Las Vegas Trip Reports

Introduction
I have been to Las Vegas many times since about 1989, mostly with my wife, but several times solo. We decided just before Thanksgiving to spend Christmas in Las Vegas for several reasons, mainly because it was the only time we both had off from work, and there was a great deal available from Allegiant Air for the dates we had could go. So we made plans to see and celebrate with family before and after the trip, and off we went, Thursday, Dec. 22, to Monday, Dec. 26.

Flight
Allegiant Air had a package deal on this fall, and we reserved airfare and four nights at the Four Queens for $205 each before fees and taxes. Airfare alone was $198 for the same dates, so the cost of the hotel in effect was $14 for four nights. We paid $10 each to preselect seats, and with the fees and taxes added in, airfare and hotel for two people for four nights was $490 total. We flew out of Cedar Rapids, IA, nonstop of course. We left CR on time, and arrived just after 9 PM local time, slightly early. The flight back on Monday, Dec. 26. was delayed about 45 minutes due to high wind that day, and we arrived back in CR at 7:30 PM, about a half hour late. Otherwise, the flights were fine. No frills, but adequate legroom, and nice leather seats.

Rental Car
Rented a mid size using Blue Chip at Thrifty. About $122 for the four days. I’ve seen it cheaper, but the holiday may have affected the price. In the mid size row were PT Cruisers, Jeeps, and several models of four door sedans. We took a Chrysler Sebring, nearly new with only 900 miles on it, and thought it was a nicer ride than the Dodge Stratus they usually give us. Our paperwork was ready, and we were out of the lot in 5 minutes. Returning the car was just as quick and easy, with the correct charge applied.

Hotel
We have been staying at Fitzgeralds for the last 10 or 12 trips with no complaints, but Allegiant doesn’t offer Fitzgeralds as an option on their package deals. We had stayed at the Four Queens once before, so we knew it would be okay. I tried the $20 trick at check in (it had worked on our previous stay last year, getting us a petite suite for no charge), but the gentleman checking us in said he couldn’t upgrade us no charge because the hotel was nowhere near full. He offered us a remodeled petite suite on the 17th floor facing the strip for $35 a night, and I took it since we were essentially staying at the hotel for free. The room was very nice, with a refrigerator, safe, large sitting area, dining table, and a larger bathroom with two sinks. I went back and tipped the check in clerk $10 since we were very happy with the room. The room was very quiet, and the AC/heater was efficient and could hardly be heard. Great view of the strip to the south, but with all the condo’s going up, it will soon be limited. Valet parking at the hotel was always fast, and service in general was very good.

Dining
Nothing very fancy this trip. We did use POV coupons at several places.
- Main Street Buffet for breakfast, used 2-4-1. Good service, thought the food was so-so. Long line for made to order items, so stuck to the regular buffet items.
- Fremont Buffet for dinner, again used 2-4-1, with good service. The roast beef was very fatty and inedible. Chicken and other dishes okay.
- Terribles Buffet for lunch, 2-4-1 again. Service matched the name “terrible”. But the food was surprisingly good. Great roast beef carved to order. They were also carving turkey, which the wife said was very good. Nice selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Dessert was also good. Waitress took our drink order, then kept walking by our table telling us she hadn’t forgotten us and would be right back with our drinks. Didn’t get them until we were almost done eating. They were very busy, and didn’t appear to have enough help. Too bad, as the food was very good.
- Fitzgeralds Buffet for breakfast. Very good food, so-so service (you get your own drinks). Made to order eggs, omelets, and pancakes. I think this buffet is unfairly criticized, and sometimes wonder if some of the people giving it bad reviews actually ate here, or are just repeating folklore. It is an inexpensive buffet, but usually has good food, but a limited selection when compared with the buffet at Aladdin, for example.
- Golden Gate Diner, breakfast. Usually our first meal after an evening arrival is at the Vegas Club, the late night special steak and eggs. The night we went there, the cafe was closed, with a sign on the door saying they were “deep cleaning” (??!!). So we went across the street to the Golden Gate, and were very disappointed. The eggs, potatoes, and steak were so greasy they were hardly edible.
- California, $6.99 prime rib dinner in the cafe. Still a good value. Salad bar, potato, string beans, prime rib, and cherries jubilee for dessert. All good.
- Binions Coffee Shop, breakfast. Wife was not hungry, and I had a coupon for a free breakfast, so I went solo. Large ham steak, eggs, potatoes, and toast all good.
- Four Queens, Chicago Brewing Company, pizza. Picked up an all meat pizza to take up to the room one night. Burned and mostly inedible. Won’t go back.
- Ellis Island, steak special using POV 2-4-1. Best deal in Las Vegas. Great steak, good soup (salad available), potatoes, and string beans. With two ice teas, using our coupon the bill was $6.49!! Incredible!
The rest of the time we ate fast food, nothing special.

Gaming
Didn’t get rich, but we both had streaks where we won some money, my wife more than me. We play a lot of penny slots. I play some video poker and black jack. One winning session of BJ, one losing session. We played Pai Gow Poker for the first time, and had fun. Started with a $5 table to ourselves at Fitzgeralds, but the table filled up after a while, and the game was just too slow, so we moved on. On Christmas morning, my wife won $280 on a penny slot at Main Street Station, then $150 on another machine at Binions. She also had several smaller wins that day. I had some wins here and there, nothing big, but brought home some money, so I consider the trip a gaming success. I put $20 on the Chicago Bears Sunday, they won but didn’t cover the spread, so I pushed. Kind of fun sitting in the sports book at the Freemont watching the game though.

Christmas in Vegas
It’s kind of strange sitting at a slot machine, listening to Christmas carols in the background. Didn’t see much in the way of decorations, with the exception of the big tree on Fremont Street, an occasional wreath, and of course the conservatory at Bellagio. Not much in the way of crowds until Sunday night, Christmas Day. I worked shifts for many years, and worked a lot of Christmas Day’s, so I felt sorry for all the people who had to work in the hotels, restaurants, and casino’s so we could have a vacation. I tipped generously that day to ease my conscience.

All in all, a good trip, and everything being equal, we would consider returning next Christmas!

Posted by p_jay2001 on LVTALK

………..i’ll get to the pie at the end.
It was a good trip, just not very exciting. Hungry cab drivers, construction at the IP and LV Hilton were bothersome… This one was short ‘n sweet but more ‘ho hum’ than Christmas ‘ho ho ho’.

My Sunday SOUTHWEST flight left right on time out of Oakland California…7:10AM, and I was at the GOLD COAST registration dest at 9…couldn’t get into the RIO until Monday (RODEO)
I requested a 9th floor room, checked my bag w/ ‘Bell’ and walked around the casino. They always decorate the registration area for Christmas and Rodeo…more Rodeo than Christmas. A large ‘corral’ set up next to the ‘tree’ with Rodeo info, hats, vests, baseball caps, jackets, gloves, belts, boots… …all displaying the gold and red ‘GOLD COAST’ logo. Seemed like every well dressed Cowboy had to buy a black souvenir vest…they were everywhere…along with cases and caSES and CASES of every kind of BEER on the market. Stacked in every vacant space around the bars, piled 5 feet high on hand trucks…Bud, Bud Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, COORS… longneck bottles and cans loaded one on top of another like haybales all through the GOLD COAST’s ‘Pit’ area……….navigating through was like being in a Pole Bending or Barel racing competition just to get to the elevators.

Didn’t play much at the GOLD COAST…the casino just doesn’t do anything for me…I’m more at home across the street at the PALMS and headed over there for breakfast. Steak ‘n Eggs at the newly re-modeled SUNRISE CAFE always works good. Played some ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘WOF’, then settled in for $Bonus Poker and quarter Double Bonus. With my good ‘Change’ buddy Connie looking on, I had lots of good play and laughs, but no Royals. I’ve known Connie from the first
day the PALMS opened and she’s always on top of the better Pay Schedual machines. New info to me…(and I’ve never noticed him), but Connie tells me Bob Dancer has been an almost daily visitor lately…Dollar TriplePlay Duces.

Pulled my bag across Valley View Monday morning and in the West enterence of the RIO. Another good friend, Patty, at the Platinum registration counter was waitin’ for me. We talk as my trips get close and she keeps her eye on my favorite room. Saturday it was unoccupied when we last spoke, but late that night (dispite the request in the computer) an unsympathetic or…not too bright (…I like that) supervisor on the nightside gave it away. It set worse with Patty than me and she said she’d find me a good compromise…AND DID! She gave me one of the newly decorated Cariocas suites…very sweet, but I still prefer my normal corner room on the 13th floor.

Not much to report on food…I pretty much eat on the run. Show times conflict with dinner times but I did squeeze in my Steak, Lobster and Shrimp up-top in RIO’s VOODOO CAFE. I also tried (for the first time) the VENETIAN’s GRAND LUX CAFE after BLUE MAN GROUP’s new Show. I always seem to be in the mood for pasta after a Show, and their ‘Rustic Lasangna’ is WONDERFUL

I grew up with Rock ‘n Roll and love all types of music. December…because of the Grand Nationals is a great, once a year, opportunity to catch Country Music in Las Vegas. I saw LYNRD SKYNYRD, PHIL VASSAR, and LeANN RIMES this trip…all at LVHilton, all great Shows! Too bad I can’t say the same thing for the casino. The re-modeling is going on EVERYWHERE! The main ‘Pit’ is intact, but the slots and VP machines, from the front door to the Sports Book are upside down! All new natural Maplewood finish machines to match the new carpet are still piled up in groups waiting to be set up. I was there Sun. and Wed. and they
hadn’t made any progress in getting the gaming up and running. I found an old row of 8/5 Bonus Poker machines in the Sports Book to play which were good fun until Showtime. The escalators at the IMPERIAL PALACE are being replaced too so if you need to get to the 2nd or 3d floors for Shows or Buffets, you need to use the elevators…BIG DRAG! I’ll put some thoughts on the NEW BLUE MAN GROUP, AVE. Q’s Showtime change and FAB FOUR in shows/Entertainment.

now…………………………………about MOOSE TURD PIE.

During Rodeo, Cowboy Hats, Giant Belt Buckels, and Cowboy Boots are everywhere and so are the stories you over hear… The GOLD COAST gave me 2 of their FUN BOOKS at check-in. The only thing I like in ‘em is the 2 FREE scoops of ice cream from their ICE CREAM PARLOR….. COWBOYS seemed to LOVE ICE CREAM TOO and the Parlor was like a meeting place for swoppin’ stories of the day and was always full. I found a vacant chair at a table with a couple of Cowboys…real friendly guys, talkin’ stories, where ya from, what ya do, etc. Bill Morgan…the senior Cowboy of the two was talkin’ about what he did before he started workin’ Rodeo. How I remembered this I’ll never know, but he was such a wonderful charactor and his smokey old voice just stuck in my memorybanks I guess. His story went something like this…

MOSE TURD PIE:
“Before I worked the Rodeo, I went down and got a job with the Rural Electrofication Co. on the Navaho Indian reservation……..runnin’ electric power lines into the Navaho ‘outhouses’. I was one of the first people to wire ahead for a reservation! I’ll tell ya about the worst job I ever had in my life. Worst job I ever had in my life was workin’ for the Santa Fe Railroad south of LAS VEGAS…out in the desert. Now the job was ‘Gandy Dancin’. ‘Gandy Dancin’ used to be (in the old days)………..’Gandy Dancin’ was when the Irish were buildin’ the railroad. The first transcontinental railroad was built by Irish laborers, and they used these long handled shovels called ‘Irish Banjos’ that were made by the Gandy Shovel Co. of Chicago. Now the Irish laborer would take the wide end of the shovel (when he could find it)…….and he would jam it in under the rail or a tie……..crawl out on the end and do a little ‘jig-step’, and this would level the rail or tie up so they could shovel gravel in underneath it, tamp it down, and this would level the
roadbed see……..that’s what ‘Gandy Dancin’ is, levelin’ the roadbed so the damn train don’t fall off when it goes by which is just a big drag for everybody.

Now they don’t do ‘Gandy Dancin’ the normal way any more. Now days, they run 3 cars out on the line. They run a boxcar out there that’s a ‘Bunk Car’…you sleep in it. They got beds and they’re 18″ apart. Then you got a ‘Tool Car’ with your camping irons, your tongs, and your
double jack hammers, spikes and all that sort of equipment ya see…AND then you got the ‘Cook Car’. See, theres no restaurnants anywhere around, so you gotta do your own cookin’.
It’s got pots, pans, coal or wood burning stove…long table down the middle that you eat at…Only thing they don’t hire is a cook………..that’s cuz they’re cheap…saves ‘em money. Rule is…they’re supose to pick from their own crew who’s going to cook. …………..and they don’t decide to do it sensibly like draw lots or see who the best cook is…What they do is wait and see who whines and cries, pisses and moans the most about the cookin’, and they say…….. “all right wise guy, you think you can do better, you get to be the cook”. ……………………….well that was me see. ‘Ol alligator mouth. New man on the crew. And that was the worst food I ever had! I mean it was dogbottom pie, pheasant sweat, foder water……comes out of an utter (terrible stuff)
So I complained! and they said…”OK wise guy, you get to be the cook”. THAT MADE ME MAD, cuz I didn’t want to cook, but I know if ANYBODY COMPLAINED ABOUT MY COOKIN’…that they were gonna have to cook.

ARMED WITH THAT KNOWLAGE…I sallyed forth…over the muddy river. I was walkin’ around among the cheat grass there…I looked down, and there was just a hell of a BIG MOOSE TURD. Biggest damn Moose turd I…….. …it was a real steamer! I looked down at the ‘meadow waffer’ and I said to myself….I said, SELF, I’m gonna bake up a big Moose Turd Pie. Cuz if anybody complains about my cookin’, they’re gonna have to cook.

So I tipped that ‘Pasture Pastry’ up on edge (I got my shit together so to speak)……..and I started rollin’ it down toward the old Cook Car. …baroomp-baroomp, rolled it down there and leaned it up against the side. I climbed up into the Cook Car and I baked up one hell of a big pie shell and I baked that Moose turd in just as slick as you please. I crimped the edges with my thumbs and laid strips of dough across it, garnished it with a sprig of Parsley, alittle Paprika……it was BEAUTIFUL… POETRY ON A PLATE…and I served it for desert, just waitin’ for the first hint of a complaint.

Well this giant dude came in…..5 foot 40…..I mean he was BIG! Throwed himself down like a fool on a stool…picked up his fork…took a big bite… Well he through down his fork. And he let out a bellow, and he yelled…..

MY GOD!!!

THAT’S MOOSE TURD PIE!!!………………………………….it’s good though.