Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 24
Another packing day ahead of me as I leave the Candlewood Suites and check into Main Street Station for one night. It’s not as hot this morning and there’s the sound of thunder as is not unusual this time of year, thunderstorms are scattered around the sky.
I thought today I’d take care of the reporting on what I had intended to do yesterday. I drove down the north side of Las Vegas Blvd under the Hwy 95 overpass. This side of town is (literally on the other side of the railroad tracks) an impoverished area where you’ll find Cashman Field, where their minor league baseball team plays and also is the home of the Las Vegas Natural Museum. A little further and you’re in the incorporated city of North Las Vegas.
I stopped by Jerry’s Nugget for a quick look-see if anything was new. It did go through a major remodel about six years ago, but everything is still pretty much the same. They’ve changed their slot club, so I got a new card hoping for some kind of benefit, but there was nothing. The place had a scattering of locals, and the coffee shop was busy. I did play $5 through the Keno—nada.
Jerry Nugget Casino
I little further down the road is the Silver Nugget (the Nugget name is attached to casinos all over the state as I noted during the Hit ‘em Nevada trip). This is also a strictly locals joint with a bowling alley attached. One would think that as a locals place, the video poker (and hence the slots) would be a little looser, but they’re not. All the VP is short pay and I didn’t see anyone winning anything. I will say that either they have improved their air filter system or just fewer people are on the habit, but in years past when I’ve been in here, the smoke smell was terrible, but this morning—hardly noticeable. Another $5 Keno here (always like to put a point or two on my card) and again, though I hit a couple of 5 for 6 numbers, walked away a loser.
The Silver Nugget
Even further down the street is the Opera House Casino. They share the same slot club as the Silver Nugget. This is a very small casino consisting of a small horseshoe bar, and little café (I understand the food is great here), and about 120 machines. A very friendly bartender asked if I’d like something on the house (I was playing my $5 in a nickel Keno machine) and I ordered Corona—why not? While I sipped the beer, I was pleased to see that I caught another 6 for 6 for $80. What’s the deal with the Keno? That makes five or six 6 for 6s this trip—and really, the only wins of the trip.
The Opera House casino
I cashed out and being that there are no ticket machines at the Opera House, I had to go to the tiny cashier’s cage in the back corner of the casino. There was no one there. Finally I heard someone yell, “Darlene! You’ve got a customer” from the café and she finally came around and cashed me out. I left her a dollar tip—she seemed surprised.
A little further down the street is the Bingo Palace. All of these casinos in North Las Vegas are all very old, built I would guess in the 60s and then remodeled or built on. And one thing they all have in common—atmosphere. There’s something about these out-of-the-way joints that I find interesting. All of the people here look as if these casinos are their second homes. The employees seem to know everyone, and I’m sure that when someone like me comes in, there’s a raised eyebrow or two—tourist!
I don’t belong to their slot club here and so I signed up. New sign-ups get to spin a wheel for free-play from $5 to $25. My spin netted me $10. The boothling was a real sweetie. She was asking me about myself and talking about the storms, and at one point, took her bag of Hot Tamale candies, held them up and asked me if I’d like some. I found another nickel Keno and put in my numbers for the free play and found that I had $15 on it—nice. I played for awhile with some small hits along the way, but I had a feeling I’d wasn’t going to win this time, and when I had used up the free play requirement, I cashed out $15. I hadn’t eaten yet today and took my winnings to the small coffee shop in the back.
Bingo Palace
These local places also tend to have great food bargains. I ordered a club sandwich and while I waited, my iphone started beeping. I pulled it out and there was a warning flashing telling of a flash flood warning in the area (I didn’t know my iphone did this). I wasn’t too concerned as I’ve been through these before and I’m in an area that’s not known for flooding. The sandwich came and it was huge. I ate half and took the rest for later tonight.
It was getting about time to check in at Main Street Station (MSS). However, as I was coming back on Las Vegas Blvd, I thought I might make a fast stop at the Pawn Stars shop for a fast pic.
The Pawn Stars Store
Most days there are lines waiting to get into the store (the TV show has made these guys famous and rich—there’s even a slot machine with them on it now) but today, there wasn’t a line, so I thought I’d drop in. When the show was just on for a few months, my son and I came in and it was pretty much the same place as you see on the TV show. That’s all changed. It’s in full tourist mode now. There were no less than 20 sales people (none of the stars of the show—they’re never really there anymore) and the place, which was once a typical pawn shop, is now a tourist trap. There are very few items for pawn, it’s all t-shirts (with the stars faces on them), bobble head dolls, shot glasses—all the crap you expect in a tacky souvenir store. It no longer looks anything like it does in the show—very disappointing.
One view of the inside...plenty of gawkers
No doubt, the guys are enjoying their celebrity
I drove in MSS to check in. I’m only staying here one day because when I book all these things months ago, most of the time, I book the freebies and tournaments first where the days are specific. So, I have to do patchwork to fill in the rest. So there are a couple of times that I have a one night stay. I’ve been here many, many times and the rooms have pretty much remained the same. What I don’t like is the shutters instead of blackout curtains and the fact that you’re right next to both a train track (which is used a lot) and Highway 95. However, the room is inexpensive, clean, and has a very comfy mattress. They’ve also FINALLY gotten rid of all those little 19 inch tube televisions and replaced them with flat screens. Also gone is the free WI-FI downstairs—boo!
The Main Street Station 10th story room
View from the room: this time of North Las Vegas
Some LVA vets will understand why this picture is here.
After checking, I grabbed all my downtown slot club cards and began making my run. I hit pretty much every casino and finally settled in at the Freemont where they have one of my favorite games, Pick ‘em. There are four Game King machines facing the Keno lounge that have full pay Pick ‘em, though they are labeled Pick a Pair. To my knowledge, they’re the only full pay games of this kind in Las Vegas—the two coin-fed games with Pick ‘em on them are still around the corner next to the bar, but I prefer the ticket-in and out machines.
I don’t need to write any more about my video poker woes this trip. At this game, the goal is to catch a four-of-a-kind (it pays $150) or higher. I put in my hundred and played for almost two hours getting as low $23 and never did get over a hundred. It was always catch-up hoping for the quad all along the way. Fatigue finally set in and I caught myself making a mistake. When that happens, I quit immediately. Fortunately, I did cash out $80, so it was only a $20 loss, but my video poker game is still in the dumps. Oh well…
I headed back to MSS by way of the California. I did stop and try the $5 Keno trick, but that didn’t happen, so I went back to my room and called it a day. I still had the sandwich from earlier, which was more than enough and watched some TV. My fortunes just might change and it might just be tomorrow.
More tomorrow
Another packing day ahead of me as I leave the Candlewood Suites and check into Main Street Station for one night. It’s not as hot this morning and there’s the sound of thunder as is not unusual this time of year, thunderstorms are scattered around the sky.
I thought today I’d take care of the reporting on what I had intended to do yesterday. I drove down the north side of Las Vegas Blvd under the Hwy 95 overpass. This side of town is (literally on the other side of the railroad tracks) an impoverished area where you’ll find Cashman Field, where their minor league baseball team plays and also is the home of the Las Vegas Natural Museum. A little further and you’re in the incorporated city of North Las Vegas.
I stopped by Jerry’s Nugget for a quick look-see if anything was new. It did go through a major remodel about six years ago, but everything is still pretty much the same. They’ve changed their slot club, so I got a new card hoping for some kind of benefit, but there was nothing. The place had a scattering of locals, and the coffee shop was busy. I did play $5 through the Keno—nada.
Jerry Nugget Casino
I little further down the road is the Silver Nugget (the Nugget name is attached to casinos all over the state as I noted during the Hit ‘em Nevada trip). This is also a strictly locals joint with a bowling alley attached. One would think that as a locals place, the video poker (and hence the slots) would be a little looser, but they’re not. All the VP is short pay and I didn’t see anyone winning anything. I will say that either they have improved their air filter system or just fewer people are on the habit, but in years past when I’ve been in here, the smoke smell was terrible, but this morning—hardly noticeable. Another $5 Keno here (always like to put a point or two on my card) and again, though I hit a couple of 5 for 6 numbers, walked away a loser.
The Silver Nugget
Even further down the street is the Opera House Casino. They share the same slot club as the Silver Nugget. This is a very small casino consisting of a small horseshoe bar, and little café (I understand the food is great here), and about 120 machines. A very friendly bartender asked if I’d like something on the house (I was playing my $5 in a nickel Keno machine) and I ordered Corona—why not? While I sipped the beer, I was pleased to see that I caught another 6 for 6 for $80. What’s the deal with the Keno? That makes five or six 6 for 6s this trip—and really, the only wins of the trip.
The Opera House casino
I cashed out and being that there are no ticket machines at the Opera House, I had to go to the tiny cashier’s cage in the back corner of the casino. There was no one there. Finally I heard someone yell, “Darlene! You’ve got a customer” from the café and she finally came around and cashed me out. I left her a dollar tip—she seemed surprised.
A little further down the street is the Bingo Palace. All of these casinos in North Las Vegas are all very old, built I would guess in the 60s and then remodeled or built on. And one thing they all have in common—atmosphere. There’s something about these out-of-the-way joints that I find interesting. All of the people here look as if these casinos are their second homes. The employees seem to know everyone, and I’m sure that when someone like me comes in, there’s a raised eyebrow or two—tourist!
I don’t belong to their slot club here and so I signed up. New sign-ups get to spin a wheel for free-play from $5 to $25. My spin netted me $10. The boothling was a real sweetie. She was asking me about myself and talking about the storms, and at one point, took her bag of Hot Tamale candies, held them up and asked me if I’d like some. I found another nickel Keno and put in my numbers for the free play and found that I had $15 on it—nice. I played for awhile with some small hits along the way, but I had a feeling I’d wasn’t going to win this time, and when I had used up the free play requirement, I cashed out $15. I hadn’t eaten yet today and took my winnings to the small coffee shop in the back.
Bingo Palace
These local places also tend to have great food bargains. I ordered a club sandwich and while I waited, my iphone started beeping. I pulled it out and there was a warning flashing telling of a flash flood warning in the area (I didn’t know my iphone did this). I wasn’t too concerned as I’ve been through these before and I’m in an area that’s not known for flooding. The sandwich came and it was huge. I ate half and took the rest for later tonight.
It was getting about time to check in at Main Street Station (MSS). However, as I was coming back on Las Vegas Blvd, I thought I might make a fast stop at the Pawn Stars shop for a fast pic.
The Pawn Stars Store
Most days there are lines waiting to get into the store (the TV show has made these guys famous and rich—there’s even a slot machine with them on it now) but today, there wasn’t a line, so I thought I’d drop in. When the show was just on for a few months, my son and I came in and it was pretty much the same place as you see on the TV show. That’s all changed. It’s in full tourist mode now. There were no less than 20 sales people (none of the stars of the show—they’re never really there anymore) and the place, which was once a typical pawn shop, is now a tourist trap. There are very few items for pawn, it’s all t-shirts (with the stars faces on them), bobble head dolls, shot glasses—all the crap you expect in a tacky souvenir store. It no longer looks anything like it does in the show—very disappointing.
One view of the inside...plenty of gawkers
No doubt, the guys are enjoying their celebrity
I drove in MSS to check in. I’m only staying here one day because when I book all these things months ago, most of the time, I book the freebies and tournaments first where the days are specific. So, I have to do patchwork to fill in the rest. So there are a couple of times that I have a one night stay. I’ve been here many, many times and the rooms have pretty much remained the same. What I don’t like is the shutters instead of blackout curtains and the fact that you’re right next to both a train track (which is used a lot) and Highway 95. However, the room is inexpensive, clean, and has a very comfy mattress. They’ve also FINALLY gotten rid of all those little 19 inch tube televisions and replaced them with flat screens. Also gone is the free WI-FI downstairs—boo!
The Main Street Station 10th story room
View from the room: this time of North Las Vegas
Some LVA vets will understand why this picture is here.
After checking, I grabbed all my downtown slot club cards and began making my run. I hit pretty much every casino and finally settled in at the Freemont where they have one of my favorite games, Pick ‘em. There are four Game King machines facing the Keno lounge that have full pay Pick ‘em, though they are labeled Pick a Pair. To my knowledge, they’re the only full pay games of this kind in Las Vegas—the two coin-fed games with Pick ‘em on them are still around the corner next to the bar, but I prefer the ticket-in and out machines.
I don’t need to write any more about my video poker woes this trip. At this game, the goal is to catch a four-of-a-kind (it pays $150) or higher. I put in my hundred and played for almost two hours getting as low $23 and never did get over a hundred. It was always catch-up hoping for the quad all along the way. Fatigue finally set in and I caught myself making a mistake. When that happens, I quit immediately. Fortunately, I did cash out $80, so it was only a $20 loss, but my video poker game is still in the dumps. Oh well…
I headed back to MSS by way of the California. I did stop and try the $5 Keno trick, but that didn’t happen, so I went back to my room and called it a day. I still had the sandwich from earlier, which was more than enough and watched some TV. My fortunes just might change and it might just be tomorrow.
More tomorrow
