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Downtown/Fremont Offerings?

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by Renaldow, May 25, 2021.

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  1. Renaldow

    Renaldow VIP Whale

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    Hi all!

    I've done numerous Vegas trips in the late 90's - 00's, and actually lived in Vegas (DI/Ft. Apache) from 2004-2009.

    But, I haven't been back since I moved away! I have no idea what's changed in the last 10+ years, especially now with covid. I got a great deal Mon 6/7- Thurs 6/10 and will have 3 nights, 2.5 days on Fremont. I'll be staying at The D. I'd stayed there a couple of times when it was Fitzgerald's.

    So, with that all of that in mind, I've got some questions I'm hoping you can help me out with! Also, please feel free to post any suggestions for things I haven't thought of.

    1. I've heard uber and taxis are difficult to get now. Is that true or just something on the news?

    2. I'm not much of a gambler anymore, but plan on horse racing at a sportsbook and probably keno. Where are the best places for that downtown now?

    3. Any midweek shows during the week downtown that I should check out? I know there are free things under the canopy. I'm talking more of comedy, magic or music in a showroom.

    4. Any buffets downtown worth checking out? Any downtown at all?

    5. Looking for recommendations for coffee shop type places at the hotels downtown too.

    6. Aside from Glitter Gulch, what else is gone from Fremont? I'm guessing Mermaids and La Bayou are toast. Please prove me wrong!

    7. Does Golden Gate still have $0.99 shrimp cocktails <---- This is the most important question

    8. What's a cheap bet for a table game? I used to play $0.25 roulette at the El Cortez, but I bet that's gone now.

    9. What about video poker/slots? I think it was the Gold Spike that used to have the Copper Mine, penny slots. Anything like that still exit?

    10. Anything I should know about The D?

    Thanks for you help! Really, I think I'm just looking for some guidance on a place I know, but haven't been to for so long that I know it's not as it used to be.
     
  2. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    First, welcome to VMB! :) And you are in for quite an eye opening trip. So much has changed downtown. I'm sure you'll get lots of feedback from our members who have been downtown lately.
     
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  3. alexlifeson

    alexlifeson High-Roller

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    3) There isn't much going on right now due to Covid but hopefully that will change in the near future.

    4) There are no downtown buffets at this time.

    7) There are no eateries in the Golden Gate so there is no $0.99 shrimp cocktail.
     
  4. VPDeuces

    VPDeuces Dishwasher safe

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    Hi @Renaldow and welcome to VMB! I hope you have a great, fun trip.

    it’s been a year and three months since I’ve been downtown Las Vegas, but I’ll try to answer some of your questions. I regret to inform you that the $.99 shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate is no more. I understand that Lanai Express in the Fremont has a similar item, but I’ve never tried it.

    Buffets are mostly closed right now. Main Street Station had a popular buffet but the whole hotel/casino remains closed with no definite opening date reported.

    Mermaids and LA Bayou are indeed gone, but replaced with a brand new hotel and casino which many people seem to like.

    I don’t know much about the D but they do still have sigma derby upstairs which is fun.

    Hopefully this helps you a little.
     
  5. sura83

    sura83 Low-Roller

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    4. Best coffee shop in my estimation is Magnolias at the Four Queens but Binion’s is good also.

    10. You won’t recognize the D if you haven’t been since it was Fitzgerald’s. Elevators are superb, six of them now instead of the 4? they used to have, and no concerns that riding on them might lead to your untimely demise. Also it’s extremely loud and smells like weed on every floor of the hotel.
     
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  6. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    Not sure about keno, but Circa is the move there. And they're part of the same players club as The D.
    Both gone, replaced by Circa.
    Andiamo is fantastic. Also a big fan of Saginaw's at Circa.
     
  7. Renaldow

    Renaldow VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the info. I figured Mermaids, La Bayou and Glitter Gulch were gone. Ditto for the 99 cent shrimp cocktails.

    That's okay though, those places always got me into trouble :whistle: I did always want to win the progressive slots at Mermaids to get the 1986 Yamaha, especially now that it would be a classic collector's bike.

    So, let me flip this around like I'm a newb.... what should I be doing in the 'new to me' downtown? Assuming the California is still open, I'm planning loco moco breakfasts there. So, I'll need to find the coffee shop that's got the best Patty Melt or Reuben. Also one that's always open.

    What are your favorite places to get a drink and people watch? What's a good place to go when it's 2am and don't say my room. lol
     
  8. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    2. Not sure but right now the Circa sportsbook is the place to be now. But the El Cortez had horse racing bets.

    4. No buffets downtown for now.

    5. Coffee shop places.
    Market St. Café at the Cal
    Binions has a coffee shop type of restaurant, they also have a snack bar type of shop
    The 4 Queens has an area with fast food type of restaurants along with a Coney Island Hot Dogs out in front.
    The Fremont has a lanai area with Chinese food. They also have a Dunkin next to it.

    6. The Fremont St. Experience and the areas in that mall look different now. Everything looks bright and "fancy". There still are the cheapie stores. They have an ABC store and they have a tattoo parlor in the area. The Circa is the biggest thing, the hotel casino starts from Main St and goes all the way to binions, they took up the whole block where Las Vegas Club, Glitter Gulch and Mermaids once where. Some of the casinos (Golden Gate, Circa, D,) have bar tops along their hotel casino in front of the Fremont St Experience with dancing girls. There is a White Castle, a chick fil A (in one of the hotels) and there are McD's in the D and at the Plaza. And they have zip lines above you and below the Fremont St. experience canopy. If you travel east to the El Cortez you will find clubs and other places for the "younger" crowd. There are circles on the ground at the Fremont St. Experience designated for performers. The performers are "unusual" ranging from topless (with pasties) nuns, showgirls, elvis and superhero impersonators, drummers and karaoke type singers. They even have a guy walking around in a diaper and nothing else. There is a guy there that for a price offers you to kick him in the nuts(!). The Gold Spike no longer has a casino and there is the Downtown Grand hotel and casino where the Lady Luck once was.

    7. Golden Gate doesn't have .99 cent shrimp cocktails but the Fremont does in the lanai restaurant.

    8. Right now expect to see tables at $10 during the day and maybe $15 at night for many downtown casinos. Circa tables are $15 during the day and $25 at night, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

    9. Penny and nickel slots are around.

    10. IMHO the casino at the D is a little noisy (playing loud music). Bring earplugs if you are sensitive to loud music.
     
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  9. SoCalMon

    SoCalMon VIP Whale

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    starting june 1st live concerts at the stages outside on fremont street will be back so expect loud noise in the rooms of the casinos by the stages until like 1am or 2am or get a room further away from fremont street if you do not stay up late.
     
  10. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

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    Circa is going to blow your mind, dude.
    pour some out somewhere for mermaids.
     
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  11. joespoolhall

    joespoolhall VIP Whale

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    As noted in previous posts, the Fremont St of ten years ago is almost the land that time forgot!
     
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  12. Renaldow

    Renaldow VIP Whale

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    Yeah, in what way?
     
  13. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    I thought the "Copper Mine" was in the El Cortez Gone in either case. They also had a 5cent ante poker game one table. The players maybe had eight teeth total.

    TomTWI
     
  14. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

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    It's better experienced than explained, mostly a brand spanking new property downtown, and the sportsbook, and the pool, and Barrys.

    in a bad way probably high min table limits for DT.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2021
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  15. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    And also an awesome BLT at Saginaw's.

    Not a huge fan personally but it's a phenomenal place. And probably the best sportsbook in Vegas.
     
  16. alexlifeson

    alexlifeson High-Roller

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    Circa is very nice but I certainly wasn't blown away by my first experience there. I would agree that the two main features that make it a novelty are the sportsbook and the pool. However, I don't really like the idea of bathing with crowds of other people so pools don't impress me that much. Barry's is good but I don't find it to be any better than Andiamo. I still enjoy going over there and using my dining comps.
     
  17. Renaldow

    Renaldow VIP Whale

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    I'll check out Saginaw's BLT.

    Well I get that Circa Sportsbook is huge I don't believe they have horse racing do they? I think I'll probably be at Fremont for that.
     
  18. Renaldow

    Renaldow VIP Whale

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    I'm thinking that you and I have similar views. I don't think I've been at any pool in Vegas aside from the condo I lived in.
     
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  19. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I do like the Aria pool, but, yeah. I don't really swim but do like a good nap in the sun.

    Regarding the Circa pool, it's honestly closer to a dayclub. Stadium Swim looks nice but just not my scene.
     
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  20. alexlifeson

    alexlifeson High-Roller

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    Yes, laying out by the pool is a different story.
     
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