Living in Las Vegas

The results are in! Here’s a quick run down of the staff and reader picks for Best of Las Vegas 2009.  To get the complete list, head on over to the Las Vegas Review Journal and click on the Best of Las Vegas.

Best Nightclubs: Pure and Prive

Best Family Attractions: Adventuredome and Bonnie Springs Old Nevada

Best Local Rock Bands:  The Killers and The Black Jets

Best Steakhouses: Outback and Capital Grille

Best Performers: Danny Gans and Bette Midler

Best Comedians: Rita Rudner and Craig Ferguson

Best Magicians:  Lance Burton and Keith Barry

Best Singers: Bette Midler and Rick Faugno

Best Strip Hotels: Bellagio and Paris

Best Downtown Hotels: Golden Nugget and El Cortez

Best Locals Hotels: Red Rock Resort and Eastside Cannery

Best Buffets: Bellagio and Wynn

Best Malls: Fashion Show and Town Square

Best Places to take out-of-town guests: Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston

Best Celebrity Residents: Andre Agassi and Vince Neil

Best Local TV Anchors: Paula Francis (KLAS-8) and Jim Snyder (KVBC-3)

Best Local Radio Personalities: Mark & Mercedes (KMXB-94.1) and Dave Berns (KNPR-88.9)

Best Local Politicians: Mayor Oscar Goodman and Senator Steven Horsford

Attorney Glen Lerner won the most annoying local TV commercial, beating out John Barr from last year. I have to disagree with this because John Barr’s commercials are beyond annoying, but at least Glen Lerner’s are somewhat catchy, and effective. 

And a special congrats to Paris Hilton who uniquely managed to win top pick as both best and worst celebrity tourist!

As a recent purchaser of a laptop, one of the most fun features is, of course, the portability.  Finding wireless internet access around Las Vegas seems pretty easy so far.  Finding it free has not been too bad, but a lot of places charge that I thought were free.  Like pretty much all hotels and Starbucks.  I thought if you purchased a room, you usually got free wireless in internet access, but it turns out you  have to pay around $10 a day.  And to get online at Starbucks, you have to pay for their service, which is $20 a month.

Fortunately, I did find quite a few places that you can get online for free such as McCarran airport, Panera Bread, Buffalo Wild Wings, all the libraries and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.  Also, if you are on the Strip, try the Fashion Show mall, Sugar & Ice Coffee Shop in the Wynn, the monorail stops, Denny’s by the Mirage, and the lobbies at the Palazzo, Venetian and JW Marriott.

For more specifics, I Love Free Wi Fi, Las Vegas Free Wi Fi Hotspots and Vegas 4 Locals for some detailed lists of free Wi Fi hotspots in Las Vegas.

The holiday season is upon us. It seems like it comes earlier and earlier every year. No sooner do the Halloween decorations come down than the Christmas music starts playing in all the stores.

I know during tough times like these people still want to give to their favorite charity in need, but sometimes it’s just not possible. So our local malls, Fashion Show, Meadows, and Boulevard have set up great way for us donate through The Giving Spree and get a little back for our holiday shopping too. One of the best parts is that you can make a donation from as little as $5 to as many dollars as much as you want.

First you choose the mall you want to do some holiday shopping at. Next you get to pick which organization you would like to donate to. They have a bunch of local organization listed including HELP of Southern Nevada, Olive Crest, Opportunity Village, and Sunrise Children’s Foundation. Or you can choose one of the big ones such as Habitat for Humanity, After School All Stars, American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes Nevada Chapter and the National MS Society.

Once you have submitted your donation, you will receive list of discounts from the mall you chose that you can use on November 15, 2008. Some examples are

20% off total purchase at Aeropostale
15% off full priced merchandise at Steve Madden
20% off your entire purchase at Disney Store
15% off your entire purchase at The Body Shop
25% off your purchase at New York & Company

So give a little, get a little. Isn’t that what the holidays are supposed to be all about?