I'm back visiting the ladies on the Strip. I arrived at the Casino Royale around 8:00pm and after playing the slots for a time, I decided I needed to go visit the daughter of my precious Aladdin for the first time. I made my way down playing the slots at Harrah's, Imperial Palace, O'Shea's, Flamingo, and Barbary Coast. The Barbary was good to me as she always is and dolled out $200 on one of her slot machines.

As I was looking around I saw Caesars and boy was I surprised at the renovations this resort has undergone. Gone was the glowing globe that I was so used to seeing. Now there were "step" pink lights. I took pictures and went over there to see if I could get a brochure explaining all the renovations but no such luck. The person at the desk said the new brochures weren't out yet. Oh well, off to the Aladdin I go.

Funny thing about the Aladdin. I knew the old resort so well that I knew where I was in the new one in comparison with the old one with every step I took. She certainly is beautiful and I know the mother is proud of the daughter. I even found a slot machine that was paying and made $100 off of her. I walked all around looking at everything, and seeing what the new resort had to offer. I also took a couple of pictures of the artwork in the elevator banks and hallway.

I know the Aladdin jinx isn't broken as Jack Sommer is having financial problems. Talk is going around that Park Place Entertainment should buy her and I personally agree. As you may know, Park owns Caesars, Flamingo, Bally's, Paris, and LV Hilton. They are Strip old-timers and they know what to do to make their ladies a success. I really hope they buy her and turn her into what she should be.

Friday I went to the Tropicana for the bottle/glass/paper show. I met up with Howard Klein there who had his table with all his wonderful collection. I bought some great things from him as he sells his items for dirt cheap. My cheerleader Dan Kubota was also there and we had a short reunion. I also saw Jan there who is the person who connected me with Howard. Many thanks Jan for letting me know when the paper show was. It was good to see all of you again!

I bought plenty of things which I will be uploading to the site soon including a great treasure - a 1992 press kit from the Desert Inn. I also got a ton of Fabulous Las Vegas magazines, and some great old Nevada magazines.

I met Jeff Cross and his wife Gloria. As you go through this site you will see various pictures donated by Jeff. Jeff restores pictures and had sent me some to add to this site. Jeff & Gloria also stayed at the Desert Inn shortly before she closed and Jeff wrote about it. Jeff was nice enough to bring notebooks of his work and he has some great pictures. A couple of his pictures also showed me something about the El Rancho Las Vegas. The beginning of the El Rancho property wasn't across the street from the Thunderbird. Where the property line ends for the Thunderbird, the El Rancho's began across the street with the main building holding the casino, showroom, and restaurants. Jeff also told me about the bungalows which he saw in 1978. Many thanks to Jeff & Gloria for taking the time to meet with me, and sharing the pictures and stories with me. It was nice to finally meet both of you in person!

Jeff introduced me to Richard who owns the gift shop which is located just outside the Tropicana's Casino Legends Hall of Fame Museum. Very nice to have met you Richard. I went to the Museum later on which is always fun to go through, and met up with Richard again where I found out his store has a website. I will be adding the website to my links section as well as the Trop's. This is just a sampling of what the store has. I really suggest stopping by the gift shop on your next visit as there are many unusual items of Vegas' history which is up for sale.

I try to hit a buffet or two while I'm there to let you know what I find. My target for Friday night was the Garden Buffet located at the Flamingo. They have this seafood buffet that I wanted to try. I must've went at the perfect time, 5:50pm, cause there was no waiting in line. I got a window seat overlooking the garden and the pond with these beautiful fish swimming around. It was truly a serene place and it took me a while to get up as I was just sitting there enjoying the view.

There were crab legs, shrimp, oysters, all kinds of seafood and everything looked beautiful and fresh. I got my fill of seafood all the while looking at this beautiful garden. It is just so hard to believe that this paradise is just a few feet from the casino. The only noise I heard were other diners enjoying their meal. I decided to look at the buffet further to see what else it offered and everything was up for grabs. I saw spaghetti and being Italian I never found a spaghetti dinner that was worth anything outside of an Italian restaurant so I figured I had Flamingo right where I had her. I got the spaghetti and sure enough, it was great. Delicious.

I got a big kick of a teenager who worked there. It looked like his job was to look at the food and remove anything that wasn't appetizing and clean up. He took his job seriously!! He was watching the buffet table like a vulture and attacked every spot like he was playing a video game. This was a personal challenge to him to keep his area clean.

Since I received Siegel's FBI file I've been reading about his step-by-step movements and sitting there looking at this garden and knowing how hard he fought to have his lady open, gave me the impression that he would approve of what she grew up to be. I know he wouldn't agree with the name "Bugsy" on things as he hated that name but overall I think what she is now is what he was trying to achieve decades ago.

While I was sitting there I was thinking about the mural the employees painted for their lunchroom. The Flamingo had sent me black and white photographs and I really think I should be able to show off the mural in all its colors. I decided to talk to some people and find out if I could get into that lunchroom. I spoke with a very nice lady and explained who I was and what I was doing and she was nice enough to take me down to the lunchroom. I was going through the core of this resort and it was quite enlightening to see the inner workings of the third lady on the Strip. What a huge complex!! We went down there and the mural is beautiful! I took as many pictures as I could of it. I want to thank that lady very much for taking the time to bring me down there. I also want to thank the employees who allowed me to interrupt their break to take pictures.

Can you imagine my horror when I found out the pictures didn't come out!!! I was shocked! At 3:00am I went back to the Flamingo to beg forgiveness and ask to go down there again. I talked to the front desk and two security guards came. I explained my situation to them and tried to apologize for this inconvenience as best as I could. They were understanding and took me down again. I was so embarrassed. They took me another route though and saw more of this lady. The more I saw the more I was impressed on how this resort functions. I went back down there and took 3 pictures of every frame of this mural. I once again apologized and got the hell out of there. Again, I want to thank the two security guards for allowing me to take more pictures and the employees who had to put up with me taking pictures while they were trying to take a break. God, what a pain in the butt I am!

Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing Crazy Girls at the Riviera. I want to thank John Neeland very very much for getting me in. Without him I would never get to see a show. I really appreciate what you do for me as well as this site. You let me in to see the Riv's shows knowing I could trash them if I don't like them but you are still willing to get me in.

I decided to talk down as the evening was beautiful and I wanted to see the ladies north of Mirage. I hadn't seen them yet and I try to see as many of the resorts as I can. I passed by the Desert Inn and I had to stop. Parts of the building were red. Gone was the tan and a bright red was added. Going north the Desert Inn sign looked normal with the basic green and white. Look at the other side and it was red - really really red! Now I was curious. I went over to the tarp and looked through and I couldn't believe it. The word casino was in an Asian font, and there were oriental designs all around it. I took some pictures but unfortunately only a couple came out. Now I know Wynn is going to implode it so why it is turning Asian? I ran over to the second lady on the Strip Frontier and asked around. Apparently Jackie Chan is making a movie there and the front of the resort has changed to her appearance for what might be her final role.

Now that issue was settled I proceeded to the Stardust. I had to stop. Another change here. The tower is still the pink/purple that we have all come to know and love but the outside of the main building was no longer neon. It is now subtle with cream colored paint and very little neon. The Stardust name is in neon but they added little neon signs that look like the main road sign. It really looks good. I like neon and I love watching the ladies at night as they glow and I like lots of neon but this evolvement really suits her.

I went on down to the Riviera. I went and played that little $40 for $20 slot tournament they have on the right side. Had to do it. I did it at the Trop for years and now I figured it was the Riv's turn. I lost but got a beautiful nylon jacket. I wear it all the time and it sure keeps me warm. Now to see Crazy Girls.

I was very curious as to this show. I know it is semi-nude but little else. I purposely didn't ask John about it 'cause I wanted to have an open mind. I know that in one evening Tom Cruise saw this show three times and there are very few shows I would see three times in a row. As a matter of fact, I think the only show I ever saw twice in one evening as Hall & Oates, so I was really curious.

Let me say first that this show isn't for everybody. This is not only a semi-nude show but it is also expressive dancing. I like expressive dancing so I enjoyed it thoroughly. The show is funny, cute, erotic, and seductive. These women are incredibly talented and agile, but an open mind is needed to sit back and enjoy what these ladies have to offer.

Carole Montgomery is the comedian who emcees the show and she is indeed saucy and says exactly what is on her mind. She is really quite funny but she needs a good audience to play with. She began to interact with two guys in the front row and one these guys, the one she referred to as Brooklyn, was a dud. This brought back to my mind why I stopped dating a few years ago. Guys don't have any personality anymore. I was getting dud after dud and realized it was a waste of good makeup to go on these dates. Seeing Carole trying to get this guy to kid around reminded me of those dates. I really wanted to yell out - "Carole, give it up. His personality was removed at birth!" Here's a word to you guys with no personality - don't sit in the front row of comedy shows where it is expected that you are going to get picked on. Sit in the back - the titties can be seen just as well and you won't annoy the rest of the audience or the comedienne.

Now that I saw the show, I can honestly say I know why Cruise saw the show three times in one night. It takes that many shows to take in all the movements and actions, and probably to get to see each girl as well I would think (not being male I'm only guessing).

After the show I got to see a show I wanted to see for quite some time. The Lon Bronson show that was at the Le Bistro Lounge. Since I usually go to Vegas Sunday through Thursday, I don't get to see this band as they only play on Saturdays. I ran out of the Crazy Girls show and rushed down to the Lounge so I could see these guys.

In going around the casinos there are plenty of free lounge acts and I was highly entertained at Harrah's by three groups, and enjoying seeing Elvis and Elton John look-alikes perform at the MGM Grand. I had a good time sitting at the machines listening to them.

When these guys came out I was thoroughly impressed. The blonde guy came out who not only sang well, but he came out sharing his energy with the audience and showed he really liked being there and performing - he just wasn't getting a paycheck. There was a sax player that blew me away and Bronson was incredible. Of course I had to write to John Neeland when I came back discussing this band. These guys are pro quality - no doubt about it. Of course I had to nag as I usually do to John, why do they only play on Saturdays? How can I reach Bronson to get the names and bios of these bands and the thousands of other questions I had. John don't you just love it when I get my panties in a bunch? I'm going to try to write to Bronson and see if I can get him to contribute to this site. I strongly urge all of you to go to Bronson's show if you are at the Riv on a Saturday night. You will not be disappointed. My next visit to Vegas I'm going to try to be able to stay through Saturday so I can catch this show again.

Between Crazy Girls, Lon Bronson, and getting my jacket, I left the Riv a very happy camper! It is now very early in the morning and I'm walking back to the Casino Royale and I look at the Frontier and had to laugh. I remember doing this site seeing this resort make its mark not only in the Strip's history but Vegas', and then having to type it was going to be imploded. As I stood in the parking lot I see all the spaces are taken and I walk in. It was like the middle of the day. People are gambling and the activity was going strong! It went from the second property on the Strip, to mob owned, to Hughes owned, to being the subject of a strike, to having the announcement that it will be imploded and there she is, going strong. The resort that can't die. Good for her I say!!! I had to sit down and gamble with everyone else there and join the fun they were having. I stayed way too long but I couldn't help in sharing the atmosphere this resort created. All the luck to her - she deserves it! I got a picture of that great painting above the registration desk.

Now, when I left my daughter made my promise I would go to the buffet at the Aladdin. Her and her husband loved it and she said no matter what - I had to go. Well I did but I went at the wrong time. I went at noon. What a wait!!! It was extremely long and I was starving. I could feel the tension in the line as everyone was getting inpatient and I saw some people leave the line. The Aladdin found a way to relieve this tension though - as we are all waiting having sore feet, and hot tempers, we hear drums, here come drum players with belly dancers, with the hooting and ranting and we all turned to be thoroughly entertained by this free show. The musicians and dancers performed for all of us in line and then went to all the tables entertaining. Before I knew it I was in and being seated. That was a way for time to fly by and I want to thank the Aladdin for this diversion.

Being a person who watches people I had to laugh. The buffet has different ethnic foods including American, Mexican, Eastern, and Asian. As I'm looking around I see the Asian buffet and the section was filled with Hispanics filling their plates, I look at the Mexican buffet and the section was filled with Asians - United Nations in action. I had to walk away - I saw a MADTV skit coming to my mind.

The food was wonderful though. I tried Eastern food which I hadn't had before and I loved it. Very good. It was worth the wait.

I went back to the Casino Royale and finally got pictures of the Caf� Trilussa upstairs. In the past I couldn't get pictures but this time I spoke with the manager who gave me permission. This restaurant is just too cute and I'll probably dine there on my next visit.

I left on Sunday not wanting to go. I definitely didn't stay long enough so now I have to save up to go visit the ladies again.

I have made an observation though. When I started going to the Strip in 1991, the buffets were cheaper than fast food joints and I would frequent the buffets because of this. Looking at the price of buffets now I see it is cheaper really to go to a restaurant or a fast food restaurant. On Thursday night I went to Burger King at O'Shea's and that was the cheapest meal I had. I went to the Excalibur for breakfast on Friday and I have to say it sure was expensive. I can understand the dinners being expensive - I think - but breakfast and lunch I just can't fathom.

As I walked up and down the Strip I realized I have more history of these ladies than present information and wondered why I can't get more resorts to keep me updated. A conversation I had with Sahara visionary Stan Irwin kept popping in my head when we were discussing this site. Stan told me that if the internet existed back in his days at the Sahara and I asked for help from the resorts, they would've all been jumping over each other to help as the publicity alone would be great. I wondered what happened to that desire?

Now that I'm done telling my story I should get working on adding pictures and all the new information I have.