The blog has been migrated over to the new Vegas Tips and Tricks website. All the new posts will be appearing there so, if you have been following us at this site, please go to http://vegastipstricks.com/blog/ and you will continue to see all the new content you have been enjoying. Thanks for your support!
Author: J.R. Swift
J.R. Swift is a pseudonym that I have used for over 25 years. I am he and yet he is somewhat more, a public face of my private thoughts. He and I are a 50-something young man who still hasn't figured out what he wants to be if he grows up. I have been to Las Vegas 38 times.
Weekend Update
Wanted to take today to let everyone know that the new website should be up at some point over this weekend. For the first few weeks, the content will be pretty limited as I fill in some of the blanks. At some point, the blog will be migrated to the new site but I don’t have an exact date for that just yet. As a result of these changes, the blog will not necessarily update on a daily basis. When there is information or tips I want to share, I will update the blog and, at the same time, add that information to the new site. I think that this will make it much easier for someone to find the information they need without scrolling through hundreds of these posts. I will talk about this more in my next video podcast, also coming up this weekend. You can check that and the rest of my videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/jrswift2001 if you are so inclined. Thanks to everyone who has followed this blog. I hope you will continue with me on this new adventure. It should be fun.
Back To The Future
One of the few side trips I took on my visit last month was all the way north on the Strip to the Peppermill restaurant. I had always wanted to check it out and finally did. This entry isn’t about the Peppermill, but about all the construction underway in that part of the city. Once completed, there should be a continuous run of casinos from Circus Circus down to the Fashion Show Mall and beyond. Resorts World is going to span much of that distance but the site of what will (eventually) be the Wynn West development pretty much fills in the rest of it. Past Circus Circus to the north is still pretty empty other than the Hilton Time Share but, across the street, there will be the expanded convention center and the Drew. That certainly puts the SLS (or whatever it becomes) closer to the action, even with the vacant lot that was Wet n Wild. Still, after navigating all the way past Venetian/Palazzo and Wynn/Encore, it should be noted that simply having something along the north Strip doesn’t make it all that walkable. Unlike the resorts center Strip, they are going to be separated by a lot of distance. We’ll have to wait and see how good a job the new resorts do making that space interesting.
Linq Updates
It wasn’t too many months past that I had to report on the final days of the Tag bar at the Linq. In addition to friendly bartenders and a fun setting, Tag bar featured a tremendous variety of different beers and, as long as you were playing, you could try as many as you wanted on the house. The variety of craft beers is largely gone. In its place is a kind of millennial sports bar. Fortunately some of the same friendly barkeeps are there but now the focus is on the big game and the big tab. There are little pods around the bar that can be rented out for a beverage minimum with cushy couches, multi-screen television monitors and internet gaming. From what I could tell, the minimum is around $200 and likely only goes up during major events. There is also an area called Beer Yourself with over a dozen self service taps you can access and a food truck style eatery called Sticky Chicken. It looked decent. The sports book is now situated right by the bar and the old sports book is walled off, soon to serve another purpose. One of the old bartenders remembered me and apologized for the crappy beer selection but it isn’t any worse than any other casino bar and is still kind of fun place to hang out and play. We’ll see how the new format is received, but it is not my cup of tea.
Outside Places
One development in Las Vegas over the past few years has been the emergence of a number of outdoor shopping and entertainment districts on the Strip. The reviews have been mixed but each area has developed a kind of personality and I thought it was worth discussing. The Linq Promendade is the oldest (and best) of these places. The volume of shops, bars and restaurants is impressive and most are worthwhile. It is like a busy main street with pretty high foot traffic most any time day or night. It can be a bit too much at times and, other than the fountains by In ‘n’ Out Burger, it lacks places to just relax. The Park next to New York New York and the T-Mobile Arena doesn’t have that problem. There are tables and chairs scattered along the broad sidewalks with foliage and water and you feel welcome to sit and relax and enjoy the moment. Of course, during a major event, it is madness and all bets are off. And it has nowhere near the variety of interesting places that the Linq does. Finally there is the Grand Bazaar shops in front of Ballys. It is crowded and loud and is a mix of junk shops and some decent bars and restaurants. There are even people trying to lure you into their place of business with some sort of deal. It isn’t a place to linger unless you are in the market for what they are selling. In other words, it is kind of like a bazaar. It isn’t a favorite of mine but it is improving. What do you think?
The Middle
Staying at any of the casinos on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard between Cromwell and Harrah’s is a bit like living on a freeway. The foot traffic is pretty much nonstop 24/7/365 and it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. The sidewalks are narrow and cutting through the casinos is often the best way to get around. There is always music and usually a bit of madness. And this isn’t an upscale shopping mall crowd. These are just regular people enjoying Las Vegas. Room rates are pretty reasonable in this neighborhood and there is plenty of fast food and even some cheap drinks to be found if you pay attention. Because of the concentration of casinos and entertainment and the middle class crowd, this part of the Strip feels more like Downtown than any other. Its main street is the Linq Promenade, a fun place to hang out, have a drink and people watch. And, if you want to rise above it all for a bit, the High Roller is a great choice. Whether staying in this part of the Strip is the right choice for you depends on your budget and whether or not the description above sounds awesome or awful. For me, I kind of like it.
(Note: the blog will be silent tomorrow in remembrance of the 58 souls we lost one year ago and the thousands more whose lives were forever altered by the events of the night of October 1.)
Harrah’s Las Vegas
Today’s blog entry comes with no attempt at a clever turn of phrase as I have run out for the month. I am going to give my impressions on my stay at Harrah’s. Other than spending a night on someone’s floor many years ago, I had not stayed here before. I had enjoyed many fun nights at both Carnaval Court and the Piano Bar so I had high hopes for my stay. One feature of Harrah’s branded properties I have noticed is that the employees are friendlier than in most other hotels and not in that, “I want a tip” kind of way. Most everyone I had contact with was helpful and seemed to care. The room itself was fine, one of the fairly recently remodeled Valley Tower rooms. Had a nice view and a comfortable bed and everything worked, even the half-door style shower. No fridge but there was a coffeemaker. The room did seem to pick up a lot of hallway noise though I didn’t notice my neighbors at all. Perhaps I didn’t have any? The casino was always busy and did feature the only Fortune Cup game I have seen at a Caesars property. Average drink service on the floor but the bartenders at the main casino bar were friendly and fast. Tomorrow, some thoughts on life center Strip.
Some Final Downtown Thoughts
This was the second straight trip I have spent at least a night Downtown and, once again, I found it to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my trip. In addition to El Cortez and the Golden Gate, I spent some time playing at the D, the Four Queens, Main Street Station, the California, the Plaza and the Downtown Grand. The only place I where I won money was Main Street Station but I felt like I got a good amount of play for my money at most of the casinos. The D and the Plaza both had the Fortune Cup horse racing game and I spent some time playing it at both establishments. The construction at 18 Fremont is starting to get going (be sure to check the You Tube channel for a upcoming video) but not much to see so far. In general, it was pretty busy, particularly for a Monday and Tuesday night, with a good crowd out drinking and enjoying the free shows. Didn’t check out any new restaurants or bars but there are a number of them that I want to visit so perhaps I will next time. Tomorrow, back to the Strip!
The Courteous
In Spanish, El Cortez means “the courteous” and I have to say I have certainly found the place to be just that. After spending a single night at one of their Designer Suites back in May, I checked out one of their Cabana Suites this past week. I found both rooms to be comfortable, functional and stylish. The casino and parts of the hotel date back to the 1940’s but the place is a great mix of the past and the present. In addition to the latest and greatest slots, you can play nickel video poker on a collection of machines that still take actual coins. There’s an old school coffee shop but also a stylish bar. And, though it sets a couple of blocks off the Fremont Street Experience, it feels very safe and lacks some of the less appetizing street performers. It is nice to be close to the insanity but not right in the midst of it. And, being right in the middle of the Fremont East district, there are a number of interesting bars and restaurants nearby. To say that I have grown quite fond of this place is an understatement. It is my favorite place to play and stay Downtown. Let me know what you think about El Cortez.
More Gold
I neglected to sum up the overall experience at the Golden Gate, but there are some important points worth sharing. First of all, the casino has a great bar called the Prohibition Bar and it has remain largely unchanged for years. Purportedly many famous people have tipped one back here and it is a pleasant place for a cocktail and a gamble. Unlike some places, they seem to want to give you a free drink. There are no meters or lights, just a friendly face. Sadly, if you are feeling hungry, you’ll have to go elsewhere as the hotel has no restaurant. Those with happy memories of Dupars or the Bay City Diner will be disappointed. There are no pancakes or shrimp cocktails here for any price. All those spaces are now filled with tables or machines, as is the space once occupied by La Bayou. This has nearly doubled the gaming floor but it is still a small casino compared to most of its neighbors. So, if you fancy a cold drink and want to play, the Golden Gate is a good choice. If you need a bite to eat, go somewhere else.
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