mgreeley1
Tourist
Not Suitable For All Ages!!
Look...this type of trip report is not for everybody. All those that are looking for the family tales about wife and hubby need not apply. Now on to the good stuff...
Utah and I stroll out of bed for the next Vegas adventure on Friday. We catch a ride over to Paris to try and sample the world famous breakfast buffet. No dice here as we are told the line is over an hour long and we hung over and starving. We happen to spot a small restaurant next door and notice that the line is only about 10 deep. This seems like a solid deal so we decide to go for it and head in to “Le Caféâ€. Utah and I order the breakfast combo, which consists of bacon, eggs, and French toast. The food ends up being incredible (not so much in a hung over sort of way, I mean the food really was quite good) I would highly advise skipping the Paris buffet and simply hitting this place up instead. At around $7 it was outstanding food and the line was much shorter so it was a better deal all around.
Our next stop is at the Flamingo where by some stroke of luck we find the poker room. After waiting around for a while for another dealer to show up we are finally seated at opposite tables. Utah goes up a bit and I end up down after going on tilt when I hit 4 to a royal flush on the flop and then proceed to get jack squat the rest of the hand. After steaming for the next 2 hands I get up from the table and remember Mike's famous line from Rounders about players being able to remember the outstanding tough beats in poker and this one would rank right up there. Thankfully for the kind Wheel of Fortune slot machine I jumped into next I ended break back even on the day. Upstairs we go to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville where we sit on the deck and drink a few beers while catching some rays and enjoying the view. I am not quite sure what to make about what has been posted about this place on the T2V forum...I mean sure it's a tourist spot but then again so is most of Vegas. This place has a great view, excellent drinks, and fine service. Unless you hate Jimmy Buffet I don't see why this place would not be on your list next time you go. After drinking a few cold beverages I am surprised by a phone call from my boy Jason who is back home in Atlanta. Jason is busy trying to recruit me to go out with him and some girls he just met back home. Upon informing him that I am in Vegas at Buffet’s place drinking a beer he says "say no more, I have heard enough...call me when you get back!" Always good to hear from one of your friends back home that have no idea you are in Vegas.
Next stop is downtown Vegas. Always a favorite spot of mine because I always have the Balrog theme music from Street Fighter 2 playing in my head...classic! Utah and I roll upstairs to observe the WSOP. We notice Scotty Nguen at a table along with Andy Block and some other guys. This is a pretty cool experience to see these top pros up close and in person. Side note-Utah and I actually ran into Dewey Tomco in a cab line last night while hammered. After watching the big boys play for a bit we head over to the GN where we walk into the poker room and observe what may be considered the coolest part of the trip. At a private table in the corner are Gus Hansen, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Phil Ivey playing a huge private game for what I heard were some pretty serious dollars. We were on a long waiting list to play so we decided to just watch the legends play for a while before heading back to MB.
After all the excitement of seeing our hero’s in action and having to deal with the biggest degenerate cabbie on the way back, we decide to rest up a bit before we head out for the main event. Ever since our first trip to Vegas over 3 years ago the Olympic Gardens has always been one of the main highlights of the trip. I know that other people have other favorite strip joints for various reasons but mine has been and always will be the OG. One of the main reasons would be the fact that the girls dance on you and against you instead of 3 feet away like here in Atlanta. Moreover, most of the girls are very cool and don’t mind chatting with you for a while instead of pushing the hard sell on you. The OG seems rather quiet as we enter around 8:00. Upon being seated in the corner we are approached by a gorgeous brunette (we will call her Miami since that is where she was from) that sits down with us and utters words at Utah that are not suitable for these forums. After several outstanding dances that rival the best I have ever had Miami sits down with us and chats for a while before we send her along to sample some new talent. Much to our surprise a dancer comes over who recognizes us from our last trip over 7 months ago. This was very impressive because we have never seen the same girl in the OG twice. After several dances from her and a trip to the bathroom I sit back down and listen to Utah utter words that to this day pain me to remember. “Dude, I am really hungry so I think I am going to take off and get some of that gumbo at Mandalay Bay and then go play some cards.†At this point I am speechless, this is almost the equivalent to Goose dying in Top Gun to be honest. Here we have my main man leaving the world’s greatest strip club for some shrimp gumbo! At this point all kinds of questions begin to go through my mind…is the kid broke? No because he has won big at poker the past few days. Is his new girlfriend polluting his head? No because he would have never come in the first place if that was the case. After coming to the logical conclusion that the kid’s stomach has taken over his brain I tell him to go grab some grub and we can meet up later. (A side note to this story was last weekend where I experienced this same phenomenon myself at a local bar. After not eating dinner and drinking with the boys for several hours I had to leave the bar while talking to a couple of hotties when it started to feel like my stomach was going to eat me. However, I did not leave a strip club in the middle of Vegas but to each his own.) At this point I hang out with one of the dancers for an hour and then decide that hanging out in a strip club solo on vacation sucks so I roll back to MB to hit the Moorea beach club.
Upon arriving at Moorea beach club I am greeted by a couple of goons at the door asking if I was on “the list†and said if not then I would have to cough up $20 for a cover charge. At this point if the night I am pissed off, hammered, and sick of people hitting me up for a cover charge. I quickly go into A-Team mode and spot a group talking to the VIP host in the corner. I wander over and strike up a conversation with one of the ladies just as they are all getting stamped to get in free. The lady giving the stamps asks if I am with the group I am talking to and one of the bouncers assures her that I am and I get let in with no charge. Upon entering I quickly look around and realize that there are only about 20 people at this place and it looks like it could hold around 500. I wonder why as I look out at the MB pool and the gorgeous ladies dancing by the pool. This place had an incredible atmosphere and a great location and despite the $20 cover it is a Friday night in Vegas! As I order a drink from the bar I decide to start the first of many classic drunk dials on the night. I dial up the main girl from back home and babble some drunken logic that ends with me saying “I am out here looking good and feeling good cause that’s what I do!†This line has come back to haunt me because now all her friends use it and laugh at me every time they say it. My next drunk dial is to one of my married friends who I evidently inform that we both need to take a bubble bath together. This message is returned a week later when she ends up on a business trip in Charlotte. On night she is taking a bath and decides to call me laughing about the incident. I still have no idea what inspired that call. After about 5 more of these classics I hang up and notice a fellow who I played poker with earlier in the week. He immediately recognizes me and comes up and starts a conversation. We chat for a while before his boys roll over and we all head inside MB.
After hanging with my new crew for a while drinking and trading bar stories I decide to cut loose and stroll around the casino in search of Utah. After roaming around the casino hammered for about 20 minutes in search of Utah I pass a fine young lady who turns back around and gives me the smile. Feeling very confident, I walk up to her and we strike up a conversation. After about 10 minutes of me trying to sound witty and sober we head over to the Island Lounge and grab a drink together. Just when I think I am about to get lucky and end up a winner the last night in Vegas a man walks up next to me and informs me that they are together. I inform the man that his woman never mentioned that and we were simply having a drink together. I glance over at the woman who has a look on her face like when you were little and got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. She apologizes and I wish them well as I hear my cell phone go off. 5:45 AM has just passed and I check my phone and see that Utah has just left me a message. The man is up in the room after a poker marathon and is concerned that I am in jail or something to that nature. I laugh and decide that my body has finally had enough and I stroll up to the room where I pass out and await the final day in Vegas…
Our final day starts when we both wake up around 9:30. Utah seems extremely tired and I feel like I want to die at this point. We muster up enough energy to head over to Peppermills for what turns out to be a life saving breakfast. I won’t bother with details of this place as my boy Hurricane Mikey has already done an excellent job of that. Let’s just say the food is outstanding and the portions are huge. Make no mistake about it, this place is a must see for anybody in search of an excellent breakfast. After eating for about 30 minutes we decide to go back to MB and buy some gifts for family and friends. We are so worn out that I end up in the women’s clothing section at the Nike store while Utah is busy wandering around aimlessly. After buying a few gifts and taking a short break we wander over near the sports book. Utah heads over to the poker room for one last session while saddle up in the sports book and watch my Flyers play game 7 against Tampa Bay. A couple of really cool guys sit down next to me from Philly and we end up hitting it off pretty well. The Flyers score in the second period and the packed sports book erupts into a huge chant of “let’s go Flyers!†Sadly the Flyers end up loosing 2-1 and after saying goodbye to my new friends I head over to the Luxor Steakhouse to meet Utah for one last dinner. The food was excellent as we polish off 2 fillets and a bottle of wine. After dinner we play some VP and slots before around 8:30 that sinking feeling sets in. Utah and I look at each other and I have to utter the most painful of words “it’s time to go.†We head out for the airport, as the trip that was now just around 4 days seems to have gone by in an instant. As I walk through the gate and hear someone mutter, “I don’t want to leave†I am reminded of a saying I head a long time ago…. Vegas always gets you pumped before you leave, shows you the time of your life and leaves you a little sad, tired, and worn out when you leave. However, that can’t wait to get back feeling inside of you is what keeps you coming back year after year.
I have been home just about 3 weeks now and I am ready to go back already. Thanks to all the advice and information you folks have left on the T2V forums. It just goes to show that no matter how many times you hit Vegas there is always someplace new to try. God bless and I hopefully will see you all on the strip for a future adventure.
Matt
Look...this type of trip report is not for everybody. All those that are looking for the family tales about wife and hubby need not apply. Now on to the good stuff...
Utah and I stroll out of bed for the next Vegas adventure on Friday. We catch a ride over to Paris to try and sample the world famous breakfast buffet. No dice here as we are told the line is over an hour long and we hung over and starving. We happen to spot a small restaurant next door and notice that the line is only about 10 deep. This seems like a solid deal so we decide to go for it and head in to “Le Caféâ€. Utah and I order the breakfast combo, which consists of bacon, eggs, and French toast. The food ends up being incredible (not so much in a hung over sort of way, I mean the food really was quite good) I would highly advise skipping the Paris buffet and simply hitting this place up instead. At around $7 it was outstanding food and the line was much shorter so it was a better deal all around.
Our next stop is at the Flamingo where by some stroke of luck we find the poker room. After waiting around for a while for another dealer to show up we are finally seated at opposite tables. Utah goes up a bit and I end up down after going on tilt when I hit 4 to a royal flush on the flop and then proceed to get jack squat the rest of the hand. After steaming for the next 2 hands I get up from the table and remember Mike's famous line from Rounders about players being able to remember the outstanding tough beats in poker and this one would rank right up there. Thankfully for the kind Wheel of Fortune slot machine I jumped into next I ended break back even on the day. Upstairs we go to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville where we sit on the deck and drink a few beers while catching some rays and enjoying the view. I am not quite sure what to make about what has been posted about this place on the T2V forum...I mean sure it's a tourist spot but then again so is most of Vegas. This place has a great view, excellent drinks, and fine service. Unless you hate Jimmy Buffet I don't see why this place would not be on your list next time you go. After drinking a few cold beverages I am surprised by a phone call from my boy Jason who is back home in Atlanta. Jason is busy trying to recruit me to go out with him and some girls he just met back home. Upon informing him that I am in Vegas at Buffet’s place drinking a beer he says "say no more, I have heard enough...call me when you get back!" Always good to hear from one of your friends back home that have no idea you are in Vegas.
Next stop is downtown Vegas. Always a favorite spot of mine because I always have the Balrog theme music from Street Fighter 2 playing in my head...classic! Utah and I roll upstairs to observe the WSOP. We notice Scotty Nguen at a table along with Andy Block and some other guys. This is a pretty cool experience to see these top pros up close and in person. Side note-Utah and I actually ran into Dewey Tomco in a cab line last night while hammered. After watching the big boys play for a bit we head over to the GN where we walk into the poker room and observe what may be considered the coolest part of the trip. At a private table in the corner are Gus Hansen, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Phil Ivey playing a huge private game for what I heard were some pretty serious dollars. We were on a long waiting list to play so we decided to just watch the legends play for a while before heading back to MB.
After all the excitement of seeing our hero’s in action and having to deal with the biggest degenerate cabbie on the way back, we decide to rest up a bit before we head out for the main event. Ever since our first trip to Vegas over 3 years ago the Olympic Gardens has always been one of the main highlights of the trip. I know that other people have other favorite strip joints for various reasons but mine has been and always will be the OG. One of the main reasons would be the fact that the girls dance on you and against you instead of 3 feet away like here in Atlanta. Moreover, most of the girls are very cool and don’t mind chatting with you for a while instead of pushing the hard sell on you. The OG seems rather quiet as we enter around 8:00. Upon being seated in the corner we are approached by a gorgeous brunette (we will call her Miami since that is where she was from) that sits down with us and utters words at Utah that are not suitable for these forums. After several outstanding dances that rival the best I have ever had Miami sits down with us and chats for a while before we send her along to sample some new talent. Much to our surprise a dancer comes over who recognizes us from our last trip over 7 months ago. This was very impressive because we have never seen the same girl in the OG twice. After several dances from her and a trip to the bathroom I sit back down and listen to Utah utter words that to this day pain me to remember. “Dude, I am really hungry so I think I am going to take off and get some of that gumbo at Mandalay Bay and then go play some cards.†At this point I am speechless, this is almost the equivalent to Goose dying in Top Gun to be honest. Here we have my main man leaving the world’s greatest strip club for some shrimp gumbo! At this point all kinds of questions begin to go through my mind…is the kid broke? No because he has won big at poker the past few days. Is his new girlfriend polluting his head? No because he would have never come in the first place if that was the case. After coming to the logical conclusion that the kid’s stomach has taken over his brain I tell him to go grab some grub and we can meet up later. (A side note to this story was last weekend where I experienced this same phenomenon myself at a local bar. After not eating dinner and drinking with the boys for several hours I had to leave the bar while talking to a couple of hotties when it started to feel like my stomach was going to eat me. However, I did not leave a strip club in the middle of Vegas but to each his own.) At this point I hang out with one of the dancers for an hour and then decide that hanging out in a strip club solo on vacation sucks so I roll back to MB to hit the Moorea beach club.
Upon arriving at Moorea beach club I am greeted by a couple of goons at the door asking if I was on “the list†and said if not then I would have to cough up $20 for a cover charge. At this point if the night I am pissed off, hammered, and sick of people hitting me up for a cover charge. I quickly go into A-Team mode and spot a group talking to the VIP host in the corner. I wander over and strike up a conversation with one of the ladies just as they are all getting stamped to get in free. The lady giving the stamps asks if I am with the group I am talking to and one of the bouncers assures her that I am and I get let in with no charge. Upon entering I quickly look around and realize that there are only about 20 people at this place and it looks like it could hold around 500. I wonder why as I look out at the MB pool and the gorgeous ladies dancing by the pool. This place had an incredible atmosphere and a great location and despite the $20 cover it is a Friday night in Vegas! As I order a drink from the bar I decide to start the first of many classic drunk dials on the night. I dial up the main girl from back home and babble some drunken logic that ends with me saying “I am out here looking good and feeling good cause that’s what I do!†This line has come back to haunt me because now all her friends use it and laugh at me every time they say it. My next drunk dial is to one of my married friends who I evidently inform that we both need to take a bubble bath together. This message is returned a week later when she ends up on a business trip in Charlotte. On night she is taking a bath and decides to call me laughing about the incident. I still have no idea what inspired that call. After about 5 more of these classics I hang up and notice a fellow who I played poker with earlier in the week. He immediately recognizes me and comes up and starts a conversation. We chat for a while before his boys roll over and we all head inside MB.
After hanging with my new crew for a while drinking and trading bar stories I decide to cut loose and stroll around the casino in search of Utah. After roaming around the casino hammered for about 20 minutes in search of Utah I pass a fine young lady who turns back around and gives me the smile. Feeling very confident, I walk up to her and we strike up a conversation. After about 10 minutes of me trying to sound witty and sober we head over to the Island Lounge and grab a drink together. Just when I think I am about to get lucky and end up a winner the last night in Vegas a man walks up next to me and informs me that they are together. I inform the man that his woman never mentioned that and we were simply having a drink together. I glance over at the woman who has a look on her face like when you were little and got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. She apologizes and I wish them well as I hear my cell phone go off. 5:45 AM has just passed and I check my phone and see that Utah has just left me a message. The man is up in the room after a poker marathon and is concerned that I am in jail or something to that nature. I laugh and decide that my body has finally had enough and I stroll up to the room where I pass out and await the final day in Vegas…
Our final day starts when we both wake up around 9:30. Utah seems extremely tired and I feel like I want to die at this point. We muster up enough energy to head over to Peppermills for what turns out to be a life saving breakfast. I won’t bother with details of this place as my boy Hurricane Mikey has already done an excellent job of that. Let’s just say the food is outstanding and the portions are huge. Make no mistake about it, this place is a must see for anybody in search of an excellent breakfast. After eating for about 30 minutes we decide to go back to MB and buy some gifts for family and friends. We are so worn out that I end up in the women’s clothing section at the Nike store while Utah is busy wandering around aimlessly. After buying a few gifts and taking a short break we wander over near the sports book. Utah heads over to the poker room for one last session while saddle up in the sports book and watch my Flyers play game 7 against Tampa Bay. A couple of really cool guys sit down next to me from Philly and we end up hitting it off pretty well. The Flyers score in the second period and the packed sports book erupts into a huge chant of “let’s go Flyers!†Sadly the Flyers end up loosing 2-1 and after saying goodbye to my new friends I head over to the Luxor Steakhouse to meet Utah for one last dinner. The food was excellent as we polish off 2 fillets and a bottle of wine. After dinner we play some VP and slots before around 8:30 that sinking feeling sets in. Utah and I look at each other and I have to utter the most painful of words “it’s time to go.†We head out for the airport, as the trip that was now just around 4 days seems to have gone by in an instant. As I walk through the gate and hear someone mutter, “I don’t want to leave†I am reminded of a saying I head a long time ago…. Vegas always gets you pumped before you leave, shows you the time of your life and leaves you a little sad, tired, and worn out when you leave. However, that can’t wait to get back feeling inside of you is what keeps you coming back year after year.
I have been home just about 3 weeks now and I am ready to go back already. Thanks to all the advice and information you folks have left on the T2V forums. It just goes to show that no matter how many times you hit Vegas there is always someplace new to try. God bless and I hopefully will see you all on the strip for a future adventure.
Matt
