TR Snippet Downtown Grand

I walked down to the new Downtown Grand for  a look one morning.
It nice in its newness, but nothing out of the ordinary. 
VP pay tables were terrible.   It did not seem to have created any new spin on the gambling.  Everything seemed the same as any other casino.
The pool is not done yet.  It will be ready for the ribbon cutting.  That is to be different with  fake grass and bushes creating the illusion of an outdoor pool in someone's yard. 
A large TV screen will offer movies. That seems like a great way to pass the time when the bankroll is depleted.
They gave me $3  for signing up.  Whooopee!  $3 seems the new come-on.  That is what I got out at Eastside Cannery for my first freeplay in October, but by November I got $12.  I had not played more that a small amount.
The Grand freeplay required me to play to activate it (so it isn't really freeplay.)  I picked a penny machine and it would activate for just playing one penny. 
They have a long card about the size of two post cards explaining just how to do that in incredible detail. 
I think the card is worth more than the freeplay.
Perhaps I could have then cashed it all out after activation.  It looked like I could. 
Not me.  I'm a risk taker.  I played a five lines at a penny each on an Irish 3 7's machine and had quite a good time.  I thought of myself as the poster Pluto. 
I had only one good hit;  most of the time a win meant I got my nickel back.  After a while of up and down fun play I cashed out for $4. a mighty profit for the morning.
I looked at the menu from two diners.  The folks were very glad to show them to me and talk about the little diners, but I did not see anything special about them, except they seemed overpriced.  Not terrble, but  just down from Wallgreens going west there is a taco place with a hummus plate and two vegan selections.  These were under ten dollars; the Grand prices were not.
I asked about vegetarian and I saw the young fellows face go from excited to disappointed, until he remembered the one veggie meal.  It is a veggie burger that "really tastes very good" because it is deep fried.  Of course it is.  Most folks looking to eat veggie stuff want the food to be deep fried.  Like oreos.

Here is the lobby.  The guard said that folks had been pilfering the red roses.  Hey, welcome to downtown.

Below is the detail of this dice art.

 

Here is a hidden bar off the lobby.  I think waiting for a room would be easier in this hotel.

 

I walked over to the old Gold Spike just to see.  It might be an interesting place to meet my relatives and play some pool.  $1 a game.  They have a DJ nights.  Somehow I suspect the music will not be John Pizzarelli's Radio Deluxe. 
There was a strange luxury in places to sit, even one lounge as big as a bed.  The guard said I could sit there but not sleep.
Do I look that homeless? 
I did not ask if I could bring a sweet, young bit of stuff and cuddle.  
I did not check for wi fi.
I looked at the Grill menu and once again was not impressed for my diet.  I forgot to see if the legendary blueberry pancakes were still there. 
Another taste I can't have anyway. 
On one wall of shelves I did see all these hot sauces and that was impressive. 

I love hot sauce. And so many places have only my least favorite, Tabasco.  Someone has done some impressive marketing to get Tabasco exclusively in so many places.  It would not cost more to offer other brands and flavors.  This place seems to have gotten that message.

So maybe I could get a couple poached eggs and some good hot sauce.  Maybe.