by 
It was another Full Moon over North America.
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Moon page…
Category Archives: Miscellaneous
Columbus Day Celebrations Around the Country
by
“Columbus Day Website – Welcome to the Columbus Day site!” [Not affiliated with the LasVegasBuffetClub…]
“Hi, this site was created to present clear and accurate information about Columbus Day. This site is cross browser compatible, simple to navigate and therefore easily accessible. We hope that your visit to our Columbus Day web site will provide you with all the information you need.” read more…
THE WHITE HOUSE
Columbus Day, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
White House News
Christopher Columbus’ bold voyage across the Atlantic changed the world forever. On Columbus Day, we remember this Italian explorer’s courage in traveling to the unknown and celebrate his landmark achievements and lasting legacy read more…
CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE US
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
The Oldest Continuous Marching Parade in America!
PARADE ROUTE
Kick Off at Linwood Avenue in Patterson Park
Proceed West onto Eastern Avenue
Right onto High Street
Disband on Central Avenue
Parade Reviewing Stand and Spectator Seating located at Intersection of Stiles and High Streets in Little Italy read more…
The mission of Columbus Celebrations, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is multi-faceted and includes the following:
To celebrate America and its discovery.
To celebrate our Italian as well as the multi-cultural heritage of our magnificent nation, the United States of America.
To support our community, our children and those less fortunate, through charity and creative fundraising events.
To continue the great tradition of Baltimore’s Columbus Day Parade, America’s oldest parade and celebration of its kind.
BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY
1 o’clock start for Columbus Day Parade
Friday, October 10, 2008
Local politicos, Italian-American honorees, and music-makers will be among the throngs of marchers in this year’s Bayonne Columbus Day Parade, when they step off Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fifth Street and Broadway read more…
The parade route is north along Broadway to 39th Street, then west past the reviewing stand at Stephen R. Gregg/Hudson County/Bayonne Park at Avenue C for the conclusion of the event.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETS
What do marching bands, Santa Claus and Shrek have in common? They’re all alums of Boston’s annual Columbus Day Parade. Celebrating the diversity of America, the parade includes representatives from Mexican, Puerto Rican and Italian cultural groups and music and dancing from all over the world, as well as floats read more…
CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA
Columbus Day Parade draws thousands to downtown Cape Coral
At the stroke of 5 this afternoon, Cape Coral police motorcycles blared sirens and drove east on Southeast 47th Terrace, kicking off the city’s annual Columbus Day Parade.
Thousands of people lined the downtown street, parallel to main thoroughfare Cape Coral Parkway, and took in the sights and sounds of the parade — a Cape Coral tradition for more than 25 years.
“We try to promote the Italian culture in Cape Coral,” said Salvatore Cossentino, president of the Charles J. Bonaparte Sons of Italy Lodge 2504 of Cape Coral, which organized the event. “There are a large number of Italian constituencies here, and we hope people look foward every year to the Columbus Day Parade.”
The most common sights at the parade were American flags, followed closely by Italian flags.
But with the presidential election just a little more than three weeks away, the event also took on a decidedly political tone. About halfway through the 40-minute parade were three cars bearing large signs for the Republican presidential ticket, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
About five minutes behind them were three other vehicles bearing large signs for the Democratic candidates, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware.
Several other cars featured candidates for local offices.
“It was very political,” said Tia Janssen, 38, of Cape Coral, who was watching the event with her husband, Michael, 43. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“It’s going to be an important election, very close,” said Pam Bergstrasser, 64, of Cape Coral, who was with her husband, Dennis, 60, at the parade. “There are so many opinions.”
For the first time, the parade featured the Italian Food Festival afterward. That appeared to boost the parade’s attendance.
“I think it’s phenomenal,” Cossentino said of the attendannce at the festival early in the evening. “It’s kind of what we expected, but it’s even more than we expected so far.”
The Sons of Italy Lodge 2507 of Port Charlotte also took part in the Cape parade.
“As brothers and sisters in the lodges, we try to support one another’s parades, socials and charities,” said Ronald Radenz, president of the Port Charlotte lodge read more…
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
ABC 7 Chicago to feature live, HD broadcast of Columbus Day Parade at 12:30 PM on 7.2, Monday October 13th
ABC 7 CHICAGO, the official station of the 56th annual Columbus Day Parade, will broadcast the parade, live, Monday, October 13th, from 12:30-2:30 pm. on ABC 7’s 7.2 (Comcast Channel 217 and Wide Open West Channel 101). ABC 7 will also stream the parade live at abc7chicago.com. An encore presentation of the Columbus Day Parade will air on Saturday, October 18th at noon on ABC 7. The parade will be presented commercial free. read more…
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Little Italy Cleveland Art Walk & Columbus Day Parade (Univ. Circle / Cleveland) read more…
DENVER, COLORADO
Denver Parade News:
Protesters do not plan to interfere with the Columbus Day Parade on Saturday as they have in previous years.
A leader of the movement to end the Columbus Day parade, said Thursday that lawyers for the protesters need a break.
The same lawyers who defended the Columbus Day protesters last year – when 83 people were arrested – also represented some of the same people after arrests during the Democratic National Convention.
“That’s thousands of dollars worth of legal work that’s done for us. You have to be respectful of their time and their resources,” Spagnuolo said.
The Columbus Day parade begins at 10 a.m. at Court Place and 15th Street. It follows a route that circles about a half- dozen blocks and ends on Broadway.
George Vendegnia, who heads the parade committee, said he can do without protests.
“That would be nice,” he said.
Opponents will rally instead near the Capitol before the parade, Spagnuolo said.
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said, “We’ll be adequately staffed for the parade.”
Jackson said the opponents don’t have a parade permit, but noted they don’t need one as long as their activities remain on the sidewalk.
Denver is asked to join objections to Columbus Day parade content – DENVER – The city of Denver is gearing up for its annual pre-Columbus Day parade Oct. 11, an event that has placed Colorado’s capital squarely at the epicenter of a recurring debate about the Columbian legacy and the character of Christopher Columbus himself. read more from Indian Country today…
Denver Post Rises to Defense of Columbus Day Parade read more from ’07 Denver Post article…
The Denver Post calls on American Indians to Protest IF they Must, But, Do it Peacably.
It also branded as “a vile and unnecessary attack” the American Indian branding the Italian-Americans who celebrate their culture and long history in Colorado that day as “racists” !!!!!!!
Columbus Day parade organizer: Protesters got “a little spanking on the hand” read more…
MIAMI, FLORIDA
LIV Columbus Day Regatta – Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12 – Miami to the Florida Keys
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
Welcome to the Greater New Haven Columbus Day Committee web site read more…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Historic and Contemporary Award-Winning Maseratis in New York City Columbus Day Parade read more…
Columbus Citizens Exotic Car Raffle
No. 1 world rated junior welterweight contender Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) briefly returns home this weekend from his Las Vegas training camp, where he is preparing for his November 22nd showdown against Ricky Hatton to determine the world’s read more…
Columbus Day Parade – Join thousands on Fifth Avenue on Monday to celebrate the contributions of New York’s Italian-American community. Admiral Edmund Giambastiani Jr. will serve as grand marshal for the procession up Fifth Avenue from 47th Street to 79th Street from noon until 3PM.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
“Columbus Day parade Sunday on S. Broad St.” The city will celebrate Columbus Day on Sunday with a giant parade in South Philadelphia. This year’s grand marshal is Hollywood actress Connie Stevens (born Concetta Rosalie Anna Ingoglia).
The parade, which celebrates Italian culture and traditions, will start from Broad and Reed Streets at 12:15 p.m. and proceed south on Broad to Oregon Avenue and Marconi Plaza, where the Italian Festival will be held. Local streets will be closed during that time.
PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
10/10/2008 06:50 AM | Via: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“Columbus Day Parade set for Bloomfield tomorrow”
Pittsburgh’s Italian-American community will celebrate Columbus Day with a parade tomorrow down Bloomfield’s Liberty Avenue. The grand marshal is Carla E. Lucente, the city’s Italian consul and a Romance languages professor at Duquesne University read more…
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
More than 400,000 revelers are expected at San Francisco’s 140th ANNUAL ITALIAN HERITAGE PARADE on Sunday, October 12, 2008, as the City’s oldest civic event and the nation’s oldest Italian-American parade and community celebration winds its way from Fisherman’s Wharf to North Beach. A San Francisco institution since it was established in 1868, the 2008 Parade is promising to be bigger, better and more colorful than ever read more…
TRENTON, NEW, JERSEY
A sunny salute to Italian-Americans at Columbus Day Parade
Sunday, October 12, 2008
BY ALEXANDRA WARD
Special to the Times
HAMILTON — It wasn’t just Italian pride that swelled yesterday, but county pride as hundreds of area residents came out to see the Mercer County Italian-American Festival Association’s Columbus Day Parade.
The fourth annual parade began near the Five Points intersection and proceeded along Nottingham Way to the sound of bagpipes, a brass band and Italian music read more…
WESTERLY, ROAD ISLAND
The 2008 Westerly Columbus Day Parade will kick off at 1:00 PM, Sunday, October 12, 2008, from the corner of Tower and Granite Streets, Westerly read more…
The day is known as Día de la Raza in much of Latin America, Discovery Day in the Bahamas, and Día de la Hispanida (Hispanic Day) in Spain.
FYI – Transcontinental Interstate 10 serves the southern tier of the United States by providing the main east-west link from Santa Monica and Greater Los Angeles in the west to Jacksonville in the east. Major cities served by Interstate 10 include Los Angeles, California; Phoenix, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Jacksonville, Florida. This route is known as the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway, and it is one of three coast-to-coast Interstates (the others being Interstates 80 and 90).
Visit the main pages of the LasVegasBuffetClub at: www.lasvegasbuffetclub.com/
Vetted, Vetting, Vet – SARAH PALIN
by “LOOK!” “ARE YOU FINDING EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT!” (since) “SARAH PALIN WAS VETTED BY THE PRESS?” (well then) “HAVE A NICE DAY.” The previous statements should be uttered with a fist at chest level, arm partially extended with the thumb pointing upward, peeking over the index finger. “GET ‘R DONE!”
Media toads who want to sound really swift preface a statement with the declarative, attention grabbing: “LOOK!” Store clerks always ask the now obnoxious: “Are You Finding Everything All Right?” Hell No, I don’t find your question all right!…
The latest “buzz word,” if you haven’t “gotten it” yet is: “VETTED.” I’ts all over the media, spreading like a red dye over radio, TV, and soon to be on the Silver Screen – I’ll bet…
Vice Presidential pick Sarah Palin is being vetted to pieces. Maybe the word comes around every four years; I’ve never taken notice of it.
Well, here’s the dope. It’s originally a term from Horseracing, says Wikipedia: “To vet was originally a horse-racing term, referring to the requirement that a horse be checked for health and soundness by a veterinarian before being allowed to race. Thus, it has taken the general meaning “to check.” [see below]
From Merriam-Webster.com: “2 a: to subject to usually expert appraisal or correction
From Dictionary.com: “3. to appraise, verify, or check for accuracy, authenticity, validity, etc. : An expert vetted the manuscript before publication. –verb (used without object)”
From Wikipedia: “Broadly, vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determine their usefulness.”
Also from Wikipedia: “To vet was originally a horse-racing term, referring to the requirement that a horse be checked for health and soundness by a veterinarian before being allowed to race. Thus, it has taken the general meaning “to check.” Click this link for more wikipedia info…
The Jim Thorpe / Black Hawk / Olympic Connection.
by This is an admittedly odd post. That’s par for the course these days. Anyway there is a connection between the gaming town of Black Hawk (Colorado,) and Olympic athelete and professional Baseball / Football player Jim Thorpe (1887-1953.)
The gaming town of Black Hawk, Colorado was named after the great Sauk / Fox warrior and chief, Black Hawk.
……….BLACK HAWK – photo is from Wikipedia.
“Black Hawk or Black Sparrow Hawk (Sauk Makataimeshekiakiak (Mahkate:wi-meši-ke:hke:hkwa), “be a large black hawk”) (1767 – October 3, 1838) was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe.” [excerpt is from wikipedia] Born in Rock Island, Illinois in 1767. Chief Black Hawk died in Davis County, Iowa in 1838. “The Black Hawk War was fought in 1832 in the Midwestern United States. The war was named for Black Hawk, a war chief of the Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo Native Americans, whose British Band fought against the United States Army and militia from Illinois and the Michigan Territory (present-day Wisconsin) for possession of lands in the area.” “During the War of 1812 he fought on the side of the British.” [excerpts are from wikipedia]
……….JIM THORPE – photo is from Wikipedia.
Jim Thorpe’s career years were 1912–1929. Besides the 1912 Olympic Games, Thorpe played baseball for the New York Giants (around 1914) and the Cincinnati Reds (starting in 1917.) “He played for the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs from 1915 until 1920 and the Cleveland Indiana (Indians) in 1921” according to the Official CMG Website of Jim Thorpe. “Thorpe played with six different teams during his career in pro football, ending with a stint with the Chicago Cardinals in 1929.”
THE CONNECTION
The Jim Thorpe CMG Worldwide website states that: “He was born to Hiram Thorpe, a farmer, and Mary James, a Pottawatomie Indian and descendant of the last great Sauk and Fox chief Black Hawk, a noted warrior and athlete.”
Jim Thorpe was indeed of Sauk Indian heritage. While often reported to be a direct descendant of the great Sauk / Fox chief, Black Hawk, the History Channel says: “Ms. Sue Hartwick, director of the Hoard Museum and Dairy Shrine in Fort Atkinson Wisconsin recently attempted to clear up the matter of Jim Thorpe’s ancestry by contacting the Thorpe family. Ms. Hartwick reported that contacts with Jim Thorpe’s now elderly granddaughter and other direct family decendants all revealed the same stunning conclusion:” read more from the History Channel…
“Thorpe was of mixed Native American and white ancestry. He was raised as a Sac and Fox, and named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as “Bright Path”. He struggled with racism throughout much of his life and his accomplishments were publicized with headlines describing him as a “Redskin” and “Indian athlete.” He also played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.”
Who do you trust?
“James Francis Thorpe (Wa Tha Huck, Bright Path) was born on May 22, 1887, in Keokuk Falls, south of what is now Prague, Oklahoma, on the Sauk and Fox Indian Reservation. He and his twin brother, Charlie, were baptized on November 17, 1887, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in what is now Konawa, Oklahoma, their mother’s home.”
“Jim was one of eleven children born to Hiram P. Thorpe, a man of mixed Sauk and Fox and Irish ancestry; and Charlotte Vieux, of mixed Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Menominee, and French ancestry, the great-granddaughter of Jacques Vieux, a French fur trader. Jim’s father was a horse breeder and trainer and occasional bootlegger. Life was a struggle for the family, and only five of the eleven children grew to adulthood. Jim used to run down the horses on their ranch on the banks of the North Canadian River, an activity that developed his strength and stamina, and helped him hone the athletic skills that would later make him famous.”
“Unfortunately, after this the search quickly becomes muddy. Various writers have claimed that Jim Thorpe was Black Hawk’s grandson; others state he was his great-grandson. Some indicate Sauk decendancy through his father, other claim his mother was decendant from Black Hawk. Attempts to trace Thorpe’s lineage through Whirling Thunder tend to peter out simply due to a lack of credible information. In short, such a distinguished lineage, laced with a blend of irony touched with a sense of ultimate triumph for Black Hawk generations later, should be fairly straighforward to trace….” read more from the History Channel…
THE CONCLUSION
Both Jim Thorpe and Black Hawk have roots in the Sauk Nation!
Official CMG Website of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe in Wikipedia…
Black Hawk in Wikipedia
Black Hawk biography webpage
Concert pianist, recording artist Giovanni spotted at Black Hawk Riviera’s World’s Fare Buffet?
by Concert pianist, recording artist and roll-up, Electric piano seller Giovanni was spotted dining at the Riviera, Black Hawk’s World’s Fare Buffet.
Visit Giovanni’s Official Website (XLNT website)
Visit the LVBC’S Colorado Casinos pages…
Visit the LVBC’S Coupons page…
PIZZADILLA™ (Tortilla / Quesadilla Pizza)
by PIZZADILLA™ (Tortilla / Quesadilla Pizza)
When I was living in Cabo San Lucas in the 90s, my friend Juan & his brother, who owned a restaurant in CSL, and I got together one evening. The subject was food. I was going to show them how to prepare an American Pizza. Well, because of the altitude & other factors, the pizza was a bust (it didn’t rise to the occasion.) However I came up with an idea: The PIZZADILLA™ – a fusion of pizza and an open-faced quesadilla.
The reader is either going to hate this one or…A tortilla is substituted for the pizza dough. On the negative side, a pizza purist is not going to accept this as legitimate pizza. A connoisseur would insist on a thicker, yeast- dough. On the positive side, it’s: 1) fast & easy, 2) inexpensive, and 3) less fattening & filling. You get most of the tastes, without the mass of dough.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti pizza. Pizza is one of my passions.
Basically the PIZZADILLA™ is: pizza sauce, cheese, and pizza toppings on a tortilla.
(Adjust the following ingredients for tortilla size & personal preferences. These are just suggestions.)
Suggested ingredients for one 8″ PIZZADILLA™
1 8″ Tortilla
1 TBS Olive Oil
2-3 oz. Pizza Sauce or Tomato Paste
3-4 oz. Mozzarella Fresca cheese
1 thinly sliced, peeled, garlic clove
1-2 TBS chopped black olives
2-3 sliced mushrooms
6-8 slices medium tomato, sliced thin
6-8 or more Jalapeno slices
1 TBS Grated Fontinella, Romano or Parmesan cheese
6-8 medium fresh Oregano leaves (or 1 tsp. dried Oregano)
1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. Garlic powder
*See below for extra ingredients
First of all place the tortilla on an ungreased, flat baking pan or foil. You can place the Pizzadilla™ directly on an oven rack to bake.
Use your imagination to create a Pizzadilla™ from any combination of items.
Here are a few of my suggestions:
A.) I start with a larger (quesadilla, enchilada or burrito size) tortilla (8-12 inches)
B.) Brush Olive Oil or garlic infused Olive Oil on the surface (top only) of a tortilla
C.) Spread your favorite **pizza sauce, or **undiluted tomato paste on the oiled tortilla
D.) Arrange slices or shreds of your favorite pizza cheese (I recommend Mozzarella Fresca)
Top with your favorite pizza toppings (here’s what I might do:)
1.) Slice a glove of garlic (very thin slices) and distribute evenly
2.) Add chopped black olives
3.) Add sliced mushrooms
4.) Add thin tomato slices
5.) Add Jalapeno slices
6.) Sprinkle a bit of ***grated cheese on the pizza: Fontinella, Romano or Parmesan
7.) Spread a few fresh ****Oregano leaves on top
Bake in a toaster oven or standard oven (at about 375 degrees) until the cheese is melted and the underside of the tortilla starts to brown (about ten minutes,) remove, slice and pig out.
Hints, Tips and Suggestions:
**I like to use packaged Boboli Pizza Sauce or Tomato Paste straight from the can
***I prefer grated Fontinella but you can use Romano or Parmasan
****Use dried Oregano if you don’t have fresh Oregano
Add a pinch of Cayenne pepper and garlic powder
*For a rich, creamy pizza: Instead of brushing Olive Oil on the tortilla, spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a naked tortilla, add the sauce and continue from D. above
*If you want more quesadilla than pizza, use Mexican Asadero cheese, salsa, taco toppings and cilantro – but then you would have a Mexican pizza or open faced quesadilla.
*Use a taco size tortilla for a quick snack
These are suggestions only, use your imagination to create your own Pizzadilla™…This is a work in progress, use discretion in assembling and balancing your Pizzadilla™.
Find this recipe and others on the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Recipes page.
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page…
Black Hawk and Central City, Colorado Casino Update With Ameristar Casino, Fortune Valley Casino and Riviera Casino Information…
by 
Back to the buffets. Anyway, I had a coupon for the Ameristar Casino’s Centennial Buffet. This is one of Central City’s/Black Hawk’s newest buffets. It is not at all unlike some of the buffets in Las Vegas. Texas Station’s buffet and the Stardust’s buffet (now just a pile of dust & construction material) come to mind. The room is large, tastefully-colorful and warm. The food choices are abundant, artistically presented, aesthetically pleasing, and generally acceptable. (click the web site link for more buffet information.)
“With its hand-hewn timbers, wrought iron fixtures and dry stacked stone columns, the Centennial Buffet invites you to relax in an atmosphere every bit as charming and rustic as the casino. To add to the decor, we’ve commissioned a series of woodcut-style prints celebrating the rich history of Black Hawk. It’s the perfect place to gather for a delicious meal of anything your appetite fancies. Choose from a wide variety of fresh and flavorful Mexican, Italian, Asian and American dishes. Plus, every night we feature all you can eat snow crab.” [excerpt is from Ameristar’s web site.]
The Snow Crab always seems to be the big hit. Of course the buffet had a long, well-stocked Salad Bar with all the trimmings, including fruit, Ambrosia, cold vegetable-salads and more. Chilled Shrimp is stacked and served from a tall, hollow, rectangular, branded-ice-sculpture, which spills shrimp onto a platter from an opening at the bottom. This was pretty impresive, especially since the shrimp were “cold,” firm and not-too-small. Shrimp Cocktail Sauce, Tarter Sauce and Drawn Butter are on hand. Prime Rib, Jamaican Pork, Ribs, and Chicken – just to name a few of the nicely-displayed meats are behind glass or on steam-tables. Of course, All-American standards “are” in the house. Asian, Mexican and Italian food stations were at-the-ready on Sunday night. The Pasta & Pizza station had “order” cards for guest to fill out, for a custom prepared dish. Choose your ingrediants, write them on the card and the chef prepares the dish for you – on the spot. I had a tasty slice of flat-bread pizza with a killer red sauce at the Pasta & Pizza station. The chef on duty was the author of the flat-bread pizza and a good guy to boot. The Mexican station had the basics, and Green Chile…The Pulled Pork from another station reminded me of the Main Street Station’s [Las Vegas] buffet. I can’t list everything, however, the desert counter is worth mentioning: Petit Fours, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Cake, Pie, Cookies, Fruit, Ice Cream and more made a good finish.
Some things were excellent, some less-than excellent and other dishes were average. Overall it was a positive experience. The buffet Sunday night was about $18.00. Basic beverages are included.
Visit Ameristar’s Web Site for buffet prices and more information.
The Riviera gave me some nice comps, including a birthday dinner – but I’ll have to wait a week or so to cash that one in. Thanks Riv! I’ll be writing Riviera information next trip… Last but not least, The FortuneValley Casino also gave me a gift for my birthday. Thanks Fortune Valley…
Visit the LasVegasBufetClub’s pages on Colorado gaming…
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page…
Maggie’s Closest Route to Black Hawk/Central City, Colorado …
by “Since this post was first published, it has been revised, slashed, cut and reworked. Please read the revisions carefully before using the information to drive to the casinos.”
I was either lucky enough or unlucky enough to have casino comps from: The Riviera, Black Hawk, The Ameristar Casino and The Fortune Valley Casino, so it was definately worth making a trip up to the mountains.
Having access to a GPS unit, I decided to do a best-route test. Which route to Black Hawk/Central City, Colorado would Maggie (that’s what I call the GPS because the GPS’ voice sounds like a Maggie, also because it’s a Magellan GPS ) take if I asked [her] to plan the shortest route. You can program the GPS to plan a route using the criteria of: the shortest, fastest, most use of freeways and least use of freeways. At the intersection of West 8th Avenue & Speer Blvd. I set the GPS to map the shortest route to Central City. I entered the target address as 100 Main Street – Central City, Colorado.
[Fully expecting the GPS to tell me to take: West 6th Ave. to I-70 West to Central City Parkway, then on to Central City/Black Hawk, since everything I’ve heard told me that the new route is the fastest. [*I was indeed wrong, I guess.] I have to get more input from more sources before I can totally confirm this.]
Here’s what actually happened: Leaving West 8th & Spear the GPS directed me to proceed to West 6th Avenue and continue on West 6th. Approx. 26 mi. later Maggie “told” me to take Colorado 119 and proceed on 119 to Black Hawk. This is the old route – totally bypassing the new Central City Parkway. [*I was indeed surprised, however as I said, I have to do a bit more research.]
*This information is not wrong as the GPS was programed to find the SHORTEST route. 7-23-08
UPDATE JULY 23, 2008 – Here’s the scoop: The West 6th Avenue, to I-70, to Central City Parkway to Central City and Black Hawk is the FASTEST route from downtown Denver, according to a Magellan GPS. It’s about 40 miles (45 minutes.)
The West 6th Avenue, to US 6, to Colorado 119 to Black Hawk and Central City seems to be the SHORTEST route – in DISTANCE: about 35 miles, but a bit longer in TIME, about 60 minutes. (This information, of course, depends on your departure point. Basically the drive (approx. 35-45 miles) takes about 45-60 minutes.)
During inclement weather, I-70 West to Central City Parkway will still be your best bet.
Visit the LasVegasBufetClub’s pages on Colorado gaming…
Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Home page…
Cherry Creek Art Festival
by The Cherry Creek Art Festival came and went with nary a mention here. Well, I was having serious issues with the blog. Hopefully the problems are resolved and ASAP I will post some information, as well as a short movie of the CCAF Fireworks display “Finale” if all goes well. BC
Thai Basil – Asian Fusion Restaurant in Denver, Colorado
by 
“Thai basil is a cultivar group of basil. It has a more assertive taste than many other sweet basils. The herb has small leaves, purple stems and a subtle licorice or mint flavor” read more from Wikipedia…
Thai Basil ( 5 locations in the Denver/Colorado Springs area) is a fresh “now” restaurant offering Thai-Asian-Fusion cuisine.
In a perfect balance of Yin & Yang ( 陰陽, ) Thai Basil balances the old and new. California-modern design mixes with old-burl table tops, old-country cabinets, an Asian bed-frame (used as a dining island) here or there and maybe modern fibreglas art on the wall. I probably just “fused” the decor of the two locations I’ve visited: The Thai Basil Hang Out Grill (3301 W 38th Ave.) and the Washington Park location (540 East Alameda Ave.) The East Alameda location has the bed-frame and fibreglas; the TB Hang Out Grill incorporates the burl wood tables.
I acquired a serious appreciation for Pad Thai in Southern California and Thai Basil serves a beautiful Pad Thai.
Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese menu items include: starters, salads, soups, meats, seafoods, vegetables, noodles, rice, deserts and more. Thai Curries, Vietnamese Rice Noodle Bowl, Szechuan Asian Eggplant, Crispy Duck and Fried Rice are just a few facets of the fusion. Some of my other favorites – besides Pad Thai ($7.95) are: Coconut Soup, Satay Chicken, Thai Spring Roll and Kung Pao Chicken.
Thai Basil has a full Bar with a good selection of Asian and domestic beers. At the time of this post, The Thai Basil Hang Out Grill location is serving: (HANG ON TO YOUR HAT) $.25 cent domestic beers and $.50 cent imported beers. You have to order food & there is a limit. Call for more information…
Check the Thai Basil Website for menu by location; locations / addresses and other information..
Access more Denver, Colorado restaurants.
Visit The LasVegasBuffetClub’s main pages.