Today most people know Las Vegas, for its gambling and hotel
strip which is approximately four miles long, of resort properties, shops, shows,
and most of all casinos, yet this time we will visit Downtown Las Vegas
which is located within the city limits.
Mid August is a great time to visit Las Vegas,
with family and friends.
For this trip since time was an issue,
Bonnie stayed in Guerneville, running her business, Bonnie-Sew-Good,
while Ruth and I pressed a twelve-hour drive, to join LeRonka,
for another Sister-Bonding.
LeRonka, took charge and had planned everything in advance before our arrival,
a great place to stay, with great pools to visit and all we had to do is wonder
which pool area we were going to battle over.
As well as two great shows, dinners and all of this was within walking distance.
With the weather being in the high ninety’s and low hundreds, we took advantage of the trams and monorail.
Using the local transportation system, as the monorail, taxi, and trams,
allowed us to by-pass the busy traffic and finding a place to park the car.
All it took was pre-planning, tickets and timing.
The monorail provided seven stops,
MGM Grand is where we boarded, Sahara Station where we disembarked
to catch a taxi for the Original Downtown Las Vegas.
Downtown Las Vegas is the original townsite where gamblers and tourist came first.
Today Downtown Las Vegas is found in the central business district of Las Vegas,
and coin operated slot machines are still available off the Las Vegas strip
.
Up stairs in the “D” hotel and casino, still has coin slot machines,
Yes, there is still slot machines that takes quarters and half a dollar pieces, and I enjoyed
every moment hearing the sound of the coin dropping before I pulled the iron handle.
Coin – operated slot machines
Downtown Las Vegas
After having fun at the “D”, the girls checked out a few displays.
My goal was to venture where my mother and I gambled some time ago,
I remembered a Hawaiian Festival.
In fact the silver dollar slop machines had silver coins representing each Hawaiian Island,
at that particular moment.
I remember it well, cause for every silver coin I won, it cost approx twenty-five
to thirty dollars each, and my goal was to have one of each island.
Well, I never did reached my goal, but I sure gave it a good try.
This adventure was further fueled by a few short stories my sister LeRonka
shared with me before we arrived to Downtown Las Vegas,
of how Hawaiians like to gamble and visit Las Vegas yearly,
including our Aunties.
As she told the story, I could reflect of how my folks would
talk about “The Cal,” but I couldn’t place or think of where “The Cal”
would be located for the moment, so I left it alone.
Our second stop was “Four Queens” hotel and casino, here I was crossing my fingers
to find a restaurant with good food,
at an affordable price, compared to what was found on the Las Vegas Strip.
Here we joined the Royal Players Club,
taking advantage of Magnolia’s Veranda cafe, free breakfast, with a second breakfast at
half the price, for new members, which really was a two for one special.
The Magnolia’s menu also offered Hawaiian foods,
like saimin, instead we ordered Rice, Spam, and Eggs, which we enjoyed.
Afterward, we took advantage of the ten-dollar free slot play, then left with our souvenirs.
Press for time we cross over to the “Fremont Casino,”
while the girls were checking out the machines
I wanted to follow-up on some information. Since we already had previous engagement,
I was satisfied with what I learned and didn’t have to look any farther.
“The Cal,” (which was a couple of blocks away,)
offered Hawaii to Vegas packages, and with that information
I was able to back track some of the places my mother Beatrice and I visited.
By chance, after returning home from such a wonderful space,
visiting my sisters LeRonka, and Ruth, in Las Vegas,
I found a short article written by E.C. Gladstone, Las Vegas Weekly. com, title
The Ninth Island, California Hotel and Casino.
In many ways visiting Downtown Las Vegas brought back memories,
and at the same time, it was enjoyable seeing the changes
for the better.
Visit http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/feb/16/island-desert-how-hawaii-arrived-las-vegas/
The article is about Sam Boyd and how much the Hawaiian People love to eat,
celebrate, gamble, and play.
Oh, yes, and live in Las Vegas as well.
Malia Plevney 
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