09/17-10/01/08
This TR will be of most interest to those who are willing to:
Tug on Supermanâs cape in order to read details about a Las Vegas vacation
Spit in the wind to learn about shows and lounge acts
Pull the mask off of the ole Lone Ranger to read reviews of locals
restaurant or
Mess round with Jim to learn some money savings tips.
09/17 I woke up this morning at around 4 A.M. and checked the
calendar, sure enough we were half-way to the Saint Patrickâs Day, and
the countdown meter to our next Las Vegas vacation had reached zero. I
headed downstairs to check a number of Las Vegas-related websites and
printed off our final To Do List before taking Max for a walk on the
local golf course. Later that morning as we prepared to depart Casa de
Westie, I ran through my mental checklist one more time:
Ziggy at the Inn on Hemlock Slope ---- check
Kennel reservations for Max ---- check
Slot cards and coupons in carryon luggage ---- check
Lights turned off, doors locked ---- check
Luggage in car trunk ---- check
Ms. Westie in passenger seat ---- check
Slow forward 9 hours and we arrived at McCarran Airport 20 minutes
early. In short order we retrieved our luggage from the carousel,
shuttled to the Consolidated Rental Facility, completed the Alamo self
check-in process, tipped the attendant $5 for an upgrade from an
economy car to a mid-size Dodge Avenger and drove to the Orleans where
we were booked for following 14 nights. I requested a king in the old
section on an upper floor and was rewarded with room 2187. Since we
last stayed at the Orleans a large plasma TV has been installed at the
expense of a chest of drawers. It was now 7PM EST so we quickly
unpacked and proceeded downstairs for Todayâs Featured Cocktail â"
Cosmo (2 sips out of a possible 5).
I had planned on dining at Ventanoâs Italian Café in Henderson, but
both of us were tired from the long day of traveling so we opted for
the Orleans buffet â" mistake #1 of the trip. We started off with teeny
unpeeled shrimp and an uninspired cocktail sauce. For entrees we each
opted for Singapore noodles and cooked to order stir fry chicken with
assorted vegetables. The noodles and veggies were reasonably fresh,
but the chicken was overcooked. I also tried a BBQ pork rib (tough)
and very good onion rings.
($16.11, American Casino Guide (ACG), 1.5 Forks).
The Westies retired to the room early and with full stomachs.
09/18 I woke up around 2AM and drove to the South Point and quickly
located the bank of 8 full-pay video poker machines that had recently
been installed. What surprised me was Benny Binionâs statue, relocated
from Downtown, was immediately in front of these machines. Over the
days that followed I often suspected Benny was watching me play, but
he always avoided making eye contact.
The machines were slower than I would prefer though they proved
sufficiently fast to cause me a sizeable loss over the next four hours.
After showering we headed off to Green Valley Ranch (GVR) for the
breakfast buffet. This buffet has been downsized since our last visit
though the quality remains high. We started off with some almost ripe
melon and strawberry yogurt along with OJ. I tried a piece of bone-in
ham (fair), a small slice of cheese quesadilla (excellent), crispy
bacon (wonderful), apple crepe (so good) and a spoonful of warm bread
pudding with pecan sauce (excellent). We used a 2/1 coupon from a
coupon book mailed to locals and received an additional $1 off by
showing a slot card. ($7.53, 3.5 Forks)
On departing GVR, we headed to the recently opened Eastside Cannery on
the Boulder Highway singing:
We're Movin' on Up!
Movin' on Up!
To the Eastside
The line at the slot booth was pretty long but moved swiftly and we
were soon in possession of C.A.N. cards loaded with $20 in free play.
I would like to be able to report one of us hit quad deuces or a royal
on the free play, but that only happens in my dreams. Ms. Westie did
manage to cash out with a few dollars profit while I continued my
losing ways. We each played a $10 MP from the ACG at the craps table
with Ms. Westie rolling the dice and playing the pass line while I
covered the dark side, a $10 for the good guys when she made her number.
Our next stop was the Wal-Mart across from Samâs Town for sundry
items. On returning to the Orleans we went to the Business Center, now
located on the second floor, to check our email. The remainder of the
afternoon was spent reading and exercising (Ms. Westie) and dozing (me).
Tonight is our Date Night so we started off with Todayâs Featured
Cocktail, Mikeâs Hard Lemonade (3.5 Sips). This was my first Mikeâs,
but assuredly not my last as I found it to be the perfect substitute
for Smirnoff Ice which is no longer available at the Orleans.
We drove to GVR this evening and discovered the casino was offering
Mystery Gifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays in September. Ms. Westie and I
selected (2) personal scents mini diffusers and a large red bowl.
Dinner this evening was at Tides Oyster Bar using a 2/1 coupon from a
locals mailer. Tides is a spacious restaurant offering both tables and
the more traditional counter seating. Ms. Westie ordered a cup of New
England clam chowdah (we are from CT and know how to pronounce
chowder) and a seafood Cobb salad (micro greens, tomatoes, crab,
avocado, carrots, shrimp and blue cheese). My entrée was a super sized
piece of parmesan crusted red snapper over an almost spicy tomato
sauce. I took a few photos of the restaurant, and the chef preparing
the oyster trays asked if I would take his photo and send him a copy.
($30.78, 3.5 Forks)
We adjourned to Ovation, the GVRâs concert/lounge venue that is
temporarily hosting the Boulder Blues. Tonightâs performer, Mike Zito,
was very good, but the volume was too loud for our tastes so we soon
departed. (2.5 Claps) http://www.mikezito.com/
09/19 I returned to the South Point for my 3:30AM video poker session
and was able to turn a small profit after hitting my #1 quad deuces of
the trip. I park on the 3rd floor of most parking garages in order to
keep things simple, but I was not operating on all cylinders and could
not find the car this morning. I was about to call security when I
decided to travel to level 2 and there I found my Dodge Avenger
patiently waiting.
The Orleans buffet received the nod today with me consuming OJ, skim
milk, huevos rancheros, bacon and corned beef hash. (Comp, 2.5 Forks)
We used the complimentary business center computers to check emails
before returning to the room to read this morningâs RJ and catch a few
ZZZZs,. Feeling refreshed and revitalized we headed to the South Point
for an early afternoon video poker session. The player immediately to
my right won $150 in free play in the every 30 minute random drawing
and the one to my left hit quad deuces while I lost my shirt. Was
Westie bitter â" damn straight!
Since it was 5PM somewhere we decided to order Mudslides, Todayâs
Featured Cocktail, before returning to the Orleans. The bartender at
the South Point added half and half to the basic recipe which made the
drink a bit smoother than usual. (4.5 Sips)
Dinner tonight was at Steak located at 76 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway in
Henderson. http://www.steaklasvegas.com/ We had trouble locating the
restaurant and called for directions. The receptionist told us to head
âeastâ from Eastern Avenue on Horizon Ridge to get to W. Horizon Ridge
and look for the restaurant near the junction with Gibson Road â"
wrong. We searched the area in vain and on calling again were
instructed to continue to travel east. We finally located the
restaurant a short distance from an exit for I-515. I questioned the
ditzy receptionist upon entering and she said she thought we were
locals â" huh?
Steak is a contemporary restaurant offering a video poker bar area on
one side and a dining area on the other. Ms. Westie ordered a filet
mignon and sides of spinach and thin cut steak fries. The filet was
cooked medium rare, but was amazingly tough and tasteless. How the
chef managed to accomplish that feat is secret I one I hope he does
not share. My Chilean sea bass in broth over sliced fingerling
potatoes, prosciutto and cabbage was very tasty though someone forgot
to include the cabbage.
I used a $50 gift certificate purchased at
http://partydeals.931theparty.com/cc...n/ddindex2.php for $23.50.
Note: the total cost of all meals in this TR includes the price I paid
for any certificate I used plus a gratuity and tax. ($38.61, 2.5 Forks)
The east entrance to the Orleans parking garage was blocked on our
return so we were required to drive around to the west entrance. This
was the opening night of 7th annual Hoodie Awards and there was a
block party in progress in the arenaâs parking lots. This eveningâs
event was attended by somewhere upwards of 10,000 people from the
black community, all elegantly dressed in white. I would estimate 70%
or more of them were plus sized women ready to party. The Hoodie
Awards, for those who donât know and I didnât, were established by
radio host Steve Harvey to recognize the best in the âhoodâ in several
categories such as church, local businesses and civic groups.
On entering the casino proper we managed to circumvent the âlargeâ
groups of attendees and made our way to the lounge where the group In
A Fect entertained us with their mix of classic rock, R&B, funk and
Motown. http://tinyurl.com/5r8bzp (5 Claps)
09/20 I was up at 4AM and returned to the South Point for another
video poker session under the watchful eyes of Benny. I must not have
been operating on all cylinders because I couldnât hit even a wild
royal, but somehow managed to break even after almost 3 hours of
continuous play. On my return I was amazed to find hundreds of
âgrasshopperâ type insects along the pathway and on the walls between
the parking garage and hotel. If they were grasshoppers, they must
have been fooled by the artificial turf.
We decided to try the Maple Tree restaurant on Spring Mountain Road
this morning for breakfast. Though physically situated in a
non-descript shopping center, the restaurant provides a touch of New
England charm to the local area. http://tinyurl.com/4wbttg
Ms. Westie ordered the French toast stuffed with strawberry cream
cheese and topped with fresh strawberries. She rated this second only
to Bouchonâs, but at half the price. I was initially hesitant to order
the New England Benny, but was I ever rewarded for my courage. The New
England Benny is 2 crab cakes served on English muffin halves topped
with 2 poached eggs and covered with Hollandaise sauce. This proved to
be an amazing combination of flavors that I would love to duplicate at
home.
Once again I pulled out the camera to take photos of both the
restaurant and our server bringing us our meals. This led to our
meeting the owners and several members and their amiable wait staff.
Once again copies of our photos were requested. ($16.89,
Entertainment, 5 Forks)
We again drove out to the South Point for another miserable session of
video poker before soothing the pain with an original recipe mudslide.
On returning to the room I opted for a nap while Ms. Westie read. At
5PM sharp we departed for the South Point where we ordered, Todayâs
Featured Cocktail, Mojitos with fresh mint no less. (4.5 Sips)
On departing we headed east for Lake Las Vegas for the Sonrisa Grill.
We were told when we made our reservations that they probably wouldnât
be necessary which proved to true. There was a free concert by
Genevieve on the green that evening so the terrace was full, but the
dining room was empty with the exception of one other table. The
restaurant itself is beautiful, but I doubt if the overhead expenses
are covered except on weekdays. The waitress asked if we wanted
guacamole with our chips and we responded affirmatively. The guacamole
was very good and we were amazed that it was complimentary since other
restaurants charge $6-10 per order.
The restaurant serves both traditional Tex-Mex dishes and âfreshâ
seafood entrees. We each chose the âfreshâ halibut in spinach cream
sauce which was accompanied by chipotle mashed potatoes, green beans
and carrots. The halibut was overcooked and I was surprised, but
shouldnât have been, to find a $6 charge for the guacamole included on
our bill. I used a $50 certificate purchased for $23.50. ($45, 1.5 Forks)
http://www.sunnydeals.ksne.com/cc-common/ddindex2.php
After listening to the concert for awhile, we departed for the
Eastside Cannery for a video poker session. The parking lot was pretty
full, but no one was playing the full pay video poker machines. After
registering a short, but decisive loss, I adjourned to the lounge to
listen to the group Paperback Writer, a Beatles tribute band, for
several songs. (1 Clap) The group did not sound much like the Beatles
so I rejoiced when Ms. Westie called it a night, but before departing
we played (2) MPs at the craps table - $10 net win for team Westie.
09/21 What more is there to say than I lost at the South Point this
morning and I think I caught Benny smiling. On the way back I stopped
at Ronaldâs Donuts for an apple fritter, a buttermilk donut and an old
fashioned (crown) donut which were shared in the room along with OJ
(the drink not the person). ($2.75, 4.5 Forks)
Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Ronald, you're the best
We read the RJ before driving to the Eastside Cannery for another
losing video poker session. Once again, we played a pair of MPs at the
craps table - $10 added to the team bankroll.
Our only lunch on this trip was at the Goat Post Tropical Grill on
Buffalo Drive. This is a small unassuming restaurant owned by a couple
that serve as waiter (him) and chef (her). The food spans both the
Caribbean and Mexico, but we went with for the Jamaican beef patties,
jerk chicken with spicy fries and Jamaican ginger beer soda. The
pastry shell for the patties was amazingly soft and the filling
provided enough spice to keep them interesting. The jerk chicken
proved to be spicy, tender and bountiful. ($5, KSHP, 3.5 Forks)
http://www.goatpostgrill.com/ http://tinyurl.com/5ykm9x
We spent the remainder of the afternoon digesting and resting while
watching Ryder Cup coverage. At the tone of the cocktail hour we
rushed downstairs for the Todayâs Featured Cocktail â" a Blue Moon
draft. I was disappointed to find the Orleans was out of oranges, but
I stood tall and took my drink straight up.
(2 Sips) As I was sipping my Blue Moon, I wondered if a cocktail
waitress who serves beer to a customer wouldnât be more appropriately
called a beer distributor.
We were still digesting our lunch so we modified our dinner plans and
drove to the Gold Coast. We thought we would try the recently opened
Noodle Exchange, but upon reviewing the menu we settled on Ping Pang
Pong which shares common ownership. Service was beyond slow so I
called over the manager and explained we had a show to catch and could
she call over a waitress. She literally called across the room and a
waitress soon appeared.
Our green beans arrived, but some 10 minutes later we were still
waiting for the noodles. I again called over the manager who called
over the waitress who checked with the chef and said it would be a few
more minutes. Both dishes were decent, but it would have been nice to
enjoy them together. ($21.61, 2 Forks)
Tonightâs show was Boyz II Men at the Orleans. We both had heard of
this trio, but could not recall any of their hits. The Boyz originated
17 years ago as a quintet and have since figured out how to maximize
their incomesâ" first eliminate the back-up band and secondly do not
replace members as they depart from the group. They put on a very good
show featuring many of their Motown hits. (3.5 Claps)
We were not ready for bed so we headed to the lounge to listen to In A
Fect. Tonight represented the fourth time we have seen the group and
they have yet to repeat a set. (4.5 Claps)
09/22 I suffered a brutal beating at the hands of the South Point
Casino and Benny before returning to our room this morning. An Ellis
Island breakfast was long overdue. On arrival we were quickly seated
and ordered the cinnamon vanilla French toast. The service was
excellent as was the French toast. ($8, ACG, 3 Forks)
On our return to the Orleans, Ms. Westie drove off to the Dessert
Breeze shopping center on Flamingo for a massage. Millie, her
masseuse, formerly operated the Desert Breeze Salon, but due to the
weak economy, she downsized and is now subleasing space from the
adjoining beauty parlor, Hairport. ($92, 4.5 Hands) Ms. Westie,
showing her support for the local small business community, had her
hair done. ($20, 4.5 Hands)
Meantime, back at the ranch, I played a little multi-hand video
blackjack and checked my email in the Business Center. The remainder
of the afternoon was spent resting in our room as we prepared for our
big night Downtown, but first it was time for Todayâs Featured
Cocktail â" Almond Joy. (3 Sips)
Dinner tonight was at the Triple George Grill on 3rd Street
immediately adjacent to the Hogs & Heiferâs Saloon.
http://www.triplegeorgegrill.com/ Our waiter quickly appeared for our
drink orders, water, and recited the dayâs specials. We received a
complimentary relish tray and placed our orders. Ms. Westie opted for
the eveningâs special, sesame crusted Ahi tuna served with mashed
potatoes and mixed seasonal vegetables. The tuna was served rare so it
was sent back to the kitchen until it was suitably medium rare. I
could tell something was amiss when a frown appeared on Ms. Westieâs
forehead as she took a few bites. The tuna was extremely tough and the
potatoes had been genetically re-mastered resulting in an
out-of-worldly consistency and flavor.
I fared only slightly better with the seafood cioppino â" shrimp,
mussels, crab, white fish, clams and scallops in a somewhat spicy
tomato sauce. We concluded the meal with a bread pudding that was
tasty, but too heavy. A $50 gift certificate purchased for $23.50 from
a local radio station was used. ($34.57, 1.5 Forks)
http://www.sunnydeals.ksne.com/cc-common/ddindex2.php
On exiting I attempted to take photos of the Hogs & Heifers Saloon,
but was told there was an entrance fee though no one was in the place.
I guess it was effective in keeping the crowds down. We walked over to
the Four Queens where we signed up for slot cards and received $20 in
free slot play and a deck of playing cards upon presenting our ACG
coupons. We managed to cash out with a net profit of $19.25 and then
headed for the Eastside Cannery.
Ms. Westie hit her first quad deuces of the trip and I managed to cash
out a few dollars ahead. We also played (2) $10 MPs from the ACG with
me playing the dark side and Ms. Westie covering the pass line for a
net $10 win when the shooter sevened out.
09/23 I swear Benny Binion has placed a curse on the South Point FPDW
machines. I donât believe his shorts are in a knot over his statute
being relocated, but rather that Becky ran the Horseshoe into the
ground with Harrahâs ending up with the World Series of Poker.
Breakfast today was at the Orleans buffet using $3 off coupons found
in the RJ. We requested OJ, but were informed they were out â" huh? I
settled for grapefruit juice which was very good. For sustenance I
assembled huevos rancheros and filled the remainder of my plate with
bacon and corned beef hash. ($5.90, 2.5 Forks)
We reconvened at the Eastside Cannery where we each broke even playing
the slant top FPDW machines. Once again we used (2) $10 MPs at the
craps table and walked away with an extra $10 in our pockets.
Neither of us wanted lunch, but we decided a little something was
needed so we drove to the Panera bakery in the Galleria Mall.
Smoothies were ordered at the counter and enjoyed while relaxing on
the upholstered lounge chairs. The mango smoothie had an artificial
flavor and was a bit too sweet, but the strawberry flavor was both
refreshing and tasty. I used (2) Panera drink coupons purchased on
eBay. ($2, 2 Sips)
As we continued in the general direction of the Orleans we made a
short detour to the Green Valley Ranch in order to pick up the dayâs
Mystery Gifts â" (2) personal scents mini diffusers and a set of 3
bowls for each of us. On returning to the room I visited dreamland
while Ms. Westie read and exercised.
Prior to departing the room Ms. Westie called Toddâs Unique to make
dinner reservations for Wednesday evening and on mentioning our last
name, Todd responded âyou mean Frankâ. Try calling Emerilâs New
Orleans Fish House and see if he recalls your name.
A local radio station hosts a Mix and Mingle each Thursday at the
Orleansâ Bourbon Street lounge beginning at 5:30PM. The lounge was
packed and the dance floor packed with students from a local line
dancing academy. The son of Bubba Knight of Gladys Knight and the
Pippsâ fame serves as MC with this eveningâs music provided by In A
Fect. I wonder if Bubba Jr., not his real name, would be considered a
Pippette? Todayâs Featured Cocktail was a Kaluha and Cream. (3.5 Sips)
âI love Kaluha, it's rich and chocolatey.
Chocolate-flavored Kaluha is mighty good for me.
The bartender puts it in my milk for extra energy.
Kahluha gives me iron and sunshine Vitamin D.
Oh, I love Kahluha, that's the drink for meâ
We had dinner reservations at McCormick & Schmicks Seafood Restaurant
this evening so we departed the Orleans after In A Fectâs first set,
just when the party was beginning to get interesting.
We were promptly seated in a booth, as requested, and soon had menus
in hand and ice water on the table. A delightful spinach salad with
fennel, cranberries, carrots and a basil dressing was shared. Ms.
Westie ordered wild Atlantic salmon roasted on a cedar plank in a
blueberry sauce. I chose the wild mixed grill â" Chilean sea bass, king
salmon and a shrimp cake which was accompanied by risotto and grilled
asparagus. Both meals were excellent though Ms. Westieâs salmon was
slightly overdone. My meal included their signature crème brulee plus,
as a birthday present, I received another dessert of my choice. We
selected the chocolate truffle with raspberry ganache because it
sounded great and traveled well. As a member of McCormick & Schmickâs
loyalty program I used a free entrée coupon that I received a few
months prior for my birthday. ($49.41, 4.5 Forks)
We again made the jaunt down Flamingo to the Eastside Cannery where
Ms. Westie hit her #2 quad deuces of the trip and I suffered another
loss. Prior to departing we played 2 more $10 MPs at the craps table
netting another $10.
09/24 I suffered another loss at the South Point this morning and on
returning to the room I checked the listings in the yellow pages for
an exorcist or shaman to remove Bennyâs curse from the bank of full
pay video poker machines.
We were staying under 2 separate 7-night reservations so on my return
to the Orleans I attempted a video checkout, but the system was down.
I went downstairs and completed the process of checking out and
checking back in while scoring 2 additional funbooks. The availability
and value of these funbooks has greatly diminished with the best
coupons now being a well drink (yawn) at the Orleans, a cocktail at
the Gold Coast and a draft beer at Brendanâs Pub (yawn).
On returning to the room I checked the bill and was surprised to find
our weekend rate was $17 per night less than on my confirmation and no
nightly amenity charges were assessed. Ms. Westie had to restrain me
from returning to the front desk to complain.
Our supply of unmentionables was depleted so the next order of
business was a stop and drop at our favorite wash and fold before
continuing on to Ellis Island. Ms. Westie ordered easy over eggs with
wheat toast, home fries, bacon and coffee. I decided to go large by
ordering a blackboard special â" 8 ounce steak, eggs, sourdough toast
and home fries. Our food arrived promptly, but I was disappointed in
the size of my steak in comparison to those at surrounding tables,
mine was obviously the runt of the litter. ($8, ACG, 2.5 Forks)
We had accumulated a variety of gifts since our arrival so we decided
it was time to take a photo and distribute them to the two
housekeepers who were assigned to our room.
We drove out to the South Point for a short video poker session after
redeeming (2) $10 free slot play coupons from the Casino Player
funbook. We also picked up tickets for the Roger Williamâs show using
a 2/1 coupon from the same source. The seats we were offered were at a
table in the back and mid-room, but when the tickets were printed we
were assigned a booth in the far back corner. I complained and the
clerk went in the back and on returning told us the seats selected
were not available. I told her to cancel the order and she again
retreated back to the office and a more senior clerk came out. She
indicated we had upgraded seats and questioned why we did not want a
booth. It soon became evident the original clerk had made a mistake
and did not want to reverse the charges because we eventually received
tickets for the seats we originally requested and a $5 refund.
We returned to the Orleans to pick-up our certificate for 2 tickets to
Wes Wintersâ âMusical Tribute to Liberaceâ and drove to Planet
Hollywood. On presenting the certificates at the Steve Wyrick Theater
box office we were told he had cancelled the last 3 performance
including todayâs. She suggested we call ahead before returning.
Plan B was a return trip to the Eastside Cannery where Ms. Westie
registered a small win and I managed to hit my #2 quad deuces of the
trip. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in our room where I
napped and Ms. Westie read.
Prior to departing the Orleans for Toddâs Unique in Henderson, I
purchased a bottle of Los Vascos cabernet sauvignon. On Wednesday
nights Toddâs waives the usual $15 corkage charge.
http://www.toddsunique.com/ On our arrival we were disappointed to
learn our favorite server had departed for parts unknown, but âSunnyâ,
our new favorite server, proved to be both appropriately named and
equally efficient. We shared a watermelon salad that included pepitas,
cayenne, lime juice and feta cheese - an amazing mixture of flavors.
We each chose the fresh teriyaki halibut entree served over coconut
rice and bok choy, but Todd has reworked the recipe to include
fingerling potatoes plus baby carrots and sugar peas. Near the end of
the meal Todd came over to our table and thanked us for our continuing
patronage and nice reviews. I used a $50 gift certificate that I
earned by making dining reservations through Opentable. ($23.74, 4.5
Forks)
The next stop was the Gold Coast to listen to the group San Fernando
in the new lounge, but the volume was cranked up too high so we soon
departed. We closed out the evening at the Alligator Bar with Todayâs
Featured Cocktail, an Irish Coffee with Baileyâs Irish Cream (4 Sips)
09/25 The South Point once again took its toll on my withering supply
of Ben Franklins. Breakfast at the Gold Coast buffet today included
OJ, skim milk, melon slices (no fresh grapefruit or orange segments),
huevos rancheros, bread pudding and bacon. We used a pair of seniorsâ
$3 off coupons found in the RJ. ($5.90, 2 Forks)
We drove to Billâs where we parked and then toured the Bellagioâs
Conservatory and Botanical Gardenâs colorful fall display.
http://psloveblog.com/2008/09/21/fal…-the-bellagio/
We subsequently made a quick run through the Las Vegas Premium Outlets
with Ms. Westie scoring a pretty good deal on a sweater at Chicoâs.
Tonight was our Date Night so we started off by driving to Ellis
Island and ordering Todayâs Featured Cocktail - Nuts and Berries. (4.5
Sips) When our bartender asked if we cared for another, I responded:
No, no, no, no, I donât drink it no more,
Iâm tired of waking up on the floor.
No, thank you, please, it only makes me sneeze,
And then it makes it hard to find the door.
Check out this vintage video - http://youtube.com/watch?v=2-PirP4LiFo
On exiting we made the short drive to Origin India on Paradise in time
for our 6PM Opentable reservation. This restaurant is impressive on
many levels, not the least of which is the ownerâs willingness to
improvise and update the menu. Raja recognized my name on the
reservation and came over to say hello. He also sent over an order of
BBQ chicken, the eveningâs special appetizer, which was beautiful to
both the eye and tongue. http://www.originindia<a
href="../go...t.com</a></a>/ http://tinyurl.com/3wmmfr We were also
served house made papadum with mint and tamarind sauces. Our shared
entrees this evening were lamb raawali (boneless lamb with Indian
spices, tomatoes, yogurt and a touch of cashew) and chicken Labrador
(chicken delicately cooked in tomato gravy with a hint of coconut).
The entrees were accompanied by a large bowl of black lentils, rice
and Naan. Service throughout, as usual, was outstanding. I was able to
use a free entrée coupon received for my birthday even though it
expired a few months prior â" thank you Raja! ($27.56, 4.5 Forks)
Tonightâs entertainment was provided by the Platters, Coasters &
Marvelettes in the Sahara showroom.
http://www.saharavegas.com/Shows/platters-coasters/ None of these acts
have any of the original members, but the music was very good and it
was a fun evening. ($29, KSHP, 3 Claps)
The evening was concluded at Brendanâs Pub @ the Orleans listening to
karaoke with the ever so humble Jimmy Z serving as host. (2 Claps)
09/26 It was Benny & I doing the same old, same old at the South Point
this morning. On my return trip to the Orleans I purchased a RJ that
included the premiere issue of the Coast magazine. This magazine is a
knockoff of the one that the Station casinos had published the past
two months and included a number of dining discounts, point
multipliers and MPs. Our first stop after departing the Orleans was a
convenience store where I purchased 5 more copies.
Breakfast at the Green Valley Ranch buffet included OJ, melon,
strawberry yogurt and a very good spinach/cheese eggbeater omelet. I
used a 2/1 coupon from the My Station magazine plus I received an
additional $1 discount by showing my slot card. ($7.53, 3 Forks)
Next we put in an hour on the FPDW machines at the Eastside Cannery
with Ms. Westie hitting her #3 quad deuces of the trip. We had become
nervous about playing more MPs at the craps table because we thought
the box man may have remembered us so we went to the roulette table.
We put the $10 MPs on red and black, but the dealer returned them
saying âblackjack onlyâ. I handed her on of the MPs and asked her to
read it while I explained what âgood for any table gameâ meant. She
gave it and me a quick look and repeated âblackjack onlyâ. I asked for
a supervisor who immediately approved the MPs and we walked off with
another $10 of Eastsideâs money.
Our next stop was Samâs Town where we played (2) $20 MPs from the
Coast magazine netting $19 on craps after I partially insured our bets
by covering the 12. We also redeemed a 3x points coupon, but only
played a few minutes on the ultra slow FPDW machines.
After resting for much of the afternoon, we departed for the South
Point where we enjoyed Todayâs Featured Cocktail, a Lemon Drop
Martini. (4 Sips)
Tonight was the beginning of the Olympia competition so thousands of
male and female body builders circulated through the casino. Given the
choice between the body builders or the plus sized women from the
previous weekend, I would choose the latter.
http://www.mrolympia.com/2008/tickets.htm
Dinner tonight was at RE Tapas Lounge on Silverado Ranch. This
restaurant offers both classic and non traditional tapas. We started
off with orders of grilled hearts of romaine with basil balsamic
vinaigrette, crumbled cabrales, and Serrano ham (3.5 Forks): dates
stuffed with bleu cheese and slivered almonds, wrapped in bacon and
roasted (5 Forks): and broiled goat cheese in tomato sauce (2 Forks).
Our next order was Colorado lamb chops marinated and grilled, served
with agria dulce (4 Forks) and crab paddies (3.5 Forks). We concluded
the meal with a delicious crème brulee. ($25.32, Restaurant.com, 4
Forks) http: //www.retapaslounge.com/
We returned to the South Point for the Roger Williams show. Roger is
83, looking good and very entertaining. In addition to playing for 9
Presidents, he has now played for us twice. ($25, Casino Player, 3 Claps)
09/27 I managed to pull my #3 quad deuces of the trip while Benny was
sleeping late this morning. On our way out of the Orleans we played
(2) $25 MPs from the Coast Casino magazine at the craps table netting
$23. In celebration of our win we decided to splurge by ordering his
and her apple fritters and a coffee at Ronaldâs Donuts. ($3.90, 4.5 Forks)
Our next stop was Samâs where we again netted $19 on the craps table
using the Coast Casino $20 MPs followed by a short video poker session
at the Eastside Cannery. Neither of us could hit anything so we quit
and played (2) more $10 MPs at the crabs table registering another $10
win.
On route to the Orleans we made a short detour to the Java Detour on
Pecos where we shared a strawberry smoothie. ($1.50, KSHP, 3 Sips)
In the late afternoon we traveled to the South Point for another
short, but unprofitable video poker session. Todayâs Featured Cocktail
was Clos du Bois merlot ($8, 3 Sips). This was the one drink on the
trip that we paid for because I failed to show my ACG coupon before
ordering and the bartender said it was a premium wine that he could
not comp.
Dinner tonight was at Terra Verde at the Green Valley Ranch using (2)
2 out of three (appetizer, wine or dessert) coupons. Terra Verde
occupies the beautiful and largely unchanged space formerly known as
the Il Fornio Ristorante. Our server, Peter, brought us a bread basket
and a wonderful relish tray with mixed olives, chunks of Reggiano
Parmesan cheese, fried zucchini chips, roasted red and yellow peppers
plus artichoke hearts. Our appetizer was a beautiful Carpaccio â"
thinly sliced raw steak caressed gently by EVO, fried capers, arugula
and shaved Reggiano Parmesan. We each enjoyed a glass of the house
Chianti that perfectly complimented our entrees. Ms. Westie chose
ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta in a tomato basil sauce. I
took our serverâs recommendation and chose agnotti (cheese ravioli)
with a rich and delicious tomato meat sauce. Both pastas dishes were
house made and melted on our palates.
We closed out this feast by sharing a âtorta golosaâ, a molten lava
cake with vanilla gelato beautifully presented in the shape of a swan
(until the piece forming the head and neck toppled over). Service
throughout was perfect. ($50.79, 4.5 Forks)
We played (2) more $25 MPs at the craps table resulting in a $23 win.
I grabbed glasses of ice water at the Ovation bar and we settled in to
wait for Michael Grimm and his bandâs 9PM show. He sings mostly
southern rock and blues with a very mournful voice and closed out the
night with an incredible rendition of Joe Cockerâs âWith a Little Help
09/28 I have been experiencing more than my fair share of luck at the
South Point, but unfortunately it continues to be mostly bad.
We visited the Village Pub on Eastern and were impressed by how nice
this restaurant was in comparison to most of its siblings. On entering
we were warmly greeted by the manager and we found his service with a
smile attitude to be contagious as the entire wait staff seemed to be
enjoying their work. Our orders of eggs easy over, bacon, toast and
cottage fries were very good. ($8.92, LVA, 3.5 Forks)
After exiting we drove to the South Point for another losing video
poker session â" same old, same old and it was getting old.
We called the Steve Wyrick Theater and were informed that Wes Winters
had cancelled all future performances. I purchased the tickets on eBay
and contacted the seller, Tom Wilkinson who runs vegas4locals.com, on
our return and he issued a full credit for my purchase price of $7 â" whew!
On our return to the Orleans we played (2) more $25 MPs on the craps
table netting $23 for Team Westie.
In the late afternoon we ordered Todayâs Featured Cocktail, a Wet
Pearl that suffered from a bit too much pineapple juice (2 Sips) at
the Alligator Bar before we departed for Martinis on Fort Apache. We
had a little trouble finding the shopping center where it was located
but eventually spotted a sign. On entering we were quickly seated, but
surprised by both the casual décor and menu. We were expecting
upscale, but the priciest entrée was only $16. Ms. Westie flipped over
the menu and realized we were in the wrong restaurant - excuse us.
We beat a hasty retreat and quickly located Martinis. This
establishment is one of those video poker bars offering exceptional
food. We were seated in a separate wood paneled dining room adorned
with posters of cartoons featuring martinis. We passed on drinks and
ordered grilled lamb chops (3) marinated for 24 hours in a delicious
balsamic-based marinade. Our entrees were served over horseradish
mashed potatoes and included grilled spinach and a vegetable mix of
baby carrots and snow peas.
($24.10, Restaurant.com, 4.5 Forks)
Tonightâs show was Jeff McBrideâs âMagic at the Edgeâ in the (lounge)
showroom in Palace Station. Jeff resides in Las Vegas, but has not
performed there since Magic Express at Caesars closed. He has spent
the intervening years studying and performing throughout the world,
most notably the Orient. He calls his performance Magic Theater, often
involving Kabuki masks, with each illusion partially based on a story
or myth. The intimate room proved to be perfect for his act that
frequently involves slight of hand. ($30, KSHP, 4 Claps) Note to
anyone interested in seeing this show â" tickets are now being sold on
eBay at very reasonable prices in comparison to the box office price
of $49 plus tax.
09/29 I decided enough was enough so I gave my back and bankroll a
break by playing at the Eastside Cannery where I hit my #4th quad
deuces of the trip.
This morningâs nourishment was provided by the Spice Market buffet at
Planet Hollywood. This was the largest of the buffets we visited on
this trip so I indulged by having OJ, a raspberry smoothie, a shared
(with Ms. Westie) Belgian waffle topped with fresh strawberries and
wild blueberries, tropical fruit mix and kielbasa. ($16.15, 2/1
coupon, 3.5 Forks)
The Eastside Cannery giveth early this morning and took back
mid-morning, but we did manage another $10 win at the craps table. On
returning to the Orleans we used (2) more $25 MPs for a net $23 win.
After using the computers at the Business Office we settled in our
room for some rest and nap.
After consuming Todayâs Featured Cocktail â" a Bloody Mary (2 Sips), we
departed the Orleans for Ventanoâs Italian Grill and Seafood on
Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. This beautiful restaurant,
offering incredible views of the valley, is probably our favorite for
Southern Italian fare. Tonight we shared a bountiful Caesar salad,
eggplant rollatini and a crème brulee. Everything was delicious and
service was top notch. ($20.86, KSHP, 4 Forks)
We were pretty much worn out at this stage of the trip so we called it
an early night.
09/30 The beat goes on as I again took my lickinâ and kept on playinâ
at the South Point this morning.
It was senior day at the Fiesta-Henderson so we took advantage of the
½ points special by ordering the $2.49, up 50 cents since our last
visit, breakfast special at the Baja Café of (2) eggs, toast, bacon
and home fries. ($0, comp, 2.5 Forks)
On exiting the coffee shop we played (2) $25 MPs from the LVA plus (2)
$5 MPs from the Fiesta magazine for a total win of $28. A short
session on the FPDW machines resulted in my #5 quad deuces of the trip
plus a small win for Ms. Westie.
Our next stop was Samâs where we played our last (2) $25 MPs for
another $23 gain. We swung by the Clark County Library to return 3
books that Ms. Westie read on the trip. My reading was confined to an
aspirin bottle and the RJ. On our return to the Orleans I checked-in
for our Southwest Airlines return flight and secured boarding passes.
It was Tuesday night and time for the Westies to Mix and Mingle in the
Bourbon Street lounge while listening to the band Jamestown featuring
Tyriq Johnson and enjoying Todayâs Featured Cocktail, a Strawberry
daiquiri (2 Claps and 2 Sips). http://tinyurl.com/57xxlt
Dinner was at another upscale video poker bar, Vox Wine Lounge on
Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. The formal dining room and
intimate lounge area were very impressive, but the night was
comfortable so we dined on the terrace. The chefâs pedigree is equally
impressive having most recently served as the executive sous chef at
San Franciscoâs Aqua. Both he and the pastry chef have experience
working at the Bouchon restaurant in Napa Valley so we had high
expectations and were not disappointed. Ms. Westie ordered the seared
ahi tuna over garlic noodles with red cabbage and carrots. My entrée
proved to be the best of the trip â" miso glazed black cod with bok
choy and wasabi pommes puree. We also shared a rather pedestrian dish
of steamed rapini. The highlight of the evening for Ms. Westie was a
hazelnut chocolate mousse with shortbread and hazelnut crème. I used a
$50 gift certificate purchased for $23.50 at
http://partydeals.931theparty.com/cc...n/ddindex2.php, but discount
certificates are also available at Restaurant.com. ($38.61, 4.5 Forks)
The evening was concluded with a short video poker session at the
Fiesta-Henderson.
10/01 My feeble attempt at a âHail Maryâ at the South Point was
decidedly un-Flutie like. We returned to Green Valley Ranch for our
âlast breakfastâ â" melon with strawberry yogurt, cooked-to-order
pancakes and bacon. ($0, LVA/Comp, 2.5 Forks)
With time running down we drove to the South Point for our final
losing session under Bennyâs watchful eye before returning the car.
The staffing at airport security seems to have been bolstered so it
took very little time before we were seated waiting for our plane to
arrive. Though we had boarding passes #30 and #36, we were able to
secure exit row seatst. We enjoyed Todayâs Featured Cocktail, merlot
served in a plastic glass (1 Sip) using SWA coupons plus a second
glass comped by our cocktail waitress (flight attendant).
We had a stopover in Nashville where we picked up 2 slices of very
mediocre cheese pizza at Famiglia ($7.41, 0.5 Forks) before arriving
on time in Hartford.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,
but there is no joy in Connecticut this night
for the mighty Westies were shut out
Yes folks, our streak of nine consecutive winning trips spanning 3
years came to an abrupt ending. Ms. Westieâs estimated hourly profit
of $13.30 combined with our gains from using MPs was inadequate to
offset my $6.70 estimated hourly loss, an unfortunate example of my
losing a small amount on an hourly basis, but making it up in volume.
Top 10 Excuses Why The Westies Lost
10. Used slot cards
9. Never found the hot machines
8. Thought the rule was never split Aces
7. Called out âbaby needs a new pair of shoesâ at the baccarat table
6. The RNG had it in for us
5. Casinos tightened up the VP machines
4. Could not locate a BJ table paying 6/5
3. Counted our money while sitting at the table
2. Left our Wheel of Fortune strategy cards at home
1. The Benny Binion curse
I want to thank those who took the time to read, if not digest, this
lengthy TR. Please feel free to ask any questions or share your
comments. Stay tuned for future updates and I now return you to your
regularly scheduled programming.
···
from my Friendsâ. (4.5 Claps) http://www.michaelgrimmmusic.com/