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[QUOTE=Wastrel]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.
[/QUOTE]
Just came across an article saying that in March the WESTIN (the old Maxim) will be going smokeless. Perhaps a twist thru the rumor mill?
I still can't see the Western doing it. Like I said earlier - it masks the odors :)
[QUOTE=Cienega32]Just came across an article saying that in March the WESTIN (the old Maxim) will be going smokeless. Perhaps a twist thru the rumor mill?
I still can't see the Western doing it. Like I said earlier - it masks the odors :)[/QUOTE]Now that makes sense to me.
Aren't rumors fun? And I'll give this one extra credit becuase it may originally have sort of been based on a misunderstanding of something that might actually become a fact somewhere. Not bad.
[QUOTE=Cienega32]Just came across an article saying that in March the WESTIN (the old Maxim) will be going smokeless. Perhaps a twist thru the rumor mill?
I still can't see the Western doing it. Like I said earlier - it masks the odors :)[/QUOTE]
Ahhhhhhhh..........ya, does make some sense. Was just reading over the past weeks free weekly papers, thinking it was Citylife that has a weekly 'bar' column, which this week went in search of the perfect bourbon on the rocks, and the winner was, ironically, the Westin. Now the Western has turned a bit of a new leaf with the country and western band on Friday and Sat nites competing with the soul and hiphop coming from the satellite jukebox. A great contrast to be sure. Not to start a flamewar here on the topic of homelessness, but it did pull at my heartstrings when a very respectful homeless black guy gave the cashier a handfull of change that totalled exactly $2.50, for his breakfast special. Softy I am, had to slip a buck on his tray and wish him a happy new year with a wink. This was Monday morning, after a what must have been a chilly night sleeping on the rainy streets Sunday...
Stardust to close this year to make way for a full 63 acre renovation with 4(?) hotels to pop up on the spread.
This one pulls at my heartstrings being their sports book was the only reason I stayed here this long. Just as well. Since they took over the Coast properties, their numbers have gone to hell.
(cut & paste begins)-
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boyd Gaming Corp. (BYD) unveiled plans on Wednesday for a $4 billion development in Las Vegas to open in early 2010.
The development, to be named Echelon Place, will be built on a 63-acre site on the Las Vegas Strip, the company said. It will include four hotels featuring 5,300 guest rooms and suites.
The Las Vegas site is currently occupied by the Stardust Hotel and Casino, which the company said it will operate through 2006.
Thinking back to the old Holiday south (Boardwalk), I was thinking back to the Holiday Center Strip and came across an old pic (1982) of it. The view is looking over the Gran Prix track at Caesars, which was basically a bunch of "K walls" placed around the parking lot (now called the Forum Shops).
Off Koval, behind the Imperial Palace, there used to be car races. Not the kind like they had at Caesars, mind you. These were provided by Mother Nature.
All one had to do was pick a car - any car - and wait to see which one would end up in the intersection first.
This wasn't at the peak of activity - the levels rose to be over the windshields and there are no drivers in the 2nd pic.
I know there is a Key Largo Hotel on E. Flamingo, but wasn't there another one that had closed down?
I'd like to find out where it was, so if anyone has any info. I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
R
That's the way we do it in Las Vegas.
The old Showboat, which was renamed The Castaways, was imploded this morning into a nice & neat little pile of rubble.
I hit my very first straight flush (King high, of course) in December of 1981 at that joint.
I never did like the fact that they renamed it "The Castaways". It always felt like some kid on the Yankees was wearing number "7". Some things should just be retired out of respect and the "Castaways" name should've been one of them.
But, alas, yet another change to our metamorphic skyline.
Gee Cienega, seems like ur the only one posting on this thread for the past week. Nothing to report except.....*watches tumbleweed blow past*
Wish I knew what time they were imploding the Castaways. Would have woke up just to see that.
The only Key Largo I know of is the one that was at Paradise & Flamingo that closed last year. It used to be called the Ambassador back in the day.
[QUOTE=ClitCommander]Gee Cienega, seems like ur the only one posting on this thread for the past week. Nothing to report except.....*watches tumbleweed blow past*
Wish I knew what time they were imploding the Castaways. Would have woke up just to see that.[/QUOTE]
I had cruised down The Rock the other nite and it looked like they were setting up for implosion, with the "Street Closed on..." signs. I was going to post it but didn't have time. Next thing I know I wake up, turn on the news and there all standing around talking about the implosion. I wanted to watch it myself. I swear I think I felt/heard it way over here on the west side of the valley. Maybe it was a dream.
I've been slowly packing up things and I keep coming across old stuff that vaults me down Memory Lane and then they implode the old SHowboat which has the same effect. It's just one big sad process for me, after living here for so long. knowing that I'm leaving. I sit upstairs at my desk and can see the south end of the strip, 10 miles away and it saddens me. Don't know why as the move is strictly by choice but it's been a great ride for 25 years.
If Harrah's buys the Imperial Palace, like I've heard some time ago, it really will be the end of an era for me. I remember the property line wars between those two years ago. Which is why they built add-ons so close to each other - you kill my view/I kill your view, etc.
And speaking of tumbleweed, does anyone remember when - ... aw, nevermind :(
Just to revive a link that I know someone (probably our beloved Wastrel) posted a while back:
[url]http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/gambling/casino_death_watch.html[/url]
A nice text overview of progress in Las Vegas.
Those who missed the event can catch the pictures of it at:
[url]http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-12-Thu-2006/news/5303102.html[/url]
Or see video of it from several viewpoints at:
[url]http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4344457[/url]
The "Crackdale" SW & tweaker apartments are behind the tower in the background of what is described as the "helicopter view" (third in the series on the clip) in this TV station coverage.
The dust cloud lasted for hours, so some Boulder/Fremont pedestrians are looking more filthy than usual right about now. The sound of two-hundred thousand car alarms going off in the morning has fortunately subsided.
Nice little funny/sad piece in the RJ:
[B]JANE ANN MORRISON: One person's Stardust memories only skim surface of decades gone by[/b]
The weeping and wailing over the recent closing of the Boardwalk seemed a bit excessive. The implosion of the Castaways (aka the Showboat) didn't call for any gnashing of teeth and tearing of garments.
But the loss of the Stardust is a piece of history that I hate to see go...
<SNIP>
One of my favorite Stardust skimming memories was the time the FBI had been watching two men they thought were couriers exchanging the money skimmed from the hotel. Month after month outside a grocery store, a package is exchanged. Somehow, the one time the FBI obtains a warrant and moves in to seize the package supposedly containing thousands of dollars, the package contained: just cookies.
[url]http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-16-Mon-2006/news/5372667.html[/url]
"Flag Luxury Riv LLC, Rivacq LLC and
High Desert Gaming LLC, disclosed a
joint bidding agreement to acquire the
Riviera. No plans for the hotel or
for the valuable adjoining real estate
were announced."