Couple more comments:
1. We did check out Penn & Teller. Basically we chose it because over the years I had seen most of the other shows I had wanted to see. I will have to say that I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend the show. To me the coolest stuff was when they showed exactly how they did several of the trick after they did them. That made it more fun.
2. Since we're talking about shows... and let me preface this by saying I have 2 suit coats and they basically only come out for funerals, so my standards for dress aren't too high... it boggles my mind to see what people wear when they're paying ~$100 per ticket to see a Las Vegas show in a nice theater. I can honestly say there were a dozen people wearing t-shirts, jean shorts and sandals at a 9pm show. There were many guys wearing ties and ladies in nice dresses and gowns, which is great if you like to get dressed up, but it's certainly not necessary to go that far. But I don't think it's to ridiculous to thrown on a pair of jeans and a decent shirt when you go to a show. I mean what do these people wear to weddings? Swim-trunks and a wife beater? For the record, even if you take out the fashion, it was only 65-degrees out.
3. DirecTV and the internet has definitely taken some of the excitement out of watching/betting on sports in Las Vegas. Honestly, if you like to gamble and have the Sunday Ticket, you're more equipped to do it at home. You get all the games, your TV is roughly the same size (based on the room size), you have all the stats you need to bet on your laptop and you control the remote. It's still nice to get in with the crowd and hear people scream and yell, but other than that, being at home is probably better, especially if you're really trying to win money and not doing it entirely for entertainment.
4. This is mainly for Shot... I talked to Pit Boss at Bally's and he basically said that the Harrah's Corp. made a company-wide decision that there is no such thing as $5 Blackjack (for you novices, meaning true 3:2 payouts) at any Strip Casino and very limited $10 blackjack. It's probably 65%-75% 6:5 payouts on $10 Blackjack now. He did add that it's up to the Pit Boss and he does put out "true blackjack" when they're slow. I did see that Treasure Island had true payouts on all their Blackjacks and even had several $5 tables, so I whittled away a few hours with them. One other note is that, unlike past years, I did see $5 tables (with 6:5) at almost every strip casino I went in. I assume that's due to the economy and just wanting to get anyone in there and playing.
5. Saying that the NFL is popular is news to nobody, but walking around the strip on an NFL Sunday REALLY hammers that point home. I swear I saw multiple jerseys of every team in the league (Matt Schaub? Jumarcus Russell??, OJ Simpson?!?). Of course, that brings up the argument that only dorks wear jerseys (which I typically believed), but maybe the fact that I saw a guy (or girl) wearing a jersey every 8 seconds is starting to sway my opinion.
6. With the proliferation of really great restaurants in Vegas, it still surprises me that buffets (priced at typically $30 for dinner) are still so popular. I suppose some guys can still justify it on a "food-for-your-dollar" standpoint, but other than that, I don't see the draw anymore. It used to be the best deal and the only thing in town. Neither is true anymore. I suppose it's somewhat a tradition.
7. No beer pong this time 4thngol, but I did see some kids playing at 9am on a Wednesday. Looked like the start of a LONG day.
8. While the streets looked pretty crowded, you can tell Vegas is still struggling. There were discounts and/or drink specials at every place on the Strip (not just the typical shitholes). Even a place like Caesars was doing $15 buckets of beer in one of their lounges. Also, the room discounts right now are still very deep.
9. The guys who hand out flyers for escorts... how is it sensible to pay like 8 of them and have them stand all in a row at multiple spots? Couldn't you put one guy at multiple spots? Has there ever been anyone who went to Vegas who said "I wanted to hire a prostitute, but the guy handing out the flyers was just too swamped, so I had to skip it?" What does 8 guys do that 1 guy can't? You either want a flyer or you don't.
10. How do all these crappy shows stay in business? Who is paying to see Donnie & Marie? (of course the obvious punch line is the same guy who wears shorts to see Penn & Teller). Still... Donnie and Marie?
1. We did check out Penn & Teller. Basically we chose it because over the years I had seen most of the other shows I had wanted to see. I will have to say that I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend the show. To me the coolest stuff was when they showed exactly how they did several of the trick after they did them. That made it more fun.
2. Since we're talking about shows... and let me preface this by saying I have 2 suit coats and they basically only come out for funerals, so my standards for dress aren't too high... it boggles my mind to see what people wear when they're paying ~$100 per ticket to see a Las Vegas show in a nice theater. I can honestly say there were a dozen people wearing t-shirts, jean shorts and sandals at a 9pm show. There were many guys wearing ties and ladies in nice dresses and gowns, which is great if you like to get dressed up, but it's certainly not necessary to go that far. But I don't think it's to ridiculous to thrown on a pair of jeans and a decent shirt when you go to a show. I mean what do these people wear to weddings? Swim-trunks and a wife beater? For the record, even if you take out the fashion, it was only 65-degrees out.
3. DirecTV and the internet has definitely taken some of the excitement out of watching/betting on sports in Las Vegas. Honestly, if you like to gamble and have the Sunday Ticket, you're more equipped to do it at home. You get all the games, your TV is roughly the same size (based on the room size), you have all the stats you need to bet on your laptop and you control the remote. It's still nice to get in with the crowd and hear people scream and yell, but other than that, being at home is probably better, especially if you're really trying to win money and not doing it entirely for entertainment.
4. This is mainly for Shot... I talked to Pit Boss at Bally's and he basically said that the Harrah's Corp. made a company-wide decision that there is no such thing as $5 Blackjack (for you novices, meaning true 3:2 payouts) at any Strip Casino and very limited $10 blackjack. It's probably 65%-75% 6:5 payouts on $10 Blackjack now. He did add that it's up to the Pit Boss and he does put out "true blackjack" when they're slow. I did see that Treasure Island had true payouts on all their Blackjacks and even had several $5 tables, so I whittled away a few hours with them. One other note is that, unlike past years, I did see $5 tables (with 6:5) at almost every strip casino I went in. I assume that's due to the economy and just wanting to get anyone in there and playing.
5. Saying that the NFL is popular is news to nobody, but walking around the strip on an NFL Sunday REALLY hammers that point home. I swear I saw multiple jerseys of every team in the league (Matt Schaub? Jumarcus Russell??, OJ Simpson?!?). Of course, that brings up the argument that only dorks wear jerseys (which I typically believed), but maybe the fact that I saw a guy (or girl) wearing a jersey every 8 seconds is starting to sway my opinion.
6. With the proliferation of really great restaurants in Vegas, it still surprises me that buffets (priced at typically $30 for dinner) are still so popular. I suppose some guys can still justify it on a "food-for-your-dollar" standpoint, but other than that, I don't see the draw anymore. It used to be the best deal and the only thing in town. Neither is true anymore. I suppose it's somewhat a tradition.
7. No beer pong this time 4thngol, but I did see some kids playing at 9am on a Wednesday. Looked like the start of a LONG day.
8. While the streets looked pretty crowded, you can tell Vegas is still struggling. There were discounts and/or drink specials at every place on the Strip (not just the typical shitholes). Even a place like Caesars was doing $15 buckets of beer in one of their lounges. Also, the room discounts right now are still very deep.
9. The guys who hand out flyers for escorts... how is it sensible to pay like 8 of them and have them stand all in a row at multiple spots? Couldn't you put one guy at multiple spots? Has there ever been anyone who went to Vegas who said "I wanted to hire a prostitute, but the guy handing out the flyers was just too swamped, so I had to skip it?" What does 8 guys do that 1 guy can't? You either want a flyer or you don't.
10. How do all these crappy shows stay in business? Who is paying to see Donnie & Marie? (of course the obvious punch line is the same guy who wears shorts to see Penn & Teller). Still... Donnie and Marie?
