Gregrio, June 24-28

Not much to say...I don't do well on TR's...
Wonderful trip, the RIO is alive and well.
I didn't need to gamble much this trip...I'm way ahead on my
Total Reward Tier Points so I did more visiting with friends and
get togethers with message boards folks. (took lots of naps too!)

Jacqui from www.everythinglv.com/forums/ and her 'mum'...both
from Scottland and I had fun with the RIO's Breakfast Buffet one day
and Steve, aka, 'vangrizz' from www.lasvegasadvisor.com and I met
one morning in the RIO's Masquerade Village...he was entered in one
of the Poker Tournaments there and it was great to finally put a face
behind the 'avatar', lol, real nice guy...
Jacqui, Steve....THANKS FOR ADDING TO THE GOOD TIMES!

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL, CLUB RIO, BAMBALEOS...all closed.
Theres a 'Rib' joint under construction in BAMBALEOS, the new outfit thats
taking over CLUB RIO won't be up and running until next year, and no word
who will fill DIAMONDS up on the mezzanine...LOTS OF FOLKS OUT OF WORK.
LUCKY STRIKE Bowling Alley is goin' great guns...
and Cafe Martorano DOSEN'T SEAT SINGLES! I told 'em where they could
stick their Rigatoni.
The VOODOO CAFE, now VOODOO STEAK has a new menu and increase in
prices of about fifteen bucks per dinner.
I had dinner at TAO in the Venetian one night after a MATSURI...pretty loud
in there and wasn't impressed with dinner at all.
What I did enjoy another day, was Picasso's ceramic work on display at
Bellagio's Gallery OfFine Art.

The slots in Masquerade Village were good to me, got 4ACES on Double Bonus over at the PALMS one morning (nice way to start the day)
took a $2800. bankroll down/brought $2200. home.

I have some Show thoughts up in SHOWS and ENTERTAINMENT.

 

That's a fine TR Greg and I always look forward to your show reviews.

Why, because you would take up a table that could seat 4? Is it that popular that every one is queing up for it?

 

Cafe Martorano bills itself 'gmoney590' as a combo club/restaurant...guess
they want to control the atmosphere for more couples than singles.

Its on the Mezzanine level of Masquerade Village and is open 6pm til 2am.
You could sit at the bar...everything on the dinner menu is available there
but I DIDN'T WANT TO SIT AT THE BAR!

The next day, down on the floor, my 'Change' friends had heard 'someone'
had complained about the seating arrangements at CM the night before...
"was that you?" they asked...lol
They said their supervisor was going to mention it to managemet...it was
the first they'd heard about it, and didn't agree with the policy either...

Coincidentally, there was an email survey from Harrahs when I got home
pertaining to my stay...I mentioned Cafe Martorano's seating policy when
I returned it...we'll see what happens there in the future.
Their Rigatoni looked great on the menu!

 

I had a similar experience two years ago at Toby Keith's place at Harrah's. It was still pretty new so there were like six "tables for 2" open at 10pm on a weekday night and they refused to seat me at any table. Said solo diners could only be seated at the bar. I left and haven't been back.

 

always good...

Greg, your TRs are always good -- you do just fine with them. And I am always interested in your take on all things LV!

We'll be at the Rio in a couple weeks. I can't decide whether or not it's worth the $20 trick try -- aren't all rooms about the same there?

Glad you had a great time.

 

Yeah Leeza they are. It's only when you get into the 'real' suites
that things change.

I've done a 'reverse' twenty buck thing in the past....did it this trip too.
I know which rooms I like. They're the ones at the very end of the halls
on the corners/pool side...They have windows on two walls. They're a bit smaller than all the other rooms, but I perfer 'em. They're also furthest from
the elevators.

If ones available when I check in fine. Many times, they're occupied but
the guests are checking out that day and I wait for it. If the registration
person is bustin' her/his butt to get it ready for me, I give 'em $20. (after
the fact.) I can tell when they're making an effort for me and I appreciate it.
Its up to you. Because I'm asking for a specific room, its a bit different.
I'd request Ipanima Tower, Pool View, on an upper floor.
I know some of the gals in Platinum/Diamond registration, and this time 'Rose' helped me. She got
on the phone, checked all the options in the computer, called Housekeeping...really made an effort
and I just gave the 20 and said I'd check back in an hour. Each time I'd walk past, stick my head in
the door and catch her eye...she'd just knod yes or no. This all started around 9am, and I had my
room by 11.

 

Love your posts, on this and other boards. I'd love to know your story, and how you get to Vegas so often. Is it posted somewhere? Thanks.

 

Thanks Greg! Not at all happy to hear about Voodoo "Steak". Their menu was overpriced already, and I thought their specialty was more in the lines of seafood than beef.

 

Ya know 'queentata'....I live in California/Bay Area so the flights are
cheap, been devorced for years and love the solo life, I've been renting
my little cottage for over 25 years and don't have any kids or bills, lots
of vacation time and don't spend or do much when I'm not in Vegas so
money wise...it all goes to vacation time, I plan my vacation schedual
the same each year...every 3d month I'm in Las Vegas...been doing it
that way for the last 14 years, I go for Shows 1st/Gaming 2nd, after all
this time I always get great deals at RIO (can't afford to stay anywhere else)
........ at 57, IT ALL WORKS FOR ME!