Bums, Boobs, And Boyd

Finished trip # 55 last week. That number might be off by one or two, but I have been blessed to have had a good job and retirement to be able to make those trips. I am also a low roller which helps to make those trips possible. I try to mix up where I go each trip to keep it interesting. A rental car is a must for me. No matter which "quadrant" (north, south, east, west) of Vegas I venture to, I almost always spend some time downtown. With Young At Heart Days being on Wednesday, that is usually the day I go.

I have noticed the last few trips that downtown is getting crazier all the time. There are so many people begging for money that they are hurting each other with the competition. I saw a fairly large woman walking with a skimpy top on that basically exposed all of her extremely large boobs. I have seen men and women basically walking around nude. My happy place to escape the madness is inside the casinos.

Boyd is getting cheaper all the time, but my Ruby card still gets me a free breakfast or lunch after earning 1 tier on Wednesdays. At The D, I can still ride the escalator up to the second floor and find 3 quarter WOF and 2 dollar WOF. I can still get my hands dirty and play 9/6 JOB quarter coin droppers at The Cal. I can still find some old time Keno machines with the corded pen or whatever you call it. The 4 queens is about the only place left without a resort fee. In the alcove at The Cal I can still play 9/5 DDB for nickels.

So how long will these machines last? How long will the coin droppers hold up until they can't be repaired? Will the crazy people on Fremont Street ever end? Will we ever be able to park for free downtown again? For now I just valet at Fremont Hotel and Casino for the price of a tip and venture out into the madness of DT LV.

 

It sure is getting crazy with all the begging for money. Last time I was downtown I saw one of the beggar's punch another in the head. My concern is that one day one of those beggar's may do something like pull out a knife or start randomly shooting. I sure hope it doesn't happen but you never know with desperate people with nothing to lose. I once had a jerk follow me because I wouldn't give him any change downtown. I told him to back off.

 

And if Bums, Boobs and Boyd aren't enough you can go to Oscars for Beef, Booze and Broads

 

I agree about the downtown craziness. It’s where we exclusively stay and haven’t been to the strip in several years. I guess I have gotten numb regarding the big boobs hanging and the male buskers wearing next to nothing. I try to ignore. Because we stay at the CAL we avoid Fremont Street on weekends, especially when there are name bands playing. It is so easy to just bounce between the CAL and MSS and let the crazy’s take over Fremont.

I guess I must be old as I miss downtown as it was before the FSE.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

I love all the hucksters and especially the almost nude ones, even those with bodies that shouldn't be nude (like most of us). I live in the sticks so it's just so much fun to observe a seething raunchy crowd. It's almost as much fun as gambling.

 

Maybe I'm just numb, but none of the stuff going on Fremont St bothers me. Is some of it gross, sure! But would I let that spoil my vacation and my walk down Fremont? Hell no!!

Its been at least 20 years since we stayed on the Strip and I don't miss it.

 

I've observed on past trips that some of these people begging for money look physically and mentally capable of holding down a job. Most were young but I guess lazy. When you feed the pigeons more will flock around. Why bust your ass when all you gotta do is hold out your hand.

And forfeit all dignity and self respect. When I was young and penniless I wouldn't sacrifice my dignity and self respect.

So I went out and got a job.

 

I never had a problem with people begging for money. they don't bother me. I just ignore them.

And I love watching the nearly nude women. Love watching the nearly topless nuns walking around.

What grosses me out the most is the guy walking around in the g string with his butt sticking out. Talk about eeewwwwww!

But I've seen just as many (if not more) beggars on the strip and on the walkways on the strip.

 

Fremont Street to me is an interactive circus. It brings to mind an ancient city street with beggars, cut purses, ladies (and gentlemen) of the night, and street performers.

 

It won't be long and I'll lure you, the sisters and Eric back to the strip for my 60th

 

I have to say, the last time I was on Fremont, it was a little overwhelming. My wife went in to the Walgreen's to get a Coke Zero (they don't serve that in the casinos) and while I was waiting for her outside with my adult beverage, a guy came up to me with a very believable story about just trying to get one meal a day. He asked if I'd go get him a cheeseburger at McDonald's, which I agreed to do since he wasn't asking me for money, he just wanted food. In line at McDonald's, I got asked again by another person sitting at a table if I would get him a burger. I told him that I was literally already in line to buy someone else food. In the end though, I bought him a double cheeseburger (they are $2!) and the first guy who asked me a value meal, which he thanked me for and then went on his way. Not a 1/2 hour later, my wife and I get approached by two folks claiming to be part of the Humane Society (or some local pet rescue group) that wanted a $20 donation and no, they didn't take credit cards and had no internet site where we could make a donation because they didn't get a "1 for 1 match unless we did it in cash right there". They were so full of compliments and nice talk until we declined to give them cash, so of course it must have been scam! I feel bad for the folks down on their luck, but they are totally saturated by the ones just trying to rip you off! So, all you can do is duck in to the D or QQQQ and hope the timeshare salesman at the door doesn't notice you and your significant other walking in. . .

 

Between the time shares on the Strip and the Fremont Circus I’ll take the latter. Most of the Downtown beggars aren’t nearly as aggressive as the sales people and they’re easier to avoid.

 

Yeah downtown can get a bit nuts nowadays, but just look past them and have a good time. I am probably going to do that one night soon, and valet at MSS. Lol

Thanks for sharing!

 

Winding up day 6 at QQQQ. Taxi dropped me off at side (front) door. Went to the D Monday, Binion’s twice, to collect free play. Other than that, likely won’t leave the building til departure. Two “drummer boys” are outside Kings Bar with the usual symphony on plastic drums. I have discovered Beats noise cancelling headphones must be cranked up near maximum to drown out noise. There are plenty of machines to lose money at. Never ever go out on Fremont at night...not scared...just choose to avoid most of the people that are there then. Rolling up enough comps to take care of everything. Between breakfast at magnolias, lunch or dinner at Chicago brewing, or dinner at Hugo’s, I’m good.

Not that this is an ad for QQQQ, there are some hotel issues still to be dealt with (like why I’m in my third different room), but just saying these days, you can have no problem staying onsite (for other examples, at The D, The Golden Nugget, soon to be Circa) for the duration of your stay.

 

I'm a downtowner, and Fremont Street is so gross anymore.
AND, the later it gets, the more ugly it gets.
I don't like to use the word ugly, but it fits.

 

Of course 'each to their own', but I do admit that the Fremont St experience at night was a bit of a shock (i.e not really my scene) when I visited there for the first time on my recent trip back to Vegas. (I'd been to Vegas about 4 times prior but that was 15-25 years ago and I'd never made it downtown on those trips). Once comfortably inside a casino though (the El Cortez), I was more than happy and more than comfortable . I didn't feel unsafe or anything around Fremont St, I just felt that it wasn't really my scene. I don't mean that in a snobby way, because I'm definitely a low-roller here. Maybe I'm getting old, LOL! Anyway, just not my scene. A bit noisy and full on for me. I'm not a person who can handled big crowds together, even at the best of times. Too much small town living I guess But as I started out, obviously 'each to their own'.

 

I used to stay downtown my entire trip, but now have started to split it up. I tend to be out and about more in the morning/daytime, so not as many buskers/homeless out then it seems (in either place). But come evening, I am usually settled in at my home casino with my beverage of choice, so don't deal with alot of the issues night brings on.

 

I must be immune or numb to what you all experience. Sure, there's booze, buskers, and beggars but no one bothers me.

 

You are on!

 

Same here. DT exclusively for many years. Wish the city would do something about the bums, hobos, and beggars.