Classic Las Vegas Part I: The Plaza

The Plaza (formerly known as the Union Plaza) has anchored Fremont Street since it opened in 1971. At the time of its opening, it was billed as the "Largest Casino in the World." When you walk through today you would have a hard time believing that it was ever considered large given the scope of all the mega-resorts that populate Las Vegas today. Perhaps the Plaza was considered upscale when it first opened but I believe it's been a long time since it was considered anything other than a cheap place to stay and gamble. In recent years as the scars of time have grown more pronounced and the bar has been raised higher and higher by the newer resorts, the Plaza is quickly approaching that inevitable "dive" status.

We went there to play bingo recently and the first thing that struck me was how scary the parking garage was. I felt like if my car was a couple of feet taller it would have been in danger of scraping the roof. When we first entered the garage I couldn't help but notice that a pimp dressed in bright red and holding a pimp stick appeared to be trying to break into a 1970's era Cadillac. It could have been his for all I know, but it wasn't something that I wanted to stick around to find out. Walking through the casino in search of the bingo room you almost felt like you were back in the 70's, or at least that's the last time it seemed like the place had been cleaned. We finally found the bingo hall upstairs, and after playing in many bingo rooms in this city I have to say that the Plaza's does the best job of perpetuating the stereotype of what bingo is all about and who plays it. Here everybody was truly old, smoking, and often wearing polyester. OK not everybody, but a higher percentage than at any other place I've played at so far. That being said, it was a good experience overall and I enjoyed the many different variations they presented, including something called Crazy Kite and Wild Postage Stamp, or something like that, which I'm still not sure what it means.

Needless to say, we did not win.

On the way up to the bingo room (or of course on the way down after your hopes and dreams have once again been crushed and you are stuck $7 or $8), you pass what can only be described at the most depressing wedding chapel in Vegas.

The main thing that I find so saddening is that it appears to be a very large prison call. I really don't get the bars or why they need to be there. I should hope that they open the gate up when there is a ceremony going on, or perhaps you can request that it remain shut after everybody has entered to ensure that person you are about to marry doesn't get cold feet and try to escape. I'm not sure how drunk you have to be to decide it's a good idea to get married at the Plaza, but really, is it any worse than the drive-thru chapel on Las Vegas Blvd?

The Plaza has been featured in some movies over the years. Most memorable for me is the scene with Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone in Casino where they are eating in the dome restaurant and they start arguing and De Niro almost knocks over a glass of water because he's like mad at her for being a lying, cheating whore with drug problems.
We wandered over to the dome and sadly it appears that it is no longer a restaurant and has been converted to a sports bar. Apparently the sports bar is not very popular among visitors to downtown because it was largely deserted on a Saturday afternoon. Of course that could be because the only sporting event going on at the time was golf...

We also observed the buffet while walking through the casino. It is called the 777 Buffet and the gimmick is that the price is $7.77 all day, every day. If I had to choose between eating here and eating at the Circus Circus buffet, I'd probably choose the Circus. Then again, if starvation was a third choice, I'd have to go with that. This buffet looked downright scary...

If it sounds like I am bashing the Plaza, please, don't get me wrong. I tend to favor the dives over the sparkling new generic mega-resorts, and the Plaza does have it's own special kind of.... attitude. It's an attitude that basically says: "If you want class, go to the Wynn. If you want to play the penny slots and get drunk on cheap booze, come on in!" I can see going back there to play bingo, or perhaps play some drunken blackjack, but I won't get married there or eat at the buffet. I have to draw the line somewhere.