Skip to main content

Las Vegas 2023

In this episode - Las Vegas September 2023 . . .

Einstein once said, “Not all knowledge needs to be useful, and sometimes, it can be just for pure pleasure.” That could be what downtown Las Vegas represents - a place of pure pleasure. I was amazed by the dramatic contrast between the historical and modern experiences during a recent visit to Las Vegas to attend the RE+ Solar Show at the Sands Convention Center.

Whatever your preference, starting your morning with a positive attitude is crucial, and having a nutritious breakfast sets the tone and fuels your body for a productive day. The short-order cooks were busy preparing meals at Denny's Diner, and the restaurant was bustling with activity. The lively and energetic atmosphere was infectious. Upon entering the diner, I noticed all the booths were already occupied. But I quickly grabbed an empty seat at the counter, an excellent vantage point to observe everything. The waitress was friendly and efficient, skillfully handling the seating of customers, taking orders, refilling coffee cups, and delivering plates of delicious food to the diners. The customers chatted as they enjoyed their meals, and the plates were cleared promptly, making room for new patrons. Overall, it was a seamless and enjoyable dining experience.

After a long day at the Convention Center (attendance of over 40,000), our colleague (Thang) requested a unique Las Vegas dining experience that could not be duplicated anywhere else. Since the places we called on the "Strip" were fully booked, I suggested Fremont Street, the old “downtown” Las Vegas developed in 1925.

The development of "Sin City" gained momentum in the mid-20th century, particularly with legalizing gambling in Nevada in 1931. This laid the foundation for the city's transformation into the entertainment and gaming capital it is known as today.

The "Fremont Experience" is very different from its past. The cross streets are blocked, and when you enter the circus-like atmosphere, your body is pounded with sounds that resonate, remarkable light shows, dazzling displays, strip clubs, gambling casinos, and live bands - in short, a wild party atmosphere to compete with the modern Monolith Casinos on the “Strip.” If you’ve ever seen James Bond's “Diamonds Are Forever,” you may recognize some classic landmark locations. Speaking of landmark locations, we headed towards the El Cortez Hotel and Casino at the South End of Fremont Street. This hotel has a rich history dating back to the early days of the city's gaming industry. Built in 1941 by Marion Hicks and John Grayson, the El Cortez began as a relatively small gambling establishment with a Spanish Colonial Revival-style building.

The infamous mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, who built the Flamingo Hotel with headliner Frank Sinatra on the Las Vegas Strip, purchased the El Cortez in 1945. However, his hotel ownership was short-lived; he was assassinated in 1947. After Siegel's death, the El Cortez changed owners several times during the 1950s and 1960s. During this period, the hotel underwent multiple renovations and expansions, with more rooms added to the hotel and its casino facilities updated.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, the El Cortez operated as a downtown Las Vegas Casino, catering primarily to locals. It retained its classic and nostalgic ambiance, in contrast to the Mega-Resorts that were being built on the Las Vegas Strip.

In 2008, the El Cortez was purchased by the Epstein family, who have maintained the property's historic charm while making necessary upgrades. They invested in refurbishing the rooms, preserving the classic neon signage, and enhancing the casino floor. The El Cortez was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 to preserve its unique architectural features, and it is recognized as one of the last remaining historic hotel-casinos in downtown Las Vegas. Despite its historic charm, the El Cortez has kept pace by introducing modern amenities and gaming options while maintaining its classic Vegas vibe.

We had a delightful dinner at Siegel’s, good friends, and great conversation. It was exactly what we were looking for - an authentic experience. My listening friends, it's important not to compare it to modern-day Denny's or choose this restaurant based on its Yelp ratings.


The El Cortez remains a popular destination for those wanting a more traditional and intimate Las Vegas experience.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

A Mother’s Day Reflection

With Mother’s Day here and the world bustling with cards, brunches, and busy schedules, I find myself reflecting on something a bit simpler: taking a moment to remember the person who helped shape my earliest sense of home. Mauricette Elaine (Bontemps) Ball. My Mom. We arrived in Cuba after leaving La Rochelle, France, in 1959—a transition whose enormity I only fully appreciate now. My mother, barely in her mid-twenties, stepped into Midwestern life with remarkable courage. Her smile could warm the coldest Illinois morning, and her hugs lingered long after she let go—quiet reminders that you were deeply loved. Born February 16, 1934, the third of four children, she grew up in Nazi-occupied La Rochelle. As kids, we listened wide-eyed to stories of soldiers patrolling her streets and fear shadowing everyday life. Yet she carried none of that darkness forward. What endured was resilience and an unwavering devotion to family—qualities she carried across the Atlantic and planted firmly in C...
1 comment
Read more

That Fateful Four-Letter Word

In this episode, A Masterclass in Efficiency. For nearly four months, the western border of our property has stood as a living monument to determination, dubious planning, and forensic-level lumber acquisition. Since February, our neighbor Steve has been conducting what can only be described as a masterclass in deliberate calculation. This was never going to be one of those slick home-improvement shows where a cheerful pair of men installs a fence between commercial breaks, sipping lemonade. No. This was real life in retirement. We scaled the vertical wilderness of our hillside. We mixed concrete with the precision of medieval alchemists. We bled, we sweated, and we fought hand-to-hand with a buried tree stump that had the structural integrity of a Cold War bunker. By this week—May 16th, for those keeping score—the glorious end was finally within reach. The fence stood proudly, the line was straight, and victory practically hummed in the air. Only one major task remained: installing t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Truth for Sale

This episode is inspired  by Elton John & Bernie Taupin On Memorial Day, I took my first bike ride  since the accident , seeking proof that my legs, lungs, and nerves still remembered the road. The morning air carried that familiar Southern California mix of ocean haze, exhaust, eucalyptus, and sun-baked asphalt. My tires hummed across pavement I’ve ridden for years. Somewhere between the steady click of the chain and the rhythm of my breathing, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s The Captain and the Kid found its way into my ears. There’s a strange kind of magic when the cadence of a ride syncs perfectly with a song you know by heart. Suddenly, the music and lyrics stop being background noise and become a lens. And through that lens, the road started talking. I've been cycling on this road some, Can't help feeling I've been showing my friends around. I've seen it grow from next to nothing, To a giant eatin’ up our town. Called up the tealeaves and the tarots, Asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Giants We Chase

In this episode, The Gleam Within We grow up steeped in fairy tales and grand mythologies. From a young age, we are taught to scan the horizon for the hero—the knight, the savior, the titan who will arrive to make sense of the world. We marvel at the mountains' beauty and nature's majesty, yet, as the old wisdom goes, "we pass over the mystery of ourselves without a single thought." I remember being the little guy from a small town in rural Illinois, looking up at the world and seeing only Giants. I would listen to Earl Nightingale’s Our Changing World broadcasts, mesmerized by the towering figures of success and intellect he described. When you feel small, you naturally seek out those Giants for a glimpse of their light—hoping some of it might rub off on you, preferably without having to do whatever it was they did to earn it. In 1985, while I was earning my G.G. credential, I met Richard T. Liddicoat, the Patriarch of GIA. To everyone in the industry, he was the Fat...
Post a Comment
Read more