The Orleans is part of Coast Casinos. Coast casinos is an example of a successful "local's" casinos enterprise. It incorporates the best features of local casino culture, with the size, material quality and glitz of a Strip hotel. It adds , or rather leaves in, sincere customer consideration, quality restaurants at half the price of Strip hotels and big, well appointed rooms. It leaves out, the, "keep you walking through the casino as much as possible" and money draining presumptions in the price structure.<br><br>At the Orleans, you don't have to walk from the front desk all the way through the casino to get to the elevators and to the room. To get to the pool, just get off the elevators and walk down a hallway, which is within the confines of security, isolated from the casino. There is a room key check to get to the elevators at all times. The gift shop, for bottled water, orange juice ect. is around the corner from the elevators. Seattle's Best, for coffee ect. in the morning is located near the front desk area.<br><br> <br>Moday morning i resumed a familiar routine i have at the Orleans. A ham sandwich from "Terrible Mike's". This is not coldcuts, but some good slices of real ham on any kind of bread you want, coffee and water. I put the ham sandwich, pickle and coffee on a seat of a VP machine (yes, it comes on a plate lol!) sit on the VP machine seat next to it, play VP and eat the ham sandwich. The wide glass entrances of the Orleans lets in outside light, very unusual for a casino. I find this the most relaxing part of the day and a good way to start it off. Lost $20, down $20 for the day.<br><br>Flamingo is one way, west bound, approaching the Strip and the Barbary Coast, for about a quater of a mile. At which point, it becomes two way. To get to the Barbary Coast parking garage at the corner of the Strip and Flamingo, you have to approach the entrance, which is actully off Flamingo, (and not approachable from the Strip) by way of this always congested quarter mile route, but it's worth it.<br><br>I think it was on this day that i noticed the ad on the back of the Barbary Coast building for "Big Elvis". Big Elvis is a free afternoon act in the Barbary Coast lounge, at 1pm and 3pm, but not on Mondays. Apparently he weighs about 350, has a voice where you would think it's coming from a CD on a good stereo and puts on a great act.<br><br>If it was a day the show wasn't dark, i would have seen this show. It reminded me that i hadn't been to any shows and had no intention of going to any. Earth, Wind, and Fire is playing at the Paris in December, in think it's $65,... maybe, next trip.<br><br>I had free tickets for two afternoon shows. Mac King, a magician at Harrah's and Ron Lucas a ventriloquist at the Rio. The free tickets were part of the Terrible's package deal. These tickets were not a big deal, everyone can get free tickets to these shows by going to a desk in Harrah's Carnival Court and they're available by asking. However, you still have to pay for a two drink minimum of $6.50. Both these shows get great reviews, lot of comedy and showmanship. If you paid full freight at the box office, it would cost about $19 or so, each. Also, i had a half price coupon for the Steven Wright show at the Orleans showroom, as part of the Orleans package, but again, like the movies, it never entered my mind. Full price for this show, i think, was about $45.<br><br>I parked at the Barbary Coast parking garage, walked up and over the Strip on the walkway with the great view of "The Four Corners" to the Bellagio, where i'd spend an interesting afternoon and early night.<br><br>Monday, October 21st (To Be Continued) <br> <br><br><br> <br>
