Big Money, Big Money, No Whammies, STOP!

Yes, I won!
No, I wasn't on Press Your Luck, although that would be a good time, I did visit the newly renovated GreekTown Casino yesterday.

The trip started cause we were craving some pizza from Pizza Papalis in Greektown. MmmmMmm! Pizza Papalis is great because it brings Chicago style pizza right here to Detroit without the long drive to the windy city. And with the busy schedule that I have, that is just perfect. Plus who doesn't love a fun night in the city?

I hadn't been to the downtown location since I was a kid in elementary school and was anxious for my long over due return. My family always picks up a half-baked pizza from their Southfield location, but I was on a date and take-out just wouldn't do. I needed a night on the town.

We parked across the street at the GreekTown casino because well, parking there is free (if you get your ticket validated inside the casino) and it's easy. Pull off the freeway, pull into the parking garage, take a stroll through the casino and it's flashing lights, then bingo bango you're out the door, across the street, and eating at Pizza Papalis. Delicous.

After a pitcher of beer, some garlic cheese bread, and a deep dish pizza, I had an itch to gamble. How convenient that we were parked in the parking garage of a casino. What are the odds? Actually they were good odds because I walked away from the casino that night a winner.

Now, I'm not a huge gambler but I do enjoy a little chance. You can't park at the casino and not put a little money down. I decided I would spend $10 in the slots. (Big gambler, I know) After a few pulls (or pushes cause they all have buttons), some small wins, and a big triple bonus, I was up $40 on my little $10 bill. Woo-hoo! But as most people do, they wanna keep trying and boy did I wanna gamble the night away. I cashed out and put $20 in my pocket, put the original $10 back in my wallet, and went right back to the slots with the remaining $20. Yep, you guessed it. I lost it, but I still had the other $20 in my pocket that I won and that was enough to buy us a few beers at Fridays later in the evening. Overall a great night out in Detroit.




Pizza Papalis Greektown is located at 553 Monroe Street in Detroit. Phone: 313.961.8020
GreekTown Casino is located on the corner of Beaubien and E. Lafayette in Detroit.

My Mid-Week Trip to the Detroit Zoo

Classes are back in session and summer is pretty much... well over. The neighborhood kids aren't laying around watching TV or playing street hockey until a time out is called for a passing car. No, it seems like America has stepped back into the busy routine of life.

Knowing all of this and realizing I only have a couple weeks or even days of sunshine and warm weather left, a trip to the zoo before the first snow fall was in order. (Yes, I just wrote the word snow. It's all in the back of our minds now, you know it). I hadn't been to the Detroit Zoo in about 4ish years and was anxious to see what I would think it of it. We went on a Wednesday after school had started so we didn't have to dodge youngsters trying to run away from their parents or the ones standing on the side of the exhibit trying to be the animal they were watching. While always entertaining, it was nice to enjoy the zoo and keep some of my sanity intact.

My favorite part of the zoo would have to be the Arctic Ring of Life. I could sit in that tube for hours and watch the polar bears and seals swim above me. Plus, if it's a hot day they usually keep it pretty cold in there so it's a great resting place. One of the polar bears thought it was a great spot to hang out too because when we walked into the tunnel, he was just sitting on top of the glass tube playing with a ball. Standing in the tunnel, you saw a big squishy ball of fur against the top of the tunnel, pure polar bear butt. AMAZING! He continued to play with the ball, biting it and swimming after it, continually returning to rest on the top of the tunnel. It definitely made the trip worth while.

As we continued to walk through to the other exhibits, we mostly saw animals relaxing. No wild fights or animals attacking humans. Damn. (Just kidding on the whole animals attacking humans thing). But out of all the animals besides the active polar bear, the sloth was the only animal to peak out of his resting place inside a log to wave hello to us. Thank you sloth. It was great to see you too :)

Overall the trip to the zoo was delightfully entertaining and relaxing. While it doesn't relate to animals per say, the best part of my trip was walking out the zoo towards the parking garage, looking up at the zoo water tower knowing Kwame's name would soon be down. The city of Detroit will now be able to move forward. Even if they don't get his name down till next spring.



General Detroit Zoo Information
www.detroitzoo.org

Admission Fees:
$11.00 - Adult, 13 years - 61
$7.00 - Child, 2 - 12 years
$9.00 - Senior, 62 years+
Free - Under 2 years

Hours of Operation:

April-Memorial Day and Labor Day-October
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Memorial Day-Labor Day
9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
(Wednesdays in July-August
until 8 p.m.)

November-March
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year's Day.