Living in Las Vegas

Today’s show on Forecast Earth on the Weather Channel was titled “The Challenges of Climate Change.”  It featured the five biggest environmental changes that we are experiencing due to global warming.  One of them was drought, and which city did they feature when discussing this topic? Of course, Las Vegas! 

Las Vegas currently gets about 90% of it’s water from Lake Mead.  And Lake Mead is reaching 50% capacity right now.  A Drought Alert was officially declared in January 2004 by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. 

Our community has stepped up the plate and reduced water usuage primarily through responsible outdoor water use. As part of the SNWA Drought Plan, there are many restrictions put on water usage.  The Las Vegas Valley Water District, which is who we pay our bill to, has taken it one step further.  They have put in place drought watering restrictions and you will recive a water waste fee and/or termination of service for any violations.  But, I am not exactly sure how these rules are enforced.

Another recent change to further increase water conservation will show up on our monthy bill.  I ran across an article in the Las Vegas Sun, “Water: The more you use, the more you’ll have to pay”.  It really explained the details of the bill increase.

This brings me to my final thought.  I live in an average Las Vegas household. Our home has 3 bedrooms with desert landscaping.  There are two adults and two kids in the house who bathe regularly.  I also run the dishwasher once a day and do at least one load of laundry a day.  Our water bill is about $20 per month.  In comparison, our power bill averages to about $200 per month. As far as I know, there is no official ”power drought.”  So, if there is so little water to be had, why is it so cheap?

I caught a show today on the History Channel that mentioned the Hoover Dam and it peaked my interest, so I thought I would do a little reseach.  It’s been quite a few years since I have been out there, especially since they have been working on the Hoover Dam Bypass. 

The Hoover Dam is located 30 miles southwest of Las Vegas on the Colorado River. It was completed in 1935 and is the world’s 24th largest hydroelectric generating station.  Arizona, California and Nevada are allocated the largest portions of the energy generated by Hoover Dam.  Hoover Dam was named after President Herbert Hoover.  In 1985 Hoover Dam was designated a National Historic Landmark. Lake Mead and Lake Mojave were created by Hoover Dam and Davis Dam. 

Lake Mead was named after Elwood Mead, who was the Bureau of Reclamation commissioner.  To this day, Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake in the United States. 

There are plenty of things to do at Hoover Dam.  The Visitor Center is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They offer tours of the dam, along with snacks and a gift shop. You can also launch a canoe, kayak or personal raft just below the dam.  I would say it is absolutely worth a trip out there, pictures just can’t show you how amazing this dam really is.

There are two main newspapers serving the Las Vegas Valley: the Las Vegas Review Journal and the Las Vegas Sun. 

These are quality newspapers full of information on pretty much everything you need to know about life in Vegas.  Each paper has a good mix of  local and national news.  The RJ offers an extensive classified and employment section.  The Sun online has a great selection of blogs to choose from.  Both papers will fill you in on the who, what, where, when and why of Vegas.

 The Las Vegas Review Journal is also connected to the View Neighborhood Newspapers.  Each Tuesday every resident get a copy of a mini paper that focuses just on their part of town.  It’s a great way to keep up on what’s happening in your neck of the desert!

I personally don’t have a subscription to either newspaper as the online version is readily available, but I might start getting the Sunday paper just for old times sake!

Starting this blog got me thinking, what can you experience only in Las Vegas? So this is going to be the first post of a series titled:

Only in Vegas . . .

You can play basketball or go bowling in your hotel room.

Yes, we are home to the one and only Palms Las Vegas, featuring the Party Floor Suites. 

The Hardwood Suite has an actual indoor basketball court.  Of course your suite would not be complete without a scoreboard and professional locker room.  I wonder how many NBA basketball players have spent a few nights here? =)

The Kingpin Suite has two full size bowling lanes, computerized scoring and even the shoes.  I have actually had the pleasure of personally visiting the Kingpin Suite, and it was a blast!  There are big screens everywhere, a bar, pool table and an awesome view.

The Palms is probably one of the best hotels in Vegas.  I like it because it has a young atmosphere and it’s off the strip.  They also just opened the Playboy Club, which is currently the only one in the world.  I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but when I do you’ll get an update!!  

Well, summer is officially here.  The average temps are reaching above the 100 degree mark during the day and it’s still 90 at midnight. Vegas is officially a city where air conditioning is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. 

So I thought I would share a few tips I have learned over the years.  If you have to run errands, do them first thing in the morning.  The high for the day doesn’t usually hit until around 5:00 p.m.  When you are out and about, it is worth the time to find a shady or covered parking spot.  Also, try to park your car facing away from the sun.  And do not leave anything in your car that can melt, because it will.  I have had candy bars melt in the car on the drive home!  Those annoying windshield sun shades are also worth effort.  Do not leave the house without an icy drink.  Your iced tea will turn to hot tea in a matter of hours, and no matter how thirsty you are, a hot drink does not cut it. 

Finally, if you are an unfortunate victim of public transportation, I do not have any tips, only my condolences. 

Welcome to Living in Las Vegas on Today.com.  I thought I would start out with a few basic facts about Vegas.  Las Vegas means ”The Meadows” and the city was incorporated on March 16, 1911.  Las Vegas began as a popular railroad town in the early 1900’s and then gambling was legalized in 1931.  Mobster, Bugsy Siegel, opened the Flamingo Hotel in 1946 and that was the beginning of the famous Las Vegas Strip.

The Las Vegas Valley, which generally includes North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City, is home to about 2 million residents.  The average high temperature in the summer is around 100 and the average high in the winter is about 60.  The annual rainfall is 4.45 in.  I know what you are thinking, just open your oven, that is how it feels when I go outside right now. 

Although Las Vegas is known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, about 31% of the homes in Las Vegas have children, and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. There is more to Las Vegas than just hotels, casinos and strip clubs, and as a 10 year resident, I want to explore all aspects of this city, on and off The Strip. 

Las Vegas has something to offer everyone 24/7, and as we say “If you do not find what you are looking for, please wait one moment, it is probably already under construction.”