Category Archives: Las Vegas Information

“Columbus Day Website – Welcome to the Columbus Day site!” [Not affiliated with the LasVegasBuffetClub…]
“Hi, this site was created to present clear and accurate information about Columbus Day. This site is cross browser compatible, simple to navigate and therefore easily accessible. We hope that your visit to our Columbus Day web site will provide you with all the information you need.” read more…

THE WHITE HOUSE
Columbus Day, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
White House News
Christopher Columbus’ bold voyage across the Atlantic changed the world forever. On Columbus Day, we remember this Italian explorer’s courage in traveling to the unknown and celebrate his landmark achievements and lasting legacy read more…

CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE US

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
The Oldest Continuous Marching Parade in America!
PARADE ROUTE
Kick Off at Linwood Avenue in Patterson Park
Proceed West onto Eastern Avenue
Right onto High Street
Disband on Central Avenue
Parade Reviewing Stand and Spectator Seating located at Intersection of Stiles and High Streets in Little Italy read more…

The mission of Columbus Celebrations, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is multi-faceted and includes the following:
To celebrate America and its discovery.
To celebrate our Italian as well as the multi-cultural heritage of our magnificent nation, the United States of America.
To support our community, our children and those less fortunate, through charity and creative fundraising events.
To continue the great tradition of Baltimore’s Columbus Day Parade, America’s oldest parade and celebration of its kind.

BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY
1 o’clock start for Columbus Day Parade
Friday, October 10, 2008
Local politicos, Italian-American honorees, and music-makers will be among the throngs of marchers in this year’s Bayonne Columbus Day Parade, when they step off Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fifth Street and Broadway read more…
The parade route is north along Broadway to 39th Street, then west past the reviewing stand at Stephen R. Gregg/Hudson County/Bayonne Park at Avenue C for the conclusion of the event.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETS
What do marching bands, Santa Claus and Shrek have in common? They’re all alums of Boston’s annual Columbus Day Parade. Celebrating the diversity of America, the parade includes representatives from Mexican, Puerto Rican and Italian cultural groups and music and dancing from all over the world, as well as floats read more…

CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA
Columbus Day Parade draws thousands to downtown Cape Coral
At the stroke of 5 this afternoon, Cape Coral police motorcycles blared sirens and drove east on Southeast 47th Terrace, kicking off the city’s annual Columbus Day Parade.
Thousands of people lined the downtown street, parallel to main thoroughfare Cape Coral Parkway, and took in the sights and sounds of the parade — a Cape Coral tradition for more than 25 years.
“We try to promote the Italian culture in Cape Coral,” said Salvatore Cossentino, president of the Charles J. Bonaparte Sons of Italy Lodge 2504 of Cape Coral, which organized the event. “There are a large number of Italian constituencies here, and we hope people look foward every year to the Columbus Day Parade.”
The most common sights at the parade were American flags, followed closely by Italian flags.
But with the presidential election just a little more than three weeks away, the event also took on a decidedly political tone. About halfway through the 40-minute parade were three cars bearing large signs for the Republican presidential ticket, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
About five minutes behind them were three other vehicles bearing large signs for the Democratic candidates, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware.
Several other cars featured candidates for local offices.
“It was very political,” said Tia Janssen, 38, of Cape Coral, who was watching the event with her husband, Michael, 43. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“It’s going to be an important election, very close,” said Pam Bergstrasser, 64, of Cape Coral, who was with her husband, Dennis, 60, at the parade. “There are so many opinions.”
For the first time, the parade featured the Italian Food Festival afterward. That appeared to boost the parade’s attendance.
“I think it’s phenomenal,” Cossentino said of the attendannce at the festival early in the evening. “It’s kind of what we expected, but it’s even more than we expected so far.”
The Sons of Italy Lodge 2507 of Port Charlotte also took part in the Cape parade.
“As brothers and sisters in the lodges, we try to support one another’s parades, socials and charities,” said Ronald Radenz, president of the Port Charlotte lodge read more…

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
ABC 7 Chicago to feature live, HD broadcast of Columbus Day Parade at 12:30 PM on 7.2, Monday October 13th
ABC 7 CHICAGO, the official station of the 56th annual Columbus Day Parade, will broadcast the parade, live, Monday, October 13th, from 12:30-2:30 pm. on ABC 7’s 7.2 (Comcast Channel 217 and Wide Open West Channel 101). ABC 7 will also stream the parade live at abc7chicago.com. An encore presentation of the Columbus Day Parade will air on Saturday, October 18th at noon on ABC 7. The parade will be presented commercial free. read more…

CLEVELAND, OHIO
Little Italy Cleveland Art Walk & Columbus Day Parade (Univ. Circle / Cleveland) read more…

DENVER, COLORADO
Denver Parade News:
Protesters do not plan to interfere with the Columbus Day Parade on Saturday as they have in previous years.
A leader of the movement to end the Columbus Day parade, said Thursday that lawyers for the protesters need a break.
The same lawyers who defended the Columbus Day protesters last year – when 83 people were arrested – also represented some of the same people after arrests during the Democratic National Convention.
“That’s thousands of dollars worth of legal work that’s done for us. You have to be respectful of their time and their resources,” Spagnuolo said.
The Columbus Day parade begins at 10 a.m. at Court Place and 15th Street. It follows a route that circles about a half- dozen blocks and ends on Broadway.
George Vendegnia, who heads the parade committee, said he can do without protests.
“That would be nice,” he said.
Opponents will rally instead near the Capitol before the parade, Spagnuolo said.
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said, “We’ll be adequately staffed for the parade.”
Jackson said the opponents don’t have a parade permit, but noted they don’t need one as long as their activities remain on the sidewalk.

Denver is asked to join objections to Columbus Day parade content – DENVER – The city of Denver is gearing up for its annual pre-Columbus Day parade Oct. 11, an event that has placed Colorado’s capital squarely at the epicenter of a recurring debate about the Columbian legacy and the character of Christopher Columbus himself. read more from Indian Country today…

Denver Post Rises to Defense of Columbus Day Parade read more from ’07 Denver Post article…
The Denver Post calls on American Indians to Protest IF they Must, But, Do it Peacably.
It also branded as “a vile and unnecessary attack” the American Indian branding the Italian-Americans who celebrate their culture and long history in Colorado that day as “racists” !!!!!!!

Columbus Day parade organizer: Protesters got “a little spanking on the hand” read more…

MIAMI, FLORIDA
LIV Columbus Day Regatta – Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12 – Miami to the Florida Keys

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
Welcome to the Greater New Haven Columbus Day Committee web site read more…

NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Historic and Contemporary Award-Winning Maseratis in New York City Columbus Day Parade read more…
Columbus Citizens Exotic Car Raffle

No. 1 world rated junior welterweight contender Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) briefly returns home this weekend from his Las Vegas training camp, where he is preparing for his November 22nd showdown against Ricky Hatton to determine the world’s read more…

Columbus Day Parade – Join thousands on Fifth Avenue on Monday to celebrate the contributions of New York’s Italian-American community. Admiral Edmund Giambastiani Jr. will serve as grand marshal for the procession up Fifth Avenue from 47th Street to 79th Street from noon until 3PM.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
“Columbus Day parade Sunday on S. Broad St.” The city will celebrate Columbus Day on Sunday with a giant parade in South Philadelphia. This year’s grand marshal is Hollywood actress Connie Stevens (born Concetta Rosalie Anna Ingoglia).
The parade, which celebrates Italian culture and traditions, will start from Broad and Reed Streets at 12:15 p.m. and proceed south on Broad to Oregon Avenue and Marconi Plaza, where the Italian Festival will be held. Local streets will be closed during that time.

PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
10/10/2008 06:50 AM | Via: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“Columbus Day Parade set for Bloomfield tomorrow”
Pittsburgh’s Italian-American community will celebrate Columbus Day with a parade tomorrow down Bloomfield’s Liberty Avenue. The grand marshal is Carla E. Lucente, the city’s Italian consul and a Romance languages professor at Duquesne University read more…

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
More than 400,000 revelers are expected at San Francisco’s 140th ANNUAL ITALIAN HERITAGE PARADE on Sunday, October 12, 2008, as the City’s oldest civic event and the nation’s oldest Italian-American parade and community celebration winds its way from Fisherman’s Wharf to North Beach. A San Francisco institution since it was established in 1868, the 2008 Parade is promising to be bigger, better and more colorful than ever read more…

TRENTON, NEW, JERSEY
A sunny salute to Italian-Americans at Columbus Day Parade
Sunday, October 12, 2008
BY ALEXANDRA WARD
Special to the Times
HAMILTON — It wasn’t just Italian pride that swelled yesterday, but county pride as hundreds of area residents came out to see the Mercer County Italian-American Festival Association’s Columbus Day Parade.
The fourth annual parade began near the Five Points intersection and proceeded along Nottingham Way to the sound of bagpipes, a brass band and Italian music read more…

WESTERLY, ROAD ISLAND
The 2008 Westerly Columbus Day Parade will kick off at 1:00 PM, Sunday, October 12, 2008, from the corner of Tower and Granite Streets, Westerly read more…

The day is known as Día de la Raza in much of Latin America, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, and Día de la Hispanida (Hispanic Day) in Spain.

FYI – Transcontinental Interstate 10 serves the southern tier of the United States by providing the main east-west link from Santa Monica and Greater Los Angeles in the west to Jacksonville in the east. Major cities served by Interstate 10 include Los Angeles, California; Phoenix, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Jacksonville, Florida. This route is known as the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway, and it is one of three coast-to-coast Interstates (the others being Interstates 80 and 90).

Visit the main pages of the LasVegasBuffetClub at: www.lasvegasbuffetclub.com/

Las Vegas Information

Restaurants at the Palazzo Hotel

October 11, 2008 William Carbone

Soups On...

Mario Batali’s Carnevino Steakhouse, Wolfgang Puck’s CUT Steakhouse, Emeril Lagasse’s Table Ten American Restaurant are three of the more famous names among over a dozen real snazzy joints at the Palazzo. it was Susan’s first trip to the Palazzo and she was impressed. Since I still prefer the Old-Vegas expierience, like snacking on the little burgers at the old Boardwalk food-counter after midnight – half-lit and missing you, I wasn’t as easily impressed.

Fine Dining:

CARNEVINO

CUT

Lavo

Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro

Restaurant Charlie by Charlie Trotter

Casual Dining:

Sportsbook Bar & Grill

In-Suite Dining

Las Vegas Information

Ieatvegas’ latest picks for top buffets/restaurants.

October 10, 2008 William Carbone

LVBC Caudren

Ieatvegas’ latest picks for top buffets/restaurants – LasVegas.

TOP 5 HOTEL BUFFETS
Spice Market Buffet at Planet Hollywood
Le Village Buffet at The Paris Hotel
The Buffet at Bellagio
French Market Buffet at The Orleans Hotel
Carnival World Buffet at The Rio Hotel

TOP 5 HOTEL RESTAURANTS
Grand Lux Cafe at Venetian
Cheesecake Factory at Caesars Palace
Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas
Delmonico Steakhouse at Venetian
Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery at Monte Carlo

TOP 5 RESTAURANTS
Hikari Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Anna Bella Restaurant
Marrakech Restaurant
Eat ‘Em Sandwiches
Memphis Championship Barbeque

Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s pages for buffets at: www.lasvegasbuffetclub.com/buffets.htm

California Information, Colorado Information, Las Vegas Information

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

October 9, 2008 William Carbone

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

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 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.

__________

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.

Las Vegas Food, Las Vegas Information

Mayflower Cuisinier Chinese Restaurant Blossoms into Woo Restaurant at The Palazzo, in Las Vegas

August 10, 2008 William Carbone

Woo Restaurant
The Palazzo Hotel
3339 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada
89109
702-699-8966

THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS:
(The Mayflower Cuisinier was a Chinese Fusion restaurant on Sahara Ave. in Las Vegas.)
“Rated among the top 10 restaurants in Las Vegas” by the Zagat Restaurant Guide. [I think this was around 2005.]
“The menu may highlight Chinese favorites, but the real story about the Mayflower is that is [sic] features Chinese cuisine with and Continental influences, making the Mayflower one of Las Vegas’ most cosmopolitan dining experiences. Executive Chef Ming See Woo emphasizes health and quality ingredients, while adding no MSG to her preparations.”

“Executive Chef Ming See Woo has caught the attention of the “experts” as well. The restaurant received a “Best of the Best” five diamond rating from the prestigious American Academy of Restaurant Sciences as one of the top 25 locations in its “Chinese” category. The Zagat Restaurant Guide ranks Mayflower as the top Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas as well as the fifth most favorite restaurant in the city.” [Excerpts are from the Mayflower’s website – restaurant is now closed.]

The Mayflower has blossomed into Woo Restaurant at the Palazzo.

The following is a restaurant revue, for the Mayflower, that I found on the web:
“Reviewed by IN2JAZZ on 09/20/2007.
“Member since March 2000, Total Reviews: 11 (Male, Bethlehem, PA)”
“Wonderful food, creative menu, artfully executed. Very attentive service had a warm family feel to it. I have been told that they are relocating to the Venetian Hotel in January 2008. They will rename the restaurant as Woo (their family name) and the existing restaurant will close. I am sure that it will be excellent food, but I do enjoy finding the out of the way bargains. I was completely satisfied with our meal at Mayflower.”
– Maybe that reviewer enjoyed the DOM PERIGNON, Moët et Chandon 1990 ($160.00.)

THIS IS THE WAY IT IS:
The reviewer was close, the Mayflower did relocate – to The Palazzo Hotel. It’s present incarnation is Woo Restaurant at the Palazzo.

From the new menu:
Beef, Seafood, Lamb Chops, Chicken, Duck, Dim Sum and Vegetables are the basics for the entrees. A few of the variations on the theme(s) are: Lobster on Forbidden and Bhutianese Rice ($36.00,) Stir-fried Scallops in Spicy Szechuan Sauce ($16.00,) Mongolian Grilled Lamb Chops w/Macadamian Crust and Cilantro Mint Sauce ($35.00,) Lobster w/Thai Basil Chili Sauce ($39.00,) and Rock Shrimp Tempura w/Spicy Cilantro ($15.00.)

“Google searches” for the best Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas would often point to The Mayflower Cuisinier. It will be interesting to track Woo Restaurant…

Visit Woo Restaurant’s Official Website with full menus, history, photos and more. (Good website…)
Visit The Palazzo Hotel’s Official Website
Visit the main webpages of the LasVegasBuffetClub.Com

Colorado Information, Las Vegas Gaming, Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

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

July 8, 2008 William Carbone

“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…

Colorado Information, Las Vegas Gaming

Colorado casino revenue down 10.7 percent.

June 8, 2008 William Carbone

By The Associated Press – “DENVER — Revenue at Colorado casinos fell 10.7 percent during the beginning of 2008, the worst drop in the industry’s history. The industry and gamblers are blaming the state’s new smoking ban as well as high gas prices. Others blame the overall soft economy.”
“Stephanie Steinberg, who pushed for the smoking ban to be expanded to casinos, thinks the recession is more to blame. She said casino revenue in Las Vegas, where smoking is allowed, has also dropped.” read more of this A.P. article at The Denver Post.com…

Link to the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Colorado Casinos’ Pages

Las Vegas Gaming, Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

The Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nevada

May 21, 2008 William Carbone

“Las Vegas is known for the unusual and offbeat. Places like the Liberace Museum, the Neon Museum, the Clown Factory, The Elvis Museum, the Barry Manilow Store, the Pinball Hall of Fame… Wait a second. The Pinball Hall of Fame? What exactly is that? Or more importantly, why is there a Pinball Hall of Fame?” read more from The Pinball Hall of Fame’s website…

___Inside the Pinball Hall of Fame___
[Photo is from the PHoF’s website.]

The Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, A.K.A. The Pinball Museum is located “in a strip-mall on the North West corner of Tropicana and Pecos, at 3330 E. Tropicana – about 30 blocks (3 miles) from the ‘strip’ straight down [east] Tropicana.”

In the 90s a collector moved 1000 pinball machines from Michigan to Las Vegas. Most of that collection is in storage, waiting for restoration; some 190 (current number) machines are in use at the PHoF, and can be played on site for $0.25 or $0.50. Classic Gottlieb, Bally and Williams machines, as well as other manufactures’ machines are in play:
Total Pinball machines: 141
Total Arcade machines: 48
Total EM machines: 65
Total SS machines: 124
Total Gottlieb machines: 50
Total Bally machines: 38
Total Williams machines: 35
Total Other makes: 67
Total PHoF Machines (all types): 190

“The Pinball Hall of Fame is a registered 501c3 non-profit. It relies on visitors stopping by to play these games, restored pinball machine sales, and ‘This Old Pinball’ repair dvd videos (available for sale at the museum). The PHoF has also helped out with fundraising for the local Salvation Army, accepting donations to benefit them. There is a candy vending stand, where the entire 25 cents of each quarter goes directly to the Salvation Army. And after the PHoF covers its monthly expenses for rent, electricity, insurance, endowment savings, the remainder of the money goes to the Salvation Army.”

” [The] ‘cheap side’ approach gives the Pinball Hall of Fame its disarming, thrift-store feeling. The royal-blue carpet? It’s scrap from a Convention Center weekend show. The change machines? Grabed [sic] from the Golden Nugget’s trash dock before the garbage men came. But it’s not about cutting corners – it’s about maintaining an almost obsessive focus on the pinball games themselves. Forget about public relations, marketing, uniforms, or even a sign outside. ‘If the games play, the people will come, quarters at the ready. There’s stuff here that hasn’t been seen since my mom was a kid. And it’s all up here, and it’s playable.'” [Excerpts are from the PHoF’s website.]

Admission is free, play the games for $0.25 & $0.50…

The PHoF’s website has photos, directions, maps, game lists and more general information…

Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s main pages…

Las Vegas Food, Las Vegas Gaming, Las Vegas Information

Bay City Diner at The Golden Gate Hotel

April 18, 2008 William Carbone

Hopefully, when the new investors of The Golden Gate Hotel make the inevitable “improvements,” they will leave the diner as is. And what it is, is an authentic, on-the-street, “Big City” downtown diner.

I’m not the only one who sees something special in The BAY CITY DINER:
“The Golden Gate Hotel’s BAY CITY DINER has been used for a number of Motion Pictures by Hollywood: It appeared, along with many other classic Fremont Street casinos, in the film Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.”

“In the movie PAY IT FORWARD, Helen Hunt worked at The Golden Gate’s Bay City Diner.” The following is from yelp.com: “Have any of you seen the movie “Pay It Forward“? I did, but after I moved back to Boston in 2002. It was filmed in Las Vegas, and I remember flipping out when there was a scene with Helen Hunt as a change lady. At the Golden Gate. Well, Kevin Spacey’s character brings her flowers and they have the awkward “I like you but can’t really tell you” conversation, and then? They speak of the diner.” [all-sic] Read more…

The diner’s Art-Deco interior with it’s dark wood & mirrors has a well aged patina that can’t be duplicated with nails & plasterboard and all the master-craftsmen in Las Vegas. Good gosh, leave something of the old Las Vegas…Especially when the something was “so good to begin with.’ Especially when that something is still very good.

There is a certain something that an older building can impart to a human being. Familiarity of ones surroundings can sooth, calm and refresh us from the harshness of the cold world. Even the behemoth Las Vegas should – at least minimally – preserve emotional havens for it’s citizens.
Locals and casino workers etc. need a few anchors to keep them from drifting, so to speak. And most importantly, I need to check in at the Bay City Diner from time to time.
Las Vegas still has the Peppermill uptown. One wonders when that will fall to another pretentious, plastic palace?

“In the mood for a mouth-watering 16 oz. Porterhouse steak at our Bay City Diner? We promise you great food served with a smile and at prices long forgotten by the mega-resorts.” VisitLasVegas.com has photo & other information for The Bay City Diner..
Visit The LasVegasBuffetClub’s pages for The Golden Gate Hotel/Bay City Diner…
The USMENUGUIDE says: “Voted Best of Las Vegas year after year.” usmenuguide.com has: Peppemill photos, menus and other information.
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Peppermill page …

Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s main webpages…

Las Vegas Food, Las Vegas Gaming, Las Vegas Information

Commission approves sale of 50 percent stake in Golden Gate Hotel.

March 30, 2008 William Carbone

The GOLDEN GATE HOTEL in downtown Las Vegas sells 50% interest to an investment partnership: “A 50 percent interest in Las Vegas’ oldest hotel-casino was sold [Mid-March, 2008] to an investment partnership controlled by two brothers whose family made their fortune manufacturing nuts and bolts in the Midwest.” read more…
“The partnership [“Desert Rock“] owns 19 percent of Riviera Holdings, the parent company of the Riviera, and has made several land investments in the Las Vegas Valley. Through some family trusts, Derek Stevens and his 37-year-old brother recently completed the purchase of the Las Vegas 51s, the top minor-league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.” read more…
“We won’t touch the shrimp cocktail,” Stevens said of the Golden Gate’s famous menu item. “It’s the best shrimp cocktail in Las Vegas.”
“Desert Rock plans to invest more money in the property to remodel the hotel’s 106 rooms and refurbish the property’s public areas by building new restrooms, adding a sound system inside the casino and enhancing the signs on Fremont Street.”
“Jack Binion, scion of the Benny Binion gambling empire downtown, said he thinks the area will benefit from the upscale boom on the Strip.”
“As the midlevel places get imploded on the Strip, I think it is going to drive more people downtown,” said Binion, 71, whose family no longer operates Binion’s. “Everybody is into nostalgia. There is a lot of nostalgia down there.”

“Review-Journal reporter Benjamin Spillman contributed to this article. Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or (702) 477-3871.”
The preponderance of this information is from The Review Journal.

“Established in 1906, the Golden Gate is proud to be Las Vegas’ most historic hotel/casino and the smallest hotel on Fremont Street, with only 106 rooms. Our guests can enjoy the intimate atmosphere of an historic hotel and then step outside our front doors into the grandeur and excitement of the Fremont Street Experience, with dazzling free light shows and special events. Our shrimp cocktail started a Las Vegas tradition over 40 years ago, and still is named “Best of Las Vegas” year after year. We offer great accommodations, plenty of gambling action and excellent food in a warm and friendly environment.” [Access the Golden Gate’s Website.]

The LasVegasBuffetClub says: “I hope they don’t touch the diner. The Bay City Diner at The Golden Gate is a classic diner. It’s ambience and patina can’t be replaced.”

Go to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s page for the Golden Gate Hotel.
LasVegasBuffetClub.Com – Home page…
Take me to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s COUPON page…

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