If It's Good Times You Want, Don't Go to Old Chicago in Bettendorf, Iowa

We just got back from our annual trip out to the Mississippi River to see the bald eagles. We always stay at the Ramada Motel north of Bettendorf. It has very nice accommodations, is reasonable and a really nice pool area.

Even better, it is next door to an Old Chicago restaurant which had NTN. Now, that's nirvana for folks like Liz and myself who are real NTN, or do you say Buzztime, nuts.

At first, it was a great setup, but the last several years, they didn't have ANY drink specials except a happy hour and one at night where they knock a buck off a pint.

We went there Wednesday night and were shocked to find they charged $3.75 for a domestic pint!! I guess their customers must be independently wealthy to pay that much. And that is just domestic. They specialize in imports and craft beers. I can only imagine what they charge for that.

So, their drinks are rip-off-priced.

But, them, when I went to sign in on my board, it wouldn't let me, with a message that I would have had to have signed in before (which I had). I could play as a guest but not player plus. I tried on all their boards, but the same thing. Liz signed in right away.

The bartender tried to get me in, but when it wouldn't said I should just play as a guest. We have been to over 900 NTN sites across the United States and I never had this happen before.

As if the ripoff prices weren't bad enough, now I am not allowed to play there.

So, after spending out $7.50 for two Miller Lite pints (with at least 2 ounces of foam), we left and went to Buffalo Wild Wings about a mile away and had no problem signing in.

Believe Me, It Will Be a Long, Long Time (AS in Never) Before I Set Foot in There Again. Old Rip-off. --RoadDog


QUOTE: I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. --Bob Hope

Las Vegas= Too Expensive For Me

Back in the 80s and early 90s, Liz and I used to go out to Vegas at least once a year, and sometimes twice. But, that was in the good old days of cheap rooms and food. There were even some casinos on the strip that weren't catering to the wealthy.

But those days are gone. The last time we were there, back in 2006 on our way back home from our Route 66 end-to-end trip, there were only one of our favorite gambling spots left on the Strip, Slots o' Fun.

They still had the cheap jumbo dogs and Corona and Heineken, now $1.50, up from 75 cents. Even the old Vegas standby, the 99 cent shrimp cocktail was present, although now at $1.50.

What brings this up is that I had an e-mail from Priceline today advertising really cheap rooms at some of the Hotels. These were all from prices: Flamingo $67, Bally's $80, Imperial $60, Golden Nugget $74, Caesar's $121, and Rio$110. The newest place, and I forgot to write down the name, started at $199.

Where are these people getting all the money? Must be stockholders and brokers.

Now, I have to admit, I'm going out there with some old teaching buddies for nine days in February, but we'll be staying with a friend and going on side trips, but even then...

Come on Vegas, Cater to Those of Us Who Aren't Super Loaded. --RoadDog