Dragon Boat Racing on Lake Las Vegas for The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
Rehab at Hard Rock Hotel Grand Opening Weekend
What a party. It is the grand opening weekend of Rehab at the pool at Hard Rock Hotel and Friday night kicked off the swimsuit season.
The beach was jumping. This is definitely the place to see and be seen and there were a lot of things to see. Las Vegas At Its Best Columnist Chick Hughes with some friends...
JET topped off the night with a heart pounding sound that only added to the experience. What a great way to celebrate my birthday!
MIXing It UP On the 64th Floor
The MIX Lounge and MIX Restaurant not only have one of the best views of The Strip... their food and hospitality are as high as the floor they're on. I took this photo at the top of the Hotel at Mandalay Bay from the MIX Lounge open air balcony.
Mix Lounge Manager Gregg Dipipi is a great host. He is pictured here with me and our Music Seen Editor Steve Tuminello.
This is one of the great chandeliers in MIX Restaurant
We had a superior meal in the restaurant and an excellent wine pairing (a 5 liter bottle of an Oregon Pinot Noir) presented by Sommelier and Wine Director Kelly McAuliffe who holds the distinction of being the only US citizen to be a Sommelier of a Michelin-starred restaurant in France.
ETA Charges Into Mandalay Bay
The Electronic Transactions Association (the credit card people) were in town this week for their annual convention.In our convention town I see a lot of Advertising Specialties. One of the best I've seen was being given away by N V M S.
This cool little toy was attracting a lot of attention. You just throw it up against the wall and it climbs down the wall by itself... of course with the advertising message.
Here is this great tool shown by Paul Luetkemeyer from National Vendor Management Services in Virginia.
Road Trip to Hoover Dam
It's only a 30 mile drive to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas. It's worth the trip. This amazing marvel of technology was built in five years ending in 1936. A total of 21,000 men worked on this project that moved more than 5.5 million cubic yards of material.
Hoover Dam weighs more than 6.6 million tons and rises 726.4 feet from foundation rock to the roadway on the crest of the dam.
Highway 95 crosses over the Dam after a security check that will not let any truck go over. Rental RVs, cars, SUVs, vans, and even dual-rear wheel pickups are allowed if they are easily inspected. On Friday's and holidays expect major delays driving over the dam.
There is a new Dam Bypass that should be completed in 2008. I took some photos of the approach bridges and construction to show the progress. They say it will cut over 30 minutes from the drive to Arizona.
Making progress on the main span over the Colorado River.
You will most likely get to see some Desert Bighorn Sheep on your drive. This herd crossed right in front of my car.
The Bellagio Conservatory
Springs to Life
You can tell it's spring time by the new look of the Conservatory at Bellagio. The photos just don't do it justice. You have to make the time to check it out... and it's all free.
Fashion Show Mall on The Strip Really Is a Fashion Show
At the top of every hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (from noon to 6 pm)... the stage and runway rises up out of the mall floor. A crowd gathers and a really cool fashion show begins. There are huge video screens, amazing lighting effects, and the latest fashions.
Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns Are Over The Top
This 14 piece band delivers an over the top performance every Monday night at The Lounge at The Palms. Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns plays a mix of jazz, funk, latin and few others thrown in for good measure.
The best part is there is no cover and no minimums for this concert quality performance. Leave it to The Palms to offer so much to us. THANK YOU PALMS!
CHECK OUT SOME YOU TUBE LINKS:
Rochon Westmoreland
Drummer Pepe Jimenez
Dueling Trumpets Danny Falcone & Gil Kaupp
Rochon Westmoreland
This is Las Vegas At Its Best TM