A Brief Visit to Hooters and the MGM

Day 10 in Las Vegas
The Coffee Bean, on my favorite black couch

I walked through the Hooters Casino this afternoon. It's a rather casual, no-frills, kind of place when compared to the glitz of the MGM across the street. The word for Hooters that comes to mind is "unkempt", like a child's room that is messy and needs a good cleaning. I suppose that's an unfair judgement since Hooters doesn't claim to reach out to the high class clients of the more glamorous properties, so I shouldn't compare them. I'm just taking note of the little details I notice when I walk through a property.

For example, the first thing I noticed at Hooters was in the elevator. You can usually tell the class of a joint by its elevators and its bathrooms. The garage elevator at Hooters had lights knocked out and graffiti stains. In addition, it shook and rattled and noisily made its journey from the third level downward where it finally deposited me safely on the casino floor.

I don't want to be overly judgemental about Hooters. It's just an observation of the little things, the things that add up to an overall impression of a place.

When I walked across the street to the MGM, of course, I encountered a completely different world. Again it's unfair to compare the MGM to the Hooters, so I will not.

The lions at the MGM were feisty and putting on a show for a nice crowd huddled around the glass cage. I felt sorry for the lions. What must life be like for them? Created for the wild, to be masters of their domain, to conquer nature as one of the grandest beasts in the land. I could almost see in the eyes of one lion a sense of doom, a sense of resignation and defeat as if to say, "How the hell did I end up here in a glass case as show fodder for a bunch of tourists?"

As I walked around and observed the crowds and watched a few hands of poker in the pit I felt like I was in a glass case. Is someone watching me?

On my way back to Summerlin, a radio news report said that billionaire investor Carl Icahn advises the MGM Mirage to file bankruptcy and reorganize their $13 billion debt. No wonder the lion looked so sad.

Vegas Traffic a Nightmare

Spent three days this afternoon navigating the nightmare traffic east of downtown. Every street is under construction or being widened or is just too backed up with traffic. Seems like traffic east of town is far worst than west of town, so I intend to avoid the area north and east of UNLV.

There's also construction near downtown and of course the area around CityCenter is horrible. For a city that's crumbling beneath the boulder of an economic depression and shrinking tourism base, it seems like a lot of people still live here. Why don't some of you people move to Laughlin?
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There's an outside chance that CityCenter will halt construction, putting thousands more out of work. Oh joy. What a mess that would be. That's why the powers-in-charge are doing their best to keep the payments coming so construction on the megabillion dollar complex will continue. Dubai World, half owner of the monster, is balking on the deal and causing MGM Mirage all kinds of fits. Will MGM and Dubai work out their differences and see CityCenter completed next fall? Some say it's doubtful, given the current economic mess. But MGM Mirage seems empowered to move ahead and feels Dubai World will eventually come around.

There's so much at stake, I'm sure the deal will get done between these two behemoths. A lot strutting and pawing will commence during negotiations, but both sides will eventually cave in and come to an agreement, each side claiming its own victory. Should CityCenter shut down, it'll become the largest casino property for rats and homeless people in the country.

April Snow in Las Vegas. What the...?

Day 9 in Las Vegas
Starbucks near the Red Rock Casino

It's cold in the desert this morning. So cold, in fact, by the time I made it to Starbucks it was snowing. Pretty white flakes, floating above the hood of my car, melting on the windshield, making me think I was still asleep and caught up in some weird dream.

I'm the first to admit that seeing it snow in Las Vegas in April was a little shocking. But after twenty minutes, it was back to being cold, cloudy, dreary, and wet. The forecast calls for sun and about 90 degrees by Saturday.

Traveler's Haiku #2

"Traveler's Haiku #2"
by Mitchell R. Aiken

On the road again,
watching each mile pass beneath
me like a cold snake.
Striking the town lights
after dusk, snapping at scenes,
slurping gas and oil,
as the wind blows east
into the desert sands and
a Red Rock Canyon.

Art District? What Art District? Did You Say There Was An Art District?

Checking online I discovered that the so-called "art district" is located downtown near Charleston and Fourth St. It's sometimes referred to as "18b", a clever name that comes from the idea that the original "arts district" comprised 18 blocks of dowtown.

But I drove there earlier this week and for the life of me could not see an "arts district". I saw two, maybe three, industrial buildings that looked like contemporary art galleries of some kind, but no "district." I guess I just didn't look in the right place.

I followed the sign on Fourth Street that said "Art District" with an arrow pointed west and discovered three blocks of bail bondsmen. Maybe they paint oils and pastels while waiting to get Bubba out of jail. I looked for signs of fine art, galleries, anything resembling an "arts district" and found nothing.

I've spoken to enough locals to understand that Las Vegas is not exactly "fine art friendly." For the most part, fine art is not on the local radar screen. But I've been here only a week, so maybe I'm being a little hasty in my assessment. UNLV has an Art Department, so art is taking place here somewhere. I just can't find the place where you can actually sell it.

I know The Strip has a casino or two that sells expensive fine art to wealthy tourists through their galleries, but that's not an "arts district." I'm looking for the place where artists gather, work, and sell their creations. Is there such a place in Sin City?

Jobs in Vegas May Require a Truckload of Permits

Day 7 in Las Vegas
Starbucks, near Red Rock Casino

As a newcomer to Vegas, I've learned that three basic work permits are needed if you are looking for a job in a casino, driving a limo, or pursuing dozens of other jobs.

1. The gaming card is issued by the Sheriff's office and is basically a criminal background check. If you have killed someone recently, you may want to try Laughlin for a job.

2. The TAM card (Technical Alcohol Management) I think is a class you take and they issue you an alcohol awareness certificate after passing a test. This is assuming you don't show up drunk because of all the work permits you are being forced to acquire.

3. The health card is issued after you recieve a TB shot and convince the doctor you don't have two heads or a symbionic lifeform from Squirk growing in your stomach.

Depending on the job you want, you may need all three cards. Geez...they don't make it easy to work in this town. I know when you have thousands of workers handling food and drink, gamblers and drinkers, and visitors from all over the world, you need to keep a lid on things. I guess this is the price you pay for working in an adult playground.
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I visited an employment agency and looked at the fine print on the job application. It said I would owe them $100 up front when I accept a job, and then pay them 65% of my first months gross earnings as a fee. This sounds a little goofy. Maybe this is standard for some agencies, but it still seems like highway robbery. I've not been to an employment agency in years, which is part of the fun. I looked at the lady and said, "If I had $100 cash and could pay you more than half my salary...I wouldn't need a job!"

The last agency I dealt with, years ago I will admit, was paid the fee by the company who hired you. I suppose I'm just a little ignorant of the way things work today.

Easter Boredom

Day 6 in Las Vegas
Starbucks, somewhere west of town

Can someone tell me why Starbucks must keep it so cold? I know it'll be handy when it's 113 outside, but today was very nice. I walked around The Trails Park in Summerlin and enjoyed watching some fathers teach their kids the finer points of baseball. But now I'm freezing to death in a Starbucks walk-in meat locker and wishing I had stayed and had coffee at the park.

Back to baseball. I noticed the Rangers are up to their old tricks. They start off winning the first three games at home then lose the first two on the road. The Rangers have to be the worst road team in the majors.

And speaking of majors...where was Tiger at the Masters this weekend? Golf is boring to watch unless Tiger is in the final pairing. I suppose his knee is still bothering him. He's no good coming from behind in major tournaments, so I knew he was done when he double bogied the first hole, third round.

And speaking of round...the Jr. Whopper is the best hamburger in town that cost only a dollar. Wendy's would probably be a close second.

And speaking of Wendy's...I almost lost my car in the wind storm the other night. Or at least I thought it might be blown to bits while I was walking around the Red Rock Casino. Some of the highest winds I've ever seen...er...heard (winds can't be seen I guess) made it hard to walk through the parking lot.

And speaking of parking lot...what's up with all the signs in the shopping centers that say "2 Hours Only...or You'll Be Subject to the Big Tow Truck." I saw a McDonald's employee park and walk into work. Unless he works less than two hours, something tells me they don't enforce the parking regulations. So if you don't enforce the rule, why have the rule? Just to make people nervous? Another silly example of code violations posted on real property to make people behave a certain way only to see people doing what they want to do anyway.

And speaking of silly...I plugged in my iPod for a recharge and I thought the entire thing was going to blow up. A spark or something caused the screen to flash, then go blank. I was really ticked until I shut it off and prayed over it. Then I let it cool off...which wasn't hard since I was in Starbucks. Finally I hit the reset button and all was well. Take away my iPod and I'm toast...even in Starbucks.