It was Saturday, July 4, 2009 and I realized that I was beginning to morph into someone I’d never wanted to be. As I was discussing my “Sin City Afternoon” article, I realized that my Saturdays had become based on enjoying Las Vegas while avoiding tourists! Prior to moving here, I was one of those tourists! How hypocritical!

When did this happen? Why did this happen? How did this happen? I found two possible answers. One in local residents that spoke of basic conspiracy theories claiming that almost everyone in certain areas are drunk, crazy, or criminals. It was an unbelievable and ridiculous notion. I found another possible answer in Kevin Gilmartin, a behavioral scientist and retired police officer that focuses on the mental and emotional issues that affect cops.

When speaking to myself and other co-workers, Gilmartin said that a fellow officer is the last person he asks for tips when visiting Vegas. He said that he would ask a cop if he wanted to know about every dark corner and shady subject that should be avoided but not where he should go to have fun. To an extent, it was true. I did know more about areas and individuals that should be avoided than the places one should seek for enjoyment and/or entertainment. I have had frequent calls from friends asking about certain shows or events and could only respond with, “uhhh I don’t know.” Was I becoming one of those cynical individuals that only focused on the negative side of things? Not yet but that appeared to be the path I was on. I couldn’t let that happen. To be that way is senseless and unhealthy regardless of where you live, but if you happen to live in “America’s Playground”, it’s completely ridiculous! I needed to change course.

While watching the fireworks, I made mental notes, developing a plan to re-establish my relationship with a city I came to love so much that I moved almost 2000 miles across the country leaving everything I’d known. I decided to revisit the days when I was mesmerized by the sights, sounds, and personalities of tourist corridors. Back to the times when I was overwhelmed with fun activities worried that I wouldn’t get to do everything I planned before my flight home. And back to times when “whoohooo!” the infamous scream of the intoxicated, provided amusement instead of frustration. Here are a few experiences from the last six months.

Fat Tuesday Fridays
At first, it was hard to let go of my Saturday afternoon routine so I began to visit the tourist corridors on Friday nights. As I walked around I came across Fat Tuesdays, a bar that you would see if walking among the shopping area of various casinos on the Las Vegas strip. The 44-ounce drink became a staple of my Friday night adventures. Some felt that it provided what we called the perfect “buzz.” I like the fact that it’s a drink that could be enjoyed for an extended period of time on the Las Vegas strip for fewer than fifteen bucks. It also served as a bribe to get friends to join me. All I had to do is promise that we would visit Fat Tuesdays prior to walking around and the amount of our group began to multiply each week. This was great because we were able to switch off as “chauffer.”

During these Friday nights, we were able to run across some interesting characters to include, wacky puppeteers, impersonators, and the individuals that have been dubbed, “smut peddlers” actually have a sense of humor. Knowing the reality behind what they are really handing out to visitors, these individuals had been a source of my growing frustrations. I decided to interact with them in a positive way although I deeply disagree with what they have chosen for an occupation. I grabbed a couple of index cards and tore them into a few pieces. As I approached the smut peddlers I began to click the cards together and try handing them out, giving them a “dose of their own medicine.” Some of them were obviously annoyed, but one of them thought this was hilarious, taking my blank index card and thanking me.

Enjoying the sights
I’d seen them all before. Erupting volcanoes, waterfalls, sinking ships, humongous screens, and a countless sea of neon. However, I began to enjoy them weekly as I did just a few years ago. After getting Fat Tuesdays, usually in the Miracle Mile shops of Planet Hollywood, we visited the sidewalk shows. My favorite was the Bellagio fountain feature. The dancing waters never cease to mesmerize anyone that watches. We would then move on to the others.

Rocking the Casbar
There’s no place on Earth that can beat the sheer amount of live entertainment Las Vegas has to offer. Its everywhere. Some of my most hilarious moments while getting re-acquainted with Las Vegas were inside the Sahara Hotel and Casino Casbar Theater. I went there to listen to a band called “Block Party” in which a friend is the lead singer. Our group grabbed a table near the front and began to enjoy ourselves. A friend that I’ll call, “J” took notice as I pulled out my cigar case and cut the cap of a smoke in preparation for lighting. He asked if he could have one and I told him that they were full bodied and could actually produce a light-headed or intoxicating effect if he was not an experienced smoker. “J” wanted one anyway and I obliged. At first he was enjoying the cigar along with a beer (which was kind of weird) and next thing I knew he made the scream…whoohooo! He hit the dance floor with a vengeance! It was quite hilarious.

There were more experiences for which there is little time to mention. When I hear another local resident talk negatively of how they never visit the touristy areas, I smile to myself knowing that I was on that path and derailed myself for the better.