The Fremont Experience

Since I'm staying in downtown Las Vegas this trip, most of my meals will be in and around Fremont Street, which is now called The Fremont Experience, what with the overhead light show, a zip line ride, and the generally festive atmosphere.

Christmas time is particularly jolly on Fremont, tourists from all over the world are having fun, many of whom have had too much to drink. In that sense, it kind of reminds one of Bourbon Street in New Orleans ... nah, I take that back. Bourbon Street is dingy and dark, Fremont is brightly lit and the casinos echo the loud live music emanating from various stages.

There's a live Santa sitting next to a humongous Christmas tree, talking to kids on his knee, and women too - they wait in line to sit on his knee ... this IS Las Vegas, after all.

The Fremont Experience (well a small part of it, anyway)

On Friday night, I had dinner at Don B's Steakhouse, 2nd floor in the Fitzgerald Casino. The food wasn't bad ... but the expensive lobster tail was a bit too small. Be that as it may, I enjoyed it.

What I enjoyed more was the sight that greeted me when I finished my dinner and left the casino. There on Fremont were a couple of hundred men and women dressed up like Santa and his helpers, elves, and even a Christmas tree. Since my Sony Cyber-shot also has a movie camera feature, I turned it on and wandered about, panning, zooming, filming.

It's amazing how cooperative the Santas were. I asked one particularly good-looking cute young lady what this was all about and she told me it's a traditional thing ... a mob pub crawl, kind of like a flash mob, but more holiday-ish, and why don't I get a suit and join in. Er ... maybe some other time.

I call this a Kris Mingle (like "Kringle" ... get it?)

Hmmm, I wonder if they're going to do it again tonight?