Hi Phil

Thanks for joining my trip down memory lane (even if I don't personally remember most of what I posted...!).

I was sad when I saw the hole where the Northern/Monte Carlo/LaBayou used to be . I love all of the old Nevada casino history and stories, but downtown Las Vegas has always been my favorite. I think because so many of the buildings were/are still there. Even though they've been remodeled, refitted, redecorated, and repurposed, the size and the shape and the locations could still be seen on many of the old buildings. I know that it can't stay the same, nothing does...but it still makes me sad.

We used to stay at the Plaza, overlooking Fremont Street. Before the canopy (and especially before the zip line platform) I'd sit in the window and look down Fremont Street, toward Sunrise Mountain. I never got tired of the view, and all the neon lights... That's when I started getting interested in the stories from earlier years.

Then we started staying at the Las Vegas Club...rooms 1133 and 1135 were our favorites. I could look out the window and, in my mind, I could see the Sal Sagev and the Northern, the original Las Vegas Club, the Lucky 13 Club, Buckley's, and the Mint. We were right above the Golden Goose...I got one of their keychains, and I've often wondered if we were there when they had blackjack and that cool $5 chip. I just vaguely remember the place, but don't remember if they had any table games when we wandered around waiting to pick up the keychain.

Sorry about rambling on...