April 14-18/Four Queens

Tried to print my boarding pass unsuccessfully at home and while on the Net discovered the weather was to be better at home than in Vegas. Not a good sign but off I went and arrived at IND a coupla hours early to a short line at American. This agent tried to coax me out of line to use the kiosk for my boarding pass. Told him about my printing problem and he said it was probably due to their changes to my reservations and he checked me in and gave me my boarding pass. Set off alarm at security and got a wanding/shoe inspection. Indy still very good at security and I'm at the gate less than 15 minutes after arriving. Always bring a good book for all the setting around time.

Flight was uneventful with clouds the whole way. The increased seating room on American really does make a difference and they even have increased the overhead space. When we landed at McCarran it was raining!!! In more than 20 years it is the first time I had actually seen rain in Vegas though one time the streets were wet when I woke up after a night rain.

I had forgotten that AA landed at D terminal which requires them to taxi to Laughlin and then you hafta walk umpteen miles to get the Shortline Railroad to the Main terminal where you hafta walk another mile to ground transport. But I caught the CAT to Downtown and it got me there in about the time it had taken to traverse McCarran.

The Maryland Parkway bus drops you at the DTC so I hadda walk the two blocks to the 4Q's in a blowing rainstorm and arrived looking and feeling like a drowned rat. Asked for a high room away from the FSE and got a room in the south tower (new) on the top floor (19). The room was typical for Downtown, clean, well maintained with a small bath area. Lighting in the bath was poor. But the light color of the room itself was pleasant and we liked the mirrored closet doors compared to the average "open" closet area in most hotels. They advertise in-room safes but only some rooms have them and this wasn't one of them. No problem-used the safe deposit boxes at the Cage.

Was too hungry for my ritual shrimp cocktail so headed straight to the California for a $5.99 Prime Rib. Still a great meal at a fantastic price. Off to Binions but couldn't find an opening at a $5 BJ table. They only had two and people were actually waiting for them. They no longer have tables on the Mint side but had at least a half dozen covered on Binions side. I woulda thought it smart to open these tables to $5 players or drop some of the $10 tables down to $5 that had no one at them but then I'm not smart like Becky. Watched the poker players for awhile but was itching to do something-anything-so back to the 4Q's where I hooked up with a full pay JOB (only one I found in the whole casino) and proceeded to spend a coupla hours breaking just better than even.

Next morning it was off to the ElCo for a little losing BJ and breakfast. Found my favorite FPJOB machine (they had moved it slightly) and proceeded to win back my BJ losses. Back to the 4Q's just in time for Gerry's arrival. She wasn't very hungry so we just had the GG shrimp cocktail for lunch. Suggested we take a side trip to Red Rock but she wanted to spend the little time she had in the casinos so back to Binions. I did lousey and took a break for about an hour to watch poker but Gerry stuck with it and really tanked. To the Fremont for the buffet. First time I had their dinner and it was okay but nothing special. Then to the ElCo were we played VP for the balance of the night. I was up slighty but not enough to cover my earlier BJ losses. Gerry continued to lose.

Next morning (Wed.) we slept in and started the day at Magnolias. Not really a high class restaurant it is definitely a step above the average coffee shop. Very good food at a rasonable price. I played some more on the one and only FPJOB while Gerry tried a few DW's but my machine continually refused to take paper money so we left- me slightly ahead-Gerry not saying (bad sign). At the Plaza Gerry found a FPDW machine and finally started doing some good. Unfortunately the only FPJOB I could find was an ancient machine that would only accept quarters (no bills) and paid off every hit (no credits!). Talk about filthy hands! Gave that up and went to a FPDW where I had to use a cheat sheet (I'm not as smart as Gerry and almost never play DW). Gave back the little I had made at JOB and was self-conciense about the cheat sheet so went and stood behind Gerry until she got the message and we went back to the 4Q's where we played BJ for awhile. I'm about even but Gerry continues to decline. Over to the California for the prime rib (I had thought of ordering something else but just couldn't). Don't know why we never gamble there but off to the Fitz for BJ. Played through a coupla sets by Micheal Lee and it's hard to concentrate with such great entertainment so we quit about even and headed for the ElCo. We both sat at the same table (something we seldom do) with me at third base and Gerry next to me. Next to first base is a guy new to BJ getting some advise from the guy at first base. I'm playing as close to Perfect Basic Strategy as I can and this guy is just playing around. You got it-he's winning big time-I'm losing big time. After about an hour of this he starts looking over his stack of chips and starts giving me advise-primarily about playing Royal Match which I never do (bad odds). Gerry gets up and leaves before the big explosion she knows is coming but fortunately about this time our roles reverse and I start winning and he starts losing so he shuts up and I cool down. Eventually he loses it all and leaves but I hang in there and finish up the night down only a little. Gerry won't say but it's the first time in over 20 years I know she is losing big time (for us).

The next morning it's back to the ElCo for more Video Poker (double point day) and breakfast. Gerry leaves a little before noon and I go back to my FPJOB machine after helping her load her car. But the machine is still balky so I go catch the Stars of The Strip at the Plaza. It's okay but getting a little dated. From there I go to the magic show at the Fitz which I wanted to see. Siegfreid & Roy it's not but it is a real good afternoon show just a tad below Mac King. A real bargain at one $3 drink.

Hop the bus down to the Barbary Coast just in time for the last set of Big Elvis. He's as great as ever but drink prices have doubled to $2 each. Then down to Ellis Island where I sign up for the slot club to get a buck off the $3.95 steak (Thurs. price) and also get a coupon good for $2 from the Cage? I go to the restaurant and they give me a number 91- they are in the low 60's. Remembering my old Super 8 days, I go next door to the Lounge and get immediate seating at the bar. Have the great steak and a coupla drinks before they even get to the 90's in the restaurant. Stop at the cage on the way out to get the details on the two bucks and they just hand it to me! My steak winds up costing 95 cents without drinks and tip!

Back to the ElCo where I play VP for a coupla hours winning a few bucks, then to the BJ tables. I start out winning and am doing good 'til this gal comes along and starts playing "crazy". One round she'll play two hands, then set out a hand or two, then just one hand, then two , then set a couple. I know it doesn't really affect my playing but it drives me nuts and that does affect my playing so I move to another table. Finally I start a winning streak and have a coupla great table companions. I'm really doing great (I think) until around 3am when I realize I've had my limit of booze and partying and am starting to loose big time so I bail out and head off to bed.

Friday I wake up late with a mild hangover (first one in Vegas in ages!). I check out and leave my bag at the bell desk. I have a sandwich at Magnolias and spend most of the afternoon moping around the poker games at Binions. Take in the 5 o'clock Larry G. Jones show at the plaza. Then head back to the El Co where I get in a little bit of a discussion with the pit boss over a dinner comp. The pit boss (different one)the night before had offered one but I hadn't collected and he said I could take it another time and this was another time. He finally gave me one to the coffee shop which was all I wanted in the first place-it was just kinda the principal of the thing plus the remains of the hangover. I then played BJ til time to catch the CAT to the airport leaving about even.

At the airport I was a little leary of security after my problems with the Russian Mafia last year but I went right through with only my E-ticket reciept (didn't need to go to the desk for a boarding pass) and didn't set off any alarms. Volunteered at the gate for a bump as I had planned. The plane that had shown full for over two weeks had spare seats-go figure. At DFW I got the worst cup of $1.99 coffee ever and boarded my flight to Indy after a couple hours trying to nap in the waiting area. The gate agent gave me a seat in a 3 across group by myself and I had the armrests up and was asleep before they took the seatbelt sign off. Woke up on the final approach to IND. Really enjoyed the trip but think it woulda been even better had Gerry not been so insistant on the gambling part. Got home with about $100 in cash less than I started with. Figuring that I only used plastic occasionally with everything else out of the gambling budget it was a pretty reasonable trip though not a fantastic winning one.

Some observations-
The AA people, especially the flight crews, were great and the coach seating is better. Too bad they're having trouble.
Used to laugh about people bringing their own booze on a flight but after paying $5 for a can of Bud and a plastic glass...
I was there for what turned out to be Easter vacation. There were more kids there than in Disneyland and Disneyworld combined. Mostly on the Strip were I wasn't but also some Downtown.
I continue to find little reason to visit the Strip but did miss visiting some off-Strip properies.
Fitzgeralds pool is barely started with a new completion date of mid-May. Believe them if you dare.
The enjoyment derived from playing Blackjack is directly related to whether you are winning or losing!

 

Is Larry Jones still a one drink minimum show and is it worth it? Thanks!

 

I transfered planes in McCarran airport on the 14th, the night you flew in. The rain was a complete shock, as was the amount of rain. It was really coming down!

What was fantastic, though, was looking out the window as we taxied. The rain clouds lay so low in the sky that they reflected light off the strip. The most dramatic effect was the brilliant green cloud in the sky above MGM Grand, and the diffusion of the light column above Luxor.

That green cloud looked almost like the Northern Lights without the shimmering effect.

Great Vegas memory and I did not even leave the airport!

 

Another excellent report!You sure know how to do
Downtown!! Thanks!

Booger

 

Larry and all the shows at the Fitz are one drink minimum. Beer, soft drink and (I think) well drinks are $3/each. Call drinks and some stuff (imported beer?) are a little more but there is a price list outside the theater so you know what you will be paying. Larry is GREAT and worth a lot more. So is the magic show-sorry I forget her name. The Elvis impersonator was just okay but well worth a drink although I haven't seen him in a few years-who needs him with Big Elvis? Those of you who were at the old Fitz theater know it was horrible but the new one is nice if not great. All in all a great way to spend several hours for practically nothing.