Summer of Cal/Nev – Day 27
Every day seems to bring something unexpected, good or bad, but rarely is the day that some kind surprise falls my way. One day it’s hitting a 6 for 6 Keno and the next it’s being told your car needs a new $1200 radiator—500 miles away from home. You just don’t know. I suppose that’s the intriguing thing about these trips. It’s not often that I don’t see something new or something old that I find something new in it.
After breakfast, I headed over to the 100-play 8/5 BP to get the needed 500 points so
I can qualify for today’s pull-tab (I just know that new Mustang is waiting for me), but also today is Wednesday, so if I add another 250, I can get a new watch as well. I don’t need (or really want) a new watch, but I’m a sucker for swag and can’t pass up getting it when it’s within reach. I thought since I’ve been having some luck on this machine, I’d start out at 25 games at a time instead of 10. That was a mistake. It took twelve dealt hands before I was dealt Jacks or Better. Four of the hands were dead hands (hands where you don’t hold even one card). It was a wreck. My hundred was down to fifty within five or six minutes. I went back down to 10 hands at a time to slow things down. I did manage the 750 points, but at a cost of $140—better be a damn fine watch!
My $140 watch
Today I needed to fill up the tank, so I drove to the Costco in Henderson ($2.43 per gallon) because I thought today that I might make the trip up Sunset. There are a couple of neighborhood casinos on Sunset that I haven’t checked on in a couple of years. However, before that I made a stop at the Fiesta Henderson. Old timers (me) will know that this was originally called the Reserve, and at the time, it was a favorite because of its eclectic jungle interior design, but mostly because it had very good video poker schedules and lots of promotions—and perhaps one of the best coffee shops anywhere. However, it didn’t last long as the Stations Corp bought it up, tightened up the machines, and turned the coffee shop into a Denny’s. C’mon on!
Well, from that quaint little casino (I still proudly own a Reserve shirt); it was expanded and remodeled into a large cookie-cutter Station’s property with a movie theater, new sportsbook, and a parking garage. In a smart move, they recently booted Denny’s and put back the coffee shop (sans bakery). They also maintain a couple of banks of 100%+ machines though it takes $4 for every point on these machines.
The Fiesta Henderson casino
The Sportsbook at the Fiesta Henderson
Actually, it’s still a pretty nice casino, though I’ve read that they never did much with the rooms, which are reminiscent of a small motel style and size. On this day, the Bingo room upstairs was jammed as was the buffet line—must be some kind of special going on. I played some Keno at a couple of machines and lost.
I drove up Sunset heading west and I came to Barley’s Brew and Casino. For a long time, this place was popular for its micro-brews and (for that time) it’s large, full-service casino. LVA regularly offered two-for-one’s on their pizza, which was delicious. However, the years have not been kind to Barley’s. They now sit in a shopping center where they the only tenants left. Inside, it’s looking no better for wear, though there were a few people having a beer and playing a few games. The table games are all gone and the sportsbook was empty. This place is also owned by Station’s Corp, and I’m not sure if they will be here much longer.
Barley's Brew and Casino on Sunset
Directly across the street is another Station’s property, a Wildfire. Station’s, before the recession, went on a buying spree picking up small mom-and-pop neighboring casinos and converted them to what they call their Wildfire brand. Wildfires now can be found in most neighborhoods. I don’t think this building was a conversion as it looks pretty new and there’s a small bowling alley, which is pretty nice. Las Vegas boasts the fact there are more bowling alleys in Clark County than anywhere else in the world (my hometown, San Diego, which has a comparable population has perhaps three bowling alleys---total).
The Wildfire on Sunset
The Wildfire Bowling Alley
It was almost 4 PM (days seem to be just whizzing by—I suppose driving to the next location, getting out of the car, making a review taking pics, playing a game, going back to the car and doing that over and over again takes its toll). I really didn’t want to go back to the Silverton just yet, so I thought I might drive over to South Point where they are one of the few places that deal 2/4 Hold ‘em. When I got there I was told I’d have to wait for a spot to open up. I thought I might just go, but decided to put a couple of 5s into a Keno (even I can’t believe I’m playing this). My name was soon called and sat down after buying in for a rack ($100).
Things were not going well and it seemed like déjà vu as I lost three pots holding the winning hand only to lose to a flush made on the river (one of the pitfalls of 2/4 limit is that people can afford to often stick around for the river). I was dealt a K and Q of hearts, and I always keep suited connectors for a flop. It came and I was already in trouble. Ace of hearts, Jack and 6 of clubs—now I can be beat by an Ace, but I’m also looking at a potential flush loss again. Everyone checked around which allowed me to see the next card, a Jack of hearts. Okay, I now have a flush possibility, but there are now two jacks out there for a possible full house (not likely when everyone checked after checked the flop). So everyone bet around and someone raised, but I’m committed at this point and call. The river is a 10 of hearts. It’s hard to say what my mind did now. I honestly didn’t react the way I thought I would in this situation (if you haven’t been paying attention, I just hit a Royal Flush). Everyone checked around to me, I made sure there was at least $10 in the pot (a requirement to collect bonuses) and there was more than enough. I considered betting—but why rub it in? I turned over my Royal and the table erupted. People got up from other tables and came over to see the hand. The players next to me shook my hand and the guy next to me said, he’d never seen one before in live play. I told him I hadn’t either except at an MPT tournament a couple of years ago.
My first ever Royal Flush playing live poker at the South Point
Okay, so I was lucky for more than just catching a Royal. All of the bonuses here are progressives. For Royals, the progressives start at $100. The Club royal was at $100 as was the Diamond Royal. The Spade royal was the largest still yet to be hit at $1734. My heart royal was the next highest and I won $1452. Oh, I also won that pot.
It took a good 20 minutes before I got paid. They have to confirm the fairness by checking the overhead camera video, I had to fill out the tax forms (ridiculous, had I won this much playing craps of blackjack, there would have been no tax form—it’s because it’s a bonus). I also happened to start winning during this wait. I eventually cashed out and end up turning in $140 for a win at the game (not that often for me at live poker). I stopped at a Panda Palace to pick up some dinner to take back to the room.
Every day seems to bring something unexpected…
More tomorrow.
Every day seems to bring something unexpected, good or bad, but rarely is the day that some kind surprise falls my way. One day it’s hitting a 6 for 6 Keno and the next it’s being told your car needs a new $1200 radiator—500 miles away from home. You just don’t know. I suppose that’s the intriguing thing about these trips. It’s not often that I don’t see something new or something old that I find something new in it.
After breakfast, I headed over to the 100-play 8/5 BP to get the needed 500 points so
I can qualify for today’s pull-tab (I just know that new Mustang is waiting for me), but also today is Wednesday, so if I add another 250, I can get a new watch as well. I don’t need (or really want) a new watch, but I’m a sucker for swag and can’t pass up getting it when it’s within reach. I thought since I’ve been having some luck on this machine, I’d start out at 25 games at a time instead of 10. That was a mistake. It took twelve dealt hands before I was dealt Jacks or Better. Four of the hands were dead hands (hands where you don’t hold even one card). It was a wreck. My hundred was down to fifty within five or six minutes. I went back down to 10 hands at a time to slow things down. I did manage the 750 points, but at a cost of $140—better be a damn fine watch!
My $140 watch
Today I needed to fill up the tank, so I drove to the Costco in Henderson ($2.43 per gallon) because I thought today that I might make the trip up Sunset. There are a couple of neighborhood casinos on Sunset that I haven’t checked on in a couple of years. However, before that I made a stop at the Fiesta Henderson. Old timers (me) will know that this was originally called the Reserve, and at the time, it was a favorite because of its eclectic jungle interior design, but mostly because it had very good video poker schedules and lots of promotions—and perhaps one of the best coffee shops anywhere. However, it didn’t last long as the Stations Corp bought it up, tightened up the machines, and turned the coffee shop into a Denny’s. C’mon on!
Well, from that quaint little casino (I still proudly own a Reserve shirt); it was expanded and remodeled into a large cookie-cutter Station’s property with a movie theater, new sportsbook, and a parking garage. In a smart move, they recently booted Denny’s and put back the coffee shop (sans bakery). They also maintain a couple of banks of 100%+ machines though it takes $4 for every point on these machines.
The Fiesta Henderson casino
The Sportsbook at the Fiesta Henderson
Actually, it’s still a pretty nice casino, though I’ve read that they never did much with the rooms, which are reminiscent of a small motel style and size. On this day, the Bingo room upstairs was jammed as was the buffet line—must be some kind of special going on. I played some Keno at a couple of machines and lost.
I drove up Sunset heading west and I came to Barley’s Brew and Casino. For a long time, this place was popular for its micro-brews and (for that time) it’s large, full-service casino. LVA regularly offered two-for-one’s on their pizza, which was delicious. However, the years have not been kind to Barley’s. They now sit in a shopping center where they the only tenants left. Inside, it’s looking no better for wear, though there were a few people having a beer and playing a few games. The table games are all gone and the sportsbook was empty. This place is also owned by Station’s Corp, and I’m not sure if they will be here much longer.
Barley's Brew and Casino on Sunset
Directly across the street is another Station’s property, a Wildfire. Station’s, before the recession, went on a buying spree picking up small mom-and-pop neighboring casinos and converted them to what they call their Wildfire brand. Wildfires now can be found in most neighborhoods. I don’t think this building was a conversion as it looks pretty new and there’s a small bowling alley, which is pretty nice. Las Vegas boasts the fact there are more bowling alleys in Clark County than anywhere else in the world (my hometown, San Diego, which has a comparable population has perhaps three bowling alleys---total).
The Wildfire on Sunset
The Wildfire Bowling Alley
It was almost 4 PM (days seem to be just whizzing by—I suppose driving to the next location, getting out of the car, making a review taking pics, playing a game, going back to the car and doing that over and over again takes its toll). I really didn’t want to go back to the Silverton just yet, so I thought I might drive over to South Point where they are one of the few places that deal 2/4 Hold ‘em. When I got there I was told I’d have to wait for a spot to open up. I thought I might just go, but decided to put a couple of 5s into a Keno (even I can’t believe I’m playing this). My name was soon called and sat down after buying in for a rack ($100).
Things were not going well and it seemed like déjà vu as I lost three pots holding the winning hand only to lose to a flush made on the river (one of the pitfalls of 2/4 limit is that people can afford to often stick around for the river). I was dealt a K and Q of hearts, and I always keep suited connectors for a flop. It came and I was already in trouble. Ace of hearts, Jack and 6 of clubs—now I can be beat by an Ace, but I’m also looking at a potential flush loss again. Everyone checked around which allowed me to see the next card, a Jack of hearts. Okay, I now have a flush possibility, but there are now two jacks out there for a possible full house (not likely when everyone checked after checked the flop). So everyone bet around and someone raised, but I’m committed at this point and call. The river is a 10 of hearts. It’s hard to say what my mind did now. I honestly didn’t react the way I thought I would in this situation (if you haven’t been paying attention, I just hit a Royal Flush). Everyone checked around to me, I made sure there was at least $10 in the pot (a requirement to collect bonuses) and there was more than enough. I considered betting—but why rub it in? I turned over my Royal and the table erupted. People got up from other tables and came over to see the hand. The players next to me shook my hand and the guy next to me said, he’d never seen one before in live play. I told him I hadn’t either except at an MPT tournament a couple of years ago.
My first ever Royal Flush playing live poker at the South Point
Okay, so I was lucky for more than just catching a Royal. All of the bonuses here are progressives. For Royals, the progressives start at $100. The Club royal was at $100 as was the Diamond Royal. The Spade royal was the largest still yet to be hit at $1734. My heart royal was the next highest and I won $1452. Oh, I also won that pot.
It took a good 20 minutes before I got paid. They have to confirm the fairness by checking the overhead camera video, I had to fill out the tax forms (ridiculous, had I won this much playing craps of blackjack, there would have been no tax form—it’s because it’s a bonus). I also happened to start winning during this wait. I eventually cashed out and end up turning in $140 for a win at the game (not that often for me at live poker). I stopped at a Panda Palace to pick up some dinner to take back to the room.
Every day seems to bring something unexpected…
More tomorrow.
