2005 Archived Off-topic Reports [Archive]

Wastrel

07-16-05, 16:54

We need a "Rant" forum...I think that's a good idea, so I just did it. I'm often tempted to discuss things here about the city that are beyond the main topic of this forum, and so are many visitors, so here's a thread for all things Vegas that aren't directly about sex.

Some low-budget visitors with flexible schedules might like to know that for the next six weeks or so there are some outstanding deals on cheap rooms.

For example, the El Cortez downtown is running another one of their stay two get two room specials. If you stay two nights in July or August you get a coupon for two nights free in September, and their midweek rate for tower rooms has been discounted to $30 if you book on their website, so you end up paying a net of $15 plus tax over the total four nights. The tower rooms have all been remodeled in the last few months, even though they didn't need it (the "silent investor" boys in the Midwest cashing their chips laundered through a construction contract before Jackie croaks?) and they are much nicer than you might think for the location.

From some online wholesalers such as Travelworm and Vegas.com the Plaza is down to thirty bucks and change.

Another example is the off-Strip Gold Coast charging only $35/night straight up for many nights over the next few weeks. They have a rate calendar at the Coast Casinos website.

You do have to be a little careful with some of these marketing gimmicks that get too clever. The Flamingo emailed me a room rate special of $59 on selected dates, and I discovered that if you use the special rate code it charges you that rate for the first night with a much higher inflated rate for the second or any following nights, no matter what dates you select, and the total cost of the stay becomes fairly expensive unless you only take the one night.

I also discovered this when checking room rates at the Aladdin: "Please Note: The hotel policy requires that any Southern Nevada resident booking a reservation the same day as check-in must post a $500 cash deposit, or a $500 credit card (hard charge) This policy is in addition to all standard check-in/incidental payment policies." So, did someone like Wastrel get a little too enthusiastic when swinging from the chandeliers with Bambi and Tempest?

And don't forget to bring a pair of oven mitts so you can touch your car to turn the air-conditioning back on after it's been parked for ten minutes or more.

Big Joe 11

07-17-05, 15:08

I am at Vegas right now and stay in El Cortez for free because I stayed there on April. The tower room are very nice and way better than LV Hilton! Straosphere (the very high tower at the north end of the strip) are only $30 for the Tower Room during weekday.

Wastrel

07-22-05, 11:41

MEMORANDUM

To: North Las Vegas Police Dept.

From: A concerned citizen

Re: “The Seven Seas” seafood, package liquor, and crack emporium

Sirs, while I personally support your recent flicker of interest in the state of affairs in the block at the NW corner of Lake Mead and H Streets near the aforementioned “restaurant,” as the gang affiliated men openly peddling little bags of a white substance are truly the lawbreakers most frequently responsible for shooting up the neighborhood, poisoning the local kids, and generally terrorizing most of the nearby residents, hence provoking years of unanswered complaints from that community, I must, however, tell you that the recent brief appearance by your “unmarked” city vehicle isn’t going to get it done. They are laughing at you, and resume their dope gang stuff the minute you leave. It is so bad that peaceful local streetwalkers have told me they are terrified, and these ladies do not scare easily. And after all, we are talking about individuals committing felonies that have actually resulted in numerous people getting dead, as opposed to some of the misdemeanor offenses that sometimes distract your attention and finite resources from these important matters.

May I respectfully suggest that if you do not have a more suitable vehicle already in your impound lot you go ahead and cough up several hundred dollars for an old Chevy Vega or something. It should not be overly difficult to get as many drug distribution busts on that block as you care to make. They are, after all, the guys who brazenly swarm around any motorist, including me, who passes anywhere near that spot, and my appearance resembles John Ashcroft or Donald Rumsfeld a lot more than Tupac Shakur or Snoop Dog. I believe you will find that a real effort to stem the decades long rule of that block by violent street thugs would be met by applause from the leadership of the local black community and relieved cries of joy by everyone from the postman to the working girls, if there should be some sign that you are about to become serious in establishing safety for the public there.

In case you are having some difficulty identifying the location of this longstanding mayhem, please permit me to respectfully supply you with a map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=808+W+Lake+Mead+Blvd,+North+Las+Vegas&spn=0.017207,0.029273&hl=en

And a photograph:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=808+W+Lake+Mead+Blvd,+North+Las+Vegas&spn=0.004882,0.007440&t=k&hl=en

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading our discussions here to date, and I thank you in advance for your attention to this truly significant public safety issue.

Cienega32

07-22-05, 13:19

Wastrel - as I applaud your memo I do feel the need to point out that if they do respond and properly react to this situation who would be available to prevent the heinous crime of $20 front seat dating between two consenting adults in a secluded area?

GA Boy

07-24-05, 07:56

I usually like staying in one of the upscale casinos and play in the downscale casinos such as Slots a Million or Gold Nugget, etc. (OK I'm cheap) With that said, I just got back from a wek in vegas. 59.00 a night at the Hilton Sunday - Thursday. Friday and Saturday considerably more but I usuually go during the week when it's cheaper. The only requirment i had was to pay the first nights room in advance by credit card when I made the reservation. No other deposits or charges. no bait and switch. etc.

I've stayed at the Excalibur, the Tropicana, the Sahara and the Hilton. For room itself I prefer the Hilton so far. For gambiling I like Slots a Million, Sahara, Riveria, and pretty much any place on Fremont. I prefer playing low stakes blackjack (entertainment puprposes :-) ) to make my $ last longer.

Cienega32

07-25-05, 06:28

For some reason I flashed back and related a story to an out of town friend that was in tonite.

Why don't I enjoy 21 any more? Besides the fact that it takes too long to make any quick cash/big return (give me 4 card Keno machines)?

I remember sitting alone at the Gold Coast, in it's infancy (when they actually had break-ins that had to literaly count the dots and even then add it up wrong...), with 3 $50 hands in front of me & doubling on all 3. Some guy sits down on 3rd base and gets in the hand with me before the deal. Dealer has a 6 up. The genius on 3rd base has 2 bricks and a 5 dollar bet. He decides to split them. I offer him a green check to tuck them as I'm sitting on all 20s. "Oh I'm just having fun with it - I want to see what happens" he proclaims. His first card is a 7 - 17 - he sticks. Next hand he busts. Guess what the dealer ends up with. Not the 23 he SHOULD'VE had but 21. I say bye-bye to 300. We all lose. He gets up with an "Oh well..." type response. Pit boss drops minimum sign down & closes the table for me, "I have to admire your patience". Took me 5 minutes of shaking my head & muttering "Unf*ck!ngbelievable!" before I could lay another bet down (never gamble angry).

People shouldn't walk onto a game that has a guy playing 3 spots at a 1/2 a buck a spot with a friggin' nickle or worse, a handful of iron.

I've never recovered from the fact that all it takes is one idiot with an extra nickle check to kill a weekend of momentum. I just don't enjoy having the outcome decided by anothers play. At least when it's a negative outcome, anyway...

A good way to make your play last and not get hurt in the pocket is Pai Gow. I can sit there for hours and have what I started with. What a dumb game :D

Years ago Nevada Palace used to run some good single deck tables. Never bothered me a bit when I was obviously running the deck. Full table - 2 hands - easy money.

Desert Dude

07-25-05, 12:49

Ya, sure know that feeling, watching them splitting 10's. I still like low-stakes blackjack on occasion, if I break out a second 20, it's a big night.

Do remember one drunken night at the Gold Spike where I was on the other side of the fence though. Twice, I had a 12 vs. dealer's 6. Of course I stayed! And got beat twice in a row.

Third time. Thought goddamit, not again. I'm gonna hit. And not only am I going to hit, but, since I obviously know what I'm doing, I'm going to double.

I bust, dealer makes hand, table loses. Big ole black woman next to me starts to give me shit, I tell her 'thats why we all have our own cards'. That didn't go over too well. Apologized to her before I left the table lol....

Cienega32

07-25-05, 15:52

I can see your point on hitting that hand.

And I can almost see why this guy of mine would've split the bricks against a 6 but not when someone offers you twice what you could win to NOT split them.

Sometimes you just gotta leave those gift shop books on beating Blackjack in the room.

Once had a dealer ask me for insurance and I declined. Snapper. Next hand - same thing. Snapper. 3 hands in a row. I don't do insurance and to see 3 in a row? Brutal. I'll jump on even money every time, tho'.

Wastrel

07-25-05, 19:36

Fans of implosions might like to check this site occasionally:

Las Vegas Casino Deathwatch

http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/gambling/casino_death_watch.html

Here is a sample of the content: "IMPLOSION ALERT: Game Over for the Castaways. Station Casinos will begin clearling the lot today and expects to raze the tower at an unspecified time in early 2006. As we expected, they have not announced any construction plans for the site. We'll provide an update when we hear of an implosion date."

Im sure at least several SWs will be displaced from the crack apartments across the street when the entertaining event occurs.

Besides information and speculation on which old joint may be the next to croak, how, and when, it also includes a link to a list tracking the ownership status of the major properties. Sometimes this can become relevant to the main purpose of this forum. I would certainly hope so in the case of the Nugget, and hope not but fear so in the case of the Aladdin, for example.

GA Boy

07-25-05, 20:36

You shoulda broke his fingers. Damn! I saw one guy break split jacks. I asked him how long he had been playing, he told me 5 years. I told him he didn't act play like it. We almost had a fight. The dealer by the way had a 6 showing; same thing because of him hitting and drawing a 7 and and 8, the dealer drew a 5!. I always try to find a table that's got a real player on last base. Anyway company may be sending us back to a conference at the Bellagio in October. Better start saving up my $$. Any recommendations from you guys on best low stakes blackjack or three card?

PsyberZombie

07-26-05, 06:29

Hey , if you really want to piss off the entire table , play First Base and take a hit on 16 when the dealer is showing a 5

If you're exceptionally Lucky , the card you draw should be the Queen the guy to your left needed to draw to 21 after he doubled down on 11 , but he draws a 2

Then , the effect should 'cascade' = you managed to screw up every other hand where some·one draws ; and then the Dealer draws two cards to 21 and the whole table loses

I did this once when I was a new·bie Black·Jack player ; now I stick to Dice

GA Boy

07-26-05, 09:02

I'd like to play, looks like fun but I never can figure it out. I'll need to take one of those 'free' lessons the casino gives out.

Desert Dude

07-26-05, 12:05

Anyway company may be sending us back to a conference at the Bellagio in October. Better start saving up my $$. Any recommendations from you guys on best low stakes blackjack or three card?

Lower than the Bellagio? About anywhere but Wynn lol. I don't know the Strip that well, I think Slot's o Fun might have some low stakes. There's a good website on the cheap side of vegas, cheapovegas dot com. I also found a fun little locals drinkin bar right across from Bally's north entrance, two doors down from Battista's Hole in the Wall Italian and boxed wine restaurant. The bar has 1.50 beers 24/7 and a couple hot bartenders.

I play my cheapo blackjack downtown. Gold Spike still has $2 tables, double deck I think, Western went up to $3 from their $1 in the past. If $5 is low for ya, I think the Golden Nugget might be a good spot.

Cienega32

07-26-05, 15:24

Cienega32

07-26-05, 15:41

Cool link, Wastrel. I'm sure you got a kick (like I did) out of the write-up for the Strat:

"Sure, it's been through some seriously troubled times, but we don't think anyone will be demolishing the tower any time soon. At least if they do topple it, it won't hit anything that wouldn't be better off crushed. Eventually the Strip will come to the Stratosphere, although it may take decades. "

- ... wouldn't be better off crushed. Too funny. Too true.

Wastrel

07-26-05, 17:20

...I'm sure you got a kick (like I did) out of the write-up for the Strat: "...At least if they do topple it, it won't hit anything that wouldn't be better off crushed..."Yes, that and the suggestion for how Station Casinos could best fit the Castaways site into their portfolio. Along with Boulder Station, Texas Station, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, and such, he seems to think that particular neighborhood could really use a place themed as the "Police Station."

He also has a listing of the ten worst ideas for casino themes. #1 is: "A North Las Vegas themed casino." Actually, I believe I've found one of those. It is called the Barcelona Hotel/Casino, located at Craig and Nellis. I plucked a pair of sisters, in both senses of that word, out of there last week, and I'll write more about it later. One of them, the younger sister, was feeling especially lonely and neglected becuase her husband was, ahem, out of town away at the coast. For 14 years to life at the Pelican Bay maximum security correctional facility.

Travel Guy

07-27-05, 10:01

Desert Dude

07-27-05, 11:44

Yes, that and the suggestion for how Station Casinos could best fit the Castaways site into their portfolio. Along with Boulder Station, Texas Station, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, and such, he seems to think that particular neighborhood could really use a place themed as the "Police Station."

He also has a listing of the ten worst ideas for casino themes. #1 is: "A North Las Vegas themed casino." Actually, I believe I've found one of those. It is called the Barcelona Hotel/Casino, located at Craig and Nellis. I plucked a pair of sisters, in both senses of that word, out of there last week, and I'll write more about it later. One of them, the younger sister, was feeling especially lonely and neglected becuase her husband was, ahem, out of town away at the coast. For 14 years to life at the Pelican Bay maximum security correctional facility.

Police Station....omfg...that is too damn funny. Sisters eh? Can't wait!

Desert Dude

07-27-05, 11:47

Sounds like the Stage Door, I think it is/was called. That, too, used to have various attraction of the SW persuassion. Right across from Bourbon Street.

Does the Western down Fremont still have $1 21? If you don't mind the smell of fresh urine...

Yep, the Stage Door. And yes, while I didn't see any persuadables at that bar, I was solicited by one at the front door of Bourbon St. Nah, the Western, of all places, raised their 21 to $3, at least last time I was there a month ago. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the sale of the Barrick [former Jackie Gaughan] properties to one of the 'silent partners'.

Desert Dude

07-27-05, 11:52

I have been coming to Vegas for a few years now and we always end up pay $125.00 for a round of golf.
What I would like to know is where do the locals play. I know that the locals arnt going to pay that kind of rate.
Can someone out there give me some help?
I will be back in November and looking to play 2-3 rounds while we are there.
Thanking you Vegas guys in Advance.

Two suggestions. The old Boulder City course. Around $40. Great conditioning, not super challenging, but a nice track. And the second I really hate to give up, but you guys are worth it hahahaha. It's an hour drive, but what the hell, that's just a cup o coffee on the drive. Pahrump, Mountain Falls. Tough, with like 45 bunkers on the front, 25 on the back. Top shelf conditioning, greens were amped up to 11 for the Nevada regional ams's a couple weeks ago. Reasonably priced, summer rates are 55 and 25 after noon! Winter probably hit 70 and 35 or so. Plus you can stop by Sheri's Ranch for a beer after your round, although I'm partial to the 2 buck bud light's at the 19th hole. Other Vegas place i've heard good things about is Angel Park. Also, here's a link to last minute discounted tee times http://www.standbygolf.com/. Be the ball Danny...

Cienega32

07-27-05, 15:46

Cienega32

07-27-05, 15:49

Why didn't you just tell him the truth?

Locals show a Las Vegas ID and get an air conditioned/misted cart, cocktail service every other hole, chair massage after 9 and all for $25 a round.

Speck

07-27-05, 21:59

Ok, this is not the only way to play, but does give the house the smallest advantage. Beware that you will have a lot of money on the tabel at times, and one bad roll will sweep it away.

When a new player is coming out, make a pass line bet. $5 is a good number to work with. If the number rolled is 7 or 11 you win $5. If it is 2,3, or 12 you lose and will need to place $5 more out. If any other number, then that is the point.

From that moment on, you do not want a 7. You lose with any seven.

Take odds on your pass line bet. If the point is 4 or 10, you will be paid 2:1 on your odds bet should you win. Therefore your odds bet should be an even number. The more the better as the odds payouts are higher than the pass line payout. So if you are allowed 5 times odds, and your pass line bet is $5, you should take $24 odds.

If the point is 5 or 9, your odds bet will pay 3:2 so again you want to take an even number as your odds amount.

If the point is 6 or 8, your odds bet will pay 6:5 and therefore you want your odds bet to be in increments of $5.

You can also make come bets at this point. If a 7 or 11 hits you will win your come bet amount(you do not want this). If a 2,3, or 12 hits, you will lose your come bet. If any other number is rolled, your come bet will be placed on that number and you can now take odds on your come bet with the same payouts as on the pass line odds.

If you hit any number you have a bet on, you will win that amount plus the odds payout on any odds you have places. After establishing a point, the shooter(guy throwing the dice) will continue to roll until he hits a 7(craps out). If he hits the point, your pass line bet, and pass line odds bet will bet paid off and your other bets will remain.

My best suggestion is to go to a downtown joint with low limits on craps early in the morning and ask the pit to help you learn the game as they are unlikely to be busy at this time.

USTraveller

07-28-05, 00:38

Dice - You'll never learn it by reading about it. You have to see it in action and ask questions, so look for those free craps lessons. They even give you tips on not throwing the dice off the table. Don't beat yourself up trying to learn all of the odds at first. The trick to craps is finding a hot table and riding the wave of winnings. I've walked away with +$200 in 15 minutes with $5 minimum bets and 2x odds.

Blackjack - I try to play basic strategy, but every time I don't hit the 12 against a 6, I get burned anyway. The drawback is when betting $5, I still can't hit it big. It's still fun at times when I'm in the mood to add 8 + 5 + 7 really quick.

Pai Gow Poker - I agree this is a great game if you are just at a casino for the free drinks. You're loss of money is very slow as you'll push (tie) most of the time. It's easy to learn, provided you already know the rankings of poker hands. You won't get rich at this game either.

Let it Ride - Yes it's an old lady's game, but the chance of winning thousands of dollars on one hand is pretty good. It's easy once you realize you aren't playing against the dealer or any of the other players. Chances are you'll walk away with a lot less money than you started, but it provides the best hope for going for a high-priced-hottie later.

Video Poker - You can find machines in high-traffic spots to observe ladies at the bars/etc. Plus, it's a little more interactive than slots so I don't lose my mind as quickly. Oh yeah, and you can win money at these too.

Golf - I haven't played in Las Vegas yet, and probably won't until I take the plunge and move out there. Just out of curiousity, do any of the reasonably priced public courses rent clubs? Are they reasonable in price?

-USTraveller

Police Station... I'm still laughing about that one!

Wastrel

07-28-05, 05:17

I know of three 24 hour Starbucks in town. Yes, I know, overpriced designer yuppie coffee and all, but for me a good quality humongous cuppa joe with a sugar kick is as essential as gas in the tank and a clear windshield when hunting around all the far flung SW tracks in the middle of the night, so pipe down with all the hisses and catcalls back there.

The Golden Nugget has one with an outdoor terrace for smoking and watching what strolls by on Fremont. It is overrun with blue haired little old ladies from Tulsa or someplace fascinated with the lightshow during the hours that thing is fired up, but after midnight they go to bed, and you can actually park legally quite easily across the street from the east side of the Nugget by about one in the AM most nights. I find that once the older downtown tourist crowd thins out it is occasionally a passably good spot for fishnet stocking inspections and stiletto heel sightings. About once out of every five or six times when refueling myself there between one and three I see a stray working girl or two heading home from a hard night of loitering.

The Aladdin has one inside the casino which requires a reenactment of the Bataan Death March to get through the maze of the Desert Passage mall from the parking garage, but you can entertain yourself on the pilgrimage toward the ghost of the lamp by checking out some of the ludicrous items in the display windows, such as the set of his and hers diamond encrusted handcuffs on sale for only $3,500+tax, for example. It is actually easier to reach on foot from the pedestrian walkway on Las Vegas Blvd, and there is a convenient ledge to sit on out front which is an excellent place to shop for late night CW specials strolling by without burning a bunch of your own shoe leather on the Strip.

By far my number one preferred choice is on the west side of Paradise Road on the edge of the Hughes Center just a little north of Flamingo Road, a.k.a. the "Stripper Starbucks." I would really like to be able to figure out the shift schedule of this one. Not the employees, but the customers. Sometimes the outdoor terrace is filled with strippers from some nearby joints, other times with Japanese girls, occasionally with Russian mob goombahs with or without their stable of East-European blonde assets, other times with the Metro gang enforcement unit, and sometimes with a group of Ethiopian ladies. It is almost always crowded on the smoker friendly terrace 'till nearly dawn, but I just can't figure out the schedule of the various groups. I really would love to seduce any one of those delicious looking Ethiopian ladies, if anyone has any tips for culturally specific pickup approaches that might help me break in with them. I find that the Metro guys can be worth chatting with as well, since I prefer not to get in their way when they target an area, and asking how and where things are going can help me decide to go where they and their gang-banger targets are not. Oh yes, since this is a company owned store, the corporate headquarters makes them shut down the cash registers for a while sometime between two and three every night while they remotely download the data from the day's transactions. Since they're not allowed to touch the cash register while this is going on, they just make your drink and give it to you gratis. Apparently HQ operates on the theory that this is the best window for downtime. Starbucks doesn't get Vegas.

W

Desert Dude

07-28-05, 13:12

By far my number one preferred choice is on the west side of Paradise Road on the edge of the Hughes Center just a little north of Flamingo Road, a.k.a. the "Stripper Starbucks."
W

Thanks for the tips W, I've been there a couple times while using the attached Kinko's to print my Southwest boarding passes. There was one of the new Aston Martin's there last time I stopped. Ever chase splittails at the Gordon Biersch right next door? I've been told it's a pretty good singles place. I've not explored it as a quick bj downtown can be had for the cost of like 3 beers there lol. OK, 4.

That's a pretty fun corner of Vegas right there, next to 'restaurant row'. Plus it's just a couple blocks from Ellis Island's buck drafts and 5 buck steaks.

Wastrel

07-28-05, 13:46

...Ever chase splittails at the Gordon Biersch right next door? I've been told it's a pretty good singles place. I've not explored it as a quick bj downtown can be had for the cost of like 3 beers there lol. OK, 4.

That's a pretty fun corner of Vegas right there, next to 'restaurant row'. Plus it's just a couple blocks from Ellis Island's buck drafts and 5 buck steaks.I never have gotten around to checking out the microbrew singles place, but I agree that Ellis Island has some attractions. Something about the kind of tourist gals who come to Vegas to stay in a place (next door) that markets itself as "The biggest Super 8 Motel in the world!" and to party in a "casino" in which the major attraction is "buck a drink, all drinks, all the time."

PsyberZombie

07-29-05, 07:05

No , not *that* kind of Bang !!

P·Z 's Tip o' the Day is that you head on down to The Gun Store Store on Tropicana Blvd [ http://www.thegunstorelasvegas.com/ ] ; rent your·self a full auto weapon ; purchase a bunch of ammo pre·loaded in the appropriate clips ; then go out back to their firing range and turn some paper targets in·to confetti

They have a wall in·side with every kind of weapon mounted , from hand·guns to the Thompson sub·machine gun [ the famous 'Tommy Gun' with the circular magazine like they used in 'The Un·touchables' and count·less gangster movies ]

When Yours Truly was last in there , I selected the Hekler & Koch MP5·A3 , the weapon made famous by the Pulitzer Prize·winning photo of 'Elian Gonzales in the Closet' . The guy there offered to sell me one for seventy·five hundred dollars , but I passed

[ pictured here is the MP5·A4 , virtually the same weapon =
http://*******.com/cm22s ]

I also bought one of their verrrry Cool T·shirts

So check it out and have a Blast , Gentle·men !!

Wastrel

07-29-05, 15:31

P·Z 's Tip o' the Day is that you head on down to The Gun Store Store on Tropicana Blvd [ http://www.thegunstorelasvegas.com/ ] ; rent your·self a full auto weapon...Outstanding! I see that Tuesday is Ladies Day on the firing range. Babes and bullets. How very Vegas.

I also see it's conveniently near to Fox's Spy Outlet at 2055 E Tropicana Ave, a noteworthy retail outlet for surveillance and counter surveillance devices.

Wastrel

07-29-05, 15:48

...For those who have ID to get a hotel room in LV, they should have passed the drivig [sic] test, which made them the elites [sic] of California drivers...I tried to be a good boy, but I can’t hold it any longer. After two weeks, the more you read that (Post #330 in General Reports) the more hilarious it becomes.

Cienega32

07-29-05, 23:21

Ahhhh, nothing like firing off a few hundred rounds at a piece of paper before some nice soothing sex...

Tho' a Thompson would be cool if only for the historic merit. I would like to see one those 100 round cans empty out in a run.

Travel Guy

08-02-05, 08:18

Can you let me know what the driving time would be to the courses in Boulder City from the strip?

How may courses are there in Boulder City?

Desert Dude

08-02-05, 12:02

Can you let me know what the driving time would be to the courses in Boulder City from the strip?

How may courses are there in Boulder City?

So hard not to just post a link to Mapquest. I'd figure a half hour, 45 minutes if you're hungover. There's two courses there, forgot the names, locals tend to think of them as the 'old' course, and the 'new' course. The new course isn't as old as the other one. The new course is very very nice. The new course is very very expensive. The old course isn't as new as the other one. It's perfectly fine golf for under .50.

BigGuy

08-05-05, 00:56

I just read an article on the web that mentioned that the San Remo hotel/casino was being turned in to HOOTERS hotel/casino! Is this true? and when is the grand opening?

I've not been to LV in almost a year, I'll have to book my room as soon as they open! That will be great for picking up the "bridge girls" as I like to call them. I wonder if I can get one of them to dress up as a "HOOTERS girl"!!(I'm sure I can for the right $$$$)

You guys have to admit, strickly from an eye candy stand point, there's no better restaurant than HOOTERS.

Also heard that the Aladdin is turning into a "Planet Hollywood" resort? Say it ain't so!

Good luck to all, BIGGUY
Mesa Yo!

USTraveller

08-05-05, 02:48

I just read an article on the web that mentioned that the San Remo hotel/casino was being turned in to HOOTERS hotel/casino! Is this true? and when is the grand opening?

I think the grand opening date came and went! I was looking forward to the changover also. I just hope their buffet doesn't have Hooter's food. If so, it will be worse than the Boardwalk's buffet.

More info can be found here (http://www.spothedeal.com/pressrelease.htm).

-USTraveller

Wastrel

08-05-05, 09:19

Also heard that the Aladdin is turning into a "Planet Hollywood" resort? Say it ain't so!Disgusting, but true. See for example my post on 04-05-05, #131 in 2005 General Reports, titled "defiling Wastrel's lamp."

The hotel is now under separate ownership, by Starwood Resorts (the Sheraton chain), so you can book a room and use the big marble soaking tubs built for two without fear of contributing to the craven celebrity sniffers who've taken over the casino.

I give the Planet people about two years, since they've already conclusively proven they can't manage a lemonade stand, having already gone bankrupt twice running a few medium sized restaurants in spite of oodles of capital from entertainment industry backers.

Wastrel

08-08-05, 19:20

The recent downtown discussion got me thinking about what kind of wildlife I really find running loose on the streets around Fremont these days. It's just an opinion, and I freely admit that there is no way to know if my perceptions are accurate. Even if I think I do get around downtown a bit and know some of the characters there better than the average Joe who passes through, sometimes you just see what you want to see.

What I see is an area that has changed a lot in just a few years, and with many of the old rent by the week motels closing, condo towers breaking ground to sell apartments for a million and a half a pop, and Metro frequently jailing the scruffy scufflers for offenses such as jaywalking and littering, I feel it changing even more and faster now and in the next few years. I don't find many IV drug users in that area in recent times (go several miles north or east to the trailer parks for that) but there are still a fair number of crackheads, lunatics, people going through life as a potted plant, and old fashioned garden variety alcoholics who get that way younger and younger these days.

Some may find it hard to believe, but some of the Fremont SWs are tourists of sorts. They come to Vegas alone chauffeured by Greyhound, or in a group with their "uncle/agent" by '72 Cadillac, spending several weeks or so on a kind of working vacation. Some folks really do think staying in the Downtowner or Ambassador Motel is living large in the lap of sophisticated luxury.

But by far the most common variety of street life I see is, as far as I know, a uniquely Vegas species: the video poker or slot machine junky. At least in theory this pathology shouldn't have the same ravages on physical health as other habits, but they do often seem every bit as desperate for a quick buck as anyone on the pipe. I also run into a fair number of low wage workers and welfare moms living downtown who are open to suggestion from time to time when rent is due.

There are also some of the most breathtakingly stupid criminals in America landing in the area, but of course they generally don't last long in a town with more eyes in the sky than noses to pick, which requires every lodging establishment to provide a daily roster for cross referencing with national databases of watches, wants, and warrants.

W

Wastrel

08-08-05, 19:22

I choked on this quote from Hizzoner, and spit coffee all over my paper:

"It's going to be a different city in two or three years," Goodman said of the project's potential impact on redevelopment. "I predict, I really do, that when people fly here, get into a cab, and ask the cabby where the action is, they're going to be brought downtown."

He's going to outbid the Can Can? So will they put a bigger dome over it and post two gorillas at the back to kick them down Boulder Highway left with only their Fruit O' The Looms and their spectacles? I must admit, I can easily picture Oscar as the doorman out front collecting $75 cover charges under a twenty story flashing pink neon breast marquee.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Aug-08-Mon-2005/news/27006076.html

Cienega32

08-09-05, 03:49

Damn - I remembering paying my phone bills there long before wiping ink off my fingertips.

But the article also makes it sound like they want to get rid of the places that sell the dice clocks. Shame on them! Don't they realize that those are a national legacy? How many trailer homes in middle Florida are keeping time with those classic pieces of craftsmanship?

I guess the Big O is setting his own after-office table.

"Pour it and they will come..."

Wastrel

08-09-05, 03:56

How many...homes...are keeping time with those classic pieces of...?Mine. Except when I actually need to know what time it really is.

Cienega32

08-12-05, 08:18

TIPS.
To Insure Proper Service.

There used to be a time when a tip was how a service employee would gauge their performance. Whether it be a cocktail waitress or a hooker. It wasn't George-world but they would give a little more to get a little more. This was the pre-MAGIC invasion.

---------
For those that don't know - "George" is a term used to indicate that a customer is a good tipper and will take care of you if you take care of them. MAGIC is a convention of the Men's Apparell Group. Notoriously, the cheapest bunch of individuals the town has ever seen. Worse than the group that travels with 50 pounds of coupon/junket booklets that go to sleep early so they can get good seating at the 99 cent breakfast between 3AM and 6AM.
---------

At the same time the smart customer would know that a bit more upfront would get them a spotlite. It insured proper service.

Somewhere down the line a new wave of break-ins started thinking that if I don't get a big tip upfront you're not getting sh!t from me. "I brought you a drink so you should drop me one of dem there nickle checks or else I might not 'see' you waiting". Suddenly, the service had adopted a Maitre D philosophy.

It was a world where you could walk up to a service bar and order a drink. Now one must wait until the server is done with their meaningless conversation about who was wearing what at the latest teeny-bopper shindig. These notable moments in their personal history are usually shared with someone who doesn't give a rat's ass and is, more than likely, waiting for service themselves.

Of course, after your no-need, 5 minute wait and the ever personable "You need something?" (duh...), you stuff the extra buck back in your pocket and wonder how they pay their bills.

Having worked the casino circuit for over 20 years and being in a postion to actually watch the overall decline of service in general it amazes me how people think.

Two sharp claps of the hand meant a cocktail waitress would magicaly appear with an eager smile. The game began. They worked to make you think that you matter and, in return, you rewarded them for that "service". If you were running, it wouldn't be uncommon for a couple of nickles to hit their tray.

Now it's an interruption. A bothersome event that slows down their text messaging. A setback to their "And then I was like, you know? And then she went... and I was like... and we both were like, you know?". Oh, the mental stess of losing their place in that conversation.

TIPS, "To Insure Proper Service", was to gain an advantage over the average clientel. Now it's an expected introduction. And without it could strand you in a sea of nobodies.

Used to be a time when individuals maintained a level of service. A quality. Pride in their talent. A base standard. "Change of personnel" on a green piece of paper clipped to a timecard was the greatest thing this town had going for it. No reason needed to be provided other than "Change of personnel". Period. Hit the door.

Now it's such a political ACLU adventure complete with labor review boards that it's hardly worth the effort, from a bosses perspective, unless they really screw up like out & out steal or endanger others. And even then you need a box of actual proof. Video, statements up the ass, etc.

"Change of personnel". The strongest three words this town ever knew. Kept people in their place. "You want a drink from me? How much you gonna tip?" See you at the Golden Goose, honey. Punch out.

Shamefully, the same attitude has begun to take over our hobby. A pair of saggy t!tties and a "How much are you gonna tip me?" happens more often than not. And, like in the service industry, most times the up-front reward results in regrets. They got the money - why should they care anymore?

This latest rant of mine was triggered by SAL in another forum here. Reading about the extortion of tips before service has been rendered got me thinking back.

I remember being at Ceasars one nite, years ago, with some friends. I walked up to an empty bar. Not empty but the bartender and one customer who was glassy eyed from listening to the server's rambling on. I stood there with a 20 in my hand watching and wondering if the server even noticed me. He did but wasn't done talking about himself yet. My curiosity let me stand there for a few minutes before he came over and (no sh!t) asked, "You need something, dude?". My response of "Ya think...?" went over well. After the transaction my words of wisdom was the only tip to be found. "Must be a union house, huh..."

Gone were the days when a server would always keep that one eye on the bar and any potential customers. Gone were the days when you would hear "Hold on a minute" being said to their audience followed quickly by "How you doing? What can I get for ya?"

So now, your "advertised price" is so I can maybe see a pair of strectched out t!tties before you tell me how much you really want for a mediocre & overpriced HJ that I'll regret paying you for? What the hell is wrong with these people. THESE are the ones that LEO should be working on. Not the ones that leave you weak-kneed and wanting to come back. Weed out these ROBs and money grubbers.

Let's bring back the "Change of personnel" days.

DISCLAIMER: It's 5AM...

Wastrel

08-31-05, 17:52

Several weeks back (on 6/15 & 6/23) I briefly mentioned a "new to me" area downtown which is off the beaten path of Fremont. Lo and behold, I come home to discover that City Life features that very neighborhood this week. A word of warning about this article: it is ginned up by some professional rabble rousers from an organization called ACORN, which is naturally inclined to exaggerate things more than a bit for their own purposes, so I think some skepticism is called for. Also in my opinion the author is not especially well acquainted with downtown, and too easily confuses this somewhat separate residential area to the north with Fremont and the rest of downtown generally. Most people in the area described in the article don't even speak the same language as the folks in the Fremont corridor.

A few paragraphs:

"Noise in the 'hood - Fremont Street-area residents demand more police presence"

"Even at 11 a.m., the neighborhood around 21st Street and Isabelle Avenue can be extremely intimidating. Gang graffiti burns across cinderblock walls. Men huddle in narrow alleys, then quickly disperse. Behind burglar bars, residents peer suspiciously out of dark windows at passing cars and pedestrians.

"Don't let the happy melody of the ice-cream truck fool you. This neighborhood -- bounded by Fremont Street, Bruce Street, Bonanza Road and Eastern Avenue -- ain't no joke, even in the late morning."

"At night, residents say, the largely Hispanic neighborhood gets downright medieval. Burglars smash and dash. Prostitutes and drug dealers take over the street corners. Gangs roam the alleyways. The residents report excessive noise and high-speed traffic. Compounding the problem, they say, there are no Metro police officers in sight."

The complete article at:
http://www.lvcitylife.com/articles/2005/08/31/local_news/news01.txt

There was also a recent article on the neighborhood of housing projects around Twain and Sierra Vista which might be a little interesting for some of us familiar with that as a SW area, and useful to someone new to give them a heads up on what they are driving into if they choose to go there. In my opinion the article gives a reasonably accurate picture of the place in most respects, although calling it "worst in the city" tells me the author should try getting out more. To Naked City or NLV perhaps.

The article begins:

"It's a War Zone"

"The area bound by Desert Inn, Flamingo, Maryland Parkway and Paradise is one huge crime scene. A report from the front lines of the worst neighborhood in the city."

Complete article archived at:
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/2005/08/11/feature1.html

Wastrel

08-31-05, 18:06

I found this little business item amusing:

LAS VEGAS SUN

"Galardi's home up for $17 mil."

"Former strip club king Michael Galardi's 22,000-square-foot Las Vegas home is for sale for $17 million."

"No word if he'll accept that in $1 bills."

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/aug/30/519278300.html

Cienega32

09-03-05, 01:22

"When (Bob) Stupak bought the Stratosphere and started trying to clean up the area,"

That had me laughing my ass off. Unless I missed something I thought he SOLD the Strat after converting Vegas World from "What the f#ck is this sh!t hole?" to a "What the f#ck is this sh!thole gonna be?"

Anyone remember the fire in the 2/3rds finished tower? Looked like a Roman Candle.

Anyone remember the day when they all sat around and noticed that one leg was going in the wrong direction? "HEY! I know! We can fill it with styrofoam type crap and make it LOOK like it's right." I think it was the north leg.

Those three factors (Fire, structural flaw, Stupak building it) have kept me out of the "pod" as much as possible.

But while he owned it from day one as a Gambling Museum (burned down - wink, wink) and then rebuilding it as Vegas World - they were ALL in that area back then including the Marielleta's; the criminally insane Cubans that Castro kicked out of his country) in the early-mid 80's.

Ahhh, Vegas World. Dirty, wall size mirrors and cheap, red velvet. All to be found in as many places as the smell of stale urine. Upgrading to the "Space Theme" was a real plus. Sheeesh!

The only way he cleaned up that area was by selling his shares and being uninvolved with the Strat.

---------

Sometime around '84 or so I had a friend (really more an aquaittance) who lived in Sierra Vista Arms. He was an older, retired military/telecomm guy (Colonel) who was, at one time, involved in the development of 9600 baud full duplex modems. He also had about 50 pages of passwords for this semi-secret network called ARPANET & a few for MILNET. Long before the word internet was used freely and facets like the World Wide Web were included for public use. This was a time when 1200 was a luxury toy and 300 bps was the norm. You could one-finger type quicker than text displayed at 300 bps. Think "War Games" the movie. Remember how slow the text was? BTW - I still have some old "war-dialer" programs, as they were called. We were phreakers. We broke into systems and said hello. Phreakers & Crackers. We were also hackers in a time when hacker meant a good thing. Someone that could do magic things with a soldering iron.

Anyway - after stopping by for our weekly pirated software exchanges for the TRS-80 Model III/IV, we were headed for the parking lot when we heard "POP!...POP!POP!" He said backfire - I said 9-mike. I won. Some poor slob had gone to his girlfriends apartment to harass her and violate the restraining order. The girlfriend's husband happened to be there, looked thru the peephole, saw the guy with a gun in his hand. The hubbie flung the door open and the boyfriend was soon crumbled up with his brains literaly pouring out of his head - gun still in hand.

That whole area was the target of a Metro clean-up 10+ years ago because the number of calls certified it as the worst zip code in town. 89109. Welcome to Hell.

Glad to see they waged another successful campaign. I'm sure by now they must realize that the only way they will clean up 89109 is by shutting down the Henderson AMPs and keeping those $20 BJ hookers off Boulder HiWay.

Norman Stormin

09-03-05, 12:19

PsyberZombie

09-04-05, 08:04

TIPS.
To Insure Proper Service.

Somewhere down the line a new wave of break-ins started thinking that if I don't get a big tip upfront you're not getting sh!t from me. "I brought you a drink so you should drop me one of dem there nickle checks or else I might not 'see' you waiting". Suddenly, the service had adopted a Maitre D philosophy.

Here's a little trick I invented to get on the cock·tail waitresses' good side

My game is Dice , and the first time a girl brings me a drink , I don't just toss her a chip = I make a two buck bet for her on the Field

[ The Field is a one·roll , even money bet where you win if the next roll is a 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 or 12 ;
plus 2 & 12 pay double or triple , depending on the table ]

Now , if the bet wins , I pick up the four — and up to eight — dollar chips and hand them all to the girl . If it loses , I just hand her two bucks any·way

There's some·thing almost magical about the way this little gesture brightens the girl up , and from that point on they're at your shoulder faster than you can down them 'free' drinks , even though I only give a one buck tip for all subsequent drinks

But what·ever you do , don't 'forget' to tip the gal = the last time I was in the Silver Legacy in Reno , the guy next to me got a Scotch on the rocks , but gave No Tip . When the little hottie waitress came by again , she took our orders , then brought me *two* beers while — Ooops! — 'forgetting' my neighbor's re·fill

Live and Learn , Pal !!

Cienega32

09-05-05, 14:12

"Former strip club king Michael Galardi's 22,000-square-foot Las Vegas home is for sale for $17 million."

Does this make my 2,200 square footer worth $1.7 million?

I will accept $1 dollar bills but it's in 89109 Hell.

As long as Myrna Williams doesn't start messing with my $20 Boulder Highway BJ Babes, I think property values should continue to rise.

Stormin

I was a little surprised when I read that about "89109 - Welcome To Hell" myself when it happened. I was living AND working in that zip back then. I didn't know what the hell they were talking about. "Ohhhh - they mean that sh!tty little area back there...". Yet they talked about it in zipcode terms. Made the whole zip sound like a war zone.

Isn't Myrna the one that's always looks/acts/is drunk at the Council meets? If so, she looks the part of the non-filter smoking broad with the roll-up ankle stockings that would be found at the end of the 4 Mile bar. ;)

Speaking of messing with The Rock - sure was busy busy the other nite - coppers & choppers & thugs - oh my!

Cienega32

09-05-05, 14:56

Here's a little trick I invented to get on the cock·tail waitresses' good side

Well, I was going back to the "good ole days" in the early 80's about the cocktail waitresses. Before it went to hell and you couldn't fire them because their shoe was untied. Back when there was a level of professionalism to be found in this town. Even if it was forced, it was present. When a skate was a rare customer and when found, a new girl would wonder what she was doing wrong. There was a "system" or protocol to this town. The Rio had the right idea with their cocktail uniforms when they opened. Now they have to hire anything in this town and God forbid if it's a union house - they'll be there till they die. I think it all started when that idiot wanted to be the first change guy. Don't mind me - I'm just a bitter old man who misses the noisy neon and joints like the Castaways. What a classic joint that was. Damn that Steve Wynn and his visions. Like Elvin Bishop said - "The good ole days are gone.".

Of course, the conventions consisting of "players" with padlocked wallets helped bring what used to be known as a downtown attitude to every house in town. Penny machines are all the rage now.

Not a bone tosser myself but I used to love to just drop a 20 in the field - one time. It usually showed me how my nite was going to go. Now I usually start with a decent sized 1 spot in Keno first thing. But I swore off the tables long ago. 4 card keno machines and NFL. Only way to go.

That's good that you toss the girl the bet amount even if it loses. I could never figure out why people thought making a bet for a dealer was a nice gesture. What do they think the dealer's going cheat to lose now so she/he can rake in that whopping 2 or 4 pieces of iron? You catch a nice deck - then have her/him lock up a few nickles or a 1/4 check. Spread the love.

For whatever it's worth - there have been times when I've bounced greens on a tray. Also been times when they wouldn't get the time of day.

Back to craps. With all the "love" (and a story or two) I have for Stupak, I'll tell you this - that boy can shoot. He can black out a rail in a heartbeat.

Cienega32

09-05-05, 15:05

But what·ever you do , don't 'forget' to tip the gal = the last time I was in the Silver Legacy in Reno , the guy next to me got a Scotch on the rocks , but gave No Tip . When the little hottie waitress came by again , she took our orders , then brought me *two* beers while — Ooops! — 'forgetting' my neighbor's re·fill
That will usually happen, and it should, when they get stiffed on a premium or a call drink in a "smaller" house. Then when the drink DOES finally show up it mysteriously has that well flavor to it! Maybe even a hint of Visene... (does that still work?)

Wastrel

09-10-05, 20:37

Not too spoiled, perhaps?

A couple of websites I found that could be entertaining on a slow night:

http://www.ladiesofthepen.com/

http://www.womenbehindbars.com/home.asp

The first site has much better photographs, but the second is more easily searchable by user specified criteria.

Some of their descriptions are amusing when you consider their current residence, such as: "willing to relocate...enjoy long moonlight walks on the beach." Sure honey, I'd think any kind of long walk outside of a short prison yard would sound good to you about now. A few actually checked "no, not willing to relocate." What exactly were they thinking?

I'd want to independently check them out before actually writing to any of these ladies, and I wouldn't consider using my actual home address. You don't suppose they'd fib a little to their penpals do you? Fortunately the Nevada Dept. of Corrections has a highly searchable website at http://www.doc.nv.gov/ncis/search.php with detailed inmate information if you have even a good fragment of a name, and some other state's corrections department websites have similar or greater inmate search capabilities. Actual height and weight taken at booking, what she's really in for, accomplices and aliases, results of parole hearings and when she's actually likely to get out, etc. A Google news search can sometimes turn up a lot more from there. Some things I might be OK with in a jail babe pal, some not. Theft I could deal with. Chopping up your last boyfriend and stuffing him into a wood chipper when he "disrespected" you, I think not.

By the way, the Nevada D.O.C. seems to keep a lot of these inmate records long after they're paroled or released, so it might be a useful research tool for any babe you see regularly.

I looked at these ads mostly as entertainment, but I decided to go ahead and write to one as a research project for the team here. She's a cute little 110 lb. chocolate thing who drove a getaway car when she was nineteen, for which she's been residing in a barbed wire compound in the desert for the past five years. With a little research I found out who the boyfriend was who used her chauffer services, and determined that he'll be away on vacation upstate for at least another decade after she testified against him, so perhaps she could use a little company from a charitable sponsor when she's out later this year. If anything interesting comes of it, I'll let y'all know.

Unfortunately, I haven't yet found a convenient way to peruse an inventory of psychiatric patients to find attractive young women who are agoraphobic and chronically and severely depressed and therefore just want to stay in bed all the time sucking on something.

Wastrel

09-11-05, 00:02

My personally selected high and low lights of the upcoming convention calendar: good, bad, big, and strange.

The good:

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
CAESARS PALACE 09/28/2005 10/1/2005 (note to self: collect business cards)

NATIONAL BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION
EXCALIBUR HOTEL AND CASINO 10/9/2005 10/13/2005

AVON PRODUCTS, INC.
BELLAGIO 10/20/2005 10/23/2005

MISS UNITY INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY PAGEANT
IMPERIAL PALACE HOTEL AND CASINO 10/19/2005 10/24/2005

The great:

INTERNATIONAL LINGERIE SHOW & LINGERIE CLASSIQUE
RIO ALL-SUITE CASINO RESORT 10/9/2005 10/11/2005 (3000 barely clad attendees!)

Not so great:

CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
EMERALD SUITES - LAS VEGAS BLVD 09/30/2005 10/2/2005

FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE
EXCALIBUR HOTEL AND CASINO 09/8/2005 09/11/2005

Humongous:

G2E: GLOBAL GAMING EXPO
LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER 09/13/2005 09/15/2005 (27,000 attendees)

PACK EXPO / PACKAGING MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE
LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER 09/26/2005 09/28/2005 (30,000 attendees)

Weird, wacky, or whats up with that:

AMERICAN BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSOCIATION
ORLEANS HOTEL AND CASINO 09/26/2005 09/27/2005

NATIONAL FLEA MARKET ASSOCIATION
TREASURE ISLAND (TI) LAS VEGAS 10/11/2005 10/13/2005

SOCIETY OF UROLOGIC NURSES
LAS VEGAS HILTON 10/14/2005 10/17/2005

PSYCHOPATHIC HORROR CONVENTION
HARRAHS LAS VEGAS HOTEL AND CASINO 10/29/2005 10/30/2005

Let's see now, on the 11th, do I want to mingle with the police at the Excalibur, talk shop with flea market entrepreneurs at TI, or go to the international ladies sexy underwear shindig at the Rio? Hmmm, so hard to choose.

Cienega32

09-11-05, 00:41

Wastrel

09-11-05, 01:08

Haven't fully read thru your post yet but on the first link they have two pictures that I've seen online years ago in the newsgroups or some old dial BBS. The Asian/Pacific looking chick in the bikini and the big t!tt!e blond on the bottom. So I guess "Verified Authentic Photo" means "yes - it is A photo..."
Interesting. I'm not shocked that they might do something like that as a come-on, especially on the "front page." Some of the prominently displayed revealing pics do look very professional. On the other hand, getting into the bowels of the first site I was able to find some that can be independently verified with a modest amount of work. For example, the Georgia Dept. of Corrections posts inmate pictures and is searcheable with only a first name or partial first name, so if someone is taking this at face value and seriously thinking of buying addresses on the basis of pictures, there's a hint for you on how to perform a little due diligence before parting with your money. Personally, I've parted with four bucks for one I was able to check out from free public sources using her distinctive first name, and that's all I'll be spending on this little "research" project.

By the way, the problem I found with the other (second) site is that while every one I was able to check (busted in a state with a searchable D.O.C. database) was real, I found quite a few had already been released, so writing to them at their former institution wouldn't be very productive. Don't believe the self reported release dates in either direction. I found some are also doing life without parole, even if that isn't what the profile says.

But as I said, without doing some individual sleuthing to check out a particular individual's profile, I regard it as entertainment.

Zodar

09-11-05, 04:31

Anybody know how to get cheap hotel rates with promotional codes or anything for October 9-11 or October 16-18? All the hotels on the strip are going for well over 130 dollars!

Wastrel

09-11-05, 16:13

Anybody know how to get cheap hotel rates with promotional codes or anything for October 9-11 or October 16-18? All the hotels on the strip are going for well over 130 dollars!
I love helping with these kinds of questions, becuase I usually can. I don't know what your priorities and preferences are on balancing such things as location, comfort, amenities, and price, but October is a busy time and even many off-Strip and downtown properties are affected with rates that are more salty than average for a non-weekend booking.

I suggest you try this: do a search of those dates on www.i4vegas.com www.travelworm.com and www.vegas.com in that order, peruse the results, compare what you see, narrow your choice down to several properties, then compare what you can get from the property's website directly. Assuming that you really want to stay on the Strip, you can get decent but not great accommodations for under a hundred in those time periods. For example, you could get the Riviera for about $90 or $70, the Stardust for $70, the Imperial Palace for about $80, the Tropicana for about $90. Of these, personally I lean toward the IP; not the greatest rooms in town, but I like the location for doing the Strip. Your second window beginning on the 16th looks like it generally has a little softer occupancy and better rates than the 9th, but not much better. These are not smoking great deals for these hotels, but at least they're not obscenely high for a busy time period. Most casino promos aren't honored for nights when occupancy is pretty firm, as it appears to be when you want to book your room. If your location is flexible, the Golden Nugget downtown has some soft rates from a couple of the sites at about $60 in that time period for some reason. You can still get a perfectly serviceable downtown or off-Strip room at a few places for about 30 to 40 bucks for those dates, but I get the feeling that's not what you're after.

The three sites I've listed above are third party booking agents that sometimes buy blocks of rooms in advance at wholesale rates and resell them for whatever price clears their inventory, sometimes undercutting the hotel's advertised rate, and sometimes not. They do build in a hidden charge without telling you, usually about 5% extra, buried in "taxes and fees" when you book, so I'd want to see a rate at least 10% better than the hotel's quote when using them. Also, bookings through them are not just a reservation that can be modified or cancelled, they are paid in full in advance with no refunds or changes permitted, and you'll want to verify with the hotel that your third party booking was transmitted to them and get the hotel's confirmation number, not just the booking site's transaction number, to avoid any last minute snafu's when you arrive.

Hope this is useful to you, and feel free to ask in this thread if there's more that might help. I'll be available for another day and a half, then probably unavailable to clarify or elaborate on anything I’ve written here for a substantial time after that.

It looks like October is getting tighter by the day, so I probably wouldn't want to wait too long to make a choice and lock in the rate and dates.

W

Norman Stormin

09-16-05, 13:25

Since today is a Federal holiday (Mexican Independence Day), I have an extra day to get in trouble this weekend. And judging from the event calander, there will be plenty of it lurking around every corner. This comes as a welcome relief after last weeks doledrums. I made the rounds downtown Tuesday and Thursday and you could fire a cannon down Fremont Street. Although I ran into several downtown providers who had received early outs from LVDC. They are making room for the 35,000 bikers who will be headquartered downtown for their 5th annual Bikefest.

This should prove very interesting since there are a couple of new bars recently opened which are of questionable sexual preferance persuasion. A pseudo biker bar called Hogs and Heifers two doors down 3rd Street from a genuine TV/TS bar. I can only imagine the forbading fun after a drunk biker discovers the beauty who just sucked him off has a third appendage. And the Beauty Bar on Fremont should also be a hot spot. I plan to make the Gold Spike my 'HEAD' quarters. Conveniently located between the two aforementioned where $4 will get me two forty ouncers of draft compared to $4 for a 12 oz bottle at Hogs. Head can usually be had here for a Jackson.

Other venues of drinking and debauchery: Hofbrauhause kicks off Oktoberfest tonight. The Eagle's Lodge (across from Cashman Field) celebrates its 100th birthday with free beer all weekend. The Son's of Erin has a "half way to St Patrick's Day" open bar drunk tonight at the Rum Runner on Boulder Highway. The Mexicans have a fiesta of free food and beverage at the community center (21st and Stewart) this afternoon. Whoop it up with the 21st street gang? And the coup de grace is a wet T shirt contest at the Harley shop on Eastern at 5 pm.

Can you snobs in Slumberland top that agenda?

PsyberZombie

09-25-05, 10:12

Just got back from a week in LV , and here's a little off·topic Report

• Good Touristy Spots to hit = The TITANIC Exhibition at the Tropicana ; TREASURES OF THE KREMLIN at the The Venetian ; and the ART EXHIBIT at Wynn [ although Steve Wynn dictates the audio tour him·self , and is a bit 'wordy' ]

• WYNN Hotel & Casino is worth checking out . They even have a BRIONI Store in there , where men's suits go for $ 4000 — $ 8000 . No Wonder Lexy the Week·end Warrior ( http://www.usasexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=313317&postcount=1658) likes them so much = if you can afford one , you can afford HER !!

• Best Meal of the week = BARTOLLOTA'S at Wynn . Try the Orata if it's on the menu

• Celebrity Sightings = Charlize THERON and TELLER [ the silent half of Penn & Teller ] at Caesar's Forum Shops on Wednesday after·noon

• Returning from Caesar's to Paris , I passed through the very spot where that guy Ressa plowed down 14 people , killing two , in front of Bally's ; less than 30 minutes before it happened

• Wednesday night , ate at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant . Tony BENNETT was there having dinner , too . The entire Strip south of Bally's was closed to traffic because of that incident earlier ; we had a window seat and it was weird = NO traffic at all on Las Vegas Blvd , in either direction !!

Weirdly , I was in LV on 9 / 11 / 01 , staying at HARRAH'S . That Friday night , we had dinner at Picasso at Bellagio ; and in commemoration , they darkened the entire Strip for an hour while we looked on = Historic !!

The next day , we flew out of LAS the very first day it was re·opened to commercial aviation = by far the *worst* experience I've ever had in Vegas !!

Enough for now !!

Cienega32

09-27-05, 00:35

Nice work PZ!

On the 9-11 visit of yours I flashback to those days and remember how eerie it was not to see any air traffic at all, being under or near the general flight paths in & out of town. Eeire indeed.

Do you know Penn has a home down by Blue Diamond Road somewhere? A very "unique" looking structure of different colors. I didn't know who owned it when I first came across it but had a "That explains it" reaction when I looked up the property on the County Assessor's website and saw his name.

Do you know if the Titanic & Treasures of the Kremlin exhibits allow cameras?

PsyberZombie

09-27-05, 06:36

Do you know if the Titanic & Treasures of the Kremlin exhibits allow cameras?

No Cameras allowed at any of the exhibits I mentioned... Sorry !!

BTW , I for·got to mention an·other 'Touristy' thing to do =

See the show We Will Rock You at PARIS . It features the music of Freddie Mercury & QUEEN

The guy who plays the character 'Pop' was inter·viewed in last Saturday's LVRJ = apparently they've recently cut 30 minutes of spoken dialogue out of the show to bring the running time down to a more typical LV time of 90 minutes . He claimed that the cuts compromised the Plot and character development , but there's not much plot ; and how much 'character development' do you need be·sides "boy·meets·girl" ???

Another show I wanted to see , but just ran out of time , is the ABBA·inspired musical Momma Mia

I'm a huge Abba fan ; and when people look at me like I'm Nutz when I admit that , I simply explain that I'm in good company =

Nirvana's KURT COBAIN was also a big fan ; and used to drive every·body on the band bus crazy by playing their CDs over & over & over again ....

Norman Stormin

09-27-05, 08:01

GA Boy

09-27-05, 17:52

I saw this show last summer while I was out there. Man, If you like rock and roll and hot ladies it is there!. Hottest show I've seen in a while that I could really say I went there for the music. Worth every dime and I'll see it again next time I'm out there.

Cienega32

09-27-05, 21:38

I was conducting my El Cheapo Las Vegas tour yesterday with some buddies here from Europe. We were enjoying 99 cent Hienies at the Slots A Fun and Westward Ho. A pit boss friend of mine at the HO advised me to drink up as both his and my days were numbered. It seems the Peterson's have sold the place. It's scheduled to close November 17th.

There goes the neighborhood. Another high end high rise condo project in Cienaga's 89109 Hell. With the exception of the Bill Bennett Estate, I believe this was the last family run joint on the strip. I guess I'm sequesterd to Fleamont Street. But then again, I never found a $20 blowjob on the strip.

Now THAT is sad news. I used really enjoy sitting under the mushrooms and do the chick-check after work. Quite a nice parade once upon a time. Grab some cheap dogs and drinks from the Slots A Fun and relax while the sun goes down. I remember watching them do the Con-Air scenes overhead one day.

I noticed that the quaint little village buildings on Sahara just west of the strip are gone too in order to make way for a hi-rise.

Is NOTHING sacred in the town anymore???

PsyberZombie

09-28-05, 06:13

Is NOTHING sacred in the town anymore???

Apparently not ....

As you know , the FRONTIER is also slated for demolition soon ; I think Donald Trump is the developer
[ Gee , I wonder what he'll call the place ?? ]

I've written below that WYNN's new place is worth a visit ; but I'm always gonna miss the DESERT INN that it replaced = it was definitely the classiest Casino in town

.... and I hope you locals played golf there back when it was the DI , because a round there now is $$$$$
[ you read that right = five hundred bucks !! ]

Cienega32

09-28-05, 08:10

Apparently not ....

As you know , the FRONTIER is also slated for demolition soon ; I think Donald Trump is the developer
[ Gee , I wonder what he'll call the place ?? ]

I've written below that WYNN's new place is worth a visit ; but I'm always gonna miss the DESERT INN that it replaced = it was definitely the classiest Casino in town

.... and I hope you locals played golf there back when it was the DI , becasue a round there now is $$$$$
[ you read that right = five hundred bucks !! ]
I thought the Trump International Tower was being built in the back? I know he partnered up with Ruffin so I guess the casino won't be around too long in it's present appearance.

Oh well. As long as I can still hit the Slipper after a nice steak at The Flame...

The DI - I was saddened when they took down the glass front on that building. Always a sharp look when the sun was going down. Nice purple hue really gave it a look. I think Wynn may have had that in his head when he did the Wynn. That, too, has a very sharp look to it at different times of the day.

I'll tell you what really makes you feel dated is walking around Fremont and seeing all the signs that used to be at their original places and remembering. Out of state friends don't quite get it when I look at the signs with a "sad look" on my face.

Same look I know I have when I see all these fences surrounding different areas with their "Coming Soon! An exciting new way for [insert company name here] to make a quick billion $"...

See the plea for help spray painted on the side of the building north of Charleston on the strip?

Cienega32

09-30-05, 19:19

I guess we can add the Huntridge Theater to the list of "bye-byes" as they try to work a way to tear it down.

I remember when they had $1 movies there in the early 80's. I think the first movie I saw there was Das Boot.

Same time that the old MGM Grand used to show the old classic movies. Big plush reclining double seats, table in front with a cocktail button on it. Gran Prix at Ceasars. Ahh, the good ole days.

Jan Laverty (our ex-Mayor) and her brother owned the supermarket right down the street at Bruce & Charleston. What a joint that was. Ceiling tiles falling with every rain. It fit the area. The bright spot of that stretch was the old Casa Taquila owned by The FLores mom and her (very hot) daughter Gloria. Best Margeruitas in town!

Vegas Baby

09-30-05, 20:00

I hear the Sahara is sold. Deal pending for 700 mil.Turnberry group got some more condos going up.

Wastrel

10-01-05, 00:02

It's official: sale of the Golden Nugget is now final, approved, license issued, done, done, done. Used to be a modest amount of action at the back bar until the Poster boys took over a few years ago and castrated the place. I really don't think those guys liked women. In any case, when they took over they ran most of the decent mid-range hookers out of downtown, which pissed me off to no end. Apparently Wastrel's one man boycott finally brought them to their knees, though they never have apologized. I don't think they ever did get a permanent gaming license issued; I believe they've been operating on a "provisional license" since they came in. I can only hope that the new owner, who appears to be a normal grown up sort of businessman from what I can tell, will exercise some sound business judgment and take a more sensible attitude. Word is that some of his plans might require getting rid of the light show canopy over Fremont. Sounds good to me.

Assorted rumors: MTR Gaming is in serious deep water with Binion's, and they may have a buyer lined up to get them out of it. One rumor has it closing on October 17th for an unspecified time period. I don't know how solid that is, but I wouldn't want to pre-pay now for a two week stay in January.

Boyd /Coast and Station Casinos are sniffing around the Lady Luck for a possible purchase. That could set some kind of record for ownership turnover, with what, about three or four new owners in about that many years? Not that anyone much cares about that joint except some blue haired little old lady bus tour type visitors.

Cienega32

10-05-05, 01:40

Controversy in the strip joints!

No lappers?
No direct tipping to the dancers ala the g-string wallet?

Has the world gone terribley wrong?

The dancers now can't go to college.
The jilted housewife now has to stimulate her hubbie herself.

The horror...
The horror...

Winter Park FL

10-05-05, 22:11

I have heard that binioins is currently a hell hole. Does Anybody have a recent review of accomodations?

Wastrel

10-06-05, 05:53

I have heard that binioins is currently a hell hole. Does Anybody have a recent review of accomodations?In my opinion, the rooms are fine, nothing special but perfectly decent, and I wouldn't mind staying there as far as basic room quality is concerned.

But there are some other things I don't care for. Many of the people working there really don't much like their jobs, their employer, or their customers and they aren't too shy about letting people know it. They also seem to have consistent problems with lost reservations, or mistakes on dates of stay, and basic bookkeeping problems keeping guest charges and payments straight. If you are driving, the parking garage arrangements can get to be a pain for poor access to the elevator bank servicing most of the rooms. Management and security appears to be in a permanent vegetative state, which may sound good to some, but won't always sound so good if you are parking or sleeping there. I think "hell hole" would be way overblown, but in my opinion it has been allowed to go to seed far enough that it is more than just a bit annoying. I trust you saw my earlier warning in this thread about prepaying too far in advance due to their chronic financial problems.

On the other hand, I like old places with interesting ghosts, and this joint sure has some. Possibly even a few literally buried on (or under) the property, depending on whose rumors of old times you like to believe. I like the look and feel and sound of that casino floor more than most these days, where the lighting is dim enough to imply sin within; the click, clack of dice and cards and chips on green felt tables is not so overwhelmed by the synthetic din of computerized slot machines; and you can easily track the rise and fall of the fortunes of groups of table gamblers with voices rising and crashing in waves, instead of just the sullen solitary world of the video poker and electronic slot machine player.

Personally, I prefer to take a room at nearby places such as the Four Queens, or the Las Vegas Club (north tower), or maybe Fitzgerald's, with rooms that are just as satisfactory, parking and room access that is a bit less of a pain, and rates that are often a little better, and just stroll over to Binion's casino and check the occasional ladies of the very late evening at the front bar from time to time.

Oh, the food in the downstairs restaurant below ground level at the back isn't bad at all for cafe fare, the menu prices are sensible and the graveyard special prices better than that, and they never close.

You might want to do a thread search on Binion's in the General Reports section if you haven't already. For example I posted something on 8-23 that might help you decide if you'd be comfortable with staying there. I know of another regular downtown dude on the board who's used the rooms more recently than I have, so maybe he'll chime in and update my observation on the accomodations.

Norman Stormin

10-07-05, 15:08

Cienega32

10-08-05, 13:41

Find out for yourself with this nifty new search tool compliments of Las Vegas' finest. Your quarter cent sales tax bump paid for this.

http://www.lvmpd.com/crimeviewcommunity/

This will lay to rest Cienega's argument that 89109 is Hell. There has not been one reported homicide in the last 60 days.

Hope this helps!

Now, there you go - paying homage to me for nothing I should get credit for.

"Tis not my arguement but one stat that was put forth in one of the newspapers some 10 or 15 years ago. The reference was to the number of calls responded to - 10 or 15 years ago. The ARTICLE dubbed the place as "Hell" - not me - 10 or 15 years ago.

Like I pointed out - I used to work & live in that zipcode and couldn't figure out what the fuss was all about. I still have friends that live in the hotspot of Sierra Vista area.

Member #4063

10-10-05, 10:19

Guys from the Boston area and thinking of a trip to your town for golf. Can you share the best spots and the general prices. Is there any reasonable way to get to play Shadow Creek?

Thanks

Jack

Speck

10-10-05, 23:53

I have heard that binioins is currently a hell hole. Does Anybody have a recent review of accomodations?

I did not stay there, but did visit the casino. The casino is still worn and their blackjack sucks. If you want to stay downtown, my advice is to follow these room recommendations:

Golden Nugget: More expensive than any other downtown casino, but also the nicest by far. Comparable to three star places on the strip like Monte Carlo and Alladdin.

Fremont: Very small but clean rooms. These are not for four people, it will be too crowded. They must have been recently renovated as there are areas of wear in the casino.

Las Vegas Club: If you are on a budget, this is the place. The North Tower is LOTS nicer than the South Tower. Either way, the rooms are kinda worn, and expect carpet burns. The North Tower rooms are clean, and rooms with one king bed also have a coffee table, chairs, a mini couch, a larger television, and a large, clean, renovated bathroom. Rooms here run $40-55 for North Tower weekdays and 50-80 weekends.

And, if you must have very cheap accomodations, you can risk Gold Spike. The casino is horrible, but I have heard the rooms are ok and run $20-40 even on weekends.

Cienega32

10-11-05, 02:02

Guys from the Boston area and thinking of a trip to your town for golf. Can you share the best spots and the general prices. Is there any reasonable way to get to play Shadow Creek?

Thanks

Jack
I used to have a decent link for that kind of info but all I could find was:

http://www.lasvegasgolf.com/

Google up "Las Vegas Golf" - you might find a good source in there somewhere.

Wastrel

10-11-05, 11:48

The lvmpd link is interesting to play with, even if I am disappointed that it doesn't pinpoint outbreaks of loitering.

For example, while I found more than 300 violent crimes within a mile of Atomic Liquors within the past two months, there was apparently not a single stiff found in or out of a dumpster there lately, and it looks like about a third of the streetcorners had no fresh blood on them at all. I feel much safer now.

Examining some SW areas on the north side of town, including “D-hood” and the Craig Road turf around the late unlamented Four Aces, I'm amazed at the plethora of assaults with a deadly weapon which didn't produce a homicide. Where are all these bullets landing? Clearly some of these guys need remedial training in how to handle their weapons.

Oh yes, the most brazen open air gang banger crack market in town, the block behind the NW corner of H Street and Lake Mead, the place I ranted about earlier becuase it’s so bad it’s scaring the hookers, had all of three dope busts, none of them in the last month. Boo, hiss, no medals for you guys in the NLVPD.

Why is the Metro website a "dot-com" instead of "dot-org" or "dot-gov"? Are they officially a for-profit commercial enterprise now?

Desert Dude

10-11-05, 15:52

Guys from the Boston area and thinking of a trip to your town for golf. Can you share the best spots and the general prices. Is there any reasonable way to get to play Shadow Creek?

Thanks

Jack

Sorry, have no idea how to get on Shadow Creek, or the new Wynn course [the old Desert Inn track]. I've worked a bit with these guys http://www.standbygolf.com/ they can sometimes do pretty well, especially mid-week. My three favorite courses all require a bit of a drive. Boulder City's old course is a dang nice track, under $50 full rip. The new Boulder City course, Boulder Creek, is a new course, nice if you can get on for under $100, they think it's worth over 150, nahh. My number one fave is Mountain Falls in Pahrump, less than an hour drive. $55 full weekend rate. Some construction, but a super course.

Speck

10-11-05, 21:41

The lvmpd link is interesting to play with, even if I am disappointed that it doesn't pinpoint outbreaks of loitering.

LOL. I am surprised that there are cops out there who were smart enough to figure out that posting loitering stats would do more damage than good as you, I, and every other monger out there would make a b-line to whatever location had the most prostitution related arrests.

Man that would be sweet, LE doing reconisance for us!

Cienega32

10-12-05, 02:30

LOL. I am surprised that there are cops out there who were smart enough to figure out that posting loitering stats would do more damage than good as you, I, and every other monger out there would make a b-line to whatever location had the most prostitution related arrests.

Man that would be sweet, LE doing reconisance for us!
And now, some poor cop is choking on his dough-nuts screaming "I GOT AN IDEA!" Or, in Car 54 style - OOH! OOH!.

"We just put a bunch of phoney stats in an hot area and wait with the lunch wagon."

Norman Stormin

10-12-05, 10:56

Why is the Metro website a "dot-com" instead of "dot-org" or "dot-gov"? Are they officially a for-profit commercial enterprise now?

Always has been.
Always will be.
Just ask the Lamb boys.

Member #4063

10-12-05, 14:03

Guys thanks for the info both public and private it really helps.

Jack

Best Tx Monger

10-12-05, 23:02

W,

I am planning in going to Las Vegas for New Years. I have read this thread and have payed special attention to your effective and informative posts.

Thanks man, all the information that you have bestowed here has been of great help. Keep up the great work !!

-007

Bamadawg

10-13-05, 08:28

Hey Guys,
As always these pages are some of the best on the forum. Coming to town over Veteran's day but different then my usual semi-annual gambling & mongering trip in that I will have wifie and another couple along. I was hoping that you guys might be able to reccommend a good erotic show to go see to try and jump start the women. Went to Le Femme last time I was in town, what a dissappointment. Anyone know if Zumanity is worth while. Barring that, how about a good hypnotist? Thanks guys and I'll be back for mongering advice in about 6 months.

BD

Milf1968

10-13-05, 09:54

I actually saw Zumanity and its another 'O' type of show without the water more erotic. Didn't like it.

Sorry wish I could have helped you. Good luck otherwise, maybe if they are up to it. They have a O.K. Swinger clubs, that should certainly start up the ladies. Just a thought.

Older Guy

10-13-05, 22:06

Bamadawg,

Hey man, how long you been with your woman? If you want to kick start her engine, you don't have to take her to a $100 erotic show. As far as I know, most straight women don't find the shows with the bare tits and asses "HOT".

If you want to get her excited, pay attention to her while you take her to a nice dinner, some place like Caesar's forum to window shop, and then back to your room where you should have some flowers waiting for her with maybe some mints and drinks (arrange with the bell desk to have these items placed in the room when you leave for dinner). With the attention she is getting from you, she will already be kind of curious and aroused and wondering what the hell is going on. Tell her you feel like when you were dating or like just before you first "Made love to her." Never say "When we first had sex."

Believe it or not this actually works unless she is thinking about splitting from you to begin with. This kind of seduction and slow lovemaking is what drives most women wild.

Excuses to get back to the room can be, "Lets go back to the room, drop off the packages (from the shopping), and freshen up before we gamble." or "Let's go back to the room and unwind a little before going downstairs to gamble."

The flowers, the little chocolate mints, and drinks you can buy yourself before you go out so she knows you thought long and hard about giving her some romance.

Hells bells, sometimes I'm too tired to leave the room afterwards and sleep in the nude in case something comes up again. Or she may want to shower afterwards and that gives you an opportunity to play somemore.

Its not hard to jump start a wife especially if she isn't expecting a lot of romance. Tell her it will give her some juicy tidbits to drop to her girlfriend when they are by themselves next. They love to share this kind of info with girlfriends, kind of like "I got some last night and then I got some more!"

The only reason I monger is for variety and when I do hook-up, I try to get the girl off (I go by the pussy clenching) before I explode. That way if I want to hook-up again because she was a 10-10-10-10, she'll be glad to see me again.

Stay safe,
OG

Norman Stormin

10-14-05, 14:37

Barrick Gaming ceased serving its infamous $2 (40 ounce) draft beer effective 4PM Tuesday. I actually got a seat at the bar with the legions of local drunks missing in action. They still offer a $1 (12 ounce) draft and $1.50 domestic beer and well drinks. The last un natural disaster of this magnitude was the closing of the Ambassador 3 years ago. With its demise went the infamous 'Ambassador Happy Meal' (2 cans of Busch for $1) as well as the Headquarters of the Paiute Tribal Council.

But there is a glimmer of hope at the end of this sad saga. For all of you value conscious mongers, the number of providers is up substantially. After factoring in the loss of drunks, the provider to stiff dick ratio is up expotentially. And best of all, now you can get seat at the bar and comfortably watch the parade of providers troll by without some drunk self proclaimed Nam hero mooching a cigarette from you.

Hope this helps !

Jolynx

10-15-05, 04:06

Cienega32

10-15-05, 11:50

Thanx for the report on the Western aka cistern loss of 40 oz. brew. It will help my atkins diet attempt.

Local sleazers will be happy to know that the murderer of Terry P. owner of the Odyssey bar has been sentenced to life.

Wow - I didn't even know he was murdered. Any details? Can you point me to an article?

As far as being happy - I'm never happy when they get life. Toast 'em and save us some money.

Wastrel

10-15-05, 12:08

Any details? Can you point me to an article?

"Man gets life term in barkeep's death"

"Victim recalled as friend to lost souls"

"In his job as bartender at the Odyssey Lounge on Fremont Street, Terry Petropoulos was a lighthouse for those lost in the urban darkness."

"Family and friends said that if you were homeless and out of work, the 70-year-old Petropoulos would feed you or loan you a couple of bucks to help you get by."

"But in March 2004, authorities say, two men straggled into the bar near Eastern Avenue and murdered the man in a robbery that netted the suspects a few hundred dollars, some pool cues, bottles of liquor and a Mercury station wagon."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-14-Fri-2005/news/3832853.html

Bigboi47

10-15-05, 14:50

Wow - I didn't even know he was murdered. Any details? Can you point me to an article?

As far as being happy - I'm never happy when they get life. Toast 'em and save us some money.This murder was profiled on the show that focuses on the first 48 hours of a murder investigation. the storys have been done in a lot of cities and you get a look at how detectives work on these cases. Studies show that after 48 hours into the investigation the chances of making an arrest lessen.

Cienega32

10-16-05, 14:52

I think the most glaring line in that story is:

"The victim's daughter, Tracy Scott, said in tearful testimony that before the slaying, her father had fed Martinette for free."

What a piece of garbage. THIS is why I don't believe in any of these plea bargains and arrangements. Some cases just don't merit any type of shelter for the suspect - like this one. Toast the piece of crap without a hood so you can see his eyes explode out of his head, film it all and pipe thru CCTV to all the crack hotels. Mandatory viewing for {hard} drug offenders with robbery in their portfolio.

No mercy for these pr!cks when a senior is involved AND no mercy when it's someone who does nothing but help people. And even LESS mercy when the victim has helped the suspect in the past.

Get the stocks back in the town square. We need to do things that make these idiots have the thought in the back of their head that if they get caught it might not be too pleasent of an experience. The fear of God, as it were.

But it'll never happen as long as there are people who think of terms of "Ewww - how cruel..." when considering punishments. Screw this "It's inhumane" crap. If they act like that they should find no quarter in the judicial system. None.

All in all - quite a sickening story.

Sorry for the rant.

Wastrel

10-17-05, 05:54

Sorry these excerpts still make a pretty long post, but it's hard to find places to clip this:

LAS VEGAS POLICE: Officer named in civil case
Woman alleges vice detective charged in teen sex case made advances on her in '03

Las Vegan Brenda Flasch wasn't surprised when she learned a vice detective was arrested earlier this year on charges he tried to have sex with a teen he had arrested.

Two years earlier, Flasch said officer George Preston Godfrey of the Metropolitan Police Department did the same thing to her after Godfrey arrested Flasch's boyfriend on a warrant.

<SNIP>

Flasch said she reported Godfrey's behavior to the Las Vegas police Internal Affairs unit and sent them a lengthy e-mail, but no one responded.

Nearly two years later, when Godfrey was arrested during a sting operation, Internal Affairs called Flasch. But to this day, they still have not interviewed her.

"There was nothing done to our knowledge," said Flasch's attorney, Cal Potter III. "Here's a guy who is out of control, showing back up at her house again and again, and no one seemed to care."

<SNIP>

The vice detective was arrested in January on charges of using technology to lure children, burglary with intent to commit a felony, and attempted statutory sexual seduction.

Authorities said Godfrey arrested a 14-year-old girl in December 2004 on suspicion of soliciting prostitution at the Bellagio.

After the arrest, the girl said Godfrey told her she was pretty, had a nice body, and that he had ties in the pornography business. A police report said Godfrey told the girl if no other cops were around, he would not have arrested her; instead he would have had sex with her.

The girl later called Godfrey, and he offered to take the teen out to eat. The girl's mother then called police, and detectives set up a sting operation in which the teen's bedroom was wired with video surveillance and audio recording devices.

Police said on the night of the sting, Godfrey called the girl repeatedly and asked whether she was "going to make it worth his time" if he came to her house. He then showed up at her house in the early morning hours of Jan. 6. He walked inside her house and hugged the teen, and they then went into the teen's bedroom.

Police said Godfrey talked about his connections to Playboy and Maxim magazine, and he said they should get together another time when her mother was away.

Godfrey then was arrested.

Flasch said that in October 2003, Godfrey was a patrol cop when her boyfriend, Martin Wyckoff, 41, was arrested on an outstanding warrant at their apartment on Sierra Vista Drive.

<SNIP>

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-17-Mon-2005/news/3845579.html

Wastrel

10-17-05, 06:07

TIPS.
To Insure Proper Service.

There used to be a time when a tip...This gal takes a nice picture, and she writes well:

The World's First Guide to Vegas
from a Real Vegas Cocktail Waitress

Have you ever wondered how much you "should" tip a cocktail waitress? Are the drinks really free, are they watered down, is it the real stuff, or what? Just who are these girls...are they strippers or hookers? And how do you not piss them off so they don't spit (or do worse) in your drinks?

http://www.cocktaildoll.com/

PsyberZombie

10-18-05, 06:58

Great Link , Wastrel !!

I'm going to pass it along to the daughter of a pal of mine who's a cock·tail waitress down the road at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville , CT

She's 25 yrs old now , and has worked there a few years now . They have a zillion rules about personal appearance [ like = you can wear a watch , but the face can be no larger than the size of a quarter ; or NO visible tatoos allowed ] ... but the Money is GREAT !!

I notice that in Dollie's FAQ , she won't say how much money she makes
[ Why put a question in your FAQ , then refuse to answer it ?? ]

... but this gal works three to five four·hour shifts a week , and brings home at least fifty grand a year in Tips !!

She was only gonna do this part·time while she was in school , but who needs school when yer hauling down bucks like this ??

Of course , if she reallywants to haul in some Serious Cash , she should move to LV and work in one of the Strip Clubs there . See =

http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=311812&postcount=2199

Jolynx

10-18-05, 15:49

Desert Dude

10-19-05, 12:41

This is an unbiased report. I call em like I see em. A whole bunch of ho holes are gone.

The Odyssey: haunted due to the murder of the owner Terry P. the clients, barkeeps, ho"s and even the building is sad and seems to weep.

The Atomic: formerly the pride of Fremont street. now a sad imitation. Closes for midnight shift. Tolerates girls grudgingly and do not buy any package liquor as the prices are meant for new tourists at exorbitant prices.

The Western, aka the stern or cistern: A full service bar and casino with rooms around $30 mostly for tourists. The bar is full of locals, whire, black, hispanic and asians. A regular united nations. ****** of every color and persuasion However I do not believe that trannys or street boys favor the location. 40 ounce beers are gone but you can get $1 coors draft and even get a seat at the bar. Whiskey is cheap and the price of the women are pretty much the same. "Caveat emptor"

Beauty Bar: If this is the future of Fremont, Pass the hemlock. Real close to a sissy bar. Expensive martinis, get your nails done. Godawfull music bands. Eurotrash! Well, some of the eurotrash bitches could be fun if there fucked up on ecstacy.

That is ALL the current places open on Fremont based on my parameters. there are others being built which were formerly schlock shops and souvenir shops. May be next report will be history on some of the places closed .

Welcome aboard sir, you do indeed hit the nail on the head. Especially like your description of the united nations of vegas, the western...Ever since Barrick bought and tried to 'upgrade', the rates have gone up. Thinking it's closer to 40 now, just like the Ambassador East across the street, at least on weekends. Another bar that might need an obit is the Bunkhouse. I still find solace, drunks, smoke, and sports on TV at the Gold Spike tho. They have the same $1 Coors wipe, or, my pick at both, Tecate for the same buck. Other dive bars I've found are out boulder hiway, see norman's reports. Learned 'em from him anyway lol. Anybody ever stop in the Library? Always wondered about that place...

Jolynx

10-19-05, 18:37

Gentle Readers,

I actually missed one bar on a technicality. The joint in the Days Inn at 7th and Fremont could be considered on 7th street. It is a jazz club and Italian restaurant. I have never been there and can not even remember the name. It is a nonentity in my mind. I hope to report on dives on the periphiry of Fremont Street such as the noted Gold Spike , Bunkhouse, etc.

Speck

10-19-05, 21:44

Are there really ho's in the Western?

I went there once more than 10 years ago. Basically me and my early 20's friends saw the Western and said "damm that place looks like crap. They must have cheap black jack!". Well they did have cheap blackjack, but we never went back for other reasons.

Now I'm a white guy in my early 30's. I drive a car that....well I don't want to park it at the Western. And the walk from El Cortez looks pretty wicked.

Never mind, I'm never desperate enough to pick up anything in the Western.

Bigboi47

10-20-05, 23:20

LAS VEGAS - Car-washing cheerleaders may be violating a Las Vegas prostitution ordinance, according to the Associated Press.

Under the ordinance, Las Vegas police can arrest someone who “repeatedly beckons to, stops, attempts to stop or engage persons passing by in conversation, or repeatedly stops or attempts to stop motor vehicle operators by hailing, waiving of arms or other bodily gestures.”

This issue is now before the Nevada State Supreme Court.

Wastrel

10-21-05, 09:52

Are there really ho's in the Western?
Well, I sort of turned one young lady into one there several months ago. I shouldn't identify her, since Vegas can be like a small town in some ways, but she is 23 y/o, black, around 5'4'' and probably less than 120lbs, slender build but very shapely, and actually works in food and beverage service for a major casino, which I also shouldn't name. Well OK, it's a large place on the Strip originally developed by Steve Wynn; that should narrow it down. Anyway, she goes to the Western every night off, by bus no less, to play her favorite slot machine.

I thought she looked delicious, so I invited myself over to an adjoining machine and basically asked for lessons on how to insert money into a hole. She's pretty much a slot machine addict who's always broke in spite of her income, which is probably higher than many of her customers with the tips she can rake in, but after reserving her paycheck for basics like rent she feeds all her cash income into the machines. She'll admit as much. After she tapped out and was jonesing for more play she had no trouble joining me in a hotel room for sixty plus the promise that she'd be able to depend on a bite to eat and a ride home to Henderson (a suburb) in a few hours after she tried to make it all back from "her" machine afterward.

It never occured to me to actually ingest solid food inside that place, but she wouldn't consider letting me take her anyplace else to pick up her daily meal. Hundreds of restaurants in town are open at four a.m. but it's the Western or nothing for her. Maybe that's why she's thin. Fine with me, as long as she didn't try to make me do the same. I ended up seeing her once a week on her night off until she got too dependent on me to bail her out of the holes she digs for herself in the casinos. Shouldn't have given her the cell number. I think this is a common story.

But I think your guess is probably accurate, it is a very low end place which hasn't improved with age, to put it mildly, certainly not the smell of that stuff they use to swab the floors, and while most anyone who goes in there is probably easy to persuade, if I understand your tastes correctly I think it would be rare that one of them would interest you.

I find that most of the scruffy street characters around there haven't had a sober breath in this century and no longer have the motor skills and hand eye coordination needed to hurt anyone but themselves, but I always remind myself to be especially alert and cautious to and from my car at any casino and double check that I've set the security system. But I'd say the same thing about the parking garages at any of the Strip hotels as well. Someone was killed in a botched carjacking attempt at valet parking at the Bellagio a few months ago, for example.

Desert Dude

10-21-05, 11:48

I shouldn't identify her, since Vegas can be like a small town in some ways, but she is 23 y/o, black, around 5'4'' and probably less than 120lbs, slender build but very shapely,

Hell I know her!!! And her sister. Maybe her mom. lol....another great post Wastrel!!!

Wastrel

10-21-05, 11:58

Hell I know her!!! And her sister. Maybe her mom. lol....Sister live off Maryland Pkwy near Sierra Vista & Cambridge? At least used to? Sis had an eviction notice when I last saw my Western babe from Henderson. You're probably just speaking figuratively, so never mind.

PsyberZombie

10-21-05, 19:01

This is the "Off-Topic" Board , right ??

Well , The Following isn't *entirely* Off Topic = note how these e·mail scammers some·times use WOMEN and their Wiles to try to draw un·suspecting Male Victims in·to their web =

" I Will Eat Your Dollars " (http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fg-scammers20oct20,0,301315.story?page=1&collection=la-yahoostorylinks)

Wastrel

10-23-05, 23:08

Quote: "Vegas Today and Tomorrow is an up-to-date collection of news and renderings of imminent and future hotel, condo and other projects. You'll find photos and renderings of projects under construction..."

http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/

A sample of the content: "Voyager wheel and resort to be built on Ho site. This is your last chance for a $30 room on the Strip. On November 17th the Westward Ho will close. The 'Ho' (as it is often called) is in process of being sold..." Seems to me the artist's rendering (http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/page2hotels.htm) of the planned new resort resembles the product of the mating of a Klingon warship and something that ate it's way out of someone's belly in the movie "Aliens." I'm sure it'll be a big hit.

Another sample: "Right in the middle of the new entertainment district, 601 Fremont Street...will transform the site into a magnet for the 'in crowd'...The first phase of this project will be the reconfiguring and renovating of the old county fingerprint building...The developers are gambling on the successful metamorphosis of downtown Las Vegas...the area could catch fire with locals and tourists in the same way Miami's South Beach enamored the public." As a proud charter member of the 'out crowd' Wastrel will look forward to seeing the downtown tourists "catch fire." Could be fun to watch. Plenty of folks scuffling around there now are prepared to offer them a light.

Finally this: "The Planet Hollywood folks are gearing up to add some glitz to the Strip..." The rendering basically shows a big globe dressed in a flourescent pink 'Planet Hollywood' logo plopped down in front of the property with a smaller planet stuck to the top of the hotel tower. That'll really class up that run down stretch of the old highway, don't ya think?

Related news, from Friday:

"Hooters gets OK from panel - Commission paves way for hotel-casino."

<SNIP>

"Commissioner Sue Wagner asked Kiefer whether feminist Gloria Steinem would approve of the company's position that Hooters Girls offer "tasteful sex appeal."

"I doubt it,' he replied."

<SNIP>

"Filling the rooms will not be a problem,' Droste said at the earlier hearing."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-21-Fri-2005/business/3934916.html

Norman Stormin

10-24-05, 11:26

ONE OF YOUR FINEST POSTS :

Another sample: "Right in the middle of the new entertainment district, 601 Fremont Street...will transform the site into a magnet for the 'in crowd'...The first phase of this project will be the reconfiguring and renovating of the old county fingerprint building...The developers are gambling on the successful metamorphosis of downtown Las Vegas...the area could catch fire with locals and tourists in the same way Miami's South Beach enamored the public." As a proud charter member of the 'out crowd' Wastrel will look forward to seeing the downtown tourists "catch fire." Could be fun to watch. Plenty of folks scuffling around there now are prepared to offer them a light.

I volunteer to be the pyrotechnician !

PsyberZombie

10-25-05, 06:31

From last Wednesday's Tonight Show Monologue =

" There have been horrible rainstorms all around the country...Las Vegas has had a record amount of rainfall in this week . More rain this month than ever before . In fact, it was so bad , Roy got mauled by a sea lion "

Wastrel

10-30-05, 13:32

Does this make my 2,200 square footer worth $1.7 million?

I will accept $1 dollar bills but it's in 89109 Hell. Condominium fever comes to Naked City

Its front windows wish you "Feliz Navidad" in paint that won't wash off. The landscaping consists of four shriveling cacti and a patio piled with empty cat food boxes. Inside, it's 700 square feet of confirmed bachelor's clutter.

And it can all be yours for $1.2 million -- cash.

There's perhaps no better evidence of the condo fever raging through Las Vegas' real estate market than the asking price on Manuel Corchuelo's home.

Once considered deadlocked in the wasteland where the Las Vegas Strip fizzled into a decaying downtown, the World War II-era home is now happily nestled in the shadows of billions of dollars of new and proposed high-rise condominium projects. Corchuelo is sitting on much-coveted land.

From his front lawn, Corchuelo likes to smile up at the cranes and listen to the clang of construction.

"It's a good sound," he said.

The former catering waiter and Colombian immigrant bought the home in 1978 for $30,000.

<SNIP>

In the 1950s, the neighborhood was home to card dealers and strippers who used to sunbathe in the buff to avoid tan lines and earned the place its nickname, Naked City. By the 1980s, it had become a pocket of prostitution and crime.

Now, the streets around Corchuelo's home are lined with a mix of small, well-kept homes, residential hotels and public housing. Visitors are as likely to see speculators and real estate agents cruising the place as pimps.

<SNIP>

http://sltrib.com/utah/ci_3163380

Cienega32

10-31-05, 21:11

For a glimpse at this million dollar palace:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9870962/

I still think the best line in the story is:

From his front lawn, Corchuelo likes to smile up at the cranes and listen to the clang of construction.

“It’s a good sound,” he said.

PsyberZombie

11-01-05, 07:22

Cienega32

11-01-05, 22:57

It's not the 700 sq ft shack that makes that property so valuable , C·32

.... it's the Location , Location , & Location & the LAND that it's on

Interestingly , while that article gives the 'average' value for an acre of land in LV —$601,600 — it doesn't say how big that lot is = so there's no way for the reader to determine if that's a ridiculous asking price ; or how ridiculous it is

Just another example of Modern Journalism in action = and they wonder why their reader·ship is dropping faster than a steaming turd
No disrespect intended, PZ, but I didn't think it was the landscaping that gave it the price tag! :)

Some detailed info on the property:

The home is on .18 acres of land, was built in 1944 and is a 2 bed 1 bath design on 728 sq ft of living space. The land has a valuation of 14,700 and is taxed at a tad over $600 a year. Full valuation is around 55k.

Attached is a location pic. Also showing is the old "Circle" and property divisions that have been consumed by the Strat. Many of us old time (and some newer) Vegas mongers will recognize the area...

If I were the owner of any property in that area, I would be expecting one of those mysterious fires that used to be popular downtown. The ones that used to occur at the old HO-tels that kept hanging on in the face of progress.

Wastrel

11-04-05, 06:10

Attached is a location pic. http://www.usasexguide.info/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24253It's just down the block from Tam on Cincy! Reading the article I wondered just exactly where around Naked City Senor Corchuelo's pad really was. On the map some of us will recognize it as being about a block away from a long time low end hooker stand on Tam near Sahara. Will be interesting to eventually see them marketing condos starting at 'only' a few million on the very spot where I've had a $20 bj.

Wastrel

11-06-05, 00:33

Ran accross this little publicity blurb: Hooters Casino is hosting a Hooters Girl casting-call party at the San Remo on Tuesday November 8 in the Mezzanine Room from 10 am to 6 pm. The party will include beverage stations, screens showing what it’s like to be a Hooters Girl, and current Hooters Girls meeting and greeting applicants for the positions of food servers, cocktail servers, bartenders, and table-game dealers. More than 250 new Hooters Girls will be hired before the February 2006 grand opening. According to the press release, "No experience is necessary, just the Hooters Girl 'look' and the right attitude."

So, do you think spectators or volunteer helpers are permitted? Or perhaps some of the poor forlorn applicants disappointed in the outcome of their "casting-call" will be in need of a little cheering up and a ride as they trudge out of the "Mezzanine Room" around sixish on Tuesday?

Guady1

11-06-05, 05:45

Wastrel read my mind.

I have made out by going to male strip clubs and waiting for the women to come out and then make simple conversation, but in the back of my mind, I know she is hot and juiced up, ready to go.

Hooters was going to be the same but in a different fashion. The poor soles who didn't make the cut will need someone there to reassure them you would hire them if you owned the place.

I just wonder if there will be some good mongering in that place when they change their theme and draw a large male following. Heck, you might get lucky with the help.

Wastrel

11-06-05, 19:20

It seems the owner of this site has expanded the scope of his business interests. Apparently to include some combination of video poker, beer, chicken wings, sauna, and 24hr massage services; west of the Strip on the north side of Flamingo Road near Torrey Pines:

Wastrel

11-06-05, 19:36

The poor soles who didn't make the cut will need someone there to reassure them you would hire them if you owned the place.Or, if you are depraved as I am in these matters, to reassure them that I do in fact own a place and actually will employ them in it. Of course it's not such a large place. Only about the size of an average bedroom. Well, it actually is Wastrel's hotel or bedroom, but I am always looking to hire, and the casting call is not so crowded.

Wastrel

11-07-05, 04:29

It's the begining of the slack season around the wholesome 'family togetherness' type holidays, and budget travellers with flexible schedules might like to know that you can get a room at either the Orleans or the Gold Coast for $18 on www.travelworm.com for midweek (Sun-Thur) stays in the next few weeks, up to shortly before Thanksgiving. That's eighteen bucks, as in less than twenty.

These are places that mostly cater to locals, with bowling alleys and movie theaters and such built around the casinos, but they have large good quality rooms and excellent race & sports books, which you can play in your room over the TV and room phone without interupting your blowjob to get down on the 8th race at Aqueduct. They are probably just good for mongers who drive in, since they are both off-Strip, and you'll likely need the car to go fetch your female entertainment, though the Gold Coast is in walking distance of the Rio and the Palms, which do often have some high dollar professional entertainment available for take out mingling at their casino bars. The Palms tries to cater to sports stars and entertainment industry celebrities, so some working girls lurk about hoping to be of service to them. I'd be a little surprised to find anyone regularly working the casinos inside the Coast properties.

My experience with how this usually goes: when they dump an inventory like this to get warm bodies into empty beds, I'd guess that you'd probably have about three days or so to book your stay before Travelworm's wholesale block of rooms is gone. The rate direct from the hotels online at http://www.coastcasinos.com/ for those dates is around $50-$60 right now. They don't want to piss off people who booked the same dates at rack-rate, so they wholesale them out where most guests who prepaid in advance won't see it.

Desert Dude

11-07-05, 19:00

Cienega32

11-09-05, 09:38

Sure sonny. Go down to Desert Inn Rd and go south on Maryland parkway, go down anywhere as far as Flamingo and make another right - anywhere, mind you. But for what you want, I would turn at Sierra Vista or there abouts. As long as you don't go past Paradise - you be there!

Metro labels worst crime hotspot as between Maryland & Paradise from Desert Inn to Flamingo.

ZIP Code? You guessed it - 89109

Welcome to Hell - Part Deux

Have a nice day Stormin'...

Wastrel

11-10-05, 15:27

www.cheapovegas.com has some pretty funny hotel/casino reviews, and links to all of their websites. I've met the site's owner, at a blackjack table at the Gold Spike. As a word of warning, they rate the Spike higher than Wynn, which I personally agree with :DI like that "cheapo" site too. I think about ten percent of visitors and maybe half of the locals might also appreciate it. For example, I've taken note of their research into the toiletries and other free take away perks to be had at various properties. I personally haven't paid for shampoo, soap, toilet paper and such in years, and I have hopes my Aladdin themed bathrobe will last longer than the latest incarnation of that particular hotel/casino.

By the way, when I scoped out the Wynn shortly after it opened, I was disappointed they didn't have any themed matches to steal, just some plain black matchbooks with no logo or anything. The bar manager apologized and informed me that there'd been some sort of snafu and the special exclusive Wynn matchbooks were delayed in production. Mr. Wynn probably had someone killed over that. Anyway, I took consolation in the fact that I did find the most luxurious disposable cocktail napkins there I've ever seen. They must have an exceptional rag content mixed with rare pulp from an Amazonian rain forest or something. I found them immediately useful for shining leather shoes, excellent for buffing my car, superb at taking road film off my windshield, and I'm still discovering more uses for them. Unfortunately they are kind of a puke green color that vaguely reminds me of army fatigues, but of course they do have Mr. Wynn's special signature.

I'm sure this place would not normally be on the "cheapo" guys route during their expeditions, but if you're still in touch or run into them at the Spike you might suggest they check this out. I need to visit the Wynn again soon to take a look at the action now that it's settled in a bit, and get a couple more stacks of those fine all-purpose household and automotive accessories.

Wastrel

11-10-05, 15:35

I don't know why I've been interested in following this, since it's not like it's completely unheard of for someone to trade sex in search of crack and end up dead in a fleabag flop house. I guess I originally took note of this gal's depraved demise becuase most of them don't also have a room waiting back at the Bellagio.

Man convicted in 2003 death

<SNIP>

A jury took about seven hours to convict Shod Walker of second-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in the April 2003 slaying of Simone Hirst at Stewart Avenue and 11th Street.

<SNIP>

Authorities said Hirst was a well-educated woman who once worked as an international model. But her father said she also struggled with substance abuse problems.

<SNIP>

In April 2003, she came to Las Vegas to celebrate her 39th birthday. After a night of wild partying, she took a cab from the Bellagio to Fremont Street and ended up in East Las Vegas, where she had sex with strangers for crack cocaine, police said.

Authorities said Walker had sex with Hirst, then bludgeoned her with a 44-pound rock in the courtyard of a run-down apartment complex off Stewart. Walker's motive for killing Hirst remains a mystery.

<SNIP>

A first trial for Walker ended in a mistrial earlier this year when a juror tried to recreate Hirst's bludgeoning death using a rock and a coconut in the desert.

<SNIP>

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Nov-10-Thu-2005/news/4239882.html

Muggs

11-19-05, 00:03

Wastrel

11-19-05, 02:53

Hey thanks Wastrel for the tip on the $18. I'm a commute local (if that exists...i commute back and forth from Jax. Fl)...so I decided what the heck...$18 is great. I also saw some downtown casinos for $20-22. I was thinking this might even be better to find a cheap working girl. I know you said you'd be surprised...if any works the coast casinos...there are a few in the Orleans. I want to try my luck at Gold Coast.

Which is better in your opinion....Gold Coast or the $3-5 more room downtown....regarding a cheap but decent working girl or chronic slot girl?

MuggsTo find something working INSIDE the casino? Hmm, I'm not sure. Sorry for the mushy not so helpful answer. I find a few working on occasion downtown, but that's been spotty and not dependable at all. I really have never looked to find any inside a Coast property, since they are so oriented to locals who park their kids at the arcade while dad drinks beer watching the game and mom plays the slots after a trip through the buffet or the bowling alley or movie theater. I'm always with my car, so I've just used them for the room. Of course there's the Palms and the Rio nearby, an easy walk accross the street from the Gold Coast, but those will most likely be CW seeking Strip prices. If there are some working the downtown casinos when you are there they will generally be about halfway between the average SW and a Strip CW in both price and looks. So fast forward a Strip hottie from age 22 to about age 30 and cut her price to 100 or so, on average. Of course there is a hardy dedicated Dude on this board who patrols the scruffy areas of downtown well outside of the casino canopy on foot for cheap SWs, if you are comfortable doing that. I can't see where anyone could do that from the Coast.

For rescuing a slot sl*t from her financial distress my opinion is that the downtown joints are more likely. In fact that's where I've almost always done it. For seducing young horny half drunk California college girl tourists on their Vegas break I usually see more at the Coast. If all else fails downtown, I've almost always been able to pull something out of the scruffy depravity of the Gold Spike over on Ogden downtown, but don't expect the second runner-up in the Britney Spears look alike contest, or an actual glass for your drink.

Some other off-topic type factors to consider in case any of them matter to you:

As you may know, Coast Casinos always has security posted at the elevator bank asking to see key cards before you go upstairs. This is almost unique to that chain, and the only other place I can think of that always does this, and actually stays awake and pays attention, is the Golden Nugget. I've never found this to be a problem when escorting my fiancee of the moment to my room, flashing the key card while walking by with my arm around Ms. Whatshername Halfmyage, but some guys may not feel as shameless as me about that.

I like the Gold Coast becuase I find the parking easier to get in and out of than many places as I tend to my business affairs and mess around town, and definitely a lot easier than the long trek through the Orleans, and similar to most downtown places, but without the need for a validation system. But I might feel trapped if I was there without access to a car for more than a day, even though they do run a shuttle.

Most people consider the rooms at the Orleans to be noticeably nicer than the Gold Coast, though I find both to be perfectly comfortable. I find the furnishings in the rooms at both of those Coast properties better than downtown rooms except for the Nugget, but not radically so. Beds at the Coast bug me becuase they are too soft, making some acts of fornication difficult. They don't have in-room safes at the Coast properties, but there are room safes at some downtown properties, including the Las Vegas Club and I think Fitzgerald's, as well as the Nugget of course. This matters to me. The Coast properties have guest amenities such as well equipped workout rooms and such that you won't find at the downtown properties.

I was wrong earlier about playing the race and sports book with an in-house account over your TV in your room at both places. This is true at the Orleans, but not the Gold Coast. I find all the Coast properties have better race/sports books than any of the downtown properties, on every point including comfort, amenities, and the "hold" built into the line. They emphasize their books to cater to locals who are picky hardcore horseplayers and sports bettors who will go accoss town to another joint over a nickel difference in the payout rate or perks.

The buffet at the Gold Coast is just blah, unlike the better one you may have had at the Orleans, and Main Street Station downtown or the Paradise buffet at the Fremont would probably be a better value if you enjoy mixing gluttony with your other sins.

Sorry I can't be more definite about the working girl opportunities, but if I did I'd risk misleading you.

Muggs

11-19-05, 03:10

Sorry I can't be more definite about the working girl opportunities, but if I did I'd risk misleading you.

Thank you dear sir. You provided enough needed...more than I knew. I'll let you know how things go. Got the Coast...Tue and LV Club Wed

Bamadawg

11-19-05, 13:09

Hey Guys,
I just got back last week from my second annual Veterans day retreat to Vegas and thought I'd share my opinions since last year I stayed at the Gold Coast and this year I was at the Orleans. The Orleans is definately the nicer of the two properties with bigger rooms (25 - 50%) and has a fresher look but the Gold Coast was more then adequate. If you are intersted in low roller gambling along with your mongering, the Gold Coast wins by a nose as it typically has more $3 BJ tables (the amount of video poker is the same and their slots club is great). One thing not mentioned previously, I think the Orleans cocktail waitresses outfits are among the best in town. They give a great view of both T & A. I will also pass on the buffet at either place, instead go to the Palms which cost about the same but is much better (IMHO). I had a car on this last trip and found that the valet parking at the Orleans worked fine and my room was just around the corner. At the GC I found self parking spots consistantly just North of the casino (I did not valet because I was just popping in to get some friends). One last observation, I was in the GC on Saturday night and saw a large number of 20ish year olds in the casino which made me think that it might be fertile grounds later that night (I was flying out on the red eye). I would jump at an $18 room at either place but will stay at the Sahara on my next trip if I do not find a similar deal.

Bd

Cienega32

11-19-05, 14:44

I've always found their books to be a bit on the chicken-sh!t side and have no problem driving over to the 'Dust.

When they "joined forces", I had hoped that the Orleans book would show more of a 'Dust styling to their book but I was told that no changes would be made.

In other words, the same games would be "off" and their parlay cards would still be weak in the numbers. One difference I have noticed is the 'Dust dropping more totals off the board on the college games and more NFL totals off the parlay cards right off the bat. That usually happens in winter (weather) but not at the start of the season. That style is very Orleans-esque.

Wastrel

11-19-05, 16:05

For parimutual wagers into the track pools, I think a serious horseplayer can find most of what he needs to be happy there (Orleans) though you can say the same about your living room now in many states allowing internet account wagering through TVG and the like. I agree that on the sports side they wouldn't be a professional's place at all, but for recreational but more than casual players they appear noticeably better to me than the other big local's chain (Station of course) or downtown, and many places that stick in a pathetic little book in the corner as an afterthought. "Excuse me Mr. Slot Machine, mind if I hide back here, if I promise not to get in your way?" I don't know how this new "Leroy's" thing is going, but it sounds like it should be a sound concept, pooling a lot of little outlets into a hub like an OTB arrangement.

I've got to try to get a peek at the Stardust professional's invitation only test of their early line someday, just to see the scene and soak up the air of it just once before that place gets imploded. I don't understand why one of the bigger outfits doesn't try going parimutual with unlimited wagering on the money line for sports, perhaps with a smaller takeout to make it attractive, but none of the risk to the book that exists when setting a house line with fixed numbers when the ticket is written. Left alone, the free market is wise, and the tote board knows more than any one wiseguy who bet into it, and can teach us much if we let it.

Cienega32

11-19-05, 17:04

Ahh - I see. A track man. Never did the track outside of entertainment at the Big A or Roosevelt. Bunch of us and wives/girlfriends. OTB was a lunchtime diversion back home. My old man (rest his soul) was a big track player and really got into the dogs when he moved to Miami.

That man had file cabinets full of numerical probabilities and statistical analysis for the doggies. Unbelievable.

Meself? Always been into football and some baseball to wyle away the time before the Hall of Fame game.

I would get into the ponies if they had jousting or something like that.

Cienega32

11-19-05, 17:08

Came across an article about the ten biggest sex scandals in sports. These two caught my eye, with the last one reminding me of a post about "What if the broad gives you up?"

{begin quote}
9. St. John's basketball players: The Red Storm was already limping through a lousy season when they lost 71-51 at Pittsburgh on Feb. 4, 2004, to fall to 5-14. Things got much worse that night. Five players took a 38-year-old woman they had met in a strip club back to their hotel room. The next morning, the woman alleged that the players had raped her. One of the players, though, had recorded some of the proceedings on his digital camera. When police saw footage of the woman threatening to file rape charges unless they paid her for the sex, the charges were dropped and the woman was instead charged with prostitution and other counts. (That might mark the only time a sex tape has ever helped anyone get out of trouble.) The players' respite was short-lived, however, as three were kicked off the team for good and two suspended for the rest of the season.

10. Denny Neagle: The then Rockies pitcher was arrested in December 2004 for speeding. When police say they noticed that Neagle had his belt unbuckled, they questioned the female passenger, who told them that she had performed oral sex on Neagle for $40. (Neagle's trial has been postponed until Jan. 30, 2006; the woman pleaded guilty to prostitution in September.) It proved to be a very costly transaction for Neagle as the Rockies quickly moved to void the $19 million left on his contract, though the team and pitcher reached an undisclosed settlement in May. The 37-year-old was waived by the Devil Rays this spring and has not pitched in the majors since.

Wastrel

11-19-05, 17:41

I would get into the ponies if they had jousting or something like that.Well, you could try just playing Corey Nakatani mounts on the Southern California circuit. When the money's on the line he's been known to make a hole where there isn't one, and trying to cut him off could result in someone's eyeball becoming shish-kebob with his whip as a skewer.

PsyberZombie

11-23-05, 07:01

(That might mark the only time a sex tape has ever helped anyone get out of trouble.)

It's not that un·common for people — especially celebrities — to video·tape their casual sexual encounters exactly so that they can prove the acts were con·sensual

Think of how different Mike Tyson's boxing career would have been if he had set up a camera in that Indianapolis hotel suite ; and avoided losing a large chunk of his prime years sitting in a prison cell doing time on a Rape conviction

As a side note , the 'victim' in that case , Desiree Washington (http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1780000/images/_1781959_2desiree.jpg) , lives just down the road from me =
in Coventry , Rhode Island

Wastrel

12-15-05, 11:56

The plague of 40,000 cowboys has been mercifully lifted from the city, and for those who care (both of you) the list of one star establishments in town got a little shorter: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-13-Tue-2005/business/4759504.html

Disadvantages to the Lady Luck:
1-Parking garage located on a separate city block to the south, requiring a death defying trek across traffic on Ogden with luggage to reach hotel check-in.
2-Schlepping another block north across the lifeless casino floor to get to a back passageway to reach an elevator bank, which only took you to yet another decrepit passageway to get to a second elevator bank, before eventually reaching the tattered smelly corridor leading to your room.
3-Being set upon by a pack of rabid salesmen hawking a timeshare scam in the joint whenever reentering the lobby.
4-Dark dank depressing rooms which were overdue for remodeling sometime in the Ford administration, equipped with sparse broken furniture and a "satellite" television system that got about three channels, two of which were a Communist News Network.
5-Parking validation which required queuing up in line at the hotel registration desk again every single time you drove out of the garage to fetch a playmate.

Advantages to the Lady Luck:
1-Cheap. Really cheap.
2-Next door to the Gold Spike, where the skanky girls making love to the slots are even cheaper than a room at the Lady, and in similar condition.

Some would not consider that an advantage, but when I once promised a Letisha or somesuch that I'd increase her gift from twenty bucks to thirty if she made sure none of the smarmy timeshare creeps got within twenty feet of me while I escorted her in to my room, it was worth every penny to see the look on the little geek salesmen's faces when she cleared my path by reaching a hand into a pocket and snarling something about "gonna cut yo' cracker ass if'n ya don't get outta my face (tw)itch."

And that’s about 316 more words than this Lady could have expected for her eulogy.

Cienega32

12-15-05, 12:51

Ahhh, the good ole Lady Luck. I would like to say "Sorry to see it go" but that would be a blatant lie. Just another old Vegas wh@re packing it up.

I remember the 25 cent tables at the air door. I think I might have gone in there a few times, while hitting the Post Office, back when the bus system was Las Vegas Transit and working out of a trailer a few blocks away.

I had some family friends from FLA stay there a couple of years back. They usually stay on the strip and I was shocked that they chose the LL. When I asked WHY their only answer, after the first nite, was "I have no idea". Turned out to be one of those package deal rips.

They just wanted to try the downtown element, which is not what they are about. These were women in their early 60's or so (parents of friends and a relative). It was hard to explain to them that what they found repulsive about the area is what always attracted me to that area...

... not that I've ever participated in any of it, of course...

Wastrel

12-15-05, 16:22

From SW thread:
Yeah, sorry. I meant the Oasis. Del Mar was there in the area for so long that it was just the name that stuck in mind.I thought so. It's easy to confuse them, since they tend to have many similar folks checking in...

...and checking out:

World-renowned poker player Stu Ungar, who won Binion's Horseshoe World Series of Poker three times and earned millions gambling, was found dead Sunday morning in a motel on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Stu "The Kid" Ungar was found in a single room of the Oasis Motel, 1731 Las Vegas Blvd. South, with about $800 in his pocket, some documents and no physical trauma, motel manager Peter Napoli said.

<SNIP>

The 45-year-old poker master was alone when he checked into a $58 room Saturday night at the "adult-movie motel," as Napoli described it. Ungar signed his name in the motel log book but left no home address. Instead, he wrote a phone number for The Mirage.

<SNIP>

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1998/Nov-23-Mon-1998/news/10100960.html

But just a couple of months after netting $500,000 (the million-dollar first prize, minus a 50-percent cut for Billy Baxter, who put up the $10,000 entry fee), Ungar was broke. He apparently blew the money on all his old vices: sports betting, drugs, and hookers. A poker-playing friend who popped by the apartment where Ungar was staying in late ’97 remembers a refrigerator with nothing in it but Tang.

<SNIP>

Then, in November 1998, things seemed ready to turn around yet again. Ungar signed a contract with hotelier Bob Stupak, agreeing that Stupak would pay off Ungar’s debts and finance tournament-play in exchange for a piece of Ungar’s future winnings. Stupak even assigned a bodyguard named Dave to look after Ungar and make sure he stayed away from drugs. However, on November 20th, Ungar convinced Dave that he had to take his daughter to a birthday dinner.

Dave cut him loose on that Friday afternoon, and Ungar checked into the Oasis Motel, a notorious short time sex joint on the northern end of Las Vegas Boulevard. He paid cash for a single night and claimed the Mirage as his permanent residence on the check-in form. Earlier in the day Stupak had given him a $10,000 advance, as “walking-around money.”

<SNIP>

Maybe the dope in Ungar’s system reflected a final binge before he checked into the motel with the intention of kicking his habit for good. Maybe he sensed that the end was near and wanted to die alone, in peace. Or maybe something more nefarious transpired.

A longtime friend of Ungar’s claims to know what happened. “Stuey bought a bunch of crack and picked up two hookers who like to troll near the Oasis,” says the friend. “Once they found out how much money Stuey had on him” — presumably a good chunk of Stupak’s $10,000 — “he was as good as dead..."

<SNIP>

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/showarticle.php?a_id=14695&m_id=65561

Metro Police were continuing their investigation today into why a successful actor who played a music critic on Brooke Shields' NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan" was found dead in a $64-a-night room at a Las Vegas motel.

David Strickland, 29, was found about 11 a.m. Monday hanging from a bed sheet that was tied around a ceiling beam in Room 20 of the Oasis Motel, 1731 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

<SNIP>

Strickland arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday, Flud said. What he did between then and the time he checked into the Oasis early Monday was not known. It also was not known whether he visited fellow cast member Shields, a part-time Las Vegas resident, or whether she was even in town.

Strickland checked into the motel, which offers fantasy rooms and pornographic movies, alone and under his own name between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monday, Oasis owner Peter Napoli said.

<SNIP>

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/1999/mar/23/508574937.html

22 Mar 1999 Actor David Strickland Jr., 29, currently starring in the Brooke Shields sitcom "Suddenly Susan", commits suicide by hanging in the Oasis Motel, Room 20. He had been partying for 48 straight hours with, of all people, Andy Dick. Oasis owner Peter Napoli: "Thank God it was suicide. Thank God somebody didn't kill him."

http://www.rotten.com/library/travel/cities/las-vegas/

Calling himself a sober but broken man, the alcoholic husband of a du Pont family heiress told a federal judge on Thursday he feels shame and guilt for his role in the contract killing of his stepson's girlfriend.

Christopher Moseley, 59, of Wilmington, Del., pleaded guilty in November to murder-for-hire charges and admitted paying $15,000 for the slaying of 45-year-old Patricia Margello, whose body was stuffed in the air-conditioning vent of a Las Vegas motel room.

<SNIP>

Prosecutors allege Murillo received $10,000 for strangling Margello on Aug. 2, 1998, in a room at the Del Mar Resort Motel on Las Vegas Boulevard. Hironaga has said she received $5,000 for her assistance.

<SNIP>

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Mar-17-Fri-2000/news/13187323.html

<SNIP>

Margello's body was found Aug. 6, 1998, stuffed inside an air conditioning vent in Room 6 of the Del Mar Resort Motel on Las Vegas Boulevard South. She had been strangled, wrapped up in bed linens and trash bags and bound with coaxial cable and jumper cables.

<SNIP>

MacGuigan, 42, said he was once a successful stockbroker and real estate agent who made $250,000 a year. However, when his wife, Linda, left him he said he "sort of lapsed into some self-destructive behavior" and began using crack cocaine more frequently.

In the fall of 1996 he moved to Philadelphia and met Margello, a fellow drug user whom he described as a "free spirit." Soon afterward he moved in with her.

Since neither one of them worked and because his trust fund was tied up with the pending divorce, Margello sometimes worked as a prostitute, MacGuigan said.

<SNIP>

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-crime/1999/nov/11/509534162.html

Cienega32

12-15-05, 20:36

That incident brought back some memories. In a near-by casino-hotel, three days of records were searched thru by yours truly (and the hotel manager) in relation to that investigation. Of course the time frame that was being searched thru was the same time frame that the front desk main frame was being replaced and upgraded with new software. All records were hand written in the meantime. Lots of fun going thru that crap.

We did provide some to the paper trail, as one of the people involved had stayed there within the time window.

Wastrel

12-16-05, 14:03

We did provide some to the paper trail, as one of the people involved had stayed there within the time window.It's my understanding, based on a faded recollection of an old TV news report, that the dead body wasn't noticed 'till it had been that way for a couple of weeks. Seems that eventually a guest at the Del Mar made a fuss that the stiff in the air conditioning duct was stinking up the place more than usual, if I remember it right. You must've had thousands of registration slips to paw through for Metro to get their timeline put together.

Cienega32

12-16-05, 16:22

In another post about how you don't know what gets into your car while doing the 4-wheel stroll&roll, I had a memory jog. And also some advice to pass on.

Keep them passenger doors locked until you're ready!

TIMELINE: CIRCA-1984ish

I remember sitting at a lite - I think it was around Oakey, maybe by the old Odyssey Records corner - it's a bit blurred by time. Anyway, while I'm sitting there and looking around at no one on the street, I turn to my left and suddenly hear my pax door shut. Then I hear, "Hey baby - need a party date?" in the most gravelly voice I've heard since Suzanne Pleschett.

Im my car was the biggest, ugliest black man in a dress and red wig that I've EVER seen!

Sweet as pie, tho'. "She" understood easily enough what I meant by "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY CAR - RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!" while reaching down to my left.

Keep them doors locked...

Wastrel

12-16-05, 23:22

This is about as off-topic as a post here can get, and I've shamelessly plagarized it from Brian Rouff at City Life to boot. Forgive me. But, if I only quote my favorite excerpts and give attribution, then at least it's "fair use" and not plagarism, right?

Proposed slogans to replace "what happens here..." in the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority's new marketing campaign:

You're Broke, Hung Over and Pissed. Now Go Home.

More Than Thirty Million Schmucks a Year Can't be Wrong.

We've Got What it Takes to Take What You've Got.

Britney Was Here.

Steak & Eggs. 'Nuff Said.

Bend Over.

The source: http://www.lvcitylife.com/articles/2005/12/16/opinion/guest_commentary/youropinion.txt

Maggs64

12-16-05, 23:52

OMFG I hate that fricken slogan. I work in a casino and that slogan makes everybody think they can come here and be a complete a$$hole. I would love to make a reality show from casino surveillance video. Just to show their friends, family and the world for that matter how big of a jackoff people can be when they get here.

But anyway, Jerry Seinfeld did a bit about it and reworded it to:

"The money that comes to Vegas stays in Vegas"

Desert Dude

12-19-05, 14:33

But anyway, Jerry Seinfeld did a bit about it and reworded it to:

"The money that comes to Vegas stays in Vegas"

Seen in a Vegas dive bar: Yes, you, the customer is always right. However WE decide who's a customer!

GA Boy

12-19-05, 16:34

Luv it! but then again if it wasn't for us dumb***'s coming there to leave our dough, most of vegas wouldn't exist. With that said. There is no excuse to act a jerk and when there I try to treat everyone like i would expect to be treated. Although sometimes I do enjoy watching a real drunk/jerk, it's almost as good as a show sometimes.

Wastrel

12-20-05, 22:05

ODDS:

Just heard at the bar in the El Cortez, the latest rumor, now that Barrick is officially out of the old Gaughan properties downtown, is that the Western will be converted to a smoke-free casino. Don't know if there's anything to it, but I find this notion hilarious.

I will now start my own, slightly less absurd rumor right here, right now. Psst, don't tell anyone, but the Gold Spike is going to become an environmentally themed casino, marketed to free-range organically grown Santa Monica sophisticates who will naturally pay top dollar to flock to the corner of 4th and Ogden to nibble tofu and sip carrot juice, while mingling among the deranged self described "Vietnam-vet" characters already there after they're made to dress in leafy green leotards to complete the new exotic tropical rainforest theme.

The area on and just off Boulder/Fremont near the 7-ll around Atlantic behind the Castaways used to be an active SW hotspot, then got very heavy Metro surviellance while the city closed the old "Crackdale" apartments there, and has continued to get a lot of Metro attention since the apartments reopened, with patrol officers often discretely sitting on that block waiting to pounce. Today I noticed the weird A-Frame building past Pepe's Tacos and La Palm motel is now open as a restaurant named "Steakout" of all things. Guess they mean beef, instead of the doughnuts being consumed within view of the back door.

ENDS:

Burned corpses pose mystery for police

While police investigate three burned bodies found within a week's span at locations around the Las Vegas Valley, one of them has been identified as a Las Vegas woman...

<SNIP>

"We suspect foul play..."

<SNIP>

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-20-Tue-2005/news/4884006.html

So what I want to know is, whatever happened to digging a hole in the desert? I mean, between all the crispy critters in cars and stiffs in dumpsters and the amateurish whacking by the strip club goons who left the dead guy rotting in plain view next to a bunch of their club's handbills, what really offends me is that these guys make such a mess all over town and fail to clean up after themselves. Can they not afford a shovel? Can't anybody in this town be bothered to do a job right anymore? This isn't LA.

AND OTHERS:

Luv it! but then again if it wasn't for us dumb***'s coming there to leave our dough, most of vegas wouldn't exist. With that said. There is no excuse to act a jerk and when there I try to treat everyone like i would expect to be treated. Although sometimes I do enjoy watching a real drunk/jerk, it's almost as good as a show sometimes.I know, I know. But understand that some who live in the area have mixed feelings about how much of Vegas does suddenly exist these days, and have some longing for days when less of it did and you knew who was who and nobody got killed who wasn't supposed to. So, hope you don't mind giving some slack if a few folks, often me, get a little cranky now and then. But I think your idea of a free clown show is shared by many locals.

HawaiiGuy

12-22-05, 16:27

Could not stop laughing after reading Wastrel's rumor report. The image of 50+ year old vets playing video poker in forest green tights, however, is a bit scary. Perhaps this could be the first casino with no smoking and no drinking, too.

Love your posts!

ODDS:

Just heard at the bar in the El Cortez, the latest rumor, now that Barrick is officially out of the old Gaughan properties downtown, is that the Western will be converted to a smoke-free casino. Don't know if there's anything to it, but I find this notion hilarious.

I will now start my own, slightly less absurd rumor right here, right now. Psst, don't tell anyone, but the Gold Spike is going to become an environmentally themed casino, marketed to free-range organically grown Santa Monica sophisticates who will naturally pay top dollar to flock to the corner of 4th and Ogden to nibble tofu and sip carrot juice, while mingling among the deranged self described "Vietnam-vet" characters already there after they're made to dress in leafy green leotards to complete the new exotic tropical rainforest theme.

The area on and just off Boulder/Fremont near the 7-ll around Atlantic behind the Castaways used to be an active SW hotspot, then got very heavy Metro surviellance while the city closed the old "Crackdale" apartments there, and has continued to get a lot of Metro attention since the apartments reopened, with patrol officers often discretely sitting on that block waiting to pounce. Today I noticed the weird A-Frame building past Pepe's Tacos and La Palm motel is now open as a restaurant named "Steakout" of all things. Guess they mean beef, instead of the doughnuts being consumed within view of the back door.

ENDS:

Burned corpses pose mystery for police

While police investigate three burned bodies found within a week's span at locations around the Las Vegas Valley, one of them has been identified as a Las Vegas woman...

<SNIP>

"We suspect foul play..."

<SNIP>

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-20-Tue-2005/news/4884006.html

So what I want to know is, whatever happened to digging a hole in the desert? I mean, between all the crispy critters in cars and stiffs in dumpsters and the amateurish whacking by the strip club goons who left the dead guy rotting in plain view next to a bunch of their club's handbills, what really offends me is that these guys make such a mess all over town and fail to clean up after themselves. Can they not afford a shovel? Can't anybody in this town be bothered to do a job right anymore? This isn't LA.

AND OTHERS:

I know, I know. But understand that some who live in the area have mixed feelings about how much of Vegas does suddenly exist these days, and have some longing for days when less of it did and you knew who was who and nobody got killed who wasn't supposed to. So, hope you don't mind giving some slack if a few folks, often me, get a little cranky now and then. But I think your idea of a free clown show is shared by many locals.

Cienega32

12-23-05, 20:15

Just heard at the bar in the El Cortez, the latest rumor, now that Barrick is officially out of the old Gaughan properties downtown, is that the Western will be converted to a smoke-free casino. Don't know if there's anything to it, but I find this notion hilarious.

Great. Now, if they go non-smoking, we'll REALLY be able to smell the decades old urine & puke...

That concept didn't work too well with the Silver City. They started losing business and changed back in time for the rodeo.

Wastrel

12-27-05, 02:45

Don't think anyone will be going to this joint soon, so I post this here just for the interest in Vegas politics and for, ahem, local color. That, and the fact that I just love anything that might tend to embarrass creepy entertainment industry celebrities such as George Clooney:

New York Daily News
A STAR-STUDDED STRIP CLUB PROBE

New York, N.Y.: Dec 19, 2005. pg. 20

Investigators probing alleged racketeering at the Crazy Horse Too strip club have questioned several of its star patrons, including George Clooney, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, sources tell us.

The feds have wanted to talk with all of them about Rick Rizzolo, Crazy Horse Too's owner.

Rizzolo's lawyer, Tony Sgro, confirmed the FBI "has interviewed some of Mr. Rizzolo's celebrity friends," to pressure him into cooperating.

The feds "have tried to make those friends nervous in order to cause those friendships to end," says Sgro. "To suggest that any of those friends know anything with regard to the Crazy Horse is absurd."

Rizzolo made Clooney's acquaintance while the actor was shooting "Ocean's 11," which featured a scene at the Crazy Horse.

De Niro visited the club while he was shooting "Casino," but one pal says, "He wouldn't know Rizzolo from Adam."

For almost a decade, Rizzolo has been under investigation for alleged tax evasion and ties to organized crime, according to published reports. One longtime Rizzolo associate told the FBI that the club owner has dined several times with Chicago mob boss Joey (The Clown) Lombardo, whose brother, Rocco, used to work at the Crazy Horse. Convicted felon Vincent Faraci, son of Bonanno family captain "Johnny Green" Faraci, has also been on the Crazy Horse payroll.

Rizzolo has argued that he's been targeted partly because of his friendship with Joey Cusumano, an associate of slain mobster Tony (The Ant) Spilotro.

Small world: Pesci, who's remained friendly with Rizzolo, played a character based on Spilotro in "Casino." Spilotro's former attorney Oscar Goodman, who's now mayor of Las Vegas, even talked with Pesci about collaborating on a nightclub.

Like Spilotro, Pesci's character ended up beaten with a baseball bat and buried in a cornfield. As it happens, Rizzolo pleaded guilty in 1985 to using a baseball bat to attack a Crazy Horse patron. Sgro said Rizzolo was just defending himself from several "unruly customers" who attacked him with the bat.

Pesci has not been accused of any wrongdoing. But a well-placed source says the FBI talked to him about "what he saw at the Crazy Horse — anything in terms of drugs, prostitution, violence."

Pesci's lawyer, Jay Julien, didn't return calls last week.

"Joe likes to rub shoulders with the boys," says one source. "He thinks it's cool."

Desert Dude

12-27-05, 12:48

Vegas Baby

12-27-05, 14:32

Adios amigos.
I am cashing out my chips and leaving Vegas for greener pastures.

Good luck to all.
Vegas Baby!

Cienega32

12-27-05, 14:56

Adios amigos.
I am cashing out my chips and leaving Vegas for greener pastures.

Good luck to all.
Vegas Baby!

Good luck to you in all your future pursuits VB! Stay safe!

np2112

12-27-05, 17:44

Adios amigos.
I am cashing out my chips and leaving Vegas for greener pastures.

Good luck to all.
Vegas Baby!

Good luck. I envy you, and will be following your trail out of town within one year or less, if all goes well.

HawaiiGuy

12-27-05, 20:25

Adios, Vegas Baby

¡Que tengas suerte! (Good Luck) Have really enjoyed your posts, especially about the Asian incall apartments.

I do hope you keep on posting.

Adios amigos,

I am cashing out my chips and leaving Vegas for greener pastures.

Good luck to all.

Vegas Baby!

Member #3922

12-27-05, 21:08

Desert Dude

12-28-05, 12:04

Good luck. I envy you, and will be following your trail out of town within one year or less, if all goes well.

Something in the air? I'm moving north in less than two weeks. Far enough north that the forum for the whole state has less posts than this thread. Ugh. Do hope to drop down from time to time, and appreciate all the wisdom and humor i've soaked up from the likes of wastrel, cienega, maggs, etc etc etc...

Wastrel

12-28-05, 19:35

Oh, and heard from a bsw that metro is using some apartments near the Castaways for a training center of sorts...That's really interesting. It would explain some things I've seen & heard. I find that very believable, as I'm sure they were in a position to make the property owners an offer they could not refuse, as a part of allowing them to reopen after the city ordered it shut down and fenced off a couple of years ago. That would almost certainly be the place in the blocks behind the 7-11 across Atlantic from the back door of the Castaways Hotel/Casino, the low-income rental project formerly named the Clarkdale Apartments, but commonly referred to on the street as "Crackdale" before the city got annoyed with all the blood soaked publicity and whatnot. I believe they've painted a new name on the place since they were allowed to reopen, but I don't know what it is.

Here's the place on a map: http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=2417+Wengert+Ave,+Las+Vegas,+NV+89104
And satellite: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2417+Wengert+Ave,+Las+Vegas,+NV+89104&spn=0.003926,0.010192&t=h&iwloc=A&hl=en

Zoom in on the photo and you'll get the idea. A classic "proletariat worker's paradise Stalinist housing project" type place. The Castaways is to your right, at least in the photo, until Station Casinos implodes it in about a month. You can tell the photo is a little old becuase there are actually cars in the lot.

P.S. For visitors, "Metro" is short for Las Vegas Metropolitain Police Department. The guys with khaki jumpsuits who you'd rather not spend most of your vacation getting to know.

Cienega32

12-29-05, 09:26

Something in the air? I'm moving north in less than two weeks. Far enough north that the forum for the whole state has less posts than this thread. Ugh. Do hope to drop down from time to time, and appreciate all the wisdom and humor i've soaked up from the likes of wastrel, cienega, maggs, etc etc etc...

Looks like we're leaving it all up to Wastrel, as I've been packing for the last two weeks. Those Juarez trips got just a little too far for these old bones. Hey - I think there's a pun in there.

Now if I can only figure out how to bring a few of the AAMPS to my new neighborhood I'll be OK!

Any way - a Happy New Year to you all and for all that are relocating - have a safe and easy trip!

Cienega32

12-29-05, 09:32

Wastrel - there was a post a while back about that place being used to get more bang for our Metro tax-dollar. I can't remember who or when it was posted but I would've thought it was you, the way it stuck in my memory.

It's gone to hell since they tore down The Green Shack. And now Ivanna has pulled out of the Holy Cow. What's it all coming to...

Wastrel

12-29-05, 13:00

Just remember to turn off the juice on your way out already. Not gonna pay the light bill just for the rattlesnakes and scorpions left in the desert 'round here.
Looks like we're leaving it all up to Wastrel, as I've been packing for the last two weeks...
I'm moving north in less than two weeks...
...will be following your trail out of town...
I am cashing out my chips and leaving Vegas...This is going to really suck.

Desert Dude

12-30-05, 12:16

......This is going to really suck.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'll be sitting in the snow, huddling around the laptop for warmth, and I'm sure I'll be readin.....Wastrel....Wow, can't believe the selection of ho's these days, and how 'bout them rates, got a 2 girl for .20 the other day...Ever since those horny bastards left down, it's been eeeeeeeasy pickins...

Just let me know if ya decide to go ahead on the van...I'm sure I'll get to vegas once a year anyway...

Wastrel

12-30-05, 16:16

The epidemic of this peculiar local form of littering continues:

Hikers find burned corpse in northwest LV

Police were investigating the death of a man found burned Thursday morning in northwest Las Vegas.

A group of hikers discovered the man's smoldering body about 10:30 a.m. in a desert ditch off Decatur Boulevard, north of Shadow Ridge High School.

The man's body and the area around him was blackened by the fire.

He was facedown in a semi-crawling position.

Investigators think the man was a victim of homicide. [Duh, ya think?]

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Dec-30-Fri-2005/news/5134430.html

Cienega32

12-30-05, 16:57

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'll be sitting in the snow, huddling around the laptop for warmth, and I'm sure I'll be readin.....Wastrel....Wow, can't believe the selection of ho's these days, and how 'bout them rates, got a 2 girl for .20 the other day...Ever since those horny bastards left down, it's been eeeeeeeasy pickins...

No such tale of woe and snow for me. But I will have the challanging task of a 40 minute drive to Latina Heaven found just over the Rio Bravo (where I have had 2 for .60 and a dollar really ain't a dollar) if I get bored sitting around the pool.

It won't be all peaches and cream without those AAMPS right down the block but I think, I think I'll be able to get thru it. I will miss those Asian cuties, tho'...

I'll be checking the newsfeeds for HizHonor's announcement of Wastrel Appreciation Day (when Vegas can shoot a W.A.D.) , as I'm sure Oscar will, no doubt, pay homage in one form or another, to the massive strides taken in the mongering community.

Remember when Whiskey Pete's built Cactus Kate's? Hard to lose when you're your own competition!

Wastrel

12-30-05, 22:05

My wife and I are going to Vegas the end of January. It will be the first time to go without another couple. Since we are going alone my wife wants make it a trip to remember with lots of flashing and being naughty. We are staying at Ceasars and will be there Sunday thru Wednesday. We would like recommendations of clubs, lounges etc. that allow lots of flesh to be exposed. Not looking to go to strip clubs or swinger clubs can do that back home. She loves wearing sheer tops without a bra or a deep plunging top that allows her titties to fall out easily along with a short skirt and never any panties. We are in our mid 30's so some clubs might be out due to geared toward a younger crowd. She has also talked about some dirty dancing with her skirt up around her waist. I can't wait - she is priming me for this every day. Would like to find places that we are not the only one doing it so we are a spectacle. Any recommendations would be appreciated.This isn't exactly what you asked for, and January might not be perfect for it, but if your dearly beloved doesn't mind having choice parts of her anatomy standing at attention in the nippy desert air these could be places for her to warm up while chilling, so to speak:

"European-style topless sunbathing is allowed at the Venus pool only...

http://vegas.com/resorts/pools/caesarspool.html

"Mandalay Bay's 11 acres of beach environment include three pools, a lazy river, a topless pool and a 1.6-million-gallon wave pool with a sand-and-surf beach...

...There is also a topless pool area available."

http://vegas.com/resorts/pools/mandalaybaypool.html