Vegas Insider: 2008 November

Dario Minieri (left)

Todd Brunson (left)

Straight Flush Dr

Success, or not a failure. That is the question. I was at the Rio both days and I was reminded of a Saturday afternoon in Bury. Most of the people were there for some reason other than the reason I was there. In the case of Bury I was watching football while most people shopped. At the Rio the crowds thinned the closer you were to the Penn & Teller theatre.

The start time of 10am worked out better for the Dane and the Russian than the Californians. The last time David Rheem had seen 10am he was in school.

Congratulations to the young winner Peter Eastgate.

Not really Vegas news but Matt Savage will become the TD of the premier tournament at the Commerce casino, the L.A. Classic. I love this tournament; the weather is perfect and the final tables commence at 7:30pm, allowing myself an afternoon at Santa Anita races.

As well as electing a new President, the US public also voted to ban greyhound racing in Mass and to increase the maximum loss of $500 in Missouri and to introduce $100 per hand limits in blackjack in Colorado. The result is you will more likely see Roland de Wolfe in the latter two states than Mass.

During my down time I often visit the "Rock n Roll cafe" in the Hawaiian Mplace on the Strip. Owned by an Italian poker + football fanatic Flamingo Malaguti, who is a spitting image of Frank Worthington. The cafe is a late night hangout for both poker and entertainment pro’s alike.

Often a poker set will appear for an impromptu sit ‘n go. Last night Jennifer Harman dealt as I challenged her husband Marco Traniello, and his father. Father won. Jennifer has had a boob job BTW.

The walls are adorned with photos of the famous patrons. Ben Affleck, James Woods, Norm McDonald, Pamela Anderson as well as Todd Brunson, Dario Minieri + Patrik Antonius and lovely wife Maya .

The barmaids are hot and the drinks strong.

The karaoke begins at 9:30pm, the stars show up later.

Music news: The Kaiser Chiefs appeared on the Jay Leno show on the night McCain was a guest. They later played a gig in L.A. Next month in Vegas a trio of British bands: Oasis at the Palms and Bloc Party/Franz Ferdinand at the Hard Rock.

Only in Vegas can you boast an address like Straight Flush Drive.

Only in Vegas can you enjoy 80F in mid November.