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Cal, something different 10/16-21

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Joe, Oct 21, 2015.

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  1. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    My Trip Report

    After almost 18 years of staying at MSS we wanted to change it up, so I asked our host at MSS, if she could book us at Cal, or if we had to find a Cal host. No problem. We got a suite in the West tower and our usual Gold Card. (good for all F&B downtown Boyd). The suite was ok. A little smaller than a MSS suite and only one TV. My wife doesn’t sleep well in Vegas, so at MSS she usually goes in the other half of the suite and watches ESPN at 3 AM.
    [​IMG]
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    Flights-nobody really cares, but SWA non-stop from Milwaukee and arrived in Vegas at 2:55PM, on time even though we left a half hour late. We purchased EB and ended up with A50 & 51. We always get to the airport 2 hours before our flights and they were looking for 3 volunteers, so I asked. $100 cash and a $300 voucher each. We talked about it for maybe 30 seconds, but the next flight wasn’t for 6 more hours. That’s a lot of drinking and we wanted to get to Vegas. Besides our luggage was already check.

    Casino limo driver was waiting, retrieved the luggage and we were at Cal in less than 30 minutes. Interestingly, even though the driver took I-15, we got on at Trop. I guess there is all sorts of construction around the tunnel. We did see on the local news they were warning people to allow plenty of time to get to the airport. We had a different driver for our return and he took the surface streets.

    We unpacked and were playing at the Main Street Bar at the Cal 70 minutes after touchdown. $1 DDB is my game of choice and maybe I never noticed before, but the bartops had different paytables for the same game. Most were 9/6, but at least two of them were 9/5. Very sneaky!

    Staying in the West tower certainly makes everything a short walk from the elevators. We played at Cal until our bartender friend finished her shift and then walked over the bridge to MSS. We played at the bar for awhile, had something to eat at 777, then back to the machines until around midnight. We put 7,685 on my card and I was down close to $500.
    Before we left, I emailed the weekend bartender at Chicago Brewing if they had the Big Ten Network and if she would be open at 9 AM for the Wisconsin kickoff. Saturdays, she doesn’t usually open until 10 AM. She said no problem knowing we’d be gambling on the bartops.

    Saturday was our 34th anniversary, so the plan was Garden Court buffet early, then 4Q for the game and also use my $80 in freeplay. I have over $210 on my 4Q card so I made a reservation for Hugo’s for Saturday.
    Wisconsin won, but didn’t cover the spread and I was losing big on my normal bartop machine. Employing the reverse rules of parlay, I changed to machine #3 and dropped down to 50 cent and began to play JOB with the suited royal progressive. That’s when I hit this:

    [​IMG]

    We finished the game, I tipped the bartender $120 and wandered around Fremont for awhile but I wanted to get back to the room and put a couple of grand in the safe. We were kind of pumped, but neither of us really felt like going to Hugo’s. So what did we do? Decided Pizza Rock that evening sounded better than Hugo’s for our anniversary meal.
    The pizza was pretty good. A large, thin crust pepperoni but the service was very slow. $28.11 with tax. On his own, our server came over and apologized for the service. Some kitchen issue, but the manager comped our two drinks. I thought that was decent on their part.

    After that we wandered over to MSS and I did hit quad aces w/o the kicker for $800. I forgot to take a picture. We put 16,000 BConnected points on my card. +$3,000

    Sunday morning my wife went over to Plaza to make some football picks and I wandered over to the Downtown Grand to exchange my old card for the new ones and collect my $20 in freeplay. They gave me silver level, whatever that means? The music selection was decent but it was way too loud. You had to shout to be heard and it was a Sunday morning at 8:30. Two people were at the bar.

    Anyway, using my freeplay, I hit quad aces again for $800. I thought I took a picture on my 8 year old flip phone, but there’s nothing there. As soon as my wife showed up we got out of there because of the music volume and headed over to Binion’s BBQ place for a “breakfast” hotdog. $3.99. It’s a tradition for us during football season since they start serving a limited menu at 9 AM when there are games.

    From there we headed over to MSS to stake out two bartops for the 1:25 Packer game. The Packers (6-0) won, but didn’t cover. We each had multiple 4oak and held our own for most of Sunday.

    At Boar’s Head they have now put stickers on all the machines that they are for players. There are 3 guys next to us watching the early game. Anyway, this woman comes up to them and wants a machine. They tell her no. Now she makes a stink with the bartender and she tells them they have to be playing. Now they are angry and all three leave. She puts $10 in the machine, loses it and leaves.

    Except for a 777 food break, we played all night at MSS. We put 18,400 points on my card and +$2,400 for the trip.

    Monday, the worm turned and I couldn’t hit anything. I just kept feeding the machines. We did walk to Banger Brewery and sit on the patio drinking beer and guessing the weight of the people using the outdoor scale at Heart Attack Grill. We did see one guy top the scale at 420. The El Heffe was $7 and amber was $6. They do have a happy hour but we were an hour early.

    We had a nice dinner at Redwood Monday evening. We each had the lobster tail and filet combo. $54 each. 10,490 on the card and +$1,400 for the trip.

    We had an early flight on Tuesday, so it was an early night. EB boarding got us A 20 & 21 on a full flight. We left 5 minutes early and got back to Milwaukee 25 minutes early.

    Miscellaneous: It rained 3 out of 4 days we were there. Mostly overnight, but we did get caught in one small shower. Humidity every day was in the 70+% range.

    Total card score for 4 days at Boyd 52,654 playing on one card. I’m not sure how many at Chi Brewing but I think my card cash went up ~$15.

    Tuesday morning we caught the limo at Cal and there was an older guy waiting for Showtime limo and they were already a half hour late. I offered him a ride but he said he paid for it and would wait.

    Note to Flusher: The Treasure Chest machines have been moved, but not by much. 10 ft or so and turned 90 degrees. It’s kind of nice to sit and the Main Street Bar and not have the coin droppers right behind you.

    That’s about it. We’ll be back for Thanksgiving but back at MSS. I think I actually missed the freeway noise.
     
  2. oldcrabtom

    oldcrabtom High-Roller

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    Congrats on your big win ! Happy anniversary..........:drunk:
     
  3. Ty

    Ty ?

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    Enjoyed the TR, nice hit on the half-dollar Royal.
     
  4. vegasvette

    vegasvette High-Roller

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    Joe, thanks for the summary report. And welcome home to wonderful WI. Congrats on the RF
     
  5. LVHooked

    LVHooked High-Roller

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    Sounds like a fun trip to me, and nice to see you winning.

    I was a little worried you might try a live report......lol
     
  6. Tbone3336

    Tbone3336 VIP Whale

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    Nice hit on the royal! Thanks for all the details, very enjoyable read. Happy Belated Anniversary! :beer:
     
  7. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    There are actual bartops at Chicago Brew Co.? Shit, pressed for time, I assumed they didn't have any because it was upstairs.

    Nice royal!
     
  8. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    Very nice Royal, and I love the idea of an $800 hit on freeplay.

    As far as I know my favorite four Treasure Chest slant-tops are still MIA.

    I'm starting to think those 4 at the Cal at the bottom of the escalator were the only 4 TC slant-tops downtown.
     
  9. bull1029

    bull1029 Mr. Vegas

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    Great report--really gave me the Vegas Fevier: an affliction the hits me often.

    We like a lot of the same spots, for VP and food/drink.

    Chicago Brew Co. is awesome. Congrats on the Royale.
     
  10. jimboguy

    jimboguy MIA

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    Thanks for the report. Hopefully I will run into you at Boar's Head Thanksgiving.
     
  11. M_ILIS

    M_ILIS VIP Whale

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    Great report! Congrats on the Royal! Chicago Brewing Co. doesn't do that thing anymore where they match whatever you spend on food & drinks during football games with free play, do they?
     
  12. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    Very nice report! Congratulations on your anniversary and your Royal!! I am having a bad case of the Vegas blues but work has picked up so it's difficult to forecast when I can get back out there.

    But I will, somehow get my ass out there......:evillaugh
     
  13. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Not anymore on that special. It was a really good deal.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Either 7 or 8 of them.
     
  14. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    LOL!!! Yep, me and my flip phone!
     
  15. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    Congratulations on the Royal, an awesome hit. I forgot to visit Chicago brewing on my last visit, but I did make it to Bennies Smoking BBQ and Brew where they feature a couple of beers from Chicago Brewing. Had the rack of ribs special and it was pretty good. Redwood grill is another one I need to visit.
     
  16. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    I forget to mention this in my TR. In Vegas, we got our boarding passes like normal at the kiosks along the window, but when we got up the the kiosks at the counter where you check-in and say how many bags you are checking, we had to print and attach our own baggage tags. Then head to the scales. The guy behind the counter just gave our IDs a brief glance and threw the luggage on the conveyor belt.
     
  17. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    One more thing...
    Here was our filet and lobster combo from Redwood. $54 ea.
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    Very tasty!
     
  18. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    The lobster and filet look great.

    Enjoyed the TR and congrats on the win! Also Happy Anniversary! Mrs. Wanker and I just celebrated our 8th on the 20th. Here's hoping I live long enough to make it to 34!

    I like that Boars head has machines that say they are for players only. I never really had an issue finding a spot but I would utilize it if I needed to, but I would for sure put more that $10 in a machine. I wish more places did that, but Boars Head is cheap compared to strip properties. For sure they more more $ of players than people pounding $1.50 pints and .99 margaritas.
     
  19. casinokid68

    casinokid68 Caesars Diamond Member

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    Great pictures and thanks for the report!! Your wife gets up at 3:00 am to go watch Sports Center? I love it!!!!:clap:
     
  20. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Not by choice, she just has a hard time sleeping in hotels. But yes, she is a big sports fan.
     
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