Live and Unexpectedly Solo at MGMs Grand and Park

Following and thanks for your great TR so far.

Love that you wrote a book about wine. I'm going to read it.

In the meantime, while in Vegas, what off-the-shelf red wine would you recommend for people with a $20 or less per bottle price point?

 

OYO, Ellis Island, and Jerry's Nugget all have $5 craps from what I've been seeing. Jerry's usually also has $3 craps for us real cheapskates.

 

You a trotters guy? Hit a 50-cent pick 4 at the Meadowlands 2 weeks ago, mostly favorites but that's how it goes.

 

That’s a tough question. Of course I depends on your preferences and what’s available. Also, most of my wine expertise is Croatian stuff that is really difficult to find here except at specialty stores. Since I’ve been back in the states, I was drinking this stuff at my parents place in NY, though I’m not sure how easy it’d be to find in Vegas.

I only bet the trotters when I’m with my dad or at night in Vegas when there’s nothing else running. I just assume the races are all fixed (because they are) and it’s basically like picking keno…but it scratches the itch!!

 

Last night caught up with me quick and around 9pm, after being awake for 23 hours, I crashed. I’m not ashamed. It’s now 4:30 am and my body is wide awake, thanks to and internal clock used to waking early with a toddler on east coast time. Luckily, I’m in a city that never closes! Imma drag my ass outta bed and get to it!



While I slept, the US women almost covered the over by themselves, so I went 3-for-3 on my sports bets, and I was ahead for horses, too. That’s lucky, because every card, dice, or machine I touched turned to mush. After a full accounting of day 1’s gambling, I’m only down about $200, so I’ll take that as a win.

Good morning, Las Vegas!!! Let’s get it going!

 

At 6 am on Monday morning, MGM Grand has $10 UTH and 3-card poker, plus a few $10 BJ tables. Only one craps table open and it’s $25.

 

Great photos! I'm enjoying your report!

 

I decided to make @FormallyTD proud and fulfill my dream of visiting Virgin Hotel Las Vegas. I even tried to walk via his special path through the Signature, but you need a key card to get there that way. At least I saw the MGM Grand Chapel, which I’d never noticed before. Made me feel like I was back in the old world.

Lyft said it’d be $9 and 5 minutes (at 6:30 am) so I jus hopped in a waiting cab. It was a dollar more expensive and much easier. Uber and Lyft are losing my business rapidly. (Doesn’t help that they aren’t great to their employees, either).

I have thoughts about Virgin. I’ll start with the resort, then the casino. My fir at impression was that it doesn’t have any vibe, whereas the old Hard Rock DEFINITELY had a vibe.



Like, it’s nice, but nothing especially memorable.



Happy to see that they kept the Hard Rock’s old syringe disposal boxes in the bathrooms.



Dunkin Donuts is better than Starbucks. Come at me, bro.



But though initially unimpressed, as I walked around the pool, I realized something: I am not the target audience for this resort. When I come to Vegas, I wanna walk around and see things and cram in as much as I can. This is a place designed for people who want to come from LA (or where ever) for a weekend and chill. And it’s perfect for that. The restaurants are nice, but not over the top. The pool is beautiful. It’s just nice, and everything’s right here. I’ll probably never stay here, but I get it now.



The spa and gym also looked nice. Also noteworthy, I just walked around everywhere freely, no room keys required for anything.

 

Now the casino. It’s mostly slots, and like the resort, it’s nicely updated, but not especially memorable. There was $10 craps, BJ, and carny games (at 7 am). I bought in at the craps table, just intending to get my chip and get out. But I went on a little mini heater (playing solo) and win back all my losses from yesterday. The crew was really good too. I gave them a green chip tip and they were appreciative. Overall, a successful visit.

Bonus Poker pay tables for the VP heads out there:


There’s a small Sportsbook.



In for $200.

 

I got the bright idea to go to Ellis Island, and decided to walk. It took me 14 minutes door to door, and it was not quite too hot yet. Delightful times in the dessert.



Anyone know what this is/was at the corner of Koval and Harmon? It was apparently intended to be a casino and resort hotel.



The below photo struck me as funny. Not to disparage anyone’s beliefs, but I’m guessing there have been more unanswered prayers in this town than in any other…

 

Fun Fact: Ellis Island is the first hotel I ever stayed at in Las Vegas. I didn’t have very good luck in that visit, and never really have here since.

The new Front Yard was closed, but it looks nice enough. Kind of incongruous with the rest of the place.

You don’t see a lot of these anymore.



Overall, it’s less grimy than I remember, but not terrible. I cashed in the ACG coupons and got: $10 free play which turned into nothing and a $10 match bet which I used on roulette and lost. Left the place pretty quickly down like $25. I see why people like it (they had $5 BJ and roulette, craps was closed) but it’s not really for me.



I always go to this place next door to look for t shirts, and they are always terrible. Why do I bother? Tradition, I guess?

Lyft wanted $20 to go back to MGM, about 2 blocks. Uber had me at $9. Rideshare is still screwed up, folks. Plan accordingly.

 

Back “home,” I realized that the mornings activities had burned off the lingering indigestion from last night’s ribs. Much to my surprise, I was hungry! Luckily, I had a $30 breakfast credit, so to the buffet I go!!

There’s been a lot of debate on this message board about buffets, so let me settle it once and for all: all buffets are wonderful, even the ones that are very, very bad. There, it settled.

It’s been a personal ambition to visit every buffet on the strip, and this was one I hadn’t yet visited. It’s fine. I’d put it somewhere above Luxor, but below Aria, which is pretty much how I’d rate the MGM overall, so it makes sense.

There was almost no line at 9 am. They’re taking masks seriously. Everyone gets a talk when they sit down that masks are required when not seated at their table, and I hears staff ask several people to put their masks on. A+ stuff, MGM Grand Buffet!



I’m checking out today and moving across the street, but I got a late checkout, so I have about 6 hours to kill. I think next I’ll check off another thing that I’ve always wanted to do in Las Vegas but never got around to…visit the pool!

 

Does anyone know what Jabbawockeez is? I’m assuming it’s a cross between Blue Man Group and Daft Punk and it’s unbearable. Am I close?

 

Great report. I agree with you 100% about Dunkin Donuts coffee. Beats Starbucks any day.

 

really enjoying this report.

 

Winners of Season 1 of America’s Best Dance Crew.

Danced with Shaq at the 2009 NBA All Star Game.

I like them but their show was meh.

 

You’re not close. You’re spot on.

 

That ICE building was a nightclub. I was invited to a private party there once. I'm not a club person, so it wasn't a big thrill for me.

And apparently, it wasn't enough of a thrill for the club kids.

 

That door / entrance into the Signature is always cropped open. They must have been having a bunch of thugs walk through there and ramshackle the joint.

I would have suggested to just start pounding on the door and screaming to let you in. Someone would have shown up eventually...escorted you through those doors or through some other doors (LVMPD car variety).

 

I’ve been notified that the post about my book violated the VMB terms and conditions. Drat! My plan to sell millions of copies of my niche book to the VMB community is foiled!

Kidding, of course. I really respect and appreciate all the thankless work that the mods here do, and apologize for breaking the rules. I trust the offending material has been removed or whatever.