Laughlin Buzz

Aug 31, 2013

Cheese and Wine in Laughlin

Laughlin, Nevada

A group of us finally had a chance to try more than just a quick coffee at Duet - Coffee and Wine in the Aquarius Resort Casino.  


There is no menu for the food choices.  You simply look at what is available in the display cases and ask for what you would like to order.  Several different types of sandwiches are available, plus many delicious looking desserts.  This time we chose to try the Cheese-Fruit-Meat plate with Wine.  Next time we will try some of the desserts.


Cheese-Meat-Fruit Platters


The plates come in two sizes.  The larger one is $19.99 and the smaller one was $7.99.  The small one was easily enough for 2-3 people.  The larger one would probably be good for 4-6.   These are prepared in advance and taken out of the display case. We know this because one morning when getting a coffee, two of the staff were busily putting them together behind the counter.  



The smaller cheese, fruit, meat plate


They have a nice assortment of cheese, meat, olives, strawberries, berries, grapes, baguette slices of bread and crackers.  Plus some dried fruit and a small plastic cup of crunchy snacks.   Everything was fresh and very good except for the dried fruit.  This was very chewy in a hard way, difficult to bite.  We couldn't really determine what fruit some of it was either.  One seemed to resemble a prune and perhaps the other was apricot.  The cheeses and meats were surprisingly better than we thought they would be.  One person compared them to that which they had gotten in Vegas at Paris on their breakfast.  




The cup of crunchy stuff seemed out of place and didn't work with the rest of the platter either.  One suggestion is that they should perhaps partially prepare the platter with everything except the bread and crackers.  Then add those when an order is placed.  Ours were just a bit moist or soggy due to sitting with the rest of the items and being kept cool.  

There are 8 selections of wine.  Four in each of the two wine dispensers.  You can also buy a whole bottle if you want, though we did not see the pricing for this.   We haven't seen a set up like this before.  You purchase a wine card (see pictures below) and the cashier loads your card.  For instance if you bought $15 worth of wine, you could dispense that much from the machines.  The wine is sold by the ounce and varies in price, depending on which kind you choose.   The wine bottles are in the dispensing machine with a tube.  You select the wine you want and the amount you want.   Once you make your choice it dispenses into the glass you place underneath.  



Wine Dispensers







The Patio of Duet at the Aquarius Resort Casino

A couple can easily have a couple glasses of wine each and the small cheese platter for under $25. We thought it was good quality, something different, and pretty good value.   Give it a try and see what you think.  The sandwiches seemed popular to several other people there.  Definitely a step up from Subway right next door.   Coffee and dessert are also a good choice.  


If you have tried Duet, share your experiences with us in the comments below.  We would love to hear them. 



Aug 30, 2013

Loading Dock Bar and Grille at Colorado Belle

Update:  The Loading Dock Bar and Grille opened on February 20, 2014.  Go here to see pictures and the menu for the Loading Dock at the Colorado Belle.

Many big and good changes are going on at the Colorado Belle Casino in Laughlin.  The latest is the start of construction for their new Loading Dock Bar and Grille.  This is going to feature Southwestern cuisine, two bars, patio dining and live entertainment. Location will be at the bow (thus the Loading Dock name) of the Belle.  Initial plans called for over 12,000 square feet of space and a working lighthouse. Best off all access to the Loading Dock will be right off the Riverwalk.

Riverwalk between the Edgewater Casino and Colorado Belle Casino

Sign on the wall by the construction - Loading Dock Bar and Grille


The walkway between the Casino floor and one of the hotel towers is being demolished to make way for the new Loading Dock Bar and Grille construction.    See a video clip of the construction and pictures here and at the end of this entry. 



The empty Moat in this section of the property

 The Koi fish (Carp) in this section have been safely moved to the other
section of the moat.   See the clip/photo from the Laughlin Times below.




Upstairs (as of August 30, 2013) only the Captains Buffet and Mark Twain's Restaurant remain.  The Gallery Cafe, Tortillas and Mangia all closed.  The gift shop relocated to the Casino floor.  During construction the stairs going down to the Casino and outside at that end of the property are now closed.  Have heard rumors that Mark Twain's will also be closing.  Get your all you can eat chicken and ribs now!

Update:  February 2014.  Both the Captain's Buffet and Mark Twains have now closed. 






Part of the outside deck of the Colorado Belle is closed during construction. 




The normal location for the various outdoor festivals that the Edgewater and Colorado Belle hold is being moved.  Usually they are on the Riverwalk between the two Casinos.  Now they will be in Colorado Belle's Center Circle (located in front of the parking lot).   The Italian Festival is up next. 


Video and Pictures taken recently of the Construction 

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Aug 29, 2013

Road Work on Casino Drive

Casino Drive in Laughlin this was kind of a mess this morning.  

(click on pictures for a larger version)


Road crews are digging up the street and doing some sort of repairs right in front of the old Cigarette factory and the Outlet mall.   Lanes were diverted to one lane in both directions and one of the entrances to the mall was blocked.   For a Thursday, the traffic was light.

With any luck this is all completed and cleared up before the expected, busy, Labor Day weekend.







Concerts, Comedy and Fireworks are just a few of the things going on in Laughlin for the Labor Day Weekend



Aug 28, 2013

Labor Day Weekend in Laughlin 2013

Labor Day Weekend in Laughlin, NV  

Fireworks, Comedy, and several different performers highlight the activities in Laughlin this weekend.

Fireworks
Avi Casino holds their Labor Day weekend fireworks display on Sunday, September 1 (show starts at approx. 8:30 pm).   This is always a great show, get their early and stake out a spot on or near the Avi Beach on the Colorado River.

To see a clip of past Avi fireworks shows visit our video page here:  http://laughlinbuzz.com/video/ 


Ralphie May 
( Adult humor, must be 18 years or older or accompanied by an adult
Ralphie returns for the second time this year to the Riverside Resort Casino from 8/29 through 9/1  8PM    

Concerts/Music



Ted Nugent
Ted didn't make River Run this year but is back in Laughlin at the Edgewater Casino E-Center on Sunday, September 1st


E-Center at the Edgewater Casino in Laughlin





Taylor Hicks
An American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks performs at Harrahs Laughlin from 8/29 through 9/2

The Gin Blossoms
at the Tropicana Laughlin on Saturday, August 31st.


Keep in mind...
Monday, September 2nd is Labor Day.   In observance of the federal holiday, all federal, state and county government offices will be closed, including the Post Office, and most banks. Laughlin schools will also be closed..

Aug 27, 2013

Sky before and after monsoons

Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City Sky and Clouds

Recent pictures before and after the monsoon and remnants of Tropical Storm Ivo off the California coast blew through. 

Click on the picture for a larger version




Panoramic Shot of the Laughlin Sky



 Even with the monsoon and rain closing in soon, people are on the River on Jet-skis 






Cloud bank is lower than the mountains



Casinos, Moutains, Clouds



Rain

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Aug 23, 2013

A Visit to the Historic Hardyville Cemetery



Hardyville Cemetery - Bullhead City, Arizona
Recently, while waiting for someone to complete an appointment, we wandered up the hill from Hwy 95 in Bullhead City and came across the Hardyville Cemetery. This reminded us of the one time we had stopped here a couple of years ago on our first visit to the area.

Plaque from Ft. Mohave Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Hardyville Cemetery Entrance
Memorial with 5 names listed
The cemetery is now a historical landmark. It is located right in the middle of a residential area and the busy Hwy 95 corridor.  The place appears to be virtually abandoned, with a few large bushes growing among he unmarked graves.   It is most likely a rarely visited historical site. 

Apparently at one time, it was included on a Haunted Laughlin Tour, and there have been accounts of some paranormal experiences there.  Truth be told though, if you look long enough and ask enough people most cemeteries will have some "ghost" stories associated with it. On our two visits we snapped a couple dozen photos and only one even remotely caught our attention as strange.  See for yourself in the picture we will include at the end. 

Pictures we took on two visits:















A brief history of the Hardyville Cemetery (see credits and links at the end for more sources).

William Harrison Hardy founded Hardyville in 1864. As mining activities decreased eventually Hardyville was abandoned and became a ghost town. With the building of Davis Dam Hardyville was eventually rebuilt as Bullhead City.  Now only a cemetery marks Hardyville's existence. 

The Hardyville Cemetery is located one block east of Highway 95 across from the Safeway grocery store.  Look for the Hardyville Mural opposite the store and go up one block.  This is only a short drive from the Laughlin and Bullhead City bridge. 


Bullhead City Safeway and Hwy 95 below  just outside the iron fence of the Cemetery

The Hardyville Cemetery is registered as a National Historic Landmark and stones cover the crude unmarked graves. Different accounts state that anywhere from 15 to two dozen people are buried there. The Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project identifies and gives details of 11 people.  (See link at end).  Only five people are identified on the marker as being buried in the cemetery.  The other inhabitant's names are lost to history.  Two of the wooden grave markers are preserved at the Colorado River Museum in Bullhead City.  We haven't had an opportunity to visit the museum yet, however, will post our own pics when we do.

It is said that a substantial rain apparently washed out the bluff that the cemetery is located on. Supposedly this sent several of the inhabitants and their coffins spilling below onto the roadway.  Although we could find no account of this happening, the city supposedly installed the existing retaining wall to avoid further occurrences.  The only account we could find about the wall was from 1989 in an archive of the Mohave Daily Miner newspaper, where the author spoke about the city building the wall.  No mention of the washout was included.  


Mohave Daily Miner Article 

A mural and the concrete retaining wall is easily noticed from the sidewalk opposite the Safeway store. 
  
"The Ghost"
This one picture (below) had a strange cloud or mist on it. Our first thought was something had clouded or gotten on the lens of the camera.  However, none of the pictures taken immediately before or after it contained the same mist. It was there and gone. 


Mist right in the upper center of photo
 Finally, even though the cemetery is over a century old, we wish people would leave only their footsteps and be respectful.  We have cleaned up a few items on both visits.  There really is no excuse for this. 

  
Have you stopped by this Historical Landmark?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.



Credits and more links:

Pictures of the markers at the Colorado River Museum are located here.
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=29339

Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project
http://apcrp.org/HARDYVILLE/Hardyville_Cem_Text_011109.htm

More about William Harrison Hardy
http://www.sharlot.org/library-archives/days-past/hardy-came-to-arizona-looking-for-adventure-and-got-a-town/