Hi Vegas fans,
I'm on my flight home, so it's a good time to reflect on my latest Vegas adventure. First, my longtime friend and fellow degenerate gambler Steve picked me up at the airport, and we checked in with ease at Caesars. I usually stay somewhere a little less classy, but my sister and brother-in-law gave me some comped rooms. Lucky me! I hoped that luck would continue with games of chance.
I started off with a great run at blackjack and craps at my beloved Stratosphere. Steve and I both left the joint in high spirits Friday night! Saturday took a turn for the worse, and we had to lick our wounds a bit. I won one of my NCAA Final Four bets (Louisville somehow held on to lose by 8, so the 1/2 point saved me). Ohio State let me down, but after hours of basketball (note to CBS. - enough already with the TV timeouts),I had only lost two dollars. I wish I could say the same for the blackjack and craps sessions at Excalibur and the trip downtown to Binions and Las Vegas Club. Ouch. Still, I managed to stay in the black, as did Steve.
On Sunday, I stayed about even for the day while Steve continued to win. I was wondering what his secret was until I realized he was stealing chips. Just kidding. The way we play the games, it's really all about timing and knowing when to stop. Steve's very good at that, and I improve with each trip.
On Monday, we hoped to cash in on the men's championship game. I bet Kansas +6.5, and Steve did the same plus a few other bets. We had a chance to cash, but Kansas missed a 3 pointer in the final eleven seconds and, alas, they lost by 8.
Overall, I came out a few dollars ahead, which is a nice feeling. Steve came out way ahead, which is an even nicer feeling. He gambled a little bit more on Tuesday mornning to add to his winnings, but I played it safe and stayed away from the tables. We were nowhere near a $5 blackjack table, or I might have considered it. I wanted to stay ahead, and craps is a little too risky when my profits are razor thin.
So instead I took some pictures(coming soon to Flickr) and visited the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery. The Monet Impressionist exhibit was outstanding! I'm glad I got to see it. For me, Vegas is all about knowing how I want to have fun. It's not a matter of whether or not I'm going to enjoy it, but it's how I'm entertained. Do I want to gamble? See a show? Go to a gallery? Have a few beers at a bar? It's all right there. That's why I wrote my book - to make it simple to find the things people like to do when they are in the most exciting city in the world.
Viva,
Mike
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Tropicana Changes
Hi Vegas fans,
Not long ago, I was singing the praises of the Tropicana, noting how much they were doing to change an older, kind of run down place into a new, hip Miami-beach themed hotel. Well... it has not been working out so great for them. I'm kind of surprised, because despite the idea that themes were much more popular in the 1990s in Las Vegas than they are now, the facelift and renovations seemed to be just what the ol' joint needed. Alas.
There have been numerous changes since the fall of 2011. Out went Nikki Beach, Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, Gladys Knight and - for a while - the Mob Experience (not to be confused with the Mob Museum, which opened to much fanfare in February 2012). But they are trying.
The Mob Experience re-opened, and the Las Vegas Advisor recently reported that Hollywood's Laugh Factory comedy club will take over Brad Garrett's spot. Nikki Beach may be gone, but SPF (unofficially it stands for Swim Play Flirt) is following the trend toward sexier, adult-themed party pools. Although it's not a topless venue, I would not be surprised if the coming expansion includes some kind of topless experience. The Bagatelle Beach and Nightclub will replace the current, short-lived RPM nightclub on April 1.
So here's what I love about the Trop and about Vegas. There's a sense of optimism. When one opportunity doesn't work, there is always another idea and another reason to get excited. Las Vegas works very hard to capture your hard-earned entertainment dollars. They are persistent and determined to make things happen. And in a city where there is a LOT of things happening, that can be tough. But they're trying. That's good news for those of us who like to visit Las Vegas and be entertained. Just sit back and watch it happen.
I'll be soaking it in again soon. I can't wait to visit the Trop and see what's happening there. I'll be sure to report back and let you know. Until then, remember the most important thing... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Not long ago, I was singing the praises of the Tropicana, noting how much they were doing to change an older, kind of run down place into a new, hip Miami-beach themed hotel. Well... it has not been working out so great for them. I'm kind of surprised, because despite the idea that themes were much more popular in the 1990s in Las Vegas than they are now, the facelift and renovations seemed to be just what the ol' joint needed. Alas.
There have been numerous changes since the fall of 2011. Out went Nikki Beach, Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, Gladys Knight and - for a while - the Mob Experience (not to be confused with the Mob Museum, which opened to much fanfare in February 2012). But they are trying.
The Mob Experience re-opened, and the Las Vegas Advisor recently reported that Hollywood's Laugh Factory comedy club will take over Brad Garrett's spot. Nikki Beach may be gone, but SPF (unofficially it stands for Swim Play Flirt) is following the trend toward sexier, adult-themed party pools. Although it's not a topless venue, I would not be surprised if the coming expansion includes some kind of topless experience. The Bagatelle Beach and Nightclub will replace the current, short-lived RPM nightclub on April 1.
So here's what I love about the Trop and about Vegas. There's a sense of optimism. When one opportunity doesn't work, there is always another idea and another reason to get excited. Las Vegas works very hard to capture your hard-earned entertainment dollars. They are persistent and determined to make things happen. And in a city where there is a LOT of things happening, that can be tough. But they're trying. That's good news for those of us who like to visit Las Vegas and be entertained. Just sit back and watch it happen.
I'll be soaking it in again soon. I can't wait to visit the Trop and see what's happening there. I'll be sure to report back and let you know. Until then, remember the most important thing... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.
Viva,
Mike
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Mike Tyson's One Man Show
Former heavyweight champ, Mike Tyson, will perform his one-man show, entitled "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth - Live on Stage" at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas April 13-18. Ironically, the MGM is the same venue that Tyson got hungry and decided to snack on Evander Hollyfield's ear in a 1997 bout.
It's always a little disappointing to me to see an exceptional athlete or entertainer peak so quickly and then decline even faster. It is difficult to stay at the top - there are always people chasing you, critics, distractions - but it seems the faster they rise, the harder they fall (see Lindsay Lohan).
I'm not sure what to make of Tyson's decision to venture into theatrical performance. From the interviews I have seen with him lately, he's trying to turn his life around. And much like Wayne Newton, there are reasons I want to pull for him, I want him to do well. It would be too easy to want him to fail and then say "he had it coming." I like success stories.
But I'm not sure this is the way to do it. It seems odd to me that he has taken this path to try to turn the tables and reach out to people. I'm always a little leery of people seeking the spotlight to regain favor after it was the very same spotlight that showed their flaws. It does take guts, though, and that's something that Tyson has a-plenty. It still seems strange, though... but after all, life is pretty strange.
Viva,
Mike
It's always a little disappointing to me to see an exceptional athlete or entertainer peak so quickly and then decline even faster. It is difficult to stay at the top - there are always people chasing you, critics, distractions - but it seems the faster they rise, the harder they fall (see Lindsay Lohan).
I'm not sure what to make of Tyson's decision to venture into theatrical performance. From the interviews I have seen with him lately, he's trying to turn his life around. And much like Wayne Newton, there are reasons I want to pull for him, I want him to do well. It would be too easy to want him to fail and then say "he had it coming." I like success stories.
But I'm not sure this is the way to do it. It seems odd to me that he has taken this path to try to turn the tables and reach out to people. I'm always a little leery of people seeking the spotlight to regain favor after it was the very same spotlight that showed their flaws. It does take guts, though, and that's something that Tyson has a-plenty. It still seems strange, though... but after all, life is pretty strange.
Viva,
Mike
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Where to Sit at a Blackjack Table
Hi Vegas fans,
The Las Vegas Advisor recently posted a Question of the Day about the best seat at a blackjack table. As usual, they were right on in their response. If you are an LVA member, log in and search the QoD archives for Blackjack and you'll see it. If you aren't an LVA member, I encourage you to join. If nothing else, you'll get a coupon book that far outweighs the cost of membership.
Back to blackjack. This is one of my favorite venues of entertainment in Vegas. Over the years I've learn to enjoy it even more for one simple reason: I relax when I'm at a blackjack table. In my younger days, I worried about losing too much money, about other players at the table, about the dealer, the pit boss and the eye in the sky. Now I only worry if my drinks aren't coming fast enough.
There's a theory that the last seat to the right of the dealer ("third base") is the best place at the table. Now, if you are counting cards, it's probably true because you get to see all of the cards dealt and have more time to figure out whether the count is favorable or unfavorable before it's time to play your hand. However, you've already made your bet, and a big part of card counting is making your wager based on the count, so it really doesn't matter all that much for the current hand.
The misconception with third base is that you get to control the action, and if you play the hand "correctly" you either save the table or make everyone lose. Players look at you and if they win, you are a hero, but if they lose, you are the goat. Truth is, someone who plays well or badly at third base or first base or any seat in-between has little affect on your outcome. Studies have shown time after time that the way you play the cards has the most influence on whether or not you come out ahead or in the red, regardless of what the other players at the table are doing.
I'm reminded of a recent trip where I was at a table at Excalibur with my friend Steve. He was losing pretty badly, but I was keeping my head above water. I was sitting at third base and a guy who looked like Harry Carey was at first base (Harry's been dead for years, so we knew it wasn't him). He was making all of the classic "bad moves" in blackjack, but I was doing ok anyway. Steve took a break, and I kept playing because I was winning. And I probably had a rum and Coke coming to me, so I couldn't walk away just yet.
I remember at one point being slightly annoyed, going against everything I just talked about, because Harry made a bad move and I lost a hand. But then I told myself, it's ok - it didn't have anything to do with him. A few hands later, I had a perfect hand to double-down. My rum and Coke arrived, and I had a good feeling. Harry hit on a hand he shouldn't have and got a 10. If you play blackjack, you know what was running through my mind: "He stole my 10!" I got a crummy card on my double-down, but the dealer busted and I won. The way the cards played out on that particular round, if Harry had not taken a hit, I would have lost my double down.
I colored up (turned in my lower denomination chips for a higher one) and cashed out. I met Steve in the sports book and told him my victory story. We had a good laugh. It was a great moment in gambling history. That's why I love blackjack, and that's why I relax at the table.
My advice? Find a nearly-full table (so that the hands, and your money, last longer) that looks comfortable and fun. Sit down, relax and have a great time. It's Vegas, and you can't let someone else dictate whether or not you are enjoying yourself.
Viva,
Mike
The Las Vegas Advisor recently posted a Question of the Day about the best seat at a blackjack table. As usual, they were right on in their response. If you are an LVA member, log in and search the QoD archives for Blackjack and you'll see it. If you aren't an LVA member, I encourage you to join. If nothing else, you'll get a coupon book that far outweighs the cost of membership.
Back to blackjack. This is one of my favorite venues of entertainment in Vegas. Over the years I've learn to enjoy it even more for one simple reason: I relax when I'm at a blackjack table. In my younger days, I worried about losing too much money, about other players at the table, about the dealer, the pit boss and the eye in the sky. Now I only worry if my drinks aren't coming fast enough.
There's a theory that the last seat to the right of the dealer ("third base") is the best place at the table. Now, if you are counting cards, it's probably true because you get to see all of the cards dealt and have more time to figure out whether the count is favorable or unfavorable before it's time to play your hand. However, you've already made your bet, and a big part of card counting is making your wager based on the count, so it really doesn't matter all that much for the current hand.
The misconception with third base is that you get to control the action, and if you play the hand "correctly" you either save the table or make everyone lose. Players look at you and if they win, you are a hero, but if they lose, you are the goat. Truth is, someone who plays well or badly at third base or first base or any seat in-between has little affect on your outcome. Studies have shown time after time that the way you play the cards has the most influence on whether or not you come out ahead or in the red, regardless of what the other players at the table are doing.
I'm reminded of a recent trip where I was at a table at Excalibur with my friend Steve. He was losing pretty badly, but I was keeping my head above water. I was sitting at third base and a guy who looked like Harry Carey was at first base (Harry's been dead for years, so we knew it wasn't him). He was making all of the classic "bad moves" in blackjack, but I was doing ok anyway. Steve took a break, and I kept playing because I was winning. And I probably had a rum and Coke coming to me, so I couldn't walk away just yet.
I remember at one point being slightly annoyed, going against everything I just talked about, because Harry made a bad move and I lost a hand. But then I told myself, it's ok - it didn't have anything to do with him. A few hands later, I had a perfect hand to double-down. My rum and Coke arrived, and I had a good feeling. Harry hit on a hand he shouldn't have and got a 10. If you play blackjack, you know what was running through my mind: "He stole my 10!" I got a crummy card on my double-down, but the dealer busted and I won. The way the cards played out on that particular round, if Harry had not taken a hit, I would have lost my double down.
I colored up (turned in my lower denomination chips for a higher one) and cashed out. I met Steve in the sports book and told him my victory story. We had a good laugh. It was a great moment in gambling history. That's why I love blackjack, and that's why I relax at the table.
My advice? Find a nearly-full table (so that the hands, and your money, last longer) that looks comfortable and fun. Sit down, relax and have a great time. It's Vegas, and you can't let someone else dictate whether or not you are enjoying yourself.
Viva,
Mike
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Me? Wrong?
Hi Vegas fans,
I've never had a problem admitting when I'm wrong. I'm not too proud to say I'm sorry when I've made a mistake and to ask for forgiveness. And believe me, I've had some doosies. Especially lately. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.
So let me say that I hope that I'm wrong about Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC). I've been railing on them for years. Mostly because I don't like their gaming rules and policies. But they had their IPO this past week, and the stock went for almost $18/share. I'm rooting for them. I hope they raise the cash they need to make their venture very profitable. If this and their other investments pay off, they will have a pretty good claim as the #1 chain on the Strip.
Now on the one hand, that scares me because it might shut out good competition and therefore make gaming worse. But on the other hand, if they do this right, other properties will have to up their games or change the game, which may mean favorable results for players and Vegas travelers in general. In any event, I do hope that in a year from now, I'm writing a post saying that the CEC gamble worked, and I was wrong. Won't be the first time. Probably won't be the last.
Viva,
Mike
I've never had a problem admitting when I'm wrong. I'm not too proud to say I'm sorry when I've made a mistake and to ask for forgiveness. And believe me, I've had some doosies. Especially lately. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.
So let me say that I hope that I'm wrong about Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC). I've been railing on them for years. Mostly because I don't like their gaming rules and policies. But they had their IPO this past week, and the stock went for almost $18/share. I'm rooting for them. I hope they raise the cash they need to make their venture very profitable. If this and their other investments pay off, they will have a pretty good claim as the #1 chain on the Strip.
Now on the one hand, that scares me because it might shut out good competition and therefore make gaming worse. But on the other hand, if they do this right, other properties will have to up their games or change the game, which may mean favorable results for players and Vegas travelers in general. In any event, I do hope that in a year from now, I'm writing a post saying that the CEC gamble worked, and I was wrong. Won't be the first time. Probably won't be the last.
Viva,
Mike
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Re"new" Your Next Trip to Vegas
Hi Vegas fans,
Sometimes you can get into a rut, even when it comes to your vacations. If you wind up staying at the same places, playing the same games, going to the same restaurants, it can get old. The good news is that even if you travel to Las Vegas frequently, you can enjoy new experiences every time you go.
For one thing, there are new venues opening in Vegas all the time, even while construction has stalled on many hotel/condo projects. The current hotels are constantly changing, too. They are always adding new clubs, updating their rooms and the casino floor, and renovating restaurants, shows... well, you get the idea.
Soon, for example, you will see the free Lion Habitat display at the MGM disappear. No, it's not a Criss Angel illusion, it's a way for the MGM to take out something that's been around for a long time and doesn't generate any money and replace it with retail space. Word on the street is it's going to be part of a giant nightclub... In any event, you can always find something new in Las Vegas. Sometimes you have to look harder for it, but usually you just have to keep your eyes open.
And speaking of new things and keeping your eyes open, check out the new photo on my website, an excellent shot of Caesars, Paris and Bellagio with the fountains at rest, taken by Doug Cook.
Viva,
Mike
Sometimes you can get into a rut, even when it comes to your vacations. If you wind up staying at the same places, playing the same games, going to the same restaurants, it can get old. The good news is that even if you travel to Las Vegas frequently, you can enjoy new experiences every time you go.
For one thing, there are new venues opening in Vegas all the time, even while construction has stalled on many hotel/condo projects. The current hotels are constantly changing, too. They are always adding new clubs, updating their rooms and the casino floor, and renovating restaurants, shows... well, you get the idea.
Soon, for example, you will see the free Lion Habitat display at the MGM disappear. No, it's not a Criss Angel illusion, it's a way for the MGM to take out something that's been around for a long time and doesn't generate any money and replace it with retail space. Word on the street is it's going to be part of a giant nightclub... In any event, you can always find something new in Las Vegas. Sometimes you have to look harder for it, but usually you just have to keep your eyes open.
And speaking of new things and keeping your eyes open, check out the new photo on my website, an excellent shot of Caesars, Paris and Bellagio with the fountains at rest, taken by Doug Cook.
Viva,
Mike
Super Bowl Should be Super
Hi Vegas fans,
Hope you are ready to watch a great game today. The Pats are about -3 at most books in Vegas, although some lines have them at -2.5. Whether you are betting on the game, watching it, or just watching the commercials, I hope you enjoy the festivities of this great tradition. I enjoy my Super Bowls with a few Sam Adams and many heavily salted food snacks. Yum. Now I just hope that tomorrow morning I'm not too tired to go to work!
Viva,
Mike
Hope you are ready to watch a great game today. The Pats are about -3 at most books in Vegas, although some lines have them at -2.5. Whether you are betting on the game, watching it, or just watching the commercials, I hope you enjoy the festivities of this great tradition. I enjoy my Super Bowls with a few Sam Adams and many heavily salted food snacks. Yum. Now I just hope that tomorrow morning I'm not too tired to go to work!
Viva,
Mike
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