Las Vegas Information

The Gold Spike Hotel Casino in Las Vegas reports having a new owner…

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Gold Spike Hotel & Casino – 400 East Ogden Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Contact Info:
(702) 384-8444
(800) 634-6703 (toll-free)
“Hot Diggity! The Gold Spike has new owners, and they plan to do something the old owners didn’t: spend money. They better, because they spent more dough buying it than they’ll ever find in lost change between the slot machines and stuck to the old carpet.” Read more…
From The Siegel Group:
Greetings from the new owners of the Gold Spike Hotel & Casino. Read more…

This is the new LOGO for the Gold Spike:

The new Gold Spike's Logo...

Take me to the LasVegasBuffetClub’s page for The Gold Spike Hotel and Casino

No Thanks, I’d rather go to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home Page…

Miscellaneous

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

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Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day ( Keylight Entertainment Group and Kudos Productions Ltd.) “Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job [1939 London.] An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse.” – Plot Outline by IMBd.
This Cinderella-High-Romance film is beautifully decorated like a rich Art Deco cake with gobs of frosting…Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) is the cherry on top. This film is for lovers of “romance,” drop-dead-gorgeous set decoration, (period) Swing-Jazz and fine performances by: Frances McDormand … Miss Pettigrew and Amy Adams … Delysia Lafosse; Directed by: Bharat Nalluri; Writers (WGA): David Magee (screenplay) and Simon Beaufoy (screenplay) …
If I were giving out awards for this film, I’d give awards for the set designers and decorators, acting awards for Francis McDormand and Amy Adams, and awards for a very fine soundtrack – maybe a few more…
Watch a YouTube video with Amy Adams and Francis McDormand – Oscar nominee Amy Adams talks about her work with Oscar winner Francis McDormand in the romantic comedy ‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day.’

Recipes

RATATOUILLE

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RATATOUILLE is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds: Ratatouille the (animated) movie is about a country-rodant, as in RAT, with a fine, furry nose for food, and a slacker “garbage boy” who become alter-ego, so to write, chefs in a gastronomique Parisian restauant. (A recipe for Ratatouille can be found below.)

Ratatouille, the animated movie (2007) is nominated for 5 Academy Awards (2008):
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Michael Giacchino
Best Achievement in Sound
Randy Thom
Michael Semanick
Doc Kane
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Randy Thom
Michael Silvers
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Brad Bird
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Brad Bird
The LasVegasBuffetClub says: “BEST ANIMATED MOVIE SINCE CARS”.

Click the following link for IMDb information for the Ratatouille movie.
Ratatouille – movie information on IMDb

RATATOUILLE, the recipe…
This is an old French recipe for Ratatouille (basically a medley of cooked veggies,) from:
Larousse Gastronomique by Prosper Montagne (Prefaces by Auguste Escoffier and Phileas Gilbert) – c. 1961 by Crown Publishers.

Peel and slice 6 aubergines [eggplant] and 6 Italian marrows (courgettes,) [zucchini] sprinkle with salt and leave covered with a weighted plate for 1 hour.
Slice 2 large onions. Skin, remove pips and cut up 8 tomatoes. Slice 2 peppers [green bell] very thinly, removing core and seeds. Chop 3 garlic cloves.
Heat 1 cup olive oil in a heavy pan, fry onion until slightly colored, add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, then add aubergines, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, add a bouquet garni [bundle of herbs: thyme, bay leaves, and sage, tied with a string] and cook, covered for an hour. This dish may be served hot or cold.

Take me to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s Recipe page.
Take me to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page.

Miscellaneous

YouTube / LVBC music playlist…

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This is a most excellent playlist of PRIMO 50s & 60s tunes. This list of songs (videos) include: *The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s “TAKE FIVE” (1961,) **Santo & Johnny’s “SLEEP WALK” (1959,) ***Link Wray’s “RUMBLE” (The YouTube video is from 1978 – the song was a hit in 1958,) ****Booker T & The MGS’ “GREEN ONIONS” (1966.) Interestingly, the TOP FOUR in this current, partial list of my ALL-TIME-FAVORITES are all instumentals.
*Jazz masterpiece from the Dean of Progressive Jazz. “Possibly the best instrumental of modern times, hypnotic with it’s 5/4 time.”
**Arguably the first “mystical” Rock n’ Roll record. “The Steel-guitar notes seem to connect to one’s nerve endings, and when the strings bend, you bend.”
***Link Wray’s guitar chords cut through the air like a chainsaw. “RUMBLE” was one of the first Rock songs with a serious attitude. This is one of the deep roots of electric guitar music.
****Booker T & The MGS’ (1966) “GREEN ONIONS” features a guitar solo that stabs more like an electric knife (see Link Wray, above.)
These comments are addressed to the young dudes & dudettes who might not have heard these tunes…
Anyway, these four tunes and twenty others can be accessed below, click the menu for the complete list.
This Playlist is limited to very early (50s & 60s tunes;) it is not necessarily unchangeable.
I’ll add to this post when I have more time.

Hit the 2nd button from bottom left to excite the menu, if it is not available…
The following link will take you to the [Full-size] Video Player on YouTube, if you would prefer to view the videos there; you’ll also be able to access more LVBC favorites/videos:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DAAD1DF6F82EF586
This playlist is copyrighted (c.) by [WilliamC1-YouTube Channel] & [The LasVegasBuffetClub.]

You can also access this Player at www.MovieFountain.com

Take me to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page.

Las Vegas Food

Broadway Pizzeria

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Anthony & Mario’s Broadway Pizzeria – in a strip-mall near the Palace Station (off Sahara) is a great little get-away place. Nondescript, this locals pizzeria in the Smith’s shopping-center is a good place to have a NY slice or two, or a pasta dinner. Nothing fancy, just good food for a few bucks.
From Las Vegas Boulevard & Sahara Avenue, drive west (a few blocks) to Rancho Drive (Palace Station,) turn right and drive a few more blocks till you see the Smith’s grocery store (on the left.) Broadway Pizzeria is on the north side of the parking lot:
840 S Rancho Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89106-3837
(702) 259-9002

This place has enough New York in it to make a Wyoming cowboy squirm…

Take me to the LasVegasBuffetClub’s page for Broadway Pizzeria.
Take me to the LasvegasBuffetClub’s home page…

Las Vegas Food

10Best.com’s list of the 10 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas.

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This is 10Best.com’s list of the ten best restaurants in Las Vegas: 1. Rosemary’s Restaurant, 2. Delmonico Steakhouse, 3. Burger Bar, 4. Pamplemousse, 5. Sterling Brunch, 6. Royal Star, 7. Swiss Café Restaurant , 8. Shintaro, 9. Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare , 10. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop.

You can click a specific link or click the 10Best.com link below for more information.

10Best.com says: For many years, the dining scene in Las Vegas was considered subpar when compared to major cities like New York or Los Angeles. But just like everything else in this sparkling city, dining has been completely revamped – with overwhelmingly positive results. Here you can find outposts of the country’s most famous (and skilled) chefs, read more…

These are, of course, excellent places to eat! The Las Vegas Buffet Club, however, misses some of the long-gone eats & eateries, such as the BOARDWALK’S $.49 Hobo Stew or their greasy cheesebergers late at night; how ’bout the cheap late night breakfasts at SILVER CITY or a Cobb salad at the STARDUST’S TOUCAN HARRY’S. Speaking of Hobo Stew, there used to be an authentic HOBO JUNGLE behind the HACIENDA HOTEL where you could sit back on a discarded aluminum lawn chair and enjoy real Hobo Stew from a bean can. OH YEAH BABE…How about breakfast with TOM WAITS & CHUCK E WEISS at DUKES CAFE on Santa Monica Blvd. or sitting with RON BROWN & BOBBY BOYER at the IHOP in Hollywood next to the new, hot band: THE MONKEES, while RON BROWN was talking about another new band he just played (Fender bass) for in a recording session: CROSBY STILLS & NASH (before Neil Young;) he was also talking about playing with Stevie Wonder – wait a minute, that was in Los Angeles wasn’t it?

Las Vegas Gaming, Las Vegas Information

ENCORE At Wynn Las Vegas

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The following two paragraphs are from: EARLY VEGAS.COM.
“The Encore Las Vegas tower will be a $2.1 billion, 2,034 room hotel project next to the existing Wynn las [sic] Vegas Resort and on the remaining land of Las Vegas Blvd. Originally envisioned as an addition to the Wynn Las Vegas, The Encore will be a full resort and casino. It is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2009. The hotel features a 74,000 square foot. [sic] casino, manynightclubs [sic], restaurants, and bars. As of the beginning of 2007, construction was up to the 18th floor, and will be about 60 floors when complete. It is set to be the tallest hotel in Las Vegas.”

“As reported by Rod Smith, Gaming Wire: Despite project cancellations and concerns about overbuilding on the Strip, Wynn Resorts Ltd. is proceeding quickly with development of the 2,000-roomWynn Las Vegas Wynn Las Vegas Encore [sic], the second phase of Wynn Las Vegas. Developer Steve Wynn said Thursday the project is on pace to break ground in June, and Perini Building Co. Chairman Dick Rizzo calls Encore one of the surest bets on the Strip for completion by 2010.” read more…
Click the read more link for photos and more information from earlyvegas.com

More information from WIKIPEDIA:
“On 28 April 2006, the resort celebrated its one year anniversary by breaking ground on a second hotel tower. [note link deleted] Called Encore, the tower will be a $2.1 billion, 2,034 room hotel project adjacent to the existing resort and on the remaining frontage of Las Vegas Blvd. Originally envisioned as an expansion of Wynn Las Vegas, Encore will be a full-scale resort and is set to open in the first quarter of 2009. The hotel will feature a 74,000 sq.ft. casino, several restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. As of August of 2007, construction was on the 50th floor, and will be 61 floors when complete, making it the same size as Wynn, floors 13, and 40 through 49 will be left out at Mr. Wynn’s request (Ideology which relates to the Western belief of 13 being an unlucky number, as well as the Eastern/Asian belief of the number 4 meaning death.) In August 2007, Steve Wynn stated that the casino that will be part of Encore will feature a similar design to that of Wynn Macau’s casino. [note link deleted]” read more…

Colorado Information

Denver Restaurants: My Brother’s Bar, The Red Coral, Torres Mexican Food.

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My Brother’s Bar (2376 15th St. Denver, Colorado; 303-455-9991) is a longtime favorite in Denver.
Click this link to access the LVBC’S page on My Brother’s Bar.
The Red Coral (at 1591 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80222) is another favorite. (Review from September 4, 2007)
The Red Coral is a Strip-mall restaurant that primarily serves Mandarin & Chinese food…On the last visit we had Sesame Eggplant ( 茄子- around $8.95.)…This is a small neighborhood restaurant with consistantly good food and wine at fair prices…The house wines start at $2.75…Red Coral offers Carafes & 1/2 Carafes…For an appetizer, try the Vietnamese Summer Rolls (Steamed shrimp, rice noodles, cucumber, bean sprouts, lettuce, cilantro and mint leaves wrapped in rice paper, served with a spicy Asian peanut sauce – $5.95.)
Click this link to access the LVBC’S page for The Red Coral…
Torres Mexican Food Restaurant in Denver (Review from September 4, 2007)
1597 S. Federal Blvd.
Denver, Colorado 80219 (303-934-8857)
Torres Mexican Food is an authentic Mexican cantina that serves the basic southwestern dishes: burritos, chile rellenos, enchiladas, tacos etc. as well as seafood dinner fare such as: Shrimp/Oyster cocktails, Shrimp Rancheros, Shrimp fajitas, Fresh oysters, Seafood soup, “Filete” Ranchero, Stripped bass, Tilapia…On my first visit, I had the Green Chile Plate ($6.25) which consisted of a large plate of green chile with big chunks of meat, rising like mountains in the Sea of Cortez, rice & beans and 2 large tortillas…The “regular” Margarita is small, however it is only about $3.75, so… The next step-up is $9.00 – that one is huge. Maybe there should be a mid-size Marg for about $5.00. Other brew prices are very reasonable. Decorated like an Mexican coastal restaurant, the booths seem to be a notch higher in quality, so are the (table) chairs which are proudly emblazoned with the Torres name…Speaking of booths, take a booth in the lounge area; the lounge has a bunch of energy…This is a good discovery. Unless something happens to change my mind, this will be one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Denver. This is a restaurant where one feels comfortable, accepted and welcome; there is no hoity-toity arrogance.
There is a second location (in a Strip Mall) at 2049 Wadsworth Blvd.
Click this link to access the LasVegasBuffetClub’s page for Torres Mexican Food, includes a link to their website with the complete menu.
Click this link for a partial list of favorite Denver restaurants – when you reach the page, scroll down…

Colorado Information

Christmas time in Denver:…Charlie Brown’s

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Check out MovieFountain.com – LVBC Movies, YouTube favorites and more…
Take me to The LasVegasBuffetClub’s home page…

We stopped by Charlie Brown’s (Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grill; 980 Grant St, Denver, CO ( 303-860-1655) the other evening and almost got the Christmas spirit (the almost has nothing to do with anything lacking at Charlie Brown’s.) Charlie Brown’s is a BIG CITY tavern/restaurant in a BIG CITY hotel in Denver, Colorado. This hotel tavern is warm and cozy and at Christmas time, decorated with Christmas lights and boughs of Holly. The holiday ambience is accentuated by the fact that the hotel has been around forever, and the lounge – just off the hotel lobby – has aquired quite a nice patina as well. Did I mention the piano bar? A pretty cool older chick was tickling the keys with Christmas standards and several patrons sitting on stools around the piano were supplying the words… We ordered a couple of drinks at 6:00 pm, in time for the 2 for 1 happy hour. I enjoyed the excellent Cobb Salad (a very generous portion, prepared correctly for around $7.00.) Click the CB link above for more detailed information…ON THE ROAD characters: Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady and Allen Ginsberg stayed at the Colburn Hotel for a time, if I recall correctly. There is a strong energy in this tavern, maybe those spirits of Christmas past were lingering… MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Holidays to all…