Subject: dlvorg Keys, hotels, things ...
From: Annie (annie)
Date: Sun Dec 23 2001 - 00:38:23 CST
In this mailing:
This mailing
RIP Keys
Boardwalk, Blondes, Purse Searches, Dress Suggestions
Hotels, karaoke, dress
Security
Copycat
Hotel warning
Summary Schedule of Activities
Tentative DLV 2001 schedule
Administrivia
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This mailing:
I'm preparing a draft of the dress suggestion document and will send it out
as a separate item this week, due to the length of this.
Hope everybody has a (in order of date) Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas,
and Happy New Year.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RIP Keys:
Leah writes:
>Well, some bad news.....Keys is closed for remodeling and will re-open
>in Jan. but as a straight club called DECODA. I received a message
>from Troy about the details. He is currently working at a gay club
>across from the Hard Rock called Hamburger Mary's. I have never heard
>of it but I will stop over to say Hi to him and see how the prevailing
>wind is.
Well, thanks for letting us know. Keys will be dearly missed. :(
>Meanwhile, Mindy and I will try and come up with an alternative. I
>have never been to Spotlight across from Keys but I always understood
>it to be T-friendly. That will be my first stop.
There's also one in the neighborhood called Cobalt, never been there,
but heard it's ok. Also Flex out on Charleston at Arville or so.
Who knows, maybe Hamburger Mary's will turn out to be a good place.
>Sorry for the bad tidings........
We'll try to avoid shooting the messenger. <semi grin>
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Boardwalk, Blondes, Purse Searches, Dress Suggestions:
Tina writes:
>>If you would
>>like to make the Boardwalk a third one, let's discuss it here.
[cut-paste]
>I have never stayed at an "official" DLV hotel, preferring suburban
>hotel locations, but will again consider it in 2002. Here is a review
>from Frommers.com (don't confuse Frommer's with Fodor's):
+This is just like a Holiday Inn, only in Vegas you gotta have a theme,
+and the hotel underwent an extensive renovation to give it a more
+attractive Coney Island and Boardwalk flavor, inside and especially
+out. The facade is kind of fun, with clowns and games and mannequins
+dressed in turn-of-the-century clothes. Of course, this is completely
+eclipsed by New York-New York, which is just a few doors (in Strip
+terms) down. After all, the roller coaster on the outside of this
+hotel is just a facade. Meanwhile, the Mirage Corp., which purchased
+the property a couple of years ago, was itself just purchased by the
+MGM Grand, so the precise future direction of this establishment is
+considerably in doubt.
+Still, for the time being, it's a Holiday Inn, which means you know
+what you're getting in terms of quality, and the Strip location is a
+good one. Also, you don't have to walk through the casino to get to the
+lobby, which is a plus. On the other hand, it's a bit pricey for what
+are standard Holiday Inn hotel rooms. The ones in the new 16-story
+tower, decorated in vibrant colors with cherrywood furnishings and
+prints of Coney Island adorning the walls, are perhaps a bit nicer than
+the older units, which are pleasantly done up in soft pastels with
+blond wood furnishings. All offer cable TVs with pay-movie options.
+Irons and ironing boards are in the rooms.
+Dining/Entertainment:
+A big draw is the Cyclone Coffee Shop, a 24-hour facility decorated
+with murals of the Coney Island boardwalk and adorable roller coaster
+motif lighting fixtures. Well worth a visit even if you're staying
+elsewhere, it has some of the best bargain meals in town. Other basic
+dining options also available, and there's a casino.
+Facilities:
+24-hour room service, shoe shine, two small swimming pools, shops,
+coin-op washers/dryers, video-game arcade and shooting gallery,
+sightseeing/show/tour desk, and car-rental desk. Guests can use
+health-club facilities nearby (no charge; hooray!)."
>So what I see (from this review and other Web site reviews) are:
>Positives: hotel parking, don't have to walk through casino to get to
>lobby, potential special treatment
I've been to this place, and, iirc, the parking structure is off to the
south side of the main building. There's a side entrance on the
building, where the casino (and restaurants) is off to the right, and
the hotel is off to the left. I would definitely not consider this
arrangement any more "secluded" than, say, the IP, where the hotel is to
the rear, and the Stardust, where the entrance to the larger hotel tower
is off the beaten path of the casino.
>Negatives: location, limited "extras" (basically just a hotel and
>casino, don't expect the Bellagio), 2 day cancellation penalty (per
>Boardwalk web site: http://www.hiboardwalk.com/
Personally, all I really want when I go to DLV/N+I is a clean
comfortable room with a bed, a TV, a clean analog phone connection,
and a prompt elevator. I really don't care if they leave a mint on
the pillow. "Just a hotel and casino" is fine for me.
My comments/questions:
>1). I look forward to seeing some specific room quotes, particularly for
>the tower rooms. What rate could we get for the 1 bedroom suites?
I shiver with antici ... ... {say it!}
>2). I'm just personally having a hard time picturing this hotel
>(although I've seen the pictures on their Web site). It's my
>understanding that Boardwalk is NOT the same hotel that used to be
>called the Showboat (across the street from Caesar's by the Barbary
>Coast). Please confirm. My map shows that the Boardwalk is across the
>street from where the Aladdin used to be. Did the Boardwalk used to
>have another name?
I think you may be confused about a few places here. The Boardwalk is
the hotel next to Monte Carlo with the (woodie, non-operating) roller
coaster facade. It's approximately across the street from where the
Aladdin was and is. It's been called Boardwalk for some time. IIRC, it
was called either Holiday Queen or Holiday Inn South before Boardwalk.
What is now Harrah's Las Vegas was once the Holiday Casino, a Holiday
Inn with a riverboat motif and facade. They rebuilt the facade maybe 5-6
years ago after the Harrah's name was adopted. (If I am correct, all the
Harrah's/Holiday/Harveys properties are Holiday Inn Corporation.) This
is/was just north of the Imperial Palace, not far north from the Barbary
Coast.
What was known until recently as the Showboat is on Fremont St. just
east of Five Points. This was recently renamed the Castaways.
The Showboat, Holiday, and Paddlewheel were frequently confused.
(ObTrivia: Where was the original Castaways?)
>3). Location may not be optimal (further away from the Commercial
>Center where Keys and LV Lounge are, than are the Sahara and IP). On
>the other hand, this would seem to put it a little closer to the
>airport and to Goodtimes.
I wouldn't call the location "bad", but the area of the Strip by the
Aladdin/Paris can be terribly congested.
IIRC, it's a bit of a challenge entering the property when driving
north on the Strip, and also when exiting the property heading north
on the Strip.
>4). Is there a back entrance to the parking garage that avoids
>requiring getting out onto the Strip to drive to/from the hotel?
Mindy, do you know of any? IIRC, there is no sneak route. Industrial
swings under the expressway just north of Caesars. I don't think there's
a cut-thru behind NYNY and Monte Carlo, nor from the Bellagio direction.
Mindy, am I correct?
>5). I never trust those hotel guest comments on the travel Web sites.
>Can DLV girls who have stayed at IP or the Sahara in previous years
>re-post their comments here?
I've stayed at both the IP and the Sahara, although never at the IP
for DLV. Both are perfectly fine, as long as you're not expecting
the Bellagio. Clean comfortable rooms, good service, clean modem
connections, decent food at both.
>Has any DLV girl ever stayed at the Boardwalk in past years?
Never stayed there, but I've eaten there, at the Surf Buffet, and have a
report quite different than on most of the web sites and the newsfroups.
Consensus on those is to stay away. Personally, I had a very enjoyable
meal. The buffet was a compromise everybody in our group would make, and
the buffet was open very late. Again, it ain't the Bellagio buffet, or
even the Stardust, but it runs circles around the buffets at such places
as C**2 {gag} or Westward Ho(le).
.....
Blondes:
>>>Can't wait to see Cat as a blonde. :-)
>>Uh, you already have. :)
>Oh right. I forgot. :-)
No comment. :)
.....
Purse Searches:
>>>I would like to find out who is doing searches. Sometimes I carry
>>>things that I don't want found.
>>Uh, like what, your cell phone? <vbfg>
>Seriously, as has been mentioned, plan on things lightening up more as
>far as draconian security measures. I haven't heard of any casino doing
>Purse searches happen all the time (pre-attack) at many nightclubs in
>many cities to gain admittance.
.....
Dress suggestions:
>What I would like to do is get input from any and all of you who want to
>say something along this line, create a compendium of thoughts and
[bobbitt]
><Tina sharpens the nib of her quill pen>
>The mere name Diva implies glitz and glamour. While daytime dress is
>normally casual, and casual dress will certainly fit in at any evening
>activity as well, many DLV girls use the night activities to strut
>their finest sequins and silks. This is a trend that should be
>encouraged.
I am gonna copy that paragraph into the draft that I will send out later
this week. Thanks.
>Happy Holidays
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotels, karaoke, dress:
Denise writes:
>>like to make the Boardwalk a third one, let's discuss it here.
>Where is the Boardwalk located? That as well as the rates would make the
>difference for me.
North of the Monte Carlo, west side of the Strip between Flamingo and
Tropicana.
As for rates, I just checked on the web site, got between $48 and $108
for the DLV period, $48 being for Sunday, $108 for weekend, other days
being $60-ish.
Mindy, any news?
Karaoke:
>I seem to have been bitten by the Karaoke bug since I started doing it
>a few weeks ago. I may want to do this Monday and Wednesday, if the
>atmosphere is good. Some places rush through it from song to song, but
>I remember Goodtimes being fairly laid-back. I like to be able to tell
>a joke and cut up a little before or after my numbers.
Maybe a trip to Flex for Karaoke on Monday might be good for a
pre-pre-pre DLV thing for those arriving a day early.
>>They tell me (the ubiquitous "they") that Freezone no longer has a
>>terminal case of anal-cranial inversion regarding restrooms. I dunno
>>if they still charge for (tap) water.
>If they do, that's going to make flushing the toilet so expensive that
>using either restroom won't be an option.
Well, some of us don't drink from the toilet. :) (I better watch this
thread.) :)
>>>Now for a real controversy: is it spelled blond or blonde?
>It is indeed a French word, and is feminine with the "e" on the end,
>but would only be so in describing something that is feminine, i.e. a
>woman as a blonde. Blonde hair itself (des cheveux blonds) is
>masculine, but a blonde wig (une perruque blonde) is feminine. And, as
>a sidenote, "courtiser la brune et la blonde" means to make love to
>several women at once.
>>As far as contemporary usage, I'm sure every American dictionary will
>>list "blond" as preferred
>...but gentlemen prefer blondes...maybe they don't read the dictionary?
>>If you want, and you're into S&M, specifically the M part, you can
>>pose the question in alt.usage.english
>I'm into S&M, but I'm done with semantics for now.
>>[The boat] was a good idea anyway, but if it ain't gonna work, ...
>I'll have to say "probably not" on the boat, since it needs so much
>work. Boating is more painful than fun when you have mechanical
>problems, especially out in the middle of a large lake, but Wednesday
>or Thursday morning look good for air tours.
We can put them on either or both, depending on your (and Gina's)
schedule and the demand. We can mark them in stone as the date
approaches.
>>>just hope they still have that secret door that gets you to the buffet
>>Uh, what secret door?
>The one that is marked "DO NOT ENTER", or something like that, but is
>unlocked. The few times we went to the buffet without stopping by to
>win the price of the meal on VP, we used that door. It's probably
>locked for security reasons now, but we can try it.
Hmmmm ... I don't remember that at all.
>>>I would like to find out who is doing searches. Sometimes I carry
>>>things that I don't want found.
>>Uh, like what, your cell phone? <vbfg>
>I think I will leave the cell phone locked up this year, just to
>relieve you of the temptation to answer it.
>>What I would like to do is get input from any and all [regarding dressing]
>My opinion is presented only as a suggestion, and only to those who are
>actually concerned about blending in with the crowd and not being
>noticed; after all, we dress for a lot of different reasons, and for
>someone in our group to get noticed really doesn't bother me.
>I've always agreed with Annie's ideas on this, casual during the day
>and optionally formal to dressy for a show or dinner. I think that
>this is the best way to enjoy all of the activites. You might want to
>take a good look at yourself in a full-length mirror (perhaps even
>before you pack your bags) and ask yourself, honestly, if the look
>really suits you. It should flatter your figure and be consistent with
>your age.
>Clothes are strange...I have one tight-fitting top that flatters me,
>and a few loose-fitting ones that make me look like The Hulk.
>Normally, however, it's the other way around...it's best to go a little
>larger than your size. In dresses, I like something with a belt around
>the waist and loose-fitting with some flare on the skirt. There are
>also torture devices like corsets, pads and duct tape (for the really
>masochistic), but I would suggest dressing comfortably because, after
>all, you are on vacation.
I would like to paraphrase some of that for the draft of the dressing
document that I'll send out later this week.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Security:
>I was back in Manhatten this weekend, at the same hotel where security
>was so vexing a month ago. Things are now pretty much back to normal,
>except for the room key check, but that is now a wave-through rather
>than a game of twenty questions. Barring the unforseen, I would think
>all will be normal for DLV.
Thanks for the report. If things continue to settle down, there will be
few hassles regarding this by DLV time.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Copycat:
>>http://www.geocities.com/femmegetaway/info.html
>>Then compare this to the verbiage on the page:
[snip]
>I saw that one, I just thought it was another one of your things. I
>know you did another one somewhere.
Not me. You're probably thinking of Pinkfest. (Chicago, 2001, plans for
one in 2002 have not been made.) I have no idea who does that one in
Missouri.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotel warning:
Bottom line: Travelocity (and some others, maybe) are booking rooms for
Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Nevada as local to Las Vegas. I just checked
the Travelocity website, and they are showing it as "3.5 miles from the
search point" which is grossly in error. This place is a good 40 miles
away, down by the California state line.
OUCH!
>From a conversation, somewhat edited ...
>>>>>What do you know about the Buffalo Bill Hotel. Is it nice? It's only
>>>>>$24 per night.
[deletia]
>>>>Never heard of this. Some of the downtown hotels (like Lady Luck) go
>>>>down that low on weeknights. Do you have an address?
[snip]
>>>31700 Las Vehas Blvd.
>>>Says it's 3.7 miles from the Airport. Would that
>>>make it downtown?
>>NOW I know what you're talking about. That's Primm, NV, DEFINITELY not
>>3.7 miles, more like 37 miles! That's by the California state line!
[chomp]
>>Whoever told you it was 3.7 miles from the airport or even implied
>>it was in Las Vegas is sadly mistaken. Where did you get info on
>>this?
[deletia maxima]
>{Travelocity}
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary Schedule of Activities:
Date Day Time Activity
========== ========= =========
Apr 30 Tue Morning
Afternoon Milano's Welcome Dinner
Evening Pre-DLV get-together
May 01 Wed All day Blond Hair Day
Morning
Afternoon
Evening Buffet Dinner and Welcome celebration (tentative)
After Karaoke, Goodtimes
Later Slumber Party
May 02 Thu Morning
Afternoon Glamour Boutique Open House
Evening Female Impersonator Show (La Cage)
After Limo tour
May 03 Fri Morning Golf
Afternoon Carluccio's Dinner (5:00pm)
Evening Goodtimes Annual Mixer
Late Night Dance Night
May 04 Sat Morning
Afternoon Mall Crawl
Evening Las Vegas "Legacy" show
Midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show
May 05 Sun Morning
Afternoon Side trip (Mt Charleston?)
Evening Buffet dinner, Palace Station
Farewell Get-together
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tentative DLV 2001 schedule:
as of Tue Dec 18 09:41:51 CST 2001
. . . . .
Tuesday, April 30:
Activity Name : Welcome dinner
Possible "Timezone Options" : Tu, 5:00pm
Location or Venue : Milano's
Expected Dress : Casual (moderately dressy ok)
Expected Cost (If any) : $5 - $15 per person
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 30
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments : Casual Italian, American, Greek, Mexican
...
Activity Name : Pre-DLV get-together
Possible "Timezone Options" : Tu, 7:30pm
Location or Venue : T-friendly lounge TBA
Expected Dress : Casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : One one's own for drinks and munchies
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 50
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments :
...
. . . . .
Wednesday, May 1:
Activity Name : Buffet dinner and Welcome Celebration
Possible "Timezone Options" : We, Ev
Location or Venue : TBD
Expected Dress : Casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : $5 - $12 per person plus drinks
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 60
Organiser Required and who : Yes
Comments : New facility search in progress
...
Activity Name : Karaoke
Possible "Timezone Options" : We, later
Location or Venue : Goodtimes
Expected Dress : Casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : Foon and munchies on one's own.
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca. 70
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments : After Keys
...
Activity Name : Slumber Party
Possible "Timezone Options" : We, Late
Location or Venue : Residence Inn
Expected Dress : Whatever
Expected Cost (If any) : TBD
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 30
Organiser Required and who : Yes, LeeAnna
Comments :
...
. . . . .
Thursday, May 2:
Activity Name : Glamour Boutique Open House
Possible "Timezone Options" : Th, Aft
Location or Venue : Glamour Boutique, 714 E Sahara
Expected Dress : Casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : On one's own for purchases
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca. 50
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments :
...
Activity Name : FI Show
Possible "Timezone Options" : Th, Ev
Location or Venue : TBD
Expected Dress : Nice casual to very dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : TBD
Maximum Numbers (If any) : Ca 100
Organiser Required and who : Probably
Comments : Frank Marino or Kenny Kerr
...
Activity Name : Limo Tour
Possible "Timezone Options" : Th, after show
Location or Venue : Las Vegas Strip
Expected Dress : Nice :)
Expected Cost (If any) : $15 pp
Maximum Numbers (If any) : 7, 14, 21 ...
Organiser Required and who : Yes, Aiko
Comments : Delmar, etc.
...
. . . . .
Friday, May 3:
Activity Name : Golf
Possible "Timezone Options" : Fr, 10:00am
Location or Venue : Golf course {duh}
Expected Dress : Casual or athletic, boymode or girlmode
Expected Cost (If any) : TBD
Maximum Numbers (If any) : 4 8 12 16 20 24 ...
Organiser Required and who : Yes, Mindy
Comments : Details TBA
...
Activity Name : Dinner
Possible "Timezone Options" : Fr, 5:00pm
Location or Venue : Carluccio's
Expected Dress : Nice casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : On one's own for dinner and drinks
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 50
Organiser Required and who : Yes, Leah
Comments :
...
Activity Name : Annual Mixer
Possible "Timezone Options" : Fr, 7:30pm
Location or Venue : Goodtimes
Expected Dress : Casual to modrerately dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : On one's own for drinks and munchies
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca. 100
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments : Possible need to change venue
...
Activity Name : Dance Night
Possible "Timezone Options" : Fr, 11:30pm
Location or Venue : Gipsy, et. al.
Expected Dress : Whatever
Expected Cost (If any) : Cover and drinks
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 100
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments :
...
. . . . .
Saturday, May 4:
Activity Name : Mall Crawl
Possible "Timezone Options" : Sa, 12:00n
Location or Venue : Various
Expected Dress : Casual, boymode or girlmode
Expected Cost (If any) : On one's own for what is purchased
Maximum Numbers (If any) : None
Organiser Required and who : Yes, Annie
Comments : Belz, Boulevard, possibly Primm
...
Activity Name : Las Vegas show
Possible "Timezone Options" : Sa, Ev
Location or Venue : TBD
Expected Dress : Nice casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : TBD
Maximum Numbers (If any) :
Organiser Required and who : Yes
Comments : Legacy LV show or newer artsy show
...
Activity Name : Rocky Horror Picture Show
Possible "Timezone Options" : Sa, 12:00m
Location or Venue : Paradise 6 Cinema
Expected Dress : Anything goes (really)
Expected Cost (If any) : $4.50 per person
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 150
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments : HAS to be better than last year.
...
. . . . .
Sunday, May 5:
Activity Name : Side trip
Possible "Timezone Options" : Su, PM
Location or Venue : TBD
Expected Dress : Casual, boymode or girlmode
Expected Cost (If any) : Possible donation for park fee
Maximum Numbers (If any) : Capacity of vehicles
Organiser Required and who : Yes, Annie
Comments : Red Rock, Valley of Fire, etc.
...
Activity Name : Buffet Dinner
Possible "Timezone Options" : Su, 5:30pm
Location or Venue : Palace Station
Expected Dress : Casual recommended
Expected Cost (If any) : $7.95 per person
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca. 50
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments : Meet at top of escalator, 5:30pm
...
Activity Name : Farewell Get-together
Possible "Timezone Options" : Su Ev
Location or Venue : TBA
Expected Dress : Casual to dressy
Expected Cost (If any) : On ones own for drinks and whatever
Maximum Numbers (If any) : ca 120
Organiser Required and who : No
Comments :
...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administrivia:
This is the Diva Las Vegas 2002 organizational list.
Diva Las Vegas 2002
April 30 - May 5, 2002
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
One address for all items regarding this list, additions, removals,
changes, submissions, questions, etc.:
dlvorg@geekbabe.com <--- NOTE: all lower case
Please do not send binary attachments (photos, etc.) directly to the
list, as the list processor will not properly handle them. If you want
to send photos and the like, mail to: annie@annie.net
Archives of this list appear on the web at:
http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/org02arc/
To unsubscribe: Simply reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE
in either the Subject: field or the first line of an OTHERWISE BLANK
message body. The word "unsubscribe" (case is insignificant) should be
the only item in the subject field or the first line of the message,
justified to the left.
NOTE: WHEN UNSUBSCRIBING, THE FROM: LINE OF YOUR UNSUBSCRIBE MESSAGE
>>MUST<< HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS AS WHAT WE USE TO SEND TO YOU. IF IT
DOES NOT, THE UNSUBSCRIBE WILL FAIL, AND YOU MAY NOT GET A FAILURE
NOTICE. SPELLING COUNTS.
Please pay attention to the above. Many automated unsubscribe requests
fail for this reason.
To send material to this list: Send submission as regular e-mail to
the address: dlvorg@geekbabe.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a23 : Tue Jun 04 2002 - 07:48:29 CDT