Very Vintage Vegas

United States Post Office To Issue Stamps In Honor Of Ray and Charles Eames, The Most Famous Of The Mid Century Modern Designers

March 31st, 2008 Categories: Home Repair and Remodel, Housing Styles, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Mid Century Modern

The other day I mentioned the most famous mid century modernist designers, Charles and Ray Eames.

This summer, they’ll also be honored in another way that will generate even more awareness of the ever growing modernist revival movement. The United States Postal Service will issue a flat of 16 stamps honoring them.

from the US Postal Service Website:© 2007 USPS. All Rights Reserved

In recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, manufacturing and photographic arts, designers Charles and Ray Eames will be honored next summer with a pane of 16 stamps designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC. If you’ve ever sat in a stackable molded chair, you’ve experienced their creativity. Perhaps best known for their furniture, the Eameses were husband and wife as well as design partners. Their extraordinary body of creative work — which reflected the nation’s youthful and inventive outlook after World War II — also included architecture, films and exhibits. Without abandoning tradition, Charles and Ray Eames used new materials and technology to create high-quality products that addressed everyday problems and made modern design available to the American public.

I’ve been exclusively using the wonderful superheros stamps for the last few months, and can’t wait to switch to these.

There’s a whole evenings worth of reading, pictures, stimulation, announcements and events at the online home of Charles and RAy Eames.

I already knew about these stamps, but was reminded tonight from a post at DenverModern which is a Denver Agent with a blog similar to VVV.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – Turn On The Flash When Shooting Pictures Of Homes For Sale In Las Vegas

March 31st, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Day 5, and still going strong. All from the same listing that Briana found last week.

Today we’re introduced to the bright and sunny living room. Sure makes me want to rush right out and show this lovely home.

DON”T FORGET TO VOTE FOR #310!

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

One Of Jack LeVine’s WMLSPHOTD Got Picked For One Of The Worst MLS Photos Of The Year – Another Las Vegas Real Estate First

March 29th, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Some of our oldest readers will remember that back in July I started running a daily series of bad MLS Pictures. A few weeks later I discovered that as original as the idea was, it wasn’t original enough.

Athol Kay had been doing it himself on his blog out of Connecticut for a few months before I started.  I was naturally bummed, and Kay wrote a blog post about my utter dismay.

I started emailing him some of mine, and even cross posted some of his. Today he’s published his best of the worst of the first year, and one of mine grabbed a spot on the top 24.

So, I’m unabashedly asking for you all to click over there and vote for #310. (if you’re so inclined, when you’re voting, you can also put www.veryvintagevegas.com into the URL field, so that I get some extra SEO credit.

Click HERE to see the top 24 nominees and to VOTE FOR # 310. When you finish reading the top 24, you can VOTE FOR #310 in the comments section.

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Secret Pockets Of Vintage, Historic And Retro Las Vegas Neighborhoods

March 29th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

I’ve been accused of focusing too much attention on the McNeils, and Marycrests, and John S. Parks, and Paradise Palms type neighborhoods of Vintage Las Vegas. In my own defense, I’ve talked about some of the “undiscovered” neighborhoods such as Mayfair, Francisco Park, Las Verdes and others.

But Kristen Peterson, writing for the Las Vegas Sun, tells a great story about a secret pocket of coolness on the north edge of Downtown.

This is where i started out in Las Vegas in 1985 with a vision of an “arts district” or a the least a Bohemian colony along Stewart and Ogden from 6^th Street to Maryland Parkway. That didn’t come to fruition since mostly I spent 8 years at the corner of Stewart and 10 fighting off the crack whores.

Kristen writes:

Normally if someone builds a gypsy wagon in his yard, outfits it with electricity, gas and plumbing, adds a titanium stove, a minibathroom and a grandfather clock, neighbors might raise a brow or two.

Some would hit the speed dial to their homeowners association.

But it’s a matter of context.

At the Clark Cottages on North Seventh Street in downtown Las Vegas, the gypsy wagon blends in well with the Victorian streetlamps, the water fountains, the wind chimes and the 1940s music coming from one of the five bungalows.

There’s lots of little neighborhoods with fantastic location all around downtown. Some of them have always stayed nice, or are already well along in the gentrification.

Lots of them are yet to be discovered by the adventuresome or brave. I’m going to do some reporting in the next 2 weeks on some of those great pockets. I believe that the first one that’s going to get discovered again is Mayfair, which sits in the triangle created by Fremont, Maryland Parkway and Charleston.

I’ve got a great listing there at 1400 Manzanita, that’s not getting the kind of attention it deserves for being only 177,500.

In case you missed the link to the entire story about the 7th Street Cottages I’ll repeat it again here.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – Las Vegas Real Estate Agents Are Sometimes The Sellers Worst Enemy

March 29th, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Day 4 for the listing that Brianna found on her first day searching the MLS. It’s a treasure trove of Bad MLS pictures. EVERY single picture in the listing qualified.

At least the toilet seat is closed. Seriously, how much trouble could it be to move the water jug, take down the towel, and straighten out the curtain? 20 seconds? Maybe 30.

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURE AT ALL!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Never Leave Home Without Fresh Batteries – Jack LeVine Makes A New Rule

March 28th, 2008 Categories: Historic Preservation, Home Repair and Remodel, Mid Century Modern

So I got to the Atomic Age Alliance fundraiser at Design Within Reach just in time for the preview of the terrific slide show about all things modernist.

I normally start shooting pictures, but discovered I didn’t recharge the batteries. Therefore, just a few not so good shots from the cameraphone. Maybe photographer extraordinaire Alan Sandquist from Roadside Peek will provide some better ones, since he charged his batteries before leaving home.

About 50 people showed up to help with the cause and to see the amazing collection of modernist furniture and accessories that’s for sale at design within reach.

There’s some interesting history on display as well, with photographs of the most famous of the modernist designers and architects, and a huge photo of the most famous of all, the husband and wife team of Charles and Ray Eames.  

Of course if you want visit either of the DWR stores, Town Square and Boca Park, you have to break rule number 3, which is never go more than 3 miles from home.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Las Vegas Arts Commission Dedication Wednesday April 9th In Downtown Las Vegas

March 28th, 2008 Categories: Architecture, ART, Culture

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently 1 Comment »

Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – Las Vegas Real Estate Is Best Sold Thru The Use Of Great MLS Photos

March 28th, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Day 3 of Briana’s first attempt to start her mls search off of the Very Vintage Vegas website! Yep, it’s the same house as Wednesday and Thursday.

Today we’re showing off the clean uncluttered island kitchen with lots of workspace for even the most dedicated of chefs. Picture yourself with all this room room to work.

I can’t imagine why she didn’t ask me to show it to her.  

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

An Idea For A Media Stunt – “Down” Date A Kitchen Out In The Suburbs – It Would Be A Las Vegas Real Estate First

March 27th, 2008 Categories: Historic Preservation, Home Repair and Remodel, Las Vegas Real Estate News

Work with me here. We could buy one of the those cookie cutter homes out in the suburbs that are being given away by the banks. We could rip out the particle board cabinets and “looks just like the neighbor’s” granite.

We could replace the kitchen with the metal cabinets and matching pink appliances that are sitting in storage in one of our reader’s garage.  

Then we could get all the newspapers and CNN to come out and do a human interest Las Vegas Real Estate story about the crazy lunatic that thought a pink kitchen with metal cabinets was totally cool.

Or… We could put them back into a home that’s similar to the one they came from in the first place. Those homes are in Vintage Vegas.

1 Fridge 32wx69hx29d
1 oven with glass window 24wx33hx29d
1 oven w/out window 244wx29hx29d
5 hanging, two-door cabinets, each 30wx30hx13d
1 hanging, 2 door cabinet 21wx30hx13d
2 Floor cabinets, 2 doors 21wx341/2hx241/2d
1 Floor cabinet, 2 doors 24wx341/2hx241/2d
1 double bowl sink 30wx8hx22d
1 stove with 4 burners 30wx10hx22d
1sink/stove cabinet, 4 doors 60wx341/2hx241/2d
Air Filter 18wx12hx12d
Hood 241/2wx19hx28d

There’s enough to do over a small kitchen.

Anyone SERIOUSLY interested should drop me an email, or give me a call and I’ll put it the two of you together. I’m a great negotiator on homes, but I’m staying out of negotiating this deal.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 5 Comments »

Fundraising Event For Maude Frasier Hall – Thursday Evening – Sponsored By Atomic Age Alliance and Design Within Reach

March 26th, 2008 Categories: Historic Preservation, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Mid Century Modern

Hello Everyone,

This is just a reminder that Thursday Evening is our DWR fundraiser. If you are unable to attend the event, your donations to our advocacy fund are very much appreciated.  The suggested donation $100 per person or $150 per couple

No one will be turned away due to financial hardship, so please come if you are interested and donate what you can. 

 If you can make it, please bring a checkbook, as we will be unable to process credit card donations on site. Credit card donations may be made through PayPal. The “send to” address is [email protected]

Thank you to everyone who is helping to make this event possible, including, but not limited to Craig Lavalley Design Within Reach, the Thurston Howlies, and Hint Flavored Waters.

Sincerely,

Mary-Margaret Stratton

Executive Director, Atomic Age Alliance

1-800-Mid-Mod1

Thursday, March 27th
From 6PM to 9PM

Please join us for a FUNDRAISER for the
Maude Frasier Hall Advocacy fund
DWR Studio Town Square
6539 Las Vegas Blvd. Suite C-110
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702.947.8100

Restoration image by Mark E. Adams of www.VegasTodayandTomorrow.com

Maude Frazier Hall was built in 1957 by prominent and prolific local Las Vegas Modernist architects, Zick and Sharp. On the 50th anniversary of its inception, UNLV plans to tear down its first building. Please join our efforts to save it from demolition. More about this building is at the lottaliving message boards.

Suggested donation $100 per person or $150 per couple

*Complimentary Refreshments!
*Lively Live Jazz Entertainment by the Thurston Howlies!
*And a sneak peak at the Atomic Age Slide Show: “Introduction to Modernism!”
Don’t miss this fun social event for a good cause!
———————————————–
In the event you are unable to attend this event and would still like to contribute to our Advocacy Fund, please send a check to “Atomic Age Alliance” 2620 South Maryland Parkway #345 Las Vegas, NV 89109
Atomic Age Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – Leaking Roofs Are Only A Problem About 10 Days A Year In Las Vegas

March 26th, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Day 2 from Briana’s foray into the scary world of bad MLS Pictures.

You can find them too! All you have to do is look.

We’ve got 5 more to go that are ALL from the same house.

Today…”I wonder how badly could the roof leak really be?”

Tomorrow… The Kitchen!

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Link Love – Some Of My Favorite Blogs About Architecture and Cultural History

March 26th, 2008 Categories: Decorating Tips, Historic Preservation, Las Vegas History

The problem with writing a post about my favorite blogs is that I got caught up on reading them. So without comment, here’s the list of what I was reading last night. My intention was to write a little snippet on each, but it didn’t end up happening.

Be forwarned, there’s about 80 hours of great reading, great pictures and some really campy fun, retro, vintage, nostalgic fun  if you start clicking.

Miami Design Preservation League

Palms Springs Preservation Foundation

Swankpad

RetroRenovation

MidCenturyStyle

Atomic Playhouse

Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee

Oklahoma City Historic buildings

Frisk the Fridgedaire

Vintage Seattle

Didi’s Dim Beauty Of Seattle  yes, that Didi who comments on VVV all the time!

mid mod real estate agents in Phoenix

The Brownstoner from Brooklyn NY

Miamism A Miami Agent who “gets it”

Enjoy!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 3 Comments »

RSSHUGGER Made Me Write This Post – Or Else I Have To Pay Them $20.

March 26th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

All I want to do is get on the front page of google if you search for “Las Vegas Real Estate”

You may have noticed that we’re trying to increase the subscriber base for Very Vintage Vegas. That’s why you might be seeing a box above a post that asks you to subscribe. All of this is about trying to make us even more “findable” in the search engines.

Search engines work in mysterious ways. It’s almost as complicated as how they figure your FICO score. Something about Algorithms, page rankings, linkbacks, authority, RSS Feeds, and tons of other screwy words that you don’t have to worry about unless you’re blogging yourself.

As I understand it, I get extra “authority” in the search engines when there’s a link to Very Vintage Vegas on someone else’s website. That’s the main reason they developed RSSHUGGER. It’s a search engine for blogs where once I write this review, you can go an find other blogs on topics that interest you.

The more “inbound links you have the more authority you get. Outbound links from a site with great authority give you even more authority. Or something like that. So in order to get listed on RSSHUGGER, I have to tell you about it here, so that that they get even more authority so that the link at RSSHUGGER back to VeryVintageVegas has even more authority yet.

All of this is about getting VVV to the front page of google or yahoo if they search for “Las Vegas Real Estate”. It’s already working pretty damn good if you use words like historic, or vintage or retro, or urban or downtown plus Las Vegas.

So the best thing to do is when you get to their home page, click on the search button and find the list of dozens of topics to find other blogs that might interest you. If you don’t really want to do that, at least click on this link once so they know I told you about it.

Of course none of this has absolutely anything to do with Classic Homes in Historic Las Vegas Neighborhoods, or Urban Living in Las Vegas, or Las Vegas History which is what I’m supposed to be writing about, so you all can just pretend I didn’t waste a minute of your life and twenty minutes of mine.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day –

March 26th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News, Worst MLS Photo

Briana, A regular reader started her home search today and quickly discovered my secret. I don’t have to “search” for these awful photos. They’re EVERYWHERE! She sent me a month’s worth, and I thank her kindly.

Makes me wanna rush right over to see this home. I hope there’s no bodies or whatever under there.

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL! 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

The Las Vegas Real Estate Market Is In The News After Yesterday’s Housing Sales Reports

March 25th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News, Mortgage

Well, at least once we got past the sex scandals, and the election stuff.

As I’ve reported to you before, my activity level certainly mirrors what’s being reported in the national press and in investment advisory blogs.

“Good News” on the housing front has been rare in the last year, but it’s starting, which in my opinion signals a leveling off of the downslide. When prices start to increase again is still an unanswered question, but for now, there’s some great prices, great interest rates, and some truly unique property available from some pretty motivated sellers.

From MSNBC:

After falling for six straight months, sales of existing homes posted an unexpected increase in February which may have reflected more aggressive price cutting by sellers in some parts of the country, a real estate trade group reported.

From CNBC: The dollar rallied across the board Monday on better-than-expected U.S. existing home sales data and J.P. Morgan’s higher offer for Bear Stearns shares, which boosted Wall Street stocks.

From MSNBC:

Rates on 30-year mortgages dropped below 6 percent this week for the first time in more than a month, reflecting aggressive efforts by the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to protect the economy from a serious recession.

Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported Thursday that 30-year fixed rate mortgages averaged 5.87 percent this week. That was down from 6.13 percent last week and marked the first time that 30-year rates have fallen below the 6 percent level since the week of Feb. 14.

Rates on 30-year mortgages dropped below the 6 percent threshold in the second week of January and stayed there for six straight weeks as the sharp economic slowdown stirred concerns about a possible recession.

From “National Association Of Residential Real Estate Advisors”

I’ve been holding my tongue for a few months, waiting until I had a good, consistent record to point to, but it seems that demand has returned back to Las Vegas. I would definitely not say that we’re out of trouble, but the data is very clear that the demand in Las Vegas has returned, especially in the sub-$500,000 market.

And Last Weeks Numbers From The GLVAR MLS:

For the week of March 19, 2008, data is obtained from the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors MLS.

Single Family Residence (SFR)

Available – 17,858 (-12 , Last Week 17,870)
Under Contract – 3,921 (+220 , Last Week 3,701)
Days of Supply – 137 (-8 , Last Week 145)
Short Sales – 5,147 (+190 , Last Week 4,957)

Condominiums and Town Homes (CONDO/TH)

Available – 4,762 (+17 , Last Week 4,745)
Under Contract – 552 (+29 , Last Week 523)
Days of Supply – 259 (-13 , Last Week 272)
Short Sales – 775 (+34 , Last Week 741)

Combined SFR + CONDO/TH

Available – 22,620 (+5 , Last Week 22,615)
Under Contract – 4,473 (+249 , Last Week 4,224)
Days of Supply – 152 (-9 , Last Week 161)
Short Sales – 5,922 (+224 , Last Week 5,698)

 Is there a house you’ve had your eye on? Is it time for you to start getting ready to buy? Do you know how much home you can afford? Do you have to sell first?

Call us or email us, and let’s discuss it.

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