Las Vegas, NV

Google has released a new toy: Street View Maps. You can check out the Strip without even leaving your desk.

I think it’s a neat idea, especially when used for public places like the Strip, finding a grocery store, etc, but it seems to get a bit sketchy when used on private/personal property. What do you think?

It’s that time again - First Friday in the Arts District! First Friday takes place this Friday, June 1.

Join local artists and musicians as they display their talents and wares down at the Arts District from 6pm - 10pm. A First Friday event map is located here.

Since it began in October of 2002, FIRST FRIDAY has only continued to grow. It is now considered the premier arts event in Las Vegas. From the shops and galleries on Charleston (the Arts Factory, S2, Modify and more) to the new galleries on Main Street (Dust and Godt-Cleary Projects) to the recently opened spaces on Commerce (Commerce Street Studios), down to the whimsical offerings of the Funk House antique store, and the innovative artists’ cottages at Colorado and Casino Center.

While many people love to walk the neighborhood and work is underway to make the area even more foot-traffic friendly, the City of Las Vegas also kindly provides arts tour buses that make rounds throughout the area and make pick ups every 15 minutes throughout the evening. And no matter how you decide to get around, you can always expect a diverse crowd, cool local art, live music, street performances and plenty of surprises!

This is a couple of months old but I still think it’s a pretty neat video.

from LeavingLasVegas.net

Everyone have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

It comes as no surprise that Las Vegas takes the top spot for the nation’s driest city. I have a few friends and family members I need to call and say “I told you so!”

California, Montana, Nevada and Arizona rank as the driest states, while Mobile, AL, Pensacola, FL, and New Orleans, LA took the top spots for rainiest cities.

The study ranked 195 cities in the contiguous 48 states by the amount of rainfall they received annually over a 30-year period.

The husband and I are planning to go to Interop this Wednesday. He’s been many times before but this’ll be my first, and I’m anticipating being mildly interested or bored out of my skull. I’ll try and report back if I remember. It’s in town until Friday at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and is the “leading business technology event, bringing together IT and business leaders to see all of the latest technologies in action.” There will be over 450 exhibitors, and more than 200 educational sessions and live demos.

Exposition hours are Tuesday May 22, 10:00am–5:00pm; Wednesday May 23, 10:00am–5:00pm; and Thursday May 24, 10:00am–3:00pm. Further information can be found on the Attendee FAQ.

A weblog is available, as well as webcasts and a Flickr set.

There will be an attendee party on Tuesday, May 22, from 5-7pm at Rum Jungle Mandalay Bay. The Interop attendee party is open to anyone with an educational or Expo Plus Pass. There will also be a “Booth Crawl” (for sampling some tasty beverages, of course) on Tuesday from 3:30-5:00pm.

Whether you live here or are just here for a weekend, the following links should help getting and finding things around the city a little easier:

- VegasGasPrices.com Just what the name suggests. Site users submit prices they’ve seen around the valley and keep the list pretty accurate. We don’t check it out every time we need gas because sometimes there’s just not that much of a difference, but if our usual station seems to be inflated we’ll call home and see if there’s anything else worth a few minutes’ drive. Channel 8 also offers a Gas Buddy page for further news and information on gas prices.

- Southern Nevada Traffic Cams and the Las Vegas Monorail Route.

- Maps of the Strip, Downtown areas, and off-strip locations, as well as descriptions of the majority of hotels and casinos around the city.

- What are you in the mood for? iEatVegas.com has a great listing of the restaurants, buffets and eateries around town.

- Vegas.com has a pretty complete listing of Vegas shows, including productions shows, adult shows, magic, headliners, comedy, tributes, etc.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal is running several contests this month:

Win tickets to the Fantastic Four. “Enter for your chance to see a special screening of this movie.”

See Eloise In Hollywood. “Enjoy a family-night out at a special weekend showings of this movie.”

Race to the Finish contest. “Select the winners throughout the NASCAR season and have a chance at cash prizes.”

Mayor Oscar Goodman will be at the Starbucks on 10260 W. Charleston Blvd this Friday from 7:30am to 9:00am for a “casual conversation” with other Vegas citizens to voice concerns or to just meet and say hello.

I looked at my site stats over the weekend and found that many people are arriving here with questions and queries in their search strings. For example:

“does las vegas have cockroaches”
That’s a big fat YES. In fact, I had never seen a cockroach before moving here. They’re not huge buggers like what I’ve heard states further south have, but the nasty things do live here.

“no kill animal [shelter] in las vegas”
There are only a couple that I know of: Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary, which I posted about here; BlueSkies Rescue which looks to only take in small animals; and The Nevada SPCA.

“michael jackson / latest news may 2007 las vegas nv”
Still no updates on the giant Michael Jackson robot, sorry.

“living in las vegas nv readers opinions”
See here and here.

“clark county las vegasnv cost of life”
Salary.com has a very handy calculator for this, and CNNMoney has a pretty similar one as well.

Friday

- The Outdoor Picture Show resumes again tonight with a showing of Spiderman.

Saturday

- Hey, some mom’s like beer! The First Annual Lee’s Beer Experience happens May 12 from 1pm-6pm at the Tuscany Suites & Casino Main Ballroom, 255 East Flamingo. There will be over 100 hand-crafted beers available from all over the country!

- Free matinee! The Clark County Library at 1401 E Flamingo will be showing “Night At the Museum” with Ben Stiller for free at the Jewel Box Theather. The show starts at 2pm and is suitable for the whole family. Call 507-3400 for more info.

- The Henderson Fine Arts Festival kicks off at 10am-6pm and will feature over 200 artists from across the country. There will be entertainment, food, and even a kid’s play area. The event takes place at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S Water St in Henderson.

- The Outdoor Picture show will be showing Cars tonight!

Sunday

- The lasvegasnevada.gov site has a press release of literally dozens of activities for Mother’s Day! Some events include a Mother’s Day LUncheon, a Parents’ Night Out, and a Mother/Daughter Tea and Fashion Show, to name a very small few. I had no idea such a treasure trove existed. Make sure you check it out!

- Tonight’s performance of Peter Pan by the Nevada Ballet Theater at the UNLV Judy Bayley Theater will be the last of the season. Tickets range from $29-$69 and are expected to sell out. Call 895-2787 for more info.

This story about a parrot who escaped its owner in Michigan and was found months later in Vegas will only further my argument with my husband that eventually everyone (and apparently everything) visits Vegas at some point.

Konopka said she has spoken to the parrot on the telephone and knows it’s him.

“As soon as he heard my voice, she said he went right for the phone and was saying, ‘Hello,’” she said.

Konopka said Dusty is returning to Detroit via truck and is due home sometime next week.

T-minus 30 days and counting until Clark County kids are out of school for the summer!

Like most parents I’m wondering how on earth I’m going to keep my kids entertained enough that they won’t feel like their little heads will implode from boredom. Below are several great options to check out:

- Mad Science, “the world’s leading provider of fun science programs,” now offers summer camp programs to Las Vegas. Each program is one week long and “children will design, create, build and assemble a variety of interesting projects and will take at least one project home every day.” Camps are designed for children enrolled in grades 1 - 5, and the Radical Robots camp is for kids entering 3rd - 5th grade only. All registrations are handled online and can be done here.

- The City of Las Vegas is also offering low-cost fun programs for kids, and more information can be found at their website.

- The YMCA of Southern Nevada has their Sizzlin’ Summer 3-month Memberships for sale. Fees are Family: $215; Adult: $125; Senior: $110; Student: $90. Benefits include YMCA member access, and unlimited entrance to other city water parks.

- The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District will be having weekly youth storytimes and programs.

- Las Vegas Kids.net has a very comprehensive calendar of family-friendly events, listed week-by-week. Activities include horseback riding, shows and concerts, interactive fish feeding, and a comedy pet theater, to name a few.

Friday

- First Friday takes place, as the name suggests, on the first Friday of every month. Local artists and musicians display their talents and wares down at the Arts District from 6pm - 10pm. A First Friday event map is located here. We plan to be there, as my astounding photograph-ninja friend has a booth there!

Saturday

- The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada’s 4th Annual Art Show and Silent Auction happens Saturday! Don’t miss it!

- Cinco de Mayo Festival at Lorenzi Park (720 Twin Lakes Dr) from 6pm-10pm in the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza. Lots of family activities! Call 229-1087 for more information. Admission is free.

- Outdoor concert: Saxaphonist Paul Taylor at the Clark County Amphitheater (500 S. Grand Central Parkway). Admission is free.

Saturday and Sunday

- The San Gennaro Italian Festival is in full swing until the 6th. Located in the shopping center next to Target and Sears on Flamingo, the festival will have live entertainment, rides and games and ethnic food vendors. Tonight’s festival starts at 4pm-midnight. Saturday is 11am-midnight, and Sunday’s schedule is 11am-11pm.