Gio's Stag!
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Yeah, so my buddy Gio is getting married in September, and a few of us decided to wander down to the city of sin and have a weekend to celebrate it. Now, I know the general guy rule is "no cameras at a Stag!" but let's face it, we're all really vain bastards who love to see our own photos. So here's a couple snaps for the poor sods who didn't have the financial werewithall to come on down and join in the fun.
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The weekend had a bit of a theme - Poker and Booze. Our first day at the poker tables
found us at the Excalabur, where we somehow managed to take over half of a
"one and three dollar limit" table. With seats for 12 or so, we had half the table,
leaving another six seats for a line of suckers who wanted to give up their money.
The dealers rotate pretty often, and this one found Gio really amusing. They allow cameras in the
poker room (which doesn't stand in other parts of the casino) since the only person you're
taking money from is other patrons! Works for us.
My elaborate disguise - Elvis shades and a fishing hat. I almost look like a pro
execpt for the lame "hand ranking sheet" next to me. I was the "chatty ass" who
drove people insane. The free booze helped with the chatting, too.
The great thing about 1 & 3 limit is that you can pretty much play
all day for nothing. You don't like your cards, you throw them away.
The blinds only cost a buck and it rotates every hand, so it's a nice
cheap day. Here, Jason and Cam wait patiently for good cards.
Jason's a shark, he plays like three times a week. Check out this poker face. What a pro.
See, the thing is, they have these free drinks in the casino. You tip the waitress
and she just keeps coming back with more drinks. So I tipped her pretty good
and she kept coming back with more tequila shots, which I happily consumed.
It began to catch up with me, and it reduced my chip count.
Still, I managed to even get a Royal Flush, win a load of money, and get this
cool free hat! I said "I've got a flush and a straight, which one is better?" and the whole
table groaned in agony at my idiocy. The dealer loved me, and got me this fun hat.
After our hard six hours of Poker, we met Gio's cousin Patrick for dinner at
"Nine", which is the steakhouse at the Palms. Let me tell you, this place is
a little higher end than we were expecting. It's classy.
But the STEAKS? Good god, the best thing I have ever eaten. AMAZING.
Here, Rob prepares to cut into a ribeye, which was the best meat I've
ever had. Period. Fantastic. And the best part? Patrick picked up the tab!
I love Patrick.
Here's Rob and Gio's stepbrother, Victor, enjoying a fine meal.
Patrick has a fine night planned for us - we finish dinner and pile into a limo
with some of his friends and head out to get down!
Patrick is in full party mode, and is determined to show Gio a good time!
Here we are inside Taboo at the MGM Grand. Patrick got us on the guest list, skipping past
the massive lineup (which was weird, since the place was empty inside).
This is the "vodka room". It's a room in the back where they keep the vodka - frozen in blocks
of ice. Oh my. Oh my goodness. Yeah, that's pretty dope.
In order to get on the guest list you have to reserve a booth, which means
you have to buy two "bottles of booze", which the lounge sells at a pretty
substantial markup. Like, three hundred and fifty bucks US for a bottle
of vodka - but they give you complimentary mixer! Wow!
Apparently two bottles of booze is too much for the Best Man. He's either really drunk
or flexing his bi-sexuality here. I'm going to go with really drunk.
He does look kinda like he's in love with Gio, though...
Victor takes the time to enjoy a delicious cigar from the Domican republic.
Jason also decides that a cigar is just a top mark idea.
See? We're good friends. We didn't dress Gio up like some idiot, unlike the majority of
other people who are out on their stag / stagettes. Vegas is full of costumed brides and
grooms to be - I think we took the classy route, myself. You're welcome, Gio.
Booze, cards, cigars... what else is there to do but SHOOT GUNS??
Cam dives straight into the big stuff and fires the classic AK-47.
I go a little more classic and go back to the WWII era,
and shoot a German made MP-40 - the same gun that shot
at Indiana Jones in all the movies!
Like a trained assassin, Gio finds his mark! Check out the nice tight groupings
on this target. Impressive. Most impressive. Gio is indeed powerful,
as the Emperor has forseen.
Where is Doctor Jones?
Ok, we're on day two of Poker now. Gio isn't fooling around anymore. He's here to win!
...and win we do! All I needed was a change of hats.
Yeah! Good times in Vegas. Great fun.
Our trip is capped off by a visit to "downtown" Vegas and the amazing "Freemont Experience"
(with some of the best CG i've ever seen outside of a student reel). Good times!
