Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?

Subject: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Tony Burns
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 02:13 PM

I am being sent to Las Vegas on business July 19-23. Is there anything for a folkie to do there? (I am not looking forward to this trip.)

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 03:22 PM

Watch yourself around the airport. (in fact, watch yourself anywhere!) A number of years ago, I had a stopover in LV on my way to The Grand Canyon. I figured that since I was going to walk across The Canyon the next day, I might as well walk out to a motel/hotel. Not done! I was stopped, searched, detained by the police for at least 30 minutes. They even trolled by a time or two as I continued on my way to Howard Johnson's. Friends of mine who are folk DJs had unpleasant experiences with the police there just a year or two ago. While I cannot remember the exact details, suffice it to say that they were not happy with their stay there either.

Sorry I can't help you with your question, but I thought I would give you this pleasant little forewarning.

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 04:24 PM

Tony, there's the Mustang Ranch!

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: LEJ
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 04:53 PM

"Spent all night with the Dealer, tryin to get ahead

spent all day at the Holiday Inn, tryin to get out of bed

Oooo- Las Vegas

Ain't no place for a poor boy like me."- G Parsons

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 04:59 PM

Tony, (1) remember that the only game you stand a real chance of winning is Blackjack -- in everything else the odds are horrible;
(2) You should get a copy of Umberto Eco's "Travels in Hyperreality" -- it has nothing about Las Vegas in it, but it is the only book that explains the whole absurd aesthetic properly. It is also very funny.
(3) See if you can run across Elizabeth Shue (cf. Leaving Las Vegas).
Yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Tony Burns
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 07:08 PM

No worries about me losing money gambling. I won't be doing any of that. I think I'll avoid the Mustang Ranch too. I was hoping that there might be some real people there and some real entertainment but I fear it is a long shot. Perhaps I'll just get to bed early to catch up on the sleep I'll lose at the blues festival the weekend before I go.

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 08:08 PM

Some friends of mine have survived and returned home, but I don't know if they thrived there?

I always think of that movie 'Lost In America'. Where the husband wakes up in a Vegas hotel/casino and finds his wife is missing from the bed and the room. He discovers her at the tables, after she has gambled away all of their life-savings, which they refer to as their 'nest egg'.

The best bit is where he sets out to convince the manager that it would be good PR for the casino to return their 'nest egg'.

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 08:09 PM

06/19 Brian Henke Borders Books N. Rainbow/Las Vegas 702/638-7866

06/22 Gordon Lightfoot House of Blues/Las Vegas 702/632-7600

(compliments of Dirty Linen)

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 08:15 PM

Oops, wrong month. July does not look very promising.

07/21-24 The Indulgers The Resort at Summerlin/Las Vegas

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Tony Burns
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 08:43 PM

Darn, I wonder if maybe Lighfoot might postpone for a month?

Thanks for looking Dale.

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: PJ
Date: 14 Jun 99 - 09:51 PM

Tony-- I found a couple of sites on the web for you that may help in locating folkies in Las Vegas. First try http://radiant.org/enigma/calendar.html for a place called Enigma Garden Cafe. Go to the FAQ page... it sounds like a pretty interesting local folkie/coffeehouse/vegetarian restaurant. Also try www.imagination.org for a guy named Dave Weide. He seems to be the LV folkie guru, I e-mailed him asking for more info, but I guess you could do that directly.

Hope this helps a little, I have had to attend conventions in LV a coupla times, and I can tell you that once you get out of town, there's a great little community of Las Vegas outside the strip that has (and wants) nothing to do with sin city. Great hiking and nature stuff as well-- good luck!

PJ

Subject: RE: Can a folkie survive Las Vegas?
From: Mudjack
Date: 15 Jun 99 - 04:00 AM

I once won enough money at a black table to buy myself a super nice guitar. I call it my vegas guitar. We won't talk about all the other potential guitars I lost.
It's easier to pretend your not a folkie for a few days and let yourself fall victim to just being a tourist..Keep both hands in your pockets and a tight grip on your wallet and everything should be just fine.Fine affordable food has always been the best attraction.
Mj