The View From Space

Prior to my leaving on a trip to attend my 30th class reunion, my buddy (?) @geewhy requested, nay challenged me to a scavenger hunt while in sin city. Even though I had much higher priorities to tend to, I nonetheless endeavored to fulfill this noble quest … request … um ok.
See my results (or lack there of) over at @geewhy ‘s blog

In my defense I must say, some of his items were outside the realm of normal people (a dude ranch? Seriously?).
Here’s my feedback (or excuses, replace as you see fit) on the quest (legend: * my response, ** @geewhy ‘s response)

1. Three pictures of food he’s scarfing down (buffet or not).
*Those who follow me on Twitter and Facebook know I’m all about food and eating. However in an effort to be efficient (ok, more like in a rush to return to the casino) I usually forgot to snap pics of my food until it was too late. (I did manage to send him a pic of my partially eaten breakfast one morning). Feedback on some of the places I’ve eaten:
a. Stratosphere buffet, nice looking but the food wasn’t anything to write home about.
b. Southpoint Hotel and Casino (our regular haunt) Coronado cafe good food, nice atmosphere, but the big draw is the late night menu 12 – 6 am, most items $2.95 with a 7 oz steak and eggs plate for $3.95. Highly recommend.
c. Southpoint Steak and Shake, a nice 50′s cafe setting. Burgers and shakes that’s surprisingly affordable.

2. Two pictures of major sights on the Strip. We’re talking the fountains of Bellaggio, the rides of the Stratosphere, the Sirens of Treasure Island, or even the Eiffel Tower of the Paris hotel.
**Two pictures of major sights on the Strip. Close enough, I’ll count the picture of the bowling alley and the sideways picture of the Stratosphere. Complete.
* in my defense I felt that the normal tourist pics would be cheesy and not show the true Las Vegas, the one the every day resident encounters. (Ok truth be told I didn’t get out much and all I had were pics of the inside of a casino)

3. A Foursquare or Gowalla check in at Caked Las Vegas. Bonus: Picture of the goodies.
** Not sure if what to make of this since it ain’t Caked.
I’m at Nothing Bundt Cakes http://4sq.com/hB8uWc
April 11, 2011 7:27 am via foursquare Reply Retweet Favorite
@abaggy
* Hey Bundt is a form of cake right???

4. A check in at a shopping mall.
** A check in at a shopping mall. Complete (close enough).
I’m at Target (9725 S. Eastern Ave., Silverado Ranch, Las Vegas) http://4sq.com/dXQhE7
April 11, 2011 7:14 am via foursquare Reply Retweet Favorite
@abaggy
* ok I’ll have to concede that this item was a stretch and was only satisfied because @geewhy is kind and benevolent.

5. A report on the weather.
**A report on the weather. Complete.
@geewhy haven’t had too much by way of special food and it’s been fairly cool 40-50′s
April 10, 2011 12:54 am via twidroyd Reply Retweet Favorite
ToNced* As my luck would have it the temperature was in the 80′s the week prior, dropped to the 40′s-50′s while we were there and suspiciously jumped up to the 70′s when we were leaving. I’m suspecting @geewhy had something to do with it, there were numerous dead chickens littered around his desk and strange chanting emanated from his cubicle the day before I left.

6. A tweet about his winnings or losings.
** A tweet about his winnings or losings. Complete.
Heading home, wallet much lighter. (@ Hawaiian Airlines Flight 5) http://4sq.com/gqKqtA
April 11, 2011 1:33 pm via foursquare Reply Retweet Favorite
@abaggy
* Was there ever any doubt as to the results of this item? Again I suspect @geewhy had something to do with it (see item #5).

7. One picture inside a dimly lit night club.
* Although I did attend a reunion event at the Level 108 club, I completely spaced out and didn’t get any pics. The club itself is rather small as it is in the observation area that surrounds the stratosphere tower. It does afford you a great view of Vegas, and you can watch the brave(?) souls do the skyjump off of the tower.
And yes, with the majority of people in their late 40′s and from Hawaii there was the obligatory Electric Slide. Not surprisingly it was the most danced to song.

8. A picture of tickets to a Vegas show.
* Here again I was in a quandary, originally the group had set up tickets to see “Bite” at the stratosphere. Now I’m no prude, but topless vampires? And they wanted $50 for the honor of watching. Ummm no thanks. In fact I was too embarrassed to even take a pic of the poster as people would think that I actually attended.

Bonus: A visit to a dude ranch. I might have to count this. Sounds like codespeak for kicking it with a bunch of Asian dudes.
Hanging at the asian casino (@ The M Casino) http://4sq.com/fgGG5E
April 10, 2011 7:22 pm via foursquare Reply Retweet Favorite
@abaggy
* After thinking about it, I should have taken pics of the “cowboys” at the Southpoint. Most definitely a Dude ranch, especially after a concert. Tons of designer cowboys waiting in line for a $3.95 steak. The real cowboys usually show up only during rodeo season.

So there you have it, was I successful in my quest? About as successful as I was in the casino. But that didn’t matter, I had a hell of a time.