Question of the Day - 30 June 2009

Bet you all thought we’d forgotten this long-promised poll follow-up, right? We hadn't! Just took a long while coming. (Yikes, hope nothing else has vanished in the interim. Anyone want to vote for Social House? It's okay, we're still not sure that it's truly gone yet...)

Now, without further ado, here's a selection of some more of the other things you suggested when we ran our "What do you miss most that's disappeared from Vegas in the past few years?" LVA Reader Poll on 4/22/09:

• "Since I was the one the suggested this poll...I've got to go with the $1 margaritas at Westward Ho. While not the 'hippest' casino on the Strip, it was a fun place to stop and grab a cheap drink after a day of gambling and walking." (Kevin B.) [Ed: Thanks for the great poll suggestion!"]
• "I miss the tandem style busses that were connected with a flexible accordion-thing. The Deuce gets far too crowded and it is difficult for a lot of folks to climb the stairs. It takes much longer to load because if someone goes upstairs and there is no room, then they have to come back down and try to squeeze in somewhere while others are still trying to board. It’s also hard for the driver to see the back door and I have seen many people just sneak in and ride free." (Pamela A.)
• "Neon. I miss the neon hotel fronts. I grew up in Las Vegas and miss all the lights. It isn’t the same. Don’t like the modern hotel rooms either -- they aren’t comfortable, they are cold. And we need more western themes: We have Sam’s town, and Binion’s (statue) but we need more. I hope to come home for good when I retire. I don’t think all change is good. We need some of the old ways." (Barbre)
• "Coins coming out of the slot machines. I miss the ching ching, it adds to the atmosphere." (Shirley K.)
• "Moongate at the Mirage, with four or five wait staff falling over themselves to serve you. One would even eat your food for you, if you asked nice (just kidding)." (Susan & Jim)
• "When I get the chance to get back, another "memory" is gone, usually replaced by a new megaresort type casino. One reason I've come to enjoy Downtown so much is it's consistency (and character). As long as the Plaza, Golden Gate and El Cortez remain, I'll be back." (Matt)
• "I miss playable VP schedules the most, especially on/near The Strip." (David R.)
• "I miss the Egyptian Luxor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"(Scott)
• "Lady Luck always seemed to have a good mix. Their promotion books had attractive coupons, the casino floor was filled with a cross section of slots -- especially hot were their dollar machines.The whole staff was friendly and the hosts would provide various gifts at will to dollar players. Drinks were plentiful, there were always a few good video poker machines at the bar, and comps wereavailable to any serious player. I always seemed to have a pocket full of their long distance telephone coins and made free calls to my friends. Don't think that I ever paid for a room there." (Eldon S.)
• "Tam O’Shanter – I just liked looking at it, and it represents the old Las Vegas of lots of little places, sophisticated and tacky, expensive and cheap, seedy and shiny, fun and funky, all strung together. Even though the megaresorts of today all strive to look different with their architecture, their personalities, or lack thereof, they are all the same. Maybe I just want to remember when I was in my early 20s (many many years ago), when the whole extended family began their frequent gathering in Las Vegas, and the fun times we had just ‘being’ in Las Vegas. We all still go, but no Mom and no Dad. Dad and I would go off together just to look for the funky and see our favorites, over and over – the pool with the oval portholes across from where Mandalay Bay is, the neon swimming-pool-slide sign on the way to downtown, La Concha, and of course, Tam O’Shanter. Ok, I guess I’ll go cry now..." [Ed: Awww, don't do that! Please, no one mention Club Bingo ;-)] (Susan K.)
• "Okay it's not 'Other', but I miss Commander's Palace so much that we made a special trip to New Orleans IN THE SUMMER last year for a fix. Our family was treated like royalty, the kids got a tour of the kitchen from Lally Brennan herself, we got a hug from one of the waiters that used to work in Vegas, and the overall experience made the hot and humid visit to the Big Easy palatable. The food was consistently excellent, after all at least two superstar chefs (Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse) started there. The turtle soup is a classic. But it was the service that made Commander's special. They were friendly and attentive without being annoying. I've had the pleasure of dining at zero star to five star restaurants on every continent but Africa (on my travel list) and Antarctica (NOT on my travel list) and Commander's was the best. We made a special rocket run Vegas trip for two last dinners when we heard they were closing at the Aladdin. Their official line is that they're coming back to Vegas, but I think my hopes will be dashed." [Ed: We fear you're correct.]
• "The great deals we used to get on rooms, meals, and shows." (Gene F.) [Ed: Wait! Did you see our latest room-rate survey? The room deals, at least, are back!]
• "I miss the atmosphere on The Strip. The new high rises and ongoing construction have detracted from the ‘feel’. The view has changed, the older casinos along with their signage are gone and the high rises add nothing to the look of it. We used to walk daily from the Stratosphere to the south end of The Strip and stop along the way at numerous fun, casual places-- it’s a hike just to get into some of the casinos from The Strip now!" (Colleen M.)
• "The valley's only Indonesian Restaurant: A taste of Indonesia (W Spring Mtn Rd. by Pho Saigon 8). Who could miss Key Largo?? (Thomas)" [Ed: YES! Miss that too! Love Bali, love Indonesian food. Ate there once for lunch, then -- poof! -- it was gone...]
• "The smorgasbord lineup of hookers at the long bar at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino and the comps received at the Horseshoe when Benny was running the show. Plus, the basic quality and value of their restaurant items." (Phil from San Antonio)
• "Like everywhere else, there is more than one thing that we really miss. We voted for the Stardust because we miss that the most of the things on the list. But just about any casino/hotel that has been blown up in the past few years qualifies (the Boardwalk was always a favorite, too). I actually wanted to vote for multiple items, like some of the things at Westward Ho, Wet'n'Wild, etc., but the poll only allowed one choice.
  
  But you know what? Things do, change! All we can do is find other things to have as our favorites. We don't need to focus on what is NOT in Vegas but what IS in Vegas. We just do other things, go to other places, stay at different hotels, see different shows. My goodness, if you can't have a great time in Vegas with what’s there, you're not trying." (Ray M.)