EAGLES, TITANS and RAIDERS, oh my!

Top this bad beat, Killer! 
#ROBHANDSTOREMEMBER 

10/9 - I stayed overnight at the Nashville airport Marriott for a very early flight tomorrow morning to Vegas for this year's G.A.M.E. trip.  It also happened to be the Preds opening night game vs. Columbus, so along with Danny from the G.A.M.E. group, and a couple of co-workers, we got some cheap nosebleeds seats to see how we look this season after last year's woeful bust.  

10/10 - I had a very early flight to Vegas on Allegiant Airlines today.  During the flight I watched, The Lost Bus, a new Apple TV streaming movie which was pretty good; and then Play Dirty, a new Prime Video streaming movie that was pretty bad.  Enough so, that I didn't finish it.  I had a good view of Hoover Dam as we descended into Vegas. 

We decided to try something new (at least for me in Vegas) and rented a nice, big house on AirBnb a fair distance off The Strip.  It was just a better bargain and lets us hang out more together in one space.  Everyone seemed pleased with the roominess, hang-out areas and comfy beds.  

The best thing about an early flight is that it does give you a full day in Vegas, baby! The three of us arriving very early headed to Mr. Mama's for breakfast.  This is a repeat for me, but well worth it.   Our next stop was the fairly new Durango Hotel and Casino which has a very nice sports bar/racebook area called The George.  We hung out a bit here waiting on our house to be ready and I had a very good Bad Birdie Juicy Golden Ale from Four Peaks Brewing (AZ).  

Not sure I've ever seen it rain in Vegas, but it sure did today!  So much, in fact, there was flash flooding all across the area.   But the payoff was an awesome double rainbow seen from our Airbnb house patio.  We rode out the stormy, rainy afternoon just chilling at the house.  We stopped by the very close by Sprouts Farmer Market and got some snacks and some beer.  They had a very good craft beer section.  First up, I had the solid Stone Pilsner from Stone Brewing (CA).  Next was the decent Blonde Ale from Salty Crew Brewing (some kind of contract brewer here in the U.S.).  I completed my early Vegas trifecta with best of the bunch Citra Solo IPA from Lead Dog Brewing over in Reno, NV. 

We had a late dinner at Border Grill at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort for four of the five of us.  It was very good and quite affordable.  I had their special entree, the wagyu beef barbacoa tacos.  With that tasty dinner, I also had the decent UNLV Rebel Spirit blonde ale from Crafthaus Brewery over in nearby Henderson, NV.  

10/11 - This afternoon we spent a good while at the Yard House at the base of the High Roller Ferris Wheel on The Strip watching the UT/Arkansas game in which the Vols eked out a W.  While there I had some great food and the tasty Fresh Haze IPA from Deschutes Brewing (OR); the Yard House Pumpkin Spice Ale that was excellent.  It's a collab brew between Yard House and Ommegang Brewing (NY). I finished with the outstanding Tropical Terps NEIPA from Belching Beaver Brewing (CA).  The endless parade of bikini-clad honeys on the sidewalk outside was nice too!! 

We moved on to a free Tennessee Titans Road Rally at the Ole Red location on The Strip.  It was cool to see some former Titans greats, Kyle Vanden Bosh and Jurrell Casey, being interviewed by former Coach Mac (Dave McGinnis) during the event (photo above).  There was also live music from Zach Ryan and the Boys.  While there I had a couple decent (but overpriced) craft brews including the Huerta Premier Mexican-style lager from North Coast Brewing (CA) and the Huck It blonde ale from Big Sky Brewing (MT).  

10/11 - Three of us swallowed the very expensive pill that it cost to see the SOLD-OUT Eagles show tonight at the Sphere.  After such a great experience with Kenny Chesney here earlier this year, and the fact of The Eagles being one of my favorite bands that I've never seen live (RIP, Glenn Fry), I didn't need much convincing.  The show was epic with two hours straight of hit after hit.  

We started at the "Hotel California" and didn't look back (you can never look back - "Boys of Summer" by Don Henley.  It was also played!).  What an amazing show in an amazing venue!!  Filling in for the late Glenn Fry were his son, Deacon, and the always-great Vince Gill.  Both of them killed and repped Glenn maginificently.  

"There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes..." Our floor sets (stage left) were very good and allowed us to enjoy the music from about 10 rows from the stage, plus all the amazing video productions. 
After the show and long walk back to The Strip, we were famished and stopped by Pizza Cake by Buddy Valastro and had slices standing right there on Las Vegas Boulevard.  Kinda cool, and so Vegas.  I also had the nice Pumpkin Haze IPA from 21st Amendment Brewing (CA) with my pie and as a walking beer afterwards. 

We also made a second beer run to the Sprouts Farmers Market just around the corner from our house earlier today. Before heading out for the day, I had the Revision IPA from Revision Brewing in Sparks, NV.  After getting back from the Eagles show, I had the very nice Vanilla Oak cream ale from HUDL Brewing here in Vegas.  

10/12 - Titans at Raiders (oh my...do these teams suck).  Well, the Titans have been awful this year but somehow pulled a win out of their butts last week in Arizona, and the Raiders aren't much better, so let's see what happens. Even nosebleed tickets were ridiculously high despite both teams being crappy, but, hey, it's a new stadium with a new team in a new city that just happens to be Vegas.  The stadium is pretty awesome despite looking like a giant Roomba from the outside.  

We had pretty good seats in Allegiant Stadium despite being high up.  The Titans put on one of the worst performances I've ever seen live or on TV despite the "close" final score of 20-10.  This is professional football?  I think not!  Even the Raider fans were nice to us since they suck too and probably felt sorry for us.  We did enjoy some laughs and comradery with our custom-made "We Ass" T-shirts (thanks, Houston!) And at least the beer choices were good.  I had a solid Mexican-style ale called El Charro from Tenaya Creek Brewing here in Vegas.  

Tonight, after the game, was our last full group outing to the hilarious and eye-catching "The Empire Strips Back" burlesque show at The Rio Hotel and Casino.  We had a lot of laughs, saw some fine-looking ladies and a plethora of Star Wars jokes and innuendos.  

10/13 - Well, that didn't take long!  We were barely up for the day when the news came down from Nashville that "CallaSHAM" was fired.  Good riddance!! 

Three of our fivesome were headed home today.  We said goodbye to Danny first, then Houston and Curtis later in the day.   Another great G.A.M.E. trip in the books! 

We checked out of our great AirBnb house and headed over to Excalibur Casino and Hotel where Chris and I were staying for one extra night before heading home.  Four of our fivesome were able to hang out in their TAP Sports Bar there for a late lunch and an early Preds game on TV which they won over Ottawa.   With my lunch, I had a can of the Kilt Lifter red ale from Four Peaks Brewing (AZ).  

Other than the dark, dated hallways looking like something out of The Shining, I was actually pretty impressed with the Excalibur stay.  Room was clean.  Bed was comfy.  And it was quiet all night.  Not much else you could want from "cheap Vegas."  

Chris and I spent a large part of the afternoon and evening at one of my favorite Vegas haunts, Pub 365 in the Tuscany Hotel and Casino.  We drank a good amount of craft beer, had some snacks, watched Monday Night Football (nice job Falcons over the Bills), and played quarter video poker to earn some free brews.  The quad deuces shown above was my only great hit on my machine, but it served its purpose getting me free beers which included the exChopDank DIPA from RaR Brewing (MD); then the interesting and refreshing Sugoi! Green Melon milkshake IPA from CraftHaus Brewing over in Henderson, NV; the outstanding hop-forward cold IPA called Sheer Cold also from Crafthaus Brewing: the so-so Tailwagger Wheat from Big Dog's Brewing here in Vegas: and finally, the nice Paleo Porter from Lovelady Brewing here in Vegas.  

We finished the night off (and the second MNF game) back at Excalibur at the TAP Sports Bar again.  I had a can of the nice Las Vegas Craft Lager also from Big Dog's Brewing here in Vegas. 
I continued solo over to the Planet Hollywood Casino where I entered a late-night $75 poker tournament where I lasted about an hour before my pocket fives got counterfeited on the river by AK.  I would've gone deep if I had won that 3-way all-in pot.  Ho hum.  

10/14 - Chris headed for the airport early today, and so I was truly solo in Vegas for the rest of the day.  I tried my luck at the same $75 poker tournament back at the Planet Hollywood Casino this morning and came closer this time with a 4th place finish, but only two got paid. My pocket sevens ran into QQ and could not recover unfortunately.   

I decided to try out Parry's Pizzeria and Tap House on The Strip on my way back to Excalibur to get my bags and head to the airport.  I am so glad I did!  What a fun little place with a nice craft beer list, a great people-watching bar that opens to the strips, and, at least today, a really cute barkeep!  I had two pizza slices and a beer specials.  The pizza was solid and my two beers very pretty good.  First up was the good Dog Daze NEIPA (photo above) from Big Dog's Brewing again here in Vegas.  I finished with the pleasant Nitro Chantilly Vanilla Cream Ale from Las Vegas Brewing.  Not sure why they call it "nitro" since it isn't served that way.   Parry's also shares space with a Whataburger Restaurant, and you can order from them and have a beer.  Good to know for future Vegas reference! 

My direct flight home from Vegas on Southwest Airlines was uneventful and smooth.  I downloaded and watched the Prime TV streaming documentary "John Candy: I Like Me" which was tear-jerkingly good.