Would you believe that among the glitz, glitter and neon of the Las Vegas Strip you can find one of the most outstanding marine aquariums in the entire country? In fact, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is the only North American aquarium that is specifically predator-based in focus and design. As you might expect, Shark Reef features sharks of all kinds but you’ll also see sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, moon jellies and the rare golden crocodiles. In all, there are over 2,000 sea animals to experience in elaborate natural settings with stunning imitation coral reefs. The facility is especially well-suited for educational outings and the Shark Reef education team is very knowledgeable. Conservation is a central part of the Shark Reef mission and the 1.6 million gallons of seawater used by the facility is constantly recycled. Technologically speaking, Shark Reef is absolutely cutting-edge and staffed by marine biologists from all over the globe.

Rare Komodo Dragon Arrives at Shark Reef Aquarium

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay will welcome the Komodo Dragon on June 20th. Known as the most deadly of all lizards and having no known predators in the world, the Komodo Dragon lives on the Southeast islands of Indonesia and can weigh up to 200 pounds. Shark Reef is open daily from 10am until 11pm with the last admission at 10pm. Surprised that the facility stays open until 11pm? Hey, this is Vegas and (if you’re doing it right) you don’t even wake up until one in the afternoon!

Please join with the Springs Preserve, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Christmas Tree Recycling Committee to protect our environment this holiday season by recycling your tree. The very worthy goal of this effort is to keep the holiday trees out of local landfills where they take up tremendous amounts of space. The recycling program runs until January 15th and there are 15 convenient locations to choose from. Many locations are actually open 24 hours a day! Have your tree recycled into mulch, which will be used for environmentally-friendly landscaping projects throughout the valley. Did you know that shredded trees become valuable organic material for use in projects that help conserve soil moisture and keep plants healthy? It’s certainly worth the effort to make such a positive difference in our community. Before dropping off your tree, please remove all non-organic objects, such as lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments and nails. Foreign objects can harm volunteers and chipping machines. The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team urges you to call 702-822-7700 for more information and a list of tree recycling drop-off sites. Thanks so much!

It’s way past time to face the simple fact that “green grass” lawns are not compatible with a responsible and environmentally conscious lifestyle in the desert southwest. The Colorado River, water supplier to 25 million people in the western United States, is now in it’s eighth year of the worst drought in a century, with no end in sight. Fortunately for Las Vegas residents, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is taking a highly pro-active approach to the issue of water conservation. Despite the size and opulence of water-based attractions on the Strip, the truth is that residential use accounts for 59% of the drinking water absorbed in Greater Las Vegas. Unfortunately, a sizable amount of this usage is sprayed as irrigation water on “green grass” lawns.

For the last eight years, the SNWA has been promoting a voluntary program whereby residents of Las Vegas homes actually get paid to replace their grass with water-efficient desert landscaping. To date, more than 21,000 homeowners and 2,800 businesses have participated. How much progress has the Water Authority made? The SNWA program is responsible for eliminating 86 million square feet of grass in Southern Nevada at a cost of $76.6 million. Water conservation is serious stuff in the desert southwest as you can readily see from these numbers. Of course, the most important number is the 17.5 billion gallons of water that has already been saved by converting grass lawns to desert-friendly shrubbery and plants. Wow, talk about results.

One of the greatest privileges we receive in our professional lives on the Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team is the opportunity to assist members of the armed forces stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Nellis is a member of the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command and home to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center. The base is also a vital and highly appreciated member of our local community.

This weekend Nellis Air Force Base presents the Aviation Nation Air Show, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force. According to the International Council of Air Shows, Aviation Nation is one of the top-five aerial and aeronautical special events in the entire world. This year’s show will be even more exciting due to the debut of the F-22 Raptor as a demonstration aircraft. The F-22 is designed to penetrate enemy airspace and achieve a first-look, first-kill capability against multiple targets while achieving supersonic cruising speed without the use of afterburners. Pretty exciting stuff!

Aviation Nation is a FREE two day event that begins at 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. We’ll see you there!

A Long Time Ago, before the Las Vegas valley landscape was a sea of homes, there were springs. The spring fed the meadows. For many years the springs were a thriving place where the Paiute Indians would collect water, later Spanish explorers came upon our desert valley near the Spring Mountains and gave our city its name. Las Vegas means “The Meadows” in Spanish. In 1905 a land auction was the start of that city, and at the heart of it all were the springs. Over 100 years after the City of Las Vegas was founded around that very spring, the Las Vegas Valley Water District completed their 180-acre, $250 Million Dollar project; The Springs Preserve.

It boasts botanical gardens with over 30,000 plants; there are museums, educational galleries and the piece du resistance: the flash flood simulation that recycles 5,000 gallons of water as it rushes beneath your feet while you are standing atop a platform. Don’t worry! They recycle the water. There are only 2 ½ miles of trails, but more are planned. In 2009 a 79,000-square-foot Nevada State Museum will also open at the Preserve. Presently there are concerts being held at the 1,800 seat outdoor ampitheater with artists like Jewel and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Director Francis N. Béland plans to have about 750,000 visitors each year. He bases that on the 40 million annual visitors to Las Vegas and the 6% of those visitors that venture off the strip to see other sights. The Springs Preserve should prove to be another wonderful addition to the Las Vegas valley!

Facts and figures provided by Steve Freiss, LA Times.

Denise Willer is an outdoor enthusiast and a member of the Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS®. In her free time she enjoys her family. If you are interested in more information about this article in particular, or Las Vegas real estate in general, please call Denise at (702)810-0082.

There are many locations to go hiking just outside of Las Vegas, like Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston and the Valley of Fire. If you are interested in venturing out in the desert, remember to bring some basic gear.

The Southern Nevada Group of the Sierra Club lists these items as The Ten Essentials:

1. Map of the area
2. Compass
3. Flashlight w/ spare battery and bulb
4. Sunglasses, sunscreen
5. Extra food and water
6. Extra clothing, raingear, hat, mittens, sweater, etc.
7. Waterproof packed matches
8. Candle for fire starting
9. Pocket knife
10. First Aid Kit

If you are new to the area and would like to venture out into new and exciting “outdoor destinations”, always be safe and never forget the cardinal rule for any wildlife area: “Pack it In and Pack it Out”. If you bring something with you into the desert, be sure and bring it back out again. Minimize your imprint on the environment you are enjoying by using the No Trace Principles:

1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of waste properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimize campfire impact
6. Respect wildlife
7. Be considerate of other visitors

Related websites:
http://www.nevadawilderness.org
http://www.desertbighorn.com

Remember to use marked trails and have fun! If you are looking for a Las Vegas home that will enable you to get to your favorite destinations with ease, feel free to give me a call!

Denise Willer is an outdoor enthusiast and a member of the Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS®. In her free time she enjoys her family. If you are interested in more information about this article in particular, or Las Vegas real estate in general, please call Denise at (702) 810-0082.

Did you know that Liberace is rumored to haunt his restaurant, Tivoli Gardens? Did you know Liberace had a restaurant AND a museum here in town? That’s a story unto itself!

Take an evening to learn all about the spooky side of Las Vegas with Haunted Vegas Tours, voted “America’s Best Ghost Tour”. They can show you all of the scary spots nestled into the hot spots in Las Vegas! If you’re lucky, your tour guide will be Robert Allen, producer, director and 30-year show business veteran.

Make the most of your Halloween and get GHOSTLY!

Denise Willer is an outdoor enthusiast and a member of the Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS®. In her free time she enjoys her family. If you are interested in more information about this article in particular, or Las Vegas real estate in general, please call Denise at (702) 810-0082.

Las Vegas has been my home for over 10 years now and one thing remains constant: CHANGE. With this wonderful population growth and strong economy comes one major byproduct: CONSTRUCTION. Construction of new casinos and Las Vegas homes are the lifeblood of our community. If you have ever driven in a Las Vegas new home development while they are building, you may have noticed these funny-looking log-like items near the street. Maybe you spotted some sandbags or a seemingly useless short black fabric fence amongst the bulldozers and freshly-paved streets.

All of those items are part of the SWPPP or Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. It is enforced by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and is actually a program in many states implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency. Construction companies are given a 46 page manual on how to implement the SWPPP at their sites. Components that assist in this process include fiber rolls (those log-like mesh tubes filled with hay), silt fences (the black fabric fence about two feet high) and many other important elements.

It is imperative that the SWPPP is in place because construction sites erode 7 to 9 times more tons of sediment per acre than row farming, which is second in line for erosion rates. The EPA has implemented this system as a part of the Clean Water Act.

Las Vegas is part of the Mojave Desert and we rely upon our water source out at Lake Mead for much of our drinking water. Many conservation efforts have been put into place to retain our beautiful Lake Mead. Unfortunately, there are droughts that affect all of the Colorado River Valleys and we are a part of it. Lake Mead’s water levels have dropped about 100 feet since January of 2000. By implementing the SWPPP, we reduce the amount of sediment that is dumped into our lake, which helps to protect our local wildlife and especially our native fish species like the endangered Moapa dace.

If Las Vegas is to continue to thrive in the middle of the desert, it will take every citizen’s effort to reduce our consumption of water and eliminate toxins and waste going into our storm water drains. Next time you see a hay log near the gutter, make sure you don’t disturb its important job. By all means, feel free to check out these websites for more information about what days you can water your lawn, when it’s ok to wash your car and best of all: INCENTIVE AND REBATE PROGRAMS from the Las Vegas Valley Water District for changing your landscaping to a more desert-friendly environment.

Southern Nevada Water Authority
Las Vegas Valley Water District
Environmental Protection Agency

Denise Willer is a member of The Michelle Sterling Internet Real Estate Team at Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS. If you are interested in more information about this article in particular, or Las Vegas real estate in general, please call Denise at 702-810-0082.

You know, there’s a great way to tell if you live in a REAL city. What’s one of the truest measurements? Ask yourself what happens when you get a taste for the eclectic and eccentric. Can you find a suitable outlet for that sudden burst of creative energy? In real cities, you have a multitude of choices to satisfy your cravings for the distinctive and the unusual. Las Vegas is a real city, don’t ever doubt it.

Here in Las Vegas, one of the best indicators that we have arrived on the “authentically urban” scene is The Attic - The Largest Vintage Clothing Store in the World. Talk about urban chic and credibility, The Attic has been in business since 1989 and actively exports vintage clothing to hip and eccentric customers all over the world!

Take our advice and don’t cheat yourself by ordering through the mail, at least not the first time. How come? A trip to The Attic Boutique is one of the grooviest ways to spend a whole afternoon in all of Las Vegas. In addition to fantastic vintage fashions, you can browse through theatrical wardrobes, jewelry and accessories, vintage furniture and movie props that will blow your mind. The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team has spent hours hanging-out at The Attic and we would know!

People come to Vegas to celebrate special occasions of every kind, all the time. What better way to make your next “Vegas Special” more memorable than a shopping trip to The Attic? You’ll be dressed for the occasion like you never imagined possible! Think that’s cool? Wait till you get back to your town and wear an outfit that no one can duplicate by shopping at the local mall. Pretty cool, which is what The Attic is all about. Las Vegas is the Bomb!

The Attic is located at:
1018 South Main Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: (702) 388-4088
FAX: (702) 388-1047
Message and Information: (702) 390-8488

Business Hours:
the ATTIC is open
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday through Saturday.
the ATTIC goes dark on Sunday.

Directions:

From the McCarran International Airport: Travel North on Paradise Road. Pass Las Vegas Boulevard in front of The Stratosphere still on Paradise. Paradise will turn into Main Street. Travel 1-2 miles on Main Street. the ATTIC will be on the left side of the street, 1018 Main Street.

I-15 From Salt Lake City (N) Direction Traveling South: Exit I-15 on Charleston. Turn left traveling East on Charleston. Go 2 blocks. Turn left on Main Street. Go 1 block. the ATTIC will be on the left side of the street, 1018 Main Street.

I-15 From Los Angeles (S) Direction Traveling North: Exit I-15 on Charleston. Turn right traveling East on Charleston. Go 1 block. Turn left on Main Street. Go 1 block. the ATTIC will be on the left side of the street, 1018 Main Street.

The MS Las Vegas Real Estate blog is just sure that we’ve got you fooled with this one! Anytime that you think of Las Vegas and the Strip, you’re immediately thinking MGM, Bellagio, Venetian and all that stuff. Well, not this time! When we refer to “the strip” in this blog story, we mean a state-of-the-art fencing strip! Where can you find a fencing strip with world-class coaching in the desert southwest? Allow us to introduce you to The Fencing Academy of Nevada in the Summerlin real estate community and their internationally acclaimed head coach, Yves Auriol.

A four-time Olympic coach, Maitre Auriol (originally from Toulouse, France) served as a coach for the 1992 U.S. Olympic squad in Barcelona. He also served as coach for the U.S. Olympic women’s team in 1980, ‘84 and ‘88. Auriol was also head coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1985 until 2002 and led the Irish to two national team championships and nine individual championships. Luckily for us, Maitre Auriol decided to move to Las Vegas in 2003 and began coaching at the Nevada Academy. Now, after dedicating 38 years of his life to the art of fencing, Yves Auriol has just been elected to the U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame!

Located inside the Las Vegas Sports Park, the Fencing Academy of Nevada offers a state-of-the-art fencing facility for both recreational and competitive fencers. The Academy features six fencing strips with the latest in electric scoring equipment. If you are new to the sport, there are beginner group classes that start monthly. If you are looking to return to the sport, the Fencing Academy of Las Vegas offers private lessons and ample time for free fencing with other club members.

The Fencing Academy of Nevada is located at:
1400 N. Rampart Blvd., Suite 101 (Rampart at Vegas Drive, behind Bruce Trent Park, in Northwest Las Vegas)
Las Vegas, NV 89128
Their phone number is 702.838.3320

Their hours of operation and weekly class schedule is as follows:

Mondays:
• Adult Beginner Foil Class - 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Advanced Epee Group Class - 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
• Open Fencing - 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesdays:
• Intermediate Youth Foil Class - 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday:
• Intermediate Youth Foil Class - 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.
• Group Footwork Class - 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
• Adult Beginner Epee Class - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Open Epee Fencing - 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday:
• Beginner Youth Foil Class-4:00 to 5:15 p.m.
• Beginner Adult Foil Class - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Beginner Sabre Class - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday:
• Open Fencing—9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Club Open Footwork Session - 12:00 to 12:20 p.m.
• Competitive Youth Program - 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Stop by and see what the “other” Las Vegas Strip is all about!

Let’s hear it for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke! In a letter to Senator Charles Schumer dated Monday, Mr. Bernanke said the development of “a broader range of mortgage products which are appropriate for low and moderate-income borrowers, including those seeking to refinance” might help the current situation. ”Such products could be designed to avoid or mitigate the risk of prepayment shock and to be more transparent with respect to their terms.” Bravo Ben! With an avalanche of foreclosures set to hit the US economy over the next year, we couldn’t be happier that the Fed Chief is weighing-in on the side of home owners. The key now is to get Democrats and Republicans to agree on remedies involving the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fed Chief Bernanke has publicly stated his views on this subject as well. “The Congress might wish to consider F.H.A. reforms that allow the agency more flexibility to design new products and to collaborate with the private sector in facilitating the refinancing of creditworthy subprime borrowers facing large resets.” Let’s hope key congressional leaders are listening. MS Las Vegas Real Estate will keep you posted.

Environmental awareness is sure to be one of the hallmarks of the first half of the 21st century. It seems that everywhere you look these days, someone is coming up with a new version of an old product that is “greener” in one way or another. Here’s something to seriously consider for your Las Vegas home, earth-conscious furniture. Every new trend has to have a catchy phrase and in the furniture business it’s “sustainable home furnishings”. Like most catch phrases, “sustainable” means different things to different people. Some furniture manufacturers are concentrating on the actual building process, seeking to do the job of creation and assemblage in a more energy efficient fashion. Others are more focused on the actual materials used to make the furniture, such as organics, recycled materials and bamboo. The World Market Center here in Las Vegas has recently partnered-up with the Sustainable Furniture Council to create The Living Green Pavilion, which will feature the finest in sustainable furnishings for upcoming trade shows. Much more than a fad or a fringe movement, environmentally responsible home furnishings are moving into the mainstream as consumer awareness/demand continues to grow. There can be no question that this is another earth-friendly step in the right direction.

Designated Drivers, Inc. of Las Vegas provides an invaluable service to the Southern Nevada community. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 30 minutes notice, Designated Drivers saves countless lives every year by helping people to avoid the perils of driving while intoxicated. Designated Drivers, Inc. will not only take you home when you’ve had too much to drink, but they also transport your car safely back home as well. How do they accomplish this life saving task? A team of two is dispatched to your location within 30 minutes of your call. One person drives you home in YOUR car while the other team member follows behind in THEIR car. Once your car is safely parked in your driveway (while you rode home in your passenger seat), the team continues on as your driver jumps into the “follow car” and runs to the next call. As smart as it is to take a taxi when you’ve had too much to drink, Designated Drivers is even better because you get home safely WITH YOUR CAR. The cost is an incredibly reasonable $50 for any trip within in a 10-mile radius. Compare this to a DUI, which runs upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees, to say nothing of injuring yourself or someone else….or worse. Designated Drivers, Inc. also offers Corporate Retainers and Special Events packages for those companies and drinking establishments who wish to create awareness, reduce liability and ensure their employees and/or guests are driven home safely in their own vehicles. For immediate service or to book your next event, call Designated Drivers today at: (702) 456-RIDE (7433). The Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate Team is a proud volunteer supporter and highly recommends the use of their services.

The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR) is sponsoring the Las Vegas Community Blood Drive on Monday, August 20, 2007 from 9:00am to 2:00pm. The blood drive will take place in the GLVAR offices at 1750 E. Sahara Avenue, Classroom B.

Please take this opportunity to give back to the community because as we all know blood donors save lives!

During your lifetime you or someone you know may be in need of blood and this is your opportunity to make a difference in your community. This is a simple procedure that will only take approximately an hour of your time.

The Michelle Sterling Team at Prudential Americana Group, REALTORS fully supports this initiative put forth by the GLVAR. We fully encourage everyone to take part in the blood drive and to pass along this important information to your friends and family!

Please mark your calendars and we’ll see you there!

This Friday, June 6 the 38th World Series of Poker championship event begins at the Rio.

This years no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament has a $10,000 buy-in with play being scheduled over the course of four days. There will be up to 3,000 players per day at the event. Last year’s winner, Jamie Gold, emerged from a pack of 8,773 players to take home the grand prize of $12 million.

The world championship’s last nine players will sit at the final table on July 17.

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 Michelle Sterling Las Vegas Real Estate team is very proud to be a member of the Prudential Americana family. Mark Stark, Prudential Americana Group CEO, has just posted a great story on his blog about our drive to raise money for the Sunshine Kids Foundation. I’m happy to report that fundraising efforts have been a huge success! The Sunshine Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to the cause of childhood cancer. They provide a variety of programs (free of charge) for kids that receive cancer treatment in hospitals all across the country. Please enjoy reading Mark’s post…….Prudential Americana Group Raises $177,992 for The Sunshine Kids Foundation. We hope you’ll be inspired!

Did you ever imagine buying a Las Vegas home in the desert southwest and having the opportunity to cheer for a home-team that skates on ice? The Las Vegas Wranglers, a semi-professional hockey team in the National Conference West Division, play right here in Las Vegas in the Orleans Arena. Originally operated as an ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) expansion team, the Wranglers ended up moving to Las Vegas for the 2003 season. Their NHL affiliation is with the Calgary Flames.

Now ready for their fourth year in Vegas, the Wranglers will skate their season opener on October 20, 2006 against the Fresno Falcons. Here’s more good news for this year, The Las Vegas Wranglers announced in July that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Marc Magliarditi for the 2006-07 season. How good is this guy? Magliarditi finished second in the league MVP voting for the 2005-06 season. Magliarditi also earned All-ECHL Second Team honors in 2005-06 after finishing second in the league in wins and fifth in goals-against average.

The Las Vegas Wranglers have been absolutely great for the Las Vegas community as well. The Wranglers announced last May that the team helped raise over $50,000 for local and national charities during the 2005-2006 season, as well as donating numerous non-perishable items. Tickets are reasonable and begin at $12.50 for adults and $7.50 for kids! MS Las Vegas Real Estate invites you to enjoy a night-on-the-ice with the Wranglers. The action is fast paced, the fans are enthusiastic and the team is exciting to watch. The Orleans Arena is a great sports venue, one of many in the Las Vegas Valley!

When most people think of Las Vegas and sports, they think about the sports books in most of the major casinos in Las Vegas. What many people don’t realize is that a total of three semi-pro sports teams call Las Vegas home. We have a great minor league baseball team, a cool (get it?) hockey team and a bang-up arena football team. Let’s start with the baseball story, but stay tuned for more information about hockey and football in the coming weeks.

The Las Vegas 51’s (formerly the Las Vegas Stars), an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, play their AAA minor league season right here in Las Vegas. Currently in their 23rd season, the 51’s play ball at Cashman Field, located in downtown Las Vegas. The original Las Vegas Stars opened up Cashman Field in 1983 as a AAA team for the San Diego Padres. The LV Stars played Vegas for 18 years (longer than Elvis!), until the affiliation with the Padres came to an end in 2000. The Los Angeles Dodgers stepped up to the plate (what a pun!) for the 2001 season, and a new name was given to the ball club, the Las Vegas 51’s.

The logo is the number ‘51′ with an alien’s head in the lower half of the ‘5′. The alien logo bears a striking (not another pun!) resemblance to the same green guys that are most commonly associated with Area 51, where the government secretly keeps all the aliens!

For the 2006 season the 51’s have a new manager, Jerry Royster. He managed the Vegas minor league team once before. He was originally with the Las Vegas Stars from 1996-1998. At MS Las Vegas Real Estate, we’re counting on Jerry to manage a successful and entertaining baseball team. The 51’s need solid local support to hoist themselves up to the top of their division! Tickets are available on-line and start at seven dollars for General Admission on up to twelve dollars for Field Level seats. Come spend an afternoon or evening at the park!

One of the very best executive golf courses in Las Vegas is about to get even better. Eagle Crest can be found right in the heart of the Sun City Summerlin homes community in the northwest section of the Las Vegas Valley. Designed by Billy Casper and Greg Nash, you couldn’t ask for a better place to get in a quick 18 holes and still be appropriately challenged.

Consisting of six par 4’s and twelve par 3’s, Eagle Crest demands that you place the ball where it needs to be and that you read the greens with skill and care. The view of the entire Las Vegas Valley from the tee box on the eighteenth hole is truly breathtaking and your second shot to the green on 18 will surprise you as well.

What did we mean by saying that Eagle Crest is about to get even better? The course was closed on June 18th (2006) for major reconditioning and will re-open this September. All 18 greens are being completely re-done with Bermuda dwarf grass and every bunker is being re-designed and rebuilt as well. The course is now 12 years old and the improvements came at just the right time. At completion, you can expect Eagle Crest to be the premier executive-style golf course in Las Vegas.

If you have an interest in Las Vegas golf homes within the context of an age-restricted community, Sun City Summerlin real estate has plenty of inviting choices to offer.

When most people think of the American Red Cross and water safety, they probably think about lifeguards. But the organization has several other water safety programs. And, while they’re offered year-round, the courses take on particular significance in the summer for owners of Las Vegas homes with swimming pools. For children, Red Cross programs are aimed at helping them learn basic water safety skills and develop an awareness about how to stay safe when they’re around the water. Children 6 months to 5 years old will learn such fundamentals as floating and kicking in the initial course, which, like other kids’ courses, uses animated characters to help convey important information in a fun way. In the next course, for ages 5 to 12, safety messages and skills presented in the entry-level course are reinforced and expanded on. For teenagers and adults, a Community Water Safety Course offers information about water-related hazards and water safety. The program also is aimed at owners of Las Vegas homes that have pools or people who live in multihousing units that have pools. Even if you don’t know how to swim, that program teaches you how to save someone who’s in a dire situation in a pool without having to get in the pool yourself. Red Cross programs are offered through valley recreation departments, often at minimal cost. Anyone interested in any of the courses should contact their city or county recreation department or neighborhood pool for schedules and times. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is a proud supporter of the Las Vegas Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Have you got a Panda Express restaurant in your neighborhood? Let me ask you this, have you got 50 in your home town? Panda Express just opened it’s 50th store in Vegas last week. No kidding. In fact, Las Vegas is one of the top three U.S. cities that Panda has slated for maximim growth potential in coming years. They are planning to open a dozen more in just the next two years! I know what you’re thinking, how many of these Panda joints are in casinos? Turns out, quite a few. In our defense, we do have these things inside malls and neighborhood shopping centers like regular America does. You can even find mini Panda places inside certain grocery stores (usually next to the Starbucks!). But yes, Panda Express has invaded the casino turf as well. If you think about it, it’s perfect for hard core gamblers, as if we had any of those. You can get a two item combo “to go” and eat while you play the slots. Who knows, your fortune cookie might bring you luck!

The Southwestern United States is already having a challenging wildfire season. Blazes around Sedona, AZ have been all over the news and threaten to do serious damage to major residential areas. Here in Southern Nevada, no less than 14 wildfires were ignited by lightning last week. Luckily, no Las Vegas homes were damaged, but you can’t miss the smoke hanging in the air in the distance. Statewide, over 140,000 acres have been set ablaze by lightning over the last 10 days. Residents of Las Vegas real estate are really very lucky, even this time of year. The fires in our part of the State tend to be from 15-50 miles outside of the metropolitan area and burn in essentially uninhabited sections of the raw desert. Triple digit heat combined with gusty winds give a lightning strike all it needs to make trouble. Many people in the scientific community are attributing the increase in southwestern wildfire activity to global warming, but who knows if that’s really the cause. In any event, at The Sterling Team at Red Rock Canyon Realty, our thoughts are with the brave and exhausted men and women that fight these fires both for a living and on a volunteer basis. What would we do without them?

The City of Las Vegas has a rich and interesting history. It also has a number of truly incredible accomplishments over the past decade that continue to impress nationwide. The Las Vegas Real Estate market has benefited tremendously from a residential buildingboom that shows little sign of slowing down. This has been based on a poulation explosion in the State of Nevada that is going on it’s 19th year. The market for Las Vegas homes has benefited handsomely from thistrend. Real Estate in Las Vegas has been a highly profitable endeavor for lucky Las Vegas home owners. Our residents combine their good fortune with agenuine enthusiasm for the Las Vegas lifestyle. At MSLas Vegas Real Estate we look forward to sharing with you the joys and the benefits of owning a Las Vegas home. First, a little historical background on our great city.The Las Vegas Valley was originally settled by Mormon missionaries between 1855 and 1865. As with most outposts in the West, the defining moment that brought Las Vegas into full fruition was the arrival of Union Pacific railroad. This was the year 1905, and when the Union Pacific auctioned off some surplus land parcels, Las Vegas began it’s journey to the city it is today. Can you imagine the value of those original parcels of Las Vegas real estate today? The fledgling city of Las Vegas pulled through the Great Depression better than most thanks to the WPA and the enormous Hoover Dam project. After the completion of the project, many workers and their families decided to stay on and make Las Vegas home. Ironically, the birth of the tourism industry in Las Vegas came from the Hoover Dam rather than gambling as you might have guessed. Even by todays standards, the Dam is an engineering and consrtuction marvel and continues to draw millions of tourists each year. Politics plays a starring role in the development of Las Vegas as a great city, which should come as no surprise. A few unsavory characters made their mark early on as well, which comes as no surprise either.The Nevada Legistlature officially made Las Vegas a city in the year 1911. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce was founded that very same year. Without the mighty Union Pacific, neither advance would have been possible. The big moment that changed the West and later the entire world was the legalisation of gambling by the State Legislature in 1931. The El Rancho Las Vegas became the very first piece of Las Vegas real estate devoted to gambling and entertainment. A few years later, some guy you probably never heard of (Bugsy Seigel) opened a place called the Flamingo on New Year’s Eve for him and his “pals”. Bugsy and his Hollywood buddies needed a place to “play” and decided to call Las Vegas home for discreet adventures. Next thing you know, it’s 1989 and Steve Wynn opens the Mirage to rave reviews and predictions of bankruptcy within six months. You know the rest of that story. Mr. Wynn picked up where Howard Hughes left off and bet hugely on Las Vegas tourism and Las Vegas real estate. His success continues to this day.We come now to the most recent part of Las Vegas history and the astounding growth and development of our great city. Las Vegas holds the heavyweight title as the “Gaming and Entertainment Capital of the MilkyWay Galaxy” and the distinction is richly deserved. According to the U.S. Census bureau, the State of Nevada has led the nation in the rate of population growth for 18 years in a row! Almost 70% of the Nevada population lives in Southern Nevada (Las Vegas and vicinity), so as you can see, Las Vegas real estate has benefited tremendously from this population explosion. The market for Las Vegas homes has expanded in lock step with the population. The Las Vegas valley now rivals the most sought after communities in Florida as the number one destination for retirement living. As the baby boomer generation increasingly migrates to their rest and relaxation locale, Las Vegas retirement homes have become a prime destination. This is yet another stimulant for the Las Vegas real estate market. An attractive combination of great weather, great entertainment, world class shopping and some of the finest restaurants anywhere has made Las Vegas real estate a fabulous investment as well as an enjoyable living experience.

Have you ever wondered how your own piece of the Las Vegas Real Estate pie compares to similar properties in other parts of the Las Vegas Valley? Better yet, have you found yourself wondering how Las Vegas Real Estate compares nationally to other cities of similar size? While much has been made of the fact that the Las Vegas market is among the hottest here in the States, how do we look from a global perspective? The question carries more weight than mere curiosity. At MS Las Vegas Real Estate, http://www.mslasvegasrealestate.com/ we speak to clients based in Europe and the Pacific Rim on a regular basis. It seems that overseas investors are interested in American diversification for their portfolios in ways that extend well beyond stocks and bonds. Based on residential appreciation rates for Las Vegas Real Estate over the last five years, it’s no wonder that global investors take time to investigate our market in particular when examining their U.S. investment options. The question is, when examined from a global perspective, how do we look?The first key to understanding the true significance of the residential property market in the Western World is to look at it’s size and velocity. The total value of residential property in the First World is approximately 60 trillion dollars. The amazing part of this story is the fact that almost 20 trillion of that value has been added in the last 5 years. This is almost twice the rate at which global equities have increased over a similar time frame. But who’s hot and who’s not when you look at the world map?Believe it or not, the hottest thing going right now is the market in South Africa followed closely by real estate stalwart Hong Kong. Australia has been on a tear for the last couple of years but has recently cooled down significantly. Ditto for Great Britain, where a multi year run-up has recently stalled out. The volume of sales in the UK has dropped dramatically in the latest quarter and prices are actually starting to fall back a bit. By contrast, France and Sweden are still strong and on the upswing. Joining that group is the United States, where the average price of a home nationwide gained 13% this year. California and Washington D.C. have made above average gains (approx. 20%), but pale in comparison to the residential market for Las Vegas Real Estate. It’s no wonder that we speak to so many overseas investors at MS Las Vegas Real Estate. If the goal is diversification into U.S. residential property, Las Vegas is not a market to be overlooked. Our firm stands ready to deliver a level of service and local expertise to satisfy the most demanding global investor.Please visit our website located at http://www.mslasvegasrealestate.com/ for more information.