I went to Vegas from February 5-8, 2003, to go the Bottle Collectors' Show at the Union Plaza downtown which also has paper and postcard Sellers. Now I wasn't really looking forward to this particular trip, not because I didn't want to go to Vegas, but three days before I was to leave, I managed to get that nasty flu that is going around and to top that off (yes guys, I'm going to gross you out here), I got that time of the month two weeks early. This didn't look like a promising visit for this old gal!
I arrived at McCarran, got my luggage, and hit the sidewalk at about 8:45am. Boy, was it cold!!! I had been watching the temperature so I was dressed accordingly but nothing like having that nice dry cold wind hit you in the face. It sure woke me up!
As I said in my previous experiences, Showtime shuttle has gotten my two thumbs up so I went looking for them. I had passed a shuttle service called Ods which I hadn't heard of before so I investigated. One of its representatives stated it had opened up approximately six months ago so I figured, okay, let's give the new kid on the block a try so I jumped on one of their shuttles. The drive there was uneventful.
I went to Circus Circus where I got a room and let them know I was there. I wouldn't be able to get my room until after 1:00 but I knew I was staying in Manor C. As I said, I like the Manor rooms. They have their own refrigerators, a wide open room, and its clean with an air conditioner/heater that is wall installed so I can control it instantly.
Now I know people have told me in the past that Circus' buffet is bad but maybe its because I only had breakfast there and not lunch or dinner, but I never thought it was so bad off I go to the buffet. Employees were nice, restaurant is clean, A-ok with me. What I don't particularly like in any of the buffets and Sahara has the same thing, is the serve yourself drinks. I don't know why, I just don't, and Circus has that but I thought the food was just fine.
Then I decided to do something I always wanted to do but never got around to it - walk around the Stardust property. I have noticed one thing about the Strip, no matter how much they change the facade and the interior of the various properties, the back and certain architectures remain the same. I know the Royal Nevada opened in 1955 as a bona fide resort with the basic resort plan. It can be seen in the pictures of the pool and front. I also know the Stardust was built off the wall. It was similar to warehouses bunched together and major alterations had to be done because no catwalks were installed during the initial Cornero construction. This should give me some clues to find the Royal Nevada on the property.
When I got out of the Circus I was met with cold and major wind. I was thinking maybe I should just hang out but decided, no, every time I do that, I eventually forget about looking at the properties. I went to the Stardust and started walking the exterior of the property line of the Stardust's right side. As I walked along the back I can see the original Stardust peeking through, the buildings that were warehouse-styled started to appear. I was actually quite glad as the winds were so bad at times I couldn't breathe or walk so I would hide in the corners of these huge buildings until the wind calmed down before continue walking. I was looking at this huge parking lot thinking how safe it is to actually walk along this property at night. Then I saw them, good old security officers riding up and down the parking lots in their little golf carts. I felt better, not for me per se, as it was morning and bright out, but for people who walk the parking lots at night with those warehouses having little cubby-holes that I was hiding in which could be used to conceal thieves in the night.
As I walked around the back and towards the left I could see a difference in the property lines. Something different about the right side property. There they were, the original bricks and architectural design of the Royal Nevada began coming through. The rooms, the windows, a significant difference from where I just walked. I knew this was the Royal Nevada. I then ended up at the pool area and sure enough, it was like looking at the old pictures of the Royal Nevada's pool area. It hadn't changed at all. As I looked up I saw the original pedestal that held the crown, of course from the front its hidden in the Stardust's facade but from the back it was in plain view. I had to take pictures because I felt I was back in time, standing on the Royal Nevada's property, seeing the 8th lady of the Strip still very much there. It did my little heart good to see another structure saved and incorporated into her sister. I put the pictures of the Royal Nevada's property on her page.
Now came the hard part, finding the property line on the inside. When she was incorporated into the Stardust's property she was the Convention Center. Now I know she was no longer a convention facility as the right side of the Stardust contains stores but where does the Royal Nevada stop. I went inside and went through the right side looking at the ceilings, walls, and then kept going outside on the back to see where I was on the Royal Nevada property. I went passed all the stores and I noticed right after the store that is in the center of the hall, the walls and ceiling take a dramatic change. I looked very closely and realized the Stardust begins when the casino starts so the Royal Nevada contains no gaming at all. She has all stores and restaurants and one really has to look at the ceilings especially to see the architecture change. Of course I couldn't take pictures because of the rules of no pictures in the casinos but trust me, you'll be able to see where one resort ends and the other starts really easy by looking at the walls and especially the ceiling.
Now that I satisfied my questions as to the property lines, I went over to visit my incredible little Frontier who is still alive and doing well even though rumor has it that Donald Trump maybe getting involved in the property. I haven't put any information on her page as I've heard no details and this is strictly a rumor passed by word of mouth with nothing in print so far.
I don't have to go over her property line because it is evident. I know exactly where the Silver Slipper was as well as the Frontier Village so I could just hang out there. While gambling a little I noticed a silver strike slot machine. I'm sure most of you have seen them. They contain commemorative coins made of mostly silver. I myself never play them because I never got anything from them but those coins sure are pretty. I decided to play this one, this one time and see what happens since the Frontier has always given me a little something every time I go to her. Lo and behold, I spent about $4 or $5 and out came a coin. Well, I was pleased, and once again she gave me something to remember her by.
When I've been to a property many times and familiar with it like Frontier, Flamingo, Riviera, etc., I tend to not pay attention to where I'm going as I am looking around. I walked out of the Frontier looking around and tripped right over something and pretty near landed on a car. When I got straightened out and looked at what was on the sidewalk I had to laugh. I met the Gilley's race car really up front and personal. I'm glad no one asked me how I did it as I took a picture of it and put it on Frontier's page to show you. This is a candy apple bright red car surrounded by a bright silver chain. Can you imagine me trying to explain how I didn't see a bright red car nor a shining silver chain? Anyway, it sure was a pretty car and now that my finger prints are all over it, I figured I left my mark, at least temporarily.
I then saw a big metal thing in front of the Fashion Show Mall. I didn't know what it was so I took a picture of it. Mike later told me it was a "cloud". Don't ask, I have no idea.
I wasn't feeling too hot so I went back to Circus in time to check into my room. I was going to take pictures of it but it looks exactly like the room I had before but this time on the first floor instead of third so I didn't want repeat pictures on the site. I unpacked, went to the soda machine and lo and behold it was down. If you read my previous experiences, I had this problem with the Manors the last time I was there. I went over to Manor B, got a soda from there and went back to my room. I do smoke and asked for a smoking room but there were no ashtrays. I called the hotel services and complained about the machine and no ashtrays. The ashtrays were brought right away and they said they would call the repairman for the machine. I don't know what it is about me, I always get the rooms with either no soda machines, or ones that are broken on my floor. Another thing I didn't like was the window couldn't be opened. My room the last time on the third floor could be opened but I guess for security reasons, they permanently lock the first floor. I must remember if and when I stay in the manor again, that I get a second a third story room.
I rested a bit to give my poor body a chance to revive and went outside to meet Mike Christ who was taking me to dinner to the Top Of The Mint (which is now of course Binion's Horseshoe). Mike and I went and I got a good look at downtown and the Strip from the top. What a view!! I was surprised to see the munchies at the bar. Most bars has pretzels or things like that. This bar had mixed nuts and not huge amount of peanuts either. Brazil nuts, almonds, etc. We munched a little while having a drink. Many thanks to Mike for the dinner, company and conversation. We talked quite a bit about the history of Vegas which I will be adding parts to this site in the future while eating a wonderful steak dinner. The service was excellent and two thumbs up to this restaurant.
Mike then gave me a little car tour of Vegas including the apartment building that is sitting in the middle of Treasure Island's parking lot after Wynn lost the lawsuit to evict the building and demolish it. I've heard the stories but never saw the building before and since I don't have any details I couldn't add it to the Treasure Island's page. Actually I'd think it would be great place to live. No next door neighbors, quiet, and you can go right into Treasure Island for meals. I think that victory is great and it makes me say that old saying again "Only In Las Vegas." I didn't bring my camera so Mike will be taking a picture and sending it to me so I can put it up.
Normally I would go back out but between the flu and cramps I just didn't feel like it and after Mike dropped me off, I watched TV and finally went to sleep. I think that was a first for me but I expected it.
The next morning I was up and running. I wanted to visit some of the resorts and get some pins for my collection before I met Mike for dinner. This dinner was going to be at the award winning The Steak House located at Circus Circus.
First I took a picture of the progress of the timeshare which is going up on part of the El Rancho's property, then I went and got some pictures of the building going up on the Thunderbird/Silverbird/El Rancho's property. I am also certain it is going to be a timeshare. I was going to take a good luck later on and of course, just didn't have time or feel well enough to see if there were any signs but last I heard, Turnbery decided against the London resort and wanted a timeshare instead. Considering it was a building going up and no much else, I'm going to guess that it is indeed a timeshare instead of a resort.
I then went over to Treasure Island and Mirage and took a look around. They seemed to be fine. I already had pins but I decided to look for the silver strike machines and see if Mirage had any Siegfried & Roy logo pins. The machine at Treasure Island didn't gift me so I gave up after $10. I went to Mirage and found out they have everything under the sun with Siegfried & Roy but no pins. I then went looking for a silver strike machines but didn't find any. They did have silver strikes at the gift store but they were $20. I wasn't about to spend $20 for a $10 silver strike so I didn't take them up on it. It was pretty busy there so I didn't ask if they had silver strike machines and left.
I then went up to Caesars to see what was going on with her. Much building. It was chaotic. The poor construction workers were directing both car and foot traffic. The inside had quite a bit going on as well. I went there to a get pin for my collection and play a little. Now, I don't remember if I played. I got the pins and walked around finding a silver strike machine there but it was a dollar so I figured it wasn't worth it.
I then went to the Flamingo. I've been working on Siegel's FBI files so hard that I had to go to see what caused so much trouble in his life. He went through hell to get the hotel up and running and I walked around just looking at what he fought so hard to build had become. I went out to the garden and pool area, walked past the stores, went into the original part of the casino thinking he was definitely pleased. If he was alive I think he would like the idea of what she is like now. As I was sitting at the slot machines in the original part of the structure I see another one of those damn silver strike slot machines. I went over there and said Hey Benny, how about a coin? You wouldn't want to go through your FBI files, and maybe you should thank me. I played a couple of bucks and out came one. I thanked Benny for his appreciation and walked out. The one thing that always bothered me about the Flamingo is how she honors her builder. They have a deli named after "Bugsy". From reading his files, I could tell you right now, someone would've been in a great deal of trouble over that one. The FBI agents joke that his name is Benjamin "Don't call me Bugsy" Siegel. He absolutely hated that name and the deli would've sent him over the edge. Too bad they didn't call it Benny's Deli or Siegel's Deli, something like that. I think the name is more of an insult than a compliment.
I went to O'Shea's to see if they had a logo pin but unfortunately she had everything but a pin, especially since St. Patty's day is coming up. She normally participates in the St. Patrick's Day record breaking but I don't know about this year. If I find out anything I'll let you know. Lynn Burke used to keep me updated but when Lynn left the updates stopped. I tried to contact the new person but so far they haven't sent anything.
I then went to Imperial Palace and experienced a short moment of silence in memory of visionary Englestad. I walked through the resort, found the logo shop and they had not one but two logo pins - a collector's heaven. I got them both for my daughter's collection as well as my own and then gambled a little. I happened to pass one of those darn silver strike machines again and figured why not. I went over, asked Mr. Englestad for a present and after $2.25 the machine gave me one. I thanked Mr. Englestad and proceeded on.
I went on to Harrah's to find her logo shop. They had a pin as well as well and then I decided since my luck is going well with the silver strike machines I would try theirs. I couldn't find one and went to the cashier where I was told they took all those machines out and now you have to buy one from them. Bummer. I figured okay, why not and did.
I wasn't feeling so great so I decided to head back and passed by the Desert Inn. I had to go in. I always get a strange feeling when I'm there. She is still there but she isn't still there. You walk into her and you see her standing there but you know she is no longer a hotel or casino but the beauty is still there. The security guards at the doors are always great and one of them is especially personable. I like talking to them. I went to the gift shop and joked with the girl there who had a personality similar to a wet rag. Of course it maybe my sense of humor, I'm not sure, but she sure wasn't friendly. I then decided to walk down the hall to at one time would be the entrance of the casino. At the end sat a table was a model with what looked like the Le Reve's landscaping. I took a picture and put it on her page. I looked out the window and you can see the construction of the Le Reve going on. Now that was strange. Sitting in the Desert Inn watching the Le Reve being built. As I've said before, the original 1950 structures were gone years ago but the second generation is still there and I'm personally glad a part of her was saved and looks like will be incorporated into the new resort. I took some pictures of the construction even though there is nothing distinguishable about it yet and put them up on her page as well.
I was going to take a bus but when 3 passed by me looking filled up I saw it was useless. I can't figure it out. When the bus drivers were on strike all the buses were filled but what was the excuse this time? It was only 2:30pm so it wasn't during rush hour. I think the bus service is sorely lacking. It used to be excellent and I recommended it to everyone as an alternative way to get around but now I'm not so sure. When I waited for three buses and all are full, it seems something needs to be done to increase service to the residents and visitors alike. This was on a Thursday so it wasn't like a high visitor time. Oh well, I hope its better my next time there.
I walked on down to the Riviera and rested in her for a little while. I found out she also doesn't have any more silver strike machines and you have to buy the chips from the cashier but I didn't like any they had.
This trip I didn't ask John Neeland to see any shows. Because of my flu and coughing all the time, I didn't want to offend the artists/audience by going to a show and hacking through it, so I just walked around seeing if anything was different. Then I went to their internet section right off of the convention center to see how two auctions were doing that I wanted to bid on for some cherry Strip items.
I went back to Circus and rested a little while before dinner. I then met Mike at Circus' The Steak House. What a beautiful restaurant this is. We were at the bar for awhile and we talked with the bartender who was the son of one of the original employees at the old MGM Grand. When we entered the restaurant for our table I realized how big it was as well as beautiful. Mike said that Bill Bennett's wife decorated it and I'm going to check with Mike to see if there is any stories, etc., connected with that. I can see why the restaurant is always winning awards. What a steak! I got the petite cut and it was huge, tender and juicy. Service was great. All in all I'd say both the restaurant at Binion's as well as The Steak House were wonderful but the steak at The Steak House was perfect.
Mike then took me to the Bootlegger's up the Strip past Mandalay Bay which is owned by Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, and where on weekends, one can find the likes of Blackie Hunt, Nelson Sardelli, and Sonny King hanging out. Since it was a Thursday it was quiet but the place was done nicely with a lot of old pictures of the Strip's veterans including Hunt's husband Blackie of the Characters, and other notables. There is a restaurant and a bar located there and it looks like a good place to enjoy a meal. We talked for quite a while then Mike dropped me back off at Circus. Once again, thank you Mike for the dinner, tour, and taking me to Bootlegger's. It was a fun evening and I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to entertain me.
Friday was the show and my buddy and cheerleader for this site Dan Kubota picked me up and we went to the Union Plaza downtown. We looked over everyone checking in and Dan wanted to wait awhile before he set up his table. We went down to the coffee shop and talked about the history of the Strip and his memories of living and gambling in "old" Vegas. We went back to the show and while Dan set up I looked around. I found a couple of great old postcards, as well as a couple of old Nevada magazines. Dan joined me and found a 1951 Fabulous Las Vegas magazine. It was in really bad shape as it looked like it sat in water for a while but since I don't collect things, I use them, it suited me just fine so I bought it. Dan and I also found an old Saharan magazine which I also picked up. Unfortunately, those were the only treasures I found and I will be adding them to this site in the future. Since I don't get downtown too often I decided to look around the Union Plaza and left Dan to attend the show.
I was looking around and they had a bunch of those damn ticket machines. I found a lot on the Strip but they were still giving out cash so I used them. I refuse to play them if I get a ticket as I'm totally opposed to the ticket machines and as I said, I will stop gambling before I use them regularly.
While looking around did I find one of those silver strike machines. You betcha, so I decided to play. Unfortunately, its change machine didn't work so I went to another machine and because I wasn't paying attention I didn't see it was a ticket machine. Sure enough, did it give me a damn ticket!!! I went to another machine, put the ticket in in the hopes of cashing out. Well, I can't cash out, I get another ticket. I couldn't get rid of that thing to save my life! I finally went to the cashier's cage and cashed it out stating my displeasure at the ticket machines. I was in such a foul mood after that happened, I didn't want to gamble for anything so I went back up to the show. I sat with Dan for a while looking at his stuff and he gave me a Stardust newsletter magazine that he found - many thanks Dan!!! I really do appreciate it. I took one last look around and decided there was nothing more for me so I said my thanks and bye to Dan and decided to see if I could get any pins. Union Plaza didn't sell any and neither did The Las Vegas Club, nor The Golden Gate. I went to Binion's Horseshoe and they said they were all out. I decided I just didn't feel like going around downtown, especially since the ticket machines were all over so I decided to go over to the Gold Nugget and then leave. I was fortunate enough to get pins there and took the bus back to Circus Circus. I then walked around Circus for a while, then went to Slots-A-Lot, and Westward Ho. Since I got pins at Circus and Slots-A-Lot I didn't look and I knew from previous visits that Westward didn't have any.
I then went back to Stardust and played some slots for a while. I was told they took their silver strike machines out as well and since I already had a pin from there I just gambled.
It was getting late and I really didn't feel good so I went back to Circus Circus.
Now I'm one of those people who get return trips on the shuttle and the lady, April, on the phone told me to make sure I was at the pick-up station at Circus no later than 8:20am on Saturday. So Saturday at 8:00am I was at the pick up station. 8:20 comes and goes. I see two Showtime, a Grayline, and a CLS shuttle picking up people and still no Ods. I pulled out the old cell phone and called them stating that April made it quite clear that I was to be at the station no later than 8:20. Now its 8:40 and no one is here to pick me up. She checked and said one should be coming up directly. About five minutes later it came but I wasn't a happy camper. When someone makes it a major issue to tell me to be somewhere at the certain time, I want the shuttle to be just as on time. I was ready to give Ods a thumbs down and still claim Showtown the best I've had to date.
I sat down in the front seat and at one of the stop lights, the driver gets out stating he wants to make sure he closed the back door - now that didn't make me feel any more secure that my luggage was still there instead of lying in the street somewhere. He came back and said it was closed. I then heard the radio call-out from their base and apparently one shuttle had broken down and there was a problem with another one even though I couldn't figure out if it was with the shuttle itself, or something else.
With that said, I'm going to hold back on giving Ods a thumb down. They were having some serious trouble that day and as the saying goes poo-poo happens so maybe it was an off day for them. I would have to take them again to give you an accurate rating.
Over all the trip was nice but it would've been nicer if (1) I'd been healthy (2) I didn't run into that nasty ticket machine. Pages I added items to you because of this trip
El Rancho
Frontier
Desert Inn
Thunderbird/Silverbird/El Rancho
Royal Nevada