahs. We backtracked to the Colorado Belle and picked up the water taxi. I was able to take a couple of pictures of the hotels from this perspective. The beaches along the way were crowded with people enjoying the water without the oppressive heat. After returning to Harrahs, Cindy wanted to nap, so I took on the casino. For the next hour, I took my swings at Jacks or Better, and three or four penny machines. After adding on another couple hundred points ($2K in play), I ended the session down only $20. Again, the Royal continues to elude me this trip.
The River Palms
The Pioneer from the river view
Harrahs Laughlin from the view of the water taxi
It was getting close to 5 PM, and we were to meet my parents for dinner at the Prime Rib room on the second floor of the Riverside. I took the car out of valet and drove over there and parked in the garage parking across the street and took the covered pedestrian bridge into the main casino where we met up with them. The Prime Rib room is a great place to have a great meal at a very reasonable price. I’ve eaten here a few times before and the only surprise was that we were able to get in right away in a booth overlooking the river. This is really a buffet style meal; however, they follow a set system. You have a waiter who brings you the drinks and you go get your salad. When you’re done with that course, you go get your potatoes and vegetables (oddly, there were three choices of potatoes and only one choice string beans of vegetable this day—yes, there was creamed spinach—but yuk). When the “cutter” sees that you have the vegetable/potato plate at your table, he will come by and ask what your cut of prime rib choice would be. We had medium rare and Pop likes his rare. The prime rib also comes with mushrooms and horseradish if you like. He cuts the meat at your table from a rolling station. If you’re not a meat eater, they also have a couple of fish entries (salmon or mahi mahi) and a chicken (cordon-bleu). This prime rib is outstanding. When you’re done with your dinner, it’s up to the buffet area again to select a dessert of assorted pies, soft-serve ice cream, cakes, and parfaits. Not only is the meal and ambience excellent, but the price can’t be beat at $14.95 complete including drinks (non-alcohol). Wear your shorts and casual attire here—just hope it isn’t anyone’s birthday as on this night we sat through four renditions of their Happy Birthday song with screeching (granted funny), RIV-ER-SI-II-II-II-DE. (considering value: 4 forks!)
Pop, Mom, and Cindy at the The Prime Rib room in the Riverside Hotel and Casino
We said our goodbyes and headed back to the Harrahs as the day was not over and there was a concert to be attended this night. It didn’t start until 9PM so we watched a little TV and noticed a double rainbow across the landscape. I took a pic but I’m afraid it just barely captured it properly.
An attempt to catch a double rainbow hovering over Bullhead, Arizona
All day we were nervous about the concert because it’s taken place at the outside arena adjacent to the hotel, and it’s been sprinkling off and on all day long. We decided to go, but if it began to rain steadily, we’d leave. Fortunately, with the exception of a stray drop here and there, the entire night went great. The temperature was perfect and though the humidity a little high, everyone enjoyed the show. Huey Lewis and the News was first up (the act I was most anxious to see). They came out and opened with “Heart of Rock and Roll” and it was hit after hit after that. They only played two songs from their latest album, SOULFULNESS, and the band (especially horn section) was top-notch. Huey, at 61, can still belt them out, but on this night, I noticed a little difficulty hitting some of those high notes. The set was an hour long and then, of course, the requisite encore of “Power of Love.” I have to apologize for the pictures. On this night, my camera simply wasn’t up to the distance and the powerful stage lighting. The vast majority of pictures (and I took many) were so out of focus, I had to just delete them. I did manage a couple that was at least viewable.
That's Huey Lewis and the News. We sat closer than this pic indicates.
I was prepared to leave as I’m not a big fan of Joe Cocker, but Cindy asked to stay for least a couple of songs. The breakdown of Huey Lewis’ equipment and the next band took almost 45 minutes; however, Joe came out at 10:45 PM and started his set. I’m SO glad Cindy talked me into staying. Joe Cocker who is 69 years old (and sports short gray hair and a healthy paunch) was vocally AMAZING! Close your eyes and you were hearing the exact same voice that jolted Woodstock back in the 60s. Most of his hits are covers of other bands, but his soulful renditions and his booming, scratchy, and earthy voice made every song sound original. He might be pushing 70, but Joe Cocker can still nail those high screams. I was so pleasantly surprised. We stayed all the way to the end with (of course) “A Little Help with My Friends.” I have a new found respect for this guy. He didn’t have any patter whatsoever in the show, just going from song to song (and taking long drinks of water between every song and sometimes in the middle of them), but there’s no mistaking he doesn’t just “phone in” his performance. He had Huey Lewis come up on stage and play the harmonica for one tune that sent the audience into hysteria.
The concert was over at midnight. It turned out to be a terrific show and a great time was had by all (odd watching people in their 60s dancing up and down isles and pushing into the front of a stage like teenyboppers). Every time I think I might go ahead and not renew my Diamond status, they throw in a freebie (tickets were otherwise selling for $85 each for our seats) like this that makes me think again.
More tomorrow.
