Visitreno

[JD]

Well check at the Sands went pretty damn easy...actually faster than BT (Before Terribles). That goofy mustached guy has his likeness plastered on every damn vertical surface in that casino.

SInce Jerry has been dealing with the smoke factor, I have to say I thought the air in the casino was better than pevious trips.

Tossed my bags on the bed (lovely view of the new train trench). From my standpoint the rooms were kept up just fine and no beefs about worn carpet or any of that stuff. But if you saw my bachelor pad, you'd likely not think much of my ability to judge such housekeeping effectiveness.

The "Marguaritta Bar" is no more...well, it's not called that anymore. Three years or so ago, I hit a royal while listening to a band at that bar. And in my misguided idea of luck, have tried to repeat the feat since.

OK...another $ 50 beer is enough for me..back UP the hill for Saturday night music.

Keep in mind Virginia City only has about 800 year round residents...but 13 bars! Maybe 4 have music on the weekends. So tonight there's music at:
Washoe Club
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:eZ7hzugtyOq7lM:http://p.vtourist.com/1/1627401-VIRGINIA_CITY_NEVADA-Nevada.jpg

Sergeant Major's SIlver Dollar Saloon
The Cigar Bar
Union Brewery ( Family friendly biker bar...I took my 88 year old Mother in there, she never saw the bras hanging from the chandeleer)
http://www.unionbrewery.net/


Since the singer at the Cigar bar looks familiar from the previous night's slumber party...I take a former Storey County Commisioner there for a drink and to hear Jessie James (yup) play guitar for RED DAWN. Man if you want to hear Jannis Joplin live, try to hear her act.
I order a draft Sierra Nevada pale ale, my pal order a screwdriver.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?? $ 12.45 for a draft and a well???", says my buddy. Oh, forgot the Clampers (a drinking fraternity for local men), happens to be holding initiation rites this same night. The stage is now set ... the show does not disappoint... worth every penny of $ 12.45!!

AH, I feel so normal.

I may add some details of this evening as soon as I pay to get the police report. Various witnesses are filling in the gaps as I write. Right now, I need a beer...

I'll try to post some pics later so check back...

" Brenda, how about one of them there Sierra Pale ales...the $ 3.50 ones"

[stan_allen]

Wow, all this Virginia City action, and NO visit to the "Bucket of Blood" saloon??

Well, sounds like you had a good enough time, anyway!

Continue to fill us in, as the memories return....

[JD]

I awake at the Sands (alone) never once hearing a train all night long...that's a first for a night at the Sands.

Looking out on the pool, I see 20 or 30 of the 18 year old girl volley ball players in town for a national volleyball tournament. The news predicts a 90 degree day...oh hell, maybe I'll put on my wrap around blue blocker sunglasses and hit poolside.

From 9:30 am to 11, it's just perfect. Me on the North end of the pool, apearing for all the world to be fast asleep in the sun. Reality is, THIS SHOULD BE ON A WEBCAM!! (Note to John....I have a business idea for you next time these way in shape girls have another tournament).

By 11:00 I need a Marguarita and my eyeballs replaced.

Since I was planning this trip for a while, I have a few saved up paychecks to use in the Sands "Double you Paycheck" promotions...which often includes a handfull of usefull coupons. OOOPS, no more "Double your Paycheck", says that goofy guy with the big mustache....free "spin" where I might win a keychain kinda like Fitz's Lucky Lane"

"CONGRATULATIONS, you have won $ 5 of free matchplay"...just stand in line at the players club for 10 minutes first. So I get my free $ 5 added to my card and I noticed the progressive readerboard at the Pipeline bar (near the sports book, is up to $ 2,400 on quarters. Now I see the margarita slurpee machines that used to be at next to the stage at the Empress elevators. I order one "on the rocks" and whip out a $20 to get started. (Insert bartender's name here) makes up a nice salted one and he gets a brand new $2 bill for his effort.

Playing dueces wild, my $20, the $ free play and my drink, and the bartender are all gone within minutes. The relief bartender joins the $ 2 bill club with his and another $ 20 is well on the way to that goofy mustached guy when BAMMM!!!!!

I am dealt three to a royal and then......THE TWO I NEED??? A natural royal in diamonds...no dueces, max bet, the progressive reader board is flashing............. I love this town.

Payoff is quick, no hangers on, no one starts hassling me. Very nice.

Relief bartender and the one that just left split a large wad of $ 2s and I instruct Mr. relief to spend them in VC...and all will know where he got them.

Life is good, time to go back up the hill to give them the Sand's Money.

(note to self) this beats that "Double your paycheck" all to hell)

Next up: rember that hassle with the wheel stud........?

(Stan: The Bucket is more of a touristy joint than the local hangouts I prefer. And I appreciate your comments. But if I don't get some more encouragement, I'm going to cut this report down...leave out the good parts....)

[remano]

[stan_allen]

Cut NOTHING down!!!

This is the trip report most like the ones in my imagination!

I hear ya on the bucket; since I was a total Mr. Tourist at the time, it didn't even occur to me that I wasn't in the most "authentic" place - but by all means, clue us in to the good spots!

Keep it rolling, man!

[jerry]

Wow, JDs very excellent adventure.
Can't believe you hit that big Royal. congrats.
wish I was there to see it happen.
tho I gotta say that I saw about 5-6 hit right beside me this winter when I got nary a one.

really enjoying your report. wish I had more computer time.
Still, life is good.

Keep the good stuff comin. I'll check in when I can.

[alison]

Thanks for posting your trip report. Reading everyones reports gets me excited for my upcoming trip.

Ali

[JD]

Sorry I haven't updated my epic yarn for a while, I was having trouble finding an unsecured FREE Wi Fi spot that I could use. So the rest is rather much a blur and may possibly be out of sequence.

In today's chapter, we learn if John calls and wants to go to dinner, GO. If he wants to play partners on some goofy five real Egyptian slot machine...DON'T GO. We will hear a non Reno related rant on auto service departments (remember that bad ball joint?), and how one man can drive 150 miles in Reno and end up where he started.

I checked out of the Sands, and prepared to move to the Atlantis. I had one of those postcards with special rates ($ 59 first night, day 2 free) with a few "Buy one get one, get one" dates. When making reservations, I was initially told, " We are sold out of those special rate rooms, but we can "UPGRADE you to the Atrium Tower for an additional $ 30/night". I pass but call back in an hour and got a different clerk.

PAY ATTENTION: This time I say, " Do you have any vacancies for this evening?" "Oh, we have LOTS of rooms for tonight, sir". "Excellent says I. I would like to get one of those rooms for TWO nights and use the SPECIAL RATES ON THIS CARD YOU SENT ME"..... (Deathly silence).

She finally recovers and begins, "....those vacancies are not part of that special rate plan, but we can upgrade you...." I stop her in mid sentence, " I have a better idea, why don't you DOWNGRADE me to the motor lodge for these special tower rates...." SHE'S TRAPPED. We make the reservation for the lodge... with the BOGO deal.

CHECK IN: " Would you like the tower for the same rate as the lodge?". Me: "OK, but only if it's the same deal". She: " No problem, just sign this credit card slip". Me: " $ 364.95??????????". I get out my post card. She: "Ooops, better fix that". She: " Tower room, two nights, $ 59, plus tax, plus $ 3.64/night energy fee, $ 69."

Damn, cheaters. I just hate that. If they try to cheat like that on room rates, what chance is there they'd try to cheat on a bet? I take the damn room, but I worry my credit card bill will be different than my receipt from checkout. (NOTE TO SELF: SAVE THAT RECEIPT) I used to like the Atlantis. But my first impression of the hotel is poorly fitted wall to wall carpet. My floor's hallway has little sand dunes of slack in the carpet that my rolling bag bounces along as I drag it down the hall. I should insisted on the lodge so I didn't have the 1/2 mile walk from the elevator to the last room on the floor. It's likely not all that bad, but now my SCAMDAR is on full alert !! When I find out they purged all of my points 30 days ago, I'm sure not going to give them much action. So far, Sands 10, Atlantis ZERO. ( By the way, Sands craps = 10x, Atlantis = 2x odds).

After trading several sets of phone tag with John, we finally meet at the cabaret bar at the Atlantis. The entertainment here is unique. It seems we've arrived on the only "Dark" night for the cabaret bands. And they used to have some good ones. I would sit and listen to the band, chat with the senior bartender, "Raynard", and spend a bunch of dough. Tonight, the entertainment is two of the housekeeping staff, vacuuming the stage. I give them a big round of appause (which catches on) as they work (and a $ 2 tip). I've heard better acts, but show biz is tough, and I still have most of that $2,400 from the Sands... unlikely the Atlantis is going to get much of it.

John finally shows up, but I have a good lead on the evening's drinking. Which probably explains how I found an Atlantis wine glass in my car three days later. Maybe I can sell it for $ 3.64. I call it, " A scam fee charge" I assess to anyone that tries to scam me. I still need one more to be even.

I was going to treat John to dinner (After all, I DID ask him) but POOF, no comps on my Atlantis card... I guess they purge points when they find out you're coming. John has now heard my sad tale of room reservations and he suggests the Peppermill. Fine by me.

Without too much detail, let's just say dinner was terrific, John is a great guy and marvelous host, Peppermill service was terrific, food was great, but he's a lousy picker of slot machines.

NO PLACE TO PARK NOW AT THE ATLANTIS.... strike three.

Next morning, I call a couple of car dealers' service departments to see if I can get my car fixed while I'm in Reno. One of them is directly behind the Atlantis. " Well we should do both sides and the control arm...$ 450 - $ 500". Dealer in Carson, " ...bring it in, we'll check it."

I drive to Carson, they put it up on the rack, confirm only one side is bad, give me a written estimate, $ 170. Ooops, they don't have the part and neither does the dealer in Reno that was planning on finding out the part takes three days to get in. Carson Hyundai carries Mazda and a couple of other lines but they are recommended for the honest dealer of the area. I wish I had time to wait. They wouldn't even let me pay for the diagnosis.

I spend the rest of the day exploring old Dayton ( 12 years older than Virginia City but museum is only open on weekends). Dayton has some really old cool buildings, history and is not touristyfied like VC. I snoop around the old pony express stop, but sadly the Gold Canyon Steak House (recommended) is closed in the afternoon. I love this old stuff and the history behind it.

Up to VC from the south, I spend a large portion of the next several hours at the locals favorite, the Mark Twain Saloon in VC (24/7/365). I have pretty good luck, they appreciate your business and if you are really playing...comped drinks. I'm well known here, but they are used to tourists faking slot action so they will likely wait until you show your action some before volunteering to comp drinks.

Actually I begin to have some pretty good luck here on the bar VP. I usually play dueces wild (hoping for a natural), but if you look, there are some machines with a game called (I'm not making this up) ... "FOUR PLAY". I can't recall all of the pay table, but on quarters, ANY four of a kind pays $ 100. John had good luck with a similar pay table last night so I tried my luck. I hit 4 of a kind several times and one 4 aces with a kicker for $ 500 !!! I love this town. The owner of the casino swings buy and says hi, makes me feel welcome. And when he finds out I have some of HIS money, whines right on cue. He knows I'd rather play VP here than any casino in Reno. (Note to John: These guys really need a website).

I really encourage anyone with an interst in history to visit VC. VP is as good here as any, and they really appreciate your business. It's a nice change from the windowless casinos in Reno. Click on "MAIN SITE" on top of this page, click on "Nevada Max", and go exploring. here, I'll save you some time.

http://www.nevadamax.com/page19/wall19-3.html
http://visitreno.com/vcity/index.php
There also a cool narrative of stories by Grace on John's main site.

http://visitreno.com/vcity/grace.php

That main site does have some stuff we all forget about, you know.


Ok, so altogether, I hit $ 100, $ 200, $ 100, $ 100 and a $ 500 within maybe 5 hours. I put maybe a bit more than third back in. Life is good.

Dinner at Mandarin Gardens across the street and down two blocks from the Mark Twain. Great Chinese food (there was a huge China town in VC in the 1870s), and they have a great deck (or VP machines) to look out over the trail that led so many pioneers across that desert to the West Coast. There's a great bookstore directly opposite of the casino that has lots of books (even for kids) on all western subjects.

Now I already have quite a collection, but if you plan on visiting, one idea is to pick up some history BEFORE you go, so it will mean more to you when you get there. The local Volunteer Fire Chief owns this bookstore here and has a great inventory.

http://www.marktwainbooks.com/shop/

Back down the hill to the Atlantis and straight to bed. Atlantis gets no action.

Gotta go now. More later if you ask.

[john]

Thanks for the detailed trip report, JD. One inconsistency, however. I pick great slots! Just ask BC Dave. We played that same machine for a couple of hours and came out about $100 ahead. As all machines, it sometimes goes into "rude mode", which is where it was that night we played.

I agree with you on the meal at the Pep. The food and service were excellent AND our server was a little doll. That makes it even better. On your next trip, we'll take in VC fer sure.

[stan_allen]

Okay, I'm asking - more, please!

One thing I'm not clear on: where was this Chinatown in VC? The town seemed so small, it's hard to imagine where it could have been tucked into...

Good stuff, man - keep it coming!