What's Happening, Vegas?

AFAN's 27th Annual Black & White Party Was The Place To Be!

2013-08-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

by Julie Kasperson

If you wanted a fun atmosphere, happy people, great food and drink samples, and a variety of entertainment, this annual event filled the bill. In the 10 years I have lived in Las Vegas, I have attended at least one other Black & White Party, which was held at the Palms Pool in 2005. In my estimation, the staff and volunteers outdid themselves this year and produced the best B&W Party ever.

The Black & White Party had very humble beginnings, starting off in an apartment where people were encouraged to bring cans of food to stock Aid for AIDS of Nevada's pantry. It has grown to an event that attracts upwards of 2,000 attendees, and has been held at The Palms, The Cosmopolitan, and The Hard Rock Hotel. This year The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel hosted this huge party.

Hosts of the event were Jaymes & James, two performers with Las Vegas Chippendales (and popular competitors on the reality show "The Amazing Race") Chris Saldaña, TV anchor and host of Channel 8 News, and Lauren Michaels, radio personality from KLUC 98.5's Chet Buchanan and the Morning Zoo, Entertainment included a performance by the singer/comedienne/entertainer Véronic and her bevy of beautiful dancers. She has a new show playing at Bally's, which was teased to the enthusiastic crowd. Performers from "The 'D' Word" musical from LVH, and Britney Spears impersonator Derrick Barry were also there to dazzle and engage the audience. In a smaller room where most of the food and beverage samples were handed out, DJ's Mr. J & MAU spun Top 40 pop, hip-hop, and house, while dancers from Nevada Ballet Theatre joined other go-go dancers and showed their moves to an appreciative crowd.

There were also many food and beverage partners: Aliante Casino + Hotel, Avion Tequila, Chambord, Corona, Frangelico, Jamba Juice, and Trader Joe's were just some of the participating partners. Representatives from the Southern Nevada Health District handed out free condoms and pamphlets on their services. AFAN sold raffle tickets that quickly sold out. Prizes included gift cards, exercise classes, and comped dinners at some very hot restaurants in town, Unfortunately, I didn't win any of the prizes. Maybe next year. Good food, drink, entertainment, and sexy people clothed in black & white? You know I'll be there!

All photo credits: Julie Kasperson,

-VegasJules ( Julie Kasperson ) can be contacted through her facebook page.

Photos From The B&W Party

(Click photos to enlarge, all photos © Julie Kasperson)

Aid for AIDS of Nevada - Las Vegas Sun News

Trippy Rock At House Of Blues With The Flaming Lips

2013-08-27T11:52:00.002-07:00

The Flaming Lips In Full Effect

by Julie Kasperson

I had not heard much of the Flaming Lips' music. I knew they had been around the music scene a long time (forming in 1983 in Oklahoma City, OK, in fact). I'm glad I had no expectations as I waited patiently for their show to begin at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. A friend invited me to the show, which was part of a Bud Light Music First 50-50-1 promotion. Fifty bands in fifty states, all playing on the same night.

HOTT MT opened the show. They were a quirky little band from Southern California with a lot of spunk and drive. I watched the roadies scurry around after the opening act, wondering what kind of show we were in for. Miles of translucent cable wound around the Lips' lead singer Wayne Coyne's mic, and snaked all over the front of the stage. Wayne came out for a sound check and was warmly greeted by the audience. His shiny blue outfit reminded me of a Beatles' St, Pepper uniform or a '70's disco band leader. His sparkly, sequined makeup reminded me of the '60's flower power, hippie generation.

Wayne Coyne Greets The Audience

The music was intoxicating, trance-like, and accompanied by a rear screen-projected set of visuals. During some songs confetti cannons shot loads of shredded paper into the audience, turning the room into a snowstorm of confetti. All the musicians were first-rate, especially Wayne the lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd, who alternated between keyboards and guitar. The lighting, the vocals,and instrumentals all made for a mesmerizing evening.

Confetti Swirls As The Music Plays

I talked to a fan after the performance, and he said the band created all the stage effects without a stage designer. Everything was designed and built by the band. He said sometimes, like during this performance, they go all-out and get very creative with the visuals. I'm glad they did. It was my favorite concert of the year, and one of the best events I have ever witnessed at the House of Blues Las Vegas.

All photo credits: Julie Kasperson,

-VegasJules ( Julie Kasperson ) can be contacted through her facebook page.

Fourth of July 2013 in Las Vegas: EarlyVegas.com Announces the Best Things to Do in Las Vegas for 4th of July Weekend

2013-06-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

EarlyVegas presents all the best Las Vegas 4th of July 2013 fireworks and events.The most exciting city in the world will be hosting many events for Independence Day on 4th of July 2013 for celebrations that will last all weekend.

SEE ALSO: About.com's 4th of July Fireworks in Las Vegas Fireworks Shows Across the Valley on Independence Day.

Vegas Electric Daisy Carnival gears for crowds - FOX5 Vegas - KVVU

2013-06-22T15:08:00.001-07:00

FOX5 Vegas - KVVU

Vegas Electric Daisy Carnival gears for crowds - FOX5 Vegas - KVVU

Electric Daisy Carnival Wrap-up -- $ucccess? How many arrests? Who died? What happened??

Las Vegas Thrill Rides | VEGAS.com

2013-06-05T12:42:00.001-07:00

"Vegas is a thrill seeker's paradise with scream-inducing, heart-racing roller coasters, race cars and rides that are sure to get your adrenaline pumping. For more Las Vegas attractions, check out our comprehensive list." --- Vegas.com

Las Vegas Thrill Rides | VEGAS.com

Memorial Day weekend, Vegas-style -- clubs, pool parties, bands, and a water park

2013-05-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend, Vegas-style -- clubs, pool parties, bands, and a water park

Memorial Day weekend in Vegas: Time to hit the pools! | Las Vegas Blogs

2013-05-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

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Top 10 water attractions in Las Vegas | Las Vegas Blogs

2013-05-19T13:40:00.001-07:00

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Clubbing In Las Vegas - Business Insider

2013-05-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

Clubbing In Las Vegas - Business Insider

Jeremy Kintigh: Cinco de Mayo: Vegas

2013-05-03T13:44:00.001-07:00

Jeremy Kintigh: Cinco de Mayo: Vegas

Best Pools in Las Vegas - Articles | Travel Leisure

2013-05-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Great photo essay on Las Vegas' best pools.

Best Pools in Las Vegas - Articles | Travel Leisure

A new Las Vegas party pool dives in - Bagatelle Beach at the Tropicana - USA Today

2013-04-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

Bagatelle Beach at the Tropicana is due to launch May 4
A new Las Vegas party pool dives in

Las Vegas: You can take the plunge at another pool - latimes.com

2013-04-17T21:09:00.004-07:00

There was a time, long ago, when this local could use any Las Vegas pool (to do laps) without showing a room key or an ID. Sweet freedom! Alas, the hotel pools are now charging 10, 20 or more bucks for the hotel residents to use their own pool. Now some hotel pools are opening up to charge people staying at other Vegas hotels to usetheir pools. This is called PROGRE$$ ...
Las Vegas: You can take the plunge at another pool - latimes.com

Las Vegas Strip Gambling Revenue Spikes More Than 30% LVS WYNN MGM - Investors.com

2013-04-11T09:02:00.001-07:00

Las Vegas Strip Gambling Revenue Spikes More Than 30% LVS WYNN MGM - Investors.com

On the Scene - At Pool Party at Viva Las Vegas

2013-04-05T13:11:00.001-07:00

Welcoming in the Vegas pool party season ! (photo from The Satorialist)
On the Scene…..Pool Party at Viva Las Vegas, Las Vegas

Fast cars, big bulldozers – and an A-bomb - USA Today

2013-04-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas attractions go way beyond gaming, shows and night clubs. Drive a hot car at 120 mph, pay to operate construction machinery, play a Titanic passenger. USA TODAY's Kitty Bean Yancey samples some offbeat offerings...

Downtown Las Vegas Revival - Forbes

2013-03-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Downtown Las Vegas Revival - Forbes

Vegas' Resort Fees Killed Our HotelTonight Booking Buzz || HotelChatter

2013-03-07T10:53:00.001-08:00

Interesting trip report about Resort Fees at Caesars.

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Las Vegas resorts are putting the money on resort fees | Washington Times Communities

Las Vegas for Kids: 10 Family Friendly Destinations - AOL Travel News

2013-02-20T04:58:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas for Kids: 10 Family Friendly Destinations - AOL Travel News

Las Vegas reports surge in visitors | News | Breaking Travel News

2013-02-10T12:21:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas reports surge in visitors | News | Breaking Travel News

Fremont Street Experience’s Downtown Countdown New Year’s Eve Celebration: Monday, Dec. 31, 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun News

2012-12-18T04:22:00.001-08:00

Rock in the new year with Fremont Street Experience’s Downtown Countdown New Year’s Eve 2013 celebration filled with nonstop entertainment. From 6 p.m. - 3 a.m. the ultimate New Year’s Eve street party will feature... ( continued )

Fremont Street Experience’s Downtown Countdown New Year’s Eve Celebration: Monday, Dec. 31, 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. - Las Vegas Sun News

Hacienda Hotel and Casino In Boulder City Is A Fun Place For Locals

2012-12-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

Click Right Mouse Button On Pic And Choose "Play" From The Menu To View The Slide Show

EDITORIAL UPDATE 05/03/2013:

Due to a review of current reviews of this property and recent personal bad experiences with the staff, I can no longer recommend the Hacienda Hotel to anyone for gaming, food, or lodging. I have kept the original blog entry below intact and will be updating my review on Yelp.

If I had only depended on reading the Yelp reviews, I would never have come here. But it does overlook Lake Mead and is near Hoover Dam. And I have always found the staff (especially the cocktail waitresses) to be friendly and courteous. And, big bonus for me, the food is very reasonable and mostly very good. And there are raft tours of the Colorado River that originate here. Also, for a price you can walk a short distance from the hotel and ride a helicopter to view the lake and beyond, including the Grand Canyon.

I have never stayed here, but I would imagine a room on the top floor of the tower would yield a wonderful view of the lake. Maybe we will do this over New Year's, since the room rates are so reasonable !

There is even a modern movie theater with two screens on the premises, so unusual for a small property.

There is free live music entertainment every Wednesday thru Saturday night. The quality of the entertainment is often surprisingly good, since some quality bands tour here from Arizona and California. Two fully stocked bars exist, one on each end of the casino, for those who care enough to pay for their drinks. (I never do.)

The casino is small, but has an interesting variety of slot and penny games and live gaming for a place of its size. The gaming club ( called the Matador club ) is quite generous, offering both free play and points for food, gifts and gasoline ( gas station is across the street ). I am not a big gambler, but on occasion I have accumulated enough points for a free buffet, with not that much expenditure.

So, Yelp is a good thing to read for pointers, but the way you experience a place is greatly colored by your expectations and tastes. After all, this is not the Bellagio. If the only reason I ever went to the Hacienda Hotel & Casino was to enjoy the fine dining at the Hacienda Steakhouse that would be enough for me. A good meal there, followed by a relaxing scenic drive through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area ( I have a lifetime pass ): that would be enough for me !

Seven reasons Las Vegas locals should head to the Strip - Las Vegas Sun News

2012-12-13T17:18:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Steve Marcus, Las Vegas Sun I've also noticed that locals brag that they have not visited the Strip for a long time. Some good reasons to venture beyond the bedroom communities. Also, great photo slideshow and great comments! I added my one-half cent comment :) Seven reasons Las Vegas locals should head to the Strip - Las Vegas Sun News

Las Vegas Visits Up 2.9% In October

2012-12-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

Good news for Las Vegas tourism !

Las Vegas visits up 2.9% in October

LAS VEGAS — Officials say about 99,000 more people visited Las Vegas in October compared with last year, and gambling revenue went up as well.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Friday tallied a little more than 3.5 million visitors in Las Vegas in October, up 2.9 percent from the same month in 2011.

Room occupancy increased 2.6 percent, to 89.4 percent, and average hotel room rates went up 2.6 percent, to almost $118 per night.

The CVA reported Clark County gambling revenues of nearly $860 million were up 2.8 percent in October, compared with 2011.

The Las Vegas Strip reported a 3.6 percent increase in gambling revenues, and the Boulder Strip reported an 8.1 percent jump.

The authority says Las Vegas tourism is up 1.9 percent so far this year.

Dia de los MuertosA Celebration of Loved Ones at Springs Preserve

2012-11-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

A Traditional Altar
by Julie Kasperson

I have always wanted to attend a Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) celebration. Ever since I was a child growing up in the suburbs of L.A., I was curious about the rituals and traditions associated with it. I watched films at school, showing the ofrendas or altars decorated with flowers, bread (“pan de muerto”) and other food, and gifts for the departed. I was transfixed by the creation of the sugar skulls (“calaveras”) and the prevalent images of the Catrinas, female figures with skulls as faces, originally created by Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada, who named his creation La Calavera Catrina (“The Elegant Skull”), a parody of the Mexican upper-class female.

The observance of El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) dates from pre-Columbian times. It is believed by many that this is the time when those who have passed away are allowed to return to earth to visit with their families and friends. This occasion, on November 1 and 2, ceremonially and festively honors those who have died, and brings focus to the other aspects of the life cycle: fertility and life for the future.

El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico by decorating shop windows, cleaning and decorating the cemetery, creating special fantastic flower wreaths, making small and large toys and figurines featuring the famous calaveras (skulls and skeletons sometimes accompanied by verses), and by installing tianguis (special temporary markets) to sell the necessary items for the ofrendas. Zenpasuchitl, a type of marigold, is the traditional flower of the occasion and altars are often covered with the bright orange petals. The baker, confectioner, cook, florist and artist are essential to the Days of the Dead.

The most important manifestations of this holiday are the ofrendas, or altars made of offerings, created in homes, businesses and public places. The altars honor the dead to assure the continuity of life. In the Mexican tradition, those who are dead provide the necessary connection between the living and God and the Saints. The celebration is often called Los Dias de los Muertos because two important days are recognized. November 1, All Saints' Day, is devoted to los angelitos (little children), and November 2, All Souls' Day, to adults.

As I strolled the grounds of Springs Preserve that evening, I observed many people, both adults and children, with faces painted to resemble a calavera. There were booths selling Mexican food, some that offered games for the children, and others that showcased arts and crafts dedicated to the observance of this yearly tradition. There was also an exhibition of Traditional, Artistic, and Non-Profit categories of ofrendas, which the public could vote on and choose their favorite. Some children showed me their sugar skulls that they painted and decorated during their visit to the Preserve.

I also enjoyed seeing the many colorfully dressed adults and children that danced and entertained attendees. Day of the Dead is not a somber occasion. It is one of remembrance, spiced with stories, humor, art, music and dance.

The Springs Preserve is considered the birthplace of Las Vegas. It is a certified wildlife habitat, contains award-winning gardens, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located only a few minutes from the Strip, it offers a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate Las Vegas’ dynamic history and provides a vision for the future. Many events are held on the grounds of Springs Preserve during the year; some are holiday-related, others are for charity and fund-raising. I for one am grateful for the opportunity to enjoy its surroundings and I’m happy that this organization appreciates and highlights different cultures and traditions.

All photo credits: Julie Kasperson,

-VegasJules ( Julie Kasperson ) can be contacted through her facebook page.

More Photos ( click to enlarge ) ...

La Calavera Catrina

An Altar On Display

Dancer In The Audience

Dancer Onstage

Artist Murbina Painting A Skull Mask

Part Of Large Altar Installation
Made Of Recycled Materials

Part Of Another Altar Installation

Girl Getting Her Face Painted

What's Happening, Vegas?

AFAN's 27th Annual Black & White Party Was The Place To Be!

Photos From The B&W Party

(Click photos to enlarge, all photos © Julie Kasperson)

Related Story:

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EDITORIAL UPDATE 05/03/2013:

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Good news for Las Vegas tourism !

Dia de los MuertosA Celebration of Loved Ones at Springs Preserve

More Photos ( click to enlarge ) ...