Events

There’s A Birthday Party For Jack LeVine After First Friday At The Downtown Cocktail Room in Downtown Las Vegas

January 1st, 2009 Categories: Events

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It was a going to be a surprise, but the cat got out of the bag. There’s a ton of you out there who aren’t known by the people putting on the party, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t invited!.

If you’re in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday Night for First Friday, then stop in at the Downtown Cocktail Room after 9:30 pm. Or just head to downtown Las Vegas for some late night partying.

Normally, Jack LeVine pays no mind to birthdays, but after the heart attack and all that, I’m HAPPY to celebrate one, and grateful to friends for throwing me a party. Stop by if you can.

Downtown Cocktail Room 111 S. Las Vegas Blvd (first door south of Fremont Street) Downtown Las Vegas!

Jack LeVine was talking to another blogger the other day about how difficult it is to get people to comment, regardless of the topic. Maybe this time?

It would make the SEO Gods so happy. I’ll tell you what that means in a day or 2.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 7 Comments »

The Skinny On First Friday’s 944 Hosted Bar/Fashion Show

March 6th, 2008 Categories: Events, First Friday, Fremont St.

Where: Brass Lounge, Fremont & Las Vegas Blvd. Upstairs at Hennessey’s Tavern to the left of the escalators.

When: 6–9pm, Friday March 7^th.

Who: Tru Talent Management, some amazing local designers & models.  Music by Dj Dakota and Dj XMS

What: Hosted drinks from 6–9 compliments of 944 Magazine & Spy on Vegas. Fashion show from 7–7:45–ish, music starts at 6 and will continue in a dancable fashion ‘til 9 pm. Yes, that’s a shameless plug up there, but at least there’s free drinks!

 

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently No Comments »

March 5th, 2008 Categories: Cool Stuff, Events, Fremont Street Experience

 

 

 

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Weekend at Fremont Street Experience

LAS VEGAS – March 5, 2008 – Las Vegas’ legendary Fremont Street Experience will be the place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day when a weekend of live entertainment kicks off on Saturday, March 15.
 
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend at the Fremont Street Experience brings three days of free concerts with Whiskey Galore and Wild Celts. The performance schedule is as follows: Saturday, March 15, Wild Celts , 6-8 pm, 3rd Street Stage; Whiskey Galore, 9-11 pm, 3rd Street Stage; Sunday, March 16, Whiskey Galore, 8-11 pm, 3rd Street Stage; Monday, March 17, Whiskey Galore, 8-11 pm, 3rd Street Stage.
 
Whiskey Galore formed in 1997 as the result of friendship and a deep passion for Celtic music. Since then the band has been delighting audiences with their unrivaled mix of raw and technical talent, producing lively Celtic tunes with pipes, drums, Irish flute, bodhran, djembe, guitar and other instruments. Based out of Bakersfield, CA, Whiskey Galore’s signature brand of spirited Celtic sound has entertained fans in various venues throughout California and Nevada. 

Click below the fold to read more

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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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Next Weekend’s Local Party

January 31st, 2008 Categories: Downtown Las Vegas, Events

I hope those of you that came out to the Aruba last Friday for the open bar/swing dancing/944/Racket Magazine/art exhibition party (yes it’s a malleable venue) had a blast. If you missed the fun, you can check out a great review of the event up on Casa Del Soul Records’ web site.

Just so this is up for those of you who live in the area, but only check in once a week or so to get all the posts since last time in one sitting; (please let me show you How RSS Feeds Work!) Here is another really cool free event going on at the Aruba - Next weekend, Feb. 9th.

The Aruba is located just behind John S. Park on Las Vegas Blvd. Just south of Charleston. It is a true Vintage hotel and new management has an appreciation for the history of the building. You can check out posters in the Thunderbird Lounge depicting the hotel’s mid-century presence. Hope to see you out!

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently No Comments »

Downtown Las Vegas Music Scene is Flourishing

December 14th, 2007 Categories: Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Fremont East Entertainment District

While Jack, Pam, Paco, Susan & I enjoyed a rather intimate Lo-Pro at our favorite bar Downtown Cocktail Room last night, the Fremont music flyer fairy was hard at work.  Upon finally leaving I came back to my car, parked on Carson to find evidence that things are indeed alive & kicking downtown.

While we’re happy to see things going strong and regular pedestrian traffic in the Entertainment District picking up, we’re getting word there are some great things picking up steam a little further South as well. 

The Aruba Hotel  located just South of Charleston on 1215 Las Vegas Blvd. S. has had a recent change in management and the Club Aruba and Thunderbird Lounge venues in this vintage hotel have some interesting events taking place.

Wednesdays at the Aruba (Tropical) are now becoming the staple Latin night in the area, and packing the house weekly.  The monthly First Friday after party is apparently one of the hottest downtown. 

Every Friday (except the first) they host a Swing Dance night with free lessons from 8–9pm and then just full on swingin’ starts around 10 pm. 

There’s also a larger block of free Swing lessons from 6–8pm on Sundays in the Thunderbird Lounge. 

You can check out the Aruba Swings Myspace for more info.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s word this vintage and versatile venue may soon see some more exciting changes in January & we’ll keep you up to date as the late night debauchery develops! 

As a downtown resident living closer to the Arts District than Fremont, I’m very excited to see some great things going on in the area that are very accessible to those of us in the Huntridge/John S. Park/18 b/ & L’Octaine areas(yes, we get to be our own area). I hope you stop in check out the cool vintage vibe in the Aruba.  Oh… everything at the bar is buy one get one until 6pm every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too bad it’s right on the way home from work, huh?

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently 1 Comment »

Atomic Age Alliance Party Big Hit

December 13th, 2007 Categories: Beverly Green, Events

I had an awesome time (did we really not leave the awesome Swank Pad until almost 11?!) Anyone in the Las Vegas area reading this blog who hasn’t yet come out to hang with the Atomic Age Alliance and just appreciate cool architecture, great-natured & diversely eclectic people, & the mid-century lifestyle… Get out & hang with some of the nicest people I’ve seen in one room downtown!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a cool re-cap of the Alliance’s growth & accomplishments over the last year and a projection of all the great projects & cool stuff you need to know more about in the upcoming year.  Then, of course there was lots of food & wine.  I discovered ‘mold wine’ whoa. These people know how to party.  Such a diverse crowd of teachers, writers, lawyers, musicians, tech-gurus, anthropologists, radio personalities & just about everything else you could think of left nothing to be desired in the way of conversation.  I’ll be back for the January meeting, I hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan’s not allowed to be in anymore pictures (we’re kidding Susan), & I’m not allowed to tell you why these pictures are dimensionally challenged.  Let’s just leave it we all had an amazing time, & can’t wait to join Mary Margaret & Cary Stratton, Josh & the rest of the AAA Crew again soon!  Big huge thanks go out to Scott & Heidi for hosting the shindig, love the place!

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently 1 Comment »

Mayor Goodman’s Flippin’ Switches - Freemont Tree Lighting Tonight In Downtown Las Vegas

December 11th, 2007 Categories: Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Fremont Street Experience

Thanks again to Brian Paco Alvarez for forwarding us press releases to share with you.

WHAT:           Mayor Oscar B. Goodman will bring holiday cheer to the Fremont Street Experience when he flips the switch to light Las Vegas’ official Christmas tree. The 50-foot tree will be garnished with festive decorations and is set to stand below the 12.5 million lights of the Viva Vision screen. Directly following the ceremony, the Bright Lights on Ice skating show will debut in a dazzling display of lifts, spins and acrobatics on the 3rd Street stage.
 
WHO:             Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and Las Vegas City Council members, Jeff Victor, President of the Fremont Street Experience, The Cast of Bright Lights on Ice, & Santa Claus
 
WHEN:         Tonight, Tuesday, December 11, 6:00 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony (live shots plan for a 6:15 tree lighting) 6:30 p.m. Bright Lights on Ice debut performance           

WHERE:        Fremont Street Experience 3rd Street Intersection (between the Fremont and Fitzgeralds casinos)
 
The official Las Vegas Christmas tree will be on display at the Fremont Street Experience through the Christmas holiday. Bright Lights on Ice is free and open to the public every night from December 11-22 at
7:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently No Comments »

Upcoming Parties and Events In Vintage Las Vegas

December 10th, 2007 Categories: ART, Arts District, Events, Historic Preservation

Gonna be a long week:

Arts Factory

Holiday Open House Tuesday 12/11 5 to 10 pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atomic Age Alliance

 

 

 

AAA Las Vegas Chapter  December Meeting and Holiday Party

Our next meeting and FIRST ANNUAL Holiday Party will be held at a private home filled with Mid Century Modern Magic…

LOCATION:
The SWANK PAD! a Private 1950s home in Beverly Green
546 Barbara Way
Las Vegas, NV 89104

Wednesday, Dec. 12th
Meet and Greet 6:30-7:00
Meeting starts promptly at 7:00 to 7:30 PM
(PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER start time to MAKE TIME TO Celebrate afterwards)

Dust Gallery

Dust Gallery will hold a reception for Venske & Spanle on Friday, December 14, from 6–8pm

This sounds intriguing!

“Our interest lies in the development of a parallel universe of entities made out of stone.
In this show at DUST gallery, On It, we give an overlook of the different species.
There are the helotrophs, which are only complete with an appliance or a person. They are occupying their ‘host’ to be a full sculpture…
The schrumpels rely on the helotrophs since they need the space to be represented as they are.
Each of the orophytes (oro = gold; phyt = greek for species) stands in golden individuality.
In the ‘family’ of the gumpfots each one of them seems to grow out of their original shape and forms very different characters.
The smurfs are, so far, the largest population of sculptures. Each one of them has a different character, but seems to be like one cell plankton. They are widely spread over the globe (Australia, Europe, the Americas) and are a growing community…”
-Venske & Spänle

Artspace Originals And Suite Charities

Wine Reception for the new gallery and furniture overstock showroom at the Las Vegas Design Center in the World Market Center. Thursday 12/13 4 to 8pm.

Proceeds will benefit 3 of my personal favorite charity organizations. Nevada Aids Project, Opportunity Village, and Habitat For Humanity.

Suite Charity is a furniture outlet for showroom samples from lots of the designers and manufacturers who sell out of the WMC. Proceeds benefit the 3 charities.

Also in the same space is a new gallery called Artspace Originals which showcases 5 local well known artists: Nadia Klein Heppell, Leslie Roland, Jennifer Main, Chris Greene, and Dray

RSVP is required, but there’s no cost to attend. Call 477–0048

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You Are Invited To Meet, Greet And Celebrate With Other Downtowners

December 3rd, 2007 Categories: Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Las Vegas Real Estate News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Las Vegas Sun Raises Awareness of Mid Century Modernism - Maude Frazier

November 28th, 2007 Categories: Architecture, Events, Las Vegas History, Las Vegas Real Estate News

Kristen Peterson at the Las Vegas Sun once again is doing a great job of reporting on Vintage Las Vegas & raising awareness of endangered architecture.  Our friends Mary Margaret Stratton & the Atomic Age Alliance, Lynn Zook of Classic Las Vegas, and a growing number of the general public are pushing to save the UNLV’s first building that represents so much more than just Mid Century design.  Read the full article here on the Sun’s website.  You can also Sign the Petition to Save Maude’s Hall.

Thanks to Brian Paco Alvarez, who always makes sure we get the Vintage Vegas Important News Stories, no matter how busy we are with end of the month real estate!

Posted by Stephen P Christmas | Currently No Comments »

St. Louis Ave Dedication Ceremony

November 20th, 2007 Categories: Beverly Green, Downtown Las Vegas, Events, Everywhere We Look, Historic Preservation, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Southridge

The Las Vegas City Council invites you to attend the dedication ceremony for the completion of the St. Louis Avenue Improvement Project.

 Monday, November 26, 2007 10 AM

 

 

 

St. Louis Avenue and Santa Clara, just east of Paradise Ave.

RSVP to Department of Public Works 229–4186

 

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The Very Vintage Vegas Calendar Of Upcoming Events

November 19th, 2007 Categories: Events, Historic Preservation, Las Vegas History, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Market Conditions

Obviously, there’s Thanksgiving, and we wish you all a safe happy holiday.

Below the fold is information on the Samuel Beckett Film Festival, Bank Owned Foreclosures Auctions, Downtown Neighbors Holiday party, Maude Frazier Hall Preservation Efforts, and The Las Vegas Marathon and the St. Louis Avenued Dedication Ceremony.

If you have an event, organization or whatever that you’d like us to help promote, just send us an email, or give us a call.

Read the rest of this entry »

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The Bank Owned Foreclosure Auction Game And How It’s Played - Part 2

November 18th, 2007 Categories: Buyers, Events, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Market Conditions, Mortgage

Yesterday, I introduced the fact that there’s going to be 2 big auctions coming up of bank owned foreclosure homes. Most likely, there will be more of them further out.

If you’ve dreamed of scoring a deal or 2 or 3 and making some money in the future from the “Foreclosure Problem”, this is an excellent opportunity. However, you’re going to have to put some money, time, energy and thought into the process. And you’re probably going to have to put some paint, and landscaping and who knows what else into the home if you’re the successful bidder. Huge Profits in the future will require investing time, money and energy now.

Here’s how to play the game. (It’s eerily similar to the normal home buying process)

First: You’re going to need to know yourself, and the limits of your money, time and energy. You need to know what your goal is. Are you going to try to “flip” the house? Are you going to rent it? Are you going to live in it? Are you going to narrow down the homes to just ones that need no work? a little work? a whole rehab? Are you going to do the work yourself? Do you know contractors, painters, handymen etc. to do it for you?

The best way succeed in step one is to sit down with me and have a consultation. Let me ask you the right questions, so that we’re working only with the right answers. Those answers will determine your success or your failure, or whether you even want to move to step 2 at all.

Second: You’re going to have scour the list for homes that seem to meet your criteria. You’ll have to narrow it down by zip codes or areas. By size and shape style and amenities for your goals. For example, I don’t recommend family sized rental homes that have swimming pools. I don’t recommend properties on the other side of town from where you live.

Third: You’re going to have to devote at least one day to PREVIEWING the homes that you’ve put on your MEDIUM LIST. You should narrow the list to the 10 homes that you’re going to preview. When you’ve seen ALL 10, you need to whittle it down to the 3, 4, or 5 at most for the SHORT LIST that you’re going to be willing to bid on. All homes will be open the weekend or 2 before the auction, and most of them I will have access to during the week.

Fourth:  You’re going to need to do the homework for EVERY property on the short list. What was it worth in 2005? What will it cost to get it livable, rentable or salable? How much does the bank have into it? WHAT’S THE MAXIMUM YOU’RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT?  We’ll need to run comparables, search the tax records, calculate the repairs if any. We’ll figure out what it will rent for, and what the costs to purchase and to carry it. MY JOB IS TO HELP YOU FIGURE ALL THAT OUT.

Fifth:  (which should probably be 2^nd) The very MINUTE  you’ve decided you’re going to try to play this game, YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR LENDER (or have me refer you to one)  AND GET YOUR FINANCING IN ORDER. You’ll only have 30 Days to close on the purchase. Your winning bid will NOT BE CONTINGENT ON YOUR ABILITY TO GET FINANCING. You’d better know up front, and very early in the process if you’re bankable.

Sixth:  On the day of the auction, you’re going to spend the whole day watching and learning from the homes that come to bid before they get around to the ones on your short list. You’re going to bid on the first one on your list that comes up for auction AS IF IT WAS THE ONLY ONE ON YOUR LIST. If you’re going to get one on your list, it shouldn’t matter to you which one you get. If you get the first one, and you’re only buying one, then you’re done! If you don’t get it, then follow the same strategy for your second one, and then the 3^rd one, etc.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD YOU BID ON ANY PROPERTY THAT YOU’VE NOT TAKEN THRU ALL OF THESE STEPS. Adrenalin fueled mistakes can turn a potential win into a probable loss.

Seventh: If you’re the winning bidder on a property, you’re going to give them the earnest money check that you brought with you. You’re going to sign a purchase contract. Then we’re going to go thru all the normal steps of an escrow during the next 30 days. As your agent, I’ll be supervising and co-ordinating all the different steps.

Eighth: You’ll finish the day with a real bargain, or a real lesson in real estate investing.  

If you don’t get a property at the auction, you’ll have a terrific idea of what to do the next time an auction comes up, or you’ll be set up to actually try for one of the thousands of bank owned properties that aren’t in auction. You know the ones I mean. There’s probably 1 or 2 of them on your own street or block.

 All you have to do is invest some time and energy to get your ducks in a row, and then test your luck against a whole lot of others who are doing the same thing.

To get started, call me at 702–378–7055 to schedule an appointment for us to consult with you, and tell you some more of the fine points. There’s no cost or obligation to sit down with me. I’ll even buy the coffee.

Here’s the links to the Auction Websites, where you’ll find the rules, schedules and properties

The Hudson and Marshall Auction Will be held on December 2, 2007

The Hudson Marshall Auction will be held at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas. Auction starts at 12 noon.

There are 333 properties to be auctioned. Hudson and Marshall will look at offers prior to the auction, and if they accept one, the property will be removed from the auction list. Almost all of the properties will be open for viewing on Saturday and Sunday 11/24 and 11/25 from 1 to 3 pm and most of them are on lockbox and I have access to show them to you at other times.

The Real Estate Disposition Corporation Auction Will Be Held On December 8 and 9, 2007

This Auction is so Big, with over 500 properties that it has been divided into 2 days/groups:

GROUP ONE: is for the southern half of the valley on Saturday December 8, 2007

GROUP TWO: is for the northern half of the valley on Sunday December 9, 2007

ALL HOMES OPEN FOR INSPECTION from 10AM to 5PM on 11/25/07, 12/01/07 and 12/02/07 and most of them are on lockbox and I have access to show them to you at other times.

The rules for them are similar, but slightly different, and you have to read them, and follow them closely. Give me a call at 378–7055 and let’s see if a little bargain hunting might create a big bump in your net worth.

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 9 Comments »

Real Estate Auctions Create Huge Wealth Building Opportunity

November 17th, 2007 Categories: Buyers, Events, Las Vegas Real Estate News, Market Conditions, Mortgage

Banks Will Be Giving Away Homes At 2 Upcoming Real Estate Auctions

Qualified Bargain Hunters Will Score Big Buying Bank Owned Foreclosures At Auction

Here’s The Easiest Way To Buy REO Bank Foreclosures

Your Real Estate Agent Can Help Take The Guess Work Out Of Buying Bank Owned Foreclosures

Banks Are Desperate To Get These Foreclosures Off Of Their Books Before The Year End

I couldn’t decide which headline to use. So I’m using them all.

There’s going to be 2 huge auctions in the next few weeks. These properties have been sitting on the market for a long time. The banks need to clear their books before year end.

Let me tell you a little story about the last one we attended. There was a Huntridge Cottage that was listed by the bank for 240,000. We put in an offer for 210k and the bank turned it down. We upped our offer to 220k and the bank turned it down too. Then the bank put it in one of these auctions. We went to the auction and got it for 187,000 just 4 weeks later. The Banks Are Crazy! But buying Foreclosures isn’t crazy at all!

 

I haven’t finished this post yet, and need to go on an appointment.

I’ll be adding links and rules and an offer that anyone who still believes in Las Vegas and in Real Estate as the ultimate best investment vehicle shouldn’t pass up.

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 4 Comments »

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