73: Hip Checks and Short Skirts - Roller Derby in Las Vegas

Call me crazy, but there’s something to be said for watching a bunch of woman whoosh around a roller rink, kicking the crap out of each other. The teamwork, the strategy, the action. . .the Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

(At least, that’s what Tomahawk says.)

In this edition of the Living in Las Vegas Podcast, we discover the joy that is Woman’s Flat Track Roller Derby, featuring the Sin City Roller Girls.   Show notes:

• PHOTOS!
• Weather (sunshiny) / LiLV Pool (you could die in here)
• LiLV Stuff
  • Listener Line: 206.312.0105
  • Sign up of Email Alerts (form found on right side of our website)
• Prepping for Thanksgiving
• Living in Las Vegas Podcast Virtual Video Meetup
• Next in-person LiLV Meetup
• Listener Email: Is Las Vegas ripping people off?
• Hip Checks and Short Skirts–Woman’s Roller Derby in Las Vegas

I saw an interesting article in the Las Vegas Review Journal a couple days ago about Internet gambling.  The article said that a House of Representatives resolution was introduced in May that would “establish a framework to permit licensed online gambling operators to accept wagers from inside the United States.”

According to the article, Nevada has the “statutory structure” in place to investigate and license online gambling companies.

My questions —

• How would this effect existing online casinos? 
• Would congress actually allow this to happen?
• Would this reduce visits to Las Vegas?

Whatcha think?

[8/26/09: Just learned that Time.com took down the video because of “some sensitivity with various issues”. There is a very interesting article on the Las Vegas Sun website about the fallout from the Time’s article — specifically, the Realtor quoted in the piece is in hot water.]

68: A Las Vegas Staycation with Scott and Melissa

I think it’s safe to say that for those of us who live in Las Vegas, there is no better place to enjoy a “Staycation” (a vacation in your own town) than right here. . .in the town that REALLY never sleeps.  For this edition of the Living in Las Vegas Podcast, we take you on an overnight trip to the Strip, from a local’s perspective.  Show notes:

• PHOTOS!
• Weather (getting better) / LiLV Pool (8 degrees from nirvana)
• LiLV Stuff
  • Listener Line: 206.312.0105
  • Sign up of Email Alerts (form found on right side of our website)
• Trader Vics – Dead
• Cosibella Homes – Gone
• Get GREAT Sales Coaching at QBS Live Mondays
• PodWorx is producing a LIVE LASIK Procedure this Tuesday at 5pm
• Listener Email: Recap of a meetup with a LiLV listener, nice feedback and guitar strings, a question about LiLV video
• Staycation
  • Thanks Jacquie!
  • Caesar’s Palace Petite Suite
  • The Pool (these people are very shiny)
  • Window Shopping at Belagio
  • The Atrium at Belagio
  • Serendipity 3 and Osmond Teeth
  • Caesar’s Forum Shops (the best mall in the world. . .for men)
  • Seahorse Lounge
  • Rhumbar at The Mirage
  • Late Dinner
• Hot and Horrible: Michael Mina

These days, the newest way to vacation is by partaking in a “Stayaction”. Luckily, for Vegas Locals, this idea is more fun than say if you were living in South Dakota

Now, the LVCVA makes it easier than ever for locals to plan a Stayaction or just have fun on the weekends with their Stay and Play Here website. The site aggregates Local Deals from all hotels in Las Vegas, Boulder City, Laughlin, Mesquite and Primm.

As the site says, “This is the world’s premier vacation destination and it’s right in our own backyard. Why let everyone else have all the fun?” So, what are you waiting for? Go have fun!

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

64: Dining at Wynn Encore, New Year’s Eve with 20-Somethings and Live Video

Because we enjoy having guests at the Whitney Villa, one of the great things about Living in Las Vegas is hosting/entertaining visitors when they come to town.  For today’s Living in Las Vegas Podcast, we first take our kids (who are visiting from California) to Wynn Encore for $ome fancy dining. Then, we review our New Year’s Eve party which brought in nine additional 20-somethings to the house and taught me a bit about bouncing back after puking, that some kids can drink faster than I ever could, and that if you play your cards right, you can get a secret XBOX 360 code for unlimited songs in Rock Star.  Show notes: (Now where did I put my NutriTorture snack bar. . .oh, and there is some swearing in this episode)

• PHOTOS!
• Weather (getting better) / LiLV Pool (frozen death pond)
• LiLV Stuff
• Listener Line: 206.312.0105
• Sign up for Email Alerts (form all over the website)
• Adding new Friends is fun!
• Let’s Talk Twitter (the sign of the devil is upon us)
• CES 2009
• Session
• Show floor
• Famous Guy
• Adult Video Expo
• Blogger Meetup
• Another Famous Guy
• Ego bloggers
• The Scoble Affect
• WordCamp Las Vegas
• Good and bad
• Contributors!
• Check out Brandie, Doug, Cheryl and Mary Ann’s bios
• The culinary torture that is Nutrisystem
• Listener Email: Las Vegas Friendliness
• Dining at Wynn Encore: Botero Steak
• New Year’s Eve with eleven 20-somethings, streaming video, and chatroom influencers

62: A Tour of the Aliante Station Casino and Hotel

Twenty-three months ago,  the folks at Stations Casino did a Show & Tell about their upcoming Aliante Station Casino.  Last night, two years of planning, construction, traffic delays and speculation came to an end with the grand opening of the Aliante Station Casino and Hotel.  This episode of the Living in Las Vegas Podcast gives you a “soundseering” tour of the $600+ million “locals” casino.  Show notes:

• PHOTOS!
• Weather/Pool
• LiLV Stuff
  • Listener Line: 206.312.0105
  • Sign up for Email Alerts!!
• The Aliante Station Casino and Hotel
  • Fireworks
  • Early entry and free beer
  • The Tour

. . .and was surprised by what we saw.  Stay tuned. . .we’re planning to record the podcast reviewing the Aliante Station Casino grand opening tomorrow night.

There has been a nice buzz around these parts about tonight’s Aliante Station Casino opening.  We’ve seen a handful of news channel features about the new property over the last month or so along with several articles in the local newspapers.  I’ve always been VERY impressed with much of what Station Casinos does so I was surprised when I heard on Channel 3’s 11PM news that for the third quarter of 2008 (which ends on September 30) the company lost $23 million.  To compare, for Q3 2007, the company made $3.7 million. 

In the words of Keanu Reeves — “Whooaah”.

Both Melissa and I were surprise by that.  I always had the impression that all ten Station Casinos properties were doing very well.  Every time we visited Red Rock or Santa Fe, they looked pretty busy. 

Here’s hoping their eleventh casino at Aliante will be the beginning of a big turn around.  The company is obviously spending a lot of money on getting the word out. . .billboards, TV commercials, newspaper ads.  Just yesterday, they paid for the insertion of a 16 page “Promotional Feature” section in the Review-Journal.  That had to be expensive!

We will be checking the place out at their 11/11/08 at 11:11PM opening and putting out a new LiLV Podcast episode soon thereafter. 

Our fingers are crossed!!

59: Tips on Finding a Job in Las Vegas: From a Senior Recruiter’s Perspective

Since moving to Las Vegas in August of 2005, we’ve seen unemployment as low as 3.8%.  But more recently, we’re looking at an unemployment rate of 6.7% here in the Las Vegas Valley.  From where we sit, that’s too damn high (and above the national average).  So, for today’s Living in Las Vegas Podcast, we offer some very specific tips on finding a job in Las Vegas (and beyond).  Show notes:

• Weather/Pool Report: Hot and Dry, like my love and humor
• JetBlue?  More like JetBlows.
• Discovering Las Vegas with my Magellan 1412
• Listener Meet Up on August 15 at 5PM at Trader Vic’s.  More Info.  Drink Recommendation.
• Check out the 2008 New Media Expo in Las Vegas (August 14-16)!
• Construction on 215
• Listener Audio: Show thoughts, baking cakes, and jewelry shows
• Listener Email: Moving to Vegas, taking back her title, killing deer, garage doors, show suggestions
• More LiLV Friends added!
• Tip’s on Finding a Job in Las Vegas
• Resumes
• Networking
• Job Boards (National and Local)
• Interview (telephone, preparation for onsite, interview tips, follow up)

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