‘225’: A not-so-savage journey into the heart of the American Dream

Taking a heavy cue from Hunter S. Thompson’s classic novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 225 contributing writer Chris Frink travels to L’Auberge Casino & Hotel to cover its opening, see the sights and taste some of the food. Frink starts off the trip with his veterinarian friend driving him to L’Auberge. Like Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing, Frink’s eyes are dilated, he’s seeing bats and he’s paranoid the entire trip. Unlike Thompson, Frink has just had an eye exam (thus the pupils), and he’s not coming down from whatever drug cocktail Thompson was known for doing. Armed with a satchel full of drugs—all legal prescriptions such as “something for cholesterol,” “baby aspirin” and “a rainbow of flavored antacids”—Frink is in it for the long haul. And readers might be surprised at what he finds: chocolate 18 ways, Hootie sans The Blowfish, Vietnamese food on the buffet, high rollers and a plush suite. Does he lose it all? Does he go completely bats like his idol Thompson? Not quite, but check out his interesting take on the casino opening anyway. It’s in the March issue of 225 and online here.