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Trip #26. Be warned...it's long!

 
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Zydeco



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 302

PostPosted: Jan Wed 30, 2019 9:59 pm    Post subject: Trip #26. Be warned...it's long! Reply with quote

Picture this: Four college friends meet every year in Reno. Since 1993. Twenty-six year. Gawd damn, we’re old.

Some friends only come every other year. Two of us go every year. Sure, we tried Vegas once...but it wasn't Reno. The waft of Cal-Neva and the scent of the Silver Legacy pull us in. Every time.

Out of Seattle and into Reno takes 3+ drinks. But this time? No service as we are flying into that wall of winter heading over the Sierras. We drink our snuck-on bottles of booze straight. No chaser. It's a bumpy one.

Once we are firmly on the ground, two things we notice: All moisture is immediately sucked out of our faces and it’s time for a cocktail.

The consolidated Row shuttle service makes sense and the ability to track the shuttle on our phone is a nice touch, but only two shuttles today between all three properties. Fortunately, ours arrives pretty swiftly.

Bag drop off and wouldn’t you know, those fab folks at Silver Legacy let us check in early (it is Thursday on one of the slowest weeks of the year, so there’s that). Room up high faces south per my request. One of these days I’ve got to get one of those corner rooms SeahawkSiren talks about.

It’s time for lunch. You know you do this often when the bartender says, “I remember you guys. You are always here once a year around January, right?”. Yep, I know I am home. He specifically points me out and says, “Oh, I definitely remember YOU”. Thus arrives my order of beef tongue and a few Picon Punches at Louis’ Basque Corner.

Next stop? Atlantis for some afternoon play (roulette and craps, please). Napa Bistro Happy Hour? Why stop now? SURE! Couple of Cotton Candy martinis, grilled artichokes and some other tasty bits.

Back to SL……good night, I’m done. Been up and drinking since 6:30am. This gal is not that sprite 25-year-old. Gotta hit the hay.

Friday, we grab some solid breakfast options at Millies24 at Eldorado, a Bloody Mary at Drinx, then hit the NEW Spa at Silver Legacy. Gotta say, the space truly is transformed and it’s really lovely. The staff was exceptional and we all really enjoyed our day. Of course, the bottle of chilled sparkling wine upon our arrival was a nice touch.

Stopped at Pearl for a little nosh. Hmmm. The raw oysters were not shucked. The foot was attached. Yea, that was some delightful slurping. Or not. The waiter said they should have been done correctly, sorry. But nothing else. They tasted good so, no problem. Others liked the chowder and the crab & shrimp cocktails. I always like people watching here. Next time? Pan roast.

Friday night at 4:30 means ROXY’S Happy Hour. Did not disappoint. Three rounds and we were ready for dinner.

Ok, get this on your radar: Kwok’s Bistro. In the shadow of the Legacy and Eldorado, but in a class of its own. GREAT meal. Two words: Pot Stickers. Excellent staff. Get out of the casino and check this place out. Delish.

Pai Gow at the Legacy for a few hours. I call it a night early. I sense a theme.
Saturday, we head to Peg’s per the request of one of the “Every Year” crew. She just can’t get enough of the Peg’s Glorified Huevos Ranchero…which we split. We seem to get the same great waiter every year, regardless of where we are seated. We dig this and tip heavily.

We hit Sundance Bookstore (super history there) and the cool antique shop on the corner. Ok, enough shopping, back to the Legacy for the Bloody Mary Bar at Drinx. Love it. We hold a contest to see who can get the most garnish from the Make-Your-Own-Garnish-Bar. I have a bunch of bacon in mine, so I don’t care. Bacon.

I’m a day drinker and gambler and I convinced everyone to join me at the Cal-Neva for an hour of blackjack. One great dealer and 3 crappy ones. My Smith & Wesson drink has no vodka in it. Pit boss won’t open a table for Pai Gow for 7 of us. They also won’t open roulette. Ah, Cal-Neva, you’ve done me wrong, girl.

I take my drink with me across the street and we roll though Harrah’s. $10 tables at 2:00pm? Nope, keep moving.

We try the Eldo, but nothing feels right. You know what we did…Camel Races at Circus Circus. Now, I hate CC, but one of our new guests wants to check it out. Well, I’ll be damned if we didn’t spend $100 across all of us playing the Camel Races. Laughed my damn head off. AND we won big stuffed animals 4 times. Not me. Because of my loathing of CC probably. “Casino Carma”, if you will.

3 of us head to Silver Baron Lounge (I know a couple of you love that place) and we find a cocktail server who knows our story. The flavored vodkas on the rocks and Mudslides keep coming while the others play cards. I think we three had the most fun.

Blood at the bottom of the escalator is an interesting sight and the SL team is on the scene pretty quickly. Someone took a major header. I grab the hand rail just a tad tighter.

So, while no one was watching, I have visited the guys at the Silver Legacy Bell Desk. I swing a surprise limo lift to Western Village for Steak Night! No way we were hitting Ruth’s Chris. It’s a chain, it’s expensive, and we heard from more than one employee that they let most of Sterling’s staff go. Nope, not doing it.

Walking down to our ride (which everyone thinks is an Uber), the check in desk is handing out little plastic glasses of sparkling wine. One person brings a tray to us at the Bell Desk. We looovee that. We get in the new SUV limo with the crazy disco lights and we all think we are going to prom!

Gaming at Western is solid, drinks good and swift.

Dinner at the Western again does not disappoint. They are accommodating and fun and the food is delish. Escargot? Yes! More sparkling wine? Yes! And we top off the evening with Bananas Foster because every trip has to include something on fire. It’s our thing.

The Legacy comes back to pick us up and it’s another night of gaming and drinking. Tonight, it’s BUSY on the floor!

I spend too much time at Wheel of Fortune, which is nothing approaching fortune. I’m down. Way down. Ok, it’s not that much because I’m not a whale…I’m a guppy. But still. Damn. Usually I can pay for my trip and come out even. Not this trip, friends.

I go to bed early for Night #3. Yep, this is a theme this trip.

Sunday finds us doing some breakfast and getting out to the airport. That shuttle I told you about earlier? One falls off the radar and we wait for-EVER for the shuttle. Only one running on a Sunday for three properties? Where’s that limo when you need it?

We arrive at the airport, see some of the same folks from the flight down and Greg Carrano on the flight. It’s time to get out of Reno.

We’ve already begun planning our escape for 2020……
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john
Site Admin


Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 1181

PostPosted: Jan Thu 31, 2019 6:28 am    Post subject: You out did yourself Reply with quote

Awesome report, Z! And not too long by far. Very entertaining. I'm glad you had a great time in our little town and hope it wasn't too expensive.
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classic78



Joined: 28 Jun 2018
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Feb Sat 02, 2019 1:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The waft of Cal-Neva and the scent of the Silver Legacy pull us in. Every time.


I know what you mean about that smell of the air freshener they use at SL and Eldorado, I have a small bar of handmade soap, given to me by a customer of mine, that coincidentally smells just like it. Take a whiff and boom its like Im sitting at the table playing cards, and having a drink.
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Zydeco



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 302

PostPosted: Feb Sun 03, 2019 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Classic 78: I just smelled a candle with THAT smell. Seriously, it transports you doesn't it?

I didn't buy the candle....didn't come back with enough.

John: Ah, who cares? I'm with friends, eating good food and laughing my ass off. Worth every WoF penny.....or quarter, as it was.
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IOWActuary



Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 47

PostPosted: Feb Sun 03, 2019 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Zydeco wrote:
Classic 78: I just smelled a candle with THAT smell. Seriously, it transports you doesn't it?

I didn't buy the candle....didn't come back with enough.

John: Ah, who cares? I'm with friends, eating good food and laughing my ass off. Worth every WoF penny.....or quarter, as it was.


Ha, about a month ago I was out with my wife and smelled a Silver Legacy candle. Made me want to play some tiles!
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BC Dave
Site Admin


Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 1592

PostPosted: Feb Wed 06, 2019 11:45 am    Post subject: Thanks Zedeco! Reply with quote

That's a total blast of a trip report! What a great time! Thanks very much for sharing. Winning tons of cash would be nice too, but it usually doesn't work out that way.
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SeahawkSiren



Joined: 14 Sep 2015
Posts: 135

PostPosted: Feb Sat 09, 2019 7:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smuggled airplane drinks, gambling, day drinking, the Silver Legacy spa, pot stickers, surprise limo rides - Damn, I should have gone to college with Zydeco!

I didn't know tracking the shuttle on your phone was an option. I will remember that on my next trip.

Great stuff, Zydeco! Thanks for the report.
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