Ok rather than doing a trip report for a trip that was decidedly non-poker in nature, I thought I'd write a reply to my original BBV thread.
So, the magician was really cool. I recommend going to see him as it's a real Vegas-type show. He brought my wife up to help with an illusion.
Greg Frewin Dinner Theatre - Niagara Falls
Nothing really 'new' in terms of the tricks performed, but he was very fluid and professional.
On Sunday morning we headed off to Fallsview and ate breakfast at 'The Famous'. We were told that there was a buffet, but we couldn't find the freakin' thing until we went INTO the casino (I saw restaurants outside so I assumed it would be outside the casino itself)
So the door person asks how old both my wife and I are. I answer 33 (which makes me chuckle that I could still pass for someone under-age at this point), and my wife answers 30. He asks to see ID, I pull my license out, but my wife has left her purse in the car (for security, she tells the door guy). Well she ain't getting in without it, so I tromp back down to the car, grab what I think is enough ID and bring it back up. The door fella looks surprised to see us back obviously thinking we were trying to 'sneak' someone in. He inspects my wife's ID like it's a nude photo, and finally we walk into the building.
First Impressions:
Big, square room with no real casino-esque feeling to it. Sure there are some flashing lights, and neon but even the Brantford Casino has a little personality.
I immediately ask where the poker room is (as I want to check it out) and I'm directed to a back corner where there's a guardrail and a bunch of tables with an e-board showing a massive lineup for the 2-5 NL game. I'm surprised there was no 1-2 NL game running but I dunno if that's typical?
So I've talked my wife into trying some slots and I'd sit with her so she'd get a feeling for it. My eventual goal is for her to enjoy them enough for me to go play some cards. So before we hit the slots, I sit and watch the most passive 2/5 NL game I've ever seen. A pre-flop raise that's called by 4 players (dealer was gruff and not really that friendly). Flop comes 832rainbow. Checked around, and turn comes another 2. 2 Checks, a bet of 40 and everyone folds.
I see the same thing 3 or 4 times and I'm almost licking my lips in anticipation of what a few nice C-bets and an occasional bluff would do to this table.
At this point I contemplate ditching my wife and trying to get to the empty seat at that table, but being a good husband we go play some nickel slots. I've never sat at a slot machine for more than 30 seconds to play a left over $1 on the way out of the casino. What a boring game, how anyone plays those things for more than 2 minutes I can't understand. So we work our way through $20 and I ask my wife if this is something she'd like to do one day while I play some cards. She agrees and even suggests a casino weekend at the Falls for the 2 of us.
We have other things we want to do that day, and we head down to the Valet park to pick up a deck of cards for my collection.
We leave Fallsview (after I snap a few pics of the front of the casino, the back and the HUGE fountain in the front doors.
We go do our other things which include the trouncing of my wife at glow-in-the-dark mini-putt, and a visit to a Wax museum. We are preparing to leave so my wife goes shopping for souveniers while I run over to Casino Niagara to check out their poker room and pick up a deck of cards as well.
Initial impressions:
Very cool entranceway, and it really feels like the other casinos I've been in. I find the poker area almost immediately.
First thing I notice about the poker area is I don't see a sign-up board which indicates a waiting list or anything. I watch a couple of hands of 1/2 NL and instantly see a much stronger game. Pre-flop raising, c-bets, bet sizing and pot control etc.
So... I go find a floor person and am told they no longer sell their used decks (which the floor person couldn't understand). So I left.
All-in-all, mission accomplished that my wife is considering a casino weekend!! Good trip too finally did all the touristy stuff that my wife loves, which buys me some forgiveness next time I come home late from the casino
