VEGAS LOCAL EVENTS

February MAGIC 2012 hits Las Vegas

2012-02-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

Get to know the latest fashion trends from MAGIC 2012

by Jeffrey Airman

Staff Writer

For the members of the elite crew who love fashion and know enough about it to stay on top, there is no bigger center of commercial fashion buzz than the MAGIC and POOL conventions that happen in Las Vegas. The February 2012 MAGIC is about to kick off, featuring the latest designs from the hottest brands in fashion. Featured footwear brands at the show this year include MoovCulture, Burnetie Shoes and Analpa.

In many ways eco-clothing and denim are standouts for this fashion extravaganza.

Denim takes center stage at MAGIC 2012.
Photo courtesy of Magiconline.com.

Denim: Is it cool again?

If you are big into blue jeans or denim overall, a startling number of top designers will be showing their newest wares at the show this year.

Hot denim designers who will be at the Feb 2012 MAGIC include Versace Denim, 7 For All Mankind, RVCA and True Religion.

Where to buy wedding flowers in Las Vegas

2012-01-31T07:06:00.001-08:00

The best, cheapest and most convenient Las Vegas wedding-savvy florists and floral designers

by Heather Bliss
Staff Writer

Getting married in Las Vegas is easier than it is many other places because the city is well-known for its quick wedding options. However famous Las Vegas is for its short-form package wedding services, an elegant and well-planned wedding can certainly be had in the city.

One of the many steps to planning a successful wedding is getting the decorative floral design and bouquets nailed down. Whether you are looking for the most spectacular flowers in the city or searching for an inexpensive way to add flowers to your wedding, Las Vegas has something for you.

Naakiti Floral Design

Gaining a reputation for high-class, elegant event floral displays, Naakiti Floral Design is quickly becoming one of the premier wedding flower designers in Las Vegas. This is the type of floral designer you want to get if you have very specific plans for your wedding flowers that require a creative custom design. Check out the Naakiti Floral blog for photos of their past work: http://naakitifloral.com/blog/

Enchanted Florist

Enchanted Florist handles weddings of all scales, from small, budget weddings that need minimal floral displays and basic bouquets, to large-scale, high-budget elegant weddings requiring creative and specific arrangement designs. One nice thing about Enchanted Florist is that they do the typical gift flower deliveries too, rather than doing just wedding flowers. so you get an opportunity to try them out with small gift deliveries to test their quality for the big wedding day. See Enchanted Florist’s wedding flower portfolio here.

Tips and Tricks for Las Vegas Wedding Flowers

When you are getting married in Las Vegas, it is often not a planned event, but a fast and furious whirlwind experience. In these cases, flowers can be an afterthought, but because the wedding flowers were forgotten does not mean they are lost. Most of the hotels and chapels that offer wedding services also offer wedding floral services that are basically designed to be pulled together at the last minute. Using these convenience wedding flower services can be more expensive than ordering a small package from a floral designer ahead of time

The Absolute Cheapest Wedding Flower Option

For weddings that are operating on a barebones budget, some wedding reception halls allow wedding flowers and bouquets, often silk, to be borrowed for the duration of the ceremony. This is generally the cheapest available option. Look for a wedding package that lets you rent or borrow a silk bouquet, or call the reception hall ahead to ask if they do bouquet rentals.

Las Vegas Valentine’s Day Success Secrets

2012-01-27T14:25:00.001-08:00

Cunning steps and local secrets to help you defeat Murphy’s Law on Valentine’s Day

by Heather Bliss
Staff Writer

Las Vegas is a mecca for romance, to be sure. With its replicas of common romantic landmarks and its eternal plethora of restaurant options that cater to couples, it seems the perfect place to spend a Valentine’s Day.

However, deep within the depths of Valentine’s Day planning lie secret pitfalls that can ruin your night out. With some of these secrets, you can make sure your Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas is one hundred percent special rather than a total disaster.

Book early.

If you haven’t booked a seat for Valentine’s Day dinner yet, do it now. Even though Las Vegas has a ton of restaurants available for celebrating couples on Valentine’s Day, a great many of them, especially the good ones, do sell out.

Ask for a specific table.

If atmosphere is important to you and your date, you want not only to choose a restaurant with a good atmosphere, but also choose a table with good location. Visiting the restaurant to get an idea of the locations of the good tables can help you avoid any pitfalls, like a table with a poor view, or a table located next to a kitchen door or bathroom entrance.

Check out the deals.

Most of the major restaurants in Las Vegas offer some kind of prix fixe, multi-course deal for their Valentine’s Day diners. This can help you save money without looking like a cheapskate by breaking out a coupon for your date. However, if you are in a long-term relationship and your partner doesn’t care if you save some cash, you can seek out coupon deals for some of the less popular off-strip restaurants on Valentine’s Day.

Coupon sites like Groupon and Restaurant.com offer major deals on many Las Vegas restaurants. One thing to remember when booking a restaurants based on these deals is the fine print on the coupon; some restaurants do not take coupons on busy holidays like Valentine’s Day. If you are not sure, check with the restaurant before relying on a coupon.

Call ahead for special orders.

If a restaurant does a dish that you cannot live without on Valentine’s Day, make a special order with the chef to make sure it will be there for you. In most cases, the everyday menu at these restaurants is not available on major restaurant holidays like Valentine’s Day because the kitchen staff simply does not have time to prepare for them.

Offbeat Las Vegas Valentine’s Day Restaurant Recommendations

My personal favorite restaurants in Las Vegas are the ones that offer the whole package: service, atmosphere and good food.

Favorite restaurants of mine in Las Vegas include SushiSamba, which offers fresh food and good service in a hip atmosphere, and the Top of Binion’s Steakhouse, a classy, old-style venue where I enjoyed the best steak I’ve had in Las Vegas to a striking sunset view.

If you are a local in town and you just want to hit a small diner dive for a quick, inexpensive and intimate bite with genuinely nice staff, check out Carlos’ Kitchen on the far west side of town.

Weird Vegas–Gunpoint Soda Robbery

2012-01-26T08:51:00.001-08:00

According to Fox 5 Vegas, two men in Las Vegas held up a convenience store, and used a gun to escape.

Their take? A soda.

The operation involved two partners, one, the thief, and the other the lookout, to make sure that the perp successfully made off with the drink.

Local residents gotta love weird crimes in Las Vegas.

Healthy grocery stores in Las Vegas

2012-01-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

Staying healthy in a city like Las Vegas can be difficult, but shopping from a healthy grocery store can make it easier. Here are a few Las Vegas grocery stores that go beyond the typical unhealthy fare, offering healthy options like organic meat and produce and healthier pre-made meals.

Fresh and Easy

With a commitment to avoiding chemicals in their products, Fresh and Easy is a chain of small, convenience-sized grocery stores that offers a selection of healthy products. This grocery store can be a good place to shop healthy if you are overwhelmed by typical grocery store selections.

In addition to the familiar products, you will see a number of inexpensive products bearing the Fresh and Easy label. Locations for Fresh and Easy are all over Las Vegas.

Trader Joe's

Known for their unique selection of cheeses, meats and produce, their large availability of specialty products like vegan, gluten-free and organic, Trader Joe's is an old standby for health-conscious eaters wherever this chain has location.

Glazier's

Located in the deep southwest part of Las Vegas, Glazier's is an independent grocery store with a large selection of produce, including locally grown produce. This grocery store bears large varieties of ethnic food items and offers meal deals and coupons that give discounts on large family purchases.

Sunflower Farmer's Market

Another chain offering deals on healthy produce and a large selection of organic product's Sunflower Farmer's Market is not a floating farmer's market, but a grocery store that carries a variety of produce, healthy meals and vitamin and mineral supplements.

Gone black to Stop SOPA

2012-01-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

Vegas Local Events has gone black today to protest the Internet censorship bills being considered by Congress.

Please write your representatives to let them know that you do not want them to support these bills.

We will be back tomorrow.

STOP SOPA.

What to do in January in Las Vegas

2012-01-06T09:42:00.001-08:00

Temperate January fun and nearby Winter getaways in Las Vegas

Though the weather is chilly, the vast array of entertainment options in Las Vegas year-round means there is always something to do, indoors or outdoors, for Las Vegas locals and visitors alike. Here are some fun ideas for things to do in Las Vegas in January.

Things to do in Vegas in January 2012

Hike. The Red Rock Preserve gets snow and ice in the winter, despite its desert appearance, and you might catch a glimpse of the secret fossilized dinosaur tracks if you are enough of a nature sleuth to find them.

Go skiing. Mount Charleston, just 30 minutes away from Las Vegas, offers a full-sized ski resort for those who want to get away from the desert during January.

Golf. January can have perfectly temperate weather in Las Vegas, but it can also be cold. Jumping outdoors for an impromptu golf or mini-golf trip can give you a chance to get some otherwise scarce wintertime sunlight.

Venetian’s Winter in Venice Ending Soon, But Still There for Some January Fun
Ending on January 8, 2012, experience winter cheer when you visit the Venetian and Palazzo. They have decked the halls, complete with lights, trees and an ice skating rink, and there are rumors of free hot chocolate and cupcakes.

Western Las Vegas Power Outage

2012-01-03T10:12:00.001-08:00

A power outage affected a large area of Western Las Vegas today. The power company reported that it extends roughly from southern Spring Valley and Summerlin to the west area of Charleston boulevard.

Though as of publication, there has been no estimate as to when the power will be restored, some areas already have their power back on.

Notice! Las Vegas Strip Shutting Down for New Year's Eve 2011-2012

2011-12-31T13:13:00.000-08:00

The Las Vegas Strip will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 6:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve 2011-2012. If you are parked inside a parking garage that exits into the Strip, you will not be able to leave until well after midnight. The upside of this is that you can drink and wander the streets of the Strip with the droves of other New Year's partiers.

The area of Las Vegas Boulevard that will be closed for New Year's Eve festivities runs from Russell Road in the South to Sahara on the North side. Plan for extra traffic.

Make sure you arrange for a sober driver or a cab if you have to leave whilst intoxicated (legally or otherwise). Cab lines are often packed, so get in one earlier than you intend to leave.

Stay safe and have a Happy New Year!

Last Minute Celebrity Appearances in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve Weekend

2011-12-30T13:37:00.001-08:00

Hobnob with hip celebrities at the hottest Las Vegas clubs and parties

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Did planning for your Las Vegas New Year’s weekend fail to provide the myriad of star-studded celebrity events that your party is looking for? Look no further for New Year’s Eve Las Vegas entertainment with these unforgettable celebrity appearances that are sure to bring a touch of fame into your celebration.

Last-minute New Year’s Eve Celebrity Events in Las Vegas

On Friday, December 30 2011, DJ Pauly D, of Jersey Shore fame. Will be spinning at the Vanity nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel. Saturday, December 31, New Year’s Eve, Vanity will be hosting the Drake afterparty to ring in the New Year in 2012.

If you are all about hitting what’s new and hot, the Tropicana is opening the doors to its new club, RPM, on New Year’s Eve. What’s more is that the unforgettable Mary J. Blige will be making a celebrity appearance at the new club’s debut.

How to Start a New Website for a Business

2011-12-28T11:58:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas businesses often fail to take advantage of the low cost promotion and sales vessel that the World Wide Web provides to small businesses.

Getting Online for Businesses is Inexpensive and Easy

Precious few businesses in Clark County are online, and many small businesses that have websites cripple themselves by providing confusing, incomplete or inaccurate information on the Internet.

Starting a business is different now than it was just a couple decades ago because of the advent of consumer Internet use.

Though many different resources exist to help a business owner design a website to help boost business, many business owners find the number of tools and tips overwhelming when trying to build a suite.

The most important steps include finding a good domain, finding a good host and choosing an effective interface for your business website.

Building an effective business website starts with some basic organization, adherence to style rules and easy-to-use customer experience design that makes website interaction go smoothly. Thinking about what customers in Las Vegas want to see when they happen by your website can help reduce the chances of surprises that might send users to another vendor.

Sensuous New Year's Eve getaways in Las Vegas

2011-12-09T13:19:00.001-08:00

Get sexy with New Year's Eve events featuring the hottest DJs and celebrity appearances

The number of events in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve in 2012 is getting nuts, and there is no shortage of things to do.

When you are looking for a place to spend a sexy evening in Las Vegas, there's nothing better than finding a New Year's Eve getaway package that focuses on the sensuous delights of Las Vegas.

Here are the sexiest New Year's Eve 2012 events happening in Las Vegas.

Holly Madison at the Gallery Nightclub

Holly Madison, who starred in the provocative Peepshow and Holly's World, will be hosting the New Year's Eve festivities at the gallery nightclub at Planet Hollywood.

Tickets to see the Holly Madison celebrity appearance at the Gallery Nightclub are $75 and are here.

Kim Kardashian at Tao

The voluptuously lovely Kim Kardashian will be hosting at Tao on New Year's Eve 2012. There will be an open bar and hors d'ouevres, plus a champagne toast at midnight to ring in the New Year.

Admission at Tao also comes with free afterparty admission at Lavo after midnight with the Tao ticket stub. Tickets are $200 and are here.

Get dressed up = feel sexy

Whether your are into subtle sexiness and romance or steamy sensuality, Las Vegas will have an event somewhat that tickles your fancy.

Before you brave the beauties at the club events in Las Vegas, make sure you hit the mall for the hottest outfit to make sure you have the look and confidence to have a great time while bringing in 2012.

Las Vegas has cabs: Do NOT drink and drive

As always, arrange for a sober ride, and don't drink and drive. Not only is it expensive if you get caught, but it could claim the life of an innocent stranger.

Las Vegas locals do not tolerate drunk driving because we lose our loved ones every year to out of towners who choose to drive drunk. If you can't find a friend, call a cab, and if you can't call a cab, sleep it off somewhere. Thanks.

Vegas consumers scramble for Paypal alternatives in wake of Regretsy debacle

2011-12-06T13:07:00.001-08:00

Paypal alternatives are a hot topic lately because of the problems Paypal often causes its customers. Paypal has a long history of freezing funds first and asking questions later when it comes to activity they feel might violate their policies.

Sometimes, this activity does not violate Paypal's policies at all, but under suspicion, they take the consumer's money, leaving a trail of financial consequences for them to deal with. They get away with it because they are not banks, and because Paypal alternatives tend to be small, few and untested.

Paypal has a history of freezing customers' accounts

If you think it won't happen to you, think again. I know multiple people who had their accounts frozen when they were simply minding their own business and selling their wares.

I have had my own account frozen because of an error on Paypal's part that they chose to blame on me, and it was several months of arguing with them before the money was returned. Friends of mine have also had their funds temporarily restricted while they pleaded their innocence to Paypal. They take their actions with no regard for the financial consequences to the innocent, and it amazes me that there is no real alternative to Paypal for online payments.

Consumers call for a viable Paypal alternative

While it is nice to have a central payment service that allows people to exchange money easily, the actions Paypal has taken against customers over the years have many moving to another service to protect themselves against financial ruin if they become the next target of Paypal's abusive policy review procedures.

Alternate methods of online payment

While there are not many options for online payment besides Paypal, there are a few. Sometimes, you may need to convince a customer or merchant to sign up for an alternative method of online payment to get them to take a method of payment besides Paypal.

Each one has different fee structures, policies and countries where it works, so it's important to check out each Paypal alternative to ensure it is going to work for your situation. Companies besides Paypal that offer online payment services include Xoom, MoneyBookers and Google Checkout as well as Obopay, Amazon Payments and E-Junkie.

How to beat door-to-door sales scammers in Las Vegas neighborhoods

2011-11-25T14:52:00.001-08:00

The pleading face selling magazines at your doorstep may actually be trying to steal your identity

Whether they tell you they are selling magazines for school or for points for a scholarship, avoid being scammed by learning to spot door-to-door sales scams before you hand over your cash.

One thing you learn quickly when you move to Las Vegas is that this city is full of people who want to make a buck without working for it.

A popular way to do that in this city is by taking a sales job.

Though many legitimate sales jobs are out there for legitimate salespeople in Las Vegas, a door-to-door salesperson is a definite red flag because it indicates a brand of high-pressure sales associated with scams.

Bottom line: if anyone seems suspicious, alert neighbors or police with a description as soon as possible.

Potential dangers of door-to-door sales

Performing door-to-door sales is as dangerous for the potential customer as it is for the seller.

Every year, reports of homeowners getting attacked for refusing subscriptions roll in, including multiple reports of rapes by the scam artists.

Salespeople are also attacked while hawking their wares, so the danger is not just to those who might be scammed. Door-do-door sales people, whether scammers or legitimate, are at just as great a risk of being attacked.

Some of the young participants in these contests have no idea they are scams, while others are fully trying to rip you off.

The best thing to do is not to open the door for them at all.

Early signs that a sales scammer is standing at your door

The hallmark of door-to-door sales is high pressure, including emotional stories.

Remember that most of these emotional stories are mainly lies, if they contain any truth at all.

The emotional stories these sellers tell are designed for one reason: to get you to buy.

By far, the most popular door-to-door scam is one that asks the victim to buy magazines, which gives the seller points for a trip. Sellers will make up a variety of stories to justify their sales tactics, but the scam is a classic one that has been around for decades.

Common door-to-door sales scam tactics in Las Vegas

A trick that door-to-door scammers in Las Vegas use to get you to open the door is to greet you as you approach the door and look out the peep hole.

If the person outside the door has a friendly smile and a wave even though you haven’ t opened the door, and you don’t know who they are, simply walk away from the door.

If you call the scammer on their game, they will most likely act like they have no idea what you are talking about, and may berate or insult you for having denied the sale.

ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, Do NOT feel bad about kicking scamming sellers off your property

Feel triumphant that you stopped a potential criminal from taking your hard earned money. The scammer is the one who should feel bad. But they have already forgotten you to move on to their next victims.

If you like your neighbors, you can help them avoid getting scammed as well.

Band together with neighbors to fight sales scams

You cannot always tell these scammers by sight, but you can learn to recognize their scams. If you recognize one of these scammers, the best thing to do is to alert your neighbors before one of them gets hit.

If you live in an apartment complex that does not allow soliciting, this can be as simple as calling your maintenance team to remove the soliciting scammer.

If you cannot have the scammer removed, warning neighbors who might be vulnerable to their attacks is the next best way of protecting the people around you from sales scams.

Weekly Shocking Online Discounts: Black Friday Edition

2011-11-21T08:04:00.001-08:00

Deep discounts on holiday gifts including electronics and handmade delights

Black Friday is largely touted as the biggest shopping day of the year, though with the advent of internet deals, much of the shopping is moving from the malls to the World Wide Web. Here are some online deals you can’t miss during the week of Black Friday.

32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV – $199

At $150 off the original price, this LCD TV is super inexpensive and a great deal for a holiday indulgence for yourself or a loved one. It also comes with free shipping and defect protection.

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi – $199

Amazon is currently selling their color tablet, the Kindle Fire, for less than it costs to manufacture it. Check out this article for the details. I wouldn’t expect this deal to last for long after the holiday season, so it might be a good year to give your kid her first tablet computer. It’ll help with school. Really.

Etsy Black Friday Handmade Gift Deals

If you are looking for a holiday gift for a recipient who loves unique, handmade things, it might be worth your time to take a look at Etsy.

This website is an online platform that allows vendors to sell goods that are handmade or vintage. They, like other sites, are having a Black Friday and Cyber Monday discount event that many sellers on the site are participating in.

Vegas Local Events Weekly Shocking Online Discounts

2011-11-14T11:52:00.001-08:00

Online deep discounts, clothing steals and awesome coupons for Las Vegas locals and visitors

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Let’s face it: shopping is fun. Whether you are getting yourself a new wardrobe or getting a great holiday gift for a close loved one, the process of choosing the treat is just as fun as using it when you get home. Finding a fantastic coupon or a great deal just makes the shopping all that much sweeter.

Here are some deep discounts and great shopping deals we found this week.

Stock up on women’s fashion with Amazon clearance

Amazon has a ton of ladies’ clearance clothing for more than 50% off. Some clearance is more than 90% off. Sizes are limited, but you can get a $35 shirt for $4 and a $90 dress for $10. How could you pass up a look?

Score last-minute local discount grub with Groupon Now

Groupon has a new feature called Groupon Now that allows you to find local deals that you can redeem within the next few hours for a deep discount at your favorite places in Las Vegas.

Generally, Groupon Now has a lot of pizza deals, shopping coupons and discounts on beauty and spa services that you can either hit up by yourself or give to a friend as a welcome surprise. You can also give Groupon credit as a gift to allow your loved ones to get Groupon Now treats anytime they want.

Find exclusive locals-only deals on shows, hotels and other Vegas treats

Las Vegas is a city that takes care of its locals by offering locals-only deals that give the people who live and work in Las Vegas a taste of the good life once in a while.

Often, searching for a coupon can be fruitful in identifying a Las Vegas locals deal, but just as often you may find a deal for Las Vegans in a hidden place right on the hotel or restaurant website.

Other times, you may be able to get discount certificates through an employer discount program. Either looking for discounts in Las Vegas before shopping is almost always a fruitful endeavor.

New Year’s Eve 2012 Events and Parties in Las Vegas

2011-11-11T11:50:00.001-08:00

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Ring out that old 2011 with a hot Las Vegas New Year’s Eve 2012 party or celebrity event. Las Vegas is essentially the West Coast destination for New Year’s partying every single year.

This is for good reason, as Sin City offers a plethora of party options for almost any taste.

Here are some standout New Year’s Eve parties in Las Vegas that are going to be the hot tickets once it comes time to hit the dance floor:

Las Vegas New Years 2012 Events and Parties

These events all occur on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2011 in Las Vegas:

The artist Drake will be performing at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Drake emerged from the show Degrassi: The Next Generation and is now signed with Young Money Entertainment. Tickets are available here.

At the Sonoma Ballroom at the South Point Hotel, the Spazmatics will be hosting an 80s dance party with an open bar and champagne toast. Tickets are available here

John Legend will be at the Pearl at the Palms Hotel. Tickets go on sale November 12, 2011, and are here.

Stevie Wonder will be heading up a New Year’s celebration at the Chelsea Ballroom at the swank Cosmopolitan Hotel. Tickets are available here.

CES 2012 Countdown: The Top 5 Reasons We’re Skipping It

2011-11-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

(And how you can avoid a miserable time if you go.)

The Consumer Electronics Show, more widely known as CES, rolls around to Las Vegas every year, and if you’ve ever been, you know it’s massive. However, Vegas Local Events is not covering CES this year, and it’s for many, many reasons.

Overall, the hassles and lack of interesting stuff at CES kind of bummed us out, but if you heed our advice, you can have a good time at CES, and enjoy the celebrity appearances, displays and CES afterparties without stressing out.

Here are just a few reasons Vegas Local Events is going to opt out of CES this year:

5. Parking

Parking around the convention center is a nightmare, and the shuttles are no real alternative to a close parking space. The street parking fills up quickly and nearby lots charge a lot of money for a parking space for a few hours.

Advice: The best thing to do is to get a hotel within short walking distance of the convention center, or arrive early to score free close parking, and don’t leave.

4. Everything is On the Internet

There wasn’t a whole lot at CES that wasn’t described in detail online, and there were not many products that I can’t experience first-hand at a mall any day of the week.

A lot of the products were already out by the time the show rolled around, which means I got another look at everything that was heavily advertised in Christmas electronics gift shopping catalogs.

Advice: Keep an eye on the announcements from each company so you know who has new stuff in stock to get a gander at.

3. The Expansive Random Junk

This may sort of blend in with the next one, but it is a specific complaint. There were tons of exhibitors at CES with nothing in particular to look at.

Sure, they had audio accessories, but they had no innovations, nothing unique about their marketing and pretty much sat there while people visited the surrounding exhibits. The number of things that were actually worth looking at were pretty low and scattered around.

The result: everything is far. EVERYTHING.

Advice: There’s nothing you can do. Wear comfortable shoes and pack as lightly as possible.

2. The Packed Sardines Layout

You have to pass through multiple massive bottlenecks to get to anything.

This makes for slow going in the populated hallways: think shuffling inches at a time.

When the halls are packed like this, you can pretty much forget hitting any of the major CES celebrity appearance events because you are getting nowhere near it, my brother. There will be hundreds of bodies in your way.

Advice: If you want a viable spot at a celebrity appearance, park your butt over there at least 45 minutes before the show is set to start. The more famous the person is, the longer you should plan ahead to catch a glimpse.

1. The Shuttle
Oh, god, the shuttle. If you think you can park far away from the main center and take a shuttle, prepare to wait. During the off times, the shuttles aren’t too slow, but if they are jam packed, prepare to wait an hour for the shuttle.

And BOY, is it COLD.

And boy, are the shuttles run down, smelly, tore-up-from-the-floor up, and looking an awful mess.

Advice: Take a cab if your time is worth anything at all to you. Find some strangers in line and share it.

We will miss the celebrity appearances and hot nighttime parties that come with attending CES, but with a break from attending the event, we feel like we’ll enjoy it much better next year. Don’t forget to give us your CES reports on how you braved the electronics show storm!

Success at Black Friday Las Vegas calls for planning ahead

2011-11-01T15:33:00.001-07:00

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Black Friday in Las Vegas is one of the best for shopping simply because there is so much shopping. This is no surprise to any chronic shoppers, who know the city as a great destination to pick up fashion and gifts at a discount.

Las Vegas is a popular holiday destination not only because it has many hotels, attractions and shows, but also because it has a ton of shopping, and savvy shoppers who know the holiday sale schedules can pick up a hot gift item at a steal with a little planning ahead.

Holiday Shopping in Las Vegas is ample and affordable

This city has a lot of shopping malls, and visitors to the malls are never left without something to look at. The best shopping malls in Las Vegas include Town Square and the two Las Vegas Premium Outlets locations.

The Premium Outlets location on the north end of town is particularly attractive and pleasant to visit, but offers mostly high-end goods at discount prices.

The location on the south end of town has more standard mall stores and lower prices, and it’s located very close to the Town Square mall, if you want to do an epic multi-mall shopping binge.

Las Vegas Black Friday sales start early

If you plan your shopping strikes during Black Friday by prioritizing the sales, you can probably hit more than one sale in a day.

Look for malls that are located close to each other to plan your route for your shopping day.

If you are going for a much sought-after deal, get there before the store opens to ensure you get a shot at the prize.

Times for Black Friday sales in Vegas begin early in the morning all around. The north side Premium Outlets will be running specials from Friday, Nov. 25, 2011 to Sunday, Nov. 27. The south side Premium Outlets in Las Vegas will also be running their Black Friday deals on those dates.

Town Square Mall will most likely be opening their doors to shoppers at 7 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving. Last year, in 2010, Town Square Mall opened up at 7 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving to welcome shoppers into a slew of Black Friday deals.

Quick Winter escapes in Las Vegas include sightseeing, caroling

2011-11-01T14:58:00.001-07:00

Looking to find a place in Las Vegas for a quick winter escape to get away from your day to day? Plan for indoors, unless you are the adventurous type. If you are, bring a jacket and a light sweater.

Though you would think the desert climate of Las Vegas means a longer warm season and a warmer winter season, many find different conditions when carrying out their Winter escapes.

Here are some tips, tricks and wintertime escape ideas to get you out of a rut while the weather is cold.

Winter escape activity ideas in Las Vegas

Though Las Vegas obviously has tons of activities all year-round, family friendly or otherwise, some opportunities crop up around the holidays that are only available around Christmas. Here are some Winter escape ideas that Las Vegas locals don’t see in their everyday lives:

Get Your Family Horseback Christmas Caroling in Las Vegas

Horseback Christmas caroling will be taking place courtesy of Sagebrush Ranch Las Vegas, a horse range that specializes in horse riding lessons for children and adults. The horseback caroling will be taking place on Thursdays through Sundays between November 25, 2011 and December 23, 2011. Call 702-645-9422 for more information.

Don’t Miss the Holiday display at the Bellagio Conservatory

The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas sports a breathtaking conservatory that houses beautiful plant displays tailored to the season.

Christmas is one season that the Bellagio conservatory definitely does up, so it is a good stop for locals and visitors who are interested in holiday-themed art displays.

Bonus: it’s free, and it smells divine.

Get Famous with Halloween 2011 Celebrity Appearances in Las Vegas

2011-10-13T18:14:00.001-07:00

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Celebrity appearances in Las Vegas boom on Halloween because the city is such an attraction for people who want to do something crazy, like meet up with an awesome celebrity.

Halloween has a wide variety of parties around Halloween to suit the tastes of anyone who wants to play dress-up for one of the darker of our yearly holidays.

From Jersey Shore’s adorable Snooki to the slightly less conventionally adorable Marilyn Manson, Las Vegas is the place to be if you want to hang with a celeb on Halloween this year.

Here are some celebrity appearances in Las Vegas during Halloween weekend in 2011:

Snooki at Pure Nightclub

Jersey Shore’s petite darling Nicole Polizzi, more commonly known as Snooki, will be fist pumping at Pure from the night of October 29 to early morning on October 30.

The festivities will go from 10:30 p.m. on the 29th to 4 a.m. on the 30th at Pure, which is located in the beautiful Caesar’s Palace hotel.

You can make VIP reservations for the Halloween weekend Snooki event at Pure here.

Tiesto at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel

On October 29, Tiesto will be playing at The Joint, a high-class venue inside the Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets are available here, or you can request a VIP table directly from the venue.

Other hot celebrities are almost everywhere in Las Vegas on Halloween.

Heidi Klum will be hosting at TAO.

Marilyn Manson is reportedly at the Bank, which is located at the Bellagio hotel.

And if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, Paul Oakenfold will be at Chateau nightclub on October 29, and Lil Jon will host a costume contest at Surrender on Halloween night, straight up on October 31st, 2011.

Deadmaus will also be at XS on Oct 30th.

With cheap drinks, affordable hotels, hot girls and every possible option for a good time, there is literally no reason not to visit Las Vegas for Halloween in 2011.

2012 Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas Dates Announced

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Onsale dates and performance nights for the 2012 Electric Daisy Carnival have been announced.

Next year, the EDC will be on June 8, 9 and 10, 2012.

The Electric Daisy Carnival is a completely massive music and visual event.

The 2012 installment will be in Las Vegas, marking the 16th year that this music festival has been in existence.

Tickets to the Electric Daisy Carnival will go on sale on November 1, 2011. If you plan on going to this show, it is best to get your tickets early because although the event is large, it can easily sell out, leaving you to scrap for shady scalpers if you want to go last minute.

Attendance to this festival is mindblowingly huge, and it has some of the biggest electronic stage acts in the business blowing up the speakers at the event.

Lineup is still TBA. Subscribe for updates to this blog to get the latest information on Electric Daisy Carnival tickets and artist lineups.

October and November Celebrity Appearances in Las Vegas

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Katy Perry is one of many celebs making
Fall 2011 appearances in Las Vegas.

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Las Vegas is a celebrity mecca and a great place for a hip star to promote a new project. This means that visitors and locals alike can easily meet a number of their favorite celebs from TV, movies and music just by being in the know and showing up at the right place at the right time.

Here are some celebrity appearances happening in Las Vegas in October and November 2011.

Since we already did a list of some hot celebrity appearances in October, we’ll start with November first.

-Singer Katy Perry, who kissed a girl and reportedly liked it, will be playing at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, November 19. Ellie Goulding will also be playing at this show. Tickets are here.

-Rod Stewart will be playing a number of dates at Caesar’s Palace in November 2011. Show dates and tickets are here.

-Barry Manilow will also be appearing at a number of November shows at Paris hotel in Las Vegas. Tickets and dates are here.

-Hardcore punk icon Kevin Seconds from 7 Seconds will be playing a small show at the underground indie venue called the Bunkhouse Saloon. Tickets are here.

Here are some celebrities you may not have known were coming to Las Vegas in October 2011.

- Epic awesome comedian Louis C.K. at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Hotel on October 29. Tickets are here. Check out full episodes of his hit TV show “Louie” here.

- Enrique Iglesias will be performing with special guest Pitbull at the Red Rock Resort on the 8th. Tickets are here, but it looks like they are probably sold out.

-America’s Got Talent Live will be at Caesar’s Palace on October 28, 29 and 30. Tickets are here. It will be hosted by Jerry Springer this year, and it will feature the winners from the hit television show, “America’s Got Talent.” This includes the big winner of the year, Landau Eugene Murphy.

Fall is a popular time to visit Las Vegas because the hot summer weather melts into a temperate and comfy warm if breezy fall. This can be an exciting place to get away for those who live in areas that get nippy by the time fall, well, falls.

Lining up a meetup with your favorite celeb in Las Vegas is easy to do and will make your trip to Sin City all the more magical to remember.

Discount Fight Tickets–2 for 1 for Couture vs. Watson

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Las Vegas fight fans, take note of this discount ticket opportunity. Spy On Vegas is offering a two for one deal on tickets to the Ryan Couture vs. Maka Watson fight at the Palms Hotel on September 23. The discount fight tickets are available here.

October Celebrity and DJ Events in Las Vegas

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Hit The Clubs With These Hot DJ and Celebrity Music Appearances in October 2011

by Em Robbins
Staff Writer

Las Vegas is amazing in October because the weather is temperate, if a little windy and rainy. This is great weather to hit the clubs and DJ dance the night away.

When you club in Las Vegas, whether you are a local clubbing enthusiast or a visiting club dweller, you want to hit the clubs with the hottest music and the biggest celeb DJs on the scene.

Here are some hot concerts and DJ events in Las Vegas for October 2011.

Tiesto at The Joint

Premier DJ Tiesto is playing two Las Vegas dates in October. He will be at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on October 1 and October 29.

Tickets to the October Tiesto shows are here.

Steely Dan at the Pearl

Steely Dan will be playing at the Pearl theater in the Palms Hotel on October 13, 2011. Tickets are available here.

Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance at the Red Rock Amphitheater

On October 7th, popular pop punk group Blink-182 will be playing with My Chemical Romance at the Red Rock Amphitheater, which is located quite a ways off-strip in the scenically located Red Rock Casino.

Tickets start at $20 and are available here.

VIP packages for this event are also available. If you want a $221 VIP package for this event, go to the promotions page on the ticket sales site and enter BLINKVIP before you check out.