I get to go to Las Vegas in three weeks thanks to the DevLearn conference.
I am accompanied by my manager, but she is bringing a friend of hers so they'll both be busy after show hours are done though I have no doubt they'll try to drag me out to do stuff.
Also our intern is going, and he's a young kid from Columbia, but that's all I really know about him.
Anyway...it's really really sad that I'm going to Vegas...for the first time in my life, I must admit...and I'm looking forward to it because I can bring a couple of solitaire board games with me to entertain myself in the evenings.
I realize the demented and sad state of affairs this tells of my social life, but (a) I don't have a lot of spending money so gambling is out (and not all that interesting to me, to be honest), and (b) I know little about Vegas and I'm not going with anyone I know so I'm not really prone to wanting to wander the Strip and have sex/strip club business cards thrust upon me.
In any case, if any of youse has been to Vegas and has any advice, let me know. It's hard to do anything there I think when you're broke. Besides play solitaire games alone in your hotel room when you're in the capital of sin and debauchery.
Sigh. O:-)
Drive out to Area 51!
I knew I could count on good, constructive recommendations. :P
What are friends for, eh? When you get to Groom Lake stand by the fence with an old R/C remote control console and see how long you have to wait before you meet some friendly uniformed 'tour guides'. :)
Bring back some reverse-engineered alien bobbleheads souvenirs if you can.
.
I have only been to Vegas once and have never been into gambling. But...I played some roulette and some 21 to dip my toe in the water. Once I was up and winning, I got up from the tables and walked away. It was fun and if you can control yourself can be rewarding. Try a simple game and if you don't like it, then go up to your room.
The pirate ship show outside Treasure Island (Mirage?) is pretty cool if they still do it, and its free.
The dancing fountains at the Bellagio (think "end of Oceans 11 remake") are cool too
I don't know if I've ever read a sadder, more pathetic post Banzai. :-\
Please don't sit in your room playing boardgames. There is just so much to do in Vegas, surely you can find something more entertaining.
Go down to the gaming floor, get a free drink(s) and watch some folks gamble.
Go see the pirate show outside the Mirage.
Check out all the neat casinos.
Play some nickle slots.
Chill in the pool and/or jacuzzi.
Go see a show- Phantom of the Opera was fantastic.
Go wander around that huge mall that's all inside...Ceasars? I can't remember which casino it was now.
dude..... you went watch shopping. :2funny:
Quote from: Toonces on October 06, 2014, 11:13:03 PMGo wander around that huge mall that's all inside...Ceasars? I can't remember which casino it was now.
It's Caesar's - and do it late at night when it's dark outside, but the inside has a painted-sky ceiling and lighting that mimics natural sunlight. And whistle the Twilight Zone theme as you walk around
Quote from: Toonces on October 06, 2014, 11:13:03 PM
I don't know if I've ever read a sadder, more pathetic post Banzai. :-\
I admitted as much up front. :)
I'm sure I'll wander around downstairs to check the hotel out (we're staying at the Bellagio, where the conference is). And I'm sure at least one night I'll walk around the Strip to see what's up and check the pirate ship out as well as the fountains. I'm not good with odds and gambling, though. Even if I have a 50/50 chance of getting something right (e.g. black or red in roulette), I'll get it wrong. Every time.
Watching is fun, but it depends on the environment. The only casinos I've been around were one in Shreveport (we went with some friends a few years ago, it was a good time and we lost all our money - but we only brought $150, so it wasn't too big a loss, lol - at least we had fun), and on cruise ships. The ones on cruise ships are really enjoyable to people watch and observe gambling, but the problem is they smoke in there, and I have a very limited tolerance for smoke of any kind (not because I'm an a-hole, just because I grew up with my mother whom smoked like a chimney and it gave me an intolerance of it). I imagine they don't allow that in Vegas or maybe just certain areas, so I definitely will at least wander around to check things out.
It would be different if there were people there that I know and could hang out with/explore the place with. I don't like being by myself in general, but if I have to be alone, I'd rather be in the hotel room, relaxing. Because I don't get to do much of that at home with four other people and three dogs in the house.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on October 06, 2014, 08:48:22 PM
I am accompanied by my manager, but she is bringing a friend of hers
surely with the addition of a 70s guitar and wah wah pedal, a keyboard and a sticky on moustache this is the opening scene to 'Banzai does Vegas'
I am surprised it took 10+ posts to bring out this suggestion. You're failing me, GH. :)
im trying my best to uphold the disgusting virtues we hold here
sometimes its a dirty job, but someone has to do it
My wife and I were in Vegas this past June. Yeah I know, go to the desert in the summer.... :crazy2:
The Pirate ship show is no longer running. They shut it down a month before we got there and are in the process of removing the ships!
The fountains at Bellagio are neat to see. Every show is different and set to whatever song is playing. Very cool tech in action.
Just walking the strip is pretty entertaining. Sometimes people are the best show.
Take in a show somewhere. Anything that grabs you. There's lots to choose from.
If you sit a slot machine, even a penny one, you can drink for free... well you need to tip the waitress but it's still cheaper than buying a drink... getting loaded at a buck a cocktail is easy.
They allow smoking in the casinos. by the ventilation systems are so powerful you hardly notice. I'm like you and hate the smell but it really wasn't noticeable.
When we were there the Flamingo had a classic car display on, very cool.
You can drink on the street. Find a Walgreens, buy a $2 king can, and stroll the street just seeing the sites at night.
There are also lots of entertaining places to go for food. Lots of first rate restaurants.
If you don't want to gamble at all get some chicken, waffles and a hooker.
Quote from: Gusington on October 07, 2014, 07:37:56 AM
If you don't want to gamble at all get ... a hooker.
Isn't that gambling, in a way?
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on October 07, 2014, 07:41:08 AM
Quote from: Gusington on October 07, 2014, 07:37:56 AM
If you don't want to gamble at all get ... a hooker.
Isn't that gambling, in a way?
there's a "playing the slots" joke in there somewhere
HA well sure it is. Chicken and waffles should be safe though.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on October 06, 2014, 08:48:22 PM
I get to go to Las Vegas in three weeks thanks to the DevLearn conference.
I am accompanied by my manager, but she is bringing a friend of hers so they'll both be busy after show hours are done though I have no doubt they'll try to drag me out to do stuff.
Also our intern is going, and he's a young kid from Columbia, but that's all I really know about him.
Anyway...it's really really sad that I'm going to Vegas...for the first time in my life, I must admit...and I'm looking forward to it because I can bring a couple of solitaire board games with me to entertain myself in the evenings.
I realize the demented and sad state of affairs this tells of my social life, but (a) I don't have a lot of spending money so gambling is out (and not all that interesting to me, to be honest), and (b) I know little about Vegas and I'm not going with anyone I know so I'm not really prone to wanting to wander the Strip and have sex/strip club business cards thrust upon me.
In any case, if any of youse has been to Vegas and has any advice, let me know. It's hard to do anything there I think when you're broke. Besides play solitaire games alone in your hotel room when you're in the capital of sin and debauchery.
Sigh. O:-)
Where are you staying?
I echo the comments about Caesar's shopping area called the Forum Shops. Lots of resorts have their own malls.
Fremont Street, at night, is something to behold. You could hit the Heart Attack Grill whilst there. There is a bus that runs the length of the Strip and travels up to Fremont Street called the "Deuce". It's a great deal. But if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, take a taxi. They take side streets because the Strip can be blocked with traffic.
http://www.rtcsnv.com/wp-content/uploads/routes/2013/Deuce(07-07-13).pdf
You can get reduced price show tickets at these outlets on the Strip. You can get some great discounts, as opposed to buying the tickets directly from the show's box offices.
http://www.tix4tonight.com/
If someone approaches you in or near to a hotel or casino, trying to offer you free stuff- it's a time share pitch. Don't worry, they are 100% accustomed to being completely ignored.
My vice in Las Vegas: http://www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com/ (http://www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com/) G'suffa!
Centurion40: at the Bellagio. Right across from the Eiffel Tower replica, on the Strip.
Thanks for the links, guys. I'll check it out. If the prices are very reasonable I might try a show.
Nice. The Bellagio usually has something going on (some kind of exhibit) in it's atrium. You are mid-Strip, which is ideal.
My favourite thing to go is walk through the casino's and their malls. The Venetian also has an interesting indoor shopping area, complete with indoor and outdoor canals.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/196039_10151795573720072_304115418_n.jpg?oh=3365cdf9d4298dede8c947572986a64c&oe=54C469C3&__gda__=1421347600_7fbe3008b44edf962c355bb01e3e0507)
(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/l/t1.0-9/1930035_47168275071_1565_n.jpg?oh=bd9a7215e607e8aca988e79b917cd613&oe=54B3AA37)
Go shoot some guns at http://www.battlefieldvegas.com
I was there three weeks ago for a bachelor party and shot a vickers mk ii and an mg42. The vickers jammed on me and the armorer had to use his bayonet just like in real life to get the unwieldy bastard to fire again. If that had been me in 1916 the Huns would have made it into the trench
Con
What did that cost?
Drive a few hours east to Utah and go hiking in the rock formations. Very cool and, even better, you're no longer in that pathetic dump of a town.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on October 07, 2014, 01:48:21 PM
What did that cost?
A little less than a dollar a round. Yes you can still lose your shirt in Vegas even without gambling. But it was worth it to hear and feel an mg42. Sounds just like it's described. Lethal
Con
I really liked the Titanic Artifact Exhibition at the Luxor. The price at $32 may be a little steep, but I found it well worth it.
Banzai-
I went to Vegas for my 40th birthday and I do not gamble at all. I don't enjoy it. But, in the spirit of being in Vegas I dropped $50 on blackjack in about 5 minutes and just got it out of my system for the remainder of the trip.
You do not have to gamble to have a good time in Vegas. Great tips here. I do suggest visiting the casinos and walking around the various gaming floors...they all have individual themes and it's just neat. Great food available all over. And if you like to drink, I concur with the suggestion of blowing $20 on nickle slots and drinking for free (except tips). Or the Walgreens 40-ounce idea. Just soaking in the atmosphere is super cool.
And for the record, my first thought regarding your traveling companions was, "Cool! Three-way!" Just for the record. >:D
I hated every minute I was in Vegas.
Quote from: Bison on October 08, 2014, 06:54:45 AM
I hated every minute I was in Vegas.
Elucidate your thoughts, please.
Makes sense. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for crowds, myself.
Quote from: Bison on October 08, 2014, 06:54:45 AM
I hated every minute I was in Vegas.
I concur. It's a shit hole.
Quote from: eyebiter on October 06, 2014, 09:26:39 PM
Pinball Hall of Fame. Free admission, older machines are 25 cents per play, newer are 50 cents
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.destination360.com%2Fnorth-america%2Fus%2Fnevada%2Flas-vegas%2Fimages%2Fs%2Fpinball-hall-of-fame.jpg&hash=b95f7c1e5ff6c57a45d21f6756015cdc667a4266)
Pinball Hall of Fame is Unbelievable Goodness - if you like pinball.
Put your phone on vibrate if you need to take a call. You cannot hear your phone ring in there.
Las Vegas has excellent outlets, off the strip, for western wear. If you want cowboy boots, this is the place to get them.
The National Atomic Testing Museum is excellent overview of the development of atomic weapons, bomb testing, and all of the tests at Vegas. It is very well done.
See: http://nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/
The best magicians in the world are at Vegas. Many of the afternoon magic shows are very inexpensive, yet better than any live magic you will see anywhere else in the world. Do shop online for discounts before you go.
Usually www.tripadvisor.com is reliable.
The Las Vegas Advisor has up-to-the-minute information on discounts, events, etc..... See:
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/
The wife and I have gone to Las Vegas a half a dozen times. We do not gamble (I know way too much about statistics to gamble in a game with house odds). We go to relax, eat great meals, play pinball (me), shop at outlet malls (her) and see magicians. We go about once every five years. We eat one amazing meal a day (minimum). I play pinball. We see 4+ magic acts. We relax (we usually stay in off-strip hotels that are smoke free). But I usually time this for during or immediately after the National Rodeo in December.
If you have a car, there are some amazing restaurants that are way off the strip. The restaurant biz in Las Vegas is amazing given the competition they have with the casinos.
Vegas is a great place to see. Outstanding food, cheap good hotels, lots of quality shows. When I first went I expected it to be a seedy shit hole. No, it actually feels fairly safe. I think the casinos would come down hard on any crime driving away visitors. Enjoy the displays of the casinos. I have zero interest in gambling so I found the place to be well worth the money. You also have good access to many great National Parks as a day trip.
Ive never been and thats probably a good thing. if there was one show I would try seeing it would be Penn & Teller.
I did find a 'Pawn Stars' tour that looked kind of interesting. They take you to that shop, but I was more interested in seeing Rick's Restorations place, which is part of the tour too, and a few other locales that I don't care much about (like the aquarium tank place, whatever that show is called, Tank something). It's 'only' 60 bucks, lol. But it only goes out at 12:30 pm and I am probably going to be in the middle of convention time around then. I'm thinking I might have Friday wide open...gotta wait and see the convention schedule.
I'd love to see some museums. And man I'd LOVE to see Penn & Teller.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on October 08, 2014, 09:52:16 PM
Ive never been and thats probably a good thing. if there was one show I would try seeing it would be Penn & Teller.
Teller spoke to me. True story.
They meet & greet fans at the end of every show.
Awesome avatar 40.
Thanks, eh. It's how I roll... or rather how I'd like to roll.
Quote from: Centurion40 on October 09, 2014, 11:49:54 AM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on October 08, 2014, 09:52:16 PM
Ive never been and thats probably a good thing. if there was one show I would try seeing it would be Penn & Teller.
Teller spoke to me. True story.
They meet & greet fans at the end of every show.
I can confirm this. Penn & Teller greet fans after every show and you can take photos with them or get an autograph.
Their magic show is really different. Having seen 20+ magic shows, Penn & Teller have a lot more politics (usually promoting individual freedom) and do some tricks that I have never seen anyone else do.
Many magicians just do variants of the lady in the box. Penn & Teller don't do those. I really enjoy slight of hand, memory or physical magic. Teller did a physical magic where he removed items from a large number of bear traps. Penn juggled broken bottles - which he broke just before starting juggling. That is really hard since the items vary every single show.
But you can see 4 afternoon magic shows for the price of Penn & Teller tickets. But P&T is very memorable.
QuotePenn juggled broken bottles - which he broke just before starting juggling. That is really hard since the items vary every single show.
my money would be on precut sugarglass bottles like the kind used in stunts.
Just arrived today and did some walking around with my boss and her friend, but I split up from them mid-afternoon as I figured they should have girly time together.
Nice place so far. The Bellagio is pretty amazing. Walked across the street to Paris and had lunch at a French bistro place and had a terrific steak sandwich. Saw Carrot Top walk by my table not once, not twice, but three times and sit at a table a few away from mine. Dude looks freaky and scrawny in person, LOL.
Bought a ticket to see Anthony Cools (a hypnotist that apparently has a very naughty show) and a ticket to see The Jersey Boys, so I'm doing the show thing. Wish I wasn't doing it by myself, but whatever. Hypnotist is tomorrow night and Jersey Boys is Thursday night, my last night here. Looking forward to both.
I'm glad I went ahead and decided to get tickets and do something Vegas-ish.
But I DID bring Field Commander: Rommel, Cruel Necessity, and Ottoman Sunset with me, too. >:D
so you fancy show tunes....
not that theres anything wrong with that.
LOL...we will see. A friend of mine was just here last week and he said he loved it. I'm not minding a musical every once in a while - The Producers is one of my favorites (go figure). I just need to DO something other than sit in my hotel room and push cardboard panzers around.
did you forget Penn & Teller?
No...too expensive. I could do two shows for one Penn & Teller. The wife wants to come so we're going to plan a trip next year out here and I think we'll see them then, though.
how much were they?
About $120. I checked a couple of resources. I'm sure it's cheaper somewhere.
dayum!
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on October 27, 2014, 08:34:43 PM
About $120. I checked a couple of resources. I'm sure it's cheaper somewhere.
I paid less than that for P&T at the discount ticket place. I'm thinking $60/seat, lower bowl. :o
Vegas, I've learned, is like that...you can pay out your ass in one place and a block over you can save 50% on the same damn thing. I was very tentative in my explorations as my coworkers each had their own peeps to go around with.
The trip, though, was very cool. Here's some impressions.
The Bellagio is a beautiful, gorgeous hotel...but I only had room service there. Never ate in any of their restaurants otherwise. It's huge and full of shops and casino crapola but I didn't drop a dime in any of their machines or on their tables. It was crowded at ALL times, though, no matter the time of day or night. I don't know why - it wasn't all that appealing, even though its aesthetics were good.
Across the street, the Paris was amazing. My wife wants to come visit Vegas and I think we're going to plan a trip for sometime later next year, and I want it to be here. It's like Paris under a roof, with wide broadways to walk down and sidewalk cafes, shops, wine bars, you name it. Plus it had my favorite restaurant there in Vegas (thus far anyway) called Mon Ami Gabi. Had a delicious steak sandwich Monday and then Wednesday night I went ahead and ate dinner there (I hate eating alone, which is why I did room service a few nights). Wednesday night I had a Hanger Steak which was a delicious lean cut...oh man, it was great. The Jersey Boys theater was there and I had a great time at that show; the performers were amazing and an usher and I had a great conversation before the show started - she is a native and told me all kinds of interesting stuff about Vegas and her impression of it now ("it was better when the mob was running things; now it's all corporate and less regal/glamourous"). The singing was out of this world - the guy playing Frankie Valli hit impossible notes and the rest of the cast were mind-blowingly good. I got the soundtrack just an hour or so ago. :D
We explored Caesar's Palace yesterday before going to the airport and that place was like decadent ancient Rome meets Emperor Gus. Rod Stewart's likeness was everywhere as he had a show there, but his images were VERY photoshopped - that gave me a good laugh. It wasn't nearly as crowded as the Bellagio was so it was easier to get around. It is pretty damn tall, but doesn't look all that big; the ground levels, though, are HUGE.
The Flamingo is across the street from Caesar's Palace. We didn't go in there - our intern and his girlfriend went there for a burlesque show and they said the hotel was nasty and dirty.
That's about all I did exploration-wise. I really wish I had brought my FitBit with me to track the thousands of steps I did. The Bellagio convention hall was long, probably close to 3/4 of a mile (no kidding) and most of my sessions were of course at opposite ends.
Anyway, a great experience overall though it would have been much more enjoyable had my wife been there so we could do more!
I get to go to Vegas again not next week, but the week after. Same conference (DevLearn), same city, different hotel (MGM Grand). Not as stoked this time for some reason.
Quote from: Banzai_Cat on September 17, 2015, 07:25:17 PMNot as stoked this time for some reason.
not as many board games to ignore with you?
Sounds like first world problems to me, B_C. Where do we send the condolence cards to?
livingwithherpes.com
I think my issue is I really don't like flying.
Vegas will be fun, but getting there and getting home...I guess I'm a bit anxious thinking about it.
I'm also not much for crowds...they stress me out. The conference isn't a big deal, but the city itself is packed like sardines at any given hour. Some people love that shit, me, not so much. Which saddens me - because I'd have just as much fun sitting in my hotel room playing a solitaire board game. The saddening part is me telling myself that and thinking 'what the hell is wrong with you?'
I loathe flying in all its aspects. Especially the whole, 'metal tube hurtling through space at 55,000 feet,' part. As for the crowd thing, my gf has Generalized Anxiety Disorder and crowds are a big no no for her. So, blaming yourself for not wanting to be in the crush of people is not good for you. It may be out of your control.
Since I'm going with four co-workers, and nobody is having a +1 or significant other with them, I'm thinking I'm going to be going out with them every night, if they go that route. Which I'm fine with. Last year I went just about everywhere by myself, which was nerve-wracking to say the least, but I forced myself to do it because I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I just sat in my hotel room all week when not at the conference.
I'm also super-shy generally, but I do acting roles about four times a year with an audience-participation troupe to force myself to get out and talk to people. So I'm no stranger to that. It's helped me to be more gregarious, which does NOT come naturally to me.