Breakfast at Tiffany's

Tiffany's, 1700 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas 702-444-4459 Located inside a small strip mall

Prior to our departure for Las Vegas, Richie came across a Travel secgtion piece on this place. The review was positive; the history was fascinating because Tiffany's has been there for more than 50 years. That carbon dates it back to 1961 or so and the days of the Rat Pack.

It's open 24 hours a day. The decor is original clear back to opening day. There's a counter and stools and several booths. Display cases and the walls hold memorabilia - old patent medicines, sepia-tone photos, posters for long-forgotten movie stars.

When we came trooping in, we were promptly seated, watered, coffee'd and handed menus. Orders varied - biscuits and gravy for this one; ham and eggs for that one and doubles on the corned beef and eggs. All of the servings were generous and the food was good. Our server was bright, friendly and treated us beautifully.

When we came in, a couple was leaving. In passing, they smiled at us and said, "The food's really good here!" Turns out to have been our server's parents, celebrating the mother's 73rd birthday. How's that for community feeling? It sure beat the normal surly/sullen stare of the bovines charging up and down the Strip...

This area here around the Stratosphere has been spiffed up a bit; it's by no means as bad as it was with blowing trash and street people with no discernible means of earning a living. For those reasons I wondered why Tiffany management had hired two security guards to patrol the store and parking lot.

Richie wanted to go to the bank was told, "Oh, it's down there - about two blocks." Red decided to go with him. Barbara and I stayed in the parking lot near the building.

And, lights! Camera! Action! A drunk came wobbling up from the street, clutching a beer bottle. He was dazed and confused. He staggered around the back of an SUV near us and pissed the passenger side door. The security guard yelled, "You can't do that!" but prudently stayed well away. Business concluded, well out of sight of the ladies, the drunk wandered back toward the sidewalk. The security guard shrugged.

Richie and Red were taking so long that Barbara and I went back in to Tiffany's. I ordered a slice of Boston Cream Pie which I don't think I've had since 1946. It was delicious!

As Richie and Red finally walked in, a police car screamed to a halt outside and two female officers wrestled a drunk down on the sidewalk, cuffed him and radioed for transport.

The security guard, who had presumably called them, took several shots of the action with a camera. Security takes pictures to prove that the prisoner left their hands in good condition. It's protection against law suits down the road. They've got every angle covered in Las Vegas.