Wednesday:
After Tuesday morning's transportation debacle, I decided to pony up for a $15 cab ride from Bally’s to Mandalay Bay. I enjoyed some oatmeal with brown sugar and washed it down with OJ at my "favorite" new restaurant Red White and Blue.
Before the trip, some of my colleagues had discussed the idea of having a Big Dinner preceding our Big Night Out at Pure Nightclub in Caesars Palace. I took the initiative to find a place and eventually settled on Joe's Seafood and Steak, conveniently located at the Forum Shops in Caesars. I had hoped I would be able to get my other nine associates to confirm by noon so that I would not be held liable for the reservation. would be a better choice. I had hoped that I would be able to catch up with everyone by noon Wednesday so I could cancel the reservation without liability. By 11:55am, I was able to catch up to all but one younger colleague who was already stretching his budget.
I had rarely been to the Forum Shops so I really didn’t have a clue how to get to Joe’s. The rest of my Mandalay Bay crew had even less of a clue and got out of their taxi at the main Caesars Palace entrance. We would find out later there was a taxi drop-off at the Forum Shops as well. (That’s Learning Experience #5.) In the end, we all managed to get there at 6:45, fifteen minutes later than our reservation time. Fortunately this wasn’t a problem as we had to wait another ten minutes for our table, anyway.
Joe’s is probably most famous for its stone crabs. A few of my colleagues put that reputation to the test. I ordered the petite filet mignon which was very good. We all shared a bunch of sides including some creamed corn that I believe someone here suggested. While I’ve been accused more than a few times of being “corny”, I’m not particular fond of corn but I gave it a shot nonetheless. I won’t say that I loved it but I managed to take a few bites which were a couple bites more than usual. In the end, our bill averaged around $40 per person which pleased everyone. In fact, they toasted me for my Big Dinner choice which made me feel really good! We had about a half hour to casually make our way over for the next destination: Pure Nightclub.
As a guy in his forties, I like to think that I keep up pretty well with contemporary pop, hip-hop and dance music. However, as a teetotaler who prefers to dance with his lady or at least ladies that I already know, I seem to be incompatible with today’s nightclub scene, particularly in Las Vegas.
I was looking forward to checking out Pure not only because of all the perennial hype but also because it was supposed to be one of the larger clubs in the city. As it turns out, they cordoned off a fair amount of it besides the main floor, including the balcony area I had hoped to check out for a cool view of the Strip. Nonetheless, I had a good time. I did shock a couple of my friends when I told them that the seat we were sitting in would probably cost us hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a normal night. I also thought to myself that about 90% of the people at the function – friendly but not necessarily “beautiful” and averaging fortysomething – would probably not get in Pure at all without reserving bottle service.
Of the ten of us, seven had their fill after about an hour and either headed back to MB or further explored the Strip. That left me, one of my lady colleagues and the young guy. While Young Guy got his drink on, the lady and I hit the dance floor. At one point, we each recognized some other acquaintances and danced and chatted with them as well. Around midnight, the function broke up and my lady colleague and her friend caught a cab back to Mandalay Bay while I walked my other friend to her cab. I dragged my poor legs home, tired but satisfied.
As hinted at earlier, Pure is typical of the more popular Vegas nightclub in that its barriers to entry favor those who are ready to "party like rock stars. They are usually at two of the following: younger (below 30), affluent (to reserve expensive bottle service and the included rare seating) and fashionable (read: slim). A person of size who had not made said prior table reservations could find themselves waiting in the queue for a particularly long time. Fortunately there are many nightlife venues which, while perhaps less sophisticated and celebrity-laden, are more welcoming to all sorts of people.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Winter In The Desert Oasis - Part Four
Tuesday:
This morning, I returned once again to Bally’s Sidewalk Café, this time avoiding the minor culinary fiasco that was their “Express Breakfast Buffet” in favor of a proper meal. There was no wait as the café has just opened and therefore I received the “privilege” of being placed in the slightly separated VIP section which was really no different than any other section. Nonetheless, I felt “special” as I enjoyed some surprisingly good vanilla bean French toast.
A lot of my decision to stay at Bally’s instead of Mandalay Bay where most of my business was being conducted was based on what I had thought would be a pretty easy commute. I planned to take the monorail all of one stop to the MGM Grand station, walk through the casino and across the street to the Tropicana/Luxor overpass where I would take the tram to Mandalay Bay. As I had at least seen if not utilized this route before, it seemed pretty straightforward. Perhaps not...
The smoothest part of the trip was the monorail. As a Bally’s guest, the station was pretty convenient to find; I can see how it might be a pain for some others. I went down the same escalator that led me to the gym via the resort wear stores, Sbarro’s Pizza and the sportsbook/restaurant to find the monorail entrance next to the pool area. I noticed a sign that while Bally’s pool area is closed for the winter, save the tennis courts, the indoor pool at Paris was also available to Bally’s guests. I arrived a few minutes before the monorail’s opening at 7:00. The actual trip from Bally’s to MGM lasted about two minutes.
So I walked through the MGM and across to the Tropicana only to find…non-working escalators? After my unintentional shopping “workout”, I wasn’t crazy about climbing steps but I did it. (I found out later that there was also an elevator on the other side of the escalator. Whether or not that was actually working, I’ll never know.) I wasn’t crazy about that but figured I would get to relax a bit on the tram at the Luxor. Nope. The tram didn’t start operating until 9:00am, about 90 minutes later. So I embarked on another unintentional tour through the Luxor and Excalibur. Other than some mild curiosity about insult comics serving me dinner at Dick’s Last Resort (@Excalibur), I pretty much confirmed that I wouldn’t go out of my way to return to either of these casinos.
This concludes Learning Experience #4, by the way.
I would say that the monorail is most useful for those traveling from either of its end points: the Las Vegas Convention Center to the north or the MGM Grand station to the south. It may not necessarily be worth it otherwise, especially considering the long walk required to back of the corresponding casino to reach the station. Catching a cab would save the most personal wear and tear. Renting a car would be even better although, as a reminder, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police does not mess around with drivers who have even had a "little bit" to drink.
I won’t bore you with any of my business details, except to say that the Red White and Blue restaurant at Mandalay Bay became the “home away from home” for me and my colleagues. The menu offerings were priced at a level consistent with the four-star resort but were a better value than the more convenient convention center food court.
After a long but productive day, I made it back to Bally’s to rest for what I intended to be an hour nap….except that I woke up four hours later. I had received another invitation from the internet friends I met on Sunday to join them for dinner at Ellis Island, a nearby off-Strip casino, so I was disappointed that I had missed out on that opportunity. I still wasn't feeling my best but, not wanting to waste a night in Vegas, so I set out to take a walk around.
My first stop was the Flamingo, where I spent a week in the summer of 2007. I don’t know what it is but I just feel comfortable here. The vibe is relaxed, I like the vanilla scent, and I can even embrace the loud pink. I thought about grabbing a bite at the Burger Joint or the new food court but decided that I still hadn’t built up an appetite. I kept on strolling up the east side of the Strip until I got to the Venetian.
One of the best things about resorts about the Venetian is that it’s one of those places that offer enough that you never really have to leave. The flipside of that is that it takes “forever” to get in. After a bunch of moving walkways and thruways, I eventually found myself in the Grand Canal Shoppes. I didn’t really know where I was going but at some point I ended up in St. Mark’s Square where I got some chocolate chip gelato. I walked through the Venetian casino which was as packed as any place I would visit during the trip. I also noticed that a dueling piano bar, an option which I’m not sure is mentioned much here.
On the other side of the Venetian, I stopped in Walgreen’s to find something that I hoped would make me feel better. Then I checked out the Palazzo for the first time. It was interesting approaching the entrance as I wasn’t sure whether the ladies passing by me in their snug dresses were “entrepreneurs” or merely headed to the Lavo nightclub queue. Overall, the Palazzo was fine but just seemed like an extension of the Venetian. So I did an about face and headed back to Bally’s.
It was approaching midnight and I was finally getting an appetite. So I stopped in the Tequila Bar and Grille, figuring I could get a good quesadilla. As it turns out, I’ve had better quesadillas from Taco Bell. For one, the meat was virtually non-existent. The rest of it just didn’t have any taste. But I managed to get full enough and listened again to the R&B cover band in the Indigo Lounge for a bit before calling it a night.
This morning, I returned once again to Bally’s Sidewalk Café, this time avoiding the minor culinary fiasco that was their “Express Breakfast Buffet” in favor of a proper meal. There was no wait as the café has just opened and therefore I received the “privilege” of being placed in the slightly separated VIP section which was really no different than any other section. Nonetheless, I felt “special” as I enjoyed some surprisingly good vanilla bean French toast.
A lot of my decision to stay at Bally’s instead of Mandalay Bay where most of my business was being conducted was based on what I had thought would be a pretty easy commute. I planned to take the monorail all of one stop to the MGM Grand station, walk through the casino and across the street to the Tropicana/Luxor overpass where I would take the tram to Mandalay Bay. As I had at least seen if not utilized this route before, it seemed pretty straightforward. Perhaps not...
The smoothest part of the trip was the monorail. As a Bally’s guest, the station was pretty convenient to find; I can see how it might be a pain for some others. I went down the same escalator that led me to the gym via the resort wear stores, Sbarro’s Pizza and the sportsbook/restaurant to find the monorail entrance next to the pool area. I noticed a sign that while Bally’s pool area is closed for the winter, save the tennis courts, the indoor pool at Paris was also available to Bally’s guests. I arrived a few minutes before the monorail’s opening at 7:00. The actual trip from Bally’s to MGM lasted about two minutes.
So I walked through the MGM and across to the Tropicana only to find…non-working escalators? After my unintentional shopping “workout”, I wasn’t crazy about climbing steps but I did it. (I found out later that there was also an elevator on the other side of the escalator. Whether or not that was actually working, I’ll never know.) I wasn’t crazy about that but figured I would get to relax a bit on the tram at the Luxor. Nope. The tram didn’t start operating until 9:00am, about 90 minutes later. So I embarked on another unintentional tour through the Luxor and Excalibur. Other than some mild curiosity about insult comics serving me dinner at Dick’s Last Resort (@Excalibur), I pretty much confirmed that I wouldn’t go out of my way to return to either of these casinos.
This concludes Learning Experience #4, by the way.
I would say that the monorail is most useful for those traveling from either of its end points: the Las Vegas Convention Center to the north or the MGM Grand station to the south. It may not necessarily be worth it otherwise, especially considering the long walk required to back of the corresponding casino to reach the station. Catching a cab would save the most personal wear and tear. Renting a car would be even better although, as a reminder, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police does not mess around with drivers who have even had a "little bit" to drink.
I won’t bore you with any of my business details, except to say that the Red White and Blue restaurant at Mandalay Bay became the “home away from home” for me and my colleagues. The menu offerings were priced at a level consistent with the four-star resort but were a better value than the more convenient convention center food court.
After a long but productive day, I made it back to Bally’s to rest for what I intended to be an hour nap….except that I woke up four hours later. I had received another invitation from the internet friends I met on Sunday to join them for dinner at Ellis Island, a nearby off-Strip casino, so I was disappointed that I had missed out on that opportunity. I still wasn't feeling my best but, not wanting to waste a night in Vegas, so I set out to take a walk around.
My first stop was the Flamingo, where I spent a week in the summer of 2007. I don’t know what it is but I just feel comfortable here. The vibe is relaxed, I like the vanilla scent, and I can even embrace the loud pink. I thought about grabbing a bite at the Burger Joint or the new food court but decided that I still hadn’t built up an appetite. I kept on strolling up the east side of the Strip until I got to the Venetian.
One of the best things about resorts about the Venetian is that it’s one of those places that offer enough that you never really have to leave. The flipside of that is that it takes “forever” to get in. After a bunch of moving walkways and thruways, I eventually found myself in the Grand Canal Shoppes. I didn’t really know where I was going but at some point I ended up in St. Mark’s Square where I got some chocolate chip gelato. I walked through the Venetian casino which was as packed as any place I would visit during the trip. I also noticed that a dueling piano bar, an option which I’m not sure is mentioned much here.
On the other side of the Venetian, I stopped in Walgreen’s to find something that I hoped would make me feel better. Then I checked out the Palazzo for the first time. It was interesting approaching the entrance as I wasn’t sure whether the ladies passing by me in their snug dresses were “entrepreneurs” or merely headed to the Lavo nightclub queue. Overall, the Palazzo was fine but just seemed like an extension of the Venetian. So I did an about face and headed back to Bally’s.
It was approaching midnight and I was finally getting an appetite. So I stopped in the Tequila Bar and Grille, figuring I could get a good quesadilla. As it turns out, I’ve had better quesadillas from Taco Bell. For one, the meat was virtually non-existent. The rest of it just didn’t have any taste. But I managed to get full enough and listened again to the R&B cover band in the Indigo Lounge for a bit before calling it a night.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Winter In The Desert Oasis - Part Three
Monday:
On this morning, I decided to head downstairs to Bally’s Sidewalk Café for breakfast. I saw that they had an “Express Breakfast Buffet” for $10.99 and, not having a huge appetite, decided it might be worth it. The advertisement said they had assorted meats and assorted cold cereals. I guess by “assorted”, they meant two. In retrospect, I should have taken a closer look before committing to the buffet. I didn’t expect much but I got even less. If you like eggs, it might be worth it. As for me, that would be Learning Experience #2.
I had planned on spending the rest of the morning casually walking the Strip and seeing what I could see. Unfortunately, I discovered while unpacking that I had not included my suit. Yikes! I figured I could get by with the pairs of khakis I bought with me but I still needed a suit jacket. And thus my adventure for today had started.
I remembered that there were two Ross stores on the Strip. For those not familiar, Ross is a discount department store on par with TJ Maxx, Marshalls and AJ Wright. If you’ve lost your luggage or just need to outfit or accessorize yourself in a pinch, it can be a convenient choice. The good news is that they had two locations on the Strip: the Showcase Mall next to MGM Grand and what I call the Peppermill (Lounge) Shopping Center just south of the Riviera. The bad news is that neither had a particularly appealing selection of jackets. I did note a decent array of larger-size options in general (up to 2X). So I took the opportunity to do something I would have rather done under less duress: I made my first visit to the Fashion Show Mall.
As malls go, it was a pretty nice place. It’s probably as nice as most upscale malls albeit with an emphasis on, of course, fashionable clothing stores. While I was admittedly more focused on my own "fashion" needs at the time, I would say from my quick observation that it would be easier for a larger person to find a new pair of shoes than a whole outfit. Tommy Bahama may be a positive exception for guys. The department stores are likely to offer at least the lower-end plus-sizes as well. Speaking of department stores, my first stop was Macy’s where they had a great selection but not in my preferred budget. So I headed over to Dillard’s next and after trying on a few jackets…success! I rested my tiring legs at the food court and got a chicken cheese steak from the Philly cheese steak shop. Unfortunately, while this native Philadelphian’s favorite corner shop had mustard available, this place wasn’t quite as authentic.
I caught a bus back to Bally’s and fell out on the bed for a bit. After patronizing two Ross stores and searching around the Fashion Show Mall, I had invested four hours of my day. Definitely not the type of aimless Strip wandering I had planned. If you’re keeping score, that’s Learning Experience #3.
After that unintended cardio workout, it may be hard to believe that I left my room to go to Bally’s spa. I suppose I’m one of those “weird” people who like to work out on vacation. I also figured the hot tub would help my sore legs. In order to find the spa, I had to head down an escalator where I discovered a “whole new world” that included the typical stores featuring resort wear and tcotchkes along with a food court and arcade. I saw a sign for the monorail I would use later before I came across the spa.
Since I was arriving after three, I saved half of the normal $22 fee. One thing I noticed right away in the fitness center section was how purple it was. The graphic design also made me feel like I had taken a trip back to the 80’s. I put myself through a relatively light upper body maintenance, took a shower and went for a dip in the hot tub…or rather, the “warm tub”. There were three whirlpools of different temperatures but I always prefer to be medium toasty.
I admit to not having a lot of spa experience. The only other one I’ve been to in Vegas was the Flamingo Spa. I know there are certainly more luxurious spas but as I’ve mostly stayed in or near the Flamingo in the past, it’s worked for me. While Bally’s actual spa area was probably equal to the Flamingo, I have to say the Flamingo’s fitness center was more attractive and updated. The staff was about equal; polite if not quite enthusiastic. Overall, I’d prefer to go back to the Flamingo between the two...although I had aspirations to finally(!) try out Qua over at Caesars Palace.
Later in the evening, I went over to the Bellagio via the convenient overpass that linked the two casinos. I was there to attend a pre-convention reception party. After being solo for a couple days, it was nice to see some familiar faces there. One of the Bellagio sales managers was there and offered to take me and a few other associates up to check out some of their rooms. I have to say it was a great experience to check out these rooms and their amazing features and views. I would get the opportunity to get my mind blown again by other properties later in the week.
After the reception, my colleagues and I walked around the Bellagio a bit, stopping first at Jean Phillippe Patisserie, a gourmet dessert shop featuring a huge fountain of chocolate. We then strolled through what is perhaps the Bellagio's most popular free attraction, their floral observatory. This elaborate display is changed every season. Not surprisingly, there was a strong holiday theme with faux penguins and snowmen thrown in for good measure.
After our observatory tour, I bid my colleagues good night as they returned down to Mandalay Bay and I relished my relatively short walk back across the overpass to Bally's. It would turn out to be a rare advantage during the week.
On this morning, I decided to head downstairs to Bally’s Sidewalk Café for breakfast. I saw that they had an “Express Breakfast Buffet” for $10.99 and, not having a huge appetite, decided it might be worth it. The advertisement said they had assorted meats and assorted cold cereals. I guess by “assorted”, they meant two. In retrospect, I should have taken a closer look before committing to the buffet. I didn’t expect much but I got even less. If you like eggs, it might be worth it. As for me, that would be Learning Experience #2.
I had planned on spending the rest of the morning casually walking the Strip and seeing what I could see. Unfortunately, I discovered while unpacking that I had not included my suit. Yikes! I figured I could get by with the pairs of khakis I bought with me but I still needed a suit jacket. And thus my adventure for today had started.
I remembered that there were two Ross stores on the Strip. For those not familiar, Ross is a discount department store on par with TJ Maxx, Marshalls and AJ Wright. If you’ve lost your luggage or just need to outfit or accessorize yourself in a pinch, it can be a convenient choice. The good news is that they had two locations on the Strip: the Showcase Mall next to MGM Grand and what I call the Peppermill (Lounge) Shopping Center just south of the Riviera. The bad news is that neither had a particularly appealing selection of jackets. I did note a decent array of larger-size options in general (up to 2X). So I took the opportunity to do something I would have rather done under less duress: I made my first visit to the Fashion Show Mall.
As malls go, it was a pretty nice place. It’s probably as nice as most upscale malls albeit with an emphasis on, of course, fashionable clothing stores. While I was admittedly more focused on my own "fashion" needs at the time, I would say from my quick observation that it would be easier for a larger person to find a new pair of shoes than a whole outfit. Tommy Bahama may be a positive exception for guys. The department stores are likely to offer at least the lower-end plus-sizes as well. Speaking of department stores, my first stop was Macy’s where they had a great selection but not in my preferred budget. So I headed over to Dillard’s next and after trying on a few jackets…success! I rested my tiring legs at the food court and got a chicken cheese steak from the Philly cheese steak shop. Unfortunately, while this native Philadelphian’s favorite corner shop had mustard available, this place wasn’t quite as authentic.
I caught a bus back to Bally’s and fell out on the bed for a bit. After patronizing two Ross stores and searching around the Fashion Show Mall, I had invested four hours of my day. Definitely not the type of aimless Strip wandering I had planned. If you’re keeping score, that’s Learning Experience #3.
After that unintended cardio workout, it may be hard to believe that I left my room to go to Bally’s spa. I suppose I’m one of those “weird” people who like to work out on vacation. I also figured the hot tub would help my sore legs. In order to find the spa, I had to head down an escalator where I discovered a “whole new world” that included the typical stores featuring resort wear and tcotchkes along with a food court and arcade. I saw a sign for the monorail I would use later before I came across the spa.
Since I was arriving after three, I saved half of the normal $22 fee. One thing I noticed right away in the fitness center section was how purple it was. The graphic design also made me feel like I had taken a trip back to the 80’s. I put myself through a relatively light upper body maintenance, took a shower and went for a dip in the hot tub…or rather, the “warm tub”. There were three whirlpools of different temperatures but I always prefer to be medium toasty.
I admit to not having a lot of spa experience. The only other one I’ve been to in Vegas was the Flamingo Spa. I know there are certainly more luxurious spas but as I’ve mostly stayed in or near the Flamingo in the past, it’s worked for me. While Bally’s actual spa area was probably equal to the Flamingo, I have to say the Flamingo’s fitness center was more attractive and updated. The staff was about equal; polite if not quite enthusiastic. Overall, I’d prefer to go back to the Flamingo between the two...although I had aspirations to finally(!) try out Qua over at Caesars Palace.
Later in the evening, I went over to the Bellagio via the convenient overpass that linked the two casinos. I was there to attend a pre-convention reception party. After being solo for a couple days, it was nice to see some familiar faces there. One of the Bellagio sales managers was there and offered to take me and a few other associates up to check out some of their rooms. I have to say it was a great experience to check out these rooms and their amazing features and views. I would get the opportunity to get my mind blown again by other properties later in the week.
After the reception, my colleagues and I walked around the Bellagio a bit, stopping first at Jean Phillippe Patisserie, a gourmet dessert shop featuring a huge fountain of chocolate. We then strolled through what is perhaps the Bellagio's most popular free attraction, their floral observatory. This elaborate display is changed every season. Not surprisingly, there was a strong holiday theme with faux penguins and snowmen thrown in for good measure.
After our observatory tour, I bid my colleagues good night as they returned down to Mandalay Bay and I relished my relatively short walk back across the overpass to Bally's. It would turn out to be a rare advantage during the week.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Winter In The Desert Oasis - Part Two
For those of you who have been waiting "on pins and needless" for the next installment of my Las Vegas trip, I do apologize. I've been busy developing things on the business end but I promise to post more frequently...especially as my trip reviews tend to be a bit wordy, if you hadn't noticed.
Still Sunday (Day One):
After a bit of relaxing in my room, I went out to the bus stop in front of Paris to catch a ride up to the Downtown Meet-n-Greet some fellow members of an internet forum had set up that night. I found the new sidewalk ticket machine to be convenient. Now, one could buy a pass for two hours ($5) or 24 hours ($7) instead of queueing up to pay on the bus. As it was, the bus driver was seated inside a barrier with an accompanying security guard checking passes, so buying tickets on-board was no longer an options. It was a little odd, but I suppose that kept the drunken tourists from causing too much mayhem.
I took the Strip/Downtown Express - or SDX, as all the cool kids say – which definitely cut down on the time I used to spend on the Deuce bus, which still exists as a primarily Strip-only route stopping at virtually "every" casino. Besides the fewer stops, it probably helps that the SDX not only went off the Strip north of the Wynn but also had its own dedicated lane somewhere north of the Stratosphere. In all, think it only took me a half hour to get from Paris to the Golden Nugget.
If you have a bit of patience, the SDX and Deuce buses are an inexpensive option to get around. For a newcomer, these buses can also serve as a sort of unguided tour of Vegas. When not crowded, the seats are ample enough for a person of size.
Stepping off the SDX on Fremont Street, I walked under the electronic canopy pitching advertisements and past and approached the Plaza casino thinking how sad it was that the place that once defined Vegas as seen through the eyes of Puff Daddy, Mase and Monster Magnet was now a hotel “in transition”. Nonetheless, I had heard good things about the tapas bar Firefly where I was to meet my internet acquaintances and was looking forward to the experience. Since this would be the first time I had met everyone, I didn’t really know who to look for not to mention I was a bit nervous. But when I spotted a bunch of people standing around in elf hats, I took a chance that they were who I was looking for…and I was right!
I really couldn’t have met a friendlier bunch of people. In the holiday spirit, I accepted my own elf hat and wore it with pride! Firefly itself was a great choice for a Meet-n-Greet. While I was still full from fine French cuisine – see Le Burger Brasserie from my previous post – I thought that Happy Hour selections were reasonable and everyone seemed to enjoy them. The view looking out onto Fremont Street was awesome. I could see coming back with friends or even a casually romantic date with my lady.
While it was only 7:00pm or so when the Happy Hour broke up, it may as well had been 3:00am for this East Coaster who hadn’t slept much the previous night. it may as well have been three in the morning. So I caught the Deuce back this time, which was a little slower than the SDX but probably not more than 45 minutes. If it were a Friday night instead of Sunday, I’m sure either bus route would have been a longer ride. I should note here that the Deuce is named for its double-decker dimensions. The winding steps leading to the second deck are rather narrow.
When I arrived back at Paris, I decided to call it an early night.
Still Sunday (Day One):
After a bit of relaxing in my room, I went out to the bus stop in front of Paris to catch a ride up to the Downtown Meet-n-Greet some fellow members of an internet forum had set up that night. I found the new sidewalk ticket machine to be convenient. Now, one could buy a pass for two hours ($5) or 24 hours ($7) instead of queueing up to pay on the bus. As it was, the bus driver was seated inside a barrier with an accompanying security guard checking passes, so buying tickets on-board was no longer an options. It was a little odd, but I suppose that kept the drunken tourists from causing too much mayhem.
I took the Strip/Downtown Express - or SDX, as all the cool kids say – which definitely cut down on the time I used to spend on the Deuce bus, which still exists as a primarily Strip-only route stopping at virtually "every" casino. Besides the fewer stops, it probably helps that the SDX not only went off the Strip north of the Wynn but also had its own dedicated lane somewhere north of the Stratosphere. In all, think it only took me a half hour to get from Paris to the Golden Nugget.
If you have a bit of patience, the SDX and Deuce buses are an inexpensive option to get around. For a newcomer, these buses can also serve as a sort of unguided tour of Vegas. When not crowded, the seats are ample enough for a person of size.
Stepping off the SDX on Fremont Street, I walked under the electronic canopy pitching advertisements and past and approached the Plaza casino thinking how sad it was that the place that once defined Vegas as seen through the eyes of Puff Daddy, Mase and Monster Magnet was now a hotel “in transition”. Nonetheless, I had heard good things about the tapas bar Firefly where I was to meet my internet acquaintances and was looking forward to the experience. Since this would be the first time I had met everyone, I didn’t really know who to look for not to mention I was a bit nervous. But when I spotted a bunch of people standing around in elf hats, I took a chance that they were who I was looking for…and I was right!
I really couldn’t have met a friendlier bunch of people. In the holiday spirit, I accepted my own elf hat and wore it with pride! Firefly itself was a great choice for a Meet-n-Greet. While I was still full from fine French cuisine – see Le Burger Brasserie from my previous post – I thought that Happy Hour selections were reasonable and everyone seemed to enjoy them. The view looking out onto Fremont Street was awesome. I could see coming back with friends or even a casually romantic date with my lady.
While it was only 7:00pm or so when the Happy Hour broke up, it may as well had been 3:00am for this East Coaster who hadn’t slept much the previous night. it may as well have been three in the morning. So I caught the Deuce back this time, which was a little slower than the SDX but probably not more than 45 minutes. If it were a Friday night instead of Sunday, I’m sure either bus route would have been a longer ride. I should note here that the Deuce is named for its double-decker dimensions. The winding steps leading to the second deck are rather narrow.
When I arrived back at Paris, I decided to call it an early night.
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