The ex-Showboat, ex-Castaways went the way of the Sands, Hacienda, Dunes and El Rancho around dawn this morning.
Get the video here.
I'm not too misty about this one. It was an eyesore, and a real piece of crud property that had a piece of crud bowling alley where I was courted as a younger woman by my eventual ex-husband.
So it had that going for it.
The only downside to this whole thing is who bought it. Station Casinos.
They introduced a phrase to Las Vegas that never should have been invented: neighborhood casino.
"You're only minutes away from a Station," they crow, and it's true. I, in a master-planned community, am minutes away. My mother is, too. And so are all my friends, no matter where in the Valley we live.
I hate that.
And yet, they keep building more, because they can. They're making obscene amounts of money off the neighborhoods they're in. They have movie theaters, bowling alleys, and all kinds of restaurants, bars and lounges. And they have big babysitting joints in every one, so the kids have somewhere to play while mom and dad spend their college funds.
Gross.
It makes me wonder – when the rubble of the Showboat/Castaways is cleared and the next Stations offering opens it doors, will it really be that much of an improvement?
I doubt it.
6 comments:
Are the Stations piled up outside the gates of Nellis? I had a friend stationed there and we'd visit his crew every so often when I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, AZ.
Didn't ever do too much sight-seeing, but did get to go to the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton and my personal favorite stop: Ed Roman's Guitar World.
There's a Station planned for the NE corner of town, closer to the base. More neighborhoods are being built out that way, and once the density goes up I imagine the casino will, too.
I've never been to the Experience! I've wanted to go, though. When you live here, you seem to pass on the really tourist-y things. I have neighborhood bars I love, and everything I need is out here in the suburbs. I only really go to the Strip for special occassions, because that's where the best restaurants are.
Before Christmas, I did a little tour of the guitar shops (I'm looking for a starter electric – I play classical) and Ed Roman made my eyes pop out. I just couldn't process all the information.
Good stuff, indeed.
Ed Roman's site is a wonderful place to waste hours drooling over things I'd love to have.
My playing ability is no where near my lust for the instrument. I appreciate them as art.
Starter electrics ... what kind of price range and what do you want to play with an electric?
I'm a noodler. My favorite music is modern pop or alternative. Not that I'll actually be able to play it . . .
As for price, gosh. I know how much you can spend. I wouldn't want the Wal-Mart starter pack, but I can't afford a lot, either.
A friend of mine has one of these.
The case they sent with it made me drool.
So, you need something that has a good clean tone but can get ballsy when needed.
Those Reverends you linked to would amply accomplish the above. Plus I love the Wilkinson Tremolo units on 'em (my next "Because I'm All About the Guitar" is going to be about vibrato/tremolo units).
You can find really, really good guitars in the $300-$600 price range so there's no reason to settle for something you don't like. Being in Vegas you have access to many great guitar stores also. Is it Guitar Center there (Yes. Thank you Google) ... great place to go and try stuff out.
Peavy makes great models, Ibanez, Jackson, don't forget Fender and it's budget line, Squire. The best thing you can do is get out and play a bunch and find out what feels best in your hands. I like the PRS-style guitars with a Gibson-style tune-o-matic bridge and I found a decent PRS-copy that had every bit of this, plays every bit as nice as a PRS and cost me only $500 (about a grand less than a PRS).
For what you're interested in, though, I'd probably look at some of the Squire and Ibanez models that Guitar Center carries. Neck width and humbucker vs. single coil is going to all up to your taste, so that's why I say go and play.
Once you find your guitar, you'll then have to find an amp. Heheheh.
Also, I'm very interested to find out what you go with so keep us informed.
Shannon,
My next guitar article is up ... come by and check it out.
http://halfapica.blogspot.com/2006/01/because-im-all-about-guitar-pt-12.html
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