Visitreno

[Dave]

Here is my way overdue trip report!
7 of us in our party took off Thursday AM for Reno. Flight from Seattle was great and got to the airport just in time to catch the shuttle to the Sands. My buddy was lucky enough to win the drawing for the Sands from this GREAT website and the other two rooms we got at a good rate on so that was nice. The Sands looked like they were really working on improving it. I know a lot of you are down on the Sands but I love it and it sure works for me as it is clean and not far if I want to go to a different casino. Rooms were on the 16th floor and all had great views. My buddies couldn't believe how big the rooms were for the price we paid. So if you are thinking that I liked staying at the Sands you would be correct. Didn't eat there but one of th guys had a well needed late night hamburger from Mels Diner and said it was great. Favorite machine that I played on besides my old standby watermelone dollar machine at the Cal Neva was the penny slot called Deal or No Deal. Hit that a few times and it was so much fun to play next to my friends. We really had a good time with that machine and enjoyed giving my pal a hard time for taking the $40 when his actual case had $100 in it. It was fun. Played some craps there and didn't do much but it was tough to stick around long as it was $5 min but with a nice 10xodds. Sportsbook at the Sands is great for taking bets as it is easy to get them in on time. Some of our group had a blast in the mornings playing a $20 buy in Texas Holdem tourney. I was too big a chicken so I just watched some of the early hoop games instead.
We spent some time gambling at the Cal Neva. While I know it sure can be seedy I sure do love it. Fun playing Black Jack there and watched a lot of games there. The atmosphere was great and they sure do keep the beer coming. I would lose a little in BJ walk over to the $1 Watermelon machine and win $10 to $20 in 2-3 pulls then walk back to the table. This happened 3 times in a row and I didn't dare try it a fourth time!
Majority of gambling on BJ and a lot of craps was at the Siena. I LOVE the Siena. Met some really nice dealers (a couple that weren't so nice) but most really were. LOTS of beer here as well. Wow! Kevin at the Craps table is a stud and this is by far the BEST craps game in town with $2-3 down and 10 X odds. Had some really good sessions here at craps and my last day we got on them good at the Black Jack table.
Highlight of the trip gambling wise was one friend decided he wanted to really make me nervous so 3 of us sat down at the Circus Circus of all places to play BJ. He starts betting $100 a hand. Now I am a $5 guy maybe $10 or a little more if I think the deck is in my favor. Well it is a $10 table and I am getting killed at 3rd base but he is taking it to them. He tells me No matter what to stay there and he will square up with me later. His goal is to get a big enough bank so he can bet a $1000. He reached for it twice but both times backed out. Ended up getting BJ on a $200 bet. We were gitty at this point and now two pit bosses are watching. After about 45 minutes I could be wrong but I did have a few beers while we were there. He walks away with $1500 more then he started with. He flips me a $100 chip and life is good. I did give it back to him later as I figured if he has big enough balls to make the bets thats his $! Fun times though!
Betting on games was great as I did come out ahead this trip. I tried to bet less parlays and more just straight up bets. I did hit a few parlays and just missed a BIG one as WSU screwed me at the end of the game with Vanderbilt.
For eating we had a great buffet dinner at Harrahs. Ok lunch Pud Thai at Choices (it tasted better last year.) Did the Eldorado buffet a couple of times that is my favorite. I really like the wok station there. Lots of good food. Oh I will have to say as much as I LOVE the beer at the Brews Brothers my Chicken Chinese Salad SUCKED as did the service. I looked at the gal when she gave it to me and said are you really serious? Which was bad since I talked two other guys into getting the same thing! I sent it back and they prob. spit in it but they did give me more. That place was packed and my biggest disappointment for food in Reno by far. I did find a new favorite restaraunt that I should be ashamed to say after all the years and trips to Reno I have NEVER been before. The Top Deck at the Cal Neva of all places. This place is kind of hard to find (well for me it obv. was) but it has AMAZING food. I mean really good. One guy had a steak he said was good but the best choice to me looked to be the coconut prawns. My buddy was licking the plate (could have been partly from the 8 beers he drank before we got there )I think that is the name of the place but I always thought they just had the one restaraunts upstairs by the Sportsbook but that is NOT the case. Very good food there. Also have a new tradition to spend our comps at the Siena we all ate at Lexies (Siena) Sunday champagne buffet. If any of you haven't done that you should sure try it. VERY good! To end the trip before our dash to the airport we sat down after the buffet for some black jack and things started really rolling for me at the end. My last bet for the trip I did a parting bet of $85 - Man my hands were sweating! and won. That was a great way to end the trip.
All in all I came back with a little more $ then I came down there with and had a SUPER time We got to have a beer on the next trip down John! I really feel like Reno is on the way up but like I have said before I am an optimistic guy. One thing I do know for sure is I will definitely be back there again!

[jerry]

sounds like a grreat trip, Dave. I am happy for you. Thanks for sharing.

[alison]

Thanks for the report!

The rooms at the Sands aren't that bad. I have only stayed there once. I liked the fact that the window actually opened more then an inch and the room was huge. We paid only $19.00 for the night. Cant beat that.

**It looks as if Jerry Lives***

[jerry]

"**It looks as if Jerry Lives***"

Funny line, Alison. we have no internet service right now. So it is hit and miss (mostly miss) for me for the summer.
I am thinking about a Reno trip in May but may (pun intended) not May (ke) it.

very busy and both wife and I have some health problems to work on and are constantly hitting the medical buildings. Even today (Sunday) we had an early morning appointment for an epidural shot.

Add in househunting and most especially SOFTBALL are we are very busy.

Keep posting all. I miss the dialogue. Shoot, I even miss the OwlMan of Birdcatraz.

[john]

Come on, Jerry. Take good care of yourself. Charlie, Higgins and I miss you and the Peppermill misses your money.

Get healthy, stay happy and come back to RENO!!

[alison]

yeah i guess that, that comment was kinda bad wasn't it. I did not mean it like that.

We miss you! have not heard form you in ages it seems.

You and your wife taske care of yourselfs.

[RenoLady]

sounds like you had a great trip!

I think the Top Deck is the name of the restaurant near the sports book (coffee shop type). The steak house one is called the Copper Ledge (I think) and looks off over the casino, with glass walls to keep out the smoke. I first visited that one last trip and was surprised at the quality for the price. $12.95 filet mignon and scampi, with soft lights and linens.

I may have to give the Sand's another shot, with the Fitz's sale and uncertainty. How is the walk between the strip and there? Aren't they supposed to clean that up?

[Dave]

Hey Renolady,
yeah thanks. That is the name of it Copper Ledge (something like that! )
It wasn't the Top Deck. Prices were really reasonable and the food was great. While we felt safe walking from the downtown to the Sands I wouldn't say it has changed from before. Still pretty darn dark. I do think the safest route is too go from Silver Legacy and stay on that road that goes by the old Sundowner. I sure hope they don't close up Fitzgeralds. Went in there to play some as you guys all talk about it so highly and couldn't get on a darn table. THat place was nuts. Of course a place called Fitzgeralds on St. Patty's Day better be nuts right?