Viva Las Dopefest!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Okay, everyone, here’s my two cents. People who get in on Friday can meet for an icebreaker. I’m going to recommend the Crown and Anchor, because it’s good and laid-back. Good food is available, good drink as well, but no one is expected to drink (i.e., no minimum, people sometimes just go there for dinner). It’s about 3.5 miles from the MGM/NYNY, which works out to a cab fare of $8.68. Kind of pricey if you’re by yourself, but if you get into a cab with four Dopers, shouldn’t be too bad. Also, they have a nice patio which will be an excellent place for us to a) hang out and b) be mostly out of the way of the other patrons.

If you want to stay on the Strip, drinks will be expensive. Still, the Bar at Times Square inside of the NYNY should be okay. I think it’s big enough to accomodate us, but I’m not sure about the availability of food. It does allow the conveniece of some people just stumbling up the stairs to go to sleep, which is nice.

Now, as far as Saturday dinner goes, I’m thinking that Buca di Beppo will work out to be pretty inexpensive and can definitely find us a seat (well, as long as I call with some idea of numbers). The cab fare from Trop/the Strip (where both the MGM and NYNY sit) to this joint is $7.06. This is really the only place I can think of that’s open late enough (and isn’t a casino coffee shop), with decent prices in striking distance of your hotels.

Okay, so, there’s my two cents. Hope it helps. Let me know if you want me to make reservations or anything like that. It’s my first Dopefest, and I’m glad to help out. I just need to know what to do.

Oh, and manhattan, be sure to let me know if you and your golf buddies would like to me to get you a tee time at Stallion Mountain. (You can always hop the shuttle to Sam’s Town and then have me drive you in to the course so you don’t have to pay a cab.)

Very much looking forward to meeting you all.

22

Zette: We’ll be leaving Sunday, probably some time midday (depends on when checkout time–noonish, probably-- is and just how hungover we all are).

23

Like I said to your other comments in the first Vegas thread - Uhhhh, nooooooo.

People are rooming together and splitting the cost. When you divide room cost by 4 or 5 people, it is quite cheap. The New York, New York and the MGM Grand are NOT the only options, they just happen to be where blocks of rooms have been set aside for Dopers. Everyone is free to find their own accommodations.

There is cheap food and cheap or free entertainment. I’ve been to Vegas numerous times and can attest to the fact that it CAN be done cheaply. I am certain that Dopers who actually live in Vegas, can verify that to be true.

For those who want, and can spend more money, there are certainly opportunities there too. LOTS of opportunities. :smiley:

Not sure why this is an issue anyway, especially if you aren’t even coming. It’s not a free trip, no one is pretending that it is, but I am certain that everyone going is old enough to know what they can and can not afford and plan accordingly. It’s not a big deal.

Not to sound cold, but those who can’t work out their budget to come, I am really sorry, we’ll miss you. I do mean that. For those who can come but maybe can’t afford a $20 sit down meal others may plan - great to have you here, there is a McDonalds down the street. For those who can’t afford a $100 show - Treasure Island has their free Pirate Battle every half hour until Midnight. For those who can’t afford $50 a night - there are motels off The Strip for half that.

There will be many things to do for every budget. No one will be left out or made to feel inferior because they can’t spend a certain amount of money. Personally, I am going to spend the least amount as possible this trip and I know I am going to have a great time! It’s the company I am coming for, not the glitter.

Again, it doesn’t matter what your budget is, you will have fun!

There are other Dopefests and other get togethers that may be cheaper. This one just happens to be in Vegas for those who want to come and are able to afford it. By all means, it isn’t mandatory than anyone come.

Can we get over than now?
bristlesage - Those places sound good to me! If no one has any objections, I would really appreciate it if you made reservations for us. We really need to get a roll call going so we can figure out how many of us will be there.

Thanks for your help!

I also need to know who will be staying at the NY, NY. We must have at least 10 rooms booked by September 11 in order to get the discount. Please let me know if you are registered or plan to.

24

Yeah, and if you run low on money, you can give $10 handjobs on the strip like Diane is planning.

Bwaaahaaa!

25

Ten bucks? TEN BUCKS??? HA! These hands can get more than TEN BUCKS!!! Hell, I bet they could get at least $15 EACH if I took off my rings!

26

I bid $20!

27

I am a probable “no” due to family issues that may be resolved by then, but probably won’t be. Not trying to be mysterious but the story is long and tedious, so let’s just skip it.

BUT . . . DIANE, would you be willing to e-mail me your IRL addy? (I’m trustworthy! Really, I am! I swear on my sainted travelin’ teddy that I won’t give it to anyone.) If you will, I’ll send you a fiver for you to put in the slots for me. If we win, we’ll split the take 50-50 – I put up the capital, you put up the labor.

That way I’ll feel like I’m participating in some small pathetic way even if I’m stuck somewhere else. :stuck_out_tongue: If you’d rather not, I totally understand. 'Course, then you’re out five bucks. :slight_smile:

28

Zyada and I will be staying at NYNY, so there’s one more room. I’ll be making the reservation Tuesday or Wednesday.

29

Well crap! I was looking forward to meeting you in person, Jodi. I’ll have my fingers crossed that the family thing works it way out and you’ll be able to make it.

I will e-mail my IRL addy. I trust ya. :smiley:

I’ll win us a million bucks, but I would rather have you there when it happens.

Say that again so that Zette person hears ya!

30

uh , assuming that Mr. C and I can sell enough plasma to pay for this shindig, we’re getting married at 7 on Saturday night.
I think we could be eating/drinking by 8. I’m confused by the
“open late enough”

31

If every could please check in within the next day or two saying whether or not they are now definites, where they will be staying, if they can make it to a Friday and/or Saturday night social, what days they will be there, and if they need roomies, I would be a very happy girl.

32

Okay, Miss C., I just didn’t know how long a wedding took (I mean, I know about how long, but I just wasn’t sure if it would be one hour or two). So, the open late enough thing doesn’t seem to be an issue. Let me know if you want me to suggest more places based on the earlier schedule.

That being said, I am a definite; I will be staying at home; I’ll be there both Friday and Saturday nights. I’m sorry I can’t keep anyone at my house because the housemates vetoed it.

Let me know if I can help in any other way, though. My email address that is linked here is checked regularly.

Yay for living in Las Vegas! Everyone comes to me!

33

Stiletto and I are definates; we will be at the MGM Friday and Saturday nights, and will certainly be at socials on either or both nights. We also need roomies.

Thanks, Diane

34

Hey people, please check in to verify your attendance. Purdy please?

35

Oh, I’ll be there with my nuts on. I stay at Treasure Island when I’m in Vegas. I’m thinking Thursday-Sunday. I’ll have my own room. Gotta have space to work the Mojo, you know, also a place for those who like hip-hop (and all that implies) to chill. I’ll be bringing my CD’s and stereo with me. Maybe even my mixer. The Lovin’ Dj Lounge will be in full effect. See you cats there.

peace.

36

Is he cute or what?
Hey dj, I’ll be arriving around 6:30 Vegas time, so maybe a drink or dinner on Thursday evening? There aren’t too many people getting there that early, but for those that do I’d like to hook up, shake hands, have a beer and such.

37

I’m gonna say I’m 99% sure I’ll be there (gotta leave that 1% open to all possibilites ya’ know :)) I don’t have a room booked yet but I’m gonna check around for some deals. I’m looking forward to it, a little nervous about meeting some of you’s, but looking forward to it nonetheless. Don’t know if I’ll make it out Friday night or not but Saturday I’ll be ready to par-tay!!!

See ya’ soon!

38

Ahhh, don’t be nervous. Zette isn’t as scary as she appears.

39

Bad news/good news. Bad news is the guy I was going to stay with is moving back to the Bay area this week, so I won’t be able to make it. The good news is husband and I are still here for a few days if anyone needs anything checked out.

For what it’s worth, I’m guessing for dinner/drinks anyplace on the strip is going to be pretty much out of the question for a large group. Everything is just packed pretty much year-round on Saturday nights (weekdays are a different story.) The NY/NY bar is definately out of the question unless someone wants to go in at around noon and sit at a table all day. By nighttime it’s like 20 people deep and spilling out into the “park.”

If you insist on the strip I’m going to suggest someplace far less glamourous like the Denny’s next to the Showcase. (Big Coke bottle next to M&M’s world, down the street from MGM Grand.) I’ve never been but being Vegas there’s a good chance you can get booze there, at the very least beer (much like the one in San Francisco.) Even if you don’t want to eat or make a night of it there, it would be a good jumping off point for everyone. There are scads of less trendy places off the strip that are fairly easy to get to either on foot or by cab. (LV is really easy to get around in if you want to rent a car. It’s on a grid system for the most part.) Your usual assortment of Applebees, TGI Fridays, etc would be a good bet for fitting in a crowd. A lot of the cabs here are mini-vans, so a whole lot of you could pile in to make a cab ride pretty inexpensive.

When you get into town be sure to track down one of the free magazines telling you what’s new, fun, happening, and in many cases: FREE. Several titles are “What’s On” “ShowBiz Weekly” “Las Vegas Best Read Guide” etc. Most convenience stores should have some, or your hotel lobby.

For anyone worried about cost, there are scads of low(er) cost hotels near the strip and you should be able to find really reasonable prices. (I think you’re looking for the area of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana, if you want to be near those staying at the MGM and or NY/NY. Look it up on MapQuest if you find a good deal online, it might be close.) There’s a Motel 6 about a block away and I was able to pick up several flyers on the highway in advertising $14 a night (per person) at several places. (They all required you have the flyer so I won’t bother telling you what they were since it probably wouldn’t help.)

Random travel tips for Las Vegas…
1> Bring lotion and lip balm. I cannot stress this enough! It’s almost like a desert out here! :wink:
2> Unless you are in the market for a timeshare, do not be suckered into going to a timeshare presentation for the free tickets or chips. They are usually twice as long as they tell you they’ll be, and it’s a really hard, convincing sales pitch.
3> Fremont Street can’t be beat for an evening of low-cost entertainment and souvinier shopping. Pick up all the token crap for co-workers and neices/nephews here.
4> If you plan to make a habit of coming, be sure to sign up for as many casino cards as you can and use them. Even if you’re just doing the nickel machines. Just having them can give you the option of skipping to the head of lines at some places, and you’ll for sure get put on the mailing list for room specials and what sort of acts will be upcoming, etc.
5> Although it looks like it when you’re standing on the sidewalk, the Stratosphere is not “just a little ways” up the street from the NY/NY end of the strip. It is in fact several long, hot, dusty miles. I know we were not the first people to make this mistake, and we probably won’t be the last. ALSO…the flyers for the Libarace Museum for some reason imply that it’s just a few blocks off the strip. It also is at least a mile (maybe two) away. Take a bus or cab to both.
6> Drink lots of water and stay hydrated (especially if you’re drinking.) Everyplace should be air conditioned, and don’t waste your time/money at anyplace that’s not. If you’re going to be out sight-seeing wear sunscreen. Don’t talk to strangers (they are usually surly from losing all their money) and keep your hand on your wallet while you’re looking up in the air at stuff like a yokel. :wink:

Have fun, take lots of pictures, and post them when you get back so I can see!

40

Cheap Las Vegas resident checking in…
almost any of the major hotels on the Strip has a lounge bar area big enough to hold this entire group with room to spare! Drinks are free at those bars (if you ask for a roll of quarters when you order).

I just think for out of town tourists, it is sort of silly to be sending them a couple miles off the Strip…I live here and have a car, so it is no problem, but for our out-of-town guests, come on - there are thousands of places on the Strip. Sure, they will be unruly and loud, but most likely, so will we!

Mandalay Bay has a great lounge near the entry to the buffet - lots of room and not many people hang out there.
Same for Luxor on third level.
Ditto for the Monte Carlo.
Even the Alladdin has some cool locations tucked away that are not all that bad (ie. in the middle, third floor, overlooking casino).
All of the above are easy walking (or tram) distance from NY NY and MGM.
At least for the first Meet and Greet…

Just an idea.