New York City

Resorts World Casino New York City

by Vinny on November 13, 2011

On Saturday night we decided to head over to the new casino at Aqueduct. Resorts World New York City is a welcomed addition to me as I hate taking the bus down to Atlantic city. Looks like I won’t be doing that anymore. I expected the casino to be busy but nothing like what I saw when I walked in.

The entrance to the casino is absolutely beautiful. Hard to believe I was at Aqueduct where I have been playing the ponies for years. There was security all over the place and that made me feel good.

Casino in New York City

Resorts World New York City Entrance

Debbie and I were not really planning on doing much gambling and it was a good thing because we couldn’t. We got to the casino around 8:30 pm and figure we would sign up for players cards and get some dinner. That didn’t exactly work out since the line for players club cars was about 50 people.

We decided to get some dinner instead so we headed over to the food court and looked around and there was no seats and the lines were all 15 people deep. We got in a huge line for the buffet instead. What we didn’t know was that the line was for reservations to get into the buffet. After standing in line for a half hour we got our reservation for 9:30. I was starving at this point and regretting that we came to the casino.

With a half hour to spare Debbie and I figure we might as well sign up for players club cards since we have a 1/2 hour to kill. We got online and it took 25 minutes to get a card. We get our cards and head over to the buffet where we wait online again even though we have reservations. They then open the line to people without reservations and 18 people get to cut right in front of us.I was not a happy camper to say the least. How I kept my cool is beyond me at this point.

We get into the buffet which was cheap at $19 but I didn’t care as I was starving. Debbie got the upgrade for another $9 and had lobster which she loved. It was well worth it. I should have upgraded also and got a filet. They looked great and they cook them on the spot to your liking. I was very happy though as I loaded up my plate with manicotti, meatloaf, mashed pototo’s and some fresh strng beans. I went back and filled up a second plate it was so good. They had loads of choices and all the food was fresh. Every plate I looked at had huge crab legs so they were a big hit.

The deserts were great and I loved the ice cream which is probably the best I have ever eaten. Our waitress was very pleasant as was all the help in the restaurant. I was amazed I was at Aqueduct, it felt like I was in a major 4 star restaurant. It was a very plesant experience from start to finish.

After dinner we decided to try to play some slot machines. This was a bad idea as there were 3 or 4 people waiting at every machine waiting for people to lose their money and move on. After 25 minutes walking around the casino Debbie finally found a machine to play at. She lost a quick $40  and then the seat next to her opened and I put in $40 into a nickel machine which I hate and hit max bet and it was a $20 spin. What the hell is that? I spun again just to get off the machine and that was that $40 in 2 spins. I didn’t even want to play nickels and here I am losing $40 in 30 seconds. I was ready to leave. Debbie had some money left on her voucher so we found another machine and settled in and lost our buget and we got out of there.

The walk back to the train was very dark and it is only a matter of time before there is a mugging. They need to get the new ramp for the train ready as fast as possible. Although that wouldn’t have helped us since we were heading towards the Rockaways. Walking to the old North Conduit train station is dangerous. You can take a shuttle bus but even after they drop you off you have to walk down a dangerous path. The really need to make the station at the casino be accessable to people in both directions.

The lines at the casino on a Saturday night are long. Until they open up another floor it is just dumb to go here again. I hope they have more food choices on each floor also as it will be very crowded for food at all times if they only have a food court planned.

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Biking in Manhattan

by Vinny on October 1, 2011

Yesterday I got my bike out of the bike shop on the upper west side and decided to take a ride down the west side bike path instead of just getting on the train to take the bike home. Since I haven’t exercised in a few days I figure it would be a good thing.

Bike path on west side of Manhattan

Bike path on west side of Manhattan

While driving the streets towards the bike path was an adventure in itself as I had to avoid double parked trucks as I made my way across West 77th street. After avoiding a few cabs I managed to get my street smarts kicked in and took no prisoners attitude and rode with an aggressive attitude and I was much better off.

The bike path was much better than I expected. Finding it was kind of tough as I had to drive through a dog park to get to it. There was an entrance to the west side highway for cars that I almost made a mistake getting on until I thought about it and pulled over and asked a parks department worker who saw I was lost.

In the background of the picture you can see the boat basin which is a great place during the summer to stop and have a bite to eat. Behind that is the George Washington Bridge which is now a goal to bike up to since I found this bike path.

After using the restroom and composing myself from the aggressive street driving I headed towards lower Manhattan.

The bike path really is a cool place for runners and bikers alike. Some ways the path winds around playgrounds and stuff was pretty cool. After passing a few of these I ended up at the foot of a big cruise ship which was parked next to the the USS Intrepid Museum.

Cruise ship in Manhattan

Seabourn Sojourn

USS Intrepid

USS Intrepid

I grabbed a vitamin water from a vending machine at the USS Intrepid  which I had never seen up close before. Which I find amazing since I live in the city. I have just never been over here before. It is now on my to-do list to come back and spend the day. They have some cool planes on board, a submarine parked next to it and what I want to see “The Concorde” on the deck.  I have the feeling I will be back here in the very near future.

After taking a quick break I got back on the bike and past by the Heliport where they were doing some practice landings with Military helicopters which was pretty cool. The traffic on the bike path became a lot more congested as I approached Chelsea Piers. They even have traffic lights on the bike path and people directing traffic. I had to stop twice for pedestrians.

I made my way downtown and saw signs that to use the Brooklyn Bridge I had to cut across Warren street. I stopped to take a picture of One World Trade Center being built. Which I am sure that will be done next time I am in the area.

One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center

Since I was prepared for Manhattan bike riding from my earlier adventures I decided to man up and drive across town. It was now around 5 o’clock and people were getting off work and the streets were just packed. I made believe I was a bike messenger and just took the traffic as if I owned it. I had to get off the bike and walk across City Hall park as it was just too crazy on the streets.

I made my way up the Brooklyn Bridge and got back on the bike and it was just as nuts as tourist and people walking home from work had the bridge packed. The bridge does have a bike lane but with so many people and not enough room for bikes to pass each other in both directions it was crazy. I stopped in the middle of the bridge and took a few pictures and a video. I didn’t realize until I got home that the couple in the video must have just got engaged. She was not just giving him a kiss on the bridge, she was giving him a OMG yes kiss.

After taking a break for the video I took a picture of the bike in front of the plaque on the bridge and got on my way. Driving down the bridge was an amazing experience as I got the bike up to about 20 mph and for the first time I realized how good the guys at the bike shop did on my tune up.

Fuji bike on the Brooklyn Bridge

Fuji bike on the Brooklyn Bridge

I navigated the streets of Brooklyn to the Jay street station and took the train home. I had enough adventures for one day.

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