Semi-Free Play-palooza, the trip to Las Vegas, Day five

I put this photo here because it's what's going to show up with the link. . .

So we've hit the midway point of the trip.  Kip and I needed to have a laundry day and this was to be the day.  I did have Plaza play to do, so we decided that Kip would go do laundry while I played.  I was going to drop her off at the laundromat, but she said she could walk.

She was going to take the laundry with us to breakfast at Magnolia's, but decided she'd just go back to Plaza.  Scott asked if we were still doing breakfast at Magnolia's and we said yes, so he joined us (we met him on Fremont outside of Circa on the way).  It was 9:00 AM planned breakfast time, but there might have been a wait, as my breakfast photo was time stamped at 9:40 AM.

Steak and eggs because we were burning comps!

Kip and I headed back to Plaza, she took the laundry to Busy Bee a few blocks past El Cortez.  She was going to leave things there, since she was checking in there today.  She had a few fiascos at the laundromat (soap dispenser wasn't working, so she had to go to Walgreen's, then the water wasn't running in the machine).  Meanwhile, my play started off well.

I started off on Bonus Deluxe to try to get a head start, which I did.  I then switched to Jacks or Better to try to maintain, and for a while I was.

Probably what added to my downfall is that when I was up around $600, I bumped up to $2 and then dropped back down to $1 when I went down to $500.  Unfortunately, I never hit any $2 quads.

Also unfortunately, I wasn't playing a game that would make these aces pay better!  But I got my points in and cashed out "up" $100 (but I did have $175 in free play to start).

Our local friend, Jim, was coming by to meet us for lunch at Pop Up Pizza, so I went over by the place and tried a Kenny Rogers slot.  I got some free spins, then I got the bonus, that was around the time Jim showed up.  The first bonus hand I got was a full house.  I asked him if I should keep it, he said yes, but I decided to gamble.  I then got jacks or better, then three-of-a-kind, and then this:

Spoiler alert, the only royal flush I hit this trip. . .

I still had one offer to go!  I cashed out up $80.90 and ordered our pizza and also got Jim a drink and we headed up to the room.

The pizza!

It's Jim!

We ate and talked in the suite.  I had scheduled some pool time, but once again, we'd have to skip that.  We had a 4:15 PM reservation at Golden Tiki, and we had to pick up Lola at Aria.  So we bid Jim adieu.

Before we left, we still had our $25 match plays to use.  We decided not to halve them and bet them separately on roulette.  Unfortunately this time we lost both.  Sadness.

Scott met us at the South Tower elevators around 3:30 PM and we headed to Aria.  We picked up Lola and headed over to GT, I was a bit late, but Bob was already there and I had everyone get out while I parked.  I believe I ended up getting a pretty good spot.  The main reason we go to Golden Tiki is the Boozy Dole Whips at the discounted happy hour price, so yummy!

Dole Whip with dark rum!

Interior shots.

Interior shots.

Interior shots.

Scott, Kip and I needed to head back to El Cortez to catch the All Casino Action livestream at 7:00 PM, so we dropped Lola off at Aria and headed to El Cortez.  We then had an 8:15 PM reservation at Oscar's to use up the $150 in comps I had with my room offer.

We caught the live stream but unfortunately nothing exciting happened, which I guess happens more often than not.

Behind the scenes of All Casino Action!

Kip and I headed to Plaza and Scott was going to meet us there.  It didn't take us long to get seated and Scott arrived so we ordered.  I got lobster bisque (of course), and we ordered broccolini for the table and I got the New York strip.  Everything was very good.

Lobster bisque!

Bread and butter.

Broccolini.

New York Strip!

I knew we were going to go over the $150, so I charged it to the room and see if my host would take off the charges.  If she didn't, I'd let people know what the cost was (it was all comped).

We had planned on going to Jammyland after dinner for drinks.  Originally to celebrate Kip and I having a car because originally we were only going to have a car from Thu to Mon, but I ended up being able to rent a car for the entire trip.  We still decided to celebrate!  Bob asked if we were still going and we said we were and he said he'd meet us there.

Outside Jammyland.

Bangarang!

The Bangarang is a take on an Old Fashioned, Ridgemont 1792 & Old Forester Bourbons, Lost Spirits Creme de Cerise, Peychaud's Bitters.

Kip with a Jammyland colada!

Bob arrived and ordered a few drink as well.  I may have had just the one, since I was driving.  Kip and I had to pack to move to El Cortez, so we headed back to Plaza.

Semi-Free Play-palooza, the trip to Las Vegas, Day four

Today there will be a fair amount of running around.  Our morning was to start off with breakfast at Magnolia's at Four Queens at 9:00 AM.  We had the easy walk up Fremont in the morning.

The best time to be on Fremont Street!

We got there around 9:15 AM and there was a bit of a line.  My records show that a little after 10:00 AM, we were seated and served.  We used a BOGO coupon from the fun book the Four Queens gives out when you stay there for Scott and my breakfast, the King's Court.

The King's Court breakfast!

Kip was going to use her comps, since she was going to use them all up and take a break from them, with the change in slot clubs coming up.  Seems there was an issue with the computers at the register, so she had to go to the slot club and get a paper voucher to pay for the meal.

We were supposed to have some hot tub time, but now we seemed to be pressed for time, so we had to skip that (we were also supposed to get to Plaza earlier on Tuesday for some hot tub time, but that didn't happen either).

I loaded up my $175 free play at Plaza, so combined with yesterday's free play, that's $350.  I came out "up" $170, but I guess that's better than nothing.

We went to Garage Mahal to pick up the car.  When we got to the exit, it said to put the card by the chip reader (and as far as I knew, those cards didn't have a chip in them).  We had asked the slot club how the parking exit would go and that's what she told us to do, but if that didn't work, just call for help and tell them we're Maverick.  Well, I called for help and we told them we were Maverick.  They asked us what color our card was and we told them, and they just let us out.  Not sure that will work all of the time, but it did each time we left. . .

Our first stop was the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (the Pawn Stars place).  Not for me, but each time I came back from Vegas, my co-worker would ask me if I went here, and I'd say no.  So when I was here in Feb/Mar, the 5k route went right by the place, so I told Kip that this trip we would stop.  Parking was a bit difficult with the street road work, so I parked a few blocks away, left Kip in the car and took a photo.

I posted it on Instagram and tagged him.  He said it was about time.  I told him I didn't have anything to buy or sell, so I didn't feel the need to go here.

Our next stop was Eureka Casino for lunch because Fat Choy is good, and they also have full-pay video poker on the Multi-Strike game.  Lunch is usually the short rib grilled cheese as featured on Diners, Drive-in and Dives.  I had it a few times before, but I saw a special on the board for BBQ ribs, so I decided to get them.  We used the LVA BOGO entre coupon, so lunch was $16.26, which I used on a promotional Visa card I got for charging car repairs on the shop credit card.

Yummy!

And since we were there, there was some Multi-Strike play.  We must have been playing nickels, since we were in for $40 each.  We hit quad deuces twice on the 2x line, and cashed out for $162, +$41 each!

We went to the Strat, where I can't remember the last time I had been here.  We popped in, I picked up a chip for my collection, looked around the casino floor.  This place was one of the few places where we were actually approached by time share people.

Some artsy thing at the Strat.

Then we went to Sahara, the "new" Sahara, since it had been SLS in between Saharas.  It appeared to be brighter than it was as SLS, that bar with the multimedia display above it seemed to have been gone.  Looks like they are trying to go for that older look.

Welcome to Sahara!

A display off the casino floor.

Next stop was Westgate for me to pick up a chip for my collection and to use the LVA free drink coupon at iBar.  I can't remember the last time I've been to this property either, but certainly not since it became Westgate (maybe it was when we had an MPT here in 2010?).  In any event, the layout is pretty much the same.  We walked down the long corridor of shops from the self-park area.  The casino floor seems smaller than I remember.  We walked down to the Sportsbook area and that's where the poker room is too.  It took us a while to figure out which bar was the "iBar", and it's apparently the bar closest to the entrance.  We apparently could get anything really fancy, but it was a warm day, so Kip was getting an aperol spritz.  I figured that would be fine.

Getting that LVA value!

And since we're here enjoying a drink at a bar with video poker, why not indulge ourselves?  Against Kip's better judgement, I put in $20 in a poor Super Double Double Bonus game.  We lost that in short order.  I then said we should give it another shot on something less volatile, so we put in $20 on 7/5 BP.  Well, we hit quad threes (why couldn't we hit that on SDDB?), and cashed out for $70, +$15 each.  We got a drink and $15 each, so that's pretty good.

On the way out, there was a place that sold all sorts of socks, and some had dogs on them.  I purchased three pair for my daughter with that Visa gift card.  The card expired at the end of September, so I was trying to use all of it up before then.

Next we drove to Wynn to park (for free) and then go to El Segundo Sol for "Loco Hour".  Cheap margaritas and chips and salsa!

Yummy snacks (well basically dinner)!

Afterwards, we walked back to Wynn and I tried to find the fountains that I've heard about, but have never seen.  We were supposed to be where they were, but still no fountains. . .

I saw waterfalls, but no fountains. . .

So I had 78.02 in free play at Wynn that I earned from sportsbetting.  I figured I'd redeem it while I was here.  VPFree2 said there was $5 9/5 Jacks or better, but apparently it had been downgraded.  I was going to take a shot on three hands, full coin, but I decided I'd try something that I'd get a few more hands.  They don't have good video poker here, but I did find a Super Draw machine that has 8/5 Bonus Poker (with six coins) that I play in Atlantic City.  I strange thing about the free play was that I didn't see where I could load an amount, it just showed the whole balance available.  I played the free play off and would have cashed out a small amount, but decided to gamble and I got dealt three fours.  Kip asked for just one little quad, and her request was granted.

One, one little quad. . .

And that's what I cashed out, $190.52.  Less the $20 seed money I put in, the $78.02 free play became $170.52!  Now, their kiosks don't give out change, so I waited in the extremely long line at the cashier to get my 52c.  Grrr.

We left Wynn a little after 7:00 PM and headed to Bally's, since Bob, Lola, Kip, and I were going to play the Twilight Zone Glow Golf.  Well, Lola wasn't feeling well, so she wouldn't be joining us, but Bob met us there.  They are the same company that runs the Kiss Glow Golf at Rio (and other Glow Golf places).  Last time Kip and I played at Rio, it was so crowded that the person gave us free passes to come back.  Kip remember to bring hers, but I forgot mine.  I was talking with the attendant here and she said she'd hook us up.  So when it came time to pay, she took Kip's coupon and I used my Visa gift card to pay for Bob and I (she gave me a comp and I only had to pay for one person).

I'm not going to post all of the photos I took, but the theming is pretty good.  The course, though, is incredibly difficult!  Many of these holes you aren't able to make in one shot (unless you have a pitching wedge).  Still, I think we enjoyed our time, and the attendant gave us all free rounds to come back.

After golf, we were to have drinks at The Cabinet of Curiosities and The Lock.  Well, The Lock, really, which is a speakeasy in The Cabinet of Curiosities.  This is truly a speakeasy, because we couldn't get into the place (even with a reservation).  It took several calls and a talk with one of the representatives to get us in a position to get into the bar.  I'm not going to give anything away, but it certainly is an interesting concept.

Outside The Lock.

Inside The Lock.

They have a cocktail list or you can have them craft one based on your likes.  Our attendant gave us a mystery cocktail to start and then I had a crafted cocktail that I enjoyed.

Our first mystery cocktail.

My first crafted cocktail.

So we had seen people go through a door to the right of the bar, and our host asked us if we wanted a more private area.  We said sure, so apparently there's another speakeasy room to the speakeasy.

The interior, interior room.

Second mystery cocktail.

There were already three women in that room when we came in.  While trying to get situated in the room, I dropped my drink, and amazingly the glass didn't break (although my drink was all over the floor).  After a while, we noticed that some of the faces in the photos would move, which was quite strange.  I finally got my second cocktail (two drink minimum) and a second couple come into the room.  It was an interesting experience (and pricey).  Maybe I'll go again, or maybe I'll just try the outer bar.  Once might be enough, but it was a fun experience.

We spent quite a long time here, so there was no time to go to Bellagio and see the Conservatory.  Kip and I just headed back to Plaza.

Semi-Free Play-palooza, the trip to Las Vegas, Day three

 I woke last night to the sound of thunder. . .  No wait, I woke this morning to the sound of thunder!  I went to the window to check it out, then I started a video.  A few seconds in, I captured these images:

The first and last images were screen captures on my phone when I paused the video. The middle two I actually used the image capture on the photo software (after I figured out how to get the Facebook live video onto my phone).  This was around 7:15 AM.

Well, not that I'm awake, I guess I can get ready to head to The D for our big play day.  I'm using the $5 free play for every 50 points and plan on maxing it out, and that's going to take around 10 hours of play at 25c VP.

We had some breakfast bar things, loaded my $175 free play for the day at Plaza, and drove over to The D.  Yes, we drove, because I was picking up our friend Scott at the airport around 11:00 AM, so it was going to save time to have the car at The D instead of walking back to Plaza.

Kip and I get settled in at Vue Bar around 10:30 and we commence play.  Roy was tending bar, and we've know him for quite a while.  He decided to get a little fancy with the "Reserved" signs. . .

So, the first sign was about when he was standing over the machine watching me play.  I told him I couldn't perform in front of an audience.  He just laughed, and then when I took a break, that sign was waiting for me when I returned.

Around 11:00 AM, Scott said he landed.  I headed to the airport to pick him up while Kip stayed and played.  She'd meet us at Saginaw's at Circa (where Scott was staying) for lunch.  No issues picking up Scott and we got to Circa a little after noon.  I parked at the Garage Mahal, thinking that we'd get out for free using Kip's Maverick Club One card.

I messaged Kip that we were there and she already gave me her order for lunch.  Scott checked in to his room and I got a preview of the room, since I would be staying there next week.

Stadium Swim view

He had a Stadium Swim view and his room was also a Flex King, which had a pull down King murphy bed.  If I could have gotten one of those comped, it would have been better than paying the extra $20 for a two king room.

Around 12:30 PM, Scott and I get to Saginaw's.  We order and as we're waiting, Bob and Jon show up.  I knew Bob was coming, but didn't know Jon was.  I had only learned that Jon was in town when he messaged Kip Tuesday morning to say he was in town!  In any event, I got the loco moco, which I got on my last trip here.  It was as tasty as I remember.

Loco moco!

The salad Kip got.

We head back to The D and continue our play at Vue Bar.  Now when we play, we have a thing called the quad (or better) bet.  So each person who wants to play puts in a dollar, and whoever hits a quad (or better) wins the pot.  It's really for degenerates who need to gamble on their gambling, but it's based on the Main Street Station "Score with Four" promo.  Usually someone wins a few extra dollars, but sometimes with a lot of players, the side pot is quite big.  This time, there were five participants, so that was an extra $4 to the winner.  A woman sitting next to me was inquiring about what was going on, since I was giving and collecting money from people around her.  I explained it to her and she asked if anyone could join in.  I said sure, and she gave me a dollar for her and her husband who was there celebrating his 50th birthday!  She told me her name and I didn't remember it, except that it started with "N".  Later I called her "Nancy", and she saw her name was "N...".  I was able to lock that in my memory.

I don't think it took long, but she hit four threes with a kicker (she was playing double double bonus), collecting an extra $6 in addition to her $200 win for the hand.  She then followed that up with quad fours with a kicker.  Hey, the new people aren't supposed to win!  She then hit six more quads, including aces (no kicker).  Her husband said this was her first winning session, so I suppose that's good.  We got to talking and apparently her husband is (was?) a member of the LVA, so they knew about couponing and such.  I told her about all of the match plays I had and was planning on using them and she said she had to be there when I used them  I did have to go to the club to get this trip's match plays, and she mentioned a few other things which were supposed to get me more (Say hi to Matthew, take the reading test).  The say hi to Matthew worked, the person didn't know anything about the reading test, but I somehow got $100 in match plays, so something else worked.  I told her I'd let them know when I was going to use the match plays and we exchanged numbers.  Oh, there was more signage. . .

Kip and I were going to have a pre-dinner snack at Pizza Rock during the happy hour, so we headed over there around 5:30 PM.  One of Scott's friends, who was going to be joining us for dinner that night suggested we try the gorgonzola fries.  Kip got green beans and I (not feeling like loading up on pizza before our dinner at Andiamo) just ordered meatballs.  Everything was excellent as usual, and cheap during happy hour!

Kip and I still had the $5 - $50 match play bet at Downtown Grand, and since we were nearby, we stopped in.  It didn't take us long to get the match play slips and we were going to halve them again on roulette, but the dealer wouldn't let us.  So I played mine and won, then Kip played hers and won.  So instead of splitting $50 between us, we each won $100!  Take that, DTG!

Dinner wasn't until 8:00 PM, so we put in a little more play at Vue Bar until it was time for dinner.  We had quite the large party, Kip, Scott, and four of Scott's friends, including Sarah and Victor of All Casino Action fame.  Kip, Scott, and I were "treating" with our monthly comps, although we had used some for lunch.  I was pretty full from happy hour, so I just got a lobster bisque (which I believe is the first time I didn't order a steak at Andiamo).  Oddly enough, only one person ordered steak (most people got pasta).

The dinner group!

After dinner, it was back to Vue Bar to finish up play.  We ran into N and her husband again and we all started playing again.  She did hit three quads with us, but I managed to hit the most this session (and take a win!).

We finished the play, I went to the slot club and got my free play loaded on my card.  We ran that through ($100), plus my $100 free play for the month, both times getting about an 85% return.

Kip and I headed back to Plaza.  We figured we could just leave the car at Garage Mahal overnight, it wouldn't make a difference if we moved it to the Plaza garage.

There might have been in-room nightcaps at Plaza, maybe Old Fashioneds, but I don't recollect. . .