Sunday 9/22/19
This trip to Las Vegas was with my wife (both in our 60s). We left our house north of Boston about 7:30 AM to get a 10:25 AM, non-stop, JetBlue flight from Boston to Las Vegas. Flight arrived at 1:20 PM Vegas time.
Car Rental Info
I rented a full-sized car at Dollar based on a one-week Sunday to Sunday rental. Initially booked at $320 but after numerous rebookings eventually paid $202 (all in). With Dollar Express membership I had a choice of one of the last two full-size cars available in the full-size section. Looked at the Toyota Camry: Paint on the hood was missing; it had more than 40,000 miles; and it reeked of stale and fresh cigarette smoke. I was going to take it anyway; BUT then the trunk release on the Key FOB would not open it; next I tried plugging in my portable Garmin GPS (that I brought with me) into the cigarette-type lighter plug and the plug in the car was loose and no power was coming from it. The attendant tried and couldn’t get it working either. The second car we tried had just as many problems -- but different ones. I asked the attendant if any newer cars without all these problems might be coming in soon. He said a newer Chevy Malibu was on its way: We waited about 5 minutes and everything worked and it had less than 20k miles on it and we took it. Off we went – finally.
Lunch
We had a late lunch at Blueberry Hill on Flamingo. We each had the fresh turkey dinner, which comes with a salad, potato and vegetable. I think it was only about $14. I realized that if you are a senior that you also get a free drink of coffee, tea or soda as well as a free dessert with your meal. The turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy were fresh (not processed or frozen) and the portions were enormous. The desserts were also large and freshly made. The pies slices were so large we each took half of each of our desserts to go. Well fed, we then moved on to get our lodging.
Room/Hotel/Supplies
Next stop was a relatively new, hi-rise, three room and 1½ bathroom timeshare condo abutting the Silverton Casino Hotel, called the Berkley, just off LV Blvd and Blue Diamond Highway. I had traded a timeshare condo week I own in Hilton Head, SC via RCI. For some reason they put us in a top floor (18th floor) unit and some of the views from up there were spectacular. They had abundant as well as fast elevators. The condo included a full (and fully accessorized) kitchen, two large flatscreen TVs, and washer & dryer in the unit.
After getting settled in the condo, we took a quick trip to a nearby Smith’s Supermarket on LV Blvd. to get breakfast items and other items such as coffee, milk, bagels, cream cheese, soft drinks, snacks, etc.
After the long trip that day, and the time change, and the large late lunch, we decided to just stay in that night.
Monday 9/23/19
Morning Video Poker
The way it works when I do a trip with my wife to Las Vegas is A) we stay somewhere very nice and B) I typically gamble solo in the mornings only and return about 1: 00 PM. On Monday I got up pretty early and headed solo over to Circus Circus (CC). I played 50c, A+8 Video Poker (VP) at CC a potentially greater than 100% return game. Based on only getting one low-paying 4-of-a-kind, I ended down $100 for the long session and then on the way back to the condo stopped at the Palms where I briefly played 25c FP Deuces Wild VP and lost another $20.
Green Valley Ranch Lunch Buffet and Video Poker
I then headed back to the condo to retrieve my wife and we went to lunch at the buffet at Green Valley Ranch at which I used an American Casino Guide 2-for-1 coupon that brought the total cost down to about $11 for the two of us. Some items were good and some were just fair. I liked the corn on the cob, the spaghetti and meatballs and some other non-starch items. There were no peel and eat shrimp and no roast beef (not even non-prime rib beef). I’d rate it a five out of ten this year. It seems over the past 5 to 7 years it has gone down one-half to one whole rating point each year. It has now devolved to be on par with the Gold Coast or Orleans buffets. The only saving grace is the diversity and quality of the desserts here.
While there my wife decided she wanted to play some video poker. She knows how to play Jacks or Better reasonably well. So we found a 5c machine and after an hour or two she turned her $20 into $21. After watching her play and coaching her for the first ten minutes or so, she seemed to be playing pretty proficiently so I decided to play some 25c Full Pay Loose Deuces on my own. After about an hour or so, I lost $80. So was now down a total of $200 for the day.
Aerosmith at the Park MGM Theatre
That night we had tickets to see Aerosmith. Despite the group members all being old at this point, they put on a lengthy, very high energy, proficient, and crowd pleasing performance. It was as good a performance from them as I’ve seen and I’ve seen them a couple of times before this over the past 15 or so years. The new Park MGM theatre venue was very well designed and just the right size, so was better than seeing them in a full size arena like the MGM arena at the MGM hotel across the street or some other large primarily indoor sports venue. I read that after we saw them a few nights later they cancelled their concert as a result of Steven Tyler losing his voice.
Peppermill
After the concert, we went to the Peppermill for a late night snack/meal. I’ve never seen the Peppermill so dead. Then again it was a Monday night. I just had a grilled cheese sandwich and my wife had some oatmeal. It was okay. But the vibe there that night was kind of low-energy compared to the last few times we were there.
Tuesday 9/24/19
Morning Video Poker
I got up early again and headed solo to Circus Circus (CC). I again played 50c, A+8 Video Poker (VP). When I went to get a coffee inside CC at McDonalds, I noticed the Las Vegas Review Journal headlines indicated that it was official that Circus Circus was being sold. I bought a paper and read that Phil Ruffin (who also bought TI from MGM a number of years ago) was buying it. None of the employees seemed to be aware of it or seemed to care about it when I brought it up? Then again one could argue that a portion of the employees there don’t seem to be aware of or care about anything there.
Since my CC comp points can’t be used at the franchised McDonald’s within CC, upon learning that, I decided I better use them quickly as they may go away once the sale is consummated. So I went to CCs coffee shop called the Westside Deli instead and used some of my comp points on a coffee and a bacon and egg sandwich. After I ordered and paid with my points, the person at the counter pointed out that they ran out of coffee. I really did not know what to say to that … . For once in a long time I was speechless. She elaborated “they were looking for some”. After I ate my egg sandwich she yelled over to me they found some coffee and it should be ready in about 5 minutes. Yippee: a coffee shop that actually has coffee: What a novel idea.
After a number of hours playing 50c, A+8 Video Poker (VP) at CC, and getting no four-of-a-kinds, I lost $220.
Lunch at Maggiano’s
My wife and I like the view at Maggiano’s overlooking the strip from an upper floor at the Fashion Show Mall and the food and level of service is better than you would expect for a national chain restaurant. They had emailed me a $10 coupon, so I used that against the check. We both enjoyed our meals there and since
they were out of the dessert that my wife wanted, they brought us over some free Italian cookies for desert.
Smith Center/Michael Grimm/Supper
That night we had tickets to see Michael Grimm at the relatively new Smith Performance Center near LV City Hall not far from Downtown Las Vegas. This is a beautiful venue inside and outside – very Art Deco. The people that work there are also amazingly proud to work there and were all amazingly nice and helpful. Michael Grimm is mainly a blue-eyed soul singer and has played at various Las Vegas venues (Sunset Station, Mandalay Bay, Red Rock, Tuscany Resort, and Green Valley Ranch), and is a former national winner of America’s Got Talent and also has many albums out. At this venue he played with a four piece back-up band. As usual, he put on a very good performance (though he seemed to have less enthusiasm than I’ve seen him perform with in the past).
After the performance we headed to the Palazzo (free strip parking) and had a light supper at the Grand Lux Café. The food and service was good and reasonably priced as usual.
Wednesday 9/25/19
As usual I headed over to CC for morning VP and as usual I lost: this time $200.
So far I was down $620 for the trip gambling.
While there, however, I next signed up for their Wincard deal in which you get $45 in chips for $30. Played a number of hands of $15 minimum, 3-2 blackjack and ended up with $52 in real negotiable chips. Since it cost me $30 for the buy in, I made $22.
From there I went to the Gold Coast at which I played a $10 free slot paly (FSP) coupon and 2 - $10 match play (MP) coupons (from American Casino Guide (ACG) and Las Vegas Advisors (LVA MRB). I won $10 on the FSP playing Jack or Better VP and went 1 for 2 playing red at roulette with the two MPs, winning another $10. Next stop was the Orleans where a similar set of coupons netted me $30.
So now I was only down about $550 for the trip.
Wednesday PM
My wife and I headed over to the Town Square Mall off of South Las Vegas Blvd where we had lunch at Capriotti’s Sandwich/Sub Shop. As usual their turkey sandwich was excellent, though at this particular outlet the service unfortunately was not very attentive to detail, to say the least. From there we moseyed over to the South Outlet Mall and my wife tried some free samples of CBD oil at the CBD kiosk on her ailments. If it worked, she was ready to buy some. Unfortunately, after an hour or so, she still ailed, so no purchase was made. She did, however, find a bag she liked at the Coach outlet that was 70% off. In addition, I noticed they would give you another 10% off if you or one of your relatives had been in the US armed service and her brother and both of our fathers had served. So they gave her another 10% off. I believe it was off the reduced price and not the list price.
For dinner we went to Bahama Breeze at the corner of Flamingo and Paradise and had some excellent food (I had fish, mashed sweet potato and asparagus). I had a small denomination gift card I used to pay part of the bill. Surprisingly, they were not very busy (unlike the last few times we ate there).
We took the rest of the night off and just hung out in the condo.
Thursday 9/26/19
This morning I planned to do a gambling coupon run Downtown. I parked at Binion’s and walked to El Cortez and redeemed a $10 FSP coupon and won $10 playing at a video poker machine. At Downtown Grand I played a $10 MP and at blackjack got an 11 versus the dealer’s 10 and doubled and pulled a 10 for 21 and won $30. At 4Queens my $10 FSP coupon won me $50 at a Jacks or Better VP machine. At the “D”, two $25 MPs bet on red twice won and won me $100. But at the Fremont, the California, and Main Street Station, red did not come up on any of my three $10 MPs and they all lost. Despite having two MPs from two different sources at the three casinos above they will only let you play one MP per day at these three Boyd-owned casinos. Next at the Plaza, my $10 MP at blackjack lost, but my $10 FSP coupon won me $20 at VP, and my $25 MP won me $50 at blackjack.
Unfortunately my next two $25 MPs at the Golden Gate both lost betting red at roulette. Lastly at Binion’s my $10 FSP won me $5.00. I also got my parking stub validated there so there was no cost for parking while downtown.
So now based on today’s coupon run, my previous $550 loss for the trip has been cut to a $385 loss.
For lunch a few people had recommended Steak & Shake to me. So my wife and I went to the one at Southpoint. Neither she nor I were impressed.
That night after parking for free at TI, we then “trammed” over to the Mirage to see the Cirque show LOVE at the Mirage. This is the third time we saw the show, but the first time since they revised/updated the show. I thought it was a bit better than the first version of the show. After the show we ate at the Carnegie Deli. It was good but they give you too much food.
Friday 9/27/19
Made a stop at Ellis Island and got $20 of FSP resulting in a $10 win; and then I played two $10 MPs in which red did not come up on either spin so lost $20. I next traveled to Boulder Station and played 25c x 5 coin Loose Deuces Wild VP and was down about $180 when I pulled four deuces for $625. I was dealt three deuces and two jacks for a five of a kind (assumed five jacks) and in normal deuces wild (that only pays $250 for four deuces) the strategy dictates that you keep the five of a kind. But in Loose Deuces that pays $625 for four deuces you are supposed to toss the two jacks and just hold the three deuces. I did that and ended up hitting the fourth deuce and got paid $625. Prior to hitting that I was down a total of $575 for the trip, so that brought me out of losing territory and was now up $50.
For lunch someone recommended Shake Shack to my wife. We went to the one at Green Valley Ranch District. Again I was not impressed. I now prefer Five Guys over Steak & Shake and Shake Shack and even In & Out (just my personal taste: I’m not trying to start a religious war and it does not mean that I am right).
That night we had tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld at Caesar’s. I HATE paying for parking, so again we parked at TI for free, trammed to Mirage, and then walked from the Mirage over to Caesar’s next door. It only took about 15 minutes and saved about $20 in parking fees at Caesar’s (which is quite a walk from their parking garage to their showroom anyway). We’ve seen many good comedians in Vegas but Seinfeld put on the best comedy show we have ever seen there or anywhere. My wife’s ribs physically hurt from laughing so much.
After the show we got our car at TI and drove to the Palm’s and had a late supper/snack at Earl of Sandwich there. It was very quiet at the newly renovated Palm’s for a Friday night.
At the end of the day, I was now up $50 for the trip.
Saturday 9/28/29
In the morning I went to Sam’s Town and played some 25c Triple Deuces Wild that pays $750 for four deuces. I lost $10. I also got $10 of FSP there but made $0 on that. From there went across the street to the Longhorn and got some free slot play on which I made $5.00. I also had a Free Ace Coupon and a $5 MP from ACG. They no longer accept the Free Ace coupon at the blackjack table. I played the $5 MP and lost $5 on blackjack. Also nearby on Boulder Highway is Arizona Charlie’s. I had two $10 Table Game MP coupons. I went to play them, but after strolling around the casino I found out that they recently got rid of all their table games. It’s difficult to play a table game match play when there are no tables to play them on. The lady at the Player’s Club booth said they would honor them at their other (Decatur St.) Casino (many miles away). So this was wasted trip.
From there I went to Boulder Station (just up the street) and played some standard FP 25c x 5 coin Deuces Wild. Played for a while and was down about $50 and then hit four deuces for $250 putting me up for the day $190 and up for the trip $240.
Later that afternoon my wife and I decided to go to Nora’s Cuisine restaurant for pizza. We got there about 2:30 PM and found that on Saturday they were closed then and would not open until 4:00 PM. After being upset for about ten minutes, I remembered that the son of the owner of Nora’s had a restaurant just a few doors down Flamingo that specialized in pizza. In a few minutes, I found it. It is called Monzu. They were open and we had a fantastic salad and some of the best pizza we have ever had. What a lucky break to stumble upon this place. The waiter was great; the ambience was great; and the food even better -- and the prices were reasonable.
That night we had tickets to see Peter Frampton at Red Rock. He was good, but we were only able to get standing room only admission tickets, the concert was outside, it was a bit cooler than normal, and was extremely windy that day and night so we only stayed for about half of the concert. We then went to the Red Rock Grand Café there and had hot coffee and hot chocolate with eggs, bacon, and toast. Very good food and service there.
Sunday 9/29/19
About 10:00 AM we checked out of the Berkley and had a muffin and coffee next door at Panera Bread. We then dropped off the rental car; made our way through TSA (for some unknown reason my wife was awarded PreCheck and I was not (made her day, especially the part that I did not have it)). We caught up with one another at the gate and I know in her mind she was sarcastically asking me: “Where ya been?” “What took you so long?” Funny lady! Anyway, before the flight left we had a quick sandwich at the airport at Rachel’s Kitchen. The flight on the way home was a non-stop Delta flight. Their plane felt more cramped than the plane we took there on Jetblue. Anyway, we landed in Boston just before 11:00 PM and made it home by about 12:30 AM
Hope some of this may be useful or entertaining to you. Thanks for reading this.
ST
