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.
No comments:
Post a Comment