Downtown-August 26 thru 30th

I'm putting some details (room, shows , meals,etc.) in other posts at the appropriate catagory in order to shorten this.

General comment: Weather didn't bother me. After coming from the Wabash Valley where the temp has been mid to upper 90's all summer with humidity to match I felt comfortable with 100 to 102 in Vegas. Traffic was way down compared to what I am used to in Vegas except for the KIDS. I used to be one of those take it or leave it ones concerning kids in Vegas-NO MORE! There should be a law that kids aren't allowed within a hundred yards of a casino and it should be increased to a 100 miles if they are with their STUPID PARENTS!!

Monday: Arrived at Indy about an hour before flight time and went to the ATA kiosks for check-in but the machines were in use by a couple who were having a hard time so I proceeded directly to the gate. Security at Indy really have their act together so although my belt buckle set off the alarm and got me a "wanding", I was at the gate and checked in with 1/2 hour to spare. Got an old L-1011 and even though I don't care for obsolete jumbo cattle cars it wasn't too bad and they gave us free movies both ways. Hopped CAT in Vegas to Downtown and Fitzgeralds. Was gonna ask for a high room but she announced that my comp had been set aside in an upgraded 21 Club room so I kept my mouth shut. Much nicer than I needed but I'm not complaining. Took in Larry Jones 5 o'clock show. Really like this guy and heartily recommend him. Then it was down to the Golden Gate for a shrimp cocktail then on to Binions. Don't like the changes at all!! Tne west side BJ tables were my favorites and they've been reduced by a half and were closed. I played at the east side for a while but didn' like it and lost steadily. Finally gave up and went to the California for the great prime rib deal. Then it was back to the Fitz were I watched the last set of Micheal Lee-highly recommend and off to bed.

Tuesday:After morning juice (Bloody Mary) it's off to the El Cortez. My daughter-in-law had suggested I START here as I "always" end my trips here with a winning session. No go-spent a coupla hours trading dollars at the BJ tables and finally got hungry (plus the drinks were starting to tell on an empty stomach) so I got comped breakfast. Service was lousy as usual but the food was okay and the price is right. Went to Harrahs and got tickets for Thursday to see Mac King and Clint Holmes then on to the Rio for Ronn Lucas tickets. Across the street to the Gold Coast for a real long session of VP, the excellent buffet and a little BJ. No luck-down a little. Back Downtown to the Plaza to see a set of the Sunspots and play a little VP. Down more.

Wednesday: In an attempt to change my luck it's off to the Sahara. Don't really care for their dollar BJ and it doesn't care much for me-lost again. Had the buffet and I think it's okay for brunch in spite of the naysayers. Strolled down to Slots-o-Fun but all their $3 tables go to $5 at 11am now. Played a little anyway cause of the good rules but lost anyhow. Went on down to Casino Royale but they've gone to 6/5 BJ and I refuse to play at these kinda places. Hop the shuttle to Sam's town and continue my losing streak. Back Downtown for another set of the Sunspots and a shrimp cocktail at the GG. Back to Binions to continue my beating.

Thursday: A little VP at the Fritz and I'm off to meet my date at the Imperial Palace. Mac King show at 1pm is great as always then to the Rio for Ronn Lucas-again a fantastic show. Back to the Barbary Coast for a set of Big Elvis-I liked it but she didn't care for him. Then over to Harrahs for Clint Holmes-she liked but I didn't care for him-Sammy Davis Jr. he sure ain't. Then next door to the Flamingo for dinner at the Italian place on the north end. Can't remember the name and wouldn't recommend it even if I could but it was her choice. Then it's back to my hotel, the Fitz, where we dance to Michael Lee. The gal thinks I'm the last of the big spenders but with coupons the day/night comes to less than $50 not counting the restaurant. Jimbo I'm starting to challenge you.

Friday: It's my last day so it's gotta be the El Cortez. I think I'm doing great (and really was) when this gal across the pit starts screaming "I won-I won"! $10,800.50 on a nickle progressive machine! I didn't do as good but I continued the tradition and headed for the Fremont a winner. Thank Jackie Gaughan for the El Cortez. First time ever I had the buffet at the Fremont looking for a replacement Downtown for the slipping MSS. It was good-not great-but I'd say the number two choice after GN at a little cheaper price and no long lines. Hop the CAT to the airport. The ticket counter is mobbed so I proceed to the gate cept this reject from the Russian Mafia security gaurd says I gotta have a boarding pass to go thru security. I tell him it states plainly on my ticket confirmation that it's all I need and, indeed, I have passed security points many times with this confirmation including Vegas and Indy on this trip. He doesn't give a manure and refuses to even read it (can't read?) and I go back and join the long line. The ticket agent agrees that all I needed was the confirmation and goes to see her supervisor but comes back and says better give me a boarding pass. Through security now with no problem-belt buckle doesn't even set off the alarm. Plane boards 40 minutes late as we hafta wait for the cabin crew to fly in from California. They page a passenger 2-3 times and then announce that a passenger with boarding pass failed to board and now they gotta take all the luggage off and find/remove his! Another half hour. Perhaps some of you people who check their luggage can tell me how they knew which bag was which?? And don't tell me the required luggage tag cause no one at the ticket counter was checking them!

At any rate made it home from another great trip to God's Country that even the security people couldn't destroy, try as they did. Oh, and in spite of the generally bad gaming I experienced, I did manage to come home with a little over a $100 more than I left with. Not great but better than losing!

 

Good report!
We'll be at the Fitz in 23 days.


[ September 05, 2002, 12:48 PM: Message edited by: GNH2000 ]

 

Andsen....as someone who always checks luggage b/c I don't like fighting with people over the overhead compartment space...the way they track it is by the print out tags the airline puts on the bag before they throw it on the belt. They have bar codes and the passengers name printed out on it. That's also how they track luggage that gets lost.

 

Nice report, Andsen! Thanks for a downtown "fix"!

 

Mikey

 

To add on about the bar code on checked luggage--your boarding pass has the bar code too, that they scan when you get on to match everything up.

 

The Wabash Valley, eh? I lived in Terre Haute from '83 to '92, and although I sometimes miss the place, what I don't miss are the summers there. Visited one July in '99 (temperature matched the year) and thought I was inside a blast furnace.

Go Sycamores!