Just got back from Downtown.....

Left for the Gold Strike last Thursday around noon checked in about 3:30 and played until midnight after losing more than anticipated. This is one of the problems of staying in the outer edges of Vegas. If you are getting beat up at the tables you can’t take a walk to another casino and there is nothing else to do except gamble.

Friday
Went to the Plaza and checked in there for three nights. My connection was on vacation so it took some hustling to get to get my room comped. It pays to have more than one connection. Went to the Main St. Station for the afternoon buffet and it was good as usual. Played a little there and went back to the Plaza and still no luck on the tables or the VP machines. We took a walk downtown and tried a little at several places and still no luck. Watched Dusty Baron and then the Elvis impersonator at the Omaha Lounge instead of gambling for several hours and they were good but I have seen Dusty’s show many, many times. Tried the new Backstage formally called Chop Chop’s and it was just so, so then went to bed about 9:30 which is unheard of for us.

Saturday
They had a Barrick Burger eating contest in the Omaha Lounge at the Plaza so we got there early with good seats. First they had the amateurs eating a 3.5 pound burger and it was funny. Two of the contestants lost their burgers before they were half done. It was pretty disgusting.
Next came the pro’s eating a 9 pound Barrick cheese burger. Here is a picture of the eventual winner.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/DonD/100_2022.jpg

She only weighs 109 pounds and holds almost all of the world eating records. Now here is a picture of her just before winning and the big guy on her left was almost up to her and he lost his lunch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/DonD/100_2038.jpg


Tried some more gambling and still no luck. Even played horses and basketball with no luck.
Had a meet with IllMarty from this board early Saturday eveining. He and his friend Mike are both very nice people. We had a few drinks and then I gave them a tour of the Plaza and then we gambled. Still no luck for me.

Sunday
Marty and Mike came back to the Plaza and we went to the Celebrity Brunch and had a good time. It is nice meeting people face to face after knowing them from this board. Mike had a great run of luck on the penny 100 play double double bonus poker machine. It dealt him four deuces with an ace kicker that was worth 80,000 pennies. I think he used up all of my luck because things didn’t get any better for me.

Monday
Got up drove back to the Gold Strike for their buffet which is good but not great and then played for a couple of hours before driving home and I would like to say that I kicked ass but they kicked mine. Oh well, maybe next time. One of my worst gambling trips in many years but we still had a great time. Meeting Marty and Mike made it a great trip anyway.

 

Those contests aren't about eating, they're about having missed your casting call for Jim Rose.

Glad you had a good time with the fellow board members. That can be a real plus to a trip.

 

The bad trips make you appreciate the good ones that much more. With that one behind you, things should be looking up.

I guess you don't want to watch the hamburger eating contest if you have a weak stomach. I saw that girl on TV the other night. Can't remember what she was eating but it was the same chipmunk look. Pretty cool pics.

Nice that you could hook up with Marty. Will be looking for his report as well. Thanks for the report DonD

 

Don,
What kind of crowd did they have at the burger-eating contest?
Also, it appears from the photos that the contestants are some of the same that have been on televised eating contests.
Do you think we'll see this on the tube in the future?
Since Barrick's took over, the Plaza seems to be taking off with changes, promotions, etc.
Are they changing the diner into a buffet?

 

They had a pretty big crowd with lots of TV cameras. So maybe it will be on TV. The pictures are of the Pro’s. They had an amateur contest before the Pro’s though. Two of those guy’s lost it before the end and they were only 3.5 pound burgers. Here is a picture of the 9 pound burgers.



They are changing the Diner (former) into a buffet that should open in a couple of months.
Barrick’s is making a lot changes and they seem to be for the better. I just hope that they continue to be nice to me.
Here is the winner's website, she is so cute
http://www.sonyatheblackwidow.com/_wsn/page3.html

[ January 31, 2005, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: DonD ]