The Racino has been on our radar to check out for a while, but especially after I met EB at the Horseshoe in August. He told me he was there a lot because his family owns harness horses. So with our intrepid companion LM, we headed up to check out the whole scene. Our evening included the harness track, the casino and Vapor (the nightclub).
CK: It helped a lot that within the first 10 minutes we met the Blue Knights motorcycle club. They were good looking, totally ripped (muscular, that is), and fun. Unfortunately, they live in Rockland County and at least one has a narcissistic personality disorder but they had NICE BIKES! I will say nothing about the slot machine area because I find that whole scene unappealing. Vapor was actually a lot of fun and I think one could probably meet men there – if the idiot international president of the Blue Knights from Iowa would leave one alone!! 
There were plenty of dance offers and the band was really good. I like the whole set-up with the upstairs and everything. I’d go there again – maybe once every six months. If for no other reason than to watch the classic older disco dancers gliding around the floor with their Haggar slacks and large-collar shirts.
DT: Wow! I was HOT this night . . . as far as the betting at the harness track goes, that is. I could not pick them wrong. But this only went for the horses. Helping one of the Blue Knights (who had an underbite like Bruce Springsteen that I found endearing) win a couple of hundred dollars on a Shetland pony, the night got off to a great start. I got a cigar in return. Met a very new aquaintence from Match.com there (nice guy but no interest; he was a good sport though). If you like older men with food in their facial hair, the harness track is the place for you! 
CK's right, if not for the Blue Knights, not sure there'd be much action here at the harness track! Companions and I had a lot of fun - including a lame rendition of Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" while in the ladies room, which the patrons at the bar just outside of the bathroom rated a "9." I presume that was out of ten but in the gambling world, who knows! And who knew the acoustics were such that the entire bar could hear us singing in the bathroom. I fared as well at poker - winning $20 in a few minutes. Not so lucky at Vapor, although I did meet a few nice and somewhat off-beat men. Agree with CK on the 'smooth operators' on the dance floor. Made me wish I actually knew the "Hustle" or some other disco-era dance. Much diversity, many ages, most already spoken for. Music was great if you like loud wedding-like bands. They played the standards. The Blue Knights could use a few pointers in how to treat a lady.
Ah, Vegas.
CK: I had no idea, having gone only twice before. Once when I was an exchange student in 1977 (yes, the American Field Service brought all of the local exchange students in Southern California – from Greece, Germany, Israel, England, Iran, Brazil and New York (!) to Vegas for a weekend). Then last year with my children. Quite a different experience to go with a gaggle of girls. I would say that as far as meeting men, Vegas presents endless opportunities. Great for the ego when one has just turned 50 but not super for anything meaningful or lasting!
DT: It took me awhile to get to this post == post traumatic stress syndrome. I'd ne
ver been to Vegas but glad I got to experience it was in my lifetime. It's surreal, numbing, overstimulating, over the top, crazy. It is a great place to meet people of all types - gay, straight, male, female, average size, midget, old and young. All types of dress from glittery prom to tee shirt and jeans. The motorcycle gathering in old Vegas was my favorite . . . along with the low stakes tables there. We didn't do much gambling however, at least not in the monetary sense.
Some highlights:
• CK: We were propositioned by our cab driver, Singh, on the ride from the airport to our hotel (Luxor, which you can actually see from the airport!) He gave us his number and suggested we call him later that night. DT: Well dressed, good smelling cab driver who is a good conversationalist, drives well and speaks decent English . . . doesn't get much better than that.
• DT: Beware of entering the casino’s hotel lobby at 8 or 9 am - the hardcore visitors are STILL drinking and smoking when you go down for your morning coffee.
• CK: We had a 26-year old volunteer for a “drag back”the first night at dinner. His name was Q and he was our
bartender. I think DT also had a bead on one of the Mariachi singers serenading a group with Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.” DT: Handsome African-American bartender who I don't believe was 26 but nonetheless was too young for CK or me. We prefer the more 'mature' man - to help contrast our increasingly adolescent mindset. The main singer in the Mariachi band in the Mexican restaurant, where supposedly the margarita was invented, was quite a looker, and tried his best to obey my command to lower himself to the floor once more so I could get a look at his firm backside. He didn't quite manage it . . . perhaps his English was not so good. Neither was his rendition of "Sweet Caroline."
• DT: Poolside retreat on sunny afternoons in the mid 80s. And ladies don't be shy about putting on the suit, the women and men are all shapes and sizes. And I guess the men aren't looking for perfection in a one night stand (just an assumption). Everyone's pretty cool about that. Be proud of that flab in your midsection. I hear some men find it 'cute'.
• CK: Men who are gambling are about as bad as men watching a football game in terms of their interest in engaging in conversation. We were able to meet “Boots” (as we called him – because he wore cowboy boots and works for zappos.com). He was entertaining with his stories of his Eskimo father and Swedish basketball mother who met on safari.
• DT: The funniest, most surreal scene: male and female midgets dressed, respectively, as Elvis and Marilyn. Where else would you see this? 
• CK: The bar/dance floor called “Eyecandy” at Mandalay Bay was a gold rush for men. We met the sad sack divorcee from Long Island, the singing sensation whom I told I had kids older than him (to which he replied “Really? You have kids over 40?”; it’s so hard to judge their ages!), the “homeland security” agent who really worked for the post office, and our greatest find of all time F and G from the Netherlands.
• DT: Bellagio fountains were inspiring . . . probably more so with a romantic date. Gave us lots of entertainment and attention. A definite highlight among highlights.
• DT: Don't plan or expect to sleep much - between the night life and the time change it's hard to know what time it is or whether you should waste your time sleeping! CK: My sister tells me they pump oxygen into the casinos to keep people awake. If that’s the case, a) it doesn’t mask the cigarette smoke and b) it’s not necessary; one doesn’t want to miss anything when only in Vegas for three days!
• CK: Coming back to Albany was a let-down after all of the fun, excitement and plethora of available men. I use the term available loosely, as most were probably married and live a great distance from us. But I may give Vegas another try – same time next year?
• DT: Lastly, my companion CK was the best part of the trip. What other gal can have so much fun running on coffee and NA Beers. Thanks to her for getting me to see LV – for the first and probably last time!
To celebrate my 50th birthday (hence the change to our blog subhead – we’re no longer “40-something”; we’re “40-plus”), the girls and I went to Athos in Guilderland and out to see our friend’s band at the Tap and Tea Room. We certainly met some interesting characters but none in our sweet spot (normal).
Athos
CK: I had heard from a former fellow Pop Warner cheer mom that Athos Greek restaurant was a great hangout for men our age. She told me she met a great, good looking guy our age there and things were going well. For her, that meant the relationship was in its second week, but hey, some women wear their desire for a relationship on their sleeve. Anyway, we ran into my old high school friend JA who was there for a big bachelor party. Other than that group of undesirables, there was nothing going on at Athos. The owner told us to come back when they have a live band and Greek dancing. We may go back, but more for the fried cheese than the male prospects!
DT: Didn't seem as though most were there to meet new people - a few small groups of people (couples or friends) who pretty much kept to themselves. Who knows what actually went on in the back-room bachelor party, but I suspect not much. Not recommended, in spite of the fried cheese. The bartender, I should note, was friendly, humorous and accommodating . . . but married I am told.
Tap and Tea Room 
CK: The Tern Rounders, a “roots rock” band was playing at the Tap and Tea Room. We have a friend in that band so we thought it preferable to the Big Fat Greek Nothing. The crowd at the T and T seemed to be mostly friends or family members of the band. DT and LM provided a bit of a sideshow and we managed to attract the attention of Neil, the author of the worst (or possibly the best) pick-up line in history: “I’m Neil and that’s not a command.” He’s a challenge to describe but I’ll try. He’s 40 and owns his own cleaning business, he has two teen-aged children in Colorado, he seemed to be very coked up and hyper, and probably most relevant, his friend (the best hairdresser in Albany) told us he’s gay but doesn’t know it. Apparently Neil’s story that his 24-year old girlfriend was jealous when she caught him making out with her 21-year old friend translated to his one tranny was jealous of his other tranny. I took his number for future reference.
DT: Until this night I thought Jean Paul was the best hairdresser in Albany, but apparently not the case. Neil offered quite a bit of entertainment, in a pathetic what-must-his-childhood-have-been-like kind of way. His elderly friend (sugar daddy?) was interesting, but someone should tell him that no matter how interesting a man is or how otherwise inspiring his conversation, ill-fitting, clicking dentures are just too much of a distraction. The man who intended to read (1776) at the bar didn't seem to be doing much of that, and was friendly but appeared in pain to muster the effort. The band was thoroughly enjoyable. There appeared to be a few prospects our age but I guess they were shy -- or perhaps put off by our sideshow or the fact that we befriended the tranny-lover. And what's up with women biting your head off because you try, perhaps a bit to earnestly, to enter the ladies room when they are in there. Something like, in a screech, "some people wash their hands you know!" Is it my fault that her date was in a wheelchair and on oxygen? I think not. Why take it out on me? All in all some good prospects and mostly friendly people. The bartenders aren't the friendliest or most responsive, but hey, give it a try.
Our lady friend "L" headed to the Ramada for an old-school R&B party, but the word is out on that event. We headed home, our heads spinning over the tranny-lovers trials and tribulations. We'll have to ask her for a blog entry!
CK: It helped a lot that within the first 10 minutes we met the Blue Knights motorcycle club. They were good looking, totally ripped (muscular, that is), and fun. Unfortunately, they live in Rockland County and at least one has a narcissistic personality disorder but they had NICE BIKES! I will say nothing about the slot machine area because I find that whole scene unappealing. Vapor was actually a lot of fun and I think one could probably meet men there – if the idiot international president of the Blue Knights from Iowa would leave one alone!! 
There were plenty of dance offers and the band was really good. I like the whole set-up with the upstairs and everything. I’d go there again – maybe once every six months. If for no other reason than to watch the classic older disco dancers gliding around the floor with their Haggar slacks and large-collar shirts.
CK's right, if not for the Blue Knights, not sure there'd be much action here at the harness track! Companions and I had a lot of fun - including a lame rendition of Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" while in the ladies room, which the patrons at the bar just outside of the bathroom rated a "9." I presume that was out of ten but in the gambling world, who knows! And who knew the acoustics were such that the entire bar could hear us singing in the bathroom. I fared as well at poker - winning $20 in a few minutes. Not so lucky at Vapor, although I did meet a few nice and somewhat off-beat men. Agree with CK on the 'smooth operators' on the dance floor. Made me wish I actually knew the "Hustle" or some other disco-era dance. Much diversity, many ages, most already spoken for. Music was great if you like loud wedding-like bands. They played the standards. The Blue Knights could use a few pointers in how to treat a lady.
