We're on to Las Vegas

So it's now wednesday morning (I think) and I'm clearly still on east coast time. Slightly hung over but pretty much fine. Brandy is half asleep and stays in bed and I venture down to the casino at the Plaza to continue my attempts at some winning blackjack.
Table minimum is $10. The casino is relatively quiet with no Jazzies racing around unfortunately. There is some roulette action which clearly has been going all night. I sit at the BJ table solo. 6 deck game, fairly liberal rules-DAS, RSA.
One interesting hand was when the dealer dealt me A7 against an up face card. I signalled for a card but she ignored it and then turned over another face. I mentioned to her the error which she quickly realized. the pit boss was called over and the dealer drew the next card to show what would have occured but for the dealer error, a face card. we all recognized the outcome but the younger female dealer did seem like she felt bad, likely thinking I was ticked off.
This was obviously due to her not being able to see my ugly mug. I then pulled down my mask briefly, smiled and said I am absolutely not mad in the least and chuckled a little. She appreciated what I was trying to convey and play continued.
Overall it was a fairly choppy game. I was joined by one of the roulette players who enjoyed fist bumping a little too frequently. I'm talking like fist bumping when winning with a dealt 19 against a dealer's dealt 18. like yea fist bump the BJ's and monster double downs, but not the average wins.
Played for about 90 minutes and finished up around $40.
Ventured over to the simply named Coffee Bar. Being into coffee it was nice seeing they had a gorgeous La Marzocco machine which are the industry standard. I ordered two lattes and was even happier when I realized the man working knew how to not burn the damn milk
It was now around 730 and Brandy and I were taking a lyft over to the Wynn for breakfast at Tableau.

 

Tableau if you have never been is pretty damn good. I wouldn't call it great. I'm no Ron Swanson or Leslie Knope when it comes to breakfast but I do enjoy a bagel and lox. Which I get basically everywhere on vacation. Brandy is a pancake or waffle afficionado and she ordered the pancakes shown above which included a fairly light whipped cream, some blackberry-ish bs, and lemon curd. She also had the allegedly fresh squeezed oj.
From Tableau Brandy departed to the Wynn spa for an 80 min massage. With my free time I thought wynn bj at $25 a hand would be a risky financial move. The white cheapskate angel on my shoulder said, 'Go to TI! Even though it's a shithole it's a shithole with $10 blackjack!'
So of course I hauled it out of Wynn, across to Venetian, took the elevator up, and walked across the pedestrian bridge to Ruffin's last bastion of what used to be a decent enough place.
At 9 am on a thursday there was literally not one person playing a table game. Until I plunk down $500 at a double deck bj game. I opened with betting 20ish a hand and the first shoe was as welcoming as a warmed grilled cheese with tomato soup.
Quickly I was up around $175ish. Dealer change. I swear to whatever higher power you believe in I heard that damn banjo playing. You know the one.


Because pretty soon that 5 foot 1, 110 lb korean dealer had me grabbing my ankles.
No I did not squeal, but I was more like questioning why I didn't just stay at the Wynn and at least lose my money and dignity in a nicer joint.
Felted down, out 500. Almost a 700 dollar swing. I do what any self loathing degenerate would. Reach in for another 100 of course.
And like the rest of my money, it quickly dissapears like sunlight to the bottom of Davy Jones locker. RRrrrrrrrrr.
Next after my beatdown I walk with a slight limp of course back to the Wynn. I meet Brandy and we lyft it back to the Plaza. We have a cabana booked and looking at my wife poolside there in her bathing suit will be more than a solid consolation price afted the TI beatdown.

 

Back at the Plaza Brandy departs to the pool to check in for the cabana. I then make an executive decision and decide im going to make back some money by betting on the rams-seahawks game.


I then join B at the pool. I brought a book and Brandy mostly dicked around on her phone. We have a decent pool at home and aren't sun worshippers but we enjoy hanging out and telling lies.
Scott the bartender runs the show at the pool. He was outstanding. Down to earth and fun to chat with. I had like 3 or 4 bloody marys which were better than I expected along with 2 margaritas. B isn't a big drinker but had a pina colada and paloma.

I went down to the Mexican restaurant and brought back 7 tacos. not 6, not 8. 7. pastor and asada. these were really good. hit the spot.
We stay at the pool till around 4 and make it back to the room. Our plan is to meet up with Lisa, Johnathan, and Gary of the Plaza at Oscars.
The trio host the Plaza's podcast 'On the Corner of Main Street.'

 

Brandy and I get down to Oscar's and are quickly joined by Lisa and Gary. The two are super nice and we chat about our trip and all things Vegas. Lisa mentions she is getting more into wine so I mention that I have a nice btl in the room so I exit stage left to quickly grab it. We also ordered some meatballs and share a cocktail

With one eye on the tv screen I am feeling decent about my Rams bet. At halftime the Rams are down slightly. Johnathan also stopped by and said hey and then we all went our separate ways.
Brandy and I weren't starving and were thinking seafood so we Lyfted over to Yu or Mi Sushi in the Arts District. This is across from Esthers Kitchen. Mostly sushi but overall very tasty and reasonable prices. We ordered a rock shrimp tempura, some kanpachi and maduro, their house/signature roll, and basically a shrimp/garlic fried rice served in a bowl similar to a bibimbap.



Towards the end of the meal I'm getting updates on the game and realize I win my rams bet. Now down a lot less. We then lyft back to the Plaza.
I cash in the rams ticket and of course head back for more blackjack. I guess I'm a masochist. Betting like $20 a hand I lose 3 hands for every 1 win and I push on dealt blackjacks and double downs. Not a winning recipe.
Down about 200 I decide back in bed with my wife is a smarter move at this point. She had grabbed some desserts to go from Oscars and we put the tv on SUV as I call it (meaning law and order svu of course). I then pass out in a cheesecake coma.
Yea wild night right?

 

Boy do I know that wife hovering feeling. Great when you're on a heater passing the black chips back. Not so much other times.

 

Good executive decision maker. We need people like you where I work!

 

Good stuff so far! Nice work on the Rams bet!

 

This is a great TR, looking forward to more.

 

sorry to dissapoint but there really wasn't too much more! short trip and going with the wife O do genuinely try to balance things out. when I've gone solo I can certainly gamble for 10 hours a day. but yea this wasn't that type of trip.
We slept in till around 730 and packed up for the departure which would be around nine. we make our way downstairs and grab cappucinos at the coffee bar.



We collectively decide to throw 300 in a buffalo machine. Brandy is certainly no gambler but will dable in an occasional slut machine. sorry I'm bad with spelling.
playing 400 credits a spin ($4) we come up empty. It took less than 9 minutes to exhaust the 300 dollars. Damn buffaloes.
Well being a great husband I decide that I'll win back some of our money on BJ.
I buy in for 300, 6 deck $10 minimum here at the plazs. table starts a little slow and I'm betting just around 10-15 a hand. Get some nice double down wins on soft hands and over the course of 4 shoes I get 5 dealt blackjacks. Up around $150 I color up and we call a lyft.
Taking inventory of the funds I realize I'm down about 240 for the trip. Kinda blah/yawn feeling. But could have certainly been worse no doubt.
We are now en route to Bagelmania which is over by the new convention center. Owned by Bugsy Siegel's grandson, this is a jewish deli type bagel joint and is bright shiny and new. Brandy gets a turkey type sandwhich on an everything bagel. I ask if they can do a whitefish salad sandwich and my request is sorta lost in translation, most likely due to wearing the damn masks. I end up with nova on an everything bagel.

Now we lyft again to the airport and it's on to Phoenix.
I'll follow up with some closing thoughts a la Jerry Springer.

 

Our last trip was in May and we stayed at Circa. Overall we probably enjoyed this trip more despite only being two nights because the more seasonable weather. It actually rained on thursday! Only the 2nd time I've experienced that in Vegas.
Hotel- Plaza was good. It is often used as a perjorative but you do generally get what you pay for. Vegas room prices compared to other cities are fairly cheap. I think the charge for the 1 bedroom suite was $225 out the door for 2 nights. I was content with the room and the price charged.
Food- we are into food more than most I guess. Brezza had great food but pretty terrible service in hindsight. Yu or Mi was great food and service.
Beverage- Gatsby's was a pretty nice lounge at Resorts World I'd highly recommend.

I may be back in Jan or Feb solo for more of a gambling centric trip. Likely it would be a year to 18 months before I can convince the wife to come back with me. She likes Vegas but doesn't love it. You know the type
thanks for reading. take care of yourself, and each other .

 

Thanks for sharing @Crawfordesquire. I love the humor you are sprinkling through these posts!

 

you are welcome. i honestly do not like writing trip reports and I'm surprised I completed it. i just find myself to be rather boring. which is why i try to joke a little bit so no one falls asleep on the keyboard.
there are so many people who have written great reports over the years that I have enjoyed and I view it as a 'pay it forward' type thing.

 

@Crawfordesquire i agree and also it's fun to go back and relive old trips!

 

Nice report. Thank you for sharing

 

I enjoyed it as well. Thanks

 

Nice report, thanks for sharing.

 

you're welcome. ill be at the niners cardinals game today. if you watch on tv look for the white guy in the black shirt.
should be a fun game.

 

Nice report! Enjoy the game!

 

I enjoyed your report; a fun read

 

Enjoyed your report a lot! I'm always impressed with people who pull off short trips and manage to fit so much in. You guys rocked it! Enjoy leg 2 of your journey.

Vegasworm