Ask Auntie Joyce

Dear Unca Ken: If we go on the wetlands hike, do we need to bring boots/waterproof shoes, or will regular athletic shoes do? What about insect repellent?

Unca Ken sez: There won't be many mosquitos. Insect repellent may make you slightly more comfortable, but the Vegas area has very little in the way of insect life...especially when compared with other places that get more rain. Auntie Joyce adds: I'm told the Wetlands hike is a very gentle, wheelchair-accessible hike. That probably means you don't need any special footgear. I would just wear regular athletic or walking shoes, if I were going.

Dear Auntie Joyce: Are there any shuttles between the downtown area and the Strip (maybe to/from one of the big hotels)? Are they free? If not, how much do they cost?

Auntie Joyce sez: There may be a shuttle, but I don't know about it. However, you can take the city bus #108 (Paradise Route) to St. Louis Avenue & Las Vegas Blvd. (near the Stratosphere Tower) then take the #301 which runs right down the Strip. The regular bus fare is $3 (have exact change) and ask for a transfer when you pay your fare, so the second bus will be free. It's a longish hike, but if you want some exercise: walk out of the Plaza, and turn right, go down to Charleston St. Turn left and Charleston will lead you to Las Vegas Blvd. Then turn south (right) and you can walk the length of the Strip . Warning: there are some shabby streets along this route that may not be safe at night. And it is a lot further than I would wish to walk.

Dear Unca Ken: What's the best buffet in town?

Unca Ken sez: Depends on your tastes. I personally think the buffets at the Rio are my favorite (there are two, either is great, but the seafood buffet is fabulous). The Golden Nugget downtown has a very nice buffet, too...very classy. Note from the Webmistress: You can see a list of Vegas buffets with reviews if you click here.

Dear Auntie Joyce: You say there's lots of steak places, which is very good for those furring their arteries with the Atkins diet, but is there anywhere for a lonely weirdo vegetarian to eat? Will there be something other than just aMargarita Pizza which is very boring very quickly. Should I pack a hamper?--Yvonne Rowse

Auntie Joyce sez: Dear Yvonne, Should be no problem. There'll no doubt be an accumulation of non-meat items in the con suite. In addition, the restaurants are prettyaccustomed to dealing with odd diets, so you'll find quite a variety ofvegetation, meat-substitutes, cheese and egg things. There's a lot of non-meat ethnic foods, too, such as Mexican, Chinese, etc. Robert Lichtman is a vegetarian (most of the time.) He'll probably be able to point you to some good spots. I know he favors Canter'sDelicatessen, where he enjoys the soups, salads, specialty items (such as potatoe knishes, kugel, etc.) I don't think you'll need your hamper, unless you just enjoy treating your friends to your own special favorites. (More for vegetarians here.)

Dear Auntie Joyce: Will the weather at Corflu Blackjack be hot and dry? Do I need a coat?

Auntie Joyce sez: Glad you asked. It should be warm (70-80s F ) during the day, then 30 or 40 degrees cooler at night. You definitely should have a warm jacket for evenings, and a sweater just in case we have a chilly day. We get very little rain, of course (this is the Mojave Desert) but if we get any, it usually comes in March. Not enough danger of that to make you bring an umbrella, but a scarf or hat might be welcome.

Dear Auntie Joyce: I don't get around so well anymore. Are there any decent restaurants VERY close to the hotel?

Auntie Joyce sez: You'll find plenty of servicable food right in the hotel's six or seven restaurants. Down the block are dozens of others, everything from sandwiches to more expensive fare tending toward steaks and chops. The fanciest restaurants downtown are in the larger casinos, such as the Golden Nugget, which has a dozen or more restaurants ranging from grab shops to pizza parlors, to fancy dinner spots.

Have a question for Auntie Joyce? Submit to her secretary at [email protected] and we'll see what we can do for you.

Getting to the hotel from the airport

The Plaza is about 9 miles from McCarran International Airport. You could take a cab, but a shuttle would be cheaper. Ken Forman suggests looking here for a good list of Las Vegas shuttles. Taking one will run you only about $5 - $7 plus tip. Shuttles are located outside the baggage claim areas at the airport. If you come in a group of three or more, then take a cab.

If you are renting a car: go to Las Vegas Blvd, and head north. You'll traverse the entire length of the Strip, past Sahara, past Charleston, and then a road y's off to the left to "Downtown". It is very clearly marked. Go to #1 Main Street; the valet and self-parking garage are both on the left end of the Plaza Hotel. (You can miss the Strip by taking one of the parallel streets, of course.

You can also go Downtown via Highway I-15 North. There are three Downtown exits, and if you follow your nose, you'll find #1 Main Street, which is the intersection of Main and Fremont. It's that tall building that was in "The Stand".

(If you self-park, you can take the elevator down to the third floor... which is where the convention meeting rooms are... and walk across the cut-through to the other tower, then elevator down to first where registration is, missing the entire casino and its smoke. If you valet, you'll be going in at ground floor, turn right, then at the second alcove turn right again, and you'll be at the elevators that will take you up that tower to third. Or, of course, follow the signs and walk through the casino to registration.)

It's really easy. I promise. --Joyce Katz

How to Be Happy in Las Vegas, by Joyce Katz

• Do not drink and drive. Our police are really intense about this.
• Don't speed in a school zone; the fines start at $150, and go up.
• Don't jaywalk. Lots of people do. But lots of people get hit by cars, too. It's risky.
• Don't do illegal things in public rooms. The hotel is pretty cool about fans' behavior, but they really don't want contraband (such as drugs, for example) in public.
• Be kind to waitresses, dealers, keno girls, cocktail servers, maids, bellmen, and all the others who try to help you have fun. They really are quite nice, if you are nice to them.
• And, natch...don't gamble more than you can afford to lose. We appreciate all contributions (they're the reason we don't pay state income taxes) but we really don't want more than you want to give us.

Vegas is such a lot of fun. I personally promise you'll have a good time.

More for Vegetarians

Vegetarian fan Gary Mattingly provided us with this information from the Happy Cow website:

• Go Raw Cafe, 2910 Lake East Dr. (at Sahara/Durango), 702-254-5382
• Komol Restaurant, 953 E. Sahara (in the Commercial Center, Maryland Pkwy./Paradise), 702-731-6542, Vegan-friendly
• Long Life Vegetarian Restaurant, 4130 S Sandhill Rd (at Sandhill & Flamingo), 702-436-4488, Vegan-friendly
• Raw Truth Cafe, 2381 E. Windmill (in Smith's Plaza) (on the corner of Eastern and Windmill), 702-450-9007, Vegan, Raw
• Rainbow's End, 1120 E. Sahara Avenue, 737-0323, Deli
• Also some recommendations here, and here

What's new in Las Vegas since last time?

An awful lot has changed since 1995 and Corflu 12. Most notably, the Fremont Street Experience (a canopy light show over Fremont Street, which faces the Plaza), barely under construction back in 1995, is now not only finished but has been upgraded dramatically. Many new casinos have opened... and some have closed... over on the Strip. Las Vegas casinos embraced and then mostly abandoned a "family-friendly" stance. The Siegfried and Roy show is now closed due to Roy's 2003 accident with a big kitty after setting many records in the town of big entertainment.

There's no doubt that Las Vegas has changed in the last nine years, but it remains one of the most fun-filled cities in America for the gambler and non-gambler alike. It's hard to find another place where you can find so many magicians, dancers, Blue Men, acrobats, singers, musicians, impressionists, and comedians all in one place... and by coming to Corflu Blackjack you can combine all that with the best in fannish conversation. Do come by.

Looking for general Las Vegas information?

There's a ton of information on the web about the city and what to do there, but here are a couple places to start:

• The Las Vegas Advisor has lots of information for gamblers and non-gamblers alike. Don't miss their list of Las Vegas' Top Ten Values -- you'll note that our old friend the 99 cent shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate is on it.
• Lots of odds and ends at vegas.com -- their weather page is quite handy.
• For the fan on a strict budget... and the best in sarcasm... check out Cheapo Vegas. It's fun to read (they think the Luxor needs more mummies) and information is not totally stale (for example, the Binion's Horseshoe page currently says "The Horseshoe is closed until further notice. Damn you, Becky Behnen").

Information on this page gathered by Tracy Benton. Please write to XXXXX with web page corrections. Write to XXXXX with questions or comments about Corflu Blackjack.

This page last updated on March 1, 2004.