Las Vegas, NV

…if it can be done and it’s wrong, you can almost certainly do it in Vegas.

Las Vegas City Council members are considering a new law to ban short-term home rentals for big parties in residential neighborhoods.

This makes perfect sense. Just rent out the house for a weekend and then let a horde of people trash it. I wish I could say this surprises me or makes me angry but it sounds like par for the course so far.

The real question will be, “Where will they go now?”

This story is so good I almost don’t believe it.

Normally, in Vegas, you get a story like this:

Las Vegas is going to get the world’s smallest Battlestar Galactic reenactment bridge. Only one person will be allowed in at one time and the tickets are going to be $85.00.

But the idea that we will be getting two full sized sports arenas? That’s just amazing. Maybe Oscar Goodman did something right for once!

In Vegas, the casinos will do anything to get you in. But this story really tells me that there is a definite push to bring in locals and to create a consistent customer base.

The deals from the Silverton, in fact, are pretty good. Buy one, get one beers in a town where you can be charged - and I am really not joking here - by the ounce for it.

I’ve never been one for happy hours but the longer I live in Vegas the more I find your schedule shifts into a more sleepless territory. You find yourself getting by on five hours a night because the rest of your time is occupied.

The other evening a friend and I were out looking for a place to find a fine cigar. We happened upon a local shop called the Tobacco Leaf, in Henderson. Their prices were reasonable and their lounge was comfy. It’s hard to find a good cigar shop in Vegas as the majority of ’smoke shops’ are nothing more than bongs and cigarettes but the Tobacco Leaf definitely fit the bill.

The much advertised - often confusingly so - Springs Preserve has finally opened in Vegas. A cornucopia of kids naturey hands on kind of stuff.

The only reason they open stuff like this is that one of the biggest complaints from locals in Vegas is a lack of kid related activities. The city, overall, isn’t terribly kid friendly. It’s not meant to be, in fact.

“Ideally, this represents to Las Vegas what Central Park represents to New York City,” preserve spokesman Jesse Davis said, expressing a theme as carefully crafted as the faux rock canyons and the centerpiece five-building Desert Living Center.

And of course, the city will make some money on it too. I’m not sure the Central Park theme is spot on. I imagine Central Park might be uncomfortable in the summer but the Springs Preserve will make you feel like your skin is on fire here. Which is why it will be swamped with elementary school kids next month and the months following. I am going to wait to take my kids next spring. That will be the best possible time to do it.

Friday

- First Friday!

- Goddess Full Moon festivities at Sekhmet Temple. Join other Luna fans for a potluck dinner after the ritual, which starts at 7:00pm.

Saturday

- The Mad Science program “Fire and Ice” will be premiering at two North Las Vegas libraries. The Mad Science program teaches kids the science behind magic tricks. The event is free and all ages are welcome. The North Las Vegas Main Branch located at 2300 Civic Center Dr shows at 10:30am, and the Aliante Library at 2400 Deer Springs Way shows at 1:00pm.

- New Country KWNR 95.5FM will be hosting the 2007 Country Summer Bash at the Club at the Cannery located at 2121 East Craig Road. Tickets are $25 and you must be 21 to attend. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-287-4643. Neal McCoy, Jamie O’Neal and Donovan Chapman will be among the entertainers performing.

Sunday

- Angel Park Golf Club, located at 100 S Rampart Blvd, will be hosting the “Play Golf America Day” to promote the game of golf. The event is put on by the Southwest Section PGA and offers free clinics and lessons by the pros. Activities start at 10:00am and continue on until 3:00pm. All ages welcome.

- The Las Vegas Gladiators will play the Arizona Rattlers at the Orleans Arena, located at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Kickoff is at 3:00pm. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 284-7777.

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!

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.

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.

We’re supposed to have some record breaking highs this weekend (98° - yuck!) so make sure you bring plenty of water and slap on the sunblock!

Saturday & Sunday
- Sesame Street Live! presents “Elmo Makes Music” at the Cox Pavilion. Tickets are $16-$30, call 739-3267. There are three performances today at 10:30am, 2:00pm & 5:30pm, and two tomorrow (April 30) at 1:00pm & 4:30pm. My neighbor and her young son went to this yesterday and loved it!

Saturday
- The Berenstain Bears Musical, based on five of the popular childrens’ books by Jan and Stan Berenstain, will be performing at the Henderson Pavilion tonight from 5pm-8:30pm. Tickets are $10-$15. A pre-show Teddy Bear Picnic starts at 5pm until 7pm.

- The District at Green Valley Ranch has begun their spring series of outdoor movie screening on Friday and Saturday nights. The movies start at sundown (around 7:30). Tonight’s movie is “Back To the Future.”

Sunday
- The United Jewish Community / Jewish Federation of Las Vegas will be hosting a community Israel Independence Day celebration concert Sunday from 1:30pm-3:30pm. Tickets are $5, call 732-0556.

- The Las Vegas Gladiators play the Orlando Predators Sunday at the Orleans Arena. Kickoff is at 3pm. Tickets range from $15-$80 and can be purchased online or by calling 731-4977.

- The Sahara West Library is hosting an Asian Culture Fair Sunday from 12pm-4pm. Local organizations and clubs will be displaying crafts, traditional Asian dancing, costumes, food and live entertainment. For more information call 507-3630.

- The 4th Annual Celebration of Life will release live butterflies at Hills Park in Summerlin on Sunday at 2pm. Smooth Jazz 105.7 “The Oasis” is sponsoring this fundraiser for the Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation. Call 938-3959 for more information.

- The Aruba Casino will be offering free swing dance lessons for beginners starting at 8pm, followed by dancing from 8:30pm-midnight. Donations are appreciated. The Aruba Casino is at 1215 Las Vegas Blvd So. For more information contact Mark at 236-6792.