This won't really be a live TR but I will try to update daily. Just got in this morning staying at the Palazzo.

Kicks


view - not great not horrible


Hazy and cloudy? Screw it, I go to the pool anyway after getting settled in. Sun peaks out a little but am hoping for mucho sunshine after the crappy midwesten winter.

Hungry! My first mea every LV trip is at The Cheesecake Factory in CP forum shops. Sort of a tradition They serve large portions of unhealthy comfort food. I'm down for that but I really go for the cheesecake. I love that stuff and no matter which of the flavors you choose you can't go wrong. I went with Adam's peanut butter fudge ripple. Cheesecake with butterfingers, reeses peanut butter cups, chocolate and caramel blended in. Awesome!



Now it's time for poker! New 1-2 game starting at Venetian. I am seated directly to Scotterys left (2 Brits and an Irishman). I deduce who he is and introduce myself. Table is good but I do bad. 2 real crazy players providing lots of action but I can't hit a thing. In a couple of hours I drop about $150. As soon as the action players leave the game breaks.

Very tired head back to room. On the way I notice a megabucks paying 11 Million! I drop in $40 and it lasts about 40 seconds. Note to self don't put money in slot machines!

Need to rest up as I was up extra early for travel and my body clock is way off. Plan for tomorrow is relaxation. A couple hours by the pool, then watch the Blackhawks game then poker, poker and more poker! Hopefully tonight shook a little rust off of my game since I haven't played since last May.

Looking forward to this. Any way to get some good pool pics?

Sure I just got a fancy new digital SLR 2 months ago. This vacation is basically its maiden voyage so I will be taking lots of pictures although I didn't drag it around with me today. I'll take it to the pool tomorrow.

DSLR with a large lens by the pool to take photos of the "pool", yeh that should go over well

-edit- subbed & gl

Canon? Nikon? Pentax?

I'm excited for my LV trip in June, taking my kit with me for the first time.

True enough. That might not go over too well.

I've never seen that pool and like Mr Baseball I enjoy the pool time so I would at least be interested in hearing a bit about the pool.

I took photos of the pool when I stayed at Aria, this was just using my waterproof point n shoot. But then the next day I also saw a creep sitting in a corner with a big lens SLR, my wife and her friend felt uncomfortable and mentioned it to the drinks girl who went and told him to pack it up or leave, just saying there's 2 ways to do it

If you are staying at the palazzo, and were going to play poker at the V, why would you bother with the Cheesecake Factory with Grand Lux right there?

It's inconvenient to get to, being buried in the bowels of the Forum Shops, it's crowded with too many tables being crammed next to each other, and the service is slow, but at least the servers are rude and inconsiderate?

Funny thing here is one of my friends with whom I travel to Vegas with about as often as not, has exactly the same tradition...Cheesecake Factory at CP right away. I don't get it either.

It's a Nikon D7100. Hmmmm? Maybe the pool isn't such a good idea for a camera? Anyway just awoke after 10 hours sleep! I haven't slept that long in a while and now I'll have to try and get as little as possible the rest of the week

Nice camera for sure, great sensor. Definitely make good use of live view at the pool

While it's true Grand Lux is the same food, it's all about the cheesecake! Grand Lux has 4 cheesecake options while CCF has about 30. Speaking of Grand Lux I started my day there grabbing some comp $ at the poker desk I had some yummy eggs benedict for breakfast.

Then off to the pool. Yesterday may have been hazy and cloudy but today was perfect. About 80 and pure sunshine with a comfortable gentle breeze. After 6 months of Chicago winter (it snowed last Monday!) this is just what the doctor ordered.

Nothing better than lounging by the pool, with vacation playlists streaming through my ear buds and reading a good book while the sun warms my pale skin. Only stayed for 2 hours trying to build a base so I don't burn up. I'll go a little longer tomorrow.

Pool Pics! Since I already look like a skeezy/creepy old dude I just took a few to show those interested in the V/P pool complex. Besides at 9am there wasn't much talent out there as all the party girls are probably still sleeping off Friday night.

The number one reason I stay at te Venetian/Palazzo is the pool chairs. CUSHIONED! Does anyone know of any other hotels with standard cushioned pool chairs?



Palazzo pools. These suck if you are a morning sunshine lover like me because they don't get sun until the afternoon.

Main pool





Midway pool between V and P. Decent sun here.





Main Venetian pool. This is where I typically go. Great morning sun and very roomy and comfortable.





Small Venetian pool. Typically gets sun in late morning.



After pool I get cleaned up and head to sportsbook to watch my beloved Black Hawks. On the way I stop for a snack/lunch. I know I am a sucker but I love these places. The Pina Colada may be the perfect beverage



Like always I drink too much too fast and get a nasty chest freeze. I also grab a healthy pretzel. I'm gnna gain so much weight this week!



I get to the sports book just in time to a get $20 fan bet down on my Black Hawks. Of course they are ****ting the bed and currently down 2-0. I decide I don't like watching in the sports book because I like to hear the announcers so I head back up to the room to watch and relax. Gives me a chance to update this and comiserate this game in peace. They don't look good today and we need a road win somewhere. At least they have 2010 and 2013

Love this TR.

Hate the Blackhawks.

I'm torn.

Well the Black Hawks had it sewed up until there were 6 ****ing seconds left! I was pissed so I wandered around a little getting some walking/exersize in. Until it was time for dinner. I had been wanting to try Lagrasses Stadium because they had fried chicken on the menu and I had a hankering for fried chicken. It was about 5pm and hoped it wouldn't be too crowded. It was jam packed!



Luckily they squeezed me in

The fried chicken was of the awesome variety! Great crust, very juicy and tasty. The garlic mashed potatoes were real good too but I didn't like the cole slaw which I usually do. It was sort of salty and bitter. But would repeat fr the chicken.



Then it was off to the Venetian poker room where I got bitch stomped. The first buyin just withered away. I won 2 pots total. One for $7 and a raisethat picked up the blinds. I decided to walk around and noticed this live/video baccarat at the Palazzo which you can play on the cheap. I used to love mini bac back in the 80's because I have a system! Sort of a reverse martingale. You want a banker streak. So you bet $5 on bank and press it $5 every time you win so it goes 5/10/15/20/25 etc. and when the streak ends you start over at $5. Anyway I won $150 doing and decided to go back to the poker room.

Second buyin a little better but same result. I finally started getting some hands and even hit a flop or two but disaster struck quickly. I had a Q high flush that went down to a rivered full house (a 4 outer) and while he was still stacking his chips from that I raised with my first notable pocket pair of the trip with KK. I was reraised by this fullhouse rivering villain so I pushed my last $200ish. He called of course with AT and hit the ace on the river. I decided to quit for the night

Tomorrows another day and I'm gonna change things up. I plan on heading down to the Aria for the 1pm tourney. I like tourneys and that one is well run and usually well attended. Poker should get better from here

Thanks for the TR...run better!

Nice pics. Didn't realise they had so many pools at V/P

enjoying this, keep it going may the cards fall in your favor

Sitting around waiting for pool to open and decided on a quick update. Woke up early feeling refreshed and decided to take an early morning strip hike with my camera. I went about 4 miles or so and ended up back at the Venetian for breakfast at the Grand Lux.

I can't put my finger on it but it seems a few things have changed since the last time I brought a camera out here?



After a couple hours at the pool I am heading to the Aria for the 1 PM tourney and then who knows? Looks like another beautiful day. Happy Easter!

I hang tough in the Aria tourney but get no cards at all. I ended up busting out at 30th (119 runners). I played for 5 hours and saw 3 showdowns. One very early with a full house over I don't know what and once when I pushed a short stack with A7 suited against KQ off. A Q hit the flop but I rivered a flush Other than that I was stealing everything I could just to stay alive. I'm at about 9K at 800/1600 and its going to 1000/2000 in a minute and the blinds are coming fast. Under the gun short stack pushes because he has to but drunk annoying girl on my right (covers me) pushes too. I have AQ and figure she beats it but also figure this is my best chance and I push it in. Sure enough she had AK and I was done.

By this point I was starving as I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I decided to go the BLT burger at the Mirage but when I got there it had a line. Screw that! I went back to Venetian because I wanted to try tat B&B Burger. It was empty The burger was really outstanding. But the service there was absolutely horrible. I almost didn't leave tip but I figure why risk the bad juju? I loved the food and they had Dos Equis Amber (my favorite!) so even with the bad service it was an enjoyable meal.

Back to V poker trying to find a winning session. I did! Nothing remarkable but I actually caught a few hands and actually hit some flops and ended up about $150. So minus my $125 tourney buying I made $25 playing poker today. Maybe the tide is turning Doesn't really matter though. I enjoy playing and don't play big enough to have any impact on me. I just like to win and hate to lose. I still have all week to hopefully get in some good sessions. Also been drinking lots and lots of beer. Sucks when everyone else at the table is drinking water and coffee.

Tomorrow will likely be a heavy pool day and taking it easy. I probably walked 10 to 12 miles today and I'm tired.

Nice work.

Fun TR, keep it up at the cash tables.

Oh, and subbed.

Last nights burger from B&B. It was very good. I got the Classic Bar Burger with swiss cheese and caramelized onions. It was also very messy. I couldn't decide between the fries or onion rings so being a fat bastard who hadn't eaten in over 8 hours I got both Both were fine.



Typical morning today. Walk around for some exersize then off to breakfast followed by the pool. Spent 3 hours out there today. Yesterday while wandering and waiting for the Aria tourney to start I got a glimpse of their pool. They send me lots of offers but have always been skeptical since I love the Venetian pools so much. Aria just the typical and standard non cushioned chairs so I will probably never stay there. I love the Aria poker room but I really despise that whole City Center area and complex.

Nice TR so far, keep it coming.