Another day in Las Vegas and it was actually quite chilly today. But it’s not going to stand in the way of this adventure.
I was feeling in a particularly good mood, so I bought breakfast for my companions at the Port O’Calls Buffet at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino. This is a very reasonably priced buffet and the food tastes great, especially the French Toast which is the most delicious I have enjoyed. There is actually a story behind this delicacy.
The second time I ever went to Vegas with Mat and John (and a third friend, Matt Haynie), Haynie, John, and I enjoyed the French Toast, but Mat was too full to enjoy a piece. The three of us raved about how wonderful it was and Mat thought we were jerking his chain as this raving continued for the next year.
Mat and I returned to Vegas a year later where we again ate at Gold Coast and I asked Mat if he were going to eat the French Toast. He said he would just to get me off his back. I saw him slice off a bite and pop it into his mouth. Immediately, his eyes popped open and revealed the truth of the incredible taste. Mat’s expression said he didn’t want to admit how good it was, but he finally grunted, “D–n it!! It is good.”
After a hearty meal, we returned to the Rio where my legendary luck surfaced again. I am not much of a gambler, but 9 times out of 10 I am unusually lucky. We found a Lord of the Rings slot machine where I did decently, ending $40 ahead. Then I attempted to play a Judge Judy machine and wasn’t having much luck and I decided to take one more spin.
BOOM! 9,000 penny jackpot.
From there, with the aid of good spins and bonuses, I ran it up to being $250 ahead.
After my profitable morning, Mat and I headed over to Harrah’s where we enjoyed the Mac King Comedy Magic Show. This has been voted the best afternoon show in Vegas for a number of years and is well deserved. Mr. King is an excellent magician with an easygoing, likable manner. Even better, he’s clean. This is a very family friendly show and one of the most affordable shows in Vegas. Top tickets only cost about $50, plus tax.
After the show, Mat and I ran to the Mirage so I could try to find the Ghostbusters machine that was so generous to me last year. I found it and, this time, it wasn’t quite so giving and it ate some of my winnings. A Superman machine managed to dig me out of the loss a little. I then decided to give the other Ghostbusters machine one last chance. KA-POW!! Started earning some more profits.
After I felt I had bled the luck out of the machine, we returned to the Rio where Mat took a break and I proceeded to have a little bad luck and lost a portion of my winnings back to Judge Judy (and blackjack and Spider-Man).
That evening, I finally got to go to downtown Las Vegas for the first time. It was truly a unique experience. I enjoyed the Fremont Street Experience (a massive light show), saw a street magician, and proceeded to lose some more money on a Godzilla slot machine and a The Price is Right machine at the legendary 4 Queens Hotel & Casino.
From there, my cohorts and I traveled to Binions where Mat spied a Superman II slot machine and I felt I had to play it. I hit a bonus where I won 3 2,000 penny jackpots in a row, so now I had recouped all the money I had lost and then some.
After a tiring, but fulfilling day, we returned to the Rio for a well deserved rest.
Chris' Corner 