Guitar Hotel & Casino in South Florida (Lens-Artist Photo Challenge #184)

Hello Readers, 

The theme for the Lens-Artists’ Photo Challenge is “Travel Has Taught Me…“

I have been wanting to share some photos from the Guitar hotel and Casino in South Florida and so today is the day.  

Traveling to the Guitar Hotel taught me a little bit more about our current culture.

Let’s start with the exterior view:

This hotel (in Hollywood, Florida) cost around $1.5 billion dollars and it is owned by the tribe that owns the Hard Rock chain.  At night, they have high tech LED lights that fill in the neck and headstock. 

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Traveling to this establishment taught me that folks today worship musicians and actors, we love to dine out at fun places, stay in cool rooms, and then many drop a lot of money with the thrill of gambling.

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Part of the celebrity worship is having clothing items hanging from famous people.

Here are Jimi Hendrix pants.

A Lady Gaga Dress

A Jennifer Lopez dress (and by the way, I am still disgusted by her performance at the 2020 Super Bowl – such poor taste – two thumbs down – but this dress on display shows a different (classier) side that J.Lo used to have).

Above: Clothes from the rock band called Paramore, formed in 2004, and not sure I know any of their music.

Above: Madonna, Chilli, and Cher dresses

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Next up is a suit from Italian singer Andrea Bocelli (and we have a gambler in the lower left – and blurred for privacy)

Champagne Song from Bocelli

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Next up – Shirts from Pat and Lolly Vegas

The Vegas brothers were Mexican-American 1960’s musicians of Indigenous descent.

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Let’s see another side to this place- where the money exchange happens – and note the snob appeal to the right – the High Limit Slots. 

In my very humble opinion, I think the gambling places are becoming too popular. Here in Richmond, VA they keep trying to pass a bill to bring in a casino. 

I am not against this hobby, entertainment, or sport (whatever you want to call it) but perhaps it is more fun (and less damaging to society and the everyday person) if we have designated places for it like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, coastal areas, and those cruise ships that allow day trips.

It seems like casinos are popping up everywhere now and it might be too much. Also, the NFL games now allow so many advertisements for gambling on the game outcomes. Sigh…. The United States allows all these drug commercials and now the gambling seems to be flooding in as well – hmmm – not sure what to think. 

I was recently chatting with a couple of bloggers about the TV show Monk – and while the show has some flaws (right C?) – there are some really BRILLIANT episodes. And one of the great episodes is the 2005 Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas (S3E14) – because in that episode they masterfully showed the “many sides” to Vegas – including having Randy Disher get sucked in (and then rescued) with the lure and black hole of gambling. 

 

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Putting the dangers of gambling addiction aside, the cultural artifacts (and building design) at the Guitar Hotel were amazing to experience. Like how fun is it to marvel at this Les Paul guitar? – such a work of art.

The staff and workers throughout the Guitar Hotel were awesome.  I mean they were “Disney World nice” and at least three employees offered to take a photo for us.  I didn’t ask, they were walking by (one was security) and they just offered. They also let you take as many photos as you want – and most casinos say “no cameras” and so that was a nice freedom.

As we wind down this post – here is the piano wall

And the exit to go to the hotel rooms (on this side) has Jimi Hendrix there to escort you out…. (excuse me, while I…. um, go…)

Thanks for checking out this post.

Have you been to this hotel? I am glad we had the chance to finally visit this modern architectural beauty after driving by it on different trips. 

To join in with the Lens-Artists, go here:

https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2022/01/29/travel/

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