Saturday, September 29, 2018

E-280: Flat Billed Baseball Hat...Slightly Eschew



Random Vegas
Celine Dion makes $500,000 per show.  For a typical 90-minute show, that' $5,555 a minute (@VitalVegas)
Twitpic of the week

Cynical snarkyness aside, the booze wall at the NoMad bar, shared this week by @EaterVegasis an impressive view.  Overwhelming in scope, the wall of good times glows gold with a seemingly endless variety of options to elevate your Vegas experience despite the glaring omission of bar top gaming.  It's been misunderstood that our incessant critique of Park MGM represented a dislike in the project which is not accurate.  Ours is one of disappointment in the gross over spending on a poorly planned, uninspired idea.  No one will dispute that Monte Carlo was in need of a reimagining.  But when you compare MGMs investment plan to what Caesars did to Imperial Palace, arguably the worst property on the Vegas strip, it's laughable just how foolish the plan of taking a low-end resort and turning it into one that competes with Bellagio and Aria was.  Despite all that, the amazing thing about Vegas is the people it attracts and the inspiration it evokes.  Fortunately, even the current court jester of Vegas CEOs Jim Murren can't bland that down to the infinitely forgettable.
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Saturday, September 22, 2018

E-279: Straw Snorkeling



Random Vegas
In total, The Landmark sat empty and unused for 1/3 of her life. First from 1963-1969 then again from 1990-1995. (https://www.facebook.com/Landmark.Hotel.LasVegas/)

Twitpic of the week

Much like a Washington DC memorial, Lucky Dragon stands as a reminder of something tragic.  Okay, maybe not as tragic as the events that inspire said monuments but you come up with a better metaphor for that property.  As if it's location wasn't a large enough hurdle to overcome, by electing to aggressively cater to Asian gamblers only, no amount of ownership confidence was going to help this concept succeed.  And odds are, it will never look any better than it does in the photo captured this week by @vegasphotograph
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Saturday, September 15, 2018

E-278: 360VV7 Fall 2018


Random Vegas 
Originally in 1989, Stratosphere was only meant to be thousand foot tall neon sign for Bob Stupak's Vegas World.  The concept evolved in 1990 into an observation tower that would be the signature attraction for the property.  It wasn't until Stupak had to bring on Grand Casinos as investment partners to finish the project that the idea of rebranding was introduced.  In 1995, 3 years after construction started on the tower, Vegas World was closed for remodeling and expansion.  It would reopen in 1996 as Stratosphere. 

Twitpic of the Trip 


It comes in waves, the realization that I actually live in Las Vegas and exactly what that means.  For example, as fun and relaxing as 360 Vegas Vacations are, there was always a weighted "To-Do" list that came with them.  What's changed since I was last in Vegas?  What do I need to see and experience? How do I get it all done in the 5-6 days I'm in Vegas?  All that's gone now.  Now it's just an opportunity to hangout with my friends and meet some amazing new ones in the greatest city in the world, aka my home.  It hit me unlike ever before the 1st Saturday following #360VV7, typically more of a lachrymose time as recollections of our latest adventures are still fresh and the countdown to when I can return begins.  This time, I was back on the strip, wandering about, documenting another installment of 360 FHE.  And it hit me...this is your life now.  You never have to leave Vegas again.  You're home.  And no matter what else happens, no matter how dark the corners of your mind become or how trapped you become in them, never forget that you're a two-time life lottery winner.  You got the girl and domestic bliss in Las Vegas.  Then, while looking at the photo captured by official 360 Vegas Vacation photographer @japluto09a mischievous idea came to mind...I'm gonna wreck this fuckin town. 

360VV7 Flickr
360VV7 SmugMug
(@Japluto09 - Official 360VV Photographer)