Vegas again, part 1! 2/28 to 3/1 - now with pics!

Ok this is going to be a strange TR, since its really 2 visits to Vegas in 2 weeks. Long story short; my band was doing a tour of the west coast and we had a show to play in Vegas (it later got cancelled). I set it up so that our day off would be right after our Vegas show. So we had a 2 day visit to Vegas with the band. Then when the tour ended in LA, a few of us stuck around and drove up to Vegas for a few more days.

So here's part 1.

We arrived in Vegas for the first time in the evening on Monday night (March 28th). We had driven up from Phoenix, and drove over the Hoover dam on the way in. Of course due toconstruction we where not allowed to stop and view anything, but it was dark anyway so there wasn't much to see. I planned to come back but we never ended up doing it. We had alot of Vegas noobs with us, so as we drove in, we pulled in from the end of the strip from the sign all the way down to the Stratosphere . We made a quick stop at Sonic Burger first, since alot of us had never been there. Its across the street from the Palms. Boy their fruit drinks are tasty! They use chunks of real fruit in all their drinks!

Checked into 2 rooms at the Las Vegas Club, used the 2 for 1 AGC coupon, $50 for 2 nights per room. Rooms where in the south tower, on the
6th floor facing the praza. Clean, basic rooms. I didn't see how these where threadbare or anything. I did like the window in the shower,
that was a nice
touch. Right away we all of us (8 of us by the way) wandered Fremont st. I played some BJ at the Golden Gate, others went and got some footballs of booze, others tried the deep fried twinkies, etc.. After a successful round of BJ (up about $40) we hit the Upper Deck coffee shop at the LVC for the $2.99 late night breakfast schedule. The food was ok, but the service was not very friendly and not super prompt. After that I was so tired i just hit the sack.

Woke up late in the morning. We all wanted to hit a cheap buffet so we went to the Sahara buffet. I had the 2 for 1 AGC coupon so ended up being about
$4 for lunch for me. Say what you will about this buffet, i think its decent for the price. I'm told the meat isn't great here but since i don't eat meat all the options for me aren't terrible. After our feast we went to the IN-and-Out factory store and Ed Romans guitar shop (the biggest guitar store in the world, or so they claim). The guitar shop was big, but they wouldn't let you touch any of the guitars. What a letdown. A few of us wanted to ride the stratosphere rides, so we went there. I just went to the observation deck
since there's no way in hell i'm riding those.. One interesting thing, the staff at The STRAT was very mean to me. On waiting in line to get
on the elevator, i dropped an empty change cup off the ledge to board the elevator (about one story up above their security screening
area). To that i hear an irate security woman yell up "ok who the fuck threw that? what is your god damn problem?". I apologized but
later was furious she treated me like a little kid (again, i get the kid treatment everywhere for looking like I'm 20) I get to the top, and
I look around.. of course I walk into a wrong area, and get yelled at again by another security guard. At least that time he was polite
about it. God this place is really out to get me. After watching my friends on the rides, never again will I go near that stupid tower.

Headed back downtown for the night. I played more BJ at the Golden Gate. I had one really rough session where i was down $45, and i think
i was playing with the dumbest blackjack players of all time.. splitting 10's, doubling down on 12's, etc.. and they kept winning!!
While my basic strategy play was killing me. But I moved to the next table and made that all back plus some in about 10 minutes
with the constant dealer busts and blackjacks i was dealt. Also made about $30 playing craps at the GG too. After this long session
our friends mom was in town and offered to buy us MGM buffet. So we made a quick run down there in the car, and was impressed with this buffet. Not the best in town, sort of reminded me of the Rio's but scaled back a notch. The baked potatoes made to order where a nice touch to this buffet. But a little overpriced for what you get. For the similar money I would go to the Paris next time.

By the time we made it back downtown, everyone who stayed was quite tanked with footballs full of beer, $1 margaritas, etc.. One guy with us found weed somehow and smoked it behind the glitter gulch.. he came back to Fremont with the light
show and was freaking out.. it was the one with all the ants and frogs crawling around, it was straight out of something from the 60's.
Another guy with us was asking bums off Fremont street for drugs (with no luck, but the conversation was hilarious) and then watched
them stumble up and down Fremont drunk dialing people bumping into very annoyed people. Also they took a drunken picture with one of the girls
standing outside the glitter gulch, she asked for a tip for having to take a photo.. and they just laughed and ran off.. I gave her 2 bucks
cuz i felt bad for her having to deal with my wasted friends. Another guy in our group met some girls, and quickly disappeared with them.. I never saw them but apparently they where girls on spring break.
I went back into the GG and lost some money. While everyone else went to the dollar roulette table. They where playing $1 and $2 per spin
and absolutly freaking out when they won. I was at the Bj table and the people at the table where like, "wow they must be doing really well
over there!" not knowing they where only winning a dollar or so. It was a messy drunken sight. Later I returned to the room with them drunk
calling all the escorts numbers. On guy was like "let me pay with food stamps you bitch!!!" haha it was a very ugly sight, I'm glad i wasn't
sleeping in that room.

Next morning we wake up at 8am (we have a 9 hour drive to reno ahead of us).
The guy who disappeared with the girls shows up at 8am. Apparently he spent the night with 2 lovely ladies at the New Frontier. I never got the full details but im sure they arent suited for this family oriented msg board!
Anyway, I check out of my room, no problems. Never seen more than
a few people at the registration desk. I went to the MSS to validate my parking ticket before hopping on the highway.. I dropped $2 in a
kenny rogers video slot and walked away with $15.. Then we got in the car and hit 95 north for the next 9 hours.. Thats a real weird trip into
nowheres-ville, but that storys for another time..

part 2 is after our tour, 3 of us hit vegas for a more 'traditional' vegas trip without the band. Stay tuned...

[ April 11, 2005, 09:18 AM: Message edited by: tvon ]

 

LOL!! Nice!! Keeps us updated. I can feel your pain at BJ, even though I'm a craps guy. And the thought of your drunken friends calling escorts...lol Three cheers for helping keep downtown Vegas alive.

 

Yea i made it a point to take a large group of drunks and vegas noobs downtown. That way i didnt have to drive them anywhere and any drunken antics are less likely to have them bumped from a place..

 

Sounds like a great time! I know how it is to look 20 and be treated poorly! It sucks now but in 20 years we'll look better than them! I can't wait until the next round. And by the way... where did you all play in LA?

Tiffany

 

yea i know it tiff! part 2 has some "you guys old enough" parts as well, including a stripper telling me that i look 19. geez.

we played in long beach when in la, at a small artspace called the Koos Cafe. we aren't a very big band, but at least we can tour..

 

pictures!


Las Vegas Club room. 3rd floor in south tower


LVC room again


our primo view of the Praza


Strat tower taken from the Sahara buffett


strip view from top of strat. it was overcast so its not too bright


view of the hilton and beyond


downtown view


my buddies on the 'big shot'

 

the Main Street Station


check in/valet entrance to the LVC