Since I hadn't visited the Palms in many years, the first thing I did after securing the latest edition club card, was to take a walk around the casino.
Most of the VP inventory had been moved from past locations. However, and most importantly, it was all still there! What a VP Nirvana the Palms remains, particularly for the .25c player.
In addition to the exceedingly popular .25c FPDW prog. bank,there is a bank of .25c FPKBJW, and a bank of .25c 10/7DB and 10/6DDB plus a a bank of LDW. There is also a $1.00 10/7DB prog. Additionally,
many banks of just under 100% games abound, at most denoms. These include 9/6JOB, NSUD, 8/5BP, and other variations of Double and Triple Bonus type Deuces and Jacks games. IMO, if a VP player can't find something to play at the Palms, I think that there might be something amiss with the player's wish-list.
While waiting for my room to be ready, I decided to play at the
FPDW prog. bank. Despite the early morning hour it was already
heavily populated with what I assumed to be mostly local players,
many of whom seemed acquainted with one another.
Shortly after I started playing, a man at the other end of the bank asked if I would "watch" his machine for a few minutes while he went to buy a cup of coffee. I told him that I'd try to do so if he wasn't gone too long. As soon as he left, the man who had been sitting next to him warned me about him. He said that the man had been playing the same machine since the day before, without sleep, and, that a
few minutes before I arrived, he had been dozing, head down, right at
the machine. He said that he had politely suggested that the guy
take a break, but that the fellow had become quite belligerent.
I decided that if the missing player was gone for a long period of time, or if bank got crowded, and no other machines were available, I was not going to get in a hassle with anyone over saving a machine.
When the guy returned, 45 minutes later, there were still a few
empty seats at the bank. No one had asked to play "his" machine.
He thanked me for "watching" it and then tried to engage me in conversation. He said that everyone else was hitting deuces and royals, and he couldn't connect with a decent hand. I suggested that maybe he needed to take a break for awhile, but he wasn't having any.
Just then I scored the deuces. He saw my expression and came over
to see what I had hit. "Damn," he said, "I can tell that you really know how to play. Would you give me teach me the tricks?" "No!", I said sharply, "I have to concentrate on my own game, and can't talk while I'm playing". He was clearly disappointed but retreated at once. I was glad that he did, since, had he persisted in bothering me, I would have called someone to get him off my back. No need. Soon, despite the caffeine that he had presumingly ingested, he was once again, peacefully snoozing at his machine.
When I moved in order to play on the other side of the bank, another player, referring to the guy in dreamland told me, "He's really crazy. Pretty soon, he'll try to sell you vitamins from his backpack. He told me that I was obese, and that I needed to take his vitamins to lose weight. Imagine saying that to a total stranger"! I agreed that the guy must have a few loose connections, and vowed to stay away from him. Soon after that my phone jingled, and I was told that my room was ready.
I was presented with a key to a room in the "Fantasy Tower", on a lower floor but in the same tower as the famous "Playboy Suite". It was a beautiful room with a 5* view of the strip, and contained all the amenities one would expect in a deluxe hotel. In addition to two queen beds, decked out in gorgeous linens, it had lounge chairs, a desk and chair, dresser and a flat screen TV. The bathroom was spacious and beautifully appointed. In short, it was everything one might expect from a first class hotel
I played mostly on the Deuces prog. for the rest of the afternoon. Happily, I managed to hit the deuces again. I also played some FPJW and 10/6DDB, for a little variety.
The profit from the two sets of deuces lasted through many hours of play, but finally landed back in the coffers of the Palms, thanks to a short and sour stint on the dollar 107DB prog.
That evening I met two long time local LV friends for dinner in the Palm's Coffee Shop. We caught up on current news and enjoyed a
very nice meal as well.
I ordered a good chicken caesar salad, and they each ordered Asian dishes, which they said were excellent. None of us had a complaint about the quality or pricing of the very reasonable meal, nor about
the courteous and prompt service.
They insisted on paying the check with Palm's comp points they had earned previously. I'm truly grateful for the wonderful friends that I've gained since joining vpFREE in 2003.
After dinner I played a few hours more on the FPDW prog. bank. I noted that the "Weird Vitamin Salesman" was still pounding away on
his machine. He must have ingested a lot of coffee, or taken a shot of adrenalin, since he seemed fully awake again.
After investing a couple of Bennies in my machine, I hit the deuces
for the third time that day, just as the gal next to me popped the $1100+ royal. I noted that the prog. royal had been hit THREE times, during the 12 hours that I had been at the Palms.
Those machines do get a tremendous amount of fast action. Nearly all the players seemed skillful, and appeared to be playing at least as
fast as I do. I normally average 750-850 hands per hour; a little slower at the end of a long day, a little faster when I've gotten into a rthymn sinc with the machine. It's not delibrate, just whatever happens naturally.
I enjoyed a lovely night's sleep on the outstanding Palm's bed, and
was down in the casino very early the next morning. This was my last
full day at the Palms, and I didn't wish to waste my precious time
snoozing.
Both before and after a satisfactory mid-morning breakfast, in the Palm's coffee shop, I played on the JW bank. This proved to be a losing endeavor. Though JW is my very favorite of all VP games, it can sometimes prove to be a real challenge to my bankroll. After
losing a few Bennies, I went back to the Deuces prog. and soon hit
my 4th set of Deuces.
I could hardly believe it, but the Vitamin Salesman was still there, plugging away at the same machine! As soon as he saw me, he gave me a big greeting, and asked "how I was doing?" I tried to ignore
him, but he just kept talking to me. Finally, I to cashed out and
moved to other side of the bank. There I sat down between two fellows that I recognized from the previous day. They were discussing the antics of the Vitamin Salesman. They both maintained that he
had played at the same machine, with only short restroom breaks, for at least 48 hours. They said that during that time he had managed to irritate everyone who had the misfortune to sit within earshot of him. They were both hoping that he would either run out of bankroll
or faint, and be carted off by the Paramedics before too much more time passed.
I skipped lunch since I was joining friends for a 6:00pm dinner at Alize'. I wanted to leave plenty of room for chef Andre's delicacies!
The chef at Alize' is the renowned Andre Rochat. The restaurant has been granted a Michelin star, along with an AAA 4 Diamond award, in addition to many other awards of culinary distinction. Alize' is well recognized by food authorities as a superlative dining establishment.
IMO, none of these accolades is an over-statement. The outstanding meal that I consumed that evening, was one of the very best dining experiences that I've enjoyed anywhere in the world. And, I do NOT exclude meals at a few Michelin starred restaurants in France!
The ambiance of the romantic dining room, the exquisite service plates, the attentive service, the view of the strip far below from the floor
to ceiling windows, in addition to the luscious cuisine, all contributed
to a sumptous and unforgettable dining experience.
Upon being seated at a choice table next to the wall of windows, we were presented with superb olive bread and rich French butter. The amusee' bouche was then served; a perfectly spiced and delectable Gazbacho in a small glass. For an appetiser I selected an ambrosial pear/Roguefort cheese salad, elegantly nestled in greens and dressed with a raspberry vinaigrette and dabs of raspberry sauce.
After the salad an excellent sorbet was served, My entree choice was a a melt in the mouth, buttery filet, accompanied by an onion/potato mousse and tender baby asparagus. To compliment this feast an excellent dry, but not the least acidic, Merlot was selected. Dessert, which had been ordered prior to dinner, consisted of both a Grand Marnier and a dark chocolate souffle. Indescribly delicious. After
this decadence, we were treated to Bing cherries marinated in brandy. A marvelous and memorable dinner, shared with congenial
dining companions.
After dinner, in order to walk off a few calories, I did a couple of turns around the casino before settling in for another two hour session at the Deuces prog. I hit the deuces rather quickly for the fourth time.
I found it both amusing and pleasant that, upon sitting down at the Deuces prog. for the 8th time in two days, that some of the other players smiled and said hello to me. I assume that they thought,
that I was a new addition to the group of regular local players.
On the morning of "Going Home Day", I was playing at the Deuces
prog. by 6:00am. By 7:00am, I had been lucky enough to hit the Deuces twice. I was sorry to be leaving that afternoon.
It was soon time to meet my local Las Vegas family members for
brunch at the buffet. With my new higher card club status, I would receive a 25% discount at the buffet. I had quite a few points to use, and treated the five of us to breakfast.
I had read a variety of criticism of the Palm's buffet, on vpFREE. Perhaps there is more validity to those judgements at lunch or dinner. The breakfast buffet was just fine. In addition to all the usual breakfast items, which we all found to be fresh and well prepared,
the buffet also served smoked salmon, an expensive item often missing from more costly breakfast buffets.
The service, however, was MIA. My son walked around the very empty room until he found a server. We finally scored one round of drinks half way through our meal, but a service person never again
approached our table. I finally got up and found a waitperson, who sullenly brought us refills. The buffet service was not indifferent; it was non-existent!
If I was "forced" to voice one criticism about the Palms, it would be the very loud (to my ears) music which blasted constantly in the casino. It was definitely not "my kind" of music. Perhaps it's a generational thing and younger folks may enjoy it more. A minor quibble indeed, amongst all the many positives!
I played for a few more hours after my group departed, and popped the deuces again for 6th and last time. I just LOVE that FPDW prog. bank.
In summary, I was VERY glad that I went back to Palms after about a
five year hiatus. I enjoyed every minute of my short stay there, and w will be happy to go back again.
~Babe~
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