Living in Las Vegas

As part of a 132 city tour, the Independent Entertainer’s Association’s Rock the Economy concert and family music festival will be held at the Henderson Pavilion on Saturday, April 4th.  The entertainment starts at noon and goes until 10:00 p.m.  There is going to be plenty of food, fun and music. 

Rock the Economy is intended to be an economic stimulus for different local schools, churches and social organizations.  In addition,  it is a way for people wanting to make an economic change in their lives to talk to different companies that can help with their home financing, finding employment or establishing new credit. 

The Independent Entertainer’s Association is a group of independent entertainers, businesses, and enthusiasts who support the independent entertainment industry.  The founder of IEA, CD Palmer, based the association on four objectives; production, promotion, distribution and marketing.

IEA recently built a  brand new recording studio at it’s local office to assist independent artists in being able to compete with the mainstream entertainment industry.  They will have programs for the novice and professional musician.  Sounds like it’s going to be a great opportunity for all the local Las Vegas musicians.

I think the Rock the Economy concert is exeactly what Las Vegas needs right now.  A little food, a little fun and a little free advice.

Lot’s of stuff going on in Las Vegas today! Some good, some bad, but it’s nice to let the headlines do the work for me.

Nevada Ballet makes cuts due to poor economy. 

They are reducing everything, laying off dancers and staff and cancelling the last show of the season.

Divorce papers filed for casino chief Wynn, wife

Apparently the Wynns think second time around is a charm.  They were originally married in 1963, divorced in 1985 and then remarried in 1991.

Nevada’s earmarks listed.

A very looonnngg list of projects Senator Harry Reid is spending money on in Las Vegas and Nevada.

Convention authority official: Downturn costs Las Vegas about $131.6 million.

340 event cancellations in the past 90 days per the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority . . . hmmmm, what happened about 90 days ago?

Senate passes hotel room tax hike. 

Room tax rates in Clark and Washoe counties can be increased from 3% to 13%.

 Las Vegas family awaits new home on ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover’

A famly in the northwest valley was chosen to be featured on the tv show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

The long awaited M Resort Spa and Casino, on the corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Blvd., is actually two months ahead of schedule and plans on opening March 1st.  It is about 10 miles south of Mandalay Bay and is going to be considered more of a locals casino, catering to the Las Vegas residents in the Southern Highlands, Seven Hills and Sun City Anthem neighborhoods. 

Some of the more unique features of the resort include a self service beverage station, a sports book with reclining chairs, 100 different beers on tap, and a restaurant with a production studio that will tape cooking shows on site, a high-tech wine cellar, and a rooftop restaurant.  Eventually a movie theater and mall will be added.  The room rates are reasonable with rooms starting at about $80, which is $54 for the room plus a $25 “resort fee”. 

The M Resort is running a grand opening day contest featuring two first place grand opening prize packages, two second place spa packages and then 250 runner up prizes.

They are also still taking job applications, although I don’t know how many of the 2000 positions are still open.’

First of all, I would like to say “Welcome Back Mercedes!” to Mark and Mercedes on Mix 94.1.  As you may know, they are my favorite morning show out here and Mercedes has returned from maternity leave.  I enjoyed Blair and Drea very much, but it’s nice having Mercedes back.

Our unemployment rate has hit another record high, topping out at 9.1%.  Bill Anderson, an economist with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation , said some of the biggest contributors to the high unemployment rate the housing market, construction jobs, the leisure industry, and the failure of Mervyns, Linens-N-Things and Circuit City.  So for those of you that are part of the 128,000 Nevadans looking for a job, the Las Vegas Review Journal and Sun are hosting a job fair at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino tomorrow, January 27, 2009.  It will be opening at noon and runs until 4:00 p.m.  Good luck!

On a happier note, I had a chance to check out the 1-bedroom suite at Palms Place and I was super impressed! The view was amazing and the room is about 1200 sq. feet with a full kitchen, laundry closet and an awesome two-person shower.  The rates are totally reasonable right now with prices as low as $159 a night!

I hate to mention it, but that time of year has arrived again.  I know for some, you look forward to it and plan for it all year long, but for me it’s just a pain in the a**! Yes, it’s tax season. I appreciate the refund, if I get one, but usually I wait til the last second to do my taxes and then end up spending my tax refund on bills and going out and have nothing to show for it.  You would think after 15 years of working, I would be better at this whole tax thing, but not yet.

One problem I don’t have to deal with is figuring out the whole tip thing.  But out here in Vegas that is a big issue, so the IRS is holding two Tip Earner Problem Solving Days workshops.  The first session is on February 3rd and will be at the Culinary Union, local 226 on 1630 South Commerce Street from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The second session is scheduled for February 5th at  Texas Station from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Walk-ins will be assisted but the IRS recommends making an appointment so they research your information and be prepared.  To set an appointment, call (702) 868-5179 and ask for the Taxpayer Advocate’s office .  Be sure to bring all your records and paperwork.

It’s going to be like 65 this weekend! I really feel for all my friends and family in the Midwest who are getting hit with the 40 below temps. I do not miss it.  Ok, let me clarify, I miss the fun of the snow. I miss waking up in the morning to the whole yard covered by a fresh snowfall, everything just completely beautiful and still and quiet.  I also miss skiing, sledding and ice skating on a real pond.  I do not miss shoveling, scraping, freezing and having to wear a jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, boots, you get the picture.

So, who all jumped on the “I need to lose weight in 2009 bandwagon?”  I am a regular visitor to the gym but my diet plan needed a little adjustment in order for me to reach what I feel is my ideal weight.  I have found our Wii to also be an excellent calorie burner.  Over the holidays I was trying to snag a Wii Fit for the family but I refused to pay over $100 and no one who sold it at that price had one in stock, so I decided to get  a game called Active Life Outdoor Challenge.

Active Life Outdoor Challenge has been a blast.  It comes with one of those mats like DDR and even after being at work all day, it’s no problem for me to pull it out.  It has something like 15 different games such as a mine-cart race, roller blading, jump roping, log jumping, kayaking.  And you can play alone or two-player or two-player team. This has definitely helped me solve my problem of when I get home from work I would like to do some additional exercise, but I also want to spend time with my kids.

I found a friend in the blogosphere at  Losing Weight in 2009 where she is doing the same thing, except she also has the Wii Fit.  The tennis and boxing games that come with the Wii are also a great workout. My arms were seriously sore for like two days after 5 rounds of boxing and then a bunch of tennis matches with my daughter! Finally, video games and working out all in one, I am in heaven!

Who else is a little disappointed by Governor Jim Gibbons’ State of the State budget proposal? I need someone to explain to me why when our state’s education and cultural department are so already so dismal, that this is what the Governor wants cut the most money from?A few excerpts from the RJ’s article I linked to above:

” . . . the governor’s budget also included a 6 percent cut in state worker salaries, including those of teachers . . .”

“. . . the biggest surprise, in the budget plan was the $473 million higher education cut.”

” . . . a typical state worker makes about $50,000 per year. Under the budget plan, that typical employee would lose $3,000 in pay, while paying more than $1,000 a year more for health insurance.”

“The only agency hit harder, proportionally, than the higher education system under Gibbons’ plan is the Department of Cultural Affairs, slated for a nearly 40 percent cut.”

To sum it up, a quote from Clark County Schools Superintendent Walt Rulffes, “The salary cuts, in essence, are a cut in services . . .”

Isn’t there somewhere else we can get the money from? Is it time that we start paying some state taxes?  Do we need a state lottery? Is this something Las Vegas can really afford?

As promised, I am trying to keep you informed about upcoming career fairs around town.  Today Texas Station is holding a career fair starting at noon.  It looks like there are going to be some really great companies attending, including AAA, Cox Communications, Hilton Grand Vacations, Station Casinos and Yellowpages.com.  Several different schools are going to be there, along with a representative from the Army National Guard. Spruce up your resume and head on over.

This time of the year is usually a pretty good time for job seekers.  Many companies hire seasonal help and then keep the good workers on a more permanent basis. Although, this year with the economy in a recession, the competition is going to be tougher than ever.  There are less jobs to go around, and more people trying to get them.  Retail is usually one area that you can always depend on for seasonal jobs to be available.

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, a well filled out job application, stellar resume and awesome first impression can still get you the position.  When filling out your application, make sure to fill it out completely.  Don’t leave blanks, that makes it look like you were not paying attention, always fill in “n/a” or “not applicable”.  Type it up online if possible or write neatly.  Your application is your first, first impression.

Your resume is also very important.  Even if it is very short, just the fact that you have one leaves a good impression.  Make it very neat and easy to read.  A resume is a way for you to sell yourself, so do just that.  Put in all your good qualities, some ways that you have improved sales, service, etc. at your previous job(s) and what you can bring to their company.  If you are mailing in your resume or applying online, always try to include a short cover letter.  Just briefly state which position you are applying for, a couple of reasons why you are perfect for the job and a short conclusion with your contact info.

Finally, when you do that land that interview, come prepared.  Bring an extra copy of your resume, and dress for success! Even if you will be wearing a uniform everyday, you want to show your potential new boss that you want the job enough and care enough about the job to show up in a nice business outfit that is ironed and matching.  This is your last chance to make a good first impression and outshine the competition.

Good Luck!

It seems like we have been hearing about the opening of the new Aliante Station Casino Hotel forever, but the date has finally arrived. The 11th Station Casino, Aliante Station, will opens its doors to the public for the first time at 11:11 p.m. on November 11, 2008.

Aliante Station is located right off the 215 and N. Aliante Parkway in North Las Vegas. It’s about 10 minutes from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, so they are hoping get some business from the racing crowd, in addition to locals.

The hotel has 202 rooms. The casino has 2,550 slot machines, 40 table games and a 12 table poker room. The entertainment includes a 16-screen movie theater, an IMAX theater, and a 1,200 seat showroom. There are also plenty of restaurants, including The Original Pancake House, Villa Pizza, Panda Express, Capriotti’s and of course, the Feast Buffet.

One unusual attraction they are featuring is a chandelier made with 2,000 empty tequila bottles. Since I live at least a half hour away from Aliante Station, that might be the only reason I would ever head over there, but it sounds worth the trip. Aliante Station is actually one of the more welcomed hotel casinos because there isn’t a whole lot in that part of town for the locals yet. They are also still accepting job applications.