Just got back from Vegas

[Gugny]

One other good thing that happened. We were walking thru Mandalay Bay by the shop area Sunday & Pete Rose was at an autograph signing. The employee at the door was practically begging people to come in. Noone was in the place. So I told my wife I am going to go in. Shook his hand. Seemed like an okay guy. He wanted $75 to take a picture with him & $200 for a signed baseball. Also $100 for anything autographed. When the guy asked me if I am going to buy anything or wanted anything autographed I just told him "yeah I am Mets fan, if you had Ray Knight here I would buy something ." & I walked out.

 

[Gordio]

6 Days in Vegas is way too much. 3 becomes a lot and I go there all the time.

 

Pete Rose was on Home Shopping Network when he was still in a lot of trouble and someone called up and asked if he still had the jersey he got his 4000th hit with. And Rose said, Sure! What size you need?

 

I kind of knew going in it was going to be too much but we took a break this year from our annual Florida trip with the kids & my wife wanted to stay close to a week. I knew going into this there was a decent chance I was coming home in a body bag with the amount I sometimes drink & the gambling I would be doing. My wife, she had her 1 or 2 glasses of wine everyday but that was it. Me, ahhhh, I think I took 10 years off my life with the amount I drank on this trip. Monday after a solid 4 day bender I opened up a beer at 10am & my wife looked at me & said "how the f*ck can you keep drinking." I said "it is simple honey I am a professional." She didn't think it was funny & didn't talk to me for half the day. It was a nice break for the both of us.

 

That is a great story about Rose, that is one shady mofo.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

 

I kind of knew going in it was going to be too much but we took a break this year from our annual Florida trip with the kids & my wife wanted to stay close to a week. I knew going into this there was a decent chance I was coming home in a body bag with the amount I sometimes drink & the gambling I would be doing. My wife, she had her 1 or 2 glasses of wine everyday but that was it. Me, ahhhh, I think I took 10 years off my life with the amount I drank on this trip. Monday after a solid 4 day bender I opened up a beer at 10am & my wife looked at me & said "how the f*ck can you keep drinking." I said "it is simple honey I am a professional." She didn't think it was funny & didn't talk to me for half the day. It was a nice break for the both of us.

 

That is a great story about Rose, that is one shady mofo.

My buddy and his uncle (HUGE Reds fan) ran into Pete at the Detroit airport on their way to Vegas a couple months ago. I guess Pete was a huge a-hole, and would barely speak to my friend's uncle who was like a kid on Christmas morning. Pete refused to take a pic with him, so he snuck behind him and my friend took a pic of them without Pete knowing. I saw the picture. Pete looked to be smelling his left arm pit...lol.

[Best Player Available]

One other good thing that happened. We were walking thru Mandalay Bay by the shop area Sunday & Pete Rose was at an autograph signing. The employee at the door was practically begging people to come in. Noone was in the place. So I told my wife I am going to go in. Shook his hand. Seemed like an okay guy. He wanted $75 to take a picture with him & $200 for a signed baseball. Also $100 for anything autographed. When the guy asked me if I am going to buy anything or wanted anything autographed I just told him "yeah I am Mets fan, if you had Ray Knight here I would buy something ." & I walked out.

 

Are you not sure that it was Rose's own storefront? He has been there for maybe a decade. Although judging by your price quotes he is charging double what he did a few years back. Signed baseballs were $50 and his classic was signing "I cheated" and his autograph on a baseball done in front of you for $200. He was certfied 100% douche a long time ago.

[Buffalo_Gal]

I haven't been to Vegas in a few years. My MIL lives there, but she has come to us recently (either in Buffalo or at our condo in Florida). Since we sold our condo, Hubby and I are considering heading out that way in February or March. Blech. We don't go to the strip, we don't go downtown - and there really is not much more to do in the area. And the weather sucks big time. Freezing cold in December when the winds come down from the mountain (omg the flu we had there one January was the worst ever), and in the summer it feels like you are standing in an oven (with sand pinging off your face).

One thing is for certain, when she passes away (she is in her late 80s) we will not be going back.

To each his (her) own, but there are at least 1,092,983,416 places I'd rather be.

[TheElectricCompany]

I can only do 3 days there, and that's spending a good chunk of one day out at Red Rock Canyon. Beautiful place, nice hiking.

I've always wanted to catch a big powder day at Lee Canyon ski area, only 50 minutes north. Snowboard Las Vegas!

I enjoyed sitting on the Bellagio with a tallboy Coors in hand, watching the fountains with my fellow tourons.

Edited October 11, 2017 by TheElectricCompany

[Augie]

I posted this in another thread, but while vegas HAS gotten very expensive (and annoying for my age and taste), the weekday brunch (9;00-3:00) at the Aria was a pretty sweet deal. For $28.99 you get a ton of options and the quality (for a buffet), is pretty darn good. You can just do all you can eat crab legs if you want, and that's hard to match. Add another $19.99 and you get unlimited mimosas, Bloody Mary's, beer and wine for 2 hours. That's one glass of wine in most places.

 

I'm in no hurry to rush back, but the last trip was paid for by the bank. However, we went early and stayed with friends who have a beautifiul house with a view of the strip and got to see how the locals live. THAT was a totally different experience.

 

We went to NYC a few weeks after 9/11, and it had a spooky feel at times. This is very different, but I wonder if the cloud was still hanging out there. I was supposed to head back to NYC for my first trip since then next week, but a family emergency got in the way. I look forward to rescheduling, even though life there isn't cheap either!

[billsfanmiami(oh)]

I love Vegas. Been 3 times and was supposed to be there Sunday through Wednesday for football gambling, golf, Sabres game and general denauchery but my buddies all bailed. Damn jobs, kids, wives getting in the way...As much as I like it, I think 2-3 days is about perfect. Just the right amount of crazy. Have stayed at MGM, Palazzo and Ballys (hey it was free). Really love the Palazzo/Venetian. Will hard to get me to stay anywhere else next time I'm there

[Dante]

I would never go back unless it was free. Ridiculously expensive, crowded, unbearably hot, and scummy. The only things I enjoyed about Vegas were the Cirque Beatles show and the marijuana dispensary. The rest is vastly overrated, IMHO.

Better when the mafia ran it. Cheaper, and ironically, safer. Corporations and government got control and bingo. Ruin everything.

Edited October 11, 2017 by Dante

[BADOLBILZ]

6 Days in Vegas is way too much. 3 becomes a lot and I go there all the time.

 

Pete Rose was on Home Shopping Network when he was still in a lot of trouble and someone called up and asked if he still had the jersey he got his 4000th hit with. And Rose said, Sure! What size you need?

 

 

I've seen him signing at that sports memorabilia place in Caesars Shops. He has to have signed his name more than anyone in the history of civilization.

 

Vegas has changed a lot but still great..........3 days is a lotta' Vegas though.

[Augie]

 

I've seen him signing at that sports memorabilia place in Caesars Shops. He has to have signed his name more than anyone in the history of civilization.

 

Vegas has changed a lot but still great..........3 days is a lotta' Vegas though.

I don't gamble, but line up a show or two a day, and that's about right.

[BADOLBILZ]

I suppose we are part of that "younger" crowd - my wife is 30 and I'm 33. When we go to Vegas, it's all about the high end dining and entertainment. I might gamble a few bucks in the slots or bet on the Bills but that's it. I'd rather spend money on fancy dinners or a show. We also have been staying at Vdara, a non-casino hotel right between Aria and Cosmo.

 

During the day, we will explore other parts of the area - Red Rock, shopping malls, etc. The strip gets tiring after about a day to a day and a half. I actually enjoy Fremont St during the day... haven't been there at night. I could certainly believe it's a freak show at that time of day.

 

We will be back in a month so my wife can run the Rock 'n Roll half marathon. I agree, a few days there is more than enough.

 

My wife and I like Vdara too. Great to come back there to the calm after a very long night and there are some very HEALTHY women staying at that place which is easy on tired eyes.

 

Cosmopolitan is very nice. Aria is great as well.....best pillows around.

 

Nowhere near as nice of a hotel but I prefer staying at PH though........just kinda' feels like the center of the strip and always pretty active.

 

I like what they've done around the new arena behind NYNY.

[Chef Jim]

You know I said it doesn't to much for me but my last trip to WNY for the opener took me through Vegas. Now that I'm back in SoCal it's less than an hour flight I was telling my wife we should go more often.

[SinceThe70s]

Only time I was in Vegas was a few years ago, bookends of a trip to Bryce/Zion.

 

I'm not a gambler, but glad I got a small taste of the strip. Wife was horrified, I was amused. Saw the Cirque "O" show and while it was good, we both thought it was highly over-priced and over-rated.

 

Off the strip, others have mentioned Red Rocks and skiing, I'll put in a good word for the Valley of Fire. Hot as f*ck but jaw dropping.

 

On the flight home my son (9 at the time) is drawing vacation pictures and wifey asks what it is and he says it's a girl in a bikini. She asks where he saw that and he looks up incredulously and says "Mom, there were a lot of bikinis in Las Vegas...A LOT!!"

[Augie]

Only time I was in Vegas was a few years ago, bookends of a trip to Bryce/Zion.

 

I'm not a gambler, but glad I got a small taste of the strip. Wife was horrified, I was amused. Saw the Cirque "O" show and while it was good, we both thought it was highly over-priced and over-rated.

 

Off the strip, others have mentioned Red Rocks and skiing, I'll put in a good word for the Valley of Fire. Hot as f*ck but jaw dropping.

 

On the flight home my son (9 at the time) is drawing vacation pictures and wifey asks what it is and he says it's a girl in a bikini. She asks where he saw that and he looks up incredulously and says "Mom, there were a lot of bikinis in Las Vegas...A LOT!!"

 

Well done! Sounds like you kept him at the pools where they wore the whole bikini! Did he get some frozen grapes?

[SinceThe70s]

Well done! Sounds like you kept him at the pools where they wore the whole bikini! Did he get some frozen grapes?

 

Hmm, no frozen grapes...guess we'll have to go back....for the grapes!

 

BTW, wrong thread but happy birthday!

[Augie]

Hmm, no frozen grapes...guess we'll have to go back....for the grapes!

 

BTW, wrong thread but happy birthday!

Thanks!

 

My first encounter with frozen grapes was from the goddesses walking around the pools in skimpy outfits at Caesars. It was a billion degrees (give or take), and they were AMAZING! (Ther grapes, that is -the goddesses were....well...more than amazing)

 

You could do this at home, but I recommend you see it done by professionals the first time around.

[sullim4]

If you're a morning person, one fun activity in Vegas is getting coffee at about 7am or so to watch people take their walks of shame back to their hotel rooms.

 

I have done this in a few places in Vegas but one spot in particular is great - at the Cosmopolitan right in front of the Vesper bar. There are a ton of leather sofas that look right onto the main walkway through the casino near the elevators to the west tower and there's a coffee stand not too far away. Watching the train wrecks go by is just pure gold.

[mrags]

I lived there for almost 2 years as a bar/restaurant manager from 04-06. It was absolutely awesome being there when I was younger. Partying until 8am 6 days a week most of those 2 years. I went back in 08 for a wedding and it was so much different I didn't recognize most of it. And then went back in 10 for another wedding and man was I blown away by the change. When I lived there, The Cosmopolitan wasn't there or even thought of. The Wynn just got built. Aria was never talked about. And driving on the main highway (forget what interstate it was) there was clear sight lines along the whole side of the strip other than The Palms, Rio, and The Orleans off in a distance. Now it's like driving down a tunnel of condos and hotels.

 

Things were so cheap when I first moved there. Ellis Island Casino had $1 beers and well drinks for locals and a $5 steak. Key Largo Casino had a $1.99 half pound burger. Terribles had a $1.99 breakfast. The buffets were all about $9.99 pretty much everywhere. And you never paid for drinks as long as you were gaming and it didn't matter if you threw $1 in the machine or $100, you were getting free drinks.

 

As a bar manager I never paid for drinks anywhere I want off the strip either as kind of an unwritten code of bar tenders and managers. You come into my place you drink and eat for free and we comp it all and when I come into your place you return the favor.

 

The strip was so different then too. No pedestrian bridges over the strip. No skywalks.

 

But your absolutely right. When I lived there we had a record straight days of 110* and a record of 115* straight days. The heat actually isn't bad. But it's like the opposite of living in Buffalo. Like how you finally get nice days here and you enjoy them so much. You get sick of all the sunny days there and enjoy it when it's cloudy or raining. I saw it snow once when I was living there. Flakes fell on the ground but didn't stick.

 

People there are different. I moved back to Buffalo because I missed the area and the people. I was very close to buying a house in Vegas when I was there. Good thing I didn't because I would have been paying over 300k and within 2-3 years the housing market would have destroyed me.

 

In the end, I'm glad I came home. It was so long ago I barely remember the place. It's almost like it never happened for me. Glad I'm back. Love this area. Met my wife. Started my career.

[Gordio]

Are you not sure that it was Rose's own storefront? He has been there for maybe a decade. Although judging by your price quotes he is charging double what he did a few years back. Signed baseballs were $50 and his classic was signing "I cheated" and his autograph on a baseball done in front of you for $200. He was certfied 100% douche a long time ago.

 

 

It may have been his own store, I don't know I wasn't really paying attention. My boss was at Mandalay Bay a month ago & he told me he was there too so it could of been.

If you're a morning person, one fun activity in Vegas is getting coffee at about 7am or so to watch people take their walks of shame back to their hotel rooms.

 

I have done this in a few places in Vegas but one spot in particular is great - at the Cosmopolitan right in front of the Vesper bar. There are a ton of leather sofas that look right onto the main walkway through the casino near the elevators to the west tower and there's a coffee stand not too far away. Watching the train wrecks go by is just pure gold.

 

 

Haha, when I used to go there for the Super Bowl I would take a jog every morning on the strip around 6 am or so & a few trimes on my way back there would be police car with the flashing lights pulling over & arresting guys on the strip for soliciting prostitution. You could see the look in their faces thinking to themselves "how am I going to explain this one to the wife back home."

I lived there for almost 2 years as a bar/restaurant manager from 04-06. It was absolutely awesome being there when I was younger. Partying until 8am 6 days a week most of those 2 years. I went back in 08 for a wedding and it was so much different I didn't recognize most of it. And then went back in 10 for another wedding and man was I blown away by the change. When I lived there, The Cosmopolitan wasn't there or even thought of. The Wynn just got built. Aria was never talked about. And driving on the main highway (forget what interstate it was) there was clear sight lines along the whole side of the strip other than The Palms, Rio, and The Orleans off in a distance. Now it's like driving down a tunnel of condos and hotels.

 

Things were so cheap when I first moved there. Ellis Island Casino had $1 beers and well drinks for locals and a $5 steak. Key Largo Casino had a $1.99 half pound burger. Terribles had a $1.99 breakfast. The buffets were all about $9.99 pretty much everywhere. And you never paid for drinks as long as you were gaming and it didn't matter if you threw $1 in the machine or $100, you were getting free drinks.

 

As a bar manager I never paid for drinks anywhere I want off the strip either as kind of an unwritten code of bar tenders and managers. You come into my place you drink and eat for free and we comp it all and when I come into your place you return the favor.

 

The strip was so different then too. No pedestrian bridges over the strip. No skywalks.

 

But your absolutely right. When I lived there we had a record straight days of 110* and a record of 115* straight days. The heat actually isn't bad. But it's like the opposite of living in Buffalo. Like how you finally get nice days here and you enjoy them so much. You get sick of all the sunny days there and enjoy it when it's cloudy or raining. I saw it snow once when I was living there. Flakes fell on the ground but didn't stick.

 

People there are different. I moved back to Buffalo because I missed the area and the people. I was very close to buying a house in Vegas when I was there. Good thing I didn't because I would have been paying over 300k and within 2-3 years the housing market would have destroyed me.

 

In the end, I'm glad I came home. It was so long ago I barely remember the place. It's almost like it never happened for me. Glad I'm back. Love this area. Met my wife. Started my career.

 

 

This is a perfect summary of Vegas. Starting in 1997, I used to go at least once a year. Used to love playing Beer Pong & $1 roulette at O'shea's. I used to love walking the strip. Your exactly right, there are no site lines anymore, it is pretty much just one big tunnel. Like I said, if we ever go back we will stay at Mandalay Bay & I probably won't leave that resort.