Downtown Businesses

Documentary Film: The First 4 Years Of First Friday

June 6th, 2008 Categories: ART, Arts District, Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas, First Friday

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The first public airing of the new Documentary about the creation and development of the First Friday Art Event in Downtown Las Vegas will be this Sunday on Channel 1 and Cox Channel 19.

I saw the first cut, and am hoping that the segment with me still made the final cut.

On Sunday 6/15 @ 4:00 PM Channel One and Cox Cable Channel 19

The First 4 Years of First Friday: A Documentary examining the
people and economic forces that created this monthly
phenomenon.

First Friday has revitalized one urban neighborhood and has
provided a cultural and artistic heart to the Entertainment
Capitol of the World. The documentary, directed by Marlene J.
Adrian and produced by Women of Diversity Productions, Inc.,
includes interviews of local artists, gallery and restaurant
owners, retailers, civic leaders, performers, vendors, sponsors,
founders and others involved with First Friday.

It explores the evolution of this event and the people and forces that prepared
the way and peers into the possibilities for surrounding area.

Marlene J. Adrian states that this “art festival began with only
200 attendees and now exceeds 10,000. This event has
impacted not only the businesses and people residing in that
neighborhood, but the city of Las Vegas itself. This organic
movement and its overflow needed to be documented for the
benefit of all Las Vegans.“

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The Table Tale

June 4th, 2008 Categories: Decorating Tips, Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas, First Friday, Mid Century Modern

About 5 years ago I went to a garage sale at a “cookie cutter” home in Green Valley. There was this gorgeous pink and chrome 50’s dinette set with a sticky note on the table that said “900”. I had a good chuckle over the price tag, but started negotiating for it.

The lady wouldn’t budge below 700 and I passed.

2 years later I was out showing homes to a client. We pulled up to the next house on the list, and I realized it was the same house where the table had been for sale. While opening the lockbox,  I casually told him the story of the HOT PINK AND CHROME 50’s Dinette.

The house was vacant, but when we went into the garage, the only thing in it was a lawnmower and a gorgeous 50’s pink and chrome dinette set with a yellow sticky note on the table that said “900”.

I joked that if he bought this house, I’d “take the dinette set as a tip”. He said “yuch!, you can have it”. By the end of the day we were writing an offer on that house, and he didn’t object at all if I included the gorgeous 50’s pink and chrome dinette set along with the washer,dryer and fridge which he did want to have included in the deal.

That’s how I came to have a hot pink dinette in my kitchen.

Everyone who’s ever seen it (at least everyone who appreciates such things) thought it was fabulous. At various times over the last year or two, Mark and Bill, and Ben thought it was FAB.

They called the other day. They begged me to sell it to them so that they could put it into the pink metal cabinet kitchen  that’s the centerpiece of their new store which is called:

 

YES, it’s the same hot pink kitchen that we mentioned a few months ago.

If you want to see the HOT PINK 50’s CHROME DINETTE SET, all you have to do is visit their store. I was there yesterday, and it’s just full of retro everything (including my dinette set).

There’s a “soft opening” on Thursday from 6–9 pm, and the GRAND OPENING is during First Friday from 6–10 pm.

“RETRO VEGAS” is at 1211 S. Main Street in the Arts District.

I’m missing my dinette set already.  even though I replaced it with a similar yellow dinette set that that had been the office conference table.

I might just have to go and buy it back.

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

“Lost Vegas” Vintage Clothing And Las Vegas Momentos - Grand Opening On First Friday In The Downtown Las Vegas Arts District

June 3rd, 2008 Categories: Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas

I’ve been dressing up lately.

 

Well, at least for some of the parties and special events.

 

One of our sources for the vintage clothing that you’ll see me and Mary Joy and Pam wearing to the events comes from our friend Diane Bush.

 

She’s opening a new store

 

The store is called “LOST VEGAS” and it’s in the Arts Factory.

 

She’ll be featuring vintage clothing for men and women, plus old vintage vegas momentos, as well as new Vegas themed household wares. Its on the ground floor, smack in the middle of the Arts Factory.

 

Hours: 6-9 First Friday, and the Thursday night before, (6pm-10pm) and sometimes the following Saturday 10am-5pm. For more info people can call 234-3269 .

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

The Medical District Of Downtown Las Vegas Has Some Great Post Modern Architecture

May 9th, 2008 Categories: Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas

Because I was at the Wolfson Lofts several times these last few weeks, I took the opportunity to do some driving around. There’s lots of new buildings, and some very creative architecture.

The Medical District includes UMC and Valley Hospitals, and lots of doctors offices, labs, the Clark County Health Department, outpatient procedure centers etc. 

 

 

The Medical District is one of many districts that have been designated by the city. We discuss the arts district a lot at VVV, but there’s also the Fremont East Entertainment District, the Casino District, which is Fremont Street Experience, the Business and Government District, The Cultural Corridor among others. We’ll try to do more coverage of each of these in the future.

Commercial Real Estate doesn’t have to look Mediterranean, and it doesn’t have to look like a strip mall.

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“Lawyer’s Row” In Downtown Las Vegas Is Now Part Of The Arts Scene As Well

April 21st, 2008 Categories: ART, Arts District, Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas, Lawyer's Row

Michelle Quinn, The forrmer director of the Godt-Cleary Gallery has opened shop in “lawyer’s row”.  Once again, Kristen Peterson of The Las Vegas Sun tells the story.

More good press for the new downtown that we love so much.  

If you’ve never driven thru “lawyer’s row” you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

You’ll find it on the north side of Charleston East of Las Vegas Blvd. Technically, its part of the “Las Vegas High School Historic Neighborhood”. Most of the homes on 6^th, 7th and 8^th streets are now commercial. From 9^th to 11th, the neighborhood is still transistioning to Commercial.

We mentioned the area a few weeks ago when we showed one of my favorite little apartment buildings on 11th Street.

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Urban Living Tour Of Downtown Las Vegas Showcases New Developments and Hi Rise Living

April 17th, 2008 Categories: Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas

See what life is like in downtown Las Vegas on the

Downtown Urban Living Tour

Friday, May 2nd, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, in conjunction with First Friday. Join us at the Celebrity Nightclub for live music, drink specials and a brief tour orientation where you will receive everything you need to participate in the event!

Enjoy the complimentary wine tasting and live music at juhl, Newport Lofts and Streamline Tower, then take a ride on our exclusive guided bus tour
which transports you to First Friday, Union Park, The Entertainment District, The Fremont Street Experience and the latest hot spots of Downtown Las Vegas. Receive exclusive deals from Hogs & Heifers, Triple George Grill, Tinocos and other popular neighborhood restaurants, galleries, bars and nightclubs.

Experience Downtown Vegas like you never have before. RSVP to the juhl Info Center at 702.853.1853

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Lawyer’s Row In Downtown Las Vegas Hasn’t Finished Spreading To The East

April 2nd, 2008 Categories: Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas, Historic Preservation, Mid Century Modern

North of Charleston and East of Las Vegas Blvd is where you’ll find “Lawyer’s Row”. This was the far edge of Las Vegas in the 1920’s and 30’s. Las Vegas High School, which is now the Las Vegas Academy is the cornerstone of the area. Cute bungalows, and cottages have been rezoned and turned into professional space. Most of the rezoning has happened on 6^th, 7^th and 8^th Street.

 

 

9^th to 11th Street still has residential homes, duplexes and 4 plexes and some mid sized apartment complexes. Most are very nicely kept up. The whole area of Lawyers Row, and the Las Vegas Academy Historic Neighborhood makes a very worthwhile sightseeing trip.

Someday, I imagine the big money guys will want to tear these homes down in favor of McOffices. (office buildings that look like McMansions. Lynn Zook and I both hate them, and there’s already several on 6^th and 7^th streets.

Small Apartment Buildings In Downtown Las Vegas Make Great Real Estate Investments

One of my favorite small apartment buildings seems to be going thru a remodel on the interior. The stonework and low pitched roof design is classic postwar mid century modern. Obviously, this is 311 s. 11th Street.

All photos on VeryVintageVegas are clickable thumbnails if you’d like to see a larger image to study the details.

 

 

The upper balconies on the side of the building are held up with diagonal 2×6’s with evenly spaced holes that really make the mid–mod design a true winner in my book.

 

Peeking thru the windows, I found original metal cabinets, wall heaters and I love the aluminum frame floor to ceiling windows.  We’ll keep our eye on it and watch how it progresses. Hopefully they’ll catch up on the paint, window glazing and getting the address off of the front of the building.

Buildings like these can make great investments.

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Uncle Joe’s Pizza On Fremont

February 22nd, 2008 Categories: Downtown Businesses, Fremont East Entertainment District

More than just the best Philly Cheese Steak in Vegas!  But, try to tell me that.. I’m hooked on the Philly!  This cool independent pizza shop near the corner of Fremont & Las Vegas Blvd, has exactly the vibe you’d get if you stumbled into any given pizza shop in NY or Philly.  But we don’t just dine out because a place has great ‘urban grub-vibe appeal’… everything on the menu I’ve had is amazing!  The pizza sizes are true to East Coast measurements (meaning a ‘small’ pizza dwarfs those offered by national chains), and I haven’t stepped in the joint once to leave disappointed. 

Beyond the amazing food, small shops near Fremont such as Uncle Joe’s, truly embody the diversity of foot traffic you’d hope to find in a downtown coming of age.  Maybe it takes me back to the state of mind I used to take for granted while living in Ann Arbor, MI on U of M’s eclectically diverse campus.  What ever it is, the positive energy of everyone here and the quality food at a good price have won me over big time.  Besides that, it’s just close & convenient.

More on this restaurant, including their menu (available for carry out, dine in, and delivery) will soon be located in the ‘Downtown Restaurants’ link in our links section.  Keep up the kitchen love Joe!

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Moulin Rouge, The Historic West Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Obtains New Funding For Restoration

February 9th, 2008 Categories: Downtown Businesses, Downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas History

From yesterday’s Review Journal: “Moulin Rouge gets help, Developer found to help revival of Bonanza Road hotel”

 

Wikipedia’s got some good history of the Moulin Rouge:

The Moulin Rouge opened on May 24, 1955, built at a cost of $3.5 million. It was the first integrated hotel casino in Las Vegas, perhaps in the nation. Until that time almost all of the casinos on The Strip were totally segregated—off limits to blacks unless they were the entertainment or labor force.

The hotel was located in west Las Vegas, where the black population was forced to live. West Las Vegas was bounded by Washington Avenue on the north, Bonanza Road on the south, H Street on the west, and A Street on the east.

It was during this era that Will Max Schwartz saw the need for an integrated hotel. Will, along with other investors, including boxing great Joe Louis, built and opened the Moulin Rouge at 900 W. Bonanza Road. This placed it in a prime location between the predominantly white area of the strip and the largely black west side. The complex itself consisted of two stuccoed buildings that housed the hotel, the casino, and a theater. The exterior had the hotel’s name in stylized cursive writing and murals depicting dancing and fancy cars. The sign was designed by Betty Willis, creator of the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign on the south end of the strip.

Read the rest of the Wikepedia entry.