We got out later than I had hoped, partially because I spent some time cleaning out the rental car in preparation for our turning it in on Tuesday (as Monday night it’d be in valet parking). Headed out of Kingman, Arizona on route 93. Some really desolate terrain and the heat was already rising up there, even before 10a. During the nearly one hour drive to Hoover Dam we steadily lost elevation (and gained temperature, to the point that it was over 100F by the time we got to the dam).
The dam turned out to be a non-event for us. The consensus going in was that we didn’t want to take a tour or anything, just see it. Turns out that by staying on route 93 we entered Nevada with nary a sight of the dam. Had to exit and work our way back to the dam on a lesser, windy route that took us by an inspection station and everything (though they just waved us on — I guess we look pretty harmless). We got to a point where they wanted us to pay $7 to park so we U-turned out of there and pulled over at a viewpoint that gave great views of the impressive route 93 bridge as well as “ok” views of Hoover Dam. Took some pictures, good enough for me! Hopped back in the car and headed toward Las Vegas, arriving about twenty minutes later. As it was nearly noon we got a bite to eat at Arby’s on Tropicana Avenue (that after trying another place that was closed despite its operating hours claiming otherwise). It was… well, Arby’s.
Hoover Dam
Route 93 bridge
We arrived at our first (and I think coolest) Las Vegas destination a bit after noon — the Pinball Hall of Fame on 1610 East Tropicana Avenue. Started by Tim Arnold, who found success as an arcade owner during the early 80s, the Pinball Hall of Fame houses a couple hundred of his machines (with more in storage so the collection on display can be rotated to keep it fresh). There is no entrance fee but it costs quarters to play the tables. Many of the tables are set to five balls and also give a discount for multiple plays. He runs it as a 503(c), any profits are given to the Salvation Army. If you love pinball or just want to revisit some childhood memories (or both!) it is well worth a visit!
Pinball Hall of Fame exterior
I played many of the tables that are represented in my current video game obsession The Pinball Arcade like Monster Bash, Tales of the Arabian Nights (if I could own a table, that’d be the one I’d choose), Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, Pin*Bot, you name it. A very good mix of EMs (tables from before the late 70s), SSs (mostly 80s), and DMDs (since the early 90s). Unfortunately Black Hole, one my favorites, wasn’t working, nor was Haunted House, a game I had wanted to play. In fact, in the three hours we were there a couple of tables that had been working had encountered difficulties. That’s the main fear I’d have owning a table — they require a bit of work to keep running and I simply don’t have the expertise. Gorgar also wasn’t on display, unfortunately. I also got to see and play many tables I hadn’t encountered — Wizard of Oz (just released in April), Doctor Who, WHO dunnit, Metallica (also recently released), etc. Michelle and the kids had a ball, especially Genetta who has become quite a fan of pinball. Addison played several games of Air Hockey with Michelle and I which was fun as well.
Some of the Pinball Hall of Fame's EM tables
Pinball Hall of Fame's SSs and DMDs
Williams' Tales of the Arabian Nights
Wizard of Oz pinball -- note the flippers are the ruby slippers
Though not pinball related, they had some classic arcade games including Space Invaders Deluxe. I hadn’t seen one in such amazing condition. I’m always amazed at how the older video game machines compensated for their low technology. Space Invaders is a monochrome game but through the use of a colorful bezel as well as projecting the display onto a painted color backdrop (via a mirror — the monitor is actually mounted below the playfield) it comes across really well.
Space Invaders Deluxe's clever illusion
We left the Pinball Hall of Fame about 3 or 3:30p and were hit with 108F temperatures — ouch! Dry heat, my butt! Drove the short distance to the Strip and our hotel, the Cosmopolitan. Traffic was terrible, but we made it through fine. I’ve never seen a hotel this big — tons of people arriving, the staff operating like a well-oiled machine. The lobby was really cool — tall pillars covered in large screens depicting all sorts of scientific diagrams of flora and such. We checked in and were led to a bank of six elevators (one of three banks) that serviced the floor we were staying on — the 24th (of 60 or so). The elevator zipped us rapidly up to our floor. The room was great — particularly the beds (so soft), view of the Bellagio and Paris casinos, and bathroom. The shower was odd, though. A walk-in but with a window opening to the room proper with a shade covering it. The shade, though, had its “controls” in the room itself, not the shower. I guess what stays in Vegas…
The Cosmopolitan's lobby
The Cosmopolitan's check-in desks
View from our room at the Cosmopolitan
We spent some time trying to decide what to eat and ended up eating at the Cosmopolitan’s buffet, Wicked Spoon. Considered to be one of the best buffets in Las Vegas, it was a bit pricey but great. There were some odd foods mixed in, however — marrow, roasted goat, etc. I stuck to the safer stuff like prime rib, stir fry beef, macaroni, and some wonderful desserts like raspberry tort, coffee gelato, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Good stuff!
Our dinner was at the Wicken Spoon, a magnificent buffet
Addison wasn’t feeling great so headed to the room while Michelle, Genetta, and I walked about the hotel. They had these odd steam punk looking things scattered about as well as giant shoes. Vegas, man. There was also a bar called The Chandelier that was basically a giant multi-story bar without walls but rather was a chandelier. Crazy. There were a number of shops, all very, very expensive. One had hundreds of antique sewing machines in its windows for some reason. We left the Cosmopolitan and walked north along the Strip, first checking out the Bellagio’s fountain show. It was choreographed to music and had many jets of water shooting far into the sky. Lots of people, way too many people, were milling about, as well as people handing out fliers that were less than appropriate for my daughter to see. And the heat, even after dark, ugh.
Steampunk-y... uh... something?
Glimpse of the casino floor in the Cosmopolitan
The Chandelier, unholy spawn of a bar and a chandelier
A store displaying many sewing machines for some reason...
Paris on the Las Vegas Strip
The Bellagio's fountain show
The Cosmopolitan as seen from the Strip
Went into Caesar’s Palace casino and walked through the casino area. We couldn’t linger as Genetta was with us, but that’s fine. Saw a large room with many screens for sports betting as well as the Coliseum, Caesar’s Palace’s theater. Soon came upon the Forum Shops, the shopping center within Caesar’s Palace. It was pretty amazing — it had spiral escalators! Also the stores all were unified in decor to look like a Roman city. The ceiling was painted to look like a sky with some wispy clouds. The light cycled between day, evening, night, and dawn. There was even an aquarium in one part. There was a Sony store which had a 84″ 4K TV on display — very cool, but not $25,000 cool (you know it is going to be pricey when the tag says “Save $4,099!” Quite a few art galleries (with art in the $15,000 and up range), a Tiffany & Co., etc. Not surprisingly there were a lot of people walking around gawking but very few full shopping bags to be found.
Caesar's Palace casino floor
Sports betting area, Caesar's Palace
Spiral escalators at Caesar's Palace Forum Shops
Cool decor and night/day cycle at Forum Shops
More Forum Shops decor
We were going to try and make it to the Venetian but it was already past 10p. So we exited the Forum Shops and crossed Las Vegas Blvd to quickly zip through the Miracle Mile Shops. We first grabbed some water and Genetta a frappacino from Starbucks. Genetta found a cool top at some store while I just waited outside and took pictures. Like the Forum Shops it was decorated in a theme, this one being Moroccan / North African. They even had an indoor rain storm that would happen every so often but sadly, as it was late, we missed it. Left about 11p and headed back to the room as the shops were closing. At this hour the crowd was skewing much younger and “prettier”, lots of club goers and such. It was time for this old fogey to go back to the room and blog and get ready for the trip home the next day.
Flamingo Casino lights
Miracle Mile Shops decor
More Miracle Mile Shops decor
Route for Monday, August 5th, 2013