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New Year's Eve at Harrah's

Hi Gang:
Hedy and I just returned from a three-night stay over New Year's at Harrah's
AC. Our gambling was up and down (we wound up losing our cashback plus a
couple of hundred out of pocket), but I really wanted to comment about Harrah's New
Year's Eve party in their ballroom. To say it left much to be desired would
be an understatement.
First of all, we were told that Seven Stars members could enter the ballroom
early ... at 9 p.m, supposedly 9:30 for everyone else. Well, we arrived at
9:05 and the room was three-quarters full! We tried to sit at a table near the
dance floor (we had relatives already sitting there) but were told that the
remaining seats at that table were "reserved."
We finally crossed over to the other side of the ballroom and sat there and
immediately realized that it was freezing in the room. Everyone sitting at our
table was complaining about how cold it was. The room was dark and the low
ceiling didn't help make it feel any more roomy or comfortable. They squeezed 12
people to a table, so there was hardly any room for anything but dishes, glasse
s and silverware.
An unappetizing-looking salad was already on the table and after about a half
hour they brought out the main dinner plates. It was surf and turf, but the
lobster tail was undercooked (the filet mignon was just OK)and everyone was
complaining that their food was cold. When you mass produce meals like that it
just seems impossible to bring the food out hot. The "dessert glass" had a
couple of pieces of chocolate in it and a rose petal with a mysterious gelatinous
mass in it. Very strange!
Hedy, a very picky eater, nibbled on a piece of bread, had some salad and
drank some water. There was nothing she liked. The music was so loud it was
almost impossible to have a conversation with the person next to you and the dance
floor was small and crowded. We wound up staying about an hour and a half then
went up to our room and watched the ball drop in Times Square in our pajamas.
As a comparison, last year we attended the NYE party at the Borgata and it
was vastly superior. They offered buffet stations with a wide variety of food
including shrimp, lamb chops, chicken dishes, a carving station with prime rib,
plus delicious veggies, potatoes, salad, rolls and bread.
They also had huge dessert tables with cakes, pies, brownies, puddings, a
variety of chocolate snacks and lots of other goodies. Also, the ballroom at
Borgata was well lit, very spacious and roomy with a high ceiling and the dance
floor was huge. So, there really was no comparison.
I've already sent a letter to R. Scott Barber, Sr. VP at Harrah's,
complaining about the party and I'm sure other people will be voicing their discontent
as well. We'll see what comes of it.
We're off to Vegas Thursday for 12 days (our longest trip ever) and looking
forward to our three-night stay at the Bellagio and seeing "O." I'll post a
report when we get back.
Regards,
CoachVee (Tom V) & Hedy

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maybe it's due to the general profits being higher in Joliet, IL
because of bad paytables etc, but their part was awesome.

Our host talked me into staying overnight even though we live within
20 minutes and I'm glad we did. As we checked into the hotel there
was diamond and seven stars pre-registration for the events, 1000
bonus entries in the drawings the first 3 days of the year for 15
free cruises, and an "id bracelet" to come and go as we wished.

We had reservations at 10 PM for the Reserve, their best restaurant
and one of the best in the area, and had thought that would eliminate
us from the larger party but it did not. They had a cruise theme and
had blocked off all of the event area, Sheer Lounge, and Mosaic their
2nd best restaurant and the lobby area within it.

In Illinois casinos are not allowed to provide free alcohol, so they
offered a $5 per person, all you want to drink from 6PM to 12:30AM.
And of course, coffee, and soft drinks were free as always.

They had two shows going on all evening, one more sedate and the
other a real party show with a 10 piece orchestra/band with 3 singers
which were quite good and 4 dancers. Had to be one of the best show
groups in the entire Chicago area short of names at megabucks in
selected downtown locations. We've paid over $300 a person for
entertainment of this quality on NYE in the city in past years.

The food was awesome .. I most of all loved the cruise ship carved
from a huge block of ice, that had shelled jumbo shrimp, blue point
oysters, some type of clams, and crab claws on it. They kept it
filled all evening and many people ate their fill. I won't go into
the full menus but the buffets had a cruise ship theme with many
entrees and appetizers as well as deserts including two chocolate
fountains (one was white chocolate). We had a superb meal in the
Reserve and only paid for our wine and tip.

Overall .. it was very nice .. I spent from 5 to 9PM NYE in the
casino and broke even which is not bad considering that I was playing
slots (remember the VP pay tables are awful nearly everywhere in
Illinois.)

My husband and I plan to go back for the next NYE.

Happy New Years 2007 everyone, and good paytables, and most of all
great luck to go with your skill this year.

Lavona Rann
Plainfield, IL