Not everyone in Las Vegas was at a sportsbook watching the NCAA tournament this past weekend. Many people were out house hunting!

Summerlin hosted what they called America’s Biggest Open House at new home communities last weekend. Judging by the cars in my neighborhood, their campaign is working to get people out looking at the models. When I came home around lunchtime on Saturday, the visitor’s lane at the guard gate in my community was six cars deep, and the parking lot at the sales office was overflowing. While new home prices haven’t quite caught up with the deals out there on foreclosures and short sales, several communities are advertising inticing offers like discounted ready-for-move-in homes (one neighborhood is advertising $155,000 off!) or kitchen and landscaping upgrades for free. Even if people don’t buy the new homes, this event is good for the community because it gets people driving around Summerlin, seeing what the area has to offer.

Video Preview: Episode 66– Springs Preserve

The first ten minutes of Episode #66 of the Living in Las Vegas Podcast, featuring information on the Springs Preserve.

66: Learning About the Origins of Las Vegas at Springs Preserve

Recorded in front of a LIVE Streaming Video Audience (click to see video)!

For many of us, the search for our origins has translated into thousands of dollars of therapy.  And while I’m certainly not one to criticize the need to lay (or is it lie?) on a couch and travel back in time to explore your childhood, allow me to suggest another avenue of discovery.  In this edition of the Living in Las Vegas Podcast, we feature our trip to Springs Preserve, an outstanding place to learn all about your history. . .if by “you” you mean Las Vegas.  Show notes:

• PHOTOS!
• Weather (for the love of God, enough with the wind and rain. . .it was beautiful a couple days ago!) / LiLV Pool (full of seat cushions)
• LiLV Stuff
• Listener Line: 206.312.0105
• Sign up of Email Alerts (form found on right side of our website)
• Plumbing Crap Brought on by our Builder
• Loft Update
• The Outdoor/RV Show at the Convention Center
• Hanging out in Downtown
• Listener Email: Beaches and Job Descriptions
• Springs Preserve

 

You’ve got to love a woman who says to you, “You know what Scott, we should do another live show this Sunday.”

I do love her.  How could you not love a Naughty Jelly Sweet like Melissa.  It’s impossible!  And to visually demonstrate that love (easy. . .nothing provocative) and to share with y’all our latest Las Vegas adventure, our next LIVE Streaming Video Podcast is on the schedule.  Here’s the deal:

When: Sunday, March 22
Time: 10:00AM PDT / 1:00PM EDT
Where: http://www.LivingInLV.com/LiveVideo

Put it on your calendar.  We had a great time during the last show (over 140+ people showed up). 

We’ll see you on Sunday!

One of the few shows that I really want to see but haven’t yet, is Le Reve. The show’s director used to work with Cirque du Soleil and supposedly Le Reve is ripe with Cirque-like acrobatics and choreography. For an in-depth review, check out this one.

Needless to say, I was very excited when I discovered that Wynn is offering 2-for-1 tickets to Le Reve. When I called and asked, the deal was described as “ongoing” and can be booked up to 90 days in advance.

Call 702-770-9966 and mention “Locals Offer” to buy tickets.

Let me start by apologizing for my absence.  I have been ‘beyond’ busy and have neglected my commitment to provide updates on the employment market in Las Vegas.  I just found the bottom of my desk and realized I need to get everyone caught up. 

By now, most of you have heard that Nevada’s unemployment level jumped again, with Las Vegas’ level now over 10 percent.  With one out of every ten people in Las Vegas unemployed, this is the highest we have seen since 1983.  Job losses have occurred in nearly every industry.

But let me say this. . .“There still are jobs available in Las Vegas.”  They are just much harder to find.  Many of these jobs are not being advertised because the employers do not have the human resources to field all of the applicants.  So how do you find these jobs?  Tap your social network. 

No, I am not just talking about Facebook and LinkedIn.  Tap your entire social network…your friends, family and past colleagues.  Go to networking events.  Attend professional association meetings.  Get talking!!  The more people you meet and share your desire to work and expertise your will bring to an organization, the more likely you will be to find one of those ‘hidden’ jobs.

These hidden jobs will not be advertised.  Sophisticated employers are deploying their best resource to find talent right now….their current workforce.  They are tapping their best employees to find more people like them.  So when a job opening occurs, the hiring manager is able to interview 10 of the most qualified applicants that their own team has recommended, rather than 100 potentially unqualified applicants that bombarded their email box from ad posted in print or online.

In my last post, I mentioned the job creation that is expected with President Obama’s stimulus package.  Here is a website that will allow you to track where this job creation will begin: http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/NV.  It will be up to you to track down who will be hiring for these jobs.  Most of the projects are transportation related.  The project will start with the Department of Transportation, but job creation will occur with all of the subcontractors hired to get the job done.  That means engineering, project management, general labor, administrative, purchasing and accounting jobs will need to be filled.  These jobs will more than likely be advertised unlike the others mentioned earlier.  Check out websites such as RecruitingNevada.com, CareerBuilder.com and even look at the Sunday classified section.

Good luck in your search!

We’re 30 hours away from the March 2009 Living in Las Vegas Podcast Listener Meetup.  That’s the good news.

What’s the bad news?

Well, I’d say it has to do with the attendees.  I don’t really know how many people will be joining us at the Red Rock Casino and Hotel tomorrow at 6PM, but from the few folks who’ve contacted me, it could be a rough crowd.

For example:

• A Germany from Hong Kong: Huh?  Is that even possible?  Are there no direct flights from Berlin?
• A Couple of Foreigners: Have you ever been to Michigan?  It’s too damn cold there.  How can somebody with any sense live there?  What could possibly be on their minds?
• Two Podcast Hosts: Okay. . .these two folks are pretty nice.  Buy them a drink. They’re thirsty.
• A Birthday-Boy Web Stud: Into HTML?  Dig CSS?  Then a good time will be had by all you.
• A Real-Life Ph.D.  And believe me when I say Ph.D doesn’t stand for what you think it does.  Oh sure, it’s “official”.  But I’m pretty sure it should stands for Pretty hard.  Drinker.

Frightening, right?  Who knows what kind of craziness will ensue.  So, if you want my advice, I’d say. . .join us.  Not so much because it’ll be a good time.  I just need a witness in the event things get a little out of hand.

For those of you who’ve been asking where they could see the video of our recent Live Video Streaming episode (#65 Living the Loft Lifestyle in Las Vegas), I’ve just developed a brand-spanking new video player on our homepage which features about 13 minutes from our 1 hour 21 minute show.

Stop on by and take a look!  It’s pretty cool.

During the process of creating this video clip, it became clear that trying to encode an 82 minute video into something downloadable was not going to happen.  The original file was 18GB.  The first-cut .mp4 was. . .get this. . .a hard drive-saving 900MB.  As a result, we have a new video offering up our sleeves that will be fun and a bit more size sensitive. More on that later.

Until than, enjoy the video!

(Oh, one more thing. . .I just received our first international confirmation for this Saturday’s LiLV Listener Meet Up at the Red Rock Casino!  Don’t leave JR (from Germany) wondering what’s what in Las Vegas!  Be sure to come out and join us!)

I like food. I mean, who doesn’t? Being from the East Coast, I really like seafood. Alas, living in the desert makes it hard to find decent seafood. But, not only does TENDER steak & seafood have good seafood it also has fantastic steak. Their surf and turf combos are my favorite.

Recently, TENDER steak & seafood launched a local’s promotion: $20 off your bill of $100 or more. During the week, they also have a $45 3-course Prix Fixe Menu (view here). So, impress your date, take her to TENDER steak & seafood for a fantastic three-course meal, get a glass of wine and boom! get $20 off.

For reservations you can call 702-262-4852 or reserve online here. Don’t forget to mention this special and bring your Nevada I.D.

Happy eating!

[Disclaimer: I work for Luxor]

With a thankful tip of the hat to Cheryl [contributors page] for her recon work, along with a further hat tip to Rob and Lois [friends page] for moving things along, the next Living in Las Vegas Podcast Listener Meet Up is officially ON for Saturday, March 14th!

To change things up a bit, the March Meet Up will take place at the nicest “locals” casino in the Las Vegas Valley: the $950M Red Rock Hotel and Casino. (No, not Whitney Villa. . .we’ve not been properly sanctioned for gaming.)  Here’s the scoop:

Location: Red Rock Casino and Hotel
Gathering Spot: Swanky* Bar by the hotel lobby (found in the center of the circular area adjacent to the lobby itself [pdf])
Where Should I Park? East Valet or East Parking Garage
Date: Saturday, March 14
Time: 6PM
Attire: Only if you want to get in
Calendar: Click here to add to your calendar

Melissa and I are looking forward to seeing y’all again!  It’s been too long between good times with LiLV listeners!  For those thinking about coming out for the first time, our first gathering was awesome, our second was spoooooky, and our third will be uber-groovy as well.  Come on out and join the fun!  As an added bonus, I’ll be sure to share how I went from Scott Whitney, civilian to Lord Scott Whitney.  (It’s good to be the king. . .er. . .lord.)

See you on March 14th!  And feel free to invite a friend.

 

* “Swanky” is Cheryl’s description.

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