Culture

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

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

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Cultured To The MAX! Urban Living At It’s Finest.

March 25th, 2008 Categories: ART, Culture, Downtown Las Vegas

Wow. I would have told you all to go.. but i didn’t know what to say!  I was going to this intimate theatre experience because some friends were involved.  Seemed like everyone there(the house was packed anyway & you would have had to stand!) was either involved in some amazing production or tightly connected to those who were.  The group putting on this insane show at the Aruba Hotel is called Dream City, produced by Marco Landin.. keep an eye out for anything they’re involved with!

The intimate venue holds about 120 (we had overflow) and the energy & creative culture was spilling out the front door. How could it not? With performances by people involved w/ Cirque, Stomp, & everything tourists go pay a bunch to see(tickets to this:$10, Culture:priceless); this event was a smaller, more intimate production…but with no lack on huge equipment, lighting & video jockey stuff, live jazz-fusion and rock bands, magic, performance art, flamenco dancing, um.. you name it. 

Here are a few pics:

 

 

 

The production is titled 10 Min Max, and from what I hear the next show will be in September; though I’d prefer next month.  It’s hard to do it justice, especially since I was so blown away I forgot to take pictures until half way through the show.  This is exactly the sort of cultural/entertainment mecca that only seems to reside downtown & that we need much more of *cough Huntridge?*.

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Hispanic Museum Of Nevada “Viva Las Vegas” Exhibit Opening

February 6th, 2008 Categories: Culture, Events

From the desk of Mr. Brian Paco Alvarez:

 

“This past Monday I had the pleasure of recruiting our very own Steve Christmas in assisting me in the installation of the Las Vegas News Bureau Exhibition “Viva Las Vegas” at the Hispanic Museum of Nevada. The exhibition features 25 memorable images of famous Latino entertainers from the News Bureau archives. Steve is a great exhibit Preparator and I plan on recruiting him many more times! Thanks Steve!

 

The opening of the exhibition will be on Thursday, February 7^th at 6PM. The Hispanic Museum of Nevada is located at the Embarq offices at 330 S. Valley View Boulevard across from the Springs Preserve.”

 

 

Viva Las Vegas

A photographic retrospective of historical images of

Latino entertainers from the world famous

Las Vegas News Bureau Photo and Film archives

 

 

Latinos Setting the Stage

 

The Latino experience in Southern Nevada began after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Shortly after in 1829, Rafael Riviera, a scout for trader Antonio Armijo, became the first European to visit what is now the Las Vegas Valley in the great quest to establish the Santa Fe Trail between New Mexico and Southern California. These early expeditions by traders, couriers and emigrants would build the foundations in which the great cities of the region would develop their rich history and colorful culture. The very name Las Vegas comes from the Spanish word for “the meadows.”

 

These early explorations would establish Latinos as part of the American experience and would help pave the way for the great entertainment heritage that later developed in Las Vegas.

 

The Stage is Set

 

During the 1940s and 50s the American music scene pulsated with the rhythms of Latin music. Latin dance was all the rage such as the Argentinean Tango, the Cuban and Puerto Rican Rumba, Cha Cha, Mambo and Salsa. The Merengue from the Dominican Republic, the Cumbia from Colombia and the Bossa Nova from Brazil also took center stage. American radio stations flooded the airwaves with Latin music and Latin entertainers regularly played the famed stages of Las Vegas.

 

The first nod to Latin entertainers in Las Vegas occurred at the opening of the Last Frontier in 1942. Inside was the Carillo Bar named after Latino actor Leo Carillo, who starred as the famous sidekick of the film and comic book series the Cisco Kid. It was not until the opening of the Flamingo Hotel a few years later that Las Vegas was graced with the most famous of all Latino entertainers, Xavier Cugat. Cugat, who was born in Catalonia, Spain, immigrated with his family to Cuba at the age of 5 and later to the United States, is noted by many to have had more to do with the infusion of Latin music into the United States than any other musician. Cugat introduced Abbe Lane, Carmen Miranda and Charo to Las Vegas. Cugat was married to all three entertainers at various times of his life.

 

In the late 1940s, a Cuban named Jack Cortez introduced the entertainment guide titled “Fabulous Las Vegas,” which listed all major acts in Las Vegas. Famous early Latin entertainers such as Carmen Miranda, Desi Arnaz and Tito Guizar were featured in the guide.

 

Today, Las Vegas is world-renowned for its rich entertainment history and its dynamic live music scene. Latino entertainers continue to play a major role in the development of the destination’s culture and music. Most recently (in November 2007), Las Vegas hosted the Latin GRAMMY® Awards, which celebrate excellence in Latin Music. Some of the hottest acts in Latin music today performed at the awards ceremony, which was broadcast throughout North, Central and South America.

 

 

Hispanic Museum of Nevada

&

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

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You Drive By Every Day

February 4th, 2008 Categories: Culture, Downtown Businesses

And if you haven’t been in yet, you’re missing one of the tastier authentic ethnic cuisine spots tucked downtown.  It’s the Island Flavors Cafe at 300 E. Charleston two blocks West. of Las Vegas Blvd.  Paco, our friend Patrick & I all stopped in while walking back to L’Octaine from the First Friday festivities. 

The Marley playing in the background is pretty much what you’d expect from a place serving Jamaican Cuisine, but the Jerk Chicken was better than any I’ve tasted to date.  Decent prices make it even easier to come stop by for something new & local if you haven’t been yet.  This downtown spot is VVV approved!

 

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Things We Should Have Mentioned About Our Friends In Vintage Las Vegas

January 2nd, 2008 Categories: Culture, Historic Preservation

We’re usually quick to report or link to press coverage for our favorite people and organizations, so we’re a little late with these, but the kudos are well deserved.

Lynn Zook, the founder of Classic Vegas, the historic preservation group and our friend, client, neighbor and County Commissioner Extraordinaire – Chris Giunchigliani both got nods as “heros” in the Dec. 20 edition of City Life. You can read the whole article entitled “Celebrating the local heroes who fight poverty, feed the hungry, save history and agitate for change”

 

 

 

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A Downtown Las Vegas Resident’s Letter to The Las Vegas Sun

December 14th, 2007 Categories: Arts District, Culture, Downtown Las Vegas

Letter: Downtown arena project is doomed

As a downtown resident and a native of Las Vegas, I have seen many developers like REI Neon plan big projects and not follow through. Remember the Minami Tower?

Though I have always been opposed to the arena project because it is not in character with the surrounding area or the fledgling arts district, which I have supported, it does not surprise me that REI Neon is asking Las Vegas for yet another extension. I think it would be best to say the project is dead and will never be built.

It frustrates me to no end that REI continues to waste the invaluable time of Mayor Oscar Goodman, members of the City Council and the Planning Commission, city staff and, most important, taxpayers. I have always said that just because you can run a gambling barge on the Mississippi does not mean you can run a casino on the Strip.

Besides, no bank or financial institution would dare lend more than $10 billion to a company that has never built such a project, especially in this current credit crisis.

My recommendation is for REI to step aside and let experienced Las Vegas gamers, such as Harrah’s and MGM Mirage, do what they do best.

Brian Paco Alvarez, Las Vegas

 

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Friends Of Classic Las Vegas Fundraiser Tomorrow

November 16th, 2007 Categories: Architecture, Crestview, Culture, Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Historic Preservation, Las Vegas History, The Las Vegas Strip

This is the final reminder regarding the Friends of Classic Las Vegas Fundraiser this Saturday, Nov. 17th.

This is an Open House/Soiree in a restored mid-century historic home in fabulous Downtown Las Vegas. 

The Open House/Soiree is from 2:00 - 5:00 pm at 1905 Chapman Drive.

There will be wine, savory snacks, a silent auction, hourly raffles as well as talks about Las Vegas history by Dr. Michael Green.  Michael Green is a history professor at the College of Southern Nevada and has written extensively about Southern Nevada. He is co-author of “Las Vegas: A Centennial History.”

There will be DVD promos highlighting some of the Downtown preservation issues.

DVDs of The Story of Classic Las Vegas: An Overview, companion tee-shirts and the Mid-Century Guide to Historic Las Vegas Sites will be on sale as well.

Tickets are only $35 per person and there are some tickets still available.

You can call 878-3889 to make your reservation and pick up your tickets at the door on Saturday afternoon.

We hope to see you there as we celebrate Las Vegas History and begin to work together in preserving our history. 

 

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Downtown Las Vegas Hosts Many Events That You Should Know About

November 13th, 2007 Categories: Cool Stuff, Culture, Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Fremont East Entertainment District

Rock The Block

Rock The Block Music Festival All Day Saturday in the Fremont East Entertainment District 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory Clearance At The World Market Center

Open To The Public. Worth the $10 admission just to see the buildings. Proceeds benefit the Nevada Aids Project. NOV. 16 - 17

The Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center holds a pre-market inventory clearance sale, organized by The California Central Nevada chapter of American Society of Interior Designers, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Las Vegas Design Center, 495 S. Grand Central Parkway. Cost: $10, with proceeds benefiting the Nevada Aids Project, Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas and Opportunity Village. Info: 599-3093.

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Morelli House Is Crown Jewel Of Recent Historic Preservation In Las Vegas

November 11th, 2007 Categories: Cool Stuff, Culture, Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Historic Preservation, Las Vegas History, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Mid Century Modern, Moonlight Mid Mod Bus Tour

Morelli House Was Final Stop On The Moon Light Bus Tour Of Mid Century Modern Las Vegas – Part 7

We’ve been reporting all week on our midnite bus tour of the historic mid century modern heritage of Las Vegas. The tour was sponsored by the Atomic Age Alliance and the City of Las Vegas Department Of Cultural Affairs. We especially want to thank Richard Hooker for organizing it and MaryMargaret and Cary Stratton for guiding it. We were honored and privileged to have Chris Nichols narrate, with special commentary from Alan Hess.

Our final stop on the tour was at the Morelli House. It was built on the Desert Inn Golf Course in 1959 by Antonio Morelli, the fabled orchestra director of The Sands. It was moved to the corner of 9^th and Bridger and now serves as the offices of the Junior League of Las Vegas.  

Junior League Of Las Vegas Shows The Morelli House To The Public With Vintage Fashion Show

And yesterday, many of you dropped in on the Junior League’s fall open house.

Diane Bush and Steven Baskin showed their collection of vintage clothing from the late 50’s and early 60’s.

If I’ve ever been called anything, fashionable is not a word that’s ever been used. I really got off on a lot of what I saw so I’m meeting with Diane later today with a few trusted clothes hound friends to put together some vintage wardrobe for me. Should be fun and I’ll report on it later.

 

 

In the meanwhile, here’s some of the fashion you missed if you didn’t stop in yesterday at the Morelli House.  

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