Post #173793 by tikipedia on Thu, Jul 21, 2005 5:25 PM

I hope this report helps out anybody planning to make the trek to Las Vegas in the next few months.

It had been two years since my last visit to Vegas, and we went during record breaking temperatures. The official high was 115 F., and our car thermometer read 122 F. at one point.

The city seemed to take it's slogan 'What Happens Here, Stays Here' to heart. Vegas seemed more over the top with sex, even for Vegas. I never thought a mainstream casino would sell 'MILF in Training' shirts (if you don't know what that acronym means, suffice it to say it is not a nice phrase), but I am either a fuddy-duddy or I just don't know Vegas.

Anyway, we decided to forgo our usual hangout, Mandalay Bay, for the Venetian. This was a big mistake. Any casino that would trash Taboo Cove is not worth staying at. Besides, the pools were tiny and dirty... not the most fun place for the kid or the adults.

Anyway, we checked out the spot where the late and great Taboo Cove was. It has already been well documented that the place is gone, and there is absolutely no trace the place even existed.

We went over to the Mirage to look at the dolphins, tigers, and lions. In the gift store across from the white tiger display, they sell some really nice mugs, embossed with the Mirage name. There are three designs, two tikis and one a bamboo design. The mugs were manufactured by a company called 'Libbeys'. Colors also varied, and I picked up a blue tiki mug for $10.00.

We also found the Tommy Bahama store at the north end of the Mirage has 'paradise tumblers' (the high falutin name for tiki mugs). I picked up one of the three designs for $16.00. And the mugs actually come in a fancy box. Woo hoo!

We headed back to the Venetian, and went to the pool. Ordered a couple of mai tais for $10.00 each(!). Way over priced and pretty crappy. A huge mistake.

The next day, we headed over to the Cheeseburger at the Oasis restaurant at the Aladdin. Cheeseburger has various glassware on sale, including a Tiki Farm mug that has a grinning tiki holding a cheeseburger. Mugs are $10.00, but if you order a mai tai for $7.00, you can buy the mug for half price. So you get a decent mai tai and a mug for $12.00. Not bad, compared to the swill served at the Venetian. I scored a couple of mugs, and promised the wahine I would sell one on Ebay, so stay tuned.

Cheeseburger also has some of their other glassware on sale (I think at 50% off). These include shot glasses, and some plastic mugs. The decor of Cheeseburger is not bad... all of their mugs/artifacts are glued down to prevent field collecting. :)

Aladdin also has an ABC Store and a Hilo Hatties. For those of you who have never made the pilgrimage to Honolulu, there is an ABC Store about every 18 feet. This store sold the requisite macadamia nut candies, etc. I picked up a small bottle of Ketel One to make up for those damed $10.00 Venetian mai tais.

Hilo Hatties has, of course, a huge selection of Hawaii stuff. They had a nice selection of Tiki Farm mugs, starting from $4.99. The mugs are sort of a generic design, and I did not pick up any (Why? Because I spent too much money on those %&*@$ mai tais at Venetian). However, I did pick up a vinyl car window sticker of a hula girl.

Overall, the trip was not too bad. A nice haul considering that I wasn't actively looking for Tiki. The Taboo Cove may be gone, but Tiki is still holding on in Sin City. By the way, did I mention that I didn't like the Venetian mai tais?

Our Vegas Loot:

A view from the back: