Seven Weeks
We've got a number of restaurant recommendations from people on the board. It looks like CUT for a nice steak, Marche Bacchus as an old favourite, we'll get to Tacos El Gordo probably for lunch, Mon Ami Gaby because people raved about the roasted chicken (sorry we're still not ordering the brussels sprouts), and the revamped Wynn buffet because we get a free buffet with our booking.
We've still got to decide which show to see this time.
I want to get some photos of the desert to print off and put up in the house. My reading on the web says an hour or two after sunrise or before sun set is the best time to photograph the desert. Red Rock Canyon is an obvious place to go, but would people recommend a drive to Valley of Fire State Park as well? Could people recommend an easy hike -- done in sneakers as I don't want to haul hiking boots -- in Red Rock Canyon?
The Canadian dollar took a nosedive over the last number of months such that $1 US is $1.42 Canadian. Yikes. I hope the Canadian dollar recovers somewhat before I buy my US dollars. Regardless we'll be curtailing our shopping in the US. On the flip-side, if my wife hits her first royal flush on that $0.50 JoB at TI then we'll be sitting pretty with the exchange.
Seven weeks still feels far away, but with the Super Bowl, Chinese New Year, and Family Day in February hopefully that month will fly by.
--helpmespock
What is "Family Day"?
edit: The NCAA basketball tournament is around that time of year. Expect a crowd.
Quote: GWAEI stopped reading when you said you never seen casino. You are banned from thus forum until you watch that movie. It is an all time classic. Make sure you watch it unrated as it had the record for f bombs in a movie until wolf of wall street.
I totally agree with GWAE, casino is one of the best movies of all time in any genre.
Can we get a Mod to enforce a temp suspension for Spock until he watches casino?
You might want to look for promos that give you an incentive to exchange at the casino.Quote: helpmespockWell including this week I'm seven weeks away from my Las Vegas trip. Typically my wife and I watch Las Vegas themed movies in the lead up to the trip. Movies like 'Fools Rush In', 'Oceans 11', 'Oceans 13', and 'The Hangover'. I've never seen 'Casino' although I've heard good things about the movie. Any other recommendations? We've seen the downer movies about Las Vegas too like 'Leaving Las Vegas', but feel-good is probably better to get us in the mood for the trip. 8-)
We've got a number of restaurant recommendations from people on the board. It looks like CUT for a nice steak, Marche Bacchus as an old favourite, we'll get to Tacos El Gordo probably for lunch, Mon Ami Gaby because people raved about the roasted chicken (sorry we're still not ordering the brussels sprouts), and the revamped Wynn buffet because we get a free buffet with our booking.
We've still got to decide which show to see this time.
I want to get some photos of the desert to print off and put up in the house. My reading on the web says an hour or two after sunrise or before sun set is the best time to photograph the desert. Red Rock Canyon is an obvious place to go, but would people recommend a drive to Valley of Fire State Park as well? Could people recommend an easy hike -- done in sneakers as I don't want to haul hiking boots -- in Red Rock Canyon?
The Canadian dollar took a nosedive over the last number of months such that $1 US is $1.42 Canadian. Yikes. I hope the Canadian dollar recovers somewhat before I buy my US dollars. Regardless we'll be curtailing our shopping in the US. On the flip-side, if my wife hits her first royal flush on that $0.50 JoB at TI then we'll be sitting pretty with the exchange.
Seven weeks still feels far away, but with the Super Bowl, Chinese New Year, and Family Day in February hopefully that month will fly by.
--helpmespock
Quote: AyecarumbaMove recommendations: Vegas Vacation, Con Air, Honeymoon in Vegas (there sure are a lot of Nicholas Cage + Las Vegas movies).
What is "Family Day"?
edit: The NCAA basketball tournament is around that time of year. Expect a crowd.
I forgot about 'Con Air' and 'Honeymoon in Vegas'. I've never been a big Chevy Chase fan, but we'll probably check out 'Vegas Vacation'.
Family Day is a statutory holiday in Ontario, but not all provinces/territories have instituted the holiday. Ontario has only had it since 2008. I think we were jealous that the U.S. had President's Day. 8-)
Looks like Nevada and Arizona have it too: Wikipedia's Family Day article
We just manage to avoid the crowds as we're there March 13-17. We should be in the air on the way home by the time things are getting really crazy.
--helpmespock
Quote: GWAEI stopped reading when you said you never seen casino. You are banned from thus forum until you watch that movie. It is an all time classic. Make sure you watch it unrated as it had the record for f bombs in a movie until wolf of wall street.
Ah well, I guess I better see it then. 8-)
I guess that's my project for this weekend.
--helpmespock
Quote: AxelWolfYou might want to look for promos that give you an incentive to exchange at the casino.
Interesting. I've never heard of that. I'll definitely look into that. Thanks for the tip!
--helpmespock
Quote: GWAEWasn't the exchange many years ago something like 1 = 1.60?
Oh yes. In the late 1990's and then again in the early 2000's the exchange got down to that rate. When the Canadian dollar is close to or above par there is a lot of cross-border shopping by Canadians in Buffalo and Detroit particularly for gas as your gas taxes are much lower than ours. Ditto beer/wine/spirits.
--helpmespock
Quote: GWAEI stopped reading when you said you never seen casino. You are banned from thus forum until you watch that movie. It is an all time classic. Make sure you watch it unrated as it had the record for f bombs in a movie until wolf of wall street.
Although it isn't a record for a movie, Blue Velvet supposedly has the record for most f-words by one character. Frank Booth says it in almost every sentence. Interestingly, he is also the only character in the film to use that word, other than Ben, who uses it once, because Frank asked him to in a toast: "Here's to your f***, Frank."
Quote: helpmespockOh yes. In the late 1990's and then again in the early 2000's the exchange got down to that rate. When the Canadian dollar is close to or above par there is a lot of cross-border shopping by Canadians in Buffalo and Detroit particularly for gas as your gas taxes are much lower than ours. Ditto beer/wine/spirits.
--helpmespock
I can remember in approx 1998 we went to Dennys for Breakfast ontop of clifton hill. I think we were staying at that hotel right there, maybe best western? Anyways, 2 grandslam breakfasts were nearly $40 CAD. I thought it was weird but after the exchange rate it was only $25 which is still a lot but on the tourist trap area I expected as much. Fast forward to around 2008 when the exchange rate was nearly 1 for 1. We stayed in the same hotel and went to Dennys again. The menu had not changed and our total was still $40. I nearly fell out of my seat with a $40 Dennys breakfast. I knew the exchange rate changed but for some reason I figured restaurant prices changed with the rate.
Quote: MaxPenI don't know, but I can't wait for the new Bourne movie. Shooting of that has caused lots of problems on the Strip past couple weeks.
I hope the movie does horrible, since i was stuck on lv blvd when they were shooting. Tried to turn into aria because i was staying there, nobody knew wtf was going on for parking.
Yes im bitter. F U matt Damon
Hey, go easy on the guy... he just got back from Mars...heheQuote: djatc..Yes im bitter. F U matt Damon
Quote: helpmespockOh yes. In the late 1990's and then again in the early 2000's the exchange got down to that rate. When the Canadian dollar is close to or above par there is a lot of cross-border shopping by Canadians in Buffalo and Detroit particularly for gas as your gas taxes are much lower than ours. Ditto beer/wine/spirits.
--helpmespock
You forgot to add AIRLINE FLIGHTS being so much cheaper out of the US of A.-----$$$$
btw gas in Windsor 93 cents a litre in Detroit area with exchange included works out to 53 cents a litre
3.8 L to American gallon thats $2.01 Canadian difference a gallon believe it or not
Hope you have the car rental booked already WOW insane prices that week using the car company I always use DOLLAR
Canadian PESO has picked up some value with the price of oil going up currently ONLY 40 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR
Quote: Gabes22It sounds like you are Canadian. I don't know how often you come stateside, but if you are going to Mon Ami Gabi, and you frequent cities like Chicago, Phoenix, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Minneapolis where many Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurants are located, you might want to get a frequent diner card. I don't know the policy of linking websites so I will just drop off the www and say it's LEYE.com. If I recall correctly, they have 4 restaurants on the strip, including Mon Ami Gabi
I am Canadian. Thanks for the tip, but I've only been to Chicago once and I've never been to any of the cities you list.
Quote: coilmanYou forgot to add AIRLINE FLIGHTS being so much cheaper out of the US of A.-----$$$$
btw gas in Windsor 93 cents a litre in Detroit area with exchange included works out to 53 cents a litre
3.8 L to American gallon thats $2.01 Canadian difference a gallon believe it or not
Hope you have the car rental booked already WOW insane prices that week using the car company I always use DOLLAR
Yes my cousin and his wife are in New Jersey and he claimed he could get a last minute round trip flight from Newark to Las Vegas for just over $300 US. Way cheaper than flying out of Toronto. A buddy has flown out of Detroit to Las Vegas direct for similar prices, but we're 3 hours drive away from Detroit and Buffalo flights aren't direct -- they often connect through New York.
My cousin I mentioned above has cousins in Essex county/Windsor and they are always going to buy gas in Detroit.
The car is long booked so I got $103 for Sunday to Thursday for a mid-sized if I recall correctly. I used your DOLLAR Express trick too so I won't be waiting in any line. Thanks for that tip Coilman!
To everyone: I've rented 'Casino' to watch this weekend. 8-)
--helpmespock
The Cooler (2003) William H Macy
Rounders (1998) Matt Damon
21 (2008) Kevin Spacey
The Gambler (1974) James Caan - (This flick wasn't that great - a bit of a downer)
Maverick (maybe - it has a fair amount of poker, 1994) Mel Gibson
Of all of them, I enjoyed Rounders and 21 the most.
Quote: ukaserexA few I haven't seen mentioned - which may or may not qualify, as some of the gaming is not in Las Vegas - but
The Cooler (2003) William H Macy
Rounders (1998) Matt Damon
21 (2008) Kevin Spacey
The Gambler (1974) James Caan - (This flick wasn't that great - a bit of a downer)
Maverick (maybe - it has a fair amount of poker, 1994) Mel Gibson
Of all of them, I enjoyed Rounders and 21 the most.
I have seen 'The Cooler' and '21' and enjoyed them both. Part of the fun of watching these films for us is to see Las Vegas as it was when the movies were shot and compare it to what we know as Las Vegas now.
I've often felt like 'The Cooler' as it seems that whenever I'm playing craps the table quickly turns to the don'ts. 8-)
--helpmespock
Quote: helpmespockI have seen 'The Cooler' and '21' and enjoyed them both. Part of the fun of watching these films for us is to see Las Vegas as it was when the movies were shot and compare it to what we know as Las Vegas now.
I've often felt like 'The Cooler' as it seems that whenever I'm playing craps the table quickly turns to the don'ts. 8-)
--helpmespock
Umm then watch Casino damn it.
Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner are unusually good in this 2001 action thriller.
It begins in Las Vegas and ends in British Columbia.
Haven't been recently, but best exchange rates at the Canadian side casinos, only around 1% of of fair value....
Just ate at Wynn buffet. Quite good.
I got caught in Bourne traffic. Pulled into Bellagio free parking. Did U turn.... "left via In lane" everything was roped off..... cop asked me 'WTF are you doing?" Answered just trying to get to Cosmopolitan for a conference. He pulled up rope and let me go so I was in a lane no one else could be in for a while.... No harm no foul!
I always plug Makino, if you like sushi and wan't it at the most reasonable price in the USA!
Quote: Gabes22It sounds like you are Canadian. I don't know how often you come stateside, but if you are going to Mon Ami Gabi, and you frequent cities like Chicago, Phoenix, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Minneapolis where many Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises restaurants are located, you might want to get a frequent diner card. I don't know the policy of linking websites so I will just drop off the www and say it's LEYE.com. If I recall correctly, they have 4 restaurants on the strip, including Mon Ami Gabi
Thanks for pointing out that Mon Ami Gabi is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. I didn't realize that. I bought some of the LEYE holiday promo gift cards in Dec but have already eaten at the Eiffel Tower restaurant twice and not looking to go again on this solo trip. Since the promo gift cards expire in April, I need to try to use them on my upcoming trip. I know about Maggiano's Little Italy across from the Wynn at the mall as another location to use my gift cards at.
helpmespock, I wonder if I will unknowingly walk past you and your wife at Encore ;)
Quote: ChereyaI wonder if I will unknowingly walk past you and your wife at Encore ;)
We're at the Wynn this year. If I can't find a $15 3:2 blackjack table or a craps table where I can squeeze in then I may tour through Encore looking for one. 8-)
--helpmespock
Quote: SOOPOOJust ate at Wynn buffet. Quite good.
I always plug Makino, if you like sushi and wan't it at the most reasonable price in the USA!
Chereya also mentioned she liked the re-vamped Wynn buffet. I'm curious to try it with the new chef on-board. How long were the lines though?
As far as sushi goes, we eat it fairly often at home -- grabbing some rolls and such from the grocery store -- so I'll probably pass on Makino, but thanks for the recommendation.
--helpmespock
Quote: GWAEUmm then watch Casino damn it.
All right folks I watched 'Casino' last night. I enjoyed it, but was surprised by the amount of voice-over/narration by the characters instead of it being delivered by dialog. Much more of it than 'Goodfellas' for sure. The violence depicted was close to the level of 'The Departed'.
It was fun to see some of the old casinos like Barbary Coast. I played blackjack with an LA resident who was a long-time Las Vegas patron last year. He and the dealer struck up a conversation about a floor man that was physically and verbally abusive to dealers at the Barbary Coast in the early 80's. He said that after that visit he called the casino the 'Barbarian Coast'. The dealer mentioned that he broke in under that floor man and quickly moved on after he got established. After seeing 'Casino', I wonder about that story and mob connections.
I was also intrigued by the scene where the slot manager got hit for three big wins in quick succession and Ace fires him. Ace maintains that the slot manager failed to ensure that the players weren't tampering with the machines or pull the machines to ensure they weren't malfunctioning. Ultimately Ace fires him because the end result is they got hit big. From my own experience, I know a craps dealer who managed to make floor supervisor only to be busted back down to a craps dealer after they got hit for $20,000 in a craps game under his watch. Old school. They change out the dice too if the table starts running hot. Superstitious nonsense in my opinion, but hey it's their casino.
--helpmespock
Your better off doing the fancy french restaurant in the Eiffle Tower for the view. Unless you can get outdoor seating at Mon Ami avoid the wait line...I'd seek better dining options elsewhere.
Quote: helpmespockAll right folks I watched 'Casino' last night. I enjoyed it, but was surprised by the amount of voice-over/narration by the characters instead of it being delivered by dialog. Much more of it than 'Goodfellas' for sure. The violence depicted was close to the level of 'The Departed'.
--helpmespock
I actually like that part of the movie. Not sure why, but I like the story telling part.
Overall, do you think it lived up to "epic" level?
Quote: GWAEOverall, do you think it lived up to "epic" level?
Overall no. I think I prefer 'Goodfellas' to 'Casino'.
My first trip to Las Vegas was in 2005 so I don't have any personal experience to connect to that era. It's fun to see the changes over time though through these movies.
The Las Vegas I know was solidly in the mega-resort era. Even in my time there have been ups and downs. Our first time in Las Vegas you couldn't turn around without someone trying to sell you a time-share. 2008/2009 saw all of that disappear. Prior to the crash video poker conditions were good. Most places had $0.25 9/6 JoB and full pay Deuces Wild too. I don't think 6:5 blackjack was even a thing in 2005. Now it's spread everywhere. Next up it appears that you'll be charged for drinks beyond the basic stuff as well as parking.
I guess the lesson from seeing the history of Las Vegas through these movies is that Las Vegas has changed and will always change even when we don't want it to.
--helpmespock
Quote: helpmespockOverall no. I think I prefer 'Goodfellas' to 'Casino'.
My first trip to Las Vegas was in 2005 so I don't have any personal experience to connect to that era. It's fun to see the changes over time though through these movies.
The Las Vegas I know was solidly in the mega-resort era. Even in my time there have been ups and downs. Our first time in Las Vegas you couldn't turn around without someone trying to sell you a time-share. 2008/2009 saw all of that disappear. Prior to the crash video poker conditions were good. Most places had $0.25 9/6 JoB and full pay Deuces Wild too. I don't think 6:5 blackjack was even a thing in 2005. Now it's spread everywhere. Next up it appears that you'll be charged for drinks beyond the basic stuff as well as parking.
I guess the lesson from seeing the history of Las Vegas through these movies is that Las Vegas has changed and will always change even when we don't want it to.
--helpmespock
My first visit was also around 2005. That is one reason I love the movies that show the old times. It is amazing to see the transformation. I also love to see the mob connections. It always makes me wonder if people in Vegas knew what was going on. Also did people on the east coast know what was happening. If they did why would they visit? Makes me wonder if that type of stuff still happens today and we just don't know. Not the beatings but more the mob and laundering connections.
"Casino", like "Goodfellas" is loosely based on true stories. There are actual FBI documents describing organized crime's decades long connection to Nevada gambling, and testimony that backroom stuff actually did go on. I have had conversations with folks who mentioned that even the valet's had to kick back a piece of their action to keep their jobs. Crazy.
