Post Mortem, April 2019.
Another trip done and dusted.
Pretty good one overall, maybe 4/5 of a good trip I'd say. Some ups and downs. Follow along below as I do the heart-rending play by play.
Tuesday night, late flight in was on time and got to the Hard Rock before 10p. Easy check in, but since I was late had to take a 2-queen smoking room instead of the non-smoking king I booked. Not ideal, the smoke smell was noticeable but the upside of the room was getting a pool/strip view out of the deal. The room was nice, plenty sizable and the bathroom was huge. Nice to have the suite for the birthday and HRH was fine as a home base for the first 4 days.
So out to the fun by about 10:30p, hit the Smash bar in HRH first for a shot and beer, saw the last few minutes of the Knights getting beat which bummed the locals. Then quickly made my way out into the warm night to head down to Double Down Saloon a couple blocks down the street. Met a personable bar patron named Dave (who in retrospect was probably trying to get down my pants, but whatever) and after I had mentioned never having been downtown we - - went downtown!
Yes, after nearly 30 trips I finally made it downtown. Went to Frankie's Tiki Room first which was retro fun, then tried to go to Atomic which was closed so just ended up at Corduroy for a couple. It was getting late at this point so we caught a Lyft back to HRH, had one more at the Center Bar then I excused myself to head back to the room, pretty late.
Decent but short-ish night's sleep, in retrospect should have slept in later (foreshadowing) but was out and about on day one by 10:30a or so. Cab'd over to the Linq and went in to Yard House for the good chicken strips there, then hit AmeriCan for one, then over to the Fuel bar at Bally's for a couple with the great bar crew there. 2-for-1 drinks brings in a lively crowd. Hit the bar next to that, Born and Raised, for another and hit the punching bag machine in there a few times trying to scare the record, which I didn't really. Then back to Fuel for 2 more. Getting buzzed to put it mildly.
Lit out down to Venetian to hit the Sam Ross bars, Dorsey first for a couple then Electra. Was feeling OK but then, when I hit Delmonico for my (amazing) filet, I started feeling VERY tired. Like, actually trying to keep my eyes open tired. Got through the steak somehow but then was struggling to hold on for what was supposed to be the main event at 8p, the Steely Dan show. I went and sat down in the sports book trying to rally but was still nearly nodding off. The collective lack of sleep from the last couple days (and the massive amounts of liquor) apparently caught up with me. I said fuck it and grabbed a cab back to the room and was totally crashed out by 9p. Sacrificed seeing a great band and $75 in the process. Was asleep when my birthday rolled in. Not ideal.
So, after about 11 hours of sleep, I was refreshed and ready to go the next morning, my birthday. Caught a cab to the Cosmo to play a little wake-up VP, no luck. The Henry in there was jammed for brunch so I made my way down to Rock & Reilly for breakfast and drinks. Went across the street to Nomad for an Amaretto Sour, then across to Beer Haus for one (why?) got a massage at a kiosk in New York New York and into Times Square bar for what was the start of a healthy VP run. Hit 2 4OAKS in there, left about a hundy up then across the street again to MGM to Whiskey Down and hit 4 aces, for another couple hundy up. Finally ended the run at Loser's bar in there with another 4 aces and another couple hundred earned. Pretty solid.
Went back to HRH for a freshen up, then back down to Park MGM for the big birthday steak at Bavette's. That place is DARK. Like, cave-ass dark. Stupidly dark, really. Sat at the bar and had the pricey filet, and it was...OK? Didn't really impress me much, honestly. Won't be back. But, it was drinking fuel, so off we went up the strip for stops at R&R again, up to Rosina and Electra for more, then spent a ton of time at Fuel that night with the awesome bar team there while watching the end of society as we know it. Ended up late in the evening at Gustav's bar at Paris playing some more VP but the luck had run out so I packed it in and headed back to the room, pretty late.
Up after decent sleep Friday, and took a cab to Excalibur to try to get the myVegas cert cashed in which of course I couldn't since the line was so long. Why do I keep playing this game. Also, WHY DO I EVER GO TO EXCALIBUR? OMG seriously the 7th level of hell has nothing on this place. Crowded with the dregs of society, babies crying everywhere, smoky, just god-awful. Managed to stomach it long enough to have a drink at Dick's.
Was still too early to go to the movie (re-scheduled for 2p) so hit Burger Bar in Mandalay Place for...a burger. It was OK, nothing amazing but again drinking fuel. Then it was down to Town Square for the movie. It was good but strange in places, not nearly as good as Infinity War which is almost perfect but still worth the 12 bucks. 3D IMAX was pretty great.
Caught a cab back to Manda and sort of stumbled around aimlessly looking for something to do, finally said fuck it and made it down to NYNY to steak it for the 3rd night in a row at Gallagher's. Was a good meal but not as great as I remember it, I think steak might be ruined for me by Delmonico now, it's just so damn good. Headed back to HRH for a freshen up, then decided to have a couple and watch some of the Dubs game. Impossibly fine bartender in there but of course she wanted nothing to do with my old ass so back out into the night to head back into Fuel at Bally's, spent a ton of time in there on this trip. Watched the end of the Dubs game and then headed over to Flamingo for some reason and played a little VP at Bugsy's bar, but an asshole bartender forced me out.
Went out into the Linq to try to hit some of my spots in there but being a Friday night I literally couldn't get a fucking bar seat anywhere in there. Had another dickhead bartender the moment I sat down at 3535 in the resort itself (not before winning $50 on VP) then finally had a proper drink and won a little more on a machine in the Book place in there. Finished up the night looking for inspiration all over the place and not finding it, hit R&R again, Twin Peaks, Fat Bar, PBR Rock bar at PH then finally cab'd back to HRH and finished up the night, pretty late, at Smash bar. Done and bed at about 4a.
Not great sleep Friday night (Sat morning) since I had to be up a little after 10a for the pack up/check out of HRH. Just never really got things going this day. Made my way over to Luxor and dropped my bag at the bell desk, lines were crazy for check out but figured they would lighten up later for check in (foreshadowing again).
Went over to Ri Ra in the Manda Place and had some good chicken nuggs. Then just kind of bumbled and stumbled around, wasn't feeling the day at all. Went back over to Luxor to see if the lines were better but they were unspeakable so I said fuck it and cabbed up strip. Had a couple at the Bellagio sports book (only place I can stomach in there) and then a couple more at Vesper in Cosmo. Was starting to rally a bit and decided to cab back down to check in at Luxor, finally, at about 4:30p. Was zen about the line and actually got through it in about a half hour. Never again that place on a weekend though.
So finally got into the room at Luxor, the new Pyramid Cleo rooms. Quite nice, actually; roomy enough, on a high floor and re-done to look modern. No Cosmo or Venetian level room, but simple and clean and fine. Could see staying in one longer term in the future. Out of the room about 5p, decided to break the steak streak and headed back over to MB to go to Kumi the sushi place in there. Had some lovely (tasting, foreshadowing) saba and hamachi and was feeling sort of OK after the frustrating afternoon.
Got up to Foundation Room for a couple drinks, not much going on in there but it's always a great view around sunset. After that came down and went into the 1923 bar but there was a private party in there dragging the vibe down and frankly I started feeling pretty done by this point. I decided there was no point in even trying to turn up anymore since I had the ridiculous early as hell wake up call for the flight home in the morning (never fucking again) so I decided to just go into Ri Ra again, get a sandwich to go and head back up to the room. Was up there no later than 9 and was (trying) to sleep by 10.
Not sure if it was the sushi or the sando, but I had crappy (literally) sleep all night and probably only got 5 hours of sleep before the pre-6a wake up alarm to head to the airport. Was just completely physically toast by that point. Luckily the flight was on time and not horrid and was able to catch an Uber from OAK and be home not long after 11a. Vegas trip done.
So yeah, this trip. Overall, it was really good, I mean I was dancing in the shower as late as Friday morning, but Friday night wasn't so great service-wise and Saturday just ended up being a bummer, really. Notes to self:
NEVER book a room for check in on a Saturday, especially not a resort as big as Luxor.
NEVER drink and sleep deprive yourself that much before a show you want to see and paid for.
NEVER, EVER schedule a flight out early as fuck in the morning. It destroys the day before with worrying about it.
But hey, it was far better than dicking around in the City on my birthday, and again, 4/5 of the trip were pretty great. I had a lot of fun and nothing bad happened, really. And I turned 50 and lived to tell the tale.
So on to the next - still hoping for late July and Mandalay Bay.
Pretty good one overall, maybe 4/5 of a good trip I'd say. Some ups and downs. Follow along below as I do the heart-rending play by play.
Tuesday night, late flight in was on time and got to the Hard Rock before 10p. Easy check in, but since I was late had to take a 2-queen smoking room instead of the non-smoking king I booked. Not ideal, the smoke smell was noticeable but the upside of the room was getting a pool/strip view out of the deal. The room was nice, plenty sizable and the bathroom was huge. Nice to have the suite for the birthday and HRH was fine as a home base for the first 4 days.
So out to the fun by about 10:30p, hit the Smash bar in HRH first for a shot and beer, saw the last few minutes of the Knights getting beat which bummed the locals. Then quickly made my way out into the warm night to head down to Double Down Saloon a couple blocks down the street. Met a personable bar patron named Dave (who in retrospect was probably trying to get down my pants, but whatever) and after I had mentioned never having been downtown we - - went downtown!
Yes, after nearly 30 trips I finally made it downtown. Went to Frankie's Tiki Room first which was retro fun, then tried to go to Atomic which was closed so just ended up at Corduroy for a couple. It was getting late at this point so we caught a Lyft back to HRH, had one more at the Center Bar then I excused myself to head back to the room, pretty late.
Decent but short-ish night's sleep, in retrospect should have slept in later (foreshadowing) but was out and about on day one by 10:30a or so. Cab'd over to the Linq and went in to Yard House for the good chicken strips there, then hit AmeriCan for one, then over to the Fuel bar at Bally's for a couple with the great bar crew there. 2-for-1 drinks brings in a lively crowd. Hit the bar next to that, Born and Raised, for another and hit the punching bag machine in there a few times trying to scare the record, which I didn't really. Then back to Fuel for 2 more. Getting buzzed to put it mildly.
Lit out down to Venetian to hit the Sam Ross bars, Dorsey first for a couple then Electra. Was feeling OK but then, when I hit Delmonico for my (amazing) filet, I started feeling VERY tired. Like, actually trying to keep my eyes open tired. Got through the steak somehow but then was struggling to hold on for what was supposed to be the main event at 8p, the Steely Dan show. I went and sat down in the sports book trying to rally but was still nearly nodding off. The collective lack of sleep from the last couple days (and the massive amounts of liquor) apparently caught up with me. I said fuck it and grabbed a cab back to the room and was totally crashed out by 9p. Sacrificed seeing a great band and $75 in the process. Was asleep when my birthday rolled in. Not ideal.
So, after about 11 hours of sleep, I was refreshed and ready to go the next morning, my birthday. Caught a cab to the Cosmo to play a little wake-up VP, no luck. The Henry in there was jammed for brunch so I made my way down to Rock & Reilly for breakfast and drinks. Went across the street to Nomad for an Amaretto Sour, then across to Beer Haus for one (why?) got a massage at a kiosk in New York New York and into Times Square bar for what was the start of a healthy VP run. Hit 2 4OAKS in there, left about a hundy up then across the street again to MGM to Whiskey Down and hit 4 aces, for another couple hundy up. Finally ended the run at Loser's bar in there with another 4 aces and another couple hundred earned. Pretty solid.
Went back to HRH for a freshen up, then back down to Park MGM for the big birthday steak at Bavette's. That place is DARK. Like, cave-ass dark. Stupidly dark, really. Sat at the bar and had the pricey filet, and it was...OK? Didn't really impress me much, honestly. Won't be back. But, it was drinking fuel, so off we went up the strip for stops at R&R again, up to Rosina and Electra for more, then spent a ton of time at Fuel that night with the awesome bar team there while watching the end of society as we know it. Ended up late in the evening at Gustav's bar at Paris playing some more VP but the luck had run out so I packed it in and headed back to the room, pretty late.
Up after decent sleep Friday, and took a cab to Excalibur to try to get the myVegas cert cashed in which of course I couldn't since the line was so long. Why do I keep playing this game. Also, WHY DO I EVER GO TO EXCALIBUR? OMG seriously the 7th level of hell has nothing on this place. Crowded with the dregs of society, babies crying everywhere, smoky, just god-awful. Managed to stomach it long enough to have a drink at Dick's.
Was still too early to go to the movie (re-scheduled for 2p) so hit Burger Bar in Mandalay Place for...a burger. It was OK, nothing amazing but again drinking fuel. Then it was down to Town Square for the movie. It was good but strange in places, not nearly as good as Infinity War which is almost perfect but still worth the 12 bucks. 3D IMAX was pretty great.
Caught a cab back to Manda and sort of stumbled around aimlessly looking for something to do, finally said fuck it and made it down to NYNY to steak it for the 3rd night in a row at Gallagher's. Was a good meal but not as great as I remember it, I think steak might be ruined for me by Delmonico now, it's just so damn good. Headed back to HRH for a freshen up, then decided to have a couple and watch some of the Dubs game. Impossibly fine bartender in there but of course she wanted nothing to do with my old ass so back out into the night to head back into Fuel at Bally's, spent a ton of time in there on this trip. Watched the end of the Dubs game and then headed over to Flamingo for some reason and played a little VP at Bugsy's bar, but an asshole bartender forced me out.
Went out into the Linq to try to hit some of my spots in there but being a Friday night I literally couldn't get a fucking bar seat anywhere in there. Had another dickhead bartender the moment I sat down at 3535 in the resort itself (not before winning $50 on VP) then finally had a proper drink and won a little more on a machine in the Book place in there. Finished up the night looking for inspiration all over the place and not finding it, hit R&R again, Twin Peaks, Fat Bar, PBR Rock bar at PH then finally cab'd back to HRH and finished up the night, pretty late, at Smash bar. Done and bed at about 4a.
Not great sleep Friday night (Sat morning) since I had to be up a little after 10a for the pack up/check out of HRH. Just never really got things going this day. Made my way over to Luxor and dropped my bag at the bell desk, lines were crazy for check out but figured they would lighten up later for check in (foreshadowing again).
Went over to Ri Ra in the Manda Place and had some good chicken nuggs. Then just kind of bumbled and stumbled around, wasn't feeling the day at all. Went back over to Luxor to see if the lines were better but they were unspeakable so I said fuck it and cabbed up strip. Had a couple at the Bellagio sports book (only place I can stomach in there) and then a couple more at Vesper in Cosmo. Was starting to rally a bit and decided to cab back down to check in at Luxor, finally, at about 4:30p. Was zen about the line and actually got through it in about a half hour. Never again that place on a weekend though.
So finally got into the room at Luxor, the new Pyramid Cleo rooms. Quite nice, actually; roomy enough, on a high floor and re-done to look modern. No Cosmo or Venetian level room, but simple and clean and fine. Could see staying in one longer term in the future. Out of the room about 5p, decided to break the steak streak and headed back over to MB to go to Kumi the sushi place in there. Had some lovely (tasting, foreshadowing) saba and hamachi and was feeling sort of OK after the frustrating afternoon.
Got up to Foundation Room for a couple drinks, not much going on in there but it's always a great view around sunset. After that came down and went into the 1923 bar but there was a private party in there dragging the vibe down and frankly I started feeling pretty done by this point. I decided there was no point in even trying to turn up anymore since I had the ridiculous early as hell wake up call for the flight home in the morning (never fucking again) so I decided to just go into Ri Ra again, get a sandwich to go and head back up to the room. Was up there no later than 9 and was (trying) to sleep by 10.
Not sure if it was the sushi or the sando, but I had crappy (literally) sleep all night and probably only got 5 hours of sleep before the pre-6a wake up alarm to head to the airport. Was just completely physically toast by that point. Luckily the flight was on time and not horrid and was able to catch an Uber from OAK and be home not long after 11a. Vegas trip done.
So yeah, this trip. Overall, it was really good, I mean I was dancing in the shower as late as Friday morning, but Friday night wasn't so great service-wise and Saturday just ended up being a bummer, really. Notes to self:
NEVER book a room for check in on a Saturday, especially not a resort as big as Luxor.
NEVER drink and sleep deprive yourself that much before a show you want to see and paid for.
NEVER, EVER schedule a flight out early as fuck in the morning. It destroys the day before with worrying about it.
But hey, it was far better than dicking around in the City on my birthday, and again, 4/5 of the trip were pretty great. I had a lot of fun and nothing bad happened, really. And I turned 50 and lived to tell the tale.
So on to the next - still hoping for late July and Mandalay Bay.
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