Check-in was quick and easy and caught a quick breakfast at the Airport. In making Ed’s meal they apparently blew out the kitchen and Arty needed to forage elsewhere, glad we got in line before Ed. At the gate we met up with Audi and Charlie and we were all on the same flight out.
We had a good flight the usual small snack and beverage service nothing special and I got to start a new book, the SG-1 tie-in novel Roswell. Debby sat next to a young lady who was on her second audition for Brett Michaels Rock of Love, good luck! We picked up or bags and grabbed a shuttle. We had hoped to get a limo as they used to have a per person rate just like a shuttle but with more style. We did find the company but they no longer do that just per hour or day rates. We got checked in, even got in early, and got settled, now time for lunch.
Off to Lunch – We met up with another couple of friends and headed off to lunch at the Peppermill. We had been there several years ago and it was a reasonably priced and good tasting, and we were glad to see that it still was. I had a really good Buffalo Chicken wrap and Debby had BBQ grilled chicken, all very delicious. While we ate we scoured the coupon books and worked on a plan for the evening. Apparently the Blue man group outsourced their ticket line to India and Ed couldn’t understand the operator. We called the theatre directly and found out the cheap tickets in the ad were way in the back and on the sides, pass. You would think they could lower there ticket prices with all the savings from outsourcing. Since we had been there several years ago they were almost twice as much.
Right next door to the Peppermill they have a Tix4Tonite, a discount, overstock ticket seller that has last minute deals up to 50% off. These aren’t always the best seats in the house but they are good and great deals to boot. We looked at the list and found the ‘Rat Pack Is Back’ show. Debby, Gary and I had seen an earlier version of this show and it was great so we decided to give it a try and the price was right.
We headed back to the Hilton since we had several hours before we needed to head out to the show. Walking in the lobby we found the new Star Trek slot machine! This is awesome! I’m not a big fan of slots but the Star Trek machine is very entertaining and you login and get an ID to track your progress. As you progress you open up new levels and bonuses. In the first two bonus levels you beam down to the planet and phaser away at things on the surface and are in a space battle with, who else, the Klingons. The sound effects sound and video clips are awesome. This is my all time favorite slot machine. I want one! Given we had so much fun we didn’t get much in the way of rest but we met everyone in the lobby and took cabs to the Plaza for the show.
Rat Pack – We hung out near the theater and played some of the machines and had a drink or two while we waited for the doors to open. We got decent seats and had one obligatory, overpriced drink inside.
The Rat Pack is Back casts Brian Duprey as “Chairman of the Board” Frank Sinatra, Kyle Diamond in the role of Sammy Davis Jr., co-producer Sandy Hackett as comic foil Joey Bishop and Johnny Edwards as Dean Martin! The show recreates the vibe of the 60’s Las Vegas and the performers were dead on. Many of the jokes have been updated for the times but Sandy/Joey’s comic timing is perfect and the four work together splendidly. Each performer does some of the solo classics and then they come together for several numbers to close the show and complete the Rat Pack Experience. All together an excellent show and even having seen this show several years ago I think it has gotten better and the venue at the plaza is retro cool. If you have an evening in Las Vegas I highly recommend it. Stay around after for the meet and great and the inevitable photo opportunity, great fun.
After the show we wandered around taking in the Freemont Street Experience and ended up at Binion’s café for a late dinner. I had some good prime rib and at a decent price, everyone seemed to have had an equally good meal as well.
Debby, Ed and I stuck around Binion’s and played the machines for a few hours, my luck didn’t hold and ended up putting my winnings back in. I had an active players club card that got me a discount in the café but it was too late to see what I had earned on my card. Since it was after midnight the three of us decided to share a cab back, the rest of the crew had taken the bus back. When we got in the elevator to head back up to the room, we ran in to Arty, one of the group that had taken the bus. Score one for the Cabbies!
All in all a full day of fun and games in Las Vegas, Sat and Sunday updates coming soon. Stay tuned!
