TR -- 5/8-5/10 Sheraton/Borgata

In this TR: Sheraton, Borgata, Bally’s, Bobby Flay Steak, SeaBlue, Bill’s, White House Subs

This is my first post, but I’ve derived lots of entertainment and education as well as a little outrage from all of your posts, so I hope mine provides at least something in at least one of those categories.

About Me: 25 yr. old male, live in DC, visit AC once every few months – sometimes by myself, sometimes with a group. This was a solo trip.

Friday, 5/8

Took the 2pm Greyhound from DC, which made a departure that was stunningly close to on schedule. I did get to witness a hostile confrontation between the driver and a passenger over cell phone ringer volume, but we arrived around 7:30pm. Only an hour late is early in my book. I’ve concluded that the 2pm bus beats the 5:45 option on Fridays, as the former hits far less traffic. Additionally, I find arriving while it’s still light out makes it feel like there’s more “vacation time” ahead of you.

I disembarked at Bally’s and collected my bus coupon. Instead of the typical $20 in cash, it was redeemable instead for $25 in slots play. Being a table games devotee, I wasn’t quite sure what to do make of this twist, but wasn’t going to turn down “free” money. After inserting the slot voucher into a machine on the Bally’s floor, I quickly turned it into about $8. If anyone has tips on the best value optimization strategy for similar situations in the future, I’d appreciate them. In any case, I collected a $15 promo Bally’s had mailed me, and left the casino with a whopping $23 profit for the visit.

Since it was still sunny, I walked to the Sheraton, where I had reserved two nights via Hotwire. Check-in was easy and the room (809) fine. Highlights were a great view of the boardwalk skyline (Hilton, Trop, Trump Plaza, Caesar’s Bally’s, Resorts and Trump Taj), a large desk workspace, flatscreen TV, and thick carpeting. Downsides were very thin walls, slightly scratchy linens, and a shower facuet label that transposed the hot and cold water indications. That’s right! Turning the faucet to the side labeled with a red “H” actually resulted in cold water flowing. Strange and frustrating!

After conquering the mysteries of the shower, I decided the Borgata was my next stop. I had initially planned to spend Friday casino-hopping on the Boardwalk and save the B for Saturday. But my 15 minutes in dark and musty Bally’s had been enough. One of my concerns about my first stay at the Sheraton was how safe and convenient it would be to pick up the Jitney. This concern was quickly allayed. The area in front of the Sheraton and convention center was always well-populated and well-patrolled. Furthermore, I was pleased to see jitneys lined up along the street that runs between the hotel and convention center. I was even more pleased to discover that jitneys leaving from that location were free! (I’m still not sure why this is the case, but it is.)

About 10 minutes later, I strolled through what I think of as the back door of the Borgata (by Bobby Flay). It’s not as dramatic as the front entrance, but I wasn’t complaining. Central to my evening agenda was watching the Lakers’ game scheduled to start at 9:30. But I had about an hour until then, which meant it was blackjack time. At the Borgata, I prefer to play at relatively narrow strip of bj tables behind the high-limit area rather than the large pit area toward the front of the casino. My preference is partially driven by the quieter, more intimate atmosphere and largely driven by fond memories of an epic rally from $600 down to $1400 up on my last visit. But I also think there are some objective reasons to prefer the “back alley,” as I call it. Dealers have told me that its tables are the closest of any to the bar, resulting in faster drinks service. And it’s also restroom-convenient, making it easy to complete a bathroom break during the shuffle.

I played for about an hour, making a modest profit ($100). I was struck by the wistful conversations of my fellow players about wild, extravagant behavior they had seen in AC by stockbrokers who lacked regard for money. Those sorts of stories are always told with a mix of admiration and envy, but now seemed to take on an additional air of reminiscence for times passed. I think I proved my Laker fan credentials by leaving the table in the midst of a winning streak as tip-off approached.

To watch the game, I grabbed a bar seat at Bobby Flay Steak. I’ve eaten their before – at the bar and at tables, so knew what to expect: fairly pedestrian preparations that don’t skimp on the flavor. I started off with a Sazerac, which was a bit of a disappointment. Rather than the called-for preparation of stirring, the drink was shaken and then poured without being strained. The result was a top level of foaminess that disrupted the cocktail’s smoothness. The bartenders were exceedingly apologetic when I mentioned the shortcoming to them, but it didn’t ruin the drink (or its effects.) Around halftime, I moved on to pinot grigio and the chili crab salad. The crab was fresh and succulent, but the greens slightly wilted and the chili sauce (in typically Bobby style) laid on a little thick. A good dish, but not great. As the Lakers marched on to victory, I finished with an Irish Coffee and an Anchor Steam.

With victory in hand for the Lakers by midnight, I returned to the tables to seek a similar result. Still relishing the richness of the anchor steam, I asked the waitress if the B had any ales available. Comically, she didn’t know. But to her credit, she listed all draft and bottled beers for me. Ultimately, I and the player to my right assured her that the Borgata did not in fact have any ales available. I hope she finds the info. useful in the future. I settled with a Stella, a steady stream of which fueled the next three hours of play. I started on a losing streak, giving the house $200. But slowly rallied back to even, thought about quitting, kept going, reached a high of $400 up, and left the table $100 up on the session and $200 up on the night. The real highlight of play though was the optimistic and sociable atmosphere at our table. Playing with an assistant DA from Brooklyn and her husband, we discussed east coast cities, politics and AC while slowly enriching ourselves and burdening our livers. It really encapsulated what I like about the Borgata – young, prosperous, friendly crowds who can have fun whether they are winning or losing money. (Obviously winning helps.)

Satisfied with my take and increasingly tired from a long week or work and studying, I sought out the Jitney. After about 25 minutes of waiting in the cold at the jitney stop, I gave up and returned to the casino. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Borgata paid the jitney drivers to stay away. If so, it was a good investment. With judgment impaired by tiredness and other factors, I returned to the casino and slapped $100 on a blackjack table. (My precise line of logic was that I would stay just long enough to make my cab fare back to the Sheraton.) Needless to say, the $100 was gone moments later. Undeterred, I moved to craps. (On the positive side of the ledger, I was moving closer to the exit!). Remarkably, I broke even at the craps table after about 45 minutes and wisely decided I could spring for the $13 cab fare without having to “earn” it at the tables. The Sheraton was dead at 5am, and I was dead to the world shortly thereafter.

Saturday, May 9

I awoke in total darkness and was surprised to see that it was about 11:30am. But the thick, drawn drapes reconciled my first two impressions of the new day. Pulling them back revealed a beautiful, sunny day. Despite only about 5 hours of sleep, excitement about planned activities and a gnawing hunger propelled a quick shower and getting dressed.

Walking down Michigan Ave., toward the boardwalk, I surprised myself by discovering some unexpected charms of AC. It was temperate and bright. Folks of all ages, stations and groupings seemed happy to be outside and window shopping. I think I finally grasped what the city planners behind “The Walk” had envisioned. I even felt I was glimpsing what AC may have been like in its pre-gaming resort heyday. For a few moments, the pursuit of booze, sex and money that so often dominates the AC experience were forgotten. Innocent and simple pleasures ruled.

Speaking of simple, I ate at Bill’s. It’s an old favorite of mine, but I was sorely disappointed on this visit. The spinach and feta omelet was ruined by clearly frozen and flavorless spinach and the listed home fries were substituted out in favor of French fries with no mention from the server. I dined and dashed.

I was curious to check out the scene around Bally’s heavily promoted “$10 Gateway Table Games.” I still don’t understand why they’re called “Gateway” games. Are they supposed to be like “gateway drugs?” Is HET really admitting a strategy premised on hooking players with $10 games and letting them build up bigger and bigger losses until they jump to the $25, $50 and $100 tables? Musings aside, I enjoyed entering the Claridge on boardwalk level and then taking the elevator up to the casino – it felt almost like a shade of Monte Carlo.

Almost, since the casino was pretty drab and rundown. I considered this to be the perfect environment for cheap daytime gambling! There was only one craps table in the Gateway games area, and it was well populated with crusty, weathered gamblers who clearly weren’t craps virgins – again, perfect for cheap daytime gambling! Taking a spot at the end of the table, I placed by Pass bet. I was quickly and sternly instructed by the square-jawed player to my left that I was leaving insufficient room for the shooter to land the dice since the shooter in question was a “placer.” I’ve never had a lot of confidence in “placers’” abilities to consistently roll more good numbers than chance would otherwise provide. But I decided for the sake of table harmony to oblige. I’m glad I did! Betting nothing more than $10 place and come bets with 2X odds, I was up $175 by the time the “placer” rolled a 7 out. I was happy with nearly doubling the profit from the night before in less than an hour, so I cashed out.

The effects of limited sleep were catching up to me, so I meandered back to the Sheraton. I put in a few hours of studying and then headed down to the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center. Its supply of machines was limited, but those present were exceptionally nice and well-maintained. A full supply of free weights filled in the gaps, but I and fellow exercisers had to cooperate to share the supply of 2 weight benches. Overall, though, the gym was a winner. The adjoining pool area also looked nice, and I regretted not bringing my swimsuit.

Overall, I would definitely stay at the Sheraton again. If you’re looking for a hotel befitting a special occasion, it’s probably not the best choice. But if you’re looking for a reasonably-priced, clean and dependable space, it works well. I also enjoyed being slightly removed from the casinos while still having them in easy walking, jitney and cab distance.

After watching some baseball and golf in my room, I prepared for another night at the Borgata. I think this will become a pattern for me in future visits – spending nights at the Borgata and doing daytime gambling on the boardwalk. I don’t mean to cast aspersions on the clientele of any boardwalk casinos, but I enjoy the conversations I find myself in with the Borgata crowd. I seem to have more in common with them and enjoy the Boardwalk crowds during the daytime when I’m more sober.

After another free Jitney trip to the Borgata, I sought out dinner. I was thinking about a steak at Old Homestead, but wanted to watch the NBA playoffs while eating and opted for the TV-endowed SeaBlue bar for that reason. I began with their pineapple mojito, in which pineapple is muddled alongside the traditional mint. The drink was good, but I would have preferred to try it with about one-half as much mint and pineapple, as their strong flavors overwhelmed the rum. The Hemingway Daquiri was more to my liking, as its fruit flavors enhanced rather than overwhelmed the base spirit. I am somewhat of a cocktail geek and appreciate that the Michael Mina group of restaurants incorporates many of the principles of craft bartending – hand squeezed juices, artisanal spirits, and careful attention to drink-making. Not all of the passion of a modern day speakeasy is present: when I asked the bartender if there were any rum-based drinks he particularly enjoyed making, his response was nugatory. However, incorporating craft bartending into more corporate dining and drinking products increases its availability and exposure, and the MM group does the public a service in that way.

The layout of the Sea Blue bar area is questionable. Although uncharacteristically quieter than the uncomfortably loud primary dining area, the layout requires an imbiber to rotate nearly 90 degrees to glimpse one of the overhead mounted TVs. However, this maneuver did give me an amusing view of three staff debating how to fit MM’s signature lobster pot pie on a bar area two-top amidst the drinks, silverware, and appetizers.

For my dinner, I opted for the Sea Blue Paella. Essentially, a Spanish rendition of a bouillabaisse, the Paella included clams, scallops, mussels, shrimp, salmon, chorizo and quail atop lumps of thick rice. The seafood components were terrifically fresh, and each bursted with its own distinctive flavor upon each bite. I could have done without the non-seafood proteins – the chorizo’s sweetness and the quail’s chewy texture provided contrasts with the seafood that were jarring rather than complementary. The rice, buried below heaping seafood, however was an appreciated hearty component. I would also be remiss if I didn’t compliment the bread service – naan pita served with a trio of dipping sauches -- crème fraiche, hommos and a tampenade.

After dinner, it was back to blackjack. My first table was a loss in every way. I bought in with $275 (my profits for the weekend so far). It quickly dwindled. Further souring the experience was an endless stream of misogyny dispensed by my fellow players and egged on by our dealer. Derisive comments were directed at customers and Borgata staff alike. The dealer’s lengthy and insulting description of our waitresses cosmetic surgery was the final straw. I picked up my remaining $52 in chips and moved on.

My second table was delightful in every way the first had failed. We had a diverse crowd – a young female Wall Street analyst, a hefty middle-aged woman who had driven in from Nashville with her husband, a mid-30s couple from Long Beach Island, and me. But it was a supportive group, with everyone celebrating each other’s good fortune. I started out down again, losing an additional $200. But – after the 4th or 5th scotch and soda – the rally began! The sign of things to come was when a new player to my left insisted on hitting a 13 against the dealer’s 4. I had already doubled on my hand and was bracing for the worst since the 16 I had ended up with wasn’t going to do much. Miraculously, the dealer busted! Better yet, we quickly saw that if the misguided player to my left had stayed, the dealer would have gotten 20! It was a sign of things to come. I got progressively drunker and richer. Blackjacks flowed, unlikely dealer busts materialized, and our dealer led chants of “Down Goes the Borgata!” I ended $535 up at the table, $800 up for the trip, and the proud possessor of two purple chips plus change.

I again moseyed toward the cab line, but stopped first to play some craps, and added $80 to my haul. I sidestepped one of the drunkest people I have ever seen as he contorted in a wheelchair that his friend had procured to assist with his temporary disability. (He appeared to be generally able-bodied.) I took a cab back to the Sheraton and went promptly to sleep.

Sunday, I called my mom (Mother’s Day), checked out and hit up White’s for the must-do White House Special. I still haven’t figured out how they manage to keep the bread so crisp while the meat is so well-oiled. They are miracle workers. Although I only ordered a half, I still had to save half of that for the bus ride home, which was delayed in its departure by an hour, but otherwise thankfully uneventful.

TR -- 5/8-5/10 Sheraton/Borgata

Wow - that was quite the first post!

I don%26#39;t know how you remembered everything in such detail, but I have to admire someone who both studies and exercises while in AC for the weekend.

I was on the 5:45p bus Friday and it also left shockingly close to the advertised departure time, so it was a stellar day for Greyhound.

TR -- 5/8-5/10 Sheraton/Borgata

Great post! Glad u took home some B money w/you.how come u didnt stay at the Borgata...they%26#39;ve been ';slightly'; generous w/weekends lately. Just call the players club and try next time.

%26gt;%26gt;jitneys lined up along the street that runs between the hotel and convention center. I was even more pleased to discover that jitneys leaving from that location were free! (I’m still not sure why this is the case, but it is.)%26lt;%26lt; u actually caught a train shuttle. They run to/from the train station to all casinos free. they depart directly after a train arrives. or from a casino 30min b4 train departure. uh, ur longwinded. I only got as far as part of Sat.... I will attempt it again

Thanks for the feedback! I%26#39;ll try to be less verbose in the future! I especially appreciate the explanation of the train shuttles and the grehyound empathy.

Ok, have to admit I read your post in two parts, before and after a run downtown. Great first post! yes, it is a little long, but I do the same, so no complaints from me! And a big ';Wow!'; for remembering everything you did!

Glad your trip began well with the Greyhound (GASP!) running on time. Ambrva keeps telling me to expect her about 11 or 11:30 tho the bus is due in at 9:30, lol. As for turning the $25 voucher into something approaching that amount in cash, your best bet are the penny slots, hitting cash out after each win. You%26#39;ll have a pile of TITO slips when you%26#39;re done, but you%26#39;re likely to hit $20 or thereabouts. This takes more time than I have the patience for, but it works.

I%26#39;m glad you were able to use the train shuttles, but in case the timing doesn%26#39;t work out for those, the jitneys DO stop in almost the same place, running about every 20 minutes. Bummer you had to wait for a jitney at the Borgota, I%26#39;ve been fortunate in that I seem to catch them with a very brief wait. Of course, traffic tends to be less at 3 or 4 am, lol.

So glad you enjoyed the company of other players at Borgata (with the one exception) - it makes all the difference between a good experience at a table and a lousy one, regardless of whether you win or lose. And you came out ahead - wtg!!! Always a good thing in AC.

I haven%26#39;t tried Seablue yet, but the Hemingway daiquiri sounds great, as well as the naan pitas served with the paella. I%26#39;d pass on the paella, as half the ingredients aren%26#39;t to my taste, but the bread I would enjoy. Very odd to have the tvs set up like that in a bar, but must have been amusing to watch the staff figure out how to fit everything!

Funny that you enjoyed the Boardwalk sober and Borgata a little inebriated - I kinda prefer it the other way around, tho being a ';little'; (definite emphasis after last weekend%26#39;s overindulgence!) intoxicated is always kind of fun in Atlantic City. I%26#39;m glad to hear the placer worked out for you at the craps table. That can work, but most only think they%26#39;re controlling the dice, as I%26#39;m sure you know. Long as it worked in your favor with Pass and Come bets, great!

Looking forward to more trip reports, as this one was a great beginning!

Sue

I really enjoyed the trip report because of the details about the table games and your fellow players. There is much more interaction at the tables and it was interesting how you described the other players and I applaud your action in leaving the table when the atmosphere was poor. Also I haven%26#39;t heard much about the Sheraton as it usually isn%26#39;t discussed by other report writers. Nearly everyone else talks about the winning or losing slots and comps. So don%26#39;t fret because you think it was long. It was very interesting and a refreshing change from some of the posts that some first timers make in the hope of stirring up contoversy. Thankfully that seems to be over on this forum.

I liked the verbosity.

I seriously considered taking the 2pm Greyhound last week. If I hadn%26#39;t been the only one holding down the fort at work we would have been on the same bus. (Not that it would have mattered since you don%26#39;t know me and all. lol)

Great Trip Report. I loved the detail (though it may be easier for the readers if broken into several smaller posts.)

Bon Vivant - my favorite line is ';hand squeezed juices, artisanal spirits, and careful attention to drink-making';. Makes me want to move beyond a basic domestic draft beer on my next trip. %26lt;G%26gt;

Coach

Thanks very much for the detailed TR. Looks like you had an interesting time. It seems AC is still a nice playground for adults.

really enjoyed the detailed trip report... after all the play you gave Borgata, you might have comped rooms next trip! Sheraton does sound nice though.