Hi Vegas fans,
I'm feeling quite nostalgic lately. It kind of came to a head tonight when I heard about the passing of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and visionary, after a long bout with cancer. A lot of what I do is possible because of the iPad, iPhone and other Apple innovations, thanks in large part to Jobs. I am already missing his next big idea; I am already missing his vision for what is possible.
Apple will continue to invent, improve, and move forward with design. It is a great company, and they have a solid foundation. There are those that will say it will never be the same without Jobs. They may be right, but Apple will still be Apple.
It's kind of the same with Vegas. This may seem like a leap, but hang with me here. The new casinos are hip and cool, but many say that they miss old school Vegas. Classic Vegas. The Stardust, Desert Inn and the Sands. The Rat Pack, Elvis, and Folies Bergere. Cheap buffets and 25 cent roulette. You get the idea.
Vegas does not let history get in the way. It implodes it. But there are still hints of the old Vegas in plenty of places. Just this past weekend I stayed at the Riviera. They have been promoting all of these cool changes and upgrades.
Honestly, it didn't seem all that different to me. The room was nicer than the previous one I had, but the casino and restaurants seemed the same, and the sports book (now called Lucky's) is a little smaller and less comfy than the old one (Crazy Leroy's... which was also a better name).
Pictures of classic movie stars and moguls lined the hallway on the way to the elevators. The Riviera has not forgotten its past. Or imploded it. It is just attempting to upgrade it a little bit without making some kind of grand statement. Honestly, I'm ok with all of this. There's something comforting in staying in a place that is familiar. I think that's a good thing.
I still see signs of the old Vegas all over the Strip and downtown. It's mixed in with the new. You have to look, and you have to know what you are looking for, but it is there. It's there in the old Landmark sign that still lights up - on Paradise Road just past the Riv - although the Landmark was leveled years ago. It's there in the older dealers who love to tell stories about how it used to be. It's there in the Golden Gate and El Cortez downtown. It's there, trust me.
But here's the funny thing. It's even there in the newer casinos. It's there because as we continue to visit Las Vegas and have fun, we gather our memories and share our photos and tell our tall tales. I have plenty. And for me there are just as many in the Stardust and Aladdin as there are in Bellagio, Stratosphere, TI and Fremont Street. What I think I am nostalgic for is not so much a building, a game, a restaurant - although those are all things I miss - but more so a feeling I get when I think about them and the people with whom I shared all these great things. Sure, you can call me sentimental.
What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but it stays with you, your friends and family for a long, long time.
Viva Las Vegas,
Mike
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