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Mirage TR May 12 to May 18.

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by rustytrombone1027, May 19, 2007.

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  1. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2007
    Messages:
    340
    Location:
    Long Island, New York
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15

    My Trip Report

    Caught the JetBlue 9:10 AM flight on Saturday May 12 to LAS. Flight boarded and sat on the tarmac for :45 minutes. The pilot must have had a hot date as we made up every minute flying into the head wind of the jet stream. He took the straight as an arrow route. I pay attention to the channel that shows your progress, and usually they fly up over Michigan. Got the bags, got a cab, and was off. Tried the $20 trick and all we got was a better view, not an upgraded room. Bellman brought up or bags, off to the pool for some afternoon sun. Sun? And how! Typical Vegas weather all week, not a cloud in the sky, and 94-98 every day. Had a crew of seven on this trip, so everyone had to do a little give and taking instead of just doing what you wanted. Dinner was had at the Japonais (spelling?) and was OK, but overpriced. Sat down for some black jack with a few friends, and was down $400 before I knew it. Borrowed $100 from Sean (remember Sean), and had $1600 in front of me half an hour later. Played it down to $1200 for a net of +$700, great start. Hit the hay about 4.

    Sunday I woke up around 9:30 and hit the sports book with Sean, he put a C note on a parlay, I put down 40 on mine. They both where losers. I meet the wife by the pool for some sun, Sean decides to play a bit. Sally, Richie, Frank, and Howie meet us by the pool. About an hour later, Sean comes up to me by the pool and opens his fist to show seven $1000 chips. He goes on to tell us he put $100 on 14 and 21 on the roulette table and hit his first two spins. Played a bit more, and walked away up 7 large. Went out with Sean, Frank, and Howie around 6 and caught a cab to the Rio to see Penn and Teller. Went to the "Twisted kilt" for drinks and dinner. Decent bar, with decent pub food and cold beer. Went to box office and picked up my seats I had ordered over the phone a month ago. Fifth row, center section, isle. Only half a house, which was the only disappointment. Half way through the show, Teller needed and assistant, and picked Frank. Was a thrill for Frank and a hoot for the rest of us. Got to meet them after the show and take pix (although we forgot camera, and had to use cell phone). If Sean ever sends them to me, will post. Cab it back to the Mirage and dropped $600 at Black Jack, only up 100 now. Went to bed around 5 a bit tipsy.

    Monday: Up at 10 and meet wife by pool. Sally and Richie come down around 1. Had a couple of drinks by the waterfall. Lunch by the pool, tuna salad platter. Back to room early to shower, as I am brining my wife to see "Mama Mia" at Mandalay Bay at 7. Catch a cab at five and go right to the box office. I had ordered these just three days prior to leaving home. Did a google search for discount vegas shows and it brought me to the Mandalay bay web site, but the tickets where half price. I put in for two of the best, figuring I would get the last row of the section or off to the side. Well, how is front row dead center sound? I aint kidding, the guy in front of us was the conductor/key board player. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this show. Went back to the Mirage after the show, and hooked up with Sean and Howie at a Black Jack table. Up and down, but had a nice dealer. Frank came down and the three of them went off to the Jet night club. They had a ball, Sean spent about 450 of his winnings for drinks with the boys and some chicks they where working. Sean hooked up, so for him, money well spent. After they left, I went to a roulette table and lost $200 pronto. Went back to BJ table we where at earlier with nice dealer. There was a guy at first base, and a real heavy set guy in middle, so I take third base. I look closer at the heavy guy, and it is "Vito" from the Sopranos. He was there to judge the Miss. Hawaiian Tropics pageant (Oh, yeah, forgot to mention the Mirage was crawling with hot chicks all weekend, bonus!). Well, I say hello to the two players and introduce myself. "Vito" says his name is Joe (Joseph R. Gannascoli), and we play. I do very well, winning 500 in three hours. Joe is really does not want to be bothered, except when hot chicks bother him. He did not say three words to anyone who came by and say hi, but when someone with an hourglass figure and D cups said hi, his personality was kicked up a few notches. He lost about 3 grand, mostly because he stinks at BJ (although it seamed on the show, he was good at it. Bad joke? Sure, why not?). He did say goodbye and it was nice meeting and playing cards with me, so I will not say he was a prick, but I would have if he did not (heh). Up 600 for the trip, good so far. Off to bed around 3:30.

    Tuesday: The kids in the next room must have been playing full contact football at 9 am. Thanks for bringing your kids folks, hoop they liked hearing my wife moan and groan. That is what you get for waking me up. Shower and off to the pool around ten. Sleep on and off as I am hung over. Lunch by the pool again. Up to the room around five, more moaning and groaning (did not hear the kids next door, but hope they where there. Yeah, I am sick, but why did you bring them and more importantly, why let them make so much noise at 9am? This is Vegas not fucking disneyworld for crying out loud.). The whole group meets up at 7 for Mirage buffet. Was pretty good. Now for a walk on the strip. Frank and Sean are Vegas Virgins. Take them to Venetian and Wynn. Play at win and drop about two bills over two hours. We get back to the Mirage around midnight. Sean, Howie and myself sit at BJ table. I buy in for 400 and lose it in about twenty minutes, real friggin fun. I watch them for a while, and go to a $1 machine, lose 200 more in about 20 minutes. Not my night. Go back to watch them a bit, and up to bed early about 2:30 down 800 for the night and 200 for the trip.

    Wednesday: Up at 9, no kids this morning, just went to bed early at 3 the night before. Down to pool. Sean and Howie supposed to be leaving on red eye tonight. Sean comes down around noon and says he changed his flight to 5. Wants to see his son and get him off to school next morning himself. Sean is a great guy. He spends some time at pool, and goes up to pack and shower. Rest of crew comes down to pool. Sean comes by around 3 and says goodbye to everyone. Gives me his players card and says there are comps for six for Carnegie deli on it, have fun. Sean leaves up 5 large after expenses. Not a bad first trip to Vegas, eh? Sally and Richie go to Kokomo's for dinner at seven, my wife, Frank and I go to Samba Grill at eight. Howie does not want to eat big as he is half a girl and gets tummy aches. Played some slots with Frank, Sally, Richie and my wife. Lost 300. I hate slots. Frank and I play hold'em. I have played alot on line, but never in a casino. Frank loses 100 in 45 minutes. I go up and down for three hours (I am quite the stud, no?) and wind up losing 25 bucks. Down almost five for trip now, how I wish my luck would change.

    Thursday: Up about 10 am. Go down to players club and get a late check out. To the pool (again) and meet up with wife. She is burnt to a crisp. I use tons of block and cover self with hat, clothes, towels, sun glasses. She like to bake, even though she is now 42 and not the kid she used to be. Well, she goes up to room not feeling well (can you say "sun poisoning" kids? I knew you could). Richie, Sally, and Frank come down. I get a turkey wrap and a large (32 oz) beer for lunch. Go up around four and pack. Bring bags to Franks room (Frank, Richie and Sally leaving next day). Go to players club to get comps, this is where my trip goes to hell. This MGM corporation has ruined the Mirage. In the old days, I played half as much and got twice as much. I only lost 500, but I gave my wife 700 and know she lost at least 500 of it. So between us, we lose 1000, no big deal. But my avg. bet is over 40, not too shabby. My time was only 12 hours, which is horse shit as I know I had about 14. Either way 40 Avg. X 12 hours + slot play should be good for my food and drink. Bzzzzz, wrong, try again dumb ass. They pick up 260 of my 425 tab. The rooms I paid for, but where fairly cheap. I got brought in on a spring promotion and paid 79 per night except 149 on Saturday. My old slot host would have not only picked up food and drink bill, but most of room bill too. Oh well. I play a couple hours of hold'em and lose about 50. We all go to Carnagie deli around 8 and eat like kings on Sean's comp, thanks again bro. catch a cab at 10, and am at my gate before 10:30 for 11:55 redeye. Get in on time, and father in law picks us up. Sucked coming home to 50 degrees after spending last week in mid 90's, but nice to be home.

    All in all it was a very fun trip. Had lot's of friends with me so every night was different. Not including airfare, The whole ball of wax cost me about 2G. Have had better, but have had much worse. Oh, did not tell you guys Richie and Sally lost almost 5G first night and where down about 10G when we left, ouch. Hope you all win on your next trip, Rusty.
     
  2. Jack21

    Jack21 Guest

    Nice TR, Rusty. Glad to hear that Vito and Johnny Cakes are no longer an item....BTW, your buddy was up seven banana chips in one session?! That's a hell of a couple of spins!

    I am interested in your impressions of the Mirage pool for it's comfort, pool food and eye candy...

    Jack21
     
  3. timmysmom

    timmysmom Low-Roller

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    Great TR Rusty; nice you were able to enjoy Vegas with friends.
     
  4. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    It is very crowded. To get a seat by the waterfall you have to go down when they open. Chairs are average for comfort. No more food by the pool. You used to be able to get wraps and sandwiches from the pool waitress, but no longer. The drinks are very good. My wife was drinking something called an "eruption" or something to that effect. It was a mix of frozen Pina colada on the bottom, and frozen strawberry daqueri on the top. Sweet as all hell, but nice and cold on those 95+ days. Plenty of hot chicks. More then usual due to the Miss Hawaiian Tropics contest going on, but you had plenty of smokin regulars walking around. I did not go into "Bare", the new "European" pool in the back. It was 30 bucks, and Mrs. Trombone was not eager for me to go.
     
  5. Jack21

    Jack21 Guest

    If Mrs. Trombone is in your sig line, no need to waste the thirty bucks. :thumbsup:
     
  6. gmoney590

    gmoney590 VIP Whale

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    Nice TR. I think once MGM/Mirage and Harrahs owns the strip comps for the average player will be a thing of the past.
     
  7. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    Sad but true.
     
  8. Taris

    Taris Low-Roller

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    Great TR.
     
  9. DonD

    DonD VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the great trip report!
     
  10. Dean Martin

    Dean Martin VIP Whale

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    Rusty... loved your TR!! You're frined will think you can hit on roullette like that all the time...lol Hey, we were long time Mirage fans and din't care for the casino remodel but haven't been back to see it at completion (assuming it's complete)... curious what you thought of it if you are familiar w/ the previous design. It seemed very dark and plain to me, last I saw it. Thanks, Dino
     
  11. sin

    sin VIP Whale

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    Great report Rusty! Thanks for posting!
     
  12. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    Dean, I used to love the decor at the Mirage. I hate that they have changed it. It is now a Beatles themed hotel. Everything is finished now, the only construction was a renovation of the California Pizza Grill. The pool is still awesome, and it looks the same. I wish instead of making all these lounges and clubs (more money to be made by MGM) they would spend some money and upgrade the rooms.
     
  13. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    OK, crappy pix from my camera phone, but all I have so far:

    The view every day from the pool:
    [​IMG]

    The big winner Sean by the pool:
    [​IMG]

    Frank by the pool:
    [​IMG]

    Teller and I:
    [​IMG]

    Howie and Sean watching me win EVERY game of pool in pub before Penn and Teller:
    [​IMG]

    Will post more once I get some from Sean.
     
  14. dung bug

    dung bug Low-Roller

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    Nice report. Thanks for sharing the photos.:thumbsup:
     
  15. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    Just got a few more uploaded:

    Mrs. Trombone, Me, Frank, Richie, Sally, Howie and Sean. This is the whole damn crew.
    [​IMG]

    I love this view of the Mirage:
    [​IMG]

    Mrs. Trombone and I:
    [​IMG]
     
  16. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    Penn Jillette and I:
    [​IMG]

    For you ladies, I give you Sean:
    [​IMG]

    Yours truly acting silly in the Mirage:
    [​IMG]
     
  17. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    Well, due to wife and friend Richie's surgery's, we did not make planned trip this year. Just wanted to bump this for the good memories.
     
  18. KimberlyJ

    KimberlyJ Low-Roller

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    I just read this TR . . . . good read! And then I realized it was from last year!
    Oh well, I still liked it!! Thanks for posting~
     
  19. rustytrombone1027

    rustytrombone1027 Low-Roller

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    Yeah, sorry to bump a year old dead thread, but I should be on day four of my yearly pilgrimage, and am depressed. As always, had a great trip last year. :cry: I think it was Douglas MacArthur who said: "I shall return".:grrr:
     
  20. ghetto71

    ghetto71 Tourist

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    Nice TR and pics.:thumbsup:
     
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