This will only be the highlights (it's much too long already). I’ll let N’cat provide the play by play.
Top picks from my one week in Las Vegas, January 2011 starring N’cat with special guest appearances by CLV & Sue
2nd Best Thing: Red Rock Canyon. An awesome place to walk. Best day was our second trip. A small, weak storm had hit the area that night giving but the lightest dusting of white frost on the mountain sides. It was cold but with no wind. Appropriate layers handled the temperature. The air was clear of haze. A very high cloud layer made the sun a dull spot in the sky. Lower puffy clouds clung to the mountain tops. We kept to the road. We walked from the visitor’s center to “Tanks” parking – about 5 miles round trip. Parking at the visitor’s center allows a quick egress from the park – you don’t have to drive the entire circle drive. Life is good.
Speaking of dealing with the cold, N’cat was disgusted with my toque. It’s an old black and red thing. I’ve kept it in the trunk of a car for emergencies – so it’s grease smudge from the jack and smells sulfur from flairs. I’ve used it as a pad to kneel on pavement as I chained up the rear tires. She promised to send me some alternatives from the New York marathon. I’ll gladly accept.
3rd Best Thing: Food: Best meal: Gaetano’s. Better than our last trip. The huge winner: the spaghetti and meatballs. Best I’ve ever had anywhere. My entrée was salmon stuffed with crab over a basil pesto pasta. N’cat had sand dabs with simple angle hair pasta. Great meal. Great service. It’s going to be a mandatory stop on every Vegas trip.
Other food worth mentioning:
Tried Lucille’s Barbecue at The District at GVR. Excellent ribs. Garlic mashed potatoes to die for. Lucille’s versus Memphis: I couldn’t pick. I like them both.
Tried BLT Burgers at Mirage. Good burger. Excellent onion rings. If seasoned a bit more, they’d be stellar. Good milk shake (Twinkie Boy). Only complaint: price. $22 for the meal. Three times what I would pay at In N Out. If you figure a $5 or $6 “fee” because you’re at Mirage, then the price is acceptable. If you want a burger and on the Strip, not a bad option. But then there’s the café at Bill's which offers a burger, fries and shake for $5.
Tried: Wicked Spoon Buffet at Cosmopolitan. Very good. A few observations: lots of eggs benedict, as Deke pointed out in his review, many without hollandaise. The reason for that is true hollandaise is not very stable. It can’t cool down, it can’t sit. You can’t make a bunch in advance. But I think a real nice cheese sauce would have been good on the Mexican benedict. The sticky buns outrageously good – the best part you could scoop up extra glaze. Smoked sausage was delicious. They also had a chicken-apple breakfast sausage. Even sampled the artisan salami station. As Deke predicted, they began putting out labels for the food. About half the dishes were identified. There was a long line at Paris as I walked over to Cosmo. No line at Cosmo. I felt like telling all those in line at Paris to walk across the street, save $2, and get a better buffet.
Other observations:
Brunch at Palms Garduno's: dreamy chocolate and caramel waffles. Addictive carnitas. I love this brunch.
Tried Bellagio Buffet (for Sunday brunch): under-whelmed. Seemed average except for crab meat for omelet and excellent desserts.
Tried Omelet House (independent one in Summerlin) for a Chile Verde omelet. Very good. Great choice if you’re in the neighborhood. Not good enough to venture from the strip for.
Tried Hash House A Go Go (original Sahara location). Under-whelmed. Food was good and plentiful, but not the best of the trip – not even close.
Sunset Buffet: solid choice. Breakfast is a bargain at $5. Bargain!
Aliente Buffet: Very good. Competes against Red Rock as Station’s best.
4th Best Thing: Gambling. N’cat lobbied me sufficiently to do the Terrible’s LVA offer. She lost her $100 quickly and went to work recovering her $100 in bonus money. She found me playing a nickel Triple Pay progressive machine. I explained that I hoped to lose the $100 slow enough that I would get 1,000 slot points which would be doubled (sign-up offer) and I could get two gas cards.
That plan was looking good as I hit 2 quad aces (holding one ace, then holding a pair). I was up about $10 and felt with a quad or two, I’d make the 1,000 points. A few minutes later I was elbowing N’cat to look at my screen. I had held KQ hearts. The other 3 filled in. I hit a progressive royal for more than $200. I cashed out and left. Never collected my Terribles bonus. Thanks LVA & AC!!!! Would have never played at Terrible’s and hit that royal except for the offer.
Next morning, after a short walk with N’cat, I played while N’cat changed.
Good News: I hit another Royal
Bad News: It was a 1 cent machine
Good News: It was a Ten-Play & it was dealt.
Bad News: I get my dealt royal not on the progressive machines at Orleans that I’ve been playing for years that have a nice (around $2,000) jackpot for dealt royals.
Good News: this machine has a dealt progressive: a little under $1,900.
More Good News: I brought almost the entire win home.
It’s been only 3 months since I hit my last Royal. Now I’ve got 11 more.
5th Best: Checking out the Cosmopolitan (and City Center where I hadn’t yet visited – though City Center was underwhelming – except in size). Since I didn’t get the January LVA before I left, I had scanned the January issue on line. I also read Deke’s review of the Cosmo. He suggested that the Cosmo is the future of the Vegas. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I think his point was that the Cosmo makes a lot of sense, and I completely agree.
What I liked about Cosmo: it feels intimate. Everything is right there. It’s is right on the Strip – not a quarter of mile set back from the Strip. The art. Everything from giant slippers to giant dogs to blown glass. There are cigarette machines that have been converted to “art dispensers”. Great vibe. Great customer service. N’cat asked a maintain worker for some info and he went and found someone to help her.
So is this the future of Vegas? Maybe. My two concerns. Because I like the place, it doesn’t mean others will come here, gamble here, and eat here. That’s what they’re going to need. No doubt they’ll be able to fill the rooms – IP can do that. But can they get enough business and gambling to make it a going concern? I don’t know. There’s a real shot they could attract a very loyal clientele and make it work. Second, I fear it might get tired very quickly. What is new and interesting right now gets old and tired in a few years. The free billiards table will be beat up and missing balls and cues in less than a year, I fear. So we’ll see. But overall, I think I’m with Deke on this. I’m not a Strip person (because of price), but of all the places on the Strip, this would be one I’d lean towards.
And I’m left with the thought: What if City Center had built three or four casinos like the Cosmo for City Center? Each with its own style. Then linked the 2nd floor shops with walkways. Create a little mini-strip on Harmon. That would have been cool instead of the massive industrial airport of City Center.
Two strange things:
The eerie: I was playing Lord of the Rings, sitting next to a LOTR pro (almost 300 miles). We were talking about the game. I asked abut his impression of getting “Power Spins”. There are 5 different types. The “ring” powers spin is the most value, I think. I don’t get many of them. As I point to the screen where it tells you how many ring power spins there are, I say, “I don’t many of these.” At that exact moment, the machine gave me one. We both laughed hard when we realized what had happened. The guy slapped me on the shoulder and said, “you can’t write that!” A great example of “Lampshade hanging”.
Next day, N’cat and I are playing LOTR side-by-side. She wants one more mile to unlock the next bonus. I tell her, “why not ask for one” – meaning ask for a mile. She knows my reference, points to the Ring Power Spin symbol and says, “I want one of these”. The machine promptly gives her a ring power spin. I mean perfect timing. Not a spin or two later. I mean in that instance that she has put her finger on the little symbol. Having it happen once is surprising; twice is eerie.
Second strange thing: Fire at Bally’s.
I was in my room Sunday afternoon watching the New England / Jets game.
Fire alarm goes off. A voice tells me to evacuate the room / floor. Use the stairs. I descend 22 flights of stairs. A couple flights from the bottom firefighters are climbing upward, full gear, coils of hose strapped on their back. They’ve got a long way to go. An older couple refuses my help. When I get outside, Flamingo Street is blocked. There are 3 or 4 ladder trucks around the building plus other vehicles. More are flying in.
When one thinks of fire, this is THE hotel. I did not wait to evacuate. I grabbed my money, keys and phone and left my bag. Since it was a real fire, I’m glad I did. I suspect many people ignored the alarm. My life is worth taking those stairs down and giving up an hour in my room.
The casino stays open and isn’t affected. An hour later I can return to my room. 25th floor is closed off. When I get back to my room, looking out the window I can see small streams of water coming down. Rumor was someone fell asleep while smoking in bed. Firefighters must have hosed things down pretty well.
Lastly, my favorite line from the trip. I don't remember the context but here it is. From N'cat: "Like the guy who marries a woman he doesn't really like because all his friends think she's hot."
Top picks from my one week in Las Vegas, January 2011 starring N’cat with special guest appearances by CLV & Sue
2nd Best Thing: Red Rock Canyon. An awesome place to walk. Best day was our second trip. A small, weak storm had hit the area that night giving but the lightest dusting of white frost on the mountain sides. It was cold but with no wind. Appropriate layers handled the temperature. The air was clear of haze. A very high cloud layer made the sun a dull spot in the sky. Lower puffy clouds clung to the mountain tops. We kept to the road. We walked from the visitor’s center to “Tanks” parking – about 5 miles round trip. Parking at the visitor’s center allows a quick egress from the park – you don’t have to drive the entire circle drive. Life is good.
Speaking of dealing with the cold, N’cat was disgusted with my toque. It’s an old black and red thing. I’ve kept it in the trunk of a car for emergencies – so it’s grease smudge from the jack and smells sulfur from flairs. I’ve used it as a pad to kneel on pavement as I chained up the rear tires. She promised to send me some alternatives from the New York marathon. I’ll gladly accept.
3rd Best Thing: Food: Best meal: Gaetano’s. Better than our last trip. The huge winner: the spaghetti and meatballs. Best I’ve ever had anywhere. My entrée was salmon stuffed with crab over a basil pesto pasta. N’cat had sand dabs with simple angle hair pasta. Great meal. Great service. It’s going to be a mandatory stop on every Vegas trip.
Other food worth mentioning:
Tried Lucille’s Barbecue at The District at GVR. Excellent ribs. Garlic mashed potatoes to die for. Lucille’s versus Memphis: I couldn’t pick. I like them both.
Tried BLT Burgers at Mirage. Good burger. Excellent onion rings. If seasoned a bit more, they’d be stellar. Good milk shake (Twinkie Boy). Only complaint: price. $22 for the meal. Three times what I would pay at In N Out. If you figure a $5 or $6 “fee” because you’re at Mirage, then the price is acceptable. If you want a burger and on the Strip, not a bad option. But then there’s the café at Bill's which offers a burger, fries and shake for $5.
Tried: Wicked Spoon Buffet at Cosmopolitan. Very good. A few observations: lots of eggs benedict, as Deke pointed out in his review, many without hollandaise. The reason for that is true hollandaise is not very stable. It can’t cool down, it can’t sit. You can’t make a bunch in advance. But I think a real nice cheese sauce would have been good on the Mexican benedict. The sticky buns outrageously good – the best part you could scoop up extra glaze. Smoked sausage was delicious. They also had a chicken-apple breakfast sausage. Even sampled the artisan salami station. As Deke predicted, they began putting out labels for the food. About half the dishes were identified. There was a long line at Paris as I walked over to Cosmo. No line at Cosmo. I felt like telling all those in line at Paris to walk across the street, save $2, and get a better buffet.
Other observations:
Brunch at Palms Garduno's: dreamy chocolate and caramel waffles. Addictive carnitas. I love this brunch.
Tried Bellagio Buffet (for Sunday brunch): under-whelmed. Seemed average except for crab meat for omelet and excellent desserts.
Tried Omelet House (independent one in Summerlin) for a Chile Verde omelet. Very good. Great choice if you’re in the neighborhood. Not good enough to venture from the strip for.
Tried Hash House A Go Go (original Sahara location). Under-whelmed. Food was good and plentiful, but not the best of the trip – not even close.
Sunset Buffet: solid choice. Breakfast is a bargain at $5. Bargain!
Aliente Buffet: Very good. Competes against Red Rock as Station’s best.
4th Best Thing: Gambling. N’cat lobbied me sufficiently to do the Terrible’s LVA offer. She lost her $100 quickly and went to work recovering her $100 in bonus money. She found me playing a nickel Triple Pay progressive machine. I explained that I hoped to lose the $100 slow enough that I would get 1,000 slot points which would be doubled (sign-up offer) and I could get two gas cards.
That plan was looking good as I hit 2 quad aces (holding one ace, then holding a pair). I was up about $10 and felt with a quad or two, I’d make the 1,000 points. A few minutes later I was elbowing N’cat to look at my screen. I had held KQ hearts. The other 3 filled in. I hit a progressive royal for more than $200. I cashed out and left. Never collected my Terribles bonus. Thanks LVA & AC!!!! Would have never played at Terrible’s and hit that royal except for the offer.
Next morning, after a short walk with N’cat, I played while N’cat changed.
Good News: I hit another Royal
Bad News: It was a 1 cent machine
Good News: It was a Ten-Play & it was dealt.
Bad News: I get my dealt royal not on the progressive machines at Orleans that I’ve been playing for years that have a nice (around $2,000) jackpot for dealt royals.
Good News: this machine has a dealt progressive: a little under $1,900.
More Good News: I brought almost the entire win home.
It’s been only 3 months since I hit my last Royal. Now I’ve got 11 more.
5th Best: Checking out the Cosmopolitan (and City Center where I hadn’t yet visited – though City Center was underwhelming – except in size). Since I didn’t get the January LVA before I left, I had scanned the January issue on line. I also read Deke’s review of the Cosmo. He suggested that the Cosmo is the future of the Vegas. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I think his point was that the Cosmo makes a lot of sense, and I completely agree.
What I liked about Cosmo: it feels intimate. Everything is right there. It’s is right on the Strip – not a quarter of mile set back from the Strip. The art. Everything from giant slippers to giant dogs to blown glass. There are cigarette machines that have been converted to “art dispensers”. Great vibe. Great customer service. N’cat asked a maintain worker for some info and he went and found someone to help her.
So is this the future of Vegas? Maybe. My two concerns. Because I like the place, it doesn’t mean others will come here, gamble here, and eat here. That’s what they’re going to need. No doubt they’ll be able to fill the rooms – IP can do that. But can they get enough business and gambling to make it a going concern? I don’t know. There’s a real shot they could attract a very loyal clientele and make it work. Second, I fear it might get tired very quickly. What is new and interesting right now gets old and tired in a few years. The free billiards table will be beat up and missing balls and cues in less than a year, I fear. So we’ll see. But overall, I think I’m with Deke on this. I’m not a Strip person (because of price), but of all the places on the Strip, this would be one I’d lean towards.
And I’m left with the thought: What if City Center had built three or four casinos like the Cosmo for City Center? Each with its own style. Then linked the 2nd floor shops with walkways. Create a little mini-strip on Harmon. That would have been cool instead of the massive industrial airport of City Center.
Two strange things:
The eerie: I was playing Lord of the Rings, sitting next to a LOTR pro (almost 300 miles). We were talking about the game. I asked abut his impression of getting “Power Spins”. There are 5 different types. The “ring” powers spin is the most value, I think. I don’t get many of them. As I point to the screen where it tells you how many ring power spins there are, I say, “I don’t many of these.” At that exact moment, the machine gave me one. We both laughed hard when we realized what had happened. The guy slapped me on the shoulder and said, “you can’t write that!” A great example of “Lampshade hanging”.
Next day, N’cat and I are playing LOTR side-by-side. She wants one more mile to unlock the next bonus. I tell her, “why not ask for one” – meaning ask for a mile. She knows my reference, points to the Ring Power Spin symbol and says, “I want one of these”. The machine promptly gives her a ring power spin. I mean perfect timing. Not a spin or two later. I mean in that instance that she has put her finger on the little symbol. Having it happen once is surprising; twice is eerie.
Second strange thing: Fire at Bally’s.
I was in my room Sunday afternoon watching the New England / Jets game.
Fire alarm goes off. A voice tells me to evacuate the room / floor. Use the stairs. I descend 22 flights of stairs. A couple flights from the bottom firefighters are climbing upward, full gear, coils of hose strapped on their back. They’ve got a long way to go. An older couple refuses my help. When I get outside, Flamingo Street is blocked. There are 3 or 4 ladder trucks around the building plus other vehicles. More are flying in.
When one thinks of fire, this is THE hotel. I did not wait to evacuate. I grabbed my money, keys and phone and left my bag. Since it was a real fire, I’m glad I did. I suspect many people ignored the alarm. My life is worth taking those stairs down and giving up an hour in my room.
The casino stays open and isn’t affected. An hour later I can return to my room. 25th floor is closed off. When I get back to my room, looking out the window I can see small streams of water coming down. Rumor was someone fell asleep while smoking in bed. Firefighters must have hosed things down pretty well.
Lastly, my favorite line from the trip. I don't remember the context but here it is. From N'cat: "Like the guy who marries a woman he doesn't really like because all his friends think she's hot."
