Vegas Trip - Last Day, part 3 (Fremont, Paris & Bally's)
by StrayBullet on 10/06/07
Day9, 9/29, the ride is over:
OK, so it’s 8:30pm and I want a cigar, except I’d already smoked the only one I brought with me. I talked with Cindy, who was still in the tournament like a good player should be, and guided me towards a small piano bar between Paris and Bally’s where I could buy and smoke ‘em in a nice atmosphere. Sounded like a good plan, but I wanted Cubans to complete that picture and since I knew where to score ‘em, it was only a matter of getting down there. In hindsight, a cab would’ve done the trick a little better, but I pulled the car out of TI and took 15N to 95S, exiting down-town, preparing to use Binions valet. Off the ramp, through the light and right onto Ogden then a left into the valet area. I was asked if I was a hotel guest and of course I said yes adding, “I may not be long as I just have to check-in then head back to the strip for a tournament.” I took my ticket, exchanging it for a $5 and was on my way to the shop :)
I had to weave my way through the crowd, down to 4th street, next to the Harley Shop, but it was an interesting walk :D When I got there, Andy and Luis were working their magic, the place was hopping! I picked up 2 more Cohibas, 2 Monte #2s and an H. Upman. Lit up the Upman at the shop and took a seat on the couch to soak in the ambience yet one more time before leaving town. It’s a wonderful way to cap a trip, a $25 stick, smoked from a front row seat onto the freak show called Fremont :D Some guy wandered in and freaked out that there were cops in the humidor and talk of Cubans were loud :D I later figured out why he was so jittery, as his glassy eyes, and slurred speech surely meant he was lit, and had I been his New Jersey arse woulda sucked the high right outta me. I took all any sane man could stand, making small talk and responding to inane comments regarding nothing about nothing. I did strike up an interesting biker attending the festival when I noticed a pin on his jacket. I asked him how long he’d been in the Navy and it just took off from there, I spent 6 years in myself.
So, forced off my vantage to the real Vegas thanks to blow-your-high-jersey-boy, I decided to hoof it back towards the car and figure out what to do for the remainder of my waking time in town. I could stay downtown somewhere, grabbing something to eat and playing in the 2am Binions tourney. But that would really eat up the time. Other options would be to head to that piano bar and fire up another Cuban. Then I could find a game from there, maybe the $1/2 at Bally’s or the 2am at TI, etc. I opted for the Piano Bar and headed for the Caesars parking garage, BIG MISTAKE!!! I should’ve just parked at TI and walked, but I’d already put tons of miles of the peds already and didn’t feel like making another “long” round trip trek. I’d forgot about ir being Fight Night and it was just letting out, the Strip was a MADHOUSE! When I finally was able to park, the elevators were jammed, so down the stairs I went, then out into the cool evening for a nice stroll down the boulevard. Not a bad follow up to the action Freemont has to offer and a nice addition to evening capper. The fountains are firing, the roads are jammed, and there’s electricity in the air. Lite another stick and I’m on my way.
I make my way into the walled off section at the back of the bar into a secluded area with plush chairs and the heavy air of fine aromas! I splurge on a $4 Pepsi and cop a squat. The music is all request by bribe and they’re really pretty good, I’m having a great time just sitting watching from my windowed vantage as people transition from Bally’s to Paris and back again. Coupled with the scene inside the bar, the cigar and the company, how can this be beat? Oh yeah, I COULDA WON AT SOME POINT! When the stogie runs its’ course, a new plan is what I need. I’ve had good luck at the Bally’s room on previous trips and although it’s a loud “room” I like the play, so I decide on a $1/2NL to cap off my Vegas trip. It took a while to get seated, maybe like 20 minutes as many people were changing tables (5 games were running), and I was 4th on the list as it was. Around 12:45am or so, I get into the game with $200 behind, and immediately see why all the seat changes were going down. I’m surrounded by big-stacks and people who look like they’ve stalked the room! How the hell did I wind up a the only table full of people feeding off people like me while I’m trying to nibble my way to poker ramen noodles!
It’s quickly apparent that I’m in the wrong game, but it’s only $200, and I’ve already waited to play, so what the hell? Let’s have a good time and see if we can learn something along the way while handling cards for the last few minutes of your card playing time in town!
I quickly assessed that I was in for a ride, when stuff like Q2s is out flopping top pairs, in raised pots. All I can do is control the bleeding. I win a few hands and just take in the atmosphere as I order caffeine laden drinks again and again. It’s all I can do help abate the yawns and drooping bloodshot eyes. I end down $100 with nothing much really to speak of, except it’s apparent that I suck at poker and I have a LOT to learn. I cash out my paltry lone bill and make my way back to Caesars to pick up the rental. It’s nearing 3am and the ride out of the garage is a much easier trip that earlier. I easily sail back to TI as the strip and settled down, there’s still plenty of life, but it’s changed, it’s subtle, but it’s there.
I wanted to stop back by the room and see who was still hanging around. Said my goodbyes to LVM and OD, what’s a trip it’s been! Like I said, it’s always a blast, it just hasn’t been profitable lately. Between this trip and the WSOP, I don’t need a rubber band any longer. It’s back to studying the game, to find and fix the leaks, or at the very least, make sure I’m working from a good base and really am making the right decisions! You always have to be open to honest assessment and to learn. I’ll be back and hopefully the better for it!
OK, so it’s 8:30pm and I want a cigar, except I’d already smoked the only one I brought with me. I talked with Cindy, who was still in the tournament like a good player should be, and guided me towards a small piano bar between Paris and Bally’s where I could buy and smoke ‘em in a nice atmosphere. Sounded like a good plan, but I wanted Cubans to complete that picture and since I knew where to score ‘em, it was only a matter of getting down there. In hindsight, a cab would’ve done the trick a little better, but I pulled the car out of TI and took 15N to 95S, exiting down-town, preparing to use Binions valet. Off the ramp, through the light and right onto Ogden then a left into the valet area. I was asked if I was a hotel guest and of course I said yes adding, “I may not be long as I just have to check-in then head back to the strip for a tournament.” I took my ticket, exchanging it for a $5 and was on my way to the shop :)
I had to weave my way through the crowd, down to 4th street, next to the Harley Shop, but it was an interesting walk :D When I got there, Andy and Luis were working their magic, the place was hopping! I picked up 2 more Cohibas, 2 Monte #2s and an H. Upman. Lit up the Upman at the shop and took a seat on the couch to soak in the ambience yet one more time before leaving town. It’s a wonderful way to cap a trip, a $25 stick, smoked from a front row seat onto the freak show called Fremont :D Some guy wandered in and freaked out that there were cops in the humidor and talk of Cubans were loud :D I later figured out why he was so jittery, as his glassy eyes, and slurred speech surely meant he was lit, and had I been his New Jersey arse woulda sucked the high right outta me. I took all any sane man could stand, making small talk and responding to inane comments regarding nothing about nothing. I did strike up an interesting biker attending the festival when I noticed a pin on his jacket. I asked him how long he’d been in the Navy and it just took off from there, I spent 6 years in myself.
So, forced off my vantage to the real Vegas thanks to blow-your-high-jersey-boy, I decided to hoof it back towards the car and figure out what to do for the remainder of my waking time in town. I could stay downtown somewhere, grabbing something to eat and playing in the 2am Binions tourney. But that would really eat up the time. Other options would be to head to that piano bar and fire up another Cuban. Then I could find a game from there, maybe the $1/2 at Bally’s or the 2am at TI, etc. I opted for the Piano Bar and headed for the Caesars parking garage, BIG MISTAKE!!! I should’ve just parked at TI and walked, but I’d already put tons of miles of the peds already and didn’t feel like making another “long” round trip trek. I’d forgot about ir being Fight Night and it was just letting out, the Strip was a MADHOUSE! When I finally was able to park, the elevators were jammed, so down the stairs I went, then out into the cool evening for a nice stroll down the boulevard. Not a bad follow up to the action Freemont has to offer and a nice addition to evening capper. The fountains are firing, the roads are jammed, and there’s electricity in the air. Lite another stick and I’m on my way.
I make my way into the walled off section at the back of the bar into a secluded area with plush chairs and the heavy air of fine aromas! I splurge on a $4 Pepsi and cop a squat. The music is all request by bribe and they’re really pretty good, I’m having a great time just sitting watching from my windowed vantage as people transition from Bally’s to Paris and back again. Coupled with the scene inside the bar, the cigar and the company, how can this be beat? Oh yeah, I COULDA WON AT SOME POINT! When the stogie runs its’ course, a new plan is what I need. I’ve had good luck at the Bally’s room on previous trips and although it’s a loud “room” I like the play, so I decide on a $1/2NL to cap off my Vegas trip. It took a while to get seated, maybe like 20 minutes as many people were changing tables (5 games were running), and I was 4th on the list as it was. Around 12:45am or so, I get into the game with $200 behind, and immediately see why all the seat changes were going down. I’m surrounded by big-stacks and people who look like they’ve stalked the room! How the hell did I wind up a the only table full of people feeding off people like me while I’m trying to nibble my way to poker ramen noodles!
It’s quickly apparent that I’m in the wrong game, but it’s only $200, and I’ve already waited to play, so what the hell? Let’s have a good time and see if we can learn something along the way while handling cards for the last few minutes of your card playing time in town!
I quickly assessed that I was in for a ride, when stuff like Q2s is out flopping top pairs, in raised pots. All I can do is control the bleeding. I win a few hands and just take in the atmosphere as I order caffeine laden drinks again and again. It’s all I can do help abate the yawns and drooping bloodshot eyes. I end down $100 with nothing much really to speak of, except it’s apparent that I suck at poker and I have a LOT to learn. I cash out my paltry lone bill and make my way back to Caesars to pick up the rental. It’s nearing 3am and the ride out of the garage is a much easier trip that earlier. I easily sail back to TI as the strip and settled down, there’s still plenty of life, but it’s changed, it’s subtle, but it’s there.
I wanted to stop back by the room and see who was still hanging around. Said my goodbyes to LVM and OD, what’s a trip it’s been! Like I said, it’s always a blast, it just hasn’t been profitable lately. Between this trip and the WSOP, I don’t need a rubber band any longer. It’s back to studying the game, to find and fix the leaks, or at the very least, make sure I’m working from a good base and really am making the right decisions! You always have to be open to honest assessment and to learn. I’ll be back and hopefully the better for it!
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