Posted by BIGRAY

Another great after Xmas trip for my wife and I

Air: US Air Charlottesville, Va/Phila/LV (reverse on the return)
1 hour delay on the way out...on time coming back. No baggage problems (first class seems to help as they ticket the bags differently). Also separate first class security line and counter @ LV makes things even nicer.

Car: Hertz...I've used most everybody, and Hertz seems to get it righter oftener

Hotel: Again The Stardust...great mid level property, adequate restaurants, decent location, friendly staff, spectacular comps for green chip players. Meal at William B's steakhouse was excellent

Gambling: We set a total budget for the trip to encompass everything except airfare including gambling. I generally take $500 or so in cash, the rest travellers checks. Never needed to cash a traveller's check this time...very unusual and pleasant as well.

Shows: Kevin Spacey/Bobby Darrin show. 2 nights only, so tons of LV big shots in the audience, from Steve Wynn to Robert Goulet. Great show, fabulous band. Spacey sings just ok, but an excellent entertainer, very warm. A great, old style Vegas evening. I'll see the movie.

KA (Cirque du soleil) @ MGM. Absolutely breathtaking and unlike anything we've ever seen (including the other LV Cirque shows). We only had OK seats, but the theater and production are so well designed, they were fine.

Havana Nights: Lots of fun, high energy, tremendous production with an all cuban cast of singers, dancers, and musicians. At the Stardust, so our host had us in row 1! My wife was even plucked right out of her seat to dance with the cast! Unforgettable memory and picture.

Designer Outlets near Downtown: First trip there...my wife really enjoyed the shopping...I enjoyed the prices.

Back home in time for NYE performance with my own band @ The Homestead in Hot Springs. At midnight, a glitch in the computer caused EVERY room door to electronically lock! As people tried to retire for the evening, they couldn't get in. It took til 3:30 or so to get things fixed, but the hotel opened all the bars with no check for anybody...turned into a hell of an after party! The hotel GM said it happened in MANY hotels across the country....anybody hear anything?