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January 16, 2005
Happy Birthday Las Vegas
2005 will bring in the celebration
of Las Vegas' centennial year. Not very old as far as most cities
go, but this city does have an interesting past, for a young city. I like
some of the
old
photos of Las Vegas. Pictured here is the Flamingo of the "Bugsy"
fame. Also, is an old photo from the Eldorado. This photo caught my eye because
of the donkeys in the bar. This reminds me of
Oatman, AZ,
just outside of Laughlin, NV. In Oatman, you can still very possibly see
a burro or two in the local saloon. Actaully the official celebration
began on New Year's Eve, with a somewhat impressive fireworks display from
the rooftops of about ten hotels along The Strip. I say somewhat
impressive, because depending on who you talk to, and their vantage point
usually determines whether or not it was worth the wait in the
crowd. I watched from bed. I guess I'm getting old.
posted by
Andy
11:09am |
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January 15, 2004
La Conchita, CA
Since most of us have seen nothing bur the
tragic
images of the mud slides that killed ten people at La Conchita, California
recently, I thought I would share a photo of why people live here. While
the media shows the terrible pictures of the hillside coming down, what many
people may not realize is that directly behind you is the Pacific, separated
only by Highway 101 (PCH here) and a set of railroad tracks. On the news
I've heard La Conchita referred to as a "small town" but really this is just
a small village, actually a hamlet. Population only about 300, and about
12 or more miles to the nearest town, which would be Carpinteria to to the
North, and Ventura to the South. I know this because I almost lived here.
Shortly after my move to Ventura County in the late 80's I quickly fell in
love with this area. I also became very intrigued by La Conchita. I thought
on several occasions about renting a property there. Having a boat docked
at the Ventura Harbor for some years, I traveled both by boat and car between
Ventura and Santa Barbara often. It's a funny little place, directly across
the street from the ocean, with a gas station, and a convenience store. Seacliff
Beach, and Mussel Shoals. Any Surfer in CA, knows these beaches. Me not being
a surfer, I'm more familiar with the
Cliff House hotel at Mussel Shoals.
A very small, but quaint hotel on the ocean, almost bordering on a motel
kind of place, but very isolated and private.
Ten
years ago, during the time I was traveling each week between L.A.
and Santa Maria, CA for work,
this
hillside gave way, and destroyed about 3-5 homes. Just about every home
on the back street. It also closed down the 101 in both directions, the main
artery to the north of L.A. without going inland to the Interstate
5. 101 is closed once again. A good friend tells me that people are commuting
from Santa Barbara to Ventura by boat. If it were not for the loss of lives
I'd almost be jealous to have to take a boat to work. I don't know about
the future of La Conchita now. It doesn't look good. The people who own property
have seen the value go in the toilet, when the average price of a home in
Ventura is about $750,000. Still, there is little wonder why someone
would settle here. Good luck to the those in La Conchita.
I
suspect most will stay.
posted by
Andy
7:42pm |
The view from La Conchita
The Pool at the Cliff House in Mussel
Shoals.
The 1995 Slide
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January 7, 2005
Brief Hiatus
The brief hiatus is over. Yea, I took a break. Not that I intended to, but
since Thanksgiving, things have been real busy around here. So Happy Holidays,
Chistmas too, and Happy New Year as well. I did find time to keep up on the
regular Blogs that I visit. You will start seeing more frequent postings
(is that a good thing?).
posted by
Andy
8:14pm
Another Reason to Like Living in Nevada
We get a rebate! This would have never happened in California. Of course
in the many years I've lived in California, I don't think there was ever
a surplus. Because of Nevada's roaring economy, and the misfortunes of so
many gamblers visiting this quirky state, Governor Kenny Guinn has decided
to
give
back 300 million dollars to motorists that registered their car in 2004.
Up to $300 per vehicle! Now I can imagine what non-motorists may be thinking.
"What about me!" I think that the registration rebate has the easiest and
least expensive way to give it back. Even though, the non-drivers do get
short changed. Should I share my rebate with some non-driving tax payers?
posted by
Andy
8:38pm
November, Today
Greta!
Here's a picture of half a grilled cheese sandwich that supposedly has the
image of the Virgin Mary on one of its toasted sides. The sandwich is ten
years old, and recently sold in an online auction for $28,000. WOW!
I should have been a fry cook. I knew it. I really don't mind sightings
and visions of the spectacular. I find it curious. It has happened for so
long. But this is interesting to me only because I don't see the virgin mary
here. Forgive me, and I know some people won't understand this. I do not
pretend to know what the virgin mary looks like. I have seen pictures that
portray the image, and most do not look like this. Then again. I repeat,
I don't know. I have seen pictures of other Virgin Mary sightings, and maybe
from living in the Southwest, most of those images bared the image of Our
Lady of Guadalupe. This grilled cheese sandwich image doesn't meet that
profile (I know I sound prejudiced). To me me, this image conjures
up Greta Garbo. Am I wrong here? I have a toaster that puts Micky Mouse grilled
on the bread. Never saw a Greta toaster though.
posted by
Andy
9:08pm
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November 16, 2004
Good Bye D.I.
The early buildings of the Las Vegas Strip are all but gone. Now you have
to go downtown to find some of the original or early hotels of
this town. Sure the Flamingo is still there, but I don't think "Bugsy" would
recognize it. The Desert Inn opened in 1950, around the time of the Tropicana
(which is still there), and that of the Frontier which is still there
too, but it is now known as the New Frontier. Actually the New
Frontier is probably up next for implosion, just a guess. If you've
followed the implosions over the years, you realize that this town doesn't
give a poker chip for nostalgia. Las Vegas has no problem about bringing
down a piece of its history. At least to a point anyway.
There
was one thing different about this implosion. Something that is similar
to that of The Sands, which was also kind of low-key. It was not open to
the public, and it was conducted around 2am. It wasn't made
a spectacle of, and was not part of some movie production. Most think
this is due to safety concerns, but I like to think it is because of the
significance these two properties hold the the town's history. This is the
birthplace of The Strip as many people like to remember it. True, some properties
came first, but the entertainment history of Las Vegas have made these two
properties part of the fabric that brought The Strip to life in its heyday.
I was in both the Desert Inn, and The Sands, before they met the explosives.
I also made it to the Dunes, Hacienda, and the Aladdin (never made it
to the Landmark). There was something different about the D.I. and Sands.
Maybe it was that I was aware of the history. Probably. Then again,
I think there is a sort of respect that is given to these properties that
other hotels just never quite earned. Either way, we are moving on. This
was the most recent implosion of the Desert Inn Property. The hotel
closed in 2000, and last night's implosion was just the final part of the
clearing of the hotel. The new Wynn
Hotel (where the D.I. property once stood, and where phase I is very
near completion) is due to open in April 2005. I will gain from the change,
in that I am already doing a fair amount of advertising volume
from businesses within the new resort. The New Wynn Resort is
impressive too. With its towering presence on The Strip, and Steve
Wynn's signature illuminated at the top, the Wynn resort will be hard
to miss. You could have drove right past the D.I. and never new it. So the
lack of the D.I. certainly won't change the skyline of Las
Vegas nearly as much as the addition of the Wynn Resort. Well, at least
visibly anyway.
posted by
Andy
10:30pm
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In 1952, when Frank Sinatra's career was in a downturn, among
those who still called him friend were Jack Benny, left, the comic Ritz
Brothers, and his wife, actress Ava Gardner,
photographed together at the Desert Inn.
LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU |
November 5, 2004
This is Josh
I work with Josh. Well, I work in the same office as Josh. He's a writer
for one of the publications
I sell advertising for. I don't know Josh well, actually not at all.
Well, at least not much more than an occasional Hm,mm (with a
nod) while passing between cubes in the office. Ya know, going between coffee
& the bathroom kind of stuff. This week's column is about how
he stayed
up for 24 hours and did nothing but watch television. Ok, it's not the
kind of subject that reaches out and grabs you, but I like working around
this creative, talented type people. I've been putting deals together too
long I think. I enjoy the company lately. There's lots of very talented and
creative people around. I am liking this.
posted by
Andy
9:05pm
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Haircut? You must be kidding. |
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Only in Nevada
In the wake of the recent election, maybe a story from the lighter
side will help. In White Pine County, Nevada, two commission candidates ran
to a even tie on Tuesday. Exactly 1,847 votes each. Nevada law requires
such ties to be broken in a game of chance. So off to the local variety
store they all went to buy a deck of cards. Highest card drawn from the deck
wins, or something like that. Makes you wonder.
posted by
Andy
6:39am
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White Pine County Commission candidates Ray Urrizaga,
78, left, and Bob Swetich, 65, shake hands after drawing cards to break their
electoral tie. Urrizaga drew a queen to defeat Swetich, who drew a
seven.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.
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November 2, 2004
"Honest to goodness the bars weren't open this morning, they must have
been voting for the president or something..."
(X, from More Fun in the New World - a real oldie).
Regardless of the outcome today, at least the ads will stop. I wonder how
long it will take for the local candidates to take down their signs. I must
not think bad thoughts.
posted by
Andy
6:30am
October 20, 2004
Our House Is Done!
I've finally moved into the new house. It's been a long road. Three days
after the first part of the move-in, my mom came into town. Not her fault!
I always will gladly accept my mom's company. Plus I didn't know exactly
when the house would close, and we would move in. Actually I thought
it was going to happen much closer to November. In any event the move
happened on October 1st, and it was great to get settled in. I love
it. The pool is not done yet, but it won't take too much longer. Anyway,
I'm still here, more posts to come soon.
posted by
Andy
8:53pm
September 24, 2004
It's All Fantasy!
Football time is here. There was a time I couldn't care less. Whether
it's because I'm getting older, or I just really like the idea of picking
individual players from the entire NFL list of teams to make up your
own team, in order to compete with nine other teams in your league, I enjoy
it all the same. Anyway, we are going into week three already, and my team,
the Rat Pack, is 1-1. I am expecting Daunte Culpepper (my Quarterback) to
have an extraordinary game against the Bears this week. Also for what it
is worth I am going with Atlanta over Arizona in Atlanta, and Cincinnati
over Baltimore. Here's the tricky one, I'll take New Orleans (the Whoddattas,
the Bless You boys, the Black and Gold, the Cha-Chings) over St. Louis, in
St. Louis. Let's see how it goes. If the picks go well, maybe I'll add it
to a regular part of the blog during the season. Of course it doesn't
hurt to have an acquaintance that is a professional handicapper here
in town. It's all in fun.
posted by
Andy
9:40pm
The Tribe has Spoken... YOU'RE FIRED!
It's that time of year again. Except instead of kicking someone off, or firing
them, The Beast of
Buffalo, NY is trying to add someone. A Mayor. I read about this in
the local paper here in Vegas. Yea, it was buried way back in the oddball
news area, but it still caught my eye. If it works for Mayor of Buffalo,
what about ... nah, forget it.
PS: Democrats only, please.
posted by
Andy
9:15pm |
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September 11, 2004
A Bay Area Morning
I wake up at 4:15am, and it's the usual fast shower and coffee to get on
the road by 5:00am. I do this all so I can make the 5:45am Bart train
out of Bay Point to Oakland. Getting in my car in Discovery Bay and going
to work is always hard, since living here is like being on vacation. Morning
radio is very typical, most of it pre-recorded at this hour, so I listen
to my own music. Traffic is minimal as I leave. Hey, I live in farm country
(and I like it, get that), not many people to compete with yet. As I get
near Bay Point I hit the commuter rush. About 5 miles from the station the
traffic stops. I know this will be the worse part of the morning commute.
Me being me, I raise my blood pressure by cursing the situation, of course
it never helps. Still, I get to the Bay point station on time. I like taking
Bart to work, as long as I get there before the rush. I got a parking
space, the day's looking good so far. As I leave my car I sense the fresh
air and the moon that is still very noticeable, it's still dark. I've been
doing this for a while now, but many times I think of an old friend
that has been taking the train to work for years. I have to get a ticket
before my train arrives, so I am rushing. There's always someone that is
backing up the line, because this is the first time they ever bought a ticket
(yea right). After getting the ticket, I make it down to the platform and
wait for the train, while I watch the sun rise with about a half dozen other
commuters (this part of the rail is is elevated). It's kinda cold, but it's
early and it's San Francisco. The train is on time, and since it's the beginning
of the line, and Bart Police have just evicted all the overnight sleepers,
all the seats are open, take your pick. As the train makes the seven or so
stops on it's way into Oakland, I read some of the paper, and doze off. Hey,
it's early! I seem to always come around at the right time though. The 27th
Street stop in Oakland at this hour is always good and empty. At about 6:45am
make my way up to the street level (yes, they have a subway in San Fransisco),
and start my walk a block over to Webster Street, where I work on the 19th
floor. I make my way up to the 19th floor and enter my pass code to enter
the office (this is probably the hardest part of my job). I get to my cube,
and get settled in. I start to get my day in order when, my next door
cube buddy B. interrupts by saying "Have you heard!", "heard what?" I said.
It was at that time I was informed of what had been happening since before
I even boarded that Bart train earlier. The planes have crashed into the
World Trade Center (we were not informed about any other planes yet). My
friend B said "we are at war!" then a women in the office asked "who would
have done this?" I replied with "Osama bin Laden." "Who?" was the response.
After explaining what I knew about Osama, we started trying to get information
about what was happening in New York. Every news website I knew could not
handle the traffic, and was pretty much locked up. CNN was up but all pics
were old. All I saw were pics from a helicopter showing the towers on fire.
After a while all we saw was a huge cloud over lower Manhattan. I feared
the worse. The worse came true. Not long after, amongst the news that this
all may not be over, we were told to leave the building. Now I found myself
in the car of my wife's brother (who also worked there) on our way to my
car at Bay Point. As we make the drive, the radio informs us that Discovery
Bay has been evacuated, due to a tanker spill. Of course the idea of additional
terrorism went through our minds, but since common sense got the better of
us all, nobody ever mentioned it. I lived on the water way from San Francisco
to the inland cities, it was possible that a the tanker could have been a
cargo ship. Didn't happen. Still I couldn't get home, and wound up at my
wife's mother's house. My wife along with her mother and my daughter
were in Southern California for a week, so I was alone. It pretty much
sucked being alone during this.
My experience with this tragedy is far removed compared to the people who
lived in New York at the time, and certainly completely irrelevant to
the people that lost their lives and the families that lost loved ones. I
do recall on that very day in my office, telling a fellow worker that I hoped
this wouldn't be used as a reason to go back in to Iraq. Yea, I said that
about 9:30pdt on 9/11. This is the first anniversary of he attacks since
I started this blog. I just wanted to put in to words what happened from
my perspective. Regardless of our political side, we can never forget what
happened three years ago.
posted by
Andy
11:32pm
September 6, 2004
Happy Labor Day
I let my six year old daughter K. listen to some tunes I had on had on the
iPod. I know she probably doesn't need to hear some of the songs on it, but
I figured, for a little while, what could it hurt. Plus, she insisted, and
I find it hard to hold back on any musical interests she has. It wasn't that
long ago that she liked The Wiggles,
enough said. After a while, she came running in and said "hey dad, you gotta
hear this song, it's really good!" I told her that I heard all the songs,
and that I was the person who put them there. She insisted with "you never
heard this one!" Well, of course I had to take a listen, and as it turns
out, her new song she liked so much was London Calling. Pretty cool.
I thought for a moment, why did this get her attention? Maybe it was the
line "come out of the cupboards, you boys and girls." For me
that line always conjures up visions of Eddy Munster anyway. More likely
it was, "phony beatlemania has bitten the dust." Either way, it was
pretty cool.
posted by
Andy
7:48pm
September 5, 2004
And on that note...
I've been asked to perform with
Frantz Hall's
group; Jazz Alive. I met Frantz while meeting with a tobacco and
coffee company here in Las Vegas. I have met some very interesting people
while working on this organization's marketing needs. One such person being
Jimmy Payton, brother to the legendary
Walter Payton of the
Chicago Bears. Another, of course is Frantz Hall, a very accomplished jazz
pianist, whose jazz ensemble has been playing at such well known venues as
Mandalay, Bellagio, Caesar's, Venetian, Palms and so on. Meeting such people
is one of the reasons I love this town. When I moved here, I joked with
my wife that my professional musical interests may rise once again like
a phoenix. I never thought that it may really happen. As it turns out, maybe
it will happen. My chops on the electric bass are there, but I will need
to break some cobwebs on the stand up. I can't wait.
posted by
Andy
10:04pm
September 4, 2004
A New Hootel?
One of the latest paragraphs in this town's story of hotel merger/buyouts
has to do with the
San
Remo. The San Remo has
had seven names and/or owners in the past thirty years. I always thought
of it as a peculiar property. It's too tucked away, well at least it was,
for many years. Now that the growth explosion has mushroomed in that area,
it's not quite the odd ball property it once was. The hotel has always made
a profit over the years, just not the kind of dollars that the mega resorts
make. In other words, while they made a positive bottom line, there was never
enough to reinvest in the property, thus it fell behind. Until now.
Hooters,
has entered into the gaming arena, and has plans to work with the existing
owners of the San Remo to transform the property into a destination resort.
It just may work since the hotel is so close to the airport. It would be
a natural for Hooters Air to
offer air and hotel packages. I hope it works.
posted by
Andy
6:12pm |
The San Remo is dwarfed by it's neighbors. Even the aging Tropicana
towers over the property, not to mention the Mandalay Bay giant in the
background, and the MGM Grand (unseen in photo) across the
street. |
September 3, 2004
The Bronze Age
I guess that is what we are entering here in this household. Wife
A., has teamed up with an old
friend of mine who has been importing bronze works from Thailand.
Her new assignment is to establish retail accounts in the lucrative Las Vegas
market. Now that our daughter K., has entered the first grade this week,
there will more time on A's schedule. I met my wife in the advertising sales
business, so I know she has what it takes to make her new endeavor a success.
So it goes without saying, that if anyone desires a unique bronze sculpture,
fountain or statuary from table top, to full-size, just drop an email.
posted by
Andy
7:52pm |
Yea, it's full size. |
Welcome Back Ronstadt & Moore
Well it's final. The
Planet
Hollywood people have officially taken owner the failing Aladdin. I was
at the new Aladdin the day it opened back in 2000. I should have realized
then that things may not go so well for this property. The elevators stopped
working on night one, forcing people to sleep in the casino (or walk up to
that high-rise room). Then of course things didn't work right, from the service
in the restaurants to the valet parking. I just figured that it was a bad
idea to try out a new property on it's first day. Hey, things can go wrong
right. Wrong. It should never have been as bad as it was for the Aladdin.
Later I realized that it was poor planning, management and the list goes
on. New resorts open all the time, and while there are always a few wrinkles,
they are usually kept to a minimum, and rectified rather quickly. Still I
was somewhat excited to see the new Aladdin. The original Aladdin was the
first casino I ever visited, plus it was part of the old Vegas people like
to talk so much about. I was happy to see the the new property maintain some
of the original architectural themes of the original. The new owners plan
to dramatically increase the entertainment venues at the hotel, and book
some top quality shows. These changes will include a new facade,
and name, eventually. Of course, Ronstadt is welcome back, along with Michael
Moore. Interesting to see if it ever happens.
posted by
Andy
6:59pm |
Aladdin President Mike Mecca, left, and
Planet Hollywood Chief Executive Officer
Robert Earl talk about their first day as the
owners of the Aladdin on Wednesday. The long-awaited sale of the hotel-casino
to Earl's investment group closed around 3 a.m.
The new owners plan to spend $500 million renovating the
property.
Photo by Clint Karlsen. |
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