Category Archives: Colorado Information

Restaurant, Hotel and Gaming Information for Colorado…

Las Vegas, NV, San Clemente, CA and Durango, CO

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We stayed at the Riviera Las Vegas in mid September. Overall it was a good stay. The Riv sent mail, advertising a pretty good hotel rate. I picked mid-week days to keep the price down and we hit the road. The deal was as follows: 3 nights at around $40.00 per night, two tickets to ICE (the ice show from Russia,) two breakfast buffets and a $200.00 gas rebate coupon. The room was basic but nice: new heavy mattresses, flat screen TV, nice appointments, safe, hair dryer and refrigerator. We got the comps for the Breakfast Buffet. I declined the show tickets since I saw ICE opening night around two years ago and Susan wasn’t into it. We could have traded the tickets for another show, just didn’t. The gas rebate, as I understand it is as follows: for every $100.00 in gas receipts (driving to Las Vegas) you get $25.00. I’ll be doing this through snail mail and I’ll let you know how it turns out…The buffet room is comfortable. The food lines had all the basics. All said, there were no problems – with the buffet. The only [Other than the weisel-esoteric humor] annoyances we encountered were the people from that Vegas Resort that advertises two free nights in Las Vegas. The people pestered us every time we walked through the hotel. Their manager left me with mental indigestion…
The San Lorenzo Italian Restaurant at the Texas Station Hotel served us a fine dinner. We had a delicious Eggplant Parmesan with a nice salad…Reservations are recommended, call (702) 631-1023.
The Riviera had a bank of WMS’ Monopoly slots. I watched in fascination… WMS’ Monopoly slots are superlative in their sound and video capabilities. WMS definitely has the latest edge over IGT…I wonder if the stock would be a good bet. Right now with the economy, SURE…They do have the best video display I’ve ever seen on a slot….If you played Pinball, you’ve played WMS – AKA- WILLIAMS…
Tony L has been hanging out at the Tuscany Suites and Casino on Flamingo in Las Vegas. It’s rather small for Las Vegas, but the locals seem to like it.
Moving on to Southern California we had an afternoon diversion in Dana Point at Turk’s Restaurant (34683 Golden Lantern St. Dana Point, CA 92629 (949) 496-9028)
How cool is this place…Think Old Man and The Sea – full beard sipping Bloody Mary’s after a day of fishing – with a Harbor view…Very nice…

Fisherman’s Restaurant in San Clemente, CA is a delightful place to spend a HAPPY HOUR – or any other hour…Grab a table (on the pier,) order an adult beverage and an appetizer and watch the surfers or just watch the surf…
Fisherman’s Restaurant in San Clemente (Nice website – view the San Clemente Pier Web Cam)
611 Avenida Victoria
San Clemente, CA 92672 (949) 498-6390

Fisherman's Restaurant on the San Clemente pier...

We went into Hollywood and had coffee and salads at The Farmer’s Market – World-class people watching…Come evening, four of us went to Miceli’s for dinner

Miceli's Italian Restaurant in Hollywood, CA...__________ Miceli's Italian Restaurant in Hollywood, Ca...

Miceli’s is the Oldest Italian Restaurant in Los Angeles…It shares the honors with Fior d’ Italia, which is the oldest restaurant in San Francisco, in fact Fior d’ Italia is the oldest Italian restaurant in America (1886.)…
Synchronicity might be the definitive word to describe the freaky coincidence that found us riding (on The Durango / Silverton Narrow Gauge Train) over the bridge (Baker’s Bridge) that Paul Newman and Robert Redford jumped from in the movie: Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid – on the day Paul Newman passed…”What we have here is an attempt to communicate.”
Beyond the Paul Newman thing, We had the good fortune – and good timing – to ride the train up to Silverton – at just the right time of year: the changing colors of the leaves were magnificent and the weather was perfect.

Durango/Silverton narrow-gauge train...__________Animas River in Durango, Colorado...

I recommend this trip, which is an all day excursion from Durango, Colorado to Silverton, Colorado on an ancient Coal/Steam, narrow-gauge train. The trip is several hours each way with a two-hour layover in Silverton, where you can walk around town, have lunch or a drink. Speaking of drinks, the train has a mess car where you can purchase food, coffee, beer and drinks. The train edges along mountain passes and follows the pristine Animas River. This is like the the perfect all-day Disney ride to the top of the mountain…Click the link for complete information, including ticket purchase.

The Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Black Hawk, Colorado / Calypso’s Buffet

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Isle of Capri Casino Black Hawk
401 Main Street
Black Hawk, CO 80422

With a parent company sporting 18 casinos in six (US) states, the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, across the street from the Riviera Black Hawk, the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel, in the mountain town of Black Hawk, Colorado, is a “full out” Las Vegas style casino with a Las Vegas style buffet. The casino with it’s colorful, vibrant, lively atmosphere is apparently attracting a whole bunch of customers. When I was in the casino last week, it seemed to have more than it’s share of gambling folks when some of the other stores were lacking heads. It was very much alive with a maze of 1300 machines, 18 tables and more…
I didn’t do the buffet since I already dined, but do plan to visit it soon. Although a bit smaller than the big guys, the room was inviting.

Soup's On...

CALYPSO’S BUFFET:
“Savor the great taste of rotisserie chicken, wood stone baked pizza, baked mahi mahi, blue and dungeness crab, steamed clams, scallops or freshly baked breads. ”
“For fun try the Specialty Station spotlighting a variety of cuisines – Mexican, Italian and Asian just to name a few. For a sweet ending, you’ll find all your favorites at the dessert station” [excerpts are from Isle of Capri’s website]
Breakfast $7.99
Daily 7:00am – 10:30am
Lunch $10.99
Daily 11:00am – 3:30pm
Dinner
$16.99 Sunday – Thursday 4:00pm – 10:00pm
$17.99 Friday & Saturday 4:00pm – 11:00pm

The website goes on to describe the hotel accomodations: “Enjoy a relaxing night in one of our 238 Cabana rooms or Paradise mini-suites. Each room includes in-room movies, wireless Internet access, plus vending and ice machines are located on each floor.”
“Our spacious Cabana rooms feature either one king size bed or two queen size beds.”
“Paradise mini-suites feature either one king size bed or two queen size beds, in-room whirlpool tub, a sitting area, three televisions, iron and ironing board and French doors opening out to beautiful mountain views.”

Visit the Isle of Capri’s Official Website
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s pages for driving directions, photos & more information
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Coupons Page

The Jim Thorpe / Black Hawk / Olympic Connection.

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This is an admittedly odd post. That’s par for the course these days. Anyway there is a connection between the gaming town of Black Hawk (Colorado,) and Olympic athelete and professional Baseball / Football player Jim Thorpe (1887-1953.)

The gaming town of Black Hawk, Colorado was named after the great Sauk / Fox warrior and chief, Black Hawk.

Chief Black Hawk……….BLACK HAWK – photo is from Wikipedia.

“Black Hawk or Black Sparrow Hawk (Sauk Makataimeshekiakiak (Mahkate:wi-meši-ke:hke:hkwa), “be a large black hawk”) (1767 – October 3, 1838) was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe.” [excerpt is from wikipedia] Born in Rock Island, Illinois in 1767. Chief Black Hawk died in Davis County, Iowa in 1838. “The Black Hawk War was fought in 1832 in the Midwestern United States. The war was named for Black Hawk, a war chief of the Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo Native Americans, whose British Band fought against the United States Army and militia from Illinois and the Michigan Territory (present-day Wisconsin) for possession of lands in the area.” “During the War of 1812 he fought on the side of the British.” [excerpts are from wikipedia]

Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Summer Olympics……….JIM THORPE – photo is from Wikipedia.
Jim Thorpe’s career years were 1912–1929. Besides the 1912 Olympic Games, Thorpe played baseball for the New York Giants (around 1914) and the Cincinnati Reds (starting in 1917.) “He played for the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs from 1915 until 1920 and the Cleveland Indiana (Indians) in 1921” according to the Official CMG Website of Jim Thorpe. “Thorpe played with six different teams during his career in pro football, ending with a stint with the Chicago Cardinals in 1929.”

THE CONNECTION
The Jim Thorpe CMG Worldwide website states that: “He was born to Hiram Thorpe, a farmer, and Mary James, a Pottawatomie Indian and descendant of the last great Sauk and Fox chief Black Hawk, a noted warrior and athlete.”
Jim Thorpe was indeed of Sauk Indian heritage. While often reported to be a direct descendant of the great Sauk / Fox chief, Black Hawk, the History Channel says: “Ms. Sue Hartwick, director of the Hoard Museum and Dairy Shrine in Fort Atkinson Wisconsin recently attempted to clear up the matter of Jim Thorpe’s ancestry by contacting the Thorpe family. Ms. Hartwick reported that contacts with Jim Thorpe’s now elderly granddaughter and other direct family decendants all revealed the same stunning conclusion:” read more from the History Channel…
“Thorpe was of mixed Native American and white ancestry. He was raised as a Sac and Fox, and named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as “Bright Path”. He struggled with racism throughout much of his life and his accomplishments were publicized with headlines describing him as a “Redskin” and “Indian athlete.” He also played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.”

Who do you trust?

“James Francis Thorpe (Wa Tha Huck, Bright Path) was born on May 22, 1887, in Keokuk Falls, south of what is now Prague, Oklahoma, on the Sauk and Fox Indian Reservation. He and his twin brother, Charlie, were baptized on November 17, 1887, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in what is now Konawa, Oklahoma, their mother’s home.”

“Jim was one of eleven children born to Hiram P. Thorpe, a man of mixed Sauk and Fox and Irish ancestry; and Charlotte Vieux, of mixed Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Menominee, and French ancestry, the great-granddaughter of Jacques Vieux, a French fur trader. Jim’s father was a horse breeder and trainer and occasional bootlegger. Life was a struggle for the family, and only five of the eleven children grew to adulthood. Jim used to run down the horses on their ranch on the banks of the North Canadian River, an activity that developed his strength and stamina, and helped him hone the athletic skills that would later make him famous.”

“Unfortunately, after this the search quickly becomes muddy. Various writers have claimed that Jim Thorpe was Black Hawk’s grandson; others state he was his great-grandson. Some indicate Sauk decendancy through his father, other claim his mother was decendant from Black Hawk. Attempts to trace Thorpe’s lineage through Whirling Thunder tend to peter out simply due to a lack of credible information. In short, such a distinguished lineage, laced with a blend of irony touched with a sense of ultimate triumph for Black Hawk generations later, should be fairly straighforward to trace….” read more from the History Channel…

THE CONCLUSION
Both Jim Thorpe and Black Hawk have roots in the Sauk Nation!

Official CMG Website of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe in Wikipedia…
Black Hawk in Wikipedia
Black Hawk biography webpage

JJ Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Denver, Colorado

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Soup's On...

JJ CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
2500 W. Alameda Ave.
Denver, Colorado 80219
(303-934-8888)

The first thing one sees, besides the door, when entering this modest restaurant is a wall of live fish. Live EEL, Crab, Shrimp, Lobster, Talapia, and more are on display in the tank. The tank is as clean and pristine as a home aquarium. These fish/crustaceans are also on the menu. The menu(s) that mention “Cantonese” consist of about a half-dozen pages of Chicken, Seafood, Pork, Beef, Hot Pot, Vegetable/To-Fu, [sic] Fried Rice, Porridge, Noodles/Lo Mein, Noodles with Soup, and of course Appetizers, *Beer, *Wine and Desserts. The basic meats /fish/vegetables include variations of Hot & Spicy, Szechuan, Sweet & Sour, Black Bean Sauce, Garlic Sauce, Brown Sauce, and Orange Sauce dishes, just to name a few.

Here are a few items from JJ’s menu: Crab Meat & Bamboo Fungus with Shark’s Fin Soup ($10.95 – for one,) Pig’s Blood & Intestine with Salted Vegetable Hot Pot ($8.95,) Kung Pao Shrimp ($9.95,) Sea Cucumber with Slice Abalone [sic] ($35.95,) Whole Dungeness Crab with Spaghetti in Cheese Sauce (around $16.00.) This whole crab is “drawn and quartered” and served – in shell – over a bed of spaghetti dressed with a melted cheese sauce.

JJ Chinese Seafood Restaurant is not terribly fancy, it’s rather plain. It is, however, very clean and tidy. It’s a family restaurant in an older neighborhood. None of that (except for the clean and tidy) really matters here, it’s all about the fresh, authentic, well-served food.

*The Beer & Wine choices are limited.

Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Denver Restaurants Page
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home Page

Black Hawk and Central City, Colorado Casino Update With Ameristar Casino, Fortune Valley Casino and Riviera Casino Information…

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Soup's On...
Back to the buffets. Anyway, I had a coupon for the Ameristar Casino’s Centennial Buffet. This is one of
Central City’s/Black Hawk’s newest buffets. It is not at all unlike some of the buffets in Las Vegas. Texas Station’s buffet and the Stardust’s buffet (now just a pile of dust & construction material) come to mind. The room is large, tastefully-colorful and warm. The food choices are abundant, artistically presented, aesthetically pleasing, and generally acceptable. (click the web site link for more buffet information.)

“With its hand-hewn timbers, wrought iron fixtures and dry stacked stone columns, the Centennial Buffet invites you to relax in an atmosphere every bit as charming and rustic as the casino. To add to the decor, we’ve commissioned a series of woodcut-style prints celebrating the rich history of Black Hawk. It’s the perfect place to gather for a delicious meal of anything your appetite fancies. Choose from a wide variety of fresh and flavorful Mexican, Italian, Asian and American dishes. Plus, every night we feature all you can eat snow crab.” [excerpt is from Ameristar’s web site.]

The Snow Crab always seems to be the big hit. Of course the buffet had a long, well-stocked Salad Bar with all the trimmings, including fruit, Ambrosia, cold vegetable-salads and more. Chilled Shrimp is stacked and served from a tall, hollow, rectangular, branded-ice-sculpture, which spills shrimp onto a platter from an opening at the bottom. This was pretty impresive, especially since the shrimp were “cold,” firm and not-too-small. Shrimp Cocktail Sauce, Tarter Sauce and Drawn Butter are on hand. Prime Rib, Jamaican Pork, Ribs, and Chicken – just to name a few of the nicely-displayed meats are behind glass or on steam-tables. Of course, All-American standards “are” in the house. Asian, Mexican and Italian food stations were at-the-ready on Sunday night. The Pasta & Pizza station had “order” cards for guest to fill out, for a custom prepared dish. Choose your ingrediants, write them on the card and the chef prepares the dish for you – on the spot. I had a tasty slice of flat-bread pizza with a killer red sauce at the Pasta & Pizza station. The chef on duty was the author of the flat-bread pizza and a good guy to boot. The Mexican station had the basics, and Green Chile…The Pulled Pork from another station reminded me of the Main Street Station’s [Las Vegas] buffet. I can’t list everything, however, the desert counter is worth mentioning: Petit Fours, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Cake, Pie, Cookies, Fruit, Ice Cream and more made a good finish.

Some things were excellent, some less-than excellent and other dishes were average. Overall it was a positive experience. The buffet Sunday night was about $18.00. Basic beverages are included.
Visit Ameristar’s Web Site for buffet prices and more information.

The Riviera gave me some nice comps, including a birthday dinner – but I’ll have to wait a week or so to cash that one in. Thanks Riv! I’ll be writing Riviera information next trip… Last but not least, The FortuneValley Casino also gave me a gift for my birthday. Thanks Fortune Valley
Visit the LasVegasBufetClub’s pages on Colorado gaming…
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page…

Maggie’s Closest Route to Black Hawk/Central City, Colorado …

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“Since this post was first published, it has been revised, slashed, cut and reworked. Please read the revisions carefully before using the information to drive to the casinos.”

I was either lucky enough or unlucky enough to have casino comps from: The Riviera, Black Hawk, The Ameristar Casino and The Fortune Valley Casino, so it was definately worth making a trip up to the mountains.
Having access to a GPS unit, I decided to do a best-route test. Which route to Black Hawk/Central City, Colorado would Maggie (that’s what I call the GPS because the GPS’ voice sounds like a Maggie, also because it’s a Magellan GPS ) take if I asked [her] to plan the shortest route. You can program the GPS to plan a route using the criteria of: the shortest, fastest, most use of freeways and least use of freeways. At the intersection of West 8th Avenue & Speer Blvd. I set the GPS to map the shortest route to Central City. I entered the target address as 100 Main Street – Central City, Colorado.

[Fully expecting the GPS to tell me to take: West 6th Ave. to I-70 West to Central City Parkway, then on to Central City/Black Hawk, since everything I’ve heard told me that the new route is the fastest. [*I was indeed wrong, I guess.] I have to get more input from more sources before I can totally confirm this.]

Here’s what actually happened: Leaving West 8th & Spear the GPS directed me to proceed to West 6th Avenue and continue on West 6th. Approx. 26 mi. later Maggie “told” me to take Colorado 119 and proceed on 119 to Black Hawk. This is the old route – totally bypassing the new Central City Parkway. [*I was indeed surprised, however as I said, I have to do a bit more research.]

*This information is not wrong as the GPS was programed to find the SHORTEST route. 7-23-08

UPDATE JULY 23, 2008 – Here’s the scoop: The West 6th Avenue, to I-70, to Central City Parkway to Central City and Black Hawk is the FASTEST route from downtown Denver, according to a Magellan GPS. It’s about 40 miles (45 minutes.)
The West 6th Avenue, to US 6, to Colorado 119 to Black Hawk and Central City seems to be the SHORTEST route – in DISTANCE: about 35 miles, but a bit longer in TIME, about 60 minutes. (This information, of course, depends on your departure point. Basically the drive (approx. 35-45 miles) takes about 45-60 minutes.)

During inclement weather, I-70 West to Central City Parkway will still be your best bet.

Visit the LasVegasBufetClub’s pages on Colorado gaming…
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page…

Hanson’s Grill & Tavern in Denver, Colorado

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Soup's On...
Hanson’s Grill and Tavern could easily be overlooked in the quiet, older neighborhood where it’s located. Don’t let it’s mild appearance fool you. It’s a good restaurant. Several dinning rooms, a patio, and a bar offer good seating choices. Very comfortable, cozy booths in the room just south of the bar offer a secure escape.
Who am I kidd’n, it’s all about the burgers. Here’s the thing: on Mondays and Tuesdays they promote something called Burger Madness: $4.00 basic burgers w/lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle. The hunk of well-seasoned beef is huge. It must be 1/2 to 3/4 lbs. of meat. I’m just guessing, but it is one of the largest patties I’ve seen, good taste, good quality. The regular (Wednesday through Sunday) price is about $7.00.
On Burger Madness nights you can choose from a number of extras for just a buck or two: cheeses, toppings, sides etc. This is, for sure, one of the best deals in town.
Back to business. The eveyday menu is extensive with everthing from Steak dinners, and Prime Rib to pastas, salads, sandwiches, soups, chile and more…
Long happy hours and an upstairs game room add to the attraction..

Hanson’s Grill & Tavern
1301 S Pearl St
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 744-0210

Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s main web pages…

Annie’s Cafe & Bar in Denver, Colorado is open for business.

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Soup's On...

Annie’s restaurant fits it’s new building like a well turned hand in a classic glove. For years, Annie’s collected kid’s lunch-boxes, antique toys
(like little girl’s bake ovens, ironing boards and irons,) 50s metal-slogan-signs, vintage Hollywood movie posters etc. All this was displayed on the walls of the former building which evoked more of a strip-mall-like ambience. The memorabilia was somewhat cheapened by the stark lighting and cafeteria vibe. The new restaurant is warm and cozy with it’s well patinaed dark woods, providing a perfect showcase for the mementos.

The new digs comprise several rooms, including the inner sanctum-like bar area which has a number of dark, wood-slat booths & tables, and of course, a small bar. The front dining area faces Colfax Avenue. The Colfax scene can be seen through the large picture windows. This perfect-for-breakfast room is spacious and bright.

Annie’s menu seems to be pretty much the same with the inclusion of adult beverage items – the Peanut Butter jars are still on the table [read the previous post.]

Check the website from time to time, it’s not totally “up” yet; the menus weren’t on-line at the time of this writing. The “T-Bird” breakfast (two eggs, hash browns, meat choice & pancakes) is on the menu as well as all the other breakfast favorites, and there is the jar of peanut butter on every table.
Annie’s Cafe & Bar has nightly specials such as: an Enchilada Plate, Chicken Pot Pie, Lasagna, Fried Chicken, and Grilled Fish served with soup or salad ($7.95 – $9.95.)

Diner, dinner entrees, soups, salads, sandwiches, fries, malts, shakes, cokes, booze and more are available.

The new location is 3100 East Colfax Avenue and St. Paul Street, Denver, Colorado 80206.
Annie’s Cafe & Bar’s Website

Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s home page!