FREEMONT STREET

LAST SUMMER WE WENT TO LAS VEGAS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH AND STAYED DOWNTOWN ON FREEMONT STREET.  THEY WERE CELEBRATING THE SUMMER OF 1969,  40 YEARS SINCE WOODSTOCK AND MAN WALKING ON THE MOON.

WE REALLY ENJOYED THE HIPPIES, THE TIE DYED CLOTHES, THE MUSIC, AND THE FUN ON FREEMONT STREET.  IT WAS A GREAT PROMOTION.

THIS SUMMER THE THEME WAS THE MUSIC OF THE 70’S.  WELL, NEITHER OF US GOT OFF ON DISCO OR THE MUSIC OF KISS, BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE WE DECIDE TO SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS ON FREEMONT STREET AND CHECK IT OUT.

THE FIRST THING WE NOTICED WAS THIS SIGN HANGING OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN GATE CASINO.

A WISCONSIN SIGN?  TURNS OUT THE BADGERS FOOTBALL TEAM IS DUE INTO TOWN WITH THEIR FANS TO PLAY AGAINST UNLV. TALK ABOUT FEELING AT HOME !!!

WE STOPPED TO GAMBLE AT THE VEGAS CLUB, MARY HAD $20 IN FREE PLAY AND WHILE SHE HIT THE NICKLE SLOTS I CHECKED OUT THE CRAPS GAME.  NOW THIS IS AN OLD CASINO AND A GRIND JOINT.  DESPITE THE FETISH PIT, COMPLETE WITH POLE DANCERS THEY “SWEAT THE MONEY”.  I MEAN THE PIT BOSSES BREAK OUT IN A SWEAT WHEN SOMEBODY STARTS PLAYING $25 CHIPS AND THEY WATCH YOU LIKE A HAWK.

I HAD A GOOD RUN OF LUCK AND HAD THREE PIT BOSSES HUDDLED UP AROUND THE CRAPS GAME WHEN I DECIDED TO QUIT AND COLOR UP A STACK OF GREEN ($25) CHIPS. I THINK THEY ALL HAD TEARS IN THEIR EYES WHEN THEY DUSTED OFF A $500 CHIP TO GIVE ME.

NOW IT WAS ME IN SHOCK.  THE AVI WHERE WE WORK DOESN’T EVEN HAVE $500 CHIPS.  I LEFT THE CHIP LAY ON THE LAYOUT A LONG TIME, AS I BULL SHITTED THE DEALERS AND TIPPED THEM. THE PIT BOSSES NEVER HEARD A WORD I SAID AND THEY NEVER TOOK THEIR EYES OFF THE PRETTY GRAY CHIP.

AT THE CAGE WHEN I WENT TO CASH IT IN THE EMPLOYEE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND MADE A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS BEFORE COUNTING OUT OUT MY MONEY.

BELIEVE ME CASINOS ARE A LOT MORE FUN WHEN YOU WIN !!!

THE NEXT DAY WE DECIDED WE COULD AFFORD A TRIP OUT TO THE STRIP AND TRIED OUT THE NEW BUS CALLED “THE ACE”.

LOOKS MORE LIKE A TRAIN THAN A BUS.  “THE ACE” IS AN EXPRESS BUS, MAKES FEWER STOPS, USES A BUS ONLY LANE ON THE STREETS AND IS VERY COMFORTABLE.

WE WENT TO THE MGM CASINO ON THE STRIP AND VISITED TELEVISION CITY, RUN BY CBS, WHERE WE WATCHED A PILOT OF A NEW SITCOME AND DID A LENGHTY SURVEY ABOUT THE SHOW FOR THEIR FEEDBACK.  WE DIDN’T GET PAID, BUT RECEIVED A HANDFUL OF COUPONS.

WE ALSO CHECKED OUT THE NEW SONY 3D TELEVISIONS.  THINK YOU’RE UP TO SPEED WITH YOUR NEW FLAT SCREEN HD TV?  THINK AGAIN, 3D TV IS COMING IN JANUARY. DON’T FORGET TO ORDER EXTRA 3D GLASSES FOR ME. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE PACKERS PLAY IN 3D.

WE USED OUR COUPONS TO SAVE $10 ON THE CSI EXPERIENCE. IT’S NORMALLY A $30 TICKET. TAKE MY ADVICE AND SKIP THIS ONE, IT’S NOWHERE CLOSE TO THE OLE STARTREK EXPERIENCE AT THE HILTON.

HOW CAN I BLOG ABOUT LAS VEGAS WITHOUT BRINGING UP THE GLOOM AND DOOM OF THE NEVADA ECONOMY.  UNEMPLOYMENT HIGHER THAN DETROIT, FORECLOSERS, LAY OFFS, ETC.

SOME OF IT, IS THEIR OWN FAULT…….HERE IS MY STORY.

AT THE MGM HOTEL ON THE STRIP MARY AND I STOPPED AND BOUGHT TWO REGULAR SIZE ICE CREAM CONES, THAT’S TWO SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM. THE BILL WAS $14.58.  

DOWNTOWN AT BINIONS CASINO WE ORDERED A 16 INCH PIZZA AND A PITCHER OF BEER FOR $10.

THE BIG OPERATORS ON THE VEGAS STRIP NEED TO PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR GREEDY ASSES.

BACK DOWNTOWN WE MET UP WITH PAULIE AND HAD A GREAT TIME.  IT REMINDED ME OF THE SUMMER 2000 WHEN THE THREE OF US CAME TO NEVADA AND SPENT ALL OUR DAYS OFF TOGETHER.

KINDA LONG WINDED TODAY, I’VE GOT SOME MORE PHOTOS, DO YOU THINK WE HAD FUN ON FREEMONT STREET?