Just back from New Orleans (NOLA). This was weekend 2 of the 2 weeks they
ran the special 7 Star Signature Event. Far fewer people than were in
Atlantic City. About 400 7* members on weekend 1 and 200 on weekend 2 (or
maybe vice versa). Weekend 1 had a lot of rain, weekend 2 we were lucky in
that the rain stayed away until the last day, though the weather looked
threatening the whole time.
The Event was pretty well organized, with information packets at hotel
check-in, and everyone from VIP services was very friendly. Thankfully they
did not allow "capping" of machines, and I didn't have any real problems
getting onto machines I wanted to (including 5 play NSU VP). Plenty of VP
machines were generally available in single line. I thought the high roller
area would be packed, as it was during the Atlantic City 7* event, but it
wasn't. Perhaps word about the oil spill and bad weather caused fewer than
normal people to come to NOLA during the weekend. Strangely I met 2 people
(a man and wife) who constantly played the 10play NSU who were not there for
the 7* weekend (they were trying to get 7* status -- they had wild swings,
from up $20,000 to being down $20,000 when I last saw them), not
surprising for 2 folks both playing 10-play for hours and hours each day.
Event started (Thursday) with a messy but good dinner at the Crazy
Lobster. Lots of lobster, crab legs, shrimp, crawfish, potatoes, and corn on the
cob. Unfortunately the waitresses told us we would be charged extra if we
ordered from the menu (such as salad), so we didn't order anything, and my
husband didn't like some of the seafood which was too spicy for him. Later
one of the VIP Harrah's people told me we should have been able to order
from menu for free. Event also had a nice live band.
On Friday there was a nice luncheon cocktail hour with bloody marys and
food (including good mini-beef-wellingtons). That night there was a fun ride
on Mardi Gras floats over to Mardi Gras world. Unfortunately the floats
were hard to climb into, so I rode over by bus, and some older people
complained if they rode on the float because it was difficult to get into and off
of and had no seats. Mardi Gras World was nice, with a band, and several
rooms. Unfortunately the buffet food was extremely spicy, and we didn't
like it at all - but some people did. They showed how to make pralines, but
had no other deserts (at least that we found).
We also got tickets to the show at the casino -Joints Jumpin - that night -
which was high energy and entertaining.
On Saturday we went to the very enjoyable Paul Prudhomme (of K-Paul
Restaurant fame) cooking demonstration, with food - for the lunch (2pm). The
food was really delicious, and included the best Bananas Foster (his version -
Bananas Bliss) I've ever eaten. I knew it would be spicy, so my husband
just watched and ate desert. We went out to dinner at Besh's Restaurant
August (not part of the event), and had a great 4 course meal there. I was
stuffed!!!!
Also, you could go to a choice of several tours. My husband went on a
city Ghost Tour which he loved. I was too wiped out from gambling late at
night, so missed the Swamp Tour I was scheduled for.
Part of the event gave us 2 tickets to the Jazzfest musical event in New
Orleans. Some people went for several days. We skipped the event, since
our so-called "free day" for the event was on Sunday, and it finally started
raining. Also Sunday was 7 X points day (as bonus points). I wanted to
make sure to get one of the 3/5 play NSU machines, so I got up early (for
me!) and was at the machine at 8:30 a.m.
Then I proceeded to have one of the worst losing sessions ever! I had
extremely horrible marathon of play - I played same 5 play deuces wild for 10
hours!!! mostly deuces with about a half hour of jokers wild when things
got so bad I couldn't stand it. I had 4 to royal dealt to me FIVE TIMES -
no royal!! When I first sat down (8:30 a.m.) had 1 set of deuces within
1st hour - then from 9:30 am to 6pm NO DEUCES! I got 3 deuces dealt to me
maybe 10-15 times - no 4 deuces! - on top of that - generally the result was
nothing - just 5 lines of four of a kind - yikes! During 10 hours gave up
dealt straight flush twice because I had 3 deuces and got no deuces; had
only 2 other dealt straight flushes; no dealt 5 of a kinds; no dealt wild
royals. At about 5:45 pm Coachvee and wife came by, we were going to dinner
with them at 6:30 p.m. They said "you are going to be dealt deuces, see
you in half an hour..." I went to bathroom then while my husband watched
the machine, I came back, played 1 minute - up came DEALT DEUCES. Then 10
minutes later, 3 deuces came and I got 1 set of deuces.
Result of 10 hours of play at $1 5 play NSU - finally equivalent of 7 sets
of deuces (including the dealt deuces), but with no royal - down about
$4500 for the day.
After the weekend my final total was about even in actual cash, but
Lousiana State Tax had taken $1400!!! Hopefully I will get back about 90% of
that next year by filing a non-resident return.
One downside was yet again the Harrahs New Orleans hotel. There just seem
to be continued problems (minor but annoying when added up). For example,
the soda machine dispensed regular pepsi instead of diet and also took an
extra $2. The front desk reimbursed me, but when I complained, said "Those
machines are always disbursing the wrong stuff and people are always
complaining." I say - SO FIX IT!!!! At least the bed was made properly this
time (no short sheeting). But the phone system in the whole hotel didn't
work properly at least for some hours, and our living room phone was not
working right throughout the weekend, and was never fixed, despite 3 calls.
The decor in the rooms just isn't that great. Our regular 2 bedroom suite
just isn't nearly as nice as other similar suites we've had in places such as
Lake Tahoe, Vegas, or Biloxi. Yet again I requested being put into a
"handicapped suite" and 2 hosts prior to event supposedly requested this. But
when I arrived, the room assigned was neither handicapped nor a suite. I
complained to my host while I stood at the front desk, because I knew I had
really played a LOT on previous trips, and he was able to call and upgrade
me over to a suite (but it was not handicapped).
Another strange thing, they sent us a second "amenity"/gift - on the last
night - which was just for the 7 Star event. This included a CD of the
Joints Jumpin show. But that show was not actually part of the 7 star event,
so some people would not have seen it. And for those that did - they may
have already purchased the CD during the show. Why not give that gift out
before the show??? In fact, why did they have us pick up the Jazzfest
backpack separately, by showing a card they had in the initial package of papers
- why not just deliver that and the gift to your room on day 1 so you
could use it the whole time? It is a minor point, but it did seem a bit odd.
Overall the event was handled extremely well and we had a lot of fun. We
enjoyed some of the unexpected extras, such as the small backpack for use at
Jazzfest (even though we didn't go), and the good spirits. The next
special 7* event is scheduled for the fall - somewhere in Las Vegas (no exact
time mentioned so far).
Our host was very nice (as usual) and also comped us for a dinner and
airfare and even a haircut. We played a HUGE amount (for us), spurred on by
the 7x points.
I'm looking forward to returning to New Orleans in a few months too.
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