September LV Trip Report Lee-PA

Saturday,.......Is it morning already??? Leave for Harrisburg at 4:30am, I'm not an easrly person and neither is Sharon. Sandy on the other hand is loving this schedule! LOL She's the kinda person that wakes up the roosters to do their job, to start crowing!
Harrisburg check in on Continental and my bag is again over weight. So an extra $25 paid, I go to the gate and wait. We board a small regonal jet to Cleveland, then a real jet to Las vegas. Emergancy landing in Kansas City, MO, there is a passenger that didn't bring along enough oxygen? 1 1/2 hrs later we are back in the air. Arrive late to LV, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
Dollar rental car, row empty, we wait for a lot person to bring around a car, it's a PT Cruiser, and it's better then an XL-7 and would prove to be much better on gas too.
Cannery Hotel/casino for our first night stay. Sandy's room is ready, but ours isn't, so we stow the luggage in Sandy's room and head for dinner at the Victory Cafe. Great food and wonderful service. I really like this place as a whole, but the cafe even shines above that. It looks like everyone else knows it too, as we are given a pager when our tables ready, they buzz us. I score a $10 win on a VP machine while waiting. After dinner we get our luggage and our room and crash! I didn't know it then, but that $10 win would be my only winning day! OUCH....can you feel my pain? A local radio station is sponcering an event right outside our 2nd floor window, but we are both too tired to attend or enjoy it. In hind sight it would have been a great thing to do, if we had the energy for it. The cannery's rooms are very clean and comfortable. I'm impressed with the service and over all quality of this place. I will stay here again.

Sunday.....up early and meet Sandy for breakfast. The Cafe is swamped, so we head to the local Jack in the Box. Breakfast was quite good, much better then those McDonald's breakfast sandwiches I was raised on! It was differnt as none of us had even eaten breakfast from Jack in the Box.
After breakfast, we all agree that we'll try a new place, so we (I) pick the Speedway casino. As we pull into the lot, things arn't looking so good. There are police, a man with all his belongings spread out on the hood of a police cruiser, and the man handcuffed, and face being pushed down onto the trunk of the cruiser. We part the car anyway, and go inside....look around, turn around and leave! Back to the Cannery, where we all feel safe.
At the Cannery, Sharon hits Aces with the kicker, I hit aces without the kicker. We both cash out winners, and head downtown to check into Main Street for us, and Sandy moves to the Las vegas Club.
Main Street check in is smooth, and we are given the Hawian package which includes meals or meal discounts for our stay. Our room had red candle wax on the carpet, a slow shower drain, and a very low showerhead, and the standard 19 inch TV! Yikes is that small. It's like watching a microwave oven! But the room is clean, and suits us.
We drip around downtown, Golden Nugget is a madhouse, we pass that one on by. Found our $5 VP treasure chest machine at the Fremont, Sharon and I partner up, and hope for the best.....well, it was fun playing, but was all too short! The Senator calls and lets us know about dinner plans at 7 for the Pasta Pirate in the California. I call to request Dean, our favorite server, to find out, he no longer works thier.
Nap time! Meet Sandy, Senator & friends for dinner. we are finally seated at 7:35pm for a 7pm reservation. That was poor. Dinner was great as expected however and our server filled in nicely too. After dinner played at California & Main street bars,no luck, then to bed. I ate too much and all that did was make me sleepy.

Monday,... up early (6am) and baily's and coffee, while I played the dollar treasure chest machines. I get slaughtered! Meet Sandy at 11am and try Palace station coffee shop for breakfast. Then we play/loose at Palace Station. We all lost here and pretty badly. We all agree a comedy show would be good tonight to stem the loosing a little. Harrah's to purchase Improve tickets for later that evening. Then Sharon & I tour the Imperial palace auto collection (it was free) then O'Shea's where none of the slot card readers where working at the bar and the placed reaked of a foul smell. Harrah's had live band in the pavilion/tent/court and we listened and shopped. Then the Harrahs front bar near casino Royal. The machines gave us some play, but had to cash out to meet Sandy.
Checked out the new Premium outlet mall next. Nice stores, stupid concept with open court to outside temps in the summer???

***OK, here is a great idea for those slot hosts no one ever seems to know what to buy ***
There is a Harry & David outlet here!!! Nice gift baskets, with unusual treats!
We bought; Wasabi peas, white chocolate and macadamine nut moose munch, chocolte covered cashews, pumkin balls.
Honestly, even a gift certificate from this place would make a nice host gift too!

I'll go back to the outlets when it's cooler temps and I can enjoy the shopping experiance better. Will it make it? YES, the lots where pretty full everytime we passed the place. People where buying too, not just window shopping, like at the Aladdin mall.
Dinner at the Brew pub (sushi for me) shrimp and pizza for Sandy & Sharon. A little gambling time at MSS, then off to Harrah's for the Improv and Dat Phan and friends. Very good comedy show. Better then most, we where seated pretty far back and still had good seats. The photo picture taking guy, that works the audiance for those pictures they try to sell you at the end of the show was a bit pushy, and I was getting a little upset with the fact he wouldn't move on to the next victum, after I said politly, no thank you.
After the show we droped Sandy off at Las vegas Club, where she tells us her room stinks, but it's free so she hasn't complained. I would have complained, but my sister just suffered with a crappy room for 7 days.
Dave a friendly bartender at the California, has moved from the second floor to the Main street bar in the california. It's a smaller bar, but he keeps busy making drinks for the cocktail waitresses. I've been visiting with Dave now for close to 15 years. It's always nice to see a friendly face. Sharon has gotten to know him too now, and enjoys the conversations. I start loosing my butt on the $1 treasure chests, but I switch machines (one over) I hit 4 q's and then a straight flush with in 5 min's of play. I'm still out for the night, but cashing out $500 is a nice felling! Sharon looking at her watch exclaims, "Look, we actually stayed up past midnight without a nap!" LOL

Tuesday....Slept till 9am, Baily's and coffee and some quarter VP at the bar. We both played to even. Met Sandy for lunch and PF Changs. Excelent as always! Thanks again Sandy for lunch!! Next Sharon & I check into the Rio for 2 nights for our pool days! Very nice room, and even nicer pool. While we do the pool, sandy heads for the GoldCoast. The sun goes behind the clouds, just as we sit on the lounge chairs. Not so lucky for Sharon, but a bonus for this fair skinned guy! I'm wearing a new suit and 45 SPF lotion! Taking no chances with the LV sun! I even thought of renting one of those cabana's for $100 a day, just so I had some shade! A couple of frozen drinks and a dip in the pool...ahhhh.
Your gonna love this.....there is no pool service so you must retreive your own cocktails. Sharon went to get the second round. It's taking her a long time, so I get a little concerned and check on her. She's charging the drinks to the room, but the bartender is telling her that she had checked out already and the room is vacant. Well, it turns out, Sharon got a little confused, she was giving the poor guy the wrong room number, our MSS room number! LOL That's just one of the pit falls of jumping around hotels in Vegas, I guess! LOL
Shower & meet Sandy. I'm late because I have web TV in the Rio room and was busy posting to this BB.
Off to the Orleans, I got beat up on the VP here, but we both did well at Pia gow Poker. Sharon we reluctant to sit at the table, but it all came back to her rather quickly. MSS brew pub for dinner, I tried the Apricot Ale, and didn't like it at all. Played at MSS the rest of the evening.

Wednesday......Breakfast at the Fremont Cafe. Sandy stayed downtown, we went to the Rio pool again. Cloudy again....YES!!!! Sharon is displeased. Sandy took a cab to meet us at the Rio at 5pm. Dinner at the Tilted Kilt in the Rio. we all enjoyed the fich & chips here. Ceasars nest for the Celine show. I enjoyed it more then I thought I would. We all agreed, it's really something to see, but we won't be returning anytime soon. On a disgusting note. At the show they sell water for $5 a small bottle. The guy we seen selling it in our section was very sweaty from climbing up and down with his wears, well he'd wipe off the bottles before selling them and passing them down a row. nice gesture, but then he'd use the same towel to wipe the sweat off his shaved head! YUCK & no thank you.
Played at Ceasers a little, small profit and then downtown to drop off sandy, we headed back to the Rio and the VooDoo lounge. I enjoyed it, it was time well spent away from the machines with my honey. The view was wonderful, even though it was a bit windy. There where a few joints being smoked outside, which suprised me that the Rio would allow this behaviour, but, I looked the other way and went on with our enjoyable evening. After a couple of drinks $7 rum & cokes, we head back down to the VP. We play till almost 4am. The sports bar, bartender was so nice to us all. I will return in November to say hello and try to get some of my %$#!%#^%$! money back from those machines! LOL Sharon drew the 2's on a duces wild machine here, so she was happy.

Thursday.....Got...dragged ourselves out of bed to check out and do a little shopping atthe Rio shops. Bought a couple "Tommy Bahama" items, and then ordered show tickets for Friday nights show of Brett Buttler at the Monti carlo.
Met Sandy for Lunch at MSS brew Pub. had the shrip "Po Boy" something differnt, very tasty too. The the Santa Fe Station, where we get a dose of what the new prices are for cigerettes, and while we did pick up a couple cartons, we won't be doing that again anytime soon. Not worth it anymore IMHO. Sharon & I played some 5 cent 100 play VP.....man the money goes fast on these! LOL Head downtown to the Golden Nugget, I hit a quarter duces wild progressive (duces are a progressive jackpot) I won $287 instead of the normal $250 for the four 2's. California cafe for dinner. We all over eat, an example is, I order the steak & egg breakfast, with the full saled bar. After dinner sharon is full and not feeling so well. She heads to the room, I stay up and play for 3hrs to even on the BJ tables at MSS. Then I blow a perfectly even day, in a matter of 15 min on a $5 VP machine on the way back to my room! STUPID! But I took a shot!

Friday....I wanted to do the roller coaster at NY NY, but Sharon wasn't up for it this afternoon. Breakfast at NY NY America cafe, Good and service was decent too. A little more then I pay for breakfast at a downtown resturant, but it was good. Then I hit aces on a 50 cent machine at NY NY, my day is looking up!!!! Next, MGM too look at the Lion habitat, they are sleeping, then Tropicana for our only slot play of the trip. Ballon bars, and they stink! Excalibur next & loose some more.
Dinner at the Monte Carlo Brew pub, with a wheat ale, that was very tasty! I had a Cuban sandwich, one of my favorite! Brett Buttler was freaking Fantastic! laugh? Oh man my cheeks hurt when this show was over, from smiling and laughing so much. Nothing like a good laugh at the expence of trailer trash! I'd hut her show in a catch her if you can colum!
Played soem duces wild at monti Carlo, we all agreed we'll have to spend more time here on up-coming trips. Maybe even a night or two stay over? Had a great feeling playing & eating here.
California main st. bar to see dave again. Then MSS for some Pia Gow Poker. Up late again without a nap!!!

Saturday...Our last full day, it's always sort of sad for me. California cafe for breakfast, then 3-5-7 poker at the Cannery, what a terribly boring game! We enroll in MSS slot tournament, Sharon makes it to the finals. But draws a slug of a machine, and doesn't finish well enough for any money or prizes. The 4 Queens next for 2hrs of Pia Gow poker, we both loose, but we lost very slowly. The cocktail waitress screws up my drink order, instead of Bacardi & Coke, I've been drinking Crown Royal & Coke. I didn't notice, untill she brings me the correct drink and not it tastes funny! LOL
Here is where my host shines at MSS. She askes me if I'd like dinner in the steakhouse or the pasta pirate or an of property place! We choose the Second Street Grill @ the Fremont, we get a full comp for 3. Sandy has the lobster tail, sharon & I go for the split king crab legs, with drinks and app's $145, my cost??? just a tip!
We split after dinner and we head for those progressive Duces machines, and darn it, I draw the 2's again! This time only $257.
California main st. bar next, mostly to say goodby to Dave, but I was called into duty as pest control! Yes folks it saddens me to say, but I killed a roach running across the bar rail toward my honey. It came out of the coin pit of the machine aside of me. Felt kinda buggy after that and moved on. MSS played those dollar VP's one more time, those darn vacume cleaners they call video poker machines! Then one last stab at those $5 VP bonus machine. I had it cranking this time! Up to $750 and gave me some nice play, but I played it all back eventually. But it was a fun ride! Bed at midnight.

Sunday....Check out MSS, zero balance, pick up Sandy, head to Dollar, return car, then airport. Flying northwest on the first leg of our return trip to St paul. Then Continental to Cleveland then to Harrisburg. Arrive Harrisburg on time, but there is a problem. Sandy's luggage is lost!
Fill out paperwork, return home.

Monday....Monday evening Sandy's way-ward luggage is returned.

Notes...

Monti Carlo is on my to-do list sometime

Main Street Station, Fremont, California all have new card readers on all thier machines (magnetic strip type) they are going to combine all downtown properties clubs, by the end of September is the hopeful date.

People sure where nice at the Rio

Senator, sorry we didn't get to spend more time with you. LV trips go so fast!

I would recomend the Cannery to anyone, I'll be staying there again!

We did less driving around this trip, and I enjoyed it more.

$1.99 a gallon for gas! YIKES!!!

The trip was too short...I'm ready to return to Las Vgeas already!

And yes, I lost, but The money spent was entertainment money with the chance of a free vacation. I was fully entertained, and got great value for the sheckles spent.

I really enjoyed the pool time this trip again, I'm sorry our next trip it will be too cool for the pool.

Thanks for reading...comments?

Lee - great report and trip as usual and was glad to hear that you guys enjoyed Celine - we sure did. How about Sandy? Like you, I haven't spentany time to speak of in or around the Monte Carlo. Why don't you stay there next time and give us a report? Although the RIO has more pools than the Orleans, I seem to enjoy the Orleans area more. (Must be the hot tub ) Our regards to Sharon and Sandy - see ya soon. Wendell

Lee,

I'm beginning to think I don't have to go to Las Vegas any more. Just reading your trip reports (the last two) gives me enough vicarious pleasure to satisfy the bug. Well, not entirely.

There are so many new resorts and casinos that we haven't been to yet that we'll have to make three or four visits just to catch up. Your descriptions of them is facinating. You must be a lot younger than we to do all the running you do. And a couple of days even without a nap! Some of the comments on the MSS rooms have me a little aprehensive. The last time we were there the rooms were ok. In fact I don't remember the room one way or the other, so it must have been clean but not special. Anyway, thanks for a couple of exemplary trip reports Lee.

Bob

Lee, Really enjoyed your report.
Now when are you going to post the She-says part

VPbob,
The rooms are ok, but they are used hard. They are always clean, my number one need in a hotel room.
I'm 43yrs old, but Sharon says I act sometimes like a 12 year old.....so you get the whole gammit with me! LOL

Thanks for the kind words about my reports. I try to present them in an informative way.

Larry, that report went on forever....I don't see me doing one like that again real soon.

Now you need to work on an excuse to get you butt out on thanksgiving this year!!!

Great report, Lee. Kinda long, though. I had to take a nap about halfway through.

Jim, I'm just glad people care enough to read it, any part of it. Makes me feel like I didn't just type it all up for nothing.
I think the next report I'll give myself a break and just do a highlights/Lowlights thing.

Thanks for the kind words!

Hey Lee,

Thanks for the great report. I wish I could have seen more of you and Sharon but dad was first priority this trip.

I'll keep the Cannery in mind if I come up blank on a room any future trip.

I sort of stayed at hte Monte Carlo once. Thought it was nice. I've never heard anything bad about it.

I'll watch for Brett Butler. Sounds like a great show.

Lee - As always, another great TR! You amaze me with all your energy (although I did note that you slept until 9:00AM on Tuesday - rare for you in Las Vegas, no?). I'd like to see Dat Phan sometime - he's very funny on TV. Your description of Brett Butler now makes her a "must see" for me. Sorry you lost on this trip, but it sure sounds like you had fun! --Mike

Jeff,
Thier is always November! We'll get togeather another time.
The pool area at the Cannery is small, but the rooms are so nice, the bed was the best we had all trip, and the great customer service goes through to the hotel side. Reminded me of how Vegas used to be. Maids saying good morning to you in the hall and wishing you luck in the casino. Security that was helpful and friendly, not on a power trip. Valet that (hate to say it) Rivals MSS in friendliness and service. I do beleive anyone would enjoy the Cannery for a night or 2. The one glaring problem is it's location. But it's quiet and relaxing out there and I'm sure Pattie would enjoy the place.

You <<sort of stayed at the Monte Carlo once>>? How do you sort of stay somewhere?

Did I mention Brett Butler tickets where cheap at $35 a seat, and that we had front row seats, (5 over, from center stage)? The Lance Burton Theater was less then 1/2 full...what a pitty. But I account the late anouncment of her show on that. She was a last min. fill in for Lance. We got lucky on this one, and getting front row was icing on the cake.

Mike,
By all means if possible see Brett Butler. My one suprice when seeing her is, she has put on a little weight.....but then again, so have I! LOL

Dhat Phan, did about half of his routine from TV, but the other stuff was new to me. Everyone liked the show. His "friends" where as funny as he was, so there was no feeling of a let down when his portion of the show was over.

As for my energy level, I'm paying the price this week, back at work. Yesterday, I feel asleep at my desk, for an hour! YIKES! November is my next trip.
Thanks for the kind words about my trip report, and taking the time to read all of them!

Lee,

I was in town with several of my poker buddies. I had offers for comp rooms at a couple places. One was Monte Carlo. I checked in but someone else stayed in the room. I spent an evening there before a late flight.

Lee:
Thanks for taking the time to write this great trip report. As always, you sure do get around town. Interesting reading your reviews of the shows you saw, especially Brett Butler. Used to get a kick out of her on TV.

Going to have to check out the Premium Outlet Mall on my next trip. I'm taking a newbie to Vegas next time, so if we have time, I'll do that. She's a shopaholic, so what better place when gambling and sightseeing gets tiresome. I love those Harry & David stores. There is/or was one at Belz also. You can spend a half hour in there just looking at all the different things.

Thanks again.

Susan

Just heard a blurp on television that Celine's first 100 performances at Caesars were a sellout. (And at those prices, that is a "bunch" of money)

Susan,
And the best part of those Harry & David stores....you can taste everything BEFORE you purchase it! They have samples avaialbe of every food item they sell.

Hi Lee,
You sure have hit the big time. No longer do you eat breakfast at McDonald's. Now that you're grown up and sophisticated, you go out to Jack in the Box for breakfast! (LOL)
And forgive me for making fun of your typo, as we all make them, but I like your word EASRLY. Clearly you are not an EASY person or an EARLY person.
Enjoyed your report as always.
- Mike

Thanks Mike.....You can poke fun at my typing skills and my spelling skills anytime! Really...skills is the wrong word...isn't it? :rolleyes:

Lee,
Thanks for the nice TR.You get up a little too early for me 4:30am !! "Not" I like those noon flights.I too did less driving last trip and liked it better too.The traffic in town is getting bad and I don't want to waste time in traffic while in LV.I can do that here.BTW I stayed at MC.6 or 7 times and it's pretty nice if you like no kids, no noise,very good AC.good drink service at the machines and good valet parking.The rooms aren't big but nice and the dinning choices are few but good.They have the mandatory food court McD's Sabbarro,Ice cream place etc.The steakhouse is Blackstone's not bad there's a chinese place I've not tried and a 24hr.place that's ok too.The brew pub is just that basic pub fare good many choices of brews etc. and it has live music.It jumps on weekends.

Pool is ok but I'm not a pool guy so don't
go by me. I think it had a lazy river too.The main thing I think is the room prices at times can be very low for what you get.Thanks for the TR hope to see you in town around Turkey time.
Bob NY.

Bob.....We all hope to see you at Turkey Time!
Thanks for the info on MC, and the kind words.
Hope you can make the trip this year!!!
I'd really like to meet you.
Lee-PA