Las Vegas day two

It's Monday June 5. I'm here in the "press room" at Couture with free Internet. Interviews so far with Longines and Oris. One more interview to go this afternoon with Zenith. Very plush show, millions of $$ being thrown around.

To backtrack: Made it Las Vegas. Hooray. Spirit did not charge me for the backpack. Many other travelers had packs like mine. They weren't even checking. I think they're only concerned with "carry ons" that are actual pieces of luggage with handles and wheels. Anyway, landed at McCarren and took a $14 Uber ride (plus $2 tip) to downtown. Had the driver drop me at Binions because I was hungry for lunch. Local time said 10:30 a.m., but my tummy was still on Central Time (12:30). I had one of their famous burgers and a Miller Lite. Famous because the burgers used to be the only thing food item you could get at Binions back when it was famous as a Poker-only casino back when Benny Binion was still running the place. It was very good, and café also has other things on the menu.

Next, to my hotel, the Four Queens (4Q). I immediately went to the Players Club desk and got a duplicate card. Yes, they still had me on file from about 5 years ago. Once you're in the system … Anyway, they had a gift certificate for me for half off a meal at their café, the Magnolia, being it is my birthday month. I'll take anything I can get!

 

It was only about 11:30 at this point and way too early to check in to my room. Played some craps and proceeded to lose $80 in no time. Left, and went down the street to the El Cortez, which some might say is just this side of sleazy, but it is a favorite among the locals. Down another $20 at the single deck blackjack table. Made back $27 at a "Breaking Bad" themed video slot machine. So down $73 for the day so far.

 

Hungry again, so had a Coney Dog with chili and onions at a casino called "D Las Vegas," which is the latest incarnation of a casino called the "Sundance" many years ago, and was called "Fitzgeralds" when Dawn and I were here several years ago. Excellent chili dog made with an old-fashioned skin-on wiener. Don't both making notes; the place will probably be something else in another six months!

 

Man, the heat is really getting to me. It registered 103 at one point here. Between that and time change, I confess I felt a little bit woozy this afternoon. Was finally able to check into the hotel room at about 2:30 (Room 1019 in the North Tower facing away from Fremont Street and toward a parking structure). First thing was to lower the thermostat to 65 and lay down on the king size bed. Got a call around 3:30 p.m. from Bruce Cumming, my contact at Tavannes Watch. He wondered if I could meet up with him at a party for JCK show badge holders being held at the Venetian. I turned him down. For starters, I didn't even have my badge yet, so it would have involved going out to the Mandalay to pick up my badge, then another cab/Uber ride to the Venetian, all in triple-digit temps. Told him I just wasn't in the mood, and that we would have to catch up later.

 

At 4 p.m., I went down to the hotel's Magnolia Café to cash in my birthday coupon and got a delicious NY Strip dinner with baked potato, salad, rolls, and steamed summer squash for $9.50 with my coupon. It was delicious. I was hungry for some dessert, but nothing on Mag's menu interested me, so I went back down to El Cortez to their café, Seigels, where they had a chocolate gnoche cake. Sounds better than it was. It was OK, but certainly didn't knock my socks off, plus it was $12 with coffee and tip. Back to the to gaming tables (craps and blackjack) where I won $75, so I'm about even for the day. The other thing I like about the El Cortez is that they are generous with the free beer/cocktails.

 

Well, it's 8:30 local time, 10:30 "body time" and I'm back in my room and pretty much ready to wrap things up for the day. I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow at the Couture show at the Encore. Probably up at 6 or 6:30, big breakfast at the Magnolia, then Uber on over to the Encore where I'll spend a good part of the day. I have three appointments lined up with Longines, Oris, and Zenith.

Monday June 5

Up at around 6:30. Breakfast in the Magnolia Cafe of eggs, sausage, hash browns, English muffin and coffee. Uber to Encore cost me $10 plus $2 tip. Picked up my badge; now I'm "legal"!

Had a nice conversation with three folks at Longines and got to photograph one of their museum pieces, a 1930s Charles Lindbergh "Hour Angle" watch, which the company has made a limited edition (90 pieces) of to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Lindbergh's transatlantic crossing.

After that, another interview with Vito "V.J." Geronimo (no kidding) of Oris Watches where I got to photograph some of their heritage pieces. This is a re-creation of a piece from 1918 made for pilots. It's on a "Bundt" strap which is authentic to the period.

Now in the press room which is a little sanctuary with a conference table. Nothing compared to the press lounge at Baselworld in 2014 where we had food and drinks every day and individual work stations. This is just a conference room with a large table. There is a portable bar out in the hallway with complimentary coffee, soft drinks, and bottled water, but that's about it.

Well, about 45 minutes to my next interview with Zenith. Not even time for lunch, so good thing I had a bran muffin and coffee ($9.50) in one of the coffee shops here in the morning. I might shuttle over to the Mandalay and pick up my badge after that and perhaps have lunch over there. We'll see. That's all for now.

Bruce