Before I Deal: I receive an abundance of mail from individuals making
their first pilgrimage to Las Vegas asking me this or that about the gaming
Meca of the world. Not one to hold back expressing my biased opinion, I
will advise you that discounting 50% of my dogma would be appropriate. Two
reasons why. First, I don't reside there (I live in northern Nevada but
visit Las Vegas a dozen times a year) and second, I'm a journalist. Properly
forewarned, here is a sampling of the many questions I get weekly.
...I'm doing a report for school... Here aresome Las Vegas
fun facts.
· More than 30 million people will visit Las Vegas in 1996.
· 80,000 couples tied the knot there last year.
· Las Vegas has more than 105,000 hotel rooms and is growing hourly.
· Hotel occupancy averages more than 92% annually.
· Las Vegas has 13 of the 15 largest hotels in the world.
· The average annual temperature is 66 degrees.
· The average daily humidity is 30%.
· More than 1.4 million people call Las Vegas home.
· 850 flights a day bring in more than 2.5 million visitors a month.
· MaCarren airport is the 8th busiest in the world.
· The Circus Circus buffet cattle-feeds more than 12,000 customers
per day-that's four million per year.
...cheapest place to stay... In your car. A bargain compared to the
Ladd Hotel back in 1905. One dollar bought weary travelers-same sex-eight
hours sleep in a shared bed.
Honestly, it's a tough call because room rates change with the wind. The
best time of the year though is pre-Yuletide. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas
rooms can be had for under $20.
...best buffet... Here are my three favorites for those interested in abdominal
distention. The Rio Buffet, Fiesta's Festival Buffet and the Texas Station's
Market Street.
Warning! For the gastronomically fit.
...I collect war memorabilia from pawn shops... You mean the best
place to hock your wedding ring? Try Super Pawn.
...decent steak-and-eggs special... You can't beat the $2.99 special
at the Rio or the midnight breakfast specials at Binion's.
...any culture in Las Vegas... The Holyfield/Tyson fight doesn't
count? Unfortunately, the only thing I do culturally in LV is walk past
the exact replica of David at Caesar's Palace on the way to a hot crap table.
Standing 18 feet high and weighing more than nine tons, the stone came from
the same quarry in Carrera, Italy that Michangelo used to carve his David.
...best escort service... Ask the wrong person and you'll find out.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Vice Squad. Avoid the breakfast they serve. Runny
scrambled eggs and cold hashbrowns.
...sound guidance for a newcomer... This cautionary advice comes from Ed
Reid and Ovid Demaris in, The Truth about Las Vegas: "The surest
way to beat Las Vegas is to get off the plane that has taken you there and
walk straight into the propeller."
...favorite swimming pools... The Tropicana, Mirage, Wet and Wild
Water Park and a fountain at Caesar's with Giovanni Bologna's Rape of the
Sabines in it are on my preferred list. I'm not recommending the latter
because it will save you a trip to the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.
No, no. It's because the wishful sometimes throw in five-dollar chips for
luck.
...I want to get married quickly... Try the Little White Chapel.
Couples in a rush can use the drive-through window.
...best hamburger... Those with cholesterol levels below 250, try
LJ's Place. Above 250, get your doctor's permission.
...best place to shoot pool... The Lion's Den. Forget the fact that
it's one of the largest pool halls in the world, or that it is new and clean.
I like it because it has straight pool sticks.
...I love singing at Karaoke bars... You've kidding, right?
Before I Shuffle: Next Column, Part 2: free things to do, the hottest
Mexican food, a superb prime rib special, cheapest brew in town, the players'
place to play, etc. etc. etc.
Got a question about gambling? Write to: Deal Me In, 774 Mays Blvd.
Suite 10, Incline Village, NV 89451 or e-mail:winners@winner.com
· To order Mark Pilarski's "Hooked on Winning" audio cassettes-laminated
win cards package ($12.95 plus $2. S&H) call (800) WINNERS.
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