Vegas: The Final Chapter!

The final stop on my Las Vegas journal of tales here is the Luxor Hotel, which opened in 1993. I’ve never stayed at this one, but have enjoyed the Titanic exhibit (which appears to still be there) and gone to a convention there.

The exterior and all of its statues look like something out of “The Ten Commandments.”

One expects Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston to appear at any moment in their chariots.

I just happened to catch the sun as it was setting over the mirrored pyramid:

I wonder how authentic these replicas are, or if they just sprung from the imagination of the artists who sculpted them?

Am I in a hurry to go back? Hell no. But…if I did…there is one restaurant I had never noticed before that I definitely want to check out: Battista’s Italian Restaurant. This looks like a place where the Rat Pack would have eaten, although it has only been around since 1970.

Sadly, for reasons I won't go into, I did not get an opportunity to dine here and soak up the interior atmostphere.

See more Las Vegas photos at my main website.

Up and Down The Strip, Part 1

Because of the pandemic, my recent trip to Vegas was even less enjoyable for me than usual. Is that possible? Yes! I rarely left my hotel room except for each morning I went on a run, thinking I could get some fresh air when there weren’t very many people out. Let’s face it…Vegas is not an early morning town, other than the people who haven’t been able to pry their fingers off the slot machines the night before. The “fresh” morning air in Vegas was tinged with the smell of weed. Lovely. Here is my photo tour of The Strip from the Flamingo down and back. I figured it was time to take new photos as it had been over ten years since I last did so. First stop…

Harrah's:

I was tempted to come back at night to get the McDonald’s sign when it was lit, but no…not worth the effort. I was feeling lazy.

The Venetian:

Gondola rides were still being given:

The Grand Canal Shoppes:

The Shoppes still looked well maintained, albeit not very crowded.

Lollipops as art:

The Palazzo:

The Wynn is one hotel I have never gone inside; since it wasn’t really themed, it has never been on my radar. Still, it is a beautiful property.

Next time we’ll hit the other side of Las Vegas Boulevard.

See Las Vegas more photos at my main website.

Flamingo Friday

Ignoring this superstitious day I am throwing all caution to the wind by celebrating the Flamingo; the Flamingo Hotel, that is. The original was opened by mobster Bugsy Siegel on December 26, 1946 with Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat on the bill and a number of Hollywood’s glittering stars in attendance. Siegel named the hotel after his girlfriend Virginia Hill, whose nickname was “The Flamingo” because of her red hair and long legs. Despite the hotel’s eventual success, Siegel honked off the wrong people and was allegedly bumped off on June 20, 1947 at Virginia Hill’s Beverly Hills home.

The last of the hotel’s original structures was torn down in 1993; the building you see today is from later additions and renovations, with the most recent revamp dating to 2018.

Overall, it’s a cute little hotel with an excellent location. Views from the room showcase the Strip. Didja’ know that the name “The Strip” came about because the intent was to model Las Vegas after the famous Sunset (Boulevard) Strip in Hollywood.

While the decor still seems fairly fresh, the condition of some of the common areas seems a bit worn. Carpet in the guest hallways is stretched beyond belief, to the point that the hotel could find themselves with a few little trip and fall lawsuits on their hands if they don’t get it fixed.

 

The room was good sized, simple, and clean:

Naturally, there is a flamingo garden courtyard on site:

Sadly, the RuPaul shop was closed for COVID; most of the hotel’s restaurants were, too.

Would I stay there again? Possibly. But the chances of me returning to Vegas anytime soon (especially during the pandemic) are slim to none. People with cigarettes AND face masks? Count me out.

See more Flamingo Hotel photos at my main website.

Fremont Street District, Pt. 1

Fremont Street has the distinction of being the first paved street in Las Vegas. Before “The Strip” took over, this was the area where most movies and TV shows filmed when they were using Las Vegas as a location, including “Viva Las Vegas,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” and “Vegas Vacation.”



The neon cowboy in this shot is known as Vegas Vic. Although his home, the Pioneer Club, is no longer a casino, this Las Vegas icon has survived since 1951, although I don’t believe he is turned on anymore. Some of the better known clubs still in existence include Four Queens:



and Binion’s:



As part of a program to renovate this downtown Las Vegas area, the “Fremont Street Experience” was created at the western end of Fremont Street in 1995.



If you like to live life for the thrills, how about the SlotZilla Zip Line?



Eating at White Castle could provide a different type of thrill:



Stay tuned: more Fremont Street on the way!



See more Fremont Street photos at my main website.

Old School Vegas at the El Cortez

Although it's a quick easy trip for me, Las Vegas is not one of my favorite destinations. Once you've seen the faux-chitecture of The Strip and the sad-looking people spending their last dollars on the slots, there's really not much else to go back for. It just feels like someone sucked the soul out of it. Still, it can be a great backdrop for a photo shoot (more on that later). Deciding to do something different, I went “old school” and stayed at the El Cortez, a hotel and casino near downtown Las Vegas and a block from the Fremont Street Experience (more on that later, too). In a city where things really don’t last, this place has continuously operated at the same location since 1941. Compare and contrast with the vintage photo below. It’s almost like time stood still.



The hotel quickly became so profitable that mobster Bugsy Siegel decided to muscle in on the property in 1945 and bought it from owner John Kell Houssels, who turned around a year later and purchased the hotel back from Siegel's group in 1946.

The hotel’s restaurant is named after Siegel. If you know much about this guy’s life, you would probably think twice about eating here just based on the name alone.



The food is actually pretty good, as I ate a late-night dinner here.



The decor is also right up my alley and really evokes the Rat Pack/mobster vibe you might expect.



While I understand the origin of the homage, naming your restaurant after a known killer/mobster and placing a picture of him and his moll in the dining room seems a bit in poor taste. But then again, it’s Vegas.



The hotel’s signature neon arrow, marquee, and large roof sign were installed in 1952. They still burn brightly today. Well, give or take a letter.



A vintage auto greets guests as they enter the nicotine-scented lobby/casino. I hadn't smelled that much cigarette smoke in years. The lady in line behind me at check-in was barely able to stand for the emphysema that riddled her body. Welcome to Vegas.



The suite I had rented for the night was large and decorated with flair; still, the fact that there was a $250 deposit for the in-room jacuzzi made me decided I shouldn't go anywhere near it. Why would the deposit cost more than the room itself?!?



What happens in the jacuzzi can stay in that jacuzzi...



Would I stay here again? Perhaps. For the money though, compared to the Strip, this place is a steal.

See more El Cortez photos at my main website.

Trip to Paris, Pt. Deux

Inside the spacious Calais Suite at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, it would be easy to get lost. A huge living room:



and a dining area for those who plan to cook while in town!





The bedroom was beautiful; and the TV rose up from the console at the push of a button.



A huuuuuuge bathroom:



with a bidet:



And in case you need variety when nature calls, a second bathroom is also included:



The prints on the wall resembled a contemporary version of what Toulouse-Lautrec might have created for the hotel were he still alive:



The view from the living room was incredible:



and even more magical at night:



Tomorrow a trip up the Eiffel Tower for dinner:



More Paris Hotel at my main website.