Tag: Golden Gate
View All TagsVegasChatter 2012 Awards / Reopenings / The D Hotel / Golden Gate / Downtown / Downtown Vegas / Fremont Street / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
Best Reopening of 2012
Should this award go to Fitzgeralds or to the D? Or, both? The best reopening in Las Vegas for 2012 goes to the D. Even though the D never closed it was transformed, top to bottom (touting a new grill, D Grill, just today). Downtown Vegas has changed a lot over the past few years, but the end of Fitzgeralds and reopening of the property as the D was a landmark change.
The transformation of the Fitz into the D was bold, but it still kept the tradition of old Vegas. Out are the giant neon Fitzgeralds signs and in are new LED boards. Older slot machines and video poker machines have been moved out of initial sight to the second level and back side of the casino. Go-go dancers and loud music are abundant when you walk into the casino which now includes one of the longest bars in America with an endless supply of HDTVs (well, 1,000 square feet worth).
Sad Vegas / VegasChatter Flashback / Du-Par's / Downtown / Downtown Vegas / Eating / Dining / Restaurants / Golden Gate / Riviera / → All Tags
Du-Par's Not Coming To Strip (Soon), After All
Today, we heard some news that made us feel the same way we do when we get down to the last few bites of Du-Par's fluffy gold pancakes -- wanting more, but appreciative of what we had.
Back in August, our favorite downtown diner thrilled us with news that a second location was headed to Vegas, this one on the Strip and by year's end. After the announcement, the Internet blogsphere was abuzz with rumors that Du-Par's would land at the Riviera, but that's not to be. In fact, a second Vegas location isn't in the immediate future for Vegas, at all, anymore.
Main Street Station / Boyd Gaming / B Connected / Players Clubs / Golden Gate / Fremont Hotel / Tours / → All Tags
The Hotel At Main Street Station Ain't So Bad
We've been to Main Street Station before for the gambling. 20 times odds with $5 minimums may be the perfect game for the cost conscious craps player. Comp'd 777 micro brews and full pay video poker at the bar make the beer drinking gambler happy. This was our first time, however, checking out the hotel.
If you just walk into the casino to gamble, you may not notice the train station motif evident by the name. You'll see how obvious it is when you walk towards the lobby. The rooms, though, aren't treated with that same motif. The decor seems to be a more modern take on 80s design as you can see in the video below. Meaning the style looks old, but the furniture looks new. Overall, the rooms at Main Street Station aren't very flashy, but they are clean (except the windows) and among the most comfortable rooms in downtown Vegas.
Hotel Renovations / Remodels / Golden Gate / Fremont Street / Downtown / Downtown Vegas / → All Tags
Inside The Revamped Golden Gate
Located at 1 Fremont Street, it introduced the very first telephone to Vegas. Phone number? One. The site of Downtown's Golden Gate Hotel & Casino isn't just steeped in Vegas history. It practically invented it. A hotel that has resided on the same spot since 1906. It's been the Golden Gate since 1955 and became the first locale to introduce shrimp cocktail to the Vegas masses in 1956.
Now, the first major expansion in fifty years concludes a couple of years of renovation and the hotel now has 16 all new suites and two penthouses. Plus, a high roller lounge, an all new lobby, their first ever porte cochere and a revived energy about the place. Our galleries (see below) shows you the breadth of the upgrades.
And it's 16 new hotel suites, "not 1,600 or 60," as President and co-owner Mark Brandenburg told us on a media tour of the property. They are proud and, with a wink, tout it as the "smallest expansion in recent Vegas history." He maintained, "you don't have to be a mega-resort to be a high class, quality place."
In 1906 when the hotel first opened, local press hailed it as "first class." Their aim is to keep that tradition alive and move into a new stage of luring Strip regulars who have never been Downtown before. Brandeburg says he often hears new visitors had "no idea" that the Golden Gate or Fremont Street existed. He wants to change that because he believes this section of the city, "feels real.. This the the real Las Vegas." His focus is also on the "cool part of Vegas history," but he hesitates to admit the hotel is anything close to a musuem. A small history display parked by the new lobby and the new retro design touches is as close as he wants to get to any hint of the building being a living artifact.
Openings / Du-Par's / Golden Gate / Breakfast / Diners / → All Tags
Du-Par's Will Open a Second Vegas Location...On The Strip!
We just can't quit you, Du-Par's. Even after you've been shut down (briefly) by the health department. But, you told us you were devastated and we believed you so we kept coming back for yummy goodness and haven't met a plate we haven't liked yet.
Now, comes word that Du-Par's (currently found in downtown's Golden Gate and also in Los Angeles) is adding a second Vegas location by year's end.. and this one will be on the Strip:
BREAKING NEWS:ANOTHER LOCATION BEING ADDED TO ANOTHER BIG CASINO IN VEGAS.THIS TIME:ON THE STRIP
— Du-par's Restaurants (@DuParsRestauran) August 27, 2012
Joe K / Downtown Vegas / Golden Nugget / Rush Tower / The Plaza / Golden Gate / Resort Fees / → All Tags
Quickie Hotel Observations About Golden Nugget, Plaza and Golden Gate
This week our beloved East Coast Gambler is taking a well-deserved respite from blogging about players club, slot machines, coffee and steak. In his place is frequent Vegas Visitor, Joe K who will be telling us what he loves to do when he comes into town. Got your own Vegas tips to share? By all means, send 'em to us!
Recently, I have had the opportunity to stay in a two renovated properties in Downtown Vegas and one property just before its renovations began. I'm talking about Golden Nugget, the Plaza and Golden Gate.
Starting at the high end is the Rush Tower at Golden Nugget, which completed construction in November 2009. I normally will not stay at a property that does not offer good gambling options (over 99% video poker or good blackjack rules), but when you are staying downtown where everything is walking distance this was not as important to me.
I was able to score this room for $99 which is a great deal considering there's also no resort fee. Our room was comfortable and spacious with a king-sized bed, sitting area, a bathroom with double bowl vessel sinks and tub/shower combo. The bed was very comfy and the décor was modern.
I have not stayed in a standard room at the Golden Nugget so do not have that to compare to but after reading about the new resort fee at The Plaza, a standard room at the Nugget may be next on my list. (Ed. Note: We have. Check it out here.)
Golden Gate / Du-Par's / Downtown / Downtown Vegas / Eating / Restaurants / → All Tags
Chasing 'Tail at Golden Gate
Downtown's Golden Gate has got it going on these days. Their on-going renovations and improvements have the old joint looking pretty spiffy if you ask us. GG's vibe had always made it one of our DT faves and the new car smell hasn't changed that one bit.
If you haven't been in lately the biggest change on the casino floor is where the outdated restrooms have been replaced by a high limit gaming area we haven't seen getting much action yet. The lack of high limit traffic probably isn't exactly shocking, but the point is the crap bathrooms are gone. Instead brand new, roomier crap-rooms have been built toward the back of the casino.
Tips / Video Poker / The d hotel / Golden Gate / Strategy / Gambling / → All Tags
Video Poker Basics
Believe it or not, there's a lot that goes into being a video poker player. Serious video poker players will never just sit down at any machine they happen upon. As we mentioned earlier this week, in order to find the best odds at video poker you'll have to hunt for the right machine since many are different. But, before you go on the hunt, you have to know what you're looking for.
There are a lot of variations of video poker. Take a look at this list of video poker games, but don't get overwhelmed. Inside each type of game are different pay tables. The slightest difference in a pay table to one number can change the house edge by up to 3-5% or more. While this may not add up to much in the short term, it will add up over time.
We'll start with this writer's favorite version of video poker, Jacks or Better (AKA JoB). It's the most simple strategy to learn and the game many recommend for beginners.
When looking at the game you'll want to check the pay tables to see the overall odds of the game. The first place you'll want to look on the pay table is the FULL HOUSE and FLUSH LINE since those are most often the payouts that are altered.
WTF / Rio Las Vegas / Golden Gate / Housekeeping / → All Tags
Does 'Do Not Disturb' Mean Anything, Anymore?
On two consecutive hotel stays, we've been barged in on by maids in different hotels. This is strange, because this writer has never had that happen before.
The first incident was at Golden Gate where the maid disregarded the Do Not Disturb sign, didn't knock on the door and entered the room. What she would have seen may or may not have been a naked man dancing to barely audible music on his iPhone. After a shrilly "YO!," she realized that we weren't ready to be disturbed and walked out without a peep. "I'm sorry" may have been nice, but the end result was really no big deal.
Moving along to a recent stay at the Rio where we left the room to get some coffee and WiFi at Starbucks, but had a late checkout and the Do Not Disturb sign up.
Golden Gate / Construction / Renovations / Downtown / Downtown Vegas / Fremont Street / → All Tags
Golden Gate Renovations Coming Along Nicely
We last had a deep look at Golden Gate renovations a couple of month months ago. The rooms and much of the casino were both looking sharp, but it was obvious that many of the renovations were ongoing.
This weekend, we saw a lot of progress. The valet was almost completed. All that's needed is some signage pointing people in the right direction. The new check-in area is beautiful and completely finished. There's also a new elevator that led us to a third floor hallway with carpeting so fresh we could still smell the glue. The old electronic keys have been replaced by keycards.
Vegas Observations / Rio Las Vegas / Hotel Impossible / Casino Impossible / Planet Hollywood / Binion's / Golden Gate / → All Tags
Casino Impossible
We've become addicted to the "Impossible" fix 'em up line of shows on TV over the past few months. From Restaurant Impossible to Bar Rescue and now Hotel Impossible our DVR is on overload.
When we were in our sweet, smelly, dirty Rio Masquerade Suite we felt so icky that we wanted to call Hotel Impossible to clean things up immediately. Then we saw episodes with dead bugs and inches of dust and realized that, while the room wasn't clean, it could be a lot worse.
This got us to thinking that if there was a Casino Impossible what casino they would start filming at? It's easy to say start with the oldest casino and work to newest, but the oldest casino in Vegas, downtown's Golden Gate, is currently undergoing massive renovations already so that wouldn't work.
However, you can stay downtown and fix up the casino at Binion's where half of the casino looks sad and unused. The staff seemed courteous and most of the casino looked fine, but the empty parts could use some help.
We would definitely bring Casino (or Hotel) Impossible to Planet Hollywood to shore up their bad housekeeping staff. Numerous days with gum wrappers left untouched around our hotel room need to be corrected.
Renovations / Plaza / Golden Gate / Downtown / Downtown Vegas / → All Tags
There's Still Work To Be Done At Plaza, Golden Gate
The Plaza may have reopened last year (the best reopening of the year, we hear), but it's not yet done sprucing things up. While in downtown Vegas earlier today, we spotted work underway on its facade.
The dingy gold glass that lines the building's exterior is being removed, but there was no sign of what was to come. (Newer gold glass?)
