The Trip Report That Wasn't - Part III

Well, we're bashing around in Vegas and we've had some really up days and some really down days.

Had a fun day at Wynn yesterday and I pulled the rookie money management move of all time - forgetting what my starting stake was. I actually lost $200 more than I'd realized.

Not savvy.

Not R.W.F.

After two weeks in Vegas the Quad Queen is up $285 and I'm down $600 after a week here.

We really hammered the dollar play at Wynn yesterday and they even comped me a buffet.

Apparently I have $45 free play there too. I had some good hits on dollars (see below) but played them back, because I am chasing that elusive second dollar Royal in 17 years. Sometime it will come, and all of a sudden I will switch from being a loser tourist gambler to the savviest player in the world (in my mind).

You know how The Flusher loves free stuff, right? Here's the skinny on the Downtown Grand new member bonuses.

The Downtown Grand slot club has been named "MYPOINTS". Now that is some savvy marketing right there. When you hear the name "MYPOINTS" it evokes a certain mood, a feeling of my points. Of points, points that are mine.

Very aptly named, if you ask me.

Sign up and you get a draw for some free play. We each won $3. You could win up to $1000.

On VP, you get 3 points for every $2 of play. This translates to 1.5 points per dollar.

Maybe they should have named the club "MYPOINTANDAHALF"

After 1,000 points earned you get $5 in slot play.

After 2,000 points earned, you get a Limited Edition Downtown Grand Las Vegas "Original Member" Token. (This will be going straight to the pool room, when I get it.)

After 3,000 points earned, you get a free hat. No word on if it is a limited edition.

There are also drawings held throughout the week although the procedure still baffles me. I had thought there was a drawing the Sunday we were there, and the VP machine did periodically congratulate me for having earned a virtual ticket. But come eight o'clock there was no indication that the virtual drawing had happened. I probably don't understand the system - and if you ask Jimmy Poon, the genius back home at Royal Canadian Veeblefetzer who runs this site, he would tell you it is far from the first time.

I should mention the Triple George Grill... I've been hearing about this place for years and wandered by many times... and never set foot in the place.

Well, I was a fool, let me tell ya.

Our host at the Downtown Grand graciously set up a comp for us there the other night on the basis of our bar-busting dollar VP play during the soft opening, and because she realizes that we are the kind of savvy players the Grand really seeks.

Anyway, the Triple George has this really cool 30s vibe going on and has a bunch of private booths for dining. We both had a bone-in rib eye steak that was on special and OMG it was good.

I don't know much about wine, but I had a glass of that red wine everyone has these days. Merlin or something.

Here are some pictures from dinner, and various snaps of some cool VP wins, including a righteous Aces Kicker hit at the Mikes Bar in the Four Queens yesterday by the Quad Queen.

Aces Kicker progressive at Downtown Grand hit at $970.

Triple George booth. And someone's hands.

Triple George

Ribeye meat fest, glass of Merlin.

Quad Queen's Aces Kicker hit.

Me.

Me again!

Also me. Parlayed this into over an hour of dollar play.

Even Wynn has some maintenance issues. Mrs. Flusher broke a machine there.

Getting Lucky at the Downtown Grand

The trip has being going pretty well so far - up until today... this morning we were up a combined ~$2K but Mrs. Flusher had kind of an 'off' day and was down about $700 by mid-afternoon.

We were excited as hell that the Downtown Grand was having its soft opening this afternoon and we planned to head over there - maybe that would be the change in luck she needed...

I had a pretty good day having some great runs on quarters - played an hour and a quarter on $20, and on another occasion hit two quads for $100 each in ten minutes on Bonus Deluxe at the Fremont. So I was up a little on the day.

Never mind that though, this is about the Downtown Grand.

I've been waiting and waiting for this property to re-open as a sign that the Downtown Vegas that I love would be growing and flourishing - and the day has finally come.

We strolled over and headed inside.

The casino is really nicely done. It feels comfy and modern, with touches of stylized turn-of-the-previous-century factory industrial, if that makes any sense. In any case, it works.

We were greeted warmly by so many different staff members and they had a system set up where folks with handheld units could set up your player's card account without you having to wait in line at the slot club.

Once we got our cards set up we did what any degenerate video poker junkie would do - slid up to the bar and slipped some dough into the machines.

The bar staff was great - shout out to Guy who kept us laughing and kept the Maker's and the Jameson's flowing appropriately.

We hammered at the dollar VP for about three hours and I managed to pull to almost even on the session thanks to a couple of quads. The Quad Queen managed only one and dropped about $420. OWIE!!!

Really, we did not get the statistical number of quads we should have gotten for that amount of play - five or six would have been average.

But we did qualify for drawings, free play, Original Member tokens, and free hats!!!

They have a very sophisticated slot club system that is fully integrated into the gorgeous looking flat-screen machines, although it can be a little unnerving when the video poker display gets 'squashed' by an incoming notification, such as when you earn a drawing ticket.

We met a few of the staff including the Beverage manager, Monica - always important to make sure the beverages are covered!

When it was time to roll, I called for a host to come over and we had a nice chat with Melli, who set us up with a dinner comp for later in the week. We also talked about future stays and honestly, I can't wait.

The place looks fantastic. The music is great, no grating too-loud crap like at the D, or grating too-loud American Idol meets Real World soundtrack crap like at the Smug Nugget. And no 'hits of the 60s all day every day' like at the Cal. ;)

No, the music is modern, edging more towards urban pop beat-driven club techno dance with a touch of hip hop. I'm sure there's a channel for that on Sirius.

And actually, the first song I heard upon entering the Downtown Grand was from my favorite album of this year, Daft Punk's "Get Lucky".

Seemed appropriate given the opening and given the heritage of the Downtown Grand, once upon a time, the Lady Luck.

Now to go and get my free hat $420 hat!!!

Yes, Mrs. Flusher set a personal best today, having her largest Vegas loss ever ever ever at $1020. I'm sure I can top that record though...

Ladder to the Top Shelf liquor - literally.

Lobby - can't wait to stay here.

Very cool Art Bar. Look up!

Outdoor gambling will presumably be in this mini pit/patio.

 

The Trip Report That Wasn't - Part II

It's kind of a shame that this isn't a full trip report because it's been, in some ways, a doozy.

The Quad Queen, in her first week here (solo) hit not one but two 50 cent Royals Flush.

And I was lucky enough to add one of my own on the first day.

Just after that, the Quad Queen went to break a bill, came back, and started playing. After about 6 hands she realized that the machine had changed away from her desired game to the Loose Deuce.

She said, "Okay, I'll give this a few tries..." and about 4 hands later was dealt this:

Yup, dealt the Loose Deuce.

We played in the Cal / MSS Big Treat tournament - did shite though.

I lost my ass the 2nd day, like down $760. Today I broke even or close to it.

I'll try to check in with y'all in a few days.

Keep Drawing,

Royal Flusher

Fremont really does NOT want you to accidently call for much needed service.

The Trip Report That Wasn't - Part I

Hello Fellow Flushers,

Jimmy Poon tells me that lots of you are confused about my Vegas status.

I'll try to keep this simple.

It's been a tough year in many ways and this fall has been even tougher.

Mrs. Flusher booked a solo trip for October, and as you know, I was in Vegas solo in August.

I'm not inclined to disclose a lot of personal stuff from Flusherville because this blog is meant to be a place for fun, stupidity, laughs, occasional hinted vulgarity, gambling, debauchery, and all things Vegas. In any case, the situation evolved such that I found myself able to meet up with Mrs. F in Vegas, and also in deep need of a break (and even a rest).

Don't worry, the Quad Queen and I are just fine. I just need some time and some Vegas, as we all do as life evolves.

As such, even though Jimmy Poon is hounding me to blog so as to keep the moneytization revenue streams pissing small change, I will not be gracing you faithful readers with a full trip report.

However, I have been tweeting a few things and posting a few things on Facedork. And I may make a few summary posts here.

But this trip is primarily for me, and for the Quad Queen.

In the meantime, let me direct you to the last complete trip report, so that you may read it over and over again.

Gather the kids in a circle, put on some hot chocolate, and roast some marshmallows around your laptop - read it as a family, and bask in each other's presence.

Or maybe read it on the bus to your own grommet job in whatever is your own Royal Canadian Veeblefetzer...

20th Anniversary Cheapstravaganza Blue Moon Las Vegas Trip Index

Savvily Yours,

Royal Flusher

Postscript:

Yes there was a bit more posted on this trip...