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May 20th, 2009UncategorizedThe sinking economy is taking its toll on the heart and soul of Las Vegas' economy, as more groups pull out of planned trips to the valley. In just the past 90 days, 340 groups cancelled their Las Vegas meetings or conventions. -
May 19th, 2009Uncategorized
The CraftSteak Steak House is located at the luxury MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
CraftSteak is a bit gimmicy in that they serve “Kobe Beef”. Due to regulations, it is not 100% real Kobe beef, but is still pretty darn good.
The quality of food is superb, and the variety and larger portions were great. Between the two of us, he dined on two or three small appetizers, three steaks, numerous side dishes, as well as a variety of homemade ice creams for our desert. We were also served several palette cleansers between our servings.
The CraftSteak Steak House restaurant service was steller. The waiter was an older gentleman who had a very strong accent. He sounded somewhat like a vampire, but was just brilliant.
The waiter recommended the the mashed potatoes and said they were “ridiculous”. That was no mistake as they were incredible. It was like an equal mix of cream and potato and the taste was quite intense. They were great.
The CraftSteak steaks were in one word - terrific. The meat is extremely tender and flavorful. The steaks seemed to have been oozing “goodness” out of them. Juice galore. We got three steak cuts, a New York Strip, a Fillet, and one other served with the tasting menu. My only regret was not getting the Steak Tartar as the suggested first course. The waiter switched to a Foie Gras since we were pussies when it came to eating raw meat.
CraftSteak is on the expensive side, but it is a memorable meal and will let you get in some “Kobe Beef” which will be one of the most flavorful tender cuts of meat you have ever eaten. I would definitely go there again, and take some friends here to pop their “Kobe” cherry.
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May 18th, 2009Uncategorized
From the poorly designed stimulus bill and vague new financial rescue plan, to the enormous expansion of government spending, taxes and debt somehow permanently strengthening economic growth, the assumptions underlying the president's economic program seem bereft of rigorous analysis and a careful reading of history.
Unfortunately, our history suggests new government programs, however noble the intent, more often wind up delivering less, more slowly, at far higher cost than projected, with potentially damaging unintended consequences. The most recent case, of course, was the government's meddling in the housing market to bring home ownership to low-income families, which became a prime cause of the current economic and financial disaster.
On the growth effects of a large expansion of government, the European social welfare states present a window on our potential future: standards of living permanently 30% lower than ours. Rounding off perceived rough edges of our economic system may well be called for, but a major, perhaps irreversible, step toward a European-style social welfare state with its concomitant long-run economic stagnation is not. -
May 17th, 2009Uncategorized
When my son-in-law, a Las Vegas Metro cop, suggested I ride with him on the Saturday graveyard shift, I jumped at the chance. After 10 hours of nonstop activity, I can say I learned a lot about cops, suspects, the Nevada legal system and even a little something about myself.
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May 16th, 2009Uncategorized
If you are traveling to Las Vegas and are looking for something fun things to do that is on a budget try checking out the Vegas Pole Position Race. For all of those car race fans and adrenaline looking for things to do in Las Vegas try some indoor karting. Pole Position uses a state of the art indoor karting facility that offers a one of a kind indoor go-kart racing experience to even the most skilled of drivers. Many people who visit the park are highly impressed with the layout of the this kart racing facility. Highly sophisticated and boasting a whopping 18 horsepower motor offering speeds up to 45mph that should get the adrenalin flowing and pumping for most riders.
Pole Position Speedway offers a 60,000 sq ft facility and you don’t have to be a car buff or a race fan to have fun. If you are traveling with your family this is a great family event to do together that will leave you wanting more. if you have family that wants to come but doesn’t want to hop in a kart there are pool tables along with arcades and a gift shot. If you want to grab some food and have some thing to eat there is plenty of room to do that as well. There are complimentary shuttles going to and from the Las Vegas strip to pick up anybody looking to strap themselves into one of these little karts and enjoy some friendly racing.
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May 15th, 2009UncategorizedRocker Tommy Lee was spotted in the lounge at LAVO inside The Palazzo Sunday evening. Hanging out with another guy and a girl, the trio enjoyed some wine and mentioned how much they liked LAVO’s unique wine presentation. Tommy also reminisced about a crazy night at sister restaurant TAO when he tried to climb the large Buddha that overlooks the restaurant space.
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May 14th, 2009Uncategorized
The Strip has everything a city whose nickname is “Sin” might be expected to offer, right? Well, not quite: the Strip ain’t got no strippin’! Industrial Road, does, though, which is where a former athletic club has been turned into Sapphire, the “world’s largest gentlemen’s club.” Last Saturday night, six Living Las Vegas scribes enjoyed an evening at Sapphire. We all sat at the same table, but our impressions were far from identical.
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May 13th, 2009Uncategorized
Well this is not something you see everyday. Mother nature continues to keep us guessing every single day with stranger and stranger weather patterns. We have snow in Las Vegas! For many travelers and tourists that were either planning on driving or flying into Vegas today were mostly grounded as Las Vegas was not sure how to react properly to this snow storm. For those of you looking for things to do in Las Vegas you will have to settle for scarves and mittens for today.
This does not happen very often but once every years larger snow falls can be seen falling over the city of sin leaving Las Vegas residents and tourists in amazement. For all of those who decided to visit Las Vegas to possibly get away from old man winter found themselves in a funny predicament this week. Sitting by the pool sipping a margarita did not seem like such a great idea anymore. Las Vegas is not a stranger to snow. They tend get flakes every year but this amount is almost record breaking. Las Vegas has not seen this amount of snow since 1979. This storm left very important trucking routes crippled. major highways connected Los Angeles and Las Vegas were left to one lane leaving behind a transportation nightmare. The storms stretched all up and down the west coast leaving a path of confused people with a dash of destruction.
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May 11th, 2009UncategorizedFirst it was a federal judge, and now the State Bar of Nevada is taking action against a local mortgage rescue company. The bar seeks to stop the U.S. Justice Foundation and its president from practicing law without a license.
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May 10th, 2009Uncategorized
Let there be no doubt that tempers are flaring in Carson City today after Gov. Jim Gibbons reversed himself and said he won’t sign that room tax bill after all, instead letting it become law without his signature. (The governor had repeatedly said — even in the face of criticism from the right — that he’d sign the measure.)
State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford excoriated the governor in a statement released moments ago, calling the governor a coward. Here’s the harsh language (university regents — cover your eyes and ears!):
Once again, the governor has chosen to abdicate his responsibility to lead Nevada. After including the voter approved Room Tax Initiative in his budget, he has taken the easy way out by choosing to take no stance on the initiative. It is without a doubt that we are not in normal times. Jobs are disappearing and entire industries are suffering. We are at a crossroads. We must face the future with courage and competence, not with the cowardice the governor has demonstrated today.”
It is clear that he lacks any vision for what Nevada should be now and in 20 years and that the people of Nevada cannot trust what he says or does. Legislative leaders will have to do the hard work to balance the budget responsibly. The hard work started today and will continue until our work is done on behalf of the people of Nevada.
Impolitic? Perhaps. But we doubt a person could find more than a handful of people in the entire state who disagree with Horsford’s assessment. It is said in Carson City that all you really have is your word, and now lawmakers have been given a fairly clear lesson — as if another was needed — that Gibbons cannot be taken at his.
