This is quite lengthy--you may want to make a lunch. (Seems all I think about is food!)I am not much of a gambler so I can't give any tips on the best places to do that but I can tell you about some interesting hotels & restaurants and entertainment and things to see and some of it free.
My trip started with my driving from Southern Cal 300 miles to get to The Wyndham on E. Harmon. I have a timeshare that I needed to use a week of so I decided to stay there. It's a little off the Strip but they have a convenient free shuttle which we used a couple of times. I usually drive and do valet parking, which seems to even out rather than tipping the shuttle driver. This trip was pleasure/other--the other being that I'd asked my sister-in-law to come with me because she has a brother in the hospital in Summerlin so some of our time was spent there.
I checked in to the hotel and went to the airport to pick up Jackie at 4 pm. We met my friend Monica at 5:30 and for lack of a more ingenious place to eat, went to The Orleans for the buffet. (David van Such was playing there so it seemed the convenient thing to do) I thought the food was not up to their usual quality but I hadn't eaten there in about 2 years, so I don't know if it's always like that.
David van Such's show in Brendan's was great. He was to appear the next day (Sunday) at Biersch Brewery so we decided to go there for his brunch show. The jazz was terrific and the food was ok. The people were dressed to the nines in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes.
That night we went to the Imperial Palace for a show, Human Nature (Smokey Robinson's discovery of 4 Aussies who sing Motown) It was terrific! We had decided to have dinner in The Hash House a Go Go, which Monica had been to for breakfast. She said the portions were huge but none of us was prepared for the size of the appetizers that they brought out. I was eating fried green tomatoes for 3 days. It was a hoot to see the look on the faces of the other patrons, every time a plate was brought out.
Afterwards the show was one of the best that the 2 girls had ever seen, or so they said. It was very good-got the crowd moving! And I'd gotten discount tickets at the concierge desk at the Wyndham.
Monday morning I had to have my fix of Bellagio, so we went there for the breakfast buffet, (which if you time it right, turns into brunch for the breakfast price.) It was wonderful!
We got to see the Conservatory all dressed up in Chinese New Year finery and it is spectacular. I realized that this was a terrific time to be in Las Vegas because a lot of the big hotels were decorated Chinese style. Wynn, Encore, The Venetian, Palazzo, all were wonderfully decorated.
Monday afternoon we went to Wynn, had a drink, then to Encore and had another drink, then it was time to go to Paris. After having a salad & sandwich in one of the cafes, we went to the top and on the way there I talked to a pit man for the Nascar races. He rode up in the Eiffel elevator with us and told us interesting things about Nascar.
Tuesday we went to Pahrump so I could visit my house there and I took my sister in law to see the 2 famous brothels, Sheri's Resort & The Chicken Ranch. She bought souvenirs for the folks back in 'Loosiana' Then I took her to Symphony's restaurant. Their food is so good and the atmosphere is calming and they have a winery. On the way back to LV, I showed her Bass Pro Shops (where she bought more souvenirs) and The Silverton, where we had a drink and watched the fish in the huge aquarium.
Wednesday we went to look at M. What a beautiful place! I vowed to go back there next time for breakfast or lunch. Then it was to MGM for lunch in The Rainforest Cafe, saw the lions in their habitat and then went to the Liberace Museum, which was a must on Jackie's list. It was quite interesting. They had a concert given by the musical director of Jersey Boys, and I can't think of his name. Back to Bellagio that night to see Bruce Zarka & Geralyn Lee playing in the Baccarat bar. Bruce had played with Louis Prima (a friend) and we talked a lot about "Old times." Bruce on the piano and Geralyn on bass are terrific!! We liked them so much we went back the following night, after going to The Flamingo & Margaritaville in the morning and spending time at the hospital.
Friday morning we found Ellis Island, which we'd been hearing about. I think we could have skipped it but we just had to see what it was all about. It wasn't clean and the food was so-so but they did have big portions. And it was cheap! Then we went to Circus Circus, saw a free show, which was pretty good, then to Sahara so I could show her one of the 'early ' hotel casinos.
Saturday I took Jackie to the airport for a 7:30 a.m. flight. I was curious to see if there would be heightened security checks but she said there weren't any. Then I went back to Pahrump for 3 days. It was a good trip and I'm going back over in 3 weeks but not staying at the Wyndham this time.

I thought you said this was a long trip report???
Here I was prepared to spend an afternoon reading it, and it was over in a flash!
You ate a few forgettable meals, but I know all about time and place, you do what you have to do! LOL I think you where very kind about Ellis Island.
Glad you had a good trip, will we get a longer report in 3 weeks?????
Thanks for taking the time to type a great report out for us all here on talkvegas! Vegas can be so many different things to some many different people, it's grand!

YES! THANKS, VICKIE! Nice report.

Where is "Symphony" in Pahrump? And have the Pahrump real estate values increased over the years? I recall many years ago that there was an aggressive campaign to sell vacant lots, Was it called Cal/Neva or something similar? What happened there?

I am a great fan of the Ellis Island cafe and have to admit that after a good number of years of 'dining' there, I have yet to have a bad meal. I have to admit that it is a 'joint' and definitely not a 'fine dining' place of any kind but I've taken a good number of 'fine diners' there on many an occasion to show them what this town used to be and as of yet no one has ever complained about any meal that they ordered.

I always recommend the 'prime rib' which is prepared somewhat differently than many are familiar with or the lemon chicken which is "ono-ono" and definitely the best I've ever tasted.

For breakfast it's definitely the huge and thick slice of ham with a couple of eggs on the side and all the trimmings.

Most of my high-brow friends hate the atmosphere but love the food.

BUT .... I have never ordered the steak 'special' simply because I often see it arriving in various shapes and sizes when I spy on various tables throughout the room, but numerous steak lovers claim that that steak special is hit or miss but still they go back for more.

I've dined at a good number of the finer 'joints' in this town and have to honestly say that I always recall one or two meals at Ellis Island that were most enjoyable.

But I also have to admit that one of the best meals I've ever had in this town was one night at Charlie Palmer's in the Four Seasons -Mandalay Bay. It was so good that I asked the Chef to join us briefly at the table..... and he graciously accepted.

ANd guess what we briefly talked about?!

YEP! ,,,, the food at Ellis Island.

He also 'fine dined' there on numerous occasions.

And that just has to be some sort of 'mark of distinction'.

This gambler enjoyed your trip report. That's the beauty of the things - we all enjoy something different and can learn from each other.

We sure agree on David Van Such, and I thank you for the heads up that I might need to dress "a little less casual" if I try to catch him at Gordon Biersch some Sunday ... maybe even wear long pants<vbg>. I'm glad you got to see Human Nature. Would you go back for a second dose? I thoroughly enjoyed it last year, and I'm thinking about seeing it again on my next trip.

Thanks for casting another vote on Ellis Island. I'm still counting votes on that one before I decide if I want to walk down and eat there. I already know I don't like the parking<g>, and the casino itself doesn't have anything to draw me, but I still haven't quite ruled out a meal there - or moved it up to a priorty either. Lee's "time & place" comment just about sums up my Las Vegas dining lately.

Thanks for the report, and never worry ... there's no such thing as "too long" when it comes to trip reports.

Vickie -

I very much enjoyed reading your trip report. I'm glad you got to try the Hash House a Go Go at the Imperial Palace. I'm looking forward to going there the next time I'm in Vegas.

Thanks Vickie,

I see you had another great time. I haven't seen David in a while. I need to get out more. Did you feel comfortable walking to and from your car at the Wyndham?

I always have fun at Hash House A Go Go. Thanks for reminding me that I need to get to Gordon Beirsch Brewery. In fact, there's a lot of things I need to get out and do. I find myself getting into that rut that I urge others not to get in.

I went to see the Rat Pack show at the Sahara last week. I could have sworn that nice gal I was sitting next to was you.

Didja see the snow in Pahrump today?

Well, Will, your belief in Ellis Island has made a believer out of me. I will have to go back and try the lemon chicken. I was ready to write them off before I read your comment. The Symphony's in Pahrump is on Winery Road (appropriately) which, if you're going into town on 160, there's a light at Homestead off to the left. Winery is to the right and about a mile on that road. Definitely worthwhile. I've never had anything bad there.

DD-I don't think I'd go back to see Human Nature unless I was taking someone who hadn't seen them, simply because there are so many other groups and places that I'd go to see. But the two gals I was with probably would. They both said it was the best show they'd ever seen and they bought the CD. A note here: I paid for all our tickets (at a discount) because those 2 gals were winners in my football pool and I owed them a prize.

Hey Joe! Well, you're going to have to come out next time I'm in LV and we'll paint the town. I have to make a stop at the Baccarat in Bellagio to see Bruce Zarka and take him a copy of a tape I made for him when he played with Louis Prima, lots of years ago. I loved Hash House A Go Go! I'm still talking about it. Thanks so much for introducing it to Monica, so she could tell me about it. I've been looking at photos I took and I've got some gorgeous ones of Encore, Wynn, M, Venetian, Paris, etc. Oh and Bellagio, of course! I'd post them if I could figure out how to do it.

Thanks for the report Vickie. You sure do get around. Glad you enjoyed Hash House. I tried the breakfast and wasn't so impressed but since we will be staying at IP I will try a lunch or dinner when I go back the end of the month.

I have a question for you. I was just in Vegas and thought about taking a ride to Pahrump to see just what the brothels were all about and more importantly look for a place called Mabels if there ever was such a place. My moms name is Mabel and when I was a young boy someone gave her a gag gift ashtray that said "property of Mabels whore house" so it would be cool to get something related to that.
My question is if I walk in one of these establishments would I be able to just look around have a beer and leave without getting the hard sale (pardon the pun)or harrased?

Rukiding, I've been in Mabel's. I have a mug from there. It's 20 miles north of Pahrump, up 160 in Crystal. And yes you can go in & get a souvenir & look around in the bar, at least. I think Mabel's has 'cribs' out back. The Cherry Patch is in Crystal too. They're pretty crummy places, unlike Sheri's Ranch just outside Pahrump. It's really classy, as is the Chicken Ranch, but I was only in the bar & souvenir shop there. They took us on a tour of Sheri's (not into any of the private rooms) when I was there to get tickets for Paul Revere & The Raiders. It's like a sport's bar & we ate lunch there. Here's a funny story (to me) about Crystal. There was a sign in Pahrump advertising a Brothel Museum in Crystal, so I talked my reluctant, then husband into taking a ride up. I wanted to see what was going on. My husband refused to go into the bar with me to find out where the museum was. He waited in the car, slumped down, with his hat over his face, while I went into the bar and found out from the female bartender that all the "museum" consisted of were several newspaper clippings & no souvenirs. She said I'd have to go on up the road a bit for that. When I went back out to the car, my husband was in such a hurry to get out of there that he set off the alarm on my keyless entry. Lights flashing and the horn tooting sure made him cuss. He didn't want to take me on up the road but I insisted.
You can pull up Sheri's & The Chicken Ranch on the net & see what they're all about.

Lol The alarms going off at the most in-opportune time reminds me of the joke with the guys horn getting stuck just when he comes up to a group of hells angels at the stop light.

Thanks for the info.

LOL, thanks for the museum info ... I've also been curious about that display<g>.