GREGRIO...All RIO, Dec.14-19

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW.............
WOW!, I've had snow on December trips before, but this time...
IT REALLY SNOWED!
Big flakes, stuck to the ground, kids makin' snow angels and little snowmen
all over... It started Wednesday morning, and didn't stop until late that night.
By Thursday morning, it was all over...cold and blue sky and no more snow.

Locals were havin' a blast with it, kids got a 'snow day' OFF from school,
McCarran shut down, folks from back East were PISSED..."this is Las Vegas",
"desert", "its not suppose to show", "I left the show to come here!"

It really confused some Southern Californians who kept drawing up lines of it with
their credit cards on the car windshields and trying to 'sniff' it...

It was so cold, all the hookers stayed inside, offering 'some' casino customers...snow jobs.

Many of the cars on the street sprouted arms as passengers reached for snow flakes and one driver was reported driving with his head out the window and mouth open.

At the RIO...EVERYTHING was white. The palm trees and landscaping, all covered
in a soft white blanket... just looked beautiful!
Too bad things weren't as cheery inside.......sign of the times were obvious everywhere.
11 'Change' people GONE. (4 fired/7 on call-back when needed)
4 'Doormen' GONE.
'Antonio's' CLOSED.
'Fiores' CLOSED.
'Cafe Martorano' CLOSING...
'Lucky Strike' CLOSED.
'Sao Paulo Cafe' closed until the 24th. AABAG was taking up all the slack...
A dozen Housekeepers let go...and a good portion of Masquerade Tower is shutting down (taking advantage of the low crowds) for renovation.
The Registration staff have been cut to 4 days a week and now work 10 hour
shifts.
The 'Cab Line' has been moved BACK to the RIO's front doors, which everyone
likes! No change in the 'Shuttle'...it's still located at the casino's West side with
it's normal schedule.

Got one of my favorite rooms, stocked it up with Carrot Cake (which you can only get from the All American Bar and Grill now)...NO DESSERTS in the Cafe any more due to lack of interest.
The RIO and other casinos round town were all real lite...crowds are WAY DOWN!
...even at night.

My Shows were all good. Crowds at them were down too...quite a few empty seats. I had the feeling you could get tics to otherwise SOLD OUT Shows when you got to town. (Just to make sure, I'd still book 'em in advance though)
I'll have some thoughts in the usual place about the Shows I saw by the end of this weekend.

SOS on the RIO's gaming with the exception of...40 new STAR TREK Slot Machines
scattered around the Harrah's properties. (4 at the RIO)
Lots of SOUND and VIbRaTIoN built into the chairs, bonus rounds and...you win
'Medals' that allows you to access special bonus rounds. Gotta earn 40 of 'em first though before you can do anything with 'em and...
VERY IMPORTANT: YOU MUST CREATE A 'SIGN-ON' the first time you play.
If you DON'T, you'll loose all the Medals you may win.
If you DO , your Medals will stay in the system and the game will remember you
and your SIGN-ON from your Total Reward number at any of the other Harrah's
casinos that have STAR TREK...it was fun!

I hooked up with friends from the 'boards' for breakfasts and lunches...
Played all I wanted/when I wanted...(and took nice long naps, LOL!) Ya gotta
remember, I'm there for R&R and for me, a good break in the afternoon is just as enjoyable as good eatin'/drinkin'/and gambling.

I had a nice visit over at Huntingtion Press (Las Vegas Advisor) visiting with
Bethany Coffee, David McKee and Anthony Curtis. Their new office looks great and is just in back of the RIO's Convention Center parking area on Procyon St.
...right off Twain. Lots of LVA 'stocking stuffers' available in the office for sale
(and ON SALE) or on their website www.lasvegasadvisor.com ('click' LVA Store)

I went to a benefit performance for the Liberace Foundation one night after
RAW TALENT at the Liberace Museum.
It was billed as MAMMA MIA'S LAST STAND and featured most of the cast from the Show.
A casual, informal party/get-to-gether...complete with buffet and drinks.
17 members of the cast performed songs from other musicals they'd been in over the years...WHAT A BUNCH OF TALENTED PEOPLE!...IT WAS A RIOT/LOTS OF FUN!
ROBIN BAXTER (Rosie)...one of 'Donna's girlfriends in the Show, closed the Show.
She was a hoot! She came up to the mic...all poised and humble...thanked everyone for being there and spoke of MAMMA'S 6 year run and all the wonderful times she and the cast had had (it closes January 4th) The musical director from the Show accompanied everyone on piano and he starts Robin's song...
Bla Bla Bla...the first verse is short. A soft, poignant, passionate, seductive and
playful little ditty...THEN the first line of the chorus...
"EVERYBODY'S FUCKING BUT ME"...the theme for the rest of the song is set and IT IS HILARIOUS! Folks are rolling in the aisle, laughing/crying...totally caught everyone by surprise and the lyrics were sooooo funny. That evening was more fun than any of my regular Shows were...lucky for me I saw the anouncement in the RJ from Mike Weatherford!...REAL LUCKY.

My SOUTHWEST flight was good. Nothing out of the ordinary. The Captain ran on board at the last minute waring nothing but his American Flag tie and proceeded to fly us to Maui for brunch before we headed to Vegas.
The new runway repaving at McCarran didn't seem to be a problem. They used a different flight path coming in and we flew over different views of the City you normally don't see. Going home, they flew right over the Strip, hung a Left around
Wynn Las Vegas, then headed to California.

GOOD TRIP, LOTS OF FUN!
I took a 3k bankroll down............brought 1k home. Just wasn't hittin' anything!
NEXT TRIP March 22-27.

HAPPY HOLIDAZE and REJOICE DAMN IT!

 

Ok, I'll bite... are you serious??? he ran on with only a tie and took you to Maui for brunch before taking you to Vegas?

btw... good trip report!

 

Welcome back!

Sucks about the layoffs at the RIO- I know you've been talking to some of those folks for years now.

That show sounded like it was a riot.

Have a great holiday season!

Gary & Linda

 

That sounded like our last trip. Hey, but someone's got to keep the casinos in business.

 

Very interesting about the Star Trek slots...will definitely make sure I "sign on" before playing! I'm assuming it works as when you sit down and buy-in for the first time, it prompts you through a series of "sign-on" screens?

 

Sad to hear about all the lay-offs, especially at this time of year.

Thank you for the TR, look forward to more over the weekend.

 

Great report, but sorry you didn't win.
Will definitley check out the Star Trek Machines and remember to signon!

 

That's a bummer bout the lay offs......anyway Star Trek has peaked my interest thanks for the info..will have to check them out in April.

 

We were there the same time as you - sorry we couldn't meet. Some were asking about you at my meet at Orleans on the 16th (can't remember who). Viva snowy Vegas!

 

Sorry Sailor53, I didn't hear about the MEET...
Sometimes I get too caught up with these boards
and miss things...( a lot of things, lol) They can be fun...
how'd it go? Could this be the one Kurt and Robyn (KingOfKurtopia)
were going too?

 

Nicely done. Thanks for posting. That's a shame to hear about all the closings at Rio.

 

great quote

"It really confused some Southern Californians who kept drawing up lines of it with
their credit cards on the car windshields and trying to 'sniff' it..."

One of the best "lines" I've heard in a while.

The Kid

 

Thanks for posting. Liked the confused southern californians quip. What was the deal with the patriotic pilot? Didn't get that one.

later, GVJ

 

Most of the SOUTHWEST pilots I have ware flag or red, white, and blue ties.

 

tr

Another great report Greg....Happy Holidays

 

Thanks for the great report Greg.