Sunday was the big day for Vegas V because we traveled to Fremont Avenue to see this trip’s centerpiece event, Liam Finn at the Beauty Bar (much like Prince was for Vegas IV). The concert is covered in the Music section of Picayune.
The red and green chips on the left are what I won.
We kicked off the day with round seven of video poker at MGM, Somara leads 4-3. However, Luck & Fun graced me at the craps table. Not only did I find a five-dollar table, I won $50! Probably the most fun game this vacation too because my shooting was hot; I hit two hard numbers, namely the hard eight when it was point. The guy playing with me and helping out on etiquette was from Chicago so there was plenty to talk about. For a financial advisor, he was pretty brave betting on the other numbers. I definitely need to take a craps tutorial next time I’m here. Oh, the table people were a hoot, especially the older man who said his boss counts the chips accurately on Sundays. After coloring up, I left the table guys a tip (why the picture only shows $140) and we went back to TV to rest up for the evening.
The Fremont Experience and its casinos, still as unimpressive as they were in 1997.
Thinking we napped enough and overestimating how long it would take the Deuce to reach Fremont, Somara and I put on some upscale clothes; namely one of my new suits I bought with the Economic Hail Mary.
If our time share weren’t at the south end of the Deuce’s route, taking this special, ongoing 24-hour bus would’ve been an awful ordeal. A rental car would’ve been nicer since it took 90 minutes to cover a distance of about 10 miles; and I thought Cap Metro was pokey needing an hour to get from Tech Ridge to UT. In defense of public transportation, we wanted to see more of the Strip as it transformed into downtown Vegas but it practically stops at every major casino between Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere which would be all of them. This line also gives you the opportunity to see the uglier side of the city: wedding chapels, adult book stores and the slums the public only sees when going to the outlet mall.
Once there, Somara and I checked out what’s called the Fremont Experience. Other than the region’s history (if you’re into such stuff), I figure you’d get the same experience in Louisiana or on a Peoria riverboat. Now I remember why I never went bothered to go back during my previous three visits.
The Beauty Bar of Las Vegas which is part of a larger franchise.
Despite most of downtown Vegas being rather lame, the Beauty Bar was cool. The inner section is a bar tweaked to resemble one of those old salons my grandma went to. The actual stage area is in the “backyard” with couches to complete the look. It felt like being in the opening stage of the Guitar Hero game but with original music from talented artists.
Liam’s touring manager Sam prevented the evening from being a bust by letting us into the show for free courtesy of my friend Chip. He had arranged this ahead of time so I brought a copy of the e-mail confirming the commitment from Liam’s record label. (Somara and I are hunting for something super special for him! What do you get for a guy who has everything he possibly could want in the music department?) Again, the concert is its own story.
When the show concluded after 2 AM, we caught the Deuce at its northern starting point and thanks to a duet of ladies in the front seat, the return journey turned into a punch-drunk comedy run. I couldn’t resist, they were feeding me some good set-ups to say something witty in addition to their bits. Even I wished they didn’t get off at the Flamingo, I think we could’ve finished our routine by the Southern Transfer Center. The bus driver was probably relieved to be rid of us smartasses but I’m confident he’s encountered worse since booze is easily available in LV.
GAMBLING REPORT:
Somara: -$133.25
Steve: -$145.99