Last Friday, I started the day working on a story for this column. Later, feeling a bit bored, I drove to my favorite gambling spot, Tuscany Suites and Casino. Whoops–couldn’t find a parking spot. That was unusual. I cruised both front lots and finally headed to the back lots. Again, no parking was available. And I was in traffic because mine wasn’t the only car looking for parking. Lots of cars were cruising. Finally, I headed again to the front lots, saw a newly empty VIP parking spot and pulled in. I am not a VIP (in Tuscany’s eyes), but I had passed about 15 open VIP parking spots so the big gamblers did have a place to park.

I gambled. I lost, but at one point I wanted to leave with $19.82. The machine wouldn’t cooperate and indicated that I was due a personal payout….for $19.82? I waited and waited. Two men came by and said that attendants would be by shortly and thanked me for waiting. Hmmm….turns out Tuscany’s “system” was down and though the casino was as crowded as I had ever seen it, no one could get a ticket out of a machine! The attendants were going from machine light to machine light and hand paying the players! (I was given a whole $20 bill.) I continued to gamble and had to wait for payouts two more times.

Why the crowds? “Shakedown Las Vegas” was back. That is the mini-shopping mall that springs up for fans of the Dead and Company shows at The Sphere. The Shakedown “crowd” is very much younger than yours truly and often is dressed rather flamboyantly. After gambling, I had to take a look.

The Tuscany’s South Parking area was filled with booths selling everything from jacket patches to holiday ornaments to t-shirts. I had attended Shakedown once before, (August, 2024) but Friday’s weather was so beautiful, I couldn’t help myself. The booths had multiplied and I think I walked down five long rows of booths. Below, in case you are not a Tuscany gambler or a Shakedown fan, are just a few of the pictures.

The next Shakedown Las Vegas at Tuscany will be March 27-29. Good luck at finding a parking space.