Here goes....
Thursday March 6
We leave out of Allentown 5:10pm on Delta through Cincy, KY. Planes are clean and on time departures. We arrive in Vegas early, and loose that time waiting for a gate to open, so we can park this puppy and get the heck off the plane. Finally, we deplane 10:45pm, and then have a monsterous wait for luggage.
Thrifty rental car this time, by the time we arrive at thrifty, blue chip is closed, but no lines. We are given a pacifica, but I ask for a car, not a truck.....I settle for a red station wagon, Dodge Magnum.
Check into Hotel 12:15am Friday morning. We are asigned one of the worst for noise rooms. In the back against the highway and the railroad. Room was clean, we unpack and head down to casino. No Senator. I thought maybe he'd be in the casino for a quick visit tonight, but everything started to run late. We split our play at California and Main Street Station tonight. Sharon is on fire! All kinds of 4oK, including the dueses on a duece machine Quarters, and Aces on a dollar DDB, without the kicker. I am getting killed. This was no short session either, it was played out till 8 in the morning. So my bankroll took a good hit early in this trip. Breakfast at the cali coffee shop befor bed.
Friday....Well it was kinda a Friday....woke at 1pm after a nap, but had trouble getting going. Deceided to just hang around downtown today. Golden Nugget has some new gaming space that is very clean and classy looking. Play some duces here, I do ok, Sharon gets killed. We move to the bar, drink service is poor on the floor today. I loose $300, befor I am asked if I'd like something to drink. I bail out of this mess with quad 3's on a DDB. no kicker, but I'm ok after this quick bout. The Bloody Marys here are the best we had all trip BTW. Hair of the dog, puts a little more spring in my step and we press on to the Fremont. Here I take a couple of small profits on 50cent Treasure chests. I never got more then the standard 140 on any 4ok this whole trip. Very disapointing indeed!
Dinner at Second Street Grill, walk in without reservations, no problem. I enjoyed my meal, but I had issues with the service. Sharon told me to "not be so negitive", so I shut up and made the best of my meal. We both had the T-bone special $18.95. Sharon claims it was the best T-bone she has ever had. I must say, it was good and done to perfection. Probably in my top five for T-bones, not the best IMHO.
Over to the California and MSS for the evening early finish to the night. Jeff called. but we where just getting ready to call it a night. I went to bed, Sharon stayed up and played for a while longer. I don't know for sure when she came up, I think I was asleep, befor my head touched the pillow! BTW, she was winning, so she wasn't sleepy. I was down for the day, but not by much.
Saturday, big day for us. We are up early, and looking for breakfast. Everything is jammed at MSS and Cali, we walk into Binions Coffee shop and Sharon orders eggs rothchild, and I opt for the classic steak and eggs. Another fine meal, and my steak was the best breakfast NYstrip steak, I can recall. I don't expect much in the breakfast steak catagory. No keno runner, so I get my exersize on the stairs to keno parlor.
After breakfast we give the slots at Binions a try.....no luck, back to California. I am getting killed this morning, then MSS and it's the same outcome, it's getting ugly quickly.
We pack a small bag for an over night at Flaming-O. Sharon was sent an offer of $200, if she stays with the Flamingo. A Go room, with strip view is promissed. We also have a host procuring Bette tickets for 4 people tonight. What we got was a cluster, upon checking in at the dimond club. Tickets for the wrong night of the show, and a room with a view of the casino roof. After the host trying to brush us off, we prevailed with tickets changed for Saturday night. It really ruined any goodwill from the Flaming-O with this offer. A basket was sent to our room as a "we screwed up" gift. Filled with chocolates, fruit, summer sausage? What a combo!
We played breifly befor heading down to Palazzo to meet Jeff and daisy and a view of his suite there. Nice room Jeff.....nice lime slicer too! LOL
Next is dinner at Makinos, suggested by DAG. Well the sushi is great, but I found the other items sort of lacking. Thanks Senator for dinner, but I felt bad. I was the only one who got a great meal. Non-sushi eaters didn't/couldn't get thier moneys worth out of that place.
We meet JMT for the Bette Show, Daisy bails for the IP...after a stop at the Garden bar on the way home.
The Bette Show....I really enjoyed it! I wouldn't mind seeing it again, but at those prices, not for awhile. I think Cher we'd like to see next. JMT did a wonderful job covering the show already, so I don't have much to add here. I was most impressed with the mermaid outfit and Bette jumping about in it. Lots of expended energy, and it was a fun show.
After the show, we find a bar at Ceasars and talk about the show and other things with Sharon, JMT, & Jeff. have a couple $10 rum and cokes. Soon everyone goes there way and we are left with the VP demons at Ceasars. getting my @$$ kicked at the dollar level and bouncing from machine to machine. I go back to an earlier machine and try dueces at the quarter level. I'm delt A,Q,J,10 of spades, I hit the deal button and up jumps the K of spades ROYAL! I have to admit I was a bit disapointed I had switched to quarters, but this paid for my previous losses at Ceasars this evening. And on a positive....no w2g! Sharon anounces it's time to go back to Flamingo and maybe stop at the Garden bar, befor we hit the sack. OK....Sharon collects her free swaetshirt for making 300points in a day. on our way over to Flamingo she breaks it out of the bag, it's cold and windy tonight!
Flamingo Garden bar, we sit and play for a little while, and I'm delt A,A,A,A,K on a double Double bonus dollar machine. discard the K and pull a 3 (the kicker) 2k and a w2g later, I'm up for the whole trip! I play a little longer and Sharon says it's time to head up to the room, she's tired. On our way to the elevators, Sharon laments she was hopeing to play some table games this trip, but time is running out already. I see 2 seats at the let it ride table. We sit down for what was to be a few hands at 3am. 7hrs later it's 10am, and the casino is coming alive again as we slink back to our room! Sharon hit 2 full houses and a lot of smaller stuff. she finished up $1100, me, well, I had a new knick name at the table,,,,I was "Mr. Change One-Hunderd" I was down about 1K. so much for being up for the trip....Bed by 10:30am...

Sunday, up at the crack of 4pm, we are starving!
Sushi doesn't really stay with you long and 23 hrs without food is a long time for me. Sharon orders room service. I've never ordered RS at the Flamingo before and I wasn't expecting much. We just ordered sandwiches and sodas and fries. Everything was good, fries where still hot too! Casino by 6pm, we walk down to the IP looking for Daisy....no luck finding her, or at the machines. Back to Flamingo, pack and check out at 10pm. We grabbed a quick bit atthe Flamingo dimond club....more sushi for me.
This is my one missed meeting for this trip and I feel bad about it too. Layne from NC was intown for one night with his new bride. (That's right, he got hitched, hes' off the market ladies) at least I think he is....? I never got to meet him or his new bride. I was just that dog dead tired. I'm sorry Layne....I was looking forward to meeting the new Mrs Layne from NC too. Please except my opoligies.
We get back downtown and we both crash in the room at MSS. This is where the bottle Jeff made me take with me, came in handy. That was a nice way to end the night....Thanks again buddy!

Monday,
Up early, well rested. We head down to MSS casino, grad a bailys and coffee and begin gambling early. I can't get anything going at MSS this trip, so off to California. I make a friend out of a triple play machine and Sharon is dripping around all the machines. Finally I cash out even and we move to the dollar VP. I crank up a dollar treasure chest to 400 with only a $25 investment. Sharom has her bonus dollar maching cooking too, but sadly gives it all back. I cash out a winner for a change, and head for the Houffbra house for lunch meet with Wendell, Maxine, Daisy and the Senator. Lunch was good, with great company, and some really fine ice tea! senator, I think you could have drank one more glass....really! I like this place for talkvegas meets, nice big tables, and no rush to leave. Lunch time is quiet, so it lends well to a talkvegas meet.....we don't get stares from other tables for having too much fun!
This is our final meet of the trip....I hated to say goodbye. But all things end. We drop off Wendell & Maxine back at the Orleans. Thanks for coming everyone.
We head out to Silverton. I get killed, then a find a nice 5play quarter machine, and crank it back up. At $500, I quit, cash out. We shop at the Bass Pro shop, Sharon heads directly for the shoe department......and I end up buying a pair of deck shoes for myself. Is she rubbing off on me or what????
We stop for gas on the way back to MSS, and I relize we didn't jump around like most trips, we hardly used any gas!
Well back downtown, and a quick jog over to Fremont, and loose loose loose! I give the $5 treasure chest a shot...same outcome....$0
California and I'm back on my triple play machine, but it's ugly, then my dollar treasure chest for a $540 win....this time with a $45 investment.
MSS for our final play of this trip. Sharon heads off to find a progressive quarter VP machine, I set my sites on the 5play machines.
Question...your delt A,K,Q,J,2 of dimonds on a 5play duece machine, what do you do????
I took the 5 wild royals.
Later on DDB 5play I was delt A,K,J,10, of clubs and Q of hearts. This one I discarded the Q and drew. One hand had drawn the Q of clubs for my second quarter royal of the trip...(as Daisy would say) YEEHAW!
Sharon finds me, just as I was ready to draw. She now sits down at triple play quarters dueces and gets 4 dueces on one hand. She cashes out and heads to bed. I stay and play. I try the new $5 wheel of fourtune MSS has, and I play my dollar triple play machine...no love. So I head to the room at 3am.
Tuesday, Early wake up call at 7am, pack, shower, check out and out the door. Rental car return went ok, plane is on time home. USair this return through Charolet NC. Planes are dirty, and tray and seat backs have issues. What do they do to make the flight attendents so miserable???? From this fligh forward, I'm going to do my best to stay off Usair. Add the $2 charge for curbside check in and the $25 extra bag over 1, fee and they can fly empty for all I care!
Home by 11:30pm.....Wednesday, to work again!

Some thoughts....
I hated host at Flamingo, just for adding drama to our trip with the Bette tickets. Nothing could have made me feel right about that...nothing!
I had tripple points awarded at MSS, but played very sparingly, instead played hardest at California. Probably should contact host there for next trip.
Palazzo....got a $99 offer from them in the mail for weekdays....have to think about this one....very nice room Jeff!
JMT, you where missed at lunch on Monday, but I'm sure you had to work. Next trip, we got to do dinner somewhere!!!!
Wendell, your looking better then November, Maxine must be taking good care of you...Keep up the good work Maxine!!!
Daisy, always a pleasure seeing you. I do wish you would have joined us for Bette....
Sorry we didn't get to the Garden Bar intime.

Sharon finised up 2K, me? The trip cost me 3k, but that is everything, food, shoes, car rental tickets.....so I did pretty fantastic. I gambled my ....well you know? I had probably one of the best times in Vegas in many trips. I enjoyed the whole trip, not just parts of it.
Here is how you can tell your having a good time....you loose over a grand at a table, your still laughing and tipping the dealers, and the cocktail gal "just brings you one anyway" LOL I guess I looked thirsty? LOL
Flamingo, Silverton and Ceasrars best drink service this trip. Downtown was tough.
The IP needs a good cleaning. The harrahs card desk sticks out like a sore thumb...it's so clean and shiney!

I'm ready to go again!!!! But it looks like July 16 to 22 are our dates for the next trip....

Thanks for reading all the way through......

Wow, Lee, great trip! TWO Royals.........
Sounds like you and Sharon had a great time and really "DID" downtown. It was fun to hear about it all, and the Golden Nugget. We haven't been there in a while, we'll have to check it out.
Thanks for the "lucky" TR!

It sure is a lot more fun to read your Las Vegas trip reports. Your AC trips are "interesting". Your Vegas trips are fun.

Thanks again to you and Sharon for a great time. It is always a pleasure to catch up with you two. I think I am a bad luck charm on your show tickets. I appreciate the shows. Bette was great. I always enjoy your company. Let's do dinner and let me get the show tickets next time.

I'm glad you did good at Caesars in the long run. I lost 3 hundred in about 10 minutes playing dollar deuces and bonus when I first got there that night. I put another $20 in and played DB quarters for about 20 minutes before it finally dried up. That was back in the area by where the gangstas shoot each other in the elevators.

The Horseshoe was always a top notch choice for steak and egg breakfasts. After it was sold a couple of times, the quality dropped like a rock. I'm glad to hear that it has picked back up. BTW, did you ever have a Porterhouse at the top floor steakhouse? It rated very high when I did my search for the best steak many years ago.

Sorry about missing the Bavrian Meet. I understand they have a spectacular iced tea dispenser. I wanted to see Wendell and Maxine too. I know I shouldn't let work get in the way of fun. My bad.

Did you try those special machines we talked about where you cash out with 1 credit and see how much they give you?

What did you (or anyone) think of the Pallazo rooms compared to regular Venetian rooms. All the descriptions I heard made them sound pretty much the same.

See ya in July...if not sooner.

Now here's someone who got around!

Sorry I didn't make it downtown Friday night. My plans were to come down, have a nice dinner and hook up for a bit. My cocktail server at Palazzo had other plans for me, DON'T DRIVE!

Don't feel bad about Makinos, I enjoyed it and would still be curious if I hadn't tried it.

Like you, I gambled pretty hard this trip but came out a bit better than you. Actually took home a bit of their money.

Glad you were able to use some of that rum. I ended up taking home about half the bottle of Macallan.

As always, enjoyed visiting with both of you.

hey remember the good karma prediction for vegas?so glad it came true.a fun trip with good food,to much booze,and great company,a hard to beat combination,hmmm did i say to much booze? no such thing!! sounds like we miss in july but we will catch up in nov or if i win the mega i will still be there.great trip,will miss you and sharon in july.

Lee - wow - another great TR - and what sounds like another great trip!

I don't know how you and Sharon do it - playing until 8AM the first day (or night, however you look at it) and then sitting down at a Let It Ride table at 3AM until 10AM on another night - incredible! And congrats to Sharon for that great win!

Congrats to YOU on the 2 royals and also the Aces with the kicker!

To answer your question - I think if you have 4 to the royal, you're supposed to draw for the royal regardless if you have a winning hand (in your case, it was a Wild Royal) but I could be wrong since I don't play DW and don't know the proper strategies. In DB or DDB, you draw for the royal EXCEPT if you have a Straight Flush.

Glad you liked Bette!

Say hi to Sharon!

And thanks again for a great TR!

Tater, You should check out the Nugget. The place is the class of downtown.
Thanks for reading the whole thing...I got a bit windy at times! LOL
BTW, I've had 2 royals on a trip before, a long time ago.....on the same machine within an hour of each other.....only problem was they where nickels! Quarters are much better!

Thanks Lee, for the great report - it was so lively I could just picture myself there!

Those vp machines at Caesars back by the "gangster shooting elevators" - never did like that area, even though I did okay on a multiplay back there. Something about the atmosphere, feeling like its a dead end hallway (no pun about the gangstas intended)

And...at the Flamingo, where is the Garden Bar? I just can't picture it.

Thanks, and hello to shoe shopping Sharon (good for her!)

OK, lets try this again.....I had help with my typing last evening from my cat...I don't know where she sent your reply Joe....but it's gone, so here I go again!
JMT,
My AC trips are just something to do over a weekend. My Las vegas trips are a real vacation. There is no comparrison between the two except they both offer gambling, and they are not close in that either...IMHO
Dinner sounds great for July, I'm guessing you don't eat at bait (sushi) shops? LOL When trip time gets closer, we'll talk. For now that July trip seems like forever.
The gangster area, as you call it, is where we play, when we can't get a seat at the sports bar. Lots to watch going by there, and if you hear gun shots, get down low FAST! That's is where I got my first royal this trip, Gangsta alley!
Joe, I've had 2 meals at the top of Binions, both experiances could have been better. I have no rush to go back, with so many quality places to choose from in Las Vegas. Dollar for dollar, the coffee shop was a better play.
I think it's bad of Southwest to work you like a slave driver. Making you work more then your normal 2 days is out right wrong. Those planes and people could have waited! LOL Seriously, I was sorry you couldn't make it, but I think we all understood why.
The Palazzo rooms, I have nothing to compare it to. I've never seen the Venitian rooms first hand. I do think the room was nicer then the wynndot. I know Jeffs view was better!
I never put a penny in those machines or is that a half penny????
Thanks for reading and thanks for taking the time to meet with us for a bit. We will see you in July, don't make us fly southwest airlines and have to break a seat to see ya!
Lee

Senator,
About that rum...don't do that again. I hated leaving over a half bottle behind, but unlike you, we didn't think of bring it home with us. Rum is a little less expencive then your hootch. LOL
Nothing at all wrong with being over served! No need for any appoligies or something like that. LOL
It was nice seeing you again, and again thank you for a very nice dinner and drinks!
We gambled pretty hard, and I say we, because Sharon stepped it up many times to dollars this trip. I on the other hand found myself playing quarters at times. I got reaquainted with tripple play and 5 play this trip and had a blast, but, I had to drop down to quarters, dollars is just too rich for me if I want to play for a couple hours.
CU later?
Lee-PA

DAG,
Too Much Booze...LOL Sometimes being over-serverd can be a wonderful thing!
We did have a very good trip, one of the better ones in recent memory. It would have to be the short trip with no new trips for 4 months. This is going to be a long 4 months. Yesterday I was checking fares for flying out Tuesday and home again wednesday or thuesday, just to be out with you guys in July. Haven't done one of those in a very long time....maybe I'm do???
Thanks for read'n

Mike,
The secret to staying up till morning is, sleep depravation, as I beleive it's called! And yes we feel like crap this weekend still. Slept most of Saturday away, and it's getting about nap time on this Sunday too! LOL
Sometimes my decession making on some of these games is directly affected by how many credits i have on the game. I know, the math doesn't change, but my wallet will! LOL I was in a loosing atthe time, and the extra bullets those wild royals gave me, where needed post haste!
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for reading all the way through, through typo's and all!

Aren't you the one that asked back in November -if Harrah's had a new policy of promising room upgrades and delivering much less? Flamingo's standard rooms might be fine, but somehow a roof view just doesn't cut it when you were anticipating a view of the strip. It sounds like you host might need just a wee bit more training in customer relations.

LOL, you forgot to mention the entertainment at Makino's - I must have had an interesting look on my face when I took my first bite of sushi<g>. Thanks for the guidance and encouragement! I thought I got plenty of meal for the Senator's money. I totally enjoyed my dinner, including the little bite size desserts - so I could sample lots of them.

LOL, I didn't bail for the IP soon enough; I made the mistake of paying homage to Caesar first<g>. I'm glad you enjoyed Bette; I just can't get excited about her.

ROTFL - your luck on the Treasure Chests was much better than mine! I played them out at Sam's and couldn't even get a quad.

It's always fun to get together with you and Sharon - and thanks for lunch at the HofBrau Hous!

Kes,
So sorry I missed your note earlier!
I only found it, because on my posts I like to re-read and see how badly I butcherd some of the spellings and all the typo's. LOL

The garden bar is located to the rear of the casino, facing the Flaming-O's gardens. It's directly to the right as you go down the stairs to the buffet. What I like is the comfortable feel of the seating here. The bartenders are all sunken in the bar area(like swim up pool bars) and the patrons seats are just chairs, the bar is really at like handicap access level. They put new machines in the bar a few years back, and my only knock is there is only 3 dollar machines, the rest are quarters. I am amazed they didn't make the quarters mutli denom. Service is pretty quick and tenders very attentive. I beleive that is because it's harder for the tenders to look over you, because of thier height comparative to the customer. IMHO

BTW, I never have to pass on a "Hello to Sharon", beleive it or not she reads everything and sometimes tells me what's going on new on talkvegas. Now if I could only get her to post!!!

Daisy,
I do beleive that is Harrahs policy. Just get you in the door and promiss them anything.
In defence of the host....Sharons real host (assigned host, never met him) wasn't available when we made reservations or when we stayed at the Flaming-O. This was a pinch hitter, and I don't think she much cared to work on someone elses account. We had to make her work! On a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being lowest, I think she was somewhere around -5! It all really doesn't matter, because I don't see us rushing back to the place. When we can get rooms (when we book early) at any Harrahs hotel, Only the IP is lower on or list....and not by a whole heck of a lot either!
Mekenois, was fun for me, I don't like caviar or any fish eggs though, and there where quite a few choices here. It has nothing to do with taste on that one, it's texture. I had one by mistake it was rolled in it (orange eggs) yuck. So I'm not embracing everything sushi either! It takes time to try everything, and I'm still sampleing stuff. So you took the first step, you survived....now you need to find something you like and work from that. They had no spicy tuna, and that's a favorite of mine, I think you might have liked that.
I was expecting more from a Harrahs IP. That carpet in the casino is way past prime. I remember Larry having a site for a web cam inside the place. Anyone have that address???
I'm thinking maybe you should plan 2 trips in July to Vegas, one for the Bark and one for when we come out? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Thanks for reading....now where is your report????

My report is in the "started" stage.

I like your thinking about July! I'd really like to be down in Vegas again this weekend for a bowling tournament.

Thanks for the garden bar description, Lee. I must admit that sometimes the "air fragrance" pumped into the Flamingo casino bothers me, so I haven't spent a lot of time there. But the garden bar sounds really nice, it is on the list for next time!

And little low roller me just got a funny mailing from the IP, offering 2 free nights in May June and July, any Sunday through Thursday. I say funny because it had a form letter from the GM E. Edward Crispell, commenting on how "my play at Imperial Palace has been very impressive lately" Yeah, right! My whole amount of play at IP last November was probably the equivalent of one or two hours of most of y'all out there.

And = the IP video cams were discontinued when Harrahs took over the reins. But I hear there are some new cams focusing on Planet Hollywood, the = hawaiian tropic zone, is that what its called? All the female servers seem to be dressed for the pool from the waist up.

SO - what sushi did Daisy try?

Daisy,
Late last evening I purchased tickets for July trip. $264 rt pp out of Allentown on Delta. I'm not real sure where Delta is on the airline food chain. I know they are in the process of merging with Northwest, which ain't good IMHO. Fuel prices are at an all time high, and I just got tickets for this summer at some of the lowest prices in years????? So our dates are set for July, 16 thru 22.
Your so close Daisy, and unlike me, your pretty good at showing gambling restraint. I don't beleive I've ever read a report when you really got clobbered. If I was better at budgeting, and lived as close as you, well, I'd still be broke! LOL But you should go if you can. M2C

Kes,
Some hotels do have a smell, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I'll give you the Flamingo has a smell. I guess I'm conditioned to it as a happy smell???
Your IP has a smell too, and I had forgotten about it untill my recent visit. At first (no lie) it was kind of, "oh yeah, this is the IP, but looking around, the place could use some soap and water. I think boiled hotdogs when I smell the IP. It's not really a bad smell, but it is there.
Sometimes i wonder if certin smells aren't put in to make it smell fresh, but to cover up an oder, such as smoke. The folks at Dollar rent a cat seem to be in love with that Fabrezze smell. The first day of a rental car is sickening sometimes.

Hey, they got to be scrapping for people. Sharon hasn't received anything from that Harrahs property. We gave them a little play this last visit, just to see if the mailing come. I don't think Sharon has really lived untill she stays at the IP!

Do you have an address for any of those cams??? I have a long wait for my next trip ya know.....

Ask Daisy what she chose, I think I seen some Tuna on her plate????

If you go to Hawaiiantropiczone dot com and choose las vegas, then there will be an icon in the upper corner labeled "watch us live!"

There are several shots outside and in, but none in the casino.

I think you can find shots of the casino at the Hard Rock casino site (not to mention the pool)

I'm glad the Flamingo has a happy smell for you! And I agree, I;m conditioned to the smell at IP being a happy smell to me.

And I'll tell you what. Next time we're both in las vegas, I would be very happy to trade my IP room for one of those nice rooms Sharon gets at Caesars. Just so Sharon can really have lived. (I'm so generous)

ROTFL ... that is very generous of you, Kes. You'll find out what Daisy ate when I get my TR up, and I was just working on it - I think it might be just a tad longer than usual cuz I needed a break, and I'm still on the first day<g>. Oh yeah, I also poured some Balvenie for that break (no stinkin' ice), so I'm not sure I'll get that first day up tonight.

Lee, if you wanted a rent-a-cat for your trip, I could have driven once down, and I would have thrown in some Febreeze if you insisted<ewg>. As for my next trip, I'm not scheduling it until I get that TR finished<g>. Of course I've been well & truly clobbered! Between you & me, I don't believe anyone who says they always win; I start really listening to see what other lies I can catch<g>. Yup, I'm pretty good at budgeting too, but I'd fall into that liar class if I set I never ever busted my gambling budget. LOL, I give people more credit on my lie-meter on that in that I'm sure there are some folks who have never spent more gaming $$ than planned, but those folks have a lot more self-discipline that I have - or want<g>. Different strokes for different folks, but I worked a very disciplined profession for a loooong time, and I just don't want to apply that much rigidity to my personal life.

As for Delta, my info is obsolete since I haven't flown them for about 10 years, and I liked them overall, but they used to schedule connecting flights about 35 minutes apart, and that just isn't enough time in an airport like Salt Lake City. OTOH, they were very nice about bumping me to first class when I missed a flight for that reason, and I think they bought me one of those gourmet airport meals while I was waiting too<g>.

P.S. Was that tuna on my plate? All I remember was you said it wasn't the salmon<g>.

OMG! you ate bait?!!<G>

Lee, I tried to go to Binions this morning for that steak and eggs. It was a disaster. Strike one, the self park ticket machines were broke. Strike two, the old oil elevator in the parking garage was down for extended maintenance. Strike three, the coffee shop was closed indefinitely for remodeling. The place is sinking fast. No wonder the price keeps going down each time it gets sold.

JMT, So true, while other properties sell and then resale for much more. Even the gold spike resold for more! Binions seems to loose ground. The coffee shop showed no signes of closing when we where there. Although I did have to do my own keno running. LOL

So, where did you end up eating????
If it was the Grand Lux, it sounds like you made the right move!

Yep, Grand Lux. I was really wanting a "quality steak" and eggs. When it wasn't on the GL menu, I figured that anything else I ordered would not be custom made and the chef would dip it out of a premade batch like I did. And with the buffet, I could choose my items and portions. Plus the OJ and coffee were perfect for my tastes. Since I could not have the Binions steak, I decided to at least try something completely new. After 3 striles at Binions, I knew I was gonna leave downtown for breakfast. It was either Mirage, TI, or Palazzo coffee shops. I can't even remember if Mirage or TI have a coffee shop or where it would be.

FYI, there are some good steak and eggs at coffee shops on the regular menu that you have to pay extra for. The $17 T-bone and eggs at the Hard Rock is one I kinda like. Terrible's has a decent filet and eggs at a premium price. Arizona Charlies is my ace in the hole for a real steak and eggs. (not to be confused with their special which is pretty good compared to the other specials)

i can do steak n eggs morning noon and nite.what i have done lately is get the cafes midnite special on eggs and then order the one lb t-bone for about ten bucks or out at the point get the new york special for 3.95 and get two orders.not bad quality out at the point.i have had the t-bone special at most coast cafes,16 oz. for about ten bucks and pretty good quality add a side of eggs and you got a meal

I've mostly gotten away from the breakfast steak & eggs, because of the poor quality of the steak. If I can't cut it and chew it, it pretty much ruins my meal. I've watched the California breakfast steak go down hill so much i no longer order it at any of the Boyd places.
An interesting combo I've been seeing on some menus is a pork chop and eggs. DAG....have you tried that one????

I'm not dag, but I tried pork chop and eggs at one of my favorite breakfast joints. It was a disaster. The 2 chops were very thin, overcooked, and took a long time to chew.

I'm not eager to try steak and eggs just anywhere. I need a reccomendation from a review or even from a waitress.

i don't do pork chops out for the reason that jmt stated,they just don't know how to cook them.the main problem in the cafes is the chef trained at burgerking

this is about a 7 out of ten- the steak n eggs midnite special 395 at the point ain't bad

I don't normally order pork chops either for a evening meal for that same reason. But breakfast just sounds wrong to me. But it's got to be better for ya then scrapple!

Bette Tickets....I just found out today, that the Flamingo went ahead and comped 2 of the four bette tickets we received. We only found out after I received a credit card bill that didn't make sence. Sharon called the Flamingo and was told of our good fourtune. WOOHOOO!

That's great Lee. After what they put you through, that is a nice gesture. And thanks again for the invite.

JMT,
Please stop, we enjoy your company. I wish we had more time to spend with you on our breif trips.
I was hoping Cher would be playing in July, but after checking the schedule, no.

You know it was a nice gesture...kind-of. It would have been nicer if they would have informed us of this at check out or when they comped the tickets. Instead of Sharon having to spend an hour on hold trying to find out what this charge on my credit card was from the Flaming-o. After all, she reserved the tickets on her credit card. We thought they screwed up and billed us for the room. Absolutly nothing went smooth dealing with the Flamingo, nothing. We reserved Ceasars for our up coming trip in July.

So I bought dinner for nothing?

Oh, wait a minute. I suppose you and Sharon used the comps. Never mind! :rolleyes:

Jeff, come on out in July 16 thru 22...and I'll buy you dinner to make it up to you! OR come down to the boat, I know we'll find some good eats there!
I don't know if this is good news or not, but Maryland has slot machines on the ballot for November election.

I hate to beat a dead pig, but I had pork chop and eggs again for breakfast last week. It was a good size bone in piece. While much better than the earlier one I spoke of, it was still overcooked. It was not quite dry though. It did remind me why I don't order pork chops at restaurants for breakfast or dinner. I'd rather do it myself. Fried, grilled, or smoked, I like mine better. I'm probably closer to the "danger zone" temperature than most restaurants.

I'll try tenderloin, pulled pork, ribs, bacon and most kinds of pork at restaurants. Chops are a different story.

Lee: Enjoyed your TR, especially the Hofbrau Haus part, it was fun, huh? We have received an offer from the Orleans, good from June 1 thru Aug 31, but we are still in the debating and planning stage - also received a letter from them offering us meeting room space during Thanksgiving, BUT they put so many restrictions in the contract (like NO SIGNS), that is doubtful I will accept - just too many other options! Will keep you posted.

Thanks for reading Wendell! I like the hofbrau haus, and it was fun...good group of people, ya know!
Thanksgiving is your baby....you just tell us where and when, we will be there!
As for July trip to Vegas...it seems so darn far away. I leave for a cruise in a week, I'm sure I'll do a little gambling on the boat. We also have some extra time in San Juan after the cruise, so I know we'll hit a couple of casinos there. But like you know...There is no place like VEGAS!

JMT,
Beat the dead pig all you want! I've been thinking that pork chop is probably better for you then most breakfast meats! With the exception of the steak option.

Pork chop and eggs for breakfast: a one-day job for the chicken, a lifetime commitment for the pig.

Yum.

LOL

Lee: I have been leaning toward Main Street - I kinda liked the idea of being able to order food and/or drinks while seated. What do you think?

Wendell any place works for me. We always have a car and travel to a meet isn't a problem for us. I do like the option of ordering drinks without fetching them.
I would make the time sometime after the lunch crowd though. Brew pub gets noisy when it's full. M2C