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The Mirage Hotel & Casino, 1989-2024 πŸ’œ

Posted July 20, 2024

“The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.”

So begins the Wikipedia page for one of our favorites spots on the Las Vegas Strip. I was fortunate enough to find out just in time to visit one last time before my work conference began this week. Literally by a few minutes: the roads in and out had already been barricaded, but they were letting people in for a farewell press conference with staff under the porte-cochère in front.

I took a bunch of pictures outside of the Siegfried and Roy Plaza and the iconic volcano, then headed in the entrance on the Caesars Palace side. The door was unlocked, but almost everything was closed (not Starbucks) and all of the slot machines were powered off. I wandered back by the Cirque Love theater (last show there was July 7), then up to the tropical dome and over to the front entrance (all the fish were gone, but the bronze mermaids remained).

Colleen and I stayed at Mirage a number of times, including our trip for the Morrissey concert in 2021 (which was probably the last time). We also picked the Mirage as the place we stayed for the girls first Vegas trip in 2018. The rooms had just been refurbished and they really liked going to the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. SK and I also went to see the Beatles-themed Cirque show as part of her landmark birthday trip in 2019 and I also remember having birthday dinner there with the Millers in 2009 (and the first time I saw Love). Lots of visits to the Carnegie Deli too.

Thanks Team Mirage for all the great memories!


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Go.com expires on January 8th

Pic posted July 15, 2024

1) DNS domain administrator for Disney would be a cool job and 2) Is 27 years enough?


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The American Buffalo βœ…

Pic posted July 2, 2024

A Film by Ken Burns


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Space Battle: The Mattel Intellivision and the First Console War βœ…

Pic posted July 2, 2024

Not the best written book I’ve ever read, but it’s great to have all this stuff documented (especially the “Prince was big on Mattel Intellivision” bit that I never knew)


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That’s a wrap – good luck in Paris! πŸ‡«πŸ‡·

Pic posted June 30, 2024

Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera (alternates: Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson)


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Timberwolves history on the walls πŸ€

Pic posted June 28, 2024

Looks like that was in LA, but still fun


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Here we go: Men’s Day 1 πŸ€Έβ€β™‚οΈ

Pic posted June 27, 2024

U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics


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Link: Reggie Jackson on Willie Mays ⚾️

Linked June 24, 2024


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Finally stopped and read the sign

Pic posted June 19, 2024

The Oakland in downtown Minneapolis – designed by architect Harry Wild Jones, opened in 1889


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Lunch @ Normandy Kitchen and Bar βœ…

Pic posted June 19, 2024

This one had been on the list of lists for a long, long time. Had the Henry VIII burger (“A kitchen specialty since 1941”): add blue cheese crumbles and bacon. Solid, but probably not in my metro burger Top 10…


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Minnesota State Parks #7 – Split Rock Lighthouse βœ…

Pic posted June 15, 2024

Combined with my new Minnesota Historical Society membership (thanks again, MK/EJ), this was a fun double stop: watched the lighthouse movie in the visitor’s center for the first time, then hiked down to the beach


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Link: T’was the witch of mid-June come bumpin’

Linked June 13, 2024


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Link: The Transformation of Every Hole at Interlachen

Linked June 9, 2024


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Link: Talking Heads live at The Kitchen (1976)

Linked June 1, 2024


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Congrats to PWHL Minnesota πŸ₯…

Pic posted May 29, 2024

Can we just call them the Minnesota Champs?


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Link: The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel

Linked May 26, 2024


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Link: Every Sample from Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique”

Linked May 24, 2024


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Atari acquires longtime rival Intellivision

Pic posted May 23, 2024

Had to check the date on this story – yup, 2024


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Congrats to the Descente golf guy

Pic posted May 20, 2024

Xander beats Rochambeau on 18 at Valhalla for first major

Now let us buy the shirts, eh?


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RIP Spider John Koerner, 1938-2024

Pic posted May 18, 2024

Never saw him perform, but feel like I have via Charlie


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Thank you, New York Times

Pic posted May 4, 2024

This story led me down a (successful) Star Wars rabbit hole on May Fourth Eve


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🫑 Geezer video game flashbacks

Posted May 2, 2024

The link the other day to the Electronic Plastic site was fun, as I forgot just how spoiled I was as a kid. Out of the 35 games listed, I think I had 12 of them (Brain Baffler, Auto Race, Football and Football 2, Baseball, Space Alert, Armor Battle, Sub Chase, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer and Red Light Green Light).

I also came across a post about the Microvision and I’d completely forgotten about that device. Need to finish the Intellivision book too – so many fun memories of that console too…


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Link: Mattel Electronics on Electronic Plastic

Linked May 1, 2024


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Fell down the Buffalo Trace rabbit hole

Pic posted April 30, 2024

Thanks a lot, St. Croix Liquor guy
Blanton’s toppers


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Sedaka’s Back (1974)

Pic posted April 26, 2024

“Oh, I hear laughter in the rain, walking hand in hand with the one I love. Oh, how I love the rainy days and the happy way I feel inside…”


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