The Theatre department at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts is known nation wide as being one of the most prestigious high school theatre programs in the United States. With a substantial budget and a very respectable number of season subscribers, the Academy Theatre Department is able to create productions that have been called “Better Than Broadway” by local critics and patrons.

Every February, the Theatre department produces their largest musical of a six show season, in which there are usually more than 150 students working to create the best production possible. Large main-stage productions in recent seasons have included Les Miserables, Jekyll and Hyde, Beauty and The Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Miss Saigon to name a few. This year, Las Vegas Academy Theatre is tackling what is considered to be one of the most expensive shows they have ever produced, “Cats : Las Vegas”.

The 1981 musical, Cats, by Andrew Lloyd Webber was the second longest running show on Broadway, opening in 1982 at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City, and closing in June of 1997 after 7,458 performances. Webber’s plotless musical is known for its intense dance and is commonly forgiven for the banausic music and lyrics derived from the poetry of T.S. Elliot, simply because of the shows fun nature. And this version of Cats is colorful, fun and an all around good time.

Co-Director’s Glenn Edwards and Tammy Pessango decided to take the Academy’s production of Cats in an all new direction by setting the show in the historic Neon Graveyard in Las Vegas. Set designer Thomas Bumblauskas has given us a glamorous yet run down look to the setting by creating replicas of famous signs from old Las Vegas that acts as a hang-out for the “Jellicle Cats” of Las Vegas. The set is complete with the Silver Boot, a Lady Luck slot machine replica, A Caesar’s Palace sign, A Horseshoe from Binion’s Horseshoe, a Stardust sign, and many many more Las Vegas icons that can be found in the Neon Graveyard. The characters of the show have also been given iconic looks through costuming by Terry McGonigle and character directions. Personalities in the show include Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Danny Gans, Siegfried and Roy, Liberace, Cirque Du Soleil Dancers, Chippendales, and The Blue Man group to name a few.

It’s not just the show that brings Las Vegas history to life, but also the venue in which it is being performed in. Cats: Las Vegas is playing in the Las Vegas Academy Performing Arts Center Theatre, which was formerly the theatre for the original Las Vegas High School. The Performing Arts Center is the oldest running theatre in Las Vegas with a construction date of 1948.

With a production price tag hovering at around $125,000, Cats: Las Vegas is one of the most expensive and elaborate productions the Las Vegas Academy Theatre Department has ever put on. The show is entirely student run and operated and with a cast of 58 singers and dancers, a 34 member pit orchestra, and an extensive technical crew, this production truly gives numerous Las Vegas Academy students opportunities to work on creating a wonderful piece of art enjoyable for the whole family.

Las Vegas Review Journal critic Anthony Del Valle was quoted as saying that the “Fun of Cats: Las Vegas is Infectious”. The show is a perfect family production and like most Academy Theatre shows, is considered the best bargain ticket in town.

Cats: Las Vegas will be playing at the Las Vegas Academy Performing Arts Center on the East corner of 9th Street and Clark Avenue on February 21, 22, and 23 at 7:00pm, with 2:00pm Matinee performance on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Tickets for evening shows are $20 and matinee tickets are $15 a piece.

If you have children, the cast of Cats: Las Vegas is doing a meet and great “Meow Mixer” on Saturday the 16th and Saturday the 23th at 12pm, where children will have the opportunity to play with the “kitties”, win prizes at games, and get their picture taken with the Cats of their choice. Tickets to the “Meow Mixer” are $40 but that includes your ticket to the Matinee performance following the “Meow Mixer”. To purchase tickets, visit www.starticketsplus.com or go to lvacademytheatre.org/cats. You can also purchase tickets by calling 1-800-585-3737.

Located about ten minutes from the MGM Grand on East Tropicana Avenue is the original version of bling bling! No, we’re not talking about the glitz and glitter at the Liberace Museum, we’re talking about the Pinball Museum, better known as the Pinball Hall of Fame.

As far as we can tell, this is the worlds largest collection of pinball machines and of course it’s right here in Las Vegas. Vintage machines from the 50’s and 60’s share the 4,500 square-foot floor with more advanced models from the 80’s and 90’s. Can you believe it? Every pinball machine has been restored to full operational condition by expert pinball enthusiasts/engineers. Great entertainment for the whole family, there’s no better place to take a roll of quarters in all of Las Vegas. Here’s the best part, the Pinball Hall of Fame is a fully registered non-profit organization. What does this mean? After covering monthly operating expenses, all additional revenue is donated to charity, primarily the Salvation Army.

MS Las Vegas Real Estate can tell you without hesitation that the Pinball Museum is boatloads of fun and a much better use of your quarters than the casino slot machines.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is located at 3330 E. Tropicana in Las Vegas at the North West corner of Tropicana and Pecos. The location is about 30 blocks (3 miles) from the ’strip’ straight down Tropicana - which is about a 20 dollar taxi ride.

The hours of operation are:
11am till 11pm, Sunday to Thursday.
11am till Midnight, Friday and Saturday.

Admission is free!

The Pinball Hall of Game is right next to the Tropicana Cinema 2 dollar movie theatre. If you somehow miss the machines staring at you through the window, its just around the corner from the movie theater, between the comic shop and Putters bar.

Driving Directions:

From the airport:
Follow signs to Tropicana/Swenson exit. Take Swenson north (its one-way) and turn right on Tropicana. After crossing the McLeod intersection, look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left.

From the Strip:
Easy! Turn east towards the Tropicana/MGM Grand side of the Strip and go about 4 miles. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left just past the Pecos stoplight.

From I-15 South:
Take Tropicana East exit (towards the Strip). After crossing the McLeod intersection, look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left. Or to avoid the Strip, take the I-215 Henderson exit, then take the Pecos exit and turn left. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left just past the Tropicana stoplight.

From I-15 North:
Take Tropicana East exit (towards the Strip). After crossing the McLeod intersection, look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left. Or to avoid the Strip, take the 95 South exit, then take the Tropicana exit and turn right. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your right just past the Pecos stoplight.

From US 95 North or South:
Take Tropicana exit and turn left (if coming from the south) or right (if coming from the north). Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your right just past the Pecos stoplight.

From Downtown (Fremont Street Experience area):
Go to Las Vegas Blvd North and turn right onto 95 South. Take Tropicana exit and turn right. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your right just past the Pecos stoplight.

Stop in and hit those flippers until your wrists get numb!

There’s no denying it, it’s still a bit of a stretch for some people to identify Las Vegas, Nevada with world-class culture and the Arts. But the fact is, Las Vegas is a city in transformation and our cultural offerings continue to increase in both quantity and quality. An excellent example is the debut of the Modern Masters Collection from the prestigious Guggenheim collection that has just opened for viewing at the Venetian Hotel and Resort. On display until April 27th of next year, The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum (yes, it’s in Las Vegas) is featuring 37 masterpieces from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City that represent significant milestones in modern painting. The show is divided into four thematic sections - portraiture, landscape, still life and genre. Featured artists include Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Chagall, Kandinsky and of course Pablo Picasso. At MS Las Vegas Real Estate, one of our most important jobs is to educate our clients about the revolutionary changes in what is already the most dynamic city in the world. It’s a pleasure to work and live in such an exciting metropolitan environment. Come see for yourself!

Let’s face it, you would have to be “sleeping with the fishes” not to know that Lorraine Bracco was the second biggest star in the ground-breaking HBO television series The Sopranos. With a solid background in gangster dramas (Goodfellas), Bracco captivated viewers season after season with her phenomenal performance as Dr. Jennifer Melfi. Now Lorraine hopes to entice and captivate in a completely different realm of interpersonal endeavor. A sumptuous “Italian style” invitation-only dinner party was recently thrown at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas to highlight the uncorking of the newest vintages of Bracco Wines. That’s right, Lorraine Bracco is in the wine business! I think they call it synergy or some such thing. In any event, it was a great party, with a full spread of Italian food and deserts to compliment the wines. The local distributor for Bracco Wines just happens to be Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada, true masters of special events and public relations, so the success of the evening was assured. At MS Las Vegas Real Estate, we keep reminding our clients that this is the number one city in the world for business as well as pleasure. Corporate functions of every type and variety gravitate to Las Vegas for one simple reason…..this is the best place in the world to grab attention and put on a show!

Are you looking for something to do tonight on the 4th of July?

For those of you who are owners of Summerlin real estate, or live close by, consider heading over to Hills Park at 8pm this evening for fireworks and a concert featuring the 75-piece Las Vegas Philharmonic.

The fireworks show set to music has long been one the most popular traditions in Las Vegas. This year, the fireworks grand finale will be accompanied by the Las Vegas Philharmonics rousing edition of Tchaikovsky’s classic masterpiece “1812 Overture.”

The gates to the park open at 4:30pm today. Advance tickets may be purchased by adults for $25 and $20 for children under 12 through the UNLV Performing Arts Box Office, or the Galleria at Sunset Mall.

Tickets can also be purchased at the gate today. Adult tickets are $30 and for children ages 6 to 12 are $25. The VIP Pavilion, featuring a full buffet, wine and soft drinks, are $100 per person. There is no children’s pricing for the VIP pavillioni. Please call 895-ARTS for more information on these tickets.

The Henderson Writers’ Group is about to present the 2007 Las Vegas Writers’s Conference. The date is April 19th thru the 22nd and the location is Sam’s Town Hotel and Resort. This four day gathering brings together aspiring wordsmiths, writing professionals, industry experts and writers agents for an intensive schedule of seminars and panel discussions. The conference will also feature over 65 workshops and four prominent guest speakers. Registration is limited to 100 attendees and the quality of discourse is simply amazing. A plethora of genres will be analyzed and discussed. Chose from fiction, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, poetry, journalism and business and technical writing. Q&A panels will be established to provide focused access to experts ready and willing to answer your questions. This is a fantastic opportunity to expand your skills, contacts and horizons as regards the craft of professional writing. You can also plan on a high-level of informal give-and-take with your literary colleagues that will stimulate and inspire!

How surprised are you to discover that The Henderson Writers’ Group exists in the first place? Did you ever imagine attending a writer’s conference in Las Vegas? The Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana is constantly striving to educate our clients about the real Las Vegas! We are truly the next major American metropolis and you can expect to enjoy a wide variety of culturally stimulating opportunities that will expand your life. The purchase of a Las Vegas home is your gateway to everything special about Southern Nevada. The benefits to be enjoyed as a resident of Greater Las Vegas extend far beyond low taxes and red-hot nightlife. We’re fully prepared to present the full range of options as you consider your personal Las Vegas lifestyle. Our services are at your disposal.

Just a few more days until the curtain goes up on one of the most popular musical comedies in the history of live theater!! The Producers is about to open at Paris Las Vegas….and we don’t mean for a weekend or two. This is a long-term run and the only venue west of the Mississippi where you can see the show performed live on stage! Winner of 12 Tony Awards, the Las Vegas production of The Producers will feature David Hasselhoff in the role of the outrageously flamboyant Roger DeBris! What’s the story line? It’s all about a scam gone bad! The idea is to make a run with the money. How appropriate is that for Vegas! MS Las Vegas Real Estate isn’t going to tell you the rest. We don’t want to spoil your fun! Tickets range from $75 to $145 and it’s more than worth it. The Producers has to be the funniest show in the long history of Broadway. Go see for yourself! Hmmm….we’re wondering if David Hasselhoff has already bought a Las Vegas home? Maybe we could interest him in some luxury Lake Las Vegas real estate….somewhere in Celine Dion’s neighborhood!

At MS Las Vegas Real Estate we constantly strive to educate blog readers about the new and evolving Las Vegas. It’s like we keep saying…Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a real city! Cultural development is a significant part of the evolutionary process in Las Vegas and the Downtown Arts District is a dynamic part of our transformation. Every third Saturday of the month, the Arts District is converted into the largest street festival and farmers market in Southern Nevada! What’s the “Art About” party all about? It’s an opportunity to showcase the artistic contribution of locally based talent at every level. Included in the celebration of local talent is a monthly competition between gifted artists in the Clark County school system. The monthly festivities are hosted by the City of Las Vegas/Office of Cultural Affairs. You would be amazed at how many people seem surprised that Las Vegas has an Office of Cultural Affairs to begin with. The Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana is proud to call Las Vegas home.

One of the great things about making the decision to call Las Vegas home is the continuous opportunity to enjoy world-class live events of all kinds. The Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana would like to tell you about just such an opportunity that is available now through December 9th. Cavalia is performing at the Rio Hotel in the most beautiful and elaborate “big top” performance tent (110 feet high) you’ve ever seen in your life. What is Cavalia? It’s nothing less than the most visually stunning equestrian based live show that you’ll ever see in your life. This is NOT a traditional circus performance in any way, shape or form. Normand Latourelle is the artistic director and a pioneering founder of Cirque du Soleil (starting to get the picture?). The show is comprised of 49 magnificent horses and 35 amazing artists of all kinds (acrobats, riders, dancers, aerialists and more!). The mystical theme of the performance is the deep and almost spiritual bond between humans and horses throughout history. Larry King of CNN fame called it “the greatest show I’ve ever seen.”

When people call MS Las Vegas Real Estate and ask us what it’s really like to live in Las Vegas, we just couldn’t have an easier time answering the question. This is a truly amazing city that is well on it’s way to becoming the next major American metropolis. We just can’t emphasize that fact enough. With 325 sunny days a year and no state income tax, isn’t it time you started looking seriously at Las Vegas homes for sale? We’re ready when you are.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre will celebrate it’s 35th birthday with a special outdoor evening performance aptly titled “Ballet Under the Stars”. The Summerlin homes community is the host of this special event. The celebration performance will be held on September 9th at 8pm at the Hills Park Amphitheatre. Nevada Ballet will be putting on a two hour program that will consist of a series of short pieces, including one depicting the early days of Las Vegas! Tickets are just $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. The Nevada Ballet Theatre has been located in Summerlin since 1999 in the Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center. As we consistently point out to our clients, Summerlin real estate is some of the most attractive in the entire Greater Las Vegas Valley. The quality of life is hard to duplicate and the Summerlin master-plan has been one of the most successful in the entire United States for over a decade! Allow MS Las Vegas Real Estate to take you on a tour of the Summerlin community and you’ll immediately see why.

The Caesars Palace Colosseum is most notably associated with Celine Dion and her breathtaking show, A New Day. But when Celine is off stage, the Colosseum rocks to the best piano music ever written! Elton John puts on a true Vegas extravaganza with his amazing show, “The Red Piano”. The next series of performances for Elton begins on October 10th and we suggest that you go on-line and get your tickets now. The MS Las Vegas Real Estate team is wild about Elton John and his music. It’s not unusual to hear his melodies running through our office on any given day. Who could ever get tired of Rocket Man or Tiny Dancer?

Here’s another treat for Las Vegas/Elton John fans. How about the Elton John store! It’s not in the Forum Shops, so don’t look for it there. The Elton John store is located inside the Caesars Palace casino next to PURE nightclub and the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. How appropriate is that? The store itself is every bit as colorful as the man himself, and you can find items that represent every phase of his 35 years in the music biz. No less than 12 plasma screens are constantly running with Elton concert footage. Shoppers can browse through everything from t-shirts to EJ-style sunglasses to “Bitch is Back” purses to ruby studded cuff-links ($2900). Of course, a wide selection of CD’s and DVD’s are available as well.

Does Elton John own a piece of Las Vegas real estate or does he just stay in a suite at Caesars when he’s here performing? To be honest, we’re really not sure. If you happen to know, post back and tell us about it!

The Hills Park Amphitheater in Summerlin recently hosted the first annual Children’s Miracle Network Charity Benefit dance performance. The Children’s Miracle Network in Las Vegas does their amazing work in conjunction with the St. Rose Dominican Hospitals right here in Southern Nevada. The mission of the Miracle Network is to provide quality health care to children whose families could not otherwise afford it. All proceeds raised at the Hills Park went straight to this highly valuable Las Vegas charity. Local talent was provided by Pro Dance Centers of Las Vegas. In addition, dance troops from as far away as Texas and Vancouver, Canada joined in to give the show added excitement. Critically acclaimed local band Ashbury was on hand to do a moving acoustical set and Chris Coyne (the star of Jubilee at Bally’s) belted out two Broadway show tunes that the crowd just loved. The dance numbers included tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical pieces. MS Las Vegas Real Estate was proud to be on hand for this important and worthwhile charity event. Everytime we find the perfect Las Vegas home for a new client, we take pride in knowing that they have joined a community rich in culture, diversity and opportunity. Las Vegas is truly the next great American metropolis. Have questions about Summerlin real estate or Las Vegas homes in general? The Sterling Team at Red Rock Canyon Realty is at your service.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra held their eighth annual Star Spangled Spectacular at the Hills Park located in the Summerlin homes community during the evening of the fourth of July. MS Las Vegas Real Estate was thrilled to be in attendance and a number of members of The Sterling Team were on hand for the festivities. This beautiful celebration of America’s Independence was aired live on cable television (Cox Channel 96) throughout Southern Nevada. Included again this year was a special salute to the US Armed Forces with a flyover consisting of A-10 fighter jets dispatched from nearby Nellis Air Force Base especially for the occasion. The show itself was an impressive concert in which the music of the Las Vegas Philharmonic was choreographed to the pyrotechnics of Zambelli Fireworks Internationale. The actual fireworks display lasted around 15 minutes and began about 8:30 in the evening. At about 4:00pm the Hills Park event-staff opened their gates to about two-thousand patrons of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. The Hills Park, located in the middle of ‘The Hills’ village in Summerlin boasts a large outdoor amphitheatre that gets plenty of use all year around. Residents of Summerlin real estate enjoy parks and recreational facilities of this caliber in every one of Summerlin’s 19 neighborhood villages. The Las Vegas Philharmonic spent the evening under the direction of Harold Welle, the philharmonic’s founding musical director. Attendees were treated to patriotic songs in classical style reflecting the various phases of our nation’s history. At dusk, a large American flag was raised by crane to create a backdrop for the spectacle that was about to begin. As the Symphony continued to play, fireworks by Zambelli Internationale began to light up the evening sky. Once the final shower of fireworks was complete and the last note was struck, the audience in the park immediately responded with great applause denoting these artists’ true talent. The “Star Spangled Spectacular” is an annual event held at the Hills Park in Summerlin on every Fourth of July. Next year, the Philharmonic will hold their ninth Star Spangled Spectacular, and with beautiful performances like this one, spectacular attendence is assured.

MS Las Vegas Real Estate invites you to the inaugural Mt. Charleston Jazz Festival beginning June 30th and wrapping up on July 2nd. Combining with the great live music will be an extensive exhibition of local art talent presented by Art Encounter, the largest fine-art gallery in Nevada. With works available for both viewing and purchase, this is a great opportunity to gather a greater appreciation for the artists among us in Southern Nevada. The Jazz Festival itself features Kool and the Gang and a wide range of styles and talents. Friday night festivities include a wine tasting party and Saturday night the Mt. Charleston Hotel is hosting a charity benefit gala. The best part of all? The crisp, clean, cool air and dramatic scenery of the Toiyabe National Forest way up there on the mountain, just 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip!

Now in it’s 34th season, the Nevada Ballet Theatre is one of the leading lights of the cultural experience in Southern Nevada. Skillfully led by Artistic Director Bruce Steivel, Nevada Ballet has garnered status on a national scale. The dance company numbers 35 and includes talent attracted and recruited from around the world. Due to the tremendous generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and the Howard Hughes Corporation, the Nevada Ballet Theatre is proud and fortunate to call Summerlin their home. Housed in a truly world-class facility of 36,000 feet, students and members of the local community are invited to share in the experience that is professional dance. Next on the performance schedule for the Nevada Ballet Company is Scheherazade. Performance dates are May 12th thru the 14th at the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV. Another recent event worthy of mention was the annual NBT Black and White Ball at Wynn Las Vegas on January 28th. This gala event honors a specific individual every year and Rita Rudner was chosen for 2006. Attendees included Paula Abdul, Smokey Robinson and Danny Gans. The event was sponsored by Cartier and guests enjoyed elegant touches and party favors fitting for the occasion. Las Vegas is a real city and the MS Las Vegas Real Estate Blog won’t stop promoting this side of the “Vegas experience” until people nationwide truly understand what we have to offer. This is a great place to start a business, to enjoy retirement, to start a family, to buy a home. We’re proud to be part of the Las Vegas real estate community and thrilled to be living in culturally rich Southern Nevada!

Here’s a sweet holiday treat for owners of Las Vegas homes. Ethel M Chocolates is located here in the Las Vegas valley and how lucky we are for this! Las Vegas chocolate lovers of all ages are invited to share the holiday spirit at the Ethel M Chocolate Wonderland! The fun starts on November 17th and continues on through the new year. Santa will be there, local choirs will sing and Ethel M will be demonstrating their special methods for making amazing chocolate creations. Call 800-438-4356 for more information. Maybe we should bring our clients by and see if they would like a Las Vegas home made of gingerbread and chocolate! MS Las Vegas Real Estate will definetly be making a visit to the display!

The Nevada Theatre Company is bringing Shakespeare to the Summerlin master-planned community with three presentations Thursday through Saturday evening of the troupe’s modern interpretation of “The Taming of the Shrew.” Summerlin Centre Community Park, 1800 Town Center Drive, is the venue for all three shows. Gates open daily at 5 p.m.; the Greenshow begins at 7:40 p.m. and the play begins at 8 p.m. This is the fourth consecutive year Shakespeare has been staged in the Summerlin homes community, according to Kim Haley, director of marketing for The Howard Hughes Corp., the developer of Summerlin. Situated along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin real estate is comprised of more than 100 neighborhood and village parks, more than 100 miles of trails, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, business parks and dozens of model homes. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is your guide to all that Summerlin has to offer.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation has made a $50 million donation for the new performing arts center to be built in downtown Las Vegas. This is the largest charitable gift ever given in the State of Nevada and southern Nevada residents are both grateful and excited. Las Vegas is a real city and MS Las Vegas Real Estate continues this series on the blog with yet another example of the expanding cultural opportunities available to owners of Las Vegas homes. The performing arts center is expected to cost between $150-$200 million and be completed in about 3 years.

MS Las Vegas Real Estate is determined to convince the world that the new Las Vegas is completely different from old-school expectations. Culture plays a significant role in our development as a real city and this art exhibit is but one example. The Las Vegas Art Museum opens its latest exhibit, “XV Santa Fe Artists,” this Saturday. The museum is located within the Sahara West Library complex. There are 125 paintings by 15 Santa Fe artists featured in the exhibition curated by James Mann. The artists are Jo Basiste, Dennis Flynn, Paulette Frankl, Joel Greene, Whitman Johnson, Zara Kriegstein, Geoff Laurence, Trevor Lucero, David Mauldin, Jack Sinclair, Fred Spencer, Mark Spencer, Jody Sunshine, Jerry West and Michael Wright. “The exhibition aims to be completely groundbreaking,” Mann says. “It is not meant to be a representative survey of art being made in Santa Fe today, but rather to frustrate ordinary expectations of what `Santa Fe’ art is at the present time.”

More than 5,000 theater owners and industry professionals attended the 31st edition of ShoWest, the feature performance this week at Paris and Bally’s on the Las Vegas Strip. ShoWest is a trade show for the Hollywood film industry that allows movers and shakers to mix and mingle. Numerous awards were also given out at the four day event. Jennifer Aniston won the award for Female Star of the Year while Matt Damon won for best male. George Lucas was on hand to receive the Galactic Achievement Award for obvious reasons. Rumor has it that quite a few rounds of golf were played this week on some of Las Vegas’ best courses….which just happen to be surrounded by some of the very best Las Vegas real estate.

The Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center has enhanced the master-planned community’s cultural and educational amenities since it opened in 1993. The library houses more than 130,000 books, movies and music compact discs. It also includes a 291-seat theater, an art gallery, a conference room that accommodates as many as 40 people, three study rooms, two courtyards, and a story room. The art gallery, which is located off the main foyer, features six exhibits each year showcasing contemporary and classic art and photography from area residents. Summerlin ranked as the country’s best-selling master-planned community for much of the last decade, according to independent surveys. It is being developed in villages along the valley’s western rim and is home to more than 100 neighborhood and village parks, more than 100 miles of trails, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, business parks and nearly 100 model homes. Some of the finest Las Vegas real estate can be found in this section of the Las Vegas valley.

The Nevada Ballet Theatre recently held it’s annual black-tie fundraiser and honored Ann Margret as its Woman of the Year. The event was a huge success and raised over $400,000. The event was attended by over 1000 celebrities and local business and community leaders. Past honorees include Celine Dion, Chita Rivera and Carol Channing. Just another reminder from MS Las Vegas Real Estate that Las Vegas is a real city. Did you even imagine that Las Vegas had a ballet company? We’re so much more than people think.

Renowned architect Frank Gehry has been commissioned to design a building in Las Vegas! The Pritzker-Prize winning architect has a number of famous projects to his name including the Guggenheim Museum in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Now Frank Gehry has been commissioned to design a building in Las Vegas. Considered one of the world’s leading architects, Gehry will design the Alzheimer’s disease research center in the downtown Union Park development. Mayor Oscar Goodman will formally make the announcement at today’s City Council meeting. Las Vegas is a real city, we just can’t say it enough. Las Vegas real estate benefits more every day from this powerful trend.

Sharon Osbourne has organized a recording effort that will benefit the Save the Children organization as they battle the odds in providing desperately needed tsunami relief all over Asia. Current Las Vegas headliners Elton John and Andrea Bocelli will be collaborating on “Tears in Heaven” which was originally recorded by Eric Clapton for his son when he died. Other artists contributing to the effort include Rod Stewart, Steven Tyler, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban and many more. The release date for the tsunami relief recordings has yet to be announced. Watch for it in stores, pick it up off the rack, and help Save the Children to restore hope to the lives of so many that are so desperately in need.