Visitreno

[stan_allen]

No, the headline is simply meant to sell papers; I have no huge win to report, or even insights any keener than what I've provided in the past.

This is simply to share details, for those of you who are anticipating a future trip, and enjoy savoring the aroma of the food prior to partaking.

This was another two-day business quickie, but I got a free SUV upgrade from the rental car company, which was fun, although their usefulness seems more tied to conditions at the summit, which was not an issue this time. Ultimately, I think I prefer a small car; I just prefer maneuverability to heft.

Beautiful driving conditions, in fact, and the drive in was a pleasure, as always. Took up my usual perch at the Silver Legacy - what can I say, I simply prefer their parking arrangement to everyone else's - and I like being in the downtown.

This trip, of course, was my last chance to breathe in the aroma of the Fitz, which was predictably listless. I think the removal of the walkway above the train tracks sealed their fate. And where the heck is all that stuff they used to have on display? Remember the photos, and stuff dug up from the trench project? I'll miss the era of the free souvenirs in that Lucky Forest spin, but oh, well. Just yesterday, I realized I didn't have a pen on me, so I went scouring in my laptop bag, and what did I find? A Fitzgerald's pen! Crowning irony: it didn't work, it was all dried up.

I believe that the performer I saw on stage was the fabled George - older guy, possibly with a bolo tie, and those old-fashioned shirtsleeve thingys? Seemed like a fun show.

The Silver Leg's Cafe "Sedona" offers decent lunch specials, which I hadn't had the chance to partake of before, since I usually don't get there early enough, but this time, I tried their "Chicken Piccatta", I think it was called, which was kind of like a Fettucine Alfredo, but with a chicken breast plopped on top. Pretty good, and under six bucks.

Gambling - sorry, "Gaming" was up and down - isn't it always? Win a bit here, lose a bit more there - my first round of blackjack at the Cal-Neva was an upward spiral, with nifty doubles and splits paying off every time, but the next session the following night was a straight-up loser. Funny how that works!

The downtown remains seedy, despite my continuous hoping aloud that it will somehow improve - it's now hard to avoid the conclusion that the city just can't make the effort, for some reason. I guess the train trench project sucked up all their resources, and as nice as it is, there's just no corresponding payoff regarding the quality of life in the immediate area. One bum accosted me for "A match", as though the non-monetary nature of his request somehow entitled him to a response. I'm sorry, but I just can't be bothered with requests from strangers on the street. Matches are given away free in the casino, fer krissake, and if you can't make that effort, or are not allowed back in for some reason, that's not my problem.

For the business day, I patronized "Nu Yalk Pizza", which is always a pleasure - this place remains about as close as you can get to the real thing.

The site where the Flamingo/Phoenix once existed is scarcely recognizable now - to think of all those hours I spent in there, when I was just getting acquainted with the area, and had no idea how much destruction loomed on the horizon....

Jeez, it must be nice to come here when you have no obligations!

So, Friday was another beautiful drive home, though always with that twinge of regret at not having been able to play (and win) more - but hey, that's what keeps us coming back!

Good luck, Fitzgerald's employees. And good luck, "Boutique Hotel" developers - from the looks of the Sundowner, you'll need it.

[BC Dave]

Glad you made it in time to pay homage and a few quarters to our old friend the "Fitz". I took a couple of pics and a few short "videos" of the place during my recent visit. I wish I'd done that for the dozen other places we've lost in the last fifteen years.

[RenoLady]

R and I are heading up next Wednesday for Thanksgiving. The drive, this time of year, is often the best part. Not too hot, no snow to slide in, and the colors of the trees are unbelievable.

Reno's Harrah's has $15 in free slot play for R, so though we are staying in Tahoe this trip, we'll drive over to collect that, AND say goodbye to Fitz for the last time. I don't think we'll play there, kind of feels pointless with it's closing...

thanks for writing up your trip report, though I noticed you were less detailed, I miss the details.

Have you ever gone up when you had no business there?

[jerry]

Well, if I am singled out with my very own poll slot, then I am obligated to comment.

Stan, I LOVE your verbiage, though sometimes your verbosity is a bit much. Still the following quotes were duly noted and appreciated:

1. "savoring the aroma - prior to partaking."
Hmmm, why does this make me think of the pics from Ali.

2. "two-day business quickie,"
Dare I repeat myself?

3. "I just prefer maneuverability to heft."
Oh, Stan, yes baby, right on!

4. "the drive in was a pleasure"
No comment. Well maybe: Is this like visiting an Inn&Out Burger Palace?

5. "Took up my usual perch"
I've been to John's place and didn't realize he had a cage that size!

6. "to breathe in the aroma of the Fitz"
Oh my gosh, spare me please!!!

7. "stuff dug up from the trench project"
BCDave and John are still around. The rest of it is likely at Shooters.

8. "Crowning irony: it didn't work, it was all dried up."
We old guys know about that, only too well.

9. "those old-fashioned shirtsleeve thingys?"
Those thingys are a mess to clean off.

10. "breast plopped on top. Pretty good, and under six bucks."
Stan, you gotta stay off of 4th street when you make these trips.

11. "as close as you can get to the real thing."
Yeah, I like pizza too.

12. "destruction loomed on the horizon"
Stan, read this fast cause the Hawk or John may excise this slightly naughty post.

Thanks for your report. I always enjoy them. Hope we meet someday.

[stan_allen]

Thanks for your replies, all - it warms the heart to be able to provide my fellow Reno addicts with such loquaciousness.

RenoLady, I apologize for not providing more details - I think the problem I'm having these days is that I'm in a bit of a rut - every time, I stay at the same place, take the same walking rounds, eat at the same restaurants - next time, I think I'm going to change things up a bit, and then I'll have something more interesting to detail! Last time I had a chance to visit that *wasn't* on business was a couple of years ago - the problem is that the mrs. is just nowhere near as enamored of Reno as I am! In fact, her opinion of Reno could better be described as outright loathing, so it's hard to convince her to do a getaway there!

Dave, you'll be glad you took those pix and videos a few years from now, when we've already forgotten there *was* a Fitz!

Jerry, what can I say? It's a pleasure to provide such boisterous entertainment to such an eager crowd - er, scratch that, it might also be deleted by the moderator! I'm confident that we'll finally have a chance to hoist one at the fireside one of these days...let that be a reminder to ALL of us to use the trip calendar, so that we all know when we're on town (I was derelict in this regard for this last trip, so I shall vow to do better next time).

Finally, let me just say that I have figured out what the slogan should be for Nu Yalk Pizza:

"Tastes as good as it sounds!"

[jerry]

Stan, you are always entertaining and worth reading regardless of the repetitive nature of your trips. Some guys are just "comfortable in a rut"
You can make a humdrum trip velly intellesting!!

Thank you.

[Wow, I am still salivating, CaSwede. If I wasn't on a diet (paying for my Nevada sins), I would hoist a cold one right now. Perhaps a small glass of Merlot instead.]