Open For Business: A day at the new Navajo Nation casino

Pulling into the parking lot Saturday afternoon, I was relieved to see there were still lots of spaces available at the new Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, even though this was only the day after the grand opening Friday, when about 2,000 folks had come to celebrate.

My friend Trilby and I had zipped out to experience the casino environment while everything was still sparkling new for the Memorial Day holiday.

We were not disappointed, beginning with the elegant entrance, where some drivers were availing themselves of the free valet parking, which seemed to include a car window wash.

Our arrival inside was equally impressive as the splendid hotel lobby, or rotunda, has a custom, shimmering chandelier with hand-blown black, blue, yellow and white glass rings with droplets of crystal cascading down through the rings, like water streaming from above.