1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

NFC caved but didn’t cave… Jul 22 - Aug 3 @ Aria, Downtown/Sapphire, Laughlin, Plaza

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by notfromconcentrate, Jul 21, 2019.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Made it to the oyster bar in record time! 23 minutes by my photo timestamps.

    Met a survivor of the October 2017 shooting in line. He has multiple bullet wounds in his chest and went from 225 to 150 pounds because of the medical complications. He can also only digest seafood, can’t digest any cooked meats.

    It was a profound anecdote that made me appreciate both life and good health a whole lot more.

    [​IMG]
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
    • Wow! x 10
    • Like x 5
    • Love x 4
    • Agree x 2
    • Funny x 1
  2. fudgewapner

    fudgewapner High-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2014
    Messages:
    810
    Location:
    Sunny San Diego
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    44
    Always enjoy your reports. Too bad about your friend, but as you said at least he's recovering.

    I too enjoy the Vegas trip bubble bath - you aren't alone on that front!
     
  3. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    I know better than to take what you’re saying the wrong way, because I know you didn’t mean it the way in which others seem to have taken it. So rest assured I viewed it as a mostly positive post, but duly acknowledging the evident weirdness.

    You’re absolutely correct that many of my actions and choices are out of character with the otherwise extravagant choices I’m making. I’m probably going to be the first person in the history of Las Vegas to eat dinner at Longhorn’s Chuckwagon Cafe, and shit it out in a Sky Suites toilet.

    I don’t really know how to respond to your comments, other than that I’m comfortable with what makes sense to me.

    For low limit gambling, I just don’t enjoy playing for more than I have to when it’s the exact same game of blackjack, video poker, etc... as many other members know, I was a card counter at one point which was my primary reason for going to Vegas. Since I know the odds of these games inside and out, it just has my mind programmed to not enjoy voluntarily playing at a negative expectation for limits on the strip versus limits off strip.

    Mojitos, I just know how I like them made, and I’d rather not have to fuss with ordering them from a bartender or in-room dining to have them made that way. Plus I’d have to go downstairs to get each mojito (or wait on room service which could take 30+ minutes). Furthermore, it would probably cost $20ish per drink at Aria’s prices, which adds right up.

    Greyhound to Laughlin, I don’t have a drivers license and I hate driving, so I don’t really have another way to get there.

    Coupons, I grew up in what you might call “house poor” circumstances, so I’m wired to seek out deals like these where I can get them no matter how much money I have or earn.

    For the general perception of all this (I.e. young single guy with a job vs an older person on fixed income), I don’t really care how it looks. I realize some men like to “flex” their lifestyle to look rich as a way of attracting women. As you may recall from my prior reports, I have zero interest in casual sex... so attracting someone based on the superficial appearance of wealth through a lifestyle I don’t really enjoy isn’t my thing.

    Finally, I generally don’t enjoy the company of most affluent people. I’m a “white collar” worker with a thoroughly “blue collar” personality. So I prefer the crowds at places like Sam’s Town over the crowds at Aria.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
    • Like Like x 37
    • Love Love x 16
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. Timbuck

    Timbuck Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2015
    Messages:
    164
    Perfect response to what may have seemed like my asshole comments. Truly not meant to be a jerk. I just call things out as I see them. And as I kept returning to read your report, the comments that I wrote kept popping in to my head.
    I hope you hit a jackpot and do whatever the heck you want with the money.
    Have a blast.
     
    • Like Like x 7
    • Love Love x 6
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Shrimp cocktail was meh. These were buffet quality shrimps, and the cocktail sauce had barely any flavour. Nothing can compare to the shrimp cocktail at Piero’s which remains my favourite.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Combo pan roast as my main. Just like the first time I had it in March, was in literal disbelief at the flavour. SO good. Sadly, I couldn’t fully enjoy it as I was taking an inventory of everybody I have to call/text/email to cancel stuff ASAP now that Temple isn’t coming. But the amazing flavour of the pan roast made it not suck as much.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Current plan is to make my buy in for 3:00 bingo, take a blitz approach to all those contacts I have to make. Then bingo. Then back to the hotel. Then not sure if I’ll go to Fashion Show/Wynn and then Harrah’s for the Sam’s Town shuttle, or straight to Harrah’s. Let’s see what happens.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
    • Like Like x 5
  6. Crawfordesquire

    Crawfordesquire High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    829
    Location:
    north carolina
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    enjoying the report so far, as usual :beer:
     
  7. dino_martini

    dino_martini Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    Messages:
    91
    Location:
    Alberta Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    Loving your report and your style! You inspired me to go down to the casino floor in my bath robe next time I'm in Veags.
     
    • Love Love x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  8. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Sorry to hear about the plan changes that need to be made due to Temple's recovery. But sounds like he used a lot of luck on that head-on collision. Even more luck than you used on the jet ski last year!
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
  9. Multifarious5

    Multifarious5 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2015
    Messages:
    4,099
    Location:
    west coast
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    23
    You ROCK it @notfromconcentrate !! You spoil yourself on things you enjoy, yet are frugal on not throwing money away for no reason. Savvy and smart.

    Hey, @jpw711 loves to live large too, but he refuses to pay $5 for Starbucks. Even funnier, he has about a billion RC, and everyone teases him about his anti $5 coffee stance, but he stands firm. I LOVE that on him!

    @Chuck2009x will take 2 week trips and pay to upgrade to a Cosmo suite, but has duct tape on one of his suitcases, and I love that too! (Sorry Chucko, but you know you're still my poster child for Vegas coolness/savviness)

    We don't live Sky suites large, but we live larger than we ever dreamed we would in Vegas. I still BOGO MyVegas, BOGO at home, and pack nice wine for the room versus pay $20 a glass for a so-so glass just to bring it to the room. (I don't like bars or lounges, so it would be a waste.) Splurge on what you enjoy, trim the cost on things you care less about. It's not an "older" thing due to being uncool, it's an "older" thing on having some wisdom.

    Love, love love your blend of high and low rolling, and that it is YOUR unique Vegas style. MANY of us aggressively embrace this too! Keep rocking it, I'm loving the report!

    Still have to poke fun below though :blowkiss::feedme:

    Ok, you need new boundaries? Try wearing it into Louis Vuitton :poke: I would pay to see their faces! Then again, you might charm them into letting you in!
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2019
    • Love Love x 8
    • Like Like x 4
    • Agree Agree x 2
  10. ffejry

    ffejry #1 Bears Fan

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2015
    Messages:
    6,298
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    69
    Dude?

    I met NFC on one trip. We hung out two nights. He's not much of a gambler. He WILL play. He definitely played some serious BJ at Casino Royale. We spent a couple hours at the tables. We had a blast. He also played some slots and doubles his money and walks away (I wish I had his will power, because I try to triple or quadruple it...).

    There's definitely no fixed income. Just because he makes good money doesn't mean he needs to spend it all on gambling. He spent like 22 days in Vegas last summer, which is HARD to do.

    Everyone does Vegas differently, and his way of doing Vegas suits him perfectly.

    EDIT: No need to respond to this - I should have finished page 10 before responding to this post. My apologies. NFC's response was spot on.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Love Love x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  11. pressitagain

    pressitagain VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2013
    Messages:
    3,323
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    This is a VERY entertaining TR. Comical but in a good way...ballsy with some stuff but that’s what imagined it would be!!!

    Keep it up bud!!!

    Ps. Knowing your low rolling style...up 80 and didn’t stop???
     
  12. Colesc15

    Colesc15 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2017
    Messages:
    1,657
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    0
    I'm loving this report. It's awesome to see how people view Vegas and how they take it on. I love the fact it's not what I would do in Vegas. I blow thousands on slots and have fun. And I can guarantee NFC has just as much fun as I do, just spends the money on different things. This is what's great about Vegas, everyone can do whatever they want and spend money on whatever. I have no problem putting $100 in a machine and losing it in 5 minutes but would never spend that much on fancy drinks, which I've seen many reports do. It's awesome seeing how we all spend money in Vegas whether it's a budget of $100 a day or $10,000 a day (I wish )
     
    • Agree Agree x 8
    • Like Like x 2
    • Love Love x 2
  13. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    21,510
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    This comment (and the entire discussion) makes me laugh because just this past weekend, my partner was poking fun at me because she watches me gamble thousands of dollars a hand at the tables, but then I decided not to buy a twelve dollar t-shirt I liked at the mall because I deemed it too expensive, lol :goofy:
     
    The plans have changed
    Post-Shopping Recovery Period
    • Funny x 10
    • Like x 8
    • Agree x 7
    • Love x 2
    • Informative x 2
  14. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
    • Like Like x 6
    • Love Love x 2
  15. drac999

    drac999 Loving Life

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2018
    Messages:
    1,049
    Location:
    Marietta
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    I am the same way, Multifarious5. For me, I splurge on gambling and first class flights and use all of my freebies for food, rooms, and extras! I'm not a bar/lounge person (too old for that), either. I love fine dining and good wine and find it where I can, and use comps if possible.
     
    Happy Birthday to Me!
    • Like Like x 4
    • Love Love x 1
  16. raisingoo

    raisingoo Medium-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2010
    Messages:
    622
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Loving your trip report, as usual. Sorry to hear about your friend's car accident, glad it's only minor injuries.

    I was looking forward to your Double Down Saloon experience and report. I haven't been there myself, but have always wanted to go on each trip in the past few years myself, but never seem to make it there. You said you won't be going because of your friend's accident. Maybe reconsider? Going solo instead? Heck, why not? They have a drink (or maybe it's a shot), I have heard, called "Ass Juice" on the menu! (LOL!) I read one time that Prince Harry actually showed up there once, years ago. (I swear I am not making this up!!!)

    I am also wondering, if it's not too personal, to ask what you actually paid for the Aria Sky Suites. I think I read that it was discounted via a smartphone app fremium casino play thing on your part, right, but not free due to chip package purchases? What was your actual cost, if I could inquire? Man, that view is awesome.

    I am amazed at your frugality at some things and your willing to spend money on others, as others have said, but, hey, it's your money, life, and party, and as long as you're having fun responsibly, that's what matters, right?

    Keep up the good trip report!

    Hope you make it downtown to Fremont Street, too, as that's my favorite. :)
     
  17. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2015
    Messages:
    9,321
    Location:
    Digital Nomad from Southern Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    Very generous pour of Johnnie Walker red as part of the comp drinks here at Palace Station bingo. Also brought me a water without even asking :eek:

    [​IMG]
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
    • Like Like x 6
    • Love Love x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    31,301
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    28
    O 69! Palace Station is definitely one of the classiest bingo rooms I've seen in Vegas. M enjoyed playing there. I probably would too if I could tear myself away from 8/5 Bonus at the bar next to the Bingo room. Lol
     
    • Like Like x 2
  19. blackjack4me

    blackjack4me Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2015
    Messages:
    315
    Location:
    Cary, NC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    How's the heat treating you? My brother-in-law and I fly in for a few days next week...and looking at the predicted high of 110 the day we arrive is not encouraging
     
  20. neveret

    neveret Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    142
    Location:
    Ottawa, ON
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    Are you still staying at Main Street Station this weekend? If so, I'll keep an eye out for you, always nice to meet a fellow Canadian in Vegas! I fly out from Ottawa tomorrow morning, spending 3 nights at MSS before moving to Excalibur for my other 3 nights :cool:
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.