LaffingBear

Everything that comes to mind relates to childhood safety.  
At six years old, 10 yo brother,,parents went out, no baby sitter.   I could ride my bike anywhere.  Could take public transit from suburbs to Wrigley Field at 10.  I walked half a mile to school starting at first grade.  
They'd pile a ton of kids, unsecured, into an old firetruck and drive them to the local amusement park for birthday parties -youd never do that with today's insurance regs.

 

I went often in the 90s.  Not quite monthly, but if there was a headliner that interested me, I might go twice that weekend.  Spend the whole day.  The headliners appeared at 1, 5  8, 11... and I'd go to all shows.  Stick around for house dancers I liked, leave for several hours if the upcoming schedule didn't appeal. 
I  recall it going through phases.  Reported owner and manager changes.  Remodeling...  and different "types" of dancers.  I remember when they stopped paying dancers - told them work for tips, and they all quit.  There was a manager, Todd, who kept the place amazingly clean considering what  went on there.... sadly, he was murdered.
The very first night I walked in, Mike Nichols was performing.   He was so new there, his portrait was a polaroid.  I used to hang out on Bush Street with the performers.   One day, as Marco Rossi was leaving, I offered him a ride... he was looking for Golds Gym... and did a session with him later that night.  I hired a couple of other guys from there too.  I was infatuated with a young muscle guy who drove in from Sacramento to dance...
The busiest night was when Ryan Idol appeared... only time I saw every seat full.  A stripper group called Chicago MeatPackers put on a crazy show.   Marco Rossi appeared in one of those Ronny Larsen plays in SF...(Peep show? ).. and after the final perfor⁶mance, the after party was at nobhill.  And chi chi LaRue with entourage was there  too
I remember hanging out with young Peter Latz on the street out front of the theater... he appeared fairly regularly.   There was a wall of fame... pictures of all headliners...   Nicest guy I ever met was Eric Stone... after he died, his picture was in a place of honor on that wall.  He was a fan favorite. 
Soooo many memories.   But eventually, they had dancers that didn't appeal to me.  Sparse schedules.  Had fewer and fewer headliners.   Tried building business with Bachelorette parties... the straight dancers loved those, but the regular gay patrons hated it.  So I went less and less and finally stopped going.

I went often in the 90s.  Not quite monthly, but if there was a headliner that interested me, I might go twice that weekend.  Spend the whole day.  The headliners appeared at 1, 5  8, 11... and I'd go to all shows.  Stick around for house dancers I liked, leave for several hours if the upcoming schedule didn't appeal. 
I  recall it going through phases.  Reported owner and manager changes.  Remodeling...  and different "types" of dancers.  I remember when they stopped paying dancers - told them work for tips, and they all quit.  There was a manager, Todd, who kept the place amazingly clean considering what  went on there.... sadly, he was murdered.
The very first night I walked in, Mike Nichols was performing.   He was so new there, his portrait was a polaroid.  I used to hang out on Bush Street with the performers.   One day, as Marco Rossi was leaving, I offered him a ride... he was looking for Golds Gym... and did a session with him later that night.  I hired a couple of other guys from there too.  I was infatuated with a young muscle guy who drove in from Sacramento to dance...
The busiest night was when Ryan Idol appeared... only time I saw every seat full.  A stripper group called Chicago MeatPackers put on a crazy show.   Marco Rossi appeared in one of those Ronny Larsen plays in SF...(Peep show? ).. and after the final perfor⁶mance, the after party was at nobhill.  And chi chi LaRue with entourage was there  too
I remember hanging out with young Peter Latz on the street out front of the theater... he appeared fairly regularly.   There was a wall of fame... pictures of all headliners...   Nicest guy I ever met was Eric Stone... after he died, his picture was in a place of honor on that wall.  He was a fan favorite. 
Soooo many memories.   But eventually, they had dancers that didn't appeal to me.  Sparse schedules.  Had fewer and fewer headliners.   Tried building business with Bachelorette parties... the straight dancers loved those, but the regular gay patrons hated it.  So I went less and less and finally stopped going.

I went often in the 90s.  Not quite monthly, but if there was a headliner that interested me, I might go twice that weekend.  Spend the whole day.  The headliners appeared at 1, 5  8, 11... and I'd go to all shows.  Stick around for house dancers I liked, leave for several hours if the upcoming schedule didn't appeal. 
I  recall it going through phases.  Reported owner and manager changes.  Remodeling...  and different "types" of dancers.  I remember when they stopped paying dancers - told them work for tips, and they all quit.  There was a manager, Todd, who kept the place amazingly clean considering what  went on there.... sadly, he was murdered.
The very first night I walked in, Mike Nichols was performing.   He was so new there, his portrait was a polaroid.  I used to hang out on Bush Street with the performers.   One day, as Marco Rossi was leaving, I offered him a ride... he was looking for Golds Gym... and did a session with him later that night.  I hired a couple of other guys from there too.  I was infatuated with a young muscle guy who drove in from Sacramento to dance...
The busiest night was when Ryan Idol appeared... only time I saw every seat full.  A stripper group called Chicago MeatPackers put on a crazy show.   Marco Rossi appeared in one of those Ronny Larsen plays in SF...(Peep show? ).. and after the final perfor⁶mance, the after party was at nobhill.  And chi chi LaRue with entourage was there  too
I remember hanging out with young Peter Latz on the street out front of the theater... he appeared fairly regularly.   There was a wall of fame... pictures of all headliners...   Nicest guy I ever met was Eric Stone... after he died, his picture was in a place of honor on that wall.  He was a fan favorite. 
Soooo many memories.   But eventually, they had dancers that didn't appeal to me.  Sparse schedules.  Had fewer and fewer headliners.   Tried building business with Bachelorette parties... the straight dancers loved those, but the regular gay patrons hated it.  So I went less and less and finally stopped going.

I went often in the 90s.  Not quite monthly, but if there was a headliner that interested me, I might go twice that weekend.  Spend the whole day.  The headliners appeared at 1, 5  8, 11... and I'd go to all shows.  Stick around for house dancers I liked, leave for several hours if the upcoming schedule didn't appeal. 
I  recall it going through phases.  Reported owner and manager changes.  Remodeling...  and different "types" of dancers.  I remember when they stopped paying dancers - told them work for tips, and they all quit.  There was a manager, Todd, who kept the place amazingly clean considering what  went on there.... sadly, he was murdered.
The very first night I walked in, Mike Nichols was performing.   He was so new there, his portrait was a polaroid.  I used to hang out on Bush Street with the performers.   One day, as Marco Rossi was leaving, I offered him a ride... he was looking for Golds Gym... and did a session with him later that night.  I hired a couple of other guys from there too.  I was infatuated with a young muscle guy who drove in from Sacramento to dance...
The busiest night was when Ryan Idol appeared... only time I saw every seat full.  A stripper group called Chicago MeatPackers put on a crazy show.   Marco Rossi appeared in one of those Ronny Larsen plays in SF...(Peep show? ).. and after the final perfor⁶mance, the after party was at nobhill.  And chi chi LaRue with entourage was there  too
I remember hanging out with young Peter Latz on the street out front of the theater... he appeared fairly regularly.   There was a wall of fame... pictures of all headliners...   Nicest guy I ever met was Eric Stone... after he died, his picture was in a place of honor on that wall.  He was a fan favorite. 
Soooo many memories.   But eventually, they had dancers that didn't appeal to me.  Sparse schedules.  Had fewer and fewer headliners.   Tried building business with Bachelorette parties... the straight dancers loved those, but the regular gay patrons hated it.  So I went less and less and finally stopped going.

Marco Rossi, who got massive for awhile
Ridge
Mike Gaite was pretty shredded
Robert Gonzalez
Marc Dylan
Jon Vincent
Jason H from Chicago
A dancer from NobHill in SF whose name I don't recall
FitnFun from Orange County
Pan
Different style, more fitness model:
Dr. Mike
Dillon in LV

Good advice above.
Grand Canyon -yes its not Grand Canyon National Park - by helicopter.  The tour is pricey, but a nice experience.  Two hours, includes landing in the Canyon for 30 minutes for snacks and champagne. 
Hoover Dam
The recommendation for Neon Museum is a good one... go at night and see the Brilliant show.  
The Mob Museum is excellent... add on an experience.   Consider the speakeasy in the basement. 
The Cactus Garden at Ethel M Chocolates 
Absinthe at Caesars is probably the hottest show.  All of the Cirque shows are good... a new one opens soon at NYNY.
Dining depends on cuisine preference and budget.  My opinion, everything at The Cosmopolitan is excellent... buffet, nice restaurants, moderate restaurants and their food hall.  If you want to overindulge at a buffet, Bacchanal at Caesars.  Many many other dining options on the Strip, and great local stuff away from The Strip.  
I visit LV frequently - happy to answer any specific questions. 

Already gone

1. Use common sense.  If something seems to good to be true, it is.  If that inner warning light is flashing,abort.
If I think back on my bad experiences, I can attribute most to my own determination to override that inner voice that told me "this is a bad idea".
2. If starting to feel victimized, have some fortitude.   I've never been physically threatened, but I've had guys try to use intimidation to cheat me.  I'm no big brave guy... but I've taken a deep breath and 
-pulled the car over, gone to the passenger side and yanked out a scammer who wouldn't leave
-picked up the phone in a hotel room and asked for security to rid myself of a problem.
-stood my ground demanding my money back after I paid upon his arrival at my place, then refusal to do anything
-just gotten up and left when at their place, and it's clear they were dishonest.
I'm always surprised when I read reports by guys who conceded defeat very quickly, not want to make a fuss, avoiding confrontation, even following through after arriving to a dishonest description. The bad guys exploit that.  Every situation is different... I'm not advocating placing oneself in danger.  Just don't be a wimp.
 

Before I begin, I want to say that these are my opinions based on personal experiences. After 10 years of hiring men, I can say that I’m totally giving up on it. I’m in my 30’s, so I guess I’m a little pickier, but of the 100+ men I’ve hired over the years, I can honestly only think of 3-4 that were actually worth it. Most of the time, the guy does not look nearly as good as his pictures ( not as muscular, older than advertised, different body pics used, etc.). Most of these guys I could likely meet for free. Somewhere down the line, hiring men became an addiction because I’ve suffered from low self esteem most of my life and any sort of rejection would put me in a funk.   I’m realizing now that spending so much money just to avoid my fears is not helping me in the long run.
 
I feel so ashamed to have spent so much money over the years for companionship I basically could have received for free had I stuck to a workout routine. 
I will say that the worst escorts are usually the Eastern European/Russian ones or the South American ones. They’re usually the rudest and more likely to have misleading pictures/ show disinterest.
I don’t mean to offend anyone with my post. They’re my experiences and options.
 
 

Because my decisions are controlled by two different organs, and I evolved with only enough blood to use one at a time.

1. Use common sense.  If something seems to good to be true, it is.  If that inner warning light is flashing,abort.
If I think back on my bad experiences, I can attribute most to my own determination to override that inner voice that told me "this is a bad idea".
2. If starting to feel victimized, have some fortitude.   I've never been physically threatened, but I've had guys try to use intimidation to cheat me.  I'm no big brave guy... but I've taken a deep breath and 
-pulled the car over, gone to the passenger side and yanked out a scammer who wouldn't leave
-picked up the phone in a hotel room and asked for security to rid myself of a problem.
-stood my ground demanding my money back after I paid upon his arrival at my place, then refusal to do anything
-just gotten up and left when at their place, and it's clear they were dishonest.
I'm always surprised when I read reports by guys who conceded defeat very quickly, not want to make a fuss, avoiding confrontation, even following through after arriving to a dishonest description. The bad guys exploit that.  Every situation is different... I'm not advocating placing oneself in danger.  Just don't be a wimp.
 

1. Use common sense.  If something seems to good to be true, it is.  If that inner warning light is flashing,abort.
If I think back on my bad experiences, I can attribute most to my own determination to override that inner voice that told me "this is a bad idea".
2. If starting to feel victimized, have some fortitude.   I've never been physically threatened, but I've had guys try to use intimidation to cheat me.  I'm no big brave guy... but I've taken a deep breath and 
-pulled the car over, gone to the passenger side and yanked out a scammer who wouldn't leave
-picked up the phone in a hotel room and asked for security to rid myself of a problem.
-stood my ground demanding my money back after I paid upon his arrival at my place, then refusal to do anything
-just gotten up and left when at their place, and it's clear they were dishonest.
I'm always surprised when I read reports by guys who conceded defeat very quickly, not want to make a fuss, avoiding confrontation, even following through after arriving to a dishonest description. The bad guys exploit that.  Every situation is different... I'm not advocating placing oneself in danger.  Just don't be a wimp.
 

What's "a book?"

No Atlantis experience. 
I did a gay group cruise.  1999, so long ago.  About 50 gay guys on a mainstream cruise.  I went solo, had an excellent time with other solos and couples.  Other gays, not in our group, found us, particularly ship's staff.  Zero issues that I encountered with the non-group passengers onboard, never felt uncomfortable or conspicuous; so it validated that entire-ship wasn't necessary. 
That was 20+ years ago... I knew then I wasn't wired for the floating bathhouse potential of an all-gay ship... and certainly not now.  But I've been researching groups, or smaller ships.
 

1. Use common sense.  If something seems to good to be true, it is.  If that inner warning light is flashing,abort.
If I think back on my bad experiences, I can attribute most to my own determination to override that inner voice that told me "this is a bad idea".
2. If starting to feel victimized, have some fortitude.   I've never been physically threatened, but I've had guys try to use intimidation to cheat me.  I'm no big brave guy... but I've taken a deep breath and 
-pulled the car over, gone to the passenger side and yanked out a scammer who wouldn't leave
-picked up the phone in a hotel room and asked for security to rid myself of a problem.
-stood my ground demanding my money back after I paid upon his arrival at my place, then refusal to do anything
-just gotten up and left when at their place, and it's clear they were dishonest.
I'm always surprised when I read reports by guys who conceded defeat very quickly, not want to make a fuss, avoiding confrontation, even following through after arriving to a dishonest description. The bad guys exploit that.  Every situation is different... I'm not advocating placing oneself in danger.  Just don't be a wimp.
 

Never ever pay someone in advance of even meeting them.

LOL! Ya know... part of me wants to be judgmental, wants to feel that its wrong to objectify someone. Strangers aren't meat on display.
 
Yet, there I was, shopping for clothes Tuesday. And some young guy was perusing the racks near me, with an ass on display in grey fleece workout shorts that made me stop... I had to control the urge to stare... I could have set my intended purchases on the shelf of his butt!
 
I choose to believe that, with changing societal norms, younger men are more comfortable showing off. Last times in Vegas, I kept seeing and hearing guys just walking along the Strip, talking about their attire, comparing triceps, etc. In a modern twist on the bimbo's "does this skirt make my thighs too big?" I actually heard a guy respond to friends joshing about a shirt with "yeah, but it makes my pecs look great!"

Well that was easy and instantaneous!

I met him several times.  1 hour a few times, one overnight, one 24-hour.  
There are pros and cons with anyone; he was, perhaps, the best I ever met at reading his customer. A little too careless for his own good with respect to his identity; over the course of our times together, he unintentionally revealed real name, home city, legit job, etc.  I remember thinking "you're lucky I'm not a stalker or blackmailer."
Fun.  And, for me, an example of someone who did well, and moved on in a respectable manner.  I don't know what specifically happened to him, and never encountered anyone since with his particular attributes and skills. 

I love dogs.
I dont have a dog. I travel with minimal notice. Often away from home for long hours. It wouldn't be fair to the animal.
I had a college ex-roommate who got a dog, tired of the dog, tied its leash to the police station door. Not long thereafter got a new puppy, tired of it, and abandoned that one at the police station too. I think that was the moment in life I understood the term "seeing red!" But thats why I wont get a dog until Im certain I can provide a longterm appropriate home.

Breads: a puff pasty. A cornbread loaf.. a cornbread hoe cake. A yeast doughnut (didnt like that) a puff pastry shell. My favorite... brioche, no crust, griddled in clarified butter.
 
Protein accompaniment. I like but not wildly in love with bacon, ham, etc. Loved: Roasted wild mushrooms. Dungeness crab. Roasted cajun shrimp. Carnitas. Braised, shredded shortrib. But, the semi-traditional alternative remains my favorite: sliced smoked salmon

Not busted yet... but worried i may leap into dirty old man territory this coming week.
 
For years, a neighbor kid cleaned my yard. Hes grown and lost interest. So i ran a craigs gigs ad, and mixed in among all the replies, is this one saying
 
"Hello, my name is XXXXXX. I am coming home from XXXXXXX university this week, where I'm on the football team. Id like to do the job. " i look him up.... college athletes tend to have pics and stats online, and he has facebook & instagram.
 
19, 6'2, 185 lbs, model looks... pics on the beach showing off a ripped bod, appears to enjoy flexing the guns in every photo......
 
He starts this coming week. Im actually nervous that ill do something stupid, revealing myself to be CREEPY dirty old man..
 
If only id never read impossible gay fiction or had never seen gay porn with seedy fantasyland plotlines.....

This boils down to don't shit where you eat and if coworkers are ALREADY gossiping about it, best to not act on it. If nobody knew but you two I'd say MAYBE give it a go...