Already gone.

Next stop Vegas. Paris confirmed. NYNY blacklisted.

Cranberry Coolers like the Cape Codder

Cosmopolitan is confirmed.

Although it has been described as "Life from inside a chandelier." , the Cosmo has plenty of talent and lots of hidden penny slots. You may get lost trying to find a blackjack table but there's a comfy modern chair nearby to watch the scenery. Oh, and we might as well become part of the Identity Club. Maybe we will take a break and hit up the hot pool party at the Marquee Dayclub.

The blacklist award goes to the MGM Grand. Not much to explain here. It's not on the way to Ellis Island, like the Westin is. The lion is never around when you want to check him out. And it's kinda of like being on an endless yellow brick road walkway. Too long!

-Roberto

Reverend Green

Here is a collection of photographs from previous trips to Las Vegas.

 Orange Juice

Pitchers of Coors Light

Don Williams

Marc Cohn in the Peanut Gallery

Monday Up and Down

There was a bit of a spoiler in my previous post about which casino I was going to blacklist. I seem to be in a pretty foul mood, and my misguided fury is about to set upon what was once one of my favorite casinos.

Bellagio: Italian for Blacklisted

The fountain is exquisite, and I enjoy sneaking a peek, but I heard the same shows in 2006. The Fremont Street Experience is more up-to-date. The leather chairs at the sports book are the best, and drink service there is also top notch, but I've no use for any of that on a summer Monday night. Bellagio finally had $10 minimum blackjack tables the last time I was there, but I had no luck, and less satisfaction from the casino. I hate losing money in a bad mood, and I certainly felt pretty rotten the last time I was there. This year, I'm lucking out across the street.

Flamingo: Getting Relief

This is a very decent casino, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Harrah's Caesar's has consistently offered BZA terrific room comps, and the Flamingo is a great place to stay. It is right in the middle of the strip. The rooms aren't luxury, but they aren't motels either. The habitat is a pleasant place to visit, and say hello to the cinnamon teal for me when you're there. The service is reasonable, the tables are priced right, and I enjoy the atmosphere of the breakfast buffet. They have plenty of Wheel of Fortune slots as well. Not to mention some pretty sweet ashtrays.

Thank you, Silverton!

Ellis Island responded immediately to our e-mail, and it seemed like we had had a good thing going. Then came the silence. Efforts to contact Four Queens and Hooters were met with no reply. We faced similar bad luck with Treasure Island, The Cannery, and Bill's Gamblin' Hall. Was BZA not good enough for Vegas? Flashbacks to Bellagio suddenly entered our minds. We had presented our player's card to the dealer at a $10 minimum table and were told that we wouldn't be rated unless we wagered at least $25 a hand. That's akin to saying our money is not wanted there. Take the damn card and say thank you! Go ahead and mark down that we're not betting enough, but don't say it to our face. What if we had a streak, good or bad, that ended up in our betting $50 a hand? Are you going to ask for our card then?

Silverton has come through and restored our beliefs in all that is good about Las Vegas. We are about to blow $2k of our hard earned money on the farce that one can win big in this town, and the least a paid communications director can do is send us a thank you note ahead of time. They were told that "esteemed" members of BZA were heading their way. Did we have to mention that one of us is coming on the heels of receiving a fat $100k+ check? All we asked for were "any helpful tips or recommendations for our stay." Melinda Filstrup at the Silverton was kind enough to oblige us.

Neil,

That's great news! Please check out the following.

• Twin Creeks Steakhouse.  Great food.
• Mi Casa Mexican restaurant. We have a large selection of Tequilas and a new menu (menu launched last week).
• Seasons Buffet
• Mermaid Lounge
• Sundance Cafe
• SWAY - June 4th we have a pool party with a special performance by Haleamano featuring The Mighty Diamonds.
• Silverton Rewards - We just launched a new and improved Players Club on April 1st.  Sign up for a players card for dining and gaming offers.

I hope this information helps and we look forward to your stay.

The My Morning Jacket concert at my house was fantastic, and I'm ready to announce my final Monday selections, but I would like to thank the Silverton one last time for the satisfactory reply I received. As you can see, all it takes is a boilerplate cut and paste job to please BZA.

Wynning...is for losers

What is this blog about? Is it only about choosing Casino's to visit or blacklist on the upcoming BZA Vegas Vacation? I would venture to say that the answer is no. Instead this blog also serves as tool to unveil Vegas for what it is. It allows the BZA perspective to be heard and brings the Vegas experience to others. After all, Las Vegas is a general "Life Lesson" described through a series of events by BZA members' experiences. To that end...of course we all would love to hit jackpots but it isn't always about Wynning. The quality of the experience will linger in our thoughts far beyond the material Wynnings.

I recall a story from BZA Neil and his brother. They were guests at the Wynn Casino one lovely summer. They decided to eat 7-11 hotdog sandwiches on the front steps of the Wynn while they gawked at the other guests. Without any hesitation the Wynn security staff immediately picked them out as ruffian vagabonds intent on harassing all the Wynn Hotel guests. When stopped and questioned by Security, Neil whipped out his Wynn hotel key and left them so disillusioned. Security could not believe how such a dynamic duo could actually be guests at the Wynn.

This story, "Dantasy", makes it utterly clear that BZA is not to return to the Wynn. Instead BZA may consider visiting the bastard son, The Encore, next door if time permits.

Wynn is Blacklisted

Hacienda Casino is Confirmed

Despite a few poor reviews and some really positive comments "Tristan, August 2010, Location good...The Hacienda Hotel is located very close to Lake Mead. That's the nicest thing I can say." The Hacienda Casino has made the BZA list. We are not going to stay at the Hotel but rather pass by on our trip to Hoover Dam. This means we will hit up the Casino and Restaurant. We can sign up for the Matador Club card and try our luck on Mr. Lucky's Big 6 Wheel. This will be the Gem in the desert!
-Roberto

Silverton by a Soda

BZA selects: Silverton

I was set to select M, but the locals have ruined the M resort's main attraction, the free soda fountains. From LasVegasVegas.com:

And that's the reason they were removed, with locals coming in with their families and abusing the perk by filling up Big Gulp cups with free soda and wandering the casino. Or patrons not purchasing a drink at the restaurants because they could grab a free one just a few yards away.
But players can still get free drinks via the cocktail waitress, just like other casinos.

Sorry, but "free drinks via the cocktail waitress" means $1 drinks via the cocktail waitress, and no Dr. Pepper is worth a golden coin. M Resort still has a shot, but the guarantee goes to Silverton, and here's why.

• "Best Free Attraction" in Las Vegas.  Silverton boasts a 117,000 gallon aquarium, and unlike Mandalay Bay, it's free.
• The Silverton is nicely situated off the strip, not too far off-course from the Hoover Dam.
• Silverton Rewards is a membership club that I haven't joined yet.
• Starbucks coffee available to casino patrons.

BZA rejects: Mirage

Can it be that another top-notch casino makes the Blacklist? Before BZA is branded as a bunch of lowlifes, let me explain. Dinner is at 10:00. The Mirage volcano is at 11:00. Sexy Sirens is at 11:30. There simply isn't enough time to go to the casino. A mirage may play tricks on the eyes, but it cannot stop time. Drinks at the Mirage are terrific, and the waitresses are pleasant and prompt, but the casino is unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Pardon me Roy, is that the cat who chewed your new shoes?